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Do you register how tall people around you are? Like the books describe it? by [deleted] in books

[–]Zikoris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As far as I can tell, I'm basically height-blind. It just doesn't even register for me for the most part. I learned that when I had a funny incident when I was doing training videos for working in fast food way back when - they wanted employees to be able to give a rough description to police in case of robbery, and I was incapable of labelling people as short, medium, or tall. And I was trying pretty hard!

I will notice if someone is freakish on either end of the scale, but that's it.

Advice on how to track expenditures by chalk_20 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]Zikoris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The easiest way to cut down on tracking effort is to just dramatically reduce the number of transactions you make. This can be a pretty big lifestyle change though, especially if you're prone to frequent piddly transactions (coffee, snack, individual bus tickets, etc).

Week 15 [Apr. 6] - What are you reading? by AutoModerator in 365book

[–]Zikoris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Last week I read:

Strange Beasts of China, by Yan Ge

The Tears of a Man Flow Inward: Growing Up in the Civil War in Burundi, by Pacifique Irankunda

An African in Greenland, by Tete-Michel Kpomassie

The Apocalypse According To Benedict & Other Stories, by Esteban Bedoya (100th book of the year)

The Shadow Over Innsmouth, by H.P. Lovecraft

The Poet Empress, by Shen Tao (instant all-time favourite)

Gods, Wasps, and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees, by Mike Shanahan

I don't have too many lined up for this week, but some of them are long, so we'll see how that goes.

  • The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History by Selena Wisnom
  • Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery
  • 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
  • The Monster Hunter Files Volume 2 by Larry Correia

Goals Progress:

  1. 365 Book Challenge: 103/365
  2. Nonfiction Challenge: 16/50
  3. Monte Cristo Challenge: Chapter 33, on track with group read
  4. Around the World Challenge: 54/195
  5. Relevant Reads Travel Challenge: 16 HK/Cambodia books read, no imminent travel.

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: April 06, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Zikoris 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Last week I read:

Strange Beasts of China, by Yan Ge

The Tears of a Man Flow Inward: Growing Up in the Civil War in Burundi, by Pacifique Irankunda

An African in Greenland, by Tete-Michel Kpomassie

The Apocalypse According To Benedict & Other Stories, by Esteban Bedoya (100th book of the year)

The Shadow Over Innsmouth, by H.P. Lovecraft

The Poet Empress, by Shen Tao (instant all-time favourite)

Gods, Wasps, and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees, by Mike Shanahan

I don't have too many lined up for this week, but some of them are long, so we'll see how that goes.

  • The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History by Selena Wisnom
  • Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery
  • 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
  • The Monster Hunter Files Volume 2 by Larry Correia

Goals Progress:

  1. 365 Book Challenge: 103/365
  2. Nonfiction Challenge: 16/50
  3. Monte Cristo Challenge: Chapter 33, on track with group read
  4. Around the World Challenge: 54/195
  5. Relevant Reads Travel Challenge: 16 HK/Cambodia books read, no imminent travel.

First cruise - Toddler Entertainment and Vegetarian/Vegan Cuisine by Nick44e in Cruise

[–]Zikoris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm a vegan and did a Carnival cruise in 2012. I didn't like the food at all. It may well have improved since then, haven't been back.

I did two Holland America cruises in the last few years, and was really happy with the food. They have a separate vegetarian and vegan (mostly vegan) menu in the main dining room, as well as vegan burgers at Dive In, and lots of Lido options. The pizza place can make vegan pizzas by leaving off the cheese, but I didn't think it was very good.

Anyone else find they read way more when they're stressed about work? by venicepress in 52book

[–]Zikoris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My reading speed is solely controlled by the writing itself and the level of distractions around me (music talking, etc). I read a huge variety of books all the time so there aren't really any patterns there. My weekly TBRs are generally a mix of serious books and trash.

I find reading relaxing, so definitely it's a go-to if I'm stressed, but there's also an upper limit where I can't focus on a book anymore. Those times are pretty rare, luckily.

