Tag Archives: CBC

Happy Pride!

Posted on by
Reply

This weekend the West End’s streets were jammed with an estimated 600,000 people. Despite a crazy rainstorm hours before (that hit me while I was riding through Strathcona), this year’s Pride Parade enjoyed huge crowds and a beautiful sunny Vancouver day. Here are some photo highlights for me. Particularly big “shout outs” to the City of Vancouver and Vancouver School Board, the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, Vancity, TD Bank, the CBC and the Vancouver Police marching band. Amazing floats/exhibitions! Talk about an inclusive and fun event.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly … of the Infographic

Posted on by
1

Infographics are in right now. Our major Canadian news stations and papers – notably The Globe and Mail and CBC – use them to communicate information on a seemingly daily basis, bloggers and social media folk love them, and the business and professional world is increasingly using the infographic as a way to communicate to their employees and stakeholders. Some may say that this is a tool representative of our generation and culture, what with our need for information that is available instantaneously and understandable in minutes. Or a sign of our technological times – while in days past a graphical representation of information would have taken a painstakingly long period of time to create, we’re now able to use software and tools to create infographics quickly, accurately and easily.

Yes, some may say these things. But are they right? First, the idea of images being able to communicate complex or lengthy ideas has been around and appreciated for eons – as Ivan Turgenev wrote back in 1862, “A picture shows me at a glance what it takes dozens of pages of a book to expound”. Second, are infographics really that easy and accurate? For basic information – yes, I’m sure they are. However, for infographics seeking to explain the relationship between complex ideas or variables, I’m not so sure. While attempting to make this information clearer, infographics may have the opposite effect, making the connection between ideas or variables more difficult to grasp, or in some cases, leading to lost meaning.

The Common Good Forecaster

One example that both impresses me and leaves me slightly wary is The Common Good Forecaster. This interactive infographic, developed by the United Way and the American Human Development Project, allows users to graphically see how various economic and social conditions would change as educational outcomes change – for example, how increased high school or college completion rates can ‘forecast’ improved health outcomes (e.g. obesity or life expectancy rates), financial outcomes (e.g. poverty or unemployment rates), and community involvement outcomes (e.g. voting rates).

While the tool is neat and the results interesting, the methodological description of how this tool was developed calls the accuracy of the data into question. On a more philosophical note – can something as complex as the relationship between education and health, or education and community involvement, be captured in a series of graphs? And lastly on a decidedly political note – will those who hold the real power – policy makers – use tools such as these to make decisions regarding educational initiatives, or is the point to create awareness and advocacy for change at a community level? And if so – is such a technique effective, and will this tool galvanize those that need to be galvanized?

On a completely different note, I can’t think of infographics without remembering CBC’s coverage of the last federal election. While the graphical representation of voting results was helpful, the reliance on infographics and social media was at times annoying and distracting. It seemed at numerous points during the coverage that Peter Mansbridge was having difficulty reporting on the results while also keeping track of the various graphs and charts that were being thrown on numerous screens surrounding him – sometimes with the wrong information.

While the ability to communicate information in new ways is obviously a good thing, it seems to me that it’s absolutely pertinent to examine not just what is gained, but what might be lost as well.

–

Masthead photo courtesy of Steve Punter

From We to Me: A Canadian’s Guide to Democracy Inaction

Posted on by
11

Yesterday some amazing news flashed across my screen. It came in two parts – each more sensationally exciting than the last. First, Maxime Bernier, who last week claimed that – during his his tenure as Industry Minister – his office received over 1,000 emails per day complaining about the census, shrugged-off skepticism that the number 1,000 seemed a really, really big one. “So we had a discussion with my staff and we cannot prove it because all these emails have been deleted from that time, four years ago,” said Bernier. I mean, when you’re getting that many emails per day of course you’re going to delete them. MPs don’t use gmail, man.

The second piece of news was perfect comic juxtaposition, which is a fancy way of saying “putting two incongruent things next to each other so that a humorous result is created.” Enter up-and-coming news agency, The CBC. They discovered that, around the time of the 2006 census, between 25-30 complaints were submitted to Statistics Canada about the long-form, mandatory census. Not per day. For the entire year. Certainly, this doesn’t take into account made-up deleted letters. So, that was a pretty well-timed joke.

