OK, whoever is writing this stuff (the script for the world in which we live) is doing a bang up job. The twists and turns, the use of irony and dramatic foreshadowing, the list of characters and the character assassinations. So many literary devices on display. Hollywood screenwriters could not to a better job. In fact, in relation to the first pandemic in modern history, they did a terrible job in comparison. The movie Contagion (the Hollywood pandemic version) pales in comparison.
Contagion was trending in March and April on Netflix. Suckers for emotional punishment, my wife and I grabbed a bag of popcorn and watched that flick.
Yes, nothing spreads like fear.
The movie is quite entertaining and watchable. And the writers certainly did their research. There is so much in the movie that has played out in real life.
But it was certainly heavy-handed at times.
The real life version is way more interesting. Much more sophisticated and nuanced with many more layers and subplots. Mother Nature, she is one heck of a writer. She is the lead screenwriter and also the star of the real life show. I guess our creator has a hand in all of this as well – putting some very interesting world leaders (lead characters) on the planet and then in charge of our human response to Mother Nature’s coronavirus aka a serial killer.
Oh, and if you want to know how this real life movie might end (that is the end of the pandemic), you can have a read of yesterday’s post …
How does the pandemic end? With a cold.
Stop the digital presses.
This week offered one of the biggest curve balls and use of tragic irony. A sitting President who mocked the virus, got the virus. “Take that” says Mother Nature.
I had prepared my MoneySense post and had the final draft delivered and fixed up on Thursday.
Making Sense of the Markets this week – October 5.
And then Friday happened. Again, that’s the twist where President Trump announces that he has COVID-19. And that is tragic. No matter what we think of Mr. Trump we should wish him no ill will. I honestly hope he recovers. But perhaps not in time to show up for another not-so-Presidential debate. That was more of a debacle compared to a debate.
But on the subject of Presidential debates, you have to watch Canadian comedian Jim Carrey as Joe Biden. Brilliant …
In this case and in choice of debates, I prefer the world of comedy. We could all use a laugh.
I can’t imagine what Mother Nature has in store for us for the rest of 2020 and 2021. Once again, click on my above link if you want to discover when we get to …
More Weekend Reads.
Apologies to Mark Seed for making you follow Jim Carrey, but please have a read of …
Should I take the value of my commuted pension.
Great post. That is a more than interesting topic and it is always more than nuanced.
On this site, retirement specialist Alexandra Macqueen offered that the commuted pension decision is the cause of many mistakes that could cost one their retirement.
Our favourite Dividend Guy offers up on his favourite Canadian REITS.
And speaking of interesting characters Robert Brown, the author of the best-selling Wealthing Like Rabbits, takes a seat for Allain Guillot’s podcast.
I met Robert at the book launch for Larry Bates’ Beat The Bank. We had a good discussion, and laugh.
On findependencehub three things you and I don’t know about investing.
And on Savvy New Canadians Enoch shows us how to buy bitcoin in Canada. I hold a position in a bitcoin ETF, but I’m also looking to add more, and do so in a fashion where I can hold bitcoin directly. Great post, thanks.
On Maple Money, Bob Lai addresses – did COVID-19 kill the FIRE movement? FIRE stands for Financial Independence Retire Early.
Don’t pay for advice you don’t receive.
And last but not least, more on those nasty trailing commission mutual funds that are offered at several Canadian discount brokerages. They will allow you to buy the mutual fund that includes a trailing commission that is used to pay for advice given. The thing is, the discount brokerages are not allowed to offer you advice. Investors have been paying for something that they are not able to receive. The tab/losses runs into the billions of dollars. And Ken Kivenko offers that $180,000,000 is going into the wrong pockets each year.
Regulators know that’s all ‘bad’ and they will change the rules. But that rule change will not come into effect until June 2022. There’s more time to fleece investors. Yikes.
I am glad to report that Questrade has never offered the series of mutual funds that includes trailing commissions.
Once again folks, stay away from high fee mutual funds as a general rule. At your discount brokerage look for those D-series funds. And also consider lower-fee ETFs of course.
Canada’s top-ranked discount brokerage.
Cut The Crap Investing readers can sign up with Questrade (Canada’s top-ranked discount brokerage) through this partnership link. You can buy ETFs for free.
And check out EQ Bank for those who want to make their cash work a lot harder. The current high interest savings account rate is 1.5%.
While I do not accept monies for feature blog posts please click here on the mission and ‘how I might get paid’ disclosures. Those affiliate partnerships help me pay the bills for this site.
Dale
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