[DizzyEdge]

Also, the Calgary herald poll indicates 85% of people who read the article wants them forcibly removed, unscientific of course.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Blogger+starts+petition+remove+Occupy+Calgary+protesters+from+plaza/5641794/story.html

[MichaelS]

*sigh* We are all wage-slaves, myself included, not far off being homeless like the millions in the US who lost their mortgages.
.

Who forced you to become a wage slave, and how did they go about doing it?

[kw5150]

Also, the Calgary herald poll indicates 85% of people who read the article wants them forcibly removed, unscientific of course.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Blogger+starts+petition+remove+Occupy+Calgary+protesters+from+plaza/5641794/story.html

That would be a massive fail. I definately think that the peaceful protest is ok.

[DizzyEdge]

That would be a massive fail. I definately think that the peaceful protest is ok.

the Calgary Homeless Foundation CEO talked to the other group (who are mostly homeless) and offered them immediate help, and to put them on the path to permanent housing, and the mostly not-homeless group came over and put a stop to the negotiations saying it was a 'band-aid solution'.

They won't want the homeless group to get help because that would require coming up with a new cause, with half the numbers of people.

[mooky]

Who forced you to become a wage slave, and how did they go about doing it?

Um, my only debt, at all, other then monthly living expenses, is my mortgage, I don't owe any CC debt, no line of credit, no car loan or lease, and I still consider myself a wage slave. It's a term to denote working for a living, but the amount you keep at the end is slowly shrinking and has been for a generation, and its not all just about big government and taxes. We're all only so many days/weeks/months away from losing it all. I acknowledge that fact and I'm one of the smarter ones with an appropriate pad, but I'd still be hard up crap went bad for too long. Again, we're way too insulated in Alberta to know true hardship on any mass scale.

Middle class used to be dad going to work in the 1950/60's and bringing home enough for the wife and two kids to live a comfortable life, and a college education if they wanted, today your not middle class unless both parents work full time, generally speaking.

As an example of the squeeze I phoned up my cell company and told them I was going to leave, I got a huge break on my monthly cellular bill, same for my cable provider .... when they can cut you a huge break and still make a profit, somethings not quite right; and most people don't go and talk to their providers like I have... so where is the real competition for my dollars? It's a corporate oligharchy that's squeezing us ever tighter so slowly we're like the proverbial frog in the pot of water, boil us slowly and hope we don't notice.



As for the above question as to how this Occupy Calgary is connected to OWS .... one word - SOLIDARITY

[mooky]

the Calgary Homeless Foundation CEO talked to the other group (who are mostly homeless) and offered them immediate help, and to put them on the path to permanent housing, and the mostly not-homeless group came over and put a stop to the negotiations saying it was a 'band-aid solution'.

They won't want the homeless group to get help because that would require coming up with a new cause, with half the numbers of people.

So your telling me the CHF CEO waited till Occupy Calgary came along and all of a sudden can offer these people a way out, immediately. Where has he been for the past few years.... yes working on the problem slowly, but there is no miracle solution like the media is lapping up... again, most of those truly homeless are on the streets because of mental, or substance abuse issues.

Excuse me while I laugh. Red Herring. Cannot see the forest for the trees.

[kw5150]

the Calgary Homeless Foundation CEO talked to the other group (who are mostly homeless) and offered them immediate help, and to put them on the path to permanent housing, and the mostly not-homeless group came over and put a stop to the negotiations saying it was a 'band-aid solution'.

They won't want the homeless group to get help because that would require coming up with a new cause, with half the numbers of people.

So obviously there is something more to it that you dont understand. The 10 year plan to end homelessness is driven mostly by corporations who didn't want homeless people in front of their businesses. The 10 year plan should come from people who actually care, not from business owners. I know it has morphed into more of a care-based strategy, but the plan does have problems, hence why people ARE protesting! Something has to be done about the direction capitalism is heading in this world......my two cents

[DizzyEdge]

So your telling me the CHF CEO waited till Occupy Calgary came along and all of a sudden can offer these people a way out, immediately. Where has he been for the past few years.... yes working on the problem slowly, but there is no miracle solution like the media is lapping up... again, most of those truly homeless are on the streets because of mental, or substance abuse issues.

Excuse me while I laugh. Red Herring. Cannot see the forest for the trees.

They're been working on it for a number of years, to the point where the Salvation Army is closing one of their shelters due lack of need.

Also, much of the homeless are transient, and typically it would be those in shelters and the like who would connect with the CHF, so if they have been avoiding shelters these individuals may not have been on the CHF's radar.

Or, there is a gradual process here and the CHF CEO decided to put these folks at the head of the line ahead of people already in the process.

It really doesn't matter, they were offered assistance, and those that didn't need the assistance answered No on their behalf.

[MalcolmTucker]

Like many have stated already here
Something has to be done about the direction capitalism is heading in this world......my two cents
A lot of the problems are almost completly outside our borders, and our government is doing its best to get others to adopt Canadian style solutions to end these issues.

[DizzyEdge]

So obviously there is something more to it that you dont understand. The 10 year plan to end homelessness is driven mostly by corporations who didn't want homeless people in front of their businesses. The 10 year plan should come from people who actually care, not from business owners. I know it has morphed into more of a care-based strategy, but the plan does have problems, hence why people ARE protesting! Something has to be done about the direction capitalism is heading in this world......my two cents

Sorry, but that's stupid.

