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The AIH Transcript for February 21, 2018

Hosts: Carol Off and Jeff Douglas

STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE

Prologue

CAROL OFF: Hello, I'm Carol Off.

JEFF DOUGLAS: Good evening. I'm Jeff Douglas. This is “As It Happens”.

[Music: Theme]

JD: Tonight:

CO: Disarming candor. A Florida lawmaker describes the scene as students who survived the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School heckled the politicians who oppose a proposed ban on assault weapons.

JD: The year of their president. Donald Trump gets an earful from families affected by years of school shootings, across the United States, at a ‘listening session’ at the White House.

CO: Can't rightly say. Canada joins the international condemnation of Syria's latest assault on its own citizens, but we hear from a critic who says it's time for more than words to end the massacre.

JD: Paint of no return. Twenty years after Nova Scotia artist lends the portrait she painted of her grandfather to a less-than-reliable filmmaker, she gets a call from a friend about a familiar face in an Alberta thrift store.

CO: Utter madness. An Ontario police force is compelled to correct an officer's science, after he delivers a warning to boys about what smoking doobies might do to their chests.

JD: And relishing his victory. Our interview with a curling champ who smoked his way down the ice through end after and prompts a listener to write in about being beaten by the same guy, except idiots switched his butts for a burger.

JD: As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that knows where there's smoke, there's fryer.

[Music: Theme]

Part one: Florida lawmaker, Syria response, found painting

Florida lawmaker

Guest: Linda Stewart

JD: They came to protest, and they came to make demands. Today, students from Stoneman Douglas High School gathered at the Florida legislature, in Tallahassee. It's been one week after seventeen people were shot and killed at their school, and they're asking for tougher gun laws. Lorenzo Prado is a grade eleven student. Here's part of what he had to say at the rally.

SOUNDCLIP

LORENZO PRADO: On that day, we lost Nicholas Dworet, captain of the swimming team and a hero, and soon to be Olympian. Nicholas Dworet was seen pushing another student out of the way when the terrorist shot into his classroom. But I do not want to remember Nicholas Dworet as a man that met his death too early because, to me, Nicholas was a friend and my captain. He was the heart and soul of the swimming team both in and out of school because he was friendly to all and mean to none. And every time I saw him, he had a smile. He had a smile when we were competing. He smiled when I taught him Spanish. He had a smile even something he dreaded so much like math. I taught him math, and he would never, never frown. And before the week of that fateful day, Nick had his own fateful day: the week before that, I saw Nick get signed into U-Indie for swimming, so he could chase his dream of becoming an Olympian. But that was a dream he can no longer achieve because Nikolas Cruz abhorrently decided to take Nicholas Dworet’s life. But we can't just blame Nikolas Cruz for this tragedy because the laws of our country allowed him to purchase a weapon. Nikolas Cruz was able to purchase an assault rifle before he was able to drink beer. Nikolas Cruz was able to purchase an assault rifle, although he had clear signs of mental illness. Nikolas Cruz was able to purchase an assault rifle with clear signs of delinquency from the school. Nikolas Cruz was able to purchase an assault rifle with the intention to kill.

JD: That was Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School junior Lorenzo Prado. He was taking part in a rally for gun control at the Florida State Capitol earlier today. Students also sat in the legislative chambers as a proposal to ban assault weapons in the state was dismissed. Democratic Senator Linda Stewart introduced that proposal. We reached her in Tallahassee.

CO: Senator Stewart, we just heard part of a powerful speech from one of the students who spoke earlier. Can you describe the scene at the state capitol today?

LINDA STEWART: Well, it was amazing. And the people were energized. Our students that came up and those that came from all over the state of Florida — the law enforcement estimated it to be over 10,000 in the crowd. They are very engaging, they're articulate, and they are mad.

CO: What effect is that having on legislators in Tallahassee today?

LS: Well, I'm starting to see a little break in their resolve, but we haven't gotten there yet. And I still have an assault weapon ban bill that I filed two years ago, and subsequently filed again this year, and would have no attention to it at all until now.

CO: And you tried to introduce that bill today as an amendment. The students, how did they react when that didn't go through?

LS: Well, they're not supposed to say anything in the gallery, but they did. I think I heard “boo” a few times loudly.

CO: And was anybody willing to sanction them for making noises up there?

LS: No, no, not one single person.

CO: That might be wise.

LS: Yes.

CO: Now Florida is not just the state that supports very liberal gun laws; it's considered to be — has been called — the blueprint of much of the pro-gun legislation that's been adopted throughout the United States. So you're up against — and the students are up against — some powerful opposition. What do you think you can possibly accomplish, even after this massacre at this school?

LS: We have two weeks left in session, and I plan to continue to amend my assault weapons ban on any bill that comes before us that is germane to guns. So I've got two or three bills that are coming up next week, and I will amend the language until we can get a breakthrough.

CO: But now after Orlando in 2016, the Pulse nightclub, Fort Lauderdale, same efforts…

LS: Las Vegas

CO: Yeah, but it didn't work; you didn't get a hearing for those bills. In fact, the gun laws in Florida were liberalized after those shootings. So what might break through at this point?

LS: Well, there's a couple of differences this time around. When the Pulse happened, it was sometime around June, which was the summertime. And this time we're in session, so the House and the Senate is in session. They are open to these protests — and they’re huge protests — so they're getting a lot more pressure put on them to do something besides a window dressing.

CO: And so what might they do?

LS: Well, the things that they're talking about I agree with them. You know mental health counseling, safing up the schools, a waiting period on gun purchase. Right now, you have a three day waiting period on guns and rifles, but you have no waiting period for the AR 15. You can just walk in, buy it, and walk out. So, obviously, we've got some major issues here. But all of those things I do support. The problem is one of the areas that they wanted to control was to put a restriction on the AR 15 so you had to be 25 years of age to buy one. The problem with that is in Las Vegas, the guy was over 50, and at Pulse, the guy was 29-years-old. So that's not really a solution.

CO: And that's not going to satisfy those kids, is it?

LS: Oh heavens, no. No, no, that is not going to satisfy them in the least. If they don't identify the gun that is used, so that they can be restricted, they are not going to be happy. Anything short of that, they are going to be outraged.

CO: Governor Rick Scott in your state is praised by the NRA for his liberal gun laws, but he has said in recent days he said that everything is now on the table, even though he didn't commit to what he thought should happen. Did that give you any encouragement at all?

LS: No, because I don't think that he would ever put the ban on AR 15s at all. If he does, great! That would be like a miracle. But he has gone with the leadership in what package that they're putting together. I've already told you what was in that package, and it does not mention a gun.

