[Johnny Au]

I think the expression is usually 'hot *knife* through butter' ... seems appropriate in Doug's case.

Yes, I meant hot knife through butter.

 

[VintagePunk]

I wish you all drunk stupors and enough to eat at home on this special day.

I read this at work on my phone, and just wanted to thank you. I laughed for the rest of the day, every time I thought of it.

 

[zang]

I've been happily ignoring Sam Sotiropoulos, despite the fact that he represents the neighbourhood where I grew up. However, I made the unfortunate mistake of browsing through the guy's website. It's crazy! It's filled with all these long rambling blog posts about things like the Pythagorean theorem and the "mistakes" of Nelson Mandela. This guy really does seem to have some personality disorder and has somehow managed to install himself into public office.

The guy's a sad sad man, who uses quotes from Greek philosophers to try and make himself seem more intelligent than he really is. In the end, it comes across as condescending and patronizing. I got into an twitter argument one time when he went off on a rant about how we're being forced to drink poison (fluoride) and how we should have it removed from the water system. He pulled an *Alex Jones* article on brain damage from elemental fluoride. He couldn't get it though his head that pure, elemental fluoride is not the same as sodium fluoride (much like highly poisonous Chlorine and Sodium make non-toxic table salt). And then he told me no fluoride was part of the reason Greeks live longer than Canadians, and then I showed him the UN's numbers saying life expectancy here is higher. He then flung insults at me until I gave up and went to bed. Next morning, all his nasty tweets had magically disappeared from his timeline (note; this is a habit of his).

I took a look into his past. His "IT skills" are lacking, despite calling himself "the Tech Trustee". He's essentially a bored househusband with a failed restaurant. He tried *really* hard to try and become some kind of cooking celebrity, but other than a co-author title on a poorly-selling cookbook, he just couldn't get any attention for himself. My opinion is he's a loser looking for some kind of recognition and think he's smarter than everyone else, yet often does really *dumb* things or makes unrealistic goals. Oh, and he acts like Greeks in general are somehow superior to the rest of humanity.

I'm quite certain he has loftier political goals than just trustee, but even being a bush-league poli, he's already dug himself some pretty big holes. I doubt he'd be able to pull together enough voter confidence to be anything more than a trustee. Oh, and there are tweezers for unibrows.

 

[tiffer24]

A happy valentine's dinner with Renata?

http://instagram.com/p/ka1rcsApIh/

 

[notshocking]

I read this at work on my phone, and just wanted to thank you. I laughed for the rest of the day, every time I thought of it.

Seconded. If I have to concede one thing to Slob & Thug, it's that they've contributed a truly astonishing number of instant classic one-liners to Toronto's collective comedic arsenal. Taking the long view, it's reassuring to think that these clowns will live on chiefly as literal punchlines for years after the political smoke has cleared.

Anything else?

 

[freshcutgrass]

I think she's "divisive" in that she is clearly an NDP/lefty

ha ha ha

The people that hate her are the divisive ones...not her. As a liberal, she's quite inclusive of everyone, and her record clearly shows that. This is an example of how warped the dogmatic conservative-thinking mind can get. I don't know why I'm laughing...it's quite pathetic.

 

[hper]

Very good point.

Any commentator who labels a potential Ford opponent as 'divisive' either is an idiot or is on the take in some way--stands to benefit from either a RoFo reelection or some sort of less-than-totally-humiliating defeat.

To the Nayshun, anyone who challenges the 'rollback viceroy' is heretical. So, divisive.

The press, and their readers, have to dissect this 'taxpayer' thing and other assorted mantra. It's all stupidly hypnotic. Break the goddamn spell. Do a judo-like "qui bene" and turn their crap against them. Simply run the line: Subways, Casinos, Concrete and, oh...Ferris Wheels - whatever crazy Rube Golberg machine they've come up with. Ask the simple question: 'Why this, why now?' For whom." They'll say 'Taxpayers'. So, "Which and how" become engaged.

