What do the following authors have in common: J.D. Salinger, Emily Brontë, and Oscar Wilde? They are famous for writing just one novel.

J.D. Salinger? The Catcher in the Rye. Emily Brontë? Wuthering Heights. And Oscar Wilde? The Picture of Dorian Gray. Home runs. Classics. Enduring favourites. Lasting fame. Millions of copies sold around the planet. But in each case, there were no follow-ups. They were all one and done.

J.D. Salinger became a recluse. Emily Brontë died shortly after the publication of Wuthering Heights. And Oscar Wilde stayed with writing plays. As novelists go, they are all one-hit wonders.

When it comes to music, one-hit wonders are an endless source of amusement. How can someone become internationally famous for decades when they only have one song that anyone cares about?

These are special cases where lightning is captured exactly once. And no matter how many more songs these artists wrote, they would never, ever achieve that extreme level of fame again. A single song overshadows every other effort.

Let’s apply this to the history of alt-rock. What songs and artists qualify?

It took a bunch of research, but I think I managed to crack it using a combination of statistics. And we’re now up to episode four of five in this mission: the 50 all-time biggest alt-rock one-hit wonders.

Songs heard on this show:

• Doctor and the Medics, Spirit in the Sky
• Enigma, Sadeness (Part 1)
• Edwyn Collins, A Girl Like You
• Peter Schilling, Major Tom (Coming Home)
• White Town, Your Woman
• Meredith Brooks, Bitch
• Marcy Playground, Sex and Candy
• The Caesars, Jerk It Out
• Chumbawamba, Tubthumping
• The La’s, There She Goes

Here’s Eric Wilhite’s playlist.

The Ongoing History of New Music can be heard on these stations.

• 102.1 The Edge/Toronto – Sunday night at 7pm
• Q107/Toronto – Sunday night at 9pm
• Live 88-5/Ottawa – Saturdays at 9am and Sundays at 6pm.
• 107.5 Dave-FM/Kitchener – Sunday nights at 11pm
• FM96/London – Sunday nights at 8pm
• Power 97/Winnipeg – Sunday nights at 10am and 10pm
• 107-3 The Edge/Calgary – Sundays at 10am and 10pm
• Sonic 102.9/Edmonton – Sunday at 8am and 8pm
• The Zone/Victoria – Sunday at 9am and 9pm
• The Fox/Vancouver – Sundays at 10anm and 10pm
• The Goat Network/Interior BC
• Surge 105/Halifax – Sunday at 7pm
• WAPS/WKTL The Summit/Arkon, Canton, Cleveland, Youngstown – Mon-Fri at 9pm

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Have you ever wondered why heavy metal singers can scream for hours on end, but other singers lose their voices all the time? You’d think it would be the other way around, right? Turns out there’s a weird answer to this medical mystery of music.

Using a special high-speed camera designed to visualize vocal cords, a speech doctor in San Francisco discovered that a heavy metal singer’s screaming is more like a baby’s than an adult’s. When a metal singer sings, they’re not actually straining their vocal cords. Their muscles relax and flap to create sounds, rather than squeezing out the loudness like most adults.

It’s a skill that babies instinctively use to protect their throats while crying and screaming, but is usually forgotten as they grow older. For whatever reason, heavy metal singers are still able to do it, and doctors hope they can teach the technique to patients with throat injuries and vocal issues.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Music scenes flourish everywhere, even in Antarctica, the last true wilderness on Earth. Home to a few thousand research scientists, Antarctica has a unique historical music scene. In a place where the only sounds are the occasional penguin or cracking glacier, music is often what breaks the silence.

To keep up spirits with a link to civilization, the famous Captain Robert Falcon Scott brought two gramophones on his last expedition to the South Pole at the turn of the 20^th century. There are many reports of sailors singing to penguin colonies. No word on whether this pleased or annoyed the penguins. S

cientists based there today have their own little scene. The Argentinians really like metal, and the American base has a classical aficionado. The Ukrainian station is into folk, and some of its researchers even hold jam sessions. One Ukrainian scientist even built a piano in their lab to pass the long Antarctic winter.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A university lab worker who was allegedly angered about the promotion of a long-term colleague confessed to poisoning that co-worker’s water bottle.

