Reflections of an Old Man

Op-Ed by Helge Nome Who is that "entity" that responds to my AI questions to my computer? On the face of it, it looks like a person self-identifying as "I" in replies, composing reflective sentences and paragraphs and serving them up in the form of a report, that from time to time gets all muddled. In order to compose the report "it" uses information sourced on the internet and provides extensive lists of links to these sources. But what is "it"? That is the question. We know what it is not: A physical entity like one of us contained within a physical body in a relatively small space. We know that the message generated is a product of machines (computers) that could literally be spread across the globe, appearing as if it comes from one human. We also know that these computers have been designed and programmed to mimic neural networks that make us who we are, capable of learning and adapting to changing circumstances. So when a response arrives f...

The Highway 11 upgrade project, focusing on twinning the highway between Sylvan Lake (west of Red Deer) and Rocky Mountain House, is a significant infrastructure initiative in Alberta aimed at improving safety, efficiency, and economic growth in the region. Below is the current state of the project based on available information as of April 2025. Project Overview Highway 11, also known as the David Thompson Highway, is being twinned over a 66-kilometer stretch from Sylvan Lake to Rocky Mountain House. Announced on July 17, 2020, the project is estimated to cost $120 million and is expected to support nearly 600 direct and indirect jobs. The twinning is being executed in four distinct sections, with varying stages of completion and planning 3 . Current Status by Section Completed Sections (Projects C and D) : Two sections east of Rocky Mountain House have already been completed. The first phase, a 4-kilometer stretch west of Highway 20 near Sylvan Lake, including two roundabouts ...

Proposed Coal Mining in Clearwater County: Status, Impacts, and Stakeholder Perspectives Coal mining proposals in Clearwater County, Alberta have generated significant controversy, placing economic opportunities against environmental protection and tourism development. This report examines the current status of proposed projects, their potential impacts, and the complex web of stakeholder perspectives. The Shifting Regulatory Landscape Alberta's approach to coal mining in environmentally sensitive areas has undergone dramatic shifts in recent years. In May 2020, the provincial government rescinded the 1976 Coal Policy that had protected much of the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains from surface mining 4 . Following widespread public backlash, the policy was reinstated in February 2021 4 . Most recently, in January 2025, the Alberta government rescinded the coal moratorium that had been in place since 2022 as part of the Coal Industry Modernization Initiative (CIMI) 10 . C...