"36: MAGIC NUMBER ENDS GARBAGE STRIKE"

Outside workers (6,200 of them) are breathing a sigh of relief today after 36 days on the picket lines. Yes folks, the City and the Union have reached a tentative agreement that has ended the strike. After marathon talks right down to the wire CUPE (Local 416) President, Mark Ferguson announced that a deal was made that was fair and they could be proud of even though compromises were made. However, the details of the agreement have not been made public as of yet.

Meanwhile, talks still continue with CUPE (Local 79) representing the 18,000 inside workers also looking for a similar collective agreement. Local 416 is leading support to its sister union (Local 79) and once a deal is agreed upon they'll all be back to work. On June 22, 24,000 municipal workers including garbage collectors, paramedics, Ferry services, city-run daycares, summer camps, swimming pools, park and recreation services, all walked off the job holding the city hostage.

I'm scratching my head as to what they considered to be a 'fair agreement'. It's been no secret that Miller has gone publicly to say that they didn't have the funds in the city's budget to give into their demands while calling them unreasonable and selfish (without actually uttering those words). Ferguson went onto mention that by the city taking the "last concession off the table" an agreement was made possible. Could it be that Miller gave into their demands? After all Ferguson maintained all along that they would 'end this strike like they began'. No one will know until those 'details' are made public (or our taxes are increased - lucky us! NOT!). However, I can go on to tell you that this whole fiasco has left a very bad taste in the mouths (and stench in the noses) of Torontonians. So much so that I think this just might be the nail in the coffin for him come election time. Bottom line, this strike should never have happened.

You know when your city is featured on CNN, and not because of it's scenic beauty or world renown international cuisine but rather for its mountains of garbage which only discourages tourism you have a problem (and Houston isn't going to help you either). Hey, it's only summer and we only thrive on people spending their almighty dollars. A feature in Canada's very own 'Maclean's' magazine with the cover reading 'Toronto Stinks' with a caricature of Miller in a trash can sporting a banana peel on his head only adds to this city's tarnished image as a clean place with lots of things to do and fresh air. We all know that's been replaced by overflowing trash bins, the stench of mounting garbage and suspended city-run services. Yeah, that's a first class city if I ever saw it. It turns its citizens into second class. How appalling is that!

But then I look at Windsor and think things could have been worse. It only took 101 days of arguing and the dreaded name calling to finally reach a deal for that city last Friday. That truly was a city under siege. Imagine if that was TO? Add a Pride Parade, Indie Weekend, a Taste of this and that festivals, and Carbana to the mix and you have one solid mess on your hands. Oh and I'm not even going to touch the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). Yuck!

Why do I have this sneaky suspicion that Torontonians won't be too happy once the details of this agreement are revealed? You know it's just too bad we don't have a Union that represents the citizens of this city. I could just see it now turning the tables on them. We'd hold the city hostage by not pay our taxes and we'd still get the services anyway. After all isn't that what's happening to us anyway? Hey, a girl can dream. But wouldn't that be something eh? Wouldn't that be something..... Read more on this article...

"EVIL QUEEN'S ONE GREAT DAME IN MY BOOK"

A so called know it all magic mirror, a poisoned apple and seven little people. Who knew that these were deciding factors in my career choice? I certainly didn't at least not at the time. But now, I can easily blame it on the wicked Queen. Yeah, it's all her fault with that sinister mean streak of hers.I mean what's up with tainted fruit and falling into a deep sleep?

Snow White didn't stand a chance, that is until the handsome Prince laid that magic kiss on her breaking the spell. Oh that idiot! It's characters like that that are a writers (okay, I mean my) worst nightmare and although 'happily ever afters' are what Disney looks for a writer like me doesn't. Sadly, the story ends there. Yada, yada, yada you must be thinking (had to throw in a little Seinfeld in that) but where is the meat and potatoes of the story? Yeah, the wicked Queen hello? If I had a lousy mirror telling me Snow White's 'hot and I'm not' I'd want my money back. Damn you Home Sense!

So let's have a little fun with this and dissect the two female leads shall we? Exhibit A: the wicked Stepmother/Queen. Yeah, she was pretty hot (a little weird and obsessed but still strikingly attractive in a evil kinda way). Her 'drama queen' antics just added to her obsession with that no-nonsense do-gooder White. Hey, who else would go to the extreme of disguising herself to ensure she did the deed. It's called eliminate the competition baby! Her wheels were always turning trying to successfully execute White's demise through the most homely of disguises. An old peasant woman. Impressive!

