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Average American

Oct 31, 2021

There are so many basic things that can go wrong: an old motherboard that finally dies, an apartment ceiling crack and crash, a medical emergency, work hours cut for a couple of months, etc. In most cases, thousands of dollars will be required on short notice. It could get worse: a car accident, total loss of job, a natural disaster, etc. Then, tens of thousands would be needed. Almost 70% of Americans don't even have over a thousand dollars in their savings account. That has to be stressful.

Posted at 02:51 PM in Economics, USA | | Comments (0)

No trophy, again

Oct 31, 2021

In the World Cup, India have played two T20 matches in which their bowlers have taken a combined total of two wickets. Forget winning the tournament, they likely won't even make it to the semi-finals. Just like in 2019, it's New Zealand that squeezed the life out of the Indian batsmen.

The Indians have performed admirably in bilateral series over the past few years but their unfruitful record in global tournaments is becoming sadly predictable. The Champions Trophy, the two ODI World Cups, the Test Championship (effectively the final of a global event), and now the T20 debacle. What should be really concerning for Kohli is that in the past week, the matches weren't even close. 

I don't know if it's the burn-out from playing too much during Covid or if it's becoming a psychological thing -- kind of like how South Africa choke at basically every big event. 

Posted at 01:36 PM in Cricket | | Comments (0)

Colossus Lean

Oct 30, 2021

David Lean is one of the giants of cinema. His three successive motion pictures, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, and Doctor Zhivago, should be required watching for any student of film history. Those three have such intensely contrasting atmospheres and timeless themes. Lean spent years making each movie before the advent of computer generated imagery. Everything you see is real and was achingly shot on location.

Of course, there's no doubt, Lawrence of Arabia is his masterpiece.

Posted at 08:28 PM in Pop Culture, USA | | Comments (0)

Aussies annihilated

Oct 30, 2021

Jason Roy smacked the Australian bowlers with absolute contempt in the ODI World Cup two years ago. Today, it was Jos Buttler's turn. The new, super-aggressive approach of the English team got them the title then and they're certainly the favorites for the T20 trophy now. A battle between the power-packed English batting order and the skillful bowling of Pakistan should be pretty entertaining. If their performances continue, then the finals match will be between the two undefeated teams of the tournament.

Posted at 03:42 PM in Cricket | | Comments (0)

T20 World Cup

Oct 29, 2021

Group 2 rankings:

  1. Pakistan
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Namibia
  4. New Zealand
  5. India
  6. Scotland

If someone had offered me a bet stating that at some point in the World Cup, Afghanistan and Namibia will be ranked higher than both India and New Zealand, I would have lost.

Oh, it could get more surreal today if Afghanistan beats Pakistan to lead the group!

Update: Afghanistan fought hard and got close. Babar didn't respect Rashid and paid for it. Pakistan needed 24 off 12 balls. Asif Ali didn't even wait for the last over to absolutely destroy the target. Ali faced seven deliveries for his Man of the Match award!

Pakistan will go to the semi-finals. England and Australia will likely make it. The winner of the Sunday match between India and New Zealand will fill the fourth slot. If the two best teams make it to the final, then it'll be England vs. Pakistan. Though, it would be more fun to have a re-match of the very first T20 World Cup final. Why, Misbah, why!?

Anyway, the scheduling in the tournament is bizarre. Pakistan has already played three matches while big teams like New Zealand and India play their second match two days later!

Posted at 09:33 AM in Cricket | | Comments (0)

Kock Cucked

Oct 28, 2021

South African cricket goes full retard:

Quinton de Kock has apologised to his team-mates and fans for the "hurt, confusion, and anger" he caused by refusing to follow a CSA directive to take the knee at the T20 World Cup and sitting out the game against West Indies. [...]

"I understand the importance of standing against racism, and I also understand the responsibility of us as players to set an example. If me taking a knee helps to educate others, and makes the lives of others better, I am more than happy to do so."

Taking the knee isn't merely tolerated, it's mandatory! Surely, all those slaves workers in the United Arab Emirates must be elated when they see multimillionaire athletes on their knees for a few seconds. Perhaps, for the next World Cup, the South Africans can bend over and spread their cheeks. You know, for anti-racism.