Do you think the corporations would have stepped in if 'caring people's donations had been sufficient?

Again this would be a case of the people with homes keeping aid away from the homeless because "OMG it's coming from people who we don't like and it's not perfect booo boo boo booo fucking hoo". Meanwhile the homeless suffer due to your moral conundrum.

[kw5150]

Sorry, but that's stupid.

Do you think the corporations would have stepped in if 'caring people's donations had been sufficient?

Again this would be a case of the people with homes keeping aid away from the homeless because "OMG it's coming from people who we don't like and it's not perfect booo boo boo booo fucking hoo". Meanwhile the homeless suffer due to your moral conundrum.

I said, it has morphed into a plan of caring but based on business owners wanting to "buy the homeless off the streets."

You are changing what I am saying. I dont think the donations should be cut off at all, but clearly more conversations need to be had, otherwise we wouldn't have a protest.

[DizzyEdge]

Ok, sorry if I did that. I know you have a high level of idealism which I think is good, that said unless a source of funding is actually 'evil', there's nothing wrong with corporate donations..in fact, there's nothing more satisfying than convincing the "1%" to fund your cause :)

[MalcolmTucker]

I said, it has morphed into a plan of caring but based on business owners wanting to "buy the homeless off the streets."

You are changing what I am saying. I dont think the donations should be cut off at all, but clearly more conversations need to be had, otherwise we wouldn't have a protest.

I think the basis of this aspect of the protest comes from the fact that knowledge of the plan is very low, because the government communicates what it is doing in this regard very modestly. This is to prevent the program from being protested by the right wing reflexively (the program is modeled on a program that actually saves money in other implementations, due to lower service consumption by people moved into permanent housing).

Also, while the idea may have come from corporations, it is almost entirely funded by the provincial government and good works organizations. The idea was advanced by business under the angle 'if this actually saves money, why don't we do it, two birds, one stone'.

[MichaelS]

Um, my only debt, at all, other then monthly living expenses, is my mortgage, I don't owe any CC debt, no line of credit, no car loan or lease, and I still consider myself a wage slave. It's a term to denote working for a living, but the amount you keep at the end is slowly shrinking and has been for a generation, and its not all just about big government and taxes. We're all only so many days/weeks/months away from losing it all. I acknowledge that fact and I'm one of the smarter ones with an appropriate pad, but I'd still be hard up crap went bad for too long. Again, we're way too insulated in Alberta to know true hardship on any mass scale.

Middle class used to be dad going to work in the 1950/60's and bringing home enough for the wife and two kids to live a comfortable life, and a college education if they wanted, today your not middle class unless both parents work full time, generally speaking.

As an example of the squeeze I phoned up my cell company and told them I was going to leave, I got a huge break on my monthly cellular bill, same for my cable provider .... when they can cut you a huge break and still make a profit, somethings not quite right; and most people don't go and talk to their providers like I have... so where is the real competition for my dollars? It's a corporate oligharchy that's squeezing us ever tighter so slowly we're like the proverbial frog in the pot of water, boil us slowly and hope we don't notice.



As for the above question as to how this Occupy Calgary is connected to OWS .... one word - SOLIDARITY

I am struggling to see what the problem is. You give examples of things you like, but decided they were too expensive. You notifed the person selling those things to you of this, and they lowered the price. Why do you care if me or anyone else continues to pay more? Isn't that our own fault (or choice)? If I feel I am paying too much, I will do the same as you. And if everyone does this, the person selling will have to lower their price in order to get customers.

You are under no obligation to buy anything beyond food and shelter (and how much of those you buy is a personal comfort level), and those can still be had for pretty cheap. If people are willing to pay higher and higher prices for things, nobody is going to deny themselves those profits. But you have the choice about whether you spend that higher amount or not.

I am not saying the system is perfect, but there is no evil conspiracy to bankrupt all of us/enslave us. People are just doing what they want. Maybe some are more susceptible to marketing than others, but we are still free to make our own choices. If you make bad ones, you have to live with them, and can't demand that others (the 1%) bail you out.

Now as I typed that, I see the irony in the banks (who are typified with the 1%) getting bailed out, and that is something that I think is quite wrong. But I also don't think camping in Olympic Plaza is the way to express that disappointment/disagreement. And I guess that is the crux of my argument. People are very upset about the banks being bailed out by the tax payers for their bad decisions. Why then is it okay for individuals to demand bail outs for their own bad decisions?

[Ramsayfarian]

I am struggling to see what the problem is. You give examples of things you like, but decided they were too expensive. You notifed the person selling those things to you of this, and they lowered the price. Why do you care if me or anyone else continues to pay more? Isn't that our own fault (or choice)? If I feel I am paying too much, I will do the same as you. And if everyone does this, the person selling will have to lower their price in order to get customers.

You are under no obligation to buy anything beyond food and shelter (and how much of those you buy is a personal comfort level), and those can still be had for pretty cheap. If people are willing to pay higher and higher prices for things, nobody is going to deny themselves those profits. But you have the choice about whether you spend that higher amount or not.

I am not saying the system is perfect, but there is no evil conspiracy to bankrupt all of us/enslave us. People are just doing what they want. Maybe some are more susceptible to marketing than others, but we are still free to make our own choices. If you make bad ones, you have to live with them, and can't demand that others (the 1%) bail you out.

