Tuesday December 15th, 2009 (4:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #48
TIGER WOODS EXCLUSIVE!
We at CRUCIAL MATTERS (www.crucialmatters.com) have just learned that a new book to be released in 2010 in regards to the TIGER WOODS INFIDELITY SCANDEL will be released with the title "TIGER WOODS: How the world's richest athlete lost over 500 Million Dollars in little less than a Month"
Too bad Tiger Woods couldn't keep his pants-up cause if he did, he could have donated this money to charity instead of seeing it vapourize into thin air.
and perhaps have a happy family life.
Keep It Crucial.
Paul Benoit
www.crucialmatters.com
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
SUPER U2 SUNDAY on YOUTUBE – Live from Los Angeles
October 25th, 2009 (9:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #47
SUPER U2 SUNDAY on YOUTUBE – Live from Los Angeles
Tonight in Los Angeles at 8:30 pm Pacific time*, U2 will perform the single most watched concert event in the history of the world. THIS IS IT Michael Jackson (sorry!!) and this event will most likely be more watched than the Super Bowl.(thank goodness!)
The World’s Biggest Band plays the World’s Biggest Show. Sorry Rolling Stones, tonight your title has been officially handed to U2 without qualm, reservation or question.
U2's 360 TOUR will radiate from a small circle in Los Angeles, out into the lucky audience; the music will spread like a sonic sound-wave out of the stadium and into the world wide web, transform itself into fibre optics and blast its way around the world instantly into peoples computers, laptops, living rooms, grass huts and cafes. For the first time in history, porn will be relegated to second place and a world wide party will be presided by Bono & U2 on the internet.
In Toronto, New York, Paris, Bagdad, West Africa, Afghanistan, Australia, China (if they don’t censor it) the North Pole, South Pole, Iceland, Norway, and in every corner and crevice of this world we will all be watching the same show, the same performance and Bono will be "instant gratifying" himself all over the world.
It is amazing that we have the technology to do this, but yet cannot find enough food to feed the worlds hungry or shelter every single soul and still find the need to conk each other over the head all the time. I’m sure that Bono will enjoy this monumental pedestal to preach his praise of One Love, food and water for all, and of peace.
If we were to create a world government, I am sure that Bono would win the Presidency in that election and he would be the best person to lead this world out of chaos. What do you say? Bono for World President, presiding over the New World Order?!? Worse things could happen and do every day unfortunately.
Power to the Peaceful y’all & enjoy the music and the party wherever you are in this very small world of ours tonight.
Keep It Crucial & say hello!
Paul Benoit
Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #47
SUPER U2 SUNDAY on YOUTUBE – Live from Los Angeles
Tonight in Los Angeles at 8:30 pm Pacific time*, U2 will perform the single most watched concert event in the history of the world. THIS IS IT Michael Jackson (sorry!!) and this event will most likely be more watched than the Super Bowl.(thank goodness!)
The World’s Biggest Band plays the World’s Biggest Show. Sorry Rolling Stones, tonight your title has been officially handed to U2 without qualm, reservation or question.
U2's 360 TOUR will radiate from a small circle in Los Angeles, out into the lucky audience; the music will spread like a sonic sound-wave out of the stadium and into the world wide web, transform itself into fibre optics and blast its way around the world instantly into peoples computers, laptops, living rooms, grass huts and cafes. For the first time in history, porn will be relegated to second place and a world wide party will be presided by Bono & U2 on the internet.
In Toronto, New York, Paris, Bagdad, West Africa, Afghanistan, Australia, China (if they don’t censor it) the North Pole, South Pole, Iceland, Norway, and in every corner and crevice of this world we will all be watching the same show, the same performance and Bono will be "instant gratifying" himself all over the world.
It is amazing that we have the technology to do this, but yet cannot find enough food to feed the worlds hungry or shelter every single soul and still find the need to conk each other over the head all the time. I’m sure that Bono will enjoy this monumental pedestal to preach his praise of One Love, food and water for all, and of peace.
If we were to create a world government, I am sure that Bono would win the Presidency in that election and he would be the best person to lead this world out of chaos. What do you say? Bono for World President, presiding over the New World Order?!? Worse things could happen and do every day unfortunately.
Power to the Peaceful y’all & enjoy the music and the party wherever you are in this very small world of ours tonight.
Keep It Crucial & say hello!
Paul Benoit
Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
POWER to the PEACEFUL Festival in San Francisco Sept 12-13, 2009
09/09/09 9:09 am
Crucial Blog Entry # 46
Michael Franti and his band Spearhead have become ambasadors for a peaceful revolution over the last 10 years. With powerful albums like "STAY HUMAN", "YELL FIRE" , "ALL REBEL ROCKERS" the band has truly taken the torch from Bob Marley with their political lyrics and powerful message.
Michael's visit to Iraq during the war, Gaza & Israel produced one of the best documentaries of this century so far "I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE".
This weekend marks the 11th Anniversary of Michael's POWER to the PEACEFUL FESTIVAL in San Francisco.....
The Power to the Peaceful Festival has become a premiere San Francisco tradition in its eleventh year and is one of the largest free annual music, art and action sports events in the US with over 70,000 attendees, 200 exhibitors, vendors, international musicians, DJs, athletes, artists and speakers.
The Power to the Peaceful Festival (PTTP) is a fun, educational, hip, diverse and family oriented event with International Musicians on the main stage, a DJ tent, open-air art gallery, eco village, social justice forum, green vendors and food booths, and a healing arts tent, as well as a kids zone offering arts and crafts, live theater, music, activities and a parade. PTTP has grown from a local community based event to an international destination attracting attendees from Japan, Europe, Australia and South America.
MUSIC. CONSCIOUSNESS. ACTION.
Power to the Peaceful is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the promotion of cultural co-existence, non-violence and environmental sustainability through the arts and music.
By bringing people together through music and art it is our goal to highlight the similarities and celebrate the diversity of all of the world’s inhabitants.
Through our many International concerts, social forums, film festivals and fundraising efforts, we invite people of all ethnicities and faiths to strive for Personal Peace, Community Cooperation, International Co-existence and Environmental Sustainability.
We work closely with grassroots organizations, businesses and other non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) to put on events that raise consciousness about the needs of the world today and inspire action that addresses those needs.
We strive to make each of our events more energy efficient than the last by constantly finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint as well as highlighting new energy efficient technologies.
LINEUP:
MICHAEL FRANTI + SPEARHEAD
ALANIS MORISSETTE (acoustic)
SLY & ROBBIE
CHERINE ANDERSON
VIEUX FARKA TOURE‘
SELLASSIE
TRUTH UNIVERSAL
AGUAS DA BAHIA & TAMBORES JULIO REMELEXO DRUM & DANCE ENSEMBLE
FESTIVAL HOURS:
Saturday September 12
Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park: 9am – 5pm
AFTERPARTY at The Fillmore: 8pm – late
Sunday September 13
S.F. War Memorial Building, Herbst Theater & Green Ballroom
YOGA & BRAZILIAN ARTS WORKSHOPS: 10a - 5p:
GLOBAL FORUM & CELEBRATION: 2p – 9p
Crucial Blog Entry # 46
Michael Franti and his band Spearhead have become ambasadors for a peaceful revolution over the last 10 years. With powerful albums like "STAY HUMAN", "YELL FIRE" , "ALL REBEL ROCKERS" the band has truly taken the torch from Bob Marley with their political lyrics and powerful message.
Michael's visit to Iraq during the war, Gaza & Israel produced one of the best documentaries of this century so far "I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE".
This weekend marks the 11th Anniversary of Michael's POWER to the PEACEFUL FESTIVAL in San Francisco.....
The Power to the Peaceful Festival has become a premiere San Francisco tradition in its eleventh year and is one of the largest free annual music, art and action sports events in the US with over 70,000 attendees, 200 exhibitors, vendors, international musicians, DJs, athletes, artists and speakers.
The Power to the Peaceful Festival (PTTP) is a fun, educational, hip, diverse and family oriented event with International Musicians on the main stage, a DJ tent, open-air art gallery, eco village, social justice forum, green vendors and food booths, and a healing arts tent, as well as a kids zone offering arts and crafts, live theater, music, activities and a parade. PTTP has grown from a local community based event to an international destination attracting attendees from Japan, Europe, Australia and South America.
MUSIC. CONSCIOUSNESS. ACTION.
Power to the Peaceful is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the promotion of cultural co-existence, non-violence and environmental sustainability through the arts and music.
By bringing people together through music and art it is our goal to highlight the similarities and celebrate the diversity of all of the world’s inhabitants.
Through our many International concerts, social forums, film festivals and fundraising efforts, we invite people of all ethnicities and faiths to strive for Personal Peace, Community Cooperation, International Co-existence and Environmental Sustainability.
We work closely with grassroots organizations, businesses and other non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) to put on events that raise consciousness about the needs of the world today and inspire action that addresses those needs.
We strive to make each of our events more energy efficient than the last by constantly finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint as well as highlighting new energy efficient technologies.
LINEUP:
MICHAEL FRANTI + SPEARHEAD
ALANIS MORISSETTE (acoustic)
SLY & ROBBIE
CHERINE ANDERSON
VIEUX FARKA TOURE‘
SELLASSIE
TRUTH UNIVERSAL
AGUAS DA BAHIA & TAMBORES JULIO REMELEXO DRUM & DANCE ENSEMBLE
FESTIVAL HOURS:
Saturday September 12
Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park: 9am – 5pm
AFTERPARTY at The Fillmore: 8pm – late
Sunday September 13
S.F. War Memorial Building, Herbst Theater & Green Ballroom
YOGA & BRAZILIAN ARTS WORKSHOPS: 10a - 5p:
GLOBAL FORUM & CELEBRATION: 2p – 9p
Thursday, August 6, 2009
CHRIS VELAN Rocks Toronto & Ottawa!
Thursday, August 6th, 2009 (8:20 am)
CRUCIAL BLOG Entry # 45
CHRIS VELAN ROCKS Toronto & Ottawa!
If you are anywhere near Toronto on August 7th or Ottawa on August 13th, GO SEE AND BE INSPIRED BY CHRIS VELAN and his CRUCIAL blend of Folk / Reggae / Soul.
CHRIS VELAN plays the Drake Hotel with Matt York on Friday August 7th for only $5.00 and plays Ottawa Thursday August 13th at Zaphods with LINDSAY FERGUSON & THE LOST BOYS! That show will be incredible especially since Lindsay Ferguson and her band last played in front of thousands at the Ottawa BluesFest.
Don't let the summer time fly by without seeing as much Crucial Music as you can!
Keep It Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
CRUCIAL BLOG Entry # 45
CHRIS VELAN ROCKS Toronto & Ottawa!
If you are anywhere near Toronto on August 7th or Ottawa on August 13th, GO SEE AND BE INSPIRED BY CHRIS VELAN and his CRUCIAL blend of Folk / Reggae / Soul.
CHRIS VELAN plays the Drake Hotel with Matt York on Friday August 7th for only $5.00 and plays Ottawa Thursday August 13th at Zaphods with LINDSAY FERGUSON & THE LOST BOYS! That show will be incredible especially since Lindsay Ferguson and her band last played in front of thousands at the Ottawa BluesFest.
Don't let the summer time fly by without seeing as much Crucial Music as you can!
Keep It Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
Thursday, July 30, 2009
"50 DEAD MEN WALKING" movie comment
July 30, 2009 (4:20pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #44
"50 DEAD MEN WALKING" The Human Cost of Conflict & War.
Last night I saw the compelling and very well shot movie written and directed by Kari Skogland "50 DEAD MEN WALKING" starring Ben Kingsley and Jim Sturgess (who portrays Martin McGartland.)
The movie was brilliant yet brutal, but when dealing with a true story such as this of hatred, violence and occupation on foreign soil, obviously there will be some brutal moments. Reality does not pull any punches or sugar-coat the events of people whose lives are truly affected by these struggles and violence.
The movie dealt with the struggles between the Irish and the English and the Protestants and the Catholics and how the English were trying to infiltrate the I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army) to obtain intelligence to try to minimize the violence against its soldiers that were stationed in Ireland during the 38 years that they were there.
One line that really jumped-out to me was when Ben Kingsley’s character, Fergus, says "We abuse the law, break the law, in the name of the law." This really captures the "anything goes" mantra of fighting in any kind of war.
There were no winners in this battle that raged on for decades while families buried sons, daughters, fathers and mothers. Martin McGartland has not seen his family for decades. He has survived being shot 6 times by I.R.A. hitmen while hiding-out in Canada and is still on the run.
It is stories like these that makes me hope for a peaceful tomorrow.
Keep It Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #44
"50 DEAD MEN WALKING" The Human Cost of Conflict & War.
Last night I saw the compelling and very well shot movie written and directed by Kari Skogland "50 DEAD MEN WALKING" starring Ben Kingsley and Jim Sturgess (who portrays Martin McGartland.)
The movie was brilliant yet brutal, but when dealing with a true story such as this of hatred, violence and occupation on foreign soil, obviously there will be some brutal moments. Reality does not pull any punches or sugar-coat the events of people whose lives are truly affected by these struggles and violence.
The movie dealt with the struggles between the Irish and the English and the Protestants and the Catholics and how the English were trying to infiltrate the I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army) to obtain intelligence to try to minimize the violence against its soldiers that were stationed in Ireland during the 38 years that they were there.
One line that really jumped-out to me was when Ben Kingsley’s character, Fergus, says "We abuse the law, break the law, in the name of the law." This really captures the "anything goes" mantra of fighting in any kind of war.
There were no winners in this battle that raged on for decades while families buried sons, daughters, fathers and mothers. Martin McGartland has not seen his family for decades. He has survived being shot 6 times by I.R.A. hitmen while hiding-out in Canada and is still on the run.
It is stories like these that makes me hope for a peaceful tomorrow.
Keep It Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Thursday, July 23, 2009
XAVIER RUDD rocks Toronto!!!
Thursday July 23rd, 2009 (4:20 pm)
Crucial Blog Entry #43
XAVIER RUDD rocks Toronto!!!
XAVIER RUDD, one of Australia finest exports and musicians, blessed Toronto with a soulful and passionate performance last night as part of a 2 night engagement at The Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
XAVIER's energy and talent is something that I have never seen before... his slide guitar playing while also playing the Didgeredoo, stomp box, drums and cymbols is something to watch in wonder and listen to in amazement.
If your looking for a new album to buy I would suggest Xavier Rudd's "WHITE MOTH".
visit Xavier at www.xavierrudd.com and if you have the chance to see this amazing artist Live, DO IT!!!
I am going to Xavier Rudd round 2 tonight!!
Keep it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Crucial Blog Entry #43
XAVIER RUDD rocks Toronto!!!
XAVIER RUDD, one of Australia finest exports and musicians, blessed Toronto with a soulful and passionate performance last night as part of a 2 night engagement at The Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
XAVIER's energy and talent is something that I have never seen before... his slide guitar playing while also playing the Didgeredoo, stomp box, drums and cymbols is something to watch in wonder and listen to in amazement.
If your looking for a new album to buy I would suggest Xavier Rudd's "WHITE MOTH".
visit Xavier at www.xavierrudd.com and if you have the chance to see this amazing artist Live, DO IT!!!
I am going to Xavier Rudd round 2 tonight!!
Keep it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Thursday, July 16, 2009
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD in ROCHESTER today!!! FREE SHOW at the PARTY in the PARK!
Thursday, July 16th, 2009 (10:20 a.m.)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #42
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD play a FREE SHOW in Rochester this evening as part of their PARTY IN THE PARK promotion to get people to come to Rochester and for fun for the locals that live their.
I for one have never been to Rochester and today will be a great trip on a sunny summer day to go see MY FAVOURITE BAND IN THE WORLD....if you don't already know SPEARHEAD, please check-em out at www.spearheadvibrations.com
CHRIS BLACKWELL of ISLAND RECORDS (Producer of Bob Marler & U2 calls Michael Franti) the MOST IMPORTANT ARTIST TOURING TODAY!!
Power to the Peaceful and have a great day everyone!!! I know that I will.
Keeping it Crucial in Rochester, N.Y.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #42
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD play a FREE SHOW in Rochester this evening as part of their PARTY IN THE PARK promotion to get people to come to Rochester and for fun for the locals that live their.
I for one have never been to Rochester and today will be a great trip on a sunny summer day to go see MY FAVOURITE BAND IN THE WORLD....if you don't already know SPEARHEAD, please check-em out at www.spearheadvibrations.com
CHRIS BLACKWELL of ISLAND RECORDS (Producer of Bob Marler & U2 calls Michael Franti) the MOST IMPORTANT ARTIST TOURING TODAY!!
Power to the Peaceful and have a great day everyone!!! I know that I will.
Keeping it Crucial in Rochester, N.Y.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Sunday, July 12, 2009
OTTAWA BLUESFEST is Canada's BEST FESTIVAL of the SUMMER !!
Sunday July 11th, 2009 (10:20 a.m.)
CRUCIAL Blog entry #41
The 2009 line-up for the Ottawa Bluesfest is THE BEST CONCERT LINE-UP FESTIVAL IN CANADA THIS SUMMER!! Hands-down.
BEN HARPER was amazing on Thursday night playing not only great tracks from his new album but also GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES by Led Zeppelin and UNDER PRESSURE by QUEEN.
The highlight for me so far has been LINDSAY FERGUSON on FRIDAY night on the SUBWAY Stage with the Ottawa River glistening in the background as the sun was slowly setting on a beautiful and breezy summer evening. LINDSAY FERGUSON played 5 new songs and ended her set with a Tribute to Michael Jackson and played a groovin version DON'T STOP (TILL YOU GET ENOUGH) and she really brought the crowd together and made more than a few people cry with her unique and original interpretation of the classic MJ song.
SAM ROBERTS also rocked-out as well as STEVE EARLE !!
The OTTAWA BLUESFEST runs until Sunday July 19th at Lebreton Flats as well as other venues and Free shows in the Market.
Today is going to be a great day with MOTHER MOTHER, ANI DIFRANCO, JOE COCKER and many, many others...
Keeping It Crucial in Ottawa / Wakefield.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL Blog entry #41
The 2009 line-up for the Ottawa Bluesfest is THE BEST CONCERT LINE-UP FESTIVAL IN CANADA THIS SUMMER!! Hands-down.
BEN HARPER was amazing on Thursday night playing not only great tracks from his new album but also GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES by Led Zeppelin and UNDER PRESSURE by QUEEN.
The highlight for me so far has been LINDSAY FERGUSON on FRIDAY night on the SUBWAY Stage with the Ottawa River glistening in the background as the sun was slowly setting on a beautiful and breezy summer evening. LINDSAY FERGUSON played 5 new songs and ended her set with a Tribute to Michael Jackson and played a groovin version DON'T STOP (TILL YOU GET ENOUGH) and she really brought the crowd together and made more than a few people cry with her unique and original interpretation of the classic MJ song.
SAM ROBERTS also rocked-out as well as STEVE EARLE !!
The OTTAWA BLUESFEST runs until Sunday July 19th at Lebreton Flats as well as other venues and Free shows in the Market.
Today is going to be a great day with MOTHER MOTHER, ANI DIFRANCO, JOE COCKER and many, many others...
Keeping It Crucial in Ottawa / Wakefield.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondent
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Friday, July 10, 2009
CHRIS VELAN OPENS FOR TOOTS & THE MAYTALLS & BURNING SPEAR / LINDSAY FERGUSON PLAYS BLUESFEST IN OTTAWA
Friday July 10th (9:20 a.m)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #41
CHRIS VELAN OPENS FOR TOOTS & THE MAYTALLS & BURNING SPEAR / LINDSAY FERGUSON PLAYS BLUESFEST IN OTTAWA
Chris Velan Opened for Toots & The Maytalls & Burning Spear last night in Montreal as part of the Montreal Jazz Festival.
I am so happy that Chris got such a great gig and it is amazing to see that his hardwork, talent and musicianship is being rewarded. Chris is now off for a West Coast swing into B.C. which includes a Performance at VIRGINFEST Vancouver July 25th.
If you have the opportunity to see CHRIS VELAN LIVE DO IT!!! You can also search for clips of him on YouTube and of course see a great performance of him on our homepage at www.crucialmatters.com Chris also did the Opening INtro music and his new album SOLIDAGO is THE BEST ALBUM I HAVE HEARD in years!!! HUNTING SEASON ROCKS!!
Another CRUCIAL CONCERT will take place tonight when LINDSAY FERGUSON takes the stage at the OTTAWA BLUESFEST at 6:15 tonight. If your within driving distance of Ottawa RIGHT NOW, I would say DON'T MISS THIS CONCERT!! Lindsay was voted the BEST NEW ARTIST of 2008 and her album SOUND has been voted one of the TOP 5 CANADIAN ALBUMS of 2008.
LINDSAY FERGUSON puts so much energy and passion into her live performances; she really does leave it all out there on the stage and I think that her star has the capability of rising as high as Sarah Mclauchlan's and that she has the voice of an angel.
I will send a copy of LINDSAY FERGUSON's album SOUND to the first person that e-mails me back to paul@crucialmatters.com and tells me what town Lindsay calls home.
Today's show will be more than Crucial!
Have a great day and great weekend everyone.
Play Safe & Play Crucially!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondant
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #41
CHRIS VELAN OPENS FOR TOOTS & THE MAYTALLS & BURNING SPEAR / LINDSAY FERGUSON PLAYS BLUESFEST IN OTTAWA
Chris Velan Opened for Toots & The Maytalls & Burning Spear last night in Montreal as part of the Montreal Jazz Festival.
I am so happy that Chris got such a great gig and it is amazing to see that his hardwork, talent and musicianship is being rewarded. Chris is now off for a West Coast swing into B.C. which includes a Performance at VIRGINFEST Vancouver July 25th.
If you have the opportunity to see CHRIS VELAN LIVE DO IT!!! You can also search for clips of him on YouTube and of course see a great performance of him on our homepage at www.crucialmatters.com Chris also did the Opening INtro music and his new album SOLIDAGO is THE BEST ALBUM I HAVE HEARD in years!!! HUNTING SEASON ROCKS!!
Another CRUCIAL CONCERT will take place tonight when LINDSAY FERGUSON takes the stage at the OTTAWA BLUESFEST at 6:15 tonight. If your within driving distance of Ottawa RIGHT NOW, I would say DON'T MISS THIS CONCERT!! Lindsay was voted the BEST NEW ARTIST of 2008 and her album SOUND has been voted one of the TOP 5 CANADIAN ALBUMS of 2008.
LINDSAY FERGUSON puts so much energy and passion into her live performances; she really does leave it all out there on the stage and I think that her star has the capability of rising as high as Sarah Mclauchlan's and that she has the voice of an angel.
I will send a copy of LINDSAY FERGUSON's album SOUND to the first person that e-mails me back to paul@crucialmatters.com and tells me what town Lindsay calls home.
Today's show will be more than Crucial!
Have a great day and great weekend everyone.
Play Safe & Play Crucially!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondant
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Friday, June 26, 2009
MICHAEL JACKSON--The Tragic Life of Celebrity Gone Awry
Friday, June 26th, 2009
Crucial Blog Entry #40
MICHAEL JACKSON--The Tragic Life of Celebrity Gone Awry.
Singer and entertainer Michael Jackson passed away yesterday, in a rented home in Los Angeles, of apparant cardiac arrest brought on by prescription medicine, lack of eating, and a rumour that he was suffering from skin cancer.
For all of Michael's success, he ultimately led a tragic life, not having the ability or mental capacity to live a healthy and fulfilling life. From an early age, he was pushed around by a demanding and physically-threatening father to perform and perform again.
Undenialbly Michael Jackson was a rare talent, but the success of moving 52 million records worldwide for THRILLER not only claimed his place as the KING OF POP, but it also made him THE KING OF THE FREAKS, living in Neverland, a fantasy-land amusement park Zoo that cost many millions a year just to maintain and staff, and thinking that it was acceptable and cool to sleep with children in the same bed, whether it was sexual or not.
He was obviously not pleased with the way that he looked so he constantly went under-the-knife to alter his appearance, bleach his skin to make himself "more white" and was a shadow of his former self when he took his last grasp of breathe on June 25th, 2009 in Los Angeles.
For all of Michael Jackson's success, I would not have wanted to live a single day in his shoes.
Michael Jackson was the epitomy of a tragic life of a Celebrity gone awry, living in a cage like an animal in the zoo and constantly having people looking for him to perform or do something outlandish.
I can't really say Rest In Peace Michael if what you did with and to little boys is true, but at least you are at rest now.
Paul Benoit
Producer /Writer / Crucial Correspondant
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
Crucial Blog Entry #40
MICHAEL JACKSON--The Tragic Life of Celebrity Gone Awry.
Singer and entertainer Michael Jackson passed away yesterday, in a rented home in Los Angeles, of apparant cardiac arrest brought on by prescription medicine, lack of eating, and a rumour that he was suffering from skin cancer.
For all of Michael's success, he ultimately led a tragic life, not having the ability or mental capacity to live a healthy and fulfilling life. From an early age, he was pushed around by a demanding and physically-threatening father to perform and perform again.
Undenialbly Michael Jackson was a rare talent, but the success of moving 52 million records worldwide for THRILLER not only claimed his place as the KING OF POP, but it also made him THE KING OF THE FREAKS, living in Neverland, a fantasy-land amusement park Zoo that cost many millions a year just to maintain and staff, and thinking that it was acceptable and cool to sleep with children in the same bed, whether it was sexual or not.
He was obviously not pleased with the way that he looked so he constantly went under-the-knife to alter his appearance, bleach his skin to make himself "more white" and was a shadow of his former self when he took his last grasp of breathe on June 25th, 2009 in Los Angeles.
For all of Michael Jackson's success, I would not have wanted to live a single day in his shoes.
Michael Jackson was the epitomy of a tragic life of a Celebrity gone awry, living in a cage like an animal in the zoo and constantly having people looking for him to perform or do something outlandish.
I can't really say Rest In Peace Michael if what you did with and to little boys is true, but at least you are at rest now.
Paul Benoit
Producer /Writer / Crucial Correspondant
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
Monday, June 22, 2009
IDEACity 10th Anniversary 2009
Monday, June 22nd, 2009 (11:20 am)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY # 38
IDEACity 10th Anniversary 2009
What an incredible event that Moses Znaimer and his unbelievable event-management and production crew put on last week for the 10th Anniversay of IDEACity 2009.
The brightest, most innovative thinkers and (most-importantly) socially-conscious people in the world got together in Toronto for 3 days of discussions, music, parties, great coffee & food and the energy surrounding the event is something that I have never quite experienced and I look forward to many more IDEACity events in the years to come.
It is great to see, hear and meet such passionate and compassionate people working together to make this planet a better place for every single living creature.
The time is NOW for CRUCIAL Changes in the way that we think, consume, live, share, and contribute to the greater good of society. Profits should be last of our concerns.
I am very hopeful that food and fresh water will be available to every single human being in the next 10 years and that our technologies will eliminate the need for oil, coal, and wasteful and environmentally unfriendly sources.
Keep it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondant
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY # 38
IDEACity 10th Anniversary 2009
What an incredible event that Moses Znaimer and his unbelievable event-management and production crew put on last week for the 10th Anniversay of IDEACity 2009.
The brightest, most innovative thinkers and (most-importantly) socially-conscious people in the world got together in Toronto for 3 days of discussions, music, parties, great coffee & food and the energy surrounding the event is something that I have never quite experienced and I look forward to many more IDEACity events in the years to come.
It is great to see, hear and meet such passionate and compassionate people working together to make this planet a better place for every single living creature.
The time is NOW for CRUCIAL Changes in the way that we think, consume, live, share, and contribute to the greater good of society. Profits should be last of our concerns.
I am very hopeful that food and fresh water will be available to every single human being in the next 10 years and that our technologies will eliminate the need for oil, coal, and wasteful and environmentally unfriendly sources.
