Verb Issue R38 (July 27-Aug 2, 2012)

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Jul 27–Aug 2, 2012 • Pass it on

Verb

Stadium Approved

Critics Voice Concern As Regina, Province Push On P2

Bachman & Turner

Rock Icons Talk Staying Power P11

Queen City Ex

Rides, Games, Music And More: Check It Out! P6

The Watch

Funny Cast Overcomes Uneven Plot P15

VILIFY

Montreal DJ On The Right Place At The Right Time P9 Photo: courtesy of the artist

Section Local Page 2

Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

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Regina, Province Push On With Stadium Critics Voice Concern As The Parties Involved Begin The Next Necessary Steps Alex J MacPherson

stadium project. The next step is the completion of three concurRegina, SK — The contro- rent processes: legal agreements versial new football stadium is to finalize the MOU, conceptual one step closer to completion design and procurement. after Regina city council voted “The next step on that piece of it, unanimously the funding side, in favour of the “The next step is … legal is that we will project despite agreements to finalize the work back with jeers from the MOU, conceptual design the province and capacity crowd.

Riders and turn At one of the and procurement.” that [MOU] into -Alex J MacPherson specific agreebusiest meetings in years, council approved a memo- ments,” says Brent Sjoberg, deputy randum of understanding (MOU) Regina city manager and chief fibetween the provincial govern- nancial officer. ment, the Saskatchewan Roughrid“It’s noted as non-binding,” he ers, and the city that will drive the says of the MOU. “Basically, it lays

out the funding framework. From there, we’ll turn it into specific agreements.”

Sjoberg says the city is adopting an “aggressive” timeline, and could have specific financial agreements before council in August.

The $278 million needed to build the stadium is divided among the three sponsoring entities. The province will provide an $80 million grant and a $100 million loan, to be repaid using a $12 facility fee added to tickets — an increase of $4 from the current fee. The city of Regina will provide $73 million, including $3 million worth of land at Evraz Place. The Roughriders will contribute $25 million.

The 30-year cost of the stadium is expected to be $675 million, which includes the cost of building and maintaining the facility, as well as interest on the loans.

Concurrent processes are also getting underway, Sjoberg says.

The first is conceptual design, the cost of which is included in the total cost of the project; Sjoberg expects the plans to be available this fall.

The final step is procurement.

Sjoberg says the city is not certain whether it will adopt a one- or two-stage process.

In the first case, a request for proposal would be issued immediately; in the second, a request for qualification to determine the suitability of interested parties would govern who could submit a proposal.

Procurement, which will take a “guaranteed maximum price” approach, will be the subject of

Photo: courtesy of Martin Memmel

a recommendation to council in the fall, Sjoberg says. Ultimately, he notes, construction could be underway as early as late 2013.

Although the stadium is now all but inevitable, that hasn’t deterred its many critics, many of whom took the opportunity at the meeting to share their views.

Jennifer Dow, a sales professional, addressed the council meeting before the MOU was approved.

“I’ve lived in Saskatchewan for 30 years, I’ve lived in Regina for 20 years,” she says, “and I don’t think I’ve ever taken a stand on anything before, but this is just…ridiculous.

Spending this amount of money on a stadium that’s going to benefit 33,000 people and is situated in a

city of 200,000 and a province of one million — it just doesn’t make sense.”

Dow is also concerned about the short time between the announcement and approval of the MOU, and the lack of public consultation.

“The problem is the people of Regina particularly haven’t had time to actually really understand what the full details of this project are,” she says.

And although Dow is interested in a plebiscite, she says the deadline for citizens to force a referendum on the ballot in October has passed.

“One of the few avenues that’s available,” she says, is to elect a different city council in the fall.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Section Local Page 3

Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

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SK Electoral Map Facing Possible Changes Photo: courtesy of Damien Gabrielson

Population Main Factor Influencing Elimination, Creation, Resizing Of Ridings Alex J MacPherson

change is not required, with respect to the existing boundaries,” says regina , sk — Proposed Stuart Pollon, commission member changes to the province’s elec- and spokesperson, explaining that toral map will be most evident in the map is drawn based on populaSaskatchewan’s two major cities, tion data with consideration given a new report states. to a number of other factors.

Following the government’s dePopulation is the main factor incision to add three MLAs — two fluencing the process, with boundin Saskatoon and aries drawn to one in Regina — “We tried to … not cause include a roughly the interim report change if change is not equal number of of the Saskatch- required…” people in each ewan Boundaries -Stuart Pollon riding. This popCommission reculation quotient ommends changes to a number — the number of people over 18 in of ridings, which will see some the southern part of the province constituencies eliminated, several divided by the number of constitunew ones created, and many more encies — is 13,059. changed in size and shape.

The actual number of constit“We tried to, as an underly- uencies is a legislative decision, ing principle, not cause change if Pollon continues, and outside the

scope of the commission. So too is the decision, made this year, to calculate based on the number of people over 18.

“You end up with the constituency population quotient, and if there’s been significant changes in population, you’re going to see change [in the boundaries],” Pollon says.

“Then you’re dealing with a matter of how significant is the change?

How isolated is the change? How pervasive is the change?”

Beyond population, the commission considered growth projections, municipal boundaries, geographic features, and simple practicality, especially the convenience of polling stations.

“We looked at the whole concept of communities of interest,”

Pollon adds.

“Where do people work? Where do people live? We also tried, to the extent possible, to respect municipal boundaries.”

One significant change is the reduced number of rural-urban ridings on the new map. Previously, Saskatoon and Regina each had two. Now, each major city will have only one. Also under the new map, Saskatoon and Regina will both get new ridings, some of which will replace older electoral districts.

Saskatoon will lose Saskatoon Greystone, Saskatoon Northwest, Saskatoon Silver Springs, and Saskatoon Sutherland while adding Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood, Saskatoon Silverspring-Sutherland, Saskatoon Spadina, Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota, Saskatoon

University, and Saskatoon Willowgrove.

In Regina, Regina Qu’Appelle and Regina Dewdney will be struck from the list, to be replaced by Regina Rochdale, Regina Pasqua, and Regina Gardiner Park.

Although the decision to add three MLAs was a legislative one, independent of the commission, the Official Opposition has expressed concerns about the cost of more elected representatives.

The NDP has also criticized the decision to include only those people over 18 in the calculations, arguing that the legislative choice hampers the commission’s ability to develop constituency boundaries and may not properly represent all citizens, regardless of age.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Section

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Section Global

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Jul 27–Aug PH2, PH–PH, ‘12 ‘PH VerbNews.com VerbNews.com

Feel Awe To Get More Time Adam Hawboldt

Cheese Lowers Diabetes

Only Two Slices A Day Cuts The Risk Of Disease Adam Hawboldt

exception of yogurt, did not offer the same benefits.

London, england — Cheese “Intake of total dairy products — it can be added to pretty much was not associated with diabetes,” anything to make it taste bet- reads the abstract for the article. ter, and now researchers have “Of the dairy subtypes, cheese discovered that intake tended to it might help re- “[T]wo slices of cheese per have an inverse duce the risk of day could reduce the risk association with type 2 diabetes … by 12 percent.” diabetes.” as well.

Although the -Adam Hawboldt i n t e r n a t i o n a l In one of the largest ever studies to examine how research team, which was comdiet impacts health, the scientists prised of scientists from the UK, discovered that incorporating as Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, little as two slices of cheese per noticed this inverse correlation, day could reduce the risk of adults they were unsure exactly why it contracting the disease by 12 per- happened. However, the Telegraph cent, compared to their cheese-less reports that the researchers suspect peers. Furthermore, most other it has something to do with the dairy products, with the possible fermentation process.

