Mixed Bag

Hello there again my dear and precious readers,

It has been a while since my last vent on here and the following aren't really vents as much as just really stupid things I've noticed that I find could be humerous to bring out.

1) The pregame show in sports: So... its superbowl and that means pre game shows on every sports channel. So we have a bunch of old washed up old football players telling us their predictions (often wrong) and how their team of choice will wash the floor with their opponent's collective asses. I sit there thinking... why does anyone care? I just want to watch the big game, I don't need some old hag-a-sauraus telling me what strategy their team should be using. This pregame show business is just a huge waste of time and it takes attention away from things in life that really matter... doing anything possible to load our wallets up with Benjamins or Queen Victoria's (depending on where you're from) so that we can buy things for loved ones, and NYX shares for ourselves.

2) Our lust and dependance for technology: So... twas the Sunday night past and in my appartment, not a creature was stirring, only my roommate and I. My laptop broke AGAIN... yea damn you COMPAQ!!! This time nothing I did worked to fix it... My exam was on Thursday and my notes disappeared into the technological black hole along with whatever shred of credibility that COMPAQ has as a brand. Thank Allah that a classmate of mine had all the notes, and the exam went reasonably well. But as I sit here it becomes clear to me that we are way too dependant on technology. Imagine life without your laptops for facebook stalking (only applicable to certain people I know), or your tvs for JC watching, or your ipod for entertainment... not long ago we were all on that boat, but now if this technology is taken away, we would be like heroine addicts without heroine...how horrible. Technology is consuming us like a python swallowing a rabbit (just imagine that in your head). It is sad that our happiness level can only become stablilzed with improving technologies, and everyone would break down into depression, unemployment, and divorce... yes divorce, if technology was taken away. Now all of you can deny that if you want, but deep down you know its true.

3) dogs - self explanitory, dogs are the four legged heathens of the universe.

4) instant messaging - what you can't pick up a phone? cmaaaaaan!!!

So yea the last 2 were clearly filler. Since nothing above was enough for its own post, might as well put it in a mixed bag. Until next time, enjoy!

JC in training

The Definition of Occupation

This post is in response to all who doubt that my trading stocks is a legitimate job or "occupation", and also to those who marginalize what I do, and think it is in any way stupid. I am tired of defending myself to all of you individually so take a good read and hopefully by the end I will have changed your mind.

According to my good friend www.dictionary.com, "occupation" has the following meanings.

1) a person's usual or principal work or business, esp. as a means of earning a living
2) refer to the activity to which one regularly devotes oneself, esp. one's regular work, or means of getting a living.
3) An activity that serves as one's regular source of livelihood; a vocation.
4) the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

Just to name a few.

What I am NOT are the following:

1) Professional: a person who is expert at his or her work
2) Trades person: some line of skilled manual or mechanical work; craft

Last time I checked, I used the dividends I pay myself to buy things I like, just like anyone of you haters use your paychecks to buy your own things.

I have heard an argument that what I do can't be considered a job, but moreso a hobby. WELL to you I say, "where in any of my definitions does it say that a hobby can't be an occupation?" But even MORE fundamental, "what makes trading stocks for real money a hobby?"

Again, referring back to dictionary.com, a hobby is:
"an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation."
By that definition, my stock trading WOULD be a hobby if I were doing it with monopoly money, but I am not, this is very real to me. I don't care if i have $1.00 or $1 million to invest in stocks, as long as what I do meets the "occupation" criteria, which it does, then what I do should count, and should not be marginalized by anybody.

While it is true that I am not and cannot be a "professional" trader, as I do not have my CFA certification, but that is why I must turn to a trained and time tested professional that we all know and love for advice (thank you JC). You don't have to be a professional to have a job, I am not, and I do. All those who question how much work actually goes into what I do should spend a day with me, perhaps that will change your mind.

To those who mock my dedication to the job ie. waking up at market open every day to follow the market I ask. "What is wrong with being passionate and caring about what you do?" Markets are changing every second, and it would be stupid to not be on top of things (unless I'm sitting in class). Not caring is like a factory worker without steel toed boots, or a goalie without a jock, and like a jogger without his/her ball chafe reduction shorts, not to mention that I love following the market. If any of you should be so lucky to land a job, any job that you love in the future, maybe you will understand.

