The Barron Blog

Sunday, 16 March 2008

It's Time To End Our Dependence On Oil

It's time to put the pedal to the metal in finding alternates to oil and other fossil fuels. I getting tired of being held hostage by the oil companies and OPEC.
The alternate fuels are out there. Their use has to be encouraged by governments and an enlightened public.
Very soon, automobile companies will be releasing their green vehicles to consumers. Take a look at "The Tesla Electric Car", "The Chevy Volt", "The "Honda Fuel Cell FCX", and "The Zenn Electric Car".
Probably, one of the most useful alternate energy products is solar energy from Nanosolar. An explanation of their product is given below in a YouTube video:
It's time for the great financial powers that be to invest in something that will save the planet and enhance the quality of life for everyone rather than bailing out bankrupt financial paper chasers like "Bear Stearns".

Posted by qualteam at 9:55 PM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 16 March 2008 10:27 PM EDT

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Friday, 14 March 2008

Boycott Mexican Vacations And Products

Brenda Martin (left side) has been in a crowded, filthy Mexican prison for the last two years.
Even though her former employer, Richard Waage, exonerated her in his internet pyramid scheme. The Mexican judicial system insisted on keeping Brenda in abominable conditions while under arrest. These conditions have made her suicidal.
Former Canadian prime minister, Paul Martin went to Mexico to see what he could do about it, but more effort is needed by present PM, Stephen Harper.
I think it's time to play hardball with our so called "NAFTA Buddies" down south. Checkout the "We don't need no stinkin' badges." video from the movie "Treasure of Sierra Madre".

Boycott Mexican vacations and products until this situation is handled. A letter to the Mexican embassy in Canada would be appropriate as well. Fax in Toronto: (416) 368-8141 in Ottawa: (613) 235 9123

Posted by qualteam at 1:04 PM EDT

Updated: Friday, 14 March 2008 3:11 PM EDT

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Thursday, 13 March 2008

Investment Wars: Speculators Vs Investors

There is a war going on for your investment dollars in this world. It's being waged between speculators and investors. Investment speculation depends on the old "pump and dump" strategy. Buy some hot stocks(gold and oil are the flavor of the month), promote them heavily and then dump them when the price soars. That's today's "plan".
The speculations of yesterday produced financial institutions and banks who lost billions on subprime mortgages and asset back paper. This also applied to hedge funds who were burned on the same paper and the stock market.
The more speculators go in and out of the market quickly, the more they lose.
Investors on the other hand have a long term view of the market and pick up quality stocks at a good price when the other guys dump them.
In this blog, I've written much about quality investing in housing, blue chip stocks and green technology. They're not going to turn a quick buck in a week or a month. They're an investment in our retirement, our children and the future of our planet.

Posted by qualteam at 5:36 PM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 13 March 2008 7:37 PM EDT

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Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Winning The War On Terrorism With The Green Economy

It's suspected that Iran and other Arab states are financing terrorism and suicide bombers through oil profits. As you might know, the price of oil continues to go up because China, India and other countries are driving more automobiles than ever. This is bad for the environment and the North American economies.
The time has come to make fossil fuels history and to develop "The Green Economy" to its highest point in the next ten years. The technology like plug-in hybrids and nano solar technology are there and affordable.
If you want to look over some good green stocks, try this website("The Greenchip Review").
Google, Microsoft, Intel, IBM started out as small companies who innovated and succeeded with new technology. There's nothing stopping a good idea whose time has come.
Please share this vision of A Wonderful World with others.

Posted by qualteam at 12:59 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 12 March 2008 11:01 PM EDT

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Tuesday, 11 March 2008

The Road To U.S. Economic Recovery: Who Will Help And Who Will Hinder?

The "Subprime Crisis" was like a large dirty nuclear bomb going off with fallout all over the world. Below is an excellent overview of where this is coming from:

Needless to say, neither Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton or John McCain were aware of this bomb when the fallout started to spread.
The Federal Reserve and various central banks of the world have tried to contain this contamination through lower interest rates and currency injections, but the damage has been done to many major banks and financial institutions.
Perhaps, the biggest damage has been the "doom and gloom atmosphere" that has spread from former U.S. homeowners to billion dollar investors in every corner of the Globe.
It boogles the mind that this "subprime mess/bubble" was developing long before 2007/2008 without a word from U.S. and G8 leaders. "Non Bank Paper"(i.e. subprime mortgages, credit card debt and card loans) were bundled together as "highly rated securities" and sold to banks.
Where were the political and financial leaders when this "junk paper" was being sold by the billions?
Any political or financial CEO in the West has to have a good grasp on what could go wrong with the global economy. It's obvious that more than bandaid solutions are necessary to get the U.S. and the world out of this financial mess.
Here are some suggestions:
There's no reason why subprime mortgage financing should exist at all. Canada has done well without it.
High risk securities should be properly rated and regulated so that buyers know what they're getting into.
Mortgages sellers should inform their customers of all costs relating to their mortgages.
Citizens of the U.S. should be encouraged to save money in high interest bank accounts which are not taxed. This is now done in Canada.
The U.S. Government should promote a house as a long term investment rather than as a line of credit or a way to make a quick buck in "a house flip". Pride of ownership would be the theme.
Children at school should learn as early as possible the ABCs of investing, saving and credit before they make use of them.
The candidates in the U.S. election should be challenged to come up with a better plan for a U.S. economic recovery.

