Our Cavalcade of Christmas 2010

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While you track the path of Santa, or contemplate where in Podunk the best Christmas displays are, we offer up another edition of our annual Christmas Cavalcade.

Snippets of Christmas, which we'll update through Christmas Eve (so check back from time to time to see what's up).

 Our Christmas present to our faithful Podunkian readers/viewers with our thanks for their interest and contributions to the debate through the year...

Merry Christmas and our best wishes for a most enjoyable break from the normal stresses.





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The tale of the Christmas log (as seen on TV)
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Yes it could very well be the best Christmas movie
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 No need for Santa to show his papers at the border.
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Better Christmas trees through better science

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Rethinking Joseph
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Some Cinematic Santa's are good, some not so much
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 What may be under the tree this year.
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A Cross Canada Christmas
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Christmas in Kandahar
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Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus
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Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

Podunk Below the Masthead, Friday, December 24, 2010

It's the slowest News Day of the year...  some slim pickins' in the news department this Christmas Eve, the Northern View looks back, the Mayor of Prince Rupert looks forward and in Kitimat they look to place a plaque in honour of much respected civic worker, the news review for Friday.

The Northern View
The year in review: January to March -- The Northern View begins its review of the year that was, with a Christmas eve look back at the months of January to March (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Prince Rupert Mayor optimistic about 2011 -- Mayor Mussallem spreads good tidings of joy as we enter into Christmas eve (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Kitimat's former Director of Recreation honoured -- The District of Kitimat pays its honours to a long time recreation director who passed away over a year ago (see article here)

CBC News Northern BC Daybreak North 
Daybreak North is only posting selected items on their website now. 

The most recently posted items can be found on the archive page for Daybreak North click here

It's the economy Friday, December 24, 2010

Some financial Ho Ho Ho for the Christmas season,  a Canadian success story and Scrooge is alive and well, a few of our Christmas Eve financial chestnuts, roasting by the open fire.


Globe and Mail-- U. S. retailers celebrate shoppers' return
Globe and Mail-- Economics: The best and worst of 2010
National Post-- The best financial jokes of 2010
National Post-- Nav Canada as beacon
Vancouver Sun-- Synthetic lumber maker hindered by lack of recyclables
New York Times-- The Humbug express
Guardian UK online-- Business Heroes and Zeroes 2010
Telegraph UK online-- Record spike in EMU default risk on Portugal downgrade and Greek restructuring scare
Sydney Daily Telegraph-- Cashed-up companies to go prowling in new year
China Daily-- 17 Chinese brands on World's 500 list
Times of India-- Don't risk public money, banks told

Channeling your inner Griswold in Prince Rupert

While we continue to track the path of Santa as he makes his way towards YOUR house, perhaps we can take a moment to see which part of our Podunkian setting is your favourite for the annual display of Christmas lights.

Through the last month Podunkians have been busy channelling their inner Clark, the patriarch of the Griswold clan of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. A dedicated man, who sought only to bring much joy to his family (and his Hydro provider) with his annual display of Christmas lights.

An event which didn't start out too well, but as events played out eventually worked out as planned, well sort of...

To help us in our quest for Prince Rupert's best Griswold, we seek your counsel, voting below as to the area of town with the best of Christmas displays, and if you wish a more specific compass point for Christmas Eve and Day travellers to cruise towards.

Below we have a handy reference map courtesy of the city's website, which divides the city into five sections, vote accordingly and with commentary to send us on our way!

Red -- Seal Cove and  East area
Blue-- Crestview and Prince Rupert Boulevard area
Green-- Downtown and centre town area
Orange-- Summit and Pineridge areas
Yellow-- Westview
Not shaded-- Port Edward

You can cast your ballot courtesy of the hackingthemainframe electronic voting booth,  our quickest resource centre outside of following the glow of the Rupert night!

You can access the ballot site here.

We'll close the voting booth Sunday at midnight, giving you a chance to check out the assorted recommendations from across the city.

