A man accused of first-degree murder in the death of York University student, Qian Liu, was held in custody after a brief court appearance on April 21st.

The 23-year-old Chinese student was online with a friend in China at around 1 a.m. on Friday, and while the two were chatting, a man entered the apartment. A struggle followed during which the computer was turned off. Following the altercation, the online witness contacted people known to Liu out of concern for her safety.

Police said they are still missing key pieces of evidence, such as Liu's external webcam, her Think-pad and her cell-phone. Police in Toronto did not reveal how they had tied Mr Dickson to the killing, and earlier, investigators said they had yet to determine the cause of death.

York University said in a released statement on Thursday that Dickson was not a registered student and does not have a degree from the university.

However, a 2008 newsletter from the Atlantic Council of Canada, a group founded to promote NATO at which Dickson was formerly an executive assistant, described him as a former York student who was twice re-elected vice-president of the undergraduate political science council. Dickson is expected to make a brief court appearance via video on April 24.

This incident reminds us all about the importance of safety and community. The University of Toronto is committed to promoting an environment where students, faculty and staff can feel safe to learn, work and live.   I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the numerous
programs and services available to you on campus.

For more information on security services at three of the U of T campuses, please visit the following websites:

Community Safety Office
http://www.communitysafety.utoronto.ca

U of T Campus Police
http://www.campuspolice.utoronto.ca/site3.aspx

UTSC Campus Police Services
http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~police/index.html

UTM Campus Police
http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/index.php?id=1986

An International team of researchers have found that the gene associated with the loss of our ability to sense pain is involved with the loss of our sense of smell.

For undertaking this research Professor Frank Zufall, of the University Of Saarland School of Medicine, in Germany, and colleagues tested 3 people in their 30s with a rare inability to feel pain ( also known as congenital analgesia) and found that they were also unable to sense smell at all ( a condition known as anosmia). Surprisingly, none of the subjects were aware of the fact that they couldn’t smell.

An inability of feel pain may sound intriguing, but people with this kind of condition often harm themselves leading to severe damage through frequently biting their tongues, breaking bones or even burning themselves.

It is scientifically known that the inability to feel pain is due to a particular defective gene known as SCN9A, coding for a type of sodium channel which a essential for nerve impulse conduction and sending neural messages.

Now the question arises is whether sodium channels are important in smell detection too. Researchers were able to detect this by producing a genetically altered strain of mice lacking sodium channels and an ability to smell.

This study shows that in years to come we should consider a drug for having a side-effect of smell (or lack of it), as several of the current pharmaceutical companies are targeting such particular sodium channels to invent and develop new pain relief drugs.

On January 26, 2011, a TTC passenger caught a TTC driver on the bus route 165 Weston Road North, texting while he was driving a full bus. Going 50km/h, it is said he was texting on what seemed to be “a blackberry like” device.

Mike Schmitz, the passenger says that the driver was more focused on his phone and not on the road. The passenger seeing this took a picture with his own phone of the driver texting. Schmitz says, “He wasn’t even paying attention to the road” because he was so in tuned with his phone. The TTC is investigating the case and assures the public that the driver will be disciplined.

The TTC has a clear and strict policy concerning texting while operating a vehicle. The TTC forbids the use of cell phones of any kind while the bus driver is operating a vehicle.

Not only is this a safety hazard but texting while driving is illegal in Ontario. The no texting while driving law was introduced in October 2009.

A driver can be fined up to five hundred dollars for such an act.

But is this fine merely enough for those who are in charge of so many lives?

Does a fine justify such an act when so many people’s lives are put in danger?

You be the judge. 

On January 12, 2011 a bright and beautiful spark left us. Kirran Shoaib passed away after battling colon cancer for the past 3 years. In the end, it overcame her but her strength still prevails in the hearts of her family, friends and community. Her father, Shoaib Alam, had passed away only two weeks earlier.

I haven't ever met this girl, but truths of her warm heart and beautiful character spread like wildfire across the Muslim Community in the GTA in the final weeks of her struggle. I wish I had gotten to know her better, seen her suceed in school and excel in extracurricular activities. Had experienced first hand the promise that she held in her heart for a bright future.

So I, like so many others, was broken hearted when I listened to her story.  How she has left behind 5 siblings and a mother left to care for them on her own. Their strength through such a difficult tight is a tough test from Allah, and mashAllah- we all can learn a valuable lesson in patience and strength from the Shoaib family.

May Allah wrap Kirran and her father in an endless mercy and give them the highest place in heaven and give them the best company in the afterlife. Ameen.

Please remember her and her family in your du'as. They really need it at this time. If you can do anything to contribute financially to Kirrans mother and five siblings, please go to

Islamic Relief as it will be handling all financial support for the family. 

As new years resolutions are put to test throughout the following months and as everyone makes an enthusiastic pledge of sticking to them, very few are realistically possible to attain.

