tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790914287638573102011-12-11T10:49:02.785-07:00pertaining to the minutiae of a particular disciplinelesoterichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671270848654182067noreply@blogger.comBlogger291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-69442074501530298552011-11-11T09:41:00.001-07:002011-11-11T10:44:10.175-07:00

Watched a piece this morning on Ezra Levant's visit to the CBC mothership and how well that went. I was surprised by his Michael Moore-ish, 'just-in-the-neighbourhood' approach to the situation, given his dislike for Michael Moore and the more leftish media. Leavnt's buffoonery is not quite at the mythical proportions of Michael Moore yet, but this graphic he used in recounting his tale of woe is

lesoterichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671270848654182067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-1853646729263680492011-10-27T08:45:00.001-06:002011-10-27T08:45:22.878-06:00

On Wednesday it was announced that $93 million of funding to the City of Edmonton for a new Royal Alberta Museum [RAM] was not forthcoming from the Federal Government. The process to build a new 36,000 square metre museum located in downtown Edmonton was already under way with a design and location finalized. It seems that without that money there will be no new museum, or at least not the same

lesoterichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671270848654182067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-34206093371084336412011-10-24T10:08:00.001-06:002011-10-24T10:08:40.406-06:00

As a former PSAC member I still receive the quarterly newsletter and this quarter I noticed a pretty big  inconsistency on the front page of the latest newsletter: Private contractors must build in profit margins – which mean higher costs for taxpayers combined with lower salaries and fewer benefits for the people they employ. It’s a lose-lose situation. (link) One cannot disagree that private

lesoterichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671270848654182067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-18921431928129081962011-10-17T22:51:00.001-06:002011-10-17T22:51:31.821-06:00

While digging around on the Internet I found an interesting document: http://www.edmonton.ca/business_economy/documents/InfraPlan/AppendixICOEFortRoadOldTown.pdf It's all about a proposed development, approved by the City in the year 2002. I'm no expert, but I don't believe that the City has managed to implement any of this plan. I still harbour many doubts that they can manage any of the

lesoterichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671270848654182067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-26142243962344899262011-10-16T00:55:00.000-06:002011-10-15T10:35:16.618-06:00

(NOTE: This post has been sent in various forms, tweets, emails, to Edmonton City Council Members and has received no reply, positive or negative, if you agree with anything here please tweet or send a link to your council-person and hashtag #yegcc #yegtransit and #yeg) (Originally published April 1, 2011) Edmonton's City Council is mulling new LRT lines for the city to Nowhere (Whitemud

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-32102010619471335242011-10-15T22:48:00.000-06:002011-10-15T10:37:18.456-06:00

Putting Our Roads on a Diet (Video) : TreeHugger One suggestion I have made for Downtown Edmonton is to eliminate all on-street parking along Jasper Avenue from 124 Street to 95 Street and remove the 'bus bumps' which hold up transit on nearly every block. Make the outside lanes bus / bike only and restrict cabs to transit zones. You would lose about 600 parking spots (30 blocks * 10 spots per

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-39693731351338532552011-10-15T09:52:00.000-06:002011-10-15T09:47:47.589-06:00

I just watched the City of Edmonton YouTube on the North LRT (NAIT) Line and I have a few choice comments.1. Two storey stations are excess infrastructure which creates impediments to effective transit (see: Stadium Station, Southgate Station, Century Park Station). Just last week I was at Southgate Shopping Centre and it takes a good two minutes to access the platform from the mall, and that's

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-30049775557815199262011-10-14T11:53:00.000-06:002011-10-15T09:47:15.646-06:00

Comment Posted on Mastemaq's Blog I ♥ Downtown. It has grown into a Transit Oriented, pedestrian friendly area and is getting close to critical mass as far as being self-sustaining (in the sense of desireability to live there) and I am extremely concerned that we (city council, citizens) are going to muck it up beyond repair with all these giant aspiriations (ecca redev, sprawling 'burbs, wacky

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-7092997208158406802011-10-14T11:39:00.000-06:002011-10-17T10:38:50.433-06:00

On increasing the reach of LRT: "Without a rapid transformation of our building patterns and a push to make existing communities denser, high-speed rail could be a conduit of sprawl, not a deterrent. If stations include vast parking lots, or they’re built in remote areas away from urban cores instead of being made a part of the community, it will all but guarantee people drive to the stations

