This is a question raised by the UK Guardian this week: Can anyone do data journalism?

The Guardian, in my opinion, have so far, excelled in the data journalism realm as it starts to emerge as an important tool in story telling and in their latest piece, have likened it to the evolution of 70s punk.

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When my grandfather passed away, he left my dad his favourite transistor. The good ol’ wireless was on all day at nan and pops; first thing in the morning while sipping his cuppa and the last thing at night at supper. It was the news he loved most listening to. The only times he’d turn it off was when the football was on and Collingwood was losing. Every now and then a familiar song would come on, he wouldn’t sing along, he’d hum or whistle.

Here’s a piece I did last week for Open File.ca on Environment Canada’s volunteer-based weather reporting program called CanWarn.

It’s been a busy past few weeks. After working on the St.Clair Disaster Week with Open File.ca, I’m back to hunting down local, city and national features and news bits.I’m also ghost tweeting presenters and their topics for NXNE. On a local front, Hero Burger just opened during the week in Forest Hill. You can smell that “barbecue” smell as soon as you step foot on Lonsdale Road. Anyway, I’m alive, just so you know.  In the meantime, the photo attached to this post is City Hall last sunny Sunday. It was chilly, but sunny. Oh, and yes, it’s an Instagram.

Longform, as we already know, curates and collects the best bits of feature writing, investigative journalism, crime reporting and the highest caliber of writing.

Why?  It’s just so we don’t have to. I mean, who wants to sift through the web looking for great stuff to read? Sometimes that’s half the fun, but sometimes you want it on a plate.

Here’s   the 50 most-read stories for the past two years.

On a plate.

ryanselvy:

#149 “Old People”

newsweek:

nedhepburn:

Live poultry laughter.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Oh how we wish this was a real thing. We’re picturing a fever dream scenario of a stadium full of half-plucked chickens laughing endlessly at their encroaching fate.

Last night I caught a glimpse of Ben Gibbard’s Death Cab for Cutie at Massey Hall. After digging in for the night in my sliding armchair, I started to think about the front man and his subtle transformations over the years: from a raw chap to a couth gentleman.You see, when I bought my first Death Cab album “We Have The Facts And We’re Voting Yes”, released in 2000, I immediately took to them. He wrote his songs in basements; he made mixed tapes. This was something I longed for. And, I thought I saw a bit of me in Gibbard. He seemed down to earth; well mannered. 

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Here’s another two pieces I compiled for Open File.ca, part of “St.Clair Disaster Week”.

The Wychwood BIA on St.Clair West have hired a local marketing firm to attract business into the area. All this talk comes at a time where Mayor Rob Ford labelled St.Clair West a disaster (referring to the right of way) and a wasteland, pointing his finger directly at the empty store fronts along sections of St.Clair West.  The marketing firm, who will lead the charge in attracting new business to the neighbourhood, will be revealed in the coming weeks.

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The other day I realized how little I really do know about Star Wars. I’ve never claimed to be a Star-Wars-know-it-all, but, whenever the characters come up in conversation, or when folks start reciting lines from the movies,  I’m listening. I usually add my two cents as well. But, after coming across a super fan, a friend of mine, I might have to brush up on my Star Wars knowledge after he corrected me several times on quotes and — the plot (kind of a big error on my part). 

In the meantime, I will be dedicating a series of posts to, well, coming up with my own Star Wars plots. Most of them will stem from conversations I will have with my friend “super fan”.

It’ll go something like this: I will make a ridiculous statement about the Star Wars plot that never happened and listen to super fan as he hits me with the correct facts. I will back my plot and come up with reasons why my plot could have worked.

Or not.

Here’s a conversation we had today.

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