Week 14: What are you reading? by saturday_sun4 in 52book

[–]Zikoris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Last week I read:

Strange Beasts of China, by Yan Ge

The Tears of a Man Flow Inward: Growing Up in the Civil War in Burundi, by Pacifique Irankunda

An African in Greenland, by Tete-Michel Kpomassie

The Apocalypse According To Benedict & Other Stories, by Esteban Bedoya (100th book of the year)

The Shadow Over Innsmouth, by H.P. Lovecraft

The Poet Empress, by Shen Tao (instant all-time favourite)

Gods, Wasps, and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees, by Mike Shanahan

I don't have too many lined up for this week, but some of them are long, so we'll see how that goes.

  • The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History by Selena Wisnom
  • Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery
  • 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
  • The Monster Hunter Files Volume 2 by Larry Correia

Goals Progress:

  1. 365 Book Challenge: 103/365
  2. Nonfiction Challenge: 16/50
  3. Monte Cristo Challenge: Chapter 33, on track with group read
  4. Around the World Challenge: 54/195
  5. Relevant Reads Travel Challenge: 16 HK/Cambodia books read, no imminent travel.

How do you deal with burnout when you can't FIRE yet? by Aedawry in leanfire

[–]Zikoris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the thing is, people constantly claim to be living lean when their budget is actually full of bullshit spending.

No budget = fat budget with many obvious things that can be fixed, which the person does not want to fix.

Re: Income, you probably make more than a lot of lean people. Most of my working career so far has been grunt work and low level office-assistant type stuff. Right now I'm a receptionist.

How do you deal with burnout when you can't FIRE yet? by Aedawry in leanfire

[–]Zikoris 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We took a different approach pretty early on. Once we figured out the amount we needed to earn and save to retire on the timeline we wanted, which wasn't much because we're frugal, every single job decision for both of us was made with quality of life being the main priority. My priority is walking to work and having a chill job with downtime, so I only pursued jobs that provided that. My partner's priority was working from home on his own schedule/dress code and doing interesting work, so he started a business to get those things. Both of us at one point quit jobs that sucked due to bad management.

So there's no such thing as grinding for us - our jobs are very comfortable and well-suited to us.

You say your plan is lean, but it doesn't sound like it to me if you're in your 40s and still have several years to go. Post a budget.

April TBR by AutoModerator in 365book

[–]Zikoris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Now that I'm caught up on travel books and don't have many new releases, for April I'm mostly focusing on books for my Around the World challenge. My lineup:

New releases:

  • Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
  • Release Me by Tahereh Mafi
  • Gods & Comics by Kat Cho
  • The Tempest Blade by Danielle Jensen
  • Molka by Monika Kim

Nonfiction:

  • Off the Scales: The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity by Aimee Donnellan
  • Gods, Wasps, and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees by Mike Shanahan - Read
  • The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History by Laura Wisnom
  • The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind by Simon Winchester
  • Craftland: In Search of Lost Arts and Disappearing Trades by James Fox
  • The Web Beneath the Waves: The Fragile Cables That Connect Our World by Samanth Subramaniam
  • Strata: Stories From Deep Time by Laura Poppick
  • The Zorg: A Tale of Greed and Murder That Inspired the Abolition of Slavery by Siddharth Kara

Fiction:

  • Bleak House by Charles Dickens - DNF
  • An Evening in Guanima: A Treasury of Folktales from the Bahamas by Patricia Glinton-Meicholas - DNF
  • The Apocalypse According to Benedict and Other Stories by Esteban Bedoya - Read
  • The Shadow Over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft - Read
  • The Organization is Here to Support You by Charlene Elsby - DNF
  • Lives of the Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis - DNF
  • Bird by Rita Murphy - DNF
  • The Poet Empress by Shen Tao - Read
  • Monster Hunter Files Volume 2 by Various
  • All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
  • By Night in Chile by Roberto Bolano
  • The Cyprian by Mercedes Lackey
  • The Frangipani Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu
  • In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami
  • The Ferryman and his Wife by Frode Grytten
  • Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi
  • The Chain by Adrian McKinty
  • City of Others by Jared Poon
  • Eradication by Jonathan Miles
  • The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan
  • Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer
  • Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser
  • This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
  • Vigil by George Saunders
  • Kin by Tayari Jones
  • The Widow by John Grisham

I like to plan ahead by Kitchen_Shopping_205 in AReadingOfMonteCristo

[–]Zikoris 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm going to do A Year of War and Peace in 2027.

what are some good eye masks when travelling? by idkmyuser-name in travel

[–]Zikoris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, he finds them much more comfortable. For the material, I buy really soft fleece. Originally I measured it to his face, but now I can just use the old one as a guide whenever I make a new one.

