The Alberta Party and the Political Spectrum

• September 11, 2012

One of the things I like the very best about the Alberta Party is that it really doesn’t fit into the classical left/right political spectrum. Granted, I’ll argue that “left” and “right” are far too encumbering labels that don’t really reflect the diversity of views in politics. But too often it’s too easy to try to shoehorn a party into a narrow definition. The attempt to broaden the scale by adding a second axis is a small improvement. Read More

Approaching the Alberta Party AGM

• September 9, 2012

I’ve been a little bit afraid for a week or two. Ever since the end of July when I expressed my hopes for the Alberta Party I’ve been nervous about what I should or should not say. I am but one member of the party, and a somewhat insignificant one at that. I don’t want to step on toes. I don’t want to put words in the mouths of our leadership. Read More

Organic food equally as nutritious as chemically treated foods

• September 4, 2012

I’m feeling a little distressed over the tone that’s been set this morning over the study that states “organic” food is not any more nutritious than “non-organic”. The coverage almost has felt like we blew a hole through a mythical story that organic foods are so much better for us. That’s certainly not what the study means. Forgive me, but nutritional content is an interesting question by itself, but there were no shocking insights revealed. Read More

Dictum meum pactum

• August 17, 2012

My word is my bond. It’s an important phrase to me. In a very important way, it represents one of the cornerstones of my life, indeed of my very personality. That particular cornerstone is trustworthiness. It means when I make a promise I’ll do everything I can to keep my promise. My word is my bond. It has some unusual side effects. Sometimes it makes me seem a little shy to make a promise in the first place. Read More

Youth Resources in Calgary - #BetterYYC

• August 16, 2012

Here is another post which will likely never be complete. I’m clearly past my youth, so I encourage you to add your own suggestions because I know I’ve missed dozens if not hundreds of ways to make Calgary better for the people who will be our next crop of leaders. This is a bit of a mixed bag because I’m going to use a very broad definition of youth. Youth Central aims to involve youth in all aspects of our community, while at the same time ensuring we fully value what our youth have to offer. Read More

Seniors' Resources in Calgary - #BetterYYC

• August 15, 2012

Like yesterday’s post, this is intended to be a compilation of organizations and charities which work to serve Seniors in Calgary. This list cannot be comprehensive because there are so many groups trying to make life better for the great seniors with us. Please add your own in the comments, I suspect this could be a list many, many pages long. A few I considered off the top of my head: Read More

Homelessness Resources in Calgary - #BetterYYC

• August 14, 2012

This is by no means an official registry, but rather than just ephemerally listing them on twitter, why not create a list of homeless resources in Calgary we can find in a hurry? In no particular order, these are the ones I know and try to support. Any others that I find listed on Twitter will be added, or add them in comments please. It doesn’t have to be a comprehensive listing, it just needs to be something better. Read More

Oaks and Apples - from Conversations with my Dad.

• August 13, 2012

I had a rather mixed bag of ups and downs this weekend. Definitely beyond the usual range I usually bounce between. My life’s mantra is, “Balance in all things.“ It is so incredibly important to keep things smooth and level in rough seas. I’ll be the first to tell you, it gets bloody hard when you’re ripped with devastating blows down and irrepressible boosts up. Dad is playing bachelor this week, so it was one of those rare opportunities to have a real three generation men’s night together. Read More

Unwanted flyers are starting to burn my butt..

• August 9, 2012

To: [email protected] cc: [email protected] Subj: Stop delivering to my home! My name is Mark Zaugg, I live at . I have an 8.5 x 11” sign that says “No Flyers” at my front door. It replaces the 4x6” sign that said “No Flyers Please” at my front door. Stop! Still I continue to have flyers and Neighbours delivered. I have no recepticle for flyers, so they litter my balcony, my porch, my lawn, my neighbours lawn when the wind blows, my entire block when the wind blows hard and I’m tired of cleaning up your unwanted litter that’s been left behind. Read More

Creating magic

• August 6, 2012

“I SEE WOMEN ENGINEERS !! YES !!!” When I was in Grade 2, I discovered I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to become… a SCIENTIST. The great news is, I did. Literally, and then figuratively, and finally in my heart of hearts I understand that science is truly my passion and something that so fundamentally makes up who I am that I could never be parted from it. Read More