Author: Mitch Wolfe

Mitch Wolfe: Merchant Banker/Consultant/Writer- Getting Down+Busy with the Drizzy at Bloke on King

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment, Lifestyle, Relationships

alex+morgan

What am I doing with very attractive, ambitious, young career-oriented business women outside the Ritz Bar?

Would you believe this is a business meeting and I have been retained to provide some experienced business advice.

Well, that is my story. And I am sticking to it.

But first I must provide a little back story.

I describe myself, as above, as a merchant banker/consultant/writer.

As a merchant banker, I am basically an intermediary, between financial institutions or private finance companies that want to lend and private companies that want to borrow funds to expand their business, buy equipment or buy other companies. I also act as an intermediary between American and Canadian private equity groups that wish to buy Canadian companies and private Canadian companies that are looking for investors and/or ultimate exit strategies.

As a consultant, I focus on small business owners who are looking to expand or sell their business. And entrepreneurs who retain me to assist them in buying businesses or starting businesses from scratch.

The latter situation applies to Morgan on the left and Alex on the right. See photo.

These two women are successful marketing, sales and communications types, employed in current companies.

But they have dreams. And together they are exploring owning and running their own online business.

What I love about being a consultant is every client and every file is different. And the hours are not limited to 9am to 5pm. In fact, since my clients have other jobs, my biz meetings are often in the after hours.

And occasionally, 9pm to 5 am. Say what?

In the case of Morgan and Alex, they are considering going after the 20-40 year old downtown urban market: in terms of lifestyles of the ambitious, young and professional- the fashions, the foods, the restos, bars, the fitness clubs, and the dance clubs.

Whereas in real estate, the mantra is, “location, location, location’.

My advice to young and budding entrepreneurs, thinking of investing in or starting a new business, is “research, research, research”.

And there is no substitute to getting your hands dirty and actually going out into the field. Or in this case, getting down low and dancing to Drizzy in the “6”.

So Morgan, Alex and me- Ubered, Mohammed, a local driver. And we hit some local hot spots in the “6” (Toronto) ie Eveleigh, Brassaii and The Citizen.

Mohammed turned out to be a very funny and charming fellow. And a real good sport in chauffeuring us around from club to club, as if we were major ballers. It was so sick.

(Note to self, possible lifestyle show starring the same Mohammed, “Rolling with Mohammed”, the story of a hustling Muslim Uber driver and his wacky fares. Jamie B. of Frantic Films, is sure to pull the trigger on a 13 webisode secretly sponsored by Uber- Ka-Ching ).

Fast forward to the highlight of the evening. Actually the early morning.

So after hanging out at the above three clubs, Mohammed pulled up to our last stop, The Bloke on King.

The crowd at Bloke- not exactly regulars at the very Waspy White Rosedale Toronto Lawn tennis club.

First Morgan and Alex were carded by a mean black burly tackle for the Hamilton Tigercats.

Since we were the only white folks in the line, we were clearly a very visible minority. And the carding- racial profiling- Obvi.

Also these very clean cut, sweet young women from the burbs looked like they just came from their high school prom.

The black bouncer as a joke asked for my ID together with passport and my Old Age pension. The guy was clearly-jokes.

You know that this was not the Ritz, as two other bouncers proceeded to pat us down for hidden knives, shivs, and automatic AK47 shotguns.

Fortunately, that night, I was not packing.

Once inside Bloke, as suspected, the crowd consisted of predominantly sidewalk hostesses, accompanied by their doting personal managers.

Whatever. We were there to dance to Drizzy ( Drake).

Inevitably in these situations, two good-looking white women and an older white man attract some unwanted attention.

Several black men challenged me as to my raison d’etre. “Why are you, here, White Boy?”

The two women, Morgan and Alex suggested that since I was clearly an older white dude, I should pretend that I was one of the owners of the building.

Morgan suggested to some inquiring black folk, that I was Drake’s white producer.

All of a sudden I was surrounded by many tough-looking black Super dads. Looking for that special Drake magic.

I simply stated to the growing thong of ballers,  that I was neither an owner nor a producer, but I was just some average joe, who had come to dance hip hop.

