Tuesday, March 30, 2010

New Media and Journalism Time-line, Student Names









New Media and Journalism Timeline, Shannon Findlay and Pamela Di Pinto




New Media and Journalism Time-line, Robert Smethurst




New Media and Journalism Time-line, Jennifer Carbert, Aden Joy Cruz


New Media and Journalism Time-Line, Katrine Sorensen, Stevzzzen Wagers


New Media and Journalism Time-line, Devon Bowie, Jesse Snyder









Journalism Students and the Digital Era, Shannon Findlay and Pamela Di Pinto



The cartoon above represents how social media has become popular for many uses in our society. Not only as a way to keep in touch, but to deliver news, share pictures, and connect with large audiences quickly. Social media is an effective tool that all journalists should be prepared to work with.

Journalism Students & the Digital Era, Aden Cruz

backpack jour,soc media


In Howard Rheingold’s video, he reiterated the idea that “…newspaper people aught to take into account as they move journalism into this new form is the ability to link and thus to create an infinite number of refractions on stories that had to be told only in one dimension previously. Multimedia, the capability of taking audio and video and graphic simulations and add them to the repertoire of text and still images in the same medium.”

My cartoon depicts the fact that journalists now have a lot of baggage (literally, and in their work-load) due to the new multi-media standards of reporting. Not only are journalists writers, they are also the photographer, videographer, and the audio person.

On the last scene the reporter says she needs to tweet and blog; something Rheingold's video also focused on was the importance of adapting to social media and being accessible to audience participation.

Journalism Students and the Digital Era, Kris Hoyt

Upload Too Slow

This one is not meant to be funny. Basically, the reporter managed ot get the story, but because the wi-fi failed, he could not get it up on time. As a result the competitor's got it up first while this paper needed to wait for the print version. I hope it's clear.

Journalism Students and the Digital Era, Katrine Sorensen

Lord of JOUR 101



I got the impression from the video blog that the editors and new organizations are looking for people who have an interest in learning and participating in online media. Whatever the individual journalist's opinion is about journalism 2.0, to be against it is the direct route to unemployment in today's business.

Journalism Students & the Digital Era, Steven Wagers

ALIEN SOCIAL MEDIA


In my toodoo I wanted to show what would happen to you, as a journalist, if you were to not follow with the times. The industry is moving increasingly towards using social media as a way to get news out. If you don't adapt to these changes, you will surely be attacked viciously by multiple aliens, so I'd get familiar with social media if I were you.



Journalism Students & the Digital Era, Jennifer Carbert, Devon Bowie

Hellcomic

We decided to create a cartoon about a foolish person (luddite) stuck to the old ways of publishing media. Internet and progress ran over everything in its way including the old school luddite. And now he is in hell. \m/

Lecture 12: Journalism Students & The Digital Era

For homework I asked you to watch this Howard Rheingold video:




Futher reading included "Assessing the Credibility of Online Sources."


Activity 1: Respond to VLog

With a partner, create a cartoon that captures the main premise of "What do Journalism Students Need to Know in the Digital Era."

Create an account on ToonDoo. Choose the tab "Tools" and click "ToonDoo Maker." Create a 3 scene cartoon. Save your cartoon and then embed it in a blog post. Include a few sentences in your blog post summarising your cartoon.

Title: Journalism Students & the Digital Era, Student Names
Labels: journalism 2.0, lecture 12, new media, review



Activity 2: Respond to Assessing Credibility

Choose an article from today's edition of the Edmonton Journal.
Assess the article according to the credibility criteria in the webcredible list.
How does the Edmonton Journal fare? Note your main findings in a comment here. Make sure to include your name.


Note: Image of Alan D. Mutter from Armand Emamdjomeh on the Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism site.


Read "BBC Tells News Staff to Embrace Social Media."

Activity 3: Respond in a blog comment: Now that you're nearing the end of the term and have had a lot of experience with various web 2.0 tools and discussions of the future of journalism, do you agree or disagree with the Guardian article above. Why or why not? Is there anything you would like to add to the article? Were there any viewpoints not mentioned that should have been presented? Did you note any proofreading/copy editing errors?


Activity 4: With a partner, create a time-line of the role of new media in journalism. You will need to sign up for an account on http://www.capzles.com/. When you have finished your time-line, save it and then copy the embed code and paste it into a new blog post.

Title: New Media and Journalism Time-line, Student Names
Labels: Lecture 12, new media, journalism 2.0, history


Some sites that you might find useful include:

http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=75953&sid=26


http://www.cemp.ismysite.co.uk/timelines/journalism/


http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2009/02/washington-posts-web-ninjas-build-map-timeline-combo047.html



Homework:

Come ready to review for the final exam.

Final exam: Tuesday April 20, 1:00-4:00 in room 212.

Journalism Students & the Digital Era, Jayme Hagen and Terra Poole

In this constantly changing social media landscape it is vital you are familiar with all the tools available. By not learning a specific type of media, such as Twitter, you are alienating a potential audience. Even if you don't necessarily like the social media, you never want to narrow your audience by your own ignorance.

Old man and Media

Monday, March 29, 2010

Prime Minister Harper Will Receive No Jail Time for Domestic Abuse, Maxwell Rausch

Story is entirely fictional! Do not waste your time reading this!

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will receive no jail time for savagely attacking his wife Laureen in a drunken stupour, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

The Prime Minister was sentenced to 500 hours community service after pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon.

“I can afford lawyers that cost more than your salary!” Harper told a reporter form the Globe and Mail.


The Prime Minister threatened his wife of 16 years with a hunting knife after he caught her smoking marijuana in their Ottawa mansion the afternoon of Feb. 10, 2009.

When his wife threatened to divorce him, he became enraged and pushed her down a flight of stairs.

She pointed out his long-standing struggle with alcohol and called him a hypocrite, Crown prosecutor Jerry Callo told the court.

“She told him that he had already left her for vodka,” said Callo.

Harper admitted that he was drunk at the time of the incident, but said he was more ashamed of his pot-smoking wife.

