The South Bayview Bulldog

These are unsettling days for Blackberry owners as analysts offer opinions ranging from tepid to icy on RIM’s capacity to beat out the iPhone.

We love to get nice notes like this one thanking Homefront and The South Bayview Bulldog for supporting school events. Thank you very much for your generous donation towards the Rolph Road Fun Fair. Our event was a big success thanks to your support. The funds raised will help to enrich the lives and education of our children. Gratefully, Rolph Road Public School.

Ken Whyte has been chosen to succeed Brian Segal as president of Rogers’Publishing Ltd., the company’s print media division, this fall. Whyte will take on his new role on Sept. 1, when Segal retires after 17 years with the company. He will be responsible for overseeing magazines and websites such as Maclean’s, Chatelaine, Hello! Canada and L’Actualité. And he will spearhead the launch of Rogers’ newest title, Sportsnet magazine, which will aim to lure advertisers seeking to target men and to build the brand of the existing Rogers-owned Sportsnet television and radio stations.

This day brings with it news which is unsurprising. Not boring, mind you, just unsurprising. It’s stuff you knew intuitively. For example, Anthony Weiner has told his friends that he will resign. No one is saying “Really?” The Vancouver Goons, who play a more lamentable game than the Canucks, topped up their self esteem by burning some police cars. Way to go guys. And there is word that the bloodthirsty humorist Ayman al-Zawahiri says he’s going to lead that loose group of killers known as Losers at Large. To which a CIA gun said Mr. al-Zawahiri may have trouble doing that because “we’re going to off him ASAP.” Finally, the South Bayview Bulldog’s Annual Headline of the Day Award goes to the Globe and Mail for Acropolis Now. Nice. Actually that one was surprising.

The distressing case of the lady who kept at least 100 cats in her home is slipping into history. However, a recurring question among those who comment on blogs about the case is how authorities failed to act upon the many complaints which neighbors on Manor Rd. had made over months. Why was there a response only when a political pollster associated with the approaching general election called in. The answer appears to be fairly straightforward. The pollster called 911 and said it appeared that there might have been a decaying human body at the home. The first responder to that information was the fire department. No doubt the 911 operator, taking no chances, alerted the fire department on the possibility that someone at the address might require resuscitation. On the other hand, it appears that the neighbor complaints were all directed to the City. Which did nothing. It’s an interesting commentary on how municipal politics works that a homeowner remains essentially “hands off” until there is an emergency complaint raising the prospect of sudden death. An unintended consequence to the rule that a man’s (or in this case a lady’s) home is his castle.