By Todd Hirsch
Senior Economist, ATB Financial
November 30, 2010
After a big boom in activity at the beginning of 2010, it seemed that the country’s economy started to moderate, with slower growth as the year progressed. That slowing trend became even more pronounced during the months of July to September.
According to a Statistics Canada release this morning, the national economy expanded by only 0.3% in the third
quarter of 2010, compared to the second quarter. The annualized rate of growth (that is, if the same pace continued for 12 months) was 1.0% in the third quarter. This comes after annualized growth rates of 5.6% in the first quarter, and 2.3% in the second quarter. The biggest factors contributing to the slowdown in GDP growth were lower exports (-1.3%) and lower investment in housing (-1.3%). Neither of those came as a surprise; with the US economy struggling with high consumer debt levels, exports to our largest trading partner have sagged over the middle part of the year. And the national housing market has shown strains as well. Manufacturing, mining and the public sector main sources of growth in the third quarter.
The GDP growth report came in somewhat below a consensus of economists’ forecasts of +1.5%. Given the apparent slowdown in the Canadian economy, the Bank of Canada will certainly pass on any rate increase in December, and could now delay rate
increases until mid-2011.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Pen Meets Paper Nov.29'10
Opinion by Helge Nome
Most of us, when we go to a store to buy something, are probably focussed on the product or service needed, rather than its supplier or provider. When we sell something, we are primarily concerned about what the return will be, in terms of money paid to us. It is only when problems begin to show up that we begin asking as to why. Something like that happened to a now extinct dairy coop here in Alberta, where producers sent in their milk and got cheques back from the coop. Then one day the coop was no more. It had been sold off to private interests.
The Great Depression in the 1930s spawned a lot of coops because private business failed to serve the needs of people to their satisfaction. Today we are left with the remnants of that great tradition in the form of credit unions, retailing coops and gas and electricity distribution coops in Alberta. The difference between a coop and a regular company owned by shareholders is that each coop member has one vote, and one vote only, in comparison to a shareholder whose vote is one per share owned.
However, both types of organization are prone to the same abnormalities: If the owners do not hold the hired people who run the organization accountable for their actions in running it, things can very easily go wrong with red ink spreading rapidly on the bottom of the balance sheet.
This is where a coop may be at somewhat of a disadvantage, compared to a company, private or public. A private entrepreneur has a very strong interest in keeping his company solvent by making prudent business decisions, as does a large shareholder in a public company. The motivation of a coop member is different because he or she does not have a lot of money invested in shares. So there may be less of a motive to ensure that prudent business practices are followed because the direct financial investment of a company shareholder is just not there. However, coop members are still the legal owners of their coop, and if it is sold as a going concern to private interests, each member will receive a sum equal to the buying price divided by the number of members, which could be substantial if the coop is doing well.
So, what happened to the dairy coop here in Alberta? Anecdotal evidence to hand is that the manager and board during its latter days went off on a tangent and made some unwise investment decisions which ultimately ended up in the sale of the coop. The members were the big losers because their asset, the coop, was not in a very good financial shape at the time of sale.
What is the lesson here? Very simply that coop members need to take an active interest in what their elected board and management are doing with their asset, the coop.
Most of us, when we go to a store to buy something, are probably focussed on the product or service needed, rather than its supplier or provider. When we sell something, we are primarily concerned about what the return will be, in terms of money paid to us. It is only when problems begin to show up that we begin asking as to why. Something like that happened to a now extinct dairy coop here in Alberta, where producers sent in their milk and got cheques back from the coop. Then one day the coop was no more. It had been sold off to private interests.
The Great Depression in the 1930s spawned a lot of coops because private business failed to serve the needs of people to their satisfaction. Today we are left with the remnants of that great tradition in the form of credit unions, retailing coops and gas and electricity distribution coops in Alberta. The difference between a coop and a regular company owned by shareholders is that each coop member has one vote, and one vote only, in comparison to a shareholder whose vote is one per share owned.
However, both types of organization are prone to the same abnormalities: If the owners do not hold the hired people who run the organization accountable for their actions in running it, things can very easily go wrong with red ink spreading rapidly on the bottom of the balance sheet.
This is where a coop may be at somewhat of a disadvantage, compared to a company, private or public. A private entrepreneur has a very strong interest in keeping his company solvent by making prudent business decisions, as does a large shareholder in a public company. The motivation of a coop member is different because he or she does not have a lot of money invested in shares. So there may be less of a motive to ensure that prudent business practices are followed because the direct financial investment of a company shareholder is just not there. However, coop members are still the legal owners of their coop, and if it is sold as a going concern to private interests, each member will receive a sum equal to the buying price divided by the number of members, which could be substantial if the coop is doing well.
So, what happened to the dairy coop here in Alberta? Anecdotal evidence to hand is that the manager and board during its latter days went off on a tangent and made some unwise investment decisions which ultimately ended up in the sale of the coop. The members were the big losers because their asset, the coop, was not in a very good financial shape at the time of sale.
What is the lesson here? Very simply that coop members need to take an active interest in what their elected board and management are doing with their asset, the coop.
New vendor at the Caroline Farmers' Market
Alberta made organic wine was available at the Special Farmers' Market on Friday, November 19. Lisa Heinrichs presented a selection of fruit based wines and mead (from honey) made at the En Sante (french: "In Health") winery in Brosseau, Alberta. The wines are sold at farmers' markets all across Alberta and are available in restaurants in Edmonton and Calgary. The next farmers' market will be at Christmas Light Up on December 3.
Caroline Red Dogs Midget tournament
Caroline was the runner up in this tournament where the puck ended up in the net of the High River Rangers team twelve times during the B Final on Sunday, November 21. High River managed to score one goal for a total of seven shots on goal in comparison the Caroline's 29 shots on goal in total. 8 teams competed in the tournament.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
South Korea Rejects China Call for Talks as Naval Drills Begin
November 28, 2010, 5:29 AM EST
By Sungwoo Park and Bomi Lim
Nov. 28 (Bloomberg) -- South Korea rejected China’s call to resume six-party talks with North Korea today, as it’s navy began maneuvers with U.S. warships amid threats of a “merciless” response by Kim Jong Il’s regime.
