A couple of anxious days and nights ended positively for some Hopedale families.
This should not have been a news item at all. The guy who left Hopedale for the 6 odd hour ski doo trip to Nain, on his own, in a white out, with the forecast for deteriorating conditions, is a few crayons short of a box.
Doing things like this only endanger his life, put undue worries on family, and endanger the lives of the GSAR [ground search and rescue] who go out and look for these fools.
Follow up on the closure of Atlantic Wholesalers in Lewisport.
I notice some media activity around the effects this will have on Lewisport. No chance of a reversal but at least people are talking and looking at what effect this will have on the area.
Not a bloody peep, one word, whisper, sweet bloody all from the powers that be in this region.
I have spoken to several retailers in town; all use this company extensively for their supplies from food to hardware and other items.
I have spoken to the first Minister of Nunatsiavut, he promised to get back to me. I’m not hanging by the short and curlies on that.
There has been no word from our MHA, no word from any one.
This is going to negatively affect the consumer on the North Coast. To what extent is not known, but surly it makes sense to start looking into the ramifications, and come up with some sort of a strategy that may offset the negative.
For Christ sake, even to just show an interest would be a break from the norm.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Comfort food, Greek style.
My buddy eating lotuses over in Greece keeps reminding me how relaxing and warm that part of the world is. Though spring can be quite wet from my experiences there. So for a nice Mediterranean break I cooked up this dish last evening.
Crumbed chicken [kotopoulo]. I whipped up a light beer based tempura batter and dipped some potato slices [patates], egg plant [meldzanes], zucchini [kolokithakia] and fried them. Topped them off with some feta and brie cheese. Sautéed some portabella mushroom [manitaria] in butter.
Fran even enjoyed the klokithakia, most unusual.
If we can’t be there at least we can eat like we are.
If we can’t be there at least we can eat like we are.
For them what’s interested: you can get information and track the racers in this years
Cain’s Quest snow mobile race. 2,000 kms of spine jarring ridding I do not need, but for some it’s fun.
It’s like the energizer bunny!
Some years ago I was having a chat on photography with a guy from the south. I mentioned that I had some great photos of the wind. The guy laughed and said, “you can’t take photos of the wind”.Yeah right!
While these were taken yesterday morning, I defy any one to run out into that lot. We would see in short order what happens to your short and curly’s.
And you know this weather pattern is prolonged when Fran comes home from work and says “everybody is getting pissed off with this weather”, or words to that effect.
Come and read my meter
Mr. meter reader.Who knows, maybe there is one under there some where?
Well I have 3 weeks to clear away some of the snow before the next read. Don’t like to make life too difficult for people.
The sky’s are clearing but the wind is blowing the snow some fierce down town and out on the harbor, will put some pics up later.
30th anniversary.
It’s International Women’s Day. Send a butterfly.
My thoughts go out to all women, especially Fran, Stephanie, Aimee, me mom and sisters all.
My thoughts go out to all women, especially Fran, Stephanie, Aimee, me mom and sisters all.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Not long back in from digging out, against the advice of the better half. Snow was a foot up the storm door and the ski doo was in jeopardy of being totally covered, so out I went, crapped back or no.
As an addendum to the previous post. If my back was not in the shape it is, and we have weather like this, I would be saying-You beaudy, misses winter is back!
First photo is of neighbors, second is of ours with the machine sitting high, for now. Could not see much down centre of town with the wind really blowing down there.
For those that don’t know, we have a petroleum prices freeze up here in the winter months. It’s crappy when prices go down [not often] and great when prices go up.
As you can see by the graph we are still way too bloody high, we are at the bottom, Northern Labrador.
As an addendum to the previous post. If my back was not in the shape it is, and we have weather like this, I would be saying-You beaudy, misses winter is back!
First photo is of neighbors, second is of ours with the machine sitting high, for now. Could not see much down centre of town with the wind really blowing down there.
For those that don’t know, we have a petroleum prices freeze up here in the winter months. It’s crappy when prices go down [not often] and great when prices go up.
As you can see by the graph we are still way too bloody high, we are at the bottom, Northern Labrador.
