Quick notes on radio and Mt. Tremblant

Matt Galloway on Metro Morning as of March 1
I am a big fan of Andy Barrie, current Metro Morning host on CBC Radio One, and his calm but inquisitive style. So, when it was recently announced that Barrie would be "abdicating" the position, I had my suspicions that Matt Galloway, current host of the drive home show, Here and Now, would be his replacement since he was the most frequent substitute for Barrie. It turns out that my fears are correct.
I tend not to listen to Here and Now because, while I find Galloway intelligent, I do not find him engaging. Galloway has a detached air about him that will not be easy to listen to, first thing in the morning. I can only hope that Galloway warms up in his hosting style with his move to Metro Morning.

Mont Tremblant
I visited Mont Tremblant, for the first time, over the weekend and it was amazing. The runs are numerous, lengthy, scenic, and, even on a Saturday, uncongested. While nature has been kind to the area, with spectacular views and perfect snow conditions, the people behind the operation are savvy. From the speedy lifts, to the convenient village retail, to the free parking, everything has been done to prevent stress and foresee to visitors' needs. If Blue Mountain is looking to compete with Mont Tremblant, they have a long way to go.

Best case Monday

With summer finally arriving in Toronto, I'm finding it hard to go to work. Happily, today is turning out to be better than expected. Both my boss and my immediate supervisor are out of the office. While this scenario is conducive to slacking off, I have actually been productive because meeting a deadline has been compatible with listening to "Q" on CBC Radio, which featured an interview with one of my favourite writers, David Sedaris. I actually laughed until my spreadsheet became blurry, though my co-worker might have perceived sobbing stifled by hastily grabbed tissue paper. The podcast of the interview should be uploaded soon so check it out.

Quick notes on two street festivals that I visited over the weekend:

Taste of Little Italy - A smaller event than Taste of the Danforth that was heavy on food offerings from everywhere but Italy. My friend made a point of eating Italian food at the festival but was disappointed after his determined search resulted in some rather ordinary ravioli.

Big on Bloor - It was unfortunate that this one day festival took place during steady day-long rain on Saturday. The weather meant less crowding for Joe and me but we felt sorry for the sodden vendors, especially the ones without any shelter. One thing that I like about the Big on Bloor Street Festival is that it features up and coming crafters and artists that I do not normally see at bigger events. Eric Cheung had his Orphans Plush sitting in an old suitcase, open to the elements. He came out from the shelter of a store front to give us a whimsical tale about the dolls and explain how he had learned to sew in order to produce them. The Orphans were so appealing and well priced that we couldn't resist adopting one. We named him Walter and discovered that he longs to become a ballet dancer in spite of his footballer's build, which he attempts to camouflage with the vertical lines of his tight sweater.

Rehab for the masses

As is probably the case for the majority North Americans, I have struggled with food for the majority of my life. When faced with tasty food, I have often lacked the will power to simply stop when I feel full. My recent Kichadi fast experience has definitely confirmed the idea that the sensory rewards of food, and not satiation, is what compels people to overeat.

Dr. David Kessler, former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, was on The Current today in a segment called "Overeating" and he equated commercial food with a drug, "optimized for bliss" with the perfect combination of fat, sugar and/or salt. Add the "emotional gloss" of advertising campaigns and you have a socially acceptable addiction waiting to happen.

As with any addiction, consumers must reprogram their routine and perceptions to overcome the problem. The strength of sensory cues (sight and smell of food) needs to be acknowledged the same way it is understood that placing bottles of alcohol in front of an alcoholic is asking for a relapse. Addicts must reprogram themselves by breaking unhealthy food's association with a positive experience ("It tastes so good") and instead link them with the negative effects ("The satisfaction is only temporary and then I'll feel bloated and guilty").

Dr. Kessler admits that the lure of food can never be programmed out completely, much like for a reformed alcoholic or smoker. However, replacing the positive stimulation of unhealthy food with a negative connotation will be easier than attempting to exert control over the desire with dieting or willpower. As Kessler states at the end of his segment, "If you want that donut, even if you know that it's not good for you, there's nothing (anyone) can do to get in the way between you and that donut (...) once your brain has been activated."

