Sitting crossed-legged in the entry way of a closed bank on Jasper Avenue, Edmonton’s premier boulevard, the scruffy busker strummed his guitar, smiling hopefully at a passing businessman.

“…And the Colorado rocky mountain high, I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky…”

The businessman apparently had not, continuing on his way without a glance at the busker. The music ended abruptly, the busker bellowing “What is wrong with the goddam fucking people in this town? You’re all assholes!” Then the busker started singing again.

“You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply, rocky mountain high, hi, hi, lo, lo…”

A young woman passed. “You bitch! You’re a fucking bitch!” he blurted, then picking up where he had left off once again.

“Now his life is full of wonder but his heart still knows some fear…”

My seventh campaign pledge: The Smiling Kodiak administration will provide mental health services to any busker that expects tips for singing John Denver tunes.
Continue reading 09. Prairie Singers →

Arrival in Edmonton marked my first experience with AirBnB.com accommodation. While I have rented many apartments from web-based services in the past, AirBnB has emerged as the dominant force in the market. It is having effects on the hospitality industry not unlike those Uber is having on the taxi industry. The benefit of the AirBnB arrangement is a higher quality product delivered at less cost – in this case a fully furnished and equipped apartment for $150 per night, versus a cramped hotel room for $250 a night. The cost is that one bears the risk of a substandard experience, with limited recourse.

Or worse. I recently overheard a group exchanging their fears of AirBnB: fraud, robbery, peeping video cameras, sexual assault in the night, even kidnapping and murder. Yikes. Continue reading 08. Edmonton? Why? →