Don't let her write my obituary

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/08/22/christie-blatchford-laytons-death-turns-into-a-thoroughly-public-spectacle/

 

                I just read Christie Blatchford’s column on Jack Layton.

                I know there’s always room for a difference of opinion, but this one comes across as a little too dark.

                The subtle jabs against the media, Layton, and the NDP, strike me as someone who has a bit of an axe to grind.

                Not that she should shed tears for someone she obviously cares little about, but she could at least recognize the public sentiment.

                Layton was no saint, but it’s only natural for a swell of public grief when someone is taken suddenly, particularly at the pinnacle of his career.  He was more popular now than he had ever been; to suggest that he wouldn’t garner such attention is naïve.

                This is a politician we’re talking about.  Not exactly a rock star.  It can be tough for a politician to get a handshake in a crowd, let alone have good things said about him postmortem.

                The attention he has received shows he made a difference.  While at once a shrewd politician, he could also show compassion.  Few politicians have written a book on homelessness. This was not missed on the public.  While not perfect, he should be credited for at least trying to make society a better place.  

                The letter he “allegedly” penned aimed to inspire.  It had a political point, like in everything he did.  It was needed – for many Canadians, Layton’s death means the death of a political alternative.  His shoes won’t be easily filled. 

                The public “spectacle” will end, much to the relief of certain people.  It may take a week of watching American news to avoid it, but it will end.

                For those who placed hope in Layton and his movement, the mourning is just beginning.

Same late thoughts on Marshall/Berry firings

            I had written a few weeks ago that changes to the Riders’ coaching staff would not be the answer for this team.  However, after seeing how Greg Marshall conducted himself on the sidelines in his final game against Toronto, I must say he appeared in over his head.  Not only could he not control his frustrations (blaming almost everything on the refs, it seemed), but he could no longer control his team.  The Riders had way too many unnecessary penalties.  Under Austin and Miller, the Riders were known for playing disciplined football ("too many men on the field" being the exception). 

But it was more than that.  In his final media scrum after being fired, Marshall still wouldn’t concede that he may have been part of the problem.  This is a little surprising for a 1-7 coach who had “no answers.”  Coaching is clearly about communicating, and he failed to garner confidence in his responses to the media.

            Doug Berry was also fired, which I think is the most unfortunate.  Berry was a positive force in the organization, but rarely received recognition because of the baggage he carried with him from Winnipeg.  While he and Durant experienced frustration this year due to the new receiver regiment, Durant can’t lay the blame solely on Berry.  It takes time for a new, less talented receiving corps to gel.  There were problems much bigger than Berry, with Durant and his receivers all sharing some of the blame.  The media and public were way too easy on Durant for implying that Berry was part of the problem.

Nevertheless, as my brother has said, Durant does need a healthy does of coddling.  Whether it’s a phone call from his dad, or the reassurance of another quarterback like Marcus Crandell, he needs the support.  A new quarterbacks coach would likely pay off handsomely for someone like Durant.  Throw in a sports psychologist, and he’s set.

            In the meantime, Ken Miller takes on the role of offensive coordinator and head coach.  This presents an interesting structural org chart, where Miller the offensive coordinator is under Miller the Head Coach who is under Brendan Taman the GM who is under Miller the VP of Football Operations.

            Will Miller, who now has his hands in everything, turn things around?  With the lack of talent, I seriously doubt it.  Unless our receiving corps can improve considerably and our defence can make a miraculous resurgence, I still see a 5-13 season on the horizon.

            As much as I’d love to put on the green-coloured glasses.

Secrets to financial success (while being poor)

            Most people, I suspect, have no idea where their money goes.

            They know roughly where it goes, but similar to the amount of income tax they pay, have no idea how much.

            I, unlike most normal humans, find it fascinating to know how much we spend each month.  At times it can be depressing, like when we spend $500 more than what we should have.  But it can also be exhilarating, like when we produce a $50 surplus (yes, the small things excite me).

            I do miss the days of two incomes and no mortgage.  After being a poor student for five years, it was like winning a lottery, but without the million-dollar home and Ferrari. 

            Instead we had a two-bedroom apartment and an old Honda.  But we could eat out whenever we pleased and could buy things that were not essential to living.

            Shopping has changed in nature since we bought a home and started a family.  It’s certainly our choice to live the way we do, and we have few complaints, but it is interesting how our spending patterns have changed.

            Our big shopping days now involve trips to the grocery store.  Prices are monitored carefully, restaurants are visited infrequently, and finances are tracked diligently.

            Every receipt gets entered in the master Excel file that produces a monthly number – the “number” tells us whether we’re free to spend or forced to save.

            Sound too regimented or anal?  Perhaps.  But in a society that has more debt than ever before (the average Canadian’s personal debt is at its highest level in history), is it not wise to watch our finances a little more closely?

            I do it because I know how easy it is to spend money when you have it, leaving nothing for when you need it.

            Just a few years ago, I received a healthy bonus in my paycheque due to a retroactive pay increase (yes, those are nice).  Did I wisely invest my windfall?   Three days later we had a new laptop and bike.  It’s human nature to spend when it’s there, and it’s human nature to always want more.

            To overcome human nature is no small feat, but it can be done if you have the fortitude to engage in a little self-deception.

            For myself, I start by under-stating how much we make while over-stating how much we spend.  Put in your expenses today what you plan to spend tomorrow, as much as this might drive your significant other crazy.

            “But we didn’t spend $100 on our vehicle this month,” your spouse may object when looking at your newly minted spreadsheet.  To which you will respond in your all-knowing financial voice, “Honey, all depreciation is now expensed.  Our vehicle just lost $100 in value this month.”

If you can start to generate a surplus, make sure the money is gone before you realize it’s there to spend.  Divert it into a long-term fund as soon as your paycheque arrives.

            The final element of self-deception may be the hardest of all, but is likely the most effective.  It is to deceive yourself into thinking you belong to a lower economic strata.  Essentially, this means hanging around people who have less than you.  Most financial hardship results from trying to keep up with those who appear to have more (the proverbial Joneses).  Stop admiring the guy with the Lexus (unless, like my uncle's, it’s 20 years old), and start befriending the guy with the Dodge.

            Nothing will help to keep you out of the red more than this.

A good book I enjoyed: http://www.greenwithenvythebook.com/book.htm