Michael Bublé & Rod Stewart - Winter wonderland (2012)

Bing Crosby - White Christmas

Cern

Rational Approach

keith

SonLife Broadcasting Network | SBN | Jimmy Swaggart MInistries

SonLife Broadcasting Network | SBN | Jimmy Swaggart MInistries

Stimulated Council

 

Leadership at work

Temple Mount

 

Jewish medallion found amid golden treasures near Temple Mount Alan Boyle, Science Editor, NBC News Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GooglePlus Email 5 hours ago Archaeologists show off jewelry and a gold medallion with the Jewish menorah symbol etched into it during a news conference at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Monday. Archaeologists have uncovered a 1,400-year-old hoard of gold coins and jewelry — plus a medallion marked with Jewish religious symbols — at the foot of Jerusalem's Temple Mount, a holy site for three world religions. "This happens only once in a lifetime," said lead archaeologist Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The 4-inch-wide (10-centimeter-wide) medallion is the chief prize: Etched into the golden surface are images of a seven-branched menorah, a ram's horn and a Torah scroll. Thirty-six coins, along with pieces of gold and silver jewelry, also were found at a site just 50 yards (meters) from the southern wall of the Temple Mount, revered by Muslims as Haram al-Sharif. The treasures were discovered this spring, just a few days after Mazar and her team began a new phase of excavations, and unveiled during a news conference on Monday. Different eras A couple of months ago, Mazar announced a significant discovery involving an inscription on a ceramic fragment that goes back to 1000 B.C., the era of Kings David and Solomon. The newly revealed find, dubbed the "Ophel Treasure," dates to a more recent era in Jerusalem's history. The artifacts were buried in two places amid the ruins of a public structure from the late Byzantine era, around the year 600. The medallion was found buried in a small depression of the structure's floor, along with a smaller medallion, two pendants, a gold coil and a silver clasp. All of those items are thought to have been ornaments for a Torah scroll. The coins were found in a different location. "The 36 gold coins can be dated to the reigns of different Byzantine emperors, ranging from the middle of the fourth century CE to the early seventh century CE,” said Lior Sandberg, a coin specialist at the Hebrew University's Institute of Archaeology. Along with the coins, the archaeologists found a pair of large gold earrings, a gold-plated silver hexagonal prism and a silver ingot. Remnants of fabric were mixed in with the treasures, suggesting that the items were once held in a cloth purse. Putting the pieces together Mazar and her colleagues assembled the pieces of the archaeological puzzle into a story that explained why the treasures were left behind: They surmised that they were abandoned in the wake of the Persian conquest of Jerusalem in the year 614. After the Persians defeated Jerusalem's Byzantine Christian rulers, many Jews returned to the city and expected to live with more religious freedom. But during the 15 years that followed, Persian power waned, the Byzantine Christians regained influence — and Jerusalem's Jews were expelled. Mazar said the Jews who hid the Torah ornaments and other riches were probably victims of the political reversals. “It would appear that the most likely explanation is that the Ophel cache was earmarked as a contribution toward the building of a new synagogue, at a location that is near the Temple Mount," Mazar said. “What is certain is that their mission, whatever it was, was unsuccessful. The treasure was abandoned, and its owners could never return to collect it.” More about Jewish archaeology: •Reality check on King Solomon's mines •Gallery: Eight Jewish archaeological finds •NBC News archive on biblical archaeology The Ophel project has been underwritten, since 2009, by Daniel Mintz and Meredith Berkman from New York. The entire project includes the archaeological excavations, the processing of the finds toward publication, as well as the preservation and the preparations of the site for its opening to the public. "Ophel" refers to the area between the Temple Mount and the City of David in Jerusalem. Herbert W. Armstrong College in Edmond, Okla., supports the project by sending students to participate in the excavations. Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the NBC News Science Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding +Alan Boyle to your Google+ circles. To keep up with NBCNews.com's stories about science and space, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds. Science Cosmic Log Archaeology biblical-archeology Israel Jerusalem temple-mount

Horse Whispering

Honesty

 

 

Local Council Undermined

family (playlist)

food for thought

Canadians live in a country where we are free to build a home where we want to build. We are also free to live by those decisions. If you want to build proximal to a water flow that is prone to flooding from time to time; you are free to build there. You are also free to live with the results of your decision to build there. If you get flooded you must also live with the results of your inappropriate decisions.

I see no reason why my tax dollars should go toward bailing anyone out of such a dilemma; especially if this is not the first time flooding has occurred. Don't ask me to change the water course because we can manage a natural water course with dykes and berms for a while. When nature reassumes management the re-assumption is more than dramatic. This what High River recently experienced.

The Highwood and Little Bow systems have been, and are being, managed for sufficient time to allow the human animal to grow complacent in its management decisions. 

The flood maps that the government is using are entirely appropriate because these maps chart the natural water course containment system (aka valleys) as opposed to the stream itself. What the people are essentially asking for are real time water channel maps because the nature of the stream water flow is in a constant state of change.

