Canada’s emissions rising despite Kyoto promise
by Amy Steele

New group fighting oil and gas wells and other stories
by Amy Steele

Seniors and nurses criticize private long-term care contracts
by Amy Steele

LETTERS

Lifelong cyclist says ban not the answer
by G. Nieboer

Critics are not stars
by T. Wm. Hellman

VIEWPOINT

What’s God got to do with it?
When tsunamis, earthquakes and other disasters strike, keep religion out of it
by David Bright

WEB WATCH

Cabin fever
The birth of a new ramen experience
by Courtney Thompson

CITY

Don’t fence me in
Calgarians’ desire for wide-open spaces creating an urban monster
by Roberta McDonald

FOOD

Lunch stop
Take a ride on the Reading Railroad to Siding Cafe
by Danyael Halprin

BOOKS

Lessons in grief
Richly written novel transcends its yuppie genre
reviewed by Bryn Evans

BOOKENDS

Taking a joy read
Western women launch new year of author events at Pages on Kensington
by Harry Vandervlist

MUSIC

Marginal, not trivial
Music writer battle continues as the question of criticism is examined
by Timothy Heck

The reality of part-time playing
Edmonton’s The Maykings make looking and sounding good a priority
by Rick Overwater

Taking risks, naturally
Eileen Ivers pushes musical traditions (slightly)
by Martin Kemp

Beat happening
New Music Festival explores the avant-garde
by Kirsten Kosloski

CD REVIEWS

The Great Destroyer is a new high for Low
CD Reviews:
Low’s The Great Destroyer
reviewed by Mark Hamilton
Early Day Miners’ All Harm Ends Here
reviewed by Mark Hamilton
Jason Anderson’s The Wreath
reviewed by Jason Lewis
Various Artists’ Who’s America
reviewed by Frank Litorco

VISUAL ARTS

Tidings of comfort
Soothing new shows at TNG and Stride take the edge off a cold month
by Mark Clintberg

Support for persecuted artist
by Wes LaFortune

COVER

Playing with dolls
Top puppet masters show off skills at animated objects festival
by Martin Morrow

THEATRE

But seriously, folks
Nathan Cuckow takes on Mormons, trannies and macho men with STANDupHOMO
by David King

Festival highlights and lowlights
High Performance Rodeo celebrates absurdity from Ireland to Newfoundland
by Martin Morrow

DANCE

Five years in the making
Six Nations dancer-choreographer Santee Smith’s Kaha:wi explores cycle of life
by David King

FILM

Pulling strings
Red Smarteez present the finest puppets on screen
by Mark Hamilton

A country in the abyss
Hotel Rwanda is vital, gutsy political filmmaking
by Jason Anderson

A yawn to see
Kevin Spacey shines as Bobby Darin, but he can’t save Beyond the Sea
by Andrea Huck

Rewriting stereotypes
The Woodsman takes risks and asks big questions using disturbing subject matter
by Gordon Yerkovich

Under siege
Assault on Precinct 13 is good, bloody fun
by Rachel Deahl

The homeboy has fallen
Are We There Yet? perpetuates inept stereotypes and intolerable child acting
by Joel McConvey

Garnering acclaim
With the help of the convincing Terence Stamp, Elektra puts Daredevil to shame
by Brad E. Simkulet

Understated (Topher) Grace
Paul Weitz makes In Good Company a drama of everyday proportions
by Jason Lewis

VIDEO VULTURE

Dancing Frauleins in web T-shirt contest
Welcome to Spider Island, the home of vintage German sexploitation
by John Tebbutt