Photo: "Day: 64/365 (The Child Inside)" by The Taste of Waste, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

You can't buy much for $0.25 these days (not even a phone call at a phone booth), but at a three-day throwback-to-the-1930s sale at Honest Ed's this weekend, a quarter could get you a loaf of bread, a pair of underwear, or a framed oil painting. Line up with your wheel barrows, folks! It's going to be madness in the bread line.

A much needed high speed rail link between Pearson Airport and Union Station in the downtown core is closer to reality today after the Ontario government announced its commitment. Construction will begin later this year, and it should be operational by 2014. And Weston will be just fine.

Earlier this week, Humber College served up "Obama Fried Chicken" as part of its presidential inauguration viewing party menu, and the choice has ruffled some feathers at the NAACP. Was this an acceptable tribute, or an insensitive one? What does it mean when an intended celebration ends up being an offensive gesture?

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The United Way in Toronto has raised a near record amount of funds this year, despite the wild economic downturn, but it wasn't easy. They'll be forced to cut spending to make up for shortcomings. In my opinion, this story speaks to the greater problem that faces both private industry and charities... we set unrealistic goals, see overall failure to grow as loss, and scramble to bring reality closer to expectations only after its too late.

And the pet zapping continues on Toronto's streets, this time in Yorkville. Two more dogs got jolted (but not fatally), by "stray electricity" coming from a utility cover on the walkway. The idea that we have pockets of stray electricity on our pedestrian walks is disconcerting, don't you think? Especially when Hydro Toronto passes the buck to the local BIA. I didn't know BIAs were responsible for hydro safety and infrastructure.