Feet May Be Password In Future Adam Hawboldt

on the shape of our feet, as well as our stride, a tiny ID chip could Pittsburgh, Pa — Fingerprints be created, which would then be and eye scans have frequently been inserted in the sole of a shoe. used as a way to identify individu“Not even the user knows what als, but did you know your feet and [the ID] is,” Gray tells NBCNews.com’s the way you walk John Roach. are just as unique? “[Y]our feet and the Autonomous According to way you walk are just as ID has partnered Todd Gray, the unique [as fingerprints].” with Carnegie chairman and Mellon University -Adam Hawboldt to further develop president of Autonomous ID, because a person’s the technology. gait is specific to each individual, The research team will also exsimply taking a couple steps in amine potential health benefits shoes that have been outfitted with from having an ID chip in your high-tech soles could one day serve shoes, including ways of detecting as our means of identification, from the early warning signs dementia computer passwords to key cards. and Parkinson’s — diseases that Gray explains that using an al- affect the way we walk. gorithm that fuses the information Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Global At A Glance Post-sex snooze — French govern-

ment researchers have found that men’s brains are programmed to shut down following sex. Using brain scans, the scientists discovered that following

orgasm, the cingulate cortex and the amygdala tell the rest of the brain to remove sexual desire by flooding it with sleep-inducing chemicals. Feedback?

Text it to 306-881-8372.

And while this news is welcomed by many, it’s important to remember that cheese can contain a high amount of saturated fat, which can cause weight gain.

And, as obesity is one of the major contributing factors to developing type 2 diabetes, not going overboard on the Gouda might be a good idea.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

subjects watched a video designed to elicit feelings of happiness (constanford, ca — The next time fetti flowing through the air, or a you’re freaking out or feeling over- parade) or awe (whales breaching, whelmed, don’t shut down or keep or scientists floating in space), after struggling along. Hike up a moun- which they filled out surveys that tain or take yourself to an amazing probed how much of a time crunch vista, and drink in the view. Because they felt completing the tasks. according to new research, taking In the second experiment, voluna moment to feel awed by what’s teers read either an awe-inspiring around you is the story or a boring best way to feel “To find something … tale. In both exless rushed. that … gives us a feeling periments, what “We kind of of more time [is] rare…”

Rudd discovered run around with was interesting: -Melanie Rudd the participants these very hectic day-to-day lives,” Melanie Rudd, a who were cued to feel awe reported graduate student at Stanford Uni- they felt time was more plentiful. versity, told LiveScience. “To find And while Rudd isn’t sure how something out there that actually long this “awe effect” lasts, she suggives us a feeling of more time — it gests the feeling might force one seems like such a rare event.” to simply focus on the moment.

Rudd and her team set up a se“One of the interesting things ries of experiments. In the first, 63 for me was just how much of an students were given a word-scram- impact that this feeling of having ble task, with half of the scrambles more time was to everyday decicontaining time-sensitive words, sion-making,” said Rudd. to reinforce the concept. Then the Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Feature

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Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Queen City Ex: Summer Fun For Everyone Annual Event Offers Amazing Musical Acts, Rides, Food And Entertainment Sebastien Dangerfield

Regina, SK — It all began in 1884. On two crisp days in October, in what is now Victoria Park, Regina’s first fair was held.

Townspeople, farmers and homesteaders from all around met to exhibit their seeds, vegetables, livestock and handcrafts.

Fast forward a decade or so.

By 1895 the event has become known as the Territorial Exhibition — a grand affair with livestock

“We try to hit as many demographics as we can so … many people … can enjoy the fair.”

-Josh Shaw competitions, bands, Red River jig competitions, horse races, bronco busting, trapshooting, tennis tournaments and more.

Fast forward again, through the Weed Fair and both world wars to the late Sixties, when the exhibition became known as Buffalo Days.

It kept that name for the next 40 years or so. But eventually — because history has a way of repeating itself— the event evolved and was renamed.

“We used to be tied into the whole western theme and Buffalo Days, but we found that, in the community, the interest kind of dwindled,” says Josh Shaw, the event coordinator for the Queen City Ex. “At one point, a whole lot of people were getting dressed up, decorating their businesses and really getting involved in the western theme. But in the last 10 or 15 years that support almost vanished. It became harder to get people to get excited about it.”

Photo: courtesy of the artist and the Queen City Ex

With things in decline, the exhibition slowly began to move away

from the western theme towards a more modern, fair/festival twist.

Then, just a few short years ago, Buffalo Days were put out to pasture, and the Queen City Ex came in to take their place.

“It’s constantly evolving,” says Shaw. “Times change and tastes change. So we change the [event] along with it.”

And one of the key changes was placing a bigger emphasis on procuring top-end musical acts.

To that extent, this year Shaw and the rest of the Ex gang have brought in a diverse lineup that features the likes of Trooper, Finger Eleven, Kellie Pickler, Hot Chelle Rae, Carly Rae Jepsen, and more.

“We try to cater to a different demographic every night,” explains Shaw. “Rather than going with four or five nights of country, we try to mix it up. We try to do a classic rock night, we do a pop night for the younger crowd. We try to hit as many demographics as we can so as many people as possible can enjoy the fair.”

That idea extends beyond the music. From top to bottom (and attraction to attraction), the Queen City Ex is designed to appeal to people of all ages. There’s the petting zoo, the time machine theatre and kid’s world for young children.

There’s the polka party and an a capella concert. And for everyone

in between there’s the music at the Molson Grandstand, ziplines, water bubbles, Stampede Wrestling (okay, maybe that one is for kids, too) and especially the midway.

“You don’t have to be a kid to come here to enjoy it, but it helps take you back to that time,” says Shaw.

“Back to childhood and [remembering] what that was like. So to that extent, the midway is our big draw and everything else just kind of spreads out beyond it.”

The Queen Ex runs from August 1st until the 5th. For more information about the Ex visit www.thequeencityex.com Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Offbeat

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Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

‘Vampire’ Skeleton Discovered Adam Hawboldt

Play ‘Pong’ With Glasses

Goggles Let You Control Movement With Eyes Adam Hawboldt

London, england — Imagine being able to play video games or browsing the Web by simply moving your eyes?

Okay, now stop imagining because it has become a reality. According to a report published in the Journal of Neural Engineering, researchers at the Imperial College London have created a pair of “eye-tracking glasses” out of two PlayStation Eye Cameras, cheap reading glasses frames, and an elastic headband.

And while patients have used only the motion of their eyes. the contraption to control a game “Crucially, we have achieved of Pong simply two things,” Dr. by moving their “[R]esearchers hope …

Aldo Faisal, one eyes, playing people with [Parkinson’s] of the researchv i d e o g am e s can do things like browse ers, told Phys.Org. isn’t exactly the “We have built a end point for re- the Internet… ” 3-D eye tracking -Adam Hawboldt system hundreds searchers. What they hope to do is continue de- of times cheaper than commercial veloping their device to the point systems and used it to build a realwhere people with multiple scle- time brain machine interface that rosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkin- allows patients to interact more son’s and spinal cord injuries can smoothly and more quickly than do things like browse the Internet existing invasive technologies.” and type on a visual keyboard using Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

City Eyes Intoxicating Pigeons, Deporting Them Adam Hawboldt

the winged creatures plastered on wine — then deporting them. sumy, ukraine — Often re“Let’s give them wine-soaked ferred to as “rats with wings,” pi- bread and then deport them somegeons are notowhere where rious for being “Let’s give them winethey’ll wake up poop-dropping soaked bread and then the nex t day,” pests in towns deport them…” explains Alexei and cities the Movchan, who -Alexei Movchan heads the city world over.

