Nat and Drew’s Food Bank Fill Up continues .. today I’m broadcasting live from Safeway in Vancouver at Oak St and King Edward.

Did you know Ricky Martin had twins? Me neither.

I LOVED Desperate Housewives the first season. The last 2? Not so much. Well, someone loves it - they’ve just been renewed through 2013.

It’s one week til Trevor Linden’s big retirement night and with nosebleed tix going for $500 each, it’s probably a lot more affordable to watch the whole thing at home.

Last year I did my Christmas shopping online because of the strong dollar. This year? I’m shopping local because of the weak economy. Sure, we’re all trying to get by with spending less, but if you can choose a local shop over a big international box, it would be a nice thing to do.

Madonna’s hotel bill for her recent stay in Argentina? $1 Meeelion.

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I find it odd that at this charitable time of year, food drives and toy drives are all done at full retail.

I actually got a press release from a toy store after the Salvation Army break in advertising nothing more than the store was offering a bin for donations. No discounts, they weren’t packing up old stock to donate.. no, they were just accepting toy donations, at their toy store.

They were, in essence, trying to profit from the tragedy. The store was saying “hey, you want to help out? come and buy here and drop em off here.”

It would be nice if stores that offer the goods that are needed this time of year (food and toys) would offer a discount on the goods that people want to donate.

Feel like tossing a mac and cheese in the food bank box? That will be 59 cents, not 99.

Want to give them a big pack of diapers? That’s $19, not $30. Yknow, get things down closer to the true cost of the good.

Sure, the store should get something for their trouble of stocking the shelves and having staff, but should they be profiting off our desire to give at this time of year?

If you want to help a charity, give them cash. You get a tax receipt and they know the best way to find efficiencies in using that money to run the full distance.

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Nat and Drew’s Food Bank FillUp is on for another year. We’re in Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam and Vancouver. Come by and help us out with food and toys as we also work together on Toys for Teens Day.

This is why we’re doing the FBFU: poor families left out of boom, not the recession.

For the couple that has everything and wants a baby: the booty call ovulator.

Top Baby Names of the Year: Barack, Trig, Bronx and January. Hmmmm ..

Oprah admits she’s off the wagon and is back up to 200, 40lbs more than where she used to be.

Here’s some chicken soup for your soul: puppies save lost toddler.

Coldplay are now on record as saying they’re not copycats.

This morning TR Knight didn’t want out of his Grey’s Anatomy contract, this afternoon he does.

Can’t wait for your holiday specials at night? Get your old school Frosty fix at work with BetamaXmas.

Is gas cheap? Yes it is, cheapest its been since 2005.

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Started your holiday baking yet? Why not dig in to Gourmet Magazine's list of the favourite recipes from the past 60 years!

Everyone likes a sale.  I saw this one for Banana Republic and this one for Starbucks.

No wonder we have complexes.  Checkout the photoshop slapped on new mom Jessica Alba.

Santa Harry at Lynn Valley Mall is AWESOME.

This is why we call toddlers "little monkeys."

Like to put presents under the tree before Christmas, but don't want the kids shaking and snooping?  Number them.

What economic downturn?  Two very chic restaurants open this week.

Jimmy Fallon's new show isnt ready for prime time, so he's practicing with internet shows.

I really, really, really love Lance Armstrong.

The sequel to D— in a Box is J— in my Pants. (NSFW.)

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Category: Education
Released: Dec 05, 2008
Price: Free

Description: Enjoy inspiring and edifying talks from the Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conferences on your iPhone or iPod Touch. This application integrates multiple information feeds from TED into an unique user experience on the iPhone.

FEATURES: Watch and listen to the latest videos and audio published by TED - Search their vast collection of content on your iPhone - Bookmark your favorite talks to share with others or enjoy later.

TEDTalks are made available by TED under a Creative Commons license. For more information visit www.ted.com.

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Zacharie visited Lynn Valley Mall this week to see Santa.

A different Santa was helping out in 2008 vs 2007, Santa Harry was doing the list taking for Santa Claus. He made sure Z had his shirt done up, he was gentle and happy with him, and in the end it led to a much better photo.

Wow, has that little weed every grown.

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(December, 2008 – Vancouver, Canada) Vancouver’s entire radio community is announcing it will work together for the first time and, with the help of their listeners, assist the Salvation Army through a tough time with their Toys for Teens Day. Thursday morning thieves broke into a Salvation Army warehouse on Vancouver’s east side and stole $25,000 worth of goods destined for teenage kids this Christmas.

Tuesday from 6am to 6pm, using the power of every commercial radio signal in Vancouver, listeners will be asked to donate whatever they can to the Salvation Army in an effort to refill their warehouse with toys for teens and cash donations.

“While this theft was a very unfortunate incident for the Salvation Army, sometimes it takes a bad deed to incite incredible generosity within our community. We couldn’t be happier to hear that Vancouver Radio has united behind this one cause. We’re sure now that we will double the amount stolen just because of this initiative” said the Salvation Army’s Major Brian Venables.

Vancouver radio listener donations will be accepted at a number of locations throughout the Lower Mainland Tuesday. Check your favourite radio station’s website for details on exact locations.

An effort of this magnitude is unprecedented in Vancouver radio. Never before has Vancouver’s commercial radio group united in unison around a single cause like this. For more details on how you can help listen to your AM or FM dial in your car or at home. All of the station’s websites will also have the necessary links that will assist in your donation.

