Record Of Special Events: July 2009

Friday, July 31, 2009

I have only ever been to Seattle once in my lifetime

It was when I was pretty young. I think I might have been about eight. I didn't get to go sight seeing at all. I didn't get to do anything that people normally do when they go on vacation somewhere. I only got to go because my brother was moving there and my parents wanted us to go help him move. I didn't like it at all. it was all rainy. We couldn't go outside and play because of the bad weather. Maybe one day I will be able to go back to Seattle and play in the rain while I go see all the sights that I have never been able to enjoy before.

Congress trying to save 'cash for clunkers' sales

The White House says it’s reviewing options about keeping the “cash for clunkers” program going. Auto dealers already may have surpassed the 250,000 vehicle sales funded by the $1 billion program. The White House says any valid deals already made will be honored.

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How to Create the Ultimate Certificate of Deposit (CD) Ladder

If you are disappointed with the low interest yields offered by even the highest-yield savings and money market accounts, but you don’t want to tie your short-term cash in a riskier investment, consider certificates of deposit (CDs). CDs, however, generally carry penalties if you withdraw your cash before they mature. In other words, you invest in a CD designated with a length of time that represents when you would like your money, plus interest, back. But if you need to liquidate the CD, a bank may take away some or all of the interest that has accrued since the time of the deposit.

A certificate of deposit is considered a “deposit account” just like a savings account or money market account. You are allowed to earn interest, and if the bank enrolls in the program, your cash will be protected by the FDIC up to the limits allowed by law.

There is a way to structure your certificates of deposit in a form that reduces the risk of losing a large portion of your interest, and it is called a CD ladder. At staggered intervals, you buy CDs with staggered maturity dates until you only need to buy CDs with the longest maturity date. The result is every few months, a CD matures and you can roll the cash into a new CD or use the cash for your short-term expense needs.

The process consists of two phases. For this example, we’ll use the latest rates from Ally Bank which does not have a minimum balance requirement.

Setting up the ladder

These are the CD products and interest rates we will be dealing with:

Duration	Rate
3 Month	1.10%
6 Month	1.60%
9 Month	1.55%
12 Month	2.00%
2 Year	2.25%
3 Year	2.70%
4 Year	2.85%
5 Year	3.25%

We can use this combination of maturities to create a ladder that provides us with a roll-over, or a chance to withdraw part of the cash, every three months. During Phase 1, this will require a combination, but by Phase 2, all CDs will be of the 5-year maturity, which usually offers the highest interest rates. Remember that five years is as long as you want to go; any money that you won’t need for more than five years can stand to be in a slightly riskier investment.

Assume that we have $10,000 that we’d like to begin rolling into certificates of deposit. Since the longest we want to go is five years, we can split this evenly over time at $2,000 per year. Our shortest maturity is three months, so we can tackle this in terms of $500 a quarter.

In the first phase, start on day zero by buying CDs in the following pattern:

$500 in the 3 month CD
$500 in the 6 month CD
$500 in the 9 month CD
$2,000 in the 12 month CD
$2,000 in the 2 year CD
$2,000 in the 3 year CD
$2,000 in the 4 year CD
$500 in the 5 year CD

At the end of the each of the first three quarters, withdraw each quarter’s $500 plus interest and use the funds to buy new 5 year CDs. For the sake of the example, we’ll withdraw the interest and place it in another bank account to use as income. To make more of your money, “reinvest” your interest each quarter.

Watch out for automatic renewal. At Ally Bank, CDs are automatically renewed for the same duration when they mature. During this stage, you will need to be proactive to withdraw the funds at maturity and use them to buy the next appropriate CD.

After one year of doing the above, this is what we have:

$2,000 maturing today (original 12 month CD)
$2,000 maturing in one year (original 2 year CD)
$2,000 maturing in two years
$2,000 maturing in three years
$500 maturing in four years
$500 maturing in four years, three months
$500 maturing in four years, six months
$500 maturing in four years, nine months

With the $2,000 maturing today, buy:

$500 in the 3 month CD
$500 in the 6 month CD
$500 in the 9 month CD
$500 in the 5 year CD

Do the same with the $2,000 that matures each year until you have 20 CDs, each maturing every quarter for the next five years. Once this process is complete, you can allow the automatic renewals to take effect except for when you need to withdraw your money.