Now as I typed that, I see the irony in the banks (who are typified with the 1%) getting bailed out, and that is something that I think is quite wrong. But I also don't think camping in Olympic Plaza is the way to express that disappointment/disagreement. And I guess that is the crux of my argument. People are very upset about the banks being bailed out by the tax payers for their bad decisions. Why then is it okay for individuals to demand bail outs for their own bad decisions?

The OWS movement isn't asking to be bailed out.

What every the Plaza people are doing has morphed into something that has nothing to do with Wall Street. I'm sure their are still some folks down there true to the cause but the majority seem like a bunch of idiots. They kind of remind of those who attend pro pot rallies. They're not really doing a lot to help the cause, if anything they do more harm than good. The city should just turn on the irrigation system, better yet, just claim they're doing routine fall maintenance and blow the lines at about 3 am.


I'm glad you caught on about the bailouts. That's a good example of whats wrong. It's not the sole reason, but one of many.

People have had enough of the super rich privatizing the profits and socializing the debts. Capitalism, which I'm all for, used to reward those who were good business men and took calculated risks to make money and if one had balls and took a chance on something risky and it paid off you could be rewarded handsomely.

However if did something risky or stupid and failed. One could be financially ruined. That risk of ruin, more or less kept things in check. Only the real visionaries or the truly insane/stupid would take such a chance.

Now they expect to be bailed out. Yet don't expect to be taxed fairly. If your bad business decisions drag down the economy and wipeout peoples savings, well that's too bad for those poor smucks. We can't help them, as that would be socialism.

People are pissed that they're losing their jobs, they're losing their homes, their quality of life is getting worse not better. Meanwhile the rich get richer, but not from hard work, but from lobbying to get regulations and rulings changed , to gaming the system, to out right fraud and collusion.


Ignorance is bliss though. It says a lot about society as a whole when the two biggest stories on the news is that some lard ass is getting a divorce and a singing lesbian somehow impregnated someone backstage at a concert.

[artvandelay]

For capitalism to work effectively, there needs to be effective regulation of the capital markets and the banking system. There are still some very major problems that need to be addressed, and unfortunately these start and end in the United States - where industry lobbyists will fight tooth and nail against any new regulation, just as they had clawed away at regulation over the past 30 years leading up to the financial crisis.

The bailouts are a symptom of the inept US political system, and have created an immense moral hazard problem. Now that the major banks know that the taxpayer will come running to bail them out if things go bad, how much additional risk will they be willing to take in the future?

[sim]

The OWS movement isn't asking to be bailed out.

What every the Plaza people are doing has morphed into something that has nothing to do with Wall Street. I'm sure their are still some folks down there true to the cause but the majority seem like a bunch of idiots. They kind of remind of those who attend pro pot rallies. They're not really doing a lot to help the cause, if anything they do more harm than good. The city should just turn on the irrigation system, better yet, just claim they're doing routine fall maintenance and blow the lines at about 3 am.


I'm glad you caught on about the bailouts. That's a good example of whats wrong. It's not the sole reason, but one of many.

People have had enough of the super rich privatizing the profits and socializing the debts. Capitalism, which I'm all for, used to reward those who were good business men and took calculated risks to make money and if one had balls and took a chance on something risky and it paid off you could be rewarded handsomely.

However if did something risky or stupid and failed. One could be financially ruined. That risk of ruin, more or less kept things in check. Only the real visionaries or the truly insane/stupid would take such a chance.

Now they expect to be bailed out. Yet don't expect to be taxed fairly. If your bad business decisions drag down the economy and wipeout peoples savings, well that's too bad for those poor smucks. We can't help them, as that would be socialism.

People are pissed that they're losing their jobs, they're losing their homes, their quality of life is getting worse not better. Meanwhile the rich get richer, but not from hard work, but from lobbying to get regulations and rulings changed , to gaming the system, to out right fraud and collusion.


Ignorance is bliss though. It says a lot about society as a whole when the two biggest stories on the news is that some lard ass is getting a divorce and a singing lesbian somehow impregnated someone backstage at a concert.


That about summed it up.

I purposely and consiously do not touch the entertainment sections of newsites, let alone listen to the radio or watch T.V. and yet I still know what the last paragraph pertains to... Had I some computer programming knowledge I would try to develop a browser that filters that garbage out automatically, everywhere I might happend to look.

[freeweed]

You all may not like them, you may not socialize with them, they may be a bit unorganized (all OWS protests across the world seem to be getting that criticism in the media), but if you continue to marginalize people on the edge of society, you're as bad as those people that marginalized Nenshi and his supporters in the last election, and in the greater sense, playing into the hands of the elite who want to pit the bottom against each other.

*snip*

Followed by long rant about the 1%.


FYI, the 1% are "people on the edge of society", and you're marginalizing them. They may be on the OTHER edge of society, but your words come across extremely hollow (and funny).

I'm not defending the 1% in any way, shape, or form - but the entire OWS movement is precisely about "marginalizing people at the edge of society". That's precisely what the "1%" term means!

[MalcolmTucker]

The interesting thing about the 1% in the USA is its huge turnover - take any given year and look 3 years down the road, only just over 1/3rd of the original group will still be 1%ers.

