G20 Protests - streets return to normal

The G20 Summit security zone fences and barriers have been put away and the streets of Toronto are returning to normal. It turns out that the police did not have the power to search people and check IDs 5m outside the fence after all.

Most of the damaged windows are covered over in plywood and some plywood coverings, such as Urban Outfitters on Yonge Street, have been used for sale signs. A few of the windows have also started to be replaced, like at the Bay. Street furniture is being put back in place and soon the plastic garbage bags taped to streetlights will be removed.

The burned up police cars have left a few scars on the streets which will be one of the longer lasting affects of the protests. Here is the intersection of Bay and King Streets where a cars was torched.

One thing that was fleeting was the jets of the G8/G20 leaders in Toronto. Here is a picture of the US President's Air Force One plane in Toronto International Airport on Saturday night, June 26.

Won’t you be my neighbor?

Note: This column appears in the 7/1 issue of The Glendale Star and the 7/2 issue of the Peoria Times

There was a guy who used to live next door to us. He never wore a shirt -– I literally saw him with a shirt on only once or twice –- and he always had a beer in his hand. Now, this would have been a hilariously endearing scenario were this a sitcom and not real life. Also, he stored his cement mixer (!) on our side of the front yard. Then one day he was gone. We later found out he had been arrested.

Before him, a family lived there. I never could quite figure out their infrastructure. The wife lived with her brother-in-law, and some cousins or something, and there were random children in and out. But everyone over the age of 12 smoked a pack a day, which they did in their backyard, and which delightfully wafted into our living room each evening.

Most recently a different family lived there. They avoided human contact at all cost, and would close their garage door before we could so much as wave to them. We saw them so infrequently that it took us the past two months to realize that they do not live there anymore. The other day my wife mentioned –- in all seriousness -– that we should be alert to any smells emanating from the house in case they are still inside.

On the other side of us lived a man and his father. They similarly avoided us, the son especially. I would say “Hi” and he would turn away. So that was fun. They left, too.

Now, nobody lives on either side of us. We are neighbor-less –- on an island in Arizona. Considering the previous occupants of those houses, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it’s not good, either. We live in between two vacant houses that do not get pest treatment. Or landscaping. Also, birds have moved in. Now whenever I take the recycling out, at least a dozen birds flutter out of an outdoor vent and I am forced to shield myself with cardboard and run for cover.

The economic circumstances that have created a high turnover of shirtless renters and those with no pride in ownership are beyond my control. I remain confident things will turn around in time. More disconcerting to me however, is the lack of community.

Forgive me if I am speaking only for my small block in northwest Peoria, but I get a sense that this persists throughout the Valley at large. Where I’m from neighbors had block parties, and pool parties, and you could go knock on their door when your mom ran out of eggs, and you all met in the street to talk on warm summer nights while the kids ran around. Here? Everyone seems to keep to themselves. Nobody comes out. Few even wave back. The only thing of note that has happened in our neighborhood in the past year is when we were attacked by dogs.

It’s sad that nobody lives on either side of us. It’s sadder that those who remain in the neighborhood remain inside. Maybe a recovering economy will result in more families moving in and searching for the same sense of community that we seek. But for now, it’s cold in this heat.


Because my yard's not big enough for a cement mixer, THAT'S WHY!

Honda Indy Toronto 2010 Schedule

Update July 12: Check out my blog post for information on special events including the Driver's Party.

The Honda Indy Toronto has announced their 2010 schedule for the race weekend - remember that Friday is free entrance. The week leading up to the race is full of events off site. On Tues and Wed July 13 and 14 the events will be at Yonge-Dundas Square, Thurs July 15 is the Run, Walk 'n Wheelathon and later in the day there is an autograph session at Bay Eatons Centre. You know we are getting close when the Thunder Alley stands are in place and the barriers on Lakeshore are almost complete (above) and turn 9 needs a little streetlight removal (below).

The on and off track schedule, with gate times, is shown after the jump.


