tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53916952012-02-15T23:26:20.562-08:00Under New MismanagementMusings of a beleaguered... what the heck to I do now? Oh! Right! Transfer Pricing AnalystElliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.comBlogger321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-10001494323356112892008-03-05T19:57:00.002-08:002008-03-05T20:01:41.899-08:00Update for the Sake of an UpdateA lot has happened in the past 15 months or so. I won't fill in the details. It would take too long. It's not like anyone has been reading my blog anyways. Moreover, I've been spending more of my time on FaceBook. I may choose to update this blog in future, but I think it may be best to wind it down. If someone is reading this, thank you for your attention. Please Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-28815547161616159842006-11-24T11:42:00.000-08:002006-11-24T12:25:16.202-08:00A Look back at 6 Months of Trading I know that I haven't really talked about this much. No one seems to visit my blog anyways, so I've been posting things a bit more vigourously on Facebook, where I know at least some of my friends will be looking. Anyways, my trading has been progressing slowly. But make no mistake, I am getting better. As of right now, I'm $97 away from my profit target of Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1164298222472643742006-11-23T07:59:00.000-08:002006-11-24T11:36:14.191-08:00Quebec a Nation?So, this issue has been splashed all over the Canadian news, and I'm still not entirely sure what to make of it. For those not in the know, here's a synopsis: Several weeks ago, the issue pops up in the Liberal Party leadership debates; The Bloc Quebecois tables a resolution in the House of Commons declaring Quebec a "nation" to be debated today; The Tories preemptively table a Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1162440402312050432006-11-01T20:05:00.000-08:002006-11-24T11:36:44.483-08:00Strike Two for the Tories Okay, I admit being mildly drawn to the Tories in the lead up to the last federal election. Given the turmoil in the Liberal party, the sponsorship scandal and the policy drift they were exhibiting, I was willing to give the Tories the benefit of the doubt. I'm not a party member or devotee to any party. Now I can see that the Conservatives are little better than the Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1152743381864164022006-07-12T15:10:00.000-07:002006-11-24T11:37:23.105-08:00IMHO: Middle EastThis may sound absolutely heartless, but I think Israel should issue poison pills to its border soldiers. Really, Israel says that it will not negotiate with terrorists, but they have done so in past and released prisoners for the safe return of citizens held hostage. If they want to prevent this in future, they should put their money where their mouth is and write off kidnapped Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1152167597992666432006-07-05T22:54:00.000-07:002006-11-24T11:38:42.245-08:00Me 1 ; Grouse Grind: 0 Yes folks, that's the final score. Don't ask me how long it took to make it to the top. Let's just say it was about average for a person who doesn't train. I was just happy to make it to the top. On some level, that tells me that I'm not as out of shape as I've been leading myself to believe. So, that's positive.On the work front though, things are not going as well. Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1151998471014136312006-07-04T00:10:00.000-07:002006-11-24T11:39:45.493-08:00Holiday!Apparently the New York Stock Exchange is open a half day on July 3rd and closed for Independence Day. It was not the most pleasant day at work because the market was so thin. I could sit in a queue of 50-100 share orders and still not get filled because there were so few buyers and sellers. When I did get filled it was inevitably from larger participants, such as mutual fund managers or Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1149146874054407712006-06-01T00:17:00.000-07:002006-11-24T11:40:07.457-08:00New Job!I recently landed a job as a day trader in Vancouver. This week, we've been doing training. There are times that I get really excited about the job and there are other times that I get anxious and nervous. I know my hand-eye coordination is a bit slow. I'm hoping that I can make up for this with strategy and smart trading. I don't think I'll have any trouble sinking into the habit of Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1146732339227293572006-05-04T01:13:00.000-07:002006-11-24T11:40:38.003-08:00Job Hunting BluesAs of last week, I have completed my Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business Administration. Admittedly, I should have been looking for jobs back in February or March, but I was preoccupied with a bunch of things, namely my failed applications to grad school and my research project. So now I'm in a bit of a lurch as now I am unemployed with only a temporary place to live. I Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1134517248892791902005-12-13T15:12:00.000-08:002006-11-24T11:41:04.297-08:00Jack Layton and Mr. LaheyThis year I have really gotten into the show Trailer Park Boys. Oddly enough, this has coincided with the beginning of the a new Canadian election cycle. One thing struck me the other day. Jack Layton, the leader of the federal New Democratic Party, bears an uncanny resemblance to Jim Lahey, the supervisor of Sunnyvale Trailer Park. You be the judge.Here are a couple of Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1133467362044292512005-12-01T11:51:00.000-08:002006-11-24T11:41:23.823-08:00Canadian Politics: A world of topsey turveyToday the Conservative party unveiled their plan for tax reform in Canada (if elected of course): a 2% cut in the GST, a value-added tax levied on goods and services. I don't know whether this is a great strategy for the conservatives, but it is an interesting proposal. What is most interesting is that it could be an attempt to beat the NDP in terms of Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1129181824157460412005-10-12T22:06:00.000-07:002006-11-24T11:41:53.277-08:00Grow Up Canada!So with energy prices super high, many Canadians are going to be feeling the pinch of high heating bills this winter. What are provincial governments (and possibly the federal government) doing though? They are going to dish out millions of dollars in subsidies to help shield hapless Canadians from reality. Here's reality: high energy prices are here to stay. What will happen next Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1113385652269477752005-04-13T02:23:00.000-07:002005-04-13T02:47:32.270-07:00Exams - no commentIt's exam period right now. But I don't want to talk about that.Death in the NewsAfter seeing the news in the past four months for Indonesia and Bagladesh, I must say human tragedy, unlike (or like) lightning has the horrible tendency of striking in the same place. Both these countries would be in the running for the title "The Land of Tears." Though really, Indonesia would win Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1107153768128222072005-01-30T21:29:00.000-08:002005-01-30T22:42:48.126-08:00Pre-Birthday Blues?
