We aren’t sure who brought it home.  Wendy works with the public and I work in a homeless shelter which was asked to house homeless people who have H1N1.  While I don’t expect Safeway employees to get the vaccination first, I was a little disgusted that none of our staff were given the chance to get H1N1 vaccinations by the same health district that was sending people infected with the disease to us to be taken care of.  I know how big the Saskatoon Health Region is but you would have thought in some of the pandemic planning that is done, shelter provider staff would have been seen as a high risk people group to catch the disease.  It’s weird as these patients are refused services by hotels and motels and yet the expectations is that shelter staff will take care of them, despite the fact that most our housing is congregate housing in dorms.  On my to-do list is to figure out a way that the next time this happens, our shelter and other housing providers get a little more care and support.

It wasn’t a lot of fun being that sick.  Fevers of 105 get on my nerves quickly.  It also wasn’t fun seeing Wendy that sick and especially seeing Oliver get that sick again (it’s been a bad year for the little guy).  A couple of quick thanks though.  Mark was kept home so he didn’t infect the half of his school whose parents decided not to vaccinate their kids and he was a lot of help taking care of Oliver while Wendy and I were bed ridden.  Also as Wendy was tweeting some of our suffering to Twitter (and then to Facebook), we got a call from Brenda England who gave some wonderful advice and that was to get the Tamiflu as soon as possible.  Finally, Gloria phoned up and asked if she could bring by some food.  Wendy called her back and gave her a list.  I am not sure what she brought but there was fresh grapes on that list and on a day when I felt beyond horrible, those grapes tasted amazing.

New York City startups are as likely to be focused on the arts and crafts as on the bits and bytes, to be influenced by our unparalleled culture as by the latest browser features, and informed by the dynamic interaction of different social groups and classes that’s unavoidable in our city, but uncommon in Silicon Valley. Best of all, the support for these efforts can come from investors and supporters that are outside of the groupthink that many West Coast VC firms suffer from. When I lived in San Francisco, it was easy to spend days at a time only interacting with other web geeks; In New York, fortunately, that’s impossible.

Am I biased? Sure. But are there half a dozen startups anywhere in the world as interesting and full of potential as these new NYC efforts? Isn’t it exciting that these are all built around the full potential of the open web, instead of merely trying to be land grabs within the walled gardens of closed platforms? I’m more optimistic about the environment and opportunity for starting new ventures than I’ve been in ages, and for me the fundamental reasons why are demonstrated best by startups that could only happen in New York City.

Even technology is contextual.

The White church is slowly being pushed toward the margins of a culture it once dominated.

• Cell phone towers are replacing church steeples as key geographic (and cultural) markers
• For all its political effort, the religious right has come up largely empty handed
• The fastest growing faith segment in America is the “nones” those who claim no religion

The Good News: The Black church has been operating from the margins from its inception

• They’ve never had power or influence over the majority culture
• They’ve always had to do more with less
• They have experience with being ignored
• They’ve developed practical gospel that brings heaven to humans (as well as humans to heaven)
• They produced the most significant Christian leader of the 20th Century Martin Luther King Jr.

The Bad News: We’ve rarely asked them for help

• We have largely ignored their accomplishments
• We have been suspicious of their version of the gospel

The Best News: If we ask, they’re willing to help us

• Create a more practical gospel
• Become more about others and less about ourselves

Make sure you read the entire post.

You know, for when the Word of God isn’t exciting enough for the NASCAR fan in your life, this version brings testimonies and photographs of the popular race personalities with whom they work on a daily basis: the drivers, the pit crews, the media spokespeople, and others associated with the world of racing.

The release of the government’s mid-year financial report Thursday shows it now projecting it will take in only $109 million from potash royalties and taxes – $1.8 billion below what it forecast in its spring budget.

The government is now spending more than it is taking in, even with higher-than-expected oil royalties, tax revenues and federal transfers.

That has required a drawdown from the reserve Growth and Financial Security Fund of $564.3 million and a special dividend from Crown Investments Corp. of $460 million from the sale of the government’s share of SaskFerco.

However on a summary basis – which includes all of the operations of government including the Crowns – a deficit projected at $25 million at budget is now pegged at $1.05 billion.

