Google docs folders makes this open source service even more research-friendly. Picasa’s geotagging feature really enhances this freeware as does its seamless viewing of .jpg and .mwv files.
Speechless stats show that the blog has reached 19, 161 viewers. I am particularly pleased that viewers have used Google translate for easier access.
Slide.com and WordPress Test
July 18, 2007
Draft. . .
Green Calgary`s Dilemma
July 16, 2007
Calgary-based senior economist at ATB Financial, Todd Hirsch comes to the unsettling conclusion that Albertans can enoy the boom as long as the chaos in the Middle East continues, global fossil fuel supplies remain insufficient and innovations in really inexpensive and accessible alternative energy sources are not found.
If the price of oil plummets to less than $50 US, the oil in the oil sands becomes too costly to extract. Hirsch lists the kinds of geopolitical, economic and scientific changes that would have to take place to make this happen.
Hirsch, Todd. 2007. “Alberta May Dodge the Bust Bullet this Time Around.” Comment. Globe and Mail. July 14. A19.
This photo was taken at 8:30 pm, July 14 from St. Andrew’s Park, Calgary,AB at the end of Toronto Street just above Crowsfoot Trail.
A timeline of boom and bust
1973 Global Oil Crisis. Alberta oil fuelled a financial boom that resulted in record-breaking population growth, housing starts, and construction activity (Hirsch 2007: A19).
1981- OPEC production was surpassed by that of other countries. Global energy supplies increased, energy prices collapsed and the US economy sagged. As oil prices collapsed, Calgary’s boom turned to a financial and real estate bust. Some overextened homeowners walked away from their mortgaged homes (Hirsch 2007: A19).
2007 Alberta is experiencing a financial boom with real-estate prices soaring, increased migration to the province and labour shortages (Hirsch 2007: A19).
Baby’s Breath Gypsophila paniculata B…
July 15, 2007
Mauve clouds of Baby’s Breath cover the foothills along the path that circles St. Andrews. The pungent fragrance of the wild flowers filled the early evening air. The last rays of a spectacular sunset highlight the skyscrapers in Calgary’s city centre. We chatted with a family from Edmonton via Barbados who love Alberta.
Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata) an ornamental perennial introduced from Europe in the late 1800’s is considered by some to be an invasive plant since it spreads so easily, blown about by the wind like tumbleweeds. “It is now widespread across Canada and the northern United States. The Fort MacLeod area has large patches infesting fields and pastures, and the Crowsnest Pass also has a few patches. (www.invasiveplants.ab.ca)”
Patrick Watson vs CTV: the case of Conrad Black
July 14, 2007
Patrick Watson (1980) vs CTV (2007): the case of Conrad Black: The Canadian Establishment and governance.
Throughout the trial of Conrad Black I wondered why Patrick Watson’s articulate and well-researched CBC documentary entitled the Canadian Establishment (1980), was not viewed on CBC. Conrad Black was known for a strong and effective offensive tactics when dealing with his image management in the press and until the guilty verdict became publicized the media was discouraged from entirely objective coverage. This may change now that the jury has revealed to their decision. CTV coverage reveals a pro-Black bias describing him as stoic, proud, even …onian, in the face of this trial, almost agreeing with Conrad Black that he is somehow above the law. However, he did glare and skowl at the jury when they gave their decision. They describe how he helped every community he was a part of. They admire his rise from his university education to an emerging career with the press to the circle of the uber-wealthy. They expect him to stand up to this and continue to argue for his own innocence. He was found guilty of obstruction of justice where he removed evidence from his Toronto office and of email fraud which hold a combined possible sentence of 10 to 65 years. Charges of racketeering were dismissed. Nonetheless he stole millions of dollars from Hollinger, and continues to feel no remorse. There appears to be a strong empathetic response to the potential of his doing his real jailtime in an American jail where he is actually going to have to do work such as laundry. There is speculation and some relief that since he is so ‘astute’ in terms of money that he will have provided for himself and his family, Barbara Amiel, their son and daughter, Alanna in some ‘legal’ fashion. CTV journalists are comparing the American and Canadian legal systems in terms of fairness and approaches to access to jury information. They mused about whether American courts would be harsher on Black and his co-accused than their Canadian counterparts who would be more influenced by Black’s position of power, wealth and prestige. They seem to admire Black for his intelligence and his ability to write and do research and imagine him using his minimum security prison to study and write. Although others argue that an American minimium security prison is not an exclusive club prison like those in Canada and Black will not have access to a computer. CTV interviewees describe Black as someone very concerned with his place in history. CTV journalists look for ’silver lining’ in his situation. They wonder how Black will survive from now to his sentence hearing by Judge … in November. He is no longer a Canadian citizen since he abandoned it to become a British Lord. This means he has no rights to go to Canadian jails which are considered to be friendlier to the uber-wealthy. Black is expected to begin quickly to appeal the jury’s findings. This will not be stalling the sentencing hearing.