Makoto Kuroda, 41, a worker at the University of Wisconsin, was charged with recklessly endangering safety and tampering with a household product with intent to harm, according to Dane County court records, after he admitted to a fellow employee that he was responsible, as alleged in a criminal complaint.

According to the document filed last week, an officer responded to a call reporting that chemicals had been discovered in a water bottle belonging to an employee at the Influenza Research Institute in Madison, Wis., on April 6.

A research facility employee — identified as AK — told officers that an investigator had previously asked her to smell a water bottle belonging to a colleague, identified in the complaint as TM, and that she noticed it smelled off. The investigator then informed her that it may contain chemicals, the complaint says.

TM’s lab shoes also smelled of chemicals, it added.

The water bottle had been sitting on TM’s desk for several days before police were notified, the complaint says. TM told investigators he first noticed a strange smell emanating from the bottle on April 5 and that he had taken a sip and spat it out the day before due to an odd flavour.

There were no reports of illness or sickness, it added.

After noticing the bizarre odour and taste, TM dumped the water but kept the bottle and his lab shoes, the complaint says.

He told investigators he believed the smell coming from his shoes was chloroform, which he said he does not use and is not stored in his office, but is used in experiments in other parts of the facility and is accessible to all employees, the criminal complaint says.

TM also informed officers he did not know anyone who used it and did not have issues with anyone at work or any idea who may have added dangerous chemicals to his drink.

Chemical testing confirmed the presence of such a large quantity of chloroform in the water bottle that the test strips could not provide an accurate reading, the criminal complaint says.

On April 10, Kuroda was identified by police as the person responsible for the poisoning after AK informed officers he verbally admitted to TM and supervisors that he was the one who put a substance in TM’s water bottle the day the incident was reported.

According to the report, Kuroda approached TM in the lab and said, “I did it.”

TM told officers he and Kuroda had been good friends but recently drifted apart for an unknown reason.

Kuroda reportedly admitted to a senior employee that he had poisoned TM’s drink because TM was not following a rule requiring staff to wear lab coats and goggles, and that he was angered by other minor things TM had done, including a shift in attitude after a promotion.

The defendant also told the employee that he put a substance called paraformaldehyde into TM’s drink.

Kuroda is currently being held in Dane County Jail and has yet to enter a plea, records show.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A 78-year-old woman is dead after being hit by a street sweeper while crossing the street in Boucherville, Que., on Montreal’s South Shore.

Longueuil police say the collision happened at around 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday.

They say the street sweeper was driven by a contractor hired by the municipality when it hit the woman.

Police say the circumstances are under investigation but the death appears to be accidental.

They later added that the woman had been crossing the street when she was hit.

The City of Boucherville put out a statement expressing condolences to the victim’s loved ones.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms.

If you’re looking for a way to attract a variety of birds to your yard this spring and summer, adding a feeder to your outdoor décor is a great plan.

In addition, you’ll find yourself paying more attention to which types of birds frequent your yard, says Jody Allair, director of community engagement for Birds Canada.

Allair says the spike in interest in birdwatching that began during the pandemic has shown no signs of abating.

“Now and especially since the pandemic, the interest in birding and bird feeding–it’s just off the charts right now.”

Birdwatching is also good for mental health, says Allair.

“Birding (or birdwatching) is quite powerful on many levels… paying attention to birds has this really amazing effect,” he says, with a nod to studies which have demonstrated that people who spent time outdoors in the afternoon watching birds had lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress.

Paying attention to what’s flying around your neighbourhood and community can also be transformative. “It can transform people’s relationship with nature,” says Allair. He says becoming a birdwatcher often inspires people to think more about protecting the natural environment and conservation.

The best way to start is to get a feeder that suits your needs, and to learn a little bit more about the feathered friends that will likely pay your feeder a visit.

 

Platform feeders, whether wood, metal or plastic, are a great way to attract birds of all sizes, but especially larger birds like grosbeaks, woodpeckers and blue jays. However, they will not keep squirrels away, so using these feeders versus a squirrel-proof feeder is really a matter of choice, says Allaire.

The number one thing to consider when deciding to put out a feeder is ensuring you clean it regularly. Putting out a feeder and never cleaning it can cause your birdfeeder to potentially spread disease, notes Allair. So, look for “easy to clean” over a cute design. Allair recommends cleaning a busy feeder once a week with warm soapy water and/or a mild bleach solution and a less busy feeder maybe once every two weeks. The key is to dry it thoroughly to ensure no moisture remains that could potentially cause mold or other diseases to develop.

