by Rupe | Mar 5, 2010 | Not So Recent Reads
Title: World War One: A Short History by Norman Stone
Publisher’s Summary
In 1914, a new kind of war came about, bringing with it a new kind of world. World War One began on horseback, with generals employing bayonet charges to gain ground, and ended with attacks resembling the Nazi blitzkriegs. The scale of devastation was unlike anything the world had seen before: 14 million combatants died, a further 20 million were wounded, and four empires were destroyed. Even the victors’ empires were fatally damaged.
An overwhelming disaster from which the world is still recovering, World War One can seem baffling in its complexity. But now Norman Stone, one of world’s greatest military historians, has composed a dazzlingly lucid and succinct history of the conflict. Stone has distilled a lifetime of teaching, arguing, and thinking into this brisk and opinionated account of the fundamental tragedy of the 20th century.
My Comments:
I will add my comments soon…..
by Rupe | Mar 5, 2010 | Not So Recent Reads
Title: Sample Capitalism: A Very Short Introduction by James Fulcher
Publisher’s Summary
Capitalism deals with the issues that have preoccupied thinkers from Marx and Weber through to Cuddens and Soros. It examines not only issues of great contemporary importance, such as modern globalization and ecological crises, but also looks at examples from the ancient world.
Explaining the origins of capitalism, this Introduction raises the issue of whether capitalism indeed originated in Europe. Next it examines a distinctive stage in the development of capitalism that began in the 1980s in order to understand where we are now and the various stages that have evolved since. Fulcher goes on to explore whether capital has escaped the nation-state by going global (while emphasizing that globalizing processes are not new and questioning whether capitalism is global in character.)
The book discusses the crisis tendencies of capitalism, such as the Southeast Asian banking crisis, the collapse of the Russian economy, and the 1997-98 global financial crisis, and asks whether capitalism is doomed. In the end, the author ruminates on a possible alternative to capitalism, discussing socialism, communal and cooperative experiments, and the alternatives proposed by environmentalists.
My Comments:
I will add my comments soon….
by Rupe | Dec 4, 2009 | Inspiration, Military-Political
Following is the text of President Obama’s address on a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, as released by the White House on Tuesday 1 Dec 2009; for me this is one of, if not his finest:
Good evening. To the United States Corps of Cadets, to the men and women of our Armed Services, and to my fellow Americans: I want to speak to you tonight about our effort in Afghanistan — the nature of our commitment there, the scope of our interests, and the strategy that my administration will pursue to bring this war to a successful conclusion. It’s an extraordinary honor for me to do so here at West Point — where so many men and women have prepared to stand up for our security, and to represent what is finest about our country.
To address these important issues, it’s important to recall why America and our allies were compelled to fight a war in Afghanistan in the first place. We did not ask for this fight. On September 11, 2001, 19 men hijacked four airplanes and used them to murder nearly 3,000 people. They struck at our military and economic nerve centers. They took the lives of innocent men, women, and children without regard to their faith or race or station. Were it not for the heroic actions of passengers onboard one of those flights, they could have also struck at one of the great symbols of our democracy in Washington, and killed many more. Click to continue…
by Rupe | Dec 4, 2009 | Money Matters
Note: Quick read by Thomas Stanley on low profile millionaires…
A producer from ABC’s 20/20 news magazine television show once asked if I could identify neighborhoods where the millionaire next door types live. After checking my database, I pinpointed several neighborhoods where these people resided. The resulting televised program certainly raised eyebrows. Most of the homes depicted were in the $200,000 to under $400,000 price range. All of the millionaire next door types who lived in these neighborhoods had an investment portfolio of at least $1 million. Yet the median price they typically pay for a bottle of wine is just over $10.00 – certainly not the acting rich crowd.
Then I did a statistical analysis of my data base and ultimately a profile of millionaires who live in homes currently valued at between $125,000 and $395,000, the low profile millionaires next door. A more detailed examination of the data brought to mind another television episode. It took place while I was promoting The Millionaire Next Door on the Oprah Winfrey Show. A rather well dressed woman from the audience asked me the same question I had heard a thousand times before: What good does it do to have all this money if you don’t spend it? The woman was agitated, even indignant, that I was touting frugality. She further indicated that these people couldn’t possibly be happy. She, like most people who are not wealthy, believed that the more one spends, the more satisfying life is. Thus, more money translates into more spending and therefore more happiness.
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by Rupe | Nov 22, 2009 | Mad Musings
Chinese spies are aggressively stealing secrets to build up China’s military and economic power, a US advisory panel 
on US-China relations has warned.
Its members urged the US Congress to ensure the country was adequately protected against Chinese spying.
The report was published in the same week that US President Barack Obama made his first official visit to China.
A Chinese embassy spokesman in Washington dismissed the allegations as baseless and irresponsible.
Sophistication?
The report – which says China’s spying is becoming more intense and sophisticated – was produced by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
"China is changing the way that espionage is being done," said Carolyn Bartholomew, who chaired the commission…read more
by Rupe | Nov 21, 2009 | Military-Political
The Royal Navy’s biggest and most powerful attack submarine has arrived at Faslane on the Clyde.
Astute, which measures nearly 328ft (100m) from bow to stern, set sail from Barrow in Cumbria for its first sea trials on Tuesday.
The vessel can be armed with 38 torpedoes and missiles – more than any previous Royal Navy submarine. It sailed into the Clyde and up the Gareloch to its new home at the Scottish naval base.
The BAE Systems-built vessel is due to go into full service next year. It will be able to circumnavigate the entire globe underwater and advanced nuclear technology means that it will never need to be refuelled.
The Royal Navy’s biggest and most powerful attack submarine has arrived at Faslane on the Clyde. Astute, which measures nearly 328ft (100m) from bow to stern, set sail from Barrow in Cumbria for its first sea trials on Tuesday. The vessel can be armed with 38 torpedoes and missiles – more than any previous Royal Navy submarine. It sailed into the Clyde and up the Gareloch to its new home at the Scottish naval base.
The BAE Systems-built vessel is due to go into full service next year. It will be able to circumnavigate the entire globe underwater and advanced nuclear technology means that it will never need to be refuelled. Read more….
by Rupe | Nov 14, 2009 | Funny Schnick!
Got these from a friend – some’s a bit quirky, but a little funny.
1. I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.
2. Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
3. The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
4. Never take life seriously Nobody gets out alive anyway.
5. There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead..
6. Life is sexually transmitted.
7. Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
8. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
9. Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.
10. Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?
11. Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again
12. All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
13. In the 60’s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
14. How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
15. Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, ‘I think I’ll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?’
16. Who was the first person to say, ‘See that chicken there? I’m going to eat the next thing that comes out of its butt.’
17. Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?
18. If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
19. If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
20. Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
by Rupe | Nov 12, 2009 | Inspiration, Military-Political
To my fellow Brothers in Arms – both past and present, I salute you on this day.
This Veterans Day – I want to pay special tribute e to those who fought in the Pacific theater  WWII – in places like Guadalcanal, Marshall Is, Phillipine Sea, Leyte Gulf, Okinawa.  Your memory lives on.
As I write these words, our nation is at war. War is tough and nasty.  It rips at your very being and spits you out like mere nothing.  As I reflect on years past, I suppose I could have spent my youth in some other vocation; I could have probably been an accountant or even a policeman, but the confluence of time and fate has made me a military man.  In this vocation, I have found both meaning and value of things well beyond the material; and I have come to a cogent understanding of  and appreciate for, the utter complexities of living in a society such as our, froth with all the contradictions and tensions of race, sex, politics, etc…
So today is Veterans Day, a day with special meaning to those of us who wear the uniform…today is a proud one in the land of the brave”.
today And I am very proud to call so many other like me brother. Â Today is our day.
by Rupe | Oct 28, 2009 | Funny Schnick!
Here is a little something someone sent me that is indisputable mathematical logic. This comes from 2 math teachers with a combined total of 70 years experience.
What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?
This is a strictly mathematical viewpoint that might help you answer these questions:
If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
And
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But ,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And,
B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%
So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty, that While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it’s the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top.
by Rupe | Oct 23, 2009 | Mentoring, Money Matters
Take advantage of real-life money lessons today so that you and your children can reap the benefits in the future.
“In the past year, college savings plans may have had big losses, or a friend’s parents might have lost a job or a house,” says USAA member Susan Beacham, founder and CEO of Money Savvy Generation. “Our kids are paying attention.”
While they’re listening, start talking — and help them gain financial smarts.
1. Give them a plan. Ease your child into the world of self-sufficiency with a financial responsibility plan. “Decide what financial skills you’d like to turn over to your child at what age. Then train him ahead of time so he’ll be ready for each task,” suggests Beacham.CEO of Money Savvy Generation. “Our kids are paying attention.” …click to continue reading.
by Rupe | Oct 18, 2009 | Mad Musings
The field of behavioral finance examines the intersection between psychology and economic decision-making. In his fascinating recent book, Your Money and Your Brain, Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Zweig examines a heretofore little-known aspect of behavioral finance: neuroeconomics, or how our brains respond in real-life financial situations. I recently sat down with Jason to discuss investor behavior and his tips for becoming a better investor. Continue Reading…
by Rupe | Oct 18, 2009 | Mad Musings
If I were to get a penny for every emotions that I have gone through with being a property owner and having renters, I would be a very very rich man. I know that I am not the only one in this, and there are many in my shoes, but no one feels my pains –
I know this will probably come off as being elitist, but who gives a crap.
