King Vergne

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

A new champion conquers our need for speed this weekend.

Vergne The Champion

Jean-Eric Vergne won the Formula E Championship this weekend in Brooklyn with a fiercely attitude and determination. He was declared king of the Formula E Saturday and he won the Sunday’s race.

This is a true king. But he didn’t do all of this by himself.

The Teechetah’s team is one of the best builder and team. Talking about the Teechetah’s family, Léo Thomas has been crowned Modis Formula E Engineer of the Year. Congratulations to Mr. Thomas and there is another proof of the team spirit at Teechetah.

I had the honor to talk to Jean-Eric in Montreal last year at the Formula E Championship in our beautiful town. He was a gentleman and so focus. I remember him saying how much he loves Montreal ( And Montreal love you). While I was listening to Jean-Eric, I had this feeling he will be the following year king of the Formula E.

For the few times, I was right (I had the same prediction for France winning the FIFA World Cup).

Jean-Eric Vergne, TECHEETAH, said: “Firstly I want to congratulate Audi for winning the teams’ championship. I want to congratulate my team for the job they’ve done this year because honestly, it’s really amazing. This weekend started out with a mistake in qualifying that got me disqualified. I came back through the field – attacking very hard and overtaking many cars. Today qualifying went pretty well in the wet. Then I had a strong, aggressive, start and then I was able to manage the race, which was very tough as we all know Audi is really, really quick in the race. No mistakes were allowed on my side and I think I’ve achieved that.”

The competition was fierce between Vergne and Bird. Contrary to the Di Grassi and Buemi rivalry, you could feel that Vergne and Bird respect each other.

Look, guys, the Formula E is way more fun to watch and more competitive than the F1. This year show us what is coming and let me tell you, the sky will be the limit for the Formula E.

Can the 2018-2019 season start right now?

Formula E New York City Race

 

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The heat is on!

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

The heat is on…

The heat is on, on…

I’m trying to sing one of Glenn Frey’s classic songs. I was always singing this song when I was younger. My dear Mamma’s poor ears, singing was never my greatest attribute.

It’s so hot in Montreal and yes, we are complaining, like little babies. Let’s all remember our state of mind from November to April.

I was the first one to chant like a gospel singer that I cannot take this cold weather anymore. Even if I’m a very proud child born in the NorthSide, the North Pole.

I’m being a little bit too melodramatic. But damn, it’s so hot outside.

Even Raymonde’s plant (in memory of my father-in-law) in my living room is all saggy.

But the heat was worse Sunday night. While I was watching the highlights of the World Cup match between Haiti hmm I mean Brazil vs Mexico (what a game!), I went to check my Twitter account.

And boom! I thought I was passing out because of the heat (ok ok, I have AC at home but still), I saw a tweet that King Lebron is going to the City of Angels.

Holy macaroni!

For two days, I had to contain myself. But with the first official episode of The NorthSide, I will let our Educated Fool analyze this historic trade. I wonder if the Educated Fool will talk about Kobe Bryant not being the golden child of the Lakers anymore.

The heat is really on…

I got Toronto on my mind

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

I’ve still got Toronto on my mind, even after a few days back to the city of a thousand church bells, Montreal.

It wasn’t my first time in the Tdot, but it was my first time alone as an adult in the city. A few days disconnecting with my usual non-orthodox routine, that is – my crazy life, and without speaking the Molière language was interesting.

Montreal does have a special European charm and a certain je ne sais quoi, but Toronto is more a cosmopolitan city, with hidden treasures to be found every few streets.

I was in Toronto especially to listen to a nice conversation.

This conversation was insightful, funny, charming and so authentic. I’m really happy to have been part of it as a listener. Especially since part of this dynamic duo is my ultimate favorite journalist and person I try to emulate the most in this kind of journalism.

He is one of the most respected men in this field.

Nick Clooney is the journalist I am talking about. I won’t deny, listening to him gave me chills. Listening to him talk about Hazim “Haz’ Avdal, a young Yazidi Iraki refugee who is like a second son to him, I saw the pride of a father whose son gave him hope to believe in goodness in people again.

Both Amal and Nick were proud family members when they spoke about Az, as well as with Nadia Murad. Nadia is a young Yazidi woman that was captured by Isis. She escaped with some scars, but that hasn’t stopped her from being the sister, the mother and the ultimate superwoman to all the Yazidis.

