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“We have a very committed, level-headed head of our armed forces who isn’t afraid to express the passion that underlies the mission that front-line personnel are going to be taking on.”
NDP leader Jack Layton makes like GI Joe in defending armed forces chief Rick Hillier’s freak-out – and Canada’s scarily expanding role in Afghanistan. Wonder if Jack will feel the same when the body bags start arriving. NDP leader Jack Layton makes like GI Joe in defending armed forces chief Rick Hillier’s freak-out – and Canada’s scarily expanding role in Afghanistan. Wonder if Jack will feel the same when the body bags start arriving.
Laser-fried tomatoes
The mark of the beast has become the mark of the fruit. In a bid to replace troublesome stickers on fruit, a U.S.-based outfit has come up with the bright idea of laser-tagging produce. Orange giant Sunkist is on board, and laser-zapped pears will be in Ontario this fall. What the tech will do to the rate at which fruits and veggies spoil we don’t know. But with all the concern about the poisons producers are putting in our food, do we really need another reason to be skeptical about food safety?
Tourism Toronto trapped in a lie?
Is Tourism Toronto’s troubled Toronto Unlimited promo project a ripoff of London’s London Unlimited? TT’s Elizabeth Gill denies it. “No one can own the word ‘unlimited,'” she protests (we think too much). But it seems the city has had enough of this private not-for-profit and may take over the reins. Can’t be soon enough. (See story on page 26.)
Idle city fleet wasting fuel
The city’s wild car ways have been smoked out. The auditor blasted ‘crats for blowing $3.1 million on rental cars and trucks last year while city-owned vehicles sat idle. What makes the waste more galling is that Toronto has been on a green savings binge, having converted to gas-electric hybrids and vehicles that use low-sulphur fuels. Instead of wasting cash, we could have been saving the environment.
Barbie’s extreme makeover
One day after posting $94 million (U.S.) in losses, Mattel, the maker of iconic fashion plaything Barbie, announced that the troubled toy will get a serious facelift to make it “more relevant.” But if Mattel really wants to be “more relevant,” we’ve got a few ideas. What about a chubby, frizzy-haired sweetheart with optional glasses and gently crooked teeth instead of another anorexic glam bunny aimed at making little girls obsess over their human imperfections?
