Month: September 2014

Doctor’s orders as Zane Cohen shushes media

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Dr.Zane Cohen
Reporters are chuckling, and possibly smarting, from their meeting with Dr. Zane Cohen, the colorectal expert who is treating Rob Ford. On Twitter tonight Dr. Cohen is portrayed as an A Type practitioner who was not going to brook any media rowdiness at his news conference. Reporter comments include these:  “No speculation whatsoever and no shouting allowed. Impressive.” Another: “Dr. Zane Cohen takes control of this presser. Shushing reporters, demanding questions come one at a time.” Sun scribbler and Twitter boss-operator Don Peat said simply “Shhh! Who’s next?”  And finally Dexter the Dog has asked in a tweet: “Is there a Zane Cohen parody act yet? Envisioning a combo of Chuck Norris, Edward Scissorhands, and John Houseman in Paper Chase.” Excellent Dexter.   

“Results of Ford biopsy will take about a week”

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Doctors at  Mount Sinai Hospital have conducted a biopsy on the tumour in Mayor’s Ford’s abdomen. But it will take about a week for them to analyse the results and make a firm diagnosis. Colorectal expert Dr. Zane Cohen told the media Thursday evening that there was very little he could tell them.  “Today we did a CT scan and biopsy of the mass in the abdomen,” he said. “We also did a CT scan of the chest and an ultrasound examination.”   Mr. Ford will undergo an MRI on Friday and a team of medical experts will meet to “decide the next steps.” “He is resting comfortably,” Dr. Cohen said. “He has some pain. We are giving him some pain medication for that. He is surrounded by family members and that’s about it. Not much more than what you heard last night. We are still in a holding pattern.”

Apple wristwatch facing widespread ridicule

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The not-quite-ready for the public Apple wristwatch is drawing ridicule across North America. People profess to see no need for it, especially at those Apple prices. At the right, a Twitter wag produced his own Apple watch. The video (left) is an easy going send up of the new watch. There may be a naughty word of two in there so be warned.

Mayor Rob Ford moved to Mount Sinai Hospital

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Mayor Ford was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital from Humber River Hospital about 1 p.m. today (Thursday, September 11, 2014). Following the mayor’s reported illness, it seemed certain he would be transferred to a downtown hospital.  Mont Sinai is a world-renowned centre for the practice of internal medicine. As reported earlier, doctors say they have found a “not small” tumour in mayor’s lower left abdomen. The challenge of diagnosis awaits the very best medical minds. With word of a news conference this evening, it appears that doctors may know by now whether the tumour is malignant. Meanwhile, tomorrow is nomination day for the general election. Candidates must act by 2 p.m. Friday, September 12, 2014 if they wish to withdraw or enter a name. If the mayor’s name is not withdrawn, he will appear on the ballot.  Quite apart from whether he is well enough to return to the campaign, His presence on the ballot will attract votes. There has been a notable idea or two from the media about the mayor’s illness. One columnist said the campaign should be temporarily suspended.  Most people seem to have rejected this idea.  The most elemental exercise of democracy — an election — is seldom altered by the illness of political leaders, however sad such things may be.  Robyn Doolittle of the Toronto Star seemed to think that the mayor’s illness made it “difficult” for other candidates to pursue their campaigns. This also seems a little curious. The other candidates owe Mr. Ford their best wishes, not a blackout on the issues. 

Days dwindle down at Penrose Fish and Chips

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As the days dwindle down to a precious few at Penrose Fish and Chips we have another brief look at the family album of this remarkable Mt. Pleasant Rd. business. Left to right is Roly Johnston with Dave as a lad, centre we see Marion Johnston holding David Johnston as in infant. Boy at the left is Dave’s brother Fred and the girl is Dave’s sister Gail. Woman at right is Marion’s sister, Elenor. Finally the “original” Penrose Fish and Chips when hanging signs were still permitted.  The store closes in October. Earlier post

Bayview Art Tour set for October 4-5, 2014

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The 14th Annual Bayview Art Tour and Sale is scheduled for the weekend of October 4 and 5, 2014. This ambitious annual event sees local artists exhibiting at a variety of venues through the South Bayview neighborhoods. The locations are marked by yellow balloons. The Bayview Art Tour (known as BAT) runs between noon and 5 p.m. each day. Website 

53% of Scots say “No” to independence: Poll

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The latest polling in Scotland suggests that 53 per cent of the more than four million residents are opposed to separating from the United Kingdom. If so, it will be a blessing for that country as a multitude of divisive issues awaits a so-called independent Scotland. The Mail Online says that a record 4,285,323 Scots have registered to vote, a number pushing towards 97 percent of electors. There is worry about everything from who owns the energy, to the future of the pound, revenue transfers to Scotland from London and Scottish access to the EU if the Yes side wins. Recent days have seen polls which suggested sentiment in the tiny land had turned in favour of independence. Scotland is a nation which sometimes seems to have peopled the world during the expansion of English settlement in North America and elsewhere. Fears have grown that it might languish like Slovakia did after the abrupt dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. The vote is a week today on September 18, 2014.  Mailonline. 

