Early Birds, November 18, 2021

Oh, say! Do we have a birder (Dwayne) who’s giving our resident birder (Michael McLennan ) a run for the feathers? To wit: our treasurer has flushed another potential bird from cover and is soon bringing him to check us out. 

Meanwhile, one of the words of the day was “Cheese”. See link at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwOGMNrFBiM

But for what might be yesterday’s best idea, check out Andy’s advice below, on how to Reset your Brain. 



Brett Bain Brett’s word of the day was, ‘Siksika’ (which I think is a Blackfoot word for Landgrab; though I could very well be wrong). Seems the local tribe is inline for a balloon payment from our federal government which could do all kinds of good. Like increase local half-ton sales for several weeks …

Sean Baylis Sean’s word is ‘dove’ as it relates to Chairman of the US fed reserve. Seems Powell may be replaced by Lael Brainard. If so, she could be a harbinger of slower interest rate growth and more dovish behaviour. • Oil prices might soon abate a bit while Sean smiles about banks, the energy sector and industrials.

Jim Bladon His word for today is not his favourite by a long shot. It’s the word ‘closed’ on too many storefront signs in small-town, Alberta. Covid has been hard on small business and it’s beginning to show on main street. • In spite of this, ConnectFirst enjoyed a record year (included launching an acclaimed TV commercial). • Jim got game: he and his hunting buddies brought down a deer and an elk, last week.

Paul Boucher. Paul’s word is ‘net30’. This is his firm mantra for the payable departments at all of his clients. But some seem deaf to the term. Ah well, maybe it’s just a build-up of earwax. Which segues into Ian’s tip … 

Ian Campbell. Your ear canal has two parts: our place and your doctor’s place. Ian’s folks - and you and I - can cleanse the outer part of the canal with a drop or two of mineral oil or water. But for the deeper recesses, only medical personnel should go there. And nota bene: Q-Tips have no part to play.

Tony Fisher. Tony’s word was ‘soccer’ and though he pushed it towards Andy several times, I doubt Andy will ever agree that The Beautiful Game is even watchable; let alone playable. • There are strange things happening under the Alberta sun and some are being conducted by the WCB. Silly stories, that make no sense at all, are leading to costly premium creep.

Garry Friedrichsen. His crystal ball is becoming black from carbon taxes. It’s a matter of Time + Simple math + Accumulating inputs. • For a hedge, he’s looking at an interesting ETF.

David Hicks. Even in Hawaii, there’s more than one way to get a PCR test in time to make your flight and be accepted back into Canada. (Still and all, Dave’s word was, I think. ‘Phew’.)

Dan Kennelly. His word could be “if” as in … if he can get his suppliers to settle down and deliver the goods, Dan could procure major components to help Seaspan build ships and icebreakers, for years to come. • But on second thought, Dan’s word of the day was ‘gazebo’. We may hear more about this in the weeks to come.

Andy Lockhart. He wonders: “How far do you have to push a Q-Tip into your ear … to Reset your Brain?” • He suggests: “If we don’t want to make it too easy for new members to join the Birds, we could insist they be able to … fog a mirror to qualify.” • “If this rain continues, we will soon be able to buy ocean front property … in Canmore.” • 

Michael McLennan. When Michael raves about fifty dollars a night hotel rooms and twenty-dollars for all-you-can-eat buffets … in the same breath that he mentions heading to New York City and Hilton Head … his word could be “contradiction”.

Brad Pascal. Which, naturally, leads us to the word “conundrum”: as it relates to the folks who complain bitterly about indoor air quality … while enjoying their cigarette smoke breaks.

Dwayne Vinck. He’s averse to touting stocks … but there is this magnesium mining company that he doesn’t particularly love … but he did buy it at 25 cents a share and it is now over a dollar … so he wonders, if he “shoulda’ told us about it earlier.

Bob Wiggins. “Pheasants”. Bob used to hunt them and ducks, too. And joke about how much a pound wild game would run you.

 - George Roberts.