But now one Ukrainian city has branch of the ruling Party of Rehad enough. Officials in Sumy are gions, was reported as saying. considering a plan to tackle the Russian International News local pigeon problem by getting Agency Ria Novosti says that the

radical measure was proposed to protect a monument to poet Taras Shevchenko from being covered in bird droppings.

As for Movchan, he dismissed all concerns over animal cruelty by claiming that the deportation of birds is humane because it is a practice used by an Orthodox Christian monastery in the country.

It remains unclear as to whether or not the city of Sumy will adopt the proposed plan.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

sozopol, bulgaria — The discovery of a 700-year-old skeleton in Bulgaria, reputedly of a vampire, illustrates that the fear of the creatures originated before Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

The “vampire” skeleton was located amongst church ruins in the Black Sea town of Sozopol.

The skeleton had been stabbed in the chest with an iron rod and had its teeth pulled, leading

scholars to believe the villagers of Sozopol were trying to prevent the corpse of the deceased from turning into a vampire.

“In graves thousands of years old, skeletons have been found staked, tied up, buried facedown, decapitated … all well-attested ways of preempting the [attacks] of wandering corpses,” writes former National Geographic historian Mark Collins Jenkins in his book, Vampire Forensics.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Offbeat At A Glance travel by lawn chair — A pair of

gentlemen are frightened but unharmed after their vision of flying high in a lawn chair attached to a series of helium balloons were cut short by

a thunderstorm. The storm caused the balloons to pop, and the chairs to plunge, but both men eventually arrived safe and sound on the ground.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Music

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Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

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. Drewski — Doing what he does best, every Saturday night.

Come on down and dance the night away with this local DJ. Pure Ultra Lounge. Cover $5.

Photo: courtesy of the artist

Tim Romanson — This multiinstrument 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. Cover $10.

(Next Week) KELLIE PICKLER @ QUEEN CITY EX — This talented singer/song-

(#16). On her next self-titled album, Pickler did it again, providing hits that reached #9, #14 and #21. Not too shabby for a girl who finished sixth on American Idol. She’ll be playing the Ex on August 4th. See www.thequeencityex.com for ticket information. -Adam Hawboldt.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Friday 27

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.

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.

Albert — Appearing every Friday night, come listen to Albert as he does his spinning thing.

10pm, Pure Ultra Lounge. Cover $5.

Monday 30

writer from North Carolina is a country music hit-making machine. Her debut album, Small Town Girl, featured the songs “Red High Heels” (Billboard Hot Country #15), “I Wonder” (#14) and “Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind”

Devon Floyd and Chris Sleightholm — Both members of the Regina-based country band Lonesome Weekends, Floyd and Sleightholm will be performing some solo songs and some songs together. 8pm, Creative City Centre. Tickets $10.

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.

Dangerous Cheese — Regina’s newest party band promises an all-out cheesy ‘80s-weddingsinger-like experience. You’ll be sure to dance the night away.

10pm, McNally’s Tavern. Cover $5.

Nancy Ray-Guns — With a groovy sound that blends funk with jam-band and nu-jazz, this local band is sure to get you up out of your seat and on to the dance floor. Also appearing on the bill will be Left English. 10pm, O’Hanlon’s Pub. No cover.

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

Tim Romanson — This multiinstrument 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. Cover $10.

Saturday 28

Into Eternity — This progmetal band from Regina hits audiences with melodic metal stylings, thrashing guitar riffs and power-metal vocals. 8pm, The Exchange. Tickets $15, available at www.ticketedge.ca.

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.

Cover $5.

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

Art Rogalski — This veteran polka musician from Winnipeg is in town to host the monthly OldTime Dance Party. 7pm, Casino Regina. Tickets $10, available at Show Lounge box office, online at www.casinoregina.com or by calling 565-3000.

Anvil — Hailing from Toronto, this trio — consisting of Steve “Lips” Kudlow (vocals/guitar), Robb Reiner (drums) and Sal Italiano (bass) — has opened for the likes of AC/DC, shared the stage with Slash and rocked festivals from SXSW to Bumbershoot. They’ve also appeared in the acclaimed documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil. Don’t miss them when they rock Regina.

Also appearing on the bill will be Bloodline and Caym. 8pm, The Exchange. Tickets $14.29, available at www.ticketedge.ca.

Photo: courtesy of Gary Bremner

(Next Week) GORDIE TENTREES @ CREATIVE CITY CENTRE — His lyrics

want to miss. Accompanied by Ken Hermanson, Aiden Tentree and Patrick Hamilton, this musician has honed his down-home, up-north sound on stages across the world. He’ll be playing the Creative City Centre on August 7th; tickets $20 at the door. -Adam Hawboldt.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Karaoke Tuesday — Famous live music venue offers its patrons a chance to share the stage.

8pm, McNally’s Tavern. No cover.

Silljer Band — These two wildly talented local acts are putting on a show to help raise funds for Creative Kids, so come out and support a great cause.

8:30pm, McNally’s Tavern. Tickets $10, available at the Creative Kids office. For more information call 780-9361.

are visceral and honest, and his melodies — crafted from guitars, banjos and dobros — are infectious. Yesirree, this singer/songwriter plays a gritty brand of raucous country that speaks to his Yukon upbringing that you won’t

Wednesday 1

Wednesday Night Folk — Featuring Eyeswide, an addictive indie rock act from Barrie, Ontario. 9pm, Bushwakker Brewpub.

No cover.

Thursday 2

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.

Black Drink Crier, Dan

Electric Angel — This Winnipeg-based cover band can rock the sock of darn near anyone.

Playing everything from top-40 to pop, classic rock and country, this five-piece puts on a show that aims to please. 10pm, Pump Roadhouse. Cover TBD. 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 31

Poor Nameless Boy, Kayla Lucky — Lucky is a talented young folk singer/songwriter from Winnipeg. Poor Nameless Boy (aka Joel Henderson) is a local singer/songwriter who plays a down-to-earth brand of indie/acoustic music. 7pm, Artful Dodger. Cover $5.

(coming up) “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC @ CASINO REGINA — The undisputed

king of music parody, Weird Al (aka Alfred Matthew Yankovic) has been pumping out humorous songs since the ‘70s. A singer, songwriter, producer, accordionist and more, Weird Al has four gold records, six platinum ones,

Photo: courtesy of the artist

and won three Grammy Awards. On his newest album, Apocalypse, Weird Al parodies Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, The White Stripes, The Doors, Miley Cyrus and more. He’ll be playing Casino Regina on October 10th. Tickets $50+ (565-3000). -Adam Hawboldt. Feedback?

Text it to 306-881-8372.

