tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post9104480390885420368..comments2023-10-25T07:29:40.789-02:30Comments on UNCLE GNARLEY: LIBERAL PARTY WILL IGNORE THE ABACUS POLL AT THEIR PERILDes Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02566013585647491614noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-14053630101216901352018-06-11T05:39:34.687-02:302018-06-11T05:39:34.687-02:30tax on gas here goes to general revenues and is no...tax on gas here goes to general revenues and is not EARMARKED for roads like in other provinces. It used to be until I think Clyde Wells, but I could be wrong. The problem stemmed from the fact that there were not enough gas sales to go handy to the roads bills each year; again our small population is our petard; MF would be tolerable if there were say 6 or 8 million of us.Tor Fosnaeshttp://mobilewords.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-16084124772916982662018-06-10T10:50:54.208-02:302018-06-10T10:50:54.208-02:30Tongue in cheek; Ford got the vote based on the su...Tongue in cheek; Ford got the vote based on the suburban commuters wanting no options to more traffic lanes and expressways. I am assuming that Ches and the boys will offer up $ beer, no carbon tax, firing Stan type issues to appeal to the suburban vote. Remember when John lost the Clark government with the 18c gas increase. Father teaches sonRobert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-66087673034177534482018-06-10T09:44:06.988-02:302018-06-10T09:44:06.988-02:30Robert:
A 10 cent roll back on gas taxes? Maybe y...Robert:<br />A 10 cent roll back on gas taxes? Maybe you could enlighten us as to just how we are going to pay for road maintenance, repairs and construction with a 10 cent reduction in the gasoline tax? Oh I see now. Just like Newfoundland and Muskrat Falls and Ontario we will borrow the money and let another generation worry about paying it back. Time for a reality check on these matters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-42314592439942230302018-06-09T17:11:07.040-02:302018-06-09T17:11:07.040-02:30A few more words on Heracles shallow knowledge of ...A few more words on Heracles shallow knowledge of history: in Hitler`s Germany, many of the elites left, not with their assets, but with just the clothes on their backs. Many of those who remained, and deemed hostile to Hitler, had their assets stolen by the state, and many their lives lost.<br /> As to German engineering, they are a country highly regarded for engineering ability. But about 1943, there is film footage of Goebels addressing the industrial elites in a large hall. At that time Germany was feeling the consequences of long range bombing of their cities, and the Americans building up capacity, much going through Nfld , Gander and Goose bay airports, the Ferry Command flying bombers to Europe. And here is Goobels addressing the captains of the Germany military industrial group, saying Germany now needs to go to a total war footing. And most remarkable to see that crowd clap and cheer, as they must have known judgement day was coming. And they comprised thousands of engineers in their companies, yet those in that hall all cheered and applauded. Surely there short term profits was at the heart of it. Yet not that different from the engineers in the USA at Boeing and Ford and GM who went totally to military production. But German engineering was exceptional, as in the case of the design of chambers for burning human bodies, those from the gas chambers. In the engineering evaluations , it was determined that the fat content of the dead bodies, which had little fat, nevertheless if the temperatures could get high enough, that fat would be much of the fuel for the process. And so the engineering plans were developed and put into construction. Not sure if German engineers had the iron ring and the ethical and moral codes that the profession likes to promote here in Canada. <br /> So Heracles, blame the politician here as the primary cause of the boondoggle, but as to scapegoats, engineers with the power companies should not get a pass. Construction companies, unions etc, wanted profits, but only the power engineer class knew the risk of failure. They kept quiet, except for chats over a coffey, keeping their head low, and their wallet full, as their duty, says Peng2, was solely to the authority handing out their pay cheque. Duty to their province, their children and grandchildren, or to democracy here, was filed in a separate compartment, same place they filed the SNC risk report.<br /> So says Pale Face, so says Poker Face, so says PF. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-7533105179321017852018-06-09T09:43:06.062-02:302018-06-09T09:43:06.062-02:30Anom @ 12:36
Why stop with drugs? Why don't y...Anom @ 12:36<br />Why stop with drugs? Why don't you include alcohol in your abusive substance free zone?<br /><br />Anom @ 15:41<br />If you think every opioid that is prescribed by doctors is necessary then you are sadly misinformed. Like penicillin for a head cold much of the opioids prescribed are at the patients demand and not at a per need basis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-71252962449410882612018-06-09T09:31:27.023-02:302018-06-09T09:31:27.023-02:30Heracles:
The engineering community is just like t...Heracles:<br />The engineering community is just like the political community which is just like the construction industry which is just like the construction unions. None of these groups spoke out and questioned MF's when it was sanctioned because either through wages, contracts or votes all of them gambled they would gain big time if the project proceeded.<br />We are all complicent in the MF's disaster but the above groups more so than all others because they had only their self, short term mega project gains to consider and the future consequences be damned-pardon the pun. Whether you want to hear it or not, trying to build an economy solely around large construction projects in NL has been a complete disaster. Our history since WWII is littered with failed schemes that didn't and never will make economic sense from the UC , Labrador Linerboard, Come by Chance, dozens of fish plants, wharves and such to the Sprung greenhouse, GBS systems and now Muskrat Falls. Until we let private enterprise take the sole risk and only private enterprise finance, plan, invest and build these projects with their money nothing will ever change. We will never learn as there is already plans to build a tunnel across the straits something which will cost us dearly unless the very idea is scrapped right now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-50592501393786501972018-06-09T08:27:55.132-02:302018-06-09T08:27:55.132-02:30Hercules and PF, a spirited, forceful, and rationa...Hercules and PF, a spirited, forceful, and rational argument you both advance. To make the Hitler comparison is probably not the right context to discuss entirely, since we live in a normal western democracy. Others may question that, especially in the first decade if this century, so it is our democracy that we should be defending and then hopefully logic and rational will prevail. Two pillars of our democracy are the free press and a political opposition. In that decade both were weak, compared to the government of the day, and the balance is gradually being restored between government and oppositions. But the press remains weak, due to those who control it. Having said that, how would that affect muskrat. Well as we know muskrat was a political decision, all the way, not based on economics, technical, or legal. So our political system failed us. Engineers, like Peng2, some contractors, and SNC, should have had an outlet to not just side with nalcor and the govt. but also to provide the information to the the opposition parties, either up fron or by leaks, and this is where the press plays a role, to be in the know. The best know democracy, the USA would have become an autocratic system in the past two years, if it were not for the free press and the justice system and their willingness to do their job. Did we have a strong justice minister and system during that decade??? At one point the govt. wanted to do away with the justice minister, and at one point the Justice minister was an unelected minister, and another time, with just one year education beyond high school. The SNC report should not have been berried, the press should have had it, the opposition parties should have had it, along with reports from dissenting engineers and others. And if the opposition was worth their salt, they should have fought toot and nail against muskrat. The two previous election should have been a referendum on muskrat. To sanction or not to sanction, should have been the question. After the election Dunderdale claimed her election was a referendum on muskrat, though it was hardly mentioned in the election. Ball should have made it an election issue in the last election, to hault or proceed. So when our two pillars of democracy, the free press, and her loyal opposition fail us, then bad things like boondoggles happen, says Joe blow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-84906676316328485692018-06-09T01:04:47.297-02:302018-06-09T01:04:47.297-02:30Interesting comparison to Germany under Hitler , H...Interesting comparison to Germany under Hitler , Heracles, but:<br />1. the problem in Germany was that too many endorsed Hitler, too few opposed. Yes some elites left, and Germany did not want those that opposed Hitler. You want not likely survive if you did oppose. And the economy improved greatly under Hitler for 5 years and more, until war that eventually meant doom for them.<br />There was tremendous engineering capability and results for years. Your frog and ox story don apply , as Germany became an ox, such that it took a large alliance to defeat them. <br /> And so, how many German engineers spoke out against Hitler and his war machine, on seeing the big picture, where this would lead to Germany destruction. German industry were all onside with Hitler, they profited form it. And like Nalcor engineers, said nothing to show the dangers of the path taken.<br /> You make excuses for engineers that Peng2 says saw the big picture, and stayed silent. So they enabled the boondoggle. Could the boondoggle MF be worse. SNC presented the risks which were ignored. Nalcor too knew the risks and their engineers kept quiet, least the boondoggle be a bigger boondoggle, or to keep a cushy job that paid well, and no concern of bankruptcy of the province. Failure was obvious, both technical and economic, more so than the legal you mention.<br /> Is not 17 percent the minimum flow for a very dry year, and not the flow usually encountered. The average flow would permit shutting Holyrood fossil fuel plant or minimum need of Holyrood, so you are misrepresenting the data, I suggest. <br />PFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-41652160015679742362018-06-08T20:17:22.976-02:302018-06-08T20:17:22.976-02:30Hi PF,
