I thought I'd get at least a short respite from marvelling at the ineptitude of Edmonton city council. But alas, no. I log into the Edmonton Sun website only to find that our council clowns are once again juggling turds. Instead of, ahem, running a city, they are now debating an idea (rejected in Toronto) to use public funds to pay for "Support our Troops" decals so that city staff can proudly display these on city vehicles.
This is a classic council gong show. They love to debate meaningless, nonsensical gestures such as these while throwing scads of cash around as if it were confetti, or bread for pigeons. Nothing flicks their Bic more than handwringing over the minutiae of a Cat Bylaw, or agonizing over what slogan best sums up Edmonton. Next they'll debate what should be Edmonton's official shrub or whether the Edmonton Oilers' locker room attendant should be honoured with a taxpayer-built statue.
Out here in reality, average Edmontonians are a little more worried about potholes threatening to swallow their cars whole than some decal on a city van!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Edmonton City Council: the Bunglers' Club
I really can’t figure out Edmonton’s city council. They just seem hell-bent on fucking up every decision, big or small.
I read in the Edmonton Journal yesterday that city council has allowed a ten-year contract to a bike rack provider to lapse. So now numerous bike racks are being removed from downtown and Whyte Ave. with no word on when they’ll be replaced. And this happens during the council’s declared Bike Month – a sign for which I pass every single day. Oh, the irony!
It’s almost impossible to count the number of city council failings. They are legion. Let me recall some of the past fifteen years’ highlights:
1. Winston Churchill Square. Council spent millions turning a pleasant, leafy square into a cement hellhole that in summer, reflects the glare of the sun and induces heatstroke. On the very day it opened, the cement was already cracked in many places.
2. South Edmonton Common. Whew! Where to begin? Council approved one of Edmonton’s largest retail developments mere blocks away from an existing retail development – Heritage Mall. In the process, killed the mall, and ensured that traffic at 23rd Ave and Calgary trail got ten times worse. Council now says it will cost $250 million or so building an interchange there. Why wasn’t this interchange built ten years ago? Come to think of it, why didn’t council think of this BEFORE approving South Edmonton Common?
3. Approving licenses to seemingly any new proposed bar on Whyte that wants one. What’s giving the city its biggest PR problem now? Violence and drunken shit-storms on Whyte. Congrats again council. You could’ve learnt a lesson from Calgary’s Electric Ave on this one. But I guess learning lessons isn’t what you get paid the big bucks for!
4. Seven or so new schools for Edmonton were just announced by the provincial government. Great. That’s roughly equal to the number of schools that city council has stood by and watch get closed down in the last decade – some of which were in the very same neighbourhoods that Mayor Mandel now wants to revitalize. Boy. Before approving developments in massive suburban sprawl areas – the very areas now needing schools – why didn’t we try finding a way to get families to live next to the schools that were already built? Could it be councillors are lazy? Stupid? Or in the pocket of big buck$$ developers! Or all three?
5. No new LRT station in ten years. Ten years during which the cost of financing infrastructure projects were half what they are now. There’s no excuse for this kind of backwards thinking. A wake-up call might have come in 1996-97, thereabouts, when deals were inked for multi-billion dollar projects up in the tar-sands, for which Edmonton is the major hub. But council, in its wisdom, decided to do nothing to prepare for the massive economic growth. On this one, they clearly followed the lead of the provincial Tory government.
Well, that’s enough for now! In other news, there has been some beautiful weather lately and soccer yesterday was great. I didn’t totally embarrass myself. Hoorah!
I read in the Edmonton Journal yesterday that city council has allowed a ten-year contract to a bike rack provider to lapse. So now numerous bike racks are being removed from downtown and Whyte Ave. with no word on when they’ll be replaced. And this happens during the council’s declared Bike Month – a sign for which I pass every single day. Oh, the irony!
