tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65734572011-04-21T23:02:29.293-06:00"The problem [...] is that people were sick and hungry not because of global shortages but because of wars and dictators." Peter Pringle, <i>Food Inc.</i>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.comBlogger1931100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-50270587737918328312007-12-20T13:32:00.001-07:002007-12-20T13:34:22.568-07:00

Somtetime, I just feel like givint up. I havn't yet but I would really like to.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1134961671335192212005-12-18T20:06:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:50.605-06:00

A groan of tedium escapes me, startling the fearful.Is this a test?It has to be. otherwise I can't go on.Draining patience. drain vitality.This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act’s a little old.But I'm still right here, giving blood and keeping faith. and I'm still rightHere.But I'm still right here, giving blood and keeping faith. and I'm still rightHere.I'm gonna wait it outIf there were no

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1133684575912785042005-12-04T01:15:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:50.517-06:00

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/13316677.htmThere is something very scary going on in the US right now. In addition, there is the intelligent design in the school system issue. For anyone who has studied history, the arguements are frighteningly ironic. The academic method is under serious attack from the political method. I fear that we may see the death of liberalism in our lifetimes.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1129101358418849752005-10-12T01:14:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:50.426-06:00

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1126027855401404332005-09-06T10:44:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:50.344-06:00

At the front of the 'City' section in today's Edmonton Journal is an article on the U of A's 'Fresh Start' program. The program is designed for students that "[...]suffer from deep depression that jeopardizes their academics[...]", "students [...] enrolled in programs their parents chose, but have no passion for the classes", and students "[...]who may have been cut off financially and

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1125136252677027752005-08-27T03:39:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:50.253-06:00

This is why sometimes, I fear to write. Stories are never complete. Always, something is happening, something is changing. Things happen which change the whole dynamic; the scope is changed; the context is changed. And, there is that added complication.People sometimes read this page. Yet, I am unable to provide a cohesive view. The entries are sporadic and inconsistent. Everything is always

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1124959686333664252005-08-25T02:42:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:50.173-06:00

What am I going to do?Seriously, if things continue like this, the only thing I will be able to write is harlequin romance. Maybe if that other dutch girl, the french one, could tell me what happened, then I would have learned something; then, I would forgoe making the same mistakes.I feel a vague sense of history repeating itself. At least I've learned some self control; other things are very

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1124475808899452552005-08-19T12:21:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:50.095-06:00

It is a beautiful day today; the five-day forcast has only good things to say; I'll be in the mountains--don't call for a week.Peace.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1124389344428827832005-08-18T11:43:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:50.011-06:00

Let's clear some things up. Firstly, there seems to be a strong emotional attachement by most people to the word "monopoly". For many, it conjures the image of a bunch of overweight men in three-piece suits, smoking Romeo Y Juliettas around a dark oak table, counting stacks of cash, laughing smugly amongst themselves at the expense of the working people. For me, a graduate of economics, the word

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1124346526627044892005-08-18T00:27:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.933-06:00

Conceptually, the code is getting better. The idea is to reduce the number of page-loads required to view one site, yet still organize things in some intuitive fashion, with style.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1124271025595613412005-08-17T03:26:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.781-06:00

I left work early today. "No, no," I told Byron, "I can't party with you guys tonight--I'm going home to get some sleep."Instead, I've been playing around with CSS since I got home. The code is definately not elegant; more of a mishmash from different sources.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1124174386934484292005-08-16T00:37:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.704-06:00

Frankly, I'm surprised they even pay us. We basically hang out in a very fancy house all day.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1124172889139891812005-08-16T00:13:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.629-06:00

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1124172791602613072005-08-16T00:11:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.549-06:00

I'll be the first to admit it: Jeeps are a lot of fun.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1124172609524636402005-08-16T00:07:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.450-06:00

"I was bored and I couldn't get chicks. Basically, I've killed two birds with one stone." --Jeff Hartford

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1123753015329476612005-08-11T03:28:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.364-06:00

