What is This Thing?

Team LSP was confused, bewildered and perplexed by one of the Hyatt Calgary lobby sculptures, so we went out to the readership for an opinion as to what this thing was.

Some thought it was Germany's famous "Zwarte Piet" or a "PC" variation on the theme, "Pete." Others, fantastically, believe it to be a "Chocolate Christmas Hippo."

One reader wondered if it was Bill Crosby, in disguise. As Zwarte Piet, perhaps? All of these suggestions have merit, but look closely, the chocolate colored Christmas creature has minions.

What does this mean? As I reflected on the implications of this, I looked down at the newspaper. There's no doubt about the identity of the character in this picture.

That would be US President and Commander in Chief, Barack Hussein Obama, you know, the same genius who thinks Islam's a really peaceful religion. Like Buddhism, only way more peaceful.

Your Old Friend,

LSP

Morning Has Broken

Here's a Calgary sunrise, looking out over the city towards the Saddledome and Scotchman's Hill. They're still putting up large buildings here and there's a risk they'll go zombie as Alberta's oil economy collapses.  

Oil Economy

Thanks, Saudi Arabia, for that. Who knows what the consequences of the Magic Kingdom's oil price strategy will be. For that matter, who knows what this is:

It's in the hotel lobby.

Readers, all three of you, help me out here. What is this "sculpture"? 

Thanks,

LSP

New Year's Eve

The Opposition

2014 is nearly here and there's an uneasy truce between the blocks. We stare at the Marriott and they stare at us, waiting. At Midnight, as Calgary's famous bell tower rings in the New Year, we'll launch the first salvo of rockets and move in. Let the dice fall where they may.

View of the Blocks from the Redoubt

Meanwhile, revelers throng Stephen Avenue, full of New Year's spirit. Some of them are wearing white wedding dresses and I asked them if they were getting married. "Nah, we're going to a RAVE!" they said, "We're like, the new hippies!" Hunh, that explains it, I thought quietly, as taunts rang out from the mid-level floors of the enemy Marriott. Well, you might be laughing now, Marriott, but just you wait till Midnight.

Buffalo Head

Speaking of the New Year, let's hope 2014 is better than 2013. Maybe Hillary Clinton and Piers Morgan will finally be brought to justice. You never know, a miracle might happen and an economy that's based on debt might even find itself solvent, along with Detroit, and wise people will decide that LGBT gender advocacy isn't the defining civil rights issue of our generation. 

I wouldn't bet on any of those things, but I would on Putin; I'll wager his star will continue to rise along with Russian investment in gold.

Have a blessed New Year,

LSP

O Canada, Calgary

Calgary still has a High Street

Right after Christmas I like to go to Calgary, which is an oil and gas boomtown in Alberta. Some people think that Calgarians are rude and anti-social but I've never found that; there's maybe some frontier spirit in the air but that's good and I get the feeling that Alberta stands out from the rest of Canada in an independent rancher kind of way. A bit like a North Western Texas that'd been pioneered by Scots, Irish and assorted sons of the Empire.

What! No looting?

Unlike Texas, it's a bit chilly here, with plenty of snow and ice and, strangely, none of the looting, burning and bad mayhem that you expect in the Lone Star State whenever it looks as though temperatures threaten to fall below freezing. 

Maybe that's because Canadians are an orderly crew? Who knows, but credit to them for settling this Province in the cold snow and ice.

I like this City.

Cheers,

LSP

Calgary

Golden Void

It's that time of year again, the time to pack up the carry on and brave the unpleasantness of air travel and head to the frozen North. To the oil and gas boom-town that is Calgary. Being a creature of tradition I checked into the downtown Hyatt, where they put me on successively higher floors with each visit. 

Living in a High Rise

I've reached the 19th Floor, which says something about the benefits of hotel seniority and affords a good view of downtown along with a glimpse of the Rockies. It's close to the pool and steam room too. Sweat out those toxins, LSP!

I like the Hyatt, obviously, or I wouldn't stay there, and I enjoy strolling down prosperous Stephen Avenue, with its pubs, restaurants and shops. 

Seventh Second of Forever

Local legend has it that you can walk down Stephen Avenue in the summer with a stack of resumes, handing them out as you pass along, and by the time you've reached the end of the road you'll have a job. A reasonably well paid one too, but before you get too excited, remember that Calgary's expensive, so you'll need that extra cash.

Quark Strangeness and Harm

Speaking of which, I wasted no time getting out of dodgy Greenbacks and into a good position with Canadian Dollars. These, despite being part made of transparent plastic (?) are still worth something.

Hall of the Mountain Grill

More from the Frontier as the news comes in.

Rule Britannia,

LSP