Shocking market collapse seen as portending new recession

The Dow dropped 799 points, or 3.1 percent, on Tuesday and Toronto fell into line plunging 211. The erratic performance of recent months is thought by many to foretell a new recession as the bull market of the second decade grows old.  Others attribute the declines to a realization by traders that although the US has delayed tariffs on China, the trade war is not over. At one point, the Dow index was down 818 points. Big tech stocks fell sharply. Apple and Alphabet lost more than four percent apiece. Amazon and Netflix plunged more than five percent. The sell-off wipes out a chunk of last week’s huge rally. The Dow jumped 288 points on Monday on relief about the ceasefire between the United States and China on trade.

Mayor Tory sees more efficient City Council-25 government

Mayor Tory on Breakfast Television says he can see, and expects, more efficient decison-making with smaller City Council.

Nylander says deal remained undone at 4.20 p.m. Sunday

William Nylander is aged 22 (that’s 22 people) and he has revealed how at about 40 minutes to deadline on Sunday he told his agent to call the Leafs. Sigh. Then, City Council 25 will convene for the first time Tuesday. Duffers galore. Below that, GM is stinging from the blowback on the closure of the Oshawa plant. The Canadian president, who appears to be an Aussie, talks wonderful electric cars with the CBC. Sigh again. And what would you call a country with lots of oil it can’t sell but which continues to buy oil at premium prices from places like Saudi Arabia because it has no pipelines? Stupid fits.






Communists on guard against mail delivery in East York

The roots of social-justice anger run deep in old East York despite the middle-class patina on so many neighborhoods. Some of those fighting for a more perfect world, including at least one member of the Communist Party of Canada, broke up a nomination meeting for Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Sunday. They supported postal workers upset with being sent back to work in the absence, by most measures, of any good reason not to work. “No justice, no peace,” they shouted about these two moving targets. Anyway, Mr Erskine-Smith may have appreciated the attention.

https://twitter.com/compartycanada/status/1069369406336188416

Wall St. men shunning women in fear of #MeToo unknowns

Bloomberg News says that a survey it did with more than 30 senior Wall St. businessmen has revealed that these titans of finance are avoiding women at all costs because they fear committing an unintended slight. Being alone with a woman colleague has the potential to set the scene for allegations or complaints which a man will have to dispute publicly. And they fear, it won’t matter if he does. They’re calling it the Mike Pence Effect. The US vice president said he makes it a practice never to be alone with a woman, even a trusted staffer, except his wife. Don’t sit next to them on flights. Book hotel rooms on different floors. Avoid one-on-one meetings. Across Wall Street, men are adopting strategies for the #MeToo era and, in the process, making life even harder for women, says Bloomberg. In finance, the overarching impact can be, in essence, gender segregation. Interviews with more than 30 senior executives suggest men are spooked by #MeToo and are struggling to cope. “It’s creating a sense of walking on eggshells,” said David Bahnsen, a former managing director at Morgan Stanley who’s now an independent adviser overseeing more than US$1.5 billion. Bloomberg

Trudeau $50 million tweet just off-the-cuff OPM spending?

There is criticism Monday about the cavalier manner of Prime Minister Trudeau’s breezy pledge of $50 million to The Education Can’t Wait charity meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. Many people find the off-the-cuff manner in which the money was committed to be ominously like the classic use of Other Peoples Money (OPM). You know, the taxpayers are a bottomless pit for my generous renown. Canadian Press

Scarborough banks hit, schools in lockdown during hunt

Toronto Police are hunting for a bandit who robbed three banks in quick succession in Scarborough Monday morning. Three schools, Thomas L. Wells Public School, Brookside Public School and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Catholic School, were placed in lockdown to protect kids. The robberies occurred starting about 9.45 a.m. at Sheppard Ave and Markham Rd. This was followed by a second some 15 minute later at Progress Ave and Brimley Rd. with a third at Midland and Finch Aves. shortly after 10 a.m. The suspect has been described as five-foot-nine, wearing a black jacket and a green hoodie. A getaway vehicle reportedly used in each of the incidents has since been found abandoned near Morningside and McNicoll Aves.

Shanghai Ballet brings epic 48 swans to Tchaikovsky classic

No one knows what Tchaikovsky would make of the huge Shanghai Ballet rendering of Swan Lake. In the Chinese version the stage is graced by no fewer than 48 swans (or swan) rather than the usual 24. Enjoy, we say. Then, some Nutcracker seasonal fun to be had at Casa Loma. Below that, the first night of Hanukkah is celebrated at Mel Lastman Square. Lastly, do not miss the amazing billiards moves in this video. It is from a show at the Eiffel Tower by the billiards and snooker lobby to have their bid accepted for inclusion in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.






Core Body Science to move, evolve classes on February 3

Kelly Dolson of Core Body Science on Millwood Rd. has announced that starting February 3, 2019, the fitness business will convert to private and sem-private group therapy at a new location to be announced soon. The present location at 862 Millwood has been sold to a business not related to fitness. Large group sessions will no longer be conducted. Kelly is asking clients holding group class cards to use their classes on file by February 3. Once current class cards are used up single sessions at $25 per class will be charged for any further classes. Core Body Science is here and at (416) 799-0444

Canadian on way to space station with US, Russian mates

Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques is on his way to the International Space Station (ISS) in the Russian Soyuz rocket blasted with Russian and Us colleagues Oleg Kononenko and American astronaut Anne McClain. Saint-Jacques, 48, will spend six-and-a-half months in space. The liftoff was at 6:31 a.m. ET Monday and can be seen at length in this video.  Among those present to watch was Governor General Julie Payette. The Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft entered a designated orbit just under nine minutes after the launch and was set to dock at the space outpost in about six hours after making four orbits of the Earth.

Baby, 2 months, found safe in minvan stolen at laundromat

A two-month old infant has been found safe after a 2005 Toyota minivan was stolen from outside a laundromat at the Italian Gardens Plaza on Islington Ave. and Satterly Rd. on Sunday evening. Police have tweeted that the baby is safe and sound. Officers were seen at the laundromat speaking with apparently tearful relatives of the infant shortly after the theft was reported as seen in video captures above from Global News. Police thanked the public for helping. There was no information at post time on where the vehicle was found or whether it had been left open with the engine running.

Liquor, beer stores now open until 11 seven days a week

The Ontario government has announced that as of Sunday LCBO and Beer stores as well as grocery stores and winery retail stores can remain open until 11 p.m. seven days a week. The intention to do something like this was in the PC government’s Fall Economic Statement last month.