Virtual Realities

OWS and other things

2011-11-25T21:30:00.000-05:00

Okay I'm going to voice my opinion on the #OWS. When I first heard that there were going to be Canadian versions I was concerned. Why? Number one is that there isn't the same discrepency in wages as there is the US. Check out the Gini coeeficcient. Won't go into stats buy the US is dark purple and Canada is lime green. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_coefficient Second, we did not bail out

European Debt Crisis Becoming Surreal

2011-09-13T17:40:00.001-04:00

Things seem to be reaching an inflection point in the ongoing European debt crisis. Zero Hedge earlier today linked to this purported page from a trader's diary: Dear Diary: 7.00 – 8.00 Mkt rallies on Chinese Buying Italian Bonds – But they weren't! 8.00 – 9.00 Mkt Crashes as Greek Electricity/Tax Office Strikes & therefore default looms. 9.00 – 11.00 Mkt moves sideways to down as BNP in WSJ

Up North again and good memories

2011-08-11T22:58:00.002-04:00

I recently returned from a trip up North with family. The drive back was hell - traffic accident on the 401! But really had a great time. Love that my youngest sister tp'd my bike. Proud of myself for going out tubing and holding on for more than 10 seconds. Edit - a few minutes - it was tough! Best memory however was one night when storms were rolling in. My four-year-old nephew is growing

Dow down 500 points?

2011-08-04T16:48:00.002-04:00

I have been waiting for a market correction like this for a few years. Why? The global economic problems have not been addressed just swept under the rug where they are starting to fester. Deer in headlights indeed.

Why I love TED

2011-06-02T18:31:00.004-04:00

Data visualization, sheep and Johnny Cash!

Inflation Explained

2011-04-15T16:35:00.000-04:00

Voting

2011-04-13T17:55:00.001-04:00

Disclosure: I will not be voting for the Conservatives in the upcoming election. Aside from that, I'm not sure where I will cast my vote. But I will vote even though I know the local candidate is a shoe-in. It is one way I can express views. And I will vote in the provincial election as well. We all live in a souped up media lane but I do remember. I remember this: G20 In TO And I remember

Career choices

2011-04-13T16:43:00.000-04:00

The Old New Green

2011-04-12T01:17:00.000-04:00

I came across this comment on a site I occasionally contribute to. I thought it was very interesting - liked the connections. Haven't been able to figure out how to link directly to him but I will. In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to her and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my

Baby with latest US gov employment numbers

2011-03-01T12:03:00.001-05:00

Some new numbers on employment in the US. My opinion?

Grammy winners

2011-02-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

Congrats to Arcade Fire for the grammy - still my fav - makes me homesick for Montreal:

Good versus bad customer service

2011-02-13T18:14:00.002-05:00

Kudos to Rogers. I know we all like to complain about our internet providers but I had a good experience with Rogers this weekend. My internet suddenly died so first contacted Rogers. The person I talked to was in Nova Scotia (recognized the accent) and that person was helpful, smart and amiable. With his help, discovered that the issue was not the Rogers connection but probably an issue with my

LSE + TSE = ?

2011-02-09T19:47:00.000-05:00

Woke up this morning to the news that the Toronto and London stock exchanges might be merging. I'm not sure what to make of it so far. FT.com did point out that both exchanges have been losing market share over the past few years, mostly due to tech trading companies. I don't really like businessinsider but they offer an explanation that seems reasonable: Why Are The London And Toronto Stock

Muslim, Christian, we're all Egyptian

2011-01-30T02:52:00.003-05:00

I have been watching the unrest in Egypt and need to collect my thoughts. But one blogger I respect blogged about this one tweet, which I love: "Muslim Brotherhood chanting Allah Akbar. Crowd stopped them chanting louder: Muslim, Christian, we're all Egyptian." Maybe a true people's revolt against an outdated regime and certain globalist agendas?

Little Bears on the Bailouts

2011-01-29T16:26:00.000-05:00

The little bears on the bailouts - all you need to know in 6 and a half minutes!

