INFO – QUEEN’S PARK – Lost in all the chatter about uncontrolled health spending as the focus of the forthcoming economist Don Drummond Report is the fact that spending is out of control in nearly every Ministry of the McGuinty government, Ontario PC Finance Critic Peter Shurman said today.

“We anticipate a four hundred page report card on Dalton McGuinty with four hundred ‘needs-to-improve’ marks in the margins,” Shurman said. “This would constitute a failing grade in most schools – most notably the school of public opinion.

“And this from a Premier who said he would only take the advice he chooses.”
The reality, Shurman said, is that since last year spending has shot up in all but two Ministries, citing as just two examples:

· The Ministry of Natural Resources (up 22 per cent to $823 million), and
· Tourism, Culture and Recreation (up 13.5 per cent to $901 million).
“Total government spending – in the face of an obviously worsening Ontario economy – is up $3.4 billion from last year, which brings total spending for this fiscal year to $124.1 billion.”

It’s as though Dalton McGuinty ran out to buy a houseful of new furniture after his roof had fallen in, Shurman added: “The man simply can’t stop spending, and now we’re all paying the bills.”

Barbara Hearn, Elvis' high school sweetheart

Director Scott Dobson is no stranger to the subject, having worked on the three-part series The Church of Elvis. In Elvis in Love Dobson interviews a number of women who had relationships with Elvis including his high school sweetheart Barbara Hearn.  In addition to the women in Elvis’ life, Dobson interviews  a number of Elvis experts including Allana Nash and Roy Turner.

Elvis in Love airs on Wednesday February 8 at 10pm EST on VisionTV.

On Tuesday’s GFB: Monte McNaughton, MPP, Critic, Economic Development and Innovation, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, will discuss the Caterpillar plant and job losses in London Ontario.

INFO – “It was “completely irresponsible” for Premier Dalton McGuinty to not speak with executives at U.S. industrial giant Caterpillar before the company closed its London locomotive plant, critics said Monday.

“People are going to remember Dalton McGuinty didn’t even pick up the phone,” Progressive Conservative economic development critic Monte McNaughton said Monday.

“McGuinty didn’t even bother meeting with executives or call them to talk to them about keeping the plant open and keep jobs in Ontario,” added McNaughton, who represents the riding of Lambton–Kent–Middlesex just west of London.” -from other media

February 6, 1965 – The Righteous Brothers started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin‘ produced by Phil Spector. Apparently during the recording of the song Bobby Hatfield expressed his annoyance at not singing during Bill Medley’s solo that starts the song.  He asked Spector what he should do during Medley’s solo to which Spector replied “you can go straight to the f***ing bank.”

February 7, 1964 - Pan Am flight 101 was greeted by over 5,000 Beatles fans as it arrived at New York’s JFK airport, bringing The Beatles to the US for the first time and causing riotous scenes as they touched down. On top of the 5,000 fans were 200 members of the press all trying to grab the fab four’s attention. In The Beatle’s Anthology Paul McCartney describes the flight into JFK.

“There were millions of kids at the airport, which nobody had expected. We heard about it in mid-air. There were journalists on the plane, and the pilot had rang ahead and said, ‘Tell the boys there’s a big crowd waiting for them.’ We thought, ‘Wow! God, we have really made it.’”

February 8, 1942 – Singer, songwriter Carole King was born on this day. Joel Whitburn, a researcher at Billboard Magazine named her the most successful female songwriter of the pop music era (1955-1999). By his calculations she had written or co-written 118 songs that charted. King will be releasing her memoir A Natural Woman in April.

February 9, 1981 – One of the first american rock and roll stars, Bill Hayley was found dead in his home in Harlington, Texas. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He had a No. 1 hit with ‘Rock Around the Clock‘ in 1954.

February 10, 1942 -Glenn Miller was presented with the first gold record for  ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo.’ It was actually just a master copy of the disc sprayed with gold lacquer by RCA as a publicity stunt. The actual award recognized today as a Gold Record would not be initiated for another sixteen years when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) borrowed the idea and trademarked the Gold Record.

On Monday’s GFB: Kim Palacios, Contributor ValueWalk.com, explains why Baupos might lose money on Mega-quarry investment.

