Good morning, Edmonton.

It’s almost always funny, in a sad kind of way, that when governments announce they are going to tackle a problem or get tough on something, it’s a problem that’s had previous attempts to do just that. Edmonton’s recent worries over violent crime is just one of those issues. So, hopefully this is the time everyone follows through on plans and recommendations.

Meanwhile…Edmonton Police are teaming up with other agencies for a new kind of patrol…an action team!

On the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, an Edmonton firefighter who went to New York with the Red Cross is trying to remember the triumph of the human spirit he saw in the days after the Word Trade Centre towers fell.

The City of Edmonton is trying to entice filmmakers to shoot here. Though, not with a grant or tax break, or deals if they are locals or use local crews. I don’t think it’s a great idea to move $5-million from the financial stabilization fund when you’re running a deficit.

“Are people supposed to park on the next block? It’s insanity.” Really? Parking one block away is the end of the world?

It’s interesting that talk about snow removal shows what a lot of people think about our transportation network. And that the car must be the central vehicle to get people around Edmonton. Too bad people feel that way.

Let’s contrast that with capital region leaders who want to spend $10-billion on LRT and transit connections.

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I joked yesterday about using a Hotmail address to communicate official Alberta government business, but I guess that kind of stuff just won’t fly with the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

Now, the Premier and others say they also have two email addresses for their government work. I’d be interested to know what those ones are. If it’s Premier.Stelmach@… I think Ted Morton’s run for PC leader/Premier just took a big hit. If it’s Steve Johnson@…I guess Morton’s OK.

The provincial government announced more money for affordable housing, with about $11-million coming Edmonton’s way.

There is an Amber Alert for a B.C. boy, though not issued in Alberta. Even though the disappearance happened very close to the Alberta border. Actually, when I saw the coverage of this on Twitter and in Edmonton news, I thought an Amber Alert HAD been issued in Alberta.

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Want to learn an old skill?

If you’ve got a poem, a sketch, a couple of artistic thoughts, you can add them to the “poem catcher” at City Hall. It’s an idea of our new Poet Laureate.

We never got to link to a story from MacEwan’s newly re-named The Griff. Good luck this year!

Thanks for all of your thoughtful takes on the news of the day the last couple of years. Let’s keep the discussion going on Twitter with hashtags like #yeg (Edmonton) #yegcc (City Council) #ableg (Alberta Legislature) #abgov (Alberta government) #yegtransit and #yegtraffic (Edmonton transit and traffic) and #yegarena (the downtown arena). I’m @journalistjeff on there.

(As we wind down our days at the edmontonian, we’ll be looking back at some of our favorite posts, stories, items, etc from the last 2+ years. Feel free to submit your own.)

One of my earliest posts is still one of my favourites. Talking about Whyte Avenue’s empty, and abandoned, gas station lots shows what hyper-local news is all about.

About the same time we started up the edmontonian, the gas station on Whyte, at 100 Street, closed up. The owners opened a new repair shop in the Ottewell neighbourhood, but more than two years later that lot in Old Strathcona sits empty.

Abandoned gas stations aren’t something unique to my neighbourhood, nor is it a story that’s too small for the daily news to jump into, but I think I was the first to talk about this particular lot. And that only happened because I live nearby. Hyper-local news is all about stories that are not yet on the radar, or won’t get on the radar, for the bigger mainstream and traditional media outlets.

That is, to me, one of the reasons blogs, podcasts, and social media is thriving. The Internet isn’t hurting traditional news because it’s more fun or mobile, the storytelling is just that much more personal. It’s on street level, and you can hear from those living right beside the story. Talking about a gas station that’s left a hole in the community, a new bar that’s going to open, or something that’s annoying you, can create a rallying point, bring a story to light, and just connect people.

This website has taught me that you cannot have a great Edmonton conversation without connection. And connection and conversation are two things news and information should be about.

We have been waiting two years to use this graphic.

I mentioned it in today’s Headlines, but we have somehow been voted Edmonton’s Best Local Blog. You probably confused us with “Edmontonians.” We get that all the time.

But, if SEE Magazine doesn’t do a recount, and people out there like the edmontonian enough to cast a vote, I owe everyone who helps creates the edmontonian a big, big thanks.

This website (and TV show) aren’t the Jeff and Sally show. Oh sure, because we edit the blog we get to write as much as we want. But since the edmontonian is an online community newspaper; an interactive, collaborative, community hub, it can’t actually exist as the Jeff and Sally show.

And trust me, without Sally this website would look like I built it in 1996, and then exploded it with ugly. And the TV show would just be me, sitting in a basement, reading newspapers for 30 minutes. So my first thanks goes to co-founder Sally, because she’s the engine of this Edmonton machine.

the edmontonian works because people want to know what’s happening in their city, and want as many different views of Edmonton as possible. Edmonton’s not a post-apocalyptic world of monster potholes, murderers, and libertarians (though we have a few of each), it’s a changing and growing city, a vibrant city with a thriving arts scene (and an amazing music scene), smart people, and great neighbours.

On behalf of Sally Poulsen, I thank you for being a part of our world for two years (one month ’til birthday!).

The real winner for Best Local Blog is our never-ending team of contributors, helpers, idea-providers, photo and video-sharers, advertisers, prize-providers, and the audience. Even if you aren’t leaving comments on every single post, or you’ve never contributed, thanks for being a part of the Edmonton conversation. That includes a couple of the bloggers we were nominated alongside: Dave Cournoyer and Mack D. Male. (A big shout-out to David Climenhaga and Ken Chapman for their nominations too.)

Also, it’s great that SEE added the blog category this year. There’s lots of room to add food blogs and podcasts, which is just another testament to Edmonton’s exciting online community.

- Jeff Samsonow

We love having conversations with you in the comments of our various posts even more.

But we do have a little comment moderating going on. So, if you’re new to the place, let us know if you’ve dropped in a comment and it isn’t showing up.

First-time comments are always held for moderation (this includes posting with a different e-mail address).

Comments with multiple links (Derjis knows what I’m talking about) are also held. We also have filters on a bunch of dirty words (like porn, Gregg) so even if we write a story about something sexy and you want to say something sexy it might be held. Just drop us an e-mail or tweet to ask (politely) where the hell your comment is and why we’re censoring you.

If you do comment and find it’s not appearing, it’s probably for one of those reasons mentioned.

We get a lot of spam. While we do try to look through all of the “pending” comments for real ones, we’re sure to miss one eventually. So let us know if your thoughts aren’t showing up.

Then you can comment about how awful we are at moderating comments.

Nope. We’ve just added a handy “click here for e-mails when there’s a new comment,” kind of thing to our posts. Now you can comment, click to be notified of any other comments, and really be part of a conversation.

Plus, it’s really nice to be notified by e-mail of comments on something you’ve commented on because you can be lazy and not have to check back.

But I know you check back here. Like 10 times a day. Right?

RIGHT?!

Ahem. Thanks for being part of the Edmonton conversation.

I believe this image shows what I'm talking about.

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Hey, while I’ve got you here, let me be the first to officially invite you to the 1st birthday of the edmontonian and The Unknown Studio. It’s going to be Monday, August 23.

So don’t go balls-out crazy the last weekend of the Fringe. You’ll nee energy to party with us. And eat cake.

Don’t forget to help us pay for the greatest birthday gift of all. And if you come to the party you’ll get to see the gift as it happens.