Phendrana Drifts

Back before he was Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, as well before his little sojourn as the lone member of the Lyle Party, Dr. Oberg was Minister of Learning. In that time, as a result of what I do for a living, I got to know a little bit better the future candidate to lead the party that doesn't want him. A recent news article got me thinking of one of his promises.

In his tenure, he created the Alberta Centennial Education Savings plan. A great little thing where if you have a child born in 2006 you get a free $500 RESP plan so long as you apply. The program gets a little more complicated after that, but to start with it is that simple. A free $500 RESP. Who wouldn't want that? Well, I can tell you that the vast majority of Canadian parents simply don't save for their child's education. Right or wrong, it is what Canadians do (or in this case, don't do).

When he created the program, I asked Dr. Oberg what he thought the success rate for this program would be. He said, without blinking an eye "100%". I said, no, I know that 100% of people eligible for the program could get it, and I was glad that they were budgeting for 100%, but really, what what percentage of people would actually apply given that only 20% of Canadians save for their kids. Some wouldn't. Or so I thought. He said, again, making himself perfectly clear, that 100% of parents with newborns in 2005 would do this. He was certain. 100% certain as it were.

Well, here's the article: Cash just waiting for kids (The Sun's links disappear quickly, so don't take forever to click on it). Yep, 20%.

Holy crap I want this car. I just finished reading the article in Wired on it, and I was salivating. Lightning fast, able to go from zero to 100 km/h in around four seconds. But the best part? It doesn't have an internal combustion engine. It's an electric car. Using the same kind of batteries as modern laptops, it can go around 400 kilometres between charges, has zero emissions and is absolutely whisper quiet. Quoting from the Wired article:

"You see any cops?" He releases the brake and my head snaps back. One one thousand: I get a floating feeling, like going over the falls in a roller coaster. Two one thousand: The world tunnels, the trees blur. Three one thousand: We hit 60 miles an hour.

To see more about the Tesla Roadster at Tesla Motors website: www.teslamotors.com

The Alberta PC caucus, in a forgiving mood to be sure, has let Dr. Oberg back into caucus. The leadership candidate's mouth got the better of him in March, but just before session caucus let the guy back in. I remain unconvinced however this guy has a political future bigger than odd footnote. Not that he doesn't have charisma, he has a good deal of it. And drive, ambition and some ideas. Not that all of the ideas are good ideas mind you.

Here's the current link on the story (better coverage will be available tomorrow).

Unfortunately the incredible heat in Edmoton has claimed a life, Raven's hamster. I hope she is the only fatality.

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Wes
Happy birthday to you

The formerly honourable Dr. Lyle Oberg continues in earnest his bid to be the leader of the Progressive Conservative party of Alberta. To be the leader of the PC caucus and finish two years of a mandate as the Premier of Alberta. A good ambition to be sure, one that many people (at least six) share, but the interesting thing is that no one wants him.

Oh sure, he ranks OK in polls by the Calgary Herald, but that's only because he's been so busy being a jackass that he's made more media than anyone else since March, save the Premier. But honestly, he's done. He has to be. If he wins, he will be the leader of a caucus who does not want him. Indeed, there is a chance he won't even be a member of that caucus. A party of one.

The painful reality is that this race can't be won by the good Doctor, and shouldn't be. But he doesn't realize that. It is curious. Like the leg twitching on someone who is dead. How long can it twitch for?

George Bush: I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world, like Iraq where there's a free press and free religion, and I told him that a lot of people in our country would hope that Russia would do the same.

Vladimir Putin: We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy that they have in Iraq, quite honestly.

Here's the link.

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