Often, there is a mad rush to join the gym and lose the extra pounds, reminding us of the residual effects of last year. If you’ve wanted to burn off the weight sins of 2010 but aren’t so keen on treadmills or stationary bicycle, there is actually a great way to start off the fresh year that awaits us. Ourfaves.com was able to bring the very best of Toronto culture for the passionate locals by listing the top four places in Toronto to break a sweat:

#1 - Rock Oasis
Neighbourhood: King West

"They have the highest climbing routes of any of the indoor gyms in the city, in two 60-foot towers, and several bouldering areas. The changing area includes lockers (bring your own lock), change rooms, washrooms and showers, and they sell some snacks and drinks at the front desk. Beginners can rent shoes (bring a pair of thin socks) and a harness.... " 

#2 - Breathe Yoga Studio
Neighbourhood: Bloor West Village

"A welcoming yoga community, fantastic teachers, a great schedule and variety of classes: restorative, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Pre/post natal and flow. Workshops by in-house and guest teachers are a great way to build your practice. ..."

#3 - Old School Muay Thai
Neighbourhood: Entertainment District

"Great place to learn muay thai and have a great workout! Classes are available Saturday to Wednesday and range from small to large depending on the day of the week. The instructors are very approachable and understand that everyone is at a different skill level and help everyone along the way. Convenient location downtown, good group of people and a great workout make this a fave!" 

#4 - CrossFit Toronto
Neighbourhood: Leslieville

"I've been interested in fitness for a while, and Crossfit is the most effective program I have ever tried by far. It is designed specifically to boost your cardio endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. The workouts are challenging and fun (they whoop your butt!), are completely different each day, and are making me fitter every week...."

Toronto City Hall along with Vancouver City and Victoria has voted in favour of demanding an apology from Maclean’s for publishing the ‘Too Asian’ article. The article talks about increasing competition at major universities created by Asian students who party less and study more. These students are aforementioned to stick to their own Asian groups and not mingle with other students on campus. Other “white” students believe that they take away from the undergrad university experience and therefore avoid these schools. The apparent solution is limiting Asian enrolment in top academia schools. Such proposed racial discrimination at an institution that is above all to serve the purpose of higher education is what many people are appalled about.

Maclean’s ‘Too Asian’ article: http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/11/10/too-asian/

Maybe you're thinking about joining the online protests aimed at shutting down the web sites of its opponents. Do you support WikiLeaks? Are you mad at critics trying to snuff it all out?

Don't be.

Some major Pakistani newspapers carried stories of fake WikiLeaks cables attacking India.

Major media houses in Pakistan revealed its so-called WikiLeaks cables, stating that most of the top American diplomats give their self-assessments toward India’s politicians and military.Based on the report, Americans believed that senior army officers in India are genocidal, self-centered and vain, and said that its government is secretly associated with Hindu extremist.

Moreover, the cable stated that the intelligence officers in India are aggressively backing some extremist groups in Pakistan’s Baluchistan and tribal belt.

The front page of the story in the news said that it was enough evidence of the involvement of India in Waziristan, Baluchistan. This story also appeared in the daily bestselling newspaper in Pakistan, the Urdu-language Jang.


Citing the possibility of the cable news, the revelation may confirm the most terrible fears of nationalist hawks of Pakistan and it will threaten the relationship between New Delhi and Washington. However, some experts said that the revelations were not accurate.

The controversial news were been published in four national news papers in Pakistan. However, the claims were credited to the Online Agency, an Islamabad-based news service which usually runs pro-army service and stories. According to news no journalist is bylined.

We are a quarter way through the NHL season. Usually, this time of the year gives a good indication of what’s to come. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, it has been a surprising start.

THE GOOD

Perfect Start:

The Leafs first win of the season was followed with a lot of excitement, because not only did we beat our rivals the Habs, but fans started joking around about how we were undefeated. With our second consecutive win, the laughs turned into excitement as we took down another rival (the Sens) and we were 2-0. Three straight wins and it was time to make room for the bandwagoners. The fourth game went into overtime, but we prevailed and came out on top. At this point we were 4-0. Then are streak ended when we lost 3 in a row and our trip to the playoffs didn’t seem as easy as it did before, but don’t get me wrong—the Leafs are still hanging on.

New Players:

Let’s be honest—no one was overly excited MacArthur starting this year, but man oh man did he surprise us all. So far in 20 games, MacArthur has made 7 goals and 11 assists. 2 of these goals have been game-winning ones.

Kris Versteeg. Few players have gotten as much grief as him. Coming into the Leafs he had a lot of expectations as he helped the Hawks win the Stanley Cup last year. At the beginning of the season, Versteeg’s speed helped him get great opportunities to shoot, but scoring was a problem. Lately though, things have picked up for him and he’s one of the hottest Leafs players on the ice.

The “N” word, that’s right…Nazem Kadri! Don’t get me wrong—I don’t think he’s the magical solution that can single-handedly take the Leafs to the playoffs, but he is a great asset to the team. Although he was initially considered an aggressive offensive player, he is proving himself as a great playmaker as well as he’s always aware of where players are on the ice and taking advantage of this.

Although Keith Aulie’s start in the Leafs was greatly overshadowed by Kadri as they came at the same time, he has proven himself as a great defenseman.

