Author: Dave Cournoyer

I watched Back to the Future II last night. Though I am a long time fan of the BTTF Trilogy, this is my least favorite of the three. For those of you not familiar with the second film, here is the just of it (if you haven’t seen it and don’t want me to spoil it for you, leave now and if you stay, I’m assuming you saw the first film).

The movie picks up just before the end of the first film: Marty returns to 1985 and discovers his “present” has been pleasantly changed: his dad is now a successful author, his mom is a hottie, and he is now the proud owner of a super cool black truck, and Biff is now his dad’s *slave*, and Lea Thompson is still hot. Just as Marty and Jennifer (Thompson) reunite, Doc Brown returns in the Delorian (which can now fly). He rushes Marty and Jennifer into the Delorian and tells them they have to come with him to 2015 to save their future son, Marty Jr., from being thrown in jail for some unexplained reason.

So, Doc, Marty, and Jennifer travel from 1985 to 2015 and discover a Hill Valley filled with flying cars, 80’s retro cafes, automatic fitting coats, and hover boards (very cool). Marty intervenes and pretends to be his son, and takes on Griff (who’s Biff’s grandson, and I’m assuming is Needles’ son). Mayhem ensues as Marty out hover boards Griff and his gang of hyper implanted hoodlums. Just when Doc and Marty are ready to return to 1985, the cops pick up and unconscious Jennifer (who Doc zapped to sleep when the first arrived in 2015) and use her finger prints to identify her as Jennifer McFly. Still unconscious, they bring her to her 2015 home in what is then a complete ghetto.

This post by Robert over at MyBlahg

was just too good not to link to.

Enjoy.

D : )

Here are some of the races from last November’s Provincial Election which I thought showed some interesting differences in campaign spending…

Calgary Currie (Margin of Victory: 634)

One of the high profile races in Calgary. Former radio talk show host, Dave Taylor, took on 1 term Tory MLA and former City Councillor Jon Lord.

Dave Taylor (Liberal) – Elected
Total Spent: $30,523
Total Votes: 5046
Cost per Vote: $6.29

Jon Lord* (PC)
Total Spent: $49,211
Total Votes: 4412
Cost per Vote: $16.19

Calgary Glenmore (MOV: 1899)

This race had then Gaming Minister Ron Stevens up against former Friends of Medicare Chairperson, Avalon Roberts.

Ron Stevens (PC) – Re-Elected
Total Spent: $118,688
Total Votes: 6263
Cost per Vote: $18.95

Avalon Roberts (Liberal)
Total Spent: $22,058
Total Votes: 4364
Cost per Vote: $5.05

Calgary Mountain View (MOV: 3074)

This race saw Dr. David Swann, anti-War activist and former Chief Medical Officer of the Palliser Health Authority go up against three-term MLA Mark Hlady.

David Swann (Liberal) – Elected
Total Spent: $50,863
Total Votes: 7162
Cost per Vote: $7.10

Mark Hlady* (PC)
Total Spent: $75,411
Total Votes: 4088
Cost per Vote: $18.45

Calgary Varsity (MOV: 756)

One of the upsets of this election. Liberal Harry Chase snuck by rookie candidate Mike Smyth in the race to replace former Energy Czar and current Alberta Ambassador to D.C., Murray Smith.

Harry Chase (Liberal) – Elected
Total Spent: $17,295
Total Votes: 6347
Cost per Vote: $2.72

Mike Smyth
Total Spent: $57,396
Total Votes: 5591
Cost per Vote: $10.27

Edmonton Centre (MOV: 3541)

Laurie Blakeman slammed third-time challenger Don Weideman. Nuff, said. Laurie rocks.

Laurie Blakeman* (Liberal) – Re-Elected
Total Spent: $24,600
Total Votes: 6203
Cost per Vote: $3.97

Don Wiedeman (PC)
Total Spent: $33,629
Total Votes: 2662
Cost per Vote: $12.63

Edmonton Decore (MOV: 1427)

School Trustee Bill Bonko knocked off vintage 1980’s Tory MLA Walter Swender and Tory-turned-Alliance MLA, Gary Masyk.

