... you will now be charged for using a handheld device while driving
i really think that it was about time.
ta.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
miscellaneous political commentary
i really regret needing to spend so much time on school, such that i really have not had much of a chance to follow either canadian or american politics. with regards to the latter however, i wanted to share this video. whatever anyone says or thinks about john mccain, i find his story around minute 7 very interesting.
Friday, October 24, 2008
"let me hit you with some knowledge"
it is friday at last.
this certainly felt like the longest week. and it is only the beginning of a very long weekend. and not that kind of long weekend, sadly. i have a microeconomic theory midterm on monday, and trust me: not fun. depressing to say the least. depressing seems to be a good word to describe the mood, i say this because i was just reading the financial post, and just finished listening to the ottawa-anaheim game. you can easily infer the connections there.
anyways, even though this was a pretty good week, with visitors, dodgeball, coldplay etc. i will conclude it by quoting dickens, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times ... "
now for some happy reading i will direct you to http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/
and in preparation for tomorrow, i will say GO SENS GO. first game of the season against the leafs, usually i had a party planned for that evening months before ... but this year i will spend it in the halls of a dusty library, studying. i wanted to quote the textbook for a second, because you'll see how frustrating studying microeconomics is, "from this point on, we shall simply assume that x(p,y) is differentiable whenever we need it to be" ehh .... okay?
the grace - neverending white lights (because while i played this song the sens scored twice in an attempted comeback)
this certainly felt like the longest week. and it is only the beginning of a very long weekend. and not that kind of long weekend, sadly. i have a microeconomic theory midterm on monday, and trust me: not fun. depressing to say the least. depressing seems to be a good word to describe the mood, i say this because i was just reading the financial post, and just finished listening to the ottawa-anaheim game. you can easily infer the connections there.
anyways, even though this was a pretty good week, with visitors, dodgeball, coldplay etc. i will conclude it by quoting dickens, "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times ... "
now for some happy reading i will direct you to http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/
and in preparation for tomorrow, i will say GO SENS GO. first game of the season against the leafs, usually i had a party planned for that evening months before ... but this year i will spend it in the halls of a dusty library, studying. i wanted to quote the textbook for a second, because you'll see how frustrating studying microeconomics is, "from this point on, we shall simply assume that x(p,y) is differentiable whenever we need it to be" ehh .... okay?
the grace - neverending white lights (because while i played this song the sens scored twice in an attempted comeback)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Viva la Vida
certainly between mid-terms and assignments worry, stress and frustration takes a hold of life, so what better than to forget it all with 13,000 other people, and an amazing band? so, here are some pictures from last night's show at scotiabank place. and just being at scotiabank place pumps me up pretty good. when's the next game?
after six hours the video i had meant to post, still has not finished uploading ... i put some up on facebook though!
after six hours the video i had meant to post, still has not finished uploading ... i put some up on facebook though!"just because i am losing, doesn't mean i am lost, doesn't mean i'll stop ..."
Friday, October 17, 2008
what are we thinking?
i did not kill it. it killed me.
the econometrics mid-term that is. now, what's next? more midterms and exams.
at least it is a game night ...
the econometrics mid-term that is. now, what's next? more midterms and exams.
at least it is a game night ...
21:48 UPDATE: 6-3 Sens over the desert cats (picture from TSN.ca):
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
feels like summer ...
....
for one, because it actually feels like summer (unless you were so unfortunate to be in regina with thanksgiving)
for two, because there is such a long time between senators hockey games. thank you not nhl for this schedule.
jack savoretti - dreamers
back to my studies. today's topic: logrolling.
for one, because it actually feels like summer (unless you were so unfortunate to be in regina with thanksgiving)
for two, because there is such a long time between senators hockey games. thank you not nhl for this schedule.
jack savoretti - dreamers
back to my studies. today's topic: logrolling.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
PRO-CRASTI-NATION
i am officially glued with my eyes to the elections tracker on cbc.ca. how the cbc can report members elected with less than half of the polls in is beyond me ... but i'll gladly follow. to the demise of my great plan to finish my taxation assignment.
