Opinion by Helge Nome
Looking back at 2009, one thing stands out: Uncertainty.
Be it the weather, communicable diseases, the economy and its lack of jobs, or whatever, we seem to have great problems predicting what is going to happen next.
Amidst all the speculation about our future, I find the position of the establishment media to be somewhat unbalanced:
One the one hand, dire consequences are predicted from claimed climate change
(which used to be called ggglobal wwarming) and from the new “monster” labelled
H1N1 (hopefully, in spite of same initials, I’m no relation).
On the other hand, the same establishment media are rolling in rosy predictions about our economic future in spite of fact that financial credit continues to be severely restricted in the productive economy. “The boom times are surely just around the corner”.
It is as if they believe their own verbiage will bring about the desired results.
The boom mentality appears to have taken hold in the minds of a lot of people and they are just not willing to let it go, so numbers are suitably masked to conform with prevailing beliefs.
Consider this: Many employers and organizations are avoiding employee layoffs by introducing job sharing. That means that the total amount of purchasing power available in the economy is reduced (by way of reduced wage costs) while official unemployment numbers remain relatively unchanged.
Reduced purchasing power means less demand for goods and services, putting more pressure on employers to cut back on staffing.
It is a vicious circle.
Meanwhile, the financial markets (read “Casino Circus”) rebounds, making all the speculators happy. But less goods and services of value are being produced because the productive economy is being starved of the money needed to make it function properly.
How do we deal with this going into 2010?
It is not as difficult as you might think. Expect too read more about it in this column in the time ahead.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Caroline School's Mitten Tree
Decorated by "Students Promoting the Environment and Acceptance through Knowledge" S.P.E.A.K. members L to R: Makenzie Peppard, Amy Liang, Sydney Adams, Natasha Hensel – missing are Jenna Godwin and Katelyn Morrill.
Caroline's Neighbourhood Place's Christmas Team
Shelldon the Bear joined the team on Thursday, December 17. Sharing sofa space with Caroline Mayor Laura CudmoreShelldon was donated by an anonymous(?) donor and will be raffled off to a lucky future friend. Neighbourhood place staff members Maxine Blowers and Carrie Bergevin shared front row with Shelldon and board members Leslie Detta, Val Staben, Millie Nanninga and Marjorie Peters made up the back row.
"Holly Jolly Christmas"
One very enthusiastic singer in the Grand Finale of the Caroline School Christmas Concerton Friday, December 18. There was another performance on Wednesday, December 16, where the
elementary students at Caroline School impressed parents, teachers and friends, as always.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Pen Meets Paper Dec. 21 '09
Opinion by Helge Nome
Is the value of gold a canary in the coal mine? Lately, the value has exceeded US$1,100 per ounce. Why is gold thought to be a safe harbor from the stormy financial markets where the big sharks prey?
Perhaps we shouldn’t speak so much about the strength of gold as the weakness of national currencies reflecting a general lack of faith in the institutions that are supposed to look after the tickets we use to access goods and services.
In this regard, the 2008 Annual Report from ATB Financial contains some very revealing information
At March 31, 2008, ATB Financial found itself in possession of $1.2 billion worth (or so they thought) of so called Asset Backed Commercial Paper (ABCP). As it turned out, nobody wanted to buy this paper any more because of its questionable value.
In other words, ATB Financial had exchanged $1.2 billion good Canadian dollars for what I have chosen to call ABCTP (Asset Backed Commercial Toilet Paper).
What now follows is interesting, quoted directly from the report:
“Given that there is no active market for the ABCP currently undergoing restructuring, ATB developed a valuation model, in accordance with Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (“CICA”) guidelines, to determine its best estimate of the fair value of these investments as at March 31, 2008. This model includes a number of significant assumptions; consequently the fair value of the investment may vary significantly from the current estimate”
So what has happened here? Simply that a group of bank executives sat down around a table and decided how good or bad they wanted their 2008 Annual report to look.
Instead of showing a loss of $1.2 billion they decided that they had only lost an estimated $252.5 million based on future hopes of getting rid of their ABCTP at a discount value.
And you can bet your bottom dollar that every bank holding ABCTP has done exactly the same thing, hiding their action in some obscure part of their annual report.
Now, in the 2009 Annual Report, a box for storing the ABCTP is revealed. It is called a “Master Asset Vehicle” or “MAV” for short. The report doesn’t state whether these vehicles have wheels or a driver, but I suspect that they do. So that they can be parked around the corner, out of public view.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all do the same thing when trying to attract investors?
Why would we trust people that are prepared to play these kinds of tricks on us while taking our money?
Did I hear something about pay dirt up Yukon way?
Is the value of gold a canary in the coal mine? Lately, the value has exceeded US$1,100 per ounce. Why is gold thought to be a safe harbor from the stormy financial markets where the big sharks prey?
