THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA GOES ON:

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Many of our elected officials, especially the Democrats, have a very low opinion of their constituents. They smug, arrogant and just plain egotistical.

Here is a prime example involving Sen. Pete Stark:






THE DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA GOES ON:

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Sarah's Categorized Night Sticks!

Wow! The LSM, as usual, was causing trouble at one of Madame's speeches, so she thought she'd be straight with them. Especially after she was accused of kicking them out. What? Willow was with her! She could, but wouldn't have done anything to the "media". Madame decided to share part of her speech with them. I have no idea how she fit this all on her palm, but oh well. This post is full of nightsticks! Categorized nightsticks! I loved it because I got to put some headings in bold and use cap locks! Awesome. I think this may have been a dileniation of the Palin Doctrine. Look at all the individual nightsticks: defense spending, the US Navy, Obama's Foreign Policy Inheritance, the War on Terror, Afghanistan, Alienating Our Allies, Coddling Adversaries, An "Enemy Centric" Foreign Policy (ouch!), and A Different View of America. Yikes! She smack the Great Opologizer hard with multiple types of night sticks. For reminiscence's sake, let's take a look at the night stick:

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Wednesday Before The Storm

The biggest shopping day each year comes on July 1 for thirty men with deep pockets. The NHL Free Agency Market opens tomorrow, and there will be general managers across the league looking to fill holes, change directions, and stock the cupboards as contracts are offered to players. Some players are of the "game-changing" nature: Kovalchuk, Gonchar, Hamhuis, and Volchenkov. These players, it seems, will attract the richest offers, and several teams have the salary cap to make those offers. But before any new players can be brought in, teams must first get their houses in order. HBIC is no different, and tonight I want to do a little clean up on the blog before the storm of free agency hits. There will be a number of items covered, so let's get to the organizing and cleaning.

• The first of two major summer projects will run on Saturdays throughout the summer. The Saturday Funnies will literally be a page of hockey-related comic strips that runs weekly on, as its name suggests, Saturday. I have begun contacting several authors of some of the better comic strips I've read that deal in hockey matters, and I'm hoping they'll climb aboard for some free advertising compliments of HBIC. If, for whatever reason, the authors decline and there are not enough strips to make it worth the effort, I'll announce a change in this project. The Funnies page will make its debut by next Saturday at the latest.
• The second summer project, as suggested by Ben, will be a look at advertising around the boards in NHL arenas. As you may know, there are a lot of advertisements pasted on the boards in NHL rinks, but they have changed throughout the years from more local advertising to league-wide advertising. I plan on featuring at least a few rinks per week throughout the summer as I embark on a very ambitious project. If you have any images of your local rink, please send them to me and I'll get them in order. I plan on having the first rink posted by next week.
• There was lots of coverage of the passing of one of the most dedicated men I've ever read about a couple of weeks ago. Manute Bol, former NBA player, passed away at the age of 47, and his work to help the people of Sudan was incredible. His charitable work alone would be reason enough for me to pay my respects to him, but it was his one night as a member of the Indianapolis Ice of the CHL that many in the hockey community will remember of the seven-foot-seven gentle giant. Rest in peace for eternity, Mr. Bol. I'll always look up to you for your amazing humanitarian efforts.
• There have been a number of trades as teams prepare for the free agent blitz tomorrow, but the Blackhawks were shedding salary again today. This time, they dealt Kris Versteeg and Bill Sweatt to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Viktor Stalberg, Philippe Paradis, and Chris DiDomenico. Getting Versteeg is not exactly the first-line centerman that GM Brian Burke may be after, but he's the kind of gritty player that Burke likes. With another salary off the books, it appears that the Blackhawks are serious about signing Antti Niemi and Andrew Ladd in the coming days.
• For all of your off-season trades thus far, check out the TSN Trade Tracker.
• Lastly, I am pushing forward with the HBIC prizes. I'm not waiting days for people to respond anymore. Jim W. and Tom O. should contact me ASAP in order to get in on the prize action. I'm moving on starting tomorrow, and everyone on the prize list is now being notified that they have 24 hours to respond. No exceptions will be made.
  

I'll be back tomorrow with the rundown of all the Free Agency moves by each team. I'm almost certain that there will be a few teams who avoid the blitz on July 1, but you never know what may happen on the biggest shopping day in the NHL.

Until tomorrow, keep your sticks on the ice!

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Dumb dumb dumb de dumb

Shorter Toronto police chief Bill Blair:

Just look at all these terrible weapons we confiscated from the G20 protests!
Well, except for the crossbow and the chainsaw, we found those Thursday in the car of a mentally ill man driving downtown by mistake.
But everything else was ...
Well, except for the arrows and the chainmail and the shields and the plastic clubs. We got those Sunday at Union Station from a guy on his way to a fantasy role-playing game in a local park.
But its absolutelytrue that everything else was taken from protesters. Really! Would I lie to you?

I finally figured out who Blair is reminding me of:

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Lies

So Toronto Police chief Bill Blair thought he had played a cute trick on "criminals" when he lied about police having the authority to detain and arrest G20 protesters outside the security fence.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is still furious about the way police behaved during the G20 protests.
But the people who should also be furious are the thousands of front line police officers who actually believed they had been given temporary authority to detain and search people at will -- who now find out that they were being lied to, as well.



UPDATE: And Blair is caught lying again.

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We Need Parenting Licenses

There are a lot of things that parents should do to help their children become well-rounded, respectful people as they mature into adults. Teaching important lessons and instilling morals and good ethics are paramount in ensuring that those children grow up to be productive segments of society. However, there seems to be a growing shortage of one important ingredient that children need. Without this ingredient, we have chaos. That important ingredient is "common sense", and two families in Toronto apparently missed the line where they were handing out common sense for free. It's one thing for parents to protect a child's best interests, but two families in Toronto have entered the range of irresponsible and idiotic with their current actions.

Sean Leahy of Yahoo's Puck Daddy blog was the first to pick this story up and elaborate on it, but the Toronto Star broke the story of Vito Valela and David Longo, parents of two boys who were cut from a Greater Toronto Hockey League team. Christopher Valela and Daniel Longo were cut from the Avalanche Minor Sports Club midget junior A team during tryouts in April.

Normally when players get cut, parents are supportive of their children despite the setback. You hear lots of positive reinforcement and some rationale on why the child was cut. It's heartbreaking sometimes, but it's a fact of life: there are only so many spots on a team, and sometimes cuts have to be made.

The lessons that can be taught here are many. Being "cut" from a team is something every single player in every single sport has experienced. One of the most famous "cuts" came when Michael Jordan was cut from his varsity high school basketball team. We all know how Mr. Jordan's basketball career panned out, but the lessons he learned from being cut were never forgotten. Being cut is an important life lesson, but it's not the end of the world.

Unless, of course, your names are Vito Valela and David Longo.

Were their children heartbroken over being cut? Undoubtedly. From personal experience, there may not be a worse feeling in the world. After all, you're essentially being told that you're not good enough, and I have yet to meet anyone who takes that news well. This is where, from my experience, a parent steps in and helps the child cope with the disappointment to get through experience. Again, it's an important lesson that all children need to learn.

Or, you could simply file a frivolous lawsuit against the minor hockey association.

According to Mr. Longo's lawsuit, by cutting Daniel, the coaches, team, and GTHL "caused irreparable psychological damage to Daniel Longo’s self esteem as an impressionable teenager and demoralized Daniel as an athlete and team hockey player with his peers. The conduct by all defendants destroyed the dignity of my son, whom in good conscience gave his team nothing but his best efforts."

WHAT?!? Um... are you for real? Seriously?

Oh, we're not done? According to Mr. Valela, "When Christopher was advised of his termination by my wife and I, he vowed never to play the game he loved since childhood. And, morevoer[sic], his misguided group of defendants demoralized my wife and I, whom had gone well beyond the call of duty as parents in support of the Toronto Avalanche hockey team for two seasons."

Here comes a rant. Close your eyes, kids, because Teebz is about to go off.

First off, Christopher Valela's vow of never playing hockey again? Already dead in the water. The "demoralized" child has already joined the Hillcrest Summits team, proving that he's clearly too distraught to play hock... um, never mind.

Clearly, Christopher has already put this behind him. I'm not going to suggest that the thought of him being cut doesn't bother him still. That's a given - it's something that everyone has to deal with in their own way. But for Mr. Valela to claim that his son will never play hockey again despite already having signed up for a new team? I call HORSEPOOP!

This is not a civil case for the courts. If I were the judge in this case, I'd throw both Vito Valela and David Longo behind bars for a night for contempt of court for wasting taxpayer's money and time with their ridiculous lawsuits. These are the DUMBEST lawsuits I have seen since Jonathan Lee Riches filed his lawsuits. In fact, these lawsuits might be worse.

Instead of teaching their sons to be better people by rising above the setback, both Mr. Valela and Mr. Longo are now looking to blame everyone but themselves and their children for failing to make the team. It's petty, it's small, and it's absolutely sickening. Add into the fact that they are asking for $25,000 from a minor hockey association, the coaches, and the team, and what you have are two men who are living vicariously through their two children.

By cutting both Christopher and Daniel, Vito Valela and David Longo also feel slighted. Since their children can no longer be part of the team, these two "men" - and I use that term loosely - are taking matters into their own hands, and the method they have chosen to resolve this is absolutely disgusting.

These are the kinds of hockey parents of which the sport needs to rid itself. Quite frankly, I'm 100% on the GTHL's side on this one. Hopefully, the courts will use common sense and also agree.

There are a lot of things that parents should do to help their children become well-rounded, respectful people as they mature into adults. The example set forth by Mr. Valela and Mr. Longo is not one of those things.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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FIVE BEST SENTENCES YOU WILL EVER READ/Pentagon about Northcom! Listen to the lies!

This posting contains a video. To properly hear it, please turn off the "Ave Maria" music widget on the right hand side of this page.

OBAMA HAS A NORMAN ROCKWELL MOMENT

THESE ARE POSSIBLY THE FIVE BEST SENTENCES YOU WILL EVER READ:

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation.

5. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

--- REMEMBER ---
IN NOVEMBER 2010, WE HAVE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
TO CLEAN OUT THE ENTIRE HOUSE AND ONE-THIRD OF THE SENATE
DO YOUR PART BY CHOOSING WISELY!

PENTAGON ABOUT NORTHCOM! LISTEN TO THE LIES!

DOESN'T THIS VIOLATE THE POSSE COMITATUS ACT?

The 1878 Posse Comitatus Act was indeed passed with the intent of removing the Army from domestic law enforcement. Posse comitatus means “the power of the county,” reflecting the inherent power of the old West county sheriff to call upon a posse of able-bodied men to supplement law enforcement assets and thereby maintain the peace. Following the Civil War, the Army had been used extensively throughout the South to maintain civil order, to enforce the policies of the Reconstruction era, and to ensure that any lingering sentiments of rebellion were crushed. However, in reaching those goals, the Army necessarily became involved in traditional police roles and in enforcing politically volatile Reconstruction-era policies. The stationing of federal troops at political events and polling places under the justification of maintaining domestic order became of increasing concern to Congress, which felt that the Army was becoming politicized and straying from its original national defense mission. The Posse Comitatus Act was passed to remove the Army from civilian law enforcement and to return it to its role of defending the borders of the United States.

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55% of the SCOTUS understands the 2nd Amendment!

Sorry, I'm a bit behind. It's Bush's fault, just like the oil spill. Anyways, yesterday the Supreme Court handed down a ruling that said the Constitution was right on guns! The decision was 5-4, which means that only 55% of the SCOTUS understands the Constitution on this issue. Sigh. Madame was a bit more positive when she posted her thoughts on this decision on Facebook calling it a victory for the second amendment.

I called into my friend, TOTUS, to get the reaction of the White House. He said that the Great Opologizer was bummed, but FLOTUS was excited, as the ruling overturns the gun ban in Chicago. It's summer; FLOTUS wants the right to bare arms when she goes back home to Chicago:

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Still No 2010 Proof Gold and Silver Eagles

The US Mint has announced the release dates for their "remaining" 2010 products. The collectible Proof and Uncirculated 2010 Gold Eagles and 2010 Silver Eagles are still missing from the schedule, although the US Mint still preserves a glimmer of hope that these popular products might be produced.

The updated schedule includes exact on-sale dates for all previously listed products (although the dates are still stated as tentative). No new products have been added to the schedule, although I would have thought that the US Mint would release the "new" America the Beautiful Quarter Products this year. It's possible that they will be added to the scheduled later.

The 2010 Proof and Uncirculated Gold and Silver Eagles are listed on the schedule as "TBD." The US Mint has provided the now familiar explanation about the status of the products:

*Public Laws 99-61 and 99-185 mandate that the United States Mint mint and issue its American Eagle Silver and Gold Bullion Coins "in quantities sufficient to meet public demand..." There is no corresponding legal requirement to mint and issue the proof and uncirculated coins in quantities sufficient to meet public demand. The bureau, however, is continuing to work with current and potential blank suppliers to increase the supply of silver and gold blanks in amounts that may make it possible to offer the proof and uncirculated versions of American Eagle Silver and Gold Coins in 2010.

I suppose its somewhat favorable that the US Mint has not yet ruled out the offerings completely. At the ANA National Money Show in Fort Worth Texas held March 25-27, 2010, US Mint Director Edmund Moy raised the possibility that the 2010 Proof Silver Eagle would be canceled, citing demand for bullion coins. After that announcement, many collectors already began assuming that the cancellation was a foregone conclusion.

