Alternative Girlfriend

Common Sense and Compassion Overcome Marijuana Propaganda

2009-03-13T02:45:00.004-04:00

Everyone should read this.

Common Sense and Compassion Overcome Marijuana Propaganda

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I Heart The Beta Band.

2009-03-10T23:25:00.005-04:00

Dry The Rain....'cause sometimes I just fall in love with a song.

Worth Sharing

2009-03-08T01:32:00.003-05:00

Watch all of 'em.

Is it just me?

2009-03-07T19:18:00.005-05:00

The Opening Theme Song for "Dallas", circa 1978:

The new CBC Hockey Night in Canada contest song:

Having a Bad Day?

2009-03-03T00:47:00.003-05:00

Things may not seem so rough after a visit to the hilarious site F*** My Life - FML: Your everyday life stories. Prepare to spend some time there!

No Rihanna! Noooooooo!!!!

2009-03-01T08:02:00.017-05:00

While it is true that all parents should strive to be Role Models for their children, the fact is that Human Nature lends us to Idolizing and looking up to more well known personalities as well. Even those with wonderful, loving parents become Fans and relate to Actors, Singers, Writers, Athletes, Politicians - people who obtain the status of "Celebrity" in their respective fields.

With the exception of people that become famous at a young age and may not fully understand what becoming "known" entails, it is no secret that if one is lucky enough to realize their dream and star in the blockbuster movie of the Summer, have the next big album, Best Selling book, or win the Stanley Cup, you are now opening yourself up to the world. Along with people who become your fans, admirers, supporters, cheerleaders and Corporate Sponsors, you will also be written about, gossiped about, scrutinized, photographed, (See: TMZ's disgraceful posting of photos of a butt in a bikini, and people wonder why women have problems with body image, but that's a whole new subject) and have people who wish to see you fail.

Not everything that comes with fame is fair, for example, I for one don't think Mrs. Movie Star and her kids should have cameras flashing around them while they have taken a simple trip to the grocery store, that's what I call Paparazzi Overkill and an unnecessary Invasion of Privacy. But there is no way that Mrs. Movie Star could ever claim that they didn't expect attention coming their way, both positive and negative.

Yes, Celebrities are human just like the rest of us, perfection should not be expected of them and it is a shame that often times that is exactly what happens. But with the common knowledge that there are people who will look up to them, including children and teenagers, they must realize that their actions and choices do in fact affect the decisions of others.

From "Who" they wear to The Oscars to the products they choose to endorse, they influence the public. It is not because we are sheep, it's because we like them, we loved their last tune, we dig their style, we thought they nailed that last role, we respect them. We develop favourite celebrities and hone our own personal style based on parts of who we are. I love Old School, so yeah, I own this awesome Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock T-Shirt. I love to read Douglas Coupland so I bought the DVD of his TV show jPod when it was released.

As fans, we become a part of a celebrities' success by having a little piece of something they created. Our CD Collections reflect the music that moves us, and we donate money to the Charities they speak so passionately about. Again, this is all about being Human, we follow those who inspire us. The most recent example would be the United States electing President Barack Obama. His platform of change was evident by the flowing sea of Americans in Washington on Inauguration Day. This became a reality because people literally gave their Vote of Confidence, respected his ideas and trusted that his promises are genuine. But how many people actually personally know President Obama? Of course not every American knows him, but he let his words and actions speak for themselves. Young, old, Black and White stood together, passionate about their Country and Politics based on one mans' Public Persona, because in the end, with the exception of very close Family and Friends, that's all anyone in the Public Eye has to convey who they are and what they stand for.

Rihanna should obviously realize that to her fans, kids and adults alike, she is a Role Model. She has got to know that people honestly care about her from the outpouring of support she received after the brutal beating at the hands of Chris Brown. These weren't loved ones of hers, but just everyday people who cared about her and wanted to show her compassion during what is a truly difficult time. I don't care about what events led up to the assault, IT IS IRRELEVANT. Whether it was an argument over another woman, or she threw his keys out of his car, there is simply no reason on the planet that excuses him from laying his hands on her in rage. No man, ever, can profess True Love for a woman when he has been violent towards her, physically or emotionally abusive.

I think women especially, are reacting so strongly to the news that Rihanna would choose, in the Year 2009, with the support of her family and close friends, all her financial resources, no children to worry about being hurt, (and if the rumours of a pregnancy are true, it makes the situation even worse because then not only did he beat his girlfriend, he beat his pregnant girlfriend) that she would continue a relationship with her abuser. I don't think people should be comparing her to Tina Turner either. When Ms. Turner endured her years of abuse Domestic Violence was still being pushed under the rug by a male dominated society. There wasn't much help for women and children who were victims of abuse, Celebrity or not.

We get that she may still love him, it's hard to just shut feelings off. But she must give herself time to heal. The bruises and bite marks will fade, but the emotional impact is going to take longer, and it is something that no matter what is a permanent part of the person she now is. We can't change the past, only try to live our lives the best we can when something horribly sad and terrible has happened.

Rihanna had the opportunity to show women the world over that violence toward women will not, and should not, be tolerated. She had the chance to prove to woman that they can survive without their boyfriends and husbands who think so little of them that they would inflict pain on them. She had the chance to encourage other women living in fear for their and often their childrens, safety, to seek help and leave these men who claim to "Love them".

She could have been a Crusader for abused women everywhere, and instead, all she has shown is weakness and a lack of self respect and no love for herself. She chose not to believe that while her heart may be broken, that she could one day fall in love with a true gentleman who would never in a million years make her a sad statistic.

The message she is conveying to young women everywhere is that it's okay to give another chance to a man (and as a 19 year old girlfriend beater, I reluctantly use this label for Chris Brown) who chose to thrust violence upon her instead of removing himself from an emotional situation. An apology, a Happy Birthday wish, and a promise to never do it again should mean nothing to her after such physical betrayal. What "Rehabilitation" could he have possibly gone through in 3 weeks that makes her believe that he is a changed man and he won't ever do it again? Even if there is the possibility that he has learned his lesson, does she really want to take that chance with her life? Does she want to live every day in fear that "This may be the day he snaps and murders me?"

Rihanna is most likely very upset that she has now become a "Poster Child" for Battered Woman. She probably doesn't like the fact that women and girls are possibly basing their own relationships upon on her actions. That's a lot of pressure. She must look at the person who put her in this situation - Chris Brown has brought her into a Media Circus that she did not deserve. I understand she is still young, but I would love to believe that she would have considered the fact that impressionable women and girls might follow her example.

While it may not be right or fair that women and teenage girls may base their decision to stay with or continue a relationship with an abuser because "Rihanna took Chris back", the fact is that Rihanna has fans who value what she thinks and will follow in her footsteps. How long will it be before we hear of a woman found murdered because if Rihanna thought it was okay to forgive Chris Brown, then she thought she could do it too? Again, no woman should base such an important choice on the actions of a celebrity, but we all know it happens anyways.

Parents and loved ones of victims can only do so much. They can beg and plead with a woman to gain control of her physical and emotional well-being, but in the end it must be the victim who takes a stand and values her own life over that of the feelings of her boyfriend or husband, and to end the relationship that has become emotionally devastating.

Women still have a hard time getting the help they need to get away from their abusers, especially those who may not have the financial resources or loved ones to aid them. It's probably one of the hardest things anyone has ever had to do. In time, Rihanna could have made the decision to encourage battered women and girls everywhere to value their lives and not be controlled by an abusive partner. Actually, if the one and only thing she ever publicly did was to never go back to him, it would make a huge impact. Consensus would be "Rihanna is a strong woman. She may have loved him, but she loves and respects herself more. It has to be so hard, but she has shown that violence against women will not be tolerated."

If Rihanna has indeed continued her relationship with Chris Brown, she may as well resign herself to the public perception that she is not worth our sympathy, not worth caring about, not worth supporting her artistic endeavors. Many Mothers have already stated on Message Boards that not only have they stopped letting their children be consumers of any Chris Brown project, but with the revelation that Rihanna has taken him back, they will no longer let their kids be listeners of an artist who has so little respect for herself, let alone the fans who contributed to her fame in the first place.

As a Mother, I am constantly aware of what media I expose my children to. While they are young it is my responsibility to ensure they are negatively influenced as little as humanely possible. I know I can't watch over my kids every minute of every day, but I can monitor the content loaded on their iPods, give the go ahead or kibosh regarding which concerts they go to, and decide if I'm going to spend my money on merchandise that brings celebrities millions of dollars every year during a trip to the mall with the kids.

Of course, for my older ones, I have learned that I may not like every actor or singer or band that my kids are into, but I know that I did my best until they were old enough to decide for themselves who they chose to be fans of. I also know that I have taught my Teenagers that just because so-and-so may have sung a song about keeping all his ho's and bitches in line, they don't mean garden tools and female dogs, and that kind of behavior in reality is totally unacceptable.

So goes it that parents everywhere may now refuse their children Rihanna's music. Parents tend to favor healthy, positive Role Models for their kids. Yes, this may be judgmental, but when it comes to my kids, I am going to be judgmental. Some may say "Well, the only person Rihanna is truly hurting is herself" but like I said, celebrities must be aware that they are emulated, it's just the way it is.

You may say I am holding Public Figures up to higher standards, and yes, I admit I am. When famous people influence the decisions of others, whether they intend to or not, they should have enough hindsight to know that they lead by example.

Again Celebrities, I don't ask for perfection, but I do ask that you don't beat your girlfriend or Wife. I demand that you do not drink and drive. I suggest that you don't get so totally shitfaced at the club that you pass out in your car and give the paparazzi an opportunity to take pictures of your drunk ass. I ask that you don't shoot steroids to pad your Batting Average, and I would think it's best that you don't spend John Q. Public's money to pay for Hookers.

From Message Board responses, it is obvious that people are mortified at the thought of Rihanna reconciling with Chris Brown. Some have begged and pleaded to her, some have gotten outright royally pissed, and some have gone as far as to call her some pretty nasty things and wish her more harm. What we should be doing is letting Rihanna know that we understand that she is going through a very rough time right now. She may not be thinking with a totally clear head while trying to convince her heart to let go. She gave her love to Chris Brown and this is how he has treated her, the feeling of betrayal must be overwhelming. Not only has she had to go through all of this, but she has had to do it being scrutinized en masse.

What we should be doing is supporting her and letting her know that we realize she will need time to mend her broken heart. Regardless of the fact he beat her, we must acknowledge that she loved him and anyone who goes through such a life altering experience is bound to feel lost and alone, even if she does have a great support system, and wonder just what the hell they are going to do.

Rihanna at the same time though, must realize that whether she agrees with it or not, women and girls hoped she would rise to the challenge and let it be known that men who hit do not deserve another chance. The second he laid his hands on her in rage, Chris Brown forfeited the privilege of continuing to be her boyfriend. If Americans have come so far as to forget about the colour of ones skin and elect a black President, how come today's society can't have traveled as far as making violence towards women one of the most vilified actions known to humans?

It disturbed me to read some comments about her becoming a punching bag because she was with a black man. Violence has no colour, no nationality. Domestic abuse happens in every race, every country, every religion. Rich, poor, educated, popular, bookish, beautiful, it doesn't matter. Implying that where one is raised lends to a higher occurrence of domestic violence is a shameful excuse. It would be foolish for anyone to believe a man hauls off on his wife or girlfriend because it's typical of a certain culture, the plain truth is that any man who hits a woman is a coward with the highest level of Douchbaggery attainable, and not because he was raised in The Islands.

All around the world, women are murdered every day at the hands of the men who supposedly love them. Sometimes it's in the name of Religion, Honour Killings. Look at the term. "Honour" killings. It's the year 2009 and why do they still exist? I'm not a Religious Scholar, does it actually say in the teachings of any religion that a woman can be punished with abuse and death? For "disobeying" or showing a little more skin than is just around the eyes? For not wanting to enter into an Arranged Marriage? For being raped? There is no "Honour" for any man who murders in the Name of their God. And if there are such teachings in any religion, those Old World punishments should be left exactly there, and abolished in our Modern Day.

I would have hoped that by this point in Human History, we would have evolved enough as a compassionate society to eradicate Domestic Abuse. All people, Women, Men, Young, Old, Religious, Atheist, Agnostic, Straight, Gay, these differences should not matter. We are all Human inside and deserve to be treated equally. Unfortunately, after seeing the picture of Rihanna's beaten upon body, it is obvious that Chris Brown does not believe she is equal, his actions spoke louder than words ever could have.

Reality Bites

2009-02-25T15:33:00.019-05:00

"Canadians are world leaders in online engagement. Look at the numbers, not your assumptions and act accordingly."

-Wayne MacPhail, "Canadian Internet usage quiz -- surprise answers inside!"

Wayne MacPhail has some very interesting statistics for your online reading enlightenment on Rabble.ca. He writes:

"Canadians are the most engaged online audience on the planet. And, more Canadians, by percentage of population, are online than any other country. The Internet has the highest penetration in Canada of any G7 country. Seventy two per cent of all of us use it on a monthly basis."

"So, we are the most highly penetrated country, view the most content and spend the most time."

"That's a trend that's been growing, not just among young folks, but right across the age spectrum. According to 2007 NADBank data, time spent by Canadians on the Internet (as a percentage of time spent with all media types) has at least doubled in every age group, including 55+ since 2001. The one bright indicator for television? About 46 per cent of Canadians browse the Web and watch TV at the same time at least once a day. That said, at about 8 p.m., the Web's reach exceeds prime time television's in Canadian households." -

Taken from an e-mail I received from Kirstine Layfield, Executive Director Network Programming CBC Television on March 28th. 2008 regarding jPods' cancellation and basically dismissing the value of Online Viewership. The folks over at Save jPod called her out on it. Those of us who wrote received the same copy and paste info back.

Dear ______,

Thank you for your email of March 28 regarding our decision not to renew jPod for another season. I appreciate the time you have taken to write.

It is clear that you strongly support this program. And I agree with you. It was an excellent program, well scripted and well acted. All of us had great hopes that the program would find the audience it deserved on CBC Television.

Unfortunately, not enough television viewers shared our opinion. Throughout its season, jPod attracted a devoted, but very small following. And while it is true that, for a public broadcaster, audience size is not everything, you also cannot be a public broadcaster without a public. If too few Canadians are watching, we are irrelevant. And, if we are irrelevant, Canadians are right to ask why they are investing the money they do in CBC Television. In addition,"the Internet is not a medium that pays for the kind of production values people expect on TV. Until the reality catches up with what people watch on line, you can't justify it." -

Reality catches up. In his article, Mr. MacPhail ends with "Canadians are world leaders in online engagement. Look at the numbers, not your assumptions and act accordingly."

In February 2008, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (a committee comprised of various MPs) produced a report entitled CBC/Radio-Canada: Defining distinctiveness in the changing media landscape. The purpose of the report was to study the future role of public broadcasting, and to present the Committee’s findings and recommendations. All of the below statements, taken directly from the report, play straight into jPod’s strengths. From the Committee’s report:

“[CBC] must constantly keep up with new technologies and reach out to audiences where they are, including young people who seek content on the Internet.” (p.5)

“We are asking CBC/Radio-Canada to be original, of high quality and innovative” (p.9)

“Mandate of the CBC/Radio-Canada as stipulated In the Broadcasting Act (1991, c. 11, B-9.01, [Assented to February 1, 1991)(i) be predominantly and distinctively Canadian […]” (p 18)

“Dwindling audience share is not unique to public broadcasting, and audience measurement will need to adapt alongside the transition to digital media. Internet broadcasting, downloading and streaming content, PVRs and on-demand and pay services mean that the same film, television episode or news broadcast will be seen by many more viewers than those who tune in for ”appointment television”.” (p55)

“CBC/Radio-Canada’s online presence will be fundamental to its relevance to Canadian audiences in the future.” (p57)

"The Hour" Host, George Stroumboulopolous:

"Online is rapidly becoming king, not traditional TV platforms."

....so they're not going to come to television - they're going to watch it however they want."

"Ten years from now, the cable channel isn't going to be nearly as important as the domain name. CBC.ca, that's the television channel of the future. We don't worry about where people are watching us, as long as they're watching us." -

I may not be a Fan of George, but he gets the point across. Maybe he should have a chat with Kirstine Layfield.

Steve Tilley does me a Solid

2009-02-25T06:39:00.000-05:00

"TV on the Net" Writer Steve Tilley obliges and reminds all of the awesomeness that is jPod.