1. Why the “bleep” do renters always believe that they should not have to pay their rent…huh?
2. Why the “bleep” do renters always break yo “bleep” and then come up with excuses why they shouldn’t have to replace it?
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by Rupe | Sep 20, 2009 | Mad Musings
Get DISKTOOL PRO BY MAC WARE
Update: Â so the deal was, my computer (a mac by the way) just started draggin’ a%%; I literally couldn’t work on it because it took for ever to open anything. Â The simple act of clicking the mouse was a measure too much for little mackie.
So, at first I tried to clean it using all the tools onboard, I then started trolling the web for anything free, and finally decided that I was going to get Disktool pro by macware to finally do the job for me.
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by Rupe | Sep 19, 2009 | Mentoring
You may not have heard of Dr. Mark Dean. And you aren’t alone. But almost everything in your life has been affected by his work.
See, Dr. Mark Dean is a Ph.D. from Stanford University. He is in the National Hall of Inventors. He has more than 30 patents pending. He is a vice president with IBM. Oh, yeah. And he is also the architect of the modern-day personal computer. Dr. Dean holds three of the original nine patents on the computer that all PCs are based upon. And, Dr. Mark Dean is an African American.
So how is it that we can celebrate the 20th anniversary of the IBM personal computer without reading or hearing a single word about him? Given all of the pressure mass media are under about negative portrayals of African Americans on television and in print, you would think it
would be a slam dunk to highlight someone like Dr. Dean.
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by Rupe | Aug 29, 2009 | Reflections
Started reading this book – Denial of Death by Ernest Becker last week and if by coincidence I found out about a buddy of mine – Dave that I wrote about in a previous post. The book rolls across the landscape of Pschotherapy with the greats – Freud, Jung,…, but the premise is that the fear of death stands at the center of man’s motivations. Will provide more a bit more once I am finish reading it here.
by Rupe | Aug 29, 2009 | Mad Musings
My friend Dave died. He died on August 7th 2009, but I found out on August 24th 2009. The reality of death is near again. The selfishness of it; the permanence of it coming to me all at once, suffocatingly in its horidness. Not sure if I should be afraid or welcoming of its finality.
So now that he is gone, where did his greatness and genius go. Where does it all go anyway. Did the cancer that ravaged his body guide him to a better place. What did he think about in his final days and hours. How frightened he look those last few months that we spoke; his eyes betraying his words of courage. Did he push back in his final hour or did he submit. One day I am sure I will find out, but for now I will keep his memory.
Bye Dave…
by Rupe | Aug 22, 2009 | Mad Musings
Awesome day with me and Maakis at Water Country USA. Spend a great deal of time in the wading pool, went on a few more rides and just chilled out. A thunderstorm rolled in around 1600 and wreaked havoc on the place – most people left afterwards. We had a great time anyway. (Right click and open to see at full resolution)
MAP of WATER COUNTRY USA
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by Rupe | Aug 22, 2009 | Mad Musings
Not big into spam, but I got this from a family member and thought it was interesting….not sure if all the claims are accurate, but it is interesting nonetheless…
1. The Garden of Eden was in Iraq
2. Mesopotamia , which is now Iraq , was the cradle of civilization!
3.Noah built the ark in Iraq
4. The Tower of Ba bel was in Iraq
5. Abraham was from Ur , which is in Southern Iraq !
6. Isaac’s wife Rebekah is from Nahor , which is in Iraq !
7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq
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by Rupe | Aug 21, 2009 | Mad Musings
Ma baby gurl hanging out with her dad! She has decided to change her name from Cheyenne to Shaymin.  Very smart little gurl!
by Rupe | Aug 21, 2009 | Fitness
Jamaican Usain Bolt is making his case for being the greatest sprinter of 
all-time at the World Athletics Championships in Germany. In addition to his enormous talent, there are many other facets to the young runner’s personality.
Who exactly is Usain Bolt? The facts are easy. He is from Jamaica, 1.96 meters tall, has a charismatic smile and celebrated his 23rd birthday Friday. And in his last five major finals going back to the Olympics, he has won five gold medals and set five world records.
