Astonishingly, there are people who don’t like me. Or my lousy blog. The fact it has motored along for seven years is a constant irritation to certain groups. Realtors. Mortgage brokers. Mutual fund salesguys. Real estate boards. Gold nuts. Moms. CREA.
Fortunately, I don’t care. Nor are there any advertisers here to worry about. Thus, I can offend with relative impunity, express blunt opinions and occasionally call people dickheads. But only when they deserve it.
There are no plans to change this. The site will remain as non-commercial and pathetic as always. I will continue to moderate comments and keep posting until there’s nothing fresh to say. I’ll also endure the allegations from critics that I’m an irrelevant old goat (knew that already), and this site is visited only by a contingent of bitter, desperate people living in their parents’ basement who came here by mistake thinking all my talk about ‘gasbags’ meant they can order inflatable dolls.
They also suggest that in the wider world of the web, GreaterFool is dinky, and assume if a post attracts 200 comments in a day that only two hundred people dropped by. Well, dinky and inconsequential we may be, but there are a few more people who show up regularly. While I am constantly asked about these numbers, I never quite know the right answer. Especially after I received this email a day ago:
Holy crap. A hundred million visits in the past year? And over three million ‘threats’ which were repelled by the white hats at Cloudfare, the gizmo up there that keeps me safe? How could this be? Google Analytics has consistently suggested that about 6.2 million times a year someone wanders in here looking for a washroom, so the difference between that a hundred million is huge.
Let’s ask the webmaster, William Stratas, who remarkably, has stuck with me starting long before my political carcass was punted from the Harper caucus.
“They mis-stated things a bit in that blast email. They are actually referencing requests, not visitors. There are multiple requests for various data objects with each visitor — page code, images, javascript, etc. Your pages don’t have many photos or images, so the requests for each visitor are fairly low. But each object request adds load to the server (especially at peak times) — and that also does not include load on the processor. Cloudflare being a technical service cares a lot about objects and server demand and caching, techie stuff like that.
“For example, I observe today that the Cloudflare stats details show 7,346,000 requests last month (equivalent to about 100 million requests annually) and that corresponded to 145,000 unique visitors, according to their methodology — but remember that many of those uniques visit every day, 6x per week when you publish! So it is fair to extrapolate 145,000 uniques in September to perhaps a million total visits in the month! So you have to be careful about referencing unique visitors to total visitor.”
But Stratas also suggests the cloud guys may not capture all of the action or give an accurate representation of what visitors are doing. “When people post comments and re-load to follow the conversation, those are not measured requests under Cloudflare because of caching — but in Google they are measured under pageview stats. Are you confused yet?”
And what about the 3.1 million ‘threats’ that the site attracted in the past year? After all, there are only 109,000 realtors in the entire country. Those repelled threats are real access attempts from real people typing away behind network addresses identified as malicious or untrusted in the technical plumbing that operates the firewalls. Plus I’m told there are countless millions of additional access attempts from automated bots and software robots — probably attracted to sites with high visitor traffic and pictures of hot bitches (canines). Add it all up for the year and the site crosses the 100,000,000 threshold.
So there you go. Geek away.
The bottom line is that traffic, or influence, is irrelevant. Just like advertising revenues. If I wanted a site with millions of visitors, it would be easy – just trash everything Chinese, stop moderating out dumbass comments, dis immigrants and bankers while posting daily about how Americans will be punished. But, fortunately, I don’t care.
And one day, this blog will end. When is up to you. So be nice.
273 comments ↓
Keep up the good work, Garth!
“And what about the 3.1 million ‘threats’ that the site attracted in the past year? After all, there are only 109,000 realtors in the entire country…”
I chuckled.
I hope this blog is here for a long time to come.
#100,835,093
And I learnt something new (again) here today.
US JOB NUMBERS MISS.
Thank you for your Blog Garth. I am going to try to be nicer from now on. So no more calling the idiots idiots and the morons morons.
From now on I will refer to the RE pushers/deceivers such as LH as Dickheads.
Another house in our hood just listed for $1.2M – will count the days until sold. Last one was 5 days or so.
Will the outcome of this fed election impact the longevity of this blog……….. or does retirement call it?
I for one, have never enter this blog looking for a bathroom.
I must admit, there ARE times that the comment section would make for worthy bathroom reading. Whether the great SM gets riled over interest rates, myopic MP’s, or the lunar escapades of the alien regimens.
Most of the time it is mildly humorous, also mostly informative, highly addicting, and rarely totally pathetic.
That said, run it as long as you feel it ‘adds value’ to the rest of the human flotsam that floats by in the ethernet.
long live this pathetic blog!
Garth, your blog has been the light for me in what was once a world of darkness in matters of finance and economics. Please don’t take it away anytime soon. Or ever. Keep up the great work. Thanks for everything.
I hope you never quit. I listened late on gold and lost a little but saved a lot.
BobC 0. GT 1
Then I finally listened about stopp fearing loss more the desire for gain. So I jumped in about 2 months ago with my version of a balanced portfolio. I bought 20% each of:
VTR, FSIIX,FSEMX, PFF and SPHO.
Kept it simple and am only down 0.84, less then 1 % which is less the the dividends coming!
BobC 0. GT 2
Now about the rule of 90 on a paid for personal home………..
#1 JPinTO on 10.02.15 at 6:07 pm wrote:
Keep up the good work, Garth!
Agreed! Whoever forms the government in November, one thing’s for sure. Canada will be in economic trouble. We will need a calm eye, sweeping the financial horizon more than ever.
Love it. It’s the best. Especially the doooooooooogies. What stands above it all is the humour. I come for the humour.
“Oh, please don’t go—we’ll eat you up—we love you so!” (Sendak)
Hi Garth,
I wouldn’t blame you if you packed it in……..a million thanks in any case for a great public service………..you’ve given us a lot to ponder when it comes to managing our investments…….
No regular reader can say they think about their finances in same old way………again – many thanks…..
(ps – it’s okay to take a holiday from us all for a while – we’ll survive)
Regardless of who’s counting the stats, they’re pretty damn impressive. That’s more than most of the country can say for their retirement fund.
You’ve made me appreciate pathetic in a whole new way.
Garth, like those that visit but do not comment, many enjoy your candor but remain in the silent majority. Please give us another few years.
Thanks for your blog. I read it daily. I was really looking forward to your take on 142,000 US job number, why stock market hated it early morning and loved it by closing.
If I wanted to geek up on request and threat then I would just do my regular 9-5 job :)
Well I drop in every day normally because it’s hard to find entertaining blogs. I like this one…short, often humorous,controversial, and worth the 2 minutes of my life today.
(Sorry bout the bad jobs number though…was hoping you’d be right sooner or later)
All visitors from China are malicious as your site blocks anyone behind their great firewall. I couldn’t stay up to date when traveling their.
Just gonna dodge the bit about the blown jobs call huh? No bugs.
That’s a good amount of traffic. Why host all your static content in the same place? Move it to a CDN and you won’t have to protect it behind Cloudflare. Then again it might be the same price and your blog has great response time so don’t fix what isn’t broke.
Stop pickin’ on me!
So then, obviously no rate hike this month, or December, which is why Garth didn’t address the terrible economic news out of the US in today’s blog.
To the larger issue as to whether this “recovery” is real or illusionary, I think even the most strident blog dogs are having doubts.
First 3 paragraphs almost killed me. Still laying on the floor with broken ribs. Someone call 911.
Gorge yourselves some more at the debtasbord
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/02/fed-funds-futures-now-pricing-first-rate-in-march-2016-after-weak-jobs-data.html
Great job Gartho!
I’m guessing the PMO and their new Temporary Foreign Australian pit-bull have been totally unsuccessful in hacking your blog as well.
In other news, however, the Harper ReformaCons have recently been very successful in tapping into the racist dark side of ‘old-stock’ Canadians to improve their polling numbers.
Truly sad.
Another house in our hood just listed for $1.2M – will count the days until sold. Last one was 5 days or so.
Where is that??
Please sir: while you are still writing this blog, would you return to your wild throw-away comment from “Chill” 23 August 2015, and say more about “Take your CPP at 60. No exceptions.” What are your assumptions and expectations that make that valid across the Canadian economic spectrum. Please, sir.
I appreciate your work Mr. T. (Or perhaps this is your hobby, I don’t know.)
I learn something on almost every visit.
(I know that sounds trite – but there are some things I don’t already know :-)
Love your work for free Garth and the comments are always worth a laugh … keep on edumacatin’ us …
I does piss me off when people take shots at you Gartho. This is a free service you offer and we are all addicts.
Pot shots and insults happen, you’re a journalist, thick skin, but you do it for free so I guess you have a point.
Look at the abuse I take, mind you I deserve it most of the time. And I have the luxury of wimping out and hiding behind a fake name.
You don’t have that luxury, but as much as I hate to admit it. I too have learned a shit load of knowledge from you. Only gamble with a Million now days. Rest is in a diversified balanced portfolio. Prior to discovering this blog I was a cowboy, I made it fast, and could lose it just as fast. Not anymore.
But don’t beat you’re self up on rate call.
There is only one Smoking Man. And I’m from planet Nectonite.
How can any mortal human expect to match my calls.
Dr Smoking Man
PhD Herdonomics.
Markets were ripping today…
USA just rocks, so all boats are rising,
even the Canuck Bluenose…
so what’s with all the whiners?
still a rate hike coming this year Garth?
I do not comment often but realise this is quite a bit of work for you. I appreciate what you do but it must get aggravating at times. This blog should be required reading for junior high and up. Why isn’t this basic stuff taught in school, therefore saving eco-morons down the road. Guess big bro likes the sheep that way, I’d rather be a dawg, cheers Garth.
Side note to smoking man, ran off a nice batch of shine for you, I’ll test it first. Yup, it’s good…
Sorry, Garth. I posted a nasty comment in your last post. Thanks for deleting it. I will behave.
I’ll take 2 inflatable dolls please.
I retract the apology if Garth ever goes back into politics!
Although interesting – not. Today’s post was kinda like Harper debating the Niqab. A distraction to get us stupid folks to not think about important things, like the economy. Or interest rate hikes (not) – long forecast here.
Maybe we’ll forget over the weekend – not!
Did I make you read this, on my free blog? — Garth
#GeeksAway… #BorisIs”Invincible”,Or… #[email protected]?…
https://youtu.be/20elMaVZ9lg
hi Garth,
I have been reading your blog since nearly it’s beginning. Never miss it but seldom comment. I come here to learn not to have a voice.
Thank you for your amazing site!
“Did I make you read this, on my free blog? — Garth”
………………….
Sorry Garth. Sometimes written emotions on the internet, don’t come across like they were intended. Obviously my humor didn’t.
Yes, tonight’s post was mildly entertaining. I just was really expecting to read more stuff about interest rates.
And yes, I’m a fan of your blog even though I don’t agree with everything you say. I hope to read it for many more years. Sorry if I offended you. So, keep up the good work and have a good weekend.
