The Amazon Echo, also known as Alexa, is becoming more popular every day. Derek and I have had one for a few years, dating back to the start of our involvement with the company Witlingo. We both contribute voice work to the Witlingo stable of “skills” – the term for apps in the voice-first world.
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I haven’t accepted the word retirement and I don’t think it’s accurate. But everyone who wants to know how I’m doing asks me how retirement is going! My fondness for food and shelter means I need to work. But it’s kind of like branding; a brand doesn’t get to decide how it’s seen by others. It’s defined by the way it’s perceived. …
How does that saying go? A friend will help you move. A real friend will help you move a body! …
Bellwether. Noun. The leading sheep of a flock with a bell on its neck. …
The question I’ve been asked most often this week is, how long will it take you to sleep past 3 am? …
There’s no question about it, I’m going to miss Ken Eastwood. He’s a great on air partner, a good guy and a hell of a baker and cook. Stephanie Vivier starts with him tomorrow on CJBK. Today, for me, it’s about looking back. …
When we last left our intrepid broadcaster, she had purchased a home in Wallaceburg and put her London house up for sale. Her husband and cat have been clearing out and packing. (Husband more than cat.) We learned that the new home isn’t commuting distance to the current job. And now, with apologies to Paul Harvey, here’s…the rest…of the story.
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In the deepest recesses of my heart, I’ve been longing for a change. Something big, radical, totally different. I wrestled with the idea and it pinned me and held me down. I tried to talk myself out of it but I found it was a better debater. My husband was on board from the start. But how would that change look? What would it take to make it happen? …
Thank you, regular blog reader, for returning to my little corner of the Internet and reading my musings. I’m sorry to disappoint you this week, but I need to take a short sabbatical. …
When Donald Trump made fun of sexual assault victim Christine Blasey-Ford, I knew I was close. When he walked up the steps of Air Force One with toilet-paper stuck to his shoe, and no one told him, my laughter created a little bit of room for more. But the confirmation of undoubtedly biased Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court nailed it. I’m out of f***s. …
In the past week, several instances have arisen that made me want to make in-your-face recommendations for my book about media and PR. I resisted, of course, but the reasons why I wrote it keep piling up and people working in media keep sending me more examples. I don’t even have to try to prove that it’s needed! The proof comes to me.
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We read stories about people quitting work by doing something outlandish and think, OMG, I could NEVER. Around the time I quit MIX/CFRB there were much bigger and bolder exits from broadcasting. One used their airtime to lambaste their boss and company owner. Another tossed his headphones and walked out. One of my exits became a bit of a folk-tale and over the years it has come back to me with the details all wrong. …
Throwback Thursday: Not My Finest Hour (But I’m A Good One Nonetheless)Read More »
Journalism is about truth and truth is about authenticity. And that’s what was in my head last Friday morning when I basically stopped the show in its tracks and asked, “What is wrong with people today? Is every texter in a foul mood?!” …
Meet Pickles. Pickles is about to become a famous dog. He’s not just a performer, he’s a bit of a miraculous survivor. …
For most people, when the weekend arrives, work-time is over for two full days. It probably depends on what you do for a living, but it’s supposed to hold true. To that end, more countries are considering a ban on work emails outside of work hours. People are literally getting worked to death. There are health consequences to blurry lines between work and non-work hours. …
Some people want to interview the Pope. Others want to spend time with Paul McCartney. I just want to talk to a flat-earther! …
Not long ago, I found a bunch of old letters I’d written to my parents. They dated to the early-and-mid-80s when I was striking out on my own. They were full of confidence and professed a knowledge about work and the world that I don’t know I’d feel comfortable espousing now, so many years later. The older I get, the less I know for sure. …
I’d noticed the special parking spaces at Loblaws across from those set aside for people with disabilities. No one ever seemed to be parked in them but they were a sign that the food giant expects online grocery shopping to grow. I knew I’d give it a try one day. …