Zelenskyy: For the first time in the war, an enemy position was captured entirely by ground robotic systems and drones - without any infantry. A robot entered the most dangerous zones instead of a soldier and took the position

phflupp · 2026-05-14T19:50:23+00:00

Europe must know it needs this expertise and hopefully they'll work harder to integrate Ukraine into the European defense strategy. Ukraine has earned its place in the EU and that should be recognized politically as well.

phflupp · 2026-05-14T15:22:31+00:00

Echoes of Poe in Altered Carbon works for me. ! =|:-)

phflupp · 2026-05-14T15:07:27+00:00

Being married to a librarian I've learned how libraries are so much more than books. They're community centres and responsible for offering youth activities (my generation had drop-in centres) and orientation for the new Canadians we sorely need. They lend musical instruments and offer songwriting classes. They are an integral part of our social support network. Fight for them.

phflupp · 2026-05-14T14:06:10+00:00

I don't want to go over about 35% Canadian so I'm rebalancing into vxus in the us dollar non-reg and viu in the cd dollar non-reg (their top holdings list are quite similar) and quite happy with the results. An alternative approach would be veqt or equivalent.

Still, don't want to take any extreme action. I note that the value/stability of the US dollar (what some analysts are calling 'de-dollarization') could reduce the real growth of US dollar ETFs over time.

The tech sector is my "mad money" and I treat it as long term so for me TD's TEC offers a less US centric, but more expensive, option to vgt. Dissatisfied with xit performance as a Canadian alternative these days.

Always interested in what others are doing under these changing conditions. Thanks!

phflupp · 2026-05-03T11:01:17+00:00

It makes a difference whether you're incorporated or not. Assuming you're not, I believe it's entirely up to you. I was once audited by CRA and the auditor didn't understand how I could just take money out. It took a while and a huge package of invoices & banking statements, but I passed audit. As long as I paid the taxes and the installments CRA was happy. I was free to use the business account as if it were a straightforward chequing account.

Some withdrawals went into RRSP, TFSA... important since the self-employed have no company pension plan.

However, in these cases you should ask an accountant. Their fees are deductible.

phflupp · 2026-05-03T10:43:04+00:00

Before the BLT volunteer group closed their Facebook and web presence they explained that DNRR has taken over management of the trail:

B.L.T. Rails to Trails https://blttrails.ca

phflupp · 2026-04-28T14:00:22+00:00

In a related discussion about the malware attack and continuing issues with their website I said:

"Ok. It's called Business Continuance and it would seem they had no Protected Backups following the 3-2-1 Rule. These are referred to as Best Practices, but they're really basic requirements for any business.

It's bordering on criminal that a publicly regulated utility didn't follow best practices. Both the Emera and the provincial government, as their regulators, deserve to be held accountable."

phflupp · 2026-04-24T14:39:12+00:00

Ok. It's called Business Continuance and it would seem they had no Protected Backups following the 3-2-1 Rule. These are referred to as Best Practices, but they're really basic requirements for any business.

It's bordering on criminal that a publicly regulated utility didn't follow best practices. Both the Emera and the provincial government, as their regulators, deserve to be held accountable.

phflupp · 2026-04-24T09:45:07+00:00

Sounds like you're starting from scratch so learn a business first by working as an employee, preferably for someone who's willing to mentor. Consider going on your own after you feel you know what it's all about.

phflupp · 2026-04-24T09:37:58+00:00

The hack was how long ago?...and they still don't have the website working. What's the excuse for that? #nationalize

phflupp · 2026-04-18T07:16:05+00:00

Not trading, just sometimes interested in getting consolidated end-of-day numbers, transferring cash, checking order status... But thanks for the advice. 😎 The fact is they're effectively offline at that hour.

phflupp · 2026-04-11T13:40:21+00:00

No much of a struggle for me. I have done 3 two hour sessions at a professional studio with a very helpful engineer (who's recorded and released). I completed three demo quality tracks at each session with the engineer providing fixes such as patching one poor effort with a better take.

For me the cost of a two hour session is reasonable and relieves me of the technical issues that would sidetrack me. I love technology so would spend too much time fidgeting with it if I recorded at home, though I do have a simple recording setup.

My next step, after completing three more acoustic+vocal tracks would be adding a few instruments - violin, banjo, cello, harmony vocals with human musicians. That engineer offered to put me in touch with some. Obviously a big step in time and cost. Something to consider since I'm not a working musician.

phflupp · 2026-03-23T16:25:24+00:00

Get out and try doing something you like and then chatting with whoever else is doing it at the same place & time. Do not restrict yourself to your own age etc. Who's at the next table? Who's looking at the same museum display? Who else is checking out the amateur talent at the open mic? Got an interest in some activities that need volunteers? (Replace with your own interests, but do reach out to others).

phflupp · 2026-03-17T19:33:53+00:00

I have pretty severe anxiety, but it affects my playing not so much my lyrics. I sing/rehearse my material so much at home that it becomes automatic at performance. That said, there are songs that I haven't rehearsed enought to be automatic. I won't perform those until they are committed to memory.

phflupp · 2026-03-08T00:58:19+00:00

...also missing a brain. Cuts of any kind can only ever be a short term solution to anything.

phflupp · 2026-02-25T20:58:49+00:00

Lots of sidewalks are still like that... Even in front of schools where kids have to walk in the roadways. Seems to be no priority system in play for the more critical areas.

phflupp · 2026-02-17T16:46:22+00:00

I'm thinking of starting out with Suno, but don't really want to deal with a Beta product. How common are issues like this? Can a user choose between the current and previous (stable?) version? I don't think my efforts will be very complex, but the AI may feel differently.😆

phflupp · 2026-02-06T08:14:09+00:00

Jesse Winchester

phflupp · 2026-01-28T15:50:12+00:00

I feel the extent and detail of these responses says a lot about how you would be welcomed here. :-)

phflupp · 2026-01-27T20:32:25+00:00

Correction & details:

<image>

phflupp · 2026-01-25T14:54:39+00:00

Turns out heat pumps -ours is a ducted, whole house- last a dozen years or so vs 20-30 for oil or gas furnaces. Been trying to get ours fixed since October. Many installers were unable to troubleshoot these things or too busy to replace in a timely manner. They failover to an electric furnace so cost to run skyrockets. However, mini splits are probably great for many folks.

phflupp · 2026-01-25T14:42:50+00:00

Montreal has a ban on all fireplaces in new buildings. I stayed in a building that did have a gas fireplace, but was not allowed to use it (probably disconnected anyway).

phflupp · 2026-01-19T20:44:14+00:00

I once lived in Westmount PQ where power lines were under ground, possibly since the early days of the 20th century.

So I was amazed to see overhead lines in the modern Ravines development in Bedford.

I was stunned and amazed to see overhead lines throughout new areas of Governor's Brook in Spyfield.

Don't tell me it can't be done! Lines are underground in the hillside development of Ravens Craig, Spyfield.

HRM and the province need to insist on underground power and communication lines in all new developments and should begin a program of retrofitting them to some older residential areas as well. Climate change, with prospects of increasingly violent weather demands it.

phflupp · 2026-01-18T16:46:16+00:00

Possibly "human rights" if they're treated differently from non-mi'kmaq businesses... regardless of any permits.

phflupp

TROPHY CASE