Given a pointed question, the Nayor will either go *poof* or ballistic. Regardless, the press has to stop covering the circus. Because, right now, it's like Doug Henning's "It's an lluuuuuuuoision".

Any viable candidate, in debate, has to turn the Fordic Circle/Comfort zone into a snakepit. Filled with terrifying facts and such. But even naked blurts like "Are you on the take?" might work. Knock 'em off their game. 'Cause all they got is bluster, lies and carny pitches.

 

[hper]

The guy's a sad sad man, who uses quotes from Greek philosophers to try and make himself seem more intelligent than he really is. In the end, it comes across as condescending and patronizing. I got into an twitter argument one time when he went off on a rant about how we're being forced to drink poison (fluoride) and how we should have it removed from the water system. He pulled an *Alex Jones* article on brain damage from elemental fluoride. He couldn't get it though his head that pure, elemental fluoride is not the same as sodium fluoride (much like highly poisonous Chlorine and Sodium make non-toxic table salt). And then he told me no fluoride was part of the reason Greeks live longer than Canadians, and then I showed him the UN's numbers saying life expectancy here is higher. He then flung insults at me until I gave up and went to bed. Next morning, all his nasty tweets had magically disappeared from his timeline (note; this is a habit of his).

I took a look into his past. His "IT skills" are lacking, despite calling himself "the Tech Trustee". He's essentially a bored househusband with a failed restaurant. He tried *really* hard to try and become some kind of cooking celebrity, but other than a co-author title on a poorly-selling cookbook, he just couldn't get any attention for himself. My opinion is he's a loser looking for some kind of recognition and think he's smarter than everyone else, yet often does really *dumb* things or makes unrealistic goals. Oh, and he acts like Greeks in general are somehow superior to the rest of humanity.

I'm quite certain he has loftier political goals than just trustee, but even being a bush-league poli, he's already dug himself some pretty big holes. I doubt he'd be able to pull together enough voter confidence to be anything more than a trustee. Oh, and there are tweezers for unibrows.

Wow. So...repulsive. Yet...compelling.

*Launches Final Draft 9*

{Several Minutes, nay, harrowing hours later}

Spoiler Alert: It ends in bloodshed. And redemption.

 

[Les Nessman]

http://instagram.com/p/ka9aPAOat9/

She must be so proud!

 

[OSS 117]

I think she's "divisive" in that she is clearly an NDP/lefty with something of a niche base and will have to appeal to the centre to win. She's not divisive in the same antagonistic way Ford is; just in the sense of that she's already got her ground at the other extreme staked out. I haven't even really heard "divisive" so much as the idea that people are sick of Ford but still (allegedly) also enjoying his purported money-saving skills. So, if they can get someone else who will keep taxes low and cutting the budget (allegedly) but not hang out with gangs and do crack, that's the ideal person.

That's not Olivia Chow. She is an entirely different vision and maybe it's a better vision but she's going to have to move to the centre somewhat to win people. In a weird way she's not even running against Ford in that there is no way any Nayshun people would ever vote for her and most of her base would never vote for him (they're most definitely in the 60% we've been seeing in the polls). IMHO, he is incapable of winning anyone over at this point but (putting aside vote splitting etc. for now) she will have to add a lot of people to her existing base to win. Certainly winning over the less-liberal people outside the core will be her key move. John Tory, by contrast, has a much wider base, I think, both geographically and ideologically. Obviously right now he's seen as the Sane Conservative With a Heart, and therefore the best/most likely person to displace Ford.

So, divisive is not the right word for Chow. But it is fair to say she is the opposite of Ford in many respect and that people have strong opinions about her.

Is she considered more divisive and left-leaning than Jack Layton? Because he was doing pretty well, especially towards the end. The danger with John Tory is that he's going to think he needs to adopt Ford's "respect for the taxpayer" nonsense to win, which puts us right back where we started, but with a savvier politician who's more likely to get bad policy implemented.

