Happy New Year

Haven't been sleeping lately. Too tired to write some year-end thoughts. Might do that next week.

I'll leave you with this:



Song's been replaying in my head.

Happy 2010!

- ER

One Last Thing About Roy Halladay

I'm off for a few days. But I'd like to leave you with some parting words from Roy Halladay.

Doc took out a full page ad in the Toronto Sun to thank the Blue Jays, the city and the fans. Here's what the future hall-of-famer wrote (courtesy of TSN.ca):

My wife Brandy, sons Braden and Ryan, and I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Toronto Blue Jays organization, its incredible fans, and the City of Toronto.

I feel blessed to have been part of the Blue Jays since 1995 and am extremely grateful for the opportunities it has provided. Throughout this past 15 years, there have been so many people within the organization that have made a wonderful and significant impact in my life, it would be impossible to name them all.

I am sincerely grateful for the incredible support and compassion the Blue Jays fans have always shown me. I am in awe of your overwhelming passion and devotion.

Toronto will forever have a special place in my heart.

The memories will last a lifetime and so will my gratitude.

Best regards, Roy.

An absolute class act. As I've said before, he will be sorely missed.

On that note, Happy Holidays!

- ER

Fever Season

Here's my latest from Hockey54.com: a review of Eric Zweig's Fever Season.

Enjoy!

- ER

Re. Sunday

Have to be honest: I've never liked Sunday.

Don't know why I've never liked the day of rest. Maybe it was because it was the day before the start of another school week. It was a day when you scrambled to get all your school work done.

The Carleton campus was always a ghost town on Sunday. Sure, there were people doing research at the prison/library, but it always seemed to me that the usual campus life was deflated.

Sundays in downtown Toronto are still lively of course. People are shopping, the streets are just as packed as they are during the week and there's usually a sporting event occurring. However, there's still this feel to Sunday that doesn't exist on any other day of the week.

Perhaps Sunday is not a day of rest, but more of a day to reset yourself. It's a moment you take to reflect on the last seven days, while also preparing for the upcoming week. You might go out and shop or attend a party. However, you tend to be less intense and active. You tone it down. You're more relaxed.

I could be totally wrong about this. It's just a feeling I get every time Sunday rolls around.

- ER

Decoder Ring Theatre (Part two)

Episode #15 of This Is Toronto is now available!!!

This latest edition is the final installment of a two-part series about Decoder Ring Theatre; a Toronto-based production company that produces podcasts done in the style of old-time radio.

www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com

NEXT EPISODE: Jan. 1, 2010

- ER

Halladay Trade Vital for Everyone Involved

Well, it's official.

Roy Halladay has been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.

I feel nauseous seeing "Doc" in a different uniform. But I'm happy for him as well. He finally has the chance to be part of a winning ball club. It's something he absolutely deserves.

This trade needed to happen. The Blue Jays are nowhere close to being a playoff- contending team. Having someone as good as Halladay on a rebuilding team is a waste of talent. Doc's stock is at its highest point and many teams were offering as many young prospects as they could afford. It would have been sheer idiocy if Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos ignored these viable offers.

Philadelphia gets a solid veteran who adds strength to their rotation, while the Jays get some strong prospects; building blocks for any rebuilding team.

In addition, Halladay needed a change of scenery.

Despite leaving Toronto on "good terms," there's no doubt that Doc has some bitter feelings after what transpired last season. Former Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi took advantage of Halladay and dangled him like an unwanted piece of meat as the MLB trade deadline neared. The constant rumours wrecked Halladay's mindset and caused him to fall into a mini-slump during the second half of the regular season. Ricciardi's actions were simply disrespectful and someone as special as Roy Halladay didn't deserve that type of treatment.

I hope the people of Philadelphia appreciate what they're getting. Halladay is a model athlete. He works hard, lives a healthy lifestyle and puts his team's needs ahead of his own. He's very charitable and understands the role of being a star player. More importantly, Halladay was a great mentor to many Blue Jay rookies and he will no doubt continue his tutoring with Philadelphia's young talent.

