your friendly neighbourhood journalist

Zanta Q&A

2006-09-13T20:52:00.000-04:00

A shorter version of this appeared in the Post yesterday. Go me! And props to Dov for taking the photo.

With the film fest in town, there’s a good chance you’ll run into some celebrities this weekend. Ethan Hawke. Jennifer Lopez. Spike Lee. Yoko Ono. David Zancai? Zancai, a.k.a. Zanta, is our own local celeb of sorts. You’ve probably seen him on the Toronto streets. He’s hard to miss. He’s the tanned, beefy, half-naked guy in the Santa hat doing push-ups all over the city while howling his very own version of “Ho Ho Ho” — “Yes Yes Yes.”

Zancai became Zanta on December 31, 2004 when he appeared at a Toronto family court in a Santa hat to fight for custody of his baby daughter. Because the former contractor hadn’t seen his daughter on Christmas, he decided to wear the hat until he brought her home. He hasn’t taken it off since.

At first, you would see him “performing” on the subways and in the club district. But, about a year ago, when he was banned from the downtown core for appearing in the background of one too many newscasts, the North York-born Zanta started hanging out in posh Yorkville instead. He writes “Google me” and “www.torontozanta.ca” on the classy Cumberland sidewalks in colourful chalk, flexing his muscles for all passers-by. Wikipedia even has an entry on him! Here, he talks frantically about push-ups, the fuzz and his plans for the future.

What’s with the outfit, man?
I’m flipping through the TV stations and all of a sudden something hits me. Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake, Montel Williams, all these talk shows. I thought, “There is no one out there in the world wearing a red Santa Claus hat and shorts and boots and does push-ups all over the city.” So off I went, Yonge, Queen, King, Front, John. I figured, if someone’s going to see me outside, with no shirt in a snow storm, when it’s raining outside or freezing ass cold, they’re gonna look at me and say, “Hey, I gotta check that guy out.” Rrrr-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta. There is no one else in the world who does something like this. I can finally leave my mark here on this earth. Yes yes yes rrrrr. Not only world fame — this here is gonna put me in the history books.

I’ve seen you do push-ups all over the city. How come?
I’ve been on compensation since April 2000 when I fell 25 feet and landed on my back into a staircase. I spent 23 days in a coma, 17 days on life support, three-and-a-half months in a walker and 10 months in a body brace. When I could walk again, I started doing push-ups at the gym. Then I did them in the most wildest of places — on cabs, mailboxes, poles, in the middle of intersections. Anywhere where someone is gonna look. I usually do about 2,000 to 3,000 on a typical day, and I can do them for maybe 15, 20 minutes non-stop. But no matter how many I do, when I finish my show, someone’s got to tell someone else. They just can’t keep it to themselves. Yes yes yes — rrrrr.

What are those strange noises you’re making?
That’s all hydrolics — rrrrrr. When I started doing push-ups, I realized, “You know what, I hate doing push-ups.” But I figured I’m just gonna do it. Don’t stop, don’t stop, something’s gotta give. So as I was pushing harder and harder — uhhh uhhh — and then slowly it became rrrrrr rrrrrr — and then started to evolve into hydrolics — aaarrrrrrrrrr aaarrrrrrrrrr.

Why do you think people like you?
People don’t like me. They love me. Yes, all ages love Zanta. Straight, gay — everything loves Zanta. Male, female, whatever. Because I’m the fucking man — da dat dat da da. This character is wild.

What’s your next move?
I’m on my last leg in Yorkville. I figure before I get killed I better back outta here. I’m banned from Yorkville’s historical laneway and the police harass me all the time. I’m gonna go, but it’s time to boost it up to the next level. This fall I’ll be on Kenny vs. Spenny on Showcase. The First Annual Zanta Parade will hit the streets in 2007 and I’ll have people flying in from all over the world. I got a lot of fans. And now that my website is up and running, I’ve had about 18,000 hits already. Now the cops are going to find out that all this time they’ve been harassing me, my fans have been watching all along.

(A police car drives by)
I see a cop car right there, and I’m telling you, the chills I get down my back when I see a cop car. So we were together for the last couple of hours here, OK? I feel like they’re going to grab my ass and arrest me for nothing because the film festival is around.

Were you at the film festival last year?
What month are we in? Oh, I was in jail last September. They threw me in for harassment of my ex. My lawyer is yelling at me, “No more Zanta. You gotta stop the Zanta thing.” I fired him. I told the judge, “Mama, if you were to Google search Toronto Zanta, you’d see so many hits out there. I’ve made myself somewhat of a local celebrity in Toronto, y’know?” She puts on a smile on her face and says, “I realize that, yes yes yes.”

What about all these other celebrities who are going to be invading your turf for the next week?
These are little small boys. Those there are stars. See, me, I’m a character. I’m an actual living character, yes yes yes.

I suck

2006-04-13T13:53:00.000-04:00

Ok. I admit it. I'm a bad blogger. Alright, fine. Not just bad. I'm awful. I'm weak. I'm just plain inept.

I have just one excuse. It simply comes down to the fact that I've got absolutely no time. How on earth do all you bloggers do it? Day in and day out, you always have something to say about something or other. Are you neglecting your jobs? Your partners? Your families? There's no question about it. You must be brushing them all off.

I walk into work every morning at 10 on the nose. Ok, it's more like 10:15, 10:30. But oftentimes I'll see reporters sitting at their desks, calmly reading their newspapers with coffees in hand, flipping. flipping. flipping, until noon. I don't even have a chance to read my own personal emails half of the time. And it's not like I'm a slow worker. I'm quicker than anyone I know. I've just got tons of shit to do. Don't you?

Idolatry at its finest

2006-03-05T20:00:00.000-05:00

The red carpet makes me sick. "Oh you look so beautiful tonight. Who are you wearing? Your boobs are so big! Are you excited? Can I touch you? Please?" But Jon Stewart made the show. He was, as always, hilarious. Oscar results:

Best supporting actor: George Clooney - Syriana
Best supporting actress: Pregnant Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Biggest boobs: Dolly Parton (was there ever any doubt?)
Most ridiculous get-up: Ben Stiller in a green unitard
Most ridiculous dress: Charlize Theron's big black bow
Best outfit: Ludacris in black velvet
Best feature documentary: March of the Penguins (loved that tear-jerker)
Most bored attendee: Lindsay Lohan
Most beautiful nominee: Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek's Jen)
Most thank yous: The academy
Most anorexic presenter: Hilary Swank
Best actor in a leading role: Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote
Best actress in a leading role: Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
Best adapted screenplay: Brokeback Mountain
Best screenplay: Crash
Best director: Brokeback Mountain
Best picture: Crash (the only one I saw, and liked)
Best screw-up: The 15-second blackout at the end of the show
Best honourable mention: George Jonas as writer of Vengeance, the book on which Spielberg's Munich was inspired

OH CANADA

2006-03-01T13:07:00.000-05:00

Final Torino Medal Standings:

Germany 29
USA 25
Canada 24
Austria 23
Russia 22

The Olympic committee ranks countries based on overall gold medals, not total medals, placing Canada in fifth with seven golds, ten silvers and seven bronzes. My heroes.

