Global Competitiveness Index 2010–2011

Country/Rank

Canada-10
Ireland-29

Portugal-46
Greece-83

Once again, Portugal and Greece fall behind Ireland. It's important to note that the current problems in Ireland are financial and not economical. And this is very important because the problems in Portugal and Greece are mostly structural, i.e., economy, justice, labor market.

Unfortunately, this makes believe that Portugal and Greece will have to make a substantial adjustment in the next decade or so.

Full report.

Lightning strike hits CN Tower

on May 29, 2011.

University of Alberta: dichloroacetate is effective in curing cancer

Researchers at the University of Alberta believe Dichloroacetate may soon be used as an effective treatment for many forms of cancer.

Here.

Better Life Index: a comparison between Canada, Portugal, Ireland and Greece

Here's an interesting compilation of data of four countries. Canada topped the ranking, only behind Australia.

Remind yourself that Portugal, Ireland and Greece were intervened by IMF/ECB/EC with bailout programs and that these findings are based on data from 2008 or later. So, they don't account for the latest and very significant changes that occurred lately in these 3 countries.

Maybe this could help someone decide which country he or she would prefer to live in. Maybe not. Well, at least has some really interesting figures.

Note:

- Red is the worst, yellow the best.

Enjoy and discuss!



Full document here.

Índice de protecção no mercado de trabalho - OCDE

0 - menos protecção; 4.5 - mais protecção

Muito bem, agora reflictamos muito simplisticamente:

- será linear que o factor "direitos adquiridos" seja fundamental para o sucesso da economia e felicidade dos trabalhadores?

- será a maior protecçao no emprego o factor essencial para o sucesso da economia?

- será a maior protecção no emprego a garantia de um estado social com sucesso?

- será a maior protecção no emprego condição para reduzir o desemprego?

- será a maior protecção no emprego a garantia de mais oportunidades de emprego para todos?

- o que dizer da comparação com a Suiça, Canadá, Austrália, Nova Zelândia, Irlanda e Dinamarca, todos países mais desenvolvimentos que Portugal? O que dizer da Suécia?

- e qual será a relação com os recibos verdes?

As diferenças são abismais. Não se deve comer o pão bolorento que muitos partidos (Bloco de Esquerda e Partido Comunista, por exemplo) nos querem impingir.

Boas análises!

Via Desmitos

Most liveable cities in Canada 2011

MoneySense magazine published their 2011 Canada’s Best Places to Live list.

Photos of the two places that I've already visited.


1º Ottawa-Gatineau

2º Victoria, B.C.

3º Burlington, ON

4º Kingston, ON

5º St. Albert, AB

Full list here.

Queens University Researchers Unveiled the PaperPhone

The question is: what's a PaperPhone? :)

According to researchers, it is best described as a flexible iPhone – it does everything a smartphone does, like store books, play music or make phone calls. But its display consists of a 9.5 cm diagonal thin film flexible E Ink display. The flexible form of the display makes it much more portable that any current mobile computer: it will shape with your pocket.

Here's a video:



It looks pretty interesting but I don't see the use for it for the average consumer. But, let's wait for further developments.

Here.

Canada's Elections 2011 Results

Conservatives won 167 seats of the 308 seats in the House of Commons, up from 143 before their defeat in a no-confidence motion in late March that triggered the election. The Conservatives have ruled as a minority government since February 2006.

NDP won 102 seats, the Liberals 34 and the Green Party won its first ever seat. Bloc Québécois lost almost all but 4 seats of its 47 seats.

So, nothing new here.

Now, Mr. Harper, deal with the deficit and the economy.

More here.

Via Financial Times

The Social Meaning of Being Portuguese Canadian

An interesting but short analysis of what was like to be a Portuguese Canadian in 1979. I wonder if a similar analysis today would prove the same conclusions.

Elections in Portugal and Canada

Despite of the fact that the two parliamentary houses are being dissolved almost at the same time, Canadians will have elections on May 2 and Portuguese on June 5.

1 month difference and Canada's not at risk of a bailout!

Portugal needs to start doing things right, that's for sure.

Oh well...