So if your goal is to end wealth concentration there is an easy way to do that - with estate taxes, something the USA has but Canada doesn't. A big fight always for the Republicans however is to attempt to remove that tax, south of the border.

[freeweed]

the amount you keep at the end is slowly shrinking and has been for a generation

No it hasn't, and I'll explain why momentarily.

Middle class used to be dad going to work in the 1950/60's and bringing home enough for the wife and two kids to live a comfortable life, and a college education if they wanted, today your not middle class unless both parents work full time, generally speaking.


That's because you, like most middle class people, insist on so much STUFF that no one in the 50s/60s even dreamed of. 2+ cars per household, TVs in every room, the computer you posted this on, trips to Mexico every winter, $20,000 weddings being considered "small", $10,000 engagement rings, kids in 4 or 5 sports every year, 1000 square foot houses being "tiny", etc, etc, etc. We spend so much freaking money every day that folks 50 years ago never even had, let alone could spend. Oh, say like:

As an example of the squeeze I phoned up my cell company and told them I was going to leave, I got a huge break on my monthly cellular bill, same for my cable provider ....

Bingo. You want to live the 50s/60s life? GIVE UP ALL OF THIS. It's completely possible to be middle class, with one income, and raise a family. And have your house paid off long before your working career ends. And have plenty of of money saved for a rainy day.

Very, very few do it. I know some who do and they live like paupers compared to the average person today. But they live exactly like my parents did back then. No cable TV. No cellphone. No computers. One car. Small house. Kids play in the park instead of $5000/year in hockey gear. And they'll have their 1000 square foot house paid off at 40, and can work at Tim's to pay the bills if necessary. Hardly a wage slave. All they really need is a few more years of good earnings and they can basically retire at any time.

You willing to give up your cellphone, cable TV, computer and Internet? What about the 100 other things that didn't even exist in the 1960s? What about the 1000 other things you have now that "middle class" folks never dreamed of back then, and used to be something only the rich owned?

This "the middle class has it sooo hard" line is complete and utter bullshit. The middle class never had it so good. We just have lost all sense of reality when it comes to comparing ourselves to a couple of generations ago.

Shit man, we're in the worst economic times since the Great Depression. And arguably worse by some measures. Where are the millions of transient workers, emigrating west to pick fruit? Where are the tens of thousands of babies dying from starvation every year? Where are the lines of skilled, educated workers hoping for a bowl of soup?

Actually sit down and talk to someone who was alive in the 30s (the children then became the "middle class" of the 50s and 60s), and complain about how bad things are today. If they have the strength, they're liable to punch your whiny, spoiled face. Right after you get off your cellphone to bitch at your cable provider that your computer is having problems on your Internet connection.

Fuck we're spoiled today. We have zero sense of perspective.

[Calgarian]

That about summed it up.

I purposely and consiously do not touch the entertainment sections of newsites, let alone listen to the radio or watch T.V. and yet I still know what the last paragraph pertains to... Had I some computer programming knowledge I would try to develop a browser that filters that garbage out automatically, everywhere I might happend to look.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the giant media conglomerates in the US owned by the banks? there's a reason that the "news" in the US focuses more on "entertainment" than what is actually happening in the world. The 1% who own these companies want you to be distracted by Kim Kardashian while they slowly rape the country and bleed it dry. I think that meets my tinfoil hat quotient for this topic. lol

[freeweed]

So if your goal is to end wealth concentration there is an easy way to do that - with estate taxes, something the USA has but Canada doesn't. A big fight always for the Republicans however is to attempt to remove that tax, south of the border.

Estate taxes are the #1 most awesome thing ever, if applied right. It's the only way to avoid generational wealth and the creation of a new aristocracy. Unfortunately there are about a billion ways to avoid them.

I'd like to see the equivalent of estate taxes applied to any financial transaction between living parents and their adult children, over a certain amount and depending on wealth bracket. Unfortunately your average middle class person these days truly believes it's necessary to throw money at their kids in order for them to survive, so it's a hard sell for voters.

[freeweed]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the giant media conglomerates in the US owned by the banks? there's a reason that the "news" in the US focuses more on "entertainment" than what is actually happening in the world. The 1% who own these companies want you to be distracted by Kim Kardashian while they slowly rape the country and bleed it dry. I think that meets my tinfoil hat quotient for this topic. lol

Well, "bread and circuses" isn't exactly a new concept.

However no conspiracy is required. We're doing it to ourselves. There are plenty of information sources to learn about what's going on especially in the Internet age - it's US, the average person, who wants to know more about Kim and her orange skin than we do about economic realities.

Next time you start up a conversation with someone about the economy, and their eyes glaze over and they change the conversation to Justin Bieber's bastard child, realize that it's not really the media's fault at all. The media is just providing us what the average moron wants to hear. Sad but true. Being ignorant about world events is almost a badge of honour to most people these days. It's part of a decades-long trend of growing anti-intellectualism in the West, and there's no end in sight.

[Calgarian]

Well, "bread and circuses" isn't exactly a new concept.

However no conspiracy is required. We're doing it to ourselves. There are plenty of information sources to learn about what's going on especially in the Internet age - it's US, the average person, who wants to know more about Kim and her orange skin than we do about economic realities.

