Empty replacements cause weight gain
by Joel and Michaela CôtéSelig

Last night, Michaela CôtéSelig, baker extraordinaire for CBC Key Demographic (CBCKD), caught her husband, Joel, leaving a known bakery with Ms. E. Clair Pastry. "I caught believe it's gone this far!" exclaims Michaela. "The lockout has brought my husband to conduct a most disloyal act."

Two weeks ago, we learned about how the CBC lockout had affected Joel. He was losing weight at an incredible pace as Michaela was providing what were normally his baked goods to the members of the Canadian Media Guild on the Sparks Street picket line in Ottawa.

"I first started to get suspicious that Joel was cheating on me when I noticed he getting a little softer around the edges," Michaela explains. "And then there was the powdered sugar and custard stains on his clothes. That's when I knew without a doubt."

"I couldn't hold out any longer without the quality baking I come to expect from my lovely wife," explained Joel.

Now into its sixth week, the lockout has affected normal listening and viewing patterns of the CBC audience. Like Joel turning to commercial baked goods, some CBC viewers are turning to private television and radio. The longer the lockout continues, the more the CBC is in danger of losing large audience numbers—especially those in the key demographic, ages 18 to 35—who are tempted to turn the dial and risk a future CBC audience.

"But, the replacement baked goods just don't cut it," clarified Joel. "They leave me feeling empty; they are void of substance. And now that I'm left to watch private television, I'm being lead to buy fast food and prefab cookies." Pointing to his pastry-filled belly, Joel grieves "and now look at me, I look like the Prime Minister before he went on that Clay Aikins diet."

Like good home-cooked meals in the dining rooms of our country, there is definitely an important role for public broadcasting in Canadian homes. The CBC does not easily compromise artistic integrity for commercial appeal—this fact is apparent in their radio and children's television programming. Some commercial television, on the other hand, is little less than empty calories for the mind.

The integrity of public broadcasting also allows for real dialogue amongst Canadians of all regions. Issues are raised, authentic conversations are facilitated, ideas are shared—that is, until the lockout began. The CBC is the only truly national network connecting all Canadians across the country. But how can the country speak when its voice has been silenced?

"This lockout has disrupted my family. I don't know what is going on in my husband's world, nor with my sisters in Winnipeg and St. John," Michaela cries. "Save my family, bring back the CBC."

There was apple cake this morning in Ottawa and Winnipeg, and I didn't take a picture of either. The above cake, however, made an appearance at the Save Our CBC event.

I do have other, less compelling, pictographical (please oh please let that be a real word) evidence of said apple cake below.


Anyway, things seem to be looking up somewhat.

Here's to hope.

Prime Minister Martin,

I am writing to you to encourage you to please intervene in getting a rapid and fair resolution to the CBC lockout. The longer this labour dispute continues, the more irreparable harm will be done to this essential nation building institution.

The CBC is still a viable unifying medium. Although not every Canadian turns to the CBC for all their information and entertainment, every Canadian is affected by the labour dispute. Football and hockey fans will receive paltry coverage of the beloved sports. Current affairs junkies are left out of the loop with irrelevant BBC broadcasts. Our wittiest comedians are left to crack jokes on the picket lines instead of in our living rooms. Even yourself will be directly affected when the first scrum will take place after question period when Julie Van Dusen, Eric Sorenson and Keith Boag are not there to act as the voice of Canadians coast to coast to coast.

The CBC Radio acts as the direct line to the country and to the world for many people like the mother of Senator Jim Munsen (please ask him about how the lockout has affected his family). For myself, it was CBC Radio that connected me to my new city. It provided continuity from moving from Winnipeg to Ottawa; although the voices were different, the necessary information was provided to me in the most professional and closely to objective fashion that we can only expect from the CBC. Private radio leaves me wishing that I was back in Manitoba whereas the CBC makes me feel like home everywhere in Canada.

The CBC is to provide Canadians with a public service. Currently, they are not living up to its raison-d'être to the country. As proud owners of the nation's best radio and television networks, we demand the return of the people that make the CBC great.

As our Prime Minister, you have the power to bring back the CBC to the people. Canadians want Canadian programming. We want to hear our stories, watch our own actors, witness our history and we can not do that without our public broadcaster. We need your help.



