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2002

Rating: NNNNN


Presto change-o!

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When Nike opens the oh-so-cool Presto, an art gallery/showroom/club in Kensington Market named after one of its sneaker lines, and promotes the space with a coy marketing campaign scuffed up to mimic a grassroots vibe, locals open a can of activist whoosh-ass on the shoemaker: Garbage cans are emblazoned with “Presto is less cool than my dad,” “Git out, you fakers!” and “Nike: sweatshops = get lost!” Mountains of garbage are piled along the front of Presto’s building and paint is thrown on its facade. As No Logo author Naomi Klein predicted, the tactic backfires “quite spectacularly” and Presto soon hotfoots it out of town.

Home Despot

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Tired of allowing over 100 marginalized people to live on the vacant lot near the Lakeshore dubbed Tent City, Home Depot hires an army of thugs (private security) to toss everyone out onto the streets. The shantytown had become Canada’s largest lawless community, with its own de facto mayor and illegal hookups to the city’s power grid. The no-Homeless Depot still hasn’t found a use for the land.

they said

An insane idea. – Jane Jacobs on the idea of an expanded island airport

It’s not meant to be a blind-guy club. – rocker Jeff Healey, who is not sighted, on why his club doesn’t have Braille menus

We don’t aim at a narrow audience demographic. It would be a pity if only Danes could appreciate Hamlet. – Alison Sealy-Smith on the launch of Obsidian Theatre

Who knows? I could wind up shrivelling away in jail like Ol’ Dirty Bastard. I don’t know if I need that kind of drama, but I won’t not release my music out of fear. – laptop musician Kid 606 on sampling

We have Spinal Tap moments now, but fortunately we recognize them. – Rush’s Geddy Lee on his costumed past

we said

“There are times when mediocre rock acts redeem their questionable material by putting on fun and enthusiastic live shows. This was not one of them.” – about Nickelback

“Like one of those larger-than-life chocolate Easter bunnies, once you crack the sweet retro-swank surface, you’re left with something soulless. ” – about electroclash

“What is it with metal guys? You have one fucking job – to get out onstage and play. How hard is it to do on time?” – about nu metal band KoRn live

“Surrender, because there’s no stopping this amazing talent. ” – about Eminem’s The Eminem Show

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“Going to a Tenacious D show for the music is kinda like reading Playboy for the articles. ” – about the D

“Sure, they’ve overstretched themselves, but Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are responsible for some of 2002’s most memorable R&B moments, from Nelly’s Hot In Herre and Beyoncé’s Work It Out to Justin Timberlake’s shockingly funky solo set. The Neptunes were the soundtrack to your lives this year.” – about the Neptunes’ dominant influence

“The best party album of the year, hands down. An old-skool shout-out, a Hey Ladies sample and a lesson in eating pussy in one fell swoop? ” – about Missy Elliott’s Under Construction

top 10 movies

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Adaptation

Monsoon Wedding

Minority Report

8 Women

Under The Sand

Insomnia

Punch-Drunk Love

Gangs Of New York

Bowling For Columbine

Sunshine State

top 10 albums

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Broken Social Scene You Forgot It In People

The Roots Phrenology

Neko Case Blacklisted

The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots

Missy Elliott Under Construction

Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Sarah Slean Night Bugs

Interpol Turn On The Bright Lights

Orchestra Baobab Specialist In All Styles

Cotton Mather The Big Picture

in this year

JANUARY

RIP: Urjo Kareda, artistic director of Tarragon Theatre.

It’s determined that the Walkerton scandal was due to insufficient water treatment to rid water of E. coli.

Operation Green Sweep, which police say nets authorities more than 46,000 pot plants, most of them destined for the U.S., begins in response to threats that the U.S. is adding Canada to the list of major drug-exporting countries.

FEBRUARY

Cops give away Raptors tickets for turned-in guns, raising the issue of racial profiling. How do they know golfers and Leafs fans aren’t packing heat?

Canadian-born Bush speech-writer David Frum pens the infamous “axis of evil” line.

MARCH

Stephen Harper defeats Stockwell Day to become the leader of the Alliance.

APRIL

Four Canadians soldiers are killed in Afghanistan when two American F-16 pilots drop bombs on them.

MAY

Marc Hall takes the Durham Catholic school board to court and wins the right to attend his high school prom with his gay boyfriend.

JULY

Toronto’s stinky garbage strike is in full force.

Pope John Paul II visits Toronto.

AUGUST

Mad cow disease is found in Saskatchewan.

Jean Chretien announces that he is stepping down, opening the door for Paul Martin.

SEPTEMBER

Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti rides an elephant to commemorate the opening of a city park. City bylaws prohibit elephant riding.

Hockey Night In Canada commentator Ron MacLean wins a contract dispute with the CBC after the public is enraged that the network won’t meet his salary demands.

NOVEMBER

The U.S. creates the Department of Homeland Security.

Five stops to nowhere: Mayor Mel finally gets his subway as the Sheppard line opens, bringing Ikea shoppers a little bit closer to that Ivar chair.

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