It’s almost impossible to count the number of city council failings. They are legion. Let me recall some of the past fifteen years’ highlights:
1. Winston Churchill Square. Council spent millions turning a pleasant, leafy square into a cement hellhole that in summer, reflects the glare of the sun and induces heatstroke. On the very day it opened, the cement was already cracked in many places.
2. South Edmonton Common. Whew! Where to begin? Council approved one of Edmonton’s largest retail developments mere blocks away from an existing retail development – Heritage Mall. In the process, killed the mall, and ensured that traffic at 23rd Ave and Calgary trail got ten times worse. Council now says it will cost $250 million or so building an interchange there. Why wasn’t this interchange built ten years ago? Come to think of it, why didn’t council think of this BEFORE approving South Edmonton Common?
3. Approving licenses to seemingly any new proposed bar on Whyte that wants one. What’s giving the city its biggest PR problem now? Violence and drunken shit-storms on Whyte. Congrats again council. You could’ve learnt a lesson from Calgary’s Electric Ave on this one. But I guess learning lessons isn’t what you get paid the big bucks for!
4. Seven or so new schools for Edmonton were just announced by the provincial government. Great. That’s roughly equal to the number of schools that city council has stood by and watch get closed down in the last decade – some of which were in the very same neighbourhoods that Mayor Mandel now wants to revitalize. Boy. Before approving developments in massive suburban sprawl areas – the very areas now needing schools – why didn’t we try finding a way to get families to live next to the schools that were already built? Could it be councillors are lazy? Stupid? Or in the pocket of big buck$$ developers! Or all three?
5. No new LRT station in ten years. Ten years during which the cost of financing infrastructure projects were half what they are now. There’s no excuse for this kind of backwards thinking. A wake-up call might have come in 1996-97, thereabouts, when deals were inked for multi-billion dollar projects up in the tar-sands, for which Edmonton is the major hub. But council, in its wisdom, decided to do nothing to prepare for the massive economic growth. On this one, they clearly followed the lead of the provincial Tory government.
Well, that’s enough for now! In other news, there has been some beautiful weather lately and soccer yesterday was great. I didn’t totally embarrass myself. Hoorah!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Crackberry
Experts say that an addiction requires treatment when it endangers your life and those around you. So what about the BMW-driving dimwit that I just saw at the intersection of 109th Street and Jasper Avenue? He was actually attempting to make a turn at a high-collision location at the same time as typing something into his Blackberry.
I think he needs help.
I think he needs help.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Soccer
Last Wednesday’s post about Brad Pitt was a total fabrication. It won’t happen again. This blog is committed to the whole truth and nothing but!
I was fending off some weird illness during the weekend that only finally lifted when I played soccer on Sunday evening. I’ve noticed that with these pick-up soccer games, which I’ve been enjoying for several years now, that more fun is had the more anarchic the vibe is. Whenever any particular player tries too hard to organize strategy, boy can it ever get tiresome.
To a small extent, that’s what happened Sunday, but thankfully, it was the opposing team that did this, not mine. What happened was, only eight regulars showed up, so when one of them dropped out, we were really shorthanded. So we asked about five or six players who had been using the field before us if they wanted to join in. They said yes, but because they play as a proper team together, they wanted to stay as a cohesive whole. OK, we said. They “borrowed” two of our players to even up the sides and the game was on.
I really felt bad for a guy called Byron on their team. His team-mates kept yelling for Byron to do this, Byron do that. The team was trying too hard to be organized. Although we lost track of the score, I’m pretty sure we got more goals than them. And I put it down to that team putting too much pressure on themselves and in particular, on poor old Byron.
I suffered the same experience myself last week. I joined a group of international students that I used to play with last year. When I came onto the field, “my team” decided to play me as a forward. I played horribly, so I got what seemed to be a demotion to midfield. Our team continued to suffer, conceding more goals. The Eastern European who had styled himself as leader then decided to demote me even further. He barked orders at me and three other defenders. We were to fan out in front of goal and play no further forwards than him. We were to act as his cover. What a strange strategy. Our play was awkward and stilted. It had no flow. Nobody wanted to take chances and run forwards. Things only improved when enough players left that the game was forced into being more open.
