Homer Tribune » Columnists

Bristol Bay reds bring better payday

Newsroom — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:43:29 +0000

By Laine Welch
Fishermen are happy as they wrap up the world’s biggest red salmon fishery at Bristol Bay. Even though the catch of 28 million sockeye salmon came up a bit short, they will get a better payday than they’ve had in more than two decades.
All major processors are paying a base price of 95 cents a pound for sockeyes, compared to 70 cents last year. It’s the best base price since 1988, when Bristol Bay reds fetched $2.11 a pound. (The lowest price was 42 cents in 2001.) With bonuses for chilled and bled fish, this year’s final price for many fishermen could top $1.20 a pound.
Fewer sockeyes all around has buyers scrambling for fish this summer, and the Alaska Wild brand is increasingly in demand by U.S. and foreign markets. Bristol Bay fishermen also got a boost from three more competitors that specialize in fresh salmon markets: Leader Creek, Snow Pac and Copper River Seafoods.
Early estimates peg the value of the Bristol Bay sockeye fishery at roughly $170 million at the docks, an increase of more than $40 million from last year. The Bristol Bay sockeye salmon catch provides two-thirds of the total value of Alaska’s statewide, all species salmon harvest.

tLandings tested
Tender vessels from Southeast to Western Alaska are field testing electronic reporting of all salmon deliveries this summer, called tLandings.
“Most deliveries of salmon occur on board tenders, and that is where most fish tickets are completed,” said Gail Smith, electronic landings program coordinator for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. “It’s an ideal situation to do electronic reporting.”
Between 600-700 tender vessels operate in Alaska each year.
tLandings are the latest in a series of interagency reporting programs that include the state, federal government and the International Pacific Halibut Commission. eLandings have been used in Alaska since 2002, and are required in halibut, sablefish, Bering Sea crab and all groundfish fisheries.
“tLandings for salmon is a voluntary program, and we never envision it will be mandatory,” Smith emphasized.
In a “proof-of-concept” project this summer, 22 tenders are field testing a new application that computes the number of fish delivered, their weights, running totals of different species and then prints out a fish ticket and tally sheet. The tenders are operating at Bristol Bay, Kodiak, Sitka and the Kuskokwim region.
All that is required is a laptop computer, an inexpensive laser printer, a magnetic strip reader for identification and a jump or zip drive that is provided for free by ADF&G.
Tenders pick up a jump drive from their processor, which provides a list of all boats making deliveries. They plug it into their laptop and input the landing data. At the end of the trip, tenders simply return the jump drive to the processor, where the data is uploaded to their own systems and to Fish and Game.
“It is simple to use and so much more accurate,” said Randy Swain, who handles computer operations for Alaska Pacific Seafoods in Kodiak. APS plans to expand tLandings to three tenders this summer.
“The tender men are the only ones who input the data, the computer does all the math, and it turns out a nice printed fish ticket,” Swain explained. “It’s definitely the wave of the future.”
“Our ultimate goal is to bring greater efficiency to the department and to the industry, because we very definitely see them as partners in electronic reporting,” Gail Smith said.
Questions? Contact Smith in Juneau at   HYPERLINK “mailto:gail.smith@alaska.gov”gail.smith@alaska.gov .

Profiling fishing towns
Social scientists with the Seattle-based Alaska Fisheries Science Center are updating profiles of Alaska’s fishing communities and they want input from the people who live there.
There are 136 Alaska communities officially designated as fishing towns. Older profiles done in 2005 need to be updated to include 2010 census data and other new information, said AFSC’s Amber Himes.
The Center is hosting Community Profile meetings in six Alaska fishing towns during August and September. The goal is invite local leaders and the public to help revise the profiles so they are more representative of the different communities, said Himes, a project coordinator.
“We want to know how many people there are, what they fish for, what kind of fishing permits there are, and the kind of governance structures — such as tribal governments or city government — stuff like that,” Himes told KDLG.
Some of the themes will include local stories that best illustrate the ways in which fishing shapes communities, information managers need to know that is not currently in the profiles, and how agencies can best work with communities to gather information.
Himes said the Community Profiles are helpful for many groups and agencies.
“They are used in social impact assessments for the North Pacific Council, by academics in research and federal and state managers,” Himes said. “When they have to do work in a community, they will go to the profiles as their first take on what’s happening. People have found it really useful.”
The day-long meetings are set for Anchorage on Aug. 23, Dutch Harbor on Aug. 25, Bethel on Aug. 31, Nome on Sept. 10, Petersburg on Sept. 13 and Kodiak on Sept. 27.
The meetings are co-sponsored by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, Gulf of Alaska Coastal Communities Coalition, Southeast Conference and Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference. Funding is available to help out with travel costs, on a first come, first served basis. Those who can’t attend the meetings can send comments to afsc.community.profiles@noaa.gov
Questions? Visit HYPERLINK “http://www.afsc.nooa.gov/”www.afsc.nooa.gov or call (206)526-4221.

