Like any year, there were ups and downs over the past 12 months. However, 2014 was unfortunately a bit more about downs, than ups. On the positive side (cuz I like to mention good things first): First, and most importantly, the kids are thriving. My eldest is working full-time in
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daveberta.ca - Alberta politics: What if politicians could stop school kids from starting clubs?
TweetWhat does it look like when a politician tries to build his credibility among social conservative voters? We found out this week when Premier Jim Prentice sideswiped Edmonton-Centre Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman’s private members bill – Bill 202: Safe and Inclusive Schools Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 – that would allow students
Continue readingTrashy's World: Ottawa City Council candidates worth voting for!
I have already endorsed some of these candidates in past posts, but being that it is only a few days till E Day, I thought I’d go over some of them again. Jean Cloutier will be a fine representative for Alta Vista on Council. Jean and I have worked together at
Continue readingTrashy's World: Leadership – it’s vital
After watching the municipal campaigns in Ottawa unfold thus far, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the defining issue is leadership. Pro green bin or not (I pity the fools!), love Phase 2 of the LRT or scrap it, raise taxes, lower them or keep them the same, what really
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Justin Trudeau in Edmonton: dismiss this guy as a flake or a lightweight at your peril
Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau energized a crowd of Liberals and the curious last night in Edmonton. Below: His father, Pierre Trudeau, circa 1968; the chip off the old block. I’m pretty sure it was in the spring of 1968 that I heard Pierre Trudeau speak in Victoria’s
Continue readingTrashy's World: Mr. Hudak meets Mr. Dictionary for the very first time!
As I write this, Timmie is Googling the word “economics”… Ms. Wynne is being so unfair using such darned big words!!! I have italicized the phrase noting the flaw that anyone with even a passing understanding of arithmetic would notice immediately. And he thinks he is fit to govern the
Continue readingTrashy's World: How does the “Harper-Hudak Conservatives” sound, Timmie?
Or maybe the “Harris-Hudak Conservatives”, hmmm? In desperation, Hudak and his merry men have taken to referring to the OLP as the “McGuinty-Wynne Liberals”. I for one find this consistent with the make-believe world that the OPC seems to have found comfort in. Dalton and Kathleen are joined at the
Continue readingFacing Autism in New Brunswick: Fredericton’s North Riverfront Trail (aka Conor’s Back Yard) May 2014
After a long tough winter followed by some high waters along the St John River it is nice to be able to again walk Fredericton’s North Riverfront Trail, barely a minute’s walk from our home. Best of all, the bird life is active again, very active on the North Riverfront
Continue readingTrashy's World: 2014 is the Chinese year of the horse. Does this mean I should blow a bundle at the track?
I don’t often “recycle” posts. Yes, I am lazy, but what’s the point of a blog if you just re-post old stuff? But I thought that I’d dig up last years “Resolutions” post to see how I made out and to add any new stuff. Turns out it was a
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Alberta’s 13 most under-reported political news stories of 2013
Another aircraft takes off from Fort McMurray International Aerodrome loaded with CO2 captured from Alberta’s Athabasca bitumen sands. The gas will be stored in the basements of Russian buildings as part of a deal worked out through the province’s $2-billion “carbon capture” program. Actual Alberta carbon capture boondoggles may not
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Bloggers will be officially accredited at the Montreal LPC Biennial Convention
The official word has come from the LPC: bloggers will be accredited to the Convention, and they are inviting applications for accreditation. Since they’ve sent out a press release, and the form is publicly available on the convention web site, I don’t think they will mind me re-posting it below
Continue readingDeath By Trolley: Massive Republican Revival On Horizon?
Please indulge a bit of educated speculation. Throughout President Obama’s first term many economists have predicted another major economic crisis as big or bigger than 2008 in the not-too-distant future. Proposed contributing factors include the massive debt held be several European countries and toothless financial reform in America. Regarding the
Continue readingbastard.logic: Deja Vu All Over Again (And Again, And Again, And…)
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, Canuckistan: Stephen Harper is leaving the door open once again to extending Canada’s military participation in the costly Afghanistan war. When the Official Opposition NDP pressed the Prime Minister on Wednesday about reports the United States has asked Canada to stay in
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