a preview of klein's 'third way?'

Soon to come: Self-Serve Emergency Rooms.

Actually, this is a pic from my weekend in Calgary (A HUGE THANKS TO DAN AND HIS DIGITAL CAMERA!).

the republic of alberta

In the past couple of days, there has been a sizable amount of noise in the blogosphere about the editorial piece that Senator-in-Waiting, Link Byfield, wrote in this past weekend's Calgary Sun. The piece, which spoke in favour of Alberta separation from Canada, quoted former U of A Prof Leon Craig's recently written paper supporting Alberta separatism (which no one wants to publish). Duh, I wonder why.

Now, I'm going to lay it all out. I have absolutely no tolerance for the tiny right-wing fringe that so desperately wants Alberta to leave Canada. I have NEVER heard an argument in favour of Alberta separatism that has reached beyond the usual wing-nut banter and paranoid xenophobia. Until this group of crazy right-wing 60-year old white guys come up with a better argument than "because the Liberals suck" or "because of Trudeau and the NEP," I will no longer waste space on this blog dignifying their bunkness.

These extremists do not represent the views of even a fraction of mainstream Alberta society and their main competitor will continue to be the Alberta Communist Party. These people do not speak for Albertans, just like I don't speak for Albertans.

They speak for themselves, the small disgruntled crazy-right. These are the same crazies that thought Stockwell Day was too much of a socialist to lead the Canadian Alliance, the same crazies that post on the Free Dominion webboards, and the same crazies that thought Canada would suffer the rath of God if C-38 was passed. These guys are loonies.

Wow, that felt good to get that off of my chest. Thanks.

If you are still interested, there are posts on this topic at Go Political, MyBlahg, A View from Calgary, and Calgary Grit.

UPDATE: Sheamus Murphy at The Muck Shoveller has written an awesome post on this topic.

blog corporatization

On Saturday, an article was published in the Financial Post which talked about the corporatization of blogs and the newly emerging blog markets...

I encourage you to read the article.

In the story, there was an interview with Mr. Om Malik, a senior writer with Business 2.0 magazine, which got my attention.

"I'm very patient so I know one day my blog will make money," said Mr. Malik, a senior writer with Business 2.0 magazine whose technology blog can be found at gigaom.com. "The problem is at some point I do need to make money. I have enough traffic and enough money from Google ads to pay the bills but the profits [now] are just enough to buy me a carton of cigarettes."

I find it a little discouraging that more and more corporate blogs are joining the blogosphere. With the exception of a few, the quality of corporate blogs seems to be lacking in a major way.

While I don't think the majority of bloggers are in it for what little money the average blog could potentially generate, it seems to me that the more and more people who become 'in it for the money,' the more diluted the ideas and debate will become. I look at the Canadian newspaper industry for example and the downward turn in quality of the Canwest papers for example.

Am I right or wrong?

Any thoughts on this?

UPDATE: It just dawned on me that this kind of turned into a rant against MSM blogs. Out of those, I still only think that a few are read worthy.

edmonton is better than calgary...

...but the Stampede kicks the bejesus out of Klondike days...

Just got back from Calgary this afternoon... tones of awesome posting to come... i'm currently operating on a 4/72 sleep/hour ratio for this weekend, so you'll just have to wait until tomorrow for daveberta's exclusive Calgary Stampede recap...

Gossip going around Edmonton says that tomorrow's long awaited recap will include:

- Alberta PC Leadership gossip...
- Ministerial "invisible" organ playing and rumoured bottom groping...
- Liquid Breakfasts...
- Belinda Stronach, Joe Volpe, and Paul Wells... oh my...
- Cowgirls with pink hats... :)
- and much much more...

It's gonna to be a fun post... :)

yee haw!

Well, i'm off to the Calgary Stampede in a couple hours.

I should be in Cowtown until Sunday, so you'll have to bear without me until then.

Here's some weekend reading...

Wonderdog has a great post on terrorist groups.

Ahab's Whale has more reaction to the London bombings.

I'm hoping that Mr. Rempel (aka the Ambassador of Conservative Maturity) will have some Calgary Stampede commentary.

Rick from the BC Heartlands the hackishness of the BC Liberals.

And last but not least, Calgary Grit has started rating Stephen Harper's Glad as Hell Tour '05.

INSERT: Today, U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow visited Alberta's tarsands in search of the missing WMD's... (yes, that was my lousy attempt at humour... :P )

why is gwn so angry?

