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CTV News: Ontario walks back new pandemic police powers following widespread backlash Premier Ford reverses decision to close Ontario playgrounds amid backlash

Thanks Cap'n! It turns out that my daughter got the Frozen II DVD so we spent the afternoon watching that instead. She had a great time and is looking forward to a post-lockdown shopping spree.

I really hope this is only a rumour and that the Ford government aren't seriously considering curfews for Ontario. I do my grocery shopping after 8 PM to avoid crowds, not because of COVID but because I don't like crowds in general and it's easier for my wife to watch our three children by herself when they're asleep. Imposing a curfew will force shoppers such as myself to go to stores during the weekend middays when they are far more crowded, even more so as evening shoppers such as myself will need to rearrange their schedules because of what I think is a futile effort by the provincial go

Bernie Madoff, who was serving 150 years in prison for operating a Ponzi scheme worth an estimated $64.8 billion, has died at age 82: https://apnews.com/article/bernie-madoff-dead-9d9bd8065708384e0bf0c840bd1ae711

I don't know... I'm on a community e-mail distribution list and some of my neighbours respond with messages such as "OMG! If you dare leave your house, SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS GONNA DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!" That and the fear-based Ontario COVID commercials showing a family dinner followed by an elderly man dying in hospital and the message "Stay home. Save lives," is doing plenty to keep people indoors regardless of the weather.

Wow, I was not expecting to hear "God Save the Queen" at the end of that sign off!

Ottawa Citizen: Ontario education minister considering cancelling March break to curb COVID spread Speaking of youth and children getting screwed completely...

Jim Weatherly, famed 'Midnight Train to Georgia' singer-songwriter, dies at 77

So sorry to hear about your Mom, Captain. My condolences to you and your family at this difficult time.

Music producer Phil Spector has died at age 81: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-17/phil-spector-dead

That was Tom Petty, who was reported dead, then in critical condition, then dead again.

The Guardian: John le Carré, author of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, dies aged 89

American economist, commentator, academic, syndicated columnist and author Walter E. Williams passed away yesterday at the age of 84: https://www.wsj.com/articles/walter-williams-r-i-p-11606934313?mod=searchresults_pos1&page=1

It is worth noting that only one human disease has been eradicated, and that is smallpox. It took only 184 years between Edward Jenner developing the modern vaccine in 1796 and the WHO declaring smallpox extinct in 1980. Even then, the smallpox virus is still stored in labs in the US and Russia, so there is the possibility of it being released either accidentally or through an act of terrorism. This is just an indication that it is very, very, very hard to eradicate a virus.

It depends how old the notes are, what their condition is, and if they are of a special variety. The Bank of Canada issued $1 bills in 1935, 1937, 1954, 1967, and 1973 series, and they were last officially issued in June 1989. They are still legal tender at the moment but that status will be removed on 01/01/2021, which means that they will no longer legally be considered money. This change will also affect $2, $25, $500, and $1000 bills, all of which are also no longer being issued. However, financial institutions and the Bank of Canada will continue to redeem them at face value. There's