Not The Final Word

The big break-up show...

2006-02-21T11:08:00.000-04:00

{listen to this episode in mp3 format}

Meredith, Sonya and Elling delve into the dark, dark world of breaking up. Our first show after Valentine's day.

Halifax candidates vs. Pivot questionnaire

2006-01-21T11:30:00.000-04:00

Not the Final Word makes Candidates for the riding of Halifax answer the questions that matter.

Alexa McDonough – New Democratic Party
Occupation: Member of Parliament for Halifax

Interview audio: mcdonough-pivot.mp3

What is your favorite word?
“Justice.”
What is your least favorite word?
“Hypocrisy is my least favorite phenomenon. I'm not sure if it's my least favorite word.”
What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
“The arts.”
What turns you off?
“Commercialization of everything in life.”
What is your favorite curse word?
“I've discovered there's no curse word you can get away with (as a politician) in public. Sometimes I say I'm “damn frustrated,” and some people are offended, but it's h2.ard not to say it because there are so many things to be frustrated about.”
What sound or noise do you love?
“Music. Just about every kind of music.”
What sound or noise do you hate?
“A dentist's drill.”
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
“International development.”
What profession would you not like to do?
“Right-wing politics.”
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Justice exists in this place.”

Andrew House – Conservative Party
Occupation: Lawyer with Arnold Pizzo McKiggan

Interview audio: house-pivot.mp3

What is your favorite word?
“I just like the way it sounds, there's nothing political behind it: Embargo. I've always loved the word.”
What is your least favorite word?
“'Exacerbate.' I'm really not big on that word. And again, purely on the phonetics of it. (Laughs).”
What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
“Being outside. I really enjoy nature.”
What turns you off?
“Turning on the TV and seeing politicians hammering away at each other. I'd like to think that that's not something I would engage in.”
What is your favorite curse word?
“I heard a word when I was in Kosovo... 'Gezuar' is an Albanian word. It’s used sometimes as a toast but I understand it also can be a bit of an expletive.”
What sound or noise do you love?
“Diesel engines. It reminds me of catching the ferry to P.E.I. or Newfoundland.”
What sound or noise do you hate?
“I cannot deal with high, shrill voices in the House of Commons. I think people tune out the minute they hear a shouting match.”
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
“Medicine.”
What profession would you not like to do?
“Campaign manager.”
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“I think I'd like to hear 'Well done. Not a bad job. You did what you could.'”

Tony Seed – Marxist-Leninist Party
Occupation: Publisher and editor of Shunpiking Magazine

Interview audio: seed-pivot.mp3

What is your favorite word?
“Serendipity.”
What is your least favorite word?
“Capitalism.”
What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
“The participation of my peers in a collective, creative process. To pursue a line of investigation and finding out the truth about important questions.”
What turns you off?
“The debasement of culture, including political culture in our society.”
What is your favorite curse word?
“Honestly, I try to discipline myself not to curse. It represents a lowering of standards. … Maybe 'Oh my God'.”
What sound or noise do you love?
“Children.”
What sound or noise do you hate?
“Bombs.”
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
“Either a teacher - although I am a teacher in a way - or a serious writer. A writer of realist fiction.”
What profession would you not like to do?
“Real estate”
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“All Canadians are welcome here, but American bastards can freeze in hell.”

Nick Wright – Green Party
Occupation: MBA/Law student at Dalhousie University

Interview audio: wright-pivot.mp3

What is your favorite word?
“Sustainability.”
What is your least favorite word?
“Irresponsibility.”
What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
“Ideas.”
What turns you off?
“Closed-mindedness.”
What is your favorite curse word?
“I'd have to say 'backward social policy' [laughs].”
What sound or noise do you love?
“Music. Dance music.”
What sound or noise do you hate?
“The squealing sounds of truck tires that often drive by here on Hollis Street.”
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
“Politics”
What profession would you not like to do?
“Accountant.”
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Come on in.”

Martin MacKinnon - Liberal Party
Occupation: Vice-president of Eastern Rehab Inc.

