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I wish they would find another customer.
Have the RESP in TD for same reason.
Right on, I gave up on BMO long ago. Have one account with TD and yes learned to stay active with it.
Are you going to share your gains with BMO when they finally let you trade it?
I am going to assume you were referring to the rack.
BTW the rack needs an update.
Should have loaded the boat!
Food bank cupboards growing bare
By Jennifer Reeger
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, December 10, 2007
The tale can be told by the numbers imprinted on grocery receipts: The price of food is rising.
The problem is compounded for those in charge of buying millions of pounds of food destined to feed thousands of the region's poor.
Food banks nationwide are being hit with a combination of cuts in federal commodities, rising food and fuel costs, and a decrease in donated food.
It means food banks must rely more on fundraising
"We're going in the wrong direction," said Marlene Kozak, executive director of the Westmoreland County Food Bank. "We know there's much more need out there than we're filling, but instead of getting more resources, we're getting less."
While food banks scramble to fill the void, they wait for Congress to pass a new Farm Bill, which might ease some of their problems. The bill would make more Americans eligible for food stamps, lessening the burden on food pantries.
It also would increase the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program to $250 million. That amount would be adjusted annually for inflation.
The federal program has remained stagnant despite food prices that, on average, have risen about 8 percent in recent months.
"If (the farm bill) comes through, that will take a little pressure off us," said Joyce Rothermel, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The food bank funnels food to 11 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
But Kozak, who runs the independent food bank in Westmoreland County, worries that time is running out for Farm Bill passage this year.
"If it doesn't pass, then we are stuck with what we have now basically, which is a problem," Kozak said.
Energy costs play role
The problems food banks face are many:
= Rising costs mean getting less food for the same amount of money.
= State food-purchase grants were cut this year.
= Food producers and grocers have cut back on donating food, opting to sell to secondary markets instead.
= The need for services has increased.
Duquesne University economics professor Matthew Marlin said the two main reasons for the 8 percent increase in the price of food center on energy.
"Oil is used for energy on the farm," Marlin said. "Oil is an ingredient in a lot of fertilizer. And how does the stuff get to our grocery store? All the transportation involved in getting the food here. It's all going to cost a lot in energy."
Biofuel -- especially ethanol -- is another reason for increased food prices.
The need for corn to produce ethanol has increased the crop's price. And corn is used in many food products, even sodas sweetened with corn syrup.
Plus, corn is the main feed crop for cattle, chicken and hogs -- increasing the costs of meats and poultry and milk and eggs.
"Corn and oil are in everything, and as they get more expensive, everything gets more expensive," Marlin said.
Federal commodities -- the food items the federal government buys and gives to food banks -- have decreased by about 70 percent, Kozak said. The amount the government is spending has stayed the same while food prices have increased.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank spokeswoman Iris Valanti said the agency is out $500,000 in bonus commodities money from the federal government, which buys excess food from farmers.
"Farm prices are very high, so none of that bonus money is coming down," Valanti said.
State grants for food purchases were cut this year. The Pittsburgh food bank lost $150,000 in those cuts, Valanti said.
Nationally, big companies aren't donating as much food as they used to.
"That's generally because technology has improved so they don't make as much that they don't need anymore," Valanti said.
And many grocers are selling food to secondary markets, including discount stores, rather than donating to food banks.
Creating a strain
Despite the cuts, the agencies face increases in clients.
The Pittsburgh food bank, which serves about 120,000 clients annually, had its client list increase by 14,490 people last year. Westmoreland's client list grew by about 10 percent.
"Every year has its challenges because we know the demand increases once winter sets in. And the cost of utilities, as well as the cost of food and the cost of transportation, is really putting a crunch on people," Rothermel said.
The result is more fundraising.
"It means a lot of extra hard work. Fortunately we have corporate support and foundational support, but it's a struggle every year," Valanti said.
A quarter of Westmoreland's $2 million budget comes from fundraising, up from 10 percent at the beginning of the decade.
Still, the Greater Pittsburgh food bank expects to distribute 20 million pounds of food this fiscal year, up from 19.7 million pounds in fiscal year 2006-07.
In Westmoreland County, that number is decreasing. In 2004, the agency distributed almost 7 million pounds of food. This year, that's down to a little more than 4 million pounds.
Food bank officials worry they're not reaching everyone.
