[ Click here for the larger sized version of my practical to tactical brainworkings ]

I'll have them on me on Saturday if anyone wants to take a closer look.

Ingredients:
1 newspaper
4 sheets of regular 8x11 paper
1 Sharpie
tape
2 garbage bags
1 pair of brass balls

Crumple up the newspaper to give the bags volume and tape signs to it that say "FRAK UNION STUPIDITY", walk around Toronto and watch the lulz ensue.

FWIW, I'm not particularly against unions, but I certainly am against stupidity - especially when the public bares the brunt of it.  If the antics of those on strike in Toronto wasn't enough now I read that Ford is complaining that the concessions to GM isn't fair and wants a piece of the action.

(EDIT - I was reading something else and posted handout when I meant to type concessions ... reminds me of a cartoon I saw last week , yeah this one.  Thanks to Spike20 for catching my lapse :) ).

I had to re-read the edited version of the 570 news page as it looks different than the first time I saw it, I blame myself for my scatter-braining on multiple projects right now.  Regardless the point that I see is more of the same band-aid on hemorrhage crap instead of actually fixing the problem.

Me and my ultimately awesome flagpole:


[ May the Canuck be with you by making clicky here for larger photo ]

10 minute video of the fireworks here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dIDbQtkDII

(Photo courtesy by Hiro @ dozono.ca who passed by and kindly offered up copies of his work for me to use :) )

Was looking through my cache of old digital photo pictures and found this one from Hallowe'en last year



[ make with clicky for original size success ]

Some may recall an earlier post about the free food offer at Mandarin Buffet on Canada Day.

I found myself in Cambridge and Highway 8 was unbelievably backed up (more than usual), that was my cue to pull out the Jazz178 and shoot some video while eventually driving by.

Yes, people were lined up around the building and all along the sidewalks for free food. Yes it was great for the company to do this and I\ve enjoyed myself there a couple times before - but waiting all that time isn't worth it for me even if it is free ;)

The crowds become visible around the 1:45 mark.

[ click to roll 2D6 for fullsize ]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090625/en_nm/us_jackson

Some reports say Michael Jackson died, Reuters and other agencies report that he was rushed VSA to hospital.

The same day as Farah Fawcett, holy frak!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=21753

New York, NY - Gareb Shamus, CEO of New York based Wizard Entertainment, announces today that he has purchased the Toronto Comicon, a show that has been consistently awarded The Best International Comic Book Convention (non-USA) by ComicBookConventions.com, for the last 5 years.

“We've always had a strong following in Canada, so buying the Toronto Comicon is something that allows me to give back to our fans. These attendees are known to be serious collectors and comic industry followers,” said Shamus.  “I am thrilled to offer the guests, celebrities, artists, dealers and exhibitors to our Canadian audience for the very first time.”

Peter Dixon, owner of Paradise Conventions and former owner of the Toronto Comicon, will still be intimately involved in the show production, his friendly manner ensuring the continuation of the trademarked relaxed atmosphere of the show.

“Wizard brings greater industry recognition and star power to the show. I’m excited about having the fans get this bigger experience,” said Dixon.

The next show dates have not been set yet, but the newly managed Toronto Comicon is expected to debut in 2010.

General FYI, Paradise Comics had to postpone their show this year, I found that out when I was alerted to an edit on the evil expo's wikipedia page when one of their cronies/supporters created a false account to impersonate me and say some terrible things about that cancellation among other dubious things.

So yeah, there's the news on that... Peter's a good guy and I haven't seen him in a while - should stop by and say hi, hopefully this works out well for the area fandom.

