A true gentleman passed away this week, and I was saddened with the passing of Jean Beliveau. To me he was the epitome of a leader, and his demeanor on and off the ice was to be admired. My favorite Jean Beliveau story was when as a young lad, telling my Dad I’d play better hockey if I had a stick with a curved blade, and my Father’s response summed  it all up nicely, “If Jean Beliveau can play with a straight blade, you can too”. Let’s hope Mr. Beliveau’s blade continues to be straight, wherever he plays.

My Son and the Lt-General

I was privileged to be invited along with my son to National Defense HQ for an International Day of Persons with Disabilities festival. My son’s soccer Club the Just for Kicks group with the Nepean City Soccer Club, was invited to show off their skills and play against some very high-powered talent. The Generals involved were very good sports and I also met the head of Soldier On a support organization for wounded soldiers.

The malls are now crammed with folks trying to find the next “perfect” toy, but remember the reason you are out there. I will no doubt be in the middle of the bloody fray this weekend, so stay the heck out of my way, if you don’t want to see what I learned playing rugby.

Oh and congrats to Wales for defeating the Mighty South Africa Springboks last weekend (for only the second time in 100 years).

My Writings for Week Ending December 5th

Christmas lights twinkle and even I have got out the inflatable Christmas Penguin for the front of the Big C8j Hacienda :

• To get all Christmassy I decided to go cheesy with It’s A Wonderful Life (financially?) where I pointed out that Index Funds and It’s a Wonderful Life have a little bit in common, read to find out what.
• I went rummaging into my archives of articles that I had started but hadn’t finished and came up with  5 Ways to Optimally Use Your Pay Raise , some interesting comments to this one as well.
• In the dark archives when I was laid off from Nortel I found the following interesting story about Are You Giving me a Questionnaire about How I liked my Lay Off ? It really was!

This Week’s Finest

Have you finished all your Yuletide shopping? You have? What are you bent or something? How can you enjoy the mad panic of shopping if you finish it too early? At least you have time to read some great articles from this week:

• Mark from My Own Advisor tells us about My Personal Finance Ah-Ha! Moments, which I have had a few times too (A Ha! Investing in the WWE is a BAD idea).
• Rumors of the demise of Wind Mobile might be premature given they may have signed a roaming agreement with Telus, thus allowing them a much larger coverage area.
• Mark from the Blunt Bean Counter jumps into the entire TFSA Retired Welfare Bums argument with a helpful article on Tax Planning Strategies to Minimize the Old Age Security Clawback
• Sounds like the CRA is being spoil sports with the TFSA program, because evidently they are targeting folks with Big Wins with Audits. If someone can make big money in your program, and you don’t like it, change the darn rules.
• Barry from Money We Have wonders Are Cheap Flights From Buffalo International Airport For Real? My father-in-law certainly thinks so, as he flies to Arizona using that airport every year.
• Robb Engen from Boomer and Echo seems to be abandoning the world of Dividend investing and moving to the Dark Side of Index Funds, with this Two Fund Solution, welcome!
• Mark from 2nd Career Search gives us an update on his Keeping Busy during his Quasi-Retirement, he is doing more retired than I do normally!
• Our Big Fat Wallet wonders Do You Need to Use a Realtor ? In both instances my realtor had to work for her pay.
• It has been said before, but it is still very true, that After a Data Breach it’s the Consumer that is left holding the bag, and must clean up the mess that their finances and identity become.
• My University Money preaches to the choir with The Lazy Miracle of Online Shopping, I have loved on-line shopping for a while.
• Million Dollar Journey asks What is the Best Credit Card for Aeroplan Members?
• Interesting to hear that Stephen Hawking got a Technology Upgrade for his voice synthesis system, but he wants to keep his “robotic” voice, because he feels people view that as his voice now. I think he’s right.
• Kerry from Squawkfox reminds us that Impulse Buying is the Achilles of Saving Money, something to remember when you pick up that deluxe cheese straightener you have always wanted.
• The Canadian Budget Binder asks a hard question,  What pushes people over the edge financially? What they do after they go over the edge is not pretty either.
• Rumors of the demise of Where Does All My Money Go and Preet writing his blog was premature, and he returns with Does economic decision-making drain more will power for the poor?
• Do you understand what is meant by High Frequency Trading? Michael James tries to help with High Frequency Trading Simplified.

I Like John Oliver

John Oliver is quickly replacing the Colbert Report (for me) as being the most entertaining “News based comedy show” on TV, and here we have his opinion of Lotteries, Bravo!

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