Look Who's Talking

I used to think that talk radio was for the cranky old fart who spent his retired years compiling a list of political rants, personal complaints and physical ailments to phone in to the nearest talk radio show. It seemed like a forum for the person who can’t relate to that crazy rock ‘n’ roll that the kids are listening to and who finds solace in the misery of other similar souls.

In the last couple of years, my workday has given me more opportunity to listen to the radio for long periods of time and I found that I soon tired of the repetitive “New Rock”, “Classic Rock”, “Best Rock HiTZ”, and don’t even get me started on “Soft Rock”.

Then came CFRB.

Far from the dry, dull, sleep-inducing radio shows I expected, I found programs that informed, entertained and challenged me to think about things I never thought I’d be interested in (i.e. politics). In short, CFRB actually makes me feel smarter, stimulating reactions and opinions on a wide variety of subjects.

Whether you prefer the politically left leanings of the logical, incisive, articulate and amusing John Moore; the solid right hook of passionate, fiery morning anchor Bill Carroll; the mannered, sensitive, nice-guy charm of Leslie Roberts; or the laid back stream of consciousness zaniness of Jim Richards, there is a flavour of radio show sure to inform and provide a pleasant diversion from the music of the day. (Toronto’s “New Rock” will still be there when you need it. Trust me; they’ll probably still be playing the same songs.)

So if you’re in Toronto, tune in to 1010 on your AM dial or if you're elsewhere on the globe, check them out at http://www.cfrb.com/ on the web. It won’t make you a cranky old fart.

Ties to The Motherland

It was very English today. Steely grey clouds, brisk cool winds - unsure whether they blow from winter or toward spring, and a bleak colour palette reserved for only the loneliest of English moors.

This atmosphere made me nostalgic for the place I once called home though it’s not been my home for over 35 years. Yet somehow, though family, friends and loved ones are all here, I still hear a somewhat melancholy whisper beckoning me home. Maybe it’s because I’ve got rain water running through my veins…

Looks Can Be Deceiving

The Geeky Cat turned me on to this site. It’s called The Age Project and basically consists of a database of photos provided by volunteers (possibly even you) where the visitor is given the opportunity to guess a random person’s age.

Check it out: http://ageproject.specialsnowflake.com

It’s just a little bit of fun and, strangely, somewhat addictive. I’ve even added my own photo. See how well you guess. Maybe you can use this skill to get a job at a carnival!

Silent Screams...

I’m not a roller coaster fan. Or of any of those head-spinning, gut-churning, lunch-spewing rides for that matter. Don’t quite see the point in them. But I do understand that some people live for the edge-of-your-seat (quite literally) thrills that these contraptions provoke and even look forward to the emotional release a lung full of ‘scream’ can provide. If you’re one of those people then I would advise you not to visit the Scandia Family Fun Center of Sacramento California to ride the unfortunately named Scandia Screamer.

It seems complaints from neighbours of the amusement park about “bloodcurdling” screams coming from patrons of the gigantic, 16-storey, windmill-like structure have prompted a ban on shrieking, loud laughing, screaming and basically any noise the ride generates.

As passengers are strapped into the two metal baskets, the operator recites this warning: "We are required to remove you from this ride if you make any noise. If you feel you might make a noise, please cover your mouth tightly with your hand, like this (The operator then covers mouth with hand). If we hear any noise through your hand, we will remove you from the ride. So please remain silent and enjoy the screamer."

I wouldn’t want to live so close to an amusement park but that begs the question as to why the park was built so close to a residential neighbourhood and how it got planning permission to begin with.

It should be noted that the park is adjacent to a high-end restaurant where you’re not allowed to eat any of the food and down the street from a strip joint where you’re forbidden to look at any of the dancers.

Sounds like such a fun place to live I could just scream!

The Path We Choose...

If you do what you’ve always done you’re going to get what you’ve always gotten.

I’m not sure where I first heard those words. They’ve been rattling around in my head for so long that I’ve almost convinced myself that they’re mine. They lay dormant in the deep recesses of my mind, waiting for the time when life seems stagnant and time has stolen my hopes and dreams and filled my ambition with a cold and lonely chill. It is then that those words stab through the negativity, prodding and spurring me into action, reinvigorating my motivation and refocusing my aim on my goals.

Only this time, I feel like I’m fooling myself. This time I feel a sense of panic, of not knowing which way to turn to find my way or which changes to make to lead me toward my prize. And the rapid passage of time only increases that anxiety. My one bright spot (and she knows who she is) is prevented from becoming brighter because of my current limitations and I feel I can’t move forward in the way that I want.

But I have no choice. There is only forward. I have to keep reminding myself that life is not a contest. I have to remain true to who I am and what I want otherwise what am I living it for? I also know that it is because of the struggles that I face that when I do taste the life I’ve been looking for, it will be so, so sweet.

So although I always feel like I’m swimming against the current of general society, and onlookers may find my choices suspect and my ambitions impractical, I can only paraphrase the words of a cinematic icon (bonus points if you can guess who):

My destiny lies along a different path…