What I wanna be when I grow up

Editor — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:55:13 +0000

By Sean Pearson
I’ve finally decided what I want to be when I grow up. (OK. That’s not exactly true, but it’s as close as I’ve come since hanging up my Nomex hood and spanner wrench a few years ago.)
And if any of you are cruel enough to suggest that I have yet to reach that all-important stage of “grown up,” I have only one thing to say:
Shut up.
I guess I never realized it was necessary to rebuild a tolerance to TV after being without it for so long. A recent hospital visit found me ridiculously fixated on the thin, flat box hanging on the wall. And once I got my hands on the remote control, that’s pretty much all she wrote. Flipping through the endless variety of channels initially gave me a bad thumb-cramp. (Don’t worry, I worked it out with some stretching techniques.) But then — when my eyes started bleeding from yet another Mattress Ranch commercial — I decided to search for something a little more intellectually stimulating.
As I squinted and blinked through blood-soaked retinas, I suddenly noticed a somewhat familiar face on the screen.
It was none other than Alex Trebek, “compensated endorser.” And while he wasn’t exactly ON Jeopardy, I felt somehow compelled to listen to him as he hawked some kind of insurance or Jeopardy troll dolls or smug sense of intellectual superiority. (Hmmm. I wonder if I just thought that last one, or if I actually wrote it down?)
“Compensated endorser.”
I really like the sound of that. Is there a school somewhere for it? Can I just send off and get some kind of certificate? I mean, I know a guy, who knows a guy who can make you a doctor — for the right price. But I’m really not sure just what all a compensated endorser does.
Alex knows.
Come on. If Alex Trebek can get paid to sell something, the rest of us simple-minded folk who don’t act arrogant and pretentious because we know all the questions to the answers, just might have a chance before that moment of Final Jeopardy. (Hello? He’s got all the questions right there on the cards in front of him. Even I could be a fancy compensated endorser if I had all the questions [or answers, if you will] in front of me.)
Still, there was just something about the way the answer man looked at me that kinda made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Either that, or the frighteningly slaughtered “elevator-music” version of “Dude (Looks Like a Lady they had playing in the background. (Boys, boys, boys. How could you?) I cringed when Clapton caved, wept when Whitesnake wilted, and even grieved when Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five gave in. But Aerosmith? That’s like Lou Gehrig betting on baseball. It just doesn’t happen.
So now I’m back doing a little self/life inventory to find out exactly what kind of “marketable” skill or quality I possess that would allow me to excel in the realm of compensated endorser…ism, endorsership, endorsement.
First of all, I have an excellent, or should I say superlatively unparalleled vocabulary. (And my “grammer” ain’t nothin’ to be ‘shamed of, neither.)
I went through a phase in college once where I ate a lot of peanut butter and bologna sandwiches — (not as bad as you might think.) I wonder if the folks at Jif would be interested?
Then there’s that time in fourth grade when Lance De La Croix and I held a contest to see who could make his face turn the reddest. (I hear I won that one. Technically, there was no rule about passing out.)
Then again, after the French teacher in second grade bonked my head into my dance partner’s head because we didn’t do some stupid folkdance step correctly, I really don’t have much memory left of those days. (Don’t get me started on school discipline in the 70s.)
Too late.
Back then, teachers had paddles. Some were big and thick. Some had holes drilled through them so you could hear the air rushing through them as they rapidly approached your backside. Back then, you went outside in the hall, and the teacher came out and gave you swats with a board. But the principal had the biggest paddle of all. I was never really too worried, though. Our principal, Mr. Beadle, was so old, I don’t think he had much swing left in him. In fact, I doubt he could do much of anything the way he pulled his pants clear up to his nipples.
I have a theory on principals and the “where’s my waist?” dilemma. We should chat sometime. I bet Alex Trebek doesn’t have any really cool theories.
I just can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to pay me to act as their compensated endorser.

Are municipal bonds right for you?

