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today I did a bit of math....

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2011.04.15

It's occurred to me since I've been back that my salary is basically the same as it was in 1999. Twelve years ago.

And yet, everything feels considerably more expensive. Now, of course, I'm supporting two people who weren't in my life ten years ago, but I was semi-supporting a girlfriend back then by paying some of her rent and paying several of her car-related expenses. No, it definitely "feels" more expensive now.

I looked into the one reasonable measure of inflation that I could think of: the US official inflation rate. I kid, I kid. No; it's the price of gold. Given how corrupt the measurements of inflation really are, gold is the best measure I can think of. And it turns out that the year I was born, gold was at around $US44.50. That's the same year, 1971, that the $US officially parted ways forever as it turns out. Today the price of gold is $US1480. That's well over a 30:1 difference.

The difference between today and 2001 is aptly shown on this graph:

Just 10 years ago, gold was "only" worth $CA400. Which means that in the past ten years, my flat salary has actually lost 73% of its buying power. So .. wow.

Saved another $5 in TTC tokens by riding my bike.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering