Keep me posted
If you live in Toronto, chances are you have already seen this photo. It is TTC employee George Robitaille sleeping at McCowan station. Sounds like George’s life has changed in the wake of this incident.
Someone snapped the picture on their phone… and posted it on Twitter. This is the reality we all live with. Make one wrong move in public and the world will know about it. The irony of posting this on my own blog is not lost on me.
So how do we feel about this new reality?
Find out as aired on Metro Morning:
Our true calling
Shopping around for a cell phone plan or for that matter, any major purchase, requires time and energy.
It also requires faith… in both the product AND yourself.
But what if your choice isn’t the best? Are you ready to admit it? Or will you stand behind your decision and your brand?
Hear the answer as aired on Metro Morning:
Two notes on this:
1)If you’re too lazy to shop around for a cell plan, a new company based in Toronto will do the dirty work for you. It’s called myCELLmyTERMS.
2) A listener named Eric told us about a book titled Mistakes Were Made (but not by me) which explores the reasons why we justify foolish decisions
Hungry Eyes
This is the first (and likely only) time I will refer to an Eric Carmen song. But I was thinking about our need for privacy after hearing the announcement that body scanners are coming to Canadian airports.
Social networking sites, cell phones, and video cameras have all developed dramatically over the last few years. Privacy is basically a thing of the past.
That doesn’t mean exposing yourself nude is equal to updating your Facebook status to “eating zoodles.” However, I think there is always a trade-off between increased convenience and loss of privacy. If you want to sit in a cushioned seat and be instantly transported across the world… you have to accept tougher security. If seeing your naughty bits is the sacrifice, so be it.
Frankly, I think admitting that you are eating zoodles is more embarrassing… on par with an enduring love for Eric Carmen.
“Building” a reputation
Heavy traffic today at JOpublic central.
Seems as though one of my old posts is drawing fresh eyes as people eagerly suss out information on today’s opening of the world’s tallest skyscraper in Dubai.
It got me thinking a little more about the CN Tower’s contribution to our identity as Torontonians, and in the bigger picture, whether it’s important for a city to have a signature building.
Most sizable cities have an associated structure. Paris has the Eiffel Tower. New York City has the Statue of Liberty. Moscow has the Kremlin. Buffalo has the…. uh… uh… well, they have good wings.
I like having the CN Tower. Sure it’s a little ugly, but it’s certainly a bold statement. A signature building is to me much like a middle name… it’s here to stay and you can choose to ignore or celebrate it at your leisure.
Here is a video of the grand opening of the Burj Khalifa:
Guilt, Inc.
I know Food, Inc. isn’t a new movie, but I saw it recently for the first time. I made sure to watch it AFTER having finished all my eating for the day. Good thing too, because that was probably the last day I will ever enjoy a meal.
I find documentaries can really shake me to the core unlike any other art form… even a good book. You know the drill: 1) See movie, 2) emerge silent and pensive, 3) begin discussion, 4) create personal mandates, 5) wake up the next day and live exactly the same way.
The one exception may well be An Inconvenient Truth. I no longer drive a car in the wake of that movie. But then again, was it really the movie or did the movie simply deliver the knockout blow in a mental boxing match I was having with my conscience?
I would now like to test myself, so please recommend a good documentary and I will watch it. Preferably on a topic I have rarely thought about… that way it will be a truer indication of the effect a film can have on my decision-making.
R.I.P P.F.I
(rest in peace to my Pre-Food Inc. life)
Here’s the trailer:
In-dependent
Growing up in Toronto, I can scarcely remember going to a NON independent business. Riding my bike, I used to visit stand-alone burger joints, doughnut shops, convenience stores, bookstores and clothing stores.
Which is why I cringe every time I hear about another Toronto retailer on the fritz.
First, Pages went down. Now, the Toronto Women’s Bookstore is in jeopardy. It’s been around since the early 70’s, and whether you use the store or not, it is sad to see Chapter’s swallow up all the business.
I understand that big box stores offer convenience and simplicity. But when independent businesses erode, we lose a little of our identity. And why on earth wouldn’t we want to keep that? It keeps life interesting and allows different voices to be heard.
