I sat in front of the TV tonight watching the repatriation ceremony at Canadian Forces Base Trenton (just a mere 5 minute drive from my house) and even though I'd seen similar scenes before I was moved by what I saw.
Cpl. Francisco Gomez, 44, of Edmonton and Cpl. Jason Warren, 29, of Montreal died last Saturday when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle close to their troop carrier near the coalition base in Kandahar. Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor and Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier were among the officials attending the ceremony.
I am a proud Canadian; and as with all previous ceremonies to mark the return of our fallen Canadian soldiers from Afghanistan; I felt the need to pay my respects in at least some small way. I didn't know these men but I felt the need to be a part of the moment.
As the ceremony wasn't open to the public to attend, it was pointless to drive down to the base. I could have parked outside and watched from across the road, but there really wasn't a need for me to do this thanks to the coverage provided by the media. After the ceremony ended on TV, I did go outside and at the top of my street I could see the procession of police cars, hearses and limo's pass by as they began their journey to Toronto.
The debate over whether or not these scenes of our fallen heroes returning home should be seen has lasted some time and it appears the government has decided to leave the decision to allow media up to the families of the deceased. That seems more than fair. While I like to grieve with the family I also respect their privacy.
The Americans refuse to show the flag draped caskets arriving home from Iraq or wherever their soldiers have been killed for fear that the images will provide a negative view of the war there. Judging by President Bush's approval rating these days, the American people don't need to see them to know it's not worth the price of life to be there.
I support our Canadian troops in their fight against terrorism and the Taliban and I suppose it's better to fight them there than have them blowing buildings up in Toronto or Montreal or attacking our Canadian military bases. So I guess I do know what they are fighting for and agree with it...but it's still sad knowing that these young men and women have to give their lives to get the job done.
What makes me even more sad is knowing that while they are doing this and there are millions of Canadians supporting them, there are probably just as many Canadians who don't even know they're there or care. It truly amazes me when I try to talk to someone about world affairs such as this and they don't have a clue about anything. Ask them what brand of beer they drank on the weekend or how much they've spent on their toys for the cottage and they can tell you that. It disgusts me to know that they take their freedom for granted and could care less about the sacrifices being made by their fellow citizens on their behalf.
The same can be said of our veterans of past wars and battles. Just think what the world would have been like today if those men and women hadn't paid the ultimate sacrifice. A friend of our family is a veteran of World War 2 and although I'd love to hear the stories he has to tell about the experience, I realize how painful it must be to remember that time and his friends who didn't return home. I hope he knows that I appreciate what they did.
This world has and always will be screwed up. As long as there are terrorists, madmen and tyrants...as long as there is greed, religious differences and fanatics there will never be peace in this world. I just don't understand why the world can't get along. Why is it so hard?
Friday, July 28, 2006
Friday, July 07, 2006
Late Night Radio & TV Stinks
I envy those of you who can jump into bed before 1:00 in the morning and go to sleep. However, you are really missing out on some quality entertainment.
I am not blessed with the ability to put head to pillow that early. Of course my current job has a lot to do with that since I work mostly graveyard shifts and my work day usually starts at 11pm and ends at 7am. Yes, while you're dreaming away the night, I'm at work. Of course that isn't a bad thing since I like being awake at night and enjoy having the afternoon's to do what I like and the evening's as well to golf or whatever.
The only real downside to staying awake all night is the quality of television and radio that is provided. I could listen to the radio but I don't care for a lot of the music that they play on most of the local stations except for one. And the fact that I used to work for one company and they screwed me over has left a bitter taste in my mouth. Even that has certainly lost some of its bitterness. I guess time really does heal all wounds. Of course I'd still like to have a chat with a couple of people.
The one thing I really hate about late night local radio in 2006 (and for the last 8 years or more) is that there are no live announcers on in the evening or overnight on most of them. It's all automated and if you do hear a voice, it was recorded earlier in the day by someone working at one of the other stations in the company. In fact, when I started in radio in 1992, we had five full-time announcers and we were live 24-hours a day. When I was "laid off", the station only had two full-time announcers and was automated between 6pm and 6am weekdays and even more so on weekends. The need to make money means more than providing quality programming. All storms, disasters or urgent events had better happen before 6pm or you won't hear about it until the next morning. You might as well just buy the newspaper.
Television isn't much better when it comes to entertainment. After Letterman, Leno, Conan or Stewart, the pickings become pretty slim if you don't have a bunch of specialty channels. Sure I can always watch CNN, TSN or Sportsnet but you can only watch the highlights so many times. Everything else is reruns of Raymond, Seinfeld, Friends or Drew Carey until 2am.
