Finally there’s a sign of a federal budget, and me thinks if this was a “good news” budget we wouldn’t have had to wait until March 29th to hear the glorious details.   Pundits are speculating that there’s a difference of opinion between the PM and Minister of Finance.  They’re both in agreement that austerity measures are necessary but the difference of opinion appears to be about degrees of pain.  The thought is that the PM wants deep cuts now, and hopefully the voters will have forgotten by time the election comes around.  The Minister of Finance is focusing on today, and he’s concerned deep cuts may negatively impact an already shaky economy.   Who’s going to win this debate?  My money is on the guy who sits in the big chair. (more…)

There was a time when the elite class was a reserved for industrialists, oil barons, financiers and movie moguls.  Today that class has to step aside and make way for the new elite, The Nerds.  Being a geek today is cool and more importantly they’re the nouveau riche.  For evidence look no further than the IPO world.  Before the crash of 2008, IPO’s were fashionable.  Not so much since then, unless we’re taking about the digital world. (more…)

“I stand here before you as a lame duck president.  There’s a very good likelihood that I won’t be reelected.  I’m a pragmatist and the numbers don’t lie”

So on Tuesday night I watched President O-Blah-ma give his State of The Union address.  Why?  I’m a political junkie and I’ve always been fascinated by American politics.  In Canada we only really pay attention during an election campaign.  In the US, politics is a blood sport.  The US Presidential election cycle is all day, every day.  If you watch Fox News, CNN or god forbid MSNBC, it’s all about politics, all the time.  Watching the news from the US is like watching The Young and the Restless.  I can change my viewing habits, come back a month later, and nothing’s changed.  There’s comfort in that. (more…)

From time to time all of us put our faith in people we know nothing about.  We assume that if our life was in danger a police officer would risk their own life to save us.  We assume that if were in a burning building a fireman would navigate the flames of hell to save our life.  We assume that if we ‘re attacked by terrorists our politicians would respond in a way to not only protect us but to extract vengeance as well.  We assume our children are safe in schools because the faculty and staff would do everything humanly possible to protect them.  I only started to think about this after reading about sinking of The Costa Concordia.  It’s only dawned on me now how much blind faith I’m capable of. (more…)

It matters little if it’s manufactured or real, we’re all going to have to work at being positive in 2012.  Crisis will be fashionable in 2012.  By now we’re becoming somewhat immune to gloom and doom.  We’ve been bombarded with negative information since 2008, as it relates to the economy.  Factor in today’s geopolitical issues, Iran and a US election etc. we’re in for a special year.   But  given our past experience of dealing with news cycles which predicted economic Armageddon, I think we’re uniquely qualified to find silver linings. (more…)