“In a society where the rights and potential of women are constrained, no man can be truly free. He may have power, but he will not have freedom.”

The stars are aligning nicely for me because a woman I have admired for years will be speaking at one of my favorite events! You should come too.

U of A Visiting Lectureship in Human Rights Presents:
Mary Robinson
Wednesday, April 2
7:30 pm
Citadel Theatre
Tickets: $10

Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will deliver the 10th Visiting Lectureship in Human Rights.

Devoted to addressing issues of injustice and inequality, Mary Robinson founded and currently leads Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative. Realizing Rights is tackling three critical issues: the imbalance in global trade and development, the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa and the barriers to facilitating more humane international migration. Her lecture, as part of the University of Alberta’s Centennial celebrations, will reflect on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, health as a human right and will highlight current efforts to address critical human rights issues in the world today.

“I was elected by the women of Ireland, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system.”

It'll be a ginger kid convention for sure...

Song Du Jour - Kite by U2
it's been a rough one and this song is perfect for me today....

"You're the last guy to feel the optimism of improvement.." ~ Coach MacTavish

I'm taking a lot of heat for being an Oilers fan and being excited when they win lately...this is new to me. Because the Coilers need a miracle to make the playoffs it seems fans have written the team off. Even the hardcore Oilers fans seem more cynical and jaded and some are not even watching them anymore.

Can't I be excited about a win regardless of the post season?

"Who cares...they won't make the playoffs" was the pat answer when I brought up that "left arm tingling" show the Oil put on last night. Around the water cooler they looked at me with pity in their eyes, as if to say, poor, poor Heather the misguided Oilers fan. Personally, I feel that some fans are missing out on some great hockey or they are so critical of the players they miss the game.

Let me be clear, I am well aware of their (lack of) playoff chances. I am not hopeful they will get that miracle and make the playoffs. I am fine with watching this team rebuild. In fact, I am thoroughly enjoying it.

I am super excited about Cog's record setting OT goals even if it doesn't propell them out of 11th place. How about that no look pass from Gag-ner to Cog's setting up the OT goal? Beautiful.

How about Grebeshkov (Gruba) with the block in front of Garon to shut down Kariya in the third? And Goggles Pisano and his shorthanded break away, Smid had one too, and Hemsky...I'm still surprised Legace came out unscathed after "Maim the Goalie" night at Rexall.

Glengarry Glencross has my vote, he adds a lot to his line....Matt Greene makes me nervous. Still.

Are we so spoiled that we can't be proud of a team that is on fire with rookie potential? Frick they are so fun to watch! Why am I the only one who'll admit that Oilers games are super entertaining? Sure they shit the bed (even last night they did) but that's not new, hence the "Coilers" moniker...but that game was highly entertaining.

Go on -- admit it, don't be afraid.

Song Du Jour - Nine in The Afternoon by Panic at the Disco

"In every aspect of life, there has to be a void, so you can look back and see what you need to do to get better and become successful again." ~ Coach

Your Panda's Hockey Team didn't fair so well at Nationals. Super Sad....

They came in 4th with a loss yesterday to the Manitoba Bisons. At the end of February your Panda's beat the Bisons for Canada West Supremacy in a controversial game that took double overtime periods to decide a winner. The Bisons coach ended up pitching a water bottle at the ref after the Panda's scored the game winner, on the powerplay, after some 98 minutes of play. Seems like Manitoba had something to prove at Nationals....

I watched the games from Ottawa via webcast...which was awesome this year, not hurky-jerky like years before. I'm so proud of our ladies! From watching them this season I could see them forming a great bond and, although they lose a couple of graduating players, I can see this team building together next season and performing well at Nationals in 2009.

Next year watch forwards Cabana and Miller because their play since the Christmas break has been stellar. On the D, Rayanne Reeve, has really come in to her own.

Song Du Jour: Snow (Hey Oh) by Red Hot Chili Peppers

"When all is said and done, the weather and love are the two elements about which one can never be sure." ~Alice Hoffman

Why do we find the words, "I don't know" so difficult to say? I mean honestly, how will you ever learn if you don't put yourself out there?

It's okay to ask for clarification. It's okay to admit that you don't have all the answers, and for the love of all things holy, just admit it so we can move forward.

