CalgaryUrbanite | Blog

The World's Largest Ponzi Scheme

Derek McBurneysadsa — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:18:06 -0700

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.

Green Peace and the Oil Sands: Together At Last

Derek McBurneysadsa — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:20:24 -0700

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.

CrossIron Mills: A Fairy Tale

Derek McBurneysadsa — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:39:28 -0700

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.

Save the Beat Niq

Derek McBurneysadsa — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:00:57 -0700

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:

Peace Bridge Conflict

Derek McBurneysadsa — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:13:00 -0700

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.

Bow River Flow

Derek McBurneysadsa — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:04:50 -0700

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.

Towers and Turnip: Community Gardening in Calgary

Shannon — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:47:00 -0700

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.

Powered bicycles, now with less hassles

Cody Torgerson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:31:39 -0700

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.

Edworthy park letter

Jason — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:51:38 -0700

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:

Don't let politics get in the way of a party

Jeremy — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:50:00 -0700

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.

Do not let the cost of the Lilac Festival get in the way of having a blast. I know about the escalating costs, but there’s little I can do except donate perhaps to the Friends of the Lilac Festival. Looking beyond government for help is probably the best thing to do right now, and it starts with the community and shops around 4th street. The picture you see is one I took of a board that asked what I would do if I was premier of Alberta (courtesy of the Alberta View magazine). They said they would publish our answers. I wrote (if you can find it)

“Chen ‘Francisco’ Li” and “Allen Cheung for deputy premier”. Oh the inside jokes.

As well, I have also posted a video from the Calgary Herald of the Calgary Dancing Man from YouTube. It’s a very uplifting video. It just starts with one guy and it spreads like a Nose Hill wildfire.