Mister bloody winters back.
We did not get hit hard yesterday, today is another story with snow and blowing snow. -35 wind chill. With all the snow we now have on the ground you don’t feel the wind and the cold in the house. Vastly different early in the season I tell you.
Ingutuk was sick yesterday, so grandma stayed home to look after him.
Matthew makes a big deal out of not getting his picture taken. It took me many tries to get this one, and then I was just holding the camera in front of me pretending to be disappointed that he kept hiding his head in the cushions. These young guns got a long way to go yet eh?
Had some bread dough left over from the bread making so knocked up these. Very thin crust with sautéed onions, portabella mushrooms, tomatoes, egg plant, polish salami, ham, cottage/feta/mozzarella cheeses.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Monday, March 05, 2007
There is some things in this story that resonate with me, or would be relevant to Labrador.
While the Inuit situation may not parallel the first nations, similar issues face both groups, as pointed out in this report.
The formation of Nunatsiavut arguably could run on similar lines as a reserve, minus the sales tax exemptions. It is certainly paternalistic and a top down hierarchy.
So the first point in the report could do wonders in sorting out inefficiencies, especially in the health area, but in other areas too.
Traditionally Inuit did not leave home towns, only a minority has over the past decades for different reasons. Now, with more and more people going on to post secondary education, and no increase in economic development in the communities out side some mining and quarry operations, what are these educated people going to do with the skills they obtain? Maybe they will be more inclined to move to urban areas or to the lake Melville area to pursue economic opportunities, or to just get way from personal issues.
The micro lending idea could do wonders in Inuit communities IMO. First off decades of neglect in educating people in the pros and cons of a “co-operative” mentality would have to be undone. The concentration has been on joint ventures with larger outside businesses, and the codling of a few politically connected families.
Any one who is not connected, is from the wrong area or is not aggressive or schooled in the art of flannel mouthing have little chance of getting a small business on the go. There are untold talented arts and crafts people who could benefit from a co operative. Also people are talented in repair of small engines; the potential is endless if only some leadership would come along.
While the Inuit situation may not parallel the first nations, similar issues face both groups, as pointed out in this report.
The formation of Nunatsiavut arguably could run on similar lines as a reserve, minus the sales tax exemptions. It is certainly paternalistic and a top down hierarchy.
So the first point in the report could do wonders in sorting out inefficiencies, especially in the health area, but in other areas too.
Traditionally Inuit did not leave home towns, only a minority has over the past decades for different reasons. Now, with more and more people going on to post secondary education, and no increase in economic development in the communities out side some mining and quarry operations, what are these educated people going to do with the skills they obtain? Maybe they will be more inclined to move to urban areas or to the lake Melville area to pursue economic opportunities, or to just get way from personal issues.
The micro lending idea could do wonders in Inuit communities IMO. First off decades of neglect in educating people in the pros and cons of a “co-operative” mentality would have to be undone. The concentration has been on joint ventures with larger outside businesses, and the codling of a few politically connected families.
Any one who is not connected, is from the wrong area or is not aggressive or schooled in the art of flannel mouthing have little chance of getting a small business on the go. There are untold talented arts and crafts people who could benefit from a co operative. Also people are talented in repair of small engines; the potential is endless if only some leadership would come along.
I have been reading some news reports around the globe on the Al Gore mansion energy consumption. This one puts more of a perspective on it.
I am still troubled by these “carbon offsets”. On the face of it, it looks like it’s a great way for the affluent to clear there conscience without too much personal discomfort.
It may benefit the less developed areas, but human nature what it is there will be some sort of scam some where, depends on the scale of the scam I guess.
I am still troubled by these “carbon offsets”. On the face of it, it looks like it’s a great way for the affluent to clear there conscience without too much personal discomfort.
It may benefit the less developed areas, but human nature what it is there will be some sort of scam some where, depends on the scale of the scam I guess.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
In the absence of Lunar eclipse pics.
Did a little walk out on the harbor yesterday morning, about -15c but with no wind and the sun reflecting off the snow it felt like about 0. Lots of people taking off to enjoy the country.