Up, Up and Away with Santa's sleigh

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The North American Air Defence System has once again gone into Defcon Santa as reports of the a Jolly old Elf and nine of his favourite reindeer take to the skies of the hemispheres, delivery tidings of Joy.

Using a high tech system of observation including radar and satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets, NORAD command which features members from both the US and Canadian military keeps a careful watch on Santa as he makes his way towards the North American continent and a return to his North Pole home after another successful mission.

You can follow his progress through the NORAD Santa site, which features a variety of highly secretive military tracking mechanisms including the very helpful Google Earth tracking map .

To help your young one's pass the time til they have to put out the treats for Santa and his reindeer NORAD has an interactive games zone for kids and stories about Santa ,  including a Santa cookie counter that updates his calorie intake thus far, all designed to keep the young ones busy (a handy thing for parents anticipating tomorrows sugar high and such).

In addition to the fun and games, NORAD has added some international efforts as they highlight a number of student videos from the around the world describing where they call home.

But of course the main attraction of the day for NORAD is keeping Santa's travels safe, and to follow that progress they suggest that youngsters of all ages keep checking back here to see where Santa has been to, where he's at right now and where he's heading to next.

Podunk Below the Masthead, Thursday, December 23 2010

The Northern Adventure to the rescue, plans continue on the old Via station redevelopment and Alaska has bad news for fishermen on two river systems in the state, some of our news reviews from Thursday's news files.

The Northern View
Northern Adventure assists in rescue of ship in distress -- The BC Ferry Northern Adventure lends assistance to a vessel in distress during its trip between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Restoration of Via Rail building in Prince Rupert continues -- A local contractor continues on with the renovations to the old Via Rail building, with a western Canadian steak chain planned for the upstairs portion of the renovated building (see article here) (see video report here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Free transit in Kitimat on New Year's Eve-- Public transit in the Kitimat region will be free of charge on New Years Eve with bus service running until 5 am on some routes. (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 news
Championship Preparation -- TV 7 provides a look at the training program of a young Terrace skater who is set to challenge for the national championships in Victoria next year (see video reports here and here)

KRBD Ketchikan radio
Forecast too low for gillnet fisheries on Stikine, Taku Kings -- The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issues its pre season forecast that shows that returns for two river systems are too low to allow for a commercial opening in those areas. (listen to radio report here)

CBC News Northern BC Daybreak North
Daybreak North is only posting selected items on their website now.
 The most recently posted items can be found on the archive page for Daybreak North click here

Reduction in population doesn't translate to subtraction of trustees

The population of the region may be declining,  a number of the schools closing and the student numbers dropping, but one thing will remain constant for School District 52 in the next few years, the number of School Board trustees will remain the same.

In one of their last items of business for 2010, The School District 52 board chose not to downsize itself, voting against a motion from trustee Terri Lynne Huddlestone, who had put forward the prospect of reducing the make up of the number of School District trustees from seven to five.

As Ms. Huddlestone told the Northern View this week, with provincial elections on the horizon for 2011 she felt that the timing was right to explore the possibility of downsizing the board's membership, following the lead of other jurisdictions and as a way of saving money in a tight budget situation.

Her motion however failed to find much support, with Board Chair Tina Last expressing her opposition to the plan, expressing concerns that with a reduced board make up you could at some point have two members of the community making decisions for a 27 million dollar budget.

Ms. Last asked the public to indulge the School District as they work out the necessary reductions to the School District, though it would seem that in her opinion reducing the School District Board membership is not one of the items that should be considered at this time.

Other trustees weighed in with thoughts that the timing wasn't right or that the population of the District  may one day grow again and reducing the number of trustees would then be a decision that the board would come to regret.

Trustee Russell Weins suggested that since there hasn't been a large public outcry over the numbers and the process of doing so probably couldn't be done in time for the next election, there wasn't much point in the proposal.

