JohnStall.com

Welcome to John Stall’s World On Line

Hi there, and welcome to my official personal website that is separate and distinct from other sites with which I am proudly affiliated. www.680news.com

This is the on-line home that combines John Stall Communications, my communications consulting practice with my current and past radio broadcasting/online life. John Stall Profile

This site is designed to preserve the past Jack Layton & Stall back in the day - 1998 and to share the present as we move forward online.

I've  posted some archived pics, audio clips and full length radio interviews like this one with the cantankerous late former Leaf's owner Harold Ballard  who would never let  Russian Hockey in MLG ,  or field reports from some pretty unusual places. Globe Trotting

So welcome to " Stall's World On Line " and  "John Stall Communications".  Look around the site.  I hope you find some of the audio/visual clips to be educational, Meech Lake Accord interesting, entertaining, The most moving rendition of " Danny Boy" you will ever hear or just plain fun like this question I put to Toronto Mayor Ford during the election campaign.

I also invite you to share and respond to the blog thoughts and tweets I'm  posting as well @johnstall_radio & Stall680news.

As for Consulting Services, the John Stall Communications portal speaks for itself.  I'm happy to help.

Welcome

Ford More Years

This is a prediction, not an endorsement but my gut tells me Doug Ford can and will win the Spring  ( 2018 ) election to become Premier of Ontario. Brother Rob is no doubt rolling with laughter in the grave.

America’s future on hold

I don’t know who will win tonight’s Presidential election but I know that neither one represent America’s future given their ages of 69 and 70.  Bill Clinton was in his prime  at 46 when he became president. He was elected by his pier population group who felt they finally had one of their own in charge of the Country and their future in contrast to GHW Bush who was 64 when left office or Ronald Reagan at 77

Political policy or partisanship aside for a moment here.  Bill Clinton was embraced as a classy, energetic, saxophone playing baby boomer who’s view of the world matched that of his American generation who elected him.  Same goes for Barrack Obama who at 47 was elected as the smart, fit, techno-savvy cool cat with not one but two Blackberry’s who could fulfill the dreams and aspirations of his culturally diverse generation and younger. The Kennedy Camelot years began as he took office at age 43.  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ( just sayin )  reflects the current and future world of wired in millennial’s, he can wax poetic about how quantum computing works and fits into their future world – not the current world of those who elected his father.

Lots of us, even most of us in our mid to late 60’s have an enormous amount of wisdom and experience to give, to be called upon for advice, guidance  and still bring it every day to our places of work –  but we are no longer the future of those places or Countries.  So  seriously, what Future of America does Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump represent?

America needs political renewal.

Social media comes with a price.

At least Captain John went down with his ship.

While many in this city cheered the sight of Captain John’s restaurant being towed away from her berth at the foot of Yonge street today, I shed a tiny tear for a couple of reason, the second of which I will reveal in a minute. I spent a lot of time on Captain John’s when it opened in the 70’s.  I ate a lot of shrimp cocktail on the deck, drank a lot of beer and sipped way too many Black Russians well into a Friday night.  My first job in radio ( circa 73 ) was at CKEY 590 which at the time was located on the top floor of  the Toronto Star building at #1 Yonge – so the ship became our after work meeting spot and Friday night launch into the weekend.  On any given afternoon to early evening  there would be dozens of us from the station or the Star Newsroom holding court on the issues of the day.  Along side us would be the very politicians we were slagging from city council or Queens Park – from councillors like Fred Beavis and Joe Piccinini  to  Metro Chairman Paul Godfrey and Premier Bill Davis.  It was the place to be and to be seen.  The Captain himself  ( John Letnik ) would stroll tall and elegantly throughout the ship proudly schmoozing his A list while sending the odd ” on-the-house” round our way just to keep us coming back.  I can only imagine how many free lunches were offered and accepted by politicians of the day.  It was quite a time and what memories I can remember ( through the haze of Black Russians )  came flooding back today.

The second reason I’m a touch sorry to see the ship go is because as it came up for auction, a small part of me wanted to buy it!  Seriously.  Although I have enjoyed every second of my lengthy radio career in Toronto, as a #Masterchef ( in  my own mind ) and as I whistle by the grave yard, my  latent dream is to own and run a restaurant..  Having travelled quite extensively,  I’ve seen my share of unique WATERFRONT spots – In San Francisco, Chicago, Florida Keys, Mexico, BVI, Hong Kong, Boston, Cape Cod, Naples, Sicily, Nice, along Italy’s Amalfi coast and throughout the Greek Islands.  The notion of an actual ship as a waterfront restaurant destination is gold,  anywhere in the world.  I even ( just musing ) almost called Paul Godfrey ( fixer )  to joint venture with me – LOL

Yes, just a dream.  It would take a ton of financial, administrative, physical, political and legal energy to clear up the liens, back taxes, bad will and rust that has accumulated on the hull of Captain John’s – but oh baby, what a dream! I’m glad that John Letnik realized some of  his and at least he went down with his ship – unlike other Captains’ who abandon passengers and crew to save themselves.

Why the Apple Watch may be bad for your health

There is an old adage characterizing consultants as those who take your watch, tell you what time it is, and then send you a bill.

Well, Apple has just upped the consulting game by giving us a watch to consult our lives before sending an on-going bill.

It’s hard not to be wowed by the functions of Apple Watch, which unveiled by CEO Tim Cook on Monday.

The watch (in the words of Steve Jobs), is a maniacally cool device, but it will clearly up the distraction game too.

At least you can keep an iPhone away in your pocket or purse until you need or want the information it gives up. But, this wearable interactive bracelet will be in your face buzzing, blinking, dinging or vibrating every waking minute of every day (as long as the battery lasts).