 

This highly rated feeder will blend nicely into any outdoor style as it’s made from high-quality insect and rot-resistant cedar. Its simple design allows it to be hung from virtually any sturdy branch and it comes with a removable tray that can be removed for washing. Its large surface area attracts juncos, cardinals, grosbeaks and more.[/product_listing]

 

Elevate your backyard style with the Bird Cafe Modern Feeder – a chic, architectural piece featuring asymmetrical windows for quick seed checks, a sleek wrap-around tray for feathered guests to perch and dine, and a sturdy steel cable for hanging.[/product_listing]

 

Allair says some bird watchers dislike their seeds being snatched by squirrels, so in that case, go for a squirrel-proof feeder. Most are tube shaped with perches for smaller birds like nuthatches and chickadees. But Allair notes larger birds such as cardinals will have more difficulty perching on some of the smaller squirrel-proof options.

Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder is designed with a smart weight-activated system that shuts feeding ports when squirrels climb on it, helping ensure the seed stays reserved for birds. With four feeding ports and a 3 lb capacity, it supports multiple birds at once while offering a low-maintenance way to enjoy regular backyard bird activity.[/product_listing]

 

This unique cage design allows small birds like bluebirds, chickadees, and nuthatches to access the feeder while keeping out unwanted visitors such as grey squirrels. It features a secure metal mesh cover that ensures proper ventilation for keeping seeds fresh and dry. [/product_listing]

 

Or try a heavy duty, 1-kilogram all-metal feeder, extremely popular with bird lovers because of its ability to resist hungry squirrels via a similar system. The Perky Pet holds up against hot and cold weather and can host six avian visitors at a time.[/product_listing]

You may also like:

Outdoor Garden Bird Bath – $59.99

Large Resin Planter Pot – $39.99

Outdoor String Lights – $26.09

 

Besides squirrel-proof or tube style products, Allair says the other main type birders might want to consider is a hummingbird feeder, as these tiny creatures feed on sugar water. He says rather than purchasing commercial hummingbird food, it’s healthier to make your own (mix four parts water with one part sugar). Orioles will also visit a hummingbird feeder if you remove the bee guards, he says.

 

Inexpensive but effective, the Perky Pet attracts common hummingbirds including the Ruby Throated, which is one of the most commonly spotted in Canada and features a metallic green back. Fill it from the top and watch the hummingbirds come to you. And it comes apart in eight pieces for easy cleaning.[/product_listing]

 

Allair highly recommends that rather than commercial bird seed, birders serve up black oil sunflower seeds and peanuts (beloved by blue jays). These protein-packed power foods are perfect for pretty much any bird, says Allair, and they’re more inexpensive than seed mixes which often contain filler that birds will pick over.

 

A large bag should last several months or more. This one is 11.36 kg, and users say it attracts all kinds of birds (and some squirrels) to feeders. Bonus–no wasted seeds that they’ll just scatter on the ground.[/product_listing]

 

Allair says birders should continue to put out food in the winter. He recommends hanging suet or rendered fat in the winter. “Having suet is really important, especially for those cold snaps.”

 

Try this all-metal version from Lee Valley. It keeps commercial suet neatly inside while allowing birds to access food easily throughout the winter.[/product_listing]

 

 

Observe your backyard birds in 2k and in real time with this high-tech feeder. With auto capture and AI identify (that can capture 10000+ bird species), you’ll receive instant notifications to watch birds in full colour day and night on APP to ensure you never miss a visit from your feathered friends.[/product_listing]

 

This smart bird feeder is made from renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable bamboo wood. Its waterproof camera uses advanced artificial intelligence to analyze bird activity and accurately identify over 6,000 species, while also supporting simultaneous live streaming so you can view and cast real-time footage at home.[/product_listing]

 

If you love bird-watching, this feeder has alerts and clear videos that will pop up right on your phone. It’s solar-powered, tough enough to handle the weather (and squirrels), and even tells you what kind of bird you’re looking at.
[/product_listing]

 

This smart bird feeder, paired with the CoolFly app, offers real-time, AI-powered bird identification, HD video capture, and instant alerts – turning every bird visit into a fun, shareable experience for enthusiasts of all ages.[/product_listing]

 

Once you get started, Allair says, birdwatching can become addictive as you learn which birds visit your yard and become able to identify them. “Once you start paying attention, it’s hard to turn it off… that’s why birds are kind of magic.”

