Snowden sentenced to a life of exile in Ecuador?

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Edward Snowden, the young man who purposely revealed the monitoring of telephone and email patterns in the U.S., is seeking  asylum in Ecuador. It probably beats getting tried for his crimes in the U.S. but after a while it will begin to pall. Meantime, the moral and legal debate goes on around the world. More than anything else it seems to reveal the diabolical nature of the threat of terrorism in the  digital-nuclear age. Do we want to be safe, or do we want to take our chances that there are plots brewing out there that we just miss altogether? And does it matter that if the people know what the government is doing, so do the disaffected bomb-throwers? In an innocent age still within living memory censors in Canada opened millions of letters and read the most personal of information in the name of Winning the War. It was taken as a necessity and there was no doubt that everyone knew what was happening. 

Honey Crisps from Chile not worth $5 a pound

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There has been great reader interest in the Honey Crisp apple post.  Right now. the Honeybear brand of Honey Crisps from Chile is in supermarket bins for $5 a pound. The South Bayview Bulldog bought two (that was all we could afford) and our verdict is that compared to the North American Honey Crisps (Canada and the U.S.) the South American Honey Crisp is not worth the price. There is a softness to the apple being sold at Loblaws and Longo’s that suggests that its just a little old. The Honeybear brand is not running with juice like the Honey Crisps from the shore of Georgian Bay. It is true that Honey Crisp has become a 21st Century phenomenon. But be careful what you buy. And, frankly, retailers are counting on you thinking you are going to get the premium Canadian and U.S. quality apple. Here is an extract which tells us about the history of the apple, which was created at the University of Minnesota some 20 or more years ago. 

Right from the get-go, Fred Wescott thought Honey Crisp would be a new force in the apple market. And he bet on it. He planted orchards in Minnesota and northern Washington. And, now, his company is bringing Honeycrisp into the United States from partners in Chile, starting its ­transformation from a fall seasonal apple. “When Honey Crisp came out in Minnesota, it was apparent it had the ability to be far more important than other varieties,” Wescott said in an interview with Good Fruit Grower. He is president of Wescott Agri Products and Wescott Orchards, Elgin, Minnesota, which also owns Honeybear Brands, the name under which the company markets Honey Crisp apples. As proof of his insight, Wescott Orchards planted the first Honeycrisp in the state of Washington already 20 years ago, when the variety was first released by the University of Minnesota. That was in addition to plantings made in the original Wescott Orchards in Minnesota. It was known from the start that Honey Crisp was a finicky apple and that site selection was important, Wescott said. He chose northern Washington as the place to plant and installed overhead cooling. “Honey Crisp does not do well in hot areas,” he said.

Parasols of Protection remind us of skin safety

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Today’s sweltering and sunny weather is a reminder of skin protection as summer gets underway. Whether you are trundling along South Bayview or tending the Rhododendrons, get the screen on please. A lovely reminder comes in the form of Parasols for Protection in New York City.  One hundred bright umbrellas kept Manhattan’s Madison Square Park undercover this week to aid the cause. The orange, yellow and white display served as a warning about the dangers of sun exposure, as it offered pedestrians some cover from the sun. The warning was extended by skin care company, La Roche-Posay, as they handed out sunscreen and offered free skin cancer screenings. 

Sandcastle Day at Woodbine Beach Sunday

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Warwick Castle replica

The Toronto East General Hospital is supporting the 7th annual Sandcastle Day presented by the Beaches Lodge. It takes place tomorrow (Sunday, June 23, 2013) in somewhat doubtful weather for this craft at Woodbine Beach. Everyone is invited to come out and take a look. In past years, some quite nice castles have appeared. Those who dream of such work may wish to look at the video in the column at the left of a replica sand castle at Warwick Castle in England. Tomorrow the party is between  10 and to 3 p.m.at Woodbine Beach where they build on the sand adjacent to the boardwalk between the Woodbine Bathing Station and the swimming pool.

Stintz candidacy could ensure Chow victory

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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  

Facebook hit by bug exposing personal info

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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,