Heart to Heart Retro Phraseology
Published January 5, 2009 @ 17:08 in Family

MegaphoneNow that my son is almost seven years old, we're having some meaty convos.

When I'm teachin' instead of preachin', I humour myself by borrowing phrases from a pop culture world before his time. Here are three such phrases I've used on the boy recently.

Try it with your kids. Teach 'em a lesson and close it with "and that's one to grow on." Trust me, it's the most fun you'll have all day.

49 Songs
Published January 5, 2009 @ 14:11 in O Canada, Radio

canadaI'm a sucker for all these Canadian music features the CBC like to throw at us every few years. The latest is from CBC Radio 2. Starting this morning, CBC Radio 2 is inviting us Canadians to help select the top “49 songs from north of the 49th parallel” that would best define our country to the incoming U.S. President Barack Obama.

It wasn't long ago CBC Radio One was choosing 50 Tracks, which inspired my Best Canadian Song Search.

I wanted to compile a list of the 100 definitive Canadian songs. I wonder how CBC's 49 Songs will compare with my list. It'll be fun finding out.

  1. The Tragically Hip - New Orleans Is Sinking
  2. Neil Young - Helpless
  3. The Band - The Weight
  4. Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi
  5. Gordon Lightfoot - Canadian Railroad Trilogy
  6. Stan Rogers - Northwest Passage
  7. Sloan - Underwhelmed
  8. The Guess Who - American Woman
  9. Leonard Cohen - Suzanne
  10. Neil Young - Heart of Gold
  11. Blue Rodeo - Try
  12. Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah
  13. The Tragically Hip - Courage
  14. Barenaked Ladies - Brian Wilson
  15. Cowboy Junkies - Misguided Angel
  16. Arcade Fire - Wake Up
  17. Gordon Lightfoot - Early Morning Rain
  18. Neil Young - Rockin' In The Free World
  19. Rush - The Spirit of Radio
  20. The Guess Who - Share the Land
  21. Blue Rodeo - Lost Together
  22. Death From Above 1979 - Romantic Rights
  23. Our Lady Peace - Naveed
  24. Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
  25. Blue Rodeo - Diamond Mine
  26. Bruce Cockburn - Lovers in a Dangerous Time
  27. Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind
  28. Five Man Electical Band - Signs
  29. Bachman Turner Overdrive - Takin' Care Of Business
  30. Gordon Lightfoot - Sundown
  31. The Guess Who - These Eyes
  32. Blood, Sweat and Tears - Spinning Wheel
  33. Hayden - Bad As They Seem
  34. Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl
  35. Ian and Sylvia - Four Strong Winds
  36. Joni Mitchell - Woodstock
  37. Rush - Closer to the Heart
  38. Joni Mitchell - Both Sides, Now
  39. Our Lady Peace - 4am
  40. Maestro Fresh-Wes - Let Your Backbone Slide
  41. k.d. lang - Constant Craving
  42. The Tragically Hip - Bobcaygeon
  43. Neil Young - Old Man
  44. Dream Warriors - My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style
  45. Sarah Harmer - Silver Road
  46. Jeff Healey - Angel Eyes
  47. The New Pornographers - Mass Romantic
  48. I Mother Earth - So Gently We Go
  49. Our Lady Peace - Clumsy
  50. Joni Mitchell - The Circle Game
  51. The Pursuit of Happiness - I'm An Adult Now
  52. The Lowest of the Low - Henry Needs A New Pair of Shoes
  53. Ashley MacIsaac - Sleepy Maggie
  54. Robbie Robertson - Somewhere Down the Crazy River
  55. Tom Cochrane - Big League
  56. Rush - Tom Sawyer
  57. Moist - Push
  58. Billy Talent - Nothing To Lose
  59. Rusty - Wake Me
  60. The Northern Pikes - Teenland
  61. Sarah Harmer - Basement Apartment
  62. Sarah McLachlan - Hold On
  63. The Tragically Hip - Wheat Kings
  64. Sloan - Coax Me
  65. Spirit of the West - Home For A Rest
  66. Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild
  67. Crash Test Dummies - Superman's Song
  68. Stars - Ageless Beauty
  69. The Tragically Hip - Ahead By A Century
  70. The Demics - New York City
  71. Barenaked Ladies - If I Had $1,000,000
  72. 54-40 - I Go Blind
  73. Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
  74. The New Pornographers - Use It
  75. The Watchmen - All Uncovered
  76. Treble Charger - Red
  77. Sam Roberts - Brother Down
  78. Randy Bachman - Prairie Town
  79. Sarah McLachlan - Angel
  80. Tom Cochrane - Boy Inside The Man
  81. Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know
  82. Skydiggers - I Will Give You Everything
  83. Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
  84. Rough Trade - High School Confidential
  85. Hot Hot Heat - Bandages
  86. Corey Hart - Sunglasses at Night
  87. Loverboy - Working For The Weekend
  88. Metric - Combat Baby
  89. Rusty - Misogyny
  90. k-os - Heaven Only Knows
  91. Tokyo Police Club - Nature Of The Experiment
  92. Stars - Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
  93. Rheostatics - Record Body Count
  94. Odds - Heterosexual Man
  95. The Gandharvas - The First Day of Spring
  96. The Diodes - Tired of Waking Up Tired
  97. Feist - Mushaboom
  98. Gowan - A Criminal Mind
  99. Grapes Of Wrath - All The Things I Wasn't
  100. Max Webster - A Million Vacations

49-banner

15th Annual Round-the-Clock Slo-Pitch Tournament
Published January 4, 2009 @ 17:34 in Raging Storm

baseballFor the second year in a row, my slo-pitch team has registered to participate in the annual Round-the-Clock slo-pitch tournament at the ballpark formerly known as SkyDome, the Rogers Centre. Our games are scheduled for January 30 to February 1, 2009.