An interesting interpretation of events, though perhaps a bit more time could have been given for residents to consider the option rather than the end of the year vote to dismiss the idea completely.

Other school district boards in the province, including the Coast Mountain District serving Terrace and Kitimat, have voted to reduce their board components as their populations decline, but for the North coast trustees who rejected the notion by a vote of 5-2,  that is an idea that it seemingly isn't the time to consider just yet.

The Northern View provided the full review of the debate, such as it was, posted to their website this week.

Haisla Nation reaches beneficial LNG agreement with resource company

An agreement between the Haisla Nation and  two Texas based resource companies, Apache Corporation and EOG Resources, is going to provide for a financial winfall for the Haisla and the opportunity for long term investment going forward.

Last week the Haisla Nation signed an agreement with the energy group that will see the two resource companies provide the Northwest first nation with  50 million dollars,  the Haisla chose to receive a cash deposit rather than hold a similar amount of share in the planned 4 billion dollar LNG shipment plant planned for their community by the Texas energy companies.

The Haisla based their decision to not seek a share of the project owing to the requirement that they would have had to raise their own equity portion of the project, an undertaking they decided not to move ahead with.

With that decision made, the Hailsa then made plans to distribute 8,000 dollars to each member of the First Nation over the age of 18, the remainder of the money to be transferred, estimated to be around 40,000 dollars will be put into investments to benefit the First Nation moving towards the future.

In addition to the financial aspect of the arrangement, the Haisla will also benefit from employment and business opportunities once the project gets underway.

The acceptance of the LNG project on Haisla land is a completely different scenario than that which faces  the controversial Enbridge pipeline development.

That project has run into no shortage of troubles in the last few months as a wide ranging coalition continues to try and stop that planned pipeline and terminal in Kitimat before it makes any further forward momentum.

The LNG terminal announcement and financial arrangement brings the long planned shipment of natural gas out of a Northwest port much closer to fruition than ever before.

CFTK TV 7  News-- Haisla accept $50M for LNG Stake
The Northern Sentinel-- Haisla sell KLNG option
Vancouver Sun-- Haisla Nation sells option on Kitimat LNG project

Long time Rupert residents will remember that it was back in the late 1970's that the prospect of LNG tankers arriving and departing on the north coast was planned for an area near Lax Kw'alaams, a project that never seemed to get much further than the design stage and some preliminary discussions.

The topic of LNG shipments from the region also were renewed by Pac Rim LNG project in the late 1990's, but again things never seemed to move beyond the disucssion phase.

Those discussions regarding the Lax Kw'alaams projects have made for more than a few reports and academic papers on the issue,  excerpts from  a few of those efforts can be found below.

Community involvement in "mega-project" planning : a case study of the relationship between the Lax Kw’alaams Indian Band and Dome Petroleum

Allies and Adversaries

Pac Rim LNG Project

The original  development which was planned for Grassy point near the First Nations community, floundered as the main proponent Dome Petroleum suffered financial setbacks during the financial troubles of the mid to late eighties.

Likewise, we haven't heard much more of the Pac Rim Plans since the turn of the calendar from the nineties to a new century.

Some thirty years later the Haisla have moved the prospects of LNG tankers to the horizon, negotiating a financial package that provides what has been descried as  "an immediate and substantial benefit" to members of their nation, as well as setting the stage for further development and investment in and by the Haisla.

With the formalities of Kitamaat portion of the project now complete, Apache resources will be moving its plans forward towards a completion date in  2014.

Towards that goal, KM LNG an affiliate of Apache Corporation filed a licence application with the Canadian National Energy Board seeking approval to export liquefied natural gas from the proposed Kitimat Terminal.

Apache Corporation  has a major natural gas development in Northeaster British Columbia with volumes of gas in production and now with the arrangement in place for a terminal, it would seem that Apache resources has most of its pieces in place to begin exporting natural gas out of Kitimat within the next three years.