That response, for some reason, met with increasing hilarity, apparently at my expense.

Collectively, the crowd, questioned my manhood and my ability to dance.

“Hey, white boy, get off the dance floor. You can’t dance”!

Instead, I pulled Morgan and Alex on the on the dance floor and we proceeded to bust some moves. R+B, Stevie Wonder circa 1970. As a perfect threesome.

The black chicks were clearly aghast to see some white dude, moving in perfect harmony. Getting busy with the Drizzy.

Next I was joined by some twerking triplets and we grinded in rhythm , Dirty Dancing, Swayze style.

By this time, I had made my bones and bona fides.

Common consensus among the male and female bangers, that I was pretty fly for a white guy.

I am not sure what Morgan and Alex learned from this experience. It was strictly- ghetto.

But I learned that Morgan and Alex clearly had drive and commitment, to humor me til 4 am.

And that the Drake has a massive influence. All the participants, last night, knew all the words to all of Drake’s lyrics and quoted Drake like he was a modern day Shakespeare.

I believed Drake was the key to unlock what these young men and women needed, wanted and desired.

To be continued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The New Lumas Art Gallery on Yorkville – Totally Luminous

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Lifestyle

There is a new and innovative player in the flourishing Toronto art scene. The Germans have invaded.

They have come to liberate art from its stuffy, classic confines.

And I predict the closed clubby Toronto art world, may never be the same again.

This Lumas Art Gallery, in Toronto’s Yorkville, is the Lumas Group’s only second Canadian location.

( its first Canadian beach head originally located in Vancouver. Hey, Toronah, we’re number two!)

Lumas is part of a 40+ art gallery empire, based in Berlin. Lumas has about 19 galleries in various German cities.

It has also planted its flag in Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Milan, Budapest, New York and Moscow. All without firing a shot.

“Das Art”, Fraulein.

Its motto is “The Liberation of Art”. Hmmm. Very interesting.

Presumably liberating art from stuffy government-controlled galleries and museums.

And literally and figuratively going digital and taking art online.

The works of Damien Hurst, Dieter Blum, Eva Navarro, and my fave- Beomsik Won- just a click or app away on your smartphone.

The works of art in all the Luminous galleries are predominantly photography-based. As well as digital art. And variations on those themes and mediums.

This particular Yorkville gallery is being managed and curated by its director, the very knowledgeable and engaging  Claire Kyle. Toronto’s answer to “Sex in the City’s”, arty Charlotte.

See photo attached with amateur art aficionado, moi.

In a nod to local artist, photographer and actor, Patrick Adams (Mike, the pseudo Harvard Law grad on the tv series, “Suits”), Lumas Yorkville is currently hosting an exhibition of Adams’ work.

See photo of his Toronto skyline.

I was particularly drawn to the classic and contemporary Vogue collection. “Kate Moss in the Lauderette”, for me, particularly visually arresting- and with which I totally identify.

My local laudromat, around the corner, from my home- is also always populated by super models in their colorful bikini underwear.

Check out this very striking gallery. A great, welcome and potential disruptive force in Toronto’s oh so predictable and complacent art world.

lumas 1lumas 4lumas claire kyle director of lumas- toronto

“Toronah”: A funny indie film about Toronto – with a cameo by Rob Ford

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment

Post-TIFF, the major movie buzz in TO is about Toronah, a improvisational comedy set in Toronto.

A rough cut has been circulating in the downtown film world. It’s appeared out of nowhere.

Not just the cast, but the director and producer are all unknowns.

I have been told by inside sources that, from pre production to post-, Toronah was made in a mere three months. That’s unheard of in the Canadian or American film industry.

Rumours abound about its origins.

One source told me the film is the brainchild of three recent film school grads nicknamed “The Three Amigos.”

In the guerrilla filmmaking tradition, they shoot film first and ask for permission later.

Toronah is about funny, tragi-comic losers.

There is Mickey, a middle-aged dude from Chicago, financially down on his luck, in constant fights with his angry and disappointed wife. Basically, he’s a pathetic schmuck, an everyman.

Also, Mickey may or may not be in very deep doo doo with the mob, over some unpaid debts.

