Author: nthier

Sounds good: World’s Largest Solar Power Plant Produces Power with Canadian Solar Modules.

Well, not quite so dramatic, but still a big deal if true: Gone in a Flash? Adobe Said Halting Development on Mobile Version of Its Plug-In. I’ve mentioned a few times in the past that I think Flash on mobile devices is a bad idea.  Since Google and RIM announced Flash support on their devices, I’ve […]

It’s good to see the rules loosening up a bit in Cuba: Cuba Legalizes Purchase, Sale Of Private Property.  Hopefully this continues.  It’s too bad the US can’t just get over itself and open relations with Cuba again.  I know it won’t happen because some people in Florida will be upset, but they shouldn’t be.  If […]

I got Chad VanGaalen’s new album Diaper Island when it was released a couple months ago and I’m still listening to it as often as when I first bought it. It’s his best album yet, which is refreshing for me after being disappointed by several new releases this year by bands I really like. Here’s […]

It’s great to have some real estimates on this, and wow: Economists: Every $1 of Electricity from Coal Does $2 in Damage to U.S. Plus, the original source article even indicates this is a very conservative estimate because it doesn’t include costs related to climate change.  I imagine it’d be a lot harder to tie […]

I know there isn’t a specific goal, given the movement doesn’t have a leadership and hasn’t made a clear attempt to define the goals, but I’m still confused.  I imagine there should be some broadly accepted goals and even better would be at least a few that are clearly attainable, so the movement knows if […]

I am in favor of the idea of labour unions and their goals, while I do admit to being skeptical of what many large unions have become in modern times. However, the Harper governments willingness to force unions back to work seems like it has gone too far. Any person or group of people should […]

I’m only 8 questions into the CBC Ontario Vote Compass and have already tried answering several questions as Neutral because the premise seems so ridiculous.  I didn’t continue answering the next 20+ questions since I already don’t think it’ll be worth my while. The 2 worst questions, in my opinion: How much tax should corporations […]

Ran across this good explanation of the “high-frequency trading” term thrown around a lot: Algorithmic Trading is Not High Frequency Trading.  The impact on the markets of HFT is very different compared to having computers aid in the execution of a human decision. Even when a human enters a simple order on a stock brokerage […]

The bad state of First Nations reserves has been in the news recently.  I’ve never been very clear on the responsibilities of the Canadian government to support people on reserves, and some of the debate lately has accused the government of being at fault for the poverty on reserves.  I found this article, which shows […]

In this continuing saga, I had most recently posted: Wait, now cell phones don’t cause cancer? Then today I ran into this: Cell phone radiation could make you sterile according to studies. I wish someone would come up with a solid answer.  In the last post I quoted this, and hoped it was based on real […]

Over the past few days I’ve been contemplating the medium-term view of US stocks and whether I should reduce exposure to them. It seems difficult to be very bullish on the US markets as a whole given the continually rising debt, inflation concerns, aging population and political problems.  That doesn’t mean I think their markets will […]

Congrats to the USA for raising the debt ceiling.  Wait, is that a good thing?  No, I’d say it isn’t.  I think the fight over reigning in US spending is a good one to have, but doing it over the debt ceiling seems like the wrong issue.  As many people point out, the debt ceiling […]

Here’s a look at RIM’s stock price over the last 5 years, noting when I entered and left the company.

Coincidence?
However, noting where I bought RIM stock and where it is right now would make me very sad.

This was an interesting read: Inside RIM: An exclusive look at the rise and fall of the company that made smartphones smart. I really want to root for RIM.  I worked there for a bit, I have many friends working there, and they are a hugely positive part of my local community.  But, shortly after […]

But that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t do it.  This article highlights a supposed Google “faux pas”, where they put a note on their homepage (they usually like to put interesting things there) saying “Call your Dad” for Fathers Day. “This note clearly rubbed some users the wrong way, “I very recently lost my dad […]

Warren Kinsella highlighted some NDP discussion called “Solidarity with Palestine and the boycott of Israeli apartheid”: NDP LINKS ISRAEL TO “APARTHEID”, and seems upset. Look, I get it.  Some people want to support Israel and defend it’s right to exist, and right to defend itself, etc.  Call it noble or misguided, whatever you want, but […]

In a follow up to my recent post Don’t worry, cell phones still cause cancer, I saw this today: Fears about the safety of mobile phones are overdone.  His reasoning sounds reasonable, I’m curious if his statements are true.  For example: “No matter how powerful the transmitter, radio waves simply cannot produce ionising radiation. Only gamma […]

I posted an article over at YouSustain called 38 Small Sustainable Habits.  It tries to focus on the little decisions we can make every day that add up to a big impact, both in terms of sustainability and cash savings. If you like it, I’d appreciate if you click the “bookmark” button there to share […]

The latest in this epic struggle: Experts say cellphones are possibly carcinogenic. There’s obviously no clear answer, but given there’s some evidence both ways, wouldn’t it be prudent for any heavy cell phone user to minimize their exposure with something like a bluetooth headset?  They don’t look great, but considering there’s some evidence wired headsets […]