Bottom Line:

What I do requires a tremendous amount of reading, research, and time before making decisions. It means something real to me as real money is on the line every second of every weekday between 9:30 and 4pm (except for american civic holidays, and other religious occasions). I am only being prudent by caring so much, and I do pay myself a portion of the profits to support my below subsistence lifestyle. So given that what I do meets the requirements of an occupation, WHAT THE HELL IS THE PROBLEM? get off my back or go to hell before the wrath that i will administer sends you there!

Angrily frustrated

Charles

PS. Thank you to all my supporters, and especially thank you to anybody who started trading stocks because of my influence. I would love nothing more than to know that people got rich off of my passion and their own ideas.

For the Good of Future Generations

Being a business student in University (College for my American readers), we are expected not only to take our required business related courses (accounting, law, finance etc.) but we are also need to take arts and essay related courses to become more "well rounded" which is fine and dandy.

Herein lies my inextinguishable anger. My philosophy class is, an essay class that supposedly teaches us about how to be ethical in the work place... or so the course description says.... alright I can accept that, people need to know how to conduct themselves in the work environment.
However, after 2 months of suffering through this course, I realize it is nothing more than constant discussion about the moral dilemmas of doctors and lawyers. If I was at all interested in knowing whether or not to tell patients the true extent of their sicknesses I would become a doctor. It is bad enough that the course is complete bullshit from day 1, but our good for nothing prof. is completely useless in teaching us the key concepts of morality. She fails horribly to "teach" the course, and therefore the poor students, myself included in that class are completely clueless and left scratching their heads during the last exam. This is a grave injustice to everybody in that class who didn't get what they pay for.

This is a half course and come December, there will be professor evaluations. I believe that it is my duty to express my feelings to the head of our MOS (Management and organizational studies) program so they can eliminate this useless class and save students some money.

I know this is not only going on in business. Every faculty has useless classes thats only good for sucking student cash that could be used to buy Cisco shares YEA CISCO!!! back to the topic at hand. I encourage all of you to express your feelings come class/prof evaluation time. I believe that your comments will make a difference, and that is to better the lives of our younger generations, and also the satisfaction of seeing the downfall of overwhelmingly gay classes.

Hating London With a Passion

Coming off the new worst day ever, I have to find something I've always hated to blow off some much needed steam. I've made public of my never dying hatred for London Ontario, and today is a good time to explain why.

- today while taking the bus to class, I was late because there was a 90 mile long train going through the tracks on Richmond. If that happened in Toronto, the city would be in chaos. Damn you London.

- the weather is HORRENDOUS in London. Its bad enough that it rained out 3 of our ball hockey games, but it just won't stop. It's never sunny, and the snows twice as hard and is 12% colder here as well.

- Its bad enough that good food in Toronto and Vancouver is like....... zebra excrement compared to the likes of glorious Hong Kong, but London??? holy sweet mother of JC. Manchu Wok is London's idea of Chinatown and it is gross.

-I recently read in The Gazette (London student newspaper) that undergrad and grad students aren't staying to pursue their careers in London..... CAN YOU BLAME THEM? holy Moses would you smell those fuckin' roses, who would want to spend the rest of their lives rotting away in this urine soaked hell hole? The average age of the population triples during summer time... but thats ok I'm not even here anyways.

- However, I do have a softspot in my heart for my school UWO, who has given me so much new knowledge, and new friends. The locals here are good too, they've shown me that poverty, an empty parking lot makes for the best ball hockey I have ever played in my life, thank you parking lot league.

Ahhh... ok I feel better now, off to bed.

PS. Damn you London

When it rains..... it pours and doesn't stop

It is fitting that I am writing this as it is raining outside. The 2 days October 16th and 17th will be remembered for a long time because they are probably 2 of the worst days of the year.

Mondays are usually bad enough with horrendous 8 hour classes, but it gets worse. MY LAPTOP BROKE AGAIN.... DAMN YOU COMPAQ. I tried to fix it without losing all my crap but i failed. I lost everying including my law notes which is extremely devastating. I had to stay up till 4 just to get most of the programs back up and running again. Why can't you just stay broken so I can replace you with the Sony Vaio with the fingerprint detector?