Wow. Well, it looks like I've officially 'made it' in the dark realm of blogdom. As of this morning, I've been added to Angry in the Great White North's quote list.

The quote follows the announcement that that Angry in T.O. had won the official daveberta 'most moonbatish wacko right-winger post of the year' award for the post "London Bombings: Canadian socialists aren't much better than British socialists"

It looks like my quote will be joining those left by right-wing blogging sensations and heartthrobs such as Mike Brock and Stephen Taylor on the sidebar of Mr. Angry's blog... wow.

I'd like to thank Angry in T.O. for this dubious honour...

all puffed up

This is a sammers and wheat puffs inspired post...

holy shit

CBC is reporting that 4 bombs went off in London during their rush hour. Reports say that over 30 are dead and 300 injured. My thoughts are with the people of London, what a terrible day.

More coverage:
CBC
BBC

Foreign Affairs has set up a hotline for Canadians with strong reasons to believe their relatives might have been travelling in London transit this morning. They should have on hand the missing person's full name, date of birth and passport number before calling the toll-free hotline at 1-800-387-3124.

I've been trying all morning to get ahold of some friends of mine in London: Amika, Charlie! If you read this, return my email and phone message!!!!!! I'm worried!!!

UPDATE: I did get ahold of Ms. Amika Schodie in London and she is fine. She's decided not to go to work this evening. I feel a world better right now.

blog of the week - little man in a toque

This week's 'blog of the week' goes to Little Man in a Toque!

As far as I can tell, Mr. Toque is a Brit living in Edmonton. I've become quite addicted to his entertaining and witty posts. They're damn funny! Make sure to check it out!

More notable blogaction includes...

- Scott Tribe over at the Blogs Canada E-Group and Progressive Bloggers has written a great mini-essay on Canada's Maple Leaf flag.

- There's a huge boondogle going on in the Republic of Holtopia!

- Robert at Five of Five has a hilarious Canada Day list.

- Mark at Section 15 and I share the same opinion on Mr. Ezra Levant.

the rath of marina bai

Russian astrologer, Marina Bai, has launched a lawsuit against NASA for "ruin[ing] the natural balance of forces in the universe" after their Deep Impact probe punched a crater into the comet Tempel 1 late Sunday.

According to Associated Press, Bai is seeking damages totalling 8.7 billion rubles ($300 million US) - the approximate equivalent of the mission's cost - for her "moral sufferings," Izvestia said, quoting her lawyer Alexander Molokhov. She earlier told the paper that the experiment would "deform her horoscope."

london baby!

London is set to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games!

For more info on upcoming Olympic Games, here are some websites...

Turino 2006

Beijing 2008

Vancouver 2010

London 2012

Also, Lyle Oberg is somewhat of a superhero... Can anyone think of a Lyle Obergesq superhero name????

And, the University of Alberta is interested in buying the Hudson's Bay Building in downtown Edmonton. Read the story here...

howdtheyvote.ca

How cool is this?

councilors can make a difference...

According to the US magazine, Inside Higher Education, "[w]hen it comes to convincing kids at low-income high schools that they can find a way to pay for college, a single optimistic adviser can make the difference for hundreds of students..." read the rest here...

alberta child labour continued...

Alberta's Human Resources and Employment Minister told reporters yesterday that the Tory Government would not revisit changes to the province's employment rules that make it easy for 12-14 year-olds to work in restaurants.

From an interview with the Edmonton Journal: Minister Mike Cardinal said Albertans as young as 12 should have the opportunity to work if they want to.

"Albertans are very hard workers,"

"You have to give them credit. They work hard, including the young people."

...

"Some parents may be in a position where the children don't have to work, but not everybody is like that."

"There are some areas where some parents are not in a financial situation where they can afford to completely support the children without the youth going to work. I think that option should be there."

Cardinal said he worked his first job at the age of five, earning a nickel once a week for emptying a slop bucket for the store owner who lived next door. Then at the age of 12, he worked for $2 a day skidding trees for a sawmill on horseback. He went to work full time at the sawmill at the age of 15 to help support his 12 brothers and sisters.

"Thank God I had the ability to work (at a young age), because we wouldn't have survived, probably," he said.

...

"Work is healthy, it doesn't hurt. That's what keeps our high standard of living in Alberta and in Canada," he said. "People work, everybody works."

How about improving social programs to help low-income families so their 12-year old son or daughter won't have to go out and find a job? How about allowing 12 year-olds to concentrate on their schooling so that they can increase their chances of one day attending a post-secondary institution? What happend to childhood?

