Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Securities Division of the Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission issued a Temporary Cease Trade Order today for companies and individuals involved in diamond holdings in the Fort a la Corne area east of Prince Albert. The Order was issued with respect to CMKM Diamonds Inc., its predecessor Casavant Mining Kimberlite International, Urban Armand Joseph Casavant, David DeSormeau and Melvin A. O'Neil. Casavant, DeSormeau and O'Neil are officers, directors and promoters of these companies. The Securities Division is concerned about the trading activities of these companies as well as news releases they have issued about their operations.

CMKM Diamonds Inc. and its predecessor Casavant Mining Kimberlite International are Nevada-based companies with operations primarily in Saskatchewan. Their shares trade on over-the-counter market pink sheets. Vic Pankratz, Deputy Director of Enforcement for the Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission, advises that people who are interested in investing in this type of activity should first seek advice from a stock broker, lawyer, accountant, bank or Credit Union Manager, financial advisor or the Securities Division of the Saskatchewan Financial Services Commission.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Chronic Pain

At any given time around one third of Australians are in pain.The way we experience pain is very complex and there may be suffering beyond the hurt:
- many are unable to work
- there can be mental and physical deterioration
- relationships can be weakened
- families may experience disruption and financial difficulties; and
- persistent pain can lead to feelings of hopelessness and dispair

Today much can be done to relieve pain, provide greater comfort, and help many pain sufferers to regain a normal lifestyle. The first step is to seek medical attention for on-going pain. Often it is possible to resolve the problem. Sometimes the pain may need specialist medical treatment, perhaps surgery. Even where the pain cannot be resolved and suffering and disability continue, there are techniques and tools which can help people to live and work with their pain.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Washington- The U.S. Treasury Department today announced the establishment of a temporary guaranty program for the U.S. money market mutual fund industry. For the next year, the U.S. Treasury will insure the holdings of any publicly offered eligible money market mutual fund – both retail and institutional – that pays a fee to participate in the program.

President George W. Bush approved the use of existing authorities by Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. to make available as necessary the assets of the Exchange Stabilization Fund for up to $50 billion to guarantee the payment in the circumstances described below.

Money market funds play an important role as a savings and investment vehicle for many Americans; they are also a fundamental source of financing for our capital markets and financial institutions. Maintaining confidence in the money market fund industry is critical to protecting the integrity and stability of the global financial system.Concerns about the net asset value of money market funds falling below $1 have exacerbated global financial market turmoil and caused severe liquidity strains in world markets. In turn, these pressures have caused a spike in some short term interest and funding rates, and significantly heightened volatility in exchange markets. Absent the provision of such financing, there is a substantial risk of further heightened global instability.

Maintenance of the standard $1 net asset value for money market mutual funds is important to investors. If the net asset value for a fund falls below $1, this undermines investor confidence. The program provides support to investors in funds that participate in the program and those funds will not "break the buck".This action should enhance market confidence and alleviate investors' concerns about the ability for money market mutual funds to absorb a loss. Investors in money market mutual funds with a net asset value that falls below $1 would be notified that their fund triggered the insurance program.

The Exchange Stabilization Fund was established by the Gold Reserve Act of 1934. This Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, with the approval of the President, "to deal in gold, foreign exchange, and other instruments of credit and securities" consistent with the obligations of the U.S. government in the International Monetary Fund to promote international financial stability.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

National foreign direct investment policies, industrial development strategies in developing countries and regional policies of developed economies share a common focus. They all arelargely based on the concept of attracting new business to the target territory. The vision of an incoming industrial champion, who may create sustainable employment and who may be the front runner for related businesses to follow, eventually resulting in additional secondary employment effects, has been paramount among policymakers at all layers of government. This subsidies and related government supports are a widely used and important tool for investment and development policies.

Friday, December 05, 2008

European Fan Worm

The European fan worm (Sabella spallanzanii) has been found in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. It was first found in South Australia in 1985 at Outer Harbour.
Description
Flexible semi-transparent tube up to 50 cm long and 1 cm wide. Feather-like projections (radioles) extend from the tube, up to 20 cm long. Forms large meadows obscuring the seafloor. Crown of the radioles varies in colour from orange to white to red-brown. Tube outer layer often covered in greyish silt, mud and other small marine organisms. Crown with two different size lobes of radioles - one lobe has more radioles that the and forms a spiral with one of five whorls,the other lobe forms a semicircle