Keep it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Writer / Crucial Correspondant
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
Thursday, June 18, 2009
IDEACity 10th Anniversary
June 18, 2009 (7:20 am)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #37
WOW, yesterday was the single most "LEARNED" & "ENLIGHTENED" day of my life all because of MOSES ZNAIMER and his IDEACity conference in Toronto, celebrating its 10th year.
by
Some of the Speakers that I saw AND mingled and spoke with: LAURA ARCHER, PRESTON MANNING, MICHELLE RAINEY, ROBERT KENNEDY JR, JOHN RALTON SAUL, and the list goes on and on....
what a great event and everyone ALL AROUND the WORLD can PARTICIPATE at www.ideacityonline.com
It was truly 2 years worth of University Education wrapped into a single day, then doused with unlimited FREE BEER, music, more RFK Jr and then just to top the day, a wicked concert by BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE & FEIST!!!
Keeping it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Crucial Correspondant
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #37
WOW, yesterday was the single most "LEARNED" & "ENLIGHTENED" day of my life all because of MOSES ZNAIMER and his IDEACity conference in Toronto, celebrating its 10th year.
by
Some of the Speakers that I saw AND mingled and spoke with: LAURA ARCHER, PRESTON MANNING, MICHELLE RAINEY, ROBERT KENNEDY JR, JOHN RALTON SAUL, and the list goes on and on....
what a great event and everyone ALL AROUND the WORLD can PARTICIPATE at www.ideacityonline.com
It was truly 2 years worth of University Education wrapped into a single day, then doused with unlimited FREE BEER, music, more RFK Jr and then just to top the day, a wicked concert by BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE & FEIST!!!
Keeping it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Crucial Correspondant
www.crucialmatters.com
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
CRUCIAL MATTERS TV UPDATE---we are IN NEGOTIATIONS with HEINEKEN!!
June 9, 2009 (7:20am)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY # 36
CRUCIAL MATTERS update for all my many followers!
Dear Crucial Matters Group;
I just wanted to give you an update on our progress here at CRUCIAL MATTERS.
As we all know the world of media has fallen off the cliff and a "new ecomony" is shaping itself up now and the rules of the game are being re-written and changed and the challenges of TV, Print and conventional Media have never been so great. Some people will last and thrive; most of the "old establishment" will not, and making money here and surviving are quite challenging. Considering that car companies bought 1/3 of ALL MEDIA ADVERTISING, you can see the challenges being faced.
For me, the challenges are just a way of pushing myself TO REFUSE TO LET IT SUCK (thanx GREG STUMP) and elevate my game, my writing & shooting and interview skills to make our show stand-out from all the other tabloid fodder and GARBAGE that is out there presently.
CRUCIAL MATTERS will never be plain or boring. We are only as good as our audience and that audience is being built one person at a time. If you like what we are doing, please TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS / NETWORKS and any person you have ever met (in your life)! This is how we are building our "Brand" and we have some major sponsorship meetings lined-up for September and the more people that visit www.crucialmatters.com, the better the negotiating power we will have. So that means that if you want to click on to www.crucialmatters.com every single day for the rest of your life I would be cool with that!
Another update: CRUCIAL MIKE has arrived in Toronto and I am happy to have my number one writing partner and demented idea person with me. Crucial Mike is really Dennis Miller on ACID. Pure humour!! If we ever get his teeth sand-blasted he could be a huge television star as a CRUCIAL CORRESPONDANT.
Crucial Mike and I successfully negotiated a 12 pack of Heineken's this past weekend and we are planning on going back to the table for more negotiations this weekend. Heineken has repeatedly told me "Paul, we do not sponsor many things because WE DON'T HAVE TO, and you would do better with Molson's or Labatts." but for me the best is the best. Luckily I worked for the main Heineken dude in Canada when I was a teenager.
I hope that everyone is doing well, enjoying their summer, winter, auto-axxfixiating, or whatever floats your boat.
I am keeping it Crucial in Toronto and I hope that you are keeping it Crucial wherever you may be.
I am working on my SUMMER SOLSTICE MIX CD 2009 so FOR THE 1st 8 people that respond to this message!!! PLease send your mailing address and as a bonus I will send you CHRIS VELAN's new killer album SOLIDAGO if I can get Chris's permission. Chris Velan did the Opening music for CRUCIAL MATTERS.
Have a great day everyone!
Paul Benoit
www.crucialmatters.com
paul@crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Monday, June 1, 2009
GENERAL MOTORS FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY AND ENJOYS INSTANT KARMA
June 1, 2009
CRUCIAL BLOG # 44
General Motors files for Bankruptcy Protection, June 1st, 2009 — Business Karma at its finest.
Today, General Motors filed for bankruptcy protection to wipe-our over 170 BILLION dollars worth of debt and its stock is now worthless, being worth over $70 a share less than 10 months ago.
INSTANT BUSINESS KARMA for KILLING the ELECTRIC CAR in the 90's perhaps.
GM could have been an innovator and lead the new technologies into the world of oil independance, but instead decided to not only scrap the entire project, but confiscate all the leased electric cars which the owners wanted to buy but they were not allowed to purchase after offering millions to buy the vehicles.
NO NEGOTIATIONS. THEY FRICKEN DESTROYED and BURRIED the cars and technologies and Chevron bought the Electric Battery company just to scrap the entire project.
Then came the gas guzzling S.U.V.’s. Karma is a bitch GM.
I, as well as yourself, your parents, your children and your friends are all now unwittingly owners of this troubled car company thanks to the US and Canadian Governments. Your tax dollars not-so-hard at work and I am not sure when my bail-out package will be coming. I only applied for 12 million so it should not be a real problem. I also promised not to waste more than 10% absolutly frivously.
This seems like a case of pure business KARMA and I am wondering when all the high-level executives started selling-off their stock options and arranging their Golden Parachutes at GM.
This system of ours, built on greed is falling fast and failing amazingly and miserably. The goals of business should be to build the highest quality proiuct with the lowest impact on the environment, promote the highest morale within your staff and share in the successes EQUALLY. Do NOT take more than you need. Do NOT get rewarded for poor results, and try to do what is right for not only the company, but the world, the environment, the stock holder.
The wheels have fallen off the business model and we need to shift our collective attitudes towards business to achieve a harmonious relationship with it.
Also, Toyata, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and BMW have pretty much proven that their products are superior both in quality and fuel-efficiency.
The last time that I checked, the price for failure in business was failure. I know that this would be devastating and I hope that the ship can be righted after such a stormy ride over the last 10 months.
Good luck GM. I am now the not-so-proud owner of a car company. Cool? don't think so
By the way, all this mess was triggered significantly when the price of oil hit $150 a barrel.
Karma is a bitch and always will be. Always. But Karma is only a Bitch for those who do not live their Dharma...and big business has not been doing that.
Paul Benoit
CRUCIAL BLOG # 44
General Motors files for Bankruptcy Protection, June 1st, 2009 — Business Karma at its finest.
Today, General Motors filed for bankruptcy protection to wipe-our over 170 BILLION dollars worth of debt and its stock is now worthless, being worth over $70 a share less than 10 months ago.
INSTANT BUSINESS KARMA for KILLING the ELECTRIC CAR in the 90's perhaps.
GM could have been an innovator and lead the new technologies into the world of oil independance, but instead decided to not only scrap the entire project, but confiscate all the leased electric cars which the owners wanted to buy but they were not allowed to purchase after offering millions to buy the vehicles.
NO NEGOTIATIONS. THEY FRICKEN DESTROYED and BURRIED the cars and technologies and Chevron bought the Electric Battery company just to scrap the entire project.
Then came the gas guzzling S.U.V.’s. Karma is a bitch GM.
I, as well as yourself, your parents, your children and your friends are all now unwittingly owners of this troubled car company thanks to the US and Canadian Governments. Your tax dollars not-so-hard at work and I am not sure when my bail-out package will be coming. I only applied for 12 million so it should not be a real problem. I also promised not to waste more than 10% absolutly frivously.
This seems like a case of pure business KARMA and I am wondering when all the high-level executives started selling-off their stock options and arranging their Golden Parachutes at GM.
This system of ours, built on greed is falling fast and failing amazingly and miserably. The goals of business should be to build the highest quality proiuct with the lowest impact on the environment, promote the highest morale within your staff and share in the successes EQUALLY. Do NOT take more than you need. Do NOT get rewarded for poor results, and try to do what is right for not only the company, but the world, the environment, the stock holder.
The wheels have fallen off the business model and we need to shift our collective attitudes towards business to achieve a harmonious relationship with it.
Also, Toyata, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and BMW have pretty much proven that their products are superior both in quality and fuel-efficiency.
The last time that I checked, the price for failure in business was failure. I know that this would be devastating and I hope that the ship can be righted after such a stormy ride over the last 10 months.
Good luck GM. I am now the not-so-proud owner of a car company. Cool? don't think so
By the way, all this mess was triggered significantly when the price of oil hit $150 a barrel.
Karma is a bitch and always will be. Always. But Karma is only a Bitch for those who do not live their Dharma...and big business has not been doing that.
Paul Benoit
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
RIP Shane McKonkey----Official Statement from MSP Films
The world of skiing and the world in general lost an amazing athlete and person last week. Shane McKonkey will live on in spirit forever and my deepest sympathies and condolences go out to his wife Sherry and daughter Ayla.
March 26, 2009
MSP Films painfully announces the loss one of the most innovative, gifted, entertaining and inspirational figures in the history of skiing. Shane McConkey, 39, died while performing a ski BASE jump off the Sass Pardoi cliff in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy.
J.T. Holmes, a close friend and long-time jump partner of McConkey who had jumped the 600 meter cliff moments before Shane, said McConkey performed a double backflip from the cliff and planned to release his skis and then fly in his wingsuit, a stunt he's executed a number of times. But when both skis failed to release upon tugging on straps leashed to his legs, McConkey went into an upside down position as he manually attempted to release his bindings. Because throwing a chute while inverted poses the likelihood of the canopy and lines becoming entangled in the skis, McConkey used valuable seconds to focus on removing both skis and succeeded. He quickly turned into a classic, face down BASE jumping position to throw his pilot chute (which pulls out the main canopy), but after 12 seconds of freefall he struck snow immediately before there was time to react. He was killed upon impact.
Shane McConkey is survived by his wife, Sherry, 3 1/2 year-old daughter Ayla, and his parents Jim and Glenn.
McConkey’s passing leaves an entire industry reeling from the news. He starred in 15 MSP movies including the heralded “There’s Something About McConkey” and was honored as “The People’s Choice” for Male Skier of the Year three years in a row. As one of the most versatile skiers in the history of the sport, in his 17-year professional freeskiing career McConkey won everything from mogul tour events to big mountain competitions to skiercross races to big air events. One of the most forward thinking individuals in the sport, in the mid 1990s, McConkey singlehandedly convinced the ski world to get on fat skis to ski mountains faster and more easily and--seeing that skiing powder is more akin to floating on water--he proceeded to convince his ski sponsor, Volant, to produce a reverse sidecut, reverse camber ski he dubbed the Spatula that flew in the face of decades of ski design. Knowing the ski would be scoffed at by the industry establishment, McConkey illustrated his point by mounting a pair of 1970's jumping waterskis and shredding a massive British Columbia peak with ease in MSP’s film, “Focused,” and inadvertently gave rise to a functional sliding turn now fondly referred to as a “McConkey Turn.” Today, nearly every reputable ski manufacturer produces a reverse sidecut, reverse cambered ski born from the Spatula.
In the latter stages of his career, McConkey discovered BASE jumping and quickly became the forefather of ski BASE jumping, seeing potential to ski lines never thought possible. His ski BASE feats included a quadruple backflip off of a 400’ cliff and culminated in a classic ode-to-James Bond chase scene in the film, “Seven Sunny Days.”
But beyond a hard charging, cliff hucking, trick-inventing, mind-blowing skier and BASE jumper, McConkey was a constant entertainer. Countless magazine articles and film segments revealed a man who enjoyed the lighter side of life. When a season was cut short in 1997 by a knee injury,
McConkey gave birth to Saucerboy, a saucer-riding, Jack Daniels swilling character who brought hilarity to an otherwise serious ski film industry as he appeared in several MSP films.
McConkey's comedic, fun-loving personality was ever-present on screen and off. His positive, seize-the-day demeanor affected anyone who had the fortune of meeting him.
Last year at 38 years old, McConkey turned in one of his finer performances of a lifetime in the film, “Claim,” revealing that age and a career filled with injury had done nothing to slow him down. As he said emphatically in the film, “I’m Shane McConkey, dammit, and I’m not done yet.”
Shane McConkey was an incredible influential figure in two distinct sports, and he was a brother for the MSP Films crew and thousands of people whose lives he touched. His loss will be felt the world over as he leaves a void that simply can never be filled. As one fan put it, “It feels like Superman died.” He basically did.
--Scott Gaffney
March 26, 2009
MSP Films painfully announces the loss one of the most innovative, gifted, entertaining and inspirational figures in the history of skiing. Shane McConkey, 39, died while performing a ski BASE jump off the Sass Pardoi cliff in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy.
J.T. Holmes, a close friend and long-time jump partner of McConkey who had jumped the 600 meter cliff moments before Shane, said McConkey performed a double backflip from the cliff and planned to release his skis and then fly in his wingsuit, a stunt he's executed a number of times. But when both skis failed to release upon tugging on straps leashed to his legs, McConkey went into an upside down position as he manually attempted to release his bindings. Because throwing a chute while inverted poses the likelihood of the canopy and lines becoming entangled in the skis, McConkey used valuable seconds to focus on removing both skis and succeeded. He quickly turned into a classic, face down BASE jumping position to throw his pilot chute (which pulls out the main canopy), but after 12 seconds of freefall he struck snow immediately before there was time to react. He was killed upon impact.
Shane McConkey is survived by his wife, Sherry, 3 1/2 year-old daughter Ayla, and his parents Jim and Glenn.
McConkey’s passing leaves an entire industry reeling from the news. He starred in 15 MSP movies including the heralded “There’s Something About McConkey” and was honored as “The People’s Choice” for Male Skier of the Year three years in a row. As one of the most versatile skiers in the history of the sport, in his 17-year professional freeskiing career McConkey won everything from mogul tour events to big mountain competitions to skiercross races to big air events. One of the most forward thinking individuals in the sport, in the mid 1990s, McConkey singlehandedly convinced the ski world to get on fat skis to ski mountains faster and more easily and--seeing that skiing powder is more akin to floating on water--he proceeded to convince his ski sponsor, Volant, to produce a reverse sidecut, reverse camber ski he dubbed the Spatula that flew in the face of decades of ski design. Knowing the ski would be scoffed at by the industry establishment, McConkey illustrated his point by mounting a pair of 1970's jumping waterskis and shredding a massive British Columbia peak with ease in MSP’s film, “Focused,” and inadvertently gave rise to a functional sliding turn now fondly referred to as a “McConkey Turn.” Today, nearly every reputable ski manufacturer produces a reverse sidecut, reverse cambered ski born from the Spatula.