Arts One

Page 9

Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Vilify: The Right Place At The Right Time

Photo: courtesy of the artist and Coco Eve Photograph

DJ Jenny Carmichael On Her Growing Popularity, And Why She Loves Dubstep Alex J MacPherson

night when I was fifteen or so, and watching one of the DJs and being regina, SK — Jenny Carmi- like, ‘I want to do this.’” chael certainly could have been That, as they say, was that. a classical musician. She has the Carmichael started saving monpedigree — her father is an opera ey, eventually splurging on a pair singer, her mother a violinist — of turntables and a stack of vinyl, and the experiand started learnence. Carmichael “I just remember being … ing how to make grew up steeped fifteen [and] watching one p e ople move. in music, from of the DJs and being like, St a r t i n g w i t h her parents’ clasdrum and bass, sical repertoire ‘I want to do this.'” an offshoot of -Jenny Carmichael the English rave to alt-rock and beyond; she sang in the Toronto phenomenon, Carmichael honed Children’s Chorus and studied her skills while studying at Dalhoupiano. Hers was a coffee house sie, in Halifax. to concert hall kind of story. And “I got my first gig through the then she discovered nightclubs. BreakBeat Elite Crew out there, and “I grew up in Toronto with an it’s just been really consistent,” she amazing drum and bass scene,” said, at a loss to explain her growing Carmichael, who spins under the popularity. “I mean, I’ve definitely name Vilify, told me, hinting at what worked hard to get where I am, but might have been a sensational ca- I just can’t explain how natural the reer in classical music. “I had a fake progression was. Everything just ID and was going out on multiple happened for me.” nights of the week from about fourNow, Carmichael is the resident teen on. I just remember being at a DJ at Le Belmont, a prominent

Montreal club, where she hosts Bass Drive Wednesdays. In 2011, she placed third in Montreal’s Red Bull 3Style, a DJ competition. She was also voted the number two club DJ in the now-defunct Montreal Mirror’s best of 2011 list. And guess what? Carmichael is just 26 years old.

“I just feel really lucky,” she said, laughing.

“In terms of my night blowing up and all the success I’ve had in [Montreal], I really just feel like it’s so much about being in the right place at the right time.”

By right place and right time, Carmichael is referring to dubstep.

Perhaps no other genre of electronic dance music has risen as quickly or burned as brightly as dubstep.

With an elite group of producers in the van, dubstep has crossed over into the mainstream, and can be heard in clubs around the world.

Quite frankly, I’m not qualified to write about dubstep. My knowledge of electronic music is

extremely limited. I know, of course, that dubstep emerged in the late 1990s and is characterized by towering bass lines, short, clipped samples, and occasional vocals.

I also know that the genre comprises multiple subgenres, each with a distinct tenor and texture.

What I don’t understand, however, are the reasons underlying dubstep’s meteoric rise. To compensate for my shocking ignorance, I asked Carmichael for a crash course.

“I think there are remixes and influences of every other genre within dubstep,” shes said, after pausing for a moment to think. “I think that compared to drum and bass, the BPM and the rhythm make it more accessible and more relatable to other things people listen to. But it’s hard to really pinpoint, because I’ve never seen any other genre grow and take over in the way that dubstep has.”

Shooting stars burn bright, but they always fade in the end.

Dubstep’s sensational rise raises

uncomfortable questions about its staying power. Is it a flash in the pan? Carmichael, however, doesn’t appear to be concerned. She knows the music industry is fragile, a house of cards, but she also knows that spinning dubstep is fun. More fun than she could imagine, in fact, which is why she has no plans to change.

“I know how lucky I am,” she continues.

“But I’m so happy to be doing what I’m doing. I have no idea how long this will last, and I’m trying more and more every day to spend time on my own stuff. I’m just going to keep doing it as long as it lasts, and I know in my heart it’s what I want to be doing.”

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Event Info

Vilify

Where: Connect Fest When: August 6 Cost: $65-$140 @ www.connectfestival.ca

Carly Rae Jepsen: Canada’s Anti-Pop Pop Star

ArtsSect &C

Alex J MacPherson

Regina, SK — Last week, I spent the best part of an afternoon trying to get Carly Rae Jepsen on the phone. I wanted to ask her questions and then write about her responses. This may surprise you, but getting famous people on the phone is not usually too difficult.

The general procedure involves a few e-mails, or maybe a phone call, and that’s it.

Unfortunately for me, Jepsen was unavailable.

Before I go any further, I should point out that when this story came across my plate, I didn’t know very much about Jepsen. I didn’t know

“I called a friend who thinks CRJ is pretty much the greatest thing ever. I wanted to find out why.”

-Alex J MacPherson anything much her most recent record, Curiosity, an EP released in February. I hadn’t heard of Tug Of War, either. That one came out back in 2008.

I did know she was from British Columbia, but I had to consult an atlas to find her hometown, Mission. I was peripherally aware that Jepsen, who is 26, was a contestant on Canadian Idol, but I was unaware that she placed third in the show’s fifth season.

Sensing a major obstacle, I called a friend who thinks CRJ is pretty much the greatest thing ever. I wanted to find out why. We met on a warm Sunday morning to drink iced coffee and talk about Jepsen,

Five Questions W Photo: courtesy of the artist

whom my friend says is the quintessential pop artist of our time.

Basically, she explained, pop music is not self-aware. It doesn’t exist in our world; it creates a new world, one three-minute single at a time. In Popland, everyone is gorgeous and zits are abstract concepts, like infinity or light beer. This doesn’t apply to Jepsen, she told me. Jepsen is in many ways the anti-pop star — not because she is provocative or a contributor to the sexualization of preteen Canadians, but because her music is self-aware. Sometimes blindingly self-aware.

When I asked for some evidence, I was subjected to a litany of references to the music video for “Call Me Maybe,” which I have now watched 43 times. Most people know “Call Me Maybe” as Jepsen’s breakthrough hit, the sort of single that changes people’s lives.

It certainly is catchy, I allowed.

And Jepsen is a really talented singer.

Of course it’s catchy, my friend

shot back. It’s more than catchy: it’s art.

She went on to explain that the video for “Call Me Maybe” is high camp, which should not be read as a negative. It takes cliché to an extreme, but cliché can’t be compounded: the spectrum is bent in at the ends. High camp is a look back and a look forward. It is at once an expression of my generation’s pathological obsession with irony and a search for the reason underscoring that obsession.

Art, then.

It’s important to note that Jepsen is really subtle about this. If it were obvious, I suppose, it wouldn’t be clever. “Call Me Maybe” is catchy and memorable and fun to blast out the window of your awful car, but it can also be a postmodern art piece. It’s post-pop, a very serious and thoughtful look at the world we inhabit, as consumers of pop music and as individuals.

I’m sold.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Actor Ethan Le Phong Talks The Alex J MacPherson

Cleveland.

Alex J MacPherson: How did There are a handful of musicals you happen to get involved in this that everyone knows. Fiddler on production? the Roof. Copacabana. Footloose.

Ethan Le Phong: I’ve been Even The Producers. But one show with the show from the very berises above the rest — a show so ginning. Two years with this cast. I p owe r f ul an d auditioned in LA. popular that it “Most people who come Some people auhas been running see the show … they’re ditioned in New for almost fifteen expecting the same York. After my years. Mamma first initial audiMia! fuses the energy they saw before.” tion they gave me -Ethan Le Phong a callback a year music of ABBA, one of the strangest and most later, and then I finally got the part. wonderful pop acts of all time, to In between I was able to do other a moving story of love and separa- shows and keep myself busy until tion and redemption. More than 42 the role was open for me. And now million people have seen Mamma I get to play Pepper, the one role I Mia! since it premiered in London really wanted. in 1999. It is the show that keeps AJM: Why does Pepper, the baron rolling. I caught up with Ethan tender, appeal to you?

