#MackAttack Headlines
Happy Twitter Birthday to Edmonton’s first tweeter, Mack Male! Five years I go I wasn’t even on Facebook.
Now on with the news!
We were talking yesterday about a push to lock up your car.
All that rain slowed down road construction. Thanks a lot, rain.
My guess is that plan B to find $100-million for the downtown arena involves a whole lot of busking by Mayor Mandel. Meanwhile…at our current arena…new seats may or may not happen…
David Staples makes a good point in his latest column in favour of government money for a downtown arena. The Alberta government shouldn’t put so much money into horse racing. (I’m pretty sure that was his point, anyway.)
Ethan Allen is moving downtown. Wait. After a downtown arena is built, right?
No more downtown arena after the jump. I promise. (more…)
#MackAttack
Edmonton’s dean of the Twittersphere, Mack D. Male, celebrates 5 years of tweeting today.
Five years ago most of us probably didn’t even know about Twitter. Heck, some of us might not have known about Facebook yet. But Mack was one of the first people – in the world – to be on Twitter.
From the use of #yeg as an Edmonton identifier to talking up all of our technology, a lot of the Twitter conversation has been shaped by Mack. That he helps raise money through events like Twestival and organized What The Truck?! are just two more feathers for his digital cap.
So, today, we tip our Internet hats to Mr. Male, and will include the hashtag #MackAttack in all of our tweets in the hope of making him a nation-wide trending topic. It’s the least we can do. (It really is, we didn’t even get him a cake.)
While we’re talking about Mack’s accomplishments, you might be interested to know:
Mack was a world-class bodybuilder until he and Chuck Norris teamed up to invent social media.
Mack carries each fail whale to safety. With his mind.
Mack invented sleeping.
In some parts of Eastern Europe, the Internet is known simply as “Mack.”
Food Friday
I am hereby declaring this Friday – June 24, 2011 – Food Friday in Edmonton, Alberta.
Now I should tell you why. 
(more…)
NextBus me!
One week ago Mack Male wrote about St. Albert Transit launching its system-wide GPS system. I gave it a whirl Tuesday.
It’s great.
As you’ll be able to barely see from my crappy cellphone photos, the NextBus system allows you to track St. Albert buses on their routes. You get up-to-the-minute results, allowing you to know if the bus will be exactly where it’s supposed to be at any given time.
I tried it out after an interview at the new Enjoy Centre (where Hole’s Greenhouses now reside). First up, the A21. (more…)
Vote it up
Just days before the federal election, we’ve got a few other places you can make your voice heard.
SEE Magazine’s Best of Edmonton is done tomorrow at midnight, so you don’t have much time left to choose the best of everything about Edmonton.
They’ve even got a blog category this year, which means they’ve covered just about everything. (We’re honoured to be nominated along with such fine gentlemen bloggers as Dave, David, Ken and Mack.)
We want you to vote with your heart, but if you’re looking for write-in candidates we have a few to recommend:
Vote for Wunderbar for best beer and best bar (they have so many beers, and so much local brew!)
Vote for Luzzara for best coffeehouse
Vote “Chad and Colin from CJSR’s Makin’ Whoopee” as best radio personality (because they are awesomesauce)
Also vote:
CJSR as best station because they play more Edmonton music than anyone (CKUA is also good times)
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Vue Weekly’s Golden Fork Awards are happening right now too. So you can head over there to let the rest of us know the best places to eat.
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A friend of the edmontonian, A.O.K., is trying to win a music video. So, vote for Omar.
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You can also nominate people under the age of 40 you think are pretty cool, or doing pretty cool stuff in Edmonton, at Avenue’s Top 40 Under 40.
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After all of that, also remember to vote in the federal election on Monday, May 2.
Twestival
Better late then never… Thursday, March 24 was Edmonton Twestival 2011, at Red Star Pub. Great job, Edmonton. (Not so great job on me getting around to writing about it.) (more…)
We Like Giant Puddles
Sure, the snow is back and things are a little colder. That doesn’t mean we aren’t headed for the big melt soon.
This is the largest puddle we’ve found, so far.
I think the rest of this dealership's cars fell into the puddle.
Mack also found a great big one downtown.
Oh, and this warmer weather does mean you should stay off ice.
Valentine’s Headlines
Faxes are still the best way to send Valentine's greetings.
We love you, Edmonton. Happy Balemtime’s.
The homicide involving Edmonton’s Somali community, and a police detective’s reaction is still a story. The acting police chief (miss you, Mike Boyd) has written a letter apologizing for the statements about a lack of help with the police investigation. This is going to be one of the rare times I agree with the only criminologist Edmonton seems to have and say that if police aren’t getting help from witnesses to a crime then officers are allowed to say that.
Speaking of homicides…what’s up with all the killing this year?
The Edmonton Energy is back, for a full season this year. Oh, the Energy is our basketball team.
