There are 14.57 million people in the Trillium Province and the government has pledged to have administered C-19 vaccinations to 8.5 million of them by the end of June. Fingers crossed.

Even as new daily cases continue to climb

The government reports 2,923 new cases of C-19 infection Wednesday discovered during the 24-hour period ended at midnight. It’s a record number and exceeds the previous record set Tuesday by some 313. The increase comes amid a slackening in testing possibly caused by the holidays. Today’s number was determined on the basis of 39,200 tests whereas before Christmas testing was in the 60,000-a-day range.

Earthquakes have rattled Croatia for two days running. This video offers some graphic actuality scenes of the nerve-wracking quakes.

Is North Korea short of food?

Observers say that the North Korean tyrant Kim jung-un is under enormous pressure because of the useless economy of his personal fiefdom. Some say the recent goverment ode to homegrown potatoes suggests North Korea is short of food.

Leg lengthening surgery is tricky

Who knew that there are apparently respectable medical practices in the UK and elsewhere that perform surgery to lengthen the legs? But it can be perilous.

Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Eileen de Villa says the quarantine and public safety rules intended to fight the Covid pandemic have proven to be a test of democracy as well as Canada’s health care system. She spoke philosophically about the need to communicate with those who find such restrictions a violation of their rights.

Here are Monday morning reports on the efficacy and handy nature of the AstraZeneca vaccine created in collaboration with Oxford University. It looks good. Then, the CBC interviews an epidemiologist who suggests there’s nothing about the C-19 variant that should scare us more than the original.

Fire service personnel cut their way into abandoned building/Ian duke

Quite a mess at hoses hauled across Dundas

A five-alarm fire Sunday night at Dundas St. and Sterling Rd. in an abandoned industrial machine works has been extinguished by the Toronto Fire Service. The building, which is owned by Metrolinx, was set for demolition. The blaze was very well covered by amateur photographers and one of them, John Semley (john@johnsemley3000) provided this account of what appears to have been the best show in town.

RIP to the abandoned industrial machine works at sterling and dundas that had been turned into a skate park, colloquially known as “teentown.” had the pleasure of holing up in their hallowed halls this summer. Toronto loses another one.

John and friend hanging out at old factory last summer/john@johnsemley3000

Wait a minute. You mean guys in jet packs are flying around in aircraft space near US airports? Uh-huh. Crazy eh? Then, odd-ball news service ODN offers up ten jaw-dropping pieces of video for 2020. Below that, the weird and wonderful dress-up cultures of modern Japan. Finally, it looks like the Ontario Department of Transportation has blundered into giving the same personalized plate to both a car driver and motorcycle owner. The plate is Shhhh but it’s going to be hard to keep this rather sloppy mistake quiet.

Cleared before dawn

Next door two days later

Here are pictures of adjoining properties in Moore Park after City plows have gone by. At left is the immaculate work of a contractor who passes homes before dawn. But you can see where he regularly swings away to do other jobs. At right is the sidewalk next door. It was “cleared” in this fashion two days after the snow fell.

Tell us your sidewalk snow clearing story

South Bayview residents are invited to write a brief bit of mail about sidewalk clearing issues seen by them in the area to news@bayview-news.com

He clears the driveway with a blow torch

Keep in mind that you’re fortunate not to live next to a lunatic in Kentucky who has cleared his driveway with a blow torch. Global News

Two people have been injured in a large fire in a St. James Town apartment building this Boxing Day. Crews were called to the building at Wellesley and Bleecker Sts around 12 noon Saturday. The fire was declared a two-alarm incident and firefighters were at the scene into the afternoon. According to police, a person inside the unit on the 12th floor was found suffering from serious injuries and a second required treatment. They were taken to the hospital — with City News

Public library on Bayview Ave.

Southeast corner of Bayview Ave and Fleming Cres.

Diagonal parking on Bayview Ave.

A group of Leaside residents led by Ann Brown has formed the Leaside Heritage Preservation Society (LHPS). The organization will be dedicated to preserving, promoting and celebrating the rich history of Leaside. In addition to Ms Brown, the LHPS board has eight other notable members: Jennifer Avveduto, Ted DeWelles, Jennifer Hanley, Kennis Kim, John Lea, Catherina Maughan, Susan Parr and Patrick Rocca. “The only thing missing in the remarkable history of our Leaside neighbourhood has been a coordinated effort to memorialize and preserve that history,” said Chairman Brown. “Every one of us on the Board is focused on taking steps to preserve and promote the historical contributions of Leaside, for the enjoyment and education of the community today and for future generations.” The society’s Facebook page is great fun. It includes this post seen recently on Twitter recalling Glenvale Motors Austin Sales at 189 Laird Drive beside what is now the Leaside Pub. LHPS website

Recalling the Austin Somerset sold to Ms. Anne Waters of Victoria Park Ave. in 1953

The enduring poem was recorded in support of the Actors’ Benevolent Fund, of which The Prince of Wales has been Patron for over 20 years taking over the role from Her Majesty The Queen in 2000. He is accompanied by an ensemble of well known British actors. ‘Twas the night before Christmas was written in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore and was first known as A Visit from St. Nicholas. Merry Christmas to all from The South Bayview Bulldog.

Britain and the European Union have struck a provisional free-trade agreement that should avert New Year’s chaos for cross-border traders and bring a measure of certainty for businesses after years of Brexit turmoil. In the address above prime minister Johnson called it a “Canada-style” trade deal. There seems much concern about the limited nature of the agreement but with barely a week until the UK’s final split from the EU, the British government said the “deal is done.” The immediate benefit of any deal is that it will avoid chaos at ports and border points after New Year’s. CBC