Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  Iceland's famous 24-hour hot dog stand    Never mind the rat. Bad things come in tiny bites By Stephen Weir Since this is the end of the term and you will have long forgot this 4-page story (oops) by January, I can shamelessly tell you about my bad habit of eating street food. No, I don’t mean an Island Patty from the food truck at the corner, I am talking about protein that has tumbled from someone’s mouth onto the road or a pet drenched lawn. I can’t help myself. I am always hungry and what tastes better than free food, even when you get it from the gutter? With me the 5-second rule is my life’s mantra. Haven’t heard of it? Author  Mel Robins  (The 5-Second Rule) describes it thusly. “Almost everyone has dropped some food on the floor and still wanted to eat it. If someone saw you drop it, she might have yelled, "5-second rule!" This so-called rule says food is OK to eat if you pick it up in 5-seconds or less.” To be honest, after a near death experience in Iceland I

Five Ontario high school students will get scholarships in December. By Stephen Weir: Time is running out for Ontario high school students to apply for the United Trinbago West Indian Association (UTWIA) Scholarship Program. One month from today in fact! The Toronto based UTWIA is awarding $500 scholarships for f ive high school student with at least one parent who identifies as Caribbean, and who is about to enter a Canadian college or university. “The purpose behind this program is to support an underrepresented community and inspire Caribbean-Canadian youth to pursue further education,” says Tony Chankar, Chair of the West Indian Association. “Five students will be awarded a $500 scholarship, with each scholarship named after a donor.’ This year there are six donors; Bedessee Imports Ltd, Ena and Tony Chankar, Dr. Jay, the Soca Prince, Rita and Mahadeo Sankar, Laulit Rai and Unique Window Tinting & Detailing. To apply for the scholarships online student must meet a number of c

BAD WEATHER DIDN’T STOP SATURDAY's MOTHERS’ PEACE MARCH By Stephen Weir: Last Saturday morning, when Louis March looked out his window and saw storm clouds over the city, he went into action, The organizer of that day’s Mother’s Peace Walk – against Gun Violence and recognizing the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Homicide, immediately to Social Media to let everyone know that rain or shine there would be a march down Yonge St at 3pm. Louis March, Founder of the Zero Gun Violence Movement, and one of the organizers of Saturday’s street demonstration, did indeed get the word out and later that day over 400 people, along with a group of motorcycle guardians took to the streets of downtown Toronto. “Bullets don't stop in the rain so there is no such thing as a rain date when our mothers are crying and our children are dying,” explained Mr. March. Mothers from across the city and province, impacted by the tragic loss of children due to gun violence walked, chanted and c

Linda Ruth (Crane) Williams  September 17,1952 - February 13, 2021 Hello Friends.    Stephen Weir here, I am writing to you today (September 17, 2021) from Toronto. In my heart of hearts I wish I could be there with all you to celebrate the life of Linda Williams but I unfortunately can’t. Although my soul says go, my body doesn’t agree.  I am currently receiving Chemotherapy at home and in Sunnybrook Hospital. I know Linda, my friend, my confidante, my associate, my employer and sometimes my employee, would forgive my absence. And while Linda would be the first to tell me to just get better and not worry about her, I know that she is also wagging a cosmic finger at me and reminding me of that old adage we both adhered to – The show must go on. And if Linda were alive at today’s tribute it would indeed be a show planned with military precision. Alphabetical guest lists. Parking information. Canapé’s. Drinks. Nothing would be left to chance. Somehow I am sure she would also make sure it

  New Canadian Study by Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas looks at if pain can be detected in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders by just looking at their brain.       By Stephen Weir    A new peer-reviewed study by Canadian researcher and professor   Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas titled “ Investigating Sensory Response to Physical Discomfort in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy” has just been published   by the American Public Library of Science’s   PLOS One   peer-reviewed open access scientific journal.     This ground-breaking study looks at how well a portable, inexpensive, brain imaging tool was in measuring discomfort in children with ASD, without the children having to say they were uncomfortable. There is not a lot of published research in this area. However, such research can have a major impact on clinical care for people with communication challenges. Dr. Doyle-Thomas   is one of the first researchers to explore the use of Near-Infrared Spectro