CO: You have a formidable gun lobbyist in the name of Marion Hammer, a woman who has been known to destroy political careers of those who attempt to restrict guns. How afraid are Republicans — or any law makers — of the influence of Marion Hammer?

LS: Well, I'm not afraid. If they choose to un-elect me that’s fine because I think what I'm doing is the right thing. And this is children's lives. And once they begin to realize that, then I think they're going to have to segue away from that type of thinking and go with the people in this state, and with the lives of our children.

CO: But she's a very powerful force within the NRA. We've heard before the sort of the strategy of the NRA after these shootings is to just be quiet for ten days — couple of weeks — and eventually, just go back to business as usual. Do you think that's going to happen this time?

LS: I think that the actions of this student are pretty evident that the NRA is not needed to make the decisions on behalf of the lives of the students.

CO: But are you concerned that that's what happens? That this momentum will be gone, and that's basically what the NRA’s strategy is is to wait it out and then just return to what it does?

LS: Well, we're here right now when we can make change, and we have a couple of weeks to do it. And if this change is not made by the demands of the kid to have said basically they have said we're taking names. You know if you can't protect us, and we have to go to school and be gunned down. If you can't protect us, then we're going to work against you. And I feel like that has got to have some raised eyebrows because the NRA may give you money, but they're not going to walk the streets.

CO: We will leave it there, and we'll be watching. Senator Stewart, I appreciate speaking with you. Thank you.

LS: Sure, great. Bye.

CO: Bye bye.

JD: Linda Stewart is a Florida State Senator — Democratic State Senator. We reached her in Tallahassee. For more on Senator Stewart’s proposal and today's rally, go to our website: www.cbc.ca/aih. The student survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida have showed remarkable resilience in the face of the tragedy. And now, as they rally in Tallahassee, they were facing yet another attack — this one from conspiracy theorists who are accusing them of being so-called 'crisis actors.' CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked student Cameron Kasky about the bizarre claims.

SOUNDCLIP

WOLF BLITZER: Cameron, what do you say to those folks out there — some conspiracy theorists — who are alleging that students like you are being hijacked by left-wing activists. That some of these students who've appeared on television aren't even students from your high school; they're actors. That you're anti-gun message really isn't your own, but is part of some left-wing conspiracy. What do you say to those folks?

CAMERON KASKY: Well, if you had seen me in our schools production of Fiddler on the Roof, you would know that nobody would pay me to act for anything.

WB: Fiddler on the Roof is great. Who did you play, by the way in Fiddler on the Roof?

CK: I was Motel, and I got to tell you what we've seen so far, has been a miracle of miracles.

JD: Cameron Kasky, Florida high school student on CNN earlier today. And later on in the program, we will hear what parents affected by school shootings in the United States had to say to President Donald Trump.

[Music: Spanish guitar]

Syria response

Guest: Nader Hashemi

JD: The airstrikes in Syria's Eastern Ghouta continued today. More than 250 people have been killed in the Damascus suburb in recent days. The condemnation from world leaders continued today, too. One cabinet minister in the UK called the attacks "simply unacceptable in the 21st century." France's Prime Minister "vigorously condemns" them. The European Union, too, is calling on "all parties to the conflict" to take necessary measures to reduce the violence. Yesterday, the UN said it didn't even have words. It will soon be seven years since the beginning of the war in Syria. And Canadian Middle East expert Nader Hashemi is tired of reading statements of condemnation, but little action from the Western World. And that includes Canada. We reached Mr. Hashemi in Denver.

CO: Mr. Hashemi, have you seen much of a response this week from Canadian politicians about what's happening in Eastern Ghouta?

NADER HASHEMI: Not really, I mean I understand that Minister Freeland issued a statement today that I would describe as a minimal and tepid statement that struck me as being very much disconnected from the scale and the scope of the catastrophe unfolding in Syria today. So it's been you know quite a disappointing response from the government of Canada.

CO: I'll just read that statement, “Canada condemns in the strongest terms the deliberate attacks against civilians in Eastern Ghouta, in Syria, including medical professionals, first responders, and humanitarian workers. These attacks are reprehensible. Targeting civilians is a violation of international law, and we call for the immediate de-escalation of violence.” What more do you think Canada should have said?

NH: Well, the U.N. Human Rights chief today described what's happening in Syria — in the enclave of East Ghouta — as, quote, “a monstrous campaign of annihilation.” The secretary-general called what's happening “hell on earth”. Yesterday, Amnesty International described what's happening as “war crimes on an epic scale.” Canada's statement today — I think against what's actually happening on the ground — I would describe it as a big disappointment.

CO: We have seen that there's no activity; there's no significant diplomatic efforts being made. That all the different efforts have dissolved. And there is the big players — international players — aren't active. Who do you think at this point needs to step up to the plate and take charge here?

NH: Oh, I think the European countries you know can and should play a role. I don't think we can hope anything positive coming out of the United States under a Trump administration. But I think that makes a stronger argument for Canada's voice to really provide leadership here. Given not just the scale of the human rights catastrophe that's taking place, but the fact that Syria really has destabilized not just the country of Syria itself, not just the Middle East, but across our world; massive refugee flows, which Canada has played an important role in trying to mitigate that suffering. But also in terms of you know the rise in the spread of radical Islamic extremism in the form of ISIS. So I think there's an argument to be made that Canada and other countries, at a minimum, should be shining a greater spotlight and paying attention to this. The worst thing that can be done is what's happening right now is effectively turning over the conflict in Syria to Vladimir Putin and to Iran's supreme leader and to Bashar al Assad to let them carry on in the way they have been carrying on for the last seven years.

CO: I have to say that this is not a discussion that's really taking place in Canada. We're not seeing it in Ottawa. We're not seeing it in other capitals. It doesn't seem to matter. There's a sense that there's a humanitarian response that's necessary. But as far as feeling that they have a role to play in trying to find some kind of a settlement or a peace doesn't seem to be on anyone's radar, does it?

NH: No, you're absolutely correct. I think one factor that's at play here is really Syria war fatigue. You know we’re about to enter the eighth year of this conflict. A lot of the world — particularly the Western world — now are so consumed by their internal economic and political problems. I'm talking to you from the United States where the dominant themes that concern people now are the crazy antics and policies of the Trump administration, these mass shootings, and so there's a sense now that you know people are just tired, and people have other concerns, and there is a unstated assumption that people hope that if we just ignore Syria, it will go away and it won't affect us. But I think this general fatigue — the absence of any intention — has really been I think a godsend for Russia and for Iran and for the Assad regime, who’s really banking on international fatigue to eventually demonstrate itself so that they could carry on with their war aims. And I think that's exactly what's happening today.