The 2009 Proof and Uncirculated Gold and Silver Eagles were finally announced as canceled in October.

The updated release schedule for 2010 US Mint Products is shown below:

Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set - Pierce	6/24/2010
Franklin Pierce $1 Coin Cover	07/01/10
2010 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set	07/15/10
2010 United States Mint Proof Set	07/22/10
Yosemite Quarter Bags and Two-Roll Sets	07/26/10
2010 American Eagle One Ounce Platinum Proof Coin	08/12/10
James Buchanan Presidential $1 Coin Rolls	08/19/10
2010 United States Mint Silver Proof Set	08/26/10
Buchanan's Liberty First Spouse Gold Coins	09/02/10
Buchanan's Liberty Bronze Medal	09/02/10
Grand Canyon Quarter Bags and Two-Roll Sets	09/20/10
Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set - Buchanan	09/23/10
James Buchanan Presidential $1 Coin Cover	09/30/10
Mount Hood Quarter Bags and Two-Roll Sets	11/15/10
Abraham Lincoln Presidential $1 Coin Rolls	11/18/10
Mary Todd Lincoln First Spouse Gold Coins	12/02/10
Mary Todd Lincoln Bronze Medal	12/02/10
First Spouse Bronze Four-Medal Set	12/02/10
Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set - Lincoln	12/23/10
Abraham Lincoln $1 Coin Cover	12/30/10
2010 American Eagle Silver Proof Coin	TBD
2010 American Eagle Silver Uncirculated Coin	TBD
2010 American Eagle Gold Proof Coin	TBD
2010 American Eagle Gold Uncirculated Coin	TBD

Coin Update News: Latest Weekly US Mint Sales Report

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Changes to US Mint's Direct Ship Program

A few weeks ago, the US Mint made some changes to their Direct Ship Program. This program has been tweaked many times as the Mint seemingly tries to preserve the utility of the program, while limiting the potential for abuses.

The Direct Ship Program was introduced in June 2008 as a way for businesses and individuals to obtain circulating dollar coins directly from the US Mint. The purpose of the program was to remove barriers and improve circulation of the dollar coin. In the most recent fiscal year, the US Mint reported distributing an astounding $85.2 million worth of coins through the program, representing 18.6% of the total dollar coin shipments.

Abuses of the product came to light in late 2009, when some mainstream publications ran stories about frequent fliers who were using the program to earn miles and other rewards on their credit cards. These individuals would order thousands of dollars worth of coins with their credit cards and then immediately deposit the coins into a bank account. The purchase and deposit would net to zero, as rewards and miles accrued.

The US Mint responded by cutting off some of the known offenders and adding bold messages to their product pages explaining the intended purpose of the program. Further, a message was added that: By clicking “Add to Cart” I agree that I understand, and will comply with, the intended purpose of the Program.

An article in the LA Times had also stated that purchases through the program would be coded as cash advances, so as not to earn rewards. However, I have subsequently confirmed that this is not correct. Orders are treated as regular credit card purchases.

The most recent change to the program has been to restrict orders based on time period, rather than cumulatively. A 4-box limit ($1,000 face value) now applies for every 10-day period across any and all Direct Ship orders. Before the change, the cumulative limits of 50 boxes of Native American Dollars and 2 boxes of Presidential Dollars were in place. Exemptions could be requested under both the old and new limits.

The US Mint currently has available 2001 Sacagawea Dollars; 2010 Native American Dollars; 2007 Presidential Dollars for George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison; and 2008 Presidential Dollars for Andrew Jackson.

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Park Police Seek Robbery Suspect

The U.S. Park Police is investigating a Robbery that happened on May 5, 2010 at 2:30 am in “P Street Beach”, Northwest, Washington, DC. “P Street Beach” is a park located at 23rd Street and P Street NW and going down a long hill towards Rock Creek.

The suspect is an Hispanic male, with a thin beard, wearing black pants, blue t-shirt, black striped hat and carrying a black backpack with a Nike swoosh and black string shoulder straps.

The suspect stole the victim’s wallet and used his stolen credit card throughout the Dupont Circle area.

Any one with any information about the described suspect is asked to contact the U.S. Park Police tip line at 202-610-8737.

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not all crimes are equal: humans and our rights are more valuable than windows

I see many posts in the blogosphere and on Facebook, and clips in old media, assigning blame for the G20 breakdown in equal parts on so-called Black Bloc protesters, government and police.

In an attempt to appear even-handed, fair and non-biased, observers decry all the violence as if it is all equally wrong.

This is wrong - and dangerous.

First of all, vandals broke windows and burned a car. The police fired rubber bullets into humans. The police hit human beings with bicycles, batons and fists. The police trapped and held human beings for hours without shelter, food or water. The police threatened human beings with rape. The police stripped-searched (and worse) human beings.

Even given our society's obsession with property rights, most people agree that human beings are more important than property. Supposed Black Bloc protesters destroyed property. The police assaulted human beings.

Second, the vandals were a one-time occurrence. We are in little danger of their actions recurring on a regular basis. The Toronto police, on the other hand, work among us every day. Our taxes pay their salaries. They are supposed to be accountable to government, and to the people. They are supposed to be trained to keep the peace and to protect us from harm. They are not supposed to be a uniformed gang loaded with weapons unleashed on an unarmed citizenry.

Third, and most importantly, the abuse of policing powers and the suspension of civil liberties by far a greater danger to society than broken windows and a burned car. We have the right to peaceful protest. We have the right to express our anger at these undemocratic and unjust meetings that affect millions of lives and the very survival of our planet. We have the right to walk in our own cities - my god, to sleep in our own beds! - without fear of being dragged off and detained.

There is no moral equivalence between the abuse of police power and the suspension of civil rights and a bunch of marauding vandals. In terms of our daily lives, and our rights as Canadians and as humans, vandalism is dwarfed by the comparison.

We must not allow our desire for order, and our fear of disorder, to blind us to the very real dangers of an overly powerful authority over our daily lives. A free society is a process. So is the chipping away of that freedom.

In addition, I am wholly unconvinced that the vandals were actually free agents. Many people don't understand that agents provocateurs and paid rioters have been employed to discredit peaceful protests for time immemorial. The tactic was used in the 1960s and 1970s against civil rights and anti-war protesters. It was used in the 1920s against union activists. It was used in the 1900s against socialists. It is mentioned in Shakespeare. I bet the ancient Romans used it to discredit the Christians.

More recently, we have proof and official admissions that provocateurs were used in protests against the 2004 and 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, and in Montebello in 2007. Just because proof hasn't come out yet - and may never - doesn't mean it didn't happen again last weekend.

When so many people express outrage over the (at least) $1,300,000,000 spending of our own money on security, what better way to prove that expense was necessary? When so many are protesting, what better way to discredit them? And what better way to change the subject from what actually happens in these summits?