like i said many times before, there is an interesting relationship between the number of posts i crank out in a week, and the number of assignments/tests i have due. maybe i should write a regression to specify it exactly.
brian mcfadden - real to me
like i said many times before, there is an interesting relationship between the number of posts i crank out in a week, and the number of assignments/tests i have due. maybe i should write a regression to specify it exactly.
brian mcfadden - real to me
happy belated thanksgiving
it is election night, but all i am going to post about is hockey moments from the weekend:
owen sound attack versus barrie colts (4-2). i think my oma would have loved to see this game for reasons below:
and ottawa senators versus detroit red wings (2-3)
note here:
1. minute 2.15 ish.
2. note not the end of the game
3. and may i just say how handsome picard is?
jet - are you gonna be my girl (not because i particularly like this song, but every time the owen sound attack players hit the ice they play this song ... for reasons i am not sure of)
owen sound attack versus barrie colts (4-2). i think my oma would have loved to see this game for reasons below:
and ottawa senators versus detroit red wings (2-3)
note here:
1. minute 2.15 ish.
2. note not the end of the game
3. and may i just say how handsome picard is?
jet - are you gonna be my girl (not because i particularly like this song, but every time the owen sound attack players hit the ice they play this song ... for reasons i am not sure of)
Thursday, October 09, 2008
gone south
that is where my plan for a productive day/evening has gone ...
in the meantime, my housies are watching north and south and it is so tempting move a room over and watch, because as you may know it is one of my favourite films. just as it is tempting to listen to the first hockey game since the games in Europe last weekend ... and ... well there are plenty of things i can think that i'd rather be doing than this taxation assignment. but we have all heard there are two things we can be certain of: death and taxes. so i am afraid that that subject won't be going anywhere ....
great lake swimmers - your rocky spine
in the meantime, my housies are watching north and south and it is so tempting move a room over and watch, because as you may know it is one of my favourite films. just as it is tempting to listen to the first hockey game since the games in Europe last weekend ... and ... well there are plenty of things i can think that i'd rather be doing than this taxation assignment. but we have all heard there are two things we can be certain of: death and taxes. so i am afraid that that subject won't be going anywhere ....
great lake swimmers - your rocky spine
game theory
after about the longest day yesterday .... which did at some point feature a kickass dodgeball game, which our team decisively won, and ended with marking at 1 in the morning ... there is tons of stuff for me to catch up on today. like a taxation assignment, and a public choice problem set. for the latter we refer to joseph conrad's typhoon (which does have online copy here).
in case you'd like to read the story, without me spoiling some of the story you should stop reading now.
so, basically what happens, or so i've heard, because i have not read it myself, Captain MacWhirr is on boat with a number of Chinese workers who are returning home from months of work overseas. they have all given him their earnings for safekeeping, the amounts of which he has carefully entered on a ledger. now, guessing from the title, they get hit by a typhoon. miraculously the workers and captain survive, the money is safe, but the ledger which stated who owned what, is missing. the Captain being an honest man wants to return the money to its rightful owner. but how?
there is some nice game theory for you. i am going to find a solution. i have to.
ps. 1 more day till i go home!
ps2. they are done with roof renos, so no more tar smell!
neverending white lights - distance
in case you'd like to read the story, without me spoiling some of the story you should stop reading now.
so, basically what happens, or so i've heard, because i have not read it myself, Captain MacWhirr is on boat with a number of Chinese workers who are returning home from months of work overseas. they have all given him their earnings for safekeeping, the amounts of which he has carefully entered on a ledger. now, guessing from the title, they get hit by a typhoon. miraculously the workers and captain survive, the money is safe, but the ledger which stated who owned what, is missing. the Captain being an honest man wants to return the money to its rightful owner. but how?
there is some nice game theory for you. i am going to find a solution. i have to.
ps. 1 more day till i go home!
ps2. they are done with roof renos, so no more tar smell!
neverending white lights - distance
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
hate to say it: but i told you so
i was just reading the toronto star before going to bed, and i am reading with interest ... economists are forewarning worse than a recession, and stock markets are plummeting.
