Thanks, Mayor Mandel. Now, on to business…
First, a thank you to Stephen Mandel for his years of service to our city. Politics — particularly civic politics — is a tough way to make a living, and…
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Kerry Diotte the front-runner … for now.
For months now, the city has been watching a tedious production called Waiting for Stephen to come to its end — is Mayor Mandel in, or is he out? All…
If you eat food, you should read Salt Sugar Fat.
If you read just one book this year, it should be Salt Sugar Fat. And if you read only one book this year, you really should read a lot more.…
12 thoughts about Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.
1. Americans are overwhelmingly the world’s most influential people. I count 63 of the 100 as American. This certainly reflects America’s dominant position in the world, and the fact Time…
Saving Canadian English, one word at a time.
Is Canadian English dying? Or should I say, Canadian English is dying, eh? First, is there such a thing as Canadian English? The answer is — and this is classically…
Potholes: the shame of the city.
Everybody in Edmonton, it seems, is complaining about potholes. This is a yearly phenomenon in Edmonton that arrives as surely as the first snows of October, and the last snows…
Thomas Mulcair’s Keystone tap dance.
I’m taking some perverse pleasure in watching NDP leader Thomas Mulcair try to finesse the Keystone XL pipeline issue. Not too long ago — in fact, anytime before the 2011…
Here comes the pain train: previewing Justin Trudeau negative ads.
The news that Marc Garneau is quitting the federal Liberal leadership race is bad news for the Grits, and good news for the Conservatives. How’s that, you say? Well, the…
How one nice guy made a lousy day a little bit better.
This is the true story of how a bad day became a pretty good day thanks to one act of kindness. On Saturday morning, I thought I would join my…
Best picture nominees an unimpressive lot, but somebody’s gotta win, so …
As a longtime Oscar watcher (the awards show, not just some guy named Oscar, which would be creepy), let me just say this to start my annual (as in second)…
Get ready for the return of sin taxes.
For weeks now, the provincial government has been warning us, in the most dire terms possible, that we’re in for a “tough budget” filled with “tough choices”, and a certain…
Dad: a eulogy for a life well lived.
(For anyone interested, here is the eulogy I gave at my dad’s funeral. Lots of inside stuff, but it give you an idea of what the man was all about.)…
Help! My DVR is broken! What’s on TV?
Funny, isn’t it, how you can become so dependent upon a technology that didn’t even exist just a few years ago. OK, maybe funny isn’t the right word. Perhaps a…
What do you say when your dad asks: “Why won’t I die?”
Last Wednesday night, I went to see my dad for what I thought would be the last time. He fell and broke his leg — his femur, of all things…
Queue jumping inquiry shocker: rich and famous have connections!
Your provincial government is spending the somewhat staggering sum of $10 million on a public inquiry into “queue jumping” in the health care system. In light of what we’ve heard…
Spread the word: boycott the NHL for one game.
Our long, recurring nightmare is over … hockey is back! Yes, the National Hockey League and its skating concussion candidates reached a deal Saturday to end the lockout that threatened…
The year in political bloopers.
Ah, politics. It has the potential to inspire, and an even greater potential to inspire derisive laughter or fits of rage. Here, for your reading and enraging enjoyment, are my…
My 8:30 a.m. call from ‘Disney’.
So, it’s Saturday morning. Eight-thirty to be precise. The phone rings. Who calls at 8:30 on a Saturday morning? Normally, nobody. But this Saturday, it could have been any number…
Internal NRA memo on how to handle latest ‘situation’ is revealed.
INTERNAL MEMO TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION Urgent: Response to latest ‘incident’ Gentlemen: As you all know, the NRA is facing another situation due to…
Alberta Liberals, as always, their own worst enemy.
There’s more a-feudin’ and a-fussin’ in the Alberta Liberal ranks. Here’s the background. Calgary MLA Kent Hehr posted a blog last week calling for the so-called ‘progressive’ parties (that would…