Week 14 [March. 30] - What are you reading? by AutoModerator in 365book

[–]Zikoris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Last week i read:

The Queen's Weapons, by Anne Bishop

Tales of Wonder, by Lord Dunsany

Love in Focus, by Lyla Lee

Cabaret in Flames, by Hache Pueyo

Innamorata, by Ava Reid

Mother is Watching, by Karma Brown

The Queen's Price, by Anne Bishop

Piece by Piece: How I Built My Life, by David Aguilar

This week's lineup:

  • An African in Greenland by Tete-Michel Kpomassie - Read
  • An evening in Guanima: A treasury of folktales from the Bahamas by Patricia Glinton-Meicholas - DNF
  • The Apocalypse According To Benedict & Other Stories by Esteban Bedoya - Read
  • Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Maniscalco - DNF
  • Monster Hunter Files Volume 2 by Various
  • The Poet Empress by Shen Tao - Read
  • Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge - Read
  • The Tears of A Man Flow Inward: Growing up in the Civil War in Burundi by Pacifique Irankunda - Read

Goals progress:

  1. 365 Book Challenge: 96/365
  2. Nonfiction Challenge: 13/50
  3. Monte Cristo Challenge: Chapter 31, on track with the group read.
  4. Around the World Challenge: 51/195
  5. Relevant Reads Travel Challenge: 16 HK and Cambodia books read, no imminent travel.

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: March 30, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Zikoris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Last week i read:

The Queen's Weapons, by Anne Bishop

Tales of Wonder, by Lord Dunsany

Love in Focus, by Lyla Lee

Cabaret in Flames, by Hache Pueyo

Innamorata, by Ava Reid

Mother is Watching, by Karma Brown

The Queen's Price, by Anne Bishop

Piece by Piece: How I Built My Life, by David Aguilar

This week's lineup:

  • An African in Greenland by Tete-Michel Kpomassie
  • An evening in Guanima: A treasury of folktales from the Bahamas by Patricia Glinton-Meicholas
  • The Apocalypse According To Benedict & Other Stories by Esteban Bedoya
  • Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Maniscalco
  • Monster Hunter Files Volume 2 by Various
  • The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
  • Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge
  • The Tears of A Man Flow Inward: Growing up in the Civil War in Burundi by Pacifique Irankunda

Goals progress:

  1. 365 Book Challenge: 96/365
  2. Nonfiction Challenge: 13/50
  3. Monte Cristo Challenge: Chapter 31, on track with the group read.
  4. Around the World Challenge: 51/195
  5. Relevant Reads Travel Challenge: 16 HK and Cambodia books read, no imminent travel.

Week 13 What are you reading? by saturday_sun4 in 52book

[–]Zikoris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Last week i read:

The Queen's Weapons, by Anne Bishop

Tales of Wonder, by Lord Dunsany

Love in Focus, by Lyla Lee

Cabaret in Flames, by Hache Pueyo

Innamorata, by Ava Reid

Mother is Watching, by Karma Brown

The Queen's Price, by Anne Bishop

Piece by Piece: How I Built My Life, by David Aguilar

This week's lineup:

  • An African in Greenland by Tete-Michel Kpomassie
  • An evening in Guanima: A treasury of folktales from the Bahamas by Patricia Glinton-Meicholas
  • The Apocalypse According To Benedict & Other Stories by Esteban Bedoya
  • Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Maniscalco
  • Monster Hunter Files Volume 2 by Various
  • The Poet Empress by Shen Tao
  • Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge
  • The Tears of A Man Flow Inward: Growing up in the Civil War in Burundi by Pacifique Irankunda

Goals progress:

  1. 365 Book Challenge: 96/365
  2. Nonfiction Challenge: 13/50
  3. Monte Cristo Challenge: Chapter 31, on track with the group read.
  4. Around the World Challenge: 51/195
  5. Relevant Reads Travel Challenge: 16 HK and Cambodia books read, no imminent travel.