In the latter stages of his career, McConkey discovered BASE jumping and quickly became the forefather of ski BASE jumping, seeing potential to ski lines never thought possible. His ski BASE feats included a quadruple backflip off of a 400’ cliff and culminated in a classic ode-to-James Bond chase scene in the film, “Seven Sunny Days.”
But beyond a hard charging, cliff hucking, trick-inventing, mind-blowing skier and BASE jumper, McConkey was a constant entertainer. Countless magazine articles and film segments revealed a man who enjoyed the lighter side of life. When a season was cut short in 1997 by a knee injury,
McConkey gave birth to Saucerboy, a saucer-riding, Jack Daniels swilling character who brought hilarity to an otherwise serious ski film industry as he appeared in several MSP films.
McConkey's comedic, fun-loving personality was ever-present on screen and off. His positive, seize-the-day demeanor affected anyone who had the fortune of meeting him.
Last year at 38 years old, McConkey turned in one of his finer performances of a lifetime in the film, “Claim,” revealing that age and a career filled with injury had done nothing to slow him down. As he said emphatically in the film, “I’m Shane McConkey, dammit, and I’m not done yet.”
Shane McConkey was an incredible influential figure in two distinct sports, and he was a brother for the MSP Films crew and thousands of people whose lives he touched. His loss will be felt the world over as he leaves a void that simply can never be filled. As one fan put it, “It feels like Superman died.” He basically did.
--Scott Gaffney
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
the music of CHRIS VELAN
February 18th, 2009
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #29
Dear friends;
Please check-out CHRIS VELAN on myspace and www.chrisvelan.com. Chris has true vision with his music, his lyrics and his soul. Chris Velan's new album SOLIDAGO comes out in April 2009 and Chris also has a song on LOVE IS LIFE Fundraiser CD.
here is Chris Velan's Bio:
A classically trained guitar player from the age of nine, Chris Velan grew up listening to an eclectic mix of his dad’s music: Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Willie Nelson, and Van Morrison, his sister’s early 80’s New Wave cassettes, and his uncle’s extensive reggae vinyl collection.
After University, Velan traveled for a year, following his ears to New Zealand, Australia, India, Nepal and Indonesia. With a beater guitar strapped to his backpack, he rode camels across the Indian desert and hiked through the Himalayas collecting sounds and stories, and questioning his life’s purpose.
Seeing world poverty and inequality made a deep impression, and led him back to Montreal, where he formed the band Equalizer with his brothers in order to maintain sanity while working toward a law degree at McGill University. They played a hybrid of Roots, Reggae and Rock, blending Velan’s compassionate worldview and childhood inspirations with the modern sounds of bands like the Police and The Samples. Despite label interest and a growing fan base, Velan made the difficult decision to leave Equalizer after graduation and continue his pursuit of law as a means to affect social change.
Dressed in suits, Velan spent a year as an apprentice attorney at a Vancouver law firm while writing songs morning and night. "I felt like I was two different people" he recalls, "Tapping out songs at my desk at the office." A call from two college friends presented what would be another life-changing decision. They had support from the United Nations, and wanted to make a documentary telling the story of a humanitarian crisis in West Africa through art and music.
Equipped with only a video camera and a guitar, they toured refugee camps in the Republic of Guinea. Chris played concerts for the refugees, a mission of music. These simple shows evolved into all-day events incorporating children’s dance troupes, skits and magic. They visited eight camps in a month while war raged in nearby Liberia. At a mud hut bar, they met a band of refugees who would become the subject of their documentary, and a lifelong inspiration. They called themselves The Refugee All Stars, and had also been touring camps performing to lift the spirits of fellow refugees. Each had stories of limbs lost, loved ones murdered, and other unfathomable horrors, and none had any doubt about what music meant to them. Chris describes meeting the All Stars as the first moment he knew that he was doing exactly what he was born to do. The film "Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars" helped bring the All Stars home to Freetown, where Velan produced their first studio work, some of the first live instrument recordings there since the start of the war.
In 2005 Velan recorded his second album, "Twitter Buzz Howl" over three summer months in a barn in the Quebec countryside. The themes and storytelling emphasis of the first album continued, but this time with a stronger first person sensibility, and a confident blending of musical and thematic influences. "Shiver" is a short story with an unreliable narrator warning his son of dark forces to come. "Continental Divide" captures a rare awareness that a decision at hand will have permanent consequences.
Velan toured more extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada, refining elements of his performance, and began working with a loop pedal to create his own live samples. He describes the process as elemental and minimalist, but the live sounds he creates are rich, deeply layered, and constantly changing. A single man on stage becomes a textured sonic experience, an expression of his own duality.
No longer questioning the decision to pursue music full time, Velan decided to leave his comfort zone, and spent half a year in California, recording demos, touring, and performing frequently at LA’s Hotel Café. His time in Los Angeles won him many new fans and relationships with a larger community of musicians, including members of the Animal Liberation Orchestra, and Tim Bluhm of The Mother Hips, who produced Velan’s latest album "Solidago."
"Solidago" takes its name from the late-blooming Goldenrod, and represents a masterfully blossomed musical identity. Vivid imagery becomes sage advice on "A Year Can Change A Lot" and "Go Easy" while "Wobbly Bones" conveys the horrors and hopes witnessed in Africa. "House Upon A Hill" paints a loving and grateful sense of place. "May Your Soul Get To Heaven" finds profound spirituality in a book of superstitions and offers a blessing in the form of a lullaby. On "Solidago" can be heard the culmination of a journey from a nine year old boy taking guitar lessons to a mature artist finally giving himself permission to let go.
Now twenty-five years removed from the classical training of his childhood, Chris still doesn’t play with a pick.
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #29
Dear friends;
Please check-out CHRIS VELAN on myspace and www.chrisvelan.com. Chris has true vision with his music, his lyrics and his soul. Chris Velan's new album SOLIDAGO comes out in April 2009 and Chris also has a song on LOVE IS LIFE Fundraiser CD.
here is Chris Velan's Bio:
A classically trained guitar player from the age of nine, Chris Velan grew up listening to an eclectic mix of his dad’s music: Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Willie Nelson, and Van Morrison, his sister’s early 80’s New Wave cassettes, and his uncle’s extensive reggae vinyl collection.
After University, Velan traveled for a year, following his ears to New Zealand, Australia, India, Nepal and Indonesia. With a beater guitar strapped to his backpack, he rode camels across the Indian desert and hiked through the Himalayas collecting sounds and stories, and questioning his life’s purpose.
Seeing world poverty and inequality made a deep impression, and led him back to Montreal, where he formed the band Equalizer with his brothers in order to maintain sanity while working toward a law degree at McGill University. They played a hybrid of Roots, Reggae and Rock, blending Velan’s compassionate worldview and childhood inspirations with the modern sounds of bands like the Police and The Samples. Despite label interest and a growing fan base, Velan made the difficult decision to leave Equalizer after graduation and continue his pursuit of law as a means to affect social change.
Dressed in suits, Velan spent a year as an apprentice attorney at a Vancouver law firm while writing songs morning and night. "I felt like I was two different people" he recalls, "Tapping out songs at my desk at the office." A call from two college friends presented what would be another life-changing decision. They had support from the United Nations, and wanted to make a documentary telling the story of a humanitarian crisis in West Africa through art and music.
Equipped with only a video camera and a guitar, they toured refugee camps in the Republic of Guinea. Chris played concerts for the refugees, a mission of music. These simple shows evolved into all-day events incorporating children’s dance troupes, skits and magic. They visited eight camps in a month while war raged in nearby Liberia. At a mud hut bar, they met a band of refugees who would become the subject of their documentary, and a lifelong inspiration. They called themselves The Refugee All Stars, and had also been touring camps performing to lift the spirits of fellow refugees. Each had stories of limbs lost, loved ones murdered, and other unfathomable horrors, and none had any doubt about what music meant to them. Chris describes meeting the All Stars as the first moment he knew that he was doing exactly what he was born to do. The film "Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars" helped bring the All Stars home to Freetown, where Velan produced their first studio work, some of the first live instrument recordings there since the start of the war.
In 2005 Velan recorded his second album, "Twitter Buzz Howl" over three summer months in a barn in the Quebec countryside. The themes and storytelling emphasis of the first album continued, but this time with a stronger first person sensibility, and a confident blending of musical and thematic influences. "Shiver" is a short story with an unreliable narrator warning his son of dark forces to come. "Continental Divide" captures a rare awareness that a decision at hand will have permanent consequences.
Velan toured more extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada, refining elements of his performance, and began working with a loop pedal to create his own live samples. He describes the process as elemental and minimalist, but the live sounds he creates are rich, deeply layered, and constantly changing. A single man on stage becomes a textured sonic experience, an expression of his own duality.
No longer questioning the decision to pursue music full time, Velan decided to leave his comfort zone, and spent half a year in California, recording demos, touring, and performing frequently at LA’s Hotel Café. His time in Los Angeles won him many new fans and relationships with a larger community of musicians, including members of the Animal Liberation Orchestra, and Tim Bluhm of The Mother Hips, who produced Velan’s latest album "Solidago."
"Solidago" takes its name from the late-blooming Goldenrod, and represents a masterfully blossomed musical identity. Vivid imagery becomes sage advice on "A Year Can Change A Lot" and "Go Easy" while "Wobbly Bones" conveys the horrors and hopes witnessed in Africa. "House Upon A Hill" paints a loving and grateful sense of place. "May Your Soul Get To Heaven" finds profound spirituality in a book of superstitions and offers a blessing in the form of a lullaby. On "Solidago" can be heard the culmination of a journey from a nine year old boy taking guitar lessons to a mature artist finally giving himself permission to let go.
Now twenty-five years removed from the classical training of his childhood, Chris still doesn’t play with a pick.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
T.S Elliot Quote
February 10th, 2009 (4:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #27
Only Those Who Risk Going Too Far Can Possibly Find-Out How Far One Can Go.
T.S. Elliot
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #27
Only Those Who Risk Going Too Far Can Possibly Find-Out How Far One Can Go.
T.S. Elliot
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sierra Leone's REFUGEE ALL-STARS
February 10th, 2009 (4:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #26
Sierra Leone’s REFUGEE ALL-STARS
Tonight I am watching an incredible Documentary film by Zach Niles and Banker White titled "Sierra Leone’s REFUGEE ALL-STARS" It is a heart-breaking, heart warming, life affirming, beautiful story of how these musicans overcame all odds by taking all the problems and suffering of the people to create inspiring music and an inspiring message of hope.
"This film tells the remarkable and life-affirming story of Sierra Leone’s REFUGEE ALL-STARS, a group of musicans who form a band while living in a West Africa refugee camp. A brutal, decade long civil war in Sierra Leone (1991-2002) forced the band members from their homes, it took the lives of many of their loved ones and left them with physical and emotional scars that may never heal. But it could never take away their music. Through music they find a place of refuge, a sense of purpose and a source of power. The story of Sierra Leone’s REFUGEE ALL-STARS celebrates the best of the human spirit–the incredible ability of individuals to sustain hope and find forgiveness even in a climate of rage and loss."
http://www.refugeeallstars.org/
The Musical Director of the film was CHRIS VELAN (http://www.chrisvelan.com)/) Chris has a new album coming out in April title SOLIDAGO, and will be making his mark on the international music scene with his unique blend of soul, folk, reggae-infused "Bob Marley Vision" lyrics and incredible musicanship.
Good luck Chris. Keep it Crucial bro. Your massive audience awaits!!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #26
Sierra Leone’s REFUGEE ALL-STARS
Tonight I am watching an incredible Documentary film by Zach Niles and Banker White titled "Sierra Leone’s REFUGEE ALL-STARS" It is a heart-breaking, heart warming, life affirming, beautiful story of how these musicans overcame all odds by taking all the problems and suffering of the people to create inspiring music and an inspiring message of hope.
"This film tells the remarkable and life-affirming story of Sierra Leone’s REFUGEE ALL-STARS, a group of musicans who form a band while living in a West Africa refugee camp. A brutal, decade long civil war in Sierra Leone (1991-2002) forced the band members from their homes, it took the lives of many of their loved ones and left them with physical and emotional scars that may never heal. But it could never take away their music. Through music they find a place of refuge, a sense of purpose and a source of power. The story of Sierra Leone’s REFUGEE ALL-STARS celebrates the best of the human spirit–the incredible ability of individuals to sustain hope and find forgiveness even in a climate of rage and loss."
http://www.refugeeallstars.org/
The Musical Director of the film was CHRIS VELAN (http://www.chrisvelan.com)/) Chris has a new album coming out in April title SOLIDAGO, and will be making his mark on the international music scene with his unique blend of soul, folk, reggae-infused "Bob Marley Vision" lyrics and incredible musicanship.
Good luck Chris. Keep it Crucial bro. Your massive audience awaits!!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Accomplishing ones goals
February 7th, 2009 (6:20 pm)
Crucial Blog entry #25
To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream, not only work hard but also believe.
Anatole France
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
www.crucialmatters.com
Crucial Blog entry #25
To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream, not only work hard but also believe.
Anatole France
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
www.crucialmatters.com
Thursday, February 5, 2009
LOVE IS LIFE Compilation CD feat. Spearhead / Chris Velan
February 5th, 2009
Crucial Blog Entry #24
LOVE IS LIFE Compilation CD feat. Spearhead / Chris Velan ~ PRE-ORDER COPY NOW!
heh Crucial Matters Friends....please check-out this wonderful cause and CRUCIAL MUSIC compilation. VERY happy to say that CHRIS VELAN has the opening song "HUNTING SEASON" on this great album. Chris also did the Opening Intro music for CRUCIAL MATTERS.
