Am I Missing Something?

I've always been somewhat of a fan of celebrity. Not the typical Brad and Angelina garbage you see on t.v. I'm talking about people who have done something to become famous not become famous because they're good looking or rich. I have met many famous people in my life. Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Tyson, Joe Flaherty. I was even friends with Corey Haim for the longest time. The list goes on and on but there is one person who I never met, who became very famous and I can't for the life of me understand why. The late Princess Diana. What on earth was it that made the whole world stop and watch this lady stroll up and down through war torn countries? Is it because she was a normal girl who married into royalty? Is that every woman's fantasy? I have a dislike for the royal family as a whole. Just because a bunch of people have money doesn't mean a whole lot in my books. Wouldn't it be nice if all of us could sit on our asses and do jack all day and be respected by so many Brits...but I digress. It's the 10 year anniversary of Diana's death and people everywhere are lighting candles and placing flowers in her name. When did Diana become a saint? In my opinion Diana's fame brought on the likes of paparazzi favourites Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. Just to name a few. She began our tabloid love affair with the rich and famous. If there's anything she's to be remembered for...it's that.

Unknown Legend

Enough With The Political Correctness

I've never been a big fan of political correctness, in fact I think it's one of the reasons this world (or at least North America) is in the shape that it's in. So let's take today's story for a second. The Texas Rangers set a Major League Baseball record last night. For the first time in 110 years a team has scored 30 runs. The Rangers in fact beat the Baltimore Orioles last night 30-3. For all you non baseball fans, trust me, they pretty much demolished the Orioles. Ok, to make things clearer, the Rangers ended up with more runs (30) than outs (27 = 3 outs every inning for nine innings) Now, many politically correct individuals will tell you that there should be a mercy rule in effect so that play is stopped after a certain amount of runs are scored or that the team scoring all the runs should lighten up on the opposing team. Guys like Don Cherry and the likes will tell you it's "good sportsmanship"to do that...hogwash! Sometimes in life things don't necessarily go the way you wanted them to. There are disappointments. How can we expect our children to learn that life isn't always easy when they're getting destroyed in a softball or t-ball game and one of the teams is told not to try so hard? Not to try so hard? I don't know about you but I was always taught to go hard or go home. So the Orioles got their asses handed to them last night (twice actually), I'm sure they thought long and hard about how poorly they played but you know what, they have to do it all over again today with another team. They have to refocus and go out and play their hearts out. Reminds me of a song from a while back by Chumbawamba. It went, "I get knocked down but I get up again you're never gonna keep me down" just like in life you may get bruised but never beaten.

Unknown Legend

Waxing Nostalgia

It's only days away. The end of summer, well not exactly, but the symbol to the end of summer...the grand old lady...The Canadian National Exhibition. The Ex is a symbol of some of the better times in my life. The years I played in a marching band during the Warrior's Day Parade, the year Manny and I tried to pick up two young ladies sitting in chairs near us, the year Mike won a video game by throwing a football, the time I met my cousin's future husband Dave. Or how about when PC cola was 25 cents or when I beat Mike to become the champion at whack-a-mole (a title he has since regained), the concerts I've seen or even those great gourmet lollipops. There has been talk about putting an end to the Ex. People say it's not as fun as it used to be. Well ladies and gentlemen, things have changed and the Ex has changed with the times. Although, I still love walking through the midway or simply taking a stroll through the many buildings that have brought so many smiles to children's faces I miss those cable cars that my dad used to take me on that took us all the way across to the other side of the Ex. I will walking down those same streets on Saturday, the ones I have many times before. Or should I say marching, you see I will be playing during the Warrior's Day Parade. If that's not enough reason to come hey, April Wine is playing a free show Saturday night. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Unknown Legend

Sometimes You Gotta Fight When You're A Man

There's a quote that Kenny Rogers once made famous a while back. No, it's not "you gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em." Although, that is a good one. The one I'm thinking of is "Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man." A lot of people have been telling me I should control my temper because it's gonna get me in trouble one day, and maybe so. However, there are situations where one should stand up for what they believe in. If your significant other was being thrashed would you stand by and let it happen? No. So I cracked a smile this evening as I was listening to the Jays game in the back room at work. The reason behind it? Jays pitcher Josh Towers hit Alex Rodriguez in the leg. It was warranted. A while back Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) distracted 3rd baseman Howie Clark as he was rounding the bag which led to Clark dropping the pop up. That's classless. So the pitcher who's been struggling all season had to be the one to save face for the leaderless Jays.

