Personal Choices...

I Don't Know About Your Home Town BUT...

Later, we'll make postcards with macaroni and construction paper

...in "HogTown" it would be impossible to wake up to a day where you couldn't find something different to do and do it for very little $$$. For those in smaller "towns" how about taking a senior on a picnic, grab a paint brush and spruce up Main Street, a pickup baseball game, etc. etc.

Don't Include Me In Your Apology...

An apology on behalf of my gender

Is it just me or do other guys feel compelled to apologize for Anthony Weiner the wiener?

...save your efforts for yourself and the rest of the closet masturebaters!

A Party Is A Party Is A Party...

Pace of Pride’s expansion results in growing pains

...and that is the main draw to a parade and imho it has little to do with supporting a "cause" and I think it is just an extension of a major attraction at old time carnivals the "freak show" but society has evolved to the point that this phenonoma has been embraced by the worldd outside the carnival grounds. If Pride is experiencing fiscal problems and government grants (handouts from public purse) don't solve these problems they have to reduce their costs or generate income by possibly moving the parade to a venue that can be controlled and where admission can be charged or just simply pass the hat around among the attendees.

Attracting Your Kids....

Toronto Notes

The T.O. Do List: June 4

Jun 04, 2010 - 12:00 AM

Today: Fucked Up "cave-pop" offshoot The Bitters launch both their new album and the new concert venue in Parts & Labour; Basia Bulat brings her mesmerizing folk-rock to the Phoenix; Canadian punk pioneers The Diodes return to the Horseshoe; Hank III honours the family tradition at the Opera House; and SNL wunderkind Simon Rich reads from his new novel at Blue Moon.

Waiting With Bated Breath...

St. Patrick's market makeover

Remaking a 100-year-old Queen W. market

By Paul Terefenko 

 

It’s been more than 20 years since the city signed a deal to let Market Inc. use the tiny St. Patrick Market on Queen St. across from the Citytv building. And after a couple of years hobbling along with few to no occupants, then total shutdown, the nearly 100-year-old market is being readied for a redo.
“Basically we’re going to reopen as a market offering of different types of foods – both raw and ready to eat,” says owner George Friedman. He notes that there’s been a shift.
“The neighbourhood continues to evolve and be a mix of transient commercial traffic, but there’s also a lot more residential traffic,” says Friedman.
He acknowledges seeing a certain upscale shift for the modest market, which was a chicken slaughterhouse until 1988, beyond his previous concept of the market space as home to vendors like Ben and Jerry’s.

That’s probably not ideal news for a strip that’s lost two convenience stores and faces the closing of 16-year-old Square Fruit Market further west at Queen and Euclid. Upscale means out of reach for residents of the 17 Toronto Community Housing buildings in the vicinity.
The current plan still involves leasing to tenants, whom Friedman is still in the process of finding. He mentions plans for local chef cooking demos, but doesn’t specify requirements for particular shops. He does guarantee, “It’s food and beverage. No clothing, jewellery or stuff like that.”
Well, one should hope not. The 50-year lease Friedman pulled off two decades ago specified an “exciting retail mini food market,” including a grocer, butcher, baker, etc. The city document outlining these conditions and mentioning the creation of “ambiance similar to the St. Lawrence Market” happens to be part of a dispute over the lease between the city and 238 Queen West.
“The legal issues are not resolved,” says local councillor Adam Vaughan. “There’s still a dispute over whether or not the terms are being honoured.”
Vaughan hasn’t seen Friedman’s reno proposal, so he’s in a holding pattern. “When [the market] reopens it will be re-evaluted,” says Vaughan hinting at those conditions originally envisioning a proper market in an area he says is becoming a “food desert.”
If Friedman makes good on his original deal, that will be the end, says Vaughan. If not, “we’ll have to make a decision how to move forward.”
But Friedman says his plan has nothing to do with city pressure and shies away from St. Lawrence comparisons, even for the new vision of St. Patrick Market.
“You can’t have the varieties of larger markets. It’s not St. Lawrence, but it was never intended to be,” he says.
Sure fooled the city.

Wii Covered By Ohip?

Grandma had a stroke? Teach her to play Wii

e26

Wii Baseball: A grandmother who may or may not be enjoying herself pitches to her grandson, who clearly is.

