The Bulldog

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.

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. 

Rolph addition houses kindergarten classes

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Residents of the Rolph Road area who have wondered all summer just what was being built at the public school will be interested to know that the new addition at the north end of the building accommodates three classes of all-day kindergarten. Michael Kennedy, principal of Rolph Road, explains that there are three classes of kindergartners comprising some 32 kids. Each class has two teachers. In all, Rolph is educating some 408 pupils this year from kindergarten to Grade 6.  Rolph Road School was built in 1939 and this October celebrates 75 years with a grand celebration. Check it out.

Is Google thumbing its nose at road safety?

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Is Google thumbing its nose at traffic safety? Sensible people all over the world are trying to keep drivers from killing themselves — and others — by making it illegal to use electronic devices on the road. It may not be too pointed a question. The new Apple watch will make it possible for drivers to surreptitiously watch video, send mail and just generally goof off from the boring task of driving while they play with their watches. 

Soknacki out! Can Olivia Chow be far behind?

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Must ponder her duty

It was a tip-off in full-colour when David Soknacki begged off a mayoral debate “to celebrate his 60th birthday”. Sure. Tonight the affable thinker and distinct also-ran candidate for mayor said he will in fact drop out of the race. And as she sinks to third in the Tory, Ford, Chow field, the aubergine and yellow candidate of women and the poor must also be thinking about calling it a day. The sincerity of her  professed love of the city will be tested in the days to come as she hears the political truth. Yes, she is in third spot without a lot of traction. And critically, she risks helping Rob Ford defeat John Tory. It is a sobering burden for this adopted daughter of Canada’s largest city and she will have to ponder her duty well.