I’ve encountered this situation a few times now and I’ve noticed a common cause: a lack of women. If you have a few women on the team – as we almost always do on Sundays – then things are more laid back. Leave it to a group of men to play among themselves and this slightly discomfiting social hierarchy emerges, based on ability (or perceived ability).
The game is no fun when people take it too seriously.
I was fending off some weird illness during the weekend that only finally lifted when I played soccer on Sunday evening. I’ve noticed that with these pick-up soccer games, which I’ve been enjoying for several years now, that more fun is had the more anarchic the vibe is. Whenever any particular player tries too hard to organize strategy, boy can it ever get tiresome.
To a small extent, that’s what happened Sunday, but thankfully, it was the opposing team that did this, not mine. What happened was, only eight regulars showed up, so when one of them dropped out, we were really shorthanded. So we asked about five or six players who had been using the field before us if they wanted to join in. They said yes, but because they play as a proper team together, they wanted to stay as a cohesive whole. OK, we said. They “borrowed” two of our players to even up the sides and the game was on.
I really felt bad for a guy called Byron on their team. His team-mates kept yelling for Byron to do this, Byron do that. The team was trying too hard to be organized. Although we lost track of the score, I’m pretty sure we got more goals than them. And I put it down to that team putting too much pressure on themselves and in particular, on poor old Byron.
I suffered the same experience myself last week. I joined a group of international students that I used to play with last year. When I came onto the field, “my team” decided to play me as a forward. I played horribly, so I got what seemed to be a demotion to midfield. Our team continued to suffer, conceding more goals. The Eastern European who had styled himself as leader then decided to demote me even further. He barked orders at me and three other defenders. We were to fan out in front of goal and play no further forwards than him. We were to act as his cover. What a strange strategy. Our play was awkward and stilted. It had no flow. Nobody wanted to take chances and run forwards. Things only improved when enough players left that the game was forced into being more open.
I’ve encountered this situation a few times now and I’ve noticed a common cause: a lack of women. If you have a few women on the team – as we almost always do on Sundays – then things are more laid back. Leave it to a group of men to play among themselves and this slightly discomfiting social hierarchy emerges, based on ability (or perceived ability).
The game is no fun when people take it too seriously.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Brad Pitt and the Rabbits
This is a story from quite a while back, from before this blog was started, but I thought it too exciting to keep to myself since it involves a CELEBRITY!
At the time, Brad Pitt was in town briefly, filming The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. I believe this film is being released this fall. I have a friend who has a friend who appears in this film so it was pretty exciting for me personally.
Anyway, the filming took place in Fort Edmonton Park. That day, I was walking around the river valley, doing, as is my wont, some pretentious activity called psychogeography. I had just witnessed the spectacle of some rather cute mammals called marmots frolicking on the river bank. If you’ve never seen a marmot, get thee to the Edmonton river valley post haste!
Anyway, with the memory of the marmots fresh in my mind, I turned then to see another mammal – this one larger, but in the minds of many women, far cuter.
Brad Pitt!
As you’d expect, he was wearing sunglasses so as to be inconspicuous. Ha! Inconspicuous? As if! There were two security people with him. What surprised me is that one was a man and the other was a woman. But you could tell that they were security people because both looked lean, tough and trained in highly effective fan-calming techniques.
It became clear that my solitary path was just about to cross that of Brad Pitt. Good grief! There he was, walking along, enjoying the weather, just like me.
Now, I could have blurted out the name of this friend-of-a-friend as some way of trying to establish a sort of distant kinship to the celebrity himself. But I didn’t want to do that. It seemed just the sort of thing that a snivelling celebrity-worshipper would do. I also contemplated just playing it cool and giving him a nod of my head and saying, “Hey Brad,” and then something like, “Looking forward to the new flick!”
But this feigned nonchalance also seemed pretentious in its own way.