Garth….does the economic numbers coming out, slowing in China, emerging market debt, US Government debt change your view at all that we are on a sustainable path of grow and therefore interest rates are sure to follow by increasing? If so, what would be the latest date that you would need to see a rate increase by? I am sure that you would agree that eventually is not an appropriate response as one day that may be true but it does not come from a current informed perspective.
Great blog Garth! I as well come here everyday but seldom give comment. None needed! Your advice is right on….
I only learned of this blog a few months ago but quickly got to visiting once a day for the analysis about the state of affairs in this country and the entertaining banter emanating from the eclectic mix of doomers, realtors, anti-realtors and, er, outer-space aliens. Thanks for taking the time to post for us, Mr. Turner :)
Maybe just maybe usa is not growing as fast because Canada is in recession. 2008-2009 we were in better shape, commodity demand from China helped a lot . Canada is the biggest trading partner of Obama nation and viceversa, when they cough we get a cold, when we have a surgery incoming they get a knee scratch. Job numbers are not growing linear at least USA is not losing 750k per month as in 2008. I hope rate increase is coming and we get the government we deserve.
Check creb.com for the big spike in days on market in Calgary for housing, jumped from 40 to 47, EI is running out and foreign investors are not materializing…
Never comment but today I must as the thought of my daily good read being gone … well I find unsettling. I appreciate your blog and efforts. Thought you should know.
It would be nice if your blog was not biased. You selectively delete posts that do not correspond to your opinion, like those pointing out the influence of offshore money on the Canadian real estate market, or the fact that you have been calling for a crash in real estate for years now and it hasn’t happened. I can see why you will vote for Harper.
You are a bigot who attempts to spew here daily. Of course I delete you. Go away. — Garth
Thought I would nip this one in the bud. No Gold and Silver pushers here yet. But I can see them coming. To the sane people on here, the TSX holds enough of this. But, if you insist on being gold and silver metal fondlers, limit your exposure to a maximum of 5%. It won’t hurt you, and will probably be enough to control your paranoia.
Also. The BOC will drop rates again. They just got the green light. The Canadian economy is a Dickhead. H wants 72.5% home ownership, and the debt levels are going up more. Indebted Canadian Dickheads. Pay me. Thank you.
I would really, really miss this blog if it ended. I watch it regularly. I look forward to it every single morning! We learn a lot!
Now…do NOT tell me that’s pathetic. ;-)
Garth, on the days you are feeling a little bit more charitable towards Dick Head and his mates, you could go a little bit up-market and refer to them by their alter egos as Richard Cranium.
#5: “From now on I will refer to the RE pushers/deceivers such as LH as Dickheads.”
****************
THAT’S the spirit! LOL
#7: “Will the outcome of this fed election impact the longevity of this blog….”
*********************
Are you kidding? Least of Garths’ concerns.
“And one day, this blog will end. When is up to you. So be nice.” – GT
Does this mean you are doing this for us? I don’t know about that, Garth. Me thinks this is a healthier way for you to exercise your masochistic tendencies.
In any case, thank you for the blog. I benefit from it a lot.
No threat here. That’s all taken care of by the horrible U.S. jobs numbers. This will only get worse. That recovery is fake and our upcoming descent will be severe.
RE:And one day, this blog will end. When is up to you. So be nice.
I didn’t realize that “we” had so much power.
Garth, I’ve never before heard you refer to ‘The End.’ Here’s hoping for a little more peace, love and understanding in the comments section.
Thanks very much for what you do. Reading your blog is a nightly ritual and my family always gets a kick out of the pictures. Cheers!
You’re my hero.
Been waiting a decade for the collapse
http://www.crea.ca/content/national-average-price-map
#45 Joe on 10.02.15 at 7:39 pm
What is wrong with you? I normally dismiss posts like yours as childish, coming from a bitter old man who takes solace from putting the blame on what bothers him on others.
Yes, there are foreigners buying real estate in Canada. Are they to blame for the high prices? We don’t know. There are no solid facts to support that. One fact that no one can deny is that mortage debt of Canadians are soaring. That is because Canadians are buying expensive real estate.
The blog will end when prices stop going up.
So the blog will go on forever. Right?
I’m afraid I’m the cause of many of those site hits. I’ve been trying to find the “order inflatable dolls” menu button but it still eludes me. Some day…
By the way thank you for the site, for taking the time to blog and comment, and for putting up with all us steerage economists. Still no rate cut coming this year lol.
Thanksgiving’s coming a little early for you, eh Garth?
Thank You!!!
And keep this cult going
Don’t quit on us! We need you
We’re here for a reason. Including the pretend-a-be anti-Garths, or they wouldn’t bother to keep resurfacing
H’s policy is to increase home ownership to 72.5%. This is going to have a major impact on the rental market. Marginal renter-as purchase costs decrease relative to rental costs more renters enter home ownership = increased rental supply and as we all know increased supply = decreased rental prices. We also know decreased purchase costs will increase investment in houses for rentals. In 5-10 years time Canada will have a glut of rental units if everything else remains equal. REITS may not be your best investment strategy
#8 Retired
LMAO I read the comments section in the ‘can’ all the time.
The blog section is the workup to part.
Re #57 Debtified
What’s wrong with you? You are the childish one if you can’t see the impact of foreign investment on real estate. The government doesn’t keep data because they don’t want people to see what the data would reveal about foreign investment. We have enough anecdotal data from developers, realtors, trades people, lawyers, etc.
We lost Bob.
http://www.bobtruman.com/Util/Disabled.aspx
Re# 58 lol! Good one!
As for the hater comments, evoking any kind of passion is still a compliment to you, Garth.
You know why?
You bring out the passion in the haters. I think reading your blog somehow makes them horny
You old dawg
He he
#36 Reality Bites
Although interesting – not. Today’s post was kinda like Harper debating the Niqab. A distraction to get us stupid folks to not think about important things, like the economy. Or interest rate hikes (not) – long forecast here.
Maybe we’ll forget over the weekend – not!
Did I make you read this, on my free blog? — Garth
———————–
Again LMAO the perfect reading for the john
Garth you are classic stick around I am bequeathing this site to my kids to learn so don’t go far
Hey Tony, where did you learn to stack coffee creamers like that? Very talented.
Mark Oct 15 in your calendar.
The Dutch will finaly release the details of MH17 the longest and most secretive crash investigation in history. Ukraine has a veto right on what’s released.
Mark that day.
It will be the day the Hauge loses its credibility forever.
And may be the ensighting incident that leads to ww3
Is posting on this pathetic weblog considered a ‘barbaric cultural practice’ by H government? With its snitch hotline?
And one day, this blog will end. When is up to you. So be nice.Garth
————————————
Ah I see what you did ,you talked about being threatened and then you threaten us to be nice to you or you’ll take the blog away.
That’s some Jedi mindf€£k stuff right there!
Garth provides a sensibility with regards to DIY investing, like a small handful of other blogs.
It’s the economic overview that’s addictive.
Who doesn’t love a challenge? What’s wrong with bad grammar?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc
Please sir Garth,
https://youtu.be/WtZE-srMHAA
Love your blog Garth. We all understand why realtor scum , mortgage broker scum and banker scum all hate the truth you tell.
Garth, only visit from time to time but don’t get a sense that the markets are unfolding as you suggested 4 -5 years ago, particularly the RE markets. You’ve been bang on with REITs and the precious metals.
Personally, I can’t see the Fed increasing rates for many reasons. They’ve painted themselves into a corner and i think are starting to panic. Today’s job report, and Aug and Sept revisions down were a huge disappointment, and the Participation Rate perhaps even more so. The markets sold off on this news but recovered because the HFT computers drove the markets higher because of the long standing correlation of the USD JPY and S&P 500. Gold and silver made a bit of a pop but need higher prices to suggest the bear trend has ended.
If the Conservatives end up with a minority govt on the 19th, it seems obvious the Canuck buck will get kicked in the slats but likely more so if the minority govt is NDP. So, given the global economic picture has changed a lot the past five years ,mainly for the worse…..and assuming the Fed does not raise rates the next two years , (that’s what I believe) what do you think might be sound investment options for the average Canadian to look at..and why? Thanks..
I tell my friends that I can’t wait daily to visit a pathetic blog. They think I’m losing it. I joke that they are going to lose it when rates increase on their $400.000 particle board shack about the time no one will buy them anymore. They think I’m losing it.
Thank you for sharing, Garth!
Personally, I’m reading the blog first for your witty posts, and second for taking the pulse of “the observants” the early warning crowd, which gives an idea how things are likely to evolve (yeah, it’s all self interest).
Let me tell you, it does not look pretty, and neither does it look pretty on the ground, yet the snowball has only started rolling downhill.
I had hoped it would be different here (and I had believed also in Santa at one time), because I come from a place where I’ve seen balkanization, finger pointing, the whole blame game.
Well, It. Is. Never. Different. Anywhere. Anytime. Only acceptance can alleviate fear, and by extent hatred. There is no acceptance to be seen for miles
This blog has become, dare I say… A cult classic
I don’t know where you find the time or energy to write six days a week and manage 200+ comments seven days a week, but you do.
You have built quite a mix of eccentrics who like to come here and add to, or instigate conversation. No doubt about it, this blog gets people thinking about subjects we may not normally have come across in our everyday travels.
The sage advice you offer six days a week is just a prelude to the sometimes all out brawl that ensues between us blog dogs.
Dogs are known to be dangerous in packs
Thanks for writing, and thanks for taking the time to moderate this forum. No matter how much longer you choose to keep on, keepin on – you should know that the knowledge shared here has had net positive effect on society. A society that desperately needs more positive change.
Whether or not we like what we learn, knowledge is shared and gained.
Don’t let a few bad apples spoil the pie
Does anyone believe there is an “orange crash” happening or is it just the media scaring people away from the NDP?
“Astonishingly, there are people who don’t like me.” – Garth Turner
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” – Winston Churchill
Thanks for your blog, Garth. May you always have enemies, and may you acquire them and they you in good faith.
Don’t leave man
Keep this blog up untill you have strength in your body then transfer it to somone equally brilliant who can promise you that he will tramsfer it too. Make it a legend . Don’t kill it.You are hope for many…Many people seek solace in here so think about them.
May God give you strength.
Best wishes….
One day the Simpsons will end too. When Homer retires and when Garth retires this blog will be a sad day.
Garth don’t you ever think about ending this blog.
[…] Source: http://www.greaterfool.ca/2015/10/02/traffic/ […]
#79 Lee
”Does anyone believe there is an “orange crash” happening or is it just the media scaring people away from the NDP?”
Not so sure about the “orange crash”, but we could be in for an ‘Orange Crush’.
Many thanks for the daily contributions to our embarrassingly poor understanding of things financial, Garth. I haven’t found anything quite like it and its Canadian-centric component is a nice touch. Keep it going as long you feel that it can add to our knowledge. There are many lurkers here, myself included, that glean very helpful investment advice from you. Cheers!
