So the good news this Monday (we’re thinking) is that for all the post-winter rubbish on South Bayview Ave, there is no left over marijuana paraphernalia to clean up. Unlike Dundas Square and Parliament Hill, we are guessing, where Sunday was a day of celebration of the weed culture. It is called 4/20 because it was on April 20, 1995, that activists held an all-day rally in Vancouver. “I think the policy edge has always been there. It’s just more and more people are getting fed up with the status quo,” said John Albert, a former Marijuana Party candidate, as he sat amidst a crowd that police estimated was more than 2,000 on the front lawn under the Peace Tower. The size of the crowd may say something about the smoking substance itself. Organizers said there were 15,000 while reporters said maybe 2,000. Hmm.
Brazen theft of dog by woman: #bulldog stolen
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Toronto, Leaside and all South Bayview dog owners will want to be aware of this brazen theft of a French bulldog from a tattoo parlour in Vancouver. A woman (inset) walked out of the downtown studio while its owner was just a few feet away. Shaughnessy Keely, who manages the studio said it happened Thursday evening when the woman came into the business and started looking around. Keely’s 10-month-old dog, Chloe, is often at work with her. The suspect asked to pet and hold the bulldog, which is a common request from many customers. The video is chilling as Keely (wearing a red toque) opens the door from the staff only area to let Chloe out so the women can pick her up. The thief meanders toward the door and then breaks into a run. Staff members run madly after the woman but it is too late. This all happens as Keely is distracted. The suspect gets into a black car with no licence plates that was waiting out front. It speeds away. The whole incident took 90 seconds — and was caught on the store’s surveillance camera. Keely has shared the video on Instagram and YouTube in hopes someone will help identify the woman and bring Chloe home. The French bulldog weighs about 19 pounds and was wearing a pink hoodie, pink harness and striped leash when she was taken. Queen’s photograph shows mischief, warmth
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A portrait of the Queen reveals an alert and cheerful monarch as she nears her 88th birthday. The new image was created by British photographer David Bailey. The black and white photo, which shows the Queen smiling, was taken in March. She is pictured wearing pearls, and a dress by Angela Kelly, who has served as personal assistant and senior dresser to her since 2002. The constitutional role of the monarch is underlined by the government’s role in the taking of this picture. It was the prime minister who chose the photographer and not the Queen. It’s also a measure of how economics now shapes the royal function. Kings and Queens of England are no longer merely heads of state and defenders of the church. The British monarchy is one of the biggest drivers of tourism in the UK, and brings in an estimated £500m a year from overseas tourism, according to Visit Britain. The photograph, taken at Buckingham Palace, was commissioned on behalf of the government’s “Great” campaign, which aims to promote trade, tourism, investment and education throughout the UK. Over the course of his career, Bailey — appointed a CBE by the Queen in 2001 for services to art — has taken pictures of The Beatles, Diana, Princess of Wales and models Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. Bailey grew up in the east end of London and made his name working for Vogue magazine in the 1960s. The 76-year-old said: “I’ve always been a huge fan of the Queen. She has very kind eyes with a mischievous glint. I’ve always liked strong women, and she is a very strong woman.”Amanda Todd accused could be extradited
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| Amanda Todd |
Many countries are said to be ready to extradite and prosecute Aydin Coban, the Internet abuser who is said to have duped young Amanda Todd into posting embarrassing images and then bullied her online over it. It ended two years ago with Ms. Todd’s suicide. Because of the seriousness of the crime, Canada is thought to have perhaps a better chance than many countries to bring Coban to justice here. Judicial authorities say it is likely the Netherlands will prosecute Coban first for crimes in that country. But because of the seriousness of the crimes and the similarities of Dutch and Canadian legals systems, it would be easy for the Hague to send Coban here first. In any case, it is likely to a long process, according to sources.