There’s plenty going on today… (more…)
This, That, and Edmonton
Good morning, Edmonton. How’s the return to cold been for you?
Just because it isn’t snowing doesn’t mean your work is done. You’ve got make sure sidewalks at your home or business are ice-free. If you get a ticket, maybe just tell the City you’re dealing with a once-every-two-decade winter and will need a little longer.
The Mayor has launched his neighbourhood revitalization task force. The group has the rest of the year to look at how to keep our older, core neighbourhoods in the best shape possible and make them places people continually live in. The biggest challenge, after you look at the basics like streets and sidewalks, is going to be dealing with a public school board that is closing schools in the same communities.
Alright, enough about snow and streets… (more…)
Pro-Arena Headlines
Good day to you, Edmonton. Bundle up, layer, or just stay inside under some blankets. It is cold out there!
Now…It’s downtown arena time!
This parking lot's days are numbered.
City staff already endorsed the idea of zoning the proposed area on 104 Avenue for the arena entertainment district. Now staff says Edmonton can make $250-million in a ticket tax and raising taxes in a zone (A CRL, or community revitalization zone.) around the downtown complex. Except…even when you add Oilers’ owner Daryl Katz’s $100-million there’s still another $100-million to come up with. (And that all assumes the cost of designing, building, and getting an arena ready to open remains at $450-million.)
So, what I’m saying is…can you loan the City of Edmonton $100-million for a new downtown arena?
There’s also a survey with the new report. It says more than half of the Edmontonians polled want to see a new arena downtown. Though, they only want that if taxes don’t go up (which technically happens with that community revitalization zone) and money isn’t shuffled from other infrastructure projects. (More on what a community revitalization levy is from Mack.)
Again, can you loan the City some money? Maybe if there’s a billionaire in the audience he could slide them a few dollars…
Oh wait.
Everybody’s got one or two stories on the arena today. The Journal’s got four, when you include an editorial, City Hall column, and sports column. They did not, however, print this opposing view they have on their website. Probably no room in the printing press with all the Friday flyers.
Other than the arena… (more…)
Cold (damn cold) Headlines
G-g-g-ood m-morning, Edmonton. BRR!
In the last few days I have come to the conclusion I need to buy more pairs of long johns. I am especially in need of one of those full-body sets.
We’ll be taking a few days off during the holidays. I bet you will be too (if you haven’t already). You know who won’t? Emergency responders, like police officers, fire fighters, and paramedics.
If you’re a last-minute shopper you may want to consider a greener vehicle. You may find yourself with quicker access to the mall.
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Not sure if I linked to it already, but the City’s got a video showing us what the LRT line from Churchill Station to NAIT will look like. And I think it looks just fabulous.
User fees, including bus passes and rec passes, will be going up in the new year.
Mack’s been talking about community revitalization levies. He’s looked at how they work, where they are in Alberta, and he’s now got a look at how it might apply to a new downtown arena.
EPCOR sold off a little more of Capital Power, leaving it with 60% of the common shares.
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Here’s a case where rules should probably be bent or broken. People should be allowed to help their loved one.
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Alberta’s oilsands have made the Wikileaks! Former federal environment minister Jim Prentice was caught off-guard by everyone hating on the dirty oil. He was even considering stepping in if the oil companies and provincial government didn’t toughen up environmental rules (not sure what happened to that). Meanwhile…up in the oilsands….Suncor is pleading guilty to dumping toxic substances into a river full of fish…
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The federal government is putting $30-million into a capital region plan for a river valley trail system.
CBC’s got a story on people worried about a local publishing group. That’s a lot of Better Business Bureau complaints.
You can breastfeed near the art at the Art Gallery of Alberta now.
Snowmonton Headlines
Good morning to you, Edmonton.
Have you already dug out your driveway and sidewalk? It sounds like the main streets are in pretty good shape already. Side streets (the ones most of us live on) will probably take longer to clear after our snowstorm.
As I mentioned yesterday, I’m digging this snow. I was even checking out snowshoe rental options. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for a couple of winters. Any snowshoe spots in the city I should think about hitting?
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Over at his blog, Mack’s been going over the CRL. The Community Revitalization Levy is a tax the city may use on a downtown arena district. Mack’s got a good, straightforward look at just what a CRL is, where it came from, where it’s being used in Alberta (just Edmonton and Calgary), and he will finish up with how it might play into a new arena.
Speaking of that arena…over at SEE, Maurice Tougas seems to be falling in with my idea that neither the Katz Group nor Northlands looks like the best option for a new arena, because nobody appears to have anything but their own interests at heart.
SEE’s also talking about the LRT expansion, including looking at proposed downtown stations. (The boys over at The Charrette have also been looking at LRT. Man, I love that new blog.)
Back to the arena, Mayor Mandel thinks a decision will be made in the spring.
