Idle Musing

I was over at a friend's place today to watch a bit of U.S. College football. After the Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Oregon Ducks 26-17 in the Rose Bowl, we switched over to catch the start of the Sugar Bowl between the 12-0 University of Cincinatti Bearcats and the 12-1 Florida Gators. As part of the pre-game entertainment the Florida marching band performed. At the college level anyway, Americans take marching bands very seriously. Musicians who are in the band program are often on scholarship, I think, they have fancy costumes, cheerleaders, flag-bearers and whatnot; and to direct the whole band, which for the big schools probably runs in the 150-member range, the conductor stands atop an elevated podium.

At one point in their routine the Florida band started to move into a shape that I initially thought was an outline of the state of Florida. But then my friend said "What are they doing, a gun?"

I'm pretty sure they were doing Florida. But the outline was pretty raggedy. Guns are pretty prevalent in Florida, I think. They might even qualify as the state's Official Fashion Accessory. But I can't see the band doing an outline of a gun. Maybe it was a hybrid state/gun symbol? It's not that much of a stretch. As you can tell from the above photos, there is a definite similarity.

Friday Afternoon Kitty (Updated)

It's not pretty but this is the best I can do for you today. There's no embedding so you'll have to click here. Happy new year!

FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Occasional blog contributor and "friend O' The Dog" Peakay said that video sucked and I should've put this up. Okay then. Here you go, Peakay. I have to leave now, that prairie dog is apparently calling me.



ANOTHER UPDATE: I misunderstood. Peakay wanted me to post this piece of rabbit-on-cat smut. Sorry for the mistake.

Pick of the Day: These Hands

So, how goes it? If you're reading this, that means you were able to survive the rigors of the holiday season. Some of you have perhaps had enough "fun" for awhile and are planning on taking a bit of a break from the bar/nightlife scene to give your pocketbook/stomach/brain a break. If you are, that's fine. But if you, like me, had a relatively quiet Christmas season, and have ambitions beyond just sitting on your ass watching world junior hockey and college football on the tube, or perhaps dropping by Government House this afternoon for the Lt. Governor's annual New Year's Day levee, you've come to the right blog post.

Being New Year's Day, pickings are admittedly a little slim tonight. There is the two films I mentioned yesterday at the RPL, along with the normal slate of flicks at the Galaxy, Southland and Rainbow and Paradise cinemas. But O'Hanlon's Pub is also hosting a gig by sing-songwriter Michael Hanson who records and performs under the name These Hands. Originally from Prince Albert, Hanson's been based out of Saskatoon for the last five years. In that time, he's performed with the likes of Chad VanGalen and Patrick Watson. Tonight, he'll be backed up by the Saskatoon group Arms Up.

Me Likey Hockey

Finally had a chance to get to a WJC game tonight. Fun stuff. Russia beat the Czech Republic 5-2 but I thought the Czechs played a little better on balance. Russia's goaltender (Bobkov--great name!) was the better keeper however and those Ruskies, when they want to, they sure can turn up the offence. I think Canada would/will squash 'em, though. Almost too bad--I'm a Nikita Filatov fan.

Onion News Tops Prairie Dog

Decade in review, schmecade in review. The Onion News Network recently looked back on the entire history of Earth. Ranking high on its list of notable occurrences, as you might expect, is God's miraculous creation of the planet and the rest of the firmament approximately 6000 years ago. (Onion News Network)

New Dog!

The new prairie dog will be everywhere by the time you read it. It's a special camoflage issue. For no good reason, we used high-tech printing methods to render it invisible at night so you'll want to pick it up before sunset. That's a good idea anyway; we don't want you getting fanged by vampires or chewed by werewolves (full moon tomorrow!!!) on our account. Then again, this issue of prairie dog is so good it's probably worth risking death by supernatural forces to get your copy. Like a luxury car or a killer stereo system or a starship bridge, it's packed with great features. Like for instance:

THE DECADE IN REVIEW: A recap of the top news, arts and lifestyle stories and trends of the last decade with a special focus on politics, film, music and that wacky "high on life" vibe that overtook the province as resource revenues zoomed upwards. Oh, and a fond look back at Regina's dining scene. And music. Lots of music.

MORE DECADE IN REVIEW: And we've got a B-list of the decade's second-tier evildoers, a ranking of six of the crappiest movies, a couple of recaps on America's insane decade and a look at the trends that shaped the "noughties". Plus an interview with News Quirks author Roland Sweet--his column's 35 years old! Who knew?

STILL MORE DECADE IN REVIEW: Then there's LaRose's article on the decade in sports, Paul Dechene's analysis of the zombie revival, a Queen City Confidential that throws out some accusations we didn't bother to verify and an interview with the Grand Dame of Regina real estate.

IS THAT ALL? No, there's more, way more. But you'll have to pick up a copy of to find out what it is. One warning: when you do, don't put it anywhere near your white couch.

