Yum...I think I'll let him feed me!
10 September 2005
09 September 2005
...And who will be feeding us?
And a little closer to me and mine....what's going to happen to farming when the 'cheap' fuel inputs are no longer cheap? WHEN oil starts to run out, what will happen to the current 'agribusiness' model? Will it undergo a fundamental transformation to a more decentralized, simpler small-scale system, or to something more centralized, huge-scale and heavy-equipment focused, run by multinationals that will be the only ones left who can afford the fuel inputs to equipment, fertilizer, etc.? I don't think the picture looks too rosy for independent small farmers in the future, and maybe not even for the multinationals.
Farmers caught in fuel spiral
Ed Rempel, a farmer from Starbuck, MB, becomes defiant in the face of skyrocketing diesel and fertilizer prices. "We're going to quit selling," he declared in an interview. "The marketplace will simply have to pay us more for our production. If they don't, we're gone." Rempel realizes that a mass, worldwide boycott of grain markets by farmers is unlikely, so he and his friends have been considering acting like farm input suppliers and passing along their costs. "But how are we going to bill the markets for a fuel and fertilizer surcharge?" he asked. Farmers across the Prairies are harvesting a crop with combines burning a more and more precious commodity. The price of fuel has been zooming higher for the past year, and Hurricane Katrina has blown it through the roof. Later in the fall, with farmers licking their wounds from high fuel prices, many will have to head back into the fields to burn probably even more expensive fuel and pour into the ground another precious commodity: fertilizer. Both ammonia and urea fertilizers are made with natural gas, a commodity that has more than quadrupled in cost in the past five years. The disruption of the Gulf of Mexico energy industry by Katrina has cut US energy supplies by about 10% and competition for North America's remaining sources of energy is expected to become intense. "We've been dealing with these occasional price spikes for five years now, and it looks like we're about to see round three," said Roger Larson, president of the Canadian Fertilizer Institute. "I wouldn't be too optimistic that there's any room for fertilizer manufacturers to improve their costs of production in the next six months." Farmers can read that as meaning fertilizer prices are going up. Diesel prices have also steadily increased in recent years and this recent spiraling comes at the worst time for many farmers like Ernie Sirski. The Dauphin, MB, farmer is in the middle of harvest and dreads the thought of his soon-coming fuel bill. Only a couple of years ago he paid about 45 cents per litre. Now it might be 85 cents, or more.
(Western Producer 050908)
Farmers caught in fuel spiral
Ed Rempel, a farmer from Starbuck, MB, becomes defiant in the face of skyrocketing diesel and fertilizer prices. "We're going to quit selling," he declared in an interview. "The marketplace will simply have to pay us more for our production. If they don't, we're gone." Rempel realizes that a mass, worldwide boycott of grain markets by farmers is unlikely, so he and his friends have been considering acting like farm input suppliers and passing along their costs. "But how are we going to bill the markets for a fuel and fertilizer surcharge?" he asked. Farmers across the Prairies are harvesting a crop with combines burning a more and more precious commodity. The price of fuel has been zooming higher for the past year, and Hurricane Katrina has blown it through the roof. Later in the fall, with farmers licking their wounds from high fuel prices, many will have to head back into the fields to burn probably even more expensive fuel and pour into the ground another precious commodity: fertilizer. Both ammonia and urea fertilizers are made with natural gas, a commodity that has more than quadrupled in cost in the past five years. The disruption of the Gulf of Mexico energy industry by Katrina has cut US energy supplies by about 10% and competition for North America's remaining sources of energy is expected to become intense. "We've been dealing with these occasional price spikes for five years now, and it looks like we're about to see round three," said Roger Larson, president of the Canadian Fertilizer Institute. "I wouldn't be too optimistic that there's any room for fertilizer manufacturers to improve their costs of production in the next six months." Farmers can read that as meaning fertilizer prices are going up. Diesel prices have also steadily increased in recent years and this recent spiraling comes at the worst time for many farmers like Ernie Sirski. The Dauphin, MB, farmer is in the middle of harvest and dreads the thought of his soon-coming fuel bill. Only a couple of years ago he paid about 45 cents per litre. Now it might be 85 cents, or more.