“Emergency” discussions involving the Koreas, China, the U.S., Russia and Japan should be held early month in Beijing to address increasing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Wu Dawei, China’s top envoy for the negotiations, told reporters in Beijing today. The time isn’t right for such a meeting South Korean President Lee Myung Bak told visiting Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo today in Seoul, Yonhap News said. Article here
By Sungwoo Park and Bomi Lim
Nov. 28 (Bloomberg) -- South Korea rejected China’s call to resume six-party talks with North Korea today, as it’s navy began maneuvers with U.S. warships amid threats of a “merciless” response by Kim Jong Il’s regime.
“Emergency” discussions involving the Koreas, China, the U.S., Russia and Japan should be held early month in Beijing to address increasing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Wu Dawei, China’s top envoy for the negotiations, told reporters in Beijing today. The time isn’t right for such a meeting South Korean President Lee Myung Bak told visiting Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo today in Seoul, Yonhap News said. Article here
Friday, November 26, 2010
The other side of the Korean conflict story
Editor's Note: The mainstream media make no mention of why tensions are building in the Korean peninsula. They simply present one side of the story. Here is the North Korean version as copied from their main news agency. Please note that the North Koreans do refer to themselves as "Koreans" and to the south as "puppets" of the US.
In other words, they have a totally different perception of the situation than that presented by western media.
Panmunjom Mission of KPA Sends Notice to U.S. Forces Side
Pyongyang, November 25 (KCNA) -- As already reported, the south Korean puppet war-like forces Tuesday committed another grave military provocation such as firing shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side in the West Sea of Korea.
The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK took a prompt and resolute physical counter-action against the provocateurs who dared fire even shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side while staging the maneuvers for a war of aggression against it codenamed Hoguk.
This once again confirmed the unshakable stand of the army of the DPRK not to allow even in the least anyone to encroach upon its inviolable territorial waters.
There came from the U.S. forces side a notice blaming the DPRK under the absurd charge that the recent shelling took place in the area under its military control and it was a "violation of the Armistice Agreement."
The Panmunjom Mission of the Korean People's Army today sent the following notice to the U.S. forces side in connection with its attempt to misrepresent the incident, while thoughtlessly shielding the south Korean puppet forces who dared make a preempt shelling at the DPRK:
The south Korean puppet warmongers' firing of shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side in the West Sea of Korea on Nov. 23 was a premeditated and deliberate military provocation from A to Z and a war action in fact.
On Nov. 22, the south Korean puppet forces made no scruple of announcing that they would fire shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side with artillery pieces they deployed on Yonphyong Island while staging Hoguk exercises for a war of aggression against the DPRK, straining the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
In this connection the DPRK side sent a telephone notice to the south Korean puppet military at 8 a.m. on Nov. 23, strongly urging it to immediately cancel the plan for firing shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side. In the notice the DPRK side seriously warned that if it paid no heed to this demand, it would face a resolute physical counter-strike and would be held fully responsible for all the ensuing consequences.
The south Korean puppet forces, obsessed by hysteria for invasion of the DPRK, committed such reckless military provocation as preempting the firing of shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side in the West Sea of Korea by mobilizing artillery pieces deployed on Yonphyong Island, defying the repeated efforts made by the DPRK to prevent military conflicts and preserve peace and stability in the said waters.
The island, therefore, played the role of an outpost from which a military provocation was perpetrated against the DPRK and it deserved punishment meted out by the army of the DPRK according to its self-defensive measure.
The Panmunjom Mission of the KPA in the notice particularly emphasized the fact that the U.S. forces side, too, is to blame for the incident.
The West Sea of Korea turned into disputed waters always fraught with the danger of confrontation and clash between the north and the south because of the illegal "northern limit line" unilaterally fixed by the U.S. inside the territorial waters of the DPRK. The U.S., therefore, cannot evade the blame for the recent shelling.
If the U.S. forces side truly desires the detente on the Korean Peninsula, it should not thoughtlessly shelter the south Korean puppet forces but strictly control them so that they may not commit any more adventurous military provocations such as intruding into the waters of the DPRK side and shelling for the purpose of defending the illegal "northern limit line".
The prevailing situation goes to prove that it is the south Korean puppet forces which actually violated the Armistice Agreement and it was none other than the U.S. which sparked off the conflict in the above-said waters.
This being a hard reality, the U.S. and the south Korean puppet forces are foolishly contemplating an additional provocation aimed to orchestrate another farce and charade such as the "Cheonan" case while kicking up rows and holding confabs one after another such as the declaration of a "state of emergency" and "a meeting of ministers in charge of security," far from drawing due lesson from the recent shelling.
The Korean People's Army will deal without hesitation the second and third strong physical retaliatory blow if the south Korean puppet warmongers commit another reckless military provocation out of all reason.
The U.S. would be well advised to drop its inveterate bad habit of pulling up others, falsifying the truth about the situation.
Article source here
Copyright (C) KOREA NEWS SERVICE(KNS) All Rights Reserved.
In other words, they have a totally different perception of the situation than that presented by western media.
Panmunjom Mission of KPA Sends Notice to U.S. Forces Side
Pyongyang, November 25 (KCNA) -- As already reported, the south Korean puppet war-like forces Tuesday committed another grave military provocation such as firing shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side in the West Sea of Korea.
The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK took a prompt and resolute physical counter-action against the provocateurs who dared fire even shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side while staging the maneuvers for a war of aggression against it codenamed Hoguk.
This once again confirmed the unshakable stand of the army of the DPRK not to allow even in the least anyone to encroach upon its inviolable territorial waters.
There came from the U.S. forces side a notice blaming the DPRK under the absurd charge that the recent shelling took place in the area under its military control and it was a "violation of the Armistice Agreement."
