People downtown have been a little surprised to see a plucky parachutist come shooting off the CN Tower this week. He did again Wednesday a couple of times. Whether driving, sitting on a train, in an office or just looking up — citizens have been engaged by the sudden appearance of the chutist. Passing commuters were startled by the jump, taking to social media to question what they saw. “Did anyone… just see the dude in the parachute near the CN Tower?? What the what?!” one person wrote on Twitter. The jumps are part of a promotional video for the 2015 Toronto Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, though organizers did not provide many details. The parachutist leaped from the deck where the EdgeWalk takes place, at a height of 342 metres. The Pan Am jumper is only the third known to have parachuted from the tower. Stuntman Dar Robinson jumped off the edge for a movie shoot in 1979, serving as Christopher Plummer’s stunt double in “Highpoint.” Four years before the movie shoot, steelworker William Eustace leapt off the tower, which was still under construction, in 1974.  Mr. Eustace, a true leader, was charged under the federal Aeronautics Act and fined $50.

This is the full news conference by U.S attorney general Lynch, FBI and IRS officials. U.S is looking to recover cash from FIFA accused and fellow miscreants.

A CBC story by writer Jonathon Ore provides a number of examples of people who are commenting on Twitter about  the group known as Density Creep Neighborhood Alliance. They are protesting redevelopment of single family homes on Keewatin Ave. The tweet is offered as an example by Mr. Ore. She wrote that the Toronto Star article which described the issue could be summarized  as “Rich, white people worried about not-so-rich white people moving into their area.”  There is no evidence offered that the density protesters are white, or of any specific race. Mr. Ore passes over this remarkable insertion of race without comment. There are references to NIMBYism (not in my backyard). NIMBYism is legal of course and widely practiced by homeowners (white and otherwise) who are opposed to everything from new highways to a next-door driveway. One can see why it’s not illegal. CBC

BBC video shows FIFA communications director Walter De Gregorio doing what some are calling “damage control.”  The wretched 20-history of payoffs and improbable showcases for soccer (Russia, Qatar) seems to be coming to an end. Many of the officials indicated today have admitted schemes to enrich themselves. Others seem to be waiting in their offices for the axe to fall. Mirror UK  See below

Quote from the U.S. attorney general says it all: “The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said in the statement. “It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.” Newsweek Who are the indicted FIFA officials 

Loblaws at 301 Moore Ave will shorten late evening hours and will now close at 11 p.m.. seven nights a week. Previously the store was open to midnight. The store will open at 7 a.m. This pullback from midnight is part of three-year flirtation with later hours by the Moore Ave. store. In the summer of 2011 it shocked local shoppers by announcing that it would stay open all night. That lasted three months and the closing time of midnight was established. Clearly, the day-shift customers of Leaside and Moore Park are hardly interested in the opportunity to grocery shop under the moon.

Globe and Mail 

Former Toronto mayor Rob Ford has been released from hospital two weeks after having surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his abdomen. Mr. Ford stopped at his office and spoke to reporters after being discharged. He said he planned to take his recovery “one day at a time.” Ford said the pain he experienced after the surgery was something he’d never felt before, but he said his team of doctors did “a great job”. Ford’s surgery two weeks ago followed several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation which he said had reduced his tumour to an operable size. “I’m feeling good enough to come to work for a few minutes and I’ll just gradually work my way in,” Ford told reporters outside his office at city hall on Tuesday. “I’m just going to take one day at a time and we’ll see.”