Author Archives: CanucksBanter

More bad news for bees: This is going to be a rough winter

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While you’re complaining about sub-zero temperatures this winter, just be happy you’re not a bee.

Despite recent efforts by the White House, the forecast for bee health this winter is not a good one, reports Agri-Pulse. In a blog post, Dick Rogers, the head scientist at the Bayer Bee Care Center in North Carolina, writes that his hive evaluations this year revealed “the vast majority of hives contained mite infestations well above the threshold level of concern.”

Rogers is referring to the Varroa mite, one of several causes of a recent massive decline in honeybee populations. Mites are like bee vampires, sucking bees’ bloodlike fluid hemoplymph from their bodies and weakening their immune systems. While manmade problems like pesticide use and the loss of bee habitat are also linked to the pollinators’ falling numbers, Varroa mites are “public enemy number one,” as Keith Delaplane, director of the University of Georgia Honey Bee Program told Quartz in June.

Though winters are always challenging for beekeepers, this year will be even worse. Through his 30 years of experience, Rogers says he has identified a threshold level of three mites per 100 bees as a sign that “the colony is in trouble.” (A colony can easily have 40,000 bees, making that a lot of parasites.)

The US Department of Agriculture and the Bee Informed Partnership, he says, has confirmed his own recent findings, seeing a national infestation average of seven to eight mites per 100 bees, this year.

In the US, pollinators like bees and monarchs are responsible for an estimated $15 billion in crop value annually—a mite infestation could have devastating consequences on beekeepers, who need to restock their dying hives so they can continue pollinating.

While Rogers says that the commonly used treatment for mites isn’t quite working like it once did, he says scientists are working hard to bring new varroacides to market, while other researchers are trying to breed hardier bees that will tolerate the mites better. Those solutions, though, will not be immediately helpful.

“For now,” he writes, “there is little beekeepers can do to change the hand they’ve been dealt.”

Source: More bad news for bees: This is going to be a rough winter – Quartz

Extreme weather continues for South Australia, total fire bans declared

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South Australia is set for another day of extreme pre-summer heat, with temperatures again expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius in some parts and a top of 39C expected in Adelaide.

Total fire bans have been imposed for 12 districts across the state and a cool change is not expected to arrive until late in the week.

“On Thursday, temperatures will exceed 40C in the north and east of South Australia ahead of a cool change,” meteorologist Matt Collopy said.

“Cooler conditions will spread across western and southern parts of the state on Thursday then extend to remaining parts on Friday.”

Overnight temperatures are expected to remain in the low to mid 20s for many parts of SA.

Mr Collopy warned of continuing high fire danger, after crews tackled a number of scrub and stubble blazes on Tuesday.

Country Fire Service crews are working to contain a fire at Kyeema, east of Hope Forest, south of Adelaide.

The fire has burnt through about 75 hectares of scrub with strike teams working overnight to try to gain the upper hand before temperatures soar again.

The CFS said the fire was not threatening any homes, but it is causing smoke at Willunga, Aldinga Beach, Sellicks Beach and surrounding areas.

“The combination of the very hot conditions and fresh north-westerly winds will result in severe to extreme fire weather conditions across much of the state on Wednesday and Thursday,” he said.

Adelaide hit a top temperature of 36C on Tuesday, which was 10C above the mid-November average, and the Bureau of Meteorology warned parts of South Australia could expect maximum temperatures about 12C above their averages today.

“Similar temperatures are expected on Thursday ahead of a cool change extending across western and southern parts of the state during the day,” Mr Collopy said.

Heatwave forecast map for Tuesday 17-Thu 19 November 2015

Photo: Heatwave forecast map for Tuesday 17-Thu 19 November 2015 (Bureau of Meteorology)

Source: Extreme weather continues for South Australia, total fire bans declared – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Company Shares of Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TCK) Drops by -14.47% | News Watch International

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Nov 16, 2015

Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TCK) has lost 14.47% during the past week and dropped 28.86% in the last 4 weeks. The shares are however, negative as compared to the S&P 500 for the past week with a loss of 11.25%. Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TCK) has underperformed the index by 28.5% in the last 4 weeks. Investors should watch out for further signals and trade with caution.

Teck Resources Limited has dropped 33.86% during the last 3-month period . Year-to-Date the stock performance stands at -65.85%.The company shares have dropped 71.54% in the past 52 Weeks. On November 21, 2014 The shares registered one year high of $17.88 and one year low was seen on September 28, 2015 at $4.39. The 50-day moving average is $5.86 and the 200 day moving average is recorded at $8.61. S&P 500 has rallied 0.9% during the last 52-weeks.

Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TCK) witnessed a decline in the market cap on Friday as its shares dropped 2.33% or 0.11 points. After the session commenced at $4.74, the stock reached the higher end at $4.77 while it hit a low of $4.51. With the volume soaring to 6,498,889 shares, the last trade was called at $4.61. The company has a 52-week high of $17.88. The company has a market cap of $2,656 million and there are 576,200,000 shares in outstanding. The 52-week low of the share price is $4.39.

Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TCK): 11 analysts have set the short term price target of Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TCK) at $8.25. The standard deviation of short term price target has been estimated at $2.17, implying that the actual price may fluctuate by this value. The higher and the lower price estimates are $ 12 and $4 respectively.

Institutional Investors own 47.89% of Teck Resources Ltd shares.

Teck Resources Limited (Teck) is engaged in exploring for, developing and producing natural resources. Tecks activities are organized into business units focused on copper, coal, zinc and energy. The Companys principal products are copper, steelmaking coal and zinc. Lead, molybdenum, silver and various specialty and other metals, chemicals and fertilizers are also produced at its operations. The Company owns a 20% interest in the Fort Hills Energy Limited Partnership, which is developing the Fort Hills oil sands project in Alberta and a 50% interest in the Frontier/Equinox project and other oil sands leases in the Athabasca region of Alberta, Canada. The Company also explore for gold. In April 2012, its wholly owned subsidiary acquired all of the outstanding shares of SilverBirch Energy Corporation. In November 2013, Tembec Inc sold approximately 7,150 hectares of land located within the Regional District of East Kootenay, British Columbia, to Teck Resources Ltd.

Source: Company Shares of Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TCK) Drops by -14.47% | News Watch International

NHL MORNING SKATE – NOV. 17, 2015

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NHL MORNING SKATE – NOV. 17, 2015

Welcome to the “NHL Morning Skate,” a daily collection of the latest news and notes from around the League.

MONDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
NY ISLANDERS 5, Arizona 2
Anaheim 4, CAROLINA 1
MONTREAL 4, Vancouver 3 (OT)
Detroit 4, OTTAWA 3 (OT)
FLORIDA 1, Tampa Bay 0
ST. LOUIS 3, Winnipeg 2

EKBLAD’S LATE HEROICS (AGAIN) LIFT PANTHERS OVER LIGHTNING . . .

Aaron Ekblad scored the lone goal with 20.2 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Panthers to a sweep of their home-and-home series with the Lightning.
* On Saturday, Ekblad registered the tying goal with 37.9 seconds left in the third period en route to a 5-4 shootout win at TBL. Per Elias, Ekblad became the first player to score a tying or go-ahead goal in the final minute of consecutive games since March 17-19, 2003, when Thrashers forward Dany Heatley did so vs. CBJ (19:47 in 3-2 W) and vs. DAL (19:24 in 5-4 SO L), respectively.
* Elias adds that the Panthers became the first team to record a tying or go-ahead goal in the final minute of consecutive games since Feb. 25-26, 2014, when the Sabres did so vs. CAR (19:16 in 3-2 W) and vs. BOS (19:07 in 5-4 OT W), respectively.
* Ekblad, the reigning Calder Memorial Trophy winner, has 3-1—4 during a four-game point streak after collecting 1-2—3 in his first 14 appearances of the season.

. . . LUONGO MOVES UP THE ALL-TIME CHARTS

Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo – the NHL’s active leader in wins, shutouts and games played by a netminder – stopped all 39 shots he faced, including 15 in the third period, to continue his climb up the League’s all-time charts:

* Luongo earned his 407th career win to tie Glenn Hall for eighth place in NHL history.
* Luongo recorded his 69th career shutout to move within two of tying Harry Lumley (71) for 12th place in NHL history.
* Luongo made his 878th appearance to move within four of tying John Vanbiesbrouck (882) – who was in attendance on Monday – for eighth place in NHL history.

