CFN -  Betcha that most of you reading this have never heard of Joe Bodolai.     Joe exited Stage Hollywood.  Not the first and not the last.   He left the USA seeking haven in Canada during the Vietnam years and built a career in Comedy.

The irony that many who give so much to make us laugh suffer in darkness during their lives.     Joe had a great life in many ways.  He achieved a lot; saw a lot; but because his adopted country couldn’t fulfill his career he had to go back to the US just like so much Canadian talent has to leave to reach its pinnacle or be rewarded fitly.

That’s a problem for many countries but one that Canada should not have.

Reading about Joe, reading his last blog entry; I’ve learned more about him than I knew.   I recognized his name from rolling credits of shows like Kids in the Hall.

Joe decided he’d had enough of life.

Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering – and it’s all over much too soon.

Woody Allen

Share on Facebook

CFN - Tragedy struck Las Vegas today on  lap 13 as cars crashed  ultimately taking the life of Indy 500 race winner Dan Wheldon.

15 cars were reported to be part of the crash.  

Crash Video Clip

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVu7iTf59SQ

Wheldon, born in England, started racing at the age of four and had a life long love of the sport.   Wheldon was air lifted to hospital where he died of his injuries.

He was 33 years of age leaving behind his wife Susie and their two children Oliver and Sebastien.

“IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today.  IndyCar, its drivers and owners, have decided to end the race.”  IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard.

RIP Daniel Clive “Dan” Wheldon -  June 22, 1978 –  October 16, 2011

Share on Facebook

CFN -  Long time Ottawa writer and Sun columnist Earl McRae died of a heart attack today.   I remember reading him in the Citizen and was surprised to find out that he wrote for the Standard Freeholder here in Cornwall Ontario.   He also worked for the CBC, and Toronto Star.  He was 68.

Our condolences go out to his family and friends.  It’s so sad to see a familiar voice silenced.

Earl McRae WIKI 

Some of the quotes I’m seeing on Twitter:

“Master writer Earl McRae of the Sun died this evening. Great writer and a great guy. We will all miss him,”  Mike Therien SUN VP  ”Earl McRae could make you laugh, cry and fume in three consecutive columns. At his best, he had a rare gift.”

RIP Earl McRae

Kathleen Harris:

Very sad news about Earl McRae. A fine man, a fine friend and a fine writer. He was one of the good ones, and I will miss him.

Chris Froggat:

RIP Earl”@MarkBonokoski: Nobody could tell a story better than Earl McRae. He could talk as well as he could write. Earl, Rest easy.”

Share on Facebook

CFN - Sadly Steve Jobs passed away after a long fight with Cancer.   The co-founder of Apple and visionary who brought the company back from brink to become the innovation leader and monster it’s become was 56.

Apple’s website said it best.

To me I’ll forever remember their commercial from 1984 which has so much imagery and was so thought provoking.  Whatever the world becomes Steve’s vision has touched almost all of us forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9S8JS1qyRM

Steve Jobs WIKI

Mr. Jobs managed to hang around for the release of the latest iPhone, the 4S and 5 versions.

We lost a giant today.  To lead is never easy. To lead and stay in the lead legendary.

Steven Paul Jobs February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011

Share on Facebook

CFN  - One of Canada’s most notorious serial killer’s Clifford Olson has died of Cancer in Quebec.  He was 71.

Convicted of murdering 11, the BC native targeted young people before finally being caught and convicted.  He exchanged his cooperation for thousands of dollars  in payments to his wife, and made the news for his numerous parole attempts and support of the Federal Conservative party.

In the last election Prime Minister Harper went as far as to target benefits and pensions for those in prison such as Mr. Olson.

Many of the victims families have been quoted in other media as stunned to the death of the monster who took their loved ones.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

Share on Facebook

Cornwall ON -   Canada lost a great Canadian today as Jack Layton passed away in Toronto.    He was 61 and recently led the NDP to their greatest election victory; something I’m sure made him proud.    He was human.   Not cold and machine like as our current PM.    He gave a rookie and chance and our chat showed me a side that you don’t see in many politicians.

It was a magical interview for me and something that helped in my progression.    What I took politically from him in that interview was that in each election he led his party they’d received more seats from the Canadian public.

Sure enough at the rally in Gilles Duceppe’s riding, at the Olympia theatre in Montreal, I was granted floor space with the major networks and I shot several pieces of video.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvgbrrMg8Qk

My biggest regret was not taking the one on one I was offered with Mr. Layton and Mr. Mulcair after.   Agoraphobia can be brutal and being in the middle of the mob that filled every nook and cranny of the theatre had taken its toll on me.   Sadly I’m sure I missed some insights that I could’ve shared with the public.

Jack showing his more human side on This Hour Has 22 Minutes

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy0Qxlpq9HU

When I initially interviewed him over the phone way back in 2009 we talked about his days as a city councilor and how he’d taken a stand against the Sky Dome just as I’d taken a stand against the arena we recently built in Cornwall.   It was important to stand for what you believed in and when someone of Jack’s stature showed that you could do that it inspired me as I was testing the waters politically myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ-25HEkgi0

Jack Layton WIKI

RIP Jack Layton – Your Country Will Miss You 

July 18, 1950 – August 22, 2011

Vintage Jack

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfmzvwrub_8&feature=youtu.be

We’ll be updating this story as some tributes arrive.

from Keith Beardsley who started out as a NDP member

It is a sad day and a huge loss for the country. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

 From Darlene Jalbert, former NDP candidate under Mr. Layton

Jack Layton was a Fantastic Leader.  His passion for doing the right thing for everyday people was both contagious and motivating.  This is a sad day! 

Statement from Bob Rae, Liberal Party of Canada leader

Like all Canadians, Arlene and I are deeply saddened by the death of Jack Layton.  He was a friend of ours for many years, and despite our political differences his decency, good humour and extraordinary resilience earned our deep admiration.  We remained friends throughout our political lives. 

On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary Caucus, I express our deep condolences to Olivia and Jack’s family, as well as to his colleagues and friends in the New Democratic Party.  He leaves a powerful legacy of a commitment to social justice in his work in Toronto as a city councillor and as a national leader.

Peace and comfort to all.  When David Lewis passed away Stanley Knowles ended his eulogy with the words “shalom chaver, shalom”.  Peace, brother, peace.

From PC Leader Tim Hudak

On behalf of the Ontario PC Party, it is with great sadness that we offer our condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and supporters of NDP Leader Jack Layton, who tragically lost his battle with cancer today.

The courage and determination Jack showed in his fight against cancer was the same determination he brought to the job every day, fighting for his ideals. 

Throughout his career in public life, Jack was a true statesman and rightly earned the respect of all of his colleagues in Ottawa and his beloved City of Toronto.

It’s truly unfortunate that he had such little time to enjoy his historic success in the recent federal election and will not be there to lead his party when Parliament resumes.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Olivia, his children and the entire Layton family during this difficult time.

From Mark A MacDonald – Liberal candidate for SD&SG

It’s not how much time we spend here but what we do with the time we have –God bless Jack and his family–he was a good man.

From Mario Leclerc, Federal NDP candidate for SD&SG

This is a sad and difficult week for all canadians in the nation. My sincere condolences to his lovely wife Olivia, his family and his friends.
He brought the NDP from a marginal political party of 19 MP’s to 103.
 And on May 2, 2011 he became the Official Opposition leader in the House of Commons. During the last election, he decided to continue on
campaigning despite having to deal with multiple cancers. He is a National hero and I personnally thank Prime Minister Harper to recognize him as such.

We share same values. He wanted to move Canada forward with a progressive agenda. 
He accepted his faith without bitterness.
His legacy is courage, humanity and optimism. 

We are so proud of you Jack.

Jack we’ll all miss you.

Thank you my friend.  

