Weekly News Recap: May 5, 2023

Weekly News Recap: May 5, 2023

The Stardale Girl Drummers practice at Bridgeland park for Friday's Red Dress Day Ceremony in Calgary on May 3. PHOTO BY DARREN MAKOWICHUK /Post-media

The woman is the foundation on which Nations are built. She is the heart of her Nation. If that heart is weak, the people are weak. If her heart is strong and her mind is clear, then the Nation is strong and knows its purpose. -- Ojibwa Elder Art Soloman

NATIONAL RED DRESS DAY

  • 'We deal with this on a weekly basis': Groups in Calgary gather in grief, hope for Red Dress Day (Calgary Herald) "Red ribbons and dresses will hang along a stretch of Memorial Drive on Friday, as people gather for the third annual Mohkinstis Red Dress Day ceremony. At the Field of Crosses at 200 Memorial Drive N.W., Calgarians will acknowledge the National Day of Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, two-spirit and LGBTQ+ people between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m."

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • The 10 best 'Carpool Karaoke' episodes of all time (Mashable) I have loved them all. I am especially drawn to the Adele, Lady Gaga, and Paul McCartney (not included here but see the link) episodes. Well done James. We will miss CPK. "Well, they've had a good run. After a solid eight years and 1,200 shows, The Late Late Show with James Corden [had] its final episode on April 26 — and that means Carpool Karaoke [came] to an end with it. On the one hand, this means — unless there's some kind of special or reunion – we'll never get a Beyoncé or Taylor Swift episode, which is an undeniable tragedy. On the other hand, we do still have the countless existing episodes to look fondly back on. Not all Carpool Karaokes are created equally, though. [...] In no particular order, here are the all-time 10 greatest Carpool Karaoke episodes."

  • Oregon grocery store worker, 91, retires after raising more than $80,000 online (The Guardian) Nobody should have to work until they are 91. "She has been working behind the cash register of the WinCo Foods grocery in South Medford, Oregon, when she decided she wanted to dedicate more of her final years to creating memories with loved ones. 'I’m used to working and I hate the thought of not working,' Glover told the local television station KDRV, adding that she also loves her customers. 'But then I decided that I would like to enjoy my two children, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.' One of Glover’s granddaughters helped her launch a GoFundMe campaign with an initial goal of $40,000. The campaign succeeded resoundingly and as of Wednesday had raised more than $82,000, mostly from community members and store regulars."

  • He played more than 1,100 minor league games, and finally made an emotional MLB debut (NPR) A Cinderella story. #Lovely "During his 13-year career, baseball player Drew Maggi has seen plenty of pitches. Over more than 1,150 career games, he has stepped up to the plate nearly 4,500 times and taken five figures' worth of balls and strikes. But Wednesday night was different. 'I can't explain how I was feeling in the box. I didn't even know what to do,' Maggi said after the Pittsburgh Pirates' 8-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers — his very first under the spotlights of a Major League Baseball team after a career spent in minor league baseball."

  • A Michigan 7th grader pulled off the heroic act of stopping a school bus carrying around 66 students after his bus driver lost consciousness at the wheel (Insider.com) #HeroesLiveAmongUs "A Michigan seventh grader, who took control of his school bus after the driver passed out, told his parents that he knew what to do because he watched the driver do it every day. The student was riding the bus home from Lois E. Carter Middle School in Warren, Michigan, on Wednesday when the bus driver 'became lightheaded and lost consciousness,' the district superintendent, Robert Livernois, said in a statement. Livernois wrote that the 'quick-thinking' seventh grader — who was later identified as Dillon Reeves — 'saw the driver in distress, stepped to the front of the bus, and helped bring it to a stop without incident.'"

  • The strange and very Albertan history of the Cadillac Ranch (CBC) ALBERTA STORY #LineDanceIsCool "In a video captured somewhere in Canada, most likely Calgary, a crowd is hopping and hollering to a country song called Cadillac Ranch. As the camera pans above the mob, you can hear them shouting along with the man on the microphone. He’s jumping in time with the throng, standing at the centre of the pit. And though a floppy black cowboy hat is hiding his face, it’s obvious who’s singing. That’s country star Brett Kissel, a three-time Juno winner whose brand is so Alberta that he’s the voice of a provincial tourism campaign."