On a somewhat related note, the new EPCOR office tower is soon to open and will increase the vacancies in other downtown buildings. That’s somewhat related because the Katz Group’s arena proposal includes more office space. That’s part of where Daryl Katz wants to put half of his $200-million. It’s just interesting to think about if that much office space will be needed in the downtown this quickly.
Let’s see what else is going on… (more…)
December 3 Headlines
Like the Duchess needs Christmas to have a lovely window.
Welcome to the end of the week, Edmonton.
The fall sitting of the Alberta Legislature is done. We get four new ridings in Alberta.
Alberta Health Services is out with a document that tells everyone how they work with the provincial government. That’s nice. But I bet people would much rather you work on improving healthcare than drafting documents that tell us who you report to. Stuff like the $19-million for mental health programs in schools is a good example of what they could be up to all the time.
Premier Ed Stelmach’s approval rating has climbed (the story actually says “climbs”) to 21 percent. How awful a job do you have to be doing to be climbing to 21 percent?
The Environment Minister is going to tout the oilsands at a climate conference. Wouldn’t it be cool if the ENVIRONMENT minister touted green, efficient, clean energies?
Could the power-line expansion being proposed really just be for pumping power out of Alberta? That’s what some opponents of the new lines think.
Moving away from the Legislature…let’s see what’s up in Edmonton. (more…)
Fiery Tuesday Headlines
I looked out my window and there was a fire. (Click for more photos.)
Good morning, Edmonton. I trust we are all bundled up as we dart quickly from place to place. The less time spent outside on a day like today, the better. (Today’s Long John Index is set at 4. But we really close to 5.)
This morning was a morning of fires in Edmonton. You’ll see a lot of that on the news at 6pm tonight.
The big stories, however, are in healthcare and the Expo.
We saw Dr. Raj Sherman ejected from the Tory caucus yesterday. Even though the Premier said he was cool with Dr. Sherman lashing out at healthcare mismanagement. I guess other Tory MLAs were not so forgiving. (The Journal’s Graham Thomson says Dr. Sherman kind of brought this on himself.)
You have to wonder how badly all the opposition parties want to get Dr. Sherman to cross the floor to their party. If I was the Alberta Party I would be putting all efforts into this. That would be some way to instantly become a legitimate election choice.
So, a doctor calls out government and politicians for screwing up healthcare and he’s suspended by his party.
One of the top people in all the province when it comes to healthcare can’t be bothered to talk about how emergency room service will improve (or even offer a polite “no comment”) because he’s eating a cookie and the government decides this is the guy to keep around. (Granted, the politics of Sherman’s turfing are different than firing the head of Alberta Health Services.) hile most people would probably ask Stephen Duckett to take his cookies back to Australia, it sounds like Alberta Health Services’ bigwigs like his cookie-eating style.
Though, since they meet next week, if the criticism hasn’t subsided (or we have some auto-tunes of “I want to eat my coooookieee.”) I can see them asking him to leave. The Journal’s Paula Simons also thinks Duckett’s behavious is acceptable and doesn’t warrant turfing him. Over at The Gateway, John Kmech has a different recipe for the cookie affair.
Now, that’s not the only problem for the governing Alberta Progressive Conservatives (though, I checked, and a bitch is not one). Senator-in-Waiting Link Byfield is stepping down. Six years ago people in the province voted for a group of people to be “Senators.” We don’t elect the Canadian Senate, so they wait, hoping to be chosen when the Prime Minister of the day stocks up the Senate. Stephen Harper actually took one of Alberta’s Senators-in-Waiting to fill a recent vacancy.
But…the election for Senators-in-Waiting was supposed to happen last month, when we had our municipal elections. The Stelmach Tories said it would have been too expensive to run the vote and just appointed the current batch of S-i-Ws. (Which, of course, goes against the entire idea of electing Senators.) So, Link Byfield resigned. The other two S-i-Ws will stay on, in case something opens up in the Senate and we have a chance for a (somewhat) elected person to head to Ottawa.
Now, Byfield is also running as a Wildrose candidate in the next provincial election, so there’s a touch of politics to all of this. There’s going to be a lot more than touching when the next provincial election rolls around. Federal Tories (and Tory supporters) are going to have to choose between their provincial counterparts (the Stelmach Cokie Brigade) and the upstart Wildose Alliance. I’m sure the left-of-centre parties will enjoy not being the only ones seeing vote-splitting.
On to Edmonton news! (more…)
November 15 Headlines
Can someone check to see that it’s really November. This weather feels way to nice to be mid-November.
I’ll take it, don’t get me wrong. I just eye it suspiciously, like November is up to something.
Hey! Where’s my wallet?
I stopped by Churchill Square this weekend, to snap a few photos of Edmonton’s official Christmas tree. It’s still too early if you ask me. But, I guess it’s just six weeks until Santa comes down our chimneys.
from the Edmonton Journal:
In Alberta, dissenters are just asking for a smack-down (Isn’t that sad?)