The Greater Pittsburgh group found that in some areas, it's serving as little as 15 percent of the eligible population.
"People assume the food bank is taking care of the problem, but on our best day, we have plenty more to do," Valanti said.
Kozak said a recent study showed her food bank was only reaching half of eligible people.
"If all of those people showed up on our doorstep, what would we do?"
Jennifer Reeger can be reached at jreeger@tribweb.com or 724-836-6155.
Using hydrogen to clean up fossil fuels TheStar.com - columnists - Using hydrogen to clean up fossil fuels
December 10, 2007
Tyler Hamilton
Hydrogen might be an emission-free fuel when burned or put through a fuel cell, but given that fuel-cell cars for the mass market are at least a decade away – if they ever come – what if hydrogen could be used today to clean up a fossil fuel we already depend on, such as natural gas?
We use natural gas as fuel for corporate and municipal vehicle fleets, to provide power generation, and to heat our homes and buildings. The infrastructure is well developed. If we can use what we have and at the same time reduce the greenhouse gas and smog-causing emissions that result from it, then some argue it makes sense to pursue it as one slice of a larger climate-mitigation strategy.
A Fredericton-based company called Atlantic Hydrogen Inc. is making impressive inroads in this regard, having developed a new technology that can remove carbon from natural gas and replace it with hydrogen.
"Effectively what we're doing is greening the gas," says David Wagner, president and chief operating officer of Atlantic Hydrogen, which is attempting to commercialize technology developed at McGill University by chemist David Fletcher and later transferred to the University of New Brunswick.
"We are aware that in Ontario a company called Bullfrog Power is out there selling green power, so why can't we sell green gas? It's the same concept, different fuel. That's what has a number of gas companies we've talked to quite excited about this."
The company's technology is called CarbonSaver – basically a low-temperature plasma reactor that uses low amounts of energy and, according to Wagner, doesn't emit greenhouse gases. When natural gas flows through the CarbonSaver device it disassociates hydrogen and carbon from a portion of the gas. The carbon is removed in solid form as a kind of black dust. The hydrogen is injected back into the natural gas stream, representing between 15 and 20 per cent of its volume.
Wagner calls the resulting product "hydrogen-enriched natural gas" – that is, green gas. It can be used as a fuel in any internal combustion engine that would normally use natural gas, but it burns much cleaner. This also applies to natural gas appliances, such as stoves and furnaces, and gas turbines.
"By putting just 15 to 20 per cent hydrogen in with the natural gas, without making changes to an engine except tuning it for a lean burn, you could reduce harmful emissions like nitrogen oxides by anywhere from 50 to 60 per cent," explains Wagner. "So that really caught our eye."
He said natural gas with a 20 per cent blend of hydrogen also results in a 7 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide, or CO{-2}.
Atlantic Hydrogen is currently studying potential uses for this solid carbon, which could be used in making inks, dyes, plastics and tires, not to mention super-lightweight carbon composite parts for vehicles and airplanes.
It could also be permanently stored in soil – used alongside fertilizer to regenerate depleted farmland. This approach, often referred to as biochar sequestration, could fetch revenues in the form of saleable carbon credits.
Enbridge Gas Distribution is working with Atlantic Hydrogen on a three-year project partly funded by Sustainable Development Technology Canada, which pitched in $2 million. The company, which got early financial support from East Coast cable pioneer Bill Stanley, has also raised over $5 million in private equity financing and is in the process of building its first demonstration units.
Theoretically, the CarbonSaver can be installed at most major points in the natural gas distribution network, such as fuelling points for natural gas fleet vehicles, or at a major junction in a city where the pipeline branches out into smaller, lower-pressure pipes that eventually feed into homes and buildings.
One planned project for 2008 is a test of how the hydrogen-enriched natural gas performs in a 100-kilowatt micro-turbine used to generate power. A vehicle-fuelling project will also be conducted.
The company, meanwhile, is looking at scaling up the technology so it can handle large gas volumes used to feed natural gas power plants. As a retrofit, this could make existing natural gas power stations across Canada much cleaner, at the same time producing enough solid carbon to make car parts or mix with a new line of fertilizer.
"Stay tuned," says Wagner. "We've got some interesting things on the horizon."