  • Washroom attendants to staff 2 Calgary parks in $600,000 project to make them more safe and welcoming (CBC) CALGARY STORY This makes me so happy. Access to a washroom is a basic human right. "Calgary's downtown parks will soon have more safety measures in place, thanks to a new pilot project that kicks off next week. The Downtown Washroom Attendant Pilot Project will launch in two parks — Olympic Plaza and Century Gardens. It's scheduled to begin Monday and expected to last until mid-October. Each park will be staffed with washroom attendants every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The attendants will get rid of litter and clean up the restrooms while monitoring overall safety and reporting any untoward incidents that come to light."

  • Scouts Canada launches free helpline for all your camping calamities (CBC) CANADIAN STORY So, if you are in a capsized canoe, you know who to call. All kidding aside, this is #Awesome Good move Scouts Canada. "If you find yourself up the creek without a paddle on a camping trip this summer, there is a new number you can call for help. Scouts Canada has launched a free 24/7 camping helpline where callers can find expert advice on common camping conundrums. After calling 1-844-SCOUT101, campers can select pre-recorded solutions — from trying to start a fire with wet wood, getting a tent up with damaged poles, righting a capsized canoe and basic first aid."

  • A kerfuffle in the corner leads to marriage for these central Newfoundland seniors (CBC) NEWFOUNDLAND STORY #NeverSayNever #Love "It started with the chance encounter of two people banging into one another — literally. And last week, it culminated in a wedding. George Faulkner, 89, and Barbara Paddock, 85, say you're never too old to fall in love — and they believe a little bit of destiny helped them along the way. Faulkner, best known as the first professional hockey player from Newfoundland and Labrador, had been living in the Hollett Retirement Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor for about a year before his bride-to-be moved in just down the hall."

  • Iceberg lovers go wild over viral photos of the 'dickie berg' off Newfoundland's coast (CBC) NEWFOUNDLAND STORY I love my country. "A man from Dildo, N.L. has captured the attention of iceberg lovers after photographing an oddly-shaped hunk — now popularly known as the 'dickie berg' on social media — off the coast of Newfoundland. 'I'm gettin' a lot of response, a lot of reaction to the photo because of its resemblance to ... part of the male anatomy, say,' chuckled drone photographer Ken Pretty. In an interview Friday, Pretty said he noticed from his very first photograph that the iceberg, in an area of the province known as Conception Bay, had online potential. The berg got its nickname from the term 'dickie bird,' a Newfoundland euphemism for the male anatomy."

  • Could this condo be more awesome? Friends-themed apartment in Victoria for sale (CBC) VICTORIA STORY #Millennials "Oh. My. God. One of New York City's most famous apartments is for sale in B.C.'s capital. The condo is styled to resemble that of the purple apartment in the 90s phenomenon Friends, a setting that's remained iconic and recognizable even decades after the series aired. Though not the same layout as Monica Geller's apartment, the home certainly gives off similar vibes: the French poster is there, as are the teal cabinets, black and white bathroom tiles, and a replica of Phoebe Buffay's work of art, Gladys."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Harvard President Asked Epstein for Donation to Wife’s Poetry Project after Sex Offender’s Conviction (Yahoo News) #Ugh The ethics (dramatic absence thereof) of this is appalling. "Epstein donated millions of dollars to Harvard during Summers’s tenure as the university’s president from 2001 to 2006. After Epstein’s guilty plea in 2008, Harvard decided to reject donations from Epstein. However, documents show that Summers, who is still a Harvard professor, had more than a dozen meetings scheduled with Epstein from 2013 through 2016, including dinners. A spokeswoman for Summers explained the pair discussed 'global economic issues,' but the Journal disclosed that Summers had solicited a donation for a public-facing online poetry project run by his wife, Harvard professor Elisa New. 'I need small scale philanthropy advice. My life will be better if i raise $1m for Lisa,' Summers wrote in an email to Epstein in April 2014, obtained by the Wall Street Journal. 'Mostly it will go to make it a pbs series and for teacher training. Ideas?' The solicitation, which was followed by a series of meetings, ultimately resulted in a donation in the amount of $110,000."