I also contemplated saying nothing. But what the hell kind of story would it make for my friends if I said, “I passed Brad Pitt and then… and then… I did nothing!” I mean, come on! That’s like telling a very long joke without delivering a punch line.
So here’s what I did. And let me note in passing that while I actually spoke to Brad Pitt, we were so close that my shadow touched his. Our shadows briefly became two very elongated men engaged in a passionate smooch.
Me and Brad Pitt kissing!
(I anticipated how excited my girlfriend would be to know that, in a way, she too had kissed Brad Pitt by proxy.)
Anyway, here’s what I said to Brad Pitt – my one and only chance to speak to a world-famous celebrity:
“Excuse me, Mr. Pitt! What’s your favourite thing about Edmonton so far?”
Brad Pitt and his two security people stopped. Even though I was a total random stranger, the security people did not do anything to minimize my potential threat. They simply stared at me. Then the woman looked at Brad as if seeking his lead.
At that moment, from the long grass, a large rabbit emerged and dashed across the path about five feet from us. It was chased by another rabbit. Both rabbits’ noses were twitching violently. Brad Pitt looked at the rabbits and then turned to me.
In response to my question, he said, “The rabbits.”
He gave the kind of dazzling smile that only Brad Pitt can give. Oh, and maybe Matt Damon, I suppose, if we’re getting technical.
Our moment was over. His shadow pulled away from mine, the kiss ended, as well as my solitary brush with fame. Before this encounter, I really wasn't sure what -- if anything -- I had in common with Brad Pitt. Now I know.
At the time, Brad Pitt was in town briefly, filming The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. I believe this film is being released this fall. I have a friend who has a friend who appears in this film so it was pretty exciting for me personally.
Anyway, the filming took place in Fort Edmonton Park. That day, I was walking around the river valley, doing, as is my wont, some pretentious activity called psychogeography. I had just witnessed the spectacle of some rather cute mammals called marmots frolicking on the river bank. If you’ve never seen a marmot, get thee to the Edmonton river valley post haste!
Anyway, with the memory of the marmots fresh in my mind, I turned then to see another mammal – this one larger, but in the minds of many women, far cuter.
Brad Pitt!
As you’d expect, he was wearing sunglasses so as to be inconspicuous. Ha! Inconspicuous? As if! There were two security people with him. What surprised me is that one was a man and the other was a woman. But you could tell that they were security people because both looked lean, tough and trained in highly effective fan-calming techniques.
It became clear that my solitary path was just about to cross that of Brad Pitt. Good grief! There he was, walking along, enjoying the weather, just like me.
Now, I could have blurted out the name of this friend-of-a-friend as some way of trying to establish a sort of distant kinship to the celebrity himself. But I didn’t want to do that. It seemed just the sort of thing that a snivelling celebrity-worshipper would do. I also contemplated just playing it cool and giving him a nod of my head and saying, “Hey Brad,” and then something like, “Looking forward to the new flick!”
But this feigned nonchalance also seemed pretentious in its own way.
I also contemplated saying nothing. But what the hell kind of story would it make for my friends if I said, “I passed Brad Pitt and then… and then… I did nothing!” I mean, come on! That’s like telling a very long joke without delivering a punch line.
So here’s what I did. And let me note in passing that while I actually spoke to Brad Pitt, we were so close that my shadow touched his. Our shadows briefly became two very elongated men engaged in a passionate smooch.
Me and Brad Pitt kissing!
(I anticipated how excited my girlfriend would be to know that, in a way, she too had kissed Brad Pitt by proxy.)
Anyway, here’s what I said to Brad Pitt – my one and only chance to speak to a world-famous celebrity:
“Excuse me, Mr. Pitt! What’s your favourite thing about Edmonton so far?”
Brad Pitt and his two security people stopped. Even though I was a total random stranger, the security people did not do anything to minimize my potential threat. They simply stared at me. Then the woman looked at Brad as if seeking his lead.