The NDP were all over this today.  I’ll link to Cam Broten’s website who posted the NDP press release and response to the deficit.

I liked how it started.

With the release of the Mid-Year Financial Report, NDP Finance critic Trent Wotherspoon said the Wall government has confirmed that it is responsible for the biggest example of fiscal incompetence in the history of Saskatchewan. He said the combination of grossly inflated potash revenue projections, equity stripping from Crown Corporations, and out-of-control government spending has left the province with a $1 Billion deficit on a summary financial basis and a financial blunder not seen in generations.

“Private forecasters, industry representatives, and the NDP Opposition all cautioned against the fantasyland numbers the Wall government put forward in its budget,” Wotherspoon said. “But cheerleading and popular promises ruled the day with no thought as to whether or not the expert advice it received should have been taken into account.”

Then it gets a bit weird as it moves for attacking “out of control spending” and attacks spending cuts.

Wotherspoon said the Wall government’s fiscal mismanagement isn’t just about numbers on a page; people are being asked to pay for its incompetence through cuts to healthcare, education, rural programs, and their quality in life in general. He noted that among the cuts was $122 million from the construction of long-term care facilities in rural Saskatchewan and $32 million from new school infrastructure.

So on one hand the NDP are criticizing the Sask. Party for running a huge deficit (which they should) while at the other hand trying to get upset or cutting spending to keep government spending under control.

I have friends and I respect people in both parties and here is my advice on to handle the situation.

Saskatchewan Party: You missed your revenue predictions by $1.8 billion dollars.  I would fire whoever made that prediction because I agree with the NDP on this one, when you came out with this budget, you must have known it was going to be a bad year for potash prices.  Even I knew it was going to be a bad year for commodity prices going into a global recession.  To keep this from happening again, I would come up with an independent office of economic forecasters that would give guidance to the government that were outside the Ministry of Finance and therefore outside the influence of the political pressures that lead to really bad budget forecasting.  Don’t go half-way with this.  Give it legitimacy, give it some independence, and fund it properly.  I am not an economist but I know many of them have ideological bents on how the world is going to pan out and that is natural.  Even the best economists are also going to make mistakes.  I can accept that (not $1.8 billion dollar mistakes but some mistakes).   What I want to see as a voter and a taxpayer is a process in budget forcasting that is non-partisan and transparent.  This would go a long way in restoring some confidence in your budget predictions which have been questioned by the media for over a year. If you want us to trust you again, you need to take some steps to ensure you don’t miss your targets again.  Again, as a Saskatchewan voter and taxpayer I want to hear what your plan is to pay back your billion dollar boondoggle sooner rather than later.  It’s a lot of money and you are going to take a beating in the press and in the Legislature but it’s better to deal with it up front and head on and then move on then play political games with it.  Dealing with it this way will hopefully stop the comparisons to the Devine Tories of the 1980s.

Also, potash prices didn’t just fall last week.  I know you a governing party doesn’t want to give negative financial updates every month but it seems prudent during a time of unstable financial times to offer a more transparent accounting of the public purse in regards how we are doing compared to our predictions.

NDP: Maybe they should not use the same press release to attack out of control spending and then attacking spending cuts.  Use two pieces of paper and maybe send out two different press releases.  Despite not liking the wording and structure of their release, the NDP have the high ground here, as they are the ones that slayed the deficit that last time.  If I was the NDP, I would have a reunion luncheon with Roy Romanow, Janice MacKinnon, Eric Cline, and others who had to go through year after year of budget cuts to talk about how hard it was and the consequences of deficit financing in the Devine years had on the 1990s in Saskatchewan.  While you are at it, give out a lot of copies of Minding the Public Purse to remind us again how hard it was to make those cutbacks as a government but also to remind us voters how hard it was to see things we care about in Saskatchewan to be cut.  If I was Trent Wotherspoon, I would also use the term “billion dollar boondoggle” a lot in the days ahead but that is just me.  Boondoggle is such a great word.