Quotes from the story: Child labour law will work, minister says
Cardinal notes some families need cheques from 12-year-olds; child advocates say education should be bottom line in the Edmonton Journal.

calgary here I come...

I've decided that it would be a good idea to go to the Calgary Stampede this weekend. So, away I go.

money money money

According to the CBC, the Federal Tories raised twice as much as the Federal Liberals in 2004.

The numbers, released by Elections Canada show that the:

Conservatives raised $10.9 million.

Liberals raised $5.2 million.

New Democrats raised $5.19 million.

Bloc Québécois raised $897,000.

Look at the Liberal-ND numbers. Wow. That is quite close.

In the spirit of money, here's an appropriate zinger...

 
For The Love Of Money

By: The O'Jays

Money, money, money, money...MONEY!!! (repeat 2 times)

Some people got to have it
Some People really need it
You wanna,
Do things, do things, do things, bad things with it!
Well, you wanna,
Do things, do things, do things, good thing with it!

(For the love of money)
People will build from their minds
(For the love of money)
People will right their own wrongs
(For the love of money)
People can't even walk the streets
Because they never know in the world they're gonna meet!
Oh that mean...oh mean, mean green!!!

On my Desire!! My money!

(For the love of money)
People will laugh God's name and cheat!
(For the love of money)
People don't care if they turn on me
(For the love of money)
A woman will show her precious findings
For a small piece of paper, it carries a lot of weight!
Oh that mean...mean, mean, mean, mean green!

Oh my desires! Talking 'bout, talking 'bout...
Whoa that...money, whoa!
People do wonderful things!
Some people, give me a nickle, brother can you smell now?
Money can drive some people Out of their minds!

(For the love of money)
Got to have it, I really need it!
(For the love of money)
How many times have I heard you say,
(For the love of money)
Don't have, don't have, don't let money rule you!
(For the love of money)
How many times have I heard you say,
(For the love of money)
Don't let it, don't let it, don't let money fool you!

People dont let money,
Don't let money take you!
Oh my desire! Keep on tellin you
People want their money,
But don't let money take you!
Oh My desire!

fox's tart

John Gibson, you suck.

UPDATE: John Gibson still sucks.

UPDATE: One of the four Dark Horsemen has joined in with some Canada Day bashing of his own.

alberta 100 & student debt

I thought this was pretty cool.

I also thought this would be interesting for anyone with a load of student debt.

back in the edmonton groove

I'm back in E-town and I've become addicted to Johnny Cash.

More later.

PS. Check out Civitatensis for the latest edition of WILD ROSE ROUNDUP!

UPDATE: Because I feel like sharing... I spent my weekend in the bush up in northern Alberta at a cabin that had no phone line or electricity. It was great. Nature rocks. So does Alberta. It was so nice up there...

blogs of the week alumni

The morning of June 11, 2005 began what was then was and now is known today as the 'blog of the week.'

The idea of specially singling out a blog was something that I thought would be a neat feature on daveberta. In choosing the blog (sometimes bi-weekly, sometimes by-monthly), I use four main criteria.

In order to qualify for this prestigious position in blogdom, the blog must be:

1. Smart
2. Entertaining
3. Informative
4. A blog I enjoy.

BLOG OF THE WEEK ALUMNI

2005 Alumni

June 12 - 18 - Buckets of Grewal
June 19 - 25 – Ahab’s Whale
June 26 -July 2 - Grandinite
July 3 - 9 - Little Man in a Toque
July 17 - 23 - Canadian Expatriates: The Expat Blog
July 24 - 30 - GoPolitical
July 31 - August 6 - Folk Fest Blog
August 14 - 20 - Section 15
September 4 - 10 - The WingnutererSeptember 18 - 24 - Doucheblog
October 16 - 22 - John Gushue...Dot Dot Dot
November 6 - 12 - Ponies and Pachyderms
December 11 - 17 - taracool

2006 Alumni

March 19 - 25 - Phendrana Drifts
March 26 - April 1 - Practical Pragmatism
April 9 - 15 - Gauntlet.ca
April 16 - 22 - Summer's Daydream
May 14 - 20 - Walking the Four More Blocks
May 21 - 27 - Capitalist Pig vs. Socialist Swine
July 23 - 27 - The Daily Canuck
September 3 - 9 - What is the Point of this Story?
September 17 - 23 - Swing State Project
December 3-9 - Ken Chapman