Consider that the people who torched the cop cars and broke windows were allowed to do so. Here is one of many similar eyewitness accounts, this one from Ian Welsh, writing at Crooks and Liars.

As best I can tell, what happened is that for about an hour, the Black Bloc protesters clearly and visibly prepared for action, with both the police and other, non-violent protesters able to see they were doing so. The number of Black Bloc vandals seems to have been between 50 to 100, certainly not more than 200. (The police had 20,000 men.)

The police actually withdrew, leaving behind police cars for the Black Block to torch. Which they then did. The Black Bloc then proceeded up Yonge street (the main north/south street in downtown Toronto), vandalizing as they went, and eventually many headed over to Queen's Park, the Provincial capital. Two hours after the first violence, the police finally take action, ensuring that there are plenty of videos of police cars burning and vandalism that would not have occurred if they had taken action earlier.

According to the police, rather than confront a maximum of 200 protesters, they withdrew behind the barrier around the G20 meetings and let them vandalize downtown Toronto for 2 hours.

Ian goes on to call this a "deliberate decision to allow downtown to be vandalized," and I cannot see it any other way.

If a young man wearing a t-shirt is committing acts of vandalism, and a fully armed (batons, rubber bullets, tear gas, sound cannons) and armored (face shield, bullet-proof vest) officer of the law sees, withdraws and does not intervene, who is the greater problem?

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young female g20 detainees sexual assaulted by police in jail

Women who were part of the round-up of peaceful G20 protesters were threatened with rape. Other young women were strip-searched by male officers and, in at least one instance that we know of so far, manually penetrated.

Listen as journalist Amy Miller recounts what she experienced and observed.

Please. Stay outraged.

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Keeping Toronto safe?

Toronto police made a big deal today about they protected Toronto from Black Bloc violence by arresting 900 people.
Except, of course, they didn't.
On Saturday, the Black Bloc vandals were allowed to throw things at police, jump up and down on those artistically-abandoned police cars and then run down Yonge Street breaking windows and uprooting bricks unimpeded.
But on Saturday night and Sunday, even though I heard no reports of projectiles being thrown at police, no broken windows, no looting, no trashed cars, the police were very busy arresting polite teenage girls, Quebecers, reporters, and people shopping for groceries.
And now they seem to think that bullying people who were too scared to fight back was what kept Toronto safe.
According to the police chief, police arrested "dozens and dozens" of anarchists with "Molotov cocktails and other weapons" on Sunday --where these people are now, I couldn't find any news stories to say. I guess at some point, maybe there will be some bail hearings, and then maybe we'll find out just how many arrests of criminals and vandals were actually made. Until then, colour me skeptical.
Torontoist reporter Chris Bird writes:

. . . The cops had a disastrous top-down management strategy, to be sure, but over and over again the story of today was that some individual police were completely and totally willing to be bastards.. . . apparently guilt by association is the next big thing in Canadian policing.

Oh, and there was another large protest today -- to object to the police overreaction. Nobody was arrested this time.

The Canadian spirit is just indomitable.

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More Amazing Film

It's amazing to see some of the old films that were produced under the National Film Board of Canada's umbrella. We saw the amazing footage of the build-up to the Quebec Nordiques' first game in the WHA through Pierre Letarte's film Just Another Job. Hockey history was captured on film by Monsieur Letarte as the Nordiques franchise was shown from their earliest days through to their very first game. Films like these are treasures, in my opinion, because they are remnants of the past that still exist today. With the NHL failing to recognize the WHA's existence, it is films like this that allow us to see the past in all its Technicolor glory.

Today, we'll take a look at another amazing historical piece produced by the National Film Board. This film, entitled Thunderbirds in China, was directed by Les Rose in 1974, and is a fascinating documentary portraying the Western world's values in comparison to the Eastern world's values as the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds travel to China to play hockey. The exhibition games between UBC and China show a marked difference in the way these two teams play hockey, and serve as a reminder as to how different we were as societies 36 years ago.

If you have 57 minutes and 51 seconds to spare, check this amazing video out. There are so many interesting things to witness over the next hour.

• In 1973, China finished fifth out of eight teams at the World Championships by beating France and Great Britain. The Chinese government wanted to see the team improve, and agreed to allow the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to send one team over to China to tour the country and help the Chinese players get better. The Thunderbirds were the chosen team, and this film is the result of that agreement.
  
• The first thing you may notice, aside from the uniforms worn by the teams, is that the narrator calls the Chinese capital "Peking". The city's name never officially changed at all. The Western world called it "Peking" after hearing the pronunciation of the city's name. However, when translated, the name is actually Beijing. Since the mid-1980s, the Chinese government has insisted that all official references to the country be made using "Beijing".
• Check out the chin protection that the Chinese players are wearing at the 6:12 mark. That protector covers the entire lower jaw! Anyone know what that kind of protector is called? I have no clue, and it's the first I've ever seen of that kind of protector. You can see a great view of it at the 6:37 mark.
  
• Take a look at what the goalies are wearing as masks at the 6:19 mark! It's a regular helmet with a very crude face shield underneath! Wow. Huge difference in equipment between the UBC players and the Chinese players.
• Check out this line at 17:21 by a gentleman by the name of John Burns, speaking in regards to the Chinese lack of physical contact: "... bodychecking is, uh, not only politically, but culturally, a very difficult thing for them to accept." That's a pretty profound statement.
• It appears that the UBC Thunderbirds were playing outdoors in China before it became insanely popular in North America. Check out the outdoor practice at the 21:30 mark in Harbin, China. Anyone feel like that picture is watching them?
• If you caught the line spoken by the Thunderbirds player at 30:14, there were 17,800 people watching the outdoor practice at 11am! That's pretty incredible!
• If you're squeamish about needles, skip over the 36-minute mark. The Chinese man has lost his voice, and the Chinese doctors use an unconventional way to bring his voice back.
• At the 37:50 mark, we hear the Canadians ask about pollution. In 1974, we were aware of the problems, yet we're still fighting the issue today in 2010. Doesn't that ring a bell for anyone?
• At the 40:41 mark, you can see the Chinese goaltender with a more conventional mask. Hockey is beginning to look like hockey again.
• Check out the men with brooms at 50:54. As the narrator states, "it is a high honour" to sweep the rink. We have a slightly different perspective in North America as normally the players shovel rinks to play.
• As the narrator states at 52:09, in the seven games that the Canadians played in China, they went 7-0 while outscoring their opponents by a 56-5 pace. The scores of the seven games were: 7-0 vs. Chinese national team; 5-0 vs. Chinese national team; 9-2 vs. Harbin; 14-1 vs. Qiqihar; 5-1 vs. Heilongjiang; 8-1 vs. Kirin; and, 8-0 vs. Kirin.
• Listen to the UBC coach at 55:14. He speaks of what the Canadian boys have learned from his perspective, and it really goes to show how hockey can bridge gaps between cultures. That is a pretty impressive lesson that has been taught. Yes, he's sitting in a bathtub while talking thanks to his team delivering a bit of a hazing.