Towers has been controversial all season. He was put in the starting rotation where he's struggled on and off all year. Not only that, but he openly criticized coach John Gibbons and the whole coaching staff as well as his teammates for not putting in 100 percent on the field. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of Josh Towers previously I am very proud of the young man tonight. He showed a lot of character by taking initiative and throwing at A-Rod and clearing the benches. On a team that seems to be short on leadership a young man has claimed the spot. Doc, Vernon and even guys like Frank Thomas have dropped the leadership ball. These are the guys who are supposed to step up and carry the team on their shoulders but they haven't done it this season and it's evident with Towers being the one who has to take things into his own hands. Bravo young man, you did us proud tonight.

Unknown Legend

755 And So On

How will he be remembered? I find myself asking that question a lot. In a time where heroes are not what they seem we have a man about to become baseball's greatest home run hitter who is anything but honest. It's been an interesting few weeks in baseball. We have seen Mr. Bonds come to within one homer of tying Henry Aaron's all time home run record. We've also seen the great Hank Aaron tell the media he is not interested in attending any celebrations if and when Barry Bonds does break his record. Maybe it's Aaron snubbing Bonds or maybe he just continues to do it with the class that he always had. You see, when Aaron passed the Babe's home run record he downplayed it to the best of his ability. Class all the way. This past week also saw two greats get inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The great Tony Gwynn and Orioles shortstop Cal Ripkin Jr. Two men the likes Major League Baseball will never see again. With more and more players being accused of steroid use everyday there's no wonder it seems the great game has deteriorated so. Barry is not the only one trying to make history tonight. Tom Glavine is on the mound tonight hoping to pick up the 300th win of his career and A-Rod is looking to hit home run number 500. Making him the youngest player to ever reach that mark. However, there just seems to be something missing. Glavine has always been a great pitcher and he's been around since the beginning of time so he's one of the good guys. A-Rod can be a punk but boy can that guy hit. There is no doubt Bonds will break Aaron's record...whether it will happen tonight or not that's yet to be decided. You see, San Fran would rather Bonds hit it at home instead of in L.A. where Barry's loathed. If justice prevails, he will hit it in Los Angeles and the crowd will boo. So he'll break the record, then A-Rod will follow and he'll break Bonds' record and who knows, maybe even Albert Pujols after him. However, the blame for the steriod conspiracy and the fact that Barry has a chance to break Aaron's record rests solely on the shoulders of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. He's the guy who did nothing when guys were running around hitting the roids. No tests, nothing. Now he has the balls to say he is not going to attend Bonds' record breaking homer (which he has since retracted) In a time where heroes are quickly disappearing, we can only look to the skies. A banner in Philly recently greeted Barry Bonds:

"The Babe did it with hot dogs and beer, Hank Aaron did it with class. How did you do it?"

Indeed. Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?

Unknown Legend

The Summer Of Death

Well, it was bound to happen. 2 years ago in our lovely city for all those who live outside the 416 and 905 we had what was classified as the Year of the Gun. The numbers were staggering. By the same time 2 years ago Toronto saw 205 people hit with bullets. The politicians will tell you this year is a tame year compared to 2005 because we've only seen 122 shooting victims. However, the number of people killed in shootings this year surpasses 2005's mark. 23 deaths this year compared to 20 in the Year of the Gun. The latest, 11 year old Ephraim Brown who was sitting on a fence at a friend's birthday party when a stray bullet hit him in the neck, killing him. So this is where you expect the leaders of our city, province and country to stand up and say "Enough is enough" right? However, it seems to have become and finger pointing parade as to who is responsible for the violence in our city. Mayor Miller and Attorney General Michael Bryant seem to believe this is a handgun issue and are asking the federal government to ban handguns. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. You ban legal handguns, and I'm sure the guns the criminals are using are legal right? Come on! Again, these guys are so out of touch they have absolutely no clue where to begin. Where you begin is where they are afraid to begin. Let's take a look at where the problem is coming from. Handguns? Partly. Borders to the United States should monitored more closely to make sure illegal handguns are not coming over the border. This however is the main reason. The problem is that within the Jamaican community there are certain gangs that are making it difficult for residents of Toronto to live in the city they love. That's the main reason. Now, I have a lot of Jamaican friends don't get me wrong here, Jamaican people are fantastic folks however, in Jamaica there are a number of gangs and somehow they are making their way into Toronto and causing the gun violence. Not only that, our laws have to be tougher. Criminals should not be getting bail and being freed after shooting someone. One of the guys who killed young Ephraim Brown was charged with attempted murder of a 4 year old just two years ago. So, he was charged with attempted murder and released to strike violence again...just two years ago?! The federal government and the provincial government are at fault for not stiffening sentences however, Miller is so afraid to stay politically correct that he can't even admit the problem. He will not say it's a Jamaican gang issue because he is afraid of the backlash. But, isn't that what a leader should do. Stand up and say what's right even if he knows it's not the popular thing to do...yes but then again, I could have told you about Miller just 3 and a half years ago...if only you listened Toronto.