Newsroom — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:18:20 +0000

By Edward Jones
Matthew North
Financial Advisor
Tax season “officially” ended on April 15. Yet you can explore tax-smart investment opportunities all year round. And when you’re looking at the fixed-income side of your portfolio, you may want to consider two possibilities: municipal bonds and Build America Bonds.
You’ve probably heard of municipal bonds, but you may not be familiar with how they work. You can find two key types of municipal bonds: General obligation bonds finance the daily operations of a municipality or school district, while revenue bonds finance hospitals, utilities, airports, affordable housing and other public works. So when you purchase a “muni,” you are helping support a community.
Of course, your investment will bring you some tangible benefits, too. First, you’ll receive regular interest payments. Furthermore, these payments typically are exempt from federal income taxes — and possibly state and local income taxes, too. If you’re in an upper income bracket, you may find munis to be especially valuable. (Keep in mind, though, that some “private activity bonds,” which are typically used to finance airports, housing or stadiums that can benefit private entities, may be subject to the alternative minimum tax, or AMT.)
Build America Bonds (BABs) share some similarities with tax-free municipal bonds, although BABs are taxable investments. BABs provide capital to municipalities so that they can build or improve infrastructure, including schools, roads, public buildings and so on. The U.S. Treasury pays state or local government issuers a subsidy equal to 35% of the interest they pay investors for buying the bonds.
BABs have proved quite popular among institutional investors, such as pension funds, that typically don’t benefit from tax-free municipal bonds. But are they right for you?
It all depends on your individual situation. If you owned a BAB, your interest payments would be federally taxable, but you might get some state tax breaks if you live in the state where the bond is issued.
Many BABs have long-term maturities, which may not be a problem if you’re buying the bond for its steady interest payments and plan to hold it for its entire life. But if you think you might want to sell your bond before it matures, be aware that longer-term bonds, by their very nature, are subject to greater interest rate risk than shorter-term bonds — that is, longer-term bond prices will be more affected by interest rate movements.
Furthermore, you’ll have to consider credit risk — the possibility that the issuer of your bond will default or be unable to make payments. Remember, the municipality issuing the bond, not the federal government, backs a BAB. Although past performance is not a guarantee of future results, municipal bonds’ historical default rates have been low.
Ultimately, you’ll need to consult with your tax advisor before purchasing either a municipal bond or a BAB. Like all investments, they can provide you with benefits, but you need to be absolutely sure of what you’re getting.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones does not provide tax or legal advice.

Falling into the generation gap

Editor — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:43:19 +0000

By Sean Pearson
I woke up Monday morning with significantly more gray hairs than I went to bed with the night before.
(No, I don’t actually count them all. Perhaps I didn’t stress the word “significant” enough.) I’ve heard some people say hair can’t actually turn gray that quickly, despite theories about stress levels and worry.
I say they haven’t had three teenage girls.
As I continue to watch life slip by moment-by-moment; each hair fading to a silvery light gray before completely giving up the ghost, I am reminded of the days of my youth.
Technically, we haven’t actually relived all these precious moments of my youth. Have you even been paying attention? Obviously we’ll have to review.
Don’t worry, I’ll just hit the highlights: Me, high school, short, scrawny, band, acne, bad hair; (1980s + Bon Jovi + Rick Springfield. You do the math.)
My dream was to be a wildly talented, intriguingly enigmatic, darkly handsome starting quarterback on the varsity football team. My reality was to be a skinny benchwarmer whose biggest game ever actually involved my tripping and falling in front of a defender. Apparently my “daring dive block” allowed our fullback to streak into the end zone for a winning touchdown.
At least, it went something like that.
Ahh, the glory days.
(Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A. 1984)
If nothing else, football gave me a way to have some sort of conversation with my father. When my dad and I were at completely opposite ends of the emotional, intellectual and spiritual spectrum, we could still talk about football. When my “personal life-philosophy” screamed for heavy doses of mall-time, REO Speedwagon and JOLT Cola, my dad seemed to be buried deeply within the time capsule of Pennington’s Drive-In, “Paint Your Wagon” and white milk.
(Note to those actually paying attention: See? Diet Coke really is an improvement over what I used to drink. Give me another 45 years, and I might make my way up to tofu.)
In an unrelated sidebar, I must express my disdain and general frustration with this disconnected feeling I have with others of my “generation.” In fact, I’m not really even sure which generation I’m a part of, since I missed the baby boomers by a few years. (And let’s face it, the baby boomers are the only generation anyone ever really pays attention to.) I heard a rumor once that I was part of “Generation X,” but I had trouble with the quantum theory algorithms used to decide where one generation ends and another starts. Isn’t there a website out there somewhere with a flow chart for all of this? Can I hire a generational consultant? Is it possible to be on a generation cusp? If it can happen in astrology, surely there’s room for some kind of argument for those of us on the edge. Is that what they mean when they talk about the “generation gap?” Is it possible I’ve fallen through the proverbial cracks of the time and space continuum?
I digress.
When my friends and I left the sanctity and safety of junior high and headed up to the halls of higher education in high school, we soon discovered that the key to “coolness” was through music. (And no, I don’t mean band.)
Ah yes, music. I was sure I had it made. After all, my mother was an accomplished pianist before she headed off to kindergarten. My father performed with a barbershop quartet. My older sister played the flute, piano, guitar and sang in the school and church choirs. Could the apple of musical giftedness really fall that far from the tree?
Apparently, the apple can pretty much go wherever it wants.
Funny thing about apples. There really is no accounting for their different tastes. Apparently, it’s the same for music.
Somehow, those hours and hours of listening time I put into my parents’ Serendipity Singers albums and 8-tracks of John Denver didn’t help to put me on the fast track for popularity in high school. I mean, come on. How cool is it to grow up in the ‘70s and have no idea who Led Zeppelin, Heart or even Creedence Clearwater Revival were? I still thank God daily for helping me talk my mom out of making me take the Osmond lunchbox to school my freshman year.
There are some things that are worth putting up with endless wedgies, getting chosen last for dodge ball in P.E. and having to climb that stupid rope that hung from the gym ceiling.
The Osmonds weren’t one of them.
If I was going to get beat up, it would at least be because I was defending a small animal from the clutches of some evil group of kitten kidnappers or something.
Sorry Donny, you’re on your own.