I was very impressed with this film, and it strikes me as an important piece of hockey history. The National Film Board has done an excellent job in bringing this historical film to light on their website, and it's something that hockey fans should watch once just to see how the players from different cultures form bonds through sport.

That lesson is the most important of all!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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SOME PEOPLE JUST SEEM TO HAVE THE BEST RETORTS

SOME PEOPLE JUST SEEM TO HAVE THE BEST RETORTS

Some people just seem to have the absolute best retorts and this young man's father is just such a person:

I took my Dad to the mall the other day to buy some new shoes (he is 76).

We decided to grab a bite to eat at the food court.

I noticed my Dad was watching a teenage girl sitting next to him. Her hair was spiked in all different colors - green, red, orange, and blue.

My Dad couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her and he kept staring at her. Every time the young girl looked in his direction, she saw him staring.

Finally, in a huff, she sarcastically asked my Dad: “What's the matter old man, haven't you ever done anything wild in your life?”

Knowing my Dad, I quickly swallowed my food so that I would not choke on his response; I knew he would have a good one!

In his classic style he responded without batting an eyelid...........




“Sure did, I got high once on LSD and had sex with a peacock. I was just wondering if you were my daughter."

Hope you enjoy this light-hearted post, for tomorrow I get serious.

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"conditions for detainees at 629 eastern ave are illegal, immoral and dangerous"

From Rabble:

Conditions for detainees at 629 Eastern Avenue are illegal, immoral and dangerous

We just got back to our computers and are frantically writing this message. It is 4:45 a.m. on Monday morning. We are the only people who seem to know the extent of this story. Coffee and adrenaline keeping us going. When we got to Queen and Spadina after leaving the Convergence Centre raid today, we had already been blocked off by police lines. It was pouring rain, and we could hear a confrontation taking place further down the street. The cops didn't care whether or not we were media -- in fact, we heard that media was forced to leave before we arrived. Police acted violently and with sheer disregard for the law, attacking peaceful protesters and civilians unrelated to the protest. Tired, frantic, and feeling defeated, we came home and posted the message before this one.

We then did the only thing left to do, and headed to 629 Eastern Avenue (the G20 Detention Centre, a converted film studio) where detainees from the demonstrations were being taken. We knew people were being released sporadically so we grabbed as many juice boxes and granola bars as we could afford and set off with medical supplies. Journalists were basically absent, showed up only to take a few seconds of video, or simply arrived far too late to be effective.

It is next to impossible to set the scene of what happened at the Detention Centre. Between the two of us we estimate that we spoke to over 120 people, most of whom were released between 9:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. Despite not knowing each other, the story they tell is the same....

[Editors' note: Roughly 900 people have now been arrested, according to police, after a weekend of mayhem on the streets of Toronto during the G20 Summit. This is now the largest-ever mass arrest in Canadian history. No word on how many charges have been laid. Compare it to this: 497 people were arrested during the ‘October Crisis and the war measures act' in 1970, which came before Canada had a Charter of Rights and Freedoms.]

Read it here.

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steve paikin describes police attack on peaceful gathering of citizens

Veteran Canadian journalist Steve Paikin describes his own observations of Toronto police attacks on peaceful gathering of citizens, and attack on Guardian journalist Jesse Rosenfeld

"I've been watching protests in this city for 30 years, I've been covering events in this city for 30 years. This was not a great day for democracy in Toronto. I saw things I had never seen before. I saw things that, frankly, should not have happened."

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Marijuana Growers, Don't Fear Legalization

Hey folks, here I am back with another post. I know I am usually far and in between with my posts but you must know I don't blog just anything. I blog when the passion hits me. That means, it has to be important enough for me to address.

19.0 wet grams of Princess Diesel

Well, here we are in the United States, not quite on the advent of legalization but the movement is steady in that direction. We'll truly be on the advent of legalization when the US Congress starts having the guts to challenge the status quo. But, I doubt that will happen until this treaty business with the UN is addressed. But, I will address that at another time when all my information is gathered.

Anyway, there seems to be a major problem within the marijuana growing community in regards to legalization.

What?

Some folks simply don't want it legalized. We're not talking about the maniacs who've drinking that DEA juice. We're talking about the growers who are persecuted AND prosecuted by the very laws they want to protect.

Why?

Well, what really happens if marijuana is legalized? It means that the local and illegal market will have to contend with the world market as well as large money interests who can eye a new major industry.

In other words, COMPETITION.

It's easy when there isn't much marijuana to go around and millions of users. You can pretty much charge what you like. If you're a student of business, as I was (BBA in Marketing), you understand that price can dictate demand if there isn't enough product to go around. However, demand will dictate price if there is too much product on the market. When marijuana is legalized in the US, you're going to have entire nations clamoring to supply this hungry market. The situation reverses.

The idea of paying $50 to $65 for an 1/8th (3.5 grams) of marijuana is out of the window.

But, is it?

Absolutely not. I want to let my marijuana growing friends know that it isn't out of the window at all. The game just changes. And, you will have to learn to adapt with those changes. Let's look at the tobacco market which, I believe, is identical to what a marijuana market will look like if and when legalized.

Sure, you have companies like Marlboro who sell cigarettes by the ton. But, what do they do to that tobacco? That's right. We all know that story. The tobacco industry tuns tobacco into smokable bullets. Take enough hits and you will die. It's as simple as that. However, who says you have to buy tobacco from Marlboro?

I always remember going to Nat Sherman in NYC on 42nd Street. It's an amazing tobacco shop. They don't sell crap either. I don't smoke tobacco at all. However, if I did, Nat Sherman would be the only place I would visit. You go inside and you see jars of loose tobacco on the counter. It looks like a dispensary would look like today. As old as Nat Sherman is, I'd bet they were the model for many of these marijuana dispensaries today. But, they sell tobacco.

Simply put, there are pockets of tobacco aficionados out there. And, I know this doesn't alleviate your fears but let me show you why you shouldn't be fearful of a legal marijuana market. Keep reading...

Ounce of Mexibrick schwag.

At the same time, you have Mexican drug cartels who sell marijuana by the ton. We all should be familiar with Mexican grown marijuana (see pic). It's basically the same as corporate tobacco - mistreated and trashed. And, who exists among those large corporations to bring customer high quality marijuana??

YOU EXIST!!!

Just as folks at spots like Nat Sherman don't care for the low-cost poison that companies like Marlboro deliver to communities around the US, we don't care for the low-cost poison that Mexican drug cartels deliver around the US. Just like Nat Sherman, you will and have always targeted folks who could afford, and would pay for, a high quality product.