Perhaps we shouldn’t speak so much about the strength of gold as the weakness of national currencies reflecting a general lack of faith in the institutions that are supposed to look after the tickets we use to access goods and services.
In this regard, the 2008 Annual Report from ATB Financial contains some very revealing information
At March 31, 2008, ATB Financial found itself in possession of $1.2 billion worth (or so they thought) of so called Asset Backed Commercial Paper (ABCP). As it turned out, nobody wanted to buy this paper any more because of its questionable value.
In other words, ATB Financial had exchanged $1.2 billion good Canadian dollars for what I have chosen to call ABCTP (Asset Backed Commercial Toilet Paper).
What now follows is interesting, quoted directly from the report:
“Given that there is no active market for the ABCP currently undergoing restructuring, ATB developed a valuation model, in accordance with Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (“CICA”) guidelines, to determine its best estimate of the fair value of these investments as at March 31, 2008. This model includes a number of significant assumptions; consequently the fair value of the investment may vary significantly from the current estimate”
So what has happened here? Simply that a group of bank executives sat down around a table and decided how good or bad they wanted their 2008 Annual report to look.
Instead of showing a loss of $1.2 billion they decided that they had only lost an estimated $252.5 million based on future hopes of getting rid of their ABCTP at a discount value.
And you can bet your bottom dollar that every bank holding ABCTP has done exactly the same thing, hiding their action in some obscure part of their annual report.
Now, in the 2009 Annual Report, a box for storing the ABCTP is revealed. It is called a “Master Asset Vehicle” or “MAV” for short. The report doesn’t state whether these vehicles have wheels or a driver, but I suspect that they do. So that they can be parked around the corner, out of public view.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all do the same thing when trying to attract investors?
Why would we trust people that are prepared to play these kinds of tricks on us while taking our money?
Did I hear something about pay dirt up Yukon way?
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sunday Thoughts
It is all very well to kick around ideas about reforming the banking system. And turn the world into a "greener" place.
The underlying assumption is that you can somehow, magically, make things different.
I think the the important thing to understand is that the socio/economic/political system is an integrated whole that has evolved over a long period of time and is continuing to move along on its own path towards whatever lies ahead.
Observing this, one can discern trends, and the one that seems to stand out to me is the emergence of a social underclass that is increasingly excluded from the mainstream of society by a lack of disposable income because of unemployment.
To put it bluntly, North America is becoming more like what we call "the third world" with some people living very well, at the expense of an increasing poor majority.
And more educated people are now joining the ranks of the poor. The good jobs just aren't there for them. They are the fertile soil in which the seeds of discontent will take hold and grow. That's were our ideas need to be planted to ensure a future harvest.
When change does come it will only happen because the collective force behind it is greater than the force opposing it.
That's how Nature works.
The underlying assumption is that you can somehow, magically, make things different.
I think the the important thing to understand is that the socio/economic/political system is an integrated whole that has evolved over a long period of time and is continuing to move along on its own path towards whatever lies ahead.
Observing this, one can discern trends, and the one that seems to stand out to me is the emergence of a social underclass that is increasingly excluded from the mainstream of society by a lack of disposable income because of unemployment.
To put it bluntly, North America is becoming more like what we call "the third world" with some people living very well, at the expense of an increasing poor majority.
And more educated people are now joining the ranks of the poor. The good jobs just aren't there for them. They are the fertile soil in which the seeds of discontent will take hold and grow. That's were our ideas need to be planted to ensure a future harvest.
When change does come it will only happen because the collective force behind it is greater than the force opposing it.
That's how Nature works.
Fire Chief Plagues
Regional Fire Chief Cammie Laird presented these plagues to Caroline's Deputy Fire Chief Dusty Fay and Fire Chief Rick Foesier. One plague will go to the Caroline Fire Hall and the other one to the Heritage Fire Hall at the Museum grounds.
Recognized for meritorious service
David Fay was recognized for his service to the Caroline Fire Department at the Village Christmas Party on December 12. RFegional Fire Committe Chair Hendrik Van Dijk, Caroline Mayor Laura Cudmore and Regional Fire Chief Cammie Laird congratulated David who has moved to Red Deer with his family.
Recognized for service to the Caroline Fire Department
Yvonne Evans received a watch from Regional Fire Chief Cammie Laird
Christmas, Country style
Pastor Tom King delivered the Christmas message in a nutshell at the festive event hosted at the Nazarene Church on Sunday, December 13.
"It all happened in the country"
The Nazarene Choir performing at the Christmas, Country Style event
Thursday, December 17, 2009
There's money in them thar transmission lines!
(Rimbey, AB) The Lavesta Area Group completed and filed its final submission, to the Alberta Utilities Commission, in regards to a complaint that alleges the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) acted dishonestly and violated the public’s trust.