Posted at 07:26 AM in Cricket | | Comments (0)

He finally loved Big Brother

Oct 27, 2021

If you're approved by the Left, then you can burn down entire neighborhoods and the media will report about your mostly peaceful protests. If you're hated by the Left, then they'll put you behind bars for an "insurrection" and drag out your trial to make an example out of you.

Posted at 07:17 PM in Politics, USA | | Comments (0)

Money printer pauses

Oct 27, 2021

The Bank of Canada can't ignore reality forever:

The Bank of Canada says it expects inflation to be higher than it originally thought and suggested an interest rate hike could come sooner than expected. [...]

The Bank of Canada says inflation appears to be less temporary than it originally thought.

Less temporary! Yeah, that means prices are going to increase a lot more in the coming months. The pain isn't over.

The article has been up for over an hour and we still have this:

The real GDP growth forecast was lowered a percentage point to 5.1 in 2021, and by 0.3 percent in 20022 to 4.3 per cent 2022.

Come on, man! Fix those basic errors.

Posted at 11:33 AM in Economics, Politics | | Comments (0)

Don't bend the knee

Oct 26, 2021

The BLM (Burn Loot Murder) BS has infected the world of cricket:

CSA has noted the personal decision by Quinton de Kock to not take the knee ahead of Tuesday's game against West Indies*. All players had been required, in line with a directive of the CSA board on Monday, to take the knee in a united and consistent stance against racism. And de Kock, who had chosen not to take a knee - or raise a fist or stand in attention, the other expressions of support for the BLM movement - in the past, opted against taking part in the game in Dubai altogether in a late decision.

Good on Quinton for refusing to bow down to his lunacy.

CSA's board has steered away from directing the team until this point, but changed their mind after South Africa's opening T20 World Cup match against Australia, where Australia took a knee but South Africa maintained their three options. England, West Indies, India and Scotland have also taken a knee so far, while Pakistan held their hands to their hearts.

Stop with the absurd political nonsense. Just play cricket!

Posted at 06:04 PM in Cricket | | Comments (0)

Canada in Clown World

Oct 26, 2021

Prime Minister Zoolander makes a move:

The Liberal Party of Canada under Justin Trudeau have carved out a new role in cabinet to tackle housing.

Ahmed Hussen becomes Minister of Housing, along with Minister of Diversity and Inclusion, after previously serving as Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

Many are calling Canada's housing situation a crisis and it was a key election topic. Prices are up as much as 30 per cent or more in parts of the country.

I'm sure that Mr. Hussen will be pondering on how to combat the housing crisis as his government imports 1.2 million new immigrants over the next three years.

Posted at 05:57 PM in Economics, Politics | | Comments (0)

Broken promises

Oct 25, 2021

In 1913, the marginal income tax was 7% on income above $500,000. Thirty years later, the top marginal rate was a staggering 94% for incomes above $200,000. Of course, the rates for all income brackets had increased. The tax wasn't just for "the rich".

The same will happen with the wealth tax. The ultra-rich will simply shift their capital to avoid this tax -- their armies of lawyers and accountants will be handsomely paid for their valiant efforts. Pretty soon, the not-so-rich will have to pony up cash to the government for the inflated house prices, stock market returns, and obscene crypto gains. Few will be forced to sell their assets to pay these absurd taxes. The wealth gap will grow wider.

Of course, it's possible the historical record doesn't apply today. Our governments are, perhaps, forthright and frank. They will only tax the super wealthy. We can trust them. It's possible. Let's go, Brandon!

Posted at 07:54 PM in Economics, History, Politics, USA | | Comments (0)

The Pathans are merciless

Oct 25, 2021

Scotland crushed:

4 - Ducks by the Scotland batters at Nos. 3, 4 5 and 6. It is the first instance of a team's No. 3 to No. 6 batters getting out for a duck in a men's T20I innings. Five Scotland batters bagged a duck, the joint-second most in a men's T20 World Cup innings.

The Afghanistan matches against Pakistan, India, and the Kiwis should be quite entertaining. Anyway, it's quite funny to see Afghanistan leading its group.