With confidence,



Joel [ ]

Ottawa

40 days. Can you believe it's been 40 days? It's like being on an ark.

Our morale's been lagging for want of public broadcasting goodness, so, since they were such a success early on, we brought back the picket cupcakes yesterday—at least two of every kind. Knowing how much we love and need the CBC, it's hard to imagine what it's like a) to have had the privilege of working there; and b) to have that privilege revoked, by dint of either an expired contract or this bloody lock out. I guess things are still moving and progress must be being made, but in this particular moment, I just have to say THIS SUCKS: FIX IT. Thank you.

On a sunnier note, one of our very own was out on the line here in Ottawa this week. A team of J-schoolers came out yesterday at lunch to support their future colleagues. Read more here.

Some of us are heading out to this thing tonight. Filling the void, I suppose. I think we'll bring a cake.

I expect readers of this blog will appreciate and enjoy this entry from Matt Watts, even if you don't remember the Frantics: http://mattwatts.blogspot.com/2005/09/frantics-are-not-on-cbc.html

Wife bakes for CBC employees, not husband
by Joel CôtéSelig

"It's been almost a month since I've eaten a cookie," lamented Joel CôtéSelig, an unintended victim of the CBC lock-out. "The lock-out has to stop immediately or there won't be anything left of me except skin and bones.

"My wife no longer bakes for me. No cookies, no cake, not even pie. Everything she makes, it's for the locked-out CBC employees."

Joel is another innocent bystander caught between the labour troubles at the CBC. For nearly a month now, Joel's spouse, Michaela has been a member of the group bloggers and bakers named CBC Key Demographic (CBC KD).

Based in Ottawa, CBC KD is a nationwide grouping of 18- to 35- year-old listeners and viewers of CBC radio and television who seek the rapid and fair resolution of the labour strife that has disrupted their lives in many ways. The CBC KD bloggers have demonstrated their support for the locked-out members of the Canadian Media Guild by publishing online their blog letters sent to CBC leaders and members of parliament demanding the return of the CBC. Most importantly, they have demonstrated their support on the picket lines by providing freshly baked goods to members of the CMG every week since the beginning of the lock-out.

Under normal circumstances, these delicious but hardly nutritious treats would have been eaten by Joel and others living with members of CBC KD. "The CBC's actions are purely selfish and creating more victims than they realize. Not only they are depriving Canadians of world-class information and entertainment, they are depriving me of the midnight snacks that I depend on to get me through the night," whimpered Joel over the rumble of hunger in his baked good-free stomach.

"I can admit that there have been some positives that have come out of the CBC lock-out. Amazingly, I've managed to lose those pesky 2 kilos that I could not rid with neither exercise nor low-carb diets. And most importantly, with no competition from Ian Hanomansing or Shelagh Rogers, my wife has more time for me … in the bedroom if you know what I mean. That is unless she is up late baking for the CBC."

For the health and wellness of victims like Joel, please contact your local member of parliament and CBC management to demand the rapid and fair resolution of the labour dispute. For every Joel we hear about, there are another 2 that are suffering a similar fate.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: this one came in a while ago and we forgot to post it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kari [ ]
Date: Aug 27, 2005 2:26 AM
Subject: CBC lockout
To: Frulla.L@parl.gc.ca, Goldring.P@parl.gc.ca, Martin.P@parl.gc.ca, robert_rabinovitch@cbc.ca, jane_chalmers@cbc.ca
Cc: cbckeydemo@gmail.com

Dear all,

I wish to express my concern regarding the labour dispute at the CBC.

The CBC is many things to many people. Its importance as a cohesive element in our national psyche cannot be overstated. Whether they're catching the odd CFL game or tuning in to As It Happens every night after dinner, almost every Canadian has a direct connection with our national broadcaster.

But others have expressed this more eloquently and passionately. (Some who share my concerns have shared their views at http://www.cbckeydemo.blogspot.com/.) What I wish to offer instead is an account of the CBC's importance in my life.

It is difficult for me to express fully what the CBC means to me as a young Canadian. CBC radio, in particular, is a big part of my past. One of my earliest memories is of the Morningside theme playing from my aunt's radio. Whenever I came home from school in Calgary, the radio was on, tuned to 1010 am. I remember sitting in the driveway for what seemed like an hour, not wanting to turn off the car radio until the election results came in.

