We're nearing the end of Day 12 of the unionized city workers strike, and Toronto is neither in a state of total mayhem nor is it clearly on its way to becoming a diseased-filled cesspool. But things are definitely getting messy and stinky in some parts. Garbage is piling up at residents' homes and it's overflowing at some of the temporary dump sites in parks.

Not everyone has the ability to store their own waste. Not everyone has the time or the courage to cross picket lines, or the physical ability to take their garbage to one of the city's temporary garbage dump sites or the few larger, permanent transfer stations. This is where established private companies, and other, less established (some cash hungry opportunists, no doubt) come in.

Private garbage collection services are seemingly popping up in this city faster than poutine restaurants and construction pylons.

Photo: "Riding in Style" by Gabi~, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

A fight that was caught on surveillance video near Yonge-Dundas Square on June 20th (and resulted in a man nearly dying and being knocked into a coma for over a week) also shows a number of witnesses who haven't come forward to help police identify the suspect. One witness even appears to be recording the incident on video on her cell phone. Hopefully she isn't saving the video for her friends' amusement or for a yet-to-be created Toronto Cell Phone Fights YouTube account.

A massive fire that gutted a Mississauga townhouse complex that was still under construction, causing over $10-million in damage, appears to have been arson. Surveillance video shows a figure dressed head to toe in black, lurking around the site before the fire began. The problem is that the still images from the video show nothing more than a figure dressed in black... not much to go on, unless witnesses with a better description can be found.

When an accident results in a radio station's helium-filled mascot flying away, and that mascot happens to be a pig, it makes you wonder if it was an accident or a clever publicity stunt. The media love telling stories that start with cheesy lines like "we all know pigs don't fly, but yesterday in Barrie..." There's a $1000 reward offered for the person that finds the runaway balloon.

Photo: "Open For Business!" by dzgnboy, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

There are a number of things I like doing in the dark... like watching fireworks, catching fireflies, and... sleeping. One thing I've never tried (intentionally, anyhow) is eating in the dark. Toronto's first dining-in-the-dark restaurant has just recently opened. I guess the chefs at O. Noir need not worry too much about presentation, eh?

A St. Catharines man has been awarded $50,000 in punitive damages after a judge agreed that he'd been unjustifiably Tasered and falsely arrested back in 2003. The moral of the story? Don't yell "Hey, Baby!" to a police officer unless you want to get zapped and spend 6 years of your life fighting for your rights in court for a measly $50k.

Toronto police officers, especially those on bikes, have a problem with body armour in the summer - it's just too hot to wear it and remain hydrated, comfortable, and free of sweaty pits. Although current Kevlar vests are several times lighter than steel, they still create a dilemma for our boys and girls in blue. Until new technology comes about, I guess it'll continue to have to be a trade off - if you want protection, you have to be uncomfortable.

Happy Canada Day, Toronto!

If you haven't already made your way up to the cottage, and are still looking for things to do today, be sure to check out the events listed in our Canada Day 2009 Preview.

And if today turns out to be a rainy day indoors, check out more of Flippy Cat's insane domino stunts.

Photo: "Elmo Cooling Off" by Zen Imagery, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

School is just out for the summer holidays, but come September, when students return to class at 50 Toronto high schools, they'll be meeting police officers that have been assigned to duty at those schools. Last year 30 high schools had uniformed police officers, so I suppose the program is expanding because it's either working so well, or it's still so needed elsewhere.

Protesters fighting the 19 temporary garbage transfer set-ups that are in our city parks aren't going to be pleased with this news. The city is mulling over the idea of using 150 more parks and recreation areas for the same purpose. I can hear the raccoons and flies cheering right now.

A popular summer treat is under fire, and the issue is food safety. Toronto Public Health is cracking down on soft serve ice cream vendors after many tested too high for coliform bacteria, an indicator for E. coli and other bacteria responsible for food-bourne illnesses. Ice cream is supposed to bring about joy, not hasty and frequent restroom visits.

Peter Silverman may no longer be part of the Rogers / CityNews brand (he was axed last summer), but he still helps.

Little did I know, he continues to lend a hand to those in need of someone with a wealth of experience (and cojones) in the realm of consumer advocacy.

Seeing that I'm not much of a commercial radio listener, let alone on Saturday mornings, it came as news to me that Silverman's skills and "helps" concept continue to live on in the form of a radio gig on CFRB 1010. While the show is quite different (especially being on radio, and lacking video footage of Peter hunting down culprits and forcing them to respond in front of a camera crew), it retains some of the same principles and goals as the original award-winning CityTV program.

I caught up with Peter Silverman, still tough as nails at 75 years young, to ask him about the end of his tenure at City, the pressures of being the go-to guy for thousands, and how his CFRB radio gig is coming along.