Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines by Natalie MacLean. (Doubleday, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Unquenchable

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Natalie MacLean joins me now. The award winning wine critic is widely read having millions of readers in print, and over a hundred thousand people subscribe to her e-newsletter which you can sign up for at www.nataliemaclean.com. On the said website there are all sorts of neat things, such as phone apps and the sort, as well as reviews of all sorts of wine. She’s the author of a new book too, Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines. It’s a highly readable book that’s part guide and part memoir to all sorts of places Germany, Australia, Italy, Argentina, Portugal, South America, and here in Canada. I’ve just started reading it, and as I’ve said when another wine writer was on, I don’t have a taste for wine, but in her lively, witty prose she makes the search for these bargain wines fun and fascinating. Natalie MacLean’s previous book Red, White and Drunk All Over was a bestseller and critically lauded. She’s in Vancouver now, but will return later in the month, Monday, 21 November 2011 at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. For the price of admission, there’ll be wine and cheese and a copy of this new book. Visit www.ticketweb.ca for more information and tickets. The book is published by Doubleday. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Natalie MacLean; Good morning, Ms. MacLean.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

One of my favourite reads online is the Savvy Insider. It’s a terrific newsletter you can read on their website at www.savvyinsider.ca, or you can read it in your e-mail which I do. You can subscribe to it on their website. I like the restaurant reviews—there’s a regular feature called Cheap Appetite, where we read about affordable eating in Vancouver. There are product reviews, the watching of trends and more. If you’re interested in sales, there are alerts as well. The Savvy Insider’s editor, George Froehlich joins me now. He is a veteran journalist and television executive. We’ll check in today about some of the recent stories on the Savvy Insider, as well as catch up with George, his recent travels and other things on his radar. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, George Froehlich; Good morning, Mr. Froehlich.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at THECOMMENTARY.CA.

David Schreck joins me again. The long-time political observer and pundit has appeared on this program since day 2, literally the second guest ever. There’s been much going on politically these last several weeks with more to come. John Twigg provides analysis elsewhere on this website, and David joins me now to provide his own views on the election of Christy Clark as the new leader of the BC Liberal Party, succeeding Gordon Campbell thereby soon to be British Columbia’s 35th premier. David Schreck is a former NDP MLA, as well he was a special advisor to the premier of BC in the late 1990s and the early 2000s. We’ll also look ahead to the NDP’s own leadership race, those running and more. His website is at www.strategicthoughts.com. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, David Schreck; Good morning, Mr. Schreck.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

In Vancouver, I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

My friend and colleague Sean Cranbury joins us again. He’s triumphantly coming off of last Friday’s second Bookcamp Vancouver, which he co-organised. I went this year, and it was staggering the discussion, debate and information that one could come away with. I’m really glad I went. We’ll look back at Bookcamp, as well as talk about an event this Friday that Sean’s co-producing: Literary Death Match: Vancouver. It’s an event that we’ll get him to explain, but participating are Sara Bynoe, The Tyee’s Steve Burgess, the comedian and author of the terrific Vancouver Special Charles Demers, and poet and author Nikki Reimer. It’s at W2 Storyeum at 151 West Cordova, Friday night at 8.00pm. Tickets are 10 bucks if you pre-order them, or $15.00 at the door. Sean Cranbury is the editor and host of Books on the Radio, it’s a website as well as a weekly radio program you can hear on Simon Fraser University’s CJSF 90.1 FM, that features talk and discussion on books, publishing and more. www.booksontheradio.ca is the website. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Sean Cranbury; Good morning, Mr. Cranbury.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

In Vancouver, I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

John Twigg joins us again. The independent journalist, long-time political observer, former press secretary to Dave Barrett when he was premier, and former leader of the BC Refederation Party is on now to talk politics. There’s a lot going on what with the HST referendum, and now recall campaigns. Also, a lot of other political stuff we can get him to explain to us and provide his views. His website is www.johntwigg.com. From his home in Campbell River, please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, John Twigg; Good morning, Mr. Twigg.