I'll never forget our 4:30 am game last year. We stunk up the joint, but our team is stronger in 2009 and I sense this Storm's gonna rage once more.

I miss playing ball.

Early Morning Ball

Steve Martin Visits Toronto in 1974
Published January 4, 2009 @ 11:19 in The T.Dot

CN TowerAs found on Torontoist, which is magically still online despite their threats to unplug the site on December 31, this clip is from Steve Martin's 1974 televisoin special "The Funnier Side of Eastern Canada".

I always thought Steve Martin should have been Canadian. He was recently throwing zingers our way once again as Gavin Volure on 30 Rock. But it all started back in 1974...

Maple Leafs 3, Senators 1
Published January 4, 2009 @ 09:31 in Toronto Maple Leafs

LeafsMy, how the mighty have fallen. It wasn't that long ago that we couldn't buy a regular season win against the mighty Sens. They were in the Stanley Cup final, we were missing the playoffs. They were an all-star team, with Alfie, Spezza and Heatley leading the charge. Now, they suck.

That's right, Ottawa's calendar year of 2008 was the worst in the league. As bad as the Leafs are this season, we're still seven points ahead of the Sens. On this Saturday night, with most of us preoccupied by another game, the good guys won again.

The mighty haven't just fallen, they've plummeted. And damn, it looks good on 'em.

Current Record  Last Games Season Leaders
16-17-6
38 points
4th in Northeast Division
3-1 Win vs. Ottawa
4-1 Loss vs. Buffalo
4-3 Win vs. Atlanta
N. Antropov - 30
M. Stajan - 30
A. Ponikarovsky- 28
Canada 6, Russia 5
Published January 3, 2009 @ 22:23 in Hockey Canada

Canada HockeyI had given up. There simply wasn't enough time on the clock for us to come back. The Russians had us, we were playing Slovakia for bronze. And then, with 5.4 seconds left in the third period, Jordan Eberle scored.

That scream you heard when Eberle scored was me. It was awesome, but overtime awaited us. We had our chances, but this semi-final would be determined by a shootout.

Awesome goals by Eberle and John Tavares sealed the deal and we'll be playing for our fifth gold medal in a row Monday night. First the New Year's game against the USA and then this. My poor heart can't take much more.

Third Time's a Charm for Songbird
Published January 3, 2009 @ 17:30 in Technology

musicI used to swear by Winamp for playing my MP3s. For years and years I thought people were crazy for not using Winamp, then something happened with Winamp's development that had me looking for an alternative player. I flirted with the Quintessential Player for a while, and eventually ended up with iTunes.

Songbird is an open-source media player built on the same platform as my beloved Firefox. I've actually tried it twice before, when it was a proof of concept and Songbird 0.2. Now that they've released Songbird 1.0.0, I had to give it a third try.

It's so much better now. It's fast, stable and far more fun than iTunes. Like Firefox, there are add-ons that enhance the experience. For example, there is an add-on called mashTape that gives me band info, a discography, videos and more for each artists I play. I also use the side panel for song lyrics, and another add-on that tells me when an artist in my collection is coming to Toronto.

This is the open source iTunes killer I've been waiting for. It's finally ready for prime time.

songbird

Double Booked
Published January 3, 2009 @ 15:07 in Hockey Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs

PuckI can't wait for tonight's semi-final in the World Junior Championship in Ottawa. Canada takes on Russia and you know it's gonna be good. The puck drops shortly after 7:30.

Speaking of Ottawa, the Senators are in town to take on the Leafs. Normally, that would have my full attention on a Saturday night. That game starts shortly after 7:00.

I'm double booked and without PiP. Canada vs. Russia takes precedent, without a doubt, and during intermissions and commercial breaks I'll check in on my Leafers.

There, I've got it all worked out.

Scientology, Autism and the Death of Jett Travolta
Published January 2, 2009 @ 17:56 in News

medicalThe 16-year old son of actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston, Jett Travolta, died today in the Bahamas. According to sources, Jett suffered a seizure at his family's vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island.

A few years ago, Hollywood, Interrupted published a plea from Hollywood for the Travoltas to open their hearts regarding Jett. That page doesn't seem to load properly anymore, so I'm re-posting the plea below.

A PLEA FROM HOLLYWOOD: JOHN TRAVOLTA - OPEN YOUR HEART! - April 10, 2006

On Friday, April 7th, Hollywood, Interrupted was treated to the Los Angeles premiere of "Normal People Scare Me" - a feature-length documentary about autism, co-directed by the high functioning autistic teenager Taylor Cross and his mother, Keri Bowers. The event was sponsored by an organization called Cure Autism Now (CAN) and the new magazine, The Autism Perspective (TAP).

