Thought for the day!

The Importance of a Bucket List

If you haven't seen the movie The Bucket list yet you're only a Netflix moment way. Briefly pretending to be a movie critic Jack Nicholson is a crusty old well off senior who is befriended in the hospital by legendary actor Morgan Freeman and they not only talk about the highs and lows of their pasts but their "dreams."

Morgan Freeman persuades Jack to make a list of all the things he wants to do before he passes on (Jack's dying of cancer) and one by one they set out to cross off the dreams on his list.

I firmly believe in a bucket list and having lost several good friends and family members well before their time over the past few years, I know I am going to face the Grim Reaper one day myself so fulfilling this list in the time I have left on this magnificent earth can certainly help fulfill my dreams.

Obviously you'd have to have a Trump sized bank account to do some of the top end dreams but if you only got part way through the list when you're welcomed at the pearly gates you'd probably have some great memories to help fulfill your life.

The most important thing about having a bucket list is to actually write one out as soon as you can and to start working on it "today."

Then get yourself a separate bank account and start plinking some 'mad money' away in this account. Take your empties back; put your income tax refund in it; throw a few bucks from every pay cheque in when you can and you're underway.

Next find a pal (or spouse) who understands the list and hopefully shares some of your dreams. Traveling with "like people" enhances the pleasure significantly.

Then post your list somewhere in the house where it's always visible and use it as a reminder to continue to work on it.

I've been fortunate to have crossed many of my dreams off the list already and I have a few well underway right now. Maybe you'll get an idea or two from mine.

The first thing on my list is something I can't control so I'll reference it a little later.

Other goals are:

1. Go on a motorcycle trip through Europe. It's already booked and next fall I will ride through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, and France with some very good pals.
This should be stunning and I've yacked about it for years. The Bucket List made it happen...

2. See the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

3. Hot Air Balloon World Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

4. Austin and San Antonio, Texas. Just because!

5. Visit the Maritimes. (can't believe I haven't yet)

6. See Jackson Browne, Dave Matthews, Yo Yo Mah, and Bruce Springsteen again and again.

7. Smithsonian in Washington. All of it.

8. Sweden, Norway, and Australia. There are plenty more but in Tier two until I move one or all of these off the list.

The next goal isn't a place or a thing but a practice. I promise to share my time and what I've learned with others. If you've been blessed with the opportunities to see all that this great big wide world has to offer you should share what you learn with others. It alone has it's rewards.

I love mentoring and teaching and by enhancing my depth of knowledge with others my Bucket List becomes even more pleasurable.

Oh that "first wish?". Kim and I hope to be Grandparents one day. I remember the very phrase my Father wrote on my Brother Gord's card Dad gave him when his son was born. "now you know the circle of life.".

Over to you my girls!

Salute to CTV Edmonton

One of the nicest benefits of working in a radio station located inside a television station (with different owners) is I got a chance to work both personally and professionally with some really great and talented people over the 18 years I was in the CTV (CFRN) building.

CTV General Manager Lloyd Lewis is a personal friend and is the kind of guy who is happy to break out with a “Clapton solo” when you visit his office. He’s a great leader and knows that precious balance between ‘work hard – play harder’ and the spirit in the hallways is always infectious as we crossed paths on a daily basis.

This past week, while catching up on things in Edmonton, I was knocked out to see what started as a little ‘fun’ project in the CTV back lot of the building has now turned in to a major ‘fund raising’ event for several Edmonton charities.

A few years back the CTV Newsroom, under the leadership of Glenn Kubish (Kube) decided to put in a little skating rink out back for the staff and families to enjoy during the long winter period.

As many great ideas evolve one thing lead to another and now that “Rink of Dreams” is a mini NHL type rink that not only serves as a social spot during the winter months but now it is hosting the “ATB Financial Charity Shootout.”

This rink has it all, including boards, lights, and even ‘sponsors’ that help defray the costs that have to be paid to keep and maintain the rink into useable conditions. (I’ll bet the human Zamboni is working over time this past few weeks though!)

