March 13, 1999 - AndroidCat

As usual Gregg and his scruffy herd of ilk were late and got a telling off by the police officer .. Whoops! </Andy Hill Mode>

A very nice (for March) sunny day as the Toronto chapter of ARSCC (wdne) opened up the year's picket season.

In morning, we assembled at the usual place. This time it was Wulfen's show as the official picket captain. (See what happens when you out critics Co$--footbullet!) After a crummy McBreakfast (always important to eat--food if possible) we went forth to collect the signs, and on to the crumbling remains of $cientology in Toronto. (The last of several orgs in the Toronto area. "Expanding"? *snicker*!)

The org didn't pay for an off duty officer today. They claimed that they didn't know about the picket until a couple days ago, and didn't have time to hire an officer. LIE! Wulfen posted the picket notice a month ago, and copies of any posts by Toronto ARSCC (wdne) land on Buttnor's desk.

However they pulled in a bit more attention they would have liked, I suspect. Supervisor Thompson (#1846) and partner kept a close eye on things. He took down information on each picketer and org member, and will be keeping a watch on things during the summer. (So we're likely to get consistent rules no matter which officer is there.) He wasn't too happy to hear that this wasn't a snap picket, and the org's "false alarms" last year. I suspect Co$ will have to pay for an officer next time. He's tough, but friendly and fair. (Sort of a Scottish Max Von Syndow, kind of.)

Needless to say, the org folks were reasonable and kissy-face nice. Zero bull-baiting. The only tactic left to them was to try and tie up picketers in conversation. Gregg called time on one of them. Andy Hill was actually there first thing in the morning. Good grief! Today he didn't try stalking anyone to parking lot like last time.

Initially the morning was quiet, low traffic. In attendance was Wulfen, Gregg, Deep Wog, Alan, Kady ("The Mystery Chick"), GypsyBlue, David Palter (ex-Toronto staffer, Gregg posted an essay by him a month or so back), and this AndroidCat guy. There was an ex-Toronto public who came to watch. He plied us with muffins and pastries on the picket, and joined us for lunch.

Oh, and a staffer I spoke to hadn't heard of the incident at the org with Mr. Yee.

And then we broke for lunch.

Good conversation. We all had a good laugh about stories of Maureen coming up for the Minton picket, tearing a strip of the local staff for being unable to handle them SPs, then getting slapped down by the Toronto police. (Al Buttnor did have a smug "it's not my problem this time" look on his face.) Apparently the local staff had to hide giggles...

David seemed suprised/amused by how well non-ex picketers had Co$ terminology down pat. Kind of scary eh?

The ex-Toronto public (I know his name, but I'm not sure if it's okay to use it) told us the reason for initial break: They wouldn't let him go to the Toronto WorldCon. (It's a Science-Fiction fan thing. Mecca.) He wasn't comfortable picketing himself, but was glad that we were doing it. (Which is fine. This isn't a pissing contest. Thanks for the pastry and moral support!)

After lunch, I had a number of other things that needed doing today, so I headed off. (And I have to get back in picket training. My back hurts!)

I suspect the rest of the picket will be uneventful. (However, I bet the bullbaiting starts the moment the police leave. [Unrestricted Toronto bull-baiting is still pretty mild.])

/\< of that ilk.
Aww, Co$ doesn't like to play Fair Game with Canadian rules! I guess
they'll just have to pick up their org and go home eh!