Groundhogs Are Cool, Howie Mandel Is Not Cool, Joe Badali Is A Jerk, Tie Domi Is Poor

Happy Groundhog Day! Wiarton Willie, Shubenacadie Sam and Punxsutawney Phil did not see their shadow this morning and thus we should expect an early spring. Should we trust our weather report to the groundhogs? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change seems to agree with our furry friends, also predicting hotter climates and sea level rise.

The countdown to Deal or No Deal continues. I don't know what is worse: Howie Mandel, the show's constant media coverage, or the game's totally incoherant premise. Oh, they've got an army of models? Great. There is something strangely arousing about 26 girls in identical dresses holding briefcases with smiles plastered into their faces.

Minimum wage was increased to $8 yesterday, but some employers are not enthusiastic about the change. Joe Badali's at Front and University decided to charge its servers $2-per-shift to cover the cost of apron washing and notepads, which would have wiped out any benefit of the wage increase. However, soon after the media inquiries began, the restaurant returned to its 50-cents-per-shift deduction policy. Despicable!

Upper Canada College has given a formal written apology to former students who had been sexually abused in the school's 177-year history, sending the letter to parents, students and alumni.

Ryerson University has chosen Toronto-based Diamond and Schmitt Architects to design the new Photography Gallery and Research Centre in the School of Image Arts.

Today in City Gossip: Tie Domi wants a media gag on his divorce proceedings, and his wife to stop being a spoiled bitch. The poor guy is only making $18,269 a month, and she's off spending $75,000 a month on haircuts and SUVs. This would have never been a problem with Belinda.

Photo courtesy of ashenflowers on Flickr.