What is with these dutch girls anyway? Smart and beautiful with such lust for life. This one, at least, has no fear of being discovered. And,"I can't promise anything about the future. Well, anythig except this: I will cherish your memory, regardless of what may come."Wow. She called me this morning, merely to wish me 'good morning' and 'have a great day'. She moves me. Truly.Tap tap tap on her

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1123435962808362932005-08-07T11:32:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.292-06:00

For pics of some of the thinngs I've been up to, visit: http://www.jagare.myphotoalbum.com

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1123435436271140582005-08-07T05:18:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.220-06:00

"What we are about to do is not a sin. Oh, but it should be."And, sometimes, words fail altogether.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1122543260019710582005-07-28T03:30:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.135-06:00

It rained fantastic this morning. My condolences to anyone who did not get an oppertunity to get out and enjoy it. Grass is wonderful to run on while it is raining that hard; its like running on moss.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1122285359593907522005-07-25T03:20:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:49.058-06:00

My conception is malformed and incomplete. My understanding of the methods and rules is a matter of conjecture. Further, my faith is a dim bulb shrouded by cynicism. Yet, I want to believe in magic. I need to know that there is something more powerful than myself; for, I am weak. My hands are the same as all others I have seen.I ask for the will to pursue higher ambitions. I ask for the strength

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1122200651010163812005-07-24T04:23:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.983-06:00

If you are a telus client, you will not be able to view this site:Voices for Change

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1122149620015720182005-07-23T14:10:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.913-06:00

"The pursuit of truth is what keeps us from pursuing each other." -James H. Billington, National Geographic, July 2005.Apologies for the lack of posting recently. There is not even much to update on. And now, off to work!

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1120933351697829612005-07-09T12:21:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.842-06:00

Blogger now supports image posting natively!!!!

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1120930866167007782005-07-09T11:09:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.745-06:00

Not twenty minutes ago, a girl had offered to be my wife. Oh dear.Ladies, relax. I know that there is some preconception of a magical age for women. I have heard it a thousand times before: "I plan to be married by 25 and have three childeren," or some other such nonsense which supposes some similar constraints. This is the worst thing that one could think to oneself.Firstly, if I were to choose

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1120877508209373642005-07-08T20:50:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.670-06:00

I have decided that this website exists for one explicit purpose, as "an altar to my humble id." I like that.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1120501932205672702005-07-04T12:27:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.587-06:00

>Yes, I have replaced my brake pads; no, I am not using these ones. My uncle suggested, though, that I keep them in my toolbox as a reminder.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1120501632213342332005-07-04T12:25:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.516-06:00

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1120460353607126892005-07-04T00:57:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.420-06:00

Make it a goal to learn as much as possible about as many things as possible. Firstly, I think learning how to use nuchucks would be pretty cool. It seems all that is really learned in school is how to learn things through independent study. This is a valuable skill and I mean to employ it. Also, if you find that I am posting rather infrequently, consider this: it is beautiful outside--why are

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1120319993258726732005-07-02T09:59:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.349-06:00

To my beifit in the job market, it seems that no one outside academia understands the difference between bussiness and economics.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1120286978433761592005-07-02T00:46:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.275-06:00

My friend always said, "be nice to pretty girls and be tolerant of their whims." At this point, I could care less: there are a tonne of pretty girls in this world, many nice ones, too. It's not worth my time to adjust myself and accomodate you just because you're pretty: there's got to be something more.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1120286789673533482005-07-02T00:45:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.201-06:00

Someone handed me a novel lense today. Very interesting. My worldview is changing.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1120286719107135692005-07-02T00:44:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.127-06:00

"and what I really want is a soulmate--someone else to catch this drift"

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1118865205949622322005-06-15T13:34:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:48.051-06:00

The heavens open up. Flashes of lightening illuminate, briefly, tendrils of blue cloud. Between each flash, blackness. Then another blinding flash. Thick pearls of water soak through my windbeaker--I am dampened to the core. There is no thunder, merely the pittering of some distant applause.It was far too dangerous to drive home last night. I stayed at a friend's house in the country. A sticker