The Panmunjom Mission of the Korean People's Army today sent the following notice to the U.S. forces side in connection with its attempt to misrepresent the incident, while thoughtlessly shielding the south Korean puppet forces who dared make a preempt shelling at the DPRK:
The south Korean puppet warmongers' firing of shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side in the West Sea of Korea on Nov. 23 was a premeditated and deliberate military provocation from A to Z and a war action in fact.
On Nov. 22, the south Korean puppet forces made no scruple of announcing that they would fire shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side with artillery pieces they deployed on Yonphyong Island while staging Hoguk exercises for a war of aggression against the DPRK, straining the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
In this connection the DPRK side sent a telephone notice to the south Korean puppet military at 8 a.m. on Nov. 23, strongly urging it to immediately cancel the plan for firing shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side. In the notice the DPRK side seriously warned that if it paid no heed to this demand, it would face a resolute physical counter-strike and would be held fully responsible for all the ensuing consequences.
The south Korean puppet forces, obsessed by hysteria for invasion of the DPRK, committed such reckless military provocation as preempting the firing of shells into the territorial waters of the DPRK side in the West Sea of Korea by mobilizing artillery pieces deployed on Yonphyong Island, defying the repeated efforts made by the DPRK to prevent military conflicts and preserve peace and stability in the said waters.
The island, therefore, played the role of an outpost from which a military provocation was perpetrated against the DPRK and it deserved punishment meted out by the army of the DPRK according to its self-defensive measure.
The Panmunjom Mission of the KPA in the notice particularly emphasized the fact that the U.S. forces side, too, is to blame for the incident.
The West Sea of Korea turned into disputed waters always fraught with the danger of confrontation and clash between the north and the south because of the illegal "northern limit line" unilaterally fixed by the U.S. inside the territorial waters of the DPRK. The U.S., therefore, cannot evade the blame for the recent shelling.
If the U.S. forces side truly desires the detente on the Korean Peninsula, it should not thoughtlessly shelter the south Korean puppet forces but strictly control them so that they may not commit any more adventurous military provocations such as intruding into the waters of the DPRK side and shelling for the purpose of defending the illegal "northern limit line".
The prevailing situation goes to prove that it is the south Korean puppet forces which actually violated the Armistice Agreement and it was none other than the U.S. which sparked off the conflict in the above-said waters.
This being a hard reality, the U.S. and the south Korean puppet forces are foolishly contemplating an additional provocation aimed to orchestrate another farce and charade such as the "Cheonan" case while kicking up rows and holding confabs one after another such as the declaration of a "state of emergency" and "a meeting of ministers in charge of security," far from drawing due lesson from the recent shelling.
The Korean People's Army will deal without hesitation the second and third strong physical retaliatory blow if the south Korean puppet warmongers commit another reckless military provocation out of all reason.
The U.S. would be well advised to drop its inveterate bad habit of pulling up others, falsifying the truth about the situation.
Article source here
Copyright (C) KOREA NEWS SERVICE(KNS) All Rights Reserved.
Socreds hold successful AGM in Innisfail
The Alberta Social Credit Party held a very successful Annual General Meeting at the Royal Canadian Legion in Innisfail this Saturday, November 20, 2010. The high energy in the meeting room was palpable, partly fuelled by new members from Edmonton. Charles Relland, past-President of the Alberta Party and Bob Whyte, past Edmonton Area Director for the Alberta Party were present and reported that they had established Social Credit constituency associations in Edmonton-Calder, Edmonton-Centre and Edmonton-Goldbar.
The leadership of Len Skowronski was affirmed by the members present. A new provincial board of directors was elected: President Gordon Barrett, First Vice-President Helge Nome, Second Vice-President Garnet Medicraft, Area Directors: Myrna Kissick (Alberta Central), Gordon Musgrove (Alberta South East), Charles Relland (Edmonton West), Tom Stad (Alberta North West), Raj Sinha (Alberta South West) and Bob Whyte (Edmonton East).
In his speech to the membership, Len Skowronski focused on the huge amount of wealth Albertans have in the oilsands and the responsibility of Albertans as owners and stewards of this wealth to assure that much more of it remains in Alberta rather than being shipped out to foreigners. He concluded, “If we Albertans take control of our credits such as the oil sands, we will no longer be in debt to the bankers. The resulting wealth will provide for our social needs: health care, education, seniors’ support, communication, transportation, energy, shelter, food, etc. That’s Social Credit!”
A very illuminating presentation on Alberta credit unions was given by guest speaker Paul Kennett, President and CEO of the Alberta Credit Union Deposit Corporation. Credit unions have a special place in the hearts of Socreds. During the Great Depression, the Canadian banks, headquartered in the east, ravaged rural Alberta by seizing farms and abandoning bank branches. In order to return some financial stability to Alberta, the Social Credit government established the Alberta Treasury Branch and enacted the Credit Union Act in 1938. By 1943, 151 credit unions were registered in Alberta.
A member expressed his concern that opinion polls and social media swarming were being used to sway the electorate during election campaigns. A motion was passed requesting a provincial public inquiry into this matter and revisions to the Alberta Elections Act and Local Authorities Election Act that would prevent undue influence by these activities.
Len Skowronski
Leader
Alberta Social Credit Party
Calgary, AB
1-403-288-9695
1-888-SOCRED1
www.socialcredit.com
Full text of leader's speech here
The leadership of Len Skowronski was affirmed by the members present. A new provincial board of directors was elected: President Gordon Barrett, First Vice-President Helge Nome, Second Vice-President Garnet Medicraft, Area Directors: Myrna Kissick (Alberta Central), Gordon Musgrove (Alberta South East), Charles Relland (Edmonton West), Tom Stad (Alberta North West), Raj Sinha (Alberta South West) and Bob Whyte (Edmonton East).
In his speech to the membership, Len Skowronski focused on the huge amount of wealth Albertans have in the oilsands and the responsibility of Albertans as owners and stewards of this wealth to assure that much more of it remains in Alberta rather than being shipped out to foreigners. He concluded, “If we Albertans take control of our credits such as the oil sands, we will no longer be in debt to the bankers. The resulting wealth will provide for our social needs: health care, education, seniors’ support, communication, transportation, energy, shelter, food, etc. That’s Social Credit!”
