My Engagement (sort of) to Taylor Swift: A True and Hilarious Tale Let me set the record straight: yes, in a manner of speaking, I was engaged to Taylor Swift. Or at least, that’s what the story became when it hit my medical records in Halifax. It’s a tale of heartbreak, frostbite, survival, and the enduring power of humor—and, of course, Taylor Swift. Back in 2006, my life was in chaos. Out of sheer desperation, I accepted an offer to move back to Etobicoke with my father and one of his caregiver wives, Natasha. This, I would later realize, was a bizarre and misguided move on my part. You see, my father was not the frail senior citizen he portrayed himself to be. He had already orchestrated my downfall multiple times—misleading the police, getting me arrested, disinheriting me, and leaving me homeless after seizing my property to hide evidence that I could have used to sue him. But I needed a place to live. In my mind, I thought I could smooth-talk him into reversing the disinheritanc...

Starting Over: A Life Full of Stories Worth Telling   I’ve decided to start over with this blog—not by erasing what I’ve posted before, but by shifting my focus and truly trying this time. In many ways, I haven’t put my full energy into blogging before, but the truth is, I don’t have much else going on right now. This blog is my way of reconnecting with the world, even if not many people comment. It’s a space to share my journey, my stories, and my reflections on a life that has been anything but ordinary.   Who I Am: The Basics You Don’t Know About Me   There are things about me that most people probably don’t know. For example, I was once a Wolf Cub and a Boy Scout, something that might surprise people who know me from the punk music scene. In high school at Humberside Collegiate Institute, I was the youngest-ever president of the student council—a milestone I was proud of then and still am today. That role eventually led me to the Toronto Board of Trade, where I was pa...

Rediscovering My Voice: A Journey of Reinvention   For years, I’ve carried a story too heavy to tell. It’s a story of loss, resilience, and a burning desire to reclaim the life I once had. Today, I’m finally taking steps to bring that story into the light—not just for myself, but for anyone who’s ever felt silenced, beaten down, or erased.   Some of you might know me from the days when I lived a public, creative life. As part of Cardboard Brains and through my solo work, I lived for music and self-expression. In 1982, I was honored with a CASBY Award for Most Promising Male Recording Artist. But by 2001, my life took a devastating turn. Judicial misconduct, malicious prosecutions, unlawful arrests, and imprisonment destroyed my career and left me homeless. The fallout wasn’t just financial; it was emotional, mental, and physical. For over a decade, I fought just to survive.   In 2012, I escaped the chaos of Toronto and found peace in Halifax. But even peace can feel like...

  The Punk Rock Ethos: Shaping Every Facet of My Life   From Rebellion to Authenticity   The pounding rhythms, raw energy, and unapologetic defiance of punk rock have not just been a soundtrack to my life; they've been a philosophy, a way of living that has permeated every facet of my existence. The punk rock ethos, characterized by its DIY spirit, anti-establishment stance, and relentless pursuit of authenticity, has shaped my world in ways I never anticipated when I first heard those electrifying chords.   The Beginnings   My journey with punk rock began in my early years. It was a time of searching for identity and grappling with the confines of societal expectations. The moment I stumbled upon the chaotic, yet liberating world of punk, I felt an immediate connection. Bands like the The Stranglers, Roxy Music, The Buzzcocks, Gang of Four, Sex Pistols, and Siouxie and the Banshees spoke to my sense of disillusionment and yearning for something real. Their m...

In the summer of 1977, I wrote the Cardboard Brains song Can Stress Kill? in a moment of chance and inspiration. It all happened in the practice room I’d built in my parents’ basement at 34 Clissold Road, Etobicoke—a sleepy suburban area just outside Toronto. If you’re in a place like Romania, imagine Etobicoke as the suburb of Toronto: reliable, practical, but not exactly glamorous. I was waiting for the band to show up, and Vince Carlucci’s Les Paul was sitting there, calling my name. Vince, our guitarist, had left it behind, and I couldn’t resist picking it up and strumming a few chords. As I noodled around, my eyes fell on a copy of the Toronto Star lying nearby. In the letters to the editor section, there was a headline that stopped me cold: Can Stress Kill? Intrigued, I read the letter. It was written by a guy working in a factory who hated his job. His words were raw, honest, and dripping with the discontent that punk music was all about. Lines like: "Sometimes I feel li...

  The Roller Coaster of a Day: Reflections on Justice, Therapy, and Hope Yesterday was a lousy day. Not the worst I’ve had, but bad enough to knock me down for a bit. Looking back, I think I overdid it on Vyvanse—too much fuel for my brain, and anxiety came crashing in to remind me of my limits. The week before had been different. Inspired, focused, and riding a wave of hyper-productivity, I dove headfirst into legal and medical research. GPT-4 was my companion, helping me map out a plan to file Freedom of Information (FOI) requests with over a hundred sources to gather documentation for my legal battles. I was full of energy, teetering on the edge of brilliance—or obsession. But as usual, the crash came. That’s the problem with being an all-or-nothing kind of guy: I burn brightly, but the flame flickers out just as fast. I talked to my therapist recently—a Halifax-based professional I was connected with through Victim Services. When I shared my plans for a legal campaign, my un...

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp2pIvPX6PE Title: A Hidden Gem of Punk Rock History: CINOFRENIC (1979) Here’s a blast from the archives for true aficionados of punk rock! Back in 1978, I had the opportunity to be part of a unique film originally titled CINOFRENIC . It was an experimental project that captured the raw, unfiltered energy of the punk scene at the time. I was billed as Paul Young in the film, and although it never reached a wide audience, it has lived on in the memories of those lucky enough to experience it. Recently, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the film has resurfaced online under a new title: Shock Rock (1979) . Thanks to an "Unknown" commenter in a YouTube thread, I discovered that this rare piece of punk rock history is now accessible for fans to rediscover and appreciate. The film itself may drag a bit in its dramatic parts, but the footage of the bands is absolutely incredible—and rare! I and Cardboard Brains perform a few songs, incl...