Photo: "Skates Eye View" by blogTO Flickr pooler ariehsinger.

Your morning news roundup for Tuesday February 12th, 2008:

How much would you say it costs to take a cab from the entertainment district to St.Clair & Spadina? Not $2200, that's for sure. Despite the arrest of a suspected taxi con back in November, people continue to get taken in a bait and switch debit card scam pulled off by very naughty cabbies.

City recreation permit fees were going to get a huge hike in 2008 (24%), but after the public responded in uproar, Mayor Miller stepped in and made some changes. We now should expect an 8% fee hike, with the difference being made up through a (hoped-for) reduction in the welfare caseload. That's wishful thinking at best, if you ask me.

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What happens when Crackberry addicts lose their connection and can't get their fix for like, 2 hours!? Do they actual start to look up at other people during lunch (gasp!)? Do they regain feeling in their thumbtips (gasp!)? Do they go fetal, and start to rock back and forth while muttering "buy low, sell high... buy low, sell high..."? Research in Motion is sorry that their network failed them for the second time within a year.

According to police, thousands of Torontonians use their computers to distribute child pornography. The OPP are set to announce the details of what's being called the largest child porn bust in Ontario history. While the news is rather sickening, it's good to know that police resources are being used to stop such crimes on the net (rather than hunting down criminals that are sharing variable bitrate copies of Kanye West's latest pop song, for example).

After more than 3 years in court, a freelance writer in Toronto was fined $250 for what ultimately amounted to his exposing a major flaw in our federal election policies. He was able to secure more than one vote in the 2004 federal election. He gets a slap on the wrist, and we all get an amendment to our federal elections act. Well done, James DiFiore!