And This Is In The Toronto Star!

Wow!  What's next?

The sun not coming up tomorrow.

Now, this guy says the article is not an endorsement for Ford, or that he will even vote for him.

It's just that he thinks it is inevitable that Ford will win the Toronto mayoral election. And for thre reasons;

Reason one; politics as entertainment.  Rock star name recognition goes a long way.  Ronald Reagan, Jesse Ventura, Arnold.  Vote for him?  Snicker, I just wanna see what happens.....

Reason two; train wreck!  Newspapers and websites need to have content that grab people.  Anything that has Ford in the title is a clear winner. All the media race to wherever he is, to cover every word. [The only thing worse than being talked about.....]

Reason three; Redemption!  Who doesn't love a good story about the Prodigal Son.  People will want to give him a second chance.  The author even thinks some his left wing, commie pinko friends might vote for him.

Wow. 

As Bette Davis said, "Fasten your seats belts, Toronto, it's going to be a bumpy night."

I'm Back, Baby!

These condo development proposals usually get me going at the best of times.

But this one really caught my eye (got my goat, burned my butt).

The block may not look like much.

But nearly 200 years ago, it was called Victoria Row and was the fashion centre of a growing Toronto. A Toronto starting to feel its oats.

This was the Bloor St. of its day.

This magnificent Victorian, Second Empire beauty set the standard in Toronto for retail elegance.  There is even a statue of Queen Victoria adorning the second floor of the centre shop.

Built in 1840 and modified with the Second Empire treatments in the 1870's....

...the little guy in the middle is the only building still intact of the five.  

Although stripped of much of its fine architectural detail.

This shows him where he used to be.

[I guess he is still there, although you would never know if it, crammed in among all the other buildings.]

Anyway, this proposal is for a - what else - 47 storey condo.

And this editorial comment sums up my opinion exactly.

Thank You, Rob Ford!

For putting us on the map.

Or at least on a sign that acts as a map.

A few years ago Toronto would have been replaced with Bombay, or Hong Kong, or New York.

We're playing with the big boys now!

Not Enough Coffee

Or too much something else......

Too! Much! Coffee!

If It Ain't Baroque......

....don't fix it.

Here's Hoping......

....that between the kitchen upstairs and the bathroom down here they don't get any of these tubes mixed up.

Where Have You Been, Mr. Kunta?

Everybody needs a friend like Mr. Kunta.  And just up the road in North York, too.  Very convenient.

Sure, his name is Kunta and his email is Konta.  Potatoes, potawtoes.

But can you imagine?  "See that guy over there, he's looking at me funny."

Gone!

Let's just hope you don't run into one of his friends......

You Wascally Wabbits

Okay, not a bad deal I guess.  Couple a Chapticks for $3.29.

But wait a second......

Ah ha.   

One Chapstick for $3.29.

I guess it's always buyer beware.

Ba deep, ba deep!

Big Man

New movie about Hercules is coming out.

But no matter how many special effects and big budgets they use, I can't help but think of the Hercules I remember.

And his little buddy Newton. "Hey Herc!  Hey Herc!"

But I never really saw what the big deal was with Hercules, based on his theme song, I guess.

"With the strength of ten!
Ordinary men!"

Why they didn't just get eleven guys, beat the crap out of him?

Ba da boom.

Missed Her By Thaaat Much

I was up in North Bay the other weekend.

And was there either at the end of or the beginning of Shad Fly season.

Now Shad Flies don't have the best life.  They live for less than a day and their sole job is to mate.  And once they land, that's it.

So if you don't land directly on your date, as these guys didn't, then it's "No whoopee for you!".

And the reason I know I was there either at the end of or the beginning of Shad Fly season, is because the middle of Shad Fly season looks something like....

Or......

 

Or......

Because they are everywhere.

All over the streets and sidewalks, on building walls, on your car.  On your BBQ. On you! In your hair.

But don't worry. Because their sole job is to mate and since they live less than a day, they don't have a mouth.  So no bites as they land all over you.

But they do go, crunch crunch when you walk down the street.

So the next time you are having a really bad day, just think of these guys.

Of course, some people say they can't tell much difference between these guys and me sitting on my couch.  But that's another story......

Who's Going To Tell Rob?

....that I am switching my vote!

As both my loyal readers know, apart from tearing down Heritage buildings, this is my #2 peeve; frickin' delivery trucks clogging traffic.  Click It Wouldn't Be A Delivery Truck for a thoughtful, reasoned comment on the above issue.

Toronto Mayoral candidate John Tory says, "Tow the frickers!"   No, sorry, that was me.

