The Barron Blog

Friday, 9 September 2011

The Perfect Music Mix

Recently, I completed a music mix for my family by putting 2000 songs on three eight-gig flashdrives (I have two brothers and one sister). These tunes cover a 70 year period from Al Jolson to Katy Perry.
Al Jolson is the biggest influence in popular music. He's definitely bigger than Elvis Presley or The Beatles. He was the first white artist that started singing "black music" like jazz, ragtime, blues, etc. He even introduced black singers in his shows, like Cab Calloway.
I just love the joyous corniness of Jolson's "Camptown Races" or the youthful exuberance of Chubby Checker's "The Fly". Music can intensify any human experience possible.
My 2000 hit ipod list include the best of country music, top inspirational songs, anti war tunes, great novelty songs, rare oldies, etc.
In the near future, I plan to erect a webpage with a list of my 2000 top songs. Enjoy the videos and compilations in this blog entry.

Posted by qualteam at 11:58 AM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 10 September 2011 5:03 PM EDT

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Monday, 5 September 2011

Tommy James, Andy Kim And The CNE

As well as the air show, games, rides and the casino, the CNE bandshell performances are the biggest bargain in Toronto. It's free with a $18 or $12 admission.
Andy Kim had everyone rockin' in the aisles with his bubblegum music like "Sugar, Sugar" and "Rock Me Gently". The tunes may be 40 years old but the youthful energy was still there.
Tommy James followed up with some spaced out psychedelic rock like "Mony, Mony" and "Crimson and Clover". Those tunes were later covered by Billy Idol and Joan Jett. Without a doubt, the psychedelic rock of the late 1960s had morphed into the power rock of the 1980s and 90s. Which versions do you prefer? Obviously, I prefer the originals.
The only criticism of these concerts was that the sound could have been set up better. The background music was too loud. I felt I was listening to heavy metal bands. Three and a half stars!
My wife, Irene and her nephew, Bryant Noseworthy and his wife, Marlene came along as well. We all had a great time except for the CNE Saturday crowds and the heat.
The final day of the EX, today is usually considered the unofficial end of the summer and it feels like it. Only 20C today.

Posted by qualteam at 2:24 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 5 September 2011 3:07 PM EDT

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Friday, 2 September 2011

The Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis Concert At Casino Rama

Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis are the link between the classic country of Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette and the modern country of Faith Hill and Shania Twain.
They practically grew up at "The Grand Ole Opry" in the 1960s and 1970s. Pam is the daughter of country songwriter/singer, Mel Tillis and Lorrie is the daughter of country crooner, George Morgan.
Neither of them had a lot of memorable hits, but Pam had "Cleopatra, Queen of Denial" and "Mi Vida Loca" and Lorrie had "What Part of No Don't You Understand" and "Five Minutes".
Even though the above songs were classic country, they were and still are great tunes and I'll remember those performances forever.
Lorrie has been been married six times and the pain and heartache really comes through her material.
Pam sung happier tunes that reflected a life of less turmoil.
Unfortunately, the encore was a little weak with the girls doing two Beatles songs. Because of this, I can only give the concert three stars.

Posted by qualteam at 11:10 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 3 September 2011 12:02 AM EDT

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Saturday, 27 August 2011

Goodbye Jack

This picture was drawn by Toronto Star cartoonist Pat Corrigan. It's worth more than a thousand words.

Posted by qualteam at 9:04 AM EDT

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Monday, 22 August 2011

NDP Leader, Jack Layton: 1950-2011

Jack Layton passed away today from cancer. I wasn't a supporter of The New Democractic Party, but I admired Jack's warmth, and passion who led his party nicknamed (The Orange Crush) for the last eight years. The NDP gained Opposition status and its greatest showing ever with 102 seats in last federal election.
Jack was a councilor at Toronto City Hall and fought for social issues like affordable housing during the 1980s and 1990s. It's interesting to note that he lost twice in his bid for mayor and twice more when he ran for a federal seat in The House of Commons.
Jack was a fighter and I honestly thought that he'd win his battle against cancer. He defeated prostate cancer earlier this year.
In the U.S., lib-left politicians often get a bad name, but here in Canada most Canadians admired his dedication and humanity in fighting for social and family issues. He will be missed.
Jack's last letter to all Canadians.
Below is the last part of a eulogy from Ted Kennedy for his brother Robert Kennedy, it could apply to Jack today:
"My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.
Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world.
As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him:
"Some men see things as they are and say why.
I dream things that never were and say why not."

Posted by qualteam at 9:43 AM EDT

Updated: Monday, 22 August 2011 1:29 PM EDT

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Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Obama Isn't Responsible For America's 14 Trillion Dollar Deficit Problem

He's only partially responsible like the other U.S. presidents over the last thirty years: Here's an interesting fact: Debt increase by presidents: Reagan 186%, Bush 54% Clinton 41% Bush II 72% Obama 23%. Source CBO Via @paulfreid.
Needless to say, part of the blame would have to be placed on the collective heads of various congresses and senates. No one branch of Government has a "carte blanche" to spend like a drunken sailor.
It's worthwhile noting that only recently have Democratics and Republicans started to come up with plans to handle the deficit.
Before this summer, it looked like Alfred E. Neuman was running the U.S. Treasury.
It was good to see that Warren Buffet was willing "to sacrifice" more than 17.5% income tax on his billions in his country's hour of need.
In Canada, the Conservative Government estimates that there will be a budgetary surplus in 2015.
How long will it be, before the U.S. Government sees a yearly surplus?