Next time you start up a conversation with someone about the economy, and their eyes glaze over and they change the conversation to Justin Bieber's bastard child, realize that it's not really the media's fault at all. The media is just providing us what the average moron wants to hear. Sad but true. Being ignorant about world events is almost a badge of honour to most people these days. It's part of a decades-long trend of growing anti-intellectualism in the West, and there's no end in sight.

I think the media plays a role in how they hype it up. I personally think most people are sheep and will watch and follow what most other people follow. And if the media can create the perception that Kim Kardashian is a big deal, than the soft minded masses will follow.

[MalcolmTucker]

Estate taxes are the #1 most awesome thing ever, if applied right. It's the only way to avoid generational wealth and the creation of a new aristocracy. Unfortunately there are about a billion ways to avoid them.

I'd like to see the equivalent of estate taxes applied to any financial transaction between living parents and their adult children, over a certain amount and depending on wealth bracket. Unfortunately your average middle class person these days truly believes it's necessary to throw money at their kids in order for them to survive, so it's a hard sell for voters.
Well, you can tax gifts and inheritance at the individual level, at whatever rate you decide above a lifetime limit of $1 million, and an in year limit which doesn't count to your lifetime limit of $10k. The USA taxes gifts.

To make it less about revenue, and more about prevention of aristocracy, I would also allow equal payments to registered charities in lieu of these taxes.

You would need to provide a higher exemption for farmers, or a different way to measure value rather than the value of the real property if disposed of for farmers.

[DizzyEdge]

By the way, Paul Hughes posted on FB apologizing to the CHF CEO for the behavior of people from the Olympic Plaza protest, and said he was welcome back to talk with them any time.

[fusili]

Fuck we're spoiled today. We have zero sense of perspective.

Agreed 100%.

My grandfather was a survivor of the Burma Railway. My grandmother spent the war in a POW camp, where she gave birth to her second child. My other grandparents didn't fare much better.

Once you have a conversation like this with your relatives, you kind of lose the reason to complain about anything ever again.

We don't have problems, we have a lack of them and so we make up problems so our lives seem interesting.

[DizzyEdge]

Hey, does anyone have any idea what it might cost to get someone to your house and pour concrete into half a basement, there's already concrete there but it dips about 3-4 inches in the middle compared to near the foundation. Talkin like a 20 ft x 20 ft area.

[kw5150]

EDIT: lol, my rant sucks.....im too busy at work....


People just have to start to realize that just because the credit is there, it doesn't mean that you should use it!

I still find it odd that the richest of the rich didn't even blink since the recession and there are millions of people who lost their homes to the banks. To me it shows that there is a problem.

Have we all been tricked into thinking that we all need to be "credit line debt millionaires" and appear wealthy?

People really dont seem to value what they have anymore and to me that show that most people are just spoiled by credit. I think things are about to slow down dramatically to correct what we have done to the market......god, we own everything now! I dont think the market will plummet but i also dont think it will be going anywhere fast in the next few years like it used to. Slow investments and cash will be king.

Im personally looking forward to people putting more value in what they own and stop treating everything like it is disposable. I really hope the day where every house over 30 years old is considered a "lot" like the house has no value.

Consumerism is the real problem here. We all screwed up.

[1ajs]

Hey, does anyone have any idea what it might cost to get someone to your house and pour concrete into half a basement, there's already concrete there but it dips about 3-4 inches in the middle compared to near the foundation. Talkin like a 20 ft x 20 ft area.

is there a drain in the midle of this said basement floor?

[DizzyEdge]

is there a drain in the midle of this said basement floor?

Not the half that the concrete would be poured. Basically just need a few inches poured to make it level and flat again.

[1ajs]

if its sujust remember to score the surface and use a bonding agent on the floor right befor you poor or its going to pee and make a mess but really your better off either leaving it alone or riping it out and puting a new floor in after u lay a new base under it

but in reality the last bit is just an opinion based on things i've seen happen

[DizzyEdge]

I made a thread here about the Transalta power price manipulation scandal

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=195102

[earl69]

-15 to 20 tonight (with wind chill). Best of luck to the Occupy crowd.

[bookermorgan]

Apparently a good night for some candle light...

[earl69]

Yep, nice night for smores it would seem.

[earl69]

They interviewed one of the protesters on Global TV with regards to the fire. He blamed the city for not providing them with electricity "as they had requested" :haha:

[DizzyEdge]

They interviewed one of the protesters on Global TV with regards to the fire. He blamed the city for not providing them with electricity "as they had requested" :haha:

I promise if the city provides me with free electricity to my home, I will only protest on private property. Seems a fair deal.

[monocle]

So... who here alos lost their tent last night?
The ceeb had a crazy-sounding women on the radio this morning literally crying that no one looked after her stuff, even though she was told by other occupiers they would. Linda and her partner will no longer be a part of the "occupy movement"
:(
---
I read through some tweets last week with the #occupycalgary tag. Some funny stuff in there with people being denounced, and general back-biting.
What I couldn't figure out was the point of it all. It seemed the St. Patrick Island faction negotiated a settlement regarding homelessness issues, but the Olympic Plaza group didn't (doesn't?) have as clear of a purpose. ANyone care to shed some light?