Another little bears video on the economy

2010-12-24T03:06:00.000-05:00

Love these bears!

The Tooth Fairy and Economic Realities

2010-11-22T00:43:00.007-05:00

I visit a few different economic forums on a regular basis. One of my favourites is zerohedge.com - I love that it provides articles on the micro including technical analysis and articles that focus on the macro which range from the psychology of trading to geo-political issues. I like that they have an active membership and that membership consists of divergent economic and political views. I

Quantitative Easing Explained

2010-11-13T18:13:00.000-05:00

Bill Moyers Article - Highly Recommended

2010-11-06T18:30:00.003-04:00

I came across a recent article by Bill Moyers which I highly recommend. The article is based upon notes for a speech delivered as part of Howard Zinn Lecture series at Boston University. In it, Moyers describes the current US governing system as a plutocracy or plutonomy and provides the historical context that shows how this state of affairs has come about. One fact I found especially

Mid Term Elections: I Have Been thinking about this post for the last week

2010-11-02T20:05:00.003-04:00

Just finished work and have not yet turned on my tv to hear about early results but I'm guessing I know where it its going to go. Bloodbath! And it isn't that voters are voting for Republicans over Dems - voters are fed up with a two party system that supports corporate institutions over all else. Good article from Bruce Krasting about the failure of the democrats on understanding the issues.

The Monster: : How a Gang of Predatory Lenders and Wall Street Bankers Fleeced America--and Spawned a Global Crisis

2010-10-26T19:46:00.002-04:00

Great read - I plan on buying this book but here is an excerpt (long). I like that this writer is putting some human faces on the whole financial meltdown. by Michael W. Hudson, The Center for Public Integrity Introduction: Bait and Switch A few weeks after he started working at Ameriquest Mortgage, Mark Glover looked up from his cubicle and saw a coworker do something odd. The guy stood at

Mortgage Gate 101

2010-10-25T23:56:00.001-04:00

As a few know, I do follow the markets and most recently, one of the primary causes of 2007-2008 crisis is once again peeking out from under the rug. Peeking may not be the right word - it is gathering momentum - more like a tsunami. And it is important because it could bring down a few big banks and therefore the market. And like it or not, the U.S. is still the dominant player in the global

Gordon Pinsent reads from Justin Bieber's "autobiography"

2010-10-21T16:09:00.001-04:00

This is truly funny!

You will take my healthcare from my cold dead hands ...

2010-10-20T21:35:00.003-04:00

You will take my healthcare from my cold dead hands ... I haven't written for a while and was going to do an update on the global economic situation including some explanation of the whole fraudclosure issue - fun! But then I noticed that MarketWatch was running a special report on Canadian healthcare. Headlines include Canada at the crossroads Limited opportunities The long wait Reading the

Catching Up

2010-10-11T23:00:00.003-04:00

I haven't posted for a while for a number of reasons - mostly work-related. Now, that it is fall, I'm looking forward to catching up. And there are tons of things I want to write about. I am going to start posting at least twice a week but for now .... Will catch up soon -:)

Better than Expected

2010-09-09T21:22:00.004-04:00

Though many economists say we may be in a recession, headed for a double dip or already in a depression, the stock market has been on a tear. It seems the market can rally on anything. These days a headline like "Mukluk Sales in July Better than Expected" could send the market up a point or two! Reading the mainstream financial news you see phrases such as "better than expected" all the time. I

Up North

2010-08-31T23:37:00.013-04:00

I recently used this expression with some San Francisco co-workers. I don't think they got it or thought it was funny (odd funny). But for many Canadians (especially those born in Ontario), the meaning is clear - Escaping congested Southern Ontario and going north even for a weekend. But, there is North and then there is North. My brother-in-law loves the outdoors and has recently written

Economists make the strangest bed fellows...