This enlightening film was produced by b-movie actor/director/producer and former special education teacher, Joey Travolta. Joey's brother and sister-in-law, "Battlefield Earth" co-stars John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, were not present. Too bad...

...Had John and Kelly been at the screening, they might have a better understanding of the disorder reportedly affecting their 14 year-old son, Jett. Sadly, the Scientology couple cannot even publicly admit that their son is afflicted with a neurological disorder, lest - according to the incontrovertible doctrine of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard - he be labeled a "degraded being" that brought his affliction onto himself. Instead, the Travoltas have long blamed their son's disability on Kawasaki Syndrome-related "environmental toxins," specifically carpet cleaning chemicals.

Rumors about Jett Travolta's disability have been floating around for years, but when no less than five sources (including a media rep from the Autism Society of America (ASA), an executive from Cure Autism Now, a major Hollywood producer and parent of an autistic child, and a Hollywood actor-parent) reported that Jett Travolta was afflicted did we decide to deliver this story. Scientology will not even recognize the disability, let alone the myriad therapies for treating it.

The CAN and ASA officials that spoke with Hollywood, Interrupted credited Sylvester Stallone and former pro football greats Doug Flutie and Dan Marino as celebrity parents of children with autism that have helped raise awareness of the malady. These celebs reportedly share their frustration with what they perceive as Travolta's "denial" stemming from Scientology's rabid hatred of psychiatry and judgment of those with psychological problems as lesser humans responsible for their own maladies.

The Hollywood actor interviewed describes having autism as "like being trapped within yourself, and having difficulty letting normal people know who you really are." Now, imagine being trapped inside a mind-control cult that prohibits you from availing your child to the treatment available. No wonder Scientology has long been plagued by suicides, and wrongful deaths.

The movie producer that spoke with Hollywood, Interrupted reports: "Kelly Preston, in her heart, wants to do the right thing for her son." "I bet it rips her heart out," says the actor. "But," says the producer," John Travolta has so far, done nothing to help raise awareness about autism."

Tragically, Scientology does nasty things to the heart. "And to the other families who are being torn apart by this disorder," sighs the actor. "Let me know if I can help you appeal to his heart." Hollywood, Interrupted believes that you may have done just that.

My heart goes out to anyone who loses a child, especially at such a very young age, but I can't help but wonder if Scientology is to blame. The entire concept of a "degraded being" is difficult for me to stomach.

Details are still emerging about Jett's death, but it sounds as if his affliction was acknowledged by everyone who knew him, except his parents. It would be difficult to believe devout followers of Scientology would do all they could do for someone suffering from a neurological disorder.

It's a shame this open plea fell on deaf ears years ago.

Revisiting the 102.1 The Edge Playlist
Published January 2, 2009 @ 15:30 in Edge 102 ~ CFNY, Radio

Radio Last June, I took a closer look at the Edge 102.1 playlist. I was curious how many different songs were in rotation at CFNY. While I was crunching the numbers, I assigned each song a label: New, Recent or Classic Alternative.

A comment from egerton on my 102.1 The Edge's top 102 songs of 2008 entry piqued my interest. Egerton said they "put a whack of '80s and '90s songs back in rotation." A visit to the 102.1 the Edge playlist page did reveal a lot of 90s music, so I took every song they played today and did a little analysis.

New: I labelled a song new if it was new to the playlist in 2008. Yes, I was pretty generous with this label.

Recent: I created this category to cover songs that aren't exactly Classic Alternative but also aren't new. Songs less than five years old were labelled as "recent".

Classic Alternative: This covers the "golden oldies" CFNY likes to play. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, U2, Beastie Boys, STP, etc. Songs older than five years, essentially.

Here are the songs with their assigned labels. After the chart, I'll hit you up with some stats.