This is going to be nuts with a capital testicle but mega-kudos for these folks and this awesome gesture.  I'm still curious what exactly their Dress Code in effect actually is and wow, it's going to be insanely busy and their workers will be on point making time & 1/5 plus Stat pay  :O

http://smartcanucks.ca/mandarin-chinese-buffet-restaurant-free-buffet-for-canada-day/

FREE Buffet for Canada Day!
July 1, 2009

To celebrate Canada Day at Mandarin, we’re making fireworks of our own by offering our All-You-Can-Eat Buffet for FREE to Canadian citizens! We want to say THANK YOU CANADA, for welcoming us into this great country. Visit any of our 21 locations on July 1, 2009 and enjoy tasty Chinese cuisine alongside tried and true Canadian dishes, all for FREE. The celebration begins at 12:00pm and ends with our last seating at 8:30pm. Reservations will not be taken on Canada Day – guests will be seated on a first come first serve basis. Come join in on the festivities!

We ask for your co-operation in respecting the following:

• Buffet meals (including soft drinks, tea, and coffee) are free for all Canadians* with one of the following proofs of citizenship: Canadian birth certificate, Canadian passport, Canadian citizenship card
• No reservations will be taken – guests will be seated on a first come first serve basis
• Our first seating is at 12:00pm and our last seating is at 8:30pm
• All guests in your party must be present in the line. If a member of your party needs a break, please inform the people behind you
• Dress code is in effect
• This offer does not apply to: other beverages, take-out or delivery meals
• Tips are not included and are appreciated by the staff
• À-la-carte will not be served on July 1, but we will continue serving take-out & delivery at regular prices

* Staff, management, and their immediate family members are not eligible

EDIT - Sorry for double post, I thought the original version got eaten up when the laptop died.

On the same day I learned that Ed McMahon died, I just found this out, Billy Red Lyons passed away:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2009/06/23/9898076.html

The name should sound familiar to those of us who recall his advertisements on "Maple Leaf Wrestling" in the 80's advising about upcoming shows and "Don'cha dare miss it!".

I passed the audition and I'm being brought in for stage fight training over the next few months and will appear at a festival in a few months as a pirate :)

I don't want to give too much away but the free training given in the process is really nice :O  Just gotta keep my 30+ year old body up to pace with the younger bucks and all should be well.

... Now to go stock up on tensors, new knee pads, RubA535, Ice Packs and stick it in with my kit along with the knee brace, cane, dentures and Depends undergarments :P

"Twilight" star Pattinson hit by taxi as flees fans

Thu Jun 18, 11:47 PM

NEW YORK (Reuters) - "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson was hit by a taxi in New York as he tried to run away from a crowd of hysterical teenage fans, but he was not seriously injured, U.S. media reported.

Pattinson, 23, who stars in the hit teenage vampire movies, was clipped on the hip in front a bookstore in Manhattan where he was shooting scenes on Thursday for his new film, "Remember Me," a drama about two young lovers dealing with family tragedies.

Flanked by five security guards, the British actor tried to run past a group of teenage girls who had gathered outside the bookstore and cross the street to his trailer when the accident happened.

He was not seriously injured, but his bodyguards reportedly were furious, according to RadarOnline.com which claimed to have witnessed the accident. One of the bodyguards yelled at the girls: "You see what you did, you almost killed him!"

Pattinson's manager did not comment on the accident.

Pattinson has become one of the hottest properties in Hollywood since appearing in "Twilight" as brooding vampire Edward Cullen.

This week he was voted the world's most handsome man by online readers of Vanity Fair.

A reminder that this weekend in Victoria Park in Kitchener it's the return of the annual KW Multicultural Festival :)

It's a free event too :D

http://www.kwmc.on.ca/html/festival.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RqYwOTJK-4

BSG Music Live - Katee Sachkoff and Bear McCreary with "Kara Remembers" leading into "Heeding The Call" and "All Along The Watchtower".

More on that concert and the awesome composer that is Bear McCreary here: http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=2167

If I was the father covered up in the original photo to attempt to show greater "diversity", I'd be pretty peeved.

http://gawker.com/5287311/black-guy-photoshopped-in

Not this much!



