October 2009 Archives
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« September 2009 | | November 2009 » Neighbour John HalloweenOctober 31, 2009 @ 23:28 Category: Neighbour John
October 31, 2009 @ 23:27
My local beer store resides in the Heart Lake Town Centre in the north end of Brampton (insert Brampton joke here) and it's been part of my life since we moved here in 1984. That's 25 years of going to the same beer store, the same Shoppers Drug Mart and the same A+P. The Heart Lake Town Centre provides a comfort zone for me that I've taken for granted over the years. You use the amenities and presume they'll always be there for you. But yesterday, things changed. As I got out of the car at the beer store I glanced way across the parking lot and was startled by what I saw. Where the big letters A+P once were, they were now replaced by a strikingly cold display of "metro'". I was aware that a Quebec company had taken control of A+P and that all stores were slowly being switched over, but that doesn't make the transition any easier for me and it all deals with sentimentality. The A+P in the Heart Lake Town Centre has been a reference point for our family for a quarter century. In our first house we were half a kilometer away, our second house we could almost see it, and the house I'm in now is about three kilometers away. A+P was part of our vernacular. "Hey hon, we need some ketchup, can you whip down to the A+P?" You get the idea. A+P was a big part of our lives. When my kids were young the name A+P was music to their ears. it's where they picked out their favourite cereal, their lunch time treats and hollow fake fruit drinks with absolutely no nutritional value. A+P. Buns and meat. Cake and tea. I got to know the aisles, and the butcher and I looked forward to seeing one cashier who was stunningly attractive. All these things were talked about with A+P the constant. But now that has changed. I could handle the odd aisle change, the retiring butcher and the attractive cashier having a few body parts drop over the years, I could even handle having to use a quarter to release a shopping cart, but I really can't handle the name change. I will not buy my frozen Lick's burgers at "metro". I will not whip down to "metro" to grab some garbage bags. I will not buy my lottery tickets at "metro." They can call it anything they want, but it will always be A+P to me. And I'll still buy my economical game snacks there before going to the "Skydome." Category: Stuff
October 31, 2009 @ 23:15
There's a big difference between the Habs and Leafs right now, and that's direction. The Leafs are headed in the right direction, while the Habs are blowin' their load early in the season with a one dimensional team that will definitely run out of gas, guts and goals by mid-season. Mark my words people, the Toronto Maple Leafs will end up with more points than the Canadiens by the end of the year and the tide will start to turn within the next couple of weeks. I know what a lot of you are thinking, I must out of my mind, but remember I'm the guy who predicted to the demise of the Habs last season, and this year's team isn't as good as last year's. Look at Habs results so far this season. They've really only got two victories. One over Buffalo thanks to a fluky overtime goal by Brian Gionta and they beat the Rangers in overtime, other than that, its two desperate victories over the Leafs, one against Atlanta and two against the Islanders. Of course a Hab fan will counter with this. "What have the Leafs done?" Well actually they've had a much tougher schedule than the Habs, and they've gotten progressively better over the past couple of weeks. All I can say is, "we'll see." Habs fans are rejoicing tonight, even though they had that nauseating "na na na" song shoved down their throats, but it won't last long. Gomez, Gionta and Cammellari will be reduced to nothing when the dog days arrive, while the Leafs will have found their stride by then. And let me repeat. I'm not predicting the Leafs will make the playoffs, or even play .500 this season. I predicted before the season started that the Leafs would finish with more points than the Habs and tonight's game, even though it was another "Toskaloss", only reinforces that belief. And remember something else. This isn't about inflating the Leafs, it's all about giving Hab fans a reality check. It is they who claim the Leafs are awful, and that their pip squeak team is a contender, but that just isn't true. Then again Hab fans are the most disgusting in all of pro sports. Over the long stretch it will be proven. The Leafs will be the better team. Category: Sports
Today With Neil Morrison October 30, 2009 @ 17:09
Category: Radio
Today With Craig And Matt October 28, 2009 @ 15:08
Category: Radio
I Wouldn't Do It October 26, 2009 @ 19:44