Will things change? Absolutely. But, the change simply means you'll be able to come out from hiding. You will find it easier to attract better clientele. It's like the wine industry, the cheese industry, the beef industry and so on. They all have low quality producers and high quality producers. Someone looking forward to a nice wine isn't going to the corner liquor store for some Yellow Tail.

If you want to stay competitive in the future, worry about the quality of your own product. Don't worry about the large corporations, the Mexican drug cartels, or nations in Asia, Africa, and so on. They'll all be thinking about high profits by increasing production and cutting costs. That means, just as they do with tobacco now, they'll gladly shred up seeds and stems in your future marijuana cigarettes as well as poison them.

They won't be able to produce a high quality product like you and therefore won't be able to compete at your level nor for the same customer base. It'll be the right of the people to choose their poison. And the same market that goes after high quality marijuana right now will be looking for you tomorrow. This is why I say worry about the quality of your product.

Do you think the likes of Marlboro can compete with this when marijuana is legalized?
They can't even compete with other quality tobacco today!!

Also, differentiation and specialization will become important. Since we may be a few years away from legalization, it's not a bad idea to shed the European breeders and start some breeding programs of your own right here in the US if you haven't already. For example, I grew out some Princess Diesel. But, who can't get Princess Diesel through a quick visit to the Reservoir Seeds or some other seed site. Imagine if I had a strain of my own. Sure I could grow out other stuff. But, this strain would be mine and no one would be able to grow it but me.

So, stand out even more by creating your own strain and stabilize the phenotype (grower talk). We have a few years before marijuana is legalized. It won't hurt to start now. Just make sure that when you're finished, you keep seeds in a safe location for the future.

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what happened at queen and spadina? how do police states begin?

I assume by now everyone has seen these. These images are posted in comments on these two threads, but I thought they deserved highlighting.

Photo, photo, photo, photo.

Reader Scott M tells me the final arrest count was 800 people. To listen to Toronto Chief of Police William Blair try to justify rounding up and arresting innocent people, go to The Current later today. Scott - hardly a radical! just a guy who values democracy - says it's jaw-dropping.

A Facebook friend is angry about the use of the words "police state". He comes from a country that has seen the real deal in action. But fascism is not an on-or-off proposition. Just like democracy is a process, a continuum, so is fascism. Police and governments will always abuse power. If we allow that abuse to stand without comment, without inquiry, without protest, we take a step down a terrible slippery slope.

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solidarity works: historic action in california prevents israeli ship from unloading

This happened last week, but I missed it, so perhaps you did, too.

Historic day in Oakland: Israeli ship blocked from unloading

In an unprecedented action yesterday at the Port of Oakland, hundreds of activists succeeded in preventing the offloading of an Israeli cargo ship for 24-hours, in protest against the massacre of participants of the Freedom Flotilla and the blockade of Gaza in general. This was the first time such an action had been carried out against an Israeli ship in the United States, and the first time in the world such an action had occurred since the Freedom Flotilla massacre. In coming days, other actions, these initiated by unions, will occur in Norway, Sweden, and South Africa.

At 5:00 a.m., somewhere between 800 and 1000 activists began a spirited 5-hour picket in front of the four different gates of Berth 58 of the Port of Oakland. Workers of the ILWU who were expecting to offload the Israeli ship that day refused to cross the picket line, and at 9:00 an arbitrator ruled in favor of the union that attempting to cross the picket line would be unsafe for union members. Because the workers had been called in to work by the company, the workers were paid even though they did not work, and it is reported that this cost the company $20,000.

As a result, the company did not call the workers back in for the afternoon/evening shift, fearing a repetition. Approximately 300 activists returned (or, like myself, came for the first time) at 4 p.m. to begin a second picket of the four gates. Information had it that the company could still call the workers back in as late as 7 p.m., so the picket continued until that time, at which point complete victory in the 24-hour shutdown was declared. Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition, Jess Ghannam of the Free Palestine Alliance, Michael Eisensher of U.S. Labor Against the War, and Clarence Thomas of the ILWU addressed a short but spirited rally to close the days events.

Two statements read to the rally showed the international impact of the event. One, sent by the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions said, "Your action today is a milestone in international solidarity from honest and brave U.S. workers and trade unionists. Greetings to you from the trade unionists and workers of Palestine … from the trade unionists and workers trapped in Gaza."

The second, from the Central of Cuban Workers (CTC), read "Our people have lived for 50 years of an unjust and abominable blockade by the U.S. government, so we understand very well how the Palestinian people feel and we will always be in solidarity with their just cause. Today we send you our most sincere support. Long live the solidarity of the working class! End the Blockade of Gaza! Respect and justice for the people of Palestine!"

For links to coverage from both local media and participants, see the excellent left i on the news.

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g20 arrestees need our support

Those of us who are safe at home should not forget others who are trapped and hurting. From the Movement Defence Committee:

Appeal for broad political support for the G20 arrestees
June 27, 2010, 3:00pm

The MDC’s Summit Legal Support Project is appealing to the movements it supports to mobilize a show of political strength and solidarity for the nearly 500 people arrested in the last four days. The Toronto Police and the ISU appear to have lost control of their ‘prisoner processing center’, denying arrestees meaningful and timely access to counsel while beating and arresting those peacefully protesting their detention outside.

Despite assurances to the contrary, only a handful of people have been released, including those held for many hours without charge. Arrestees are given incorrect information about the bail process they will be subjected to, and friends and family members gather hours early at the courthouse, located far from the city center and inaccessible via transit. Our lawyers call in and are told that there is no one available to make decisions or wait for hours at the detention centre, only to be denied access to their clients. Almost 500 people are in custody and we know from experience that the vast majority of those charges will disappear and yet the cell doors remain shut.

We need to step it up and build a political response. We need many more voices – especially prominent ones – to say that the abuse and incompetence at 629 Eastern Avenue must stop. We must demand that all levels of government take control of the police forces under their command. We need to ensure that courts and crown attorneys act to enforce constitutional rights rather than collude in their violation.

Free the Toronto 500!

The Movement Defence Committee

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call for inquiry into g20 spending and police response

Facebook group: Canadians Demanding a Public Inquiry into Toronto G20


Toronto Star:

The just-completed G20 summit was supposed to be an opportunity to showcase Toronto to the world. Unfortunately, the images the world will remember are of burning police cruisers, smashed store windows and riot squads chasing down protesters.

In Canada, there is another summit memory that will stick in the public mind: the $1.2 billion that was spent to host the G20 in Toronto and its sister group of leaders, the G8, in Muskoka. Much of that money was spent turning Toronto into an armed camp.

How did this happen? How did a seemingly peaceful protest march spin out of control and become a scene of mayhem? And given the heavy police presence in our city, how did a small number of black-clad, self-styled "anarchists" (the Black Bloc) manage to do so much damage?