Fishing vessels dodge ‘hosing’ for 2 more years

Newsroom — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:24:14 +0000

by Laine Welch
Fishermen and other boaters can rest easier knowing they won’t need a federal permit to hose off their decks. A bill that just passed the U.S. Senate extends the moratoria on discharge permit requirements for commercial and charter fishing vessels beyond the July 31 deadline.
In 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency came out with regulations that would require discharges by vessels of any size to be reportable to the EPA under the Clean Water Act.
Murkowski and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. succeeded in getting a two-year timeout for working boats and other vessels under 79 feet. At the same time, the EPA was given 15 months to study the types and effects of discharges from boats of varying sizes, and if the exemptions should be permanent. The study has not been completed, according to Sen. Murkowski.
The measure to extend the moratoria passed the Senate unanimously, and Murkowski said it should be wrapped up before Congress adjourns for its August recess.
Also moving through the lawmaking process is an $8 million Bering Sea crab loan program aimed at helping new entrants buy into the fisheries. It has taken five years for that loan opportunity to move up the “priority” of federal policy wonks.
“The money is there and it must go out the door in the 2010 budget appropriations,” Murkowski said. “We are working aggressively to make that happen and the loan program should be finalized by this fall.”
Murkowski spoke candidly about her “gut feelings” regarding the proposed Pebble Mine, and went beyond the typical response by politicians that “the project must be allowed to go through the process.”
“My gut says we don’t balance one resource off another. It can’t be an either/or proposition,” she explained. “I do have concerns as to whether or not the project would impact the water, and therefore the salmon. I am not going to prejudge the project, but I put out the very precautionary note that you cannot trade one for the other.”
Murkowski said she has had several conversations with Cynthia Carroll, the CEO of Anglo-American, developer of the Pebble Mine project.
“She was very up-front in saying she also agrees that if they can’t do the mine in a manner that ensures the sustainability of the fisheries, then it is not a project that they would pursue,” Murkowski said. “I do believe they are studying this very carefully and intently, and we need to err on the side of caution when it comes to the extent of all the studies on the land, and in the watersheds and out in Bristol Bay.”

Sitka launches first CSF
Buying locally produced foods is a trend that’s taken off across the nation, and Sitka is making sure that applies to fish. This summer, a group of Sitkans launched Alaska’s first Community Supported Fisheries project which pre-sells shares of local catches directly to local customers. The fish is sold under the “Alaskan’s Own Seafood” brand, which claims to combine, “the best in business with the best in conservation.”
The fish is pre-sold to “subscribers” in either 40-pound or 20-pound packs, said CSF program coordinator Beth Short.
“Every other week, customers get something a little different. They’ve already had a halibut and black cod pick up, some ling cod and rock fish, and this time around it’s king salmon,” Short said. “Then, later on in the season we’ll have coho.”
The CSF started out small with 18 subscribers who paid $380 (plus tax) for 40-pound shares and $180 for 20 pounds.
“That averaged out to be $9.50 per pound, which is really good,” Short said.
All of the fish is delivered to Sitka Sound Seafoods, where set poundage is portioned, vacuum-packed and flash-frozen. That makes it easy for the two dozen participating fishermen, who get a price bump of about 25 cents a pound.
Short said the CSF provides access to fish that most locals can’t get for themselves.
“We have this bounty of seafood, but if you don’t have a boat or the inclination to fish, or you don’t know someone who can go out and get fish for you, your opportunities are very limited,” Short said. “I have always felt it was kind of strange and sad that it is so hard for locals to get a hold of seafood that comes from the waters right off their doorsteps.”
The CSF is part of a larger mission by Sitka fishermen who are committed to sustainable fishing practices. It is part of the Fishery Conservation Network started by the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, with funding by the North Pacific Fisheries Trust and Eco-Trust. Beth Short is hopeful the CSF will serve as a model for other Alaska fishing towns, and is eager to share information. Find out more at www.alaskansown.com or info@alaskansown.com .

