Gary > Recent Status Updates

Reading this because I read Rosenburg’s summary in Globe and Mail “Worried about markets? Here are 10 rules to remember.” I’m on chapter 7 and he hasn’t said one thing about investing. He is basically glossing over his own abilities. Did I get tricked into reading an autobiography? lol

Muchly impressed by how progressive Mr. Franklin was for his time! Building preaching halls for all preachers of all faiths to preach in.

“This is the housing blockade. Canada cannot build a post-American economy if the places where new industries might scale cannot accommodate the people those industries need”

Le gasp! You mean paying employees fairly is necessary for a healthy economy? 😨

Pretty easily digestible infographics and explanations of Canada’s perilous economy (especially in the age of Trump!).

I’m not an economist so won’t pretend to have any credible criticisms of this book but I feel like a lot of the solutions seem to be just throw more money at it. What about all the industry corruption that comes with government grants?

“Protectionism offers a story in which decline has an external culprit and a simple remedy: foreigners cheated us; tariffs will make them pay. It is bad economics, but it is powerful politics.”

“Without knowledge, we cannot act. Battles over education are battles over freedom.”

“What we can see from this example of Nazi Germany, and from studying other instances of fascist movements around the world, is that there are 5 major themes of fascist education: 1. National greatness; 2. National Purity; 3. National Innocence; 4. Strict gender roles; 5. Vilification of the left.”

Gulp…

Moral of the story: education good; people that try to destroy education baaaad (couldn’t agree more!)

Don’t know if “futureistical fiction” is a genre but that’s what this is. Written ‘90 years ago but could have been written today by its accuracy of modern Fascism in America

Hemingway portrays himself here as a disciplined, stoic, writer just trying to live the freedom loving life of an artist in Paris. Which is funny because besides his disciplined writing habits he was probably the Donald Trump of the literary world, he only saw things from his own point of view, which was usually out of jealousy and spite. Otherwise the writing is pretty good as to be expected.

Chapter 23 has many great ideas about policies. This man should be president, maybe the outlook wouldn’t be so bleak for the future of the planet with people with better principles in power. Of course anyone can write a book, taking action is what matters at the end of the day.

Chapter 17: Insecure economy really outlines how the stock market could care less about working class people. It makes really regret being so invested in it and our whole “neoliberal” outlook (the economy comes first!), will we ever escape it without destroying everything in the process?

“Under capitalism, social problems resulting from exploitation and the maldistribution of resources are understood as individual moral problems, not systemic problems. Getting support at a place that sees the systems, not the people suffering in them, as the problem can help people move from shame to anger and defiance.

“In this context of social isolation, and forced dependancy on hostile systems, mutual aid—where we choose to help each other out, share things, and put our resources into caring for the most vulnerable—is a radical act.”

Who’d have thought that old timey Canadians (preWW2) were such racist assholes too lol. Chapter 3 talks about Canada’s “British Immigrants, please” policies.

“Immigrants good; policies bad”: couldn’t agree more! First part blames policies and businesses for trying to fill low paying jobs with immigrants rather than paying a decent wage and making the job desirable to Canadians.

Some decent advice so far. Mostly “get a good variety of fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables and you can have your cake and eat it too.” I hope I don’t find after reading this that she is a notorious wellness industry grifter, happens too often lol.

I can see the significance that the author is trying to place on reason (sense) and feelings (sensibility), all the characters seem to possess one but lack in the other. The character that the story follows closely (Elinor) is rational beyond all measure and therefore unable to comprehend human emotions and why they act in such ways (relatable) and Marianne, her sister, is all emotional and unable to tame herself.

The psychology portion of this book (50%+ maybe) is meh for me, personally have always hated the subject (to each his own). But there are some sections which are fairly interesting.

So far it’s just “you think money could make you happy, it could, but what if it can’t. Here’s an example of where it could but it didn’t…”, rinse and repeat. Kind of boring.

Interesting portrait of the life of the "phantom of the opera", it systematically shows him acquiring all the talents that you think would be necessary to his character in the future. Wish I had some advanced skills to mask my inner ugliness, I'm vanilla on vanilla lol.

I’m so glad to be born in the 20th century life seems hellish in this era, just diseases and misery lol

Great so far! I didn’t know about similarities with other planets in our solar system and ours! Especially what can be learned about climate from Venus (extreme atmosphere) and Mars (depleted/non existent ozone)

Pretty enraging deportment by the Chinese government, especially towards the Uyghur communities in the west. Now I understand why my Chinese friends say “Uyghurs are benevolently given free university!”, they probably think their WeChat app is listening…

Interesting book, doesn't seem to be much of a plot. Just the happenings of a not so interesting little family...

Not really sure when the story starts but it’s a cute family dynamic lol

First half of the book is kind of a memoir and grievances on the American political system, as a Canadian J don’t really care, US is singular in its political system. Last half is possible solutions to endemic social problems (Medicare, education, labour etc.) as a Labour Party counsel member I found this very useful.

Feel like I got roped into reading a memoir but the actual facts about congress that Sanders shares are infuriating (and he drops names!)