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| Mayor Rob Ford |
Former Toronto mayor David Miller's five-cent fee for a plastic bag that was implemented in 2009 may be coming to an end, Mayor Ford saying the tax has "served it's purpose." The 'purpose' in question was to reduce plastic bag consumption and city staff estimate usage has dropped from 457 million bags annually to 215 million bags. The problem with the fee is the retailers keep the five cents with no real tax imposed upon the store or grocer so they stand to make a huge profit from being 'green.' So, the question is, how can this tax be used maybe for some kind of environmental good, whatever that cause may be - there's enough causes out there that need money - instead of just being pocketed by the retailers. Some of the city's staff has suggested try ask the major retailers to voluntarily donate the revenue to go towards saving trees from some infestation of the emerald ash borer bug, which has damaged the crap out of a lot of trees. That's a thought, but was vetoed and the by-law should be rescinded by July 1, 2012. I'll be honest, I used them for garbage bags and I haven't bought a box of those for years, and sure, I bring a backpack but I have no problem getting a bag or two, because I reuse them. Isn't that what being green's all about? Switch back to paper bags maybe?
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A 44 year old Hawaiian has set the Guinness Book of World Records mark for surfing the BIGGEST WAVE EVER, BRO! Or other surf talk. The wave measured at a colossal 78 feet tall or 23.77 meters, which snuck up behind him while he as surfing at a competition in Portugal. Apparently, the measuring of the wave was a total pain in the butt. The wave's size was measured by taking the length of Garrett's tibia, while he was in a crouch position on the wave, then using video of the event, and with some complex math Guinness determined the size of the wave. Cowabunga!
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Our prayers have been answered! The emo haircuts will soon be coming to an end! It has been reported that emo cuts could lead to a "lazy eye epidemic." Andrew Hogan, executive member of Optometrists Association Australia told The Mercury newspaper that long, lopsided bangs act like an eye patch, blocking sunlight and sensory input in one eye. Over time the one eye becomes short-sighted and weak causing lazy eye. So not only does it look really, really stupid but it can impair you vision. So do the math kids, cut your hair. It hasn't been reported whether their terrible music will stop.
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Mick Jagger will be making his third appearance on SNL and his first time as host in the season finale May 19. Along with his hosting duties he will be performing with the Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire and Jeff Beck, but will not be joined on stage by fellow Stone Keith Richards, who said he will be watching. As for 2012, marking the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones, Keith went on to say that they will not tour this year to commemorate it but that 2013 is the new goal. Always the rational thinker, Keith noted that Charlie Watts didn't actually join the band until January of 1963. Therefore 2013 is the actual birth year of the Stones and he looks at 1962 as merely the year of conception. Brilliant!
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The singer of Against Me! Tom Gabel will be detailing his plans to become a woman in the new issue of Rolling Stone. He has suffered from gender dysphoria for years and is soon starting medical procedures to change into and live as a woman. Gabel will now be known as Laura Jane Grace and will be married to his current spouse Heather noting "For me, the most terrifying thing about this was how she would accept the news. But she's been super-amazing and understanding." Against Me! started off as a solo project for Gabel who was joined by a rotating cast of musicians before finally solidifying their line up, releasing their debut album on No Idea Records in 1997. Two more full length's on Fat Mike's San Francisco based Fat Wreck Chords before switching over to major label Sire Records for two records. Against Me! will continue to perform once Gabel's hormone and electrolysis treatments are completed. Here is a song from their second album on Fat:
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Speaking of killer new tunes, while recording their latest album with former Alexisonfire guitarist Wade McNeil rocking the mic, UK based Gallows have put out a cover of Minor Threat's "Seeing Red"
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The final four has been set in the NHL playoffs. In the East, a classic matchup, New York Rangers taking on their Hudson River rivals the New Jersey Devils. The Rangers got the better of the Devils tonight with a 3-0 victory, while the LA Kings beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-2 in their game 1 matchup on Sunday night. Second round wasn't quite as great as the first. My second round picks also got murdered, well, I split the four series with the Rangers and Kings making it through and I'm sticking with them here in the third round. I'll take the Rangers in seven and Kings in six, but I've lost twice betting against the Coyotes already.
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And in response to the huge success of the Tupac hologram 'performance', Coachella has released their line up for next year's festival. Decent show!
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