Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Schadenford's Tuesday AM presser revealed

TRAWNA – (GOSH  News Services) -- At a Media presser called for
this morning by disgraced Mayor Schadenford of Etobicoke, the following
exchange happened. It was recorded by writer Stuart Wade (our apologies
for rewriting his masterpiece):
 
A dozen reporters crowded into the cramped space. At the rear of the
media horde were several television cameras, with TV lights shining
across to illuminate Schadenford, the disgraced Mayor Of Etobicoke.
He stood behind a microphone-strewn lectern to address the media.
 
Schadenford:  "We all know that there's a specific piece of
information in question here. And with regard to it, let me first state
that I know you all would like for me to say what we all think I'm
coming before you to say. I would like to make it very clear, however,
that I do not intend to say it. In addition, I will neither confirm nor
deny it. So now that we all understand each other, are there any
questions?"
 
Brett Grimsby of GOSH News Services: "Will you say what we want
you to say?"
 
Schadenford: "Not exactly as you would have me say it. [pointing to a scrum survivor]
Yes -- over there?"
 
Survivor: "Is the thing we all want you to say, in fact, true?"
 
Schadenford: "I'm not saying whether it is or it isn't. It would be
premature to judge that."
 
Grimsby: "A supplemental: since you're not saying the precise thing we
all want you to say, will you say it, but in a slightly different way?"
 
Schadenford: "You mean in a way that would have the same meaning as the way
you would all want me to say it?"
 
Grimsby: "That is correct."
 
Schadenford: "I'm not prepared at this time to do that. [made eye contact
with the Ontario Review Writer] Yes?"
 
ORW: "If you won't say what we all would like you to say, or if you
won't say it in a slightly different way, will you at least say one or
a couple of parts of what we all want you to say?"
 
Schadenford: "If there is a situation where that would become prudent for
me to say part or parts of what you all want me to say, I would, yes.
But now is not the time."
 
Grimsby: "When will it be time?"
 
Schadenford: "I don't know the answer to that. I want to add something at
this point, before we continue. There are some people involved behind
the scenes with this thing who deserve to be recognized for all their
hard work. This thing has been a team effort all the way, and thanks to
them, a real win-win situation as well. [pointed to ORW] Yes, go ahead."
 
ORW: "This information that we all want you to disclose -- might one of
us be able to trick you into divulging what we all want you to say?"
 
Schadenford: "If I am slow-witted at that moment, or if I'm not being too
careful in choosing my words right then, and if one of you people
displays extremely shrewd questioning skills, then yes, it is possible.
Of course, I may even flip-flop into a drunken stupor as I have done in the past, so don't
take me at my word. [eyes shielded from the glare of the lights] Yes --
all the way in the back there...you, Miss."
 
Woman: "I think I know the information we all want you to say but that
you aren't saying, and here it is [she says something inaudible about a
soft drink video, maybe she needs a Coke?]. Isn't that right?"
 
Schadenford: [angrily reaching for a soft drink, holding it up] "Do you
expect me to answer that? Next question."
 
Grimsby: "When can we expect you to say what we all want you to say?"
 
McGinty: "Relatively soon."
 
ORW: "Can you be more specific?"
 
Schadenford: "Well, we are expediting this process so I would imagine
sooner than you might think, but I don't want to mislead any of you as
to exactly when. Yes, you in front…"
 
GOSH Reporter: "I heard some experts giving their opinions about the
information we all want you to say. Can you respond to these expert
comments?"
 
Schadenford: "Well, I can't speculate on others' comments. And, I'm not an
expert. [looked over to media who are twittering] I have time for one
more question. In the middle there, yes -- you sir?" [pointed to
bearded man standing in center of group].
 
Beard: "Does the fact that I might have to ask the correct question have anything to do with your
unwillingness to be specific?"
 
The media conference immediately dissolves into noisy chaos.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

pussy

"(The document) says that that I wanted to eat her pussy. I've never said that in my life to her, I would never do that," Ford said. "I'm happily married and have enough to eat at home."

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Major protest Nov 6 and 13 Noon at NP Square, attend if you can.

Just one more nasty story in the Ford Caper --
 
Subject: Rob Ford's Office Hired a Hacker to Destroy the Crack Tape | VICE Canada

 
All of this nonsense is distracting -- it is time Ford Must Go Away so we can get on with the business of Toronto.
 
Make a sign for the protest, e.g. Ford: Please Resign To Go Away
 

Save Toronto: Nov 6 and 13, NP square, noon

 
http://savetoronto.ca/

Ford -- list the correct questions...

OMG -- how much worse can it get?   Whoops, will Schadenford come out of the closet???????
 
"So, I wasn't lying. You didn't ask the correct questions,"
---Rob Ford, disgraced Mayor of Toronto, world class city...

Thursday, October 31, 2013

New developments????

 
 
Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So let's sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again
 
Altogether shout it now
There's no one
Who can doubt it now
So let's tell the world about it now
Happy days are here again
Your cares and troubles are gone
There'll be no more from now on
From now on...
Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So, Let's sing a song of cheer again

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Mayor Schadenford and Federal Money

TRAWNA -- (GOSH News Services) -- The Foxy Wine News Network North has just learned that the amount of money from the Harpy Federal Government for the eastern extension of subway construction through to Sheppard Avenue was misstated.
 