And today.........the weather says it all..... dark, and horrible. I wake up to see that Dow and NASDAQ down SIGNIFICANTLY..... that does not bode well for my AUO and FDX shares. As a result I have lost more money than i would wish to which is 0. I have about 8 or 9 more hours of finance studying to go with a big mid term on saturday, and I am sitting outside my classics class right now hoping only that he mentions the funny email reply that he sent my stupid friends who emailed him. God I suck.....

Please stop this horribleness before I implode

The Man Behind the Hate

Hello again loyal readers,


I am sure many people are wondering what kind of person could possibly be so hateful in his blog, well here I am. This is my neutral face.... don't I look sad, jeez, no wonder why I am so hate filled. Anyways, I am a Libra, and enjoy long walks on the beach haha.


Have a good day everybody, anger free

CharleS

Beginning of the School Year

Hello loyal readers,

So.... summer is over, and school has started. Fresh faces, familiar places. I feel it is time to reflect on the past, analyze the present, and give you all some forward looking statements about the future.

The Past: In past posts, I have used hilarious, harsh, and honest (the 3 H's that are croosh (thats 5 upper jibberish for crucial) for success).

The Present: The past trend will continue, as I will continue to mercilessly curse at every single thorn in my side in a very open and public manner. Before I can go into the future, I must do a few things,

1) I no longer hate women drivers. I was thinking about it, and I ask myself, How can I hate women drivers? they've never been in an accident while I was in their car, nor have i been hit by one (although I almost did by a chinese lady on central and richmond.... damn you). Instead, all they have done is given me instance upon instance in which I can do nothing but point and laugh. If i hated everyone who has never harmed me, and has only brought me laughter and joy, I would never have a friend. Until it directly affects me, it never gets old and therefore I upgrade my "hate" rating on women drivers to a "like".

2) I would also like to downgrade my "hate" rating on bitches.... and dogs too hahaha... i kill myself sometimes. I feel that hate is not strong enough to describe my anger towards bitches and dogs. so... screw them all to hell.

3) Have any of you ever been in a class you hate so much that you'd rather be getting your arms sawed off by a rusty chainsaw? well to me that class would be my philosophy of business ethics class.... please nobody take this class no matter what school you go to, it will only bring you suicidal tendencies. This class is now added to my hate list.

The Future: With new technologies every day, and the start of a new school year, who knows what innovative things that could come up deserving of public ridicule, but rest assured, with me on the case, I will track down each and every one of those things for you. Thank you for your loyalty, and I hope you all come back to the ventillation centre for all your humour and ventillation needs.

The Management

Feasibility Project

The project everyone feared most, and now I realize that it was for a good reason.

After months of slacking off, it was down to the wire with what was one of the most ridiculously work heavy projects mankind my age has ever known. It took an all nighter from the management of ECPT to submit that project. Tempers were lost, voices raised, and and patience was tried.

Everything is finally over. Submitted, presented, and it is now time to reflect. To some/most, this project was only worth 15% of our mark, but called for hundreds if not thousands of people hours, and therefore a giant waste of time. Although it may have been worth very little in terms of absolute value, I believe that there was a lesson here that is much more valuable. This lesson is how to work as a group, and perform your best during times of physical fatigue, mental strain, and emotional emptiness. I firmly believe that we at ECPT have passed this test with flying colours.

I know people who still remember doing this project over 10 years ago. I know that I too won't soon forget about this experience.

Thank yous go out to:

Corey - may balance sheets and income statements balance more smoothly in the future

Christina - may cellphone companies one day make a water/toilet proof cell phone just for you

Kyle - there's no need to put your hat on and take your hat off x 1000, in frustration over a completable task. Frustration is only for those who have little faith in what they're doing

Nga - One day at a time, stress is like a rocking chair, it goes back and forth, but you end up in the same place at the end, read the poem

Jeremy - hopefully food will one day release its strangle hold on you

Eugenia - I will master the bubble blowing techniques you've taught me, but eating slower may take a while

Well feas is finally over and so is this vent. So lets all DRINK!!!

Bone Heads on Campus

My 6th grade teacher told me that as you get older, your brain turns to mush. How true it is. Yesterday while riding my bike around campus on the bicycle trail, some numbskull girl walks right across, I slam on the brakes and was an inch away from hitting her, breaking her left leg in places that would ensure that she needs crutches for the rest of her life. All she can say for herself is "oops sorry." Well I have some words for you and people like you. Its called a bicycle path for a reason you blind mindless pawns of society.