Bill Bonko (Liberal) – Elected
Total Spent: $12,754
Total Votes: 4434
Cost per Vote: $2.88

Walter Swender (PC)
Total Spent: $39,942
Total Votes: 3007
Cost per Vote: $13.28

Gary Masyk (Alliance)
Total Spent: $40,059
Total Votes: 831
Cost per Vote: $48.21

Edmonton Ellerslie (MOV: 201)

In the race to replace three-term Liberal Debby Carlson, Bharat Agnihotri slid to a narrow victory against his Tory challenger.

Bharat Agnihotri (Liberal) – Elected
Total Spent: $17,545
Total Votes: 3446
Cost per Vote: $5.09

Gurnam Dodd (PC)
Total Spent: $85,609
Total Votes: 3245
Cost per Vote: $26.38

Edmonton Glenora (MOV: 552)

THE MOST WATCHED RACE IN THE PROVINCE – Battle of the Titans (and Drew Hutton). Reverend Bruce Miller won this tight horse race between ND Candidate and former ATA President, Larry Booi, and incumbent Tory, Drew Hutton.

Bruce Miler (Liberal) – Elected
Total Spent: $29,468
Total Votes: 4604
Cost per Vote: $6.40

Larry Booi (ND)
Total Spent: $46,454
Total Votes: 4052
Cost per Vote: $11.46

Drew Hutton* (PC)
Total Spent: $107,822
Total Votes: 3759
Cost per Vote: $28.68

Edmonton Gold Bar (MOV: 6236)

Gold Bar has been Liberal since 1986. Not much more to say.

Hugh MacDonald* (Liberal) – Re-Elected
Total Spent: $30,311
Total Votes: 8798
Cost per Vote: $3.45

Manjit Dhaliwal (PC)
Total Spent: $46,467
Total Votes: 2562
Cost per Vote: $18.07

Keith Turnbull (ND)
Total Spent: $12,783
Total Votes: 1967
Cost per Vote: $6.50

Edmonton Highlands-Norwood (MOV: 3846)

ND Leader Brian Mason was easily re-elected after the Tories found a replacement candidate (their original candidate dropped out).

Brian Mason (ND) – Re-Elected
Total Spent: $32,173
Total Votes: 6054
Cost per Vote: $5.31

Tony Martiniuk (PC)
Total Spent: $33,572
Total Votes: 2208
Cost per Vote: $15.20

Edmonton McClung (MOV: 526)

Liberal Mo Elsalhy took out Economic Development Minister, Mark Norris, and retured McClung to its Liberal roots (since 1986).

Mo Elsalhy (Liberal) – Elected
Total Spent: $26,126
Total Votes: 5859
Cost per Vote: $4.46

Mark Norris* (PC)
Total Spent: $115,264
Total Votes: 5333
Cost per Vote: $21.61

Edmonton Meadowlark (MOV: 193)

This is the craziest race of them all! Take a look at those numbers! Way to go, Maurice! wow.

Maurice Tougas (Liberal) – Elected
Total Spent: $5,367
Total Votes: 4435
Cost per Vote: $1.21

Bob Maskell* (PC)
Total Spent: $46,457
Total Votes: 4242
Cost per Vote: $10.95

Edmonton Mill Woods (MOV: 2020)

Liberal Weslyn Mather easily cleaned house in this race.

Weslyn Mather (Liberal) – Elected
Total Spent: $36,164
Total Votes: 5012
Cost per Vote: $7.22

Naresh Bhardwaj (PC)
Total Spent: $49,211
Total Votes: 2992
Cost per Vote: $16.45

Edmonton Riverview (MOV: 6705)

Wow.

Kevin Taft* (Liberal) – Re-Elected
Total Spent: $30,043
Total Votes: 10280
Cost per Vote: $2.92

Fred Horne (PC)
Total Spent: $49,211
Total Votes: 3575
Cost per Vote: $24.15

Edmonton Rutherford (MOV: 3048)

In a re-match from the 2001 election, Rick Miller reclaimed the seat that was once held by Percy Wickman.