  2. What to expect at the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla (CBC) CANADIAN CONTENT One of ViTreo's team members will be in attendance. We are looking forward to the pictures. "The coronation that will take place on Saturday is at its heart a Church of England service that will see King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, crowned at Westminster Abbey in London in a ceremony that is steeped in 1,000 years of history. While much of the tradition has been preserved, some changes have been made to shorten the ceremony — it's expected to be about two hours, down from three the last time, for Queen Elizabeth in 1953. Some changes to the service also seem intended to try to create a feeling of greater inclusivity and to emphasize the importance Charles places on service."

  3. Euthanizing my dog showed me I could rescue her one more time (CBC) CANADIAN STORY As someone who has been the grateful guardian of many dogs and cats, this story is a story of love and learning. Which, of course, our pets have always been teaching us. RIP Kahlua, we will not see your like again but we will meeting you again beyond the Rainbow Bridge. "As I tried to make sense of what was happening, I learned a valuable lesson: When we're caught up in our routines, we sometimes forget how perfect life can be. Kahlua's prognosis made me realize that I took for granted the moments we shared together. I assumed she would live for at least another five years and there would be plenty of time for her to enjoy her favourite things. Dogs teach us to live in the moment, and that night, Kahlua didn't have any left. In the end, the decision to euthanize her was not really a choice. Her heart had collapsed and there was no pumping it back to life. When I looked at her as she struggled to breathe through a ventilator, I finally realized that I could rescue my beloved dog one more time by taking away her pain forever."

  4. Are you under digital distress? 3 ways tech-triggers may be affecting your mental health (Yahoo News) CANADIAN CONTENT Almost always these days, when I am in a grumpy mood, it is because of digital distress. "Mental Health Week, which runs from May 1 to 7, provides an opportunity to reflect on our collective well-being. In addition to rising mental health issues, there seems to be a general malaise across normally well individuals in society. This is manifesting as cognitive and physical exhaustion, limited patience, disinterest in work and a resentment of the stressors in our lives. Many of these stressors may be coming from interactions with technology: small but frequent frustrations that quickly dissipate, but when added up become micro-aggressive tech-triggers of digital distress, defined here as a form of psychological distress caused by a dysfunctional user experience with technology. Tech-triggers are pervasive, yet seemingly innocuous because we’ve learned to click them away or compartmentalize their effects. No one is going to do anything about them until we acknowledge their harm, and that it’s a problem. Here are three main types of tech-triggers and their corresponding effects to consider if this is affecting you."

  5. From RPMHTFVVC to FNQLHSSC: What's behind Quebec's love of long abbreviations? (CBC) QUEBEC STORY "Nathalie Robert admits the name and abbreviation of her organization can be difficult to communicate at times. But for her and other members of the group CAPTCHPL, the lengthy name and eight-letter initials are points of pride. CAPTCHPL stands for Centre d'aide aux personnes traumatisées crâniennes et handicapées physiques Laurentides, an organization that assists people with brain injuries and physical disabilities in Quebec. '[We want] to properly represent all the types of members of the organization,' said Robert, an adapted leisure counsellor, She says the importance of social inclusion is likely why many Quebec organizations lean toward longer names, even if it sometimes poses challenges."

  6. Reminiscing with Leafs fans who remember the team's last Stanley Cup win — 56 years ago (CBC) TORONTO STORY #GoLeafsGo #GoOilersGo "Anne Thompson can't remember if she's been to more than one Toronto Maple Leafs game, but it would be impossible for her to have picked a better match up than the one she does recall. On May 2, 1967 she and a friend packed into Maple Leaf Gardens to witness something many modern fans might be tired of hearing about, the last time the team won the Stanley Cup. 'It was an exciting time for us. I don't remember much more except for us shouting the way we did,' said Thompson, who's now 89 years old. Fifty-six years later, there are a lot of Leafs fans who weren't alive to witness that great game. But Thompson and others at the Rouge Valley Retirement Residence in Markham remember what it was like when the team hoisted the Cup — and they're still watching, cheering and hoping that this year will bring that glory back to Toronto."