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1118772574209502752005-06-14T12:07:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.975-06:00

Consider that I would not expend enough energy in my entire lifetime to accout for what is required for my daily commute.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1118565002920045372005-06-12T02:24:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.901-06:00

I got the oddest spam the other day:Mr. Clarke played the King all evening as though under constant fear that someone else was about to play the Ace. I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.Accidents, try to change them -- it's impossible. The accidental reveals man.Our hours in love have wings in absence, crutches. http://oc9c89.com/jik/ana/ti.html We become

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1118512835596497062005-06-11T11:58:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.811-06:00

Now that's a motorbike.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1118469777351099962005-06-10T23:59:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.714-06:00

Moments after seeing Egwene, Haydn had claimed her for himself.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1118461425643554162005-06-10T21:42:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.619-06:00

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1118449806831524612005-06-10T18:27:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.532-06:00

Ten dollars from Gordon Price: she's all I ever wanted in a harmonica.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1118303685966008502005-06-09T01:53:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.442-06:00

I'm losing my fingerprints; there is no overtime pay great enough, nor stretch of highway long enough to suite me.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1118225745559840772005-06-08T04:14:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.342-06:00

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1117438185014786902005-05-30T01:19:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.258-06:00

And people tell me many stories. Oh, there is job x which makes such and such amount of dollars and provides with y vacation days every year. Money made from job x will be used to purchase as much of index N as possible while maximizing l. The males all tell me how they will be attracting all sorts of females (procuring all sorts of seed) with their N. The females tell me all sorts of stories in

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1117437481583647232005-05-30T01:09:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.178-06:00

From what does one draw his inspiration? Those things that surround, whatever is handy, can stimulate much. It seems, though, that there is an overabundance of stimulants--far too much to meld into novel creation coherently. Great thoughts, I think, can be gotten through passive contemplation of natural phenomenon. What would be the option value for lost human creative powers by destruction of

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1117007502894665772005-05-25T01:45:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:47.097-06:00

I have been trying to adjust the layout on this page. Mostly, I have ported a direct incantation of Fathima Cader's template to Blogger. I am still somewhat unsatisfied.The cooler aspects of her code (categories, search functionality, random sidebar links) are a little beyond the scope of blogger's capabilities. But, I do like the style. It would be neat, though, if there were some way to set the

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1116527647483881382005-05-19T12:32:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:46.319-06:00

All the news sources have been proclaiming that people had to wait upwards of twelve hours to get in to se Star Wars Episode Three. I arrived at the theatre three minutes late and it was virtually vacant. Good film, though. Yoda is still my favorite character.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1116188202637629762005-05-15T14:14:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:46.248-06:00

The graduating class of Advanced Natural Resource Management 2005. Much respect to Dr. Gordon Lee (the guy in white). I'm the one in the grey T-shirt.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1116094682448521592005-05-14T12:16:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:46.174-06:00

It seems that at every corner someone is trying to sell you a world view; I like this one.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1115842487194797922005-05-11T14:10:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:46.103-06:00

I think that--Suzuki must feeloverwhelmed at timessigning posing speakingacknowledging himself as a living icona name that sells books and ticketsmaking it for noble causeslong past finding intimate recognition past making a namenowselling it for the next generationto make theirs

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1115674229007644822005-05-09T15:29:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:46.026-06:00

Currently, I am uncomfortable in my own skin. I will take steps to remedy this. Unrelated, pictures follow soon; once again, i have bright blue hair.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1113622336533167702005-04-15T21:31:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:45.948-06:00

I did promise a new post; sadly, I have decided not to put it up here. You will recieve an email on April 28.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1113505599385863072005-04-14T12:59:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:45.803-06:00

Spring has sprung and love is in the air. The clichés are out in full force as people stuble about with phermones cranked, attempting to overcome those pre-programmed biological urges to procreate in favour of more rational ambitions such as exam season. The air is crisp; it snowed this mornning--now, only spattles (not a real word) of rain.I do have some stories to share. But, telling them now

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1113112348035695502005-04-09T23:52:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:45.629-06:00

"My equivalent of a world with no hope is one where no being stands to defend the truth."

