I'm no longer working at the branch anymore. I started in telephone banking on July 19th. It's a higher level and higher salary. Hopefully it'll be an improvement from the branch level.

Why do some ppl seem to think that the only way to resolve any issue is thorough conflict and confrontation? Why do you have to argue about everything. And why do I have to get screamed at when I'm doing that person a favour?

Registered for the CFA on Thursday (22nd). I'm massively nervous about it. I was told by someone who's taken it that compared to the second one, the first one's a piece of cake. And I can attest through personal experience that the first one is not a piece of cake.

Ever since my transfer to telephone banking was confirmed, I have had this uncontrollable urge to go on a spending spree. While I'm certain it's unhealthy for my finances, I don't think I'm in the mood to care.

I'm not always able to return the favour for someone that has done me a favour. Similarly, I have often done favours for ppl that I know would never be able to help me out in that sense. However, what I try to do is to give back to someone else the same kindness that I have received and hope whoever it is that I have helped to do the same for others. Someone did something for me recently when I went away, and I tried to do the same for someone else when they came over.

Oh my god. I haven't added anything to this section since February. And it's not like I don't have anything to rant and rave and whine and gripe about. I've just been either too busy or too lazy to give anyone a piece of my mind.

Looks like Nortel has burned me. Thought they learned their lesson. Apparently not. Damn CEOs are still crooked.

How come the more you clean up your room, the more things go missing? Before you cleaned it, even though everything's a mess, you knew exactly where everything is located. In addition, while cleaning up, you find everything you don't need at the moment and probably never again, but couldn't find it when you needed it. I blame it on the elves.

??捃?Kathy |b車?W討??舠〞漕ヾA使我想起?F台灣。 忽然間，我記得|b台灣快?@|~，卻?@直3ㄗS去挑戰?蝗]的「巨無霸」。 3o將會是我?@-?p?p的遺憾。

Purchased 400 shares of Nortel today. After looking at its performance the last little while, including its recent contracts as well as its cash position, I'm beginning to feel the company is turning it around. Although the P/E ratio is at 49.95, earning and profits should rise, leading to a more more justifiable ratio. Personally, I believe the P/E is high as a result of weak earnings before, and not because the stock is overpriced.

In the tradition of my last 2 entries, Happy February 18th everybody. In case you didn't know, and in the spirit of my current job, every day 20 banks are robbed. The average take is $2,500.

Happy Valentine's Day everybody! In case you didn't know, the quote "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world" comes from Heather Cortez.

My current return on my Scotia stocks is 5.29%. Currently looking at BCE and Roger's. Roger's, however is trading at a multiple of over 73.80. It's impossible to justify such a high P/E. There's also talks Roger's is preparing to set up Internet telephone service, which makes it a direct competitor of BCE. That would mean increased risk. Is it worth it? I'll have to think about it.

Personally, I found Cold Mountain to be quite spectacular. It's an epic romance, which may put half the guys asleep. However, I really enjoyed Jude Law's performance.

Happy Groundhog's Day everybody! In case you didn't know, both Wierton Willie and Punksatawney Phil saw their shadows. Looks like 6 more weeks of bad weather.

Got my dividend from Scotiabank. While it's not a lot, it's still better than deposit accounts. In one month I get back 4 times more than interest bearing accounts.

Mona Lisa Smile feels like Julia Roberts latest attempt to get herself another Oscar. And if the quality of the film was actually that good, she would've had a shot. Instead, a bit too stereotypically feminine rant about suppression of individualism and conservatism. They need to step beyond the bounds of convention to make it powerful. Instead, it's a bunch of been there, done that, gimme another Oscar. Decent film, uninspiring performances.

Happy Chinese New Year everybody! In case you didn't know, it's the year of the monkey.

If you live in Canada and plan to travel, try Travel Cuts for cheaper flight tickets. For a ticket to Norway, Travel Cuts gave me $919 while Travelocity quoted $1,240 and Expedia $1480. Oh, and the Travelocityt website wasn't very stable.

While the average trader tends to hold onto stocks thinking it might rise higher or not sell when it's low hoping to recover their loss, in contrast, my problem seems to be an inclination to sell and take a profit. I'm really tempted to take my 3% gain right now and sell my shares. It's actually taking more discipline to practice sound portfolio management and keep the shares so I can construct a balanced portfolio.

I liked the third Lord of the Rings better than the second one. Nonetheless, I'm still dissatisfied with the scripts. Aragorn's recruitment at the Path of the Dead is very weak. A king does not ask "What says ye?", he should be demanding their allegience and loyalty. In addition, Denethor's actions were too extreme and irrational. In the book it was much more reasonable and credible. In the book he seems desperate, in the movie he just seemed like an idiot. Real life has taught me no idiots like that will ever get a chance to rule.

Found out Wednesday night I passed my AIMR CFA Level 1 examination. Permit me to shed my humility for a moment in a rare display of sheer, classless arrogance. Six-figure salary, here I come! I'm soooo outta my branch. I'm sorry, but I'm too good for that job now! I'm not even interested in staying at CIBC any longer.

My last review went up to The Last Samurai. Here's a quick run-down of New York. Place is busy, packed, crazy. Pace of life is extremely hectic. Traffic is awful and the later it gets, the worse it gets. I also LOVE it! While I'm young, I enjoy the chaotic order. That's probably why I love Taipei, even though sanitation-wise, Taipei leaves much to be desired and its architecture is more dilapidated. I gotta recommend the Prada store in NY. It's design is exceptional and makes you realize why you're paying for the label. Although a bit late, my Lord of the Rings rant will come next.

Scotia has been up-down-up-down. Right now I'm up about $200. Not too sexy if you compare it to tech stocks, however, I can sleep well at night with blue-chips, whose price doesn't do roller-coaster rides. Besides, I'm only waiting for the dividend anyway.

Dangerous to go out with your brother's girlfriend. I drove her to return a top she bought on Boxing Day, I ended up buying a fleece top hoodie. While it was only $19, nonetheless it's an impulse buy I don't need.

Coincidentally, the music on a friend's personal website fit the movie I've been thinking of lately and is related to some of my discussions I've posted recently on various forums, so I've decided to swipe the music since it reflects my present mood. Props go out to Nikki.