Interview audio: {not available}

What is your favorite word?
“'We', as in 'we can', 'together, we'.”
What is your least favorite word?
“No”
What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
“People. Talking to people. Hearing what they have to say.”
What turns you off?:
“People who are dogmatic.“
What is your favorite curse word?
“It all has to be in context but ...'Shit'. (Laughs) Yes. 'Shit'. I probably say that word far too much.”
What sound or noise do you love?
“People talking. The sound of people talking. I love it.”
What sound or noise do you hate?
“Car horns”
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
“I could be silly and say politics. I'm not there yet, but I'm trying. Otherwise maybe a physician. I have a lot of respect for the physician community. They make difficult decisions every day.”
What profession would you not like to do?
“Lawyer.”
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Welcome. (Laugh) That one should be a no-brainer.”

FEET! FEET! FEET! - It's the feet show!

2005-11-19T18:28:00.000-04:00

The foot is a biological structure found in many animals that is used for locomotion. The plural of foot is feet.

HOLY CRAP, WE HAVE FEET!

Click here to listen to an archive of the show: notthefinalword-20051118.mp3

The Spooky Shit Edition

2005-11-01T08:51:00.000-04:00

Yes! This Monday morning, children in costumes were unleashed like demons or rabid dogs upon our peaceful city. They begged for candy, threw eggs, and toilet-papered your car.

Yes! Dear listeners, it was Halloweeny-time.

Some of the features on this show:
- Phobias? Why it's okay to be afraid.
- What is it like to touch a cadaver?
- And we can't really call ourselves a morning radio show if we don't do a version of "The Raven".

Click here to listen to an archive of the show: notthefinalword-spooky-shit-10-28-05.mp3

It’s the sex show.

2005-10-21T21:23:00.000-03:00

Today we had a very very special edition of Not the Final Word... Yes, some people like it in the morning, and we are those people.

This episode includes these awesome reports:

- In search of sexual confidence, Jennifer Choi spoke with Rachel Dodds, owner and founder of Sexygirl home parties. They talked about sexual confidence, lube and battery-operated boyfriends.

- Sarah Hoyles filed an in-depth report on the history of the vibrator.

- Elling spoke with a sexuality educator about some of the myths that she hears from teens about birth control.

- Brodie Thomas, the guy who’s willing to do anything in the name of journalism, read the bible this week. He filed this report about that section of the Bible everyone should read, The Song of Solomon.

And much more aural smut.

Listen to this show, dammit: notthefinalword-sex-20051021.mp3

Margaritaville: Alcohol Special

2005-10-14T13:33:00.000-03:00

Bombed
Cooked
Destroyed
Discombobulated
Four sheets to the wind
Hammered
Hosed
Plastered
Tired and emotional
Tipsy…

Whatever you call it, people have been getting drunk since prehistoric times.

Alcohol is used as a part of a standard diet, for relaxant and euphoric effects, for recreational purposes, for artistic inspiration, as aphrodisiacs, and for other reasons, including religious ceremony.

This week on Not the Final Word we took a look at alcohol and drinking.

Click here to listen to an archive of the show: notthefinalword-20051014.mp3

PS: Reg Fessenden

William Leith

2005-10-08T13:26:00.000-03:00

We didn't have enough time to play this one yesterday, but here is part of a conversation between Sonya Poller, a Not The Final Word Contributor, and author William Leith.

Leith was an overweight child and grew up to be an overweight adult. His new book, The Hungry Years, Confessions of a Food Addict, (published by Bond Street Books/Doubleday) protrayal of how he turned a life of addiction around. Leith believes that society and our children are in an obesity crisis.

Poller began by mentioning a statistic from the Canadian Medical Journal which found children are three times more likely to be obese if they eat less than three times a week with their family. She asked Leith if that was part of the answer to preventing obesity in children.

Click here to listen: william_leith.mp3 (9 minutes, 8.5 MB)

Just Eat It: Food Special

2005-10-07T09:47:00.000-03:00

This is a special edition of Not the Final Word (the fabulous weekly newsmagazine) on food-related issues.

Our special guests were Mat Dunlap, famous vegan about town and co-host of Let's Get Baked (everyone's favorite vegan baking show), and his friend Jessica Lewis. They answered questions about what some might call... "the dangerous cult of veganism".