You’ll be alerted to every tweet, Facebook or Instagram post. You’ll Google, gasp, and get Siri to run your life. You’ll be able to monitor your heartbeat and rising blood pressure caused by constant over-stimulation, but you won’t be able to lower it unless you turn the Apple Watch off.

You’ll be talking, tapping, taking and sending pictures, moaning to friends or mending relationships.

You are in for the ride of your life, if that is your thing, and as Tim Cook revealed at the event, “this is just the beginning.”

Buon Natale

Buon Natale – Italian Christmas eve feast.

Celebrated an early Christmas this weekend with oldest daughter who will be away with her other half for the real deal. She requested the awesomely authentic ‪#‎Italian‬ Christmas Eve dinner – so the authentically Italian Master chef ( in his own mind) enjoyed a full day preparing the traditional 7 meatless dishes ( sometimes 12 ) but not last night.

 

Yes, It may come as a surprise to some ( if anyone cares at all ) that Stall is in any way attached to the Italian culture. The reality is my father married into a huge Italian family -hence I was born and raised in the bosom of nothing but the Italian culture. My Grandmother was a “Caruso” from the little mountain top town of Pisticci in the Basilicata region in the south east of Italy ( same home town as the late Johnny Lombardi of Toronto) Yes, I’m 2nd  cousin to the late famous Toronto hair dresser Gus Caruso who revolutionized womens’ hairstyling in the 50’s and 60’s from his shop on Bloor’s now mink mile before opening salons in NY, Rome and Paris ( I think ) here is a cool link to his legacy http://tinyurl.com/n9p8sbu

 

So anyway, back to the Christmas Eve feast. Pics will speak for themselves but if your interested in the menu: Everything ‪#‎comanice:  light battered smelt , Baked mussels in shell ,  Grilled calamari in sea salted olive oil tossed in rappini Grilled Octopus,  Pasta with clams oyster and shrimp in a red sauce. – Chestnuts ( not roasted on an open fire ).  My mother and grandmother used to prepare the traditional baccala ( salted cod ) , but I can’t stand the smell in house as its working its magic so its one of the dishes I have dropped. -Baked goods courtesy of Cousin Marianne.

 

So glad I watched closely though as my mother and grandmother were cooking as I became an adult and so glad I harnessed a ton of traditional Italian recipes before they both passed long ago.  Neither one of them I might add were very specific with the recipe’s but what matters most is the spirit with which they both cooked- something I’m glad to have inherited.  Miss them both mostly on Christmas Eve. Buon Natale

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Something’s happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear

    Byelection results always serve as fodder for future predictions but rarely resonate equally with all political pundits or parties. Incumbents, if they lose or end up with less support than in general elections are always quick to characterize the result as general voter malaise or anger that is registered as a protest vote without fear of upsetting the whole applecart. Challengers who win who realize gains are always quick to characterize the byelection result as a sign of things to come in the next general election. Both characterizations are valid and clearly one side or the other is eventually going to be right. But somethings happening here in the GTA, based on the result in Whitby-Oshawa and what it is ain’t exactly clear. The victory in the late Jim Flaherty’s riding by former Whitby Mayor Pat Perkins does not come as a surprise because the former finance minister was considered one of the best, most effective and committed Conservative MP’s in history, and Perkins is a well respected civic leader. What is surprising,  is that despite the reverence for Flaherty and the Conservative values of Stephen Harper, The Liberals led by Justin Trudeau were able to triple their share of the vote from 14% in the last election to 42% in this byelection. If they were able to achieve that kind of increased support in the riding of the Country’s most revered former finance minister, it stands to reason that many GTA seats currently held by less popular or accomplished Tory candidates will be vulnerable in next years general election.

In Praise of Afghanada

John Tory will be the next Mayor ( This is a prediction not an endorsement)

I didn’t have to plan too much of a formal introduction to Doug Ford this morning as he arrived in the 680news studio for our final on-air session because as a veteran interviewer I know that sometimes the best and most revealing content never gets on the air because it takes place off the air before and after the “real thing.” Doug walked in at 7:30 a.m. on Friday during the commercial break and while saying hello began complaining about my/our post-analysis of the City News debate. I had concluded that the debate was flat, that Doug was more subdued than normal and that John Tory had avoided any devastating moments that could have derailed what the pollsters are predicting will be a significant victory on Monday night. Ford was telling me how wrong we all are to conclude the polls are correct so when the time to begin the interview arrived, I simply turned on the mic and let the audience know that they were now welcome to “eavesdrop ” on an exchange that had already been underway between the two of us – here it is as it unfolded on 680news this morning  While asking Doug to explain why he took issue with my assessment of the debate, he acknowledged that he was a little more subdued because he had hammered Tory enough times to make his points. What he then revealed is that his own internal polling puts him in a dead heat with John Tory or even slightly ahead while making the point that the winner will be the one who can get the vote out. He didn’t go as far as to suggest I had a bias, but he left no doubt that he thinks the media generally has a bias in favor of John Tory. So, folks, let me be perfectly clear as we head into the weekend before the vote. I have no bias for or against any of the candidates. I am not endorsing any of them, but when I am asked who I think is going to win. I answer John Tory. I come to this conclusion because after the longest campaign in Toronto’s history with all of its twists and turns and despite the myriad issues that have been debated ad nauseam, I really believe the core issue has been more Ford or no Ford. If not, then who ? Given that Olivia Chow has not found a groundswell of support by any measure and that Rob Ford’s cancer treatment took him out of the race, I sense Tory emerged as the default candidate for the fiscally focused outside of Ford Nation. As for Doug, he is a force of nature who never gives up and truly believes he is going to win on Monday. I just don’t think he is as endearing a character as his brother and is not attracting new support outside of the Ford Nation. He told me this morning that I will be proven wrong on Monday night and that the pollsters will once again be embarrassed We shall see.