For what it's worth I played around with the armour a bit today, yes that's the CADPAT Tactikilt that gaelfling made for me, likely going to bring it to DragonCon and wear it in the parade complete with the Canuck flag tucked in the bandana.

... still busy, but instead please accept these cat pictures in lieu of update.

Stuff to do in and around town the next couple weeks...

» Robin in the Hood Medieval Festival
http://robininthehood.com/
Sat, June 6 10am-6pm
Gibson Park, Elmira
$4.00 per Person, $12.00 per Family (Parents & Children, 5 people or less)

... bonus, you can wear weapons with a costume as long as they are peacebonded (safely tied into holster, scabbard, duck, etc) however I think my plank will be allowed :P

» $cientology Protests
Various locations, near Church of Scientology offices, 11am
Toronto (June 13th), Kitchener (June 13th), Montreal (June 13th), Halifax (June 21st), Vancouver (June 13th)
FYI, Kitchener location is conveniently located next to a pizza shop and below a studio that teaches pole dancing.
Free to participate or better yet, watch... learn moar here

... Quick tidbit, Scientology is the only religious (hah!) organization in Canada to have been convicted for breaching the public trust (organization infiltrated offices of OPP and Ontario Attorney General) and were successfully sued for defamation (libel) in what was the largest such award at the time after Scientology began a campaign to attack the prosecutor in the prior mentioned case.  It's all rather interesting to say the least :P

»  Cambridge Riverfest & Dragon Boat Races 
http://www.cambridgeriverfest.com/
Sat, June 6
Riverbluffs Park, Cambridge

... never been there but it looks like fun :)

http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/545835

OPP officer suspended after falsely charging drivers
 June 01, 2009
The Canadian Press

TORONTO

Ontario Provincial Police are accusing one of their own of falsely charging three drivers with speeding. Sergeant Dennis Mahoney-Bruer, 49, who works out of the Port Credit detachment west of Toronto, is alleged to have used false evidence to lay the charges over the past month. The 12 year OPP veteran is facing three counts of breach of trust and one of attempting to obstruct of justice, and has been suspended from duty.

I love those who serve in the emergency services, I seriously do and am forgiving of the mistakes that they make like all other humans - but I spare no quarter for those that abuse the public trust by pulling garbage like this or trying to cover up an drunk driving hit and run.

Yes it's only a charge at this point but it's pretty significant for them to do so and they would certainly have to have an iron-clad case so far - the question remains: only three counts?

[ make with click for larger sizing success fail ]

» http://saidinbed.com/

... "Said In Bed captures the language of love. We record conversations from before, during and after the most intimate of moments–anything from foreplay to pillow talk, from hot to hilarious."

» http://picktheperp.com/

... "Click on the perp who you think was booked for the crime shown. You can also use the number keys (1-5) to make your selection."

» http://newsmap.jp/

... It's in English, that's all I can really say about it.

» http://www.freeplaymusic.com/

... Like it says, free to use theme music for video production or just to load up the media player.

[ photo credit: Wikipedia ]

Owen Hart died ten years ago today in an entrance to a wrestling match that went terribly wrong.  More information on that here.  I recall seeing the news flash and immediately feeling numb then sick to my stomach as the information came out that night.  I can't imagine the heartbreak the family went through (even after reading Bret's book) and the garbage that Vince & co. pulled, this was a turning point in my lack of enthusiasm for watching wrestling on tv.  

I'd like to think that people are smarter than they were but I feel that Owen was a direct victim of sensationalist tactics to generate media attention and unfortunately history repeats when people neglect to learn from the past and it is usually the best of us who suffer from the decisions and tactics of the worst of us.  I was recently watching the Ahnold flick "The Running Man" where the promoter of the sadistic game show dismisses the fact that one of his employees just died by saying something that mentions the high ratings they're getting - the parallels are a bit too disturbingly similar. 

Owen was a great man and he and his family deserved better, I hope at least that his needless death may help prevent other tragedies.

There is a great article published today about Owen Hart  on Canoe.ca, here is the link.