INFO – http://www.valuewalk.com/2012/01/baupost-might-lose-money-on-mega-quarry-investment/#.TycdByO3Uqc
BIO – Kim Palacios is a San Francisco transplant with 10+ years experience as a top contributor to executive teams in the Energy, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Entertainment industries. She received her M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 2005, where she concentrated in Finance, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship, and was the Robert W. Fogel Distinguished Fellow. She began blogging in 2009, after a lifetime infatuation with writing–between her personal outlets (Examiner.com) and professional blogging and ghostwriting engagements, her writing has been syndicated on dozens of sites, including The Huffington Post. She is quadrilingual, a studying Sommelier, and an epicurean zealot. While not mourning the death of free markets and the tax treatment of Californians, she enjoys film.

10. Rave On – Buddy Holly (peaked at #37)

9. Early In The Morning - Buddy Holly (peaked at #32)

8. La Bamba – Ritchie Valens (peaked at #22)

7. Maybe Baby – Buddy Holly (peaked at #17)

6. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Buddy Holly (peak at #13)

5. Oh Boy - Buddy Holly (peak at #10)

4. Chantilly Lace – Big Bopper (peaked at #6)

3. Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly (peaked at #3)

2. Donna – Ritchie Valens (peaked at #2)

1. That’ll Be The Day - Buddy Holly (peaked #1 in 1957)

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On Friday’s GFB: Dr. Zach, the GFB house doctor, will be in to discuss bone and joint health.

INFO -1. 2 million Canadians have osteoporosis and it costs Canadians $1.3 Billion/year. 80% of the >25,000 hip fractures annually in Canada are osteoporosis-related. These result in significant morbidity (disability in 50%) and mortality (death in up to 20%). However, by preventing osteoporosis and by detecting it early, we could significantly improve the effects of osteoporosis.
2. Arthritis means joint inflammation. Osteoarthritis is the most common type, followed by rheumatoid arthritis. More than 4 million Canadians suffer from arthritis, and those with arthritis suffer from pain, stiffness, and decreased quality of life. Treatment for arthritis is improving and doctors have treatments available, as do patients, in the form of exercise.

1. The Song:’Over the Rainbow‘

The Film:  The Wizard of Oz

The Ceremony: The 12th Academy awards in 1939

Music written by  Harold Arlen, Lyrics by Yip Harburg.

The skinny: It became one of Judy Garland’s standards and was named the greatest moving song of all time on the AFI’s “100 Years…100 Songs” list.

2. The Song: ‘White Christmas‘

The Film: Holiday Inn

The Ceremony: The 15th Academy awards in 1942

Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin

The Skinny: According to The Guinness Book of World Records, Bing Crosby’s version of ‘White Christmas’ is the best selling single of all time. According to legend, Irving Berlin wrote the song while staying at the La Quinta Hotel, in La Quinta, California… not where you’d think inspiration would strike for a song about snow and Christmas.

3. The Song:’Three Coins in the Fountain‘

The Film: Three Coins in the Fountain

The Ceremony: The 27th Academy awards in 1954

Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

The Skinny: Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn wrote the song blind, neither having read the script nor seen the film.

4. The Song: ‘Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Qué Será, Será)‘

The Film: The Man Who Knew Too Much

The Ceremony: The 29th Academy awards in 1956

Music and Lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans

The Skinny: The song was introduced during Hichcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much. It later became the them song for The Doris Day Show. It was the third Academy award for this songwriting duo.

5. The Song: ‘Moon River‘

The Film: Breakfast at Tiffany’s

The Ceremony: The 34th Academy awards in 1961

Music by Henry Mancini, Lyrics by Johnny Mercer

The Skinny: The song was written with Audrey Hepburn’s vocal range (read: limited) in mind. After a screening in San Francisco, one of the Paramount Pictures executives suggested that they scrap the song from the film, to which Hepburn had a less than pleasant reaction to.

6. The Song: ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head‘

The Film: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

The Ceremony: The 42nd Academy awards in 1969

Music by Burt Bacharach, Lyrics by Hal David

The Skinny: Singer B. J. Thomas was recovering from laryngitis when the version for the film was recorded, leading to a gruffer sound than the previously recorded single.

7.The Song: ‘The Way We Were‘

The Film: The Way We Were

The Ceremony: The 46th Academy awards in 1973

Music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

The Skinny: ‘The Way We Were’ went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the week of February 2nd, 1974.

8.The Song: ‘You Light Up My Life‘

The Film: You Light Up My Life

The Ceremony: The 50th Academy awards in 1977

Music and lyrics by Joseph Brooks

The Skinny: Didi Con, the films lead lip-synchs to a version recorded by Kasey Cisyk. Cisyk’s version was released as a single but was credited to “Original Cast,” not Cisyk herself.