CO: People have pointed to Bosnia and finally being resolved to the Dayton Peace Accord. That some kind of a Dayton Peace Accord is needed here, but how does that happen given that the players — big players like the United States, Russia, Turkey, Iran — they're all part of it. They're part of the problem, aren't they? They're all in the in the region fighting for their own interests; they have military presence there taking care of their own strategic interests. There's no body to actually bring anyone to a table, is there?

NH: No, you're absolutely right. I think Bosnia and the Dayton Peace Accords is I think a good reference point to try and understand what's gone wrong in Syria, and what perhaps the way forward is? For the first three years of the war in Bosnia, the United States and the international community took a very similar position as we're seeing today with respect to Syria. But it really took a massacre in Srebrenica — and then leadership by the United States under then-President Clinton — to organize the international community around a peace plan. That's what I think Syria requires. And sadly, there's no one — no power — that I think is willing to do for Syria what President Clinton did for Bosnia in 1995.

CO: And is it possible that Canada could step up and play a role that size?

NH: Canada doesn’t have the military might and the power in the international system that the United States has. But it does still have a lot of moral credibility and soft power that Canada could I think deploy in order to help draw attention to the conflict in Syria. The first thing they could do would be to summon the Russian ambassador saying look, bombing medical facilities, and civilian targets is unacceptable. I think that would send a message. But on a broader scale, I think Canada can make it a point maybe a high-level ambassador to go to different capitals. You know a lot of people hoped that when Justin Trudeau was elected, that Canada would be that voice, particularly in an era of right-wing populism and democratic decline that Canada was in many ways sort of the beacon and the hope for many people. Sadly, I think Canada’s really dropped the ball on that score. And as a Canadian, it's a huge disappointment.

CO: Just the pictures — the images — coming out of Syria are so deeply distressing, especially those of children. It always has been, but the past few days has been almost overwhelming to look at. And a lot of people are responding to that with horror and pain.

NH: It's a reminder of a story that you know we've been exposed to. You know this is not anything new. I think it's accurate to say that what's happened in Syria is really our generation's shame. I think we know what's going on. We've seen the pictures. The Human Rights Documentation is massive. You know if you talk to war crimes experts, they say prosecuting a war crimes case in Syria is a slam dunk, and the easiest case to prosecute since Nuremberg. We have all the evidence; what we don't have is political will.

CO: All right, a call to action. Mr. Hashemi, thank you.

NH: Thank you for the opportunity.

JD: Nader Hashemi leads the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver. And we reached him in Denver.

[Music: Ambient rock]

Found painting

Guest: Charmaine Wheatley

JD: More than two decades ago, Charmaine Wheatley painted a picture of her grandfather. Ms. Wheatley was an art student when she lent that piece to a local filmmaker. It was never returned. The years went by and while Ms. Wheatley often thought about the painting, she really never ever expected to get it back. That changed last week. We reached Charmaine Wheatley in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

CO: Charmaine, what did this painting mean to you?

CHARMAINE WHEATLEY: Well, I admired my granddad; He was kind of a tough guy and a rum runner. it was just this really cool, romantic old black and white photograph, and I loved how when I saw the photograph, it looks like my dad at the time that I made the painting in 1994. So I was enjoying like making a painting of my granddad was making a painting of my dad — they look exactly the same. The same walk, the same height, the same ears, hands. I was even just looking at the portrait again today, and noticing they have these blocky farmer’s chunky hands, you know? And I think I did a pretty good job, so yeah.

CO: And how did it come to go missing? How did it disappear from your life?

CW: I think I had just finished it, and there was a filmmaker in Halifax at the time; I believe it is going to Dal or something. And he asked if he could borrow some paintings for a movie he was making. And he was just this really nice, cute filmmaker guy. And I believed him when he said that he would return it. And I wasn't going to give him the one that I just made it my granddad, but he promised he was going to return them. And you know people don't not do that. And Halifax is a small place, and you can't get away with too much you know in Halifax. And he disappeared with them.

CO: And not just the one of your dad, there were other paintings that you loaned this guy too, right?

CW: There were; six or seven paintings. And those are the ones that I was just going to loan him. I didn't really want to let him have the portrait of my granddad. And I don't remember even what the other paintings were. But the one that really bummed me out was losing the one of my granddad.

CO: And did you even know his name?

CW: At the time, I did it; I can’t remember it now. I can sort of remember his face, but I know that I wrote up a little note sort of an agreement saying that he would return the paintings, and he signed it.

CO: Did you ever think you'd see it again?

CW: Well, I think I accepted it that it was gone. But I also know that when you make an artwork, especially a painting. We tend to hang on to the good paintings at least. And I feel like over the 24 years that it's not been with me, I think other people maybe agreed with me that I was a good painting, and it didn't get destroyed. So what I am surprised about is that how did it go from Nova Scotia to Calgary, and 24 years later, in a thrift shop? And that it would be my friend from art school that comes upon it, and then buys it back? That's pretty amazing!

CO: All right. Let's unpack this a bit because this is the punchline, isn't it? That when did your friend call you say she'd found your painting?

CW: Well, she as she posted on my timeline on Facebook I think it was like maybe last Thursday or Friday? I was just like oh my goodness; she was really cool too because she said if you want, I can send it back to you? And so I told her that would be amazing just because it is more personal painting, and so I'm going to send her, in exchange, anther artwork.

CO: Do you know how much she paid for it?

CW: I can see that there’s like a little, green you know those little stickers price stickers, and I believe she paid $6.99 for it; pretty good deal.

CO: Well, you have to wonder what walls your granddad has been hanging on over all these years? What rooms he has been in? Who has been looking at him, and who he's been looking at? He's been on a journey, hasn't he?

CW: Exactly, that's what I was thinking. You know from the pictures that she sent me it doesn't look like it's been damaged. Like I don't see any tears in the canvas, and it looks like it's in pretty good shape.

CO: And what do you make of that cute guy that you gave that trust to all those years ago who walked off with your art?

CW: I don't know? I wonder what he's up to now too? I mean I still believe he's probably a nice guy, and I wonder what happened? Like I hate to think that really I was seriously duped. And I really felt like he was worth trusting. And somebody told me once if you don't know the truth about something, and you're going to make up a story. Make up a story that makes you feel good. So the story and making up is that something out of his control happened, and he didn't mean for it to play out this way. And I would love to talk with him find out more.

CO: Well, if you're listening, cute guy filmmaker. We got the painting back. And do you want to say something to him in case he's listening?

