The South Bayview Bulldog

Thousands of cabbies will converge on Queen’s Park Wednesday morning  to protest the apparently illegal daily operation of Uber Taxi. It may make driving downtown a little difficult. As many as 2000 drivers from across the GTA are expected to meet at four points across Toronto and make their way to both Queen’s Park and City Hall.  Drivers  are demanding that politicians enforce city bylaws. The city is working on new rules that will reduce regulations for the taxi industry and introduce regulations for ride sharing services like Uber. That’s expected in next year some time but in the meantime the taxi industry is calling on city hall to enforce the current bylaw, which Mayor John Tory has said means that Uber is operating “outside of the law.” The protest will begin at 7:30 a.m. with drivers meeting at Yonge and Queen’s Quay, 427 and Rexdale Blvd, Victoria Park and Sheppard, and Yonge and Steeles. Drivers have been advised by the iTaxiworkers Association to keep moving and not deliberately slow traffic, but with so many extra vehicles in the already congested core, the demonstration is sure to have an impact on local traffic.

As police seek the woman who was videoed as she grabbed a $200 wreath off a door in Summerhill, they say there has been another such case reported early Monday morning. The speculation is now easy that multiple thefts might indicate a scheme by someone to sell the stolen Christmas items at a low-end (or maybe high-end) flea market. The alert is out however as the occurence page at the Toronto Police website notes the theft from the home of the Magyar family in the Macpherson Ave. and Yonge St area. The suspect in the December 5, 2015, incident is described by police as white, thin build, 25 to 35 years, wearing a tight-fitting toque, black puffy jacket, blue jeans and black leather messenger bag. There has been one further report of a similar theft in that area in the early hours of Monday, December 7, 2015. See video 

Large house on west side of Southlea Ave.

This large home on Southlea Ave. is a busy place as builders work to get it closed in before bad weather. It isn’t clear whether it is a “square” home but its height so far might suggest that.

Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat talking again about the future of  Eglinton Ave E. in a panel discussion at the Canadian Urban Institute. CBC

The Mexican restaurant is busy re-vamping food supply and handling systems after a six-state E-coli outbreak.  Consumerist (fixed) 

Both the Internet world and other more mundane occupations have had a  good laugh at the gale-force performance of Irish national TV reporter Teresa Mannion during a recent storm. She’s laughing along too. What can a girl do? Jeanne Moos of CNN assays the aftermath. Very funny.

The discovery and capture of a rabid raccoon in Hamilton has animal control staff working overtime dropping anti-rabies bait in ravines around the City. The CBC reports that authorities are having to review just how the province’s huge raccoon population should be treated. The discovery of the rabid racoon should not surprise anyone. The largely uncontrolled nature of raccoons is well known and not without frequent public complaint.  This animal was diagnosed only after it engaged in a fight with two bull mastiffs in the back of an animal control truck. The owner of the dogs says she feels they may have to be put down because they are not up to date with rabies vaccinations. On Wednesday, Hamilton resident Paula Fancey’s two bull mastiffs broke free from her property and were picked up by animal services. Later, the raccoon was placed in the truck in its own cage.

“…Fancey said the raccoon got loose first, prompting one of her dogs, Mr. Satan, to break out of his cage and fight the raccoon. The dog’s mouth and tongue were cut in the fight. Ms. Fancey said the animal control officer recaptured the raccoon and put it in a cage next to their other dog, Lexus. Then the raccoon reached through the cage and bit her, she said. After speaking with her veterinarian, Fancey said she will likely have to euthanize both of her dogs”

This has been the first case of the raccoon rabies strain found in Ontario since 2005. The fox rabies strain hasn’t been detected in Ontario since 2010, while bat rabies remains in small pockets in the province. Unvaccinated dogs may catch virus from infected raccoons

This is the face of a woman wreath-remover (you think of a better word).  She is at work near Yonge St. and Summerhill Ave. at 3 a.m. seen here about to remove the Christmas decoration from the front door of the Magyar family. The wreath was purchased eight years ago for $200. The likeness of the woman seems pretty good.

Very simple My Dear Watson. The awkward traffic between Bessborough Drive and Bayview Ave on Millwood Rd. Monday was caused by workmen planting magnesium anodes in the curbside pavement. Magnesium anodes, when connected to metal water mains by a simple weld, are very effective at stopping corrosion of the water conduit. It is a relatively old technology, according to the foreman on this job. Magnesium anodes have been around about 30 years. Long may they resist the rusting of water mains.

Magnesium anodes look explosive in nature — but they’re not