The Bulldog

Toronto Zoo welcomes new-born pygmy hippopotamus calf

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Unnamed female pygmy hippo at Toronto Zoo
Mother and calf doing well

A new-born pygmy hippopotamus calf is seen beside her mother at the Toronto Zoo. Kindia, a 12-year-old female delivered the female calf August 10 at 10:52 p.m. The baby hippo weighed 5.48 kilograms the day after she was born. Not yet named, she weighed 8.7 kilograms (roughly 19 pounds) as of Tuesday morning. Facebook

Watts says wife strangled girls when he asked for separation

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Authorities are not buying the story told by Chris Watts about the death of his pregnant wife and two daughters. He claims he found her strangling the girls after he had asked for a separation because he was having an affair. Then, a 95-year-old former prison camp guard has been deported from the US to Germany. Below that, there is much upset over the self-involved speech made by Madonna in tribute to Aretha Franklin at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards Monday. And finally, every cruise ship passenger’s nightmare is falling overboard. Here is a woman who did just that and was in the water for ten hours. Astonishing.






Aeroplan returns to AC 34 years after it was created there

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Aeroplan going home

Canadian Press reports Tuesday that a group led by Air Canada will buy the Aeroplan loyalty program from Aimia Inc. The customer incentive program will return to Air Canada some 34 years after it was created there in 1984. The buyers group includes the airline, TD Bank, CIBC and Visa Canada Corp. It will pay $450 million in cash and assume the approximately $1.9-billion liability associated with Aeroplan miles customers have accumulated. Over the years, the credibility of Aeroplan declined because of the difficulty of redeeming points This seems to be especially true after Air Canada sold it off in 2002. Air Canada said: “This transaction, if completed, should produce the best outcome for all stakeholders, including Aeroplan members, as it would allow for a smooth transition to Air Canada’s new loyalty program launching in 2020, safeguarding their miles and providing convenience and value for millions of Canadians.” The price is up from an initial offer of $250 million in cash and the assumption of the reward point liability in July that was rejected by Aimia. The deal is expected to close this fall.

Further soaking for City causes local floods, more to come

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The rains came (again) Tuesday to give Toronto its third good soaking in about two weeks. Across South Bayview there is local flooding but the intensity of the downfall did not seem to match the basement flooding onslaught of August 8.  Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch: “Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts and torrential rain,” the national weather agency said. The threat of thunderstorms will continue into the afternoon and early evening. The City of Toronto is advising everyone to take extra care when travelling and to take precautionary steps to protect their property and ensure their safety. Transportation Services staff are monitoring conditions on the roads and working to keep catch basins clear. Both the city and Metrolinx has additional staff at Union Station in case of flooding. #onstorm

Penny Oleksiak scores Vichy sun protection endorsement

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Pride of the Toronto Beach and four-time Olympic medalist Penny Oleksiak, 18, appears in an ad for Vichy sun screen currently playing in Canada. Penny Wikipedia

Motorcyclist in miraculous survival at Coxwell and Queen

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Biker flying through air/SaveManMedia
Car turns left/SavedManMedia

A young man has apparently survived with only non-life threatening injuries after a frightening collision with a car at Coxwell Ave and Queen St. E. Monday morning. Upon colliding with a white car, the motorcyclist launches into the air and flips multiple times before landing on the street. In dashcam video posted to YouTube, the motorcyclist can be seen going straight-on through the intersection. A small white car makes what appears to be an unsignalled left turn. The impact sends the rider flying through the air.

RR crossing gates reported stuck on Wicksteed east of Leslie

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The railways gate were repaired and were operational later Tuesday.

Sophie’s bright kitchen near opening at 1614 Bayview Ave.

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Bright kitchen/Sophie’s
Pecan Cornflake Crusted French Toast/Sophie’s
Homey/Sophie’s

It’s reported that Sophie’s (kitchen) will open Wednesday. Charming photos on an Instagram account show a bright and homey-looking restaurant. The owners are said to be from Leaside. It seems diner rules will apply with emphasis on breakfast and lunch (shades of Rosie’s). One photo of a gentleman working at the stove is captioned “think Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Braised Steak Sandwich and Freshly Squeezed Charcoal Lemonade.” There is also said to be a dish called “Eggs Bennington” and a “Bayview BLT” (ha ha). Welcome to South Bayview.

Will City opposition to Bill 5 cause election to be postponed?

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City Council has voted 25 to 15 to challenge the legality of Ontario Government Bill 5. That’s legislation which would cut Toronto Council from 47 seats to 25. But the City Clerk told Council Monday that while there is enough time to organize and run a 25-ward election, there will not be enough time to organize an election with 47 wards if the court finds in the City’s favour. She has been instructed to create a contingency plan in the event of a City victory in court. In all of this, the City is challenging the authority of the province, a signatory to the British North America Act, with statutory authority in all things municipal. Still, Councillors talk about “our democracy” and “meddling” by the Province. Bill 5 may be annoying. It may be wrong. But the City of Toronto cannot be called none of Ontario’s business.  City News report Jennifer Pagliaro Twitter

STORM WATER TAX

City Executive Committee has shelved further debate on a so-called Storm Water Fee. This concept arises in the context of too much rain, it seems. But there appears to be an absence of ideas at City Hall on how to deal with too much rain. Some Councillors decided a tax on property owners as needed was a way to “inspire” them to think of ways to deal with the rain.

PM calls her questions over asylum seeker costs “racism”

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to heckling about irregular border crossers by telling a woman, “Your racism has no place here.” Trudeau made the remarks in a long French-language meeting in farm fields. The translation shown in the YouTube video turns racism into “intolerance of immigrants.” The woman interrupted him during an event in Quebec on Thursday to ask when the federal government would repay the province for the $146 million that Quebec says it has cost to handle an influx of asylum seekers.

Me-too you-too, disgraced pastor and K families meet again

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Asia Argento
Martin Kofi Danso
Reunited after decades

Faces of what goes around, utter disgrace and the criminal seclusion of North Korea. Left, Asia Argento, one of the first actors to finger Harvey Weinstein and become a Me-Too darling. She has now paid off a former colleague to the tune of $380,000 after he sued her for taking him to bed when he was 17. Then, Martin Kofi Danso, the Toronto pastor who told his parishioner to abort the child she had conceived by him “or die.” Nice. He was worried that his wife and congregation would find out. Too late now. Finally, moving images of the reunion of Korean families permitted by the thaw in relations between north and south. What is overlooked is the 75-year criminal enforced seclusion of NK people by that despicable father-and-son tyranny. We seem unable to get it that an open North Korea would mean no North Korea.

Meghan in City, hinted stay with Mulroneys of Moore Park

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Gossip site Royal Central says it has confirmed that Megan Markle is in Toronto. In picking up the story, Daily Hive TO, hints that Markle (the Duchess of Sussex to you) may be staying with long-time friends Ben and Jessica Mulroney at their Moore Park home. The Duchess is said to be travelling without her husband as she makes her first solo visit abroad since marrying Prince Harry in May. Kensington Palace sent a letter to Air Canada staff beforehand asking that no one take Meghan’s picture or approach her on the flight. It is also rumoured that she will be visiting Los Angeles this summer before resuming work again in September. Following her return from Canada, it is likely that the Duchess will join Prince Harry and the Queen for a short stay at Balmoral Castle.