Great Goalies:

We have Giguere who has proven himself as a great goalie over the past years. In 2003, although his team didn’t win the Stanley Cup he was named the most valuable player in the playoffs—an honour given to only 4 other players. He also led the Ducks to a Stanley Cup in 2007. Not only is he a great goalie, he’s also a great leader for the Leafs. When the Leafs screw things up, Giguere is quick to call them out on it.

With Giguere out with a strain, Gustavsson has really proved himself. It’s going to be hard to forget when he was thrown into the Nashville game with only 10 minutes left in the game. The Leafs had a 5-4 lead, and let’s not forget that if there’s one thing the Leafs need to work on, it’s maintaining their lead. The monster blocked all shots and helped the Leafs secure a win. Even in the games the Leafs lose, Gus is still one of the players on the ice. He was 2nd star in our last game against the Habs even though they won.

Although they haven’t had the chance to show their skills in the NHL, Reimer and Rynnas have really proven themselves in the AHL.

THE BAD

Brett Lebda’s luck—self-explanatory.

My problem with standings is that they never show how well a team plays. Even in our losses, more often than not we’ve played great. For instance there was that game against the Capitals were we lost 5-4 in overtime. The Caps are currently one of the best teams in the league, yet we played a strong game, especially our defensemen who managed to hold off one of the most aggressive players in the NHL—Ovechkin.

THE UGLY

Our 8 consecutive losses.

Especially that nasty loss to the Sabres. What started as a 2-0 lead for the Leafs turned into a 3-2 loss. We were one point ahead of the Sabres until there were literally 14 seconds left in the game, when they tied it to go into overtime, where they won. I was practically celebrating and that game-tying goal brought me down. One of the problems the Leafs still have to work on is maintaining a lead.

CAN WE MAKE THE PLAYOFFS?

According to the stats, we only have a 22% chance, but if you ask me our team has proven that it is more than capable of getting there. I’m going to pull a Pierre McGuire and say that we just need to start winning.

The secret's out! Well, it wasn't much of a secret I guess, but now it's being viewed from a whole new perspective: from goatskin.

A parchment containing information on the treatment of insurgents in the 1837 Rebellion of Upper Canada has recently been found. It was hiding in the drawer of a collector who inherited it years prior. The document contains the 'truth' of the events that made up and concluded the 1837 rebellion. Much like protests today, 'rebels' were first arrested (under the guilty- until -someone cares- enough -to -prove- innocent pretense) and then later sorted out into the 'goodies' and the 'bad-ies'. The parchment is made of goatskin.

The Rebellion was due to the elite of society raising taxes and the overall feeling that the government wasn't democratic. I guess some things never change.

The artifact is going up for grabs on December 2nd this year with an expected value of at least 2,000 to 3,000 dollars. That must have been one fine looking goat.

KIH is on the move to settle  this matter once and for all. If we can prove that Parchment Goat was a forefather of  our beloved Fuego, maybe we will be the rightful inheritors of his remnants...








Just kidding.

Through turning over a new leaf in order to combat Canada’s obesity epidemic, an expert panel commissioned by the Heart and Stroke Foundation is actually persuading government to implement a certain percentage of tax on sugary food drinks, giving farmers the incentive to grow greater amounts of fresh produce and subsidizing the poor to eat more fruits and vegetables.

The panel concludes in a 79 page report that “the price of food has a proven impact on weight, and economic sticks and carrots should be invoked to combat the growing weight crisis”.

“We’re not banning these items. It is trying to signal to the consumer that you should try to consume less of it,” said Guy Faulkner, a University of Toronto professor of health and exercise psychology. “If we think that obesity is a serious public-health issue ... then ultimately economic measures will have to be part of the arsenal.”

The new report takes a diverse look at how to address the economic aspect of obesity, while other health groups and experts are debating on advocating a tax on soda pop. Long working hours, sedentary lifestyle and jobs, and higher wages has made ‘physical activity more expensive’.

“Standard economic theory predicts that these price changes would rationally lead individuals to increase caloric intake and reduce caloric expenditure,” says the report, presented this week at the Canadian Cardiovascular Society conference in Montreal.

Just 2.5 % of the Canadians’ caloric intake accounts as sugared pop, according to a 2004 federal survey. For this very reason, the head of the soft-drinks industry association wasn’t compliant to the soda-tax idea arguing that it only represents a small percentage of the problem.

The Heart and Stroke report acknowledges the evidence shows only a “modest” impact on weight as a result of boosting soft-drink prices, but suggested that a real effect requires more substantial tax hikes than have been tried in some jurisdictions. Prof. Faulkner pointed to tobacco, where the majority of the cost of cigarettes now is made up by levies, and evidence suggests that price hikes have helped curb smoking rates.

A reasonable soft-drink tax would probably be about 10 cents per ounce of sweetener, he said, likely boosting the price of a can of pop by about 15 cents.

There is better evidence that eating more fruits and vegetables actually translates into lower weight according to Prof. Faulkner.