Gaza Woes

Was curious what instigated the protests world-wide, so I surfed for some answers.

Here’s some background I just discovered by the Human Rights Watch regarding the situation.

Year in Pictures

BBC released their best photos of 2008 related to the top stories of 2008.

Family Day! Thanks Dalton

October 11, 2007, the day after being re-elected into office, Primier Dalton McGuinty declared Family Day as an official holiday in the province of Ontario. The holiday will occur on the third Monday of February. This brings Ontario’s long weekend total to 9!

I will have to admit, at the start of this election, I wouldn’t have predicted Dalton McGuinty winning after his misuse of voters’ trust, never mind running away with another majority government. But once he was in, he didn’t waste anytime in making good of one promise made September 3, 2007, to help redeem that trust.

I’m all for the extra holiday (naturally). But more importantly, I’m glad to see some light in what is often seen as the gloomiest month of the year in Ontario.

I can see the marketing wheels turning already. Yet another Halmark moment. Can’t wait for the Family Day sale at FutureShop!

Dollar Parity + eBay = Drop in Canadian Prices?

With the Canadian dollar at par with the US dollar, will this result in lower prices on goods in Canada? As you guessed, we likely won’t see prices drop too fast up here as a result.

But with online shopping malls like eBay.com and Amazon.com (notice I said .com not .ca), what would stop Canadian shoppers from online shopping across the boarder in order to take advantage of the exchange rate?

So I decided to test it out… Yup, the book Wikinomics is 15% cheaper on Amazon.com than Amazon.ca, taxes and shipping included! However, you would receive it a lot faster by ordering from the Canadian site. Time to invest in FedEx.

Though here is one example of an immediate price drop… Canadian price of a 2008 Porsche Carrera 4S Cab. down 8% from 2007!

What a steal! … My wife unfortunately wasn’t convinced.

Machines will take over Canada!

As the Canadian dollar heads closer and closer to parity with the US dollar, the Canadian manufacturing industry is sweating buckets.

What are experts recommending? With the dollar so high, the recommendation is to take this as an opportunity to buy technology to streamline processes and reduce manufacturing costs, resulting in competitive products produced up north. Even more competitive if the dollar then drops.

Simply put, they are advising to buy machines to replace human labour… Leading us right into the hands of the machines’ evil plans! :)

This Blog is Certified Organic

Are you one of the growing many that spend the extra $ for organic food? But how can you be sure it truly is organic? Well Ottawa’s answer is to introduce the new Canada Organic label which will certify the product is organic.. or will it?

Though the stamp is said to assure:

• Products that contain at least 95 per cent organic ingredients
• Animals raised in conditions that mimic nature as much as possible; and
• The use of natural fertilizers in production;

In reality the test only certifies the farm’s processes adhere to the criteria, but no actual testing of soil or product will be performed. So how can you be sure it truly is organic? Until random tests are instituted, I don’t believe you can be. As long as there is opportunity, someone will take advantage of the “honor system” put in place. For more on this, see the following CBC National news video

Back to the title of this post, given the certification criteria, I can then assure this blog is organic since:

• Subtracting clothing, I’m about 95% organic material;
• Thanks to my kids, my living environment often mimic the wild; and
• The only fertilizer this blog deals with is B.S. :)

Oh Dalton… you kidder.

Heard this on Newstalk 1010 while driving into work…

With the provincial election lingering, Premier Dalton McGuinty in a news conference today was posed with the infamous question, “Will you raise taxes?”

Actually the question posed was more to the effect of, “Can you state on record that you will not raise taxes?” To which Dalton replied, “Yes.” The reporter request again, “Can you state that on the record?” Dalton confidently repeats, “Yes!”. Reporter clarifies once more, “No. Can you state, in your words, on record, ‘I will not raise taxes’?” Dalton this time stammers an, “Um… ah…”.

Hah! Classic! Never mind the other recent exposure of mismanaged provincial funds.

He did later state he would not raise taxes if re-elected, and that he means it this time. :)

I’m going to miss this guy…

Holy Power

A breakthrough solar power technology from the Holy land promises 1500 times the energy absorption and return than a conventional solar cell.

Another Israeli company, Solel Solar Systems Ltd., is also experimenting with concentrating the sun’s energy with mirrors and farming California’s Mojave desert. This technology is somewhat “simpler” in concept in that it uses the suns energy to heat up tubes of oil, which then boil water, etc…

I want to see the governments of the world embrace these green technologies, but all are hesitant to be first. Maybe due to the fact that what you own in the end is just the technology, and not the natural resource itself. And the technology is still a fragile one. Mind you, there is one natural resource required as a prerequisite, acres of land in the right geographical location. Canada for example does not have what it takes sunshine-wise to be a viable consumer of any current mass solar power technology.

Read more in the CBC news story, Looking to the Sun.

Dirty Doctors

Just watched a revealing episode of Marketplace called Dirty Doctors.

Every year 250,000 Canadians get sick from hospital infections. Using hidden cameras, Erica Johnson exposes medical staff that could be putting your life at risk.

In their wrap-up they conclude by recommending to:

• use gel dispensers
• ask doctors to wash their hands
• Request clipping vs. shaving area for surgery
• ask about antibiotics, and
• speak up if you think something is wrong

The first two bullets reminded me of an episode of Dragon’s Den where a couple of brothers came on the show and won the wallets of venture capitalists with their idea… a gel dispenser that clips on to a doctor’s belt. Simple but brilliant! But after reading the viewer’s comments I now have second thoughts. Hmm…

Green Tax?

The provincial government encourages initiatives in support of renewable energy sources like wind and solar energy, yet turns around and taxes a farmer that erects a windmill?

Mind you its $160,000, 80-kilowatt windmill from Holland (where else!) that he says generates enough energy to save him $3,600 / year. Not the most efficient windmill in my opinion. Never-the-less, should such a “green” act be punished?

Government says the windmill increased his property value… Hmm. I guess that’s true… And that as a result, the man must pay more property taxes. The net of this equation is that the tax nearly cancels the benefits of the power saved, nevermind the cost of the windmill.

If windmills are not taxed, will they be considered a tax loophole since the property they reside on will sell for more? Maybe, but I think they’re missing the big picture here…