It's the economy, Thursday, December 23, 2010

December gasoline prices set a record, Tiger gets dumped again and China anticipates an export slowdown for 2011, some of the items of interest from our Thursday financial review.

Globe and Mail-- Rising gasoline price new December record
Globe and Mail-- Greece passes tough 2011 austerity budget
National Post-- How much do you need to retire?
National Post-- Gillette will not renew Tiger Woods
Vancouver Sun-- Ex-Canucks CEO finds new challenge with Easton
New York Times-- Economists See Signs of Stronger Recovery
Guardian UK online-- Ireland nationalises fourth bank with move to take over Allied Irish
Telegraph UK online-- Record spike in EMU default risk on Portugal downgrade and Greek restructuring scare
Sydney Daily Telegraph-- Workers become slack during summer
China Daily-- China expects exports to slow in 2011
Times of India-- Banks against corporate foraying into banking: RBI

Podunk Below the Masthead, Wednesday, December 22, 2010

A cavalcade of presents for the Wildlife Shelter, Prince Rupert business owners review the season so far and turkey's can fly, if they're thrown from a car, some of our items of note for our Wednesday news review.

The Northern View
Christmas comes early for Prince Rupert Wildlife Shelter-- A Prince Rupert business and a local development society work together to help out Prince Rupert's Wildlife Shelter (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Prince Rupert businesses benefit from holiday shopping -- Some Prince Rupert retailers are finding that it's pretty much business as usual this Christmas season despite the economic downturn (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Key to new Kitimat animal shelter handed over to District-- The two and half year project to build a new animal shelter in Kitimat has been successfully concluded (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Senate Lighthouses-- CFTK's evening news report on the findings of the Senate Committee looking into the light house de staffing issue (see video report here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Enbridge Forum -- Kitimat council wants more details before committing to co hosting a forum in Kitimat  on  the Enbridge project (see video report here)

Terrace Standard
City bus fares rise -- Users of the Terrace Regional Transit system will face fare hikes in the New Year (see article here)

Northern Sentinel
Envision branch hit by fraud-- The Kitimat RCMP is investigating a case of internal fraud at the Kitimat branch of Envision financial (see article here)

QCI Observer
RCMP talking turkey after crash-- A frozen turkey (fowl not human) makes an exit from a car accident on Haida Gwaii (see article here)

QCI Observer
Graduation rate better, but still not good enough-- A review of the high school completion rate report for schools on Haida Gwaii (see article here)

QCI Observer
South-end seniors' lunch special-- A recap of the recent luncheon for Queen Charlotte Senior's (see article here)

CBC News Northern BC Daybreak North
Daybreak North is only posting selected items on their website now.

The most recently posted items can be found on the archive page for Daybreak North click here

Inflation spikes the twelve days of Christmas

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Bad news for those that might be inclined towards the more traditional of gift giving this Christmas season, the annual inflation index of the Twelve Days of Christmas has gone up 9.25 per cent this year, an increase on the fabled list that will set you back some $23,439.38 should you wish to fulfill each and every one of those gifts from the Twelve Days.

Since 1984 PNC Bank Financial in the United States has been tracking the cost of each of the twelve gifts from the twelve days, providing as only accountants and financial advisors could a comprehensive report on the cost to your pocket book should the spirit of the season get the best of you.

The inflationary spiral for 2010 goes as follows from the PNC Christmas index:

The Partridge in the Pear tree costs 1.3 per cent more this year

Two Turtle Doves  jumped up 78.6 per cent in 2010

Three French Hens had the most inflationary spike at 237 per cent

Four Calling birds proved to be a bargain holding steady with no increase in 2010

Five Gold Rings jumped 30 per cent in the last year

Six Geese a laying are a bargain this year with no  increase in their cost

Seven Swans a swimming went up 6.7 per cent

While the Eight Maids a Milking are holding down the costs this year with no increase

9 Ladies Dancing moved the index up 15 per cent in the last 365 days

The 10 Lords a Leaping, inched the index up 10 per cent this year

Eleven pipers piping make their noise with only a 3.1 per cent jump for 2010

and 12 Drummers drumming banged out a 3.1 per cent increase for this Christmas season.