(Western Producer 050908)
Definitely Debbie Downer
Sarathena and Natasha -- this story just keeps going on and getting worse and worse. It is so sad that animals end up being the victims of human intrusion into hinterland ecosystems -- places that people's homes and transportation routes really shouldn't be, all due to someone's greed and people's desire to live 'in the wild' away from other people, when all that is in fact happening is that they are building huge suburbs in the middle of nowhere that are susceptible to natural forces (e.g., natural grass/forest fires that destroy homes built in these areas, but really shouldn't be there) and where the animals of these ecosystems are involuntarily exposed to human activity. Particular to this story is that this route is an essential link for Canadian transportation, and even though many measures have been taken to protect the wildlife in the Banff/Lake Louise area, many animals are still being killed every year by cars and trains on this small section of the Pass through the Rockies. We find it essential, I guess the migrating animals do too and that's where the problem lies.
Orphan bear cubs killed by cars
The deaths of two orphaned grizzly cubs, killed by cars on the Trans-Canada Highway, has pushed the number of bears killed in Banff National Park to five since June -- almost one-tenth of the grizzly population in the park. The sole surviving cub of the two collisions near Banff late Wednesday night is being tracked for capture, destined for temporary quarantine at Calgary Zoo and an uncertain future. "Six bears out of the park this summer - that's 10 per cent of the population," said Tracey Henderson of Grizzly Bear Alliance, adding she was "heartbroken" by the deaths. The two cubs - one male, one female - were hit by two vehicles on the Trans-Canada Highway near Banff. The third cub, a male, was not injured. The cubs, less than a year old, were orphaned three weeks ago when their 10-year-old mother, Bear 66, was killed by a CPR train near Castle Junction. They had been closely monitored by Parks Canada staff, but their chances of survival had been put at less than 5%. It is thought the two cubs slipped under a fence beside the highway. The section of fence is older, and does not have an apron beneath the ground to prevent wildlife from travelling beneath it despite several years of lobbying to have it improved. Jim Pissot, of Defenders of Wildlife Canada, said the cubs' deaths came as little surprise, but defended the decision not to capture the cubs. "These aren't simple issues, they are complex issues with lots of factors. And it's not a simple solution. It's a solution that involves every driver in Canada's parks, every hiker in Banff, every person that puts out a barbecue in a campground, right up to the prime minister in terms of the funds available for park management."
(Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun, Globe and Mail 050909)
Orphan bear cubs killed by cars
The deaths of two orphaned grizzly cubs, killed by cars on the Trans-Canada Highway, has pushed the number of bears killed in Banff National Park to five since June -- almost one-tenth of the grizzly population in the park. The sole surviving cub of the two collisions near Banff late Wednesday night is being tracked for capture, destined for temporary quarantine at Calgary Zoo and an uncertain future. "Six bears out of the park this summer - that's 10 per cent of the population," said Tracey Henderson of Grizzly Bear Alliance, adding she was "heartbroken" by the deaths. The two cubs - one male, one female - were hit by two vehicles on the Trans-Canada Highway near Banff. The third cub, a male, was not injured. The cubs, less than a year old, were orphaned three weeks ago when their 10-year-old mother, Bear 66, was killed by a CPR train near Castle Junction. They had been closely monitored by Parks Canada staff, but their chances of survival had been put at less than 5%. It is thought the two cubs slipped under a fence beside the highway. The section of fence is older, and does not have an apron beneath the ground to prevent wildlife from travelling beneath it despite several years of lobbying to have it improved. Jim Pissot, of Defenders of Wildlife Canada, said the cubs' deaths came as little surprise, but defended the decision not to capture the cubs. "These aren't simple issues, they are complex issues with lots of factors. And it's not a simple solution. It's a solution that involves every driver in Canada's parks, every hiker in Banff, every person that puts out a barbecue in a campground, right up to the prime minister in terms of the funds available for park management."
(Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun, Globe and Mail 050909)
Globalization pipe dream?
Globalization (and capitalism by default) are thought to be unalterable natural laws of economics, however it should be noted that these concepts of trade and commerce are only a couple of hundred years old, and coincidentally are heavily reliant on having a cheap energy source in order for them to execute in their full capacity. I wonder how tenuous globalization actually is? Is it a way of doing business that will fall by the wayside as soon as the variable of cheap energy is removed from the equation? I predict that IF we are seeing the end of cheap oil inputs into our economic system, huge globalized companies such as Wal-Mart that base their entire supply chain on cheap energy inputs and the transportation companies that have fuel as a huge chunk of their capital expenses (ie. airlines) will be the first victims to shrivel in the post-oil age.
