In a continuation of the theme, The 8-Bit Guy’s “Commodore History Part 3 – The Commodore 64” is great technical breakdown of the second computer I ever used. It’s really interesting to understand the technical reasons for the various features and limitations of a computer that you used as a child. The 8-Bit Guy’s channel in general is quite good, it’s particularly interesting if you have a technical background but aren’t really familiar with the specs and conventions of late 1970s to mid-1980s home computing.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Culture
The First Computer I Ever Used
My elementary school had a number of Apple II, Apple II+, and Apple IIe computers in the early 1980s. This was my first exposure to computers in general and I’ve only started to appreciate how fortunate I was to have a few teachers who were quite interested in computers even though there wasn’t really any computer class offered until I was in high school.
In my search for interesting info on the Apple II, I came across this really interesting video from the 8-Bit Guy walking through a restoration of an Apple II+.
The History of English Podcast
I’ve always been fascinated by languages in general and as a semi-competent English and an even less competent French speaker, I’ve always found the evolution of our mother tongue particularly interesting.
After reading Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf translation again over the Christmas holiday this year, I came across The History of English Podcast by Kevin Stroud. It’s a wonderful examination not only of the history and linguistics involved, but also the cultural and political context.
I recommend it to anybody.
Louis’ Scientology Movie
I just finished watching My Scientology Movie by Louis Theroux and BBC Films. Unfortunately I was unable to get tickets when it was here at Hot Docs this year so I was really looking forward to seeing it.
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Louis, I think he has a fascinating technique and he has made a number of films which I have found incredibly compelling. But I also find some of his work a bit contrived and there are occasions where I’ve felt that he’s soft peddled a situation. But I’m probably being unfair…
For whatever mistakes I may have felt he’s made in the past, he’s taken a very unconventional approach, and in doing so he manages to bait the “Church” into helping him make an even more damning film then he would ever have created if they had simply co-operated. Continue reading
Frontline: Policing the Police
I just finished watching this excellent Frontline doc by Jelani Cobb called Policing the Police. I think it’s one of the most interesting and even handed overview of race and policing in the United States that I’ve ever seen. It’s got a very strong thesis, but I think it provides a very evenhanded view of the situation from all sides.
Cobb goes on the streets in Newark with the police and with activists and you get to see through the camera what the situation looks like for many parties.
It’s one of the best episodes of Frontline I’ve seen in a while and definitely worth watching. Best of all it’s not geofenced in Canada!
Sometimes I Love My Job
It can be tedious working for a crown corp and the CBC certainly has its moments, just like any other job, but then there are things like this that you just don’t get to see anywhere else.
It’s pretty strange to be at a point in your life where pop heroes from your childhood are now being retread as kids entertainers of your middle age. But it was still pretty neat to see the parents almost as excited as the kids!
Sorry for the bad quality, I didn’t expect to see Maestro, let alone be taking video of Let Your Backbone Slide so I wasn’t exactly prepared.
New York, New York
I just got on the new Union Pearson Express for the first time and am off to New York for the first time in almost a decade.
Unfortunately it’s for work, but I packed my camera and I’m hoping I can take some time to shoot a few photos and maybe grab a nice bite to eat somewhere. My brother the chef has been filling my taste buds with fancy ideas of fun places to go!
The Agenda’s Federal Election Wrap-up
As a follow up to my previous post about Steve Paikin, The Agenda had a great election wrap-up show with excellent guests. Well worth the watch if you’re interested in the inside game of federal politics.
Steve Paikin on Canadaland
I haven’t had the time to listen to this yet, but I’m sure this will be an interesting interview. Along with Anna Maria Tremonti he is probably my favourite interviewer/host in the country right now.
Uranium
Check it out, I’m a huge fan of Derek Muller (the host) and anything on PBS doesn’t tend to go too far astray. I’ve read several books on Uranium and the weapons development over the past several years and as much as I’m pretty strongly opposed to the development and stockpiling of nuclear weapons there really is no escaping that it’s one of the most thrilling scientific, engineering, and espionage stories of the 20th century.