Mathematics, songs, puzzles, illusions, immigration

Camera Obscura - "My maudlin career" (lyrics)

2010-01-09T08:33:00.000-08:00

Brilliant, melancholic, bucolic songs I've been looking for for ages and I found at last!
The latest album from this Scottish band is simply sublime...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO5ngUPK-T4

Lyrics

You kissed me on the forehead

Now this kiss is giving me a concussion

We were love at first sight

Now it's crush

It's crushing

Now choose two stops through the city though

I'm lost easily

I took to the desert but my heart just whines

and deceive me

Now we're in love again

And you're wherevers

I'm not a child I know

We're not going steady

You're pain's gigantic but it's not as big as your ego

Promise not to abandon you, please let me go

Now I've been hurting your feelings

Yeah they were worth protecting

They say I'm too kind and sentimental

Like you could catch affection

Oh in your eyes there's a sadness

Enough to kill the both of us

Are those eyes overrated?

They make me want to give up on love

I'll brace myself for the holiness

Say hello to feelings that I detest

This maudlin career has come to an end

I don't want to be sad again

This maudlin career has come to an end

I don't want to be sad again

This maudlin career has come to an end

I don't want to be sad again

This maudlin career has come to an end

I don't want to be sad again

Bill Callahan - "Too many birds" (lyrics)

2010-01-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

American singer. For years I've been waiting for listening to a song like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_weCYvN5KU

Lyrics

Too many birds in one tree

And the sky is full of black and screaming leaves

The sky is full of black and screaming

And one more bird

Then one more bird

And one last bird

And another

One last black bird without a place to land

One last black bird without a place to be

Turns around in hopes to find the place it last knew rest

Oh black bird, over black rain burn

This is not where you last knew rest

You fly all night to sleep on stone

The heartless rest that in the morn, we'll be gone

You fly all night to sleep on stone, to return to the tree with too many birds

Too many birds

If...

If you...

If you could...

If you could only...

If you could only stop...

If you could only stop your...

If you could only stop your heart...

If you could only stop your heart beat...

If you could only stop your heart beat for...

If you could only stop your heart beat for one heart...

If you could only stop your heart beat for one heart beat.

2009 FRM Full Exam: passed!!!

2010-01-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

I'm just happy with my approval in the 2009 FRM Full Exam!!!

Now I take part of an internationally recognized risk professional group...

Matt Costa - "Cold December" (lyrics)

2009-11-01T05:47:00.000-08:00

Nice video and song from this American singer-songwriter.
Cold weather is all I want...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnQAXlSokYw

Lyrics

I've been waiting, pacing along the halls ever since you left here

I've been cleaning, scrubbing the plates and weeding out the garden dear

I can't fall asleep to your mystery slowly blowing from the shore

I have not failed to be what you'd expect of me

Swallowing glass just to stay pure

All the birds are heading down south but you're staying up north you say

I've got jackets blankets and sheets, it's going to be a cold December

It could be warm you see, a statue next to me

Swimming away from the ice and snow

Could I have failed to see the signs in front of me

Warning and flashing symbols, subtle and simple I couldn't see

I couldn't see

If only time could slow down, maybe I could come up

It's such a cold December

It's so cold

I cant fall asleep to your mystery slowly blowing from the shore

I have not failed to be what you'd expect of me

Swallowing glass just to stay pure

Summers come and summer has gone

Your Christmas cards can't comfort me

You've found new friends and tied all the ends

It's freezing in the loneliest winter

It could be warm you see, a statue next to me

Swimming away from the ice and snow

Could I have failed to see the signs in front of me

Warning and flashing symbols, subtle and simple I couldn't see

I couldn't see

If only time could slow down, then maybe I could come up

It's such a cold December

It's so cold

My immigration process to Canada - It's over!

2009-08-31T15:51:00.000-07:00

I'm here to declare that I've finally got my immigration passport to Québec, Canada!!!

Four years have passed since the beginning, many things have changed in my life and today I'm still in the process of deciding whether I should stay or I should go...

Brain teaser 23 (solution)

2009-08-31T15:48:00.000-07:00

Simultaneously light both ends of one rope and one end of the other; when the first rope burns out (after half a minute), light the other end of the second. When it finishes, 45 seconds have passed.

All Saints - Black Coffee (lyrics)

2009-08-29T19:48:00.000-07:00

I'm just recollecting those golden years in Netherlands circa 2000/2002 and would suggest this lovely British pop band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCc4eLOZCw4

Lyrics

Night Swimming

Beach walking

Always silent

Never talking

Then you call my name

And I know inside I love you

Sail away

I miss you more

Until you see the shore

There I will be waiting

Anticipating

Each moment is new

And breeds a moment

Each moment is cool

And breeds a moment

I wouldn't wanna be

Anywhere else but... here

I wouldn't wanna change

Anything at all

I wouldn't wanna take

Everything out on... you

Though I know I do

Everytime I fall

Day dreaming

Chain smoking

Always laughin

Always jokin

I remain the same

Did I tell you that I love you

Brush your teeth

And pour a cup of black coffee out

I love to watch you do that every day

The little things that you do

Each moment is new

And breeds a moment

Each moment is cool

And breeds a moment

I wouldn't wanna be

Anywhere else but... here

I wouldn't wanna change

Anything at all

I wouldn't wanna take

Everything out on... you

Though I know I do

Everytime I fall

Each moment is cool

And breeds a moment

I wouldn't wanna be

Anywhere else but... here

I wouldn't wanna change

Anything at all

I wouldn't wanna take

Everything out on... you

Though I know I do

Everytime I fall

I wouldn't wanna be

Anywhere else but... here

I wouldn't wanna change

Anything at all

I wouldn't wanna take

Everything out on... you

Though I know I do

Everytime I fall

Nice women

Beach walking

Always silent

Never talking

Then you call my name

And I know inside I love you

Sail away

I miss you more

Until you see the shore

There I will be waiting

Anticipating

Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar

2009-08-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

If you feel like party, this sound/video is the one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODd6OGDNWSU
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Pizzicato Five - Magic Carpet Ride (lyrics)

2009-08-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

The best song from this fantastique Japanese pop band.

Listen to the English version first then go to the Japanese live version.

Simply merveilleux!!!

English version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qaAGz2INEI
Japanese version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc4jaIh9GtE

Lyrics

Kimi to boku wa

Fushigi dakedo

Mukashi kara

Tomodachi

Da yo ne

Ni sen konen wo

Ai shiatteru

Sonna fu ni

Kanjitari

Shinai?

Soshite futari

Itsu no ma ni ka

Toshi wo totte

Shimau kedo

Itsu made mo

Futari

Asonde

Kuraseru nara ne

Magic carpet ride

Mahou mitai

Me ga sameru to

Kimi ga iru

Hana no yo na

Kaori

Ni sen konen wo

Persia jutan de

Mo ichido

Hitottobi shimasho

Soshite futari

Itsu no ma ni ka

Toshi wo totte

Shimau kedo

Itsu made mo

Futari

Asonde

Kuraseru nara ne

Magic carpet ride

Soshite itsuka

Bokutachi ni mo

Kodomo ga

Umareru daro

Demo

Itsumade mo futari

Asonde kuraseru nara

Onaji bed de

Dakiatte

Shineru nara ne

Magic carpet ride

Stereogram 2

2009-08-22T20:21:00.000-07:00

What is the image you can see above?
Please refer to Stereogram 1 to recall what a stereogram is.

Tim Maia - Eu amo você (lyrics)

2009-08-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

For those who are in love, this is one of the best Brazilian love songs from the old seventies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScAVG139z8w&feature=related

Lyrics

Toda vez que eu olho...

Toda vez que eu chamo...

Toda vez que eu penso...

Em lhe dar o meu amor...

Meu coração... (pensa que não vai ser possível)

De lhe encontrar... (pensa que não vai ser possível)

De lhe amar... (pensa que não vai ser possível)

De conquistá-la...

Eu amo você, menina...

Eu amo você...

Eu amo você, menina...

Eu amo você...

Toda vez que eu olho...

Toda vez que eu chamo...

Toda vez que eu penso...

Em lhe dar o meu amor...

Meu coração... (pensa que não vai ser possível)

De lhe encontrar... (pensa que não vai ser possível)

De lhe amar... (pensa que não vai ser possível)

De conquistá-la...

Eu amo você, menina..

Eu amo você... (juro)

Eu amo você, menina...(uuuhuuuu)

Eu amo você...

(juro que amo, eu te amo baby, eu te amo)

Brain teaser 22 (solution)

2009-08-15T07:38:00.000-07:00

Go to the attic, turn on Switches 1 and 2, wait a few minutes, then turn off Switch 2 before ascending to the attic.

If the bulb is on, you conclude that Switch 1 is the winner.

If the bulb is off, but warm, you conclude that Switch 2 is the winner.

If the bulb is off, but not warm, you conclude that Switch 3 is the winner.

Brain teaser 23

2009-08-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

You are presented with two ropes, each of which will burn for exactly 1 minute, but not uniformly along its length. How can you use them to measure 45 seconds?

Explain your strategy.

Marisa Monte - Lenda das sereias (lyrics)

2009-07-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

My favourite song from one of my favourite Brazilian singers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46rJTzwH65E&feature=related

Lyrics

Oguntê, Marabô

Caiala e Sobá

Oloxum, Ynaê

Janaína e Yemanjá

São rainhas do mar

Mar, misterioso mar

Que vem do horizonte

É o berço das sereias

Lendário e fascinante

Olha o canto da sereia

Ialaó, oquê, ialoá

Em noite de lua cheia

Ouço a sereia cantar

E o luar sorrindo

Então se encanta

Com as doces melodias

Os madrigais vão despertar

Ela mora no mar

Ela brinca na areia

No balanço das ondas

A paz, ela semeia

Ela mora no mar

Ela brinca na areia

No balanço das ondas

A paz, ela semeia

Oguntê, Marabô

Caiala e Sobá

Oloxum, Ynaê

Janaína e Yemanjá

São rainhas do mar

Brain teaser 22

2009-07-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

A downstairs panel contains 3 on-off switches, one of which controls the lamp in the attic - but which one? Your mission is to do something with the switches, then determine after only one trip to the attic which switch is connected to the attic lamp.