Now after 2am is when the really good stuff comes on. I just can't watch the "Little Giant" ladder infomercial enough times. If you are dieing to get your hands on a new amazing food processor, miracle oven, zit cream remedy or you just want to become your own boss and a millionaire, you should stay up late.
Of course the real people being catered to late at night are the single, lonely, sexually frustrated men sitting on their couches. And yes, maybe I am one of those guys but it hasn't been confirmed yet. No, nothing beats the sexually suggestive videos of scantily clad women playing by the pool, spreading themselves across rocks or lounging on expensive yachts. Just call the 1-900 number on the screen, empty your bank account and you can talk to some of the sexy women just like the one's on the TV. Call now and talk live with these girls...or some 50-year old mom pretending to be a hot 20-something boy toy.
Someone please tell me, where is this place that 12 women are lying around half-naked on a fur covered bed begging for guys to call because they're lonely and need someone to talk to? Tell me please and I'll take the money I would have wasted on a phone call and use it for gas to drive there and join them on the bed.
I really get a kick out of the girls on the boats. Here they have these women in bikinis on the front of the boat talking on phones that look like they're 20 years old. The phones have cords attached to them and even though I don't own a vessel full of hot babes, I'm pretty sure the phone company won't run a phone line to a boat in the middle of the bay. And maybe I'm just being picky, but could someone please give these girls a dental plan.
So as you can see, the entertainment provided to those of us blessed with a work schedule a little out of the norm or those who just can't sleep at night really leaves a lot to be desired. Now if you'll excuse me, there's a cute redhead in a string bikini that needs me to call her for a good time. Come to daddy.
I am not blessed with the ability to put head to pillow that early. Of course my current job has a lot to do with that since I work mostly graveyard shifts and my work day usually starts at 11pm and ends at 7am. Yes, while you're dreaming away the night, I'm at work. Of course that isn't a bad thing since I like being awake at night and enjoy having the afternoon's to do what I like and the evening's as well to golf or whatever.
The only real downside to staying awake all night is the quality of television and radio that is provided. I could listen to the radio but I don't care for a lot of the music that they play on most of the local stations except for one. And the fact that I used to work for one company and they screwed me over has left a bitter taste in my mouth. Even that has certainly lost some of its bitterness. I guess time really does heal all wounds. Of course I'd still like to have a chat with a couple of people.
The one thing I really hate about late night local radio in 2006 (and for the last 8 years or more) is that there are no live announcers on in the evening or overnight on most of them. It's all automated and if you do hear a voice, it was recorded earlier in the day by someone working at one of the other stations in the company. In fact, when I started in radio in 1992, we had five full-time announcers and we were live 24-hours a day. When I was "laid off", the station only had two full-time announcers and was automated between 6pm and 6am weekdays and even more so on weekends. The need to make money means more than providing quality programming. All storms, disasters or urgent events had better happen before 6pm or you won't hear about it until the next morning. You might as well just buy the newspaper.
Television isn't much better when it comes to entertainment. After Letterman, Leno, Conan or Stewart, the pickings become pretty slim if you don't have a bunch of specialty channels. Sure I can always watch CNN, TSN or Sportsnet but you can only watch the highlights so many times. Everything else is reruns of Raymond, Seinfeld, Friends or Drew Carey until 2am.
Now after 2am is when the really good stuff comes on. I just can't watch the "Little Giant" ladder infomercial enough times. If you are dieing to get your hands on a new amazing food processor, miracle oven, zit cream remedy or you just want to become your own boss and a millionaire, you should stay up late.
Of course the real people being catered to late at night are the single, lonely, sexually frustrated men sitting on their couches. And yes, maybe I am one of those guys but it hasn't been confirmed yet. No, nothing beats the sexually suggestive videos of scantily clad women playing by the pool, spreading themselves across rocks or lounging on expensive yachts. Just call the 1-900 number on the screen, empty your bank account and you can talk to some of the sexy women just like the one's on the TV. Call now and talk live with these girls...or some 50-year old mom pretending to be a hot 20-something boy toy.
Someone please tell me, where is this place that 12 women are lying around half-naked on a fur covered bed begging for guys to call because they're lonely and need someone to talk to? Tell me please and I'll take the money I would have wasted on a phone call and use it for gas to drive there and join them on the bed.
I really get a kick out of the girls on the boats. Here they have these women in bikinis on the front of the boat talking on phones that look like they're 20 years old. The phones have cords attached to them and even though I don't own a vessel full of hot babes, I'm pretty sure the phone company won't run a phone line to a boat in the middle of the bay. And maybe I'm just being picky, but could someone please give these girls a dental plan.
So as you can see, the entertainment provided to those of us blessed with a work schedule a little out of the norm or those who just can't sleep at night really leaves a lot to be desired. Now if you'll excuse me, there's a cute redhead in a string bikini that needs me to call her for a good time. Come to daddy.
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