9. The Song: ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You‘

The Film:  The Woman in Red

The Ceremony: The 57th Academy awards in 1984

Music and lyrics by Stevie Wonder

The Skinny: ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’ was Stevie Wonder’s first UK No. 1. It also went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. However it wasn’t all good news for Wonder, his former writing partner, Lee Garrett claims that he wrote the tune years before its 1984 release.

10. The Song: ‘Things Have Changed“‘

The Film: Wonder Boys

The Ceremony: The 73rd Academy awards in 2000

Music and lyrics by Bob Dylan

The Skinny: The director of Wonder Boys, Curtis Hansen also directed Dylan’s music video for ‘Things Have Changed’ by shooting footage of Dylan on various locations from the film and editing them together with actual footage.

On Wednesday’s GFB:  Dr. Atle Skattebøl, an international expert in Omega-3’s will discuss Heart Health Month.

INFO – While diet and exercise are important factors in reducing the risk of heart disease, there are other preventative measures that have been clinically shown to support heart health.

One super nutrient that has a countless number of positive effects is Omega-3. Proven to be associated with many health benefits, Omega-3 offers protection against heart disease and plays a crucial role in maintaining cognitive function, among other conditions. When should people start preventative heart health measures? Why are Omega-3’s so important for heart health? What foods contain Omega-3’s?

12:15PM

On Tuesday’s GFB: Budget Chief, and Councillor Mike Del Grande discusses Charity Clothing Boxes. Are these collections going to the needy or not? Should they remain or be removed?

INFO – “Toronto could ban clothing drop boxes by the fall. Councillors on the licensing committee directed city bureaucrats Wednesday to find a way to fix the city’s clothing drop box bylaw — by either banning them or imposing stricter conditions for the placement of the bins.

During Wednesday’s debate, several councillors called the boxes a “blight,” lamenting the problems they’ve had removing troublesome bins — many placed without property owners’ permission.

Toronto has regulated clothing drop boxes since 2007.
Former city councillor Howard Moscoe, who served as licensing committee chairman, urged councillors to fix the bylaw.
“This bylaw is the worst bylaw that’s ever been written in the City of Toronto,” Moscoe told the committee.
Moscoe said lawyers at the time the bylaw was passed wrongly assumed most boxes were operated by charities.
Budget Chief Mike Del Grande called the boxes an “unauthorized squat activity” that plague the suburbs.
“I would love to ban all of them — seriously,” Del Grande said. ” FROM- Toronto Sun, Wednesday, January 25, 2012

January 30 1969 - The Beatles gave their final live performance atop the Apple Building in London. The performance would later become the climax of their Let It Be film.

January 31, 1987 – Paul Simon went back to No. 1 on the UK album chart with Graceland, the album stayed on the chart for 108 weeks. ‘

February 1, 1968 – The “Princess of Rock and Roll” Lisa Marie Presley was born on this day.  The daughter of Elvis and Pricilla Presley, Lisa Marie released her debut album To Whom It May Concern in 2003. In The Ghetto’ was recorded to mark the 30th anniversary of her father’s death.

February 2 1942 – Musician Graham Nash was born on this day. Nash was a member of The Hollies and Crosby Stills Nash & Young.He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on his 68th birthday in honour of his his service to music and charity.

February 3 1959 - Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, died in a crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa. All on board, including the pilot of the single engine plane were killed. This incident is often referred to as The Day The Music Died, a term used by Don McLean in his song ‘American Pie.’

This weekend many people will be participating in their local area’s Walk For Memories. The Walks are taking place across Ontario over the winter, a full list of dates can be found on supportthealzheimersociety.ca.

On Monday’s GFB: Jim Stanford, CAW economist discusses the proposed merger between CEP & CAW.
INFO – FROM OTHER MEDIA / “Unions must overhaul themselves dramatically — and fast — or face a slow death, says a secret report by the two groups contemplating the biggest merger in Canadian labour history.”

In a surprisingly blunt assessment of organized labour’s current difficulties, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) union say in a discussion paper that they must become a lot more relevant to working people, not only in contract bargaining, but for social change.

The paper, titled “A Moment of Truth for Canadian Labour,” says the economic pressures of globalization, growing employer aggression, hostile government policy and public cynicism have weakened unions significantly during the past two decades.

“If unions do not change, and quickly, we will steadily follow U.S. unions into continuing decline,” says the paper, which is marked “confidential.”

“We must reverse the erosion of our membership, our power and our prestige.”
“Unions also need to use new technology and social media to “educate, agitate, organize and mobilize,” said CAW economist Jim Stanford, who helped write the paper.”