Strange death in Montréal, Canada

2009-07-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

Falling concrete kills woman at Peel St. sushi bar

Victim was celebrating birthday with her husband

MONTRÉAL, July 17, 2009 - One minute Thursday night, a couple was quietly celebrating a birthday inside the Mikasa Sushi Bar on Peel St.; the next minute, a concrete slab crashed through the glass skylight above them, killing the 33-year-old woman instantly.
Her husband of two years, also 33, lay next to her lifeless body screaming, “Ma femme! Ma femme! Stay with me!”
He pleaded for help, but other diners and staff were paralyzed with shock. Minutes later, sobbing and screaming, the man was loaded into an ambulance, his right hand wrapped in a blood-soaked napkin, two single tracks of blood running down his cheek.
An emergency-room nurse at the Montreal General Hospital said the man was brought into the hospital covered in his wife’s blood. “It was everywhere.”
She said the man, who sustained serious injuries to his right hand, was in a secluded room in the ER surrounded by family.
“Her birthday was Monday, that’s what they were celebrating,” said the nurse, who spoke on condition that her name not be published. The concrete panel from the 18th floor of the Marriott Residence Inn crashed through the sloping glass ceiling of the restaurant, which lies directly below at street level, and hit the woman “directly” – while she was seated at her table, said Montreal police Constable Olivier Lapointe.
Urgences Santé ambulance technicians determined that the woman could not be saved, Lapointe said.
Her body was left at the table where she died until a little after 9 p.m., when the coroner arrived. Lapointe wouldn’t disclose the couple’s name, nor would the nurse who spoke to The Gazette. Stunned bystanders milled beyond the police tape that blocked off the sidewalk and street in front of the building. Glass and other debris, including what appeared to the the base of a dining table, were on the sidewalk. Police had converged on the scene in patrol cars and on bicycles and Segways.
“At first view,” police are considering the death accidental, Lapointe said after investigators emerged from the hotel.
From the gap left on the building’s facade, the slab appeared to have been about one metre wide and two metres long.
Firefighters were examining the building’s facade to determine whether it was safe, Lapointe said. Municipal inspectors will take a closer look at the building, he said.
The restaurant’s manager, Truc Luong, said his employees were shaken by what they witnessed and weren’t in “good shape” Thursday night.
He said one waiter was at the couple’s table when the concrete slab crashed through the glass ceiling. Luong, who arrived at the restaurant about half an hour after the accident, spent the evening making sure his employees all got a lift home.
Lindsay Leblanc lives in the hotel above the sushi restaurant. She and three friends were smoking on the hotel’s roof when the concrete broke loose. “We heard the bang. We thought it was thunder,” Leblanc said. “Or a car accident.”
When she and her friends arrived at street level, they could hear people crying.
Justine Lafond climbed out of a cab in front of Mikasa moments after the concrete struck. “I saw this woman lying on her side,” she said. “There was blood all around. I saw a piece of bone coming through her body.
“There was someone touching her to see if she was alive."
Lafond said she spoke to the waiter who had served the couple. “He said they were very much in love,” and that the woman was kind and friendly, Lafond said. “I saw lots of people running out of the restaurant, screaming and crying,” said Lafond’s companion, Marie Fidèle.
Clearly shaken, she said she arrived by taxi “almost right after it happened.”
“I couldn’t bring myself to go look. We were all asking each other what happened.”
Dana Citron was on Sherbrooke St. when the slab fell. After her mother heard a “crashing sound,” the two rounded the corner onto Peel to see what happened. Citron said she saw a man lying down, yelling and gesturing desperately near a woman who was not moving.
“They pulled the husband onto his side,” she said. “He was bleeding.”
Another man, who works at a building next door, arrived at the same time. He heard yelling and saw people standing around in shock. “In a state of panic like that, I think no one knows what to do,” he said.
The area in front of the building will remain closed to passersby until it is deemed safe, Lapointe said.
Bev Harding of Guelph, Ont., shepherding a group of more than a dozen teenage swimmers back to the hotel from a competition, was barred from the front entrance. “I guess we’ll try to go around back,” she said. The hotel did not need to be evacuated, Lapointe said.
(By Max Harrold, Jan Ravensbergen, Drew Halfnight and Philip Authier, The Gazette)

My immigration process to Canada

2009-07-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

One step ahead: I've just received the medical exam requirement!
I hope my health is not a danger to public health in Canada...
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Helena Elis - "Lugares Proibidos" (lyrics)

2009-06-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

Brazilian singer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiJ7dnFokdo&feature=related
.

Lyrics

Eu gosto do claro quando é claro que você me ama

Eu gosto do escuro no escuro com você na cama

Eu gosto do não se você diz não viver sem mim

Eu gosto de tudo, tudo o que traz você aqui

Eu gosto do nada, nada que te leve para longe

Eu amo a demora sempre que o nosso beijo é longo

Adoro a pressa quando sinto

Sua pressa em vir me amar

Venero a saudade quando ela está pra terminar

Baby, com você já, já

Mande um buquê de rosas, rosa ou salmão

Versos e beijos e o seu nome no cartão

Me leve café na cama amanhã

Eu finjo que eu não esperava

Gosto de fazer amor fora de hora

Lugares proibidos com você na estrada

Adoro surpresas sem datas

Chega mais cedo amor

Eu finjo que eu não esperava

Eu gosto da falta quando falta mais juízo em nós

E de telefone, se do outro lado é a sua voz

Adoro a pressa quando sinto

Sua pressa em vir me amar

Venero a saudade quando ela está pra terminar

Baby com você chegando já

Stereogram 1

2009-06-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

A stereogram is an optical illusion of depth created from flat, two-dimensional image or images.

In order to see it, follow the tip:

Get very close to the stereogram above, and very, very slowly pull it away (or move away from it). At first you won't even be able to focus on the image... However, keep moving the image in and out, relaxing, and it will appear! Which image can you see?

Copacabana Club - "Just do it" (lyrics)

2009-06-14T04:46:00.000-07:00

When I first saw the video I truly believed it was a British band but it wasn't!
It's just a Brazilian band that it happened to sound like an indie group... Check this out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M94aqtlvRWM
Try the studio version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLUO32YvH6o

Lyrics:

just do it

just do it do it do it cause you want it

just do it do it do it cause you like it

do it do it do it cause you feel it

not because you saw it

you can do a song

cook your food

clean your house

you can use a thong

be so rude

kiss my mouth

you can pierce your nose

sew your clothes

dance alone

you can make some friends

form a band

or sing along

just do it cause you want it

not because you saw it

just do it cause you want it

not because you saw it, not because you saw it, yeah!

just change it change it change it cause you want it

just change it change it change it cause you like it

change it change it change it cause you feel it

not because you saw it

you can change your hair

change your house

change your life

you can change your sex

change your friends

change your wife

you can change your shoes

change your pants

change your style

you can change your face

change your boobs

change your smile

just change it cause you want it

not because you saw it

just change it cause you want it

not because you saw it, not because you saw it, yeah!

China - "Canção que não morre no ar" (lyrics)

2009-06-11T06:13:00.000-07:00

I just like the song and the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM7lErbM1lY

Lyrics:

Sintonize o seu rádio,

procure em alguma estação,

se eu entrar nos seus ouvidos,

acelera o seu coração... coração, ah coração

Mas não esqueça de mim,

agora corro com o vento

você não pode me ver,

me guarde no pensamento...

Minha voz vai se espalhar no ar,

cada verso que eu cantar

os falantes te lembrarão

minha voz é canção que não morre no ar

Nunca mais vou te deixar

pois agora sou uma canção...

Brain teaser 21 (solution)

2009-06-11T05:18:00.000-07:00

Downtown trains run past Kevin's stop at, for example, 3:00, 3:10, 3:20, ..., etc., and uptown trains at 3:01, 3:11, 3:21, ...

To go uptown Kevin must arrive in the 1-minute interval between a downtown and an uptown train.

Beth Gibbons - "Mysteries" (lyrics)

2009-06-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

This song shows a bit of myself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJrRVl7goLE&feature=PlayList&p=2BFFC81FE78BCF5F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=10 Try also this lovely live version at the TV program "Later":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh6KiuCMmzE&feature=PlayList&p=2BFFC81FE78BCF5F&index=11

Lyrics

God knows how I adore life

When the wind turns on the shores lies another day

I cannot ask for more

When the time bell blows my heart

And I have scored a better day

Well nobody made this war of mine

And the moments that I enjoy

A place of love and mystery

I'll be there anytime

Oh mysteries of love

Where war is no more

I'll be there anytime

When the time bell blows my heart

And I have scored a better day

Well nobody made this war of mine

And the moments that I enjoy

A place of love and mystery

I'll be there anytime

Mysteries of love

Where war is no more

I'll be there anytime
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Brazilian Girls - "Good time" (lyrics)

2009-05-01T01:21:00.000-07:00

This is not a Brazilian band but it's sexy anyway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQM5TZqoaUE

Lyrics

All the time

Some people just want lie on the beaches in the Caribbean

Some people want to do crazy things to green amphibians

Some people want some people to do as they please

We just want to have a good time

All the time

Some people go ooh quoi quoi they go qui

Some people have nothing and want nothing and are free

Some people want to burn the world with their greed

We just want to have a good time

Just want good time We just want good time

I just want good time We just want good time

I just want good time

All the time

We just want to have a good time tonight

We just want to have a good time all the time

We just want to have a good time tonight

We just want to have a good time all the time

Some people want pussy pussy pussy all the while

Some people want nothing only staying home with mama

Some people want nothing and need nothing and are free

We just want to have a good time

I just want good time We just want good time

Just want good time We just want good time

Just want good time Just want good time

All the time

Australia reduces immigration

2009-03-17T04:58:00.001-07:00

País culpa crise e limita entrada de estrangeiros; Espanha cria incentivo à repatriação

Pesquisa do "Financial Times" revela que maioria dos europeus apoia medidas para mandar de volta imigrantes desempregados

O governo da Austrália anunciou ontem que reduzirá em 14% a quantidade de imigrantes que receberão autorização para trabalhar no país a partir de junho.

O país estabelece, a cada ano, cotas de profissionais qualificados que podem imigrar. Nos últimos dez anos, o número total de autorizações vinha crescendo, sob impulso do crescimento econômico.

