Federal election likely to be nasty
Political pundits predict Liberals will return to minority rule
By Amy Steele

Promises to aboriginals up in the air
By Amy Steele

Oilsands development creating major concerns and other stories
By Amy Steele

WEB WATCH

Jumping on the holiday bandwagon
By Courtney Thompson

VIEWPOINT

Sad and pathetic theatre
Anti-abortion group’s tasteless shock tactics are hardly ‘pro-life’
By Jeremy Klaszus

Shilling for the insurance companies
Premier Ralph Klein takes his rampage on Medicare for a royal walkabout
By Gillian Steward

CITY

‘To do’ list made easy
Craigslist helps get everyday stuff done
By Colin Smith

FOOD

Doing lunch in the northeast
Skip the chains and check out these neat indie eateries
By Janet McMahen

BOOZE

Don’t Bogart that bottle
Beer hopheads get a buzz with India Pale Ales from the Pacific Northwest
By Mike Tessier

TRAVEL

Laid-back Laos
Despite poverty and oppression, Laotians greet life with a smile
By Ashifa Kassam

BOOKS

Santa Clause conquers the bookstore
Tomes on conspiracies, airmen and the elf himself make great holiday gifts
By Bob Blakey

Alberta according to Catherine Ford
Columnist offers sharp insights into the province in her first book
By Amy Steele

Experiencing history first-hand
Anonymous wartime diarist bravely documented the fall of Berlin
reviewed by Evette Berry

Journey through the past
Harry Sanders’ walking tours reveal lingering traces of Calgary’s heritage
reviewed by Bruce Pollock

Radical thoughts on violence
Phenomenal work meditates on the use of force
reviewed by Sean Marchetto

Living at Shakespeare and Company
Time Was Soft There paints a portrait of a bookstore like no other
By Bryn Evans

TELEVISION

Canda’s next comedy hit?
Series could extend CTV’s winning streak
By Stephen W. Smith

MUSIC

If it sounds Canadian, it’s eh-OK
A lawsuit, name change and PhD couldn’t slow Caribou’s DanSnaith down
By Shereen Tuomi

Are we having fun yet?
Former Pavement front man Stephen Malkmus on losing his edge
By Kirsten Kosloski

The dream warriors
The High Dials orbit a brave new world
By Joanne Huffa

Bridging the gap
Elliott Brood connects past and present sounds
By Joanne Huffa

Cutting loose with rump-shaking rhythms
Mr. Something Something will change the world, starting on the dance floor
By Jason Lewis

Industrial revolution
Sinfoni recycles some environmental ideas
By Keith Carman

Revamping Karma’s halcyon heyday
By Mary-Lynn Wardle

Age is just a state of mind
Guitar wunderkind Jordan Cook proves himself as an all-star bluesman
By Brandon Tenold

Jazzman giving it back
Johnny Summers shows his support
By Dennis Slater

The Albini effect
Legendary indie producer takes interest in local bands
By Leslie Birdfly

CD REVIEWS

A disc in the hand is worth two for Kate Bush
CD Reviews:
Kate Bush’s Aerial
reviewed by Kari Watson
Okkervil Rivers Black Sheep Boy Appendix
reviewed by Mark Hamilton
Guided by Voices’ The Electrifying Conclusion
reviewed by Jason Lewis
Chroemo’s Un Joli Mix Pour Toi
reviewed by Sean Marchetto
Ibrahim Ferrer’s Ay, Candela
reviewed by Jason Lewis
Death From Above 1979’s Romance Bloody Romance reviewed by Ashley Ingoldsby
Corduroy Kid’s The Sleep Project
reviewed by Sean Marchetto
Long John Baldry’s It Ain’t Easy, Everything Stops for Tea
reviewed by David Boyle
Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Live at Montreaux & FJ & the Living Souls’ Ambient Africa
both reviewed by Bruce Pollock
The Darkness’s One Way Ticket to Hell…and Back
reviewed by Jason Lewis
John Mayer Trio’s Try!
reviewed by Brandon Tenold
Clark the Band’s The Woods
reveiwed by Aubrey McInnis

VISUAL ARTS

This December, think kink
Art gallery shows buck the traditional during the Christmas season
By Wes LaFortune

COVER STORY

Pirates of the Martha Cohen
Long John Silver and his crew are back in ATP’s Treasure Island
By Martin Morrow

THEATRE

Bring the family
High Performance Rodeo turns 20 with music, dancing and an all-ages show
By Martin Morrow

Dinner theatre for the Breakfast Club
Interactive High School Reunion is as painful as high school itself
By Jeff Kubik

FILM

A true tribal voice and powerful force
Filmmakers capture the essence of an amazingly unique individual
By Andrew Aitkenhead

Trimming Hollywood’s fat
Romantic comedy is offensive, tiresome and a waste of time
By Charles Demers

VIDEO VULTURE

Adventures of the original boy wonder
Retro animation fans can now see the Astro Boy they remember
By John Tebbutt

VIDEO

Pop culture film falls far from heaven
Writer-director Don Roos tells the tale of 10 lost souls in Los Angeles
By Matthew Currie Holmes

Are you in the Moog?
Documentary takes a look at synth-inventor Bob Moog’s influence on music
By Kirsten Kosloski

JOYSTUCK

Gifts for gamers
Top picks in sports, battle and adventure
By Blaine Kyllo

MY MESSY BEDROOM

Toys of joy
Caddy of vibrators takes you from zero to bliss in no time
By Josey Vogels