Wind turbines cost Liberals support #ONpoli
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Reporter Debora Van Brenk has surveyed ten previously solidly Liberal ridings in Southwestern Ontario and finds the Liberals have lost support in most. A fascinating issue for Toronto city-slickers is the alienation people feel to wind turbines. Intellectually, many urbanites know the turbines are unsightly, noisy and of very little use at generating power. Then what’s it like to actually live with them? Chatham Daily News
Toronto: Moore Park home in stone and brick
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One of two houses (left) now nearing completion on Rose Park Drive in Moore Park has been revealed to have a stone and brick finish. It is an elegant look. At the right is the original building, 308 Rose Park. It sat on a 70-foot frontage lot and was sold last year. New homes so far numbered 308A and 308B. Previous posts
South Bayview sidewalks, terrazzo looking sad
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It’s hard to believe that the newly-laid sidewalks and terrazzo fill-ins beside the new trees have turned to junk in one winter. It was a bad winter of course but the mess now revealed is upsetting. Soon we will be complaining about the summer heat on our favorite business street. Many will recall the unbearable conditions in which people worked last August to lay pavement. Time for all those fellas to return to check the quality of their work. Picture was taken just outside Passion Fruit. Union boss’s matches are wet in fire spat #TOpoli
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The most one can say about the union beef with Rob Ford’s pumper truck gambit at his re-election kickoff is that it hasn’t caught fire. Sure it’s silly that Rob Ford’s relatives are going around buying old fire engines and that the mayor thinks its a neat way to help him get elected. But it’s not a scandal. Ed Kennedy, head of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association, says it’s a slap in the face to smoke-eaters because council has trimmed the department’s budget by four pumpers and reduced the number of full-time personnel slightly. No one has been fired. It’s a move that was taken by all of council and seems a reasonable effort to control costs without jeopardizing safety. Mr. Kennedy is entitled to think otherwise but his matches are wet.
St. Cuthbert’s Spring Fair Apr 26 a Leaside must
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So nice to hear from Joanne Cantrill to tell us about the St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church Spring Fair on Saturday, April 26, 2014. We have seen a few spring fairs and to prove that it really is the place to be we dug up this great picture of a springtime gathering on the St. Cuthbert’s green taken in (we think) 1920. The present structure dates from 1914. Featured this year are an art gallery, baking and soups, books, crafts, electrical, jewellery, kitchenware, knitting, odds & ends, quilting, sewing, stamps, toys, and treasures! There will be a BBQ on the green, a snack kiosk and free activities for the children. For more information, you can call the church office 416-485-0329. Everyone knows that St. Cuthbert’s is at 1399 Bayview at St.Cuthbert’s Rd. See you there.
Hey Toronto, what have you got for us today?
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It’s one of the least focused searches on Twitter but for anyone who wants to get a broad fix on what’s bugging or beguiling people in this city, the “Toronto” search is a good one. You can catch up on Laureen Harper fencing with an aboriginal heckler or the unhappy fans of the Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS if you please) who find themselves in an endless line for tickets. There’s much interest in the forthcoming Raptors-Nets game. The Toronto Sun calls the Nets the Dinosaurs because of their age. Cute. Lot’s of comment on that one. Most curious of all is the Toronto Star story about a medical marijuana businessman and cook who has taken to the newspaper’s pages to whip up non-hash dishes and warning that it’s illegal to serve marijuana at dinner. Good to know. But he is in the medical cannabis business under federal rules. What a temple of free enterprise in which we worship. Watching the hand luggage drop on Air Canada
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| Bags and briefcases just keep on dropping |
Dwayne Stewart posted a video on YouTube today that shows Air Canada baggage handlers dropping hand luggage off an approximately 20-foot set of steps into a bin at the bottom. This, rather than carry the bags to the ground as Air Canada policy requires. The hand luggage was being placed in the cargo hold because of crowding in the cabin. Global News first reported that Stewart was complaining about the handling of the baggage. He took the video while waiting on the tarmac at Pearson Airport and told the broadcaster that passengers on the Vancouver-bound flight were asked to check their carry-on luggage because there wasn’t enough room in the overhead compartments. He looked out his window and started shooting as a handler dropped several bags. “Sorry Air Canada, this is a fail,” he says while filming. In a statement, Air Canada said it is “extremely disappointed by the actions” depicted in the video. “This clearly goes against our standard baggage handling procedures which dictates that gate-checked bags are to be hand carried down to the ramp. An investigation into this has been launched.” See video
Dead set against Keystone but just can’t say it
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Barack Obama has decided that six years is not enough to ponder whether the Keystone XL pipeline should be built. He has done again what he’s been doing his entire presidency — kick his “decision” over past the next election. Globe and Mail