Verb Issue R37 (July 20-26, 2012)

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Jul 20–26, 2012 • Pass it on

Verb

Regina’s New Stadium

Breaking Down How We’re Going To Pay For It P3

Left English

Four-Piece Talks Recording Live P10

Connect Fest

Electronica Stars Abound At This Amazing Summer Event P6

The Dark Knight Rises

Batman Finale Simply Unforgettable P15

ROGER MARIN Canadian Alt-Country Rocker On His Impressive Career P9

Photo: courtesy of the artist

Section Local Page 2

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Regina Cracks Top 20 Creative Cities List

Technology, Talent And Tolerance Determine Which Locales Make The Cut Alex J MacPherson

Florida tapped Ottawa as the most creative city in the country, followed Regina, SK — Urban devel- by Victoria and Vancouver in a dead opment maven Richard Florida heat for second place. Saskatoon has named Regina the 12th most came in second last place, at 18. creative city in “Cities,” Florida Canada.

“The creativity index writes in the HuffFlorida, direc- [says] here are places ington Post, “as tor of the Martin that have all of the the great urbanProsperity Instiist Jane Jacobs tute at the Univer- ingredients.” told us long ago, -Kevin Stolarick are where new sity of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, ideas, new innovations, new combased his assessment on a theory panies and new work come from. outlined in his book, The Rise of the In Canada, where 80 percent of the Creative Class, which suggests that population lives on just two percent creativity has become an increas- of the land area, the importance of ingly important economic driver. cities is even more apparent.”

“What we’ve found is you need substantial but balanced performance,” says Kevin Stolarick, Ph.D. and research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, of the three main criteria used to compile the list — technology, talent and tolerance. “It’s a combination of all of those things.”

Scores for each category were compiled using national data, Stolarick explains. Technology is a reflection of patents and patent growth. Talent is a measure of the creative class, which, Florida writes, is “a new socioeconomic class…made up of scientists and engineers, architects and designers, artists and entertainers, and the growing ranks of professional knowledge workers.”

They are people who are paid to think, Stolarick adds, noting that the creative class makes up about 30 percent of the population, two thirds of whom have a university degree.

The final measure, tolerance, is actually a reflection of openness, both to people and to ideas. This category factors in the number of gays and lesbians and the number of foreign-born people in a given community, as well as an integration index that determines if subdivisions of a metro area have the same ethnic composition as the region as a whole, Stolarick explains.

“We look at the creativity index as a leading indicator,” he says of the study’s importance. “It’s really helping to say here are places that have all of the ingredients. So they’re already situated — they have some level of innovation and technology, they have talented, skilled people, they have some openness and inclusion.”

Conversely, Stolarick says the study provides places that did not crack the top 10 with an opportunity to examine their weaknesses.

A lower ranking is “never a death sentence,” he says, and it can’t be solved with a silver bullet solution, but it does provide insight into why growth may not maximized.

“One of the things I’ve always said [regarding] the things that you have to do is…such a violent metaphor, but it makes such beautiful sense: it takes a shotgun and not a rifle,” he says. “What I mean is that so many people approach these questions and expect silver bullets.”

Explaining that growth cannot

Photo: courtesy of Eric Eggerston, Don Stein, Craik Sustainable Living Project, and dboyfotopages

lie in a single massive project, Stolarick suggests that investment across a broad spectrum is the solution.

“It’s the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao [Spain] argument,” he laughs.

“You know, it didn’t work that well in Bilbao and it probably hasn’t worked anywhere else since.”

For comparison purposes, Stolarick refers to a similar study conducted in the United States. He thinks Ottawa, the most creative city in Canada, would certainly fall within the top 10 south of the border. The most creative city in the United States is Boulder, Colorado.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Section

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Section Local Page

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Who’s Paying For Regina’s New Stadium?

Photo: courtesy of James Bremner

With A Price Tag Of $278M, The Facility Will Be Costing Us All A Little Bit Alex J MacPherson

stadium will be designed to permit a retrofitted roof at some point in regina, sk — After plenty the future. of debate and many tantaliz“It’s not just a simple replaceing news stories, a new football ment of Mosaic Stadium,” says Brent stadium is finally becoming a Sjoberg, deputy Regina city manreality. Now, the ager and chief question is: how “It’s not just a simple financial officer. are we going to replacement of Mosaic “It’ll actually be pay for it? a significant upStadium.”

After signing a grade.”

-Brent Sjoberg memorandum of The $278 milunderstanding (MOU), the provin- lion needed to build the stadium cial government, the city of Regina can be broken down into an $80 and the Saskatchewan Roughriders million grant from the provincial have announced a $278 million, government, $25 million to be col33,000-seat facility to replace Mosa- lected by the Roughriders, and $73 ic Stadium. Boasting covered stands million from Regina, which includes and an open-air playing field, the $3 million worth of land at Evraz

Place. The province will also lend the City of Regina $100 million, to be repaid over 30 years.

Explaining that renovating the “wanting” infrastructure at Mosaic would cost about $150 million, Ken Cheveldayoff, minister responsible for the project, says “there were certain limitations with renovation… so we felt it would be best to look at a new open-air structure.”

Cheveldayoff says the government money will come from general revenues. “Right now in Saskatchewan we have an $11 billion budget,” he explains. “The stadium is going to be paid for with an $80 million grant over a four-year period … that’s one fifth of one percent

of total government expenditures over the next four years … a small, small fraction.”

The $100 million provincial loan will be repaid using the facility fee, a surcharge added to tickets, which will be increased from $8 to $12, Sjoberg says.

“Is there some risk in that?”

Sjoberg says. “Yeah, absolutely … because it’s the city on the hook to repay the loan. But we’re pretty comfortable with the way the numbers line [up].”

The facility fee applies to CFL tickets, though Sjoberg notes there is no plan to charge a similar fee for amateur events.

The second financial

consideration is maintenance. Sjoberg says a public facility typically requires between 1.5 and 2 percent of the capital cost each year for maintenance.

Based on the higher figure, the stadium will cost about $30 million to maintain for 30 years.

This money will be collected through an annual mill rate increase of 0.45 percent for the next ten years, which Sjoberg says will generate $300 million, adding that the 0.45 percent increase will cost the average citizen about $5 each year.

The MOU was approved by Regina’s city council’s executive committee on July 18th.

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Section Global

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Lying Eyes False Theory Just A Myth: Academics Adam Hawboldt

edinburgh, scotland — There are an abundance of common misconceptions out there.

For instance, some people think the sun is yellow. It’s not. Others believe Napoleon Bonaparte was really, really short. He wasn’t. You know what else is false? The ageold idea that you can tell a person is lying by watching their eyes, according to a new study conducted

by Edinburgh University and Hetfordshire University.

“A large percentage of the Hertfordshire University. “The secpublic believes that certain eye ond showed that telling people movements are a sign of lying,” about the claims made by NLP practhe BBC reports Dr. Caroline Watt, titioners did not improve their lie from Edinburgh University, saying. detection skills.”

“Our research …

In case you’re suggests that it is “Our research … wondering, NLP time to abandon suggests that it is time to (neuro-linguistic this approach to abandon this approach to programming) detecting deceit.” theor y claims R es earch e r s detecting deceit.” that when right-Caroline Watt handed people filmed volunteers and recorded their eye movements look up to their right, they are vias they lied and told the truth. They sualizing a “constructed” or imagthen asked a second group of vol- ined event — i.e., they’re lying. In unteers to watch the films and try to contrast, NLP theory also claims detect who was lying by watching that if right-handed people look eye movements. to their left, they’re vizualizing a “The results of the first study “remembered” event — i.e., they’re revealed no relationship between telling the truth. lying and eye movements,” says Too bad their theories are wrong. professor Richard Wiseman, from Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Pill Reduces HIV Infection Risk Adam Hawboldt

Foster City, ca — We could be at a turning point in the battle against HIV and AIDS. That’s because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Truvada, a new pill that is proven to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

While Truvada has been marketed as a treatment for those already infected with HIV — a disease that sees about 50,000 new cases in the U.S. each year — 2010 brought new studies showing that the pill was also a way to prevent people from contracting HIV.