It was originally to be $600 million, but then the announcement proper said it was $660 million. This morning, a further correction was appended by the Ministry of Satanic Devices: the corrected figure is actually $666 million, to be paid in 13 annual installments.
 
And once the curse of the divisionary Downtown Relief Line has been lifted, it is expected that this $666 million will be matched by the City of Toronto, under its new Mayor, Dean Fred Tudor in 2015, thus allowing completion to the Zoo for Political Animals.
 
Stay tuned for further developments...

Saturday, August 10, 2013

City of Toronto to call for volunteer drivers...

TRAWNA – (GOSH WIRE NEWS SERVICES) – In a stunning announcement said to be made after noon Sunday (or possibly Monday after the TSX has closed) the City of Toronto will be requesting unpaid volunteer drivers to escort Mayor Schadenford within the city boundaries. This is in response to his stated preference while at Taste of the Danforth: "I'm not driving. I'm not driving. I'm not driving." ....

 

Top investigative reporter Brett Grimsby has been following this story for days now, and he files his report based on several interviews with Miffed Mole, the collective name for our sources who are familiar with the situation, and who spoke to him on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge details while they were very close to the centre of discussions and while the matter under consideration had not yet been finalized or announced to the public. While the decisions may or may not have been finalized internally, and while an announcement on the matter may or may not be imminent, possibly within the next day or two, that specific timeline is not really known. Sources should not be held responsible for the speculative and/or playful treatment of their research and/or disclosures.

 

Grimsby has learned that the volunteer drivers must own their own SUV, and be available for a 24/7 routine. Drivers will work no more than 4 hour shifts.

 

Certain protocols would be laid down:

 

-there must be no talking to the Mayor unless he talks first (his responses to the GPS voice do not count);

-the only topics for discussion are football and garbage collecting (mention of public transit will be grounds for instant dismissal);

-all the rules of the road must be observed (but drivers may turn over the pages of the Mayor's reports while idling at intersections).

 

 

For his part, the Mayor will donate his SUV to a school football charity.

 

A special vetting team has been assembled to check out the volunteer drivers. Perks for volunteer drivers will include a free tour of City Hall, a special seat at Council meetings, and a mask to use while driving.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Schadenford plunges like Icarus...

Headline in Globe July 17/13, pA4: "PMO memo asking for enemies list creates new furor"

Headline in Globe July 17/13, pA8: "More transit uproar at council"

Headline in Globe July 17/13, pA8: "With goal line so near, Rob Ford stumbles and fumbles" [Marcus Gee]

Shelley Carroll tweets (July 16): "The mayor just learned for the first time that the LRT is not on a road."

TRAWNA (GOSH News Services) -- The Foxy Wine News Network North today has learned that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford (aka Schadenford by friends and foe alike) has had his name entered into the Harper Government's frenemy list.

Top investigative reporter Brett Grimsby, who has been following the story, files this report:

"Foxy, the PMO had decided on a disruptive strategy for Rob Ford, the sometime-onetime Mayor of Toronto. The strategy is Project Obfuscation, and the word was deliberately chosen by the Secretary of the PMO because neither Schadenford nor his brother would know what the term means.

"The policy of obfuscation is deliberate, much like Project Traveller which sought out videos of fellow travellers and users. It doesn't take much to set off Schadenford, and the PMO went after him in that manner. While federal money is available for municipal infrastructure, there is no real indication that money is available for subways or for LRTs. Subways if necesaary, but not necessarily subways, and only after the Sheppard LRT issue is dead. Minister Flaherty encouraged Schadenford to rip out roads for the LRT, but only if necessary. At Tuesday's Toronto Council meeting someone showed a map to Schadenford, showing that the LRT is not on a street."

More on this story as it develops...

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Google Alert - "rob ford"

Hey -- do you see any POSITIVE headlines here?   I thought not...
News 10 new results for "rob ford"
 
