Creative commentary plus crafty composition

Posts tagged ‘Social / Political Commentary’

Out-of-the-Box Niche Insurance

Reflective of certain realities of modern life, a heretofore little known niche market of insurance protection is gaining awareness among financial professionals.

An article in the current month edition of The Insurance & Investment Journal discusses how kidnap and ransom coverage is being offered by a limited number of international insurers. The appeal is described as “growing amongst singles and families from middle class to high net worth who might be at high risk if members are volunteering, traveling, living or working abroad in unstable or high risk countries”. (more…)

Category:

Financial commentary, Social & political commentary, Social & political humour, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Modern Rules of Order

Many meetings are run using the framework of Parliamentary procedure, or its U.S. based version known as ‘Robert’s Rules of Order’.

Their core notion is to have a set of procedures reinforcing the agenda, so the meeting can proceed with decorum and efficiency, hopefully understood and supported by attendees. Interjections are allowed, as long as the interjector ideally invokes the proper language of attention getting: a ‘Point of Privilege’ concerning a status issue, a ‘Point of Information’ to have a question addressed, or a ‘Point of Order’ to verify following proper procedure. (more…)

Category:

Humour, Personal Development, Social & political humour, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

The Expurgated Versions

Part of the brilliance of gifted comedians and satirists is their ability to take concepts of language or expressions and twist them into shapes which activate response. Their translations generate laughter thanks to the vulnerability of the underlying version of normalcy.

Consider the ‘Book Shop’ sketch from Monty Python. (more…)

Category:

Arts commentary, Humour, Social & political humour, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

The Labour Day Statistical Transition

This is the Labour Day weekend, AKA the last holiday weekend of summer, AKA the last days of freedom for many young people before starting or returning to school.

The complexion of neighbourhood activity takes on a less hectic daytime hue with so many, once again, becoming cooped up in indoor facilities. (more…)

Category:

Humour, Social & political commentary, Social & political humour, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Some Don’t Like It Humid

Amazingly, there are those who dispute the concept of a ‘humidex’. My decades old Collins English dictionary, approximately 1700 pages of word definitions and etymology, doesn’t even include this variation of humid. Some who don’t accept this reality, especially cogent in summer, are also good candidates for rejecting its opposite seasonal measure, commonly known as ‘wind chill’.

The Collins dictionary defines ‘humid’ simply as moist or damp. Considering the impact on skin and clothing, that about sums it up. (more…)

Category:

Social & political commentary, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Consumer Agreement Stipulations

It seems that the continuing infiltration of technology and legal engagement into our affairs has made its impact on consumer agreements, such as memberships. The way things are going, perhaps the following will come to reflect a more tangential wording of future contract stipulations and terms… (more…)

Category:

Humour, Social & political commentary, Social & political humour, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Potential Summer Olympic Sports

As the book has closed this past weekend on another Summer Olympic Games, one is struck not only by the inspirational level of commitment of athletes, coaches, and their supporters, but also by the diversity of activities recognized as meriting official competition. No wonder there are so many venues, providing huge logistical issues for host cities as well as those attempting to cover the activities. (more…)

Category:

Humour, Social & political humour, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Future Finance

Key trends affecting the future of the financial industry in Canada concern five evolving areas, according to an article in the August issue of The Insurance & Investment Journal. As discussed in a major Chartered Financial Analyst conference held in Montreal in May, these concepts are identified as: robo-advice; big data; cyber-security risks; social media; and responsible investment.

Underlying these trends’ expanding roles is the belief that “Everyone wants more advice about their investments and that advice is very expensive”. (more…)

Category:

Financial commentary, Social & political commentary, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

The Awarding Experience

Have you ever been selected to receive an award of some significance, and been uncertain how to behave leading up to the moment and then when actually accepting the honour? Since so many people are afraid of public speaking, this situation could easily gravitate for the recipient between one of joy and one of trepidation.

A brief article in the August issue of Toastmaster magazine looks at appropriate protocols for an award receiving situation: (more…)

Category:

Humour, Personal Development, Social & political commentary, Social & political humour, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

If It’s Good Enough for Athletes…

According to an article in the August issue of Psychology Today, there are numerous excuses athletes may posit for cheating, such as by doping – obviously a high profile issue in any spotlighted athletic competition such as the current Summer Olympics.

The catch-all category of ‘moral disengagement’, based on disconnecting one’s behaviour from negative emotions such as guilt, has emerged as the strongest defence. It has at least six manifestations: (more…)

Category:

Behaviour & Relationships, Social & political commentary, Social & political humour, Uncategorized

Tagged with: