Month: February 2017

TV maker fined $2.2 million in US for peddling owners data

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Selling your private stuff

It seems a long time since the Ontario government worried about whether traffic cameras on the 401 might catch a man travelling with a woman who wasn’t his wife. That got laughed out of court pretty quickly. The roads are public places and people have to take their chances.  Now we have to worry about TV  fixtures (Vizio Electronics for one) collecting data on what we watch and peddling it to people who will then carefully and secretly shape our viewing for us. It is the latest twist on the enormous invasion of privacy threatened by the so-called Internet of things. The Federal Trade Commission in the US has just fined Vizio $2.2 million for personal data theft.  Modern web-connected TV sets can be disconnected from the Internet. Consumerist has a post on that.  But the scope of the attack on privacy in the  home is breathtaking. Everything from wearable fitness trackers to “smart” washing machines have that capability. Not to make you nervous or anything.

TOP TWEETS: Friday’s posted posters in some good causes

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Pancake fashion statement
Heroes (we hope)
Toonies for tummies

Here are some posted posters from Twitter accounts in South Bayview.  Leaside United Church is calling out the Ward 26 Councillor Jon Burnside to make sure he shows up at the Shrove Tuesday dinner dressed in plaid. Okay, whatever you say. We also have the semi-loonies (in the best sense of the term) from Second Harvest collecting donations in subway stations. They wore “hero masks” like Japanese cartoon characters. An then, Toonies for the Tummy is a catchy campaign. Good luck to them.

Whole Foods in US to close 9 stores, Bayview still on track

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Whole Foods Market in the US has announced that it will close nine stories as it struggles with on-going sluggish sales. The stores that Whole Foods will shutter are in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico and Utah. Work continues here in South Bayview on the store which sits on the line between Leaside and Sherwood Park (Bayview and Broadway). This is known because workers can be seen during the day on the second level space which the store will occupy. There appears to be a mural installed which says “Leaside”.

HURTING AT THE CHECKOUT

The news from the US is proof positive of the grass-roots nature of the distress at WF which caused the delay of the 1860 Bayview store. All the talk of City of Toronto charges and the viability of the 1860 complex was uninformed distraction. WF is hurting where no business can afford to hurt — at the cash. Why? Many say the food is too expensive although that may not be an issue for many frankly affluent residents of Midtown Toronto. Others think organic and similar “purity” promotion is fictional. It may not be, but there is no uniform opinion on the subject.

Area accidents Thursday as reported by TPS Operations

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One dead, many rescued at George St. public housing fire

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One person has died in a fire at the Toronto Community Housing Corp. building late Thursday afternoon. Several others were taken to hospital. Firefighters urgently employed making rescues from upper floor of the four-storey home. as many as 12 people were brought out by ladder. Fire Captain David Eckerman told CP24 that when rescuers arrived, they saw flames coming from the fourth floor and residents on balconies.

Jeff Silverstein to seek PC nomination in Wynne riding

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Jeff Silvertein speaks with SLMG

Members of the South Leaside Monday Group (SLMG) met Thursday morning to discuss their common interests at the home of group member Rani Jamieson.  A guest was former Global News Producer Jeff Silverstein who is now a senior associate with Sussex Communications. Mr. Silverstein spoke of his plans to contest the nomination of the Progressive Conservative Party in the Ontario riding of Don Valley West, now held by Kathleen Wynne. The Premier has won the riding four times since 2003  most memorably against John Tory, who  was PC leader at the time.

Grocer to anchor complex at Laird Dr. and Canvarco Rd.

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The South Bayview Bulldog has learned that grocery firm Organic Garage is contracted to open in the planned redevelopment of the property at 33 Laird Drive across the street from Leaside arena. David Brook, a broker for Bridlepath Progressive Real Estate says the 79,000 square foot property at the corner of Laird and Canvarco Rd. will be the location of the grocery store and for much other retail and commercial tenancy. The property was designed by SMV Architects and is being developed by Quaestus Corp. Units on the second level are available for purchase. Curiosity was raised this week with a news release that Organic Garage would locate its fourth store somewhere in Leaside. Both Mr. Brook and Matt Lurie, head of Organic, confirmed that a rendering of the new store with the release offers the intended appearance of the business when it is finally opened. It has a historic quality not unlike the genuine railway heritage building in First Capital’s Leaside Village at Laird and Esandar Drive which now houses Longo’s. Mr Brook has promised more information about the new retail project in coming days.

Trudeau (45) will meet Trump (70) in Washington Monday

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Prime Minister Trudeau will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. There is both hope and concern as the young Trudeau (45) is confronted with President Trump (70) demanding renegotiation of NATFA but also aware of essential US markets in Canada. Trump is likely to press Trudeau to pay the full amount Canada is committed to contribute to NATO. It is a sore point among Americans that they carry the heaviest burden for NATO because its members renege.

Air Canada new white, black and red for planes, uniforms

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White, black and red
Mechanics have unforms too
All aboard
Black bottom with logo

CBC — Air Canada has unveiled a new twist on an old look for its planes and uniforms for staff, adding black to its iconic red-and-white colour scheme. The airline introduced the makeover at events in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver on Thursday. All the airline’s 300 planes will soon resemble the Boeing 787s that were on display at the events. The tail, engines and undersides are black, but the red maple leaf icon will be on the fin. It marks a return to the airline’s look 24 years ago, when its maple leaf in a circle logo — known by the French term for a hockey puck, the rondelle — was replaced with just a maple leaf. CBC

Thief robs teen’s new Beats headphones from inside door

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Closer

Alison Simpson has posted video on the Leaside Community Facebook group showing a man in a hoodie taking a package from inside the screen door of her home. She reports that this was a shipment for her 14-year son of some Beats headphones delivered earlier in the day. The thief is fairly unrecognizable but the site is here. It is a private group however and you may not be able to see the video. The home is in North Leaside east of Laird Drive. Heather Rose added that a member of Davisville Moms had posted a warning Tuesday of a guy in a hoodie driving a white car taking packages. She says: “He got someone’s diaper delivery yesterday. Joke’s on him in that case…but what a loser. Definitely share this video with police!!!” Definitely.

SNAPS: Split over Trump, Ed’s sign forever and hair on fire

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They’re through
Ed in the sky
Some fire for you?

Lives unfold in pictures this Thursday as (left) Gayle and Bill McCormick of Bellingham, Washington get divorced over Donald Trump. She voted for Hillary and he voted for the Trump man. It was a deal breaker they agreed. Then, David Mirvish is vowing to see his late dad’s Barnum and Bailey-style sign rise above the family’s theatre on Victoria Street. Long may it dazzle. And in the Gaza Strip, there’s a new hair straightening technique called “flaming” for those in need of such alteration. The man wielding the blow torch concedes it can be a bit dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.

No sickness but PC Organic baby food recalled in caution

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Loblaws has extended its recall of  PC Organics baby food pouches due to the risk of deadly bacteria forming in the product. The first recall was for PC Organics Apple, Blueberry and Green Pea baby food. Now all 32 flavours of the product are being pulled back following an investigation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA). No sickness has been reported.