Morning Brew: October 1st, 2008

carrots at marketPhoto: "Fresh From Greenfields" by sniderscion, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Wednesday October 1st, 2008:

Forget about bringing in much needed city revenue by taxing drivers and homebuyers in Toronto. Perhaps what we should be doing instead is taxing the stupid and gambling addicted - those that play scratch tickets, lottery, horse racing, and slots!

Could the solution to Toronto's homeless problem lie in turning inexpensive shipping containers into makeshift dwellings? Where in the city would they end up being located? How long would it take before some nut politician proposes that we fill them up and ship them far away?

The province's Ombudsman has slammed the Special Investigations Unit, accusing the "toothless" watchdog organization of being very clearly biased in favour of police. If the public can't trust that the police will be held accountable for their actions, then the public can't have any trust in the police.

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How lowly can one be? Finding shit (literally) smeared on the front doors of a place of religion has Pickering residents and Durham police lashing out at the unknown culprit and has us wondering just how well we actually do all get along.

As Ontario's economic situation worsens and jobs continue to get axed, it may be time to consider options not so favourable - like moving to Saskatchewan to work for big oil. They'll even supply you with boots and a hammer, folks.

And Mississauga Transit workers will be voting to ratify their newest contract tomorrow. I think I speak for many when I say that it's a little easier for transit riders to breathe, knowing that a certain slick someone isn't at the helm on this one.

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I tend to think a closer look at restoring our mental health industry may be a better bet to help with this towns homeless problem, rather than ikea'ing up a bunch of glorified dumpsters.

Posted by: thom at October 1, 2008 8:54 AM

Aren't lotteries and slots -already- taxes on the stupid?

And although I don't at all condone the temple vandalism, is it wrong I was more shocked that the temple has a gift shop?

Posted by: serotonin at October 1, 2008 8:54 AM

Why not just say Hindu temple? I can't decide if the generality is meant to promote or deter people from clicking the link to find out?

Posted by: Andrew at October 1, 2008 9:15 AM

I think you're reading into it too deeply, Andrew. But Hindu temple, Islamic mosque, Catholic church, or Ralien launch pad... it'd be equally disturbing regardless of the religious target, IMO.

Posted by: Jerrold at October 1, 2008 9:19 AM

Shit, I'm surprised the the christians haven't thought up this gift shop idea yet

Posted by: George at October 1, 2008 10:05 AM

... nevermind... on further research it is quite common.

Posted by: George at October 1, 2008 10:11 AM

Hey George.. there are Christian groups that make a mint by ripping off every successful idea and somehow not getting prosecuted for it
http://www.christiangear.com/new-items.html
http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/09/24/guitar-praise-developer-ponders-christian-gta/

etc.

Posted by: gegtik at October 1, 2008 10:13 AM

The most commercialized religious location I've ever been to was the gift shop at the top of Ushiku Daibutsu in Japan.

Posted by: Jerrold at October 1, 2008 11:20 AM

don't forget this ridiculous website aimed at kids:
http://objectiveministries.org/kidz/

check out Professor Giraffenstein's (Jewish Giraffe on a Christian website?) quiz.

Posted by: nippleholic at October 1, 2008 11:24 AM

That objective ministries site is clearly a parody.

The religious shirts link scares the living shit out of me. "He died for me, I live for him." It sends chills up and down my spine.

Posted by: Ben at October 1, 2008 11:35 AM

"He died for me, I live for him."
Sounds like a Kurt Cobain Tshirt.

Thanks for using my image.

Posted by: sniderscion [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 1, 2008 1:10 PM

I love love love the idea of shipping-container housing. When I lived in Amsterdam, I would love to bike by this shipping-container student housing in the north part of the city:

http://www.mimoa.nl/projects/Netherlands/Amsterdam/Studenthousing%20Oslofjordweg
http://boingboing.hexten.net/2007/10/13/shipping-containers.html

It's high-time Toronto did something so cool! And it doesn't have to just be for the home-less. Here are some more links:

http://www.tempohousing.com/projects/keetwonen.html
http://www.containerhomes-info.com/
http://zerocabin.com/
http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/08/24/prefab-friday-keetwonen-container-student-housing/

Thanks!

Posted by: mmmmmmmmmmmmm at October 1, 2008 1:30 PM

The idea of using shipping containers is not a new one, and in fact is a rather interesting idea. Called "Plug and Play" the concept is one where, rather than having to pack up your place and move and then unpack all over again, you just put your entire place onto a flatbed and go where ever you wish.
Here's the link:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/01/shipping_contai.php

Posted by: Christopher King at October 1, 2008 7:24 PM

why was my comments not added? was it offensive?

Posted by: mmmmmmmmmmmmm at October 2, 2008 11:12 AM

I just found your comment in our spam folder and unspammed it... when you include so many URLs (a common spam strategy), our spam filter catches it.

Posted by: Jerrold at October 2, 2008 11:30 AM

Uh, thanks! Sorry about that - I just got kinda excited about the whole "container-housing" idea! Glad you featured it on BlogTO :)

Posted by: mmmmmmmmmmmmm at October 2, 2008 3:36 PM

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