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The AIH transcript for August 22, 2024

For more episodes of this podcast, please click this link.

SUSAN BONNER: Hello, I'm Susan Bonner, sitting in for Nil Köksal.

LISA BRYN RUNDLE: Good evening, I'm Lisa Bryn Rundle, sitting in for Chris Howden. This is As It Happens.

[theme]

LBR: Tonight:

SB: Off track. A reporter brings us up to speed on the rail shutdown, after the feds order binding arbitration.

LBR: The main event. A Pennsylvania delegate who has broken barriers in her own state, says it’s inspiring to see a Black woman take the convention stage as the Democratic party’s presidential nominee.

SB: Sidelined. An American doctor who worked in Gaza tells us what she would have told the party's delegates, if she'd been allowed to speak on the convention's main stage.

LBR: "Long may your big jib draw." The daughter of the Newfoundlander credited with popularizing the province's famed "Screech-In" ceremony says it was a way for her dad to bring people together.

SB: Trailer trashed. An ad for the new Francis Ford Coppola film Megalopolis is pulled down hours after it's posted when critics notice something totally off... and totally fake.

LBR: And... Chip, chip hooray. Covered Bridge in New Brunswick is producing potato chips again, after a fire levelled its factory. We'll bring you a reminder of why the snack is so beloved.

LBR: As It Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that always appreciates your tots on the matter.

Part 1: Rail Lockout: Reporter, DNC Women, Myrle Vokey Obit

Rail Lockout: Reporter

Guest: Laura Dhillon Kane

LBR: As you've been hearing on the news, rail traffic carrying freight in Canada will soon be moving again. Trains came to a halt today after the nation's two major railways -- CN and CPKC -- locked out their workers. But late this afternoon, Ottawa ordered the companies and the union to go to binding arbitration. Here's Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon.

SOUNDCLIP

STEVEN MACKINNON: I'm using my authority under the Canada Labour Code to secure industrial peace and deliver the short- and long-term solutions that are in the national interest.

LBR: Laura Dhillon Kane is covering the story for Bloomberg News. We reached her in Ottawa.

SB: Laura, what reason did the federal government give for ordering binding arbitration now?

LAURA DHILLON KANE: Well, he said the talks have clearly reached an impasse. The economy has already been affected by this labour shutdown -- this rail shutdown that began just after midnight last night. We have seen already trains ground to a halt, issues related to ports as shippers have moved their cargo to terminals along the U.S. West Coast, or simply waited out to process. Fertiliser, there are plenty of products -- grain -- that can't really move by truck that were starting to stack up. And so, we already saw pretty immediate impacts from this as well as -- you know -- impacts to commuters in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. So he saw that that was unfolding and that a further prolonged strike would have even more brutal consequences for the economy. And he said that this was the time, that this was the moment to ask the Canada Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration on the parties. And he also said he's asked the board to extend the collective agreements that expired at the end of last year, until a new one can be reached, and to order the parties to resume operations to get those trains rolling again as soon as possible. Now -- at this point -- it does turn over to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board for their decision on whether to approve this request. But he expressed a lot of confidence that they would, and he hoped that they would be sort of seized with it in the next few hours. That within 24 hours, they would have a decision.

SB: So beyond them taking that decision, how quickly will we see the trains begin to move in Canada again?

LDK: That is more complicated. We will have to see -- first of all -- how quickly they make that decision. But then, there's also the possibility that the union pushes back on this in some way, files notice in court that they're challenging it. You know, it did take about a week for the trains to stop moving altogether. It's not like a switch can be flipped to turn them back on. So let's say they approve the order and the teamsters don't immediately have any recourse in court. And they do sit down for binding arbitration. Operations are set to resume. We have to get the trains running again. There was a phased shutdown that started a week ago because they didn't want hazardous chemicals -- you know -- sort of stopped all of a sudden in the middle of the tracks, in the middle of midnight. So it is going to take a process. But at the very end of the news conference, the minister did say he expects to see trains moving again within the next few days. Now -- I mean -- we're seeing a daily impact. Moody's estimated about a $350 million daily hit to our economy. So -- you know -- a few days is still going to cause pain, and it's going to cause pain for businesses in particular, as I mentioned, agricultural businesses and other businesses that can't move their freight by trucks, and are having their cargo sort of sitting idle right now.

SB: You mentioned a possible union response taking some sort of court action -- I guess -- among other scenarios. It's the companies that were pushing for binding arbitration as, as the unions and the companies came to an impasse. The unions did not want one, and they asked the government not to do this. So, is this a win for the, for the railways?

LDK: I think that that's fair to say. I think it would have been a bigger win if they had gotten it the first time they asked for it last week. Of course, CN asked the minister last week to impose binding arbitration, and he declined, saying they needed to reach a deal at the table. But now that the shutdown has proceeded and we've seen -- you know -- a day of damage and chaos, the minister sort of said -- you know -- I think that we've done all we can here. The parties need to get back to the table and we need to get a resolution. So it's hard not to read it as a win for the companies, though the companies will likely still be frustrated that this outcome happened in the first place. They would have liked to see action taken before a shutdown even happened.

SB: The minister talked about how this was in the interest of industrial peace, but will it create a political problem for the Liberal government? The NDP has been dead set against any kind of binding arbitration on this issue.

LDK: It will create a political problem, certainly. I don't know that it will create a governance problem. Of course, the NDP props up the government through its supply and confidence agreement, and we have yet to see the NDP pull that agreement, despite many disputes with the government in the past. It's hard to see a scenario where this would be the trigger for the NDP to want to see an immediate election. So it's hard not to see the NDP as sometimes presenting something of an empty threat when it comes to their criticisms of the Liberal government. They have things they're getting out of this deal that matter to them and potentially matter to them more than this particular labour strike. But certainly -- you know -- the liberals are a more progressive government under Justin Trudeau. They want to be seen as friendly to unions, friendly to working people. And this is just a no-win situation. I don't see it being a benefit to them. They already allowed the strike to take place, so business is already unhappy. And then, the unions -- of course -- are going to be furious about this outcome because they see the companies as being obstinate and really threatening their workers' safety with some of the provisions around rest time.

SB: And this is not over, right, Laura? I mean, there is still some drama to play out into how quickly this happens and how much impact this is still having on Canadian business.

LDK: That's right. I mean, just because they've been ordered to binding arbitration doesn't necessarily mean that we're going to reach a new collective agreement anytime soon. And -- yes -- business had to find contingency plans. They had to stack up their cargo. They had to hire trucks. There were widespread impacts that already took place even before midnight last night. So, this is going to be painful as it unfolds. And there are a lot of other labour disputes on the horizon as well. There are other companies that are sort of wrangling over the kinds of demands that workers are making after the pandemic. You know, demands for more rest time, more sick days, better work-life balance. So these sort of business issues and economic issues are continuing to unfold in our country. And it remains to be seen exactly what the outcome will be.

SB: Thank you so much for your help on this today, Laura. Appreciate it.

LDK: Thank you.

LBR: Laura Dhillon Kane is with Bloomberg News. She was in Ottawa.

[electronic]

DNC Women

Guest: Rogette Harris

LBR: Tonight, Kamala Harris will make history when she walks onto the stage at the Democratic National Convention and accepts her party's nomination. She's the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead the ticket of a major political party in the United States. And she's only the second woman ever to clinch a major political party's presidential nomination. The first -- of course -- was Hillary Clinton -- who lost to Donald Trump in 2016. Rogette Harris remembers that moment all too well. She supported Hillary Clinton, and she's back at the DNC this week as a delegate from Pennsylvania. We reached her in Chicago earlier today.

SB: Rogette, what are you hoping to hear from Kamala Harris tonight when she takes the stage?

ROGETTE HARRIS: I'm excited to hear her vision for the future. I truly believe. And as I talk to voters back home in Pennsylvania, I present this election as the past versus the future. And Donald Trump is still stuck in the past. So my hope -- and we've heard it throughout the week at the convention -- is that Kamala Harris will talk about her vision for the future and what that looks like -- the policies that she wants to implement to help families.

SB: You also attended the 2016 convention when Hillary Clinton made history as the nominee. She went on to lose to Donald Trump. Does this moment feel different?

RH: Yes. It does feel different. 2016 Was actually my first convention as a delegate. It feels different because I -- at least -- have learned -- and I believe that all of us have learned -- the lessons from 2016, which is to take nothing for granted. I was one of those people also that thought that there was no chance that Donald Trump would win. And as we all saw, that was not the case. We need to campaign as if we're constantly behind, regardless of what any of the polls say. We're all working with that mindset to ensure that we don't have a repeat of 2016.