Agora, com a crise econômica mundial e um índice de desemprego que aumentou de 4,8%, em janeiro, para 5,2%, em fevereiro, o governo de centro-esquerda decidiu cortar a cota de trabalhadores imigrantes de 133.500, válida até junho deste ano, para 115.000 no período até meados de 2010. Segundo estimativas do Itamaraty, há cerca de 12 mil brasileiros vivendo na Austrália atualmente.

"A conjuntura econômica na Austrália mudou", disse o ministro da Imigração, Chris Evans, para justificar o corte. Ele no entanto declarou que a redução da cota será temporária e que voltará a crescer quando "as condições melhorarem".

A medida também impedirá a entrada no país de alguns profissionais menos qualificados, como pedreiros, encanadores, carpinteiros e eletricistas. A demanda principal por trabalho "estrangeiro" estará em áreas de maior especialização, como médicos, engenheiros e profissionais de informática.

"A Austrália precisa manter um programa de imigração, mas um que seja mais direcionado", afirmou o ministro da Imigração.

Um especialista em imigração e mercado de trabalho no país, Robert Kinnaird, disse à agência de notícias Reuters que o crescente desemprego tem aumentado o ressentimento de algumas categorias de trabalhadores locais em relação aos estrangeiros.

Também na Europa há sinais de rejeição crescente aos imigrantes. Uma pesquisa divulgada pelo jornal "Financial Times" revela que 79% dos italianos, 78% dos britânicos, 71% dos espanhóis, 67% dos alemães e 51% dos franceses apoiariam medidas de seus governos para mandar de volta para casa imigrantes desempregados. O diário econômico afirma que a pesquisa "demonstra o risco de tensões sociais em relação à imigração e ao uso de trabalho estrangeiro" na Europa.

Na Espanha já existe, desde o ano passado, um programa que oferece benefícios sociais em dinheiro a imigrantes desempregados em troca da garantia de que sairão do país e não regressarão à Espanha durante, no mínimo, três anos.

O programa oferece 40% do benefício total do seguro-desemprego antes da partida, e 60% a serem recebidos quando o trabalhador já estiver em seu país de origem.

(Folha de São Paulo - 17/03/2009)
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Canadian banks not that bad...

2009-02-25T12:55:00.000-08:00

Banks are usually not on the agenda when US presidents visit Canada. But before setting off on his first foreign trip as president, Barack Obama said the performance of Canadian banks - alone among those of the Group of Seven nations in not receiving a government bail-out - was "striking".
"Canada has shown itself to be a pretty good manager of the financial system in ways that we haven't always been here in the United States," Mr Obama told a Canadian broadcaster.
The president spent yesterday in Ottawa meeting Stephen Harper, Canada's prime minister, to discuss the economy, trade and the environment, in addition to any talk surrounding the strength of Canada's banks.
In large part because of stricter regulation and their conservative culture, one that depends heavily on a vast and stable retail branch network, and a clubby working relationship, Canada's banks have remained the strongest in the G7 and, according to an October report by the World Economic Forum, the soundest in the world.
"In Canada they do it the old-fashioned way, where when you need money you go to the bank and they review your file and they will lend you no more than 75 per cent of the value of your house," said Laurence Booth, a finance professor at the University of Toronto. "Canada is a more conservative place and, as much as it limits growth in good times, that approach pays off when others begin a race to the bottom."
In Canada, five banks - the Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and the Bank of Montreal - largely control the market through thousands of branches across the country, forcing geographic diversification and efficiencies of scale generally not found in the US.
Canadian investment banks, as part of commercial banks, are more tightly regulated and kept in check by the main institutions, which would pay a price for unwise investing. Canada's independent stockbrokers were bought by the big banks in the late 1980s, thus putting investment banking under the same regulatory umbrella as commercial banking.
In the US recently, investment banking companies such as Merrill Lynch have been brought under the wing of commercial banks. With moves such as this, the US is moving towards a Canadian model.
Meanwhile, the government re-regulates its banks every eight to 12 years, compared with the US system of decentralised regulation.
Canadian banks have not been immune from the turmoil, but their value has fallen less than that of their US counterparts. The banks have all taken hefty writedowns on their exposure to toxic securities and analysts expect the slowing Canadian economy to push up loan losses. But among North American banks, all five big Canadian banks rank in the top 15 in market value. One, Toronto-Dominion, has risen from 30th two years ago to sixth today.
Toronto-Dominion and RBC are among only seven banks worldwide that still carry a Moody's triple-A credit rating. Since October, Canada's five biggest banks have bolstered their balance sheets by raising C$9bn (US$7.2bn, €5.7bn, £5bn) in common equity and preferred shares. These distinctions have placed growing attention on Canada's system, especially from the US.
Paul Volcker, the former US Federal Reserve chairman and a close adviser to Mr Obama, is pushing for a regulatory regime similar to Canada's model. "It's interesting that what I'm arguing for looks more like the Canadian system than the American system," Mr Volcker said last week.
Canada's banks have not escaped the downturn entirely. A debate has erupted on whether the banks might be forced to cut dividends - something not done since the 1930s.
Their dividend yields are currently about 7 per cent, their highest level in 24 years, suggesting that investors are braced for dividend cuts. The banks paid out 76 per cent of their earnings in dividends last year, compared with an average of 42 per cent over the previous decade. The picture may become clearer next week when the banks begin reporting earnings for the quarter ended January 31.
Peter Rozenberg, an analyst at UBS in Toronto, said last week the risk was "not zero". "An extended period of very low earnings and/or unexpected government intrusion could negatively impact dividends."
Government support has so far consisted mainly of providing liquidity through regular auctions for high-quality mortgages held by the banks and other mortgage lenders. The authorities have also raised the limit for preferred shares qualifying as tier one capital.
But the government is amending banking legislation to allow it to inject capital into troubled institutions, if necessary. The banks have so far resisted help.

By Christopher Mason in Ottawa and Bernard Simon in,Toronto (Financial Times)

Modjo - "Lady" (lyrics)

2009-02-21T14:01:00.000-08:00

A lovely French duo (vidéoclip tourné au Québec):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzpCcNdhy5w&feature=related
.

Lyrics

Lady

Hear me tonight

'Cause my feeling

Is just so right

As we dance

By the moonlight

Can't you see

You're my delight

Lady

I just feel like

I won't get you

Out of my mind

I feel loved

For the first time

And I know that it's true

I can tell by the look in your eyes

Illusions 22

2009-02-21T13:41:00.001-08:00

Can you find the 9 hidden people in this picture?

If you find 6, you have ordinary powers of observation.

Find 7, you have above average powers of observation.

Find 8, you are very observant. Congratulate yourself!

Find 9, you are extremely observant, very intuitive, and creative. You can rival the observant powers of Sherlock Holmes!

The Beautiful South - "Song for whoever" (lyrics)

2009-02-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

Just to remember this brilliant British pop band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysM9cSR6YqM
.

Lyrics

I love you from the bottom, of my pencil case
I love you in the songs, I write and sing
Love you because, you put me in my rightful place
And I love the PRS cheques, that you bring

.
Cheap, never cheap
I'll sing you songs till you're asleep
When you've gone upstairs I'II creep
And write it all down

.
Oh Shirley, Oh Deborah, Oh Julie, Oh Jane
I wrote so many songs about you
I forget your name (I forget your name)

Jennifer, Alison, Phillipa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel, too
Jennifer, Alison, Phillipa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel, too
I forget your name

.
I love your from the bottom of my pencil case
I love the way you never ask me why
I love to write about each wrinkle on your face
And I love you till my fountain pen runs dry

.
Deep so deep, the number one I hope to reap
Depends upon the tears you weep, so cry, lovey cry, cry, cry, cry
Oh Cathy, Oh Alison, Oh Phillipa, Oh Sue
You made me so much money, I wrote this song for you

Jennifer, Alison, Phillipa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel, too
I wrote this song for you

.
So let me talk about Mary, a sad story
Turned her grief into glory
Late at night, by the typewriter light,
She ripped his ribbon to shreds
.

Brain teaser 21

2009-02-07T07:07:00.001-08:00

Kevin gets off work at random times between 3 and 5 p.m. His mother lives uptown, his girlfriend downtown. He takes the first subway that comes in either direction and eats dinner wih the one he is first delivered to. His mother complains that he never comes to see her, but he says she has a 50-50 chance. He has had dinner with her twice in the last 20 working days.

How is this possible???

Explain!

Gorillaz - "Hong Kong" (lyrics)

2009-02-06T14:09:00.000-08:00

Wonderful song, nice video, cool...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isp5c7h-p6Y&feature=related
.

Lyrics

Lord, hear me now

Junk boats and English boys

Crashing out into the noise

Electric fences and guns

You swallow me

I'm a pill on your tongue

Up here on the nineteenth floor

The neon lights make me numb

And late in a star's life

It begins to explode

And all the people in a dream

Wait for the machine

Pick the shit up keep things clean

Kid hang over here

What you learning in school?

Is the rise of an eastern sun

Gonna be alright for everyone?

The radio station disappeared

Music turned into thin air

The DJ was the last to leave

She had well conditioned hair

Was beautiful but nothing really was there

Illusions 21

2009-01-30T20:01:00.001-08:00

Can you find the hidden baby?!
.

Lobão - "Vou te levar" (lyrics)

2009-01-30T19:37:00.000-08:00

Listen to this acoustic song from a very famous and polemical Brazilian singer/songwriter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MoLbYR57DA

Lyrics

Pensar em tudo que se passou,
que se pôde sonhar e não realizou
a vida tentando escapar
mas não por agora

.
Ao mesmo tempo tanta coisa se amou,
se refez, se perdeu, se conquistou
retratos estampados do nosso amor
em preto e branco pregados na parede
revelando pra sempre a gente,
nosso orgulho um do outro, olhando pra lente,
como quem dissesse: não queremos mais nada nesse mundo

.
E que me lembrasse, a cada instante
que valeu a pena cada lance
e que valerá tenha certeza, pra toda vida...

