Macy’s said Thursday it will close 100 more full-line stores early next year. That’s in addition  to the 40 stores it said would close in early 2016. In some cases the stores are still in “positive cash flow” but business is declining and where Macy’s owns the land, it is worth more than the operating store. The closures are part of the continuing sinister impact of the Internet on department stores. Macy’s has 675 full-line stores.

Staff of the Sunnybrook Medical Centre on Bayview Ave have recorded a poignant tribute and thanks to those who supported the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research. They sang Courage, a prophetically named work of Downie’s band, the Tragically Hip. Downie was diagnosed in December with an aggressive, incurable form of brain cancer — glioblastoma. Downie has joined his bandmates of more than 30 years for a summer tour in support of the Hip’s new album, Man Machine Poem. Sunnybrook’s Dr. James Perry, Gord Downie’s neuro-oncologist, has been touring with the band.

Reporters traveling between Olympic venues came under fire Wednesday in Rio Janiero.

Police say a man, 20, from Virginia  who climbed partway up the facade of Trump Tower in New York City had posted a video online saying he did it because he wanted “a private audience” with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The young man came to NY the night before with an “important message” for Trump — AP  Police explain it, kid’s odd video

Councillor Burnside has tweeted an alert Wednesday afternoon that on Sunday and Monday, August 20 and 21, all Eglinton bus routes will be re-directed away from the street because of Metrolinx work at Eglinton Ave and Hanna Road. The diversions will send the 54 Eglinton and related service up to Glenvale and the 31 Leslie, 56 Leaside and 100 Flemingdon Park along Broadway. At the same time, the 34 Eglinton will divert through south Leaside, along Laird, Sutherland and Bayview back to Eglinton.

https://twitter.com/jon_burnside/status/763476422103068672

Here is Star Editor Michael Cooke’s note to staff trying to buck up the Star newsroom after 52 more layoffs and underwhelming progress to profitability of the digital phenomenon Star Touch. He vows never to permit canned content of the type widely seen on the Internet. This material sometimes known as catchbait stories often shock readers and usually sell weird stuff.  His memo

Leaside’s Martha McCabe gave it her all in women’s 200 metre breaststroke today (Wednesday, August 10). She fought back tears after touching eighth at the Olympic pool.

#CAN Martha McCabe touches 8th in her 200m breaststroke heat #Swimming #Rio2016 https://t.co/iVTbighMKh https://t.co/6N6UlHjLKg

— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) August 10, 2016

The Globe and Mail says that Ontario unions have spent more than $15-million to campaign in the past three general elections, 94 per cent of all third-party advertising. Anyone who has watched election advertising will probably remember the ever-present “Working  Families” ads.  Globe and Mail.

GO Transit

Newly-acquired buildings by First Capital at Pusateri Corners

Common sense and simple observation have led many Bulldog correspondents to conclude that there are condominiums ahead in the newly-aggregated 2.2 acres of land at Lawrence Ave West and Avenue Road by the First Capital Realty REIT. Some of the six properties acquired by FC, besides Pusateri’s, are already earmarked for condo development. The FC news release was sufficiently vague that we can’t be sure but some are betting that the fine quality grocer will rise at the intersection — a kind of Pusateri Corners — with homes up above it. While we are speculating about your neighborhood, does work on the original fire-damaged Pusateri’s seem to be going agonizingly slowly?  Previous

There are many reasons to fear for the future of humanity, but this one is real enough. The well-heeled BMW Pokemon hunter is seen from a York Region cop chopper keeping an eye out for break-in artists at 3 a.m. The car sped up and slowed, lurked in driveways and, oh yes, stopped in middle of the road like it had run out of gas. The driver was given a warning. Would that be “go to bed”?