One can only hope that the Provincial government flood mitigation plans include a warning (that will appear on the property title) that the property is located in an area that is prone to flooding. Having been warned the buyer is free to believe whomever he or she wishes; the real estate agent or some who is familiar with stream mechanics.

These, views are expressed; by persons unknown, but offer food for thought.

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I'm Doing just fine

1946 ~ SCOTT ~ 2013

Tuesday, 18 June 2013 08:39

Mr. Kenneth “Scotty” William Scott of Medicine Hat, passed away on Sunday, June 16th, 2013 at the age of 67 years. Scotty leaves to cherish his memory two brothers, Tom (Sally) Scott of Medicine Hat and Bob (Betty) Scott of Consort, Alberta; one sister, Donalda (Bob) Coey of Strathmore; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Scotty was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Agnes Scott. "I'm Doing Just Fine" A Private Family Time of Remembrance will take place. Memorial gifts in Scotty’s memory may be made to the Medicine Hat & District Food Bank Association, 532 South Railway Street SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 2V6. Condolences may be sent through www.saamis.com or www.gonebutnotforgotten.ca or to condolences@saamis.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it subject heading Kenneth “Scotty” Scott. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL AND CREMATORIUM, "The Chapel in the Park", locally owned and directed. Should you wish any additional information, please telephone (403)528-2599

 

Comedy Icon's

Something BIG

Jeff Smith Senator (Quebec)

I think she along with every True Canadian has a right to be.

Actual names have been changed. ( Legal reasons )

 

 

I don't think pissed really covers it!!!!

Jeff Smith, the Senator from Québec calls senior citizens the Greediest Generation as he compared "Social Security " to a Milk Cow with over a million teats.

Here's a response in a letter from PATTY JOHNSTONE in Ontario ... I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it like it is!

Oh sooo true!

"Hey Jeff, let's get a few things straight!!!!!

1.    As a career politician, you have been on the public dole (tit) for FIFTY YEARS.

2.    I have been paying CPP & OHIP for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).

3.    My Canada Pension payments, and those of millions of other Canadians, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would make Bernie Madoff proud.

4.    Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and "your  ilk" pulled the proverbial football away  from millions of Canadian seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age, 67.

NOW, you and your "shill commission" are proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.

5.    I, and millions of other Canadians, have been paying into OHIP & CPP from Day One, and now "you morons" propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because "you idiots" mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal our money from OHIP & CCP to pay the bills.

6.    I,  and millions of other Canadians, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why? Because you "incompetent bastards" spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the Canadian taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt.

To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "bullshit" to your incompetence. Well, Captain Bullshit,  I have a few questions for YOU:

1.    How much money have you earned from the Canadian taxpayers during your pathetic 50-year political career?

2.    At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the Canadian taxpayers?

3.    How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?

4.    What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?

It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called Parliament  who are the "greedy" ones.  It is you and your fellow nutcase thieves who have bankrupted the Canadian Pension, OHIP and stolen the Canadian

dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers.

 

 

 

And for what? Votes and your job and retirement security at our expense, you lunk-headed  leech.

That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted our benefits for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic, political careers. You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it.

And you can take that to the bank, you miserable son of a bitch. NO,  I didn't stutter.

P.S. And stop calling CPP & OHIP "entitlements". WHAT AN INSULT!!!!

I have been paying in

to the CPP system for 45 years "It's my money"-give it back to me the way the system was designed and stop patting yourself on the back like you are being generous by doling out these monthly checks.

EVERYONE!!! If you like the way things are in Canada delete this.

If you agree with what an Ontario citizen, says, please PASS IT ON!!!!

 

 

Have a GREAT day

 

Gas City Campground

Donna and Robert Coey pulled off the highway for a nice picnic at the Gas City Campground on Victoria Day.--NEWS PHOTO TIM KALINOWSKI

 

 

Campers at the Gas City Campground had a family friendly May Long Weekend.

Most of the campers were locals enjoying a nice staycation at the campground with a few others from further afield. Medicine Hat resident Larry Glauser has been coming to the Gas City Campground every year for the last 10 May Long Weekends.

“My wife Janice and I come out here every year. It’s probably the 10th year we’ve been here,” said Glauser. “So we’ve been through snow, good weather, rains we just love coming out here. It’s the first camping weekend of the summer. Normally this is the first place we come to make sure everything is working good on the RV.”

Kim Hill, also a Hatter, was out for a good time at the campground with her friends. She says this weekend’s great weather surpassed all her expectations.

“It was a fantastic weekend. The weather turned out fantastic. We were expecting the worst and got good weather. It rained for two hours, not even. We just sat under the awning and waited,” said Hill

The Palin family was up from Lethbridge for a fun family weekend getaway. Art Palin says despite all the travel and business of the weekend he, wife Roxanne and sons Ty and Logan had a great time in the Hat. They took their boys swimming at the Medicine Hat Lodge and went down to the Leisure Centre. Palin says he especially enjoyed staying at the campground doing nothing but sitting by the fire.

“I took a day to get settled and a day to pack up,” said Palin. “But there was one day in between when we got to sit around and not do a whole lot.”

