Sunday, May 29, 2011

Triple shooting jolts peace-loving Kensington



Triple shooting jolts peace-loving Kensington: Dan Robson, The Toronto star


Six cracks of gunfire woke Jon McCurley from his bed early Sunday morning. From his window above La Rosa’s Bakery in Kensington market, he saw three men stumble out of the alley next to him, bleeding and calling for help. One was shot in the arm, another in the leg. The third, shot in the stomach, crawled on the pavement. When the police tape came down hundreds of people strolled through the market on streets reserved for pedestrians for the first time this year. Most were oblivious to the red stain in front of La Rosa’s Bakery. All three victims are expected to recover from their injuries. Police are searching for three suspects, and asking for more witnesses to come forward.


I remember my first (and only) time going to Kensington Market and thoughts of ghettos, drug deals, and shootings came to mind. Even though I'm a country boy, I still dont mind the city, but Kengsington Market wasnt a place i felt was safe or counfortable. I feel terrible for the victoms and hope they recover. I dont see why there are so many shootings is Toronto now a days, i just dont get it.


Monday, May 16, 2011

Olympic marathon champ Wanjiru dies after balcony fall



Olympic marathon champ Wanjiru dies after balcony fall: Tom Odula, The Toronto star

Kenyan Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru died in a fall from a balcony after a domestic dispute involving his wife and another woman, police said Monday. One police official said Wanjiru committed suicide, while another said he jumped to stop his wife from leaving the house after she discovered him with another woman. The 24-year-old runner died late Sunday after jumping from a balcony at his home in the town of Nyahururu, in the Rift Valley, said John Mbijiwe, the police chief in Kenya's Central Province. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win a gold medal in the marathon, finishing in an Olympic-record two hours six minutes 32 seconds.







I don't see any reason why he would commit suicide, but reading the article more, you can see that many people believe that he did commit suicide. They probably have their reasons and defiantly know more on the subject than me. I feel terrible weather is was suicide or not because a great athlete has gone way too early. He will be greatly missed and I feel terrible about the whole situation

Richmond Hill student, 16, discovers new hope for cystic fibrosis treatment



Richmond Hill student, 16, discovers new hope for cystic fibrosis treatment: Amanda Kwan, The toronto star

Marshall Zhang had dreamed of one day working in the field of science, but after discovering a new combination of drugs that could possibly be used to as a treatment for cystic fibrosis, the 16-year-old Richmond Hill student says he has gained a new perspective of the field. “Until recently, I’ve known the disease from a scientific point of view,” said Zhang, a Grade 11 student at Bayview Secondary School. “But knowing the facts is not the same as talking to people with diseases.” Cystic fibrosis is a debilitating and potentially fatal condition that causes thick mucus to build up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The discovery lead him to first place at the 2011 Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge, a competition where student compete with the help of a mentor.



I feel this is an amazing discovery, especially due to the fact that it is so close to home. If this discovery was made by some guy in China who had been working on the project for months, but it's just a kid! I feel this is amazing and he has a great future ahead of him. Hopefully this discovery will help those with cystic fibrosis and maybe will lead others to better and bigger things for the condition.



'His innocence will be established,' Strauss-Kahn's wife says



'His innocence will be established,' Strauss-Kahn's wife says: Coleen Long, The toronto star

62 year old IMF Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was charged Sunday with attempting to rape a New York hotel maid, in a scandal that upends his plans to run for president of France and throws leadership of the global lender into turmoil at the height of the European debt crisis. A hotel maid, 32, alleged Strauss-Kahn sexually assaulted her in his $3,000-a-night suite at the luxury Sofitel near Times Square on Saturday, police spokesman Paul Browne said. The IMF chief was charged with a criminal sexual act, unlawful imprisonment and attempted rape. His lawyer Benjamin Brafman said he will plead not guilty. IMF spokesman William Murray said John Lipsky, the IMF's first deputy managing director, would lead the organization in an acting capacity in Strauss-Kahn's absence.