The 'Corp(se)

2009-02-18T07:31:00.009-05:00

I did a lot of venting on here regarding the CBC, but after my concerns just got continually passed around between the CBC, their Ombudsman, and the CRTC I had to step back for a bit. The Mothercorpse I have realized, must answer to no one. They have Carte Blanche and Canadians will like it, damnit. We have no recourse, we can complain and complain but it is all for naught. King Richard and Princess Layfield will do whatever the hell they want - and get away with it. So you might as well leave the muzzle on, because while we can speak our minds, no one who truly has the power to change anything will sincerely listen and take the appropriate action.

Yes, this all seems quite defeatist, but I just got so tired of not being taken seriously. I don't have any fancy titles in front of my name, I'm just a Stay-at-Home Mommy who foolishly thought my opinion counted for something in this country. My foray into trying to make a difference ended up in a big heaping pile of disappointment.

Maybe that's where I went wrong. I expected that as a Canadian, a Canadian Taxpayer, that my voice counted for something. That my suggestions or ideas counted for something. Don't get me wrong, I didn't ever think that I was going to change the world or anything, but I did trust, and wrongly so, that I would at least be heard.

But the Mothercorpse doesn't do that. Oh no. The Mothercorpse does whatever it pleases. The CBC doesn't care what Canadians think or want or deserve. As long as the big wigs are gettin' paid, pullin' in those big checks that we're all paying for, the Exec's at The Ceeb will continue to do whatever they please. It's very sad. This is our National Broadcaster but you might as well rename it "Television and Radio Corpse That You'll Pay 1 Billion Dollars a Year For No Matter What."

"Why does this bother you so much?" you may ask. After all, it's "just" TV and Radio. What I can answer is this. I was born in 1973 and became aware, very early on, of the Media around me. I grew up in a time that saw the explosion of Television for the masses. Pretty much everyone now had a "Tee Vee Set". While Canada was still over-exposed to American content, there wasn't so much that Canadian content got lost in the abyss of it.

I paid attention to home grown programming, my Parents made sure it was made readily available to me, and for that I will always be thankful for. One of my earliest memories was watching Cookie from the Original Kids of Degrassi Street go to the hospital for an operation, and when I went in for an emergency appendectomy at the age of 10 it was what I learned in that episode that chased away my terror. I loved watching the King of Kensington and feeling that connection of "Home" because Kensington was only a short drive away. It was familiar and comforting. It was Canadian.

Without even realizing it, the CBC fell off my radar. The extent of what I watched dwindled down to one, yes one, show, and that was Hockey Night in Canada. I was a Teenager in the 80's and early 90's and when I look back that's when I stopped watching. It seems that The CBC likes to forget there is a whole generation of viewers that exist between the ages of 12 and 40.

I became aware of this when a couple of years back I was surprised to find myself in love with a cheeky comedy called "The Tournament". It was funny and witty, well acted and had that once familiar feeling of "Home." It then dawned on me that "The Tournament" was the first Canadian produced programme I had watched on the CBC in years. Probably since The Edison Twins. I was surprised that The CBC was behind this production, and then even more shocked when The CBC canceled it.

For the first time in my life I wrote to the CBC. I let them know that I really enjoyed The Tournament and was disappointed at their decision to cancel it. Nothing ever came of it though, and I moved on... spilled milk and all....

When I caught a promo for jPod during a HNiC , I made a point to watch it when it premiered because it seemed right up my ally and hey, it was Coupland. People who know me will tell you it takes quite a bit for me to "get into" a show. I'm picky and not one to watch what is usually considered "Fluff". I'm not saying I don't escape into the odd show that would make some lift an eyebrow, but that is attributed to the "Train Wreck" factor. You know it's cringe-worthy but you just can't seem to look away.

Maybe it's because my parents exposed me to what I consider wonderfully produced shows when I was growing up. The Beachcombers, Read All About It, SCTV, W5, Bizarre, Hill Street Blues, St Elsewhere, 60 Minutes, Archie Bunker, Barney Miller, 20/20.... I'm glad they took an interest in what I viewed, and doubly glad that they always tried to first and foremost, "Keep it Canadian".

But what in the world am I to do with my own children? Yes, it can be said that the CBC has quality children's programming, but that falls right in line with the same Canadian offerings found on TVO and Treehouse. My two oldest though are almost 12 and almost 18. What in the world is there for them on The CBC? Sophie? Being Erica? Wild Roses? Please, they're teenage boys, not 50 year old women.

The CBC has canceled "Street Cents" on them, and The Teenager realized himself that other than HNiC, jPod was the only other CBC programme he actually made a point of sitting down and watching with us every week. They'll be no more Marketplace for him either if he was so inclined, it's been moved to the "Friday Night Death Slot", and we all know our younger counterparts are usually not home on a Friday Night watching TV.

Needless to say, after the CBC made the decision to cancel jPod, dumped the CBC Orchestra and made big changes to Radio programming, the whole Hockey Theme debacle, and my questioning the state of todays CanCon (or lack thereof) I became deflated. I had tried my best, but in the end I got absolutely nowhere. Passed off from one person to another. "We're sorry, we can't help you, but these people can." And then when you talk to those people, they say "Oh no, we don't handle that" and then you're shuffled off to some other agency or department. My mind was left spinning and I realized that I could raise any concerns I wanted but it was falling on deaf ears.

I've asked the question before: If the CBC is our Nations Broadcaster, why is it that us regular citizens are not consulted about what content we would actually like to see and hear on the CBC? I'm not saying they have to send out a questionnaire to every household across the country, but wouldn't it be a natural thing to comprise a group of us regular Canucks that could contribute valuable suggestions and ideas to The Mothercorpse? (And that's not a typo, I say "corpse" because it might as well not even exist for me, as in dead.)

So here I am, just about a year after I woke up to all of this, and this is where things stand for me. Over the summer I watched the repeat of jPod, and then was subsequently disappointed when I bought the DVD for the season and found out that every disc produced was defective and had to be returned. I bought the "A Bear Named Winnie" DVD by CBC Home Video for my two youngest, only to discover on the back cover that they were 100 years off in their description of when the story began.

I have watched Hockey Night in Canada twice, and just the beginning. Once to see the Leafs raise Dougie's jersey, and once to see them hoist Wendel's. I caught the CBC's new hockey song after wondering why they first opened with that "Saturday!" one, and immediately thought I was watching a rerun of Dallas when I heard the "Contest Winner". I get my hockey fix on TSN , Leafs TV and The Score.

I now catch Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune on ABC West. I watched Stroumbo once to catch Joshua Jackson, and shook my head because really, The Hour is just a terribly hosted show. George may try, but in my opinion he just doesn't pull it off. I actually felt embarrassment when over and over everything he spouted just fell flat. I'm done with the 'Corpse, and no longer wish to have anything to do with it. I feel it does not represent me as a Canadian, I'm taking it very personal.

I'm sure I'll always think of this, it will always be one of those things that just saddens me. It might not be something that is on every Canadians' mind, but its on mine. I'll probably dive in here and there, but for the most part I'm stepping away from it all, and hope that one day the CBC returns to that familiar feeling of "Home" for me.

Until then, I take solace in the fact that Sophie is dying a horrible death (BBM Canada Nielsen Media Research Ratings 268,000 viewers Feb. 10/09) - just as I predicted would happen when the WGA strike was over - and in hearing Dolores Claman's Hockey Theme on TSN every week. How awesome it will sound during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Duh Duh Duh Dah Dah Daaaah!

Life

2009-02-17T17:38:00.005-05:00

Well, it's been forever since I last posted. To be honest, between just living life thankful to wake up breathing every day, and dealing with the sheer frustration that little ol' me cannot change the cards I've been dealt, it all got to be a bit much. I feel like the last couple of years have been some brutally wicked roller coaster and all I wanted to do was get off for awhile.

It's time to jump back into the Blogosphere again though... I've really started to miss it. New Rants and Raves - Coming Soon! (or at least after I've attacked the "Mountain 'O Laundry")

(Fake) Ouimet is Back!!!

2008-07-19T19:46:00.007-04:00

I'm giddy, I'm speechless, I can't believe it!

Of course, it's not the "Real Ouimet" I have come to know and love, but anyone who attempts to take over her/his Blogging reins has to be a brave soul.

Long Live Teamakers! Long Live Ouimet!!!

Name (your price for) That Tune

2008-06-27T05:42:00.028-04:00

For those of you wishing to enter The CBC's Contest/Competition to find a new song for Hockey Night in Canada, you may want to take a closer look at the Rules and Regulations. Here's some lovely tidbits and how me, an everyday not-a-lawyer Canadian, perceives them to mean. (And just so I don't get sued, everything written in Italics is Copyright CBC 2008)

Here we go:

The winning Theme will be broadcast as a key part of the program during the 2008-9 hockey season, and potentially beyond.

Notice "Potentially". That means after next Hockey Season is over they can drop it, just like they did with Mrs. Claman's Theme. Who knows? Maybe the CBC has a master plan to hold a contest every year! So much for your 15 Minutes of Fame...... the hoisting of the Stanley Cup could be 14:59 for you and your song.

Fans will be able to recommend their favourite Entries to their friends as soon as those Entries are posted. Until Semi-Finalists are revealed on October 4, 2008, “ratings”, “recommendations”,
“most viewed”, and other similar information will be available on the website, but will only be a factor for the Producer and Judges to consider in selecting Semi-Finalists.

Meaning: The CBC has the final say no matter what voters think is the best.

Applications and Entries will become the property of CBC, and will not be returned to applicants. During the Competition, Entries may be used by CBC, and, with CBC permission, its affiliates, agents, licensees, and sponsors, on any media, without limitation, exclusively. Until 30 days after the Competition ends on October 11, 2008, Entries may not be licensed for use on any other radio or television program, or on the website of any other established Canadian radio or television organization.

Meaning: Just by entering, we own what you created, and you can't have it back until mid-November even if we don't want it.

For any video Entries, Entrants should refrain from wearing any clothing items bearing designer or sports logos (other than your authorized musical group logos) or bearing the name or likeness of a celebrity, living or dead.

You mean you can't wear a frickin' Leafs/Canucks/Flames/Oilers/Canadiens/Sens Hockey Jersey when you perform the song? What is THAT about???!!! And too bad for those of you who were going to wear a SAVE JPOD! Tee.

It is the obligation of Entrants to ensure that their Entries comply with these Rules. Entries may be reviewed to ensure that.... the Entries are original and do not contain any inappropriate content, including but not limited to content prohibited by law (e.g. invasion of privacy, defamation, copyright infringement) or content contrary to CBC standards (e.g. sexually explicit content, or content that could expose CBC to embarrassment, contempt, ridicule, adverse publicity or otherwise reflect unfavourably on CBC), and content of a commercial nature promoting products or services. CBC will decide what may be posted, and what may be removed from posting, in its sole discretion.

I guess that means anyone sending in Mrs. Claman's Song, which has been bantered around on Message Boards, will not make the cut. Natch.

Judging criteria: The winning Theme will capture the essence of our national sport, provide a signpost for great hockey programming, and excite fans from coast to coast to coast.

Isn't that what the former song did? Hmmph. And I thought we only had TWO Coasts - East and West. Am I wrong? Seriously - If I'm wrong, let me know. I'll be needing to make a call to my old Geography teacher Mr. Haag to apologize.

The Winner: Fan voting for the Winner will begin no later than 10 pm (ET) on October 9, 2008 and will end at 11:59 pm (ET) on October 10, 2008. Again, it is anticipated that fan voting will determine the outcome, but in the event that fan voting does not, in the sole discretion of CBC, produce a clear Winner, or is inconclusive due to technical difficulties, unreliability of the data, or apparent voting irregularities, CBC reserves the right to determine the Finalists in accordance with the Judging Criteria, in consultation with the Judges. The Winner will be announced in our first 2008-9 Saturday broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada on October 11, 2008.

Meaning: Again, the CBC has the Final say who wins.

CBC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to have the Theme of any Semi-Finalist, Finalist, and the Winner, adapted, arranged and/or performed by artists other than those included in the original Entry. The Semi-Finalists, Finalists, and the Winner will be required to sign appropriate documentation confirming the right for CBC to make such adaptation, arrangement and/or performance by artists other than those included in the original Entry.

Meaning: You give the CBC permission to change what you created, and then if they are so inclined, they can get Nickelback to sing it, not you.

Entrant(s) of the winning Theme will receive $100,000.00 Cdn. (in total) for an assignment of copyright, and a waiver of moral rights, in the winning Theme’s composition, including its lyrics, and ownership of the Master Recording of the Entry. This amount will be inclusive of all scale and collective agreement fees, rates and entitlements. Any taxes (including income tax) associated with any award to Entrants are not included, and are the responsibility of the Entrant(s). CBC will grant a non-exclusive licence to the Songwriter(s) to perform the Theme themselves live in public venues, but not for broadcast or telecommunication, or to offer to the public in pre-recorded form (e.g. CD, DVD, mp3, mpeg, etc.). As well, CBC will direct that half of the royalties for public performance of the Theme, will be paid to the Songwriter(s) to be divided among them in accordance with the formula set out in the Competition Rules, and half will be donated by CBC to minor league hockey. The winning Theme will be broadcast as a key part of the program during the 2008-9 hockey season, and potentially beyond.

So, you sign over all rights to your creation to the CBC, you don't own a thing, and if the Tax Man wants a piece of your Winnin's, be prepared to pay up. You can perform it LIVE, but better make sure you don't upload it on YouTube, your iPod, or send it to your Auntie Martha's Cell in Saskatchewan. Oh yeah, any royalties from your performance? You gotta split it with the kiddies. (CBC suggesting: Look at how Canadian we are by giving money to Canadian Minor Hockey! If they were really generous, I have 4 boys right here who I have to write big Hockey Registration cheques for in September, hint, hint.) And then there's that subtle "Potentially beyond" again.

Semi Finalists - The Biggest Losers.

SEMI-FINALISTS
Prior to entering the final portion of the competition on October 4, 2008, the Semi-Finalists will be required to sign appropriate documentation, including various non-negotiable agreements, including irrevocable assignments of copyright in their Theme to CBC (to be effective if they win the competition, or in the event the winning Theme cannot be used by CBC, if they are otherwise selected as the winning Theme), exclusive licences to CBC to exploit their Theme for three years beyond the Closing date of the Competition (to be effective if they are not declared the Winner), and releases and waivers for their participation in programming associated with Canada’s Hockey Anthem Challenge programming. They will also be required to agree not to reveal to the public that they have been chosen as Semi-Finalists or Finalists, without the prior written consent of CBC, prior to CBC’s public announcement in that regard. In the event they are unwilling or unable to do so, they will be disqualified from further participation in the Competition. Entrants whose Entries are selected to be among the Semi-Finalists will grant CBC the exclusive right for three years to record and market their Theme to the public by all available means, including CDs, DVDs, and internet websites (iTunes etc.). A portion of net revenue from these sales will be given to minor league hockey. Semi-Finalists will share a portion of net revenue from these sales. The determination and division of net revenue among CBC, minor league hockey, Semi-Finalists and others will be determined by CBC, in its sole discretion. During the three year exclusive licence period, CBC may also incorporate the Entry as part of its programming. CBC will direct that half of the royalties for public performance of the Theme, will be paid to the Songwriter(s) to be divided among them in accordance with the formula set out in the Competition Rules, and half will be donated by CBC to minor league hockey. During this three year exclusive period, CBC will grant a non-exclusive licence to the Songwriter(s) of Semi-Finalist Entries to perform the Theme themselves live in public venues, but not for broadcast or telecommunication. No Semi-Finalist Theme may be sold, transferred, assigned or licensed for use on any other radio, television or internet-based hockey program within three years of the end of the Competition. The odds of winning are directly related to the number of Entrants, and the selection process to select the Semi-Finalists, the Finalists and the Winner of Canada’s Hockey Anthem Challenge.

Wow, there's so much here I don't even know where to start. I'll give it a shot, though.

First, if you are a Semi Finalist, you also sign over all your rights to your song to the CBC, and for 3 years too. Their lawyer-speak of the word "exploit" kinda freaks me out a little too to be honest. You better not tell anyone you made it that far either before the CBC does - they can disqualify you for it. Boy, your BFF is not going to be happy with you for keeping that a secret! Don't worry though, if you win the contest, and after you've paid the Tax Man, you can use some of your winnin's to buy them tickets to an NHL Hockey Game. Where you can see Nickelback perform your, oops, the CBC's song.