At that moment, from the long grass, a large rabbit emerged and dashed across the path about five feet from us. It was chased by another rabbit. Both rabbits’ noses were twitching violently. Brad Pitt looked at the rabbits and then turned to me.
In response to my question, he said, “The rabbits.”
He gave the kind of dazzling smile that only Brad Pitt can give. Oh, and maybe Matt Damon, I suppose, if we’re getting technical.
Our moment was over. His shadow pulled away from mine, the kiss ended, as well as my solitary brush with fame. Before this encounter, I really wasn't sure what -- if anything -- I had in common with Brad Pitt. Now I know.
Monday, June 18, 2007
The Long Goodbye
Just when I'd given up on the city... This morning is glorious -- in a uniquely Alberta glorious way. So much boastful blue sky. And I permitted myself to do nothing productive all weekend. Just walk around and spend time with friends and family. There's definitely a sense of community here that I'll miss when I go. It was so good showing up at Black Dog on Saturday for an afternoon folk jam, bumping into people, renewing acquaintances, and simply relishing the pints, and of course, the music.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Canadian Road Trip
Well I'm back. I didn't nod off at the wheel and go careening over the side of a cliff into a northern Ontario lake. Nor did a moose go smashing into the front of my car. I made it to Montreal successfully after three days' drive and made it back to Edmonton a week later after another three days' drive.
The weather was glorious for the Ontario leg of the journey. The Canadian Shield is the version of Canada that I think much of the world imagines. Lots of lakes, rock, trees, and animals. And it goes on for hundreds and hundreds of miles. Almost two of my three days travel were spent in Ontario and the wilderness seemed unending. Tiny towns here and there. A few fuelling stations. Not much more.
And... the voice of God everywhere. Yes indeed. I saw numerous signs proclaiming Jesus is Lord and signs decrying the evil of killing unborns while extolling the virtues of guns. Hmmm. And on the radio, Christian programming is available almost everywhere -- some of it broadcasted from the United States, some of it broadcast right here from Canada.
There is a nasty brand of Christianity disseminated by these radio shows. They focus on family, yes, which is good. But they seem to encourage family and self above everything, including any sense of community. There are entire "Christian" news shows devoted to helping individuals "achieve financial freedom." A Christian advice host, upon hearing about a divorced woman having fallen on hard times, said "God has not entrusted her with much money right now."
He gets involved in the affairs of your wallet, He does!
Meanwhile, the "news" provides stories that lament the oppresion of Christians in America. For example, a withdrawal of public funds to the boy scouts because that organization won't accept homosexuals. Proof, if any were needed, that religion is under attack from every quarter!
An advert came on for a new book called "No More Mr. Christian Nice Guy." The message was that men should be good even if it means not being nice. Now that sounds like the kind of advice that self-proclaimed "good" but not necessarily "nice" men like the now-deceased Jerry Falwell took to heart. Do we need more Falwells?
And let's not get started on the "Truth Project," which is an attempt by the group Focus on the Family to cast all scientific facts in a religious light.
After hours of this I was left with the impression that this North American brand of Christianity is highly intolerant, superstitious, greedy and selfish. Not once -- not once! -- was there a single call for Christians to go help people in need in their community. And this, to me, has always seemed the highest purpose of religion, to selflessly give to others. Not a single mention. Good grief.
Doubtless, these radio shows have done a profound disservice to the millions of practitioners in North America who DO give to their community, and give in spades. The civil rights movement to this day still is supported strongly by religious leaders such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
But where was this alternative voice of Christianity?
It made me so thankful for the good old CBC, which -- praise be! -- is just as strong a presence from Alberta all the way to Quebec.
The weather was glorious for the Ontario leg of the journey. The Canadian Shield is the version of Canada that I think much of the world imagines. Lots of lakes, rock, trees, and animals. And it goes on for hundreds and hundreds of miles. Almost two of my three days travel were spent in Ontario and the wilderness seemed unending. Tiny towns here and there. A few fuelling stations. Not much more.
