In Toronto. Have been for a couple of days, attending meetings. Met with some folks from Canadian Press, and in our talks I dropped a couple of bon mots that I need to archive here.

I gave the CP folks permission to use these phrases (because they asked); I just want to claim them here, now.

Regional is the new global.

We were talking about the increasing demand in online news users and audiences for local, regional information. The cool thing about the interweb – while being hailed for making the world smaller – is also the perfect tool for niche communities to keep in touch with each other, even if they are just down the street from each other.

The return of the beat reporter.

Traditional news agencies, in an attempt to stay legitimate and competitive in the changing media landscape, have started to equip their reporters with multimedia tools so they can not only file traditional text stories, but also audio and video.

It is an opportunity to provide extra context to those stories, and while – I believe – everyone would be better suited if the video and audio were being created by professionals, instead of professional writers, this is an interesting trend in the industry of news journalism.

Because as the news presented on television and in newspapers becomes increasingly centralized, having reporters on the ground and on the street, even if they are doing double and triple duties, is akin to the old days of beat reporters.

I’m tired of the TSN and Sportsnet hockey analysts complaining about the NHL‘s all-star format. “Have the Stanley Cup champs play the European all-stars or the rest of the league’s best,” I’ve heard proposed.

Fellas, you are all missing the point of this.

The all-star break is a break in the schedule, an opportunity for the players to get some rest. That’s why it is scheduled mid-season.

It’s a chance for them to get together with their comrades and hang out for a couple of days, away from the pressure of “win, win, win.”

It’s a chance for them to have some fun. Remember that? Having fun on the ice?

I enjoyed watching this year’s all-star game. It was relaxed and easy-going, the commentary and conversations with the coaches on the bench were hilarious, and it was clear to me that the players were having fun.

Sure, the game was played like it was happening on a frozen pond, but that’s where the game came from in the first place, and that’s where – to this day – we all have the most fun playing.

I love to watch people who are enjoying themselves, whether it’s the actors on the Ocean’s 11 remakes (terrible films, but you can see how much fun everyone has when they don’t have to take themselves so seriously all the time) or NHL hockey players in a game of shinny.

When did the all-star game become about points and advantages and meaning something? The NBA and NFL don’t take their all-star or pro bowl games that seriously. Hell, the NFL pro bowl takes place in Hawaii for a reason.

I’m not wrong on this, either, so don’t even bother arguing that the league needs to lure American fans and the best way to do that is the all-star game. Baloney. If Americans are going to migrate to hockey, the only thing that will make that happen is billions of dollars spent in marketing and advertising, and that is a slow process that is already underway.

The NHL all-star game is exactly what I want to see: a group of the league’s best players having fun while playing the game we all love.

It doesn’t need to be anything more than that.

He’d just aced the skills competition, has been – nearly single-handedly – leading the Penguins to a winning season, and was surrounded by the best players in the league for the first time in his life.

So what if Sidney Crosby didn’t play that well in the NHL All-Star Game. He’s still the most exciting hockey player Canada has produced since Wayne Gretzky.

In this week’s Channel Changer, I compare the television shows and actors who were awarded People’s Choice awards to those who won Golden Globes.

It’s all about the difference between what the public says they like (People’s Choice) and what the critics think is quality television (Golden Globe).

There’s some interesting differences. The only thing anyone can agree on is that Grey’s Anatomy is a good program. Beyond that, nothing is the same.

I’m not the biggest fan of awards programs, but I sure see why the networks and studios like them. As for the actors, you know that they only rail against awards until they win. When they win, they love awards.

Wow. Sony’s Playstation 3 is some powerful hardware. Nice design, too. They learned something since the PS2 days, Sony has.

Just you wait, until a year from now, when there is some really great software – some really great games – to play on the PS3.

In the meantime, save your pennies.

Read my take on the PS3 in this week’s Trigger Happy.

Special bonus! Reviews of Genji: Days of the Blade and Resistance: Fall of Man.