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Space age photographs of the new Pittsburgh Penguins hockey arena were released today, following the approval of the facility’s plans by the city planning commission. The arena, which is expected to cost $290 million, is largely being financed by blue-haired grandma’s hoping to hit it big on the nickel slots.

The Post-Gazette reported that developers are expected to break ground this summer, and the arena is expected to be completed for the 2010-2011 season. Though preliminary designs did not meet the commission’s standards, the modifications made by achitects at HOK Sport unanimously passed the test.

Prior to the modifications, commissioners compared the designs to “Disneyland” or “Home Depot.” The difference? Nighttime.

The Penguins sought to counter some of the criticism yesterday by unveiling nighttime renderings of the arena that pictured the structure in a more favorable light. One showed the building’s centerpiece — a brightly lit glass atrium running along Washington Place and facing Downtown.

Ah yes, because who looks at buildings during the daytime, anyway? Penguins CEO Ken Sawyer added, “The last time they didn’t see what was shown today, the evening shot, which really tells the story of this design. The atrium in the front allows everyone to see the energy and electricity inside.” Plus it embitters those who don’t have tickets.

Clearly this “dusk drawing” doesn’t do the building justice. Also, I find that it’s slightly “cartoony,” no? I much prefer the space-station-esque, futuristic feel of the picture above. The only thing that’s bothering me is the lack of flying cars and houses shaped like the Space Needle—like on the Jetsons.

All in all, not bad new digs. I don’t think any of us can complain, really. It wasn’t that long ago that the Penguins were in limbo of being shipped off to some horrifying city like Kansas City or worse, Houston. Can you imagine? They’d have to throw dirt on the ice after every game so as to continue the never-ending cycle of rodeos.

At this moment, CNN has declared that Obama has won the North Carolina Primary, and that the Indiana primary is still too close to call (but everyone knows Clinton is going to win). Clinton has 52 percent of the vote to Obama’s 48, and 85 percent of the precincts have already reported their results.

So here we are: Obama won NC. Clinton will win IN. No surprises. What is unclear, however, is what happens next. Many pundits have recently debated this very issue: Obama wins both, it’s over. Clinton wins both, Obama is in serious trouble. But the split—the dreaded split—leads to more uncertainty. Didn’t we just leave this town?

Clinton winning both would have been an incredible jolt for her campaign. With the momentum from wins in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the wins in NC and IN might have tipped the scales for seating Florida’s delegates, if not Michigan’s. At that point, it’s a much closer race.

But in reality (oh how we’ve missed you!), that’s not what’s happening. I consider myself a political junkie and even I’m getting bored of this stuff. We need some upsets (probably too late—I don’t think a surprise come-from-behind win for Clinton in Guam is going to do much good), some content-driven controversy (i.e. definitively seating or not seating the MI/FL delegates and not flag pins or the maniac Chicago preacher Jeremiah Wright) or a nominee. These are your options, America. Choose wisely.

Speaking of choosing, when do the Republicans get a VP? Seriously, Johnny Mac, let’s get going. Plenty of names have been tossed around for months now. I say it’s about time we got out the ol’ dart board and have at it.

In the upper right quarter, we have the women: Condoleezza Rice and Kay Bailey Hutchison. I have a preference, although I’m legally obligated not to state who or why. Seriously. In the bottom right, you have the governors: Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Charlie Crist of Florida. All white men, two-thirds of which were born in 1960 (and one in 1956–close enough).

On the left half of the dart board, we have the “oh yeah, I remember that guy” section. Most of these guys you’ve seen recently. As in, the last 4 months. They are: Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (claim to fame: winning the only state shaped like his first name), Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulliani. To be honest, I don’t think any of these guys have a shot. They’re all white men (i.e. the scum of the Earth, in this election) and they all feel like death warmed over.

We have now arrived at the “ridiculous and therefore probable” section of the dartboard. The governor of Louisiana is a 36-year-old Indian-American (no, not the kind that we killed roughly 200 years ago)– Bobby Jindal. He’s about as conservative as you can get, which will help balance the ticket with that “wiley old man” McCain. Colin Powel is another name being tossed around, but this seems really unlikely. He’s probably too much like McCain in his “wiley-ness” and “oldness.” Finally, Ronald Reagan’s exumed corpse is also being seriously considered.

Oh, and Joe Lieberman is the bullseye.

Any “Batman Begins” fans in the house?

On May 2, a new theatrical trailer was released for the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight.” Click here to watch it.

The movie comes out July 18. I. Am. Excited. (Sorry, it’s finals week. I’m afraid you’ll have to take what you can get.)