Mario Leclerc

Share on Facebook

photo: facebook

Montreal QC - Radio legend Ted Tevan passed away Friday at the age of 78.    Ted was a throwback.   I remember as a wee gaffer listening to our big console as he spat out his thoughts and yes, I myself, was machine gunned once by the raspy voiced devil of radio.

You either loved Ted’s throwback style or you hated it.  He had a loyal following wherever he worked.    He gave a lot of breaks to a lot of youngun’s in radio.   If you love the TV show Mad Men you’d love Ted because he was born to live that life in radio.

I always laughed at his live plugs for services he’d use.   He worked it and was a lesson to anyone who wanted to get into the radio game.

His star power dwindled and he almost became a caricature of himself as his air time shrunk.   His last gig being with Team 990 in Montreal.

There’s going to be a full tribute to Ted on the team 990 on Tuesday.  A lot of middle aged little boys will be shedding a few tears that night.  I know I will.

And to you Ted, friend of my childhood, like the Expos, Dorion Suits, and so many radio icons and voices that inspired me later in life when I worked in radio thank you for those wonderful memories.

I spoke with Peter Michaels, Ted’s first producer/operator at CFOX around 1972.

It was an experimental program.   From 11PM to Midnight.  One hour.   We coined it Sports Rap with Ted Tevan.   That was the beginning of his creative on air shenanigans.

Peter went on about that period, he moved on after training Dan McGarrity, Ted’s later side kick,  on the board to take over for him.    Peter talked about some of the make believe brawls including one with Johnny Rodgers of the Als.  Peter came and left CFOX four times, like many of the staff.   Our chat lasted for awhile who talked about his days with Gord Sinclair, Mike Williams, Dean Hagopian,  Ted Murphy, Hal Stubbs, Dennis Bell, and so many more.

UPDATED – Ted’s Funeral Notice

THEODORE (TED) TEVAN
Service Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 1:00 PM
Ted will be forever remembered by his family, friends and colleagues. Funeral service from Paperman & Sons, 3888 Jean Talon St. W., on Wednesday, August 17 at 1 p.m. Burial at the Temple Rodeph Shalom Congregation Section, Kehal Israel Cemetery, D.D.O. Shiva strictly private. Contributions in Ted’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

Click to watch Ted Tevan video clip from 2004

LINK

As most of you know Ted was a huge fan of Neil Diamond and this clip from You Tube was one of his last theme songs on his show.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Id4_t2izk

Ted Tevan RIP 1937-2011

Share on Facebook

CFN - Sadly this is so not a surprise.  Singer Amy Winehouse has been found dead at the age of 27.   The Back in Black songstress had struggled with drug and alcohol issues to the point of tragedy for years; most of it in the media’s glare and spotlight.

Performances like this one recently in Belgrade resulted in boos from the crowd.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttJg8901qAU

Compared vocally to the late Billie Holiday who suffered her own travails with drugs Amy broke through with songs like Rehab.  Her beehive hair and heavy eye make up changing fashion as fast as her songs climbed the charts.

Early Interview PT 1

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf8UVhSJLaY

Early Interview PT 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEBmXOmI3KU

Amy’s hit song Rehab

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LTPRJqt2z4

Amy Winehouse WIKI

Amy Jade Winehouse (born 14 September 1983, died 23 July 2011   RIP

Amy at her finest

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1evzhSast8

Share on Facebook

Shaver, Ray Lorne

Share on Facebook

Photo: Eric Lewis Flickr

CFN - Jack Ass star Ryan Dunn, 34,  did his final stunt.  Tweeting shortly before his demise with beer and cigarette the actors Porsche was involved in a single car crash and caught fire with Mr. Dunn and his passenger killed in the blaze ni Pennsylvania.

Mr. Dunn and co-star Johnny Knoxville were famed for having fun and doing stunts.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VH9S1xDQAs

It was reported that the car was driving in excess of 100 MPH when it crashed the rail and left the road before bursting into flames.

WIKI

Share on Facebook