CW: Give me a call, or an easy to find; I’m on Facebook, and Instagram, and Charmaine Wheatley. And if you Google me, there aren't too many Charmaine Wheatleys in the world. Yeah, so reach out…

CO: And give me back the rest of my art.

CW: Yeah, that would be nice. That would be nice. But this painting was the most important, one and I'm glad that it circulated back around.

CO: Charmaine, I'm so glad you got granddad back.

CW: Thank you very much. Thanks, it was really nice chatting with you about it; one of those happy ending stories.

CO: It is. Thank you. Bye.

CW: Bye bye. Take care.

JD: The world can never have too many happy ending stories. Charmaine Wheatley is artist-in-residence at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. And as you heard, a painting she created as a student years ago was recently found at a Calgary thrift store. We reached Ms. Wheatley in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Part two: White House guns, Billy Graham obit

White House guns

JD: This afternoon, U.S. President Donald Trump heard from students, families, and teachers about school shootings. They spoke directly to him at a "listening session" held at the White House. Here are some of those voices, beginning with Cary Gruber. Mr. Gruber's son, Justin, survived the latest school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

SOUNDCLIP

CARY GRUBER: You know Justin was texting me hiding in a closet, saying if something happens, I love you. If something happens, I love you. And you can't imagine what that's like as a parent. And then his phone died, and I didn't know what happened for another hour or so. So 17 lives are gone; I was lucky enough to get my son home — but 17 families. It's not left and right; it's not political, it's a human issue. People are dying, and we have to stop this. If he's not old enough to buy a drink — to go and buy a beer — he should not be able to buy a gun at 18-years-old. I mean that's just common sense; we have to do common sense. Please, Mr. Trump, these are things we have to do. In Israel, you have to be 27-years-old to have a gun; you're only allowed one. They tax the guns. You have to go through significant training. We got to do something about this. We cannot have our children die. This is just heartbreaking. Please.

DONALD TRUMP: Thank you.

CG: Thank you.

ANDREW POLLACK: All the school shootings it doesn't make sense. Fix it! It should have been one school shooting, and we should have fixed it. And I'm pissed because my daughter I'm not going to see again. She's not here. She's not here. She's in the North Lauderdale at whatever it is…. King David Cemetery. That's where I go to see my kid now. I didn't think it was going to happen to me. I knew that I would have been at the school every day if I knew it was that dangerous.

SAM ZEIF: My name is Sam ZEIF. I'm a student from Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland. And I just want to take a second first thank you for having me, Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, Madam Secretary. I was on the second floor in that building, texting my mom, texting my dad, texting three my brothers that I was never going to see them again. And then it occurred to me that my 14-year-old brother was directly above me in that classroom where Scott Biegel was murdered. Scott Biegel got my brother in that class; he was the last kid to get back into that class. And I'm sure a of a lot of you have read my texts on the internet with my brother. I didn't plan for them to go viral; I just wanted to share with the world, because no brothers, or sisters, or family members, or anyone should ever have to share those text with anyone, and that's why I'm here. I lost a best friend, who’s practically a brother. And I'm here to use my voice because I know he can't. And I know he's with me cheering me on to be strong. But it's hard. And to feel like this — it doesn't even feel like a week; time has stood still. To feel like this ever, I can't feel comfortable in my country knowing that people have, will have ever going to feel like this. I want to feel safe in school. You know senior year and Junior year were big years for me when I turned my academics around, started connecting with teachers, and I started actually enjoying school. And now, I don't know how I'm ever going to step foot on that place again, or go to a public park after school, or walk in anywhere. Me and my friends we get scared when a car drives by anywhere. I turned. 18 the day after, woke up to the news that my best friend was gone, and I don't understand why I could still go in a store and buy a weapon of war — AR. I was reading today that a person 20-years-old walked into a store and bought an AR 15 in five minutes with an expired ID. How is it that easy to buy this type of weapon? How did we not stop this after Columbine, after Sandy Hook? I’m sitting with a mother that lost her son. It's still happening. In Australia, there was a shooting at a school in 1999. You know after that, they took a lot of ideas, they put legislation together, and they stopped it. Can anyone here guess how many shootings there have been in the schools since then in Australia? Zero. We need to do something. And that's why we're here. So let's be strong for the fallens who don't have a voice to speak anymore. And let's never let this happen again, please, please.

JD: That was Samuel Zeif. Before that, you heard Andrew Pollack who lost his daughter, Meadow, in a school shooting. Before that, Cary Gruber, whose son, Justin, survived the latest school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Today, they joined parents, students and teachers at the White House, where they spoke directly to the U.S. president and members of his administration. After they spoke, President Trump offered his condolences, and then endorsed the idea of teachers and others in schools being armed.

[Music: Guitar]

Billy Graham obit

Guest: George E. Battle Jr.

JD: Reverend Billy Graham was called "America's Preacher" and viewed by many as the father of the modern evangelical movement. Here he is speaking at one of his Crusades in Chicago in 1971.

SOUNDCLIP

BILLY GRAHAM: Jesus belongs to Africa as much as he does to Europe and Asia. He was born in that part of the world that touches Africa and Asia and Europe. And Jesus was not a white man like me. Nor was he as black as some of you. We don't know what the colour of his skin, but it must have been a dark colour like the people of his day because he was a man like them. Have. Don’t ever say it’s a white man's religion, or a black man's religion; It’s a world religion. He belongs to the world.

JD: Billy Graham's crusades brought the word of the God to stadiums and Televisions around the world. Billy Graham died today at his home in North Carolina. He was 99-years-old. Bishop George E. Battle Jr. was a friend, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Billy Graham Foundation. We reached him in Charlotte, North Carolina.

CO: Bishop Battle, first of all, I'm sorry for your loss.

GEORGE E. BATTALE: Well, I am too. But I appreciate your concern. Thank you.

CO: What's your earliest memory of meeting Billy Graham?

GEB: Well, my earliest memory of Dr. Graham was when I was a boy on a farm. We listened to Dr. Graham when he was on television. And my mom had eight kids, and all the kids had to gather around the television and listen to him. So that's my earliest memories of Dr. Graham.

CO: What influence did he have on you as you were growing up?

GEB: Scared me to death. He’d talk about heaven and hell, and hell was so bad that I didn't want to go that place. And so I made sure I treated my four brothers and four sisters well because I wanted to go to heaven.

CO: When was the first time you actually met him in person?

GEB: I met him in person almost 20 years ago, when I was nominated by board members and sanctioned by him to join the board. So I met him in person then, and my life has just been joyful ever since.

