Bell Canada hack causes release of 2 million email addresses

Bell Canada says its customer subscriber database has been hacked, with the exposure of almost 2 million email addresses, 1,700 customer names and/or telephone numbers. “There is no indication that any financial, password or other sensitive personal information was accessed,” the company said in a news release. “This incident is not connected to the recent global WannaCry malware attacks.” Bell says it took immediate steps to secure affected systems. It has been working closely with the RCMP cyber crime unit in its investigation and has informed the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Bell guesses that the thieves will immediately run the email addresses against known databases of stolen passwords from other sites to see if there are any commonly used words, to try and crack the Bell email passwords. They will also run them against popular — and unsafe passwords such as “Password1,” “Password2,” “Monday1” etc., as well as dictionaries. It is not unusual for people to use the same password on different sites. Howard Solomon — IT World Canada

 

Number of gas stations creeps up to about 12,000 nationally

The  number of gas stations in Canada increased marginally by about 15 last year, bringing the total to nearly 12,000, or three stations for every 10,000 people. The numbers are a little misleading because the density of stations is much heavier in urban areas, There has been a steady decline in gasoline  retailers which started more than 35 years ago.  At one time there were at least seven gas stations on Bayview Ave between Eglinton and Moore and now there is one. The picture above shows three stations — Esso, Shell and Cities Service at Millwood and  Bayview in the 60s. The Bayview stations were at Eglinton (where the LRT station will be) Soudan, Millwood (three) McRae and Moore. Can you remember others? Only the Esso at Moore survives.

Yay or Neigh? Thornhill lad asks girl to prom on horseback

A Thornhill high school student, Aaron Lugassy, has used horse sense (plus a real horse) to ask his girlfriend, Noy Amsterdam, to the prom at Westmount Collegiate Institute in York Region. He appeared before her on horseback with a sign which said “Prom, Yay or Neigh.” She said yes, or rather Yay. That’s the answer guys are looking for in what has become a popular gambit as recorded in the Twitter search of Yay or Neigh. It’s expensive to rent a horse. Friends chipped in the raise the $500 needed. Noy expressed herself to be “shaking” from the experience. Among other recent Yay or Neigh suitors was Jonny Jones in Kansas. A Georgia girl, Georgia Gibbons, was also asked to “saddle up” for the prom.

Bat Out of Hell memories land squarely on Yonge Street

A large crowd best described as mostly mature sang along with Meat Loaf Monday night on Yonge Street at the mini concert designed to raise interest in Bat Out of Hell — the Musical prior to ticket sales this week. The musical opens in Toronto in October. The event was preceded by a horde of motorcycles bearing the rock legend. They formed up at the CP24 parking lot on Queen Street and then paraded in a gut-shuddering convoy over to Yonge and Dundas. Mid-life rockers found the symphony of rock music and two-cylinder thunder especially nostalgic as it bounced off the Hard Rock Cafe, soon to close. Meat Loaf on Yonge St. Monday to launch “Bat” ticket sales

SportClips haircuts closed until Wednesday for renovations

SportClips barber shop is closed until Wednesday (see picture). They are inviting customers to take a picture of the sign on the window and cash it in when they re-open for a free cut.

Rona Ambrose expected to announce resignation Tuesday

Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose is expected to announce Tuesday that she will resign her seat in the House of Commons this summer. Ambrose is the member for Sturgeon Lake Parkland north of Edmonton. She has been an MP since 2004. Sources have told the Canadian Press she intends to outline her plans in a farewell breakfast speech Tuesday ahead of a planned tribute in the Commons. The Conservative party is currently in the process of picking a new leader with the winner to be announced May 27. Ambrose had always intended to stay serving as an MP during the transition period, though she is already moving out of the Official Opposition leader’s residence of Stornoway.

JAGMEET SINGH

Jagmeet Singh launched his bid Monday for the leadership of the federal NDP.  Mr. Singh was born in Toronto and grew up in Newfoundland and Labrador and later Windsor.

Traffic light fall in Roncesvalles grabs 9800 views in 9 hours

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

Fortunately no one is hit as this traffic light comes down at Dundas and Bloor. It is from Parkdalelife, an Instagrasm account.

Flavours of Thorncliffe evening for charity set for June 1

This fund raiser for the Thorncliffe Neighborhood Office is a first and is said to parody the Master Chef series by challenging local “Celebrity” chefs to prepare gourmet dishes for guests to savour and judge. Eventbrite

CBC alleges three men trying to control many condo boards

CBC reporter John Lancaster tells an unusual story of three men who have gained control of perhaps a dozen condominium boards in Toronto and Mississauga, including places where they have no ownership, for purposes that are not entirely clear. Lancaster quotes condominium lawyer Audrey Loeb as saying: “We’re certainly aware of a half-dozen buildings where attempts have been made by this group to take control of the board of directors.” CBC

Man vital signs absent pulled from lakefront ship channel

A man apparently engaged in some form of swimming challenge has been pulled from the bay without vital signs. A drama unfolded Monday morning when a woman, who was with the man, jumped into to water to help him when he started to struggle. Employees from Redpath Sugar, which is located on an inlet near Dockside Drive and Martin Goodman Trail, were able to pull the man out. The perils of swimming in Toronto Bay, particularly in deep shipping channels, dirty water and all, seem fairly obvious.

Here come smart toothbrushes for kids learning to brush

Parents will have to decide if it’s all too much, but the smart toothbrush is upon us and it seems to have a real appeal for young kids. This latest example of the Internet of things can be expensive, but perhaps worth it.

Gypsy Moth spraying set for May-June in City’s west end

The City will begin spraying for a period of  about three weeks in Toronto’s west end to control the Gypsy Moth. There is no information in the release here as to whether similar spraying will be necessary in South Bayview, particularly in the ravines, as has occurred in the past, to combat the Gypsy Moth.