Disqus - Latest Comments for bluelines

Re: The Best Children’s Books to Give Kids

Daniel Gibbons — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:59:07 -0000

Agree 100% on the Julia Donaldson books. My sister knows her and last summer got my daughter The Gruffalo, Chocolate Mousse for Greedy Goose and The Snail and the Whale, all signed and with a personal message.

Re: Newspapers: Evolution or catastrophe?

Daniel Gibbons — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:47:30 -0000

What strikes me about all of these discussions is that they are, understandably I suppose, so US-centric. UK newspapers, as I understand it, are far less precarious than their US counterparts, because they are and always have been relatively less dependent on advertising. The most recent circulation figures I could find show a modest decline for most UK papers from late '07 to late '08 but nothing cataclysmic.

I'm speculating here, but perhaps it's because, love them or hate them, the UK papers have always been a bit more blog-like in their approach. That is, they are opinionated, outspoken, take a moral and ideological stance, and are unafraid of upsetting, for example, the Prime Minister's handlers, in the same way that US papers generally act in a subservient way to the White House, etc.

Re: If you could write one book, what would it be about?

Daniel Gibbons — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:52:34 -0000

I'm very overdue in starting work on a book about my Grandfather's life. So, that has to be at the top of my list.

Re: Skype: Am I missing something?

Daniel Gibbons — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:31:48 -0000

I think it's sort of like asking who uses calling cards -- it's a multi-billion dollar industry but when did you last meet anyone who uses calling cards? Skype does about $500 million in annual revenue, so obviously there are millions upon millions of active, paying users.

Re: What would you like to be a master of?

Daniel Gibbons — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:41:04 -0000

Definitely cooking. I'm already pretty good in the kitchen, but I don't have the "professional chef" skills that are required to be creative AND fast.

Re: What would you like to change about the holiday season?

Daniel Gibbons — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:48:38 -0000

I'd like it if the festive spirit was, well, non-alcoholic. It's really upsetting that people see the holidays as an excuse to get drunk all day every day.

Re: The Less You Get The More You Appreciate Christmas

Daniel Gibbons — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:25:46 -0000

Funny, sort-of-related story: my wife was at the hair salon last week and two of the other customers were discussing in great detail exactly how many dozens and dozens of expensive gifts they'd bought for their very young children. My wife asked them if they'd noticed that there was a global economic meltdown happening. Their response? "Canada won't be affected, because we have the winter Olympics in 2010."

I think my point is that rampant consumerism seems so totally inappropriate, this Christmas in particular. Buying dozens of gifts isn't just unhealthy for your children, it's also a sign that you are utterly insular and oblivious to the wider world.

Re: What’s your favorite charity or philanthropic cause to support?

Daniel Gibbons — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:35:48 -0000

I mostly support environmental charities and causes. I have a monthly donation set up with the Sierra Club (not a charity), and have often given money to Greenpeace and the Union of Concerned Scientists. My family are big supporters of

Re: Keep Your Eyes Off The Girl Next Door

Daniel Gibbons — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:56:11 -0000

It's interesting, because while I abhor the various "torture" movies that have been foisted on us in the past few years, there are very different kinds of movie and TV violence. Even on the torture note, I'd certainly say that Funny Games is very different from Saw or Hostel. Unforgiven is, as you say, a very powerful and well-made film, but it's also an important work about morality, and its violence is certainly not gratuitous. In fact it's a hugely valuable counterpoint to the mythology of the American West.

But it is amazing that American media in particular is so desensitized to violence and so over-sensitized to sex and depictions of sexuality. And even five years ago I remember seeing an episode of Entertainment Tonight in which one of the "controversies" they were breathlessly reporting on was an interracial kiss on primetime TV. Somehow a glorification of weapons and violence is less harmful to our children than honest depictions of real life??!!

Re: How do you want your neighborhood to feel?

Daniel Gibbons — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:57:03 -0000

I'd like my neighborhood to feel a little more authentic than it does. I live in Kitsilano, which is in many ways the nicest part of Vancouver, close to several beaches, full of tree-lined streets and older homes. However, it's also filling up with condos loudly proclaiming the too-cool-for-school urban lifestyle they embody, coffee shops that think the design of their paper cups is more important than the atmosphere and community they create, and organic food stores that are about fleecing the consumer rather than encouraging sustainable, local consumption.

Re: What is the quirkiest thing in your home that you will never give away?