“I have nothing to be ashamed of. Alcohol is legal because it’s good. Drugs are illegal because they’re bad.”

Callo told media outside court that the decision was a "travesty of justice."

"Oh the humanity! may client and I are in the depths of despair! Behold, that such perversions could manifest themselves in our democracy shatters the soul!"

The Prime Minister's defence attorney Richard Warren declined an interview, but said in an email that he was "the man."

Image of Stephen Harper form here.

Image of Laureen Harper form here.


Recent History of Ottawa as the Centre of Canada

As the political hub of Canada, Ottawa has had to tolerate stephen Harper's near-constant presence for the last four years. In that time, Canada has been more politically unstable than ever. Ruling as a minority government, harper and the Conservative Party have gained very little ground in the struggle for political change.

In the 2006 census, Ottawa was recorded as having a population of around 800 000 people. Although not Canada's most populous city, it is among the nation's most active metropoli. despite being the epicentre of an unstable political climate, the city enjoys the distinction of being one of the cleanest in North America. The city itself is under the governance of a conservative mayor, a balding, Irishman and one of Prime Minister harper's lowest underlings.

Recently, the Prime Minister provided vague and unsatisfactory responses to concerns about marijuana in Canada. One of his outstanding quotes was: "Drugs aren't bad because they're illegal. Drugs are illegal because they're bad."

Political discontent in Ottawa, Ontario and throughout the country will hopefully lead to political change come the next election.


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Recycling becoming a priotiy in Meadow Lake, Jennifer Carbert

*Story fictitious*




Recycling was the top priority at Meadow Lake's city council meeting on Monday evening.


Reducing, reusing, and recycling waste in the city of Meadow Lake was brought forward by councilor Terry Paylor at Monday's council meeting.

"We want to make recycling accessible to our city," said Paylor.

Two years ago the Rural Municipality of Meadow Lake decided to build a regional landfill near Rapid View where people from the area would be required to bring their garbage. Lamon Disposal, the local waste management company, offered to drive to rural areas for an expensive fee. Other business were also started because of the distance to the landfill for so many rural residents.

Due to complaints from the Rural Municipality the city has decided to look into other options of waste management such as a more comprehensive recycling program.

"Recylce! Waste in landfills release a lot of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming," said b_paperless on Twitter.

Lamon Disposal offered a couple of options to city council during the meeting. Lamon said they are unable to recycle certain items but are willing to offer better programs for cardboard and paper products.
According to the City of Edmonton web site they have become one of the national leaders in sustainable waste management.

"I think it is a very important mandate for any organization or community to have," said Aden Cruz, a student at Grant MacEwan university in Edmonton.

Although it will take some time for Meadow Lake to develop a system as well organized as Edmonton, Meadow Lake city council has promised to have a decision on Lamon's proposal for recycling within the next couple of months.

Note image from http://www.scrd.ca/files/Image/Solid%20Waste/landfill%20bulldozer-1.jpg
resources: Meadow Lake Progress: "City council breifs"

Background
Note: image from http://members.shaw.ca/shelleyannleedahl/Meadow%20Lake%20Horse.jpg


Meadow Lake,SK, is a small city of 5,000 people which has a large farming history. Most of the older people who moved to the area were pioneers of the time. They broke the land and set up a livable farming area. The local museum is comprised of old farm machinery. It is not unusual to see a tractor stopped at the local McDonald's in the summer time. Although it is a strong farming community, Meadow Lake is also a leader in the forestry industry. A pulp mill and OSB plant supply a large number of jobs for the area.
Surrounding forest and lakes supply recreation for the towns folks throughout the year. Ice fishing and hunting are popular in the winter and swimming and fishing are popular in the summer. During the summer season toursits supply a large amount of business to Meadow Lake, SK.

Although it may seem like a picturesque town, there are also issues which the town is debating. Garbage collection and recycling is a major issue in the town right now. Two years ago the town began a regional landfill which covered a large land area. With so many kilometeres in the jurisdiction people began to revolt against the idea. In recent city council talks Lamon Disposal (the local Waste Management company) proposed a recycling plan which has yet to be approved by the city.

"Alien landing discovered in famous Star Trek town" Shannon Findlay

A shocking discovery of an alien landing was made by a high school student, north east of Vulcan, Alta. late Monday night.

Robby Findlay, 18, was first to hear the loud noises and see the flash of light that preceded an alien spaceship landing in the field near his family's farmhouse, 3 kilometers north east of town at around midnight.

Findlay was quick to investigate the source of the disturbance. He described the ship as being the size of a small house, shaped like an egg, and lit up by many small windows. Findlay said he witnessed the door open and three beings emerge.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," said Findlay. "It was like a dream. As I stood staring, this door I hadn't noticed before opened up and three guys, who could've been regular people except for their ears, starting coming out."

Vulcan, a town made famous by it's name which it shares with a fictional planet in the television series "Star Trek", is suddenly faced with the reality of real alien existence. Many have speculated on the lack of coincidence between the town's tourist attractions, and the aliens choice of landing spot.

Long time alien theorist, Rob Smethurst, believes the alien landing has come as a planned expedition with help from actor Leonard Nimoy, famous for his role as Spock in "Star Trek".

"This has been a long time in the making," said Smethurst. "This is surely only the first landing on what will come to be an alien battlegrounds."

At this time no contact has been made with the aliens. Contact will proceed when Tom Cruise, chief minister for Alien Affairs, arrives.


Local Area Description

Vulcan is a small farming community in southern Alberta located 100 kilometres southeast of Calgary. It's population stands at around 2000 residents. Vulcan is surrounded by crop fields on all sides of it's expansive prairie location. At one time the town could boast of having more grain elevators than any location west of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The town was originally named in 1915 after the Roman God of Fire- Vulcan, by a surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railway. When the television series "Star Trek" created the imaginary planet of Vulcan, the town took on a new theme to attract tourism.