(Rumour has it that Toronah features cameos by real Toronto “wise guys”, playing themselves.)

Mickey is forced to come to Toronto to get some much needed cash from his wealthier cousin, Ricky.

There is Johnny K, a portly Asian fellow who’s awkward and a little clueless – who suddenly comes into possession of a black bag containing $100,000.

And the keys to a cool Yorkville condo. And one sweet set of wheels.

Toronah plays homage to Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, with Johnny K mistaken for the much wealthier Ricky, who is flying to Chicago to save Mickey — just as Mickey is flying to Toronto.

Johnny K, in a hilariously deadpan manner, has a series of sexual flings with drop dead gorgeous women/escorts/sidewalk hostesses/wannabe actresses, who all absurdly mistake him for Mickey.

There are other crazy characters who all cracked me up:

Boss Hogg — a profanity-spewing mountain of a man, all dressed in white — stole every scene.

Then there’s Billy: Respectable leasing agent by day, bisexual male whore by night.

Plus there’s a whole slew of salacious, man-eating women who may or may not be the long lost daughters of Mickey’s many previous liaisons.

But the straightest, most conservative, most compelling, most natural and clearly the most sober character in this whole film is the former Mayor Rob Ford, who appears briefly in the opening scene. This guy has natural stage presence. The camera loves Rob. And he nails his lines.

This film is crude, rude, lewd and many female characters are nude.

But what a fun-filled ride in a souped up Trans-Am it is!

Toronah: It’s my kind of film! (Bro.)

My dinner with Rob Ford

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Politics

Last night, at the last minute, I showed up at a Toronto restaurant, and guess who was in attendance? Our former mayor, the incomparable Rob Ford.

He was having a bite to eat with a friend of mine.

I approached Rob’s table and my friend motioned for me to sit down.

Under the circumstances, Rob looked great. He was smiling. He was funny. He was mellow.

He had lost some weight and you could just tell he was getting back into fighting political trim.

Rob recalled that for a certain period during his mayoralty, I had written a series of articles in the Huffington Post explaining the political phenomenon that was, and still is, “Ford Nation.”

I’d explained why Rob Ford was that rare politician and public figure, one who inspired devotion and loyalty from a truly diverse multicultural population.

Ford Nation consists of men and women from their teens to their 90s. Cutting across all races, religions and ethnicities and socio-economic groups. Predominantly, working class and middle income South Asians, Asians, blacks, Filipinos, Persians, Russians, Vietnamese, Italians, Greeks, Muslims and of course, Jewish folks.

(And, yeah, a smattering of angry old white men and women.)

Mostly, from the GTA heartland: Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, York and East York, but not exclusively so.

I reminded Rob that then and now, he still had the best political instincts in Toronto, if not in all of Canada.

Rob Ford would have stopped that stupid Olympics gravy train in its tracks. And not dithered back and forth, hemming and hawing, like the current mayor John Tory.

Remember Ford’s familiar rallying cries?

“Subways, subway, subways”

“The war on the car”

“Stop the gravy train”

“Respect the taxpayer”

These are not empty political slogans, but reflect a philosophy that still resonates with a large number of  GTA residents, both in the suburbs and in downtown Toronto.

And still drives the agenda in Toronto City Hall.

Rob Ford and John Tory both campaigned on saving millions of dollars of taxpayer money by privatizing garbage services east of Yonge Street.

By now, Rob Ford, if he was mayor, would have honored that campaign promise to the Toronto people. To date, Mayor Tory, as I predicted, has caved to the self-entitled unions and the highly conflicted Toronto downtown elitist leftist councilors.

Tory has failed to make the tough fiscal choices that Mayor Ford made during the very successful early years of his mayoralty.

Every day, Ford is getting stronger and stronger.

Last night, Rob Ford showed signs that he still has that fire in his belly.

In two more years, the complacent Tory and his downtown elitist supporters, better watch their back.

Because I think Tory is going to have quite a fight on his hands.

FORD MORE YEARS!

Monday: A Magical Night at Kasa Moto – Charlotte’s Feast

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Food

Monday night on the Yorkville strip is usually quite quiet. Some would say funereal. This past Monday was no exception. But for your intrepid downtown night traveler, moi, my night at Kasa was magical and forever memorable.