Lavesta’s complaint follows recent allegations by Enmax Corporation that the government of Alberta held secret (unethical) meetings to facilitate the passage of the controversial Bill 50. Bill 50 amended existing legislation to streamline the approval of tens of billions of dollars of public funds for transmission system upgrades, which many industry consumers believe only benefit large electricity producers, to the detriment of the public.
Lavesta’s complaint, attached to this new release, raises serious questions concerning the alleged unethical and unprofessional behaviour of the AESO. Unethical controversies have plagued Alberta’s electrical transmission industry since the implementation of deregulation.
The Lavesta Area Group supports a full, public and transparent, independent investigation into all the allegations plaguing Alberta Interconnected Transmission System (AIES) industry.
For more information Contact
Joe Anglin
(403) 843-3279
(403) 963-0521 cell
Leader, Lavesta Area Group
Lavesta’s complaint follows recent allegations by Enmax Corporation that the government of Alberta held secret (unethical) meetings to facilitate the passage of the controversial Bill 50. Bill 50 amended existing legislation to streamline the approval of tens of billions of dollars of public funds for transmission system upgrades, which many industry consumers believe only benefit large electricity producers, to the detriment of the public.
Lavesta’s complaint, attached to this new release, raises serious questions concerning the alleged unethical and unprofessional behaviour of the AESO. Unethical controversies have plagued Alberta’s electrical transmission industry since the implementation of deregulation.
The Lavesta Area Group supports a full, public and transparent, independent investigation into all the allegations plaguing Alberta Interconnected Transmission System (AIES) industry.
For more information Contact
Joe Anglin
(403) 843-3279
(403) 963-0521 cell
Leader, Lavesta Area Group
Monday, December 14, 2009
Pen Meets Paper Dec.14'09
Opinion by Helge Nome
Sitting here in -25 degree C air here in cold Alberta, it would seem that most of the hot air in this world has congregated in Copenhagen at the moment where the much touted climate change conference is being staged. Also please note that the label has changed from “climate warming” to “climate change” because the earth’s weather is simply refusing to fit into prevailing theories about it.
I used to live in a community in Australia where anyone who tried to predict the local weather was either considered to be a fool or a newchum that wanted to make an impression on the locals.
That said, there can be little doubt about impacts of human activity on the Earth’s climate as we swarm over the surface of our host and constantly use more energy per capita.
As I see it, there are two alternatives: Decrease energy use or find forms of energy whose use does not impact the climate in a major way.
Proponents of just tapping into the natural daily/weekly/monthly energy flows of our world, such as sun, wind, waves, heating and cooling of land masses and oceans, etc. end up living in a somewhat euphoric world: There just isn’t enough energy there to satisfy a growing and ravenous humanity. And if we really get serious about harvesting this kind of energy in a major way, our world’s weather patterns would likely change
in some very unpredictable ways.
A hybrid solution will likely emerge with nuclear power becoming more of a mainstay of the system as time goes by. Its footprint on the landscape, per gigawatt hour of electricity generated, is miniscule compared to other solutions, such as coal, windmills, solar panels, etc.
The main challenge with nuclear power is how to deal with the waste which will likely result in fuel reprocessing for further energy extraction. Cost is another factor. Particularly if you take into account the dismantling of a nuclear plant at the end of its useful life.
Statistically, nuclear power is very safe compared to coal generated power: Think of all the people that have perished in the extraction of coal over the years.
The main problem with nuclear seems to be in the minds of people thinking about ghastly disasters. Perhaps it is a bit like the fear of flying in commercial jets where the safety record per passenger mile travelled is way ahead of travel in private vehicles.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki don’t help either.
However, if you want to have your cake and eat it too, the atom is waiting to serve you.
Sitting here in -25 degree C air here in cold Alberta, it would seem that most of the hot air in this world has congregated in Copenhagen at the moment where the much touted climate change conference is being staged. Also please note that the label has changed from “climate warming” to “climate change” because the earth’s weather is simply refusing to fit into prevailing theories about it.
I used to live in a community in Australia where anyone who tried to predict the local weather was either considered to be a fool or a newchum that wanted to make an impression on the locals.
That said, there can be little doubt about impacts of human activity on the Earth’s climate as we swarm over the surface of our host and constantly use more energy per capita.
As I see it, there are two alternatives: Decrease energy use or find forms of energy whose use does not impact the climate in a major way.
Proponents of just tapping into the natural daily/weekly/monthly energy flows of our world, such as sun, wind, waves, heating and cooling of land masses and oceans, etc. end up living in a somewhat euphoric world: There just isn’t enough energy there to satisfy a growing and ravenous humanity. And if we really get serious about harvesting this kind of energy in a major way, our world’s weather patterns would likely change
in some very unpredictable ways.