Drawbacks of the CD ladder

You may notice that, as long as rates for long-term CDs remain higher than short-term CDs as they do most of the time, this method results in earning less than simply investing your entire $10,000 in a 5 year CD. But the CD ladder provides you some protection against losing interest if you need to withdraw your funds early. At Ally Bank, the penalty is not significant. This bank will charge you the amount of three months’ interest if you withdraw a CD with a maturity of 12 months or less or 6 months’ interest if you withdraw a CD with a maturity of longer than 12 months.

Another possibility to consider is that you might earn more interest in a high-yield savings account than you would in a short term CD. Ally Bank’s Online Savings Account earns 1.75% right now, making it more attractive than the 3, 6, and 9 month CDs. When this is the case, use a specially designated savings account rather than the short term CDs.

We could have made this process easier by setting up a ladder that results in a turnover of $2,000 once a year rather than $5,000 every quarter. This method allows you to decrease the possibility of losing interest because you will always be able to access a portion of your investment within three months. In combination with a savings account, which is liquid at all times, you can earn consistently higher interest rates with less risk than using five-year CDs that mature only once a year.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

(Scavenger hunt to win a free IPod? Here is a clue: “smart.”)

How to Create the Ultimate Certificate of Deposit (CD) Ladder

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Cash For Clunkers Suspended

All good things must come to an end, and in some cases, prematurely. The “Cash for Clunkers” Program, or more formally, the Car Allowance Rebate System, has allocated almost all of its budget to rebates after only four days. The law called for the program to last until November 1 or until the funds are depleted, which ever condition occurs sooner, but I do not think there were many people who expected the funds to run out this quickly.

Consider yourself lucky if you were able to qualify for the program before it was suspended.

The Consumerism Commentary Podcast is in full swing with new episodes every Sunday. Listen and subscribe now!

(Scavenger hunt to win a free IPod? Here is a clue: “smart.”)

Cash For Clunkers Suspended

Omer Bhatti | Michael Jackson Paternity Test is not Complete

Don’t believe everything you read

Omer Bhatti

Many people now believe that Omer Bhatti is Michael Jackson’s secret love child. They believe this because Joe Jackson said so. Me, I am waiting for the DNA test results. Until those are in, I am not going to jump to any conclusions. Various media are reporting “Joe Jackson confirms Omer Bhatti is Michael Jackson’s son.”

Confirms? He can’t confirm that. He can’t verify Omer Bhatti’s father any more than I can guarantee a payday loan in the UK will be repaid on time. However, many people can’t see any reason why Joe Jackson would come out and say that if he didn’t know it was true. Here’s a rundown on what Joe is telling the media about Omer Bhatti:

From the L.A. Times:

In an interview posted on NewsOne.com, Joe Jackson talks about Omer Bhatti and told the reporter that he knew Michael had another child.

“Yes, I knew he had another son, yes I did,” Jackson said in the video.

He also discussed Bhatti’s dancing abilities and his resemblance to the Jackson clan. “He looks like a Jackson, acts like a Jackson, can dance like a Jackson,” he said.

A son of a different kind

So, Michael Jackson himself apparently has said that Omer Bhatti was his son. Now Joe Jackson is saying it. But we all know that Michael Jackson had a bit of a different way of looking at the world and talking about it than the rest of us. For instance, when he said in a documentary that he thought the best thing you could do was share your bed with a child, many people took that as an admittance that he was guilty of child molestation. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Omer Bhatti | Michael Jackson Paternity Test is not Complete"

iPhone Virus Can Wipe Out Your Bank Account

With calls and SMS fees, that is

Oh no! Not an iPhone virus! (Photo: www.thehenry.net)

I am an iPhone enthusiast. It’s mightily expensive, but I’m hooked. I haven’t had to take out payday loans or cash advances to finance my habit, but it does occupy a significant portion of my budget each month, particularly since I have the unlimited data plan. If the time ever came that I was taking out loans to help finance my iPhone usage, I know that I would scale things back. But since that doesn’t happen (and I do tend to use my phone for business as well as personal things), I have no plans to change. However, if the iPhone virus ever comes to my phone, I might reconsider.

Yes, an iPhone virus

All of this time, one of the major selling points Apple has used for products that run off their brand of OS is that it is less susceptible to viruses than Windows. While that may be true, I’m sure they aren’t happy to know that an iPhone hacker can shut down or take control of somebody’s iPhone simply by sending an SMS message.