For both parties, I would love to see a real debate on their visions for the future.  A future that involves peak oil, a liquidity crisis turning into a long term government debt crisis, a future where our federal government seems destined to burden all of us with long term debt (again), higher interest rates, cut transfer payments, and potentially higher unemployment.   Are we going to grow ourselves out of this mess (doubtful) or make drastic spending cuts?  Will we see a higher PST and income tax rates in our future?  Will the burden be put on businesses or individuals or will someone come up with a new path to take?  Tough times are ahead and it would be refreshing to hear the vision of both major parties in Saskatchewan (and for that matter, I would like to hear the Liberal Party vision as well) about the role of Saskatchewan in a smaller, less affluent world will look like.

Straight from the Leftorium, the MEC Left Handed Slingpack.  Wendy has had a slingpack for years and just about jumped for joy when I told her that there was a left handed version available.  She may have actually wept a tear of joy.

Topeak Alien III Mini Folding Bicycle Tool :: 25 function folding tool with bag will keep you biking all day long, even if your body won’t want you to.

Pelican 1050 waterproof case :: These are great camera/GPS/iPod cases.  They are water proof, padded, floatable, and strong enough to take a lot of abuse in the back of your trunk or any backpack.  They are pretty much indestructible which means that of all of the things you have to worry about, this isn’t one of them.

While this cycling computer/GPS by Garmin may be out of your price range, the Cateye Wireless Bicycle Computer displays speed, max speed, average speed, trip distance, 2nd trip distance, total distance, elapsed time, and a clock for a very affordable price with a big screen for easy viewing.

Leatherman Wave Multitool with Leather Sheath :: The most popular full-size Leatherman tool has been upgraded with larger knives, stronger pliers, longer wire cutters and all-locking blades. The pliers have been redesigned to withstand more than double the previous squeezing load.

Outdoor Coffee Press :: Now there is no reason to bring that horrible tasting Starbucks Via coffee with you when you go camping or hiking.  Instead bring some fresh ground coffee or loose leaf tea with you and make some excellent coffee when ever you want with this outdoor coffee press.  In case you have never made coffee with a coffee press, check out the definitive guide to making good coffee by Derek Powazek.  Of course you won’t bring a bean grinder with you on most trips but it gives you an idea of what it takes to make a good cup of coffee while on the road.  Of course you need something to drink it from.  You may want to check out some excellent stainless steel coffee mugs/beer mugs to drink from.

Cammenga Lensatic Compass :: This is the Rolls Royce of compasses.  It has been used by U.S. troops, foreign militaries, law enforcement, and special forces for years. A total of seven Tritium light sources provide readability in total darkness for 10 years without external power or the need to "recharge" using a flashlight.

Coleman Aluminum Cookset :: It’s a four piece cookset for under $9 on Amazon.com.  They weigh almost nothing and have some good reviews.  While they won’t replace your cookware at home.  Coleman has a non-stick set as well.  If you want something stainless steel, Texsport makes a set for under $14.

I already mentioned this Pathfinder watch from Casio.  Is there anything this watch can’t do?  It includes a digital compass, altimeter, barometer and thermometer.  It’s altitude measurement up to 10,000 meters in the air and 100 meters under water.  I am still a fan of Timex Atlantis 100 watches which you can give with the stainless steel or the more traditional polyurethane strap.   For those of you who are Timex Ironman fans, don’t overlook their latest reincarnation.

All three seasons of Survivorman on DVD.  You can order them from the Les Stroud Productions store.  Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3.  We have all three DVDs and they are a lot of fun to watch.  You can also order them from Amazon as well.  Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3.  In case you just want to see how Les Stroud survives in the American wilderness, you can order this DVD as well.

Not only is Mark a big fan of the show but Wendy has become quite a fan as well which around here is the entire television viewing family.

In case you want to take some photos while you are out in the wild, you will want a Camera Pod.  I recently ordered one and have come to love it.  Despite being made in Canada, Amazon.com won’t ship them here and so you can order them from Les Stroud Productions or get them from The Pod.ca.  If you are in the United States, you can get them from Amazon.com.  You may also be interested in this Pedco Lightweight Camera Tripod.

While we are talking about Les Stroud and Survivorman, you may want to consider his book, Survive!.  While it isn’t on Amazon.com, there is another edition with full color photographs and the ultimate edition comes with a DVD as well but the paperback can be picked up at Amazon.com.

For other Christmas Gift Guides keep checking out the Christmas gift idea category for other ideas as we keep creeping closer and closer to Christmas.