A very illuminating presentation on Alberta credit unions was given by guest speaker Paul Kennett, President and CEO of the Alberta Credit Union Deposit Corporation. Credit unions have a special place in the hearts of Socreds. During the Great Depression, the Canadian banks, headquartered in the east, ravaged rural Alberta by seizing farms and abandoning bank branches. In order to return some financial stability to Alberta, the Social Credit government established the Alberta Treasury Branch and enacted the Credit Union Act in 1938. By 1943, 151 credit unions were registered in Alberta.
A member expressed his concern that opinion polls and social media swarming were being used to sway the electorate during election campaigns. A motion was passed requesting a provincial public inquiry into this matter and revisions to the Alberta Elections Act and Local Authorities Election Act that would prevent undue influence by these activities.
Len Skowronski
Leader
Alberta Social Credit Party
Calgary, AB
1-403-288-9695
1-888-SOCRED1
www.socialcredit.com
Full text of leader's speech here
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Quality entertainment in Sundre
Veteran Scottish folk singer/songwriter Archie Fisher entertained an appreciative audience at the Sundre Arts Centre on Thursday, November 18. The Sundre and District Allied Arts Society brought Archie, who is an entertainer who travels all over the world, to Sundre with the financial help of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
Pen Meets Paper Nov.22'10
Opinion by Helge Nome
Having been a word crafter for many years now, I have come to realize the power of the word to shape the human mind. Along with images, words can be combined in innumerable ways, both written and spoken, to convey messages that literally shape the minds that are subjected to them. For example, by repeating a message over and over again, at the exclusion of many possible other ones, the minds exposed to this onslaught of words and images centered around a particular theme, becomes increasingly less receptive to contradictory messages as time goes on.
For example, during the cold war the population of the Soviet Union was inoculated with Marxist ideas and ideals as the way towards a civilized society. The focussed and repetitive messages masked the underlying reality of an oligarchy of the select few
that did whatever they pleased with a generally compliant population. The mainstream propaganda machine worked hard at maintaining the status quo until the seams of the carefully crafted imaginary dress of words split open from the pressure of reality. This same process is now underway in the West, leading towards the same outcome that emerged in the Soviet Union. “The King has no clothes”! Democracy, Justice, Fairness are shown to be figments of the popular imagination, planted into the minds of the populace, but shown to be largely absent in the real world.
We believe that what we learn in educational institutions, be they primary, secondary or tertiary, is substantially correct, within the limitations of our ability to find out. Just to demonstrate how patently wrong this belief is, let us do a little bit of exploration: Remember our history lessons about the “old” world and the “new” world? Culture was born and evolved in the old world, especially in the fertile crescent involving the biblical lands of Mesopotamia, Palestine, Assyria, Persia, Egypt and so on. It spread from there to the Roman Empire and beyond.
The new world was “discovered” by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and was mostly inhabited by primitive tribal folks that were easily subjugated by the Conquistadors. The rest is history, as they say, and the minds of students in North America are literally filled up with stories of what happened afterwards. But what on earth happened before 1492? Was one half of the surface of the earth occupied by civilized people before that time, and the other half inhabited by savages? How likely is that? Do we simply have tunnel vision, living in the comfort of our own fantasy world? The answer is a resounding “Yes”, and the evidence is there for all to see, along the eastern North American seaboard. Here, in the boggy marshlands that litter the low lying coastline for hundreds of miles is compelling evidence for a vast and sophisticated civilization that existed many thousands of years ago, and all you need to do to confirm this is to check out a website called www.ancientcanalbuilders.com and get onboard Google Earth from there. It’s a mind opener.
Having been a word crafter for many years now, I have come to realize the power of the word to shape the human mind. Along with images, words can be combined in innumerable ways, both written and spoken, to convey messages that literally shape the minds that are subjected to them. For example, by repeating a message over and over again, at the exclusion of many possible other ones, the minds exposed to this onslaught of words and images centered around a particular theme, becomes increasingly less receptive to contradictory messages as time goes on.
For example, during the cold war the population of the Soviet Union was inoculated with Marxist ideas and ideals as the way towards a civilized society. The focussed and repetitive messages masked the underlying reality of an oligarchy of the select few
that did whatever they pleased with a generally compliant population. The mainstream propaganda machine worked hard at maintaining the status quo until the seams of the carefully crafted imaginary dress of words split open from the pressure of reality. This same process is now underway in the West, leading towards the same outcome that emerged in the Soviet Union. “The King has no clothes”! Democracy, Justice, Fairness are shown to be figments of the popular imagination, planted into the minds of the populace, but shown to be largely absent in the real world.
We believe that what we learn in educational institutions, be they primary, secondary or tertiary, is substantially correct, within the limitations of our ability to find out. Just to demonstrate how patently wrong this belief is, let us do a little bit of exploration: Remember our history lessons about the “old” world and the “new” world? Culture was born and evolved in the old world, especially in the fertile crescent involving the biblical lands of Mesopotamia, Palestine, Assyria, Persia, Egypt and so on. It spread from there to the Roman Empire and beyond.
The new world was “discovered” by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and was mostly inhabited by primitive tribal folks that were easily subjugated by the Conquistadors. The rest is history, as they say, and the minds of students in North America are literally filled up with stories of what happened afterwards. But what on earth happened before 1492? Was one half of the surface of the earth occupied by civilized people before that time, and the other half inhabited by savages? How likely is that? Do we simply have tunnel vision, living in the comfort of our own fantasy world? The answer is a resounding “Yes”, and the evidence is there for all to see, along the eastern North American seaboard. Here, in the boggy marshlands that litter the low lying coastline for hundreds of miles is compelling evidence for a vast and sophisticated civilization that existed many thousands of years ago, and all you need to do to confirm this is to check out a website called www.ancientcanalbuilders.com and get onboard Google Earth from there. It’s a mind opener.