SB: As you look at the convention, so many of the speeches that have been so wildly received, that have brought down the house -- actually -- at this convention have come from women, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Oprah. And yet -- at the same time -- Kamala Harris does not explicitly emphasize the fact that she is a female candidate. Gender is not a big thing for her, as she pitches herself. What role do you think it's playing in this race?

RH: I think it's playing a big role that she's not only a woman, but she's also a woman of colour. She herself doesn't have to emphasise it because everyone is emphasising it for her. In 2016 -- you know -- Hillary Clinton was the first woman to accept the nomination. But what's different this time is Kamala Harris isn't just the first woman, but she's the first woman of colour. So we're dealing with both race and gender, which I personally think that Michelle Obama so eloquently described to the American people on Tuesday night during her, her speech. But we do still have people who don't believe women should serve in the highest office of the land. So, she does have that barrier that she has to fight against as well.

SB: What is your sense of that? Do you think America is, is ready to elect not just a woman president, a female president, but a woman of colour?

RH: I think we have the vote in this country to elect her. I do. I think one thing this convention has conveyed is something that we have known all the time -- that women are tough, that women are smart, that women have the vision. I forget who the speaker was last night that said we need to stop expecting women to clean up all of our messes. Women are also the top voters of the election because there are more women than men. And in the Democrat Party, black women are the most consistent, largest voting bloc of the Democrat Party. You know, we constantly show up for men. It's time for men to also now show up for us.

SB: There's another group that's getting attention at this convention, and that is uncommitted delegates, who have staged a sit-in outside the DNC. They're upset specifically that no Palestinian American speakers have been invited onto the main stage. What is your message to party members who might be feeling a little offside -- not quite so united right now?

RH: Well, the convention isn't over yet. So I would say to them, let's see who speaks tonight at the convention. But -- overall -- it's been the probably one of, if not the most inclusive conventions we've ever had. In many of the speeches -- even last night -- you know, there was a lot of promotion for a ceasefire. There's a lot of common ground. Obviously, we all want the hostages to come home. We want the killing to stop on both sides that -- you know -- all lives matter. So that has been a theme throughout the convention.

SB: Rogette, you talk about the diversity that's been on display and, and the unity. What's it like for you as a Black woman to see a black woman take the stage as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee?

RH: It means a lot to me. It's very inspiring. Back in Pennsylvania, I'm the only elected Black woman that's a Democratic regional chair. So I've made a lot of history myself in the state of Pennsylvania. And I want to see more Black women in positions of leadership. Because it'll obviously make it easier for others, number one. And number two, we shouldn't be the only ones. We need to normalize seeing Black women in positions of power. So I was very excited to come to this convention, to be able to cast my vote and be part of history.

SB: Well -- Rogette -- it's been good to talk to you. Enjoy tonight. Enjoy the convention.

RH: Great. Thank you.

LBR: Rogette Harris is a delegate from Pennsylvania. We reached her earlier today, in Chicago.

[lounge jazz]

Myrle Vokey Obit

Guest: Krista Vokey

SOUNDCLIP

MYRLE VOKEY: Indeed I is.

PEOPLE: Indeed I is.

MV: me old cock.

PEOPLE: Me, old cock.

MV: And long may.

PEOPLE: And long may.

MV: Your big jib.

PEOPLE: Your big jib.

MV: Draw.

PEOPLE: Draw.

MV: Now listen, now, we're going to, no, we're going to do it all together. Indeed I is me old cock, and long may your big jib draw.

PEOPLE: Indeed I is me old cock, and long may your big jib draw.

LBR: If you've visited Newfoundland and Labrador over the past 50 years, that phrase might sound a little familiar. It's part of a traditional "Screech In" ceremony -- where come-from-aways take a shot of Newfoundland rum -- called Screech -- kiss a cod fish. They become honourary Newfoundlanders this way. And though it might seem like that ceremony has been around forever, there is one man credited with popularizing the tradition: Myrle Vokey. Mr. Vokey died over the weekend. We reached his daughter -- Krista Vokey -- in St. John's.

SB: Krista, I am so sorry for your loss.

KRISTA VOKEY: Thank you so much, I appreciate that.

SB: How are you remembering your, your dad today?

KV: I'm remembering him with such love and gratitude. I'm thinking a lot about the joy that he brought to so many of us throughout the province as well -- of course -- our individual family.

