Shania, Neil Young May Join SARS Concert

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030529/ap_en_mu/toronto_sars_concert_2 ^ | AP

[IYAAYAS]

TORONTO (AP) — According to Canadian reports, Shania Twain (news) and Neil Young (news) are both rumored to be considering participating in a concert billed as "the music event of a lifetime."

It's all part of countering the problem of SARS (news - web sites). Toronto officials are hoping the star-studded June 21 show will restore the city's reputation as a fun, safe place to visit and bring much-needed tourism dollars to the city.

Pop artists Sarah McLachlan (news), Avril Lavigne (news) and the Barenaked Ladies (news - web sites) are already onboard for six hours of music spread across two venues to accommodate 70,0000 people. The two venues will be linked by video feed, so that fans can watch live performances from one stage and video from the other. This project is a separate one from the push to bring the Rolling Stones there for a free show to bring tourists to the city.

Officials say that while the SARS outbreak is far from over, a high-profile event is needed to demonstrate that Toronto is open for business.

[IYAAYAS]

Are these people insane? There's a deadly and contagous disease loose in the area and they're encouraging large crowds??? And as many visitors as possible...why?

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Neil Young? Isn't he busy mowing David Crosby's lawn that weekend, or something...? :)

[CJ Wolf]

because they are insane.

[IvanT]

Man, you guys really need to get a grip. I live and work in Toronto. It's not a ghost town, despite what your press down there reports. Honest. People are walking around, doing their daily business, and they're not getting SARS. The only people getting it are people who've been at one of two or three hospitals. It's simply not out in the open community, and never was.

[IYAAYAS]

Good, glad to hear it.

I've been looking for a first hand report, would you care to share your observations?

[My2Cents]

My wife mused last night, "Why is that all of these horrible viruses -- SARS and assorted flus -- come out of Asia?" My response: "It's probably because of the medical masks most of them wear around public places. Keeps the bad germs in."

[Cachelot]

are already onboard for six hours of music spread across two venues to accommodate 70,0000 people.

Having been caught lying about SARS, cretin and his merry crew are now trying to amass 70.000 people smack in the middle of a plague-spot. Truly insane and criminal.

I believe that the Canadian borders should be closed and their shipping blockaded. And I would keep sharp border patrols to see to it that Canada wouldn't try and actually smuggle SARS carriers into the US.

[My2Cents]

[My2Cents]

Where's the obligatory photo of Shania?!

[IvanT]

Sure. It's business as normal. The subways are still packed, people go out to pubs. I've seen maybe 5 people total wearing masks in public. I've a feeling it's cropped up again because we haven't been screening travellers from Asia properly. But then, our gov't is of the bloody attitude that they'd rather let in potential SARS victims than do anything that could remotely be misconstrued as racism.

The only part of town that is quieter these days is Chinatown. Now, they've tried to level accusations of racism due to this, but of course, in general, the only people that frequent the Chinese Mall are Asians, so those accusations are baseless.

I've noticed that some of the bigger malls are a wee bit quieter, but really, the paranoia that was gripping the city was worse than the actual outbreak. I'd love to see the facts on ethnic background for those who dies, but once again, our gov't is loathe to reveal anything that might single out an ethnic minority because as you all know, we crazy Canucks are PC to the point of nausea.

[-YYZ-]

Although, ya gotta admit, Ivan, the health care system's and the public health people's response to this problem has been less than ideal. I'm in Hamilton, BTW. I don't often go into Toronto anytime, but I did take the GO train and subway downtown to have some beers and supper at the Granite Brewery during the last outbreak. I wasn't too worried.

[Cachelot]

It's not a ghost town, despite what your press down there reports.

Of course not. It will be, though, if your health authorities continue to lie through their teeth.

Did Health Canada hire Baghdad Bob, by any chance?

[IYAAYAS]

That's messed up, if it's real I wonder if they've changed names yet?

Somebody should call posing as a CDC employee to request more "samples", when they say they don't do that there, act like you don't believe them.

I'm feeling quite juvinile today.

[rvoitier]

SARS Concert=Save A Receeding Star Concert

[goldstategop]

Who are the BareNaked Ladies? Somehow BareNaked and Lady is the ultimate mixed metaphor. :-)

[Ga Rob]

A benefit concert for SARS??? Man I'll tell you what...the liberals are so full of themselves!!! They are going to have a benefit for a glorified flu bug that is running around. For Totonto?? Has there been an earthquake to go along with the flu??

GGGeeezzzz....

[My2Cents]

The "BareNakedLadies" are a bunch of ugly guys with clothes on.

[IvanT]

Health Canada is a joke. They've got their heads so far up their collective butts they don't know what's night or day anymore. It's symptomatic of our gov't on a whole - a collection of incompetant, brainwashed S.O.B.'s.

They've handled this like a bunch of complete jackarses, that I agree with you 100%. They were more worried of the economics of the situation. Hence their outrage at the WHO' s declaration of the city as a no-go zone. They then tried to rush to contain the PR damage, and didn't make sure the problem was properly contained. Literally, they about faced, from reporting the gravity of the situation, to saying 'we've won the battle' in a matter of one week.

They're idiots, and heads are gonna roll, hopefully culminating in Jean Chretien being run up the bloody flagpole by his shorts on Parliament Hill.

That said, our own media has been grossly irresponsible as well.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Good. Gimme a Molsons.

[Ga Rob]

a deceent pop band from Canada. They try to be a Husker Du or Sugar type deal....I saw them once live, not bad.