Responding to a question as to whether he lost the support of councillor Josh Matlow and other so-called "middle" councillors given last week's 2012 budget vote, Rob Ford told AM 640 that those councillors were "two steps left of Joe Stalin." Yes, the murderous dictator. The councillors in question? Matlow, Gord Perks, Adam Vaughan, Paula Fletcher and Janet Davis. I can see disagreeing with someone's politics, but drawing comparisons to a terrorizing fascist? That's a bit much.

Should Toronto look to Los Angeles for its transit vision? Spacing's John Lorinc's argues that the car-addicted city, infamously known for its brutal gridlock, has "found religion on transit" over the past three years, thanks to a half-cent on the dollar sales tax hike, championed by the city's mayor. The tax increase iwill raise an estimated $40 billion to pay for new transit vehicles, road improvements, and cycling infrastructure over a mandated 30-year duration, as well as create thousands of jobs.

Speaking of transit, TTC Karen Stintz and a group of other councillors are proposing that the eastern section of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT be run above ground in order to divert funds to the Sheppard subway extension and a busway on Finch. No one's calling it Transit City — because it'd be idiotic to do so — but this proposal might be the type of compromise the city needs.

Remember Ontario Place's grand plan for revitalization back in 2010? So what happened? Basically, they're waiting for the Ministry of Tourism, which operates Ontario Place, to make some kind of announcement. Apparently the Ministry is still considering options for the future of Ontario Place and can't confirm time table now.

Two Toronto teens released a Lego man into space and he returned with an amazing story to tell. Mathew Ho and Asad Muhammad released a balloon containing a Lego man and four cameras into the sky, just for something to do (they're 17). Ninety-seven minutes later, it fell back to Earth with amazing footage, including the Lego spinning at an altitude three time higher than the peak of Mount Everest.

IN BRIEF:

• Leafs beat Islanders in OT
• Raptors finally win one against Suns
• Deal could end part of YRT strike

Photo by MustGoFaster in the blogTO Flickr pool