Phantom likes to dance around between mouthfuls of oats at the bathtub which is used as a feeder on the California farm where she lives. But her terpsichore made her topple into the tub. Horses are apparently unable to climb out of bathtubs. But there is a very simple solution which you will see on the video.
Does Ottawa plan to privatize Canada Post?
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The linked story from Hamilton raises this prospect and recalls the 2013 privatization of the Royal Mail in the United Kingdom. Hamilton is a hotbed of resistance to the end of door-to-door delivery. City council seems to be in daily conflict with the crown corporation over the cost and other specifics of remote mailbox installations. Matta Busby
It’s Saturday and COBs Bread has re-opened
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If this is Saturday, COBs Leaside must be open with its new shop, wonderful goodies and its Hot Cross Bun promotion. There will also be a COBs gift bag giveaway to three lucky winners. See you there. Hot Cross Buns
Measles “currently circulating” in City warning
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A sixth case of measles has been confirmed in Toronto. St. Joseph’s Health Centre announced that a patient who was in its emergency department from January 27 to 29 has been diagnosed. Two children, both under two years and three adults in the Toronto area were diagnosed with measles earlier this week. The St. Joseph’s patient was born before 1970. A challenge for health authorities is that there appears to be no known connection between the cases which, officials say, means measles is “currently circulating” in the city. Another case, number seven, was confirmed earlier this week in the Niagara region. Measles is a difficult disease to control because is it is so easily transmissible — contagious in fact — and it can be communicated by a patient before he or she shows symptoms. CBC News described a letter sent to patients at St. Joseph’s warning them to watch for symptoms until February 19, 2015. The good part is that this outbreak of measles has not broken out in the school system. The boards of education have sent letters home warning parents that if there is an outbreak children without proper vaccination “will not be allowed to attend school until the outbreak is over.” Shelley Deeks of the provincial health department says 30-something adults should be on the alert for themselves. “We have people who are about 35 to 40 that probably only received one dose,” of the vaccine. So there is a differing level of susceptibility.” Deeks says she suspects there will be more cases. Two doses of measles vaccine provide full protection against mumps, measles and rubella for over 95 per cent of people, according to Toronto Public Health. Officials say anyone unsure of their immunizations should contact their health care provider. There are no confirmed measles cases at St. Joseph’s, according to the statement from Dr. Mark Downing, head of the infectious diseases division. Globe writer rails against superstition
Brian Williams: When things go wrong at work
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It must have been humiliating for NBC’s market-leading evening news anchor Brian Williams to apologize for a false story he has been telling for some time. Williams has now admitted that he “conflated” the facts of a 2003 war-time chopper ride in Iraq. He had claimed many times that the helicopter, with him in it, was hit by a rocket-fired grenade. Quite harrowing but not for Williams because he was in a different helicopter that came along later and was never hit by anything. Never mind how Williams came to misstate this memorable event. How about what is happening now. It is reported that former NBC anchor Katie Couric is keen to take over from Williams if the network decides he has to go. “No one smells blood in the water like Katie,” says a source. More than that, Williams mentor and one-time friend Tom Brokaw has disowned Williams. “Brokaw wants Williams’ head on a platter. He is making a lot of noise at NBC that a lesser journalist or producer would have been immediately fired or suspended for a false report,” a source told the New York Post. The source who spoke to the Post said Brokaw and former NBC News president Steve Capus have known for a long time that Williams was spreading a false story. They reportedly warned him against it. Another “longtime NBC employee who has worked with Williams on several occasions” told the Post “everyone” at the network knew Williams was “a liar.” Wow.
Five trophies on display at tourney Friday only
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The NHL trophies on display at the Select Hockey Tournament were unfortunately only there for Friday. Erroneous information was published earlier.
Huge “innovation centre” for foot of Jarvis Street
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There was much excitement and some skepticism down at Sugar Beach near the foot Jarvis Street today as Waterfront Toronto announced plans for the 350,000-square foot Waterfront Innovation Centre. The thrill for the politicians there was the expectation that the building and its tenant will provide an estimated 2,000 new jobs and attract cutting-edge technology. The structure will go up under the direction of Menkes Developments, a longtime Toronto builder selected to lead the project. One added element is said to be the ultra-high-speed broadband network currently in place across the waterfront. The network provides unprecedented Internet speeds and will attract “a spectrum of forward-thinking companies,” said Finance Minister Oliver. He was there with Mayor Tory and Ontario officials. The federal government controls part of Waterfront Toronto. At Global News they seemed quite chippy saying there is no budget, no transit plan and no tenants for the Waterfront Innovation Centre.
Toronto housing market firm despite oil pressure
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Oil prices have hurt real estate prices in Alberta but the market in Toronto shows continued growth. This from the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB). It says the Greater Toronto Area, saw 4,355 sales last month, compared to 4,103 last year (a jump of six per cent). The average price rose from $526,965 to $552,575. The City of Toronto (416) accounted for 1,561 of those sales, while the rest of the region (905) saw 2,794 homes sold.
Leaside welcomes Select Hockey competitors
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Boy survives being sucked into storm drain
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Unspecified number of layoffs at Postmedia
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Forget the facts, anti-vaccine belief persists
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Freedom of information hasn’t done much for good medicine when it comes to fighting childhood diseases like measles. It appears that maybe 80 percent of Ontario adults accept the indisputable science that vaccinations save lives. And 20 percent believe vaccinations lead to mental disease and autism. For which there is no evidence. Michael den Tandt