Some argue that the mayhem justified the huge expenditure on security measures. "That's why the security costs were high," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the summit-closing news conference on Sunday.

Others say that the omnipresent barricades and police in riot gear served as a magnet to those intent on smashing property.

Either way, the questions that linger from this weekend ought not to go unanswered. Rather, they should be addressed in a systemic fashion. Auditor-General Sheila Fraser comes to mind as someone who could do the job. But her mandate is limited to determining whether the government is receiving "value for money" for its spending. What is needed is a wider inquiry, headed by an eminent person with a broad mandate and a tight time frame. Among the questions that inquiry should pose are:

• How did the bill for the summits run up so high? Was every summit organizer told to "spare no expense?"

• What was the thinking behind the decision to host a G20 meeting on the heels of the G8 and to put it in Toronto?

• Why was it decided to turn the downtown core into an armed camp rather than take a more subtle approach to security? Did anyone balance security demands against costs to businesses, theatres, restaurants and bars?

• Would the security problems have been reduced if, as Toronto Mayor David Miller had suggested, the main meeting place had been at Exhibition Place instead of the convention centre (Harper's choice)?

• What intelligence was there on the Black Bloc and was it shared among all the police forces? And if some of the Black Bloc came from abroad, why were they let in the country?

• With thousands of additional officers in town, why did the police response seem so slow to deliberate acts of vandalism? Was this a conscious police tactic — to allow some damage to happen before cracking down?

The point of asking questions like this is not to point fingers of blame at summit organizers, the police or anyone else. Rather, it is to learn from our past mistakes. Canada will undoubtedly be expected to host future summits. We have to do a better job of it the next time.

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The Dziekanski Lesson

Well, I guess we can conclude that the police have learned their lesson from the Dziekanski death.
And the lesson is, don't let yourself be photographed.
My friends in Toronto almost got arrested today.
They stopped to watch police arrest a teenage protester, and then they didn't "move along" fast enough to suit the police -- actually, they were talking to me on the phone at the time. So the police demanded to see the memory cards on their cameras. When one of my friends objected, the plastic cuffs came out.
To make things worse, they found my friends' arms were marked with a lawyer's phone number! And one of them had a bandana in her knapsack! That was almost enough to convince them that these were secret Black Bloc terrorist scum in disguise.
In the end, my friends were able feign docility and politeness long enough to listen to a lecture on the foolishness of being a protester, and then the police let them go -- but not before wiping the memory cards on their cameras.
The Dziekanski lesson has been learned: it doesn't actually matter how you treat the people you are arresting, as long as there is no photographic record of it.

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Uniform And Patch Updates

If there is one thing that the summer brings for the NHL, it's all the summer makeovers the teams seem to do. There are at least two teams that have already shown off their new uniforms, and we had two looks at patch placements for two of the three teams that have confirmed they will wear patches for the 2010-11 season. Like wandering through a clothing store, new looks will be seen this season, and different looks will be seen through accessorizing. It's almost like NHL teams are teenage girls with the number of times they change their outfits.

I need to point out a video before we begin looking at the changes. The New York Islanders have put together a video of their jersey history, and it's a pretty good look at a former dynasty that has undergone a number of changes over the last twenty seasons. From the Mike Bossy days to the Fisherman logo to the wave jersey design to the throwbacks, it's all covered in the video. Check it out if you have five minutes or so:

These are the kinds of videos that hockey historians and hockey fans should appreciate. Well done, Islanders, on this video project!

The reason this video is important is because the Islanders are once again changing their uniforms. Gone are the crazy Rbk EDGE designs for a more traditional design that looks a lot like their original designs. While the blue home jersey has yet to be seen outside of the video above, it appears this jersey will win over a large number of fans.

Personally, I have no problem bringing back the traditional design. The original sweater was very unique to the Islanders. While they have remained with the darker navy blue over the last number of years as their home colour, I'm still hopeful they will return with the lighter blue as well. That would be great! The font on the back is traditional blue-on-orange, so that's a plus as well. Well done, Islanders!

The other team that debuted their new uniforms for next season were the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs went back in time as well as they brought back a more traditional design to their jerseys by adding the hem stripes and by using the vintage Leafs shoulder logo. Also added are the lace-up collars which gives the new jerseys an "old-time" feel.

Again, this is precisely what the NHL needs to encourage: lose the "futuristic" look that the EDGE jersey tried to force upon everyone, and embrace the hockey sweater as it should look. The hem stripes? Perfect. The traditional shoulder logo? Perfect. The Leafs even killed off their silver outline for their name and number! Only the alternate jersey will remain as it was.

Why was this change made? It appears the Leafs are listening to their most important asset: the fans.

"Our fans have been quite vocal since 2007. They have wanted the stripes and shoulder patch back on the sweater," said Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and chief operating officer for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. "We listened to them, and we hope they are as excited about the new, classic look as we are."

I, as a born-and-bred Leafs hater, actually like this look, and appreciate the change back to something that seems so right. Well done, Maple Leafs!

As for patches, we got to see the placement of the tenth anniversary patches for both the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Minnesota will sport their patch on the front of the right shoulder, and Columbus will have their patch in the same spot.

The one team that handed out jerseys at the draft that didn't feature a patch was the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks will be wearing this patch to celebrate their twentieth anniversary this year, and the patch will reportedly be worn between the shoulder number and the elbow stripes on the sleeve of the jersey. I took it upon myself to create a rendering of that very idea.

This is the first time that I've ever seen a patch worn in the space between the numbers on the sleeve and stripes on the sleeve, and it appears that the Sharks are starting to look a little European with all those patches on their sleeves. It just seems too busy. Perhaps they need to swap the twentieth anniversary patch with one of their current ones for one season. That would make more sense to me.

Vancouver apparently will be wearing a fortieth anniversary patch this season, but they had no first-round picks in this year's draft, so no jerseys were handed out with Vancouver's logo on them. There is a throwback game reportedly being planned between the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks to commemorate the very first game the Canucks played in their history. That game, incidentally, was also against the Kings. The date of that game is Saturday, October 9, 2010. It is thought that both teams may be wearing patches that night for the significant event.

The full schedule of the Canucks' "signature events" for their fortieth anniversary will be unveiled on July 7, 2010 at the club's annual "Canucks Summer Summit". I'll be checking out the information on that day to ensure that HBIC has all the anniversary info covered.

The one thing that I did notice, however, is that Derek Forbort, the first-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings, was given a throwback gold jersey rather than one of their current uniforms. The other picks outside of the first round received the Kings' current home uniform. Perhaps the Kings have big plans for this season as well?

All in all, there are a pile of updates for Sunday. The NHL will look a little different next season, but it should look better based upon the Islanders' and Leafs' new looks. Hockey teams might actually look like hockey teams once again!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

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what the media ignored: 25,000 peacefully demonstrate against g20 policies in toronto

We can't expect the corporate media to tell us the truth. But we can tell them they are wrong, and useless. And we can speak the truth to each other and get it out there on our own.

