Lucky, Irish, beer, Ireland, green, etc…

Well, all of that out of the way, how about I bore you to death with more fun facts about what exactly I do when I do the headlines.

Or you can just skip down to the headlines and start clicking links to the newsrooms of Edmonton. It’s the Internet and I can’t see what you’re doing.

Or can I?

And then the Sun photographer said "Now put on this bikini."

So…I think I’ve mentioned before how I’ll come across links in my “Google Alerts,” the most important being the keywords “Edmonton” and “Alberta.” It sometimes lands me a Globe and Mail or National Post story I might not be looking for, but most of the time it’s Edmonton Journal stories.

They’re tricky over there at the Journal. Sometime, in the second-half of 2009, they started throwing the words Edmonton and Alberta into more and more of their online story headlines. Wouldn’t you know it, that’s what gets you caught in the Google nets. And then you end up in my e-mail. And then I link to you in the daily headlines. (More on the headlines of the Journal and the Sun from stats-king Mack.)

Interesting to note, I still look at the actual Journal website last – every day – after I’ve perused all these other fine newsrooms for their local and regional fare.

I’ll note that I tend not to include crime stories, especially if lacking context, since I defy you to pay attention to traditional media and not see crime story after crime story. Most of them minor crimes.

Still the Journal tends to have the most stories each day. I guess it does pay to have staff. Or at least use local search words when writing about Alberta. (And this link is from New York!)

It may alter how some headlines are written (and some places around these parts still loves puns, alliteration and punchy words) but if you’re going to keep casting your media net to the wide world you won’t end up in my Google Alerts. Or in that guy’s favourite aggregater. And that’s becoming part of the game.

Check the Journal’s online headlines against the actual paper and you’ll find they are taking advantage of the unlimited column inches on their website to have different headlines. I’m not saying that’s what other newsrooms should do to try and catch the online audience (because I’d like to steal their audience one day soon) but it would probably help.

from the Edmonton Journal:

Alberta royalty overhaul doesn’t go far enough: EnCana (Alberta in the headline! Don’t worry EnCana, all that gas will still be here when you want it.)

Hundreds give to new U of A chair

Complaints against Alberta doctors increased in 2009

Free dental care proves popular with those who can’t afford it (I saw somebody tweet that braces are the new tattoo.)

Irish rovers drawn to Alberta’s opportunities (See, the word Alberta. Also, this story isn’t about the singing group.)

from the Edmonton Sun:

Transit users lack washrooms (Although I think some people are creative, which would explain why Grandin station frequently smells like pee.)

Meals on wheels hungry for volunteers

from The Canadian Press:

Environmental grades vary for oilsands mining projects: report

Telus Corp. to invest $650 million in boosting its infrastructure in Alberta

from 630CHED/iNews880:

Reserved parking spots at LRT stations (Google Alert note: I also search for “LRT” so I’ll likely see this one later today in my inbox.)

Last public school board meeting at Fulton Place tonight (Good, now the school board trustees can be done with the boring meetings and just close some schools already.)

from CBC Edmonton:

Centralization of ambulance dispatch on hold (This government really doesn’t know which way its going with health care does it? Or with a lot of things…)

Albert to toughen anti-gang laws (At least they can stay on the same page when it comes to anti-gang stuff.)

Alberta snowmobile rules won’t change

By the way, I’ve always been partial to a nice pint of Kilkenny.

I bet I'm going to go on and on about this until I know you're coming.

Good morning Edmonton. Did you have a good weekend?

Heading into the weekend there was still lots of talk on our new royalty rates. Does it mean spending in the oilpatch will rise? Is this giving in to the energy companies, did we surrender? Does the energy minister care about cleaning up the oilpatch, or just making sure you know “the truth?” Maybe most importantly, will any of this stop the constant loss of jobs here in Alberta?

Looks like the City of Champions has a couple more championships to throw in the old trophy case. Do we have one of those?

And in the realm of good news; we really took to winter this year and embraced our ongoing festival.

from the Edmonton Journal:

118 Avenue communities inspire as they reclaim their street (I believe in 118.)

Edmonton’s combined schools like a family

Lack of funding hurts Alberta’ film industry (A lack of funding is hurting Alberta’s blog industry, give me some money.)

Ordinary man made a difference

Alberta’s forests lose their best friend

Course plotted through legal jungle (Helping those without lawyers.)

from the Edmonton Sun:

Cabbies float flat airport rate

The most forgettable $22 million in history (Before you read this, try to say the Alberta slogan. I couldn’t remember it either.)

Dry winter sparks drought worries

More than chump change (Parking meter thieves!)

Going to bat for bats (Won’t someone think of the bats?!)

from 630CHED/iNews880:

EPSB continues public meetings over school closures (Tonight is Capilano’s turn to try and save their school.)

from CBC Edmonton:

Alberta carbon storage safe: study (Pump out that CO2!)

from CTV Edmonton:

Province to cut water quality monitoring due to budget deficit (Well, at least they’re not cutting anything important. Quite frankly, I’m surprised we still even have an environment ministry.)

I think I lost my camera, let me know if you find it.