SB: Well, we heard in the introduction a little bit of a, from a, from a Screech In ceremony. All of this started decades ago with your dad. Why did he want to start doing this?

KV: He was hosting a national conference for teachers. Dad was an educator for his whole career. And -- at the time, I believe it was 1974 -- they were having teachers from all over Canada come to St. John's for a conference. And they really wanted to find a unique way to welcome those educators to the province and make the conference memorable. So he worked with his colleagues, and they developed the prototype for what eventually emerged into the Screech In.

SB: Well, they sure did. He sure did come up with something that was unique and compelling. What was it like when your dad performed one of these ceremonies? What did he actually do?

KV: Oh my gosh. Well -- if you were in the audience -- it was immediately captivating. Because he would come out and he would have on his sou'wester and -- usually -- had some oil skins on, and he would walk out carrying a big oar and make an entrance. And he would normally have a piano accordion with him. So -- when he came out -- he would start right away with some traditional Newfoundland songs -- encouraging everybody to sing. He would tell a few stories. And then -- after he had sort of engaged the crowd -- he would start the ceremony proper. And what that entails -- usually -- was teaching them some Newfoundland words. So -- for example -- he would say, everyone get down on their nucks, and Dad would look around. And -- of course -- nobody would move. [SB chuckle] So, he would say, don't you know what nucks are? What's wrong with you all? So then, he would teach them that nucks meant knees. And then -- after they were all kneeling -- he would offer them some Newfoundland steak, which is bologna. And then, they would take a little bit of that. He would offer them the opportunity to kiss a codfish. Then they would end with a shot of rum -- screech -- to sort of finish it off. Dad would also teach them that phrase that you used in your introduction: is you a screecher? And they all had to repeat back individually. Indeed I is me my old cock, and long may your big jib draw.

SB: Wait, wait, can you say that again so we take it all in?

KV: [chuckle] I sure can. Do you want me to say it the same speed or slow it down?

SB: Your, I leave it to you. I just think we need one more pass at it.

KV: Okay. Is you a screecher? indeed I is, me old cock, and longf may your big jib draw.

SB: Okay.

KV: Would you like for me to translate it?

SB: Please!

KV: So, are you a screecher? So the question is, is, are you an honorary Newfoundlanded? Because a screecher means you're an honorary Newfoundlander. And then, the answer is -- if you participated in this ceremony -- then, yes, you are. So, indeed I is, is -- of course -- I am. Of course, I am. And then, me old cock means my old friend. And then, long may your big jib draw. That's an expression from, from sailing times. Expressing a good wish for the wind to always be filling your sail.

SB: It's so interesting to hear you explain all of this, and, and to hear the ceremony. And you mentioned that this started in the '70s. And -- of course -- when we look back at that time, Newfie jokes were, were quite common. They were very popular at the time. And I understand your dad took some issue with Newfoundlanders being belittled in his view. He felt that the screech ceremony was a response to that. Can you explain how?

KV: Yeah. So my dad was very much about the importance of having fun and being welcoming and having everybody feel that they belonged. Everybody needed a seat at the table. So, the Screech In ceremony was a way for individuals to come to Newfoundland and feel like they were part of the Newfoundland family. And I think with regards to the stereotypes, if you look at the outward trappings of the Screech In, I think you're missing some of the messages. Dad really was a super ambassador for his hometown of Bell Island and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador as a whole. He would try to showcase what was so valuable and special about our culture, and our resilience in our way of life.

SB: It certainly became popular with the tourists. How do you think Newfoundlanders feel about it now?

KV: I think Newfoundlanders buy into it. A lot of people now, when they come to the province, that's part of what they look forward to when they, when they come here. There are so many individuals now who perform Screech Ins as part of the sort of the stops along the way. You go to, when you come to Saint John's, you go to Signal Hill, you might go to Cape Spear and you get screeched in.

SB: Well, your dad is certainly known for his role with this ceremony, but he had a lot of other things going on in his life as well. What was he like as a person and as a dad?

KV: He was such a special man. He was a man who could find beauty and humour in the everyday. He found a way to unify people. And as a dad, he was larger than life, really. And I was reflecting on this the other day as -- of course -- we're going through this transition in our lives with not having him around anymore. And I came to realize that even when I was out in my daily life, Dad was always with me because I could be in the grocery store or working and somebody would make the connection that I was Myrle Vokey's daughter and come up to me and ask me about my dad, or tell me a story about my dad. It was like he was constantly with me throughout my daily life forever.

