Random Thoughts

Even Charlie Brown could tell I lost weight. He can see the difference in my face which is noticeably thinner. Kelly Jones has joined me on the wagon. He has plans to stay away from alcohol until his birthday in Mid-February. Kelly just returned from vacation and unexpectedly has given up alcohol. No one saw that one coming.

I'm mildly amused by Chief Theresa Spence negotiating an end to her hunger strike. As if she is doing society a favour by ending her stunt. Her liquid diet was a farce and a distraction from her mismanaging    of over $100M in funds, sent to her reserve. Her band had threatened to remove her from office unless she returned home.

My investment philosophy is to buy and hold stocks. I have invested heavily in index funds that follow the stock market as a whole. When the market periodically crashes, I do not panic, in fact I purchase additional funds and make even more money as the market inevitably recovers. I'm also a believer in blue chip companies that pay dividends. Nothing new here, or groundbreaking, but it is amazing the number of people that invest in bonds that pay 1% or 2% interest.

I started to seriously invest when I was 31 years old, it took me a long time to accumulate a decent size portfolio, but if you start at that age and be patient, the returns will come. Your older self will thank you for it later.

Whomever emerges as Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's successor in this weekend's Liberal Leadership convention, is in for a rough ride. The Orange scandal, scrapping of the gas fired power plant, eHealth and other scandals are too much to overcome. The Liberals in Ontario are in need of a time-out. The only problem is there is no decent alternative.  

Great to see my Dad have some improvements in his health this week. As an Irishman he thought it was interesting that, in the Belfast flag-flap, the Protestants are now experiencing what the Catholics have felt for generations. It sucks to be in the minority. Unlike his number #3 son, my Dad is trying to gain weight. He gained 2 pounds and I lost 2 this week.