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1113067505692125662005-04-09T11:25:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:45.490-06:00

Queen's Journal - Rewind: Black History Month—and me ^This is very keen^. In fact, Thompson's lens could be applied to a great many other things; we'll come back to this later.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1112820198256451682005-04-06T14:32:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:45.419-06:00

I have so much work to do. I have barely started. No, in fact I have over thirty pages written for this one 12-page paper; but it is mostly complete, undadulterated garbage. I should be working on it right now since it is due on Friday, but I can't seem to pull anything together.The other day at the train station, Stella looked up at me, "I'm in love," she said. "Except, the object of my

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1112593239149222612005-04-03T23:40:00.000-06:002006-10-28T11:41:45.349-06:00

99ROOMS

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1112483306259777622005-04-02T16:02:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:45.274-06:00

I picked up this book at the library while doing some research. I was carousing the greats: "Evolution of Corn Hybrids for Alberta"; "Population and Food Supply"; "A profile of Alberta Farm Operators and Their Farms"; "Agricultural Value-Added Development in Northern Alberta". Fumbling around for "HB 871 S584", i mistakenly pulled out "HB 871 S585. And, to my utter delight, right there in bold

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1112170786229518982005-03-30T01:19:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:45.195-06:00

and then our exile: [...]There are different perspectives on "heritage", genetic and gastronomical, intellectual and iridescent, but as human beings the most comprehensive take would be that of what defines us in the first place—the spirit. Each and every one of us is heir to enormous traditions we have only a surface understanding of, if that—and this applies most closely to Muslims, because we

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1112159883378957432005-03-29T21:41:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:45.096-06:00

Life can feel pretty complicated sometimes--especially when the most basic needs, such as food and shelter and such, are looked after. Yes, in the 'civilized' world every encounter is some sort of political game. I grow weary of it sometimes, largely because of my fumbling and awkward approach to almost anything.People in my classes are so closed, always putting on a game face--which is

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1111990756345192412005-03-27T23:11:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.997-06:00

You can disguise its aggressiveness alll you want with veils of subordinate clauses and qualifiers and tentative subjunctives, with elipses and evasions--withe the whole manner of intimating rather than claiming, of alluding rather than stating--but there's no getting around the fact that setting words on paper is the tactic of a secret bully, an invasion, an imposition of the writer's

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1111802351968770482005-03-25T18:59:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.927-06:00

CBC Calgary - Tories will reject budget over Kyoto, Harper says Those ignorant buggers. What we don't need is delay from another election. What we do need is effective and immediate implementation of policies against global climate change. To this issue, experts have humbley submitted that, unlike the CFC/ozone layer issue, we cannot undue the harm already caused by greenhouse gasses, we can

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1111635829912205392005-03-23T20:43:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.852-06:00

CBC News: Ottawa, car makers reach Kyoto deal "Soon, I will have all the megatonnes I need. Mwah ha ha ha!"--Environment Minister Stéphane Dion

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1111634630011359392005-03-23T20:23:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.776-06:00

Glyphosate has been the subject of an exhaustive body of scientific literature, based on independent research and subjected to peer review in the scientific community, that has shown it not to be a health risk to humans. Glyphosate is in fact one of the least harmful herbicides available on the world market. It kills only plants that are above ground at the time of spraying through contact with

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1111600489133183342005-03-23T10:28:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.709-06:00

The undergraduate is in a position of supreme power; she is at the top of the institutional food chain; he is the only position which has the authority to direct funds and influence policy. The others (the professors, the administrators, the deans, the TAs, the others) suffer at the whims of the paying students.While some may complain that their positions as undergraduates put them at the mercy

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1111350959037924462005-03-20T13:20:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.644-06:00

To my chagrin, at this farmers' conference yesterday, I represented Big Brother on a GM-issues panel. I'm no fan of increasing corporate domination of markets--especially to the extent our research institutions are in their pockets. But, the extreme left seems to have an explicit mission to promote and procure blatant lies--which is too bad; for, comments like, "[...] it has been scientifically

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1111128774162640752005-03-17T23:52:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.571-06:00

i found it!

