"Always look on the bright side..."

One of my good friends recently told me that he enjoyed being around me because I always had a positive attitude and that I, to quote the great Monty Python, 'always looked on the bright side of life."

As such I was taught early in life to "not sweat the little stuff" and to "not worry about things that I can't change."

It's helped lesson my stress as well.

As I look towards the year 2012, and that always refreshing "things will be better as soon as the clock strikes midnight and we roll over in to a new year" belief here are a few thoughts on things that I think 'can' be changed if we really try.

First off - the economy.

When I was over in Europe recently I noticed something very odd and that was what I call the 'ping pong' effect of the worlds stock markets. As you wake up in the morning and check the media you could easily get a handle on what the stock market was like because each continent looked at the other continent to see how 'they' did yesterday so that they could react in either a positive or negative manner. Same thing over here - we blame Europe or Asia.

In Canada, to some degree, we look domestically at how we are doing yet will jump all over a trend from both aforementioned countries and somehow would adapt their scenario to ours thus a good day or bad day on the TSX.

Now I'm no stock broker or investment genius but one thing surely seems apparent to me.

The amazing amount of 'instant worry' we feel when we see any modicum of bad news in the investment world means we panic and the great sell off happens.

In the US there are 'trillions' of dollars sitting in corporate savings accounts that surely would be better spent if companies decided to again a) make stuff and b) hire domestically.

In Germany it was overwhelming to see a country that so dominates the automotive world, to just use one example, and how that country seems to be in a 'leadership' role. If you grade the top automobiles in the world BMW, AUDI, Porsche and Volkswagen are the kings of the castle.

If more companies decided they want to 'lead' instead of 'follow' with their products methinks we'd be in better shape than we are now.

Next - Politics.

It seems the only role for Political parties now is to 'get the other guy out at all costs.' This past year has been spent watching the Republicans do everything they possible can to 'stall' the Democrats and it takes months and months to get anybody to agree on anything while the country continues to collapse in economic ruin.

Don't get me wrong - I'm also not an expert on politics but when you hear an announcement from the banks like we heard this week in that "they promise not to evict anybody from their homes over the Christmas period" we simply are in a terrible and highly insensitive time."

Next, I don't know why 'anybody' would run for politics anymore unless they have a totally pristine record (and who doesn't have a skeleton or two in the closet.) It seems the instant somebody declares they want to run for office, almost at any level, the media goes into high gear to find something terribly wrong with them. Granted there are some 'bad people' in politics but surely having your entire life time rolled out in front of the rest of the world to see (including your own family) for some meaningless 'mistake' that they learned from and corrected in their lives can't be a good thing.

The recent gathering of the so called 'super committee' was one of the dumbest things I've ever seen and I can see things going virtually 'on hold' until the US election is completed in early 2013.

Lock 'em in a room. Throw in a bunch of sandwiches until they make a decision and 'get 'er done' as that famous comedian Larry the Cable guy so eloquently lays it out.

*By the way check his website, it's absolutely amazing!

Next - Share the wealth

I think the Occupy (your city goes here) program's theme is admirable, however how they operated it over the time period they did before being thrown out of every cities downtown core was their downfall.

They simply stated something terribly obvious and that is the gap between the rich and the poor is growing at a tremendous pace. Yes the 'bottom of the food chain' makes every excuse in the world to not work but somewhere in the pack are a bunch of people/families that simply can't make a living anymore due to downsizing and distribution of 'corporate profits.'

(If I hear the word 'restructuring one more time I'm going to throw up)

Hey I'm all for companies and people making a lot of money and if your skill/talent is in high demand 'good for you.' But with all that cash DOES come a responsibility to share some of your wealth.

Paying our athletes or entertainers millions and millions of dollars to perform for us is now at the 'insane' level especially when their deals go up with the excuse "If Bobby makes 3 million I'm better than him and need to make 4 million."

There are many many fabulous sports and entertainment stars that visibly give back - and are totally involved in making life better for others but there are thousands and thousands more that are simply 'jerks' and carry on like total assholes in public while being so called 'roll models' for our children.

It doesn't take 'much' to make a difference too. My favorite quote from the Haiti fund raising event came from Stevie Wonder who said "it takes a whole lot of littles to make a whole lot of lots."

And if you make more money in a year than an entire country - yes - you make too much money.


(Insert picture of your favorite jerk here - there are far too many to host in just one blog).

OK - then just one...(don't sue me...I don't have any money!)

The list of things to make the year 2012 so much better than the previous three or four years is a long one - but the 'big three' to me are:

1. Fix the economy - please! Stop day trading and jumping in and out of the stock market on a daily basis because the rest of the lemmings are following along. We were on a nice roll a few years back; things ARE getting better; but it's now time to get it together.