But it gets better, especially if you’re a selfish, ego-maniacal, anti-community Libertarian like me. [Editor's note: I've been waiting for a moment like this for, like, 29 years!]

On hearing about the 3,650,000 letters-per-year vs. 25 letters-per-year descrepency, my man (Industry Minister) Tony (Clement) said, “Even if only one Canadian complains we need to take that issue seriously.”

Really, Tony? That’s amazing, because I actually have a few complaints and/or reasonable requests that I’d like you to address. In no particular order, here they are:

Bigger than PEI. Farther from the Mainland than PEI. And it just looks more like a province, doesn't it?

1. Mountie uniforms (see image). Are you kidding me with these?! We’re an international laughing stock. Replace them with powder white ninja suits right away.

2. The Sun. I’m allergic to it and I can’t go outside in the summer without looking ridiculous. Please erect a giant umbrella over Canada that blocks the Sun. Also, I’d like you to make this a UN Security Council issue.

3. Hockey Teams. Bring Les Nordiques back to Quebec City, the Jets back to Winnipeg and put two of the Lightning, Panthers, Thrashers, or Hurricanes in Hamilton and Regina. It’s the right thing to do.

4. Stop pouring billions into our feeble attempt at militarism. Create the world’s best anti-terrorism and disaster-relief units. Battleships and fighter jets aren’t gonna help when we’re sandwiched between Russia and the United States.

5. Make Yann Martel Minister of Something. I’m not the guy’s biggest fan, but he sent our book club a hilarious letter and, well, people have been appointed to higher places for stupider reasons.

6. Be funnier. Start openly (like in the House of Commons) comparing Michael Ignatieff to that blue eagle from the muppets. Their resemblance is uncanny and I can’t believe this connection isn’t part of our public discourse.

7. Transfer the right to be a province from Prince Edward Island to Vancouver Island. The last 133 years have been embarrassing for everyone on the West Coast. Please change this.

8. Ban the Internet. Let’s face it, the Twitterverse is a giant time waster and its pre-packaged facts, findings and information is slowly destroying the hippocampus in our brains.

9. Transform the tax system. Carbon emissions and inefficiency should be taxed, while work (ie. income from my job) and efficiency should rewarded. Check this out for more details. Or read anything by Paul Hawken.

10. Create a hybrid Atlantic-Pacific-Supersalmon. Ideally, this new genetically modified species will be able to re-produce more than once, thus providing us with a deliciously fishy renewable resource that will give our country a pronounced market advantage in global food production, light industry, heavy industry, defense, information technology, and the Olympics. This product will be the Canadian equivalent of high-fructose corn syrup. We can put it in everything.

So there it is, Tony. A few reasonable requests from a single Canadian. Given this magazine’s expansive readership, I’m pretty confident that we can get 25 more people to back at least one of the above ideas. I now ask you, my fellow Gumbooteers, which one of these issues should we take to Ottawa?

Let the lobbying begin!

Exercising the Ridiculous: The Colbert Nation vs. Johnism?!

Posted on by
9

stephen_colbertCo-Editor Kurt Heinrich’s post has inspired me to write an open letter to Stephen Colbert on behalf of Ice-Holes and Syrup Suckers everywhere.

Dear Mr. Colbert,

So it’s a ridiculous gauntlet throw-down of ridiculousness you want? Game on, sir. And, before we get rolling: thank you so, so much for paying attention to us!

Once you, American speed skaters and The Colbert Nation have donned your bursting spandex and the official Pink Toque of Olympic Oval Ombudsmanship, there’s something else that we should probably talk about. As you know, sir, you have simply started another tired chapter in the history of Canadian/American binary opposition. We get it, man. Canada and America are the same, but different in minor ways. Hilarious! You know that whenever an American comedian (not Canadians who practice comedy in America) mentions Canada the Prime Minister drops everything, calls the CBC and holds a press conference telling us all to watch, right? We erupt with elation at opportunities like this. You’re doing us a great service (and probably boosting our maple syrup exports by at least 4%), but, my good man, there is more at stake than just speed skating. There’s a whole preconceived narrative we need to overcome. And we need to do it together!