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1111127877246164142005-03-17T23:37:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.497-06:00

ScrapBook :: Firefox Extension This is way cool for doing webresearch, or even just browsing.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1111120935018114212005-03-17T21:39:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.426-06:00

My computer crashed earlier this week. Perhaps you guys have those "automated library machines" at your school--don't put your laptop on one, they're magnitized. Anyhow, I finally had the time to put it back together. And it works. And there is no record of any files or any thing on it. I should really start backing up my data. Also, I should really learn to vary my sentence structure. I should

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110686044231967632005-03-12T20:47:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.337-06:00

Once in a while I will get a call from someone who begins 'I want to eat food the way God made it, and avoid genetically modified foods. Tell me what I can eat'. I can only tell them I don't know for sure how God made our foods and how each might have changed, whether by human or natural or divine intervention, in the meantime. What is certain, though, is that almost all our basic food sources,

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110684648733420502005-03-12T20:30:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.263-06:00

Guidelines for the Notification and Testing of New Substances: Organisms - SECTION 2 LIVING ORGANISMS SUBJECT TO NOTIFICATIONThough Canada doesn't have "rules" per se, directing the regulation of GM crops or animals, it is legislated that "new organisms" that could be potentially distributed throughout the environment must be registered with Envirnoment Canada.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110679710512354442005-03-12T19:08:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:41:44.173-06:00

U.S. Regulatory Agencies Unified Biotechnology WebsiteThis is a handy resource which not only gives a comprehensive listing of all the GM manufacturers in the United States, but also details the approval process and status of every product that these firms applied to market.Excuse me, I'll be back in a few hours.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110610845611578652005-03-12T00:00:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:54.118-06:00

Tribe Discussion: GAIA - the earth is alive - tribe.net For me, the terminator gene is a non-issue. Infact, if a GM product is to be marketed, it should have a terminator gene The rationale is twofold: 1) the marketed product becomes exclusive and comprehensive (no more suing farmers); and 2) there is no biodiversity repercussions.However, given the existence of a terminator gene, farmers should

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110590487965753302005-03-11T18:21:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:54.034-06:00

News Detail Monsanto has taken my advice, it seems. All I have to say on this is: farmers who want to save their seeds should not buy them from Monsanto--end of story.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110441907281562682005-03-10T01:05:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.949-06:00

Health hazards from Genetically Engineered FoodThis group's bias is staggeringly obvious. But, they do list some articles that may be worth checking out.FYI, the PSRAST ref comes third-hand Via biofreedom. Though obscure, cited journals do check out (I recommend a gander at the source article before you decide to become an eco-terrorist, however).

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110359035699867652005-03-09T02:01:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.864-06:00

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110342804353434212005-03-08T21:25:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.788-06:00

I spend three hours today pushing six hundred pounds of steel up and down the street beside my little crescent in Sherwood Park. All the neighborhood kids came out to gawk. The occassional little old lady would usher encouragement on her way to the bus stop.Dripping with sweat, stripped down to a t-shirt, it crossed my thoughts that maybe next year I will invest in a set of booster-cables.Yes, it

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110322864733582132005-03-08T15:53:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.706-06:00

With respect to the economic issues of GM food in Canada, the most profound problem seems to be a matter of property rights. Legislation is designed to protect intellectual property rights of the firms who engage in GM research; this is a promise of a secure return on research investment (uncited; check gov't recs). GM firms require this special protection because of the inexclusive nature of

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110304572245017032005-03-08T10:48:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.634-06:00

When genetic engineering was first an issue in the popular press, a general reporter for the local newspaper interviewd me. She was sent to do a story on local scientists conducting research in genetic engineering, I was merely on of her interviewees. After she explained her objective and that she had no scientific background whatever, I assured her she could ask for clarification whenever I said

