Blog Marco

Today I'm writing about safe ab exercises: I usually don't write much about sports, exercise or fitness on this blog (other than tae kwon do, rockclimbing, cycling and running) so its about time I write about something... I was reading an article on the New York Times Blogs about exercising your abs. The question posed by the article was "Is Your Ab Workout Hurting Your Back?" I remember doing sit-ups in the past and it absolutely hurt my back. Rather than being peer pressured into doing them I chose to sit out of it. The traditional sit-up exercise may be good for the abdominal muscles but dangerous for the back. The article states the dilemma: "But there’s growing dissent among sports scientists about whether all of this attention to the deep abdominal muscles actually gives you a more powerful core and a stronger back and whether it’s evensafe."

I was listening to "The Script" album on my ipod when it started playing "If You See Kay". I didn't think of it much until the second time around when I thought - wait a sec - that sounds like they were spelling out F-U-C-K in their chorus. And this phenomenon is not new. A few other bands have played with "hidden swearing" in their music and lyrics by using "If you See Kay". Other bands who have used it include: 2005 Norwegian punk band Turbonegro, 1990 pop-punk band Poster Children, 1982 Canadian band April Wine, 1977 lo-fi pioneer R. Stevie Moore and finally in 1963 Memphis Slim. The funny thing is even Shakespeare played with the concept.

If you see Kay
Will you tell her that I love her
And if you see Kay
Let her know I want her back
If she listens, say that I'm missing
Everything about her
Make sure you say
Im sweet FA without her
If you see Kay

Have a listen to the lyrics in "If you see Kay" video:

Chairman Mao was a fan of practising diligence and frugality for China. He preached back in 1955 that to make China prosperous and successful it would take several decades of diligence and frugality. And now with perseverance China has made it. 50 years down the track China has become a superpower. China holds many of USA's bonds and currency. China has such a strong financial grasp over USA now that commentators are dubbing the relationship as "Chimerica". The amazing relationship between a big spender (USA) and a big saver (China). Being frugal at a macroeconomic scale has brought rewards to China in the long run. For individuals, would you have the same level of perseverance, diligence and frugality to succeed financially?

Diligence and frugality should be practised in running factories and shops and all state-owned, co-operative and other enterprises. The principle of diligence and frugality should be observed in everything. This principle of economy is one of the basic principles of socialist economics. China is a big country, but she is still very poor. It will take several decades to make China prosperous. Even then we will still have to observe the principle of diligence and frugality. But it is in the coming few decades, during the present series of five-year plans, that we must particularly advocate diligence and frugality, that we must pay special attention to economy. From - Introductory note to "Running a Co-operative Diligently and Frugally" (1955), The Socialist Upsurge in China's Countryside, Chinese ed., Vol. I.

I know this is old but still can't get enough of "the bird bird bird, the bird is the word" - the real song name is: "Surfin' Bird" sung by "The Trashman". Never heard of the song until it got featured in "The Family Guy" in the episode "I dream of Jesus".

Surfin'Bird (aka Bird is the Word) Videos

Here's the video of "Bird is the Word" from Family guy:

Peter: Brian, can I see that paper for a sec? [Brian hands him the paper] Huh, that's odd. I thought that would be big news.
Brian: You thought what would be big news?
Peter: Well, there seems to be an absence of a certain ornithological piece. A headline regarding mass awareness of a certain avian variety.
Brian: What are you talking about?
Peter: Oh, have you not heard? It was my understanding that everyone had heard...
Brian: Heard what?
Stewie: Brian, don't! [Peter puts the record on and starts dancing and singing]

Smart financial planning is important when living frugally. In this post we shall look at how to save pennies by setting up a frugal budget plan. A lot of "common sense" ideas here, but with many families and individuals in financial trouble - "common sense" is not so common after all.

Frugal Budget Plan

For couples: A smart frugal method to financial planning is to learn how to live on a single income. You may both work for a living, but when you both do the sums, its a smart move to make an effort to be able to live on a single income. This is to safeguard your family against any adverse effects such as losing a job. The second job would then pay for savings, investments and other luxuries and extras.

For Everyone: In your frugal budget plan you must implement an emergency fund for yourself or your family. This should be over and above your insurance (as we all know we can't rely on insurance - just look at what happened in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina). Set aside some money for a rainy day, in case of job losses.