Last Post
Trumpeter Chris Fournier played the "Last Post" and "Reveille" at the Caroline School Remembrance Ceremony on November 10 in the school gym. All of the school's staff and students were present, along with local dignitaries and members of the community.
Caroline remembers
Members of the Caroline community got together for two events, one in the school on November 10 and another at the Nazarene Church and the Legion Hall on November 11, to reflect on the devastation of war and those who have lost their lives in conflicts, past and present.
All students and staff at Caroline School got together in the school gymnasium on November 10 to be reminded of the ever present scourge of war. In his message, UN peacekeeping service veteran Terry McGuire noted the fact that Canada hates the acts of bullies and will stand up to them, even if it means a significant loss of life to do so. And this sacrifice must never be forgotten.
The following day, Pastor Jason Sedore from the Church of the Nazarene in Caroline dealt with the same subject from a somewhat different angle, during his address to a packed Legion Hall. Some three years ago he had spent some time in South Africa, in a Zulu community that had been devastated by the AIDS pandemic. There were no people in that community between the ages of 18 an 40 because they were all dead. He held this forward as a stark reminder of the possible consequences of the choice of war as way of dealing with problems between nations. His message became “Lest we forget.... the consequences of our choices.”
All students and staff at Caroline School got together in the school gymnasium on November 10 to be reminded of the ever present scourge of war. In his message, UN peacekeeping service veteran Terry McGuire noted the fact that Canada hates the acts of bullies and will stand up to them, even if it means a significant loss of life to do so. And this sacrifice must never be forgotten.
The following day, Pastor Jason Sedore from the Church of the Nazarene in Caroline dealt with the same subject from a somewhat different angle, during his address to a packed Legion Hall. Some three years ago he had spent some time in South Africa, in a Zulu community that had been devastated by the AIDS pandemic. There were no people in that community between the ages of 18 an 40 because they were all dead. He held this forward as a stark reminder of the possible consequences of the choice of war as way of dealing with problems between nations. His message became “Lest we forget.... the consequences of our choices.”
Native culture on show at Caroline School
Local youth Nathan Abraham performed the chicken dance in front of elementary students and staff at Caroline School on November 10. Nathan dances at Pow Wows around Alberta as well.
Local students of native heritage
Linda Abraham, a local resident in the Caroline area, presented her grandchildren who attend Caroline School, to a gathering of elementary students. It was all about creating awareness of the people that share the land with us.
Remembrance day procession
The annual march from the Church of the Nazarene to the Legion Hall which was packed for the Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 11.
Placing wreaths in front of the cenotaph
Beavers Ryder Thompson and Mikayla Ahlstrom from Caroline 1st. Scouting captured the sombre mood of the occasion.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Comet Snowstorm Engulfs Hartley 2
Nov. 18, 2010: NASA has just issued a travel advisory for spacecraft: Watch out for Comet Hartley 2, it is experiencing a significant winter snowstorm.
Deep Impact photographed the unexpected tempest when it flew past the comet's nucleus on Nov. 4th at a distance of only 700 km (435 miles). At first, researchers only noticed the comet's hyperactive jets. The icy nucleus is studded with them, flamboyantly spewing carbon dioxide from dozens of sites. A closer look revealed an even greater marvel, however. The space around the comet's core is glistening with chunks of ice and snow, some of them possibly as large as a basketball. Full story here
Deep Impact photographed the unexpected tempest when it flew past the comet's nucleus on Nov. 4th at a distance of only 700 km (435 miles). At first, researchers only noticed the comet's hyperactive jets. The icy nucleus is studded with them, flamboyantly spewing carbon dioxide from dozens of sites. A closer look revealed an even greater marvel, however. The space around the comet's core is glistening with chunks of ice and snow, some of them possibly as large as a basketball. Full story here
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Pen Meets Paper Nov.15'10
Opinion by Helge Nome
We commonly speak of three kinds of scourges that affect humanity: Fire, flood and pestilence. Last week we gave ourselves a reminder of a fourth kind that has literally buried generations of human beings: The scourge of war. And the short and brutal message is: “Lest we forget”.
And we did forget when we committed young Canadian lives to experience the trauma of war in a troubled place on the other side of the globe. Our civil servants and politicians forgot that this is a place where generations have experienced the nightmare of war, its brutality, whether by way of swords or drones, to bring experiences with them home that continue in their bedrooms in the night, when demons emerge from cupboards and engulf the sleeping bodies in the room. In many ways, those that died were the lucky ones. In the quiet hours, the stench of war again fills the nostrils in the form of the smell of cordite from exploding munitions. The mortal fear of driving an armored vehicle along a road knowing full well that you could be engulfed in an inferno of flames, and screams of tortured metal and comrades, at any moment. That’s what war is all about for those that participate in it, and that is why they don’t want to talk about it.
We commonly speak of three kinds of scourges that affect humanity: Fire, flood and pestilence. Last week we gave ourselves a reminder of a fourth kind that has literally buried generations of human beings: The scourge of war. And the short and brutal message is: “Lest we forget”.
And we did forget when we committed young Canadian lives to experience the trauma of war in a troubled place on the other side of the globe. Our civil servants and politicians forgot that this is a place where generations have experienced the nightmare of war, its brutality, whether by way of swords or drones, to bring experiences with them home that continue in their bedrooms in the night, when demons emerge from cupboards and engulf the sleeping bodies in the room. In many ways, those that died were the lucky ones. In the quiet hours, the stench of war again fills the nostrils in the form of the smell of cordite from exploding munitions. The mortal fear of driving an armored vehicle along a road knowing full well that you could be engulfed in an inferno of flames, and screams of tortured metal and comrades, at any moment. That’s what war is all about for those that participate in it, and that is why they don’t want to talk about it.
Harvest complete
The crop is finally in the bin at Crammond. A bout of good weather during the last couple of weeks turned local farmers' luck around and even provided time for some field cultivation before the ground freezes up.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Amazing new information on ancient North American civilization
What can only be interpreted as a canal system of unknown origin is seen in this photo.