Mayor Rob Ford says he knows little of police raids
Toronto Star
"I have nothing to hide," Mayor Rob Ford told reporters at City Hall after Police Chief Bill Blair refused to say if a massive guns and drug trafficking probe involves Ford or anyone in his office. Ford made the comments Thursday as he made his way ...
See all stories on this topic »
Rob Ford knew men in photo, Toronto police sources say
CBC.ca
Toronto investigators knew about an ongoing relationship between Mayor Rob Ford and the men he's seen posing with in a widely publicized photograph that has ties to his alleged drug use, police sources tell CBC News. Four of the Toronto suspects ...
See all stories on this topic »
Toronto ombudsman: Rob Ford got TCHC facts wrong while angrily defending ...
Toronto Star
Mayor Rob Ford says he disagrees with "many things" in the ombudsman's report on the Toronto Community Housing Corp.'s mistreatment of seniors with unpaid rent — though he does not appear to be familiar with much of what the report says. Ford reverted ...
See all stories on this topic »
Mayor Rob Ford votes against funding Pride, TIFF, symphony
Toronto Star
Mayor Rob Ford was one of only three members of council to vote Thursday against giving city money to Pride, the Toronto International Film Festival, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and other major cultural organizations. The annual grants, totaling about ...
See all stories on this topic »
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on police raids: 'I have nothing to hide'
Globe and Mail
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he knows nothing about the early morning police raids that centred on an apartment complex in Rexdale linked to the alleged video that purportedly shows him smoking crack. Mr. Ford, who usually rushes past the press outside ...
See all stories on this topic »
Rob Ford not told of major drug raids
NOW Magazine
Mayor Rob Ford was not informed of a massive police raid that targeted an Etobicoke apartment complex linked to the drug allegations against him. According to media reports, early Thursday morning 100 officers from several different police forces ...
See all stories on this topic »
Connecting dots: Rob Ford, 15 Windsor Rd., the photo and the alleged video
Macleans.ca
It was less a story than a trove of scenes, random and surreal. Toronto's hulk of a mayor, smoking what appeared to be crack—or so said three journalists who reported watching video footage of Rob Ford huffing on a tell-tale glass pipe. There was a ...
See all stories on this topic »
Rob Ford denies any knowledge of raids at apartment complex linked to crack ...
CANOE
TORONTO — Mayor Rob Ford says he doesn't know anything about Thursday morning's massive Toronto Police bust. Project Traveller included dozens of raids across the Toronto area, included a building tied to crack cocaine allegations against Ford.
See all stories on this topic »
Questions about Mayor Rob Ford overshadow news of huge police raids
Edmonton Journal
TORONTO - A massive police operation targeting suspected drug and gun traffickers was overshadowed Thursday by questions about a possible link between the early-morning raids in Toronto and Mayor Rob Ford's alleged "crack video." Targets around the ...
See all stories on this topic »
Apartment linked to alleged Rob Ford video among targets in Ontario drug sweep
Calgary Herald
One of the buildings is the same one where an alleged video that appeared to show Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine was reported to be located. The Toronto Star had said Ford gave his senior aides the address of two 17th-floor units after the ...
See all stories on this topic »

Blogs 3 new results for "rob ford"
 
Police Raid Rob Ford Crack Video Complex - Business Insider
By Josh Barro
Toronto and Ontario police forces launched a massive raid on an apartment complex linked to the Rob Ford crack video scandal early Thursday morning, reports the Toronto Star. It's the same complex where two reporters from the Star say ...
Business Insider
Toronto Police investigating alleged crack video linked to Rob Ford ...
CTV News has learned that Toronto police were investigating the existence of an alleged video involving Toronto's Mayor Rob Ford several weeks before the story first appeared in the Toronto Star.
CTVNews.ca - Top Stories - Public RSS
43 arrests at apartment complex linked to Rob Ford crack scandal ...
Hundreds of cops burst through dozens of doors and made 28 arrests in simultaneous pre-dawn raids Thursday, including at a west-end apartment complex linked to the Rob Ford crack cocaine scandal.
Top Home stories

Web 1 new result for "rob ford"
 
Rob Ford seen in 'animated' conversation with brother, chief of staff ...
Mayor Rob Ford on a hot green roof had the attention of media covering Wednesday's council meeting.
www.torontosun.com/.../rob-ford-seen-in-animated-conversati...


.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Google Alert - "rob ford" Monday June 10/13

Yer latest on the greatest...Too much for me to handle anymore...
 

News 8 new results for "rob ford"
 
Rob Ford boots last woman off executive committee
Toronto Star
Mayor Rob Ford has an all-male executive committee after a Monday leadership shuffle in which he demoted two councillors who have challenged him over his alleged substance use. Ford ousted the only woman on the powerful 13-member committee, ...
See all stories on this topic »
Rob Ford uses weekly radio show to praise eight new staff members, but fails ...
National Post
The Ford brothers made no mention of recent allegations against the mayor during their weekly radio show Sunday. Councillor Doug Ford and Mayor Rob Ford instead talked about city transit, the upcoming Ford family barbeque and removal of graffiti from ...
See all stories on this topic »
Rob Ford wins partial costs in wake of failed libel suit
Toronto Star
A judge has ordered Boardwalk Pub restaurateur George Foulidis to pay Mayor Rob Ford and a failed council candidate more than $160,000 in legal costs related to a failed $6-million libel suit. Ontario Superior Court Justice John Macdonald, however, ...
See all stories on this topic »
Rob Ford opens Sherbourne bike lanes
NOW Magazine
At a rainy ceremony next to Allen Gardens on Monday, Mayor Rob Ford cut the ribbon on Toronto's first separated bike lanes. Construction of the Sherbourne Street cycle tracks was completed last December but the city only put the finishing touches on ...
See all stories on this topic »
Mayor Rob Ford shuffles his executive committee
Toronto Sun
A day before city council meets, Mayor Rob Ford has shaken up his executive committee. In a statement released Monday, Ford formally turfed Councillor Jaye Robinson from his inner circle of councillors. "I want to thank Councillor Jaye Robinson … for ...
See all stories on this topic »
Rob Ford ousts sole female exec member
NOW Magazine
Mayor Rob Ford has shuffled his executive committee, booting one councillor who recently called on him to take a temporary leave, and demoting another who went public with allegations that he was intoxicated in public. In a statement released late ...
See all stories on this topic »
Councillor critical of Rob Ford over drug allegations is off executive committee
Globe and Mail
Councillor Jaye Robinson, who has called for Mayor Rob Ford to temporarily step aside while he deals with allegations he was caught on video using crack cocaine, is off his cabinet-like executive committee. The mayor's office announced Monday that ...
See all stories on this topic »
How Justin Trudeau Boosted Rob Ford's Chances of Re-Election
Huffington Post Canada
In the past, I have not written positive things in the Huffington Post about Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. But I must publicly commend Trudeau for his proposal to bring greater transparency and accountability to the Canadian taxpayers and voters ...
See all stories on this topic »

