Since so many people don’t like their physical condition, don’t find reward or joy in exercising, and regard these aspects of their life as punishments, I imagine many of them want to change their beliefs and behaviors, perhaps using my example as inspiration. Many people may not care too, I guess. I’ve written a lot on the topics — enough that it might seem overwhelming. Can anyone do what I[…] Keep reading →

As I’ve written before, exercise for me is about the emotions it creates. I start exercises for joy, fun, friendship, etc. For many people exercise seems punishing. If I didn’t realize I, like anyone, could make exercise create whatever emotions I wanted and I felt stuck with punishment, I wouldn’t do it. Luckily I learned to find the joy, fun, etc in exercise — as anyone can — and built[…] Keep reading →

Before visiting Pyongyang, you might expect a dismal, dreary place. Below I’ll show some views that met my expectations (click for bigger views, email if you want higher resolution) The city also has many monuments and sites — monuments, stadiums, statues, victory arches, grand libraries, grand boulevards, etc. I’m not sure, but I suspect whoever is leading the planners envisioned creating a Paris of the East. They had a lot[…] Keep reading →

What I eat I don’t feel like I pay attention to what I eat that much, although I’ve habitualized a lot so I probably eat healthily without thinking about it. I don’t pay attention to proteins versus carbohydrates. I definitely don’t count calories. I think paying attention to those things means you’re eating the wrong things. I mean, I’m kind of aware of those things, but the more I eat[…] Keep reading →

Pyongyang has a huge, remarkable ten-lane highway. I forget its name, but it’s called something like the Children’s Highway. I never asked, but I think they said children helped build the road, a claim of dubious value, if I remembered it right. When I get out from China’s bizarre firewall I’ll post video of the road, but you’ve never seen anything like it. It deteriorated nearly to where you can’t[…] Keep reading →

A reader asked I like what you said about the body being a reflection of how we live our life. I also agree about the genetics; its too much of a cop out to say that you can’t help being obese. I do have a question though. Your photos show that you are in shape but you have previously posted that your workout regimen consists of only a minute of[…] Keep reading →

North Korea’s propaganda focuses a lot on industry — from the posters of mining, energy, factories, etc to what they show off to tourists. They showed us giant factories, barrages (I had to look it up too), train and subway museums, and stuff like that. The U.S. hides industry. What do we stick in your face? What can you not miss in America? Ads. Stores. We motivate personal consumption. And[…] Keep reading →

  Whenever I read about how today’s world is moving faster, competition is greater, people are more separated, more together, or whatever superlative that supposedly sets our time different than any other, I think of this quote Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the[…] Keep reading →

Inequity and its consequences If some people succeed without having to work and others have no chance to succeed, you create feelings of unfairness. Those feelings of unfairness will motivate people to return the unfairness at those who create, maintain, or benefit from the system. Everyone recognizes this situation in North Korea. Even outsiders, who have no interaction with the system, feel outraged and wish harm on the people in[…] Keep reading →