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Archive for December, 2010

Christmas Message From The Buddha For Us All To Live Up To

December 24th, 2010 4 comments

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

~ Buddha

Have a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year filled with nothing but Wisdom!

A Philosophy of Giving: From Frugality To Charity

December 13th, 2010 2 comments

The following BBC news article detailing the most noble of charitable habits of moral philosopher, Toby Ord, whose actions teaches us about frugal living which can not only help us, but can help others too.

So in these difficult times of financial cuts, we can all learn from Mr Ord on how to live within our means, as well as being aware not to spend too lavishly on presents this Christmas.

Toby Ord is a university researcher earning not much more than the average salary. So why is he giving away £1m over his lifetime to help address global poverty?

When Facebook founder and billionaire Mark Zuckerberg pledged to give away most of his wealth during his lifetime, some British commentators bemoaned the lack of philanthropy on this side of the Atlantic.

But an academic at Oxford University is living off little more than £300 a month in an act of charity-giving that is arguably more impressive than those of Zuckerberg, Gates, Buffett and co.

Toby Ord, 31, has in the past year given more than a third of his earnings, £10,000, to charities working in the poorest countries. He also gave away £15,000 of savings, as the start of his pledge to give away £1m over his lifetime [...]

Read more: Toby Ord: Why I’m giving £1m to charity

Whilst we’re here, some more advice on the small matter of frugality: Become Rich by Living a Frugal Life

Words Of Wisdom From An Old Farmer

December 9th, 2010 3 comments

I never knew that old Macdonald could be so wise:

1. Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

2. Keep skunks and bankers at a Distance.

3. Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

4. A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

5. Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.

6. Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.

7. Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

8. Do not corner something that you know is meaner’n you.

9. It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.

10. You cannot unsay a cruel word.

11. Every path has a few puddles.

12. When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

13. The best sermons are lived, not preached.

14. Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.

15. Don’t judge folks by their relatives.

16. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

17. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.

18. Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin you none.

19. Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

20. If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.

21. Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

22. The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from The mirror every mornin’.

23. Always drink upstream from the herd.

24. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

25. Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.

26. If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.

27. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

28. Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he’s too old to fight, he’ll jus’ kill you…

~ Proverbs From A Farmer

What Is This Consumeristic Society Coming To?

December 2nd, 2010 2 comments

Ever killed anyone for a bargain during a mad rush to stock up on unnecessary possessions this Christmas?

Well, watch the following video to witness human beings almost doing just that, whilst trying to secure something meaningless – priceless, huh?

My take on all this is that Family and Friends are the Best Presents Money Can Never Buy.