I think it blows, but I just can't figure it out. Of course CTV as the host broadcaster will try to suck as much publicity as they can out of this colossal waste of time because they have to justify the expenditure, but what about the people who've agreed to do it. To me there are three categories to this thing. Don't get me wrong, if any of the 27 from CTV had registered to carry the torch like any other Canadian it would be a different story. If they had registered like the woman my wife works with or the kid next door and they were chosen, that would be cool. But this is a dirty rotten, slimy inside job that stinks as bad as one of Neighbour John's farts. It stinks so bad that anybody with any character would refuse to do it. And that's where I have the problem. I look down the list and I see Ben Mulroney and I can understand why he'd do it. He loves himself and in many quarters he's considered an asshole, but then I see the likes of Ken Shaw and James Duthie and I know they're solid decent and extremely humble guys and I can't believe they'd buy into this shit. I realize it's easy for me to say at this point but if I worked for CTV and they arranged this inside job which might actually mean that Joe Smith from Wawa won't get his chance, I'd refuse to do it. I honestly would. So it ends up begging the question. What gives? Why would people like Brian Williams and Stephen Brunt agree to do this when you know it probably goes counter to everything they believe in? Were they told they had to? If they were, it makes them look like assholes. The only people who should carry the torch are athletes both former and current and the public. Not assholes, neither bona fide or created by CTV. Category: Stuff
Today With Jeff McArthur October 26, 2009 @ 10:24
Category: Radio
Today With Neil Morrison October 23, 2009 @ 18:56
Category: Radio
Funny Boy October 23, 2009 @ 08:05
If anybody out there actually thinks the Prime Minister "doesn't" watch Canadian news they're just as stupid as the millions who live around Toronto and refuse to vote for the guy even though he's by far the best choice for the country. It's the big story in the news this morning and of course the Toronto Star and the CBC are all over it. They like to portray the man as some kind of a dim-wit who's got his head stuffed up his ass who has no idea what's going in the very country he rules. But really, let's get serious. Do you really think the Prime Minister of this country doesn't watch Canadian news? Stevie boy is probably behind closed doors this morning laughin' his bag off watching the reaction of his detractors. They went for the bait hook, line and sinker. Not only that, but Harper didn't say he doesn't "read" Canadian news, he simply said he doesn't normally watch it. I don't believe him but I sure do admire him for having the balls to have some fun with the legion of dink-brains whose sole purpose is to slam him every chance they get. The guy is alright. Category: Politics
Oops October 22, 2009 @ 15:24 On Wednesday, Premier Dalton McGuinty left open the possibility of unpaid furloughs for public servants, including teachers, bureaucrats, and nurses. Ontario deficit balloons to $24.7 billion.
Category: Politics
Today With Craig And Matt October 21, 2009 @ 09:56
Category: Radio
Surprise Surprise October 20, 2009 @ 19:02 I won't write much about this because if I started I couldn't stop. It tells you all you need to know about the Olympics and how corrupt the whole process is. Book alleges China cut deal to host 2008 Olympics. Category: Stuff
Today With Bruce Barker October 20, 2009 @ 08:54
Category: Radio
Today With Jeff McArthur October 19, 2009 @ 09:58
Category: Radio
Finally Something October 18, 2009 @ 18:53
Toronto lost out on the 1996 and 2008 Olympics and the city is currently in what appears to be a losing battle to host the 2015 Pan American Games. When it comes to events of this magnitude, Toronto is taken seriously, but never really taken for real, but when it comes to an event like the World Pride Bash, good old TO ramps to the top of the list. Not that there's anything wrong with it. (Actually, I'm tired of the saying "not that there's anything wrong with it", but when it comes to the Gay community you have to say it to prevent yourself from being labeled a homophobic arshole.) Anyway, I found reports out of St. Petersburg today quite amusing because those who were representing Toronto rode the same roller coaster of emotions that the Toronto Olympic Committee experienced while waiting for the Olympic decisions, only this time, we won. Toronto knocked the livin' shit out Stockholm 77 votes to 61. To be honest, I don't know what all of this means. I doubt it means a new stadium, a redeveloped waterfront or an athlete's village that will be used in the future to house the homeless, but it's something. Estimates put the financial injection to the city at about 100 million dollars which makes the cost of ten million look like a pittance. Of course the problem here is that the ten million is real and will come from taxpayers, while the 100 million is a great big guess. But again, it's something and Toronto is a city that likes to consider itself world class, and if it can't have events like the Olympics, what the hell, have something like the World Pride Bash. Toronto does a bang up job with Gay Pride Week and I guess you could consider it to be the farm system of World Pride Bash, so now the big smoke has finally entered the big leagues of world class events. Toronto's World Pride Committee will go after all levels of government for funding and you can't help but wonder what the tone of the backlash will be if somebody says no. Ah, what the fuck, congrats to all involved, but in the words of my late father Big Dick Patterson, "keep your pecker in your pants." Category: Stuff
