Alex Reid

Henry Winkler, the actor who played “The Fonz” on the 1970s American sitcom Happy Days has received a Key to the City by Mayor Sam Katz.

What the hell is the Mayor thinking?!

Normally the Key to the City is given to hometown heroes, say like Cindy Klassen or Clara Hughes who are both from Winnipeg and are Canadian top Olympians. And even if the Key to the City is given to an outsider, it should be for an inspiring reason; it’s a great honour to bestow upon someone.

So why did this actor get such a honour? Because the Mayor cited “The Fonz” as one of his personal heroes (the character, not the actor).

“Is there any young man who didn’t go to bed saying a prayer, ‘Please let me wake up as The Fonz’?”

~ Mayor Sam Katz

The Mayor’s office released a press release stating that Winkler received the honour because he was literacy advocate though Katz’s personal comments would indicate he was more star struck than inspired by someone who happens to be dyslexic.

Winkler admitted he also had similar keys to Dallas and New Orleans. While Dallas and New Orleans are no better, this is just a tacky stunt. This just devalues the Key to the City in Winnipeg. And at a car show no less.

ugh.

My new favourite web site: Lasagna Cat.

The Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association has banned its members from docking, or cutting a dog’s tail or ears – often done by breeders for cosmetic purposes. This follows a similar ban passed in neighbouring New Brunswick in late 2008.

Here’s a project from my friend Dave Twigg : Check it out

The British Columbian town that recently was named the “best surf town” in North America is proposing a ban on fast food restaurants.

Right now there are no fast food restaurants and Tofino town councillor Stephen Ashton wants to keep it that way.

We are very unique where you can come to this place and you don’t have a Starbucks, Tim Hortons or a McDonalds,” said Ashton.

While Ashton acknowledges that such a bylaw may conflict with provincial or federal laws, Tofino wouldn’t be the first to ban fast food restaurants. In 2008, Los Angeles city council voted 12-0 to place an one-year moratorium on new fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles, to combat obesity (where 30% of adults are obese).

Under California law, fast food restaurants are defined as establishments which have a limited menu, sell items prepared in advance or heated quickly, have no table service and serve food in disposable packaging.