That is all. Oh except for this photo of the frozen tundra for your viewing pleasure....purdy.

Song Du Jour - Shadowplay - The Killers

"Look outside at the raincoats coming..."

I've been talking a lot about music here, eh? Blame my local radio station Sonic. They have this great little show called Farm Fresh which is all new music...I've got a little crush forming for Al Ford, I'll admit it. Coldplay is also working on new songs! And the new U2 Album should drop in the fall so you'll be hearing about that over the next few months, ad nauseam.

Anyhoo....I heard this new (to me) band from New York called Vampire Weekend on The Letterman show and to my glee, they are going to be on SNL on March 8th. Click on the link up there to watch their catchy little ditty on You Tube. It's stuck in my head today....

Soooohooo...it's election day, don't forget to vote peeps! Oh and thanks in advance Alberta voters...it'll be more of the same ole bullshit I am sure. I will cast my ballot after work and then watch the 'exciting' news coverage. The election nerd in me watches every year with great hope of change...I don't want to sound cynical and jaded, but I am so..... why won't you won't vote for a change? Why? I've become tired of party politics, friends...and I feel powerless to change it because nobody realizes that you have to vote to get change. Moreover, why can't I get my friends to vote? They have so much invested...my friend's G'ma spent 4 days in emergency at the Grey Nun's on a bed in the corridor, with no care because the nurses won't do anything until the patient is in a room. How much is your dignity worth? And still --my friend doesn't equate that with our election process. How can I make the connection?

I think voter turnout in Edmonton was 50% last election...I'll hazard a guess that it will be 42% this election. I really hope I am wrong. Prove me wrong...please.

Song du Jour - A Punk - Vampire Weekend

"I need something more, to keep on breathing for, so give me something to believe...."

So it's leap day!! Happy Leap day to all.
Anything you do today doesn't count right?

Today is also marks an important anniversary! Well, important to me...
February 29, 1992: U2 kicked off their high-tech, multimedia Zoo TV tour in Lakeland, Florida. This was my first real opportunity to go and see my favorite band in concert. When tickets went on sale we snapped up two and my friend Natalie and I took the Greyhound all the way to Vancouver (not recommended). It was my first road trip to The Vancity. Coincidentally, we stayed in a hotel on Heather Street and Broadway so of course we tried to steal the Heather Street sign, to no avail.

This was the tour that supported the Actung Baby album. We sat up in the rafters of BC Place to watch the spectacle with our oxygen tanks. You may not know this but this tour actually made no money because of the sheer size of it. It was my first dose of live U2...and even if you don't like the band that much, cripes even if they turn your stomach, their live show is something to behold. The energy of the band...not just Bono's charisma, but Larry Mullen hitting those drums like his freaking life depends on it! Bono called the White House from the stage trying to get the president on the line as cars swirled around the stage and images flashed on the screen. I had never seen anything like it. I vividly remember the word BELIEVE flashed in white on a black screen and the word started to fade leaving just LIE up on the screen. Not only did this mean I would never misspell that word ever again, but more importantly it challenged me to start questioning the source of my daily information. In hindsight that concert changed me....made me more aware and forced me to sit up and take notice of the world around me. I was much more curious about the things I would eventually study at Uni and emboldened by the thought that maybe I should question some of the things in my world.

That whole trip was so sweet...partying up in North Vancouver (the details of which I can't share here, but let's just say Lonsdale Quay is but a blur at sunrise in my memory), spending our days wandering the campus of UBC, I'll never forget my first ever U2 concert experience because it brought so many other things with it.

Song Du Jour: Believe - The Bravery
The Sun and The Moon stands as my fav album of 2007...they just re-released a double cd with remixes should you feel the need to run down to your local HIV and buy one...

"..something is vacant when I think it's all beginning, I been drifting along in the same stale shoes.."

I don't get it...Peeps are complaining about last nights provincial election leaders debate and the 2 minute-free-for-all-debate after each topic. Well, who's the moron who approved the structure of the debate? Hrm? If the media wants a free for all then yes you will get 4 suits all talking over each other which makes for baaaaaaad TV...and it makes the politicians loook like children behaving badly. After the first free-for-all I think the moderators realized it wasn't going to lead to the kind of fireworks they wanted...and then they tried to moderate those two minutes...to no avail. Whoever planned that debate needs to have their head examined, and I don't blame the leaders.