So, I'm turning 23 soon. This leads me to one thought... damn, I'm getting old! On an un-age-related note, all sorts of disasters have been happening to me lately. Today, I found out that the sink is leaking and overflowing onto the floor. Last week, I failed to even get an interview for a job because the other candidates were more qualified. Also last week, I was arranging Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1103935597925221552004-12-24T16:32:00.000-08:002004-12-24T16:46:37.926-08:00Christmas with the Family... sorta
As much as I love my family, I have come to the conclusion that I can't spend much time with them without going nuts. It's a good thing they are visiting me here, and staying with some other family members. As a result, I can spend time in my flat instead of spending it all with them. Then again, I don't really have anything to do right now. Classes don't startElliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1099987453425428602004-11-08T23:51:00.000-08:002004-11-09T00:04:13.426-08:00In the Dumps
So, I got back another midterm this week. I passed it, but just barely, and only because the prof marked it our of 90 instead of 100. This was in this actuarial mathematics class, and I can just see my grade tanking as I write this. I'm not stupid, or as much of a slacker as I can seem to be. Why can't I do well like I did back in first year? Where did I go wrong?
So, that aside,Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1098082546423602192004-10-17T22:50:00.000-07:002004-10-17T23:58:11.653-07:00Optimal Vegging
So, I did a fair bit of vegging this weekend, occasionally interrupted by productivity. I actually finished reading one of my economics textbooks, albeit the shortest one. Is there an optimal amount of vegging in one's life? Well, it depends on preferences. How much does one value leisure compared to other pursuits. I don't have a job, so I can't use it for comparison, but I Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1097922537037502132004-10-16T03:02:00.000-07:002004-10-16T03:32:12.326-07:00The blue bird of unhappiness
Yeah, I know it's a Simpsons' reference. I thought it would capture my mood though. Admittedly, I'm not terribly upset right now, but that's because I had three double vodka and cokes, 4 beers and a cider this evening. I actually feel quite pleasant right now. I think I have a problem though. Sometimes (usually involving large groups of people) in social situations, Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1097126904005141662004-10-06T22:08:00.000-07:002004-10-06T22:29:33.800-07:00Iraq and Justification
Sorry to come back to politics, but I think this needs to be addressed. I admit I was wrong. According to what I've heard about the last report on the Ba'athist weapons programs, there were no weapons. There were some kind of weapons programs, but they were nowhere near to being a threat as long as the sanctions regime remained in place. If the sanctions were removed, Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1097042599485826282004-10-05T22:40:00.000-07:002004-10-05T23:03:19.486-07:00So, will I make a decent manager some day?
Well, if my performance as president of the debating society is any example, the answer is maybe. In past, when no one was willing to help organise it, I did everything. As a result, not a lot got done because I was either too busy, insufficiently skilled or unmotivated. So, this semester is different. I've got a bunch of eager go-getters who Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1096013865020712782004-09-24T01:09:00.000-07:002004-09-24T01:17:45.020-07:00This Week's List of Things that Suck:
Online job applications
Writing memos in groups of 5+
People with no initiative
Girls who don't get back to you
Girls who are ambiguously not single
Paranoia over expanding waistlines
Bureaucracy
Student loans (or lack thereof)
Rising interest rates
Stress
People who are way too perky (as if they are on amphetimines)
Being too busy to buy groceries
Yeah, Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1094426807210840022004-09-05T16:21:00.000-07:002004-09-05T16:26:47.210-07:00Okay, so here's what's up. I've given up for now on comments on politics. I never updated this blog all that often anyways. I'm not sure if this will become more of a live journal or just an archive of random thoughts. Time will tell.
