Author: greg

Remembering Stuart Maclean

When I think of truly great storytellers, Stuart Maclean is the first name that comes to mind. His stories on CBC Radio’s “The Vinyl Café,” were windows into the everyday lives of characters that felt like old friends. Stuart had this incredible gift for turning the simplest moments into something special, finding humor and heart in places most of us might overlook.

“The Vinyl Café” wasn’t just a radio show—it was a much anticipated weekly gathering, where I would get together with Dave, Morley, and the colorful cast of characters who occupied their world. Stuart’s storytelling was pure magic, balancing humor with tenderness. He captured the little quirks of life and made them universally relatable, which I think is why his stories resonated with people around the world.

What made Stuart’s work really stand out was his knack for making us laugh and tear up, often in the same breath. His stories reminded us of the importance of community and the beauty in the ordinary. Whether it was Dave getting into a ridiculous situation while cooking a turkey or Morley reflecting on the quieter moments of motherhood, Stuart’s tales always left you feeling both grounded and uplifted.

And here’s the good news—if you missed “The Vinyl Café” when it aired or just want to revisit those wonderful stories, you still can! The podcast “Tales from The Vinyl Café,” hosted by Stuart’s long-time producer Jess Milton, is keeping his legacy alive. It’s like a time capsule of everything we loved about his storytelling.

Check out “Backstage At The Vinyl Café.” Each episode is a reminder of Stuart Maclean’s unmatched storytelling ability. So, grab a cup of coffee, tune in, and let Stuart’s warmth and humor brighten your day.

Ah, air travel.

Airports, the gateways to the world, often feel more like choke points of frustration. They’re this odd mix—where speed collides with delay, and motion collides with moments of total stillness. Crowds pack the space, as travelers from all corners of the world hustle for a bit of elbow room, creating this palpable tension you can practically feel in the air. And then, of course, everything costs a fortune. The second you step past those sliding doors, it’s like the normal rules of supply and demand economics vanish. That bottle of water or quick snack you’d normally pick up without thinking suddenly feels like an investment.

People walking through an airport terminal.
Source

What’s even more absurd is the rush that’s always undercut by endless waiting. You see it in those long lines curling through terminals—for security, for boarding, even just for a cup of coffee. It’s that enforced idleness that seems to make people more impatient, rushing around just to stand still again. And honestly, what’s the rush? Your flight’s going to be delayed anyway, I can all but guarantee it. When something actually runs on time, that’s the surprise. All of this frustration just adds to the stress, leaving everyone feeling a little more worn out and on edge.

Add that exhaustion into the mix, and it’s no wonder people get snippy. Politeness tends to take a back seat when nerves are frayed, and you can feel it in the short, clipped conversations all around. In the end, airports may be engineering marvels and global hubs, but let’s face it—they’re not exactly places anyone enjoys hanging around.

Why am I talking about this right now, you ask? No reason at all, really.

Oh, hang on, they’re announcing how much longer my flight’s going to be delayed. This’ll be nice. I always appreciate a good work of fiction. 

Here’s An Interesting Take On A.I.

I heard this earlier this week on the People I (Mostly) Admire podcast.

Steven Levitt is talking to economist David Autor and the discussion morphed from labor vs. capital markets into speculation about what the impact of A.I. will be on the labor force.

Like Levitt, I’m probably more pessimistic on the subject than Autor is, but he does provide some perspectives I hadn’t considered. Of course he’s spent considerably more time thinking about this than I have, not to mention being smarter than me.

The A.I. discussion starts at 36:00 and goes until 53:00

Follow The Tim Traveller

You really should check this guy out.

With all the wandering around Paris that I do, often followed by Tim posting a video he shot in places I was recently meandering around, I’m kind of surprised that I haven’t bumped into him yet.

In any event, give his YouTube channel a follow. He’s pretty knowledgeable, not to mention entertaining.

Come for the underwater swimming “apparently wasn’t a great spectator sport”, stay for the “Olympic pigeon shooting, and you’ll notice I did not say ‘clay’ pigeons.”