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David Barron

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Monday, 9 June 2008
Barron's Green Crusade

This blog entry has nothing to do with "Barron's Financial Magazine". While my name is Barron, I'm not one of those rich guys who spends time and energy driving an SUV, a personal jet, and a big boat.

Probably, I'm moving in the opposite direction to those high rollers.

Recently, I sent four letters to V.I.Ps in politics and automobile manufacturing. Here are some of the highlights from those letters:

"I do not want to be held hostage by oil companies, OPEC, hedge fund managers, greedy speculators or fossil fuel terrorists in the world.

With gasoline going up to $1.34 and higher, it has become very important to buy the most fuel efficient car that I can. It's also good for the environment and promotes green technology and industry which Ontario and Canada needs very much.

I believe we are living on the edge of a golden era of cheap electrical energy for all mankind: limited and cleaned up fossil fuelsnano solar power, fuel cell generators, advanced hybrid electric power, geothermic heating, wind power and garbage heat exchangers. Clean energy production should be encouraged by the taxation system and polluting energy production should be penalized by the taxation system.   

We are at the beginnings of a new industrialized revolution similar to what happened in the 19th century. It's important that our focus is on the future and not on the past.

The survival of North American automobile companies is important to our standard of living, but they must change to meet the challenges of this new age".

Messages like the above should be sent to your favourite politicians and automobile companies. Sometimes, "the powers that be" need motivation from the grassroots of humanity.

Look at all the inventions of mankind. One person can make a difference.

Tyler Hamilton's Test Run Of A Plug-In Auto

 


Posted by qualteam at 12:17 PM EDT
Updated: Monday, 9 June 2008 3:46 PM EDT
Friday, 6 June 2008
Tired Of Being Held Up By The Gas Pump Boys

When oil prices shoot up more than $11 in a day to a new record above $139 U.S., isn't it about time we did something about it?

The electric cars are out there. It just takes more incentives and will power to bring them to market. Everyday there seems to be a new development in this technology.

Tesla motors seems to be on the cutting edge of the new automobiles.

Wouldn't it be great if automobiles go the way of "Old Steam Engines of the 1950s". The change over to diesel locomotives happened very quickly back then.

Check out a "The Tesla Roadster" for yourself:


Posted by qualteam at 10:19 PM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, 11 June 2008 8:31 AM EDT
Thursday, 5 June 2008
The Next U.S. President Faces Formidable Challenges

The world we live in today is different from what it was in the 20th century and the early 21st century:

  1. The high price of oil is having a adverse effect on commodities, transportation,  and the inflation rate.  Apparently, we're near the end of the line ("Peak Oil") for  fossil fuels.
  2. The U.S. Housing Market has been in a recession for over a year.
  3. Hedge fund managers have been pushing oil, food and gold higher through market speculation that is often hidden behind the non disclosure wall of hedge fund secrecy.
  4. Terrorism is often supported from profits from the Middle East Oil Industry and poppy growth in Afghanistan.
  5. The U.S. deficit has ballooned trillions of dollars from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  6. Confidence in U.S. financial institutions have eroded because of the subprime mortgage crisis.
  7. The U.S. stock markets are down 6.00% on the year while the Canadian stock market is up 6.00%.
  8. The slowness of North American automakers to make fuel efficent cars, vans and trucks has resulted in massive job losses for GM, Ford and Chrysler. Alternate energy vehicles have yet to come on the scene in a significant way.
  9. There are still hundreds of coal producing plants in the U.S. and the world that should be discontinued.
  10. Barack Obama has to be more specific on the changes needed to escape the monopoly of oil producing cartels. 

Posted by qualteam at 12:55 PM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 5 June 2008 10:26 PM EDT
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Going Postal In The Right Direction

I've been working at Canada Post so long that I sometimes I forget what life was like before I became a postal worker.

Hopefully, I'll discover what the real world is like when I retire. 

I don't take anything for granted. The viability of our pension plan depends on our ability to compete against UPS/Fedex and to make a good profit.