Vulcan has since become famous for its replica of the starship Enterprise, as well as its "Trek Station"-- a building shaped to look like a spaceship where inside tourists can find Star Trek memorabilia and many photo opportunities. Around the town similarly themed murals and signs decorate the streets. Since "Vulcans" in Star Trek were famous for having pointed ears, tourists of the town often invest in a pair of 'Spock ear's' for a keepsake.

In the summer months, Star Trek fans from around the world flock to the Vulcan Spock Days/Galaxyfest for a weekend of parades, conventions, and outdoor festivities all in the spirit of the Trekkie fantasy.


Godzilla strikes Edmonton, Smethurst, Robert

Casualties are still being counted, nearing the hundreds, after Godzilla attacked Edmonton's downtown area, Monday morning.
The casualty count continues to climb in the wake of a Godzilla attack, at 9:15 a.m. It is believed by military officials that the dreaded Japanese monster, swam up the North Saskatchewan River, before inflicting massive damage on the downtown area.

"I saw him jump out of the water, and immediately ran to the nearest phone booth to change into my alter ego," said Steven Wagers, a self proclaimed "do-gooder." "Unfortunately I did not have my super hero suit and had to allow someone else to deal with the problem."

That someone was the military; Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry responded quickly, giving time for local police and RCMP to begin evacuations. Godzilla smashed buildings, crushed cars, and caused a complete power failure in the downtown core.

It took tanks to stop Godzilla’s advance, but it took the rockets from helicopters to drive him back into the river, a spokesman said.

The PPCLI, RCMP and the Edmonton Police Service have been working around clock to sift through the rubble left behind. The Royal Alexander and University hospitals have been taking the more critical patients, while the more stable patents are being transported by the bus load to more outlying faculties.

Buildings that were demolished by Godzilla include the Shaw Conference Center, Canada Place and City Centre Mall.

Description:

Godzilla rarely attacks outside of Japan, so why the monster has attacked Edmonton people can only guess why. The attack has inflicted a lot of damage to the city: the Shaw Conference Centre was completely caved in; the south side of the Canada Place building took a direct tail hit; the new downtown Art Gallery burned to the ground from Godzilla’s fire breathing and because of its close proximity to the building, the court house closely followed suit; and Godzilla stumbled backwards on the Stanley A. Milner Library building from cannon fire before falling on the City Centre Mall.

The LRT collapsed at Churchill Station under the strain of Godzilla’s weight; and Churchill square itself has a perfectly imprinted outline of the monster after it rolled off City Centre Mall and got back up. While members of the PPCLI took minor casualties, there are some 800 civilians missing, or wounded from the attack. The wreckage from an approximated 300 civilian vehicles has been found on site, including one flower shop delivery truck, and 19 of the military’s tanks were flattened.

Despite all the damage that the attack inflicted on the city, for some reason the World Trade Centre did not suffer so much as a broken window. Workers of the building are amazed at their luck at being spared, and some believe that Godzilla may have wanted something, or someone, from inside.

Downtown developement plan divides Edmontonians, Katrine Sorensen






A new plan for downtown developement has become a hot issue prior to an open house April 8 where the plan will be presented.

The downtown developement plan proposes major green initiatives, housing, green areas and designated retail space.


The main point of controvercy is the construction of a $400 million Downtown arena. A poll from CTV Edmonton found that 55 per cent of Edmontonians are against the plans of a new arena.


Other edmontonians used twitter to vent off their frustration of the proposed plans:

"Professor Humphrey debating new downtown arena on Alberta Primetime #YEG !" Goaskalice 22 wrote on Twitter Monday. "Why would I want my tax dollars to go towards a hocky arena?


Although the downtown arena plans have gotten negative reviews from Edmontonians, the package itself has excited Edmonton twitters:

"Reading @cityofedmonton 's Downtown Plan. Looks like they have their stuff together!" Drewforward wrote on Twitter Monday.


The plan will be executed with the help of Downtown Business Association and Downtown Edmonton Community Legue.

The City of Edmonton is expected to present details of the plan at an open house at City Hall, April 8

Background

The Capital City Developement Plan has been on its way since 2006 and was initially intended to be a minor update on the plan from 1997. However, new developement caused the city to think up a new plan, and consulted Edmontonias via workshops and open house events. An initial draft was approved by excecutive city council in July 2009, and the final draft is expected to be considered in the summer of 2010.

A group of Edmonton-based designers: The Livable City Design group, formed by Cohos Evamy integratedesign was hired to complete the Downtown Developement Plan with the price tag of $400,000.

The Edmonton Downtown area is concised of 160 ha and is defined by the area from 97 street to 111 street and is bordered to the South by Rossdale and to the North by Central McDougall.

The Downtown Area holds not only the legislative centre crowned by the Legislation, City Hall and the Provincial Court, but also a cultural centre with the newly opened Art Gallery of Alberta, the Citadel Theatre, and the Edmonton Opera. The City Centre Campus of Grant MacEwan University is also located downtown, and the developement plan has left room for an expansion of the university campus.

The complaints from Edmontonians about the new arena were dismissed by Mayor Stephen Mandel in an interview to CTV Edmonton Monday.

Note: image from wiugc2008.com and media.canada.com



"Chuck Norris Wins 13 Day Long Fight", Steven Wagers


After 13 days of fighting in downtown Sydney, Australia's most notorious enemy has finally been vanquished due to a swift roundhouse kick to the face from Chuck Norris, on Tuesday.

Kangradile, a mutant cross between a Kangaroo and a Crocodile, was pronounced dead by doctors at 10:43 a.m. due to multiple roundhouse-kick-related injuries to the face, neck, and chest.

The fight broke out when Kangradile allegedly blew up the cafe Norris was having breakfast in on Wednesday, March 9, 2010. Twenty-six people were killed. Norris is the only known survivor of the explosion.

"Chuck Norris only has two speeds," said James Bologne, one of many witnesses to the epic fight. "Walk and kill."

