Sunday, September 19, 2010

Taylor Reading List for Sep 2010 to Dec 2010

1. Airmail to the Moon
2. The Dangerous Book for Boys
3. Bicycle Man (by Allen Say)

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Tracy 2010 Goals

This list was originally created in an email dated Jan 1, 2010:

1. promise to be nicer to people
2. promise to go to bed 15 minutes earlier than last year 10:15

3. promise to do my Chinese homework because I did not do all

4. promise to keep a record of money I get and money I spend

5. promise to spend less time on tv and wii and computer, more time reading and playing with Taylor, coaching him mindstorm nxt

6. promise to pray before meals in Chinese

7. promise to take a shower at least twice a week

8. I will not fight with Taylor more than once a week

9. tbd

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Re-thinking RRSP strategy

Currently I have about $29K in XIC.to (TSX Capped Index ETF) and $23K in XMA.to (TSX Material ETF).

Material ETF is probably too risky in the long run, but on the plus side, it is a play on the economic boom in China and India.

Another option is to move 50% of the Material ETF, or $12K, to one of the following mutual funds:

1. TD Monthly Income - ITDB622 10 year annualized return of 9%, exp ratio of 1.4%.
2. PH&N Total Return Bond DPHN340


See https://webbrokercpo.tdwaterhouse.ca/InfositeTransferIn?Greeting=+&Language=E&SessionHost=https%3A%2F%2Fwebbrokercpo.tdwaterhouse.ca%2F&RequestedPage=WMR&Topic=&QuickLinks=WBL!WTR!WMR&ServerID=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tdcanadatrust.com%2F%2Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.tdwaterhouse.ca%2F&QuickQuote=&referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tdwaterhouse.ca%2Fservlet%2Fcom.td.infosite.servlet.InfositeServlet

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Trip to my Home Town: Longquan Township in Chengdu

Yesterday my wife Shuyi and I visited Longquan township.
The primary purpose was to take care of my father's retirement account, in care of Mr. Zhao Youngzhi and his wife, Auntie Wei.

The last trip to Longquan I took was 2006. This time, a lot has changed.

A few observations are as follows:
1. There are now at least one ring road around Longquan.
2. Within Longquan, there are more than one local buses.
3. Bus to downtown Chengdu ends 8:00pm and costs YMB $2. It is too early in my mind. For example, we had to take a taxi, YMB $60 at 8:30pm.