And... the voice of God everywhere. Yes indeed. I saw numerous signs proclaiming Jesus is Lord and signs decrying the evil of killing unborns while extolling the virtues of guns. Hmmm. And on the radio, Christian programming is available almost everywhere -- some of it broadcasted from the United States, some of it broadcast right here from Canada.
There is a nasty brand of Christianity disseminated by these radio shows. They focus on family, yes, which is good. But they seem to encourage family and self above everything, including any sense of community. There are entire "Christian" news shows devoted to helping individuals "achieve financial freedom." A Christian advice host, upon hearing about a divorced woman having fallen on hard times, said "God has not entrusted her with much money right now."
He gets involved in the affairs of your wallet, He does!
Meanwhile, the "news" provides stories that lament the oppresion of Christians in America. For example, a withdrawal of public funds to the boy scouts because that organization won't accept homosexuals. Proof, if any were needed, that religion is under attack from every quarter!
An advert came on for a new book called "No More Mr. Christian Nice Guy." The message was that men should be good even if it means not being nice. Now that sounds like the kind of advice that self-proclaimed "good" but not necessarily "nice" men like the now-deceased Jerry Falwell took to heart. Do we need more Falwells?
And let's not get started on the "Truth Project," which is an attempt by the group Focus on the Family to cast all scientific facts in a religious light.
After hours of this I was left with the impression that this North American brand of Christianity is highly intolerant, superstitious, greedy and selfish. Not once -- not once! -- was there a single call for Christians to go help people in need in their community. And this, to me, has always seemed the highest purpose of religion, to selflessly give to others. Not a single mention. Good grief.
Doubtless, these radio shows have done a profound disservice to the millions of practitioners in North America who DO give to their community, and give in spades. The civil rights movement to this day still is supported strongly by religious leaders such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
But where was this alternative voice of Christianity?
It made me so thankful for the good old CBC, which -- praise be! -- is just as strong a presence from Alberta all the way to Quebec.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Life of the City
Here is my photo of the Palais des Congres in downtown Montreal. Nearby, there is a garden where water intermittently mists the plants and lawn. The water drifts like steam at a spa, but feels wonderfully fresh and cool.
Life in the city of Montreal seems very pleasant. A large number of people appear to really enjoy living here in a way that I think is not equalled in Edmonton. In the last few days, a resident here (I'm not sure who) said this about Alberta:
"Ah yes, we send you our assholes; you send us your artists."
Easy to see who has won in the exchange. Unless, of course, this is all hearsay!
Life in the city of Montreal seems very pleasant. A large number of people appear to really enjoy living here in a way that I think is not equalled in Edmonton. In the last few days, a resident here (I'm not sure who) said this about Alberta:
"Ah yes, we send you our assholes; you send us your artists."
Easy to see who has won in the exchange. Unless, of course, this is all hearsay!
Monday, June 4, 2007
Am I going to live here?
This is the Square Saint Louis in Montreal. I would give my arm to own property in this area. The bordering Avenue Laval is one of the prettiest streets I've seen in any city.
On second thoughts, I wouldn't give my arm. But I'd give a tooth, maybe.
Today I visited l'Oratoire St. Joseph. It's a building so vast that it overwhelms one's perspective. I took pictures, which I can't upload today, but I don't think they'll do the place justice.
The mishmash of architectural styles in Montreal seems to be the defining style of the city itself. Some streets are such a hodge-podge of this and that; it's almost like a deliberate attempt NOT to plan. I love it.
On second thoughts, I wouldn't give my arm. But I'd give a tooth, maybe.
Today I visited l'Oratoire St. Joseph. It's a building so vast that it overwhelms one's perspective. I took pictures, which I can't upload today, but I don't think they'll do the place justice.
The mishmash of architectural styles in Montreal seems to be the defining style of the city itself. Some streets are such a hodge-podge of this and that; it's almost like a deliberate attempt NOT to plan. I love it.
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