The South Bayview Bulldog

The auditorium at Northlea Elementary and Middle School rang with cheers and applause this morning (Friday, December 13, 2013) to thank and congratulate crossing guard Jake Apacible (centre above). Jake is the diminutive but powerfully caring and conscientious guard who for more than ten years has been shepherding Northlea kids safely across the street. The occasion was Jake’s winning of the “Canada’s Favourite Crossing Guard” contest sponsored by Parachute and FedEx Canada. More on that in this previous post  Today Jake was first thanked personally by school and police officials (above he is seen with Trustee Gerri Gershon and PC Wai Lau, the 53 Division School Crossing Guard Coordinator). Then it was on to the auditorium where assembled Grade 3 and 4 classes gave Jake a heart warming reception (pictures inset). It was nice for Jake for sure but also a useful lesson for the children about the importance of ordinary people.

The world is witnessing a shocking Stalinist-like purge in North Korea.  As it unfolds, the ruthless character of the country’s little dictator, Kim Jung un, is being revealed.  Kim has had his own uncle, Jang Song-Thaek tried and then executed as an enemy of the state. Jang was arrested three days ago and has been systematically been condemned and humiliated for so-called failures. His actual killing however seems stunning. It is said that the once powerful Jang had become increasingly resented by his nephew, who at 30 years of age, is 37 years younger than Jang.  The execution has been made public in North Korea, where as in the past, fear seems to be the main diet of an impoverished and cowed people. The tyrant Kim has used all the tricks of terror politics. It is a device employed by Stalin, Hitler, Saddam Hussein and other dictators to have their victims dragged out of important public gatherings, all the better to frighten the rest of their followers in the audience. The state broadcaster KCNA branded Jang a “traitor for all ages”. Jang was executed on Thursday shortly after a special military trial, KCNA reported, after committing such a “hideous crime as attempting to overthrow the state by all sorts of intrigues and despicable methods with a wild ambition to grab the supreme power of our party and state”. In a viciously-worded attack, the regime accused Jang of betraying the trust of both Kim Jong-Un and his father Kim Jong-Il, saying he had received “deeper trust” from the younger leader in particular. Branding Jang “despicable human scum… worse than a dog”, the regime accused him of attempting to stand in the way of Kim Jong-Un’s succession, according to KCNA. Jang, who was married to the sister of the late Kim Jong-Il, played a key role in cementing the leadership of the inexperienced Kim. But analysts say the 67-year-old’s power and influence had become increasingly resented by his nephew, who is aged around 30. And China, the power broker that could put an end to the Kim regime sits and looks on.   BBC Friday, December 12, 2013

The truth at last. It comes in the form of a report from something called the Neptis Foundation, a Toronto-based planning body. It sears both provincial and city politicians for trying to buy votes with billion dollar projects that are unnecessary. Neptis report author Michael Schabas blows away the idea of a Scarborough subway. Get people downtown from the east by electrifying the GO lines and clearing the rails for faster frequent service, he says. Schabas claims the much ballyhooed  Downtown Relief Line is a multi-billion dollar madness that will never pay for itself. The report is in the Toronto Star. It comes on the same day that Premier Wynne’s transit commission, headed by Anne Golden, is expected to recommend  a five-cent a litre gas tax, corporate taxes and a land-value capture (the term just gives one a bad feeling). Maybe they plan to “capture” people and rob them.  Neptis report 

Andrew Coyne makes the case for Canada Post to give up its monopoly on letter delivery in Canada.  We referred to this senseless barrier to private enterprise yesterday (previous post). Coyne reminds us that the Canada Post Office Corporation Act gives Can Post the “exclusive privilege” to deliver  first-class mail, making it  illegal for anyone but the post office to deliver a letter for less than three times the price of a stamp. Andrew Coyne

There is a timely 25% off Christmas Sale at Dolly Jewellers 1699 Bayview Ave on Italian gold earrings. The large selection of earrings has sets sale priced from $99 from now right through to December 24. Take a look.  We’re told many customers have taken a shine to this sale. 

Canada Post is phasing out door-to-door delivery of regular mail to urban residents and increasing the cost of stamps in a major move to try to reduce significant, regular losses. The Crown corporation announced its plans in a news release today (Wednesday, December 11, 2013) saying urban home delivery will be phased out over the next five years.  It will surprise some that only one-third of all homes continue to receive door-to-door delivery. Rural and condominium-like buildings already have community mailboxes. It seems likely however that condo and apartment dwellers will also find themselves trekking to a large community mail centres along with homeowners, The decision comes with many unanswered questions. Although the community boxes are said to be secure and individualized to each user, there is no information as to how convenient they may be. Residents of lower South Bayview will know how inaccessible is the postal office serving Moore Park and north Rosedale. Fetching undelivered registered mail requires a fight through traffic to Yonge and St. Clair, paid parking and long walks the basement outlet. And how will the elderly cope? Canada Post said it is also planning to scale down its labour force by between 6,000 and 8,000 people, though it maintains it can do so through attrition as about 15,000 employees are scheduled to retire in the coming years.  Gazette  Canada Post news release  Urban dwellers baffled by community boxes.