Honda Indy Toronto 2010 schedule

ON-TRACK SCHEDULE

July 16 - 18

FRIDAY	JULY 16
START TIME	END TIME	EVENT
7:45 am	8:15 am	Canadian Touring Car Practice
8:35 am	9:35 am	Acura Sports Car Challenge - World Challenge & Trans-Am Practice
9:55 am	10:55 am	IZOD IndyCar Practice
11:15 am	12:10 pm	Firestone Indy Lights Practice
12:30 pm	1:30 pm	NASCAR Canadian Tire Series - Canadian Tire Jump Start 100 Practice
1:50 pm	2:50 pm	IZOD IndyCar Practice
3:10 pm	4:10 pm	Acura Sports Car Challenge - World Challenge & Trans-Am Practice
4:30 pm	5:10 pm	NASCAR Canadian Tire Series - Canadian Tire Jump Start 100 Qualifying
5:30 pm	6:00 pm	Canadian Touring Car Qualifying
SATURDAY	JULY 17
START TIME	END TIME	EVENT
8:00 am	8:50 am	Firestone Indy Lights Practice
9:10 am	10:10 am	IZOD IndyCar Practice
10:30 am	11:20 am	Acura Sports Car Challenge - World Challenge and Trans-Am Qualifying
11:40 am	12:30 pm	Firestone Indy Lights Qualifying
12:50 pm	2:20 pm	IZOD IndyCar Qualifying
2:30 pm	2:45 pm	NASCAR Canadian Tire Series - Canadian Tire Jump Start 100 Pre-Race
2:45 pm	4:00 pm	NASCAR Canadian Tire Series - Canadian Tire Jump Start 100 Race
3:45 pm	4:45 pm	Drivers' Autograph session
4:20 pm	5:20 pm	Acura Sports Car Challenge - World Challenge Race
5:40 pm	6:10 pm	Canadian Touring Car Race #1
SUNDAY	JULY 18
START TIME	END TIME	EVENT
8:00 am	8:20 am	Firestone Indy Lights Warm-Up
8:35 am	9:05 am	IZOD IndyCar Warm-Up
9:20 am	9:50 am	Canadian Touring Car Race #2
10:10 am	11:25 am	Firestone Indy Lights Race
11:45 am	12:45 pm	IZOD IndyCar Pre-Race
12:45 pm	3:00pm	Honda Indy Toronto IZOD IndyCar Race
3:00 pm	3:30 pm	IZOD IndyCar Post-Race
3:30 pm	4:30 pm	Acura Sports Car Challenge - Trans-Am Race

OFF-TRACK SCHEDULE

July 13 - 18

TUESDAY	JULY 13
START TIME	END TIME	EVENT
12:00 pm	8:00 pm	Yonge-Dundas Square Honda Indy Toronto Kick-off Party
12:00 pm	8:00 pm	Sponsors, Indy Racing League, and Honda Indy Toronto activities
12:00 pm	8:00 pm	Honda Media Tire Change Challenge
12:00 pm	5:00 pm	NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Autograph session
WEDNESDAY	JULY 14
START TIME	END TIME	EVENT
12:00 pm	8:00 pm	Yonge-Dundas Square Honda Indy Toronto party continues
12:00 pm	8:00 pm	Sponsors, Indy Racing League, and Honda Indy Toronto activities
12:30 pm	2:00 pm	Media Event
5:00 pm	7:00 pm	IndyCar Driver appearances / Media Q&A / Autograph session
7:00 pm	8:00 pm	Toronto Sun "Drivers, start your engines" contest finals
THURSDAY	JULY 15
START TIME	END TIME	EVENT
6:00 pm		Run, Walk n' Wheelathon for Spinal Cure Research
6:00 pm		Festivals and activities, including a special concert
6:30 pm	7:30 pm	IZOD IndyCar Autograph Session at The Bay Eatons Centre
7:00 pm	8:00 pm	Sam Schmidt Event
FRIDAY	JULY 16
START TIME	END TIME	EVENT
7:30 am	6:30 pm	Gates Open
SATURDAY	JULY 17
START TIME	END TIME	EVENT
7:30 am	6:40 pm	Gates Open
11:20 am	11:40 am	VIP Pit Walk-Thru
3:45 pm	4:45 pm	IZOD IndyCar Autograph Session: Paul Tracy, Alex Tagliani, and more
SUNDAY	JULY 18
START TIME	END TIME	EVENT
7:30 am	5:00 pm	Gates Open
9:50 am	10:10 am	VIP Pit Walk-Thru
11:25 am	11:40 am	Pace Car Rides
3:00 pm	3:30 pm	IZOD IndyCar Post-Race

