570News - Gary Doyle

Canadians should watch the Canadian debate tonight. Not the Vice-Presidential debate in the U.S. to determine which potential VEEP will be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office. Sarah Palin intrigue aside the choice WE have is too important to watch foreign politicians try and score points that we can’t vote on. I watched about half the french debate last night, but the translators kept losing me. I was watching for body language and attitudes. Tonight, I will listen. Tomorrow, when Michael Ignatief joins me in studio, we’ll get the biased opinion. And then…yours. If you have to know about Palin-Biden, google it tomorrow, or watch SNL.

Got my re-assessment on the chateau yesterday. Until yesterday, I never thought of it as a chateau. Guess what? I live in Waterloo and my taxes are going up. My house is worth more money than it was the last time it was assessed. All I’ve done to it is re-roof and replace a garage door. You wouldn’t believe how that improved the value. I think I’ll sell it now and move to a cheaper property. Like that exists. The assessment makes me feel good about the long term worth of our home while at the same time makes me ponder how I’m going to foot the bill. Picture Lucy, Charlie Brown and a football.

The NHL circus is back in town. Bob McCown of the Fan590 says Jim Balsillie is back in the game and will purchase a majority interest in the Nashville Predators. Balsillie, through his lawyer, says “not so.” Will Rim-Jim ever get his team? YES! Will he have to munch on humble pie a little longer to appease the NHL owner egos? YES! Should he speak publicly about his intentions? NO! That’s what got him trouble the last time.

Bette Midler, The Divine Ms. M. has announced she is quitting touring. It’s her attempt to save the planet. The 62-year old mega star says the 14 semi trailers she uses to haul her gear around from city to city has been bothering her for some time. Now if we can only talk other aging performers to park the tour bus to save the planet. If nothing else it will go a long way to curb stage pollution.

Perhaps that should be the VIA mantra. My friend Jeff Allan is on the case. He had a bad train experience last weekend in an attempt to get to Toronto. What he doesn’t know is he was riding the same caboose as my mom, who was attempting to get to Toronto to see my sister, her kids and her kids’ kids. I grew up in a railroad family, so it’s hard to surprise me. I keep hearing from politicians who don’t want to invest in the system that not enough people utilize the service. “What Service?” Everytime my mom travels by train, it’s full and generally late. My last journey was on VIA One, the First Class service and once the train started rolling it was a great experience. My suggestion to those who say there should be more trains….ride them and there will be. My suggestion to VIA, pull up the boot straps, improve the service and more people will ride with you. It doesn’t have to be a chicken and egg thing.

Watched every minute of the broadcast last night and spent more time cringing at the “hosts” than enjoying the show. There were some moments, but not many. Mad Men won. So did John Adams and 30 Rock. Those shows were gems. I’ll never understand how shows like 2.5 Men can top the ratings and never win a thing. The only people that don’t like it, are the ones who vote. Biggest surprise for me was the Josh Grobin bit on theme songs. It was actually entertaining.

Ron Lancaster has lost his battle with cancer. Without a doubt, Ron was one of my favorite people. I got to know him when he was the coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Like so many, he was a regular on my radio show there. He was a very funny guy with a dry sense of humour and a never-ending puff of smoke that followed him around. The last year he played in Regina, his arm strength wasn’t what it once was, but he was smart. So are Rider fans. When Ron dropped back in the pocket that year a dedicate group would beging utilizing their duck calls. He smiled. then spiralled. Ron Lancaster was 69. Gone too soon, but everytime I think of number 23, the Little General, I’ll quack.

I was asked to be part of one of the more interesting radio shows around. Our sister station, KIX 106 runs a show called “You Radio.” The idea is listeners apply to get on the air with a list of their top ten country songs. I heard it, liked it, told the boss. So now I find myself on country radio. I had a lot of fun putting the list together and when it airs (8pm next tuesday) I’ll be listening. There are some songs that will take you back. some that make you scratch your head and at least one you’ve never heard of. That’s what makes it good radio.

So I was helping get dinner ready last night and listening to Mike and Kate when they told me (all of us actually) that gas prices would jump about 13 cents per litre overnight. After dinner I hopped in the old truck, which was on empty, and drove to my usual filling station. The cars and trucks were lined up onto Weber Street. I got in line. Patiently. Turn the truck off, turn it on and get six feet closer to the pumps. It was nasty. I wasn’t sure if I had enough gas in the tank to get to the pumps, which I could reach with my hand. People cutting people off, yelling out car windows “I was here first!” and other less polite greetings. I kept time on my watch. It took my all of 12 minutes from the time my tires hit the parking lot until I was pumping the liquid gold. Ninety dollars later I was happy. The price did go up this morning. I figure my 12 minute wait saved me just under five dollars on the tank. Next time, I’ll send one of the kids. My time is worth more than that.

Elizabeth May has been shutout of the Federal Leaders debate. That means she wins it! Most rational Canadians would agree that the leader of the Green Party should be allowed to participate in the TV Debates. Most rational Canadians cheer for the underdog. Based on that rationale, May comes out smelling like a rose while those that denied her, look like bullies. The Greens will hold court with the national media before and after the debate and get her points across without interuption. (or much editing) Those that watch the debates and end up shaking their heads in dismay may end out voting for dat-May. Let the bafflegab begin!