Instead of crying in my miso soup, I embraced the almost vacant upstairs patio bar. And engaged with the always helpful and kind staff. This evening, because Kasa was slow due to a crucial Blue Jays/Yankees series, the return of the school year and post TIFF fatigue, I approached the strikingly beautiful and very talented operations manager, Charlotte, see photo on left.

And I suggested that she arrange my entire Japanese meal. I put myself completely in her very soft and capable hands. And I challenged Charlotte to surprise me with her personal selection. And did the talented Charlotte deliver!!!

The meal arranged by Charlotte was spectacular. And served to me by favorite bartender, the incomparable Ace.

Here are photos of the exquisite and artistically prepared and presented portions. Each small and delicate dish a delightful surprise. I savored with amazement each bite of sushi on far left and hamachi on far right

I am no foodie. I don’t possess a sophisticated palate. But even I could taste the subtle perfection of Kasa’s signature cerviche-   Hamachi/salmon, raw cut and mixed with root vegetables, mixed in a sublime yuzu/aoli miso/soy.

Both earthy and other worldly in one bite.

And the spicy tuna crispy rice. OMG to die for! Tuna mixed with a surprising shock of jalapenos, on a slightly fried rice base, and softly brushed with a teriyaki and spicy aoli glaze.

The soy butter fried rice with the juicy waygu ground beef, and the broccoli tempura- dipped and caressed in a spicy tentsuyu sauce (chillies/soy/mirin/dashi broth). Both simple, comfort and complex in each bite.

Charlotte begged me and pleaded with me, this one time, not to destroy her perfect meal with my usual Diet Coke chaser. She suggested I try one of her favourite sake wines – a slim bottle of Kikusui Junmai Ginjo – a very polished brand. Sweet sweet Charlotte even promised to share a drink with me. A real first for me.

What man could resist such a once-in-a-lifetime offer. From such a charming and irresistible woman. Not this cowboy!

charlotteCharlotte's feast 1Charlotte's feast 2Charlotte's feast 3Charlotte's feast 4 ace

Three reasons why Harper will win decisively — maybe even a majority

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Politics

The overpaid, clueless commentators at the Toronto Star, Globe and even the National Post have once again missed the political boat.

For weeks, all these supposed experts have been predicting the fall of Harper and the Conservatives.

You expect that sort of thing from the Star’s Salutin and Walkom, who have been overdosing on the leftist Kool-Aid for decades.

But even the normally politically astute Chantal Hebert has fallen victim to the Star’s biased, herd-like political reporting and commentary.

The Globe’s Radwanski began breaking “insider” stories about the crumbling Conservative base; voters were gravitating to Mulcair one day, and to Trudeau the next.

Even John Ivison and Andrew Coyne of the National Post have been prematurely sitting shiva for the Tories.

What evidence do these political windbags cite for the Fall of the House of Harper?

According to them, three recent events have allegedly crippled the Harper campaign:

The Duffy trial, the economy and the Syrian refugee crisis.

Let’s look at each supposedly fatal blow to the Conservative campaign.
The Duffy Trial
This tale of a puffed-up pol with his fat nose in the political trough is of no political significance.

We’re talking about a mere $90,000 of taxpayers’ money that may or may not have been illegally reimbursed to Duffy. These funds were repaid by Nigel Wright out of his own pocket, because even the appearance of misuse of Canadian taxpayers’ money was, for the Tories, unethical.

Contrast that with the $40 million that Liberal-connected insiders stole from the public in the famous “sponsorship” scandal. Not a cent was repaid.

Or the billions of dollars the McGuinty/Wynne governments used to stay in power, (the $1.1 billion gas plant scandal being the most obvious.)

The silent majority of Canadians care about the bottom line: How politicians use voters’ hard-earned money.

And for ten years, Harper and his government have respected taxpayers.

Canada’s Recession That Wasn’t
Remember when the Canadian economy slipped into a “technical recession” for about ten minutes?

Journalists all reported with glee that the Canadian economy was in decline, and Harper and Finance Minister Oliver were responsible.