 

[Kat_YYZ]

http://instagram.com/p/ka9aPAOat9/

She must be so proud!

based on what else is on her instagram she seems to work at Cove 31 -- or just hang out there everyday.
(warning: more douchey club photos at that page wasn't "duckface" over like 2 years ago? )

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

I think she's "divisive" in that she is clearly an NDP/lefty with something of a niche base and will have to appeal to the centre to win. She's not divisive in the same antagonistic way Ford is; just in the sense of that she's already got her ground at the other extreme staked out. I haven't even really heard "divisive" so much as the idea that people are sick of Ford but still (allegedly) also enjoying his purported money-saving skills. So, if they can get someone else who will keep taxes low and cutting the budget (allegedly) but not hang out with gangs and do crack, that's the ideal person.

So, divisive is not the right word for Chow. But it is fair to say she is the opposite of Ford in many respect and that people have strong opinions about her.

It is not possible to keep taxes low any longer, there is no more slashing that can be done. Prepare for 14% next year thanks to Ford's reckless ways and close to that the following year with no extra services.

A lot has been written here on how far to the left Chow is, I think she appears that way when compared to Ford and his ruthless ways. Sure, she's somewhere left of centre but not by a whole lot. She rides a bike (she drives a car), she lived in a co-op (she now owns a home), she's a strong voice for expanding public transportation in Toronto and means it (Ford is too but he does it for votes), she champions the homeless and affordable housing (Ford makes housing one of his big priorities for votes), she brings people together (Ford pushes people apart), she's smart and connected (Ford is as dim as a burned out lamp post), in her spare time she enjoys spending time making art (Ford enjoys getting smashed on one substance or another) and Chow is a city builder (Ford is a city destroyer). I'll take the one who has the spine to tackle gridlock and plan for smart transit planning both downtown and into the suburbs (at this point, mainly the west end) before this city collapses upon itself, a victim of it's very success.

 

[Kat_YYZ]

Rob Ford is worth 50 MILLION! I knew he was rich but I didn't think he was that wealthy. All that money from just a label company, he shares with his family? If just Rob is worth 50 mil, the whole family together must be worth close to a 1/4 billion. Shit, all that, from lousy labels?

relax, it's a dating site, not a news site. No reason to believe anything in there isn't just a lazy amalgam of things they pulled from the net.

Regarding the media and Blaine vs. Soknacki, to be fair, Soknacki's announcement wasn't at City Hall but somewhere else. It's not like he was downstairs and the media chose the magic show over him. Soknacki did show up to CH afterwards and did a scrum. Not EVERY reporter was staked outside the mayor's office.

why would it be? He doesn't work there or have an office there.

However, while I totally agree that the media blew it on this one (waiting around to see some cheesy magician) did you see where his press conference was?? On the sidewalk at Simcoe & Richmond? I know it's not as cold today, but sheee-ite, dude! what are you thinking? No one wants to go stand outside for this!

Look at that: ugly, grey, dirty snow, cars going by. I don't know what they did with pedestrians wanting to pass.
(actually, I've been in that condo bldg on the NW corner; a relative used to live there. the lobby would've been a much nicer place for the presser, though I'm not sure the concierge would approve .)

 

[Kat_YYZ]

oh, and for the record: I have more faith in MetroMan than in the Toronto Sun.

And anyways, there could be dozens of videos. People get caught up in assigning ordinal numbers to the videos -- it's pointless when you don't know how many there are and what is their chronological order. There's no 2nd, 4th, 5th video... there is just the crack-smoking video, and then another video, and another video, and another video, and another video, and another video...

But really the Sun story could be a complete fabrication. they covered their butt by saying they haven't seen it -- They can always throw their "sources" under the bus and call them liars (if the sources even exist).

 

[W. K. Lis]

Putin doing a Rob Ford.

Didn't know Putin was going to run for mayor of Toronto.

Who's next? Kim Jong-Un to join the Toronto mayor's race?