2:38 PM "YELLOW" - COLDPLAY CLASSIC ALT
2:35 PM "LOST!" - COLDPLAY NEW
2:31 PM "TURN YOUR BACK" - BILLY TALENT FEAT. ANTI-FLAG NEW
2:27 PM "TRY HONESTY" - BILLY TALENT RECENT
2:22 PM "MAN IN THE BOX" - ALICE IN CHAINS CLASSIC ALT
2:19 PM "WOULD" - ALICE IN CHAINS CLASSIC ALT
2:11 PM "LITTLE BONES" - THE TRAGICALLY HIP CLASSIC ALT
2:07 PM "BLOW AT HIGH DOUGH" - THE TRAGICALLY HIP CLASSIC ALT
2:03 PM "COME OUT AND PLAY (KEEP 'EM SEPARATED)" - OFFSPRING CLASSIC ALT
2:00 PM "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING NEW
1:56 PM "LOSER" - BECK CLASSIC ALT
1:53 PM "ABOVE" - FINGER ELEVEN CLASSIC ALT
1:48 PM "SOMETIME AROUND MIDNIGHT" - AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT NEW
1:43 PM "SWEET CHILD O' MINE" - GUNS N' ROSES CLASSIC ALT
1:36 PM "THE KILLER" - MOBILE NEW
1:30 PM "ALIVE" - PEARL JAM CLASSIC ALT
1:27 PM "NOT READY TO GO" - TREWS CLASSIC ALT
1:24 PM "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON NEW
1:21 PM "STILL WAITING" - SUM 41 CLASSIC ALT
1:18 PM "RE-EDUCATION (THROUGH LABOR)" - RISE AGAINST NEW
1:11 PM "GUERRILLA RADIO" - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE CLASSIC ALT
1:08 PM "CIVIL TWILIGHT" - WEAKERTHANS NEW
1:03 PM "EVERLONG" - FOO FIGHTERS CLASSIC ALT
1:01 PM "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL NEW
12:58 PM "SANTERIA" - SUBLIME CLASSIC ALT
12:54 PM "BULLET WITH BUTTERFLY WINGS" - SMASHING PUMPKINS CLASSIC ALT
12:47 PM "SHEEP GO TO HEAVEN" - CAKE CLASSIC ALT
12:42 PM "BREATHE" - MOIST CLASSIC ALT
12:38 PM "NO RAIN" - BLIND MELON CLASSIC ALT
12:35 PM "BRAIN STEW" - GREEN DAY CLASSIC ALT
12:30 PM "VASOLINE" - STONE TEMPLE PILOTS CLASSIC ALT
12:26 PM "WAKE ME" - RUSTY CLASSIC ALT
12:22 PM "ASKING FOR IT" - HOLE CLASSIC ALT
12:18 PM "LITHIUM" - NIRVANA CLASSIC ALT
12:11 PM "THE IMPRESSION THAT I GET" - MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES CLASSIC ALT
12:05 PM "YELLOW LEDBETTER" - PEARL JAM CLASSIC ALT
12:00 PM "HANG TEN" - EDWIN CLASSIC ALT
11:56 AM "THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING" - OASIS NEW
11:53 AM "GIRLS" - BEASTIE BOYS CLASSIC ALT
11:49 AM "SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOUR NEW
11:44 AM "JEREMY" - PEARL JAM CLASSIC ALT
11:41 AM "CATH..." - DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE NEW
11:34 AM "SO FAR SO GOOD" - THORNLEY RECENT
11:31 AM "TROUBLEMAKER" - WEEZER NEW
11:26 AM "700 FT. CEILING" - THE TRAGICALLY HIP CLASSIC ALT
11:23 AM "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING NEW
11:20 AM "OH, THE BOSS IS COMING!" - ARKELLS NEW
11:17 AM "THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE" - RISE AGAINST NEW
11:11 AM "WALLS FALL DOWN" - BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH RECENT
11:07 AM "IN THE END" - LINKIN PARK CLASSIC ALT
11:03 AM "AMERICAN WOMAN" - LENNY KRAVITZ CLASSIC ALT
10:59 AM "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON NEW
10:56 AM "ABOUT A GIRL" - NIRVANA CLASSIC ALT
10:53 AM "PAPER PLANES" - M.I.A. NEW
10:49 AM "LEARN TO FLY" - FOO FIGHTERS CLASSIC ALT
10:44 AM "STARSEED" - OUR LADY PEACE CLASSIC ALT
10:40 AM "HUMAN" - KILLERS NEW
10:32 AM "ULYSSES" - FRANZ FERDINAND NEW
10:29 AM "ARIEL VS. LOTUS" - LIMBLIFTER CLASSIC ALT
10:26 AM "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL NEW (R)
10:23 AM "HOLLOWPOINT SNIPER HYPERBOLE" - USS NEW
10:19 AM "INTERGALACTIC" - BEASTIE BOYS CLASSIC ALT
10:14 AM "BEING HERE" - STILLS NEW
10:09 AM "GIVE IT AWAY" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS CLASSIC ALT
10:05 AM "WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE GONE" - SAM ROBERTS RECENT
10:00 AM "KIDS" - MGMT NEW
9:46 AM "IN TOO DEEP" - SUM 41 CLASSIC ALT
9:42 AM "SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOUR NEW (R)
9:25 AM "EVERYTHING IS AUTOMATIC" - MATTHEW GOOD BAND CLASSIC ALT
9:21 AM "VIVA LA VIDA" - COLDPLAY NEW
9:15 AM "ONE MORE ASTRONAUT" - I.M.E. CLASSIC ALT
9:03 AM "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING NEW (R)
8:45 AM "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON NEW (R)
8:36 AM "ANIMAL I HAVE BECOME" - THREE DAYS GRACE RECENT
8:23 AM "JUDITH" - A PERFECT CIRCLE CLASSIC ALT
8:19 AM "BETTER MAN" - PEARL JAM CLASSIC ALT
8:03 AM "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL NEW (R)
7:46 AM "KIDS" - MGMT NEW (R)
7:36 AM "BROTHER DOWN" - SAM ROBERTS CLASSIC ALT
7:19 AM "BLEED IT OUT" - LINKIN PARK RECENT
7:15 AM "DAUGHTER" - PEARL JAM CLASSIC ALT
6:59 AM "SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOUR NEW (R)
6:54 AM "KILLING IN THE NAME" - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE CLASSIC ALT
6:37 AM "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON NEW (R)
