Category: Uncategorized

Exploring Cryptocurrency in Our Book Club Discussions

May 18, 2025

Members of the book club arrived to find a hearty vegetarian soup waiting for them, accompanied by dark rye bread, spreads, and cold cuts. Portuguese cream puffs and strong coffee, made with a French press, were served for dessert. We were ready for a lively discussion.

The book today was Camila Russo’s “The Infinite Machine,” a 500-page book on the history of Ethereum, a computer platform written by a group of young, savvy coders. The platform serves as the base for the cryptocurrency coin ETH. The discussion began during the meal: Is cryptocurrency a legitimate form of currency? Does anyone in our group own Bitcoin or ETH? If you haven’t heard of ETH, you’re not alone—none of us have. The host selected this book to help us better understand this evolving field. As we went around the table, it became clear that none of us fully understood cryptocurrency, who was using it, or where it was headed.

Blockchain technology underpins Ethereum, a digital technology that we struggled to comprehend despite our best efforts to discuss it together. Based on this technology, Ethereum was the brainchild of Vitalik Buterin, a young Russian programmer who came to Toronto with his parents when he was six. He demonstrated a talent for mathematics at a young age. Later on, he studied computer science at the University of Waterloo before dedicating himself full-time to developing Ethereum.  His success in spreading awareness about this digital technology has been phenomenal. Out of curiosity, I looked up Vitalik on the internet. I found that his reputed IQ is 257 and that he is a billionaire—a fantastic story.

Besides Vitalik, the author conducted meticulous research on the other coders who collaborated with Vitalik on the Ethereum project. I found their stories interesting because they are all brilliant characters with complex careers. A Netflix series could easily be created about them, detailing their successes and failures. However, the technological aspect was more challenging to comprehend.

As I understand it, this platform’s two main advantages are that it incurs no transaction fees and that there is no need for audits, as the system stores your “smart contracts” (money, documents, etc.) in secure “wallets” (cloud storage devices) that cannot be hacked. You could call this platform a digital ledger.

The first application running on the Ethereum platform was a new digital currency designed to replace traditional “fiat” currencies, essentially the paper money we use today, such as the US dollar. While this is an ambitious undertaking, I asked which retailers currently accept ETH as a form of payment. I am not aware of any stores that offer this service.

Some of our club members could not understand why these young people have worked on digital currencies for free for years. I brought up all the startup companies, the dot.coms, I worked with, where the young engineers worked day and night trying to implement their vision. Their passion was palpable, and I did not doubt that Vitalik and his partners were equally absorbed in their work.

The topic of digital currency is gaining attention, and learning more about it is essential. Just a few weeks ago, I received a message about a job opportunity in cryptocurrency mining that required only one hour of work per day and offered compensation of a few hundred dollars per day. How could I turn that down? I decided to follow up, and I researched crypto mining online. Although I do not fully understand it, I discovered that the mining process validates or creates a ‘wallet’ containing a ‘smart contract’ in the blockchain before it is added. I also found that it requires a powerful computer and specific software. Today, most such mining operations are conducted by large corporations, which often subcontract with smaller companies or individuals. I did not respond to this offer.

I left our meeting with an interest in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency mining. And I wondered the extent to which cryptocurrency is used commercially today. For example, can you buy a Lamborghini with cryptocurrency? And where?

I put my newly found knowledge to good use today. This morning, I received an unexpected call from a New York stockbroker who wanted to ask me about my investment style. I mentioned that I do my investing and asked what he had in mind. He brought up gold. That reminded me of a recent police message about a scam in Ottawa, where brokers called to sell gold as a good investment in the current volatile stock market. I’m not sure if that was a scam call. Still, I replied that I was more interested in cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin futures. That comment caught him off guard.

In summary, I would recommend the book to anyone interested in how technological innovation occurs through intelligent individuals; I enjoyed reading about young, enthusiastic people, written in an engaging journalistic style. Technology is another matter, not sure how many people would understand it.

Understanding Ottawa’s Affordable Housing Crisis

May 15, 2025

Affordable housing is constantly in the news today. My local city councilor emphasizes its importance in his newsletter. However, I am not convinced that our community of aging patriarchs would welcome such housing in our neighborhood; it evokes images of public and low-income housing, often associated with crime.

During the recent federal election in Canada, all political parties proposed ideas for building affordable housing, including financial incentives, reducing and simplifying the administrative approval process for house construction, prefabrication, and even rent control.

I do not know anyone actively seeking such housing. However, some friends have mentioned their children have trouble finding affordable options.