Ancient Cities on our Coasts .... ...... .... .There are hundreds of miles of coastline, from Maine to Florida, continuing across the Gulf States including Texas and parts of Mexico, that are covered with vestiges and remnants of a very sophisticated, enormously large water borne culture or civilization that existed BEFORE current sea level rose an average of 12 to 25 feet, or more. Check out this new website
Ancient Cities on our Coasts .... ...... .... .There are hundreds of miles of coastline, from Maine to Florida, continuing across the Gulf States including Texas and parts of Mexico, that are covered with vestiges and remnants of a very sophisticated, enormously large water borne culture or civilization that existed BEFORE current sea level rose an average of 12 to 25 feet, or more. Check out this new website
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Good Lord! What's going on in The House of Lords?
Lord James of Blackheath wants to save the world.
Video source here
Video source here
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Timely letter to the editor
November 12, 2010
Editor
NATIONAL POST
Toronto
Dear Sir
Re: German Treatment of Canadian POWs
Charles Kantor (Letters, Nov.12) casts aspersions on Germans for their alleged cruel treatment of Canadian prisoners of war. In fact, Canadians who fell into German hands, mostly RCAF Aircrew, were well fed, well housed, kept healthy and provided with educational materials and recreational facilities. Very few, if any, who arrived on German soil intact, died once captured, in contrast to the Allied treatment of German prisoners, millions of whom were killed through exposure and starvation in Siberia and in Eisenhower's horrific death camps on the Rhine, as revealed by James Bacque in "Other Losses". Even more reprehensively, the majority of German POWs were killed after the war when they constituted no conceivable threat.
Whatever Mr Kantor's sources, I have the advantage of conversations with a number of Canadian former prisoners, not long after the war, none of whom complained of harsh conditions. Anecdotally, a former colleague, who was captured while serving as an Infantry Officer in Italy, said he was treated very respectfully - even allowed to keep his 9mm pistol during interrogation, until he insisted that the German officer take it!
Compared with the Allied treatment of enemy soldiers in Iraq, tens of thousands of whom were massacred while attempting to surrender, the German treatment of Canadian POWs was both chivalrous and in accord with the Geneva Conventions, in complete contrast to the hate-filled, racist Hollywood version portraying the camps as veritable torture chambers and the German camp commandants and guards as brutal sadists. You should apologize for attempting to give credence to such tawdry, partisan, anti-German wartime propaganda, especially so close to Remembrance Day when reconciliation and truth should be your guide..
As ever,
Ian V. Macdonald (ex-RCAF)
455 Wilbrod Street
Ottawa ON K1N 6M7
613 241 5389
Editor
NATIONAL POST
Toronto
Dear Sir
Re: German Treatment of Canadian POWs
Charles Kantor (Letters, Nov.12) casts aspersions on Germans for their alleged cruel treatment of Canadian prisoners of war. In fact, Canadians who fell into German hands, mostly RCAF Aircrew, were well fed, well housed, kept healthy and provided with educational materials and recreational facilities. Very few, if any, who arrived on German soil intact, died once captured, in contrast to the Allied treatment of German prisoners, millions of whom were killed through exposure and starvation in Siberia and in Eisenhower's horrific death camps on the Rhine, as revealed by James Bacque in "Other Losses". Even more reprehensively, the majority of German POWs were killed after the war when they constituted no conceivable threat.
Whatever Mr Kantor's sources, I have the advantage of conversations with a number of Canadian former prisoners, not long after the war, none of whom complained of harsh conditions. Anecdotally, a former colleague, who was captured while serving as an Infantry Officer in Italy, said he was treated very respectfully - even allowed to keep his 9mm pistol during interrogation, until he insisted that the German officer take it!
Compared with the Allied treatment of enemy soldiers in Iraq, tens of thousands of whom were massacred while attempting to surrender, the German treatment of Canadian POWs was both chivalrous and in accord with the Geneva Conventions, in complete contrast to the hate-filled, racist Hollywood version portraying the camps as veritable torture chambers and the German camp commandants and guards as brutal sadists. You should apologize for attempting to give credence to such tawdry, partisan, anti-German wartime propaganda, especially so close to Remembrance Day when reconciliation and truth should be your guide..
As ever,
Ian V. Macdonald (ex-RCAF)
455 Wilbrod Street
Ottawa ON K1N 6M7
613 241 5389
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Cougar's close again!
By Jim Bystrom
Caroline Cougar's hosted the Fort McMurray Trojans on Friday, October 22, coming up short in the end 57 - 47. It was another one of those games with multiple lead changes, long runs for touchdowns, and constant excitement. To see our boys competing against much bigger schools continues to make me proud. With a starting roster of 13 and only 2 grade 12's, the boys never let that be an excuse. They fought it out against some big kids from Fort Mac and didn't back down. To see these boys battle through tackles, blocks, and pain; shows the kind of young men we have in Caroline! The team leader continues to be Leonard McTaggart with over 300 all purpose yards and 161 passing yards including a great throw to rookie Cole Peters for 47 yards. Bhrair Cooper was outstanding going 3 ways, leading the defence with 15 tackles, returned 1 kick-off for a touchdown, and also broke through on a counter for a 31 yard touchdown run. Brett Godwin had another good game with 13 tackles and rookie Tyler Styner continues to shine with 10 tackles and 1 sack. Cole Cummins just keeps dragging tacklers as he fought for 64 receiving yards, he's so fun to watch and he's only in grade 10! One of the biggest rewards of this experience is to see the growth in our rookies, you can see it in their eyes that they are getting it and loving it! Though we will miss the playoff's and will be losing some key young men. The gears are already turning for next year to put these young men in a position to be successful personally and as a team.