.
Vou levar, vou te levar
pra onde eu for, vou te levar
vou levar, vou te levar
pra onde eu for, vou te levar

kd lang - "The consequences of falling" (lyrics)

2009-01-30T18:40:00.000-08:00

I love this Canadian singer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-13LXpyRlo&feature=related

Lyrics

Are you breathing

What I'm breathing

Are your wishes

The same as mine

Fire you needing

What I'm needing

I'm waiting for a sign

My hands tremble

My heart aches

Is it you calling

If I'm alone in this

I don't think I can face

The consequences of falling

Are you thinking

What I'm thinking

Does your pulse

Quicken like mine

Are you dreaming

What I'm dreaming

I can't read your mind

One step towards you

Two steps back

Feels like I'm crawling

If I'm alone in this

I don't think I can face

The consequences of falling

Brain teaser 20 (solution)

2009-01-30T18:33:00.000-08:00

There are an infinite number of places where this could occur. The most obvious of these is the South Pole, but he could also be at any place which is 1 mile south of a point where the cross-section of the Earth is a circle of circumference 1 mile.

Brain teaser 19 (solution)

2009-01-30T18:32:00.001-08:00

81
.

Netherlands - First muslim mayor of Rotterdam

2009-01-06T03:05:00.000-08:00

Ahmed Aboutaleb (47), a prominent Labour politician who was born in Morocco, is the new mayor of Rotterdam.

Before becoming a deputy minister in February 2007, Aboutaleb made a name for himself in Amsterdam, where he was the city council's executive for social affairs.
Aboutaleb is the first mayor of Moroccan descent to be appointed in the Netherlands. Rotterdam is the country's second biggest city (population 584,000) and has substantial social and poverty issues.
It is also the city where populist politician Pim Fortuyn started his short-lived political career. Fortuyn was murdered by an environmental activist in 2002, just a few days prior to the national elections.
His 'heirs' still make up the largest opposition party in Rotterdam and have voiced strong criticism of Aboutaleb, not so much for his background in rival city Amsterdam, but for his roots in Morocco.
"Aboutaleb is a Muslim and he has two passports. Should he, of all people, be in charge of a city where the majority of the immigrant population refuses to integrate?" city councillor Dries Mosch said.

Poet, journalist, politician

Ahmed Aboutaleb, now 47, was born as the son of a Muslim cleric in the town of Beni Sidel in the Rif mountains of Morocco. At the age of 15 he emigrated to the Netherlands with his family. His childhood ambition was to be a poet but he later exchanged this dream for a career in journalism, working for the commercial station RTL4 and public broadcaster NOS Radio. He then moved into the world of politics, becoming an alderman on Amsterdam City Council.

The city was shaken to its core in 2004 when film maker Theo van Gogh was murdered by a militant Muslim. Ahmed Aboutaleb's resolute stance in the wake of the killing earned him the praise of many Amsterdammers, both inside and outside of the Moroccan community. Perhaps his most famous hour was the speech he gave at an Amsterdam mosque, in which he told residents who have trouble accepting Dutch values to pack their bags and board the next plane out. His performance brought him to prominence but also resulted in death threats. Since that time he has been unable to leave home without bodyguards. Yet he has steadfastly refused to tone down his approach, and shows no signs of changing his ways.

"I'll treat young Moroccans in Rotterdam the same way as I treat all young people. If you do the right thing, you can count on my support, my hand on your shoulder. But if you are out to disrupt society, to deliberately pull a fast one, if you don't want to work - I will show you no mercy."

(Radio Netherlands Worldwide/NRC Handelsblad)

Brain teaser 20

2009-01-01T13:53:00.000-08:00

A man leaves his house and walks one mile due north. He then walks one mile due east, followed by one mile due south, when he arrives back at his starting point. How is this possible???

Illusions 20

2009-01-01T13:43:00.001-08:00

This optical illusion was first created in 1861. Look at the two thick vertical lines. Do they look straight or curved? Hold a ruler up to the screen and you will see that they are indeed straight!

Brain teaser 19

2009-01-01T13:21:00.000-08:00

A two-digit number, read from left to right, is 4.5 times as large as the same number read from right to left. What is the number?

Vampire Weekend - "Oxford Comma" (lyrics)

2009-01-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

One of the best albums of 2008 comes from US but I'd swear the band was from UK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_i1xk07o4g
.

Lyrics

Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?

I've seen those English dramas too

They're cruel

So if there's any other way

To spell the word

It's fine with me, with me

Why would you speak to me that way

Especially when I always said that I

Haven't got the words for you

All your diction dripping with disdain

Through the pain

I always tell the truth

Who gives a fuck about an Oxford climber?

I climbed to Dharamsala too

I did

I met the highest lama

His accent sounded fine

To me, to me

Check your handbook

It's no trick

Take the chapstick

Put it on your lips

Crack a smile

Adjust my tie

Know your boyfriend, unlike other guys

Why would you lie about how much coal you have?

Why would you lie about something dumb like that?

Why would you lie about anything at all?

First the window, then it's to the wall

Lil' Jon, he always tells the truth

Check your passport

It's no trick

Take the chapstick

Put it on your lips

Crack a smile

Adjust my tie

Know your butler, unlike other guys

Why would you lie about how much coal you have?

Why would you lie about something dumb like that?

Why would you lie about anything at all?

First the window, then it's through the wall

Why would you tape my conversations?

Show your paintings

At the United Nations

Lil' Jon, he always tells the truth

Prettige Feestdagen!!!

2008-12-24T10:01:00.000-08:00

I would like to wish you all a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Specially to my family and my friends who got to understand the way I am...

Fleet Foxes - "White Winter Hymnal" (lyrics)

2008-12-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

An American band that doesn't look like American. Definitely one of the best albums of 2008!

The video is nice too. Check it out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrQRS40OKNE&feature=channel
.

Lyrics

I was following the pack

All swallowed in their coats

With scarves of red tied 'round their throats

To keep their little heads

From fallin' in the snow

And I turned 'round and there you go

And, Michael, you would fall

And turn the white snow red as strawberries

In the summertime...

Brain teaser 18 (solution)

2008-12-19T13:46:00.000-08:00

Suppose the distance is 60 km.

Then it would take him 2 hours to get to work and 3 hours to come back.

Since the total journey is 120 km and the total time is 5 hours, the average speed is 120 km divide by 5 hours, that is, 24 km/h!

Brain teaser 17 (solution)

2008-11-26T13:54:00.000-08:00

As it was stated in the first line:

1 = 5 implies 5 = 1!

Brain teaser 18

2008-11-19T14:13:00.000-08:00

A man drives to work at 30 km/h and drives back home at 20 km/h (the way back is exactly the same).

What's the average speed for the two-way journey?
(This question was asked during an interview for an MBA summer associate position at Goldman Sachs)

The Last Shadow Puppets - "Standing next to me" (lyrics)

2008-11-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

What a sound! One of the best songs I have heard for the last years...

Listen to it and tell me what you think...

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=_8YRx47oylM

Lyrics

You want to have her

Two years have gone now

But I can't relate

To the never ending

Games that you play

As desire passes through

And you're open

To the truth

I hope you understand

And your love

Is standing next to me

The one you fell for

But it's seemed you deny

And you laugh

At yourself

Again and again

But as you drink

To the thoughts

She'll remember you

Maybe tomorrow

And your love

Is standing next to me

And your love

Is standing next to me

You want to have her

Two years have gone now

But I can't relate

To the never ending

Games that you play

As desire passes through

Then you're open

To the truth

I hope you understand

And your love

Is standing next to me

Illusions 19

2008-11-08T18:08:00.001-08:00

Do the straight horizontal gray lines look curvy?

Hold up a piece of paper to prove that they are straight and parallel to each other!

Massive Attack - "Unfinished Sympathy" (lyrics)

2008-11-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

From UK circa 1991:

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=KGYRvIOZfZ8

Lyrics

I know that I've been mad in love before

And how it could be with you

Really hurt me baby, really hurt me baby

How can you have a day without a night

You're the book that I have opened

And now I've got to know much more

The curiousness of your potential kiss

Has got my mind and body aching

Really hurt me baby, really hurt me baby

How can you have a day without a night

You're the book that I have opened

And now I've got to know much more

Like a soul without a mind

In a body without a heart

I'm missing every part (x5)
.

Brain teaser 17

2008-11-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

This is pure logic. Take a look at the sequence:

1 = 5
2 = 25
3 = 325
4 = 4325
5 = ?
Find out what's missing...
.

Yo La Tengo - "Our way to fall" (lyrics)

2008-11-07T16:32:00.000-08:00

Is there anybody who recalls this American rock band from the eighties/nineties?
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=S3TOPNXVXD4

Lyrics

I remember a summer's day

I remember walking up to you

I remember my face turned red

And I remember staring at my feet

I remember before we met

I remember sitting next to you

And I remember pretending I wasn't looking

So we'll try and try

Even if it lasts an hour

With all our might

We'll try and make it ours

Cause we're on our way

We're on our way to fall in love

I remember your old guitar

I remember I Can't Explain

I remember the way it looked around your neck

And I remember the day it broke

I remember the song you sang

I remember the way you looked tonight

And I remember the way it made me feel

So we try and try

Even if it lasts an hour

With all our might

We'll try and make it ours

Because we're on our way

We're on our way to fall in love

You'll try and try even if it lasts an hour

With all our might try and make it ours

Cause we're on our way to fall in love.

Yeah we're on our way to fall in love.

We're on our way to fall in love.

Brain teaser 16 (solution)

2008-11-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

It will take 3 days too!

Réussite! Immigration Québec

2008-10-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Finally I got the CSQ (Certificat de sélection du Québec) and consequently I have the right to apply for a visa to immigrate to Québec!

It was not easy to be accepted due to my age (and the interviewer mentioned it) but other assets were taken into account...

I feel happy but at the same time there's a feeling of sadness as I think about leaving my job, my friends, my family, ... It's not gonna happen now though...

