The South Bayview Bulldog

Home sales across the Greater Toronto Area fell nearly 15 per cent in November, compared with a year ago, as sale prices continued to see moderate growth, the Toronto Real Estate Board says   TREB says there were 6,251 residential transactions recorded last month through its multiple listing service (MLS) system, down 14.7 per cent versus a year ago. On a seasonally adjusted basis, sales were down by 3.4 per cent compared with October 2018. The average sale price was up by 3.5 per cent year-over-year to $788,345. Adjusted seasonally, the average sale price was nearly flat, down by 0.8 per cent compared to October 2018 — Reuters

A Leaside woman is keeping her key fob in a tea tin to prevent the use of so-called relay theft of her car equipped with keyless entry.  This matter continues to occupy the interest of residents as it is reported that another vehicle has been stolen over the weekend. Leaside Community.

• Police diagram reveals how car thieves trick keyless entry

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.

• Thomson Reuters to cut 3,200 jobs by 2020, offer fewer products

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Update: black SUV has been recovered in the Morningside Avenue and McNicoll Avenue area, @TPS42Div. Man has been arrested, however another man still wanted. #GO2220065 ^CdK

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) December 3, 2018

Debuting in Berlin

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.

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