The ATB Financial Charity Shootout goes at the end of the month and CTV will be taping the event so that you all can see, enjoy, and participate in the event.

Basically it works like this.

Key CTV personnel will be dividing up $15,000 among nine very worthy Edmonton charities as they strap on skates and take one on one shots at CTV Weather man Josh Classen.

You’ll see Daryl McIntyre, (Wildlife Rehab Society) editor Pam Leier (Ronald McDonald House), Carrie LeClaire (Stars), Access TV’s Jefferson Humphreys (Boys + Girls Club), Graham Neil (Good Neighbor Fund), Dave Mitchell (Matt Cook Foundation), Adam Cooke (Special Olympics), and Josh Classen (Edmonton Food Bank), and by the time this article makes it to print one viewer will have won a chance to take a shot for their own choice of charity as well.

The prelim’s go Jan 29th, and air at 6pm on Jan 31st and Feb 1st. The semis will be aired ‘live’ on Feb 2nd and 3rd, and the final goes rain or shine – ok freezing cold or blinding snow – under the great Alberta skies on Feb 4th.

So not only has this little “Rink of Dreams” provided a great respite for the CTV folks to take it outdoors during the winter – but it has now grown to a very fun and spirited community event – supporting several local charities - for which the company is already very well known and respected for over the years.

Kudos’s to ATB for stepping up and participating in this fun adventure as well.

Also, in case you didn’t know before “The Good Neighbor Fund,” was started by my personal mentor Bruce Hogle several years ago, and provides substantial funds to much needed families in our city. Many of the CTV staff play key roles in keeping this Fund very active and vibrant throughout the year as well.

All the information on these projects is available at ctvedmonton.ca and wearealberta.ca.

Get out and cheer these people on – and fire off a supportive email or letter to them when you get a chance.

Great companies know the value of ‘giving back’ – and CTV Edmonton does it ‘naturally.’

Sports radio battle begins!

Congratulations to Mike Richards, formerly of The Fan, Calgary's sports station owned by Rogers Communications, who is heading east for a great new gig.

I worked with Mike in Toronto several years ago and the man has multiple talents.

When he moved from the big smoke to Cowtown I was thrilled to watch his evolution from comedy goofball to seasoned broadcaster so kudo's to Mike as he gets the big payoff now not only monetarily but to return "home" because he's heading back to 1050 on the radio dial debuting the new TSN Sports radio service, now owned by CTV.

This move makes me double happy because it means a) the big guys are investing in their products again, b) they're investing in AM radio again and c) it's a chance to repair what we started several years ago with the Team sports format across the country.

I don't need to ignite the conversation about what went wrong, because that's in the past, but I am excited about the possibilities that can go right when there is direct competition by two heavyweights in the business. (Sports pun intended)

If you're a sports guy with chops in this country you'll get a phone call.

If you're a sports personality, ie former player, with a dynamic personality you'll get a call.

If you're active on social media, extra points because that's where sports commentary thrives and you too will be attractive to these guys.

I mean who doesn't follow BizNasty on Twitter these days?

If you're currently one of the "orphans" of the old Team network you should also rejoice because both of these operators will want to cozy up to you to strengthen the National scope of the chain.

This is a return to the past too as radio and tv stations used to work together like this decades ago when they were both under one roof or owned by the same company.

The tv sports guy did the radio sports too. That was just the way it was then.

Several stations also used to simulcast play by play of CFL and WHL/NHL games then as well.

Both CTV and Rogers have huge armies of talent across the country to utilize on these stations to do it right.... And a substantial budget to work with to attract top talent.

Plus the National TV exposure for programming will be a huge bonus to help radio in the new PPM world.

Hey, AM radio has been dying across the country for the past decade. Many stations flipped to FM or even handed back AM licenses in markets big and small. Maybe people will flip back again....which will also benefit other formats still active on the platform. I hope so.

This signifies a rebirth of "possibilities" in a country with an insatiable appetite for sports.

