It's easy to be pessimistic about the future of Alberta's wild lands. Environmental groups are taking the Federal government to court over the government's failure to produce a recovery strategy for Alberta's caribou, needed protection that has been known by the government for decades to be imperative to caribou survival. Sage grouse and grizzly bear numbers are on an ever-quickening downhill slide. Add to that the litany of environmental issues around the ever-expanding tar sands and the ongoing battle to protect the Castle from logging and the picture seems pretty grim.

Which is why it is important to rejoice in the small victories. And, just in time for Canada Day, the Nature Conservancy has a conservation victory … Read More

Dear University of Calgary Waste Management:

I have seen your new garbage and recycling centres, around campus and I really like them. They have three bins, one for beverage containers, one for paper and cardboard and one for garbage. The fact that you can recycle paper anywhere there is a garbage can is wonderful (not to mention a very important waste reduction step for a university), and the colourful signs on the side help keep unwanted material out of the bins.

Which brings me to my next point. I love the photo of the big, nasty, ugly landfill on the side of the garbage container. Some might say that guilt is not the best way to change society's behaviour (you know, honey works better than vinegar, blah, blah blah... Although, when you think … Read More

The bonus of having a long, cold winter is how exciting it is when summer finally comes with its bounty of fresh, local produce, bought straight from the farmer at farmers' makets.

With burgeoning local and slow food movements in our city farmers' markets are popping up all over the city. There are nine Alberta Approved farmers' markets in Calgary and the surrounding area, as well as numerous other markets.

If you have time tomorrow (June 2) between 3:30 and 7 p.m., check out season opening of one of the older markets in the city. The Hillhurst-Sunnyside market has been around since 1994, when it started with four vendors. Since then it has had its ups and downs, some years there have been very few vendors, others the parking lot has been … Read More

Last year I shared with you the magic of Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus. Continuing that tradition I give you my pick (so far) for the best worst movie of the summer of 2010. The Piranhas may not be giant or mega but there sure are a hell of a lot of them. And it's in 3D! Thanks to Mark Strowbridge for passing this one to me.

If you haven't seen the, now viral, video of a wedding party dancing down the aisle to Chris Brown's "Forever" you should check it out. But the real news is how the record company handled the unauthorized use of the song.

Instead of suing or removing the video, they added a link so people who view the video can then download the song. Stroke of genius really. The company made buckets of money (that they wouldn't have otherwise) on the song and the makers of the video get to keep sharing it with the world. Sounds like a win-win to me.

While there are still questions and concerns about how music and videos are traded over the internet, this seems like a possible solution (not that it would work in all cases) where everyone can be happy and the record … Read More