The eyes of the world were on Scotland yesterday. An election took place which would have far reaching effects, well beyond Scotland’s boarders. Everyone waited with baited breath as club secretary Peter Dawson announced that for the first time in the 260 year history of the R&A, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, would now permit girls to tee it up with the boys. By an overwhelming majority, 85% of the 2,400 members, voted in favour allowing female members at the R&A, I don’t believe the R&A issued an electronic or a paper press release. My understanding is that press release was chiseled on a cave wall, and members of the press were invited into the cave for viewing. (Read more here)  Oh yeah, there was that other vote in Scotland… You may have heard – Scotland held a referendum whether to secede from the UK.

The polls indicated that it was too close to call. But after all the ballots were counted a majority of Scottish citizens decided to maintain the status quo.  The UK will remain unified, but at a cost. In a desperate attempt to buy Scottish loyalty, UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, made numerous concessions.  The fallout being that both Wales and Northern Ireland will now say, “enough about Scotland, what do we get?”  That will have to be addressed, as well as the fact that 45% of the population wanted to break away from the UK. Scotland is divided, that’s the reality.

Breathing a big sigh of relief is the Prime Minister. If the “yes” vote had triumphed there is little doubt that Prime Minister Cameron would have to resign. If you lose five million citizens and a large swath of land on your watch, you don’t have much choice but to offer your resignation. Cameron dodged a bullet, but now he will have to govern a much different United Kingdom.

There was the tremendous amount of speculation about what would happen if Scotland decided to part from the Union. From financial ruin to Armageddon…it was all bad, and you know what, it worked for the “no” side. What might have also worked for the “no” side is that Scotland lowered the voting age to 16 for this referendum.  Interesting, most 16 year olds I know are not responsible enough to make their bed every day, never mind determining a countries sovereignty. I guess 16 year olds in Scotland are much further advanced intellectually.

Canadian’s know all too well what Scotland just went through. Thankfully there is not an updated play book for separatists in Canada to follow.

Until next time,

Cheers.

I’ve been to a number of soccer matches in foreign countries, but nothing compares to the hostile atmosphere I experienced Monday night in Recife, Brazil.  The stadium was awash with green, the colour of the Mexican soccer jersey.  With the Brazilians in attendance supporting the Mexicans, this was like a home game for Mexico.

They were in full voice, and my dad and I were left with no choice but to grimace (sorry, there could be no grin) and bear it. The Mexican fans showed little in the way of imagination, but I have to hand to them, they sure are perseverant.  On every opposing free kick they would wave their hands and chant the same thing over and over again. They start as the player is setting up, and when he kicks the ball they yell out “puto.”  It goes something like this: “Oooooooooooooooooo, Putoooooooo!”

I don’t think there’s a need to provide a definition of the word “puto.”  It’s an international word, the pronunciation being fairly close in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian. Suffice it to say, it’s not nice.  Now, to be fair, Croatian fans have some nasty chants.  But when you’re a thousand, amongst forty thousand in attendance, there’s no getting even.

Being serenaded all night by the Mexican fans, while witnessing a meltdown by the Croatian soccer team in the second half of the game, had me thinking about taking the long journey home a tad early.  The game was puzzling. The Croatian team dominated play in the first half and I got the sense it was just a matter of time before they scored. Yet, for some unknown reason the Croatian coach decided to change tactics and formation in the second half. What a stroke of genius it was. The Croatian players looked totally confused and surrendered 3 goals in a matter of 10 minutes.  Alex, I’ll take “oops” for $1,000. Final score, Mexico 3 – Croatia  1.  Full measure to Mexico.  On this night they were the better team.

The result of the game did not produce an indelible memory of the game itself.  But the experience getting to the game was a highlight.  There were so few Croatian fans attending the game that we became a novelty.  I giggled watching my dad being constantly asked to pose with Mexican fans for a picture.  On the bus, the metro and at the game. It was constant.  I started calling him Hollywood.  He graciously accepted every request for a photo and was happy to do it.

