Bit Defennnnnnndddderrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I love promotions - it's amazing what companies will do to sell their products. Most often they make interesting photos so I try to take pictures every time I see a group of salespeople/actors gathered together.

At Queen St West and Bay Street the antivirus software company bitdefender had three people dressed up like a toxic clean up team. They gave out Total Security 2009 promotional software - good for one year.

Burden to keep the Coyotes in town falls on you, me*

Note: This column appears in the 7/2 issue of The Glendale Star and the 7/3 issue of the Peoria Times

As the Phoenix Coyotes mess moves steadily along, I am reminded of a paradox that has always fascinated me.

Last week U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Redfield T. Baum (that is a name just begging for a daytime judge show) expressed that fans of the Phoenix Coyotes, if they want to keep their team here in Glendale, need to show their support with “their pocketbook and presence.”

Though I doubt the majority of hockey fans carry pocketbooks, this warning seems to place the blame for the Coyotes’ woes and the pressure to retain them squarely on the fans themselves.

And part of me agrees with this. As a little kid growing up in New Jersey, I was (and still am) a Yankees fan. (Sorry.) It may be difficult to remember now, but my formative years of baseball fandom involved rooting unconditionally for a team that was just not very good. Most of the games I watched on TV featured an array of available seats, and on those fantastic occasions that my Dad was able to take me to The Stadium in person, I knew that the tickets weren’t that hard to come by.

Four championships, infinite sellouts, and a new stadium later, I’m still left wondering where everybody came from.

There are people here in the Valley who scoff at the idea that the burden is on them to keep this hockey team around. They will come out and spend their hard-earned money when the franchise puts a quality product out on the ice. And these people, like out-of-the-woodwork Yankees’ fans, have a point, too.

The Coyotes have not had a winning season since the 2001-02 campaign. A decent ticket is about thirty bucks. One trip to the concession stand can cost more than that. Throw in a recession and the team’s almost imminent departure and it’s justifiable to seek something better or to ignore it altogether.

Or is it? Is it not enough to root for the hometown team because they’re the hometown team, or should we demand success as well?

Though I haven’t settled on this issue, I am getting closer to knowing where I stand, and a big part of that involves being a sports fan in general. For me, the joy of your team’s success cannot be fully experienced if you did not endure the hardships as well. The Coyotes have not been around here long enough for fans to feel so jaded by front office missteps and player shortcomings. This team is not yet the Clippers. I imagine that, should this hockey team experience some kind of Disney-movie-like turnaround –- propelled by the sudden burst of support -– any true fan would be proud to say that they had been there from the beginning.

Wherever you stand on this issue, in the case of the Phoenix Coyotes one simple reality remains, and it proves that Judge Redfield T. Baum –- or J-Red, as I like to call him -- is a wise man.

If we do not support the Phoenix Coyotes because, and –- judging from their 2009-10 forecast -- only because they are the hometown team, there can only be one result: no hometown team.

So fellas, grab your purses.


* mostly you. I’m not a big hockey fan.

Gene Simmons Grand Marshall

Gene Simmons of Kiss Fame (www.GeneSimmons.com) will be the Grand Marshall at the Honda Indy Toronto. Previous Indycar Grand Marshalls throughout North America have included Shaq O’Neal, Chuck Yeager, Miss America Kirsten Haglund and Canada’s own Jason Priestley.

This is what has been posted at Gene’s website. “just found out I'm going to be Grand Marshall of the Toronto IndyCar Race, July 12th. Both Rich Abramson and I will be there (Rich and I have the marketing company, SIMMONS/ABRAMSON, which works for a number of high end companies).).

At the event, our SIMMONS RECORDS - UNIVERSAL MUSIC CANDA team plan to announce something very special. But we don't want to let the entire cat out of the bag just yet.

And, that night, there will be some goings on, which we'll tell you about soon.”

 

LG Canadian Texting Championship - Toronto

LG Electronics Canada held the finals for the 2009 LG Canadian Texting Championship at Yonge-Dundas Square on Monday June 29, 2009. The brought winners in from all over Canada and they had one spot from the competition going on in the Square - I tried but my time of 17 seconds wasn't enough to get me into the race. The prize was $25,000 in cash and prizes.

Billed as the World's Sexiest Comedian Nicole Arbour was the host of the event - although with that title she might have to fight Carla Collins.