I awaited the news about Google Chrome OS today with some interest to see if it was going to provide me with some guidance over whether I should finally give up Windows and move to Chrome OS.  The advantages of Chrome can be found in the video below.  It’s faster and really optimized for the web which is cool as I spend probably 90% of my time on the web now.

That’s the kicker, I spend probably 90% of my time there but even with my laptop, a netbook, or even my iPod Touch, I spend some pretty critical time offline (click here to see my list of essential Windows applications) and I just can’t myself giving them up, even on a netbook.  Giving up Photoshop (or even Gimp), the Flickr Uploadr, AbiWord, Open Office, or even iTunes isn’t high on my list of priorities.  Yes I keep a lot of my photos and e-mail in the cloud and we are highly reliant on Google Apps at work, I just can’t imagine giving up desktop apps, even on my iPod Touch for the sake of more speed in bootup.  In fact, I wonder if Google OS’s main competition won’t be my desktop or notebook computer but rather the iPhone/iPod Touch from Apple.  Around the house we go days without logging into my computer at home because of the easy and convenience of my iPod Touch.  I can blog, Twitter, and check e-mail from while while reading the New York Times and the Globe and Mail (btw, the Globe and Mail app is WAY BETTER than the New York Times app).  It’s just so much more convenient and so much faster than firing up the old Dell.  Yet at the same time, when I need to get some work done offline, I need that too (like when I am at the lake, on a plane, or in a place that doesn’t have wifi – which even in downtown Saskatoon, there are places that aren’t wifi enabled, despite the best efforts of Saskatchewan Connected!). I will pay for Windows or find a Linux version to run.  Since we are an iPod family, it will probably be Windows for the foreseeable future.

In an interview I shot with Eddie Gibbs a couple of years ago (no longer available online, I’m afraid), Eddie talked about the present seminary model that leads to students incurring huge debts in pursuit of their Masters Degrees. He commented that his banker, financial advisor and a real estate agent he knew were all M.Div’s who couldn’t afford to work full time at a church – they wouldn’t be able to service their seminary education debt.

Eddie was bold enough to suggest that seminaries needed to learn how to give their education away for free – like MIT and Stanford are doing. (Not that I expect to see that any time soon.) He also suggested that churches needed to be the ones sending folk to seminaries, paying for that education and expecting the seminarians to return to their sending community to work there or to be sent out from that community to plant new churches.

This is where the Disseminary makes so much sense to me.

A new Swiss Army knife :: I bought one for my groomsmen and myself from MEC 12 years ago and it is showing it’s age and needs to be replaced.  This year might be a good year to do it.  While I really like my multi-tool, a lot of days, I just want a pocket knife in my front pocket.

I couldn’t help but notice this Pathfinder watch from Casio.  Is there anything this watch can’t do?  It includes a digital compass, altimeter, barometer and thermometer.  It’s altitude measurement up to 10,000 meters in the air and 100 meters under water.

I am still a fan of Timex Atlantis 100 watches which you can give with the stainless steel or the more traditional polyurethane strap.  Timex also has put out these really nice looking NHL team watches.  Not that I am biased but I think this one looks the best.

This is more for the cabin but I thought these dynamite fire starting sticks from Cabelas were a lot of fun. Though the contents of this sturdy wood crate will not move mountains, they will start your fireplace. One look at the realistic "dynamite" crate will have family and friends looking twice. Each cedar wood crate contains 20 fire-starter sticks. They are made of paraffin and sawdust for a long, hot burn. Each stick will burn approximately 30 minutes setting ablaze even the most stubborn wood.   Plus, Cabelas sent me a $20 gift certificate a months ago because I responded to a question on Twitter for them and I need to spend it on something.

Snowshoes and Solitude :: We are a big fan of the show Survivorman around the house but one of the questions I always have is how we he do if his isolation lasted longer than 7 days.  According to some friends who have seen the DVD, Snowshoes and Solitude goes a long way in answering that question and I am told it is worth watching and owning.

Saskatchewan Roughriders: Welcome Sign :: If I get this, I plan to hang it in the cabin but it would also look good at home.  I also am hoping for a Saskatchewan Roughriders water bottle and a Saskatchewan Roughriders magnet.  The water bottle is for our house.  The magnet is for the Reimer’s front door which they painted Rider Green while at the same time still being Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans.