On Friday’s GFB: Dr. Zach, the GFB house doctor discusses bone and joint health.

INFO -1. 2 million Canadians have osteoporosis and it costs Canadians $1.3 Billion/year. 80% of the >25,000 hip fractures annually in Canada are osteoporosis-related. These result in significant morbidity (disability in 50%) and mortality (death in up to 20%). However, by preventing osteoporosis and by detecting it early, we could significantly improve the effects of osteoporosis.

2. Arthritis means joint inflammation. Osteoarthritis is the most common type, followed by rheumatoid arthritis. More than 4 million Canadians suffer from arthritis, and those with arthritis suffer from pain, stiffness, and decreased quality of life. Treatment for arthritis is improving and doctors have treatments available, as do patients, in the form of exercise.

To celebrate their 50th anniversary, Amnesty International released an album of  Bob Dylan covers entitled Chimes of Freedom. The album is a massive collection of Dylan’s catalogue performed by over 80 artists with acts that range from folk legend Pete Seeger to teen pop idol Miley Cyrus.

The LA Times referred to it as an album with a “2012 mind-set,” something meant to be downloaded and listened to in pieces rather than consumed as full album. Jeff Ayeroff, who lead the project, told The LA Times that rather than looking at the album as a whole, listeners may find “…several records inside this album: There’s a country record, there’s an all female record of women interpreting Bob Dylan songs, which is probably the most significant part of the album for me. It shows that Bob speaks with many voices for many people.”

Below: Miley Cyrus featuring Johnzo West – ‘You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go’

Reviews of the album have also noted the sprawling feeling of the album. We’ve pulled together a number of these reviews to share:

Rolling Stone:

“In the end, Chimes of Freedom is like one of those carnival songs Dylan used to knock off in a single take of amphetamine-fueled laughter and tears: You’ll lose track of the winners and losers as the flood rolls on, and the next time you take the trip, you’ll notice the scenery has completely changed.”

NPR:

“The Dylan that came to my mind when I heard Chimes of Freedom is the one who writes throwaways. The anthology took me there, because its sheer size has insured the inclusion of all kinds of Dylan songs, from game-changers to deep album cuts. And maybe because they’ve been interpreted less frequently, the “lesser” compositions stand out.”

Buzzine:

“…it’s a sprawling vista of inspiration and humanity.”

Oregon Music News:

“This collection is going to delight some, anger others, leave some scratching their heads and others in musical heaven… Purists may hate it, newcomers to Dylan will hear some pretty good songs.”

American Songwriter:

“Cut half the roster on Chimes and you’ve got an amazing lineup of Dylan’s peers and admirers – with masterful songwriters like Jackson Browne, Sting, Elvis Costello, Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams, and old vets like Pete Seeger, Kris Kristofferson and Joan Baez tipping their hat.”

The New York Daily News:

“If ever a release made clear the advantage of purchasing individual tracks (via outlets like iTunes) this is this one. While many artists took interesting runs at the Dylan catalogue, only about one in four took ones you’ll listen to more than once.”

Chimes of Freedom is available on itunes for download ($19.99) as well as in a physical 4 CD collection. Proceeds from the album will go to Amnesty International.

What’s your take on these covers? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter

INFO – Clinical issues surrounding mental health and the work place, will be discussed with focus on the topic of depression, and work life Imbalance. Recognizing cognitive; emotional, physical and behavioral signs of stress will also be discussed.

Depression:

One of the most common mental disorders in the workplace.
Ranks second to heart disease by year 2020.
Contributes to disability and decreased productivity.
Recognizing symptoms of Depression is important.
Work Life Imbalance:

Majority of Canadians report feeling overloaded with their numerous roles.
Individuals struggling with work and life balance, in particular over a prolonged period of time, tend to feel more stressed, exhausted, and burnt out.
Economic instability and layoffs and job instability have contributed to more stress at work and thus greater work life imbalance.
Recognizing Signs of Work Life Imbalance
Tips for employees to move towards a healthy balance

Erin Weir, Economist for the United Steelworkers will discuss  Job Vacancies vs. Unemployment.

INFO – Progressive economists have advocated expansionary fiscal and monetary policies to boost demand and create jobs, given the high rate of unemployment. By contrast, employers and conservative commentators complain of unfilled vacancies and labour shortages, emphasizing policies to increase labour supply and labour mobility.

Today’s new Statistics Canada survey of job vacancies sheds fresh light on this debate. The finding that “there were 3.3 unemployed people in Canada for every job vacancy” confirms that the main problem is a lack of jobs, not alleged disincentives to work or barriers to labour mobility. In other words, policymakers should focus on the demand side rather than on the supply side.