Much has been made of the Wii fitness factor, and how the Wii might actually be good for your health. Basically, those who are generally inactive are generally more active when they opt to play the Wii. This is a no-brainer, although my ability to bowl a near-perfect game without barely flicking my wrist might indicate otherwise.
But new research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2010 suggests that playing the virtual reality gaming system might not only burn calories, but also appears to help stroke victims improve their motor function.
The pilot study of 20 stroke survivors (average age 61) were randomized to play a variety of recreational games, from Jenga and cards to Wii Tennis and Wii Cooking Mama, a game that involves movements that mimic cutting, peeling, slicing, and shredding food.
Both groups engaged in eight one-hour sessions over a two-week period approximately two months after suffering a stroke. The study not only found no adverse side effects (i.e. safety hazards) in the Wii group (and one case of nausea in the recreational group), but those who played the Wii demonstrated "significant" motor improvement in speed and extent of recovery.
"This is the first randomized clinical study showing that virtual reality using Wii gaming technology is feasible and safe and is potentially effective in enhancing motor function following a stroke," says Gustavo Saposnik, director of the Stroke Outcomes Research Unit at the Li Ka Shing Institute at St. Michael's Hospital and lead investigator of the study, which took place at the University of Toronto's Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. He adds:

The beauty of virtual reality is that it applies the concept of repetitive tasks, high-intensity tasks, and task-specific activities that activates special neurons (called 'mirror neuron system') involved in mechanisms of cortical reorganization (brain plasticity). Effective rehabilitation calls for applying these principles.

While Saposnik admits that it is too early to say whether Wii is effective and safe enough to be prescribed to stroke patients, his group is already performing a larger study to further analyze the game's potential rehabilitative effects. Of course, in the meantime, plenty of retirees are already getting their game on, as in this CNET video of grannies and grampas bowling in 2008.

Times Are Changing....

WORLD'S FIRST 'SEX ROBOT'...

SAN FRANCISCO - Two same-sex couples gave intimate accounts of their private and public lives Monday during the opening day of the first federal trial to decide the constitutionality of state bans on gay marriage. 11 January

Ho! Ho! Ho......

Politically Correct Christmas Party Memo

Subject: The Office Party FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director TO: Everyone RE: Christmas Party DATE: December 1

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23, starting at noon in the banquet room at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue. No-host bar, but plenty of eggnog! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...feel free to sing along. And don't Be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus!

---

FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director DATE: December 2 RE: Christmas Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on we're calling it our "Holiday Party." The same policy applies to employees who are celebrating Kwanzaa at this time. Happy now?

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FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director DATE: December 3 RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table ... you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads "AA Only" you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this? Somebody?

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FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director DATE: December 7 RE: Holiday Party

What a diverse company we are! I had no idea that December 2 begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating, drinking and sex during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps Luigi's can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party - the days are so short this time of year - or else package everything for take-home in little foil swans. Will that work? Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Overeaters Anonymous to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms. Did I miss anything?

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FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director DATE: December 8 RE: Holiday Party

So December 22 marks the Winter Solstice...what do you expect me to do, a tap-dance on your heads? Fire regulations at Luigi's prohibit the burning of sage by our "earth-based Goddess-worshipping" employees, but we'll try to accommodate your shamanic drumming circle during the band's breaks. Okay???

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FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director Date: December 9 RE: Holiday Party

People, people, nothing sinister was intended by having our CEO dress up like Santa Claus! Even if the anagram of "Santa" does happen to be "Satan," there is no evil connotation to our own "little man in a red suit." It's a tradition, folks, like sugar shock at Halloween or family feuds over the Thanksgiving turkey or broken hearts on Valentine's Day. Could we lighten up?

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FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director DATE: December 10 RE: Holiday Party

Vegetarians!?!?!? I've had it with you people!!! We're going to keep this party at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it, and you'll get your freaking salad bar, including hydroponic tomatoes. But you know, they have feelings too. Tomatoes scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right now!

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FROM: Teri Bishops, Acting Human Resources Director DATE: December 14 RE: Pat Lewis and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Pat Lewis a speedy recovery from her stress-related illness and I'll continue to forward Your cards to her at the sanatorium.

In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.

We hope that this change does not offend anyone.

Can't We We Play Together......

French gay soccer team snubbed by Muslim team...

Planning A Vacation?

So much more Down Under

Tourism chiefs are looking beyond the Crocodile Dundee cliches in order to sell Australia to the world.

• Unusual cultures, uncommon places

• At Cuban resorts, the end of tourism apartheid

I Wonder If This Feeling Applies To The Jobless

More Canadians feel work is taking over their life

With Labour Day approaching, a new poll shows some of the ideals this holiday is meant to celebrate are falling by the wayside.

Two Groups Of Children.......

