Microsoft is said to be ready to buy Skype for $8.5 billion.
Microsoft is said to be ready to buy Skype
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Microsoft is said to be ready to buy Skype for $8.5 billion.
Business as usual on South Bayview
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Homefront associate Sandra Zhang snapped a couple of shots of the wreckage on South Bayview. But do not give up because it is business as usual here, as the British used to say during the Blitz. And, as you can see (right) there is actually still sidewalk right up to our front door. VW moves on Scania bus and truck
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Volkswagen has raised its ownershop of MAN SE, the Swedish truck and bus maker. MAN’s main brand name is Scania. VW will shortly make a so called mandatory takeover. VW said in announcing the action that it finds the commercial vehicle business very attractive.
Canadian Tire rolls into Forzani sports deal
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Canadian Tire Corp is moving into the sports store business as it moves to take control of the Forzani Group Ltd for 771 million in cash. It’s all about concern that U.S. retailewrs will eat CTC’s lunch. Today CTC is crowing however. “Canadian Tire is on offence,” Chief Executive Stephen Wetmore said. Forzani Group operates more than 500 retail outlets under banners such as Sport Chek, Atmosphere and National Sport and has annual revenue of about C$1.4 billion.
53 Division sees huge drop in car injuries
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The monthly report on community affairs from the TPS says personal injury accidents in 53 Division (which includes South Bayview and area) have dropped a rather staggering 41%. That’s compared to the same period last year — presumably the Spring of 2010. Property damage accidents are said to have increased some 3%. There’s no explanation for this remarkable drop other than happenstance. Good luck perhaps. Of course the police are urging everyone to be careful and keep up the good work. Police also warn that the division is experiencing a rash of break-ins related solely to the theft of keys, which are then used to the steal the vehicle outside.
Camel Smoking Zones a culture shock
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While Canada grapples with illegal tobacco (see post below) the European acceptance of cigarettes has resulted in things like the Camel Smoking Zone. There’s one or more in most German airports. The supervised Plexiglas smoking rooms sport interesting Camel “art” (centre) and offer users high quality music audio (right). Bob Rae touted as interim Liberal leader
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Bob Rae, former Premier of Ontario and Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, is being put forward as interim Liberal Party leader. Jean Chretien is urging Liberals to support the Toronto MP as interim leader. “Sources” tell the Canadian Press, former prime minister has been phoning dozens of defeated and re-elected MPs since the Liberal party’s historic defeat in Monday’s election. The once-mighty party was reduced to third place with only 34 MPs. Even Leader Michael Ignatieff lost his seat. Since then, MPs say Chretien has been calling around, promoting the idea that Rae should be interim leader for up to two years. That would give the party time to pick itself up off the mat before launching into a contest to choose a permanent successor to Ignatieff. It’s not surprising “sources” told CP because any strategy to do this would involve getting people to talk about it. Health Canada recalls bunk beds
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Health Canada has announced a recall of two models of wooden bunk beds because there is a risk they could collapse. Dorel Asia models WM1848R2 and WM1848R2C are affected by the joint recall between Health Canada, Dorel Distribution Canada, Dorel Asia, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Health Canada said the recalled models pose a “fall hazard” because the wooden side rails that hold the bunk bed’s mattress can split and cause the bunk bed to collapse.
Royal LePage sale for abused women
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Next Saturday, May 14, 2011, will see this year’s edition of the giant garage sale in the Royal LePage parking lot at 1391 Bayview Ave and Macrae Drive. It’s part of a national endeavor to support women mpacted by family violence. The project is known as the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation (RLSF). Household articles are welcome for donation to the sale. Call 416-424-4900. This picture is from last year’s event. South Bayview Blockbuster facing end
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A shadow hangs over tbne Blockbuster location on South Bayview south of Millwood today after the national chain was placed in receivership. The ominous turn for Blockbuster Canada comes some six momnths after its U.S. parent filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice appointed consulting and accounting firm Grant Thornton Ltd. as receiver, according to documents empowering it to “take possession of and exercise control over” Blockbuster Canada’s assets, Grant Thornton has effectively been given control over the film and video game rental chain’s more than 400 locations across Canada. Those with jobs at the Leaside branch will keep them “until such time as the receiver, on the debtor’s behalf, may terminate the employment of such employees.”
Will Ford march in Pride event — or not?
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Mayor Rob Ford has said he will not commit to marching in the Pride parade this summer. There appears to be continuing suspicion at City Hall about the anti-Israel group whose presence stunned many people last year. There was considerable concern about the judgement used to permit a previously non-political event to be exploited this way. Councillors are expected to discuss forcing Pride to promise it won’t let the group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid participate in the parade or any part of the festival as a condition of receiving city funding
Girls, Candies and Comics needs translation
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Vienna — Until you remember that you’re outside the Albertina Museum in Vienna, the pin-up, pop art poster might throw you. For those who know, and those who don’t, it isn’t a Calvin Klein type ad for Del Monte Catsup. It’s an example of the work of California-born pop artist Mel Ramos. His show is called Girls, Candies and Comics. Inside are many more pieces, familiar no doubt to his followers. Here’s the Wikipedia skinny on Ramos, 76. “Along with other artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg and James Rosenquist, Ramos produced art works that celebrated aspects of popular culture as represented in mass media. His paintings have been shown in major exhibitions of Pop Art in the U.S. and in Europe, and reproduced in books, catalogs, and periodicals throughout the world.”