Dear Premier Wynne: A 14% HST is an insanity

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A more recent curse of our democratic system has been the preoccupation of politicians with their legacy.  We see this in the common theme among politicians at all levels for an underground transit system that will whisk people from one side of the GTA to the other in minutes. No doubt that would be nice. But at what cost and what real payback? Whether you like the St. Clair Street right-of-way or not, it has sliced merely two minutes off of a  trolley ride from Yonge Street to Weston Rd. And as the bureaucrats at Metrolinx, the Ontario agency that plans and organizes transit, lay out ideas for raising $2 billion annually to support transit, are they too, like the politicians, dreaming of a transit system that will be a monument to their time in office? You get the feeling that the generals at Metrolinx are ready to fight the last war.  Canada is on the cusp of electric and natural gas technology that will revolutionize bus travel. It seems possible to create buses that are cheap, clean and highly flexible in traffic and routing. No doubt the great transit thinkers will poo-poo such ideas. It’s the same in the area of waste. Politicians cling to the disastrous notions of burying garbage rather than burning it for energy and heat. Ontario is carrying crushing debt. The idea of adding a percentage point to the provincial portion of the HST is insanity, as is an increase on gasoline taxes. The message to the Ontario government should be to slow down and re-think transit based on what’s really needed.  

Yay! 1978 Apple computer, 1938 Superman comic

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There’s something wonderful about the emergence of popular artifacts like an original Apple computer. This is one of the last working models known to exist, having survived from its assembly by Steve Wozniak in his parents garage in 1978. It fetched some $660,000 from an anonymous bidder. Different, and much more of a surprise, is the sudden appearance of an issue of Action Comics No 1 from 1938 featuring a crazy hero named Superman. This is quite a story too as you will learn by listening to the video.

Visa debit cards won’t process in some shops

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Some Starbucks locations continue to have trouble accepting the new Visa Debit cards issued by Canadian banks. This sign was in an Eglnton Ave. W. Starbucks on Sunday (May 26, 2013) where the staff said they are having the most difficulty with the TD Visa Debit. The move by the banks to collaborate with Visa against their own Interac system has caused much confusion and in some areas more than a little resentment. In the early going, it was found that transactions were being settled over the Visa system rather than Interac, costing merchants more to process them. Many are concerned that this is the beginning of the end for Interac, regardless of what the banks claim. It is the most efficient and inexpensive debit system in operation in North America. And incidentally, is that a credit card or a debit card you have there?

Thorncliffe Park a feline enclave in dog dominion

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We know that the affluent neighborhoods that lay all around South Bayview love — just love — their dogs. It must be said however that they can also afford them. Overall, with the exception of two areas, dogs outnumber cats by almost two to one in Toronto. Data from Toronto’s open data site shows this.  Both the apartment-heavy Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood and the tiny-condo area of the financial centre in the downtown core are both cat country. The rest of the city, though, belongs to the dogs. 

South Rosedale dedicates gate into neighbourhood

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The Gates to South Rosedale were dedicated this afternoon (Saturday. May 24, 2013) in a pleasant and sunny ceremony on Crescent Rd. just east of the subway station. The formal pillars signifying the gate were the donation of South Rosedale resident Ray Cowling. He is seen with Kristyn Wong-Tam (Ward 27) at the upper right and also cutting the ribbon on one of the pillars with Councillor Wong-Tam and David Townley, president of the South Rosedale Residents Association. Lower right a festive on-looker from among the 125 or so people present.  The councillor spoke briefly to thank Mr Cowling and compliment the community.  Mr. Townley said there may be some further details added to the pillars such as lighting on the top. 

School choir singing with the Stones tonight

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It’s the thrill of a young lifetime for members of the Cawthra Park Secondary School Choir in Mississauga as they perform with the Rolling Stones tonight (Saturday, May 25, 2013). at Air Canada Centre. They will be back for another appearance with the venerable rock band on June 6, 2013. Their role will be to set the soaring tone of the Stone’s favorite You Can’t Always Get What You Want. For a certain generation the music is the more memorable because it was the theme of The Big Chill — a 1983 movie about a re-union of boomers at the funeral of one of their gang. Cathraw Park Choir is made up of Grade 11 and 12 year olds who won’t remember that but are very excited by their opportunity. The Stones make it a practice to find accomplished young choirs to back them up during the performance of this song in most cities where they appear. Cawthra music director Bob Anderson said the kids reacted with “lots of loud screaming” when they were told of their assignment. See/hear them rehearse 

Four-click pick offers something for the soul

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In Sydney the down-under autumn weather matched chilly Toronto for the opening day of the city’s annual light show Vivid Sydney. It runs until June 10. Heading clockwise, deception specialist Apollo Robbins has some fun showing us a couple of neat table tricks. Be careful with the one where the knife and fork are joined. A good restaurant may kick you out. Below that is a tasty little cup of news from the Taylor Street Barista in London.  The cup of cappuccino in the opening shot looks good enough to drink. Finally Yo-Yo Ma renders the prelude to the Bach Cello Suite No. 1. Something for the soul.

Ford says he does not use crack, is not addicted

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Mayor Ford has made a statement to reporters in which he says he does not use crack cocaine nor is he addicted to crack cocaine. He did not say that the cocaine accusation made by two reporters from the Toronto Star is  a calculated  lie nor that the two journalists were duped by a video which is a fraud.  Instead,  Mr. Ford said he cannot comment on a video which he has not seen or which does not exist.  This statement is widely seen this afternoon as inadequate. Reasonably, the mayor knows whether he is the one seen with two individuals shown flanking a person who bears an identical appearance to Mr Ford in a photograph from the alleged video. He has not denied that he is the person in the picture. He is readily able to so this if he is not the person shown. He also knows from his own conviction whether the video, as described, is a fraud.