22769_299422171938_6004081938_3591218_7812464_nWe’re “syrup-suckers” because Canada makes and consumes a lot of syrup. Hahahahahahahahaha! Oh Stephen, cut it out. Honestly, I – nay, we – expected more than this simple joke, but I guess from your gorgeous hair to your intuitive gut you’re just a simple man. Or perhaps you were being ironic. After all, even though 80% of the planet’s maple syrup is produced in Quebec, it is also produced in Vermont and up-state New York (and its production reaches as far south as Virginia). Also, when it comes to syrup-sucking, America has Canada and, well, the entire world beat into a fine, molassassy liquid that just seems to be in everyting from pizza crusts to Jimmy Dean sausage-wrapped-pancake on a stick. Whether it’s maple or high-fructose-corn syrup, a recent study by the USDA’s Agriculture Fact Book argues that Americans consume over 150 pounds of caloric sweeteners each year. If there was a syrup-sucking Olympics, good sir, your team would surely, and deservedly, win gold, silver, bronze, and delicious pies for the fourth-to-tenth place finishers.

Ice-Holes? Really? Because it’s cold here, right? Hahahahahahahaha! Oh Stephen. My friend, this is Vancouver, not Montreal, Toronto, Saskatoon, or Iqaluit. Have you been to Vancouver? I mean, the average winter temperature is about 2 degrees Celsius (36 degrees Fahrenheit). New York City’s is certainly below zero degrees Celsius, which is around 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Look, I’m not calling you an Ice-Hole, Wikipedia is; that’s where I got the data from. But, don’t worry, you can get in there and change it right away. Sure, Vancouver’s not Charleston, South Carolina, but it’s not Pierre, South Dakota, either. But you knew that because you’re a smart guy – and your Ivey League writing team certainly is – so you must’ve been talking about how speedskaters skate on amazing ice we build and export around the world. You were never on Talking to Americans, right? And you were also going on and on aboot how and we “Saskatchewhine” aboot it. First, one of our Saskatchewanian speed skaters, Kim Weger, just retired after a fairly fantastic eight-year career. I’m not sure if she’s whining too much about it, but, I’m sure your jab was thoroughly research-based and not at all an Ivey League pun that came from the gut. Second, if anyone plays “dirty beaver” (what many Canadians named John Horn call “whining while cheating”) it’s you and the Colbert Nation; your segment Cheating Death with Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, DFA teaches people how to break the rules of life-living while falsely representing the Fine Arts community. Furthermore, this whole Wikiality business seems to be chalked full of cheating the Hungarian people out of their history. And speaking of an hisotrical example of dirty beaver, well, you showed us all what whining and social mischief can get us. It got you a treadmill on a node and, more recently, it’s gotten you a Pink Toque of Ombudsmanship. Well played, sir. Well played.

Needless to say, it’s time to transcend this tired, simple and, I’m one to say it, cliched approach to nationalism. We knew this was coming before you did. I mean, come on, this isn’t a Molson Canadian beer commercial, right? This is speed skating! Here’s why you need to transcend the whole Ice-Hole thing. A Canadian member of your nation, The Colbert Nation, made a great point to kick off the blog-comment-thread on your Comedy Central letter writing campaign:

Stephen… What about your Colbert Nation supporters that reside in Canada? I would hate for this issue to divide your supporters. As a proud Canadian and equally proud member of the Colbert Nation I hope to be the voice of peace and reason. Let us skate together in Vancouver 2010! But this letter campaign to be honest doesn’t really threaten us… the US postal system will probably only end up delivering a fraction of the letters successfully.

Enter Johnism. See, fueled by democracy, the Colbert Nation, like the global political system is still built in a way that attracts and enables people who want to

First rule of Johnism: no whining. Second rule of Johnism: bears are amazing, naturally peaceful creatures!

