Doing my part for one party democracy …

Its election time in Alberta again … the King is dead, long live the King. For those completely unfamiliar with Alberta provincial politics, I wrote a primer on the subject here on View from the Edge last year, whose title I stole for my opening line above. My previous article on the subject was in response to the election of Ed Stelmach as Conservative party leader, replacing the former Premiere Ralph Klein, and in it I spent some time talking about the history of democracy in Alberta.

agents provocateurs – Updated below …

The Youtube video posted recently of a protest rally in Montebello, Que raises some pretty big questions about the role of SQ and/or RCMP officers in violent protest. Coming late onto this story, my first exposure to it is through the Youtube video (well, in truth, I found the Youtube link 3 lines into a news story on the event, but I watched the raw video before finishing the article, so as to know what ACTUALLY happened first), and it certainly raises some interesting questions.

The famous gopher …

More accurately, I suppose I should say “The Famous Richardson’s Ground Squirrel.” Ever have one of those days that just make you smile? For most aspects of my life, today was a pretty normal day. I worked a 13 hour shift at my day job, a shift that felt about twice as long, lol. But none of it really mattered, thanks to an email I got this morning.

The place to be …

If there was any doubt that Dickens Pub was the place to be for Comedy in Calgary on Monday nights, the Aug 13, 2007 version of Comedy Monday Night should squash it like a bug. The thing about Monday at Dickens is that you never really know who’s going to walk through the door and wander up on stage. Its always a great lineup for Comedy Monday no matter what the date, but sometimes the stars line up just the right way to produce something truly special, and Aug 13 was one of those nights.

Another road trip to Dickens …

Once again, Steph and I will be off to Calgary tomorrow to do the Monday night show at Dickens. I don’t really know what she has planned for the show, but I’ve been writing material like crazy lately, and I’ve got some new stuff to try out. I hear from the rumour mill that some of the other comics will be doing a “switch night” where different comics do each other’s material, so that should make for a very interesting show.

Medicine Hat Youth Got Talent

I’ve just gotten word from Steph Foley over at Dewdrop Entertainment about a youth talent show in Medicine Hat this week, Friday afternoon in Kin Coulee Park, put on by Medicine Hat Youth Action. If you’ve ever seen the TV show “America’s Got Talent” then you’ve already got a basic idea of the format … take the idea of that show and apply it to the local Medicine Hat youth scene, and you’ve got the idea down pat.

Wednesday night at the Cecil

It seems that Wednesday nights at the Cecil is becoming something of a regular thing for me. I’ve been down the past couple of weeks to watch the comedians (and truth be told, I’ve also done short, 5 minute sets at the beginning of both nights), and I’ll be down there again this week as well, but with a bit of a difference.

Wednesday Comedy at the New Cecil in Medicine Hat …

Looking for something to do on a Wednesday night in Medicine Hat? Wondering where you can see a good show for a very reasonable cost? Check out the Cecil Hotel in Medicine Hat every Wednesday this summer for comedy from some of Canada’s top comedians. This week, on July 25th 2007, local funny woman Stephanie Foley will be opening for MC James Moore, and headliner Otis Kiwanis.

Fireworks over Medicine Hat

I found a spot in the park just down from the light industrial area, just off South West Drive (thanks Lacy for the tip on location … awesome spot!!! Check out 50.018622, -110.700957 in Google Maps to see my exact location for these, and I’ll be putting them on the flickr map as well) to set my tripod up last night for the fireworks. There were about two dozen other people gathered there as well watching, and it was a pretty good show overall. The shot on the left was one of the first bursts of the night … I knew that I wouldn’t get great shots overall with the Medicine Hat teepee in frame, since many of the fireworks would drift off frame to the left and at 18mm focal length, I’d miss a lot of detail as well. Still, I wanted one shot with the Teepee and fireworks fully in frame, and I did manage to get this one.

Happy 140th

July 1st is Canada Day, and 2007 marks the 140th anniversary of Confederation in 1867. In many ways, I’ve grown up and aged with Canada’s second century … I was born in Canada’s 99th year, 1966, and every year on Canada Day I know the age of Canada instantly by simply adding 100 to my own age. That will change in September when I turn 41 of course, but on July 1st, every year, Canada is always a century older than I am.