A blog by Calgary freelance writer Jeremy Klaszus.

Calgarians and the Palin/Graham cause

Posted by Jeremy Klaszus in Klaszus Corner

Um, Calgary?

I know you're busy, but you know that shoebox program? The one intended to convert poor kids to Christianity? The one that benefits from tons of glowing local news coverage each year? The one you can't publicly question without being labelled a Scrooge? The one that you — yes, you — help support with your tax dollars — you knew that, didn't you? — thanks to the involvement of local emergency services (ambulances and helicopters!) that back the cause each year?

Yes, that's the one. Operation Christmas Child. Run by Franklin Graham and Samaritan's Purse.

Well, you might be interested in knowing that Samaritan's Purse trotted out none other than Sarah Palin to help give out shoeboxes in Haiti on the weekend. From CNN:

Former Alaska Gov … Read More

Add comment      more in City     |     posted Dec 13th, 2010 at 3:58pm

It's been a good week for Naheed Nenshi

Posted by Jeremy Klaszus in Klaszus Corner

No, let's rephrase that. It's been a really good week for Naheed Nenshi.

To recap: Nenshi put out a press release on Thursday containing two questions he says he would have asked the Police Chief Rick Hanson if he was on council. Question one: "Why has Calgary got the second highest per officer cost in the country?" Question two: "Why has the CPS budget increased by 23% but the number of officers on the street has increased by only 11% over the past three years?”

When I first saw Hanson's response — a media statement accusing Nenshi of spreading inaccurate information and being "ill-informed" and "irresponsible" — I thought: This is good news for Nenshi, regardless of how this tussle plays out. The fact that the police chief felt compelled to go … Read More

Comments (2)      more in City     |     posted Sep 25th, 2010 at 1:14pm

'I am not a career politician': Colley-Urquhart

Posted by Jeremy Klaszus in Klaszus Corner

I recently came across a surprising nugget in an old Calgary Herald story, and thought local political observers might find it interesting. The story is from June 5, 2000. The story is about Diane Colley-Urquhart, then a candidate for the Ward 13 byelection which took place in July of that year. The writer is Danielle Smith, who praises Colley-Urquhart for her "long association with the Alberta Progressive Conservatives." That alone is funny to read 10 years later. But here's the really good part:

Running for council is the next step in [Colley-Urquhart's] community service resume but not the last. "I am not a career politician. If elected, I will serve two terms, then get out so there can be fresh leadership."

It's a refreshing attitude … Read More

Comments (1)      more in City     |     posted Aug 24th, 2010 at 9:05pm

City of Calgary to cyclists: #$@% off

Posted by Jeremy Klaszus in Klaszus Corner

My one-year-old daughter and I spent last Monday morning alongside a lifeless, sinister stretch of pavement in northeast Calgary. This morning's destination—a trip to the zoo—was much more enjoyable, but getting to the zoo got my blood boiling.

The problem, see, is that I chose to ride my bike to the zoo instead of driving. We live close to the zoo — the ride's not far at all. Often my daughter and I ride past the zoo with the bike chariot on the Nose Creek Pathway when we're out for a ride. So why drive when we're so close?

The Nose Creek Pathway goes by the zoo — in fact, it kind of wraps around it. The path is a stone's throw away from the parking lot. So there must be access to the zoo's main entrance from the pathway, right? Some kind of connector pathway … Read More

Comments (3)      more in City     |     posted Jun 21st, 2010 at 6:19pm

The insufferable CBC Radio 2

Posted by Jeremy Klaszus in Klaszus Corner

Last week, Drew penned a provocative rant about eggs, mouse shit and a vastly overrated breakfast chain in town. He called it as he saw it, and made some people mad in the process. Good on him. He was bang on, and breakfast lovers the world over love him for it.

In this spirit of constructive criticism, I would like to offer a gripe of my own. Mine, however, doesn't involve breakfast. It involves radio, which, like breakfast, is extremely important in the morning. Radio is the first sensory experience of my day. I wake up to CBC Radio One — but that's not where my complaint lies. Radio One is the CBC's crown jewel (specifically, the show Wiretap, but that's another story). My issue is with Radio One's ugly stepsister, the insufferable CBC Radio 2.

I started … Read More

Comments (3)      more in Music Features     |     posted Jun 15th, 2010 at 3:05pm

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