Pam Seatle reporting live from the G20 frontlines

CityTV reporter Pam Seatle, gas mask at the ready, reports on the frontlines of the G20 Summit protests on the south yard of Queen's Park. This was just before the riot police started moving northwards to take over the south yard and the north yard which was Summit's official protest site.

There were many people with gas masks including the police, some protesters and some media. Actually there were some media with helmets on, just in case. I understand from the reports that the police were arresting people carrying gas masks (which they may have found during illegal searches) so I hope Pam didn't end up in the pokey.

G20 Protests - The face of peaceful protesters

The many thousands of people engaged in the democratic principle of free speech and protest gathered on the streets of Toronto and marched to spread their awareness about their causes - which for the most part centered around union solidarity and helping others, in fact the title of the march was "People First".

Some came looking for a fight and violent confrontations but the vast majority wanted to take part in a typical Canadian protest - which includes bright flags, colourful costumes, funny signs and friendly smiles. Many more gathered and joined in the march to witness the day's events and to add their voices in protest as there were some that found the G20 police presence and loss of freedom was something to be concerned about. We saw one hothead grab some bricks and the crowd around him told him to drop the bricks - which he did.

My favourite group was the clowns who joined in a small group and in an intriguing fashion moved closer and closer to the line of police blocking Bay Street at Richmond Street. They moved everyone out of their way by saying they weren't looking for us, they were looking for the police. Each one moved from the back to the front, posed and then another from the back took their place. They finally get to the police line, bring a smile to the police, were refused passage and carefully backed away in the same manner as how they arrived.

Some people wore funny outfits or had funny sayings on their shirts - like the ever popular "Don't Taze me Bro" or "Free Hugs". Many of the friendly faces were even those of the police after the main groups of protesters pass they quickly relax and even joke around with people.

You can see more pictures of the protesters after the jump.

G20 Protests - Damage in the Streets

Sid Ryan gathered some union members and started a march of about 4,000 down University Avenue on Saturday, June 26, 2010. The early start to the peaceful march was briefly interrupted when a single elderly protester got into the barriers along University Avenue in front of the American Consulate. The riot police banged their shields and deployed within the barriers and five or six of the officers then took down the protester.

The protest carried on down to Queen Street, turning west towards Spadina. They had to turn west at Queen Street because of the line of bicycle police forming an arc, backed up by a phalanx of riot police who were in turn supported by a contingent of mounted police. Along the route sidestreets were blocked with riot police keeping the march moving west.

At Queen and Spadina the main group went north back to Queens Park while a large contingent remained at the intersection confronting the police blocking their way south. After a short period the protesters left this area and headed east along Queen Street towards Bay Street and the Eaton Centre.

Walking along Queen Street behind the protest we surveyed the damage as mail boxes were tipped over in the street and the occasional windows were broken and cars damaged. CTV and the banks seemed to be the specific targets.

At the former Much Music Building and now home to CTV the riot police move closer after windows in the building were broken. When they moved people out of speakers corner some of the protesters were hit by police including this young lady who said she got a riot shield pressed against followed with a baton hit against the shield that left a welt on her arm.

We were continuing down Bay Street when the police began blocking off intersections, cutting off the protesters in the individual blocks as reports of explosions began to surface - it turns out that these were the police cars being destroyed and lit on fire. Here is the view looking south down Bay Street.

After they had opened up a lot of Bay Street the police suddenly set up a blockade on Bay Street just south of Queen Street and the court house. The chanting of the crowds soon sent this group of riot police heading south.

There were a couple of police cars set afire on this day, several in the area of Queen and Spadina. One of the cars still smolders in the background as the riot police line up along Queen Street.

Protester were in several large groups throughout the downtown core. Some were closer to the fenced area while many others circulated along Queen Street, University Street, Queens Park and also Yonge Street.

The protestors were made up of several major groups - the hard core anarchists hoping to stir things up, the activists getting their message across to the world forum that the G20 creates, the protesters protesting the police powers and loss of freedoms, the main stream and online media documenting the day and a large group of people watching what happens and taking part in the protest in a very mild way. Only the anarchists really wanted to cause damage and there really wasn't that many of them and most of the time they were dressed in black with balaclavas and hoods disguising their identities. When the anarchist group joined up with the peaceful protesters at Queens Park they took off their black clothes and blended into the crowd.

As the day wore on the police seemed to be trying to bore the protesters into dispersing, both the small component eager to cause damage and mayhem and the regular activists intent on peaceful means, when things changed and the mounted and riot police moved into Queens Park. The police moved north onto the south yard of the legislature and began driving the protesters north where many were struck by batons and arrested. I was surprised because I thought Queens Park was supposed to be the official protest site.

Up till that point the police were only containing the crowd with lines of police blocking routes leading south towards the fence. Even the damage along Queen Street and Bay Streets went unchallenged which I think was a good idea as the anarchists needed to get the crowd whipped into a frenzy and willing to take on the police - however this is Canada and all we really wanted to do was protest and witness the events of the day. Seeing the police charge in and start arresting people would have got many of the crowd angry and really ramp up the charged atmosphere.

The anarchists have certainly hijacked the day and everyone will now only think of the damage that was done and probably call for an end of more of our freedoms. Well, at least the world leaders weren't inconvenienced.

See more pictures of the protest after the jump.

Here is my YouTube video of Saturday's protest march and damage in the streets.

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Getting Grilled About a Grill Cover

Scene 1:

I walk into Barbeque Worldto pick up a grill cover for my father-in-law, who is out of town and needs to protect his grill from the 115-degree heat. Before he left he had ordered the grill cover from Barbeque World, and asked me if I could pick it up. I said yes, of course. The previous night my mother-in-law called my wife to remind her about the grill cover, and earlier in the day he had texted me to ask if I could get the grill cover. I am aware of -- albeit a bit confused by -- how important this grill cover is to him

Jim, Barbeque World: Hey, can I help you with something?

Me: Yeah, hi. I need to pick up a grill cover for my father-in-law. He was here last week and put one on order to be picked up.

Jim: Oh. Uh, okay. What's the name?

Me: Tony ____.

Jim briefly checks a binder underneath the register, and finds nothing. He walks into a room in the back of the store, and walks back with nothing. I feel sorry for him immediately, and also for myself.

Jim: Ummm, do you know who he spoke with? We usually don't hold things like that for people. What probably happened is that what he wanted came in, because we just got a bunch of grill covers in the other day.

Me: I'm not really sure who he spoke with.

Jim: Do you know which cover he wanted?

Me: No, I thought it was here for pick up. He's out of town. Let me call him.

I call one of my father-in-law's 13 cell phones. It rings. And rings. The phone picks up. There are some random noises.

Tony: Hello?

Me: Hey, Dad!

Tony: Mikey! Baby! Oh boy, we gotta get that little girl of yours over here for some dinner and...

There is some fumbling. I assume he is on the Outerbridge Crossing, with a coffee in one hand, the phone on his shoulder, a different phone in the other hand with which he is cursing at Comcast Cable, and driving with his knees.

Tony: ...and uh, stuff her full of food, and...

He trails off.

Me: Dad?

Tony: Yeah...what a, what are you doing?

Me: Hey, yeah, I'm actually at the barbeque place right now and I just -

Tony: What barbeque place are you at?

Me: Barbeque World, on 75th and Jackson.

Tony: The one on uh, 75th and uh... Jackson Avenue?

Me: Yes. The one you told me to go to.

Tony: Barbeque World?

Me: Yes.

Tony: What place are you at? On 75th?

Me: Yes. Dad, so uh, I asked for your grill cover and they don't have anything here waiting for you, and the guy said -

Tony: Let me talk to the guy.

Me: Oh. Ummm, actually, do you remember who you spoke with, because -

Tony: Put the guy on the phone.

I am valiantly attempting not to put Jim in the position of talking to my father-in-law over the phone.

Me: Well there's a couple guys here, so if you remember who you spoke with, maybe one of them -

Tony: Maybe you can uh, put the guy on the phone and I can talk to him.

I hand the phone the Jim, giving him a sheepish, "Good luck -- this one's outta my hands now" look. He looks at me confused.

Jim: Uh, hello?...yes...uh huh...Barbeque World...ummm, on 75th and Jackson...yes...Barbeque World...okay...yeah.

Jim walks to the back room on my phone. I aimlessly walk around the store, pretending to look at grills. Then I move towards the back of store to find out what's going on.

Jim: Okay, does your grill have red buttons?...Like, red buttons for igniting?...Yes, your grill...But does it have red buttons?...Okay...Yes...Barbeque World...uh huh.

In the background I whisper loudly to Jim that the grill has three black burner knobs. He nods his head at me and gives me a grateful thumbs-up.

Jim: Alright, well we only have two covers for that kind of grill, so let me ask you this...Yep...Lemme just...Uh huh...Okay, is your grill flat on top, or does it angle upwards?...Yes, the top of the grill...I mean, is it flat on top, or does it like, angle upwards?...Okay, yeah...I mean, if you put something on top of your grill, will it fall off?

In the background I whisper loudly to Jim that grill cover is flat on top. He nods.

Jim: Okay, so no...yeah...okay, I know what grill cover you need, so I'm just going to...yeah...okay...okay...okay.

Jim is desperately trying to hand me back the phone, but each time as he's about to hand it to me he brings it back to his ear and says "okay" to appease my father-in-law, who is still talking. Finally he just hands it to me and walks away briskly. My father-in-law is still talking.

Me: Da-Dad, hey.

Tony: Mike? WHAT? I wasn't finished talking to him. I don't know, I just...I wasn't finished talking to him. Mike?

Me: Yes.

Jim walks past me back towards the register holding a box that contains the grill cover.

Tony: Mike, listen -- what does the grill cover look like?

Me: I don't know, Dad. It's in a box.

Tony: Oh. Is the box flat?

Me: ?

Me: Uh, yeah, the box is flat.

Tony: What color is the grill cover?

Me: What color is it? I don't know. It's in a box.

Jim overhears me and whispers loudly to me that it's black.

Me: It's black, Dad. He said it was black.

Tony: It's black? Okay, good. It should be black. It's black?

I see Jim scan it and the price loads to the register.

Me: And it's $39.95.

Tony: WHAT? Noooooo. Thirty-nine ninety-five? No. Tell him he's gotta do better than that.

Me: Uh, really?

Tony: Can you see if he can do better than that?

Me: Ummm, do you want me to negotiate for the grill cover?

Tony: Let me talk to him.

I have given up. I hand the phone back to Jim. He winces.

Jim: Hello?...uh, okay...uh huh...ummm...well, I guess I could give you the "fireman's discount"...10% off?...yeah?...okay...okay.

Jim does the thing again where he tries to hand the phone back to me, but can't.

Jim: I'm just gonna..hand the phone back now...to him.

I take the phone, unsure whether or not my father-in-law just told Jeremy that he was a firefighter.

Me: Dad?

Tony: Yeah, Mike. I got the discount.

Me: I know.

Tony: It's gonna be 10%. That's okay, for now.

I am unsure whether this means that he will attempt to get additional discounts upon his return, but do not doubt it.

Tony: Okay, so uh, I hope that the grill cover fits, because if it doesn't, I'm sorry but I'm gonna need you to return it. Because, ya know, it uh, it needs to fit on the grill.

Me: No problem. I'll test it out this weekend, probably tomorrow.

Tony: It's just because, it needs to fit.

Me: Yes. I'll try it tomorrow.

Tony: Okay. Is that all?

Me: Yep, I think that's it.