6:28 AM "FAT LIP" - SUM 41 CLASSIC ALT
6:16 AM "RIVER BELOW" - BILLY TALENT RECENT
6:12 AM "RE-EDUCATION (THROUGH LABOR)" - RISE AGAINST NEW (R)
6:00 AM "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING NEW (R)
5:57 AM "DISCIPLINE" - NINE INCH NAILS NEW
5:35 AM "NOTHING ELSE MATTERS" - METALLICA CLASSIC ALT
5:33 AM "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL NEW (R)
5:26 AM "SONG 2" - BLUR CLASSIC ALT
5:22 AM "HOLIDAY" - GREEN DAY CLASSIC ALT
5:19 AM "ALL EMPIRES FALL" - WAKING EYES NEW
5:14 AM "SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY" - U2 CLASSIC ALT
5:08 AM "CATH..." - DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE NEW
5:06 AM "FELL IN LOVE WITH A GIRL" - WHITE STRIPES CLASSIC ALT
5:00 AM "KIDS" - MGMT NEW (R)
4:57 AM "BLEED IT OUT" - LINKIN PARK RECENT (R)
4:54 AM "LAST KISS" - PEARL JAM CLASSIC ALT
4:50 AM "THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING" - OASIS NEW (R)
4:46 AM "BELIEVE IN ME" - SLOAN NEW
4:42 AM "LOSE YOURSELF" - EMINEM CLASSIC ALT
4:36 AM "SUNDAY MORNING" - K-OS RECENT
4:33 AM "TROUBLEMAKER" - WEEZER NEW
4:29 AM "SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOUR NEW (R)
4:22 AM "PARADISE CITY" - GUNS N' ROSES CLASSIC ALT
4:18 AM "SOMETIME AROUND MIDNIGHT" - AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT NEW (R)
4:14 AM "TONIGHT, TONIGHT" - SMASHING PUMPKINS CLASSIC ALT
4:08 AM "YOUR ENGLISH IS GOOD" - TOKYO POLICE CLUB NEW
4:04 AM "UNDER THE BRIDGE" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS CLASSIC ALT
4:01 AM "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON NEW (R)
3:56 AM "HEAD LIKE A HOLE" - NINE INCH NAILS CLASSIC ALT
3:51 AM "HUMAN" - KILLERS NEW (R)
3:46 AM "SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT!" - NIRVANA CLASSIC ALT
3:43 AM "LOST!" - COLDPLAY NEW (R)
3:39 AM "INNOCENT" - OUR LADY PEACE CLASSIC ALT
3:36 AM "PAPER PLANES" - M.I.A. NEW (R)
3:30 AM "ALL THE SMALL THINGS" - BLINK-182 CLASSIC ALT
3:26 AM "AUDIENCE OF ONE" - RISE AGAINST NEW
3:23 AM "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING NEW (R)
3:20 AM "ISLAND IN THE SUN" - WEEZER CLASSIC ALT
3:17 AM "HELP I'M ALIVE" - METRIC NEW
3:13 AM "LEARN TO FLY" - FOO FIGHTERS CLASSIC ALT (R)
3:07 AM "DO IT OR DIE" - DIE MANNEQUIN NEW
3:05 AM "WRONG WAY" - SUBLIME CLASSIC ALT
3:02 AM "NUMB" - LINKIN PARK CLASSIC ALT
3:00 AM "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL NEW (R)
2:56 AM "VIOLET HILL" - COLDPLAY NEW
2:50 AM "FORTY SIX AND 2" - TOOL CLASSIC ALT
2:46 AM "EPIC" - FAITH NO MORE CLASSIC ALT
2:42 AM "AROUND THE WORLD" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS CLASSIC ALT
2:36 AM "SLEEP NOW IN THE FIRE" - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE CLASSIC ALT
2:31 AM "SEMI-CHARMED LIFE" - THIRD EYE BLIND CLASSIC ALT
2:27 AM "KIDS" - MGMT NEW (R)
2:23 AM "STOP!" - JANE'S ADDICTION CLASSIC ALT
2:18 AM "BLOWN WIDE OPEN" - BIG WRECK CLASSIC ALT
2:14 AM "MR. BRIGHTSIDE" - KILLERS CLASSIC ALT
2:08 AM "NO RAIN" - BLIND MELON CLASSIC ALT
2:05 AM "TEMPTATION" - TEA PARTY CLASSIC ALT
2:01 AM "SLEEPING SICKNESS" - CITY AND COLOUR NEW (R)
1:58 AM "WALLS FALL DOWN" - BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH RECENT (R)
1:55 AM "WHEN I COME AROUND" - GREEN DAY CLASSIC ALT
1:52 AM "ULYSSES" - FRANZ FERDINAND NEW (R)
1:46 AM "REBELLION (LIES)" - ARCADE FIRE CLASSIC ALT
1:40 AM "THE DAY THAT NEVER COMES" - METALLICA NEW
1:33 AM "DISSIDENT" - PEARL JAM CLASSIC ALT
1:29 AM "THE SHOCK OF THE LIGHTNING" - OASIS NEW (R)
1:25 AM "SEX ON FIRE" - KINGS OF LEON NEW (R)
1:21 AM "LAZY EYE" - SILVERSUN PICKUPS RECENT
1:18 AM "THE KILLER" - MOBILE NEW (R)
1:15 AM "DISARM" - SMASHING PUMPKINS CLASSIC ALT
1:08 AM "DISCIPLINE" - NINE INCH NAILS NEW (R)
1:07 AM "NATURE OF THE EXPERIMENT" - TOKYO POLICE CLUB RECENT
1:03 AM "TRIPPIN' ON A HOLE IN A PAPER HEART" - STONE TEMPLE PILOTS CLASSIC ALT
12:59 AM "YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR, KID" - OFFSPRING NEW (R)
12:56 AM "TROUBLEMAKER" - WEEZER NEW (R)
12:53 AM "COME AS YOU ARE" - NIRVANA CLASSIC ALT
12:49 AM "SOMETIME AROUND MIDNIGHT" - AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT NEW (R)
12:45 AM "CIVIL TWILIGHT" - WEAKERTHANS NEW (R)
12:42 AM "HITCHIN' A RIDE" - GREEN DAY CLASSIC ALT
12:36 AM "HELL SONG" - SUM 41 CLASSIC ALT
12:33 AM "BLEED IT OUT" - LINKIN PARK NEW (R)
12:31 AM "WANNABE IN LA" - EAGLES OF DEATH METAL NEW (R)
12:26 AM "DANI CALIFORNIA" - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS RECENT
12:22 AM "HUMAN" - KILLERS NEW (R)
12:18 AM "KARMA POLICE" - RADIOHEAD CLASSIC ALT
12:11 AM "LOVE REMOVAL MACHINE" - CULT CLASSIC ALT
12:08 AM "OH, THE BOSS IS COMING!" - ARKELLS NEW (R)
12:03 AM "JEREMY" - PEARL JAM CLASSIC ALT (R)