It's an over used cliche but what the heck - "yes" let the games begin!

Maybe I should unretire....this sounds like fun again!

CBSC response re: Dire Straits

OTTAWA - A censorship watchdog is being defiant after receiving a wave of criticism over its decision to ban the nation-wide broadcast of an uncut Dire Straits song containing the word "faggot."

Ronald Cohen, the national chair of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC), told QMI Agency he sees nothing wrong with the fact one person was able to stop every private radio station across Canada from playing the popular 1985 song 'Money for Nothing.'

"The number of complaints is irrelevant," Cohen said. "Everybody is on our back about it (but) I think it was absolutely the right decision. This was a word that has no place today on the airwaves."

Cohen is unconcerned that the public was shut out from CBSC's deliberations and sees no problems with the fact that neither broadcasters nor Canadians have any avenues to appeal the decision.

"If there was an appeal process, it would be cumbersome," he said.

Dire Straits' keyboardist Guy Fletcher joined a chorus of fans on his website Friday calling the ruling "outrageous" and the council's decision "hilarious" for having missed the point of the band's song about homophobia.

"WHAT a waste of paper," he wrote of the decision. "Canada will now be forced to ban all Rap music since the 'N' word is uttered in most recordings."

Ottawa radio talk show host Lowell Green has been cited several times by the CBSC.

"I was told that if I was going to use irony or sarcasm on the air, I must alert my listeners that was sarcasm," Green said of one case where he had to apologize on air fearing his radio station would lose its license.

"The fact that one person can make one complaint about one song that has been played for 25 years, I find astonishing -- especially when you consider that millions of people can sign a petition opposed to the HST and nobody pays attention to it," he added.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association's David Eby called the CBSC's decision "very patronizing" and suggested the federal broadcast regulator, the CRTC, should take over its functions to ensure some public oversight.

"It is difficult for us to understand how this private body can have such a profound influence on what Canadians see and hear without any accountability," he said.

The CBSC has been the private broadcasters' self-regulator since 1990, when they decided they didn't want the federal regulator to oversee their content.

Although neither body has the power to levy fines or stop the broadcast of any songs (even those banned), the CRTC can revoke television or radio licenses or refuse to renew them when they are about to lapse.

"We are a sugar-coated society and it is too bad," said Darryl Choronzey, host of the TV program Going Fishing, who was the subject of a CBSC complaint for political bias.

"If somebody doesn't like it, they can turn the radio off or turn the TV off."

 

CBSC "Whoops"

I'm sure if the Canadian Broadcast Standards Commission could ask for a "do over" in regards to their decision in regards to the Dire Straits "money for nothing" scenario this week they surely would.

Here's a song that has been played thousands and thousands of times around the world for a couple of decades and now "one" isolated complaint in a smaller market in Eastern Canada has ignited a censorship issue that is resonating all around the world and once again casts our Canadian broadcast system as being terribly "out of touch" with reality.

First off there is a very long list of songs which some would deem to contain potentially offensive language (or content) and if we are going to comb through twenty or thirty years of music and lodge complaints about those songs the CBSC is going to be very busy.

As I said in my Edmonton Sun article "are we going to start putting sweaters on nude statues around the world now?"

The problem is the CBSC system itself.

One single complaint goes to a volunteer panel who, after several months, debate and vote on the complaint. They then issue a decision which tells the station they simply have to apologize for the complaint therein bringing the complaint forefront to the entire industry as well as the stations listeners.

Social media, that wasn't around when the CBSC started, now fires that decision out at break neck speed to thousands of people within minutes of it's release.

In this particular case one complaint launched about eight or nine months ago has rippled not only across our fair country but throughout the "world" causing stations to either modify the song or, as we are seeing by many stations, to declare they will not edit the artists legendary work, thus setting up a scenario where the CBSC may have to address punishment to each particular station if "one" person complains in each of those markets.

Recently there has been some discussion at the CRTC level about giving our broadcast commissions the power to fine offending broadcasters for flagrant rule violations which sets up a whole other major debate too.

