link/Oh, Government Toadies....

...you are so obvious and unsubtle. I suspect the Herald is a little over the top in suggesting Harper had anything to do with this; more likely an eager boot-licker trying to please. But really, this is just stupid all around. Not sure why it makes national news, but take a look at some of the edits in question where they tried three times from two different computers (entire IP range indeed owned by Defence Research Establishment) to nuke an entire (referenced) section on political opposition to Canada's purchase of some shiny, expensive jet fighters.

First attempt reverted in 3 minutes. Undaunted, they tried again -- this time with references to some news stories; this one lasted almost 10 minutes. Then, they walked to the other guy's cubicle and tried a third time without typing in all those references all over again; this one lasted less than a minute. (View the history of the appropriate page on wikipedia).

If you want to drum up your own story out of nothing for the Herald, try WikiScanner...

link/The Yes Men: P2P edition

The Yes Men are making their newest movie available for bittorrent download and also provide links to donate money if you feel like it (I did). If you like their antics/activism please consider this.

I did contact them to make sure this is legitimate:

link/Hilhurst/Sunnyside Farmer's Market

Esther and I have been down to the newly revamped Hilhurst/Sunnyside Farmer's Market (Wednesdays from 3:30 to 7pm) a couple times and it really is quite improved: a good mix of actual local farmers selling things they've grown and local bakers/cooks who've made the things they're selling. Plus, it's mostly food. The Bike Root runs a bike-valet service and there's usually been a couple things to entertain kids.

Some of the folks we've bought stuff from include Thompson Small Farm, a local all-horse-powered farm, Chinook Honey from south of Calgary (honey, mead, vinnegar, soap) and Blue Mountain Biodynamic Farm who also is importing additional veggies from BC (until more of their stuff is ready.

There's also Route 40 Soup Company from Turner Valley (some of the very best food around -- haven't tried their "take out" stuff however), a pesticide-free tomato greenhouse, local wine producer, and a couple other farms and bakers we haven't checked out.

This is a vast improvement over a few years ago when I went and it had a more "flea market" feel as most vendors were not-food. Good job to the people who made this happen. I recommend checking it out.

link/Sour Gas wells, pipeline coming to Kananaskis

``Alberta regulators have approved 11 sour gas wells on the eastern slopes of the Rockies despite strong opposition from landowners, ranchers, and environmentalists.''

...also a pipeline. They leak, all of them. This one is going through the headwaters of Pekisko and Willow Creek which supply Southern Alberta.

More information and background from PetroCant.ca which I've pointed out before.