The PNC website offers up a rather entertaining interpretation of this years price index, using a format that perhaps should be utilized by banks and financial investment representatives everywhere in delivering financials.

After all it's not every day that your financial spreadsheets come in an inter active pop up book format, could make a world of difference in Mutual fund interpretation we imagine.

You can gather the young ones around the computer screen and break out the calculators as PNC calculates the potential extravagance of gift giving here..

For those that prefer their information in the old ancient ways of a written report, the New York Times provided a handy recap of events here, but even they recommend a look over the PNC presentation.

If after all your financial calculations are finished you feel that perhaps the more traditional of the Twelve Days of Christmas is out of reach, there's always the Canadian alternative list.

A collection of gifts which may be a little more cost effective, but perhaps not quite as traditional, sentimental or romantic for that matter...
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It's the economy, Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Are you in the way of an economic recovery? Economic junkies of Europe and no Ho Ho Ho for BC in the HST, some of the items of interest from our Wednesday financial review.

Globe and Mail-- Personal debt a threat to recovery
Globe and Mail-- Euro Zone addicted to "financial heroin" BMO warns
National Post--  Wall Street a world apart from financial hardship
National Post-- Alberta fires warning volley over regulator
Vancouver Sun-- HST pushes B.C. inflation rate above national average: Economists
New York Times-- Tight Gift Budget? Rethink Those Pricey French Hens
Guardian  UK online-- Bank of England minutes show increasing fear of inflation
Telegraph UK online-- UK growth in 2010 cut as recovery loses traction
Sydney Daily Telegraph-- Treasurer Wayne Swan in bitter tax turf war with states over mining royalties
China Daily-- Cross-Straits get healthy agreement
Times of India-- Plan panel for many infra debt funds

Podunk Below the Masthead, Tuesday, December 21, 2010

A review of the eclipse of the Moon, The School District board chooses not to downsize and some reaction to the Senate committee recommendations on light house staffing, some of the items of note from our Tuesday review of the news.


The Northern View
Prince Rupert residents get a great view of lunar eclipse-- The Northern View's account of Monday night/Tuesday morning's lunar eclipse visible from Prince Rupert (see article here)

The Northern View
CN and CAW working to avoid job action -- Labour negotiations ramp up between CN and the Canadian Auto Workers with a January deadline looming (see article here)

The Northern View
School board gives new middle school a familiar name -- The Northern View catches up to last weeks announcement that the new middle school set to open in September will feature the name Prince Rupert Middle School (see article here)

The Northern View
Port Ed raises train traffic concerns-- In the aftermath of a recent collision between a vehicle and train in Port Edward, the District councillors raises their concerns over the volume of trains passing through the community (see article here)

The Northern View
Board decided against reducing trustees-- The School District 52 board decides against a motion that would have reduced their numbers from 7 to 5 (see article here)

The Northern View
Board changing goal of student achievement contract -- Superintendent Lynn Hauptman provides her report on student achievement and outlines additional initiatives to support the efforts of the District Improvement Team (see article here)

The Northern View
Port Ed, CUPE sign new contract-- A new three year contract is successfully negotiated between the District of Port Edward and its CUPE workers (see article here)

The Northern View
New rules govern land use on Haida Gwaii -- The provincial government releases a new set of rules for commercial land on Haida Gwaii (see article here)

The Northern View
Port Edward re-examining bylaws in light of deer shooting-  Changes are in the works towards bylaws in the District of Port Edward after the shooting of a popular  deer earlier this month (see article here)

