Friday 31 March 2017

Sounds more like a realistic views to me.

Sounds more like a realistic views to me.

The government has put in place some fundamentals that make it less attractive and more difficult to contribute to real estate speculation that inflates housing prices. Since the Liberals came in they've been sensitive to both the bubble and older Canadians relying on that bubble for retirement funds. Local taxing of vacant properties would also open up housing.
http://www.moneysense.ca/spend/real-estate/the-bank-of-canadas-muddled-message-on-house-prices/

Thursday 30 March 2017

Important item in Canada's 2017 budget

Important item in Canada's 2017 budget

More internet access for low income groups and training on cybersecurity and the social element. When you don't have a lot of disposable income, risky schemes become attractive.
https://psmag.com/amp/p/8875ced0945c

Monday 27 March 2017

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 now available

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 now available
I just read an article that says that apparently, tablets are 'coming back'.  Which will be interesting if true. If I were in the market for a tablet (and I just might, depending on how things shake out in the next bit, especially with O on the horizon) it ...
http://www.androidcoliseum.com/2017/03/samsung-galaxy-tab-s3-now-available.html

Friday 17 March 2017

Eat well, who knows what will happen.

Eat well, who knows what will happen.

The ad was how to make a yummy spinach, avocado, chicken salad too. Yummy.
https://youtu.be/TBUV8O4Jl7w

Thursday 16 March 2017

For Every View Of This Video A Pound Of Dog Food Will Be Donated To Shelters! YES!


https://weloveanimals.me/every-view-video-pound-dog-food-will-donated-shelters-yes/

Since the first S&L fail in the US I've worked to understand finance.

Since the first S&L fail in the US I've worked to understand finance.

Anything I let the banks sell me is something I understand. Bank employees are under even more pressure now to sell because you can do so much on line. I was not surprised to hear about other banks. We went in to open WebBroker accounts, now we do research thru MoneySense and Morningstar as well as reading financial news on what to purchase. Online.

The latest is the EdX course I mentioned before is my latest go and it's a fascinating look at how banks can rewrite and concentrate debt. I think enrollment is still open as I have a year to complete. The prof is really good and the math is simple addition and multiplication.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canadian-banks-complaints-upselling-1.4025800?cmp=rss

Wednesday 15 March 2017

Cameron Wright​ check this out

Cameron Wright​ check this out

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.dailydot.com/parsec/nimuno-lego-tape/
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.dailydot.com/parsec/nimuno-lego-tape/

Remove the fear - treat all religious-motivated crime as secular.

Remove the fear - treat all religious-motivated crime as secular.

I understand the fear of sharia law - it's the fear of being held to values you don't hold without realizing your religion holds those same values and systems. Something simple. As someone married in the RCC I would need an annulment if I wanted to divorce and remarry in the church. As a Canadian I can divorce and remarry without that and retain all the same civil rights as with the first marriage.

As long as government (secular) law over-rides religious law when participants choose to walk away secular values are upheld. (can't do anything about shunning). As for religious symbols - all or none. You want to take away burqas, and ceremonial daggers, crucifixes and crosses have to go as well.
https://psmag.com/could-trumpism-take-root-in-canada-59e1af004574?source=rss----2cf906365a55---4

Something the dumpster fire doesn't get:

Something the dumpster fire doesn't get:

Conventional wisdom holds that Americans hate taxes. But the conventional wisdom is wrong. Bringing together national survey data with in-depth interviews, Read My Lips presents a surprising picture of tax attitudes in the United States. Vanessa Williamson demonstrates that Americans view taxpaying as a civic responsibility and a moral obligation. But they worry that others are shirking their duties, in part because the experience of taxpaying misleads Americans about who pays taxes and how much. Perceived "loopholes" convince many income tax filers that a flat tax might actually raise taxes on the rich, and the relative invisibility of the sales and payroll taxes encourages many to underestimate the sizable tax contributions made by poor and working people.

Americans see being a taxpayer as a role worthy of pride and respect, a sign that one is a contributing member of the community and the nation. For this reason, the belief that many Americans are not paying their share is deeply corrosive to the social fabric. The widespread misperception that immigrants, the poor, and working-class families pay little or no taxes substantially reduces public support for progressive spending programs and undercuts the political standing of low-income people. At the same time, the belief that the wealthy pay less than their share diminishes confidence that the political process represents most people.

Upending the idea of Americans as knee-jerk opponents of taxes, Read My Lips examines American taxpaying as an act of political faith. Ironically, the depth of the American civic commitment to taxpaying makes the failures of the tax system, perceived and real, especially potent frustrations.

The fucker paid less than 4% tax rate? The fuck? AND he wants to eliminate the AMT... oh like that wouldn't benefit him at all, hm....
(Yes, yes, I do understand the "math" involved. The point remains.)

http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10977.html

Tuesday 14 March 2017

Monday 13 March 2017

Guess what just arrived on my S6

Guess what just arrived on my S6

Woot really nice UI. I like the icon style.


If you could choose a country...

If you could choose a country...

I think it would be The Cousins although Hiveless sounds pretty nice too.

The Cousins evolved out of a social club for people who had to travel alone, who would meet up with a volunteer “Cousin” who would show them around a new place, and offer hospitality, so in the beginning they were just run by a volunteer board and a suggestion box

and now I had to buy Too Like the Lightning: A Novel
http://www.tor.com/2017/03/13/writing-a-future-in-which-you-choose-your-own-nation/

Women's heart attack symptoms are very different.

Women's heart attack symptoms are very different.

