Iran-Nigeria: “Can we send both teams home?”

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World Cup excitement slid to a new low this afternoon as fans on Twitter and elsewhere declared the game between Iran and Nigeria to be the most boring in the world. We’re told that Wild Wings on Bayview Ave was a stronghold of Iranian supporters. We can only hope they felt it was worth the trouble. The criticism extended beyond traditional “nil-nil” complaints to assertions that the teams were listless and incompetent. One tweet suggested fans pass the hat to send both teams home. Many posted pictures of people (and dogs) napping. A seriously staged picture depicted a man watching paint dry. The CBS Live Blog wrote “Sorry for the lack of updates, but I fell asleep.” And so it went. “Could both teams lose?” asked one dispirited footballer.  

Zut alors! Quebec jail was warned of escape bid

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Holy mackerel, officials at Orsainville detention centre were told there was a plot to spring the three crime bosses who just a few days later escaped by helicopter from the jail courtyard. What bunglers. Between the warden and the judge who permitted the convicts to be relieved of their handcuffs, these guys could have called a cab to break out. Officials at Orsainville are said to have been told about a possible breakout attempt by the provincial police. Documents just released show the QPP had heard word that it might happen and told the prison brass. Yves Denis, Denis Lefebvre and Serge Pomerleau escaped from the detention centre in suburban Quebec City on June 7. The three men are now the subject of an Interpol alert list, which places the Quebec escapees among the world’s most wanted fugitives.

Two men sought in theft of 12 Jays jerseys

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Fan like this the Blue Jays do not need. Toronto Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance identifying these two men wanted in the theft of 12 Jay’s jerseys. It is alleged that on Monday, June 2, 2014,  the two entered the Blue Jays Shop located at Gate #5 in the Rogers Centre and stole 12 Authentic Blue Jays baseball jerseys valued at over $3,000 Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World. For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Greenpeace loses $5 million to rogue employee

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So it’s not just about saving the world and the whales at Greenpeace. Apparently they have to worry about saving their money too, much like the rest of us. Greenpeace has reported that a “rogue” employee cost the environmental body about $5 million by betting in the markets that the euro would not strengthen against other currencies. Guess what, it did. The man acted  “beyond the limits of his authority” and was fired says Greenpeace.

Off-duty cop rescues man from blazing station

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Hair-raising video from CCTV in White Plains, N.Y., shows a car slamming into gas pumps at road speed and the following explosion. An off-duty New York officer who is filling his tank flees for his life but then quickly returns to drag the unconscious driver out of his car, unquestionably saving the man’s life. The officer, John Vesco, was  injured after the pump fell on top of him. Despite his injuries, the cop was able to rescue the 69-year-old driver, who crashed as a result of diabetic shock. The video is quite gripping as the gasoline explodes shortly after Vesco completes the rescue. 

MMVA the essential big media self promotion

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Kendall and Kylie Jenner
It is no doubt historic, as music awards go, and the Much Music Video Awards tonight will be fun for their young adherents. But no honest assessment of the MMVAs as an event can deny that they are the quintessential big business self-promotion served up as news.  The Much Music awards were a creation of the former CITY-TV 25 years ago. Now it’s owned by Bell Media. So is the awards show. So is CP24 ,which inherited the all-news mantle from CityPulse News and so is the CTV Network. Tonight (Sunday, June 14, 2014) on an admittedly slow news night, the MMVAs are the top of the news agenda. And there’s talent in there somewhere. We’re sure of it. Never mind that the hosts are that made-up-out-of-nothing pair Kylie and Kendall Jenner of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. That’s Kendall and Kylie inset in an unknown make-believe moment which is said to be a promotion for the MMVAs. That is what they are famous for. Talk about a vehicle that defies the gravity of rational value — except of course that people will pay for anything. And enjoy it. So enjoy.

Store is now officially McDowell’s Valu mart

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The sign over Chad McDowell’s Valu mart has now been changed to reflect the new franchisee. It went up Saturday night after closing. Chad took over the franchise at the popular Davisville location after Rob and Jess Tremblett moved to Ingersoll where they are running the local Your Independent Grocer. Valu mart is owned by National Grocers which is a subsidiary of Loblaws. Chad was a long time employee of the Bayview-Davisville store and is running it in the same public spirited way as the Trembletts did. Congratulations to Chad and much luck with the business

Dummies dump asphalt into St. Monica’s garden

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The Toronto Star’s Jack Lakey (The Fixer) calls out a utilities contractor for dumping chunks of asphalt into the garden in front of St. Monica’s Catholic Church on Broadway Ave. just east of Yonge. These generally small jobs are an absolute sore spot for a lot of people. The waste may be dumped on private property, as in this case, and frequently the temporary patch on the road or sidewalk is so shoddy it’s dangerous. In fairness, it is tough to police so many small jobs although somebody could put the fear or the City into contractors. Toronto Star