Progressive Conservative MPP Bill Murdoch feels that the concerns in smaller rural communities in Ontario are being neglected at Queen's Park because of the Toronto-centric nature of things, and, as such, is suggesting that Toronto become its own province. Citing the population of P.E.I. as proof that it can work, he stopped short of suggesting that we dig a giant moat around the city of Toronto, and push it out onto Lake Ontario.

It's official. Toronto has a new neighbourhood called the "Junction Triangle." Well, it's not a new neighbourhood exactly; it's a newly named part of the city that is in the Junction area and is the shape of a triangle (bounded by Dundas St. W. and Lansdowne Ave. south of Dupont St.). The naming initiative was coined "Fuzzy Boundaries" and there were initially 185 names suggested. 773 residents (of an estimated 7000) voted, which is better than the expected voter turnout. Although just over 10% of the area's inhabitants actually voted, the project was a huge success and civic engagement was certainly achieved.

A TTC bus driver has reportedly been suspended without pay, for allegedly drinking and driving on the job. Passengers called police after observing her erratic driving, and when she was pulled over she blew between 0.05% and 0.08% blood alcohol - high enough to warrant an immediate 72h license suspension. The burning question: Will she be allowed return to the job?

Apparently taking too long to place your order at a Tim Hortons drive-thru can result in you getting your ass kicked. Three guys in a pickup truck got impatient while waiting in line, and when the slow-poke customer got out of his car to calm them down(big mistake!), they collectively thumped him.

The city has quietly made requests for environmental assessment studies for a proposed 24km of bike lanes along Bloor and Danforth. It's a highly contested proposal - one that might become an election wedge issue. Where do you stand on the idea? I'm all for it, if they can make it a dedicated, mini version of the Gardiner and elevate it above the road, or if they push all of the buildings along on both sides of the road back a few feet (i.e. I don't like the idea).

And Toronto Police have begun their annual "Cash for Guns" program, which puts $500 in cash into the hands of anonymous tipsters who lead the boys in blue to illegal guns. The program forces some people to put a value on being a rat, but it has been rather successful in the past, netting 53 guns last year.

Photo: untitled by MHB Photography, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.