Blogs 2 new results for "rob ford"
 
The Rob Ford Radio Recap: Free Verse | politics | Torontoist
By David Hains
Rob and Doug Ford in the studio. Photo courtesy of Newstalk 1010. It's another Rob and Doug Ford radio show! Last week, we learned about someone falling off.
Torontoist
The Millions : When Life Gives You Rob Ford, What More Do You ...
By Nick Moran
PSA: Little Brother is releasing a special issue entitled Everything Is Fine. The kicker? The issue is dedicated to fiction about embattled Toronto mayor Rob Ford. (P.S. If you aren't familiar with LB, it's the magazine run by Millions Tumblr-er ...
The Millions




 

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Promising hit?


 

2014 Job Action

"Would you like fries with that?" - Rob Ford, 2014.

 

Re: Closing in...

2 more staffers just resigned! 5 in past week!
Please note change of email address: joe.bornstein@healthinnovationsgroup.ca

416 356 1874

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

From: "Dean Tudor, Wine Writer" <dtudor@pathcom.com>
Date: Thu, 30 May 2013 11:53:24 -0400
To: blog5<dtudor2.fredformayor@blogger.com>
Subject: Closing in...

 
-------------------------------------
 
 

Closing in...

 
-------------------------------------
 
 

ENDGAME...CHECK... Mayor Ford said he knew where video was, sources say | Toronto Star

 
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/05/30/rob_ford_video_scandal_mayor_ford_said_he_knew_where_video_was_sources_say.html

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Endgame?

Home»News»Local»Ford better wake up and get healthy or he'll die, source tells Maclean's
Maclean's June 10 cover, released May 30, 2013
Ford better wake up and get healthy or he'll die, source tells Maclean's
 
Yet another anonymous source spoke to a Canadian publication about Rob Ford, saying Toronto's mayor better wake up and get healthy or he's going to die.
 
Ford is on the front cover of the latest Maclean's Magazine that will hit newsstands on Thursday.
 
Maclean's reporter Nicholas Kohler said he spoke to someone who used to be a key member of the Ford team.
 
The source is concerned that if the mayor does not resign, things will end badly.
 
"We don't want to wake up in a week and find him dead in a ditch knowing we could have done something stop this," the source said to Maclean's.
 
"This person thinks that the pressures of the office have become overwhelming for the mayor," Kohler explained.
 
"That's why this person sees the choices so stark — the mayor either resigns or is found 'dead in a ditch one day.'"
 
The source goes on to say that the recent departures from Ford's office are either out of concern over Ford's health and alleged substance-abuse issues or out of fear that the staffers will be seen as enablers.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The emerging Ford drama, in chronological order - The GridTO

The story so far --
 
From THE GRID
 
Tue May 28, 2013
The emerging Ford drama, in chronological order
BY: The Keenan Wire
 
BY EDWARD KEENAN
 
The churn of news comes fast here in Fordlandia. It's hard to even keep track of what each development means. So let's try to process some of the recent news by putting events of recent months that have been reported in chronological order, to track the emerging narrative. This account is based on multiple media sources, many of which offer accounts from anonymous sources—many have been directly denied by the Ford brothers. But if the reports are to be considered accurate, this is the story as it has played out so far:
 
March 7: Former mayoral candidate and small-time magazine publisher Sarah Thomson claimed on her Facebook page that Mayor Rob Ford groped her and made inappropriate comments to her at a public party. Ford strongly denied the charge. In the ensuing media blitz, Thomson said the mayor was "out of it" and appeared to be under the influence of something, though he did not smell of alcohol. She publicly suggested he might have been on cocaine.
 
 
 
March 26: The Star reported—citing city executive committee memeber Paul Ainslie and other unidentified sources—that the mayor was asked to leave the Garrison Ball, a public event, because he appeared too intoxicated. The mayor strenuously denied this. The report also said that members of the mayor's staff are concerned he has a substance-abuse problem of some kind, perhaps a drinking problem, and will not listen to their pleas to deal with it. The mayor denied he has a problem, and his brother Doug went on the offensive, telling the press he has hardly ever seen Rob take a drink.
 