Anyhoo, back to the fact that if you are a Semi-Finalist, the CBC can use your song, even sell it on iTunes, and they determine what you get paid for it:

Semi-Finalists will grant CBC the exclusive right for three years to record and market their Theme to the public by all available means, including CDs, DVDs, and internet websites (iTunes etc.)

Meaning: They can make puck loads of cash from your creation, and they decide what to pay you. And you still weren't the person who won the contest, you don't even get the 15 Minutes. More like 2 minutes, or the equivalent of time it takes for that guy to come onto the ice and move the Goalie Nets out of the way for the Zamboni.

CBC reserves the right to change the structure, process, timing, duration or any other aspect of the Competition at its discretion.

Meaning: It's their contest, they can change the rules if they want to, whenever they want to.

CBC reserves the right to amend the Competition Rules or terminate the Competition at any time without any liability to any Entrant.

What? They can stop the Contest altogether? I suspect this was thrown in there on the off chance Stompin' Tom signs with them for using "The Good Old Hockey Game".

All Entrants agree that CBC and its agents can use, exploit, reproduce and distribute in any media whatsoever, now known or hereafter created, worldwide in perpetuity, the Entrant’s name, likeness, image, voice, Entries, comments and appearances, in whole or in part, without any further consent or compensation. Until 30 days after the Competition ends on October 11, 2008, Entries may be used by CBC, and, with CBC permission, its affiliates, agents, licensees, and sponsors, on any media, without limitation, exclusively. During this period, Entries may not be licensed for use on any other radio or television program, or on the website of any other established Canadian radio or television organization. For all these purposes, all Entrants agree to waive any and all copyright interest, and any moral rights, of any nature or kind they may have in their comments, Entries, and participation, including but not limited to music composed and lyrics written by them, any audio, audio/visual or visual appearances and performances.

So ANYONE, simply by entering the contest, agrees that the CBC can use anything they submitted, including their name and image, throughout the world, and in perpetuity, (Doesn't that mean FOREVER?) and not have to tell or pay you. Creepy. Also, until 30 days after the contest ends, any entrant agrees to waive any copyright interest.... and none of it can show up on another station. (CTV, perhaps?)

CBC shall have the right to alter, adapt, separate, edit or make additions to or deletions from the Entry for use during the Competition in its programming related to Canada’s Hockey Anthem Challenge, in its sole discretion, without compensation to the Entrant(s).

Again, just by entering, they can use your stuff, change it even, and not pay you.

Entrants acknowledge that Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, its Directors, officers and employees, agents, its affiliated companies, its advertising and promotional agencies and/or representatives, the Judges, and any person or entity connected with the production, administration or judging of the Competition or the Program are not responsible for and are in no way liable for any injuries, loss or damages arising from the Competition. Entrants agree not to make any demand or pursue a lawsuit against any of them for defamation, invasion of privacy, negligence, intentional tort, or any similar cause of action arising in any way out of any use, exploitation, reproduction and distribution by CBC or its agents of the Entry, and the live or recorded participation of the Entrant in any Program. Entrants also agree to indemnify them and hold them harmless from all claims, demands, actions, suits or other proceedings, and all damages and costs (including reasonable legal fees) brought by third parties arising in any way out of any use, exploitation, reproduction and distribution by CBC or its agents of the Entry, and the live or recorded participation of the Entrant in any Program.

Meaning: You're not allowed to sue any of their asses. And if anyone tries to sue you, the CBC ain't backin' your Canadian ass up either.

Refusal to accept an award releases CBC, as well as its directors, officers and employees, of all responsibility and obligations toward its Winner, but all rights assigned or granted to CBC remain irrevocable.

Meaning: if you don't accept the Award, you get nothing from them, but they still own your submission, image, etc.

CBC, as well as its directors, officers and employees, shall assume no liability whatsoever for any situation in which their inability to act results from an event or situation unforseeable or beyond their control, including but not limited to force majeure, a strike, lockout or any other labour dispute at their location or the locations of the businesses whose services are used to hold this Competition.

Do I smell another lockout? And if there is something of that nature that takes place at the CBC, or in the NHL, (Businesses whose services are used to hold the contest), well, too bad for you.

In the event of any dispute concerning the operation of any element of the Competition or these Competition Rules, the decision of CBC will be final.

Again, the CBC has the final say. Anyone who chooses to question the Rules, say Monty from Manitoba doesn't like that the Ceeb added the Jazz Flute in his Composition when he clearly wrote it should be an electric guitar during the Chorus, is trumped. Too bad for Monty.

After reading all this, all I can say is, Mrs. Claman should feel lucky she doesn't have to deal with the Mothercorpse anymore.... man, this just comes off to me like if you simply enter their contest you've signed your Creative Soul over to the Ceeb for a 30 second jingle that a majority of people never wanted in the first place. Yeah, stuff the phantom loaded poll info CBC, ask Hockey Fans what they really think of the whole debacle.

So go ahead and send in your Submission (Ironic word, you think?) Just don't say you haven't been warned..... and for some reason just thinking about this has that Jack Nicholson line from the original 80's Batman movie running through my head:

"Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale Moonlight?"

Spinning It & Spinning It & Spinning It Well....

2008-06-23T22:28:00.018-04:00

Spin (Def.):

In public relations, spin is sometimes a pejorative term signifying a heavily biased portrayal in one's own favour of an event or situation. While traditional public relations may also rely on creative presentation of the facts, "spin" often, though not always, implies disingenuous, deceptive and/or highly manipulative tactics. Politicians are often accused of spin by commentators and political opponents, when they produce a counter argument or position. In the modern world, most PR practitioners are discouraged to use spin because it is fundamentally counterproductive to the industry's ultimate goal of building relationships with constituents.

The techniques of "spin" include Selectively presenting facts and quotes that support one's position (cherry picking), the so-called "non-denial denial," Phrasing in a way that assumes unproven truths, euphemisms for drawing attention away from items considered distasteful, and ambiguity in public statements. Another spin technique involves careful choice of timing in the release of certain news so it can take advantage of prominent events in the news. -

Scott Moore, head of CBC Sports, has Blogged about Hockey Night in Canada dropping the Hockey Theme from its broadcasts. I have left my Comment, but for some reason, even though it says the discussion is still open, he is choosing not to approve what I wrote. He does state they will not post a personal attack, and I concur that it probably does come off that way. Really though, it's not a personal attack, it's just me stating the obvious. So, I'll post my two cents here, because I can. :P

For all of you here that are saying "Thanks for the truth", you are being led like a bunch of sheep. This is Mr. Moore playing "Cover Your Ass".

I have never seen more blatant use of a media platform being abused than here. It just gets worse as other Media outlets pick up the articles from the CBC. In legal circles, wouldn't this be considered "Fruit from the Poison Tree?"

The CBC is taking selective info from CP Releases and leaving out key information. (see "Cherry Picking" above) Your statement "it turned out we could not outbid CTV" is not true. CTV did not get involved until AFTER the CBC announced their new contest. You admitted, televised, one day after the news broke that the CBC had been developing this Contest for over a year. And why? Because the CBC obviously had no intention of keeping the song in the first place. Let go is what the CBC did, not lose it.

Because the CBC says one thing and has the power of the Media, it doesn't make it true. From Madeleine Morris, daughter of Dolores Claman:

"For 25 years, CBC paid my mother no license fees at all for the music...Last week, after more than a year of CBC bullying, threatening and endless changing of positions, we offered the CBC the following deal: forget the lawsuit -just pay our legal fees (which we incurred because of CBC's breach of usage as agreed in the license deal) and let's keep the same licensing deal as before. That's it...same as before. $500 per episode of HNIC. They did not accept. They kept bullying us, telling us the song was worthless, threatening to drop the song altogether if we didn't give them exactly what they wanted, absolutely on their terms. If not, they'd hold a national contest and replace the song." Read the whole Post here.

I'd also like to take the time to address the "Poll". The question asked was loaded and the Poll is discussed on the Inside the CBC Blog:

"A Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll (who did this Poll anyways? An update on the Inside the CBC Blog states: "To be clear, Canadian Press, nor any company, was the “client” in this survey. Harris/Decima frequently releases its data with CP, as part of CP’s media sponsorship with the firm. What?) reports that the majority of Canadians — 56 per cent — feel the CBC did the right thing by refusing to pay more than $1 million for a year’s licence of the song. (27% of people think the Corp should have shelled out.)

One Million Dollars is not an accurate monetary number for per year use, as is asked. What was also left out is that there were many options for consideration. And the CBC should really get their facts straight as to who really commisioned the Poll.

Quoting Mr. John Ciccone from the blog Comments:

"Wow. Sure sheds a whole new light on ‘polls’. Is that a typo in this headline, or did they actually so drastically incorrectly state “$1M for a year’s license”? If so, my hunch is that the other options of $500/game etc. were not presented either when polling. Can’t wait to find out.

Mr. Ciccone, who represents Dolores Claman, Composer of the Hockey Theme, has also been very forthright with all information pertaining to the whole breakdown of events and dealings with th CBC:

Chronology of Events (from http://www.hockeytheme.com/):

Although it seems to be crystallizing lately for most folks, inconsistencies in CBC announcements have prompted this outline of events leading up to their dropping the song to run a contest. First, the short form. Then more details below:

CBC is offered same-as-before deal. Offer open 'til next Friday.
CBC does not accept and advises that if no deal by Tuesday, they will move forward with a contest.
CBC extends deadline to Wednesday.
CBC states "I am sorry that we seem unable to continue our relationship."
We fax short notice that CBC is dropping the theme.
Country is angry.
CBC says 'What deadline?'
CBC advises that if they don't have basis for agreement in one minute, they will announce their contest.
We later fax short notice that CBC is dropping the theme.
CBC publicly announces their contest.
Country is angry.
CTV acquires all rights in the song.
CBC offers arbitration. At same time as contest.

From "The Spin Cycle: What you're not hearing" and please, go READ IT ALL, you'll be amazed.

It has become necessary to provide more details in the way of direct quotes given the inconsistencies in CBC's public announcements issued over the past week. The statements seem to be confusing some people. They're confusing me. And I was there.

Tuesday, June 17th (Globe & Mail):

Scott Moore, the head of CBC Sports, charged that CTV deliberately interfered with the CBC's negotiations for the famous song, suggesting it was a publicity stunt to embarrass the network."CTV management characterized their actions as 'saving the song,' " Moore wrote on a CBC blog. "But they knew the negotiation hadn't run its course. I firmly believe that if they hadn't inserted themselves into the negotiation, the result would have been different."

(Ed: How distasteful and desperate. Simply glance through the above chronology and decide for yourselves. Hide the cat lest she be the next one blamed.)

But CTV president Rick Brace sharply disputed Moore's allegation, calling it "accusatory."Brace said CTV, which reportedly paid in seven figures for the song, did not contact the representative of songwriter Dolores Claman until after the CBC issued a news release on June 6, stating that negotiations had failed and that network would launch a contest for a new Hockey Night song."To try to lay this at our feet or suggest we somehow interfered with their negotiation is just ludicrous," Brace said. "They made a decision. They announced it to the world. And they walked away."

Well, there you have it. You asked and you have received. This has been the past couple of weeks. Imagine what the last six years have been like.

It has been difficult posting this, but as mentioned, the CBC's 'inconsistencies' have created such confusion that this is the only way to clarify.

As such, it is up to the CBC to determine what is issued to the taxpaying public, and what isn't.

John Ciccone
Copyright Music & Visuals
Jun-18-08

As for me, all I can say is "Mr. Moore, keep on Spinning it!" The truth is out there for those of us who wish to seek it.

Hey CBC! I'm Calling You Out

2008-06-23T16:02:00.001-04:00

So one of the big stories dominating the news across Canada since the day after the final puck dropped on the 2007/08 NHL Hockey Season has been the CBC's decision to drop the "Hockey Night Theme Song" from their Hockey Night in Canada Broadcasts. CTV, being smart as all heck, scooped it up after The CBC announced on Friday that they were letting the Theme go in favour of an "American Idol" type contest to find a new song. I was going to weigh in earlier, but frankly, the whole thing just makes my head, and my heart, hurt. I hadn't thought they could screw up HNiC Coverage any more than they did when they tried to fire Ron MacLean and there was a huge Canadian outcry. For other key perspectives on the whole Hockey Song debacle, get it straight from The Spin Cycle as well as from Madeleine Morris, daughter of The Hockey Theme Composer Dolores Claman.

The Hockey Theme... it's a part of who Canadians are.

Toronto Star: Reactions from the street.

Quoting Wayne Gretzky "As I say to people to this day the greatest song in Canada is the Theme Song to Hockey Night in Canada and to this day it still sends a shiver up my spine when I hear the song come on."

I also left a tidy Comment on the insidethecbc Blog:

"Kill The Orchestra. Kill Classical. Kill jPod. Kill Intelligence. And now Kill The Hockey Night in Canada Theme Song?

WTF is going on there? How come us normal everyday Canadians do not get a say in any of these decisions? As I’ve come to learn, we can protest this quackery until we are blue in the face, but our cries are squashed quicker than a mosquito in Muskoka.

Is there some sort of Citizen Committee that is involved in what Programming and Content is on the CBC? If there isn’t, there should be. I’ll be the first to volunteer.

The HNiC Theme is practically our Nation’s Second Anthem, recognized throughout the world. That music blaring from the TV was like a battle cry - especially as a kid, when I heard it I ran to the “Rec Room” with my Dad and brothers to watch Saturday Night Hockey. My own boys flock to the TV when they hear it.

My Dad was the Ultimate Hockey Fan, Coaching 4 sons, and a daughter, all throughout our lives. He passed away in 2006 with a Jersey hanging from his I.V. pole beside his bed at St. Michael’s, and fortunately lived long enough to see one of his Grandsons make it to the NHL. I can’t even stand the thought of how upset he would be about this!

All this…. for an “American Idol” type contest to find a new song, which by the way has been in the works for over a year. The increase Mrs. Claman is asking for is standard throughout the industry, and little old me was able to find out that among the numerous options presented to the CBC was a suggestion to do the same license that has been in place for about 10 years. (There would be no increase in license fee for the first 2 years, and in the business of licensing music, it is pretty much etched in stone that any time a license is renewed or extended, there’s a bump in the fee by approximately 15%.)

What is so unreasonable about that for something that is considered a Canadian Tradition? It’s more than “Just a Song”, for many, it’s a part of who we are.

Bah, I’m done with you, CBC. You may be the “Canadian Broadcaster” in name, but I feel that you no longer effectively represent me as a Canadian."

I think I got my point across. In the end, it looks like The Ceeb will end up paying dearly anyway, as they were caught with their hand in the Cookie Jar.

Canadians get creative regarding CBC's decision to stop airing the Hockey Theme on HNiC.

CBC stands for "Canadian Broadcasting Corporation". So why is it that they continue to alienate the very people that they are working for? Add it to the long list of completely inept decisions the CBC has been putting over on Canadians. The very people that fund the CBC. It's bad enough that Canadians were also subjected to a Lockout in recent years as well.

I've been sounding off on here for the past couple of months about the CBC's decision to cancel jPod, so I guess I really shouldn't be surprised at yet another bonehead move by The Mothercorp(se?).

So what is an everyday Canadian like me to do when we feel that our Nation's station that is supposed to represent and deliver the Canadian content that I want, doesn't? Like I mentioned in my comment above, is there no Citizen Committee that has a voice to weigh in on the choices they make? It's bad enough that even if we do embrace a show, such as jPod, chances are we aren't getting counted in the ratings anyways as the CBC relies on outdated BBM Ratings which is archaic in an age where so many people have taken to watching television online:

"Chris Haddock, producer of Intelligence, pointed out the lunacy of the CBC gauging a shows popularity, especially among young viewers on the weekly BBM ratings since so many young television fans don't own their own homes and so cannot be counted, and many of them watch TV on the Internet."

"The ratings themselves have been questioned very profoundly all over the world about their accuracy and their relevance because you have to be a homeowner,"

"So university students don't get counted, a person who is a renter doesn't get counted, a lot of people under 30 don't get counted, so it's absurd on many, many levels. I mean do you have to buy a home to get counted in the ratings?"

Reading this today just gets me angrier.

An excerpt from the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting article reads:

"CBC will air more foreign programs than ever before on prime time English TV next autumn, defying CRTC licence expectations and confirming that CBC has lost touch with its public broadcasting purpose, says the watchdog group FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting.