  7. Canadian folk music icon Gordon Lightfoot dead at 84 (CBC) CANADIAN STORY A huge loss. RIP Mr. Lightfoot. We will not see your like again. "Canadian folk music icon Gordon Lightfoot, whose evocative and poetic songs are etched into the musical landscape of Canada, has died at the age of 84, according to his longtime publicist Victoria Lord. Lord says Lightfoot died at a Toronto hospital on Monday evening. The cause of death was not immediately available Born in Orillia, Ont., Lightfoot was hailed as Canada's folk troubadour for his soulful music and stirring lyrics. In songs such as The Canadian Railroad Trilogy and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, he explored the country's history, geography and culture. 'He is our poet laureate, he is our iconic singer-songwriter,' said Rush singer Geddy Lee in the 2019 documentary Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind." RELATED: #TheMoment Mariner's Church rings their bell 30 times for Gordon Lightfoot

  8. Eleanor Wachtel saying goodbye to Writers & Company after 33 remarkable years (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Eleanor is one of the best interviewers out there. We will miss her flawless preparation and skill. Thank you! "After 33 years hosting Writers & Company, this current season will be Eleanor Wachtel's last: she's retiring in the spring of 2023. The news was made official on Writers & Company's Sunday, April 30 broadcast. The final episode will air on June 25 and will feature a special live-audience event that will be taped for broadcast. Wachtel is a Canadian writer and broadcaster. She has hosted Writers & Company, CBC Radio's flagship literary program, since 1990. 'Writers & Company has been a dream job. So I don't think of this as retirement. Retirement is not a word that I relate to,' said the venerable broadcast host. 'I see it more as a change of pace. I'm planning to stay in the game. I'm hoping to use the wealth of my experience to take on different projects.'"

  9. The weight bias against women in the workforce is real — and it's only getting worse (Cap Radio) "'Heavier women tend to earn less,' the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said in a 2011 report, which analyzed the results of multiple studies on the topic. 'These penalties have not only increased over the past few decades, but continue to increase as women age.' However, men don't seem to face a similar weight bias. Some studies even found that white males seen as overweight actually earn more. However, the wage penalty for women seen as overweight was consistent in each study. Economist David Lempert, who worked for the U.S. government for over a decade, found in his analysis that an increase of 10% in a woman's body mass decreased her income by 6%. This wage cut comes on top of the fact that women already earn 20% less on average than men in the U.S."

  10. $83M will help University of Victoria design community-based climate solutions (CBC) VICTORIA STORY #Congrats "A research initiative from the University of Victoria has won $83.6 million dollars to help it transition communities to clean energy. The project, called Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET), was one of 33 competing for a federal research grant called the Canada First Research Excellence Fund."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. Kintsugi (SIVA CHIDAMBARAM) Applying Kintsugi to all parts of your life will only make your entire life better.

  2. How to use ChatGPT to improve your Microsft Excel skills? (Christian Martinez) This is so cool.

  3. The 5 Things I Learned by Taking My Emotional Temperature Every Morning for 2 Years (The Novel Survivor) I don't do this but I should.

  4. 10 Best Productivity Books You Must Read in 2023 (Mohit Mistry) A fantastic list. I have read five.

  5. Why Unproductive People Produce More (Infinite Passion) Productivity is a very subjective term.

  6. A good reason to say no to grouped column (and bar) charts (UX Collective) A deep and nerdy dive into better charts. You're welcome.

  7. The Art of Writing Documentation and Other Technical Content (Pieces for Developers) Super helpful to anyone who need to write in this niche area.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. $4-million donation helps Niagara Health launch Knowledge Institute (Niagara Health) "A significant donation from the McCall MacBain Foundation is serving as a catalyst to help Niagara Health launch a new program that will change how research and academic activities are organized and conducted at community hospitals."

  2. $25M anonymous donation meant to tackle homelessness in London, Ont. (YouTube) "An anonymous donation of $25 million sparked an ambitious strategy to address the housing crisis in London, Ont. The city's mayor, Josh Morgan, wants to implement a plan to provide a permanent and sustainable system to help people experiencing homelessness."

  3. Juravinski donation of $5.1M to aid studies on better models for child, integrated care (Y108) "Another multi-million dollar donation from Hamilton’s Juravinski family is expected to improve health outcomes for some of the city’s most marginalized populations. The $5.1-million gift, from Margaret Juravinski, is earmarked for two new major projects at the Juravinski Research Institute (JRI), with the first addressing inequality in health care for children."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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