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toronto police allow vandalism to occur, attack peaceful protestors

[redsock guest post]

In August 2007, we learned that Quebec police officers were undercover at a protest in Montebello, carrying large rocks, trying to incite a peaceful crowd to turn violent. Naturally, the RCMP and provincial police categorically denied the story, but were forced to admit the truth when video footage was released. The masked men were wearing the exact same type of boots as the uniformed police officers and when they were confronted by actual protesters, they quickly ran towards (and were allowed behind) the line of riot police.

Today, there are numerous reports -- from both national media and private citizens -- of heavily-armed police at the G20 protests yesterday simply standing around or actually AWOL when some of the most extreme violence was occurring. It makes one highly suspicious that the vandalism may have been allowed to occur to justify the spending of at least $1,300,000,000 of taxpayer money on "security".

[Update: Sure enough, undercover cops getting outed.]

Of course, the media's obsession with photos and video footage of violence has conveniently pushed aside the existence and concerns of the tens of thousands of peaceful protesters.


The Toronto Star reported that "about 70 black-clad protesters ran amok through mostly deserted streets ... At police headquarters, about 50 officers in full riot gear stood guard, but they didn't move against the protesters even after they smashed the windows of the police museum."

Marcus Gee, columnist for the Globe & Mail, reported that the police kept their distance as a few dozen people "roamed through the business district, then up Yonge and along College, smashing all the way. ... There was not a cop in sight as the crowd went on its rampage on Yonge."

Gee lamented that the peaceful protest was overshadowed by "a small group of perhaps 100 or 200 hard-core militants ... with destruction on their minds", yet he devoted most of his column to their antics. It's irresistible, I guess. The Star's photo section is dominated by action shots of rioters.

David Langille, posting at rabble.ca, said he and a group of friends

heard glass breaking on Yonge Street, and saw a mob of about 150 coming around the corner, hurling chairs into windows. Someone threw a bottle through a window showering me in broken glass. What was most striking was that there were not any police in sight.

Evidently this group had started rioting on Queen Street over half an hour earlier -- where the police drove one of their cars into the middle of the group then abandon[ed] it. It was soon set on fire -- making a great photo op.

The group proceeded up Yonge Street smashing windows [for] at least eight blocks, without being stopped by police. ...

As an academic and an activist, I have participated in numerous demonstrations in Canada, the United States, Europe and South America, and I have never seen such a dereliction of duty. ... [W]hen the rioters came smashing their way up the main street of Toronto, the police disappeared for half an hour.

Judy Rebick, also at rabble:

The police spokesperson told Metro Morning today that they waited until later when it was safer to make arrests but that cannot be true. I was there and ... the cops could have arrested the Black Bloc right at the beginning of the action but they abandoned their police cars and allowed them to burn, not even calling the fire department until the media had lots of time to photograph them. ...

People were shocked last night by a city out of control but ... the bigger question here is why the police let it happen and make no mistake the police did let it happen.

On the rabble discussion boards, "absentia" posted at 7:24 this morning:

I watched the CBC yesterday, and what struck me about the "vandals" scene is how staged it looked.

Two police cars, empty and with open windows, parked out front, apart from everything else, serving no obvious purpose. Masked person saunters up to one, in plain sight of camera, nobody trying to stop him, no sense of urgency or subterfuge... Another one lets camera have a good gawk at his pick-hammer, then calmly and delibaretely smashes plate glass... Almost as if they didn't expect to be stopped.

Mass of robocops in full regalia over here; mass of bicycle cops in shorts and yellow macs, no protective gear, over there, just standing around. Huh?

Another poster, "Groggo", wrote:

About those curious blazing police cars. I was at the site, close to those cars. We were confronted by scores of menacing cops, who were keeping crowds back. Then, an odd thing happened. The cops retreated and went elsewhere, leaving both cars abandoned. I thought this was MOST peculiar. When was the last time you saw cops abandoning their own police cars? Within about 30 minutes ... both cars were set aflame -- how I don't know. MOST peculiarly again, not a single cop was there to step in, although there were hundreds of them just around the corner on Spadina Avenue. The whole thing reeked of a set-up.

CP-24's non-stop, hysterical 'coverage' has been predictably one-sided. The thousands of peaceful demonstrators were all but forgotten. Now, it's all about 'anarchists' and 'thugs'.

Steve Paikin, the host of TVO's current affairs program "The Agenda with Steve Paikin", was in the midst of the protest and his Twitter feed includes several accounts of police brutality (I have combined consecutive tweets into separate paragraphs):

they repeated they would arrest me if i didn't leave. as i was escorted away from the demonstration, i saw two officers hold a journalist. the journalist identified himself as working for "the guardian." he talked too much and pissed the police off. two officers held him. a third punched him in the stomach. totally unnecessary. the man collapsed. then the third officer drove his elbow into the man's back. [The journalist was identified as Jesse Rosenfeld] ...

the demonstration on the esplanade was peaceful. it was like an old sit in. no one was aggressive. and yet riot squad officers moved in. police on one side screamed at the crowd to leave one way. then police on the other side said leave the other way. there was no way out. so the police just started arresting people. i stress, this was a peaceful, middle class, diverse crowd. no anarchists. literally more than 100 officers with guns pointing at the crowd. rubber bullets and smoke bombs ready to be fired. rubber bullets fired ...

the police should be smart & do nothing. this is not a violent crowd. they keep insisting it's a peaceful protest. cops tightening their perimeter. why? they are forcing something they dont need to force. who is ordering these police to tighten the noose? it's unnecessary. evwryone's sitting. now tthety'ret motvintt into the crowd. cops moving closer why? arresin people

Police attacked non-violent protesters, pepper spraying and beating them with batons even as they attempted to comply with police orders.

In a story reminiscent of house raids in Afghanistan and Iraq, Dr. John Booth, his wife, and their six-month-old son woke up at 4:00 a.m. on Saturday to find several police officers in their bedroom with guns drawn. The police claimed to have warrants to search the house and arrest Mr. Booth, but they never actually produced the warrants.

Earlier, on Thursday afternoon, Dave Vasey was walking with a friend at York Street and Bremner Boulevard when police demanded he show some identification. ("Papers, please!") Vasey said he was not comfortable with the question and was arrested and kept in a wire cage for five hours. Vasey said the police "told me there was this bylaw. I didn't know what they were talking about." That's because the law was passed in secret.

The protests are continuing today. A Toronto police officer, at 10:22 a.m., near the Atrium on Bay Street:

It's gonna get crazy again this afternoon.

[L note: this post arose from my post of yesterday: "save a little outrage for the real criminals", and the comments found there. Thanks to reader Scott M for alerting me to Steve Paikin.]

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