Here is what I can tell you: I am an engin...Hi PF,<br /><br />Here is what I can tell you: I am an engineer and I lost / quitted many jobs because of my integrity. Unfortunately, such a level of integrity is not common, not matter one is an engineer or any other kind of professionnal.<br /><br />The second element is how much of the complete picture did these guys had ? To be aware that a project will fail at technical level and that cost overrun will be unavoidable is one thing. To measure the full impact of that is another.<br /><br />How much of a cost overrun will that thing be at then end and not just on the specific point the engineer is working on ? What are the financial and legal agreements about this and that ? Were these people re-assured that their concerns were known and addressed in some non-technical way ?<br /><br />I did let some projects fail. At the beginning of a project, it was clear to me that this was nothing but a gigantic failure. I told the client and wrote a report about it. The client chose to go with it despite my warning. A year after, when he tried to build on his project, he realized he could not. He complained about it and we gave him a copy of the e-mail and report we sent him a year ago telling him all about it. The client was not happy, but we were cleared.<br /><br />That project did not had the consequence of MF. A big compagny ended up loosing a few hundreds thousands dollars.<br /><br />About MF, the biggest point, and by a gigantic margin, is the water management. Without it, MF can not sell more than 17% of its capacity because whatever else it will produce will not be controlled or reliable. That point is 100% legal, not technical. That point was raised by actual lawyers and it was dismissed by everyone.<br /><br />So how much more could these engineers have done at that time ? Not sure, but probably not much more than the lawyers trying to have a clear legal agreement before putting money in the project.<br /><br />The second giganic point is the commercial value of the electricity and elasticity. Again, these are not technical and are not specifically linked with engineering. Again, these points were mentioned by others but were dismissed.<br /><br />At the end, my opnion is that the engineers are not the main responsible for that.<br /><br />Last point I will give you is a comparison with a part of history. When Adolf Hitler and his crazy ideas started gaining power and utlimately ended up in control of Germany, the elite of Germany left, They protected their own lives and assets and thought that by leaving him alone, Hitler's government would quickly brake down. Unfortunately, once the elite left, there was no more resistance to Hitler and by definition, the ones present in Germany at that time were unable to understand or act against him. By leaving, the elite just made Hitler more powerful instead of weakening him.<br /><br />So for these engineers involved in MF, what was their best choice to have a chance to fix or improve things : to leave or to stay ?<br /><br />At the end, I do not think engineers and technical people involved in MF are the main culprit and I think they should not end up the scapegoat.Heracles31https://www.blogger.com/profile/04598467925778515764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-36701428683457854352018-06-08T15:19:45.513-02:302018-06-08T15:19:45.513-02:30Just up the river from here, we need a carbon suck...Just up the river from here, we need a carbon sucker or two;<br /><br />http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sparwood-teck-coal-mine-1.4696904Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-9406150466010786142018-06-08T15:16:21.628-02:302018-06-08T15:16:21.628-02:30Just checked;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritua...Just checked;<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritual_of_the_Calling_of_an_Engineer<br /><br />MUN is still listed. Maybe the Inquiry should start out with first principles and get the Lawyers, MBAs, Project Managers, Deputy Ministers, Ministers, etc. to swear their respective Oaths of Fealty, before hearing testimony. <br /><br />Clear the air so to speak. Cut out the lies, prefabrication, obfuscation. eh wot?Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-89175822671939544072018-06-08T14:44:06.544-02:302018-06-08T14:44:06.544-02:30No one commented on Peng2 excuse that he and his ...No one commented on Peng2 excuse that he and his fellow engineers at Naclor, who know and understood the false assumptions for the MF case, kept silent, saying it was not their duty to speak up and go public or as anonymous source to the media. Their duty was only to Nalcor: ours is but do and die, not to ask why!<br /> Now if you are an engineer with Nfld Hydro or Nfld Power, does the same logic apply. Are you under obligation under the Power Authority act to advocate for least cost power, and expose the boondoggle in the making....<br /> And what about when Dunderdale is preaching from the the House of anyone with knowledge of why MF was not the best option, to come forward, is Peng2 or other engineers still bound by their duty to the employer to stay under their cone of silence, or to do their duty to their fellow man, even if it might impact them financially, due to retribution by Dunderdale <br /> Is this just ethics and morality or a matter of contract law that Peng2 uses for his defense, pray tell us.