Trudeau immediately announced that if elected Prime Minister, he would plunge Canada into three annual years of $10 billion dollars deficits to stimulate the apparently moribund economy.

The myopic political analysts had conveniently ignored wiser men and women, including Harper, who had argued rationally and persuasively that Canada’s economy was holding its own in all sectors except oil and gas.

Then lo and behold, the Finance Department released figures indicating that the economy was back in growth mode. Exports were finally up, and a surplus had been recorded by fiscal year end.

Once again, these so-called political pundits looked like fools, with huge gobs of congealed eggs dripping down their blank and dumbfounded faces.

The Syrian Refugee Crisis
Over two hundred fifty thousand Syrian innocent civilians had been killed as a result of the horrific Syrian civil war.

Trudeau’s response? Send them touques and Roots jackets.

Mulcair’s response? It’s not Canada’s job to stand shoulder to shoulder with our western allies fighting the murderous ISIS.

But thanks to a photograph of a dead Syrian boy washed up on shore (under suspicious circumstances) Trudeau and Mulcair tried to outdo each other in the fake compassion sweepstakes.

“I’ll see your 25,000 refugees and raise you another 10,000 refugees.”

In contrast, Harper called for calm. International and UN supported procedures had to be followed before any refugees could be admitted.

He added that, in the interests of national security, these refugees had to be properly vetted.

Editorials lambasted Harper for hurting Canada’s international reputation.

Despite the public fulminations of these self-acclaimed political elites, Harper stood firm.

And the silent majority of Canadians supported him.

Then the backlash occurred in Europe as country after country closed their borders to these surging refugees, proving Harper’s measured reaction had been the correct one.

In summary, Harper will triumph once again, because a substantial number of people in Canada agree: Duffy, the non-recession and the Syrian refugees are minor issues. They’re sideshows.

Most voters believe that Harper and his party are the best choice to manage the economy while respecting the hard-earned incomes of Canadian taxpayers. The Conservatives will do that by keeping taxes low, spending when necessary, but also making hard choices when it comes to cutting back government.

Meanwhile, Trudeau wants to tax and spend Canada out of a non-existent recession.

Mulcair talks about balancing the budget, but his “tax the rich” strategy to fund numerous government programs is just voodoo economics.

The not-so-hidden agenda of the NDP base, to destroy the oil and gas industry and with it the Canadian economy, has many Canadians back to the Harper fold.

And another electoral victory.

Folks, you read it here first!

Mitch Wolfe Rocks with Rudolf Schenker of Famous German heavy metal band, “Scorpions”

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Lifestyle

One of my favorite heavy metal bands, the “Scorpions” played last night at the Air Canada Centre and post gig, dropped into the d/bar of the Toronto Four Seasons, where they were staying.

I am with Rudolf Schenker, founder of the band and its rhythm guitarist-Scorpions has been playing and touring the world for over 50 years.

This band is considered one of the most famous and longest existing bands in the world.

Check out the YouTube version of their classic, “Rock You Like a Hurricane”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxdmw4tJJ1Y

And the YouTube version of its terrific and most popular melodic rock ballad, “Winds of Change”, a haunting ballad about the fall of the Berlin Wall, end of Soviet Union occupation of Eastern Europe and especially Eastern Germany, in the late 80s and early 90s. One of the best selling singles in the history of rock and roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4RjJKxsamQ

Check out the full lyrics to “Rock Me Like a Hurricane”. It is still rocks and is oh so sexy after all these years.

 Rock You Like A Hurricane”

It’s early morning
The sun comes out
Last night was shaking
And pretty loud
My cat is purring
And scratches my skin
So what is wrong
With another sin
The bitch is hungry
She needs to tell
So give her inches
And feed her well
More days to come
New places to go
I’ve got to leave
It’s time for a show

Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane

My body is burning
It starts to shout
Desire is coming
It breaks out loud
Lust is in cages
Till storm breaks loose
Just have to make it
With someone I choose
The night is calling
I have to go
The wolf is hungry
He runs the show
He’s licking his lips
He’s ready to win
On the hunt tonight
For love at first sting

Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane

 

I have a funny story about my experience with Rudy that night. Now Rudy is very well known in Europe. He is a good looking dude on the other side of 65. I have been led to believe that he is still very popular with European women, who post gig, usually throw themselves at this dude and his band mates.

