My trip to Stratford coincided with the SARS benefit concert. I'll admit I'm not the kind to help a rival city like Toronto spring its economy out of the red, but what the hey, for 21.50$, I get the chance to be 'a part of history'. I hate that expression by the way.

As far as the eye could see, 450 000 people were crammed into Downsview park. Some of them were hot! Others were not. But the coolest people were the leeches. Even on the bus ride from the subway, you could see them along the side of the road, trying to make a quick buck. Cardboard signs selling water, cameras, and bootleg t-shirts complete with spelling mistakes. One guy ran an extension cord ALL the way from his house, and sat in a lawn chair on his driveway selling soft drinks. That's dedication.

I didn't think about getting a disposal camera until we got there. Funny how the things on sale got more expensive you closer you got the venue. I pass one guy, selling a camera for 10$. By then, my bro has convinced me to buy a camera. We pass a guy selling for 15$. "You know, there's a guy down there selling them for 10$". He didn't seem too bothered by it. Well, not until I shrugged at him and walked back to the first guy and bought his camera. I turn my head to see him approaching the cheap camera guy. I shook my head and moved on.

By the way, standing in a crowd of half a million people for 11 hours in the heat, with one bottle of water isn't a good idea when you're already sick...

If you expected a carnival atmosphere, you got it. People everywhere, generally in the mood to have fun.  You could tell some people felt deprived after the first few hours of the concert, as signs were scribbled on cardboard announcing urgent biological needs: WE NEED WEED and SHOW US YOUR BOOBIES were my favorites.

Other than that, the rest of the day was great.  Good tunes, good vibes, and a big chunk of Canadian beef.  And just like everyone else, we littered like there was no tomorrow.

AC/DC stole the show, although some of the most rousing cheers came when bottles were chucked at pop-wonder Justin Timberlake.  Congrats to Timberlake for also generating the most boos of the day!  Bravo, Justin, bravo...