The death of Kangradile comes as a relief to many in the Sydney area, due his constant alleged attempts to destroy popular attractions in and around the city, however police are saying they do not encourage vigilante action such as that which Norris displayed.

"We do not want any citizens participating in this kind of vigilante justice," said police chief Bruce Platypus. "The only reason Chuck can get away with it is because Chuck Norris can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night."

Police began to show some frustration when asked if Norris would receive any disciplinary sentence for his actions.

"Are you not listening to us?" exclaimed Platypus. "Chuck Norris has done us all a favour here, and you never look a gift Chuck Norris in the mouth, because he will bite your damn eyes off."

The fight won an award for the longest lasting, most legendary fight between two life forms, a covetted award in 'Ridiculous' magazine.

Image from http://msmills.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/chuck_norris.jpg

Chuck Norris jokes from http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/all-chuck-norris-facts?page=2 powered by spreadshirt.com

Note: Events are entirely ficticious. Names and events were made up, and while Chuck Norris is a real person, he did not participate in any of these particular events, to my knowledge. Sydney is a real place but it is not under threat from a half kangaroo, half crocodile known as Kangradile.



Sydney, Australia is one of the most recognizable cities in the world. Sydney was established by Arthur Phillip in 1788. While it is not the capital of Australia, it is the largest city with a population of around 4.2 million.

Sydney is also home to many sight-seeing locations, like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Sydney Opera House. Both of these locations are some of the most recognizable locations in Australia. If you are an athlete, you may want to check out Sydney Olympic Park, as well.

Sydney Olympic park was the site of the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. If sports aren't your thing, though you can visit Luna Park.

Luna Park is an amusement park with fun for all ages. It has been around since 1935 and provides rides ranging from carpet slides, to a giant ferris wheel, so your sure to be amused.

The weather in Sydney is warm in the summer, cool in the winter, and rains evenly throughout the year.

One should be warned however, that many exotic animals that live throughout Australia and that includes Sydney. Cockroaches are not uncommon, and there are many different types of spiders, snakes, and tarantulas that are native to Australia. It is advisable to be on the lookout for these exotic creatures and to not get too close to them.

Man steals elephant from Valley Zoo, Terra Poole

Man steals elephant from Valley Zoo
By Terra Poole

An Edmonton man is charged with theft after he was found Tuesday with an elephant that was stolen from the Valley Zoo early March.

Jayme Hagen, 22, was caught by helicopter surveillance Tuesday morning with Lucy the elephant in his backyard.

"I just wanted an elephant so bad," said Hagen.

Hagen didn't know Lucy
Hagen said he never heard of Save Lucy, a military group trying to get elephants into the military, and that he simply took the elephant for his own enjoyment.

He said he never knew Lucy was a famous elephant.

The plan
He was able to get the elephant out of the Valley Zoo by giving the guards money at the gates.

“It was simple really,” said Hagen. “When you want an elephant, you just have to set your mind to it.”

Edmonton police said they were shocked it was so easy for Hagen to steal the elephant.

“It’s shocking he was able to get the elephant to his home in St. Albert without anybody noticing,” said Const. Terra Poole.

Lucy's health
Hagen had Lucy almost three weeks and Valley Zoo health inspectors said the elephant has not been in better health in years.

“You know, an elephant just needs some tender love and care,” said Hagen.

Hagen is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for theft over $5,000.

The Valley Zoo is approximately 40 kilometres from St. Albert.

Note: Image from Hamilton Spectator


Jayme Hagen prepared for the elephant's arrival by building a 15 foot tall fence around the perimeter of his yard. He said he had been planning the elephant’s arrival for months.

Hagen has had no previous criminal record.

He is a renowned journalist who writes for Globe and Mail.

The project Save Lucy is a military funded program that was founded by Jesse Snyder in 1993. The program is trying to get elephants into the military, said Snyder.

Snyder said he believes elephants will give Canada a major advantage over other countries in terms of intimidation.

“Against other countries, Canada doesn’t really compete in terms of the military,” said Snyder. “I think that’ll all change when we get elephants.”


The Save Lucy program started first with other animals, such as lions and bears; however they were never able to intimidate the enemies as he hopes elephants will. He said it’s all about size.

The Valley Zoo was founded in 1910 by a United States military group. The grounds were created as a base to house their military fighter plans. It became a zoo in 1912 in efforts to conceal the fighter planes.

The zoo is still occupied by the United States army but is used more as a zoo. There are various animals that habitat there including (but not limited to):

  • penguins
  • eagles
  • apes
  • piranhas
  • bears
  • eels
  • crocodiles

Note: image from Icis

*none of the above reflects any real news. Everything has been fabricated.

Local Artist Hangs From Buster Building, Kris Hoyt



A man dressed as a clown has been seen hanging from the Buster Building downtown Monday night.



At about 7:30 p.m. yesterday, witnesses flocked to the famous Buster Building in Woodville where they saw local artist Jonny Taylor hanging from the roof dressed as a clown.


Taylor was wearing a harness attached to the roof of the building, where he was watched over by his assistant, Summer Snow. Taylor was hanging over 20 metres from the roof of the building.

Over 100 people came to see Taylor hanging from the building. Witness report that Taylor repeatedly shouted the phrases "My height makes me powerful," and "I will crush the ants."


The police managed to talk Snow into bringing Taylor back onto the roof, at which time Taylor started shouting several obscenities that can not be repeated in this story, mostly involving the use of the words "fascists" and "corporate tools."


When asked why he did such a thing, Taylor said, "The people have a right to see. They have a right to know. They have a right to fight back." Snow said nothing.


Police have charged Taylor with reckless endangerment and illegal harness use. Snow was charged as an accomplice. Police have reported no traces of drugs and alcohol in their system.



Woodville is a city only one century old. It was founded by a religious group called the Gremmits as a religious colony. However, two years after the city was build, a major cross-country route was built through it. Down on their money, the Gremmits accepted the travelers in with open arms. As more people passed through, the town became bigger. As the town became bigger, more people moved in. The population increased exponentially, developing a government and industries. As the city grew, the Gremmits, for the most part, disbanded, though a few do meet at a downtown building.