Click here to listen to an archive of the show: notthefinalword_10-07-05.mp3

Episode 09-23-05 - Bikes

2005-09-24T19:39:00.000-03:00

Episode 09-23-05.mp3

Online Roundup 09-23-05

2005-09-23T01:10:00.000-03:00

The Online Roundup is a weekly look at some of the discussions that have been attracting attention on the main local online Bulletin Boards.

HFX.GENERAL
Someone's unfortunate Metro Transit experience.
How accurate are the gas prices on the site halifaxgasprices.com?
Some uncivilized debate about oil and who should get rebates.

HALIFAX LOCALS
Dear local musicians and entertainment industry - about the late startup times at Halifax shows
Who likes silent movies? - the beginnings of a silent movie club?
Lightning is awesome

Steer Clean

2005-09-22T23:59:00.000-03:00

Yesterday was Car Free day, and around the world people gave up their cars and explored other means of transport.

Here in Halifax, the Ecology Action Centre has a program called “Steer Clean”. It asks car owners to trade in their vehicles for incentives like tax receipts, a new bicycle, or a six-month bus pass. Kevin Blair was one of the first people to sign up and give away his car.

Here is Mara Brotman’s conversation with him:

(Apologies for the poor quality of the audio)
Click here to listen: steer-clean-09-22.05.mp3

Otesha Project

2005-09-22T23:24:00.000-03:00

The Otesha Project is an organization which according to its website, was created to enable and empower our generation to take action towards a sustainable future.

As part of the Otesha Project, Jess Abramson has been biking across Canada, spreading information about sustainability through theatre, multi-media, puppetry, and story-telling to engage a wide range of audiences.

Yesterday, Tor Sandberg had the chance to talk to her about her experience with the project.

Click here to listen: otesha-project-09-22-05.mp3

Mike Helmet

2005-09-22T22:47:00.000-03:00

Michael Catano is the station co-ordinator here at CKDU, and he plays in many notable bands, including most recently the backup band for Norma MacDonald on her newly-released solo album. He is also a cyclist and a "staunch wearer of bike helmets."

This past Sunday, he had an accident that could have been quite serious if his head had not been protected.

I had the chance to sit down and talk to him about his experience, and I started off by asking him if he considers himself a "helmet advocate":

Click here to listen: mike-helmet-09-23-05.mp3

Biodiesel

2005-09-16T00:23:00.000-03:00

Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel made from renewable resources such as vegetable oils or animal fats. Unlike petrodiesel, biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic, and it significantly reduces toxic and other emissions when burned as a fuel. A growing number of fuel stations are making biodiesel available to consumers, and a growing number of large transport fleets use some proportion of biodiesel in their fuel. (Wikipedia)

Dave Collins is vice-president of Wilson Fuel Company Ltd., an independent Home Heating Fuel and Gasoline Retailer. They are one of Canada's biggest producers of Biodiesel. We got the chance to talk with him about biodiesel in Nova Scotia, including the recent problems the Halifax buses have been having with the fuel.

mp3 link:
biodiesel-09-15-05.mp3 (18 minutes)

To Kill a Mockingbird

2005-09-16T00:13:00.000-03:00

To Kill a Mockingbird is a 1960 novel by Harper Lee, which won the
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. In the book, a black man is
accused of raping a young white woman, and the town's racial tensions
come violently to the surface.

A new production of To Kill a Mockingbird hit the stage this week at
Neptune Theatre in Halifax.

I spoke with Professor David Divine, the chair of the James Robinson Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies at Dalhousie about some of the issues surrounding the play and how they relate to Halifax.

mp3 link:
daviddivine-09-15-05.mp3 (18 minutes)

Online Roundup 09-16-05

2005-09-15T23:21:00.000-03:00

The Online Roundup is a weekly look at some of the discussions that
have been attracting attention on the main local online Bulletin Boards.

HFX.GENERAL:

Canadian Ships Sent Back - "Fox News Suggests Canadian Katrina Generosity Meant To Embarrass George W. Bush"
Metrolink Bus to Portland Hills: Irrelevant?
Cars vs. Crosswalkers

HALIFAXLOCALS:

Police Helmet Crackdown
Bob and Lori's Not Closing
SpyHunter is Awesome