The South Bayview Bulldog

Lake Geneva​ Fire Department in WI reported that 15 cars fell through the ice during the #Winterfest celebration. pic.twitter.com/QCRc8BCzLN

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) February 7, 2016

In Wisconsin, as many as 15 cars crashed through the ice of Lake Geneva Saturday as their drivers and families attended a Winterfest event on the shore which featured the national snowsculpting contest. Luckily no one was hurt or even soaked. It happened about 2 p.m. as the sun warmed the ice. There was a mighty crack heard and cars sank into the lake.

The Italian actor who accidentally hanged himself on stage during a performance has been declared brain dead by doctors.  Raphael Schumacher, 27, was appearing in Mirages, an experimental theatre production staged in Pisa when the incident occurred. Doctors said Friday that the 27-year-old is now clinically dead, after spending nearly a week in a coma. Mailonline

No one will ever know exactly what was in the minds of the fathers of Confederation when they decided to create a separate school system for the Catholic church. But nearly 150 years later this quite unusual arrangement continues to be an issue. The linked Canadian Press story tells of how the topic arrived at the very top of an online budget survey sponsored by the Ontario Government. Then, suddenly, it sank to last place — 1715th. Previously aghast MPPs were much relieved see this lump this political gelignite descend softly to the bottom of the ocean. .

Carolyn Ireland writes in chapter and verse form about the dwelling structure at 514 St.Clair Ave. E. That’s the ravine acre that lies at the corner of Harper Ave. and St. Clair in deepest Moore Park. The South Bayview Bulldog tipped you to this property in September when it was listed for $10 million. Now the official asking is $8.8 million. Make an offer. $10 million asking for secret place at the foot of  St Clair E.  Carolyn Ireland, Globe and Mail

The Real Jerk is close to South Bayview in miles and a lot further away in other respects. But the Gerrard St restaurant was focus central as Drake and Rihanna shot a music video there.. The video is said to be for Rihanna’s new single titled “Work.” Courtesy CBC here is the restaurant’s owner who was of course floored by the event.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. CBS, which is originating the game, has programming running all day from noon until well after the actual contest.  SB Nation  All leads 

Critic Martin Morrow has written favorably about a production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale by the Groundling Theatre Company.  It is being presented now through to February 20, 2016 at the Coal Mine Theatre at 1454 Danforth Avenue east of Monarch Park Ave. Morrow says in his review that the small theatre reminds him of the 487-seat Tom Patterson Theatre at Stratford and that the production “is packed with current Stratford stars and Stratford alumni”. A groundling incidentally is a spectator or reader of inferior taste, such as a member of a theater audience who traditionally stood in the pit below the stage.

Teenage twin brothers, 17, died after using their own sled to go down a bobsled track after hours at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. The two seventeen-year-olds crashed into a large gate used to separate the luge and bobsled tracks, police said. Mailonline 

Leaside Wildcats fell 3-2 before the Stoney Creek Sabres Saturday in Stoney Creek. The winning goal came 48 seconds into an overtime period on the continuation of a power play that started in the third period. The game was a penalty fest with each team accumulating mega-time in the box — Leaside had 20 minutes and Stoney Creek 18. Today’s late season action leaves Leaside in second place in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League behind Durham West.  Leaside now has played more games than any other team in the league, owning 34 to Durham West’s 32. Today’s loss is tough for the Wildcats because they had gone goal for goal against the Sabres through three periods. Kristin Della Rovere scored in the first with help from Megan Pardy and Mariah Hinds. Megan Pardy scored the second Leaside goal on a power play in the third period. Assists came from Alex Woods and Della Rovere. The Sabres outshot the Wildcats 28 to 25, not bad for a team in 13th place. Katie Mowbray took the loss in goal. Tuesday night Leaside will face the league-leading Durham West Lightning in Ajax. A big one.

As their big brothers go man on man on ice at Leaside Gardens, these young guys are engaged in other contests. Here in a passageway of the Bert F.Grant ice pad they are employing plastic balloon sticks to wallop each other harmlessly.  The balloons are provided by Scotiabank — the senior sponsor of Select Hocky Tournament. May the bank — and its money — be with you.

Once again the media is shocked to find that in Saudi Arabia (and other parts of Arabia by the way) women are treated like non-persons. They were recently banned from the Starbucks in Riyadh because the gender separation partition had fallen down during renovations. The media just can’t believe it. This follows a similarly surprised response from Premier Wynne (Like Holy Cow really?) when it was learned that certain Ontario Colleges had opened campuses in Saudi for men only. Yes it is all stupid and abhorrent but surprising? Where have people been living? This is  how  they do things there. Like Geico, it’s what they do.