The South Bayview Bulldog

There’s been a nice touch added to the discovery of a litter of baby rabbits which was discovered in the Fort York National Historic Site’s garden in July. The program director for Fort York, Melissa Beynon, told the CBC that she knew that the find had occurred on the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter, author of the Peter Rabbit fables. “I made the connection of our discovery to the Beatrix Potter anniversary immediately,” said Beynon,. “And the gardeners were absolutely delighted to hear the connection.”

Terry Duffield

There is probably little sympathy around for Aaron Driver, the 24-year-old misfit who seemed determined to hurt people in the name of his religion. But whether it was religion or merely his twisted ego that animated young Driver, it seems that the RCMP used extra-legal gunfire to finish him off after he was immobilized by an explosion. This is what taxi driver Terry Duffield says in a powerful account of his unwilling involvement in the end of Mr. Driver. Duffield has told Postmedia in a compelling interview that he was unwittingly ensnared in the takedown of Driver by police. He is upset that he was never warned. But it is astonishing to hear what happened after Driver was lying on the ground somewhere near Mr. Duffield.  “As I was laying there, that’s when I heard one officer yell, ‘he’s still twitching’. And at that point I heard four or five more shots. Then it was complete silence.” The question must be asked, what legal duty did the police have to Driver, terrorist or otherwise, to do more than kill him when he was incapacitated.

The 1950 cornerstone and time capsule from the addition to Manor Road United Church will be removed at 2 p.m. Friday (August 19, 2016) as the building, known widely as the gymnasium, is about to be demolished. It will make way for City parkland following a deal which parishioners hope will make the church self-sufficient for years to come. A small ceremony is expected as the stone is removed but no one is sure if its contents will be visible at that time. It may be sealed and require further work to reveal what’s inside. Jill Strapp of the MRU invited church members to attend but the mid-summer timing may work against a large crowd. She forwarded parts of documents from November 19, 1950, the day the stone was consecrated.

It is the oldest failure of democracy there is. That would be the way politicians spend OPM — Other Peoples’ Money. Thursday Ottawa was in an uproar after the Conservatives revealed that Health  Minister Jane Phillpot was spending money on limousines and tips as if she were Warren Buffett. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling for the prime minister to “send a clear message” about getting value for money. On Wednesday, the minister’s office acknowledged spending $1,994 for car service on July 12, when the minister spoke at the Assembly of First Nations annual meeting in Niagara Falls and another $3,815 for 20 trips to Toronto’s Pearson airport for flights to Ottawa on ministerial business. Phillpot has promised to pay back the money personally.

#53Division residents of Rosedale & Leaside – Pay special attention to recent break ins. Report suspicious activity! https://t.co/Vj2bmVMmKJ

— Alex Li (@AlexLiComms) August 18, 2016

McDonald’s in the U.S. and Canada has withdrawn the kid-friendly fitness trackers it was putting in its Happy Meal boxes because a few parents have complained about minor burns or rashes caused by the devices. The only evidence that can be shown are pictures from Casey Collyar of Arkansas showing her son with what appears to be an irritation or burn where he wore the tracker. Anyway the trackers are gone. Too bad because it seems like a nice idea.  The trackers counted steps and lighted up based on how quickly or slowly the wearer was moving. The company didn’t specify how many reports it received or if it would recall the trackers, as it did with 2.3 million Hello Kitty whistles after two children coughed up pieces — with Consumerist 

One woman said the tracker burned her son

A 90-year-old Quebec man, Laval Boulanger, has jumped out of a plane fulfilling a life-long ambition and he seems to have enjoyed it. The CBC information says he took a serious fall as a teen when working in the shipyards in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec and that the accident somehow inspired his desire to make such a jump.

Police have released security video of some of the five men wanted for beating up and robbing a man at about 3 a.m. August 11 at Spadina Ave.and King St West. The victim, 21, was hospitalized for several days but has recovered.

Tori the Grevy’s zebra at the Toronto Zoo has given birth to her second foal with the arrival on July 26 of Rey. Sister Leia was born in January, 2014. So this family is doing even though the Grevy’s are considered endangered. We’re not sure where dad is these days. The species is named after Jules Grevy, a 19th century French politician who does not seem to have had much connection with zebras.

Mom and daughter

Jane Philpott

The Toronto Star story about federal health minister Philpott’s free spending on limousines owned by one of her political supporters is worth a read.  There was $1,700 and a $223 tip to bounce from home in Markham to Hamilton to Toronto and then back home. And nearly $2,000 to get to Niagara Falls to speak with Assembly of First Nations leaders. Toronto Star 

This is one of those stories that the media likes to pretend is about you, but it’s really about them. Journalists drinking deeply of their own bathwater will cause that. Now we get this outpouring of stunned disbelief that you don’t care about 6ix. How come you don’t care? After they went to such a lot of trouble to invent the thing. Don’t you want to tattoo it on your neck? Is it because 6ix is meaningless? How about 7even? CBC

The Leaside Lawn Bowling Club will host the Ontario Provincial Men’s and Women’s Singles Championship on September 17 and 18. 2016, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thirty-two men and women, representing the 16 lawn bowling districts across the province will compete for the title of Ontario Champion. Gloria Paisley has written to say that it is a nice opportunity to visit the club on Hanna Road at the east end of Talbot Park. She says there will be top-notch bowling to be seen and we can believe that. Leaside Lawn welcomes new members at any time during the season and provides free coaching to anyone interested in trying the sport. They have two bowling greens with the potential of playing up to 16 games at once.  Why not drop by? There will be a friendly welcome.