UK joins US in banning large electronics from certain flights

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CNN reports that the United Kingdom has followed the United States in preventing passengers on flights from some countries in the Middle East and Africa from carrying devices such as laptops and tablets in the cabin. Their restriction will affect 14 airlines, six of which are based in the U.K. The affected airlines are: British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch, Thomas Cook, Thomson, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airways, Atlas-Global Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Egyptair, Royal Jordanian, Tunis Air and Saudia. The U.S. and U.K. regulations will affect different points of departure. The new restrictions on direct flights to the U.K. include flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. It is said Canada is deciding what to do in this regard.

Excellent remake of Brunswick House into a Rexall

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418 Bloor West
Unknown millions drank here
Much-loved sign

The 141-year-old Brunswick House, 481 Bloor West at Brunswick Ave., has opened as a Rexall Pharma Plus drugstore. The superb result of the renovation is recorded by Retail Insider online. The tavern’s much-loved Ye Olde Brunswick House sign now hangs over the fridges in the pharmacy’s food section. Unknown millions of university students and who knows what number of beverage room idlers will surely want to make a sentimental visit to this storied beer hall haunt. It is a considerable credit to Rexall and rivals similar public-spirited work by large firms such as Loblaw (MLG) and Shoppers Drug Mart (Bayview Playhouse).

So far so good with suspicious package at TPS office

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The experts from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Squad are examining a package delivered through the mail.

Computer ban on travel to US on N. Africa, mideast airlines

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The Trump administration has declared that passengers on nine airlines flying direct flights to the U.S. from airports in eight countries will be prevented from taking most electronic devices larger than a cellphone (such as tablets, portable DVD players, laptops and cameras) into the main cabin. Instead, they must be in checked baggage. The airlines are Royal Jordanian Airlines, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways. The airports are in Cairo; Istanbul; Kuwait City; Doha, Qatar; Casablanca, Morocco; Amman, Jordan; Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates. The ban is said to be indefinite and is inspired by concerns of explosives hidden in computer devices. Euronews

Anger over dog walker hoisting his charge onto hind legs

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A brief and shaky video of a dog walker with one animal forced up on its hind legs while two others run unleashed is causing upset and anger among some people Tuesday.  The dog walker, Austin St-Jacques, is accosted by the video taker who is identified as Aleksander Kupisz. It is a rather scary exchange as Mr. Kupisz is quite upset. St-Jacques contends the dog in the harness was not being hurt. The CBC story has a lot of information but nothing really definitive about what this might be doing to the dog, although it seems unusual. CBC

Brief scene of dog on hind legs

St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Earth Hour weekend reminder

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Earth Hour weekend is Saturday and Sunday (March 25 and 26) and readers are reminded of the two days of activity at St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church at 1399 Bayview Ave. Take a look  St. Cuthbert’s Environmental Fair March 25

Whole Foods sets Wednesday, April 26 for Bayview open

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Leaside couple expanded their family with area fertility firm

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Carol Eby’s family life magazine Neighbours of Leaside and Bennington Heights features a couple who used Anova, the Toronto fertility and reproductive health firm to grow their family. It’s the April issue and it looks like an enjoyable and different read. The magazine is delivered to homes by Canada Post.

Mayor voted “aye” but asked his colleagues to vote “nay”

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It appears Mayor Tory has been caught out making a public appearance of support for a motion at City Hall, and voting in favour of it, while at the same time asking some of his colleagues on council to vote the other way. It isn’t terribly clear just what purpose this strategy was intended to serve. The motion  by Kristin Wong-Tam (Ward 27) called for what seems an expensive and enormously complex descent into a hypothesis of gender bias known as Intersectional Gender Equity. There may be something to it but some may find it flies close to paranoia. Take a look at the Wikipedia entry on Intersectional Gender Equity. Then you may want to look at the how the motion in fact passed. How many either pro or con had a clue about Intersectional Gender Equity?

Result: Carried Majority Required – EX22.2 – Wong-Tam – motion 7
Yes: 26 Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Shelley Carroll, Josh Colle, Joe Cressy, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Neethan Shan, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam 
No: 18 Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Justin J. Di Ciano, Michael Ford, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner 
Absent: 1 Michelle Holland 

Canada-wide warrant for Justin Kuijer in death of stepson

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The CBC video embedded here tells what citizens need to know in the search for Justin Kuijer, 43, the man accused of killing his seven-year-old son. His mother, identified today as Whitney Dumas, was mourning the loss of her child, Nathan. She wrote a note on Facebook Sunday: “Your kind words and well wishes and downpour of donations have been truly overwhelming. Our Niagara regional police are truly something to be proud of. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty with support and compassion.”

“Parkland” behind arena to remain ever isolated, unused?

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Quiet open space behind Leaside Gardens
Old out building
Greenery with trees
Walkway past Bert F. Grant Rink
Noble boulder
No access green space

The pleasant open land that sits behind Leaside Memorial Gardens is a secret to many people. That’s because it’s locked away without access by road or any public entrance. The sole access to this parcel measuring perhaps a third to a half an acre is down the walk way that sits beside the wall to the old rink, now named in honour of local businessman Bert F. Grant. With changing times interest was kindled among some in making the land into a public park. The renovations to the Gardens swimming pool are complete and access to the Gardens from the parkland has been walled off with a high chain link fence. Land at the corner of Southvale and Millwood is about to see a condominium development designed by Shane Baghai. In many ways, it would be nice to have parkland available not just to those who live on Southvale but for everyone on this greenery. But access is difficult. And, homeowners whose properties back onto this quiet secret place (Southvale, Leacrest Road cul-de-sac) might object.

PCs, NDP excoriate Liberals over taxpayer paid Hydro ads

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Both Progressive Conservative and NDP leaders excoriated the Liberal government in the Legislature Monday for using public money to pay for ads that promote reductions to the cost of Hydro. PC leader Brown called the use of public money for the advertising contempt of parliament. The ads so far appear only on radio and the Internet but Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault said the government has spent less than $1 million to date. How much less, he wouldn’t say but he revealed that print and TV ads will likely be added soon.