SB: It's so nice to hear your memories. Thank you for sharing them with us.

KV: You're welcome.

LBR: Krista Vokey is the daughter of the late Myrle Vokey, who is credited with creating the Screech In. We reached her today in St. John's.

[jaunty piano]

‘Megalopolis’ Trailer

LBR: Life gave them lemons and then they made... another lemon. Lionsgate was forced to recall a trailer for the upcoming Francis Ford Coppola film Megalopolis hours after it was released yesterday. The entertainment company is now apologizing for the -- quote -- “inexcusable error in our vetting process. We screwed up. We are sorry.” Now, that quote -- which is real -- was referring to quotes from film critics used in the trailer -- which were not. But they were not 'not real' in the way you might imagine -- in other words, they weren't fake raves. They were fake pans… And they weren't even about the current film. See, the film's promoters were left with a bit of a challenge after it premiered at Cannes in May. Because reviews were all over the place, leaving the impression that the movie was also all over the place... And sparking concerns that Megalopolis would be a mega-flop-polis. So the marketers made an effort to turn that bugbear into a feature. Now, even though the trailer has officially been pulled, we have a secret source we like to call The Internet where we were able to obtain a copy... Unfortunately the quotes appear on the screen in text and in very rapid succession, but I'll do my best to recreate it for you. OK, here we go.

SOUNDCLIP

MAN: True Genius is often misunderstood.

LBR: Okay -- right -- so here it says Pauline Kael at the New Yorker wrote that The Godfather was “diminished by its artsiness” -- which she didn't. For Apocalypse Now -- The New York Times call is "hollow at the core" -- nope. Rex Reed calls it "an epic piece of trash" nope. OK, so here it says Roger Ebert wrote that “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” was “a triumph of style over substance” ew! that would have hurt if he'd actually written that. And so on. You get the point.

SOUNDCLIP

MAN: Stop!!!

MAN #2: One filmmaker has always been ahead of his time.

MAN: Go!!!

LBR: Listen, I understand it was their job to promote a film about which critics had been pretty critical but they should also know that when you're dealing with critics, getting it right is also pretty critical. So next time, maybe just don't ad lib.

[folk]

Part 2: DNC Uncommitted, Sea Walnut Age Reversal

DNC Uncommitted

Guest: Tanya Haj-Hassan

LBR: Inside the Union Center in Chicago today, there were cheers, speeches and songs. Outside, a small group of protestors from the Uncommitted National Movement have been holding a round-the-clock sit-in. They are calling for the DNC to make room in their main stage, primetime line-up for a Palestinian-American to give a speech about Gaza. Earlier this month, they specifically called for a speech from Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan -- a pediatric intensive-care physician who has worked in Gaza with Doctors Without Borders. That request was denied. But Dr. Haj-Hassan did take part in a panel discussion... Away from the main stage. We reached her in Chicago.

SB: Dr., if you had been granted a spot to speak on the primetime stage at the DNC this week, what would you have said?

TANYA HAJ-HASSAN: I wrote a few statements last week before I flew to Chicago of things that I would have liked to convey. And they're the messages that both myself and all the American physicians and surgeons that I know that have been in Gaza in the last 10 months, a message that all of us had upon our return. And it's essentially that we've been trained to protect and preserve human life, but that that's impossible under this military campaign that's targeting and destroying life and everything needed to sustain it. And we wanted to provide moral witness to the delegates of the Democratic National Convention because we recognize that the only way to protect and preserve human life is by putting an end to this military campaign, and the U.S. has the power to do that.

SB: When you spoke to the panel that you did have a chance to speak to, you were not granted a position on the main stage, but you did speak to a panel. Did you get the sense that the people at the panel -- that Democrats there -- were receptive to your message?

THH: Absolutely. I mean, people were, were, were standing. There were people in the audience that were crying. It's impossible to listen to the testimonies of people that have been in Gaza and not feel this, this urgency, this drive to put an end to all of this, this, this violence, this massacre. You know, we could allow decision-makers in the United States and the American public to see what we have seen if they would allow us the opportunity. And, and they are very, very clear in their intent not to provide that opportunity. And even worse -- unfortunately -- the omission of a Palestinian voice. I'm not Palestinian, by the way. I just want to make that clear. I know people assume I must be if I'm going out of my way to advocate for Palestinian rights. They don't even want a Palestinian, they refused a Palestinian voice to have a few minutes on the stage. And that's telling and, and very concerning -- particularly when, when the way that this military assault has been waged and has been justified relies on the dehumanization of Palestinians.