In fact, a nearly three-year-long study found that daily doses of Truvada cut the risk of infection in gay and bisexual men by nearly 42 percent when sex was accompanied by condoms and counseling, and in heterosexual couples where one partner was infected with HIV by 75 percent.

However, many groups, including the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, are worried Truvada may give patients a false sense of security, which they believe will lead to lessfrequent condom use - the most reliable way to prevent HIV. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Global At A Glance subtitle glasses — Are you deaf?

Or don’t speak English very well? If so, here’s some good news: Sony has created a pair of glasses that will subtitle movies when you go to the cinema.

Called Entertainment Access Glasses, use a tiny projector to shine subtitles visible only to the wearer. The glasses are available now, but so far only in theatres. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

You May Soon Suss Out Lovers Based On Genes Adam Hawboldt

London, england — Tina Turner once posed the ever-lasting question: “What’s love got to do with it?”

Turns out in the future, when it comes to choosing your life partner, love may not have much to do with it at all.

That’s because, according to a leading British scientist, Britain is on the cusp of a new and exciting era of genetics that will allow partners to be matched solely on the compatibility of their genes, rather than love.

Professor Armand Leroi, of Imperial College London, says that within five or 10 years the desire to have a healthy baby will lead numerous young couples to pay to see the genetic information of any prospective partners.

And while it’s unlikely that people will be creating “designer” babies, complete with desired eye colour or intellect, Leroi does feel

that because the cost of genetic sequencing is falling so dramatically, that “it is going to become very, very accessible, very, very soon”.

However, this form of eugenics, or any form of eugenics for that matter, does not sit well with some people.

“Our society’s increasing obsession with celebrity status, physical perfection and high intelligence

fuels the view that the lives of people with disabilities or genetic diseases are somehow less worth living,” Philippa Taylor, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, tells the Daily Mail.

“Our priorities should be to develop treatments and supportive measures for those with genetic disease; not to search them out.”

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Feature

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Connect Music Fest Celebrates 17 Years Boasting Electronica Superstars And Tons Of Hot Tunes, This Event Is A Must-See Sebastien Dangerfield

upper and lower campgrounds …

We’re lucky to have ended up here.”

Regina, SK — “It’s a hidLucky indeed. den oasis,” says Jeff Bashutski, In the early going, when Conknown by his stage name of Jeff nect was in its infancy, the festival Galaxy. “An old smugglers’ route was held at Oyama Regional Park with sand dunes and a spring near Regina. running through the whole thing.

“That first year, I just rented a big It’s so well-treed, the grass is so system, rented every DJ I could find, well-manicured, brought in some it’s so well-kept “Every year we try to pick from the U. S. that you think people who we consider and the U.K, and you’re in a city the up-and-coming stars.” threw together a park.” party,” explains -Jeff Galaxy Galaxy.

What Galaxy is talking about is the Besant Camp“We lost quite a bit of money. ground. Why he’s talking about But we decided to keep it going.” the campground is because that’s Eventually, the Connect Festival where this year’s Connect Music became more and more popular Festival — the largest outdoor elec- and outgrew Oyama. Where they tonica/tribal party in the province ended up was at a park in McLean, — is being held.

Saskatchewan, just off the TransAnd by all accounts, Galaxy, who Canada Highway. founded the festival 17 years ago, “We were there for about five is happy with the current location. years, but eventually the infrastruc“It’s just a great, great place,” he ture started to show wear and tear, says. “It’s on a hillside, so there are it was put up on the auction block,

Photo: courtesy of Connect Festival

nobody bought it,” says Galaxy.

“That happened in the spring, when we were ramping up for the festival. And at the last minute the provincial government closed the park.”

Needless to say, organizers of the festival were left scrambling, and they scrambled right into the always scenic Besant Campground.

That was a few years ago.

These days the Connect Music Festival is thriving. With 40 acts playing three stages, this four-day festival, which draws thousands of party-goers every year, is big and getting bigger.

“We draw people from all corners of Saskatchewan and beyond,”

says Galaxy.

“We connect a lot of like-minded people with the music, with nature, with everything.”

So what, precisely, is the allure of an outdoor electronica festival?

“Plain and simple, we get brutalized by our winters here,” explains Galaxy.

“So when summer comes people want to be outdoors. If you give them an excuse to go camping with like-minded people, plus really good music across three stages, people can’t help but say ‘okay I’m packing up and going.’”

And for those people going to this year’s festival, you’re in for a treat.

With a line-up that boasts the likes of Drumcell, Likwid, Griz, Vilify, Dislexik, Kraddy, Petebox and more, Connect 17 is going to be unbelievable.

“Every year we try to pick people who we consider the up-and-coming stars,” says Galaxy.

One such star, who they had at the festival four years ago, is a DJ named Deadmau5. These days Deadmau5 is gracing the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

Connect 17 runs from August 2nd until the 5th.

For more information about the festival or to purchase tickets, visit www.connectfestival.ca.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Offbeat

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Underwear Claims To Burn Fat Adam Hawboldt

Shelter With ‘Lampbrella’

Canopy Senses Rain, Opens To Provide Shelter Adam Hawboldt

contraption comes equipped sensors that detect when it’s rainst petersburg, russia — ing, which then triggers a motor Nobody likes getting caught that pushes up a canopy, offering outside in the passers-by shelter rain. Your shoes “His proposed canopy … from the storm. get soaked, your can comfortably cover Belyaev got his clothes stick to nearly a dozen people.” inspiration while you and, no matwatching people -Adam Hawboldt scrambling for ter how hard you try, you can’t quite get comfort- cover from the rain. able until everything dries.

“I was driving on a central Saint If Mikhail Belyaev has his way, Petersburg street … and saw the however, that’ll never happen street lamps illuminating people again. See, Belyaev invented this trying to hide from the rain,” the thing called the Lampbrella. Part inventor tells Gizmag. “I thought umbrella, part street lamp, this it would be appropriate to have

a canopy built into a streetlamp.”

His proposed canopy has a diameter of more than seven feet, stands six-feet five-inches off the ground, and can comfortably cover nearly a dozen people. And to ensure people’s safety, the canopy lifts up and closes with a low-middle speed.

Furthermore, the canopy only closes when another 360-degree motion sensor doesn’t detect people under the canopy for two minutes.

Belyaev has not ruled out using a button system for his invention.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Cow Painted With QR Code Reveals Dairy Life Adam Hawboldt

Leicestershire, England — Talk about moo-bile technology!

A dairy cow in Leicestershire, England, has had a QR Code spraypainted on its side to help people learn about the dairy industry.

Jane Barnes, the owner of the animal, is encouraging people to

use their smartphones to zap eightyear-old Friesian cow named Lady Shamrock. When they scan the bar code, visitors are immediately directed to a blog that details Lady Shamrock’s daily routine, along with information about challenges dairy farmers are currently facing.

“It looks like a puzzle — like a barcode on food items,” says Barnes

of the QR Code. “We used a can of white spray paint that is animal user friendly, so it is not going to harm her in any way, and sprayed it on using a stencil.”

Barnes and her husband run a 120-cow farm that sends all of its milk to local dairies to produce Stilton cheese.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

rome, italy — Want to lose a few pounds, but can’t be bothered going to the gym?

If so, you’re in luck. A new line of underwear has been created that can help you burn fat simply by wearing it — or at least, that’s what the manufacturers claim, saying their product offers amazing cellulite reducing effects.

Created by MyShapes, an Italian clothing company, the underwear is

made from “a range of articles made with Emana, a nanofiber with mineral bioactive crystals that absorb the human body heat to return in the form of Far Infrared Rays. These stimulate blood microcirculation and cellular metabolism.”