Posted at 07:24 PM in Cricket | | Comments (0)

The streak is over

Oct 24, 2021

There's something about the United Arab Emirates that makes the Pakistani cricket team into absolute monsters:

Pakistan recorded their first win in the men's T20 world cup against India, having failed in their previous five attempts. It was also the first time Pakistan won a men's world cup game - ODI or T20 against India, across 13 matches.

The Shah delivery that got Rahul was pure gold. Later, the Indian bowlers didn't build any pressure. Bumrah is outstanding but he couldn't make a breakthrough today.

It would be shocking if Pakistan and England didn't make the semi-finals. India will have to fight hard against the Kiwis next Sunday.

Posted at 07:10 PM in Cricket | | Comments (0)

Don't give in

Oct 23, 2021

John "Pied" Piper:

My aim in this article is to encourage Christians to be vaccinated, if they can do so with a good conscience and judicious medical warrant.

The lies flow! The following paragraph is truly something to behold.

Your conscience is increasingly clear. It says, “Get vaccinated.” But there is this niggling fear of looking left wing, or progressive, or Democratic, or compromised, or woke!

The entire system of government, pharma, and mainstream media is portraying the rejecters of "vaccines" as science-denying grandma killers who should be denied gyms, restaurants, cinemas, air travel, medical care, etc. Yet, somehow, in the magical world of Piper, it's the vaccinated who get dirty looks.

Posted at 09:01 AM in Politics, USA | | Comments (0)

Absolutely shocking!

Oct 22, 2021

The man who is most responsible for printing trillions of dollars is telling us that inflation just might last a bit longer:

Global supply-chain constraints and shortages that have led to elevated inflation “are likely to last longer than previously expected, likely well into next year,” Powell said, while adding that “it is still the most likely case” that as those constraints ease.

From early 2020 to late 2022, a full-time minimum wage worker in America and Canada will have his real income cut by 25% or more. Buying a house was a dream. Now, renting a one-bedroom apartment is going to be tough for low-wage workers. Inflation is a hidden tax but it's really insidious for the poor.

Posted at 06:47 PM in Economics, Politics, USA | | Comments (0)

No mercy from the money printer

Oct 21, 2021

In the past year, food is up by 20%, real estate spiked by 25%, and oil price has increased by over 33%. Oh, and just this month, the minimum wage in Ontario increased by a generous 0.7%! Even with a 10% growth in wage, the real incomes of most people would have decreased.

Posted at 06:10 PM in Economics, Politics | | Comments (0)

Reasonable force

Oct 21, 2021

From the pretrial of Kyle Rittenhouse:

An Illinois man who shot three people during a protest over police brutality in Wisconsin last year was justified because the men confronted him and two of them tried to wrestle his gun away, a use-of-force expert called by the defense testified at a pretrial hearing Tuesday.

The expert, John Black, spent hours outlining the moments that led to Kyle Rittenhouse’s decisions to shoot Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz, offering a preview of the defense team’s strategy when Rittenhouse’s trial begins next month. Black testified that video shows Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse and reaching for the teenager’s gun, Huber attacking Rittenhouse with a skateboard and trying to wrestle away his gun, and Grosskreutz running at him with a pistol in his hand.

Posted at 05:55 PM in Politics, USA | | Comments (0)

Huge tax increase for the poor

Oct 20, 2021

The highest inflation in Canada in a generation:

The Consumer Price Index in Canada jumped 4.4 per cent year over year in September.

Statistics Canada says it’s the fastest pace of inflation since February 2003, and up from a 4.1 per cent rise in August.

Parents must be in shock when they fill up their car at the pump.

Drivers continue to feel pain at the pumps with a 32.8 per cent increase in gasoline prices, but those scorching gains were 0.1 per cent lower than in August.

Don't worry, the core only went up 1.8%!

“The core-common component indicator remained at 1.8 per cent,” said Mendes.

“That's the measure that's most correlated with slack in the economy and will likely leave the central bank viewing the recent rise in prices as transitory.”

Yeah, tell that to the minimum wage workers in Ontario who got a splendid 2.5% increase in three years.

Posted at 01:20 PM in Economics, Politics | | Comments (0)

Maximize the min

Oct 19, 2021

Absolute garbage health advice:

The red made me laugh. I had eggs earlier today and then it's ground beef (chili) with shredded cheddar later in the week.