The death of cool

2006-02-24T15:37:00.000-05:00

Went to see Common with Nat on Wednesday. Hadn't heard of him before but he was pretty damn cool. Got to the Kool Haus at the Guverment at 8:30, waited in a ridiculous line-up that stretched down the street and around the corner for an hour and Common didn't come on stage till almost 11. In my day, concerts were done by 11. But maybe that's because I only remember the outdoor hippy shows. Shivering in minus something degrees in my "winter" coat, I realized I'd forgotten what it's like to be cool.

I was reminded of this sad fact when we approached the Jam Van about halfway through our wait. I sauntered in to this haven of cool to save myself a few minutes of freeze when the Jam Van dude had a chuckle at my expense. "What do you mean you've never seen my van around town before? Do you live in Thornhill or something?" The conversation turned to music, but when he asked what I liked, I mumbled inaudibly and scanned the cds hanging on the walls. Rock and roll wasn't a cool enough answer. Who in their right mind doesn't enjoy anything that came out after the '70s? I had to find something else, and quick. "Metro?" was all I could muster. Like Common, I had never heard of Metro either, but the cool Jam Van guy assured me that I gave him the right answer. He scrolled through his iTunes and played some of the Montreal band's stuff. Not bad. Not bad at all.

I was reminded once more of my lack of cool when I entered the venue itself. I had come directly from work, wearing a tasteful scarf, a too expensive coat, a silly pair of old Silver jeans and a bright red sweater. Even worse, I had gotten my hair cut the night before and my silky-smooth straight hair combined with my outfit made me look like the trendiest of girly-girls out there. Forget the fact that we were at least five years everyone's senior, my sin was in neglecting to accessorize. Jeans folded up to expose knee-high boots, little hats, shiny purses and knitted shrugs surrounded me. And the guys were even cooler. T-shirts underneath button-up shirts underneath unzipped hooded sweatshirts underneath fitted jackets made me yearn for my long abandoned layered look. What had happened to the girl who wasn't allowed to run for president of my all-girls school for wearing a marijuana necklace around my neck, sweatpants under my skirts and long sleeves under short sleeves?

Although it was clear that I needed a new music collection and a new wardrobe, I enjoyed myself immensely. I always liked "Go," the one song I had indeed heard before (despite not knowing its creator), and now I've added some more Common to my newly expanded repetoire. "Faithful" and "Testify" are on the top of my list, mainly because I was too drunk to remember the names of any the songs he sang next.

And the Kool Haus is way kooler than it was the last time I was there back in '98-ish when the same Nat took me to see Ben Harper. (That's a story in itself. I was digging the multi-cultural crowd, amazed at its scope, when Nat explained that the man I'd been listening to all summer was black despite my honky assumptions.) As I was saying, back in '98-ish, the Kool Haus was definitely not as kool as it is today. Now they've got these awesome bars, four to be exact, with big colourful lights overhead. They've also added a chilling area with leather seats, where I sat for most of the show. I was obviously not cool enough to dance with the masses. But I'm cool with that.

Top spots

2006-02-22T13:10:00.000-05:00

Winnipeg-born Cindy Klassen just picked up her fourth medal - a gold in the women's 1500-metre speed skating. Ottawa's Kristina Groves took the silver, giving Canada both top spots in the race. We now have 17 medals (almost 18 - Canada's about to beat Russia in the quarter-final men's hockey game), but the Canadian Olympic committee hoped for 25. It's not over yet.

Working at a newspaper is so much fun! Where else can you watch the Olympics all day long?

Meet Mo

2006-02-20T23:51:00.000-05:00

My brother is a slut. A frikin slut. He gets all the ladies. Anytime, anywhere. From the hottest of hot to the skankest of skank. He doesn't care. And he doesn't even have to try anymore. He's got frosted tips, a fatty-6'2" frame and more charm than Ryan Phillippe in Cruel Intentions. Women fall at his feet, fall for his oft-rehearsed game hook, line and sinker, and, inevitably, fall madly in love with him. His lopsided grin in an attempt to display an almost unnoticeable dimple works every time. Add that to his favourite ploy, where he introduces her as his fiance, and he simply can't lose. They giggle. They blush. He calls the next day. "Hi cutie." First date: He takes her tanning - it only lasts eight minutes. Half an hour, tops, for the whole shebang. Second date: His house for a movie. His "closing" date? Scaramouche Pasta Bar. He treats her like gold until he gets sick of her. A few weeks later, he's driving her home so drunk he can't see, calls her a "cuntie" and spits in her face. "You can't treat me like that," she'll say almost meaning it. But they always come back for more. He juggles the same girls for months on end. I'm telling ya, some girls just can't get enough of the Mock. He's a lovable little asshole.

Year of the Dog

2006-02-04T16:07:00.000-05:00

Happy new year y'all!

Weekend Update

2006-02-04T14:59:00.000-05:00

Local

This Monday, February 6th, is Toronto's annual Bob Marley Day...and would have been his 61st birthday. Smoke one for the reggae master.

International

What's with the violent protests over those Muhammad cartoons? Alright already, they were blasphemous, but do you really have to torch European flags and shoot up the neighbourhood? Ever think that maybe the prophet was depicted as a terrorist because militant Muslims project that distorted image of the religion to the world? The newest development: Muslim stores are banning Danish products, the country that ran the malicious cartoons back in September. Have you ever seen an episode of South Park? Jesus makes me laugh.

---

Egyptian ferry Al-Salam Boccaccio 98 was carrying 1,400 passengers when it sank on the way home from Saudi Arabia. Only 324 people have been saved from the Red Sea massacre. More than 900 bodies are expected to be found. Survivors say helicopters didn't arrive on the scene for 24 hours. Oy.

---

Some retard threw a concrete brick onto 401 traffic, scarring an Oshawa bride-to-be beyond recognition. What the hell is wrong with you?