Ching! Dollarama Q2 profit soars 15 per cent

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You little money maker
Dollarama reported a 15 percent rise in quarterly profit as both new stores and spendy customers added to the bottom line. Any casual observer of the little Bayview Ave. store can tell Dollarama is busy. Company net income rose to C$68.9 million ($62.6 million) or C$1.03 per share in the second quarter ended Aug. 3 from C$59.8 million, or 82 Canadian cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 12 percent to C$572.6 million. The company also said it would issue as dividend one share for each share held.”The progress we are making in our financial results is directly attributable to our continued focus on organic growth in the Canadian market with the opening of 89 net new stores over the past twelve months and our objective of improving the operational effectiveness and efficiency of our business. With the opening of 43 net new stores so far in Fiscal 2015, we are on target to expand our store network across Canada by 70 to 80 net new stores this year,” stated Larry Rossy, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Dollarama.

Gates Foundation gives $50 million to fight Ebola

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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says it will  spend $50 million US to support the emergency response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, marking the group’s largest donation to a humanitarian effort. “It became clear to us over the last seven to 10 days that the pace and scope of the epidemic was increasing significantly,” Chris Elias, president of global development for the world’s largest charitable foundation, told The Associated Press.

Testing proceeds, Ford’s illness, prognosis unclear

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Medical writer Helen Branswell offers measured rendering of the Mayor Ford’s condition and prospects.  Helen Branswell, Canadian Press 

Rob Ford admitted to hospital with “tumour”

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Rob Ford has been diagnosed with a tumour after seeking treatment for “unbearable” abdominal pain. in the lower left quadrant of his body. Dr. Rueben Devlin at Humber River Hospital says a CT scan brought physicians to the “working diagnosis of a tumour” today. In other words, it must be established if there is in fact a tumour and its condition — benign or cancerous. Ford’s brother, Councillor Doug Ford, says the mayor is “in good spirits.” The mayor will be kept in the hospital over the next few days as tests are conducted to determine more details about the tumour. The illness comes at a critical moment in the campaign for mayor. The nomination day deadline for adding or removing names from the ballot is Friday, September 12, 2014.  The mayor’s legal counsel, Desmond Morris, said that he was with the mayor in recent days and he seemed to be in great spirit.  Canadian Press    Tell-all book by former aide out days before the election. 

Tyson heaps abuse on TV’s Nathan Downer

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Tyson and below Downer

Boxer Mike Tyson launched into an abusive attack on CP24 host Nathan Downer of CP24 Wednesday afternoon (September 10, 2014). Downer was hosting as Tyson (top inset) and a handler type arrived at the station to talk about the boxer’s one-man show “The Undisputed Truth” at the Air Canada Centre. The normally mild-mannered Downer started off by asking Tyson whether his endorsement of Mayor Ford yesterday might not actually hurt Ford since Tyson is a convicted rapist. “Some of your critics would say, ‘There’s a race for mayor. We know you’re a convicted rapist. This could hurt his (Ford’s) campaign.’ What would you say to that?” “It’s so interesting, you come off like a nice guy,” Tyson responded, “but that was really a piece of s—, that comment. F— you.” From there on Tyson unloaded epithets of the “piece of s—” kind on Downer.  When Downer attempted to deflect the insults, he just got more. The same “piece of…” slur came when Downer asked Tyson whether it was more difficult being in a fight match or performing. Tyson told the CP24 host that the worst was being there with him. Comments on YouTube accompanying the video below reveal a range of reaction to the tirade. Some feel Downer’s question was badly put, although there aren’t too many ways to call a person a rapist. The notorious boxer visited Mayor Ford yesterday at City Hall to declare him the best mayor the city has ever had. The occasion prompted a series of news stories linkable on Google in which the boxer’s criminal record was mentioned. Tyson has been convicted of rape and is said to have bitten off an opponent’s ear during a fight, Video may be offensive to some.