However, in Toronto, he is not very well known. Rudy and his manager were sitting at table in the d/bar, holding court.

And not one fan or comely woman approached Rudy’s table.

I was sitting at a nearby table with a bunch of 20 something public relations and event planning young women, who were celebrating a night out on the town.

These women were oblivious to Rudy’s charm and his international fame.

Rudy sent his manager over to me to invite me and my group over to his table.

I explained to the women, who Rudy was and that he was a big deal in music, comparable to a German Mick Jagger.

Once the young women realized that Rudy and the Scorpions had just rocked the Air Canada Centre and that Rudy was a mega international rock star, their interest in

Rudy soared.

Rudy turned to me and privately thanked me in his broken English for introducing me to these lovely and now very interested women.

He slapped me on the back and praised me for being a great wing man.

Hustling gorgeous women for international rock stars, I then mentally checked off that one on my bucket list.

Rudy then invited me up to his Four Seasons Hotel luxury suite, with the above-noted women.

A vision of a wild Euro-drug propelled orgy, crossed my mind. Momentarily.

But reason and prudence prevailed. I diplomatically declined, citing an early morning biz meeting the next day.

But the memory of right winging for a mega rock star, will linger for many a year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canadian TIFF Actors’ Ridiculous Tommie Manifesto

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment, Media

Canadian celebrities at TIFF 2015, notably actors Rachel McAdams, Ellen Page and the curmudgeonly, ugly and mean Donald Sutherland, bombed badly in supporting publicly the appallingly stupid, Naomi Klein-penned, “Leap Manifesto”, aka the “Tommie Manifesto” ( named cleverly by us conservative wags after the horrified NDP, (supposedly centrist) leader Thomas Mulcair, who wants no part of that pseudo-Communist revolutionary shite show).

The public reputations of McAdams, Page and Sutherland are not the only ones that have been hurt by association with this manifestly moronic manifesto. Add to the list, such notables or forgettables as Pam Anderson whose best screen work ever was CPRing Tommie Lee’s manhood, together with multi-millionaire wheezebag and gas-guzzling hypocrite extraordinaire- Neil Young.  And the usual looney left suspects, such as Stephen Lewis, Suzuki, Barlow and anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian trade unionist Sid Ryan, to name a representative few.

I am a big Rachel McAdams ( “Mean Girls”, “ The Notebook”, “ True Detective”)  and Ellen Page (“Juno”, “Smart People”, “Freeheld”), fan.Donald Sutherland, on the other hand, was great in the 70s in “M*A*S*H.”, “Klute” and “Don’t Look Now”. Since then his ongoing scene-chewing evil role in “The Hunger Games”, is, to use a highly technical cinematic term-  pure crap.

We admire McAdams and Page for their acting talent and their ability through their craft to touch us and move us emotionally. But let’s face it. They are reading other people’s lines and expressing other people’s ideas.

Their fame and high profile are based upon their cinematic success and Hollywood promotion.

Where these actors fall miserably on their TIFF-ready faces, is they arrogantly believe that their artificially-created Hollywood fame- confers upon them influence and wisdom.

So that we, their audience, will actually care and believe what they have to say in real life, off screen. And that we poor huddled masses who shell out our paltry $10 bucks to see them on the screen, will actually be influenced by what they have to say and the causes they support.

Clueless, ignorant, self-satisfied, self-entitled, jet-setting, island hopping Canadian stars

So let me put this in terms- these clueless, ignorant, self-satisfied, self-entitled, jet-setting, island hopping Canadian stars and celebrities- understand.

Your public support of The Tommie Manifesto- “TWO THUMBS DOWN”.

Your first week-end box office numbers- bit the big one.

You and the Manifesto have bombed badly. A Heaven’s Gate bomb of historic proportions.

The studio is pulling out and cancelling all further marketing and disavowing all knowledge of this stinkeroo.

You have laid a big fat egg. Capiche!

In the time remaining, let me fill in the blanks.