Look I'm not a prude and there are some things I'd prefer not to hear or see on our airwaves but over my career I found that dialogue and compromise with a listener who complains is usually the way to resolve these problems.

Most of the culpability of programming comes at the Management level and most Managers are sanctioned about what they can say or do in our Canadian system in fear that any conflict with the CBSC could cause them (or the company) grief down the road so our system of complaints really isn't an open forum and maybe it should be.

Ron Cohen is a nice, smart man, and as I said in the opening I will bet he wasn't ready for the firestorm this has caused but if this is the song/complaint that gets some dialogue going as to establishing a more efficient system to address "offensive" broadcast complaints then maybe this Money for Nothing complaint can turn in to Money for Something.

Then maybe after they get that fixed we can address a long overdue assessment of another issue that is long overdue...Can Con.

Sorry...can of worms!

The Tucson "Shooter"

Pardon me for being obsessed with the Tucson shootings but when something is in your backyard (I’m in Phoenix) you pay more attention to it. The further away you are from the epicentre of something the quicker it dissolves from your ‘I give a poop about it’ scale.

This shooting has far reaching impact for me in a number of ways.

First off we continue to see massive problems from what can only be best described as ‘loners’ – people who are different – people that the normal systems have alienated.

The school system is largely culpable in scenarios when they ‘could have done something about it.’ In both this case and the Colorado shootings it seemed everybody – students and teachers specifically – knew the shooter(s) had massive problems.

They’re solution? Kick ‘em out of school – and don’t hang with them – which only compounds the problem even further. These kids are mad – angry – and `somebody is going to pay.

In the wall to wall media coverage of the Tucson event an interview with a noted Psychologist had an interesting thought. The gentleman stated “when these guys know they are losers and have fears that they have nothing left to live for they do these massive crimes simply to get ‘known.’ Mark David Chapman stated exactly that thought to Barbara Walters in an interview more than a decade and a half ago.

The eerie grin on the guys court picture said it all!


He also stated that media “has to stop making these guys notorious heroes” – and don’t use their names.”

In all my Twitter notes; and in this article I have refused to name this guy – calling him only “the shooter.”

Now I’m not saying make a loner your best friend but when you see satanic statements written on the school walls and bizarre messages of intent on the internet SPEAK UP. Many of the shooters friends said simply “we knew this was going to happen one day.”

Obviously the guy had a horrible home life. Gawd if I shot somebody to death I’d think at least one of my family members might show up to the court hearing and at least find out what the hell happened.

Next, Media is caught in the middle of a new media/old media battle. The old media have to make split second decisions on how they`re going to cover this type of event because new media, armed with cell phones, cameras, and Twitter accounts, can instantly `scoop` them forcing terrible errors to happen.

Again somebody was declared `dead` by the media within minutes of the shooting only to find out that the victim was alive. Our ``gotta scoop the other guy quest is getting in the way of gathering accurate and important facts` and that`s a terrible pity.

New media are `not`trained to be part of the coverage of such a horrendous event however the visuals provided by them can never be matched by an old media company trying to rush their staff to cover the shooting long after the main impact of the crime has been felt.

I can`t imagine a family member who is nowhere near the scene playing out this scenario.

This terrible crime has far ranging impact.

Arizona has been suffering under a terrible dark cloud for the past few years with immigration problems; the Mexican drug lords moving into bedroom communities; a fractured economy; and gun laws that are loose compared to the rest of the United States.

President Obama is coming in to Tucson Wednesday (Jan 12) to help with the healing process. His line is compelling – in that this crime is far bigger than Tucson – Arizona – and the United States.

This is a crime of the ultimate outrage about `what’s happening out there`- and when innocent people are stricken down (damn that little girl was just 9 years old) it`s something that affects each and every one of us in society wherever you live.

This case will have far reaching effects.

In some way I hope the terrible tragedy isn`t quickly forgotten beyond the city limits of Tucson, Arizona – because it could happen to anybody anywhere regardless of which national anthem we sing at sporting events.