SB: The, the protests that have happened outside, and the fact that there are I think it's 30 delegates out of more than 4,000 who declare themselves uncommitted and point to this issue as the reason why they are uncommitted and say they may not vote for the candidate. Is that disappointing to you? After all the build-up about how big the message would be, are you disappointed in the showing, and what does it tell you?

LBR: People across Atlantic Canada hunkering down during snow storms this coming winter will have their choice of chips to munch on. In March, the factory that produces the much-loved Covered Bridge potato chips in Woodstock, New Brunswick, burned down. But now production is up and running again -- mostly. The company can't cook the chips themselves just yet. They're sending their potatoes out to other producers for frying. But then, the chips come back to one of their warehouses to be seasoned, packaged and shipped. When the fire shuttered the factory back in March, we spoke to local amateur historian Tammey Mclean. Here's part of her conversation with Nil.

SOUNDCLIP

TAMMEY MCLEAN: Well, me and my son was in Woodstock here at Broadway Irving. And I heard someone mention it, and I said, no way, you know, because we had a fire a day before in another little place out here in Jacksonville. And so I was like, oh my gosh, the Covered Bridge factory. I said, oh my gosh. So when we left, we went up on the overpass on the 95, and it goes, looks straight up towards the Hartland area, and you could see the smoke just coming from there.

NK: Have you been able to speak with people who were inside about what might have happened?

TM: Yeah. The other day, when I went up after the fire there, I was talking to several people who work there, and some of them were crying and upset and devastated, you know, about what happened, you know? So I mean, it was a big fire. I mean, it was so bad.

NK: You were able to get closer the day after the fire, as I understand it. What did you see?

TM: So when I went out, and I don't know if you know where the area is, but it's off the main highway, four-lane highway there, so there was nothing left. I mean, it was burnt right down to the ground. It was one of the most devastating fires I have ever seen.

NK: Yeah. What makes the chip so special?

TM: They're made from local russet potatoes that they have grown in their own fields.

NK: So they're the farmers as well as the factory owners.

TM: Yeah, right here in Woodstock, Jacksonville Area Potato Fields. Yeah. So I mean, they grow their own potatoes.

NK: What do you like about the chips?

TM: Well, the flavours. I mean, they've come up with so many different flavours of chips. They're really tasty. The dill pickle ones and the salt and vinegar ones. And then yeah, you got to have the famous storm chips.

NK: Storm chips. Yes, I remember all the talk.

TM: The storm chips. If you haven't got a bag of storm chips, get your chips.

NK: What have you done since you found out about the fire? Have you been stocking up?

TM: Yes. That day that I went up there to get pictures and video there, right across from the chip factory is a famous market that had the Burger King and subway on the inside. And so I went in, and I actually got a person to get a picture of me grabbing some of the chips there. So I got like three or four bags there and another three or so bags at Sobeys here in Woodstock. So.

NK: But you're not opening them, are you?

TM: No. I'm going to keep them for quite a while until we find out what's going to happen here. Hopefully, they'll rebuild.

LBR: If you're listening -- Tammey -- I think it's safe to break into your supply. That was New Brunswick amateur historian Tammey Mclean speaking with Nil in March, after the Covered Bridge Potato Chip factory burned down.

[chillhop house tour music]

Falcon Rehab

LBR: Imagine putting someone up for a year, helping them heal from an injury and -- as they prepare to leave -- all they do is screech at you. Well -- in this case -- you don't take it personally because your guest is a falcon. An American kestrel that was rescued after being hurt in a B.C. wildfire has been in rehab in Alberta. Scottie Potter of the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation spoke to CBC Calgary about the bird's recovery.