2. Stop the bickering at all levels of government and 'serve the people' who put you in office in the first place. Set an agenda with a high priority of 'fixing the obvious things' and the rest will fall in to place later.

3. Share your wealth. Roll your sleeves up too and 'get involved' in some project in your neighborhood. If you're taking your fans money from a particular city please put some back. One of these days our stadiums and arenas and movie theaters just might not be "Occupy-ide."

There...I'll step down now.

Happy 2012. I don't know about you but "I'm looking on the bright side!"

Radioviz.com

I'm very honoured to have been interviewed for Radioviz - a site dedicated to great broadcasters.

Please check out at http://radioviz.com

Thanks...
Marty

Thank goodness there are '2' Thanksgiving Days

I get a ‘do over’ on Thanskgiving.

For the past two years I’ve missed our annual Forbes family gathering as I was in Europe but today is Thanksgiving in the United States and I’m in Arizona getting immersed in their Turkey Day - NFL football, and watching the city virtually shutting down, and focus on “family.”

Yes I love turkey and stuffing, but the best part of my Thanksgiving is sitting around a room with my wife, kids, and in-laws reflecting on how lucky I am to have not only a great extended family, a family name that brings me great pride, but also the fact that I have three of the best girls a Father/Husband could possibly have in my wife Kim, Daughter #1 Lauren (thats by birth rite not that you are my favorite - cuz it’s a tie Lauren) - and Daughter #2 Rayanne.

Both daughters have always given me ‘immense’ pride.

Both are incredibly bright, kind, and beautiful all in one package.

Lauren figured out early in her life that the Father and Daughter bond is stacked in Dad’s favor. I’m just not going to play Barbie Dolls or Dress up - so she, at a very young age, started to watch hockey and football with me - and ‘loves’ motorcycles.

The first day she took lessons I gave her the most important advice a biker Dad could possibly give her - yet she did exactly what I told here NOT to do and rode at a pretty good pace directly into a bunch of tires that were set out to protect the turn.

As she came to me with tears in her eyes I said “are you ok?” - thinking that she was hurt, but her response was 'no...I’m ok - I just didn’t want to disappoint you.”

Rayanne is unique as all hell. Strong - confident - and determined. She knows exactly where she is going in life and god help you if you stand in her way.

Rayanne has gone through the “toughest disease I’ve ever heard of” with Graves Disease over the past several months. Throughout it all, and through great pain, her entire focus is on ‘learning’ as much as she can about it and ‘helping others.’

Her blogs are incredibly well written - compelling - and sad all in one.

Our entire family is ‘praying’ for her as she continues to beat the remaining problems she still has to encounter after surgery in the spring.

Rayanne will win.

She always does.

Both went through their school life in the French immersion program - which was very tough, especially in the early school years, - but later in life those lessons certainly helped them appreciate a different way of life.

One of our best family holidays I enjoyed was when we all went to Montreal and Quebec City and the girls (approx Grades 7 and 11) did ‘all’ our of our conversations during the trip in French. They checked us in at the hotels, ordered at restaurants, etc. At the Quebec City Carnival I responded to a carnival guy trying to sell me something by saying “Sorry - I’m English” - whereas he went on for about a minute yelling at me entirely in French. When I asked Lauren what he said her response was a simple “it’s not very nice Dad.”

In the West Edmonton Mall Rayanne would hear people speaking French and would wander over to help with directions, etc.

Neither girl has caused me ‘one minute’ of grief in my entire life. Their judgement in who they hung out with was pristine. Neither got out of control with drugs and alcohol and neither would be considered ‘prudes’ in any manner.

Both go out of their way to be nice to other people. Both are extremely generous in sharing what they have. Both have incredible senses of humour and both make me laugh every time we are together.

OK I laugh at Laurens constant changing of her hair color - and how much makeup Rayanne wears but ‘what the heck eh?” What are Dad’s for?

One time when Rayanne’s room was a complete disaster I lost it on her and demanded she clean it up. As I came down the stairs muttering to myself my wife Kim met me on the way up and had a line I’ll never ever forget - and it was simply “if this is the worst you have to deal with her we’ve done pretty good.”

You’re so right Kim.

As you get older the more time you can spend with your children - the better.

I know so many families whose kids leave the nest and don’t spend a great deal of time with their families - which is sad. My Dad died at age 58 and I simply feel robbed that we didn't have more time together. Mom is 83 - still makes me laugh every time we talk - which isn't "often enough." *I'll work on that!

I often hear people call their Dad “my old Man” which, to me, is the ultimate phrase of disrespect.

Mine never have - I think!

So today as I sit around reflecting on giving “Thanks” for my lot in life the three people who deserve 100% of the credit for my happiness are...

Kim Forbes

Lauren Forbes

Rayanne Forbes!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

There - I got my ‘do over.”

