Category Archive: Media

The Fox, as it once rocked

Posted by Mike Klassen on March 28, 2011

CFOX FM99 deejays & assorted staff circa 1987 – click for larger

I don't get nearly as much time to write on my personal blog these days, choosing it to aggregate writing at CityCaucus.com and BCWineLover.com most often. However, there are those little items which have absolutely nothing to do with city politics, urbanism or drinking fine B.C. wine, so they'll find their way here.

For example, thanks to Facebook and my old colleague Martin Strong (in photo above standing in back sixth from left), whose talents made the Brother Jake Show on Rock 101 shine until late last year, I was able to get the photo above. I'm standing in back, fourth from the right and just within reach of the beloved Fox mascot for CFOX FM 99 radio. What's astounding to me is how many of these folks are still holding down radio gigs nearly a quarter century later.

Front and centre is Robin LeRose (light coloured bow tie), who has been the mid-day announcer at either CFOX or Rock101 for most of the last three decades, I think. Bob Sae (second from left) continues to work as the announcer at BC Lions games, and no longer is behind a radio mic as far as I know. Kerry Marshall, the only bearded subject here standing sixth from the left, went into semi-retirement years ago before being brought back to read news on the Larry & Willy Show on Jack FM Vancouver. I listened to Kerry when he was the morning co-host on FM99 in the late 1970s!

Poking his head up fifth from the left is Steve Dunbar, formerly the morning show host at Shore 104 FM but at the time he was doing the overnight shift. Last year Steve had me come in and read a weekly commentary piece each week last summer.

I could go on and try and remember who everyone else is, but I recall the evening it was taken. We were located at a nightclub that was built for EXPO 86 called "86 Street" down at the Plaza of Nations (currently occupied by the Edgewater Casino).

That night I mixed it up with Bryan Adams and rocker Kim Mitchell (a new solo artist and formerly front man for Max Webster). As a total rock fanboy, I had a few beers before I could get up the nerve to say hello to either of them. Mitchell was courteous but very business-like. Hanging out with a bunch of radio guys isn't probably part of the job he adored. Adams apparently came by himself, and just hung out – ever the North Vancouver kid.

Continue reading "The Fox, as it once rocked" »

Tagged: cfox fm 99, martin strong, radio, reminiscences

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Joseph Planta interviews everyone (and me) at thecommentary.ca

Posted by Mike Klassen on October 14, 2009

I've always been impressed with Joseph Planta's interviews. I first discovered Joe's work back in 2004, when he interviewed then city councillor Sam Sullivan for the Knowards campaign he headed up at the time. Now all these years later Joe has interviewed me on a couple of occasions. I think he must have a special allotment of interviews for people that live in his neighbourhood, otherwise why would he be talking to me?

As it turns out Planta lives next door to my neighbourhood Mountain View about five blocks from my place. He attended local schools, was born in Vancouver and raised in the community. His website thecommentary.ca has just had a revamp, and you should try to check out all the great interviews he's done in recent months.

Joe is a Vancouver original, and you have to admire his dedication to his passion for current affairs. Here's the link to his latest conversation with me.

Tagged: current affairs, joseph planta, podcasts, thecommentary.ca, vancouver

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No Cabbage Patch: Notes on the Rogers iPhone Debacle

Posted by Mike Klassen on July 14, 2008

One month before the launch of iPhone 3G, Steve Jobs addressed a crowd at the Apple Developers Connection. 30 days later one of the most embarrassing corporate SNAFUs in Canadian history occurred. It is yet to be seen whose head will roll for it.

It is highly unlikely that the company's namesake, founder Ted Rogers, will get the boot. It will more likely be someone listed on the company's Board of Directors page.

How serious the damage has been to Rogers bottom line is yet to be added up. The company's annual projections no doubt factored in strong sales for Apple's iPhone, which Rogers has locked up in an exclusive deal for the Canadian territory.

Continue reading "No Cabbage Patch: Notes on the Rogers iPhone Debacle" »

Tagged: apple computer, cell phone data usage, iphone, rogers wireless

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Vancouver Sun's Frances Bula resigns

Posted by Mike Klassen on July 2, 2008

This comes out of the blue. France Bula, the veteran Vancouver Sun writer that covered the city beat more thoroughly than any of her colleagues, announced on her City States blog that she has resigned from the paper.

"Fabula" distinguished herself in recent months with her round-the-clock postings on civic affairs, namely the NPA and Vision Vancouver mayoral nomination battles, on that blog. It was a first for the tired old Vancouver Sun, whose transition into the digital age has been particularly clunky thanks to publisher CanWest.

Apart from the updates on internal rancor within the two political parties (it became a must read for local civic affairs junkies), Bula's blog was particularly insightful on the subject of Vancouver development. Whether covering the recent talk by Andrés Duany, the lengthy debates in council chambers on EcoDensity, or talking about new buildings dotting Vancouver's skyline and the people who built them, Bula's passion for our city and its inner workings was always evident.

Frances does not reveal her reasons for the departure, but her final blog post indicates some frustration with the editorial direction of the Vancouver Sun. Over the last several years CanWest Global has been paying buyouts to many of its longstanding employees, giving them the choice of early retirement.

Tagged: vancouver media, vancouver politics, vancouver sun

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Singing with Obama

Posted by Mike Klassen on February 4, 2008

I've worked on a few election campaigns in my time, and rarely did we break out in song. I know, I know, this is video below is just a notch apart from a Benetton ad, but it's an impressive way to deliver a candidate's message nonetheless.

Tagged: barack obama, us politics

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Memo to TV writers on strike

Posted by Mike Klassen on November 28, 2007

This video must send a chill through the striking TV writers and their well-coiffed hosts. How can you watch this and not conclude that, yes, quality programming CAN be produced by primates? Watch, and decide...

Tagged: daily show, tv writers strike

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The Onion: Poll reveals the top issue for voters

Posted by Mike Klassen on October 22, 2007

I just discovered that The Onion has a TV news network. This is a hard-hitting report from this quality outfit.

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CTVglobemedia + Windows Media sucks

Posted by Mike Klassen on September 12, 2007

How come the computing platform with the fastest consumer growth stats over the past 2 years still can't watch videos on Canada's largest national media provider website? CTV and the Globe and Mail rely on Windows Media for their video delivery. Come on, guys, this is sooo 2002.

Time to start sharing media in FLV format like 99.999% of other internet video providers.

And don't ask why I'm trying to watch the Britney Spears MVA post-mortem.

Tagged: britney spears train wreck, ctvglobemedia, internet video

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