Local Podcast Presents 3-part Series on The Spirit of Radio

This Is Toronto, an audio podcast dedicated to Toronto's arts and culture community, is proud to present a three-part series on CFNY - The Spirit of Radio.

During the 1980s, CFNY (now known as 102.1 The Edge) was one of the most popular stations in North America. It prided itself on playing music that could not be heard anywhere else. CFNY was one of the first commercial stations in Canada to play songs from the punk and New Wave movement. The station was also responsible for the creation of the CASBY awards.

This three-part series will take a look back on CFNY and the impact it made on Toronto's airwaves. It features an interview with two CFNY legends: Don Berns and David Marsden. Part one of the series will be released on Friday, July 31 and can be downloaded from This Is Toronto's website: www.thisistorontopodcast.blogspot.com.

The Spirit of Radio schedule

Part one - July 31

Part two - Aug. 14

Part three - Aug. 28

About This Is Toronto

This Is Toronto is an audio podcast that shines a spotlight on the people, places and events that give life to this great city. This Is Toronto does not focus on the "big-ticket" names and occasions. Instead, the program features items that enrich Toronto's cultural atmosphere. New episodes are published on Fridays, once every two weeks. All episodes are about 10-12 minutes in length. This Is Toronto is hosted by Eric Rosenhek.

Open Discussion: Fate and Destiny.

The greatest joy that I receive in writing this blog is the feedback from the readers. Lately people have written to me about fate and destiny. So I thought it would be good to open up some dialogue about the two words.

Do you believe in fate and/or destiny? Would it surprise you to know that the two words share similar definitions? They both are defined as an event (or course of events) that will happen in the future. I'm certain that at some time you may have heard someone say that something or another was fate, and that something or another was destiny. Sometimes the words are used interchangeably and at other times they are used as if they have separate meanings. How do you view the two words?

Let's explore a scenario and you give this some thought: If a person walks in front of an approaching car as he or she walks against the light and is struck down by the car...is it fate? Was it their destiny to be hit by that car on that street at that appointed time or was it simply their own carelessness that led to he or she being hit? In other words...their own fault. Or was it simply a case of, "that was inevitable?" Talk about the mysteries of life.

Ponder that and let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you.

Just for fun...

The National Film Board's celebrating its 70th Anniversary as best they can this year. That celebration includes an outdoor display in front of the Conference Centre. And it includes a still shot from my all-time personal favourite short cartoon produced by any outfit on the planet: "The Cat Came Back".

VIA Rail: One Passenger's Fantasy Map

I had some ideas on what the route map for VIA Rail ought to look like ten years from now. Granted that in several respects - costing out the details surely being among them - it is indeed a fantasy. Nonetheless, the choices made sense to me as I drew them up.

So, for your amusement at the publicbroadcasting.ca blog...



Opinions, anyone?