Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
THE TORONTO MAYORAL RACE & ELECTION 2010 - TORONTO BE AFRAID. BE VERY AFRAID!
Tuesday September 28, 2010 4:20 p.m.
CRUCIAL BLOG Entry # 73
The Toronto Mayoral Race & Election October 25, 2010
Toronto, be afraid. Be VERY afraid!
Canada's sixth largest government is heading down a slippery slope as the October 25th, 2010 municipal election grows ever so close.
With less than four weeks remaining before voting, the Front-Runner in this election is ROB FORD; a jovial, over-weight "every-man" who inherited a multi-million dollar labeling business founded by his late father. He prides himself on not spending any of his $50 000 plus council approved office budget and is an admitted City Hall outsider more prone to working against the grain, ruffling more than a few feathers, and seems to suffer from incurable foot-in-mouth disease which has not been seen around these parts since Mel Lastman ruled the Toronto roost back in the 90's. Throw in a domestic assault charge, a Driving Under the Influence & Drug possession charge and a propensity for irritating others and here you have a picture of the man that could become Toronto's next Mayor.
How could this guy be in the lead at this point of the Mayoral race with less than four weeks remaining before we cast our votes? It seems that the collective reason for this is that most Torontonians are frustrated with the massive amounts of waste coming out of City Hall and that this election has not provided any other suitable candidates that rise above the rest and the one thing that Rob Ford is not is wasteful. Smart is yet to be determined.
The other front-runners of George Smitherman, Rocco Rossi & Joe Pantalone make ME want to vote for Rob Ford, which I think is the problem here in the first place.
George Smitherman is an admitted former addict of "party drugs", a former Minister of Health in the Provincial Government who was in charge when it was discovered that E-Health had wasted and squandered MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars when they were attempting to make Ontario residents health records digital and computerized. That financial fiasco should eliminate him automatically.
Rocco Rossi seems to have the smarts and ability to do the job, but seems to lack the necessary charisma to get votes or inspire the people.
Joe Pantalone is current Toronto Mayor David Miller's Deputy Mayor which for most voter's will eliminate him from consideration.
Sarah Thomson would get so mad and angry looking at or talking about Rob Ford that one could see smoke coming out of her ears. She turned me off instantly and as of today has ended her pursuit of the Mayor's job and thrown in her towel and thrown her "support" behind George Smitherman.
This would have been John Tory's election to win, but since he did not want to play the dirty game of politics anymore, Toronto faces the reality of having a sub-standard leader over the next several years.
Is it not possible to simply hire a "Mayoral Head-Hunter" and find THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB?? Maybe, it is time to rethink the whole voting system for such CRUCIAL MATTERS? If politics is treated like a game of self-preservation, saying whatever needed to get into office, then doing EVERYTHING against your promises and betraying those who voted for you (see DALTON MCGUINTY), let's find the best person and not leave it to chance, especially when usually less than 60% of eligible voter's show-up---it is a flawed system and one that DOES NOT WORK. PERIOD.
Any fool can get elected, sometimes even twice as George W Bush did, but when it comes to my city, my people and my future, I think that we all deserve more.
Keep It Crucial and be sure to make your Vote Count and your voice heard.
Paul Benoit
Director
CRUCIAL MATTERS
Monday, September 27, 2010
The BIGGEST RUMOUR at TIFF 2010-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN would perform at The Horseshoe with JESSE MALIN September 15, 2010
Monday September 27th, 2010 1:20 p.m.
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY # 72
THE BIGGEST RUMOUR AT TIFF 2010-- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN would Perform at The Horseshoe with JESSE MALIN September 15, 2010
Ten days before the potential legendary gig at one of Toronto's most legendary musical venues, The HORSESHOE TAVERN on Queen Street West, word was leaking out that BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, who was in Toronto for the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) Premiere of "The PROMISE: The Making of DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN" would take the stage with JESSE MALIN at the 'Shoe on Wednesday September 15th: a totally plausible possibility considering that JESSE MALIN & BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN have collaborated and performed together previously and both were in Toronto on the same night. Was this a set up for a possible Springsteen jam at a relatively small bar or merely a coincidence of speculation ejaculation of epic proportions?
