5.21.2009

R.I.P.



Sad news in the world of architecture today. (Vancouver Sun)

New Dog!


Cover by Dakota McFadzean

The May 21 prairie dog is being distributed throughout our fair town as I'm typing this. I think it's a pretty swell issue and I think you should pick it up. Here's an overview of the articles that actually are worth your precious time.

THE BEST LIBRARY IN THE WORLD the Regina Public Library's plan to renew/rebuild/rework the Central branch is underway, but details aren't settled yet, so it seemed like a great time for prairie dog's writers to rant about what they'd like to see in a reinvigorated downtown branch. To toot our own horn, I think we've gota pretty darn good little starting point for this public discussion, here. A must-read for fans of public projects and for anyone who thinks we should dream bigger dreams.

THE NDP'S NUCLEAR SCHISM No surprise here but the provincial NDP has a tricy path to walk on the little matter of nuclear reactors. Going into the leadership convention, candidates range from robustly anti-uranium to "well, let's study it and base decisions on facts" coyness. Stephen LaRose penned this feature on a topic that's one of the big fault lines in the party.

DELAY OF PLAN The downtown plan has been delayed so that "stakeholders" can go over it with a fine-toothed comb. Maybe this is all right. Or maybe, just maybe, this is a nefarious maneuver to weaken the document. Paul Dechene is suspicious, though not yet alarmed.

ALSO: Conway on how scumball politicians have poisoned democracy, Dyer on the disaster that is the West's Afghanistan policy, Suzuki on endangered species non-laws, Beatty on the Dunlop's current show and Castillo on Angels and Demons because he couldn't get into an early showuing of the new Terminator flick. Plus News Quirks, Street Wear, Queen City Confidential, Typo Wiener, CD reviews, Margoshes on a golf course restaurant, News Briefs, 14 days of event listings and more. Pick it up! Oh--and send your comments to feedback@prairiedogmag.com. Our letters page has been a little light lately. So sad!

Imported Pests, Futile Fences

If you've picked up the new prairie dog, make sure to read Beatty's Top 6 on invasive species (page 5). Point number four is covers the rabbit scourge in West Australia. Since their introduction in the mid-19th century, the bad, bad bunnies have destroyed crops and imperiled native plants and animal species. You can read more here, on the website Rabbit Free Australia.

In the early 20th century, the government built a fence running the length of the country in a failed attempt to contain the horrible hares. Didn't work, but nice try. This link will take you to a photo of Australia's famous Rabbit Proof Fence.

Rosie's top six this morning

1. Well, we know who sent Link's camapgn off the rails. The 'low-level volunteer' is actually Ernest Morin, the former president of the Saskatchewan NDP's aboriginal wing. Sure, anything you say, Dwain. (Saskatoon Sar-Phoenix)

2. The L-P and the S-P are committing environmental crimes by killing trees to produce their nuclear industry analysis stories. (L-P) The most informative of this series -- wich isn't saying much -- was printd today. Nobody apart from the U.S. Navy has ever built nuclear reactors on time, on budget and safely. But to anybody in the nuclear industry -- and in the anti-nuclear movemet, that's not news. What is the atmosphere like in Asperland, anyway? (L-P)

3. Something that's guaranteed to go over budget and to leave the Saskatchewan tapxpayers owing billions of dollars. And they want it NOWNOWNOW. Doesn't anyone at the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce know how to run a business? (L-P)

4. About a decade ago, when the CBC ran a story about a family being harrased by residents of Govan, rual radio and newspapers wll filled with callers, letter writers, commentators an editirals about This Attack On Who We Are. Well, Gormley did the same thing this week. Oh yeah, it's all the left-wing media's fault. (CJME)

5. Speaking of which, here's a video of Rawlco radio's last staff party. (TorStar)

6. Tom Burgess and Norm Fong ... well, I suppose someone could have made a case. But Dan Farthing? Dunno. I think that if Farthing had come from Ottawa or Waterloo instead of Saskatoon, his Rider career would have been a lot briefer and less notable. All told, this is a weak group getting inducted into the Rider Plaza of Honor this September. (L-P)