Paul B namaste
www.crucialmatters.com
The Love is Life Foudation is committed to improving human wellbeing and alleviating human suffering globally. They initiate charitable projects that support fundamental human needs such as shelter, food, education, clothing, and health care. The Foundation is dedicated to social and cultural change that encourages a healthy lifestyle for all people.Help fight youth homelessness in the United States by purchasing your copy of the Love is Life compilation CD. The CD is packed with 18 amazing tracks. Not to mention some unreleased tracks by your favorite artists like Nine Mile or Chris Velan. Whether you want to listen to a new talented artist such as Martin Purtill, Naia Kete, Jon and Roy or Everything on Fire. You can also be one of the first to hear the solo music of Spearhead's Manas Itene.Check out the site for a full track listing and the amazing cover art by Rachel Miller and Joe Iurato.Pre-Order your copy now and receive it before it's online and store release date of March 3rd.
http://www.thelilfoundation.org/store.html
Thank you for your support...Love is Life,Steve (Lil Foundation)LiL StoreSource: www.thelilfoundation.org
Crucial Blog Entry #24
LOVE IS LIFE Compilation CD feat. Spearhead / Chris Velan ~ PRE-ORDER COPY NOW!
heh Crucial Matters Friends....please check-out this wonderful cause and CRUCIAL MUSIC compilation. VERY happy to say that CHRIS VELAN has the opening song "HUNTING SEASON" on this great album. Chris also did the Opening Intro music for CRUCIAL MATTERS.
Paul B namaste
www.crucialmatters.com
The Love is Life Foudation is committed to improving human wellbeing and alleviating human suffering globally. They initiate charitable projects that support fundamental human needs such as shelter, food, education, clothing, and health care. The Foundation is dedicated to social and cultural change that encourages a healthy lifestyle for all people.Help fight youth homelessness in the United States by purchasing your copy of the Love is Life compilation CD. The CD is packed with 18 amazing tracks. Not to mention some unreleased tracks by your favorite artists like Nine Mile or Chris Velan. Whether you want to listen to a new talented artist such as Martin Purtill, Naia Kete, Jon and Roy or Everything on Fire. You can also be one of the first to hear the solo music of Spearhead's Manas Itene.Check out the site for a full track listing and the amazing cover art by Rachel Miller and Joe Iurato.Pre-Order your copy now and receive it before it's online and store release date of March 3rd.
http://www.thelilfoundation.org/store.html
Thank you for your support...Love is Life,Steve (Lil Foundation)LiL StoreSource: www.thelilfoundation.org
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
FIVE PRINCIPLES OF REIKI
Wednesday February 4th, 2009 (8:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #23
FIVE PRONCIPLES OF REIKI
- Just for today I will live the attitude of Gratitude.
-Just for today I will not worry.
-Just for today I will not feel anger.
-Just for today I will do my work honestly.
-Just for today I will I will show love and respect for every living thing.
Reiki or Life Force Energy finds the source of physical problems, fills the energy needed and restores the body to wholeness.
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #23
FIVE PRONCIPLES OF REIKI
- Just for today I will live the attitude of Gratitude.
-Just for today I will not worry.
-Just for today I will not feel anger.
-Just for today I will do my work honestly.
-Just for today I will I will show love and respect for every living thing.
Reiki or Life Force Energy finds the source of physical problems, fills the energy needed and restores the body to wholeness.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
CREATE YOUR SUCCESS
February 3rd, 2009 (9:20 pm
CRUCIAL BLOD ENTRY #22
CREATE YOUR SUCCESS.
We are all capable of great achievments. It is within us all to accomplish anything that we set our minds to. A belief in one's abilty is the first step in achieving your greatest goals.
Set your bar high, be prepared for minor setbacks, be determined, FOCUS, listen to your intuition, gain the support of peers and mentors, and go for it with the best positive attitude.
Keep it Crucial. I am.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
CRUCIAL BLOD ENTRY #22
CREATE YOUR SUCCESS.
We are all capable of great achievments. It is within us all to accomplish anything that we set our minds to. A belief in one's abilty is the first step in achieving your greatest goals.
Set your bar high, be prepared for minor setbacks, be determined, FOCUS, listen to your intuition, gain the support of peers and mentors, and go for it with the best positive attitude.
Keep it Crucial. I am.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
Monday, February 2, 2009
WHAT IS LIFE?
February 2nd, 2009 (8:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #21
WHAT IS LIFE?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night,
It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time,
It is the little shadow that runs across the grass
And loses itself in the sunset.
1890 Isapwo Muksika Crowfoot, Blackfoot Indian Chief and really cool dude.
Life is found in every instance and in every instance both beauty and uniqueness are found.
In our hectic daily lives we all too often forget WHAT IS IS WE ARE REALLY HERE FOR: to enjoy every moment, to be compassionate, caring and kind. To share love with family, friends & loved ones. To create unique experiences and be grateful for every day. Even the bad ones which help create the good ones.
Life and love are found in every moment.
When we stop to acknowledge LIFE that is when we truly appreciate it.
Keep it Crucial
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #21
WHAT IS LIFE?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night,
It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time,
It is the little shadow that runs across the grass
And loses itself in the sunset.
1890 Isapwo Muksika Crowfoot, Blackfoot Indian Chief and really cool dude.
Life is found in every instance and in every instance both beauty and uniqueness are found.
In our hectic daily lives we all too often forget WHAT IS IS WE ARE REALLY HERE FOR: to enjoy every moment, to be compassionate, caring and kind. To share love with family, friends & loved ones. To create unique experiences and be grateful for every day. Even the bad ones which help create the good ones.
Life and love are found in every moment.
When we stop to acknowledge LIFE that is when we truly appreciate it.
Keep it Crucial
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Saturday, January 31, 2009
GREAT EMERGING CANADIAN MUSICIANS
January 31st, 2009 (4:20 pm)
Crucial Blog Entry #20
For those wanting to hear and see who the next GREAT CANADIAN MUSICIANS will be, please check-out and visit CHRIS VELAN and LINDSAY FERGUSON on myspace, and at their respective websites at: http://www.chrisvelan.com/ and http://www.lindsayferguson.com/
These two are the complete package when it comes to songwriting, performing, and all-around musical talent.
CHRIS VELAN also did the opening Intro music for CRUCIAL MATTERS.
I think that 2009 will be a very CRUCIAL YEAR for these two great artists!!
Keep it Crucial,
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
Crucial Blog Entry #20
For those wanting to hear and see who the next GREAT CANADIAN MUSICIANS will be, please check-out and visit CHRIS VELAN and LINDSAY FERGUSON on myspace, and at their respective websites at: http://www.chrisvelan.com/ and http://www.lindsayferguson.com/
These two are the complete package when it comes to songwriting, performing, and all-around musical talent.
CHRIS VELAN also did the opening Intro music for CRUCIAL MATTERS.
I think that 2009 will be a very CRUCIAL YEAR for these two great artists!!
Keep it Crucial,
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
Friday, January 30, 2009
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE---BEST PICTURE
January 30th, 2009 (8:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #19
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE has to be the best movie of the last couple of years. It looks as if this little underdog of a movie has not only captured the hearts of a massive and wide audience worldwide, but it looks like it will win BEST PICTURE at the Academy Awards when it goes head-to-head with Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon) and Sean Penn (Milk). And it should.
What a beautiful story about destiny, love, fate and karma. Although it was brutal in some of its portrayals of life in the slums of Mumbai, Director Danny Boyle creates a masterpiece and tells the story of Jamal in such an interesting and fast-paced way, the viewer can’t help but lose themselves in this movie.
If you haven’t already seen SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, go see this Crucial film.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #19
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE has to be the best movie of the last couple of years. It looks as if this little underdog of a movie has not only captured the hearts of a massive and wide audience worldwide, but it looks like it will win BEST PICTURE at the Academy Awards when it goes head-to-head with Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon) and Sean Penn (Milk). And it should.
What a beautiful story about destiny, love, fate and karma. Although it was brutal in some of its portrayals of life in the slums of Mumbai, Director Danny Boyle creates a masterpiece and tells the story of Jamal in such an interesting and fast-paced way, the viewer can’t help but lose themselves in this movie.
If you haven’t already seen SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, go see this Crucial film.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Keep it POSITIVE! (and CRUCIAL! :)
January 29th, 2009 (12:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #18
Keep it POSITIVE!
Just a couple of quotes today as I am rather busy in the CRUCIAL MATTERS Production Office.
"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort."
- John Ruskin
"SUCCESS IS DEPENDENT ON EFFORT."
- Sophocles
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
REACHING OUT
January 28th, 2009 (7:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #17
One thing that President Barack Obama has done since taking office is attempt to bridge the gap between the West and the Muslim world by offering an ear to listen to concerns and a hand to reach out in compromise.
Obama has a vison of bringing people together from various religions, races and parts of the world and if we look back to last weeks inauguration and the focus of attention and celebration that it inspired all over the world, I think that for once there is hope out there as long as we all participate in the process.
We can do that by looking close to home to see how we can influence positive change in our neighbourhoods, communities and cities. We all have the ability to give, be kind and help-out those who might need it, and I am not talking necessarily about monetary donations, but in donating ones time for a couple of hours here and there.
Time is the one gift that each of us can give in the spirit of "oneness."
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #17
One thing that President Barack Obama has done since taking office is attempt to bridge the gap between the West and the Muslim world by offering an ear to listen to concerns and a hand to reach out in compromise.
Obama has a vison of bringing people together from various religions, races and parts of the world and if we look back to last weeks inauguration and the focus of attention and celebration that it inspired all over the world, I think that for once there is hope out there as long as we all participate in the process.
We can do that by looking close to home to see how we can influence positive change in our neighbourhoods, communities and cities. We all have the ability to give, be kind and help-out those who might need it, and I am not talking necessarily about monetary donations, but in donating ones time for a couple of hours here and there.
Time is the one gift that each of us can give in the spirit of "oneness."
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
THE ADVENTURE OF LIFE
January 27, 2009 (7:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #16
The adventure of life is to learn.
The purpose of life is to grow.
The nature of life is to change.
The challenge of life is to overcome.
The essence of life is to care.
The opportunity of life is to serve.
The secret of life is to dare.
The spice of life is to befriend.
The beauty of life is to give.
The joy of life is to love.
~William Arthur Ward
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #16
The adventure of life is to learn.
The purpose of life is to grow.
The nature of life is to change.
The challenge of life is to overcome.
The essence of life is to care.
The opportunity of life is to serve.
The secret of life is to dare.
The spice of life is to befriend.
The beauty of life is to give.
The joy of life is to love.
~William Arthur Ward
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Monday, January 26, 2009
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING---TAKE THE OX BY THE HORNS
January 26, 2009 (4:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #15
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING
Impossible is nothing and every thing that we want out of life is available to us through hard work, visualization, determination and the power of positive thinking. ( or positiveness is the word that I like to use) To achieve all your goals, one must live ones life with integrity, compassion and love; then good karma is sure to flow and follow.
Now that we are entering the Year of the Ox, it is time to take this year by the horns and GO FOR WHAT IT IS THAT WE REALLY WANT OUT OF LIFE!
What do you want to achieve? What great love do you want to find or create? What lofty goals do you want to reach personally or professionally? Now is the time to decide. You won’t achieve anything by sitting on the sidelines.
I know what I want and I have been working very hard to achieve my "impossible" dream , and although I still have a long way to go, I am on the right path and making progress each and every day. One step at a time. What sets me apart from others is that I refuse to take no for an answer and when people say "NO", or "YOU CANT DO THAT", I simply take that negative feedback and use it to motivate me even more to achieve my goals. Negativity breeds more negativity. Being Positive is CRUCIAL.
Keeping it Crucial to me means to live your life to its fullest potential and realize that the most beautiful future awaits those that dream big or dream crucially!
Miracles do happen. Every day is a miracle. Have you found yours today?
Keep it Crucial and Happy Chinese New Year. It is time to Kick some Ox!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #15
IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING
Impossible is nothing and every thing that we want out of life is available to us through hard work, visualization, determination and the power of positive thinking. ( or positiveness is the word that I like to use) To achieve all your goals, one must live ones life with integrity, compassion and love; then good karma is sure to flow and follow.
Now that we are entering the Year of the Ox, it is time to take this year by the horns and GO FOR WHAT IT IS THAT WE REALLY WANT OUT OF LIFE!
What do you want to achieve? What great love do you want to find or create? What lofty goals do you want to reach personally or professionally? Now is the time to decide. You won’t achieve anything by sitting on the sidelines.
I know what I want and I have been working very hard to achieve my "impossible" dream , and although I still have a long way to go, I am on the right path and making progress each and every day. One step at a time. What sets me apart from others is that I refuse to take no for an answer and when people say "NO", or "YOU CANT DO THAT", I simply take that negative feedback and use it to motivate me even more to achieve my goals. Negativity breeds more negativity. Being Positive is CRUCIAL.
Keeping it Crucial to me means to live your life to its fullest potential and realize that the most beautiful future awaits those that dream big or dream crucially!
Miracles do happen. Every day is a miracle. Have you found yours today?
Keep it Crucial and Happy Chinese New Year. It is time to Kick some Ox!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Saturday, January 24, 2009
THE NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS
January 24, 2009 (7:20 pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #14
THE NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS
For the last several months, since October 2008, change has been the theme of the times. Most people fear change as it shakes them from the comfort of their own reality, but change is necessary to move forward and sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zone to make the changes that we need to make in life.
Embrace the change. Accept the change, and make the changes in your life that you need to make for a better and brighter future.
ENJOY THE NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS AND HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR----THE YEAR OF THE OX BEGINS MONDAY!
This was written by Lisa Dale Miller.
This is the New Moon for radical change. Aquarius is often thought of as visionary: an energy that looks beyond the norm, questions accepted truths, boldly claims originality, flies in the face of reason, and flatly refuses to blindly follow the dictates of others. And oh, if you are like me, (always ready to dive into Aquarian energy) you will be very happy on this New Moon with the awesome grouping of Jupiter/Sun/Moon/North Node/Chiron/Neptune in utopian Aquarius. Pluto/Mars/Mercury in Capricorn will temper the Aquarian vision-thing with a big dose of Saturnian reality. The good news is that in order to manifest real change, vision and realism are needed in equal measure.