The Northern View
No hunting on the highway, warn officers-- Conservation Officers issue a warning to the public over the illegality of hunting and/or shooting near the highway (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Positive reaction from Northwest residents on lighthouse committee recommendations -- Some reaction to Tuesday's recommendations of the Senate committee investigating the light house closure issue (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Millenium Grads win Ciccone Alumni Basketball Tournament at PRSS-- The Grads of 1997-2003 claimed victory in the annual Jim Ciccone Memorial Christmas Alumni Basketball tournament, held for its final appearance at the PRSS Gym (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Belsey joins list of George Abbot Supporters-- Bill Belsey, the Former Liberal MLA for the North coast,  offers his support to would be Liberal leader George Abbott (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Church Break In sours Christmas Spirit-- A break in at the Knox United Church in Terrace provides for a less than festive atmosphere for the community (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Terrace Skater Prepares for Nationals-- A Terrace based figure skater is home for Christmas but has the national championships on her mind during the holiday season (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Thornhill Firefighters spread the Joy of Christmas-- A tradition that stretches back to 1982 continued on through the Thornhill area this past weekend, as the Thornhill Fire fighters held their annual Carol sing along (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Petition launched to recoup federal subsidy for Eurocan-- Kitimat Council is considering whether to endorse a petition to try and recoup a 32 million dollar subsidy, known as the Black Liquor Tax Subsidy,  provided to West Fraser Timber (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Camping restrictions removed at Hirsch Creek Park -- Kitimat council approves changes to the current camping restrictions at the city owned park (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Terrace Stabbing suspect remains behind bars-- The latest developments in an a stabbing incident from last week in Terrace (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Terrace's Spirit Square Nominated as "Great Place in Canada"-- The New Spirit Square in Terrace is in the running in a contest examining great public spots in the country (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
BV School District looking for new superintendent-- Yet another Northwest School District is back in the hunt for upper management (see article here)

Terrace Standard
City Councillor eyes top spot-- Election fever takes hold in Terrace as first term councillor Bruce Bidgood contemplates a run for Mayor in eleven months (see article here)

Terrace Standard
Computers stolen from church-- Minor damage and theft of property strikes a Terrace church over the weekend (see article here)

Terrace Standard
Man charged in Terrace stabbings-- A man remains in custody, and two others face court appearances after a number of stabbings last week in Terrace (see article here)

KRBD Ketchikan radio
Assembly approves strategy to sell Ward Cove properties--  Ketchikan Borough Assembly approves a marketing strategy for a development at Ward Cove (see article here)

CBC News Northern BC Daybreak North
Daybreak North is only posting selected items on their website now. 

The most recently posted items can be found on the archive page for Daybreak North click here

The irony of Julian Assange

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Some suggest that he's a hero for revealing the deepest and darkest of secrets of government and corporate leaders, revealing through his wiki leak dumps the hypocrisy and duplicity that some suggest guide their every efforts.

Others however, believe that Julian Assange is perhaps one of the most dangerous men alive, putting lives at risk, an egotistical blowhard who is using his wiki leaks fame for his own personal glories.

It's a divide that is becoming the obsession of the media of late, as commentators staking out their turf either in favour of Assange and his efforts or decrying them as a very dangerous practice.

That debate it seems is also shared both within and far from his wiki leaks group, insiders to the group have spoken out at how the project has strayed far from its original ideals and become too focused on Assange and his troubles, while those clearly on the side of Mr. Assange have suggested that evil forces are at work to bring to an end his goals of transparency and accountability of some of the highest of powers.

The split within the wiki leakers spawning another site, Open Leaks, which is hoping to return to the task of revelations without the personal dramas that have evolved thus far.

Somewhere in the middle of all this muddle we imagine is the truth, one day to be examined and divined as to where Assange will fit in the larger picture of  this anarchy of the internets and what we should have access to and when we should access it.

Before that happens however, Mr. Assange will no doubt face more than a few legal questions and procedures, the first of which would appear to be his troubles in Sweden over charges of alleged sexual impropriety.