i can't help but think back to my history seminar class, where the discussion about the US sub-prime mortgage market led to Canada. some adamantly claimed it would never affect Canada. being the only economics student in the room the professor turned to me (as he had a habit of doing, much to my .... frustration) for my opinion. surely i must have some opinion or insight? well, put on the spot and turning red as beet, i forewarned a recession. and surely it has come.
i guess in this case i hate to be right.
now, while i am on the topic ... i find it kind of funny that when elections come around, all of the sudden everyone is an expert on the economy. well, i hate to say it, but when economists hardly understand it, it is likely you don't either. or maybe i am just speaking for myself?
UPDATE
worst things beautiful - ours
i can't help but think back to my history seminar class, where the discussion about the US sub-prime mortgage market led to Canada. some adamantly claimed it would never affect Canada. being the only economics student in the room the professor turned to me (as he had a habit of doing, much to my .... frustration) for my opinion. surely i must have some opinion or insight? well, put on the spot and turning red as beet, i forewarned a recession. and surely it has come.
i guess in this case i hate to be right.
now, while i am on the topic ... i find it kind of funny that when elections come around, all of the sudden everyone is an expert on the economy. well, i hate to say it, but when economists hardly understand it, it is likely you don't either. or maybe i am just speaking for myself?
UPDATE
worst things beautiful - ours
Thursday, October 02, 2008
debate or debate?
debate.
I am currently streaming both debates, the Canadian Leader's Debate via CBC, and the US Vice Presidents Debate via CNN.
Now, over the last few weeks it has been easy to wonder: which election has been the bigger joke? Well, judging from the debate: I probably switched over to the American debate full time when the Canadians started talking about which health clinics they go to. I did not do it quite intently, it was just a minor decision between which to mute, and frankly the Canadians were not really engaging in a good debate.
I find it rather easy for the opposition to attack conservative policies, by pulling out idealistic ideas that are found in political science, philosophy, and economics textbooks. I'd rather like to see some more concreteness on how any of these ideas actually can be achieved. Emphasis on actually. Dion said something to the effects of "we support tax cuts for everyone," no kidding. Too bad, we also want to commit to more jobs, more programs, extended health care, better infrastructure and so on, and that all those things need to be paid for, by oil companies? Maybe it is because I am studying economics I tend to overthink the policies presented, but I can only imagine what anyone without any training in economic or public policy must think. It sounds so easy for politicians to crank out some statistics, calculate possible or potential tax bases etc. but dear oh dear. That is not easy. So yeah, I am a bit skeptical.
At the end Steve P., the facilitator, suggested that the Canadian debate was much better than that of the Americans. I am going to have to disagree.
I can appreciate the civility between the two candidates in the American debate. I can appreciate their controlled emotion and their appeal to American peoples. I even got a little teary-eyed when mr. biden talked about losing his wife. And overall, the debate was more organized, the questions more straigtforward and easier to follow when there aren't people talking through each other, raising their voices, and pulling eyebrows the whole time.
Since I have a microeconomic theory assignment due on monday, I better get back to school work. I just had to note down my quick impressions. But I do have to say this, it is an interesting time to learn more about economics and politics. Especially with the sub-prime mortgage market crisis in the US, the billion dollar bail-out plan, and panic on Bay Street. Interesting stuff. And I change my opinion on these matters on a daily basis ... and as a history students also, I am already wondering what the history textbooks in 50 years will say.
for some good measure:
Rob Thomas - All that I am
Go SENS Go!
I am currently streaming both debates, the Canadian Leader's Debate via CBC, and the US Vice Presidents Debate via CNN.
Now, over the last few weeks it has been easy to wonder: which election has been the bigger joke? Well, judging from the debate: I probably switched over to the American debate full time when the Canadians started talking about which health clinics they go to. I did not do it quite intently, it was just a minor decision between which to mute, and frankly the Canadians were not really engaging in a good debate.
