Work and Life

The Made-in-Alberta Solution: Sovereignty Without the $500B Shaky Foundation

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The debate over Alberta’s future has been stuck between two dead ends: an Ottawa government trying to centralize everything with “strings” attached, and a secessionist movement built on a shaky foundation that would require borrowing $500 billion from the Americans just to keep the lights on. I don’t like the idea of independence because it’s … Read more

The short URL of the present article is: https://www.swagnillaice.com/go/z91c

The Reality Check: Why Temping is My Path Forward

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I often talk about the future of Swagnilla Ice, but I want to be real with you all about the present. For a long time, I tried to do things the traditional way. I applied for the steady, permanent roles, but the job market has a way of being cold. Despite my efforts, the traditional … Read more

The short URL of the present article is: https://www.swagnillaice.com/go/ui

My Exercise Regime

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I follow a steady exercise regime now of visiting the aquatic centre at Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre every other day as long as I am not working that day. My routine is a simple 20 minutes of jogging back and forth or in place in the deep area of the leisure pool (sometimes I will swim a few laps back and forth for extra exercise), then a 5 minute soak in the hot tub, and finishing with 5 minutes of riding the water slide (walking up the stairs to the top is good exercise!). This can vary by a few minutes depending on various factors, but I am usually out of the pool in about forty minutes at the latest. If you need to get more exercise, why don’t you try it? The water is great for cushioning your joints especially if you suffer from arthritic pain like I do!

A New Year Means New Hope

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As the calendar turns to 2026, there is always a familiar sense of a clean slate. For me, this year is about finding renewal in what I build and how I live. First, I have a major update for the fans of my gaming series, Creative Engineering. After a lot of work behind the scenes, … Read more

The short URL of the present article is: https://www.swagnillaice.com/go/9hm3

Locked Out: Why I’m Done with the Golden Arches

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Forget the history of Boxing Day—I’m talking about a Christmas Day lockout. Here is why I’m ditching the Golden Arches, walking away from 3,000 points, and choosing better alternatives for my time, my health, and my wallet.

The short URL of the present article is: https://www.swagnillaice.com/go/r6y1

The BAT Scale: Why a 28/30 Score Means I’m Never Going Back

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The Unofficial BAT Score Breakdown Before we get to the rankings, you need to know how I judge these jobs. The BAT Scale is my own unofficial system, which evolved from simply assigning letters (B, A, or T) as misery popped up. If a job started or progressed to a T, it was time to … Read more

The short URL of the present article is: https://www.swagnillaice.com/go/8wbp

My Accident on Remembrance Day and It’s Aftermath

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Hello everyone. I need to take a moment today to share a challenging experience I had recently. On Remembrance Day, I had an accident, and the immediate aftermath—and the recovery I’m going through now—has been tough. This story is ongoing, so if you could send some prayers or good thoughts my way, I would be … Read more

The short URL of the present article is: https://www.swagnillaice.com/go/zd3p

Remember the Fallen: More than Just Warriors Who Fell

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Tomorrow, our nation pauses to pay tribute to the men and women who paid the ultimate price in defense of our country. Yet, our obligation to them is not fully discharged by a moment of silence or a flag lowered to half-mast. To truly honor their sacrifice, we must ask the deeper question: what, precisely, … Read more

The short URL of the present article is: https://www.swagnillaice.com/go/xtfi

Beyond the Potholes: The Top 5 Priorities the New Edmonton Council MUST Address

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On Monday, Alberta’s 2025 municipal elections are being held to elect the people who will lead our cities, towns, counties, and school boards for the next four years. Here in Edmonton, many people are feeling uncertain about the direction our city is going. With potholes lining our streets and affordable housing in short supply, it’s … Read more

The short URL of the present article is: https://www.swagnillaice.com/go/asn0

Acclaimed to Silence? Why Skipping Local Elections Voids Your Right to Complain

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We forfeit the right to complain about local government because we skip elections for city council and school boards. These critical races are often decided by twenty to thirty-three percent of voters. If you choose to be silent, you forfeit your voice.

The short URL of the present article is: https://www.swagnillaice.com/go/unwv