To understand why housing is unaffordable for many people today, I searched the internet for statistics that illustrate the challenges individuals face when renting or buying a home.

In simple terms, your income determines what you can afford. If you earn a minimum wage of $15-18 (provincial rates differ) per hour and work 2,000 hours a year, your annual income would be $30,000-36,000. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recommends that housing expenses should not exceed 30% of your yearly income.

According to this guideline, someone earning the minimum wage can afford $9,000 to $ 10,800 annually for housing, or approximately $750 to $ 900 per month. However, in Ottawa, rent for a one-bedroom unit starts at around $2,000 per month, which means minimum wage does not support renting. That is why many young people earning minimum wage stay home or bunk up with friends when renting.

Buying a condo or a house is a much more challenging scenario. In 2025, the average condo price in Ottawa is projected to be $445,000, while the average house price is expected to exceed $800,000.

Without a down payment and mortgage rates of 4.5%, the annual cost of owning a condo would amount to $20,000, which is significantly higher than what minimum-wage earners could afford. Purchasing a house would be even more expensive.

An affordability crisis affects individuals earning less than $65,000; according to guidelines, 30% of that amount would be needed to rent or buy a condo. Twenty-six percent of Ottawa jobs pay less than $50,000. This situation highlights the urgency for solutions to the affordability crisis.

One major issue is the gradual loss of low-rent housing due to demolitions to make way for higher-density and more economically profitable commercial and residential developments. Older neighborhoods in Ottawa are particularly susceptible to this redevelopment. Additionally, many low-rent units face renoviction, where tenants are evicted to make way for renovations that will increase rental rates.

According to the Executive Director of the Ottawa Community Land Trust (OCLT), between 2011 and 2021, Ottawa lost 26,000 low-rent units due to demolitions and renovictions; in contrast, only 6,000 new low-rental units were built during that time.

The OCLT’s purpose is to preserve and maintain low-rental units. Their strategy involves purchasing these units when they become available. Acquiring multi-unit buildings requires funding, and the OCLT has issued “community bonds” to raise capital. A bank in Toronto specializes in issuing such bonds backed by funds raised by the OCLT from the local community.

Interestingly, many residents are willing to invest in these bonds, even with a low interest rate or, in some cases, no interest at all, because they believe in the cause. Professional property managers are contracted to manage the rental units on behalf of the OCLT, and the rental income is used to pay off the community bonds.

This approach offers a distinctive and effective means of maintaining and expanding affordable housing. The OCLT’s key strategy involves community bonds, a system gaining traction across Canada.

Another innovative approach for maintaining affordable housing is leasing the land on which the rental units are built. Land costs are a significant factor in the overall expense of constructing housing units. Depending on the location, land costs form 30% or more of total housing construction costs.

Recognizing the importance of land costs in housing, the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC) leases land to build affordable housing. This corporation was established in response to the growing number of high-rise developments in the community. The community association leased land to develop affordable housing, thereby preserving the area’s character. Currently, they manage 1,700 housing units.

One example of their work is the land leased from the local school board following a demographic shift that led to the closure of Percy Street School. Public agencies are aware of community needs, and through a nominal lease, the CCOC created a low-rise development that is affordable for individuals with limited income.

A coordinated multi-level strategy is necessary to effectively tackle the ongoing affordable housing crisis. From my limited experience listening to various non-profit organizations attempt to tackle this issue, I have identified two main approaches: subsidizing the cost of housing units or providing financial assistance to help individuals secure accommodation in the private market. The Ottawa Community Land Trust (OCLT) follows the first approach. The CCOC employs subsidized housing and market-based options, catering to those who receive housing subsidies.

Celebrate with Mother’s Day Brunch and Dinner Recipes

May 14, 2025

It has never failed. Each year, on Mother’s Day, the same question arises: “What will you do for me?” My response consistently points out I am not your mother; you are my wife. However, as usual, this was not the correct reply, so I offered to prepare breakfast, not just the usual fried egg and toast, but something better.

The children always call on Mother’s Day, but they can’t fix meals at our house since they live thousands of miles away. The first call came at eight; I initially thought it was a prank call. Luckily, I decided to pick up the phone.

After reviewing various recipes, I chose to make Shakshuka by Ottolenghi (and I’m sure I don’t need to describe Ottolenghi to cooking aficionados). This light and refreshing Middle Eastern dish features diced tomatoes, red peppers, and spices like harissa and ground cumin. My son, Tony, mentioned that they served it every morning at the breakfast counter in his hotel when he was in Israel.

