cktimes.ca Archives for Notes from a Garage


Notes from a Garage

With John Gardiner

So, what's wrong with mainstream media?

Tuesday, February 4, 2003

If you've been reading this space for any length of time, you've started to realize that I'm not much of a fan of the mainstream media. In fact, I more or less loathe the modern mainstream media and this week I'd like to give you an example of why. I don't watch much TV, but was busy flipping through the channels one evening last week and came across George W. at almost every single flip of the convertor. Seems George was delivering his "State of the Union" address, so I settled in to watch for a few minutes. Actually, I likely ended up watching for perhaps 10 minutes and I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard. I had expected nothing but Saddam-bashing in the big speech and so had avoided it having heard quite enough of this type of stuff. Instead, during the time I watched, George W. outlined an American plan to try to fight AIDS in Africa – pledging $15 billion over five years and at least doing something about this human catastrophe. When the Prez finished talking about AIDS, I moved along and likely extinguished the image on the screen. Still, I told my wife, that had been some really good news for the world's poorest people. So, that morning at coffee, I pick up the London Free Press for a quick perusal. The line story is about how the Americans are "girding" for war with Iraq. I search the whole paper and don't find a single mention of the AIDS promise. Strange, but true. Later that day, I head into the convenience store across the road for something, and while entering the store, I scan the headlines on the front pages of Canada's major newspapers. And.....there were no headlines about AIDS – it was all about Saddam and "girding" for war. See what the media does, folks. It censors your news and only gives you the bad stuff. It's as plain as the nose on your face, my friends. The media tells us it only gives the public what it wants. The truth is that the media doesn't really give you a choice. If there was a positive major news story and a negative major news story facnig almost any editor anywhere, they'd choose the negative one as the lead story – it's the way it is. But it's wrong, man. It's the wrong approach. Think about it and you'll come to realize what cktimes.ca is all about. We'll try to highlite everything that's positive and good about people – that's what we need in this old world – some good positive energy.

I made my radio debut this past Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. on the new CFCO show "Good News Sunday". I'll be holding down about a ten minute spot each week to talk about some of the great things you folks in Chatham-Kent are up to. I really appreciate the effort that the staff of CFCO are making to try to make more positive things happen in our local community. Please feel free to contact me, either by e-mail or telephone (519-627-5978), if you or your group have something happening in Chatham-Kent and you'd like to make the rest of the community aware of it. I'm trying to build a community newsmagazine on the internet with heavy emphasis on the word "community". I believe we need to support each other and try to always see the best in our neighbours. And I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I'm not the cheerleader type (although I must be sounding a bit like it). I'm concerned about the state of the world and cktimes is my small effort to try to change my little corner of it. Each and every one of us can make a difference. Start with yourself and work from there.

Had a good meeting with Elizabeth Brown, Jennier Cofell and the rest of the Ridge Players on Sunday and what a lively group that is. Imagine that they've been putting on an annual musical for 35 straight years – what a wonderful tradition. They will be presenting "Me and My Girl" at RDHS, starting the weekend of Feb. 21 and running for two weekends. They were having their first rehearsal with costumes when I dropped in - looks like it's going to be another hit – great local community stuff.

Also had occasion to meet Bruce Nelson, who is directing the CKSS musical Grease that will take to the boards on Feb. 19 at the school. I was privileged enough to watch a few of the scenes and this will be a tremendous show, folks. Get your tickets now for an evening of fun and pure entertainment energy. Kids just bring so much more energy than adults.

Hats off to the Chatham Maroons for helping out the Easter Seal Society this past Sunday and welcoming the Penny Power event to game night at Memorial Arena. Easter Seals District Manager Diane LeCour continues to amaze me with her energy. Great work by Gary Patterson and Karen Burgess. Great to meet Larry and Shelley Keenan, community relations people with the Maroons. Hope to see much more of you.

Out of time for another week. Hope you're enjoying reading cktimes as much as I am producing it for you. Great to meet new faces each week. Hits were up again last month.

Take care....and remember...."Hew to the line; let the chips fall where they may."



John Gardiner is a 25-year-veteran of the community newspaper business, but he is also a prolific writer of moralistic short fiction he refers to as "emotional thoughtscapes" or "adult fables". Samples of his fiction can be found at:

He has also produced a noteworthy piece of humanist philosophy which can be found at: http://www.xs4all.nl/~aboiten/ad502.htm He welcomes comments on his work.