CBC will regularly broadcast 7 hours of foreign, mostly US, programs during prime time. This is a substantial increase, eclipsing the highest level of foreign content ever tracked since FRIENDS first began monitoring CBC’s English television schedule in 1990. CBC has logged a steady increase since the current head of CBC English operations took charge of television in the summer of 2004.

This plan will place CBC in defiance of the CRTC’s broadcast licence expectation of 80% Canadian content during prime time and runs counter to the recommendation of Commons Heritage Committee in its recent report on CBC’s mandate “that prime-time hours, from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm Monday to Friday, on the CBC/Radio-Canada’s television networks, should be reserved for Canadian productions”.

“CBC is supposed to be about presenting Canada to its citizens, not American game shows and Hollywood movies...”

So there it is. Quite a similar argument in my article on the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting site. I was referring to jPod, but I think this ties right in:

"In February 2008, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (a committee comprised of various MPs) produced a report entitled CBC/Radio-Canada: Defining distinctiveness in the changing media landscape. The purpose of the report was to study the future role of public broadcasting, and to present the Committee's findings and recommendations. All of the below statements, taken directly from the report, play straight into jPod's strengths. From the Committee's report:

"[CBC] must constantly keep up with new technologies and reach out to audiences where they are, including young people who seek content on the Internet." (p.5)

"We are asking CBC/Radio-Canada to be original, of high quality and innovative" (p.9)

"Mandate of the CBC/Radio-Canada as stipulated in the Broadcasting Act (1991, c. 11, B-9.01, [Assented to February 1, 1991)(i) be predominantly and distinctively Canadian […]" (p 18)

"[…]CBC should make large increases to arts and cultural programming, for example, by producing more contemporary Canadian dramas, historical documentaries, and TV movies." (p.34)

"Dwindling audience share is not unique to public broadcasting, and audience measurement will need to adapt alongside the transition to digital media. Internet broadcasting, downloading and streaming content, PVRs and on-demand and pay services mean that the same film, television episode or news broadcast will be seen by many more viewers than those who tune in for "appointment television"." (p55)

"CBC/Radio-Canada's online presence will be fundamental to its relevance to Canadian audiences in the future." (p57)

Clearly, they are not following The Reports Recommendations.

Something else that is completely astonishing? The CBC sold the Taxpayer Funded International Sales Catalogue, and to a Foreign buyer no less.

Details from the Canadian Press article states "the deal saw 135 titles and 700 hours of CBC's international sales catalogue sold to UK based ContentFilm. The CBC has released few details of the deal, which allows ContentFilm to sell the rights to the CBC shows to broadcasters around the world."

"It makes no sense why the CBC never attempted to invite Canadian companies in particular to participate in a transparent auction of publicly owned assets. If this had been any other Crown corporation who had transferred hard assets without tender . . . heads would roll.''

"This is a public trust that every Canadian taxpayer has contributed to in this library,'' veteran actor Paul Gross said. "The fact that it appears to have been sold with absolutely no open bidding, discussion, or presentation to the public is bizarre. This is a question of national ownership. What's up for grabs next? Algonquin Park? P.E.I.?''

A quick Google Search of "CBC Screws up" returned 94,700 English pages and many, many more stories...

- The CBC draws protests from across Canada regarding proposed changes to CBC Radio 2.

"The changes, to take effect this fall, include the cancellation of some classical programs and the shifting of others to what disgruntled music fans say are inconvenient, off-peak hours when most people are either working or at school."

Classical Fans have another alternative though, and Moses Znaimer is going to save the day.

-The CBC has announced at a meeting in Vancouver on March 27 that they would be dissolving the 70-year old CBC Radio Orchestra.

“Really, it’s a case of straight up economics,” said CBC spokesman Jeff Keay. “We couldn’t afford to maintain the orchestra.” The CBC has promised that the funds saved by the decision will go towards commissioning works from other orchestras across the country. Many in the arts community are concerned about what they perceive as the progressive “dumbing down” of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and are working to ensure that an opposing voice is heard and that the CBC is made aware of the public’s concern."

-From the Website calling for the CBC to keep the Orchestra:

"The orchestra is the most historically significant orchestra in Canada, the last radio orchestra in North America, with a mandate of performing and supporting Canadian musicians and composers. The ensemble is arguably the most talented, most recorded (32 recordings), and most beloved orchestra in the country. Lots of superlatives, but that is not all. They are a treasure. The orchestra is part of our uniqueness; it is part of what makes Canada “Canada flavoured”. I don’t want my Canada to be watered down by bored bureaucrats tending bar. I want my Canada full strength. This orchestra is that. Its roots reach back to 1938, it is an icon.

"CBC Radio ended this orchestra with the stroke of a pen, with no consultation with Canadian taxpayers who fund the CBC, paying the CBC to uphold its mandate of providing and supporting uniquely Canadian programming. What could be more unique than this important ensemble of Canada’s most talented musicians?"

"If we allow this significant Canadian institution to be dissolved, one day we may be wondering where all the orchestras have gone, where all the dancers, singers, and artists have gone. I don’t want that Canada. If all that is left of Canadian culture is that which is saleable or marketable or easy, we are not in a country, we are in a shopping mall."

From the Radio Two and Me Blog :

"Of course it’s related to the move away from classical music on CBC Radio! In case you haven’t noticed, there’s been a well-orchestrated (no pun intended) campaign against classical music taking place within the CBC for several years now, with the first outbreak of open hostilities being the cancellation of “Music for Awhile” and “In Performance” on March 19, 2007. The latest announcements of reduced classical programming during the day and the disbanding of the CBC Radio Orchestra are just mopping-up operations in that campaign."

Even The Canadian Heritage Committee is recommending that the CBC not disband The Orchestra.

-Anglos watching RDS instead of CBC? Some of Andy Blatchfords' article from THE CANADIAN PRESS:

"The Montreal Canadiens are grinding their way through the playoffs in a promising push that has millions of Quebecers basking in the glow of their televisions.

"In the excitement, French-language sports channel RDS has reeled in more Quebec viewers than CBC has nationwide with its Habs broadcasts.
And even many English-speaking hockey fans are tuning in to the French coverage. Some Anglos in Quebec say they're choosing RDS over the CBC's English coverage...."

-They axed Street Cents, the consumer affairs show aimed at teenagers.
From CBC News:

"For 17 years the Street Cents gang reviewed products and discussed issues relevant to younger viewers, from video games to emergency contraception."

"Actor Jonathan Torrens hosted Street Cents from the late 1980s to 1996. The show, produced out of Halifax, has won national and international awards, including seven Geminis and an international Emmy."

Heaven forbid they have something relevant to young Canadians!

Another story that also has personal meaning for me as I am half Métis, happened back in 2002. The leadership of Canada's Métis National Council said CBC-TV's mock trial of Louis Riel was an "abomination" and a "gross violation and betrayal" of the public broadcaster's mandate. Gerald Morin, president of the council, filed a formal letter of complaint with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Morin criticized the program for:

- Not involving Métis in its production, which he says is part of CBC's mandate when dealing with projects relating to aboriginal culture;

- Not having a Métis play the role of Riel;

- Judging a historical occurrence under today's laws.

Morin also asked the CBC to air a documentary that accurately portrays the history of Riel and the Métis and their role in securing Confederation.

The CBC said the broadcaster did not produce the program; the show was conceived by the Dominion Institute, a historical society that promotes knowledge and discussion of Canadian history. But shouldn't the CBC have made sure that the Dominion's program met their Mandate and used a Métis actor? Dominion stated it needed well-known high profile lawyers to attract an audience and that's why they didn't use a Métis actor.

The CBC gave other excuses regarding the program, like it was "Part of a Series." But really, the rest was only a story on The National, and a panel discussion, albeit with all Métis panelists, the latter installment came to be only after Morin raised concerns.

You would think after this happened, the CBC would have been a little more careful about their Documentary content. Apperently not though:

-James Cowan, CanWest News Service; with a file from Daphne Bramham Published: Thursday, November 11/08/07:

"The CBC cancelled the airing of a documentary about the Falun Gong spiritual movement after receiving calls from the Chinese embassy expressing concern about the film's subject matter."

"Beyond the Red Wall: The Persecution of the Falun Gong was scheduled to appear on Tuesday evening on CBC Newsworld. It was replaced at the last minute by a rerun of a documentary on President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan. The broadcaster says it changed its schedule because recent turmoil in Pakistan made the Musharraf documentary "timely." However, a spokesman acknowledged the CBC has received calls from Chinese diplomats about Beyond the Red Wall and intends to review the documentaries contents before returning it to its broadcast schedule."

"We were contacted by the Chinese embassy and they've just expressed their concern that the doc[umentary] be accurate -- that's not a problem with us," said Jeff Keay. "We're having conversations with the doc's producer just to review its contents and make sure it's a good solid documentary."

"Peter Rowe, who wrote and directed the documentary, said a CBC executive called him late Tuesday afternoon to inform him the film would not air that evening. The executive also asked if Rowe could come to a meeting to discuss "re-editing" his documentary."

"It's rather surprising, because the film has been in production for about three years and was delivered to the CBC in March, so the authorities and the executives at the CBC signed off on the film quite some time ago," Rowe said.

"Rowe, a television veteran with credits spanning three decades, said the CBC's decision to revisit the film after giving it final approval is odd.
"It's almost unheard of," he said. "You really have to question why they decided to cancel it at this insanely late hour."

The CBC eventually aired the Documentary. From Peter Worthington, Toronto Sun:

"An array of CBC officials have since denied that China's protests had anything to do with the decision to cancel the show a few hours before it was to run." "CBC spokespeople gave several versions until they co-ordinated scripts to explain that the 11th-hour cancellation was really a postponement for journalistic reasons, and that producer/director/writer Peter Rowe agreed to make minor changes. "

This here interweb is full of stories of Canadians frustrated with the CBC.

-Why Lie?

-Food for Thought?

-Lack of Intelligence - Blame the Leafs?

-This Was Wonderland

- Charges of Racism

- CBC UnadVENTUREous

-CBC Radio Three's lauded Web mag dies from Alexandra Gill:

VANCOUVER -- "If you've never seen the CBC's award-winning arts and culture Web magazine , be sure to check out the current edition. It is the last one. After 100 issues and three prestigious Webby awards (among numerous other international design, art, communication and technical-engineering prizes), the on-line magazine has been killed off as the public broadcaster's innovative Web service tries to reinvent itself once again with a new mandate focusing squarely on music and more traditional radio programming."

There's other little things too. jPod was nominated for 15 Leo Awards, and there was not one mention of it anywhere on CBC.ca, not even when the show nabbed 4, including Best Screenwriting in a Dramatic Series. I knew they would win that one though, as all 4 scripts from that category were from no other show except jPod. Brilliance is highlighted in the TV Community, but not the CBC who aired it? I believe they just didn't want to bring attention to the fact that they cancelled such a promising program.
Jpod Fans have been pretty much been ignored altogether by the CBC, thank goodness there are people like jPod Writer and Leo Award Winner Daegan Fryklind who stand up for us little people.

Fan Made jPod Poster signaling the rebroadcast of the Series.

Even though jPod is being rebroadcast over the summer (The Series is already bought and paid for anyways, right?) it has been fans spreading the word with barely any advertisement by the CBC promoting it's return. In fact, yesterday morning when I went to the CBC website to see about the show airing last night, the main page for Thursday was trumpeting The National. I e-mailed to ask why even on the day of it being on was there hardly any promo, and it seems only after a Detroiter wrote about his disappointment over the cancellation and it started to show up on Television websites and Blogs did they feature jPod on Thursday's television page later on in the day.

The most recent blow from the Ceeb has been to cancel Search Engine, the CBC Radio 1 show about technology and digital culture.

"Host Jesse Brown made the announcement at the end of his last show this June 19th. The show has just won a New York Festival International Radio Award, and was the most-downloaded weekly news and current affairs show from the CBC."

Does that make sense to you? For the CBC to cancel their most downloaded show?

Host Jesse Brown is brilliant, and I think he caught Jim Prentice off guard regarding Bill-C-61. I wonder, is the cancellation of Search Engine and this breathtaking Podcast a coincidence? Hmmmmm. Once again, people are upset with the CBC, and again, it seems the CBC has it in for what is probably mostly a tech savvy younger demographic. It makes one wonder; "Is the CBC afraid of smart people?"

Smart people question things. Canadians Fund the CBC and have the right to question their National Broadcastors' Content and Programming. The CBC doesn't like to be questioned. Believe me, as a jPod, Classical Music and Hockey Fan, I know. They eventually write you back a couple of months later and it's always the same "Blah, blah , blah, we're sorry you're upset but watch/listen our new shows in the Fall!"

CBC Execs will trot along with no one to answer to, continue to fly Executive Class when CBC's own corporate policy for CBC travellers outlined on its website. states: "The standard for air travel is economy" and flights should be for the "lowest logical airfares available" unless approved by a vice-president. Continue booking their personnel in $800/ Night Hotel Rooms with Personal Butlers. Continue to air that commercial about all of their awesome Summer Movies - every single movie previewed being American. Continue to pay for Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune even though it's on like 8 other American Stations at the exact same time and bumping out Marketplace, and don't forget they pay for Simpson's reruns when all of that money they are spending on importing foreign programming should be going to Canadian Produced Productions. Continue to forget who exactly they are working for and represent Canadians properly because frankly, we deserve to have a Majority of Canadian Content... it's all just so sad, really.

I'm sure I could go on and on, giving a hundred more examples of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporations', in my opinion, flagrant mismanagement, but I fear that my rant is all for nothing. The Canadian Taxpayer will continue to fund the CBC and put up with whatever decisions "they" make for us, because we have no choice not to.

I believe The CBC will eventually be lost in the abyss of 1000's of Stations and eaten alive by Cyberspace, that's where their future demographic of Neilson Raters reside this very moment, and how many of those young 'uns can say that they ever even watch the CBC on a regular, loyal basis, except maybe for Hockey Night in Canada? Oh wait, make that Hockey Night on TSN... where the "old" song went and where Chris Cuthbert is already waiting.

- All quotes link back to their original Web Postings
- "Hourglass" picture from fewings.ca
- "Return of the jPod" poster courtesy of Micronaut
- Originally posted June 10th, Edits on 19/08, 23/08

Monday Stress? Slow the Flow.

2008-06-09T15:18:00.008-04:00

Stressed on a Monday afternoon? Listen to this...

Chill out with Ugly Duckling...

Chaos just woke up from his nap. He's sprawled out on the sofa with a box of Ritz Crackers in his hands.

He rats the cat out.

"Chunkers is on the table."

"Oh yeah," I said. The cat is out like a light. "He shouldn't be up there."

"Hey Chunkers, get off there." I say. The cat doesn't budge.

Chaos responds. "But he's just chiwwen, he's just chiwwen up there."

"He's just chillin' up there?" I ask.

"Yep." He answers very matter of factly as he moseys on over to the cat who is appreciative of pets from Chaos, evident from his "Ahhh, feels good." stretch out.

So there it is. Your "Monday Chill Out" brought to you by Chaos and Ugly Duckling.

Slow the Flow.

Hellish Days & Evel Knieval Wannabees

2008-06-08T12:02:00.013-04:00

So I took more than the day off... it's been a crazy, hellish week. With lots going on, (and I'll get to that one of these days) Monday proved to be a Nightmare.

I was already in a sad mood as I had just watched the funeral coverage of young Canucks player Luc Bourdon on the news when we got the call just after 12 p.m. It was The Teenager, and he had been in a car accident. A backseat passenger in his friends little auto, they were just leaving school to grab some lunch when a little old lady of about 75 had smashed into them doing 60 clicks on a 40 zone side street. She never even hit the brakes and pushed their compact car 21 ft. from the point of impact. Her Minivan hit the side he was sitting on.

A Miracle, all 3 boys were able to walk away without serious injury.

While I was frantic, The Dude headed to the scene while I bounced off the walls at home with Chaos, who was wondering what all the commotion was about. I talked to The Teenager on his cell. He assured me he was going to live and had been checked over by the Paramedics, but had a very sore shoulder and bruised up arm. His friend who was driving had a hurt shoulder, and The Teenagers best friend who was sitting in the front passenger seat was taken to the hospital as he had cuts from flying glass. The lady who hit them was taken to the hospital due to her age and her airbag deploying.