Here are my suggestions for modernizing the 150 year-old Canadian postal institution:

"As we know, The Post Office went through a period when just making a profit was the bottom line for Canada Postal Corportion and the Canadian Government. In the meantime, the infrastructure suffered because management was unwilling to commit revenues to new machines.
 
"A labour-intensive mentality" hit CPC and thousands of casuals were recruited to do work that machines could have done. Many of these casuals worked excessive hours and had to be hired on as full timers because of contract agreements with
CUPW.
 
This is a challenging environment for any CEO to inherit.
 
Waving the finger of blame doesn't do any good now. Canada Post needs financing to service all the citizens of Canada. We need the Government to help us out. This was done in the early 1970s when Canada Post went in debt (800 million dollars) to build mega postal centers like Gateway and South Central. This was necessary to serve all customers and citizens of Canada.
 
In my opinion, the loan was paid back to the Government by royalty payments through the years. Whatever is remaining should be forgiven.
 
I'm not sure how much Canada Post needs to borrow for its 2020 modernization plan. I know that The Government, CPC Management, employees, customers and retirees have a stake in this. We are all shareholders.
 
I suggest an audit of Canada Post to determine its existing value now. I then suggest that shares of this Crown Corporation should be sold to its owner(Canadian Government), employees and customers in a way that would not undermine its value or potential. At least, half the shares would go to Federal Government. The remaining shares could be distributed through the CPC Pension Plan, postal management, postal employees, and preferred customers.
 
The Federal Government would have a buy back option of the shares at any time.
 
Dividends from the shares could end up as part of the yearly CTI payment.
 
If we're going to have the latest and best equipment available like hybrid or fuel cell trucks then substantial investment is necessary. This is the 21st century".
 

There is more information about my involvement in the Canadian Union Of Postal Workers at www.cupw.info.

The Toronto CUPW Local


Posted by qualteam at 6:37 PM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, 4 June 2008 4:03 PM EDT
Sunday, 1 June 2008
The Best Of Harvey Korman

I guess everyone has their favourite Harvey Korman role in the movies or with Tim Conway, Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence.

I was surprised that Harvey did a great deal of work in cartoons, especially in "The Flintstones".

In his later years, he also went on tour with Tim Conway and did many of his old routines from the Carol Burnett Show.

My favourite Korman character was "Hedley Lemarr" in the movie "Blazing Saddles". One of the top comedy movies of all time.

Harvey's scene below is priceless and well worth watching again and again.

Feb/1927 to May/2008, thanks for making us laugh.


Posted by qualteam at 11:09 AM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 1 June 2008 11:25 AM EDT
Saturday, 31 May 2008
Investing In Canada

Since the beginning of the year, The Canadian TSX Index is up 6.37% while the S&P 500 is down 4.63%. The Dow is up about 1.00% on the year.

I have a great deal of money in the Toronto Dominion Equity Fund which has delivered a gain of 20% over a three year period.

Not only does Canada have many profitable oil and mining companies, it has banks which were not exposed to the subprime crisis. The Toronto Dominion Bank and The Bank of Nova Scotia are the main ones.

In blue chip investing, one should choose the top companies in any sector.

As well as being a net exporter of oil and minerals, Canada also has a secure mortgage market which was lightly exposed to subprime mortgages.

Another good TD mutual fund that grown by 24% over the last year is the Latin American Equity Fund.

The number one investment, of course, is buying a house at a bargain price and then paying off the mortgage, so one can live comfortably in their 60s, 70s, and 90s. Certainly, the U.S. is better off than Canada in this regard.

May you have profitable investing for the rest of the year and beyond.

 

 


Posted by qualteam at 6:06 PM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 31 May 2008 11:03 PM EDT
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Are You Taking A "Staycation" This Year?

With gasoline hovering around $4.00 a gallon or $1.30 a litre, it's perhaps better to have a "Staycation" this year rather than a vacation.

There's always lots to do around the house or the local area. One can always get caught up on the chores or the investments of the future like electric automobiles, and green mutual funds.

On the internet, you can easily improve your poker game with the ten cent tournament at Poker Stars. Personally, I've finished in the money three out of four times in this tournament over the last few days: 30 cents for 26th place, 40 cents for 16th place and $4.00 for 3rd place. I won't get rich playing this way, but my poker is improving and that's what counts.