First rule of Johnism: no whining. Second rule of Johnism: bears are amazing, naturally peaceful creatures!

be the world’s powerbrokers and reap all the delicious, material, ill-gotten/gettin’ goodies that such power allows. We need leaders for our communities – from local to global – but we need a new selection process. No dictatorial Colbertism. Free market, libertarian, open source Johnism. Recent findings show that there are approximately 942,564,723 people on the planet named “John” (translation and regional dialects were taken into account during this study). So, this up-and-coming ideology isn’t based on status or age or experience or ability or education or qualification or people named Stephen Colbert or being good at anything. It’s based on having a really common name. A name so common that, when the random, name-based selection of global leadership takes place, we can be sure that the new team in charge are truly drawn from all parts and places of society. Wow – think of how much extra cash we can spread around when credentials do not include the ability to raise $1 billion in campaign funds or being sponsored by Doritos! Fun fact: a study from The Recent Findings Institute indicated that nearly 11% of the Colbert Nation is made up of people named John, Jean, Giovanni, Juan, Ivan, Jens, Johann, Yochanan, or Yayha (all variations of the name “John”). Members of the Colbert Nation named John (or one of it’s variations), it’s time to think beyond America; take your ideas everywhere my friends, not just to the Olympic Oval – although, I must say, the architecture is spectacular.

If your community really wants to grow, Stephen. It needs to go beyond the simple binary of Canada vs. America – or America’ s nation within a nation. Take on something bigger than you. Challenge yourself and your nation to be more ridiculous that it already is. Then, and only then, will you have earned your Pink Toque of Ombudsmanship. For Canada – and the Johnists who herein preside – we embrace and love the ridiculous. Just look at our government’s stance on Climate Change!

Keep building communities around the world, Stephen. After all, people are listening. Thanks for the memories and for the attention.

Kindest regards,

John…ism

“Canada vs. The Colbert Nation”

Posted on by
4
I know what you are, but what am I?

I know what you are, but what am I?

This article was written several months ago by Editor-in-Controversy, Kurt Heinrich. And, since Stephen Colbert is arriving in Vancouver tomorrow (Tuesday, February 17), we thought this would present a solid reminder of what’s really at stake during the Olympics. That’s right: whose community is better?

It’s starting to look like a bit of a pitched battle between two communities (yup – I’m tying our ever-present theme into even this post!).  Canada vs. The Colbert Nation. While we’re a real country, I’m pretty sure they’ve got more people on their side.

It all got started with an article in the New York Times reporting that Canada wasn’t planning on allowing other countries, including the USA, to practice on the ice of the Richmond Oval (among other facilities) in the lead up to the Olympics. Titled Canada Protects Home Advantage at Olympics, the article features critiques by US athletes and coaches for Canadian and VANOC officials’ decision to invoke their home court advantage.

Unsurprisingly, a producer over at the Colbert Report spotted the headline as fodder for their show. The decision to “call Canada out” was doubtlessly an easy one to make.

Not to take it on the cheek, the CBC struck back (way to earn your public financing guys – I love it):

The jab evidently got Colbert’s attention leading him to start a letter writing campaign on his website and putting our entire country “on notice”. I’d link to the video, except because I live in Canada (along with a lot of our readership – we aren’t offered Comedy Central’s online TV streaming – score another one for the Americans…).

Colbert’s reaction provoked yet another barrage from the CBC. This one even better than the first.

Now, even Richmond is getting involved in the spat. Yesterday they sent out the following news release came from their corporate communications department:

Canadian Iceholes Challenge Colbert to Trek North

17 November 2009

Despite his egregious slurs against Canadians and the Richmond Olympic Oval, the City of Richmond is extending an olive branch and inviting television host Stephen Colbert to the Great White North.

The host of The Colbert Report recently announced he was coming on board as a sponsor of the cash-strapped US speed skating team, launching a fundraising campaign on his website. In a subsequent broadcast, he also attacked “syrup-sucking Canadian Iceholes”, accusing them of denying ice time to the American speed skating team at the Richmond Olympic Oval, which will host long track speed skating competition during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“We are proud syrup suckers who have been unfairly branded as cheats,” says City spokesperson Ted Townsend. “The fact is we would never knowingly harm one of our American cousins. However, we feel the best way to prove we are committed to fair play is for Mr. Colbert to come and see for himself.”