CO: In what way?

GEB: Well, you know here's a guy from the country; very poor guy like me. Until I served on the board of Dr. Billy Graham, I did not realize his history of being just a farmer — a milk farmer. He kind of reminded me of that. No matter where your starts are in life, if you have the abiding faith in something bigger than you like the Lord our Savior Jesus Christ, there’s no telling where you can go. And then to meet him in person, it was just a dream come true. And I don't know if I was happy or my mother was the happiest person. But I think she probably was happier than I was.

CO: He was so many ways a remarkable man Billy Graham. One of the things that he people appreciated was that in the 1960s, he wouldn't have a segregated congregation; he wouldn't segregate his meetings. He didn't believe in that. He was a personal friend of Martin Luther King. This is something that carried onto his ministry. What did that mean for you?

GEB: It was wonderful to know that because I had met Dr. King early on in my life. As a little boy, when I worked on a farm, he was speaking uptown. And to hear Dr. Graham talk about the fact of the matter of how he would bring Dr. King to his meetings, and allow him to speak in the meetings, and then to personally go take down barriers that was put there to separate the people. Himself take them down and say he's not going to preach to no segregated audience. And to have people come in and to accept their philosophy in that era. And to be a friend to Dr. King, and mindful that he was not trying to set any kind of social standard; this was just what he believed. He believed that all people were created equal. I mean you could be seated beside a professional, or you could be seated beside a maid, or a farmer, and all of us share the same thing in terms of tears of joy when we heard the man speak. He was eloquent in that he could go and encourage Dr. King in the Birmingham jail. He was eloquent when he could bring Dr. King on stage and allow him to speak to the multitude of people. You know to sit there, and watch him, and to talk to him after a meeting, and to see how humble he was. And I just wish God would just give me some of the wisdom that he had that I might be an eloquent speaker to bring people together like that. Oh, what a joy in my life.

CO: He was also — in addition to being against segregation — he was also strongly against communism, and he suggested some pretty controversial things. He once suggested to President Nixon that he could use nuclear weapons against the Vietnamese during the war. What do you make of that?

GEB: I think that in light of the conversation, he probably, as he said he said, he said some things that he wished he had not said. But in the gist of all of that, I think probably all of us in our lives have said things that we wish we could take back. But I certainly thank if there’s anybody that loved people, loved people of God, and love people all over the world, it was Dr. Graham.

CO: Yeah, I'm only going to ask you about some controversial things because he was so influential. Everything he said mattered to millions of people, but when the Nixon tapes were released, it showed that he had made disparaging remarks about Jews.

GEB: Yes, he did. And that's when those tapes came out he went to the Jews and asked for forgiveness. And I think that he was always working to be inclusive. If he made a mistake, he would he will certainly go back and say it. I mean he would go back to those individuals; not to us, but go back to the individuals.

CO: He also called AIDS a “judgment from God”. Did he ever change his mind about his view on homosexuality?

GEB: He always said to me, and in the ministries, and in a book that you read, God love all people. I've never heard him say that publicly or privately, but I believe he loved all people. And I am one to believe that he knows that God loves us all as well. I know that he loved all people, he preached to all people; he did not have any segregation. Because a person had a disease, he did not deny them to come to the gospels and places where he was.

CO: But his strong views on same-sex marriage and homosexuality didn't really change much over the years. That was one area where he didn't really change his views, did they?

GEB: Well, you know I am certainly her not to be a critic of his gospel; I loved his gospel. He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I never heard him put anybody down in terms of what he preached. The gospel will find you, and he preached the gospel. And I'm here celebrating his life; not trying to find the errors of anybody’s ways. Because, to me, Dr. Graham certainly was one who tried to make sure everybody was included in the big bucket that he had.

CO: Billy Graham wrote in one of his books he said that after he dies, if he gets to speak to the Lord, he said he's going to ask him why me? Why did you give this job to me? Do you think he's getting his answer?

GEB: I think God would say it was not about you, Billy. It was about you being willing to be used as my vessel to get things done. And what a wonderful vessel you were. And what a wonderful vessel you are. And welcome home.

CO: Bishop Battle, thank you for speaking with us, and sharing your thoughts of Billy Graham.

GEB: Thank you very much. Have a nice day.

CO: Bye bye.

JD: Bishop George E. battle Jr. is a member of the Board of Directors of the Billy Graham Foundation, and the Senior Bishop of African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The Reverend Billy Graham died this morning. He was 99-years-old.

[Music: Sad piano]

Listener Response: Curling

JD: Remember when you used to be able to suck on a dart, crank a beer, and curl at the same time? Well, after our conversation with Orest Meleschuck last night, a lot of you were remembering those days. Mr. Meleschuk was the skip of the 1972 Team Canada curling team. He curled his way through the championships with a cigarette in his mouth. That story had Ray Bernier of Fisher Branch, Manitoba thinking about his own encounter with Mr. Meleschuk. Mr. Bernier sent us this email, quote, "I curled against Orest one year during the Manitoba Curling Association Bonspiel. It was on a Sunday morning and he and his crew seemed to have been partying all night. We were still in the running to qualify and were treating the game seriously. Orest got hungry so they ordered burgers all around. Not to hold a burger waiting, he settled in the hack, rock in his right hand, burger in his left and delivered. Then he called for sweeping. Trouble is the rest of the team was at the back of the house, also munching down. He continued yelling for sweeping as if his guys were on top of it. Didn't need the sweeping; he'd thrown a perfect rock. He kicked our ass." Thank you Ray Bernier for that great memory. Also, talkback was in the house.

SOUNDCLIP

TALKBACK: Hello, my name is Kim Fakerland, and I'm from Hornby Island, BC. I love the segment about curling in the 1970s; my mum was a curler. I could remember she would smoke as she was curling; all of them did. My mum was cool. She had a curling brush that had a flask inside it. If you can believe it — a flask. I still have that brush. How could I throw it away? When I opened it up a few years ago, I could still smell the alcohol in it. Anyway, thanks for the story; love As It Happens.

JD: Thank you for all your memories — blurry or otherwise. You can see a photo of that very handy curling flask by visiting us on Twitter: @cbcasithappens.

