Out chatting with the neighbour over frozen snow shovels, and we agreed that even though it’s still autumn we are more than ready for spring.

Max Fawcett continues to chip away at my MOU scepticism. This is a useful thread, showing and then arguing against a Greenpeace position. I hope that time proves him right, but I’m not optimistic about that.

If no political leader ever said “laser-focused” again, I wouldn’t miss it.

I’m still not a fan of this deal, and I still don’t think it wins any seats here, but @maxfawcett.bsky.social makes a strong case here, and his first point, on the primary failing of the PMJT government, is absolutely right.

Former minister Guilbeault lays out all the reasons I hate this deal far better than I could.My fellow Liberals in Alberta should read this and reflect before we get to the disappointment of not winning the Edmonton Riverbend by-election. Thanks @cathmckenna.bsky.social for bringing this to my feed.

Is anybody i know here gathering signatures for the “no eastern slopes coal mining” petition?

Thanks to the Treasury Board of Canada for inviting me to serve as a panelist on yesterday's CCO Day of Learning, which was broadcast to thousands of government communicators across the country. Here are 12 of my comments, which I will attempt to weave into a paper at a later date: Thread [1/13]

This all seems sensible.

Brilliant. For those saying « it won’t happen here », read this.

It’s very disorienting to sit in Pearson Airport at 5:45 a.m. wondering why none of my preferred posters are in Edmonton are putting anything up. Frickin’ time zones.

This is important. Note well @eleanorolszewski.bsky.social and @mark-carney.bsky.social

I don’t know if any if the people who need to read this actually follow me here, but this is the clearest statement I’ve seen of what I think about in-fill in North Glenora. You should read it and think.

Oh, God! We’ve pulled our goalie so there are six guys wandering aimlessly around the ice instead of five. 4:12 left in the game — now 3;13

As much as I hate watching the Oilers drift aimlessly around down 4-1 to the last place team in the East, it’s going to be listening to them tell us “we know we have to be better, but the answer is in the room” that will really wreck my evening. I wonder what’s happening on Magnolia Network.

Well I’m thrilled. This morning, I mentioned the Katie Wilson campaign for mayor of Seattle in the context of how great a Mamdani win would be in New York. I got a like from Wilson’s campaign, even though both the person I replied to and I are here in far off Edmonton, Canada. Nice!

You should read this essay. IMO, it captures the essence of our present dilemmas and shows me what path forward is worth directing my energy toward.

I NEED the Jays to win tonight, because I’ll be hot-switching to the Oilers game and the chances of disappointment there are high.

A very important thread from Bridget Stirling

This pitcher may have lost his no-hitter, but he can’t complain about run support.

My MLA Seth a thread to remind us what it was like to have a minister who could comprehend oversee a fully integrated Heath Ministry and who valued the health of Albertans.

I did another survey of “Places You’ve Been” and got 8 of 30. OTOH, I’m sad I’ll probably never get another USA one, even including ones that have been on my bucket list since I was 12. OTOH, why does nobody ever ask if you’ve been to the Charles M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana?

I suppose I should upgrade my bio to say that a chat request is an automatic block unless I know you really well. Although it’s only people I’ve never heard of that ever ask.

When I was in Grade 9, there was a huge todo about The Catcher in the Rye, and it was pulled from Alberta school libraries. I got an allowance from my parents, so when I’d saved enough I bought it and read it at home. Then I bought and read everything J. D. Salinger had written. It was good. 1/2

I just got a very highly produced pamphlet from “Edmonton Neighbourhoods United” telling me how bad the new zoning system is and how I can base my election decisions on opposing it. Does anyone know who these people are and where their funding comes from? There’s nothing about that on their website.

This was the longest car-miles-replacement errand to date: home to Bonton Bakery and return, about 13.3 km in all. And look at that perfect baguette rearing its handsome head above the pannier!

A valuable thread from Senator Simons

🇺🇦 Re-upping this one in the name of decency and democracy. Slava Ukraini!

Negative drainage and The Dawn of a New Hope

I started my car-miles-replacement program with a ride to the nearby Home Depot for replacement shopvac bags.

Listening to the Premier react to the jasper fir report, I could only think, “Squeal like a piggy, Premier.”

You should read Markham Hislop and consider what he says, @mark-carney.bsky.social and @eleanorolszewski.bsky.social He knows a lot.

I have been a supporter since I was 10 and a door knocking, monthly-donating Liberal since 1995. This morning is the first time I’ve been embarrassed to be a Liberal. How can the PM kowtow like this? What expression of our core values do we abandon next?Stand by for further announcements I guess.

Here is a fuller view of the Bill Reid rose, still a bright spot in a darkening world.

If you didn’t care for the Bill Reid rose (or even if you did), here is the ‘Emily Carr” which also offers a bright spot in a darkening world.

This is the ‘Bill Reid’ rose, and it is a beacon of delight even in times of trouble.

Speaking of roads and bike lanes, (as I was in an earlier thread) I see that we have temporary traffic calmers along the east side of 135 St. as it passes by Westmount Mall. If there is room for traffic calmers at the intersections, there is room for a continuous bike lane from 111 Ave. to 114 Ave.

I just read the announcement about the fall Covid vaccine schedule, and my reaction tells me that I am a bad person. I hate the UCP government and its supporters, and I hope they get Covid and die pronated, inverted, gasping for their last breath, and barred from the comfort of those who love them.

When I listen to Demetrius Nicolaides and remember that with 600 votes Calgary-Bow could have had Druh Farrell as their MLA, it makes me sick that I didn’t take a week to go down and work on her GOTV.

I received and deposited the latest and last of my carbon price rebate cheques today. So ends one of the most sensible of the Trudeau approaches to addressing climate change. Now the decks are cleared for the GoC to bend a knee to Premier Smith and her oiligarch backers. Sic transit gloria mundi.

Never forget, we were manipulated into hating carbon pricing here in Canada.

Hey all you country girls and boys coming back from WWII. Move to Edmonton and we’ll build communities, schools, etc. so you can be The Greatest Generation and raise the Boomers.

Our oldest house — built in 1933 from a kit developed by Muttasrt Lumber. #JanesWalkEdmonton

Jane’s Walk II: North Glenora #JanesWalkEdmonton

After many years of good intentions, I have finally taken a Jane’s Walk. It was the “Transformation of Wihkwêntôwin” one, and it was fascinating. Big question: How could you do that without taking a single picture? I have no answer for that.

David C scores a bullseye. I hope this column provokes some thought and some discussion among the Nds as they convene this weekend.

Voted today.

Although the world may be falling apart, the first crocuses have bloomed along the south side of my house.

Tip for political parties: If you’re going to steal a sitting MLA from another party to run for you, you vet their past public statements BEFORE you make the offer, not after you’ve reset three candidates and run them for a week. We look like “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight”.

This thread provides a valuable insight into the Trump tariff campaign. Thank you for bringing it to my feed, @brenttoderian.bsky.social

For everyone who was ticked yesterday about NYT Spelling Bee not allowing ginch or gonch, today its word list skips “zoonotic”. No bird flu or Covid 19 references sneaking in that back door.