More like Children of the Corn

Today's feature on "The Current" about children of the recession is the latest in the media trend of creating parallels between the Great Depression and the current global recession. As guest host, Nancy Wilson tried to get economics expert, Yvette Kantrow, to compare the generation that grew up during the Depression of the 1930s ("The Silent Generation") with the current crop of youths, it became evident that the story was a non-starter. Kantrow stuck by the belief that many other world events might have just as much of an impact on the current generation as the economic crisis, if not more.

Rather than refer to the war in Afghanistan or the advent of China as a world economic power as influences on young people of today, I would refer instead to Britney Spears's public breakdown and Octo-Mom. It has been speculated that the Western public was largely complacent about the genocide in Rwanda because it had the misfortune of taking place at the same time as the O.J. Simpson trial. Similarly, I would posit that the current generation of youth are nicely anesthetized by widespread tabloid media and consumerism to the economic woes that scarred the Silent Generation into a lifetime of thriftiness and practicality. It is ridiculous to even compare the two generations, despite similarly disasterous economic situations.

Maybe if the children of the Dust Bowl era had had access to a Hilary Duff credit card that allowed them to buy affordable, throwaway fashion while surfing the internet to download songs and movies for free off torrent sites, then they wouldn't have had to suffer their way to a strong work ethic and fatalistic leanings. If today's generation has learned anything about the economic crisis, it is that recessions provide good sales.

"The Point": inane, dull, pointless

Among the many casualties of the recently announced funding cuts at the CBC is CBC Radio's "The Point", a debate program hosted by Aamer Haleem, broadcasted on weekday afternoons.

One of the strengths of radio is the quick turnaround time and within hours of learning of their program's projected demise, "The Point" panelists du jour, Heather Mallick and Fazil Mihlar, were discussing the show's fate, under the pretense of discussing "public broadcasting in a recessionary era".

In the awkward conversation that followed, Mallick played the role of a jilted lover. One could imagine Mallick on a post-breakup bender as she spoke of burning bridges now that she would no longer be employed by the CBC. It was a overstated claim since the last debacle Mallick involved the CBC in resulted in an apology by CBC on her behalf (see 2008 Controversy) but no apparent severing of ties.

Later, while on the inane topic of whether Canada is boring, Mallick asked why Canadians find people who try to be provocative (read: interesting), such as herself, annoying. The answer was so ripe with possibilities and yet, one answer covers both the panelist and the show: an outrageous statement without substance is not provocative; it is annoying. Unfortunately, Haleem let a good opportunity go to waste, which is exactly why "The Point" is such milquetoast programming, in spite of labelling itself "provocative".

I do not object to CBC cutting drivel like "The Point" and its defunct predecessor "Freestyle", both featuring light weight banter with hipster musical accompaniment. Even under the shadow of an axe, Haleem and his cohorts continue to chatter about tangential topics that they know nothing about in the most flippant manner possible. With all the ignorance of shock radio but without the bite, "The Point" is pointless.

In progress

• I started reading Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance yesterday and I am about 1/3 through; this is a testament to Obama's compelling prose as opposed to my reading prowess. The book was published in 1995 but already, the characteristics that make Obama such a force to be reckoned are revealed: his thoughtful yet unflinching reflections on racial identity, and the unswerving confidence in the face of ignorance or even outright hostility demonstrated by his father and assumed by Obama in turn.
• I traded in my Air Tracks snowboard, which seemed too flexible and unresponsive, for the 2008 Flow Venus. I have not had a chance to test my new board as Mother Nature has not been on my side, choosing to please just about everyone else with milder weather. Never before have I prayed so fervently for cold weather and heavy snowfall.
• The downturn in the economy has apparently produced a bumper crop of eager police recruits thus pushing any chance of me taking the York Regional Police written and physical test to 2010! I also failed to submit an exhibition proposal for Luminato due to a lack of motivation. Presently, all my hopes rest on my Nuit Blanche 2009 application - decisions are promised for the end of March. In the meantime, I am open to suggestions on what to tackle next.