Le Phong, who plays Pepper in the ELP: I think it’s a comedy role, North American touring cast, to it’s a great feature and I get some chat about the show, its endur- fun lines. And I get to play with a ing popularity, and how Mamma very attractive woman every night, Mia! closes the circle of his career. so what’s not to like about it? And I reached Le Phong by phone in I keep the audience laughing, and

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

Pages 10, 11 Pages 10, 11 Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Bachman & Turner: These Rock Icons Are Back Alex J MacPherson

Regina, SK — Allow me to make a sweeping generalization: if you haven’t heard of Randy Bachman and Fred Turner, you aren’t a fan of rock & roll.

With that out of the way, let’s recap. After fronting the Guess Who for a decade, Bachman joined with

“We have written the soundtrack to many people’s lives.”

With Mamma Mia!

Photo: courtesy of Joan Marcus

e Enduring Popularity Of ABBA that’s my goal for the show — I get a thrill out of that.

AJM: When you’re onstage can you relax a bit and have fun, or is it always like work?

ELP: I get up and I do my — I don’t want to say “job,” because it is fun — and I’m proving my age. The role requires somebody to be early twenties. I’m in my thirties and I’m still kicking it, so I’m proud of what I’m able to do. I’m representing the older age category.

AJM: Mamma Mia! is an extremely popular musical. What does being a cast member mean to you?

ELP: My second year in London, I went over there to do The King and I in 2000, and a friend of mine from the States came over. I took two days off and we did a marathon of musicals that were in London.

Mamma Mia!, the London cast, was open. That was my first introduction to Mamma Mia! I thought it was one of the most hilarious, amazing shows I’d ever seen. I loved the catalogue of ABBA music and

the great discovery there was, like, half the songs I didn’t realize ABBA even wrote. My journey started when I first saw it in London, I saw a friend of mine play it in the Vegas tour, and I thought one day my turn will come.

AJM: Given that audiences are so familiar with the show, how flexible can you be in terms of interpreting the character and the general feel of the production?

ELP: Most people who come see the show, they already know the show, so they’re expecting the same energy they saw before. I like to bring my own take, my own energy into my character, and make it as unique as possible. A musical like Mamma Mia!, a lot of people think it’s a lot of fluff and enjoyment, but I think what we have to do is be as sincere as possible and find the humour in that. Sometimes you can take it to slapstick, but our audiences are very smart — the more truthful you can be, the better.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

-Randy Bachman Turner to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive, one of the most successful North American rock acts of all time. For a glimpse into the genius of their partnership, look no further than “Takin’ Care of Business” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet.” BTO disbanded a couple of times, in 1979 and again in 2005; now, however, Bachman and Turner are back on the road, this time under the name Bachman & Turner.

“We have written the soundtrack to many people’s lives,” Bachman wrote in an e-mail. “[T]o get back together and play those songs again brings us and the fans an enormous amount of joy and fun.”

According to Bachman, the reunion was spurred by public demand and an offer to play Sweden Rock last June. After cutting a new, self-titled album of crunchy rock and roll reminiscent of BTO’s biggest hits, Bachman and Turner decided to continue recording and touring, a decision Bachman said “felt just like old times.”

The songs on Bachman & Turner are a continuation of what the duo did in the ‘70s but, according to Bachman, the music industry has changed dramatically since “Roll On Down the Highway.”

“Well,” Bachman writes, “radio isn’t what it used to be, so we had no airplay. [It’s] disappointing to

Event Info

Carly Rae Jepsen Where: Queen City Exhibition When: August 5 Cost: Free with EX admission

Mamma Mia!

Where: Conexus Arts Centre When: August 7-10 Cost: $72.75+ (Admission.com)

Bachman & Turner Where: Casino Regina When: August 8 Cost: $85 & $80 @ C.R. Box Office

Want some coverage for your upcoming event? Email layout@verbnews.com ASAP!

Photo: courtesy of Christie Goodwin

do an album and have it be a best kept secret. Parts of it are much better than what’s on rock radio these days, but classic rock bands in Canada and the U.S. don’t get the radio respect like [they do on] European radio. That’s just how it is.”

On the other hand, both Bachman and Turner know that they can sell out stadiums across the country.

If we learned anything from BTO,

we learned that these guys always put on a sensational performance.

Bachman hopes that the shows offer a “ride down memory lane for everyone and reliving special moments from everyone’s past experiences that the music stirs up.”

“It’s a great statement of picking up exactly where we left off,” he adds.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Food

Page 12

Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Is there anything more quintessential than the humble white onion? Used raw, grilled, caramelized, boiled or dried, these kitchen basics are as full of facts as they are flavour.

burst into tears every ■timeIf you you’re near an onion,

put on some goggles or chill the little guys to help prevent their volatile compounds from irritating your eyes

can be deadly for ■dogsOnions and cats In Ancient Egypt, people ■worshipped onions thinking

Budz: Great Burgers On The Go

If your hands smell from ■cutting onion or garlic, try

Jessica Bickford

that their concentric circles represented eternal life

rubbing them on something made of stainless steel to help cut down the odour

Photos: Courtesy of Kendra Kuss

Food Truck Uses Social Media To Let You Know Where To Eat Regina has been all atwitter (both literally and figuratively) about food trucks lately — and for good reason. With six spots

allotted on the downtown plaza cheese, lettuce, tomato, ketchup and many other businesses forg- and mustard did not disappoint. ing their own paths, this summer The burger was served on a soft kaiis all about the new, mobile eats ser bun that Budz gets fresh daily, and the culture and came with a around them. “Simple and affordable side of hot, tasty I stopped by is exactly what Budz fries.

Budz Burgers, Burgers is going for…”

Simple and afone of the newfordable is exactly -Jessica Bickford what Budz Burgest trucks on the scene, and had a sample of their sta- ers is going for — aiming mostly to ple menu item — the cheeseburg- please the construction crowd with er. The patty was thick and juicy a streamlined menu of burgers, and flavourful, and the toppings fries, nachos, and drinks. Got a crew of grilled onion, oozing cheddar you need to feed? Just give them

a call and they can cater for you.

Food trucks like Budz Burgers (who currently communicate through their Facebook page) are bringing their business straight to the people with ample use of social media.

It makes perfect sense, really; the immediacy of Twitter and Facebook let food truck owners broadcast their ever-changing details in a way that is quick for them and easy for their customers.

Twitter literacy (or web literacy in general) is an integral part of the food truck business nowadays — just have a look at the @YQRFoodTrucks twitter feed. This feed offers a place for all the Regina food trucks to let the community know where they are and what they are serving each day. It only has about 400 followers so far, but keep in mind that food trucks have only been up and running since April and many of them aren’t on the Twitter bandwagon yet.

Food trucks are still in their infancy here in the Queen City, but with social media tools and a city that is becoming more cosmopolitan each year, I think they have a good chance to make a real impact.

So far the food options are standard, albeit delicious, fare, and I sincerely hope that we get some more ethnic choices roving Regina’s downtown. I know I’m not the only one.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Budz Burgers

Address: Changes daily More Info: Check out facebook.com/ budz.burgers or call 551-5212

Opinion

Page 13

Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Change High School, Solve Labour Issue Giving Teens More Options Earlier In The Education Game Is A Good Idea the Editors of Verb Regina, SK — One of the big topics in the news lately has been the labour shortage here in Saskatchewan.