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110295188499035792005-03-08T08:18:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.560-06:00

Aaryanna helps me model the GM market.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110294151743693842005-03-08T08:02:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.489-06:00

Economics of Sustainable FarmingIndustrial farmers are price-takers. That is, as the technology and crop becomes more standardized, as the good becomes easier and cheaper to produce, the market price lowers.It's a double-bind solution; one farmer adopts the low-cost technology, undercuts his competitors' prices, achieves a greater proportion of the market share. In order to sell their product at

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110268413128331152005-03-08T00:53:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.416-06:00

The National Online - Blowin' in the WindFrankly, if i were a strategist for Monsanto, I would have engineered single-generational canola seeds. It only makes sense.Monsanto wants to ensure that anyone using its GM seed is purchasing new seed every year (it wants a continual revenue source). One of the more potent scientific criticisms of GM crops is the potential for cross-breeding of the

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110260513235124142005-03-07T22:09:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.340-06:00

Humans began domesticating aspects of the environment 12 000 years ago in an attempt to "increase the availability of the desirable species and desired traits of these species". The ancient agrarian humans engaged in the selective breeding of their environment which has had an undeniable effect on the diversity of organisms available today. Rather than surviving macrogenerational competition by

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110146281323467812005-03-06T14:28:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.268-06:00

Conflicting views towards the extent to which GM food should be regulated has been a source of contention on the international agriculture market. Often criticised, the US operates on "[...]the principle of minimal oversight of food products that are generally regarded as safe (GRAS)."The FDA's 1992 position was very clear: [...] crop development through genetic modification is simply an

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1110019911779011912005-03-05T03:51:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.193-06:00

About Us : Opening the Door to New Possibilities: "Seeds and Genomics" Make no mistake, these guys are the enemy. Monsanto controls 95% of the genetically manipulated agrifood market. And, they have just eaten up another reed distribution company. "Why is this bad?" you may ask. This is bad because Monsanto reed cannot reproduce (ie: you must buy new seed every year). Moreover, as Monsanto

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1109974768499236392005-03-04T15:04:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.111-06:00

Just got my LSAT score; slightly dissapointing (OK: very dissapointing), I am in the 80th percentile (160). Darn it anyways; This means that my 3.1 GPA is no good; if only I could undo a few years. Thats OK, we'll see what we can work with hereBasically, the following list is for my own reference (I'm at school and I need a place to put these, anticipating that you guys do't really care). These

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1109885554339113022005-03-03T14:31:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:53.022-06:00

GM crops are being grown in 13 countries and tested or developed in dozens more.FOR: They could significantly increase yields and raise incomes, lifting people out of poverty and providing food security Health benefits, such as extra vitamins, can be engineered in They could help farmers cultivate marginal land prone to drought or salt They could help the environment by reducing the need for

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1109570988290330262005-02-27T22:59:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:52.859-06:00

Well, I have made some considerable leaps forward on my model of the market for advanced education; I have just finished running the data through Shazam--which means, yes, I managed to find some data. This is the only good news, however.Sadly, there is not enough institutions in Alberta to do a cross-sectional analysis (I'm only missing three; grr.). And, data has not been collected by Statistics

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1109530744935994472005-02-27T11:58:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:52.787-06:00

I would like to take this moment to welcome Char to Blog-land. Yay for Char!