Love the blog Garth. I do not mind if valuable things carry a price like adverts. Perhaps you could transparently accept the income and donate it to sick kids.
I still marvel at how “rates will go up!” has kept reinventing itself over the years.
so far, nothing..
but I’m hangin’ in there until it happens.
because I’m addicted.. I like the buzz.
Get a full featured logger, which will give you more info than you want to know such as unique visitors, how they navigated through your site, originating country, type of operating system, screen size, etc. etc. I’m sure it’ll stroke your ego a bit. Then again, you might have to cease calling this blog “pathetic”. And you might be tempted to cash in… A million page views/month can generate a couple g’s/month with ads…
Garth,
Please don’t go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-l5FyA3pgo
I learn something from your blog daily and am entertained by the comments. You are fairly liberal with those who respond. Keep walking the talk. You hammer on about having a diversified portfolio and allow diversified opinions as long as they don’t disrespect you or state outrageous opinions without backup.
Some bloggers bring up the long awaited market correction you have predicted. The key point you have made is that many have their wealth in the house asset and need to branch out and invest in other areas. That is the wakeup call and providing ETFs as an excellent way to invest. Great job and stick around, Garth
Count me in for at least one hit every day, but often I return a few times for more comment hilarity.
I read the comments in the bathroom all the time! I find them “motivational,” if you know what I mean.
Remember that if you want to change it up, you could also call them a Richard Cranium or a Schlong Skull!
“I will continue to moderate comments… ”
Why do you continue to do that to yourself? Can’t you leave that responsibility to a poor soul (intern) now that you are successful?
I was pleasantly surprised to peak in on the portfolio numbers tonight.
While money had been disappearing faster than donations to the ill advised during the political season, today -mysteriously- a good deal had returned! Praise the return dept at any decent chain store!
Yeah, still not back to where I want to be, at least the false sense of security gives me just that. A false sense of security!
Now, about those Blow Up Dolls… probably easier to find than any money donated to the Gasbags running for office
Garth,
I am not sure about other blog dogs’ opinions, but I truly believe that you are the most generous Canadian I have ever known (albeit remotely).
The amount of very useful and wise info you post, the very high level of tolerance for comments that often are off topic (many from myself, I reckon) on your own blog in which you invest your money and time make you the person that I see only as a giver and not as a taker.
I appreciate immensely what you do for all of us and hope that the effort and money you put into this blog bring you their rewards – financial or moral or both.
Hug?
sorry garth
i come here for smoking man insights….on what you write
#83 Garthism on 10.02.15 at 9:25 pm
Garth don’t you ever think about ending this blog.
…..
Not a chance, he’s an adict like the rest of us. Look how successful it is. 100 million.
That’s fking serious bragging rights. Take that Harpo.
He had no vision. His best election point, TFSA.
Who came up with that one….
Garths not going any where.
Dr Smoking Man
PhD in Garhonomics
What is wrong with inflatable dolls ?
Great blog tonight Garth…the fact that you can make such a boring topic relevant is really testament to your flair for writing.
Hopefully you will keep doing it for a long time; the Internet just wouldn’t be the same without you. Besides, thanks in large part to your blog, I’ve managed to NOT bite the housing bullet…despite enormous pressure from my (not better, but not worse either) half.
I’m still a Cat Lady though…but hey, dogs are cool too.
“Dickhead” – love it. Keep up the good work.
Like the blog.
Like that theres no adds.
Keep up the good work.
Why do I want to pay more for the joy of
borrowing money??
Dont want to pay more for beer.
Freedom First,I don’t really agree with anything you post but I do not view you as a dickhead….more as a boneless banana!
Hon. Garth Turner = Mensch.
Garth, I have thanked you before.
Now I extend my thanks to Dorothy for putting up with a daft, old curmudgeon for so long.
#82 Eek…and the Big Bang Theory too! I don’t know how I’m going to get through the work week when Garth buys himself a yacht and throws his laptop into the ocean, and Penny and Leonard stop squabbling on national airwaves.
I already have anxiety disorders, a caffeine addiction (espresso only please) and anger management issues, so this could get really ugly.
Yoga and meditation, maybe? SO DULL!
…………..but I still miss Nosty !
Also missed why he got banned……..can we have a vote , Nosty back in? SM ?
Been reading you every day for the past 3+ years and always look forward to the post and the comment section for a laugh or two.
Please don’t go :(
So right now I am sitting in here in the airport at Prince Rupert BC…….been here since Sunday afternoon on business…..it has raining non-stop every single day and night. Apparently the locals take pleasure in telling visitors that they are the rainiest city in Canada. So I searched Google, and while it disagreed with the locals, from my observation and stats being what they are, the locals are probably correct.
This is an absolute shithole backwater fish camp of a town. A dive. You couldn’t pay me $150K a year to live here.
All the real estate for sale is held by residents or speculators and priced high on the hopes that the long proposed LNG pipeline actually happens, and the town doesn’t fold up and die, cause that is where it is headed. The natives are fighting it in court and don’t want it, and the NDP in Alberta doesn’t want it, the Premier in BC wants too much money to approve it…..it’ a mess.The Ford dealership here just closed it’s doors two weeks ago. Unused truck nuts abound. Driving down a main street or two, all you see are 100 year old shit shack storefronts, every single building is covered in decades of mold from the rain, and about 1/3 the stores are for lease. The claim to fame is one casino, 15 liquor stores, a Walmart, a strip club and 4 banks.
Chances are expotentially high that the pipeline in Prince Rupert is dead. Deader than a door nail, but discuss it with any locals and you become a pariah as it is all they have to hold on to.
Greater fools….al 13,000 of them.
Hi Garth. Your blog has been great resource for me(us). I hope you will keep it up until after the crash. Can’t do all this work and not have at least one I told you so post.
I love your blog. It’s funny, informative and down to earth. I love the pictures. I read your blog every day.
I have bought your books in the past and this is how I discovered your blog.
Please keep it going.
I look forward to the day that you can tell all those ” dickheads” I told you so!
To anyone who is a Bryan Adams fan….tonight on tsn 2 the Australian version of the Super Bowl is on 8pm west coast time .Adams,Chris Isaak and Elle Goulding are the entertainment .Enjoy or not!
Hilarious blog.
That mark dude is amazing. Good for 95 million hits?
So running some numbers through my head…
100,000,000 people visit- this blog per year
50,000,000 might not vote for the Honourable Garth Turner as the Next Prime Minister of Canada.
But…..50,000,000 would vote you in as Prime Minister (yes, 34,000,000 canadians in Canada …)
That is a world class Political Route! Do it Mr. Turner ! You’ve got my vote! Wow, the thought.
Thank you Garth for all the good advice. I don’t know how you put up with some of the narcissistic, ignorant, xenophobic comments day after day. I’ll tell ya, #8’s right, if I’m feeling constipated I just read a few comments from some the dickheads on here and whoa! :) and for some of those economic experts out there who seem to think they got all the answers I hear Dionne Warwick is looking for some new psychic friends. Have a great weekend!
#107 Keith in Calgary
Being a died in the wool oil & gas guy from Alberta I do agree with the first nations people on this Northern Gateway pipeline. It should not be approved. There is far too much risk of spillage from tanker traffic that have to weave in and around the inlets and islands as well the pipeline itself has to travel thru earthquake prone mountain ranges which are very remote.
#105 Spectacle on 10.02.15 at 10:21 pm
…………..but I still miss Nosty !
Also missed why he got banned……..can we have a vote , Nosty back in? SM ?
…
Nosty not coming back, he’s dieing. MF the young insensitive prick and I do know what those initials stand for ran him out of town.
Mf can go back to the tribe and get the pats on the head like the good little dog he is.
This dog from Nectonite is the superior spices. I answer to no homicidal phyco paths.
The western world is controlled by mafia and they’re not Italian like Hollywood likes to portray.
He knows the score, but didn’t read the content, only the headline. Posted the link.
NEOCONS are bad and should all be hung from the highest tree, and they give a bad name to the likes of my hero Lenord Cohen.
That’s all Nosty has been trying to say.
Garth, we don’t say this enough, but you are awesome. I read every day. Your financial perspectives are a breath of fresh air, there are often pictures of hot bitches (canines) and your commentary is hilarious. You don’t have to always be right, just be true to yourself. Thank you for what you do.
#98 Drill Baby Drill on 10.02.15 at 10:10 pm
What is wrong with inflatable dolls ?
They’re pneumatic, Drill.
100,000,000. Impressive. That about mirrors how many working age Americans are jobless. Equally impressive. Why aren’t we talking more about the jobs numbers? Or did we all have enough of Bloomberg today?
I think we need you for a little longer Garth!
Was unable to access Greaterfool in China last week so not sure how that shows up in the stats.
NEOCONS are bad and should all be hung from the highest tree, and they give a bad name to the likes of my hero Lenord Cohen.
—-
So why you voting for them? Tribal.
Just think…
if Garth ends this blog…. we will all be forced to move over to Smoking Man’s blog page.
Garth, for the love of dog, please don’t make that happen.
#107 Keith in Calgary
About 10 years ago, I contemplated buying a couple of cheap places in Rupert for investment.
I contacted an agent and told him that I would do most of my researching online so that when my husband and I arrived in town we wouldn’t require much ‘hand holding’.
He sent me an angry angry email back, very indignant, saying that he ONLY held his wife’s hand and that I was right out of line, suggesting he would even consider holding our hands! LOL!
I just got this bad ‘Deliverance’ vibe from the entire exchange with him and figured if he represented the citizenry it was a very bad omen. What a dumbass.
Speaking of Australian football…message to Joking Man.
I’d like to ” shirtfront” you!
Garth
Is that a dude or a gal in the pic…..
Smoking Man
The neocons give Leonard Cohen a bad name. Huh? Is that their star chambers mandate? Political hegemony, economic imperialism and most importantly, messing with Leonard Cohen’s image. That’s kind of random!
#160 Smoking Man on 10.01.15 at 4:23 pm
Ha you missed the obvious, vba isn’t even on the list.
Sure Java is sexy but developers are a dime a dozen, supply and demand, and I can do java with my eyes closed but it don’t pay.
Excel VBA. Is vast, not respected, what is the number one tool that big businesses use. Why it’s excel vba.
University only scratches the surface, dire need for experts especially now that alot of off shore us less dudes are putting out garbage. Where you going to find them.
Hence Supply and Demand, chuckle away while I earn over 1000 US a day getting paid to do a hobby. Oh and mostly working from home(senica) on my new us gig.
————–
vba is vb.net’s ugly cousin
basically tinker toy coding.
Garth
Sounds like you are feeling unloved and fishing for affection from the great unwashed blogophiles….some of the gushing comments here are over the top…..be careful what you wish for!
#115 Smoking Man on 10.02.15 at 10:49 pm
Young insensitive prick? Better than an old, senile, fool.
