The only good thing about snow on March 23 is that we’re in the home stretch. But it looks like the remnants of this coating will be here until next week.

It seems almost certain tonight that the government will be defeated either Thursday or Friday and that the country will go to the polls early in May. Tomorrow (Wednesday) the Bloc Quebecois will offer an amendment to the budget. The government, though, has not stated when it will schedule that debate, and it could choose to delay it. There is also a chance that the government will amend its budget to gain enough opposition support. That seems unlikely however. If the government survives to Friday, the Liberals have an opportunity to introduce a motion of non-confidence. This would again almost certainly lead to the defeat of the Conservatives. In this event, the most probable dates for an election are Monday, May 2, 2011, or Monday, May 9, 2011.

They’re busy changing the face and the interior of 1605 Bayview these days. Workmen of all skills come and go. Right, many new walls are installed just inside the entrance of the Shoppers Drug Mart to-be. Traffic flow is important to ensure that everyone walks past the scent and cosmetic centre. No kidding. Word at Shoppers present store near Millwood is that the move will take place on the holiday weekend of May 24. That’s two months and counting. Can’t wait.

By which we mean to say, it’s Spring. These are the offerings in the window at DEW (Day, Evening, Weekends).

Courtesy local history photographer, these pictures from inside the Canadian Northern Railway Maintenance Shop on Laird Drive at Esandar Drive. The site seems destined very soon to become part of a retail commercial development on the large property, with the old heritage building itself converted, at least in part, into a Longos Food Market. Picture at upper right shows a couple of the large doors which permitted steam locomotives to enter the shop. There are twelve doors altogether, as the exterior picture at the upper left shows. Lower left, looking north with the doors on the left side of the picture. Lower right, spacious old building will easily permit construction of a second level.

Nine days after the earthquake and tsunami that caused a crisis at the Fukushima nuclear complex in Japan, the headlines are reduced to this: Misguided millions all over the world have over-dosed on iodine pills. The World Health Organization is concerned. Then we have the G-7 intervening to stabilize currencies around the world. Would this ordinarily helpful attempt be cause for another paralyzing and destructive demonstration against the G-7? One could never guess. And finally, in the current Fukushima news, a slew of headlines to the effect that, well, the Japanese seem to have done a pretty good job in an awful situation and it looks like we’re all going to be okay. Oh. Gee. That’s good. You mean all the hysterical hand-wringing about The End! wasn’t necessary? Or sensible? Evidently, friends. And you knew all along that you didn’t have to be indifferent to the problems of the Japanese to also know that you were getting a load of news orchestrated primarily to terrify you. Thanks to our friends in television for that.

Here are a couple of nice super moon pictures courtesy of a Flikr site based in San Francisco

The Royal Bank (RBC) at Bayview and Belsize will have what is being called a “First time home buyers seminar”. It will be run by Luciano Guarino (inset) who is known to the bank as a Mobile Mortgage Specialist. The date is Thursday March 24, 2011 from 6.30 to 7.30 pm at the branch. Attendance is by RSVP by Monday, March 21, 2011. You can call at 416-974-8894 or 416-974-7932 Mr. Guarino will no doubt be looking for new business but it may be a good chance to get a few tips on how to construct your home-buying and mortgage plans.

The long-suffering residents of MiIllwood Road on the Leaside side are living through yet another disruption. Rabcon Contractors are working their way east on Millwood, replacing connections to residences. And it’s going to be a few more weeks. Rabcon incidentally is the water and sewer main contractor contracted by the City to makes these repairs. Their website says they work extensively with Toronto Water on sewer and water main construction, sewer and water connection services and on various specialized construction projects.

This wriggly fellow is one-year-old Conrad Black (no comment). He was visiting along sunny South Bayview today when we snapped these pictures.