The Courts

Two teenagers show up to their WestJet flight just 45 minutes before take off. Air Canada doesn't let them check in, or give them back the $1,500 they paid for their tickets from Montreal to Edmonton, because they hadn't checked in at least an hour before their flight. The kids take the case to the Canadian Transportation Agency and win! The tickets don't say you have to check in an hour early; but they do say you have to board 25 minutes before take off. I learned that the hard way on my way to Jamaica when they held us in a secondary inspection unit for no good reason making us miss our flight. Can I sue?

Sports

The silly Raptors traded Jalen Rose for Antonio Davis. Rose, who scores roughly 14 points per game, is going to the New York Knicks - one of my personal favorite teams. Used to love that little John Starks character. Anyhoo, I remember when Antonio left us in 2003. Said something along the lines of not wanting his kids to grow up learning kilometres instead of miles. Stupid Americans.

---

The Stones will play the halftime show at Sunday's Super Bowl 40 in Detroit. My bet's on the Steelers, even though odds are against them.

Entertainment

And the nominees are: Brokeback Mountain, Munich, Crash, Capote, Good Night and Good Luck, to name a few. I haven't seen any of them yet, but I'll eat more popcorn this week than any other.

---

Sheryl Crow and Lance Armstrong are breaking up. All she wants to do is have some fun, I suppose. I guess he wasn't makin' her happy, so a change will do her good. Since every day's a winding road, she'll just be soakin' up the sun.

Hamas won the Palestinian election!

2006-01-26T10:56:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness.

A minority Conservative government? Better than a majority

2006-01-23T22:19:00.000-05:00

Conservatives 124 Liberals 103 Bloc 51 NDP 29 Independents 1

9 pm

Canada Elections Act: Section 329

No person shall transmit the result or purported result of the vote in an electoral district to the public in another electoral district before the close of all of the polling stations in that other electoral district.

That makes sense. Otherwise people in open ridings wouldn't vote, right?

930 pm

Finally. The numbers are in. And I'm scared silly. The Conservatives are going strong and all the networks are calling a Conservative victory. This when only 10% of the votes are counted. I hope Quebec doesn't separate. I think. I knew Peter MacKay would win his Central Nova riding. I knew Liberals Michael Ignatieff, Tony Clement, Irwin Cotler and John McCallum would too.

10 pm

Props to my Thornhill gal Susan Kadis. (She ate in my succah;) My grandparents are happy Carolyn Bennett won, and I'm not surprised she beat Peter Kent. Though I am surprised Tony Valeri lost. And Anne McLellan, Marilyn Churley and Svend Robinson. I'm pretty sure my parents-in-law won't be happy when they find out Ken Dryden beat Michael Mostyn.

1030pm

I knew Conservative-turned-Liberals Belinda Stronach and Scott Brison would both take the race in their respective ridings. Can't help but love those celebrity candidates. I hoped Olivia would pull out a win on Tony. Nice. I wanted Jack to increase his 18 seats. Nice. And I knew Bill Graham would win my Toronto Centre riding, but I voted Green anyway.

11 pm

I wondered what would happen to Mr. Goodale -- but who would've thunk that the Conservatives would win every single Alberta seat? But zip in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal! And I really wanted the Greens to take a seat. Couldn't they get just one?!

1130 pm

What's with this just-over-60% voter-turnout? (Honestly Dad.) Only 61% voted in the last federal election, but I thought the drama this time 'round would get people off their asses.

12am

It comes as no surprise -- Paul Martin will step down as Liberal leader. But he'll remain an MP.

In just 55 days, 12 years of Liberal Canada have come to an end -- with just popcorn and beer to show for it. I can't believe Stephen Harper is our prime minister. He got 10 seats in Quebec -- this after getting zip in the last election. And to think -- the Liberals and the Conservatives each had 43% of the popular vote. If only we had proportional representation in this country...

But I like minority governments. They can't last long, and they work better. We can't go to war, or chuck our Kyoto commitments, or ban gay marriage or marijuana or abortion without majority government support. And now the States will merge with Canada as the North-American super-power. It can't be all bad, right? Are we still getting a GST cut?

1am

"Tonight, our country has voted for change," says Stephen Harper. He looks happy.

News on the homefront

2006-01-16T22:08:00.000-05:00

I got married. I'm a wife and I have a husband. I adore him.

We went to Jamaica for our beautiful honeymoon. I think we'll go back and buy a little white house on the beach and drink banana-strawberry daiquiris for the rest of our days.

I'm the assistant editor of Financial Post Business Magazine and I love my job. Watch for the magazine on the first Friday of every month with the National Post.

I quit the pub for a while. I imagine it will be very strange having my evenings free for the first time in six years. Will I call my long lost friends? Watch the news every night at 11? Have time to read the newspaper in the mornings? Take up yoga? Or will I just waste my time away?

I'm almost finished reading Down to This by Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall. I've been meaning to read it since it came out, even bought it, but alas, I had no time. I wish Tent City was still around so I could go check it out. It's crazy that a shantytown lived in my own backyard and I had no idea it ever existed. Plus, I figure I must know some of those crackhead characters from the pub.

My cat has lost her ninth life. When Dov asked my mom in his most mobster of voices to "take care of her" while we were in sunny Negril, I never imagined that my wonderful mother would actually take her to a Toronto shelter so they could "find her a good home." Since my darling Spoon had been hissing at us as of late, I had planned on putting an ad in the paper on our return. It would have read something like this: "Crazy, beautiful cat seeks crazy cat lady to love and be loved." Unfortunately, the shelter had other ideas. Rest in peace Spoon.

That's all folks.

Gayest airbag ever!

2005-12-10T16:02:00.000-05:00

Apparently if you crash your bike, this bad boy will actually save your life, but my motorcycle cowboy seriously doubts it.

Find the write-up in FP Magazine's January car issue.

Elections are fun

2005-12-02T22:32:00.000-05:00

Stephen Harper is the man. He may not have much personality, but boy is he a clutch player. Announcing yesterday that if he becomes Prime Minister he will immediately slash the GST from seven to six per cent and then to five per cent within five years was a brilliant move. Out of the blue. Generous. Just good politics. The Liberal income tax cut seems like peanuts now, especially since the party owes Canadians an apology for robbing us blind. Even if the cuts are indeed equal, Harper just made a fantastic impression. Another great promise: New cancer patients will wait for specialists for no more than 10 days! If only he had Green party notions on the environment or Liberal views on gay marriage or NDP plans for the the working man. If only he wasn't so corporate. If only he were telling the truth.