Some time before March 28: Rob Ford was photographed with Anthony Smith, Muhammad Khattak, and another young man. In the photo, the mayor is wearing a track suit, and Smith is holding what appears to be a bottle of booze and giving the finger to the camera. Also, at some unknown time likely before May 3, 2013 and after December 2012, a video was shot that reporters at Gawker and the Toronto Star claim appears to show Rob Ford smoking from a crack pipe and making comments that seem to denigrate Justin Trudeau, homosexuals, and the visible minority players on the high-school football team he coaches.
 
 March 28: Anthony Smith was gunned down outside a downtown nightclub, apparently in a targeted killing. Muhammad Khattak was also shot in the incident, hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. A suspect turned himself in at the request of the police, but claimed to know nothing about the killing or about the two men shot. "I'm innocent," the Star reported him saying. "I don't know these guys … I don't know why I'm here."
 

April 3: Rob Ford's office hired Dave Price—who according to the Toronto Sun's Don Peat, is Rob Ford's own former football coach. No one, including the mayor and Price himself, would specify exactly what duties the new "Director of Logistics and Operations" had been hired to perform, or what qualified him for the job. Of the hiring, Doug Ford told the Globe and Mail's Elizabeth Church, "You can't teach loyalty." The Globe later reported that Doug Ford and Dave Price were "business partners" in high school dealing hashish to other drug dealers. The report quotes an anonymous self-proclaimed former "large-scale" drug supplier as saying Price is "Dougie's close ally." (Doug Ford has vigorously and categorically denied the Globe's report and says he never, ever, dealt hash.)
 
 
May 16: Shortly after 8 p.m., Gawker published allegations that they viewed a video appearing to show the mayor smoking crack. Those who showed the video to Gawker editor John Cook, he reported, want a six-figure sum to give it to him. He said those selling the video sent him the photo of Ford with the murdered Anthony Smith and with Muhammad Khattak as evidence the mayor was associated with a murder victim. Hours later, the Toronto Star published a report that two of their reporters had viewed the video on May 3, and generally confirmed the details of what the video seems to portray. The Star had been sent the same photo of the mayor and Smith, for the same reason.
 
 
 
May 17: At City Hall, the Star reports (firming up an earlier report from the Globe and filled in later with more details by another Globe report), Ford's chief of staff Mark Towhey convened a huddle to discuss the explosive story. He dispatched Dave Price to Ford's home to help him out. Some time later, he was distressed to hear that Price instead went to the home of Ford's mother, where the family often meets. According to the Star, Price told Towhey "not to worry." Later, Rob Ford emerged from his own house, told reporters the allegations of a crack video are "ridiculous," and then drove a few feet before stopping to talk to Price, who was now standing at the side of the street. Ford drove to the gas station at the end of the street, where Price again stepped forward to get between reporters and the mayor.
 

At City Hall, where the mayor was scheduled to raise the rainbow flag to mark the international day against homophobia, Rob Ford's senior staff huddled with the mayor (according to the Sun among other reports.) They laid out several options for him: If the allegations were true, he could go to rehab and staff would issue a statement after he was on a plane. If not, he could state plainly that the allegations were false. Apparently, three options were presented, and the mayor chose the "fourth option"—deciding not to say anything. Towhey reportedly cleared the room so that it was just him and the mayor, and he urged the mayor to seek treatment for his apparent personal problems. The mayor declined. According to the Globe, both Doug and Rob Ford insisted to Towhey that the video did not exist.
 
Ford stepped out in front of the assembled reporters outside his office, made a brief, two-sentence statement saying that the allegations were "ridiculous" and that it was another instance of the Star going after him and, without taking questions, went to attend the flag-raising ceremony.
 
Later that day, according to the Star and the Globe, Price approached Towhey in the presence of two other senior staffers and asked "hypothetically" what they should do if they'd been tipped off to the location of the video. Towhey said in that case they should go to the police. Price asked, what if the original owner of the video had been shot for it? He said he had information claiming that's what happened to Anthony Smith. Towhey reportedly instructed Price not to seek out the video and said that he would be calling the police. Price gave Towhey the address and apartment number on Dixon Road where he'd been told the video was being stored.
 
 
 
May 18: Both Ford brothers stayed away from the press. They cancelled their scheduled appearance on Newstalk 1010 for the next day. Towhey, meanwhile, without telling Rob Ford, met with homicide investigators to inform them of his conversation with Price. That day or the next day, police took a statement from Price.
 
 
 
May 19: This was the last day, according to Gawker (which, by then, was trying to raise $200,000 through a crowd-funding scheme to buy the video) that the people trying to sell the video made contact with the middleman who was in touch with Gawker and the Star.
 
 
 
May 21: The Ford brothers continued to remain publicly silent about the video allegations, refusing to address them even as Ford showed up to a council meeting where plans he had long championed for a Toronto casino were voted down. Members of city council and media supporters of the Ford family began more urgently asking the mayor to address the allegations—his extended silence seemed more and more to be a response in itself.
 
On the same day, a man was shot and hospitalized at an apartment on Dixon Road—according to the Star, at the same building outside which its reporters had viewed the video.
 
 
 
May 22: The Toronto Catholic District School Board announced that it will no longer allow Ford to coach the high school team at Don Bosco, or anywhere else in the system. According to a report in the Star, Ford tried to tell Towhey to go to the school and retrieve thousands of dollars of equipment he had donated. Towhey refused.
 