Heart attacks are the number 1 killer of women and they are mostly silent. It could seem like the flu.
http://www.refinery29.com/2017/03/144957/womens-heart-attack-symptoms-silent-heart-attack

Cool ap for iPhone users.

Cool ap for iPhone users.

Et tu google? Developing for iPhones first? This does sound like fun though, watching the same Youtube video from different devices.
http://www.androidcentral.com/googles-uptime-app-more-social-way-watch-youtube-videos

Sunday 12 March 2017

There are a few parasites which are known to affect the higher functions of the mind - rabies making dogs vicious, parasitic wasps which commandeer orb spiders, flatworms which make ants commit a strange sort of suicide atop blades of grass, where they can be eaten by sheep. And, of course, there's toxoplasma gondii, whose primary habitat is in the intestines of cats, and which can be responsible for "crazy cat lady syndrome."

There are a few parasites which are known to affect the higher functions of the mind - rabies making dogs vicious, parasitic wasps which commandeer orb spiders, flatworms which make ants commit a strange sort of suicide atop blades of grass, where they can be eaten by sheep. And, of course, there's toxoplasma gondii, whose primary habitat is in the intestines of cats, and which can be responsible for "crazy cat lady syndrome."

But while we usually think of this as being a rare, acute condition affecting only a few people, it turns out that infection rates may be far higher than we imagined - 10-20% of Americans, and over 50% of Europeans - and that even these low-level infections may have subtle but significant effects on our personalities.

We may well be, in short, under the effect of mind-controlling parasites right now. And things as fundamental as our introversion or extroversion, or as seemingly arbitrary as our fashion sense, may be affected.

Via A.V. Flox​
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/03/how-your-cat-is-making-you-crazy/308873/

Like soft chewy cookies?


Like soft chewy cookies?

These are so good. This is the second time I've made them. From Vegan Richa's Indian Kitchen

Preheat oven to 345 F

mix together
1/4 c splenda brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt
2 tbsp melted vegan butter (I use coconut oil)
1 tbsp veg oil (I use grapeseed)
2 tbsp yogurt, cashew cream or coconut cream (I've been using vegan yogurt)
4 saffron strands (opt)

In a different bowl mix
1/2 c + 2 tbsp flour (we use atta)
3 tbsp semolina flour
3 tbsp ground raw pistachio, cashew or almonds (I've used an a/p and c/p mix)
2 tsp chickpea flour
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp nutmeg
pinch cardamon

Mix dry into wet and make a soft dough. If it's too crumbly add a tsp of liquid.form into small balls and press slightly. Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes and let cool before eating. You can, of course, use non-vegan ingredients and if using brown or golden sugar use 1/2 c instead.

Portion control is definitely a skill that must be honed.

Portion control is definitely a skill that must be honed.
http://undrarmr.co/2nndLc6

NFLD is nice in the summer but those winters.

NFLD is nice in the summer but those winters.

I hope they are getting the help they need.
http://www.cbc.ca/1.4021487

Protection is key.

Protection is key.
http://mobilesyrup.com/2017/03/12/canada-revenue-agency-internet-vulnerability/?utm_content=buffer168f2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=plus.google.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Saturday 11 March 2017

Voting!

Voting!
https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/canada2017/charity/rumie?lang=en

From donuts to designs, let your home screen tell your story. Take the #myAndroid Taste Test to find the home screen of your dreams: https://goo.gl/rX2iY7


From donuts to designs, let your home screen tell your story. Take the #myAndroid Taste Test to find the home screen of your dreams: https://goo.gl/rX2iY7

No parliament whips instead of electoral reform.

No parliament whips instead of electoral reform.

When I did the electoral change questionnaire, it was more important that my MP reflected constituents and voting is made easier than more complex voting. If you run in a party you should, in general agree with the core values but different points need to be well argued and back benchers become more important. This is the change we need.

Now Senate, stop sitting on the amendment granting Trans people human rights. If bathrooms are such a concern, make stall doors seal like regular doors and remove urinals to make all bathrooms gender neutral. Also, being told your being a jerk in response to a public act is not the same as being delegated to a sub human class so people can fire you or deny housing.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/wherry-liberals-backbenchers-1.4017210

Wednesday 8 March 2017

Canada will have to make concessions or...

Canada will have to make concessions or...

Doesn't sound like a negotiation or a partnership, sounds like it will take a year for the US to pick up all their marbles and go home.
http://www.cbc.ca/1.4015647

Sunday 5 March 2017

Free trade is still a good deal.

Free trade is still a good deal.

This isn't the original article I was thinking of but it is recent and hits all the same highlights so I suspect the source is the same. While the TPP is in limbo, Canada has signed an agreement with Chile. South American countries are past the swing right and into rebuilding mode. To build economic ties now would facilitate technology transfer for energy self-sufficiency and better labour practices.

I always had an (uninformed) impression with the TPP, that a lot of the provisions were to prevent the signatory countries from adopting US stances towards health care and education. That is, off load those expenses to the employer.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2017/03/05/2003666153

Friday 3 March 2017

You should watch Border Security for tips.

You should watch Border Security for tips.

I actually don't have a problem letting border agents look at my phone contents in my presence. But, I have traveled in a vehicle tossed by border agents when I went cross border camping as a youth. Declare that booze, tidy up after and carry on.


http://www.cbc.ca/1.4002609

Thursday 2 March 2017

"Found" sisters treated respectfully.

"Found" sisters treated respectfully.

This is what consent looks like. Found, names and locations not disclosed and they are given information to contact those who reported them as missing. Cold file closed.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-missing-women-found-lethbridge-hakze-sisters-police-missing-cold-case-1.4006836?cmp=rss