Rick Miller (Liberal) – Elected
Total Spent: $13,224
Total Votes: 7221
Cost per Vote: $1.83

Ian McClelland* (PC)
Total Spent: $38,432
Total Votes: 4173
Cost per Vote: $9.21

Edmonton Whitemud (MOV: 926)

I couldn’t believe it was this close. Wow. Dave Hancock, then Justice Minister, suprisingly was only elected by 926 votes.

Dave Hancock* (PC) – Re-Elected
Total Spent: $104,004
Total Votes: 7494
Cost per Vote: $13.88

Donna Lynn Smith (Liberal)
Total Spent: $18,985
Total Votes: 6568
Cost per Vote: $2.89

(*incumbent)

Any thoughts?

why does this guy have to be so evil?

Time to have fun with numbers.

Thanks to an attentive friend of daveberta (kind of like the ‘Friends of Seven’) who pointed me in the direction of these lovely numbers…

Top 10 Tory Spenders per-vote in the 2004 Alberta Provincial Election

10. Jon Lord*, Calgary Currie
Total Spent: $49,211
Total Votes: 4412 (40%)
Cost per Vote: $16.19
Outcome: DEFEATED

9. Naresh Bhardwaj, Edmonton Mill Woods
Total Spent: $49,211
Total Votes: 2992 (29%)
Cost per Vote: $16.45
Outcome: DEFEATED

8. Manjit Dhaliwal, Edmonton Gold Bar
Total Spent: $46,467
Total Votes: 2562 (18%)
Cost per Vote: $18.07
Outcome: DEFEATED

7. Mark Hlady*, Calgary Mountain View
Total Spent: $75,411
Total Votes: 4088 (31%)
Cost per Vote: $18.45
Outcome: DEFEATED

6. Pearl Calahasen*, Lesser Slave Lake
Total Spent: $73,823
Total Votes: 3903 (65%)
Cost per Vote: $18.91
Outcome: Re-Elected

5. Guy Boutilier*, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo
Total Spent: $87,100
Total Votes: 4433 (63%)
Cost per Vote: $19.95
Outcome: Re-Elected

4. Mark Norris*, Edmonton McClung
Total Spent: $115,264
Total Votes: 5333 (41%)
Cost per Vote: $21.61
Outcome: DEFEATED

3. Fred Horne, Edmonton Riverview
Total Spent: $86,330
Total Votes: 3575 (23%)
Cost per Vote: $24.15
Outcome: DEFEATED

2. Gurnam Dodd, Edmonton Ellerslie
Total Spent: $85,609
Total Votes: 3245 (32%)
Cost per Vote: $26.38
Outcome: DEFEATED

1. Drew Hutton*, Edmonton Glenora
Total Spent: $107,822
Total Votes: 3759 (29%)
Cost per Vote: $28.68
Outcome: DEFEATED

More fun with numbers to come…

(*Incumbents)

Here are my suggestions of people who could spice up the Alberta PC Leadership Race:

Craig Chandler– The CEO of Concerned Christians Canada and 2003 Federal PC Leadership candidate. Was an also-ran in Hamilton Mountain for the Reform Party in 1993 and in Calgary West during the 1997 Alberta Election as a Social Credit candidate.

Jason Kenney– Part-time MP for Calgary Southeast and full-time bulldog for the Christian-right.

Preston Manning– From the “Blast from the Past” section, this former Reform Leader would bring about 9000% more IQ to the race.

Stockwell Day– Former Alberta MLA, Alliance Leader, current BC Tory MP and crazy Foreign Affairs Critic. I know it’s a LONG LONG LONG-shot, but it would be sooo entertaining.

Anybody have other suggestions?