Robert Coey and wife Donna stopped at the Gas City Campground for a nice Victoria Day picnic on the way to visit a relative’s house. Daytrippers down from Strathmore, Robert said they love having that extra time the long weekend brings to get down to see family.

“It’s that extra day that is so nice. And it just shortens up your work week,” said Coey.

Family Visit

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Records seizure

From the President's Desk

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Press Club Asks For Answers In AP Records Seizure

Angela Greiling Keane | May 13, 2013

In the wake of reports today that the Justice Department secretly obtained phone records of several of AP’s reporters and four of its offices, the National Press Club requests that the Obama administration publicly explain the reasons behind the action.
The Justice Department disclosed to AP in a May 10 letter that the government had obtained last year two months of personal and professional phone records for individual AP reporters and from AP offices in the House press gallery and from AP bureaus in DC, New York and Hartford, Conn. The letter did not provide a reason why, AP said, but the targets of the government seizures and the timing suggested that it might be related to a probe of who leaked information to AP for a story the news organization broke last year about a bombing plot that had been organized by an Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen.
AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt called the incident “a massive and unprecedented intrusion” into newsgathering and said the records could reveal how AP reporters and editors gather news and what they’re working on.
“This appears to be a gross violation of press freedom,” said National Press Club President Angela Greiling Keane, a Bloomberg News reporter. “If there’s a good explanation for this, the public has a right to hear it promptly.”
The National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists and is an ardent advocate of press freedom and open government.
Contact: NPC President Angela Greiling Keane (president@press.org; 202-662-7517)
-30-

Great Friend

YATES

Thursday, 27 December 2012 09:52

Judy (Underwood) 1942-2012 Judy was born February 4, 1942 in Medicine Hat, Alberta to Jack and Grace (Minor) Underwood. She was raised on a farm near the village of Abbey, Saskatchewan where she attended school. In 1956 the family moved to Medicine Hat where Judy graduated from High School in 1960. She moved to Saskatoon and worked as a legal secretary for a law firm for two years. In 1962, Judy moved to Montreal where she trained as a Trans Canada Airline Stewardess. She was based in Toronto for two years before transferring to Calgary. I n 1966, Judy married Ed Yates, a teacher with the Calgary Board of Education. They lived in downtown Sundial Apartment Building that year. In 1967, they bought their first home in Lake Bonavista Estates. Judy retired from the air lines in 1967 and worked for the Calgary Brewery Marketing Department for two years. Between 1970 and 1976 Judy brought four sons into the world - Darren, Murray, Kevin and Colin. In 1982 Ed became Superintendent of Schools for the County of Ponoka. The family moved to Red Deer, Alberta in a new home in Country Club Estates. In 1987 the Yates’ family owned and operated their own property management company. In 1996, with the boys gone, they started traveling again taking trips throughout North America, Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, England, Wales, Ireland and the Mediterranean. Judy’s pastimes were crosswords, scrabble, reading, writing, piano playing, painting, scrap booking, family history and walking in the park with her dogs. Judy survived a brain tumor in 1988. In 2002 she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and in 2010 with colon and lung cancer. She passed over on December 9, 2012. Judy became a grandmother to two boys; Kaeden in 2001 and Issac in 2008. Besides her family of seven males, Judy is survived by two siblings, Jim and Merle and their families, sister-in-law Irene and her family and numerous Underwood and Minor relatives and many lifelong friends. Judy was predeceased by her parents Jack and Grace Underwood, brother Chuck and parents-in-law Tom and Mary Yates. At Judy’s request, there will be no funeral service. Urn internment will be at Abbey Cemetery, Abbey, Saskatchewan at a later date. Cremation arrangements with Eventide Funeral Home in Red Deer.

2013 Tax Assessment

By Collin Gallant on April 16, 2013.

 

Joanne Birtz, representing the Medicine Hat Coalition of Commercial Taxpayers, speaks out against the 2013 tax assessments at Monday night's city council meeting.--NEWS PHOTO CHARLES LEFEBVRE

A two-year deferral for major tax increases, and even one-year cancellation in the most extreme cases, is on the way for business owners facing stiff property tax increases.

But even the expanded motion to give relief while appeals are launched alongside City Hall’s call for a provincial audit of the local assessment appears not to have appeased about 100 angry non-residential taxpayers who attended Monday’s city council meeting.

Joanne Birtz, a spokesperson for the medicine Hat Coalition of Commercial property Owners, renewed her group’s call for the City to do everything in its power to revert back to the 2012 assessment a move council says is not within its power.

“I suggest respectfully that going to the 2012 assessment is still a possibility,” said Birtz, who told council her group has evaluated about 1,000 of the 1,400 non-residential properties in town and characterized the issue as a “state of emergency.”

“We’re asking you to go to the minister and tell him that this is a complete mess. (Appeals and audit) is a great process but it was never meant for this much of a mess.”

Aldermen and the city solicitor Bob Schmidt confirmed that only Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths could make such an order and only then with a cabinet order.

“I know the provincial government,” said Ald. Jeremy Thompson. “It’s all about process, process, process… The motion that we just passed sets us down the path of correcting the situation.”