The town's fourth mayor, Stephen Buster, pushed for the incorporation of Woodville into a city. In the last month of his term, Woodville became a city. To celebrate, Hannah Frank, the succeeding mayor, built a building in his honour. This building, dubbed the Buster Building, became the first large building in Woodville, where it is still widely used to this day. Stephen Buster was at the opening of this building one day before his fatal heart attack.


The most well-known current resident in the city is controversial artist Jonny Taylor. His extreme views and unusual and unexplained displays of performance art have made him a polarizing figure in the Woodville community. His well-known assistant, Summer Snow, assists in his performance art. She does not talk a lot and few people believe she uses her real name.



Note about links: As Woodville is a fictional city, I have used Edmonton as a stand-in. It is radically different from Woodville and thus the links are not to be trusted.

Driver high on hallucinogens during car accident, police say, Jesse Snyder


Driver high on hallucinogens during car accident, police say
By Jesse Snyder

The 63-year-old man who rolled his truck in the ditch south of Whitecourt was high on hallucinogens during the accident, a police report said Tuesday.

Philip Boshman, an oilfield worker residing in Whitecourt, was high on both hallucinogens and marijuana when his vehicle rolled in the ditch while heading north on Highway 22, about nine kilometres outside his home town.

The passenger of the vehicle, Matt Frankenstein, said Boshman was preoccupied with a number of different things when the accident occurred.

“He was trying to change the CD, but (the CD case) was in the backseat,” said Frankenstein. “He didn’t want to put down the bong.”

Whitecourt police officer Cpl. Dungeon said tests confirmed Boshman was taking drugs in high doses, enough to sedate large wildlife like deer and cougars.

“(The tests) showed an impressive amount of drugs him,” said Dungeon. “ I’ve seen full grown bucks and mountain goats go down from less (drugs) than that.”

The two were heading back to Whitecourt after a long three weeks on site near Leduc, and they really wanted to let loose and party, he said.

“They really wanted to have a good time, unfortunately they did it in an unsafe environment,” said Dungeon. “Hopefully they learned a lesson.”

This is the 22nd accident in the Whitecourt area this year.

Whitecourt: its history and current difficulties

Whitecourt is a small community in northern Alberta consisting of about 10 000 people. Situated 178 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, it is considerably farther north than much of Canada’s population. It prides itself on the local facilities and parks available for leisure activity, and town council strives to make living in Whitecourt convenient for all its residents. Whitecourt is on two rivers, both the Athabasca and McLeod, and locals take advantage of each with tubing and jetboat racing.

Regardless of these efforts to make Whitecourt a fun and safe place to live,
Town Council can’t seem to stifle Whitecourt’s drug problem. In the last decade, drug-induced deviants have been increasingly attracted to Whitecourt. They see economic prosperity in dealing drugs as well as a great party atmosphere, mostly attributed to the outrageous clubbing scene on Main Street.

For the past few years, local residents have been voicing their distaste for the disturbance caused by all-night drinking. Town Council has been trying to stifle the flow of drugs in the downtown area, but it is all for naught. Every year crime rates rise, and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight. Whitecourt is at a crossroads, and it must clean up Main Street if this volatile situation is to be reversed. Without proper leadership and planning, Whitecourts raucous it will soon become a poisonous and rotten community.

Note: Image one from
Vernon Croy Sports website. Image 2 from Melton Jetboat Racing website.




Plans for LRT to extend its tracks through Edmonton, Kevin Penny


After much debate – and almost 3000 participants involved with promoting the idea – the City of Edmonton has decided to go ahead and study the development of the LRT route to both the west and the southeast side of town.

Both areas have quite a bit of traffic flow running to and from the downtown area, and this plan could help ease the amount of time spent on the road; for instance, it can take
over two hours to get from the Millwoods area to the Macewan Centre for Arts and Communications. If implemented, however, the route from Millwoods to the downtown area would take less than 20 minutes. Many people are thrilled by the idea.

"It is awesome," Steven Wagers said, "I'll finally get where I want to go in a reasonable amount of time."

City council has been studying the expansion plan since the public hearing of December 15, 2009, when they considered to remove the Southeast LRT route from the current plan. No word has been made on their decision yet.

It is estimated that three LRT expansion routes could be completed by 2017, just in time for the Expo 2017 World Fair.
One of four possible routes for the Southeast LRT
Originally, Edmonton's LRT had been distinguished as the first 'new-age' transportation system since the 1970's, with a route that spanned only 7 kilometres. It even inspired city's such as Montreal to design its own system based upon the Edmonton model. Now, with the new expansion to the Southgate Mall and Century Park, the LRT route has increased to over 20 kilometres.

However, the system still lacks behind sister city Calgary, that has more than double the length of track put down across its city (42 km). This was possible because the Calgary LRT runs more track on ground level, instead of attempting a subway system like Edmonton has. Now that tracks are back on the surface, and costs are much lower, the LRT is looking to finally expand across the whole city.

In all honesty, it is time for this city to have reliable transportation all around the city. People begin to lose faith in their city's public transportation when it takes hours to get from the south end to the west end. A quicker ride can also mean a safer route from work and back, rather than having to deal with the hoodlums that loiter around major transit stations. If Edmonton residents have to pay almost three dollars to ride the bus, then they should be provided the comfort of having a safe and speedy ride to where ever they are going.


Image of LRT train from lightrailnow.org
Image of LRT route from City of Edmonton website

HITLER CLONE TAKES OVER ALBERTA TOWN - Devon Bowie




HITLER CLONE TAKES OVER ALBERTA TOWN
Edmontonians fear National Socialism to be on the rise in rural Alberta after Adolf Hitler was reincarnated in Mannville Tuesday.

Hitler, the Chancellor of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 was brought back to life at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday, proclaiming the formation of the Mannville Volkische Reich shortly after.

