Joe Cocker has died at age 70. Paul McCartney spoke to the BBC CBC
Unknowns shroud death of 14-year-old girl
by •
The Toronto Star points out the unknowns shrouding the death of 14 year old Amaria (Momo) Diljohn at the corner of Finch Ave E. and Neilsen Road. A critical issue seems to be that no one saw much. Someone phoned in a report that “a woman” had been hit at the corner but it is not known who. It was only much later that the victim was identified as a young teen. Toronto Star
Earth sends tool-design to 3-D printer in space
by •
NASA has created a made-to-order tool which was required by Astronaut Barry (Butch) Wilmore. on the International Space Station (ISS) The tool — a ratchet — was designed on earth and sent by email to the station’s 3-D printer. According to Business Insider, this is the process: A company known as Made In Space designs the 3D-printed hardware in CAD software, which is then converted into a file-format the 3D printer can read. The company then sends the file to NASA, which is then transmitted to the ISS. The Space Station’s 3D printer can receive the code and begin manufacturing immediately
Koreans are out to shut down Uber taxi in Seoul
by •
South Korea has declared that it intends to put the Uber taxi phenomenon out of business. Kim Kyung-ho, the head of South Korean capital’s traffic division, has filed a lawsuit which says Uber is flouting the law regarding standardized rates, unlicensed drivers and is generally not operating within the city of Seoul’s bylaws. The City of Toronto licensing committee has launched action against Uber to require it to conform to bylaws related to the taxi industry. Business Standard Uber file.
Clerics get Christmas tongue-lashing from Pope
by •
Pope Francis is plainly not out to make friends at the Vatican. Reuters reports he has launched a Christmas tongue-lashing of bishops and cardinals in the Italian-dominated Curia, telling them they are “sick with power and greed”. Francis is the first non-European Pope in 1,300 years. The criticism came face to face apparently in a meeting that normally is limited to seasonal pleasantries. Reuters
Window Wanderland results out Tuesday
by •
Voting was completed on Friday, December 19, 2014, for winners of the annual Window Wanderland event held by the Mount Pleasant Village BIA. The ballots are now being tabulated and the results will be announced Tuesday, December 23, 2014. We’re looking forward to the news.
Mayor Tory talks of “other ways” to find funding
by •
Mayor Tory has spoken about “other ways” to find money if federal and provincial governments are unwilling or unable to advance the kind of cash needed to sustain big cities needing repairs to such things as public housing. Is this a hint at his desire to somehow privatize or sell off to tenants some public housing? The imagination runs as Mr. Tory talks about an alignment or at least a meeting of minds among big city mayors in the New Year. Globe and Mail.
Loblaws techniques to shave costs with suppliers
by •
Marina Strauss, the retailing reporter for the Globe and Mail, has an interesting if long article on the techniques employed by Loblaws and others to shave their costs with suppliers. The information will be of interest to informed shoppers in South Bayview who buy their groceries in perhaps the most competitive area of Canada. Marina Strauss, Globe and Mail
Details of the Elton John-David Furnish wedding
by •
Christmas weather to be wet but manageable
by •
The Christmas weather will be rainy but manageable it seems and should not interfere with travel plans, even by air. Daytime highs will be above seasonal with sadly no sign of the sun from Monday over to Saturday, December 27. Most of the precipitation is forecast for Christmas Eve when the 24 hour total of rain is set at between 10 and 15 mm. Christmas Day is predicted to have a high of four degrees and possibly a mm of rain. Weather Network
Amazing stem cell improvement for Gordie Howe
by •
The family of Gordie Howe has reported what seems to be astonishing improvements for the hockey legend as the result of stem cell injections offered by a research firm. The injections given to Howe by Stememdica Cell Technologies has brought the stricken Howe back to his feet and has him conversing normally with his family. It is an amazing result, wholly unexpected, after the 86-year-old former NHL hero was laid low by a serious stroke. He was thought to be near death. It is apparently yet another example of the breath-taking pace of medical advancement. TSN
Inglewood Drive celebrates its Parade of Santas
by •
Families on Inglewood Drive in Moore Park gathered Friday evening (December 19, 2014) to celebrate the season and admire their handiwork in the form of 45 giant Santa Claus statues towering above them on lawns down both sides of the street. The 12-foot fan-inflated electric polyethylene symbols of the season are marking their second year as Inglewood’s Parade of Santas. It began in 2013 when resident Amy Westin went looking for a Christmas statement for the front of the home she shares with her husband Tom and their three children, Violet, Sienna and Mattias. She struck on one of the enormous and (maybe in a nice way) “grotesque” Santa Claus statues at Canadian Tire. Up it went to much family excitement. Oh yeah, and a lot of work too. These things are ungainly as all get-out and easily blown over. They really need to be tethered on four sides and anchored as well. How did the idea of a whole street-full of Santas spread? It wasn’t a case of keeping up with the Westins, exactly, that caused the craze to capture people all along Inglewood Drive. Neighbour Yousry Bissada asked Amy if she and Tom would mind if he got one too. He liked it, you see. Go for it, said the Westins. A neighborhood gathering much like last night’s offered an opportunity for residents to focus on the Santa mammoths as a group. By the end of the evening, several people were determined to have one of their own. Word spread and as the orders were registered at CTC, a funny thing happened. The company ran out of Santas. Head office got word and soon a large re-supply arrived. CTC recognized a good promotion and (as the video below recounts) arrived on the street with 23 more complimentary Santas. The South Bayview Bulldog covets Moore Park as its own turf and our story brought the Toronto Star and others to record the Santa parade. Oak-lined Inglewood Drive soon rivaled the north pole in the national media as a second home for St. Nick. In these fun photos by Bulldog co-publisher Sue Byford we see Friday night scenes from top to bottom: The Westin family l-r Violet, Sienna, Amy, Tom and Mattias, street scenes at the party looking east