I do not watch TV much–usually sporting events–and I do not include primary contests in that. When I do, I’m sometimes shocked out of moments of creeping sleepiness by a blaring ad–you know the kind I mean, touting some drug or drug-enhancement that I hope I do not need or know someone who needs it or them. Because I am often not fully focused, I wonder if I heard correctly. So, I have to cock my head to one side and test if ears and eyes working together can confirm. Our eyes lie often, and to describe how that happens sometimes, we have the term ‘reticular activation syndrome’–seeing something a lot once you own it or have thought about owning it. Imagine how many VW Beetles you used to see. But do our ears have similar problems? I know that once I sit up erect I’ll function better.

But the media in general is always trying to scare us. This week has passed with much glaring focus on soaring crude oil prices–US$ 107 earlier this week and still over US$ 105, when I last looked–and the terrible prospect of gas prices over $4 a gallon. But what is triggering this surge? Iran halting exports to the UK and France? But why worry? Other suppliers are there: Iraqi oil does function … well, sort of.

My suspicions turn to China–buying up minerals like they are going out of fashion. To that nation’s rulers, it’s all another elaborate game. They play nations off against each other, like mahjong pieces being turned over and passed around, in a way that feels right to them but makes little sense to us. And how does that make you feel? Like pieces in a racked tile feng shui?

So, Lent is not quite two days old, and checking my core has an appealing side. Wandering through the wilderness of personal values that need to be explored is asking a lot of myself but will lay the seeds for a better life. But, I will try to fill myself daily with something enriching–and on that, I understand that it may be too late to buy paczkis, and that trading intensely is a better way to lose weight than going to the gym or dieting because traders forget to eat. Pass me that donut!

I took a friend to her appointment at the hospital downtown, then met another friend for lunch nearby. I hoped that I would be able to do a ‘drive by’ and pick up what I needed, but it was not to be. When my daughter had to go to choir practice, I thought that would give me the chance I needed. But, alas.

So, I decided to take a walk and enjoy the surprisingly warm afternoon. My path took me past The National Cathedral. I walked in through a side door and saw that two more Ash Wednesday services would be held–at 5.30pm and 7.30pm, neither of which I could make. I asked if a priest was available and was told to go to the slype–a place or person of which I had never heard before. A retired rector, who now mentors new rectors, came to the Holy Spirit Chapel, and along with a group of visiting school children prayed for us, then administered the ashes.

I stopped feeling uncomfortable now that my face was appropriately marked. To have had my forehead clean all day was not what I had wanted; but all’s well that ends well.

But, I think a reprieve is at hand. I listened to the latest bulletins about the GOP presidential nomination race. Former Governor Romney was in Michigan and sampling what passes for Shrove Tuesday tradition there–paczkis–jelly-filled donuts. No chance of having a cultural confusion. These things–of Polish origin–are no sort of pancake. As I move into Ash Wednesday and consider what Lenten challenge I should take on, perhaps it will be to sample as many different kinds of Shrove Tuesday culinary traditions as I can over 40 days. Now, there’s something to put discipline to the test.

Lent is meant to offer a chance for self-examination and to me this fits well–though my wardrobe may not for long. I can do this sampling simply and with solace, even solemnity. I can do it in the confines of a darkened room or in the harsh wilderness. I will be a different person at the end of the process–and I do not mean that my shape will have changed, though I know that donuts are often calorie-heavy. I really don’t think this is something to impose on my family and hope that they do not feel compelled to follow my lead; merely, give me encouragement to go on for the whole 40 days. I will go immediately to find a hair shirt or nearest equivalent and knuckle down to research what to seek and where I need to wander.

Wish me luck!

Sometimes, the sentiment is really in terms of ‘Silence is golden’. Sometimes, the sentiment is ‘Why fill the air with noise?’ It can be other things, but the bottom line is ‘Hold your tongue’… and ‘Listen to the breeze blow’… and ‘Don’t let you mouth get you into trouble’. People are very good at using words to give their bodies or deeds more substance: like clothing, it’s another form of cover–remember the Emperor who had no clothes.