The issue arose last month when a move to a Mass Evaluation system of assessing property apparently set in motion a massive increase in taxation values for some businesses.

The City says the overall increase is in the 10 per cent range, and the overall share of tax paid by the business sector will actually decrease once the millrate is factored in.

But, the group is adamant the assessments do not reflect market value, and they want it thrown out.

The Administrative Committee brought forward the tax deferral motion, and an amendment by Ald. Ted Clugston removed the condition that increases be above a value of $5,000.

Now all non-residential tax increases amounting to 35 per cent higher will be able to defer some of the increase until 2015.

“(The $5,000 cap) didn’t capture very many businesses, which was a concern,” said Clugston, whose motion also directs the city to request that the minister “audit/alter/investigate or uphold our 2013 non- residential tax assessment roll.”

Clugston said: “I feel that it captured what they were asking for… the process will go forward, and if the composite review board starts overturning all these assessments… we’ll contact the minister again and ask for help.”

The cost of such a deferral program could be about $1.5 million, said Corporate Services commissioner Merete Hegglund.

Ald. Robert Dumanowski called the deferrals the “right thing to do,” and called on council to support a motion to support an evaluation of the Mass Appraisal process.

“Asking the province to get involved is essential,” said Ald. Graham Kelly.

The original amended motion passed 7-0, with Ald. Wayne Craven and Mayor Norm Boucher absent.

The City has already requested that a regular five-year audit of the assessment, set for next year, be moved up.

Those whose tax bills are increasing by at least 100 per cent for a total of least $5,000 could have half the increases cancelled for the current year.

According to the city finance department, 12 properties would qualify for cancellation, which would cost the city about $69,583.

They would also be eligible for deferral, and still have the right to appeal their assessments something that council is encouraging.

“I’m asking everyone to appeal,” said Ald. Phil Turnbull. “Once the appeals process starts, the city will monitor. That’s what has to happen. I know it’s not what you want to hear but that’s the process.”

Members of the gallery, however, felt the motion puts them back at square one, and that the appeals process is onerous and costly.

“They may get their $200 (appeal fee) back but what about the thousands they’ll spend (on professional fees) and countless hours fighting this,” said Barry Knodel, a spokesman with the Coalition.

Give an Inch they take a Mile

Royal Bank chief executive makes public apology for outsourcing jobs

 

 

By The Canadian Press April 11, 2013 12:04 PM

 

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Chief executive Gord Nixon says in a letter to be published in newspapers that RBC should have been more sensitive and helpful to them.

TORONTO - The Royal Bank is making a public apology to the workers who are being affected by the bank's outsourcing arrangement with a foreign company.
Chief executive Gord Nixon says in a letter to be published in newspapers that RBC should have been more sensitive and helpful to them.
He repeated assurances that all of them — about 45 people by most reports — will be offered comparable job opportunities within the bank.
Nixon says Royal (TSX:RY) is also reviewing its supplier arrangements and policies to balance RBC's desire to be a successful business and a "leading corporate citizen."
Nixon's public apology follows a backlash against the bank after some of its Canadian information technology workers complained they were being replaced by foreign workers working for a company contracted by RBC.
IGate brought its own employees into Canada on temporary foreign worker visas so they could be trained at RBC branches for the services they'll be providing to the bank.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Royal+Bank+chief+executive+makes+public+apology+outsourcing/8228598/story.html#ixzz2QBI6ndG8

