My Favorite Posts of 2009!

  Wow...what a year it has been!  I thought a nice lazy post would involve me looking back through all of my posts in 2009 and making a quick list of my favorite ones.  Going through the list I was amazed at some of the things that were going on politically and locally during the year, most of which seems so irrelevant now.  I found that many of my beliefs on some of these subjects were different than what I think today, which I found fascinating.  As I creep up on my first year of blogging, I am amazed at some of the nonsense I write about!

Any ways, here is a quick list of links my favorite posts during 2009:

January:  WOW! Could they be any more arrogant?

February: No Sympathy for Calgary's Millionaire Mayor


March:  When did Calgary become a Socialist city?

April:  More Sugarplums from Ald. Druh Farrell

May: "Don" Andre (Soprano) Chabot protects his turf

June: George Dadamo...One Ambitious Fellow  and  WAP Leadership Race via Social Network Stats!

July: Only $25Million for this Peace bridge...are you sure?

August:  McCarthyism & Why the Wildrose Alliance will never succeed!

September:  Wildrose Alliance Membership Sales.... PART 1  or Who Is the Best Looking Candidate?

October: Alberta PC Party...Be Careful What You Wish For!

November: Survivor: Red Deer.. Ed Stelmach PC Leadership Vote

December:  Who Is Really Blocking Alberta's Cellphone Law?

My most popular posts in terms of traffic still seem to be the two rants I did on Concrete Equities.  If you have not seen them, here are the links:

1)  Concrete Equities.."No Money Now....or Later?
2)  Concrete Equities? Not so great after all...( and how I dodged that bullet!)

My Favorite moments of the year?

1) My Wife telling me she was pregnant!  ( Check out my dad blog at http://www.calgarydaddy.com/)

2) Meeting the Prime Minister! 

Well, it has been a blast!  Happy 2010 to Everyone and I look forward to wasting more of your time in the new year! 

Shane

Stampede 2009.. Harper and Ignatieff set for a "shootout"?

I just love it when the eastern based politicians head to Calgary every July and search for various photo-ops for their papers back home. Seeing the often unattractive and comically dressed politicians reminds me of Stampede's of my youth, when Mom used to shove me into some ridiculous Cowboy outfit before we headed to the grounds. ( Sheriff Badge/Whistle included!)

While I am sure that the Stampede loves the publicity that they get from these foreign dignitaries, I just laugh and laugh at the posturing that goes on every year. They often look so out of place that I am embarrassed for them. ( See Ignatieff above) You may as well through some loose fitting clothes on their back, give them a skateboard and send them to the half-pipe for some sweet photo-ops with the youngsters. It makes as much sense to me.

Ignatieff was ranting last night that the Liberals were able to pull 600 supporters to their annual BBQ at the Calgary Zoo last night. Well, at $40 a ticket I bet that the Liberal party needed some donations to cover the catering/rental bill. Excellent fundraising Iggy...keep it up.

On the other hand, I was fortunate enough to attend the Calgary SW/PM Stephen Harper BBQ at Heritage Park last night and I can confirm that this was an excellent event. There had to be 800-900 people there as it looked completely sold out. At $135 a ticket, a quick math scan would reveal that this was a financial success also. Also, the PM was kind enough to spend almost 2 hours shaking hands and taking pictures and looked entirely comfortable do so. I cannot imaging Count Iggy feeling the same way with the "commoner" Calgarians!

Both leaders took shots at each others party's in their speeches last night, and spoke loudly of the "pending" fall election. I find it pretty brave of Iggy to be calling the PM out in his own City, especially since he continues to "cower" in Ottawa. Perhaps he is considering changing the Liberal "RED" to a more appropriate Iggy "Yellow"? Sounds like "fighting" words to me gentlemen.

I can't wait for the "shoot out" this fall. Perhaps then Iggy will finally mount his Iron Horse and head on back to Harvard to retire in his intellectual glory. ( Just think, you will never have to play dress up again!) YEE-HAW!

Obama visit to Canada...Happy to be in Iowa? lol

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Nice video of President Obama's and Prime Minister ( or is it "President" ) Harper's press confernce yesterday. I love the opening line.... when Obama says he is happy to be in "Iowa".....er...Ottawa.

As is typical with these meetings, all the right things were said in the press conference. I would have loved to be a bird on the wall during their private meetings.

Anyways...its a good chuckle for a Friday Morning!