Another thing, in classes where participation marks are worth 10%, I am sick and tired of the brainless sacks of hippo excrements asking idiotic questions to earn that 10%. Is it so hard to make a half intelligent, and socially accepted comment in class? Please stop wasting my time, money, and patience on shit like that.

University Business Ethics

Every year in Ontario, students are forced to pay thousands of dollars for University tuition. With classes come textbooks, and that is going to be the point of discussion. My friend and I go into the bookstore of UWO recently to purchase my textbooks. I see a girl buying one of her first year sociology textbooks. We see her holding up a used version of the old text book, and a brand new edition text book. The old one was about half the cost of the brand new one. We tell this girl that the old version is exactly the same as the new version, so she opens it up and realizes the only difference is the added index at the end of the book, and the template in which the book was designed. This is a perfect example of the money hungry professors out there. They know that when a student buys one of their books new, that they receive an X amount of royalties, so what they do is make new versions of the book on an almost annual basis in hopes that students don't realize the miniscule differences that exist between the old and new books, and end up buying the new version of the textbook. I would like to remind all those professors out there that taking advantage of students (most of whom who need to take out student loans to be here) is an extremely low and disgusting tactic. You'r 6 figure salaries should be more than enough to live comfortably in a country like Canada, so please stop being assholes and just use the same textbook as a year or two years prior. The material is pretty much the same thing.

Going Through Customs

I recently went on a Cruise vacation, although the trip was quite enjoyable and relaxing, leaving the ship at the end was far from relaxing. My ship had the bright idea that everyone leaving the ship should go through customs on the ship as opposed to at the airport..... BIG MISTAKE. There were thousands of people trying to get off one ship and there were only 5 counters working. Eventually everyone was so messed up at the line, a very loud and UNnecessary argument broke out between my friend and some horrible American lady. After a lot of cursing and screaming, the security people finally split the Americans, and non Americans into two different lines. I was shocked to see that the American lines moved so quickly and the non American lines were scanned so thoroughly. This shows the prejudice that Americans have against all other peoples. For shame. When we finally got to the customs officer, he had the worst attitude ever, it made me want to strangle his loved ones. Screw all of you judgemental and evil Americans.

Bad Experience at Work

I have recently finished working at my first ever job at a non-profit organization. Before I started, I figured people there would be very friendly, and eager to help everyone who came in. For the most part, I was right, but I had certain superiors fail to realize the organization’s mission objectives, and showed it through their treatment of clients and volunteers. About 1% of the working population in North America is lucky enough never to have worked for an employer or supervisor that they did not like. Unfortunately, I am not part of that one percent. Superiors must realize that how they behave does have a big effect on the efficiency and morale of the people around them. I realize it is extremely difficult being a boss. You must be in charge of a big group of people, and it is your job to ensure that they perform all their tasks efficiently, economically and correctly. Failure in any one of the three will result in the loss of your job or a severe tongue-lashing by the person above you. The stress is very high, but bosses/supervisors must realize that the people who work for you have feelings also, and do not appreciate yelling for harmless mistakes, or problems that are not even their fault in the first place. As difficult and stressful it is to be in charge of a group of people, a boss must be professional enough to be able to keep their cool, and make sure that a worker is truly wrong before receiving punishment. This is not even my biggest annoyance with lower management types. At my former place of employment, I was absolutely blown away by some of the treatment that the volunteers received from some of the people at my workplace. Constantly being pestered for every little task. I would like to remind everyone (mainly workers in a non profit setting) that volunteers have graciously donated their time to you because they know ANYTHING they can offer would be appreciated, so please treat them nicely and maybe once in a while, they might return to help your sorry asses instead of scurrying away being turned off by volunteer work.

Driving Examination or Acting School?

