The South Bayview Bulldog

This is an exceptionally well done feature by Public Broadcasting in the U.S. It is of both general and local interest in Canada — particularly Ontario. It explores the wisdom of sports gambling (now illegal) and of gambling in general. The two main areas discussed are sports gambling as an invitation to game-fixing, and the moral question of whether governments (as is the case in Ontario) should be haranguing poorer citizens to spend their money on what will be a losing proposition for the vast majority of them. In this discussion, the point is made that people ought to be free to gamble locally (bingo, horse racing, poker etc) but not under the urgent advertising campaigns launched by government. In this province the elaborate and insistent advertising from the Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation is well known.

A meeting today in Thorncliffe Park is a reminder that families and friends should always be watching out for elderly citizens, especially if they live alone.This meeting was held by PC Alex Li of the 53 Division Crime Prevention Unit to review strategies for Senior Safety/Frauds/Elder Abuse. It was organized by the Community Unity Alliance with funding from New Horizons for Seniors Program. In April, 2014, a Thorncliffe senior was saved by the alert work of a pharmacist Selina Chan-Ying and a deliveryman who works for her from bullying and theft of people who had forced their  way into the senior’s apartment. Citizens save Thorncliffe Park woman from elder abuse 

Starbucks announced today that it has told employees at its U.S. stores to stop writing #RaceTogether on the cups. The company’s CEO Howard Schultz claims the campaign to discuss race in Starbucks locations will go on but most observers see this as a way to quietly put the ridiculed idea to bed. It drew withering criticism from many corners of society including editorials in newspapers. The Washington Post wrote “Dear Starbucks, can we just have a cup of coffee” while the Portage Daily Register said “Shut up and sell your coffee.” Some have recalled the particular strain of hubris that sometimes infects highly successful business people. It is slightly delusional and somehow persuades its victims that they know the answer to everything.  This was briefly true of Henry Ford who having built a workable automobile thought that he could order the Kaiser to halt WWI. Many successful musicians, like the Beatles, have unwisely embarked on giving advice to world leaders about the state of things. Paul McCartney later conceded this foolish behaviour. “We thought we were statesmen,” he said, “when all we were was good rock musicians.”  Then, it appears, there is the successful coffee salesman Howard Shultz. Photos from top: Howard Schultz, Paul McCartney, Henry Ford

It would be big news if the Toronto subway was fully open on a weekend.  Once again broadcast media are offering “need-to-know” news that the subway, or some part of it, is closed. Of course, if you are into working out travel plans that involve taking the subway between the places where it’s shut down and where it’s not — knock yourself out. There is an “unexpected” shut down today on the Bloor line (2). Unexpected by whom? Anyway, it may not last too long. The Yonge line (1) was shut down for track work between Bloor-Yonge and Osgoode stations on Saturday, March 14. The TTC is closing that section of the line to allow crews to work on the unfinished platform at Union Station. Trains will turn back north at both Bloor and Osgoode stations until Sunday morning. However, shuttle buses will be available from Osgoode to St. Andrew stations and from Rosedale to King stations. Today there will be a two-stop closure between Union and St. Andrew stations. All trains will turn back northbound at Union and St. Andrew, so if you’d like to get downtown without setting foot outside, make sure to hop on the Yonge line. No shuttle buses will be provided from St. Andrew to Union on Sunday. A temporary lift device from the subway level to the concourse level will be available for those on wheelchairs, scooters or other mobility devices.

Pope Francis has been mobbed by a group of overexcited nuns, let out from their convents during his visit to Naples.The nuns had to be reined in by the Archibishop of Naples after swarming the pontiff, to his evident bemusement, and showering him with gifts and greetings.

People Magazine 

All leads Friends celebrate his career. 

There has been a jaw-dropping bidding war for a well-kept semi-detached home at 512 Balliol Street. The home sits midway between Bayview Ave and Mt Pleasant Rd. It sold last week for $954,000. This was a premium of $155,000 over the listing price of $799,00 set by the owners Michael and Carly Telpner. They were looking at bids of $950,000. $951,000 and $954,000 as the dust settled that night. They did the decent thing. Some might have held out for another round but as Mr. Telpner told the Globe and Mail:  “I didn’t want to be obnoxious. I didn’t want someone to lose out over $2,000 or $3,000, but that was the process we laid out.”