Nicole and the media crowd around the first round players - 4 side by side players, all young, two guys, two girls. Each was called up to the stage and a large bank of monitors showed the contestants doing their best trash talk. Tori (girl at left) won the first round.



And here is a bonus shot of the pool at Nathan Phillips Square in the early morning looking at all the CD Canada Trust Jazz Festival tents.

Interesting sights in the city

The people of downtown Toronto have fun while enjoying the weekend, although many people had to work. I loved the spiked mohawk on the lady pictured above.

At the Rogers Centre there was a baseball game scheduled and the people gathered around a military fife and drum band.




A colourful dragon head rests after a customer appreciation celebration at an RBC bank on Spadina Avenue.



Artists work on a sculpture installation of toy soldiers on Fleet Street.



On Spadina Avenue a dog walker has five dogs of all sizes and she handles them very well.

Thunder Alley - Honda Indy

Work continues on the setup of the Honda Indy Toronto. The massive concrete blocks are almost all in place and crews work on installing heavy protective cables and fences on top of the blocks and batches of tires. Most of the suites and grandstands have been built and are ready for eager fans and the race weekend from July 10 to 12, 2009.

The new start/finish line has not been painted yet. Thunder Alley on Lakeshore Road is starting to look like a shrine to speed where the race cars can achieve their fastest times in the race.




Here is the fence being installed between the main track and the pits.

Can't stop, won't stop - Pride Parade

The weekend parades celebrating Toronto's Pride Week starts with Saturday's Dyke March. It was cool seeing the massive Pride Flag carried by many volunteers as they collected Toonies in the flag.

The police shut down the parade route and the march began at Church and Hayden Streets and headed along Bloor and Yonge Street. The weather was perfect for the event - which is described as a political demonstration, and there were plenty of fantastic costumes and friendly demonstrators.

The dykes on bikes started the march as their motorcycles roared to life and they ran north on Church and turned west onto Bloor Street.



Besides the motorcycles there were bicycles and at least one human powered carriage.





Here's to all the participants.

2009 BRAINDRIVE AND FIENDRAISER

Thea Munster sent a message to the members of The Official Toronto Zombie Walk Group.
Greetings Deadlings, The Toronto Zombie Walk is starting its annual Braindrive..

We are trying to raise enough fiends...er funds, to shut down some of the streets along the walk route....The Zombies must be free of sidewalk zombie jams and corpse pile ups...( well...at least for part of the walk)! We also still have the usual insurance and promotional costs...and we’re still anti-corporate, so it’s up to a few DEADicated souls... thank you for your support.

Prepare for our Annual FIENDRAISER on July 18th..BANDS, RAFFLES AND BRAINS!!!...check out the details here...

http://www.facebook.com/event.phpeid=101721335635&wall_posts=#/event.php?eid=115371825738&ref=mf

We will also be selling some ZW BRaindrive merch soon! So keep your eyes peeled...

For now check out delicious BRAINDRIVE broaches at The Krafty Kreep.....
http://www.facebook.com/l/;http://www.shophandmade.com/Item/6-758-H14HWA0

Back soon with more announcements and undead tidings...
Your fiend,
Thea

You can find my pictures of the Zombie Walk here.

MJ, no more encores, Farrah is now an angel

Shocking - popular icons from an earlier time Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson have died today.

Farrah Fawcett died of cancer at 62. Famous for her beauty and her feathered and curled locks she was an original Charlie's Angel. Her battle with cancer was played out on reality television and in the tabloids. Previous partner Ryan O'Neil said that Farrah had just agreed to marry him.

Michael Jackson, 50, was found without a pulse at his home and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead. The superstar used to be on top of the world - loved for his music and dance abilities and then spiraled into an object of ridicule over the many scandals and his weird behaviour.

Toronto Jazz Festival - In the shadow of a strike

The main stage of the Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival in Nathan Phillips Square is being set up while nearby striking municipal CUPE workers walk the picket lines. The Festival starts tomorrow Friday, June 26 and runs to Sunday, July 5, 2009. Todays thunder showers stretch into a week of showers in the weather forecast - make sure you bring your umbrella.



The barrels at the bar are reflected in a large metal mirror.

Classic card of the week

Ozzie Guillen, 1991 Score All-Star Team

Nothing says “I take my baseball card collecting seriously” quite like owning a cartoon picture of a bobble-headed Ozzie Guillen. This looks like something Ozzie had done at the Seaside boardwalk, after which he publically berated the artist and called him “a homo” for making his ears too big.

