Toronto Mike's Blog

Gotta Get Away

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:06:48 -0500

It's been a rough week. I'm getting out of the city for a bit. I'll be back in time to support the James Fund at SickKids by playing beach volleyball all day on Sunday at Ashbridge's Bay.

Speaking of which, you can sponsor me by making a secure donation online by visiting http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2264325. L8R.

Raptors Sign Hedo Turkoglu

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:39:48 -0500

The Toronto Raptors have confirmed their acquisition of forward Hedo Turkoglu. This is likely the most significant free agent addition in the team's history, and it's no coincidence Turkoglu is a non-American.

Turkoglu's agent Lon Babby said the player and his wife Banu were intrigued by Toronto's ethnic diversity, including a large Turkish community. Turkoglu joins Andrea Bargnani, José Calderón, Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Roko Ukić as non-Americans on our roster.

Toronto, a cultural mosaic with a diverse populous, has little trouble attracting players like Turkoglu. It's the Americans who would rather play elsewhere.

Welcome to Toronto, Hedo. Sadece bebeğim kazanın!

Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros' Redemption Song for Martin Streek

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:06:48 -0500

I share an MP3 from my collection every Wednesday. You have seven days to grab this week's MP3. Please right-click your mouse and select "Save Link As..." or "Save target as..." so you can download it to your PC before playing.

Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros - Redemption Song
Martin Streek's death has me feeling so sad. The world can mourn the King of Pop, I'm mourning the loss of a person I felt I knew, even though I doubt he knew my name.

On Monday night I wrote this, but it's the entry about Martin that I wrote back on May 18 that's on my mind...

I listened to CFNY (Edge 102) throughout the 90s. It was my favourite radio station, not just for the tunes but for the personalities. I can't remember a time at 102 before Martin Streek.

Martin Streek, if you're out there, let us know where you're at. You've been a familiar voice over Toronto airwaves for about 20 years and you'll be missed.

I remember writing that "let us know where you're at" line. I originally typed "let us know you're okay". I changed the sentence, thinking to myself that he's just lost his job, he hadn't died.

This city seems far less cool today than it did only a few days ago. Martin was so damn cool. He looked cool, he sounded cool, he promoted cool music and was always doing cool things. I wanted to be Martin Streek.

I'm assured a big public event in honour of Martin is being planned by those who knew him best. This city needs to assemble and do what he'd want us to do: arrive early and stay late. I'm sure we'll play this song. For Martin.

A Google Operating System: A Perfect World?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:20:52 -0500

Over four years ago, in an entry about Google Maps, I closed with the following wish.

In a perfect world, Google would develop an operating system.

Last night, on the official Google blog, Google announced the Google Chrome Operating System is coming.

Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we're already talking to partners about the project, and we'll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve.

Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work.

I can't wait to give the Google OS a test drive. We'll see if it will supplant Ubuntu as my Windows alternative of choice.

The Junction Goes from Skid Row to Hip

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:01:40 -0500

I've spent a lot of time in the Junction. The Junction, for you out-of-towners, is an area north of Bloor West Village by Dundas Street West and Keele. To be honest, when I was growing up, it was the smelly place thanks to the Stockyards, Canada's largest livestock market and the centre of Ontario's meat packing industry.

It was also a little sketchy. We used to joke that going north of the train tracks that run alongside Dundas Street West was literally and figuratively going to the other side of the tracks. It was a rougher patch of the city, no doubt about it, and the stores were pretty run down and shabby, especially when compared to what was happing in Bloor West Village.

Today's New York Times has a great little write up on the resurgence of The Junction. Skid Row to Hip in Toronto, it's called.

Block by block, they are transforming this stretch of Dundas Street West from a grimy skid row into a bright enclave filled with quirky bookstores, vegan restaurants and organic cafes.

But don't call it a comeback, Little Malta's been there for years.

Help Me Help The James Fund at SickKids - Sponsor Me

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:32:29 -0500

I will be competing in the 15th Annual Heatwave Toronto Beach Volleyball Tournament in support of The James Fund at SickKids. As one of the athletes in this event, I have made a commitment to fight childhood cancer. No child should have to suffer this terrible disease. I'm asking you to help me save children's lives and end childhood cancer by donating today.

The donations from this incredible tournament will support The James Fund at SickKids Foundation. James was 8 years old when he passed away from neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer of the central nervous system. James knew that there was little that could be done for him but was more concerned that no other kids would die of this disease. Before James died, he knew that a Research Fund in his name was established at The Hospital for Sick Children. "I will always be fighting cancer!" said James.

Secure on line donations can be made to The James Fund at SickKids with VISA, MasterCard or American Express and an electronic tax receipt will be sent to you by email. You can make an online donation now at:

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2264325

Thank you for joining us in fulfilling James's word: "I will always be fighting cancer!"

Local Newspapers Drop Ball With Martin Streek Death Coverage

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:07:33 -0500

I've been blogging here since 2002 with almost 10,000 entries under my belt. During that time, I've broken a few stories, usually local radio hirings and firings. Last night, I broke a story here that still has me dazed.