How bad is it? Well, let’s just say that more than 80 percent of Saskatchewan’s non-union contractors believe the shortage is “the worst in the province’s history.” So yeah, it’s pretty bad.

That’s not to say that the powers that be aren’t trying to address the problem. In fact, the government is now offering $1,000 scholarships for high school students to enter the trades. What’s more, according to Don Morgan, the minister of advanced education, labour

“Forcing a post-secondary education on kids whose talents clearly lie elsewhere is absurd…”

-Verb’s editors relations and workplace safety, the government is “aggressively seeking people from other parts of Canada and … trying to do everything (they) can to educate people in the province through apprenticeship and SIAST programs.”

Which is all fine and dandy, but if this skilled labour shortage is really as bad as people are making out, and if Saskatchewan’s labour market is going to continue to grow as has been forecasted, then perhaps the government needs to do more.

And we believe that something involves either restructuring the education system or adding new programs, like New Zealand’s Youth Guarantee program.

Basically, what this initiative does is acknowledge the well-known fact that academia simply isn’t for everyone. Some kids dig school, are good at it, and long to go to university, others — well, not so much. So for students in that “other” category, the Youth Guarantee program allows them, at the age of 16 or 17, to opt out of a traditional high school and join a trade academy.

There, students will develop job skills by taking trades and technology courses. Heck, depending on their interests, some students may not even have to attend the actual academy at all. Instead, they’ll learn their trade and gain their credits in the workplace or at a polytechnic.

Now we know what some of

you may be thinking: “Cripes, these kids are only 16 years old. They don’t know any better, they need a proper education.”

Thing is though, by the age of 16 or 17 you pretty much know whether or not academia is for you.

And if it’s not, why go to university just because your guidance counsellor says so?

Forcing a post-secondary education on kids whose talents clearly lie elsewhere is absurd, and not doing

anyone any favours.

A much better solution would be to follow the New Zealand model and provide these students with the option of attending a trade academy. That way, they’ll graduate as skilled workers, with real-world work experience, ready to step in and help quell our labour shortage the moment they graduate.

It’s good for them, good for us, and good for Saskatchewan.

Or perhaps we could take a page

from Germany’s book, and develop a multi-pronged high school system — one prong for students who wish to attend university, the other a prong of vocational high schools for students who want to learn a trade that will make them highly employable after graduation. And we’re not suggesting that going the university route isn’t going to make a student highly employable, simply that students should have more options open to them, earlier

in the education game.

Which way Saskatchewan should go with this isn’t exactly clear. What is clear, however, is that we are in the midst of a skilled labour shortage that is bad and threatening to become worse as our economy continues to grow.

It’s time we open the floor and initiate the debate. The sooner we start looking at options like these, the better off we’ll all be.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Section Movies

Page Page 14PH

Jul PH 27–Aug PH–PH, 2, ‘12 ‘PH VerbNews.com VerbNews.com

Take This Waltz A Mostly Charming Film

Ensemble Cast, Director Delivers In Touching Flick About Love And Temptation Take This Waltz

Runtime: 116 Minutes Rated: 14A Adam Hawboldt There’s one scene in Take This Waltz that really stands out.

In it, Michelle Williams and Sarah Silverman are nude. In a shower. But this isn’t like any female nude scene you’ve seen before. There’s no sexuality, no music to tell you how to feel, no sexy lighting. Nothing of the sort. It’s just Michelle Williams,

Sarah Silverman and bunch of old- question is between Margot (Wiler, sagging women showering at a liams) and Lou (Seth Rogen), who local pool, talking about relation- have been married for five years. ships. The scene isn’t funny or sassy Lou writes cookbooks; Margot is a or dramatic. As Silverman said in a freelance writer who does a lot of recent interview, tourism work.

“It just is.”

“Even though they are And on the And what it better known for their … surface, Margot is, is a realistic, comedy, both Rogen and and Lou appear everyday occurto be a good, rence that is com- Silverman deliver…” healthy couple.

-Adam Hawboldt They live in a pletely unclichéd — much like the movie itself. trendy Toronto neighbourhood, Written and directed by Sarah they both have jobs they enjoy, Polley, Take This Waltz is a raw and they still enjoy each other’s comsearingly honest look at the every- pany and have a real affection for day life in relationships. each other.

The main relationship in Their relationship, like the aforementioned shower scene, is unflinchingly real and diurnal.

Also like the shower scene, these characters (and for that matter, every character in the movie) avoid cliché. We simply don’t know these people in Take This Waltz. And that’s the best part about it. They’re all fresh. Nobody speaks lines you can guess, nobody sticks to one single mode of behaviour.

And in a world where a lot of Hollywood movies reek of convention and cliché, Take This Waltz is a refreshing blast — at least when Margot and Lou are on screen.

But when Daniel (Luke Kirby) — a guy who Margot met while on assignment in Cape Breton and who, it just so happens, is Margot and Lou’s neighbour — enters the equation, well, that’s when things get a tad stale.

Photo: courtesy of Mongrel Media

See, Daniel is an artist with smoldering good looks and a strange penchant for wearing pedal pushers. He’s also the guy who threatens to come between Lou and Margot’s seemingly solid marriage.

That’s as far as we’ll take the plot summary; going any further might spoil the movie for you.

And it’s a good movie, a subtle

movie, a tender and heartfelt movie that you should probably go see if explosions and CGI aren’t your thing.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying Take This Waltz is a perfect movie. Far from it, in fact.

Whenever it turns to attraction between Daniel and Margot the entire thing fizzles. And, at times, Polley’s hand is a bit too heavy, a bit too contrived.

But, on whole, Take This Waltz hums with anticipation, with realism and the thrill of temptation.

Oh, and did I mention that the acting (save for Kirby who never really brings Daniel to life) is excellent. You’d expect as much from Williams, who is a three-time Oscar nominee. But Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman (who plays Lou’s alcoholic sister in the film)? You bet. Even though they are better known for their raunchy comedy, both Rogen and Silverman deliver big in dramatic roles.

Don’t believe me? Think I’m giving them a tad too much credit? Go see for yourselves.

Take This Waltz will be screened at the Regina Public Library beginning August 2nd; see www.reginalibrary.ca for show times.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Section Movies

Page Page 15PH

Jul PH 27–Aug PH–PH, 2, ‘12 ‘PH VerbNews.com VerbNews.com

Fairly Funny The Watch Offers Easy Laughs

Photo: courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Film Loses Steam With Rather Outlandish Plot, But Ensemble Cast Still Delights The Watch

Runtime: 102 Minutes Rated: 18A Adam Hawboldt My friend has a category of movies he calls “Sunday Movies.”

To fit into this category of film, a movie must be funny enough to make you laugh out loud a few times (but not too much), and feature at least two familiar thespians.

A Sunday Movie must also avoid being serious at all costs, contain some action sequences, and — perhaps most importantly — have a screenplay that is simple enough to be understood by a slow-moving, hungover mind.

Movies like Beverly Hills Ninja, Rush Hour and Hot Tub Time Machine are all Sunday Movies.

So too is The Watch.

Directed by Akiva Schaffer, The Watch stars Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill and British newcomer Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd).

But before we get too much into plot summary or reviewing the merits of this flick or anything of that nature, let me first say this: after bombs such as The Dilemma, Couples Retreat and Fred Claus, it’s so good to see Vince Vaughn back in fine form.

