Latest news with #DaveThomas
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Comedian and former SCTV star Dave Thomas walks into the Russia-Ukraine war: ‘There's nothing funny about it'
Comedian Dave Thomas recently returned from a 10-day trip to Ukraine to raise awareness for the Ukrainian Freedom Fund, a charity that supplies non-lethal equipment and training to Ukrainians. The 76-year-old former SCTV star recently spoke to The Globe and Mail by video conference from Los Angeles. How does one get to Kyiv in the middle of a war? You can't fly to Ukraine. I took a Turkish Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul, which took 14 hours. And then I took a connecting flight to Chisinau, Moldova, south of Ukraine. From there was an eight-hour ride with an army security official through Ukraine. It was a pretty hairy ride. Were you in danger? We were dodging automobile debris on the road, from previous drone strikes. We had to travel at night because the strikes were during the day. I later met a communications officer who said his personal car was attacked when he was off duty. They were stalking him because he was a valuable piece in the military command chain. The Russians use social media and all sorts of tracking methods. It's a different kind of war going on. What was Kyiv like? We got there in the morning. It looked like a normal European city − business as usual. People sat in cafes drinking lattes. Students were lined up outside the university. During the day, it was difficult for me to imagine there was a war going on. But at night, that's when you know. Explosions rocked my hotel. Do you meet any Canadians over there? I did, a retired Canadian general acting as an adviser. There are more than a million Ukrainians in Canada. This general felt he was doing the right thing by them. There's a sense of obligation to them, as taxpaying citizens. You're a comedian with no Ukrainian heritage in your background. What about your own sense of responsibility that led your there? I'm 76 years old. I feel I have to do something with my life before I die that has some value. I've made some people laugh. I guess that's great. But I felt I should do something more. Former SCTV star Dave Thomas goes to Ukraine: 'Most of my career is behind me, so why don't I go over there and see what I can do?' What do you think you accomplished? I learned a lot about people. Maybe there will be an increase in donations in Canada, which would be great. They're giving medical supplies and teaching field triage. They have evacuation teams that go behind enemy lines to rescue Ukrainian people who are trapped there, including women and children. Did you accompany those teams? I did. The Russians were shooting at us. On SCTV, you portrayed Bob Hope, famous for entertaining troops abroad. I wonder if he ever got shot at. I don't know. But drones are the weapons of choice now. Ukrainian soldiers told me how difficult they are to shoot down. They're almost like those model airplanes hobbyists fly. I saw one Russian drone hanging in a bar. It doesn't look threatening at all, and yet they carry ordnance. Did you talk to wounded soldiers? Yes. The communications officer I mentioned lost his legs. He said to me, 'They blew up the wrong half of me.' He's still good from the legs up. 'I'm still fighting,' he said. What about the civilians you spoke with? I talked to a woman who was being evacuated from the south, near Odessa. Her husband was packing the car, and a Russian sniper shot him in the head. She saw it happen from the window of her house. She fled with her children on her own. Nobody should have to witness that. Did you speak with people about President Trump and U.S. support? They're very careful not to say anything negative about the United States. There's a Ukrainian phrase that translates to, 'Everything will be fine.' There's a song that everybody knows that talks to this spirit of resilience. I saw that resilience myself. In what form? I heard about drone strikes on a mall in Kyiv. It happened around midnight. When I went to the mall the next morning, the store owners had replaced the glass that had been destroyed by the blast. Cardboard replaced the walls, and they were open for business as usual. I have to admit, I was mad at myself for being disappointed, because I brought my video crew to shoot the devastation and it was already under repair. They're dedicated to making things appear normal. You had plans to visit comedy clubs. Did you? Yes. I spoke with stand-ups. I wanted to know what Ukrainians were laughing at. What I found was that it wasn't Trump or Putin or political jokes. It's dating, lifestyle stuff. They want to laugh at normal things. The war is off-topic. Nobody thinks the war is funny − there's nothing funny about it. This interview has been condensed and edited.