Comments Of Readers Of The Non-MSM

Wrong track

In reference to “A bridge too high,” God is in the Details, April 30: where is Shawn Micallef’s editor? The photo clearly shows the Bathurst Street bridge, not the Strachan crossing, as anyone who lives in the area would know. EYE WEEKLY’s opinions would bear a lot more credibility if you actually did some research.
Look, you can’t have it both ways. People want sustainable transportation, but some of us don’t want to make the difficult choices. The level crossing at Strachan is not compatible with the current level of rail traffic, never mind the increase we see coming. What’s your alternative? Make the rails run under the road? Insane. Are you saying we should put the interests of automobiles ahead of public transportation? Whose side is EYE WEEKLY on, anyway? We’re all pretty sick of ill-informed knee-jerk NIMBYism. Shame on you. You should be supporting Metrolinx initiatives, not trying to frustrate them.’ Pegasus

Poundstone’s lesser sins
Gee, maybe I’m being overly sensitive. And I know I’m breaking the cardinal rule that someone associated with a person interviewed should never write the interviewer. But, your piece (Laugh Tracker, April 30) neglected to mention that the charges Paula Poundstone was found guilty of were driving while intoxicated with minors in the car, and that the child endangerment charge was in relation to that. I do not in any way condone Paula’s actions. I know that she is profoundly sorry for what she did. She underwent a six-month in-residence program for alcohol addiction. She has been sober now for almost eight years.
All charges that involved sexual intent were dropped because they were not true. This was further substantiated in a piece Maria Shriver (wife of the current Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger) filed for a prime-time news show.
In the States, one can be charged with anything — that doesn’t mean it’s true. Of course, as you say, all this was eight years ago, but I’d like to set the record straight. Bonnie Burns Manager, Paula Poundstone

The man behind the myth
It was nice reading Kate Carraway’s article, “Called to Worship” (My Life, My Fault, April 23). I think what you express is how many people treat their religions. But I can’t help but think that, if God does exist, isn’t it a sad preoccupation to love the church rather than who it is for? Isn’t it a bit like the child who gets a gift for Christmas and puts the gift aside to play with the shiny wrapping paper instead? Farzam

Let's Give Spector A Break.......

......it takes time to adjust from kicking ass to kissing ass.

Specter misspeaks, misvotes, misinterviews in first week as a Democrat.

Posted: May 08, 2009, 10:00 AM by NP Editor

The New York Times reports that Arlen Specter, who switched from the Republicans to the Democrats with great fanfare a week ago, is having a bit of trouble adjusting to his new circumstances. Too liberal for the Republicans, he's proving too conservative for some Democrats:

But he is having trouble fitting in. He voted against the Democrats in his first two big votes since the switch, opposing the Democratic budget and helping defeat a measure to allow bankruptcy judges to modify mortgages for troubled homeowners.

And on Tuesday night, he retracted a statement, made in an interview, in which he said the Minnesota courts should rule in favor of the Republican, Norm Coleman, in the state’s disputed Senate race.

Republican press releases snipe at his every misstep.

And the comment about Minnesota, where Democrats need Al Franken to become their crucial 60th vote in the Senate, prompted the majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, to confront Mr. Specter on the Senate floor.

“Arlen,” Mr. Reid said in his trademark low-volume growl, “What’s going on here?”

Mr. Specter replied that he had forgotten “what team” he was on. Later, he told a reporter: “I conclusively misspoke.”

You have to figure the Democrats will get used to it. Specter provided their 59th vote in the Senate. They need 60 for absolute power to rule the world. That's worth a lot of missteps.

National Post

Is The Boy's Brigade Still Active?

Girl Guides of Canada fight back against progressive liberal sexualization of western world by introducing new badge
The Love Yourself Challenge Badge: If you can't beat em join em.
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A Vote Is A Vote.....

Two very different meetings between Liberal MPs and Tamils

Just tryin' to mind our own business

While traffic remains blocked in the heart of Canada's largest city for the third day, some of us taxpayers (who are expected to foot the bill for this show of civil disobedience) are wondering why so many members of the largest ex-pat Tamil constituency don't have jobs they need to be at, for three days running.Of course, I'm sure it's racist of me to ask...Wonder Woman

Go Get Them Michael

Seeking refuge
By MICHAEL COREN
Here we go again. "A long-time Conservative who opposes same-sex marriage has been appointed to the tribunal that decides whether gays get refugee status in Canada," announced a story this week.

Three Of My Favorite Protaganists

Conrad Black: Ann Coulter, John Moore and me
Saturday, March 21, 2009
I don’t know, and have never heard, left-wing Toronto-based radio host John Moore, who wrote dismissively of Ann Coulter in the National...

Oboma Elected President

and this might be seen as the pinnacle of black achievement which makes way for the pink movement......

NYT celebrates anti-Prop. 8 mob

December 10, 2008 09:45 AM by Michelle Malkin

4 Comments | 0 Trackbacks

The fishwrap of record whitewashes the anti-Prop. 8 mob.

While Jon Stewart is taking shots at Canada-Eh he might want to look at how well Canadians managed the issue of gay marriage.........

How Many Homosexuals Are There?

Here is my post of almost five years ago. I thought about it when I read this.

Posted by Keith Burgess-Jackson