In the mood for a Southern­fried chestnut? When CATCO first announced a 2013­14 season dominated by well ­known works such as Steel Magnolias, I was crestfallen. It seemed a sign that financial constraints were forcing the once­edgy troupe to stick to the tried and true. That description certainly fits Robert Harling’s comedy­drama. Not only has it been turned into a 1989 film starring Sally Field and Julia Roberts, but the stage version has been making the regional rounds for years. My own first viewing came more than two decades ago at a local community theater, where I decided the play was funny until it descended into sentimentality. After hearing that CATCO was mounting a new production, I could only hope the professional troupe would be able to uncover enough new levels of humor or meaning to justify the exhumation. Well, it does and it doesn’t. Working under Steven C. Anderson’s sure­footed direction, a distinguished cast makes Harling’s banter funnier than ever. In the end, the laughs still drown in a swamp of sentimentality, but until then, they come with clock ­like regularity.

As the death toll continues to ascend, now reaching over 140,000, Syria has entered its fourth year of war on a high stakes battleground. The distinction between the war’s dynamic three years ago and today, however, is stark. A once largely unified rebel faction has been reduced to infighting amongst radical Islamist forces and secular moderate elements. Whereas moderate tone and language initially defined the opposition in Syria, Islamist groups from neighboring countries seized the opportunity to implant their influence in the region. These groups then began to join rebel forces, offering supplies and strategy. After all, several of the Islamist fringe groups had already been involved in guerilla-style warfare in places like Iraq. Yet original members of the opposition cause, who also value the overthrow of Bashar Assad, part company with extremists when it comes to the system of government they prefer after Assad is removed. Fighting between rebel coalitions has thus become commonplace. Of all the potential setbacks for Bashar Assad, he has not had to worry about a unified opposition.

Recently Facebook has been on a media offensive. They have been touting their March 28 purchase of experimental Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV, called drones) manufacturer Ascenta. Ascenta has built a solar-powered extreme endurance drone that can remain aloft at high altitude for years. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg sees this as the key to his dream of expanding internet access in the developing world. Facebook's planned deployment of drone-based internet will compete directly with Google's planned use of high altitude balloons to expand rural connectivity in the developing world in what it calls Project Loon. Both projects have the leave the door wide open to the surveillance state in ways that neither advertise. Ascenta's connections to the defense industry are well documented.

Paramount has finally released a full trailer for the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, and the internet just wouldn’t be the internet if everybody wasn’t up in arms over it. But along with the cries of RUINED FOREVER there are a lot of seriously legitimate concerns about the latest take on TMNT.

The Columbus Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) met on March 25 to consider a tabled proposal for zoning variances that would allow a massively-sized, massively-unpopular luxury apartment block at 122 Parsons Avenue. Developers rolled out the AstroTurf to give the appearance of support for the project despite opponents outnumbering supporters nearly 10-1 at the meeting. Further research by the Columbus Free Press suggests that the proposed development has the backing of powerful forces in city politics and business to move forward despite the wishes of Olde Towne East residents. Representing the development consortium, Brian Higgins of Arch City Development spoke first. Higgins had kept a low profile at the two previous meetings he had attended, appearing to be the guy who just holds the pictures while Michael Woods of Woods Development LLC put a public face on the project. Woods was not present for this meeting although the third partner, Timothy Galvin was identified as being quietly present, whispering to Higgins while other speakers were at the podium.