Many city dwellers are worried about the return of Hitler, since he killed 6 million Jews. Mannville residents; however, are confident in their fuehrer's leadership.

"I been to Edmonton once", said resident Chuck Madsen. "I seen one of them Asians there and he looked at my daughter impurely with his squinty eyes. Canada should be for Canadians."

Hitler, now speaking English, said that Canada's recent economic problems stemmed from immigrants coming from Asia, and that all Canadians of Asian descent should be put in camps. He also advocates the expansion of Mannville to include all Alberta, which he calls Alschluss.

To the people worried by the rise of clone-Hitler, there is some hope in the form of Mecha-Roosevelt 4000, created in Canmore. The hoverchair-bound battledroid has a shoulder-mounted 30mm machine gun, and claws that can rip a tank apart.

"The only thing Clone-Hitler has to fear is my robotic death grip itself." Roosevelt said.

Mecha-Roosevelt is expected to hover to be replaced by zombie-Truman by 2013.




Sublime, Historical Mannville!



The village of Manville was founded around the turn of the century, originally a hamlet of squatters. It was named after Sir Donald Mann, vice president of the Canadian Northern Railway.
A partial (1900-1908) history of Mannville





Mannville has over 400 buildings and a population of 782. According to a possible town motto, all trails lead to Mannville, such as Alberta Highway 16, and Alberta highway 881, the only highways which lead to Mannville.

Manville is part of Minburn County in East-Central Alberta. Much like the rest of Alberta, Mannville's time zone is Mountain Standard Time, or GMT-7. Other places in this timezone include the Mexican state of Chihuahua, and even Utah! Utah could be argued; however, to not be a real place.

A number of notable people come from Mannville, including and entirely limited to:

-3 NHL hockey players,
-the former mayor of London,
-a sociologist,
-an actress who had an appearance on Seinfeld one time.

Mannville is lightly defended, and likely to fall quickly in the event of an enemy attack. Its arsenal consists of one deactivated world-war II era 90mm anti-aircraft gun and civilian owned small arms.

It costs $25 to get a business license in Mannville. There are 42 licensed businesses in Mannville.







"Two people charged after Bocock drug bust", Jayme Hagen

Two people are facing charges after a St. Albert RCMP drug bust of a local home, Tuesday morning.

RCMP were able to seize nine kg of marijuana, two kg of magic mushrooms, 200 grams of ketamine and over 1,000 doses of LSD from the 13 Bocock pl. house.

Jayme Hagen, 22, and Terra Poole, 21, have been charged with multiple offenses including possession and possession for the purposes of trafficking.

The two were released on $8,000 bail each.

"Whatever," said Poole, after being bailed out. "I do what I want.

They could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The two are scheduled to appear in court St. Albert Provincial April 16.

The house was originally put under surveillance when pictures of the two of them with piles of drugs and money were put onto Terra Poole's Facebook page, said RCMP. The page also showed pictures of them with guns and weight scales.

This combined with numerous complaints of foul play from other Bocock pl. residents were enough to begin setting up surveillance, said RCMP.

This is the cities fourth drug bust in as many months.

RCMP said they were going to do their very best to clean up the river valley's drug problem.

Past Drug Busts

There has been an increase in drug busts in St. Albert, said RCMP.

The Fenwick cr. bust as well the Chipchura drug bust and shooting are two local examples of this within the past six months.

According to Narconon, LSD use is on the rise in St. Albert.

The St. Albert area is a real haven for drug usage because many of the larger Edmonton dealers come into the city because the kids of St. Albert have the money, said RCMP.

The areas down by the river have the largest drug problems of the city, said RCMP.

The lower income communities tend to be hit harder by drug use because the parents are around less and some fall victim to drug use themselves, said RCMP.

There have been reports of children finding bodies washing up in the sturgeon, said one resident who asked his name not be published.

"Bocock pl. is especially bad because most of the parents work late hours and the kids are left to do whatever they want," said local resident, Jesse Snyder. "One thing is for sure, something's got to change or someone's going to end up dead.

Photos from Blue Movie Reviews and Central Media Server

*The preceding story contains no truth.

Hot Springs closing down, Ricki Cundliffe



*Fictitious story

The mayor of Radium Hot Springs, B.C., John Doe, has recently announced that the Radium Hot Springs Pools will be closing down permanently as of May 1, 2010.

Doe made the announcement to the village Thursday afternoon at the local Radium Hot Springs Petro Canada.

“We have pondered the closing of the pools for many years now,” Doe told a crown of nearly 700 people. “The Radium Hot Springs Pools are bringing too much attention to our once petit town, and we no longer wish to attract anymore tourists. It’s better for us all.”

The rumor of closing the pools had begun to pass throughout the town approximately two weeks prior to the formal announcement, but it was not taken seriously by the town members.

Terra Poole, a 21-year-old woman born and raised in the village of Radium Hot Springs, was outraged after the announcement was made.

“I can’t believe it,” said Poole. “‘There’s no way this is going to happen,’ I thought to myself. ‘There’s no way!’”

Jane Klein, the manager of Radium Hot Springs Pools, said she feels betrayed by her mayor.

“I’m out of a job, and I won’t be able to stay in the valley without the pools,” Klein said. “There is no reason for this. We want the business! He has no right to do this to any of us.”

A “Save Our Pools” petition has begun to circlulate around Radium Hot Springs to prevent the closing of the Radium Hot Springs Pools.

Ricki Cundliffe, a motel owner and manager in Radium Hot Springs, began the petition as soon as the announcement was made on Thursday.

“There is no excuse for this,” Cundliffe said. “This will ruin our business, and everybody else’s businesses. Our bloody town is named after those pools!”

The petition currently has 495 signatures, and is expected to reach the 650 mark within the next two days.

For more information on the closing of the Radium Hot Springs Pools, or the “Save Our Pools” petition, contact (234)345-2423.