On first impression, Bolt may seem to be a show-off. He smiles at the television cameras, sticks out his tongue with antic poses and hand gestures, strikes his “lightning bolt” pose, and tells reporters that he is on his way “to being a legend.”
He can take another step in that direction Saturday when the Jamaican four-by-100 relay team is expected to give Bolt a chance for his sixth straight gold. But then another side of Bolt becomes apparent. The team must qualify Friday, and despite being the favorites, Bolt told VOA Sports he respects all of his competitors and takes nothing for granted. Continue reading…
by Rupe | Aug 19, 2009 | Mad Musings
This is a shot of my bunk in my stateroom. Kinda hard to get a full appreciation of it, but imagine a coffin with a sideways entry and then a blue curtain for privacy. The EEBD box at the foot-end is the Emergency Egress Breathing Device; it is suppose to provide enough breathable air to take you to safety in case of a fire.
by Rupe | Aug 19, 2009 | Mad Musings
Many people do not realise drinking alcohol can disturb a good night’s sleep by interfering with the brain, a government-funded poll suggests.
Almost half of 2,000 drinkers surveyed reported fatigue the day after drinking more than the recommended daily limit.
But some 58% of those questioned were unaware that sleep problems could be caused by exceeding the limit.
The survey by YouGov was carried out for the Know Your Limits campaign, started three years ago.
Men are advised to drink no more than four units a day – the equivalent of two pints of regular-strength beer, and women no more than three units – the equivalent of a large, 250ml glass of wine. Continue reading….
by Rupe | Aug 19, 2009 | Mad Musings
A group of Facebook users filed a civil lawsuit Monday that alleges the social-networking site is violating California consumer privacy laws.The lawsuit, which was filed in California’s Orange County Superior Court on behalf of five users, seeks a jury trial, as well as damages and attorneys’ fees. The five plaintiffs are described as two children younger than 13, a user of the original Facebook, a professional photographer, and an actress and model.
The 40-page complaint accuses the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company of violating California privacy and online privacy laws by disseminating private information to third parties for commercial purposes.
“Plaintiffs and the general public desire and expect a level of privacy, which Facebook has failed to satisfy under its current policies, procedures, practices, and technology,” the complaint states. Continue reading…
Note: No issues with Facebook directly, but I think most folks don’t read the disclaimer and put way too much personal information online – not knowing that information can be garnered by aggregation.
by Rupe | Aug 18, 2009 | Mad Musings
An Afghan bill allowing a husband to starve his wife if she refuses to have sex has been published in the official gazette and become law.The original bill caused outrage earlier this year, forcing Afghan President Hamid Karzai to withdraw it.
But critics say the amended version of the law remains highly repressive.
They accuse Mr Karzai of selling out Afghan women for the sake of conservative Shia support at next week’s presidential election.
The law governs family life for Afghanistan’s Shia minority.
Sexual demands
The original version obliged Shia women to have sex with their husbands every four days at a minimum, and it effectively condoned rape by removing the need for consent to sex within marriage.
The original bill caused outrage within Afghanistan and around the world
Western leaders and Afghan women’s groups were united in condemning an apparent reversal of key freedoms won by women after the fall of the Taliban.
Now an amended version  of the same bill has passed quietly into law with the apparent approval of President Karzai.
Keep reading….
by Rupe | Aug 16, 2009 | Mad Musings
– Change is good…but so is tradition
– There is more to war than warfare
– Only the dead have seen the end of war
– Even a good cause doesn’t justify the use of any method to achieve it.
– Facism –> Communism –> Islamism!
by Rupe | Aug 16, 2009 | Mad Musings
Shot of Family Site. Right-click and open to see it at full resolution.
by Rupe | Aug 14, 2009 | Inspiration
Watch your Thoughts…They become words.
Watch your words…They become actions.
Watch your Actions…They become Habits.
Watch your Habits…They become your Character.
by Rupe | Aug 13, 2009 | Mad Musings
Just felt like making a copy of the cooliest desktop around. It is my dream car – Lamborghini Gallardo Nera (right-click and open to see it a full resolution)
by Rupe | Aug 13, 2009 | Inspiration
Greatest is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the winds and sometimes against it – but sail we must, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.
by Rupe | Aug 12, 2009 | Fitness
Alcohol is largely to blame for an “alarming” rise in the rate of oral cancers among men and women in their forties, say experts.
Numbers of cancers of the lip, mouth, tongue and throat in this age group have risen by 26% in the past decade.
Alcohol consumption has doubled since the 1950s and is the most likely culprit alongside smoking, says Cancer Research UK.
Each year in the UK around 1,800 people die from the disease. Read more…