The Manifesto’s solution is revolution. To blow up Canada’s economy. That is, its oil and gas economy

Simply, this ridiculous and irrational manifesto describes horrible ills that don’t exist in Canada- widespread extreme poverty, unsustainable inequality,  the horrible genocidal attack on the very existence of Canada’s native people. And to top it all off, Canada’s climate change policy is a crime against humanity- an ongoing relentless war crime.

The Manifesto’s solution is revolution. To blow up Canada’s economy. That is, its oil and gas economy.  Figuratively and literally, if need be.

And essentially, go back to earth. An utopian pre-industrial Walden-like existence. Where every one of us,  all 35 million of us Canadians, live off the land and tend to our garden and our cattle in our cute little farms.

And only sustained by utopian clean, renewable energy, pursuant to strict NIMBYism principles,  “ if you wouldn’t want it in your backyard, then it doesn’t belong in anyone’s backyard.”

Which means no fracking renewal energy, of any sort-wind farm or solar- you frackingly stupid Hollywood nimrods!

Even the left of centre, Globe and Mail, corroborated my analysis of this lefty lunatic panacea.

The Globe’s editorial states:

“The manifesto calls for immediate social revolution in response to the threat of climate change. Its “demands” include “innovative ownership structures” as an alternative to “the profit-gouging of private companies,” and a “new iron law of energy development” that, if taken seriously, would pretty much put an end to every project ever – pipelines, windmills and solar-panel farms included. This iron law states, “If you wouldn’t want it in your backyard, then it doesn’t belong in anyone’s backyard.”

If these Canadian movie stars and rock stars had expected that their natural audience, the leftist NDP party and its supporters would be influenced and jazzed by these suggestions, they were seriously misled. Or they have been powdering their noses, with “questionable” products.

Because this manifesto sank faster than Adam Sandler’s once buoyant career.

Response from NDP leader Mulcair and his NDP party- zip, nada, zero- crickets.

And for good reason, as the Globe’s editorial concludes:

“We don’t think Mr. Mulcair endorses the manifesto’s madness. He is far more moderate than that. He is also a politician, and he wants to govern a country that is by its nature suspicious of radical social upheaval, especially when promulgated by rock stars.

I love you, Rachel McAdams.  Because of your film work, you are the archetypal sweet Canadian “girl next door”.

But by signing your name to this crazy manifesto, while probably being chauffeured around in a very large gas-guzzling limo, from movie premiere to movie premiere and from private VIP party to private VIP party- you have transformed yourself into the ditzy, brain-dead lefty goof next door. Not a pretty picture, Rachel, my dear.

#TIFF and the #Tommunist Manifesto: Canadian actors shouldn’t be seen or heard off screen

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment

Canadian celebrities at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2015 — notably actors Rachel McAdams, Ellen Page and the curmudgeonly, decrepit Donald Sutherland — bombed badly this week.

Not onscreen, but off, by supporting the appallingly stupid, Naomi Klein-penned Leap Manifesto.

(Nicknamed the “TommunistManifesto” by conservative wags in “honour” of supposedly centrist NDP leader Thomas Mulcair.)

The reputations of McAdams, Page and Sutherland weren’t the only ones hurt by association with this manifestly moronic manifesto.

Add to the list such notables (or forgettables) as Pam Anderson (whose best screen work was CPRing Tommie Lee’s manhood); multi-millionaire wheezebag and gas-guzzling hypocrite extraordinaire Neil Young; and the usual looney left suspects:  Stephen Lewis, David Suzuki, Maude Barlow and Sid Ryan, to name a representative few.

I am a big Rachel McAdams (True Detective) and Ellen Page (Juno) fan.

Donald Sutherland, on the other hand, was great in the 1970s (in M*A*S*H, Klute and Don’t Look Now) but since then his ongoing scene-chewing evil role in The Hunger Games, is, to use a highly technical cinematic term, pure crap.

We admire McAdams and Page for their acting talent and their ability to touch us and move us emotionally. But let’s face it: When they do so, they are reading other people’s lines and ideas.

Their fame and high profile are based upon their cinematic success and Hollywood promotion.

