"DAY 8 TORONTO: STILL NO END TO STINKY MESS"

Week two of the garbage strike and the city and union couldn't be further apart than ever. Meanwhile, Toronto has itself tons of household waste flooding parks and community centers across the city (with more and more opening each day and) angering residents everywhere. Its heaping tons of garbage just baking in the summer sun. Ahhhh who doesn't like the stench of egg shells, dirty diapers and coffee grinds just lovely! Sadly, there doesn't appear to be an end to this any time soon.

In a time where unemployment is at its highest (and continues to escalate) the unions demands are ridiculously selfish and unrealistic. Their tactics by holding the city hostage is only hurting themselves and further frustrating people who attempt to dispose of their trash. I mean really don't we pay enough taxes to garner a little compensation here? Why is it that I'm paying for services that I'm (or any citizen of this great city) is not receiving? Why doesn't Mayor Miller and our Lordship Premier Dalton McGuinty take this as a hint to step-up to the plate and enforce 'back-to-work legislation' on all this madness. I know, it could be worse, look at Windsor. Their city workers have been on strike since April 11th. Yikes! Now that really stinks!

Let's a take a look at what their demanding shall we? Like fire and police services, they too want to be able to bank and cash their 18 sick days a year upon retirement. One in which is frustrating the heck out of Torontonians. At the very least those other services put their lives on the line daily for the citizens of this city. It's a dangerous job and they should be compensated for it.

Unlike the outside workers who won't even pick up stray recycling if it fell right in front of their feet that continues to flood the street. Heaven forbid there's a windy day and those cans and plastics that are just a centimeter shy of the inside of the collection truck accidentally don't make it in. They're rolling their way down the street (especially if you live on a incline like I do) until they reach the bottom and get caught curbside or on somebodies fence. Also I've seen many a green bin thrown onto the street (yeah, so they get run over by cars and shatter into tiny pieces) instead of the driveways or lawns. Did I happen to mention they're also manhandled by many a garbage collector? The last time I checked they call them 'garbage collectors' aren't they? Guess that's NOT in their job description. Sadly, no one could even dispute this because I've seen it with my very own eyes.

The next issues are scheduling, job security and seniority rights. We all know that job security has been an issue in most (if not all labour disputes) and judging by our economy (or lack there of) it needs to be resuscitated by our ambulance workers (oh wait a minute, their on strike too!) because frankly that hasn't existed in a long time anywhere. Leave it to the unions who have their issues with the City and squeeze all the money they can get out of the poor taxpayers. Shame on you! I say Mayor Miller and Mark Ferguson (Union President of Local 416) should just duke it out once and for all in a cage match and leave the rest of us out of this.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for TO to outsource their garbage removal and avoid any more of this nonsense once this contract is up for renewal again. I know many (including myself) wouldn't mind getting their hands a little dirty to keep the city clean and livable as it should be. A world class city we can proudly continue to call home sans the mountains of rotting waste and unpleasant stench ruining the precious backdrop that we most definitely could do without. Peeeewwwwww! Read more on this article...

"LIQUID FLU ADDICTINGLY FUNNY WITHOUT THE SPLITTING HEADACHE"

What do a tiger, a baby and a chicken haven in common? Give up? They're all involved in a wild night (that no one can seem to remember) in 'The Hangover'. Yes folks, I'd like to think of it as the 'Stag Party' meets 'CSI' minus the roting corpse and Gil Grissom.

Right from the starting gate you knew this wasn't going to be your average bachelor party in Vegas. What I mean is, aside from borrowing your soon to be father-in-laws (yeah he gave them his blessing!) precious Mercedes-Benz (which they trash!) to the $4200 a night villa at Caesar's Palace (yeah they trash that too! Oh you gotta love the smoldering chair!) to the few rhinestones short of a tiara, brother-in-law (who btw resembles actor turned wanna-be rap artist Joaquin Pheonix), this is so far from ordinary it's comically scary. You can thank director Todd Phillips of 'Old School' for this one that's for sure. Mama needs a new pair of pumps and she's talkin' italian designer red leather stiletto's. Oh yeah baby!

Everything starts out...well...normal (whatever your definition of 'normal' is)...the road trip, the check-in, the toast on the hotel rooftop (stunning view of the strip in this part)...then the following morning all hell breaks loose. That's where the groom (Doug) goes MIA and the groomsmen (Phil, Stu, and Alan) go ape-poop over trying to retrace last nights steps. They have to locate him before the wedding (it's only 48 hours away!). Yikes! Oh it's a race for the clock for these guys whose memories are as fuzzy as a naval (get it fuzzy naval?). Add a stolen police car, a missing tooth, a big cat, a sudden impromptu wedding with an exotic dancer (Jade) and an angry Asian man (Mr. Chow) who wants his 80 grand and it's pure madness I tell you! Madness!

The story moves along at a nice steady pace so try not to blink (or at least not so often) or you might miss some valuable information as their time in 'Sin City' unfolds. Since the events work themselves in reverse order (to reveal what they did to get to the point of where they are, and believe me they did a lot!) it sheds light on a night where professionally grown men suddenly turn into wild frat boys running ramp id on spring break. Oh boys will be boys!

You can't help but root (and laugh) for them as they continue on their wild journey to find their buddy all the way to the hilariously funny credits that fill in the blanks of a rather unforgettable night for them and the audience. I'd felt as though I'd tied a few over with the guys myself after having gone along for the ride. It was a hoot! So with that being said I'll give this a 4 knee slapper out of 5. And it's only cause I never found out where the chicken came from. Please do check it out...sober of course.

You know this only enforces the phrase, 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!' Besides, the chicken ain't talkin' (it doesn't have lips anyway!) and neither am I.

THE HANGOVER

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Heather Graham, Jeffrey Tambor and Mike Tyson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OligCf4SyYE&NR=1
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