Recently released from his British cell where he was being held while the Swedish charges get sorted out, Assange has been quick to return to the public spotlight he had to abandon while incarcerated.

However, the first of his public comments since that new found freedom have provided for a fascinating bit of situational irony in recent times, where the man who found no problems with his leaking volumes of information from around the world is more than a little annoyed that a British newspaper has leaked details of his own legal difficulties in Sweden.

It's made for an interesting review of his own wiki leak beliefs and how sometimes we can be hoisted upon our own petard.

Certainly it's the kind of development that can make the work of the script writers at Saturday Night Live as easy as its ever been, not that they need the leg up, considering the past works on the Assange file so far.

Here  are a couple of their most recent comedic gems, spawned from the very public profile of the wiki leaker himself
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It's the economy, Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Pity the bankers? A wave of failure on the horizon for Europe and India is still number one in the outsourcing, some of the items of interest from our Financial review for a Tuesday.

Globe and Mail-- Stronach to give up control MI Developments
Globe and Mail-- U.S. FCC adopts Internet traffic rules
National Post-- Bankers around world brace for drop in bonuses
National Post-- Don’t rule out a ‘lost decade’ for the U.S. economy
Vancouver Sun-- Whistler ready for a busy season
New York Times-- A Warning to Portugal as Spain Sells Bonds
Guardian UK online-- Portugal faces threat of credit rating downgrade
Telegraph UK online-- Citigroup warns of fresh wave of bank failures in Europe
Sydney Daily Telegraph-- Dick Smith says wealthy are greedy as no bank bosses respond to donation call
China Daily-- China urges EU to lift bans on hi-tech goods exports
Times of India-- India still world's No. 1 destination for offshore outsourcing

Senate Committee recommends halt to light house destaffing

If the government takes the advice of a Senate committee into the future of lighthouses on both coasts, the isolated stations will remain fully staffed and continue to provide the services that they currently offer.

After crossing the nation, including a stop on the North coast, the Senate Committee studying the use and need for light houses on both coasts has issued its recommendation to DFO that for now, Ottawa continue staffing those light houses that remain in operation.

As we outlined on the blog back in November,  here and here the committee session in Prince Rupert provided for much local commentary on the issue, bringing together a wide coalition of support to keep the light house stations of the north coast in operation as fully staffed services.

Some of the events surrounding that session can be found below

Demonstration Against Lighthouse De-Staffing planned for Prince Rupert
Automate Lighthouses and endanger lives say North Coast mariners
Destaffing review
Fishernen's Union says DFO can't manage it's finances
Senators say they have a better understanding of Northern BC lighthouses
Senate review
Senators hear support for staffed lighthouses
North coast says 'no' to losing lighthouse staff
Senators looking for input on automating lighthouses

It would seem that the committee heard that call loud and clear as it now has called on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to halt its current de-staffing plan and suggested that further decisions on the issue should be made on a  case by case basis.

The recommendations which were unanimous among the committee members came after those participants in the cross Canada survey heard overwhelming support for light house personnel on both coasts.

Among the other recommendations made to Fisheries Minister Gail Sea were that guidelines and consolations be made on whether light houses should be maintained  in both Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia.

As well, the committee would like the government to offer a cost-benefit analysis regarding the full range of services provided by staffed lighthouses.

Fisheries Minister Gail Shea has not as of yet, provided a response from the government regarding the recommendations of the committee released today.

Globe and Mail-- Keep staffing Canada's lighthouses, senators say
Winnipeg Free Press--  Senate committee recommends lighthouse staffing be maintained for now
Vancouver Sun-- Senate urges coast guard to keep lighthouse staffed
CBC- Keep staffing lighthouses: Senate panel

Podunk Below the Masthead, Monday, December 20, 2010

An arson attempt on Haida Gwaii, Free Access to the Civic Centre on Wednesday and a rescue at sea for the US Coast Guard in Alaska, some of our items of note from our Monday news review.