Elinor Mills reports for CNET News that there is a known iPhone SMS hack in which a special kind of SMS message can be sent to do its malicious work. Researchers have even demonstrated publicly how this works, at the Black Hat security conference. There is currently no correction patch to fix the issue. This would be forgivable if this iPhone virus is something Apple just discovered. However, they were notified about this iPhone hack at least six weeks ago, writes Mills. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "iPhone Virus Can Wipe Out Your Bank Account"

Saving Money on Pet Costs: Frontline Plus Flea Medication

Now that we have two dogs, we’ve had to keep a closer eye on pet costs. One regular expense is flea medication, for which we have found Frontline Plus to work acceptably. If you buy it straight from the vet or in a retail pet store it can be around $15 per monthly dose.

In the past, we’ve found that the cheapest price has been on eBay, getting costs down to about $8 per dose for the exact same 6-pack product packaging. But a recent development amongst eBay sellers is to sell the bigger vials made for 89+ lb. dogs, and then have the consumer split the medication fluid into smaller doses themselves. Here’s an example of the cost breakdown for a small dog (under 22 lbs).

Store	Cost (w/ shipping)	Cost per dose
1800PetMeds.com (”retail”)	$83.99 for 6-pack	$14
Amazon.com	$58 for 6-pack	$9.67
eBay (sample listing)	$47 for 18 doses	$2.61

At less than $3 a dose, you can save over 80% off of retail. The absolute savings are only about $7-$11 per month, but it adds up quickly. Especially if you have multiple dogs, the ongoing savings could be hundreds of dollars per year.

Of course, you could also just buy the extra-large doses from Amazon.com for $61.49, which equates to $3.42 per small dog dose. However, the eBay auctions also include a glass vial and a marked syringe/dropper to easily measure out the correct doses. (Some also include latex gloves.) If you’re going to go through the extra trouble, you might as well go all the way!

More Accurate Dosing
Another potential benefit of essentially buying this stuff in bulk is that you can more accurately dose your dogs. By default, Merial categorizes dogs into four broad categories: 0-22 lbs, 23-44 lbs, 45-88 lbs, and 89-132 lbs. This corresponds to vial sizes of 0.67 ml, 1.34 ml, 2.68 ml, and 4.02 ml. I don’t know about you, but I see a pretty big gap between 45 and 88 pounds.

If you take the largest size for each category and divide by the vial size, you get 0.0305 ml per pound every time. So if you have a 25 lb. dog why give them double the dose of a 22 lb. dog? Just give them a bit more (0.76 ml) and you should be fine - and save even more money!

As with all these flea medications, you can do some trial and error to see what brand and dosage level works for your dog. You might need more or less than indicated. Either way, with this method you should still save a good chunk of money.

All my kids have their different strong points and talents

My daughter is especially good at organizing things like bookshelves and pantries. Whenever she comes home from college, we always give her the job of organizing these things. I’m not sure why we can’t seem to keep in organized without her, but somehow it just never stays clean and neat. The bookshelves don’t get as bad because I guess we don’t read enough of our own books. We like to go to the library and check out new books that we haven’t read before. So the books that we have on our shelves usually go untouched and the shelves don’t need to be organized. But the pantry always gets horribly unorganized because everyone uses the pantry on a daily basis.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

I hate having to cook out in the forest

It sucks to have to drag all the stuff out into the wild. I don't mind when it is something that just needs to be cooked over the fire. It is when people start making me bring camp stoves and everything else that comes with it so that I can make fancy breakfasts and everything else. I just hate having to take all that time to make something when we could just do something else and cook it on the fire. It is way easier to roast some hot dogs over the fire than to pull out the stove and make burgers or something.

I really love clouds

I enjoy looking at them with my children. We can sit out there for hours looking at the beautiful clouds. We look at them and stare for hours and hours. I really enjoy it. My kids will sit there and ask me what all the clouds are. They will ask me what each of the clouds do. I love it when they sit there and ask me why a cloud looks the way it does. I just love the curiosity of my children. They don't quite understand the formation of clouds yet but they are curious enough that it won't be too long before they ask and I can explain it to them. At least they are smart enough to identify them.

There are several different ways to peel a banana

The two principle ways are both along the long way of the banana. It all depends on which end you start on. Most people begin by pulling down on the stem and then proceed to peel it that way. But you could also start at the other end and peel it from there. That way, when you get to the bottom of the banana, you have a little handle to hold on to when you take that last bite. It is a little bit harder to get the peel started going from that direction, but all it takes is a fingernail or you could use a knife. I guess most people think it's just easier to peel it the other way, but I prefer to have a handle to hold, so I peel it opposite of most people.