Climb every mountain

Canada Writes '09 released their short list of 20 finalists today and I am not amongst them. Pooh. I thought cannibalism as a topic would stand out but apparently not.

Coincidentally, today was the deadline for Nuit Blanche 2009, so while one opportunity burns to the ground, another lights up the drapes next door. I submitted my application early but still managed to stress out right up to the deadline, when I was reassured by organizers that they had received my application.

In an effort to keep my delusions of grandeur afloat, I am already looking forward to the next challenge:

• Luminato - A call for exhibition proposals for the Luminato Box. I do not have high hopes for this one so I'm approaching it like a lottery: if I win an exhibition opportunity, I will be pleasantly shocked.
• York Regional Police - A friend has decided to try out for the police force and so will I. I don't actually want to serve or protect so on the off chance that I pass the physical and written tests, I will proceed to ruin my chances by shaking my junk or advocating racial profiling.
• Snowboarding - I bought my own snowboard, bindings, and boots from Boardsports - crazy, but true. So, I'll be hauling my new equipment to Earl Bales Park as much as possible over the next 30 days before my refund opportunity expires.

Fast approaching deadline

My 2009 resolution, in addition to killing more zombies, was to enter any reasonable call for entry in order to kick myself back into art or the semblance of creativity. One contest that I mentioned previously was Canada Writes '09, but I suddenly find myself facing the fast approaching deadline of February 7, midnight.

I'm undecided on which 200 words to hastily send in so maybe my loyal readers (brief cricket chirp) can suggest their favourites from Xiao Pangzi or whatever entry they can remember being particularly offended by.

My personal favourites include:
The Great Taste of Friends
Sayako vs Paris
Cold cuts - I reject!
Equality in my stomach
Hair for the ages
Running...to the max!

When I look at the dates of these blog entries, I wonder if I should enter at all. Have I not written anything decent lately? As I cry, please feel free to suggest a blog entry by February 6.

Ain't what it used to be

I just love Michael Imperioli's look on "Life on Mars". That 1970s porno dirt bag look; you can just smell the cologne layered on sweaty polyester. Unfortunately for the show's ratings, Imperioli's amazing mustache has not actually compelled me to watch it in action. Too often, I hear that the American version of "Life on Mars" pales in comparison to the British original. So, I figure, what's the point?

Speaking of weak remakes, I always disliked Michael Bublé's "Feeling Good" because it was such easy listening crap that had potential to be more interesting. Thanks to Errol Nazareth on CBC Radio's "Metro Morning", I found out that Bublé's song is actually a remake of a Nina Simone song. Hearing Simone's version of the song shocked me; I actually like it alot.

Pair up Simone's song with Imperioli's photo and I've got myself a good time.

Practice makes perfect

Writing a blog usually has be to a reward unto itself because there is no prestige to aim for nor loot to be had ... until now! Canada Writes '09 is a speed writing contest hosted by Brent Bambury on the CBC Radio show, "GO!"

Contestants are invited to send in their most entertaining 200 words in one of five categories: song lyrics, movie pitch, rant, ad and blog! Shortlisted writers will compete live on the air, whipping out 200 words in one hour, on April 18. Up for grabs is a Macbook for the ultimate winner and an iPod Touch for the runner-ups.

I feel somewhat qualified for this competition since I have a blog and regularly whip out entries over my lunch hour, plus I am actually a fan of "GO!" having attended one of their live tapings.

Readers of this blog tend to be writers of their own - it's an incestuous community. I encourage everyone to enter the contest by February 7. Good luck and godspeed your typing.

One is not like the other

I was listening to CBC's "The Current" on the January 7, 2009 when host, Anna Maria Tremonti interviewed two Canadians on opposing sides of the Gaza conflict. Eva Bartlett, a native of Fergus, ON, is volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement in Gaza City while Gilbert Zamonsky of Toronto is volunteering with Sar-El Canada.

The interview with Bartlett was what one would expect: a first hand account of the physical devastation of the bombings and the emotional strain of "life under siege" in Gaza. It was the interview that followed with Zamonsky that made me angry.