A Harmonica :: While I still can play the alto saxophone (or as I and Homer Simpson prefer to call it, the Saxomaphone, I really don’t have the desire to get the rust off and I never learned to play by ear.  The other night I suggested to Wendy, “I want to play the harmonica.” which threw her for a loop.  After waiting for the punch line, she asked me why I would want to.  At least it’s not the bagpipes.

The SAS Survival Handbook :: Mark and I are planning to do some hiking this summer and I think it would be fun to teach him some of the stuff found in this book and Les Stroud’s book Survive!.  Mark loves watching Survivorman and I think we will have a blast learning this stuff together.  Plus, Mark has already said he was going to eat a grasshopper kabob after watching this episode of Survivorman and wants to learn how to make a fire to cook them on.

NCAA 2010 for the PSP :: While I love the NFL, there is something about college offences and the ability to run a triple option attack is fun.  Plus, I now know that Notre Dame can’t stop it.  That being said, Madden 10 would be pretty cool and I can see if I can do more with JaMarcus Russell than Tom Cable can.

LittleBigPlanet for PSP :: I was over at my brother Lee’s place and he has it for the PS3.  Mark was enthralled, Wendy had fun and even Lee was enjoying it.  It looks fun, Mark will borrow the game, and I can see Wendy killing some time with it.  Good enough for me.

I couldn’t help but notice these great customizable Denver Broncos shirts from NFL Shop.com.

There you go, it’s not a big list but it doesn’t really matter what I get for Christmas but I thought I would post it to give some ideas in case you know of someone who is as insane as I am.

Last Thursday I was watching Rutgers play football and I saw a segment on the Fat Darrell Sandwich.  It was stunned and amazed by a sandwich that is made from chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, French fries, marinara sauce, and assorted lettuce and tomatoes.  Yes, that’s what I said, a sandwich with all of that fun stuff in it.

We are testing them out for Christmas Day, if neither myself or the kitchen staff die while eating it (I wonder if my Worker’s Comp plan covers “death by sandwich”), we plan to serve them up at the Centre.  Santa Claus is a warped and twisted human being. 

Oh right, in case you are interested, there is a Fat Darrell Sandwich Facebook group.

Of course before I get to the list, I need to tell you a story from Wendy.  Years ago she was working Christmas Eve at the Safeway on 8th and Cumberland.  In the morning it is really busy but by noon, it quiets down except for people running in for snacks for the road and people who have forgotten a few items.  Around 4:00 p.m. when the store was empty a guy comes in and desperately says, “Do you sell any jewelry that my wife would like?”.  Wendy was polite but wanted to suggest he just move out now as he is going to be in the dog house for a long, long time.

