Sad news in the world of architecture today. (Vancouver Sun)
5.21.2009
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.
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)
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)
5.20.2009
MONKEY, SEE
In the May 7 issue of prairie dog I published an interview with University of Regina English prof Nicholas Ruddick about his new book on the subject of pre-historic fiction called Fire in the Stone. Here's another interview he did recently with the National Review. Was inspired to post this today because of the discovery that National Geographic announced.
(The Rest of) This Week at City Hall
Good thing yesterday's Public Works Committee meeting was canceled because I forgot to write this. So... here's a tardy rundown of what's happening on the municipal governance front this week.
Wednesday, May 20
Executive Committee (11:45 am... you'll have to run if you want to catch it): Seems to be just reports to consider and file this week. They'll be looking at a report about the Northeast Sector serviceability and roadway network, one about external financing for the Global Transportation Hub, and the annual report from the Urban Environment Advisory Committee.
Community and Protective Services Committee (4 pm)
Thursday May 21
Regina Arts Commission (7 pm): Will be considering recommendations for civic arts funding in 2009.
As always, you can download complete agendas and reports on the city's website.
Wednesday, May 20
Executive Committee (11:45 am... you'll have to run if you want to catch it): Seems to be just reports to consider and file this week. They'll be looking at a report about the Northeast Sector serviceability and roadway network, one about external financing for the Global Transportation Hub, and the annual report from the Urban Environment Advisory Committee.
Community and Protective Services Committee (4 pm)
Thursday May 21
Regina Arts Commission (7 pm): Will be considering recommendations for civic arts funding in 2009.
As always, you can download complete agendas and reports on the city's website.
Isotope Embarrassment
As LaRose pointed out in the post below this, the Chalk River nuclear facility has been shut down once again. This time because its aging reactor was leaking heavy water. (Again.)
This would be the same nuclear facility the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission wanted to keep closed for more maintenance back in 2007 out of concerns that the reactor might not be safe.
Former CNSC president, Linda Keen, told parliament that the odds that the reactor could fail were one in a thousand. That's one one-thousandth the international standard of one chance in a million. And that means you're 15 times more likely to see a reactor failure in Chalk River than you are to win the Regina Public Library home lottery.
Probabilities can be scary that way.
That Linda Keen, by the way, is the same CNSC president Stephen Harper had fired for being "a Liberal appointee" who wanted to keep the facility shut down for some inscrutable political purpose. Apparently, it didn't occur to him that Keen could simply be a cautious public servant trained in science who was employing science to scientifically assess the risk of a public facility going boom.
Or maybe it did. We all know what our PM thinks about science. Either way, he passed an emergency bill through parliament and had the reactor fired back up.
And here we are, two years later and it looks like maybe that Keen lady was on to something after all.
Of course, what's the big deal about a little spilt heavy water, right? The leak's been caught and is being fixed so clearly they're on top of things down there in Chalk River. Well, maybe, except it turns out the leak was only spotted after the reactor automatically shut down due to a power failure.
So when they speak of finding the heavy water leak, they might want to consider employing the adverb "inadvertently".
And, just to ladle a little local coincidence onto this, the Chalk River shutdown happened on the very same day the Leader Post launched their puffy, feel-good nuclear lovefest series. "Are nuclear reactors really safe?" wonders the headline of their first installment. It's a good question.
This would be the same nuclear facility the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission wanted to keep closed for more maintenance back in 2007 out of concerns that the reactor might not be safe.
Former CNSC president, Linda Keen, told parliament that the odds that the reactor could fail were one in a thousand. That's one one-thousandth the international standard of one chance in a million. And that means you're 15 times more likely to see a reactor failure in Chalk River than you are to win the Regina Public Library home lottery.
Probabilities can be scary that way.
That Linda Keen, by the way, is the same CNSC president Stephen Harper had fired for being "a Liberal appointee" who wanted to keep the facility shut down for some inscrutable political purpose. Apparently, it didn't occur to him that Keen could simply be a cautious public servant trained in science who was employing science to scientifically assess the risk of a public facility going boom.
Or maybe it did. We all know what our PM thinks about science. Either way, he passed an emergency bill through parliament and had the reactor fired back up.
And here we are, two years later and it looks like maybe that Keen lady was on to something after all.
Of course, what's the big deal about a little spilt heavy water, right? The leak's been caught and is being fixed so clearly they're on top of things down there in Chalk River. Well, maybe, except it turns out the leak was only spotted after the reactor automatically shut down due to a power failure.
So when they speak of finding the heavy water leak, they might want to consider employing the adverb "inadvertently".
And, just to ladle a little local coincidence onto this, the Chalk River shutdown happened on the very same day the Leader Post launched their puffy, feel-good nuclear lovefest series. "Are nuclear reactors really safe?" wonders the headline of their first installment. It's a good question.