SOUNDCLIP

SCOTTIE POTTER: The feathers were singed to the point where all that was left with the shaft. And so I can, the best way I can describe it is almost skeletal-looking wings. It's a very strange look on a bird that you really only see after they have been burned in some way. And so, that was the extent of her injuries. She didn't really have any flesh wounds -- which is extraordinarily lucky. Now, another thing that often comes up when we have these long-term patients is they develop some sort of health problem while they're in care that really just, just happens and could have even happened in the wild. And she actually broke some of her talons as well. Thankfully, our team was able to keep things light on her feet and give her some treatments, give her some vitamin supplements on her nails. It kind of looked like, looks like painting her nails. [LOREN MCGINNIS chuckles] It's, it's kind of a funny process, but her talons now look absolutely gorgeous, her feathers look gorgeous and she is ready to go. She's fully flighted. And once she's back in the wild, she'll be able to hunt and survive and migrate just like any other healthy kestrel.

LOREN MCGINNIS: Yeah -- you know -- thinking about someone giving her, is it a pedicure or whatever it would be. Anyway -- you know -- and just all the, the care that she required to survive. So I recognize that. But how do you go through all that and keep her from becoming dependent on people?

SP: So the nice thing is with an adult bird is they come in with an inherent fear of people. And being in care and being around people is not something that an adult bird is going to habituate to easily. This is typically more of a problem with young birds. And so, she has maintained a fear of people throughout her stay. Last time I was in with her, she let me know that she did not want me there. She is quite the vocal bird. And falcons and kestrels in particular have a very shrill, kind of repetitive screeching sound when they want you to go away. And she lets us know when she wants us out of there. And so -- thankfully -- that's a good sign that she hasn't become habituated. And we will be releasing her right back into the wild where she belongs.

LBR: That was Scottie Potter of the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation speaking with CBC Calgary host Loren McGinnis.

[ambient]

Sea Walnut Age Reversal

Guest: Pawel Burkhardt

LBR: Here on As It Happens, we like to run the gamut on underwater creatures. Some -- like the giant sea scorpions we told you about earlier this week -- are terrifying. Others -- like comb jellies -- are weird and wonderful. Some listeners will remember back in 2019 when we told you about the warty comb jelly. The transparent invertebrate is a fascinating creature. Namely, because its anus forms when it needs to defecate. And then -- poof -- It's gone. It's basically a miracle. But it seems the comb jelly is not done impressing us. One particular kind known as the sea walnut has captured the attention of scientists in Norway for another equally surprising transformation -- aging in reverse. Pawel Burkhardt is an evolutionary biologist at the University of Bergen in Norway, and that's where we reached him.

SB: Pawel, the concept of aging backwards -- well -- it sounds like magic, but I guess you saw it in action in your lab. Can you tell me about the moment when you realized this sea walnut was capable of regressing its development?

PAWEL BURKHARDT: Yeah. I mean, we were not expecting it. It was a wonderful finding when we -- for the first time -- saw it. No one knew about this. And when we saw it, it was really a fascinating moment for us.

SB: Well, let's take a step back. Can you tell us a bit about these creatures? What do they look like?

PW: They're a marvellous, beautiful organism. They live in the ocean. They look like a walnut and have mesmerising light. So they reflect light in a beautiful way. And whenever you see them, you will remember this for the end, until the end of your life. It's a beautiful, beautiful sight.

SB: They sound so, so compelling. How, how did you make this discovery? What were you observing in your lab?

PW: Well, we found that under certain conditions, these animals can basically go back in their life stage. So basically -- from an adult -- they're able to reverse to a more, to a younger stage. And that was completely unknown for, for that group of, of species.

SB: So under certain conditions, you say. What were the conditions?

SB: Why do they do this? How, how does this actually help the sea walnut?

PW: One theory, it is actually unknown at the moment, but one theory is that an adult and a larva can use a different environment. So -- I think -- if you're a proper and big adult, you need lots of food. And if you have these conditions, you thrive in these conditions, and you live like a happy sea walnut. If you don't, then you have to come up with a strategy, right? And they may have found a way to get smaller to revert into a different, like, a younger stage. And -- at that time -- they may be able to feed at much lower rate and thus survive harsh conditions.

SB: It sounds like an exceptional form of adaptation.

PW: Exactly, exactly. That could be it. And it could explain why this sea walnut is such a successful animal in the ocean. And it lives at the Atlantic coast, North Atlantic, South Atlantic. But it also -- actually, via the Gulf Stream -- comes to Europe. And it's unclear whether it can overwinter or not. And our findings actually may explain that that sea walnut is maybe potentially even able to survive for, for a longer period of no food. So -- for example -- it could potentially survive a whole cold Norwegian winter.