• CBC Radio Retro Reporters Bag :: This has road tested for a year as I got it for Wendy last year and it is in still new condition.  Wendy uses it as a camera bag, diaper bag, road trip bag, and everyday running around town bag.  Made of durable cotton canvas with rugged adjustable strap. Small inside pocket. Two snap positions for smaller/larger contents.  Measures approximately 12″ high, 14″ wide and 3″ deep expanding to roughly 7″.  The only thing that Wendy didn’t like about the bag is that it snaps up and not zippers up.  That being said, she hasn’t lost anything out of it so it hasn’t been an issue and like I said, it stood up well.
• iPod Touch :: Wendy never had any interest in having an iPod Touch until she started to play around with mine one night.  While the iPod Touch is pretty cool, she fell in love with the apps.  I like the idea that I can sync it up with Google Calendar and Google Contacts which means that Wendy and I are on the same page with our schedules and our phone books.  While we are a Yahoo! family, there is a great Yahoo! app in addition to great Dopplr, Flickr, Twitter, and other stuff that makes things like better. In addition to the practical apps, there are also some fun games that Mark loves when I am in meetings, waiting in the car while running errands or even heading to the lake.  It also has the amazing NFB app which allows you to download NFB videos and watch them later.  I can see it getting used a lot at the cabin.
• Nintendo DS Lite or Nintendo DSi :: I never really thought of this as a gift idea for Wendy but several women at work have one or want one.  When I brought it up to Wendy, she thought it was a great idea because of how easy it is for her to play against Mark and his Nintendo DS Lite.  Everyone is suggesting Brain Age but don’t forget the Namco Museum Classics.
• I know Sarah Palin’s autobiography is a big seller right now but instead why not get her a book by someone that has actually accomplished something in life.  I recommend Madame Secretary by Madeleine Albright.  It’s a bit long but documents a fascinating time in American’s foreign policy where there was great achievements and big mistakes.
• Don’t let the computer geeks in your life get all the cool toys, get her a Kodak Zi8 camcorder.  While at first glance all of these cameras are equal, Kodak’s Zi8 is really a step above in quality.  It has full HD 1080p video. You get sharper videos and less blur thanks to built-in image stabilization.  There are no cables to worry about–just swing out the USB arm to upload, share and charge.  You can share on Facebook and YouTube with ease–built-in software makes editing and uploading simple.  It is compatible with PC and MAC (Use with Apple iLife Suite of products) operating systems and is compatible with iTunes for syncing with Apple TV, iPhone and iPod Devices.
• Electric Fondue Set :: Wendy loves a good fondue (me not so much) but one of the problems is getting the heat settings correct with candles.  These electric fondue sets not only look cool but allow you to keep the chocolate/cheese melted without creating that wonderful burnt fondue smell.  If you want to stay old school, Jysk has a great 23 piece fondue set.
• 10 Piece Chromium Frame Set :: If the person you are shopping for is a photographer, why not spoil her with his great 10 piece frame set.  Make sure you shell out and pay for her prints made as well.
• Suddenly Sauna Foot Spa :: This comes from Bath and Body Works but it is a foot treatment that starts with disposable booties that slowly warm up when you add water to them.  Apparently women love them and they come with hand spas as well.
• Wendy is legendary for taking my tools and never putting them back.  It drives me insane.  I have thought about booby trapping them but instead a better solution would be to get her a toolkit for herself starting with this designer toolbox.  Sadly you know that your tools will end up in here as well but at least they will be put away… someplace.

You can find more Christmas Gift Guides here.

Swept out to sea by a riptide, a father and his 12-year-old son struggle to stay alive miles from shore. As night falls, with no rescue imminent, the dad comes to a devastating realization: If they remain together, they’ll drown together.

1. The rise of neo-Calvinist movements in the United States
2. They have the model of Tim Keller which is both a good thing (he is a good model) and a bad thing (historically models are highly contextualized).

We’ll see if that is enough to get them going and keep them going as this is no small task as for all of the talk about church planting, not a lot of denominations and churches have shown themselves to very good at it over an extended period of time.  Denominational programs are often met with a lot of passive aggressive behaviour because many church leaders feel that they have “seen it all before” and “this will pass”. The one advantage that the PCA has it is a relatively new denomination which means that they they may pull it off.

The article does include this sobering fact.

Since 1970 the rate of church planting has been increasing but only marginally. The net gain in churches over the last eight years has been about one sixth of what would have been needed to keep up with population growth.

via

I have worn ball hats ever since then and they have served me well.  After burning my ears and neck this year at the lake, I decided to go with something else.  I was running some errands and decided to go out to Wholesale Sports Outdoor Outfitters today.  Generally I don’t enjoy Outdoor Outfitters as most of the guys in there are trying to purchase firearms, including a surprising amount of guys looking for hand guns.  To be honest, not many of them inspire confidence in their ability to handle even a airsoft gun.

Today we went in there and it was really quiet and outside of the guy in front of my spending $2,000 on a rifle and scope, there weren’t even guys shopping for guns and I didn’t have that normal feeling that I was going to be shot by a stray bullet.  Wendy had far too much fun looking at Christmas ornaments with Santa Claus in a variety of hunting and fishing roles and I found a bosun hat that should keep the sun off.  Now I did try on a couple of Tilley hats and are they spectacular.  I didn’t want to shell out $80 for a hat but if I was so inclined, they would be the hat that I would purchase.  They fit and look great.  However since I am going to wear it while out hiking or working outside at the cabin, it wasn’t really won’t get enough use to justify the price.

As I was walking out of there, I realized that Wendy has a similar hat and Mark has a camouflage one.  We are going to have to coordinate which days we wear them as we go out.  Either that or I am at risk of being kicked out of the Wiserhood.

