Random Thoughts: Storms

Snowpocalypse

Ottawa finally received a blanket of snow that gives me that reassuring feeling that it is actually Winter time in the Nation’s capitol. Will the Government manage to make it to the spring is the other big thing in Ottawa, and given what the polls are saying, if there is an election or not, we will continue to have a minority government, which can be good or bad, depending on how you look at things.

The other big hubub this week was BCE’s victory in a CRTC ruling forcing Usage Based Billing onto many smaller internet access providers. There is a lot of talk of how unfair this is (I even spoke to it), and some very emotional responses to this whole issue, but as I have said in my comments, the only way to get the Government to rethink this issue (and any issue for that matter), is to use your pen and your vote. I have written to my Member of Parliament (send a paper letter, postage is free (isn’t it?)), so it is harder to ignore.

It is also the year of the rabbit this week for our Chinese friends. Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam aren’t too happy that it is the year of the “Fur bearin’ galoot”, but for the rest of us, let’s hope it is a lucky year in many different ways.

I started off this week with some strong ideas, but I kind of ran out of steam near the end of the week. Hopefully next week I’ll be in better writing voice:

• What does technology want was an interesting Ted.com video about where technology may be taking us.
• You would think a sarcastic title like CRTC Proves That Monopolies are Good would suggest a disdain for the decision however, I was accused by one commenter of being a stooge of BCE and the CRTC. I am a BCE shareholder, but I am not a stooge.
• Another highly commented post was Better to be Right, in a Service Industry where I pointed out that sometimes my only way to show my unhappiness with a situation is by voting with my feet, however, another commenter accused my 5 year old son of assaulting someone, and hilarity ensued (read the comments to see).
• With Sunday Banking and Catsup I went a little more light-hearted in my subject matter, and attempted some frivolity, but that got no comments at all, not even one bad money pun.
• We had a snow day on Wednesday and my post Happy Year of the Rabbit you can tell where my mind wasn’t on that day. I also used a picture of Bugs Bunny without permission (yes, not a bright day for me).
• Random Thoughts: As January Ends is a recap of the best of the last week of January 2011.

As a note, I enjoy all comments (even the ones that call me a stooge or my son a criminal), and will try to respond to most comments, so please feel free to comment away.

Other financial writers did find more topical subjects and made some interesting commentaries on the first week of February:

• Michael James alleges there are Emotional Benefits of Dividend Investing, which is quite true. I invest in Dividend ETF’s for the happy feeling of getting money back on a regular basis, but there are other arguments here as well.
• Canadian Capitalist spends some time debunking some of the Ranting against RRSPs that has been going on in the legitimate media. I do think that RRSPs are contributing to global warming however.
• My Own Advisor published his Coles Notes version of our Retirement Plan, hope it helps me cram for my retirement!
• Flu ridden Larry MacDonald has some fun looking back at The Wealthy Barber’s RRSP chapter where he points out that older financial books can get dated with rule changes that have happened in the past few years.
• Boomer of Boomer and Echo wrote about a growing issue for all of us, and that is Senior Care. As our parents age, we may all have to make these decisions.
• Preet is still in search of folks in the GTA Who want to be on his show, he may still be looking for future stars!
• Mike at Money.Smarts discusses the topical TFSA vs. RRSP – Which is Best for Retirement Savings ? The answer is of course, it depends, isn’t that always the answer with money?
• Rob Carrick points out that some scams keep working, because they work in Recognize a Scam, Know when to Scram!

Carnivals this Week

I also had some submissions accepted to various carnivals, so go have a read of these as well:

• Control Your Cash hosted The Carnival of Personal Finance #294 which seems to have a CARNIVAL feel to it.

Remember

“Money can’t buy you happiness but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.”

Author: Spike Milligan