“Sell patents, split top job at RIM”

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Activist shareholder Jaguar Financial of Toronto, headed by president Vic Alboini, left, is calling on Research in Motion (RIM) to split the two top jobs at the BlackBerry firm. Jim Balsillie (centre) Mike Lazaridis (right) now share the duties of CEO, an arrangement that Jaguar calls inefficient. One man should be CEO and the other an independent chairman, the banking firm said, It called for RIM to take stock of its diminished status in the hand-held business and consider selling patents, or even selling the company as a whole. Many say Jaguar, which owns, only five percent of RIM shares, has slight chance of getting much support for its ideas. Still, its a sign of shareholder discontent.

Sidewalks — what on earth is going on?

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Here it is September 6, 2011, and there is no sign of the sidewalk reconstruction that was supposed to be finished by September 9, 2011. What we have is a street with the patios and displays removed and endless rubber pylons doing nothing. Merchants and citizens are well within their rights to ask what on earth is going on?

Red, White and Blue get cosy

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To read the linked news release is to realize how smart are the boys and girls at Scotiabank and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. If branding is everything, this one’s got it all. The most tangible tidbit for the public out of this arrangement is stated as follows in the release: “Over the course of the partnership, the Maple Leafs, Marlies and Scotiabank will provide a range of exciting experiential fan initiatives and community programs that will include youth skills development and women’s hockey.” Let’s hope so. Both the bank and the hockey club have profited hugely from public loyalty. Let them show is their colours. News release.

Utterly Autumn Labour Day

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The chilly Labour Day weather caught many by surprise but even for those who checked the forecast, it was hard to accept the need for sweaters and jackets. On South Bayview, the dress of the day was often a conflicted thing. Some were bundled up on top, but still sporting shorts and sandals down below. The sharp drop in temperature (14 degrees) was a surprise for sure. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we are looking at a better day with a seasonal high of 19C. The street was busy Monday and many restaurants did full up business. Thanks to everyone who came out to South Bayview.

No worries as Happy Feet slides into ocean

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We had this video showing the exploits of Happy Feet the Wayward Penguin all ready to go off when we saw him chronicled in the Star as well. This video shows Happy Feet getting a little shove to return to his normal habitat, the Antarctic Ocean. Once in there, he loved it. There are also a couple of shots of him getting a fish breakfast from New Zealand Zoo workers. The emperor penguin was a local sensation in Kiwi after going astray and spending a few days in that land . Additional.

Search function on South Bayview Bulldog

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A new search function on The South Bayview Bulldog permits a much more precise way to find posts of interest to you. The entry box for this is to the left at the top of the sidebar. With it, you will be able to quickly search any key word(s) to see if there is a history, or summon up any of the more than 1500 posts known to be in the base. Give it a try.

Twins denied $50,000 prize for hockey shot

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You may have seen this story about Nick and Nate Smith, 11 year old twins from Faribault, Minnesota. Late last week Nate (right in the yellow shirt) executed a marvellous trick hockey shot by firing a puck some 89 feet through a three and a half inch target. As you will see, he was rightly joyous. But wait. It turns out the it was Nate’s twin, Nick, who actually bought the $10 ticket to make the shot. And only he was eligible to make it. When the time came for Nick to shoot, he was outside the arena. Just like a 11 year old. With his fathers knowledge, Nate walked onto the ice and made the shot. As they are identical, no one would ever have known that Nick was not the actual winner. But the next day their dad decided to set a better example for his kids and told organizers of the switch. Subsequently, the insurance company which administered the contest said it would not pay Nate (or anybody) the $50,000. It did make a $20,000 gift to charity however.

Large new shipment of Sophie Conran

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Homefront at 371 Eglinton Ave and 1579 South Bayview has received a large new shipment of the popular Sophie Conran porcelain. This shipment contained some great feature pieces like the large comporte (above) large souffle baker and the footed drainer. Come in and take a look. Eglinton (416) 488 3189 and Bayview (416) 485-2305.

Giggly German weather woman gets mega hits

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This amusing clip of a German weather woman has been viewed nearly two million times. Even in German it’s funny. Generally, she breaks up because they flash a picture of an anchor on her screen instead of her map. She blurts out, “Well that wasn’t bad either”. She keeps trying to go on with the weather but can’t get it together. At one point she asks for some cue cards before she totally loses it.