If this was a supposed "secret" gig, word was leaking out in many musical directions that the stars were lining-up for what could be one of Toronto most legendary gigs EVER. TIFF Officials were whispering and denying, Restaurant Manager's were regurgitating, Craigslist Ticket ads were listed for $300+ each for a "Bruce Springsteen Secret gig" and local promoter's and musicians were singing and the Buzz leading up to the JESSE MALIN September 15th performance was so great that multiple news trucks were parked outside the Horseshoe on the 15th reporting LIVE on the rumour and adding to the mill and to the intrigue.
Tickets for the show were only $15 at Ticketmaster and still for sale up until the day before. I bought mine and more than a dozen friends followed suit taking a $15 chance on a whisper and a prayer. The BOSS? The Horseshoe? $15? Are you serious???
On the morning of September 15th, the show had SOLD-OUT, the Buzz had reached manic proportions and tickets were selling on Craigslist for between $75 to $300 each.
JESSE MALIN and his band The St. MARKS SOCIAL took to the stage at 11 p.m. and added even more mystery by playing into the rumours and speculation by stroking the crowd with talk of how this gig had now elevated itself into the annals of Toronto Rock and Roll history, never confirming or dispelling the rumour. Jesse's performance was a high energy, crowd pleasing spectacle of hard hitting rock tunes, he came out into the crowd and asked everyone to sit-down in solidarity and brought the mostly Bruce crowd together. It was a great show, but Bruce was most likely in bed in New Jersey by the time Jesse Malin took the stage.
Even at the end of the performance, hopeful fans stood by staring at the mike stands and guitars whispering "if it's gonna happen, it will be now..." and for over 30 minutes they just stood and stared as the house lights refused to be turned-on and the stage equipment was left intact, teasing us all further into staying well past when most would have.
Whoever started this rumour (Jesse Malin's management? the Horseshoe? the Concert Promoter Collective Concerts?) congratulations as it took on a life of its on, provided a sold-out a Jesse Malin concert on a Wednesday night and sold a few more beers than the Horseshoe would have otherwise.
The end tally was a great Jesse Malin show, a Bruce Springsteen No-Show, and some people paying inflated prices for a rumoured performance that never materialized.
Had BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN taken the stage at the Horseshoe Tavern on September 15, 2010, it would have been one of the MOST CRUCIAL Nights in Toronto's music history.
Had BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN taken the stage at the Horseshoe Tavern on September 15, 2010, it would have been one of the MOST CRUCIAL Nights in Toronto's music history.
Paul Benoit
Director / Crucial Correspondent
CRUCIAL MATTERS
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Friday, September 24, 2010
BREAKING NEWS! LINDSAY LOHAN in Jail after Court Appearance in Los Angeles September 24, 2010
Friday September 24th, 2010 12:20 p.m.
CRUCIAL BLOG Entry #71
BREAKING NEWS
Lindsay Lohan was remanded into custody and denied bail this morning in a Los Angeles Courtroom by Judge Elden Fox for violating terms of her probation after TESTING POSITIVE for both Cocaine and Adderall. Lindsay could be in custody until her next court appearance which is not slated until October 22, 2010. Lindsay Lohan was handcuffed in court before being taken into custody.
For someone who claims in the latest VANITY FAIR cover story that she just "wants my career back", this set-back will not only halt production on her supposed Linda Lovelace biopic, but could also jeopardize her clothing line distribution, and once again this once rising star is looking at life from one of the bleakest and loneliest places on earth; a cold jail cell in a forced rehab situation.
It appears that Lindsay's family and team did not think that this would happen so suddenly and that Bail would be granted yet again, but after numerous chances and run-ins with the law, the latest dirty drug-screen's have landed Lindsay in the one place where celebrity does not matter, crucially or otherwise.
Lindsay Lohan is being transported in a Sheriff's car to her new Jail facility now.
We at CRUCIAL MATTERS hope that this is the bottom that she can now dig herself out of and wish her a Robert Downey Jr. like recovery both personally and professionally.
Keep It Crucial.
Paul Benoit
Crucial Correspondent
CRUCIAL MATTERS
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
"SOUND Of SUNSHINE" album by Michael Franti & Spearhead is RELEASED TODAY!!!