Read the full interview right below (in Portuguese):

Cheguei às 8h35min no prédio, fiz o cadastro na recepção e foi-me dito que minha entrada no escritório ainda não estava autorizada.
Fui dar umas voltas pelas redondezas, tomei um suco de laranja e retornei por volta das 9h00min; ainda assim a recepcionista disse que ela não havia recebido autorização para me deixar subir. Aguardei mais 5min e logo minha entrada foi autorizada.
O escritório fica no 15º. andar, parecia uma eternidade chegar lá. Fui recebido com “Bon jour” pela recepcionista e logo em seguida “Asseyez-vous s’il vous plaît”. Quando me dirigi ao hall de espera, já avistei de longe uma sala aberta onde se encontrava meu entrevistador, lendo alguns documentos. Devia ser o tal do africano que alguns entrevistados mencionaram... [Na verdade, parece-me que ele é haitiano.]
Aguardei uns 15min, assistindo a um vídeo chamado “Infiniment Québec” e em seguida o entrevistador me chamou. Vestia um paletó xadrez meio alaranjado, uma gravata amarela e uma calça social cuja cor me parecia salmão... Logo de cara ele começou a falar em francês e me perguntou quais línguas eu falava e eu disse que, além do português, falava inglês e um pouco de francês, no que ele começou a deslanchar, pra minha surpresa, perguntas em inglês! Perguntou coisas sobre meu trabalho atual, minha profissão etc.
Voltou para o francês e, no decorrer de minhas respostas às suas perguntas, disse que meu francês não era tão avançado, conforme eu havia mencionado no dossiê. Na mesma hora, saquei da minha mochila o resultado do TFI (Test de français international), que apontava minha nota total de 830 sobre 990 possíveis, o que me colocava, sim, num nível avançado, segundo avaliação da UP Language, aplicadora do teste, e da própria ETS. Ele pegou esse resultado e foi para o computador. [Obs. Decidi pelo TFI por ser bem mais barato que o TCF e o TEF; custou-me R$ 180,00 comparado a mais de R$350,00 dos outros dois. O TFI compreende 90 testes de compreensão oral (listening), em 48 min, e 90 testes de compreensão escrita, em 62 min. Não tem avaliação verbal.]
Aliás, devo dizer que nesse momento a impressão que me dava é que, de fato, segundo alguns relatos que li no Orkut, esse entrevistador estava interessado somente na pontuação. Não demonstrou nenhum ar de simpatia, de informalidade, nada do que eu ouvi falar sobre os antigos entrevistadores. Não houve nenhum interesse da parte dele em saber acerca de meus conhecimentos sobre o Québec, aspectos culturais, políticos, climáticos, quais os motivos para eu querer ir pra lá, não perguntou quase nada de minha vida pessoal, ...
Devo dizer que particularmente eu prefiro um tratamento como o dele, o que demonstra imparcialidade, e também não deve ser nada diferente do que devemos esperar dos quebequenses que trabalham em serviços públicos.
Durante nosso encontro, ele me pediu diplomas, comprovantes de trabalho, viu meu demonstrativo de pagamento de salário, certidão de nascimento, perguntou se tinha filhos (não tenho), se era casado (não sou casado), se eu tinha feito pesquisa sobre minha área de trabalho no Québec (eu mostrei algumas ofertas de trabalho na minha área em Montreal, aliás, minha área é Finanças).
No final, ele imprimiu uma folha com o resultado e disse que minha pontuação era insuficiente para a aprovação, basicamente por causa de minha idade (38 anos). Na verdade, eu já sabia que minha idade seria o maior empecilho para a aprovação, motivo pelo qual eu investi tempo e dinheiro para colocar meu francês num nível avançado, que era pra compensar esse problema. Ele disse que se eu tivesse um mestrado ou doutorado, isso poderia até ajudar, mas o grande obstáculo era a idade.
Foi aí que ele começou a amolecer: demonstrou uma certa indignação com o resultado, querendo dizer que ele havia tentado me ajudar no que pôde, me mostrou que eu havia feito uma ótima pontuação nos outros quesitos, etc. Naquele momento, eu simplesmente joguei a toalha e vi que todo meu esforço no aperfeiçoamento do francês não tinha sido suficiente. Ou seja, o resultado estava fora do meu alcance, o fator idade pesava muito. Eu nem tive forças pra argumentar que eu havia feito a simulação no computador e tinha sido aprovado somente quando eu colocava nível de francês avançado. Eu nem acho que se meu nível tivesse dado fluente as coisas iriam mudar muito.
Foi então que eu me levantei, muito chateado, sem dizer absolutamente nada, apenas ouvindo ele dizer que meu perfil era muito bom, que eu tinha ótimos níveis de francês e inglês, que eu tinha ótima experiência de trabalho, etc. E que ele iria fazer um pedido para que eu fosse aprovado, que dificilmente seria negado e que era pra eu aguardar uma carta na semana seguinte. Segundo ele, era quase certo que eu seria aprovado. O entrevistador mostrou um lado bem mais sensível do que eu poderia imaginar, ele estava triste pois parecia que estava torcendo pra eu ser aprovado pelo sistema. Não parava de falar, parecia que queria até me consolar... Voltei pra casa completamente desolado, mas pouco a pouco me dei conta que havia feito meu melhor e que, se não tinha sido daquela vez, haveria outras.
Eram 15h30min da tarde do mesmo dia quando o telefone tocou. Era do escritório do Québec pedindo pra que eu comparecesse lá até o dia seguinte. Não esperei nem mais um segundo, peguei meu carro e me dirigi ao escritório imediatamente. Chegando lá, a recepcionista me pediu pra preencher uma folha com meu nome, profissão, data, local e assinatura. Fui encaminhado à sala do entrevistador que me disse que eu havia sido aprovado!!! Nesse momento ele foi bem profissional, não demonstrando sentimento algum, simplesmente me entregou o CSQ e mais duas folhas referentes à entrada de visto de residente permanente junto à embaixada canadense. Por último disse: “Bonne chance!” Ao que fui embora feliz...
Ao final de tudo fica uma lição: a pontuação é fundamental, mas a palavra final é dele, ou seja, se alguém tiver pontuação suficiente, a aprovação é automática, mas se a pessoa não tiver a pontuação mínima exigida, ainda assim haverá uma chance dependendo da avaliação subjetiva do entrevistador, cujos critérios variam caso a caso.
Desejo sucesso a todos!

Brain teaser 15 (solution)

2008-10-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

Since the relative speed of the trains to each other is 50 + 70 = 120mph, i.e. 2 miles per minute, it follows that 15 minutes before crossing they will be 30 miles apart.

TFI - Test de français international

2008-10-25T04:53:00.000-07:00

After taking the TFI exam this month, there it goes the result:
.
Compréhension orale - 400 (out of 495)
Compréhension écrite - 430 (out of 495)
Score Total - 830 (out of 990)
.
Pas mal!
.
http://www.etscanada.ca/tfi/index.php
.

Galaxie 500 - "Blue Thunder" (lyrics)

2008-10-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

Can you remember this lovely American alternative rock band?
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=2UeTsyVPIfQ
.

Lyrics

Thinkin' of blue thunder

Singin' to myself

Thinkin' how fast it moves

Feelin how it turns

I was singin' somethin

Out on Route 128

Thinkin how blue it looks

Singin out aloud

My my blue thunder

Singin' out aloud

My my blue thunder

Singin' out aloud

I'll drive so far away

Blue thunder

Brain teaser 16

2008-10-19T02:59:00.000-07:00

If 3 cats eat 3 rats in 3 days, how long will it take 60 cats to eat 60 rats?

Grandaddy - "Crystal Lake" (lyrics)

2008-10-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

I love this band from California, U.S. Unfortunately they split up!

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysq_SYy1taA

Lyrics
.
Should never have left the crystal lake
For parties full of folks who flake
Italian leather winter games
Retired by the duraflames
.
The crystal lake it only laughs
It knows you're just a modern man
It's shining like the chandelier
Shining somewhere far away from here
.
I've gotta get outta here
I've gotta get outta here
I've gotta get outta here
I've gotta get outta here...
.
And find my way again
I've lost my way again
.
Should never have left the crystal lake
.
Should never have left the crystal lake
For areas where trees are fake
And dogs are dead with broken hearts
Collapsing by the coffee carts
.
The crystal lake it only laughs
It knows you're just a modern man
It's shining like the chandelier
Shining somewhere far away from here
.
I've gotta get outta here
I've gotta get outta here
I've gotta get outta here
I've gotta get outta here...
.
And find my way again
I've lost my way again
.

Sigur Rós - "Hoppípolla" (lyrics)

2008-10-18T05:55:00.000-07:00

Besides Sugarcubes, Björk and a recent financial crisis, Iceland can offer other interesting things such as Sigur Rós, a post-rock band whose songs are melodic, classical, minimalist and charmantes:

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=WkP_NaMsrMM

Lyrics

Brosandi

Hendumst í hringi

Höldumst í hendur

Allur heimurinn óskýr

Nema þú stendur

Rennblautur

Allur rennvotur

Engin gúmmístígvél

Hlaupandi inn í okkur

Vill springa út úr skel

Vindurinn

Og útilykt af hárinu þínu

Eg lamdi eins fast og ég get

Með nefinu mínu

Hoppípolla

I engum stígvélum

Allur rennvotur (rennblautur)

I engum stígvélum

Og ég fæ blóðnasir

En ég stend alltaf upp

(Hopelandic)

Og ég fæ blóðnasir

Og ég stend alltaf upp

(Hopelandic)

Jumpin' puddles

Brain teaser 14 (solution)

2008-10-18T05:47:00.000-07:00

There's no missing $1. The dilemma is merely in the way in which the problem is posed. Each man paid $9, making $27 - of this, the waiter got $2 and the manager $25!

Sonic Youth - "Teenage Riot" (lyrics)

2008-10-18T04:51:00.000-07:00

One of my favourites ever:
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=6rgBPMMJtIg

Lyrics:

Everybody's talking 'bout the stormy weather

And what's a man do to but work out whether it's true?

Looking for a man with a focus and a temper

Who can open up a map and see between one and two

Time to get it

Before you let it

Get to you

Here he comes now

Stick to your guns

And let him through

Everybody's coming from the winter vacation

Taking in the sun in a exaltation to you

You come running in on platform shoes

With Marshall stacks

To at least just give us a clue

Ah, here it comes

I know it's someone I knew

Teenage riot in a public station

Gonna fight and tear it up in a hypernation for you

You better look it

We're gonna shake it

Up to him

He acts the hero

We paint a zero

On his hand

We know it's down

We know it's bound too loose

Everybody's sound is round it

Everybody wants to be proud to choose

So who's to take the blame for the stormy weather

You're never gonna stop all the teenage leather and booze

It's time to go round

A one man showdown

Teach us how to fail

We're off the streets now

And back on the road

On the riot trail

Virtual Barbershop

2008-10-10T15:59:00.000-07:00

Binaural recording is a method of recording audio which uses a special microphone arrangement intended for replay using headphones.