This is the Eve of the Chinese New Year; the Year of the Ox. The ox holds much of the same qualities as Capricorn, so use the planning talent of Capricorn to think about implementing radical change for the long haul. Uranus and Venus in transcendent Pisces opposing Saturn in Virgo lend agendas for change a practical, yet compassionate spirituality. All this makes for a New Moon that is ripe for envisioning actual implementation of radical change. The annular solar eclipse will add a bit of heightened energy to this New Moon.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #14
THE NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS
For the last several months, since October 2008, change has been the theme of the times. Most people fear change as it shakes them from the comfort of their own reality, but change is necessary to move forward and sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zone to make the changes that we need to make in life.
Embrace the change. Accept the change, and make the changes in your life that you need to make for a better and brighter future.
ENJOY THE NEW MOON IN AQUARIUS AND HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR----THE YEAR OF THE OX BEGINS MONDAY!
This was written by Lisa Dale Miller.
This is the New Moon for radical change. Aquarius is often thought of as visionary: an energy that looks beyond the norm, questions accepted truths, boldly claims originality, flies in the face of reason, and flatly refuses to blindly follow the dictates of others. And oh, if you are like me, (always ready to dive into Aquarian energy) you will be very happy on this New Moon with the awesome grouping of Jupiter/Sun/Moon/North Node/Chiron/Neptune in utopian Aquarius. Pluto/Mars/Mercury in Capricorn will temper the Aquarian vision-thing with a big dose of Saturnian reality. The good news is that in order to manifest real change, vision and realism are needed in equal measure.
This is the Eve of the Chinese New Year; the Year of the Ox. The ox holds much of the same qualities as Capricorn, so use the planning talent of Capricorn to think about implementing radical change for the long haul. Uranus and Venus in transcendent Pisces opposing Saturn in Virgo lend agendas for change a practical, yet compassionate spirituality. All this makes for a New Moon that is ripe for envisioning actual implementation of radical change. The annular solar eclipse will add a bit of heightened energy to this New Moon.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Friday, January 23, 2009
THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD
January 23, 2009 (7:58pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #13
THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD
Today I filmed my 1 minute video application for THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD. (http://www.islandreefjob.com)/) The job is to live in Queensland, Australia for 6 months, on the Great Barrier Reef, get paid $150 000 AUS, and live rent-free in a luxurious beach house, while feeding fish, mingling with locals and tourists, doing a Video log, writing a Blog and taking photos: basically exactly what I am doing already for http://www.crucialmatters.com/.
What could be better as I look outside and see nothing but snow, grey skies and sub-zero temperatures in Toronto. I love Canada and I love the four seasons, but winter can get a little grading and tedious and after 12 weeks of sub-zero temperatures, an escape of winter, albeit even temporarily would bring nothing but sheer joy to this old, cold soul.
Here is the info from the website:
Tourism Queensland is seeking applicants for the best job in the world! The role of Island
Caretaker is a six-month contract, based on luxurious Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier
Reef. It’s a live-in position with flexible working hours and key responsibilities include
exploring the islands of the Great Barrier Reef to discover what the area has to offer.
You’ll be required to report back on your adventures to Tourism Queensland
headquarters in Brisbane (and the rest of the world) via weekly blogs, photo diary, video
updates and ongoing media interviews. On offer is a unique opportunity to help promote
the wondrous Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
My video application is definetely going to set me apart from the rest of the crowd as I was running around naked in a secluded Toronto Park (MALIBU) and I was pretending to already be in Australia and was going "skinny-dipping" in the ocean when in reality I was swimming in mounds of snow butt-naked!! My 10 years in Whistler certainly assisted with all the grueling training required for such a challenging stunt.
To all the folks out there thinking about applying for the position, DON’T BOTHER!! IT"S MINE and I am looking forward to walking bare-foot down that beach already.......and butt naked!
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #13
THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD
Today I filmed my 1 minute video application for THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD. (http://www.islandreefjob.com)/) The job is to live in Queensland, Australia for 6 months, on the Great Barrier Reef, get paid $150 000 AUS, and live rent-free in a luxurious beach house, while feeding fish, mingling with locals and tourists, doing a Video log, writing a Blog and taking photos: basically exactly what I am doing already for http://www.crucialmatters.com/.
What could be better as I look outside and see nothing but snow, grey skies and sub-zero temperatures in Toronto. I love Canada and I love the four seasons, but winter can get a little grading and tedious and after 12 weeks of sub-zero temperatures, an escape of winter, albeit even temporarily would bring nothing but sheer joy to this old, cold soul.
Here is the info from the website:
Tourism Queensland is seeking applicants for the best job in the world! The role of Island
Caretaker is a six-month contract, based on luxurious Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier
Reef. It’s a live-in position with flexible working hours and key responsibilities include
exploring the islands of the Great Barrier Reef to discover what the area has to offer.
You’ll be required to report back on your adventures to Tourism Queensland
headquarters in Brisbane (and the rest of the world) via weekly blogs, photo diary, video
updates and ongoing media interviews. On offer is a unique opportunity to help promote
the wondrous Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
My video application is definetely going to set me apart from the rest of the crowd as I was running around naked in a secluded Toronto Park (MALIBU) and I was pretending to already be in Australia and was going "skinny-dipping" in the ocean when in reality I was swimming in mounds of snow butt-naked!! My 10 years in Whistler certainly assisted with all the grueling training required for such a challenging stunt.
To all the folks out there thinking about applying for the position, DON’T BOTHER!! IT"S MINE and I am looking forward to walking bare-foot down that beach already.......and butt naked!
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Time to Grow.
Thurday, January 22nd, 2009
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #12
"We Are (all) Like Newborn Children, Our Power is the Power to Grow."
Rabindranath Tagore
Sorry folks, or folk! a little tired today and very busy. Sometimes you will find a good quote here on the days when it gets a little hectic in the Crucial Matters Production Office.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #12
"We Are (all) Like Newborn Children, Our Power is the Power to Grow."
Rabindranath Tagore
Sorry folks, or folk! a little tired today and very busy. Sometimes you will find a good quote here on the days when it gets a little hectic in the Crucial Matters Production Office.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY. A NEW ERA. A NEW WORLD
January 21, 2009 (3:20 pm)
THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY. A NEW ERA. A NEW WORLD
It has been just over 24 hours since President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States and although we still have all the same problems as yesterday and the day before that, the sense that something hugely POSITIVE has happened IS overwhelming.
"A NEW ERA OF RESPONSIBILITY" has begun with President Obama and he did not waste any time repudiating the Bush Administration for his prosecution of suspects in the "War on Terror" (note: hundreds of people have wallowed in jail for years without "due process") The War on Terror is a War on Peace. (Michael Franti)
It is now a time to look and move forward and President Obama is the man for the job. I know that he will work tirelessly to mend the wrongs, make the peace, move the people forward, bring us ALL together, and the world is a better place for having him in the drivers seat. It is US who must decide how we can HELP HIM and our neighbours and communities.
What makes Barack Obama so special and such a positive force? I think it is the fact that he genuinely cares for a better future and a brighter tomorrow. That he is compassionate. That he can relate to every man and every struggle.
If we cannot unite under someone so CRUCIAL, then we will never learn.
Are you in or are you out?
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY. A NEW ERA. A NEW WORLD
It has been just over 24 hours since President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States and although we still have all the same problems as yesterday and the day before that, the sense that something hugely POSITIVE has happened IS overwhelming.
"A NEW ERA OF RESPONSIBILITY" has begun with President Obama and he did not waste any time repudiating the Bush Administration for his prosecution of suspects in the "War on Terror" (note: hundreds of people have wallowed in jail for years without "due process") The War on Terror is a War on Peace. (Michael Franti)
It is now a time to look and move forward and President Obama is the man for the job. I know that he will work tirelessly to mend the wrongs, make the peace, move the people forward, bring us ALL together, and the world is a better place for having him in the drivers seat. It is US who must decide how we can HELP HIM and our neighbours and communities.
What makes Barack Obama so special and such a positive force? I think it is the fact that he genuinely cares for a better future and a brighter tomorrow. That he is compassionate. That he can relate to every man and every struggle.
If we cannot unite under someone so CRUCIAL, then we will never learn.
Are you in or are you out?
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
TODAY IS THE MOST CRUCIAL DAY of the last 20 YEARS PLUS
January 20, 2009 (9:20 PM)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #10.5 (later in the day)
WHAT A DAY!
Today was certainly the MOST CRUCIAL DAY of this century so far.
There is a new leader sleeping in the White House this evening and there is an old leader cutting grass in Texas tomorrow.
The monumental job that PRESIDENT Barack Obama has ahead of him is unparalelled in our time; perhaps any time in history. I think that he is certainly the right man for the job and we are lucky to have such a great leader, great motivator, great speaker and a man with such great ENERGY and ENTHUSIAM to lead this world out of darkness and into the light.
Watching the Inauguration and Speech at HARLEM RESTAURANT IN Downtown Toronto today was overwhelming and one of the most powerful events I have ever experienced. To see the joy and emotion on the faces of everyone in the restaurant was something that I will never forget.
President Barack Obama will be one tired President later this evening, but I am sure that he will hit the ground running tomorrow and we, as a people of the world and global citizens are better off for having him wake-up in the White House tomorrow.
No matter what your race, religion, age or sex, I think that we all should say a prayer for President Barack Obama and his family as he inherits a real fine mess courtesy of the last administration. That is the least that we can do.
Keep it Crucial President Obama.
We are all behind you every step of the way.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
January 20, 2009 (9:20 am)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY # 10
TODAY IS THE DAY of CHANGE, of RENEWED HOPE, of a NEW BEGINNING! BRING IT ON!! :)
As I awoke this morning, the emotion of Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th President of the United States overwhelmed me with tears of joy, tears of change, and tears for a better tomorrow.
TODAY IS ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL DAYS IN OUR LIVES AND OUR TIMES!!
BE THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE A COMPASSIONATE AND GENUINE PERSON BEING SWORN IN TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD WILL BE PLAYING TONIGHT AT THE GREEN BALL IN D.C. WITH JOHN LEGEND, WIL.I.AM, MAROON 5, MELISSA ETHRIDGE AND HOSTED BY AL GORE.
POWER TO THE PEACEFULy’all----NOW LET'S ALL ENJOY THE MOMENT BEFORE ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE CAN COMMENCE TOMORROW.
HUG YOUR NEIGHBOUR, HUG YOUR FRIEND, HUG A STRANGER!
WE ARE ALL ONE!!
KEEP IT CRUCIAL!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #10.5 (later in the day)
WHAT A DAY!
Today was certainly the MOST CRUCIAL DAY of this century so far.
There is a new leader sleeping in the White House this evening and there is an old leader cutting grass in Texas tomorrow.
The monumental job that PRESIDENT Barack Obama has ahead of him is unparalelled in our time; perhaps any time in history. I think that he is certainly the right man for the job and we are lucky to have such a great leader, great motivator, great speaker and a man with such great ENERGY and ENTHUSIAM to lead this world out of darkness and into the light.
Watching the Inauguration and Speech at HARLEM RESTAURANT IN Downtown Toronto today was overwhelming and one of the most powerful events I have ever experienced. To see the joy and emotion on the faces of everyone in the restaurant was something that I will never forget.
President Barack Obama will be one tired President later this evening, but I am sure that he will hit the ground running tomorrow and we, as a people of the world and global citizens are better off for having him wake-up in the White House tomorrow.
No matter what your race, religion, age or sex, I think that we all should say a prayer for President Barack Obama and his family as he inherits a real fine mess courtesy of the last administration. That is the least that we can do.
Keep it Crucial President Obama.
We are all behind you every step of the way.
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
January 20, 2009 (9:20 am)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY # 10
TODAY IS THE DAY of CHANGE, of RENEWED HOPE, of a NEW BEGINNING! BRING IT ON!! :)
As I awoke this morning, the emotion of Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th President of the United States overwhelmed me with tears of joy, tears of change, and tears for a better tomorrow.
TODAY IS ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL DAYS IN OUR LIVES AND OUR TIMES!!
BE THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE A COMPASSIONATE AND GENUINE PERSON BEING SWORN IN TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD WILL BE PLAYING TONIGHT AT THE GREEN BALL IN D.C. WITH JOHN LEGEND, WIL.I.AM, MAROON 5, MELISSA ETHRIDGE AND HOSTED BY AL GORE.
POWER TO THE PEACEFULy’all----NOW LET'S ALL ENJOY THE MOMENT BEFORE ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE CAN COMMENCE TOMORROW.
HUG YOUR NEIGHBOUR, HUG YOUR FRIEND, HUG A STRANGER!
WE ARE ALL ONE!!
KEEP IT CRUCIAL!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Monday, January 19, 2009
FAREWELL LETTER TO GEORGE W. BUSH---
January 19, 2009 (3:20pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY # 9
Dear Crucial Blog readers. This excerpt is from the current ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE.
I urge you to go buy it. ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE is such a great voice of reason and truth, and exposes the U.S. government for all its faults and highlights the truth the Gov does not want you to see. Thank for Keeping it CRUCIAL ROLLING STONE!!
TO Mr. George W. Bush
You’re the child of two emotionally absent aristocrats who denied you any kind of love and affection from an early age. You grew up resentful and lacking completely in natural gifts or curiosity and by early adulthood found yourself desperate to fulfill the expectations your parents by then mostly had only for your much more competent brother, Jeb .
You failed every test you ever faced as a young man and were unable to hold any job at all until the age of 45 or so, at which time you decided to try to win some self-respect by going into the family business.
You were aided in this quest by a bunch of narrow-minded lackeys and holdovers from your father’s administration who every step of the way manipulated your obvious Oedipal resentments to their advantage, enriching themselves and their friends.
All you wanted was a pat on the back and a few accomplishments of your own to hang your hat on, but instead you’re about to spend the rest of eternity pondering your now-official legacy as the WORST AND MOST PIGHEADED LEADER IN THE HISTORY OF WESTERN DEMOCRACY, a man who almost single-handedly sank the mightiest nation on Earth by turning the presidency into a $50 TRILLION therapy session that ended in two disastrous wars, a financial crisis that threatens the entire system of international capitalism, and a legacy of corruption on a scale not seen since the Borgias or maybe Nero.
Paul Benoit is hoping that the door doesn't hit GEORGE W. BUSH'S ass too hard on the way out! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! WORST PRESIDENT EVER!!
