Joint Canadian US Commission Recommends Change
Toronto- New proposals for changes in the way that water is released from Lake Ontario have many people up at arms.
The Joint International Commission has released new proposed water regulations that would affect the level of the water on Lake Ontario and the water levels in the St. Lawrence River. Many people believe that the regulations favor people who own property on the shores of Lake Ontario.
The water level on Lake Ontario can be regulated, to a larger degree that is not possible on some of the other great lakes. This is made possible by a large dam located at Cornwall, Ontario. (more…)
Accused Is Arrested Of Luring Two Children Under 14 Years Of Age
Toronto- In the second instance in the last two weeks, Toronto police have arrested a young man they say was caught luring young children on the Internet.
Police have arrested 23 year old Tyler Haas, and charged him with two criminal charges of luring, invitation to sexual touching, and attempted indecent exposure.
A large-scale investigation resulted in the arrest. A number of calls had been made into the Internet police web site through cybertip.ca after another incident had hit the news recently.
The Toronto man is accused of having conversations with the young children of an explicit and sexual nature, and sending pictures that were sexually explicit.
Last Wednesday there was another Canadian man, in Victoria B.C. who was charged with similar criminal charges. The man in the Victoria case stands accused of using an online chat program to lure a 12-year-old girl away from her mother in Vancouver last July.
Since its inception the cybertip.ca Police web site has led to the arrest and conviction of nearly 32 people, with a total of over 2800 tips received, and a large number of web sites that were questionable being removed as a result of the Internet Site.
New York - Microsoft has big plans for Xbox 360 users who take advantage of the console’s Xbox Live Video Marketplace feature. Aside from the possible tie up with Netflix, Microsoft will be teaming up with Hollywood producer Peter Safran and his company Safran Digital.
Safran is planning to make bite-sized shows that will appeal to the Xbox 360 demographic, consisting of mostly male gamers within the age range of 14 to 34 years old.
Safran Digital’s COO is Jake Zim who led digital marketing campaigns for 28 Weeks Later and The Hills Have Eyes during his stint as Fox Atomic’s vice president.
Peter Safran’s latest credits include Meet the Spartans and Over Her Dead Body.
As head of the Safran company, he intends to produce original scripted shows of varying genres from comedy to horror. The clips will run at approximately 10 minutes. (more…)
New York - An established group of doctors - many part of the same group that first exposed the risks associated with Vioxx - has published an austere warning on the cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia in the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to estimates, 4 million Americans currently take the drugs, accounting for $5 billion in sales last year alone for the pharmaceutical companies Merck (Vytorin) and Schering-Plough (Zetia).
“At the moment, no evidence exists to show that Vytorin and Zetia help patients…The drugs could even be harmful,” said Yale University cardiologist Dr. Harlan Krumholz.
The doctors involved with the study say that there is no evidence showing the drugs can slow the buildup of plaque in the arteries and in fact, may speed it up. (more…)
Los Angeles - While some news sources were reporting that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Married in New Orleans on Saturday, US Magazine is reporting the couple is still very much not married.
Pitt’s rep told OK! she had “no idea” if the news is true or not.
The hollywood hot couple said in 2006 that they would not be married until gay marriage was legalized.
Brad told Esquire magazine: “Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able.”
The couple told Vogue that marriage wasn’t important as they were legally bound to their children and that is what was important.
Pitt, 44 has been married once before to “Friends” star Jennifer Aniston. Jolie, 32 has been married twice already - to actor Billy Bob Thornton, and Jonny Lee Miller.
Los Angeles - Lindsay Lohan’s career might not be dead after all..
The actress has landed herself a killer role, having signed on to star in the upcoming flick Manson Girls.
Lohan will portray Nancy Pitman, a real-life story about a cult follower of killer Charles Manson.
Lindsay’s current film, Chapter 27, which has already been panned by critics, is set to open in limited release this weekend.
The film is being produced by Brad Wyman for Junction Films. Wyman previously produced “Monster,” the true story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos.
School Faces Heavy Criticism That They Treated Avenir Unfairly
Toronto- Following weeks of heavy back and forth charges the Toronto University that charged a student for academic misconduct in connection with a Facebook posting is finally breathing a sigh of relief.
Ryerson University dodged a heavy public relations bullet when the decided at the last minute not to expel student Chris Avenir for his posting on the Facebook Internet Web site. Avenir posted information that his college professor felt violated the schools academic honesty policy last fall.
The University finally ruled on March 18th that they would not be expelling Mr. Avenir but that his charge of academic misconduct would remain. This was seen as a hollow victory by some, but one that left many with negative feelings and impressions about the University as a whole.
Many in the student and academic communities insist that posting on a Facebook site, such as Mr. Avenir did, constitutes a method of sharing information in a open study format.
Critics say that preventing such open sharing and study will provide a chilling censorship to the academic community at large. Many academic groups have lined up behind Chris Avenir in support of his actions. The Ryerson University incident will slowly die out, but for now bad feelings remain on both sides regarding the incident.
Efforts On Both Sides Attempt To Avoid An April Union Strike
Toronto- After earlier talks ended in stalemate, the union and the Toronto Transit Commission are sitting down again to try and work out their differences. Both sides want to avoid an April Strike, and the resulting chaos that such a strike would cause.
A mediator has been meeting individually with both sides, and some of the major issues have seen an improvement, with both sides coming closer together in efforts to avoid a strike.
Earlier this week the Union got up and walked away from the negotiating table, citing inflexibility on the Transit Commissions part in regards to compensation for workers that are injured on the job. Union Sources referred to the compensation issue as “Fundamental,” and the issue is seen as something that has to be resolved by both sides in order to avert a potential strike.
Currently members of the Union who miss work after being injured receive only part of their pay, where Transit Commission employees who are not union members are paid their full pay for time off when injured.
The Local 113 Union for the Amalgamated Transit Union acts to represent more than 9,000 of the Transit Commission’s workers. The Toronto Transit Commission works to carry nearly 1.5 million passengers every day.
The last time a work stoppage occurred was in May 2006 when there was a one-day illegal walkout was held. There was a great deal of confusion and chaos, and it is estimated that the Transit Commission lost about 3 million dollars during the 2006 walkout.
Agency Announces Potential Links Are Being Investigated
Washington- The Food and Drug Agency has announced that it is investigating and evaluating the possible links between suicide, mood swings and the use of Singulair, also known as montelukast.
The Merck and Company, Inc makes singular.
Some patient who have been prescribed Singular to treat exercise induced Asthma, allergic rhinitis and asthma have reports wide mood swings, unpleasant thoughts and thoughts of suicide. This has greatly alarmed those in the medical community and has drawn the attention of the FDA in the issue.
Merck and Company has been working closely with the FDA to make adjustments to the printed warnings that are given to consumers who receive the drug prescription. In the most recent changes warning for anxiousness, tremor, depression and possible suicidal thoughts have been added to the written included warnings. (more…)
Toronto - The Toronto Maple Leafs have missed the post-season for the third consecutive year following a 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night. This also brings to 41, the years since Toronto last won the Stanley Cup.
The Leafs haven’t missed three consecutive playoffs since the St. Pats became the Maple Leafs under new owner Conn Smythe. The years were 1926-28.
On the streets of Toronto, a number of fans tell CFRB News that something has to be done, perhaps even firing head coach Paul Maurice.
The familiar message from most fans that spoke with CFRB News is “maybe next year.”