Christmas is about giving. No-one can take that away. The Salvation Army Toys For Teens Day. Vancouver Radio, Working together

Cash donations can be made anytime through the Salvation Army’s website at: www.salvationarmy.ca

95Crave will be at Safeway locations in Vancouver, Surrey, Coquiltam and Richmond as a part of Nat and Drew’s Food Bank Fill Up. In addition to Food Bank donations, we will also accept Toys for Teens for The Salvation Army.

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MONTREAL, Dec. 4 /CNW Telbec/ - Astral Media Inc. (TSX: ACM.A/ACM.B), Canada’s largest radio broadcaster, today announced that it will roll out the Virgin Radio brand across Canada. In early January 2009, the stations now known as 95 Crave (95.3 FM) in Vancouver, The Bear (106.9 FM) in Ottawa and Mix 96 (95.9 FM) in Montreal will become part of Astral Media’s Virgin Radio branded group.

The groundbreaking partnership between Astral Media and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Radio International was launched earlier this year with the introduction of Virgin Radio 999 in Toronto, which was the first Virgin Radio station in North America.

“This is a milestone announcement, building a solid Canadian presence for the Virgin Radio brand across Canada with four stations in the Astral Media Radio portfolio,” said Jacques Parisien, Group President, Astral Media Radio and Astral Media Outdoor. “With Virgin Radio 999 in Toronto surpassing 1,000,000 listeners in the recent BBM survey, the first since its launch in August of this year, the excitement and enthusiasm generated among listeners and advertisers is unprecedented. Astral Media is excited to bring the dynamic and innovative sounds of the Virgin Radio brand to three new Canadian markets. We are confident that the Virgin Radio brand will invigorate our stations, while offering an entirely new and rejuvenated promise to our clients.”

Astral Media Radio (AMR) is the largest radio broadcaster in Canada and is increasingly known for introducing innovative new ideas to the radio industry. With the launch of the Virgin Radio brand in three new markets, AMR is challenging the norms of conventional stations and shaking up the radio landscape with a fresh sound and unique new programming formats; delivering a new voice with first class entertainment value to each market.

The Vancouver and Montreal Virgin Radio stations that will launch early in January 2009 will focus on the Hot AC format with a target of 25-49 year-old adults. Virgin Radio Ottawa, also launching in January 2009, will build on its heritage to feature a re-energized rock format aimed at 25-54 year-old men.

Virgin Radio stations are known for dynamic on-air talent, exciting guest hosts and international celebrities. Virgin is the record company that signed the Rolling Stones and countless other bands. The Rock history that is part of the brand will also be a big part of the Ottawa radio station.

More details of exciting additions to the line ups of each Virgin Radio station will be announced on launch day in each market.
[press release]

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Picture from Stephen Harper’s press conference after the Governor General granted him a proroguing of parliament.

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Each year around this time, I try to act as a Secret Santa. You know, do something nice for someone else anonymously.

This year, I’m going public.

I was watching the CBC news tonight and saw a story on the Surrey Food Bank. I paid close attention since next week is Nat and Drew’s Food Bank Fillup, so I was watching for good stories to re-tell next week when we’re on location at Safeway, and asking for donations.

The story was all about the kids and families that use the Food Bank. How parents dilute the formula for infants to stretch it out. Jen and I used formula for Z and I, with a good job and roof over my head, was shocked at how much it cost. I can’t imagine being a single parent on income assistance trying to swallow that bill at the checkout every few days.

The reporter interviewed a few parents and posted their names in a crawl alongside the story. I looked one of them up on Facebook.

Jennifer has two children, is on income assistance and uses the Surrey Food Bank. She left her phone number on a friend’s photo, so I called her up - determined to do something. I asked her what she needed and told her I would canvas some friends online to help out.

After posting a couple brief notes on Twitter, I received instant responses from several followers and quickly gathered promises of shoes, baking, sweaters, gift certificates and cash. Wow.

@kathystilwell @mynameiskate @thinktomdotcom @Tania94 @shanegibson @2marra @tyamdm @megfowler @rebeccacoleman @bzijian have all stepped up … so far …

I’ve been trading some Facebook messages with Jennifer tonight, and I thought you might like to know a bit more of her story:

i wanted people to know that its not just the Street People(homeless) who use the food bank, its the other people in our community that use it as well.

i dont have a car but im able to use my neighbor’s car when i have to do groceries.. otherwise i walk or take the bus.
i am close to Walmart, toysRus and london drugs
i do most of my grocery shopping at super store.. i try to make my money strech..lol
my sons name is Cayden and he’ll be 3 on feb 9th
my daughters name is Abigayle and she’ll be 1 on jan 4th
cayden is really into Deigo and dora right now.. he loves trains and cars and airplanes, pop-up books are a few of his favorites.
my daughter loves anything with buttons and lights.

i just cant thank you enough for everything!! you have answered my prayers.

Next week is Nat and Drew’s Food Bank Fillup. I’ll be asking for generic help for people every day on the radio, today in just a few minutes on Twitter I asked for specific help for one family and it came in an instant.

That’s the kind of change we can affect when we feel the Spirit of Christmas.

Thanks to those who have helped so far, there’s always room for more.

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