It was a lesson learned for me in my first year at CHAB.

We had a number of characters from across the country working here as announcers at the time including a young man who went by the name of "Andy Shack".  He had the all-night shift and he liked it.  He was creative and funny and seemingly very happy.

He had long hair.  It was dyed two different colours and he'd put gel in it and spike it up all over the place.  His jeans were ripped and custom-embroidered.  He dressed like a rock star.  He lived in a run-down, old apartment building in downtown Moose Jaw.  I assumed he was a poor kid with his first job, just trying to make a living.

One day I heard he beat a guy up on Main Street in broad daylight.  He admitted to it, saying the guy was teasing him about his hair and he wouldn't let up.

I told Andy he didn't look like a fighter.  Andy told me he had his black belt in Karate.  He then told me he went to college on a football scholarship and earned a degree.  He was just in Moose Jaw to have a good time.

The lesson?  Don't judge a book by its cover.