Here's what we learn from this random spot check of Edge 102's playlist.

  • # of songs played: 170
  • # of different songs played: 130 / 76.47%
  • # of "new" songs: 71 / 41.76%
  • # of unique "new" songs: 35 / 20.58%
  • # of "recent" songs: 13 / 7.64%
  • # of unique "recent" songs: 11 / 6.47%
  • # of "classic alternative" songs: 87 / 51.17%
  • # of unique "classic alternative" songs: 85 / 50%

Without a doubt, 102.1 the Edge is playing more classic alternative than ever before. Over 51% of songs played thus far today were older than five years, and if we look at the number of unique classic alternative songs (85) compared to the 130 different songs played, we're looking at a whopping 65.38%.

That's a definite increase since six months ago when that figure was 40.25%. In layman's terms, in case you're having trouble following, if we remove the repeats (they played Eagle's of Death Metal's "Wanna Be In LA" six freakin' times), almost exactly two-thirds of the music played today was older than five years and of the "classic alternative" genre. There's lots of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice in Chains and the songs you know and love, mainly from the 1990s.

I first wrote about the Classic Alternative radio format five years ago and asked aloud if a truer form of "classic alternative" was in 102.1's future. It might be closer than we realize. It might already be here.

Update: I've written the new program director at CFNY, Ross Winters, to see if he'll comment. If he does, I'll post what I learn.

Don Sanderson Dies
Published January 2, 2009 @ 13:22 in My 2 Cents

boxingWhitby Dunlops' defenceman Don Sanderson is dead.

Sanderson, a student at York University, and a native of Port Perry, got into a fight with Corey Fulton of the Brantford Blast in the third period their game back on December 12. Sanderson lost his helmet during the altercation and both players crashed to the ice with Sanderson's head striking the ice. He's been in a coma and on life support until he passed away earlier today.

I've always enjoyed a good hockey fight. I loved seeing Wendel take on Probert. I enjoyed the many Domi battles I watched on television. Fights got me on my feet and got my heart pumping. They've always been a part of hockey, so I never really questioned the practice, until very recently.

My six year old son loved the Wendel Clark tribute video set to Aerosmith's Dream On. His favourite parts were the scenes of Clark punching the crap out of somebody. James and I participate in a "learn to play hockey" program every Saturday, and once he was in full uniform he'd want to fight me. This prompted a chat between us which made me realize how barbaric and ludicrous it is that fighting is an accepted part of hockey.

Try explaining to a six year old that he can't fight in hockey, but NHLers and other pros, like Don Sanderson, can. Explain to him that he would be kicked out of the league for doing what we celebrate Wendel Clark for doing. Explain to him that fighting is wrong as you watch the Wendel Clark tribute video for the 17th time.

You almost never see a fight during the Junior tournament taking place in Ottawa right now, yet it's some of the best hockey you'll see all year. Hockey is a game of skill, a game of speed, a glorious game of dekes, passes, shots, goals, clean hits and great saves. Hockey wouldn't miss fighting, and neither would we. It's time for the sport to evolve.

