Snippet from Canadian Economic Outlook

Here is a snippet from the Canadian Economic Outlook report prepared by Wellsfargo International.


"Unlike in the United States, where there is a tax deduction for mortgage interest, Canadians do not have a similar incentive to carry mortgage debt. We have long maintained that the best argument against a housing bubble is the notion that a significant deterioration in mortgage credit has not yet manifested itself in Canada. Mortgage delinquencies typically lead foreclosures, and we have yet to see any deterioration in mortgages that are in arrears. In fact, according to the Canadian Bankers Association, the percentage of mortgages in arrears, or at least 90 days past due, is just 0.32 percent, down from 0.39 percent at this time last year. Canadians are carrying more debt, but with the overnight lending rate in Canada still at a historically low level, the cost of financing that debt is not yet proving too much of a burden for Canadian homeowners.
The Canadian housing market appears to be somewhat overvalued at present, and the downside risk for home values seems to outweigh the upside potential for continued home price appreciation. However, with low delinquency rates, a relatively stable employment outlook and affordable financing, the Canadian housing market does not appear to be poised for a major selloff like the U.S. housing market experienced between 2007 and 2009.
Some pockets, however, are looking “frothier” than others. Speculative investment by foreign investors has limited affordability in markets like Vancouver, and some stress fractures are beginning to emerge. Vancouver is one of the markets tracked by the TNBC HPI; this measure shows prices off almost 3 percent since June.
The pace of residential construction activity does not seem to have adjusted to a slower pace of hiring and economic growth (Figure 12). That said, the monthly change in the number of Canadian building permits has been volatile this year, with permits up six months and down four months. While home values may hold up, we would not be surprised to see residential construction activity dial back a bit to be more in synch with a slower pace of GDP growth."

Addict Paid to be Sterilized

This is an old article I pulled out of my drawer that is interesting. In the UK a American charity payed someone to have a vasectomy so they cant reproduce anymore. Sounds like an interesting way to start battling some of the problems of our society. I wonder if the program is still active?

Nation of Sealand

Paddy Roy Bates, the man that started the nation of Sealand in the 1960's passed away at the age of 91. His son Micheal Bates is now ruler of Sealand. I read about this nation over the years on the internet but when my local Calgary newspaper wrote an article on it I was surprised and thought I would share it.

Whats this world coming to?

Whats this world coming to?

Snap Decision to photo mans dying moment

This is an unreal photograph of someone who was pushed onto the tracks, and a newspaper photographer happened to of been there to see it take place. The photographer said he was too far away to help the man and took pictures out of instinct. The publisher printed the picture in the next day news, front page. Pretty crass move.

What exactly IS the Lu Lu Lemon symbol?

Long before I ever started to practice yoga I used to scoff at men wearing Lu Lu Lemon around the gym. Back then to me Lu Lu Lemon was only for women, so when the company started trying to woo male customers I didn't buy it. Once I even called the local Lu Lu Lemon, and asked the first employee that answered the phone "What exactly is the Lu Lu Lemon symbol?" His answer interspersed with a few uhm's and ah's was "he believed it to be a stylized A". I chuckled to myself, thanked him and hung up. Another theory I heard include it being the symbol for Omega, the 24th letter in the Greek alphabet.

After some brainstorming I came up with the thought that it is actually a silhouette of a woman's hair. A 60's hair style for instance. And to prove it I have modified a copy of their symbol for your viewing pleasure:)

Pfizer's single goal: Your health

I was just googling Pfizer to show my wife a little bit about the company that is producing her birth control pills. They have been around since 1849, but in the last ten years ALONE they have been involved in four settlements with the US Department of Justice. One of those settlements totaled more then $2.3 billion!! That signifies the single largest judgement ever ordered in the USA....


I chuckled to myself when I read the first line of their www.pfizer.ca website. It reads "Pfizer is inspired by a single goal: Your health."

Your good health? Or just your health? You decide.


We ended up deciding against this form of birth control after she experienced major mood swings and other side effects almost immediately.

My White German Shepherd Kira

My love for my dog, as many of us fellow dog owners can contest, is immeasurable. I thought I would upload some of my favorite pictures of my dog in the past 8 years of her life:)

Enjoy.

Oh, did I mention she is a lesbian? This is my mothers dog Bailey, also a female:)

Very Old Bizarro Comic

This is a real oldie that I cut out almost ten years ago, it's been sitting in my Toyota pickups sun visor ever since. I think this comic holds a special place with me partly because I own a beautiful White German Shepherd, Kira:) I'm pretty glad to be getting this comic posted into digital form so it can last many more years for me, and everyone else. As you can see this original copy is getting pretty worn.
Thanks Dan Piraro for your great comic strip.

This comic by Dan Piraro made me lol

Nut Allergy Warning on a bag of Almonds?!

While I was enjoying my bag of "Wonderful Almonds" I also read the back of the package. I wasn't very surprised when I noticed they printed the ingredients on the package, even though the only ingredient is almonds. But I was a little shocked when I read under the ingredients that there is a allergy warning. "Contains Almonds"

Really? You don't say? A bag of almonds contains almonds? And if I have a almond nut allergy I should avoid this product? Well it's a good thing they printed that on their package as they probably avoided dozens of potential law suits, heh. 