Most people, here at work, think the Wildrose Leader won the debate. I think he was terrible...using big words for no reason, and how many times did he say "innovation"? How many times did he repeat himself? He spoke of rewarding innovation but doesn't seem to have any innovative ideas himself. But apparently he came off as the most charismatic. Wtf?

I am tired of hearing that these particular politicians lack Charisma...yeah dudes, they're NERDS! I'd rather have a completely socially inept leader than some jackass who is all talk and no substance. Sadly all I saw were nerds with no substance. God love them for getting up there and doing their best. You know it takes a lot of perserverance to stick to it like Taft has. However, every time Taft opened his mouth it sounded to me like the teacher from Charlie Brown, "wha, wha... wha, wha, wha wha..."
Good Grief!

And Mason...although well prepared (okay too well prepared) sounded staged. He also looked the most nervous. His "Zingers" fell a wee bit short and Taft nailed him for flip-flopping....even if Mason didn't flip flop as the Journal reported, Taft hit home that remark. Are you shocked to read that I think Stelmach came out looking fresh as a daisy and calm? Because I am shocked. He's like the Teflon Leader...how do they do that? Steady Eddy indeed.

Daveberta said it best, "I do think that because the expectations are so low for him that an even moderately okay performance by Stelmach will be seen as a win for him (regardless of how painful the experience is for both Stelmach and viewers)."

Song Du Jour ~ Jackass by Beck

"...Afraid of what you'll find if you took a look inside.."

Frick.
So the short answer to my query on bringing U2-3D to Alberta is: Not right now.

Cineplex is booked solid and will not break contracts to show it here.
You'd think that would be the end of it, but no...clearly, they don't really understand U2 fans.
Heck, if this movie was like any other and I just had to wait until my local video store had it I wouldn't be trying so hard, but that's not the case...the only theatre equipped at this time to show this movie in all of Alberta is Cineplex.

Please email:
guestservices@cineplex.com

Tell them you want to know when, after December 2008, Mr. Michael McCarthy from L.A. will show it here. Why can't NG enter into a contract for January of 2009? WHY?

I shall find out friends!

Song Du Jour: Staring at The Sun ~ U2

"...So tell me the truth of your heart, please tell me, please tell me ..."

So I called to see if the candidates in my riding are conducting a candidate forum and the lady who works for the PC candidate finally called me back...and I can't go because it is in the middle of the freaking day! But just on the off chance you are in my riding and can attend here is the info:

Edmonton-Meadowlark
Thursday, February 21st at 12:45 P.M.
The West End Seniors Activity Centre
9629-176 Street.

Additional forums at the U of A for other ridings:

Edmonton-Strathcona Provincial Election All-Candidate Forum
Presented by Your University of Alberta Students' Union
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Myer Horowitz Theatre (2nd Floor, Students' Union Building)

Edmonton-Riverview Provincial Election All-Candidate Forum
Presented by Your University of Alberta Students' Union
Monday, February 25, 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Dinwoodie Lounge (2nd Floor, Students' Union Building)

Song Du Jour: The Dugout by Ladyhawk

"You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey, I never saw someone say that before..."

Yes, the intensity is palpable! Who watched the Oilers game on HNIC? That was uber intense...not to mention one of the most entertaining games I have seen in some time, even if we are in 13th place. Those were two hard won points, errr..well lost points I guess. It started with fights, it ended with a brawl. 39 penalties; seven misconducts, 15 fighting majors and a partridge in a pear tree....
Gagner taking on Kessler was my favorite part...who knew he'd be an fighter? Not me.
It also really bugs me that the Sedin Sisters score such pretty goals. I haven't seen any news of the league taking action on that slash after the Burrows empty-netter...but we'll see...it may be coming.

Ahhhhh...playoffs. Don't you just love this time of year? no? Is it just me? I could feel it at Clare Drake this weekend too as Your U of A Pandas swept the Canada West Semi Finals in two games. Canada West Finals are next weekend friends, The Pandas tackle the Manitoba Bisonettes.
I watched 7 hockey games this weekend...that's intense, or totally retarded.
Apparently that's the theme today...what intense things are happening for you?

Song Du Jour ~ Fireworks - Tragically Hip