China's Disabled Peoples Performing Art Troupe

2005-11-20T19:11:00.000-05:00

The Thousand-hand Bodhisattva Dance is performed by 21 deaf children.
It's definitely a must-see!

Best site ever!

2005-11-18T19:21:00.000-05:00

First satellite, then music, now this.
Bugmenot rocks! I love stealing stuff. Am I bad?
Am I even worse because I'm posting this so you can read my FP Biz articles when they're so broke? Whatcha gonna do...

$50 million penthouse?

2005-11-08T11:13:00.000-05:00

Part of the Royal Ontario Museum's ongoing revitalization project includes a condo plan to be built on the old planetarium site. The 46-storey tower would cast a shadow on philosopher's walk, one of my personal favourite places to stroll in the city. With an average listing price of $3 million, the penthouse was set to go for 50 million smackers! The first time I heard the number on the radio, I thought the station had made a mistake. But when I saw the same number in the papers for days to come, I finally realized the ridiculous truth. That someone would actually be willing to spend that kind of dough doesn't surprise me. I simply can't believe that people actually have that kind of money to throw around. You can't buy a mansion in Forest Hill for any more than $10 million, can you? Is this place made entirely of marble? Platinum maybe? Don't even get me started on the new ROM itself. What a complete monstrosity! In any case, the University of Toronto and surrounding community opposed the project and the plan was cancelled yesterday. Phew!

Wedding Woes

2005-10-17T17:16:00.000-04:00

Wedding planning is way harder than I thought it would be. Just to give you a taste of what I've been going through, here's a list of wedding venues I've been to in the last few weeks:

Graydon Hall Manor

Score: 10/10
Address: 185 Graydon Hall Drive
Capacity: 120

This mansion took my breath away the minute I stepped through the elegant stone doors. Fireplaces and leather couches give the place the intimate feel I was looking for. The chapel, a small, bright, room with an overlooking balcony, is just beautiful. Even more breathtaking is the garden. Graydon Hall is just exquisite.

But then...the parents gave us their guest lists.

more to come...

Hybrid-delicious

2005-10-17T16:44:00.000-04:00

I was just doing some research on hybrid SUVs. For a couple thousand dollars more than the gas guzzling option, the Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX400H and Ford Escape all come in hybrid form. Americans get a $2,000 tax credit for buying a hybrid vehicle. That will change to a measly $500 in 2006. Up in Canada, however, we get absolutely nothin' for going green. I don't get it. But with a Nissan X-Trail sitting in my driveway, who am I to talk?

Anyway, as I was searching, I accidentally came across a Montreal Gazette article about hybrid apples. In four or five years, the story read, you'll be able to cut open an apple, leave it out for days, and it'll never get brown. Other apples are being developed to stay in your fridge for nine months before going bad. (I guess I should throw out the year-old apples in my fridge now that I know they're no good.) The magic apples were created by cross-breeding a New York apple tree with an Ontario apple tree. Yum yum.

Clerks 2 - In theatres next year...

2005-10-16T12:28:00.000-04:00

The Clerks 2 video blog is interesting. Weird, but interesting. With links to trailers, Kevin Smith's blog, and even hair dresser appointments, this video journal chronicles the making of the movie in, well, its own unique way.

Sam, like, loves Inkless Wells, y'know?

2005-10-03T15:24:00.000-04:00

Funniest post ever!

Business School

2005-10-03T14:57:00.000-04:00

Ebitda: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization

Tight supply-demand balance: When supply goes down, demand and price go up

Loose supply-demand balance: When there's too much supply, there's low demand and the price goes down

R&D: Research and Development

MD&A: Management Discussion and Analysis

Burn Rate: When a company spends more on R&D than it takes in in revenues, it has a high burn rate, and vise versa

No time to blog!

2005-09-26T19:59:00.000-04:00

I've been neglecting my blog when I'd rather be blogging above all else. It's funny. We always have time for the menial things with no time to spare for the things that really matter. Like grandparents or best friends or blogs. I can't believe how busy I've been. I'm interning at Financial Post Business Magazine every day from 10-6, working at the Pub Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7-3 and every other Sunday, editing Afterword, planning a wedding, and freelancing somewhere in between. I'm often exhausted, but in an exhilarating way. I'm embarrassed to say I've recently discovered dividends and income trusts for the first time (Pete's teaching me a lot) but I suppose you have to start somewhere. I'm writing two short profiles for the upcoming CEO issue - one on Agrium's Michael Wilson and one on Abitibi-Consolidated's John Weaver - so look for it November 1 with National Post subscriptions. Time for bed. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

P.S. Just did a spellcheck and the weirdest thing happened: Blogger doesn't recognize the word blog. Who writes these programs? Honestly.

No more Shariah...

2005-09-12T14:38:00.000-04:00

means no more religious law whatsoever...

Bloor Street Parade Watch

2005-09-10T14:55:00.000-04:00

And now for my newest blog installment: The Bloor Street Parade Watch. Tis the season when every weekend I'm awakened by a parade passing right by my apartment. Yesterday saw about a billion U of T frosh screaming through the streets in different colour t-shirts. But that's nothing compared to today: The Jesus in the City parade. Carribean music accompanies men dressed in robes dragging enormous crosses behind them. Trucks carrying five-piece bands. Salsa. Funk. Soul. But bongos are my favourite. One truck is named the River of God. This is much better than the white man's Jesus parades. I feel like I'm in a gospel church. Everyone's dancing, clapping, singing, waving flags, actually chanting Jesus' name in song. The signs I see from my window: "Make his priase glorious." "Exodus." "The happiest people on earth." "The Lord lives." "The Lord Reigns." "If you've tried everything and everything failed, try Jesus." "Say No to drugs, guns and gangs. Say yes to Jesus." And my personal favourite: "Jesus is coming back."

The BOBS Begin

2005-09-08T17:50:00.000-04:00

You have until September 30 to submit your favourite blog to The Best of the Blogs, an international weblog competition. Prizes will be awarded to winners of thirteen categories including Best Blog, Best Journalistic Blog, and Best Podcasting Site. Last year's Best Blog winner was The Dog Newspaper, a Chinese blog about dogs. Strange indeed.