Ralph

Ralph Klein dies at age 70

Friday, 29 March 2013 13:52 Medicine Hat News

The Canadian Press

EDMONTON

Ralph Klein, the popular, outspoken, Everyman premier who slew Alberta’s debt dragon, has died.
Alberta Health Services issued a news release on behalf of Klein’s family indicating the former premier died on Friday.
Premier Alison Redford immediately issued a statement of condolences.
“Ralph was a staunch defender of our province as he had a deep and abiding love for Alberta and Albertans,” Redford said in the statement.
“His passing is a loss to us all.”
Klein, 70, had been in a Calgary care home since developing dementia and chronic lung problems.
His health deteriorated shortly after he retired as premier in 2006 after serving as Progressive Conservative leader for 14 years.
“The nature of his illness made it very difficult to express his thoughts these past years which I know was a real challenge for him, but Ralph very much knew and appreciated the well wishes and warm messages he received,” said his wife, Colleen Klein, in the Alberta Health Services release.
During his time as premier, Klein introduced a number of austerity measures and privatization initiatives that, coupled with multibillion-dollar, oil-fuelled budget surpluses, eradicated Alberta’s accumulated $23-billion debt.
His cut-and-slash, damn-the-torpedoes philosophy — dubbed “The Klein Revolution” — changed the political tenor in Canada over deficit budgeting. His four successive majority governments proved that politicians who did what they promised and stayed the course could surmount the most divisive of policies.
It was the single biggest achievement of a politician marketed as a party-hearty man of the people known to many simply as “Ralph,” but who was actually a complex individual of humble background and razor-sharp political instincts.
He was born in Calgary on Nov. 1, 1942. His father, Phil, was a working man and a pro wrestler from Rocky Mountain House, Alta., with family roots that reached back to Germany.
In his younger years, Klein moved around, dropped out of high school, tried the Air Force but quit, then went into business school public relations before joining the CTV affiliate in Calgary as a reporter.
It was during that time that he reported on the grinding poverty of the nearby Siksika First Nation. The experience galvanzied his determination to draw attention to the band’s plight.
He never forgot. As premier he carried an eagle feather in his briefcase. In 1993, he was adopted into the Siksika Nation and given the name Otskoipiiksi, which means Bluebird.
He also covered city politics, but when he decided to run for mayor in 1980 against incumbent Ross Alger, he was considered the longest of shots.
He travelled around in a motorhome on a shoestring budget with his friend and political right-hand man Rod Love. Klein’s grassroots message of change began to resonate.
He was only 37 when he won, but the man with the thick head of  hair and perpetual spare tire, known for enjoying a few cold ones at Calgary’s low-rent St. Louis Hotel, would never lose a political contest again.
“Ralph” became larger than life, a leader who took many forms.
He was an action hero.
He spurred development and business partnerships in Calgary to elevate the city known as Cowtown into an international hub of commerce and culture. He blamed Calgary’s rising crime problem on “creeps and bums” from eastern Canada.
He became a folk hero.
With Klein as an example — he was a child of divorce, a high school dropout from some of Calgary’s meaner streets — everyone could believe he or she had a shot at becoming premier, no matter the circumstances.
He was controversial, likable and eminently quotable. When he made mistakes, he apologized and won sympathy from those who  saw in him their own flawed humanity.
At his zenith, he became the conquering hero.
He balanced the budget and broadened the use of privatized services under the government umbrella. He brought his Progressive Conservative party back when it seemed poised to lose its grip on power in the election of 1993.
In 2001 his party won 74 of 83 seats and took almost two votes out of three. “Welcome to Ralph’s World!” Klein announced to cheers in his victory speech.
As oil prices rose and billions of dollars rolled into the treasury, Klein announced in 2004 that the province had set aside enough money to pay off its debt.
Eventually the conquering hero turned into a tragic figure, done in by his demons and perhaps a bit of ennui.
He smoked like a chimney and had a drinking problem. His private affairs went public in 2001 when he drunkenly stumbled into an Edmonton homeless shelter, threw money at some of the people there and told them to get jobs.
And after slaying the debt three years later, he was a knight errant without a cause.
He became the controversial standard-bearer for more privatized health care to solve spiralling costs. Despite having the cash and political capital to spend, Klein would talk of change only to inexplicably retreat when protests would mount.
The health issue was not the only one he grappled with.
As billions of petro-dollars rolled in, so, too, did hundreds of thousands of newcomers looking to stake their claim or build a new life. They jammed roads and filled every last bit of rental housing. They spilled out of schools and lined up in hospitals.
Shortly before he retired as premier, Klein admitted he never had a plan for them. Infrastructure planning had been sacrificed to pay off the debt.
He planned to step down in 2007, but ended up leaving in 2006 after a tepid 55 per cent vote of confidence at a leadership review — a far cry from the days when he routinely scored support in the 90 per cent range.
After he left politics, he was rarely seen or acknowledged by his party. He spent his time delivering angry lectures to Calgary college students on the media’s shameful obsession with conflict and trivia.
Rock bottom came in 2010 when he presided over his own cable TV game show, sitting on a faux gold throne passing frank judgment on inane questions of public policy.
Klein is survived by his wife, Colleen, and five children.
He was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 2012, recognition seen as long overdue by some. Because of his illness, his wife accepted the award on his behalf.

Hoax

Jobs Jobs

Renewable Energy

March 17, 2013 05:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time 

Masdar, Total and Abengoa Launch Shams 1, the World’s Largest Concentrated Solar Power Plant in Operation

The inauguration of Shams 1, a 100-megawatt solar thermal plant, is a major milestone in the development and deployment of renewable energy in the Middle East

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Masdar, along with its partners, today launched Shams 1, the largest concentrated solar power plant (CSP) in operation in the world. Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, partnered with French energy company Total and Spain’s energy infrastructure company Abengoa. The 100-megawatt solar-thermal project will power thousands of homes in the United Arab Emirates and displace approximately 175,000 tons of CO₂ per year. The US $600 million project took three years to build.

“The Middle East holds nearly half of the world’s renewable energy potential”

“The inauguration of Shams 1 is a major breakthrough for renewable energy in the Middle East,” said Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar. “Just like the rest of the word, the region is faced with meeting its rising demand for energy, while also working to reduce its carbon footprint. Shams 1 is a significant milestone, as large-scale renewable energy is proving it can deliver electricity that is sustainable, affordable and secure.”

Located in the UAE’s Western Region, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Shams 1 was designed and developed by Shams Power Company, a joint venture between Masdar (60 percent), Total (20 percent) and Abengoa Solar (20 percent). With the addition of Shams 1, Masdar’s renewable energy portfolio accounts for almost 68 percent of the Gulf’s renewable energy capacity and nearly 10 percent of the world’s installed CSP capacity.