Other benefits of the underwear, listed on the company’s website, include: the elimination of toxins, improved metabolism and decreased lactate acid building during exercise.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Offbeat At A Glance big blt — Three hundred pounds of

bacon, 210 loaves of French bread, over 100 pounds of tomatoes and 40 pounds of lettuce and mayonnaise: that’s what it took to make the world’s

largest BLT in South Virginia. Under the watchful eye of chef Steve Gillette, the sandwich, which is 306.5 feet long, was put together in less than 15 minutes.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Music

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Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com TBD. DJ Noor — Born in Kuwait and exposed to the international club scene at a young age, this talented DJ knows how to rock a crowd. 7pm, The Hookah Lounge. $5 cover.

The Montagues — Do classic rock covers from the ‘70s and ‘80s interest you? If so, you should probably come check out this local act. They’re pretty darn good. 9pm, McNally’s Tavern. Cover $5.

(NEXT WEEK) THE NANCY RAY-GUNS @ O’HANLON’S pub — Consisting of Matt

Kaip (guitar), Thomas Roussin (vocals/ guitar), Nat Bowen (percussion/drums), and Nigel Taylor (trumpet) and Phil Legrand (bass), these agri-funksters have been to doing their thing for a few years now. With a groovy sound

Friday 20

No River — An alt-country roots/folk group from Calgary that plays with a rawness and passion that you don’t see everyday. They’re winners of the Best Song Performance at the 2012 Calgary Folk Music Songwriting Competition, and they’re all kinds of awesome. They’ll be joined by Regina’s own TB Judd.

8pm, Creative City Centre. Tickets $10.

Port Noise — They’re loud. They’re distinct. They’re from Regina. Consisting of Angus Livingstone (bass/vocals), Andrew Strilchuk (guitar/vocals), Matthew Garthson (guitar/synthesizer) and Chris Johnston (drums/percussion), this local four-piece plays a brand of hard rock/alternative this is as catchy as it is in-your-face. 7pm, The Exchange. Tickets TBD. DJ Pat & DJ Kim — Local DJs spin top 40 hits every Friday night that are sure to get you on the dance floor. 9pm, Habano’s Martini & Cocktail Club. $5 at the door.

Alain Lalonde — Come check out this dope local DJ/producer as he does his thing and spins the kind of sound that’ll make you wanna dance. 7pm, The Hookah Lounge. No cover.

The Montagues — Do classic rock covers from the ‘70s and ‘80s interest you? If so, you should probably come check out this local act. They’re pretty darn good. 9pm, McNally’s Tavern. $5 cover.

The Elwins — An indie pop trio from Keswick, Ontario, The Elwins have an infectious, happy sound and have established themselves as a Canadian band to watch. They’ve performed alongside the Tokyo Police Club and the Arkells, and have also taken their talents to festivals like SXSW and POP Montreal.

9pm, O’Hanlon’s Pub. No cover.

Trick Ryder — Come listen to all your favourite country and rock hits when Trick Ryder takes the stage. The Pump Roadhouse. Tickets TBD. Albert — Appearing every Friday night, come listen to Albert as he does his spinning thing. 10pm, Pure Ultra

Photo: courtesy of the artist

that blends funk with jam-band and nu-jazz, these local rockers are sure to get you up out of your seat and on to the dance floor. If you dig good music, if you like good times, then perhaps you should stop by O’Hanlon’s on July 27th. No cover charge. -Adam Hawboldt.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Lounge. $5 cover.

Alex Runions — This Regina-based urban country rocker’s star is on the rise. In 2009 he released his self-titled debut album and since then things have been certainly been looking up. In fact, Runions has been nominated for three Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, and was a finalist in the 2011 Canadian Radio Star Competition. Come check out his heart-felt, melody driven version of urban country music. 8pm, Whiskey Saloon. Cover $10.

DJ Longhorn — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs as he drops some of the best country beats around. 8pm, Whiskey Saloon.

Cover TBD.

Saturday 21

Judy Collins — A Grammy-winning singer/songwriter from Seattle, Collins has been performing since the ‘60s. Best known for her folk songs, this talented musician has also recorded show tunes, pop, rock and jazz standards during her long, successful career. 8pm, Casino Regina. Tickets $25–30, available at the Show Lounge box office, online at www.casinoregina.com or by calling 565-3000.

Pirate Soul — With steady rhythms and mellow melodies, this New Brunswick singer/songwriter (aka Nick Mazerolle) aims to spread soul/reggae/ acoustic vibes all across the nation. He’ll be in Regina this week. 8pm, Creative City Centre. Tickets $10.

Shayne Hawken, NSST, Tyler Gilbert, Tiny — These four talented acts come together for one night to support Tricia Tanner’s Service Dog Benefit. The event will include a dinner, music, a silent auction and more. C’mon out, it’s for a good cause. For more information about the event go to www.culturalexhcange.ca. 6pm, The Exchange. Tickets are $25.

Zero Cool — A hard-hitting indie/ punk trio from Edmonton, Zero Cool have a minimalist sound that is all kinds of good. 8pm, The Exchange. Tickets

Trick Ryder — Come listen to all your favourite country and rock hits when Trick Ryder takes the stage. The Pump Roadhouse. Tickets TBD. Drewski — Doing what he does best, every Saturday night. Come on down and dance the night away with this local DJ. Pure Ultra Lounge. $5 cover.

Alex Runions — This Regina-based urban country rocker’s star is on the rise. In 2009 he released his self-titled debut album and since then things have been certainly been looking up. In fact, Runions has been nominated for three Saskatchewan Country Music Awards and was a finalist in the 2011 Canadian Radio Star Competition. Come check out his heart-felt, melody driven version of urban country music. 8pm, Whiskey Saloon. $10 cover.

Monday 23

this prog-metal band has undergone a few changes, but the one constant has been guitarist Tim Roth. These days, Roth is lighting up the stage alongside Amanda Kiernan, Justin Bender, Troy Bleich, Bryan Newbury and Stu

Block. Into Eternity reaches into varied sections of the metal spectrum. With melodic metal stylings and thrashing guitar riffs, this band is one band you just have to see. They’ll be playing the Exchange on July 28th. Tickets $15 (Ticketedge.ca). -Adam Hawboldt. Feedback?

Text it to 306-881-8372.

He’ll be in town with his strange and awesome folk sound this week. Don’t miss it. 9pm, O’Hanlon’s Pub. No cover.

have the kind of simple harmonies you can’t resist. 10pm, McNally’s Tavern. $5 cover.

Wednesday 25

Atomic Candy — What do Ben Harper, Corey Hart, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Violent Femmes, and Young MC have in common? Well, for one, they’ve all been covered by the band Atomic Candy. Based out of Winnipeg, this talented four-piece plays a wide array of all your favourite covers. From rock to pop, and country to rap, Atomic Candy knows how to put on one helluva show.

9pm, The Pump Roadhouse. Tickets TBD.

Wednesday Night Folk — Featuring Andino Suns, playing hot Latin rhythms that are sure to pack the place — again. 9pm, Bushwakker Brewpub.

No cover.

Hot Panda — Taking their name from a Chinese restaurant in Edmonton, this Albertan indie quartet has just released its new album Go Outside. They’re fresh off a European tour and are currently in the middle of a Western Canadian swing. 7:30pm, The Artful Dodger. Tickets TBD.

Jam Night/Open Stage — Feel like listening to people jam? How about playing music? Come on down. The instruments are supplied. 9pm, McNally’s Tavern.

Monday Night Jazz — Featuring White Boy Slim, rockin’ blues from this veteran bluesman from Moose Jaw. 8pm, Bushwakker Brewpub. No cover.