Back, once again, to his breathless, riffing, manic old self. Now, that’s not to say he’s at 100 percent “Vaughn” in The Watch. He doesn’t hit the all-out hilarious heights of, say, a Wedding Crasher’s Jeremy or Beanie from Old School, but whatever. An in-form Vince Vaughn is always a pleasure to watch.

So too is the performance by Ayoade. But more on him in a moment. For now, let’s take a look at the plot of The Watch.

The movies centres around a

control freak named Evan (Ben save the day. Which is entirely too Stiller), the manager of a Costco in bad because whenever the aliens the whitewashed town of Glenview. are involved, The Watch falls flatter One terrible night, an employee than piss on a plate. of Evan’s is murdered at the store, But I guess the plot — and the so he decides to form a Neigh- aliens, for that matter— are secondbourhood Watch ary here. More group.

“The Watch is definitely than anything, The misfits he an amusing time-filler to The Watch seems attracts are a rath- watch on an under-thelike an excuse to er motley crew of put these four gentlemen: Bob weather Sunday.” charac ters to -Adam Hawboldt gether in a mini(Vaughn), who joins the group to chug beer and van, drinking beer, and trying to hang out, Franklin (Jonah Hill), a one-up each other with one-liners. recent reject of the police academy, And when they’re doing that, and Jamarcus (Ayoade), a foreigner the movie is actually pretty funny. who sees the group as an oppor- That isn’t to say that the momentum tunity to meet friends and score built in these moments is enough with women. to carry the film through, but they The guys patrol the neighbour- do provide the plot with a couple of hood, trying to keep it safe. How- flat-out hilarious moments. ever, as things progress, they evenMost of these moments come tually figure out that what they’re courtesy of the aforementioned dealing with is an alien invasion.

Ayoade, who steals more than his And being the heroes of the film, fair share of funny scenes. they do what all heroes do: they Still, for all the comedic star set out to fight the invaders and power here, The Watch is was it

is — a Sunday Movie.

It’s not the kind of film you’re going to rave to your friends about. It’s also not the kind of flick you’re going to rank in your top-10 funniest

of all-time.

But The Watch is definitely an amusing time-filler to watch on an under-the-weather Sunday.

Feedback? Text it to 306-881-8372.

Texts

Page 16

Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

This Week: Canada’s Airport Fees Last week we asked what you thought about lowering the cost of flying in Canada - here’s what you had to say.

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

giving teens the option of entering a trade school before 18? 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!

On Topic I strongly agree that the airfare is really expensive. When I travel to India, it costs me nearly $1500 but

when it comes to the matter of travelling through US I can get it for as cheap as $900….

Its time for a change CANADA!!!!!

Read the opinion on flying in canada. I do fly a fewtimes a year and yes you pay more in taxes then the flight itself. This is why the government orders air canada back to work, they will lose revenue.

Your “opinion” on high air travel costs: Europe is +800 million people in a very small area.

Canada is 2nd largest in world-with less population than Tokyo city.

Flying in Canada is way to expensive.

Costs more to fly back east than Mexico, or Vegas. Our country is huge and we should be making travel around it easier, not a barrier.

Pretty sure theres way more people in Europe which is why they can be so cheep. More people flying is more money and they can afford to drop prices.

We can’t Yes! Flying should be a cost-effective way to get around the country. Who doesn’t have friends or family that live elsewhere?

And especially in the winter here - driving out of SK in a blizzard is crappy, but flying out is less stress and hassle.

WestJet used to be a less expensive option but as costs jumped so did their ticket prices. We need to be encouraging people to move around the country, not making

it near impossible for them to do so.

Even flying from here to Calgary costs a few hundred return. It’s a 50 min flight. But Ryan air (UK and Europe) is so much more affordable even after taxes.

Money generated from people moving around country more is a nice idea, but good luck on ever getting the government to give up the cash flow they get from airport taxes.

That amount of money speaks volumes to them, they’ll never let that cash cow go free.

Off Topic

Canada land of gov’t large has funny people. Its all good when its you scoring the grant subsidy bail out tax break etc. Its bitter resentment when its somebody else.

Come on people we all benefit from this land The Treatys etc. Lets stop being so childish!

Found an interesting item for all to see: 23-JULY-2012SASKATCHEWAN Altogether, the Saskparty’s fiscal mismanagement has ramped up spending faster than its predecessor , poorly forecast its revenues, run an effective deficit when resource revenues were found wanting, then covered it up by asset stripping the Crowns and dipping into the fiscal stabilization fund to claim they had actually run a healthy surplus.

They cut taxes, but these were arguably structured in a way that widens the gulf between those that pay

Texts taxes and those who benefit from them. SEE -> http://www.sdap. ca/sdap/content/truthabout-saskatchewanseconomy Holy Crap! There’s a bunch of landlords who don’t want anything to do with Social Services or clients. They’re telling me its not the clients, its the dept. They’re fed up with the dept bullshit and forms Bad enough finding a place now with the crappy housing allowances but we also have the burden of dept’s history of jerking around landlord’s!

I was just reading the “text” section of verb, and I’m absolutely horrified by the general lack of spelling and grammar abilities of those sending messages in. This is seriously so sad.. I weep for my generation.

Humans are the only species that hurt or kill their own.

You know you live DOWNtown when a guy yelling the same unintelligible thing for half an hour wakes you up in the middle of the night!

Just because you rent a house doesn’t mean you can’t keep the yard neat. It also doesn’t mean that you can’t show respect for your neighbours. Stop having allowing your kids and their friends to shortcut across the neighbours yard and teach them to have respect for other peoples property.

Stop having parties till the wee hours. Your

Page 17

Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

neighbours need to get some sleep even though you don’t. Have some respect!

Y0 Adrian your lovely See U soon? HOPE S0 There’s no housing problems here for people with money.

Lots of expensive apts available. The crisis is on the low end min wage and welfare.

There’s just nothing available min wage and welfare peeps can afford. If Sask can piss away a for a stadium it can damn well raise min wage and welfare. Or generate some cheap low cost housing to meet the need. We really don’t need another stadium.

We need the cheap housing. F**k off with that “affordable” BS! You stop people from texting and driving when you take the technology away.

Really, we got along fine without texting.

People wouldn’t be so caught up with their phones as they are now. Everyone is in their own little world.

How are we connecting better with people?

Re: text about AJM piece. Quality of article aside, this text misrepresents facts.

StatsCan has stated clearly that there is minimal interprovincial movement and the wages here aren’t that low. Min wage is middle of the pack, and if your in construction etc you have many opportunities.

However, you did hit the nail on the head with housing issues that we need to fix asap.

I was so disappointed to see the Colorado gunman on the front page of the newspaper.

He doesn’t deserve that attention. His face belongs at the bottom of the landfill.

Why is it some drivers in front of me can only drive speed or faster when I decide to pass them? If you want to drive slow stay out of the left passing lane!

To the person who texted take your head outta your ass put yours back in!

Whats up with the comfy cozy secure middle class resent’in?

They resent the rich.

They resent the poor.

You don’t see that class hat’in from rich or poor.

Murhrooms are nature Lets Pray we Never SEE THEM IN THE SKY! I liked the text about us all being star stuff.

Pieces of the universe, teeny little pieces and a part of us and our world so cool!

Does it really matter if regina gets a new.....

The goverments funding it WHAT THE HELL WHAT ABOUT OUR BRIGDES WE NEED SO BADLY!!!

I love you Kelsi Curtis.

It’s ok not to drink.

Went to one of those rogue free library things, picked up a book and dropped a couple off :) So amazing, check them out!

