Legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll DJ Red Robinson dead at 86

Red Robinson introduces Rubber Soul PNE August 21, 2004. Photo by Greg Gazin

Robinson interviewed, befriended and introduced the likes of The Beatles, Elvis, Bill Haley, and Buddy Holly to the Canadian public

Legendary Canadian Rock’ n’ Roll broadcaster and DJ Red Robinson passed away on Saturday at 86 after a brief illness.

I first met Red in 2004 when I asked him to introduce a tribute band I was managing at the time – Rubber Soul – The Beatles Experience – which had been selected to perform on the opening night (Aug. 21) of Vancouver’s Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) to commemorate both the 50th anniversary of the PNE and the 40th anniversary of the Beatles first Canadian concert at what was then the Empire Stadium. Empire Stadium was torn down during the eighties to make way for the PNE.

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(Data) Backup lessons from TV’s Sex and the City

World Backup Day 2023 is March 31st

Today, March 31st being World Backup Day reminded this Gadget Guy of an article I was inspired to write for the Edmonton Sun 22 years ago not after watching the news or a show about Technology, but rather a TV Show about Women – specifically Bravo’s Sex and the City.

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80 for Brady good old Super Bowl fun

Rita Moreno plays Maura, Jane Fonda plays Trish, Lily Tomlin plays Lou and Sally Field plays Betty in 80 For Brady from Paramount Pictures.

When I first heard about the premise of the new movie for 80 for Brady, I immediately thought Golden Girls meets Bridesmaids or vice-versa neither of which would be on the top of my personal watch list. But add in a dose of award-winning A-list comediennes and celebs, mix in a story with a sports lens and a pinch of the G.O.A.T (Greatest of All-Time) NFL Superstar Tom Brady and a host of cameo appearances and now you’ve piqued my interest. 

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How AI Can Help the Future You – “Live Longer & Prosper”

Podcast: Think of AI (Artificial Intelligence), particularly health care and your brain might conjure up The Doctor  – the Emergency Medical Hologram from Star Trek Voyager. But AI in healthcare is here, it’s real and it’s already disrupting healthcare and changing the ways in which we can –  in the words of Mr. Spock, “Live Long and Prosper.”

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Sensibo Elements Real-Time Indoor Air Quality Monitoring

Being couped up indoors during the pandemic for many has really brought the subject of air quality up to the forefront. And as the mercury plummets we once again find ourselves spending a significant time in enclosed spaces, often wondering, “Am I actually breathing in clean air?”

Some of the headaches, chest congestion, coughs and feeling fatigue amongst other symptoms could be signs of bad air which could potentially negatively impact  our long-term health.

To “see” what’s floating in the air, climate-tech company Sensibo launched a new product – Sensibo Elements – Smart Indoor Air Quality Monitor. It’s a small and sleek gadget with companion app designed to monitor select harmful contaminants and alert you so you can take action. (Updated March 8, 2023)

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Trombe – Powerful Airborne Dust Cleaner

3-step filtering with Automatic A.I. Operation 

We’re all concerned about the quality of the air we breathe – especially at home and we often think we need an air purifier? We ask, what kind should we get?  HEPA? UV? Active Carbon, Negative Ion? – And will it really even do the job? 

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Ergonomic Wobble Chair alternative to sitting ball or office chair

Any product that has the word wobble in it may make it seem unsteady or unsteady – but in the case of the Ergonomic Wobble Chair by Anthrodesk, you’ll discover that these are actually good things.

The chair, also called an “Active siting stool,”  is an incredibly clever way to keep our bodies moving and stop them from stiffening up as we find ourselves spending more time in front of computer especially since the covid lockdown and wide acceptance of on-line platforms such as Zoom. It’s great for use at a desk, standing desk but also around a kitchen island.

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Square to Sunset Square Reader for Magstripe

When the Square Reader for Magstripe hit the market in Canada just over a decade ago, it was a game changer for small businesses to accept credit card payments. Fast forward to 2019 and we were excited to announce our favourite little payment processor Square was able to accept credit and debit card payments wirelessly. Since then the technology has taken a leap, industry regulations have changed and the market has moving away from the tried and true magstripe. It’s now focusing on more secure chip and pin technology and contactless transactions. To that end, Square has announced that their flagship Square Reader for Magstripe will be discontinued officially in Canada on October 13, 2022.

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Fitbit Charge 5 – It’s time for the most advanced health and wellness tracker

Fitbit Charge 5 in Steel Blue and Platinum.

Consider the state of the world, there’s no better reason not jump on the health and wellness bandwagon. If you’ve been seriously pondering trading in that wrist watch for a health and fitness tracker then the latest Fitbit Charge 5 is the one to take along for the ride. It may help you turn over that new leaf, helping you keep a pulse on your stress, heart health fitness, typical daily activities and overall wellbeing regardless of your age or daily activity level.

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Kokoon Nightbuds for a Good Night’s Sleep

Fully functional but, unlike other earbuds, Kokoon Nightbuds Earbuds are smart and designed for sleep time

Trying to get a good night’s sleep is something many people continually strive for. Pressure, anxiety of the times, late nights, hot weather and Netflix binging likely don’t help their cause. For Tim Antos, this was no different. His work-related insomnia was so severe he required the services of a sleep clinic.  Realizing that this was not accessible or convenient for everyone, he embarked on a quest and along with a fellow engineer came up with a sleep solution the Nightbuds Earbuds by London U.K. based Kokoon.

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