PS Fresh — DJ Ageless started spinning in Montreal, DJ Drewski started in Saskatoon. They both landed in Regina and have come together to sling some bomb beats. 7pm, The Hookah Lounge.

No cover.

Laika — A six-piece melodic death metal group, this band from Winnipeg is hot off a big Eastern Canadian tour, and is bringing their impassioned live show to the Prairies. 8pm, The Exchange.

Tickets TBD.

Photo: courtesy of the artist

(NEXT WEEK) INTO ETERNITY @ the EXCHANGE — Since forming in ‘97,

Thursday 26

Jen Lane w/ Smokekiller — These local musicians play the sort of straightahead rhythms that are infectious and

Tim Romanson — This multi-instrument performer is a singer/songwriter from central Saskatchewan who plays a brand of outlaw country-rock that’s often accompanied by a damn dynamic fiddle show . 8pm, Whiskey Saloon. $5 cover.

DJ Longhorn — Come check out one of Regina’s most interactive DJs as he drops some of the best country beats around. 8pm, Whiskey Saloon.

Cover TBD.

Want your show listed?

Email layout@verbnews.com!

Tuesday 24

Creedence Clearwater Revisited — Founded by Stu Cook and Doug “Cosmo” Clifford (the rhythm section for the Hall of Fame group Creedence Clearwater Revival), this five-piece performs, you guessed it, CCR hits. And they perform them well. From “Susie Q” to “Born on the Bayou,” Creedence Clearwater Revisited will give you a show worth watching. 8pm, Casino Regina. Tickets $60–65, available at the Show Lounge box office, online at www.casinoregina. com or by calling 565-3000.

Karaoke Tuesday — Famous live music venue offers its patrons a chance to share the stage. 8pm, McNally’s Tavern. No cover.

Wax Mannequin — This singer/songwriter (also known as Chris Adeney) from Hamilton, Ontario is one of a kind.

(COMING UP) COLIN JAMES @ CASINO REGINA — There’s no pigeonholing

Colin James. After starting out as a rock guitarist (mentored by Stevie Ray Vaughan, no less), this musician from Regina went on to top the charts as a pop vocalist, put out an acclaimed blues album and played swing with

his Little Big Band. Along the way he has performed for the Queen, made multi-platinum albums and sold out shows from coast to coast. James will be rocking Casino Regina on November 1st; tickets are $45+ (www.casinoregina. com). -Adam Hawboldt. Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Arts One

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Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Roger Marin Talks Music In The Family

Photo: courtesy Dave Hensley, of the artist and Tom Funasaka

From Playing With His Dad To Touring Now, Marin’s Been Rocking A Long Time Alex J MacPherson

notably Fred Eaglesmith’s 2011 masterpiece 6 Volts, he is also an accomRegina, SK — I feel a certain plished songwriter and bandleader. kinship with Roger Marin. We Marin’s latest record, Silvertown, were both thrust into our respec- welds alt-country convention to tive careers with little warning. the musical inventiveness that can My parents write for newspapers, only come from a band working in and I grew up harmony. with newsprint “I just sort of did it “I was really on my hands. It because my father did happy with Silvernever occurred it, and I wanted to be town,” he muses. to m e t hat I “I’ve been pretty would do any- onstage with him.” lucky and I’ve had -Roger Marin the same band for thing but write for a newspaper. Marin, an alt- a long time. I really love songwriting country songwriter and pedal and things like that, and my band steel player from Timmons, grew has such a diverse background — up surrounded by musicians. His from jazz to heavy metal to punk father played music seven nights rock. On my other records, the band a week. Not surprisingly, Roger wouldn’t do a lot of stuff; they’d just started early. play the songs.”

“I just sort of did it because my Recording Silvertown, he exfather did it, and I wanted to be on- plains, was completely different: stage with him,” Marin says, launch- “I definitely wanted to make a band ing into a story about begging to record. I wanted something differplay in his dad’s band. (“Only if you ent, and I wanted to try and push learn pedal steel,” his dad replied.) myself — to make myself try dif“It went from that to playing seven ferent styles of music. I think we nights a week and waiting in the achieved it.” kitchen between sets. I’ve been Rather than treat his band as a lucky enough to get invited on so musical crutch, Marin worked hard many different projects to play and to make writing and recording colI love it.” laborative. After booking studio Although Marin has contributed time in southern Ontario, he went soaring pedal steel licks to some in with just a few songs; everything of the best records of the decade, else was written and recorded in

just a few weeks. “With that record,” Marin says, “we got to a place where we weren’t upset with anything. I’m happy with how it sounds.”

And he should be: Silvertown is a great record. Brimming with memorable hooks and robust chord progressions, Silvertown reflects Marin’s love of the classics, but it also displays his genius for throwing curveballs. From slinky guitars to surprising changes to lyrical twists that raise more questions than answers, Marin has developed a talent for delivering the unexpected. And the title track is just sensational.

“That’s another part I’m really happy about, happy that the record came out the way it did,” Marin says. “I always like different music, so I’m trying to find different things I can do in songs and try to reach out there.”

On the subject of reaching out, Marin says he’s already planning a follow-up, which will probably be released in the spring. It’s really quite impressive considering that he’s getting set for four months on the road. It’s a long time, but he plans to keep it interesting by changing pace. Some dates will feature a full band, others a strippeddown, guitars-only setup. A few shows will feature his friend and fellow songwriter Gordie Tentrees.

Marin also organizes and hosts a three-day music festival each July.

Held in Niagara, the event brings together songwriters from all over the continent for a weekend of hardcore music and hardcore fun.

He’ll also find time to play pedal steel wherever and whenever he’s needed, a job he says is as rewarding now as it was when he first decided on a career in music.

“You know,” he says, “I’ve been pretty lucky. I feel like I’m very successful.”

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Event Info

Roger Marin

Where: Creative City Centre When: August 7 Cost: $20 at the door

Sky Exhibit Explores The Secrets Of The Universe

do it for myself first. I do not consider my audience because I’m on Regina, SK — In the late 1950s, a personal mission. I have a track, a when John Noestheden was four- creative investment in the universe teen years old, he saw a fireball where I am looking for answers to shoot across the sky above his my own questions.” home in Windsor Noestheden’s before plung- “[W]hen you look at my latest project, a ing into L ake representation of the joint exhibition Saint Clair. The universe, you indeed are with Shuvinai following day, Ashoona inspired he scoured the looking at yourself.” by a collaborative -John Noestheden project they did newspapers for more information. It was futile: no in 2008, underscores his view that one else, it appeared, had seen art is about searching for answers. what he had seen. Bemused, Noes- Casting Noestheden’s sweeping theden started reading. That fireball vision of the sky against Ashoona’s sparked a lifelong fascination with take on the endless expanse of astronomy and the universe. the north, John Noestheden: Sky & “I have to be honest here,” he Shuvinai Ashoona: Earth represents says of his work, most of which are a quest for warmth in the blackness large-scale drawings on paper. “I of space.

ArtsSect &C

Alex J MacPherson

Photo: Courtesy of Shuvinai Ashoona & John Noestheden

“Sometimes I don’t know exactly what I’m searching for other than to say that I am always concerned with searching for an image that I find particularly gripping,” he says.

“In the end, I make it beautiful.”

He does this by employing a number of techniques, notably photocopied inflation of infinitesimally small images and the precise placement of tiny Swarovski crystals, all in a row. These, he points out, are both representations and distortions.

“Isn’t that we do as artists?” he muses. “Look at something really simple. When we look at anything we filter it. I have every photo in my file NASA ever took, but when you look at them you realize they’re filtered, mediated.”

Unfathomably large, its proportions incomprehensible, the universe distorts data in the same way our own senses confuse information. Noestheden’s works transform the universe into a metaphor for human understanding — and a tool for understanding humans.

“The crystal piece is actually derived from a NASA photo of a dense section of stars in the Milky Way,” Noestheden says of what is perhaps the show’s finest work.