Weathervanes making waves
In July, a handful of boats drop dredges to scoop up Alaska Weathervane scallops in waters stretching from Yakutat to the Bering Sea; most of the catch comes from around Kodiak Island. Weathervanes are the largest scallops in the world, with a shell diameter averaging 10 inches. Three to four boats target scallops by making repeated tows along mostly sandy bottoms of strictly defined fishing regions in a closely monitored fishery.
“All boats must carry observers,” said Jim Stone, owner of two scallop boats which will remain at sea until Thanksgiving. “It’s a heavy cost of $350-$400 a day, but we accept that in order to go into the areas and make sure our bycatch and impact are minimal.”
The yearly statewide harvest has remained steady at about 500,000 pounds of shucked meats, meaning the large adductor muscle that pulls the two shell halves together. Prices to fishermen vary widely by scallop size and market; the statewide average price last year was $8 per pound for a dockside value of $3.4 million.
Stone is quick to credit state managers for the well-run fishery, and the Alaska Scallop Association he helped form 10 years ago.
“The association acts as a co-op, and we work together to make sure we stay off bycatch and help each other target where the scallops are,” Stone explained. “And we divide the scallop quota among ourselves by our historic catch.”
Jim and his wife Mona are also the biggest ambassadors for Alaska Weathervane scallops, cooking them up at festivals and other events throughout the Northwest. Their scallop/rice dish, as well as the scallop/bacon/pesto wraps recently won “Best of the Fest” at the Ballard Seafood Fest.
“We are just educating the world that it is an entirely different animal than scallops from elsewhere,” Stone said. “Alaska scallops are caught, shucked, sorted, cleaned and frozen all within about four hours of capture.”
Questions? Contact Jim Stone at Jstonecrab@aol.com .

Navigating your way through the investment world

Newsroom — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:12:18 +0000

By Edward Jones
Matthew North
Financial Advisor
You may not realize it, but July 24 is Amelia Earhart Day. July 24 was chosen because it’s the birthday of perhaps the most famous female aviator in history. Earhart’s story ended tragically when she became lost in the Pacific Ocean in 1937 on her voyage around the world, but she is still celebrated for her bravery and pioneer spirit.
As an investor, you can learn a lot from Earhart’s career. Here are a few lessons to consider:
• Plan ahead. After a lengthy analysis of Earhart’s final flight, decades after it occurred, a noted aviation expert came to one succinct conclusion: “poor planning, worse execution.” Yet on her successful flights, Earhart was known to have produced, and followed, detailed flight plans. As an investor, you, too, must plan your journey toward your financial goals. First, you need to identify your destination, such as a comfortable retirement. Next, you must create a “map” to reach your goal, in the form of a detailed financial strategy based on an investment portfolio tailored to your risk tolerance and time horizon. And along the way, you must chart your progress via regular reviews of your investments’ performance.
• Use the right “tools.” Some sources have noted that, on the fateful flight, Earhart did not appear to fully understand how to use her plane’s direction-finding loop antenna, which at the time was a new technology. If you don’t fully understand the “tools” — that is, the investments — you need to help achieve your goals, you may run into difficulties. Always know exactly what you’re investing in and why you’ve chosen those specific investments. Without this information, you could end up with investments that are either too risky for your comfort or too conservative for your goals.
• Follow your vision. On the day they disappeared, Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, were scheduled to land on Howland Island. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day; some researchers speculate that the clouds’ dark shadows on the ocean surface may have camouflaged Howland and confused the aviators. As an investor, you need a clear view of what you want to accomplish in the long term — and you need to avoid having your vision “clouded over” by short-term events such as price drops and recessions.
• Put sufficient “power” in your portfolio. Many aviation scholars and researchers believe Earhart’s plane simply ran out of gas before she could land on Howland Island. Does you portfolio have sufficient “fuel” to help you go the distance? Specifically, do you have the right mix of growth- and income-oriented vehicles to power you toward college for your kids, a comfortable retirement and your other goals? If you’re not sure, you may want to work with a professional financial advisor to get the assistance you need.
You probably will never try to circumnavigate the globe in a small plane. But if you can emulate the best features of Amelia Earhart — such as her courage, perseverance and faith in the future — while taking steps to help focus on what you can control, your investment journey may be rewarding.