If you are about to buy a book for someone, why not see whether the Women’s Bookstore has it?
And while I’m at it, perhaps I will go and grab a chocolate bar and baseball stickers at Apple Village convenience.
Pride and parental prejudice
Other than flossing regularly, asking for money has got to be one of the most difficult things to do.
Canadians happen to hate it more than other people. But why? I mean, credit cards absolutely destroy you financially, so why not hit up a family member for a loan and set up a payment plan?
Card games
Gift cards are incredibly popular in Canada.
One survey found that 94 per cent of Canadian shoppers will buy a gift card this holiday season.
But how have gift cards affected the spirit of gift exchange?
Find out as heard on Metro Morning:
and
Card to handle – LISTENER FEEDBACK.
If you are interested in learning more about your rights as a consumer, check out the:
Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services’ guide
And some added value for those who care… here’s a Seinfeld clip where Elaine reacts after receiving cash for her birthday.
Amateur doctors do little
I have yet to contract swine flu, but I’ve had a couple of minor colds this fall. Without fail, simply being sick brings out the doctor in everyone.
Take Cold FX. Take Vitamin D. Take oil of oregano. Go to a health food store. DON’T go to a health food store… they’re a rip-off and a scam.
How does one know where to begin?
I work in a virus sanctuary. The windows don’t open and we are in very close quarters. In fact, I bet all the viruses throw a little party as soon as fall hits, celebrating their newfound bounty… a collection of journalists ripe for the picking.
I am of the opinion that getting sick once in a blue moon is a part of life. Obviously chronic illness is a different story, but a cold or flu is to be expected. You’re out of commission for a few days and it’s over.
You may watch one too many 24-hour news channel cycles and can probably recite the expected barometric pressure for each of the next seven days… but so be it.
No amateur doctor is going to prevent me from catching a cold. I just wish those old Canadian game shows still existed to keep me company.
This was one of my favourites:
Fly “buy” night
I ventured to Buffalo yesterday for Black Friday. This was a bold move because I hate being a consumer and despise malls.
There are a few theories out there as to why the day is called Black Friday. I think it should be because you line up in the dark… as I did at 3 am. Or maybe it’s the colour of your eyes after fighting over a Wii.
But is this bizarre ritual all about getting a good deal… or are we after something more?
Find out as heard on Metro Morning: Shop talk
P.S. (post-shopping) – {Oh, and for those who care to know… I did not buy anything. I vowed not to make a purchase unless it blew my socks off AND it was something I needed to buy.}
Slap Happy
The man you see pictured is Vince Shlomi… better known as the pitch guy behind Slap Chop and Sham Wow. Vince speaks and moves like a three-card monte expert. His antics have inadvertently led to a wonderful discovery.
I have never purchased anything via television, but I recently admitted that this particular gadget whet my normally meagre consumer appetite.
As a result of the admission, it was purchased for me as a joke.
I tried it out, and as expected, the Slap Chop was nothing more than added pain. That’s because you have to pre-chop your vegetables in order for them to fit under the cylinder. Why would I bother using this thing if I am already pulling out the cutting board and knife?
My spirit broken, I had no use for the Slap Chop (nor the Graty, its cheese grating compatriot.)
That is until recently, when a friend of mine stopped by my place. Much to my surprise, as I regaled him with the excrutiating details of my attempt to slap an onion around, his eyes lit up.
He has a form of cerebral palsy called right hemiplegia. It affects the fine motor skills and sensation on the right side of his body. As a result, he has a hard time chopping and grating.
I am now pleased to announce that the Slap Chop and Graty have found a new home and are both an unmitigated success. This illustrates beautifully the old adage that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
My friend’s life is changing, one slap at a time.
About
My name is Jason Osler. I am a Toronto-based radio journalist with a zeal for telling humourous stories of the “every person.” My specialty is identifying and exploring social trends that reside in the subconscious.
The majority of my work airs on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning – Toronto’s #1 morning show. My theme music is “People Everyday” by Arrested Development.
This blog is a forum to divulge, discuss and dissect the moments and minutiae that shape our day to day lives.
In addition, I enjoy a good spring roll… but despise cilantro.
Yours truly,
JOpublic