Today With Neil Morrison October 16, 2009 @ 19:46
Category: Radio
Today With Craig And Matt October 14, 2009 @ 08:49
Category: Radio
Number One With A Bullet October 13, 2009 @ 18:20
When you know something, feel something and downright want something you tend to not let it go. That's the way I've been with Mike Stafford who's been delivering the goods in this city since he was an 18 year old kid reading the news on CFNY way back in the late 70's. Mike Stafford is the most talented talk show host in the city of Toronto, but it's taken way too long for recognition to play out. Finally it has. I won't get into all the tedious details because to most people it really doesn't matter, but recently the major radio markets in Canada adopted a new ratings system called PPM. PPM stands for "portable people meters" and they record the actual minute to minute radio listening habits of people in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. Excuse me if I've left anyone out, but it doesn't matter towards my point. My point is, PPM although open from criticism is a far better methodology the old diary system (BBM - Bureau of broadcast measurement) where listeners filled out ballots by memory, and more often than not, mom would end up filling them out for the whole family. Over the years, the old method was extremely frustrating for a lot of people in the business because we knew if was inaccurate and it was disheartening to see decisions made and people lose jobs over a system that basically sucked. Now to a large degree that has been corrected and it's great to see justice served in a couple of areas in particular. CFNY / The Edge has always had way more listeners than it was ever given credit for because its target demographic was young males. Young males don't / didn't fill out ballots. It was tough to take in the 90's when the Humble and Fred Show performed well in every goddamned survey under the sun, except the one that mattered, BBM. Well now, through PPM, the Edge has lurched forward and the boys in the morning are kicking some major league ass. Way to go fellas, justice prevails. Same with am 640. When Humble and I were part of the MOJO launch we knew there were a lot more people listening than we were given credit for. It was crazy, we were getting weak shares in males 25-54, but everywhere we went people claimed they were listening and it remained that way til last week. Although 640 was delivering a much better product than heritage stations CFRB and The Fan, when it came to results on the AM band, 640 lagged. That is until last Thursday when the first PPM results were announced and more justice prevailed. In the prime 25-54 demographic 640 is now ranking right up there with the other AM players in the market. In fact in some cases, it's trouncing them, especially that station that your grandparents listen / listened to. And this brings me all the way back to Mike Stafford. When Mike is on the air there is no equal on the AM band. He has the clear cut number one show, and why wouldn't he? Stafford is by far the best in the city. His balance of humour, intelligence and irreverence has been enjoyed, but obviously not fully recognized in Toronto for years, but now that has changed because there is justice in the numbers. Problem is, it took way too long and that's a bloody shame.
Five Down - Seventy Seven to Go October 13, 2009 @ 18:06
I also have a spaghetti sauce to make for tomorrow night. My good friends Dan and Jackie Duran have invited me for dinner for the third time in two weeks so I thought it appropriate for me to bring the grub this time. Dan and Jackie have bought a beautiful house in the hills of Cavan just east of Peterborough so it gives me a place to go from time to time when I don't feel like being alone. They make me feel like family. Anyway, back to the Leafs. I notice several people have started to pollute my inbox with questions. Questions like - hey Fred I notice you're pretty quiet on the Leafs, are you embarrassed. There are several more but I'm sure you get the idea. The Leafs have been sucking the hind tit so Hab fans are coming out the wood work to rub my nose in it. But that's typical of Hab fans. To be honest, I really don't have a lot to say about it so far. The only thing I predicted for this season is that the Leafs would finish ahead of the Habs and I'm still pretty comfortable with that. The Leafs are 0 and 5 while the Habs are 2 and 3. They lead the Leafs by three points with the season hardly out of the snatch. There is still lots of time. Put it this way, both these clunkers will probably miss the playoffs. Remember on several occasions while predicting the Leafs would finish ahead of the Habs this year I said I wasn't sure if the Leafs would make the playoffs. I still haven't moved off that. The Leafs suck. I just hope the Habs suck more. Category: Sports
Today With Bruce Barker October 13, 2009 @ 09:18
Category: Radio
He's A Good Shit - Jim Richards October 8, 2009 @ 16:04
Category: Radio
Not Airing In The Can-ada October 7, 2009 @ 17:54 Category: Video
One Billion Dollars October 7, 2009 @ 12:58