A hybrid solution will likely emerge with nuclear power becoming more of a mainstay of the system as time goes by. Its footprint on the landscape, per gigawatt hour of electricity generated, is miniscule compared to other solutions, such as coal, windmills, solar panels, etc.
The main challenge with nuclear power is how to deal with the waste which will likely result in fuel reprocessing for further energy extraction. Cost is another factor. Particularly if you take into account the dismantling of a nuclear plant at the end of its useful life.
Statistically, nuclear power is very safe compared to coal generated power: Think of all the people that have perished in the extraction of coal over the years.
The main problem with nuclear seems to be in the minds of people thinking about ghastly disasters. Perhaps it is a bit like the fear of flying in commercial jets where the safety record per passenger mile travelled is way ahead of travel in private vehicles.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki don’t help either.
However, if you want to have your cake and eat it too, the atom is waiting to serve you.
First blizzard of the season
Backroads in the Crammond area were made impassable bydrifting snow over the weekend of December 4/5/6.The air temperature sank to -30 degrees Celcius on the morning of
December 7.
Caroline Lions Club charter celebration
The Caroline Lions Club celebrated 38 years in the community on Sunday, December 6,and new member Bob penner was inducted by District Governor Dave Dalby from Smoky Lake (left)and Caroline club President Nazem Kamaleddine. The event took place at the Seniors Drop In Center
in Caroline and was attended by lions and well wishers from Caroline and Spruce View, among others.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Something smells
(Rimbey, AB) Wednesday’s December 9th Calgary Herald reported that Enmax’s CEO, “told of a private meeting where government officials advised utility companies not to question the need for new power lines.”
Ethical controversies have surrounded the excessive proposals to build massive electricity transmission lines across Alberta since before Stelmach took the reins of power. For example, since SNC-Lavalin over-paid $200 million dollars for TransAlta’s transmission lines and created the company now known as AltaLink
* AltaLink, now owned 77% by SNC-Lavalin, was tasked by the AESO to provide critical consultation (proof) to justify the need to build a 500KV transmission line from Edmonton to Calgary. Based on the information provided by AltaLink, AESO submitted an application to the EUB for approval to build a 500KV transmission line, and testified extensively on the relevance and credibility of AltaLink’s evidence. Three years later, it was embarrassingly revealed that AltaLink’s so-called critical report was delivered to the AESO six months after AESO submitted their application. The question of how AESO could testify extensively on the relevance and credibility of AltaLink’s evidence six months before AESO received the evidence has never been answered.
* Early on Alberta Energy intervened and over-ruled an EUB decision that would require generators to share in the costs. Later, transmission regulations were changed to eliminate any requirement to have industry share in the costs of building transmission lines.
* Mr. Kellan Fluckiger, the then Executive Director of the Alberta Department of Energy, testified in support of the 500 KV transmission line. Mr. Fluckiger’s wife at the time was a senior executive vice president with AltaLink, the primary beneficiary of the 500 KV line. In a letter dated June 15, 2006 Fluckiger detailed the Department’s support for AltaLink’s 500KV transmission line. Complaints that the Alberta Energy Utilities Board, (AEUB) under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Energy, could not be viewed or expected to act as an impartial Board when the ministry is testifying on behalf of a project were dismissed.
* AltaLink was awarded a $200 million dollar no-bid contract (guaranteeing SNC-Lavalin, an engineering and construction contract) to build the transmission line from Edmonton to Calgary. The $200 million dollars figure raised suspicions given the fact that SNC-Lavalin originally over-paid $200 million to purchase AltaLink. The project has now ballooned to an estimated $2.2 billion. AltaLink (owned 77% by SNC-Lavalin) will assume ownership upon completion, and the public (load) pays for 100% of the costs to construct the transmission line.
* AESO, as an independent non-profit entity responsible for the safe, reliable and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System, applied to the AEUB specifically to assign AltaLink a 500KV line in violation of its mandated objectivity and obligation to consider the "Needs" before any direct assignment. It was later proven that AESO's senior executives had annual bonuses attached to the submission and approval of a 500 KV transmission line that could only benefit AltaLink.
* Former premier Ralph Klein and the former EUB chairman Neil McCrank (McCrank chaired the first AltaLink 500 KV hearings and drafted the original approval) both now work for AltaLink’s law firm.
The allegations from Enmax’s CEO are significant for a number of reasons; however the allegations seem to be mounting in intensity. What is not being disclosed is the fact that Alberta may be at risk of losing approximately 30,000 jobs in the refinery, and pulp and paper mill sectors, if the costs of these mega-transmission lines are downloaded onto industry. How Alberta’s economy will pay for these projects has never been disclosed in a cost benefit analysis.
The argument in support of a regulatory process to transparently evaluate utilities projects is a proven methodology that works in the public interest. The changes to the current legislation should be repealed, and the regulatory system should be re-instated for approving critical infrastructure. Besides, utility board hearings are a great venue to catch government hired spies. It not hard to identify government private investigators, you will find them eating all the donuts.
