The plebes are falling for it... commodity bubble is growing. Faster than you can say "executive order 6102" your shiny metals will be reduced to toxic waste. (or something like that)
You can't collect insurance on a suicide, the insurance companies won't pay out and if they even suspect it, you'll be in court trying to get the policy money.
Sorry to ruin your plan. Instead of killing ourselves, maybe we should just rob some other countries? ;)
@freedc: Not that I'm recommending this as a life plan, but some life-insurance policies do allow recovery even if cases of suicide but that coverage usually doesn't kick in for a term of a number of years (usually two) after purchase of the policy.
I just hope Fluffy in the picture consulted with his lawyers before assuming his benefits are vested in the case of suicide.
I know you were just kidding around, but a nice servicey gentle reminder would be to note that no more than 25 percent of your investments ought to be in metals. As for the rest of the advice on this page, it sounds perfectly sensible. Especially the part about the seven hundred billion dollar life policy. That was the best part.
@livinlvis: I Rozelle meant to invest 250% in metals. Just listen to "FreeMoney from the Government" in one ear, "Cash4Gold" in the other, and reap the rich rewards.
@Rozelle’s Bagman: arithmetic was never my strong suit, obviously, but 250 percent sounds about right, especially if you are using OPM! Other people's works great.
This is awful. Not only was she an extremely beautiful woman, but she was smart, funny, creative, and inspiring to so many people. I hope her blog stays up as a memorial.
I think a lot of the reason why people end up committing suicide in East Asia (particularly Japan and Korea) is because depression, eating disorders, and things like that, aren't broadly categorized among the public as issues requiring specialized attention. As a result, there isn't much public sympathy or support to be expected in such situations. Also, "face" is a big thing, so when you have people saying vile things about you on the internet and you have no way of fighting back, I'm sure it begins to take its toll. There are a lot of things about fame that American celebrities just assume they'll have to put up with, but which Korean/Japanese celebs find unendurable for a variety of cultural reasons.
I believe Korean websites with comments/forum sections are required to use a universal, real-ID type system in order to connect an individual's comments to his/her actual identity, likely because of events like this. I know for a fact that Koreans can't post to Youtube because it doesn't contain a universal ID system.
@skt.smth: Korea is in this sort of weird celebrity transition. On one hand, K-pop is somewhat aping US hip-hop of the late 90s (complete with fly girls), and there are widespread rumors of sex-for-fame deals with rich execs, but publicly, the press will condemn a celeb on the least bit of public impropriety. Michelle Wie got slammed for her shirt riding up a bit when swinging her club at an LPGA event and showing off her navel. That's what constitutes a scandal in Korea.
Then there's the conflict between an emerging western-style (read: intrusive) entertainment press and eastern expectations of privacy and decorum, mix it with a population that's obsessive and constantly online, and this is what you get.
@finite_elephant: Based on the history above, it all looks like abuse/intolerance of sexuality of, young entertainers. In this country they just grow up and go on reality shows which, much as I dislike them, is a better option.
@daveyjonesisdead: Not so much intolerance (though there is that when it comes to homosexuality and foreigners), but that same contradictory combination of prudishness and fascination with sexy celebs that America has, but taken to an extreme.
@finite_elephant: I think it also has to do with the fact that, while Koreans usually exhibit a larger cultural kinship (the idea that "we're all one"), because of fame, something that sets them clearly apart from the rest of the culture, celebrities automatically don't fit into that model. So while private individuals wouldn't usually be targets of othering, online or elsewhere, celebrities are seen as fair game, ostensibly because they've decided to put themselves out there under society's microscope. That's why every move, every word, is scrutinized. In Korea, celebrities are "the nail that sticks up above all others." And the cultural tendency is to hammer it back down.
To be fair, we do the same thing in America, but not for the same reasons. Rather than seeking to put celebrities back into normative social positions by hammering them down, it seems that we just take special glee in criticizing the rich and famous, i.e. the people we hope to emulate, because it makes us feel better about ourselves.
Of course, most American celebrities know that that's what's going on, so they default to the "You just jealous!" position and go on with their lives most of the time.
The book and bells are stashed in my secret bank account, along with my Rolex, chocolate, and some fossilized rolls Heidi asked me to give to the Alm-Uncle.
11/23/09
Invest in toilet paper and freeze dried coffee.
11/23/09
Sorry to ruin your plan. Instead of killing ourselves, maybe we should just rob some other countries? ;)
11/23/09
11/23/09
I just hope Fluffy in the picture consulted with his lawyers before assuming his benefits are vested in the case of suicide.
11/23/09
The cat is so cute even if so inappropriate.
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
11/23/09
#tips
11/23/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
I believe Korean websites with comments/forum sections are required to use a universal, real-ID type system in order to connect an individual's comments to his/her actual identity, likely because of events like this. I know for a fact that Koreans can't post to Youtube because it doesn't contain a universal ID system.
11/20/09
Then there's the conflict between an emerging western-style (read: intrusive) entertainment press and eastern expectations of privacy and decorum, mix it with a population that's obsessive and constantly online, and this is what you get.
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
To be fair, we do the same thing in America, but not for the same reasons. Rather than seeking to put celebrities back into normative social positions by hammering them down, it seems that we just take special glee in criticizing the rich and famous, i.e. the people we hope to emulate, because it makes us feel better about ourselves.
Of course, most American celebrities know that that's what's going on, so they default to the "You just jealous!" position and go on with their lives most of the time.
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
In Japan and Korea, you have people who are deadly serious about honor and appearances.
10/29/09
10/29/09
Oh, I thought only Geneva had that effect.
By the waters of Leman I sat down and wept... #suicide
10/29/09
10/29/09
I was just kidding. I was once there for 15 seconds. The Toblerone was good. #suicide
10/29/09
Medical Tourist to Brazil.
˙ʞuıɹp oʇ ɥɔnɯ ooʇ ʇıq ɐ pɐɥ sɐɥ uoǝƃɹns
2010:
Suicide Tourist to Switzerland. #suicide
10/29/09
Freedom isn't free! You have to be alive--it's a trick! #suicide
10/29/09
Die America First! #suicide
10/28/09
10/28/09
10/29/09
The book and bells are stashed in my secret bank account, along with my Rolex, chocolate, and some fossilized rolls Heidi asked me to give to the Alm-Uncle.
Ricola! #suicide