He's had some very uncomfortable nights and another trip to the Doctor has assessed him with a Swollen Rotator Cuff. After a couple of days off from school I think he had become annoyed with my hovering and constant questioning of him; "Are you feeling okay? Are you in alot of pain?" and he headed back to school, feeling lucky to be alive, and getting on with life. Alas, he's not impressed that his arm is still too sore to go to Hockey today, but the last thing he wants to do is possibly injure it more so that's out for now. By Thursday night I had finally calmed down somewhat over the whole situation, but that's when we got the pictures back of the accident and my heart fell all over again.

We agreed. Papa was watching over my boy from Heaven...

As a Mother, this is the sort of thing from nightmares. Unfortunately it's not the first time something horrible like this has happened to one of my boys.

On The Teenagers 13th. Birthday when they were walking home from school, The Punk, 7 years old at the time, was nailed head on by a Hit and Run Driver. The Bastard was speeding right in front of two schools! After hitting my son, he hit a teacher in her car and sped off.

The Punk was in shock after being thrown up onto the hood and windshield and flying through the air a couple of feet. He jumped up and ran home only 30 seconds away. As bystanders stood around in disbelief, The Teenager ran after him and tended to his little brother, laying him on the sofa, putting his feet up and grabbing frozen peas from the freezer for The Punks' hip. My Mother, who I commonly refer to as my "Egg Donor" (and that's a whole other subject I'll eventually write about) and who was supposed to walk out to meet them, was absolutely no help whatsoever and slinked off to a corner. My neighbour had also rushed in to see what she could do.

Meanwhile, my Grandparents and I pulled up to the house as we were just arriving home from the bakery picking up The Teenagers Birthday cake. We knew something was up because of the gaggle of kids gathered outside and the Teenager came to the curb to meet us. He said "Now I don't want you to freak out, (Yeah, right!) and he seems okay, but The Punk was hit by a car." Well, I did freak out and ran up to the house. I didn't want The Punk to be upset any more than he certainly would be, so I steeled myself and acted as calm as I could after I rushed over to my son. Tears were streaming down his little freckled face as he told me he got hit by a car and that his older brother had been taking care of him. I checked him from head to toe and with the exception of a reddened hip he seemed fine - from what I could see on the outside anyways.

I kept telling him he would be fine, that everything was going to be okay. Then tried to not totally lose my mind when he asked if he was going to die! I called The Dude who immediately dropped everything he was doing and frantically took off from work to make his way home. I then ran out to my Grandparents, who were sitting practically frozen in the car. The terror on their faces was heart breaking. "He's fine." I assured them, and my Grandmother finally felt okay enough to come into the house. She's never ever handled it well when one of us kids got hurt - when I was 2 and fractured my femur she ran from the scene at Ted Reeve Arena screaming, covering her ears from my cries. It's not a fault, it's just her way of dealing when one of the loves of her life gets hurt.

The Dude got home so quickly I thought he had teleported, and we loaded The Punk into Papa's car and headed up to the hospital. A Miracle. No internal injuries, no broken bones, and he didn't even have to be admitted. With the exception of some redness on his hip he had escaped what could have been something catastrophic. He kept his sense of humour and matter of factly told the Doctor he had The Luck of The Irish because he was born on St. Patrick's Day, and also acknowledged that he most certainly had a Guardian Angel watching over him.

He was mad too. He looked both ways, he told me, and the teacher waiting in her car to turn out of the driveway even waved him across as the coast was clear. Turns out the (insert expletive here) who hit him came out of nowhere from the side street beside the school driveway and witnesses said he was going at an extremely excessive rate of speed.

Later that night away from everyone in my bedroom, the emotional impact of the days' events exploded out of me and I sobbed my eyes out. My son could have been killed and I knew it.

To this day that driver who barreled into my son has never been caught.

Fast forward to this past winter. I was nursing a brutal flu and had come out from under the covers of my bed to grab another shot of Buckley's. The Dude broke it to me gently. The Teenager had just arrived home - he had been hit by a Transit Bus.

"He's Home?!" I screamed. "Why is he not in the hospital?!" I ran to him and he told me what happened. He had gotten off the bus and had proceeded on a green light to cross the intersection, to transfer onto his next bus. The bus he had just gotten off did not yield before it's turn and cut right in front of him. It hit him, knocking him down and he jumped up just in time before the back wheels rolled over him. A woman rushed over to help him and and he paced for a few seconds. The bus didn't even stop after it hit him, just kept on going. He thanked the lady for asking and in a state of what I can only imagine was some degree of shock, he left and made it across the street, and jumped onto his connecting bus. He sat there in complete disbelief over what had just happened to him. He called The Dude and told him what had happened, that he was okay and he would be home in 5 minutes.

I asked him why he didn't stay there and wait for further help, and he said he didn't know, he was just so shocked and all he wanted to do was get home.

I couldn't believe it. He kept telling me he was fine but I wasn't satisfied. I demanded he was going to the hospital to be looked at and The Dude took him up as my sick self stayed home with The Punk, Sharkboy and Chaos. He was checked out by the Doctor in the Emergency Department and had an x-ray. Another Miracle. No serious injuries.

I swear, these boys are turning my hair white from worry. As much as I'd like to be Eagle Eyes watching over them every second of every day, and keep them tucked safe inside away from the dangers out there in this big bad world, I know that that's just not a reality. The Teenager is 17 and has an active social life outside of school and hockey and I'm having a hard time letting go. (And speaking of hockey, I won't even go into the concussion he sustained a couple of years back from a dirty hit from behind and ended up in the Emergency at St. Michael's.)

Their energy is boundless rivaling that of circus acrobats and cannot be contained. It has led to both older boys putting their hand through the glass of the back door at my Grandparents house, 10 years apart from one another and at right about the same age. Pushing the handle down on the door would require too much time as they ran out to the backyard. Both boys were cut very badly. The Teenagers palm narrowly missed a Tendon, and The Punk ended up with not only a cut hand and arm, but quite a scar on his chest that could have been so much worse had his Uncle not been standing there, pulling him back before he fell forward any further. After that, Papa installed tempered glass so it would never happen again.

The list goes on. The Punk split his head open off the foot board of our bed and needed stitches. Sharkboy, after playing beautifully for hours with some change a neighbour had given him, lining up the coins along the floor and putting them in and out of a little wallet I had given him, suddenly decided to pop one in his mouth. I caught this out of the corner of my eye and the trip up to Emergency ended up in the Operating Room to remove it from where it laid precariously in his throat, dangerously close to becoming lodged and cutting off his air. The surgeon appeared with a dime and said Sharkboy was doing great and flirting with the nurses.

About a year ago Chaos and Sharkboy were running up and down the hall, as little boys often do, and had ignored my repeated requests to stop because "You're going to get hurt!" as two weeks earlier Sharkboy ended up with a nasty bruise under his eye from doing exactly the same thing. As Sharkboy ran down from one end, Chaos tore back up the other. The collision was horrendous. Chaos got the worst of it and let out the shrillest scream we had ever heard. I scooped him up and literally within seconds the side of his forehead swelled up and gave credence to the term "Goose Egg". The Teenager immediately emerged from his room to see what had happened and when he caught site of his little brothers head he exclaimed "Hospital!!!" The Dude was already two steps ahead and throwing on his shoes. I wrapped a blanket around him as it was the dead of winter and it was off to the hospital again.

The verdict was a slight concussion, but he was pleased that the nurses liked his "Superman" pyjamas and when he got home he polished off a banana and seemed unfazed by the whole thing. The Teenager said he was floored as he couldn't believe he watched it balloon right before his eyes. The bump on Chaos' head rivaled the size of a baseball and it turned every shade of black, blue, purple and then yellowed. It took weeks to disappear and when we were out and about people either gave The Dude and I that sympathetic look that said "I'm a parent, I understand, I know - been there, done that." or an evil glare like we had pulled a beatin' off on our kid.

You would think that both boys would have learned their lesson after that, and they did lay off it for a bit, about a month or so. But not enough to make them stop their antics permanently and eventually turned the hallway back into the Indy 500 for their little legs. I wondered aloud to The Dude if the Hospital Emergency Department should just keep a room reserved for us.

So what's a Parent to do? We worry endlessly about them from the moment we realize they are growing in our womb and it only gets worse as they get older and spread their wings. Every sniffle, every bump, every bruise, every gash that requires stitches, heck, even any unkind word they get from another child in school, only instigates more upset within us. It doesn't make it any easier that my boys are sports crazy, leading to even more injuries and evident from a broken thumb and a fastball to the nose from baseball, various sprains and muscle pulls, Charlie Horses and well, the list goes on but you get the picture.

I've suggested bubble wrapping them from head-to-toe, but that scenario wasn't given a warm reception after I proposed it to them. I guess I'll just have to accept the fact that I will forever feel the worry, and that it comes with the territory of being a Mommy.

In the meantime, I am seriously contemplating buying stocks in the companies that make Polysporin and Band-Aids.

I'm....

2008-05-30T07:36:00.001-04:00

...taking the day off....

There are no words that could describe today anyways....

Luc & Harvey... Gone in One Day....

2008-05-30T00:28:00.005-04:00

I have had the pleasure of watching Luc Bourdon since his days with Matty on the Moncton Wildcats, and watched him guard the blue line on Team Canada Juniors, winning two Gold Medals. Hearing of his tragic death today in a motorcycle accident was a shock and I'm still having trouble believing it. The Vancouver Canucks defencemen was only 21. Here's one of my Favourite Luuuuuc moments, Owning Ovechkin:

I also found out that Harvey Korman passed away. I grew up watching The Carol Burnett Show and Mama's Family and could always count on Harvey for a great laugh. One of my favourite Harvey scenes is "The French Revolution" where he plays "Count de Monet" in one of my all time favourite movies, History of the World: Part 1.

"Don't get saucy with me, Bearnaise"

RIP Luc... Team Heaven has a new Player.

RIP Harvey... Heaven just got alot funnier.

Bruuuiiinnnsssss!!!

2008-05-27T21:18:00.017-04:00

Just as I was finishing my last post about kickass drummer Cory, Pistol Pete gives me a ring to give me the heads up. My cousin Matt, Cory's older brother, has been acquired by The Boston Bruins. The details of the deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets were reported on the Boston Website.

Congratulations Matty! Original Six! Papa would be proud!

Better than Rockband

2008-05-27T19:40:00.007-04:00

My little, okay not so little, he's 6'2, cousin Cory rockin' a Drum Solo.

Damn he's good!!! I'd hate to face him playing Rockband.

Electric!

2008-05-27T06:39:00.005-04:00

Variety reports "The Electric Company" is coming back! I know, I know, I'm a little excited about this for an adult, but I loved this show when I was a little kid! Hopefully it will be as good as I remember it, and I'll watch it with my own munchkins.

Original Electric Company episodes ran from 1971-77 on PBS, with re-runs until '85 and starred Morgan Freeman. I wonder if he'll appear in the new one, a cameo perhaps?

Putting an adult spin on the Portmanteau words from Electric Company, I stumbled across this "Mixtionary" clip, from 2006.

They forgot "Frenemy"

From the movie "Mean Girls":

Regina: We do not have a clique problem at this school.

Gretchen: But you do have to watch out for "frenemies".

Regina: What are "frenemies"?

Gretchen: Frenemies are enemies who act like friends. We call them "frenemies".

Karen: Or "enemends".

Gretchen: Or friends who secretly hate you, we call them "fraitors".

Regina: [rolls eyes] That is so gay.

Karen: [gasps] What if we called them "mean-em-aitors"?

Regina: [scoffs]

Gretchen: No, honey, it has to have the word "friend" in it.

Karen: Oh...

We have our very own example too. When The Teenager was about 3 or 4 years old I was tucking him into bed one night, and as I leaned in, hugging him, I meant to say "Let's cuddle." But what came out of my mouth was "Lets huggle." - combining "Hug" with "Cuddle". We giggled about it, and it stuck! To this day, we "Huggle" in our house! ;)

She's Crafty Like That

2008-05-26T22:12:00.016-04:00

Seems like we're head long into "Baby
Shower Season" again. So in the
spirit of things, here's some pictures of just one of the many different "Diaper Cakes" I make for the Momma's-to-Be.

The front of the "Cake"...

...and the back...

Everything can be used for the new babe - from the Diapers to the Rubber Duckies!!!

Monday - 80's Style

2008-05-26T05:48:00.001-04:00

1986 y'all!

Manic Monday by The Bangles

Write Your &%$!# Own!!!

2008-05-25T21:13:00.009-04:00

Today while Blog Surfing, I came across another Blog Post that looked very familiar. And it should have - because with the exception of a few words changed here and there - it WAS mine.

Some may be flattered that someone else thought that what they wrote was good enough to copy. But I wasn't. If the Blogger had wanted to repost what I wrote, I would have gladly let them, had they just asked, and linked back to my post as the original source.

I LOVE staying home with my kids, and until my youngest is in school full-time and I join the "Working World of Writers" once again, I like to write here. The Blog pilfering is just a real kick to the head.

I also realized that I had been "Splogged", which involves advertisers grabbing content from Bloggers to fill word space for search engines. It's a Spam Blog, and I came across it in the Blogger Search Engine that had content from my site, and when I clicked on the link it it took me to an ebay seller. :P

Wise Words From Stroumbo

2008-05-23T14:39:00.015-04:00

Maybe George Stroumboulopolous should be the new Director of Programming at The CBC.
Quoting George:

"Online is rapidly becoming king, not traditional TV platforms."

"Part of the reason we did this show is for the kind of people who didn't really watch TV like this before.....

(My 2 cents: pretty much that whole
younger demographic that the CBC claims
they're so eager to attract.)

He continues:

....so they're not going to come to television - they're going to watch it however they want."

"Ten years from now, the cable channel isn't going to be nearly as important as the domain name. CBC.ca, that's the television channel of the future. We don't worry about where people are watching us, as long as they're watching us."

Listen to Stroumbo, CBC!!!

The Internet angle is just one of the many reasons why the jPod Fan Campaign exists. Its importance is discussed alot because people ended up watching jPod online as it was switched to air in the "Friday Night Death Slot".

For the record, with the exception of Episode 11 which wasn’t aired at all by the CBC on TV and only available online, I watched every episode Traditionally. First on Tuesdays, and then on Fridays. If I happened to not be home when it was on I set my DVR to record it, and I could watch it whenever I wanted.

Times are changing though, and how people choose to get their entertainment is shifting. Today’s young people are a tech-savvy bunch, and probably spend more time on their computers than they do in front of the tube. The CBC is undervaluing their importance. How many people, say from 17-24 years of age, could actually attest that the CBC is a channel they watch very frequently? Not many I bet. My own teenager only watches it for Hockey Night In Canada, and then for jPod. This generation will feel no connection to the CBC, how can they expect them to become loyal, lifelong viewers when they feel ignored?

The CBC was popular when I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, but then, we didn’t have tonnes of other options back then fighting for our attention. And I wouldn’t consider the “nerd” factor either, computers aren’t just for geeks anymore. In fact, I’m not even in the Target Audience for the show, but I sure as hell made sure that I know my way around the computer, I can’t have my kids being able to use it better than myself.

I think the CBC is missing the boat here, they should be ecstatic that one of their shows is reaching such a highly coveted demographic, on TV, and online. Internet viewers are a BONUS! And if they were smart, they would air jPod on a more suitable night, increasing their traditional viewings. jPod at least deserved a chance, cancelling it so hastily leads me to believe that the CBC could really care less about quality of their programs and fixate themselves on outdated BBM ratings.

Chis Haddock, producer of Intelligence, pointed out the lunacy of the CBC gauging a shows popularity, especially among young viewers on the weekly BBM ratings since so many young television fans don't own their own homes and so cannot be counted, and many of them watch TV on the Internet.

"The ratings themselves have been questioned very profoundly all over the world about their accuracy and their relevance because you have to be a homeowner," Haddock points out.

"So university students don't get counted, a person who is a renter doesn't get counted, a lot of people under 30 don't get counted, so it's absurd on many, many levels. I mean do you have to buy a home to get counted in the ratings?"

Well said, Mr. Haddock.

As far as production costs for CBC shows, well I am paying for that, we all are. (The last numbers I could dig up on that were for 2002 - Canadians paid $794,058,000 for the CBC. That's for English and French radio, AM and FM, plus English and French TV and CBC North.) I could get really snotty here and bring up CBC executives staying in $800.00/ Night Hotel Rooms with Personal Butlers, but I digress.

Warner Bros. has obviously realized that jPod is worth having, as it will be available on TheWB.com for free, paid by embedded advertising. And NBC’s Hulu has already sold out their ad space. This is not a fad people, it’s the new reality. The CBC should embrace it or risk being left in the dust. And yes, the CBC may argue that they did promote the show sufficiently, but the problem there is that jPods' Target Audience wasn’t watching the CBC in the first place to see them.

