Disenfranchisement

• December 6, 2010

You guys know I normally go months on end without posting anything, right? I went down to Melrose Cafe for Third Tuesday’s event: “Election Dissection: The role of social media in Election 2010 Calgary” A couple of points worth mentioning. Apparently I’ve become part of the “usual crew.“ That doesn’t sound like me at all. Which is a point worth discussing all to itself. I mentioned the conversation between Naheed and I at Civic Camp 3D in twitter. Read More

This just may be the longest blog I've ever written in my life.

• December 4, 2010

It is inherently impossible to include all the ideas that culminate here. Instead I have to pick and choose and summarize as best I can from the intricacies I’ve been able to tease in my mind for some twenty or thirty odd years. If you know my personality and my style, I’m not about to change now. I’ve been that slightly irreverent, smart assed punk ready to crack a mildly funny, self deprecating joke each and every chance I can get and none of that is going to change any time soon. Read More

Making a Better Calgary

• November 20, 2010

I decided that I needed to spell out what I see as my objectives for #BetterYYC. Some of them I have stated previously, other details may have only been implied or expressed through my action. One of the things that spurred this was a conversation on twitter that I’d been hoping to have. I’ve longed for a great example that demonstrated some of the side effects our efforts can create. I’ve wanted to demonstrate how the smallest of actions can lead to major changes in our city. Read More

Best. Tweet. EVER!

• November 10, 2010

I use my favourite tweets as more of a reminder of, “Hey, you have to go check out this link when you’ve got time.” I have a new, all time favourite link that’s really a favourite. From @Banff_Squirrel. @Zarquil- here’s a haiku for you: Eyes sweeping the rings / Scanning for orbiting rocks / Zarquil’s on the broom ;) In 140 characters, the squirrel’s put together a complete treatise on my tweeting. Read More

A #BetterYYC or a #BetterCalgary - so long as Calgary's better.

• November 9, 2010

One or two of you may know that I was the mover and the shaker, the power broker behind the beautiful face, the king maker that allotted the authority, influence and the might behind Calgary’s municipal election. Even fewer will know that Mayor Nenshi regularly requests my advice on how to set policy. The irony is I may appear to be the smart assed class clown that only shoots off a joke from the back row, but in all honesty the previous statements are both overblown and true. Read More

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

• October 26, 2010

So last night after the swearing in ceremony I’m standing around waiting for Brian Pincott to finish an interview so I can say hello and chat for a few minutes. Suddenly I realize people around me are stretching necks and looking far more excited than usual. Yesterday that meant one thing and one thing only and I had to smile knowing that Naheed was near. Sure enough, he walks up to me hugging and shaking hands and sharing congratulations along the way and he gets to me and… turns and walks past me to thank a bunch of purple clad volunteers he recognized. Read More

#BetterYYC

• October 19, 2010

Just how wonderful was that? This week was seriously cool for me. I feel like I actually did something. I feel like the kids participated in something tangible and realistic. And I don’t feel like it’s going to end here. So my thoughts last night were that Better Ideas really do make for a Better Calgary - a BetterYYC. I truly believe that Nenshi’s Better Ideas will get City Council and therefore the city back on track. Read More

Mayor Nenshi

• October 19, 2010

Honestly, I wasn’t sure he was going to win. Honestly, I thought it was going to be the closest race for mayor I’d ever seen. Honestly, tonight I said we were living in Recount City. I spent some time reading through my first posts. The ones where I thought I’d take a cue from DJ Kelly and be more active in this election. The ones where I realized that a broken city council was the biggest problem we faced. Read More

My Day in less than 15 minutes of typing.

• October 17, 2010

I woke up after staying up late to strike at the Music Club I volunteer with. (Issue #1: Arts scene in Calgary) Make a pot of coffee, catch up with a bit of #yycvote. Rock skimming the pond detail today. I drive down to my Dad’s in Ward 9 to pick up my kids. (Issue #2: Traffic and Issue #3: Too many improperly placed campaign signs) We drive back home so I can shower, get addresses, and grab another cup o’ goodness. Read More

Save Calgary Racing

• October 17, 2010

And you scraped my email from precisely where? Strange that this is the first I have received an email from the Motorsport Council of Calgary. I am certain that I have not given any consent whatsoever when my email address was collected that it would be used in this fashion. Regardless of my support for Race City, my choice for mayor must certainly go beyond a single issue. My choice for mayor will consider what is best for Race City as well as what’s best for the rest of Calgary at large. Read More