The Radium Hot Springs Pools are the largest mineral springs pools in all of Canada. They are as timely as the Rocky Mountains themselves, and have been developed over the years to better serve tourists and local residents of Radium Hot Springs. There are a number of different businesses located within the Radium Hot Springs Pools buildings, such as Pleiades Massage and Spa.

The town itself, Radium Hot Springs, B.C., is located approximately one hour from the city of Banff, Alberta. Radium Hot Springs was named after the pools, as it is the largest attraction Radium Hot Springs has to offer. The pools attract up to thousands of tourists each year, and keep them coming back for more. With a mere population of 700 residents in the winter months, the pools allow local businesses to thrive in the busier seasons.

There are several other natural hot springs located accross the Rocky Mountains, such as the Fairmont Hot Springs, and the Banff Hot Springs, although Radium's pools remain the largest existing in Canada.

Note: Image 1, Image 2

"Student discovers fake bomb at MacEwan arts campus," Pamela Di Pinto

A student from Grant MacEwan University finds a fake bomb at the Centre for the Arts and Communications campus early Tuesday.

Shannon Findlay, 19, is in shock following her discovery of a what she thought was a bomb in a bathroom stall at MacEwan's arts campus around 9 a.m.

Findlay is originally from the small town of Vulcan, known for its shared name with a fictional planet from “Star Trek.” She is now a first-year journalism student at MacEwan's School of Communications in Edmonton, where she has experienced big-city crime firsthand.

Bomb Scare

On the morning of the incident, Findlay said she was filling up her water bottle at one of the water fountains on the second level of the building when she heard a mysterious ticking sound.

After about a minute of hard listening, she discovered that the noise was coming from the girls washroom located directly beside the water fountain, Findlay told police Tuesday.

Then, she entered the washroom, which appeared to be empty, only to find a bomb hidden behind a toilet in one of the stalls.

"I was in complete shock," said Findlay. "It was all I could do from peeing my pants right on the spot."

Finding Help

Then, Findlay said she ran from the scene to the security office, where she informed one of the security guards of her discovery. The security guard then pulled the fire alarm, and everyone evacutated the building, she said.


Bomb squad

Police and fire department officials arrived on scene shortly after, and called in the bomb squad to disassemble the bomb.

Police have confirmed that the bomb is a fake, and that no one in the building was ever in any harm.

Heroism

Staff, students, and police are commending both Findlay and the security officer for their heroic efforts.

Tips

If anyone has information on this matter, they are asked to contact:
Note:Image 1 from Facebook, Image 2 from police.uga.edu


Description of local area:


Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta -- one of the prairie provinces of Canada. Alberta is often called the "oil country" because of its booming oil and gas industry. Edmonton is located in central Alberta, and is surrounded by many smaller communities such as Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Devon, and Sherwood Park, just to name a few. Edmonton is the second largest city in Alberta (after Calgary), with a population of 782, 439 people.


In regards to attractions, Edmonton is home to North America's largest mall, West Edmonton Mall. West Edmonton Mall in itself has many tourist attractions such as Galaxyland, the Waterpark, Jubiliations Dinner Theatre, Chinatown, Burboun Street, and many more. It's tagline: "The greatest show on earth." Edmonton is also home to Fort Edmonton Park, Canada's largest living history museum. Many have deemed Edmonton the "Festival City" as well, largely because of the slate of year-round festivals it hosts. Another title that Edmonton holds is the "City of Champions," with an affluent sports industry fueled by the Edmonton Oilers (hockey) and Edmonton Eskimos (football).


In reagrds to problems, Edmonton was once known as the "homicide capital" of Canada in 2005/2006, according to a report from Statistics Canada. However, crime rates have dropped significantly in Edmonton since this date.

"New St.Albert Gang Paints The City," Megan Perras




Several St.Albert teens were found running around the streets and vandalizing the vehicles and yards of residents at two in the morning on Wednesday, March 24.

A self-proclaimed “gang” of 18-year-olds were arrested by police when they were caught throwing paint and eggs throughout three different neighborhoods, causing damage to many vehicles as well as house fronts.

When confronted, the teens were found to have tazers on them, as well as drug paraphernalia. According to the RCMP, they had been participating in this act of vandalism to make themselves known as the “new St.Albert gang.”

Ricki Cundliffe, a homeowner who had her car painted with profane words and images says, “It’s really too bad that our youth have to do things like this to the people around them. I think it’s because they’re bored in this city. I hope somebody is going to pay for this.”

All of the teens were arrested and charged with vandalism, two with carrying an unregistered weapon, and are awaiting their court date which will be decided upon in the next few days, say RCMP representatives.

The teens, all boys, will be charged as adults, but their names have not yet been released.

The crime-rate among youth in St.Albert is rising, and the city is attempting to circumvent this by promoting teen participation in their many festivals this year, including the upcoming youth conference on May 6th-7th, promoting positive behavior in the youth of the city.

Although St.Albert is considered the ninth safest city out of 100 of Canada’s largest cities according to Maclean’s magazine in 2008, and the 95th most dangerous city in Canada in 2009, many parents hope that through fostering positive youth development, the city will become safer for their children to grow in.




The city of St.Albert was founded by Father Albert Lacombe in 1861, when he decided to create a settlement on Mission Hill. There he built a church to preach to the local natives, and the city grew from there.

St.Albert became a village in 1900, then a town in 1904, and finally a city in 1977.

The City is a family-oriented place to live, with events catering to all ages. The International Children’s Festival is held at the end of May. Children have the opportunity to learn about different cultures around the world through the medium of “play.”

The Rainmaker Rodeo is also a family-fueled attraction, hosting rodeo events over the weekend of May 28-30th, and including rides for the kids as well as many live bands for the older crowd, and of course, rodeo competition.

In August, Rock n’ August gives the automobile lovers time to admire cars and trucks from the past in the downtown streets of the city. All throughout the summer weekends one can also stroll through the enormous farmer’s market that starts on Perron Street and weaves downtown, and be entertained by the many buskers and try the fresh vegetables for sale.

