Correct to a fault where the police are concerned, the Town Crier’s Shawn Star has opined that the “altercation” between police and a guy who shot up a Parliament street barber shop has escaped the scrutiny of the Special Investigations Unit. (SIU) Hoo boy. Why in the name of crime and punishment would the SIU be in the middle of this capture? The assassin jackass escaped with his life after he and a buddy burst into the hair-cutting place and started shooting. First they plugged the wrong man (nice) and then led cops on an alarming chase through midtown. One of the two was captured when their car crashed at Yonge and Roxborough. The “altercation” assailant was finally cornered in a Summerhill yard. From all reports he fought like a tiger to escape and the police had to beat him into submission. Any complaints so far? Okay, so it was an “altercation” in the cutest sense of the word. Most of us would say it was the righteous nailing of a very dangerous dude. So the headline Altercation escapes SIU scrutiny recalls Chicago reporters turned playwrights Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. Their memorable character Walter Burns, editor of the Chicago Examiner, had a way with headlines. “Stooge of Stalin or simply stupid?” he bellowed at the re-write desk. We think “Summerhill altercation” is simply stupid. But we also acknowledge that it isn’t the Town Crier’s fault that the SUI had to even answer the phone on this one.
3 Elephants adapting to new life in California
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Three Toronto elephants have arrived at the PAWS animal sanctuary near Sacramento. Iringa, Thika and Toka arrived at Performing Animals Welfare Society Sanctuary just before 6 p.m. local time. Reports from the sanctuary say the great creatures are adapting well.
Thanksgiving weekend break-in on Astley Avenue
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Toronto Police Service report: A resident of Astley Avenue (between Governors’ Rd. and Douglas Dr.) reports that between 3. p.m. October 12, 2013 and 1.21 p.m. October 14, 2013, entry was gained into the premises by forcing a door. Removed was a quantity of jewellery, clothing and a laptop computer.
Rick Rayman, 67, a Bayview Avenue Iron Man
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| Rick Rayman |
Thousands of runners surged through Toronto’s streets Sunday achieving countless personal records. Beside these “personal best” stories were athletic luminaries like Dereessa Chimsa, 26, of Ethiopia, fastest runner in the marathon. Others, like Lanni Marchant of London, Ont., and Krista DuChene of Brantford, broke a 28-year-old record at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (CBC). But the most remarkable local story belongs to 67-year-old dentist Rick Rayman. For almost 35 years Dr. Rayman pursued his daily running habit without missing a day. (North York Mirror) His running lifestyle began on Dec. 10, 1978 and the York Mills Road and Bayview Avenue man has never wavered in his commitment. When he started, Dr. Rayman was looking for a way to maintain his fitness after his children were born. He started running two to three miles a day, eventually increasing to five. In June 1978, he entered his first 20-kilometre race near the Toronto Zoo. Two months later, he entered his first marathon, and kept on going. Today, the admirable Dr Rayman, as pictured in this great thundering image from his own album, took part once again in the Scotiabank run. “It’s my 300th (marathon) and such a good event,” Rayman told Fannie Sunshine of the North York Mirror. “It’s a special day for me. It’s a phenomenal marathon, my second favourite, New York being the first.”
Elephants to be at PAWS sanctuary imminently
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Toronto’s elephants no longer, Iringa, Thika and Toka are scheduled to arrive at the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in California at about this hour (5 p.m. ET). It appears the trip went as scheduled and the animals are said to be well and, as far as we know, happy.
Love or hate self-driving cars? Thinking hate
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We speak for effect, of course. The South Bayview Bulldog is an Amor de Cosmos of all species and that includes cars. But apart from the very elderly and the smart phone stupidos, we can’t imagine anyone who really wants that car to tell them where to go. Yes, a little help with parking would be nice for some (unstated gender noun here) we know. But really, a self driving car? Japan Times
Titanic bandmaster’s violin fetches $1.5 million
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The gripping catastrophe that was the sinking of the Titanic continues to fascinate us even as the actual event fades more than a century into history. So great was the human loss that the stories are seemingly endless. This is about the bandmaster of the Titanic, Wallace Hartley, who with his colleagues continued to play as a solace to doomed passengers. Hartley and his fellow musicians died with those still aboard when the ship broke in two and disappeared. Now the violin that Hartley was playing that night in 1912 has been auctioned off in London for the equivalent of $1.5 million. At the left is the actual bidding. At right, an excellent story from CBS done before the auction in which the story is told in full, including how the violin survived, and how the instrument’s authenticity was established.
Jet noise group TANG meets with Minister Raitt
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The Toronto Aviation Noise Group (TANG) is reporting to members and the general public today in mail about a meeting the executive had with the Minister of Transport, Lisa Raitt. The meeting was also attended by members of the federal air navigation body, NAV Canada, and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority. Also present was Don Valley West MPP John Carmichael. The meeting was run by Minister Raitt and was designed as a briefing for her. TANG was able to present both in person, and in a package of briefing material for the Minister and others in attendance, the core issues related to the aircraft noise problem in our communities. This problem was created by the rerouted and concentrated landing path to Pearson routed over our neighbourhoods (includes South Bayview) in February 2012. TANG also included in the package a range of solutions which are in use in other jurisdictions. They were given “a good hearing” by the Minister and had the sense that she understood the issue and was sympathetic to the problem with which residents are living. The TANG mail says however that there has been no undertaking. Residents of South Bayview began to notice increased noise at all hours when traffic in and out of Pearson Airport was re-routed.
Downtown largely closed to cars for marathon
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There are multiple road closures throughout the City and especially downtown for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. The practical effect for many will be the simple closure of the downtown area. CP24
Ghoulish Giveaway finds happy customers
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There was news to be heard at today’s Ghoulish Giveaway event at Tremblett’s Valumart on Bayview Ave. Rob Tremblett has gained assess to the piece of land on Davisville Ave. and will shortly extend his parking lot southward. This is the now tumble down place where Garden Court Nurseries did business and, as it turns about, was the site of Charlene Kalia’s annual event this year. Above happy sisters got faces painted, although one seems not so sure. (Saturday, October 19, 2013)
Wallin says she will fight attempt to suspend her
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The Prime Minister is keeping busy with European free trade and whatever else he can find to do. Meantime, the Senate fiasco grinds on with plans by the Conservatives to suspend three senators over inappropriate expense claims. Government motions to suspend Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin, all former Conservatives appointed by Harper, will be discussed in the coming week. If approved, the action would stop their pay, benefits and Senate resources for the rest of the parliamentary session, potentially as long as two years. Senator Wallin is threatening a legal battle if the plans continue. Her lawyer calls it an affront to Canadian democracy. The Senate motions are set to be debated next week. Wallin’s lawyer, Terrence O’Sullivan says there is nothing in the audits or the resulting Senate reports that make any mention of gross negligence. O’Sullivan says the Senate’s own rules and the constitution require due process, something he says Wallin has been never afforded during a series of in-camera hearings. Meanwhile, Mike Duffy has gone on medical lave from the Senate on the advice of his doctor, he says. Duffy’s health has been conditional for a long time. He has had heart surgery. The huge balloon of the former Ottawa correspondent for CTV and the CBC was inflated in the shadow of Parliament in July. Nairobi suspect was under surveillance years ago
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Somali-born Norwegian immigrant identified as one of Westgate shopping mall suspects was on radar of police for years Telegraph U-K