Winnipeg Internet Pundits: Oh, really?

As usual I manage to sound like the least intelligent person in the room, except this time I literally phoned it in.

The pundits and I talked about the new mandatory bicycle helmet laws that Manitoba just passed and that I've previous written about, as well as Winnipeg's airport to downtown "image route". Then I was disconnected from the call, but I'm sure the rest of the show was just as great.

I was honoured to finally appear in the same episode as Walter Krawec, formerly of One Man Committee, whose writing I have admired for quite some time.

Priorities when visiting other cities

Most of my travel experience has been in short spurts, never staying in any particular city for too long. I travel light as to be flexible with means of transportation.

When I have free time in cities I'm less familiar with I try to avoid the really touristy places, although art galleries, museums and historical landmarks are always interesting. I seek out the coffee shops with the best Americano, comic/book stores, record stores with a good selection of vinyl, vegan friendly places to eat, and then finally if it's winter or spring, somewhere to have a pint and watch the hockey game.

The Internet is making it easier to find the "good spots". You can use Yelp, Urbanspoon, Google Maps and a thousand other websites to read every review and get all the insight you need before ever leaving home. When it comes down to it though you just need to get outside walk around and talk to people. In the good cities one can easily walk or take public transportation to all of the places mentioned above.

A couple photos from Ottawa

I just got home from spending a couple days in Ottawa. It's been at least ten years since I was there last and I forgot how beautiful the city truly is.

Here are few quick shots I took with my phone while walking around.

Real(er) bike lanes

As seen in Downtown Ottawa. Notice the cars are parked to the left of the bike lane, that’s how it should be.

Incredible photos of the Alberta oil sands

Robert Johnson, writing for Business Insider:

After being refused a mine tour and any type of access to a mining site or equipment, Business Insider rented a plane that I used to see everything I could of the mines on my own.