Jose Bautista powers Blue Jays to 10 in a row

Yes, you are awake! NBC Hardball Talk

Stintz candidacy could ensure Chow victory

A nice piece by Bob Hepburn in the Star describes how Karen Stintz  (Ward 16) now has a voice coach. She is learning to speak like a chief executive. Good for her. The belief is strong that she will run for mayor.  Present polls give conservative-slanted voters concern. It’s pretty clear that Rob Ford has a lot of rock solid support in the suburbs. Ms Stintz is no doubt good to poach Mr. Ford’s support elsewhere.  She is an attractive politician. But the scenario is tailor-made for Olivia Chow. Her sympathetic appeal based on (well, you name it)  makes her a very good bet to go right up the middle to victory in 2014. She might well win with a nice plurality and the only reason that she would not become mayor hangs on reform of the electoral system. If there were a run off required in such a situation it is quite possible that either Mr. Ford or Ms. Stintz would get enough second-chance votes from the other to win a  majority. But there seems no likelihood reform will be adopted or  implemented by then. Keep this scenario in mind come next November. Learning to speak like a Mayor  

Bits and Bites on Bayview — Be There!

Bits and Bites   South Bayview Weekend

Facebook hit by bug exposing personal info

Social networking giant, Facebook, Inc has reported a security bug that exposed personal account information of six million users. This does not mean the information was actually taken by anyone. Facebook added that it temporarily disabled the Download Your Information or DYI tool to clear the issue, and turned it on after the bug got fixed. On the Facebook Security page, the site’s White Hat team said that giving out an explanation of why the bug popped would be technical but instead added a brief detail of how it happened. RTT News 

As many as 100,000 displaced by grim flooding

RCMP have recovered have two unidentified bodies tonight (Friday, June 21, 2013)  from the Highwood River near High River and continue to search for a woman swept away Thursday near Longview, 20 kilometres west of town. Thousands have been evacuated across southern Alberta and many more are under orders to do so but have not. The downtown core between 9 Avenue and the river from Macdonald Bridge to 14 Street W will be closed as of 5 pm Friday. There will be local traffic allowed only. The mayor says the Bow River looks like an ocean. Prime Minster Stephen Harper is now in Calgary to tour the flood damage. Here are four videos describing the ghastly flooding. Upper left a Global news report. Clockwise,  a CBC report on conditions in Calgary. Lower right, more Global footage with the remarks recorded by a video operator who did not know she was on the air. Lower left, citizen with a professional flair records conditions at the stampede ground from a high building.

Gyro Hyundai now open on Laird Drive

The owners of Gyro Hyundai have quietly opened their new dealership at Laird Drive and Industrial Street. Sources say two cars had been sold by Friday morning. Not bad, especially considering the non-stop traffic jam caused by hydro construction on Laird. This business is an excellent addition to Laird Drive and Leaside in general. The South Bayview Bulldog has said for many years that it should be a strategic goal of Leasiders and area people in general to have more new car dealers locate on Laird Drive. There is an enormous shortage of new car sales and service in midtown Toronto. Let’s make Laird Drive Midtown’s new auto alley 

Busy Saturday outside this weekend

This early Summer weekend has a lot of family activities. Here are some events:
  
The Magical Gardens of Leaside . This is the Leaside Garden Society tour tomorrow, Saturday, June 22, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year’s self-guided tour includes eight gardens and provides the opportunity to meet the gardeners, ask questions and learn how these beautiful spaces were created. Among the spaces to be seen are koi pond with waterfall, a unique Irish shed, a pergola built by the gardener, garden art and a Japanese “stroll garden”. Also this year is a new perennial garden at the Leaside Public Library, donated by the Society in 2012 along with a garden bench and planter to commemorate its 25th anniversary.  Passports, which include garden addresses and a tour map, are $10.00 each (adults and children) and are available from the following local merchants: Gentry Clothiers- Sunnybrook Plaza Royal LePage- 1391 Bayview Avenue Stars- 900 Millwood Road Urban Nature Store – 939 Eglinton Ave East (at Brentcliffe) Write impressions- 1515 Bayview Avenue or for Mail Order (cheques payable to Leaside Garden Society) please call 416-489-5398. 
  
Bits and Bites on Bayview the innovative snacking event along South Bayview is on Saturday.
See previous post.

And the Mallory Crescent and Leacrest Road Street Sale goes Saturday as well  from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

The 8th Annual Neighbours’ Night Out – Open Streets in Thorncliffe Park Saturday between 1 to 9p.m.  There is free admission on Overlea Boulevard between Thorncliffe Park Drive West and Thorncliffe Park Drive East 

Historic flooding brings promise of federal aid

Historically high water on the Bow and Elbow Rivers is causing catastrophic flooding in Calgary and a large surrounding area. Prime Minister Harper has promised Alberta Premier Alison Redford that she will have his full support for rescue and recovery. As many as 100,000 people are said to have been evacuated.  efforts as the province struggles to deal with heavy flooding. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said, “I grew up here. I spent a lot of time on the Bow and Elbow Rivers and I have never seen the river that high or that fast. The Town of Canmore was shut down on Thursday after Cougar Creek burst its banks but officials say power has been restored and some residents are being allowed to return to their homes. Inset picture on Twitter is said to show the intersection of MacLeod Trail and 17th Ave. in Calgary,  

Same spot on Bayview Ave. three years apart

Two pictures three years apart at the same spot on happy South Bayview. The spot is just outside Chai on Bayview, a favorite lunching spot. On the left we have the 2013 ministrations of the City to re-introduce a trace of greenery back onto the east side. Soon we hope. Right, the Impatiens of late spring bloom in the old concrete box planter under a long since cut down maple tree. Remember when?

Should we go back to the future on drinking age?

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health says the drinking age should be set at 21 in Ontario — again. The first time was during the rigid 40s and 50s when you had to have a  permit to buy liquor and women were not allowed to enter a bar alone. That thing called the Baby Boom brought millions of potential voters and drinkers along in the 60s and guess what? Politicians sensed that there might be a payoff at the polls if the drinking age started to slide. The legal  age for lifting a draft went all the way down to 18 before coming back to the present 19. Now the recommendation to raise it to 21 comes in a report released this week that outlines the strategies it says could reduce the harms caused by alcohol. Report author and CAMH senior scientist Dr. Norman Giesbrecht says alcohol use needs to be seen as a public health matter, noting about 22 per cent of Ontarians drink beyond recommended guidelines.

TSX Worry Market can’t get enough bad news

These are the days that try men souls, and women souls too, if they are invested in stocks. The TSX has been falling for more than two weeks on fears ranging from the price of gold to a dawning that maybe the economy might be improving and that would mean an end to zero interest rates. It is a period of collective economic self-abuse that can be seen in markets everywhere. Unmeasured and unknown fears rule the market. Today (Thursday, June 20, 2013) it the TSX finished at its low, down 299.

Meeting held regarding new Costco store

The meeting in Thorncliffe Park last night to discuss plans by Costco has apparently gone well. Tenants association contacts say the plans for a store and service station were well-received and that it appears there will be few “heritage” issues to the demolition of the 1965 Coca Cola office and bottling plant at 42-46 Overlea Blvd. Plans must go to North Community Council for approval and a recommendation to City Council.  The next North York meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2013. Previous post.