<br />PF Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-21208839498702481882018-06-08T13:47:39.417-02:302018-06-08T13:47:39.417-02:30Meanwhile, the former PC Premier, (Brian), is ecst...Meanwhile, the former PC Premier, (Brian), is ecstatic and all in Dougie/Donny. Now if the alternative government could only clone these populists. Maybe a 10cent rollback on carbon tax might bring a few more votes from the elites! What do the commuters from CB think?Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-834644777483968872018-06-08T13:02:26.929-02:302018-06-08T13:02:26.929-02:30The Ontario Conservative sweep back into majority,...The Ontario Conservative sweep back into majority, (40%), is ominous for the "static" Liberals. Progressive voters wilted and did not show up to vote." You get what you pay for". "You get the government you deserve". NL seems committed to this unenlightened trend. Too bad.Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-56039173196867055832018-06-08T06:14:57.801-02:302018-06-08T06:14:57.801-02:30The sad part is that the rest of the world is look...The sad part is that the rest of the world is looking at ways to divest from conventional electricity generation methods and fuel types.<br /><br />https://renewablesnow.com/news/genesys-gets-us-patent-for-hybrid-solarhydrogen-technology-615603/<br /><br />http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-company-says-it-is-sucking-carbon-from-air-making-fuel-1.4696817Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-85338956605198637492018-06-08T06:11:32.348-02:302018-06-08T06:11:32.348-02:30Anom @ 15:33
It would be money that we would have ...Anom @ 15:33<br />It would be money that we would have if it wasn't Wasted on hydro Dams and GBS systems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-11168446095332204072018-06-07T12:15:09.048-02:302018-06-07T12:15:09.048-02:30And to add insult to injury, we have to pay $33 mi...And to add insult to injury, we have to pay $33 million so their lawyer friends can give them a stage from which to exonerate themselves on the provincial news programs during the inquiry. As the Kristoferson song goes, shifting their share of the blame....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-49512294990464649462018-06-07T10:57:44.840-02:302018-06-07T10:57:44.840-02:30On a political note, which I usually don't com...On a political note, which I usually don't comment much on, but just checked vocm straw pole vote, and of course the Abacus poll, and both indicate that if an election were held today, the PC's would win. Not from any party preference, but from a rational, logical prospective, I would like to see them win. Since they are the party mainly responsible for the boondoggle, then they should also be the party to deal with the fincincial situation of the province. And if we were to have our drudders as a province, I would like to see Dannie back as premier, Cathie as natural resource minister, Marshall as finance minister, you get my drift, the very same cabinet members and all MHA's in the same position as when they put forward muskrat, along with Eddie as CEO of the boondoggle, and let the buggers deal with it. They got us in the mess, now let them sweat, and crow how to get us out. No instead, they retire to luxury in Florida, and elsewhere, hide in the shadows, and accept no responsibility for their actions, where as we the people, and those unborn have to pay for their misdeeds. If you or I go bankrupt we can't just retire from it, and accept no responsibility, we have to stand up like a man and face the music. Why should it be any difference for those buggers, says Joe blow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-77210698448544437112018-06-07T09:13:44.460-02:302018-06-07T09:13:44.460-02:30Thank you Hercules, for the explanation again, app...Thank you Hercules, for the explanation again, appreciate it. And guess the fact that the Supreme Court published it's release on it's website, is proof that it has made a decision. And will not disagree with your assertion that the parties are holding up the release pending any negioations. Thanks again. AJ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-52114050092544437052018-06-07T01:23:56.986-02:302018-06-07T01:23:56.986-02:30Hi AJ,
The court is ready to release the judgemen...Hi AJ,<br /><br />The court is ready to release the judgement and have no reason or point holding it. The parties are the ones with an interest to hold the judgement.<br /><br />Once the judgement was ready in February, the court asked the parties for a special kind of release. Both parties responded and provided the signatures required for that release. They got all their signatures within 2 weeks and first half of March, everything was ready. That information is from the Supreme Court register about the case between CFLCo and HQ, Case No 37238, published on Supreme Court's website.<br /><br />In the domain of law and justice, a principle says that the worst mutual agreement worths more than the best of judgement. This is a reminder for all parties that a mutual agreement is always to be favored. As such, despite the history, previous judgements and the audience are so clearly in favor of HQ, that principle reminds them that a mutual agreement is still better than the expected judgement. As for CFLCo, seeing how unimpressed the judges were, negotiation is clearly an option for them too.