Toronto International Film Festival Fun Fun Fun

2005-09-08T17:30:00.000-04:00

TIFF Fun Facts:

335 films
256 features
79 shorts
215 premieres
52 countries
23 screens
Longest film: 201 minutes
Shortest film: 3 minutes
Total film: 26,505 minutes

My top pick:

Dave Chapelle's Block Party

nano nano booboo

2005-09-08T16:44:00.000-04:00

Apple outdid itself again. Its newest addition to the family, the iPod nano, is pencil thin with a full colour screen. The 2 GB version (about 500 songs) is just US$199 while 4 GB of storage (about 1000 songs) will run you US$249. I'm kicking myself for buying a shuffle. Says Apple CEO Steve Jobs on the nano: "It's magic." Also released is the new iTunes phone (just in case a speakerphone, camera with zoom, and bluetooth capability wasn't enough) which holds up to about 100 songs. Music does make the world go 'round.

I love this game

2005-09-08T13:33:00.000-04:00

What a game! Andre Agassi and James Blake played their U.S. Open quarter final match for almost three hours last night. I could have watched for three days. The veteran player lost the first two sets before coming back to win the last three. Back and forth, back and forth it went. Agassi's point, Blake's point, Agassi's point, Blake's point. Neither stopping to catch his breath. It all came down to a tie breaker. It could have gone either way, but Agassi, ten years James' senior, won 8-6 in the clutch. As Agassi served signed tennis balls into the roaring crowd, Blake took the loss like a man. "It couldn't have been more fun to lose." The warriers hugged. I can't wait for the semis.

gas gas

2005-09-06T13:40:00.000-04:00

$1.30??????????????? I just spent $65 on a fill up!
I WILL NEVER DRIVE AGAIN!

New Orleans is Sinkin'

2005-09-06T12:55:00.000-04:00

Imagine. Losing your family, your home, your possesions, your pride, in an instant. A rescue bungled, a government failed, a city lost. No power, no streets, no buildings, no business. Utter and complete destruction. 140 mph winds. 20 feet of contaminated water. 2 months to pump and drain. 2 months for electricity. 10,000 wanton deaths. Why? Why didn't New Orleans have a plan? Why did it take four days for the president to react? Why didn't I go to Mardi Gras last year?

My grandma's jealous

2005-08-23T13:35:00.000-04:00

My grandmother buys lottery tickets all the time, but the most she's ever won is $10. She always smiles and says, "Next time. Next time I'll win the big one." She called me excitedly this morning when she read in the Star that a Brockville, Ontario couple, both almost 90 years old, won the Lotto 6/49 $7.5 million jackpot. Victor and Thelma Hayes usually pick their own numbers, but this time they won on a random quick pick. They've been married 63 years and plan to spend the money on their children, a Lincoln, and some nylons. My granny plans to spend her imminent winnings on me. I hope she's next.

Exodus

2005-08-17T15:06:00.000-04:00

My phone rang yesterday afternoon. I didn't recognize the number but picked up anyway. It was my mom's friend - a Russian-Israeli artist in her fifties. There were none of the usual niceties. No small talk. Donate money to the resistance, she begged of me. The media is lying to you. You must learn the truth. She told me story after story of woe. Of a mother and her newborn child, thrown into jail kicking and screaming. Of a man kicked out of the home he owes to the bank. Of couples torn apart. Children crying. Guns. Smoke. Bloodshed. I cringed, like I cringe now. But maybe they shouldn't be resisting, I found myself saying. They can't possibly think they will win. Perhaps peace will emerge from the ashes. She didn't back down. It's between you and God, she said, implying that God could not possibly agree with any point of view but her own. I wish the truth was as cut and dry as some believe it to be. Life would be so much easier.

We're engaged!

2005-08-03T12:41:00.000-04:00

Breaking the Rules

2005-07-26T11:54:00.000-04:00

The NHL's back but it'll never be the same again. Some new rules:

1. No ties - five minute overtime and then a shootout instead
2. Like international leagues, two line passes are allowed (no red line)
3. Goalie equipment is finally shrinking by more than 10 per cent
4. Offensive zones are gettin' bigger - blue lines are movin' back two feet
5. If you start a fight in the last five minutes of the game, you're suspended for the next game

Go Leafs Go!

2005-07-19T15:58:00.000-04:00

The LCBO may go on strike for the first time ever on July 28. That's if the 5,400 employees follow union advice and reject a contract offer on July 22. Why should they vote no? Because a yes vote, say union reps, would allow the Liberals to privatize liquor stores, while voting no will keep the LCBO in public hands. But Finance Minister Greg Sorbara has already refused recommendations to allow grocery stores to compete with the LCBO and The Beer Store. And I like his call. If we go private, we'll be going down a slippery slope of Americanization. First we'll be able to buy liquor at gas stations, but what's next? The death penalty for marijuana possession?

I Heart Jesse James

2005-07-19T15:21:00.000-04:00

Jesse James married Sandra Bullock this weekend. Why I care I do not know. It's funny how we feel celebrities are our friends, isn't it? When I heard the news I reacted immediately with a great big WTF. Jesse James is the coolest dude around, and Sandra Bullock is, well, a dweeb. Sure, she's hot in that girl-next-door kind of way, but how did she hook my favourite bike-building heart-breaker? The man behind West Coast Choppers and Monster Garage is married to the girl from Speed and 28 Days? The man with "Pay up Sucker" tattooed on his hand and a $100 bill tattooed on his back is going to spend the rest of his life with Miss Congeniality? Bullock's got bullocks on him.

Conspiracy theories are my favourite

2005-07-12T14:30:00.000-04:00

Listen to this. (From a BBC Radio 5 interview with Peter Power, managing director of Visor Consultants.) CBC, CFRB, BBC and Al Jazeera are reporting that Visor Consultants, a crisis-management firm, ran a drill exercise for an unnamed company on July 7 at 9:30 a.m. The firm created a simulation in which the London underground was bombed. The freaky part? They bombed the exact same stations at the exact same times as they occurred in real life. Not just kinda the same. They bombed the exact locations simultaneously! If you recall, the same thing happened on September 11 when the CIA conducted drills of planes crashing into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon at exactly 8:30 a.m. I'm scared.

The Drive-in

2005-07-12T13:15:00.000-04:00

I went to the drive-in at the Docks on Saturday night. I can't believe what a hot-spot it is. The place was absolutely packed! Birthday parties in BMWs, couples necking in convertibles, boys drinking beer in beaters. We came prepared. We backed our SUV into the perfect spot, put down the seats, lined the back with blankets, and opened up the trunk. We're brilliant, we thought. So were about 50 others.

