The South Bayview Bulldog

There is much excitement among washroom-watchers as a new Royal Ontario Museum exhibit on exploring gender diversity in ancient Japan has inspired the ROM to open a set of gender-neutral toilets. The story doesn’t say but it seems this means that you can’t lock the door behind you the way you do at home or at Starbucks. The new inclusion means men are denied that male sport of standing while they urinate. Urinals are covered with plastic caps. The CBC story has an air of emancipation about it. Hallelujah brothers and sisters. Will the ROM be counting how many men, as opposed to women, venture into these new come-one-come-all rooms? We’re thinking not too many women except maybe the adventurous kind. CBC

Parts of Bayview Ave are in rough shape. although the business district is all fairly new and smooth. The community has already been warned that there will be re-paving this summer south of Sutherland Drive and on down the extension. This is recalled as the Canadian Automotive Association (CAA) calls Bayview the worst main road in Toronto.  CAA’s 2016 ‘Worst Roads’ list was released Thursday morning and Bayview Avenue, which was ranked as the 10th worst road in the province last year, moved up to 8th spot on this year’s list. Lawrence East is called the third worst in town. Generally however, the state of South Bayview is seldom complained of around here and may well rank as a first world problem.

1) Bayview Avenue

2) Dufferin Street

3) Lawrence Avenue East

4) Markham Road

5) Scarlett Road

It might be that the Mt. Pleasant Village BIA would approve of the presence of a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop next door to the Green Room Society marijuana dispensary at 562 Mt. Pleasant  That’s what has happened down on Spadina Ave at Nassau St.  A coincidence no doubt.

A Krispy Kreme just opened up in my building right next to a weed dispensary. #KnowYourMarket #Toronto pic.twitter.com/ZWmHq2EzWA

— Kameraninja (@KameraNinjaa) May 25, 2016

Dennis Cibulka

The City of Toronto’s plan to seize 313 Manor Road for some $83,000 in back taxes has been thwarted by a lawyer who arrived just minutes before the foreclosure was to occur and paid the full amount. As told by Cynthia Mulligan of City News, the lawyer had a  deal with Dennis the outdoor hoarder who lives on the porch or in the backyard because he is locked out by the City, to be repaid the full amount in six months or sell the home at his discretion. He wasn’t paid on time and the home was listed last Friday. Many in the  neighborhood were incensed that Dennis was being taken advantage of. From somewhere, another lawyer working pro bono, has appeared. What he is saying is not clear from the City News story but there is said to be as many as seven offers on the semi, one for $976,000. In the City News story Dennis says he will not accept any of the offers because “then you’re homeless. Who wants to be homeless.” Just how much control he has over the sale is vague however, impacted by the actions of the second lawyer working pro bono. And by the way, in this notable matter of the public interest, who are the lawyers? The listing, issued by Re/Max Hallmark Corbo and Kelos Group, states the property is in need of a total renovation and is being sold on an “as is” and “where is” basis. It states there is “no access” to the property. City seeks taxes on Manor  Rd. home by power of sale

Checking for calcium in the sewers on Bayview Ave. has caused several days of disruption and loss of parking in the district.  A contracted firm called No-Digg in there every day scanning the sewers to see there is a build up of this pernicious mineral. Some think Wednesday is the last day for it but next week, when the scanning has been reviewed, there will be calcite wonks back here examining those sewers again  This may be progress. Calcite

From residents of Moore Park who remember Gord Downie when he had a home on Rose Park Drive to the Bobcaygeon cottager who has decorated his summer place with framed lyrics from the  Bill Barilko song, Canadians are talking about and rooting for the lead singer for the Tragically Hip. One day after revealing that singer Downie has terminal brain cancer, the Tragically Hip have posted the dates for an upcoming summer tour.

• Victoria, July 22. Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
• Vancouver, July 24. Rogers Arena.
• Edmonton, July 28. Rexall Place.
• Calgary, Aug 1. Scotiabank Saddledome.
• Winnipeg, Aug 5. MTS Centre.
• London, Aug. 8. Budweiser Gardens.
• Toronto,  Aug 10 and Aug. 12. Air Canada Centre.
• Hamilton , Aug. 16. FirstOntario Centre.
• Ottawa, Aug. 18. Canadian Tire Centre.
• Kingston, Aug. 20. Rogers K-Rock Centre.

Stephen Harper is set to resign his seat in Parliament and return to private business, CTV says. The former prime minister represents the riding of Calgary Heritage. No other details are known.

BBC talks to Jack Dorsey, boss of Twitter, about how he intends to change the service. Very informative and fascinating to watch Dorsey dodge saying whether he will ever permit messages longer than 140 characters The answer looks like “not yet”

Police say two large rodent like creatures called capybaras have escaped their pens in High Park Zoo and are loose in the park. The dog-sized rodents are native to South America and stand about two feet tall and the average one weighs about 75 to 150 pounds.

The Chelsea Flower Show has opened in London with an extraordinary hand sewn display of poppies. The show is organized by the Royal Horticultural Society and is emblematic of the British love of flowers. It shares the honour with the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The weather is forecast to be cloudy this year, with the odd rain shower, but sometimes, the vagaries of the English climate really does get in the way. In 1932 the rain at the show was so severe that a summer house display fell to pieces. In another wet year an exhibitor named it “The Chelsea Shower Flow.”

Gord Downie

Gord Downie, the lead singer for the Canadian band Tragically Hip has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. The band posted a notice on its website about Downie’s illness and said it will launch a summer more tour with their lead singer in place.  Downie received the diagnosis in December and has since then “endured a lot of difficult times, and he has been fighting hard,” while he deals with the diagnosis in private, along with his family. The 1980s group, formed among high school students in Kingston, has endured in varying popularity among fans since then. Over 30 years of The Tragically Hip playing together for tours and shows, it has released more than 15 albums and had  many hits. A news conference at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centres Tuesday heard that Downie is facing one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer but has been cleared to perform. Dr. James Perry, head of neurology at Sunnybrook said Downie has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, which is the most common and most aggressive cancerous primary brain tumour. He also said the brain cancer is incurable. Glioblastoma affects about two to three people per 100,000 in Canada, the United States and Europe, according to information supplied by Sunnybrook Heath Sciences Centre, which is treating the musician. Perry said it is the most common cause of cancer deaths in Canadians between 40 and 60 years old. Dr. Perry speaks at length in the CBC video below. Twitter