Police impound fertilizer bags from DPP regional governor
Judith Moyo on 08 December, 2007 22:33:00
Police in Mzuzu have impounded 300 bags of fertilizer from ruling party regional governor for the north, Harry Mkandawire when they stormed his house for search and arrested him.
Eye witness said police stormed Mkandawire’s residence upon a “tip-off” from the public that Mkandawire was frustrating the fertilizer subsidy programme in the north as he was denying members of the opposition parties from benefitting.
Police press office at the national headquarters confirmed the incident but said investigations are underway.
Meanwhile, government spokesperson Patricia Kaliati said the fertilizer subsidy programme is meant to benefit only those that cannot afford to by the fertilizer at K4, 000 and not everybody.
"This fertilizer subsidy is not universal," said Kaliati at Kasungu Community Centre Hall during a stakeholders meeting.
"We know that many people have complained not to have benefited from the subsidy programme therefore government has printed 30,000 additional coupons to fill the gap," she disclosed.
Traditional leaders in the blamed for the fertilizer subsidy failure on poor planning by the agriculture staff describing them as corrupt and intimidating.
President Bingu wa Mutharika who is also minister of agriculture has blames the opposition for being behind the poor distribution of the farm inputs but the opposition denies the charge blame government for shifting blames for its failures.
Elsewhere, police on Friday impounded 71 bags of fertilizer from local traders suspected to have stolen the bags in Mchinji.
According to Mchinji Police Station Officer, Superintendent Jacob Kakhongwe police impounded the bags of fertilizer from some local traders who did not have any legal documents for doing business related to the farm inputs.
Kakhongwe said the police got suspicious upon seeing that some fertilizer which was being offloaded from a three toner lorry, registration number BN 7543 onto another vehicle of similar tonnage registration MC 2483 was related to government subsidized fertilizer.
“Police are keeping in custody Malingamoyo Matchona 36, of Kalolo village in chief Kalolo's area in Lilongwe and Aubrey Madeya 27 of Namata village in chief Kaduya's area in Phalombe. The two would appear in court to answer charges of being found in possession of property suspected to have been stolen which is contrary to section 359 of the penal code,” said the police officer.
Athabasca Potash Inc. says it has priced its initial public offering of 10 million common shares of at a price of C$4.25 per share
for gross proceeds of C$43.1 million. The Saskatoon-based company said closing of the offering is set for Dec. 13.
http://www.680news.com/news/business/article.jsp?content=b120726A
So market cap of API set at $104M
I think every investor has to find what works for him/her.
If I look back on the last few years where my returns have made quantum leaps it was recognising value early on primarily a few issues that paid off huge for me.
Large positions in PMI, ARU, and BMC come to mind, KCL another.
I would never suggest anyone blind themselves to anything mind you with this sector one would probably get away with it.
As for those who prefer the basket of stocks approach the grass roots are ideal.
In the end these are all big winners and will continue to be.
Maybe the likes of Potash Corp and Mosaic will change those attitudes.
Not like they have many other geographic alternatives that will allow them to not miss out if they are intimidated.
I had never heard of that program before today, followed your lead and see that Haig has his 83rd birthday coming up good on him for staying active.
Just listening/watching now lmao what is Alexander Haig on?
His introduction was reminisent of having my preschool kids read Dr. Suess to me.
He got a little excited when he asked about BHP Billiton!
Good on ALM though, exactly the kind of promo they and all the grassroots need.
Someone has to prod the people on this board out of thier collective comatose state.
Beats the hell out of discussing water inflows in conventional underground mines.
ouch! I missed one he just mentioned about royalties?
That you phoning Ron about KXL?
Tenacious caller lol
Globe says the 9% spread on BCE shares looks tasty
2007-11-30 05:09 MT - In the News
The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that if you want to know how nervous investors are about the credit markets, look at BCE shares. The Globe's Fabrice Taylor, writing in Vox, says that the stock is now trading at more than $3 less than the all-cash privatization offer from Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. Most of that discount reflects the worry that the bidders will either break the deal or lower their offer because they cannot raise the debt financing. The offer is $42.75 a share while the stock is quoted today at $39.20. The four-month return, then, is a little more than 9 per cent -- plus a possible dividend. Not bad, but with reward comes risk. One risk is that more wireless competition will prompt the buyers to change their offer. BCE's bondholders are trying to thwart the deal in the courts. Also, there is the risk that the buyers will not be able to raise the debt. On the wireless front, Teachers and its partners are not happy with the decision but they are probably not stunned. Mr. Taylor also doubts whether the bondholder lawsuit will succeed. There is also a break fee of $1-billion and the loss to Teachers on its BCE shares, not to mention the damage to reputations.