It’s official: Morton throws hat in ring

Foothills-Rockyview MLA confirms he will take a run at replacing Ralph

Doug McIntyre
Wednesday June 08, 2005

Cochrane Times — He’s been touted as a potential heir apparent and now it’s official — Foothills-Rockyview MLA Ted Morton will seek the leadership of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party after Premier Ralph Klein retires from politics.

“When Premier Klein retires, I definitely intend to seek the leadership and I’ve discussed this with both city and MD councillors, and how this might affect my effectiveness in representing Foothills-Rockyview,” said Morton on Monday.

“The quickest way to get government action on local projects is to be a member of cabinet. I think my leadership efforts will get me into cabinet more quickly. Read the rest here…

According to figures released by the Edmonton Journal, former Edmonton McClung MLA and Economic Development Minister, Mark Norris, spent over $100,000 in his failed November 2004 re-election campaign. Norris, who is considered by some as a contender for the soon-to-be-vacated PC throne, was unseated by 533 votes at the hands of rookie Liberal Candidate Mo Elsalhy. Elsalhy spent less than $30,000 on his campaign.

Also released were figures showing that Tory-turned-Alliance MLA, Gary Masyk, spent near $40,000 on his bid to be elected in Edmonton Decore (the seat he was elected to in 2001, Edmonton Norwood, was dissolved after the 2003 boundary re-distributions). On election night, Masyk received a whopping fourth place 830 votes (9%). Liberal Bill Bonko was elected in that riding with 45% of the popular vote.

I thought this was funny. I guess money can’t buy you everything (Chuck Guite must have missed that lesson).

——-

Random Quote of the Day

“I’m very important. I have many leatherbound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany” – Ron Burgundy, Anchorman (2004)

——-

GREWAL UPDATE: Buckets of Grewal has set up an awesome slide show of the changes made to the Grewal/Dosanjh//Murphy Transcripts (props to Mark at Section 15 for the heads up!)

First, daveberta would like to formally welcome the Fiesty Republic of Holtopia to the great blog-o-sphere of nations. It is a great honour to have a link to this tiny republic on my side bar. Holtopia is currently preparing for a “Falkland Islands” style war after launching a massive policy review:

“After conducting a very thorough foreign policy review, The Republic of Holtopia has decided to forge a new era in Holtopian-Foreign relations! Whereas the fiesty republic once concerned itself with harvesting the orange crop, herding the wild beefalos, reading graphic novels, and taxing wicker goods– Holtopia now looks outward!”

Second, but not lastly, daveberta would like to send a BIG CANADIAN HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY to my very good friend, Miss Amika Schodie. Ms. Schodie, formerly of Edmonton, Alberta now resides in the mostly rainy central area of London, UK. I wish you a very happy day and will no doubt speak with you soon.

I thought this was fun. Posted 20 minutes ago on Canadian Press…

D : )

Air Canada confirms it is investigating airport incident involving
Grewal (Grewal-Airport)
Source: The Canadian Press
Jun 6, 2005 15:57

OTTAWA (CP) _ Air Canada is investigating an incident at Vancouver
airport involving a Tory MP embroiled in a taping scandal.

Gurmant Grewal was spotted in a waiting area Saturday trying to get
passengers to transport a package to Ottawa.

Airport sources won’t confirm if there was a tape in the envelope the
B.C. MP was trying to pass along.

Read the rest here!

UPDATE: Grewal on stress leave (ie: going into hiding)

Against better judgement and severe warnings, I rented Team America: World Police this weekend. After only watching about half of it, I would recommend that anyone interested in watching this film poke their eyes out with a pencil first. It would be more (but not much) entertaining that way. This movie has hands down beaten out The Village, and Troy as DAVEBERTA’S WORST MOVIES OF THE YEAR.

I also splurged and bought the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Back to the Future Trilogy on DVD this weekend : )

I could’nt sleep last night, so here you go…

– Name of the McGill Student Society Building: The William Shatner Student Centre

– Total value of Canada’s Barley industry in 1970: $144,700,000

– Total value of Canada’s Barley industry in 1995: $795,500,000

– Length of Mel Brook’s ‘Spaceballs‘: 1 hour 37 minutes.