[Music: Jazz]

Doobies make boobies

JD: In Ontario yesterday, the York Regional Police tweeted out an important clarification. It read, quote, "We're no health experts, but we're pretty sure getting high does not cause enhanced mammary growth in men." The roll-back was necessary after a visit last week by an officer to students from a local Catholic board. Nigel Cole was described as a "drug recognition officer", but when reports of Officer Cole's supposed science got out, real drug scientists found them a little hard to support. For instance, this gem: Officer Cole told the budding young minds, quote, "You have peer pressure and drug dealers telling you about the great effects of marijuana, but I'm here to tell you there are some very negative effects. There are studies that marijuana lowers your testosterone; we call it 'doobies make boobies.' We're finding 60 per cent of 14-year-olds are developing 'boobies.'" Unquote. Well, that prompted a search of the scientific literature for the link between Officer Cole's 'boobies' and his 'doobies'. As the police force acknowledges, it fell flat. Quote, "We are aware of the misinformation about cannabis that was unfortunately provided to the community by our officers. We're working to address it."

Part three: Boko Haram kidnappings, BC housing plan

CNN guns

JD: How reluctant is Florida's state legislature to consider gun control measures in the wake of last week's school massacre? Well, as you heard earlier in the program, lawmakers voted down a motion to consider a ban on semi-automatic guns and high-capacity magazines yesterday. Not a ban — a motion to consider a ban. And lawmakers made the call as dozens of survivors of the school shooting watched from the gallery. The state-house did pass another law: one declaring pornography a public health risk. Today, Representative Matt Caldwell appeared on CNN, and was questioned by host Brooke Baldwin. Here is some of their exchange.

SOUNDCLIP

MATT CALDWELL: What it turned out to be was a political stunt. And I understand, and I appreciate these students are grieving. But you have to figure out what is the thing that's going to prevent that from happening in the future? And the worst outcome in my mind is that we've put forward some proposal — we would ban something — just at a whim without really going through the time of the process. And it doesn't make any difference. And so next time that you have a school shooting, then what do you say?

BROOKE BALDWIN: Representative Caldwell, I don't want to talk about the next time. I don't know about when you were young. When I was young, we had fire drills, we had tornado drills; I mean these young people today have murder drills. This status quo is unacceptable. Why not at least give it a shot and owe it to these young people… sir, forgive me just a moment. Give it a shot to at least consider the ban.

MC: We are going to consider proposals. You do that through committee…

BB: But you voted no.

MC: Listen, we have got to focus on what's going to really make a difference.

BB: Representative Caldwell, why is pornography a bigger health risk that a semi-automatic weapon in the hands of a deranged individual? Answer my question, please sir.

MC: Listen, we shouldn't have weapons in the hands of deranged individuals.

BB: Why is that worthy of a debate? Why is pornography worthy of a debate, and not semi-automatic weapons? Just answer me that.

MC: Trying to pull a bill out of committee is a political stunt. We don't do that.

BB: Stop going back to you talking points, sir. Stop! Sir, they’re asking for you to consider a conversation — a consideration — of a ban of a weapon used in war.

MC: I had that conversation with the Parkland students today. We're going to have that conversation in committee through the process that we use for every bill that we ever pass through the House and off the floor. We're not going to circumvent that process for any issue. We don't have an ability for people to defend themselves in our schools. Our schools are targeted because they are gun-free zones; because no one on the campus is able to defend themselves. It's why you don't have that violence happen at another place. And why it exclusively seems to happen in places where people can’t defend themselves.

JD: That was Florida Representative Matt Caldwell, speaking to CNN's Brooke Baldwin.

[Music: Piano duet]

Boko Haram kidnappings

Guest: Anna Cunningham

JD: They're still missing. Two days after reports began to come out that Boko Haram jihadists had attacked a girls school in Nigeria, parents are asking where their daughters are. Students and teachers at the school in Dapchi, in Yobe state, said that they ran into the bush to escape. And it seemed at first that they all had. But while some have returned, over 100 girls and young women are still missing and rumoured to have been abducted. This attack comes four years after the militant group kidnapped more than 270 girls from a school in the town of Chibok. Anna Cunningham is a freelance journalist. We reached her in Lagos.

CO: Anna, I understand Nigeria's president has issued a statement about these 50 girls who seem to be missing. What has Muhammadu Buhari had to say about them?

ANNA CUNNINHAM: Well, President Muhammadu Buhari has just tweeted. And he has said that he has directed the military and the police to mobilize immediately to ensure that the missing girls are found. And in that tweet, he goes on to say that the minister of defense will lead a delegation to Yobe state — to this area — tomorrow. So it does seem that this is a significant attack; the government is reacting. But it has, however, been two days since that Boko Haram attack on Monday night.

CO: And it also seems that they were not confirming. it was very difficult for you and others who are there to try and get any information about the. There are a lot of denials about or a lot of questions about whether or not they were still missing, or they'd gone into hiding or whatever? What does it mean that the president is actually acknowledging that these girls are missing?

AC: Everything that you just described is a very familiar process here. We've certainly seen this before, whether it been denials and then a slow approach and revelation of details. But I think the fact that we are hearing from Muhammadu Buhari does indicates that they are taking this seriously. We first heard about it late yesterday. And as this story has developed, it has been exactly how it played out when that Chibok story developed. Initially, there was the indication that everybody had escaped. And there were denials anybody was missing. And then slowly, parents started to question where their children were. And that is exactly what has happened today in Dapchi.

CO: Can you tell us whatever you know at this point as to what happened in Dapchi, in Yobe province? What the Boko Haram did — the attack — when it started, and what they have done?

AC: Well, this is in the northeast of Nigeria. It is a remote area. It's an area which would be classed as being in poverty. You know there's not a lot of electricity around there — certainly no high-speed Internet. Mobile phone signals are difficult. But what we know is that Monday night, at around 7 o'clock, which is when it starts to get dark here in Nigeria; there was this start of this attack by Boko Haram on Dapchi. We've heard various details, some saying that they attacked the town, and there was gunfire, there was explosions, and this was what we initially heard was the explosions that alerted the school children. And that was when they were said to have escaped. But now what we're hearing is the possibility that the Boko Haram fighters went into the school whilst those schoolchildren were there. And, as you can imagine, that must have been a terrifying situation. I have heard from some eyewitnesses saying that they feel that they were lucky to have escaped.

CO: There are some reports that people saw the girls being taken away on a truck. What do you know about that?

AC: I've heard about those reports, but equally, I've heard people say how did they know that that was happening because it was dark? So I think we have to kind of treat those reports and that detail carefully at the moment. We really don't know.

CO: This must be just extraordinarily awful for the parents because not only are their girls missing; they know what happened to the Chibok girls: four years of trying to get them back. Some released over time; some never released. These girls came back with all kinds of damage and problems because of it. It was horrifying to them. So the parents must know that's what happened to these other girls. What do you know about what they're going through at this point?