Banning fighting in hockey won't bring back Don Sanderson, but it will prevent the next senseless death. And it makes sense. Just ask my son.

Don Sanderson

A Week of Headers
Published January 2, 2009 @ 13:05 in Header Images

typewriterI started doing something different with the header image for this blog last week. Those of you who read this content via RSS won't have a clue what I'm talking about, but those of you who kick it old school and visit TorontoMike.com or MikeBoon.com will have noticed a different header image every day.

Every Friday, I'm going to post all the header images from the previous week. I know this is a Friday (even though my internal calendar is completely out-of-whack) because that display in the bottom right corner is never wrong.

Here are the awesomely hilarious and insightful header images you may have missed this past week.

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Most Visited Entries of 2008
Published January 2, 2009 @ 10:58 in Lists

MouseHere are the blog entries that received the most unique visitors in 2008. 40% are radio related.

  1. 100 Wedding Songs
  2. Rick Hodge Escapes Roger, Rick and Marilyn
  3. My Prima Television Nightmare
  4. Humble Howard Returns To Morning Radio on EZ Rock 97.3
  5. HMS Ontario Found 228 Years Later
  6. Hockey Songs: The Best Music About Our Game
  7. Link: 101 Greatest George Carlin Quotes
  8. Virgin Radio 999 FM
  9. Top 100 Canadian Songs: The Definitive List
  10. A Closer Look at the Edge 102 Playlist
Maple Leafs 1, Sabres 4
Published January 2, 2009 @ 10:35 in Toronto Maple Leafs

LeafsThere would be no 451st win for Curtis Joseph on this night. Going 0 for 5 on the powerplay didn't help matters.

Cujo, by the way, has a 3.93 GAA. Why not see what Pogge has?

Current Record  Last Games Season Leaders
15-17-6
36 points
4th in Northeast Division
4-1 Loss vs. Buffalo
4-3 Win vs. Atlanta
4-1 Loss vs. Washington
N. Antropov - 30
M. Stajan - 30
A. Ponikarovsky- 27
Donald Westlake, Rest in Peace
Published January 1, 2009 @ 21:50 in Rest In Peace

In MemoriumDonald Westlake was 75. He was the prolific mystery writer who wrote more than 100 books, using his own name and several pseudonyms, including Richard Stark, Tucker Coe, Samuel Holt and Edwin West.

Drillbit Taylor
Published January 1, 2009 @ 14:48 in Reviews

A Movie ReelDrillbit Taylor: 5 out of 10.

Judd Apatow has produced some very funny films. This isn't one of them.

Sure, there are a few chuckles in the mix, but at 109 minutes it feels awfully long and it's a mere shadow of the comedy Superbad was. In fact, save yourself 109 minutes and just watch Superbad again.

DrillbitTaylor

102.1 The Edge's Top 102 Songs of 2008
Published January 1, 2009 @ 12:38 in Edge 102 ~ CFNY, Lists, Radio

radioBelow are the top 102 songs of 2008, according to 102.1 The Edge.

I threw down my personal top 10 right here. My tunes ranked 72, 62, 25, 10, 19, 67, 40, 36, n/a and 22 respectively. That n/a is for "Inside the Cinema" by Culture Reject which, unfortunately, never got a sniff from CFNY. I'm not sure why as it's an awesome, addictive tune by a Torontonian, and would have been a great add.

Here's the Edge's list...