Doug Ford came out to address the media, saying he loves his brother and believes him when he says all the allegations of a video are false, and then launched into a long stump speech about the Ford administration's claimed victories. He refused to take questions, and was chased by the media.
 
Later that day, on the phone, Towhey allegedly urged Ford to go to rehab, saying, "you need to go away and deal with your problem." Ford screamed and yelled and said, according to the Sun, "if that's all you got for me, then you might as well leave and not come back."
 
 
 
May 23: Under the impression the firing was a passing temper tantrum, Towhey showed up to work, where the growing crowd of reporters continued to clamour for a statement from Ford. According to the Star, Ford asked Towhey to get the office staff to help organize a pizza party for the players and coaches from the Bosco team, and Towhey refused (accounts in the National Post and the Sun, this may have been part of the previous night's telephone conversation). Towhey was formally fired, and was escorted out of City Hall by security, stopping only to tell reporters he was no longer the chief of staff, he had not resigned, and the advice he gave to the mayor was confidential. That evening, members of the mayor's staff leaked details of the incident to the press.
 
 
 
May 24: Rob Ford finally addressed the media, saying, "I do not do crack cocaine, nor am I addicted to crack cocaine." He said he could not comment on a video that he has not seen "or does not exist." According to former Ford press secretary Adrienne Batra—now an editor with the Toronto Sun—the statement was written largely by the Ford family and was barely recognizable to his staff.
 
 
 
May 25: The Globe published its allegations about Doug Ford's youthful alleged drug-dealing activities, including allegations of involvement with Dave Price. Doug Ford hit the media circuit—quickly and energetically—claiming the story was absolutely false, that the whole thing was part of a conspiracy by elites who oppose the Fords' political program. He threatened to dig up information aboutGlobe editor John Stackhouse, and then alleged that members of the media are the ones using cocaine, before definitively stating that the Rob Ford crack video does not exist.
 
 
 
May 26: On his Newstalk 1010 show, Rob Ford said flatly that the video did not exist, and called the members of the press "maggots." He left the show early to attend his daughter's first communion.
 
May 27: Rob Ford's press secretary George Christopoulos and deputy press secretary Isaac Ransom resigned quietly and left the building before Ford arrived. The two reportedly resigned "on principle" because of the mayor's statement on May 24. After touring their empty offices with the city manager and City Hall security, the mayor addressed the press. He apologized for calling reporters "maggots" the previous day. He suggested his communications staff left to pursue better job offers, and then said that this is "business as usual" and "everything's fine." The Gawker campaign reached its $200,000 goal, but still has no contact with the video vendors. Star reporter Robyn Doolittle said she has been told there are multiple copies of the video circulating.
 
 
 
May 28: On Rob Ford's 44th birthday, reports surfaced about the police involvement—prompted by Towhey making contact about Price's tip—regarding the possible connection of the video to a murder investigation—reports that suggest Price claimed to know the location of the video that Ford says does not exist. Asked about what his staff might have been talking to police about, the mayor said, "ask my staff." Price did not comment. Asked later by Daniel Dale if Rob Ford told Price the location of the apartment in question himself, Ford said nothing:
 
Ford chaired the meeting of city hall's executive committee, where they discussed Israeli-Palestinian politics as they relate to the Toronto Pride Parade.
 
 
For pictures and other illustrations, visit
 

Friday, May 24, 2013

Ford statement

Foxy Wine News Network North reports --
 
Large rumour floating around that the reason why the video owners are hard to find, and that Ford made the statement when he did, exuding a grin and confidence ---
 
he had already bought the video...
 
Call in the forensic accountants: follow the dollar.
 

Monday, May 20, 2013

Schadenford

Re: Mayor Schadenford's behaviour detracting from the glorious city of Toronto...
 
"No matter how cynical I get, I can never keep up"
 
Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Talk Radio 1010 to fundraise on Sunday

Advance word is that the 1010 talk show with Schadenford has been cancelled for tomorrow...
 
...So that Gawker can use that radio time to fundraise for payment of the talked-about crack video...
 
...Apparently, 1010 feels that it can get a higher audience reach with the sudden cancellation...
 
...Don't forget to tune in and make a really small donation of one loonie for the loonies...

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Right Wing M'aidez

MAY DAY, MAY DAY ==
 
The Right Wing has a "faith-based belief tank, where every day a hot slurry of gut feelings is carefully processed, then poured into cooling trays and set out to harden into rigid ideology. Only then is it cut into bricks and shipped to..."  -- G Trudeau, Doonesbury, May 1, 2013...
 

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Councilllor Ford to Take on the Globe and Mail

TRAWNA -- (GOSH News Services) -- The Foxy News North Network, enjoyed nightly by just 4,000 viewers, has now learned that Toronto Councillor Douglas Ford is about to take on the Globe and Mail.
 
Quoted in the Globe (Sept. 13, 2012):  "He [Councillor Ford] vowed to take a tougher stance with the media, particularly The Globe and Mail. 'I'm changing my rules', he said. 'Every time you guys go after Rob [his brother, Mayor Schadenford], I'm going after you.'
 