My church is putting on a Lenten series entitled Saturday Quiet Days. On March 3rd, it will offer ‘Simplicity, Silence, Sabbath’, led by Kurt Aschermann: he will offer ‘tools to help you remain spiritually grounded in a busy and complex world’ and examine three practices: simplicity (the art of balance), silence (the art of being still), and Sabbath (the art of sanctifying time). This attracted me when I first saw it last week, and I gave it a try on my own over the weekend. Yoga and meditation have the first two elements and are good for personal positioning each day; the focus on the Sabbath seemed interestingly new.

People are often very uncomfortable with silence. Watch a spooky film and see how people react when someone walks into a dark quiet room, or into a room and everyone stops talking. Suspicions rise immediately.

Yet, people often crave silence. Noise is extremely disturbing, even destabilising: look at how people react when bombarded by sounds. It is an effective form of torture. Countries have noise-abatement laws, not silence-abatement laws. You are very likely to be at odds with your neighbours about the level of noise they create, rather than the amount of quietness that they impose on you. You jump up in the middle of the night because of the sound of a glass vase crashing to the ground, not as a result of a feather falling from your pillow.

So, after the plug for a Lenten discipline, I suggest a little ‘Pull the plug!’.

The presenters spoke about gangs in the community. No single legal or statistical definition of gangs exists, so comparing statistics in the Caribbean specifically or across countries in general is hazardous. They are groupings of people, we can agree. For the purpose of many studies, the focus is on groups of at least two people, combined to undertake criminal activities. So, we are not talking about what I may call ‘innocent’ groupings like romantic couples, families, scout troops, or sports teams. I suspect that many people have images in their head of what ‘gangs’ look like; as with common images of ‘criminals’, the stylized image may not be accurate.

Jamaica has a long history of gangs and their impact on communities, especially in urban areas, and around political parties, and around drugs trading. Other Caribbean islands are playing ‘catch up’. Violence has been on the rise in the region and ‘gang-related’ links have been seen as behind much of this rise. But, it is also understood that gangs and organizations related to them are meeting needs of people, which were going unfulfilled. Whether that is for some basic essentials in life, justice, relative peace, or other things, the impact of gangs can be and has been significant. Some jurisdictions would like to portray the gangs as ‘foreign’ and all to do with deportees or other elements that were not part of the original society. Perhaps they have an influence, but the ground has to be fertile for the criminal element to take hold, as with anything that will grow.

Jurisdictions are struggling to deal with what they see as problems related to gangs. Some are drafting legislation. Little evidence supports that route as likely to deter and bring success, and less likely if the society has not been primed to make the legislation enforceable. A community’s hostility or distrust for the police and legal structures, which help gangs flourish, will still be there if anti-gang legislation is introduced. That communal attitude is more present than merely in societies’ downtrodden places.

Many elements of societies are afraid of what gangs may wreak on them. Yet, it is funny how some of the things that tended to mark gang members have become part of ‘normal’ culture. Things that make gangs and their members identifiable to each other, and to the broader community–clothes, skin markings, hand signs, and language–have also become parts of everyday life.

Some researchers want to move focus away from street gangs and to look at organized crime, too. The business-end of crime is relevant for many reasons. One is that other ways can be found to do what street gangs may ultimately be trying to do: wield power and influence. Standard structures can also be folded to meet these needs. Infiltrating politics through corrupt legislators is one route. Infiltrating businesses so that the legitimate activities can cover the illegitimate ones is also standard transformation for criminal groups.

My economist and social scientist view on things led me to think about what motivates the actors as well as what values societies try to promote. It does not seem to me that the reasons people join gangs is very different from the reasons people join other groups or clubs. It may be pull factors, such as the purpose or objective that drives the desire to belong. It may be some sense of wanting togetherness–the camaraderie–another pulling factor. It may be push factors–’alienation’ in a broad sense, that sense of not belonging that needs to be overcome. People may find value in belonging to gangs (as they do from joining clubs), and whatever rank they may gain there is worth a lot in their lives; the same way that some laud you with “I’m treasurer of the … society.” Gangs differ in that they are often on the harmful side of the line in terms of how they deal with other people; what good they may do for some does not usually compensate in the minds of most. Gangs may impose costs on members, or create bonds that are not as easy to pay off or break as with other memberships. They may also gain from inertia: once in, it’s easier to stay in than to leave. That is not too dissimilar to the bind many find themselves in when it comes to a job. For me, it’s worth looking at how people cling to gangs alongside the way people cling on to wanting to stay in any group–family-based, faith-based, interest-based, or otherwise.