The Lavesta Area Group is calling for a full and complete independent transparent inquiry into this government’s unethical behaviour relative to the entire regulatory process surrounding the approval of transmission lines, including the most recent allegations.
For more information Contact
Joe Anglin
(403) 843-3279
(403) 963-0521 cell
Leader, Lavesta Area Group
Ethical controversies have surrounded the excessive proposals to build massive electricity transmission lines across Alberta since before Stelmach took the reins of power. For example, since SNC-Lavalin over-paid $200 million dollars for TransAlta’s transmission lines and created the company now known as AltaLink
* AltaLink, now owned 77% by SNC-Lavalin, was tasked by the AESO to provide critical consultation (proof) to justify the need to build a 500KV transmission line from Edmonton to Calgary. Based on the information provided by AltaLink, AESO submitted an application to the EUB for approval to build a 500KV transmission line, and testified extensively on the relevance and credibility of AltaLink’s evidence. Three years later, it was embarrassingly revealed that AltaLink’s so-called critical report was delivered to the AESO six months after AESO submitted their application. The question of how AESO could testify extensively on the relevance and credibility of AltaLink’s evidence six months before AESO received the evidence has never been answered.
* Early on Alberta Energy intervened and over-ruled an EUB decision that would require generators to share in the costs. Later, transmission regulations were changed to eliminate any requirement to have industry share in the costs of building transmission lines.
* Mr. Kellan Fluckiger, the then Executive Director of the Alberta Department of Energy, testified in support of the 500 KV transmission line. Mr. Fluckiger’s wife at the time was a senior executive vice president with AltaLink, the primary beneficiary of the 500 KV line. In a letter dated June 15, 2006 Fluckiger detailed the Department’s support for AltaLink’s 500KV transmission line. Complaints that the Alberta Energy Utilities Board, (AEUB) under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Energy, could not be viewed or expected to act as an impartial Board when the ministry is testifying on behalf of a project were dismissed.
* AltaLink was awarded a $200 million dollar no-bid contract (guaranteeing SNC-Lavalin, an engineering and construction contract) to build the transmission line from Edmonton to Calgary. The $200 million dollars figure raised suspicions given the fact that SNC-Lavalin originally over-paid $200 million to purchase AltaLink. The project has now ballooned to an estimated $2.2 billion. AltaLink (owned 77% by SNC-Lavalin) will assume ownership upon completion, and the public (load) pays for 100% of the costs to construct the transmission line.
* AESO, as an independent non-profit entity responsible for the safe, reliable and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System, applied to the AEUB specifically to assign AltaLink a 500KV line in violation of its mandated objectivity and obligation to consider the "Needs" before any direct assignment. It was later proven that AESO's senior executives had annual bonuses attached to the submission and approval of a 500 KV transmission line that could only benefit AltaLink.
* Former premier Ralph Klein and the former EUB chairman Neil McCrank (McCrank chaired the first AltaLink 500 KV hearings and drafted the original approval) both now work for AltaLink’s law firm.
The allegations from Enmax’s CEO are significant for a number of reasons; however the allegations seem to be mounting in intensity. What is not being disclosed is the fact that Alberta may be at risk of losing approximately 30,000 jobs in the refinery, and pulp and paper mill sectors, if the costs of these mega-transmission lines are downloaded onto industry. How Alberta’s economy will pay for these projects has never been disclosed in a cost benefit analysis.
The argument in support of a regulatory process to transparently evaluate utilities projects is a proven methodology that works in the public interest. The changes to the current legislation should be repealed, and the regulatory system should be re-instated for approving critical infrastructure. Besides, utility board hearings are a great venue to catch government hired spies. It not hard to identify government private investigators, you will find them eating all the donuts.
The Lavesta Area Group is calling for a full and complete independent transparent inquiry into this government’s unethical behaviour relative to the entire regulatory process surrounding the approval of transmission lines, including the most recent allegations.
For more information Contact
Joe Anglin
(403) 843-3279
(403) 963-0521 cell
Leader, Lavesta Area Group
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Pen Meet Paper Dec.7'09
Opinion by Helge Nome
The UN sponsored world climate conference in Copenhagen has begun. Nobody seems to know what the outcomes might be at this stage but it appears, as time goes by, that an increasing number of presidents and prime ministers are going to make a call there.
Canada, and Alberta in particular, are already in the hot seat as climate change copouts. Canada for not living up to Kyoto commitments and Alberta for producing “dirty” oil, in terms of carbon dioxide emissions, from its tar sands.
Climate change is a highly politicized issue with opinions ranging from no climate change, to natural climate change and human caused climate change. It is a confusing picture.