Pick of the Day: New Year's Eve

This being New Year's Eve, there's a whole pile of stuff happening in Regina tonight. Here's a quick rundown of the gigs I'm aware of. At O'Hanlon's Pub, OYE! (pictured) with local rapper Def 3 will be doing a free show that's guaranteed to get people up and grooving. At Casino Regina, Spirit of the West will be ringing in the new year backed up by Carl Dixon. Tix there are $55, $60. At the Drink Nightclub Mascara is playing. The Dan Silljer Band is at McNally's Tavern and Faster Gun is at the Pump Roadhouse. There's also Disco Bass From Outer Space at 1475 Toronto St. Tix are $15-$20 for that, and contact info is 526-3067.

If you're looking for something a little less raucous, you could always check out the RPL Film Theatre. Screening tonight and Friday night at 7 p.m. is the bachelor party comedy I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell that ... uh ... okay, this movie will probably be pretty raunchy too, but in a vicarious sort of way, in that you won't actually be guzzling booze and cavorting with scantily clad women, you'll just be watching other people do it and, quite likely, suffering the consequences for their vile and debauched behaviour. Here's the trailer. (YouTube)

Also on tap (pun intended) at the RPL is the Australian/UK family drama The Boys Are Back which stars Clive Owen as a formerly fun-loving sportswriter who struggles with single parenthood after his wife's tragic death. It screens at 9 p.m. tonight and 4 p.m. Friday. Here's the trailer for it (YouTube)

Remember also, tonight the City and various sponsors are running the Ding in the New Year promotion which provides free transit and paratransit service starting at 7 p.m. Here's a link to the City's website for schedule information.

Last Week At City Hall: Tag Day Bylaw and Leadership on Climate Change

So top among my goals for 2010 is more city hall blogging. Already, I've let some important stuff slide over the last week, what with all the holiday festivities and catching up with family and friends. The socializing is finally winding down some (although, in an hour, I'm off to see Avatar in IMax 3-D with an old high-school chum) so I thought I'd try some municipal news catch up.

Way back at their December 21 meeting, council voted to repeal the controversial Tag Day Bylaw. For the time being, it's my understanding that this should make life easier for Regina's panhandlers. Whether or not that will continue depends on a report staff has been directed to prepare. It will consider various options on how to regulate panhandling.

Also passed at this meeting, was a request from the mayor to have staff look into how to change the Official Community Plan so that optimizing solar orientation of new lots will be a requirement and not merely a guideline. (Also, near the top of my goals for 2010 is to write fewer run-on sentences like that one. Too rushed right now to go fix it, though.) This is an overdue suggestion but welcome nonetheless. As Harbour Landing has shown, voluntary environmental guidelines aren't working as well as hoped. And, as we reported in the prairie dog lo so many months ago, (I plan to use the word "lo" a whole lot more) properly orienting lots is important as it can save homeowners upwards of 15 per cent on their energy bills. And you don't get a second chance to take advantage of solar orientation as the way we lay out our streets today will likely be the way they look hundreds or even thousands of years from now.

Six in the Morning

1. I DIDN'T THINK WE'D GET TO USE THAT WORD AGAIN SO SOON: Seems Carle beat me to it. Apparently, Harper and his scandal plagued Conservatives are planning to prorogue parliament once again. (Carle Steele, Globe and Mail)

2. CANADIANS CARE ABOUT? Phew. Good thing parliament is about to be prorogued. Means we won't be distracted from the really important things like who's on Team Canada. That live update page I'm linking to would be for the men's team, of course. Doesn't seem to be so much handwringing about the women's. (CTV)

3. BOOKSELLER GOES DOWN: Another independent bookseller is in the process of biting the dust as McNally-Robinson of Winnipeg are declaring bankruptcy. The reason for their failure? Over expansion. (Globe and Mail)

4. WOMEN ARE COMPANIONS OF MEN, SAYS POPE: Pope Benedict dropped another of his trademark rat-zingers when he told a congregation that god created women to be companions for men. Not sure what to make of it (although, I do know what to think of the pic the Leader Post chose to accompany the article). I think he was just trying to offend homosexuals hoping to marry. But he managed to piss off feminists and well.. most everyone. Yay, Pope! (Leader Post)

5. LEMIEUX, YOUNG TO RECEIVE ORDER OF CANADA: Yay, Neil! Yay, Mario! Aaaaaaad, that's enough said on that. (Leader Post)

6. FAREWELL DOCTOR: David Tennant, the best of the 10 Doctors IMHO, will be making his last appearance as the fabled UK sci-fi hero in Doctor Who: The End of Time this Saturday on Space. (Which means I'll be traveling and not watching it. Bugger.) The show has apparently already run in the UK so you can read a review at the Guardian site. But don't spoil any of it for me, please.

Proroguies Again?

I've been back for 37 minutes and already in a state of impotent rage about the possibility of Harper proroguing another parliament. (CBC)

WTF? If Michaelle Jean says yes again, won't that set kind of a bad precedence (as if the last year's prorogation wasn't bad enough, AND on top of many many many other bad bad bad precedences?)

I think I'll look at this picture of Gilles Duceppe instead.

Sigh.