2010-08-20T20:13:00.008-04:00

Yeah I know that the quote should read that politics make "the strangest bed fellows" but given our current economic reality, I really do think that economists make the strangest of all bed fellows. I recently came across a post from a blogger that easily and succintly summarizes why the Canadian economy is doing better than the U.S. economy and why economic conditions in Canada will support

The US Gov has lost all credibility on the BP oil spill

2010-08-19T18:56:00.005-04:00

I have posted before on the BP oil spill and the U.S. government's apparent complicity in a cover up, which seemed to have much more to do with getting the story out of the news than with any meaningful attempt to deal with the crisis. Recently, the White House claimed that 75% of the oil had been removed from the Gulf either through natural processes or clean up efforts. A number of

Easy for a Camel ?

2010-08-18T21:23:00.011-04:00

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God - yeah right!From a very young age, I suspected the above quote. I also was suspicious regarding "but the humble will inherit the earth."Why - seemed like a great way of discouraging change and/or innovation in a closed system.I have lately seen a plethora of online articles purporting to

Doodling on the phone

2010-08-14T08:50:00.006-04:00

Doodling.This is something I've always done while on the phone and I have absolutely no understanding as to why. But apparently I'm not alone. Do a search for "doodling" and "phone" on Google. Some psychologists suggest that it helps improve concentration. But I think there is more to it. Maybe our brains haven't caught up with technology yet and while on the phone we try to compensate for the

Are the American People Obsolete?

2010-08-06T17:25:00.003-04:00

Interesting article from Salon - Are the American People Obsolete?. In it the author discusses whether the ruling elites still need the American working and middle classes and speculates on possible outcomes. I believe that the world economies are going through major structural shifts that will have consequences for social and political institutions, but am not sure what those consequences will

My Brother-in-law's Latest Fishing Adventure

2010-08-05T19:32:00.004-04:00

Today I'm linking to my brother-in-law's fabulous post about his latest back country fishing adventure - a great narrative and some super pictures. Even if you are not into fishing, it is worth a read. And I absolutely agree with a comment early in the post - we are fortunate to live where we do.

Ant with Cheddar Cheese Popcorn

2010-08-02T16:26:00.017-04:00

I have been on vacation lately and yes off the grid. But am gearing up once again.I took this amazing photo of an ant pulling a huge piece of cheddar flavored popcorn and invited the three kids who were around to take a look. Their ages: 3, 5 and 6.The outcome for the ant was not good.The 6 year old (a girl) wanted to watch what happened with the ant. But the 3 and 5 year old boys had other ideas

Not a cool young dude

2010-07-26T19:25:00.012-04:00

On the way home I was checking out the news and found out that the young dude who was in charge of doling out the initial bank bailout funds is now suggesting workers cut back on their social security for the good of the country! This is too rich (literally and figuratively). The U.S has just seen the biggest tax payer bailout of the financial industry ever and now the Wall Streeters want middle

Dangerous things you should let your kids do

2010-07-22T20:27:00.006-04:00

Gever Tulley has written a book called 50 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do. I haven't read the book yet but came across a talk he gave when the book was in progress. It resonated with me on a number of levels. When I compare how children are being raised now with my own childhood - I got the better deal. It probably is a function of when I was born and where I grew up - but we

How much space do we need?

2010-07-22T20:13:00.002-04:00

A friend fowarded this video to me about a guy living in a tiny house and it got me thinking- how much space do we need - my conclusion is not a lot. I've lived in a number of different cities over the past years with vastly different housing options. In the past, choosing a housing option has been a function of my income * housing costs * safety. But I have found that having a bigger house or

Spin Zone - Gulf Oil Seep is a Natural Occurrence - LOL

2010-07-19T19:44:00.007-04:00

I think once again spin is in full effect. This morning I heard on the news that the U.S. government had discovered leaking from the top of the well and a seep from the sea bed as well as some gas bubbles. At one point, when I was eating my toast, the CBC reported that the US government was so concerned they had ordered BP to open up the well head. Which BP refused to do.Now the story coming out

Generations

2010-07-17T20:11:00.006-04:00

Around the same time Douglas Copeland was publishing Generation X , Peter Strauss and Neil Howe were publishing Generations. The Strauss and Howe book interprets history as a repeating pattern of interplay between the generations and makes predictions based on those generational dynamics. The Strauss and Howe theory is interesting - their historical interpretation is spot on in a number of cases