In the end though, the biggest reason people want jPod to stay is because it is a brilliant, smart, funny show with a cast that falls in perfectly with one another, and it makes us feel proud that something so good was Made in Canada.

Saying all that, here’s a Video I made: 20 Reasons to Save jPod - (For Entertainment purposes only, all content credit acknowledged)

jPod - SAVE IT!!!

Friday Night Death Slot

2008-05-23T07:06:00.001-04:00

jPod...definitely in good company....

Truly AssTastic Chocolate

2008-05-22T21:10:00.003-04:00

I read this on Digg, and nearly died laughing reading the Comments, like "Do they have ones with nuts?"

The Chocolate Sellers Website proclaims "The Bisous Pure Belgian Chocolate Edible Anus is made from the finest chocolate from Belgium crafted into an eerily accurate replica of an anus."

Alrighty then.

And from happy customers on the sellers website:

'The best anus I've ever paid for. First Class Service and well packaged. Cheers ’

‘Say 'Thank You' with a box of delightful chocolate starfish.’
Bizarre Magazine

'Brilliant.............. Will make someone a lovely Christmas present !!!!!!!!!!!'

‘They’re fab – I want to get my hands on some more!’
Graham Norton - TV Presenter

Even more disturbing? The site offers a "limited edition solid silver anus"

"55 grams of hallmarked silver, cradled in a magnificent presentation box and exquisitely crafted into that most sensuous of body parts: a unique, elegant and thought-provoking gift. People come and people go. Our solid silver anus is immune from the daily wear and tear that similar products experience. A quality product immortalised in silver…for the man who has everything. Price £235 +"

I mean, I love chocolate, but no. I can't even post the picture of it on here, it's an image I just want to get out of my head.

File this under "WTF?"

read more digg story

Oh Look! I've Won a Million Euros!

2008-05-22T12:36:00.010-04:00

The e-mail greeted me this morning:

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT:‏
From:
Mr Rumford Nigel John (contact_notice2008@cox.net)
You may not know this sender.
Sent:May 22, 2008 12:18:40 AM
To:

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT:POWERBALL E-MAIL LOTTERY AWARD INTERNATIONALPROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPTNOTICE...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!BATCH NO: PBL/67189098011/245679/1109REF. NO: PBL/11278998789/908796//1109

43 North End Road,
West Kensington,
London W14 8SZ

You have been approved to claim of total sum of 1,000,000.00 euros(one million euro).

Which your email address won in the 2008 Euro ballot held in london,All participants were selected through a computer ballot system draw from Microsoft users from over 20,000.00 companies and 3,000,000.00 individual email addresses and names from all over the world.You have just won yourself the sum of ONE MILLION EURO in thesatellite software email lottery.

PLEASE SEE THAT YOU QUOTE YOUR REF AND BATCH NUMBERS IN YOUR Correspondence TO YOUR CLAIMS AGENT, Mr JEFFREY RICE.

CONTACT NAME:JEFFREY RICE CITY/ COUNTRY: LONDON, ENGLAND.EMAIL:powerball1238@live.comTELEPHONE:+4470 1112 1986+4470 3194 2847

President.Mr Rumford Nigel John
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the President? OMG it must be true then! It wasn't even in my Junk Mail!

Have the Nigerians finally received all those inheritances from dead rich uncles that they can now afford to give all their $$$ away in a Lottery?

Did you win too? For those of you who aren't hip to proper grammar, you might want to click that link first. Also notice in the above E-mail, the "To:" field is left blank. That will be your first hint that it's an en masse message to thousands, not just you. I also couldn't help but giggle a bit for their penchant forrunning twowords together.

As for me, I'll be sending my E-mail here. Every person that does helps innocent people from being scammed any further. While I am able to spot a scam from a million electrons away, many are still not aware of this sort of "Lottery Phishing" scheme and it's good to get the message out.

Too bad... I really could have used a Million Euros... :P

BNL'S Performance of "If I Had A Million Dollars"
1996 T In The Park Festival, Scotland.

Pod People

2008-05-20T07:00:00.014-04:00

I'm doing the Loyal Fan thing and "Posting for the 'Pod" in an effort to try and convince the CBC to reconsider their decision to cancel this awesome show. Here's some pics I made with my own personal mini Podster. The Postcard, along with others, can be found here.

Not the Leafs...but we know who did. Nice try though, CBC.

He's Back!

2008-05-18T18:48:00.005-04:00

But the cat came back, the very next day,
The cat came back, they thought he was a goner,
But the cat came back, just wouldn't stay away.

~Chorus, The Cat Came Back

Quite the excitement over the last couple of days here! Thursday night approximately a minute into CSI Las Vegas, we heard a knock at the door. A boy about 12 years old saw our "Missing Cat" poster and was positive he had just spotted him! The Dude rushed out as I literally threw the Pet Taxi Carrier at him. He returned about 2 minutes later and was certain it was him, but the cat was in a space between the garage and the townhouses and I should grab the bag of food for him to use in an attempt to coax him out.

The Punk hurried out after The Dude and he and the boy who caught sight of him (and who was deservedly rewarded with $$$ afterwards - I would have given that kid a million bucks if I could have!) ended up having to crawl through the long, dark, spider-filled space to reach him and our son was able to scoop him up!

I waited and paced for what seemed like an eternity with Shark Boy and Chaos literally bouncing off the walls and pressing their little faces up against the window in anticipation that it could truly be him.

Then I caught site of The Dude, coming up the walkway holding our beloved cat in his arms. We rushed him to his food bowl away from the kids so we could check him out. I was shaking and crying, suspended in disbelief that after almost two months we finally had him back home with us!

He attacked the food bowl fiercely while I looked him over through my tears. Other than being able to tell he had obviously lost some weight while he was off on his adventure, and his usual shiny coat being fairly dirty, there didn't seem to be anything wrong with him. It was, for us, a miracle.

He finally came up for some air after inhaling most of the bowl and immediately plastered me with "kisses". Then I really lost it. He was all over me in what people would call PDA. Yes, his Public Display of Affection was obvious - he was happy to see me!

The boys jostled for "petting" position and he was all over them, their faces beaming with joy that their kitty was home. The dog got so excited she peed on the carpet. Her best bud was back.

I asked the boys to give him some space and within minutes he had taken a quick trip around the place, got goobered on by the dog, and then settled into his favourite spot - the bathtub. He didn't even seem to be bothered that there was another cat in the house. A little bit later he was sprawled out on The Teenager's bed, like he hadn't been gone at all.

The next day he checked out, healthy and happy and with no apparent injuries or ailments. Quite remarkable really, especially considering the weather had been almost entirely nasty while he was on the lam.

So he's been chilling out, eating up a storm, and is even playing with his new mate. Shark Boy said it best moments after he was brought home, we are a very, very lucky family!

I've had that chorus to "The Cat Came Back" floating around my head for the past couple of days now, so here is the famous 1980 Muppets version:

I gotta say though, for the first time I read all the lyrics and to tell the truth, they're a little disturbing. Ah well, I'm just over the moon that our cat is back, safe at home with all of us who missed him more than ever.

I asked him where he had been, but so far he's not givin' it up. ;)

Within a couple of hours of being home, and settled right back in...

Pretty Boys Don't Do Coke

2008-05-14T20:07:00.006-04:00

Reported from inMusic.ca: Rapper Lil Wayne has decided to give up cocaine because the drug was ruining his skin. Instead, he's going to stick to marijuana. Wayne shared his drug habits with Blender Magazine. He said, "I don't do too many (drugs). I just smoke weed and drink. But I'll never f**k with no more coke. It's not about the bad high, it's just about the acne: Cocaine makes your face break out. I'm a pretty boy."

This comes as the rapper faces a trial for drug possession. According to a DEA

spokesperson, Wayne's tour bus was stopped on January 22nd. During a search of the bus the border patrol and police canines found drugs, over $22,000 in cash and three firearms. One of the guns, a .40-caliber pistol, was registered to Wayne in Florida. He could face gun charges if he violated any weapons laws in Arizona. The other two weapons were legally registered to members of Wayne's camp. The authorities also discovered 105 grams of marijuana, 29 grams of cocaine, 41 grams of ecstasy and various drug paraphernalia. Wayne was charged with possession of cocaine, ecstasy and drug paraphernalia because the drugs were allegedly found in a bag that belonged to him. His associates were brought in for the marijuana. The arrest is the most recent in a string of legal problems Lil Wayne has faced in the last six months. In July, the rapper was arrested on gun-possession charges just a few hours after his first major performance in New York. Three months later, he missed a scheduled concert after being arrested and jailed in Boise, Idaho, on a felony fugitive charge, which Wayne's lawyer blamed on a paperwork mix-up.

Well Lil Wayne, you may end up in jail, but the other inmates will think your complexion looks awesome!

So Long, Farewell, Auf weidersehen, Good-bye

2008-05-14T02:04:00.018-04:00

...Regretfully they (Me) tell us (Television Networks)... cook-coo
But firmly they compell us (The Viewers) cook-coo
To say goodbye cook-coo...
To youuuuuuu (Television Networks)...

So long farewell, auf weidersehen good-bye
I hate to go and leave this pretty sight (Series Television)

So long farewell, auf weidersehen adieu
Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you (FOX, NBC, CBC, ABC, CBS, HBO, etc.)

So long farewell, auf weidersehen goodnight
I leave and heave a sigh and say good bye - goodbyyyyyyeeeee!

I'm glad... to go.... I cannot tell a lie

I fleet, I float, I fleetly flee I fly...

The sun... has gone... to bed and so must I...

So long...farewell...auf weidersehen goodbye...
Goodbye...
Goodbye....
Goodbye....

~With Apologies to The Sound of Music.

Dear Television Networks,

I am writing this letter to inform you that I will no longer be in need of your services. I am withdrawing my Life Long Membership as your constant deletion of products has left me feeling angry, upset, sad and frustrated. As well, your product lines over the past few years has mostly failed to impress me and offer me anything that is truly worth my time. I've been emotionally invested, and I just can't take it anymore!

Your misguided attempt to appeal to the masses with "Reality" driven content defeats my need for scripted escapism. Your justification for yanking the few brilliant products I fall in love with has prompted me to come to the conclusion that my loyalty throughout the years is just not important to you. While begging and pleading with you in regards to extending a products' run sometimes, but rarely, works, I've made the decision to give up all together and not get involved to begin with.

In the aftermath, I have found something else from a company called Cyberspace that offers me anything I choose. The possibilities are endless and after I use it I don't feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest and stomped on.

I broke a rule that I had been enforcing after feeling like this before, that I wasn't going to give anything new you offered a chance. How foolish of me. I should have known better and wound up getting burnt. Again. Adding insult to injury, your penchant for delivering all the necessary pieces except for the last one, (commonly referred to as the "Cliffhanger") is nothing short of cruel.

I mean it this time though. I will finish off the remainder of my already invested in product lines, (aptly called a "Finale") but when they are gone, so will I be.

I know my absence more than likely means nothing to you, as every year you have a whole new generation of consumers lining up to buy into your offerings. And that is fine with me, if they want sub-standard mindlessness and can deal with your uncaring executive decisions, then they can have you.

While I will always have fond memories, it is time for me to make the final break, cut my losses, and move on.

So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, good-bye,

~Stephanie

(Loyal Fan of Firefly, jPod, Sports Night, Keen Eddie, Boomtown, Harsh Realm, Arrested Development, The Tournament, Once and Again, Surface, Lovespring International, Dark Angel, Action!, Undeclared, American Dreams, Millennium, New Amsterdam, and Joan of Arcadia)

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."
Nathan Fillion as Malcolm Reynolds in "Firefly"

A Welcome Addition, & Tre Smith is a Hero (Again)

2008-05-12T17:04:00.016-04:00

I've been pretty bummed out about our missing cat Chunkers. We have done everything we can to find him, exhausted every avenue. While I still pray everyday that he gets home to us, that probability dwindles with every passing day.

Sensing my sadness, The Dude sent me here for my Mother's Day Gift. His intent is not to replace our missing cat, as he could never be replaced, but he knows how I think - that it just doesn't feel right not having a kitty in the house. Not only that, it plain feels good to help a wonderful Cause. It's also where we got Chunkers from almost 3 years ago.

So off I went, sans kids (another gift - a break!) and after awhile this little cutie caught my eye.

The rogue orange paw sticking out from the cage beckoned me over. I saw her and immediately knew she was the one. Approximately 10 - 12 months old and quite the "talker", the volunteer said of her, "She's a spicy girl!"

"Perfect." I replied. "She's going to fit right in then!"

And she is. The dog isn't even freaking her out. In fact, by the end of last night she was licking our English Bulldogs' ears and face.

The kids and I have been bantering about some names, but so far we haven't been able to decide. In the meantime, she is settling in quite wonderfully - I got the impression by the way she sprawled across the sofa.

I felt even happier today after reading this from the THS:

"So far, and we are keeping our fingers crossed, the Adopt-A-Thon is a huge success with 8 dogs, 2 mice, 3 Guinea pigs, 2 hamsters, and 34 cats finding good new homes at the shelter. An additional 4 cats, 1 kitten, and 1 puppy found homes at the new Victoria Park Adoption Centre."

The Breaking News prompts me to pass their message on to you:

"Hundreds remain.... Please come down yourself or ask a relative, friend, or neighbour if they are able to take a homeless animal into their family. The Adopt-A-Thon will continue until May 19, 2008."

Support the Toronto Humane Society, not only will you provide a home for an animal, you'll help support all the good they do. Like Cruelty Investigator Tre Smith risking his own safety as he rescues a dog from a third floor window. Tre recounts the events:

"I received a call about a dog hanging out a third floor window. I arrived and no one was home, the dog was looking to jump… I canvassed the area for a ladder and a neighbour gave me one. I climbed up, stretched out, pulled the dog to safety, then carried it to my vehicle. An hour later a very thankful owner came to claim her dog. She informed me that he got out of his crate climbed over his gate from the kitchen went upstairs and opened the window where I found him."

Tre Smith in action.

So go on down to the THS. I'm so happy I went, took a closer look at that little orange paw calling me over to her cage, and brought home the newest member of our family.

Hopefully, Chunkers will be home soon to meet her.

Why I Love Mike Strobel

2008-05-08T01:10:00.003-04:00

A Man after my own heart.... he's no Genus Dufus.

And besides that, he helped Save Baby Rudolph!

The Naughty List

2008-05-05T21:14:00.012-04:00

So, the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo has made sure they're getting a big ol' lump of coal from Santa next Christmas.

Just in time for Mother's Day, it was reported in the Toronto Sun that the zoo has started killing male baby Reindeer to "manage the herd". Two years ago, zoo executives gave approval in principle to the euthanizing of male reindeer, and for the first time in the zoo's history newborn calves were euthanized, the first shortly after his birth on April 8th. and the second on April 22nd. Both boys were perfectly healthy.

"Euthanized due to being male," says the keepers' report. The keepers were so upset they left as the vets moved into the reindeer enclosure and refused to take part. "This is wrong," they told the vets, who were also upset by the decision. Three female babies have been spared. Says one staffer: "This bothers me more than anything I've ever experienced here. Many of us feel these are not our animals and not management's animals, but belong to the city, to the people of Toronto. And they should know what's happening." Says another: "I'm sick to my stomach. This is the beginning of a road we don't want to go down."

Maria Franke, Curator of Mammals, says the decision to euthanize male reindeer calves was made by something called the Animal Care, Research and Acquisition Committee. "It was a gruelling process, we do not take this lightly. There is science behind it."

Science killed the Baby Reindeer?

"I know some keepers are upset. I know it's a sensitive subject." says Franke. Well, killing perfectly healthy baby animals has a tendency to do that, Maria.

When asked why breed the reindeers if half are doomed? Franke replied, "If we did not, we would end up with no reindeer, we aren't just an entertainment facility. We're a conservation facility and our goal is to manage genetically viable populations of animals. Sounds a little Brave New World-ish to me.

People are mad, as evident from the Interactive Talk Back to the Sun for readers to write to the daily about what they think about the zoo's newly implemented practice. Here's just a few:

Lori Turner of Mississauga - "I am certain that the zoo's mission statement does not include the murder of their new babies, of any species. This goes against everything that a zoo stands for, including preservation. As evidenced by the outpouring of anger, there WERE other options for these babies. Neuter the males.. and we'll deal with the spectre of stunted antlers. The zoo should be ashamed of themselves. The eyes of the world will be watching to see the outcome of this story."