Global trade patterns vulnerable to high oil
The price of oil is poised to climb so high that it may dramatically change the dynamic of global trade and force companies to look closer to home for imports and exports, says a new paper by CIBC World Markets economists Jeff Rubin and Benjamin Tal. North American traders will be lured back to Mexico and Latin America and away from China and Asia, at least for some types of goods, as oil makes shipping costs prohibitive. They predict that the price of crude will reach US$100 a barrel by the end of 2007 and that the price of shipping manufactured goods will rise accordingly. Indeed, transportation costs could rise to a point that they become a barrier to global trade, and it may already be happening, the economists say. “It would pretty well offset the trade liberalization efforts of the past four decades,” Rubin said yesterday. He estimates that $100-a-barrel oil would be tantamount to almost tripling current tariff rates, and would force companies to re-examine how they do business. Many importers and exporters are not prepared for major changes to their supply routes and they will face a “huge challenge” dealing with higher costs. While higher transport costs will affect the price of different goods in different ways, overall transport costs will be about 130% more expensive at $100 oil than when oil cost just $30 a barrel. “All of a sudden, proximity to major markets becomes far more important in determining comparative advantage,” the economists write. “Distance translates directly into costs.” In particular, goods that cost a lot to ship will be affected the most. History backs up the argument, the economists say, pointing to previous oil shocks that brought global trade to a standstill.
But others argue that such the predictions are too simplistic. Robert Hattin, who runs a packaging machinery company in Hamilton, says there's no doubt high energy prices are making shipping far more expensive. “Whether it's a pouch of Sudafed or a car, your freight costs are going to go up,” he said yesterday. But establishing a new trade pattern can't be done quickly or cheaply. And many Canadian companies do most of their business within North America, and so a shift in pricing to Asia is not going to make a huge difference to his bottom line, and wouldn't prompt him to set up a new supply route. Rather, companies like his will wait out the higher energy prices and try to absorb the extra costs. Indeed, much of the CIBC World Markets argument depends on businesses believing that oil will indeed continue to climb, and stay expensive for some time to come, said Bernie Wolf, director of the international MBA program at York University. “The world doesn't change on a dime,” he said. “You won't make shifts if you're not sure these changes are relatively permanent.” Only a few months ago, predictions of oil prices of $100 a barrel or more seemed out in left field, but have since become more mainstream as prices keep climbing. Goldman Sachs caused a stir in March when its analysts warned prices could spike to US$105.
(National Post, Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail 050909)
Global trade patterns vulnerable to high oil
The price of oil is poised to climb so high that it may dramatically change the dynamic of global trade and force companies to look closer to home for imports and exports, says a new paper by CIBC World Markets economists Jeff Rubin and Benjamin Tal. North American traders will be lured back to Mexico and Latin America and away from China and Asia, at least for some types of goods, as oil makes shipping costs prohibitive. They predict that the price of crude will reach US$100 a barrel by the end of 2007 and that the price of shipping manufactured goods will rise accordingly. Indeed, transportation costs could rise to a point that they become a barrier to global trade, and it may already be happening, the economists say. “It would pretty well offset the trade liberalization efforts of the past four decades,” Rubin said yesterday. He estimates that $100-a-barrel oil would be tantamount to almost tripling current tariff rates, and would force companies to re-examine how they do business. Many importers and exporters are not prepared for major changes to their supply routes and they will face a “huge challenge” dealing with higher costs. While higher transport costs will affect the price of different goods in different ways, overall transport costs will be about 130% more expensive at $100 oil than when oil cost just $30 a barrel. “All of a sudden, proximity to major markets becomes far more important in determining comparative advantage,” the economists write. “Distance translates directly into costs.” In particular, goods that cost a lot to ship will be affected the most. History backs up the argument, the economists say, pointing to previous oil shocks that brought global trade to a standstill.