You make it sound like some victory. It wasn’t. That guy is still spouting off that drivel elsewhere. I read his links and I knew what they were hinting at. It was only a matter of time. Hey You said it yourself, maybe he read the title and not the article? Maybe. But Is That a guy whose posts you value? Well I did read the article, determined what it was saying, and let everyone know.
By the way, what is a Neocon to you smoking man?? A rich person who rules the world? Aren’t YOU the one gloating about making millions off every PIP (thousandth of a cent) movement on your trades? YOU are the one sitting on a computer pushing buttons making money off of programs written by university grads AND complaining how “schooled” they are?? Your hypocritical to the max.
Debate is cool. Debate that turns into hate is dangerous. If you don’t get that you need to go back to “school”
Mf
I must admit that 1 million visits were from me and I totally agree with about 40% of what you post. I keep coming back even after telling myself “what’s the point”
Garth – You have gone soft and somewhat emotional, and I like it.
I got snagged on October 9, 2008 when contemplating buying my 3rd property in Kelowna.
Since 2013 I have liquidated all my properties except the most lucrative one, which I keep crunching at 8-10% return, so the answer is obvious.
The only two items Garth is guilty of is slightly missing the realestate peak timing wise; crystal ball stuff to nail it exactly really. In ’08 I guessed ’13. Figured 3 years after the olympics it would start to sputter. Plus 13 is my lucky number…. It will probably be Spring 2016 in Vancouver, but only 2017 will confirm that.
And the other is the influence of offshore money. While I agree it can be argued what the level of influence is, it likely doesn’t trump the influence that cheap money for LOCALS has.
I will say that the influence is two stage. In areas where HAM exists and pushes out the less wealthy, they in turn grab cheap money and start throwing it around like it’s their last chance to ever get in. I am certainly not blaming HAM, as they are responsible for putting my parents into a great position through the crazy development of 16,000 acres, of which they own only a small fraction but the price has gone up 4x since 2002.
Next time you are in town, I will take you through the area personally.
Garth, I’m a newbie to both your blog and your country. You have taught me all I know of Canadian economics and politics, not to mention real estate. My head would have imploded if I had to rely on The Globe and Mail.
Garth, very rarely post. Once before I think. Awesome job with blog. When your projections come true its gonna seem so obvious to all in hindsight. Timing is always tough to call. But it is just a matter of time.
In the pic, that’s Tony’s Coffee on West Broadway Vancouver!!!???
Any plans for a guess the results of the upcoming election contest?
An autographed gold tie from your politician days would make a decent first place prize.
Do you still have those gold ties or did you e-bay them already?
5 years in prison? We will have to build a lot of prisons if this is ever criminalized in Canada. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13794653/ex-receiver-irving-fryar-sentenced-5-years
Garth you still guarantee that the fed will hike rates this year? How do you know this for a fact?
#15 Sam on 10.02.15 at 6:25 pm
Garth, like those that visit but do not comment, many enjoy your candor but remain in the silent majority. Please give us another few years.
This
Hi Garth, I’m been reading your blog for awhile now and I appreciate your insights and your candor. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with the world.
#102 For those about to flop
Once again, you have proven yourself to be a Dickhead.
#63 Joe on 10.02.15 at 8:29 pm
I knew I would regret engaging with you, Joe. Sometimes, I make mistakes; part of being only human.
I thought I’d help you realize that all you have are speculations, conspiracy theories and secondhand evidence. But I guess I am wrong.
So here’s my last message to you, Joe…
Most of my friends are of Asian descent. I dated a Chinese-Canadian in Vancouver (I am not Chinese). Most are Canadian citizens, some with PR and the rest are either TFWs, tourists and the rest with student or other type of visas. Some, mostly those from China, have PR but keeps their Chinese citizenships for practical reasons. Oh, never mind, this is pointless…
Okay, I’ll just leave you with this…
You are not alone in blaming HAM for the high real estate prices, especially in Vancouver. Even my Asian friends who are house horny blame HAM. But guess what, just like you, they don’t have factual proof of this. Even my Chinese friends who blame HAM don’t have first-hand verifiable knowledge of HAM. Only speculations, conspiracy theories and secondhand unproven evidence.
So go on hating if you must, Joe. It must suck to be you.
“So right now I am sitting in here in the airport at Prince Rupert BC…….been here since Sunday afternoon on business…..it has raining non-stop every single day and night. Apparently the locals take pleasure in telling visitors that they are the rainiest city in Canada. So I searched Google, and while it disagreed with the locals, from my observation and stats being what they are, the locals are probably correct.
Yeah I was there a couple weeks ago and am a regular visitor. Beautiful place and incredibly friendly people despite the obvious poverty that some find themselves in.
This is an absolute shithole backwater fish camp of a town. A dive. You couldn’t pay me $150K a year to live here.
The port is expanding, but my experience with the locals was that they were far too enthusiastic for LNG, but I didn’t see any evidence that such had extended into RE or other business speculation. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend you take the VIA train from Prince Rupert up to Prince George and onto Jasper. Probably some of the most scenic territory in all of Canada, especially between Terrace and Smithers.
“All the real estate for sale is held by residents or speculators and priced high on the hopes that the long proposed LNG pipeline actually happens”
The port has seen decent expansion, and there’s still a lot of potential at the port itself. But Prince Rupert has quite a colourful long-term history ever since the GTP arrived.
I don’t know why no one has picked up on this yet: Freedom First is a strong independent woman. That is why I like him, err… HER! ;)
Think of him as a woman if you can’t stand him. I guarantee you’ll love him, err… HER!
P.S.
Smoking Man, you are not funny anymore. I am having doubts about renewing my Smokie Fan Club membership. Have you been cutting down on the whisky and wine?
Don’t you worry about your friend, Nosty. He is probably better off passing and be reincarnated in a world where all his conspiracy theories are true. Just imagine what those creatures there will think of him when he speaks of this world he is just about to leave behind?
P.P.S.
See, Garth? I must have contributed several bonafied hits tonight. One day, when I finally get my Smoking Man moment (Smokie Epiphany), I will write an algorithm that will mine all your blog posts and all the comment entries then spit out the essence of it all in a book. It will be better than Smokie’s book.
You can’t stop. I think you love us more than we love you.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself and keep writing!
I don’t check in here every day for nothing you know. You won’t always be right and I won’t always agree, but I keep coming back because you deliver advice with the best of intentions for the rest of us to be successful. I do thank you for that.
I liked you as an MP too, ahead of your time. Get some rest this weekend.
Why not ask all readers to comment on one day, like October 19th, vote then comment. Interesting exercise, vote for PM then vote for Garth. See who gets the most votes, you or Harper Lol
I’ve been living in Europe for the past 10 months so now I read this blog every morning instead of evening but it’s still a part of my routine and I look forward to it (and the pics of doggies) every single day. Please stick around for years to come!!
There’s no blog like this one. None. Ever.
I’ve learned so much. Thanks, Garth and blog dawgs.
I’d absolutely hate to see it disappear.
It’s sometimes contentious, most often generous, with a good handful of arguments. We all learn here.
Good dawgs! :-D
Pity the poor GF Dawgies wandering cyberspace aimlessly were you to shut down….;-)
We’d certainly miss it- and each other.
Who knows what the destination of The GF is.
My gut tells me that it is destined for even greater things and has a very long life ahead of it.
Time for an IPO Garth. Let’s start with a valuation of 1B.
Now how to monetize this traffic. Amazon marketplace storefront for dog supplies, Harley junk and…well, those blown up dolls do have good margins. And how about swag? One time Christmas only run. Migs $9.99. Ts 19.99. One size fits all – just like RE.
#53 kommykim on 10.02.15 at 7:55 pm
RE:And one day, this blog will end. When is up to you. So be nice.
“I didn’t realize that “we” had so much power.”
Don’t kid yourself. It’s a question of Garth’s time and effort. Let’s not allow him to become bored.
#82 Fred
AHA! I’ve got it! Homer and Garth are the same person! Did ya notice you never ever see them in the same place at the same time!
This website is not very clear. Can someone please tell me how to access the inflatable doll section? Asking for a friend. Thanks.
Love the blog, daily reader, almost never post.
A week or so back the blog was lite up about potential claw backs on the TFSA. Got to admit my first reaction was to shake my head, whats the matter with you people? I don’t like the idea but really, this is a reason to swing your vote one way or another? Invest your money else where I thought, there is more to this election than TFSA’s.
Then I read a stat, for the first time ever there are more people in this country over 65 than under 15. Yikes, things will get ugly by the time this 46 year old retires. Keep your hands off my TFSA limits, no way am I counting on any government to support me when I’m old. Harper gets my vote, despite the taste of disgust in my mouth when I give it to him.
Then Harper/PC’s crosses a line;
Chris Alexander, the Conservative immigration minister promises a tip line , and I quote;
“to report information about incidents of barbaric cultural practices in Canada”.
Seriously? SERIOUSLY…
I mean Jesus, for some people wearing a Leafs jersey in the Montreal forum fits the definition of barbaric cultural practices. The supreme court ruled on this, Harper loses and in response he promises a tip line to keep track of the maybe 50 women in Quebec who wear this pathetic piece of clothing.
Sad very sad.
Sad and dangerous.
Sad and dangerous and an insult to democracy.
This pisses me off, so Mulcair or Trudeau? Time for Harper and his old stock Canadians to retire and take up golf, write a book what ever, just go away.
Keep up the good work Garth.
John
Keep it up Garth (even though I dont always agree with you on a few topics). Your candid opinion is a vital fresh breeze blowing through a stagnant stench that has been created by well established, vested interest groups.
……until gic’s get back to 7%, smoking man’s liver gives out, and retired boomer passes on, I will continue to read this pathetic blog with my morning coffee…..thanks for the entertainment Garth.
Garth,
You’ll probably delete this as you have with my other posts, but you can’t keep being obtuse where the facts of US employment numbers are concerned:
BOOM! The Lie Factory Is Exposed (Jobs)
Link: https://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=230754
Examples:
‘Sprint to cut up to $2.5 billion in costs, layoff workers in next six months’
Link: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/10/02/sprint-cuts-costs-six-months/73211088/
‘Neiman Marcus Cuts 500 Jobs To Counter 4.55 Billion In Debt’
Link: http://thomasdishaw.com/neiman-marcus-cuts-500-jobs-counter-4-55-billion-debt/
‘Wal-Mart Preparing to Cut Hundreds of Headquarters Jobs This Week’
Link: http://www.wsj.com/articles/wal-mart-preparing-to-cut-hundreds-of-headquarters-jobs-this-week-sources-say-1443655847
‘The 10 biggest layoffs of 2015, so far’
Link: http://fortune.com/2015/10/02/biggest-layoffs-2015/
Garth ol’ buddy ol’ pal, you’ve been a huge part of my “financial education” and in part have helped me to, how did my dad put ” to grow the f@!$ up” so I thank you sir look forward to many more posts to come, cheers brotha.
