We are in the dog days of summer, Edmonton.
Not that it’s the hottest period, yet. Or that we’re expecting fall soon. No, the newsrooms have been quieter the last few weeks (except when Katz and Co. were at City Hall, or Maddox Flynn was off to New York), and today’s a good example of that.
Yes, it’s a slow news day.
But at least that means you can get through all of the stories pretty quickly, and get right back to not doing work in other ways.
*Jeff opens up YouTube in new Firefox tab*
Derby Girls’ racy website gallops into questionable territory (Northlands is trying to sell horse racing with T&A. And horses. It’s the fact I don’t know how your betting system works that’s kept me away, Northlands, not your lack of bikini girls.)
Northlands not key arena focus (Basically, if Northlands wants to pitch a revamp of Rexall or a new arena, Katz doesn’t have to play nice with them.)
Choosing creativity over self-harm (More on prison art, from Elizabeth Withey.)
Breakfast club taking new members (Edmonton is getting more Cora’s. I think it’s time to pitch them on a new breakfast sandwich.)
Edmonton makes new roads from old stuff
Something fishy at Capital Ex (Catching and re-catching the same fish. At some point this week they’ll look up and say “Please just kill me.”)
City councillors wants financing questions answered for downtown arena (If you think Don Iveson’s got questions, check the 140 that all of the councillors want answered.)
Rexall Place has 24 health violations (ESPN also found it to be Canada’s worst pro-sports venue for food violations. Check that story for some really gross food misconduct.)
Dog owners irked by park’s storm pond
Big Valley Jamboree bolsters stage after death (Last year’s storm has left a legacy of improved stage set-up.)
New rules for veteran plates (Currently serving members of the military can get special license plates now.)
RE: Derby Girls’ racy website gallops into questionable territory
So we’re OK with betting on tiny men racing horses but we draw the line at a bikini calendar?
I’m a gambling aficionado so I say this with no malice: gamblers (myself included) are a bunch of dirtbags.
About the Oilers being something the city can’t do without (as per the Journal article)- why? I have often wished that some of the attention, time, passion, etc. that Edmontonians lavish on this one sport would get spread around a little. Cultural venues, politics, eateries, other sports, and the list goes on; this city has a lot to offer that, sadly, a large proportion of its citizens aren’t even aware of, let alone engaged in. That notwithstanding, what is this unthinkable nightmarish future the author imagines as the result of not having an NHL team? What would we lose, really? What’s so “chilling” about Winnipeg’s experience? I’m not saying they should leave, just that I don’t see why that would be the end of the world. Some people would be upset. Then they’d find something else to obsess over. End of tragedy. Right?
A point that I am usually reluctant to bring up, Nadine. Thanks for making it!
And actually, a question that is raised in today’s (online) Edmonton Journal:
http://communities.canada.com/edmontonjournal/blogs/hockey/archive/2010/07/28/can-edmonton-afford-the-edmonton-oilers-peter-adler-s-take.aspx
I lived in Winnipeg for a couple of years, post-Jets, and it’s a lovely city. Very similar to Edmonton actually. It’s got a great arts and culture scene, and people embrace Moose hockey (AHL) and Goldeyes baseball (Northern League).
I know the Oilers are important to some people, and it’s a great form of entertainment, but half-a-billion dollars (at least) is a big gamble for a city to take, when there are a number of other projects that could push the city in totally new directions (LRT, City Centre Airport lands, Quarters, etc…).
It usually gets me angry glares when I say it, but if the Oilers were to leave Edmonton would still be here.