Easy breezy is the

way i wanna be but work seems to have different plans for my summer.

Chik fil a is disgusting and reprehensible.

Same goes for Boy scouts reaffirming their anti-gay stance.

It’s shocking that in 2012 people can still hold such bigoted and old-fashioned, uneducated positions, and not only that but still defend them as though they’re in some way defensible.

Morons.

To the person who texted in about movie reviews being unfair cuz its only one’s opinion that’s the whole point just writing about what they think of it then its supposed to make a conversation as people agree or disagree :) Colorado shooting so sad to see. This was the act of one person, in one place and not a reflection of aurora I’m sure. A person who is clearly very ill. First responders u do a job few would God bless!

Where’s the downtown guy haven’t seen many texts about that. Funny stuff!

Camping: pack up the rv drive to an electric camp spot, plug in TV n AC, kick back with a beer and watch the game before cooking dinner in the tiny kitchen, then a nice shower in the 3-piece bathroom before crashing into bed. Getting back to nature makes me feel SOOOOO RELAXED lolz :D

I think Im drinking to much coffee but thing is it just tastes so good Only a few cups a day but its so tasty RODEOOOO WOO WOO stampede was best ever this year lol “grub tins” RN SH and Patty cant wait until next year!!!! XO To the dude who txt about CRJ shes totally hot and i’m a dude too.

Cant wait to see her in a couple weeks just glad my gf also likes her total excuse 2 go Walked through wascana and watched this couple and their 2 dogs and the dogs were just crapping and they didn’t even pick it up! The hell u gotta clean up after these things you guys, its only fair. Big dog to so big poop.

Haters mad about new stadium but its good for city in long run we need to invest now!

Riders fans will be sure to fill that stadium every game with green pride! GO RIDERS GO! HA up in Saskatoon be careful if ur heading up there’s tons of speed traps and cops everywhere close to the city. Drive safely!

Nancy Ray guns r awesome can’t wait to see them next week!

How is summer almost over already it just started! Not even enough beers or icecream so far this summer better get on it!

The opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily Verb’s.

Nightlife

Page 18

Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com

Thursday @ The Press Box Venue

The Press Box Sports Bar on Thursday, July 19th

Location

909 Albert Street

Playing on Arrival

Pink Floyd’s “Green is the Colour”

Music Vibe

Country and hip hop

Feature Deal

Any of the burgers for $5.99 (excluding the Champ burger)

Popular Drink Highballs

Food of Choice

The Flintstone rack of ribs, served with rice, for $15.99

Wing Notes

35¢ for wings, and 45¢ for zingers, on Wednesdays and Sundays; Buffalo ranch is the favourite of the available flavours

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

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Give this a bit of thought, dear Pisces: “There is a little truth behind every ‘just kidding,’ a little curiosity behind every ‘just wondering,’ a little knowledge behind every ‘I don’t know’ and a little emotion behind every ‘I don’t care.’” Which is to say that, for the most part, life doesn’t happen in absolutes. That whole saying about being right or wrong, doesn’t really hold a lot of water. Instead, most things that happen operate within a distinct shade of gray. The rest is up to you.

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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 will 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)

A word to the wise, dear Aquarius: never, and we mean NEVER, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative at the same time. Sounds like no-brainer, right? Well, it’s that kind of common sense that you’re going to have to keep in mind this week. Sometimes it’s easy for us to make uninformed, snap decisions in the name of time or money or, well, let’s be honest … sometimes we just have brain farts. This week, though, strive to be logical and rational.

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Aquarius (Jan 20–Feb 19)

If you learn only one thing this week, dear Leo, let it be this: “The future belongs to those willing to get their hands dirty.”

We’re not saying that if you go out and roll around in the mud, your future will be bright. No, what we’re saying is be willing to work hard. That’s it. That’s all.

That’s the key to success. And while your natural grace and leadership abilities may make success seem easily attainable, any success worth attaining typically requires real work.

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Leo (Jul 23–Aug 22)

Sometimes life has a way of making us all feel small, dear Capricorn. It makes us feel inadequate and inconsequential.

Well, sometimes life is an idiot. Seriously.

If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed in a room with a mosquito. See what I mean? Sometimes all it takes is a little tenacity and a little creativity to make yourself feel a whole lot bigger. So if at any point you feel small, act like that darn mosquito and start buzzing around.

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Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19)

Do you worry much, dear Cancer? If so, you might want to stop. Not only is worrying bad for your health, it’s also utterly useless. Think about it. When’s the last time worrying has ever solved one of your problems? See, useless. Like chewing gum to solve a complex O-Chem problem. The other thing about worrying is that, when you really think about it, we tend to worry about stuff that never happens. All that wasted energy can be put to better use. It’s up to you.

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Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 22)

Does it seem like no matter how hard you try, no matter how much work you put in, nothing seems to be working lately? The effort is there, but the opportunity isn’t? Well, here’s the thing about opportunity — sometimes it just doesn’t come around. But don’t worry.

If opportunity isn’t knocking, it’s time to build a door. Time to make your own opportunities, Sagittarius. What those may be, only you will know when and how to create these chances.

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Sagittarius (Nov 23–Dec 21)

Illegitimi non carborundum. Or, in English, “Never let the bastards grind you down.” Not this week, dear Gemini.

And believe us, there will be some people out there who will try to hold you back.

Don’t let them. Do whatever you have to accomplish your goals — within reason and the confines of the law, of course.

Haters are going to hate, Gemini. Thing is, though, there’s no reason you should humor them. Instead, stand up for what you believe in and keep marching.

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Gemini (May 21–Jun 20)

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Some days, Scorpio, you’re the pigeon. Other days you’re the statue. What this week will hold, well, that’s up to you. If you decide to sit back and watch life pass you by in the coming days, you’ll most certainly wind up with birddroppings on your head. If, however, you commit yourself to action this week, you’ll become the pigeon, and can soar to any heights of your choosing. It’s up to you whether you want to grasp onto that freedom or not.

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Scorpio (Oct 24–Nov 22)

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Want a tip, dear Taurus? If possible, always borrow money from pessimists — they’ll never expect you’ll pay them back.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit underhanded, but the lesson you should take from it is solid: be pragmatic and think before you act. Especially this week. If you leap into action without stopping to consider the outcome, things may not work out in your favour. So before you make any decisions right now, pause. And if the virtues outweigh the vices, go ahead and do it.

Libra, here’s what we want you to do.

Instead of staying in this week, checking Facebook, playing video games or watching Netflix, shut down your computer or TV or iPad, and go outside. Leave the technology alone and meet somebody.

Meet a real, live breathing person. Not just some avatar. Basically, what we’re saying is that it’s time to re-engage in life. It’s time to smell the flowers and press palms and laugh and meet new people. You most certainly won’t be disappointed.

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Taurus (Apr 20–May 20)

Libra (Sept 23–Oct 23)

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Here’s the best advice you’re going to receive all week, dear Aries: stay away from the people who complicate your life. Got it? Good. Life is a strange and, at times, complicated journey on its own.

When you invite people into your life who only make matters worse, what you’re doing is counterproductive to your happiness. Don’t be counterproductive.

Instead, surround yourself with people who make you laugh and smile and think and want to be a better person.

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Aries (Mar 21–Apr 19)

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Horoscopes

Jul 27–Aug 2, ‘12 VerbNews.com 4 2 8 7 1 6 3 9 5

Time Out

Page 19

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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.

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8 7 4 3 5 7

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