An Indonesian Earthquake Prompts a Tsunami Warning in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian countries are facing a tsunami alert, after a massive earthquake of 8.6 magnitude struck under Indonesia’s northern Aceh province.
The impact of the earthquake remains unclear, for now, but citizens are being encouraged to “take appropriate action.”
The Indian Ocean is an at-risk area for earthquakes and their aftershocks. The province of Aceh was hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, killing 170, 000 in the process.
This time around, according to reporters on the ground in Jakarta, the ground was shaking for what felt like five minutes.
The Toronto Casino Vote Might Go to a Referendum
Hey, a referendum might be better than a vote like this one, right?
Meanwhile, if the head of the city’s economic development committee gets his way, the Toronto casino vote might go to a referendum as early as this October.
Councillor Michael Thompson is going “all-in,” pushing for a mid-term public vote on whether the city should pursue the casino based on the recommendation from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. Though Mayor Rob Ford and his brother, Councillor Doug Ford have supported other motions for referenda before, it seems they may do so again in this case.
But, other councillors are not betting on it. With estimates that a referendum might cost the city up to $7-million, the councillors may just split their hands, and vote on it themselves instead.
City Hall goes Tokyo… For a Movie with Stringer Bell
Oh, just some casual Japanese doomsday signage behind City Hall. Image: @ChrisBoutet
If you’re looking for a total time warp, take a stroll down Elizabeth Street which runs north of City Hall. Yes, the same City Hall which was once blown up in a Resident Evil movie, is now being transformed into a mini-Tokyo for a monster movie known as Pacific Rim (or Silent Seas).
Yup, Elizabeth Street is plastered with Tokyo-related signage, Japanese characters and cars – far different from the typical Toronto signage for the NYPD, Total Recall hovercars on Lakeshore, or, you know, Covert Affairs, which seems to never stop shooting in the city.
The film is directed by Pan’s Labyrinth helmer Guillermo Del Toro, and stars the Golden Globe-winning Idris Elba, best known as Stringer Bell from The Wire.
But seriously, check it out. The movie is scheduled to finish filming in April, so get your mini-tours in now. Well, I know how I’m spending my lunch breaks, anyway. After all, who wouldn’t love to track down Elba and tell him how much they loved his work in 2009’s Obsessed? DEREK!
Besides, you only live once (YOLO).
A YOLO streaker at Tuesday night’s Jays game. Image: Slums.BoxDen.com
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Joanna Adams writes for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at†@nowstarringTO.
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