Freddie P's Blog

Today's story about the Canadians stranded in Paris left me shakin' my less than attractive head.

As you start to read the story about 200 Canadians stranded at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris on Monday you prepare yourself for a living nightmare. Terms like "hostage taking" are actually used to describe the delays attached to a Sunwing flight that ran into hydraulic problems.

Hey shit happens, especially when you want the cheapest flight available so you opt for a cattle bin charter that offers nothing but a narrow seat.

Yes, 36 hours is a long time to be delayed, but when I read the headlines and the first couple of paragraphs I was under the impression these people were shoved into a room and forgotten about for a day and a half.

But that's not the case. Sunwing not only provided meal vouchers, they also provided hotel rooms and transportation back and forth. Really, they did about all they could do given the circumstances.

But that wasn't enough for the whiners, bitchers and complainers.

One group that travelled together refused a hotel because some boys would have to stay in the same room as some girls. They thought they were entitled to two rooms.

It makes you appreciate how coddled and pampered we are in this country and our great sense of entitlement.

Sunwing not only offered total refunds to those who wanted them, they offered to give the same amount in future travel vouchers.

Nope, not good enough.

Don't get me wrong, if this delay had happened and the passengers "were" forced to stay in the terminal it would have been a whole other story. But that wasn't the case.

A hydraulic system had to be flown in from London and then it was lost for a few hours and the airline, accepting full responsibility did absolutely everything they could for those who were inconvenienced.

For this to make major news in Canada, and be described as a "hostage taking" solidifies what we all should know.

What a great country we live in.

Category: Stuff

Here's another reason we're lucky to live in Canada.

A couple of assholes take guns to the Caribbean Carnival on the weekend and the story becomes the cops - as usual.

Rosie DiManno takes a shot at the SIU today and paints the picture of a police force shrouded in secrecy out to protect its own.

Forget that its another blemish on Caribana or whatever the hell else they want to call this picnic for gun slingers - lets piss all over the cops who have a thank less job to do, especially those assigned to this event which traditionally comes with a whack of outlaws who could give two shits about who gets caught in the cross fire.

First of all, I don't know why anyone would want to go to this event. Given its history and compared to the likelihood of dying from a bullet in Canada, you increase your chances of demise about a thousand fold by going anywhere near this thing.

And yes I know, to cover my ass from all you bleeding heart jerk-offs ready to pounce and use the "R" word, it's not fair.

It's not fair that such a celebration designed with the best of intentions is dragged through the mud every year.

The vast, vast majority of those who attend come peacefully and without intent to kill, but that means fuck all to the poor bastard who nearly lost his eye simply for watching a parade while standing on the streets of Toronto.

Why is it nobody ever gets shot or dies at the Santa Claus Parade or the Gay Pride Parade, huh?

As for the SIU and the crap they're dealing with. It's so easy for the likes of DiManno to take a shot at them and make the release of a dead thug's name the issue.

It gets the vocal minority revved up. It stirs up the cop haters and the anti-establishment crowd and makes for good copy.

It's makes me wanna puke.

Here's a run down on what the real focus of this story should be.

Category: Stuff

Hey Everybody

I'm sure you've noticed I haven't posted much lately. Much like last summer, I've had a lot going on and it's affected my discipline to sit down and write stuff.

But know this, in the coming weeks and months I will have more time.

I'm no longer working in Peterborough. This led to that, and that led to more and the next thing you know, you're cleanin' out the office you pretty much furnished at your own expense.

But that's OK because I had been away from home much too long.

I may look like a dummy, but three years ago when I took the job at Corus Peterborough I decided not to sell the brick palace in Brampton and it was the best thing I could have done.

Oh yea. Once you move out of the big smoke it's tough to move back. Unless of course you're coming back to be a highly paid morning man and those days are in my rear view mirror.

While in Peteborough I rented a small apartment and I stayed there four nights a week, which meant I was away from my darlin' Delyse more than I was with her, and after a while that's just too much.

But hey, I was committed to the job and looked at it as a re-invention and a learning experience. And yes it was. I'm re-invented and I learned a lot.

About management, people and trust.... especially trust.

I will miss the crew in Peterborough. They are a great bunch. Especially the youngins, of which there is a very talented group headed for big things if they're allowed to develop with the proper influence.

Needless to say, I've got some great stories to tell, the radio biz is a fascinating one but I'll enlighten you at a later time when it makes sense.

In the meantime, I'm going to take the next few weeks and spend more time with Delyse and re-adjust to living at home full time again. I love the thought.

I will also think about the next step, and besides talking to a couple of people who have reached out already, I will huddle with a former humble partner and map strategy on an exciting project.

Details in a week or so when I return from the Tin Palace.

And I promise, the same promise I made last summer, and it's a promise I kept, when I return I will blog with a vengeance.

Category: Radio | Stuff

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

Category: Radio | Stuff

I love the Rob Ford / Gay Pride Parade controversy. It's another heavy dose of hypocrisy.

Answer this question - if Rob Ford was found in attendance at another gathering where people were breaking the law by exposing their genitals in full public view, how do you think that would play out?