So, what's new? Well, I'm back from the UK and about to dive head first into a new semester of uni. Recently, I've been thinking about changing my programme Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1061196977157723862003-08-18T01:56:00.000-07:002003-08-18T01:56:16.950-07:00Why the blackout in the northeast is a call for more deregulation, not less
Many people have been quick to blame deregulation of electricity markets for the blackout disaster in the northeast. When I talk about deregulation, I'm really talking about the combination of the loosening of government controls over the industry, and the privatisation of power utilities and grids. Let me just make thisElliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1059461765719371862003-07-28T23:56:00.000-07:002003-07-28T23:56:05.563-07:00Should America Intervene in Liberia?
For many people, this seems like a no-brainer. Not faced with the real costs of a troop demployment, it's easy enough to be an armchair general and assume that American should intervene because it's the right thing to do. Amazingly, the argument that it's the right thing to do is probably the strongest one in favour of a deployment in Liberia. I believe that Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-1057800555502952072003-07-09T18:29:00.000-07:002003-07-09T18:40:25.610-07:00Does the US State Department need reform?
This entry is meant to be a reflection of the article entitled "Rogue State Department" by Newt Gingrich in the July/August edition of Foreign Policy. Reading the article will help make sense of what's in this entry.
Mr. Gingrich starts the article with an attempt to blame the ill will faced by America on the international level on the US State Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-958577102003-06-20T02:51:00.000-07:002003-06-20T02:51:33.043-07:00Iraq's Post War Settlement (or Lack Thereof)
Why can't America deliver on its promises in Iraq? Why was the war less than a month long, and two months later things have barely improved? Firstly let me say that my view has been skewed by the biased coverage delivered by just about every news agency. America's failure makes interesting news, so naturally, there's plenty of coverage. Of course, Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-950278622003-05-29T01:06:00.000-07:002003-05-29T01:06:30.256-07:00The Maturity of the Environmental Movement
Before I start, I must first of all claim that I have no real first hand knowledge of the environmental movement. This blog entry is merely an expression of my observations and experiences. I have no credentials to back any of my statements beyond the fact that I have lived in this contemporary North American culture since the early 1980s. That in mind,Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-947780202003-05-23T02:09:00.000-07:002003-05-23T02:09:32.506-07:00Iraqi Oil: the controversial black stuff
So now the UN Security Council has given approval to the coalition's occupation of Iraq. Let's not kid ourselves, it is an occupation. Though, I mean that with as little negative connotation as possible. It is in any case, an occupation that is sorely needed, and the coalition's responsibility under international law. As the occupying power, the coalitionElliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-944917122003-05-17T01:41:00.000-07:002003-05-17T01:42:45.000-07:00NMD: Threat to Canadian Sovereignty? Or a Great Opportunity?
I will admit that my view on this subject has changed from when I first heard about it. Initially, my reaction to the prospect of America's National Missile Defence was to label it as the "son of Star Wars" and to criticise the administration for rocking the boat of international balance of power. I think I know why my view changed Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-943196372003-05-14T02:56:00.000-07:002003-05-14T02:56:30.036-07:00International Legitimacy and the UN
With the resignation of Claire Short from Tony Blair's cabinet, I think it's worth discussing whether the UN actually does what so many people claim: giving the actions of individual member states international legitimacy. Well, I think many people are right in this respect. The UN can and does confer legitimacy in a very novel way. It is wrong though (in my Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-943159322003-05-14T00:38:00.000-07:002003-05-14T02:57:09.000-07:00Spam 101
Everywhere it elicits strong emotions.
Either your a victim, or you're making money off of it. Is there a valid use of spam? Is there an ethical argument to support this cancer of the internet? I have to say maybe to both questions. Like most people, I hate spam. I can remember 5 or 6 years ago, receiving only a few pieces of spam in my inbox every few days. These days, I receive Elliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391695.post-943141132003-05-13T23:40:00.000-07:002003-05-13T23:40:46.410-07:00Welcome to contemporary comments!
Introductions are in order... I am a business administration student at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, BC. Presently, I am studying finance, international business and mathematics. With any luck, I will graduate some time in 2005, though SFU students have a strange tendency of taking more than 4 years to finish an undergraduate degree.
Politically, IElliothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675044498650920127noreply@blogger.com0