Most of the time it’s best to plan things out

But sometimes it's just fun to do whatever you feel like doing. Sometimes you may have a general idea of what you'd like to do, and then you improvise from there. Sometimes there's no need to have a set schedule for a date or an outing with friends, because if you do you're just trying to stick to the schedule all the time and always looking at your watch to see how much time you have left. You can't really enjoy each others' company that way. Don't worry about things so much and just have fun.

How many blades of grass can there be?

If you could count all the blades of grass in the world, how many do you think there would be? There would be a lot–so much that you would be better off at estimating the number to be infinite. Infinity is a funny number. You can cut it in half and it will still be infinity. You can multiply it by two or three or any number you wish and it will still be infinity. If you add one to infinity, it is still infinity. I guess it has to do with limits and comparisons of numbers. You see, compared to infinity, any other number is really small and insignificant that it gets swallowed up in the largeness of infinity. There's no way to win.

Reinstating Pete Rose?

Did you hear that Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is seriously considering reinstating Pete Rose into baseball? I think this is a question that has been long overdue. One of the greatest hitters in the history of and the sport’s all-time hit leader, Pete Rose was a study in fierce determination and an everyman’s glee at being able to play a game for a living. That he is being kept away from the sport for so long is a travesty, particularly when you consider that any wagering that he did was never against his own team. If he had bet against his own team, I can see where the integrity of the games in which he participated come into question. Yet the Dowd Report turned up no betting slips that implicated Pete Rose as having bet against his own team. Baseball needs to recognize Pete Rose’s greatness as a player or continue to make light of any shred of significance the Baseball Hall of Fame continues to cling to.

The common comparison here is Pete Rose versus Shoeless Joe Jackson. Based upon his playing accomplishments, Jackson is a player who should be in the Hall of Fame. However, as a member of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, Jackson was one of the players who accepted money from gamblers in order to throw the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. So Pete Rose and Joe Jackson gambled on baseball and are both banned from the sport. Open and shut case, right? Wrong. Even though Joe Jackson played well during the 1919 World Series, he still accepted the money offered him under the pretense that he would lay down during key moments of certain games so as to influence the betting line. Thus, he damaged the image of the sport. On a side note, the Cincinnati Reds baseball team wasn’t all that inferior to the White Sox. This is something that history as most people remember it has simply got it wrong. The Redlegs had a number of skilled players on offense and defense and the pitc! her’s mound, led by stars like Edd Roush, Heinie Groh, Jake Daubert, Sherry Magee, Morrie Rath, Dolph Luque and Slim Sallee. Pitching and defense were their primary stock in trade, but their roster was stacked as a whole. The White Sox versus the Reds wasn’t a men versus boys contest. Sure, the White Sox had Joe Jackson, Eddie Collins and Ed Cicotte, who are all Hall of Fame caliber (Collins being in the Hall), but they were so dominant that the Reds belong on the same field.

Pete Rose played for championship teams. As a player he found great success, never giving an inch on any play. He was known primarily as a line drive machine who was always in the run for a batting title, but perhaps what was most remarkable about Pete Rose on the playing field is that he played Gold glove caliber defense at three different positions: first base, third base and left field. That is a unique accomplishment, and it gets lost amidst the 4,256 hits he peppered all over the ballpark.

Bart Giamatti was the commissioner of baseball when Pete Rose was suspended.Giamatti was a great fan of the game, an educated man and a poet. He said these words once about baseball, and he could almost have been speaking of the disappointment he felt when he discovered that banning Pete Rose from the game was inevitable:

“It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, you rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then, just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.”

Commissioner Giamatti died of a heart attack. I wonder how much of that has to do with Pete Rose.

Beware claims of magical DNP weight loss

"Illegally Thin" makes wild claims

News of yet another supposed miracle weight-loss drug is sweeping the nation. The drug is called DNP or Dinitrophenol. The book “Illegally Thin,” published in March, talks about DNP weight loss in detail.

The author, who goes by the pen name Random Knight, says the government has been keeping the DNP weight loss drug from us. It also calls the DNP “the perfect fat reduction drug" and that it could end the problem of obesity in America.

Wacky weight loss

Just as people want to find the quickest payday loans, they want to find the quickest way to lose weight. “Illegally Thin” claims users can lose up to a pound per day on this drug. It also claims that numerous clinical trials have proved this drug is perfectly safe.

I find these claims to be hard to believe, especially when paired together. I checked out more about "Illegally Thin," and the clinical trials that the author researches were completed in the 1930s.

And the crowd goes wild

Since this morning, the price of the book “Illegally Thin” has more than doubled at Amazon.com. This morning the book cost $19.95. Now, Amazon says it has only two copies. Both are used copies, one for $45 and one for $51.