Posted by qualteam at 11:15 AM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 16 August 2011 11:39 AM EDT

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Friday, 12 August 2011

Is It A Good Time To Invest In the Stockmarket?

Back in earlier 2009 it was a great time to invest. I did so with online trading and made some money that year. I also wrote blog entries about the recession and the signs of recovery at that time. These entries are found under my "Investing In The Future" heading on the right side.
That was then. This is now. In 2008/2009, many governments bailed out bankrupt companies and banks. The wolf was beaten back from the door.
Now, who's going to bail out failing governments from their massive debts? The taxpayers that's who. Many of my recent tweets relate to "Debtzilla", the monster confronting the U.S. and some European countries, right now.
Stockmarkets were looking good, right up to May/2011, but lately, it's been two thumbs down for them. With swings of over 400 points in one day, It's looking too volatile for my liking.
On further reflection, I've found that paying off a mortgage is probably the best investment you'll ever have.
You can also tap into your home's equity for a "secured line of credit". Normally, you'll only pay the interest on the money you take out and the interest rate is the lowest there is (In Canada, 0.5% over prime).
There's also tax free saving accounts where you can hold cash, mutual funds, bonds, etc. without paying taxes on the interest or dividends.
It looks that I may be off online trading for a long time.

Posted by qualteam at 4:46 PM EDT

Updated: Friday, 12 August 2011 5:37 PM EDT

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Tuesday, 9 August 2011

Tweeting On Facebook

One of the best things about Facebook is that it can bring pictures, tweets, blog entries, personal info and hyperlinks together very accurately.
That isn't true about this web server (Tripod). My tweets don't seem to be properly duplicated at the bottom of this blog.
However, my tweets on my Facebook page at www.davebarron.info are accurately produced. It's all there, tweets, blog entries, and captured webpages with a picture and headline info.
On my Facebook homepage there's detailed information about what I like concerning movies, books, sports, music, etc. It's a good Barron resource site.
Tweeting is very challenging because you have to express yourself extremely well in 140 characters or less. It's like a media sound bite on the internet.
My blog has been averaging between 15 and 20 visitors a day. With my tweets, I have only 17 followers.
It's better to have quality contacts rather than quantity contacts. How many of Charlie Sheen's followers are still following him today?
I will follow anyone who follows me on twitter:@DavidCBarron . A life lived well should be a life that is remembered well.

Posted by qualteam at 12:21 AM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 9 August 2011 10:32 AM EDT

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Sunday, 7 August 2011

World Markets Take A Cold Shower While The U.S. Ponders Its Debt Crisis

With the stock markets dropping over 10% over the last few days, it certainly was a wake up call on the deficit of many countries including the U.S.
The economies of many countries are hampered by debt and probably heavy taxes on small and medium size companies who create employment.
In the U.S. corporate taxes are running too high at 35%. These should be reduced and taxes on small companies should be 20%. Please note that Canada has much lower taxes on corporations.
Many governments bailed out failing financial institutions like banks and insurance companies, but who is going to bail out a failing country? Taxpayers that's who. Every taxpayer of an indebited country is responsible for some of its debt. That is why "deficit surcharges" in one form or another would be levied on anything that walks and talks.
The politicians and rich people may try to run away from their responsibilities on these financial issues, but they can't hide. All citizens will feel the pain of cutbacks and higher taxes. Probably, the poor will be hurt more than the rich.
The U.S. is facing some kind of austerity program. It may be a Republican version. It may be a Tea Party version. It may be a Chinese version.
Hopefully, the austerity program will be made in America by the Democrats in the Senate, Congress and White House: One voice, One program, Three majorities.

Posted by qualteam at 2:44 PM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 16 August 2011 11:42 AM EDT

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Tuesday, 2 August 2011

The U.S. Debt Crisis: A Cold Shower For Americans

Well, the debt ceiling has been raised, but few politicians or U.S. citizens are happy with the result. Band-aid solutions only do the trick for awhile then the bleeding starts again.
As I pointed out in my last blog, Canada went through its own debt crisis in the 1990s. Yes, there were big cuts in services, but "The Goods and Services Tax" (GST) was brought in to help with the deficit. Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, Canada was seeing regular budget surpluses. Canada was paying off it bills because it was living within its means.
A country has to provide the services that its people want and pay down the deficit as well. That includes tax increases to all including the wealthy who should make the biggest contribution to paying down the U.S. National Debt.
Here are a few suggestions that can bring in good revenue for a government:
A consumption tax will bring in better revenue than raising personal income taxes. The weatlthy consume more so they pay more.
Higher sin taxes: Taxes on tobacco and alcohol are much higher in Canada than the U.S. The Government makes billions from these taxes.
Higher gasoline taxes: A few cents on a gallon of gasoline would go far in helping to bring down the debt.
A deficit surtax: In Ontario, we pay a monthly fee on the debt of "The Old Ontario Hydro Corporation". This principle could be applied to the deficit until the U.S. Government starts to run surpluses.
Over the next year and half, U.S. citizens should demand a complete and detailed accounting on any deficit reduction plan from either Republicans or Democrats. In the end, it will take both a Republican and Democratic majority in both houses to implement it.

Posted by qualteam at 11:43 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 3 August 2011 12:30 AM EDT

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