Gunmen terrorize Kington Road Esso station

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Toronto Police would really like to round up the two bad actor seen here threatening customer and staff at the Esso station on Kingston Rd and Scarborough Golf Club Rd on Thursday, December 21, 2014.  He stayed by the front door, pointed the gun at customers and employees, demanding money, and robbed one of the customers. The other man went behind the counter and removed cash and cigarettes Both men are described as black, 20-25, 5’5″-5’6″, with thin builds. The man with the gun was wearing black pants and a black hoodie. The other man was wearing a dark coat with two white stripes around the waist and cuffs, and a bandana on his face.

Vita Sociale, formerly Centro, closed in distress

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The Italian restaurant known as Vita Sociale has closed its doors with a notice on the door indicating rent owing of some $348,964.22. It is a tough business and  the restaurant’s owner, Annando Mano, defied the odds in a previous incarnation as the celebrated Centro. The allure of Centro captured a generation as the place for romantic twosomes and family parties during the 80s and 90s.

Passwords are for gaining access to booze cans

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Matthew Sparkes of the Telegraph newspaper in London has written a story about the most common passwords in 2014. It’s a giggle because the most common one was 123456. This sorry effort is condemned everywhere as simply stupid. But in the end, the most important thing about a password is that we remember it. It is interesting how little we reflect on what a dopey trap we have created for humanity with the computer password. We are doomed to failure by our pre-historic brain. Contrary to every faceless demand from the ether, the most important thing about a password is not that it is impregnable but simply that we can remember it. Passwords mostly make sense when used to gain entry to a booze can or similar fun locale. If the password is hotcha no one demands that you add a special character like a dollar sign. Anyway, the story is enjoyable. Telegraph

Is money-losing Indigo like a gift to Canada?

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Yonge and Eglinton
Indigo Books will shut down a Chapter’s store in Vancouver because the landlord has imposed a large rent increase. The store is on Robson Street. Indigo calls it a “very significant rent increase”. Well that’s Vancouver and this is South Bayview where most of us who patronize Indigo do so through the door of the Yonge and Eglinton complex (inset). As many will know, Indigo was created in 1996 and continues to be run by Toronto book and retail maven Heather Reisman. Indigo is stunningly unprofitable. In 2014 Indigo reported a net loss of $31 million. It is a tradition there. The company said at the time:  “In an industry which is world-wide experiencing meaningful sales declines, we are pleased with the customer response to all our transformation efforts, with the sales performance, and with the potential for further growth and profitability moving forward.” And that’s fine but anyone would be forgiven for thinking that Indigo is more like a benefaction bestowed on Canada by Ms Reisman and her wealthy husband, Gerald Schwartz. Mr. Schwartz is the boss of Onyx Corporation, the money-making mining conglomerate. Schwartz and Reisman are celebrated as generous givers to any number of important charities and institutions (like Mount Sinai Hospital). How the finances of Indigo and Onyx might be woven together is unknown but it would be revealing to know. See you at Indigo.   

New Jersey: Tractor trailer spin-out from Hell

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For up close a personally terrifying truck spin-out this one may take the prize. It happened on the New Jersey Turnpike two days ago and has more than a million hits as of this morning (Tuesday January 20, 2015). This spectacle is blamed on black ice. Note the ominous ticking on the video — maybe its the hazard lights. When the truck finally stops moving, the car driver says: “It’s a go. Saw more trucks behind me.” Amen brother. Get out of there.

Police seek “tank up and take off” suspect

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Toronto Police are seeking a serial tank up and take off thief who has struck as many as seven stations in Scarborough and Etobicoke. This video capture is from an incident Sunday, January 4, 2015 at approximately 12:30 p.m. as the man pumped gas into his vehicle at a gas station on Morningside Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East. He left without paying. The same man with the late model Infiniti SUV is suspected in other instances of repeated tank up and take off:  Saturday, September 20, 2014, at a gas station on Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 27 – Sunday, September 21, 2014, at a gas station on Morningside Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East – Wednesday October 1, 2014, at a gas station on Rexwood Road and Derry Road East – Monday, October 13, 2014, at a gas station on Ellesmere Road and Morningside Avenue – Friday, October 17, 2014, at a gas station on Morningside Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East – Saturday, October 18, 2014, at a gas station on Finch Avenue East and Markham Road  The man is described as brown, light complexion, 30-40, approximately 6’0″, black curly hair, must. ache, beard and sideburns. The vehicle is described as a newer-model black Infiniti SUV.

Parents crowd Lea Room for Summer Camp Fair

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There was a lively gathering at the William Lea Room at Leaside arena tonight (Monday January 19, 2015) for the annual Summer Camp Fair. It was a crowded meeting of parents, kids, camp owners and counselors as some 21 camps set up their booths and talked camping. The opportunities for summer fun ran the gamut from downtown day camps like Ryerson and Mooredale to old and established live-in camps across Ontario’s hinterland. Among the participating camps were (Co-ed Residential) Onondaga Camp, Camp Kandalore, Camp Muskoka, Camp Wenonah, Camp Tawingo, Canadian Adventure Camp, Youth Leadership Camps of Canada, Camp Otterdale, Camp Tamarack, Camp Celtic (Girls Residential) Camp Tanamakoon, Camp Northway,  YWCA Camp Tapawingo, Camp Mi-A-Kon-Da (Boys Residential) Camp Hurontario, Camp Wendigo (Day Camps) King Day Camp, Ryerson Summer Day Camps, Mooredale Day Camp, Pawsitively Pets Kids Camp, Camp Tournesol. 

What John and Andy did with the TTC today

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John Tory seems to like making it up as he goes along in his new job. Of course, he has had to produce reasons for doing the things he said he wouldn’t do. In the case of increasing TTC fares its that Andy Byford made him do it. Really. The Chief Magistrate (Tory) and the Chief General Manager (Byford) sat down and, says the mayor, Mr. Byford convinced him that things were far worse at the TTC than he had thought. Apparently Byford did not dust off the Bulldog’s idea of a bus for South Bayview, but let’s not complain. In coming weeks children under 12 will ride the TTC for free and the city will make “an investment” of some $95 million in the TTC.  And a single fare (except cash) will go up 10 cents. TTC Chair Josh Colle added that the cash ride stays the same because it is the poorer rider who uses cash.  There is no way of testing that conclusion but let it go. It’s probably very few people in total at the top and bottom of the economic ladder. It will take a smart accountant to figure out the transit agency’s books although the TTC did give us a number ($7 million annually) for letting the kids ride free. We can’t help wondering why it is necessary for all kids to ride free. But so be. There will be absolute free entry onto the streetcars. This is the one they call proof-of-payment (presumably with a transfer or something) but there will be many free rides and everyone knows it. What that will cost is unknown. There was a lot of encouraging talk about buying new buses. Reliable and versatile buses are so much better than the streetcar circus which confounds the City year in and year out.