First pic shows the wharf, looked like it was close to low tide.
Second pic is of the bellycaters [heaped chunks of ice created by the tide] with some of the many contrails.
The yellow vehicle in the third is the 10.50 to Kuak Harbor……OK it’s not. It’s an old Bombardier the gas station uses to haul av gas to the tanks at the airstrip.I had the camera ready for the eclipse, it was large and low in the sky, partly visible through the increasing cloud, figured it not worth the effort.
Chilly.
Is this an epiphany on the way to an early retirement package for the lot of them, let’s hope so. But not before an independent inquiry to find out the truth.
Yesterday I heard [CBC radio and TV] Judy Foote say at least four times that, “the $2,875.00 would be paid back “out of our own pockets”.
Now I may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery draw, so I may need some help here.
Is it not true that 2875 was offered, and received with no questions asked?
Is it not true that the 2875 came with no invoice asked or offered, no receipts asked or offered?
Is it not true that the 2875 was made out to each member with no strings attached? Sort of repeating myself here.
Is it not true that we do not know where any of this 2875 multiplied by 46 ended up?
So help me out here eh. How the bloody hell can these #@/$#@*\@$ ers now claim that they are paying the 2875 back out of there own pockets? I’m not in the habit of swearing at women, but if you run with the weasels.
Let’s see the facts jack. The horse is out. You reap what you sow. Yo Hoe time to go.
Looking good out there, -21.8c and the sun is just showing red and purple hues over the hills. Should get at least one more clear one in before some white gets in the way again.
Yesterday I heard [CBC radio and TV] Judy Foote say at least four times that, “the $2,875.00 would be paid back “out of our own pockets”.
Now I may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery draw, so I may need some help here.
Is it not true that 2875 was offered, and received with no questions asked?
Is it not true that the 2875 came with no invoice asked or offered, no receipts asked or offered?
Is it not true that the 2875 was made out to each member with no strings attached? Sort of repeating myself here.
Is it not true that we do not know where any of this 2875 multiplied by 46 ended up?
So help me out here eh. How the bloody hell can these #@/$#@*\@$ ers now claim that they are paying the 2875 back out of there own pockets? I’m not in the habit of swearing at women, but if you run with the weasels.
Let’s see the facts jack. The horse is out. You reap what you sow. Yo Hoe time to go.
Looking good out there, -21.8c and the sun is just showing red and purple hues over the hills. Should get at least one more clear one in before some white gets in the way again.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Hot dam
it’s bloody amazing out. -11c with the sun splitting the rocks, not a cloud in the sky, all that crap the last weeks are forgotten.
Can’t ride the Polaris, but still got good legs, old shanks’ pony eh? Well we will all be using them a lot more down that short road, so everybody better get out and get the shanks built up.
Can’t keep up with counting the planes coming in from Europe, trails non stop, usually is weekends.
Old Dogbait down in aerial ping pong county must have been bitten by one of these one time. He is doing a great job of rounding me up and getting to cleaning up the blog page look.
The ping pong crack came from my father’s generation; I’d never say things like that.
Can’t ride the Polaris, but still got good legs, old shanks’ pony eh? Well we will all be using them a lot more down that short road, so everybody better get out and get the shanks built up.
Can’t keep up with counting the planes coming in from Europe, trails non stop, usually is weekends.
Old Dogbait down in aerial ping pong county must have been bitten by one of these one time. He is doing a great job of rounding me up and getting to cleaning up the blog page look.
The ping pong crack came from my father’s generation; I’d never say things like that.
Trail groomer par excellence?
Well it may not look hot shit, but it works, better than nothing as they say.
Some years back I lobbied the council for a trail groomer, when we get lots of snow [like this winter] the roads end up like frozen Pacific Ocean swells, hard on old backs and machines.
So after first doing nothing, then buying some dinky little thing that was towed behind a ski doo, some one came up with this idea. Saves about ¼ million bucks by not getting a fancy groomer.
This little Cat and the part of a floor frame of a mobile home do’s the trick.
