Photo: "Downpour" by Jose, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Thursday July 31st, 2008:

July's relentless, record rain resulted in a lot of whiny water cooler banter, but also put some of our infrastructure to the test (flooding sewer systems, hydro vault explosions, etc). Forecasters are predicting a much less thunderstorm and party-ruining, rain-ridden August, so perhaps we'll feel like we're having a summer after all.

The CRTC (finally!) is set to introduce a "do not call" registry system to introduce a mechanism for (almost!) putting end to annoying, unsolicited marketing/research calls. Exemptions will exists: businesses that have already established a relationship with you (for example, your mobile phone carrier), political parties, polling companies, newspaper publishers seeking new subscriptions, and registered charities will still be able to interrupt your most intimate Saturday afternoon with the family.

The much debated topic of driving while using a cell phone is back on the news radar. The Ontario government has plans to introduce legislation in the fall, mkng driverr dirtactions illgal n pnishable by steeep fines or imprisonmnt.

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Hording of thousands of stolen bikes isn't the only accusation Igor Kenk is facing. Police claim to have discovered and collected over 15lbs of marijuana while conducting garage raids. Looks like the accused's problems are growing.

Even concert tickets are going up due to rising fuel costs. Or are Bon Jovi ($88) and Leonard Cohen ($112) just greedy, scapegoating rock star? Hmmmm.

Airport border staff at Pearson will be getting sensitivity training so that they can better deal with Arab and Muslim passengers. Having never had any difficulties of the sort myself, I can only surmise that any steps in the direction of reducing ethnic or religious profiling would be welcome changes.