“It’s an interpretation of that, using Swarovski crystals to give you that sparkle and effervescence. Each one is a tiny mirror. They reflect and refract light exactly in the same colours you would find in stars. When you stand in front of it, when you look at my representation of the universe, you indeed are looking at yourself.”

This is an idea Noestheden has grasped and held on to. His practice seeks to untangle the threads linking the universe. The threads linking everything. Scientists do this with particle accelerators and mathematical equations. Noethesden does it with paper, a photocopier, a handful of jewels, and a pen.

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Five Qs With Left

Rockers Talk Recording Live, And W Alex J MacPherson

called SoulSound. That’s run by Orion Paradis. It was a new experiLeft English are a young band, ence that way, it was a much bigger but don’t let that skew your views. space and we were actually able to Paul Gobeil, Spencer Larocque, record it live off the floor.

Jared Mills and David Slater play AJM: What’s the appeal of recordupbeat, sophising live? ticated rock and “We really enjoy playing PG: We really roll — music that live and we think our enjoy p lay ing belies their rela- music comes across really live and we think tive inexperience. our music comes Their latest re- well that way.” across really well -Paul Gobeil that way. It felt record, The Weekend EP, covers a lot of territory, from ally great. And it’s also just more fun crunchy alt-rock to more experi- that way, I think, and faster, to be mental, melodic styles. Fueled by a honest. For me personally, it came pair of overloaded tube amps, Left pretty naturally. There was maybe English are as versatile as they are one song where we struggled to talented. And they’re the home- find the right take, but overall it was town kids. I caught up with Left really natural — it just felt like we English singer and guitarist Paul were practicing in our jam space.

Gobeil to talk about recording live It was exactly what we were hopoff the floor, balancing life with ing for. We want to record a fullmusic, and where their band name length album next year sometime, came from. and we’ll definitely be looking for Alex J MacPherson: You’ve just somewhere we can do it live, record released your second record, The it live in a studio.

Weekend EP. Can you tell me a bit AJM: You all have separate, nonabout it? musical jobs. How hard is it to balance Paul Gobeil: It’s an EP, there work with this project? are six new songs on it. We had PG: I’d say it’s very difficult. Not a show at the Artesian to release so much financially, but time-wise. it. It was the second time we’d re- It can be tough to get the four of us corded. The fist time was in a home free on the same nights to practice, studio: we did a three-song demo. and to record — that’s a several That was our introduction to the day commitment we all have to whole process; this time around, we make. We really have to juggle our went in a more professional place schedules, but I think for myself,

Culture tion Pages PH, PH PH PH–PH, ‘PH VerbNews.com

Pages 10, 11 Pages Jul 20–26,10, ‘12 11 VerbNews.com

Finger Eleven On Their Staying Power, And What’s Up Next Alex J MacPerson

t English

Photo: courtesy of Megan Moncrief

Work-Life Balance

and probably for all of us, it’s the highlight of our week, the days we practice. We sacrifice in other places if we have to and make it work.

AJM: Left English is getting bigger every week. Did you expect to get as far as you have?

PG: I think our goal to start out was just to play some shows and see how that felt. None of us had been in bands before. I’d played a couple of things solo, but nothing big at all. That was kind of the first goal, to get a show and then take it from there. Now, we don’t really have any master plan; it’s just about taking every opportunity that comes to us. We’re pretty happy with where we’re at. I’d love to be more successful, but I don’t think you can let your band be defined by success. I want to have fun, regardless of the outcome.

AJM: I feel like I’m missing the reference in your band name. Can you fill me in?

PG: There’s not really a good story behind it, unfortunately. Spencer [Larocque, bass] was brainstorming names, and we used to play a lot of pool back in the day. Billiards, if you like. English is when you put spin on the cue ball. He came up with the words Left English, thought it sounded good, and the four of us were actually able to agree on it.

Which is sometimes a challenge.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

REGINA, sk — Finger Eleven is one of the most popular rock bands working today. Their penchant for straightforward rock shot through with memorable hooks has created a solid fan base and guaranteed radio play. But after five albums and almost two decades in the business, they’re as surprised as anyone that the train is still rolling.

“I don’t think we ever thought it was a realistic dream,” admits Rick Jackett, who plays guitar in the Burlington band. “The overall philosophy of the band has always been to make it from record to record. We never really had some big Here’s the thing: Life Turns Electric picture plan.” is brimming with songs that will Finger Eleven’s first break came get played on the radio, not songs with “One Thing,” what amounted that were written to get played to a throwaway acoustic number on the radio. And that’s a big difthat surprised ference. But, Jacke v e r y o n e b y “The overall philosophy of ett admits, the blowing up in the band has always been turbulent music 2003. The band to make it from record to industry has affollowed with a fected the band. string of hits, cul- record.”

More music is in -Rick Jackett the works, but minating in “Paralyzer,” which was all over the radio he’s not certain whether it will be in the summer of 2007. The band released as an album, an EP, or a then regrouped and reorganized, slew of singles. spending their time listening to What he is sure about is that the the classics. This became the lo- songs from Life Turns Electric, as well cus of Life Turns Electric, which was as a stack of hits from the catalogue, released in late 2010. will be aired out this summer. The “We’ve never gone into this band is heading out on tour, and thinking we’ve got anything solved,” Jackett says. “When we’re writing the songs we know what we want them to sound like, but English we really don’t know what we’re Left Where: O’Hanlon’s Pub doing. We’re going with our heart, When: July 27 with our gut.”

Cost: Free Packed with short, punchy rock songs, Life Turns Electric is a reflec- John Noestheden: Sky tion of Finger Eleven’s commitment & Shuvinai Ashoona: to uncomplicated guitar rock. The resulting album was a fusion of Earth MacKenzie Art Gallery classic rock ideas and the band’s sig- Where: When: Through August 19 nature layered guitars and thunder- Cost: Free ous choruses. Jackett says his band tried to put their own twist on the Finger Eleven Queen City Ex classics while remaining relevant. Where: When: August 1 “It’s alright,” he says, “to be in- Cost: $16+ @ Ticketmaster fluenced by that music because it’s Want some coverage for your upcoming event? Email layout@verbnews.com ASAP! really just honest.”

Event Info

Photo: courtesy of the artist

Jackett is excited to play: “That record, more than others, translated live very easily,” he says.

“It’s cool now, at this point in our

career, to have this many records to choose from. We’ve been able to … get it as energetic as possible.”

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Food

Page 12

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Plantains are a staple food in the tropical regions of our planet, and they are often eaten more like a potato than a fruit. The banana’s big brother is not just a standard of equatorial locales, they are also full of starchy facts.

■ Plantains fruit all year round Bananas and plantains are ■actually of the same species can be eaten at ■all Plantains stages of ripeness — green,

yellow, and black

Because of their high carbo■hydrate content, plantains are good for people with ulcers or other sensitive tummy troubles

can also be dried ■andPlantains ground to make flour

Tasty, Healthy Eats At 13 Ave th

Photos: Courtesy of Kendra Kuss

Restaurant Brings Fresh, Filling Food To Eclectic Neighbourhood Jessica Bickford

13th Avenue Food and Coffee House has always been one of

my favourite haunts because of their consistently interesting and healthy options along with a great selection of coffee house favourites.

Less than two years ago, husband and wife team Emanuela Bandol and Dalton Fayad bought the business and decided to make a few changes while keeping the integrity that 13th Ave.’s customers expect. So they got air conditioning (as sweet a relief to customers as it was for the staff), started doing breakfast and increased their patronage of local businesses.

Dalton says he wants 13th Ave. Food and Coffee house to have “a healthy vibe, laid back and relaxed with a focus on local as much as possible.” Along with thinking green, they offer some raw food options, a wide range of gluten-free dishes, and are licensed if you like an adult beverage with your meal.