The movie was corny and predictable. The Longest Yard. Adam Sandler, ex-pro football player, goes to jail and starts a team. The players beat the guards. The end. Haven't seen the original but it couldn't be much worse. But it didn't matter. We had such a good time. Why watching a movie in the back of a car is so much more fun than on a couch at home I'll never know. But I can assure you it is.

The last time we went to a drive-in was in high school with our old friends, and new couple, Dalia and Josh. Now Dalia is married to Shlomie and Josh is married to Yael. In fact, in my eight-year relationship with Dov I've seen friends hooking up, breaking up, getting engaged, getting married, getting divorced. I'm only 25 and I've seen it over and over again. You don't know how much pressure I get at those things. At every engagement party (went to three last week), every bridal shower (two last month), every wedding (four this summer), all I hear is one squeaky, annoying voice after another. "Soooo...when's YOUR big day?" I smile sweetly and back away.

Blogger tag!

2005-07-07T01:18:00.000-04:00

Tag - I'm it! This is soooo much fun...

1. How many books do you own?

Probably about 150. Mostly philosophy books from my last life when I planned to be a guru atop a mountain. That all changed when, in my early-20s so long ago, I still had not figured out the meaning of life. They range from Plato to Augustine to Descartes to Chuang Tzu to The D'oh! of Homer. Plus lots of Shakespeare line my shelves beside some left-wing propaganda.

2. Most recent purchases?

The Great Shark Hunt, Hunter S. Thomson: Still not done. Way too long. Once you've read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, you've read 'em all.

Down To This, Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall: Been meaning to buy this book about Toronto's Tent City since it came out. I finally did last month after reading a Toro article in which Shaughnessy picks up the ladies. It reminded me how much I like his writing.

Everything is Illuminated, Jonathan Safran Foer: I haven't cracked it open yet but I hear it's funny and heartwarming all at once. I always like a good cry.

3. Currently reading?

America (The Book), Jon Stewart
va va voom yoga, Susannah Marriott
Toronto Life: Eat Cheap
Archie's Double Digest

4. Books that mean the most?

The Misfortunes of Virtue, Marquis de Sade: I read this book for the first time in high school when I thought that life was all sunshine and moonbeams (I suppose I still do). It took me by complete surprise. I couldn't believe that someone could actually think that compassion is a virtue of the weak. That people should be released from any and all social and moral constraints. That the good man is truly the evil man. It taught me that I am a naive little girl. But hey, I like it that way.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig: Life is not a box of chocolates. It's a deafening Harley. Or a fire-red Ninja. Or a beat-up Honda. When you're working on your bike, you're working on yourself.

The World According to Garp, John Irving: Although I've read most of his other books, I don't particularly like them. But Garp has something no other does - real imagination. That Irving guy really knows how to make up a story. Ellen Jamesians? Who ever heard of such a thing?

The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank: Like I said, I always like a good cry.

5. Who's next?

Foxymoron. Shul of Rock. Toronto Theater. It's your turn.

shek

2005-06-30T16:21:00.000-04:00

You all know 50 cent. In da club. Candy shop. P.I.M.P. But have you heard of 50 shekel? Aviad Cohen, a.k.a. Shek, is best known for his hit single In da shul. He has quite the following (my lil bro knows all the lyrics) and was featured in Maxim's Blender mag and Heeb last year. But after watching Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ, the 30-year-old Israeli rapper who used to call himself "the world's most kosher MC," had a change of heart and converted to Christianity. He describes his salvation on his website: "Thanks Mel, if not for God using you and your crew mightily for His purposes, I would have gone straight to eternal hell and would have never known what it really means to be true Jew." His new message to the masses: "Get saved if you wanna keep it true Jew."

But it wasn't just the movie that convinced him. He tells quite the tale of woe about how he was never really accepted into the Jewish community:

"An Orthodox man spotted me. I was in my Shabbos suit, holding a bag from Best Buy. He gave me a snotty, "You’re such a less of a Jew...I don’t want to be seen with you...you are an embarrassment" look and then he kept walking on. Did he think he was the kosher police or a better Jew? He surely had the same vibe as so many Rabbis, teachers and elders that have passed through my life, trying to make me feel like a worthless and lowly Jew, just because I was never a "good enough Jew" in their eyes."

My thoughts on this whole debacle? 50 shekel was made to feel like he was wrong, so he responds by making other Jews feel like they're wrong. And that's what's wrong with the world. The problem with people is that they don't know how to accept others for who they are. They can't understand people who are different from them. They feel as though everyone should live just like them, act just like them, be just like them. But that's the opposite of what we should be doing. We've all got to do our own thing. Stop judging and start loving. Please.

Pride2005

2005-06-25T18:42:00.000-04:00

Jerusalem cancelled its fourth annual gay pride parade because, city officials say, it might disrupt public order and offend religious residents. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam would rather not combine homosexuality with the holy land. Why does that have to be the one thing they all agree on?

In related news, Toronto changed its route this year, parading across Gerrard instead of Dundas. Word is when Yonge & Dundas Square refused the pride committee a beer garden, they took matters into their own hands. Dundas Square may not care, but the surrounding businesses sure do. I look forward to working the parade all year long. The pub's patio is always rammed with onlookers and I make a fortune. I'm not a happy camper.

Live 8

2005-06-23T13:28:00.000-04:00

Tickets to Live 8 are free! Just enter "allabove" in the special offer spot on the ticketmaster form. But when was Molson Park renamed Park Place? What is this, Monopoly?

Sub Club Sinks

2005-06-23T12:45:00.000-04:00

Subway is ending its free sandwich promotion! By the end of the summer, Subway stores across the globe will no longer be accepting stamps for sandwiches. Why? Because some kids finally figured out how to counterfeit the damn things. Some stole rolls of stamps and sold them on ebay, while others made their own. Took them long enough. The sub club, introduced in the 80s, is one of the longest running promotions in retail history. Subway's replacement: The Subway Card. Good thing I'm a Mr. Sub fan. I think I'll give my cards to a homeless guy or two.

My biggest secrets...revealed!