1. Weezer - Pork And Beans
2. Foo Fighters - Let It Die
3. Queens Of The Stone Age - Make It Wit Chu
4. Nine Inch Nails - Discipline
5. Foo Fighters - Long Road To Ruin
6. Sam Roberts - Them Kids
7. The Bravery - Believe
8. Rise Against - The Good Left Undone
9. Radiohead - Bodysnatchers
10. USS - Hollow Point Sniper Hyperbole
11. Linkin Park - Given Up
12. Coldplay - Violet Hill
13. Against Me! - Stop!
14. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
15. Bedouin Soundclash - St. Andrews
16. The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far Kid
17. Tokyo Police Club - Tessellate
18. The Offspring - Hammerhead
19. The Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution
20. Oasis - The Shock Of The Lightning
21. Weezer - Troublemaker
22. City And Colour - Sleeping Sickness
23. Rise Against - Re-Education (Through Labor)
24. The Flatliners - This Respirator
25. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
26. Billy Talent - This Suffering
27. Alexisonfire - To A Friend
28. Serj Tankian - Empty Walls
29. Die Mannequin - Do It Or Die
30. Sloan - Believe in Me
31. Metallica - The Day That Never Comes
32. Neverending White Lights - Always
33. Stars - Take Me To The Riot
34. Disturbed - Inside the Fire
35. Bedouin Soundclash - Until We Burn In The Sun (The Kids Just Want A Love Song)
36. M.I.A. - Paper Planes
37. The Flatliners - Eulogy
38. City And Colour - Waiting
39. Apocalytica ft. Adam Gontier - I Don't Care
40. MGMT - Time To Pretend
41. Jimmy Eat World - Big Casino
42. Linkin Park - Shadow Of The Day
43. The Stills - Being Here
44. Spiral Beach - Made Of Stone
45. Chevelle - I Get It
46. Against Me! - Thrash Unreal
47. Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Posess Your Heart
48. The Weakerthans - Civil Twilight
49. The Verve - Love Is Noise
50. Linkin Park - Bleed It Out
51. Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place
52. Mobile - The Killer
53. Rides Again - Infected
54. Foo Fighters - The Pretender
55. Social Distortion - Far Behind
56. Silversun Pickups - Well Thought Out Twinkles
57. Finger 11 - Talking to the Walls
58. The Killers - Human
59. Serj Tankian - Sky Is Over
60. Wintersleep - Weighty Ghost
61. The Weakerthans - Tournament Of Hearts
62. One Day As A Lion - Wild International
63. Billy Talent - Turn Your Back
64. Die Mannequin - Saved By Strangers
65. Yoav - Club Thing
66. Gob - Underground
67. The Black Keys - Strange Times
68. USS - 2 and 15/16ths
69. The White Stripes - You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)
70. Tokyo Police Club - Graves
71. Jack Johnson - If I Had Eyes
72. Wintersleep - Oblivion
73. Hot Hot Heat - Harmonicas And Tambourines
74. Ashes Divide - The Stone
75. Foxboro Hot Tubs - Mother Mary
76. Beck - Gamma Ray
77. Death Cab For Cutie - Cath...
78. Attack In Black - Hunger Of Young
79. Staind - Believe
80. Matthew Good - I'm A Window
81. Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun
82. The Kooks - Always Where I Need to Be
83. Stars - Bitches in Tokyo
84. Three Days Grace - Never Too Late
85. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy
86. The Arkells - Oh, The Boss Is Coming
87. Puscifer - Queen B
88. The Waking Eyes - All Empires Fall
89. Sam Roberts - Detroit '67
90. R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious
91. Beast - Mr. Hurricane
92. Silverchair - Straight Lines
93. Nine Inch Nails - 1,000,000
94. Oasis - Falling Down
95. Three Days Grace - Riot
96. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
97. Band Of Horses - Is There A Ghost
98. The Constantines - Hard Feelings
99. MGMT - Kids
100. Black Lungs - Hold Fast (Sink Or Swim)
101. Coldplay - Lost!
102. Goldfinger - One More Time

A Night For Perspective
Published January 1, 2009 @ 11:48 in Family, Memories

My New Year's EveLast night I enjoyed a calm, relaxing New Year's Eve. I prefer it that way. Five years ago, my New Year's Eve was anything but calm and relaxing.

Five years ago, we had one child. James was one and Michelle was on the way, arriving in July. James also had pneumonia and we spent five nights at St. Joseph's Health Centre. Here's what I wrote five years ago today.

There was the oxygen mask because his oxygen levels were low, there was the intravenous to keep him hydrated and to give him antibiotics, there was the withdrawal of blood and chest x-rays to determine the extent of his pneumonia. All of this in the pediatric emergency room and it was approximately 11:00 pm. James was admitted for a minimum 48-72 hours, but there were no beds available. The nurse blamed SARs, claiming new rules limited one child to each room, and the rooms that were previously used by four children were now holding one. So, James and I were stuck in the ER for the night, but were given a stretcher-like cot to sleep on.

This cot was a little narrow for me, let alone a sick child in an oxygen mask and intravenous injected into his little arm. I managed to squeeze myself against the bars of the cot so that I wasn't interfering with the flow of the intravenous but could still keep James' oxygen mask on his face in spite of his attempts to rip it off every few minutes. At this point I glanced at the big digital clock on the wall and it read 11:51.

Nine minutes later, an announcement was placed over the intercom wishing all of us in the emergency room on New Year's Eve a Happy New Year. I leaned in and gave James a kiss on the cheek whispering in his infected ear "Happy New Year Sweet Baby James. 2004 is going to be a great year." And it will be.

Nothing drenches you in perspective like holding your sick, weak one-year old. Your crazy hectic life zones out into a singular focus. You just want your child to get better.

And he did get better. Last night we watched the hockey game together before he hit the hay. I'll take the calm, relaxing New Year's Eve every chance I get.

Happy New Year, everybody.

james092702-3

Canada 7, United States 4
Published January 1, 2009 @ 09:34 in Hockey Canada

Canada HockeyDown 3-0 early, things were looking grim. Then, John Tavares took over, scoring two goals in a span of 48 seconds to bring us back. Heck, even his third goal of the net, an empty netter, was something special. He picked up the puck at the U.S. blue-line, held off a defender with his left arm, and carried the puck to the crease to score a one-handed goal and ice the win.

Canada now plays the winner of Friday's quarter-final between Russia and the Czech Republic in the semis. If you saw this one, you witnessed one hell of an exciting game. This is why I love the junior tourney.

Bestest Game Evah!
Published December 31, 2008 @ 21:08 in Hockey Canada

Canada HockeyWe're only through two periods and I'm already exhausted.

Tonight's Canada-USA hockey game has included a furious comeback by the good guys, amazing saves, tremendous action and glimpses of greatness from The Next One.

This is gonna be one helluva finish...

Hockey Canada



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