Edmontonians - CKUA Behind the Scenes!

One of Edmonton's; I mean Alberta's; ok the "World's" best gems is our own CKUA Radio.

I've been a fan for many, many years and proudly offer these fun facts courtesy of my good friend CKUA's General Manager Ken Regan.

While most radio stations feature one basic format CKUA delivers programming that covers virtually every genre of music. It's an eclectic blend of both music and information and survives solely on listener donations and by selling a small inventory of commercials.

Cam Hayden and his partner Carol Dean travel all over North America finding bands not only to play on his Friday Night Blues Show, often on his motorcycle, but for Bluesfest that is held each August in Hawrelak park. This signature event virtually sells out each year.

The former Bonnie Doon High School connection to CKUA is strong. Holger Peterson and I were classmates there and city lawyer/CFL referee Bud Steen has long been involved behind the scene in keeping the place viable.

Holger is one of the most respected people in the Canadian music scene, with his ownership of Stony Plain records.

Lionel Rault has some of the best 'ears' in the business. It's a radio term for a guy who segues records together due to their audio qualitiesto sound seamless on the air.

Terry David Muligan (TDM) has long been a radio pal and has starred in movies, and television shows for years. One of his first jobs was as an RCMP officer in Red Deer. Terry now does a Wine Show on CKUA as well as his Mulligans Stew on Saturday.

Peter North, of course, is well known for his alter life as a journalist in Edmonton.

Senator Tommy Banks has a long history with the station and was integral to the stations survival several years back.

Allison Brock has been in Calgary radio for many years and currently also works at the Rawlco owned Mix radio station on Cowtown.

Mark Antonelli - did you know his mother Marylu Walters is a notable freelance writer and author of the book CKUA-Radio Worth Fighting For, (published in 2002 by University of Alberta Press). The book was one of four finalists for the 2002 National Business Book Awards.

David Ward - Is an accomplished musician and for a time played in the band "Lonesome and Then Some".

Lark Clark - for many years sang professionally with the group "Juba" and is CKUA's resident gypsy having lived in New York, Haida Gwaii, Edmonton and briefly in Africa, and having travelled for extended periods to Cuba and Columbia among other places....

John Worthington - CKUA's Old Disc Jockey - was born the same year as CKUA, was twice General Manager (including for a brief period when CKUA returned following the 1997 shutdown); he is also one of the most technologically advanced members on staff when it comes to applying computer editing skills - remastering dozens of old 78 rpm records for re-release on CD, making them sound almost new!!

CKUA recpetionist Erica Gaylor is recognized as one of Edmonton's foremost "twitter-ers" and is a Roller Derby afficianado (as in she competes).

Voices in Jazz host Dianne Donovan is a professional jazz singer and is married to Mitch Watkins, lead guitarist with Lyle Lovett's "Large Band"...Mark Antonelli - did you know his mother Marylu Walters is a notable freelance writer and author of the book CKUA-Radio Worth Fighting For, (published in 2002 by University of Alberta Press). The book was one of four finalists for the 2002 National Business Book Awards.

Alberta Morning show host Tony King once ran the Edmonton Film Festival

There are 13 FM transmitters throughout the Province and one clear channel AM signal. The AM is meant to reach areas in that the FM's don't. Clear Channel means nobody else is on that frequency in all of North America so the signal is as clear as a bell with zero interference.

It's a rare blend of some of the most knowledgeable music hosts in Canada and no other Province has such a structure. Please give them a listen and during the fund raising days I know they'd appreciate your financial support as well.

Worlds Longest Hockey game IV

It’s a hockey team made up completely of ‘losers’ – and I say that with the utmost and deepest respect.

The forty guys who are playing in the Worlds Longest Hockey Game IV have all been touched by losing a family member or a close friend to cancer.

It’s why they lace it up – play through almost unbearable conditions – and help raise funds in this most grueling manner possible until, as Dr. Brent Saik says, “they find a cure for it.”