“Abu Dhabi is investing and incubating a new energy industry, domestically and internationally,” said Dr. Al Jaber. “Through Masdar, the UAE is redefining the role it plays in providing the world with energy. From precious hydrocarbon exports to sophisticated renewable energy systems, we are balancing the energy mix and diversifying our economy – moving toward a more sustainable future. Today, the UAE is the only OPEC nation delivering both hydrocarbons and renewable energy to the international market.”

Shams 1 is an example of how collaboration between companies can achieve large-scale, clean-energy solutions that help meet the world’s growing energy demands.

“As a long-lasting partner of Abu Dhabi, we are particularly proud to have been part of the challenging adventure that was Shams 1 construction. This is a major step in the process of transforming the capabilities of solar power in the region,” said Christophe de Margerie, chairman and CEO of Total. “We share Abu Dhabi’s vision that renewables have a promising future alongside fossil energies. Total is today a world leader in solar industry. As such, we are pleased to accompany the Emirate in the diversification of its energy mix.”

Covering an area of 2.5 km², or 285 football fields, Shams 1 generates electricity to power 20,000 homes in the UAE. Also, because solar power is generated during peak demand, the UAE is able to reduce the need for “peak shaving” generators, which are expensive and idle most of the year.

“The Middle East holds nearly half of the world’s renewable energy potential,” said Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar. “The abundance of solar energy is an opportunity to integrate sustainable, clean sources of power that address energy security and climate change. The region needs more projects like Shams 1, and we look forward to pushing the boundaries of future energy.”

Incorporating the latest in parabolic trough technology, Shams 1 features more than 258,000 mirrors mounted on 768 tracking parabolic trough collectors. By concentrating heat from direct sunlight onto oil-filled pipes, Shams 1 produces steam, which drives a turbine and generates electricity. In addition, the solar project uses a booster to heat steam as it enters the turbine to dramatically increase the cycle’s efficiency. The project also includes a dry-cooling system that significantly reduces water consumption – a critical advantage in the arid desert of western Abu Dhabi.

Bad Formula

Business owners furious over taxes

Thursday, 14 March 2013 00:00 Collin Gallant

Chris Hellman, right, speaks to Ald. Ted Clugston during a meeting held Wednesday by business owners from the community to discuss the city's tax assessments.--NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT

50 meet to discuss a plan of action
COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Twitter: CollinGallant
About 50 angry business owners are planning co-ordinated action after most say their new property assessments show "unreasonable" and "ludicrous" increases.
A meeting in a South Flats warehouse on Wednesday afternoon heard about increases in the 200 to 400 per cent range, while City of Medicine Hat officials say its finance department is already looking at tax bills that show the largest increases under a new system of calculating the value of buildings and property.
"We're forming an ad hoc group to further our message of displeasure with City Hall," said Nutters president Donald Cranston, who hosted the meeting.
"We have a wide range of property owners who have widely varying property assessments that don't seem to make a lot of sense."
According to officials in the Corporate Services division of the city, the assessors office moved this year to fully implement the Mass Appraisal process as recommended by the province through the Municipal Act.
In the system, similar properties are lumped together and compared against each other to determine a value.
The group admits that some properties have declined in value as result but others are saddled with huge increases, which they fear will translate to massive tax increases that can't be budgeted for in a single year.
Harry Mitzner, owner of Medicine Hat Wholesale Foods, said his assessment quadrupled and he can't understand how such large increases were approved without red flags immediately going up.
"For that type of money, I'd leave all my groceries, my trucks and hand the keys over to the city," said Mitzner. "It's ludicrous no matter what system you use to calculate it."
David Ziegenhagel, who owns Parker Countrywide Furniture, revealed his statement showing that his downtown business jumped more than $2 million in value according to the assessment.
"That could be a $70,000 tax increase," said Ziegenhagel. "If this stands there will be drastic changes in the business community in Medicine Hat. Drastic."
The Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce discussed the issue with city finance officials on Feb. 28 - the day the assessments came out - and have more meetings planned for next week.
Both the city and the Chamber are encouraging business owners with concerns to file appeals immediately as the window for reassessments closes after 60 days.
Chamber chair Jason Melhoff told the News on Tuesday that it also wants the city to reveal the formula used and expects more answers at next week's meeting.
Property assessments are used to calculate a final tax bill by factoring it against the mill rate, which will be determined by city council next month.
Those who attended Wednesday's meetings speculated that the city is in need of cash and is "targeting" business owners.
That's simply not the case, said Ald. Ted Clugston, a member of the Corporate Services Committee, who attended the meeting Wednesday.
"Assessment is a completely apolitical process... it's mandated by the province and I know that sounds like a cop-out," said Clugston.
"The city isn't short of money or collect anymore money because of this. This is not a tax increase or a tax grab.
The mill rate is applied by the city against the total assessment to reach a specified revenue called for in the budget - essentially, if the assessment rises, the mill rate is consequently lowered to meet the number.
Overall, an increased assessment is actually revenue neutral for the city, said Clugston, though individual tax bills rise and fall.
"I can sense the frustration and I'd be frustrated as well," said Clugston. "You can't budget for this over a short period of time."
Clugston said getting the assessments checked and properties reassessed is the city's first priority but eventually, some staggering of increases to the municipal tax portion of property tax may be required.

