The John Oakley Show

Farewell To A Legend

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:35:41 GMT

Yesterday we lost one of the best. Long time film critic Roger Ebert passed away at the age of 70. Ebert was a long time film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967, and continued to do so until his death yesterday. Even with losing the majority of his jaw due to a cancerous tissue near his right jaw, Ebert stayed strong and has reviewed more than 200 films. In addition to writing movie reviews, Ebert has also written several books, and has influenced movie critics around the world. We truly have lost one of the best.

Pick Your Poison

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:47:14 GMT

Metrolinx has unveiled their short list of funding options for The Big Move. Let’s put aside the fact that The Big Move really should have been several Small Moves carried out over the last thirty years or so and have a look at some of the choices that would affect you directly: Highway Tolls Payroll Tax Parking Tax Property Tax Gas Tax Sales Tax Transit Fare Hike Driving Distance Charge Boy that word ‘tax’ sure appears frequently. Now not all of these will make the final cut, but they seem to be the ones that Metrolinx believes they can float with little dispute. If they choose to go with three options, which three would you prefer or accept?

Opening On Easter Sunday

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:22:24 GMT

A No-Frills in Vaughan faces a $30, 000 fine for opening on Eater Sunday. A long-standing law forbids opening on Easter Sunday because of Christian religious beliefs. This store owner claims to have a large Jewish clientele and even has support from Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, the Chaplain for York Regional Police. There are places in the GTA that are designated ‘tourist zones’ and merchants in those areas are exempt from these shopping laws. If a merchant opens and makes zero cash, he’ll learn his lesson and likely not open the next time or at least abbreviate his hours. Is it time to maybe abolish these faith-based laws? In an ever more secular society, shouldn’t the opening of a store be up to the owner?

Actions WILL Speak Louder Than Words, Hopefully

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:18:43 GMT

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair has spoken out against officers who abuse their station by acting arrogantly and entitled. This comes after the much publicized case of Raymond Costain, a chef who was charged with impaired driving. After Mr. Costain made the unfortunate choice to leave the scene, he was pursued and subsequently captured on film being beaten by the police. Now we know that the few ‘bad cops’ as it were, are the ones sullying the good name of the Toronto Police. And these are the ones that will be the focus of Chief Blair’s mission to clean up the image of the Thin Blue Line. Chief Blair can talk as toughly as he wishes, but when the time does come to lay out discipline; he must do so without flinching. Finger pointing is not enough; the time has long passed for something as inconsequential as that.

Code Splitting

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:31:44 GMT

Two new area codes hit the GTA today. 365 joins the 905/289 region and 437 is now the baby brother to 416/647. It only took a dozen years to exhaust the newer 647 and 289 numbers mainly because of the boom in technological devices and portable devices. Thanks to this same technology, you’ll only ever have to dial somebody’s number once as you can store it in whichever device you use; thereby negating the need to ‘remember’ if your buddy’s number was a 416/647/437 area code. But because of the boom in portable devices, there should be a marked drop in land based numbers. Once those have been out of circulation for a long enough span of time, they could be reactivated. Perhaps the most amazing truth to phone numbers is if it was decided that the human brain could recall more than seven numbers (it can) and phone numbers ...

Sorry; Sometimes It’s Not Enough

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:51:21 GMT

Let’s give TTC CEO Andy Byford credit. He’s visible and will confront issues as they crop up. But apologies just aren’t enough when it comes to the stagnation that has been in place at the Commission for the last three decades. The non-expansion of the system is inexcusable and now poses such a problem that funding discussions are daily occurrences. But instead of growing slowly and steadily over the years, we now have to deal with a giant push and reformation thanks to their ineptitude. The onus will be on us to provide funding via tolls or taxes or some sort of surcharge, make no mistake about that. Mr. Byford has been like a breath of fresh air; it’s just unfortunate the commission didn’t have anybody like him in place thirty years ago.

Pay To Not Play

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:00:14 GMT

The city is currently refusing to cancel fees for ice time that went unused by the Greater Toronto Hockey League due to a snowstorm. The GTHL has deals with some private rinks and they have waived the daily fees for that overly snowy day back on February 8th, 2013. Should they have to pay the city even though access was well nigh impossible? If you were to sign up a snow removal service and then experience a mild winter, you are still on the hook for payment, so why wouldn’t the GTHL be subject to the same treatment? Does the GTHL have a point or are they just whinging about this one? And let’s be truthful, the city could use the cash.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:20:03 GMT

Sunday March 17th is St. Patrick's Day, which is a religious and cultural holiday. Named after one of the most recognizable Ireland patron saints, St. Patrick's Day is a day where people can lay back and enjoy feasts, and of course have some drinks, maybe even some green beer! The majority of the downtown core will be closed due to the 26th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade this Sunday. Will you be be participating in any of these festivites?

"Thank You For The Welcome"

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:41:15 GMT

Yesterday white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney in St. Peter's square, signalling that a new Pope has been named. 72-year-old Argentinian Jorge Bergoglio who will be known now as Pope Francis appeared on the balcony over St. Peter's Square in Rome yesterday addressing everyone and thanking them for the welcome. Pope Francis replaces Pope Benedict XVI, who had said he was not strong enough to lead the Church anymore. Benedict had telephoned Francis and he plans to meet him. The Pope will begin his first day on the job today with a prayer on Thursday morning.

Three Baby Raccoons And A Garden

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:26:20 GMT

Dong Nguyen has pleaded guilty to beating three baby raccoons with a shovel. The reason for the beating was that the baby raccoons were destroying his garden back in 2011. The 55 year old Nguyen had his dangerous weapons charge withdrawn and instead he received a conditional discharge on the charge of cruelty to animals. He had to appear in court nineteen times before the charge was settled. Now, Nguyen's punishment is that he must pay $1,365 to Procyon Wildlife which is where the work was done in order to help treat one of the baby raccoon's broken leg. In addition to that, he also must complete 100 hours of community service at a humane society shelter. A suggestion was made by Nguyen's lawyer Peter Scully to make the community service only 40 hours, but Justice Marvin Zuker increased it to 100 hours. Does the punishment fit the crime?