I chuckled at some offers made to me be some Mexican supporters, like the man in the picture wearing a mask. He asked if I would trade my commemorative Euro 2008 cap, from Austria, for his homemade, papier-mâché, Lucha Libre  Mexican wrestling mask. As difficult as the decision was, I respectfully declined.  Or the woman who approached me on the platform at the metro. She wanted to exchange the jersey she was wearing for the one I had adorned.  I had to think that through.  First of all, she was a size minus 3 and I was wearing a jersey that had enough material to make a duvet for a king size bed.  Secondly, I wasn’t feeling the love for Mexican fans.  For 90 minutes during the game you kept calling me a puto, and now you want my jersey?  Thirdly, it was a Mexican jersey! I passed on the offer.

It was a great trip but now it’s time to flip the switch.  I see the condo market is rather buoyant, and prices have increased some 285% in the last three years.  Okay, so I’m referring to the condo market in Recife, Brazil.  Try as might I couldn’t find a single article about a looming condo bust there. No worries, I’ll get plenty of that as soon as I touch down in Toronto.

Until next time

Cheers

Unless you’re from this region or a geography major, the likelihood that you’ve heard about Manaus would be somewhat remote – just like it’s location.  It’s an industrial city, in the middle of the Amazon.  How and why this location was chosen to host matches during the World Cup, is a mystery, at least to me it is.   A beautiful new stadium was built specifically for the World Cup in Manaus.  It’s seats forty thousand, and has all the amenities that we’re used to in North America, including beautiful hospitality suites.  But here’s the thing, there’s no local team that plays in the Brazilian top league. Evidently Manaus has a team that plays in the third division, and a few of the locals I spoke to about the future of the newly built monument indicated that hundreds, not thousands, of people attend these games. So what does one do with a brand new shinny stadium in the middle of a jungle?  No one seems to know.  It appears the stadium was built to host four games during the World Cup, period.  In an odd way it’s comforting to know we haven’t cornered the market on wasteful spending.

Here’s what I can tell you about Manaus, it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing city, unless of course you’re into the industrial rough edge look.  The rules of the road? There are none.  It’s amazing to drive around in cabs and laugh, cry and gasp, all in about 30 seconds.  After one ride my dad commented on the size of the tip I gave.  I replied, “We’re alive, it’s worth every penny”.  What the city lacks in looks, it makes up for in its citizens.  They’re also pleasant, and tolerant of us tourists invading their space and city.  I was taken aback by the service levels we received at the hotel.  One evening I was in the restaurant having a look at the menu, while waiting for my father to join me. I was really struggling with the font size on the menu so out comes out my iPhone, and my Flashlight App.  Out of nowhere the waiter appears with a step latter, he climbs it to the top wrung so that he can adjust the track lighting on the ceiling to give me more light so help read the menu. I was somewhat embarrassed, and I said “no, no, no, it’s not necessary”. Unfortunately I didn’t know how to say that in Portuguese, so I shrugged my shoulders and said, “orbigado”, thank you in Portuguese.  He nodded and moved on to serve another customer, the only time the waiter cracked a smile was when he saw the size of the tip I left.  Based on his reaction I may be an honorary family member, not sure, but he said a lot in Portuguese, and he seemed to be really happy.

Speaking of happy, pops and I were overjoyed by the result of the game we went to see.  Croatia 4 – Cameroon 0.  That was a good old fashion spanking.   We both commented that this was the least stressful game we’ve ever watched together.  We know it’s going to be short lived; the next game against Mexico is do-or-die. If Croatia wins they move on, if they don’t, they go home.  Very shortly my dad and I will be heading home, but first we head to Recife, Brazil, a coastal town that that will host the Croatia versus Mexico game.  So, muito obrigado Manaus, and Oi, Recife!

Until next time

Cheers

Is the glass half full or half empty?  Are the measures that we’re taken to modify the real estate market balanced or have policy makers over reached?  Numbers are supposed to be black and white.  Shades of grey come into play depending on the side of the argument you’re on.

