Oxford Dictionary Term of the Year

Carbon neutral is it. Climate change is a serious problem, caused primarily by the carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas. But there are things we can do about it - like choosing to go carbon neutral. Going carbon neutral is an easy way to take responsibility for the greenhouse gas emissions we create every time we drive our cars, take a plane, or turn on our computers. It's based on the principle that, since climate change is a global problem, an emission reduction made elsewhere has the same positive effect as one made locally. Here's how it works: if you add polluting emissions to the atmosphere, you can effectively subtract them by purchasing 'carbon offsets'. Carbon offsets are simply credits for emission reductions achieved by projects elsewhere, such as wind farms, solar installations, or energy efficiency projects. By purchasing these credits, you can apply them to your own emissions and reduce your net climate impact.
In addition, by voluntarily calculating and assigning a cost to your carbon emissions, we can begin to prepare for the inevitability of an economy in which carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are regulated and taxed. Whether you are a business or an individual, this is an important step towards managing your carbon emissions efficiently and identifying potential for reductions and savings. Purchasing high quality carbon offsets from projects such as wind farms also helps support the transition to a sustainable energy economy by providing an additional source of revenue to developers of renewable energy.

While voluntary offset programs should not be seen as a substitute for comprehensive government regulations to reduce greenhouse gases (e.g. through implementation of the Kyoto Protocol), they are a step in the right direction, and an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on climate change.

Carbon offsets also offer flexibility, as you can choose to offset just one - or all - of your major emission sources. For example, you can purchase carbon offsets to mitigate the emissions from your air travel, automobile use, or home heating. If you wish to offset the emissions from electricity, you can use either carbon offsets or a special product known as a "Renewable Energy Certificate" (REC), which is like purchasing renewable energy.
Source: David Suzuki Foundation website.

Clear Ice Sailing

Colinfucius Say

Colinfucius wish watch footy kick kick on square box. Some FA FA Cup with bloated cows bladder (very sporty provisioner) from Yingguo near Lundun. Instead Colinfucius make mistake, can't find English channel (near white cliffs buddy boy). Instead gets movie picture. Not Tootsie, Tsotsi from down under Africa. Colinfucius rates movie one black hole which weighs same as four red dwarfs or four stars.

DINK

There are many DINKS out there, not all of them with double incomes and no kids. But there is one less to-day. A huge funeral took place in Turkey this week to pay respects to the Armenian journalist Dink assassinated for speaking out in his society in particular with respect to the genocide perpetrated by Turks on Armenians 90 years ago. 100,000 showed up at this funeral which is a sign that the issue will not die despite strong denials of events by authorities over the years. In staid Ottawa, capital of Canadian political doldrums, one enduring memory I have is the couple of assassinations of Turkish diplomats by Armenians that took place in the city which revived the political pulse for a while in the 1980s.

Dumpster Diving

In the States it is a new thing among college preppies to go looking for food in the dumpsters of America. Billions of dollars worth of perfectly edible food is thrown out yearly in American society. Students, often from wealthy backgrounds, are getting to-gether to recuperate this food by going to grocery store lots and up alleys. At Georgetown University, Washington DC, they get to-gether at parties and jointly prepare the food making sure it is hygenic but reveling in their culinary creations. They will consume lots themselves but often foodbanks benefit from the dishes they slave over on the stove. Seems like pot parties just aren't what they used to be but I would hate to be the first to pan this innovative thinking.

Xmas Cracker

Well Well Well

How about this Xmas cracker Motherwell fans? Lifted from The Scotsman website Xmas Eve 2006.

THREE thrilling goals, three highly controversial red cards and a feast full of incident had this match stuffed with excitement just as the turkeys are being prepared to be roasted in the ovens. In the end nine-men Motherwell ran out victors, courtesy of Jim Paterson and Richie Foran, in one of the best SPL matches this season.

