the future of the NEWS

What will the most popular news sources of the future look like?

I’m hopeful for the soon to be launched Wikitribune.

Evidence-based journalism

People today mostly get their news from TV (not bad) and social media (terrible).

My favourite news source right now is Axios, just 6 months old.

Smart brevity.

Axios covers 7 areas: politics, tech, media trends, health, science, energy, and future of work (AI, robotics, etc.).

They want to deliver the cleanest, smartest, most efficient and trust-worthy experience for readers and advertisers alike.

It was founded by Mike Allen, former chief political reporter for Politico. I like Politico too, founded in 2007. And  Jim VandeHei.

John F. Harris and Jim VandeHei left The Washington Post to become The Politico‘s editor-in-chief and executive editor, respectively.

So … Washington Post begat Politico begat Axios.

If interested, start by signing up for any of the Axios email newsletters.

 

 

Parksville sand sculpting 2017

Randy and Val arrived Parksville for a week holiday. First stop was the annual sand sculpting competition.

Theme this year was Canada 150.

Maple leaves, trees and water were recurring themes as 29 competitors devoted their creativity to the theme of Canada 150 in the 2017 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition at Parksville’s Community Park last weekend.

In the end, the winning entries were those that focused on Canada’s people — particularly those of its First Nations. …

Parksville sand sculpting competition honours Canada

Canadian Mosaic, a 360-degree series of pillars featuring five Canadian icons — Neil Young, Buffy St. Marie, Terry Fox, Chief Dan George and David Suzuki won a prize.

Excellent detail impresses me.

My brother liked best another winner, with an indigenous figure on one side and a uniformed Mountie on the other.

I voted for one called Little Iron Horse celebrating a certain breed of Canadian horses.

more photos

Will Aspartame Kill You?

“… aspartame has been approved for human consumption by regulatory agencies in more than 100 countries and received wide consumer acceptance with consumption by hundreds of millions of people over the past 20 years, representing billions of man-years of safe exposure.” 

No, Dumbass. Here’s Why.

This in response to a study out of University of Manitoba – Artificial sweeteners are tied to long-term weight gain, diabetes risk, Canadian docs say

When it comes to nutrition, there’s more crap written than eaten.

Thanks Dave.

historic McLean Mill, Port Alberni

McLean Mill National Historic Site is a steam-operated sawmill on Vancouver Island, officially open to tourists since July 1, 2000. …

The mill originally ran as a family operated saw-milling business from 1926 to 1965.  …

I took a detour off cycling the AV Log Train Trail to visit the mill.

VERY impressed.

More photos.

The huge steam Donkey engines were the highlight for me.

My Mom once took the tourist train to visit the Mill.

Click PLAY or watch guys show you how it worked  on YouTube.

AV Log Train Trail, Port Alberni

I finally rode some of the 26 km Log Train Trail, perhaps the most popular out of Port Alberni, B.C.

Tourist information gave me a map. One of the trailheads is nearby off Mozart road.

The trail’s history dates back to the early 1900s when it was originally constructed as a railway line to service the Bainbridge Mill, which operated from 1917 to 1927. …

Some of the timbers were close to 90 feet long and four feet square, requiring three rail cars for transport. …

When the mill closed the railway was abandoned, only to be re-opened and extended in 1937 when timber rights to the Ash River area, further out the Alberni valley, were purchased by logging giant H.R. MacMillan. …

The railroad was abandoned a final time in 1953 when logging trucks became the preferred mode of transporting the area’s bountiful timber harvests.

… Walkers and hikers, cyclists, equestrians, joggers and mountain bike enthusiasts all make good use of the trail.

Vancouver Island Beyond Victoria

This is Us – Kate and Toby

Have you been watching This is Us?

It’s excellent.

One of the story lines is the charming romance of two obese characters.


That’s Chrissy Metz as Kate Pearson. And Chris Sullivan as Toby, her boyfriend.

37% of Americans are currently obese (50% obese by 2020).

34% more are currently overweight.

Fad diets and reality TV doctors don’t seem to be helping. Overweight in the 1st world is here to stay, I think.