Edmonton homeless numbers drop (This is one of those figures that will always be too high. Mack D. Male’s got a graph to show you what this looks like.)
Death of a desperate man (A suicidal man killed himself at the Royal Alex. Amidst all our talk of improving emergency rooms we should remember that our mental health sector could use better services.)
Our health-care system is failing us miserably
Water trucked in to fight large industrial blaze in west Edmonton (I thought I caught another report that mentioned the water needed to be trucked in due to a lack of hydrants. Could that be another downside to a sprawling city?)
104th Ave. takes the high road (“West 4th Avenue “won’t be like Oliver Square.)
The night they raided the Pisces club (Some Edmonton history in a new play.)
Downtown Edmonton arena survey has over 18,000 responses so far (As stats-man Mack points out, this isn’t really a survey, it’s more a questionnaire.)
Lac La Biche condo a ‘nightmare without end’ (Oh, that boom. Didn’t anything get built right?)
More lanes set to open on Edmonton’s Quesnell Bridge (Though, the overall construction is behind schedule. Still on budget though.)
from Metro Edmonton:
Don’t get distracted by bread and circuses (The circus is in town?! No, this is just about remembering to ask good questions about how City Hall is run.)
from The Canadian Press:
Hundreds rally to support play after U.S. church threatens protest
from CBC Edmonton:
Alta. oilsands pond sludge oozes into bush (Oopsie daisy. We’ll get that fixed up next generation, guys. This is not going to be a good way to start a U.S. tour for some oilsands executives.)
Alberta Party holds first policy convention (Do we now have five legitmate parties in Alberta?)
And I really like this headline: Officials suspend wayward bull. It’s like the bull is a person who went berserk at the rodeo. Umm, it’s a bull. I think those “officials” are giving the animal too much credit.
Election post-mortem
Jeff: Whatta we got?
Medical Examiner: Looks like an election campaign. Found this morning by a neighbour. Probably beaten to death about midnight.
Jeff: I guess this *puts on sunglasses* was its exit poll.
Good day, Edmonton! How’s the day after election 2010 treating you? If you’re lucky, as I am, you’re enjoying leftover Eva Sweet Waffles. I think the secret ingredient is magic.
Well, more people voted this time out, than in 2007, so that’s a nice touch. Mandel is back as mayor. All sitting councillors won their seats back. Two new faces join council in open wards 3 and 11.
Rather than going through each ward, and each school board ward, I’ll mention, what I think, the three big stories I see out of yesterday’s vote. (more…)
August 18 Headlines
Bah!
I bet some of these fine people would be more than happy if you wrote about their play.
You ever have one of those days where you’re all ready to do something and can’t help but be distracted? That’s where I am this morning.
I wanted to write about something news-related, and I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually, but my mind keeps coming back to the social media Fringe fiasco. (Which, I guess, is sort of news-related.
If you haven’t heard (you’re clearly not on Twitter or trawling Edmonton Internet for Fringe info), a local food blogger – and lovely person – also writes about theatre. She especially enjoys enjoyed Teatro La Quindicina.
Well, it sounds like at least one member, high-ranking at that, of the theatre group could care less about her enjoyment of their plays, her money, and her online reviews of their work.
Some may say this is what a reviewer has coming; vitriol from the reviewed.
I don’t quite agree.
Sharon Yeo is blogging out of passion and interest, she’s not being paid by a newsroom to review anything. She can take her money wherever she pleases. She can write about what she pleases.
People can certainly take issue with what she said, pointing out why she may be incorrect about a certain actor, the set, or something in the play, but to simply attack her (and then Mack, checking on authenticity of the comment) is no better than being a comment troll.
I’ve taken my share of angry newsroom phone calls, I’ve even had people upset with something I’ve written or said (here, and previously). To a small degree I’ll admit it can come with the territory of “media.” But it better be justified criticism, or you end up looking like a crank.
This, however, just sounds like a local business (regardless of arts grants, theatres need people in the seats) that doesn’t understand there’s not one or two “proper” places for reviews anymore.
The conversation that Sharon would have with people at the coffee shop or restaurant can now be taken to the Internet via blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and more.
Of course, what’s not understood by Jeff Haslam, the angry actor, is that he needs this conversation to put people in his theatre. Outside of the Fringe you’re pretty much stuck with theatre reviews and previews in the Journal, SEE and Vue. Newsrooms are stretched thin. They’re not talking about you on a regular basis. But people online can. They are.
Why not embrace the growing online conversation, like the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra or Art Gallery of Alberta does, by inviting some bloggers to talk about their events? Or, invitation aside, at least not attacking someone who would talk about what they’ve been up to, what they’ve seen.
That’s why I say this only is sort of newsy. This is more about the conversation shift that’s continually occurring.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Public debate should not be a mudslinging free-for-all (Where’s the fun in that?)