The Canadian Real Estate Association, (CREA) released data this week which will make all sides of the Canadian real estate market argument happy.  Example, according to the MLS Home Price Index, home prices have increased by 7.6% from a year ago.  Now if you take Vancouver and Toronto out of the equation, the increase was 4.6% on a year over year basis.  So are we on the cusp of a potential real estate bubble or is it simple supply side economics?  The number of homes sold came in slightly lower than a year ago.  So is demand outpacing supply, causing prices to increase?  And oh my god, condo sales increased in Toronto as well. Red Rover, Red Rover, Doom Sayers come on over.  There’s a little something for everyone. The teeth nashers and those predicting Armageddon are fist bumping each other.  Others, justifiably so, are saying it’s a balanced market.  Should the price of a real estate never rise? If that we’re the case we would all be squatters, living in tents.  The commentators I love are the ones that sit firmly on the fence.  An economist for one major bank said their analysis suggests that we all experience a 10% decrease in home values, and there could be further risk if sales activity was to increase. They were so concerned with the “risk” that they matched the 2.99% five year rate that one of their competitors came out with.  That fence post must really be uncomfortable to sit on.

Sifting through all the commentary can be confusing, and let’s be honest, depending on the amount of skin you have in the game will influence the argument and opinion you support.  To combat human nature it’s important to seek contrary opinions, and I force myself do that, almost daily.  It takes some effort to find commentary which is not self-serving, like those selling newspapers, hedge funds that are shorting the Canadian economy or politicians playing politics.  Here’s a couple names to look out for when you want broader viewpoint, economists Nouriel Roubini and David Rosenberg.  What’s their bona fide? They predicted the financial collapse of 2008. So what are they saying today?  According to Rosenberg, “Nattering nabobs of negativity – stop knocking yourself out. First, there are a host of reasons why I see inflation rising moderately, and the wage process is but one of them. There is a very interesting development taking place that is not garnering a lot of attention. The U.S. commercial banks are loosening their purse strings. As for the U.S. economy, it is looking as though Q2 real GDP growth will come in close to a 4% annual rate. Why I turned bullish on the U.S. consumer.”  Clearly he’s refereeing to the U.S. Economy, but like it or not, when America sneezes we look for a tissue.  In good times and bad.

Until next time!

Cheers,

It plays an important role for many in our society.  I bristle at those who condemn people of faith because “science” can’t prove the existence of what they believe in.  Of course I’m not referring to people who bastardize or prostitute their faith in the name of war or violence.  The people who do this are nothing more than charlatans and con artists, irrespective of religious doctrine.  I have great respect for people who frequent their house of worship, and truly feel better for doing so.  The fact they feel spiritually uplifted is reason to applaud them.  If faith causes people to treat each other with respect, kindness and human decency, then these people should be admired and not mocked.

There’s also another kind of faith, our faith in mankind.  Regrettably our faith in mankind is being tested with far too much regularity.  Our faith was tested, yet again, when evil visited Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newport Connecticut.  I have no idea how to categorize the actions of the mass murder other than pure evil.  The killing of innocent babies leads me to set aside reasoning or any form of rationale.  Gun laws will be debated, as will mental health treatment, but in my mind clinical terms cannot be used to describe the actions of the cold blooded murderer at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  He possessed a human shell but he was devoid of humanity.

As shocking as the barbaric act was, I’m equally shocked at how compassionate and forgiving people can be.  The father of one the slain babies held a press conference and said that his prayers were with the murderer’s family, for they too are grieving.  This man had not even buried his six year old daughter, and yet his faith in religion and mankind leads him to embrace the murderer’s family in their time of grief.  My reservoir of compassion runs too low to be able to do the same.  What I also can’t do is watch the endless news coverage.  How much heart ache is enough?  CNN posted pictures of all the victims, which included the boys and girls who were slain.  I can’t look at the pictures because when I do I think how they were systematically executed.  The son of b!t$& who murdered these babies had to reload to finish what he had set out to do.  I can’t imagine how the parents of the slain children are dealing with this.

I know the cable news channels have to fill time, and this is news.  But enough is enough.  One of the most simple and moving tributes came from, of all places, Saturday Night Live; for a TV show that has no boundaries they exhibited extraordinary dignity and simplicity.

Until next time,

Godspeed.