Last week, as we continued reporting on the strikers' false story of how they got the free frozen pork ahead of Winnipeg's truly needy, a caller suggested we prep a list of blogs that locals could rely on until the Free Press returned to ink and newsprint, as alternate sources of local news and opinion. Good idea, we agreed.
And so, in no particular order, here are some options:
* Blogger Rob Galston has been a guest on the show, and he posts (mostly about urban development and planning) at http://riseandsprawl.blogspot.com/
* Luc Lewandoski guested with us just before the federal election was called; he recently speculated about what Prime Minister Harper's new cabinet could look like at http://www.hacksandwonks.blogspot.com/
* One of the most ambitious local blogs not only breaks news with video, and covers local issues but also sports, gas prices, pop culture - hey , online coupons for Quiznos! - a package that is pretty unique and worth bookmarking: http://www.chrisd.ca/blog/
* A true favorite of ours is the biting wit of the young university athlete Graham Hnatiuk at http://progressivewinnipeg.blogspot.com/. His writings about the state of transit, and the media's fawning over the Friends of Upper Fort Garry campaign, are particularly worthy of review.
* One of the most frequently referenced blogs on our show is the well-informed Policy Frog, who frequently needles the premier, city hall and the mainstream media with insight and humour: http://policyfrog.wordpress.com/
* Although sometimes his columns are a little too 'inside baseball' for us, David Watson repeatedly connects the dots among the developers, politicians and media interests in this city, examines urban sprawl and transportation concverns, and really deserves further attention, at http://waverleywest.blogspot.com/ - hey look, he mentions the RRC Cre-Comm course and our show today!
* Recently returned to blogging after a European vacation is http://anybody-want-a-peanut.blogspot.com/, whose contributions this spring on the wandering stadium proposal, criticism of police use of tasers, and NDP legislation to un-balance budgets and control opposition mailings were all good reads.
* Maybe a few new visitors on his meter will remind Steve Andjelic that summer is over and he will resume posting at http://unapwpgr.blogspot.com/. He's a brilliant guest with an understanding of high finance and markets, and the ability to translate it into language the ordinary person can relate to, that far surpasses anyone I know.
* Only rarely does Bryan Scott interject with commentary, but some of the most beautiful photography of our city is captured by him at http://www.winnipeglovehate.com/
* Off the beaten track, here is a blog by a family man and marathoner, Mike, who has some interesting perspectives on people and stories in the news, as well as a list of 20 Signs You Grew Up in Winnipeg in the 80's:
http://winnipegaintsobad.blogspot.com/
* Another unusual blog recounts the things people say on transit buses, and it is a riot: http://weirdosofwinnipeg.blogspot.com/
* How could I forget our own Spirited Kenny? http://spiritedkenny.blogspot.com/
Finally, a nationally-reknowned blog that frequently has observations about local happenings is www.dustmybroom.com
( BTW, A new favorite for US and international news and analysis is Tina Brown's http://www.thedailybeast.com/ )
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Thanks to last week's interview subjects -- Councillors Harvey Smith and Scott Fielding, who both handled 30 minute Q and A's with us last week, hockey referee Ryan Wood, MMA fighter Nick Penner who won his bout Friday at the Convention Centre in round 2, and Young Josh for his Year-in-Review of the Derelict Buildings initiative...
This week --
Monday, TJ Bratt of Atlantic Pizza will argue sports with Frank the Italian Barber;
Wednesday, National Post columnist Scott Taylor will co-host the show;
and
Thursday at 4.30PM, Mayor Sam Katz will, among other things, answer the question- why, when you said on our show on October 23, 2007 that you would stand for re-election in 2010, do bloggers and reporters still suggest you may not run?