But others argue that such the predictions are too simplistic. Robert Hattin, who runs a packaging machinery company in Hamilton, says there's no doubt high energy prices are making shipping far more expensive. “Whether it's a pouch of Sudafed or a car, your freight costs are going to go up,” he said yesterday. But establishing a new trade pattern can't be done quickly or cheaply. And many Canadian companies do most of their business within North America, and so a shift in pricing to Asia is not going to make a huge difference to his bottom line, and wouldn't prompt him to set up a new supply route. Rather, companies like his will wait out the higher energy prices and try to absorb the extra costs. Indeed, much of the CIBC World Markets argument depends on businesses believing that oil will indeed continue to climb, and stay expensive for some time to come, said Bernie Wolf, director of the international MBA program at York University. “The world doesn't change on a dime,” he said. “You won't make shifts if you're not sure these changes are relatively permanent.” Only a few months ago, predictions of oil prices of $100 a barrel or more seemed out in left field, but have since become more mainstream as prices keep climbing. Goldman Sachs caused a stir in March when its analysts warned prices could spike to US$105.
(National Post, Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail 050909)
The Price of Partisanship
More criticism that top FEMA officials were Bush political appointments
Last Updated Fri, 09 Sep 2005 11:48:00 EDT
CBC News
As rescue workers prepare to speed up the process of retrieving the dead and New Orleans police are soon expected to begin removing the thousands of people still believed to be holding out in the city, the Washington Post reported Friday that President Bush chose unqualified political supporters rather than disaster experts to head the agency leading the relief effort.
The death toll from Hurricane Katrina topped 300 but is expected to climb higher. 25,000 body bags have been shipped to the area. And the dark-brown water poisoned by submerged bodies, bacteria, gasoline, oil, chemicals and debris is slowly falling. A fifth of the city's 75 major drainage pumps are back in operation.
The Washington Post reported Friday that five of the top eight officials at FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, had little experience in handling disasters and owed their jobs to their political ties to Bush. Further, the Post reports that as political operatives took the top jobs, professionals and experts in hurricanes and disasters left the agency.
The director of FEMA, Michael Brown, already under fire for his performance as the Hurricane Katrina disaster unfolded, came under further pressure when Time magazine reported that his official biography, released by the White House at the time of his nomination exaggerated his experience in disaster relief.
Brown was a friend of former Bush campaign director Joe Allbaugh, the previous FEMA head. Brown had also headed an Arabian horse association. Last week, as criticism of his response to the disaster grew, Bush gave Michael Brown a public vote of confidence when he said, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."
Brown's biography on the FEMA website said he had once served as an "assistant city manager with emergency services oversight". Time magazine quoted an official in Edmond, Oklahoma as saying the job was actually "assistant to the city manager" with little responsibility. Time also said Brown padded his academic accomplishments.
In response to the report on Time's Web site, FEMA issued a statement that took issue with elements related to an unofficial biography and described his job in Edmond as "assistant to the city manager".
A Pew Research Centre poll said President Bush's approval rating fell to 40 per cent, down four points since July, to the lowest point Pew has recorded. The poll found that 67 per cent of Americans thought Bush could have done more to speed up relief efforts and only 28 per cent believed he did all he could.
To make matters more difficult for Bush, Colin Powell, the former U.S. secretary of state criticized the disaster response by all levels of government in an interview on ABC's 20/20 to be broadcast tonight.
"There was more than enough warning over time about the dangers to New Orleans. Not enough was done. I don't think advantage was taken of the time that was available to us, and I don't know why.
Last Updated Fri, 09 Sep 2005 11:48:00 EDT
CBC News
As rescue workers prepare to speed up the process of retrieving the dead and New Orleans police are soon expected to begin removing the thousands of people still believed to be holding out in the city, the Washington Post reported Friday that President Bush chose unqualified political supporters rather than disaster experts to head the agency leading the relief effort.
The death toll from Hurricane Katrina topped 300 but is expected to climb higher. 25,000 body bags have been shipped to the area. And the dark-brown water poisoned by submerged bodies, bacteria, gasoline, oil, chemicals and debris is slowly falling. A fifth of the city's 75 major drainage pumps are back in operation.
The Washington Post reported Friday that five of the top eight officials at FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, had little experience in handling disasters and owed their jobs to their political ties to Bush. Further, the Post reports that as political operatives took the top jobs, professionals and experts in hurricanes and disasters left the agency.
The director of FEMA, Michael Brown, already under fire for his performance as the Hurricane Katrina disaster unfolded, came under further pressure when Time magazine reported that his official biography, released by the White House at the time of his nomination exaggerated his experience in disaster relief.
Brown was a friend of former Bush campaign director Joe Allbaugh, the previous FEMA head. Brown had also headed an Arabian horse association. Last week, as criticism of his response to the disaster grew, Bush gave Michael Brown a public vote of confidence when he said, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."