I am not going to say if I think he did or didn't do it, but how stupid do you have to be to try and rape a maid when you're trying to become the president of France? As well if someone is paying $3,000 a night, I'm sure he can afford an escort it he was really feeling lonely. As well, he pled guilty, maybe because he knows he's innocent, maybe because he knows how good a lawyer he has? What do you think?


http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/991622--his-innocence-will-be-established-strauss-kahn-s-wife-says

Slave Lake evacuated as wildfire rages in Alberta



Slave Lake evacuated as wildfire rages in Alberta: Rob Drinkwater, the toronto star






Sunday evening thousands of Slave Lake residents were fleeing there homes as strong winds spread an out of control wildfire into the town. As hundreds of buildings were destroyed the town advised all residents to leave, it was a general evacuation. Staff-Sergeant Mike Proctor of Slave Lake RCMP said later “probably 30 per cent of the structures” had been destroyed by the fire. Doris Stapleton of the RCMP stated there's been no lose of life or injuries they're aware of. All of the highways leading out were closed and two of the main roads were as well closed, but one road, the one leading to Athabasca was open and residents were advised to use it. When the fire hit the town it was nine square kilometers in size and planes couldn't fly over do to the thick smoke the fire was producing. Because of the difficulty to put it out, 200 firefighters from B.C. and Ontario are coming to help.


I think, Obviously, This is terrible and I feel terrible for the residents of Slave Lake, but more importantly i feel proud of the people helping out. Most fire out west, especially wildfires are put out by planes dropping water on them, but since no planes can fly over, it is especially difficult to put it out. As well the firefighters coming from other provinces to help out, I feel are very brave and dedicated.

Thursday, May 12, 2011









History still in the making 10 years after 9/11: Michelle Shepard, the toronto star




Sam Cannizzaro, father of Brian Cannizzaro, isn’t doing very well generally since losing his 30-year-old son. Brian, who followed in his footsteps and became a firefighter. Brian was one of 343 men the NYPD Fire Department lost on Sept. 11, 2001. Sam Cannizzaro is one of the many Americans who's emotions have been running high since the US navy seals killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a compound near Pakistan's capital. With the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks coming this September, this news will change the way it is celebrated. According to various polls, the president’s approval rating jumped as much as 10 per cent this week. Those firefighters lucky enough to be on duty Thursday spent nearly an hour having lunch with Obama and said he was very down to earth. But the death of the Al Qaeda’s leader and Obama’s visit did not bring Cannizzaro relief or change his mind about much. “I hate that word closure. What does it mean?” he asked. “I think about Brian every single minute of every day and always will."



I think that on the tenth anniversary that nothing will really be different because although bin Laden is dead, that isn't what everyone wanted and it doesn't fix the fact of how many people died that day, especially those that gave their life helping others. I feel Sam Cannizzaro has very good point that bin Laden's Killing does nothing for him, maybe it might ease others, but for him and others who lost someone close on September 11, 2001, it does nothing. I feel this won't change much in the afghan war as it was only a matter of time until something like this happened, what with the recent awareness of security. Do you think this will change anything to do with the current war?




Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Ontario law means dentists who treat their spouses are guilty of sex abuse




Ontario law means dentists who treat their spouses are guilty of sex abuse: Theresa Boyle, the Toronto star








An Ontario law states that dentists who treat their spouse cannot have sex. This is the current law of the land in Ontario, one that many dentists are secretly flouting and call in "stupid." Dentist Larry Pedlar, who hast been treating him wife for 50 years at his Burlington office, learned if he were to continue this, he would loose his license for 5 years. He is 72 years old. Even though this law has tremendous consequences, many still continue to treat their spouses, but just keep it quiet. Ontario health minister, Deb Matthews says, "Whatever changes the province may make, protection of patients form sexual abuse by health professionals will continue to be the top priority."


I, like many others, think this law is ridiculous, and has no explanation of why it is a law. As well, the point that IF spouses are have sex, they cannot treat each other is just plain stupid. The only spouses who aren't having sex is severely old people, extremely religions people, or if a couple is separated, but not divorced. I think there is a simply way to fix this, without taking away the comfort of these sex abuse laws for other patients.