The South Bayview Bulldog

McDonald’s in the U.S. and Canada has withdrawn the kid-friendly fitness trackers it was putting in its Happy Meal boxes because a few parents have complained about minor burns or rashes caused by the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

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.

COLLISION: Mount Pleasant Road near Manor Road East, @TPS53Div. Pedestrian struck. Police on the way. #1454837 ^CdK

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) August 17, 2016

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.

ALL CLEAR: Mt Pleasant & Eglinton has re-opened. 74 Mt Pleasant & 103 Mt Pleasant North buses have returned to regular routing. #TTC

— TTC Service Alerts (@TTCnotices) August 17, 2016

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT: Mount Pleasant Road closed between Eglinton Avenue and Roehampton closed in both directions, @TPS53Div. #1453526 ^CdK

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) August 17, 2016

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

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.

Incendie de la #Tesla lundi 15 août 2016 à #Bayonne. Avant l'arrivée des pompiers. Voiture complètement détruite. pic.twitter.com/qT8h6ccFoP

— Cédric Faiche (@cedricfaiche) August 15, 2016

Betty Howson

Friends may gather Monday, August 22 at Humphrey Funeral Home between 5 and 8 p.m. to pay respects to Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Pearl Howson (born Willcocks). She died July 30 at 93. Her remarkable life included a career as a nurse (Wellesley Hospital), tennis and cycling (until she was 90) and a lifelong membership and committment to Christ Church Deer Park.  She had seven children and like her husband, the late John Beverly Howson, she worked energetically in support of the Rotary Club of Toronto as a member of the Inner Wheel.

Cab drivers are outside the Toronto municipal licensing and standards office at 850 Coxwell Ave. this morning in a peaceful protest against UberX.