Minister Phillpot’s limousines and the heady lure of OPM

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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.

McDonald’s yanks fitness tracker toy from Happy Meal

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McDonald’s in the U.S. and Canada has withdrawn the kid-friendly fitness trackers it was putting in its Happy Meal boxes because a few parents have complained about minor burns or rashes caused by the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 

trackers

One woman said the tracker burned her son

Make way for Toronto Zoo newcomer Rey, the Grevy’s zebra

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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.

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Mom and daughter

Minister’s limousines don’t come cheap says Toronto Star

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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 

 

Hey, don’t you want to tattoo “6ix” on your neck?

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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

Leaside Lawn Bowling to host championship in September

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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. 

Man struck by car at Mt. Pleasant and Manor Road

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The damage done to a car windshield when hit by a human body is often shocking and an incident Wednesday is no different. It  seems a woman was making a left turn southbound onto Mt. Pleasant from Manor Road when a man crossing was hit. The circumstances of right of way or whether the man was running are not known. Paramedics said he was badly cut and suffering shock but conscious.

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Industrial accident at Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Eglinton Ave.

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Workmen gather for meeting with supervisors

There was an industrial accident at the corner of Mt. Pleasant and Eglinton Ave. Wednesday mid-morning. It is thought to have involved demolition work at the old bank building which is being re-built to serve as the LRT station. Bricks and stone sills are being stored so that the building may be re-built to an appearance similar to its original. Large doors and other necessary features will be installed to permit the crowds which will use the station.

https://twitter.com/tofireN/status/765923655205478400

“Loud noise” and Tesla destroyed by fire during test drive

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Fire has destroyed a Tesla automobile on a test drive near the French seaside city of Biarritz. The car is said to have mysteriously caught fire with a Tesla employee and two potential buyers on board. The driver told the local newspaper Sud Ouest that they had been driving the Model S 90D for about 20 minutes when he heard a loud noise and the Tesla representative told him to pull over. The three got out, and within one minute “the car was ablaze.” Five minutes later it was completely destroyed, according to the driver’s account, but no one was injured in the incident.