She is proudly fighting the good fight with her secret weapon, Amal Clooney.

Amal is more than the woman who married one of the biggest movie stars in the world and one heck of a director (come on, Good Night and Good Luck was a masterpiece).

Yes, the media talks about her latest look. I do have to admit, she mixes fun and sassiness in her look like the majority of us women in this world aim to do.

There is even a blog dedicated to her fashion sense, but my point is that even the blog dedicated to her fashion sense talks about the cause that she cherishes. I definitely have more respect for a blog like the one I’m talking about over the TMZs of the world.

Why she is more than a celebrity?

It’s because, like Audrey Hepburn, her main focus is to shine light on causes that may not been known or talked about much. It’s not be easy to have this growth in attention when only 6 years ago, she could go to eat at her favorite Italian restaurant in Notting Hill without being mobbed by a hundred photographers.

But she has a good co-pilot in George and a good family unit that will continue to be her fortress.

I came back to Montreal with a refreshing perspective on life and the act of compassion.

I didn’t think that the city of Toronto would be the type to remind me to continue being compassionate and to keep up the good fight.

Speaking of keeping up the good fight, the best boxing trainer is in Toronto! Go check him out, Jorge Blanco. If you are in Montreal, you are not forgotten. You can train here in Montreal as well.

I’m so overdue that I will give my coach a call.

In the end, Toronto and Montreal are the perfect couple (except in the NHL). They are complementary to each other.

Can we take this as an example and be more complementary to each other as human beings, especially with regard to compassion and human decency?

I did see it last weekend in the Tdot!

http://spaniard.ca

Clooney Foundation For Justice official website

Tom vs Time or Time vs Tom?

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

I know, I know… 
Another article about the magnificent Tom Brady, written by another admirer. You may be right in a way, I have admired Tom Brady since he started, but I do not like/love/admire or any other adjective describing a lovey-dovey attitude toward his employer, The New England Patriots. I will, however, be respectful because my mother and father raised me to be a respectful human being.
That being said, I watched the “Tom vs Time” episode about spirituality and had in a surprising “Wow” moment. Me! Mrs. I don’t give a (sorry kid – very bad word that I won’t write in this very serious article *sigh*).
Why Am I so serious?
My point is that I knew he was great, but now I get why he is the greatest, even as a Patriot (ouch, that hurts).
Tom is a very grounded, in an Earthly kind of way. I think his eco-system, aka his family and the people surrounding him, made him a grounded human being. He is not impressed by the superficiality of being seen as a superstar quarterback. 
I have realized that to be this kind of athlete, you need to constantly have an adversary. Sometimes, your adversary is the opposing team or a rival quarterback. My question/remark is: Could Tom have been his own adversary all along, ever since he started playing football as a child? Time is his drug, his goal, and his final destination?
With everything that has happened in the past two years, a different Tom has emerged for some people. For me, it’s the same ol’ Tom. The man, who as a youngster was a fan of Joe Montana, is glowing and is finally free from trying to please to his boss. 
I won’t go too deep into my thoughts on the matter because our correspondent – The Educated Fool, Donnie Demos – will do a segment in our new web series (spoiler alert!), The NorthSide, about this fascinating man and the complex nature of human behavior in sports.
But from my point of view, I realized that I have more in common with Tom Brady than I thought. I totally get his mentality. 
The title of his documentary is Tom vs Time, but time for Tom seems to be the Ying to his Yang, the Jerry to his Tom (the cartoon Tom and Jerry), the RoadRunner to his Wile E. Coyote or the Apollo to his Rocky. 
Even if retirement may come sooner rather than later, Tom vs Time will always be there. 
Wile E. Coyote Business card
Tom always has a plan. What will the next step in his plan be?
Can Tom Brady leave the most dangerous game? ESPN

So hard to say goodbye to Anthony Bourdain

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

I’m in total shock.

I’m in this weird, very bad dream where Anthony Bourdain committed suicide.

Can I wake up out of this terrible dream and this horrendous week?

Wake up!

It’s not a nightmare. This is real.

I’m on my train ride into city and I’m just crying. The young lady next to me probably thinks I got dumped by a boyfriend, but it way worse than that.

Anthony was one of the people I looked to in order to set an example as a good communicator, a good citizen of the world and to be the “enfant terrible” of my generation.

He made me feel like it was okay to be an outsider, to be different and to be real without being obnoxious.