Irish Independent
19-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Department of Transport asked to weigh in on future of Pride crossing in Arklow
Arklow's Pride crossing was created in 2021 on the back of years of campaigning by filmmaker, co-founder of the Wicklow Pride Festival and LGBTIQA+ campaigner Dave Thomas. It was the first of its kind in the county and the first to be installed anywhere in the Republic of Ireland. Since its implementation, Mr Thomas has been pushing for similar crossings throughout the county but has faced significant pushback from officials by Wicklow County Council, who believe the Department of Transport has instructed that crossings do not conform to current legislation associated with pedestrian crossings and as contained in the Traffic Signs Manual. Speaking in the Dáil Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne said the council should not allow the crossing to fall into a state of disrepair. 'I ask that the Department of Transport be more proactive than saying this is a matter for each local authority. It would be an awful pity if the crossing in Arklow, the first town in the country that had a rainbow crossing in place, were allowed to fade. I know from many in the area that it is a matter of serious concern.' In response junior minister Sean Canney advised that there is no statutory basis for rainbow pedestrian crossings in Ireland. 'Such crossings, the use of which cannot be enforced by An Garda Síochána, operate on a purely courtesy basis and are installed at the discretion of the individual local authority. The local authority has sole responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of road markings and my Department has no function in this regard.' During a recent meeting district meeting in Arklow, district engineer Avril Hill said she was unaware of any ring-fenced funding to allow for the upkeep of the crossing, adding: 'The advice that I have received is that they're not compliant for people with additional sight needs. Right now, we're not looking to refresh it as it is not complying with standards.' A petition launched by Mr Thomas calling for the decision to be reversed has already received hundreds of signatures online which he plans to submit to officials in both Wicklow County Council and Arklow Municipal District.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Restaurant Stock with Exciting Potential and 2 to Approach with Caution
Restaurants increase convenience and give many people a place to unwind. But the side dish is that they're quite difficult to operate because high inventory and labor costs generally lead to thin margins at the store level. This leaves little room for error if demand dries up, and it seems like the market has some reservations as the industry's returns were flat over the past six months while the S&P 500 was up 5.4%. Only some companies are subject to these dynamics, however, and a handful of high-quality businesses can deliver earnings growth in any environment. With that said, here is one restaurant stock boasting a durable advantage and two best left ignored. Market Cap: $2.09 billion Founded by Dave Thomas in 1969, Wendy's (NASDAQ:WEN) is a renowned fast-food chain known for its fresh, never-frozen beef burgers, flavorful menu options, and commitment to quality. Why Are We Wary of WEN? Poor same-store sales performance over the past two years indicates it's having trouble bringing new diners into its restaurants Demand is forecasted to shrink as its estimated sales for the next 12 months are flat High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 7× increases the risk of forced asset sales or dilutive financing if operational performance weakens Wendy's is trading at $10.95 per share, or 10.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than WEN. Market Cap: $3.18 billion Celebrated for its delicious (and free) brown bread, gigantic portions, and delectable desserts, Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ:CAKE) is an iconic American restaurant chain that also owns and operates a portfolio of separate restaurant brands. Why Is CAKE Not Exciting? Weak same-store sales trends over the past two years suggest there may be few opportunities in its core markets to open new restaurants Responsiveness to unforeseen market trends is restricted due to its substandard operating margin profitability 6× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio makes lenders less willing to extend additional capital, potentially necessitating dilutive equity offerings At $64.30 per share, The Cheesecake Factory trades at 16.7x forward P/E. If you're considering CAKE for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Market Cap: $12.5 billion With locations often featuring Western-inspired decor, Texas Roadhouse (NASDAQ:TXRH) is an American restaurant chain specializing in Southern-style cuisine and steaks. Why Will TXRH Outperform? Offensive push to build new restaurants and attack its untapped market opportunities is backed by its same-store sales growth Same-store sales growth over the past two years shows it's successfully drawing diners into its restaurants ROIC punches in at 18.7%, illustrating management's expertise in identifying profitable investments, and its returns are growing as it capitalizes on even better market opportunities Texas Roadhouse's stock price of $194 implies a valuation ratio of 26.6x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it's free. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.
Wall Street Journal
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Why Have College Grads Fallen for Mamdani?