Onto Exhibit B: Snow White. Well, how exactly do I say this without sounding one sided. Okay how about drab, bland and uh boring. Yup, a regular 'yawnfest' here. So she was sweet, and kind and talked to the animals (guess Dr. Doolittle has a predecessor eh?) but she was flat out borrrrring. The rest of the time she spent shacked up in a tiny cottage with seven moody miners all of which seems quite strange. I often wondered about that whole dwarf business. Least I can figure Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy and Sneezy were in dire need of a little eye candy when they got home from all those hours in that dark and dreary mine together. Gives a whole new meaning to 'whistle while you work' now doesn't it? Yeaowzaaaa!

However, I will admit to this. Snow White was cute and perky, in a girl next door kinda way (not that there's anything wrong with that-yes, I'm referencing Seinfeld again, but it's MY story and I'll do with it as I please!) but still her character lacked some serious depth. What can I say I've got a thing for villains. Evil stark raving mad villains. Oh how I love them!

Which reminds me, it was my third grade class play of Snow White that sparked the writing bug. The wicked Queen initially caught my attention driving me to try out for it. Once I got the part I was unstoppable. Her evil cackle along with her hidden agenda completely sold me on the role. After all I thought she was by far one of the most vital characters of the fairy tale. The sheer irony of it all evolved totally around her. Ahhhh....be still my heart! Yes, I was going to make her evil royal highness come to life and did I ever. Muhahahahaha!

So with that being said, I'd like to express my thanks to her for stimulating my imagination as a impressionable eight year-old by allowing me to spread my creative wings and soar to new and exciting heights as an up and coming (hopefully) future writer. I now know the true meaning behind the line made famous by the 'Diva of Darkness' herself. Mirror, mirror on the wall who's the fairest writer of them all? You are (of course!) and I lived happily ever after. Yeah, I finally have hand! Sorry, I just couldn't resist. THE END! Read more on this article...

"PRIDE OF THE EAST....YUMMMM"

With my addiction to italian food (although no one could ever wen me off of it!) I admit that I've neglected other tasty foods from other parts of the globe. So here I've proven that I've indeed expanded my horizons beyond the 'old country' to find that I too can find contentment in other establishments having absolutely nothing to do with my heritage.

Each time I venture out of, what I like to call 'my little pasta-pizza bubble' I always manage to find something on the menu that appeals to my discerning palette. This time it was no exception. The 'Eastern Restaurant' is as far out of the box as I've been meaning it's out in Markham. The drive is 30 minutes (Hwy 401 east, to Hwy 404, exit at 16th Avenue) but well worth it!

This place is tiny like a bachelor pad without the bachelor. Frankly, if you're looking for spacious this definitely isn't it. However, it's quaintness, friendly (and fast) service is just perfect for the complete dining experience right down to its tranquil carp tank on display. The main attraction (of course) is the awesome food and let me just say the 'Mandarin' it isn't! With no disrespect to the Mandarin, Eastern's food is freshly prepared just for you (it kinda makes you feel special) as you wait (and in record time, it only took 20 minutes) so none of the food sits under hot lights as it would in a typical buffet setting.

I ordered a 'spring roll', 'pork fried rice', 'sweet and sour chicken balls' (there were 12 in total), 'thick Shanghai noodles with beef' (with a nice kick to them, although you can make them as spicy as you desire), and 'mixed vegetables'. Each dish (all of which were generous portions) came out slowly giving me ample time to thoroughly enjoy (and digest) your previous dishes, until they were all out on the table. Being bombarded with plate after plate (in other places) gives it an 'assembly line' feel to it, which shouldn't be a factor in dining. Save that for the Chrysler plant!

The prices are reasonable (2 can dine for $50) so it keeps me coming back again and again. They do offer take-out but sadly residing in North York it would be a huge stretch for them to deliver as they're located in York Region. That is why I make sure I order extra food to go for those cravings that seem to creep up just when I get home. Oh those darn Shanghai noodles! Yummy!

Oh and in case you're wondering, yes you do get a fortune cookie at the end of your meal. Mine read, 'Stop procrastinating - starting now'. Translation: You owe it to yourself to try this place pronto. Yes, that means now!

