the slippery slope and the thin edge of the wedge

I'm all for catching the Parkdale killer, but I'm not comfortable with this tactic.

A team of 20 officers is going door to door, asking residents to sign a consent form allowing a search of closets, basements and freezers, looking for evidence linked to the discovery of a woman's dismembered torso in an alleyway three weeks ago.

...

Almost everyone in Parkdale who has been asked has let officers in. But police confirm that saying no will land a resident on a list of potential murder suspects.

By the sounds of it, they are pressuring people fairly strongly. Call me selfish, call me lacking in public spirit, but I'd be inclined to say "No. You want to consider me a suspect? You want to search my house? Fine. Come back with a warrant."

Of course, I'm a white, educated, Canadian-born female, which is likely to put me at the bottom of a list of suspects and means I have more resources for standing up for my rights. If I were an immigrant from a police state, I suspect this would freak me right the hell out.

(I'm also quite surprised by the number of people on toronto who are saying "Sure, I'd let them in.")

(no subject)

"Aspiration" is code for "Nothing you do will ever be quite good enough. So buy our stuff!"

The colleague who sent me that link also tells me that apparently some mothers and daughters are watching America's Next Top Model as a "bonding experience." I hope that means they're engaging in heartfelt discussions about modern North American standards of beauty and objectification, but I have a feeling this is not the case.

House update: Tuesday

my aunt reports:

To all,
Today, for lunch we had chunks off the leftover spiral-cut ham, cheese, bread and cole slaw.

Dan worked in Ice Station Zebra this morning. (I supplied the house with an Advent Calendar.)

Brian the Tile came and asked that we reinforce the floor under Jen's bathroom and provide a door sill. Also, Robin, could you decide on the marble (marble!!!?) you would like for your bathroom door sill.

Jen was encouraged last night when we watched a home reno show, in which it took 4 months to reno a 3 room, one-floor area that had already had the basics--plumbing, wiring, insulation--done and there were lots and lots of workers.

John and Dan are off in the truck.

Cheers to all, Love Helen

I had no idea what this decision involved, but Jen said it meant "black or white?", so I went with black. Unless Brian the Tile says that will look bad.

Also, I fear there may be difficulty with the mechanical permit. Playing telephone tag with my cousin. Oh dear...