Each week, BIV staff will share with you some of the interesting stories we have found from around the web.
Kirk LaPointe, editor-in-chief:
Facebook has found recent life quite challenging. This investigative piece examines how its executives contended with Russian involvement in the US election, racism in its news feeds, and privacy concerns, among other messes. - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/technology/facebook-data-russia-election-racism.html
Ann Powers of National Public Radio is one of the most thoughtful music critics, and her essay on Joni Mitchell at 75 is blessed with an encyclopedic memory, insight and lovely turns-of-phrase. - NPR
https://www.npr.org/2018/11/09/666148055/joni-mitchell-at-75-trouble-is-still-her-muse
Sometimes you can learn a lot by reading a review without having to see the film. In Search of Greatness, a new documentary, focuses on athletic prowess. This review explores what it explores and focuses on our Canadian icon, Wayne Gretzky, and his traits. - The New Yorker
Timothy Renshaw, managing editor:
Yet another major marketplace selling point for self-driving cars: their potential as mobile brothels. - Road Show
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/autonomous-self-driving-car-sex-brothels/
How’s your organization doing with its preparations for the future of work? According to PwC, not great. - PwC
https://www.pwc.com/futureworksurvey
Carrie Schmidt, editorial researcher:
Where to Cry in an Open Office: "By the water cooler: Boost collaboration with your co-workers by taking turns to openly weep. They might hesitate at first, but remind them it’s easier to cry in person than via email." - New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/09/opinion/sunday/where-to-cry-open-office.html
This article is rife with stats around how people are searching for meaning in their work, as well as these two gems:
1. A 1974 quote from oral historian Studs Terkel: “[Work] is about a search…for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor"
2. "Often, the people “in the trenches” (retail floor clerks, assembly line workers) have valuable insights into how operations can be improved. Engaging employees by soliciting their feedback can have a huge impact on employees’ experience of meaning, and helps improve company processes." - Harvard Business Review
https://hbr.org/2018/11/9-out-of-10-people-are-willing-to-earn-less-money-to-do-more-meaningful-work
Emma Crawford Hampel, online editor:
A gadget to detect body odour: Unilever has developed a strip to detect whether or not the wearer has B.O., and will then recommend what scent of Axe Body Spray - either “hot chocolate” or “red peppercorn notes” - would be best to fix the issue. - Futurism
https://futurism.com/deodorant-maker-machine-learning-detect
Mark Falkenberg, deputy managing editor:
Helpful perspective on how Trump toxicity in the suburbs – particularly among women – helped propel the Democratic resurgence in last week’s U.S. midterm elections. - Daily Kos
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1812571
Fascinating and scary story about “deep fakes” – highly realistic phony videos created using deep learning technology that can make anyone appear to do or say anything – sparking fears that they will be wielded as potent political weapons in this post-truth era. - The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/12/deep-fakes-fake-news-truth
Glen Korstrom, reporter, editor CannaBiz magazine:
The energetic, smart and passionate former MP, MLA and B.C. minister of small business Ian Waddell’s new memoir includes bits on some of his claims to fame – winning the first class-action lawsuit in Canada while a young lawyer, grabbing the mace in Parliament, being part of a tag-team that helped enshrine Indigenous rights in the Constitution, etc. – Take the Torch, by Ian Waddell
https://www.amazon.ca/Take-Torch-Ian-Waddell/dp/0889713472
As editor of Glacier Media’s CannaBiz magazine, I’m always looking out for new publications that aim to connect business-minded people with relevant news about the burgeoning cannabis sector. Found this publication, which is published by EMC Publications and it’s worth perusing. Here’s a link to where they have free downloads for the spring, summer and fall editions of their magazine. - Cannabis Retailer magazine
https://cannabisretailer.ca/magazine/
Hayley Woodin, reporter:
Oil prices – and how countries plan to deal with them – have dominated headlines this week. This piece of commentary from the senior vice-president of energy at DBRS looks at North America’s, and specifically Canada’s, place and position in our global oil market. - DBRS
On a lighter note, ‘tequila’ is a protected word, which poses problems for Elon Musk’s ‘Teslaquila’ product plans. - Reuters
