Along with it will come squealing tires, revving engines and some of cinema’s wildest car chases.

The auto chase is a movie staple, a tradition that dates back over 100 years of movie history.

The silent Keystone Cop films featured the first recorded car chases — a mix of slapstick, jalopies and rough-and-ready stunts — as far back as 1912.

Early Hollywood often played the chases for laughs. In The Bank Dick, W.C. Fields is taken hostage by a bank robber and forced to drive the getaway car.

In the chaotic chase that follows, the vehicle narrowly misses clipping the heads off bystanders as it flies over a ditch and slowly starts to disintegrate.

“The resale value of this car is going to be nil after you get over this trip,” says Fields.

Emanuel Levy, an American film critic, said, “Bullitt contains one of the most exciting car chases in film history, a sequence that revolutionized Hollywood’s standards.”

Lasting just nine minutes and 42 seconds, the filming of the scene took three weeks pairing Steve McQueen’s 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT 2+2 Fastback against the villain’s 1968 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum.

The chase was planned to run at 75 to 80 mph but ended up racing through the streets of San Francisco at speeds of more than 110 mph.

Several years later, The French Connection made Gene Hackman a star, won five Academy Awards and featured one of the greatest ever chase scenes.

The realistic looking chase was shot without permits on the streets of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

The sequence got a little too realistic for one car owner.

A hapless driver, at the corner of Stillwell Ave. and 86th St., who was unaware a film was being shot, was side swiped by Hackman’s car.

Director William Friedkin liked the shot and paid off the driver on the spot.

Chase sequences have gotten more expensive since the early ’70s.

Gone are the days where director John Hough could stage a wild chase between a lime green ’69 Dodge Charger and a helicopter in Dirty Mary Crazy Larry for peanuts.

John Moore, director of A Good Day To Die Hard starring Bruce Willis, says the chase scene in that movie cost $11 million.

They destroyed 132 cars, damaged another 518 and even flattened a Lamborghini. That one hurt, he said. “I’m a car fanatic.”

The London Knights, a team that waived overage goalie Kevin Bailie at the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline, are having goaltending issues at the Memorial Cup.

Bailie, meanwhile, is fresh off an excellent half-season with the Summerside Western Capitals in the Maritime Junior Hockey League. He posted a 1.88 goals-against average in 27 games for the PEI club, concluding his junior hockey career with a top goalie trophy from the RBC Cup, the Jr. A nationals.

The 21-year-old suited up for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals from 2008 to 2012, prior to being dealt last summer to the Knights. Until London general manager Mark Hunter signed Anthony Stolarz to an OHL contract in January, Bailie was the team’s go-to puckstopper.

“Going into (my year with) London, my only goal was to win a national championship,” Bailie said Tuesday. “And although it wasn’t the same trophy, we were one goal from a national championship.”

Before a hometown crowd Sunday, the Western Capitals were downed, 3-1 (empty-netter), by the Brooks Bandits in the RBC Cup championship game.

Bailie’s old running mate, Jake Patterson, has replaced Stolarz in the crease at the Memorial Cup. Stolarz, a highly touted Philadelphia Flyers prospect, has posted a .871 save percentage and 2-4 record in his last six starts.

“I’m definitely not cheering against them,” Bailie said of the Knights competing in Saskatoon. “They’re a great group of guys. I’d never wish anything bad on the players.”

That doesn’t mean the Belleville native has forgiven Hunter for the last-minute waive.

“I was dealt a pretty tough hand, but made the most of it, I feel,” he said. “It kind of handcuffed me. I didn’t have a chance to go somewhere else.”

It would have stung less if Bailie was playing poorly at the time. But the Knights had recently strung together a massive 24-game winning streak, with Patterson and Bailie splitting the netminding workload down the middle.

“It would have been easy for him to hang ‘em up for the rest of the year, mope around,” Western Capitals GM Pat McIver said, “but he came here with the right attitude. He was determined to prove people he was a capable goaltender.”

Barring a surprise pro signing, Bailie will study law and stop pucks at Queen’s University this fall.

“There’s lots of people knocking on his door right now, and I couldn’t be happier for him,” McIver added.