#150 johnandjeb
Re: Chris Alexander
“…incidents of barbaric cultural practices in Canada.”
The barbaric cultural practices he refers to are those such as ‘honour’ killings and female genital mutilation.
If it was a man’s parts on the chopping block, this would have been resolved long ago.
To allow this barbaric practice to continue in Canada and elsewhere is a disgrace. Chris Alexander should be lauded for speaking out.
MF
NEOCONS come in all shapes and sizes, some are white, black, yellow. They come from all types of religions backgrounds.
They are goal and money driven and have no problem killing their oun people to advance the group think agenda.
And when that mushrooms cloud coming to a town near you goes boom, damn NEOCONS will be what you will be thinking moments before your vapourized.
And yes I’m voting for one, call it low boredom tolarance.
#155 AfterTheHouseSold on 10.03.15 at 10:08 am
#150 johnandjeb
Re: Chris Alexander
“…incidents of barbaric cultural practices in Canada.”
The barbaric cultural practices he refers to are those such as ‘honour’ killings and female genital mutilation.
If it was a man’s parts on the chopping block, this would have been resolved long ago.
Oh, I guess circumcision is not on the, er, table, then?
To allow this barbaric practice to continue in Canada and elsewhere is a disgrace. Chris Alexander should be lauded for speaking out.
Being a dick. Chop! Chop!
#157 Nora Lenderby on 10.03.15 at 10:42 am
I mean no disrespect to any dicks in the house. Some of my best friends have dicks.
My late best friend was a Dick. He didn’t let it go to his head, though.
#125 SarahP on 10.02.15 at 11:34 pm
#160 Smoking Man on 10.01.15 at 4:23 pm
vba is vb.net’s ugly cousin
basically tinker toy coding.
…..
Correct, but no one is any good at it. And every trade floor in the world depends on it.
$$$$$$$
Supply and demand.
#138 Freedom First on 10.03.15 at 2:26 am
#102 For those about to flop
Once again, you have proven yourself to be a Dickhead.
——————————————-
Ha! That’s the best return you can come up with?
You have less personality than a fence post!
Sir Garth,
The one with thousands of followers and a hundred million hits…
Still don’t understand why you would censor my message to Mark asking for his twitter handle to follow.
Two attempts at that..
My goal is not to encourage disinformation. — Garth
#163 Ole Doberman on 10.03.15 at 11:00 am
Gartho all the hits you’re getting is the Illuminati watching you.
They don’t like a “peoples” blogger riling the against the powers that be.
But hope you keep this site going cause we have some turbulent times ahead that require your beacon of light.
———————————————————-
You’re like John the Baptist crying in the wild
Sir Garth,
The one with thousands of followers and a hundred million hits…
Still don’t understand why you would censor my message to Mark asking for his twitter handle to follow.
Two attempts at that..
My goal is not to encourage disinformation. — Garth
—————————————————————————-
Well you still have him on the blog, so much for noble intentions :)
Mark if you do see this, please to oblige….
I consider male circumcision a barbaric cultural practice.
#155 VH — “You’ll probably delete this as you have with my other posts, but you can’t keep being obtuse where the facts of US employment numbers are concerned”
You need to study more, and get game.
There is a wealth of data available about the American economy, If you want to figure out whether it’s shrinking or growing, I’d recommend stuff like: New vehicle sales, miles driven, fuel consumed, imports and exports at Los Angeles/Long Beach, freight hauled by truck and by train, sales at major American retailers, population growth… the list goes on and on.
Thanks to the miracle of the Internet, you can now research these figures from the comfort of your own abode. I daresay that someone of average intelligence and a willingness to apply himself could gather the data, teach himself some basic statistics and, within a few months, build a model that estimates US employment just from all these other numbers.
Or, with far less effort, you can go to the website of somebody who’s against mainstream opinion, doesn’t show his models or his sources, and whose implied investment recommendations would have lost you pots of money over the last five years.
US numbers are currently going through a bit of a ‘soft patch,’ and we don’t know how it will turn out, but anyone who’s been betting against the recovery for more than a few months has bet wrong, and done very poorly indeed.
You are the reason I keep coming here. As long as there’s lots like you who don’t believe in the recovery, the bull has room to run. Similarly, as long as goldbugs keep showing up calling the bottom, that bear will continue to rampage. Thank you for your input.
Your blog has been a free education for me. Keep up the great work. Your candid opinions are refreshing and informative. It’s not time to retire the blog.
Factory orders stateside down year-over-year for the 10th month in a row. First time it has happened outside of a recession.
I know Garth, recession in the US? NEVER! This recovery is right on schedule. Full steam ahead!
The Fed moves in June, Sept, Oct, Dec, March 2016 right?
You’ve called Gold buyers metal heads, made fun of us for not selling at $1900, and generally rubbed it in our faces. And now, when you’re proven wrong about the great seven year US recovery we get a sob story about you picking up your marbles and going home. Real manly.
Of course I’m not wrong. And gold sucks. Kinda like your manners. — Garth
#159 Nora
“Being a dick. Chop! Chop!
Mutilation: to injure, disfigure, or make imperfect by removing or irreparably damaging parts. To injure severely or disfigure. Educate yourself and have a look at online pictures. This is mutilation.
My ‘chopping block’ reference was meant to imply a comparable barbaric practice on men. There would be laws in place.
We could try to bring awareness and an end to this. Or we could be glib. Or a dick.
I don’t understand the mentality of out house horny country
Job cuts, oil nuked, bordering recession, constant lowering interest rates because the economy is supposedly in the basement
Yet we just keep bubbling along in real estate like minimum wage is six figures.
#143 debtified on 10.03.15 at 3:00 am
P.S.
Smoking Man, you are not funny anymore. I am having doubts about renewing my Smokie Fan Club membership. Have you been cutting down on the whisky and wine?
…..
You’re good, and yes I have been cutting down. Look how miserable I’ve become.
I started noticing my head was fuzzy every morning, and would return to normal by afternoon. It stopped coming back.
So I stopped drinking as an experiment of sorts.
But my Mind is still fuzzy.
So I can cross out drinking as the cause. Thank God.
Something is wrong up top for sure. Perhaps tonight in Salamanca I can look down into an empty bottle and find out what’s wrong.
I’ve made amazing discoveries with my glass view master.
Millennials won’t know what a view master is.
It was a moment of pure, out-of-the-blue curiosity for me when I thought “does Garth Turner still blog?” And since I stumbled my way in here I was hooked. I’m not the stereotypical blog dog; I am not rich enough to worry about a lot of the stuff he talks about. But this blog has, actually, changed how my goals in life. House ownership is so far entrenched in our culture that it was a huge part of how I figured my life should be when I have “made it.” I used to believe that the reason to get a good job and get out of other debt was to be able to afford a house. Reading this blog is not the only experience I have had that has helped me to rethink this, but it was the first and by far the most impactful part. I don’t follow this blog’s advice in precise detail, but to believe in the principles of balance and diversity and to put my portfolio before my house lust, just those two things will save me from many years of regret. I do hope that this blog continues for as long as possible, since the house lust never goes away completely and I am still surrounded by people who are ruled by it. I read this blog every day in order to remind myself why it is important to swim against the current.
105 Spectacle
115 Smoking Man
129 MF
I had read Nosty’s link to that article – filled within innuendo & hate- and was about to call it to Garth’s attention myself when i noticed MF had already performed that public service for us all.
Sorry, when you post an attached link YOUR reputation, and that of the host is at risk should you have failed to READ the contents.
Garth did the appropriate thing here. I shall “assume” it was not the first instance for Nosty.
The judgement was made.
Garth-Of course I’m not wrong.
When does the Fed raise rates?
You said the US expansion is over. It isn’t. — Garth
RE: #159 Nora Lenderby on 10.03.15 at 10:42 am
#155 AfterTheHouseSold on 10.03.15 at 10:08 am
#150 johnandjeb
Re: Chris Alexander
“…incidents of barbaric cultural practices in Canada.”
If it was a man’s parts on the chopping block, this would have been resolved long ago.
Oh, I guess circumcision is not on the, er, table, then?
Yes, it’s amazing that this doesn’t come up more often. Circumcised men have no idea of what they are “missing”.
No rate hike by the Fed for the rest of this year.
http://www.businessinsider.com/federal-reserve-interest-rate-hike-delay-2015-10
Stock markets will rally into the end of this year and beyond. The Bull market is still in place!
#107 KEITH IN CALGARY describes some Canadian dump called Prince Rupert.
With flair.
So much so that I would like to suggest to KEITH that he have a look at the 1928 silent movie “Sadie Thompson”, and then consider rewriting the screenplay with rain-drenched demoralized Prince Rupert replacing rain-drenched demoralized Pago Pago.
********************************************
Some comments have invoked (I myself don’t usually invoke) “the silent majority”.
So drop dead.
And stay silent.
Silent Majority is a Nixonian conceit, recalls in a roundabout way the popular silences of dictatorships, and vaguely implies “lives of quiet desperation.” Still waters don’t always run deep, and are often fetid.
********************************************
About the photo: Rasputinesque. Suggestive of wizardry.
Oddly, the arms don’t match. The right hand is muscular, the left arm weak.
Dare I suggest the subject is our gracious host’s repressed alter ego, shadow self, anima?
I always thought our gracious host’s “other” self would be some Tronna bag lady. (What, dear reader, might be YOUR other self, eh?)
[I figger Harpo’s other self is a burka-clad ululating fanatic.]
You said the US expansion is over. It isn’t. — Garth
As long as rates remain 0% right? Otherwise why haven’t they raised them? A tiny .25% and still another year of fabulous “recovery” with rates at 0%.
So I ask again Garth, when does the Fed raise rates?
If QE works, why did they need three rounds and a twist?
Have bubbles been mistaken for legitimate growth in the past? Why is this time different?
#107 Kieth in Calgary
Probably your first trip outside Calgary. You gotta get out more.
#180 Triplenet
Grew up in Europe for 10 years, visited ver 25 countries, have a residence in Brazil and fly over 100K miles a year for the last decade or do.
You better put your IPad away because your Greyhound is boarding.
Hey Keith,I don’t really want to pick sides ,but I’m glad you responded to triplenet because I don’t mind reading other people’s observations about places they visit .
Just cause you stay in an area for a couple of days doesn’t make you an expert but local people also believe what they need to believe to keep some sanity.
I think it’s good to report our observations or else it just going to be the same repetitive posts like” real estate is out of control” and ” gee , the price of oil is going down ”
and my favourite ” freedom first always” duh!
Keep posting,wrong or right you are saying something new.Happy Travels
Keep plugging away Garth, this is the only Canadian forum i know that allows discourse on a wide range of topics, with reliable, entertaining and helpful daily blog posts from the host. Worth it’s weight in bitcoin.
