Archive for April, 2009

Chrysler Logo, USSR Quality Sign

chrysler

ussr_quality_stamp

I don’t know what came first, but Chrysler’s logo reminds me a lot of the USSR quality stamp. This symbol was placed on every item manufactured in the USSR, much like “Made in China” is now stamped on just about every item at your local store.

This probably came to mind because Obama’s action in regards to Chrysler is viewed as socialist, and I’ve been seeing the “United Socialist States of America” “joke” a lot.

Bertrand Russell [A Quote]

Extreme hopes are born from extreme misery.

Bertrand Russell, British philosopher

In other words, middle class upbringing doesn’t help to achieve signficant heights in life.

Swine Flu Is In Toronto

Omigod, omigod, we got our first cases today. Actually almost a week ago, they just now got the test results.

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to stock up on a few things. In an orderly manner, no panic here.

Download Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals & Families [PDF, preview below].

Pandemic Flu Planning Family Guide Checklist

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Swine Flu, SARS Economic Fallout

Bacon-flavored vodka — kills flu bacteria and helps you deal with the pork withdrawal symptoms.

bacon

As a live witness of the SARS debacle, I’d like to reminisce for a bit. We had 251 SARS cases in Canada, with 17% mortality rate (very high!). People stopped eating out and shopping at the malls, Chinatown was a “no-go zone” for a long time, tourism was hit, movies stopped filming in our “Hollywood of the North”. SARS had cost Ontario’s health-care system $945 million.

Economic impact, especially on the city of Toronto, was quite staggering and lasted for close to 3 years. Two years AFTER the last SARS case my friends in the U.S. kept asking me if we’re still taking precautions, staying in, if we had been hit etc. etc.

So if this swine flu takes hold, economic effects are unpredictable and the costs can be quite high.

U.S. GDP Falls 6.1%

Consensus (briefing.com): -4.7%

GDP Falls 6.1% On Record Drop In Investment

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – The U.S. economy contracted violently again in the first quarter of the year as business investment declined at a record rate, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Real gross domestic product fell at a 6.1% annualized rate in the first quarter, nearly matching the 6.3% decline in the fourth quarter of 2008. The two-quarter contraction is the worst in more than 60 years. The big story for the first quarter was in the business sector, where firms halted new investments, and shed workers and inventories at a dizzying pace to bring down production and stockpiles to match the lower demand from U.S. and foreign markets.

Source: MarketWatch

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