Caroline Cougar's hosted the Fort McMurray Trojans on Friday, October 22, coming up short in the end 57 - 47. It was another one of those games with multiple lead changes, long runs for touchdowns, and constant excitement. To see our boys competing against much bigger schools continues to make me proud. With a starting roster of 13 and only 2 grade 12's, the boys never let that be an excuse. They fought it out against some big kids from Fort Mac and didn't back down. To see these boys battle through tackles, blocks, and pain; shows the kind of young men we have in Caroline! The team leader continues to be Leonard McTaggart with over 300 all purpose yards and 161 passing yards including a great throw to rookie Cole Peters for 47 yards. Bhrair Cooper was outstanding going 3 ways, leading the defence with 15 tackles, returned 1 kick-off for a touchdown, and also broke through on a counter for a 31 yard touchdown run. Brett Godwin had another good game with 13 tackles and rookie Tyler Styner continues to shine with 10 tackles and 1 sack. Cole Cummins just keeps dragging tacklers as he fought for 64 receiving yards, he's so fun to watch and he's only in grade 10! One of the biggest rewards of this experience is to see the growth in our rookies, you can see it in their eyes that they are getting it and loving it! Though we will miss the playoff's and will be losing some key young men. The gears are already turning for next year to put these young men in a position to be successful personally and as a team.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Pen Meets Paper Nov.8'10
Opinion by Helge Nome
I attended a coin show hosted by the Edmonton Numismatic Society on the weekend. Of note here is the building where the show took place: The Century Casino and Hotel. Looking for a counter lunch I walked through the casino and took in the sights and sounds of the place. It is big, like a Wal Mart store, but rather than shelves of merchandise, rows upon rows of milking machines are featured, arranged in creative ways so as to avoid creating long boring alleys. And a constant drone of sounds emanate from these machines as they milk their customers.
How can you explain the phenomenon of hundreds of people sitting, seemingly mesmerized, in front of screens with constantly flickering symbols? At the poker tables in side rooms there is at least some kind of social interaction between players, be it less than friendly at times, but the milking machines are a different animal. They used to be called “one armed bandits” but that label has gone by the wayside as electronic versions took over. However, the term “milking machine’ still applies because it describes their true function: To milk their customers of their cash, while reinforcing their futile dreams of rich rewards for doing nothing except dumping money into the machine and press a button.
Anyone who doubts whether this is in fact what happens can simply go and ask members of charitable organizations who act as milk maids for these machines, spending nights in the back rooms of casinos to share in the profit from exploitation of vulnerable people. They regularly take home $20,000 - $30,000 for a night of sitting in the back room in order to legitimize what is going on.
This whole spirit of getting something for nothing now pervades society at large and is the primary reason for what is happening in the financial system. It has only happened a thousand times before in human history and the consequences are laid out in scripture in all cultures. But then we moderns are so much smarter than our forebears, aren’t we?
I attended a coin show hosted by the Edmonton Numismatic Society on the weekend. Of note here is the building where the show took place: The Century Casino and Hotel. Looking for a counter lunch I walked through the casino and took in the sights and sounds of the place. It is big, like a Wal Mart store, but rather than shelves of merchandise, rows upon rows of milking machines are featured, arranged in creative ways so as to avoid creating long boring alleys. And a constant drone of sounds emanate from these machines as they milk their customers.
How can you explain the phenomenon of hundreds of people sitting, seemingly mesmerized, in front of screens with constantly flickering symbols? At the poker tables in side rooms there is at least some kind of social interaction between players, be it less than friendly at times, but the milking machines are a different animal. They used to be called “one armed bandits” but that label has gone by the wayside as electronic versions took over. However, the term “milking machine’ still applies because it describes their true function: To milk their customers of their cash, while reinforcing their futile dreams of rich rewards for doing nothing except dumping money into the machine and press a button.
Anyone who doubts whether this is in fact what happens can simply go and ask members of charitable organizations who act as milk maids for these machines, spending nights in the back rooms of casinos to share in the profit from exploitation of vulnerable people. They regularly take home $20,000 - $30,000 for a night of sitting in the back room in order to legitimize what is going on.
This whole spirit of getting something for nothing now pervades society at large and is the primary reason for what is happening in the financial system. It has only happened a thousand times before in human history and the consequences are laid out in scripture in all cultures. But then we moderns are so much smarter than our forebears, aren’t we?
Caroline School hosts 2009/10 Junior and Senior High Awards Night
This annual event was presented by Master of Ceremonies, Mr. D. Pilipchuk on Thursday, October 28 in the school gym.
Following the singing of “O Canada”, led by Mrs. Reilander, academic, arts and sports awards were presented along with community based scholarships and bursaries to those students that had shown commitment and leadership during the 2009/10 school year. In this regard, Kailey Fauville received the following awards: Outstanding Female Athlete, First Class Honors (average of more than 90% in four core subjects), Academic Award, Alexander Rutherford Scholarship, Valedictorian Award, The Governor General’s Bronze Medal for Academics, Rocky Mountain House Auxiliary Bursary, County of Clearwater Scholarship, Red Deer College Regional High School Access Scholarship and the Caroline School Principal’s Award.
In his address to the audience, school principal Nathan Moore spoke about the elevated level of junior/senior high sports activities in later years and the construction of the new football field over the summer, which was carried out exclusively with volunteer labor and donated materials and machine time.
Following the singing of “O Canada”, led by Mrs. Reilander, academic, arts and sports awards were presented along with community based scholarships and bursaries to those students that had shown commitment and leadership during the 2009/10 school year. In this regard, Kailey Fauville received the following awards: Outstanding Female Athlete, First Class Honors (average of more than 90% in four core subjects), Academic Award, Alexander Rutherford Scholarship, Valedictorian Award, The Governor General’s Bronze Medal for Academics, Rocky Mountain House Auxiliary Bursary, County of Clearwater Scholarship, Red Deer College Regional High School Access Scholarship and the Caroline School Principal’s Award.
In his address to the audience, school principal Nathan Moore spoke about the elevated level of junior/senior high sports activities in later years and the construction of the new football field over the summer, which was carried out exclusively with volunteer labor and donated materials and machine time.
