The Last Picture Show

Seems to me that since Vulcan, Alberta doesn't actually have a movie theatre, the townsfolks' ambitious (and somewhat vainglorious) campaign to host the much-anticipated (TrekMovie) May 9 premiere of Paramount Pictures' new Star Trek flick (MetaCafe) is a tad illogical. (Vancouver Sun)

Digital projection... The jury is out

Last Friday I watched Knowing, a rather mediocre flick (review on next Prairie Dog) that wouldn't have any importance in my life if it wasn't because of the digital quality of the projection.

I was used to the scratches, the holes, the circle in the top right corner when is time to change the roll. Digital projection is impossibly crisp, High-Def perfect. It's like watching a gigantic plasma TV. Then again, is that what I want? Going to the movies is an experience in itself, and to perceive the texture of the film was part of it. Also, can cheaper productions even compete? Digital projection may increase the gap between Hollywood churn and low budget quality films, especially when the audience is likely to fall for the pretty colors.

Joe Republican versus the Volcano

When U.S. President Barack Obama made his not-quite State Of The Union address to Congress last month, he outlined what he wanted to spend in the upcoming fiscal year. As is custom, the Republican Party had a chance to respond, and that job fell to Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, who mocked government spending for, amongst other things, a volcano monitoring service.

Well, there's a Republican state having issues with a volcano. If Jindal was president, they would have little other option but to throw a virgin down the volcano, which eliminates this person ...

h/t to Americablog 2.0

Today In Volcanoes

Apparently there's one erupting in Alaska right now. Kaboom! (Guardian)

Seven And Eight In The Morning

More news!

SASKATCHEWAN'S AIDS CRISIS There were 174 new cases of HIV diagnosed in the province last year, compared to 124 the year before. The new infections are apparently concentrated among injectible drug users. The CBC has details. Apparently this will be a top story on the CBC's morning news show, The Current this a.m.; you can listen to that program here. (CBC)

MEGA-MERGER Suncor takes over Petro-Canada despite legislated ownership restrictions that would seem to prohibit the sale. Full details, including repeated use of the phrase "new champion in the oil patch", are available here. (Globe And Mail).

This Week at City Hall

Even though I'm sitting in a cafe in Ottawa, thanks to the miracle of the electro-interweb, I can still post a preview of this week's thrills and chills at Regina City Hall. Buckle up, kiddo....

Monday, March 23
Regina Crime Prevention Commission Meeting (12:25 pm): Considering plans for Crime Prevention Week (May 25 to 30), the commission's 2008 Annual Report and the 2009-2010 Work Plan. Also looking at crime statistics for January 2009. (Crimes against people are up by 34 reported instances or 15.5 per cent compared to Jan '08. There were, however, 267 fewer crimes against property which is a 27.4 per cent reduction.)
City Council (5:30 pm): Considering the concept plan for a development north of the Lakewood subdivision, requests for financial support and tax relief for three affordable housing projects (yay!), and a discretionary use application so that the Grasslands commercial development can go ahead and the parking-lot-ification of the Harbour Landing area can begin. (For more info on Grasslands, read this post here.) Also of interest are an update on the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant Upgrade project, a request to purchase vehicles for the city's fleet, an update on the city's Infill Housing Strategy and a report detailing a new system for monitoring environmental indicators for residential development.

Wednesday, March 25
Board of Police Commissioners Meeting (9 am)
Regina Planning Commission (4 pm): Considering an application to rezone a lot in the Gardiner Heights Addition area so that an apartment building can be built there. The address for this is 510 University Ave. If approved and built, the development will yield 150 units. Can't tell if they'll be rental or condo. Either way, it's hard to see a downside to more high density housing. Another nifty tidbit buried in this report is that the city is currently improving the pedestrian infrastructure in and around Quance Street.

As always, full reports and agendas can be download on the city's website.

Six In The Morning

Happy Monday, here's the what's-up.

1 SHOCK TESTIMONY The inquiry into Robert Dziekanski's fatal tasering resumes today as the RCMP officer in charge of police who, "excited delirium" notwithstanding, appear to have caused Dziekanski's death, testifies. Meanwhile, RCMP commissioner William Elliott asks for public sympathy for officers who face incredible pressure in their jobs. (CBC, Globe And Mail)

2 MORE CAR TROUBLE Sweden is standing firm: government is not getting into the automobile business. But supporters of struggling SAAB are surly. (New York Times).

3 Last week's Provincial budget makes Sask. environmentalists nervous. (Yes, I know this is from Friday but it's a decent article) (Leader-Post)

4 GALLOWAY ALL THE WAY Supporters of the (to put it mildly) outspoken British MP say they will challenge Citizenship And Immigration Canada's decision to bar him from entering this county. (CP/Toronto Star)

5 PAYING THE BILLS In the U.S., apparently bad economy = more strippers. (AP/Toronto Star)

6. BC LIBERAL LEADER A GRANNY-KILLING, BABY-EATING CANNIBAL? Election spending restrictions spark wacky ads in British Columbia. (Globe And Mail)