Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden have been on the phone with each other and US sources say that Russia has been fully warned about any invasion of Ukraine. This National Post story tells of Putin’s worrisome notion that the Ukrainians are his brothers. Those with memories think that sounds like Hitler getting ready to annex Austria.

Canada, others follow US boycott of Beijing games

The prime minister has announced that, like the US, Canada will conduct a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The UK and Australia have also declared a boycott. China had said it doesn’t matter. Everyone is out of step but Beijing is the Communist mantra.

Olaf Scholz becomes German Chancellor

Angela Merkel, the woman called the Face of European Governance, has stepped down as Chancellor of Germany. Her successor, Olaf Scholz took office today.

A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $2,500 from 26 friends and neighbours to replace Christmas balloons that were vandalized on Dec 6 at a home at Davisville Ave and Forman Ave. Read about it here.

The Ontario Science Table Advisory Board has published another set of worst-case scenarios for 2022. Notwithstanding widespread vaccination, the 63 named scientists and physicians predict that any return to pre-pandemic normal will create enough sickness among the unvaccinated to quickly paralyze hospital services. They recommend extended vaccination, masks, distancing, and a stay-at-home life well into 2022.

Capacity limits extended

Shortly after this news, the Ontario government announced the extension of capacity limits in higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is required as case counts have been steadily rising across the province for the past month.  It had been planned to lift these limits in the new year.

The US has announced it will apply a “political boycott” to the Beijing Olympics. This apparently means that athletes are free to compete even as administration officials stay home. The decision stops short of the full-scale measures seen during the Cold War and at other points in Olympic history. In Ottawa, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has called for Canada to initiate a diplomatic boycott of the games.

Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for Toronto. Gusts may reach 70 to 80 km/h. Meantime, a nasty weather system has thundered by to the southeast of the Golden Horseshoe including Toronto.

The City has opened warming centres for the homeless as nighttime temperatures slide well below zero. A release Monday says four centres will open at 7 p.m. at 129 Peter St., 5800 Yonge St., Exhibition Place Better Living Centre 195 Princes’ Blvd. and the Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr. The release says the warming centres will “activate approximately 150 spaces” and that these are “in addition to the 200 new spaces created through the City’s 2021/2022 Winter Services Plan.” It’s not clear from the release where these other 200 spaces are located. Release

From l to r # Catherina Maughan, Jennifer Avveduto, Ted DeWelles, Patrick Rocca (Vice Chair), Susan Parr (Secretary), Ann Brown (Chair) Absent: Kennis Kim (Treasurer), Jennifer Hanley and John Lea

Boxing play/Colin Mcconnell

Go Red Team

Leaside Curling Club joy

Mount Pleasant Village BIA

Bulldog digital publishing has picked up the printed front page (upper left) showing the executive of the Leaside Heritage Preservation Society. From left to right are Catherina Maughan, Jennifer Avveduto, Ted DeWelles, Patrick Rocca (Vice-Chair), Susan Parr (Secretary), Ann Brown (Chair) Absent: Kennis Kim (Treasurer), Jennifer Hanley and John Lea. At top centre are a couple of lively boxing pooches as captured by Leslieville master photographer Colin Mcconnell. Thanks again, Colin. Top right are members of the Leaside Wildcats Team Red in a public-spirited campaign on behalf of the George Turrell Memorial Food Drive. Thanks to you, ladies. At bottom left, a gang of happy curlers at the Leaside Curling Club. Together again and making us smile. Lastly, the inventive program of voucher shopping from the Mount Pleasant Village BIA.

Toronto Hydro restored power to as many as 1,00o customers in Old East York across the Don Valley from Leaside Sunday evening. Most of the darkness lay across Broadview Ave. The report came in shortly after 9 p.m. This picture of the Hydro Outage Map was current at about 10 p.m.

Fire (transformer/pole) [East York]O'connor Drive @ Stanhope Avenue
Dispatched: 05/12/21 @ 21:05 EST
[Stn: 322] Aerial-322
General Area:

— Toronto Fire (@tofire) December 6, 2021

Fans at Lamport Stadium distracted from game/Toronto Mike@torontomike

Toronto Fire Service extinguished a single-arm fire in the homeless encampment in Lamport Park at the corner of King St West and Jefferson Ave Sunday. There are no reports of injuries. Lamport Park has seen a large gathering of tents and encampments in recent months. In May, the fire service was called to the same place at 5 a.m. on reports of a fire that caused “screaming and explosions” but no one was treated.

A Mississauga lottery gambler will collect the $8.8 million Lotto 649 jackpot on a ticket drawn Saturday. The second prize of $207,248.90 was sold in Lambton County. A $1-million ticket was also sold in Niagara Region.

The details of how his parents enabled a young man to kill four of his classmates at a Michigan school are almost beyond belief. Among the crushing details is evidence that Jennifer Crumbley told her son, Ethan, that he had to learn not to get caught with his newly-purchased handgun.

Josephine Baker honoured in France

She was a popular feature at the Folies Bergere, a spy for the French resistance and a maternal strength who adopted 12 children. Josephine Baker was also black. Last week she became the first woman of her race to be given the highest civilian honour in France.

Creepy robot reality wakes up in Britain

The subtle humanity in the faces of these British robots is creepy.

Porter piston engine planes flying again

MP Rob Oliphant has sent out information about a virtual meeting related to commercial aircraft noise over Leaside and other Midtown neighbourhoods like Moore Park, Rosedale and others. The return to business of Porter Airlines and increased traffic at Pearson Airport is obviously noticeable. Porter’s piston-engine aircraft take off for Ottawa and Montreal over homes and there doesn’t appear to be much altitude. The meeting is on December 6, 2021 at 5 p.m. It is organized by Nav Canada and anyone may sign up to attend. Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada’s civil air navigation system (ANS). It was established in accordance with the Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization Act (ANS Act).