Airport lobby group keeps donors under wraps
Gov’t backs off on price of warranty (Remember earlier this week when it seemed like the government was kowtowing to some in the housing industry, well, now it’s just a little more obvious.)
Liberal report critical of oilsands development
Eco groups back First Nations call to protect boreal caribou
BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 available for Playstation3 in January
from the Edmonton Sun:
Motorcycle noise bylaw working, claim police
Bedbugs horror in Edmonton (I’m sorry, but the landlord can’t shirk responsibility on tenants bringing in used furniture. That’s a risk, and cost, of being in the business or providing homes.)
Massive train derailment near Fort Saskatchewan
Monster on way out (Anybody ever eat at The Motoraunt?)
from The Canadian Press:
‘Rethink Alberta’ group brings anti-oilsands billboards, ads to UK
President’s Choice Chocolate Chunk Cookies recalled, may contain metal pieces
from CBC Edmonton:
Viral meningitis cases rise in Edmonton
from CTV Edmonton:
New bill to make clear true cost of credit cards
Vigil aimed at raising awareness of abuse faced by people with disabilities
And I think everyone had the crashed CF-18 pilot who vows to fly again.
Edmonton’s Friday Headlines
Earlier this week I mentioned I’d try to watch for news stories that got followed up by another outlet. Yeah, I didn’t have try very hard.
It’s a practice that seems out of step with the speed, inclusiveness, and information of the Internet.
Here’s what I’m talking about.
The Edmonton Journal had a story Thursday, from a University of Alberta study, about the federal government’s tax credit for youth sports not helping as many low-income families. It’s an interesting story, which I linked you to yesterday.
I would venture to say that when a story is interesting, or important, it can make the rounds on blogs, websites, Twitter, etc… That’s the speed, inclusiveness, and information of the Internet.
A good story zips around quickly through networks of people, or you come upon it when another website *ahem* points you to it. We can all read the story without having to pick up a specific newspaper or tuning into a broadcast. That’s the inclusiveness.
The thing I find interesting is that this is a practice newsrooms can’t get into. Because they’re still tied into their paper or broadcast they feel they have to repeat the story for their audience.
Take today’s Edmonton Sun story on the same U of A sports tax credit study. Or the 630CHED/iNews800 story.
Not really much new information in either of those. But instead of telling their audiences to go read the Journal’s story, or saying “Hey, the Journal had this story, but you should go read the U of A study at the university’s website…” and then dedicating limited Sun/CHED/iNews staff resources to original stories, we get the same story in multiple places.
Now, I’m not saying newsrooms should ignore interesting and important stories. I’m the first to want people to read similar stories from multiple sources. You just better be adding something to the story, even if it’s a biased spin. You could also do new angles, follow-up on the story.
That’s what the Journal did with SEE Magazine’s second story on Progressive Conservative MLA Carl Benito. He promised to donate his MLA salary to scholarships. SEE did a story back in February and followed up Thursday.
In today’s Journal Benito tries to explain he meant only one year’s worth of his salary, doled out to students at his own pace.
That’s the follow-up story you want to see.
This leads me to my second point on attribution. I think the Internet, through blogs, podcasts, Facebook and Twitter, etc… breaks down the proprietary hold on stories newsrooms appear to have. There’s no mention of SEE Magazine’s two stories on Benito, yet anyone savvy enough to read more than one source of news (I wonder where you can find links on a daily basis…) will know where the Journal got the idea for the story.
I think the contrast of traditional news and Internet can be shown in links. Bloggers tend to – but it’s certainly not a blanket statement – note where they found something or where the idea came from for their story or opinion piece. You’ll usually at least see a link, indicating the spin-off.
It’s just too bad newsrooms, on a regular basis, ignorantly believe their audience consumes news only from them. That’s talking down to your audience. It also, as shown in the first example, wastes time on stories we’ve all already seen.
(My argument doesn’t include events or news conferences everyone can attend at about the same time. That’s also the best chance we have to see how the different newsrooms approach stories.)
Today’s headlines after the jump. (more…)
Edmonton’s July 26 Headlines
Zoom zoom.
Welcome back to the land of the working.
I trust you had a heck of a weekend, Edmonton. There was plenty to choose from.
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We interrupt this selection of Edmonton news for a rant of sorts.
Stepping in for Graham Hicks at the Edmonton Sun, Marty Forbes asks:
Forbes doesn’t know who the city’s next leaders are. Really? I know he’s just trying to solicit engagement from the newspaper’s audience, but the way this is framed makes it seem like he actually doesn’t know any of the city’s young, or up-and-coming, politicians, fundraisers, connectors, and business leaders.