The Northern View
Queen Charlotte RCMP investigating arson attempt at detachment building--  As we outlined on the blog on Saturday, a disturbing incident of attempted arson at the Queen Charlotte City RCMP detachment is currently under investigation (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Free Civic Centre Day for everyone-- Rupertites can take advantage of the generosity of the employees at Ridley Terminals this Wednesday, as we reviewed on the blog on Saturday , RTI employees have booked the Civic Centre from 12 to 4 Friday for the free use of Prince Rupert residents (see article here) (Sahar Nassimdoost had this report for the TV 7 evening news)

CFTK TV 7 News
Kitimat Council considers holding public forum on Northern Gateway-- The District of Kitimat is asked to act as co-host into a public forum on the Enbridge Northern Gateway project (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Caregiver Sentenced -- A former employee of a group home in Terrace is sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting a woman in his care. (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Mine Acquisition Challenged -- A Northwest First Nation has filed a legal challenge regarding the Mount Milligan mine project north of Fort St. James. (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
NovaGold Bids to Buy Copper Canyon-- Nova Gold makes a takeover offer of 34.1 million dollars for Copper Canyon Resources (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Arson Attempted on Queen Charlotte RCMP Detachment-- CFTK provides its review of the events of Friday night on Haida Gwaii (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
CIHL: Smithers, Prince Rupert Hold Division leads-- A review of the weekend action in the CIHL, which saw the Prince Rupert Rampage hold onto its lead in the West division (see article here)

Terrace Standard
Caregiver sent to jail-- A sentence of 297 days is issued to a Terrace resident who pleaded guilty of sexually exploitation of a disabled person (see article here)

Terrace Standard
Shames opens with a blast--  The regions ski facility opened up for another season with a variety of activities to greet this years ski fanatics (see article here)

QCI Observer
Queen Charlotte RCMP investigating apparent arson attempt to detachment building-- Details of Friday nights attempted arson on Haida Gwaii (see article here)

QCI Observer
MP Introduces bill to restore tax benefits-- Skeena Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen introduces a bill to restore the full northern residents tax deduction to residents of Haida Gwaii (see article here)

QCI Observer
Agriculture strategy meetings garner feedback-- A review of a recent Agriculture Strategy meeting held by the Mist Isles Economic Development Society (see article here)

QCI Observer
Scrooge like precautions a good idea-- Shoppers on Haida Gwaii are warned of some of the dangers when it comes to shopping in person or online (see article here)

KRBD Ketchikan radio
Coast Guard rescues five from sinking vessel-- The US Coast Guard provided rescue services on Saturday for a vessel in distress off of Whitney Island 40 miles north of Petersburg (see article here)

KRBD Ketchikan radio
NPFMC OK's sablefish harvest increase in 2011-- Most Alaska black cod fishermen will see a higher allocation granted next year (see article here)

CBC News Northern BC Daybreak North 
Daybreak North is only posting selected items on their website now. 

The most recently posted items can be found on the archive page for Daybreak North click here

It's the economy, Monday, December 20, 2010

A wishful retirement program, reaping the rewards of the north coast forestry and a debt load to tumble American cities, some of the items of note from our Monday financial files.

Globe and Mail-- Talisman sells B.C. gas field stake for $1-billion
Globe and Mail-- Deflation ‘worst possible world’ for life insurers
National Post-- One of the greatest bull markets in history
National Post-- Canada's wishful thinking pension program
Vancouver Sun-- B.C. band reaps benefits from wholly owned forest products firm
New York Times-- When Zombies win
Guardian UK online-- $2tn debt crisis threatens to bring down 100 US cities
Telegraph UK online-- Self-righteous Germany must accept a euro-debt union or leave EMU
Sydney Morning Telegraph-- Shareholders to get more power on salaries
China Daily-- Govt to invest $15b in farmland
Times of India-- Two decades of unshackled growth