The Kevin Bailie effect

London Knights 2012-13 record…
— With Kevin Bailie on the roster: 34-8 (.810 winning percentage)
— Without Kevin Bailie on the roster: 33-16 (.673 winning percentage)

Under the shadow of those still-unanswered crack cocaine allegations levelled against Mayor Rob Ford, Toronto City Council has voted to totally reject any notion of a Toronto casino. The vote comes after more than a year of political debate, unprecedented levels of City hall lobbying, dozens of thick staff reports, a long public consultation process and relentless championing from Ford, who once introduced the topic of casinos on his radio show by making “cha-ching” sound effects as if he were a slot machine.

It was all for nothing. Council nixed both the proposed downtown casino resort and any expansion of gambling at Woodbine racetrack. We’re keeping the status quo.

Ford tried to jump off the casino bandwagon last week, which it became clear that Premier Kathleen Wynne had reservations about the casino process, but it was hard to put much stock in his supposed change of heart. Today, Ford defended himself by pointing out he hadn’t campaigned on the issue of a casino. Which is factually true, but still misleading. With Ford, there’s a perpetual political campaign that extends far beyond official election periods. So while his official 2010 campaign wasn’t about casinos, his unofficial 2012 campaign was about little else.

In the end, Ford wasn’t even able to get the face-saving result on the council floor he was looking for. His motions were all roundly defeated, with Ford and his brother, Coun. Doug Ford, even losing on their bid to expand gambling operations at Woodbine. The Woodbine vote came as a surprise, both because that part of Etobicoke is the Fords’ home turf, and because the vote — at 24-20 — was close enough that it was probably winnable with a little bit of strategy.

But maybe Ford was too busy dealing with other things.

For casino opponents like the specularly well-organized and effective No Casino Toronto group, today is a good day. It’s also a pretty good day for those of us who were just tired of the casino debate. But I do worry about one part of this outcome: through this long, tortuous process, did Toronto actually learn anything?

I first wrote about a Toronto casino way back on April 12, 2012. It was one of the very first pieces I wrote for Metro. And the points I made then seem basically identical to the points that were made by councillors this morning.  I wrote that “a casino debate in Toronto is a waste of everyone’s time” and that “casinos in Ontario don’t amount to big money for municipalities.” I was right on both counts.

This isn’t an ego thing — I was far from the only one decrying the move toward casinos. But if we knew these things back then, why did it take a full year to get to the point where council rejected a casino? And, more importantly, how much money was wasted — at City Hall, at OLG, and at the provincial level — on what ultimately proved to be a foregone conclusion?

We need to know the answer to that question. It’s also worth figuring out if there was a better way to handle this — could councillors have been given the opportunity to vote on whether to proceed with the reports and consultations before staff went out and started working the issue?

It’s important to know this stuff for next time. And don’t kid yourself: there will be a next time. Just as this latest Toronto casino debate was only about 15 years removed from the last one in 1997, another bid for a Toronto casino is likely. There will always be times when reflexively anti-tax politicians ride populist waves to power and look to the glitzy lights of a casino as their budget saviour.

But, hey, next time, let’s see if we can be any quicker about saying “no.”

It’s a nerd’s world and we just live in it.

At least according to Chris Hughes and his wife Grace Hughes.

Although they call themselves nerds, Chris, Grace and their six fulltime employees are no social outcasts. They’re simply passionate about their photo kingdom, or as I like to call it, nerd-dom, on Bathurst Street.

Their storefront, which is more geek chic museum than a traditional office, pays a homage to vintage film cameras, which they have in spades – approximately 300 and growing.

Take a peek at their world famous collection of cameras below

“Everything we do is affordable,” he says about their one-on-one photo workshops that range from $100 to $300. “I’ve heard so many nightmare stories about ‘mandatory print prices’ or ‘processing fees’ from friends and it makes me mad,” says Chris. “What you see is what you get.”

What makes their shop truly unique: the hauntingly beautiful portraits showcased in the gallery portion of the store. In a city where digital photographers are in no short supply, their evocative black-and-white images speak to a time when photography was an emotional art form. Think the work of Yousuf Karsh.

“A lot of people are cookie-cutter but we like to mix our style with everything. We like to have that unique approach while others may like things standard,” Grace says. “We have beautiful, raw photos of [Chris and myself] on our back wall that others might not include in a gallery but we did it because we want to be real and authentic and this will hopefully show that to people who walk in.”

