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Yup! Really looking forward to this one. Glad to know that the cat is out of the bag. Welcome Ed. I hear things are sounding great! Should be good times.

congrats briguy! Sounds like a blast. Man do I need to get out! My sister and I would love to see you guys again.

consider me officially jealous! shake it on down for me amy!

Hey Laur, Happy birthday. Words can't express my gratitude for all of your support over the years! I love you sister!

Hmmm... this one's on my radar. Looks like a good candidatee for sure. And with Schwa and the Mudcocks in attendance? Gravy.

All the best to you Mary. Hope to see you soon!

happy birthday to you brad!

EVANS! We love you Sara! All the best to you!

thinking of you greg. wishing you solace.

hoping things are lookin' up real soon! cheers, sara

This is how his night really turned out... Man... I guess I really did miss out eh? Well done folks!

I'm hoping that I'll be able to make it out... hard to break out of the baby schedule. Got a sitter lined up, now all I need is the energy.

Congrats to the two of you. Sounds like your lives together are developing nicely. Wishing you much happiness!

Glad to have met you bb! Enjoy your day.

It's been too long miss carrie. Hope you guys all had a blast on Saturday. I'm sure you did. Happy belated, and all the best!

Hey Joni! That was sweet! Only thing sweeter was Robin topping off the "reservation" by raking a nice flat, soft, sandy spot for me to plop my tent. Now that's service! Glad to hear that you're planning on making the trek too! I figure at least at the ledges you won't need to worry about someone knocking over your bike eh?

I'd still like to hit up grateful fest myself... even if it is on labour day. I'll have to check out the line-up for july 4th weekend as well... weigh out the options... Being such a kid-friendly venue, if the incentives were there I'd even consider making the trip twice this summer. Todd would like to check the place out too this summer. Would love to have him join in with the rest of you guys that were jammin around the fire at our site last year (tonin, blurry, mud, your buddy brad, etc...etc..) Twould be sweet!

Actually there's a bunch of great artists on that list! And I was just starting to lose faith in the Amp. Seeing that my little guy will be my newest concert going buddy, it is awesome news to hear so many good acts coming to the Amp. The lawn makes a good playground.

Happy birthday Tigger! I'm sure you will be doing it up right somewhere! Keep on keepin' on there bro!

much love to you both bri, and a huge congrats!!! we still get to have a canadian party to mark the occasion though right?

Better late than never... all the best to you jay. glad to hear that you're feeling inspired.

Happy birthday bri! Thanks for keeping hamilton groovy!

Hey guys. Thanks for all the well-wishes! The last week or so has been the most intense time of our entire lives. What a roller coaster!! Just getting a chance to come up for some air right now. Rowen's arrival was quite the ride with a few unanticipated bumps along the way, but bottom line is little Rowe is healthy, happy, very content and so beautiful. He's been melting our hearts. Todd is one big puddle of goo... My heart has never been so open. We can't wait to get him on the guit box. Looking forward to showing him off when we get the chance to cross your paths. Cheers, sara

I'd agree with that.

I figure the most positive thing coming out of this debate, is the fact that it is indicative (hopefully) of some decision-makers finally seeking to brainstorm interventions aimed at addressing or at least acknowledging a very serious problem without focusing exclusively on the "need for tougher gun laws and criminal punishments". Although I am VERY skeptical that this is the best approach (e.g. perhaps Afrocentric classes offered within existing public schools and accessible to the general population vs. a distinct school altogether would be a more appropriate response), atleast things like education, positive identities, role models/mentorship, culturally/socially relevant content, etc. are "beginning" to enter into the realm of issues that actually need to be addressed if some of the problems plaguing Toronto's inner city are to be grappled with in any effective manner. How's that for a run-on sentence? I figure that the money it would cost to build separate schools that are able to accommodate these new programs could probably be put to more effective use. I'd be curious to here more about the existence/quality of social services and mentoring programs that are being offered in a "proactive" manner and targetted at vulnerable youth within the existing school system. I suspect a lot more money could be poured into beefing up programs that would "help" to alleviate the effects of poverty, and/or equip at least some students with better knowledge and ideally a sense of agency, or at the very least provide more positive and meaningful opportunities/alternatives for youth to pass their time?