In fact, the City of Richmond, which built and owns the Richmond Olympic Oval, is offering to appoint Mr. Colbert as an official Ombudsman to monitor the treatment of Americans during the Games.

“We’ve even created a special uniform for the new Ombudsman’s position, consisting of a lovely Richmond Olympic Oval pink toque, which we think would make Mr. Colbert look very officious.”

The City has formally sent a letter of invitation to The Colbert Report’s studios in New York City encouraging him to “find yourself some sled dogs and venture forth to our great frozen wasteland to be our guest at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in February.”

I have to say I’m loving both the CBC and Richmond these days.

Bring it on Colbert – bring it on.

Frolicking, Tofino and Gumboots!

Posted on by
3

Readers of The Daily Gumboot, your help is needed. Recently, Michelle Burtyk and I entered a contest on an up-and-coming Canadian radio station called the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (the kids are calling it “CBC” for short). Mark Forsythe, the host of BC Almanac (goes from 12-1PM on CBC Radio One), is spearheading a superawesome and amazing photo contest meant to showcase the spirit and beauty of the West Coast. As described by Mark and the CBC, BC Almanac “…connects British Columbians as they share stories and ideas about what they have in common and what makes them different.” Well played, Mr. Forsythe. Let the connecting begin!

So, here’s the deal (and here’s the link to the contest): the Gumboot’s correspondents need your help to triumph over the likes of “second beach” and “bull kelp” and a disgustingly romantic picture of a couple kissing on Long Beach at sunset. Our photo is called “frolicking at Tofino” and we would like you to vote for it. Here it is in bigger-version-format:

Frolicking at Tofino (click on the photo and vote today!)

Frolicking at Tofino (click on the photo and vote today!)

Still not convinced we’re worth your vote? Well, here are five reasons to give “Frolicking at Tofino” a chance:

1. The photo captures the spirit and beauty of the West Coast. Sandy beaches that go on as if forever? Check. Lovely couple running, jumping, dancing, frolicking, and loving all over the West Coast? Check. Smokey skies that make one reflect on the stormy possibilities of Long Beach, Vancouver Island and the West Coast? Check. Simple yet indescribable beauty that can’t truly be understood without a steaming hot cup of coffee sipped slowly as the Sun rises warmly over your shoulders while you feel the chilly, salty wind on your face and smell the fishy fresh air? Double check! Communicating the previous statement (more or less) through photography? Check.

2. My family won’t support me. What did my father do when I called him last night and asked him to spread the word about the contest and help us win? Well, he said something like, “Forsythe? Almanac? Right on, I love that show! Where do I upload a photo? We’ve got some great ones from when your mom and I went to Ucluelet!” No joke. My dad uploaded his own photo and is now competing against us. Incidentally, you can vote for Geoff Horn by selecting the “After the Storm” photo. Unbelievable. And people wonder why I’m so competitive!

3. It is a good, technical photo. Full disclosure. As Michelle and I frolicked towards the camera my mom, Janet, was snapping many, many pictures. And she snapped a great one here. Her shot is well framed, balances the background and foreground of the scene, makes great use of the backlight, and is a crisp, not blurry, dynamic action shot. Well done, mom.

4. Michelle and I are getting married, and the contest has a great prize! That’s right, everyone, the grand prize for this contest is a two-night stay at the Wickanninish Inn on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. This would be a wonderful way for us to celebrate our love, togetherness and ability to frolick. Also, by voting for us you will be able to give the gift of awkwardness! I mean, since my mom took the picture, she’ll probably want to come along if we win, right?

5. We’re having a really, really good time in the picture. This photo was taken during the holidays last December. Before leaving the West Coast, we stopped at Long Beach for a brief, shared moment of existential delight, which some call frolicking. We had fun with it, and our delightful leaping certainly inspired some smiles by a few people who shared the moment with us. And it was a beautiful thing we’re happy to share with you today.

So there it is. Our case for “Frolicking at Tofino” has been made and I hope it inspired you to vote for us and perhaps tell 10 or so friends about the contest, too. This CBC thing might go places, man – Forsythe knows his stuff. Once again, here is the link to the contest. Thanks very much for your time and consideration and, hopefully, your votes, too.

- John and Michelle