Get to know this technique and enjoy!!! It's really amazing!
Just click here:
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA

and PLAY...
It will take only 5 minutes.
You'll need headphones!
If you close your eyes you'll feel as if you were there...

Illusions 18

2008-10-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

Are you a good observer?
If so, try to find a face among the beans!!!
.
(Source: Worth1000.com, Furitsu)
.

Super Furry Animals - "Juxtaposed" (lyrics)

2008-10-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

A nice Welsh rock band:
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=3jw7u4f-Ujg
.

Lyrics:

It's easy when you know how

To get along without Biff! Bang! Pow!

And if I see that you're fed up,

I'll stop and give you a leg up.

Over priced unreal estate,

Surreal estate,

The highest price they've hit to date,

Creating new divides and tension.

You've got to tolerate,

All those people that you hate,

I'm not in love with you,

But I won't hold that against you,

You've got to tolerate,

Some of those people that you hate,

I'm not in love with you,

But I won't hold that against you.

This is a tale of 2 city/situations,

Mutual appreciation,

Away from narrow pre-conception,

Avoiding conflict hyper-tension,

Non-phobic word aerobic.

This was my domain,

Till someone stole my name.

You've got to tolerate ...etc.

Let's get juxtaposed, juxtaposed,

Brain teaser 15

2008-10-07T15:43:00.000-07:00

Think quickly and try to solve by head:

Two trains approach each other from opposite directions. One is travelling at 50 mph, the other at 70 mph. How far apart are they fifteen minutes before they meet?

Peter Bjorn and John - "Up Against the Wall" (lyrics)

2008-10-05T04:18:00.000-07:00

What a nice and creative band from Sweden!
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=sbWemy7dwUE

Lyrics:

.
Guess I should have caught your call

But I just had to waste

The phone forget it all

Bones are trembling, hands are cold

You don't know how it feels

You've got me up against the wall

Maybe we could make this work

But now you start to leave

Before it's getting worse

I don't know what you came here for

It's almost that I wish

We hadn't met at all

You slap just like a wake-up call

The bruises on the face

Don't bother me at all

Bones are trembling, hands are cold

It's almost that I wish

You had me up against the wall

Brain teaser 14

2008-10-05T04:11:00.001-07:00

Three men are in a restaurant. The bill comes to $30, so each man gives a $10 note to the waiter.

The waiter takes the bill and delivers the payment to the manager - who decides that he's overcharged, so he gives the waiter $5 to take back to the men.

On the way back to the table, the waiter dishonestly pockets $2 of the $5 for himself, and give each man $1 back only.

That means that each man has paid $9 - making a total of $27. The waiter has $2, the men have paid $27... that comes to $29!

What has happened to the missing $1?!

AIR - "Ce matin-là" (instrumental)

2008-10-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

Belle chanson de ce groupe français fantastique:

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=NsJfEcIzAhU&feature=related

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=Do5wvBcEHlQ (This video was shot in Stockholm, Sweden)

(A canção e o clip são a minha cara!)

Stereolab - "Cybele's reverie" (lyrics)

2008-09-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Brilliant song from this British-French band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkaJ5z9QBZQ

Lyrics:

matières sensuelles et sans suites

l'enfance est plus sympathique

l'enfance apporte le magique

que faire quand on a tout fait

tout lu, tout bu, tout mangé

tout donné en vrac et en détail

quand on a crié sur tous les toits

pleuré et ris dans les villes et en campagne

l'enfance est plus authentique

le jardin au haut portique

les pierres, les arbres, les murs racontent

(la maison, la maison d'autrefois, la maison la maison d'avenir)

et le silence me pénétrera

Illusions 17

2008-09-28T05:04:00.000-07:00

This is a static image. It is not animated in any way but as your vision moves back and forth the center area seems to be moving toward the center (contracting) and the outer edges seem to be moving away (expanding) from the center.

If you fixate on a point in the center and don't move your eyes this anomalous motion will stop! Funny, isn't it?

Portishead - "The Rip" (Lyrics)

2008-09-28T04:38:00.000-07:00

Do you know Portishead from USA?
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=MPJJSCFdVd0

Lyrics:

As she walks in the room

Scented and tall

Hesitating once more

And as I take on myself

And the bitterness I felt

I realise that love flows

Wild, white horses

They will take me away

And the tenderness I feel

Will send the dark underneath

Will I follow?

Through the glory of life

I will scatter on the floor

Disappointed and sore

And in my thoughts I have bled

For the riddles I've been fed

Another lie moves over

Wild, white horses

They will take me away

And the tenderness I feel

Will send the dark underneath

Will I follow?

Wild, white horses

They will take me away

And the tenderness I feel

Will send the dark underneath

Will I follow?

Immigration Québec

2008-09-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

At last!!! I got to receive an invitation for the immigration interview... It will be in October! Wish me luck!

Illusions 16

2008-09-18T15:39:00.000-07:00

I could not resist to post this 1888 German postcard version of an old optical illusion.

What can you see: an old or a young lady?

Immigration Canada

2008-09-15T05:45:00.000-07:00

800 millions pour l'immigration

Au deuxième jour de sa visite en Colombie-Britannique, Stéphane Dion a choisi le cadre d'une réception avec la communauté chinoise pour présenter le programme de son parti en matière d'immigration.
Si les libéraux l'emportent, M. Dion commencera par annuler les amendements conservateurs qui, affirme-t-il, ont donné au ministère de l'Immigration des pouvoirs « arbitraires et discrétionnaires ».
« Je veux une procédure dans les règles. Un système qui donne à tous des chances égales », a-t-il déclaré.
Le chef libéral promet également d'investir 800 millions de dollars sur 4 ans afin de moderniser et de simplifier le système d'immigration. « L'argent ne peut pas résoudre tous les problèmes, je ne suis pas Jack Layton! Mais il en faut bien », a-t-il déclaré, brocardant le chef du NPD.

Des visas plus faciles à obtenir

Une première tranche de 400 millions servira à la réforme du système lui-même. Avec le programme Voie d'accès Canada, le Parti libéral veut accélérer les procédures de traitement des demandes d'immigration émises par les travailleurs temporaires, les étudiants internationaux et les aides familiaux.
Stéphane Dion souhaite aussi revoir le système de points afin de favoriser les métiers spécialisés. Il a, par ailleurs, annoncé deux autres programmes: Visa de bienvenue et Express pass.
Visa de bienvenue facilitera la venue des familles des citoyens et des résidents canadiens. Ce visa à entrées multiples, d'une durée de cinq ans et renouvelable, pourra être accordé aux ressortissants étrangers parrainés par un membre de leur famille. Express pass facilitera, quant à lui, la venue des gens d'affaires au pays.

Intégration linguistique et professionnelle

Une deuxième tranche de 200 millions sera consacrée à l'intégration des nouveaux arrivants sur le plan linguistique, avec Nouveau départ Canada. L'idée, a expliqué M. Dion, consiste à fournir aux immigrants les outils linguistiques « nécessaires à leur succès ».
Stéphane Dion a souligné que Nouveau départ Canada sera mis en oeuvre en partenariat avec les provinces afin qu'il n'y ait pas de redondance avec les programmes existants.
Il a précisé que son parti respectera, par exemple, le rôle du gouvernement du Québec pour ce qui est du français.
Une troisième tranche de 200 millions financera Passeport pour l'emploi, conçu pour favoriser l'intégration des immigrants sur le marché du travail à l'aide de stages, de services de mentorat et d'aide à l'emploi.
Il permettra aussi, a indiqué M. Dion, de faciliter la reconnaissance des diplômes des nouveaux arrivants et de leur permettre de compléter leur formation au Canada en suivant des cours. (Radio-Canada)

The Thrills - "The Irish keep gatecrashing" (lyrics)

2008-09-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

One of the best songs I've ever heard from this marvelous Irish indie band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcNRKkL1hec
.

Lyrics:

If I could learn to love you

Could you learn to love me

Lust will only get us so far now

Lust, top 40 fame...

I can smell your catholic shame

But it goes on & on...

The fashion police keep chasing

The Irish keep gate-crashing

Lust will only get us so far now

I finally shed my puppy fat

No, kids, there's no encore tonight

But it goes on & on...

Brain teaser 13 (solution)

2008-09-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Patricia's birthday is on December the 31st. and she pronounced the phrase on January the 1st.

Brain teaser 12 (solution)

2008-09-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

After 59 seconds.
.

Someone still loves you Boris Yeltsin - "Think I wanna die" (lyrics)

2008-09-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

Very nice song from an American pop band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVJ54VaOsuM

Lyrics:

Think I wanna die if you don’t stay

drop dead in place you can forget it

Carry a torch for days,

I’m gonna let it burn

I remember watching as you slowly loaded up the loom.

On repeat: Caravan and we danced around the room.

Once insecure about your scar but I think you got over it.

Dreampt of marimbas made from the bones of our relatives,

who never live as long as we think that they oughta live.

You dreampt of sex with tigers

I tried to get my head around that one!

Left in a disguise for the faraway

Traveled all alone through boring meadows

while I sat at home

wishing we could elope...

Will you ever know what you do to me?

I’m on my broken knees, no end of sorrow.

Sorry if that’s twee but it’s tomorrow’s hope.

CFA Level II

2008-08-05T15:43:00.000-07:00

I got to succeed in the CFA Level I exam!!!
Back to the studies for the Level II...
.

Bon Iver - "Re: Stacks" (lyrics)

2008-08-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

I could not resist to one more song from Bon Iver, this time live from Montréal, Québec, Canada, 2008:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGb690x1J74&feature=related

Lyrics:

This my excavation and today is kumran

Everything that happens is from now on

This is pouring rain

This is paralyzed

I keep throwing it down two-hundred at a time

It's hard to find it when you knew it

When your money's gone

And you're drunk as hell

On your back with your racks as the stacks as your load

In the back and the racks and the stacks are your load

In the back with your racks and you're un-stacking your load

I've twisting to the sun I needed to replace

The fountain in the front yard is rusted out

All my love was down

In a frozen ground

There's a black crow sitting across from me; his wiry legs are crossed

And he's dangling my keys he even fakes a toss

Whatever could it be

That has brought me to this loss?