How about Councillor Don Iveson? I suspect a few younger folks might land in City Hall or on the Edmonton Public School Board, watch those races. Mack Male was the face of a City Centre Airport pro-closure movement, galvanized by Internet communication. Cary Williams and many of the Next Gen committee-ers brought us Pecha Kucha and try to connect with, and retain, people under 40.
Forbes mentions Graham Hicks and Gord Whitehead, so how about Chris Scheetz at CISN, or media couple Ryan Jespersen and Kari Skelton? MLA Rachel Notley. Biz guy Chris LaBossiere. Those behind TedxEdmonton, Empire Avenue, and Seek Your Own Proof.
Geez, Edmonton Sun, you sound like you haven’t heard of any of these people or people behind these groups.
Update: Mack quickly fired off a list of 75 (75!) of Edmonton’s future leaders. He, rightly, points out that a lot of them just might not be found hanging around the old boys clubs.
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And now back to our regularly scheduled programming…
from the Edmonton Journal:
Sale of crack pipes on Alberta Avenue definitely legal. Too bad! (The efforts to turn around 118 Avenue continue. Then I’m reminded a convenience store by my house sells axes too…)
Discover the other side of the tracks (That’s my side of Whyte!)
Premier issues red-ink warning for Alberta next year
Release Alberta child welfare report: critics
Art keeps prisoners on a healing path
Thousands greet giant Jade Buddha
From the Calgary Herald: Alberta eHealth tab will top $1.4B
from the Edmonton Sun:
Ex-NHL owner disputes arena economics (Come on, Sun, it’s Monday. Can’t you let Daryl Katz start the week on a good note, run this story Tuesday?)
Tax watchdog sounds off on rink (And from the Journal, Katz taking cues from old Pocklington script.)
Councillors eye arena loose ends (We probably won’t have any firm details from city administration until fall, probably after the election.)
Chief begins winning over critics
Another health PR blitz, any minute now
Toddler survives three storey fall (This is one everyone’s got.)
from CBC Edmonton:
Hold power plant to its emissions vow: groups (After getting approval with one set of environmental plans, the plant’s looking to save money.)
Free life-jacket use offered at 2 Alberta parks
Canada’s Findlay wins London triathlon (That’s Edmonton’s Findlay.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Dixon wins Edmonton Indy after Castroneves was penalized (Is it weird to anyone else that you can’t pass an opponent in a race? It’s a race.)
Octane Racing confident it will steer Indy into the green (Well, they’ve got some of your municipal tax money to help with that.)
from Global Edmonton:
‘Vigil of hope’ for St. Albert couple missing for three weeks
Already the end of June
It seems like June has just flown right by this year. And since we are in the midst of the festival season it’s just going to keep zipping along.
Why, just look at this weekend. We’ve got the Edmonton International Jazz Festival (including the free Jazz in the Park event Saturday), The Works Art Design Festival,
the Serca Festival of Irish Theatre, Bikeology wraps up Bike Month with a dance party, Improvaganza is finishing, and feats – festival of dance is sure to get you moving. That’s a lot of festivals.
This afternoon, you’ve also got the Edmonton Oilers drafting their first-ever first overall NHL pick. The team is throwing together a party. Will it be Taylor or Tyler? (That sounds like the stunning conclusion on some teen drama.)
This weekend is Edmonton’s first Startup Weekend. I’d explain what that is but Mack will probably do a better job.
I’ll be closing out the month-long Edmonton Community Challenge by building a canned good sculpture at Churchill Square. So I’ll probably take in some of The Works while I’m there.
Now it’s time to check in on all that is happening in Edmonton with ShareEdmonton and YegLive.ca
The Edmonton Energy are taking on the Los Angeles Lightning, in IBL action, at NAIT’s downtown campus.
If you’re up for a little bit of a road trip, head out to Stony Plain (I said it would be a little road trip.) to catch The Swiftys at the Early Stage Saloon.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park will be overrun by little creatures since this Sunday is Pets in the Park 2010.
And on Monday you can celebrate Canada’s Olympic hockey glory at Commonwealth Stadium.
What else is going on this weekend?
June 22 Headlines
Some days I wonder what I’ll talk about before I just link to all the headlines of Edmonton.
Some days I actually can’t think of anything and just throw you right in.
Today, today is a day where I’ve got something good for you.
I recommend you head on over to Mack’s blog for a taste of journalism. Mack’s gone beyond the initial coverage of the “new” group fighting to keep the City Centre Airport open. We heard this was some kind of collection of business people with few financial ties to the airport or interests in keeping it open, they just thought it would be a good way to make Edmonton a better city. Go read the story and see how independent of the City Centre they appear.
Then come back for more stuff. Like the fact Edmonton is now home to “The World’s Greatest Salesperson.”
from the Edmonton Journal:
New Edmonton LRT route will link city’s corners (Don’t screw this up, current and future city councils and city administration.)