I find it rather easy for the opposition to attack conservative policies, by pulling out idealistic ideas that are found in political science, philosophy, and economics textbooks. I'd rather like to see some more concreteness on how any of these ideas actually can be achieved. Emphasis on actually. Dion said something to the effects of "we support tax cuts for everyone," no kidding. Too bad, we also want to commit to more jobs, more programs, extended health care, better infrastructure and so on, and that all those things need to be paid for, by oil companies? Maybe it is because I am studying economics I tend to overthink the policies presented, but I can only imagine what anyone without any training in economic or public policy must think. It sounds so easy for politicians to crank out some statistics, calculate possible or potential tax bases etc. but dear oh dear. That is not easy. So yeah, I am a bit skeptical.
At the end Steve P., the facilitator, suggested that the Canadian debate was much better than that of the Americans. I am going to have to disagree.
I can appreciate the civility between the two candidates in the American debate. I can appreciate their controlled emotion and their appeal to American peoples. I even got a little teary-eyed when mr. biden talked about losing his wife. And overall, the debate was more organized, the questions more straigtforward and easier to follow when there aren't people talking through each other, raising their voices, and pulling eyebrows the whole time.
Since I have a microeconomic theory assignment due on monday, I better get back to school work. I just had to note down my quick impressions. But I do have to say this, it is an interesting time to learn more about economics and politics. Especially with the sub-prime mortgage market crisis in the US, the billion dollar bail-out plan, and panic on Bay Street. Interesting stuff. And I change my opinion on these matters on a daily basis ... and as a history students also, I am already wondering what the history textbooks in 50 years will say.
for some good measure:
Rob Thomas - All that I am
Go SENS Go!
"ik begrijp veel, maar daar snap ik niks van" - bassie
i blame my brother for showing me this Dutch commercial, because then I spend a couple of hours looking at videos of my childhood heroes on the net.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
mumble jumble
phewww ... this day is almost over.
since i woke up late for classes, had to run out the door, and parked in the wrong parking lot, i was convinced this was going to be the third day in a row of a string of bad luck. but then, when i got back to the car, the parking meter attendant officer dude, was just a couple of cars away from me, which being two hours late was pretty lucky for me. so the tides had turned ... ?
not really, as I just went to school, pretty sure wednesday night being dodgeball night ... but alas it is raptors basketball camp. so I checked the intermural schedule, and check! no game tonight. so I forked over some cash for a parking pass ... for nothing. so, after trying to get a peek of the toronto raptors, without any luck, I opted for a jog along the river instead. that was nice I guess.
the extra time I could use to apply for jobs though ... it is ultra convenient to have assignments, job applications and social events all planned for the same weekend :)
augustana - twenty years
3 more days until official hockey starts! can I say GO SENS GO?
since i woke up late for classes, had to run out the door, and parked in the wrong parking lot, i was convinced this was going to be the third day in a row of a string of bad luck. but then, when i got back to the car, the parking meter attendant officer dude, was just a couple of cars away from me, which being two hours late was pretty lucky for me. so the tides had turned ... ?
not really, as I just went to school, pretty sure wednesday night being dodgeball night ... but alas it is raptors basketball camp. so I checked the intermural schedule, and check! no game tonight. so I forked over some cash for a parking pass ... for nothing. so, after trying to get a peek of the toronto raptors, without any luck, I opted for a jog along the river instead. that was nice I guess.
the extra time I could use to apply for jobs though ... it is ultra convenient to have assignments, job applications and social events all planned for the same weekend :)
augustana - twenty years
3 more days until official hockey starts! can I say GO SENS GO?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
expanded family
while i have a ginormous econometrics assignment hanging over my head ... i do have the time to introduce you to my new friend, 'booh' 
he was a birthday gift from one of my new, and superbly awesome friends here in ottawa. i will take good care of him, and make sure that he will be an avid sens fan, which i am sure he will just learn from me by osmosis.
this weekend another friend made a comment about how people, in general, have a tendency to want to rush life (ie. can not wait for the weekend, can not wait to turn 19, to graduate from school etc.), and i have to agree with her. as such, i am now going to enjoy the next few hours before i go to bed .... sweet dreams!