At some point if BHP wants the other 25% they may start to play games with ALM.
As it stands they can drag the feasibility out for four more years.
Yes I agree KCL has the best unrealized potential as it controls its own destiny
That must be it then, at some point if existing and new greenfield mines cannot meet demand the ALM/BHP jv will be better able to develop more mines.
Amazing to see the market apply such long term foresight to this junior.
I suggest we be able to select the time zone we want to be displayed here.
Its not 10:08:45 PM to me right now.
Name change from ISX Resources to Potash One, new symbol KCL (potassium chloride = potash).
Paul has a few months off after Uranium One took out EMU now he's working his magic on Potash One.
They have a competent investor relations firm, good news flow since his appointment and a new website.
3D seismic is underway on thier property and more news to come.
Still fundamentaly undervalued to ALM and upcoming potash IPOs.
EMC is the roadmap for Potash One.
Hey Fringe did you notice Paul Matysek is at it again...
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/board.asp?board_id=11394
You can give them holes $10M value and the $40M BHP is going to spend and KCL still valued $28M lower
The market is looking at the 1.6 million acres? Dont think so, the focus is on he sweet spots for both companies.
Your right its a tough comparison and they are both undervalued.
Only a few horses in this race and they will all be winners just looking for better odds is all.
See my reply on Grass Roots http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=25144944
Add to all this that there are all too few companies in this game and we are in the early stages of an Ag boom here.
The Western and Athabasca Potash IPOs coming up will only generate more interest in KCL.
There will still be only five choices for the development stage potash investor.
Would not be cheap, so when ALM is done thier current siesmic study do they drill?
I keep coming back to the current 70% discount and whats reasonable to expect moving forward.
So what if KCL had to dilute to market cap of ALM?
The difference in current market cap alone not taking into account KCL has significantly more inferred resource is $76M
I think that $78M cash would put them way past where ALM is, likely to the pilot plant stage.
Of course this will take time but Paul Matysek has a lot of room here to accomplish what ALM has and more without approaching thier valuation.
Near term I figure KCL has to issue about 10 million shares for in money warrants etc which would bump thier cash up to about $9.5M
Current 3D seismic and drilling definition budget is $5.5M not sure what the drilling budget will be.
$4M should get things started anyway.
Thanks, thats a very good point you bring up but is it not taken care of already in the 25% ratio to BHP?
If KCL persues a project 1/4 the size that BHP/ALM do then they wont necessarily suffer any more dilution to finance than ALM.
I am assuming that ALM will have to finance 25% of any project they do though, is this correct?
tbv can you expand on your statement regarding ALM finances and float or show me where I am off base?
I have been trying to compare KCL to ALM, with respect to the properties ALM is ahead by a year or more which justifies a discount on KCL.
But IMO a 70% discount is unjustified http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=25142959
Re cash and float I get $7.5M cash for ALM from thier Nov.29 statements, KCL has $2.4M cash (agm info)
both insignificant IMO when compared to thier market caps.
If I use a generous 40% discount on KCL for the development stage then KCL should still trade at $5.86
I would sure like to have ALM investors show me what I am missing.
Time to revisit an old comparison I did to ALM...
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/replies.asp?msg=18997368
So again using todays values from SW...
Using ALM market cap of $146M/580M tonnes = 25 cents per ton K2O.
KCL market cap is $70M/970M tonnes = 7.2 cents per ton K2O.
25/7.2 = 3.47 Target price for KCL 3.47 * 2.81 = $9.76
Play with KCL http://www.3dchem.com/topdrugs.asp?ID=37#
click on the picture on the site to interact with the 3D model of KCL - POTASSIUM CHLORIDE
I will buy a round of golf too... http://www.thailandgolfholidays.com/index.htm
I couldn't resist!
How about one share for every minute reading this board? lol
Enough to paper the outhouse!
lol i think we got still have our heads above water despite the weight in our pockets
either that or Megas is insane for not walking away long ago
Its survival of the fittest now then
Thanks, logical, perhaps small shareholders should incorporate together.
This part I dont get...