After listening to the audibly exhausted Bartlett, it was hard to take Zamonsky's flippant tone. Zamonsky cheerfully identified himself as a snowbird enjoying the sunny climate of Israel and justified his work repairing Israeli tanks because it "turns (his) crank". It was frightening to hear the disconnect in Zamonsky between his work and its contibution to the killing of people when he happily described sending repaired tanks "back to work".

To her credit, poor Tremonti tried repeatedly to corrall Zamonsky back to the realm of sympathy or even sobriety, bringing up the rocket attacks on Israel and prompting Zamonsky to reflect on his beliefs but to no avail. The tactless man equated the tank depot to a retirement resort where they "treat (him) well" and he can hang out with friends. Zamonsky then reduced Israel's reason for being to a place where "Jewish people can feel comfortable." Only when Zamonsky reflected on vengeance did he cease being glib, chillingly referring to the recent bombings on Gaza as "payback".

If Israel is getting flack from the rest of the world for their recent bombardment on Gaza, they are not helped on the PR front by boorish mouthpieces like Zamonsky. Sar-El Canada should be embarrassed by their representative and "The Current" needs to mete out more balanced representation of two sides of a never-ending conflict.

A promise to the TTC

If the TTC ever arms its special constables with tasers, I promise that I will boycott the TTC.

Increasingly, the TTC is treating its passengers like the enemy. Initially, it was passive aggressive or careless actions like not announcing stops or dragging people stuck in the doors of the subways.

Now, instead of focusing on improving service and their relationship with commuters, the TTC has become obsessed with "a desire to address health and safety concerns that the special constables have regarding their work." In recent contract negotiations, a key issue was how workers assaulted and injured on the job would be taken care of.

Arming special constables with tasers will only be the next step in this seeming war against passengers. When I ride the TTC, I already feel like a cow being herded from platform to platform. It is not a leap of the imagination to foresee frustrated TTC employees using their tasers like cow prods. Their counterparts in BC have already shown themselves all too ready to use tasers to deal with situations as minor as fare evasion.

A recent episode of The Age of Persuasion recalled the reinvention of the Paris Metro in the 1990s. They catered to their customers by adding the convenience of 300 shops and 1500 vending machines, the ambience of artwork and live concerts in their stations, and a website that provided traffic information and other useful commuter info; they became a "provider of services for mobile people" and ridership and customer satisfaction increased. If only the TTC showed the same amount of creativity and care for its passengers.

A non-commercial break

My blog seems to have been taken over by my never-ending anecdotes about my trip to London. So, I'll talk briefly about my happiness over the withdrawal of "Freestyle" from the CBC Radio One afternoon schedule in Toronto. It was replaced about a month ago by "Q", an arts show hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, whom I loved during the run of "The National Playlist" and his stint hosting "Sounds like Canada" last summer. Needless to say, I am thrilled.

I never had a chance to rant about "Freestyle" when it was still on the air in Toronto and now that it is off, it feels a little late. Yet, I'm going it off my chest and hope that CBC mines the internet for criticism about their past mistakes.

1. Original hosts Cameron Phillips and Kelly Ryan sounded like they disliked eachother. To be more accurate, Kelly sounded like she thought Cameron was a moron. Typical Cameron and Kelly banter went like this (made up at the top of my head):

Cameron: I enjoy drinking a slushee really fast so that I get a
brain freeze. What about you, Kelly? Do you do that much?

Kelly: No, I can't say I do.

Cameron: What about when you were a kid? You used to do
that, right?

Kelly: No, I knew better, Cameron.

(Uncomfortable chuckling from Cameron)

Kelly: Speaking of brain freeze, here's the latest Avril Lavigne
song.

Maybe Kelly's news background made her feel that she was above light, afternoon banter. In the end, she left "Freestyle" to return to news and was replaced by Marsha Lederman who is clearly more willing to join in on Cameron's silliness.