Posted at 07:10 PM in Life, Politics | | Comments (0)

The mockery stings

Oct 17, 2021

The Babylon Bee is absolutely crushing it:

Green: You guys wrote an article in January 2020 that was shared roughly 3 million times, claiming that Democrats called for the American flag to be flown at half-staff when the Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was killed in an American strike.

What makes this funny? I know that’s the worst question to ask somebody who writes jokes. [...]

Mann: Do you want me to explain the joke to you? Because the joke is that General Soleimani died and Democrats were sad.

If you don’t know why that’s funny, then you’re not the audience for the joke. The funniest part is that it got fact-checked because it was so believable that Democrats would do that. That’s a real honor.

The fact that their satire gets fact-checked is pure gold.

I laughed at this gem:

One infamous example came when left-wing fact-checking site Snopes was compelled to check out the veracity of a 2018 Babylon Bee joke article claiming CNN had purchased an "industrial-sized washing machine to help its journalists and news anchors spin the news before publication." Snopes confirmed the piece was, in fact, satire.

Posted at 10:55 AM in Politics, USA | | Comments (0)

Money printer has no sympathy

Oct 16, 2021

Reason: High Inflation Is Here To Stay But the people in power won’t even say as much, let alone do something about it.

That is such a bizarre title for the article considering this excerpt:

Let us not forget that inflation is not about rising prices. The rising price level is the result of an inflated money supply—all those trillions of stimulus dollars now out and chasing harder after goods and services.

That is correct. The people in power are responsible for the staggering increase in the money supply. Why would one expect them to own up to it or do something about it? It's like pleading with a cold career criminal to help his numerous victims.

Posted at 12:58 PM in Economics, Politics, USA | | Comments (0)

No tears for traitors

Oct 16, 2021

A British politician was stabbed to death by diversity:

Counter terrorism officers are tonight leading the investigation into the murder of Tory MP Sir David Amess, as forces across the country are being urged to launch an 'immediate review' of security for politicians. [...]

The popular politician - who won at the last general election with a margin of 14,000 votes - was knifed 'multiple times' by a 25-year-old killer - believed to be of a British national of Somali heritage.

He actively supported the invasion. He paid the price for his treachery.

'He's always trying to help people and especially refugees he's tried to help. He's a very amicable person and he does stick by his guns, he says what he believes and he sticks by it.'

Posted at 07:42 AM in Politics, World War III | | Comments (0)

The Enemy of the People

Oct 16, 2021

The Horse Worm Rogan saga:

Rogan made a very important observation: if CNN is going to lie about a comedian who took some medication, then what else are they lying about? They simply cannot be trusted on anything.

Posted at 07:34 AM in Politics, USA | | Comments (0)

Canada is colossal

Oct 15, 2021

I've heard stories from colleagues about visiting relatives who wanted to tour locations in Canada while not having a clue about geography. For example, someone's parents were interested in going to the local mall and then a drive over to see Niagara Falls later that day.

They were in Montreal! That's a fourteen-hour round trip. The parents were even more bummed to learn that driving to Vancouver was totally out of the question.

Posted at 03:00 PM in General | | Comments (0)

Lower than minimum

Oct 15, 2021

As worker shortages persist and government subsidies approach their end, a growing number of industry groups — largely in food services — are asking the federal government to let them host more temporary foreign workers to fill jobs.

Why do companies want foreign workers when there are plenty of unemployed people in Canada?

A federal audit in 2017 found that the program was rife with oversight problems that let lower-paid international workers take jobs that unemployed Canadians could fill, effectively allowing companies to build a business model on lower-than-legal wages.

Yeah. The minimum wage in Ontario went up by a staggering $0.10 this month to $14.35 per hour. Businesses can get foreign workers for $10/hr or less. What, exactly, is the point of having a minimum wage law when firms can easily bypass it?

Posted at 11:37 AM in Economics, Politics | | Comments (0)

"Vaccines"

Oct 14, 2021

Of course, this is just proof that UK needs to VAX HARDER!

Pay the pharma companies tens of billions of more dollars for extra jabs to get the job done. Now, bend over!

Posted at 03:45 PM in Politics | | Comments (0)

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