<br /><br />In the past, the Water Reversion Act went up to the Supreme Court. On that one too the parties asked for the judgement to be hold for negotiation time. After a while, Newfoundland refused to let go anything and so the parties asked for the judgement. Newfoundland lost everything / HQ got exactly what they expected.<br /><br />It is similar here.<br /><br />So the ones with the capability, reason and interest for the judgement to be hold back are the parties and no one else. They did it in the past, so no reason not to do it again. <br /><br />Considering there is also a another case in Qc's Court of Appeal and the mega-fiasco of MF for which Newfoundland will need HQ's help, there is definitely a ton of things to negotiate here, so no surprise they do it.<br /><br />So that is why I am so certain about the situation...<br /><br />Always nice to speak with you,Heracles31https://www.blogger.com/profile/04598467925778515764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-17564467981413659862018-06-06T21:49:02.303-02:302018-06-06T21:49:02.303-02:30Hi Hercules , why are you so certain that the hold...Hi Hercules , why are you so certain that the hold up is at the request of the parties, rather than the court itself. First of all I am not challenging you on that point, as I have vary little familiarity with the workings of courts in general and especially the SCC, but by you saying that, it suggest you know, or the court has in some way to say what is holding their decision from being handed down or releasing it to the parties or the public. So, I am just asking the question, why is it being delayed on purpose, and is it for the purpose of the parties, or that it is just the normal workings of the highest court in the land. Or is your comment, fact, or fiction, or an educated guess. Thanks, AJ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-58274416313302062952018-06-06T21:04:20.878-02:302018-06-06T21:04:20.878-02:30Hi Winston,
I did not post during last days becau...Hi Winston,<br /><br />I did not post during last days because I had nothing to add to the discussion... How a politician is doing for this or that, I leave that to others.<br /><br />My position about efficiency and heat pump is that as good as they can be in a regular situation, as bad they are in the context of MF. The loan guarantees are with a take or pay basis, the same kind that HQ had with the 1969 power contract. So its too late not to take that power (ie: save it thanks to efficiency and heat pump) because even if you don't take it, you have to pay for it. That's why to pay for increased efficiency is just shooting yourself in the foot. You pay more, whatever you pay for the efficiency, and 100% of MF either by take or pay.<br /><br />Only once a bailout and a long term plan is defined that efficiency can be considered again. Until that, no point to pay any dollars that will reduce the power taken from MF because whatever is not taken must be paid for anyway. So without a bailout, just pay for the power. It will cost less than power + efficiency.<br /><br />On a side note, I still monitor for the release of Supreme Court decision and still no sign about it. It is delayed on purpose, at the request of the parties, for them to negotiate. But how they progress / how close to a deal / in what direction, that I don't know.Heracles31https://www.blogger.com/profile/04598467925778515764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-72320508524168726952018-06-06T15:41:41.467-02:302018-06-06T15:41:41.467-02:30Yes, anon: 14:53 exactly the response I was expect...Yes, anon: 14:53 exactly the response I was expecting ...a real cop out, as dept of Justice, RNC, RCMP, druggies, sellers, you name them, Would have the same response. Blame the system, especially the doctors, etc. Like saying, why should I go to church, that's where the biggest offenders of the law are. I suspect a lot of those with broken arms or operations have been dabbling in those drugs long before they had to go for other medical services, so jump with glee when the dr. Gives them or the prescription free of charge. I have been in hospitals, and know lots of others too, that have not turned into druggies because of the dr. Orders. Now on the other hand you are probably right in some cases for those who may have chronic pain. As you claim that is where the druggies come from in this province would you make the same claim, from Vancouver to Halifax, or New York to LA. If so guess you are saying the world wide drug problem is caused by medical doctors. Well, really enlightening, says average Joe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-32992300450140339742018-06-06T14:58:46.294-02:302018-06-06T14:58:46.294-02:30What is the situation on salmon migration on Lower...What is the situation on salmon migration on Lower Churchill?<br /><br />A re-think on the Columbia River Treaty is pointing out the flaw in calling Hydro generation "renewable"<br /><br />http://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-5Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-80073210156095388582018-06-06T14:53:17.222-02:302018-06-06T14:53:17.222-02:30Anom @ 12:36
Actually it is the Doctors who are ov...Anom @ 12:36<br />Actually it is the Doctors who are over prescribing prescription opioid drugs such as oxycontin and such that are causing most of the problems. Patients take these for a broken arm or after an operation and guess what? They are hooked for life and when the doctor refuses a prescription renewal they turn to the street to satisfy there cravings. Sometimes a little pain goes along way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com