You may also like:

OFF! FamilyCare Insect and Mosquito Repellent – $10.74

Feline Greenies Cat Treats – $3.98

Dog Poop Bag Dispenser with Strawberry Scented Bags – $12.99

Agri-Tel Backyard Basics Wild Songbird Bird Seed – $20.98

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Montreal-based airline Air Transat will cut around six per cent of its flights between May and October as the war in Iran pushes jet fuel prices globally, the airline said in a statement.

Citing “fuel price volatility” and “supply constraints,” the company said it is cutting flights on multiple routes to Europe and the Caribbean.

The exact number of impacted flights is not yet clear.

The ongoing suspension of flights to Cuba, owing to the fuel crisis in that country, will be extended till October as well.

Travellers hit by the flight cuts are being presented with alternative travel options, Air Transat said.

The situation is “beyond our control,” the airline said.

“The recent volatility in aviation fuel prices reflects an exceptional environment affecting the entire sector. We are closely monitoring the situation, as cost pressures continue to be felt across the industry,” said Air Transat president and CEO Annick Guerard.

“We will continue to optimize our program based on demand, which remains strong. Additional measures may be implemented depending on how the situation evolves beyond our control,” Guerard added.

Jet fuel prices have skyrocketed across the world since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in late February, kicking off a broader Middle East conflict. In response to the strikes, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz for all shipping traffic.

The key waterway accounts for one-fifth of the world’s oil supply — 20 million barrels per day.

On Tuesday, German airline Lufthansa said it would be cancelling around 20,000 short-haul flights across Europe as the war in Iran causes the price of aviation fuel to soar.

Earlier this week, WestJet said it is cutting flight capacity by about one per cent in April, three per cent in May and nearly six per cent in June.

Earlier this month, WestJet announced a temporary fuel surcharge of $60 on bookings made through WestJet Rewards companion vouchers.

WestJet did not say how long the temporary fuel surcharge will remain in place but told its customers it would be removed “once jet fuel prices return to normal levels.”

For Sunwing Vacations and Vacances WestJet Québec, it announced a fuel charge of $50 per person.

Air Canada announced last week it would suspend six routes, citing fuel costs that render them unprofitable.

The move included routes to New York City’s JFK airport from Toronto and Montreal between June 1 and Oct. 25.

Last week, Air Canada also announced higher baggage fees — to $45 from $35 for the first checked bag in its basic economy class on domestic, U.S. and sun destination flights.

Fuel often marks airlines’ highest cost. Air Canada spent more than $5.1 billion on it in 2024, amounting to 24 per cent of the carrier’s operating costs — its largest expense.

— With files from The Canadian Press

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Newly released data from Statistics Canada shows the number of violent crimes involving a firearm in 2024 dropped compared with 2023 in the largest yearly decrease since 2014.

However, the agency also says that despite that year-over-year drop, “the overall trend has been an upward one, both for total violent crime and firearm-related violent crime” since the mid-2010s.

There were 36 firearm-related violent crimes per 100,000 population in 2024, which was down 4.2 per cent from 2023 (37.6 incidents per 100,000 population).

But the rate of firearm-related violent crime in 2024 was still 44 per cent higher than 10 years earlier, when it stood at 25 incidents per 100,000 population.

In addition, 29 per cent of firearm-related violent crimes “attributable to gangs or organized crime involved a firearm” in 2024.

Statistics Canada states that from 2023 to 2024, “all census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in Alberta and most CMAs in British Columbia saw a large decline in the rate of firearm-related violent crime, which contributed to the decline at the national level.”

The biggest decreases were in Prince Edward Island (-46 per cent), British Columbia (-22 per cent) and Alberta (-14 per cent).

However, the rate was up 12 per cent in Toronto, the country’s largest CMA. It was also the city’s highest rate of firearm-related violent crime (44.8 incidents per 100,000 population) in 15 years.

Newfoundland and Labrador (+31 per cent), Ontario (+6.3 per cent) and Quebec (+0.8 per cent) also saw increases.