I started off with a 13th Ave.

classic — a rice bowl. The Jivin’ Jerk seasoned chickpeas, sunflower one to be specific, and on a mound seeds, red pepper, bean sprouts, of brown rice it had tempeh, toma- cabbage and tomato in a savoury to, cucumber, pineapple salsa, jerk sesame dressing. This earthy salad sauce and other veggies crowned really lives up to its name — offerw i th p l a nt ai n ing a filling meal chips. The tem- “[A]ltogether [the rice minus the heavy peh had a nutty bowl] was a flavourful, calories. flavour and the fresh and healthy dish.”

Lastly was an pineapple salsa exotic dish of -Jessica Bickford Marrakesh, or cohad cilantro and a touch of heat with the tart citrus. conut curry with eggplant, potato, The slow burn of the jerk sauce yam, chickpeas and raisins. This permeated the hearty rice and al- fragrant curry had a bit of heat but a together it was a flavourful, fresh lot of creaminess along with a deliand healthy dish. Just a word of cate sweetness from the raisins and warning; the rice bowls are huge coconut. Served on brown rice, this and I’m not sure anyone has actually stew had a great balance of starch, finished one in a sitting. lusciousness, and spice — truly deliThe tropical veggie burger had cious and deeply comforting. the same pineapple salsa as the rice I think that Emanuela and Dalton bowl, but this time on a homemade are really taking 13th Ave. Food and veggie patty of potato, chickpea, Coffee House in a great direction and lentil. I paired this great sum- — one that won’t compromise qualmertime sandwich with a power ity, and will offer something for salad of greens topped with tofu, everyone. They used to be some of its best customers, so I think they are pretty committed to keeping a bit of the old (tasty food made from scratch, all with a healthy flair) mixed in with the new (sweet, sweet air conditioning and breakfast) to make this restaurant the perfect mix for an eclectic neighbourhood.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

13th Avenue Food and Coffee House

Address: 3136 13th Ave. Hours: Tuesday - Friday 7am - 9pm Saturday 8am - 8pm;

Reservations: 522-3111

Opinion

Page 13

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Flying In Canada Costs Way Too Much

Making Air Travel More Affordable Would Generate Greater Economic Activity the Editors of Verb

Regina, SK — According to recent surveys, Canada has the second best quality of life in the world, behind only Australia. We’re ranked number two when it comes to happiness, number three in post-secondary eduction systems and number one amongst G20 countries in women’s rights.

Those are things to be proud of.

What we shouldn’t be proud of, however, is being ranked near the

“[A]irports have become a sizable source of revenue for the government.”

-Verb’s editors bottom of the barrel when it comes to airline taxes and airport fees.

How low are we in that category?

Well, out of 130 countries, Canada is ranked 125th in competitive ticket prices and airport charges. That’s how low. And we think it’s time something is done about this. It’s time flying in Canada was made affordable again.

But before we tackle a solution here, let’s look at the problem. And, in this case, the problem is simple.

It all boils down to government policy.

Once upon a time, the federal government used to run our airports — and run them fairly well.

Prices were low (relatively), people were flying, business was good.

But in 1992 the Mulroney government, in an effort to drive down the dastardly deficit, transferred responsibility of large airports over to local groups, then started taxing the bejesus out of them. There was airport rent and security taxes, sales taxes and fuel excise taxes.

So many new taxes sprung up that government policies now account for up to 40 percent of domestic airfare prices.

Needless to say, airports have become a sizable source of revenue for the government. So much so that from 1992 through 2009, the 14 leading Canadian airports paid somewhere in the neighbourhood of $3.3 billion in rent.

Please remember: that is just rent.

And who bears the burden for all these taxes and government policies? Why, the customers, of course. Like you. Or us.

It’s gotten to the point where the price of flying in Canada is simply preposterous —especially when you compare it to other parts of the developed world. Take Europe for instance. Using Ryan Air, it costs the equivalent of about $110 to fly return from Barcelona, Spain to Hamburg, Germany. That’s a round trip of a tad more than 3,400 km.

Which, if you think about it, is similar to flying return from Regina to Detroit — a comparable distance, and both routes move between two different countries.

But here, using, say, West Jet, the cost of a flight from Regina to Detroit is, after taxes, around the $700 mark.

And that’s only one way!

So the question remains … how do we solve this problem? How do we get cheaper flights? The answer is relatively simple. The government has to stop treating airports as a revenue stream and start viewing them as economic generators. To wit: ease the tax burden and lower the fees.

Doing so would increase

competition in the industry, convince more people to fly, and lower airfares.

And according to professor Fred Lazar of York University, if the government eased up its policies, about three million trips would be generated annually,

while economic output would be boosted anywhere from $2–4 billion. That is, even if the government loses revenue from lower fees and taxes, they’ll make it back in taxes on the boosted economic activity that more flying would create. And if flying was more affordable, who

wouldn’t use it more often?

Any way you slice it, that’s a lot of money and growth. So maybe it’s time the federal government stopped helping itself and, instead, started helping those who want to fly.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Section Movies

Page Page 14PH

Jul PH 20–26, PH–PH, ‘12 ‘PH VerbNews.com VerbNews.com

Headhunters Suspenseful, Thrilling Flick Mind-Blowing Norwegian Action Film Will Put You On The Edge Of Your Seat Headhunters

Runtime: 100 Minutes Rated: 14A Adam Hawboldt Headhunters, the 2011 Norwegian thriller directed by Morten Tyldum, is a lot of things.

It’s an original film. It’s twisty.

It’s turny. It’s a mind-blowing blend of Coen Brother-esque dark comedy meets Tarantino-like violence meets Hitchcockian suspense.

If that sounds awesome to you,

there’s good reason for that: Head- — moonlighting as an art thief. hunters is awesome.

At a party celebrating the openThe film stars Aksel Hennie ing of his wife’s gallery, Roger meets as Roger Brown, a very success- a guy named Clas Greve (Nikolaj ful and very talented corporate Coster-Waldau). He finds out that headhunter. Roger lives in a beau- Clas has a valuable Ruben’s painttiful, modernist ing and decides house with his “It’s a mind-blowing to steal it. beautiful Nordic blend of Coen BrotherTo say that wife named Diana esque dark comedy meets things begin to (Synnøve Macody go wrong for Lund) who, as Tarantino-like violence…” Roger after that is -Adam Hawboldt a gross and wildly Roger tells us in a voiceover, is a women of remark- inaccurate understatement. Roger ably expensive tastes. undergoes wave after wave of vioTo keep his wife happy (amongst lence at the hands of the people other things), Roger supplements trying to hunt him down. He’s his income the old-fashioned way stabbed, punched, kicked, shot at, submerged in all manners of grime, poop and muck. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. An iceberg that, in case you’re wondering, melts at a breakneck pace.

And the best part is, like a Hitchcock hero, Roger is never really sure who is chasing him. He only knows why. Other than that, anyone and everyone is a possible enemy of his.

To tell you anything more about the plot of Headhunters would really take the piss out of all the film’s brilliant surprises. And believe me when I tell you they are most certainly brilliant. So much so that by the end of the movie your head may very well spin off your shoulders in awe and disbelief.

Just thinking about it — about the delirious violence and the biting satire and the twisting edge-ofyour-seat suspense — makes me

Photo: courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

want to go back and watch Headhunters for a second time to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

It’s that kind of movie.

The kind of nail biter that will literally make you chew your nails down to the nub; the kind of thriller that will leave you thrilled beyond belief; the kind of movie you can recommend to your friends without hesitation or worry.

Not only is Headhunters a clever, thrill-a-minute joyride, but it is also full of excellent, exquisitely timed acting.

And as for Tyldum’s directing, well, let’s just say it’s top notch.

From the very get-go, it’s easy to see he has a clear and precise vision.

Every shot is perfectly storyboarded. He uses obtuse angles, edits superbly, and really understands how to pace a tense scene.