Gravity is not a 2-way street

Editor — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:33:55 +0000

By Sean Pearson
I’ve had just about enough of this whole “gravity” thing.
I first learned about gravity when I attempted to extricate myself from my Pooh Bear penitentiary at the age of 5 months. When my red-shirted bear decided to make a break for it, no stinkin’ crib bars were gonna hold me back. (The bond between a boy and his bear runs deep. What can I say? Me and Winnie were tight.)
The result of my escape attempt was a broken collarbone and a lower mattress setting on the crib. But it was only the beginning of a very long — and often painful — relationship with gravity. Oh, we would meet again … many times.
Now I wouldn’t call myself a slow child. I seemed to score relatively well on most standardized testing in school. Although, come to think of it, I don’t remember getting much feedback on that psychosocial testing in kindergarten. I wonder what happens if a kid gets really high scores in some abnormal areas? Like, if I scored off the charts for sociopathic personality disorder in the third grade, do you think they would tell me? Or would they just sit back and wait until I turned into an axe-wielding serial killer? Geez, I could be a walking time bomb right now and not even know it.
See, I’m not slow – just easily distracted.
ABCs and 123s would come without too many problems, as did tying my shoes and learning to read. Miss Spell was especially impressed with my poetic prowess in the second grade. (I wrote an especially touching tribute to an old pair of Keds of PF Flyers.)
How sad is it that those are my glory days?
Nevertheless, gravity and I would continue to duke it out through the years.
Age 3: Heavy metal swing vs. two front teeth. (What goes up, must come down.)
Gravity 1, Sean 0.
Age 4: Jumping out of tree vs. arm. (See above)
Gravity 2, Sean 0
We continued like this until I hit the age of 5. (I like to think I helped keep my parents young.)
Then, I discovered the “Schoolhouse Rock” rendition of Newton sitting under the apple tree. (Keep in mind that it was pretty dangerous back then to try to slip a little educational material into a kid’s Saturday morning cartoons. There are some things you just don’t come between — one is a man and his Scooby Doo Mystery Hour. The other, I think we covered with my man Pooh.)
Still, that educational stuff must have worked, because I can still picture that little bill — sitting there on Capitol Hill. (As well as the catchy little tune that will now wear a deep groove into one of the neural pathways of my brain as it drones on and on … )
So now, at least I understood the idea of gravity. (OK, maybe not by age 5. Can you just work with me here? I’ve obviously suffered some head trauma throughout the years.)
However, in much the same way that you can’t learn brain surgery from a comic book, you can’t fight gravity, no matter how much you learn about it. That’s why I decided to embrace and celebrate my relationship with gravity. Oh, we still have our little run-ins every now and then. I always lose. But I figured out that if anyone was going to change in this relationship, it was going to have to be me. I’m learning to adapt.
I don’t jump out of trees any more, and gravity stays the same. I don’t push swings in front of my face, and gravity … stays the same. It’s going fairly well so far, except I kinda feel like I’m doing all the work.
And there are still those times when gravity just yanks things like iPods and cell phones out of my hand for no reason.
That’s my next project: developing waterproof, bulletproof and virtually indestructible rubber and polycarbonate cases for things like my cell phone, camera and sunglasses.
Oh, one last favor to ask.
If you see me proudly walking around town toting all my nifty polycarbonate protectors, and I look like “uber-nerd,” please tell me very clearly that I’m wading dangerously deep into the dungeon of dorkdom. I’d hate to come off like a geek.
Just be sure to approach me from the front. I don’t want to be startled. My new, insulated safety helmet hasn’t come in yet.