Scary movies

2010-07-16T22:11:00.006-04:00

Scariest movie ? For me the first was the Wizard of Oz which I saw when I was around 4 or 5 - most of my nightmares over the next couple of years involved flying monkeys in the hallway. Next - my parents messed up. Visiting relatives in Chrystal Beach, they took us kids to a drive in. I think they expected all the kids would sleep but I didn't. When we got home, my brother and I sat up in bed,

Gumby and Economics

2010-07-14T18:07:00.020-04:00

For some reason, which I haven't been able to figure out yet, the embedded video only seems to be working in Chrome but not IE or Firefox - bad Google! So I'm replacing the embedded video with a link .A friend recently posted this awesome Gumby cartoon and my first thought was that this satire at its finest. But then I realized that this was a cartoon from the early 80s - no satire intended but

Are Night Owls Smarter?

2010-07-13T12:47:00.005-04:00

For some reason, a short 2009 article on the correlation between IQ and sleeping habits has been circulating the blogsphere. Having long been a night owl, I like these findings! The article reports the following:Bedtimes and wake-up times for Americans in their 20s by IQVery Dull (IQ < 75)Weekday: 11:41 P.M.-7:20 A.M.Weekend: 12:35 A.M.-10:09 A.M.Normal (90 < IQ < 110)Weekday: 12:10 A.M.-7:32

Learning a new language

2010-07-11T18:23:00.003-04:00

I haven't been able to post much lately because I've been totally immersed in learning a new language for querying multi-demensional (OLAP) databases. It isn't as difficult as it sounds. It involves understanding the structure of the database and understanding the underlying syntax, which is much simpler than learning a foreign language. Right now my learning is self-directed. If I need to take a

Diversions

2010-07-08T01:31:00.003-04:00

I probably won't be able to post anything substantive over the next few days because of other obligations. So I thought I would share my favourite commercial - it is old and I'm sure most have seen it already but what the heck:

Stimulus Spending versus Deficit Cutting

2010-07-06T20:06:00.019-04:00

There is an ongoing debate in the States regarding the best way to deal with the economic downturn, slump, recession or depression (and it has been called all of those things). The debate centers around stimulus spending versus deficit cutting. I'm going to lay out what I see as the basic issues in what I hope is non-technical language (official disclaimer - I'm not an economist).Today Krugman

What is happening in the Gulf of Mexico

2010-07-06T10:14:00.005-04:00

So a few weeks ago CNN's Anderson Cooper told us that jounalists and photographers were being denied access to some public beaches and parks while trying to report on the gulf oil spill. Now he reports about a new law that makes it illegal to be within 65 ft of booms, clean up boats or clean up crews. If charged you could face a felony conviction and be fined $40K - huh? I understand (even

What is bothering me most about the G20 Clusterf*ck

2010-07-05T20:20:00.006-04:00

I'm trying to figure out what is bothering me most about what happened a few weekends ago in Toronto - the constitutional abuses that took place or the public reaction to those abuses. That those abuses took place I think will be proved and hopefully we will put in safeguards that they don't happen in the future. I'm not sure but I think what is bothering me more than the abuses is that most

Feeling nostalgic for an online community

2010-07-05T20:02:00.011-04:00

I had a really weird experience lately. I was home for a family get together and looked at my now 16 year old nephew. He was so big, so tall and so much a teenager. And I did have a feeling of nostalgia run over me but it surprised me that the nostalgia I felt was for a gaming community we both used to belong to.When he was a kid around 9, his parents were concerned about his involvement in

Hello World

2010-07-05T19:47:00.002-04:00

Good enough. Every first programming course starts with a program that writes out Hello World and for the person tackling that language for a first time, it can be very satisfying when they finally get the computer to output that phrase or some variation of it. This is my first post and I will probably need some time to figure out my way around here but I think I managed to output Hello World.In