If you want to broaden your point of view, check out some "new age religions" and some websites created by aliens. Maybe!!

It's always fun to upload songs and pictures to your blog or websites. I have close to a half a gigabyte on my websites.

Indoor and outdoor sports are not only exciting, but good exercise as well.

Hopefully, you will have a good staycation this year that suits you and your pocketbook.

Beach Party/Annette


 


Posted by qualteam at 9:00 PM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 31 May 2008 11:21 PM EDT
Sunday, 25 May 2008
Mind Melding And Christianity


The original "Mind Melding" concept comes from the first Strar Trek series. It involved linking one's mind with that of another. Memories, thoughts and emotions could be shared on a very spiritual level. Looking at it from a religious point of view, you might call this act: "A Vulcan Communion Service". 

Holy Communion in a church could be called a "Mind Meld With The Divine". The body and blood of Jesus Christ are touched by Christians through the symbols of bread and wine.

The Body Of Christ is everyone in the church past and present, so they connect with each other's mind as well. This is a mind meld of great proportions through space and time.

It is highly likely that "Crystal Skulls" play a profound role in memory transfer as well. It has been reported that if a crystal skull is nearby a sleeper some of its memories will flow into the sleeper's mind. 

On the internet, a primitive kind of mind meld is achieved through hyperlinks to webpages, blogs, pictures and music.

Hopefully, this kind of communication reaches a deeper level than good natured banter and/or long winded explanations.

One Day At A Time/Christy Lane


Posted by qualteam at 11:39 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 25 May 2008 11:47 PM EDT
Thursday, 22 May 2008
The Mysteries Of The 13 Crystal Skulls

With the opening of the new Indian Jones, movie today, the mysteries of the crystal skulls have appeared for most of humanity to see.

Could this by part of Edgar Cayce's prediction of the surfacing of Atlantis? The secret knowledge of their energy production system?

The 13 interconnected skulls are probably a reference to the basic organization of "The Brotherhood Of Christ", 12 apostles and Jesus.

In the Book of Mormon, there are references of Jesus talking to ancient peoples in North America. Secret golden plates containing the history of the Isrealites in the New World were given to their leader Mormon. These later became part of the religious doctrine of the Church Of Latter Day Saints.

I believe the crystal skulls were given to Native American tribes in southwestern U.S. around 400 A.D. At this time in Rome, the Catholic Church was on a campaign to rid Christianity of the "Gnostic heresy". 

The Roman hierarchy dogmatized the Christian religion into series of correct beliefs which were enforced by the church ministry. 

I believe Christ cut off divine life energy to the papal bureaucracy and channelled his energy into the communication and energy collectors called "Crystal Skulls".

From 400 A.D until Martin Luther's time, the dark ages prevailed.

I don't believe any high tech alien civilization would use primitive skulls for communication or energy devices.

I don't think you'll find the above information in the new Indiana Jones movie. As far as I can see, the emphasis is on action and special effects rather than a story line.


Posted by qualteam at 10:44 PM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 25 May 2008 7:15 PM EDT
Monday, 19 May 2008
Learning Texas Hold 'Em Poker The Easy Way

There's lots of material on poker on YouTube and other places on the internet. One of the most fascinating articles that I've read recently was on how to play "small pairs" and "small connectors".

I've also found a cheap "no-limit tournament" on PokerStars.net. It's on the main lobby's "The Sit And Go Board". Down near the bottom of the board, you'll find a "Hold 'Em Tournament" that has an entry fee of ten cents. This tournament is capped at 360 players and the winner gets $8.50. The other prizes range dowward from $6.00 for second to $.20 cents for 38th spot.

Without a doubt, this is great cheap practice for poker players of any skill level. I've went from 320th position to 43th position in a couple of days.

Like to know the basic strategy behind "Hold 'Em"? Check out Gus Henson's video below:


Posted by qualteam at 10:31 PM EDT
Updated: Monday, 19 May 2008 11:28 PM EDT

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