Time consuming though, takes at least six runs on each side of road before it’s done. He makes first run knocking the high points down with the blade, or when needed. Rest of runs with just the rear frame.
Then in about 2-3 days it’s back to the humps.
In the absence of any public input on the previous post I urge all in the area to read this.
‘Cat got your tongue’ is an issue in Labrador, probably more than else where.
Some years back I lobbied the council for a trail groomer, when we get lots of snow [like this winter] the roads end up like frozen Pacific Ocean swells, hard on old backs and machines.
So after first doing nothing, then buying some dinky little thing that was towed behind a ski doo, some one came up with this idea. Saves about ¼ million bucks by not getting a fancy groomer.
This little Cat and the part of a floor frame of a mobile home do’s the trick.
Time consuming though, takes at least six runs on each side of road before it’s done. He makes first run knocking the high points down with the blade, or when needed. Rest of runs with just the rear frame.
Then in about 2-3 days it’s back to the humps.
In the absence of any public input on the previous post I urge all in the area to read this.
‘Cat got your tongue’ is an issue in Labrador, probably more than else where.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Atlantic Wholesalers closure.
This story is being bandied about some what, but little from the perspective of the North Labrador Coast.
The NLC has a long historical relationship with Lewisport and different owners of Atlantic wholesalers, so it is surprising that all stories to date revolve around effects on Lewisport and Cartwright [insert puzzled face here], not that there is anything wrong with that.
Since this was announced I have been in contact with all CBC NL programs by e mail, plus spoken to several people in town, the last one being the First Minister of NG. To date nothing of any substance has come out of it. Some may think that time is not of the essence, well it is!
This morning CBC St. John’s had a small piece on the issue, mainly directed to effects on Lewisport. They had a clip of Minister Hickey of WST. Hickey’s words only muddied the waters as to what really goes on with the marine service to Labrador. Mr. Hickey claimed that the ferry service between Lewisport and Cartwright [?] is safe for the next three years. He added that the people on the north coast want the ferry service to stay as is, so they should not worry either. [insert puzzled face here].
So let’s get a bit of perspective and history: First off; ferry in the Labrador service context means a vessel that carries passengers as well as freight. Two are on the runs, mv Sir Robert Bond and the mv Northern Ranger. The Bond does Goose Bay-Cartwright-Lewisport in different configurations. The Ranger does Goose Bay-Cartwright-Black Tickle-Cartwright-all points north to Nain on a weekly basis.
There is also a freight only vessel that does Cartwright –all points north Nain, or it’s supposed to.
The history is; them days all was fairly copasetic with the shipping, with the odd little exception. Then the Province took over the operation, so we are at where we are today.
The road from Cartwright to Blanc Sablon was completed; all hell broke loose with lobbying, political decisions taking precedence over common sense and economics.
First off the Ranger was moved from Lewisport as home port to St. Anthony. The freight still came out of Lewisport, but then with the road to Cartwright the decision was made to bring the freight into Cartwright from theIsland by road and have that local as the distribution point for the North Coast. As well the Ranger was being moved to Cartwright.
All this interference and ridicules decisions had a negative effect on the North Coast.
Retailers were getting shipping quotes up to 800% higher than the previous year.
The Ranger was not going to be operated efficiently out of Cartwright. There was no infrastructure in Cartwright to handle dry or freezer freight.
North Coast made representations to the then minister of WST, who was as stunned as a dead mullet.
As fortune had it the Minister changed, the new minister listened, came to the coast and met with concerned citizens, though reluctantly I heard later. Sanity was maintained to a degree.
What the North Coast asked for then, and still does today is a dedicated freight boat for the NC from Lewisport to Cartwright then all ports north. Better yet it could run out of St. John’s, as it did before being moved to Lewisport, but that was not pushed by NC.
The Ranger was not as important where it left from, but Goose Bay or Lewisport were the preference.
What happened then and what we have today is: Bond picks up freight in Lewisport, drops off NC freight in Cartwright. It then goes to Goose Bay and brings NC freight back to Cartwright. The mv Astron loads the freight for north and away it goes.
This has not been received very well by people in Goose Bay and Cartwright; it is a compromise that pleases none of the users of the marine service.