As for me, a long suffering Jays fan, I feel honoured to have watched the greatest pitcher in Blue Jays history on several occasions. It's too bad he didn't win a World Series title with Toronto. I really hope he can accomplish that with the Phillies.

Halladay has given so much to this sport. It's a crime he's never won the ultimate prize. Sure, there is the 2003 Cy Young award, as well as various other accolades, including an informal tip of the cap from George W. Bush, but a World Series championship is the only item Halladay wants.

- ER

Re. Avatar

Okay, be honest.

Avatar - Quantity or Quality?

Something tells me the answer is going to be quantity.

- ER

Don't forget the other Montreal teams

Well, hello there. Did you have a nice weekend?

Shameless self-promotion time. Here's my latest article from Hockey54.com. It takes a look at the other professional hockey clubs that have played in Montreal since 1909. That's right; not just the Canadiens.

Enjoy!

- ER

There's a She Wolf in the closet

Yes folks, it's super playlist time! As always, new entries are in red.

1. Kennedy Killed the Hat - Buck 65
2. I bought some books - Black Boot Trio
3. Watching the Wheels - John Lennon
4. Vacation - The Go-Go's
5. Like a Prayer - Madonna
6. Night Swimming - REM
7. Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
8. Ring, Ring - Abba
9. Call on Me - Eric Prydz
10. November Rain - Guns N Roses
11. Cruel Summer - Bannanarama
12. Hung up - Madonna
13. 463 - Buck 65
14. Judy is a Punk - The Ramones
15. The Laws have Changed - The New Pornographers
16. Portland, Oregon - Loretta Lynn feat. Jack White
17. Suzanne - Leonard Cohen
18. The Card Cheat - The Clash
19. Canadian Railroad Trilogy - Gordon Lightfoot
20. Boys in the Bright White Sports Car - Trooper
21. Mandy - Barry Manilow
22. Let's Get Together - Al Green
23. Mickey - Toni Basil
24. Bodies - Drowning Pool
25. Folson Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
26. Bawitaba - Kid Rock
27. Losing Grip - Avril Lavigne
28. City of New Orleans - Arlo Guthrie
29. Pump it - Black Eye Peas
30. Lonely Old Eyes - Neko Case
31. Immigrant Song - Led Zepplin
32. Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
33. Don't Walk Away Eileen - Sam Roberts
34. Bring the Noise - Public Enemy & Anthrax
35. Maneater - Nelly Furtado
36. Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves - Cher
37. My Immortal - Evanescense
38. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira
39. Welcome to the Jungle - Guns and Roses
40. Bad Habit - The Offspring
41. LDN - Lily Allen
42. Man I use to Be - K-OS
43. Lolipop - Aqua
44. Banquet - Bloc Party
45. The Sign - Ace of Base
46. Rise Above - Black Flag
47. Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
48. Thank God I'm a Country Boy - John Denver
49. Hello - Lionel Richie
50. River - Joni Mitchell
51. Romantic Rights - Death From Above 1979
52. Knock on Wood - Amy Stewart
53. My Heart Skips A Beat - Buck Owens
54. Levon - Elton John
55. Use It - The New Pornographers
56. The Boy In The Bubble - Paul Simon
57. Graceland - Paul Simon
58. Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac
59. Head Over Feet - Alanis Morrisette
60. Ring Of Fire - Johnny Cash
61. Inside And Out - Feist
62. Crosseyed And Painless - Talking Heads
63. Give It To Me - Timberland feat. Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake
64. Intervention - Arcade Fire
65. I'm Afraid Of Brittany Spears - LiveonRelease
66. For Whom The Bell Tolls - Metallica
67. Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot
68. Hard To Concentrate - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
69. Sabatoge - Beastie Boys
70. Diamonds From Sierra Leone - Kanye West
71. One Thing - Finger Eleven
72. Changes - 2pac
73. Gone Away - The Offspring
74. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Daft Punk
75. 1234 - Feist
76. Relax, Take It Easy - Mika
77. God Save The Queen - The Sex Pistols
78. The Message - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
79. Miami - Will Smith
80. Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
81. TV Party - Black Flag
82. Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead - Crash Test Dummies
83. 99 Problems - Jay Z
84. Sorrow - Bad Religion
85. Body Count - Body Count
86. What's the Frequency, Kenneth - REM
87. What Do I Get - The Buzzcocks
88. 9 Crimes - Damien Rice
89. New Slang - The Shins
90. Wait For You - Elliot Yamin
91. Needy Girl - Chromeo
92. Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim
93. When The Levee Breaks - Led Zepplin
94. Cecilia - Simon and Garfunkle
95. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - The White Stripes
96. The Love You Save - Jackson 5
97. Your Ex-Love Is Dead - Stars
98. What Is Life - George Harrison
99. Time To Pretend - MGMT
100. Daughter - Loudon Wainwright
101. Take Me To The Riot - Stars
102. Leave It Behind - The Offspring
103. More Human Than Human - White Zombie
104. Six Days - DJ Shadow ft. Mos Def
105. The Con - Tegan and Sara
106. Universal Soldier - Buff Sainte-Marie
107. Rock DJ - Robbie Williams
108. Let's Get Crazy - Prince
109. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott-Heron
110. Striptease - Hawksley Workman
111. Jolene - Dolly Parton
112. Kids - MGMT
113. Spaceman - Bif Naked
114. Africa - Toto
115. Sad Lisa - Cat Stevens
116. Bud the Spud - Stompin' Tom Conners
117. She Wolf - Shakira
118. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
119. Don't Be Shy - Cat Stevens