This vibrant city has managed to hold on to its small-town atmosphere while still providing rich cultural opportunities as well as amenities such as the large recreation centre, Servus Place.
IMAGES FROM: car, City of St.Albert

More Than City of Champions, Aden Cruz

Mayor Stephen Mandel award Edmonton’s best artists during the 23rd Annual Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts on Monday at the Winspear Centre for Music.

The colorful celebration opened with the entrance of Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor followed by a performance by aboriginal Yellow Ribbon Dancers. The event, a mix of performances and award presentations, was guided by masters of ceremony Mark Connolly and Tony King who added humor to the night.

Other Performances by:
  • Good Spirit Trio
  • Jeremy Baumung & Ken Brown
  • Allez Ouest
  • 3rd Street Beat Studios
  • Andrew Grose
  • The Weat Pool
Community Support

The event is open to the public through ticket purchase, and Edmontonians came to support its arts community. Kelly Miles, an Edmonton resident, came to show her support and said she enjoyed her self thoroughly.

“I’m looking forward to greeting the Mayor,” she said.
The event was sponsored by businesses such as Audreys Bookstore, ATCO Gas, and Northlands and had a representative from each company present the awards. The Professinal Arts Coaltion of Edmonton (PACE), partnered with the City of Edmonton to organize this event.

Mayor Support

Mayor Stephen Mandel was recognized by many speakers for his dedication to Edmonton’s arts community and says he feels the night went well.

“I think everything was wonderful and I hope everyone had a good time, we celebrated the arts scene in Edmonton and artists, and it was just a lot of fun,” he said.
Award Winners

Alice Major won the ATCO Gas Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement for her literary works.

Other award recipients:

  • Raymond Biesinger - Northlands Award for an Emerging Artist
  • Allan E. Scott - John Poole Award for Promotion of the Arts
  • Thomas Trofimuk - City of Edmonton Book Prize
  • Matthew Jonah - Stantec Youth Artist Award
  • Trevor Anderson - Telus Courage to Innovate Award
  • Greg Dowler-Coltman - Molson Award for Excellence in Artistic Direction

The night ended with a performance from Vinok Worldance with an array of cultural dances.

EDMONTON



Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta Canada with a population of 782,439. Located central of the province, it has a vibrant multicultural community and is sometimes referred to as “festival city” as it has an amazing array of festivals throughout the year.

Edmonton Festivals:

  • Silver Skate
  • Folk Fest
  • Street Performers
  • Fringe
  • Capital Ex
  • ...and many more

Edmonton is also home to one of the largest malls in the world, West Edmonton Mall. This has an indoor water park, marine life, as well as an indoor amusement park. This winter friendly attraction is popular to visitors and locals alike.

The city owned Mutart Conservatory Pyramids contain plant life from different ecological environments. The four pyramids allow visitors to a unique experience.

A newly renovated Art Gallery, “The Art Gallery of Alberta” is also located in Edmonton. Just having opened on January, this newly constructed building has brought national attention to Edmonton’s city centre.

Edmonton is also known for its passion for sports. Its local teams such as Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Eskimos receive an outstanding amount of enthusiasm from many locals and surrounding areas.

The City of Edmonton’s current mayor is Stephen Mandel. Re-elections are slated for Oct. 2010.

Links:

City of Edmonton

Winspear Centre for Music

Mutart Conservatory

West Edmonton Mall

Notes:

Image Source

1. Mayor Stephen Mandel - http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/stories/large/2009/04/14/StephenM.jpg

2. Edmonton - http://www.frontrowking.com/Concert_Tickets/Pics/edmonton.jpg

King Kong Smashes City, Claire Theobald


King Kong Smashes City

By Claire Theobald

Terror stricken Edmontonians ran for cover earlier this morning as an escaped giant ape ravaged Edmonton's downtown core.

The ape, known as King Kong, was currently on tour with owner and handler Carl Denham when he escaped from the chains that bound him on the stage and began a rampage at around 7:00 a.m. this morning. Audience members speculate that the ape was startled by flash bulbs used by media photographers who were documenting the apes arrival, which some have heralded as the eighth wonder of the world.

"And lo, the beast looked upon the face of beauty, and beauty stayed his hand." said Denham, speculating the beast was driven mad by his love of actress Ann Darrow, "And from that day forward, he was as one dead."

Darrow, an actress hired by Denham when he first captured King Kong, was helpless against the heavy handed beast as he carried her up the Manulife Tower, which is Edmonton's tallest building.



"I'm rather disappointed... it was a tragedy" said Devon Bowie, who stood with the crowd gathered to watch the rescue efforts "this'll be hell for the morning commute"


Eventually, the ape was blinded by the large spotlight in the Edmonton police helicopter, causing the ape to fall to his death and allowing the Edmonton Police to legitimize spending an estimated minimum of $1.5 million a year in operating costs of the helicopter.

(Manulife Place image taken from skyscraperpage.com)
(King Kong image taken from memepark)

The City of Edmonton

Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta, is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is home to some of the region’s most fertile farmland.

In the Canadian Census taken in 2006, it was determined that Edmonton had a population of 730,372 people, earning it the title of having one of the lowest urban population densities in North America. Being somewhat known for hosting festivals, Edmonton has branded itself with the title of “Festival City”.

“Edmonton is a city in which I live. Almost a million people live there” said Edmontonian Devin Bowie, “That’s almost a thousand times a thousand, almost”

Edmonton boasts having the largest mall in North America, which at one point jokingly was known for having more operational submarines then the Canadian Navy. Edmonton is also home to Fort Edmonton park, a historical site with a footprint larger than that of the Vatican.

Being in Alberta, Edmonton is no stranger to dipping its fingers into the riches accumulated by the oil sands, and has built the foundation of a bustling economy off profits that are squeezed out of the sands surrounding Fort McMurray.

Edmonton also has its own Indy Racing League, and has unfortunately poured money down the Indy pit, where the only ones who seem to profit from the races are the bar girls in the beer tents.



(image of Edmonton Skyline taken from wikipedia)