Barley Monopoly Again

A judge has struck down the federal government’s proposal to eliminate the monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board on barley exports. The current system has all barley exports brokered through the board on their pricing schedule. You cannot determine the price through normal market discovery, you must be a price taker off the board. This is mind blowing to me because it limits the ability to sell to who you want and for what price. It takes away our control. There is no international arbitrage because the board is the only one that can export grain.

I am amazed that in a country with democracy, free trade and anti-trust laws, we would allow a monopoly without any consideration for normal market functionality. Canadians are smart enough to sell inside the country, but too stupid to sell outside the border? It is a double standard. So why do people support this? Proponents believe the board is the most efficient at getting high prices and the only one with Canadian farmer interests in mind. I really struggle with that logic. When the decision was first made to break up said monopoly, the price of barley increased over 50 cents a bushel in less than a week. If a company screws their customer, they are replaced with someone who doesn’t.

I believe a market functions best with pure competition, no external interference and no oligopolies and monopolies. This is part of Canadian law. Supply and demand determine a price. The government should only function as an intermediary to ensure this can happen and comply with Canadian and International law.

The Canadian Wheat Board is just a player in the international market. The international market place has millions of products traded without government interference, so why would the grain market be any different? If the government wasn’t there, they would be replaced with someone else to arbitrage the market internationally.

As a skeptic of government interference in the marketplace, I often think of a joke I heard not long ago.

What are the 3 biggest lies in the world today? I will respect you in the morning, the cheque is in the mail and I am from the government and here to help! ! !

Nickelback Rocks The Dome!

I am in shock. The concert last night at the dome was one of the top 3 concerts out of at least a 100 that I have attended in my life! Nickelback rocked the house and played a stellar show with all the best songs back to their roots. Playing for the hometown crowd in Calgary (they are from Hanna, AB) is always tough to do, but the most rewarding when they kick that much ass! I could continue, but TARA MERRIN - Sun Media does a great review for Canoe!   If you want a bad review of the concert, head over to The Calgary Herald online as they were less impressed.    I disagree.  

CALGARY - No matter how you feel about Nickelback, you gotta give the Hanna rockers credit for knowing exactly how to please their fans.

Whether it’s putting out yet another slow-at-the-start-heavy-on-the-chorus radio chart-topper or dropping more f-bombs in concert than any other touring band, their formula is working.

They came close to selling out not just one, but two Saddledome shows this week, an astounding feat considering they are still touring on their 2005 CD All The Right Reasons, which brought them through town just last year.

In fact, the latest Nickelback tour is much like the last one and the one before that — a loud, high-energy rock fest right out of Rock Concerts For Dummies.

There were three huge video screens, flash powder, smoke, fireworks, falling sparks, fireballs and, of course, a catwalk off the front of the stage. Basically, if they make it, Nickelback had it.

And, their local devotees loved it!

During the opening pyrotechnic-filled track Animal, frontman Chad Kroeger took time out from singing to ask the crowd, “Are we gonna have a good f-ing time?” According to the response of deafening screams and whistlers, we were.

From there, the concertgoers ate up everything the band baby-fed them from their catalogue of hits.

Among them was the metal offering Because of You, the cheese-topped Photograph, the easy-to-swallow Far Away and the sing-along desert Rock Star.

Standout moments, offering a break from the predictable tunes, included a touching performance of If Everyone Cared, which played as images of Nelson Mandela flashed on the screen, and a Kid Rock-less cover of Elton John’s Saturday Night’s Alright.

Then, if everyone wasn’t having enough junior high fun already, Nickelback broke out the air cannons and shot merchandise into the bleachers.

Much like the rest of the show, the rock star cliche was encouraged by the room, which roared, howled, shrieked and yelped for every confection in Nickelback’s bag of sugary treats.

Vancouver-based State of Shock and Missouri’s Puddle Of Mudd started the whole thing off with well-received short sets before former American Idol-turned-rock-star Chris Daughtry took the stage.

The bald, buff singer was greeted by high-pitched screams, normally reserved for well-marketed boy bands and George Clooney.

He seemed to revel in the attention, playing the part of a modern-day heartthrob to a tee with his over-sexed slow stage moves and gradual striptease down to a tank top.

Much like Nickelback, Daughtry knows how to play to the masses.

The band’s debut is the best-selling CD of 2007 and it was clear from the hundreds of voices singing along to set highlights It’s Not Over and Home, many at the ‘Dome have it in their collection.

The challenge is getting people to buy the next one and that is where Daughtry may fail. His stage show needs work as it comes across looking like his just going through the motions.

What Happened To Mad Mag Guy?

Little bit off color, but a funny one none the same:)

Power Plant Lake!

Most people go to the lake and it is one that has been around forever! Not my lake! It is man made and used in the process of generating power from the local coal plant. That is why it is a great lake because the water temperature is always higher than any other lake that I frequent! We had a great day there today!

Ok, I put in a photo of Maguire and I buried in sand. Way too fun! On a related note, it was 35 degrees C there today and we will hit 40 tomorrow. Yikes!

All Heart - Wendel Clark Tribute

I grew up in Canada. I grew up with hockey. It is a passion of mine and part of shaping who I am today. One player that I always loved growing up was Wendel Clark as he was one of the hardest working players in the league. This man was all heart. He played the game with spirit, never quit, never backed down and was amazing to watch each and every single game.

Not many people know this, but Wendel was a good Saskatchewan boy that ended up in Notre Dame, a place that I also attended for a brief period. Wendel was tough and I know from experience that Notre Dame would have helped fuel this as I was in more fights at that place than I care to admit.

While I know that I am really making my buddy Todd Munro happy with a post about a Toronto Maple Leaf player, the inspiration really was from Dallas Grant and good old Wendel himself. Found a video that sums it up for all you Wendel fans.

This video shows hockey violence and is not for the weak of heart or those who do not care for hockey violence!

Disclosure gone, this video is simply all that is our #17 and properly titled “All Heart“. Enjoy!

Wicked Storm Last Night!

We had one of the strongest storms that I have ever witnessed last night including 1/2 inch of rain in 15 minutes with ping pong ball sized hail and strong winds! I have a couple of photos of my place after the 1st of 2 storms that hit and some other photos alongside that monster!

It was a wicked storm and we might get another tonight as it is 34 degrees again and they are calling for it again in Drumheller area!

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