His TV show, “Parts Unknown”, is a ritual of mine and my hubby. Anthony was such a good guy. Not the most perfect one, but you could see that he had this gentle soul, even when he was looking like a real rock star with all his tattoos and his attitude.

I am speechless.

My thoughts are going to his family, to his love, to Éric Ripert and to all of his friends, including the fans.

I wish I could write his biography, but you know what, if you want to know who Tony was, please watch all of “Parts Unknown” and read his masterpiece book, “Don’t Eat Before Reading This”.

I will write it until I’m dying, but for anyone that is struggling, please, reach out.

One of my favorite quotes from Anthony is:

“You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal with him”

Thank you Chef!

Kate Spade is still shining like a bright star

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

Learning the news of Kate Spade’s death was unexpected and so sad.

Her name has been part of my repertoire since my “not so glamorous” teenage years in the nineties and into my early twenties.

I was always curious about the next handbag she would create, even as the minimalist kind of girl that I am.

But yesterday, when I learned the sad news of her death, I was reminded of when one of my high school classmates decided to end her life her first year in college. This classmate had everything going for her: beauty, perfect body, great hair, a sweet boyfriend and the status of one of the popular girls in school. At the same time, she was sometimes moody and seemed so sad.

Everyday, I would walk to school and our paths would cross. We walked the last 2 min to school together. She could sense that I was shy to talk to her. I would always give her my biggest smile, but then look down and walk faster. She would acknowledge my smile and my shyness.

There is not a day I don’t think of why I didn’t made the first step to being her friend.

She was my aunt’s neighbour. I still remember that dreadful February night when she called my home to talk to my mom who later told me that a young girl had died. She didn’t know I went to school with her.

By the time my mom was about to tell me the news, my best friend from high school had sent me an MSN message (yes, it was before Facebook messenger and texting).

I went to my room and picked up my high school yearbook, turning straight to the page her picture was on. I was numb. I cried.

I couldn’t go to the funeral because I felt so guilty about not reaching out to her. And I managed, with time, to face it but let me tell you, I struggled a lot afterwards.

Yesterday was a sad day.

But suicide is happening everyday. When someone is famous, we tend to be more aware because it is broadcasted across every form of media. But I would like to say, out loud, my thoughts about a specific thing I saw that made me so mad.

Why are outlets like TMZ, etc. are taking pictures of the body on a stretcher leaving the apartment building?!

I really get super mad about seeing a picture like this (by accident) because it is on the front page. Like when my classmate died, the local newspaper didn’t send a photographer to take a picture and put it on our Wednesday issue.

You get my point.

It’s a painful moment for the family and friends and everywhere you will go, this picture will be on every news outlet, tabloid and so on. It’s so awful and such a lack of respect.

For the young girl that lost her dear mom, for the husband that lost his wife and the mother of his child, to her family and to her friends, my thoughts are with you.

And to the tabloids, get the hell out and show some respect. Damn it!

In a way, she is still bringing lights into our life and she is forcing us having this really difficult conversations about depression and anxiety. Maybe this tragedy will save more lives.

For anyone that is struggling, please, please, please, we are here for you and there are some incredible organizations that are here for you. You are not alone.

We are not alone.

http://www.depressionarmy.com

https://www.nami.org

https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/

Did Deadpool pass the Alex Armony-Fridman test?

Written by Alex Armony-Fridman

The first Deadpool movie almost didn’t happen, it was only because someone at Fox leaked the test footage and the fans demanded to see a full feature movie that Deadpool was made.

It crushed records, beating all other sony superhero movies while on a relatively low budget, it was the second highest grossing R rated movie of all time, after Passion of the Christ and spawned other R rated superhero movies like Logan.

But even with such a high bar, Deadpool 2 did what few other sequels do and actually built on what the fans loved from the first one.

The movie was fantastic.

The first thing that the movie did right was add way more meta jokes, Deadpool himself mentions all three reasons mentioned earlier as to why Deadpool 1 was so great. The movie had way more meta humour than Deadpool 1, even going as far as to make fun of the DC Universe.

I do however think that most can agree that the best part was the second post credit scene when Deadpool “unfucks the timeline”. The movie’s plot was engaging and fast paced, the humor and action was well balance and some might even say that this movie surpasses Deadpool 1.

In conclusion, if you haven’t seen Deadpool 2 yet, go see it, and stay for the post credit scenes, you will not regret it.