and then you - greg laswell
he was a birthday gift from one of my new, and superbly awesome friends here in ottawa. i will take good care of him, and make sure that he will be an avid sens fan, which i am sure he will just learn from me by osmosis.this weekend another friend made a comment about how people, in general, have a tendency to want to rush life (ie. can not wait for the weekend, can not wait to turn 19, to graduate from school etc.), and i have to agree with her. as such, i am now going to enjoy the next few hours before i go to bed .... sweet dreams!
and then you - greg laswell
Saturday, September 27, 2008
a little bit wiser
"let’s go far away
see this world that God has made
and know our hearts are in his hand
this lovely one who counts the sands"
i have been playing this song a few times over, the last few days, because it is so simple, but poetic and well ... so good! since i have exhausted my playlist over the summer, and the first few weeks of school i am so excited to have full access to the internet and find new music to love. i also like downloading textbooks, which the bookstore so inconveniently does not carry, so i can study econometrics via the pc. it is econometrics that is creating a bit of a dark cloud, and a bit of rain over my birthday, but i guess signing up to do a master's degree means you are relinquishing your freedom of choice. so i won't be able to choose to take the day off tomorrow. and now that i am officially a bit wiser, i might be able to finish the assignment?
i better. when i have some more time i will actually fix my header. and my facebook wall. and install a curtain rod. and ...
since i don't actually have a lot of news. and i also am a little tired from the party we had tonight ... i might just call it a night. well, since it is night, that is not anything original, but you know, it is about time to hit the hay. sweet dreams!
matthew perryman jones - meghan's song
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge
after an interesting night of playing dodgeball, for the first time, and well .... dodging for the most part, i am watching late night episodes of shortland street. i have no idea why, although i am thinking this long and difficult econometrics assignment may have something to do with it. and i have a pile of marking to finish over the weekend. i think i might have to skip on my own birthday.
and i better catch a few zzzzz's
robbie seay band - shine your light on us
and i better catch a few zzzzz's
robbie seay band - shine your light on us
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
smoke signals
hello!
i am still alive! once i get intertubes installed, or a wireless version without tubes, i will make a greater effort to update regularly. of course by that time, i will be officially busy times two. but it'll be okay.
since i am in the habit of listing a song i currently listen to at the end of my posts:
theo tams - sing
i am still alive! once i get intertubes installed, or a wireless version without tubes, i will make a greater effort to update regularly. of course by that time, i will be officially busy times two. but it'll be okay.
since i am in the habit of listing a song i currently listen to at the end of my posts:
theo tams - sing
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
before september ends
on facebook i may have uttered a deep hatred for matrices. well, i want to take it back, and replace with a similar feeling towards differential equations.
18 more days until hockey unofficially starts. with a game against the rangers. more officially, hockey does not start for more than a month. enough time for me to get settled, and have found a really good bar to watch the game at. especially since i am pretty sure we won't be able to afford cable/satellite for any time soon.
also, 25 more days until my birthday!
and that is all i have to mention, especially because after a weekend of studying, and some more studying i don't have very many exciting stories to tell. although, i did go to manotick on saturday: such a lovely little town.
stealing cinderella - chuck wicks
and yay to september and the beginning of new television seasons.
18 more days until hockey unofficially starts. with a game against the rangers. more officially, hockey does not start for more than a month. enough time for me to get settled, and have found a really good bar to watch the game at. especially since i am pretty sure we won't be able to afford cable/satellite for any time soon.
also, 25 more days until my birthday!
and that is all i have to mention, especially because after a weekend of studying, and some more studying i don't have very many exciting stories to tell. although, i did go to manotick on saturday: such a lovely little town.
stealing cinderella - chuck wicks
and yay to september and the beginning of new television seasons.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
convergence of the old and new ...