In Alberta and Saskatchewan, provinces supposedly plagued by labour shortages, there were three unemployed workers for every two vacancies. Even in mining, oil and gas – the sector with by far the highest rate of job vacancy – unemployment exceeded vacancies. These figures debunk the view that the solution is simply to prod workers to move west.

12:15-12:45

Pete Karageorgos, IBC’s Manager of Consumer and Industry Relations in Ontario, will advise on on how to deal with a collision, and tips for safe winter driving.

INFO – The winter weather has arrived, and with slippery road ahead, collisions are on the rise. IBC will remind Zoomers of the steps to take should a collision occur.

Originally published on January 24, 2011.

Neil Diamond is celebrating his 71st birthday on January 24th! In March of 2011 Diamond celebrated another important date: his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: “I think it’s great. I’m happy that that they recognized me and my work. Any club that has Chuck Berry and Little Richard and The Everly Brothers is a club that I want to be a part of.”

To celebrate his hits over the past 50 years in the music business, we’ve compiled a Top Ten list:

10. Hello Again – from ‘The Jazz Singer‘ – peaked at #6 in 1981

9. Cherry Cherry – first Top 10 hit – peaked at #6 in 1966

8. Longfellow Serenade – peaked at #5 in 1974

7. Heartlight - inspired by, but not from ‘ET‘ – peaked #5 in 1982

6. I Am … I Said – peaked at #4 in 1971

5. Sweet Caroline – peaked at #4 in 1969

4. Love on the Rocks – from ‘The Jazz Singer‘ – peaked at #2 in 1980

3. Song Sung Blue – peaked at #1 in 1972

2. Cracklin’ Rosie – First #1 hit – peaked #1 in 1970

1. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (duet with Barbra Streisand) – peaked at #1 for 2 weeks in 1978

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Background: Dealing with difficult choices in end-stage dementia. One of Canada’s best-known geriatricians, Dr. Michael Gordon of Baycrest, recently published a guidebook to help families and healthcare professionals provide the most comforting care possible for ailing seniors in the late stages of dementia. With an aging population and dementia rates expected to soar in coming decades, the book will hit close to home for a lot of people who have elderly family members in various stages of cognitive decline. “Family members often have difficulty accepting the final stage of dementia in loved ones,” says Dr. Gordon. “This can complicate matters when it comes to making the best care decisions for a dying loved one and lead to tensions between the patient’s family and the medical care team.”

There will be a performance & interview on Monday, January 23rd at 2:05pm featuring Patricia O’Callaghan and hosted by our very own Ziggy. Patricia will discuss her new recording Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen. Billboard magazine called the album “A truly exceptional blend of natural expressiveness and masterful coloration.”

Tune in or, better yet, watch the video stream live on zoomerradio.ca.

January 23, 1956 – Youth under the age of 18 were banned from dancing in public unless they were accompanied by an adult. Ohio police began enforcing the law that dated back to 1931.

January 24, 1941 – Neil Diamond celebrates his 71st birthday today. In February he will begin his latest North American tour with a stop in Toronto in June.

January 25, 1938 - The late and great Etta James was born on this day in 1938. James died earlier this month after a battle with leukaemia. R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles issued this statement of gratitude for James’ contribution to music:

“This is a huge loss. Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time. I am so fortunate to have met such a queen. Her musical contributions will last a lifetime. Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself, and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artist. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter. She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed.”

January 27,  1990 – Kylie Minogue had her third UK No.1 single with ‘Tears On My Pillow’, the song was originally a US hit for Little Anthony and The Imperials in 1958.

Richard welcomes actor William B. Davis, who portrayed one of the most iconic villains in television history. Davis played chain-smoking Cigarette Man, also known as Cancer Man in the long running television series, The X-Files Davis’ character was the arch nemesis of FBI agent Fox Mulder from 1993 to 2002. Although he utters only four audible words in the entire first season of the show, the Smoking Man eventually develops into the series’ primary antagonist. In his early appearances, he is seen in the offices of Division Chief Scott Blevins and Assistant Director Walter Skinner, Mulder and his partner Dana Scully’s supervisors. He works for a government conspiracy only known as the Syndicate, who are hiding the truth of alien existence and their plan to colonize Earth.

Davis recently published his memoir, Where There’s Smoke: Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man.

The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans, such as “The Truth Is Out There,” “Trust No One,” and “I Want to Believe,” became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s. Seen as a defining series of its era, The X-Files tapped into public mistrust of governments and large institutions, and embraced conspiracy theories and spirituality as it centered on efforts to uncover the existence of extraterrestrial life. The series spawned a spin-off show, The Lone Gunmen.

In the series, FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are the investigators of X-Files: marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Mulder is a believer in the existence of aliens and the paranormal while Scully, a skeptic, is assigned to make scientific analyses of Mulder’s discoveries which could ultimately be used to debunk Mulder’s work and thus return him to FBI mainstream.

Quoted from their press release:

“Ontario’s population of residents aged 65 and over is projected to more than double by 2036. As this segment of our population continues to increase, reports of elder abuse are skyrocketing. The Senior Safety Line (SSL) is an Ontario-wide toll-free hotline for seniors who are experiencing abuse. Unfortunately the hotline is in desperate need of funding to continue operating. I am writing to you today to ask for your help.

The SSL currently operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is at 100% capacity. Over the last 3 years the hotline has helped over 13,000 callers in over 150 languages. It differs from other critical assistance lines in Ontario, as the counselors are trained to work specifically with vulnerable seniors. It is the only hotline of its kind in Ontario.

Our immediate need is to raise $75,000, which will sustain the line for another 6 months while we continue to seek the funding needed. Even a small donation of $20 would sponsor one phone call for a senior in need of immediate assistance.

Please help us to keep the SSL operating. Do it for your mother and father, your grandparents, your neighbour and even yourself. This vital hotline simply cannot be shut down. Your help is desperately needed now! Please visit www.onpea.org and make your donation today.”

11:30AM

Although he utters only four audible words in the entire first season of the show, the Smoking Man eventually develops into the series’ primary antagonist. In his early appearances, he is seen in the offices of Division Chief Scot Blevins and Assistant Director Walter Skinner, Mulder and his partner Dana Scully’s supervisors. He works for a government conspiracy only know as the Syndicate, who are hiding the truth of alien existence and their plan to colonize Earth.

Davis recently released his memoir Where There’s Smoke: Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man. Be sure to listen to Davis’ fascinating tales this Sunday at 11PM on AM740 Zoomer Radio.

To jog your memory, we’ve brought together some of our favourite pictures of the Smoking Man for you to peruse.

Smoking Man in the first episode.

Smoking Man as an action figure

A fan portrait

Smoking Man as featured on The Simpsons

Smoking Man as a meme

Smoking Man as a meme

About our guest: Nira Rittenberg is an occupational therapist and case worker in the Geriatric Psychiatry Community Service at BAYCREST. She also has her own private practice. Nira has co-written a guide for caregivers of dementia sufferers titled “Caring for Your Loved One”-a guide for caregivers of persons with dementia, which is now is being edited for a third edition. She facilitates psycho educational support groups for caregivers based on this guide and is also involved in research about caregiver needs. through the university. Her current research project is looking at how male caregivers care for their relatives with dementia.

11:30AM

January 16, 1942 – Barbara Lynn, was born on this day. Lynn’s “Oh Baby (We’ve Got A Good Thing Goin’)” was covered by The Rolling Stones on their 1965 album, The Rolling Stones Now!

January 17,1964, – The Rolling Stones released their first EP, which included, ‘You Better Move On’, ‘Poison Ivy’, ‘Bye Bye Johnny’ and ‘Money’. It peaked at No.15 on the UK chart.

January 18, 1989 - At just 38 years old, Stevie Wonder became the youngest living person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At a ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, other inductees include The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Otis Redding and Dion DiMucci.

January 19, 1959 – The Platters ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes‘, started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart.

January 20, 1933 – Ron Townson of The 5th Dimension was born on this day. The group was originally called The Versatiles when they formed in 1966. They renamed the group and began wearing psychedelic outfits in an aim to attract crossover audiences.

Richard welcomes an epidemiologist along with a physician to discuss the public health risks associated with the radioactivce fallout from the disaster at the Fukushima nucelar reactors in Japan. An estimated An estimated 14,000 excess deaths in the United States are linked to radiation from Fukushima according to a major new article in the December 2011 edition of the International Journal of Health Services. This is the first peer-reviewed study published in a medical journal documenting the health hazards of Fukushima.

Authors Joseph Mangano and Janette Sherman note that their estimate of 14,000 excess U.S. deaths in the 14 weeks after the Fukushima meltdowns is comparable to the 16,500 excess deaths in the 17 weeks after the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986. The rise in reported deaths after Fukushima was largest among U.S. infants under age one. The 2010-2011 increase for infant deaths in the spring was 1.8 percent, compared to a decrease of 8.37 percent in the preceding 14 weeks.