Saluting Media pals and Community Work!

In the media business ‘success doesn’t happen overnight’ and these three good pals know that so well.

Pal One: Terry Evans - K97 Mornings. Blame Terry for the weather. Every time he ‘lives in a truck for the food bank’ it snows or the temperature plummets. In 2009 Edmonton was the second coldest place on the planet - and Terry was in an 18 wheeler, away from his family, with ‘few’ comforts filling the truck with food for those less fortunate. This is Year Four for the K97 Christmas Rig and it's at 15367 Castledowns Road starting today. Terry won’t leave the truck until you fill it up. “Last year was a record year for the amount of time it took to fill the truck. I hope we are looking at another speed record this year.” Terry is one of those ‘extreme’ guys and one of the most fun events I recall is when he donned a suit of armour and had people take golf shots at him to raise money while we worked together at The Bear several years back. And Terry's one of the first guys to jump on a 'need' in Edmonton 'year round' as well. Good work again my friend.

Pal Two: Way back in Mr. King’s math class at (then) Bonnie Doon High School - a guy used to tap me from behind saying “introduce me to your father.” (Jerry Forbes/CHED) That guy was Holger Peterson who has gone on to near ‘legendary’ status on CKUA, CBC Saturday Night Blues, and as the owner of Stony Plain Records. Holger has just released a book called Talking Music - and it is filled with anecdotes from some of the most talented performers in rock, and roots/blues over the last several decades. Talking Music, a compilation of 19 in-depth interviews with artists ranging from guitarist Ry Cooder, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood, gospel star Mavis Staples, Sun Records’ founder Sam Phillips and singers Lucinda Williams, Maria Muldaur and Bonnie Raitt.

Maintaining a ‘music business’ in this digital age is a major challenge - except for Holger - who’s artist base goes back to the days of vinyl - and would be considered of ‘collectible’ status. Many highly successful artists owe their careers directly to Holger.

Pal Three: Terry David Mulligan - CKUA - and a bunch of other places. Originally from Red Deer, TDM as he’s affectionately known, has been a television star; acted in big time movies; hosts Mulligans Stew each Saturday afternoon ‘and’ now hosts a very informative program called Tasting Room Radio specializing in ‘wines and celeb’s’ from around the world, also on CKUA. Terry too has a new book - Mulligans Stew My Life So Far. In it he also chronicles legends in entertainment and pop culture. Highlights? “Interviewing Robin Williams - it was like riding a roller coaster...naked, in the rain, on acid. Frank Zappa - brilliant, opinionated and no drugs. He hated drugs and held up the drug culture to ridicule. And finally Sting - open, honest and lucid.” Terry is one of the most active guys in the media business and his show on CKUA is 'refreshing and vibrant' to say the least.

Google those titles to find out where you can purchase those books please!

Finally, there are several great media folks in Edmonton who ‘constantly’ give back and to salute just a few Bruce Bowie, Rob Christie, Yukon Jack, J’Lyn Nye, Mike Sobel, Chris Sheetz, the recently retired but still giving back Gord Whitehead, Carrie Doll, Daryl McIntyre, Gord Steinke, Garner Andrews, Nick Lees, Jason Gregor, Seanna Colllins, Graham Hicks, Danny Hooper, - oh and yes I know I’m forgetting a few - BUT to get to this level of respect in the business you have to sincerely ‘get involved’ in our civic issues and for a very long time.

*PS: Congrat's to Seanna Collins for winning the 2011 ACWS Lynda Steele Media Award. (Alberta Council of Women;s Shelter)

There are several new radio stations in town - lots of new morning shows/announcers who have just come to the city, tv journalists, etc. - and plenty of good causes to support - so if you really want to ‘make it’ in this great city you new comers here’s the number one tip for you...“get off the couch - get known - put your butt on the line - and use the power of your media to reach out to HELP make Edmonton an even better city to live in.”

It's a sacrifice of time away from your family but so very much part of being in the media in this town, and it pays off in both ratings and client support!

Dedication and commitment counts...Trust me!

I believe these folks, and many other Edmonton media vets have done their part - so ‘over to you’ - the gauntlet has been thrown down!

Spelling is a lost art

Just thought I would share the response note I got back from a recent email to Canada Post. I'm guessing their 'customer support' person may not have completed their "schoolin."

Count the spelling mistakes!


Dear Customer,
 
Thank you for your message to Canada Post.
 
I have documented your concern, If you require further assistance we would need details on the mail items.
 
If an item is a trace item and has a Tracking Number we would be able to trace the item. If not, unfortunatly we are then limited as to what we can do to locate an item that doesn't seem to be ariving.
 
 If you note anything unusual with your mail deliver you should report it.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Canada Post Customer Service Team