Until the lockout, the CBC was a big part of my current life. Radio One was the first thing I heard in the morning and the last thing I heard at night. Any major event came to me first by way of Judy Maddren or Ian Hanomansing, or maybe George Stroumboulopoulos. I mourned when Peter Gzowski died, deeply affected by his influence on the lives of Canadians across the country.

I hope desperately that the CBC will play a significant role in my future. When I allow myself to imagine my ideal career, I picture myself as Shelagh Rogers or Barbara Budd. It is my dream to work as a broadcaster on CBC radio.

More than anything, more than my disconnect from the local information I crave, more than my sympathy for the journalists whose work I admire, more than my concern for the public image of the CBC, it is my dream of being a broadcaster that motivates me to write to you. While the minutiae of the labour dispute are bewildering to outsiders like me, I know that there is a simple solution to this problem, and it is a solution which you actually have the power to implement: increased government support.

The workers at the CBC have demonstrated their desire to continue with the jobs they love: even while on lockout, they are publishing blogs, broadcasting on community stations, and offering streetside weather reports. The management of the CBC clearly wishes to continue to produce a quality product, given Mr. Rabinovitch's optimistic and positive message in the 2003-04 annual report: to say "Our goal will remain constant—to serve the citizens of this country by offering the best Canadian programming found anywhere" clearly indicates a commitment to this organization that we love and depend upon.

Your support will ensure that both the management and the workers can fulfill their vision. Your swift action will restore the national connection that will atrophy as long as original programming is off the air. Your continuous commitment is the only assurance that the CBC, a true national treasure, will be protected. With enough government support, the CBC will continue to produce quality programming, enduring personalities, and the reliable information we all depend on.

Please, for the future of broadcasting and broadcasters, do what is in your power to restore the CBC.

Kari

Another week without the CBC, another baking spree. If the lockout keeps up much longer, we're going to need more flour.

Please, if you haven't already, write a letter to the editor (see last week's comment from Susan) or at least to your MP (and don't forget to cc us).

From: jason [ ]
Date: Sep 6, 2005 10:47 PM
Subject: CBC ~~~~ Come back ~~~~~
To: cbckeydemo@gmail.com

Hi, I am an international student at Ryerson in Toronto. I used to listen to the CBC radio on a daily basis until this lockout took place.

Without the CBC, I feel like I am being kept in the dark. I do not [know] what is happening in Toronto Today. I want my CBC back. I just can't get used to listening to other radio stations with commercials pouring out every few minutes.

Bring it back.

By the way, I am a taxpayer just like other Canadians and I pay tax on everything I buy here.

- CBC suppoter

On a happier note, the CBC folks seemed to be really touched by our baked good this week.

Sure, we are sad and frustrated, but we remain vigilant and will continue to bring CBC-logo-decorated treats to the locked-out workers.

Note to picket line: this cookie may contain traces of pent-up anger (at management, not you), incredulity (who the hell responded to that G&M poll?) and love (ok, that's for you).

Let's hope this thing ends soon, but in the meantime, make some cookies—it'll raise your spirits in these sad times. We'll be back next week.


P.S. We just got a little rocked by the spam this afternoon, so we're trying out this word verification contraption on the comments. If it's too big of a hassle though, we'll go back to deleting the junk as it comes in. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Throughout this dreadful lockout (which has gone on far too long already), I've been going to the online version of the Globe and Mail for my news fix. And yesterday, I'm sure you all saw it, the poll asked, "Does Canada need the CBC?" Sadly, 59% of those who voted said no. Can you believe it? And it wasn't like there were only 50 votes. Oh no, there were 48,104 votes in total! That's a lot of dumbasses. But, rather than tracking each one down and handing out individual Dumbass Awards, I'm just going to present a collective award to the whole lot of them. Congratulations to each and every one of you—you truly deserve it.

I don't need to go into the reasons that we need the CBC. It's been said much more eloquently by other people on this site and on the street. Just let me say that the flow of information that streams at us every day needs to be intellectual, and it needs to be more than just information. It needs to be well researched, well contextualized and well articulated so that we're being given knowledge, not just information. And the CBC does that best. So let them do it!