But don’t take my word for it. Go see Headhunters yourself, before Hollywood gets its grubby hands on it, remakes it, and butchers an otherwise fantastic film.

Headhunters will be opening at Regina Public Library on July 26th; see www.reginalibrary.ca for more information.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Section Movies

Page Page 15PH

Jul PH 20–26, PH–PH, ‘12 ‘PH VerbNews.com VerbNews.com

Exceptional: The Dark Knight Rises Delivers

Photo: courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

From Casting To Plot To Visual Effects, This Final Film Is Simply Unforgettable The Dark Knight Rises

Runtime: 165 Minutes Rated: PG Adam Hawboldt Thank you Christopher Nolan.

Thank you for resuscitating the Batman franchise after Joel Schumacher tried to kill it. Thank you for delving deep into the mind of Bruce Wayne and asking the question everyone wanted to know: Why does a billionaire dress up like a bat to fight crime? Thank you for giving Heath Ledger the material to be brilliant and for making Batman grittier and realer and more accessible than ever before. Oh, and perhaps most of all, thank you for finishing off your Batman series with a high and mighty bang. Take a bow, good sir. You deserve it.

Because unlike other trilogies that tend to limp into the finish line, you put your head down, bit your bottom lip and ran toward that ribbon like your arse was on fire. As a result, The Dark Knight Rises a) is arguably the best Batman flick (if it weren’t for Heath Ledger’s take on the Joker, there’d be no arguing at all) and b) has to be, to date, the front-runner for the Academy’s Best Picture Award.

Picking up eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, this latest and last installment of the Batman saga sees Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), battered and bruised from years of crime fighting, living in his mansion like a recluse, a shadow of his former self. Since the downfall of the Joker and the passage of the

Harvey Dent Act, there isn’t much reprise their roles, are once again crime left in Gotham City. So Bat- top-notch. And Joseph Gordonman, for all intents and purposes, Levitt, well, he was the perfect pick isn’t really needed anymore. to play detective John Blake.

Not until Bane comes to town.

Oh, and then there’s Anne HaPlayed with thaway, who is haunting men- “The Dark Knight Rises magnificent as a c e b y To m is bleak, black, bold and Selina Kyle — a Hardy (Inception, bloody brilliant.” sexy, sassy, quickWarrior), Bane witted cat burglar -Adam Hawboldt who may be Batis a big, broadshouldered battering ram of a vil- man’s best friend … or worst enlain who aims to plunge Gotham emy. into absolute chaos and anarchy.

With a running time of close to Naturally, Batman comes out of three hours, The Dark Knight Rises seclusion … there’s a confrontation is easily the longest film in the se… and, well, let’s just leave it at that. ries. But here’s the thing: not once To say much more would spoil a will you get bored or lose interest, handful of fantastic surprises. What because the movie delivers in evI will say, however, is that the acting ery department: narrative, visual, in The Dark Knight Rises is excellent. action, emotional, socio-political, Bale is solid, as usual. Hardy kills as you name it. the main villain (literally and figuSimply put, The Dark Knight Rises ratively). Morgan Freeman, Michael is bleak, black, bold and bloody Caine and Gary Oldman, who all brilliant. If you’re going to see one

movie this summer, make it this one.

And don’t forget to thank

Christopher Nolan.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Texts

Page 16

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

This Week: Global Warming Debate Last week we asked what you thought about the global warming debate, and here’s what you had to say.

Next week’s topic: see page 13 — what do you think about

On Topic Interesting. It’s easy to get worked up about the rhetoric spouted by the opposing side, but we need to keep what’s important here as the focus: working together to make Canada an environmentally concious and responsible country.

The first steps aren’t going to be pretty though Re Global warming

lowering airport fees and airline taxes in Canada? Text FEEDBACK and your thoughts about the topic (or anything else) to 306–881-VERB (8372) and you could see your text printed in next week’s issue! debators its a nice idea but good luck implementing it. If one side for a moment even eases up and makes any sort of gesture about working together they’re going to get pounced on by there opponents.

Yah! My bff worked for Canada West a while ago and she’s been saying this for years.

Partisan politics hurt everyone.

Absolutely agree, and not just about the global warming debate. When people subscribe to whatever thoughts their “political side” spouts, without thinking critically, then they are contributing to the problem.

Working together is an idealistic point of view, but doesn’t actually achieve anything.

You need to deal with what the situation is like now, and not how you’d like the situation to be in a perfect world. Tyrant Harper is going out of his way to demolish our country’s natural resources, and Canada is galloping towards destroying

all of its pristine and natural beauty, pumping out more carbon emissions than ever. We need to fight this with every ounce of strength we have, with whatever means necessary. The state of the environment isn’t something to be taken lightly. We need to act now.

Off Topic Re: “Crime Predictor,” Global page, July 13th issue

Re: Crime Predictor wasn’t there a movie along these lines?

Didn’t it result in massive government assassinations for the common good?

Re: “SK Hits New Record Number Of Employed,” Local page, July 13th issue

Alex J Macpherson’s piece on page 2 has to be one of the laziest cheer leading fluff pieces ever printed in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan citizens are worse off every day under the Saskparty & NDP. Statistics Canada says people are leaving Saskatchewan faster than they are coming now for Calgary & BC where wages are on average 30% higher. Whether it’s trying to sucker a bunch of immigrants to come to Saskatchewan by selling SnakeOil “boom” lies or whether repeating such garbage oversold PR in the VERB, the big losers are Saskatchewan’s youth who can’t afford a house or find a job and seniors who are competing with transient immigrants for healthcare that is getting worse by the minute.

Re: “We Think Euthanasia Should be Legalized,” Opinion page, June 29th issue

Those who oppose euthanasia due to “God” perhaps should also oppose radiation to keep dying cancer patients alive, incubators in the NICU for premature infants, and insulin for children with insulin dependent diabetes. You either let God/nature take its course or you don’t.

Simple. Quality of life and freedom of choice should allow for a good death.

Re: “Our Civil Servants Just Can’t Stay Healthy,” Opinion page, July 6th issue

how about an article on abuse in the workplace and how city workers are harassed and abused by the public. balance out your strident article I think the mayor should stop putting so much money into expanding the city and put more money streets and SIDEWALKS! there are so many areas of town where there are no sidewalks and kids are forced to walk on the street.

Why is it that russia and china are protecting syria Forgiving someone for doing you wrong doesn’t mean you can forget what has been done. It just means that you aren’t going to hang onto those bitter feelings that are holding you back from getting on with your life.

We are star stuff.

Go Riders Go! And don’t come back!

The new stadium

Texts means debt pay pay pay for decades. Great for 60000 fans and a few businesses.

Nothing but a cost a burden for everybody else in Sask.

The current stadium always needed handouts from the public purse for upkeep etc. There’s no way the new one is going to pay for itself or even cover its upkeep.

Why would Wall get rid of the Saskatchewan film tax credit for seemingly no reason, a pitiful sum of money it was anyways, and then blow a frigging ton of cash on a stupid stadium?

What happens when the riders go back to how crappy they used to be? Get your priorities straight, this is embarassing and ridiculous. Oh wait it brings in money for already rich businessmen, who couldn’t see how to turn a profit on promoting and supporting arts and culture here? Carry on then. Morons.

I think its not fair that you write stuff in the paper when it is only your opinon to the movie and not everyones opinon so why tell people that the movie is not good when its just you that does not like it I was disgusted with the tomato fight that took place in San Diego where 3000 people took part!

What a classic waste of good food!

To the person saying euthanasia is wrong

Page 17

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

cause its not “gods will” or whatever...take your head outta your ass.

T0 THE PERSON WHO SAID wish us Canadians thought of a Zombie theme PARK We have one called 0ttawa!

I remember spray cheese. It was so good.

SPRAY CHEESE! I lived on that my first year of college :D It was so gourmet SPRAY CHEEEEEEESE:D You own a car. You don’t own the road.