AC: Well, I think that is the thing that this is really terrifying. It is what parent in the north east of Nigeria fear. The government has continually told them that it's safe to go back into these areas where Boko Haram was operating, that the schools are open again, and parents want their children to go to school. But you're quite right, we've been here before. And we've heard from some of those Chibok schoolgirls who escaped. And the sheer terror that they witnessed and they experience when they were held hostage. So you can only imagine as a parent how that must feel. And what level of frustration there must be when you get these continued promises from the government. I mean last year, President Muhammadu Buhari again said that Boko Haram was practically defeated. Yet, we continually hear about suicide attacks, about these hit-and-run attacks.

CO: And what do we know — what do we presume — Boko Haram will do with the girls?

AC: Well, we have seen that when they have kidnapped children, women, men before. We have seen videos come out from Boko Haram. You have to remember that this is really a big propaganda war. The insurgency in the northeast of Nigeria has gone on since 2009. And so if they have taken these school children hostage, then I expect that is what will happen. We may well see some confirmation from them. That is usually the pattern that has followed. But also, if we look back to what happened with the Chibok schoolgirls, the leader of this faction of Boko Haram has previously said that he would enslave the girls; he would marry them off. They would forcibly converted to the Boko Haram form of Islam. So it really is quite a terrifying scenario. And I think at the moment, what is needed certainly by the families in the northeast of Nigeria is some answers and some action from the government and the military.

CO: We will follow this story, Anna. I appreciate you giving us these very troubling details tonight. Thank you.

AC: Thank you.

JD: Anna Cunningham is a freelance journalist. We reached her in Lagos, Nigeria.

[Music: Sad piano]

Corbyn spy claims

JD: British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused the right-wing press of, quote, "going a bit James Bond." This week, papers had claimed that Mr. Corbyn was a paid informant working for spies from Czechoslovakia. The story originated after an ex-spook by the name of Jan Sarkocy came forward, saying the men worked together in the 1980s.But according to the Guardian newspaper, which spoke with an analyst at the defence agency of the Czech Republic, the claims against Mr. Corbyn are unfounded. That, however, hasn't stopped Conservative politians from having a field day with the spy story. So today, the BBC's Andrew Neil took one of those Conservative politicians to task. Here he is speaking with MP Steve Baker about the allegations against the Labour leader.

SOUNDCLIP

ANDREW NEIL: The defence secretary says Mr. Corbyn has, quote, “betrayed his country”, in what way?

STEVE BAKER: Well, the defense secretary's chosen his own words. I mean the point for me about this debacle.

AN: Nor has he betrayed his country?

SB: Well, Jeremy Corbyn I think is a grave danger.

AN: Has he betrayed the country?

SB: That's because of the ideas in which he believes, and what that would mean for our economy and our society.

AN: People have all sorts of ideas. But your defence secretary, our defence secretary, the defence secretary of this government, has said the leader of her Majesty's Opposition has betrayed his country. In what way has he betrayed his country?

SB: That it really is a question for Gavin Williamson.

AN: So you don't agree with it? Do you think he's betrayed the country?

SB: I think that Jeremy Corbyn is a grave danger to our country.

AN: That’s a political point. Of course you do; everybody in one party things the other party is a grave danger. I'd just point out that a senior figure of the Czech Republic defense ministry says Sarkocy — who is the former Czech spy — is a liar. The director of the Czech archives on security says no files showed Mr Corbyn cooperating with Czech intelligence. The German archivist say there are no Stasi files on Mr .Corbyn at all. So I ask again, in what sense has Mr. Corbyn betrayed this country?

SB: Well, Andrew, I'm not going to comment on that. As you've suggested, this is an area where there's lots of questions too answer. We've got a free press in this country. The free press is asking the questions. They should be answered.

AN: It is not just the free press. Your fellow Tories are all piling in as a result. Your security minister — again, the key word security minister. He's compared Mr. Corbyn to Kim Philby. Kim Philby was a traitor. That's an outrageous smear to say of the leader of the Leader of the Opposition.

SB: Well, Andrew, I'm not going to allow you to draw me into potentially libeling anybody. And so I'm not going to comment on that.

AN: So you don't agree with that either?

SB: That really is a matter for Ben. But what I would say to you is that we believe in a free press in this country. The questions have been asked; the questions need to be answered.

AN: I'm asking do you think that Mr. Corbyn can be compared to Kim Philby? Do you think that he has in any way betrayed this country?

SB: I've got no evidence for any of that.

AN: So why do your colleagues?

SB: Well, that's a matter for them, Andrew.

AN: Surely, the real scandal, Mr. Baker, isn't what Mr. Corbyn has supposedly done. It's the outright lies and disinformation that your fellow Tories are spreading.

SB: I've got no evidence to make a judgment either way.

AN: So to claim so would be a lie.

SB: Well, the question has been asked; the question should be answered. But it's not for me to sit here on your program, inventing evidence, and reaching a conclusion myself.

AN: You leave that to your Tory colleagues.

JD: That was the BBC's Andrew Neil trying to get a straight answer from Conservative MP Steve Baker over whether Jeremy Corbyn had indeed sold state secrets to communist spies.

[Music: World music]

BC housing plan

Guest: Andy Yan

JD: We've all heard how difficult it can be to find affordable housing in British Columbia. One might need half a million bucks to get a small one bedroom condo — and that's not even in Vancouver proper. And finding one is not guaranteed. Well yesterday, the NDP government presented a plan in its first budget to address the housing crisis. Finance Minister Carol James said quote, "BC's real estate market should not be used as a stock market, it should be used to provide safe and secure homes for families, for renters, for students, and for seniors." Unquote. Minister James' plan includes an increase to the foreign buyers tax plus a new speculation tax. Will it work though? Andy Yan is an urban planner and the director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University. We reached him in Vancouver.

CO: Professor Yan, how do you rate the province's new budget plan to fix the housing crisis in BC?

ANDY YAN: To be to be seen that it really I think lays out a series of policies where previous politicians have cowered; we need leaders to rise. And that this is one government that has at least stood up.

CO: And what are the boldest things that you found in their plan?

AY: I think the boldest things are looking at things like a speculation tax; the expansion and increase into the foreign buyers tax. We've seen things like the increase in towards the property transfer tax as well as a tax for properties over three million dollars, which just happens to be about only 5 per cent of all residential properties in metropolitan Vancouver. As well as I think a rather big but yet important element in terms of administration the registration of pre-sales condos, for which is going to be, hopefully, made available for researchers.

CO: Just pick some of this apart because look at the foreign buyers tax existed already; that was already quite bold at 15 per cent; now, to go to 20 per cent. Did the 15 per cent deter the foreign buyers? Did it work before you put it to 20 per cent?

