Flashback: A tough lesson for Barbie

As a new movie about Barbie approaches, we revisit the doll's math problem in the latest edition of the Flashback newsletter.

High school students didn't agree with the famous doll's assessment of math class in 1992

CBC's Flashback newsletter looks inside the CBC archives with inspiration from news headlines and what's happening at CBC. Sign up here to get it delivered straight to your inbox. 

Villeneuve's view

Director Denis Villeneuve wins Oscar nomination in 2011

14 years ago
Duration 5:43
The director speaks about his film Incendies with the CBC's Mark Kelley. Aired Jan. 25, 2011 on CBC News: Sunday.

A new project from CBC Arts asked a range of film critics, programmers and journalists for their top choices in movies directed by Canadians. Their picks made for an ultimate list of Canuck cinema alongside blockbuster fare.  

Quebec director Denis Villeneuve, who made two films in the top 50 — #4, Incendies and #23, Arrival — spoke to the CBC's Mark Kelley in early 2011 after his film Incendies was nominated for an Academy Award. He questioned the very concept of a competition for movies.

"The truth is, it's a very strange thing to compare movies together," he said. "It's art." Still, having watched the Oscars since he was a child, Villeneuve said the nod brought him "huge, huge happiness."

Tough lesson for Barbie

Barbie's math problem in 1992

32 years ago
Duration 1:00
Mattel makes a blunder by releasing a talking doll who says she finds math "tough." Aired on CBC's Venture on Dec. 20, 1992.

The impending release of the Barbie movie has us wondering whether we can expect any allusions to the great Mattel misstep of 1992. Barbie -- who had recently gained the power of speech — confessed to struggling in math class. 

The sentiment didn't go over well with some of the high schoolers on the year-end roundup of business blunders from the CBC program Venture.

"It looks bad to have someone who's so famous ... to say, 'Math is tough,"" said one young woman. Another said: "It's portraying a negative image on school." 

Pattern recognition

El Nino says hello in 1983

41 years ago
Duration 0:42
The CBC's Bill Cameron explains how an ocean current in the Pacific could explain warmer winters in Canada. Aired on CBC's The Journal on Dec. 1, 1983.

According to CBC News, El Niño is "a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with warming of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean." In 2023 it could mean a milder winter in Canada.  

The earliest mention of the term "El Niño" on CBC-TV seems to have been on an item on the inexact science of meteorology in 1983 on the currant affairs program The Journal. An expected "bitterly cold winter" in 1982-83 had been quite balmy, said host Bill Cameron. 

"The fact is, the predictions were wrong," Cameron added. El Niño was "stronger and warmer" than forecast and had "fouled up" weather around the world.

Seeking sanctuary

Puffin-watchers keep an eye on the Nova Scotia bird in 1992

32 years ago
Duration 2:27
Seagulls threaten populations of guillemots, terns and puffins on a lille-known Nova Scotia island. Aired June 30, 1992 on CBC Halifax's 1st Edition.

Ottawa will soon protect dozens of bird species on three Nova Scotia islands from humans, says CBC News. In 1992, CBC Halifax told us the threat to terns, guillemots and puffins on one island came not from humans, but from invasive, insatiable seagulls.

Hot stuff

Pepper-eating contest gets hot in Vancouver in 1985

39 years ago
Duration 1:33
The jalapeno pepper is regarded with fear and suspicion as a raucous group tries to eat as many as they can in 15 minutes. Aired July 20, 1985 on CBC's Saturday Report.

A shortage of the spicy condiment sriracha in Windsor, Ont., made news last week. Canadians have come a long way in their taste for heat. Back in 1985, CBC's The National said "one of the hottest foods known to man" was the jalapeno pepper.  

Read all about it

Man at computer
Computers were having a major impact on the way newspapers were put together, after they were implemented into the production process. (The National/CBC Archives)

The most recent example of the dwindling fortunes of newspapers may have been in June, when we heard two publishers could merge. (Update: a merger was called off on July 10.) An industry player was all too prescient in 1978 when he told CBC News: "The computer has revolutionized the newspaper field."

Can you dig it?

Small rodent
In 2001, The National was reporting on the increased population of gophers in the province of Saskatchewan. (The National/CBC Archives)

The Richardson's ground squirrel, seen above in 2001, was such a nuisance that farmers were seeking stronger measures to combat it. But a rare new variant of the rodent with a mutation that makes it hairless may die off naturally, says a scientist.

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