Just six days after the disastrous meltdowns struck four reactors at Fukushima on March 11, scientists detected the plume of toxic fallout had arrived over American shores. Subsequent measurements by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found levels of radiation in air, water, and milk hundreds of times above normal across the U.S. The highest detected levels of Iodine-131 in precipitation in the U.S. were as follows (normal is about 2 picocuries I-131 per liter of water): Boise, ID (390); Kansas City (200); Salt Lake City (190); Jacksonville, FL (150); Olympia, WA (125); and Boston, MA (92).

Epidemiologist Joseph Mangano, MPH MBA, said: “This study of Fukushima health hazards is the first to be published in a scientific journal. It raises concerns, and strongly suggests that health studies continue, to understand the true impact of Fukushima in Japan and around the world. Findings are important to the current debate of whether to build new reactors, and how long to keep aging ones in operation.”

GUESTS:

Joseph Mangana is executive director, Radiation and Public Health Project, and the author of 27 peer-reviewed medical journal articles and letters.

Dr. John Apsley is a physician and researcher who for the past 30 years has specialized in the rehabilitation and reversal of chronic degenerative illnesses through accelerated tissue repair and cellular regeneration.

The findings come as Canada’s leading obesity organization – the Canadian Obesity Network – prepares to release recommendations to doctors on managing obesity that will advise doctors seek permission before even raising the issue of excess weight or offering any advice, and that any such discussion be done in private, said Dr. Arya Sharma, the network’s scientific director.

“There is no room for shame or blame in obesity management,” Sharma said. One quarter of adults in Canada, and about nine per cent of children aged six to 17, are now obese, according to a joint report released last summer from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

When figures for obesity are combined with those for being overweight, 62 per cent of Canadians overall weigh more than they should.

And the heaviest weight classes are growing the fastest: The proportion of adults falling into extreme, or Class 3 obesity, meaning a body mass index of 40 or more, has increased threefold, from 0.9 per cent of the population in 1978-79, to three per cent by 2009.

11:30 AM.

Our second guest will be Kim Palacios, Contributor ValueWalk.com, will discuss Baupost’s Mega-Quarry Investment. Was it a A Mega-Mistake?

“Only one thing pertaining to The Highland Companies’ Ontario mega-quarry is gaining notable momentum. Unfortunately for Seth Klarman’s Baupost Group, it is serious opposition—not progress—for which the proposed facility has become known. The Boston-based hedge fund owns a rumored 16% stake in the project, which has more than $40B in gross revenue potential. Yet, the effort has been a non-starter, with stormy skies looming grayer than before.

If executed, the project would be the second-largest mega-quarry in the history of North America (a “mega-quarry” characterized as one with mineral deposits of 150 million tons or more). The project in question would produce 1 billion tons of aggregate, the name for the spectrum of building materials that can be fashioned from the underlying limestone. It has been estimated that each acre of quarry would yield $18M in revenue at current market prices. Yet, the project has seen unexpected obstacles at every turn.

Bad PR for Highland = Bad News for Baupost
Perhaps it was bad foresight on the part of Highland, which showed signs of mismanagement since the beginning, if not from a project viability perspective, certainly with respect to PR. For at least three years, it hid its land use agenda, having its purchaser claim that the small farms it ate up would be used for the legacy industry, potato farming (a claim that turned out to be patently false). Numerous missteps in the wake of the proposal filing in the Spring of 2011 prompted Highland to fire spokesman Michael Daniher, replacing him with Lindsay Broadhead of PR firm, Hill & Knowlton”

Yet, Broadhead may not be faring much better in light of a new set of inflammatory claims, having asserted that the project “simply can’t have a negative environmental impact” according to internal research findings. (If this statement were true, would Highland be doing everything in its power to uphold the precedent that quarry projects not be subject to conditional public environmental review?) ”
- Kim Palacios (For more information visit valuewalk.com)

12:15 PM

The Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed

The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds

Led Zeppelin – ST

Paul Simon – Graceland

The Velvet Underground & Nico – ST

Captain Beefheart – Trout Mask Replica

Joni Mitchell – Blue

The Beatles – Help!

from Clipart Covers

What are your favourite album covers? Tells us on Facebook or Twitter!

January 9th, 1955 – Rosemary Clooney was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Mambo Italiano.’ The song was banned from ABC stations because it did not meet the network’s “standards for good taste.”