Some recipes I read for shakshuka also called for onions, which I like, and I decided to modify Ottolenghi’s recipe and diced up a large onion. After boiling and simmering these ingredients, I cracked the eggs into the dish and cooked for an additional 10 minutes to set them. I served it with pita bread and caffeinated coffee; we drank decaf in the morning. This meal served more as brunch than breakfast, which was good since it took me a while to get everything organized, and it was getting late in the morning. Since the recipe yielded four portions, and we ate them all, we were set for the day.

I must admit, though, that I had help from Kathy. My cooking is slow and tedious, as I prefer to gather all the ingredients on the kitchen table and prepare the food before I start cooking. I diced the peppers and onions (and used a can of diced tomatoes) and mixed the spices and garlic in a small dish before beginning to cook. Kathy became hungry and started cooking with the prepared ingredients.

After indulging in a rather large brunch, we took a long walk to burn some calories. We enjoyed a peaceful stroll along a rail-to-trail path in Stittsville. As is typical for rail-to-trail routes, the walk was straight and flat. On our return, we stopped at my favorite coffee shop, the perfect way to end any walk. Naturally, the next topic of discussion was what to have for dinner.

Feeling inspired, I offered to prepare dinner and suggested fresh salmon steaks. Kathy agreed it was a great idea, so I bought two slabs of Atlantic salmon with the skin on one side at the local fish market. I like to marinate the salmon using a mix of soy sauce, maple syrup, and grainy Dijon mustard, based on a recipe I found on Allrecipes.

I enjoy this recipe – maple glazed salmon – because I can roast vegetables on the same sheet pan as the salmon. This time, I had some cauliflower in the fridge, so I cubed it, tossed it with oil and salt, and baked it for 15 minutes before adding the salmon to the pan. I also bought some Tater Tots and put them on the sheet pan, which drew some criticism from Kathy; she believed frozen French fries were healthier than Tater Tots. They were similar in nutritional value, so I chose the Tater Tots for their appealing cubic shape. To cover all bases, I also cooked a potato in the microwave in case the Tater Tots didn’t meet with acceptance. The dessert consisted of low-fat lemon yogurt topped with blueberries. The dinner was enjoyable, despite the lack of family, a common situation today as families are frequently scattered across North America and globally for many.

Exciting Update: My Second Blook Coming on Kindle!

May 4, 2025

My second “blook” will soon be on sale on Amazon Kindle. I published my first, “Blog to Blook: Where My Hobby Led, ” in 2023. Let me start by quoting a couple of paragraphs from my first blook. This will help explain what a blook is. It will also show how I became involved with it.

“You may wonder, what exactly is a blook? The term combines the words “blog” and “book.” A blook is a printed book based on or consisting of blog content. The first book of this kind was “User Interface Design for Programmers” by Joel Spolsky. It was published in 2001. The book was popularized in 2003 by journalist Jeff Jarvis from New York. Since then, several other blooks have been published. In 2006, the Blooker Prize was established. It was modeled after the Man Booker Prize. The first Blooker Prize was awarded to “Julie and Julia” by Julie Power. It was a cookbook featuring recipes inspired by Julia Child’s blog. This cookbook also inspired a film of the same name, released in 2009.”


“I was intrigued by the concept of a blook. I felt inspired to create my own, having been a blogger for years. The pandemic was the catalyst for my blogging journey. When avoiding social interactions and staying home became not only desirable but often mandatory. When my gym and community center, where I played bridge, closed, I wondered what to do at home. Retirement gave me ample free time, so I wrote about my opinions and activities to stay engaged.”

I call my blog site an “evolving journey.” Readers can find unfiltered opinions on daily life. The site covers various global and local issues, including travel, immigration, and housing. I base my views on lived experiences in North America, Europe, and beyond.

The Covid pandemic and the Ukraine war inspired many of the blogs in my first blook. These blogs were interwoven with personal experiences. Other posts focused on Canadian healthcare and immigration policies and their impact on the availability of doctors and housing. I also wrote about memorable events, like attending graduations and vacationing with family.

The Ukraine war is still ongoing, but it has become less newsworthy. I shared my thoughts and memories about the war in Ukraine involving Russia in my first blook. As for Covid, it is mostly behind us now.

This volume includes blogs about travels to Corsica in France in 2023. It also covers travels to the West Coast, to Vancouver and Portland, in 2024. I wrote about forming a book club with friends. I reviewed our chosen books on blogs.

