from your friendly neighbourhood camera addict. Documenting some of our antics in Boston - enjoy!

In Canada I embarked on an epic expedition for cigarettes.  It was epic not because cigarettes are difficult to find in Canada but because they are difficult to find in the Bureaucrash Van, where we have been spending many an hour.  When we finally reached civilization I merrily skipped toward the nearest convenience store, full of glee and exhilaration. Upon my entrance I decided to make small talk with my savior, the Canadian convenience store man.

I naively started babbling about how expensive cigarettes are in Canada.  Can you blame me?  They are TEN DOLLARS!

The jolly Canadian convenience store man pulled a card out of his pocket. “Well, little miss,” he said mysteriously, “I have something you don’t have back home.”   I peered cautiously at his plastic card.  THE ONTARIO HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, it read sadistically.

I was stunned, shocked even.  I didn’t want to argue with the jolly Canadian convenience store man, but I didn’t really want to admit that his brilliant heath care system, full of long lines and shoddy service, was something I envied (especially enough to pay five extra dollars for each pack of cigarettes.)  I politely smiled and told him that it was a very pretty little card.

It wasn’t good enough.  The jolly Canadian convenience store man continued on about the merits of the Canadian health care system.  I stood paralyzed, really needing a cigarette, and ready to bolt at the soonest possible opportunity.  

When the jolly Canadian convenience store man told me that I should really watch Michael Moore’s “Sicko,” I could take it no more.  “Thanks, need a smoke.”  I ran. 

As part of our wacky shenanigans through New Hampshire today, the Crash Across America team made an appearance on Gardner Goldsmith's radio show Against the Grain on 107.7 WTPL in Concorde, New Hampshire. You can have a listen here

Went to the SPP Protest in Montebello today but most of the protesters had already cleared out. The stench of Tear Gas was still strong in the air. There were still small handfuls of activist there to make their statements, but they were easily outnumbered by the press and police. The biggest shock was the amount of discarded posters, fliers, signs and empty water bottles that littered the streets. Whatever message the crowd wanted to present, environmental responsibility did not appear to be included. We did several interviews with some of the protesters and the crowds standing outside the IndyMedia safe house. I even did my first on camera interview, which turned out alright, even though I was shaking like a leaf. Stay tuned for more of our shenanigans.  read more »

Today, Crash Across America hit up a North American Leaders' Summit in Montebello, Quebec, where George Bush, Stephen Harper and Felipe Calderón met to discuss opening the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, (SPP) an initiative to develop a more integrated North American Community.

There were some pretty large protests in Montebello yesterday - there's a heavy police presence and residual tear gas offending the senses of anyone passing by.

While there seem to be some legitimate concerns about the SPP - the initiative seems to have been led by a group of corporations and government leaders with very limited transparency and accountability regarding their initiatives - and small government types will be unhappy to hear that it sounds like one of the goals are common and possibly more stringent restrictions on trade (tariffs) and movement (biometric ID) from outside of North America.

On the other hand, the SPP also has some goals that could really help everyone in the deal - the establishment of an economic community and therefore complete freedom of trade and movement within North America.

Protesters are still hanging around, and Bureaucrash - and the people - needed to know, why are people so opposed to these deals? Is it for all the right, or all the wrong, reasons? We interviewed a bunch of people there to protest the summit to get their views and Erin, Minister of Propaganda, is compiling the videos. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: here's the video

We woke up and made some final preparations before registration began at 11. Karen Selick made her annual appearance and gave a great talk on "Canada's Human Rights Codes -- Ugh!" She was followed by Gerry Nicholls who spoke on a topic crashers should care about: "Pigs, Power & Politics: Fighting for Freedom Che Guevara-style." He listed rules and examples to conduct a guerilla campaign in the information war. Marc Emery then spoke about his creative and principled tactics in his battles against the big U.S. and Canadian bureaucracies and their political masters.

To transition from the interesting talks to the upcoming entertainment I took the stage to be the master of ceremonies so that people could share how they are making the world a more free place. Based on audience clapping the brave volunteers would get a Bureaucrash t-shirt.

Update - Here's the video:

 read more »