Bonus:
Best tweet with #occupycalgary tag:

markusoff
The top 1% in Canada make 11% of the income (not sure abt capital gains) and pay 22% of federal taxes. @jasonfekete blog #occupycalgary
17 Nov Favorite Retweet Reply

[Vascilli]

Wow, so I just got roof access to the Bay Adelaide Centre here in Toronto thanks to a member of the camera club I'm part of. It's not much shorter than The Bow and the view was really something. I'm now extremely jealous of whoever gets the top floors of The Bow. (How they'll be able to do any work...) Pictures to follow, whenever I finish editing them.

[grizz]

Wow, so I just got roof access to the Bay Adelaide Centre here in Toronto thanks to a member of the camera club I'm part of. It's not much shorter than The Bow and the view was really something. I'm now extremely jealous of whoever gets the top floors of The Bow. (How they'll be able to do any work...) Pictures to follow, whenever I finish editing them.

Encana Business Development gets the top floor of the Bow. Looking forward to the photos!

[Vascilli]

Are they looking for first-year mechanical/industrial engineering interns? :hmmm:

[5seconds]

Not sure where to put this, but I was wondering if anyone has watched the 'New York' documentary from PBS.

I am only on the 2nd one, but it really is amazing. It documents the development of New York from it's founding to present day, and talks all about it's planning, development, parks, transportation etc.

For anyone interested in how cities develop, I really recommend watching these. The Library has them all as well.

[WIGS]

Not sure where to put this, but I was wondering if anyone has watched the 'New York' documentary from PBS.

I am only on the 2nd one, but it really is amazing. It documents the development of New York from it's founding to present day, and talks all about it's planning, development, parks, transportation etc.

For anyone interested in how cities develop, I really recommend watching these. The Library has them all as well.

an excellent documentary! Ric Burns is the younger bro of Ken Burns. The "documentary" gene runs in the family :haha:

[jeffwhit]

Not sure where to put this, but I was wondering if anyone has watched the 'New York' documentary from PBS.

I am only on the 2nd one, but it really is amazing. It documents the development of New York from it's founding to present day, and talks all about it's planning, development, parks, transportation etc.

For anyone interested in how cities develop, I really recommend watching these. The Library has them all as well.
I watched the whole thing when I had a ZIP.ca account, then I read the epic tome that is the Power Broker, which might be the next logical step for a lot of you guys.

[Ferreth]

That reminded me, I found this book detailing Calgary's Urban Sprawl development from 1945 - 1978. "Expansive Discourses (http://www.aupress.ca/index.php/books/120152)" by Max Foran. It's available for free as a pdf at the link. I learned a lot about how development used to happen in Calgary and the interactions between the developers and the City in getting new communities built.

[jeffwhit]

A nice little article on Bruce McCulloch, or funniest ever local luminary on his Calgary years and his kind and fair appraisal of our current cultural scene.

Why I Love My City: Bruce McCulloch on Calgary (http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2011/12/why-i-love-my-city-bruce-mcculloch-calgary/641/)

[freeweed]

Huh, I didn't know he was from Calgary. My favourite "Kid" for sure.

[jeffwhit]

Huh, I didn't know he was from Calgary. My favourite "Kid" for sure.
Did you know him and Mark McKinney were founding members of the Loose Moose improve theatre, Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald were also a duo prior to meeting McColloch and McKinney, and then I believe Scott Thompson auditioned to join them to form the Kids.

Edit: If you go back and watch Kids looking out for it, you will find an abundance of Calgary references.

[WIGS]

A nice little article on Bruce McCulloch, or funniest ever local luminary on his Calgary years and his kind and fair appraisal of our current cultural scene.

Why I Love My City: Bruce McCulloch on Calgary (http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2011/12/why-i-love-my-city-bruce-mcculloch-calgary/641/)

cool article! I never knew Bruce McCulloch (or as he would jokingly say Muck-a-luck) was from Calgary.
Mark Byrnes lived in Buffalo when I did and had a blog called "All Things Buffalo". He also went to University at Buffalo for Urban Design I believe while I was studying Urban Planning/Geography at lil' brother school Buffalo State. I never did get the opportunity to meet him but read his blog regularly.
Glad to see he's doing really well in Baltimore and writing for The Atlantic no less :tup:

[bookermorgan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ19A2GFaBM

even has a stampede clip

[Calgarian]

At least stupid people are good for a laugh!

[monocle]

At least Calgary made it in. I noticed the yellow and red stairwells of the Dome to the right and Arriva to the left of the human cannonball fail.
Must of been during Stampede.

[jeffwhit]

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all you fantastic nerds!

[Ayreonaut]

I hope everyone had a great day today!

Mine was pretty awesome, but it would have been nice to go for a skate (my aunt and uncle live on Mackenzie Lake, but it's closed due to the weather). That would have made perfection.

[WIGS]

Last night I went with a few friends to check out the new Science Centre aka Telus SPARK for the Adults only event. It's great! what a gem for Calgary! too bad it's so isolated aka not Downtown, but it's a ridiculously easy drive for me :tup: (thanks 8 ave NE for existing!)

I highly recommend my fellow SSP'ers check out next months "Adults only" night "It's so choice" /endBuellerSpeak

[freeweed]

What exactly happens at an "adults only" event in a science centre?

The geek in me thinks "cool, no kids, I can play with all the exhibits without yelling and vomitting".

The pessimist in me thinks "I bet it's another excuse for adults to get drunk and act like children - and start yelling and vomitting".

[Vascilli]

What exactly happens at an "adults only" event in a science centre?

The geek in me thinks "cool, no kids, I can play with all the exhibits without yelling and vomitting".

