3 
7 | § ¶Ski At Last - 2006
-- Mount Snow, Vermont
The primary reason I learned to ski, and enjoy doing so, is because it gives me something fun to do in the otherwise bland and boring months of winter. There are other things I certainly can do in winter, like cook, dine with friends, read, house repairs, and maybe catch up with the stamp collection. But none of them can only be done in winter.
Read More 7 6 | § ¶Jan 31 Update: 2006 Financial New Year Resolutions
-- -- One Completed, Four to Go
At the begining of the year I established five financial resolutions to accomplish before end of 2006.
- $6,000 in Yearly Dividend / Interest Income
- Consolidate Retirement Accounts
- Will and Living Will
- Car Repairs, New Car, and/or Car Fund
Emergency Fund- done! - January 31st, 2006
6 4 | § ¶Book Review: Love and Hate in Jamestown
-- Historically Enlightening
The catch-word that motivated me to buy the book was Pocahontas. It certainly de-mystifies the legend of John Smith and Pocahontas, and even adds interesting details to it. It draws a clear line between what has been verified and what is legend. It even goes to the point of establishing what John Smith told vs what other people confirmed. But more importantly than telling the romantic (love or not) story about Pocahontas, it tells the story about how the English colonization of North America started. The hardships endured, as well as the political, moral, and subsitance struggles that the first colonists endured, are certainly not as rosy or as quickly overcame as the Disney story portrays. What history confirms is well beyond anything that could be imagined in our modern, comfortable world. Furthermore, what is seldom overlooked in amateur history is the economic forces behind the colonization. The book dwells deep into how these issues affected the decisions taken and not only started shaping America, but defined how fast and efficient (or inefficient) the colonization could advance. A great history book for anyone yearning to learn about the start of this great nation. I really enjoyed it. Those wishing for a nice Pocahontas story may look elsewhere. |
4 5 | § ¶James Patterson
-- Not as good as Grisham
Traveling has one good side effect: plenty of time to read. Of course, that means that I have to carry most of the books I will read on a trip on my luggage, as books overseas are extremely expensive compared to the ones on the USA. When I finish the books in my suitcase, it is time to go hunting for others.
Since I liked the lawyer stories that Grisham produces, I decided to try the police and detective stories made by James Patterson, an equally acclaimed author of New York Times Bestsellers. A couple of books where available below the normally high book prices found in Sydney.
The stories where good, organized in such a way that it was easy to continue reading for as long as time allowed in my numerous reading breaks. Yet, Grisham had set the bar too high for Patterson.
Read More 3 6 | § ¶John Grisham
-- Superb Author
After a long time reading history and economy books I decided it was time to take a break and enjoy some fiction. Never before I had been interested in the lawyer (or its sibling police/detective) stories. A combination of my admiration of Grisham stories from the time I saw the Pelican Brief movie and the fact that my local library was selling his excess books at $0.50 or $1 (paperback or hardcover, respectively) of this and other famous authors made me try them.
I must say that John Grisham storytelling style has me hooked on his novels, and I am looking forward to reading the remaining ones - which I hope to acquire and read soon.
Read More 5 3 | § ¶Canberra
-- And other fabricated capitals
Apparently in the New World, it is common to find countries with capitals that have been chosen. Brasilia for Brazil, Washington D.C. for the USA, Pretoria for South Africa, Ottawa for Canada, and of course, Canberra for Australia.
It is a good concept. You make sure that you offend less people by placing the government in a city that hasn't fought for country dominance. And you make certain that no big city is the host of the government that every other state has to please. Yet, chosen Capital Cities always look as if they where fabricated, way too planned.
Canberra is no exception. It looks very well planned. But very pretty. Lots of open spaces, with small pockets of land containing architectural marvels, just like Australia itself.
Read More 7 2 | § ¶Food, Coffee, and Transport
-- Excerpts from my Travel Log
Some excerpts from my Travel Log of my Trip to Argentina.
Read More 7 10 | § ¶2006 Financial New Year Resolutions
-- Simple Goals
Everyone does resolutions, why can't I? I do want to make them reasonable, howerver. I want them to be goals for the year.
The difference between a dream and a goal is that a goal has a realistic plan on how to achieve it.
I will share SOME of them:
Read More 7 8 | § ¶Book Review: Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People
-- A Basic, yet Effective Financial Strategy
 | Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People Few authors dare to tell you exactly how and where to invest your money. Most of the financial press books you find out there discuss at great lengths the pros and cons of every investment vehicle. They provide vast details on theories and strategies. But most fall short of telling you to invest 30% on ABC fund of XYC company and so on. Jane does provides very specific advice for Busy people - people who want to sleep well at night knowing that their nest egg will survive the test of time and grow to provide them comfort in the future. She tells you where you should invest and why. And she doesn't use any magic tricks or little known investment secrets: she tells you about time proven investment vehicles and why they will work. She provides a pre-designed financial plan (with instructions on how to modify it to help you in your particular needs) that will serve you well. |
10 6 | § ¶The Postal Service ( USPS )
-- And their rate hike...
I am not happy about the rate hike that just went into effect (US Postal Service). It will cost me two more cents to ship a one ounce letter to anywhere in the US and its territories. It has bounced up to an impressive 39 cents!
Then again, I wonder what else in life costs 39 cents these days. Isn't it impressive that for 39 cents, less than half a US dollar, someone is willing to take one ounce of paperwork and deliver it anywhere you want (within the US) in around three days? This is one of the greatest bargains in the whole world!!
Still not happy?
Read More 11 8 | § ¶Book Review: The Number
-- What it is, and What is For?
 | The Number - A Completely Different Way to Think About the Rest of Your Life A free press book published by Lee Eisenberg Most financially aware people worry about having enough money to enjoy our golden years. Our worries go beyond basic sustenance (even when we also worry about the next generation being able to fund it through systems like the ailing Social Security). We want to have fun and enjoy a style of life that doesn't feel like a terrible downgrade from the life we are used to having. We want those years to be really golden! That brings up the need to find out how much money has to be amassed during our accumulation years, so that our Golden Years are just like we expect them. That amount of money is The Number. |