Affordable housing project mired in fight for funds
Recession turns tables on restaurants
National Aboriginal Day opportunity to share culture
Final arguments begin in landmark Metis hunting trial
And another one from the Journal’s look into, and around, the Syncrude duck deaths…this time we’re talking about reclaiming the oilsands. A verdict in the trial is expected Friday.
Former Alberta Tory minister expected to join Wildrose (They may be landing Fort McMurray area MLA Guy Boutilier. They may also be considering a new constitution for Alberta.)
from the Edmonton Sun:
Edmonton police chief out another month
At last…we have a real soccer team
And, in southern Alberta…flood fears swell…
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Auditor expresses concerns about parks (There could be a tree planting monopoly.)
Speaking of Monopoly…Edmonton is on the Canadian version.
Province’s GreenTRIP to pump $800M into Edmonton-area
DUI charges stand in Khabibulin case
from CBC Edmonton:
Homicide police probe Edmonton blast (Four people are dead, it flattened part of a neighbourhood.)
Edmonton festival fiscally sound (I didn’t think there were questions about the Edmonton jazz fest, but I guess since Calgary cancelled theirs without much notice it was worth checking.)
Scientist apologizes to oilsands researchers
from CTV Edmonton:
Program targets violence in Edmonton bars
Officer dies after cruiser collides with semi (There are dangers beyond bullets for police officers.)
Also, I love how the oilsands are gaining from from the BP oil spill. There may even be a labour drought looming. But I’m concerned there would be talk of bringing in lots of foreign workers since we just heard there are more here now then during the last boom. Which says to me that we’re not exactly using them to fill gaps in the job market.
PKN7 and J4H
Pecha Kucha 7 was at the, always lovely, Citadel Theatre.
Were you at Pecha Kucha 7 last night?
If not, I won’t fill you in on all 10 of the presentations, but I do want to talk about this cool little event.
While the Pecha Kucha club may not bee that exclusive (300 or so cities hold these visual “chit chats”), it does show Edmonton as a city willing to try new things. That the Next Gen committee runs Pecha Kucha shows that Edmonton is also doing what it can to cultivate our young and creative class.
That cultivation was actually part of Mack Male’s presentation. (He’ll be talking about that at his blog. Which has his own take on the night right now.)
Props to both Mack and the organizers. Pecha Kucha 6 wasn’t well received (too much self-promotion not enough ideas) and Mack ended up, via Twitter and a blog post, being the face of the PK6 disappointment. It was great that the organizers embraced all of that negativity to turn out a fantastic seventh installment, and great that they had Mack as a presenter. It’s great to see he was willing not only to point out flaws but put his money where his mouth is and present, risking the same thing all speakers do.
It’s not every group that can take criticism and come back firing on all cylinders. And it’s not every person (as we’ve probably learned from complainy comments on the Internet, whiny people at public meetings, etc…) that’s willing to try to be part of the solution. Kudos to both Next Gen (and anyone non-Next Gen involved in organizing) and Mack.
Mack talking about what needs to be done to make Edmonton one of the world’s top mid-size cities (density, telling our story, creative economy) and Councillor Don Iveson using Lego to show what’s possible/needed with urban design were two of the many examples last night of why Edmonton’s future excites me.
We also heard about why businesses need to create wealth through value, instead of just trying to get their money and get out…why accessibility of the web and computers makes everyone part of the conversation and that’s when things get really good…celebrating our city’s aboriginal heritage through arts, building and place names, embracing history…why we need to photograph our city, now, to capture what we see, what we want people to remember…and more that I’m getting excited just thinking about.
Basically, Pecha Kucha 7 helped me remember that there are lots of smart, innovative, energetic, creative, passionate, engaging people in Edmonton. And that they’re choosing to make their mark here in Edmonton means we need to nurture them, nurture the ideas and allow the City of Champions to be just that. Even without winning hockey teams.
Pecha Kucha 8 will be September 23. I can’t wait to see what other amazing things Edmontonians are up to, or what ideas they have.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Most Edmonton councillors don’t want Stony Plain Road widened for LRT
City first in Canada to commit to ‘age-friendly- environment (Basically, we like old people. We think they’re cool.)
Fort Saskatchewan residents to vote on City Hall proposal
Alberta, Quebec buck expert opinion in defending ‘Group of 13′ (Experts? We don’t need no stinkin’ experts.)
Stelmach welcomes reviews of all laws on energy development
Alberta climate change fund approves $71M in projects (I could make a joke about how Alberta’s climate changing projects are in the oilsands, but I won’t.)
Alberta’s unemployment rate keeps dropping (That’s good news.)
Alberta Innovates grants $43M for health research
Shaw returns PBS Detroit to basic digital cable package (I want my, I want my, I want my PBS.)
Journal columnist wins Canadian meteorological society citation (Graham Thomson puts another award on the shelf.)
from the Edmonton Sun:
City looking for ‘independent operator’ to take over Indy (I think Derjis wants to run it. I get that impression from his comments about the Indy.)