The rate of firearm-related violent crime in the territories reached a peak in 2023 (184 incidents per 100,000 population), the highest rate since comparable data became available in 2009.

In 2024, this rate was down 14 per cent from its 2023 peak, driven by a 37 per cent decrease in Nunavut.

Statistics Canada notes that despite the 2024 declines across some rural areas and territories, “the rate of firearm-related violent crime was still much higher than it was 10 years earlier.”

“Compared with 2014, the rate of firearm-related violent crime was 167 per cent higher in the provincial rural north, 85 per cent higher in the provincial rural south, and 79 per cent higher in the territories.”

From 2023 to 2024, some of the specific violent crimes involving a firearm that decreased were hostage taking, kidnapping or forcible confinement involving a firearm (-15 per cent), sexual assault (-13 per cent) and robbery (-8.8 per cent).

Shooting homicides also decreased (-5.6 per cent) for the second consecutive decline.

In 2024, 49 per cent of firearm-related violent crimes in Canada involved a handgun, even though the rate of handgun-related violent crime fell.

This was the second consecutive annual decrease after hitting a peak at 19.7 incidents per 100,000 population in 2022.

In addition, Statistics Canada found that in 2024, 58 per cent of people accused of a firearm-related violent crime were “identified by police as the accused in at least one previous violent crime (involving a firearm or not) that occurred during the period from 2018 to 2024.”

That’s higher than the 39 per cent for persons accused of a violent crime not involving a firearm.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Toronto Zoo says one of its endangered pygmy hippos is expecting a calf this summer.

Kindia, Toronto’s very own “Moo Deng,” is a 20-year-old female pygmy hippopotamus living in the zoo’s African Rainforest Pavilion.

She is now expecting her second baby after being introduced to 31-year-old male Harvey earlier this year.

Zoo officials said in a post on social media that the pair spent four days together in January, “and they certainly made the most of their time together.”

According to the zoo’s release, pygmy hippos having a gestation period of less than seven months, with the calf expected in late July.

Staff are closely monitoring Kindia’s pregnancy through behavioural observations and ultrasounds, the zoo said.

While Kindia successfully gave birth to a calf in 2018, the zoo notes that survival rates for pygmy hippos can be challenging, and teams are prepared to support both mother and calf.

Pygmy hippos are listed as endangered, with fewer than 3,000 believed to remain in the wild.

Native to West Africa, the species faces threats from habitat loss due to logging, mining and agriculture as well as hunting.

The Toronto Zoo says it is part of a broader conservation effort through a species survival program aimed at maintaining a healthy population in human care.

Zoo officials say Kindia and Harvey also serve as ambassadors for their species, helping raise awareness about conservation efforts.

More updates are expected as the zoo continues to monitor the pregnancy.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Canada would not make any more trade concessions to get to the table with the U.S. on trade talks, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday.

While heading into a Liberal caucus meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Carney was asked by reporters: “would Canada make any more concessions to get to the table with the U.S.?”

Carney said, “No.”

This came as CBC News reported that the Trump administration is demanding what amounts to an “entry fee” – or a series of concessions – from Canada to engage in trade talks toward a revised CUSMA.

“We understand what some of the – what the Americans would call trade irritants or trade issues – are. We have some on our side as well. We’re well prepared around those issues,” Carney said when asked if the U.S. had asked for any concessions before the talks even began.

Both sides “will sit down and work through those issues,” Carney said.

“We’ve made some counter proposals, which they’re aware (of). And the time will come to really roll up our sleeves,” he added.

The U.S. cannot dictate terms in a negotiation, Carney said.

“It’s not the case that the United States dictates the terms. We have a negotiation. We can come to a mutually successful outcome. It will take some time,” he said.

The Canada-United States-Mexico-Agreement (CUSMA), which governs the terms of free trade between those three countries, is up for a review before July 1 this year.

On Tuesday, Carney announced the formation of an advisory council on Canada-U.S. economic relations, which includes top industry voices from tariff-hit sectors as well as multiple prominent Conservative MPs.

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said it’s unlikely the U.S. will resolve all its trade issues with Canada and Mexico before the July 1 deadline to renegotiate the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

Greer also told Fox Business in mid-March that Canada was behind Mexico on trade discussions.

The council is set to hold their first meeting on April 27, 2026.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.