However, there is something that is raising a lot of red flags called “carbon credit trading”. The idea is quite simple: Emitters of carbon dioxide, such as large power generating plants, are putting a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and should be given maximum permissible emissions targets. A financial penalty should be imposed if those plants fail to meet their emission targets.
However, they will be given the opportunity to purchase carbon credits from other individuals/groups/organizations that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
These credits can then be deducted from the actual emission numbers for a plant to bring its net pollution of the atmosphere below its maximum permissible emission target.
For example, the owner of a growing forest could claim to be responsible for removing a certain amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year because the main building blocks of growing trees contain carbon. So a power generating plant should be able to buy the carbon credits estimated to be generated by this forest to go towards meeting its emission targets.
As usual, the devil is in the details: Because of the complexity of the situation, carbon credit trading markets operating on a world wide scale are proposed. And a market means traders, whose motives are?... Need I say more.
For those of us who follow financial markets, stock and bond market, etc., all the bells are ringing and red flags frantically flapping in the wind! Did you say “carbon credit markets”?!
This could become the biggest financial racket in the world to date. Market traders manipulate and skim profit from their transactions all the time. That is when they are not blatantly creating fraudulent financial “products” such as Asset Backed Commercial Toilet Paper and sell this junk to unsuspecting buyers. Next in line: Carbon Credits.
No, Thank You.
The UN sponsored world climate conference in Copenhagen has begun. Nobody seems to know what the outcomes might be at this stage but it appears, as time goes by, that an increasing number of presidents and prime ministers are going to make a call there.
Canada, and Alberta in particular, are already in the hot seat as climate change copouts. Canada for not living up to Kyoto commitments and Alberta for producing “dirty” oil, in terms of carbon dioxide emissions, from its tar sands.
Climate change is a highly politicized issue with opinions ranging from no climate change, to natural climate change and human caused climate change. It is a confusing picture.
However, there is something that is raising a lot of red flags called “carbon credit trading”. The idea is quite simple: Emitters of carbon dioxide, such as large power generating plants, are putting a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and should be given maximum permissible emissions targets. A financial penalty should be imposed if those plants fail to meet their emission targets.
However, they will be given the opportunity to purchase carbon credits from other individuals/groups/organizations that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
These credits can then be deducted from the actual emission numbers for a plant to bring its net pollution of the atmosphere below its maximum permissible emission target.
For example, the owner of a growing forest could claim to be responsible for removing a certain amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year because the main building blocks of growing trees contain carbon. So a power generating plant should be able to buy the carbon credits estimated to be generated by this forest to go towards meeting its emission targets.
As usual, the devil is in the details: Because of the complexity of the situation, carbon credit trading markets operating on a world wide scale are proposed. And a market means traders, whose motives are?... Need I say more.
For those of us who follow financial markets, stock and bond market, etc., all the bells are ringing and red flags frantically flapping in the wind! Did you say “carbon credit markets”?!
This could become the biggest financial racket in the world to date. Market traders manipulate and skim profit from their transactions all the time. That is when they are not blatantly creating fraudulent financial “products” such as Asset Backed Commercial Toilet Paper and sell this junk to unsuspecting buyers. Next in line: Carbon Credits.
No, Thank You.
90 years and going strong
Howard Thompson celebrated his 90th birthday at the Fensala Hall in Markerville on Saturday, November 28. The hall was packed to capacity with family, friends and well wishers.
Media Luncheon entertainment
The Pioneer School Grade 8 Jazz Band entertained guests at the Media Luncheon hosted by Wild Rose Public Schools on November 27. As keynote speaker, former provincial Minister of Education, David King, delivered a powerful message on the importance of public education and public involvement on the local level to a gathering of news media people, teachers and administrators.
Water mains break in Caroline
There was some confusion in Caroline on the morning of Thursday, November 26. There was a foul smell in the air over a large area in and around Caroline, which coincided with water bubbling onto the west end of main street leading to stories about a busted sewer line. As it turned out, the smell came from a gas release from an N.A.L. Resources well just to the north of the village. The leak was contained and the gas had dissipated by lunchtime (thankfully!)Main street was blocked off and a contractor brought in to dig up the area around the leak.
Opening ceremonies at the ASAA 1A Girls Provincial Championship
The championship was hosted by Caroline School on November 26-28 and involved 10 teams from across the province.The opening ceremonies were held the Caroline School Gym on November 26 and games were played there and at Camp Caroline to the south of the Village of Caroline
Game 1, Caroline against Standard
Caroline Cougars' Kailey Fauville sends the ball into the air, in front of attentive spectators and watched by team members Shayna Ververda (2) and Sara Stevens (5). Caroline went on to place 4th overall in the tournament.
Crammond Community Hall Association board and helpers
The association held its Annual general Meeting on November 25, reinstated its board and assigned tasks to many helpers:Front (sitting): Ron Edwards, Maria Hall, Hilda Lupul, Bobbie Tucker.
