The South Bayview Bulldog

An Air Canada captain misjudged his location while landing at San Francisco International Airport last Friday and was heading for touch down on a crowded taxiway instead of the runway. It is a mistake that is not unknown in commercial aviation. In this case, a controller saw what was happening and waved off the Airbus 330. It went around and then landed safely on the correct runway.

DOG ESCAPES AT AIRPORT

A dog brought to Canada from Greece by the rescue organization Stray Paws Rescue was allowed by custom officials to roam on an unfenced patch of grass at Toronto Airport Monday and quickly escaped. It was one of a  number of rescue dogs which are routinely brought into the country. The stories about this incident are sketchy about the requirements although it is said the customs officials did it to let the dogs relieve themselves. The family which had adopted the animal is quite upset. It is described as a 15-pound Pomeranian/Papillon mix named Emily. The airport says staff are looking for the dog.

Emily

More than two-thirds of Canadians feel Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the wrong choice in awarding a $10.5 million settlement to Omar Khadr, according to a new poll by the Angus Reid Institute. And while the survey shows that a majority of Liberals and New Democrats are opposed to the government’s decision, how the numbers compare to previous polling suggests that views on Khadr have hardened over the last decade — and that he remains a divisive figure. CBC

The new sensation in Washington is the revelation that Donald Trump Jr. had a meeting before the election with a Kremlin-linked lawyer named Natalia Veselnitskaya. Check it out. Next, it’s Prime Day. This is an Amazon promotion that started at six Monday night and runs until midnight Wednesday. You pay them $100 and they’ll let you buy stuff. Heck of a deal. And then, a new twist on escaping jail. A drone brings you wire-cutters and other stuff you need to bust out. Like Amazon, it lands right in your very own jail yard. Finally, a couple of “twenty somethings” are ticketed for climbing out onto Scarborough Bluffs to take a selfie. They didn’t know how to get down so they called mom who knew it was a job for the fire service.

R.J. Barrett of Mississauga

Remember the name. He’s R. J. Barrett, a 17 year-old kid from Mississauga playing two years above his level with the Team Canada U19 basketball squad as they first knock off the US, then Italy to win the FIBA World Cup in Egypt. FIBA is a French acronym meaning international basketball association. A day after he poured in 38 points against the Americans, Barrett, earned tournament MVP honours. He went 3-for-13 from the field, and 12-of-14 from the free throw line against Italy. The CBC reports that Barrett is considered the world’s best player for his age. He scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Canada roared past Italy 79-60 on Sunday to win the Cup, the first time Canadians of any gender or age group have brought home an official basketball world title. The team arrives home Monday night.

Police want help to find these three men who sneaked into the driveway of a home in southeast Forest Hill near St. Clair Avenue West and Avenue Road to set fire to an SUV. It happened Wednesday, June 21 at 1.06 a.m. as the men douse a Land Rover with gasoline. They fled in a light-colored flatbed-style work truck  Security camera videos have been released to identify the three unknown men and the vehicle they used. See security videos are on the TPS site here.

Huron OPP say Alexandra (Aly) Deacon, 9, from Cambridge has been found safe.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWVsTXQDZhi/

Andrew and Matthew Patel with neighbour Marjorie Noakes in 2014

Andrew and Matthew Patel, profiled in the South Bayview Bulldog in 2014, are still working to see their pet hobby of backyard egg production become legal at least in some parts of Toronto. The CBC says Monday that Councillors supporting such small operations were ready to present a motion at City Hall last week before business was adjourned because of the death of Pam McConnell. The idea is to legalize the now forbidden chicken coop in certain areas of spacious backyards. The matter may now be delayed until fall with a possible trial period set for the spring of 2018. “This is not a new issue, it doesn’t take five years, we’re not reinventing the wheel. Other big cities have done this,” Andrew is quoted as saying. He and Matthew have been raising chickens during their summer breaks from university since 2012. Leaside twins win first prize for well-groomed chicken project 

Ontario’s bid to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour — a move that is feared by businesses but has the support of some prominent economists — will be subject to a series of public meetings beginning Monday. It is the “instant-money” nature of the increase that has business owners alarmed. The wage will leap $3.40 in 18 months. Canadian Press 

Robert Mugabe

Good grief

I want to go home

Knocked senseless by flight attendant

Cardinal in trouble

Upper left, the president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, is 93 now. He has been president of that impoverished little state since the 1960s when he was hailed as part of the winds of change. He plans to run again in one of those elections that just seem to go his way. To the right, a couple of shots of an exasperated Angela Merkel during a conversation with Vladimir Putin. We have no idea what (or who) they were talking about. Any guesses? Lower left, Joseph Hudak was flying in first class from Seattle to Beijing on a Delta jet last week when he tried to open a door in mid-flight. He injured a flight attendant before she was able to subdue him with the help of passengers and a bottle of wine over the head. And Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic, has returned to that country after being charged with multiple sex offences from the distant past when he was Australia’s most powerful Catholic. The 76-year-old landed at Sydney Airport after a long trip from Rome where the Pope says he will await the outcome at trial before commenting.