Re circumcision, this article expains how and why prince charles got the
Chop, I’m not buyin’
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/10201882/Circumcision-is-one-of-the-oddities-of-the-Royal-Family.html
#175 Mark in Guelph on 10.03.15 at 12:41 pm
Garth-Of course I’m not wrong.
When does the Fed raise rates?
You said the US expansion is over. It isn’t. — Garth
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"Because int the USAAAAAAAAAAA………we have a McJob for you-oooooo……"
The US does it again by accidentally targeting a hospital of Doctors without borders.
A few days after Obama chastisies Putin for his collateral damage in Syria and compares school shooting (like Oregon) to terrorism.
Maybe he could focus some of his own “collateral damage” to 725 – 5th Avenue, NY.
Re: #177 Terry on 10.03.15 at 1:03 pm
One day in the future we’ll read about this so called “bull market” in the history books. Only in the history book it will it be called nothing but a bear market rally within the long bear market that started with the dot com crash. Continuing to buy “out of the money” puts on the indexes each month still waiting for the 2 weeks to a month closure of the market and the reopen at least 55 percent lower.
SM # 115,
“That’s all Nosty has been trying to say.”
——————————————
MF # 129,
“YOU are the one sitting on a computer pushing buttons making money off of programs written by university grads AND complaining how “schooled” they are?? Your hypocritical to the max.”
——————————————
There are at least two meanings behind one being, “schooled.”
A) Schooled as in: To acquire a given skill set or knowledge, (comp. programmer?) is one thing.
B) Schooled as in: To blindly (without question) embrace the indoctrination of the ‘system’, is quite another.
Why do so many have a closed mind, to the Physics anomalies, behind 9/11?
Because they cannot even entertain the thought, that the system they have spent their entire life trusting, would blatantly lie to them. It’s simply to much to deal with so they subconsciously choose to believe fairy tales, rather than be confronted the unpleasant realities of our society.
Just a psychological defence mechanism of the Cattle.
I did not see the link Nosty provided that got him in shit and agree some of the links he had previously provided were a bit over the top for me (but nothing requiring banning) even as a self professed, critical thinker.
The ‘Conspiracy Theorist’ label is used to discredit the outspoken voice that makes the masses uncomfortable with details they’d rather not address.
Now SM says Nosty’s sick or worse, all I can say is, I wish you well Chuck, this blog has been more interesting with your participation and will not be the same if/when your gone.
On a boring afternoon in Fort McMaelstrom I tuned into the Eskimo/Blue Bomber game.
What a pathetic product.
When is the Brier???
This blog has allowed me to become interested in the economy and my money. I’m fascinated how I have become obsessed with rate moves, TFSAs, taxes, and the stock market. With this information available, how can someone not be interested in their financial affairs? It puzzles me that a lot of people are more concerned with Anjelina Jolie adopting more kids or Justin Bieber having a substance abuse problem. Who cares?
I read comments from people trying to argue with Garth about our economy. He’s trying to inform us on how best to protect ourselves financially. It seems like people who are against what Garth is trying to help us understand are afraid of the realities that will ultimately materialize. Nothing stays the same forever – not even interest rates.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/09/18/business/economy/fed-leaves-interest-rates-unchanged.html?action=click&contentCollection=Economy®ion=Footer&module=WhatsNext&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&moduleDetail=undefined&pgtype=Multimedia&referer=http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/business/economy/fed-interest-rates.html?_r=1
http://m.huffpost.com/ca/entry/8135266
#143 debtified
Your Post reminded me of something. Today’s women always go on about how they don’t need a man. This is great. Men like me can come and go as we like. Don’t have to stay the night.
If your choice of candidate in federal election makes you want to hold your nose or you get a bad feeling in your stomach. Change parties and find one that doesn’t do that, whatever other failings they may have.
Just sayin.
#159 Nora Lenderby
Well said Nora.
#163 Ponapps
Zinger! Truly awesome Garth reply!
#188 Blacksheep on 10.03.15 at 4:57 pm
SM # 115,
“That’s all Nosty has been trying to say.”
——————————————
MF # 129,
“YOU are the one sitting on a computer pushing buttons making money off of programs written by university grads AND complaining how “schooled” they are?? Your hypocritical to the max.”
——————————————
There are at least two meanings behind one being, “schooled.”
A) Schooled as in: To acquire a given skill set or knowledge, (comp. programmer?) is one thing.
B) Schooled as in: To blindly (without question) embrace the indoctrination of the ‘system’, is quite another.
Why do so many have a closed mind, to the Physics anomalies, behind 9/11?
Because they cannot even entertain the thought, that the system they have spent their entire life trusting, would blatantly lie to them. It’s simply to much to deal with so they subconsciously choose to believe fairy tales, rather than be confronted the unpleasant realities of our society.
Just a psychological defence mechanism of the Cattle.
I did not see the link Nosty provided that got him in shit and agree some of the links he had previously provided were a bit over the top for me (but nothing requiring banning) even as a self professed, critical thinker.
The ‘Conspiracy Theorist’ label is used to discredit the outspoken voice that makes the masses uncomfortable with details they’d rather not address.
Now SM says Nosty’s sick or worse, all I can say is, I wish you well Chuck, this blog has been more interesting with your participation and will not be the same if/when your gone.
—————————
But weren’t you claiming the moon landings were fake!.. which is quaint to say the least, given the critical thinking stuff..
#145 Long time reader,first time commentor on 10.03.15 at 5:01 am
“Why not ask all readers to comment on one day, like October 19th, vote then comment. Interesting exercise, vote for PM then vote for Garth. See who gets the most votes, you or Harper Lol”
No kidding….if Garth ran, he’d be a shoo-in.
#166 Row Bear on 10.03.15 at 11:53 am
“I consider male circumcision a barbaric cultural practice.”
Yup. Some people should keep their hands the hell off of each other…..maybe they’re not people.
#191 Freedom First on 10.03.15 at 6:02 pm
#143 debtified
Your Post reminded me of something. Today’s women always go on about how they don’t need a man. This is great. Men like me can come and go as we like. Don’t have to stay the night.
…..
You should try love buddy, I’ve been with the same hag for over 35 years. She’s moody, goes through stages of obesity and anorexia.
Sometimes I plot her murder, other times I thank my lucky stars she’s here for me.
Remember, Mr happy, the adventurous beast on the hunt for boardom releaf will one day be dead and lost in the forest.
Then you will understand loneliness.
You get one that can cook, you’ve won the lottery.
My call on you, your heart was broken… You’ve never recoverd.
Was Nosty the same as Le Mad Vlad once upon a time? I do remember reading some of the links, got myself a lot of the neurons firing up, but still did not achieve an explanation of “the whys”, neither an agreement with reality, and found them much too moralizing or fictitious to be taken seriously. I simply ignored his comments at some point, tried unlearning all the useless accumulated noise, and restart from the basics.
#188 Blacksheep on 10.03.15 at 4:57 pm
SM # 115,
“That’s all Nosty has been trying to say.”
——————————————
MF # 129,
“YOU are the one sitting on a computer pushing buttons making money off of programs written by university grads AND complaining how “schooled” they are?? Your hypocritical to the max.”
——————————————
There are at least two meanings behind one being, “schooled.”
A) Schooled as in: To acquire a given skill set or knowledge, (comp. programmer?) is one thing.
B) Schooled as in: To blindly (without question) embrace the indoctrination of the ‘system’, is quite another.
Why do so many have a closed mind, to the Physics anomalies, behind 9/11?
Because they cannot even entertain the thought, that the system they have spent their entire life trusting, would blatantly lie to them. It’s simply to much to deal with so they subconsciously choose to believe fairy tales, rather than be confronted the unpleasant realities of our society.
Just a psychological defence mechanism of the Cattle.
I did not see the link Nosty provided that got him in shit and agree some of the links he had previously provided were a bit over the top for me (but nothing requiring banning) even as a self professed, critical thinker.
The ‘Conspiracy Theorist’ label is used to discredit the outspoken voice that makes the masses uncomfortable with details they’d rather not address.
Now SM says Nosty’s sick or worse, all I can say is, I wish you well Chuck, this blog has been more interesting with your participation and will not be the same if/when your gone.
……
We will never get the likes of MF to come to team building 7wtf club.
He has the illusion he’s safe, has a kinship of sorts with murderes, I know a killer is a killer, and just because Hannibal was nice to you today, won’t mean he won’t eat you in a pinch.
Nosty understood this. Some of his links may have been over the top but I liked him. He was courageous.
Donald Trumps popularly is due to a call one of my hero’s Lenord Cohen made a song about.
https://youtu.be/Lin-a2lTelg
Also my favorite artists in the world next to Gut Check is Roger Waters. Would be interesting to get MF take on the guy who spent his life trying to tear down walls.
I already know his opinion.
Mind reading ability of every Nectonite
Honourable Mr. Turner,
I’ve been reading this blog since early 2015 and it’s a crying shame your main message hasn’t been picked up by the political party leaders of Canada.
The last line of your entry piqued my interest. Say it ain’t so!! I’d be okay with you shutting this blog down if you were to become the next Finance Minister or take over the reins from Steve H.
If neither of those things are true, how can us blog dawgs convince you to stay? Who’s going to feed us our recommended daily intake of “balanced portfolio” vitamins?
please don’t give up the fight garth
your a jewel in a slough out here
we stubble jumpers talkabout the neat things brought up your dog blog when we bush party
peace
#159 Nora Lenderby
I’m not here to defend the practice of routine male circumcision but it must be said that when it comes to the list of barbaric practices it doesn’t make the cut.
We don’t need to get too graphic on a family blog, but think about it for a minute. Maybe do a little research about the genitalia in question. Maybe have a look at you own vis-a-vis your partner’s (if you haven’t already done so). See if you don’t agree it’s an invalid comparison.
I’ve known two men in my lifetime who’ve had to have the procedure done in adulthood. They now both carry the torch for infant male circumcision.
Now I’m no doctor, but I’m aware of zero females who somehow developed a medical requirement for circumcision at any point in their lives.
I fall within the camp of those cut in infancy. Frankly, I have no memory of the incident although there are many who’ll say I’ve merely suppressed it.
Others tell me I don’t know what I’m missing but I’ve never once felt I lacked the necessary equipment to get the job done. And more, in fact
So I reiterate: Judaic tradition aside, in my opinion routine infant male circumcision is as unnecessary as female circumcision.
But to suggest they are, in essence, the same thing does a huge disservice to those unfortunate women who have undergone what is quite properly referred to as mutilation.
Cohen is a beauty human.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12032024_10153638731724644_6193586100110138910_n.png?oh=0d5888c4cf112ee2f857051b8f491360&oe=568DF302
#199 ANON on 10.03.15 at 7:11 pm
Was Nosty the same as Le Mad Vlad once upon a time? I do remember reading some of the links, got myself a lot of the neurons firing up, but still did not achieve an explanation of “the whys”, neither an agreement with reality, and found them much too moralizing or fictitious to be taken seriously. I simply ignored his comments at some point, tried unlearning all the useless accumulated noise, and restart from the basics.
