T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 44

Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #44!

Here are some things I really like and that you might too. 

Finance Articles

Developing Systems To Conquer Your Early Retirement Fears (Can I Retire Yet) – “How much risk are you willing to take? What would enable you to overcome your fears and change your lifestyle sooner?”

What’s really important in life? How trade-offs help us decide (No More Weekdays) “Whether we realize it or not, life is full of trade-offs. No matter how badly we want to have it all, we simply can’t have everything that we want.”

Video

Bikes are magical, and modern science can’t even fully explain how they can ride themselves.  This well done video explains.

Who’s Inspired Me

Justin Wren.

As a young teenager Justin Wren experienced bullying that led to depression as a young adult.  To cope he became a champion Greco-Roman wrestler, and went on to become one of the biggest names in UFC and then MMA fighting.  I’m not into watching professional fighting, so that’s not why Justin inspires me.

While Wren was seeking more meaning in his life as a champion fighter he traveled to Africa and found a forgotten tribe of Mbuti Pygmies in the remote jungles of the Congo.  The Mbuti are harassed and preyed upon by armed rebels in the lawless Congo.  They’re often raped and murdered, and have their villages destroyed.  Wren started a charity called Fight For The Forgotten to help the Mbuti, but don’t think this is just a case of a rich athlete throwing money at a problem to help it.

Wren has spent years of his life deep in the Congo with the Mbuti, doing the work.  He’s gotten malaria three times and dengue fever.  He’s also gotten numerous other crazy bugs and parasites from the Congo jungle, some that still affect his health today.  Listen to the details in this snippet of his appearance on Joe Rogan.  Bottom line, this guy has risked his life to help these poor pygmies.

Wren’s charity has freed over a thousand members of the Mbuti by giving them land of their own and access to clean water.  After that success Fight For The Forgotten has expanded to help a tribe of pygmies in Uganda.  Wren is a gentle giant, and truly a selfless and inspiring guy.

What I’m Grateful For

It’s Memorial Day week, and I’m grateful for those who gave all for the freedoms I enjoy.

Lyrically Speaking

You’re a rich girl, and you’ve gone too far
‘Cause you know it don’t matter anyway
You can rely on the old man’s money
You can rely on the old man’s money
It’s a bitch, girl, but it’s gone too far
‘Cause you know it don’t matter anyway
Say money but it won’t get you too far
Get you too far

From “Rich Girl” by Daryl Hall & John Oates

It kind of irks me when people try to describe their love of Hall & Oates as a “guilty pleasure”.  Guilty of what, loving great music?  Call him a rock singer or a soul singer, either way Daryl Hall has one of the best voices in music history.  Is that what’s called a ‘hot take’?  I just pissed some people off but of well.  Listen to One On One and tell me the man can’t sing.  There was no bullshit auto-tune back then, and a singer as talented as Hall wouldn’t have used it if there was. 

I always loved Rich Girl, because growing up in Baltimore City in the hood, I didn’t know such a person existed.  There were no rich girls (or boys) anywhere near me, so the song always had this kind of mystery to me that was amusing.  “Do these kinds of girls exist?” I would think.  Yes, they do.  I met some later on in life.  And money didn’t get them too far.

Miscellaneous

Why Good Nutrition is Important – “Unhealthy eating and physical inactivity are leading causes of death in the U.S.”

NASA’s bold bet on Starship for the Moon may change spaceflight forever – “It is transformational to degrees no one today can understand.”

The Man Who Drank Cholera and Launched the Yogurt Craze – “Ilya Metchnikoff laid the foundation for modern probiotics.”