Salmon bring higher prices around the state

Newsroom — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:19:38 +0000

“Uncertainty” and “high prices” are the terms that best sum up Alaska’s salmon season so far. There’s lots of fishing left to go, but runs to most regions are late and low. That has buyers scrambling to fill orders from eager customers, especially for scanty sockeye salmon. The demand has boosted early prices to levels not seen in two decades.
Reports from Kodiak peg the average base sockeye price to fishermen at $1.49 a pound, up from $1.11 last year. (The base price does not include bonuses for iced fish, dock deliveries, etc.) Lots of boats had departed from disappointing sockeye catches at Copper River for more plentiful reds at Prince William Sound, where gillnetters were getting $2.25 a pound. Copper River sockeye prices were holding at $2 per pound, but catches there of 300,000 reds were down by half.
Southeast Alaska gillnetters were also getting two bucks for their sockeye salmon, an increase of 75 cents a pound from last season.
The talk on the dock for the world’s biggest sockeye salmon fishery at Bristol Bay has fishermen hoping to get close to $1 per pound, compared to 70 cents last year. Peter Pan and its fleet agreed on a base price of 95 cents for reds. Many are skeptical that the Bristol Bay sockeye harvest this summer will reach the projected 31 million fish.
Market watcher Ken Talley said that vacuum-packed, frozen sockeye fillets from at least one major Alaska salmon processor is wholesaling for $7 per pound, compared to “the more normal” $5.50 per pound, and fresh sockeye “are now in the $9.50 per pound range.”
Alaska wild salmon is so in demand that Western Alaska fishermen also are getting a better shake with fish prices. Kuskokwim sockeyes are fetching over $1 per pound, double last year. Kusko chums are averaging 25 cents, up a dime; and 70 cents for chums from the Yukon (called keta salmon), an increase of 20 cents.
“Demand is strong for all our Yukon salmon and we’re having no trouble getting it to market,” said Jack Schultheis, manager of Kwik’Pak Fisheries at Emmonak.
At Kodiak, chums were averaging 49 cents a pound, up 11 cents.   Southeast Alaska gillnetters were getting 65-70 cents for their chum salmon, compared to 51 cents in 2009.
Alaska’s projected salmon catch for 2010 is 137 million fish, down 15 percent from last year. The decrease stems from an expected shortfall in pink salmon returns. The 2009 Alaska salmon harvest was valued at $370 million at the docks; two-thirds of the total value each year comes from sockeye salmon.

Halibut also high
Alaska’s halibut fishery also is still in full swing, and prices have been high and holding since the season opened in March. The strong demand for fresh halibut is being called “remarkable” in the current economy. Less fish are available overall, and buyers are scrambling for product.
Major Alaska ports are paying fishermen $5 per pound or more for halibut, depending on fish size. Lots of 10 to 20-pounders are being hauled in, while bigger fish are scarce. Prices at Homer (the nation’s top halibut port) reportedly reached $5.65 per pound for 60-ups last week.
The strong fresh market is putting the squeeze on halibut that is heading for freezers, and that also is boosting fish prices. Even plentiful 10-20s are wholesaling frozen at $5.20 per pound, up $2 from last year.
Alaska’s halibut fishery runs through mid-November and has a catch limit this year of just over 40 million pounds.

Franken-fish
Coming soon to a store near you: Frankenfoods. After a decade of debate, last week the Food and Drug Administration officially proposed regulations that will allow genetically modified fish and animals on America’s dinner plates. Genetic engineering is already widely used in agriculture to produce higher-yielding or disease-resistant crops. But it will mark the first time that modified animals are OK’d for human consumption.
First up for approval is an Atlantic salmon created at AquaBounty in Waltham, Mass. The fish contains a growth gene from a Chinook and an ocean pout, which produces growth hormones all year round. The result is a salmon that can grow to market size in 16-18 months instead of three years. That is likely to be followed by the “enviro-pig” which produces less phosphorous pollution in its poop.
No matter how the critters are modified, you won’t know it. No labeling will be required that tells consumers that an animal has been genetically altered. The FDA may hold a public meeting to discuss the go ahead for the new “franken-fish” this fall.

Robinson Crusoe update
Fishing gear and supplies ranging from outboard motors to buoys, raincoats and radios were loaded aboard a container ship at Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle on July 9, destined for Chile.
In just four week, a diverse mix of North Pacific fishing groups, Bering Sea crabbers, trawlers and other stakeholders raised $85,000 in cash and gear to help restore the small boat lobster fishery at Robinson Crusoe Island. The fishery is the lifeblood of a community located 400 miles west of mainland Chile that was demolished by a tsunami in February.
The loading party wrote notes on a special buoy and added it to the gear. Additional donations will provide materials for winches and net sheds that the Robinson Crusoe fishermen will build for their small boat lobster fleet.
Questions? Contact Jenni Klein, 206.300-9557;jenklein57@msn.com; Edward Poulsen, 206-992-3260; edpoulsen@comcast.net or visit www.helpjuanfernandezislands.org

