Sip and Spill Blog

20220513

Why does Trudeau go maskless overseas (but not in Canada)?

The two events pictured were only two days apart. The masked one on the left is in a community with an 84 per cent rate of full vaccination among residents 12 or older. The maskless one on the right is in a country where rates of full vaccination have never topped 50 per cent. PHOTO BY REUTERS CARLOS OSORIO/OLEKSANDR MARKUSHYN TELEGRAM CHANNEL

On May 8, the prime minister was in Ukraine, a country that saw only 45 per cent of its adult population fully vaccinated on the eve of the Russian invasion. There were hugs with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, handshakes with Ukrainian officials and tightly packed indoor press events. In not one image can Trudeau be seen wearing a mask.

Compare that to two days prior, when Trudeau visited Hamilton, Ont. for a photo op with recently arrived Afghan refugees.

Of Hamiltonians over the age of 12, 84.4 per cent are “fully vaccinated.” At the time Trudeau visited, everything from hospital admissions to case rates to wastewater data showed that the city’s COVID rates were in steep decline. What’s more, Trudeau has himself received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. He also has natural immunity from a COVID-19 infection in January.

https://torontosun.com/news/canada/first-reading-why-does-trudeau-go-maskless-overseas-but-not-in-canada

Court upholds arbitration order to rehire TTC driver who ran over teen

Amaria Diljohn, 14, was killed when she was run over by a TTC bus at Finch Ave. E. and Neilson Rd. on Dec. 20, 2014. Facebook

It was about 5:30 p.m. just a few days before Christmas 2014. Amaria Diljohn-Williams was the only passenger to get off Shergill’s northbound 133 Neilson bus. As she was crossing on the green light, he turned right on to Finch Ave. E., running over the girl and killing her almost instantly.

Known and loved as “Momo,” she was remembered as a popular student at Woburn Collegiate where she sang in the school choir. Her death was tragic, but what made it even more disturbing was that poor girl was left behind to die on the dark, rainy street.

Shergill was originally charged with careless driving causing death and failing to remain at the scene. In 2016, a judge dropped the criminal charges against him at a preliminary hearing, finding no evidence the driver knew he’d hit Amaria.

Following an acquittal under the Highway Traffic Act and then a Crown appeal, Shergill was eventually found guilty of careless driving under the HTA in January 2020.

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/mandel-court-upholds-arbitration-order-to-rehire-ttc-driver-who-ran-over-teen?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Toronto%20Sun%20Daily%20Headlines%202022-05-13&utm_term=TORSUN_HeadlineNews

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She is seeking $1 million in damages plus legal costs.

Al-Balushi suffered several broken ribs, neck and back pain, and bruising of much of her upper body.

She quit her job three weeks before the incident and took on a new role.

As she is still in a probationary period in her new job, she’s recovering from her injuries without any access to benefits.

She doesn’t own a car and continues to take the TTC as she recovers from her injuries.

“Shamsa’s continued reliance on the TTC has substantially contributed to the deterioration of her mental health since the incident,” her lawyers argue.

Neither of Al-Balushi’s lawyers responded to requests by CP24 to comment about the matter on Thursday.

None of her allegations have been tested in court.

For its part, the TTC declined to speak on the matter Thursday, with a spokesperson telling CP24 it does not “comment on ongoing legal matters.”

A Toronto woman who was pushed onto the tracks of a busy subway station last month is suing the TTC, arguing not enough was done to prevent her from being shoved off the platform and first responders were unnecessarily delayed in rescuing her.

Shamsa Al-Balushi is arguing the TTC did not “implement sufficient safety protocols on the subway platform,” according to a statement of claim filed Wednesday, and did not order an incoming train to stop in time to prevent it from trapping her in a crawlspace adjacent to the rails.

She is seeking $1 million in damages plus legal costs.

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/woman-pushed-onto-tracks-at-bloor-yonge-station-sues-ttc-for-1-million-1.5900839

Suspect arrested in Sunday's pushing incident at Bloor-Yonge station

Canada will host Iran in a men's soccer friendly on June 5 in Vancouver.

The Canadians topped the final round of CONCACAF qualifying with an 8-2-4 record. Their last game was a 1-0 loss in Panama on March 30.

Canada has a 1-2-0 all-time record against Iran, winning the most recent encounter 1-0 in April 2001 in Cairo. Iran posted 1-0 wins in 1997 and 1999 games in Toronto and Edmonton, respectively.

1 of few World Cup warmups

The Iran fixture is one of the few World Cup warmups for John Herdman's team in advance of Qatar. Herdman has said he will look to take the team to Europe in the fall to play several more matches to prepare for Qatar.

The Canadian men have played just two non-CONCACAF teams since Herdman took over in January 2018 — a 1-0 loss to Iceland in January 2020 and a 1-0 win over New Zealand in March 2018 in Herdman's first game at the helm.

Herdman's record with the Canadian men is 29-8-4 with the only losses to the U.S. (twice), Mexico (twice), Haiti, Iceland, Costa Rica and Panama.

Canada opens World Cup play Nov. 23 against No. 2 Belgium before facing No. 16 Croatia on Nov. 27 and No. 24 Morocco on Dec. 1.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/soccer-canada-men-friendly-iran-1.6450735

'My favorite look [from the shoot] was the pink African print. Honestly, whatever I wear on the wedding day will probably be African print. It might have a little white, so it looks like a wedding dress, but it's definitely going to be colorful.'

Gabourey Sidibe talked about her plans to walk down the aisle with fiancé Brandon Frankel in a rare interview, which detailed her desire for an unorthodox ceremony with no bridesmaids and a wedding gown that is not white.

As 39-year-old Academy Award nominee gave Brides readers a heads up on what to expect when she ultimately ties the knot in spring 2023, the bride-to-be gushed that she wants her big day to be 'fun' and a 'true party.'

'It cannot be a traditional wedding. Really, it can't be. I don't want anything done the traditional way,' she stressed to the magazine while appearing on their latest cover. 'I'm super against tradition. I definitely don't need a white dress.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10806491/Gabourey-Sidibe-reveals-does-not-plan-traditional-bride-weds-Brandon-Frankel.html

Kendrick Lamar’s new album cover

In April, Lamar announced that he would be releasing his first solo record in five years after a fan jokingly accused him of quitting music. The highly anticipated album, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” arrives Friday.

It’s been half a decade since Lamar released his last solo studio effort, “Damn.,” which received five Grammy Awards, including for rap song and rap album. The acclaimed collection was also nominated for album of the year, while the hit single “Humble.” competed for record of the year.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-05-12/kendrick-lamar-new-album-cover-baby-child

Actor Andy Dick arrested for felony sexual battery

Comedian Andy Dick was arrested Wednesday at a campground in Orange County, California, on suspicion of sexual battery, authorities said.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded to O’Neill Regional Park around 9 a.m. after the adult male victim called authorities about a possible sexual assault, said Sgt. Scott Steinle, a sheriff’s spokesman.

Dick, 56, was arrested on suspicion of felony sexual battery, Steinle said.

The sheriff’s department would not provide more details about the nature of the allegations.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office had not received the case Wednesday and has not made a charging decision, spokeswoman Kimberly Edds said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/comedian-andy-dick-arrested-suspicion-sexual-battery-california-rcna28449