2. More than half of "Freestyle" consisted of easy listening radio. Exactly why CBC would feel a need to wade into the same waters as commercial radio is beyond me. I listen to CBC radio to avoid commercial radio.

I still remember the day CBC management came on "Ontario Today", then hosted by Alan Neal, to announce that "Ontario Today" would end broadcast in Toronto an hour early to make way for their new show, "Freestyle". As the suit droned on and on about markets and surveys, it was hard to ignore Alan's contempt, even in his brief questions.

Alan moved on to "Fuse," a music show, a bit later and I miss him. His mild voice usually led politicians and other guests he interviewed into a false sense of security. Then he would whip out a nasty question and not let up until the interviewee was clearly sweating through the phone. Hilarious!

Jian is back. Now, if only they would get Alan Neal his own show: a mash up of pleasant current events and public humiliation for the deserving.

Radio fun on a Saturday morning

Joe and I dragged ourselves out of bed at 7:30 on a Saturday morning and walked in the freezing cold down to the CBC Building to be part of the live studio audience of GO!, one of my favourite radio shows. When I wake up early on a Saturday morning (9am), I like to listen in on Brent Bambury and his nerdy cool brand of fun.

After being seated in a studio about 20 minutes before going to air, we were warmed up by Brent Bambury with trivia and prizes. Other audience members won books and Canada Reads bags by answering questions like 'Who was the first host of Canada Reads?' and 'Which panelist failed to show up in support of his book?". I won a GO! do-rag by correctly identifying Cher's song, "Believe". I don't think I was the only person in the audience who recognized Cher's hit song. Rather, I was the only audience member desperate enough for a prize to acknowledge it.

The audience seemed mostly made up of the 20 to 30 something University-educated demographic. Joe and I got great seats that were somewhat hampered by our proximity to a pair of insolent artsy teenagers. It was somewhat laughable to overhear their clumsy attempt to coerce Brent Bambury into having their band on GO! They were obviously fans of the house band that day, Spiral Beach, whose members, being between the ages of 17 and 20, also displayed an impertinent precocity of their own. The band's three male members were vitually clones with their identical mop tops and artfully frayed white t-shirts and jeans, and their music seemed like a New Wave regurgitation. You know you've become old and cynical when the know-it-all bravado of youth grates on your nerves and you are comforted by the fact that they will soon be humbled by the realization that it has all been done before.

We were not given advance notice on who the guests would be this week but I knew we had come to the right show when I spotted Scott Thompson, formerly of The Kids in the Hall, one of CBC's best programming decisions.

It turns out that Scott had been asked along with theatre actor Jean Yoon, MP Olivia Chow and a GO! resident contributor, whose name escapes me, to participate in "Canada Skims...Magazines!" Scott hilariously defended the celebrity tabloid, OK! Canada, because "Canadians need more low culture in their lives." Olivia Chow touted Gardening Life and the GO! guy presented LouLou. In the end, Jean Yoon was victorious with Shameless, a feminist indie mag; a predictable result on a CBC show.

Before leaving, I couldn't resist approaching Scott Thompson and expressing my love for him, which Scott took very well. Then I asked Joe to take a photo of us. In retrospect, I wish I could have proven to Scott how much I loved him and The Kids in the Hall by using obscure punchlines like:

• Andrew Dice Clay is not the new Lenny Bruce. You are!
• I had the pear dream again.
• Godspeed thee through Texas, faggot!

That last one might have gotten me in trouble, though, if Scott had a bad memory. The moral of the story is: always have catch phrases ready for rapid fire recitation, or if you are a comic book enthusiast, issue numbers and obscure plot details.

The whole GO! experience was fun and totally worth the free ticket, obnoxious teenagers notwithstanding.

True radio head

Up until recently, I started my mornings with CFRB 1010 Talk Radio. I enjoyed the manic pace of the news, which contrasted nicely with the voice of Ted Woloshyn, the most haggard sounding morning guy I've ever heard. But AM radio is unreliable in an apartment. Some mornings, I would wake up to not only Ted but also a high pitched whine and lots of static.