Follow me at @takarasmall for more small business news

But recently, the success of Glee and movies like Pitch Perfect and Joyful Noise has launched a global shift in the perspective of “cool”, and some of us just didn’t see it coming. So when my friend Marla told me that the Cawthra Park Chamber Choir with which her daughter Ariel sings, would be backing The Rolling Stones on their upcoming visit to Toronto, I was blown away. I pulled my car over and said, “WHAT?? Ariel’s in a choir?”.

In retrospect, that may not have been the reaction she was going for.

To be fair though, choirs have never really been uncool. They simply stood on the strength of their members and repertoires. After all, it’s music, and every combination of voices possesses a distinct musical fingerprint. A capella groups have been around forever, as have choirs. We’ve all seen Sister Act or the church scene in any Tyler Perry movie, but it’s always more interesting when the only instrument being used is each other.

However, like fraternities and competitive cheerleading, it’s been largely an American phenomenon that never caught on as readily in the great white north. At least that’s what I thought before I met Garret Titus.

Garret is the manager of Wibi A Capella, the choir belonging to Toronto’s York University. This student-run ensemble dates back to 1988 and has served as a training ground to many talented Canadian musicians, singing hit songs peppered with jazz, funk, gospel and world music. Those of you who were in Math club have probably already calculated that they should be celebrating their 25th anniversary right about now. If so, you’re still a little geeky, but probably making a good living now.

Listen: MP3: ‘Don’t Stop Believing”

It’s worth a mention that Wibi is the oldest group of its kind in Canada. Just like in the movies, they compete against other vocal groups, but (and maybe this is just a Canadian thing) Garret says that they are all incredibly supportive of one another. In fact, when members venture out to perform on their own or with a new band, they can invariably rely on an audience inflated with fellow acapellists (not a real word, just go with it) not just from their own school, but their competitors at University of Toronto, and the vocal community at large.

Wibi alumni are spread throughout the showbiz community including one of its founding members, host of CBC’s Canada Live, Andrew Craig.

The group has made the rounds over the years, opening for Acafellows The Nylons, and even the magnificent Ben Folds who sat on the judge’s panel of TV’s Acapella challenge, The Sing-off.

Still, many of you are probably wondering, “Hey, where can I see a show like this?”

That’s why they pay me the uh… Let’s just say, that’s why I’m here.

Wibi celebrating (dig it!) their 25th birthday in harmonious splendour this Friday, May 24th at the Al Green Theatre in Toronto, and while the Reverend Green himself will most likely not be in attendance, the night will not be lacking in Acalicious grooves. In addition to the guests of honour, the audience will be treated to performances by renowned locapellas (Oh, I can do this all day) like Cadence, Countermeasure, Retrocity, The Watch, and a much anticipated appearance by Wibi Alumni.

There’ll be food, drinks, and an ambiance to rival any other, but more importantly, if you’ve seen it on-screen wondering what it would sound like live, you owe it to yourself to attend their 25th Anniversary Gala. You’ll thank me. It’ll be Accanomenal! (Okay, I probably pushed it with that last one.)

And to the kids of Cawthra Park, you’re sharing the stage with Rock icons The Rolling Stones. Be proud and sing loud.

• Join me on www.facebook.com/mikebenhaimsays or on Twitter @TheMetroList

Stepping on the scale Monday morning was, frankly, demoralizing.

At this point, I’m not quite sure what I’m doing wrong. I’ve been counting. I’ve been upping my veggie intake. I had a night at the movies – which I saved my bonus points for – and surely the small brownie and smaller scoop of ice cream that I paid a ridiculous $8 for at the VIP theatre didn’t consume all of my 49 bonus points.

I have done nothing to warrant gaining three pounds over the past week.

I’d shrug it off as a one-week temporary gain – which maybe it is – but for the fact I’ve been in this weight range for the past two months. Disney aside, I feel like I’ve plateaued. I mean, really, truly plateaued. How can I plateau at 267 frickin’ pounds!?!?

I was very tempted to throw myself into a bag of potato chips Monday, but I didn’t. I did, however, take a break from counting that day, because I just couldn’t stand it. I ate my homemade burger and salad for dinner and broke out the Wii Fit.

But I’m thinking it’s time to get more help.

Elisha Dacey is the Managing Editor of Metro Winnipeg and is on a quest to lose half her body weight. Reach her at elisha.dacey@metronews.ca or find her on twitter @elishadacey.