Gen X’ers must consider needs of three generations

Newsroom — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:13:24 +0000

By Edward Jones
Matthew North
Financial Advisor
If you’re a member of Generation X — the age group born between 1963 and 1981 — you may well be in the busiest time of your life. You’re probably in the early to middle stages of your career, for one thing, and if you have children, they’re likely still at home. Yet despite the hectic nature of your days, you still have to look after the financial concerns of your children, yourself and possibly even your parents. This three-generational effort may seem challenging, but with some planning and persistence, you can help your family make progress toward a variety of goals.
To begin with, let’s consider the needs of your children. Obviously, you’re already providing for their living expenses, so from an investment point of view, your biggest concern may be how you’ll help them pay for college. Here’s a suggestion: Put time on your side and start saving as soon as possible. You might want to consider opening a 529 college savings plan, which offers potential tax advantages.
Saving for college is important — but so is saving for your own retirement. Consequently, you’ll have to find the right balance of resources to devote to these two goals. To avoid shortchanging yourself, take full advantage of your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan. Contribute as much as you can afford right now, and whenever you get a raise, increase your contributions. At the very least, put in enough to earn your employer’s matching contribution, if one is offered. Your 401(k) accumulates on a tax-deferred basis, and your contributions are generally made with pretax dollars, so the more you put in, the lower your taxable income.
You aren’t confined to investing in a 401(k), either, because you can also put money into a traditional IRA, which accumulates tax deferred, or a Roth IRA, which accumulates tax free, provided you’re at least age 59½ when you start making withdrawals and you’ve held your account at least five years.
Once you’ve started saving for college for your kids and investing for your own retirement, you’ve got one more generation to consider — the older one. For example, you’ll need to make sure your parents have adequate financial protection for their health care expenses. If your parents have saved and invested throughout their lives, they may not need any financial help from you — but that doesn’t mean you’ll never be called upon to straighten out their affairs. That’s why now is the perfect time to ask your parents some key questions: Where are your assets located? Do you have a will? How about a durable power of attorney? You might think these inquiries will make you sound “selfish,” but the opposite is true: The more you know about your parents’ financial situation and estate plans, the bigger help you’ll be to them, and to other members of your family, if the day arrives when your parents need some assistance.
It may not always be easy to act on behalf of three generations — but it’s worth the effort.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones does not provide tax or legal advice.

Financial moves for non-retiring baby boomers

Newsroom — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:16:32 +0000

By Edward Jones
Matthew North
Financial Advisor
If you’re in one of the early waves of baby boomers, you may know some retirees who are now enjoying a wide variety of activities — possibly even including a new career. And you, too, may now have some choices about how to spend your time. Should you stay at your current job? Should you retire altogether and travel or pursue hobbies? Or should you “retire” and then start a new job, do some consulting or even open your own business? While you may have choices on how to draw an income, you’ll also have some key issues to consider.
For starters, think about how your earnings might affect one source of retirement income: Social Security. As an early wave baby boomer, your “full retirement age,” from a Social Security standpoint, will be around 66. If you are younger than full retirement age during all of 2010, you will lose $1 from your benefits for each $2 you earn above $14,160. But if you reach your full retirement age during 2010, you’ll lose $1 from your benefits for each $3 you earn above $37,680 until the month you reach that age. (Keep in mind that these figures are for 2010 only; for changes in 2011 and succeeding years, you’ll want to check with the Social Security Administration.) Once you reach full retirement age, you can keep all your benefits, no matter how much you earn.
Deciding what to do about Social Security isn’t the only move you need to make if you work during your “normal” retirement years. You’ll also want to contribute as much as possible to your IRA, 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan. During these years, with your children grown and your mortgage possibly paid, you may have more investable income available — so take advantage of the opportunity.
You’ll also need to carefully review your portfolio to help ensure your investment mix is appropriate for your needs. To stay ahead of inflation, you’ll still need to invest for growth, but since you’re not that far from retirement, you’ll also want to control risk and volatility as much as possible.
Furthermore, you’re at the time of life when you may want to consider consolidating your investment and retirement accounts. If you have an IRA here, a 401(k) there and another account someplace else, you have a lot of paperwork to keep track of, both during the year and, especially, at tax time. But even more importantly, with all your accounts scattered, you might not be following one central, unifying investment approach — an approach that could help make it easier for you to pursue your long-term goals, including a comfortable retirement. By consolidating your accounts with one company, you can save time and possibly reduce administrative fees — while your accounts can work in harmony on your behalf.
This may be a good time to consult with a professional financial advisor — someone who can help you make those choices that can help provide you with the freedom to spend this next phase of your life doing as you please. After all, you’ve earned it.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.