Standing: Karen Edwards, Hilda Gamble, Marilyn Aquilini, Teresa Stacey, Carol Preston, Howard St.Cyr, Diane Willsie,
Judy Blanchard, Jude Johnston, Stan Johnston.
The Crammond Hall is situated on Highway 22, to the south east of Caroline where an active community group was responsible for constructing it a few years ago and are involved in upgrading the facility and surrounding property.
In the spring, a piece of property owned by the association on the west boundary of the land where the hall is located
will have an access road constructed and trees planted.
The Crammond Hall is used by many community groups, individuals and companies.
The main event for December is the annual community Christmas party starting at 5pm on Sunday, December 6. As usual, it will be a potluck dinner with the turkey and beverages being provided by the community. There will be door prizes for both adults & children, live music with caroling and, of course, a visit from Santa.
Rec/Ag Society board for 2009/10
Reg Dean (new director), Earl Graham, Al Grimshaw, Nazem Kamaleddine, Hendrik Van Dijk, Dennis Benz (Chairman), John Follis, Merna Cermak (new director), Maurice Fortin, Cheyanna Stange, John Harder."Thank you for dedicated service"
Rec/Ag Society Chairman Dennis Benz thanked outgoing board members Brian Cermak, Doris Houghton and Ari Hahmo for 6 years of dedicated service on Caroline's Rec/Ag board.
Rec/Ag Society Hosts Annual General Meeting
The Caroline and District Recreation and Agriculture Society, which operates the Kurt Browning Arena and Complex in Caroline, held its Annual General Meeting on November 24 in the complex hall and heard reports from the various complex user groups, including the Farmers Market, Figure Skating Club, Curling Club and Slow Pitch Team at its Annual General Meeting.
Complex Manager Debbie Northcott noted that the new ramps for the Ryan Jorgensen Skateboard Park are now in place and it is hoped that local youths will take ownership of the park which is located right next to the complex. Income from bingo is down, as is the case right across the province. The society's auditor's report will be presented at the regular board meeting on December 8 at 7pm.
Upcoming events hosted at the complex include Christmas Lightup on December 4 from 5-8pm and Christmas day Dinner, hosted by the Cermak family, for people who would like to come, beginning at noon.
This year, dinners will also be delivered to people who have difficulty in getting to the complex. For more information, phone Debbie at 403 722-3022.
Complex Manager Debbie Northcott noted that the new ramps for the Ryan Jorgensen Skateboard Park are now in place and it is hoped that local youths will take ownership of the park which is located right next to the complex. Income from bingo is down, as is the case right across the province. The society's auditor's report will be presented at the regular board meeting on December 8 at 7pm.
Upcoming events hosted at the complex include Christmas Lightup on December 4 from 5-8pm and Christmas day Dinner, hosted by the Cermak family, for people who would like to come, beginning at noon.
This year, dinners will also be delivered to people who have difficulty in getting to the complex. For more information, phone Debbie at 403 722-3022.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Pen Meets Paper Nov.30'09
Opinion by Helge Nome
Back in the sixties, Star Trek used to be a very popular TV show. It is said that even the astronauts and support crews on Cape Canaveral used to look forwards to new episodes of the show in between moon missions.
I remember one episode in particular: It began with calamity about to happen where the Starship Enterprise’s main computer warns about imminent loss of the ships structural integrity followed by a blank TV screen.
The story then picks up with the Enterprise moving merrily along in space with the faint background hum of its warp drive audible in the background.
Captain Kirk, Scotty, Lieutenant Uhura and all the others are at their regular stations on the bridge without anything exciting going on.
Then, slowly things begin to happen that are slightly out of the ordinary and escalate to the point where the final scene, once again, is a blank screen and the whole sequence repeats itself with some minor variations.
To the viewer, the answer is obvious: The Enterprise is trapped in a time warp as long as the crew keeps making the same decisions every time the same challenges present themselves.
And the frustrating thing is that they don’t know that they are trapped and so are likely bound to make the same mistakes over and over again.
That is, until one of the ship’s crew accidentally come across some troubling images in the main computer’s data banks that stir up some strange memories that don’t make any sense.
Finally, having gone through the loop a few more times, a sense of disquiet begins to spread among the crew, they manage to solve the riddle and with pounding hearts change the decisions (which seem perfectly logical) in favor of others that make no sense to them, in order to finally break out of the time warp.
I have seen some troubling images on my computer, and many before that in movie theaters. I have crawled around in trenches and bunkers that were perfectly real and smoked tobacco that real soldiers left behind.
I have seen YouTube videos that are copies of films taken by people that invaded my homeland with guns and cannon and bombs before I was born.
Cities in ruins, bodies strewn across fields.
All of them clear indicators of the structural failure of society.
Right now, if you have a simple doctor’s stethoscope, or manage to get one, and place the probe on any thing you care in your surroundings including yourself, you can distinctly hear the background rumble of our ship’s warp drive.