Officers overwhelmed with hoarders
Student surmounts blindness to finish degree
Edmonton kids run in memory of Canada’s first aboriginal cop
from Metro Edmonton:
There’s hope for Edmonton’s downtown (Walking around and trying to see what a visitor would see.)
Lexus picking up adoption fees at EHS this weekend (Want a cat? Go to the Humane Society this weekend and get one without paying fees.)
iHuman youth getting creative to raise funds
from The Canadian Press:
Employment agency facing charges (A little more detail.)
from 630CHED/iNews880:
Bieber mania returning to Edmonton
Sheep returning to Fort Saskatchewan
There’s a lot of returning at CHED/iNews today.
from CBC Edmonton:
Edmonton shuts down Twilight Afterhours Club (This city really seems to have stopped taking crap from terrible bars. I like it.)
Alberta pulls armed sheriffs from hearing (But if the threat was so great wouldn’t they have to be there? Man, there is something up with energy regulation boards and hearings in this province…armed guards, spying, videotaping…)
Alberta grizzlies to get protection (The armed guards will be watching over them. Actually, the bears are finally getting a “threatened” designation which could help keep people off their backs and keep them around.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Noisy bikers could face hefty fine (Here’s where you start: The Tim Hortons on Whyte. You could probably sit on Whyte for just one day and make all the money you need to pay for the decibel-reading machines.)
McDonald’s recalls Shrek glasses over cadmium (But cadmium is delicious!)
And it’s official, you have to ask for the white pages to get them delivered. I believe this truly does begin to herald a digital age.
Chit chat is better than small talk
It’s time again for Edmonton to come together and find out why we’re so cool.
That may hit a little too close to home after the weekend snow, or it may be an oversimplification of Pecha Kucha, but let’s just go with it.
Pecha Kucha is Japanese for “chit chat,” and Edmonton sees Pecha Kucha 7 – that’s right, 7 – tonight at the MacLab Theatre at the Citadel.
Each Pecha Kucha has been a chance to talk about cool, neat, different, unknown, big idea stuff that’s happening, or could be happening, right here in Edmonton. It’s a night to explore what we’re up to or what we should think about getting up to, to make this city the most cutting-edge, hip, artsy, tech-savvy, place we can.
Sometimes the Pecha Kuchas have themes and other nights are free-for-alls. Tonight will be a little of everything as there is no theme for the speakers.
And, unlike some events, you won’t have time to be bored by most speakers. A Pecha Kucha gives people just over 6 minutes to talk. They have 20 images to show, and only 20 seconds per image to talk about that photo or illustration’s idea. It’s rapid fire ideas.
And tonight’s side-theme is a little redemption for the Pecha Kucha team’s pride. While some people enjoyed Pecha Kucha 6, other Pecha Kucha regulars felt it was filled with people talking about themselves and not really laden with the big ideas that should be jammed into the short time. So, it’s a night with something to prove. (And Mack, who wrote that post I just linked to, is one of tonight’s presenters. I don’t mean to single him out for the PK6 unhappiness, but he just wrote about it so well.)
You can still get tickets and it all starts at 7:00 pm. See you there!
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Also tonight, Nextfest kicks off its 2010 run, at the Roxy Theatre.
Oh what a night!
This is the #YegSwap debrief and recap. So, if you were there (thanks for coming) let me know if I forget to mention something, please tell us your own thoughts about the night, and let me know if there are blog posts/photos/video out there I haven’t linked to. Also, tell us if you still love your new stuff or if you’ve already got swapper’s remorse.
Also, before I forget, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you to our volunteers (We love you!), our musicians, The ARTery (which we need to talk about more at a future date), and thanks from me to the other organizers.
I want it all! (Photo: Mack D. Male)
I’m going to say, even though it was said a bunch of times (including when Scott and Adam introduced our final act of the night, The Joe), that the 1st annual #YegSwap was a success.
This was an event put on by The League of Extraordinary Media, which (right now) includes this blog, the podcasts The Unknown Studio and User Created Content, and TrueBritl.com, a blog by iNews880′s Twitter star, Brittney Le Blanc. To quickly sum up what The League is all about: our blogs and podcasts have joined forces to take our Edmonton-related musings into the real world. Mayhaps there will be cross-posting of content too. Hey, we’ve got to compete with the “real” media, you know.
the edmontonian‘s co-founder, Sally, and Brittney thought a swap meet would be a good time. That this idea came about after an afternoon of home shopping channel viewing is somehow relevant.
I was, of course, on board right away. Not only could it be fun, it could be a way to join together some of Edmonton’s online “newsrooms.” And pay homage to a local community cable show so enjoyed by myself in my Toronto days.
We were fortunate enough to land some amazing musical talent for the night. I do not know where a lineup like this will be heard for a mere $2. (more…)