There has been much ado about Zohran Mamdani's win in New York's Democratic mayoral primary, but the Mamdani phenomenon is nothing new ('College Grads a Driving Force in New York Race,' Page One, June 27). He is a clever and charismatic, slick-talking Pied Piper for naive young people, many of whom come from lives of privilege. Mr. Mamdani may become mayor for term—but I have faith that his appeal extends only to a handful of college towns and a few deep blue counties, severely limiting his ability to cause damage on a national level. Dave Thomas
CNN
01-07-2025
- Science
- CNN
He's searching for a human-made problem in areas largely untouched by humans. Answers are just emerging
Crouched low in one of the coldest, remotest places on Earth, polar explorer Alan Chambers searched for an invisible threat. Traveling with fellow former Royal Marine Dave Thomas, he had spent two long months skiing 715 miles (1,151 kilometers) — completely unassisted — from the Hercules Inlet on the coast of Antarctica to the geographic South Pole. The pair hauled a sled heavily loaded with supplies and equipment, as well an extra one for snow samples, all while battling high winds, bitter temperatures and disorientating whiteouts. 'I built a specialist sledge with a perfectly crafted insert inside,' Chambers explained. 'Each evening I'd get on my hands and knees, lay on my belly upwind from the camp and scrape the snow at minus 35 to fill the tins, which we then logged and photographed.' That effort, which wrapped in January 2024, was Chambers' first expedition in a partnership with leading climate scientists at Columbia University to map the spread of microplastics and nanoplastics across the globe. Ultimately, he plans to visit seven of the world's most remote places to collect earth, sand, snow, water, permafrost and riverbed silt, which experts will then analyze to determine how pervasive plastic waste is. Microplastics, minuscule bits of plastic that break off of larger products, are smaller than a pencil eraser, measuring less than 5 millimeters. Once they degrade further they are labeled nanoplastics, which measure less than 1 micrometer, or one-thousandth of a millimeter. Their microscopic size makes them difficult to observe and quantify, nevertheless research shows they're ingested by hundreds of species — including humans. A recent study revealed that the amount of plastic now found in human brains is around 50% higher than what it was a decade ago. Research into the impact of such pollution on human health is ongoing, but it is known that nanoplastics can potentially interrupt cellular processes and deposit endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with the reproductive system, while the impact on certain forms of cancer is also being researched. The tiny plastics have already been detected across many varied environments; the aim of Chambers' collaboration with Columbia University is to find out how regions largely untouched by humans are impacted. Their hope is that analysis of these samples, a process that's already beginning to deliver intriguing results, will provide the scientists with the evidence necessary to influence environmental policy and drive systemic change in the future. 'Each mission is designed to push boundaries — both physically and scientifically — while contributing vital data to the global fight against plastic pollution,' Chambers, who also works as a motivational speaker, told CNN by video call. Chambers was awarded an MBE, a British honor recognizing community service or notable achievement, in 2000 for 'determination and leadership in constant adversity.' His many accomplishments include having been part of the first team in the world to ski across Iceland in winter in 1995, while five years later he led the first British team to walk from Canada unassisted to the geographic North Pole. The idea for Mission Spiritus came to Chambers after he ran a trip for an 'ultra high net worth' individual and his family to Antarctica. 'He asked what I was doing in my life that would have an impact in 300 years. So I asked him, 'What are you doing?' and he said, 'I want to make energy for the planet from the atmosphere.' That blew my mind.' Chambers has undoubtedly made a difference in his time, having helped raise more than 14 million pounds ($18.8 million) for charity — benefiting causes such as cancer research — while exploring and leading extreme expeditions in over 70 countries. But this proposition was different. 'This was about putting a lot of effort in during your lifetime but not seeing the results — it had a profound effect on me,' he said. 'I said to the guy, 'I've walked across Iceland, across Greenland, all the way from the coast to the North Pole — so it makes sense to walk from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole, but taking your philosophy, I'd like to do some scientific research.'' With that in mind, he approached scientists at Columbia University's climate school, who jumped at the chance of carrying out such valuable research without having to conduct the extreme fieldwork themselves. 