I'm listening to Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada while I'm writing this.

I have a hard time with the news. I've had the same problem for as long as I can remember. It's really fucking depressing and I can't stop listening. And I can't stop being angry. On the one hand, I guess that's a good thing. It would probably be worse if I stopped being affected at all. Delivering pizzas causes me to spend a lot of time in the car. About half the time I'm in there I'm listening to the CBC.

Now, I've always had a thing for the CBC. Maybe it's a Canadian thing. When I was younger they brought me the Simpsons and Hockey Night in Canada. As I got older, it continued to bring me Hockey Night in Canada and also some of the best news coverage in the world. Now I've discovered the joys of CBC radio. Good news, a great local coverage show, and programs that cover things I would probably never hear about in the regular news day. Stories about toad hotels and the evolution of snails (they're getting slower apparently).

The down side to this is that I'm constantly bombarded by the very worst the world has to offer. Children being kidnapped. Civil wars. Republicans. A never ending parade of murder, rape, stupidity and hopelessness. More than once I've caught myself muttering or even yelling at the people being interviewed on the radio. Listening to a Sri Lankan general defending the bombing of field hospitals almost caused me to hit a truck. I had to shut the radio off on several occasions during the latest Israeli/Palestinian conflict because both sides sounded like inhuman bastards.

It hasn't all been bad news. I've heard some really great, positive stories. I've listened to hilarious interviews with musicians and politicians from around the world. I've read a handful of good books that were mentioned on the air.

I just wish it was more of the latter, less of the former.

Some links to good stuff from the CBC:
The Homestretch: the local drive-home program for Calgary. Weather and traffic updates (very helpful for me). Good local stories.
As it Happens: Covering everything from the top stories to the aforementioned toad hotels. Their stories range from deadly serious to gut bustingly wacky.
Q: Pop culture reporting at its best. Check out some of the podcasts. You won't be disappointed. Recommended: listen to Billy Bob Thornton lose his shit!
Ideas: Now, Ideas either bores me to fucking death or is the most interesting hour of radio in the world. Hearing about Canada's only assassinated politician, fascinating. The history of fire, surprisingly good. A two part special on the philosophy of democracy... interesting but kind of dry. Still, worth a listen.

And for something less serious, here is Q host Jian Gomeshi in his previous job as a member of Moxy Fruvous.