A lot of gangs may do as criminal behaviour–and I am not selective in my view of what is a crime–like most human activity, can come down to incentives and risks and rewards. When those shift, so will behaviour. If getting caught in unlawful acts were highly probable, that would likely be an effective deterrent. Whether the ‘crime’ is speeding, filching funds, selling drugs, or whatever. White-collar crime is no better or worse than street crimes. Many would see suited financiers taking advantage of unsuspecting lenders as not so different from gangsters selling drugs to hapless junkies. Influence-peddling by politicians or vote-buying by businessmen can be on the same spectrum as gang-control in communities, if we choose to place them there.

I was trying to organize my trading day to take account of this change, and decided that maybe I would enter a ‘room’ for a trading webinar then leave, hoping to get back before it was over. That seemed better than trying to just join midway. That was a good move, and she got a mention from the room’s host, which made her really smile before she headed off to school.

My daughter has watched me trade a few times now, and understands that I draw lines on squiggly lines and that helps me. But, she seems to understand markets, too. “People don’t want to buy stuff!” she blurted out yesterday morning. “Just look. All the numbers are going red, and not green. Are you buying, Daddy?” I grinned and told her that I was not buying and hoped that the red numbers would stay that way for the rest of the day.

I explained to her that I was being a little cautious because I was due to attend a conference on Wednesday (today). I was really doing some research rather than trading too much, I explained. “Oh, good! Sometimes you don’t need to work as much.” We then had a discussion about what research was, and how it differed from ‘work’. “Well, work is when your boss tells you ‘Do this! Do that!’ and you scream at him or her that ‘You’re trying your best!’ You pull at your hair, and bury your face in your hands and say ‘Argh! Enough!’” Well, what an encapsulating image that was. So, what was ‘research’, I asked. “That’s finding out stuff. You go to the library or the computer and find out how things work. It’s easy. No one screams at you. I like doing research.” We chatted a little about what scientists do, and also what traders spend a lot of time doing–gathering background information, testing ideas, etc.

She was unconvinced when I told her that research is the work that many people do, and not really different from work in general.

So, I have been punning mercilessly in the context of whatever triggered my interests–finance, tennis, soccer, politics, religion, or whatever. I’ve tried my hand at streaming tweets during events that excited me–there are enough slack moments to do it and still keep up with the activities unfolding. I found that it was not a bad way to wile away the wee hours of the night while watching tennis during the Australian Open, whether matches were lacklustre or full of nail-biting drama. I’ve had fun following the exploits of soccer artistes during the recent African Cup of Nations. I get a kick out of trying to be witty about the sometimes dramatic or essentially humdrum events unfolding in the financial world. Is the prospect of Greece defaulting a dramatic or drachma-tic? Take your pick. My view pitted against yours.

Twitter is a very interesting space once you engage. As someone commented to me yesterday, there are enough ‘trolls’ out there so it’s nice to try to separate oneself from that mob. The Washington Post reported recently how teachers had found a good way to collaborate through tweeting. A friend asked if that was not supposed to be done in the teachers’ common room. Perhaps, once upon a time it was so. But, perhaps, like many work practices in an age more dominated by electronic communications, the need and time to congregate face-to-face has diminished. I can’t really say. With so many people being ‘so busy’ at work, it’s more likely that they do not sit and chat as much as they used to or should.

For those of us in the financial field, it’s clear that with so much daily activity possible at the end of a terminal and keyboard with screen, we are less likely to be in any space that would allow face-to-face communication. The home office is not necessarily an isolated location anymore. Twitter has really filled a void for the solo or near-solo trader, for example. Not only can we all do what we want in our own individual ways, but we can share what we do with as much openness as we like without compromising our own style and performance. Those who have ‘proven methods’ are very glad to share those, whether for egotistical or really pay-it-forward learning reasons. Those who are charlatans can post as much as they like but will be found out for what they are in due course. Twitter time-stamps can be the mark of credibility that says it all.

But, lesser-known solo actors have the luxury of rubbing shoulders equally with ‘big boys’ and ‘big girls’. Revered institutions and media sources are part of our conversation too. I can react with as much reverence or lack of it to whatever I see coming from whoever or whatever purports to be august. My view gets aired without restraint. I may actually have a better point of view, which could not be so easily expressed unless I was invited to some select meeting. This widening of the space for exchange, which has also been done through blogs, has really helped in economics (as noted a few weeks ago by The Economist). Now, we are equals or near-equals. That is true empowerment.

