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Morning Brew: Suspected Child Abductor Arrested, Divorce Procedure Changes, Olympic Flame Protest, Blackberry Network Problems, Sex Toy Regulations
Photo: "southpaw" by tomms, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.
What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):
A suspected child abductor was arrested in Etobicoke yesterday, after allegedly being caught in the act by a group of citizens. While trying to force a 12-year old girl into his car, concerned witnesses intervened and held the suspect until police arrived. Police have released James Troisi's name and photo because they have reason to believe that he's responsible for other recent abduction attempts in the area and they want people to come forward. I wonder what Kensington shopkeeper David Chen thinks about this incident, where, much like in his shoplifter apprehension case, citizens forcibly confined a suspect.
Getting a divorce in Ontario is a common, lengthy, and emotional experience that often ends up costing families a boatload of money. Proposed changes to divorce procedures in the province aim to educate potential divorcees and help make the process less taxing through improved early access to legal advice, and diversion from combative approaches to options like mediation and arbitration. Divorce lawyers like being hired to work common, lengthy, and emotional experiences, so this isn't likely going to be a move they wholeheartedly support. The ones that have hearts, anyway.
Toronto is all abuzz for the arrival and parading of the 2010 Olympic flame. And a little rain on the parade - in the form of a small protest that managed to force diversion of the icon from its planned route - is getting lots of media attention. The "Toronto Extinguish the Torch Committee" argues that the Vancouver Olympics should not be held on lands stolen from Native peoples, and that hosting the event (and the G20 and the 2015 Pan-Am Games) "attack people's sovereignty and self-determination."
A Toronto Star investigation into off-duty, uniformed, paid police work has prompted a push for a more in-depth investigation by Toronto's auditor general. The most important question: how much (if any) funds for paying these officer gigs ends up coming from taxpayer coffers? And why has the union that represents police officers been unopposed in its requests for pay increases (only now capped at $65/hr) since 1957?
Blackberry users had a temporary but annoying email blackout yesterday, which RIM had to fix on the fly. The last major network disruption of this kind happened in February of 2008, which makes me think that they're doing pretty well with keeping down-time to a minimum.
Did you know that many sex toys contain toxic bisphenol A, and aren't regulated for this under federal product safety protocols? A Toronto-based MP wants this to change. In the meantime, perhaps consider some of the alternatives.
And the Toronto Sun is on the verge of creating lasting trauma for their readers. Their 187625th TTC suicide story reveals nothing that the previous 187624 didn't already.
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Because they're going to leech so much BPA in the little time they're used. That BPA is then going to penetrate the epithelial cells that are so porous.
Oh, wait, it's completely bogus scaremongering with no plausible mechanism of action!
If you want to be cautious, avoid BPA as a container for things you're going to ingest, since the liquids will have a substantial amount of time to absorb and will then get into your gut. Or avoid it in soothers and other things that kids will gnaw on for very long periods. But have some rationality and understanding of how the body and chemical reactions actually work.
Same old anti-establishment protest group using another excuse to protest.
Have these people tried talking to Canada's aboriginal population? I have as I have many in my extended family and grew up steps away from Tyendenaga. I don't know a single person in that group who is against the Olympics. In fact, most of them are excited that the whole thing is bringing recognition to their communities (My west coast relatives especially).
One friend of mine expressed dismay at the actions of the protesters last night because he felt that all it does was lower people's opinion of them and their culture. Before you fight a battle in honour of a particular group, perhaps you should look into whether they want you fighting that battle or not.
Under 'why we must block the torch' the first paragraph reads:
<i>Olympics are like Christmas: they might pretend to have a noble origin, but nowadays they are so diluted by commercial interests that the noble goal has all but disappeared. However, in contrast to the December celebrations, the Olympics are not powered by small enterprises, but by giant consortiums building highways, transit systems and sports stadiums. While parading across town pretending to spread Olympic goodwill, they are actually riding the crazy train of greedy corporations invading Native territories with the help of the government.</i>
They don't even mention aboriginal people until the last thought of the last sentence. Read the whole thing even. It is abundantly clear that the rights of Canada's aboriginal population is the last thing on their mind.
Protest is valid - disruption of this nature is not, especially when hiding behind balaclavas as at least one individual was pictured doing.
Hey dimwits - if you want public support disrupt Ben Mulroney, Leah Miller, Marilyn Denis, Ann Rohmer and all the other CTVers pimping their employer - don't take away from an 83 year old guy who actually WON a gold medal.