Caroline School Junior High Honors Awards for Grade 7
Michelle Kurney, Paige Leek, Bonita Hehr, Sydney Alstott, Devlyn Beeman. Not in photo: Tiara Ogilvie
Grade 8 Honors Awards
Sydney Neilson, Jenna Godwin, Hanna Andrus, Katelyn Morrill, Taylor Michalsky, Levi Stange. Not in photo: Amy Liang, Chetwyn Westergaard.
Grade 10 Honors Awards
Sara Stevens, Jordyn Watt, Randi-Lee Masse, Emily Groves, Cornel Kaelin, Katelyn Godwin. Not in photo: Kaylee Biggart, Kelsey Fay, Teale Spooner, Danielle Trimble.
Rocky Mountain House Hospital Auxiliary Bursary
Kailey Fauville received a cheque for $2,000 from Mrs. Fisher in recognition of her academic achievements and intention to enter the medical studies field.
Yikes!!
Artwork by Caroline School student on display at the Junior Senior High Awards Night ceremony at Caroline School.
Lynn Miles in concert
The event took place at the Sundre Arts Centre on October 30 where veteran Canadian folk singer/songwriter Lynn Miles entertained an enthusiastic audience with her own compositions. She was accompanied on guitar by Keith Glass of "Prairie Oyster" fame. The stop in Sundre was part of a Canada wide tour.
Keith Glass accompanied Lynn Miles on guitar and did vocals as well.
Keith Glass accompanied Lynn Miles on guitar and did vocals as well.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The big boys are waking up
(Rimbey, AB) A consortium of large industry members that includes Alberta Direct Connect (ADC) and the Canadian Chemical Producers Association (CCPA) have combined with the Industrial Power Consumers Association of Alberta (IPCAA), to call upon the Alberta Government to delay the building of new transmission lines pending a review of the projects.
In a leaked document obtained by this writer, the consortium claims there is no justification for rushing through transmission lines. Employing 10s of thousands of workers and representing 100s of thousands of consumers, the consortium is warning that the over-building of unnecessary transmission lines will unnecessarily mortgage Alberta future and lead to job losses.
For more information Contact
Joe Anglin
(403) 843-3279
Leader, Lavesta Area Group
In a leaked document obtained by this writer, the consortium claims there is no justification for rushing through transmission lines. Employing 10s of thousands of workers and representing 100s of thousands of consumers, the consortium is warning that the over-building of unnecessary transmission lines will unnecessarily mortgage Alberta future and lead to job losses.
For more information Contact
Joe Anglin
(403) 843-3279
Leader, Lavesta Area Group
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Pen Meets Paper Nov.1'10
Opinion by Helge Nome
Just about every friendly person I have dealt with in recent years invariably displays a perfect Hollywood smile. That in contrast to my childhood experiences of recognizing a person by the shape of his or her teeth, poking out, bending in or simply missing.
How did all this come about? I had a rather unique opportunity a little while ago, while attending a social function, to engage in conversation with a working dentist who does not have his own practice, and was prepared to voice his opinion on the “state of the art of dentistry”. One comment was that all the perfect smiles might not be all they are cracked up to be, at one thousand dollars a pop for teeth replaced. The resins used in forming these teeth are not all that durable, as it turns out. They are prone to shrinkage over a period of time, resulting in a tendency to migrate out of a person’s mouth. In contrast, silver/mercury amalgams are much more stable and durable. The main problems and risks associated with these are during removal when the drilling process creates vapors that contain mercury. However, this is mitigated by the mouth irrigation equipment that used to be a standard part of a dentist’s chair.
Interestingly my new acquaintance also pointed out that courses for practicing dentists these days tend to focus on the marketing of the new Hollywood smiles. So, would it be too much to conclude that the bottom line has become the main motivation for dentistry? In order to be socially “acceptable” in today’s world, you have to spend the equivalent amount of the cost of a new car. And in the stifling world of suits and ties and perfect smiles, you have to buy a Halloween grin with missing teeth in order to let loose. Or, for the better healed, get a Harley, leather jacket and throw you grey haired chick on the back and roar into the sunset. Hm.., I think my wife prefers the imperfect natural grin. It is a question of the bottom line.
Just about every friendly person I have dealt with in recent years invariably displays a perfect Hollywood smile. That in contrast to my childhood experiences of recognizing a person by the shape of his or her teeth, poking out, bending in or simply missing.
How did all this come about? I had a rather unique opportunity a little while ago, while attending a social function, to engage in conversation with a working dentist who does not have his own practice, and was prepared to voice his opinion on the “state of the art of dentistry”. One comment was that all the perfect smiles might not be all they are cracked up to be, at one thousand dollars a pop for teeth replaced. The resins used in forming these teeth are not all that durable, as it turns out. They are prone to shrinkage over a period of time, resulting in a tendency to migrate out of a person’s mouth. In contrast, silver/mercury amalgams are much more stable and durable. The main problems and risks associated with these are during removal when the drilling process creates vapors that contain mercury. However, this is mitigated by the mouth irrigation equipment that used to be a standard part of a dentist’s chair.
Interestingly my new acquaintance also pointed out that courses for practicing dentists these days tend to focus on the marketing of the new Hollywood smiles. So, would it be too much to conclude that the bottom line has become the main motivation for dentistry? In order to be socially “acceptable” in today’s world, you have to spend the equivalent amount of the cost of a new car. And in the stifling world of suits and ties and perfect smiles, you have to buy a Halloween grin with missing teeth in order to let loose. Or, for the better healed, get a Harley, leather jacket and throw you grey haired chick on the back and roar into the sunset. Hm.., I think my wife prefers the imperfect natural grin. It is a question of the bottom line.
Winter arrives at Crammond
Gentle snow settled on the ground and surrounding vegetation on the morning of Monday, October 25, following a weekend of chilly, moist and foggy weather. Based on prolonged low levels of solar activity, as measured by space weather satellite instruments trained on the sun, a long, cold and snowy winter may be in store. The expected commencement of the 24th sunspot cycle, which normally lasts some 11 years, is now about three years behind schedule. There is an historical correlation between an absence of sunspot cycles and cold weather in the northern hemisphere.
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