On your back with your racks as the stacks as your load

In the back and the racks and the stacks of your load

In the back with your racks and you're un-stacking your load

This is not the sound of a new man or crispy realization

It's the sound of the unlocking and the lift away

Your love will be

Safe with me

Rufus Wainwright - "Sans Souci" (lyrics)

2008-07-23T17:49:00.000-07:00

Get to know this Canadian-American singer-songwriter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmkzaJx1B0Q

Lyrics:

Who will be at Sanssouci tonight?

The boys that made me lose the blues tonight, and then my eyesight

All together, playing games of cards

Gambling the tiny shards of brass, once my heart

Who will be at Sanssouci tonight?

I'm lookin' through the window from the garden

Waitin' for the call to my hotel room

I'm tired of writing elegies to boredom

I just want to be at Sanssouci tonight

Who will be at Sanssouci tonight?

Surely not the one that loves me truly, only

He's probably down at the stables, there

Gently polishing my cabriolet, only

I don't care, I really want to go

So I'm opening the door wide to the ballroom

Callin' up some dude from my hotel room

I'm tired of writing elegies in general

I just want to be at Sanssouci tonight

Tonight, tonight...

The candles seem to all have been blown out

Cupid's wings have cobweb rings and no one's about

Could it be I came to the wrong place?

But I swear I saw them climb the stairs, that sweet mystery

Who will be at Sanssouci tonight?

It's only when you're outside that you notice

Only from the window you can see them

Once the door is open, all will vanish

Ain't nobody at Sanssouci tonight

Tonight, tonight

Bon Iver - "Flume" (lyrics)

2008-07-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

Brilliant 2008 debut album from an American singer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62i9Sodwp5o

Lyrics:

I am my mother's only one

It's enough

I wear my garment so it shows

Now you know

Only love is all maroon

Gluey feathers on a flume

Sky is womb and she's the moon

I am my mother on the wall, with us all

I move in water, shore to shore;

Nothing's more

Only love is all maroon

Lapping lakes like leary loons

Leaving rope burns

Reddish ruse

Only love is all maroon

Gluey feathers on a flume

Sky is womb and she's the moon

Brain teaser 13

2008-07-08T17:36:00.001-07:00

Patricia said: "The day before yesterday I was 10, but I will turn 13 in the next year." How is this possible?

Brain teaser 12

2008-07-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

A number of bacteria are placed in a glass. One second later each bacterium divides in two, the next second each of the resulting bacteria divides in two again, et cetera. After one minute the glass is full. When was the glass half-full?
.

Joni Mitchell - California (lyrics)

2008-06-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

Brilliant singer/songwriter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q4foLKDlcE&feature=related

Lyrics:

Sitting in a park in Paris, France

Reading the news and it sure looks bad

They won't give peace a chance

That was just a dream some of us had

Still a lot of lands to see

But I wouldn't want to stay here

It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here

Oh, but California

California I'm coming home

I'm going to see the folks I dig

I'll even kiss a sunset pig

California I'm coming home

I met a redneck on a Grecian isle

Who did the goat dance very well

He gave me back my smile

But he kept my camera to sell

Oh the rogue, the red red rogue

He cooked good omelettes and stews

And I might have stayed on with him there

But my heart cried out for you, California

Oh California I'm coming home

Oh make me feel good rock'n'roll band

I'm your biggest fan

California, I'm coming home

Chorus:

Oh it gets so lonely

When you're walking

And the streets are full of strangers

All the news of home you read

Just gives you the blues

So I bought me a ticket

I caught a plane to spain

Went to a party down a red dirt road

There were lots of pretty people there

Reading Rolling Stone, reading Vogue

They said, how long can you hang around?

I said a week, maybe two,

Just until my skin turns brown

Then I'm going home to California

California I'm coming home

Oh will you take me as I am

Strung out on another man

California I'm coming home

Chorus:

Oh it gets so lonely

When you're walking

And the streets are full of strangers

All the news of home you read

More about the war

And the bloody changes

Oh will you take me as I am?

Will you take me as I am?

Will you?

Joni Mitchell - Morning Morgantown (lyrics)

2008-06-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

Another marvelous song from the album "Ladies of the canyon" (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKmZOwXfZCA

Lyrics:

When morning comes to Morgantown
The merchants roll their awnings down
The milktrucks make their morning rounds
In morning, Morgantown

We'll rise up early, with the sun
To ride the bus while everyone is yawning
And the day is young
In morning, Morgantown

Morning Morgantown
Buy your dreams a dollar down
Morning any town you name
Morning's just the same

We'll find a table in the shade
And sip our tea and lemonade
And watch the morning on parade
In morning, Morgantown

Ladies in their rainbow fashions
Colored stop and go lights flashing
We'll wink at total strangers passing in
Morning, Morgantown

Morning Morgantown
Buy your dreams a dollar down
Morning any town you name
Morning's just the same

I'd like to buy you everything
A wooden bird with painted wings
A window full of colored rings
In morning, Morgantown.

But the only thing I have to give
To make you smile, to win you with
Are all the mornings still to live
In morning, Morgantown.

Joni Mitchell - Circle game (lyrics)

2008-06-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

Brilliant folk song from the brilliant Canadian singer from the brilliant album "Ladies of the canyon" (1970):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep7uySNpUyw

Lyrics:

Yesterday, a child came out to wonder,

Caught a dragonfly inside a jar

Fearful when the sky was full of thunder,

And tearful at the falling of a star

And the seasons, they go round and round,

And the painted ponies go up and down,

We're captive on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look behind from where we came,

And go round and round and round in the circle game

Then the child moved ten times round the seasons,

Skated over ten clear, frozen streams

Words like, 'when you're older,' must appease him,

And promises of someday make his dreams

And the seasons, they go round and round,

And the painted ponies go up and down,

We're captive on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look behind from where we came,

And go round and round and round in the circle game

Sixteen Springs and sixteen Summers gone now,

Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town

And they tell him, take your time, it won't be long now,

Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down

And the seasons, they go round and round,

And the painted ponies go up and down,

We're captive on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look behind from where we came,

And go round and round and round in the circle game

So, the years spin by and now the boy is twenty,

Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true

There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty,

Before the last revolving year is through

And the seasons, they go round and round,

And the painted ponies go up and down,

We're captive on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look behind from where we came,

And go round and round and round in the circle game

Immigration Canada

2008-06-03T05:09:00.000-07:00

Discrétion libérale

Le gouvernement conservateur de Stephen Harper a survécu à une autre série de votes de confiance sur sa réforme de la Loi sur l'immigration et la protection des réfugiés, lundi, grâce encore une fois à l'abstention d'une majorité de libéraux.
Le projet C-50 est une loi d'exécution des dispositions du dernier budget fédéral dans laquelle le gouvernement a inséré plusieurs modifications législatives, dont celle sur l'immigration. En vertu de ce vote favorable de 114-83, il atteint maintenant le stade de la troisième lecture.
Le projet C-50 ne deviendra loi que s'il survit à un autre vote aux Communes et à son étude par le Sénat. Le projet de loi donnerait des pouvoirs discrétionnaires supplémentaires à la ministre de l'Immigration qui pourrait accélérer, mais aussi refuser, toute demande d'immigration d'une personne répondant aux critères de sélection.
Plusieurs organismes et associations, dont l'Association du Barreau canadien et le conseil canadien pour les réfugiés, ont dénoncé ce projet de loi. Ils affirment qu'il pourrait donner lieu à des décisions discriminatoires, voire racistes.
Le gouvernement se défend en disant que certaines candidatures à l'immigration dans des domaines d'emploi recherchés, comme celles de médecins, pourraient plus facilement être acceptées.
Aucun des partis d'opposition à la Chambre des communes ne semble vouloir de ces changements. Pourtant, les libéraux se sont de nouveau abstenus en majorité de voter, afin d'éviter de voter contre la mise en oeuvre du budget et d'ainsi faire tomber le gouvernement conservateur minoritaire. Certains libéraux s'y sont opposés pour la forme, en essuyant au passage les quolibets de leurs adversaires.
Le chef de l'opposition officielle, Stéphane Dion, a déclaré que si l'opposition avait fait tomber le gouvernement, la démission du ministre Maxime Bernier, après qu'il eut oublié des documents secrets chez son ex-copine Julie Couillard, ne serait jamais survenue. (Radio-canada)

CFA Level I

2008-05-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not having enough time to update my blog as frequently as before. This is because I'm currently concentrated on my CFA Level I studies but I'll be back soon with more interesting things...

CFA Institute website: http://www.cfainstitute.org/
Cheers

Catatonia - Dead from the waist down (lyrics)

2008-05-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

From Wales:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aopiRVxIBFc

Lyrics:

The sun is shining

We should be making hay

But we're dead from the waist down

Like in Californ-I-A

Victory is empty

There are lessons in defeat

But we're dead from the waist down

We are sleeping on our feet

We stole the songs from birds in trees

Bought us time on easy street

Now our paths, they never meet

We chose to court and flatter greed, ego disposability

I caught a glimpse, and it's not me

Make hay not war

Or else we're done for

And we're dead from the w down

There's no contracts binding

No bad scene beyond repair

But when you're dead from the waist down

You're too far gone to even care

We stole the songs from birds in trees

Bought us time on easy street

Now our paths, they never meet

We chose to court and flatter greed, ego disposability

I caught a glimpse, and it's not me

Make hay not war

Or else we're done for

And we're dead from the waist down

The sun is shining

shining.........

Illusions 15

2008-05-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

Are the horizontal lines parallel?