Our top investigative reporter, Brett Grimsby, has been following this story and sends us this update --
 
"Foxy, I've found out that Councillor Ford has taken out several student subscriptions to the Globe and Mail, in the names of his staff. Such paid subscriptions will save the City of Toronto money. What he intends to do is to read the paper with his staff, looking for ways to get back at the paper. I understand that he intends to proofread for errors of spelling and grammar and to check every single fact. He's doing this with the aid of his current staff, who, it turns out, all have degrees in English Literature, Language and Linguistics. The fact checking will be turned over to those with graduate degrees, including his one professional librarian-researcher on staff. He alone will do the copy editing part of the procedure, to introduce clarity into each and every article in the Globe. Of course, this work is all to be voluntary; staff will do the reading during their lunch hours, breaks, tea time, subway riding, and while eating dinner at home with their families.
 
"Mayor Schadenford has said that he will read the Sports section line by line, with an eye to football coverage, while he is driving to work each day.
 
"If Councillor Ford succeeds in finding errors, he will immediately write letters on official City letterhead to the Globe's editorial staff, insisting on corrections, clarifications, and/or retractions for every single item. He will insist that all errors be listed and corrected on page two."
 
More on this story as it unfolds...

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Some more weasel words....

 
--- "the omission was an adminstrative oversight" (Toronto Mayor's Office, Globe, April 12/13)
 
--- "I didn't read the contents [before signing] because my glasses weren't handy in the dark restaurant" (McCallion, Globe, April 12/13)
 
-- "it would obviously have an implication" McCallion, Star, April 13/13 trying to explain why she voted for a motion to delay a hike in developer fees. [there was no way of knowing how much it would cost taxpayers]
 

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Mayor Schadenford's 2014 Campaign almost derailed

TORONTO -- (GOSH News Services) -- The Foxy News North Network, always enjoyed by just under 4,000 weekday viewers, has just learned that Mayor Schadenford's 2014 campaign for re-election almost went off the rails last week.
 
Here's Brett Grimsby, our local investigative reporter, with the story:
 
"Foxy, I'd like to say that Mayor Schadenford is no pussy cat when it comes to campaigning, but something obviously went wrong last week. When he announced his campaign for re-election in 2014, he had Media Kits for distribution to most of the 4,000 citizens who turned up at his Ford Fest BBQ where he made the announcement that he was running again for Mayor.
 
"Unfortunately, all of the Media Kits bore the campaign date of 2013. When this was pointed out to Mayor Schadenford, he said: 'Well, that's when I'm running again. Every three years there's an election for Mayor and Council in Toronto. Even if you're a ninny, you know that.'
 
"When it was pointed out that the election actually comes every four years, he said: 'You're kidding me. I just KNOW it's every three years -- I can count. The 2010 election, 2011, 2012, and then 2013. What's the problem? I know the rules.'
 
"Libby, our intrepid librarian-researcher who had accompanied me to the BBQ, pointed out that Mayor Schadenford, when he was Councillor, had missed the vote that changed the time span between elections. Schadenford said, 'So what? I play by my own rules. There WILL be an election in 2013 because I am running in it!!!'
 
"Councillor Bro Doug took Mayor Schadenford aside at that point, and they had a hurried conversation. The Mayor then carefully departed.
 
"Later, Councillor Bro Doug said: 'The Campaign is, of course, for 2014. The Mayor regrets the error. We have some $100,000 in campaign flyers, posters, and signs, and we will be changing the date from 2013 to 2014 manually by using staff volunteers working every weekday morning until the job is done. Deco Labels & Tags will be creating some half-million labels with the year "2014" printed on them, and we'll be able to bill the City for this at wholesale, saving money over the difference in price. We are always aware of gravy, and try to defuse that issue.'
 
More on this breaking story as it unfolds...
 

Monday, April 1, 2013

Mayor Schadenford to announce new job in government.

TRAWNA – (GOSH News Services) – The Canadian Foxy Wine News Network North has just learned that Mayor Rob Ford (also known as Schadenford) is poised to make a dramatic announcement by noon today. Taking advantage of the sleepy Easter Monday non-commute, Mayor Ford had hoped that this one would slip by the media. Indeed, according to our best sources, it appears as if Mayor Ford's announcement will only be made by his brother, Councillor Doug Ford, acting in his place, and thus Schadenford will not be available for comments.

 

Top investigative wine reporter Brett Grimsby has been following this story for some time now, and he files his report based on several interviews with Miffed Mole, the collective name for our sources who are familiar with the situation, and who spoke to him on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge details while they were very close to the centre of discussions and while the matter under consideration had not yet been finalized nor announced to the public. While the decisions may or may not have been finalized internally, and while an announcement on the matter may or may not be imminent, possibly within the next week or two, that specific timeline is not really known. Sources should not be held responsible for the speculative and/or playful treatment of their research and/or disclosures.

 

Apparently, Mayor Schadenford has been ousted from office. He had been told to resign by an unnamed team of several thousand well-placed Torontonians. He agreed – so long as he could become the new CEO of the

Liberal Control of Beverages in Ontario, A Clown, er, Clone, er, Crown Corporation of A Have-Not Province Controlled by Win-Win Wynne. That was the price of his removal. Indeed, according to our well-known "anonymous sources", he has already left the building, that is, City Hall.