Brown's biography on the FEMA website said he had once served as an "assistant city manager with emergency services oversight". Time magazine quoted an official in Edmond, Oklahoma as saying the job was actually "assistant to the city manager" with little responsibility. Time also said Brown padded his academic accomplishments.
In response to the report on Time's Web site, FEMA issued a statement that took issue with elements related to an unofficial biography and described his job in Edmond as "assistant to the city manager".
A Pew Research Centre poll said President Bush's approval rating fell to 40 per cent, down four points since July, to the lowest point Pew has recorded. The poll found that 67 per cent of Americans thought Bush could have done more to speed up relief efforts and only 28 per cent believed he did all he could.
To make matters more difficult for Bush, Colin Powell, the former U.S. secretary of state criticized the disaster response by all levels of government in an interview on ABC's 20/20 to be broadcast tonight.
"There was more than enough warning over time about the dangers to New Orleans. Not enough was done. I don't think advantage was taken of the time that was available to us, and I don't know why.
Poll: Most Say Abandon Low-Lying Areas
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
6 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - More than half the people in this country say the flooded areas of New Orleans lying below sea level should be abandoned and rebuilt on higher ground
An AP-Ipsos poll found that 54 percent of Americans want the four-fifths of New Orleans that was flooded by Hurricane Katrina moved to a safer location.
Their skepticism about restoring New Orleans below sea level comes as the public mood has darkened after one of the nation's worst natural disasters.
Almost two-thirds, 65 percent, say the country is headed in the wrong direction — up from 59 percent last month. President Bush's job approval was at 39 percent, the lowest point since AP-Ipsos began measuring public approval of Bush in December 2003.
Two-thirds of those surveyed say the federal government was not adequately prepared to respond to the disaster. And about the same number said the state and local governments deserve much of the blame for the slow response.
Despite their gloomy mood, people are donating to hurricane victims at record levels. Almost two-thirds in the poll say they have already given money.
The poll of 1,002 adults was taken Sept. 6-8 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
6 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - More than half the people in this country say the flooded areas of New Orleans lying below sea level should be abandoned and rebuilt on higher ground
An AP-Ipsos poll found that 54 percent of Americans want the four-fifths of New Orleans that was flooded by Hurricane Katrina moved to a safer location.
Their skepticism about restoring New Orleans below sea level comes as the public mood has darkened after one of the nation's worst natural disasters.
Almost two-thirds, 65 percent, say the country is headed in the wrong direction — up from 59 percent last month. President Bush's job approval was at 39 percent, the lowest point since AP-Ipsos began measuring public approval of Bush in December 2003.
Two-thirds of those surveyed say the federal government was not adequately prepared to respond to the disaster. And about the same number said the state and local governments deserve much of the blame for the slow response.
Despite their gloomy mood, people are donating to hurricane victims at record levels. Almost two-thirds in the poll say they have already given money.
The poll of 1,002 adults was taken Sept. 6-8 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
08 September 2005
Black Gold
It's very interesting to note here that writers like Kunstler and Pfeiffer have predicted Peak Oil to occur around 2007/08:
CIBC World Markets predicts oil at US$84 a barrel in 2006, on way to $100
11:15 AM EDT Sep 08
TORONTO (CP) - Oil will likely climb to $84 US a barrel next year, eventually rising to $100 US per barrel by the end of 2007, CIBC World Markets predicted Thursday.
The average West Texas Intermediate oil prices will be affected by both supply and demand factors over the next few years, the study by chief economist Jeff Rubin said.
The study, which predicts oil will average $93 US per barrel in 2007, said prices are "expected to reach or exceed $100 US per barrel by the fourth quarter of that year."
"The devastation to both oilfields and oil industry infrastructure from hurricane Katrina will not only impact current oil production but future production as well," CIBC World Markets said in a release.
"The study expects that planned expansion of production in the Gulf of Mexico over the next two years is likely to be halved; cutting off nearly 300,000 barrels per day of potential future supply. The setbacks to planned expansion of Gulf of Mexico capacity comes on the heels of stagnant production in Russia and tapped out capacity in OPEC."
The study noted that world oil demand is less price sensitive than was thought, "requiring larger than originally anticipated price increases to rein in future demand growth." It linked a declining sensitivity in world oil demand to price and to the growing importance of energy consumption in China.