Daniel Gibbons — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:58:23 -0000

I had a hard time thinking of an answer to this one, but then I remembered that our exercise equipment is actually pretty quirky, since we bought a shiny new rowing machine and spin bike, and they get more use as laundry racks than work-out machines...

Re: Top Five Get Out of Debt Mistakes

Daniel Gibbons — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:46:39 -0000

Very good point about the annual fees. Some cards have fees now in the $80+ range, which quickly adds up if you're talking about five or six cards.

Re: What are you going to do today, or this weekend, to create joy for someone else?

Daniel Gibbons — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:41:28 -0000

The great thing about having a 16-month-old daughter is that I can create joy for her simply by throwing grapes up in the air and catching them in my mouth. Or pushing her around in her little wooden cart.

Re: Five Best Pregnancy and Baby Books Actually Read by a Mother

Daniel Gibbons — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:29:30 -0000

I love this list, mostly because the books are of the "stay sane, don't panic" variety. So many baby and parenting books are nothing more than a rigid and unworkable list of instructions, that make parents demoralized when their baby doesn't cooperate with the book. The best thing to remember is always that all babies are different and your instincts are almost always right...

Re: Who are your favorite female entrepreneurs?

Daniel Gibbons — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:17:31 -0000

Re: Broken windows and a call for help

Daniel Gibbons — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:16:44 -0000

I think a lot of it comes down to dealing with the question of anonymity. There are I suppose some circumstances in which people are anonymous for legitimate reasons (for example, if they're supporting an agenda that would cause them trouble at work or elsewhere), but mostly it's what leads to the worst comments and behaviour.

What about something along the lines of Amazon's "real name" verification, where comments from a user who has verified his or her name are automatically elevated above those that haven't?

Re: Everything You Wanted to Know About Becoming a Vegetarian (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Daniel Gibbons — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:05:05 -0000

To be fair to the author, the definition of "vegetarian" is taken quite loosely in lots of different contexts, and it's very common to encounter people who call themselves vegetarians but do eat fish.

As to the farmed fish point -- there are very few truly sustainable forms of fish farming. It's a subject close to home here in Vancouver, where salmon farming has had a calamitous effect on the wild salmon population, mostly because of sea lice infestation.

Re: What holiday gifts are you excited about giving this year?

Daniel Gibbons — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:09:58 -0000

We're staying with my brother and his wife and seven-month-old for a night or two. I'd love to babysit and give them the chance for a proper night out.

Re: What’s your movie recommendation for this weekend?

Daniel Gibbons — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:31:59 -0000

OK, it's not a movie, but Gavin and Stacey is a relatively obscure but totally brilliant British TV series that everyone should find time to watch.

Re: MSFT and Yahoo: Nom nom nom

Daniel Gibbons — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:27:27 -0000

"If it had appeared in the Daily Mail or the Inquirer or something like that, then I would be dubious."

Ouch!! The Daily Mail is a pretty horrible newspaper, but I don't think they're known for poorly-sourced tech. stories. Fear-mongering about immigrants, single mothers and gays is more their line.

Re: Who in your own life would you give the title of “Hostess With the Mostess”?

Daniel Gibbons — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:22:13 -0000

Without question my mother, who in turn was a passionate fan of Elizabeth David (the brilliant food writer who, more than anyone, brought an intelligent understanding of food to Britain, perfectly summed up by the title of one of the best collections of her writings, South Wind Through the Kitchen).

Re: What are you sensitive to?

Daniel Gibbons — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:46:46 -0000

Completely agree about the horror movie trailers. I used to be fairly oblivious to this stuff, but increasingly I find myself wondering what kind of people this stuff could possibly appeal to. And in turn what kind of people are making this stuff -- constantly escalating the gore and violence.

Re: Who or what is your favorite Icon?

Daniel Gibbons — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:19:23 -0000

Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, early Woody Allen.

Re: Is there life without Oatmeal and Caffeine?

Daniel Gibbons — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:12:46 -0000

Hmm, I had oatmeal and very strong espresso for breakfast this morning. I console myself with what I'm sure must be a myth -- that espresso has less caffeine than regular coffee...

Re: Comments: Messy and flawed, but valuable

Daniel Gibbons — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:21:06 -0000

Markus Frind wrote something interesting on his blog yesterday, about the value of NOT asking your users for feedback and suggestions. Not directly related to your piece, but in the same realm of the whole role-of-community debate.

What I do think is needed is a bit more honesty and respect on both sides. Those who are calling for the death of old media need to acknowledge how valuable real journalism can be; and those who are terrified of old media's struggle with the new need to do a bit more embracing.