He'd be cited as a perverted creep who brought shame upon the city by knowing no boundaries when it came to decent behavior.

And you can bet your ass the same people who'd be yapping are the same people are upset with him right now. But you see, the Gay Pride Parade, because of politically correct pressure, gets a pass despite its flagrant disregard for the law.

Because it's a Gay Pride Parade all rules are off. You're allowed to hang your hammer out and the Mayor should make bloody sure he's there to watch it.

How fuckin' stupid is that?

Of course at this point I have to do my own disclaimer. I have nothing against gay people and I have no problem with the Gay Pride Parade. As a matter of fact, I have no problem with public nudity. On any given day I see all kinds of people on the street that I'd like to see naked.

But that's me. To others nudity means something else and a grown man swingin' his lumber in public can make some feel uncomfortable. Maybe, just maybe Rob Ford falls into that category.

Maybe he doesn't want to look at someone else's genitals. Maybe he doesn't want to look at a woman's exposed boobs. That's why a lot of people choose not to attend the Gay Pride Parade.

Just because he's Mayor does that mean he's supposed to change his morals? Because remember, and I go back to the top of this essay, if it wasn't the Gay Pride Parade and he was a found-in at an unsanctioned event with similar behavior, he'd be considered a weirdo.

Rob Ford hasn't cancelled the Gay Pride Parade, he hasn't withdrawn funding and generally he's been a supporter of Toronto's gay community. He just doesn't want to go to their parade.

But that's not enough for the loonies in Toronto. It's not enough that he's tolerant; he must totally embrace and become involved in something because other people want him to.

Is he not allowed freedom of choice? Isn't that what the whole gay movement is about?

Give the Mayor credit for having enough balls to go his own way.

Category: Stuff

Make no mistake about it, those assholes that ran wild in Vancouver last night weren't Canucks fans, or hockey fans.

They were just assholes, plain and simple. They used the hockey game as an excuse to run wild in the streets and take and damage what isn't there's.

These punks don't care about hockey; any more than most of the G-20 protestors cared about politics. They're just bad people who look for any excuse to push back against "the man" and exercise their frustration with the way society works.

I'm willing to bet that most of the slime that was causing havoc on the streets of Vancouver last night would be the same ones that would attend rallies against violence and war and Canada buying fighter jets.

They don't really understand why they have a problem with society, other than its hard to get your ass out of bed in the morning and go contribute. They think Canada should be more socialistic and there should be less government and less policing.

They stand for a just society.... Until they see a broken window and there's a free I-pod to be had.

As I watch the video from last night I can't help but wonder how such creatures are raised. Who raises a kid that uses a hockey game as an excuse to cover his face and then smash windows and burn cars?

What kind of upbringing results in a young man standing in front of a burning car with his arms raised in the air and a look of extreme exhilaration on his face? There are lower forms of life on this earth, but not too many.

There's something about a covered face that turns my stomach!

To live in the greatest country on earth in one of the greatest cities on earth, and then turn around and deface it both publically and physically is despicable, and it's a whole lot of stupid.

These creeps are of an age group that is supposed to right on top of social media and the networking, yet they do things in the wide open in front of snapping camera phones. Does it get much dumber than that?

As I write this, there are several websites being created to identify the lowlife that has made Canada and the city of Vancouver world news this morning. I hope every last one of these jerk-offs is identified and then kicked in the ass to the full extent of the law.

Of course this is Canada, so they'll probably go easy on them. Slap on the wrist and send them on their way to bitch and complain some more about what a shitty society "the man" has created.

Category: Stuff

When I saw the TV clip of the Newmarket guy who was attacked by the scumbag squeegee (kid?) on Spadina Ave. Monday , it brought back memories of something that happened to me about ten years ago on Yonge St.

I was driving north from the Edge studios when I stopped for a light just south of Bloor. A panhandler came out of nowhere and tapped on my window. At first I actually didn't know it was a panhandler so I rolled down the window just in time for him to ask for "any spare change."

Rarely in these cases did I oblige but it all happened so fast, and the light was changing to green so I reached into my ashtray and grabbed what change there was. It turned out to be a couple of nickels and some pennies, but I didn't have time to count or even think.

I just grabbed it and handed it to the guy.

At that point he took one look at it and threw in back in my face with pretty good force and it hit me in mouth and cut my top lip.

In retrospect, thank goodness the light had changed and my instincts made me step on the gas and move forward because as what had just happened sunk in, I wanted to kill the fucker.

I wanted to stop the car and run back and kick his ass. But again, thank goodness it didn't happen for a number of reasons.

First of all, he probably would have kicked my ass, and secondly it would have probably taken me down a road that I would later regret.

But for a long time afterwards whenever I thought of the asshole creep I got this burning rage within that made me want to go back to the intersection and look for him.

I never did, and that's probably a good thing too, but from that point on my attitude towards panhandlers and squeegee kids and any other able bodied, go get a job leech changed dramatically.

I don't give a dime on the street and more than once I've waved squeegee kids away from my car.

I realize it's not fair to generalize, but sorry, I look at the guy in this picture and I don't feel so bad.

