The South Bayview Bulldog

Donald Trump blocked CNN and the New York Times from attending a White House “gaggle” Friday. A gaggle is a variation on a scrum, reporters gathered in a gang to hear from a politician or someone else who has something to say. He shouldn’t have done it. This is not because democracy will live or die because of it. But kicking out reporters you don’t like is petty and, in the end, self-defeating. It does not, as some claim, stop anyone from questioning Trump’s message.

Belsize Drive no parking

The picture of a parking enforcement car dumped on Belsize Drive in brazen disregard of the no parking sign says it all.  Forget whether you think the City is running a cynical cash grab with its parking program. Opinion may differ on that. But there is no question that the person who parked this car is breaking the law, doing it purposefully and with the complicity of fellow police personnel who choose to let him/her do it. These are simple facts. It is behaviour for which anyone else would be ticketed, perhaps even towed. It would not do to say that you had just stopped for a minute or two (you know, to issue a few parking tickets for the kids). No, you would get the ticket and pay it because after all, you would not have a leg to stand on in court. The police and their political masters on City Council should have no surprise about the reasonable resentment and in some cases distrust of the police that flows from practices like this.

Surprised naturalists who were using a drone to record the action at the Siberian Tiger Park in China’s Heilongjiang province have had their flying camera snatched out of the sky and destroyed by the curious animals. One tiger showed remarkable energy in leaping up to bat the drone to the ground. The tigers tried to eat it. Then it caught fire. Altogether quite a disappointment for the big cats and the drone owner. In 2016, the World Wildlife Fund announced that for the first time in a century the population of tigers in the wild rose, getting a 20 percent boost in numbers since 2010.

Vice Admiral Norman

Toronto Life article

Marie Henein

Is this about frigates?

The highly-secret reasons for the removal of Vice Admiral Mark Norman from his position of vice-chief of the defense staff will be challenged in court by none other than Marie Henein, the ace lawyer who guided broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi to a complete acquittal last year. Henein is saying today that her client is a victim of “bureaucratic crossfire” and stresses the need for a rapid resolution to the charges. She notes his 30 years of honourable service to the country. At the time of the vice admiral’s suspension, the CBC wrote a story which hinted broadly the government was alleging that he had somehow helped a firm competing for a shipbuilding contract. Canada is in the midst of deciding what type of new frigates it needs.

Urban Toronto reports on a huge proposal at 319-323 Jarvis Street that has been submitted to the City’s planning department. It asks for bylaw amendment to allow a 50-storey mixed-use condominium with retail at grade, three levels of underground parking and 506 residential units. Designed by Page+Steele/IBI Group, the project would replace the existing Comfort Inn, as well as the commercial low-rise building immediately to the north. The mixed-use component of the project includes a 226 m² retail space at ground level.

A dog sought refuge in the engine compartment of an SUV on Degrassi Street north of Queen St. E. overnight and had to be extricated by fire personnel. The animal was a shelter rescue dog that escaped from its new owner. All in a night’s work at the TFS. The dog was returned to its owner.

And then, if you like your testosterone by the tanker truck, you might enjoy a visit to Revenge in Greektown this Sunday, February 26, at the Royal Canadian Legion at 1083 Pape Ave.

Meridian CU to open next month. The Bulldog broke the news of Meridian’s decision to land on Mt. Pleasant earlier this month. Ambitious Meridian CU to spark business on Mt. Pleasant

https://twitter.com/shirleybee123/status/833074560455020544

The Minor Midget A Leaside Flames and @GTHLTOAeros could both advance with wins tonight #GTHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/RSZggrVtSZ

— GTHL Hockey (@GTHLHockey) February 24, 2017

Greater Toronto Hockey League at Twitter

Drivers slow down or avoid streets where there are bicycle lanes and especially where there are large numbers of bicycles. This is the entirely predictable discovery from the first couple of months of bike lanes on Bloor Street between Ossington Ave. to Bay St. Drivers as a group get it that cyclists and cars are not particularly compatible. The mayor’s office is saying in the face of this early data that the City “will take steps” to help cars move faster. These steps are not named. In the meantime, 22 percent of the drivers who used to travel on Bloor have fled the street. Cycling has increased as a percentage total traffic (to 18 percent) largely as a result of this change according to CP24. Release issued at 9 a.m. Friday

Toronto Fire Service photos

A fire did serious damage to the townhouse at 33 Crockamhill Drive in Scarborough about 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Nobody was injured following a two-alarm fire which began in the garage.. Crockamhill is near near Huntingwood Drive and Midland Avenue in Scarborough.