British financial analysts and politicians are full of cosy noises about what a sensational place is Canada. Right you are, old boy. A blog post by Liz Phillips of the Telegraph (London) casts this appreciation of our economy in the glow of the Royal Visit. But really, it’s a matter that is both complicated and simple. Complicated if bankers lose their heads. Simple if they don’t. In the end the first principle of banking is: Don’t lend to people who can never, ever pay you back. The second principle is, well, read the first principle.
Duck family rescued by Leaside residents
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There is a a really charming story in InsideToronto.com about a mother duck and her six ducklings who were found on the street near Parkhurst Blvd. and Hanna Rd. As reported by Danielle Milley, various neighbors, including Terri Reid. banded together to rescue the ducks and see them safely placed into Wilket Creek. Over a period of time the growing neighborhood rescue team devised a plan to capture the duck family. They lured the creatures into a portable dog house with bits of bread. Then, on the advice of the Toronto Wildlife Centre they were transported in a family van to their natural habitat (above). Very lovely story with much decency reflecting on the resident rescuers. Picture Courtesy Terri Reid
Outdoorsy Kate and Will
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Stoplight fix at Eglinton and Bayview
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Eglinton and Bayview is a big, wide intimidating intersection. Add the hills and it’s downright obscure. But it was worse before city engineers fixed the westward-facing stoplights. The issue arose for eastbound motorists as they descended the hill toward Bayview. The west-facing stoplight just disappeared behind the east-facing light.The traffic wonks fixed this by placing an additional light for eastbound traffic on the back of the west facing light (inset). Believe it or not, this post is less confusing than trying to drive through the intersection without being able to see the traffic lights,.
A victory for reasonable doubt?
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Caley Anthony has been found not guilt. Reuters report.
Break-in reported on Inglewood Dr.
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TPS Report: “A resident of Inglewood Drive, reports that on July 1, 2011 between 0930 hours and 1245 hours, entry was gained into the premises by forcing a door. Removed was a quantity of jewellery.”
Leaside-Eglinton Pet Hospital opening soon
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A new veterinary is moving into the TD Canada Trust building at Laird Dr. and Vanderhoof Ave. Leaside-Eglinton Pet Hospital indicates by a sign that it will open soon. There may be others, but the two other vets who comes to mind are both on South Bayview, although there are dog groomers elsewhere.. The new one will be occupying space, as is the TD, in the old Pease Foundry offices and factory. This attractive building in Art Modern style still has some spaces for lease. Read comment from S which informs this post a little.
Kate and Will arrive in Northwest Territories
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A visit with more than ceremonial meaning. Canada is an arctic country. You claim the arctic by being there. Nuff said.
Royal, TD raise residential mortgage rates
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Royal Bank and TD Canada Trust announced Monday they are raising regular and special rate mortgages, effective July 5, 2011. The changes were in the range of 0.10 to 0.15 percentage points and affected fixed-rate mortgages.Both banks raised the trend-setting five-year closed rate by 0.15 percentage points to 5.54 per cent. Postmedia News
Bungalows tumbling on Vanderhoof
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The “bungalow streets” in east Leaside have long been a happy hunting ground for builders and homeowners wanting to bump up in a nice neighborhood. But it seems as if the pace has quickened over previous years and especially on Vanderhoof Avenue. Left is 79 Vanderhoof, we believe. To the right a picture of an original one storey home and beside it the bump up at 75 Vanderhoof which we told you about April 12, 2011
Baidu will link to Microsoft’s Bing
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Baidu, the foremost Chinese search engine, has announced that it will soon carry a link to Microsoft’s Bing search engine. It’s not all that clear from this New York Times story just what the full meaning will be of this but Baidu people are quoted as saying Baidu needs to do a better job of providing English language searches. This raises again the pressure felt by Google to censor searches as required by the government. There’s nothing in the story about how Bing, for example, will reconcile this apparent reality of Chinese business with its search service available throughout the rest of the world.
Is graffiti really art or merely graffarti?
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We have a special treat for you today. Here are some genuine pieces of South Bayview graffiti. Don’t you care for them? Would you like to see them gone? Especially off of your garage? Then friends you are subject to the same appalling middle class authoritarianism that afflicts the new municipal administration. The trendiest foreboding says that Rob Ford and his mad wall painters can’t tell art from artichokes. Many fears have surfaced. One struggling artist said that if they prevent him from painting on freight cars no one in the U.S. will see his work. Okay, let’s get a grip. When Rudy Giuliani was elected Mayor of New York in 1996, he was reviled for saying he would clean up the streets and subway. He did it and was revered for his efforts well before his heroics on 9-11. New York survives as the art capital of the Western World. You can find all sorts there, even our crossover category of doubtful art, graffarti. The great, the giddy and the gruesome. Just not on your garage.