 

Ford's immediate plans certainly involve creating new wines, beers and spirits featuring the well-known "Gravy Train" © TM label. These will roll out over the next few months, heavily pushed by a bevy of former gravy train recipients. Word has also come down, from our more reliable "confidential sources" that he is about to crack open the Oooopsie union. Work will be further contracted out even more than now, but at first only in Western Ontario – west of Yonge Street.

 

The LCBO buildings at Queens' Quay will be sold for subway barns and parking lots. The Liquor Transfer Tax will be dropped, allowing for a savings to the taxpayer of eight cents on every bottle of alcohol sold in Ontario. According to our confidential sources, Schadenford is also looking forward to his own, private rehab room just off from his new offices.

 

Stay tuned for our special "What the LCBO will be like under Rob Ford" premiering later tonight on this station…

 

 

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Even more weasel phrases...part three

-It should not have gone out
 
-Just an error [Mayor's office]
 
Dean Tudor, Ryerson University Journalism Professor Emeritus
Treasurer, Wine Writers' Circle of Canada
Look it up and you'll remember it; screw it up and you'll never forget it.
Creator of Canada's award-winning wine satire site at http://fauxvoixvincuisine.blogspot.com

Monday, March 25, 2013

Schadenford At First Presser After Attending "Wordstock"

MAYOR SCHADENFORD CALLS HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER RETURNING FROM
"WORDSTOCK", A FOCUSING BOOT CAMP FOR THE VERBALLY-CHALLENGED....

(With apologies to Stuart Wade's "The Briefing"...)

[Setting: media conference room of Toronto City Hall. A dozen reporters
are crowded into the cramped space. At the rear of the
media horde, there are several video cameras, with lights shining
across to illuminate Mayor Schadenford who
stands behind a microphone-strewn lectern to address the group,
presumably to talk about the financing of new subways. He had been cautioned
to choose his words carefully, with his newly acquired verbal skills.]


Schadenford speaks: We all know that there's a specific piece of
information in question
here. And with regard to it, let me first state that I know you all
would like for me to say what we all think I'm coming before you to
say. I would like to make it very clear, however, that I do not intend
to say it. In addition, I will neither confirm nor deny it. So now
that we all understand each other, are there any questions?

REPORTER 1: Will you say what we want you to say?

Schadenford: Not exactly as you would have me say it. [pointing to
REPORTER 2] Yes -- over there?

REPORTER 2: Is the thing we all want you to say, in fact, true?

Schadenford: I'm not saying if it is or it isn't. It would be premature to
judge that.

REPORTER 3: Since you're not saying the precise thing we all want you to
say, will
you say it, but in a slightly different way?

Schadenford: You mean in a way that would have the same meaning as the way
you
would all want me to say it?

REPORTER 3: That is correct.

Schadenford: I'm not prepared at this time to do that. [making eye contact
with
REPORTER 4] Yes?

REPORTER 4: If you won't say what we all would like you to say, or if you
won't
say it in a slightly different way, will you at least say one or a
couple of parts of what we all want you to say?

Schadenford: If there is a situation where that would become prudent for
me to say
part or parts of what you all want me to say, I would, yes. But now is
not the time.

REPORTER 5: When will it be time?

Schadenford: I don't know the answer to that. I wanted to add something at
this
point, before we continue. There are some people involved behind the
scenes with this thing who deserve to be recognized for all their hard
work. This thing has been a team effort all the way, and thanks to
them, a real win-win situation as well. [pointing to REPORTER 6] Yes,
go ahead.

REPORTER 6: This information that we all want you to disclose -- might
one of us
be able to trick you into divulging what we all want you to say?

Schadenford: If I am slow-witted at that moment, or if I'm not being too
careful in
choosing my words right then, and if one of you people displays
extremely shrewd questioning skills, then yes, it is possible.
[shielding his eyes] Yes -- all the way in the back there...you, Miss.

REPORTER 7: I think I know the information we all want you to say but
that you
aren't saying, and here it is [she says something inaudible]. Isn't
that right?

Schadenford: [angrily] Do you expect me to answer that? Next
question.

REPORTER 8: When can we expect you to say what we all want you to say?

Schadenford: Relatively soon.

REPORTER 8: Can you be more specific?

Schadenford: Well, we are expediting this process so I would imagine
sooner than
you might think, but I don't want to mislead any of you as to exactly
when. [indicating silver-haired woman seated in front row of media]
Yes, Veronica?

REPORTER 9: I heard some experts giving their opinions about the
information we
all want you to say. Can you respond to these expert comments?

Schadenford: Well, I can't speculate on others' comments. And, I'm not an
expert.
[looks up to assembled throng] I have time for one more question. In
the middle there, yes -- you sir? [points to bearded man standing in
center of group].

REPORTER 10: Might I interject a witty comment at this juncture to break
up the
tension? [says something inaudible]

[everyone laughs and then the press conference is over, and Schadenford
escapes]


Chimo! www.deantudor.com

Can I buy your vote for a Yankee Buck???