In Ontario, to become a fully licensed driver of vans, cars, pickup trucks etc. one must successfully pass two road examinations. I fully agree with why there needs to be any form of examination, obviously it is to ensure that the person is qualified enough not to be a hazard to him or herself, as well as all of the other drivers and pedestrians on the road. However, I disagree and am frustrated by a need for the second driving exam, which is a repeat of the first examination except the driver must now drive on the highway, which in my opinion is 10 times easier and less stressful than city driving. The main set back of this second exam gives a person something to put on their to do list within the next one to five years. Driving exams in general have a major set back, and that is the driving schools that prep students for road examinations. Many people I know receiving two to three hours of training just prior to the exam to make it easier to pass. This is just dumb because it is just like a certain chemistry teacher giving our class the final exam to study off of, giving us the exam to that “preparation booklet” and then examining us on the exact same material afterwards (which by the way did happen, but the name of the teacher will remain anonymous). Therefore, the driving examination is nothing more than a person regurgitating what they just did less than an hour ago with a “trained” driving instructor. What does a person learn from this? I come from an area that has a very high Asian population, and I have observed first hand, that the driving examination has done nothing to enhance the driver’s skills, or obedience of street laws, so what is the point? I am tired of Ontario’s dumbass system and am very close to write a very angry letter to the guy in charge of this little acting school.

Battle of the Sexes

I had a very interesting and controversial conversation with a friend of mine the other day about how society views females as superior to males. Let us review some evidence for this:

- Females pay lower insurance rates.
- In a majority of cases, females never have to pay for dates
- Easy access into bars
- They can sometimes seduce their way out of traffic tickets

But are all of these advantages really unfair? Are all the above even advantages? Do females deserve some advantages to the overwhelming list of disadvantages? What advantages do males have that females don't? All things must be considered before coming to a quick conclusion.

- As much it angers me that females pay lower insurance, it is purely based on statistics that
females pay less insurance and not gender discrimination against males.

- Females aren't allowed to play in most professional sports.

- Females will probably not be president or a leader of any significant country our lifetimes.

- Females getting easy access into bars seems unfair, but it is actually an ingenius plot for more
sales and higher revenue. Think about it, if a bar is notorious for many fine women (once
again... probably of the asian pursuasion) then that will undoubtedly attract many more males
who tend to spend much more at bars, and therefore increase revenue. Easy access into bars
is not sex discrimation against males, but merely an excellent marketing plot.

- Females have to go through so many disadvantages physically that males don't have to go
through: periods, labour, menopause. Wouldn't it be fair for them to recieve some sort of
special treatment in return?

I am far from a feminist by any stretch of the imagination, but in terms of equality, females are still at a disadvantage, and all of the "advantages" that they recieve are either well planned marketing schemes, or that they are well deserved. So before anyone thinks that society favors females, keep this information in mind.

P.S this article may seem that it doesn't belong in the ventilation centre because I'm not venting my anger, but it must be noted that females paying less insurance angers me like nobody's business and thus this post does belong.

Cheap Parents

For all the cheap parents out there, you know who you are and this ones for you!! As a person who works an aggravating job with low pay during the summer, I understand that a dollar is hard to come by. Realizing this, you guys really should step up once in a while and show us you care, by opening up your deep pockets and sparing a little to get us a little bit of motivation to continue working at our crummy ass part time jobs, but instead you guys see fit to be cheapskates and rob us of our burger flippin', penny scrapin', crappy part time job workin' youths. Don't give us that "money is tight dear" crap, we see through you like glass. We know somewhere around the house you guys are holdin thousands if not millions and stocks and bonds that you're not telling us about, so to all cheap parents out there. PLEASE be generous once in a while, because in this day and age "putting food in your mouth and a roof over your head" just doesn't cut it anymore

More Foolish American Antics

The U.S government creates money that values from$100 bills to the penny. These, and everything in between are mediums of exchange which allows anyone to trade this money for goods and service. Since $1 = 100 pennies, it is natural that if an item or service comes out to be $39.93 and someone gives you 93 pennies, it would be both troublesome and annoying for the cashier to count all the pennies, but since the penny is a medium of exchange, just like the $100.00 dollar bill, it should definately accepted everywhere, unlike stupid american express credit cards, which I've noticed that its hardly accpted at all. In my 16 years living and Canada, and 2 years in Hong Kong, I have never encountered a situation where a vendor has denied the using of pennies as part of paying for a good or service that requires cash payment, but just the other day at the train station (which is government run), I paid the $3.75 for my train ticket with 3 dollar bills, 2 quarters, 2 dimes, and 5 pennies. To my surprise the chicken shit hiding behind the bullet proof pane of glass told me that they don't accept pennies, so I was forced to break a dollar bill because of a measely 5 cents. This kind of behaviour would be annoying, but understandable if it were some punk kid behind the counter of some convenience store who is too damn lazy to count, but this is a governmental organization. Why doesn't a government organization accept money that the government makes? Is it just me or are Americans getting dumber as Bush sits in office for longer? The situation contines to frustrate me more and more every day as i sit here in a room full of pennies, with nothing to do but to hide it in dogfood as i go feed it to the neighbor's annoying dog.