This just might be the most CRUCIAL WEEK of the last 10-20 years!
Keep it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY # 9
Dear Crucial Blog readers. This excerpt is from the current ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE.
I urge you to go buy it. ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE is such a great voice of reason and truth, and exposes the U.S. government for all its faults and highlights the truth the Gov does not want you to see. Thank for Keeping it CRUCIAL ROLLING STONE!!
TO Mr. George W. Bush
You’re the child of two emotionally absent aristocrats who denied you any kind of love and affection from an early age. You grew up resentful and lacking completely in natural gifts or curiosity and by early adulthood found yourself desperate to fulfill the expectations your parents by then mostly had only for your much more competent brother, Jeb .
You failed every test you ever faced as a young man and were unable to hold any job at all until the age of 45 or so, at which time you decided to try to win some self-respect by going into the family business.
You were aided in this quest by a bunch of narrow-minded lackeys and holdovers from your father’s administration who every step of the way manipulated your obvious Oedipal resentments to their advantage, enriching themselves and their friends.
All you wanted was a pat on the back and a few accomplishments of your own to hang your hat on, but instead you’re about to spend the rest of eternity pondering your now-official legacy as the WORST AND MOST PIGHEADED LEADER IN THE HISTORY OF WESTERN DEMOCRACY, a man who almost single-handedly sank the mightiest nation on Earth by turning the presidency into a $50 TRILLION therapy session that ended in two disastrous wars, a financial crisis that threatens the entire system of international capitalism, and a legacy of corruption on a scale not seen since the Borgias or maybe Nero.
Paul Benoit is hoping that the door doesn't hit GEORGE W. BUSH'S ass too hard on the way out! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! WORST PRESIDENT EVER!!
This just might be the most CRUCIAL WEEK of the last 10-20 years!
Keep it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director
www.crucialmatters.com
Saturday, January 17, 2009
CHANGE IS COMING
January 17, 2009 (9:20pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #8
CHANGE IS COMING
With Barack Obama being inaugurated this week as the 44th President of the United States we finally have a compassionate man taking the position of ultimate power. HOPE will now lead to ACTION. CHANGE is INEVITABLE and COMING. The FUTURE is NOW!
Let us all embrace this progress and be a part of this positive movement. Oh yeah, and LETS ALL PARTY THIS WEEK and enjoy this monumental occasion.
This just might be the most CRUCIAL WEEK of the last 10-20 years!
Keep it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #8
CHANGE IS COMING
With Barack Obama being inaugurated this week as the 44th President of the United States we finally have a compassionate man taking the position of ultimate power. HOPE will now lead to ACTION. CHANGE is INEVITABLE and COMING. The FUTURE is NOW!
Let us all embrace this progress and be a part of this positive movement. Oh yeah, and LETS ALL PARTY THIS WEEK and enjoy this monumental occasion.
This just might be the most CRUCIAL WEEK of the last 10-20 years!
Keep it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Friday, January 16, 2009
POWER OUTAGE in TORONTO---THE Wonderful DRAKE HOTEL
January 16, 2009 (6:20pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #7
Last night the POWER went out in Toronto and it was out all night long.
I was staying at Toronto’s finest boutique hotel, The Drake Hotel (http://www.thedrakehotel.ca)/) in their sweetest suite when the lights, the power, the phone and the movie that I just started to watch went DEAD. The power went out all night and did not come back on until 9 am today----almost 12 hours without electricity really made me think about different parts of the world, especially war-torn countries where sporadic electricity is the norm rather than the rule.
Survival rather than LIVING is what these people do on a daily basis. I could not imagine raising children in an environment of war, destruction, and death. We really need TO GIVE PEACE A CHANCE and I hope that the shift towards a more peaceful world starts next Monday with Barack Obama’s inauguration as The President of the United States of America. Dumbfucks don’t make good Presidents as we have so clearly learned over the last 8 years.
To make matters worse with the power outage, it was minus 30 Celsius in Toronto with the wind-chill factored in and I had to sleep with 2 sweaters, a hat, a scarf and I was still not really comfortable.
My brain is still defrosting. My fingers were unable to type this morning. I had to pour two pots of coffee down my pants just to warm up and my balls froze off completely. Some parts of Toronto, including over 5000 homes are now still without power almost 22 hours into this ordeal. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
A huge and massive thank you to the wonderful and good-looking staff at The Drake Hotel for making my indoor camping stay so enjoyable. Special thanks to Drake staff Zoe, Bill Simpson, Marcello Cabezas, the handsome Matt Woo for the boozy coffee specials, the café staff for pouring the coffee down my pants this morning, and to Guest Services for the offer of sending up 2 high-class hookers in the middle of the night to warm me up. (Just kidding—is anybody reading my BLOG yet anyway!! :)
The Drake Hotel is THE PLACE TO STAY & EXPERIENCE a unique perspective in Toronto. Be sure to visit their website at http://www.thedrakehotel.ca/ and enjoy their restaurant, the Skybar, the Lounge and/or The Underground.
The Drake Hotel really knows how to keep it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
Toronto, Canada
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #7
Last night the POWER went out in Toronto and it was out all night long.
I was staying at Toronto’s finest boutique hotel, The Drake Hotel (http://www.thedrakehotel.ca)/) in their sweetest suite when the lights, the power, the phone and the movie that I just started to watch went DEAD. The power went out all night and did not come back on until 9 am today----almost 12 hours without electricity really made me think about different parts of the world, especially war-torn countries where sporadic electricity is the norm rather than the rule.
Survival rather than LIVING is what these people do on a daily basis. I could not imagine raising children in an environment of war, destruction, and death. We really need TO GIVE PEACE A CHANCE and I hope that the shift towards a more peaceful world starts next Monday with Barack Obama’s inauguration as The President of the United States of America. Dumbfucks don’t make good Presidents as we have so clearly learned over the last 8 years.
To make matters worse with the power outage, it was minus 30 Celsius in Toronto with the wind-chill factored in and I had to sleep with 2 sweaters, a hat, a scarf and I was still not really comfortable.
My brain is still defrosting. My fingers were unable to type this morning. I had to pour two pots of coffee down my pants just to warm up and my balls froze off completely. Some parts of Toronto, including over 5000 homes are now still without power almost 22 hours into this ordeal. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
A huge and massive thank you to the wonderful and good-looking staff at The Drake Hotel for making my indoor camping stay so enjoyable. Special thanks to Drake staff Zoe, Bill Simpson, Marcello Cabezas, the handsome Matt Woo for the boozy coffee specials, the café staff for pouring the coffee down my pants this morning, and to Guest Services for the offer of sending up 2 high-class hookers in the middle of the night to warm me up. (Just kidding—is anybody reading my BLOG yet anyway!! :)
The Drake Hotel is THE PLACE TO STAY & EXPERIENCE a unique perspective in Toronto. Be sure to visit their website at http://www.thedrakehotel.ca/ and enjoy their restaurant, the Skybar, the Lounge and/or The Underground.
The Drake Hotel really knows how to keep it Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
Toronto, Canada
Thursday, January 15, 2009
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE --- Do we really need anything else!?!
Heh everyone;
or should I say to the 1 person who is currently readin my Blog, I apologize for not writing yesterday. I was busy doing the food and planning the CRUCIAL MATTERS LAUNCH PARTY @ The Drake Hotel in Toronto. It was a HUGE SUCCESS thanks to MJ and VAL DOOLEY of TOOTS CAPITAL & PARTIES WITHOUT BORDERS!!! Crucial thanx to all those who attended.
Today's entry is simply a beautiful quote that has inspired me lately. I hope that you all find the CRUCIAL LOVE that you want, desire and need, and more importantly receive that love back.
If you love someone, you better tell them so, because you never ever know when they are going to go, if they love you back just give thanks because you can't keep love like money in the bank.
Keep it CRUCIAL!!!
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."~Lao Tzu~--
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director
CRUCIAL MATTERS
paul@crucialmatters.com
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
or should I say to the 1 person who is currently readin my Blog, I apologize for not writing yesterday. I was busy doing the food and planning the CRUCIAL MATTERS LAUNCH PARTY @ The Drake Hotel in Toronto. It was a HUGE SUCCESS thanks to MJ and VAL DOOLEY of TOOTS CAPITAL & PARTIES WITHOUT BORDERS!!! Crucial thanx to all those who attended.
Today's entry is simply a beautiful quote that has inspired me lately. I hope that you all find the CRUCIAL LOVE that you want, desire and need, and more importantly receive that love back.
If you love someone, you better tell them so, because you never ever know when they are going to go, if they love you back just give thanks because you can't keep love like money in the bank.
Keep it CRUCIAL!!!
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."~Lao Tzu~--
Paul Benoit
Producer / Director
CRUCIAL MATTERS
paul@crucialmatters.com
http://www.crucialmatters.com/
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
THE DISPOSABLE HEROES OF CHRISTMAS--DON'T KILL A TREE FOR CHRISTMAS PLEASURE
January 13th, 2009 (4:20pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #5
THE DISPOSABLE HEROES OF CHRISTMAS
As I was walking down the street today in Toronto, I was saddened to see all the Christmas trees that were discarded and chucked to the curb like yesterday’s news. House after house had trees kicked to the curb after just a couple of weeks of "enjoyment" then it’s SEE YA.
It is a true waste of nature and beauty to chop down a tree just to decorate it, water it, and enjoy it for 2/3 weeks: it is consumerism gone mad.
CUTTING DOWN A REAL BREATHING TREE THAT IS ALIVE IS A TRADITION THAT OUR GENERATION MUST END.
What alternative options are there for people?
1. A reusable fake tree not only eliminates the need to purchase a "new" tree each year, but it also creates less waste, garbage and expense if re-used year after year. That is the cost-effective environmentally-friendly way to go.
2. Why not use a simple plant or a PointSetta?
3. Do what I did when I lived in Whistler----this may only work for the single folk out there with no kids—we use to go into our "backyard" which was Whistler Mountain and put a table under a tree, fill the table with presents and bottles of booze and enjoy the Christmas spirit deck-out warmly in the great Canadian outdoors.
Please think twice about getting a real tree next year.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Canada
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #5
THE DISPOSABLE HEROES OF CHRISTMAS
As I was walking down the street today in Toronto, I was saddened to see all the Christmas trees that were discarded and chucked to the curb like yesterday’s news. House after house had trees kicked to the curb after just a couple of weeks of "enjoyment" then it’s SEE YA.
It is a true waste of nature and beauty to chop down a tree just to decorate it, water it, and enjoy it for 2/3 weeks: it is consumerism gone mad.
CUTTING DOWN A REAL BREATHING TREE THAT IS ALIVE IS A TRADITION THAT OUR GENERATION MUST END.
What alternative options are there for people?
1. A reusable fake tree not only eliminates the need to purchase a "new" tree each year, but it also creates less waste, garbage and expense if re-used year after year. That is the cost-effective environmentally-friendly way to go.
2. Why not use a simple plant or a PointSetta?
3. Do what I did when I lived in Whistler----this may only work for the single folk out there with no kids—we use to go into our "backyard" which was Whistler Mountain and put a table under a tree, fill the table with presents and bottles of booze and enjoy the Christmas spirit deck-out warmly in the great Canadian outdoors.
Please think twice about getting a real tree next year.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Canada
Monday, January 12, 2009
CRUCIAL MATTERS PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 12, 2009
WEB TELEVISION SHOW "CRUCIAL MATTERS" LAUNCHES TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM
Toronto – Paul Benoit has created an edgy television show titled Crucial Matters: the fusion between sports, music, the arts, comedy, celebrities and lifestyle. After seeking a carrier without success, Benoit decided to take his ground-breaking show instead to the World Wide Web with the expert assistance of Jesse DeCosta and the www.decostainc.com team.
Crucial Matters was launched successfully on THURSDAY JANUARY 8TH, 2009 with the website www.crucialmatters.com going LIVE internationally at 4:20 pm Eastern Standard Time.
http://www.crucialmatters.com WEB/TV Show propels itself to discerning viewers by adapting to the rapidly changing habits of its erudite audience with catchy 3-6 minute video clips rather than full episodes. The Viewer determines and controls what content they watch and when. More and more often people are switching over to their home computers or hand held devices to look at their favourite television programs. With the advent of modern operating systems, greater network bandwidth and access to networks, especially the internet, the discriminating individual has the power to choose from thousands of television shows at his own whim.
Benoit realized that this change was becoming the wave of the future and where one door closed another opened. Crucial Matters takes its audience on a journey to their favourite genre of music, sports, and arts & culture. Clearly Benoit researched his target audience and recognized that they were not couch-potatoes’/baby boomers set in their ways. His grasp was much broader with addressing the fast-paced multi-tasking younger spectators seeking this very type of material.
With a journalism background and a keen eye Benoit produced, wrote, and directed Crucial Matters. It features such notables as Justin Trudeau speaking about the Canadian Avalanche Association and the sad loss of his brother who lost his life in an avalanche in the Nelson area of British Columbia.
Paul Benoit co-hosts and shares the interviewing platform with Crucial Correspondents; Johnny Thrash, Crucial Mike Jeffreys’ and Jill Beam. Other guests include Michael Franti & Spearhead, The New Deal, Chris Velan, Lindsay Ferguson, Swollen Members, Greg Stump, Hot Hot Heat, The Wet Spots and Big Air Dan Treadway.
Media Launch Party
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
7-9 PM
RSVP: val@tootscapital.com or info@crucialmatters.com
For further information please contact:
Valerie Dooley
Toots Capital
Let US toot YOUR horn!Publicist/Producer/Columnist
val@tootscapital.com
Tel: 416-488-9649
Fax: 416-488-8173
Monday, January 12, 2009
WEB TELEVISION SHOW "CRUCIAL MATTERS" LAUNCHES TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM
Toronto – Paul Benoit has created an edgy television show titled Crucial Matters: the fusion between sports, music, the arts, comedy, celebrities and lifestyle. After seeking a carrier without success, Benoit decided to take his ground-breaking show instead to the World Wide Web with the expert assistance of Jesse DeCosta and the www.decostainc.com team.