Most investors looking for the "next big thing" seek out whiz-bang investments like alternative energy, lifesaving biotech drugs, handheld Internet devices and, for doomsayers, hard assets like gold.

Railroads, which had their heyday in another era, are rarely mentioned as a must-have investment for those looking to get rich.

So why is Warren Buffett, arguably the world’s most famous and successful investor, betting more than $26 billion of his spare cash to acquire all of Texas-based railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe?

On Tuesday, Buffett turned heads on Wall Street when he placed his biggest bet of his career on rails — and the battered USA economy, for that matter.

Here is why he is doing it.

"Burlington Northern Santa Fe last year moved, on average, a ton of goods 470 miles on a single gallon of diesel, and society has an enormous interest in using less oil to transport goods," Buffett says.

Indeed, Buffett very much likes the green component to his rail investment, likening it to an energy-saving play.

"Each train displaces 280 trucks on the road," Buffett says. "When it comes to spewing pollutants there is nothing more efficient than trains. It is very much in line with the future goals of society. While the railroads won’t take over the world it is something that is part of the future."

Okay, this is why this is interesting to me.  Buffett is making a massive investment based on the idea that Peak Oil is real and it’s going to influence how we travel, move goods, and our way of life.  You also can’t notice that in some ways, he is betting against cars or at least how expensive it is going to be to get from Point A to Point B.  That is something that will reshape not only the transportation of goods but cities, how we interact as communities, and where we live.  It’s something that you never hear from government officials, probably because governments are good at a lot of things but planning for the future is not one of them.

It’s a conversation that the church needs to have.  For the last two decades the idea has been big campuses with lots of parking on the outskirts of town or in the suburbs.  The question I have is as gas prices rise, those in lower income brackets will see their world get a lot smaller, will the churches just be refuges for those who are rich enough to get to them or even worse, will the impact on the church, be the same as it expected for sprawling and emptying out suburbs.

Where I am at the moment: As Dopplr says, I am at home in Saskatoon.  While I wrote this post Sunday night from home, I am probably walking to the office as it goes live.

On my to-do list this week:  Today is spent out at Beaver Creek Camp for a management planning day, then there is the Christmas Kettle kickoff breakfast and the Red Shield Luncheon along with some night shifts interspersed in there.

Procrastinating about: Not a lot, I have a busy week ahead of me.

Book I’m in the midst of: Actually I printed off the 1998 Air Force Academy’s Offensive Playbook which describes the basics of their Flexbone offense and I have been reading a lot about that and the Triple Option that is run by Navy which just gave Notre Dame fits.  If Lou Holtz makes a coaching comeback, I should be able to get a job on his staff.

Favorite Photo of the Last Week:

A wonderful HDR photo of downtown Chicago by Matt Muldre

Music that seemed to catch my attention this past week:  I ordered the Survivorman soundtrack and it came this week.  It’s a pretty good CD and I am enjoying it a lot.

How I’m feeling about this week:  Not to bad, not too bad at all.

The “If Bill Billicheck Coached in the CFL” Rider Hoodie :: With a pair of scissors, you can convert it to a short sleeve model as well.   You can get one of these for any CFL team at the CFL store but let’s be honest, you only need a Saskatchewan Roughriders one. | $89.95 (Can) at the Rider Store

Saskatchewan Roughrider Fans Gather Here Wall Sign :: Not only does this sign look great hanging on your wall, it also let’s your brother-in-law from B.C. know that if he comes over on game day, he is going to get a big wedgie from your friends. | $29.95 at the Rider Store.  Around $25 at other sports collectible places.

Notre Dame Football T-Shirt and the Notre Dame Football Sideline T-Shirt ::  I know the Charlie Weis era has been hard for Notre Dame football fans but better times are coming (we hope).  Either way a Notre Dame t-shirt for you or someone you love shows that you are no bandwagon jumper and you are in this for the long haul, no matter how many times in a row that USC beats Notre Dame.

Saskatchewan Roughriders BBQ cover :: I have one of these at the lake and not only does it look cool, it is a really high quality barbecue cover and is the envy or Rider fans at Arlington Beach. | $69.95 (Can) at the Rider Store but quite a bit cheaper at Canadian Tire.