"While the full economic impact of expected oil price increases is difficult to gauge, at a minimum, the economic drag from higher energy prices should quickly cap rising short-term interest rates in both Canada and the Untied States," Rubin said.
"Apart from possibly one more rate hike on either side of the border, we are likely at a cyclical peak in short-term interest rates thanks to soaring oil prices."
CIBC World Markets is the wholesale banking arm of CIBC (TSX:CM) providing credit and capital markets products, investment banking and merchant banking.
© The Canadian Press, 2005
CIBC World Markets predicts oil at US$84 a barrel in 2006, on way to $100
11:15 AM EDT Sep 08
TORONTO (CP) - Oil will likely climb to $84 US a barrel next year, eventually rising to $100 US per barrel by the end of 2007, CIBC World Markets predicted Thursday.
The average West Texas Intermediate oil prices will be affected by both supply and demand factors over the next few years, the study by chief economist Jeff Rubin said.
The study, which predicts oil will average $93 US per barrel in 2007, said prices are "expected to reach or exceed $100 US per barrel by the fourth quarter of that year."
"The devastation to both oilfields and oil industry infrastructure from hurricane Katrina will not only impact current oil production but future production as well," CIBC World Markets said in a release.
"The study expects that planned expansion of production in the Gulf of Mexico over the next two years is likely to be halved; cutting off nearly 300,000 barrels per day of potential future supply. The setbacks to planned expansion of Gulf of Mexico capacity comes on the heels of stagnant production in Russia and tapped out capacity in OPEC."
The study noted that world oil demand is less price sensitive than was thought, "requiring larger than originally anticipated price increases to rein in future demand growth." It linked a declining sensitivity in world oil demand to price and to the growing importance of energy consumption in China.
"While the full economic impact of expected oil price increases is difficult to gauge, at a minimum, the economic drag from higher energy prices should quickly cap rising short-term interest rates in both Canada and the Untied States," Rubin said.
"Apart from possibly one more rate hike on either side of the border, we are likely at a cyclical peak in short-term interest rates thanks to soaring oil prices."
CIBC World Markets is the wholesale banking arm of CIBC (TSX:CM) providing credit and capital markets products, investment banking and merchant banking.
© The Canadian Press, 2005
06 September 2005
05 September 2005
The Quest for the Ultimate Drag Show
Another long weekend Sunday night!
We were all excited anticipating seeing the penultimate of nostalgic duo-billed drag shows - Devon Mills and Eartha Quake, but when we got to the show we were sorely disappointed. Thus the conversation that followed on the aging process and how certain drag queens age very badly - I'm not naming names! It was a fun night guys!
Lethbridge
Why am I playing with my glasses or hat in these pictures? I had ADD this weekend I think. However, we did end up with four ITT medals on Saturday and the team pulled off a bronze in the TTT on Sunday. Good work guys! Considering we had never trained together as a time trial team, and Cyrus had never time trialed before this weekend, I think we did very well. Both Devon and Cyrus show great promise in the sport in the future if they choose to pursue it more. I hope they both return to Synergy again next year. Seasoned pros like Frank and myself certainly appreciate having the young guys on the team to pull us around!
Provincial ITT heros...Frank, Devon, Cyrus, Marty Machacek, Reid
2005 Alberta Provincial TTT Bronze medallists: Synergy Team - Frank Kovacs, Cyrus Kangarloo, Devon Smibert, Reid Dalgleish
Provincial ITT heros...Frank, Devon, Cyrus, Marty Machacek, Reid
2005 Alberta Provincial TTT Bronze medallists: Synergy Team - Frank Kovacs, Cyrus Kangarloo, Devon Smibert, Reid Dalgleish
01 September 2005
Alberta Centennial Fireworks display
City Hall fireworks and Calgary Tower
Fireworks over City Hall
Calgary skyline. Calgary Tower flame is lit.
Who's telling the truth?
ONE SIDE:
Study: Global Warming Making Hurricanes Stronger
By Associated Press
posted: 31 July 2005
06:29 pm ET
Is global warming making hurricanes more ferocious? New research suggests the answer is yes. Scientists call the findings both surprising and "alarming'' because they suggest global warming is influencing storms now -- rather than in the distant future.
However, the research doesn't suggest global warming is generating more hurricanes and typhoons.