Make Money Online: Roadmap of a Dot Com Mogul by John Chow with Michael Kwan. (Morgan James, 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Make Money Online

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

John Chow is well-known in this part of the world and elsewhere for making money online. He’s got a new book out: Make Money Online: Roadmap of a Dot Com Mogul, which he wrote with Michael Kwan. They both join me now. In 1999, Chow launched thetechzone.com, one of the largest technology websites on the internet. Another of his websites, the aptly titled John Chow Dot Com, offers ideas on how to make money online. You’ll read in this book, how these websites came about, the numbers of people who’ve visited, and the money he’s made on them—something like $40,000 a month. It’s an interesting story, and the book is full of many tips. Our old friend, Michael Kwan of michaelkwan.com, is a freelance writer and blogger. Make Money Online is published by Morgan James. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, John Chow and Michael Kwan; Good morning, Mr. Chow; and good morning, Mr. Kwan.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

The award-winning broadcaster and blogger Dave Gerry joins me now. He’s a well-known, long-time, memorable figure in local media here in Vancouver and its surrounding area. A lot of people have asked for him to be on, and why not, up until a couple of years ago, he was a regular fixture on channel 13 in all of its incarnations, culminating as co-host with Simi Sara on Breakfast Television. He was at channel 13 for twenty years, and has been in the television business for well over thirty years now. His very fine blog, Manic Tapas is at www.davegerry.wordpress.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Dave Gerry; Good morning, Mr. Gerry.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

And it all comes down to this, my last interview of the year, and for the foreseeable future. I am joined by my friend and colleague Michael Kwan, the blogger and freelance writer. Visit his site at www.michaelkwan.com, and read the blog, Beyond the Rhetoric. We’re so close to Christmas, and we’ll look at what to buy gadget wise, as well as see what’s on Mike’s radar at the moment.

I want to plug, briefly the Friends of Tupper Fund. Mr. Kwan and I are 2000 graduates of Sir Charles Tupper Secondary here in Vancouver, and this year as it celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, a scholarship fund was founded. I hope a lot of our old friends at Tupper who might be listening, might consider making a donation. It’s also year’s end and it’d be good for tax purposes as well. www.friendsoftupper.com is the website. John Ellis, a 1964 graduate, has done great work in putting this all together, and the great 50th anniversary back in September. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Michael Kwan; Good morning, Mr. Kwan.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Once again, I’m joined by the longtime journalist George Froehlich. He’s had a an interesting career, he was the executive producer of the old Vancouver Show on CKVU, and then was a producer at the CBC on The Journal broadcast, he was an editor at the Vancouver Sun, and then went on to run channel 13, when the Global owned it. He is now the editor of the Savvy Insider, a weekday newsletter that’s delivered to your e-mail or read online at www.savvyinsider.ca. There are reviews on products, there’s trend watching, movie and restaurant reviews, and more. They’re succinct and terribly useful. I’m pleased to welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, as we get close to Christmas, George Froehlich; Good morning, Mr. Froehlich.

Friends With Benefits: A Social Media Marketing Handbook by Darren Barefoot and Julie Szabo. (No Starch Press, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Friends With Benefits

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

In the firmament of the blogging world here in this part of the world and beyond, they’re probably royalty. She is a writer and marketer, figure skating blogger (www.bootandblade.com), and is one half of Capulet Communications. He is a prominent blogger (www.darrenbarefoot.com), playwright and another half of Capulet Communications (www.capulet.com). Julie Szabo and Darren Barefoot join me now. They’ve authored a new book, Friends With Benefits: A Social Media Marketing Handbook. It’s an accessible, compelling and useful read and not just because I happen to be online myself. It’s a view onto all these things that are seemingly a part of our world, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, MySpace, blogs, and more. If you need marketing advice, this is a good way to understand how marketing has changed, and useful on how to harness and utilise that which is around us. I’ve long been a fan of Darren’s blog, and have read it with interest as he’s chronicled their writing of this book, and their many travels; as they’ve lived all over the world the last few years. Friends with Benefits is published by No Starch Press. I’m pleased to welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Darren Barefoot and Julie Szabo; Good morning, Ms. Szabo, and good morning, Mr. Barefoot.