The Ranger has the configuration as mentioned above. It is under utilized most trips for freight to the NC.
Many things are wrong with the freight configuration. The Astron sites idle for days waiting for the Bond. Only one boat can be at the dock at once. Freight gets lost or stolen, pushed back with fresher freight in front, resulting in delays.
It is impossible for customers to get any tracking from the operators as to where their freight is. Most times you know where it is only when it arrives [hopefully].
The mv Astron runs on a regular schedule all summer, but in the early days of the season it comes in with little freight on board. NC has suggested less frequent runs in those months, nope.
Then in the busy freight months it is total chaos, with little to no rhyme nor reason as to how freight is loaded off loaded.
Granted not all the problems getting freight into the communities lays with WST and the operator. What has been asked for is a site down with the minister and try sort and identify the problems, have people take responsibility if things are not working as they should, who’s on third? That sort of thing.
No meeting to date even though the minister is on record stating that the NC was a priority when he took over the portfolio. Now minister is insisting that NC meet with his staff before meeting with him. Several meetings were scheduled but called off for various reasons. The next try is for the 13 of this month, it’s not a Friday.
It may turn out that the people of the NC will not be affected in an overly negative way, but if we don’t talk about it, and if it is not looked into, how the bloody hell will we know?
That’s it from me, and that’s it from him.
The NLC has a long historical relationship with Lewisport and different owners of Atlantic wholesalers, so it is surprising that all stories to date revolve around effects on Lewisport and Cartwright [insert puzzled face here], not that there is anything wrong with that.
Since this was announced I have been in contact with all CBC NL programs by e mail, plus spoken to several people in town, the last one being the First Minister of NG. To date nothing of any substance has come out of it. Some may think that time is not of the essence, well it is!
This morning CBC St. John’s had a small piece on the issue, mainly directed to effects on Lewisport. They had a clip of Minister Hickey of WST. Hickey’s words only muddied the waters as to what really goes on with the marine service to Labrador. Mr. Hickey claimed that the ferry service between Lewisport and Cartwright [?] is safe for the next three years. He added that the people on the north coast want the ferry service to stay as is, so they should not worry either. [insert puzzled face here].
So let’s get a bit of perspective and history: First off; ferry in the Labrador service context means a vessel that carries passengers as well as freight. Two are on the runs, mv Sir Robert Bond and the mv Northern Ranger. The Bond does Goose Bay-Cartwright-Lewisport in different configurations. The Ranger does Goose Bay-Cartwright-Black Tickle-Cartwright-all points north to Nain on a weekly basis.
There is also a freight only vessel that does Cartwright –all points north Nain, or it’s supposed to.
The history is; them days all was fairly copasetic with the shipping, with the odd little exception. Then the Province took over the operation, so we are at where we are today.
The road from Cartwright to Blanc Sablon was completed; all hell broke loose with lobbying, political decisions taking precedence over common sense and economics.
First off the Ranger was moved from Lewisport as home port to St. Anthony. The freight still came out of Lewisport, but then with the road to Cartwright the decision was made to bring the freight into Cartwright from theIsland by road and have that local as the distribution point for the North Coast. As well the Ranger was being moved to Cartwright.
All this interference and ridicules decisions had a negative effect on the North Coast.
Retailers were getting shipping quotes up to 800% higher than the previous year.
The Ranger was not going to be operated efficiently out of Cartwright. There was no infrastructure in Cartwright to handle dry or freezer freight.
North Coast made representations to the then minister of WST, who was as stunned as a dead mullet.
As fortune had it the Minister changed, the new minister listened, came to the coast and met with concerned citizens, though reluctantly I heard later. Sanity was maintained to a degree.
What the North Coast asked for then, and still does today is a dedicated freight boat for the NC from Lewisport to Cartwright then all ports north. Better yet it could run out of St. John’s, as it did before being moved to Lewisport, but that was not pushed by NC.
The Ranger was not as important where it left from, but Goose Bay or Lewisport were the preference.
