Some links to interesting things that came my way in the last few weeks. Most of these have been already posted on my Mastodon timeline.
- Cab Calloway singing Jumpin’ Jive and the astonishing, unrehearsed, one-take-dancing duet of the Nicolas Brothers from the 1943 film Stormy Weather. I’ve seen this clip a number of times over the years and it never ceases to put a smile on my face.
- An index of every In Our Time episode, categorized by their relevant Dewey Decimal System numbers, from the inimitable Matt Webb. In Our Time is a long-running BBC radio show featuring the sometimes cranky Melvyn Bragg as host with three academics who specialize in knowledge of primarily European history, science and philosophy. It’s a wonderful balm for the soul, to hear sophisticated subject matter experts discussing things they are passionate and knowledgeable about.
- An important interview by journalist Justin Ling about the decriminalization of drugs, harm reduction, advocacy and policy in British Columbia. Ling interviews long-time Vancouver activist Garth Mullins, host of the Crackdown Podcast, and Kennedy Stewart, the former mayor of Vancouver.
- A beautiful article on the icebergs of the North Atlantic and the people who harvest them.
- A hopeful article about how Vienna created a sustainable social housing infrastructure. Contains links to further reading if you are so inclined to head down a policy rabbit hole.
- Continuing the policy dive, here is an analysis of the closure of a major pulp mill in Prince George which has put 300 people out of work, and which has a complex set of causes that might give a thoughtful government pause when thinking about future natural resources policies.
- On the eve of our Canada’s National Women’s Soccer Team playing a World Cup warm-up tournament match against the USA under protest, here is an article about worker’s compensation for professional athletes. Members of our national team are protesting the fact that they haven’t been paid since 2021 and that the budget, staff size and squad size for their training and preparation for the World Cup has been cut by Canada Soccer. We are the defending Olympic Champions, by the way.
- And finally, my friend Brad Carter lives in Japan and is an exceptional foodie. He has a blog called 10,000 Words which features pictures and short reflections on food and life in Japan.
