Month: November 2020

Canada’s deputy top public health doctor says most Canadians could be vaccinated against C-19 by the end of next year. Yes, people must continue to be careful until they get the brand-name jab. But Dr. Howard Njoo is clearing the fog of the infection that was born in filthy animal markets in China. In recent days, pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have announced successful trials of their coronavirus vaccines. And there are many other vaccines coming to completion. Canada has made huge orders of them all. That’s why Dr. Njoo is optimistic that approval from Health Canada will soon herald vaccinations for all. And you know what? Don’t worry about people who say they won’t take it. They’ll figure it out sooner or later and in the meantime, you and your family will be safe from the corona life-wrecker.

The City of Toronto has adopted a so-called Traffic Agents program. This innovation sneaked up on many people during the summer of C-19 but Wednesday has seen 16 of these uniformed people doing their best to keep pedestrians and others safe at busy downtown intersections. It’s no particular slight to say that Traffic Agents seem a lot like school guards for grownups. And sadly it seems that there will never be a Traffic Agent handy to help an old lady across Eglinton Ave on a rainy night. But let’s see. News release

Twitter will introduce a tweet that vanishes after 24-hours. The tweet announcing this curious new feature doesn’t really make a stab at explaining it. Many people say they just don’t get it.

There are billions of dollars in profits and God knows what kind of extra leverage for China if Huawei is permitted to be part of the G5 transition in the western world. Erin O’Toole is scolding the Trudeau government to make sure that doesn’t happen. Then, another university-entrance scandal in the US as a businessman bribes a Harvard fencing coach. Below, the burdensome revelations of the Yonge St. van killer’s defense. Lastly, how not to order stuff online during the pandemic.

Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 15) has made a partial return to public duties more than a year after announcing she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, the Toronto Star reports Monday.  Robinson remotely attended a virtual meeting of the TTC board this day. She is the chair. Robinson called the meeting to order and in brief remarks to board members she announced she was “partially back.” Toronto Star

A long and varied thread has formed at Leaside Community with respect to the tipping policy at the new cookie store on Bayview Ave. Quite a variety of opinions are offered about whether staff should be asking for a tip for a cookie purchase. The owner apparently feels staff are being bullied. Seems rather messy. FB

Large pieces of debris fly through the sky downtown/

Many tweets reveal the peril caused by Sunday’s wind. A kiteboarder apparently tried to ride the waves and was rescued unconscious. ONstorm.

Dog owner hunkers down in furious winds on the Beach

High winds Sunday afternoon have caused power outages in Davisville Village apparently on either side of Cleveland St between Davisville Ave. and Merton St. as well as a large blackout along the Danforth. There is also a small outage in the Beaches where pictures posted by Diane Walton show the fury of the storm on the waterfront. She was caught in the gusts. Outage Map

Sunday afternoon/Diane Walton

Many people will wish to stay focussed on the end game — getting a functional shot of a vaccine against the coronavirus infection. Here are reports from the US and UK on how soon we may actually see that great day.

Calculated malice of vandals on Rolph Rd. early Sunday

A security camera has recorded four vandals damaging a parked car on Rolph Rd. early Sunday morning. They deface the vehicle by scratching the paint with a key and damaging the tires. Note the reflective shoes on one of them  Born to be stupid. FB

City’s gift to taxpayers of Toronto and East York

The Toronto Star has published an editorial urging City Council, when it meets Nov 25 and 26, to approve snow clearance for all sidewalks across Toronto. Right now, sidewalks are cleared in Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough but not in Toronto and East York. This unfair arrangement is a hangover from the days of Metropolitan Toronto and more than 20 years later is an offense to taxpayers of the inner City.

Environment Canada has issued a warning of strong winds gusting up to 90 km/h Sunday afternoon and evening. It says a strengthening low-pressure system is forecast to track across northeastern Ontario. This system is expected to bring southerly winds gusting up to 70 km/h Sunday morning. Winds will then shift to the west and strengthen with isolated gusts up to 90 km/h beginning late Sunday afternoon. Winds are expected to ease Sunday evening.