Unknown Legend

Ta(n)x But No Ta(n)x

I could write their names a million times on this page and you still wouldn't know who they were, but sometimes out of the darkness there comes a hero and in some cases two who stand up for something they believe in and save the day. There are two such heroes in Toronto today. Sure they're not sports figures or individuals who have started programs for unemployed youth but that's not the point. Their names are Brian Ashton and Suzan Hall...and like many before them they will be punished for their beliefs. It looked bad, Mayor David Miller had his whole council brainwashed into believing it would be beneficial to the city of Toronto to add a land transfer tax (to people buying new homes) and a new 60 dollar vehicle registration fee. In the 3 1/2 years this man has been in power of this democratic dictatorship (if that's what you want to call it) he has never lost a vote on a key issue...until last night. I sat at the radio station watching the television wonder what would become of my city if this tax got passed. Everyone knew it was inevitable. Miller had the majority of his colleagues behind him, or so we thought. The question was whether the new taxes should be implemented or would the decision be put on hold till October 22 when the provincial election would take place (on October 10) In an amazing turn of events Miller and his followers lost 23-22. It was like something out of a fairytale and the reason behind it all...Councilors Brian Ashton and Suzan Hall, Mayor Miller's followers. If I know Miller like I think I know Miller he will make their lives a living hell. He has to councilor Rob Ford and Doug Holyday. In an age where people are afraid to speak their minds it's refreshing to see these councilors do the right thing. I wish I could say the same for my councilor Gloria Lindsay Luby. Who in all honesty isn't really my councilor cause I didn't vote for her and she really hasn't done anything for my area. People, we are being taxed to death here. Why don't Miller and his sheep take a pay hike? Well, they don't want it to come out of their pockets. They keep complaining Toronto has no money (the biggest city in Canada no money?) yet Miller just renovated his office for 2 million dollars. Hmmmm?!!? There are two problems here:
1) Toronto councilors spend a lot of money and then complain there is no money for the city...so how bout not spending money willy nilly.

2) Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty gave Miller and his crew the power to tax us when they wanted under the new City of Toronto Act...so remember this come October 10.

Here is a list of those who voted, remember who your councilors are so you can vote them out next time around:

THOSE WHO KILLED THE IMPOSITION OF THE NEW TAX

1. Brian Ashton
2. Maria Augimeri
3. Mike Del Grande
4. Mike Feldman
5. Rob Ford
6. Mark Grimes
7. Suzan Hall
8. Doug Holyday
9. Cliff Jenkins
10. Chin Lee
11. Peter Milczyn
12. Denzl Minnan-Wong
13. Ron Moeser
14. Francis Nunziata
15. Case Oates
16. Cesar Palacio
17. John Parker
18. Anthony Perruzza
19. Bill Saundercook
20. David Shiner
21. Karen Stinz
22. Michael Thompson
23. Michael Walker

THOSE WHO WANT TO TAX US TO DEATH

1. Paul Ainslie
2. Sandra Bussin
3. Shelley Carroll
4. Raymond Cho
5. Janet Davis
6. Glen De Baeremaeker
7. Frank Di Giorgio
8. John Filion
9. Paula Fletcher
10. Adam Giambrone
11. Adrian Heaps
12. Norm Kelly
13. Gloria Lindsay Luby
14. Giorgio Mammoliti
15. Pam McConnell
16. Joe Mihevc
17. David Miller
18. Howard Moscoe
19. Joe Pantalone
20. Gord Perks
21. Kyle Rae
22. Adam Vaughan