Photo: "Colour Me In" by a_mandolin, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

Step right up, get your shot! Starting today, Toronto Public Health will be happy to stick a needle full of H1N1 vaccine into anybody who wants it. Rob Roberts visited a flu clinic and found that with 20 needle stations only 8 were in use, so it's not surprising everybody can go now. But with so few deaths related to H1N1 (198 across Canada at last count), will all that many people bother?

The TTC isn't winning any friends lately, not after the commission passed fare hikes to start January 3rd, even though those hikes were less than anticipated. Cash fares and tokens (if, that is, you can actually get tokens) will go up 25 cents (making a cash fare $3) and the monthly pass will jump from $109 to an astounding $121 (Jerrold's got all the details). Todd Harrison has a way of getting $100 Metropasses, but advises it may already be too late. Given yesterday's comments (here and here), I'm thinking more complaining will, understandably, be the order of the day.

Have police sniffed out a drug lab in a fancy Woburn Ave duplex, near Avenue Rd and Lawrence Ave? Neighbours reported an odd smell last night and drug squad officers have found "suspicious chemicals." Maybe the really swanky duplexes have better ventilation.

The TTC fare hike was debated this afternoon at the much anticipated Toronto Transit Commission meeting, and a conclusion has been reached and voted on. We will indeed be seeing increases implemented on January 3rd, 2010.

Adult cash fare will rise to $3 (from $2.75), but the adult Metropass will not jump to $126 as previously recommended, instead settling at $121 (up from $109). Tokens will rise to $2.50 (up from $2.25), and weekly passes will rise to $36 (up from $32.25).

What's not entirely clear is how much loyal rider rage will increase (up from already too high). Or how much harder it will get to buy tokens before the hike (it's become a real pain).

Photo: "Toronto Santa Claus Parade 2009" by sai.photography, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

The TTC has taken strict measures to prevent fare token hoarding, but don't expect the lineups to buy tokens to dwindle because the TTC has no plans to increase staff selling tokens. With the TTC Commission set to approve the fare hike later today it's safe to say the lineups will be worse, if stations even have tokens at all. If the TTC doesn't like its fare system - and gosh knows riders aren't in love with the fare system - why not (finally) change to a modern fare-paying system?

The opportunity to pay 13% sales tax crept closer to reality yesterday, as Ontario Liberals introduced their HST bill legislation. The move, intended to increase provincial coffers, is unpopular with just about everybody except the Liberals. In fact, it's the NDP who may be speaking most loudly against the bill, which tells me that there must be better ways to get money into the province's hands.

The A La Cart program - bringing ethnic flavours to select streets - has been mired in problems that most of us would call predictable. But Toronto Public Health has now admitted many changes are necessary, and has made a number of them, including passing control of the food carts to the economic development department. More carts are authorized, but we'll just have to wait and see if the folks selling pad thai or biriyani can come back from the brink of bankruptcy.

The 2009 edition of the Leonids meteor shower is set to grace the overnight sky, and if predications are accurate, those willing to escape the light pollution of downtown Toronto should be in for a pretty good show.

Meteor activity will be visible between midnight and dawn on November 17th and in a diminished capacity early tomorrow evening. Of these times, the best bet for increased activity is around 4 a.m. EST. With ideal viewing conditions expected, between 20 and 30 meteors an hour may light up North American skies.

But where exactly should you look?

Photo: "dancing at sunrise" by louise@toronto, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

Just how sketchy has the Annex become? It's certainly seen a shift toward being a destination for cheap eats and booze, and along with that has come dirtiness, drunkenness, and violence. In an interesting roundup of opinions, Adam Vaughan takes a jab at the 905 mentality, local shop owners talk about the rapid fall, and chicken wings take some of the blame.

Police in East York responding to an armed mugging of a fast food chicken delivery guy discovered a loaded gun that is believed to have been stolen from the Detroit Police some time ago.

Toronto-area drivers that suddenly get questionable 407 ETR bills (in the tune of hundreds or even thousands of dollars, mostly accrued interest) shouldn't rely on the provincial government to do much about it. According to Transportation Minister Jim Bradley, the 407 "is responsible for establishing its own business practices," and he's "not aware of anything" Queen's Park can do to change it. So what's to stop them from simply holding onto unpaid invoices, sending out notification after waiting for heaps interest to accrue, and then seeking payment?

Photo: "loss" by yourhandinmine, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

Both the Star and the Globe have prominent features on upcoming mayoral candidate George Smitherman. It's interesting to note the different approaches the writers take in alternately describing Smitherman as a "big bully" and a "tamer, gentler George." Despite these differences, they both paint the man as confident and hard working. It looks like it's going to be one hell of a battle between him and John Tory in next year's election.

University students might just get a break on their transportation costs. Of the proposals to be tabled at the TTC's next meeting, one that's getting some traction is the expansion of the student metropass to apply to university level students in addition to current high school users. Amen. I've thought they should do this for years. After all, it's really only by university that a large number of students are actually paying for their pass anyway.

The next phase of H1N1 vaccinations are set to go for Monday, as Toronto's top medical officer, Dr. Arlene King, reports that school-age children and Seniors are now on the priority list for the flu-shot. That's good news, but I wonder why it's only being made available at vaccination clinics and doctor's offices. Wouldn't it make sense to have nurses administer the vaccine at schools, thereby saving parents loads of time and hassle?