Six in the Morning

Your morning dose of news comes to you today 100% swine-flu free.

1. MAYBE COLBERT IS TOO GOOD: A study from Ohio State University shows that many conservatives think Stephen Colbert is on the level. They think he's funny, sure, but tend to believe he is only pretending to be joking while genuinely meaning what he says. On the other hand, liberals, in general, get that the Colbert schtick is satire. (Huffington Post)

2. AN UNCIVIL BILL: When the Sask Party took power in 2007 and started firing civil servants they perceived as NDPers, few pointed out that severance package payouts could tally up to a hefty bill. Well, turns out they have. Saskatchewan taxpayers are on the hook for upwards of $10 million thanks to that bit of political nastiness. (Leader Post)

3. NORWAY TO BAN GAS CARS: Proving once again that anything worth doing (going to North America, making health care free, wearing pointy helmets) was done first and with a berserker rage by Vikings, the Norwegian government is considering a law to make gasoline-exclusive cars illegal by 2015. (Gas 2.0 blog)

4. LABOUR MARKS DAY OF MOURNING: People gathered outside city hall yesterday to honour those who've been injured or died while working. The International Day of Mourning is an annual event initiated by labour organizations 25 years ago. (Leader Post)

5. MASSIVE CHUNK OF ANTARTICA FALLS OFF: A piece of the Wilkins Ice Shelf the size of New York City has fallen off and become icebergs. This is in addition to 330 square kilometres of ice that broke up earlier this month. Global warming is the suspected culprit although some conservative pundits see in this a sign of God's displeasure with Arlen Spectre's treachery. (Globe and Mail)

6. LIBRARY BOARD ANNOUNCING PLANS FOR CENTRAL BRANCH: As I type, prairie dog editor Stephen Whitworth is at a press conference the Regina Public Library board is holding at which they will be announcing the firm they are retaining to refurbish/rebuild the central branch. More news as it becomes available. (Phone Call from Whitworth)