Tuesday September 21st, 2010. 1:20 p.m.
CRUCIAL BLOG Entry #70
TODAY IS THE DAY THAT The BEST ALBUM of THIS CENTURY is released!! "SOUND OF SUNSHINE" by Michael Franti & SPEARHEAD is available in stores and online TODAY and watch for them on Ellen DeGeneres today and George Lopez tonight.
Michael Franti will certainly go down as the "Bob Marley of our generation" and he is the most important artist touring today according to Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records and original Producer of Bob Marley & U2.
Power to the Peaceful y'all & SHAKE IT, SHAKE IT SHAKE IT and visit www.michaelfranti.com for more information and TOUR Dates!!!
Keep It Crucial!
Paul Benoit
Crucial Correspondent
www.crucialmatters.com
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
SLASH F'n RULES
Saturday September 11th, 2010 4:20 p.m.
CRUCIAL BLOG Entry # 69
F'N SLASH F'N RULES
Friday night in Toronto, SLASH's heartbeat was raised to the ALARM / CODE RED level on his built-in pacemaker / heart-beater, and it was begging it to slow down. To the Sold-Out crowd that collected at Kool Haus to see the legendary axeman, that heartbeat that was the heart & soul of Guns & Roses was beating just perfectly fine.
After years of playing CRUCIAL MUSIC since the 80's, torrential and torrid touring, throw in a little drug addiction, saturate it in alcohol, a pending divorce, and throw in some good sex for measure, more drugs & rock'n roll, SLASH's heart has been maintained by a team of Doctor's and a well-oiled mechanism keeping him here, heart beating and fingers thrashing for the last several years. Thank God. By his own admission, SLASH admits that he should be dead at least 50 times, coming close to the edge and brink like so many brilliant musicians before him.
The world needs more SLASH, and we thank his good Keith Richard genes for allowing him to bless us with his presence and guitar prowess.
After the unprecedented success of Guns & Roses record-breaking debut APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION, SLASH had cemented himself in the Axe-God Hall of Fame. The touring, success and creative & psychotic differences between the members of GnR, mainly AXL ROSE, brought the band to its own destruction in the era of stupidly epic and expensive videos and long gestating albums---think CHINESE DEMOCRACY, probably the Flop of all time, but SLASH sure does live on.
As the anchor of GnR, SLASH's rift's on "Sweet Child O Mine" & his Toronto encore "Paradise City" will forever be instantly recognizable and as some of the best music of the 80's and still today.
SLASH F'n Rules!!!
Long Live SLASH! See this Tour if you possibly can.
Keep It F'n Crucial y'all!!
Friday, September 10, 2010
PRINCE of POT MARC EMERY GETS SENTENCED to 5 YEARS IN A SEATTLE COURTHOUSE
Friday September 10th, 2010, 4:20 p.m.
PRINCE of POT MARC EMERY GETS SENTENCED to 5 YEARS IN A SEATTLE COURTHOUSE
CRUCIAL BLOG ENTRY # 68
PRINCE of POT MARC EMERY GETS SENTENCED to 5 YEARS IN A SEATTLE COURTHOUSE
Today, September 10th, 2010 at 1:20 p.m. Pacific time in a Federal Courtroom in Seattle, Washington, self-proclaimed Prince Of Pot Marc Scott Emery was sentenced to 5 years in Jail for distributing seeds to a very keen US customer base.
UPDATE at 5:20 p.m. http://www.theprovince.com/news/Prince+Marc+Emery+sentenced+years+prison+judge/3507601/story.html
The crowd outside waved signs reading “Free Marc” and chanted their support as passing cars honked their horns.
Emery was arrested in 2005 by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and indicted for selling marijuana seeds online and through the mail to customers in the U.S.
"Jail is a cruel and lonely place and I regret that my actions have brought me here," Emery said in a written statement to U.S. Federal Court Judge Ricardo Martinez. "Five years is an awfully long time to consider what I've done. I admit that I was arrogant in flouting United States law.
We all hope and pray that Emery is granted a Prisoner Transfer through the Prisoner Exchange Treaty between the US and Canada so that that he can serve his sentence closer to home and loved ones and also so he can be released much earlier under Canada's more lenient parole laws.
