Six In The Morning

1 BUT HOW DOES TOONTOWN FEEL ABOUT THIS? Research reactors: the University of Saskatchewan and the provincial government want one. (StarPhoenix). Not sure about this at all. I fully recognize how this proposed reactor will be used politically to advance the case for an expensive, wasteful, unsustainable and evil full-scale reactor. But Premier Brad Wall uttured one sentence of interest: "Governments should be involved in pure research. I think that's one of the ways we can diversify our economy away from relying on commodities." Well, uh... yes.

2 TWO DEGREES OF SEPARATION World leaders announce a limit on how much the climate can be allowed to change (Globe And Mail). Quick, someone notify Saskatchewan's climate change deniers--there's socialism afoot! Oh wait, Kate's got it covered. Phew. (smalldeadanimals)

3 RIOTS, RIOTS EVERYWHERE More unrest in Iran, unhappiness in Urumqi, plus bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fun! (Guardian)

4 HARPER'S HOOLIGANS REVIEW FUNDING The flap over $400K directed at Toronto's Pride Festival keeps on flapping. (Toronto Star) Some jerk-off Tories (like Saskatchewan MP Brad "Most of the caucus is still strongly pro-traditional marriage" Trost) and their supporters remain agitated about the funding. But as a smart guy I know puts it, "you find me another festival in Canada that attracts a million people and doesn't get government funding."

5 NO MO' BUFFALO Regina's exhibition has announced an awkward "over the next year or two" phase-in rebranding of their event, which will be called Queen City Ex down the road (Leader-Post). But why is this even remotely interesting? Because the old name honoured Saskatchewan's rural, agrarian roots while the new moniker speaks to the urban experience--which is how the majority of us now experience life in the province. Saskatchewan has changed.

6 NO SPECIAL DAY FOR SHANNON TWEED Awww. My inner 13-year-old is heartbroken. (CBC)