Like the USA did in 2007, Canada is investigating the real estate listing service and filing to make changes to allow more access to consumers and more choice in types of real estate services. When the changes were made south of the border, the real estate market really opened up for new entrants and costs became much lower for people listing their homes. Hopefully we will get similar changes and choices.

In the latest issue of LCBO’s magazine, they highlighted a number of wines that have received a rating of 90 or above. Half of the selections are under $25:

Argentina

• Alta Vista Atemporal Assemblage 2007 $19.95
• Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2006 $17.95
• Luigi Bosca Single Vineyard Malbec 2006 $18.95

Australia

• D’arenberg The Twentyeight Road Mourvedre 2006 $29.95
• Elderton Ode To Lorraine Cabernet Sauvigon/Shiraz/Merlot 2005 $42.95
• Langmeil Blacksmith Cabernet 2006 $22.95
• Paxton Jones Block Shiraz 2005 $26.95
• Small Gully Wines The Formula Robert’s Shiraz 2005 $16.95
• Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz/Viognier 2006 $27.95
• Wynns Coonwarra Estate Vintage Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $24.95

California

• Ghost Pine’s Winemaker’s Blend Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $19.95

Chile

• Concha Y Toro Trio Reserva Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio/Pinot Blanc 2008 $12.95
• Chocalan Gran Reserva Malbec 2006 $24.95
• Concha Y Toro Trio Reserva Merlot/Carmenere/Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $14.95

South Africa

• Thelema Sutherland Chardonnay 2007 $19.95
• Tokara White 2007 $24.95

France

• Jean-Marc Brocard Vau De Vey Chablis 1er Cru 2007 $29.95
• Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2006 $84.00
• Chateau Saint-Roch Chimeres 2007 $19.95
• Delas Freres Les Launes Crozes-Hermitage 2007 $19.95
• Delas Freres Saint-Espirit Cotes Du Rhone 2007 $14.95
• Domaine Grand Nicolet Veilles Vignes Cotes Du Rhone-Villages Rasteau 2007 $21.95
• Perrin & Fils Les Christins Vacqueyres 2007 $22.95

Germany

• Reinhold Haart Riesling Kabinett 2007 $19.95

Italy

• Terredora Loggia Della Serra Greco Di Tufo 2008 $19.95
• Fontanafredda Serralunga D’alba Barolo 2005 $38.95
• Renato Ratti Marcenasco Barolo 2005 $49.95
• Antinori Solaia 2006 $244.95
• Castello Di Monastero Chianti Classico 2006 $24.95
• Remo Farina Montecrona Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2005 $19.95

Spain

• Buil & Gine Gine Gine 2006 $17.95
• Juan Gil Tinto 2006 $21.95
• Mas Que Vinos Ercavio Tempranillo Roble 2007 $16.95

The TTC quietly released the beta version of it’s trip planner a few days ago. I’ve tried it and it seems to be pretty accurate. Give it a shot if you’re taking the TTC somewhere and need to find out a route.

Engadget did something very interesting today. They turned off comments on their blog. This reverses a trend that’s been happening for the last few years.

What started in the blogsphere and forums has been rolled out to almost every major news outlet in North America. All the Canadian national newspapers and TV stations allow “comments” on their stories from users. Most of the sites have been redesigned to get these comments a lot of screen real estate.

I find the comments utterly useless. The anonymity afforded by these systems bring out the worst in people. Most of the major outlets have to strictly moderate the comments, and it’s extremely rare that any comment at all is worth reading.

While I’m glad Engadget turned off commenting, they’re still committed to it and are going to turn it back on after the cooling off period. I’m hoping that the comments sections of the major outlets get less prominance and they’re reliance of them to increase traffic to decrease.

Have a spiffy Solid State Drive (SSD) in your computer. Take these steps to optimize it’s performance – and it all starts with Windows 7. This TweakTown guide offers 8 pages of advice on how to squeeze the most performance of these drives. Unfortunately, early adoptors probably have SSD’s that do not support the TRIM command that will prevent drive performance from degrading over time.