Here are a few actual examples that I’ve overheard in real life:

“ Your new haircut looks fantastic.
“Seriously? You don’t think it’s too short? It’s definitely too short; I look like a boy.”

“I love your new dress.” “Oh, I just found it on a rack at Value Village. I swear I only paid $5.99 for it.”

“Congratulations on finishing med school!”
“Thanks but I have no idea how I pulled that off. I’ll probably accidentally sever off an arm or stitch someone’s mouth shut in, like, the first week.”

Now there’s nothing wrong with a little modesty, but it can be problematic when we’re constantly deflecting flattery rather than recognizing our own hard work.

In my experience, it seems that women are far more likely than men to rebuff positive attention with a dismissive hand wave or a reciprocal “no you’re so great” comment. We’ve been socialized to value lady-like decorum over boastfulness and as a result, we have a hard time owning up to our talents and achievements.

I rarely respond to compliments in an appropriate manner. I know that I should reply with a heartfelt “thank you” but I’m far more likely to fall back on a sarcastic retort or a “thanks BUT (insert qualifying statement that undermines my success in some way).” I’m working on my graciousness because I know how annoying I’m being when I act like this.

Recently, a friend invited me over to her apartment for a small dinner party. I spent a large portion of the evening remarking on how delicious the food was, but she repeatedly brushed me off and insisted the meal was so easy to prepare that even the biggest kitchen klutz could recreate it.  Here was this culinary whiz acting as if she had simply toasted a slice of bread and making me feel foolish for lavishing her with praise.

It sucks to be on the receiving end of a snarky retort when you’re trying to offer up kudos for a job well done. I know how frustrating it can be when someone refuses to take admiration seriously or gives you a dismissive eye-roll and yet that doesn’t stop me from doing the same thing.

While it might make us feel uncomfortable to acknowledge our own awesomeness, I think it’s an important skill to learn. People are usually being genuine when they pay you a compliment and it’s only polite to respond in a sincere and courteous manner. Besides, we all deserve to be proud of ourselves and toot our own horn every once in a while.

Follow Jessica Napier on Twitter @MetroSheSays

A primary user can now set a monthly spending maximum for each authorized user. This could benefit parents with students studying, working or interning away from home.

For example, parents paying all expenses for graduates on an unpaid internship might set a high limit. A college or university student living at home might have a lower limit with the agreed use restricted to something like gas for their car.

Setting up a student as an authorized user can offer peace of mind for parents in case of emergencies, but you don’t want to put too much credit temptation in front of them.

I have one caution. For emergencies, such as a plane ticket home, the limit must be relatively high. If it is used, the limit is automatically reset the next month, giving the student access to a new amount of credit.

However, the primary user can raise or lower the authorized user’s limit during a given month.

It is important to have a clear agreement for authorized users. For students, insist on a monthly spending report. This will help young people take responsibility for their spending and is the first step to making a budget. But parents must still keep watch online and don’t let any transgressions slide.

Another possible reason to have an authorized user is when a family member has gone through a bankruptcy and doesn’t yet qualify for a credit card. I have done so in the past but would have felt a lot better being able to place a limit on total spending.

Employers might also find it handy to name employees as authorized users and set a limit for business spending. But in the end, it’s still up to the primary user to keep track of spending.

Contact Alison at griffiths.alison@gmail.com or alisongriffiths.ca

Only the best thing to happen to spring in a long time. Ramps are wild leeks or wild garlic, depending on who you talk to. They grow across the country in sandy, moist hilly places, often near water. But it is illegal to forage for them in Quebec, where they are protected. Leave the foraging to the hunters and head to a farmers market this month.

Culinarily, both the leaves and bulb are edible and they taste like a cross between onions and garlic. Given their short growing season, you want to add them to just about every pasta, pizza, soup and sandwich spring brings.

Susan Quast at Quast’s Garden Gate in Flesherton, Ont., is part of the Grey County Chefs’ Forum. She says, “Sauté them in a little butter and then add them to a favourite recipe. You can add them to your salads, chopped with raw potent flavour. The leaves, which are less potent than the bulb, can be used as a wrapper for crab meat appetizers.”

Theresa Albert is a Food Communications Specialist and private nutritionist in Toronto. She is @theresaalbert on twitter and found daily at myfriendinfood.com.