From a technical standpoint, this card leaves a bit to be desired. For one, I am trying to figure out the stadium that this game is being played at, which features no buildings or obstructions beyond the outfield seats. Also, the crowd looks like Fruity Pebbles floating in milk. I do however, enjoy the baserunner who appears to be covered in a force field of Saran Wrap, and who is either a) running the bases in reverse, or b) performing abdominal exercises.

But back to Ozzie:



Ozzie, who hustles and chatters all the time

Ozzie, who runs hard to first base on his frequent groundouts and who is also annoying…

had plenty to talk about in ’90.

Didn’t we all? The Hubble Telescope went into orbit, A Tribe Called Quest first hit the music scene, and the Clean Air Act was passed, among many other conversational topics.

A much more disciplined hitter than in the past

Ozzie Guillen’s OBP in 1989: .270.
Ozzie Guillen’s OBP in 1990: .312.
That is 42 extra percentage points of discipline, which, unfortunately, still = awful.

he put some nice numbers on the board.

1 HR, 13 SBs and 17 CSs (43%!!!), .341 SLG. That is nice, I guess, for a person who hates baseball. Also, Ozzie: Stop trying to steal bases.

For the month of May, Ozzie batted a league-high .383 and at mid-season was hitting .319.

In an interview after leading the 2005 White Sox to the WS title as manager, Ozzie held steadfast that his proudest achievement remained winning the coveted “May Batting Title Award” back in 1990. He finished the year at .279, so June, July, August and September probably weren’t as productive. But really, who cares about those months anyway?

The White Sox co-captain, he is better known for his top-notch fielding at shortstop.

As this cartoon reenactment can attest.

Did you know?
When Ozzie Guillen originally discovered that the Clean Air Act had been passed, he went into a 20-minute, profanity-laced tirade that ultimately concluded with him flatulating emphatically in protest. He then went 0-for-4, ironically, keeping the air clean of any well-hit baseballs.

A tale of two cities and their utility systems

Note: This column appears in the 6/25 issue of The Glendale Star and the 6/26 issue of the Peoria Times

Note II: If THAT title doesn't grab your attention, then nothing will

There are few things as exciting to discuss as utility bills. Nevertheless, two cities seem to be moving in opposite directions when it comes to energy efficiency and waste management.

It was revealed last week that the city of Glendale will be raising rates beginning in October, and that the typical family –- that is, the family that uses water and produces waste –- will pay around $86 more per year on their water and sewer bills.

The reason for the price hike is simple. The creator of water –- God –- has decided to charge the city of Glendale more to distribute His product, due to, ya’ know, the economy and all. Plus, sewage is gross and smells bad.

Besides these factors, most Glendale residents are confused and upset about the rate hike, especially those on a fixed income. At this vulnerable time, it seems as though “the economy” can become an excuse for almost anything. The reality is that people and companies are adjusting, and the costs of many things are lowering, not increasing. In turn, the timing of this rate hike -– with so many people out of work as it is -– is curious at best. If the city were honest, they would have released this explanation: “We are unsure what will happen to our hockey team in the long run, and have therefore made the difficult decision to raise sewage costs.”

On the contrary, councilwoman Joyce Clark had this to say: “Unless we become geniuses in water distribution, the cost is going to go up.”

And there you have it. Until the city of Glendale has –- either by birth or through the hiring process -– a water distribution genius, the cost will go up. Never mind being proactive about improving the process. They will instead raise costs as they wait for the Albert Einstein of water distribution to make himself known.

Meanwhile, the city of Peoria is getting money back.

That’s right. APS (Arizona Public Services) has provided the city with an almost $55,000 rebate in recognition of the Development & Community Services Building that opened almost three years ago.

The building itself has been an energy efficiency model, with advances in heating and cooling systems, as well as lighting. To boot, the city itself has been extremely proactive in taking energy efficiency measures, which have included the installation of LED lights at municipal facilities, advanced airflow systems, and thermostat adjustment.

All of these ideas and measures were enacted by Peoria’s resident heating, cooling, and lighting genius, who is actually the brother-in-law of the city’s resident water distribution genius, who has been busy in her own right.

For example, Peoria also recently made the decision to replace the water fountain in front of City Hall with two new towers as its main source of cooling energy. The towers, according to Design and Construction Manager Ed Striffer (not a genius, but close), will result in water savings up to 80 percent.

