Month: December 2012

How is it that a monkey is born in Montreal?

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You don’t have to be overly-curious to wonder how a rhesus money gets to be born in Montreal. And we do wonder.  The thrilling events of IKEA Zoologica are merely post script. Because the fun monkey known as Darwin was, according to his former owners  born in Montreal. If that’s true, he had a mother and father there. Let’s just check the Canadian Food Inspection Agency rules.  The government absolutely forbids the entry into Canada of monkeys of any kind for the purposes of keeping them as pets or breeding. There are four ways a rhesus might get by customs legally: for a movie shoot (from the U.S. only); for a zoo or other accredited exhibition (temporary); for research (poor Darwin if that was the plan); in transit (i.e passing through).  He’s a dear little sweetie no doubt but someone should be asking questions in Montreal (or wherever) about how he got born in Canada and then just given away.

Woman does $45,000 damage at Sporting Life

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There has been a case of malicious damage done to jackets at the Sporting Life store at 2665 Yonge Street (between Blythwood Rd. and Sheldrake Blvd.)  It happened in a period of barely five minutes yesterday shortly before and after1 p.m. when a woman entered the store. The Toronto Police Service report does not specify what she did to do an estimated $45,650 damage to jackets but it must have been done surreptitiously. She apparently got away and there is no description offered by the police. In such cases it has been known for individuals to use knives or razors to cut clothes as they hang on the racks. 

Lucky Erin is a poster girl for travel insurance

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If you saw Erin Langworthy go hurtling toward the Zambezi River and then watched her bungee cord break, it is safe to say you have not forgotten the sight. At New Year’s last year, the 22 year old Australian backpacker tumbled 111 meters from Victoria Falls bridge into the crocodile-infested Zambezi and lived to tell the story. Now Erin has become a very suitable face of Australia’s new campaign urging tourists to buy travel insurance. In two promotional videos for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s “Smartraveller” campaign, Erin narrates a postscript to her already well-known story — that she would have faced AU$50,000 (C$51,800) in medical bills in addition to her severe injuries had it not been for her travel insurance. Erin was accompanied by Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr at a media event kicking off the campaign, which began November 18. Her face and story will be featured on videos, postcards and social media channels. The ministry is also hosting a “Travel Tales” competition, which travelers with horror stories can enter to win AU$6,000 in travel insurance. 

HS cafeterias closing as kids flee to fast food joints

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Ontario’s new healthy food requirement for high schools is apparently driving kids out of the school cafeteria in droves. All across the province there are reports that cafeteria business has slumped and in some cases school dining rooms have closed down completely as students head for the local fast food joint. Under PPM 150, Ontario schools cannot stock candy, chocolate, energy drinks and most baked goods, like danishes and doughnuts. Soft drinks cannot be sold at elementary schools, and must contain less than 40 calories and be caffeine-free for sale in high schools. Further, school prepared dishes like veggie poutine, designed to somehow persuade teens they getting the real thing, have been a total flop. The inset poster was created by a Leaside High Schooler known as fenderbender and posted online last April. 

Canadians complain of cell phone “contract creep”

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Growing anger against 3-year cell phone contracts is hitting the federal regulator of telecommunications in Ottawa. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) asked for feedback from users on their cells and on how they are treated by the big telecoms. Overwhelmingly, Canadians have complained of what some might call contract-creep. First the contracts were 12 months, then 24 months and now a full  three years. These people say they are being “held hostage” by 36-month contracts. “Get rid of the 36 months contract!!!,” one Canadian shouted. All of this is a prelude to hearings the CRTC intends to hold in February to begin to develop a national code which might give consumers more protection,.

Prank call akin to tripping a blind man for fun

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It’s all a question of what you find funny. Many people think prank jokes like the one that led to the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha are roughly akin to tripping a blind man on the street. The present culture doesn’t mind setting up just any stranger (as opposed to an old buddy you’ve known for years) and making a fool of  that victim in public for fun. You tell us. We think it’s the worst reflection of the juvenile brain. Sadly, it occurs in countless juveniles who are over 30. Put the juvenile brain together with  a ruthless business interest and you get the Australian phone call to a vulnerable, conscientious nurse who could not bear the idea that she had let down her employers and patients. The radio station, 2Day, says there was no wrongdoing. Fine. It’s an effort to deflect lawsuits perhaps. But the court of public opinion has its own verdict — Ed.

South Bayview alerted to theft of high-end cars

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Toronto Police Service has issued a specific warning to residents of neighborhoods adjoining South Bayview  (in 53 Division) with regard to the night-time theft of expensive cars. This year, some 24 such cars have been stolen from homes in Toronto.  Police have video images of one suspect from a break-in the in the high-end Kingsway neighborhood of Etobicoke. These are apparently brazen break-ins which may occur when residents are at home. It hasn’t been said that any car thefts by these thieves have occurred locally but it seems certain that neighborhoods like York Mills, Lawrence Park, Leaside, Moore Park, Rosedale and others would be readily targeted by this ring. Police also remember the elaborate theft of Toyota Highlander vehicles from driveways in Leaside and area in recent years. As in that case, police believe the current stolen cars are probably being smuggled out of the country.

Bid for six homes on site of Glebe Presyterian

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Application has been made to build three sets of  two semi-detached town homes on the site of the Globe Presbyterian Church at 124 Belsize at De Savery Crescent.  The 1913 church has been for sale most of this year and is now sold. Sale price has not been made public but the listing price was $2,850,000. This limited information comes from the City’s website and reveals no plans or illustrations. The application does say that the homes will sit atop a common underground garage which will be accessed from Belsize Drive. Judging by the value of homes in the Glebe and with an added amenity like an underground garage, the value of each unit will be substantial. Profit to the builder would be very handsome as well if he paid only the listing price  This proposed project however may seem attractive to residents here and elsewhere considering the frequent attempts by developers to challenge zoning with multi-level towers.  Previous post