What he actually said was he wants to, "tow away delivery vehicles that park during rush hour on major streets."

He goes on, “I’d even tow away a Brinks truck. I think you tow away a truck full of money, people will get the message.”

Right on!

And I don't even like to drive.  I just like to complain.

So unless Rob Ford can pull some off kind of high dive, belly flop soon, I'm afraid I'll be switching horses.....

I'm Afraid I Will Be......

 ....soon posting about the demise of this old girl.

She looks in pretty rough shape.

But still a beautiful turn of the (last) century Victorian building. complete with Mansard roof, dormer windows and some nice detailing.

And quite a large complex.

Generally bottom level was retail, second level commerical and third level residential.

Very sensible.

They didn't need 37 storeys.

Now, one of its next door neighbours seems to be in much better shape.

So considering this is right in the heart of Toronto's Gaybourhood, maybe some more sensible heads will prevail and this gem with be saved/reserved.

We'll see......

Gotta Love Competition!

These Dollar Stores are really popular.  Everything for a buck.

You can't top that, can you!


Well, apparently you can.......

With a 75¢ Dollar Store!

It really is a Metro Paradise!

Celebrating A Successful Colonoscopy!

Worth the "prep"!


But what's this?

D'oh!

Can you believe they'd give you a "Do not consume alcohol" warning and not underline it!

How irresponsible!

Oh well, worth the stomach cramping and internal bleeding.

Pssst. Tell 'em Tony Sent You

""Hi.  Is this....uhhh.....Enzo?"

"...........Who's askin'?"

They're Baaaaack!

Well, it was just a month ago when I thought these guys had finished laying all the pavers on this street (see Awwww Screw It!  for a reminder).

And as you will see, when I say finished, it should be in quotation marks.

Because after labouriously hand-laying all those pavers for...almost...the length of the block, they finally gave up and slapped down asphalt over the last fifty feet.

Well, today I see they have now ripped up all that asphalt and are now laying down the last of those pavers.

If I had asked the supervisor this time, I'm sure he would have told me, "Don't worry, the contractor is also paying for the asphalt and the ripping up of it.  Do you need anything paid?"

What a great contractor!

Smooth Move

Finally, an establishment suitable for an individual such as myself.

And while I'm on the topic of us Mensa members.

Pride On The Line

It is/was World Pride in Toronto this year.

First time ever in North America.  And Toronto gets the nod.

And today was the Gay Pride Parade.

Calm Before The Storm

Here they are hiding in a leafy ravine before unleashing themselves on the public.

And being in Canada, some good themes to go with the parade.

Although I'm not sure if this float is sanctioned by the NHL.  I'm sure the uniforms are not.

And another snippet of Canadiana, of course with a Pride twist on our "Out and About" motto.

Not really sure about the theme of this float.  Electrical workers?  On break?

Although again, I'm doubting the IEWU is funding this one.  No steel toes!

The theme of this one...?   Not so sure again.

This one?  Uhhh.....no.

Uhhh....no.

No......

This really looks to just be a bunch of people - not even buffed people! - standing around on a float in their underwear.

Looking very similar to the people watching them.  Art imitating life?

This one?  I'll let you draw your own conclusions.  May be lost, asking directions, trying to catch up to the other float.

Okay, this one I got!!  World Pride!

I'm now one for........

Hey, my Alma Mater - U of Waterloo Engineering!

I'm even getting the wave.

Engineers can recognize other cool guys.

And of course, the corporate sponsors have to get involved.

I guess this one to get you in the mood.

And this one to help you stay in the mood.

But these guys were probably the most talented of the entire parade.

They actually did something; twirl their batons.

I am not as talented, as I could not time it to get the batons in the air.

But they were up there, baby!

But some of the most interesting viewing was on the sidelines.

Although for viewing, these guys were also quite popular, if the number of people snapping pics is any indication.

But it's not over til the fat lady sings.

Or at least the fat drag queen.

But actually this parade was far from over.  And I thought Caribana was slow!

The parade started at 1pm and this pic is at the starting point, at 3:30pm.  So I would not have to be here all night, to get a lot of these shots I walked upstream, to the staging area.

And by 4pm (three hours after the parade started) it was still packed with many more floats. And at the speed they were going, all at least an hour away from the starting point.

I'm sure it's still going on as you are reading this.

But...nobody seemed to be a hurry.

Everybody was happy just celebrating lots of different shapes, sizes, colours, boxers, briefs, pierces, punctures and every last tattooed, dangley bit.

Way to go TO!

Let's see Rio top this!