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So, another week at CalgaryUrbanite, another revelation I have to share with everyone. Last week I mentioned how we are all driving the Oil Sands business whether we like developing them or not. Well this week I drop an even bigger bombshell (We are entering the Fall sweeps season after all). Forget the latest Ponzi-Scheme bust in Calgary, we are part of the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.
The Ponzi scheme according to Wikipedia (so yes, there might be a few swear words vandalized into the definition) is:
A fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to separate investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from any actual profit earned.
So basically the first "investors" get massive returns on their "investment" by being given the money from the newest investors who are convinced that the whole thing is for real. When the whole system implodes, the newer investors never get their investments back, and people's lives are destroyed. We like to think we're smart enough that we will never be duped into such a scam, but the scary thing is, you and I just invested in one.
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Hey, so guess what I did today? I dug up some bitumen in the Fort McMurray Oil Sands. I've done it a bunch of times actually. I had surgery to remove a wisdom tooth yesterday morning and I still did it! You know, now that I think about it, I haven't even been north of Edmonton yet I've still managed to do it! You've done it too. I don't even know you, but I know you've done it. Greenpeace went up to Fort Mac to protest Oil Sands development, and you know what? They've dug up bitumen too.
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Alberta hasn't had a new shopping mall built in twenty years. This isn't because Albertans hate shopping malls, quite the contrary, our malls are some of the most popular locations in the province. The lack of new shopping malls in Alberta boils down to (like so many other things) making money. Shopping malls are expensive to build and strip mall retail centers are considerably cheaper. Sure, they lack roofs and you have to drive from one end to another just to get to all the stores, but the people will still come, enclosed mall or not. Why? Because with developers building poorly designed suburbs in search of a better bottom line and people looking to live in a house a little bigger than their means buying into them, these strip malls are often the only shopping available that is anywhere near. Everyone wins, well, except your gas tank, and the environment. But you get a quiet neighbourhood and the developers maximize their profits.
When I found out CrossIron Mills was defying the trend and being built as an enclosed shopping mall, I got excited.
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The Beat Niq needs your help. They're in tough times financially and are kicking off a gala event to save their venue from going out of business. I thoroughly you encourage yourself to go down there and help out. Gerry Hébert explains the event:
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So, I have set out to write the best post I have ever written. No pressure or anything. Why? Well, it's been an absolutely ridiculous amount of time since my last article here at CalgaryUrbanite, and although we have some other great contributors on the site, things have to been too slow around these parts for my liking. So I need a stylish comeback. Something with gusto. Something with pizzaz. Something with a lot of other pseudo-adjectives. How am I going to do this? Well, I've compiled a list of everything I'd like to see from a comeback post.
Ironic title? Check.
Tackling an issue that Calgarians seem opinionated about? Check.
Being able to include a photograph I've randomly taken on my travels? Check.
Having a completely irreverent opening paragraph? Check.
Seriously, the most irreverent paragraph ever, probably enough to turn most people off reading this article? Check.
Using the word irreverent? Check.
Shall we get down to business?
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The Bow River flow is coming up, and it's up to Calgarians to make it a success. Come down to Memorial drive between 10th and 4th st for a party on the pavement. I unfortunately will be out of town and won't be able to make the event, but I hope those of you in town come down and have a good time.
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Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by Shannon
A few weeks ago I took part in a unique gardening project. Volunteers with the Calgary Food Policy Council (CFPC) and other individuals like myself met downtown on the corner of 6th Ave and 3rd Street SW and proceeded to plant a vegetable garden in the flower beds.
What would have been space for ornamental flowers instead became space for food: squash, carrots, lettuce, beets, beans and more. Once the seeds we planted grow into hearty produce the CFPC will take it to the food bank, so their patrons can enjoy fresh, local produce, produced right in the heart of the city.
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As of July 1st, you will no longer need a license or insurance or registration for a power-assisted bicycle (a helmet is still required though). This is in effect for all power bicycles that have an 500 watt electric motor and have a top speed of 32 km/h.
For more info, go to Green City Motors.
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Plan It Calgary recently released news they would build a bridge through Edworthy Park as part of their 40-year plan. The bridge would be constructed within the next 10 years and would see buses run down it every 10 minutes for 15 hours a day. In response to this, I emailed the city the following letter:
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Posted on June 3rd, 2009 by Jeremy
I attended the Lilac Festival and it was absolutely awesome. There was this one stall that sold books which you could only find in the depths of Mordor or something. We had Lee Richardson and the Conservative gang show me the glories of having a Tax Free Savings Account and I stole a free Alderman John Mar pencil.
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