Canada Calls Kosovo Country, Politicos Posture, Peaceable Passenger Pays Price

Ignoring Serbian protests, Canada yesterday recognized the independent state of Kosovo. That's diplomatic recognition, by the way; not looking at a map and saying, "Hey, that's Kosovo!"

Turns out everybody won in yesterday's byelections, if you buy the spin—the Liberals because they scored three of four seats up for grabs, the Conservatives because they took a closely contested seat from the Grits, the Greens because they tripled their previous popularity, and the NDP because...hang on, this is a tough one...oh, yeah, because they came in second to the Liberals in popular vote. Man, we are one glass-half-full kind of country.

Perpetually disgruntled Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said yesterday that Ontario is well on its way to becoming a "have-not" province within two or three years if it doesn't change its tax policies. It's unclear why he takes so much pleasure in the idea.

A man who said hello to a stranger sitting next to him on a bus in the west end was followed off the bus and stabbed by the offended greetee. The victim was not seriously injured, but did require stitches. Yep, the TTC is now officially on New York rules: look straight ahead, don't speak, and keep at least one hand in your pocket as if armed.

The U.S. Federal Reserve slashed interest rates by another 75 basis points, hoping that more firm—and virtually unprecedented—action would prevent market panic. On the other hand, if you're on a plane and the engines are making funny noises, do you feel better if the flight attendants start putting on parachutes?

Photo by r@veneyes from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.