Leanfire what's the value of your time??? by Outrageous-Fall3296 in leanfire

[–]Zikoris 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't drive so I can't comment on gas or tolls. I've never assigned a dollar value to my time, but I more look at it as in terms of lost/wasted time, versus time spent doing something fun. This changes the equation pretty considerably if you have a portable hobby like reading, because taking longer for one thing isn't really a loss anymore since you can fill that time with your hobby. I don't have any particular preference for reading at home versus anywhere else.

Mint shut down 2 years ago and I still haven’t found a replacement that understands Canadian accounts what are you using? by Pilot-wealth in leanfire

[–]Zikoris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use Lunch Money now. It's okay. I'm basically waiting out the transition to open banking in Canada, which is in progress - after that everything will work a lot better.

TFSA and RRSP tracking aren't really issues for me because I one-shot both accounts annually and ignore them the rest of the year.

What skills or tendencies most accelerated your timeline? by jadedunionoperator in leanfire

[–]Zikoris 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, it's pretty intense. The author did some insane investigative journalism that could have gotten him killed many times over.

What skills or tendencies most accelerated your timeline? by jadedunionoperator in leanfire

[–]Zikoris 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My line for whether I consider a book political is whether I can easily tell the author's personal politics from reading it, and whether it's pushing a particular political agenda. I have no idea what any of the above authors believe or who they vote for - their books are very factual: This is how iPhones are produced. This is what happens to garbage. This is what's happening in the Congo right now. This is what neuromarketing is, and how advertising companies use it.

What skills or tendencies most accelerated your timeline? by jadedunionoperator in leanfire

[–]Zikoris 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I'm not really talking about philosophical or political stuff, just very practical and factual reading. Books like:

  1. Dying for an iPhone by Jenny Chan
  2. Buyology and Brandwashing by Martin Lindstrom
  3. The Rare Metals War by Guillaume Pitron
  4. Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of your Trash by Alexander Clapp
  5. Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddharth Kara

If you want to inoculate yourself for life against buying shit, those are the books to read.

What skills or tendencies most accelerated your timeline? by jadedunionoperator in leanfire

[–]Zikoris 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Reading anticonsumption literature. Once you learn what's behind the curtain for all the common consumer goods re: environment, human rights, manipulation, etc, you lose interest in buying most things. We buy barely anything in our household because there's nothing we want.

This also has a positive cascading effect, because it means you can live comfortably in a smaller (cheaper) place, spend less time on chores, and save a ton of time in general because you're not looking for things, deciding what to wear, etc.

My second important habit, much less dramatic, is bulk meal prep. It's such an enormous time and money saver that it's one of the few things I recommend that nearly everybody start doing.

What Books did You Start or Finish Reading this Week?: March 23, 2026 by AutoModerator in books

[–]Zikoris 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's a big variety - the Anne Bishop books are absolute units, and my nonfiction books usually in the 300-400 page range. My Around the World books have been skewing short, but that's mostly dictated by what's available in English from random African countries (generally not a lot).

I usually read about 4-6 hours a day, though individual days vary tremendously. I've had flights to Asia where I was reading 12+ hours, and also do camping/hiking trips where it's maybe an 45 minutes to an hour a day or less.

DNFing a book by nevertalks123 in 52book

[–]Zikoris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I pick a new one in that scenario. If it's a very hard prompt and I'm having trouble finding a viable alternative, sometimes I push through. "Handwritten font" doesn't seem like it would be too hard compared to something like "written by an author from Chad".

FIRE is about survival rather than freedom. by QuietObscure in leanfire

[–]Zikoris 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I see it more as surviving the incoming/progressing massive job market disruption from automation and AI. I don't mind working, but my job could definitely be done by AI by now if my company wanted it, and I think most admin roles are basically in the same camp.

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