– Number of BC Premiers since 1980: 8

– Number of Alberta Premiers since 1980: 3

– Kilometers of paved roadway in Ecuador: approx. 8,165km

– % of alcohol in a 330ml bottle of Corona: 4.6%

– % of alcohol in a 461ml bottle of Big Rock (Grasshopper): 5%

– 1964 Hart Trophy winner: Jean Béliveau (Montreal!)

Props to Peter for Wildrose Edition numero uno,

UPDATE (May 18, 2006) – Check out an updated Alberta PC leadership roster here.

**UPDATE (October 11, 2006) – Check out the entire list of MLA endorsements for the Alberta PC leadership race.**

Well, with yesterday’s prediction by Tory MLA Lloyd Snelgrove (Vermilion-Lloydminster) that Alberta‘s glorious and blessed leader, Premier Ralph Klein, is on his way out, I decided to take a look at some of the “would-be” Klein successors. Here are some of the old (mostly white) men stepping up to lead the 34 year-old Tory dynasty…

Jim Dinning – The ‘Paul Martin’ of the Alberta PC Leadership race. This former Provincial Treasurer (1992-97) has been bidding his time in the private sector since leaving electoral politics in 1997 (private sector, hmmm. Sounds more like the John Turner of this race). He’s looking to be the “everything-to-everyone” candidate. Under the “why Jim” category of his website, apparently one of his qualifiers for leader is: “He’s been an active Party member since the 1970’s.”

Lyle Oberg, MLA Strathmore-Brooks – Currently the Transport Minister, Oberg was affectionately known as “Lyle, Lyle, pants on fire” by teachers, parents, students, and trustees from across Alberta during his time as Learning Minister from 2001 to 2004. His arrogant style will no doubt help him fit in with many of the other candidates in this race.

Ed Stelmach, MLA Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville – Elected in 1993, after unseating two-term ND MLA Derek Fox, Stelmach quietly toiled as Transport Minister for years until being appointed Intergovernmental Affairs Minister last winter. He seems like a nice guy, but I really can’t name anything he’s done in his past 12 years.

Gary Mar, MLA Calgary Mackay – Once considered a serious contender in the race to replace Ralph, Mar had a wrench thrown in the wheels of his machine after it was discovered that this former Health Minister paid almost $400,000 in an untendered contracts to his former Executive Assistant. Now toiling as the lowly Community Development Minister, Mar is cutting ribbons instead of talking Health Care-reform.

Dave Hancock, MLA Edmonton Whitemud – Currently the Advanced Education Minister, Hancock was only one of two Tories elected in Edmonton in 1997 and is now 1 of 3 Tory MLA’s in Edmonton. Probably the most decent Tory MLA in Alberta, unfortunately he’s from Liberal Edmonton and I’m sure this will have a negative effect on his leadership chances.

Mark Norris – In 2001, Mark Norris was called a “giant-killer” for unseating then Liberal leader Nancy MacBeth in Edmonton McClung. In 2004, Norris was “giant-killed” himself by Liberal Mo Elsalhy (sources tell me that Mr. Norris took a week off during the campaign to go on a golfing vacation). Currently with no seat, I really don’t consider him a serious candidate. But things got a lot more interesting last month when Mr. Norris joined Klein and his mafia on a trip to Klein’s BC Fishing lodge. Is Norris Klein’s padwan?? Hmmm. Sounds like a kiss of death to me.

Ted Morton, MLA Foothills-Rockyview – Ah yes, the dark horse of this race. Not terribly charismatic, Dr. Morton is a hard-line right-wing ideologue. The former “Senator-in-Waiting” was elected last November under the slogan of “More Alberta, Less Ottawa.” Though he is shunned by many in the Tory establishment, he may draw the support of the hard right-wingers that the other candidates cannot. If he wins, look for a lot of Tories to jump to the Liberals. One of the rumours going around is that if he looses the leadership, he’ll jump to the floundering Alberta Alliance Party.

So, there we have it. Pretty homogeneous, eh