G8 leaders - Pregnant With Promises

with thanks to reader Rachel Allred at World Vision.

Update : According to the TorStar liveblog, British Prime Minister David Cameron and his German counterpart Angela Merkel will apparently be watching the World Cup on Sunday instead. Good call.

Today's G8/20 security theatre buzz

Today's G8/20 security theatre buzz was a story about a guy being busted for driving around looking distracted with guy stuff in his car - a chainsaw, gas cans, water jugs, a lot of tools, baseball bat, a crossbow, a scruffy white dog, and blankets. Hazmat team in action above looks through this stuff as the guy sits on the curb in handcuffs.

This afternoon's G&M headline :

"Police arrest man with arsenal of weapons near G20 zone"

has turned into Greg Weston's header tonight : 'Perfect gentleman' likely off his meds: Father

"He had tears in his eyes, and looked clearly distraught. There was no hint of anger or aggression.

“My dog,” he said plaintively to no one in particular. “Please someone do something with my dog."

Pop quiz. Which do you think would have been the more effective strategy here?

Option 1 : Ask him "What were you taking yesterday that you aren't taking today?"

Option 2 : Handcuff the guy and call in the hazmat team.

Remember - you have nearly a billion in security dollars to justify here. Take your time ... don't rush it ...

The four day indoor water feature

TorStar provides an "artists depiction" of the $2-million indoor fake lake, aka Lake ShamWow , being built to amuse the 3,000 foreign G8 reporters unable to attend the real deal in Muskoka.

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If I had two million dollars (If I had two million dollars)

Well I'd buy me a Muskoka lake (But not a real Muskoka lake - that's cruel.)

And if I had two million dollars (If I had two million dollars)

I'd build a replica of the Stock Exchange (Ooh it's all just pocket change)

And if I had two million dollars ....

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Wait. Go back. They're building a replica of the Toronto Stock Exchange as well?

Yup.

Plus those 3,000+ reporters? According to Greg Weston, as part of their swag they're getting free “special summit edition” BlackBerrys. All of them?

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Industry Minister Tony ShamWow says we're doing all this because we're proud of our country and want to show it off..

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And if I had a billion dollars, I'd buy your Gov ....

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Update : Jennifer at Runesmith does the whole song.