The next marathon happens on February 11th and they will play for over 240 hours – or “a full NHL season for one team.”

The game is played on Brent’s property in south east Sherwood Park. It’s easy to find if you’d like to come out and cheer the warriors on.

More than 800 volunteers make it happen. Zamboni drivers; nurses; doctors; friends; family; and ‘you’ are the ingredients that make it happen.

Many of the guys have played in multiple games; 4 guys have done them all – and they’re not ‘kids’ friends – they’re age range is large. Most have to take time off work or spend their personal holiday time to do this – and ‘nobody’ complains or the rest of the team simply reminds them ‘you don’t know pain until you’ve had cancer.’

Dr. Saik’s friends loyalty is immense. Team 1260 host Jason Gregor tells the story of how beat up he felt in the middle of the night one very cold night – lonely and tired – when a Dad and his 12 year old son walked up to the team bench and said hello. The youngster pulled off his toque to display his recently shaved head from the Alberta Cancer ward he was in and proudly handed over his piggy bank filled with donations for the cause.

“It’s that type of magic that touches you and helps you get the adrenalin going to get back on the ice and stop feeling sorry for yourself. These guys would go to the wall for Brent. They all ‘get it’ Jason says.

Global Televisions Kevin Karius chimes in. “In 2005, nobody was really sure what to expect. To play for 10 days straight was such a daunting task. The math is pretty simple. Each player is on the ice for 80 out of the 240 hours. When you factor in the conditions, it is extremely exhausting. The night shifts are the most difficult, and the most rewarding. It is very quiet, very lonely. You think a lot about friends and family with cancer. You learn so much about yourself.

In 2008, it was different. We had done it once before. Everything was in place until the weather turned absolutely unbearable. One night it was -51 with the wind chill.”

Brent’s set up is amazing at the rink. It’s fully equipped with everything possible to care for the players comfort and safety. Guys play with frostbite covering their blistered heals. A hot tub ‘helps’ hold off the pain. The Volunteers are there not only to look after their physical needs but to cheer them on and to help keep their spirit’s high. It’s an immense job.

These guys play through almost every weather extreme possible during the game. From bitter cold to high winds to blinding snow storms and its actually the ‘good weather’ thats ‘bad news for the guys as the ice starts to melt and makes it even more difficult on rubbery legs.

I asked Brent why he puts so much in to it?

It may sound like a dumb question but something of this magnitude takes not only an immense amount of time but a ton of money and expertise.

His answer was simple. “To give back. I’m surrounded by good friends – and we’ve raised a ton of money in the past and we want to virtually double it this time out. The pain is worth it. Ask any of the guys.”

What do you need help with Brent?

More referees! Your donations!

Where do you go from here Brent – you can only continue to do this for so long without a twist?

"We’ve talked about taking it ‘inside’ but the guys and I all know it would change the scope of the event. The bitter cold. The aching pains. The hot tub. The fans and the bands in the stands all bundled up cheering. As strange a it sounds it just wouldn’t feel the same indoors."

I’m betting the guys agree.

As Kevin says “If 40 players and tons of volunteers can put on an event of this magnitude to save just one life, it’s all worth it.”

If you’d like to see some excellent video of the last Worlds Longest Hockey Game go to You Tube and search for a very good series that our own Edmonton Sun’s Nathan Martin helped put together. He spent a great deal of time talking to participants both on and off the ice and each highlighted his or her involvement in this most worthy project.

The video’s say it way better than I can with the written word.

Pledges can be accepted at http://albertacancer.ca/worldslongestgame at any time or http://youtube.com/buttonmasherfilms09

You can also call Brent’s office to donate – at 780 417 3003.

There’s a major uptick in sponsorship this year but its the personal dollars raised from each of us that really makes a difference. And ‘yes’ – they take piggy banks! Get your kids involved too!

And by the way, nobody even seems to care about it actually beating their last Guinness Book of Records. The game is played for very private and personal reasons.

It’s all about ‘the friends and family we’ve lost.’

Please support this amazing project.