Crucial Matters was launched successfully on THURSDAY JANUARY 8TH, 2009 with the website www.crucialmatters.com going LIVE internationally at 4:20 pm Eastern Standard Time.
http://www.crucialmatters.com WEB/TV Show propels itself to discerning viewers by adapting to the rapidly changing habits of its erudite audience with catchy 3-6 minute video clips rather than full episodes. The Viewer determines and controls what content they watch and when. More and more often people are switching over to their home computers or hand held devices to look at their favourite television programs. With the advent of modern operating systems, greater network bandwidth and access to networks, especially the internet, the discriminating individual has the power to choose from thousands of television shows at his own whim.
Benoit realized that this change was becoming the wave of the future and where one door closed another opened. Crucial Matters takes its audience on a journey to their favourite genre of music, sports, and arts & culture. Clearly Benoit researched his target audience and recognized that they were not couch-potatoes’/baby boomers set in their ways. His grasp was much broader with addressing the fast-paced multi-tasking younger spectators seeking this very type of material.
With a journalism background and a keen eye Benoit produced, wrote, and directed Crucial Matters. It features such notables as Justin Trudeau speaking about the Canadian Avalanche Association and the sad loss of his brother who lost his life in an avalanche in the Nelson area of British Columbia.
Paul Benoit co-hosts and shares the interviewing platform with Crucial Correspondents; Johnny Thrash, Crucial Mike Jeffreys’ and Jill Beam. Other guests include Michael Franti & Spearhead, The New Deal, Chris Velan, Lindsay Ferguson, Swollen Members, Greg Stump, Hot Hot Heat, The Wet Spots and Big Air Dan Treadway.
Media Launch Party
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
7-9 PM
RSVP: val@tootscapital.com or info@crucialmatters.com
For further information please contact:
Valerie Dooley
Toots Capital
Let US toot YOUR horn!Publicist/Producer/Columnist
val@tootscapital.com
Tel: 416-488-9649
Fax: 416-488-8173
Saturday, January 10, 2009
BEST ALBUM OF 2008 –ALL REBEL ROCKERS by Michael Franti & Spearhead
January 10th, 2009 (4:20pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #4
BEST ALBUM OF 2008 –ALL REBEL ROCKERS by Michael Franti & Spearhead
I urge you to buy the BEST ALBUM of 2008 "ALL REBEL ROCKERS" by Michael Franti & Spearhead. Turn it up, take off your shoes, dance your ass off and soak in all the positive vibes that Michael releases into his music. He truly is an amazing person who is able to elevate one’s soul. (www.spearheadvibrations.com)
ALL REBEL ROCKERS came out in September 2008, and although you may not hear SPEARHEAD on the radio, this album is fantastic from Track 1 (RUDE BOYS BACK IN TOWN) to Track 13 (HAVE A LITTLE FAITH). In a day and age where single tracks are purchased and FULL albums are almost a thing of the past, a decent complete album is a rarity, and this one is PURE GOLD. Produced by Michael Franti and the amazing duo of SLY & ROBBIE (Gwen Stefani, Sean Paul, Matisyahu) this album truly captures the essence and positive energy of Michael Franti.
For those of you out there that have never heard or seen Michael Franti & Spearhead LIVE, I urge you to go see him and experience a Spearhead show. ISLAND RECORDS founder Chris Blackwell ( Bob Marley Producer) calls Michael Franti "the most important artist touring today" and I personally think that he will go down as the Bob Marley of our generation. He is a compassionate and passionate musician, a peace activist (www.powertothepeaceful.org) and a force for positive change in this challenging world.
ROLLING STONE magazine had John Mellencamp, LIFE, DEATH, LOVE and FREEDOM at #5, My Morning Jacket, EVIL URGES at #4, Lil Wayne, THA CARTER III at #3, Bob Dylan TELL TALE SIGNS–THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL.8 at #2, and at #1 TV ON THE RADIO with DEAR SCIENCE. Not to knock ROLLING STONE magazine, (especially since I want to write for them,) but I think that their Top 50 Albums are from a Record Company perspective and commercial viability standpoint rather than from the point of the true essence of what great music is and can be.
ALL REBEL ROCKERS would win the Grammy for BEST ALBUM if I was in charge and this album goes down as THE MOST CRUCIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR ACCORDING TO CRUCIAL MATTERS.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Canada
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #4
BEST ALBUM OF 2008 –ALL REBEL ROCKERS by Michael Franti & Spearhead
I urge you to buy the BEST ALBUM of 2008 "ALL REBEL ROCKERS" by Michael Franti & Spearhead. Turn it up, take off your shoes, dance your ass off and soak in all the positive vibes that Michael releases into his music. He truly is an amazing person who is able to elevate one’s soul. (www.spearheadvibrations.com)
ALL REBEL ROCKERS came out in September 2008, and although you may not hear SPEARHEAD on the radio, this album is fantastic from Track 1 (RUDE BOYS BACK IN TOWN) to Track 13 (HAVE A LITTLE FAITH). In a day and age where single tracks are purchased and FULL albums are almost a thing of the past, a decent complete album is a rarity, and this one is PURE GOLD. Produced by Michael Franti and the amazing duo of SLY & ROBBIE (Gwen Stefani, Sean Paul, Matisyahu) this album truly captures the essence and positive energy of Michael Franti.
For those of you out there that have never heard or seen Michael Franti & Spearhead LIVE, I urge you to go see him and experience a Spearhead show. ISLAND RECORDS founder Chris Blackwell ( Bob Marley Producer) calls Michael Franti "the most important artist touring today" and I personally think that he will go down as the Bob Marley of our generation. He is a compassionate and passionate musician, a peace activist (www.powertothepeaceful.org) and a force for positive change in this challenging world.
ROLLING STONE magazine had John Mellencamp, LIFE, DEATH, LOVE and FREEDOM at #5, My Morning Jacket, EVIL URGES at #4, Lil Wayne, THA CARTER III at #3, Bob Dylan TELL TALE SIGNS–THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL.8 at #2, and at #1 TV ON THE RADIO with DEAR SCIENCE. Not to knock ROLLING STONE magazine, (especially since I want to write for them,) but I think that their Top 50 Albums are from a Record Company perspective and commercial viability standpoint rather than from the point of the true essence of what great music is and can be.
ALL REBEL ROCKERS would win the Grammy for BEST ALBUM if I was in charge and this album goes down as THE MOST CRUCIAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR ACCORDING TO CRUCIAL MATTERS.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Canada
Friday, January 9, 2009
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
January 9th, 2009 (5:20pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #3
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
It amazes me that after all these years here on earth, we as a human society still feel the need to conk each other over the head. Have we not learned a single thing in the thousands of years of our existence? Are we all not brothers and sisters here on this earth and should we all not be trying to work together to eliminate hatred, hunger, violence, disease, homelessness and hopelessness?
I know that WAR & CONFLICT is BIG BUSINESS and business seems to be good, but for whom though?
What is happening in GAZA is making me sick to my stomach and I can only pray for the innocent children, families and victims of violence.
Until we as a society become COMPASSIONATE towards one another regardless of race, religion and socio-economic background we will never be able to move forward.
HATRED needs to be eliminated. What can I do about it? What can you do about it?
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE EVERYONE & POWER to the PEACEFUL.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Canada
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #3
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
It amazes me that after all these years here on earth, we as a human society still feel the need to conk each other over the head. Have we not learned a single thing in the thousands of years of our existence? Are we all not brothers and sisters here on this earth and should we all not be trying to work together to eliminate hatred, hunger, violence, disease, homelessness and hopelessness?
I know that WAR & CONFLICT is BIG BUSINESS and business seems to be good, but for whom though?
What is happening in GAZA is making me sick to my stomach and I can only pray for the innocent children, families and victims of violence.
Until we as a society become COMPASSIONATE towards one another regardless of race, religion and socio-economic background we will never be able to move forward.
HATRED needs to be eliminated. What can I do about it? What can you do about it?
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE EVERYONE & POWER to the PEACEFUL.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Canada
Thursday, January 8, 2009
www.crucialmatters.com LAUNCHED TODAY!
January 8, 2009 (5:20pm)
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #2
TODAY IS THE DAY.
Exactly an hour ago, www.crucialmatters.com went LIVE and was launched into the world with a click of a keyboard.
There are so many people to thank that have made this dream a reality; it has been quite a long journey and lesson for me to get to this point.
Thanks first and foremost to Jesse Decosta (www.decostainc.com) and the Team at Decosta Inc (Clayton, Rena) for the amazing look and feel of the CRUCIAL MATTERS website. Thank you to Greg Stump for the words of wisdom, the schooling, the inspiration to pick-up a camera in the first place and the sheer brilliance & genius of your work. You are my Scorcese and Spielberg. Thank you to Seal for teaching me indirectly that I can achieve anything that I set my sights on. Thank you to Marie Jameson for the INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS on FaceBook everyday; it truly is a great way to start the day with words to live by from you. Thank you to my editors JAI ORTON, NAVIN BOOGALOO, & ZEFRED; you guys have blown me away with making my vision even better than I thought possible. Thank you to the CRUCIAL CREW of Johnny Thrash, Jill Beauchamp, Crucial Mike, Mike Barcelona, Prevail (Swollen Members), and Chris Velan for such an amazing opening theme song.Thank you to the community of Whistler and the artists, filmmakers, adventurers and freaks that call Whistler home. CRUCIAL MATTERS was born in Whistler and today has launched globally. Thanks to Justin Trudeau, Big Air Dan Treadway and The New Deal for being our first guests. Thanks to Michael Franti & Spearhead for the positive energy and the CRUCIAL MUSIC.....can’t wait to interview you.
Thursday January 8th, 2009, will go down as one of the most CRUCIAL days of my life.
Thank you to everyone that has made this day possible.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Canada
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #2
TODAY IS THE DAY.
Exactly an hour ago, www.crucialmatters.com went LIVE and was launched into the world with a click of a keyboard.
There are so many people to thank that have made this dream a reality; it has been quite a long journey and lesson for me to get to this point.
Thanks first and foremost to Jesse Decosta (www.decostainc.com) and the Team at Decosta Inc (Clayton, Rena) for the amazing look and feel of the CRUCIAL MATTERS website. Thank you to Greg Stump for the words of wisdom, the schooling, the inspiration to pick-up a camera in the first place and the sheer brilliance & genius of your work. You are my Scorcese and Spielberg. Thank you to Seal for teaching me indirectly that I can achieve anything that I set my sights on. Thank you to Marie Jameson for the INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS on FaceBook everyday; it truly is a great way to start the day with words to live by from you. Thank you to my editors JAI ORTON, NAVIN BOOGALOO, & ZEFRED; you guys have blown me away with making my vision even better than I thought possible. Thank you to the CRUCIAL CREW of Johnny Thrash, Jill Beauchamp, Crucial Mike, Mike Barcelona, Prevail (Swollen Members), and Chris Velan for such an amazing opening theme song.Thank you to the community of Whistler and the artists, filmmakers, adventurers and freaks that call Whistler home. CRUCIAL MATTERS was born in Whistler and today has launched globally. Thanks to Justin Trudeau, Big Air Dan Treadway and The New Deal for being our first guests. Thanks to Michael Franti & Spearhead for the positive energy and the CRUCIAL MUSIC.....can’t wait to interview you.
Thursday January 8th, 2009, will go down as one of the most CRUCIAL days of my life.
Thank you to everyone that has made this day possible.
Keep it Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Canada
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Welcome to CRUCIAL MATTERS TV
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY #1
Dear Crucial People worldwide.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to WELCOME EVERYONE to my CRUCIAL BLOG.
I am launching my show and GOING LIVE on January 8th, 2009 @ www.CRUCIALMATTERS.com
After 4 long years of trying to find a suitable PRODUCTION PARTNER, I am launching SOLO with the expertise and assistance of JESSE DECOSTA and his amazingly talented Team @ www.decostainc.com
CRUCIAL MATTERS is the fusion between SPORTS-MUSIC-THE ARTS- COMEDY-CELEBRITIES & LIFESTYLE; all things CRUCIAL to our lives today.
Our PILOT features interviews with:
SKIER -- BIG AIR DAN TREADWAY
BAND -- THE NEW DEAL
LEGENDARY FILMMAKER GREG STUMP
FUTURE PRIME-MINISTER OF CANADA -- JUSTIN TRUDEAU
and the comedy stylings of the COSMIC COUCH SURFER.
We are also a socially-conscious TV/WEB show discussing CRUCIAL MATTERS facing the world in which we live in today. It is our goal to assist in the elimination of HATE, HUNGER, WAR, POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, DISEASE & DISPAIR. We can accomplish these goals if we all work together over the next 10 years, and shift our collective consiousness to one that revolves around LOVE, PEACE and COMPASSION. Are you in or are you not?
Thank you for taking the time to check-out my BLOG.
I will be posting everyday except for Sundays.
POWER to the PEACEFUL y'all!! :)
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Canada
Dear Crucial People worldwide.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to WELCOME EVERYONE to my CRUCIAL BLOG.
I am launching my show and GOING LIVE on January 8th, 2009 @ www.CRUCIALMATTERS.com
After 4 long years of trying to find a suitable PRODUCTION PARTNER, I am launching SOLO with the expertise and assistance of JESSE DECOSTA and his amazingly talented Team @ www.decostainc.com
CRUCIAL MATTERS is the fusion between SPORTS-MUSIC-THE ARTS- COMEDY-CELEBRITIES & LIFESTYLE; all things CRUCIAL to our lives today.
Our PILOT features interviews with:
SKIER -- BIG AIR DAN TREADWAY
BAND -- THE NEW DEAL
LEGENDARY FILMMAKER GREG STUMP
FUTURE PRIME-MINISTER OF CANADA -- JUSTIN TRUDEAU
and the comedy stylings of the COSMIC COUCH SURFER.
We are also a socially-conscious TV/WEB show discussing CRUCIAL MATTERS facing the world in which we live in today. It is our goal to assist in the elimination of HATE, HUNGER, WAR, POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, DISEASE & DISPAIR. We can accomplish these goals if we all work together over the next 10 years, and shift our collective consiousness to one that revolves around LOVE, PEACE and COMPASSION. Are you in or are you not?
Thank you for taking the time to check-out my BLOG.
I will be posting everyday except for Sundays.
POWER to the PEACEFUL y'all!! :)
Paul Benoit
Creator / Producer / Writer
www.crucialmatters.com
Toronto, Canada
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