Wanetta Doucette-Goodman of Scarborough - "I am absolutely disgusted that the Toronto Zoo would do such a thing as euthanize these precious babies without trying to find alternate homes for them once they were of age to live away from their mother. How very sad to think that those two mothers cried and pained for the beautiful babies that they carried in their wombs and prepared to nurse once born. SHAME ON YOU. SHAME. I will NEVER go back to the Zoo as long as such a practice continues. Those people responsible for such a selfish decision should be ASHAMED!!!!! There are ALWAYS alternatives to MURDER! Which is EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID TO THESE INNOCENT BABIES!!!"

This story has just broke, and I'm sure there is going to be much more of the same sentiment and outrage conveyed over the coming days. More than likely, we'll also hear from PETA

Two Ontario farmers, Phyllis Mathison and Tony Porter, have come forward to accept a possible male calf as another reindeer is due to give birth any day now. Upset by the euthanization of the two healthy baby bulls, Mathison and Porter wonder why officials didn't offer them to another zoo, seek foster human parents or sell them.

Porter, who uses his reindeer while playing Santa in Christmas parades and has a dozen reindeer, a camel, a zebra, a kangaroo and other critters on the farm he and his wife own near Shelburne, said yesterday that by killing males, the zoo risks having no animals for breeding. Mathison added that if another male reindeer is born at the Toronto Zoo, "I'm willing to take them in my home to look after, even if it means getting up very two hours for feeding... It's better than having them put down."

While Toronto Zoo staff and veterinarians assigned to the culling were angry, officials stated male reindeer are hard to sell and have health issues. Porter insists that is not so. "There are some impediments selling bulls, but it's not disease," adding zoo bosses are wrong when they say keeping a castrated male affects antler growth. "By killing males, the zoo risks having no animals for breeding. They're not an easy animal to raise ... calves have fairly high mortality rates."

Reindeer have been domesticated for centuries and "the option of releasing them in the wild would only doom them," said Porter, who's been in touch with private reindeer owners across Canada and the U.S. "I could have placed those two babies immediately. I don't need any more bulls, but I'd have taken them in."

Zoo board member Mike Del Grande, a city councillor, said he doesn't get involved in daily decisions but will ask why officials decided to destroy unwanted male calves and did not issue statements addressing public concerns. "Were other options explored?" he said. Is this ironic? Have heads started to roll already?

It will be interesting to see the drama unfold if this new calf that is poised to make it's debut very soon is a wee boy, and if the zoo will in fact murder, or, sorry, 'euthanize' it if it's a male calf.

I'm waiting for the Press Release from here, and for the lack of a more appropriate way to put it, Santa Claus is going to be really pissed!

UPDATE: The fate of a baby boy reindeer, who was born late Sunday night, will be decided at an emergency meeting of zoo officials within days.
"We are once again looking at the options," Robin Hale, acting CEO at the Toronto Zoo, said.

The City Councillor for Scarborough Centre, Michael Thompson, is on the board of the Toronto Zoo and is rooting for little Rudolph. He is not surprised by the outpouring of sympathy from the public, and "If there are people out there who are willing to take care of these animals, I don't think that we should be looking at any other options,"

Councillor Raymond Cho, chairman of the Toronto Zoo board, admitted the policy is upsetting but is confident the zoo is acting in the reindeer's best interests.

~Thanks to Strobel & The Toronto Sun for all the 411.

The FCB, and a Lazy Sunday...

2008-05-04T17:30:00.007-04:00

My article on Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is here. It's funny, no line break in the title suggests the Recommendations are being ignored by me.

And just because it's Sunday, and I can never watch this enough...

I love the Chronic! - les of Narnia...

It's Funny 'cause It's True

2008-05-02T10:19:00.004-04:00

But "That happened 20 Levels ago!"

Comedian Lachlan Patterson waxes true.

Karaoke Makes Ethan Puke.

2008-05-01T14:19:00.004-04:00

Gotta love Alan Thicke at the end...

Lego My jPod... & OMG! The WB!

2008-04-30T19:03:00.005-04:00

Fans of jPod are organizing the Event "Post for the 'Pod", sending Lego People in honour of Author Douglas Coupland and the book cover, to The CBC hoping to revive the show. It's even caught the attention of the folks here and here.

It was also announced that Warner Bros. has acquired jPod Season 1 for their new site TheWB.com. A premium, ad-supported, video-on-demand, interactive and personalized network that will Beta launch in early May, TheWB.com "aims to be the premiere destination for original dramatic programming on the Internet. The site is aimed at the Adults 16–34 demographic highly coveted by advertisers." You know, the demographic The CBC seems intent on ignoring.

Anyone know where I can download some Tommy Hunter? Don't get me wrong, I loved Tommy - when I was 10 and had nowhere to go back on a Friday Night in the 80's. Hey CBC, it's 2008, wake up and smell the New Millennium.

"Beautiful Guy" Trumps Irish Lass

2008-04-23T23:37:00.011-04:00

I wasn't particularly into The Tube tonight. I had the DVR set to record Criminal Minds, but only if it was a new episode. (The DVR has a handy little feature that lets you choose a show, and only record the new ones so it doesn't have a bunch of reruns using up space. Brilliant! The Fast Forward Button is a gift from the Techno Gods. Remember when you used to have to watch the commercials? *shudder*)

The Dude heads off to bed, relinquishing the Remote, (or "The Mote", as Chaos calls it.) and I start flipping. Not looking for anything specific ...Big Brother ...Big Brother ...Big Brother, great, now I was sad because I feel the show is everything that is wrong with the world, when I come across American Idol. It's right at the moment they are announcing who's getting the boot. I hadn't watched the previous nights' competition, but listened to it while I kept busy today. (Thanks, DVR) I'm not a crazy fan of the show, only really keeping tabs on it over the years when a Top 10 contestant really impressed me. This season David Cook blew me away with his cover of Eleanor Rigby. And believe it or not, Michael Jackson's Billie Jean.

David Cook puts a new spin on Billie Jean.

Simon Cowell states if the show remains a talent competion rather than a popularity competition Cook could actually win the entire show. We shall see.

Cripes! Thank You Auto Save, I was the one who just got booted. I did what most people do when that happens, and flashed my best "Deer in the Headlights" look with the realization that everything I had just written has been lost. It's all here though, so back to it.

Contestant Jason Castro is okay, but not Top 10 okay. I'm not even going to post the video here because he skewered an Andrew Lloyd Webber song, and basically every song he sings sounds the same. Carly Smithson, on the other hand, can belt it out pretty good.

Idol Star sings Jesus Christ Superstar

Now this is where it's a good thing that I'm not really invested in the show, I like hearing a great song, but the competition is laughable really. Simon is right pointing out popularity vs. talent. Carly Smithson was voted off tonight, and Jason Castro wasn't even in the bottom two. Why? I'll tell you why. Jason Castro is getting the Teenage Girl vote. Yep, they think he's a cutie and when they catch a glimpse of that baby face surrounded by dreadlocks, they swoon, whip out their cells and punch his numbers in. The same girls that love High School Musical (which I have never watched by the way - I just couldn't bring myself to do it) are disregarding talent in favour of a "Beautiful Guy", what Randy Jackson called Castro after he couldn't find anything nice to say about his performance. I would have enjoyed it more if Jackson had just come right out and said "Yo Dawg, no worries Dawg, you suck lemons compared to everyone else here, but the girls love you, so I'll see ya next week!"

It was painful to watch, and right after I had to listen to some Jennifer Hudson to remind myself that Carly's gonna be just fine. And I'm sure Justin Guarini will be available to console Jason Castro when he is finally sent sent packing.

Time is Flying

2008-04-22T23:05:00.010-04:00

Seventeen years ago today I became a Mom for the first time. The Teenager is amazing, and this time next year he'll be getting into any University he wants. P'shaw to all those who say young moms can't be successful, if anything, I worked even harder to make sure he had everything he needed. It wasn't always easy, but I couldn't be prouder of the young Man he has become.

I nearly cried the other day when I learned that he used his saved money to buy 2 tickets to this Saturdays Raptors NBA Playoff game, to take his 11 year old brother. Awesome.

Brothers, days gone by.....

Roar!

2008-04-21T20:40:00.005-04:00

The Nominations for the 2008 Leo Awards were announced today and jPod leads the pack with 15! Established in 1998, the Leo Awards celebrate excellence in British Columbia film and television. The 10th Anniversary Leo Awards Celebration and Gala Awards Ceremonies take place May 23 and 24 at the Westin Bayshore Vancouver.

I wonder, will the CBC even acknowledge this accomplishment?

Who Knew?

2008-04-20T23:10:00.004-04:00

I was pleasantly surprised while watching I'm Reed Fish this evening to see Schuyler Fisk from Orange County, one of my favourite movies. Even more surprising though, is that this girl can really sing!

"From Where I'm Standing"

Oh yeah, I really enjoyed the movie too!

So Not Trailer Trash

2008-04-19T18:53:00.010-04:00

Reading this prompted me to reply:

I have become most disenchanted with American Television and I was very proud that such a brilliant show like jPod was Made in Canada.

Considering jPods' younger demographic, alot of people watched it online. The biggest reason being it was aired on Friday Nights when people certainly were not staying in and watching television. People are also busier than they have ever been and are watching TV on Demand at their own convenience on DVR's and it is fast becoming the norm. The Traditional Ratings System is ancient in today's tech-savvy world and online viewings should be counted.

jPod is one of the first shows in Canadian TV that I can remember that has launched a Fan Campaign to save a show. Unfortunately the CBC is covering their ears to the pleas of fans to bring it back for next season. Even Seinfeld barely survived its freshman year and needed a little time to gain its audience. If you combine jPods' television viewers and their online viewers, it is surely pulling in as many people as Heartland, probably more even. I dismiss the CBC's argument that there is no business case regarding revenue made through web casts. Fans don't mind embedded advertising, we understand it is necessity. NBC's site "Hulu" just sold out their entire online ad space, and they offer their shows for free.

If given the option to watch exceptional Canadian productions over most American drivel, I think you would see a "If you broadcast it, we will watch it" attitude take place. Have confidence in Canadians and don't just assume that we are all "Big Brother" and "The Hills" watching sheep. In regards to the CBC, I think all of their content should be Canadian, after all, it is the "Canadian Broadcasting Corporation". People can watch Coronation Street on BBC Canada.

You would think the CBC would have more "Intelligence". I grew up watching The Beachcombers, The King of Kensington, Bizarre and Second City, and it makes me sad that my own kids are not getting the same uniquely Canadian influence. My teenager has boycotted the CBC for ignoring him and his generation, we get Leafs TV and don't need HNIC. We feel forgotten and unless more people like Robb Wells and the Canadian Tax Payers who fund the CBC to the tune of $950 Million a year, stand up and let it be known that we want more Canadian Content. As it stands, the future of Canadian Television is on Life Support.

Sincerely,

Stephanie

I know alot of what I have written about jPod is repeated in the above, but I just can't seem to help myself. What started out as just me being upset over the shows' cancellation by the CBC, has apparently evolved into an awakening of the deeper workings of Media in Canada. Maybe it's because I was a part of the 80's Generation, the first to ever receive the spoils of a prosperous, modern society. Footloose and Fancy-Free we were, watching the best Saturday Morning line-ups, ever, on Colour TVs. We drank in every commercial that beckoned to us. And when we begged our parents to buy us all that crap, they actually did. No one flinched twice while we professed our love to one of the guys from Degrassi, or that we would perform our own Bob and Doug Mackenzie "Great White North" skits in the schoolyard at recess.

One of the highlights of my young life was when my friends' uncle(?) came to our school - with the Littlest Hobo Huskies. About 5 different dogs played Hobo, and I was so excited - I couldn't believe I was actually seeing the Littlest Hobo! You can't deny it, TV had that kind of effect on us, it means something to us - I am a product of my environment. When the escape to the Tube is a wonderful experience, we embrace it. We look forward to seeing the familiar cast of characters, and when they are dismissed by executives, we miss them. It's not cheesy, it's human.

I hadn't noticed that compared to when I was a kid, the amount of Canadian Content that I regularly watched had dwindled to almost non-existent. It's been so long since anything on the CBC was worth my while. Yes, I watch it for my man Don Cherry, and The Rick Mercer Report, but they're not a Series. The first CBC show I watched regularly since probably The Edison Twins was The Tournament, and that was cancelled too.

I didn't mean it, honestly. Somewhere around the age of 15 the CBC failed to offer me anything meaningful. Maybe that's why jPod's cancellation is stinging me more. Unless you're a kid watching The Doodlebops, or Auntie Martha watching Heartland, there is nothing. Nothing for us who grew up loving the weekly sitcom and drama. And please, I don't want to hear the argument of Sophie and MVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives. Stick each of those shows in American settings and they will blend right in.

So this is me waking up. Waking up to the fact that my own Teenager does not watch one Canadian show. Waking up to the fact that if things don't change now, Canadian TV will be ultimately lost, drowning in a Sea Of American Fluff. Don't get me wrong, I tune into a few, Criminal Minds, Without a Trace, face it, you can't go wrong with Joe Mantegna and Anthony La Paglia, but for the most part I could live without programming from south of the border. I tend to not get too attached to American television, after Joss Whedon's Firefly was cancelled I lost faith in networks, they are all about ratings, quality be damned. Was I crazy to believe that the CBC should be different than FOX?

I'm busy, immersed in the lives of my kids and husband. "Me Time" is rare and I am thankful that I can escape the whirlwind of my days to a really great show. My DVR records them so I can watch whenever it is convenient for me. We can't ignore that Entertainment is an important part of our lives and who we are. And if mostly everything we watch is not Made in Canada, then, just who are we? Really.

Finally!

2008-04-18T17:03:00.002-04:00

Today is the first day that I felt that it's Finally over!!!

Missing the Boat

2008-04-18T12:59:00.008-04:00

"The Internet is not a medium that pays for the kind of production values people expect on TV. Until the reality catches up with what people watch on line, it's difficult to justify."

-Kirstine Layfield, from the generic stock letter sent out to jPod Fans.

It’s interesting that in the same week Kirstine Layfield claims there “still isn’t the business case” for online broadcasting (Globe and Mail Apr 14 2008), we hear that NBC’s online video service Hulu has just sold out their entire ad inventory (Wired Apr 9 2008). Everything is made available for free because of the embedded sponsored advertisements. Why wouldn’t that work for jPod and the CBC's Web Casts? After all, jPod’s online viewers are a distinctively young, highly desirable demographic! Add this together with jPods' Traditional television viewers and it's a win-win situation.

In February 2008, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (a committee comprised of various MPs) produced a report entitled CBC/Radio-Canada: Defining distinctiveness in the changing media landscape. The purpose of the report was to study the future role of public broadcasting, and to present the Committee’s findings and recommendations. All of the below statements, taken directly from the report, play straight into jPod’s strengths. From the Committee’s report:

“[CBC] must constantly keep up with new technologies and reach out to audiences where they are, including young people who seek content on the Internet.” (p.5)

“We are asking CBC/Radio-Canada to be original, of high quality and innovative” (p.9)

“Mandate of the CBC/Radio-Canada as stipulated In the Broadcasting Act (1991, c. 11, B-9.01, [Assented to February 1, 1991)(i) be predominantly and distinctively Canadian […]” (p 18)

“[…]CBC should make large increases to arts and cultural programming, for example, by producing more contemporary Canadian dramas, historical documentaries, and TV movies.” (p.34)

“Dwindling audience share is not unique to public broadcasting, and audience measurement will need to adapt alongside the transition to digital media. Internet broadcasting, downloading and streaming content, PVRs and on-demand and pay services mean that the same film, television episode or news broadcast will be seen by many more viewers than those who tune in for ”appointment television”.” (p55)

“CBC/Radio-Canada’s online presence will be fundamental to its relevance to Canadian audiences in the future.” (p57)

The CBC must shift their thinking away from how many viewers they can capture – the commercial model of audience maximization – to how well they can build a relationship with a smaller but attentive audience. Program quality will have to be evaluated by the strength of the relationship with viewers, and by the depth of loyalty.

By ignoring this newer Tech-Savvy Generation, The CBC will never survive. For it is they who are the future and are sure not to forget Kirstine Layfields' and the CBC's brush off and staunch refusal to give jPod the proper Time to develop it's audience by cancelling it so hastily. Especially in light of the fact that it was aired on Fridays Nights when jPods' largest Target Audience is usually not at home watching television, thus leading them to watch it online.