Posted by qualteam at 2:03 PM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 11 March 2008 4:26 PM EDT

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Sunday, 9 March 2008

Leslie Gore At The Rose Theatre In Brampton

Despite getting caught in a Blizzard, Irene and I managed to get to the Rose Theatre on time for Leslie's performance.
It was worth it. Leslie's voice is lower pitched and raspier then it was in the 1960s, but the emotional impact was still there. Even though she's 61, she was still able to conjure up an image of a teenage girl who just couldn't hold a boyfriend.
The highlight of the evening was her last song, "You Don't Own Me". It sent chills up and down my spine. Check out her new CD on her website.
Songs like "It's My Party" and "Sunshine And Lollipops" helped to define what the 1960s were all about. Three stars.
Please enjoy Leslie on YouTube: "You Don't Own Me".

Posted by qualteam at 7:56 PM EST

Updated: Sunday, 9 March 2008 9:34 PM EST

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Thursday, 6 March 2008

Discovering What It's Like To Be Canadian
Mood: cool

As a lad, I experienced record snowfall in my home town, Barrie Ontario. I got used to it because I could toboggan and make snowballs of it. Canada was "The Great White North" then and today, it seems to be again. Pass me a "Canadian or Moosehead Beer", hoser.
It looks like we're closing in on a record snowfall for the Toronto area. Check out these stats:
"We're already in record territory and this will only add to the record snowfall," Phillips said.
The previous record dump for February in Toronto was 66.6 centimetres in 1950.
This February has already seen 69.8 centimetres of snow fall.
In fact, Phillips says "it's entirely possible" that another major snowfall record could fall by the time winter packs up.
The most snow accumulation over a winter season came in 1938-39 when 207 centimetres of snow fell.
At 148 centimetres, there's still plenty of time to break that record, Phillips feels.
"There has never been a March without snow and there's been only two Aprils ever without a trace of snow," the climatologist said.
"So, we're not done with winter yet."
Another snowstorm is headed this way for Friday and Saturday.
Global warming hasn't caught up to Canada yet.

Posted by qualteam at 9:40 PM EST

Updated: Thursday, 6 March 2008 9:55 PM EST

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Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Tax Filing Software Of The Year: UFile
Mood: a-ok

For many years, I used Quicktax because it was easy and instructive. It had a pretty interface and I could always see in the upper right corner how much of a tax refund, I was getting. At $39.99, it was expensive, but "the easy to follow quicksteps" made me feel like a tax auditor.
This year Quicktax allowed only two refunds per customer. This ticked me off, so I checked out the competition and got UFile at Best Buy for only $19.99. You can do eight returns with this software and I've done two already. I finished both tax returns in about 30 minutes.
While UFile isn't as sexy as Quicktax, it's just as easy to use and to Netfile. Three stars.

Posted by qualteam at 10:00 PM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 4 March 2008 10:11 PM EST

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Saturday, 1 March 2008

Pride In Home Ownership

For most Canadians, housing has increased in value. It has increased the most in the western provinces because of economic expansion in the oil fields.
Please note that a house in Canada is used primarily as a place to live rather than as a way to make a quick buck.
For many Canadians, "house appreciation" in done through renovations which improve the resell value of the home. You could also call this "Pride In Ownership" because it's a personal win to add value to something that didn't look that good in the first place.
With interest rates and house prices going down in the U.S., there are marvelous opportunities to obtain a bargain property that if cared for will appreciate with time.
The products of get-rich-quick-housing speculators are run down empty buildings. In the end, "the ownership papers" and their owners get trashed and burned.
A true real estate investor buys at a low price with a low interest rate and enhances the value of his/her property for resale or retirement without a mortgage.
There's a big difference between short range greed/stupidity and long range planning for the future.
The housing market in American is at a new beginning. The only place to go in UP.

Posted by qualteam at 11:01 PM EST

Updated: Saturday, 1 March 2008 11:18 PM EST

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Thursday, 28 February 2008

Mike Smith Of Dave Clark Five Passes Away

Mike Smith (far left) on keyboards was the lead singer of "The Dave Clark Five". He will be missed.
The Dave Clark Five was the heaviest rock group in the 1960s that I ever heard: "Glad All Over", "Anyway You Want It", "Do You Love Me", Bits And Pieces", "You Got What It Takes" were powerful tunes in their arsenal.
The band is going to be inducted into "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" this March.
There's not that many good videos of Mike and the band, but here's a decent one on YouTube. The song is "Catch Us If You Can":

My favourite DC5 song is "You Got What It Takes"

Posted by qualteam at 9:45 PM EST

Updated: Thursday, 28 February 2008 10:14 PM EST

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