h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It isn't closed just yet, but will be next month (as of April 14th, I was informed by the final newsletter on the 9nth ). Seems that due to some family situation, Kerstin & hubby Cyrus, along with the 2 kids will be moving to Germany in September. But her goodbye-of sorts-closes with "In the meantime I'm working on a plan to provide Edmontonians with excellent chocolate after April. Please stay tuned for news on our web site[this will be the last newsletter for the foreseeable future]

Yours truly

Kerstin"

As of this past Tuesday(the 13th), items throughout the store were/are discounted between 15 - 40%. I was a bit 'shellshocked' by the newsletter, but did eventually stop by Fri., to find that they'd sold out of a few items, I was however able to pick up a couple packages of the Taza http://www.tazachocolate.com Mexicano(discs of either drinking or nibbling with chipotle pepper). Awonderful finishing touch to my St. Pat's Day Guinness Chipotle Chili. The & chipotles-not to mention a slicedjalapeno(bit o' the green don't ya know)gave the chili a nice Mole quality & the chipotle flavour started at the back of the tongue, rolling forward like a wave. I'll have to pick up a few more Taza products as they seem to have been ignored by the obviously more refined(yes, reading 'snooty' or 'persnickety' is optional I suppose)-buying masses. I also bought an Italian Domori white chocolate bar with liquorice...and within the hour was regretting not purchasing the white with mint as well - both are very nice!

Well, I intend to make a first and possibly last visit in the next little while.

Having done the commercial spots for Purdys and met the Chief Chocolatier, I'll stick with them. It does sound like quite the loss, though.

In Alberta political news, the Wildrose party has rolled out their campaign bus and demonstrated that they have a real joker in their design department and/or and idiot signing off on the designs:

http://yfrog.com/h6ot9kaj


Lookit the pair o' tyres on that one!

It's made it to the news: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2012/03/bus-ted-danielle-smith-campaign-gone-wildrose.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Now this version is out: http://imgur.com/d1MKH


Wildrose caucus communications spokesman Evan Menzies told CBC News that the party doesn't believe "it's an appropriate issue to address."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2012/03/19/edmonton-wildrose-bus-controversy.html?cmp=rss

I had missed that when I saw the first photo...

And now they say they're going to fix up the bus.

All this talk about chocolate has me thinking about making GORP squares. [GORP stands forgood old rainsins & peanuts]. I also add chocolate bits.

Well, moving on to something a bit more genuinely thought-provoking than Ms. Smith's apparent bustiere .

I've watched/listened to some interesting TED talks over the winter.

http://www.ted.com/talks?gclid=CLv5oMmji5gCFRwwawodjE_RDQ

Most recently Jonathon Haidt on Self Transcendance, as well as James Hansen on Climate Change & Paul Gilding explaining what I suspect a number of us have known for a few years, The Earth Is Full.

GORP squres...

Edmontoncentric:

The City has released new (computer generated) video of the new Walterdale Bridge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15gAK19AY34&feature=youtu.be


My immediate reaction:

Make it four lanes, for goodness sake! As it is, it will be funnelling two two lane roads across the river and you never know what the future may hold -- someday two way traffic may be desirable.


Otherwise, cyber-Edmonton seems so clean!

Yes I'd agree to four lanes...better to plan for them now than wish that you had a few years down the road(no pun intended).

and, in TO-Danforth:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/03/19/toronto-layton-byelection.html

The NDP hold onto Mr. Layton's seat.

(and the Harper Conservativesâ„¢ finish a distant third.)

...ok, that last one was a bit superfluous.

Elections. What would we do without them?

Watch football.

I will watch football if the football players will agree to watch me back.

You know, Ms. Ashton is pretty good with the stump speech: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/03/23/pol-ndp-candidates-ashton.html



I'm a little disappointed she only used three languages, though.

She got a few more in with the intro, though.

I wish her well but I don't think she has the sheer force of will and back room clout to make a difference in the voting.