a country girl no more:
let me start off with some w(h)ine and dine:
so, Ottawa is where i am at these days. i know the city much better than i currently think i should, or than i really wished to have known at this point. basically i have been taking the long route (in other words the lost route) to get to school in the mornings. since i am living just outside of the city on, believe it or not, a farm i have been driving to school so far. and let's just say that i am uber glad to be anal about getting to places on time, because it means that if i get terribly lost, i might still make it to class on time. now, as for people in owen sound: you should know that when you are told in driver's ed that "if you can drive in owen sound, you can drive anywhere" it means only one thing: the instructor is from wiarton. then, hamiltonians, you may think that getting around in hamilton, the city of the one-way street is frustrating ... you might want to visit toronto or "pot-hole city" but in all seriousness, i think the prize for worst driving conditions should go to ottawa, which not only has pothole, after pothole, it seems that its roads don't even connect to each other. well, and for those who know ottawa quite well i am talking baseline/riverside/prince of whales/bronson area ....
anyways, that is the extent of my frustration. other than that, i am just hanging out in class and in the library for the coming few weeks. i have already handed in an assignment and am getting ready for an exam. in the meantime i am getting to know lots of new people, and finding new cafes on a daily basis. also, i am spending sometime doing nothing at all, and rereading tons of economics materials -> theory that is.
i can't help but try to compare between mac and carleton, almost constantly. for example, i can't believe that carleton only has one library. while i also can't believe how handy it is that everywhere there is plugs for computers and such in cafeterias etc. anyways, apparently mac and carleton are the only two universities in canada where you can get free transcripts: no wonder i had to come here. although, i will have to save my bus pass rant for another day.
i have also observed that i really feel like a tourist, and feel like i should take a picture when a bus passes by with ginormous ottawa senators advertising; when i remember that i will be seeing that bus everyday, and that well, everyone is a sens fan here. (except for my one roommate, and another large group of .... well [insert comment here])
i am calling it a day; i will be trying to find this apartment building that i will be living at later, with an actual address, which should make it much easier. otherwise, i might do what i have been getting pretty good at: drive around searching, doing u-turns etc.
back to my assignment ....
let me start off with some w(h)ine and dine:
so, Ottawa is where i am at these days. i know the city much better than i currently think i should, or than i really wished to have known at this point. basically i have been taking the long route (in other words the lost route) to get to school in the mornings. since i am living just outside of the city on, believe it or not, a farm i have been driving to school so far. and let's just say that i am uber glad to be anal about getting to places on time, because it means that if i get terribly lost, i might still make it to class on time. now, as for people in owen sound: you should know that when you are told in driver's ed that "if you can drive in owen sound, you can drive anywhere" it means only one thing: the instructor is from wiarton. then, hamiltonians, you may think that getting around in hamilton, the city of the one-way street is frustrating ... you might want to visit toronto or "pot-hole city" but in all seriousness, i think the prize for worst driving conditions should go to ottawa, which not only has pothole, after pothole, it seems that its roads don't even connect to each other. well, and for those who know ottawa quite well i am talking baseline/riverside/prince of whales/bronson area ....
anyways, that is the extent of my frustration. other than that, i am just hanging out in class and in the library for the coming few weeks. i have already handed in an assignment and am getting ready for an exam. in the meantime i am getting to know lots of new people, and finding new cafes on a daily basis. also, i am spending sometime doing nothing at all, and rereading tons of economics materials -> theory that is.
i can't help but try to compare between mac and carleton, almost constantly. for example, i can't believe that carleton only has one library. while i also can't believe how handy it is that everywhere there is plugs for computers and such in cafeterias etc. anyways, apparently mac and carleton are the only two universities in canada where you can get free transcripts: no wonder i had to come here. although, i will have to save my bus pass rant for another day.
i have also observed that i really feel like a tourist, and feel like i should take a picture when a bus passes by with ginormous ottawa senators advertising; when i remember that i will be seeing that bus everyday, and that well, everyone is a sens fan here. (except for my one roommate, and another large group of .... well [insert comment here])
i am calling it a day; i will be trying to find this apartment building that i will be living at later, with an actual address, which should make it much easier. otherwise, i might do what i have been getting pretty good at: drive around searching, doing u-turns etc.
back to my assignment ....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)