Love you bacon <3 u to Teri :) Went and saw Carly Rae Jepsen in Lloyd concert. I screamed like A little bitch I was.

Btw im A 22 yr old guy (: -Jessie K Roses are red bacon is red poems are hard bacon

Don’t you wish you were a glow worm?

They never are glum.

You’ld be happy too.

If light came out your bum.

There’s too many people making too many problems and not much love to go round.

They should change kelly Clarkson Since u been gone to Get The F**K 0N! 50/50 split one doesnt D0 there part then split !

Too whomever threw that glass of alcohol at me and my bike on 8th Street last week.

Thanks alot have some respect! Jeeze!

I seen so many grammer and spelling mistakes in the feedback section.

Their driving me crazy!

Yo when people take a little more time to cross the street just relax drivers ur not gettin there any faster by honkin or freekin out Neighbours have been partyin all nite and i need to sleep go inside!

I wish I could walk on clouds.

Sabotage by beastie boys might be one of my most favourite songs of all time! RIP MCA miss you always

and hope you’re in peace.

Everyone craps on FB and social media but is there anything better than a random email from a friend you haven’t seen or thought of in some time, letting u know theyre thinking of u?

All cuz a fb reminder? I think not.

Karma works! Some gross kids were burping in line behind me at grocery store then one sneezed at same time and fell over! LOL little jerks The opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily Verb’s.

Nightlife

Page 18

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Thursday @ Creekside Venue

Creekside Pub & Brewery on Thursday, July 12th

Location

3215 Eastgate Drive

Playing on Arrival

Sue Foley’s “Positively 4th Street”

Music Vibe

Classic rock and top 40

Feature Deal

Blueberry Iced Tea (blueberry vodka and iced tea) for $5.25

Popular Drinks

Any of the house brews, including Strawberry Field and Harvest Wheat

Food of Choice

Pizza — a wide selection of toppings to choose from

Wing Notes

40¢ on Wednesday nights; of the 10 available flavours, Buffalo is the most popular

Coming Up

The customer appreciation night July 27th will feature drink and food specials, as well as prizes.

And don’t forget about the Rider Game Special: $12 will get you two beer, burgers and fries, and a ride to and from the game

Photos courtesy of Klein Photography (feedback@verbnews.com)

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In the classic film Some Like It Hot, Joe E. Brown reminds us that, “Well, nobody’s perfect.” And he’s right, dear Pisces. So don’t waste your time this week chasing the impossible. It’s a fool’s errand.

Instead, why not focus on things that are attainable. Why not, for a moment, stop taking yourself seriously and live a little. Let your hair down. Love life. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Do this, and not only will you get rid of any stress, but you’ll also smile a lot more.

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Pisces (Feb 20–Mar 20)

Life really is like a box of chocolates, Virgo: “You never know what you’re gonna get.” Forrest Gump knows that and so should you — especially this week.

Life may toss some expected things your way, but try to embrace them. Sure, they may not all be great, but some of them could be. So take the good with the bad this week. And, above all else, expect and smile at the unexpected. Do this, and you’ll be surprised at just how interesting things will get.

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Virgo (Aug 23–Sept 22)

The best advice Robin Williams ever gave on screen was “Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”

You should heed his words this week, dear Aquarius. Go out and live. Capture the moment. Carpe diem and all that jazz. And yes, at times this is much easier said than done. But if you can put forth a conscientious effort to make the most of things this week, you’ll be rewarded in ways you never thought possible. In ways you’ll never ever regret.

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Aquarius (Jan 20–Feb 19)

Like Howard Beale in Network, are you “mad as hell, and … not going to take this anymore,” Leo? If so, go with it. Get whatever is on your chest off of it: you’ll feel better. That said, don’t do it at the expense of another’s feelings.

Instead, if you’re having problems with people or situations, calmly and coolly explain to all parties involved what the issue is and why it’s bothering you. If you can approach it this way, people will be more than sympathetic.

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Leo (Jul 23–Aug 22)

In A Street Car Named Desire, the character Blanche Dubois explains she “always depended on the kindness of strangers.”

You should try the same this week, dear Capricorn. If someone offers to help you out, let them. Not only will you get more accomplished, but you may also make a new friend. And yes, we know you’re an independent person, but every now and then we all need a helping hand, or unasked for kindness. That’s the good stuff in life. Don’t turn your back on it.

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Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19)

Remember in Cool Hand Luke when the prison captain says, “What we got here is failure to communicate.” Well, dear Cancer, the same problem may pop up for you this week. But no matter what, keep trying to get through to people. If you don’t things will go to pot, so keep all the avenues open. Be sure to listen attentively when others are talking, keep your eyes open for things around you, and make sure you’re clear and concise when telling people about how you feel.

Harry Callahan wants to know: “Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?” If so, this week would be a good time to dare to be great. Put your luck to good use and see what happens. Chances are you’ve already put in all the work, laid the foundations for success, and you’re ready to reap the rewards. After all, luck is rarely more than what happens when opportunity and hard work meet. So go on, try your luck this week, dear Sagittarius. Good things should happen.

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Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 22)

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” That’s how Dorothy felt when she landed in Oz. And that is how you may feel at some point this week. Don’t worry, though. The feeling of unfamiliarity will soon pass. And if, for some odd reason, you’re plagued by the unfamiliar for longer than expected, rest easy knowing that some of the strangest and most foreign things and situations often yield the greatest personal rewards.

They often help you grow.

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Sagittarius (Nov 23–Dec 21)

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Gemini (May 21–Jun 20)

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“The truth?” says Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men.”You can’t handle the truth.” And that may very well be the case this week, dear Scorpio. So be very careful what you ask for. It may be more than you’re ready for. That said, if your skin is feeling extra thick these days, go ahead and ask and dig away. Even if you are confronted with some harsh truths, you may be able to learn from them and, consequently, grow as a person. The choice is yours.

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Scorpio (Oct 24–Nov 22)

One of Marlon Brando’s best lines in The Godfather was: “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” And this week you may get an offer or an opportunity just like that, dear Taurus. So don’t hesitate. Snatch it up. Trust me, you won’t regret this. Sometimes things in life appear too good to be true … but this will not be one of those things. So if you get a chance to do something awesome this week, do it. You’ll be happier and better for it.

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Taurus (Apr 20–May 20)

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In the film Now, Voyager, Bette Davis’ character says “Oh, Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars.”

The lesson? Be sure to appreciate what you have, dear Libra — especially later in the week. At times we all take things for granted, sure. It’s human nature. But if you can, be appreciative of what you have in the upcoming days. Not only will it save you from disappointment, but it will also help keep things in perspective as the month progresses.

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Libra (Sept 23–Oct 23)

In Animal House, John Belushi’s character Bluto starts chanting “Toga! Toga!” and maybe you should be doing the same, dear Aries. Not that a toga party is essential, but this week you should definitely try to organize a get-together or party of sorts. Invite your friends, family, whomever. The main thing is to try and be as social as possible over the course of the next little while. And what better way to do that than hosting a little shindig of sorts?

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Aries (Mar 21–Apr 19)

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Horoscopes

Jul 20–26, ‘12 VerbNews.com 5 1 3 9 7 2 6 4 8

Time Out

Page 19

7 6 1 9 8 2 9 7 1 8 6 9 1 2 5 5 2 2 5 3 4 8 3 7 6 4 3 5 9 4 8

Sudoku

Directions: Fill each box with a digit from 1-9, following these conditions: - Each row must contain every digit from 1-9 once and only once.

- Each column must contain every digit from 1-9 once and only once.

- Each of the nine 3x3 boxes must contain every digit from 1-9 once and only once.

5 4 9 3 8

2 6 3 4 6 4

2 1 7 1 8 5

9 5 7

8 1 7 9 5 7 2 8 3 6 9 1 3

6 2 4