- ER

Captain Kirk for Loblaws

Dude refuses to be upstaged by a penguin.



- ER

Decoder Ring Theatre

Episode 14 of This Is Toronto is now available!

This latest edition is part one of a two-part series about Decoder Ring Theatre; a Toronto-based production company that produces podcasts done in the style of old-time radio. Some of DRT's well-known programs include The Red Panda Adventures and Black Jack Justice.

www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com

NEXT EPISODE: Dec. 18, 2009

Re. Tiger Woods

Rather than forming an opinion based on second-hand accounts, here is exactly what Tiger Woods said:

(From TigerWoods.com)

I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.

Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.

But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don't share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.

Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it's difficult.

I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.

The "media circus" surrounding this issue is simply disgusting. As a journalist, I am embarrassed. I think it's time to move on.

- ER

The Prosary: an online literary magazine for spiritual prose

My girlfriend has started a really cool magazine. It showcases people's work and has a unique concept. Here are the details:

Hello everyone!

With Rikki's encouragement (and the idea for a name), I just launched a new venture: an online literary magazine for spiritual prose. It's still in the first stages while I work some things out, but please feel free to visit the website and read the work already published.

The Prosary is available at: http://theprosary.wordpress.com

If you'd like to submit something to be published, keep reading:

The Prosary is an online literary magazine magazine dedicated to publishing prose of a spiritual nature. This includes creative poetry, short stories, and other works of fiction inspired by one’s faith journey.

Although the name Prosary evokes images of a Catholic inclination, this litmag will publish works from any faith, whether you identify yourself as Protestant, Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, and anything outside or between. The important thing is that you remain respectful to the other faiths represented here and do not use your prose as a way of attacking or criticizing any faith or non-faith groups.

If you’d like to submit something to be published here, please e-mail Alison at theprosary@gmail.com, keeping in mind the following guidelines:

- Send all prose in Word/.doc documents. My computer doesn’t like .docx, so please reformat accordingly
- The subject line of the e-mail should have your name (or pen name, if you prefer to remain anonymous) and the title of your prose
- Limit 3 works per document
- DO NOT send any prose that is hateful, disrespectful or overtly “Rah rah rah, my religion is the best!”
- The Prosary is only accepting works of fiction at this time
- You will receive an e-mail notification when your prose is published on the website

The Prosary is a new venture, so please excuse any hiccups or mistakes while it gets rolling.

Tell your friends!

I’m excited to begin this journey with you.

- ER