The analysis by climatologist Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows for the first time that major storms spinning in both the Atlantic and the Pacific since the 1970s have increased in duration and intensity by about 50 percent.
These trends are closely linked to increases in the average temperatures of the ocean surface and also correspond to increases in global average atmospheric temperatures during the same period.
"When I look at these results at face value, they are rather alarming,'' said research meteorologist Tom Knutson. "These are very big changes.''
THE OTHER SIDE:
Around the world, compassion and shock at the damage wrought by Katrina
11:26 AM EDT Sep 01
DANICA KIRKA Canadian Press
"Nature proved that no matter how rich and economically developed you are, you can't fight it," says Danut Afasei, a local official in Romania's Harghita county, where flooding killed 13 people last week.
Throughout Europe, concerned citizens lamented the loss of life and the damage caused to New Orleans, often described as one of North America's most "European" cities.
The sympathy was muted in some corners by a sense that the United States reaped what it sowed, since the country is seen as the main contributor to global warming.
Joern Ehlers, a spokesman for World Wildlife Fund Germany, said global warming had increased the intensity of hurricanes.
"The Americans have a big impact on the greenhouse effect," Ehlers said.
But Harlan Watson, the U.S. envoy for negotiations on climate change, denied any link between global warming and the strength of storms. "Our scientists are telling us right now that there's not a linkage," he said in Geneva.
...................................................................
Do you ever wonder why the Bush Administration flatly refuses to even consider that there might be a link between fossil fuel consumption and global warming? I think we all know the answer to that one...
Study: Global Warming Making Hurricanes Stronger
By Associated Press
posted: 31 July 2005
06:29 pm ET
Is global warming making hurricanes more ferocious? New research suggests the answer is yes. Scientists call the findings both surprising and "alarming'' because they suggest global warming is influencing storms now -- rather than in the distant future.
However, the research doesn't suggest global warming is generating more hurricanes and typhoons.
The analysis by climatologist Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows for the first time that major storms spinning in both the Atlantic and the Pacific since the 1970s have increased in duration and intensity by about 50 percent.
These trends are closely linked to increases in the average temperatures of the ocean surface and also correspond to increases in global average atmospheric temperatures during the same period.
"When I look at these results at face value, they are rather alarming,'' said research meteorologist Tom Knutson. "These are very big changes.''
THE OTHER SIDE:
Around the world, compassion and shock at the damage wrought by Katrina
11:26 AM EDT Sep 01
DANICA KIRKA Canadian Press
"Nature proved that no matter how rich and economically developed you are, you can't fight it," says Danut Afasei, a local official in Romania's Harghita county, where flooding killed 13 people last week.
Throughout Europe, concerned citizens lamented the loss of life and the damage caused to New Orleans, often described as one of North America's most "European" cities.
The sympathy was muted in some corners by a sense that the United States reaped what it sowed, since the country is seen as the main contributor to global warming.
Joern Ehlers, a spokesman for World Wildlife Fund Germany, said global warming had increased the intensity of hurricanes.
"The Americans have a big impact on the greenhouse effect," Ehlers said.
But Harlan Watson, the U.S. envoy for negotiations on climate change, denied any link between global warming and the strength of storms. "Our scientists are telling us right now that there's not a linkage," he said in Geneva.
...................................................................
Do you ever wonder why the Bush Administration flatly refuses to even consider that there might be a link between fossil fuel consumption and global warming? I think we all know the answer to that one...
The price of 'wickedness'
You knew this one was coming eventually too...God destroyed NOLA particularly because the gays have fun there - land sakes! Isn't is amazing how those wicked homos are responsible for all that's evil and wrong in the world?
Maybe like Jeff suggested, we should start using the gay evil that God seems to want to destroy for our own benefit by moving all the gay events to particular places that we would prefer not to have around anymore, like the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, or all of Colorado Springs, Colorado, or maybe Pat Robertson's house.
Gays 'Responsible' For New Orleans Devastation Group Claims
by Fidel Ortega 365Gay.com Miami Bureau
Posted: August 31, 2005 3:00 pm ET
(New Orleans, Louisiana) An evangelical Christian group that regularly demonstrates at LGBT events is blaming gays for hurricane Katrina.
Repent America says that God "destroyed" New Orleans because of Southern Decadence, the gay festival that was to have taken place in the city over the Labor Day weekend.