SB: One scientist responded to your findings and indicated that perhaps the sea walnut is not really aging backwards biologically. Maybe it's just shrinking. What did you see that convinced you that -- in fact -- they are essentially aging in reverse?

PW: Yeah, I think this is an excellent question, and I'm glad this researcher made, made this comment. However, what we see is it's not only shrinking, the animal at one point -- or the sea walnut --at one point, it gains a completely new structure. So this structure -- which is called the tentacles -- actually a pair of two tentacles. They are absent from the adult. It's a younger, it's clearly at a younger stage. So I think with this development -- in this case -- it's definitely a proper description of what we see.

SB: I'm told that there are a couple of animals that have the capacity to revert to an earlier life stage -- the jellyfish, the immortal jellyfish -- for example -- and a kind of a tapeworm. Are there any lessons for us humans from these animals?

PW: Yeah. I mean, we only start to begin understanding -- at least in the sea walnut -- what is going on is basically the first description. And we would love in the future to understand in much more detail what are the drivers. You know, what, what is actually happening through this rejuvenation or reverse development. Because that -- you're absolutely right -- could have implications even for humans. Some of the genes which are important for aging in humans have been found in the immortal jellyfish to play a very important role for their immortality. So clearly, those rather simple organisms could be very helpful in the future for, for human health, for biomedicine.

SB: Well, a lot of people that will hear you say that will be cheering you on if, if there are lessons about aging in there. Thank you so much for telling us about your work.

PW: Thank you very much for having me. It was great.

LBR: Pawel Burkhardt is an evolutionary biologist at the University of Bergen in Norway, and that's where we reached him. The study -- which has not yet been peer-reviewed -- has been published in the pre-print database BioRxiv.

[lounge jazz]

SOD: East Coast Phone Calls

LBR: It was a rite of passage if you were a kid at a sleepover back in the day: the prank call. You'd dial the local pizza shop and ask that poor, teenage, minimum-wage-earning employee for detail after detail about the source of their olives. Or you'd just dial a random number on your hamburger-shaped landline, waiting for someone to pick up so you could deliver this doozy: "Is your refrigerator running? Yes? Well, you better go catch it!" Then you'd slam the phone down, gasp with your friends, and giggle for the rest of your night -- while you lounged on your hot pink inflatable chairs. However fun, the prank call didn't usually elicit stimulating conversation… Depending on who you were calling. Jax Irwin is a Toronto-based media host and content creator originally from Atlantic Canada. And recently, she posted a video on social media captioned: "calling random East Coast numbers to see how long they'll chat with a stranger." Here's what one of those videos -- that's been liked over 150,000 times -- sounds like.

SOUNDCLIP

[a dial tone]

WOMAN: Hello?

JAX IRWIN: Hey you!

WOMAN: Hello?

JI: Hey you, how are you doing?

WOMAN: Oh, good. I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. We're having a torrential rain and thunder and lightning storm, so.

JI: Well, I wanted to check in. I heard you guys are getting buckets of rain.

WOMAN: I couldn't believe it. I was over at Emily's for a minute. I ran into the house, and it was dripping off me.

JI: It's just like last summer. Remember all that?

WOMAN: Yeah.

JI: Did you end up having any flooding in your basement or anything?

WOMAN: No. Last October, I had to get a new sump pump, but that took care of it.

JI: Was that costly?

WOMAN: No, was it like hundred-and-some dollars?

JI: Okay. Not bad, not bad. Are you going back to Emily's?

WOMAN: No, I'm not going back over to Emily's tonight.

JI: You're staying cozy, are you?

WOMAN: Oh, yeah. I'm staying here.

JI: And what's for supper night?

WOMAN: Nothing.

JI: Nothing! What do you mean nothing?

WOMAN: I stopped at McDonald's and got a chicken burger.

JI: Oh, you bad girl. Did ya?

WOMAN: Yeah.

JI: Did you get fries?

WOMAN: Oh -- of course -- you get fries.

JI: All right, well, I just wanted to check in. And you stay dry tonight, will you?

WOMAN: Oh, I will, I will.

JI: Okay. We'll be talking.

WOMAN: Have a good one.

JI: Okay. Bye-bye.

WOMAN: Bye!

LBR: Toronto-based media host Jax Irwin calling a random East Coaster for a chat. That's our Sound of the Day.

The AIH Transcript For August 22, 2024

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