2005-06-18T15:45:00.000-04:00

If you haven't yet read a Sophie Kinsella novel, you must. Look away from the screen, as hard as that may be, and stroll into your favourite bookstore. Right now. Well, ok. Only if you're a girl. Or a girly man. But you don't have to be a girly girl. I'm certainly not. I'm not a shopaholic by any stretch of the imagination. I can't even remember the last time I bought myself a pair of shoes (Do 2 pairs of chinese slippers for $6 count? Cuz that was a few weeks ago, but otherwise it's been forever!) But somehow, despite our differences, I love the silly things. Once I start, I truly can't stop. Case in point: Dov bought me the newest one, Can You Keep a Secret, for my birthday last week. My secret: I carried the pink book around in my purse for days. Every time I had to wait for someone or something, I'd take it out and read a few pages. Last night, although exhausted, I read it until 5 am. I just couldn't put it down. I'm so embarassed. It's hard-core chic-lit. Gossip column meets romance novel. There's absolutely no thinking involved, which isn't really my thing. I don't usually do fiction. If I'm taking time out of my busy schedule to fit in a good read, I like to learn something in the process. But Kinsella just pulls you in. Her voice - it's so natural, so witty, so optimistic. It's like she's an old girlfriend who came over to have a sherry and tell me what she's been up to for the last few months. Not that I'd have any sherry to offer her. (Another secret: I don't even really know what that is. And I'm a bartender for goodness sake!) The books just make me smile. And I love to smile. So here are some of my secrets to make you smile:

1. I kill plants. I don't water them when I'm supposed to. I even bought special plant food to help them grow but never used it.
2. I don't like it when people lick my face. Ew!
3. I hate my hair. And my feet.
4. My vocabulary is inadequate. I always want to make friends with a dictionary but then, I think to myself, I have enough friends.
5. I don't go grocery shopping and I only cook when I'm pressed to invite my family over.

Smoking continued...

2005-06-12T19:00:00.000-04:00

From the front page of yesterday's Globe:

Smoking: An excellent way to prevent ulcers, reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease, relieve schizophrenia, boost your brain cells, speed up your thinking, improve your reactions and increase your working efficiency.

In China, where the government owns the tobacco companies, smoking is actually good for you. "Holding a cigarette is like having a walking stick in your hand, giving you support," a Chinese magazine editor says. "Quitting smoking would bring you misery." How right she is. Sigh. Two-thirds of Chinese men smoke and 90 per cent of them have no idea that what they're doing is killing them. It's like Canada circa 1950. Like my mom always says, "It wasn't bad for us back then!" The Chinese government is lying through its teeth, but for 30 cents a pack, I'm not sure I would mind.

Up in Smoke

2005-06-10T16:26:00.000-04:00

I quit smoking yesterday and I've got just one thing to say: How do people live like this? I can't stand still - my hands, my teeth, my tongue, my jaw, my chin, my fingers, my toes won't stop fidgeting. I can't stop eating - without a cigarette, I simply don't know when I'm full. This was a family affair. My dad's going crazy - he woke me up in song this morning. My boyfriend looks like he's actually dying - he can't stand without holding himself up. My brother's snapping at everyone. And me - I'm just bored. I'm chewing on a pen as we speak. But at least we're not alone. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that just 17 per cent of Canadians smoke daily, down from 33 per cent in the 80s. And Canada ranks low in terms of tobacco consumption, 14th of 19 countries, according to the study. A subject worth looking into: Why does everything so good have to be so bad?

Grad

2005-06-10T15:42:00.000-04:00

I wasn't planning on going to my graduation. I was my second one after all. I had already sat through speeches in a sweat-soaked gown. Already grinned for pictures with my divorced parents of 20 years. Already experienced the satisfaction, the sense of pride, that comes with a University degree. Surely I didn't need to live through it again, did I? But I'm so glad I went. When they handed me that small piece of paper, that Bachelor of Journalism degree, I was all smiles. Now that I've got two, I may actually get around to framing them. Philosophy shmilosophy. I'm a journalist baby. And proud of it.

T Hill

2005-06-05T01:56:00.000-04:00

Word on the street is Avril Levigne is moving to my hood...Thornhill baby. Woopdido.

Japan is the man

2005-06-02T02:58:00.000-04:00

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced his new policy to help ease global warming. His plan: No suits in the summer months. Businesses have been asked to cut down on air conditioning and increase office temperatures from 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. He's hoping to help the country meet its Kyoto targets and lower greenhouse gases, but word is the Japanese aren't too keen on coming to work in shorts and wife-beaters. By raising temperatures just three degrees, Japan could save 310,000 kilolitres of oil this summer. Amazing.

Radio Goo Goo Radio Bla Bla

2005-06-02T02:04:00.000-04:00

I spent most of today in my car. Downtown traffic. Gardiner traffic. Mississauga traffic. City traffic. Took a break from the roads to visit with the family, and then made my way back home. My companion? 680 news. Today's top stories:

1. Karla Homolka's getting out of jail after 12 years and no one wants her on the streets
2. Gurmant Grewal, the man who claims Liberals offered him and his wife payoffs for his budget vote, may have doctored his secret tapes
3. A New Brunswick man was sentenced to three years in prison after lying to police about a shooting spree to get free surgery in jail
4. Two innocent women were shot outside the Yorkdale subway by stray bullets (In related news, the new wing is definitely worth checking out!)
5. The teachers union and the board of education are taking a few days off from the bargaining table
6. Hockey talks resume and a deal may be closer than ever

By the time I drove home at 1:30 a.m. I wanted to shoot myself. When I heard about that New Brunswick man for what seemed the thousandth time, I shouted frantically at the little black box I had grown to despise. Ya I know! I yelled aloud. You've told me a dozen times already!

Did nothing at all happen in Iraq today? How bout Israel? The States perhaps? Not even BC? Switching to CBC didn't help much. They told me the same ol' crap every hour on the hour too. It's like they choose a few wire stories in the morning and stick with 'em all day long, never changing it up, never straying from the boring program for even an instant. Someone needs to revamp radio news. Maybe it should be me.

Project Rudy

2005-06-01T03:23:00.000-04:00

I met Rudy Giuliani last week at The Spirit of Hope Benefit, an event promoting tolerance, justice, and human rights. After an introduction from mistress of ceremonies Irshad Manji and an appearance by the Hallelujah Drummers, Giuliani took centre stage for more than an hour. In mobster-like voice and smiling eyes, he took a hard line on terror, making his point loud and clear: Terrorism must be confronted early on. Only when Bush went on the offense, he said, attacking terrorism head-on by whatever means necessary, did the world become a safer place. We must brave our demons, not ignore them, if we want to defeat them. Hmmm. Maybe I'll quit smoking, I thought. The only time he mentioned politics was at his press conference earlier in the day. "I would like to enter the political arena someday," was all he said. A meager response to a recent Marist College survey that found not only that 27 per cent of Repulicans would support him in a run for presidency and 71 per cent would like to see him in the running, but that 49 per cent of voters nationwide would like to see him run in 2008. My favourite part of his speech that night? Counting how many times he said "like." I stopped keeping track at 15, fearing I may die of a bad case of the giggles.