"Southern Decadence" has a history of filling the French Quarters section of the city with drunken homosexuals engaging in sex acts in the public streets and bars" Repent America director Michael Marcavage said in a statement Wednesday.
"Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city." Marcavage said. "From ‘Girls Gone Wild’ to ‘Southern Decadence’, New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same."
"Let us pray for those ravaged by this disaster. However, we must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long," Marcavage said.
"May this act of God cause us all to think about what we tolerate in our city limits, and bring us trembling before the throne of Almighty God," Marcavage concluded.
As 365Gay.com reported on Tuesday, organizers for Southern Decadence have cancelled the event and are promising full ticket refunds.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said Wednesday that hundreds are known dead and the death toll will reach into the thousands. Some estimates, CNN reported, indicate the final death toll in New Orleans alone may top 100,000.
Water levels eased off slightly on Wednesday, but most of the city remains submerged and it is believed it could be months before the city is inhabitable.
Repent America most recently demonstrated at the Philadelphia Phillies tribute to gay fans earlier this month.
Last year 10 members of Repent America marched to an area near the front of a stage at Philadelphia's Outfest and began to yell Biblical passages.
Police attempted to get the protestors to move to to an area on the edge of the Outfest site. Instead they went deeper into the gay crowd. Using a bullhorn they condemned homosexuality. They then got into an argument with a group of Pink Angels, who screamed back.
It was at that point police intervened.
Four members of Repent America, including Marcavage, were charged with ethnic intimidation, criminal conspiracy and inciting to riot. The charges carry sentences up to 47 years behind bars. But, in court, a judge dismissed the charges saying the protestors were in a public park and police had violated the group's First Amendment right to free speech.
Marcavage has been arrested, detained or cited by police around the country since founding Repent America in 2002, including at a demonstration against same-sex marriages in San Francisco.
Maybe like Jeff suggested, we should start using the gay evil that God seems to want to destroy for our own benefit by moving all the gay events to particular places that we would prefer not to have around anymore, like the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, or all of Colorado Springs, Colorado, or maybe Pat Robertson's house.
Gays 'Responsible' For New Orleans Devastation Group Claims
by Fidel Ortega 365Gay.com Miami Bureau
Posted: August 31, 2005 3:00 pm ET
(New Orleans, Louisiana) An evangelical Christian group that regularly demonstrates at LGBT events is blaming gays for hurricane Katrina.
Repent America says that God "destroyed" New Orleans because of Southern Decadence, the gay festival that was to have taken place in the city over the Labor Day weekend.
"Southern Decadence" has a history of filling the French Quarters section of the city with drunken homosexuals engaging in sex acts in the public streets and bars" Repent America director Michael Marcavage said in a statement Wednesday.
"Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city." Marcavage said. "From ‘Girls Gone Wild’ to ‘Southern Decadence’, New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same."
"Let us pray for those ravaged by this disaster. However, we must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long," Marcavage said.
"May this act of God cause us all to think about what we tolerate in our city limits, and bring us trembling before the throne of Almighty God," Marcavage concluded.
As 365Gay.com reported on Tuesday, organizers for Southern Decadence have cancelled the event and are promising full ticket refunds.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said Wednesday that hundreds are known dead and the death toll will reach into the thousands. Some estimates, CNN reported, indicate the final death toll in New Orleans alone may top 100,000.
Water levels eased off slightly on Wednesday, but most of the city remains submerged and it is believed it could be months before the city is inhabitable.
Repent America most recently demonstrated at the Philadelphia Phillies tribute to gay fans earlier this month.
Last year 10 members of Repent America marched to an area near the front of a stage at Philadelphia's Outfest and began to yell Biblical passages.
Police attempted to get the protestors to move to to an area on the edge of the Outfest site. Instead they went deeper into the gay crowd. Using a bullhorn they condemned homosexuality. They then got into an argument with a group of Pink Angels, who screamed back.
It was at that point police intervened.
Four members of Repent America, including Marcavage, were charged with ethnic intimidation, criminal conspiracy and inciting to riot. The charges carry sentences up to 47 years behind bars. But, in court, a judge dismissed the charges saying the protestors were in a public park and police had violated the group's First Amendment right to free speech.
Marcavage has been arrested, detained or cited by police around the country since founding Repent America in 2002, including at a demonstration against same-sex marriages in San Francisco.
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