This and That: Another week, another giveaway

1. Glenn Cooke, President of InsureCan, is sponsoring a contest on this blog (and a few others) where you can win one of two $50 Chapters gift cards. Here’s how to enter the contest: You can earn one entry by just leaving a comment to this post telling us your best investment idea for 2009. You can earn a bonus entry by reading through the previous comments and writing down the number of the comment that you like best. For a sample entry, see the first comment. [Contest rules: (1) Contest closes on Friday, January 23, 2009 at 5 PM EST. (2) One entry per person per e-mail id. (3) Ask your friends to participate (Hint: Ask them to vote for your idea!). (4) The comment that receives the most votes wins. A random winner will be picked if a clear winner cannot be determined. (5) If you receive this post via e-mail, click on the heading to visit the website, scroll down to the end of the page, type in your comment under “Leave a Comment” and click “Submit”.]
2. Nortel filing for bankruptcy protection is the biggest business story of the week. It’s hard not to feel sorry for ex-employees whose severance payments are now in limbo and pensioners who are now looking at a shortfall in their pension payments. The blogger behind Canadian Financial Stuff, an ex-employee himself, sums up his feeling about Nortel as: “sometimes it’s better to be lucky than talented”.
3. Do as I say, not as I do. Jason Zweig wrote a column in The Wall Street Journal on how some of the leading investment experts don’t always take the advice that they so generously give others.
4. Tax expert Tim Cestnick provides his take on the Lipson case judgement rendered by the Supreme Court last week.
5. Mark McQueen, who writes the Wellington Blog wonders how likely it is that BMO will cut its dividend, in the light of an all-cash deal to buy AIG’s Canadian Life Insurance business.
6. “The Feds want to GIVE you money and you don’t want to take it? Whazzup with that?” asks Gail Vaz-Oxlade as she encourages readers to save for their children’s education through a RESP.
7. Million Dollar Journey featured a guest post on using flow-through shares to maximize charitable donations.
8. Where else but on Money Grubbing Lawyer would you find smart and sensible financial tips from a reformed ex-con.
9. Four Pillars wrote about the 11 factors to consider when buying a house.
10. Squawk Fox reminds us that the best things in life are free with a poignant story.

Bundle up, stay warm and have a great weekend everyone!