What happened then and what we have today is: Bond picks up freight in Lewisport, drops off NC freight in Cartwright. It then goes to Goose Bay and brings NC freight back to Cartwright. The mv Astron loads the freight for north and away it goes.
This has not been received very well by people in Goose Bay and Cartwright; it is a compromise that pleases none of the users of the marine service.
The Ranger has the configuration as mentioned above. It is under utilized most trips for freight to the NC.
Many things are wrong with the freight configuration. The Astron sites idle for days waiting for the Bond. Only one boat can be at the dock at once. Freight gets lost or stolen, pushed back with fresher freight in front, resulting in delays.
It is impossible for customers to get any tracking from the operators as to where their freight is. Most times you know where it is only when it arrives [hopefully].
The mv Astron runs on a regular schedule all summer, but in the early days of the season it comes in with little freight on board. NC has suggested less frequent runs in those months, nope.
Then in the busy freight months it is total chaos, with little to no rhyme nor reason as to how freight is loaded off loaded.
Granted not all the problems getting freight into the communities lays with WST and the operator. What has been asked for is a site down with the minister and try sort and identify the problems, have people take responsibility if things are not working as they should, who’s on third? That sort of thing.
No meeting to date even though the minister is on record stating that the NC was a priority when he took over the portfolio. Now minister is insisting that NC meet with his staff before meeting with him. Several meetings were scheduled but called off for various reasons. The next try is for the 13 of this month, it’s not a Friday.
It may turn out that the people of the NC will not be affected in an overly negative way, but if we don’t talk about it, and if it is not looked into, how the bloody hell will we know?
That’s it from me, and that’s it from him.
Thay are still there.
It was nice to see the stars on arising this morning. Great to see the red hues across the top of the hills as the sun rises too. Of course along with that come the cooler temperatures, -21c but no wind. Hope it lasts for more than one day, forecast says no though.
My lower back is giving me hell last few day’s, all that shoveling and little bit of ridding around on ski doo has taken its toll.
I have been religious in doing my stretching and strengthening exercises, but as the chiropractor said, my spine is a mess. Maybe a trip to Goose Bay for him to straighten it out will be sooner rather than later.
My lower back is giving me hell last few day’s, all that shoveling and little bit of ridding around on ski doo has taken its toll.
I have been religious in doing my stretching and strengthening exercises, but as the chiropractor said, my spine is a mess. Maybe a trip to Goose Bay for him to straighten it out will be sooner rather than later.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
That's not a harbor,
This is a harbour.
All these were taken from my little sister’s new office, or the recreation room of same. I asked how much work gets done now days, no response to date.
Better not say any more, sis works in the legal dept of a government. The s word you know.
Hyper baby.
Looks like I have sorted out the hyper link thingy, it was staring me in the face all this time, you just got’a know what there for eh? Still, I’m not doing too badly for a bloke who up until 10 years ago was not going any where near those bloody things.
Thanks to dogbait down under for piquing my interest, and to Paul who held my hand and guided me to the right place. Paul maintains the OKS page.
This story is starting to garner interest on the island, yet to get any eyes open up this way. I talked to two store managers and two government types yesterday, only one government type had heard the news as of then. One store manager will be following up.
My concern is how this is going to effect consumers on the coast. Atlantic/Lewisport Wholesalers were a big player for the retail segment up here. They will be still able to deal with them out of St.John’s it seems, but that is extra miles by road. I think it may have impacts of a fare reaching aspect than meets the eye too, but will have to work on that more before comment.
Update link to Rideout response.
Thanks to dogbait down under for piquing my interest, and to Paul who held my hand and guided me to the right place. Paul maintains the OKS page.
This story is starting to garner interest on the island, yet to get any eyes open up this way. I talked to two store managers and two government types yesterday, only one government type had heard the news as of then. One store manager will be following up.
My concern is how this is going to effect consumers on the coast. Atlantic/Lewisport Wholesalers were a big player for the retail segment up here. They will be still able to deal with them out of St.John’s it seems, but that is extra miles by road. I think it may have impacts of a fare reaching aspect than meets the eye too, but will have to work on that more before comment.
Update link to Rideout response.
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