I have gained many subscribers for my blog and discovered a community of kindred spirits by reading their blogs. Some bloggers specialize in travel writing, while others focus on cooking and recipes. Many of them have a large group of readers. This led me to consider whether I should also specialize in a single topic. Still, I prefer to write about topics I find weird or controversial. I do not want to limit myself to one area, like travel. I will continue to write on various subjects that interest me.

Can New Housing Strategies Solve Canada’s Affordable Housing Shortage?

April 26, 2025

With the Canadian federal election only days away, all federal parties have offered plans to tackle the housing shortage and its impact on affordability.

High housing prices, expensive rents, and a shortage of homes are key issues, especially for first-time homebuyers. Unfortunately, there are no simple solutions. The proposals presented by party leaders comprise well-worn ideas that have been around for decades.

While one party wants to double the annual housing construction to 500,000 units, another proposes 3 million units over 5 years—an annual rate of 600,000. According to one study, Canada must construct three million housing units by 2030 to satisfy demand and lower prices. The housing industry has averaged only 250,000 units built annually in recent years.

Canadians’ income levels are tied to affordability. The average salary in Canada is $67,000, while the average home price is $670,000. Salaries can vary based on age, occupation, and other factors, and home prices vary across the country depending on location factors. Historically, housing was affordable when an individual’s income was one-third of the home’s price. Home ownership becomes unattainable for many people today when the home price reaches ten times their annual income.

Despite these challenges, the housing market continues to bubble because of two-income households and help from family members.

We can attribute the current housing crisis to the imbalance between supply and demand. Demand has surged because of a rise in immigration; the government has acknowledged this situation and has implemented measures to reduce the number of immigrants. However, the government has not addressed supply.

The major political parties propose a plethora of ideas to increase supply:

A proposal to establish a new government agency, “Build Canada Homes,” immediately caught my attention. Whoa! I remembered the Ministry of State for Urban Affairs, a government agency established years ago that ran into provincial jurisdiction and was abolished. I worked there and learned the hard way not to interfere with provincial matters. And how long would it take to create a new agency?

One party proposes rent control due to steeply escalating rents, averaging over $2,000. Policymakers in Europe and North America have long discussed and implemented this system. However, it has always resulted in a lack of maintenance and deteriorating buildings. Rent control does not increase the housing supply; it does the opposite, although it benefits long-term rentals. It also leads to “renovictions,” or forcible eviction of people for renovations and the subsequent legal rent increase.

Another proposal is to build “affordable” housing units for homeless individuals, students, low-income families, and indigenous people. When I asked my local councillor to define affordable housing, he could not provide one. Subsidies are necessary to encourage developers to construct units that are not based on market rates.

There are also suggestions for building prefabricated housing, which is less expensive than traditional methods but of lower quality.

Yet another idea is to train more people in the building trades. The shortage of skilled labor is one reason Canada builds only about 250,000 housing units yearly.

People blame the cost and duration of the regulatory process, zoning, and associated standards, such as the building code, for increased costs. There’s a convincing argument for reducing standards to lower expenses, but would Canadians go back to smaller bedrooms and less insulation?

While the proposed solutions have merit, a significant issue remains: Most of these pertain to provincial matters, including planning, zoning, rent control, and building codes, all of which fall under local jurisdictions. Local governments are also responsible for education and training, should a program for skilled trades be established.

Housing inventory can only increase through new land development and the densification of existing urban areas. Since local jurisdictions control these functions, the federal government has limited opportunities to expand the housing stock beyond providing financial resources and taxation strategies, such as reducing the GST for first-time homebuyers (proposals also exist to use vacant federal lands and buildings for “affordable” housing).

Besides the limited availability of land and skilled labor for house construction, the rising cost of materials presents a significant barrier to building affordable housing. This begs the question: Can the federal government regulate the price of construction materials?

Considering the housing problem more broadly revealed added complexities. For example, homelessness is often associated with mental health issues and substance abuse, leading to more complex problems that need specific solutions.

Another complicating factor is that, with low unemployment rates in Canada today, many young people may not see the need to train for skilled trades when they already have jobs. Governments should promote training in skilled trades such as carpentry and plumbing, which offer good pay. Employed people, however, might be reluctant to switch careers.

I’m wary of recycled housing solutions presented as novel ideas. The proposed ideas are not fresh: similar proposals have been made before, and I wonder why these proposals have not been implemented. I believe the emphasis should be on cooperative action at all levels of government and execution rather than just rhetoric.