However, every so often something happens that genuinely should result in the resignation of a politician, and that's where we are right now. The e-health scandal in Ontario is of paramount proportions, so much so that it should go right to the top. Dalton McGuinty should resign. Forget about shuffling his cabinet or asking for the resignation of those below him, on this one the Premier should take the fall. A one billion dollar boondoggle with scandal attached to it should target the big guy, the boss, the guy in charge. Please read the dirty details. I've attached the Toronto Star story. Not even this liberal rag can lessen the blow of what the McGuinty government has cost Ontarians. You and I have to pay for this while Liberal insiders have become rich because of it. The crazy thing is, the Teflon man will survive this. In Ontario, being a Liberal politician gives you a decided advantage over the rest of the pack simply because you're Liberal, and for some reason, it's even cushier for McGuinty. His hundreds of lies and his despicably bad governing shoots right over the heads of a hopeless electorate that gives this guy a free pass on just about every issue. But the buck should really stop here. It doesn't matter if McGuinty knew about this or not. He should have, but even if he didn't, it happened under his watch and for that, he should take full responsibility. If he was any kind of person, if he truly cared for this province and the people who live in it, he would walk away today. But he won't. Why would he? Anyone who can lie and deceive with the craft of this man certainly doesn't have the personal integrity to take responsibility. He'll pass the buck, and deflect the heat. That's the kind of guy he is. Category: Politics
Comments We Like - Mike Stafford October 7, 2009 @ 12:57 Toronto's clear cut number one talk show host.
Today With Craig And Matt October 7, 2009 @ 08:35
Category: Radio
Today With Bruce Barker October 6, 2009 @ 09:29
Category: Radio
Today With Jeff McArthur October 5, 2009 @ 09:55
Category: Radio
Another Nasty Spin By The Star October 4, 2009 @ 10:23
Of course the Toronto Star couldn't let it lie, they've accused him of flip-flopping on the issue of attending flashy black tie galas and making this appearance only to set up the four by-elections he will call today. Harper said last year that didn't agree with tax subsidized galas because they didn't resonate with Canadians which is true. Problem is, last nights gala was a charity event organized by his wife to squeeze money out of rich people for the NAC. But that's the good old Toronto Star for you. However I'm sure several people who visit this website will find their own problems with what the PM did last night. Here I'll help you out. Harper should have sang a song by a Canadian artist, I'm sure we're gonna hear that one as ridiculous as it is. But please, don't use Harper's reduced funding for the arts in Canada, because that was a good move. There was way too much waste going on. HIs atttitude towards government funding for the arts will probably turn into more of these charity events, and that's the way it should be. Stephen Harper - The Rational Man - The right man at the right time for Canada.
Category: Politics
My Desperate MP October 2, 2009 @ 20:57
Bill c-428 is a desperate attempt to hold on to her Brampton seat should there be an election called in the coming months. The bill calls for immigrant seniors to become eligible for Old Age Security after only three years in the country instead of the present requirement of ten tears After Dhalla's nanny problems a while back, she knows she's on shaky ground in her Brampton riding even though it's heavily populated with people of her South Asian heritage. Problem is, whoever runs for the Conservatives in Brampton - Springdale in the next election will also be South Asian so the election could actually be fought on issues and not nationality. Dhalla's introduction of Bill c-428 is a shameless attempt to survive in Parliament. Private members bills rarely pass and this probably won't but that's part of Dhalla's scheme. Introduce the Bill, have it rejected and then accuse the Conservatives of being racists, and hope the "R" word remains ingrained in minds of South Asian voters in Brampton when the next election rolls around. This wouldn't be unique. Liberals have been painting a picture of Conservatives being intolerant for years, even though it was under the Mulroney government that more immigrants came into the country than any other Liberal government before him. Even Trudeau's. Look it up. Dhalla is hoping if the Conservatives ignore Bill c-428 it will stick to whoever Conservative runs against her, even if they're South Asian. But there's one problem with this desperate plan and something that Dhalla chooses to ignore. The South Asian population is a rather proud group of people and they don't really care to have someone like Dhalla bring criticism upon them. They know that the very suggestion of such a Bill won't sit well with other Canadians, or other immigrants who had to wait the ten years. In other words, they won't care for the attention it brings, especially when it has little or no chance of passing. I live in the riding of Brampton - Springdale and I don't really care for Ruby Dhalla, but it has very little to do with her being a Liberal. She's just a bad politician and a bad representative. Of course if I wanted to play handball against the curb I could claim that she probably sees my last name and figures guys named Patterson don't matter in her riding, but that would be leaning on the "R" word and you know I don't like that. No, I think she hasn't called me back because up until nanny-gate she was a slam dunk in Brampton - Springdale. She's of South Asian heritage and she's a Liberal, and most immigrants are still buying into the bullshit stories of how Pierre Trudeau was their messiah. Hopefully, in Brampton - Springdale that will change. Category: Politics