Where these actors fall miserably on their TIFF-ready faces is in their arrogant belief that their artificially-created Hollywood fame confers upon them influence and wisdom, so that we, their audience, will actually care and believe what they have to say in real life.

So let me put this in terms these clueless, ignorant,  self-satisfied, self-entitled, jet-setting, island hopping Canadian stars and celebrities understand.

Your public support of the Leap Manifesto? Two thumbs down.

You and the Manifesto were a bomb of Heaven’s Gate proportions.

Simply, this ridiculous and irrational manifesto proposes to fix problems that don’t actually exist in Canada: widespread extreme poverty, unsustainable inequality, the genocide of our native people.

And to top it all off, they think Canada’s climate change policy is a crime against humanity.

The Manifesto’s solution is revolution. To blow up Canada’s economy – specifically, its oil and gas sector.

And essentially, go back to a pre-industrial Walden-like existence, where all 35 million Canadians will tend to our garden and our cattle on our little cute farms.

All this would be sustained by clean, renewable  energy, pursuant to strict NIMBYism principles; In their own words – they call it a “new iron law” — “If you wouldn’t want it in your backyard, then it doesn’t belong in anyone’s backyard.”

Which, taken to its logical conclusion, means no renewal energy of any sort — wind farm or solar — you Hollywood nimrods! (Or, come to think of it, any more iron, either…)

Even the left of center Globe and Mail agrees:

The manifesto calls for immediate social revolution in response to the threat of climate change. Its “demands” include “innovative ownership structures” as an alternative to “the profit-gouging of private companies,” and a “new iron law of energy development” that, if taken seriously, would pretty much put an end to every project ever – pipelines, windmills and solar-panel farms included. This iron law states, “If you wouldn’t want it in your backyard, then it doesn’t belong in anyone’s backyard.

If these Canadian celebrities expected their natural audience — leftist NDP members and supporters — would be jazzed by these suggestions, they were misled. Or they have been powering their noses with “questionable” products.

Because the Leap Manifesto sank faster than Adam Sandler’s once buoyant career.

The response so far from Mulcair and his party? Zip, nada, zero. Crickets.

And for good reason, as the Globe’s editorial concludes:

We don’t think Mr. Mulcair endorses the manifesto’s madness. He is far more moderate than that. He is also a politician, and he wants to govern a country that is by its nature suspicious of radical social upheaval, especially when promulgated by rock stars.

Saddling him now, barely a month before the election, with the task of answering questions about a revolutionary utopian manifesto seems like an obvious case of failing to look before you… Well, you know the rest.

I love you, Rachel McAdams. Because of your film work, you are the archetypal sweet Canadian “girl next door”.
But by signing your name to this crazy manifesto, while probably being chauffeured around in a very large gas-guzzling limo, from movie premiere to movie premiere, and from private VIP party to private VIP party, you have transformed yourself into the ditsy, brain-dead lefty goof next door.

Not a pretty picture, Rachel, my dear.

Helene Rousse Casts Her Formidable Net at TIFF 2015

by Mitch Wolfe, posted in Entertainment, Lifestyle

Through mere happenstance, in various TIFF events, I kept running into the very successful casting head, Helene Rousse, senior managing partner of the Montreal-based The Helene Rousse Total Casting Agency. After attending numerous TIFF films and their parties, Helene, (who reminds me of the also multi-talented French actress, Julie Delpy), was just ready to let her hair down and tell us her story of her successful ascension to one of the top casting people in the business. So I met with Helene over coffee on the second floor of the very light and airy TIFF Lighthouse coffee shop/bar.

Helene has operated her company for over fifteen years. Her company has provided casting services to some of the most well-known and successful Canadian and American producers and directors of feature films, animation films, documentaries, television series, made for tv movies, video games, music videos- Together with print, voice, reality-tv and variety entertainment.

Apparently, her business is also taking off in this fair city of Toronto-the undisputed Canadian capital of entertainment.

http://www.totalcasting.ca/home.html

I have personally urged Helene (the face that launched a thousand film clips) to look westward, young woman and establish a beachhead, here in the true Hollywood North.

Carpe Diem! Helene. Profitez de la Vie! ( Doesn’t it sound so much sexier in French?)