The comments in my entry about Martin Streek's death, from dozens of people who knew him and loved him, confirm what I always suspected. Martin was a genuine good guy who loved what he did and treated everyone he encountered with class, good humour and respect. So many Torontonians felt a connection with Martin, and the 148 comments (and counting) prove he struck a chord with this city in a personal way few media personalities can equal.

The mainstream media coverage of Martin Streek's death, especially from our local newspapers, was abysmal. Martin deserved so much better for what he gave this city. I'm going to address the coverage from the Toronto Sun, National Post, Toronto Star and Globe & Mail.

Toronto Sun

Get used to this picture of Martin. It was his Facebook profile picture, and the same one I used last night. You'll be seeing a lot of it in this local MSM analysis.

I'm leading with the Sun's coverage because their factual errors really hit home with me. "The news broke on an Internet message board post by David Marden". When I clicked through, I did find a comment by Marsden on someone else's post, but the post was published over an hour after my entry about Streek's death. Clearly, a little Googling is too much fact checking to expect from the Sun.

The remainder of the article could have been written by anyone with a web browser.

National Post 1

There's that picture again. You have to admit, it's a great shot. I don't think Martin would mind one bit if the media failed to find another.

This first entry from the National Post really infuriates me with their ignorance. "One blogger named Marsden (luvradio) posted the following today." Are you kidding me, National Post? Calling Marsden "one blogger" is inexcusable. David Marsden was the driving force behind CFNY in the 1980s and a local radio legend. How does the Post not recognize that?

National Post 2

Again, the National Post's coverage of Martin Streek's suicide could have been thrown together by any teen with wifi. It's his final Facebook status message, a mini-bio, and that picture we all know and love.

The National Post did, however, give me credit as a source alongside the CBC, which is almost enough for me to forgive their inabilty to scratch beneath the surface. A popular local DJ who was on the air for over two decades before his inexplicable firing at the hands of Corus Entertainment kills himself at the age of 45 and we're once again fed lazy jounalism from one of our many dailies.

Toronto Star

I'm most disappointed in the Toronto Star for their coverage of this tragic event. The Toronto Star is my paper, the one I read daily and the one I've been reading daily ever since I discovered Blue Jays box scores and For Better of For Worse comics in the early 80s.

The Toronto Star should be ashamed for this reprint of the Canadian Press release. Couldn't the Star find a reporter to dig around, give us some insight, try and give this appearingly senseless act some context? The Canadian Press coverage is a paint-by-numbers statement that Streek lived, worked at 102.1, was fired and died. For shame.

Globe & Mail

I saved the Globe & Mail's article for last, because it's so offensive I couldn't get past the headline. It was very late in the day when I took this screen cap, and they were still misspelling Martin's name. It reminds me of that old axiom there's no such thing as bad publicity so long as they spell your name right. Poor Martin didn't get that honour.

Toronto is a huge city with a glut of media stationed here and many, many passionate citizens who are deeply feeling this loss. The service we've received from our newspapers is truly disgusting, especially when contrasted with the coverage given to a memorial service held in Los Angeles this afternoon.

We deserve so much better.

The Ride for Mental Health

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:21:24 -0500

I had a good chat with my buddy Elvis this morning, about Martin Streek, suicide and mental health. We were debating whether someone of sound mind and body can consciously decide to end their life without mental illness playing a role. It sounds so rock n' roll, the whole "better to burn out than fade away" thing, but it's such a final, drastic step. It's always darkest before the dawn, and when you lose that perspective, you need help.

[09:53] eLvIs: I was going to ask/tell you about this closer to the day but in light of the Martin Streek news, I thought this could be appropriate. Christy's uncle is currently riding across Canada on his bicycle to raise awareness about Mental Health. Would you be interested in posting about him?
[09:53] eLvIs: He arrives in Toronto for a rally on the 17th.
[09:54] eLvIs: http://therideformentalhealth.blogspot.com/
[09:54] eLvIs: http://www.therideformentalhealth.org/

Elvis' wife's uncle, Mel Thompson, is doing something to help those living with mental illness. His bike ride across Canada hits our fair city on July 17th. Come out and support him and this worthy cause if you can.

Friday, July 17, 2009
Toronto Pep Rally (12pm-2pm)

Come out and support Mel Thompson, Vice President, Customer Services, as he embarks on the final leg of The Ride for Mental Health, Nathan Phillips Square has hosted many remarkable events since its inception. Let’s make this one for the record books.

Featuring

Entertainment

Guest speakers

A few surprises & more…

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Martin Streek's Unseen Demo for Martin Streek's Backstage

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:36:51 -0500

I'm still stunned that Martin Streek left us this early when there were so many other options available to him. It's a tragic story that really hits me, because I spent hundreds of nights listening to him on the Thursday 30 and his Live to Air broadcasts on CFNY 102.1 / The Edge. Furthermore, the world's collide all over the place with this one. I broke the sad news last night and have many friends who knew Martin personally and are mourning his loss in a far more personal way.