……
Ya just stick a dagger in the back of a man face down in the dirt who don’t have long to go.
MF here’s a buddy for you…
I read often but comment little. I come to your site/blog to learn and get a few chuckles from some of the characters and I love it. What you have created is forum of knowledge and opinions of a community of people. I hope it doesn’t matter to you what others think or what stats say, but I care what you think and the community on your blog think, because that’s all that matters.
When Cohen bumped into a Nectonite
https://youtu.be/FAoHYBpj8vY
#163 Ponnaps on 10.03.15 at 10:58 am
Still don’t understand why you would censor my message to Mark asking for his twitter handle to follow.
—
My goal is not to encourage disinformation. — Garth
Ouch. Harsh.
But true.
Re #5 freedom first
From now on I will refer to the RE pushers/deceivers such as LH as Dickheads.
Make that Big Swinging Dickheads!
Dearest Garth,
You are the best thing that’s ever happened in my life and I’m eternally grateful for your sage opinions.
XOXOXO
Another reason not to vote for the CONservatives:
F-35 – Runaway Fighter – the fifth estate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwA4RaaJSeI
I second Smoking Man yet again. Married for 7+ out of the 31 years of my life. With sweetheart met in college days. Blessed with four young kids. I would give up all my houses for them. Freedom be damned.
By the way M5T is on fire. 165 Huron sold for 1.522 million. Using this as a comparable, my portfolio has cracked eight figures. Celebrating with a McCafe black coffee as I’m typing this. Why you ask? Starbucks too expensive.
Your hearts in the right place, Garth. Everything you say, everything you espouse is logical. But those who have had a balanced portfolio in the last seven like you and me have done just OK.
On the other hand, those who gouged on debt, spent irrationally have done Fantastic. And that is not going to change for a long time. Time to hang it up Garth and let everyone go there way.
And one day, this blog will end. When is up to you.
no it isn’t.
You got to go back to Jerusalem Garth. Harper is going to get a majority and then make you an offer.
MF
Your future by Lenord Cohen
https://youtu.be/vnaxvBsyigM
Hey!
Monty Python’s meets the Conservative party…….
http://www.burnabynow.com/opinion/blogs/community-conversations-1.752422/a-conversation-with-meagan-murdoch-communications-staffer-with-conservative-party-headquarters-1.2063283
Smoking Man…
Agree with your numerous comments on Mr. Cohen…
Check out Richard Thompson some time…great song about Bernie Madoff called “Money Shuffle” that would equally apply to may so called financial advisors as well…
I live on the CDN/US border, stop by for a libation sometime on the way south to Salamancki…I’ve rarely had the honour of meeting a Nectoniter…
MF
Some artist appreciate Nectonites
https://youtu.be/BiEEJds8JFE
Notice a lot of properties sitting a really long time in Toronto looking for a buyer, especially tear downs. Are we running out of buyers?
#207 Smoking Man on 10.03.15 at 8:46 pm
lol, I’ve been listening to quite a lot of info. recently about how Cohen was involved in MK ULTRA experiments (like Ted Kaczynski) at the Allan Memorial in Montreal. Story has it he’s been involved in some dark shit over the years, really dark. Who knows, the ex-girlfriends are like sieves.
Not to sure why the Cons feel it is necessary to force through this trade agreement thingy.
It has appeared to me that they were gaining speed to pip the other two horses at the post,or are they just trying to keep it interesting?
Guys, cut it out with the circumcision debate. I’m already deep into the popcorn stash, the homebrew is running low, I don’t think I can make it through the deflationary apocalypse on beans, rice and pennys alone. :)
PS: If you want to delve into mystery and riddles of cultures, check with Marvin for a brief introduction to the subject. Dude’s last name was Harris. Cheerful chap.
Hi #105 Spectacle,
Re: …………..but I still miss Nosty !
Also missed why he got banned……..
The last post I recall seeing from Nosty was “deleted”.
Did he get banned too?
If he got banned it must have been really really bad!
Garth is pretty clear in this 4 bullet point, just above the area you post comments, under “Helpful Reminders…” about what he will accept / post.
He might be just doing something in the real world other than blogging here. Hard to believe, I know ;)
Re: #115 Smoking Man “Nosty not coming back, he’s dieing.”
If true, I’m sorry. I hope he was able to do at least a few of the things he wanted to get done when here.
And if he’s lucky he has been able to put it (death) off as long as possible (gotten very old), been mostly healthy along the way, and been free of pain (for the most part).
Not to sound cold, but ‘death is the great equalizers’. We know ‘for sure’ we are only here once, so I hope he was able to make the most of it, with the card he was dealt.
Not always possible, but I hope he has been able to help make his part of the world a little better while here, that would be nice too.
#219 Godth on 10.03.15 at 9:48 pm
#207 Smoking Man on 10.03.15 at 8:46 pm
lol, I’ve been listening to quite a lot of info. recently about how Cohen was involved in MK ULTRA experiments (like Ted Kaczynski) at the Allan Memorial in Montreal. Story has it he’s been involved in some dark shit over the years, really dark. Who knows, the ex-girlfriends are like sieves
…….
You God damn tin foiler…
I’m beyond drunk, I’ll re asses In morning, got like a pound of plack on my teeth, new tax farm gig starts on
Monday. Want to make an impression.
My Chinese dentist wants to take them all out.
Fk him. What the hell is doing in Toronto.
“Still don’t understand why you would censor my message to Mark asking for his twitter handle to follow.
—
My goal is not to encourage disinformation. — Garth
“
I have a pretty good record of predicting no interest rate hikes in the US, rate cuts in Canada, an inability of the Canadian economy to generate inflation in light of falling housing prices, a non-existent ‘recovery’ in the US until the financial sectors’ excesses are properly liquidated and an expansion in consumer lending spreads on account of diminishing credit-worthiness.
But for the record, I don’t use Twitter in anything but a read-only mode, so it would be pointless to “follow” me.
“I consider male circumcision a barbaric cultural practice.”
……………….
When was the last time you saw an uncircumcised male porn star?
By the way, is that a guy or girl stacking creamers?
This thread is being circumscribed. — Garth
#223 Smoking Man on 10.03.15 at 10:30 pm
Oh yeah, have fun living in Southie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-KGqAkvkgE
Just be careful about who you’re doing business with.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/half-of-all-top-ira-men-worked-for-security-services-28694353.html
223 Joking Man
I’m beyond drunk, I’ll re asses In morning, got like a pound of plack on my teeth, new tax farm gig starts on
Monday. Want to make an impression.
My Chinese dentist wants to take them all out.
Fk him. What the hell is doing in Toronto.
—————————————
That’s o.k Joking Man,as long as your only racist when your drunk …
#225
“By the way, is that a guy or girl stacking creamers?”
————————
That’s Justin when he was a school teacher in Vancouver.
But for the record, I don’t use Twitter in anything but a read-only mode, so it would be pointless to “follow” me
And the disinformation Garth mentioned as well. That’s another reason.
“And the disinformation Garth mentioned as well. That’s another reason.”
I have never provided disinformation. As usual, you do not know what you are talking about.
I find it hilarious people in Canada are so eager to buy overpriced real estate they have to quickly take out ads begging basement dwellers to chip in so they can maintain there so-called lifestyle. If I had to beg to have a basement dweller to move in what a sad day, can’t even enjoy my house got to tiptoe around so I don’t lose my basement dweller how lame and pathetic Canadians have to stoop this low in a country so huge! IMHO a correction can’t come soon enough and end this charade!
Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate. You are sure to wake up somebody. Longfellow
great work, garth
Wait … WHAT? Have you seen this:
http://www.theprovince.com/business/condo+marketing+campaign+receives+backlash+over/11403801/story.html
#198 Smoking Man
Smokey. I am happy for you. Even happier for me.
First, when it comes to a broken heart. I don’t understand what that means. Second, I am never lonely, as men, and women, want to be around me. I am a great guy. My positivity and joy is infectious. I really don’t know anyone I want to be around all that often. That goes for every girlfriend I’ve ever had. Women are too moody. And most men live like slaves.
#203 Mr. Obvious
Nora is right. Male circumcision is barbaric.
Smoking Man
I know you and Nosty are buds. Sorry your friend is not doing well. I enjoyed his finding of so many far out items of interest on the web. He will be missed.
#212 Mr. Hulot
Rubbish. It ain’t over til it’s over.
#211 LH
All she has to do is decide she likes the house she likes the kids but you gotta go. And she will decide if you even get to see the kids. This is a common occurrence today. Can and does happen right out of the blue. Men have no rights and you are only a wallet. Fact.
Dear Garth:
Please consider enabling SSL/TLS encryption, aka “HTTPS” on your website. Cloudflare makes this relatively easy. Help protect the privacy and security of your readers in a post-Snowden world.
NO RATE HIKE , INSTEAD RECESSION COMES TO THE US.:
“U.S. Three Month Treasury Yields Turn Negative, Recession Warning?”
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article52509.html
(“3-month treasury yields dipped briefly negative on several days recently. Yield on the 3-month bond was negative again today. Three month treasuries should not be negative in a rate hike environment.
None of this should be happening in a rising rate environment with an allegedly strengthening economy.
In fact, action at the long end of the curve coupled with negative yields at the very front end is outright recessionary behavior. “)
kommy kim said:
on 10.03.15 at 12:57 pm
RE: #159 Nora Lenderby on 10.03.15 at 10:42 am
#155 AfterTheHouseSold on 10.03.15 at 10:08 am
#150 johnandjeb
Re: Chris Alexander
“…incidents of barbaric cultural practices in Canada.”
If it was a man’s parts on the chopping block, this would have been resolved long ago.
Oh, I guess circumcision is not on the, er, table, then?
Yes, it’s amazing that this doesn’t come up more often. Circumcised men have no idea of what they are “missing”.
===========================================
do tell, kk
#220 For those about to flop… on 10.03.15 at 9:50 pm
Not to sure why the Cons feel it is necessary to force through this trade agreement thingy.
Not really up to them, afaik. The meetings happen, and there is always a time when it will be inconvenient for someone. The US administration probably wants to have a deal before their election really gets going.
If you were suspicious about the Australian spin-doctor dog whistles (ranting about bags on womens heads and already illegal “cultural practices”) you might conclude that these are distractions from the corporatist conspiracy to build a framework for world government that would normally inflame the base :-)
For those of us who use technical analysis as part of our trading/investing toolkits, Brian Shannon has an excellent promotional video on his website giving his take on last week’s tape.
Yes, pikers; it’s free!
http://alphatrends.net/archives/2015/10/03/stock-market-video-analysis-for-week-ending-10315/
#203 Mister Obvious
Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/marijuana-is-infinitely-worse-than-tobacco-stephen-harper-says-as-he-encourages-pot-debate-to-go-up-in-smoke
Harper just wont give up supporting his friends in the Police State business….
