We've had 18 murders in the city this year, and four of the slayings were in and around the same west-end neighbourhoods. Yesterday the body of a 14 year old boy was dumped in a West Toronto field.
I've heard speculation that there is a drug war or a gang war of some sort going on.
There are a lot of kids with guns out there...
Stealing Paintings is a very optimistic activity. These guys think they can sell art. Har! I think I'd be flattered if anyone stole a batch of my paintings. I might be able to save money on storage.
Steven Truscott has been aquitted after a 48 year ordeal. Details of the case can be found here. In this article, you will read that the crown kept key evidence from the defence and jurors. Even knowing this, they fought the case tooth and nail.
At a news conference, Mr. Truscott said, 'I have more faith in the court system today than I did yesterday.'.
How can we compensate this man?
This is the big news headline here in Toronto as former Canadian, former press baron, soon to be former arrogant rich guy, Conrad Black....is convicted for mail fraud and obstructing justice. He will appeal, but from what I've read, his chances won't be great. He may also have to give up much if not all of his wealth to settle the civil suits which will inevitably follow. You can bet that Hollinger shareholders what their $60M back.
CTV reported tonight that Black wants his Canadian citizenship back, but may not be able to get it. He renounced it a while back so he could become a British Lord. Now that he is a convicted felon, he will have trouble getting into Canada at all.
So, will he do his time, and write about it? Will he disappear with wife Barbara? Or will he, as was suggested by a commenter the other day, simply off himself to avoid facing the humiliation. Meanwhile, Black has a new book out about Richard Nixon, and I understand he is no slouch as an amateur historian.
I just checked the headlines and I don't see a verdict, so I guess the jury is still out on Conrad Black and his cronies.
What do you think....will they find him guilty on some or all of the charges?....will he do time in the big house?
I predict he will go down on some of the charges only, and will have to do modest jail time......
The jury has been selected for the Conrad Black trial. My friend MJ emailed me to say that the Globe and Mail stated that the dream juror for the defence is an artist "because an artist can see the nuances." That's an interesting thought. Most of the artists I know, though, aren't rich and have a well-developed suspicion of the ultra-rich. And Black is so easy to detest. He's arrogant. He gave up his Canadian citizenship to become a British lord. His wife is as arrogant as he is, and from her writing appears to be teetering on the extreme wacky right. I think with a jury of artists, Black would be toast.
I have no idea if Conrad Black is guilty as charged or not. I will admit to feeling a certain satisfaction when rich white-collar criminals are brought down.
I'm looking forward to following the trial.
$66M worth of Picasso's stolen.
Some madcap or group of madcaps have gone and stolen a couple Picassos. How silly is that? It's not like you can go unload them with the local fence or anything. I mean, that old fart Pic only made the most recognizable work you can imagine. Who is going to buy these paintings? The entire known universe knows they are stolen.
On the other hand, I'd like to suggest that my own paintings are available to steal. Please bring a 5 ton truck, I have plenty of works. If they were all stolen, I could stop paying for storage, and could spend that savings on a new button accordion or perhaps a new handmade split bamboo fly rod...or maybe even pay off the car. I understand if you don't want to steal them all. Bring a friend, and divide them up. And, as a bonus, if you steal them all, and find you can't unload them - no problem - for a modest fee of only a few thousand canadianos, I'll let you return them - no questions asked.
Forget Picasso. Steal my art. You can see a selection on the sidebar.
A few years ago, Tuffy P's storage unit was broken into - twice! Each time, nothing was stolen. What is this, is everyone a critic? The lady from the storage company, upon hearing that nothing was stolen, offered her condolances. "I'm so sorry", she said.