January 10th, 1956 – Two days after his twenty-first birthday Elvis Presley made his first recordings for RCA Records at The Methodist television, radio & TV Studios in Nashville. One of the songs recorded that day was ‘Heartbreak Hotel.’ Steve Sholes, RCA’s head of Country & Western wasn’t so sure about the track, feeling that it was too gloomy and not the sound that RCA had been hoping to get from Elvis. Elvis was adamant that it would be his first single and he eventually got his way.

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January 11th, 1942 – Saxophonist Clarence Clemons was born on this day. “The Big Man” is best known for playing with Bruce Springsteen in The E Street Band. Clemons suffered a stroke in June 2011 and died from complications. His eulogy was given by his long time bandmate and close friend, Bruce Springsteen.

“So, I’ll miss my friend, his sax, the force of nature his sound was, his glory, his foolishness, his accomplishments, his face, his hands, his humor, his skin, his noise, his confusion, his power, his peace.  But his love and his story, the story that he gave me, that he whispered in my ear, that he allowed me to tell… and that he gave to you… is gonna carry on.”
-Bruce Springsteen

January 12th, 1977 - Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones was fined £750 for possession of cocaine found in his car after the guitarist had been involved in a car crash. The trial took place just over a month before his infamous run in with Mounties in Toronto that led to charges of Heroin possession and trafficking.

January 13th, 1962 - Chubby Checker went back to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘The Twist.’ The song first went to No.1 in September 1960. ‘The Twist’ came back into fashion in 1962  when an adult audience became interested in the dance. One of the major draws was celebrity appeal:

“Society columnist “Cholly Knickerbocker” mentioned that Prince Serge Obolensky was seen dancing the twist at Manhattan’s Peppermint Lounge, and suddenly it was a worldwide sensation; drawing the elite to discotheques to twist the night away.”

-Fred Bronson

Richard welcomes the author of Grey Aliens and The Harvesting of Souls; The Conspiracy to Genetically Tamper with Humanity. Nigel Kerner connects the dots behind the most famous relic in the Christian world, The Shroud of Turin, believed by millions to be the authentic burial cloth of Jesus Christ, and grey aliens. exposes the agenda behind the bio-robotic grey aliens’ genetic manipulation of certain human races and he reveals the Grey’s nature as sophisticated self-aware machines created by a long vanished extraterrestrial civilization. Tune in as Nigel explains how their quest to capture human souls appears in the historical record from biblical times. Finally, he’ll reveal how the phenomenon of racism is a by-product of their genetic tampering.

Part II: Curses

Richard welcomes paranormal investigator Rosemary Ellen Guiley to discuss the legend of curses. She’ll reveal how curses work, how they are used and by whom, how they are created using black magic, and how one can protect oneself from such curses. She’ll also discuss how objects, or personal possessions can also be cursed and how curses can follow a family for generations.

For more details on this episode visit richardsyrett.com.

The Program:

Vintage Favourites can be heard every Sunday from 2-4pm on AM740. It has been on the air since 2007 and will be celebrating its fifth anniversary this March.

The Host:

Gene Stevens has been working in radio for over four decades. He was AM740’s program director from 2001 – 2011. Currently he hosts Vintage Favourites and produces Mike Filey’s Toronto.

Format:

Each week Gene chooses  a specific theme from the Vintage Era of music (roughly the 1920s thru to the 1960s). Themes may include birthdays or anniversaries. Some upcoming programs include the celebration of Elvis Presley’s birthday and a look at The Beach Boys and their 50th anniversary this year.

Pre-Production:

After a topic is chosen, Gene delves further into the story by researching the topic using a variety of publications, books and online resources. He creates a story arc for the two hour program and starts looking for “the best songs to support [this] idea.” The songs are then assembled into a sequence that helps the story flow; this may be chronological or it may follow another pattern.  Mini scripts are written to guide the talking breaks between songs. For each hour of programming Gene plays between 10-12 songs with 5 sets of narration. After the program has been mapped out, Gene sends the schedule with all of the songs to be used to Brian Peroff, the music director. Brian creates the program log on the station’s computer system (the log after it’s been entered is shown in the next image).

Production:

While the show airs on Sunday afternoons, Gene pre-records the program during the week in one of the production studios shared with our sister station, Classical 96.3FM. With all of the songs lined up, the last step is to record the speaking segments. Gene spends roughly an hour in the studio recording and listening back to these segments to ensure that they work both for time restrictions and most importantly, tell the story. After all of the segments have been recorded the show is ready to go to air. On Sunday the On-Air computer plays all of the elements in the order that they were programmed.