Stompin Tom Passes on at 77years

 

Justices

 

 

Medicine Hat M.P.

Hatter says meeting with MP over privacy breach was 'awkward'

Saturday, 23 February 2013 00:00 Alex Mccuaig

ALEX McCUAIG
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The privacy breach involving the loss of personal information of more than half-a-million Canadian student loan applications is still leaving at least one local resident with a bad taste, even after meeting with the city's MP.
Billie Blanchard said Thursday's meeting with Medicine Hat MP LaVar Payne provided little insight in how a portable hard drive containing her information was lost or what the government is going to do to fix the problem.
"It was a little awkward," Blanchard said of the meeting with three other individuals.
"Pretty much the first thing he asked was if we were involved in the class-action lawsuit. . .and he said he can't answer any questions due to it being tied up in court."
Blanchard has joined one of the three legal proceedings but was disappointed Payne wasn't able to at least let her know what new security measures have been put in place.
"I didn't feel that great after I left. He was recommending to follow up, change your banking information and credit cards - act as though you lost your wallet," said Blanchard.
But she highlighted that it was the government who lost her information, not her and the other 1 in 60 Canadians.
"I was hoping for more answers, clarity. The Conservative government is not giving us any answers," said Blanchard.
She said she and other Canadians are being stonewalled when asking questions such as why the information wasn't encrypted or being kept on a portable hard drive.
"That's how the meeting kind of went. I left feeling that they aren't going to help us."
Employees at Human Resources and Skills Development last week apologized to a parliamentary committee looking into the incident.

Smart Meter(Medicine Hat)

Smart meter backlash
Most health concerns about the meters arise from the pulsed radiofrequency (RF) radiation emitted by wireless smart meters.^[16] Members of the California State Assembly asked the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) to study the issue of potential health impacts from smart meters. CCST issued a report in April 2011 finding no health impacts, based both on lack of scientific evidence of harmful effects from radio frequency (RF) waves and also on the observation that the RF exposure of people in their homes to smart meters is likely to be minuscule compared to RF exposure to such items as cell phones and microwave ovens. ^[17]
Privacy concerns focus upon the collection of detailed energy data from customers, the accessibility of that data through the utility and possibly, at the site of the meter as well as the potential for sharing of this energy data without the knowledge or desire of customers.^{[citation needed]} These concerns have been rather less for small North American utilities run by towns (public power districts) or rural electric co-operatives which have achieved about three times more penetration of these technologies with less resistance^[
Most security concerns center on the inherent hack-ability of wireless technology, combined with the remotely controllable "kill switch" incorporated into smart meters. Others have accused agencies of hiding smart meter plans under the term "smart grid" to avoid public input and obtain approval.
Reviews of smart meter programs, moratoriums, delays, and "opt-out" programs are some of the responses arising in response to the concerns of customers and government officials. In response to concerns and a lawsuit, in June 2012 a utility in Hawaii changed their smart meter program to "opt in" ^[18]
After receiving numerous complaints about health, hacking, and privacy concerns with the wireless digital devices, the Public Utility Commission of the US state of Maine voted to allow customers to opt out of the meter change at a cost of $12 a month.^[19] In Connecticut, another US state to consider smart metering recently, regulators declined a request by the state's largest utility, Connecticut Light & Power, to install 1.2 million of the devices, arguing that the potential savings in electric bills do not justify the cost. CL&P already offers its customers time-based rates. The state's Attorney General George Jepsen was quoted as saying the proposal would cause customers to spend upwards of $500 million on meters and get few benefits in return, a claim that Connecticut Light & Power disputed.^[20]

problems of wireless-only networks

Despite its simplicity, a uniform wireless smart meter network is actually more expensive to run and offers few or no revenue opportunities to a utility to offset the cost of installation^{[citation needed]}. Such networks are the usual cause of "smart meter backlash" because they implement peak prices without giving the consumer any new control or monitoring options^{[citation needed]}. The typical low-end wireless "solution" involves reading a meter every 15 minutes - not often enough to help the customer manage their power use^{[citation needed]}, because they cannot turn a switch and wait over 30 minutes through two sampling periods to see if it has actually made a difference^{[citation needed]}. The same criticism applies to low-end powerline networking solutions deployed prior to IEEE 1901 standardization^{[citation needed]}.
Fibre and other wired builds are effective not only because of their potential telecom and advanced service revenues, but because the rate of sampling of overall power use is under a second, meaning you can tell instantly at the control panel exactly how much or how little any given device is using^{[citation needed]}. Thus, customers can spot wasteful or leaky devices or habits and adjust/replace devices. Software or third party services can watch usage patterns in detail, and even micro-variations in current, that reveal electrical problems (even fires) early and which allow programmed responses to human activity^{[citation needed]} (the lights dim when you leave, brighten when you arrive & radio comes on) because the services see exactly what users really do when entering or leaving a room. There's plenty of bandwidth to sell or allocate to security or medical devices^{[citation needed]}. Home monitoring and control systems can be installed compatible with the metering simultaneously, increasing perception of benefits with the costs.
Smaller North American utilities such as Bristol Virginia Utilities and Chattanooga, TN's EPBfi have deployed advanced metering as part of town wide fibre builds with no smart meter backlash whatsoever^{[citation needed]}. They rejected wireless technologies specifically for the lack of economic development value and customer resistance