Calgary Flames Upgrade Crew T-Shirt :: The Upgrade Crew Tee, part of the Reebok Face-Off collection, features:

• 100% cotton jersey
• Team name and logo screen printed across the chest
• Reebok logo located on the left sleeve
• Ribbed crew neck

Sure you can an Edmonton Oilers version but why would you want to be seen out in public in one? | $24.99 (USD)

Hockey Night in Canada Retro Puck & Stick Rug :: While Gary Bettman doesn’t respect the traditions of the NHL, that doesn’t mean that you can’t.  Check out this retro Hockey Night in Canada welcome rug which would look great every Saturday night as you host your friends and family for the Hockey Night in Canada double header.  Now if we could only find a way to automatically mute the television whenever Kelly Hrudey comes on. | $39.99 (Can) from CBC Shop

A customizable NFL team t-shirt or hoodie from NFL Shop.com.  These are great looking short and long sleeve shirts that have customizable front, back and sleeves.  They start about $20 for a basic shirt and can go up to $40 by the time you are done finishing it.

A pair of RB/WR NFL gloves :: If the person on your shopping list played high school football or above, there is a good chance he or she had a pair of these.  While they won’t keep you that warm, they are a great three season glove that can be worn while biking, hiking, or calling plays during the big game from the sideline.

If your better half is like Wendy, they get a little tired of all of this sports stuff laying around.  The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a solution in the form of this great looking gear locker.  This Gamebox fits perfectly in any den, sports room, office etc and is designed with the highest attention to detail and quality. The easy-to-clean Roughriders Gamebox is scratch resistant, and is decorated with the vintage Roughriders logos, enhanced with the 13 man logo and provide the official licensed word marks. Dimensions: 34"w X 18"h X 18 1/4"d | $249.99 (Can) from the Rider Store

Spalding NBA sized Street Basketball :: You need a decent quality basketball for when friends come over or when you step outside and address the 4 for 56 three point shooting streak you are on.  You could use the Spongebob Squarepants basketball your kid bought at Wal-Mart or you can ask for a decent looking Spalding basketball.  While your game may have gone missing, at least you can look like you can still execute a pick and roll, even if you can’t. | $19.59 (USD) from Amazon.com

SIGMA BC906 9-Function Topline Wired Bicycle Speedometer :: The ability to monitor individual rides, and overall training schedules is important to the serious cyclist. The BC 906 tracks your trip, your overall speed, distance, and riding time as well as allowing you compare your actual speed with your average speed. Complete functions include: clock; actual maximum and average speed; comparison of actual and average speed; trip and total distance; trip and total riding time; language selection (seven languages); and low-battery indicator. Also, the BC906’s small, low-profile keeps wind resistance to a minimum, its twist-mount, no tools required design ensures quick installation and its included 3-volt lithium CR2032 battery provides long-lasting power. | $20 (USD) at Amazon.com

Sportscraft Pubmaster Dart Board :: The official size 18-inch dartboard has traditional colors with steel tensile steel spider and high visibility numbers. You can throw either steel or soft tip darts at the bullseye!  Plus with no one really knowing when or if the economy is going to come back, having bunch of friends over for a night of darts is a lot cheaper than a night at the pub or doing much else now that I think of it.  The great thing about darts (and bowling) is that you don’t have to be good at it to have a good time playing it. | $19.99 (USD) at Amazon.com

Speaking of having people over, air hockey is another one of those games that one doesn’t have to be good at to have a good time playing.  Check out this free standing game for some good times.

If you have been to Mosaic Stadium, you know there are two temperatures.  Too hot and too cold.  The Saskatchewan Roughrider store has what you need to survive game day.  Here is your official Saskatchewan Roughrider thermos and water bottle.  Fill it with what you see fit.

University of Saskatchewan Huskies Basketball/Hockey Game Tickets :: It only costs $10 for adult tickets for Huskies basketball and hockey tickets.  While watching a game at Rutherford Arena takes some courage and a seat warmer, watching games at the PAC is starting to have the feel of big time NCAA college basketball.  If hockey is more your style, tickets for the Saskatoon Blades cost $16.57.  My point is that while NBA, NHL, and NFL tickets are really expensive in this economy, there are some great other semi pro, college, and minor sports that are really cheap and a lot of fun.

Check out my other Christmas gift giving guides for more ideas.

Here is the larger context.