11-year-old Arnav Sharma of Reading, England has passed the Mensa IQ test with a score of 162, higher than either Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking. The so-called genius benchmark is set at 140. The interviewer here asks Arnav if he wishes to use his intelligence to help the world and he says “Yes, but I’m not sure how.” Smart lad. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named every province and territory except Alberta during Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill Saturday and he says he is embarrassed about it. Psychiatrists might venture a thought or two on the subconscious impact of how Albertans often vote. Not for him, that is. “We may be of every colour and creed, from every corner of the world,” Trudeau said. “We may live in British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador. But we embrace that diversity while knowing in our hearts that we are all Canadians.” Hope you got all that. CBC Below are some Canada Day remarks from a different venue.
As best anyone can tell, this blockage of traffic by a few (said to be) Indigenous people at Bloor St and Spadina Rd. Saturday is about protecting air and water. Elsewhere, the MP for St. Paul’s, Carolyn Bennett, who is also the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs was confronted and ultimately ignored by protesters carrying a sign protesting “Indigenous Genocide.”
This occurred, says the CBC, at an event at the Spadina Museum. The protesters had a long list of alleged complaints against Canada including “rampant alcoholism” among their people. Ms. Bennett is among the more ardent advocates of Indigenous rights and has spoken of her desire for “nation to nation” discussions.
Interac says it’s hopeful the e-Transfer service will come back online Saturday following serious disruption since Thursday night. It said that after “significant progress” made overnight in addressing the internal technical issue affecting e-Transfer, it anticipated that the service would be soon be back. “Our top priority is making the Interac e-Transfer service fully operational and stable as quickly as possible.” It addressed a concern of many people on Twitter and elsewhere that their cash had “disappeared” or was in limbo somewhere. Interac said all unaccounted for cash is in fact safe and not lost.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is proposing a new 124,000 square foot addition dedicated to psychiatry to be called the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre. The development would sit between the present Wings D and F overlooking the green belt along Life Saving Drive. It would include a two storey Brain Sciences Wing with one additional level below grade. According to Urban Toronto, the aim of the new centre is to provide specially designed spaces where world-class brain sciences research and care can be nurtured. Compared to the existing premises at Sunnybrook, the new addition will offer more natural lighting to the interior. There will be 37 beds in the new wing.
The 60th Annual East York Canada Day found excellent weather Saturday morning as it formed up as usual on Cosburn Ave at Dieppe Park. The day is typically spent by many East York families playing and swimming at the destination of the parade, Stan Wadlow Park. It is also a hive of political tents as elected persons of all kinds strive to stay in touch and impress.
HAZARD:
Toronto Island Airport
-Drone spotted above airport
-Affecting approach to landing
-White/blue graphics #GO1175293
^dh— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) July 1, 2017
A drone has been reported hovering over Billy Bishop Airport Saturday morning, imperilling landings and take offs. TPS Operations notes the hazard on what many are calling potentially the busiest day in the history of the island facility. As many as 13,000 passengers are expected to travel through the airport on their way to Canadian and US destinations.
Canada Day has dawned with the national cash transfer service at Interac still down for a third day. Interac, which was formed in 1984 by the big five banks in Canada, took the email service down on Saturday after recurring problems which began Friday night. It appears that unknown numbers of people are unable to pay their rent and make essential transfers as the banks begin a three-day holiday. Many are commenting at @INTERAC on Twitter. “My heart goes out to all the stressed out developers over at @INTERAC. Tech: When it works, no one notices. When it fails, everyone screams.” says one post. “Anyone else bordering on full panic that @Interac etransfers have been down for 2 days? I have significant amt of $$ now lost in the ether,” said another.
A confusing series of responses is being made Friday night to inquiries about what’s happening at L’Avenue, the excellent bistro at 1568 Bayview. Staff there say that Otta Zapotocky, sommelier and guiding principal at the restaurant has left. “He’s moved on to other things. I don’t know where he is,” said a person who said he was now in charge. But, said this staffer, the restaurant has not changed hands. The place continues to be owned by Mr. Zapotocky’s wife. Mystery hangs over the other Zapotacky eatery, Tinto Bar De Tapas, at 1581 Bayview, where there does not appear to be much activity. Zapotocky started L’Avenue in 2012.
There may be enough blame to go around in the sleazy back and forth between Donald Trump and Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. But Trump seems to have slipped back into the most juvenile vulgarity in attacking the two, a quality many had hoped he was learning to leave behind.
Leaside resident David Bryant is readying a Canada 150 fireworks display for Monday, July 3 at the Leaside High School field beneath the hill that forms a natural grandstand for local families. He has scheduled the start for approximately 9.15 p.m. The show is produced by Bryant and a group of local residents for the benefit of Leaside families and guests. Although the show is free there is obviously a cost to buying the fireworks and in that regard Bryant is asking anyone who feels able to donate $20 by email do so. His address is bryantdavid@live.ca. (Keep in mind that the Interac mail transfer is offline tonight because of difficulties. Best to check at @INTERAC before sending.) Those wishing to donate at the field may do so before the show. Bryant says: “Come early and enjoy the park. Please bring chairs, blankets, food & drink, sparklers, baseball gloves and other fun supplies for the evening. We’ll start lighting up the sky around 9:15pm and finish about 10:15-10:30pm. So, if you’re away for the weekend you have time to get back and join us and finish it in style.”
A physician, Henry Bello, has been identified as the man wo got into Bronx Lebanon Hospital in New York Friday afternoon and shot one person dead as well as wounding six. He is said to have been fired for harrassing an employee. The shooting began at about 2.50 p.m. when the man, a former employee at the hospital, produced a long gun, possibly an M-16, from beneath his white lab coat and began shooting.