AY: I think that it was at least the beginnings of a signaling to the market that this is something that the British Columbia government was watching. I think that it was just I think an initial policy towards understanding what was happening towards foreign buyers purchasing residential real estate in metropolitan Vancouver. And it's important that I think that it was a number that was just a start. That I think that over time, this increase in 20 per cent is meant to kind of calibrate what kinds of tax rates should occur there. But then I think more importantly, it's also the expansion of the area that really qualifies one for the foreign buyers tax. What used to be just concentrated within say metropolitan Vancouver has now been expanded towards the Metro Victoria capital region, as well as Colonna, and the Fraser Valley, which I think is a much better kind of capture area for foreign buying.

CO: The philosophy behind these changes the government has introduced — the overarching statement — is that that housing is not an extension of the stock market. This is not some place to put your capital. This is where people go to buy homes, and so one of the big things is this speculators tax. Do you want to tell us how that would work?

AY: Well, speculators tax is a two per cent additional tax for those who don't have incomes in British Columbia. The details have yet to really come out, but then it's really capturing a proposal made by several economists both at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University to really capture the effects of flipping and speculation that was happening in the marketplace. And I think that it was following the advice of this of this group of economists that the provincial government has adopted large parts of their plan.

CO: And this is on absentee property owners. Just describe what it is that they're trying to fix, or trying to address?

AY: I think what they're trying to address is the issue of property owners which are purchasing properties, but aren't present; that don't live in the country, and really are just using their properties as a place to park their cash. That it's a phenomenon that used to be isolated into say a few neighbourhoods in the city of Vancouver, as well as some municipalities in metropolitan Vancouver. It has really metastasized in towards other parts of the province. And this really takes that phenomenon of people parking cash then increasing the parking fees that has occurred.

CO: Wow. And so how widespread is it? How many houses are sitting there empty that somebody somewhere has bought and decided to hold onto their capital and put it into a house in Vancouver that some family can't buy?

AY: Well, I think it's interesting because within the budget, there is a mechanism to at least begin that initial data capture. And that this is something that a number of scholars have attempted to look at this issue. And in this particular housing market has ranged to separate tens of thousands of dwelling units. And I think this is something that is trying to be captured in towards better data. And better data, as a researcher, it's actually something that's much-welcomed. That is being offered as part of the budget.

CO: And also, the plan is to start investing very heavily in building rental units, low-cost housing units, and is this reflecting what the government believes is the shift in housing and housing needs in British Columbia?

AY: Well, I think that it's reflecting the fact that you have a sizeable population in British Columbia who is being left behind by the market housing system. And that this is an attempt to really deal with levels of disinvestment that has occurred over the last decade-and-a-half. And these are the initial steps I think towards a much longer journey that I think needs to be done I think to ensure that British Columbians can set roots in the province and in the neighbourhoods they grew up in.

CO: All right. Well, as you say, we will wait and see where all this leads to. Professor Yan, I appreciate speaking with you. Thank you.

AY: Oh, you're very welcome, Carol.

JD: That was urban planner Andy Yan. We reached him in Vancouver.

[Music: Ambient]

Museum sled

JD: When we go to museums, what do we expect? Most of us I would say expect to see cool stuff, maybe learn about things we didn't know. What we don't expect, is to see cool stuff that's our very own. But that's what happened to Bruce Dudley while he was at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa recently. He and his son, Stewart, spoke with the CBC's Jessa Runciman about what they saw.

SOUNDCLIP

BRUCE DUDLEY: I came in here last Tuesday for a meeting with them Bytown Railway Society, and we meet in the auditorium over here. And I walk in here and I think my God, there's my dad's bobsled. I was astounded.

JESSA RUNCIMAN: I mean had a little part of you been even thinking that you might see it, or had you forgotten about it?

BD: My mother and dad were getting ready to sell their house out on the end of Woodruff Avenue, near Highway 16. And he decided to give the sled to the Science and Tech museum. And he also gave them another smaller sled. But over the years — that was in the early 70s, about Forty years ago — I often wondered where they were because I never saw them? I thought they might have been just dumped somewhere.

JR: Can you describe it for me, Stuart?

STUART DUDLEY: I guess it's about seven-feet long. There's a core base that you would sit on with a couple of rails that run along and form also a bumper on the front. And my grandfather added a large steering wheel — probably off an old bus — in order to turn the sleighs at the front. It's a pretty hefty piece of work. But when they originally had it, it had a recoil unit on the front. Sort of the kind of thing you would have on the start of an old lawnmower. It was spring-loaded, and you could pull the cord out in order to drag it up the hill. And then it would just retract back into the recoil unit when you went to go down the hill. So that would make it easy for a couple of young boys to drag this up a hill. You probably wouldn't be able to get away with using one on a toboggan hill these days because if you ever hit anybody, that would be the end.

BD My brother and I used to haul these over to Kirkwood Avenue; this would be during the war or just after the war. We'd run down Kirkwood Avenue hill down Beaker Street a block away. And by the time you get down there you're really sailing.

SD: There was no break on it either, right? Did you put your feet down or something?

BD: Well, you could put your feet down. But, yeah, you just had to steer.

JR: And then you just hope you don't hit a tree or something.

JD: possible design flaw. That was Bruce Dudley, and his son, Stewart, speaking with the CBC's Jessa Runciman about what it was like to discover his family's sled at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.

[Music: World music]

Margaritaville play

JD: Oh, the fun we had. Holy cow! That sounds almost exactly like the moment Carol and our technician Reynold Gonsalves broke out the limbo stick at the AIH Beach Day office party. But that jaunty little tune is actually part of the trailer for something much more important that Carol and Reynold’s shenanigans: this is part of a trailer for Jimmy Buffett's new Broadway musical. Last Friday, Mr. Buffett invited fans to a preview of Escape to Margaritaville. It was hard for them to believe that it had taken so long for their maestro to join the ranks of Hammerstein, Rogers and Hart. Even harder for them to believe that the theatre bar wasn't ready. All they wanted to do was drown themselves in lime juice, tequila and '70s nostalgia to the beat of a steel drum. But as one source told the New York Daily News, quote, "The house did not expect to run out of Triple Sec, thus having to cut off margarita sales."Thankfully, even without margaritas, the resourceful Parrotheads — as Buffet fans call themselves — still managed to find a way to Escape to Margaritaville. The company that owns the theatre told organizers that the sold-out show was, quote, "the largest one-night bar sale in their history."

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February 21, 2018 episode transcript

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