The pessimist in me thinks "I bet it's another excuse for adults to get drunk and act like children - and start yelling and vomitting".

That got me thinking of Nuit Blanche.

This adults-only thingy sounds like a good date idea for the less old of us. :haha: (Plus it's an excuse to have shameless fun, because it seems adults aren't allowed.)

[MichaelS]

That got me thinking of Nuit Blanche.

This adults-only thingy sounds like a good date idea for the less old of us. :haha: (Plus it's an excuse to have shameless fun, because it seems adults aren't allowed.)

Why just the less old? I am planning on taking a date to next months (unless you think 30 is "less old").

[freeweed]

30 is that really annoying age where half the people think you're "too old", half think you're "too young", and for the first and last time in your life, you feel neither.

[WIGS]

30 is that really annoying age where half the people think you're "too old", half think you're "too young", and for the first and last time in your life, you feel neither.

I'm 30 and people call me sir :ahhh:
I'm officially old :(

[Ayreonaut]

30 is that really annoying age where half the people think you're "too old", half think you're "too young", and for the first and last time in your life, you feel neither.

I'm not even 23 and I don't consider 30 old. Maybe because my girlfriend of last year is now 32.

Then again, maybe my opinion will change in 7.5 years and I will begin to feel old.

[MichaelS]

If you make a bit of an effort, 30 can feel no different physically than 20.

[Innersoul1]

I'm not even 23 and I don't consider 30 old. Maybe because my girlfriend of last year is now 32.
.

SLOW CLAP!! :worship:

[WIGS]

Happy Birthday Rusty! :5::banana:

[Calgarian]

Saw an add for Shaw EXO during the Superbowl yesterday (one of the few decent commercials on the Canadian feed actually), anyone know what it is?

[Jimby]

Saw an add for Shaw EXO during the Superbowl yesterday (one of the few decent commercials on the Canadian feed actually), anyone know what it is?

http://shaw-launches-exo-service-with-network-upgrades-and-higher-speeds (http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/news/shaw-launches-exo-service-with-network-upgrades-and-higher-speeds/1000878889/)

[Calgarian]

Interesting. So if you already have HD digital cable, is this an automatic switch, or do you need to upgrade?

[Me&You]

Interesting. So if you already have HD digital cable, is this an automatic switch, or do you need to upgrade?

You need to pay for the upgraded speed. It also seems that you'll need the Shaw Gateway system to take advantage of some features... Too bad that the Gateway sucks.

[Calgarian]

I was going to buy the gateway system, but it cost too much with all the receivers and stuff factored in, so I just got a basic PVR. Maybe the gateway would have been a better investment. Time will tell I suppose.

[freeweed]

I kinda feel like that guy in that old Onion story talking about how he doesn't have TV, but...

I'm a bit floored at providers continuing to bulk up their services. With the reams of stuff available on streaming services these days, I'm about ready to cut the cord beyond basic cable. This "keep adding shit into our package and increasing rates" mentality has all but turned me off of broadcast TV forever.

I wish we could see services pared back a lot, to a cheap/no-frills level of service combined with excellent data speeds/caps. Netflix alone - with what is currently some pretty weak selection - has a solid year or two of entertainment for me, without trying. And their selection expands every week.

Now if only I could kick the hockey addiction... fortunately broadcasters only let me watch local games (which I have tickets to half of) and Leaf games (which I don't care about) so I'm not sure I'll be missing much by removing 4 Sportsnet channels that are perpetually blacked out when anything interesting is on.

[fusili]

I deal with this problem by not having a TV. The sheer amount of hours wasted on TV is staggering. I haven't had one for about 8 years now.

[mersar]

I deal with this problem by not having a TV. The sheer amount of hours wasted on TV is staggering. I haven't had one for about 8 years now.

Yep. We have a TV, but only have a digital OTA antenna (so we get 5 channels), and thats more than enough for us. I also torrent a number of shows, but rarely get time to watch almost any of them. I doubt I watch more then 2 or 3 hours of TV a week on average. And usually when I do, I'm doing other things still at the same time.

[Calgarian]

I watch a hell of a lot of TV, mostly movies, sports and whatever Discovery or Nat geo are showing. Regular Sitcoms and Drama's have very little interest to me as they are all basically the same as the show they replaced.

[freeweed]

I deal with this problem by not having a TV. The sheer amount of hours wasted on TV is staggering. I haven't had one for about 8 years now.

Ah, so YOU'RE the Onion guy! ;)

I'll always have one for the odd video game, but otherwise I'm with mersar - a few hours a week tops outside of hockey games. And it's nice to curl up together in front of a movie from time to time.

[fusili]

Ah, so YOU'RE the Onion guy! ;)

I'll always have one for the odd video game, but otherwise I'm with mersar - a few hours a week tops outside of hockey games. And it's nice to curl up together in front of a movie from time to time.

I just use a computer for this.

[MichaelS]

Yep. We have a TV, but only have a digital OTA antenna (so we get 5 channels), and thats more than enough for us. I also torrent a number of shows, but rarely get time to watch almost any of them. I doubt I watch more then 2 or 3 hours of TV a week on average. And usually when I do, I'm doing other things still at the same time.