Such action, if undertaken and completed, would also result in the reduction of the number of our shareholders
Potash One says new name suits primary business
2007-12-06 12:26 MT - News Release
Mr. Paul Matysek reports:
ISX CHANGES NAME TO POTASH ONE INC.
ISX Resources Inc. (the Company ) is pleased to announce that it s name has changed to Potash One Inc. The name change was approved at the Annual and Special Shareholders meeting held on November 21, 2007 to better reflect the ongoing business and operational focus of the Company which is the development of potash deposits.
The Company also reports that it successfully secured the trading symbol, KCL (Effective December 6, 2007), which accurately describes the nature of the Company's operations. KCL denotes the chemical compound potassium chloride also commonly known as muriate of potash. KCl is the most common chemical compound when referring to potash, which is one of the key ingredients in fertilizers for plants. With the recent appointment of Mr. Paul Matysek as the new CEO and President and the name change, the Company is now solely focused on developing its significant potash property in southern Saskatchewan, the largest potash producing region in the world. The Company controls over 97,000 acres of previously explored potash-bearing property which is directly adjacent to a large potash producing mine to the south of the Company s property. The Legacy Project shares the same geological structure with this currently producing potash solution mine.
Potash One s Legacy Project in Saskatchewan was previously explored by Imperial Oil Ltd (now Exxon) and Lumsden Potash Corporation.
The 43-101 report completed earlier in 2007 confirms 40 million tonnes in indicated resource category and 390 million tonnes in inferred resources. The grades are consistent ranging between 19% and 22% of K2O
The Company entered the potash sector early in 2005 before the potash prices started their current uptrend. The market fundamentals such as rise in demand for agricultural goods for food and biofuels are expected to remain strong and even grow stronger. This demand is driven by continuing growth in emerging economies such as China and India where the quality and quantity of food consumption is on the rise. A new source of demand for fertilizers, thus potash, also comes from the use of grains for biofuels such as ethanol. On the other hand, the arable land worldwide is rapidly shrinking. These factors put an upward pressure on demand, driving potash prices to record levels in the recent months.
Paul Matysek, the Company s President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: This is an excellent time to be in the potash industry. We are very pleased that we could secure a company defining trading symbol, KCL , which clearly reflects our commodity focus. The new name and symbol affords Potash One the opportunity to create strong brand recognition in the fertilizer market and investment world. We are in the best potash producing area of the world with an established infrastructure that will significantly facilitate our development plans. Potash One is already conducting a number of technical and financial studies that will allow us to advance our previously explored potash project to the next development stage .
Notice to Shareholders
The common shares of the Company are expected to commence trading on December 6, 2007 under the new trading symbol KCL and new Cusip No. 73755F100 and ISIN No. CA 73755F1009.
In connection with the Company's name change, the Company has adopted a new form of share certificate showing the new name, Cusip number and ISIN number. New share certificates will be issued in the normal course further to share transfers and other share transactions. In the meantime, share certificates showing the former name of ISX Resources Inc. will continue to represent the common shares of the Company and it will not be necessary for you to exchange your existing share certificates for new share certificates. Should you wish to obtain the new form of share certificate, however, you may do so by submitting your existing share certificate to the company's transfer agent, as follows:
Computershare Investor Services Inc., Third Floor,
510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3B9
Attention: Stock Transfer Department.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Paul F. Matysek, M.Sc., P.Geo.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (604) 331-4431
Fax: (604) 608-4979
info@potash1.com
About POTASH ONE Inc.
POTASH ONE Inc. is a Canadian potash company engaged in the identification, acquisition, exploration and development of advanced resource properties. The Company has a solid balance sheet and experienced technical and corporate management to advance its current project to the next level. The primary interests of the Company include an option to acquire 100% interest in a 97,240 acre Potash Subsurface Exploration permit in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Forward Looking Statement
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to e forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address further production, reserve potential, exploration and development activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions such statements are not guarantees of further performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forwardlooking statements include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see our public filings at www.sedar.com for further information.
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
We seek Safe Harbor.
Potash One new listing amendment
2007-12-06 14:45 MT - New Listing
Further to the TSX Venture Exchange bulletin dated Dec. 5, 2007, Potash One Inc. has advised that the following information is amended:
Capitalization: Unlimited shares with no par value, of which 24,958,422 shares are issued and outstanding