Just don't forget to pick me up an order of spicy thick Shanghai beef noodles to go when you're done please. Thanks!

EASTERN RESTAURANT
1 Stone Mason Drive (between Woolen Mill & 16th Avenue)
Markham, Ontario
L3P-6X2
905-294-0892 Read more on this article...

"ATTENTION: BAGLESS WONDERS, THE VERDICT IS IN"

What retailers giveth, retailers taketh away. Well, that's not entirely true unless you have a nickel per bag to shell out. This used to be true but only for most supermarket chains. Sadly, it's not only taken a hold of Zeller's, Winners, Rona and all stores across the board for that matter. It's gone as far as to trickle all the way down to the dollar store level which frankly I'm appalled with.

I realize the rules must be enforced all across the board but come on people. It makes my blood boil to be asked by the cashier if I want a bag with that after purchasing a measly greeting card. What am I going to do with it after I'm done with it. I certainly can't line my green bin with it. I can't bag a lunch in it. I can't even line my birdcage with it. A bag that size (although it costs the same as a standard bag) serves absolutely no purpose other than to conceal the nature of the item to others outside the store. That's it.

Lately, I've been observing other shoppers in hopes of getting to the bottom of this whole 'bag less' issue and how others (like myself) are handling it. Oh and have I noticed a lot. While a select few use reusable bags at the check-out the majority would rather opt to carry their items (if only a few) by hand out of the store. But for those with shopping carts filled to capacity they don't have the same luxury (if you want to call it that). So they wheel their purchases to their cars where something else becomes apparent. Their trunks permanently house a plastic laundry tub (no doubt purchased at the Looney Store - hey why spend even more money if you don't have to right?) or cardboard boxes (supplied for free at select grocers) to avoid spending any additional monies on plastic or those bacteria-salmonella breeding reusable bags they've been plugging for awhile now (which incidentally cost 99 cents each). No thank you!

To say life as we know it has changed enormously would be an understatement. Yes, that's to be expected considering we've come a long way from paper bags. Which brings me to my next point. I wish they'd thought this out more thoroughly before implementing something that continues to have a domino effect on our daily lives. I mean weren't plastic bags introduced to make the consumers life easier? Seems like anything that is that is supposed to make our lives easier turns into a nightmare somewhere down the road doesn't it? Suddenly after years of studies and clogging the system (oh they're bad for the environment yeah I know!) they brought about recycling. While recycling did actually work, repeating the process would have the plastic become so paper thin that it started to resemble tissue paper. Bag handles would snap, the bottoms would split and we're right back where we started from.

So why not just stop all this nonsense and bring back the good ol' paper bag. If it was good enough for us back then why isn't it good for us now? I know, I know, out there there must be millions of tree-huggers who are ready to blow a gasket (which is very bad for the environment I'd like to add). I can just hear them now. Cut down more trees for this? How dare you! Well, let me just say this in my defence (and I'm sure millions more are thinking the same thing) this would be a good solution and on many fronts. Financially it would put money in the consumers pocket (which means spending elsewhere - yeah good for the economy!) without having to fumble for a nickel each time we venture into the world of retail. Next, we have an environmental benefit (good for the tree-huggers, nature lovers and eco-green worshippers - yup you can all clap now!) because paper as we all know it is biodegradable. Yes, that means less plastic bags to further clog our landfills and we'd still have our bags (although paper) to line our green bins with. You see, it's a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Plastic bag usage has sharply declined according to an article in the Toronto Star. Metro (in Ontario and Quebec) who was the only store (so why are all the rest of the retailers being so tight lipped about these stats eh?) to reveal their statistics since the fee was introduced last month reported a 70 percent decline while their reusable bags have skyrocketed which have become a profitable exchange. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'charge it' doesn't it?

Who knew it would go into a state of extinction? The T-Rex, the Ford Pinto, the VHS and pretty soon the plastic bag? Pfffff....Well, until my plastic grocery bags are ripping at their proverbial seams. Until I'm left with one handle and until I've hit that bag less oasis in the desert that continuously asks me for five cents a pop. I'll be carrying (or wheeling) my purchases to my car one grocery shopping day at a time. This frustrated consumer has left the building. Thank-you....Thank-you very much! Read more on this article...