| Loonie surpasses $1.10 US
The Canadian dollar continued its lofty flight as it passed $1.10 US on Wednesday while the U.S. dollar continued to weaken. Shortly after the start of trading in North America, the loonie was up more than 1.75 cents at $1.1027 US. The U.S. dollar continued to lose ground against other currencies. The greenback fell to another record low of $1.4703 US against the euro, while the British pound hit $2.1051 US, a level not seen since since May 1981. The latest of advance of the loonie will most likely send economists back to the drawing board to redo their forecasts for the dollar. The currency has appreciated much faster than many observers had been expecting. The Canadian dollar regained parity with the U.S. greenback in September. The loonie has been setting new records since Oct.
Ottawa redirects AIDS funds for Gates initiative
OTTAWA Federal funding for community AIDS programs in Ontario is being slashed as the Conservative government readjusts overall spending and redirects money to an AIDS vaccine initiative it announced earlier this year with Bill Gates. Money that helps prevent local organizations stem the spread of the virus and provide support to those infected is being reduced by 30 per cent across the province in this fiscal year. .
Annuity checks include return of principal
I'm still getting e-mails, more than 300 so far, about a September column on immediate-income annuities that increase payments each year to compensate for inflation.
Immediate-income annuities are policies issued by insurance companies that, in exchange for a lump-sum premium, can guarantee an income for life. Many financial advisers recommend retirees consider using a portion of their savings to buy a lifetime annuity to cover basic expenses, such as food and housing.
Dozens of you had never heard of income annuities, and several said your insurance agent couldn't find any that increase payments to counteract inflation. If so, find another agent.
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A Flip-Flopper’s Confession
Yes. I'm a flip-flopper. Of the first degree. Item #225 on the very long list of reasons I could never run for public office. The latest example: The proposed (and languishing, but not yet dead) expansion of the S-CHIP program. First, I was generally in favor of it. Then, I was soundly against it. And then … the factors that prompted me to change my position were challenged by certain astute TMV readers in the back-and-forth comments attached to the October 12 "Center of Attention" feature. So I decided to stop the lazy approach to forming an opinion on this subject (i.e., reading and borrowing the opinions of others) and do a little original homework of my own. Specifically, I decided to seek the input of Republicans who originally supported the expansion and still do, despite the President's veto.
Dream of Veterans Memorial getting closer to reality
The memorial is estimated to total about $350,000 according to the City of Norman's Web site at www.NormanOK.gov.Schulenberg has found heroes like Norman actor James Garner, who was the first draftee from Oklahoma into the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. While in Korea, Garner was wounded twice and awarded two purple hearts.Garner has supported the project with his own funds to help honor other veterans as well.Hundreds of others have contributed funds and even profits from the Moore Bingo facility have helped.And for all Schulenberg's contributor heroes who have written checks to move the project closer to reality, it's America's military heroes -- its veterans -- that he most wants to honor."We want the sacrifices the veterans have made to never be forgotten, and this memorial will honor their names for generations to come," Schulenberg said last year.The concept for the Cleveland County Veterans Memorial was created by Norman engineer Bob Goins and Marine veteran Clarence Powell and designed by the architectural team of Rick McKinney, Nathan Coffey, Toni Bragg and Bryan Rainbow of the McKinney Architects Partnership."We are just trying to provide a space and a palette where they can include all the men and women from as far back as they can go, as far back as they have records," McKinney said.The concept was to create a five-faceted granite and bronze sculpture."And they've settled on this wonderful eagle with an American flag and it's on an about 11-foot high pylon that's a five-sided pentagon.
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