Rosie's top six this morning
1. Now that someone who's not a corporatist is lading the United States, the Globe and Mail's worst columnist now thinks the free trade agreement and ceding Canadian economic sovereignty to the United States isn't that good an idea. Your Council of Canadians membership is in the mail, Mr. Ibbitson (Globe and Mail)
2. The most credible American speaker on the issue of torture is a former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar. (Crooks and Liars, Huffington Post)
3. CKCK Regina is to have an open house this afternoon on its 'Save Local Television" campaign to have its owners, Toronto-based Globemedia, soak cable customers for an extra $15 a month for another revenue stream. Meanwhile, that 'local' television station is buying more shows ... in Los Angeles ... the same shows that will be seen on CBS, NBC, and ABC (Globe and Mail). Remember the success of Corner Gas? Anyone? Anyone? Bueler?
4. Remember how the last time Chalk River crapped out it was all the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's fault? Well, the same thing happened again. Whose fault is it now? (CBC via Scott's Diatribes)
5. Why the Saskatchewan NDP needs a brain transplant ... 1,100 forged signatures? Oh that's not fraud ... (CJME)
6. The single most disturbing thing you will ever see today ... Craig Ferguson does Britney Spears. (HuffPo)
2. The most credible American speaker on the issue of torture is a former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar. (Crooks and Liars, Huffington Post)
3. CKCK Regina is to have an open house this afternoon on its 'Save Local Television" campaign to have its owners, Toronto-based Globemedia, soak cable customers for an extra $15 a month for another revenue stream. Meanwhile, that 'local' television station is buying more shows ... in Los Angeles ... the same shows that will be seen on CBS, NBC, and ABC (Globe and Mail). Remember the success of Corner Gas? Anyone? Anyone? Bueler?
4. Remember how the last time Chalk River crapped out it was all the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's fault? Well, the same thing happened again. Whose fault is it now? (CBC via Scott's Diatribes)
5. Why the Saskatchewan NDP needs a brain transplant ... 1,100 forged signatures? Oh that's not fraud ... (CJME)
6. The single most disturbing thing you will ever see today ... Craig Ferguson does Britney Spears. (HuffPo)
5.19.2009
The latest on Brad Wall's second favourite football team
I just hope Al Davis' management style doesn't come naturally to Wall ...
(Thank You Shutdown Corner)
(Thank You Shutdown Corner)
Six In The Morning (Deadline Edition)
Press deadline is at four and I still, um, have a (small) story to write, so let's make this quick:
1.) HAMILTON JETS? Bankruptcy hearing for a crummy NHL team is today (TSN). Meanwhile, CBC has a huge feature on the Balsillie power play their website. Meanwhile, the AHL's Manitoba Moose are one win from the Calder Cup finals. UPDATE: Meanwhile, editors type "meanwhile" a lot when they're rushing.
2.) PRE-PEOPLE Much hullablaoo over a fossilized primate believed to bridge the evolutionary gap between human and lemur. (Guardian)
3.) CONRAD BLACK'S LUCKY BREAK Fraudster newsman gets to take his sob story to court, again. (Toronto Star)
4.) NO SEX PLEASE, WE'RE CHINESE Communist officials order giant boners bulldozed. (Globe And Mail)
5.) FOLLOWING CALI'S LEAD Obama to introduce new auto emmissions standards. Get on the damn bandwagon, Canada. (New York Times)
6.) NUCLEAR REACTORS ARE LIKE TOTALLY SWELL, AND STUFF! The Star Phoenix and Leader-Post address the topic in the first unbelievably shitty instalment of a five part series. (Leader-Post)
1.) HAMILTON JETS? Bankruptcy hearing for a crummy NHL team is today (TSN). Meanwhile, CBC has a huge feature on the Balsillie power play their website. Meanwhile, the AHL's Manitoba Moose are one win from the Calder Cup finals. UPDATE: Meanwhile, editors type "meanwhile" a lot when they're rushing.
2.) PRE-PEOPLE Much hullablaoo over a fossilized primate believed to bridge the evolutionary gap between human and lemur. (Guardian)
3.) CONRAD BLACK'S LUCKY BREAK Fraudster newsman gets to take his sob story to court, again. (Toronto Star)
4.) NO SEX PLEASE, WE'RE CHINESE Communist officials order giant boners bulldozed. (Globe And Mail)
5.) FOLLOWING CALI'S LEAD Obama to introduce new auto emmissions standards. Get on the damn bandwagon, Canada. (New York Times)
6.) NUCLEAR REACTORS ARE LIKE TOTALLY SWELL, AND STUFF! The Star Phoenix and Leader-Post address the topic in the first unbelievably shitty instalment of a five part series. (Leader-Post)
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