However, as Paterson, David Clarkson and Garry Hay also saw red after another solo strike from Stevie Naismith, football fans were the real winners. The wise ones among us steered clear of the shopping aisles and took in one more football match before the madness of December 25 ensues, and where better off than Kilmarnock. Last week in Inverness they thrilled their travelling support by gleaning all three points from a seven goal thriller, and again entertainment was the watchword against Motherwell in a thrilling first 45 minutes. This game had everything a neutral could ask for in a football match.

Fast, free-flowing football with blood, guts and thunderous challenges thrown in for good measure. It really was one of those days where if you blinked you'd miss something. The all-consuming action started in just three minutes when Kilmarnock were dealt a major blow with the injury of resurgent striker Paul Di Giacomo, who had to be replaced by Gary Wales.

That seemed to unsettle the home side, mindful of the fact that they could close the gap on third-placed Aberdeen with a win, and Motherwell went into the ascendancy. After Calum Elliot had wasted a real chance by sending a free header straight into the hands of Graeme Smith, Motherwell showed they meant business with the opening goal on 13 minutes. Darren Smith was provider, racing down the right flank to cut the ball inside for Scott McDonald. The Australian star, in turn, touched the ball off for Richie Foran to crash a drive in off the bar from ten yards. Four minutes later and their advantage was doubled as Elliot set up the on-rushing Jim Paterson to fire a deflected 15-yard effort over the stranded Smith.

At this point Motherwell seemed good value for their lead and with the Kilmarnock defence banishing the very mention of the word Scrooge from the Rugby Park stands, they were favoured to hand the visitors a further strike. They almost did just that on 29 minutes when Paterson picked out McDonald inside the box. One of the smallest players on the park somehow got in a header but it was well held by Smith.

Then, just before the break Kilmarnock were back in the hunt again, thanks again to their talisman Naismith. The talented Scotland youngster has made a real habit of digging his side out of a hole and he did so once again with yet another solo wonder strike. There appeared to be no immediate danger as Naismith picked up the ball on the left flank, some 40 yards from goal. However, it's dangerous to allow this livewire any sore of freedom and as he was allowed to cut inside, he spotted an opening and struck the ball high over the other Graeme Smith to make it 2-1 going into the break.

Then, as if this game needed any more twists, it took another huge one on 55 minutes in a moment of real controversy. Fir Park defender Paterson, already on a first half booking, went to the left touchline to take a throw-in. Looking over the field of play he saw team-mate Foran struggle a with a limp and delayed releasing the throw.

This, however, angered referee Brian Winter who insisted Paterson was time-wasting and the Well defender was sent up the tunnel for an early exit after picking up his second booking of the day. That meant it was all hands to the pump for the Lanarkshire side as they desperately tried to hold onto three points which could prove pivotal to their chances of top flight survival this season.

Kilmarnock had a series of chances to rescue something from this game, most notably through Naismith. Not content with one stunning strike in an afternoon he tried to make it two on 75 minutes with a curled, long-range effort into the side netting. A succession of corners and set-pieces followed from Kilmarnock but Graeme Smith far outshone his Kilmarnock namesake by dealing superbly with everything that was thrown on them. Then, just to complete an action-packed afternoon Clarkson and Hay walked after squaring up to each other on the edge of the Kilmarnock penalty area, in full view of over-fussy referee Winter.

Whats in a Name?

Graeme Smith, what a loser. Namesakes, first and last names, played between the sticks at opposite ends of the park in a recent Scottish Premier League Football clash (at Rugby Park ironically). Needless to say Smith couldn't win no matter the scoreline. Better handling could resolve that in the future maybe. Canada and England faced each other in a recent game although neither is good enough to make their respective national teams. Scotland plays for Trinidad and Tobago as far as I know and Wales plays in England and Scotland. I watched an FA Cup tussle between the outrun Athletics from Charlton who lost to Forrest from the First Division, England's third flight. The two Holts seemed to make the difference but only Garry not Grant had the "G." on his back, why? Over Xmas there were some real crackers (funny hats too). Edgar the Geordie made a name for himself depriving league leaders Man U. of two points with a late goal in only his second appearance in the first team. Can't be a bad lad since he is a Canuck from Kitchener, Ontario, once known as Berlin until the Second World War came along.