Immigration Canada

2008-04-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

Immigration - Retenir les étudiants étrangers

La ministre fédérale de l'Immigration et de la Citoyenneté, Diane Finley, a annoncé lundi des mesures visant la rétention des étudiants étrangers ayant effectué des études au Canada.
Ces dispositions visent en fait à faciliter à ces étudiants l'accès au marché du travail.
Au terme de leur formation collégiale ou universitaire au Canada, ils pourront désormais demander un permis de travail « sans égard au type d'emploi » et sans avoir reçu une promesse d'embauche au préalable.
De plus, la durée de ce permis de travail pourra être de trois ans, au lieu d'un maximum de deux ans, comme c'est le cas présentement.
« Les modifications annoncées contribueront à créer un bassin de candidats qui, grâce à l'expérience de travail qu'ils [les étudiants étrangers] auront acquise, pourront immigrer plus facilement au Canada », a déclaré la ministre Finley.
Elle a ajouté que « notre capacité à garder les étudiants étrangers ayant obtenu un diplôme et acquis une expérience de travail au Canada et s'étant familiarisés avec la société canadienne, nous permettra d'accroître notre compétitivité, ce qui profitera à l'ensemble du Canada ». (Radio-Canada)

Arcade Fire - Keep the car running (lyrics)

2008-04-11T23:14:00.000-07:00

Groupe canadien de Montréal, Québec:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqCQLiwVvc4

ou en direct: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFFpL6Jj5II&feature=related

Lyrics

Every night my dream's the same

Same old city with a different name

Men are coming to take me away

I don't know why, but I know I can't stay

There's a weight that's pressing down

Late at night you can hear the sound

Even the noise you make when you sleep

Can't swim across a river so deep

They know my name cause I told it to them

But they don't know where and they don't know

When it's coming, when it's coming

There's a fear I keep so deep

Knew it's name since before I could speak

Aaaaah Aaaaah Aaaaah Aaaaah

They know my name cause I told it to them

But they don't know where and they don't know

When it's coming, oh when but it's coming

Keep the car running

If some night I don't come home

Please don't think I've left you alone

The same place animals go when they die

You can't climb across a mountain so high

The same city where I go when I sleep

You can't swim across a river so deep

They know my name cause I told it to them

But they don't know where

And they don't know

When it's coming, oh when is it coming?

Keep the car running

Groove Armada - My friend (lyrics)

2008-04-11T22:42:00.005-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AhzX0pou-U

Lyrics:

Whenever I'm down

I call on you my friend

A helping hand you lend

In my time of need

Whenever I'm down

I call on you my friend,

I call on you my friend

Listen, Listen, Listen

(Chorus)

Whenever I'm down

I call on you my friend

A helping hand you lend

In my time of need

Whenever I'm down

I call on you my friend,

I call on you my friend

Whenever I'm down

And all that's going on

Is really going wrong

Just one of those days again

You say the right things

To keep me moving on

To keep me going strong

Whenever I'm down

ain't nobody

Whenever I'm down

I call on you my friend

A helping hand you lend

In my time of need

Whenever I'm down

I call on you my friend,

I call on you my friend

Whenever I'm down

And all that's going on

Is really going wrong

Just one of those days again

You say the right things

To keep me moving on

To be going strong

Repeat Chorus

Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar

2008-04-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

It reminds me London...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBgf2ZxIDZk

Immigration Canada

2008-04-09T05:41:00.001-07:00

Des modifications contestées

Une douzaine d'organismes de défense des immigrants manifesteront dans les rues de Toronto, mercredi, pour protester contre les changements que le gouvernement conservateur de Stephen Harper compte apporter à la Loi sur l'immigration et la protection des réfugiés.
Ainsi, le ministre de l'Immigration pourra décider que les demandes présentées par des immigrants exerçant des professions ou des métiers où une pénurie de main-d'oeuvre sévit seront traitées en priorité. Ces modifications lui accorderaient aussi le pouvoir de fixer un nombre maximal de demandes traitées chaque année.
Ces changements ont été inclus dans un projet de loi de mise en oeuvre du budget, de sorte que les partis d'opposition, qui fustigent le gouvernement Harper à ce sujet, pourraient déclencher des élections s'ils votaient contre leur implantation. Or, les libéraux de Stéphane Dion ont déjà indiqué qu'ils n'iraient pas jusque-là.
Mardi, des hauts fonctionnaires du ministère de l'Immigration et de la Citoyenneté ont finalement expliqué les tenants et aboutissants de la réforme proposée. Il s'agit, ont-ils expliqué, de permettre à certains immigrants qualifiés de ne pas être coincés dans de longues listes d'attentes.
Actuellement, disent-ils, 925 000 demandes sont en attente de traitement, et ce nombre pourrait atteindre 1,5 million d'ici 2012. Dans les extrêmes, des demandeurs doivent en ce moment attendre jusqu'à 6 ans avant d'être acceptés au pays.
Les changements proposés à la loi, rétroactifs au 27 février dernier, feraient en sorte que des immigrants verraient leur demande traitée d'ici un an, au maximum. Les professions et métiers visés seraient consignés dans une liste, appelée à être révisée en fonction des besoins du marché de l'emploi. Cette liste serait dressée après consultation avec les provinces et les employeurs.
Le ministère de l'Immigration admet que l'imposition d'un plafond annuel de demandes traitées pourrait faire en sorte qu'une demande soit rejetée pendant 50 années consécutives. « Les gens ont des droits une fois qu'ils sont dans le système, et ils ont le droit d'être traités de façon juste. Ils ont le droit d'être traités sans discrimination [...] mais il n'y a pas - et il n'y a jamais eu - de droit à venir au Canada dans la loi », a expliqué mardi un fonctionnaire.
L'opposition estime que ce projet de loi est discriminatoire, voire anti-immigrant. Les libéraux talonnent le gouvernement à ce sujet depuis quelques jours aux Communes. Le NPD a quant à lui présenté une motion qui soutient que le projet de loi de mise en oeuvre du budget ne peut être soumis au vote puisque le fait qu'il contient des changements à la loi sur l'immigration constitue une procédure illégitime.
Les modifications sont également dénoncées par les groupes de défenses des immigrants, qui s'en sont d'ailleurs plaints, mardi, à Toronto, lors d'une audience du comité permanent de la citoyenneté et de l'immigration de la Chambre des communes.
La porte-parole du groupe Status Now, Sima Sahar Zeheri, a déploré que ces changements fassent en sorte que l'immigration au Canada sera décidée sur des bases économiques plutôt qu'humanitaires. « Les immigrants sont dépouillés de leur humanité et sont considérés strictement d'un point de vue économique. Et ils peuvent être laissés de côté quand ils ne sont plus utiles », dénonce-t-elle. (Radio-Canada)

Immigration Canada

2008-04-09T05:27:00.000-07:00

Des communautés en colère

Les changements prévus à la Loi sur l'immigration et la protection des réfugiés soulèvent la colère de membres de communautés culturelles d'Ottawa. Selon eux, les modifications proposées accordent trop de pouvoir au ministre de l'Immigration. C'est le message qu'a lancé, mardi, au gouvernement Harper, des membres de ces communautés, lors d'une table ronde organisée par le député néo-démocrate fédéral d'Ottawa-Centre, Paul Dewar.
Les communautés culturelles accusent le gouvernement conservateur d'avoir dissimulé les modifications à la Loi sur l'immigration dans le projet de loi sur le budget. Wali Farah, représentant d'un groupe d'aide aux immigrants à Ottawa, estime que cette façon de faire évite au gouvernement de tenir des débats sur la question.
Des membres des communautés culturelles craignent qu'en donnant plus de pouvoir au ministre, l'immigration devienne sélective. Selon eux, les changements à la loi permettront au ministre de décider d'une façon arbitraire qui peut venir au Canada et qui peut y demeurer. Certains craignent aussi de ne plus pouvoir faire venir au Canada, pour des motifs d'ordre humanitaire, des membres de leur famille qui se trouvent à l'étranger.
Le député néo-démocrate d'Ottawa-Centre, Paul Dewar, croit de son côté que le gouvernement Harper emprunte la mauvaise voie avec les modifications à la loi. Selon lui, il faut d'abord accorder davantage de ressources aux bureaux d'immigration du Canada à l'étranger et ensuite venir en aide aux nouveaux arrivants. (Radio-Canada)

Brain teaser 11 (solution)

2008-04-04T21:31:00.000-07:00

They are both the same distance away when they pass!

Brain teaser 10 (solution)

2008-04-04T21:27:00.000-07:00

On the morning of the 5th. day, the snail starts out at the eight-foot mark (having slid down from the nine-foot mark overnight). Two-thirds of the way through the 5th. day, the snail reaches the 10-foot mark and stops because there is no pole left to climb.

Immigration Canada

2008-04-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

Des immigrants inquiets

Des groupes de défense des droits des immigrants à Toronto applaudissent à la motion du NPD qui demande que la réforme de la Loi sur l'immigration fasse l'objet d'un débat de fonds, séparément du budget fédéral.
Le projet de loi C-50 inquiète les organismes qui se consacrent à l'accueil des immigrants. Selon eux, la réforme proposée a le potentiel de créer des injustices en donnant carte blanche à la ministre quant au choix des nouveaux venus, tout cela au nom de l'accélération des procédures d'accueil.

La paralysie des libéraux

À Toronto, une ville où près d'un résident sur deux est né à l'extérieur du Canada, la mesure fait grincer des dents; les groupes déplorent qu'elle soit incluse dans le budget, que l'abstentionnisme des libéraux lors des votes ait ainsi permis l'adoption de cette mesure.

"On craint que les libéraux à Ottawa nous abandonnent, de peur de déclencher des élections." — Francisco Rico Martinez, codirecteur du centre pour réfugiés de Toronto

Les groupes de défense des immigrants ont peu d'espoir que les troupes de Stéphane Dion se battent pour obtenir un processus équitable de sélection des immigrants.
Les inquiétudes quant à la réforme proposée par le gouvernement conservateur sont partagées par le Centre social d'aide aux immigrants, à Montréal. Gary Obas se questionne à savoir si le gouvernement privilégiera les immigrants de certains pays au détriment d'autres.

À la Chambre des communes, jeudi, les questions ont été nombreuses au sujet de cette réforme. Le chef néo-démocrate Jack Layton parle d'une attaque en règle contre les nouveaux arrivants et promet que son parti se battra pour empêcher cette « pratique injuste ».
Mais les conservateurs maintiennent que le changement de cap proposé est nécessaire en raison du retard accumulé dans le traitement des demandes d'immigrants potentiels. (Radio-Canada)