16th May 2008

The cost of concentric search patterns

After a certain number of children have passed through the house, a parent develops a feeling for which of the various “rites of passage” come with an acceptable risk factor. My three sons have all gone through a similar formation, that of the concert band, and the big night of the year is the final performance. Not so much the show, but what follows afterward is at the crux of this posting; the famous “after concert” party.

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posted in economy, education | Comments Off on The cost of concentric search patterns | 410 words

6th May 2008

Study in sticker shock

Let’s give credit to parents with children who decide (together) that post-secondary studies are a worthwhile investment. I mean that in both the literal and the subjective senses, because “me and mine” have been there and now the “mine and me” are considering the idea.

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posted in economy, education | Comments Off on Study in sticker shock | 367 words

3rd May 2008

All your money belongs to them

Do you remember when you would ask your parents for some money and after a “short period of reflection” they would dig out the coin purse, cross your palm with silver (in the old days, the mint actually used semi-precious metals) and ask you to explain, again, what exactly you were going to do with all that capital? Do you remember how you loved the idea of finally earning your own cash? No controls. Free to spend as you pleased, on your own where and when. In some places, freedom to manipulate currency is not a given.

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posted in economy | Comments Off on All your money belongs to them | 433 words

9th April 2008

New duds and a dud torch parade

It takes that “little shove” (sometimes) to get me moving and doing… yesterday my angst over going shopping was obvious. Today, I went, I bought, I came home. A personal version of that thing Caesar said: veni, vidi, vici. Without the bloodshed or need to build roads and march in step for miles.

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posted in economy, media | Comments Off on New duds and a dud torch parade | 271 words

8th April 2008

Make a choice or two

If I were a rich man, I think that I’d hire a personal assistant. No need to have a cook or bottlewasher, not even a dog walker, but just someone that had a keen eye and a sense of what should make the short list of clothing in my closets. Because I’ve come to the realization that I’m not very good at picking what to wear.

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posted in economy | Comments Off on Make a choice or two | 355 words

7th April 2008

Cells in the air

Let’s start with a disclaimer: I am a trained amateur AND a trained professional. At least, if the subject is radio. Specifically, a radio used for personal communications. I do not own, or use, the device spawned by Beelzebub, known colloquially as “the cell.” For whatever reason, the industry doesn’t invite me to give qualified input on the subject. Let us continue.

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posted in economy | Comments Off on Cells in the air | 256 words

28th March 2008

Me and the postal person

I felt like I hit the parcel jackpot this afternoon. After picking up a cylinder containing fifteen pairs of scissors at work (destined for a group of scrapbooking students that I’ll never meet), I got home to my trusty Superbox to find even more booty.

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posted in economy | Comments Off on Me and the postal person | 308 words

29th February 2008

The day that isn’t

Today doesn’t really exist. An invention of a calendar wizard in long forgotten times, a day that wouldn’t have continued if the French had managed to promulgate their new method for calculating the passage of time after the Revolution, it doesn’t even have a patron saint. When the economic calculations are in, it will be seen to have as little worth as the Daylight Saving Time Act (which is actually a series of provincial legislations.)

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posted in economy | Comments Off on The day that isn’t | 324 words

26th February 2008

Not much incentive to save

It seems to me a strange thing, mystifying… an excellent line from a great period musical that also describes today’s federal government budget. Which, in passing, the official opposition has already agreed to support, which, in passing, means that we’re stuck with it. Nothing like a government that rules by minority.

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posted in economy | Comments Off on Not much incentive to save | 386 words

25th February 2008

Mistaken largess

Let’s get a few details in order. Bank robbery is wrong. Bank fraud is wrong. Bank giving me permission to withdraw money even after I insist repeatedly that it’s not my account; confusing. One poor man in the Empire State is now facing charges for exactly this reason.

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posted in economy, media | Comments Off on Mistaken largess | 301 words

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