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-9473852639346968442011-10-13T16:24:00.000-06:002011-10-15T09:48:29.071-06:00

Posted on "Transforming Edmonton" Website and awaiting Moderation.lesoteric 11/17/2010 at 4:22 pm Your comment is awaiting moderation. “access to the LRT as a primary source of transportation rather than a car” That is a major problem with the proposed development, walking should be the primary source of transportation for any ’sustainable’ development. Having access to

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-72355244114255133242011-10-12T09:57:00.000-06:002011-10-15T09:58:05.759-06:00

The following is cribbed directly from the Capital City Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan (Bylaw 15200) which was approved by City Council on July 7, 2010. (I know it's old, I took it down, but now I'm putting it back up) Presenting a small critique of the Redevelopment Plan: Building on the Successes of the 1997 Plan In the past 12 years, Edmonton‟s Downtown has undergone dramatic growth and

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-11843822586858349692011-08-03T12:42:00.000-06:002011-10-15T10:09:27.291-06:00

Alex Abboud blogged about $100M the Province of Alberta could potentially find to help building a new arena in the downtown area of Edmonton. While I like some of the ideas in the post (Streetfront Initiatives,Preservation and Conversion, some capacity development) - some I find less than desirable. One suggestion was residential development incentives of $10,000 to $25,000 per unit. Downtown is

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-44840786820678827102011-07-27T11:57:00.001-06:002011-10-16T12:37:34.766-06:00

TWITTER RESPONSE to @neumanic For Comparisons Sake Edmonton City Centre Airport (#YXD) versus Laguardia (#LGA) in New York City... #YXD Runways Direction Length Surface ft m 12/30 5,870 1,790 Asphalt Statistics (2010) Aircraft Movements 66,746 #LGA Runways DirectionLengthSurface ftm 4/227,0012,134Asphalt/Concrete 13/317,0032,135Asphalt/Concrete Helipads

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-42560392198446777582011-02-27T11:51:00.001-07:002011-02-27T11:51:53.313-07:00

It is about time I clean this place up. New look coming NOW! New posts coming SOON! If you're missing old posts or looking for something in particular just ask!

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-57527006433976960722011-02-27T09:52:00.003-07:002011-02-27T11:49:27.248-07:00

By now every Edmontonian is likely aware that Daryl Katz wants to build a new arena to replace Rexall (Northlands) Arena and that he wants to build it in Downtown Edmonton; I couldn't agree more. Edmonton's City Council seems split on this, with Mayor Mandel a strong supporter of the idea while many council members are on the fence or openly opposed to it.I would like to take this opportunity to

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-71533575304984994612010-09-10T10:41:00.012-06:002011-02-27T11:49:33.702-07:00

I got an email from the campaign of an Edmonton City Council Candidate in response to a blog post made previously asking what my opinion is on Transit Service to the Airport. In my usual fashion I decided to make it more complex than necessary; enter this blog post on Why the International Will (probably) Never Have Edmonton Transit Service.I don't believe we will ever have transit to the EIA

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-32821941316395058962010-08-25T12:18:00.004-06:002011-02-27T11:49:33.714-07:00

Here's are some facts about the proposed arena project for Edmonton:Daryl Katz owns the Edmonton Oilers Franchise.Daryl Katz has said that the Oilers will not play in Rexall place after the club's lease expires in 2014, renovated or not.Daryl Katz has not said what will happen after that but if he sells or moves the franchise Edmonton will not likely get another NHL franchise in the near

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-16782006081240044512010-08-13T12:46:00.009-06:002011-02-27T11:49:27.270-07:00

Interesting discussion on Twitter today with @cityofedmonton.It all began with a tweet from me, @lesoteric:from the likely true file : #ecca redevelopment = no real tax benefit to the city, residents would live elsewhere in #yeg anywaythat last one is based on @iNews880 #yeg Pro-airport lobby group claims the numbers favour saving the CCA http://bit.ly/9Pa4Z5which garnered this reply from @

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-91920163009695240302010-07-30T09:44:00.005-06:002011-02-27T11:49:27.275-07:00

Another day, another airport post. I'm almost hoping they take a bulldozer to the runway today just so I can stop thinking about this. I've said my piece, but I keep seeing the same commentary popping up on other blogs / comments which I would classify not quaite as misinformation but a very selective perception of the situation.To clear up my position: I voted for consolidation way back when (

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-35808620978536562592010-07-28T12:39:00.014-06:002011-02-27T11:49:27.281-07:00

I have spoken to many people on both sides of the Edmonton Airport Debate and I have come down solidly on...my own side.I do not want the City of Edmonton to demolish the City Centre Airport because it is simply not necessary.There is already a glut of available land in and around Downtown Edmonton, over 35 hectares (~86 acres) which has been identified as having some potential for redevelopment.