Is it that we are really that stupid as a society, or is it the company that just thinks we are so dim witted?

Vegetarianism

Since I started practicing yoga I have done a lot of thinking about the concept of eating meat. I even went vegetarian for 6 months. And still to this day, I only eat meat if it has already been prepared and served or offered to me. I no longer buy it or prepare it for my own consumption. There is no point to prepare meat for your own consumption because it is so prevalent as a food source that you never have to wait very long to be offered an already cooked or prepared meat dish. When I am eating out, or thinking about what I want to prepare for myself I always choose a veggie dish, or a fish dish. When I eat fish I get all the iron and protein I need.

This comic by Bizarro made me chuckle. Enjoy.

McEar Muffs By Dan Piraro.

This is a good comic, playing on a few different angles. One of the them is all the wasted softness that comes from all those McNuggets that get sold.

University of Mcdonald's Comic

Keeping with the fast food theme...

Death Burger by Dan Piraro

Great comic, I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it. It is very true, that even though death waits on peoples door step, they still won't stop some of the unhealthy habits that brought them there, or even worse asking for additional bad habits in the process.

Bizarro: 99cent Burgers Pulls the Crowd

Love this comic. It especially hits home with me because my family has owned Burger restaurants in and around Calgary for 25 years and although we serve the best quality served fresh, it seems the 99 cent burger giants always have the line ups.

Kill 5 people and only get 3 years in Jail....

Kill 5 people and only get 3 years in Jail, only in Canada. This dude basically smashes into a sedan stopped at the lights, with his cement truck. Kills all 5 people in the car. Right after the accident he is seen throwing a bottle of vodka into the back of the cement mixer. He has just been released from jail.... He just did 7 months for every life he took that night.

Bizarro: Good transition from Pigeon to Fast Food

This is a great play on peoples habits and some normal advice.

Bizarro: Pigeons drumming up business for a human

Dan Piraro Loves Pigeons:)

Another pigeon comic from Bizarro by Dan Piraro.

Best Comics in the world, Bizarro.

Daniel Piraro is one of my all time favorite cartoonists. I don't mind buying a paper just to get his daily dose of humor in.  I've managed over time to save a few of my all time favorites and will be sharing them in the coming months. I have a few pigeon themed ones that are perfect examples of his ingenious sense of humor.

Goth Refused Hospital Treatment

A man named Stevahn Bullen was refused treatment when he went to the Rocky View Hospital in the first weeks of September.  This article was on the front page of the Calgary Herald. Mr Bullen was quoted as saying "The fact I was singled out because I was wearing something that was offensive to him and denied service - that kind of makes me lose hope in humanity a little bit."

Two Articles, One Newspaper

I caught these two articles published in the Calgary Herald newspaper, on the same day. I thought there was some irony involved as one article talks about sleeping pills causing an increased risk of death, and in the other article it is highlighting a new study on stress and ways to cope or reduce it, including the possibility of inventing a pill to alleviate stress.


Thought I would share them, enjoy:

Asian Woman Removed From Canadian $100 Bill

I was pretty shocked today when I read in the Calgary Herald that after focus groups made enough comments they changed the picture on the back of the new plastic $100 bill. I was extra interested as I also collect rare coins or bills as a hobby, but when I arrived home later that night I found out the two $100 plastic bills I had in my collection already featured the new changed picture, of a girl with more Caucasian facial features.

Here is the article for your reading pleasure.

Tattoos: Self expression or Self mutilation?

For so many years society as a whole would deem any form of poking or cutting yourself with needles or knives as a form of self mutilation. But at some point a transition was slowly made, where now people are encouraged to stretch, pull, pinch, cut, insert or mark up their entire body. In fact there is probably less then a degree of separation between those with body adornments and those with none as proof to how accepted this has become.

 If our body is a "temple", and we are putting constant permanent graffiti on the "walls" as well as opening new or enlarging old holes, then that would definitively be the most unholy of practices.

Is it just self expression or is it in fact a form of self mutilation that has been approved by society?

You Know Your Cat is Old When...

You know your cat is old when.... The top of his head smells just like a dusty shelf.

19 year old cat, and still kickin'....


RIP Smokey, Nov 16 2014 at 21 years old.

F-Minus comic in today's paper

I laughed to myself when I saw this. Seems true of so many relationships these days.

Soma Hot Yoga

Me and my wife decided to start a new Youtube channel. It's called Soma Hot Yoga. You can find it here. It's going to start with some videos I took while I was in India. And over time I will be adding more and more full length classes that people can follow along to, including the Baptist style Vinyassa Flow as well as maybe Bikrams 26 postures. Anyways, please visit and subscribe.

Cancer and Pepsi linked??? Noooooo...

This is a gem. Cancer and Pepsi/Coca Cola are linked? Wow, what a surprise. And their solution? To reduce the level of the cancer causing chemical to meet the new requirements? It's still just as likely to give you cancer no matter what they try and do to it....