How do you find your digital OTA to work? I have the most basic cable package (I am a very similar mindset to Freeweed) and tried to set up one of these antenna in my place, and was only able to get 2/5 channels, while the other 3 would only intermittently pick up. Do I just need to try a better antenna (I tried one of the cheaper ones from Best Buy)?

[Ramsayfarian]

I have a TV but the only thing connected to it is my xbox, which I seldom play. The time I don't waste watching TV is wasted on the internet.

[5seconds]

How do you find your digital OTA to work? I have the most basic cable package (I am a very similar mindset to Freeweed) and tried to set up one of these antenna in my place, and was only able to get 2/5 channels, while the other 3 would only intermittently pick up. Do I just need to try a better antenna (I tried one of the cheaper ones from Best Buy)?

A good antenna might not be needed. Go to www.tvfool.com and punch in your address. It will tell you where the signals are coming from, so you can point the antenna in the right direction. If you have a directional antenna, this could help a lot. Also, if it isn't already outside, consider moving it.

I have a $20 antenna from Monoprice and it picks up all 5. I cut cable a year ago, and haven't looked back. It helps having an AppleTV, a library card and a large hard drive. That and the $1.79 movies from the box in Safeway.

[Jimby]

I have 70 inches. The only time in my life I have ever been able to boast about anything size related. :D

[freeweed]

I just use a computer for this.

Kinda loses the romantic ambiance on a 23" monitor, with 2 computer chairs nestled close to each other.

What are the HD OTA channels we can get in Calgary? I assume CTV and CBC, what else?

[5seconds]

Kinda loses the romantic ambiance on a 23" monitor, with 2 computer chairs nestled close to each other.

What are the HD OTA channels we can get in Calgary? I assume CTV and CBC, what else?

CBC, CTV, Global, CityTV and OMNI. Also maybe that Crossroads one.

[mersar]

CBC, CTV, Global, CityTV and OMNI. Also maybe that Crossroads one.

Yep. 2 (Global), 4 (CTV), 5 (City), 9 (CBC) and 38 (OMNI) are all we get up in Ranchlands right now.

[Vascilli]

Oh man do I feel old. I am now 19, and somehow feel less mature than ever. This is my first birthday not in Calgary and damn does it feel weird.

[Bigtime]

Happy birthday Vascilli! Look on the bright side, you are legal to drink in all the provinces now!

Don't feel old, I turn 31 this month (and I'm still just as immature as I was in my 20's!). :)

[shreddog]

Yep. 2 (Global), 4 (CTV), 5 (City), 9 (CBC) and 38 (OMNI) are all we get up in Ranchlands right now.
In Tuxedo I get Global, CTV, City, RDI (16), CTS (32) and OMNI but NO CBC!! :yuck: Still good for the price.

Best thing about OTA is when I tell people that I have wireless tv to go along with my wireless phone and wireless internet. Makes me sound cool ... instead of a semi-luddite!

[Bigtime]

I laughed:

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/426765_10150548413383231_756593230_9075979_438631011_n.jpg

We still love you Edmonton.

[Calgarian]

haha, that's awesome!

[Innersoul1]

Given how much love there has been shown for the tilt-shift of Calgary on the move, thought you would all appreciate this:

http://www.dump.com/2012/02/26/2011-tilt-shift-of-the-carnaval-party-in-rio-de-janeiro-video/

[Jimby]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nh0Cm3H2ow
shit Calgarians say

[Rusty van Reddick]

Ugh, that was painful.

[Jimby]

30 seconds or less would have been better!

[Ayreonaut]

The only part I didn't mind was the Phoenix thing. There's definitely some truth to that.

[Calgarian]

Rumour has it there is going to be a UFC fight on July 21 at the Dome. I think I might try to go, not sure how entertaining it will be for the price they are going to charge.

[Innersoul1]

Rumour has it there is going to be a UFC fight on July 21 at the Dome. I think I might try to go, not sure how entertaining it will be for the price they are going to charge.

Just short of Stampede, that would have been epic. I am sure that tickets will be pricey and I am sure that it will sell out!

[Ramsayfarian]

Rumour has it there is going to be a UFC fight on July 21 at the Dome. I think I might try to go, not sure how entertaining it will be for the price they are going to charge.

Just don't make eye contact for too long or honk your horn at anyone. The Douche will be strong and the air thick with Axe Body spray and testosterone. Too bad it isn't during Stampede as the fights in Nashville North and Cowboys would be epic.

[Witty Nickname]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DBORtSppIB4/TlaKFYravSI/AAAAAAAABTI/ONOxHCCW2k4/s1600/CM-44-EdmontonGameSMALL.jpg

[Calgarian]

Just don't make eye contact for too long or honk your horn at anyone. The Douche will be strong and the air thick with Axe Body spray and testosterone. Too bad it isn't during Stampede as the fights in Nashville North and Cowboys would be epic.

You forgot to mention not to look at a single girl, otherwise you will be punched! lol

[Innersoul1]

Just don't make eye contact for too long or honk your horn at anyone. The Douche will be strong and the air thick with Axe Body spray and testosterone. Too bad it isn't during Stampede as the fights in Nashville North and Cowboys would be epic.

<Slow Clap> returned right back at you sir! Classic. :tup:

Make sure that you wear an Affliction shirt so you fit in!

[bigcanuck]

Make sure that you wear an Affliction shirt so you fit in!

I must be out of touch - what happened to Tapout being the standard uniform?