As a result, I've started listening to CBC Radio One on the FM dial in the morning, and I feel calmer and better informed. Slowly but surely, CBC Radio has been replacing CFRB on my radio during the rest of the day as well.

For years, my parents complained that CFRB stressed them out and I finally have to agree. Listening to the knee jerk reactions of whichever listener can dial the fastest is no longer entertaining. And the time that each listener is given to air their views really does depend on whether they agree with the host.

My preferred CFRB hosts are slotted in times that do not correspond with my listening habits. John Moore (3-6pm) and Jim Richards (8-11pm) are hilarious. Unfortunately, I hardly ever hear them anymore. Instead, I was stuck listening to uninformed and archaic idiots, The Motts (1-3pm) and the most boring gay, former drug addict in the world, Mark Elliot (11pm-1am).

I've started listening to CBC Radio shows like The Current (8:30-10am), and I've been given a view beyond my immediate experience and the city limits. For instance, today I learned about growing concern that the Netherlands is not as welcoming of immigrants as it once was. The liberal reputation of the Netherlands is under fire due to an 'educational film' featuring kissing men and a topless female sunbather supposedly being shown to prospective immigrants. Critics claim the film is meant to deter Muslim immigration and is feeding into the growing conservative climate. It boggled my mind that 'conservative' in the Netherlands still manages to be associated with what most Americans consider very left wing (i.e. gay marriage).

Meanwhile, over at CFRB, I used to listen to hosts debate the latest pop psychology study proving how different men and women are. This would be followed by various calls from listeners who would cite personal experience as solid evidence. It made me want to pull my hair out to listen to such smallmindedness and how readily the hosts presented topics that maintain the status quo.

CFRB hosts have defended the talk radio format as a way for the average person to have their views aired. To deny the opinions of the average CFRB listener is to be called elitist and unrealistic.

Simply listening to the rabble of the population does not take into account the opinions of the quieter, more mild mannered members of society. A majority of listeners either do not attempt to call in or never make it through. Hence, the frequent announcement: "I'm a first time caller."

As well, I would refer to the saying, 'One cannot survive on bread alone'. I like that CBC Radio takes me outside my everday petty cares while remaining relevant. To simply listen to a regurgitation of what you already know does not advance your knowledge of the world or yourself. By confirming that a greater world exists out there, CBC Radio allows me to think and dream of what is possible.

By the way, that's a photo of Jian Ghomeshi, the host of CBC Radio's The National Playlist. I actually try to clear up my work schedule so that I can listen from 11:30am to 12pm, Mondays to Fridays, without being interrupted. I refuse to vote until I'm well informed.

Life and death - for fun!

As an adult, I've attempted to play Dungeons & Dragons twice but each time, the enjoyment factor was foiled by farfetched situations ("What the hell is a Level 30 Red Dragon doing outside the pub? I quit!"). My pink D&D die set sits on my desk, gathering dust, right now.

But, screw my pink D&D die! I've found a new way to escape reality. I found the following report from CBC Radio's The Current (reproduced in part below):

"The people who spend time Live Action Role Playing -- or LARPing-- fantasize about much more elaborate worlds where characters can be heroic or murderous, angelic or evil. And this is serious business----people get quite swept up in their characters... living out parts of themselves that might otherwise be repressed in the real world.

But Larping takes place very much in the real world. Last fall our producer, Nicola Luksic immersed herself in one game called "Mortality." The event unfolded over the course of an entire weekend on a five acre patch of land just north-east of Toronto. The game's creators built up a mini-village for the gamers, complete with sleeping quarters and a tavern. The night began around a campfire in the middle of a dense forest.

The Live Action Role Playing game of Mortality continues this summer. If you're wanting a plot update, we've learned that the mythical town of Epticoira was sacked by raiders and the villagers fled for protection to a monastery of the Oberian Order."

It horrifies yet amuses me to imagine middle class Canadians running and screaming from 'raiders' before climbing into their SUVs at the end of the day, then debating whether to get McDonalds or KFC. Meanwhile, halfway around the world, a group of villagers are running and screaming, then running and screaming some more, all without the reassuring glow of a McDonalds or KFC in sight.