So while Peoria is at the forefront of energy efficiency, Glendale is raising utility costs with little to no explanation other than a shrug of the shoulders and “the economy” as a convenient scapegoat. One can only hope that after a day of explaining away increased costs amidst a period of deflation, that the leaders of Glendale remember to, at the very least, turn the lights off.

The demise of the new Hug Me Tree

The ballad of the Hug Me Tree continues. Passing by on Monday I noticed a hole in the ground where the replacement Hug Me Tree had been placed. It was empty, a mighty hole in the ground - as if Paul Bunyan had just swung his mighty axe and Babe the Blue Ox had fed on the roots.

You can see my earlier post on the replacement Hug Me Tree here.

McD's & fashion

I am in Yonge-Dundas Square testing wireless blogging from my IPod. Chef Juriaan of McDonald's is giving out their 4 new entree salads (complete with chicken): Caesar, Spicy Thai, Garden Fresh and Mediterranean. I had the Mediterranean - and it was tasty.



A taste of summer style was held in the square. Here are Kavi Kavi twin designers (the Gupta sisters), designer Lucian Matis and CityTV's CityLine fashion consultant and event host Lisa Rogers.

Paul Tracy in TO, unveils race car

Canadian Indycar driver Paul Tracy will be at Toronto's Fort York Armoury (660 Fleet Street West) at 10am on June 23 to announce his Honda Indy sponsorship and the new paint scheme of his race car.

Update: Paul's sponsorship is with Ontario Honda Dealers racing No. 15 Ontario Honda Dealers - Wounded Warriors.ca - KV Racing Technology Honda/Dallara/Firestone machine.

Garbage - out of service

CUPE Strike: Day one. Services and events shut down. Already drowning in garbage - oops sorry, that's just my desk.

I did find a street garbage can right at Yonge and Dundas wrapped up in cellophane and signed "temporarily out of service, please do not litter." A mistake or a sign of things to come?

Update: I found more street garbage cans wrapped up and out of service.

Transformers - the car and the comic

The new Transformers movie is coming out June 24, 2009 and in anticipation of the release Bumblebee's yellow Chevrolet Camaro (or a yellow Camaro) sat in Yonge-Dundas Square. You could also pick up an official movie adaption comic of Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen. You can visit the movie site here. On a sour note Megan Fox wasn't at the square.

No flag - still proud

Security guards at City Hall confirmed that the Pride flag raising ceremony scheduled for noon on June 22 was cancelled due to the sudden outbreak of Strike. A few Pride supporters were on hand anyways to help promote Pride Week - dressed in colourful fruit costumes.

Wake up Toronto - It's Strike time 2009

Toronto unionized CUPE indoor and outdoor workers are on strike as of Monday, June 22, 2009. Pickets are being setup in the early morning hours while the sunshine of the second day of summer promises more heat – just in time for the ripening of the uncollected garbage as it will surely build up.  The pictures show the pickets walking in circles at the entrance to Toronto City Hall with adjacent tents receiving workers registering for the picket lines and getting their signs.

The City of Toronto’s website (http://www.toronto.ca/labour-relations/index.htm) has this to say.

June 22, 2009 - 12:20 a.m.

The Toronto Civic Employees' Union Local 416 (CUPE) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79 have announced that they are on strike. The locals were in a legal strike position as of 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 22, 2009.

Residents and businesses with questions about the contingency plans may contact Access Toronto at accesstoronto@toronto.ca or 416-338-0338 / TTY 416-338-0889. Access Toronto is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Residents may call after normal business hours when call volumes may be lower.

Police, Fire, TTC and Long Term Care Homes & Services (Homes for the Aged) will not be affected by a labour disruption. In the event of a labour disruption, emergency calls for ambulance/paramedic services will continue as usual. Non-emergency and low priority calls may be affected.

The City’s water supply and sewage treatment systems will continue to function within established safety and quality standards.  

I believe the City intends to stop all parades, etc, during the strike so this may impact Pride week - today was supposed to be the raising of the Pride flag ceremony at Nathan Phillips Square at lunch time and this coming weekend are the parades. The Toronto Sun newspaper is reporting that the City is unsure if it will cancel the Pride parades at this time. I will drop by at noon to see what has developed.
Update: The strike is still on!

Don Valley Brick Works

The once abandoned brick factory located in the Don Valley continues to evolve. I understand some of the buildings have been taken down - I will have to go out there soon to see what is happening. It was a fantastic place to explore with sunbeams poking through the holes in the building, with bricks scattered and ovens empty and graffiti colouring the walls.