U.S Hypocrisy

"Seven homeowners in this small waterfront community lost a groundbreaking U.S. Supreme Court decision Thursday when justices ruled that City Hall may take their property through eminent domain to make way for a hotel and convention center."

The Americans have done it again, this time in the supreme courts. It is absolutely MIND BOGGLING that a country whose "bright" leader keeps pushing the fact that the American soldiers are in Iraq "fighting for freedom" but back at home, seven home owners had their homes stripped from them for what? a hotel and convention center? That is absolutely REEDICULOUS. To think that in "the land of opportunity," it could be possible for you to to be forced out of your home for minimal compensation so the government can accomodate more tourists. Is this the kind of "freedom" that Bush meant? Well this article sure opened my eyes to the type of people that are running and ruling this country, and I for one will have no part of it.

Those Bitchy-Ass Girls Who Think They're All That

So you're walking down the street minding your own business, when a beautiful young woman walks by (possibly of the "Asian Persuasion") and all the sudden you accidently bump into this girl dressed all "fooligan-ish." You apologize, but not only does she not accept your apology, but she goes on to say some crap like "What the fuck yo? If my boyfriend was here he'd kick your ass" .... what the hell you ugly bitch, why must you be such a bitch for? Please just accept the fact that accidents DO happen, just look in the mirror.

Bad Drivers

Driving is one of my biggest passions. There is no feeling like blasting down the 404 or 407 at 140km/h. But every so often there will be these people who see fit to clog up all 3 lanes by driving at 100 or below when there are no other cars in front. To all of you who do that, all I have to say to you is "What the hell? There are 3 lanes for a reason, for all you slowpokes out there, drive on the slow lane (thats the one on the right).

This next section pertains only to Asian drivers. For any of you who has been to Pacific Mall will know what I'm Talking about. The people come inches away from hitting pedestrians, honk at each other of parking spaces, and sometimes it even leads to verbal and physical violence. For anyone who has experienced this, my advice to you is to follow the damn rules of parking lot driving. Pedestrians come first, and who ever signals first gets the damn space, PLEASE don't send you wife or husband or child out there to stand on the parking space while you make your way over. This severely pisses people off and is the kind of thing that might get your chalk body outline shown on the 6 o clock news. So please people, getting a parking space should be about proper strategy not dirty tactics.

The last section is about women drivers. I know that dissing women drivers can be viewed by some as "sexist" but coming from a family where women drivers have: backed into cars, rear ended cars at a green light, among many other accidents, it is hard not to disagree with that stereotype. My theory on why women drivers are so bad is because they are so stiff from sitting so straight and close to the steering wheel, that it decreases their reaction time. LADIES, the view is not any better 3 inches closer to the windshield, it is ok to sit back a little bit. There are usually two categories of bad women drivers, the kind that drives super slow and the type that's over aggressive. For the super slow type, my only thing to tell you is that sometimes driving a little faster can be safer. There is nothing wrong with going at or a little over the speed limit. And finally for the over aggressive, chill out, driving overly aggressive does not make you a better driver, and it causes many unnecessary deaths every year, so please tone it down, and we will all be safer on the road.

So my rant on bad drivers is over for now. Hopefully it will make a difference for drivers everywhere.

Dogs

Ever go on an after work jog around the neighborhood and this big ugly mangey dog comes barking and running after you? Why do they have to be such filthy disgusting creatures of nature for? The only thing a dog is good for is to protect the house, otherwise it craps all over the place, eats everything, and barks at your neighbors, making them hate the owner for life, and not to mention that they cost you a butt load of money to maintain. For that kind of money and stress, i could plant a automatic machine gun that only shoots intruders, and they smell better too. When i become king of the world, i'll make sure that the K-9 problem on planet earth is eliminated.