Owning ships?

[silverback]

So my ancient brain is just wondering how much this purchase will improve grain movement for eastern prairie farmers as opposed to grain movement for Ontario Wheat Producers?

I also wonder what the odds are that some sort of grain would leave the Canadian side of the lake only to back haul some sort of American wheat to a mill in Ontario?

Surely the cwb would not be interested in facilitating those sorts of things would they?

(I fully realize Parsley has probably talked about this in the past so I apologize for repeating it - just old and cold)

[cottonpicken]

Ships should be cheap with the baltic dry index being
so low.

Wouldn't it be funny if they where some of paul
martins old ships that where bought for a high price.

[lesm]

Some interesting facts- Mission Terminals Inc. in Thunder Bay is the terminal of choice for the CWB. The President and CEO of Mission Terminals is Adrean Meisner, former CEO of the CWB until he got canned by Harper in 2006. Mission terminals is one of a group of 4 companies owned by Soumat who by the way, own a grain terminal at Trois Rivers, Quebec. Now the CWB owns a couple of lakers. Coincidence!

[furrowtickler]

Thats the one Misson Treminal, ah yes connect the dots. Come on Pars your good at this have at er.

[Fransisco]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvA0pd_1MxQ&feature=related

[LWeber]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Silpa__GueI

[Kodiak]

This is like piece of really bad theatre. A tragedy.

I’m no Shakespeare I admit, but here goes…..

Act 585. Scene 1.

Cast of characters. Adrian Measner is CEO of Upper Lakes Grain Group. Ward Weisensel is COO of the CWB, who used to work under Adrian. Ian White is current CEO of the CWB. Allan Oberg is the Chair of the Board.

Do you think the drama might have gone something like this?............

The phone rings at the CWB. …Ward picks it up. “Hello,” he says.

Measner: “Hi ole buddy! How are things with you?”

Ward: “Pretty damn fine. Everything is good. I just got my bonus, and my stock broker is pleased!”

Measner: “That’s great. I’m not doing so well though. I’m getting a bit of pressure from my bosses. When I was fired from the CWB I promised these guys I could deliver some goodies if they’d hire me. It’s not working out as good as I promised. Can you help me out?”

Ward: “Ya probably. The guy in your old chair is asleep. Doesn’t ever say much of anything. Our buddies on the Board of Directors have him under control. I run things around here. So what can I do for you?”

Measner: “Well, you see, my bosses want to buy some new ships for hauling the tonnage my old friends like you hand to me at Mission Terminals. It’s really quite a sweet heart deal, but they want more. And you know, ships are expensive things. Do you think the CWB would buy us some? We could use some more, but we’d rather not put our capital at risk.”

Ward: “That would be easy. Our spin department will ensure the farmers are bamboozled into thinking they are going to profit from this. I can arrange that Ian White will be the chief talking head, and if I put the Chairman Oberg on the podium, the media and the public will eat it up.”

Measner: “That will be sweet Ward. What do I owe you for this huge favour?”

Ward: “Oh nothing. It’s the least I can do for a buddy. Besides, it costs me nothing. The farmers will pay for all of it. You know how it works - you taught me all I know! Our friends over at the NFU won’t mind at all. Just like always, we’ve provided them with their talking points”

Measner: “OK, but what about that Ian White fellow? Are you sure he won’t smell a rat? I’m a bit nervous.”

Ward: “No no. We’ve tested him before. He’s not even noticed around here. No one knows who he is. Besides, I’ve greased the palms of my Iraqi friends on that wheat deal, and I can send Ian to sign the papers if that would make you more comfortable. That way I can do this while he’s out of town if you like.”

Measner: “I can see our friendship is rock solid. You’ve saved my ass. If you ever need a soft landing I‘ll be there for you buddy!”

The lights go down. The curtain closes. Everyone but the farmers applaud.

[parsley]

Isn't it odd how a person gets an image in their mind but they cannot express it as well as they'd like?

^"Hello"(muffled)

"You sleeping?"(laugh)

^"It's 3:20 AM in Afghanistan. Whaddya think I'm doing?"

"Going on 5:00 PM here. Good news happening."

^"How many?"

"Two"

^"Perfect."

"Private. Best way to haul expensive shit"

^"Clear sailing."

"Beyond reproach. We can back up to the fields at both ends."

^"Labour?"

"Hand picked. Well paid. Handle each crop careful."

^"Accounting?"

"Usual. Creative with the cash crop"

^"A friend from Kabul will take charge this end. He can count real good. Gonna take a lot of counting.He'll count at your end too. He'll call next week."

"I can count"

^"Yes we noticed."
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