Category Archives: Uncategorized

Your Voice and Your Children’s Future

You have things to do. You are busy but the more that you squelch dissent, the more risk you bring to the future of your children. It’s that simple. Prior to the internet, you spent time lining up in bank queues. Prior to rapid transit, you spent time at bus stops. Prior to email, you spent time hand writing envelopes. Prior to google maps, you spent time navigating. Prior to Amazon, you spent time in malls. Prior to cell phones, you lined up to purchased tickets. In other words, technology has served you with time efficiency but it has also come at a cost. I’ll let your imagination run with the costs. However; your voice is also going to need to start counting. 

AI expert, Yoshua Bengio, as one of the three reknown Godfathers of AI has exclaimed via “The Diary Of A CEO” that he himself missed the risks of AI deployment and only became concerned after the rolling out of ChatGPT. He admits to being dismissive and as human as anyone else by ignoring signs of harm.

Today, despite everything that been witnessed and chronicled with respect to U.S. President Trump’s character, he still holds this high office of responsibility. Investigative reporter Nicholas Confessore today admits on air at MS NOW that what brought Jeffrey Epstein and Trump together was “women and sexual conquests”.  Trump chided every opportunity to release his tax returns for scrutiny and now the Epstein file details have not yet been released with transparency.  This man as President of the U.S. is a proven liar and has referred to people from Africa as “garbage”. He has referred to protesters of confederate statue removals as “good people on both sides” despite the preponderance of KKK members standing proudly within. He practically befriended Putin and at one point during Russia’s war with Ukraine and rebuked the Ukraine President in the Oval office for being ungrateful of the U.S. for war support despite heaps of evidence to the contrary. He disrespected the military service of John McCain while he himself had made up an injury to dodge the Vietnam draft. The laundry list goes on with respect to the blight in this man’s character. Did you know that Wikipedia has referenced over 4,000 law suits for which Trump and / or his companies had been involved from the early 1973 until 2016 when he took office for the first time. The only plausible explanation as to why this man is still running the country is one that I leave to your imagination.   

Now….back to you. Every one of you has the power today to make your views known broadly and widely given the digital infrastructure before you. If you resist or hesitate due to fear from reprisals – you and your loved ones lose. Some voices speak more clearly. I bet your voice is one of those. Your sleep is more sound when your conscience is brought to the fore.      

Pedestrian Traffic Deaths In Calgary

Of the 30 traffic related deaths in Calgary so far in 2025, 11 of them have been pedestrians. This morning on the way to work at the intersection of 17th Ave and 5th St SW (east side of intersection) heading southbound an anxious driver turned right, right into myself and a woman in a crosswalk who was on her cell phone walking her dog. My eye is always on drivers making thinking about making a right turn. Our eyes met and he was unapologetic. The woman on her phone didn’t even know what had happened. This is not something that has happened once. I have experienced this on multiple occasions. I bet it’s happened to you too. 

CTV News just ran a feature on the topic and the them was about “culture” and “awareness” as opposed to enforcement. Enforcement officials who are obviously not sanctioning aggressive drivers sufficiently and frequently enough in order to help with deterrence are deferring to our social condition in highlighting the problem. It’s peculiar to me when city budgets are stretched and responsible tax payers are fatigued that fines for such violations are not in the four figures for such infractions.  With cameras at intersections…why are we not sending more tickets out in the mail? If we care about public safety and tax fatigue, why are campaigns to remove photo radar finding success?    

Common Courtesy Meet Technology

So I was walking up to my office entrance this morning at the street level and was delighted to see a cleaner taking care of the welcome mat by doing some sweeping. She was sweeping the top of the mat while also ensuring to sweep up underneath and other debris surrounding. I kept my distance deliberately because I didn’t want to disturb her given the brevity of such a short task. However; the next person on her cell phone wasn’t quite so aware. She walked right up to the individual expecting to be granted immediate access to the door. The cleaner naturally accommodated and given the interruption I followed along. Inside the door was another woman peering through the glass quite intrigued. We exchanged glances as if in agreement of how the encounter should have unfolded.

The Depraved Trump

Yet another tidbit of evidence of the depraved Trump.

Yet another tidbit of evidence showcasing Trump as depraved. “Former President Donald Trump said Saturday that he wouldn’t protect a NATO nation that didn’t contribute enough defense funds and, instead, he’d ‘encourage’ Russia ‘to do whatever the hell they want.'”

Apparently even this statement is now being rationalized by the Republican spineless. In fact, Marco Rubio (remember the guy with the small hands) has come to Trump’s defence.

The statement certainly serves up juicy table scraps. Oh ya….corroborated the quote from video given that it came from “mainstream media” – for those keeping score.

Should we be surprised that a man of this character given his trouble with the law would espouse such drivel?

Will we see Mrs. Haley take off the gloves and go to work purposefully in educating the populous about the perils of poor character in high office? Will she speak to the disillusionment and hopelessness of Americans who find solace in a depraved voice?

Will the fearful stand up for virtue, honor, the war dead, and truth by denouncing the ugly man Donald Trump for all that he is and his unworthiness in leading Americans. Since the constitution of the U.S. has been ambiguous in preventing this man from seeking the Presidency given his track record, it may come down to the conscience of citizens bestowed a responsibility. Are citizens up to the task?           

Sledding at Church

You go “sledding” at church when you purchase a ticket to experience ethereal sounds from an obscure festival within a cathedral styled place of worship. A revitalized music scene has emerged from the sombreness of the pandemic. Musicians saddled in loneliness from their basements have powered up their skills and are now showcasing. It’s a stopover on Calgary for musicians looking for more of the lime light needing to build a fan base away from the clutter of social media.

On the eve of June 23rd, three acts took to the stage at Calgary’s downtown United Church. Opening was Laura Hickli. The sound man prepared for Laura alone but she brought five compatriots along thereby a delay ensued off the mark. Then it happened. The emotive Laura Hickli jolted us to attention with her intriguing physicality behind her keyboard. There was as much joy in consuming her translation from song to body as there was in interpreting the contrasting melodies. A pointed ballad completed a set filled with dreamy pop soundscapes colored with samples of shoegaze and slide guitar. It was delightfully different in theme with sledding at Sled Island.

Next up was Magella. This powerful singer from Montreal enraptured from the outset with her powerful voice. She introduced herself alone on stage and opened with the accompaniment of a loop. A drummer and guitarist settled in and took their place afterward to pay fill. Literally, these two musicians played accompaniment cognizant of the varying spectral of sound alone emanating from this singer who characterizes her sound as “diasporic blues”. Guitar solos were precise and laden with the charm of some jazz. The songs flowed pleasantly and the finale ensued with the drummer getting his chance to shine with an up tempo song fitting of high energy grunge. During her audience repartee, she made reference to “the project” as if this trio is temporary. Well….evident from last night, this outfit has synergy.   

Closing out the night was “Spelling”. Again….the focal point of the ensemble was the singer. At only 32, Chrystia Cabral has her own Wikipedia page so let’s get that out of the way. Her album “Mazy Fly” released in 2019 was well received universally by music critics and her rise has been unorthodox. She has an unwavering voice complemented by a high energy band. The drummer is so tasteful with dynamics and the chordal sounds oftentimes circulate in the major scale thereby defying alternative trends.

The crowd was delightfully appreciative and the setting was surreal especially in lieu of one particular track in which Laura Hickli represented her departure from religion. This all in context of if being three months to the day since her and her band mates had rolled their touring van down an embankment having struck black ice while on tour. I cast a blessing for all in house atop the highest of pews (photo) and departed the gathering with a warm reconnection with old clients just outside the church door.