'I was thrilled when Alan reached out suggesting an exploration/scientific collaboration centered around his epic walk across Antarctica,' said Maureen Raymo, G. Unger Vetlesen Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences at Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, in an email. Chambers and Raymo have been friends since first meeting on an expedition to the North Pole in 2017. 'How often does a friend come along and say 'I'm walking to the South Pole — is there anything of scientific use I can do along the way?'' she added. To take on work of this kind in a place like Antarctica is 'extremely difficult' for researchers, according to Raymo. 'For a regular team of still highly specialized and trained scientists to have collected this set of samples, it would have taken years of logistical planning and support from federal science agencies and probably a million dollars,' she explained. Chambers admits that he had 'limited knowledge of microplastics' until meeting Raymo. To understand their true impact, he later traveled to New York City to meet her and her team at Columbia, he said. It was there that the research team taught him how to collect samples and the correct protocols surrounding how they should be stored and logged. The ambitious project is called Mission Spiritus. 'Spiritus is the Latin word for breath,' Chambers explained. 'The idea is to try and do something now that will eventually help the planet breathe on its own, not on the life support system we all know it's on at the moment.' For Chambers, Mission Spiritus is about 'adventure with purpose.' 'If we collect samples from the most remote areas of every continent, that will provide the experts with the evidence and leverage they need to reduce the impact of plastic. 'We're just the Earth's gardeners — it's then down to the scientists to do the brainy bit,' he said. After completing their Antarctic mission in 2024, Chambers and Thomas traveled to southern Chile where they met Dr. Beizhan Yan, an environmental geochemist from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia's Climate School. '(All of the samples were) still frozen, and he transported it back to the US in the same way you might transport a live organ,' Chambers said. The analysis is ongoing, but initial findings are shocking, Chambers said. 'The researchers found some traces of plastic in (samples from) the middle of Antarctica. The only way it can get there is in the wind system,' he added. 'Is it snowing plastic in Antarctica?' Raymo said the results from the first set of specimens would be complete by summer's end. 'We're currently measuring the first continental-scale transect of plastic contamination and black carbon contamination in Antarctica using the snow samples collected by Alan,' she said. 'Initial measurements suggest some presence of microplastics and a stronger signal in black carbon, which results from fuel combustion,' Raymo said. The importance of this mission is clear, Chambers said. 'It's not about demonizing plastic because plastic is used in every part of our lives,' he noted. 'It's about how we recycle plastic so it doesn't get into the atmosphere or wind system.' Following that first expedition, the Columbia researchers drew up a wish list of future destinations for the sampling project. 'As we thought about how to continue this collaboration, the idea of sampling some of the remotest and most iconic wildernesses, communities, and ecosystems in the world rapidly became our north star,' Raymo said. Earlier this year, Chambers set off on the mission's second leg with a new team. This time the aim was to collect 52 sand samples during a 26-day expedition through Oman's Empty Quarter, the world's largest sand desert, which includes a swath of the Arabian Peninsula. 'We geotagged the samples and logged the conditions, temperature and wind direction,' he said. 'We photographed each sample before packing them in a secure case.' Distance covered was the same as in Antarctica — half by foot and the rest via sand vehicles and camels. The samples were once again handed over to Yan, who met them in the vast desert region of Wahiba Sands. Chambers and his team in July will tackle all 18 of the main Faroe Islands, an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, where they'll collect lake water and sediment. 'These (Faroe Islands) samples will also be compared to measurements we will make using sediment samples that were collected over a decade ago, allowing us to also look at time-varying trends in plastic pollution in this remote region,' Raymo said. If Chambers is successful in raising around $1 million more in funding, the plan is to head for the Atacama Desert in Chile in 2026 for samples of the world's driest nonpolar desert. After that will be the Comoros Islands; Canada's Northwest Passage; and, finally, the Gibson Desert in Western Australia. 'Most important is to raise awareness of the prevalence of harmful plastics in our environment, air and water,' Raymo said. 'Alan has a large audience through his public speaking, philanthropy and adventures. Together we can help raise awareness of plastic pollution while he inspires legions of people with his amazing feats of exploration.'