Can we do what the crew of the Enterprise did?
Back in the sixties, Star Trek used to be a very popular TV show. It is said that even the astronauts and support crews on Cape Canaveral used to look forwards to new episodes of the show in between moon missions.
I remember one episode in particular: It began with calamity about to happen where the Starship Enterprise’s main computer warns about imminent loss of the ships structural integrity followed by a blank TV screen.
The story then picks up with the Enterprise moving merrily along in space with the faint background hum of its warp drive audible in the background.
Captain Kirk, Scotty, Lieutenant Uhura and all the others are at their regular stations on the bridge without anything exciting going on.
Then, slowly things begin to happen that are slightly out of the ordinary and escalate to the point where the final scene, once again, is a blank screen and the whole sequence repeats itself with some minor variations.
To the viewer, the answer is obvious: The Enterprise is trapped in a time warp as long as the crew keeps making the same decisions every time the same challenges present themselves.
And the frustrating thing is that they don’t know that they are trapped and so are likely bound to make the same mistakes over and over again.
That is, until one of the ship’s crew accidentally come across some troubling images in the main computer’s data banks that stir up some strange memories that don’t make any sense.
Finally, having gone through the loop a few more times, a sense of disquiet begins to spread among the crew, they manage to solve the riddle and with pounding hearts change the decisions (which seem perfectly logical) in favor of others that make no sense to them, in order to finally break out of the time warp.
I have seen some troubling images on my computer, and many before that in movie theaters. I have crawled around in trenches and bunkers that were perfectly real and smoked tobacco that real soldiers left behind.
I have seen YouTube videos that are copies of films taken by people that invaded my homeland with guns and cannon and bombs before I was born.
Cities in ruins, bodies strewn across fields.
All of them clear indicators of the structural failure of society.
Right now, if you have a simple doctor’s stethoscope, or manage to get one, and place the probe on any thing you care in your surroundings including yourself, you can distinctly hear the background rumble of our ship’s warp drive.
Can we do what the crew of the Enterprise did?
Caroline Food Bank donation
Caroline Lions Club President Nazem Kamaleddine presented a cheque for $1,000 to the Shepherd's Food Bank represented by Pastor Jason Sedore on Tuesday, November 17.Lions Al Marchant and Orest Luchka were also in attendance
Caroline School Junior High Honors Awards for Grade 7
Hanna Andrus, Jenna Godwin, Jessica Kyncl, Amy Liang, Taylor Michalsky, Katelyn Morrill, Chetwyn Westergaard
Grade 8 Honors Awards
Megan Berg, Brianna Denham, Amber Groves, Jordan Gutek, Caresse Harvey, Lindsay Mandelin, Cassidy Piesse, Neva Rowell
Grade 12 Honors Award
Harrison Berg received this award in addition to several others including the Valedictorian Award and the Governor General's Bronze Medal for Academics.
Town and Country Bonspiel
A Event winners, standing: Anne Sassey, Ivan Vandermeer, Brad Bouchard, Ari Hahmo. Sponsor: Shell CarolineRunners up, sitting: Rich Hirschmiller, John Boorman, Wendell Hulberg, Bob Ralston. Sponsor: West Side Liquor Store
Town and Country Bonspiel
B Event Winners, standing: Breanna Houghton, Ken Charlton, Roy Follis, Lance Dichrow (Skip)Runners Up, sitting: Harvey Barrer, John Harder, Jerry McLean, Ron Brennan.
Town and Country Bonspiel
C Event winners, standing: Tom Cunningham, Dayle Murray, Jock Watt, Shannon Befus. Sponsor: ATB FinancialRunners Up, sitting: Cindy Fink, Jamie Foley,Neil Foley, Reg Dean. Sponsor: Caroline Supplies
Caroline Midget Hockey Tournament
During the A final on Sunday, November 22, the Caroline Red Dogs buckled to the Red Deer Lodge team after an even score of 3 - 3 going into the third round. The Red Deer team managed to get ahead of the Red Dogs with a couple of quick goals in the first few minutes of the round. They managed to hold on to that lead, winning the game 7 - 2.Here Caroline, in white jerseys, just scored its fifth and final goal against the Red Deer team.
Highway upgrade complete
Caroline and west country area residents now have a smother and quicker ride to the Highway 2 corridor.
The upgrade work on Highway 54, going all the way west from Innisfail past Spruce View, is now complete and includes a section which bypasses Innisfail altogether so that motorists from the west country can now enter Highway 2 south of Innisfail from a recently constructed entry point that includes an overpass on Alberta's busy major north - south traffic route.
Here, a sedan can be seen turning off Highway 54 to Innisfail, near the Innisfail Golf Course, and the vehicle towing the stock trailer proceeding towards Highway 2.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)