Anyone voting for this person is a complete and utter fool…..
SM, it’s OK, I’m actually paid (just doing my job, don’t hate the player, playa’, I didn’t want this to happen) by a three letter acronym government company working for a four letter acronym cabal, who, after making secret experiments on human beings in the basement of a certain Parc Portugale Montreal house decided ignoring truth revealers of looney llogic on internet comment areas is by far the best way to stab them in the back, face down in the dirt, and kick them where it hurts most.
I f-ed up, man! I broke the procedure, and here I break it it again! They’re after me!!! He…. +++
#243 ANON on 10.04.15 at 10:47 am
…because it’s not like it’s been acknowledged and documented or anything…
https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Allan+Memorial+Montreal+cia+MK+Ultra&start=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IStoyUb697c
Garth, sorry to interrupt your usual lazy Sunday morning while we work like dogs, but we have a problem and would appreciate some actual management oversight for once in a blood moon.
The editing interns are confused about what to do with all the posters commenting about male circumcisions, intimate body-piercing and the like.
Is this a glitch? Are these posts for Greater Fool, or for your other adult blog on the dark web for kinky former Harper cabinet ministers an staffers?
Please advise asap so we can direct the traffic accordingly.
Emma Zaun
Shop Steward – Greater Fool
CUPE
(Canadian Union of Peelers and Exhibitonists)
ANON on 10.04.15 at 10:47 am
SM, it’s OK, I’m actually paid (just doing my job, don’t hate the player, playa’, I didn’t want this to happen) by a three letter acronym government company working for a four letter acronym cabal, who, after making secret experiments on human beings in the basement of a certain Parc Portugale Montreal house decided ignoring truth revealers of looney llogic on internet comment areas is by far the best way to stab them in the back, face down in the dirt, and kick them where it hurts most.
I f-ed up, man! I broke the procedure, and here I break it it again! They’re after me!!! He…. +++
======================
Hey Nos,
Logic only has one “L”. Okay?
Just trying to help everybody see things clearly.
Why did building 7 collapse at free-fall speed?
Why does the market go good on bad news?
Cheers, R
#181
An accomplished traveller – you are not.
I hope you enjoyed a few pints in our pub at Cow Bay and your stay in our hotel. the tall one.
$150k in PR means you’re a long shoreman who enjoys overtime or you’re in the seafarers union and was marooned.
Hope you find a job real soon.
#245 OXI in GREECE !!
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/marijuana-is-infinitely-worse-than-tobacco-stephen-harper-says-as-he-encourages-pot-debate-to-go-up-in-smoke
Harper just wont give up supporting his friends in the Police State business….
Anyone voting for this person is a complete and utter fool…..
—
Anyone who has a problem with a natural creature, including a plant, should take it to the universe, evolution or God… otherwise they don’t have any “jurisdiction” in making a decision whether a plant is “illegal” or not.
It’s even more ridiculous idea than when Communists were creating laws telling people how many times was “legal” to travel to the “West”.
245 Oxi
——————————
Any one that smokes weed sooner or later they are utter fools! Parting with there common sense and there money !
Freedom First on 10.04.15 at 3:03 am #211 LH
All she has to do is decide she likes the house she likes the kids but you gotta go. And she will decide if you even get to see the kids. This is a common occurrence today. Can and does happen right out of the blue. Men have no rights and you are only a wallet. Fact.
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As Smokey said, you are living in pain and fear. So sick of your posts, as though you’re the only one here who has achieved financial independence . What a joke. You hate / distrust women, your co-workers and think you’re better than everyone around you… Who exactly does that leave in your world?
You are a lonely, sad individual – fact. I’ll take my family (risks and all) any day over the pathetic island you’ve constructed. Cheers and peace.
The Fed is more likely to ease than tighten further, unless the US $ can be brought down. Thank God Kocherlakota is not a voting member and steps down in December. This is the second Fed “official” to hint at negative interest rates in that last two weeks.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-03/kocherlakota-says-low-inflation-warrants-further-fed-stimulus
Upping to 10 % barbaric while the FED is this radical! For Canadians, Gold has been a good asset class (after the Nikei and US Treasuries).
Efficient Frontier analysis supports a diversification with Gold.
Note on Cdn Prefs. The 5 year yield would have to rise dramatically now for the Pref ETF to recover, because a new innovation, the rate reset with a floor. Brookfield was the latest to issue.
#249 Russ on 10.04.15 at 11:51 am
C’mon Russ, you colleagues from the National Grammar Academy should know we don’t get that much spelling training. They don’t give us a even a spellchecker, they say the job description is to inflict maximum damage by ignoring the comments.
Can’t say, man, they got me, and at the end of the waterboarding session they said 3 strikes and you’re out, buddy! The big macho boss who usually just sits there enjoying the show, said: buddy, no matter how hard it is (they know the market is weak these days, as well as I do), we’ll find someone else better at ignoring if you keep failing us!
Cheers,
A.
PS: You guys from the Academy should lighten up, man.
response to #243 JIM H
I get the idea that almost all tech analysts are presently at a minimum slightly bearish, and more generally rather bearish. (Do I have a language problem or what.)
I myself wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see Monday open with a whopping gap down.
Chip Anderson over at John Murphy’s singularly useful stockchartsdotcom has an interestingly quite bearish take.
Our gracious host of course is a generally optimistic, and properly cautious fundamentalist. (My take.) Dull world if we all thought alike.
There’s been a lot of comment EVERYWHERE about yields on US paper strongly signalling a US Recession.
[Canada: not surprising that a country that can’t legitimately (!) price milk cheese chicken electricity tires . . . has got itself a singularly magnificent housing bubble and a political discussion involving head-dress and barbaric practices and hair styles.]
RE: #241 liquidincalgary on 10.04.15 at 8:10 am
kommy kim said:
Circumcised men have no idea of what they are “missing”.
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do tell, kk
It’s all about sensitivity and if you have been mutilated at birth, you have no idea what you’ve lost.
If circumcision is so great, why don’t most uncut men get it done when they turn of age?
This blog is cheaper than therapy and you can continue your service to us Canadians. Best of all your ministry comes without any “yessssss sir” or otherwise kiss ass hierarchy of government. What more can you ask for?
Now when your wife says it’s time… well that’s another story. Always listen to her.
Building 7, circumcision, and RE all rolled into one… and hosted by a former member of parliament. What a hoot.
to clarify my previous post #256
(I’m having trouble with plain English today)
I did not mean to give the impression that I agree with our gracious host’s generally optimistic outlook for the US economy altho I respect his point of view
and thanks to JIM H for his very useful tech sites suggestions
#250 triplenet on 10.04.15 at 11:53 am
An accomplished traveller – you are not.
I hope you enjoyed a few pints in our pub at Cow Bay and your stay in our hotel.
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Worked up in PR for a coupla weeks years ago and enjoyed my stay. Boulet’s still there ? … the best sea food …
Thanks Garth
@Russ
“Why did building 7 collapse at free fall speed?”
Because the penthouse collapses first through the left side of the building. Look at the windows popping out as it descends through floors.
The left side begins falling first due to the penthouse caving in, thus bringing down the right side, nearly, but not simultaneously.
Watch closely:
http://youtu.be/OUkvnfV606w
Cheers
kommy kim
It’s all about sensitivity and if you have been mutilated at birth, you have no idea what you’ve lost.
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it is because of that increased sensitivity that you probably dont realise how ‘quick’ you are. does ‘two pump jump’ ring any bells?
deciding to do it when of age? no one informed them of the option
“I hope you enjoyed a few pints in our pub at Cow Bay and your stay in our hotel. the tall one.”
Yeah I laughed at the notice on the door of Breakers, to wit: “don’t bring your knives in here and we won’t store your knives for you” to be hilarious. Really enjoyed my dinner at the Cow Bay Café too. The artsy-craft stores are really nice. Also enjoyed really good visits to Port Edward and Port Simpson (Lax Kw’aalams) with incredibly friendly and surprisingly sophisticated (intellectually) in both communities.
“Efficient Frontier analysis supports a diversification with Gold.”
But how much for a Canadian already exposed through XIU? I think that’s been a good chunk of Garth’s past criticism of gold as an investment advisor — it already finds itself embedded into many Canadian index-based portfolios significantly in excess of typical global weightings.
“The Fed is more likely to ease than tighten further, unless the US $ can be brought down.”
I agree. But will it be plain-up NIRP this time, or will they try that QE nonsense again? I think NIRP probably is fairer, as it does not purport to target a specific asset class (ie: in the case of QE, MBS featured prominently). QE was incredibly damaging in that it stimulated additional capacity formation in the RE sector, setting the US up for yet another deflationary crash in that sector.
I guess the question from my point of view is what happens with negative rates? Wouldn’t that absolutely just kill velocity as the owners of cash hoard it instead of lending it for negative nominal returns? Seems to me that we’re now entering a period best described by the term of “monetary instability” which tends to be good for monetary instability hedges such as you mention.
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#253 Ontario’s Left Coast
You are engaging in high risk behavior. Trust me. Good luck.
#148 Sebee
;-)
Great ideas!
Garth, the “gold nuts” don’t hate you at all. They enjoy your opinions on the barbarous relic and glean a continuing amusement.
#252 Paul on 10.04.15 at 12:19 pm
245 Oxi
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Any one that smokes weed sooner or later they are utter fools! Parting with there common sense and there money !
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Because no one ever gets hurt drinking booze….
SM
I didn’t realize how much of a patriot I was until I apologised to a comment I made. If we are to be a great country; we half to listen. There is a lot of pain and greed out there – time to grow up.
Hmmm… Pretty late today and nothing new.
Maybe Gartho has finally shut it down?
#265 Freedom First on 10.04.15 at 3:48 pm
#253 Ontario’s Left Coast
Hey fellas, can we agree that everyone has the freedom in this Great Country of Ours to have an opinion and to acto upon that, for example to shack up with a significant other, get married, have kids, or not?
There is no sense, Mr. OLC, to call out Mr. FF’s opinion – he appears to be happy in his lifestyle and is calling attention to perfectly valud choices.
Women have a “right to choose” and so do men. It doesn’t threaten me if someone doesn’t want to get married – I have been happily married for 25 years (and prior to that unhappily married twice – you have to kiss a few frogs, in my case).
Mr. FF is a character. He has an honest philosophy and is living by it. We should be glad of diversity, imo.
RE: #263 liquidincalgary on 10.04.15 at 3:28 pm
kommy kim
it is because of that increased sensitivity that you probably dont realise how ‘quick’ you are.
My wife is quicker, which is all that matters.
RE: #198 Smoking Man on 10.03.15 at 7:00 pm
#191 Freedom First on 10.03.15 at 6:02 pm
You get one that can cook, you’ve won the lottery.
FF just needs to find one with bigger assets than he has so that he can “win” in divorce.