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1109486432140211912005-02-26T23:20:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:52.712-06:00

So, I lent Leah this book, Naked Pictures of Famous People."Hey Leah, when you need a break from all those dry history books, pick this up--it'll take you ten minutes to read: absolute garbage, but funny."She couldn't make it through the second essay, she was so offended.It's true, the reviews are a little deceiving. "brutally witty'," it is not. In fact, the book is indeed absolute garbage. But

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1109376125469822712005-02-25T16:51:00.001-07:002006-10-28T11:40:52.496-06:00

Seriously, I hate potatoe chips. And there is definately no place for food in a computer lab. The next time some hotshot with one of those ridiculous trendy "pre-worn" motorcyle jackets sits down next to me in the lab, plugs in his freaking entertainment system, then proceeds to noisily mow down a bag of potatoe chips, I am going to slug him in the face.For starters, guy does not look like he

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1109209693699133182005-02-23T18:41:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:52.353-06:00

The title of this post is a lie. Support of genetically engineered crops should be a question of resource management, where the pros of effecient agriculture production are weighed against the cons of diminished biodiversity (or even a moral question with respect to humankind's role in the sculpting of life from clay). But, it is not a question of resource management; it is a question of extreme

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1109139098179993682005-02-22T22:30:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:52.280-06:00

My project is, admitedly, an attempt to rationalise the value of education. Assigning a monetary value to advanced education is a natural inclination considering that we do this every year when we pay our student fees anyway, it would be nice to be able to do so comprehensively. The Marginal Social Welfare approach, however, is little-known in economics, much less at large. So, perhaps its

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1108954652218562902005-02-20T19:49:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:52.199-06:00

Here's the deal: I will continue looking for data tomorrow. Tuesday, I will redefine my objective function in terms of what I have available so that I can have a simple regression ready for March first. Meanwhile, having something ready to hand in for class, I will court SUResearch to implement a survey of all high-school students in the edmonton area (to construct the real demand function). My

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1108938181112731792005-02-20T14:48:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:52.103-06:00

Definitely, I am going to assume the simple case, I just don't have the time to construct the realistic model--even if I did, it would provide almost no meaningful information. So, the stylized model (negative elastic demand, positive elastic supply) shall be employed. The question is still, "is the price of tuition fair?" but I will have to reword it so that it can be answered by a regression

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1108865746845410972005-02-19T19:12:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:52.031-06:00

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1108846714791749612005-02-19T13:19:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:51.948-06:00

The Mincer Model is not as applicable as I would have hoped. It attempts to define the returns to advanced education whereas I would like to merely construct a supply and demand curve for University Education.Though, increasingly, I must acknowledge further distinction in my objective function. For, there is separation with regard to the motives for education which are defined by field of study.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1108755527837274372005-02-18T12:38:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:51.881-06:00

I would like to analyse the market for advanced education; specifically, how equitible is the price of tuition; what are the determining factors?There is an idea that Canada needs to encourage University enrollment. The nature of our economy, with such a high minimumm wage, presents an argument for the development of the knowledge sector; an intuitive ideal that Canada's economic market should

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1108632230606000832005-02-17T01:33:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:51.812-06:00

OK. So I am trying to model tuition prices. Basically, one has always heard complaints about the cost of tuition; and, it is indeed a lot of money: half your yearly income at minimum wage, full-time. And to consider the cost of living: rent a pad for between 300-400 dollars per month; pay for gas from 40-150 dollars per month; transit is $60/mo; food will set you back $200-$300/mo; four hours a

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1108164479588817582005-02-11T16:25:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:51.427-06:00

I am convinced, after reading some Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (and many others, mind you, but Crimes Against Nature was the clincher), that the Bush administration (not necessarily sufficiently merely president Bush, but the entire administration) is evil.

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1107919423629429432005-02-08T20:03:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:51.282-06:00

There is a fundamental flaw in economic theory; the division of microeconomics into producer and consumer theory is not justified. Firstly, all producers are consumers--all consumers are also producers; there is no seperation.In order to consume, one must firs produce something or purchase consumption using credit (a promise to produce something in the future). The theory of a Marginal Propensity

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573457.post-1107545530265270042005-02-04T13:26:00.000-07:002006-10-28T11:40:51.071-06:00

Everything in economics is a variation on two concepts: constrained optimization and intertemporal choice. And then, theory culminates with making the best of given circumstance over an extended, and infinitely divisible, time period.And stats. Which is a necessary evil used to quantify the nature of constraint and the value of potential choices.The first concessions made by economic theorists is

Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979893325174619693noreply@blogger.com1