This does not end the chapter of "Pot Prohibition" in the US, especially as laws get more lax and the benefits start to outweigh the harms of Marijuana. The Medicinal benefits have always been there but more governments are seeing the potential tax-boom fiesta that small amounts of decriminalized amounts of Marijuana would bring into the coffers.
If small amounts of marijuana had been decriminalized under the Liberal government leadership of Prime-Minister Jean Chretien back in 2002/3 our country of Canada could have been Global Leaders in the movement to lessen the harsh laws that have imprisoned hundred's of thousands worldwide, and our example would have provided our Health Care and Education systems a much need boost to fund world-class services like never seen before. Maybe that hope will come back with a Liberal or different government.
IT IS TIME FOR MARC EMERY TO COME HOME AND SERVE HIS SENTENCE ON CANADIAN SOIL.
KEEP IT CRUCIAL FOR MARC EMERY!
Paul Benoit
Producer / DirectorCRUCIAL MATTERS
paul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Prince+Marc+Emery+sentenced+years+prison+judge/3507601/story.html#ixzz0zAJuavNL
Today's Facebook Status by Marc Emery, updated by his wife Jodie.
The day is upon us -- sentencing in US Federal Court at 1:30pm. Whatever the sentence is, my supporters MUST demand I be sent home to serve my time in Canada! Contact the Public Safety Minister (Canada) and the Bureau of Prisons (USA) at http://www.FreeMarc.ca/ if you REALLY want to help me!
---
Paul Benoit
Producer / DirectorCRUCIAL MATTERSpaul@crucialmatters.com
www.crucialmatters.com
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Time to TIFF in Toronto! Welcome to the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival
Thursday September 8th, 2010. 4:20 p.m.
CRUCIAL BLOG Entry # 67
WELCOME to the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival! It's Time to TIFF! www.tiff.net
The Toronto International Film Festival kicks off its stellar 35th year anniversary tonight, September 8th, 2010, with the Gala Screening of SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL; a fitting way to start the biggest (and some say best) Film Festival in the world with a musical ode to our much beloved national sport -- sorry lacrosse, but hockey runs mad in our blood, our consciousness and our souls. Just think Gold Medal Hockey Game in Vancouver this past February: Hockey Glory & polarizing moments in Canadian history.
The red carpets have been dusted-off and rolled out and the parade of Stars emerging in Toronto has already begun. Javier Bardem, Bruce Springsteen, Ben Affleck, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Stone, Natalie Portman, Matt Damon, Edward Norton are all here to reap FREE SWAG, FREE BOOZE & FREE PRAISE. There are far too many Stars to name them all that will be descending on Toronto in the next 10 days. The only person missing is Mel Gibson.
TIFF 2010 consists of over 100 Films, 300 000 tickets, line-ups around the block, some bars & restaurants open until 4 a.m. (as they ALWAYS SHOULD BE). The electric energy in Toronto over the next 10 days is palpable and it is the best 10 days of the year HANDS-DOWN.
This year we have the christening of the brand spanking new BELL LIGHTBOX and a real shift from the heart of Toronto's Film Festival from Yorkville to King & John, much in thanks to the Reitman family who donated the land that their father had bought and had previously been a modest car wash before being erected as a 40 story monolith of art, film, culture, food, drinks & substance this year. TIFF certainly has a new home and it will be very CRUCIAL element for this Festival when they move in permanently in 2011. The paint is still drying on the building and screws being put in.
What has attributed to this Festival of Festivals such large success? September is perfect for film. The weather is turning, there is a whole new market leading up to Christmas and 2011 with great films about to be released and where else can you create BUZZ but from the largest, most well attended Film Festival in the world. Some say that if SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE did not play here two years ago, that multiple Academy Award winning film might not have even been distributed and released in North America and the Producers were contemplating releasing it straight to DVD.
Time to enjoy & celebrate innovative cinema, and good times. See you over the course of the next 10 days!
Keep It Crucial & enjoy your TIFF if you're here in Toronto!
Paul Benoit
Other Crucial Links for TIFF 2010:
www.tiff.net
www.nowtoronto.com
www.thestar.com
Thursday, September 2, 2010
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