The Report said it best: "CBC/Radio-Canada’s online presence will be fundamental to its relevance to Canadian audiences in the future.”

Just a little taste of why I love the show...

Ignoring the Interweb

2008-04-16T15:27:00.008-04:00

I finally got an e-mail back from the CBC regarding jPods' cancellation. Further proof that Kirstine Layfield is a Tool. It's Generic, others are receiving the exact same letter. She even quotes herself from the Globe Article.

Thankfully, the folks over at Save jPod call her on it. Her arguement basically dismissing the value of Online Viewership has me wondering how she got the job as Director of Programming at The CBC in the first place.

Dear _____,

Thank you for your email of March 28 regarding our decision not to renew jPod for another season. I appreciate the time you have taken to write.

It is clear that you strongly support this program. And I agree with you. It was an excellent program, well scripted and well acted. All of us had great hopes that the program would find the audience it deserved on CBC Television.

Unfortunately, not enough television viewers shared our opinion. Throughout its season, jPod attracted a devoted, but very small following. And while it is true that, for a public broadcaster, audience size is not everything, you also cannot be a public broadcaster without a public. If too few Canadians are watching, we are irrelevant. And, if we are irrelevant, Canadians are right to ask why they are investing the money they do in CBC Television. In addition, the Internet is not a medium that pays for the kind of production values people expect on TV. Until the reality catches up with what people watch on line, it's difficult to justify.

More importantly, we believe we should and can produce on a regular basis quality Canadian programming that people watch in significant numbers. Audience size has an impact on CBC Television's commercial revenue in two directions: when we lose ground in viewership, we lose the means to produce or obtain excellent programs. In those situations we are forced to cut back our activity, and sometimes even cancel shows. If, however, we are able to build our audience numbers, the extra revenue goes right back onto the screen as more great Canadian programming.

I can appreciate your disappointment at losing this program. It was a difficult decision, and one made only after a great deal of consideration. Looking forward, we have what I believe are some very exciting new programs coming up on CBC Television in the next few months. I hope you will tell me what you think of them.

Again, thank you for taking the time to make me aware of your opinion.

Sincerely,

Kirstine Layfield
Executive DirectorNetwork ProgrammingCBC Television
Box 500, Station AToronto, ON M5W 1E6
416-205-3121 phone
416-205-6919 fax
layfield@cbc.ca

"the Internet is not a medium that pays for the kind of production values people expect on TV. Until the reality catches up with what people watch on line, you can't justify it."

WTF? What year does she think this is?

Half Baked

2008-04-16T14:35:00.004-04:00

So Health Canada, continuing their foray into Medical Marijuana, in an article from the CP today has said it "plans to eventually end its licensing of home-grown weed. That would force all medical users to buy their supplies directly from Ottawa, perhaps through pharmacy distribution."

Pharmacy Distribution? Might as well put a big neon sign up in drugstores that says "ROB ME!" Hahahahaha.

Why Kirstine Layfield Can Kiss My Canadian A$$

2008-04-14T11:27:00.008-04:00

Yeah, I said it.

Kirstine Layfield, shame on her for ignoring the pleas of Fans to renew jPod!!! Why does the CBC even offer episodes online if those numbers aren't being taken into consideration?

"It's a fan base that is not just a TV fan base; it's a Coupland fan base," said Kirstine Layfield, CBC-TVs executive director of network programming, in an article from the Globe and Mail, noting that she has received lots of mail pointing out the show is particularly popular with online viewers who may not be showing up in the ratings.

Kirstine Layfield is making a HUGE mistake when she states "There still isn't the business case there. Right now the Internet is not a medium that pays for the kind of production values people expect on TV. ... Until the reality catches up with what people watch on line, you can't justify it."

Well, jPod is not just a Coupland Fanbase, it's a younger, more Tech-Savvy Fan Base! It's also being watched online internationally - how many other new Canadian productions can say that?

If the CBC does not take the fact that busy people are watching TV on demand, either online or recording it on their DVRs, they will be left in the dust! The CBC should be proud that they offered a show that brought in a Younger Demographic, not a small feat for a Canadian show. They should be embracing the fact that they garnered a Loyal Following for a show, regardless how people are watching it.

The CBC - Alienating a Whole Generation. We will not forget it!!! 10 years from now you can look back and know it was Kirstine Layfield et al who destroyed any chance of surviving the competition - how's that for "Reality"? Why should the CBC play catch up when they could be the first to acknowledge that online viewing is viable? Fans have already stated that watching commercials during web casts does not bother them, we understand its importance in regards to supporting production! And of course so many were watching jPod online, because it was aired on Friday Nights when probably 95% of jPod's Target Audience is not at home.

Give jPod another chance! Even Seinfeld barely survived its first season. I think what it comes down to is that Kirstine Layfield will NEVER ADMIT that she made a mistake cancelling jPod so hastily. She is not in touch with Real Canadians, she does not speak for me and I am offended that she continues to brush the Save jPod Campaign off as nothing more than a nuisance, clogging up her e-mail inbox.

Fan-Made Save jPod! Video.

I bet our outrage continues to be ignored though, and Hubert Lacroix never even sees any of the thousands of letters and e-mails being sent to the CBC by Fans, or the Comments Section on the CBC's own Website regarding the new shows for next season and what people really think of the future of the CBC!

Are You Kidding Me?

2008-04-10T17:21:00.006-04:00

I just read these are what's being slated for next year on the CBC instead of jPod. How sad.

I think the CBC can hear the Fat Lady singing now....

Outside the CBC Building in Toronto. - Pics courtesy of Monica Pacheco

Yellow Brick Road

2008-04-08T15:19:00.007-04:00

Simply Brilliant. I feel like this was written just for me.

Raine Maida of OLP hits the streets of Toronto to raise $30,000 to build a school in the Congo, the Yellow Brick Road video is a documentary of the day.

I remember the days when we talked for hours
And we were young; we thought we had superpowers
We kissed the sky, expanded our minds, thought we could fly
We were dreamers, and we'd never die
We were young punks but we showed potential
Us against the world, we weren't sentimental
We weren't our problems, our age or our paychecks
And we weren't taking anybody's shit

If I knew now what I knew then,
I'd Back up do it all again,
I'd Take a bow, take it real slow
Take a ride down the yellow brick road....

Insomnia... & Tim Meadows is High-larious.

2008-04-07T01:37:00.009-04:00

I can't sleep, I think Sunday Night is the hardest for me. Probably because my mind's trying to go over and retain all the crap I gotta do during the week. Spring is finally showing up, damnit! 'Tis time to get my Hibernating Ass in gear! This has honestly been one of the longest, THE LONGEST! soul-sucking Winters' of my life. I'm still being teased a little though and it's excruciating. The Sun says, "Hey, come on outside and play." but after about 10 minutes I'm thinking to myself "Fooled. It's still freakin' chilly."

Anyways, a special thing happened tonight and a new movie scene made it into my List of Favourites. My own little personal "Hall of Fame", if you will. One day I'll get around to compiling the List from it's current status of in my head, to paper, and then to this here interweb.

Warning: Marijuana use is shown and discussed, but I in no way condone its use. This just happens to be one of the most hilarious scenes I've ever watched and it just happens to have Cannabis in it. In the end, funny is funny to me, regardless of the topic. And I can't help it, call it a flaw if you will, but I am admitting right now that "Stoner Movies" make me laugh.(Awkward pause....) Just talking about it makes me more excited that this is almost here. But I digress, and without any further adieu, Tim Meadows at his absolute very best ever. (Yes, I said Tim Meadows...weird eh....he hasn't been on his game since his days at SNL.)

I cant wait for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story on DVD. It's the little things in life like that, which makes each day a little easier to handle. I think I would just pass out from excitement if I actually got to see a movie in an actual theatre anytime soon. (Hint to The Dude.) Really though, I don't mind catching the latest flick from my living room. For every time I consider getting a babysitter I remember that part from The Simpson's where Bart cuts the Babysitter's hair, and how it's not out of the realm of possibilities to imagine some similar shenanegans would occur on some poor, unsuspecting College girl here. I'd maybe ask The Teenager to watch the 3 younger Amigos, but I think that while his intentions would be noble at first, the lure of Guitar Hero 3 would just be too hard for him to ignore.

The Blame Game

2008-04-06T20:09:00.001-04:00

publicbroadcasting.ca: Did the Leafs Kill jPod, Can Kam Fong save it?

Maybe the Leafs we're behind the death of The CBC Orchestra too....

http://www.insidethecbc.com/orch_protes

It's Ovah!

2008-04-06T17:50:00.006-04:00

Well, last night brought the Leafs 07/08 Season to an end. I caught enough of the game while I kept up my lookout for the cat. I'm disappointed they'll be on the Golf Course next week, but I'm a Die-Hard and already have my hopes up for next year. If I need a little off-season boost, I'll just watch this:

Yes, a little bit o' Wendel ALWAYS makes me feel better.

McCabe's ass-kicking of Stewart at the tail end made me wonder why on earth Stewie would try to rile Big Bryan in the dying seconds of the game, had me giddier than a little kid on a Tilt-a-Whirl.

Ah well, see ya next year, Buds!

Anything else?

2008-04-05T16:42:00.005-04:00

I'm wondering what is going to come next. My cat got out and he's missing. Searches throughout the neighbourhood have come up empty and I'm slowly starting to lose hope. I was feeling pretty crabby in the first place because of jPod, which I just couldn't bring myself to watch last night. It's sitting there, waiting on my DVR. The Dude is refusing to watch it with me - everyone over on the facebook group is crying foul because it was left off in a Cliffhanger. The last time that happened to him it was a show called John Doe and he says he can't go through it again. I can see his point, but I'm a glutton for punishment and will probably hunker down later after the 4 Amigos are in bed and watch it. That way, no one can see me cry.

Other sad news that got back to me late last night was that my Grade 6 teacher dropped dead of a massive heart attack on Thursday. He taught at the same school for over 40 years and when the Punk attended said school for Grade 1 a couple of years back I was lucky enough to catch up with him. RIP Mr. R.

Not even the shining sun has been able to cheer me up today, and my back feels about 80 from falling asleep on the couch as I sat up listening for Chunkers. Chaos keeps telling me he misses his "Mow Mow". I can only pray that he makes his way back home.

Oh! The Injustice of it All!

2008-04-04T09:00:00.022-04:00

I'm pretty picky about what I watch on television. Face it, we can get emotionally involved with the shows we decide to invest our time in, for that half-hour or hour it's on, we become a part of their world, their stories, their lives. The last couple of years I have been very careful about getting "Hooked" on any new shows. I only have so much time because of the 4 Amigos, so there is only a Chosen Few that are good enough to make it onto my PVR. The biggest reason for this though is I have been stung by cancellations so much now to the point that I often wait out the first season of anything. I figure, if it survives its Freshman Year and I'm still interested, I can always rent the DVD and catch up before Season 2 starts. I've yet to do this though, Sistah still can't get over the fact that I've never watched an episode of Grey's Anatomy or House.

So it was with much trepidation that I decided to give jPod a shot. I had caught a couple of promos for it (Not sure where, during a rerun of Arrested Developement perhaps?), and it peaked my interest enough to make sure I was front row centre for the Premier Episode. I was not disappointed, in fact, I LOVED it! I wanted to shout it from the top of a mountain - "jPod is amazing! Watch it! It's the best new show to come out in forever!", and go figure, it was on the CBC. The Dude, who's television viewing habits primarily consist of HNIC, The Blue Jays and re-runs of Stargate, thought it was great too. We couldn't wait for the next Episode, and roped The Teenager into watching it with us the next Tuesday. That was a feat unto itself considering he barely watches any television and is usually glued to his X-Box. I had a Premonition though. "It's too good" I declared, "and I bet you any money, it gets cancelled." The Dude agreed. This was by the same station that canned "The Tournament", the Suits at The Ceeb had already proved to me they didn't know a good thing when they had it.

Sure enough, after only about 5 Episodes and a time change to the "Friday Night Death Slot", the CBC lowered The Axe on our Canadian Podsters. "How can they!!!" I whined to The Dude after the headline greeted me on the Interweb. "They can't! It's my New Favourite Show!" It ruined my whole day.

Kirstine Layfield herself talked about how the CBC was taking notice of things. From an article in the Globe and Mail on 30/05/07 and also posted on the CBC Website:

After years of so-called high-impact miniseries that largely left viewers cold, CBC Television has unveiled a slate of fall shows that it says reflects a new belief that audiences like to be given time to really get to know TV characters.Kirstine Layfield, executive director of network programming, promised a “new direction at the CBC” and acknowledged that “the audience had changed.“People like to meet characters. They like to fall in love with them, and stay with them for a while. Our goal is to increase the number of people coming to the CBC,” "Damn it Kirstine Layfield! You betrayed us!" I cursed. We fell in love with the characters from jPod, why wasn't she letting us stay with them for a while?

After somewhat calming down, I immediately jumped onto the CBC Website and shot off a very angry letter letting them know how disappointed I was with them. I called too, taking an "Attract More Flies with Honey" tone, I figured, it wasn't the girls fault at Audience Relations it was dropped from next years schedule. It turns out I wasn't the only one. Within days of the announcement, facebook groups and a website with the soul purpose of saving the show were up and running. Even actors from the show were participating in the fight to save famed Canadian author Douglas Couplands' first foray onto Television. Yes, the Podsters are proving themselves to be a dedicated bunch.

Chris Haddock, producer of Intelligence, another cancelled CBC show, also talks about flaws in the Ratings System in an article at The Canadian Press:
Haddock also pointed out the lunacy of the CBC gauging a show's popularity, especially among young viewers, on the weekly BBM ratings since so many young television fans don't own their own homes and so cannot be counted, and many of them watch TV on the Internet. "The ratings themselves have been questioned very profoundly all over the world about their accuracy and their relevance because you have to be a homeowner," Haddock points out. "So university students don't get counted, a person who is a renter doesn't get counted, a lot of people under 30 don't get counted, so it's absurd on many, many levels. I mean do you have to buy a home to get counted in the ratings?"

I'm probably one of the "older" viewers of jPod, it's main demographic is roughly 17-28 year olds. Where is this Target Audience on a Friday Night? I can pretty much bet ya it's not at home watching the tube. I know if I wasn't married to The Dude and didn't have The 4 Amigos, I certainly would be out and about the town on Friday Nights. Episodes of jPod are also offered on CBC's own website and that's where so many fans are catching it, or through torrents. Obviously these Internet viewers mean nothing to the CBC, but the times they are a changing, and they should be considered. If you combine jPod's numbers from television, and how many are watching it online, it's right up there with the likes of Sophie. (Which, by the way, I'd rather gouge my own eyes out than watch, and I'm right in the demographic for that show. Ditto for MVP, or what I like to call "Desperate Hockey Housewives of Orange County". I'm still trying to figure out how the CBC decided to air that one, I mean, who does the CBC think they are? FOX?)

When the Canadian Broadcasting Corporations' aging demographic has gone on to greener pastures and no longer around to watch re-runs of Air Farce, the 'Google Generation' may very well hurt from the sting of cancellations so deeply that the CBC will not draw ratings, but contempt. The Power of the Internet has made it possible for Fans to rally around their cause in the likes modern society has never seen before, instanly bringing people together to fight for what they believe in, and well, cancelling jPod will not soon be forgotten and may go down as one of the worst decisions in Canadian Television.

Tonight at 10 p.m. I will be shedding a tear as the final credits in jPod's Finale roll... and I can guarantee this: I will never, EVER! watch any new show the CBC debuts. Having jPod hi-jacked away before it even had a chance to establish an audience has lost me as a viewer. The sadness I feel about it is just not worth going through again..... "sigh"..... I haven't felt this bad since FOX cancelled Firefly....

jPod Podsters (counter clock-wise) Steph Song as Bree, David Kopp as Ethan Jarleswski, Emilie Ullerup as Kaitlin, Ben Ayres as Cowboy, Torrance Coombs as John Doe.

Taking the Plunge

2008-04-03T15:17:00.001-04:00

So I've decided to finally restart the Blog. I'm pretty good at complaining, so this should suit me just fine. Seems I'm getting crankier with each year that passes and a Blog makes perfect sense - I've got alot to say, some of it important in the Grand Scheme of Things, and some of it trivial. My currant Philosophy is that as long as I wake up breathing everyday, it's all good.