Fear is a Factor for NBC

2005-05-23T23:16:00.000-04:00

Fear Factor, topping my list of favourite shows on television, is being cancelled! The Apprentice: Martha Stewart is taking its place, but word is Joe Rogan will be back with a vengeance come the 2006 season.

Belinda Belinda Belinda

2005-05-18T03:23:00.000-04:00

Magna queen Belinda Stronach switched sides today. This after she allegedly called the Liberal government "tired and old" last year. Why didn't she just go dutch? Cuz Don Pauli made her his new human resources minister. I happen to like the blond bombshell - the blond bombshell who's being called a whore nowadays. Honestly people. How low can you go? And poor, heartbroken Peter MacKay! Oy.

Amber Alert

2005-05-17T01:10:00.000-04:00

Sammy's safe and sound. After his father apparently killed his mother, questions regarding the two-year-old boy's whereabouts prompted an Amber Alert. Sammy was found at his grandfather's apartment, and Daddy, who was in a Toronto court today, wasn't the one who dropped him off there. So as it turns out, the child was in no danger. But I suppose he could have been.

And that's what the Amber Alert's for. Named after Amber Hagerman, a nine-year-old girl who was abducted in Texas in 1996, the Amber Alert has since become an acronym for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. When a child under 18 years old is reported missing, radio and television stations are alerted immediately. The next five hours see information about the child, the abductor, and suspect vehicles blink across highway signs, lottery terminals, and even cellphones. Ontario launched Amber Alerts in March 2002, and saw them fall short with Holly Jones and Cecilia Zhang in 2003.

Why do these things happen? It makes me sick.

OOOOOOH CANADA

2005-05-16T16:23:00.000-04:00

I haven't watched a hockey game from start to finish since the Leafs lost in the playoffs last year. But Czech's 3-0 win over Team Canada was worse. Nash, Heatley, Brodeur - nothin, nothin, nothin. It's a miracle we won the silver. Congrats boys! Next time.

Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all

2005-05-14T20:59:00.000-04:00

"It's never a relief when you miss a cut. I've missed two of them so far in my career, and neither of them feel very good, especially when you bogey the last hole on both of them." After making 142 consecutive cuts, Tiger missed the cut at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship yesterday. Aww Tiger baby.

Artsy Fartsy

2005-05-12T18:05:00.000-04:00

The AGO's goin crazy. Eight artists are paint-balling the main entrance tonight - to music! The performance starts at 9:15, and since journalists will be reporting from the scene, the live webcast starts at 9. The finished masterpiece will stay on the wall until construction starts in early June. I'm so pissed I have to work tonight!

Chapters = Winners?

2005-05-12T17:57:00.000-04:00

My favourite Chapters, on Bloor between Avenue Road and Bay, is turning into a Winners next weekend. Awww. Worst spot ever. And it's not the best business decision either. I think I'll be the only one in my neighbourhood to dare step foot in that place.

Gonzo

2005-05-11T23:43:00.000-04:00

I was reading "Fear and Loathing in the Bunker" last night, a January 1, 1974 New York Times article (reprinted in The Great Shark Hunt) where Hunter S. Thompson writes:

This is the horror of American politics today - not that Richard Nixon and his fixers have been crippled, convicted, indicted, disgraced and even jailed - but that the only available alternatives are not much better; the same dim collection of burned-out hacks who have been fouling our air with their gibberish for the last twenty years.

I couldn't help but notice that his words still ring true three decades after he penned them. Bush cheated his way into office, but survives as leader of the free world. The liberals cheated Canadian taxpayers out of billions of dollars, but remain ahead in the polls. The alternatives? A wishy-washy Democrat and a dorky Conservative. The old adage is true - history does indeed repeat itself.

Stones Baby

2005-05-11T03:42:00.000-04:00

Pleased to meet you - hope you guessed my name! Ooh ooh. Oh ya. Ooh ooh. The Stones are coming to the T dot on September 26 baby. Tickets for the Rogers Centre show go on sale on May 27 at Ticketmaster. But for $60 to $400 a pop, I think I'll be staying home that night. I've seen the Mickster strut his stuff too many times to count. They'll be in Ottawa August 28, Moncton September 3, and Calgary October 28. I hope I'm still shakin that ass when I'm in my 60s.

The Fox

2005-05-10T17:39:00.000-04:00

A new report found some problems with my favourite browser - Mozilla Firefox. Apparently, a security company exposed two critical security holes that allow hackers to take control over your PC and steal your cookie information. Download new security patches and updates from the site. I know I am.

MMM

2005-05-10T16:31:00.000-04:00

Went to the Global Million Marijuana March this weekend. About 3,000 potheads showed up at Queen's Park to celebrate freedom, support legalization, and bathe in the sunshine. Tattoed bikers in weed bandanas. Dreadlocked couples sucking on multi-coloured popsicles. Teenage girls in kilts, furry ears, tails, and wings. Babies in tie dye t-shirts hanging onto white balloons plastered in green weed leaves. Even the puppies draped weed leis around their necks. Everyone was smokin' the green stuff. No arrests. Good times.

MVP

2005-05-10T02:30:00.000-04:00

Steve Nash is the man. The mini six foot three point guard from Victoria is the first Canadian to ever win the NBA's Most Valuable Player award. Beating out Shaq by just 34 points, Nash was amazed. "It's an incredible oddity in many ways," he said. "It's very difficult for me to really get a handle on being mentioned with those tremendous athletes and their accomplishments." Other b-ball stars on the best of the best list include my boy MJ and Larry Bird. Just hours after the ceremony, Nash led the Suns to a 127-102 victory over Dallas, his former team. Game two of the second round playoff series will be in Phoenix Wednesday at 7:30, and Nash will host his first charity All Star game in Toronto this summer.

Zion

2005-05-10T02:16:00.000-04:00

Just got back from the Toronto Jewish Film Festival's screening of Awake Zion, Monica Haim's documentary on the connection between Rastafarians and Jews. Both trace their roots to the Jewish bible. Both lay claim to King David and his son Solomon. Both recite David's psalms as gospel. Both display the six pointed star around their necks. Dreadlocks, earlocks, what's the difference? Matisyahu is closing the gap by adding reggae to the mix. One love baby. Zion.