Be humble

It’s possible to drink your way to a smaller brain, according to new study that links alcohol consumption with lower total brain volume.

CTV

Are you relieved?

Stephen Harper says he’s no devil in a cowboy hat.

Edmonton Sun

Somehow, it seems appropriate for Thanksgiving.  This has made for an extended smile and more than a little pride.  My daughter and little Jade were heading to the gym, when they stopped at a local discount store.  They were running late, and in a rush.  In front of the store was an elderly lady with two elderly dachshunds.  It will come as no surprise to anyone around here, that my daughter loves dogs, and that she has passed that love on to her daughter.

Permission was asked, and Jade met the pups.  As they prepared to leave, my Cyn noticed that the elderly lady was struggling with her bags and cane and decided that maybe gym was not so important and offered the lady a ride home.    The lady’s name was Grace, she was 46 years older than my Cyn, and had outlived her spouse and all of her friends.  She was alone with her dogs.  On arrival at Grace’s, conversation and garden exploration followed, along with a promise of future meetings.

When they discussed going to the market on the weekend, Grace asked if perhaps my Cyn’s other little girl might come too.  <chuckle>..if there was a dog to be loved, nothing would keep her away.

My first reaction was to consider what a wonderful thing this was for Grace.  My daughter pointed out what a wonderful thing it was for her and the girls.  Both are correct.

Most of us will speak of kindness and we all know people who we think of as kind.  Kindness is such a simple act - all it requires is that we give a little of ourselves.  That Grace and her pups have new friends can only be good.  That Cyn and her girls have new friends can only be good.  I think I will try just a little harder.

To the non-Canadian visitors to this site - Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

A simple explanation !

Once upon a time in a place overrun with monkeys, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each. The villagers, seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest, and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10 and as supply started to diminish, they became harder to catch, so the villagers stopped their effort.

The man then announced that he would now pay $20 for each one. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again. But soon the supply diminished even further and they were ever harder to catch, so people started going back to their farms and forgot about monkey catching.

The man increased his price to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so sparse that it was an effort to even see a monkey, much less catch one. The man now announced that he would buy monkeys for $50! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on his behalf.

While the man was away the assistant told the villagers. ‘Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has bought. I will sell them to you at $35 each and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each. The villagers rounded up all their savings and bought all the monkeys. They never saw the man nor his assistant again and once again there were monkeys
everywhere.

Now you have a better understanding of how the stock market works.

Many years ago, the father of an acquaintance decided to run as a MLA,  in what was then a Charlottetown bedroom municipality.  It was a time before TV and radio played any part in an election.  Votes were won at the front door.  As the election campaign approached the big day, there was one important task left to do.  It was time to visit The Bishop. 

The Bishop would outline his demands, and listen carefully to the candidates.  The following Sunday he would instruct the sheep how to vote.

Separation of church and state - bah!

Mr. Duceppe says Canadians demand that French political leaders speak English fluently, but that English-speaking leaders can get away with mangling French.

Globe and Mail

Odd, what jumps out when cruising the depressing financial news.  If EDC is viewing the US as a risky export market, I wonder what might be deemed as a non-risky area?

Rob Paterson has written a number of articles regarding his view of prudent financial behaviour during the ongoing financial meltdown.  Much of what he recommends I agree with.  I completely agree with abandoning equities and moved any modest sums I had to a GIC account 4 years ago.  It is not that I am so smart (although what is happening was obviously apparent some years ago), it is just that I am risk adverse.

Rob has suggested that it is prudent to eliminate debt.  I think many will want to think this one over very carefully.  I agree the meltdown is far from over, and we have some time of pain yet to endure.  However, cash is king.  Many years ago, and during a very uncertain economic time, I found myself over extended with unsecured debt.  A wise person gave me good advice.  Pay the minimum payments on debt, keep the rest and save it.    Save it is key.  Put it in a cash account - there is little risk.  When favourable times return (and they will) take the cash and then pay down debt.  In the meantime, you will have cash to fall back on.  It was good advice.

Despite the late breaking news (be still my heart) that the Provincial Government is installing waterless urinals in certain properties and the heart breaking news that the poor dear in Summerside can’t figure out why her electric bill has increased - yes, despite these earth shattering bits of journalistic investigation, I still want to know where the $400,000,000 went.