I was scheduled to meet up with Mike Wixson tonight. Mike worked with Martin, and now works with my good friend Humble Howard at RedFishEntertainment, producing his Man Up Canada game show. I was going to meet with Mike about some Man Up Canada web stuff when he cancelled because, as you can imagine, he's shattered.

Mike and I were exchanging emails this morning when he sent me this recent tid bit about Martin Streek that will likely be news to everybody.

We had just finished a pilot for a new show called Martin Streek's Backstage...he was brilliant. It was going to be popular and he would never have had to look back on radio. He was made for TV. I have a demo you need to see. He was headed toward a TV career at 1000 miles an hour.

Here's Martin Streek's demo for Martin Streek's Backstage, a show we'll never get to see developed. In this great clip, he's interviewing USS.

He looked and sounded great, didn't he?

Monster Jonas Gustavsson Chooses Leafs

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:39:59 -0500

Jonas Gustavsson likes us, he really, really likes us! Sportsnet is reporting that the long awaited decision by Jonas Gustavsson is over as he's decided to start his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

An announcement is expected as early as today as "The Monster" signed off on a 1-year, $900,000 to start the 09-10 season backing up Vesa Toskola.

The Best Goaltender Outside the NHL™ will battle Vesa Toskala for the #1 job, even thought MLSE will tell you he's backing up Tosky. Hopefully, he's worth the wait.

Martin Streek Dead

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:11:34 -0500

I'm not sure how to write this one, so I'm just going to tell you what I know.

As a long time fan of CFNY / Edge 102, I was sad to learn recently that Martin Streek had been fired after over 20 years of service. As of this writing, that entry had 88 comments from others who wanted to wish Martin well. Soon enough, Martin Streek himself chimed in to say thanks.

Thank to those of you who made comments, both good and bad...either way, it's proof that you listened and/or cared about the scene I/we were part of...

Earlier today, Martin Streek updated his Facebook status message with words that sound so ominous now. This, it turns out, is Martin's farewell to the world.

So...I guess that's it...thanks everyone...I'm sorry to those I should be sorry to, I love you to those that I love, and I will see you all again soon (not too soon though)... Let the stories begin.

My entry about Martin Streek leaving CFNY / Edge102 is #1 when you Google his name, and Steve did just that an hour ago.

I just heard that Martin has passed away... very sad to hear.... (I was a cfny staffer back in the 80s and just heard this from Earl J.)

At first, I thought it was a cruel joke. Martin Streek seemed so vibrant, so full of life. But after chatting with Steve, and seeing the Facebook status message, I'm afraid it's true.

Martin Streek has taken his own life.

MJ Haunts Again

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:20:48 -0500

Remember when Michael Jackson's ghost haunted Muhammad Ali and George Foreman during their Rumble in the Jungle back in 1974? That was a cool trick, because it was modern day Jacko doing the haunting back in 1974, not 1974 Jacko. It seems he's at it again.

During a Larry King Interview with Jermaine Jackson on CNN, MJ haunts again. See for yourself.

Francois Beauchemin Signs With Maple Leafs

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:29:57 -0500

In the comments of this entry we were debating who would be our top six defencemen next season. We have a glut of worthy defenders, including Kaberle, Schenn, Komisarek, Finger, Van Ryn, Exelby, White and Oreskovic. Brian Burke decided that wasn't enough. He's just signed free agent defencemen Francois Beauchemin to a three-year deal believed to be in the range of $10 million.

I really like this signing at that price. Burke previously brought Beauchemin to the Ducks where he helped them win the cup in '07. Beauchemin eats a lot of minutes, plays a solid physical style and makes our team better.

Clearly, Kaberle has played his last game for the Leafs.

Allan King's Warrendale on TVO: PVR Alert

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:26:36 -0500

Documentary filmmaker Allan King passed away last month, and TVOntario has been paying tribute by airing his great docs.

Tonight, TVO is airing Warrendale, and I urge all of you with PVRs to record this gem and the rest of you Ontarians to tune in in to TVO at 10pm tonight.

In 1966, filmmaker Allan King visited an experimental treatment centre for emotionally disturbed children in Toronto. Never on television before, this profound documentary reveals the feelings and experiences of children in anguish.

Tomorrow night we're in for another treat at 10pm when TVO airs A Married Couple.

The on-screen conversations, fights, and intimate secrets of a seemingly typical husband and wife living in Toronto in the 1960s made them one of the decade's best-known average couples. By filmmaker Allan King.

The Allan King Film Festival airs all week.

When it Comes to Layla, I'm All About Jim Gordon's Piano Coda

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:07:04 -0500

When Derek and the Dominos first released "Layla" back in 1971, it was 2:43 and didn't include Jim Gordon's piano coda. Don't get me wrong, Eric Clapton and Duane Allman had a classic rock gem with that version of "Layla", but it really was missing the best part.

Personally, I don't care for the first half of "Layla". I'm all about that second half, the piano coda. That's the piano piece you hear over the credits of Goodfellas. I'd like to rip it out of "Layla" and play it by its lonesome. I never get tired of hearing it.

Which half of "Layla" do you prefer? In my humble opinion, it's no contest.