I suppose that I should decide whether building a following is important in this venture. So far, I have not focused much on that–it’s not something that matters financially. If I get past a few thousand followers will I feel different? I’ll say when I get there.

In the meantime, I will also try to steer away from those who seem to relish having a mean time on Twitter. What a way to waste energy!

I wonder, though, if I need to find a more attractive handle. Any suggestions welcome.

A friend and I have been comparing notes today about how our trading days had gone. Traders normally respond “Alright” if asked how they are doing. I was not planning on trading actively today because I had some running around to do: due to take my wife to the airport; some visitors in the home who needed some medical attention; my own annual physical visit to the doctors–always something to which I look forward with relish–not. So, I did not want to mess about when I could not focus. It can be a good thing to stand back from the markets, anyway, and Fridays are often my day for doing that.

My friend lamented how she had lost out after opening a position at almost the most favourable point, but then a sudden market correction made her trade a loser. She consoled herself with another trade that had gone almost as well as she had hoped. Win some, lose some. I commented that my best trade this week was from possibly the worst kind of set up–buying near highs. I regretted the trade within minutes of opening it, and mentally berated myself as I went off to my karate class. I came back home and watched the trade pull against me during the Asian (evening) session–just avoiding my stop-loss, after key data were released–while I eased my body after the karate session. I resigned myself to having to suffer a loss for my rashness, and went to bed. I woke to find a nice surprise, however, and my target had been hit while I was soundly asleep. It covered my daily target twice over, and I spent the rest of the day watching the markets and reading. That’s how the day can go sometimes.

By contrast, my best set ups during the week–like my friend’s, near a top or bottom–turned out to be just alright, and were made better because I saw them come up several times during the week, and got into them each time. I never got the full move, but as some billionaire investor says, if you can get a third of a move you are doing well. But, the bottom line was that I had ‘done my week’s work’ by Thursday morning. So, I should be feeling copacetic that my weekend could start early.

But, life isn’t just about the ‘job’, or the money it earns. A good Jamaican friend is staying with us, perhaps for the next two weeks, convalescing from the effects of someone doing a less-than-copacetic job on her in hospital. She is feeling anything but Irie! She and her family had been with us over the summer and it would have been nicer to have them back under other circumstances. Drip-feeds and liquid diets were not what I envisaged would be part of her baggage on any visit to our house. But, that’s also how it can go.

I don’t usually plan much for my weekends, but had decided that a long aimless walk in some hilly woods with my two daughters on Saturday would be nice to just get totally out of it and decompress.  I cannot find the origin of copacetic, but find some satisfaction in thinking that it may relate to cope. Doing alright is alright, and may be the best you can do.

My attention has been sparked recently by the extent to which protest has started in a small way and continued and expanded with the use of social media, such as Twitter or Facebook. The term ‘digital agitation’ may fit well. No longer do groups or individuals need to venture from their homes to get their voices heard. More generally, the Internet now allows protest to be fast, widespread and effective: beyond social media, mass e-mail messaging, or blog blasting, or website bombardment all spread the word at warp speed.

As Verizon found out a few weeks ago, when people want to complain, facilities such as Twitter, Facebook and Google + can spread their ire like wild-fire. An online Change.org petition, organised by activist Molly Katchpole, sparked a backlash against Verizon’s proposed $2 ‘convenience fee’. Verizon now finds itself also under some scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission. This is a tactic Katchpole used earlier in 2001 when Bank of America attempted to institute a similar $5 fee for those who use its debit cards for purchases. People can see quickly that they are not powerless to effect changes in corporate or government policies.

We have seen for several years now, in protests in many countries how technology helped spread the word about protest events, tactics and more. But, governments (eg, in Sudan) have not been slow in realising that power and cutting off access as a means of maintaining their control (eg, in Syria).

This week, we saw again that the electronic form of protest may be the quickest and most effective way to get complaints and protests aired and heard. The Komen Foundation found itself under a barrage of online protests after its initial decision to stop funding to Planned Parenthood.

But, does that mean that places that do not have wide access to the Internet and governments or enterprises that do not welcome opposition may see a tighter hand on the spread and development of such access? This may put another twist to the term ‘social divide’.