by Rupe | Jul 6, 2011 | Not So Recent Reads
Title – Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Publisher’s Summary:
Barbara Demick’s Nothing to Envy follows the lives of six North Koreans over 15 years – a chaotic period that saw the death of Kim Il-sung and the unchallenged rise to power of his son, Kim Jong-il, and the devastation of a far-ranging famine that killed one-fifth of the population.
Taking us into a landscape never before seen, Demick brings to life what it means to be an average Korean citizen, living under the most repressive totalitarian regime today – an Orwellian world in which radio and television dials are welded to the one government station, a country that is by choice not connected to the Internet, a society in which outward displays of affection are punished, and a police state that rewards informants and where an offhanded remark can send a citizen to the gulag for life. Demick’s subjects – a middle-aged party loyalist and her rebellious daughter, an idealistic female doctor, an orphan, and two young lovers – all hail from the same provincial city in the farthest-flung northern reaches of the country. One by one, we witness the moments of revelation, when each realizes that they have been betrayed by the Fatherland and that their suffering is not a global condition but is uniquely theirs.
Nothing to Envy is the first book about North Korea to go deep inside the country, beyond the reach of government censors, and penetrate the mind-set of the average citizen. It is a groundbreaking and essential addition to the literature of totalitarianism.
My Comments:
A really great read. Â This book does give you a pretty good glimpse into one of the most dires situations on the globe. Â I would highly recommend a read.
Grab it Now at Amazon
by Rupe | Jul 5, 2011 | Frugal-Me
Article written by – Lauren Ray
For the thrifty individual, buying a new vehicle is anathema. But sometimes the buy-quality-and-hold approach pays off in the long run. In 1967, my dad bought two new cars: an AMC Rambler and a Chevrolet Stepside C-10 Pickup. He had the car for more than 20 years and the truck for over 30. As a matter of fact, the truck outlived my father.Â
 With a brutal, roundtrip commute of about 150 miles every day, plus long family road trips on our school vacations, he managed to put nearly a million miles on the Rambler over its lifetime. When my older sister eventually got her driver’s license, being the frugal dad that he was, he sold the car to her. Read on…
My Comments:
This is simply awesome. My current Mitsubishi Eclipse was built and purchase in 1991 so as of today it is 21 years old. I have just over 170,000 on the odometer. At the current average of 8100 miles a year over the life of the vehicle, I could conceivably get to 300k on the vehicle. The body is in great shape, the engine is really clean and would you believe it, it has made 2 deployments to Bahrain for a total of 26 months in the dusty and dirty grime of the island. I really can’t say enough about my car. It has really been a wealth builder for me and I must say, I love that car.
by Rupe | Jul 4, 2011 | Money Matters
I’ve often discussed the concept of how to live below your means. I believe that it’s the cornerstone of living well in the financial sense, so I’ve decided to reflect on a couple of financial philosophies that all of us have been practicing in some form or another. I revisited the questions:
I’ve often discussed the concept of how to live below your means. I believe that it’s the cornerstone of living well in the financial sense, so I’ve decided to reflect on a couple of financial philosophies that all of us have been practicing in some form or another. I revisited the questions:
They sound like they’re the same thing at first glance, but when I reflect on these questions, I realize they don’t exactly mean the same thing, and that I lean towards the approach of “earning more than I spend†more than I do its counterpart. I prefer to earn more than I spend — meaning that I focus more on income generation than I do on cutting costs, although I definitely employ both tactics in order to build my net worth. This is the case because I’d like to have the option of being able to enjoy creature comforts and a few luxuries on occasion. Having money simply means having more choices. Continue….
My Comment:
I am definitely a frugalist in the truest sense of the word. Â I tend to approach purchases from a pragmatic standpoint. Â Yes, I do have my times and weaknesses, but by-and-large I still to my frugal ways…call me cheap if you wanna.
by Rupe | Jul 2, 2011 | Money Matters
I have a far-out idea to share with the next generation of the American middle class.
Right now, I’m speaking specifically to the young people who are finishing up a college degree, perhaps in a promising field, and starting to get interviews for jobs with salaries they could only dream of just a few years earlier. The Adult World lies exciting and vast before you, and the Opportunities are unlimited!
At this point, let’s imagine you just dive in and start playing it by ear. You work hard at the new job, buy a new car, rent an apartment, enjoy restaurants and vacations, and may even save towards the downpayment on your first house.  Click to read full article….
My Comment:
This is locked on; really good article. Â I had my first kid at 32, not exactly at retirement, but the idea was to make sure that I had means in place before adding kids to the mix. Â I am really happy I did that because now, the reality of not having to work until I am 90 is a bit closer than it would have been. Â Here is another good article from Forbes Magazine.
by Rupe | Jun 30, 2011 | Fitness
You tell yourself you are putting in the work to slim down your midsection, but the mirror is telling you something entirely different There’s your belly, hanging over your belt. What’s that about?
Before you just forget the belt, remember that there’s more at stake than looking buff. Excess belly fat can tag along with a laundry list of chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Read more…