What makes Watson’s (1980) revelations so compelling at this time is the way in which he reveals Black’s roots as outsider on Bay Street until he was able to take advantage of widows of Establishment members to get his toe in the door. While Black’s father had some wealth through his brewery, his family lacked the prestige and power of the Canadian Establishment. According to Watson, it was during the era of Conrad Black that the Establishment shifted towards an even more self-serving attitude of entitlement. His business ethics predates that of the mean-spirited arrogance of the financeers in the 1990s. He seems to embody that which is dysfunctional and unsustainable in a social world corrupted by extremes of wealth and poverty.
My own concern with Black was the role he played as media mogul in obstructing access to an objective press, a keystone of democracy. Like the the New Brunswick-Bahamas Irvings prior to their ethical turn, mass media moguls adopt Friedman’s motto that their sole responsibility is to make money. Black claimed that he hoped to provide more of a pro-business, economic efficiency viewpoint to counteract the perceived social justice bias of the media (Flynn-Burhoe).
Do we secretly admire white collar criminals and their brilliant lawyers? Conrad Black and three others are accused of stealing $60M from shareholders to fatten their 5- and 7-figure salaries. Prosecutor Jeffrey Cramer claimed in his opening statement that media mogul Black failed to provide the public with objective accounts of world affairs.
CTV News. 2007. Conrad Black. July 13, 2007.
Flynn-Burhoe, Maureen. 2006. “Media and Objectivity: a Selected Timeline of Social Events.” >> papergirls. December 6.
Flynn-Burhoe, Maureen. 2007.
“Is the Mass Media Coverage Biased in Favour of Conrad Black?” >> papergirls. May 9, 2007.
Watson, Patrick. 1980. The Canadian Establishment. CBC.
“Patrick Watson.” Museum TV Archives.
Green Calgary: Canoeing in the City and Stats Can report
July 13, 2007
In our search for Green Calgary we learned about a canoing event on the Elbow River (in the safer waters below the treacherous weirs).
There are a number of places to go canoeing or kayaking, particularly the Glenmore Reservoir (it’s the city water supply, so you’re not allowed to swim in it, or capsize!). The Calgary Canoe Club boathouse is on the north shore, accessed from Crowshild Trail south. The Elbow River is beautiful above the reservoir, in the Weaselhead natural area. The Elbow River from the Reservoir down to 4th Street is popular for rafting and “tubing” and you pass many large luxury homes (be sure to have a life jacket or you’ll get ticketed). The stretch between 4thStreet and Fort Calgary (at the Bow River) is generally too flat and slow to be much fun. On the lower Elbow, below the dam, the water levels are highest in June and the first half of July. The Bow River is also popular from below the Bearspaw Dam to Princes Island (with Bowness Park and other popular put-in spot). The Bow River below Inglewood is also popular (and home to the Bow Waters Canoe Club), but YOU MUST AVOID the weir, just below the Zoo, where the Bow River meets Nose Creek and the Irrigation Canal to Lake Chestermere. Many people have drowned at the weir, which aerates the water for the river trout, and therefore makes floatation impossible. The best portage is on the right (south) bank. West of town, you can canoe/kayak or raft on the Elbow at Bragg Creek, or on the Ghost River, above the Ghost Dam, and in Kananaskis Country. East of town, the Red Deer River around Drumheller is a very leisurely trip (Found locally).
Featured in the City and Region section of the Calgary Herald however is a not too flattering profile on the greening of Alberta. McGinnis (2007) summarized a Statistics Canada Households and the Environment Survey report. She argued that Albertans do not Reduce, Reuse and Recycle as much as other provinces.
McGinnis, Sarah. 2007. “Albertans have yet to get the green bug. We lag others at caring for the environment.” Calgary Herald . Thursday, July 12.
>> Found locally.
>>Attractions: City Parks. http://calgary.foundlocally.com/Travel/Attr-CityParks.htm
Green Calgary: cycling and recycling
July 12, 2007
The Bow River winds through the city cutting miles and miles of shaded green pathways on the north and south banks for bikes, joggers, dogs and their owners. And Prince’s Island Park provides a green haven near downtown. We met a family of six walking in the park wearing cowboy hats. They came from Washington, DC for the Calgary Stampede and noted how much Calgary has changed over the years. New Communities are sprouting along the city fringes to accomodate the million people who live here. Some say it has maintained its small city feeling. Others comment on the growing number of the visibly homeless.
We were driving along when we saw this view of downtown towers with the dramatic lighting effects of the sun setting at the corner of Centre Avenue and Barlow Trail in Calgary NE/SE.
There’s a cedar wax wing that finds refuge in the thick branches that scratch against the windows of the house.
The streets are still quiet and safe enough for grandfathers and parents who coach anxious but excited children on their wobbly bikes.
Recycling is a challenge at least in the northwest since there is no home pickup. The central depot does not seem to be overused. Users separate their own cardboard, newspapers, mixed papers, milk containers, plastic bags, clean glass and clothing but there is no place for plastic containers.
People are even friendlier when you wear a cowboy hat during the ten days of the Calgary Stampede.
Started using Picasa’s geotagging option.