Today With Neil Morrison October 2, 2009 @ 17:20
Category: Radio
Number 4 October 2, 2009 @ 11:34
We thought we'd have him for an hour, but we had him for two. Bobby Orr is what every pro athlete active or retired should represent, class, compassion and humility. Needless to say, all human beings should offer these qualities, but let's not kid ourselves, famous people are often held to a higher standard and much too often they fail the grade. Having said that, as someone who covered a lot of pro sports over the years, it's amazing how Canadian professional hockey players are in a league of their own when it comes to being down to earth, decent nice guys. Bobby Orr was simply fantastic today. He was great with our morning shows, he was great with the staff and he was wonderful with the people who showed up to catch a glimpse and an autograph. He talked about the Fair Play program that he initiated and he also took the time to talk all aspects of his hockey and his career. He even showed me the scars on his knees. Number four, Robert Gordon Orr. Category: Sports
Freeway Frank Exposes Himself October 2, 2009 @ 10:25
LEAFS SUCK -You outshoot us but we still beat you. LOL. Your team is bad. Watch out for Gionta, Gomez and Cammy and Price looked amazing." This from a man who grew up in Montreal and because of that automatically thinks he knows everything about the game. Obviously, he does not. He exposed himself as a hockey fraud. Yes, the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in over-time last night, but they were widely outshot, outplayed and outhustled. Goaltending was the difference. How this turns into "your team is bad" is something only a delusional Hab Fan could explain. It's obviously the ramblings of a Hab fan who is scared for his team which obviously is too small and timid to compete in the NHL over an 82 game schedule. The ramblings of a Hab fan that's got to enjoy the few special moments this season will offer a team that barely made the playoffs last year, a team that is actually weaker this year than it was last. The ramblings of a man watched his team litterly ground into the ice last night by a team that he refers to as "bad." The ramblings of a man who chooses to ignore the Leafs were missing three regulars last night, while the Habs had their full complement of small frys who will slowly disappear as the season wears on. The ramblings of a man who knows Carey Price, the only reason the Habs won last night, will get worn out by Christmas and have trouble stopping a beach ball again. The ramblings of a man who will probably respond to this posting by accusing me of rambling myself. And he'd be right. NO PLAYOFFS FOR THE HABS THIS SEASON Category: Friends | Radio | Stuff
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I got a little bummed out yesterday. I returned from Peterborough for the weekend and after exchanging hugs and kisses and pleasantries with my sweet little darlin' I got back in the car and headed for my local beer store.
Holy cow, if in the minds of Montreal fans the Leafs suck, what does that say about the Habs?
Olympic flame and other stuff.
Remembering names, the swine flu and Ben Mulroney.
I've had several e-mails from people asking me what I think of news that 27 members of CTV Bell Globe Media will carry the Olympic Torch when it arrives in Canada later this year.
The hands free controversy.
Here's another reason I like Stephen Harper. He's a down to earth guy who likes to fuck with people the odd time, especially the media; a media that rarely gives the man a break.
Who'd buy the Argos, drunken crash fuck and smokin your meat.
Not that there's anything wrong with it, but don't you think its interesting that of all the things that the city of Toronto bids for, the one it captures is the 
I've been pounding the same message on this website for years and I'm sure some of you have grown tired of it. But I don't really give a shit.
I'm writing this before the Leafs game against Colorado tonight. I've got some laundry to do and shirts to iron before heading back to Peterborough tomorrow morning.
It happens all the time in politics, people call for the resignation of politicians at the drop of a hat. It becomes so common place that you tune it out most of the time.
It comes with no surprise that Brampton - Springdale MP Ruby Dhalla introduced a private members bill in the spring that wants to create a short cut for immigrant seniors.
It was a great couple of hours in the studios of Corus Peterborough. The great Bobby Orr was in town to promote his association with Chevrolet and their Fair Play program and he stopped by the studios of the Wolf and Kruz.
Peterborough, Ontario - Former Toronto/Calgary broadcaster Freeway exposed himself in the city of Peterborough last night when he sent fellow former broadcaster Fred Patterson and e-mail that said the following.
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