Category: Stuff

With the Thrashers moving to Winnipeg, one of the pressing issues that the NHL will have to deal with is re-alignment.

Word is, it's too late for the upcoming season so Winning, as bizarre as it seems, will have to play in the Southeast Division, a simple case of changing cities, but not divisions.

However, if something could be done immediately, or even if it's pushed off for a year, here are a couple of scenarios for re-alignment.

The easiest thing to do would be to put the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Southeast, and move the Jets to the Central division. Geographically it aligns pretty well for time zones as well.

But it does not address the Red Wing factor. Since the early 80's Detroit has been parked in the Western Conference and apparently owner Mike Ilitch has had enough. They're in the Eastern Time zone and the travel is punishing.

Ilitch has big time pull in the NHL and he could force a move east.

If that happens, here's what I'd like to see. The Wings move into the Northeast Division with the Leafs, Habs and Senators and either Boston or Buffalo gets the boot, probably Boston.

The Bruins could easily slip into the Southeast with Washington, Carolina and the Florida teams. As a Leaf fan I don't like losing the Bruins, but we'd still play them four times a year.

Out west, Minnesota would take the Wings spot in the Central Division and Winnipeg would be grouped with Colorado and the other three Canadian teams.

Another thought could see the NHL switch from six five team divisions to five six team divisions. This would be great.

Division 1 -Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Detroit, Buffalo, Boston.
Division 2 - Rangers, Islanders, Jersey, Philly, Pittsburgh, Columbus.
Division 3 - Washington, Carolina, Tampa, Florida, Nashville, Dallas.
Division 4 - Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Chicago, St. Louis
Division 5 - Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Colorado, Phoenix, Minnesota

If you can think of something better, leave it with us.

Category: Sports | Stuff

While in Texas I kept in touch by checkin' out the Toronto papers online and I was blown away by the Damian Goddard story.

In the end, I can't figure out whether he was fired for his tweets or because his contract ran out. I guess it's one or the other, or ones connected to the other. But it really doesn't matter.

What matters is how a guy gets crushed for having an opinion. It's scary stuff.

Before I let go, let me say this. I am not against same sex marriage. I could give a shit who marries who.

If two men or two women want to get married, great, go for it. That's my opinion.

I've always found it amusing that just as there's a clamoring around the world for same sex marriage to be accepted, heterosexuals are destroying the institution by quitting on each other at an alarming pace.

More than 50 percent of marriages in North America don't last, and more and more, heterosexuals aren't even bothering to go through the goofy exercise. But hey, if you want to do it all the power to you, no matter what you've got lurking between your legs.

Here's my problem with the Damian Goddard controversy. It bothers me how quickly being a supporter of the traditional definition of marriage immediately turns you into a homophobe.

It's bullshit.

I read the comments attached to the articles written in the papers. There was a mad rush to turn this guy into some anti-gay monster.

Marriage is an archaic institution. It's not a race, colour or creed. None of the things that if you fuck with, people jump all over you. Marriage is a thing.

So if a guy like Damian Goddard thinks this thing should remain the way it's always been that's his right. It's an opinion on a thing, it's not an opinion on the people who practice it.

Damian Goddard paid a price because he holds the opinion that the institution of marriage should remain as we've traditionally known it. It should remain the union of a man and a woman and nothing else - like it is in 90 percent of the world, and like it was in Canada less than a decade ago.

That's his opinion to which he has a right and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

What the hell happend to freedom of speech?

Category: Stuff

Bob Barker was in Toronto this week and he had a valid message. Elephants at the Metro Zoo should be freed to a sanctuary in Southern California.

Barker claims the climate is too cold in Toronto and the pen that the elephants are kept in isn't nearly big enough. Seven elephants have died at the zoo since 1984, and the deaths are tied to conditions.

To me the issue is a no-brainer. We've come so far with human rights, gay rights and basic rights, but for some reason we haven't been so great with animal rights.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no PETA whack job, the only reason I've backed off beef recently is because my system can't handle it any more, but right in there with chicken, fish and goat, and I could really care less if somebody wears a fur coat.

But when it comes to taking animals out of their natural environment and putting them in pens, I get uncomfortable.

Ask my kids, I've taken them to Wonderland, Disneyland, Disneyworld, Universal Studio and every goddamn water park between her and Florida, but I never took them to the Metro Zoo.

I don't like monkeys in cages and whales in pools. If we're going to make a buck off them we should keep them in conditions are close to their natural environment as possible and for this reason I should mention I have taken my kids to African Lion Safari.

I really think society has outgrown the idea of the zoo. With high def big screen televisions and a million channels, I don't think there's any problem exposing kids to wild-life. It's there every day of the week.

And please don't argue it gets them away from the television and out of the house, because I'll point to the other zillion hours most of them spend mesmerized by video games.

Zoos are expensive, unfair and in some cases embarrassingly cruel.

I applaud Mr. Barker for coming all the way to Toronto to make a point and even offering to pay part of the cost to have Toronto's elephants transported to California.

He's made us all more aware, hopefully to the point where we'll look beyond elephants.

Category: Stuff