CANADIENS OVERCOME THREE-GOAL DEFICIT TO DEFEAT CANUCKS

The Canadiens scored four unanswered goals, including the winner by David Desharnais at 3:25 of overtime, to overcome a 3-0 deficit and improve to 8-1-1 this season at Bell Centre.
* Via Elias, the Canadiens overcame a three-goal deficit to win for the first time since April 4, 2014 at OTT, when the team registered seven consecutive goals – powered by a five-point performance from Max Pacioretty (3-2—5) – to rally from an early 3-0 deficit en route to a 7-4 victory.
* Desharnais, who posted his fourth career overtime goal, has recorded the decisive tally in each of Montreal’s past three victories (also Nov. 7 vs. BOS and Nov. 5 vs. NYI). His three game-winning goals this season (19 GP) are one shy of his career high, set in 2014-15 (82 GP).
* Tomas Fleischmann (1-1—2), who signed with the Canadiens following a PTO, notched the tying goal with 3:08 remaining in regulation. He has 5-8—13 in his first 19 games with the club.

TATAR, RED WINGS WITHSTAND SENATORS’ RALLY

The Senators erased a two-goal deficit in the third period, but Tomas Tatar scored at 2:04 of overtime to propel the Red Wings to their fourth win in their past five road games, including their second at Canadian Tire Centre (also Oct. 31: 5-3 W).
* Tatar, who led the Red Wings and established career highs in both goals (29) and game-winning goals (7) last season, posted his fifth tally and first decisive marker of 2015-16. He also notched his first career overtime goal.
* The Red Wings improved to 7-1-0 in their past eight visits to Canadian Tire Centre dating to Oct. 11, 2008 (OTT: 1-5-2).

THREE’S COMPANY

Four players – Blues captain David Backes (2-1—3), Islanders teammates John Tavares (2-1—3) and Kyle Okposo (0-3—3), and Ducks forward Carl Hagelin (1-2—3) – registered three points to power their teams to victories:

* Backes factored on all three of his team’s goals to help the Blues rebound from a pair of losses and improve to 12-1-2 in their last 15 meetings with the Jets/Thrashers dating to Oct. 30, 2010 (WPG/ATL: 3-8-4). Backes posted his 12th career three-point performance and first since March 17 at CGY (1-2—3).
* Tavares and Okposo combined to lead the Islanders to their third victory in their past four games overall as well as a 6-3-2 record in their first 11 contests at Barclays Center. The Islanders improved to 6-0-1 this season when Tavares scores. Okposo, who matched a career high for helpers in one game, also collected his 200th NHL assist.
* Hagelin equaled a career high for points in one contest to guide the Ducks a 5-1-2 record in their past eight outings following a 1-7-2 start to the season. Hagelin, who totaled 1-1—2 in his first 17 games with the Ducks, notched his fourth career three-point game and first since March 14, 2014 at WPG (3-0—3 w/ NYR).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS

* Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin, the fifth overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, scored his first career goal (15 GP). At 18 years, 295 days, Elias says that Hanifin became the youngest defenseman in Hurricanes/Whalers history to register a goal. Only three other defensemen have notched a goal with the franchise prior to their 19th birthday: Mickey Volcan (in 1980-81), Sylvain Cote (in 1984-85) and Dana Murzyn (in 1985-86).
* Ducks forward Nick Ritchie (10:39 TOI), the 10th overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft, and Canucks forward Hunter Shinkaruk (9:35 TOI), the 24th overall selection in the 2013 NHL Draft, both made their League debuts.
* Coyotes captain Shane Doan played in his 1,412th career game to surpass Harry Howell (1,411 GP) and move into sole possession of 30th place on the NHL’s all-time games played list.
* Islanders defenseman Marek Zidlicky (800) and Canadiens forward Tomas Fleischmann (600) both played in milestone games.
* Canucks forward Daniel Sedin (1-0—1) moved within two points of 900 in his NHL career (333-565—898).
* Forward Steve Bernier scored his first goal with the Islanders (10 GP).

LOOSE PUCKS

Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko (1-1—2) recorded his 11th goal of the season, third in the NHL behind Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (13) and Stars captain Jamie Benn (12) . . . Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (2-4—6) and Senators forward Bobby Ryan (3-4—7) both extended their point streaks to six games . . . Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher (3-4—7), Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau (1-4—5) and Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty (2-4—6) all stretched their point streaks to five games . . . Ducks goaltender Anton Khudobin (24 SV), who compiled a 27-31-7 record over the past two seasons with the Hurricanes, earned the win in his return to Carolina . . . Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin (1-0—1) and Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (0-1—1) both have 5-7—12 this season (18 GP), tied for third among rookies . . . ICYMI: Avalanche forward Matt Duchene, Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello and Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Nov. 15 . . . The Red Wings signed defenseman Xavier Ouellet to a one-year contract extension . . . New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard attended the Coyotes-Islanders game.

SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION

All Times Eastern
San Jose @ Boston, 7:00 p.m., CSN-CA, NESN
Dallas @ Buffalo, 7:00 p.m., FS-MW, MSG-B, BELL TV
Los Angeles @ Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m., FS-W, CSN-PH
St. Louis @ Columbus, 7:00 p.m., FS-MW, FS-O
Minnesota @ Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, ROOT
Colorado @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m., TVAS, ALT2, TSN4
Anaheim @ Nashville, 8:00 p.m., PRIME, FS-SD, FS-TN
New Jersey @ Calgary, 9:00 p.m., MSG+, SNW

STARS AIM TO CONTINUE RECORD-SETTING START

The Stars, who at 14-4-0 (28 points) are off to their best 18-game start – in terms of wins and points – in the franchise’s 48-year history, look to continue their record-setting run when they visit the Sabres at First Niagara Center. Dallas, which boasts two of the top three point-producers in the NHL (Tyler Seguin: 9-17—26 and Jamie Benn: 12-13—25) as well as the top defensive scorer (John Klingberg: 4-16—20), shares first in the League with seven road wins and 14 road points (7-2-0). Buffalo, however, has won six of the last seven meetings between these clubs at First Niagara Center dating to Feb. 28, 2003 (DAL: 1-5-1).

FLYERS HOST RETIREMENT CEREMONY FOR GAGNE

The Flyers will host a retirement ceremony for forward Simon Gagne prior to their game against the Kings at Wells Fargo Center. Gagne, the 22nd overall selection by Philadelphia in the 1998 NHL Draft, totaled 291-310—601 during 14 seasons (822 GP). He played 11 of those 14 campaigns (including each of his first 10) with the Flyers, compiling 264-271—535 in 691 appearances. Gagne also spent parts of two seasons with the Kings, posting 7-15—22 in 45 outings.

“It’s going to be fun to go back to where everything started, where my son was born, and we’re really excited,” Gagne told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We’re going to stick around more than just one night. We’re going to stay there for the week and just have some really good memories that happened there when I was in Philly for more than 10 years.”

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Trudeau hits yet another high as preferred Prime Minister (ending November 13, 2015)

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Nanos Weekly Leadership Tracking

  • Preferred Prime Minister – Trudeau’s numbers on the preferred Prime Minister measure continue to climb.  In the wake of the federal election and the Liberal win, Trudeau’s numbers continue to climb – 50.9% of Canadians prefer Trudeau as PM followed by Harper/Ambrose at 18.4%, Mulcair at 13.0%, May at 5.0% (11.3% were undecided).  Readers should note this is the first week of tracking which included Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose and it will take another three waves of tracking to fully transition from Harper to Ambrose.
  • Qualities of a Good Political Leader – The proportion of Canadians who believe Trudeau has the qualities of a good political leader have now risen to 73.6% – a new high for Trudeau.

The team at Nanos in conjunction with Klipfolio have launched our new live political data portal where you run the numbers you want and can explore the trends and data you need.  This is part of our campaign, not only to provide the most reliable data to Canadians but to let them use it as they wish. We were the first to do nightly tracking and now we are the first research organization to post live public opinion data for Canadians.

We were the first to do nightly tracking and now we are the first research organization to post live public opinion data for Canadians. Here’s the link to check it out 

To view the detailed tracking visit our website.

Methodology

The views of 1,000 respondents are compiled into a party power brand index for each party that goes from 0 to 100, where 0 means that the party has no brand power and 100 means it has maximum brand power. A score above 50 is an indication of brand power for the party and its leader at this time.

The important factors in this weekly tracking include the direction of the brand strength or weakness and also the brand power of one federal party relative to another.

The data is based on random telephone interviews with 1,000 Canadians, using a four week rolling average of 250 respondents each week, 18 years of age and over. The random sample of 1,000 respondents may be weighted by age and gender using the latest census information for Canada, and the sample is geographically stratified to be representative of Canada. 

The interviews are compiled into a four week rolling average of 1,000 interviews where each week, the oldest group of 250 interviews is dropped and a new group of 250 interviews is added. The current wave of tracking is based on a four-week rolling average of 1,000 Canadians (250 per week) ending November 13th.

A random telephone survey of 1,000 Canadians is accurate 3.1 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20.

All references or use of this data must cite “Nanos Party Power Index” as the source.

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