Lack of savings in results

There are questions whether electricity is or should be primarily a "when you need it" service where the inconvenience/cost-benefit ratio of time shifting of loads is poor. In the Chicago area Commonwealth Edison ran a test installing smart meters on 8,000 randomly selected households together with variable rates and rebates to encourage cutting back during peak usage.^[21] In the Crain's Chicago Business article Smart grid test underwhelms. In pilot, few power down to save money. it was reported that fewer that 9% exhibited any amount of peak usage reduction. and that the overall amount of reduction was "statistically insignificant".^[21] This was from a report by the Electric Power Research Institute, a utility industry think tank who conducted the study and prepared the report. Susan Satter, senior assistant Illinois attorney general for public utilities said "It's devastating to their plan......The report shows zero statistically different result compared to business as usual." ^[21]

 Purpose

 

Since the inception of electricity deregulation and market-driven pricing throughout the world, utilities have been looking for a means to match consumption with generation. Traditional electrical and gas meters only measure total consumption, and so provide no information of when the energy was consumed at each metered site (market use rates are readily available to utilities however). Smart meters provide a way of measuring this site-specific information, allowing price setting agencies to introduce different prices for consumption based on the time of day and the season.
Utility companies propose that from a consumer perspective, smart metering offers a number of potential benefits to householders. These include, a) an end to estimated bills, which are a major source of complaints for many customers b) a tool to help consumers better manage their energy use - stating that smart meters with a display outside their homes could provide up-to-date information on gas and electricity consumption in the currency of that country and in doing so help people to manage their energy use and reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions. Proponents assert that in some countries^[which?] there are potential social benefits of smart metering — for example, the potential for telehealth and social care services that can facilitate health services and enable consumers to live independently for longer.^{[citation needed]} Such monitoring would require extensive data collection and analysis, which is not now performed. There is also the opportunity to target assistance at vulnerable and low income consumers more effectively and end disconnection for electricity customers.^{[citation needed]} These potential benefits have not been provided.
Electricity pricing usually peaks at certain predictable times of the day and the season. In particular, if generation is constrained, prices can rise if power from other jurisdictions or more costly generation is brought online. Proponents assert that billing customers by time-of-day will encourage consumers to adjust their consumption habits to be more responsive to market prices and assert further, that regulatory and market design agencies hope these "price signals" could delay the construction of additional generation or at least the purchase of energy from higher priced sources, thereby controlling the steady and rapid increase of electricity prices.^{[citation needed]} There are some concerns, however, that low income and vulnerable consumers may not benefit from intraday time-of-use tariffs.
A utility representative in Florida denied such intentions when he stated, “There are no plans to implement any price tiering” ^[22] and he added that, since they are regulated by the state government, any such change would be subject to regulatory approval after required public hearings.
Smart metering offers potential benefits to utility companies in that they will be able to eliminate many jobs, but there are concerns that many of the "benefits" proponents cite for consumers, not only will fail to be realized, but to the contrary, could increase costs to the consumers.

 Implementation examples

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy reviewed more than 36 different residential smart metering and feedback programmes internationally. This is the most extensive study of its kind (as of January 2011). Their conclusion was: “To realise potential feedback-induced savings, advanced meters [smart meters] must be used in conjunction with in-home (or on-line) displays and well-designed programmes that successfully inform, engage, empower and motivate people."^[23] There are near universal calls from both the energy industry and consumer groups for a national social marketing campaign to help raise awareness of smart metering and give customers the information and support they need to become more energy efficient, and what changes they must make to realize the potential of proposed smart meters.

CanadaThe Ontario Energy Board in Ontario, Canada has worked to define the technology ^[34] and develop the regulatory framework for its implementation. The Government of Ontario set a target of deploying smart meters to 800,000 homes and small businesses (i.e. small "general service" customers under 50 kW demand) by the end of 2007, which was surpassed, and throughout the province by the end of 2010.^[35] BC Hydro in British Columbia, Canada is implementing Itron smart meters to all customers by the end of 2012.^[36]
Smart meter installations have been associated with several fires in British Columbia.^[13] BC Hydro maintains that "the risk of a smart meter installation causing an electrical problem is extremely low" and will assist homeowners if repairs are necessary for a safe installation.
In November 2011, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities voted in favor of a moratorium to temporarily suspend smart meter installations.^[37] The provincial government insists that installations will proceed, based on global standards.^[37] As of May 2012, 39 municipalities in British Columbia have passed motions opposing the installation of smart meters. The utility company, BC Hydro, is not legally obliged to abide by these city decisions.^[38]