Photo: "DSC_7879" by Louis Tam, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Wednesday September 3rd, 2008:

There's plenty of transit news today:
- Details from Metrolinx' long-term traffic congestion correction proposals have been released to the media, and (of course) look like a totally Technicolour transit pipe dream.
- The TTC will install GPS-based vehicle tracking that will be accessible to riders, and allow us to know whether that bus is coming now or in 30 minutes.
- Three rider illnesses that affected service at Dupont station yesterday morning were all unrelated (despite reports of a suspicious smell in the area). Could it be that breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day, because it prevents fainting on the subway commute?

One of the more memorable attractions at The Canadian National Exhibition this year was The Farm, at its new location in the Better Living Centre.

Where else could you get to pet a llama, go gaga over suckling piglets or get up close and personal with a swarm of bees?

One of my favourites were the Nubian Goats, who had prominent underbites, yet displayed a certain charm with their permanent toothy grins. How can you not adore these creatures? If you missed them at The Ex, check 'em out at The Riverdale Farm. Unlike The High Park Zoo, they tend to maintain their facilities better. Plus you can get closer to the animals, kind of like at the CNE Fun Farm.

What was your favourite CNE memory this year?

Photo: "For the drop" by sjgardiner, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Tuesday September 2nd, 2008:

Toronto's urban densification, lack of green infrastructure like trees and green roofs, and our antiquated sewer systems are responsible for massive amounts of raw sewage making its way into the Great Lakes. Unfortunately our solutions (making jokes about growing a tail from swimming in Lake Ontario, and relying entirely on water treatment/filtration) aren't cutting it.

The Maple Leaf Gardens revitalization project, which involves the creation of a massive Loblaw grocery store, hasn't seen the lift of a hammer yet. Speculation that unforeseen construction challenges are the reason have been dismissed by Loblaw, who are saying that they're simply waiting for the right time to proceed.

In July, while chatting in the yard with our new neighbour, comedian Brian Reynolds, my eye tried to make sense of some shapes in the grass across the street. I blurted, Is that a penis? Brian, who had already noticed the fresh neighbourhood art work (but didn't want to potentially weird out a complete stranger with the report), confirmed the sighting.

We're not the only ones obsessed with the new, scrambled intersection at Yonge and Dundas. The Daily Dose of Imagery's Sam Javanrouh has posted a timelapse video taken over a few hours from the MIlestones on the fourth floor overlooking Toronto Life Square. Watch it below:



Or full size on Vimeo.

(From left) Heather McAndrew, 10, Eric McAndrew, 7, Marleigh Milne, 11 and Kim Chan enjoy "the ultimate foot massage" on Footsie-Wootsie machines in front of The Food Building.

A quarter doesn't get you much these days, but if you're at The CNE and your feet are tired, you can drop 25 cents into the Footsie-Wootsie machine and get some relief.

After a long day of meandering, playing games, eating funnel cakes and riding the rides, you'll be glad to take heed the words on the rows of shiny, plastic seats that implore you to "RELAX, REJUVENATE, REVIVE."

Take a load off and give yourself a footgasm. It's the best 25 cents you can spend at The Ex.