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-28891338564036534292010-06-23T17:52:00.007-06:002011-02-27T11:49:27.285-07:00

"Today on Twitter I saw (again) how emotional the Edmonton Airport debate is getting. By emotional I mean that logical cases are made daily for keeping YXD, the Edmonton City Centre Airport, open (and in my opinion, expand it). This logic is met, by and large, with rhetoric and hyperbole if not outright deception or misinformation by those on the other side of the debate, the "Close YXD"

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-82606315408792586652010-06-23T11:58:00.003-06:002011-02-27T11:49:33.721-07:00

Quick thought:With the huge amount of investment require for purpose-built schools why not rent space in slack commercial areas? Probably not great for primary students, and you will need science labs and other specialty facilities, but for humanities, math, and languages all you need are notebooks/netbooks and seats. Why not take advantage of vacant commercial space and mitigate the disadvantage

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-13981724113358510872010-06-18T12:32:00.012-06:002011-02-27T11:49:27.292-07:00

Time is an issue right now as I train at work and study for finals so this will be brief.Scott McKeen tried to put an opinion shaped nail in the coffin of the Edmonton City Center Airport (YXD) (again) today. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/City+Centre+Airport+dead+issue+please+give+rest/3169869/story.html in which he drags out the usual slings and arrows and ad hominem attacks, which in

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-80417738284438587562010-06-09T08:50:00.011-06:002011-02-27T11:49:33.727-07:00

Being a full-time student and full-time worker who takes transit everywhere (car-free since 2007) I was very interested in seeing if I can use the ETS@Work program in Edmonton. So I fired off an e-mail to the facilities person at Canada Place, the response:"Upon further investigation into the ETS at Work program, [My Workplace] is not able to participate in this initiative. Each city has its own

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-10393509878462747812010-05-28T14:16:00.004-06:002011-02-27T11:49:27.309-07:00

Motorists face a 50-cent hike at parking meters across the city starting June 1.And you would think that we were converting all meters to only accept confederate money. Seriously folks, it's 50ø an hour, that's $6 a day at most. if $6 to park is too much take the bus, which costs $5.50 a day.Rates in high demand areas are going up from $2.50 to $3 an hour, medium demand areas will see a rise from

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-74609102637659264452010-05-04T08:21:00.001-06:002011-02-27T11:49:27.314-07:00

This is something I blogged about in Ottawa when the so-called business community there was fighting tooth-and-nail against a 50¢ per hour raise in parking meter fees in the Downtown area. Having lived and walked extensively in that area I felt that their logic was faulty (that without an abundance of 'cheap' or 'free' parking, which is a misnomer as all that space is subsidized by property taxes

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-80891014911211929802010-03-24T18:24:00.005-06:002011-02-27T11:49:27.317-07:00

I wasn't going to touch this, in fact I was hoping it would fly under the radar long enough that the bleeding hearts and morons in the media would leave it be."OTTAWA — The Conservative government is promising to cut off monthly old-age security payments to hundreds of federal prison inmates, including infamous serial killer Clifford Olson."Sure, why not. We should definitely waste a bunch of

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-21685856740895763242009-12-24T11:09:00.008-07:002011-02-27T11:49:27.321-07:00

I know this seems out of place on Xmas Eve, but I feel as though it's the perfect time to look at what ethical behaviour is.I recently completed a course entitled "Managing Responsibly in a Global Environment" which is, at it's heart, Ethics. The class turned out to be a seriously hard one, nine research / position papers and a five essay final exam. The most interesting part, however was

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479091428763857310.post-79424497611576084992009-12-01T21:56:00.019-07:002011-02-27T11:49:27.325-07:00

I think most people I know forget that I have been an environmentalist since the late 1980's, and I didn't jump on that train after it became 'cool' to be a 'green'I was a vegetarian for environmental reasons well before David Suzuki suggested people have 'meat free Mondays', I dumped my car before 'The End of Suburbia'. I knew about our sickening consumption and it's far reaching effects before

lesotericnoreply@blogger.com0