(Photo: Photosapience)

Ho-ly smokes! According to CBC News, after Mayor Miller's proposal to increase land transfer and vehicle registration taxes was put on hold by the City Council, the TTC has been told to cut its budget by $30 million this year and $100 million in 2008. This is likely to lead to unprecedented cutbacks of the TTC service which will include cancelling 20 bus routes and closing down the entire Sheppard subway line (which has only been in service since 2002 and required one billion dollars and eight years to construct).

It also means the fares will go up (AGAIN!) and any expansion projects will be suspended. So much for the new streetcars and the ambitious LRT network, not to mention high-speed ferries! An emergency meeting of the TTC board is scheduled for Friday to discuss and formalize the proposed cuts. Suddenly the land transfer tax isn't looking so bad....

Alas, the fateful hour hath arrived: today is the last day of the 2007 Toronto Fringe festival! If you are hungry for more shows, below are four reviews of plays that are all still running. And if you miss today, you still have a chance to watch some of the Fringe productions later this summer: The Diesel Playhouse will be hosting the "Best of Fringe" Holdover series, July 18 - August 4. More information is soon to appear on the Fringe website.

As you may know, Fringe Patrons' Picks were announced yesterday! So if you missed that one great show you really wanted to see, there is still a chance for you to catch it this Sunday (as long as it was a patrons' pick, of course - check the link above for shows and showtimes). 100% of tickets go on advanced sale, so call 416-966-1062 (10 a.m. - 8 p.m.) to order yours.

After the jump is a review of Spilling Beans.

Only three days left to go before the end of the Fringe, so if there are still shows you want to see, you better hurry up! And if you have trouble deciding which shows to to go (I know I do!), below are reviews of three great shows to make the decision process a little easier. Or perhaps harder - there is way too much good stuff at this Fringe; one is torn between so many choices! The actors should do a slightly duller job really... overwhelming the poor theatre-goers with your fantastic performances is just plain inconsiderate! :-)

Thomas Baxter's ThoughtControl II - George Ignatieff Theatre - 15 Devonshire Pl.

Soft-spoken and charming, Thomas Baxter claims he possesses no supernatural powers, but his mind-boggling show is nothing short of magic! He does not hypnotize the audience or pull rabbits out of hats. He merely (gulp) reads your mind and (GULP!) dictates you your thoughts. Progressing from "pretty neat" to jaw-dropping, his amazing psychological feats will leave you unsettled and wondering just to what degree others control your own mind. Get ready to be blown away and revise your assumptions of what is and isn't possible. Exciting, entertaining and educational, this unique show is a must-see.
~Tatiana Kachira

This picture was taken yesterday just outside the Fringe Club Theatre (duh!). One thing I've been noticing this Fringe is that a substantial proportion of patrons arrive at the shows by bicycle. I think that's really cool.

After the jump are reviews for Duel of Ages and Gibberish.

Hey, y'all, how's it fringing?

I mean, you are going to the Fringe, right? Trust me, the whole thing is just way too much fun to miss, especially when the fun is this affordable. You should not need further convincing, but in case you do, here is an extra incentive: you can recoup some of your Fringe ticket costs by trading your ticket stub for special deals and discounts at a number of Annex businesses . So if you have seen some plays already, I hope you haven't emptied your recycle bin yet.

Below are reviews for The Africans and Bus Stop Boogie.