So, clearly people are taking the bait. Despite countless drugs proving time and time again that there is no safe, fast, effortless solution to weight loss, “Illegally Thin” is selling like hotcakes.

If you are one of those people who simply must know whether the government really is “unjustly” keeping a totally safe, “perfect fat reduction drug” from us, at least don’t spend $50 on a copy from Amazon. You can still buy the book directly through its official website, www.illegallythin.com, for $19.95.

Anything is possible

I suppose I could be wrong, and this could, in fact, be the miracle drug that “could quickly, safely and easily rid the world of all problems related to excess body fat,” as the book’s website claims.

I’m not arguing with the idea that it’s possible that the government has banned something without proper cause. However, I’m always a little hesitant to believe government conspiracy theories, just because everyone has one, but very few ever turn out to be proven. I am, however, going on record as saying that I do not believe it is possible to safely lose a pound of fat every day. I also don’t believe that it’s possible to lose weight without changing diet or exercise habits.

Healthy weight loss

I am not saying that eating healthy and exercising regularly is the only way to lose weight. It’s true, if you stop eating you will lose weight, regardless of how much you exercise. It is also true that you can eat fatty, sugary, unhealthy foods and still lose weight because of a rigorous exercise schedule.

However, neither of these is good for your body in the long run. “Illegally Thin” claims that it can prove that DNP weight loss is perfectly safe. It doesn’t say anything about it being “healthy,” mind you. I found out that the reason DNP originally was banned in the United States was because users ran the risk of developing fatal fevers. The drug converts energy into heat, causing a rise in body temperature.

When it comes to investing, the way to make the most money the fastest is always the riskiest. Of course, you have more of a chance of losing big that way. With weight loss, the fastest way is also the riskiest. Don’t gamble with your health.

Glenn Beck Calls Obama Racist, Screams For Cookie Crisp

In the meantime, beers at the White House

"I am a rodeo clown," says Beck. (Photo: blogs.e-rockford.com)

In the aftermath of the Henry Louis Gates alleged racial profiling arrest by Cambridge police officer Sgt. James Crowley, President Obama called for Gates, Crowley and himself to sit down at the White House and have some beers. This came after the president apologized for making the comment that the arrest was “stupid.” On the surface at least, it appears to be Obama’s attempt to make up for implying without evidence that Crowley’s actions were racially motivated. Even a United States president can make that kind of mistake, which should tell you something about the state of race relations in America.

And the president is a big target

Gates’ behavior when confronted by police, as well as Sgt. Crowley’s handling of Gates may have been unfortunate. The president’s off-the-cuff remark was definitely unfortunate. However, when the neoconservative media and liberal media see a tasty meal in front of them, they burst onto the body like fiendish piranha. Glenn Beck, a self-professed “rodeo clown,” is an unfortunately popular neo-con who has come forward with his own brand of senseless drivel. Glenn Beck says Obama is a racist. I say that you should apply for payday loans no faxing and short term loans if your budget is in need. Which one of us is right?

Helping America… that’s Glenn

Mark Silva blogs for the Chicago Tribune that beer time is coming for Obama, Gates and Crowley. The president has backed off his initial remarks about the Cambridge Police Department “acting stupidly,” and he’s more than ready to make their talk over brews about how racial profiling doesn’t help anyone to do their jobs or relate to others in a meaningful way. Yet as you can see in the Fox News video below, folks like Glenn Beck aren’t ready to let go of the leather chew toy. He sees the president himself as someone who practices racial profiling: ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Glenn Beck Calls Obama Racist, Screams For Cookie Crisp"

Princeton Review

A new list from the Princeton Review on colleges has come out, and it isn’t the kind of list that University Deans want to see their institution on. The Princeton Review list of Party Schools has just been released, featuring the top 20 universities for people who like to have a good time. Number one is Penn State University, number two is University of Florida, and third is University of Mississippi. Colleges are often blamed for encouraging young people to indulge to excess, but many of the top “party” schools are still renowned academically. Still, doubtless many institutions would give big unsecured loans to get off the Princeton Review Party School list.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Meet Bobcat Goldthwait | Watch 'World's Greatest Dad' Trailer

Bobcat Goldthwait’s latest creation

Bobcat Goldthwait

Critics from Indiwire say Robin Williams’ role in “World’s Greatest Dad” is his “his best role in years.” Bobcat Goldthwait has certainly caught people’s attention with his newest film, which he wrote and directed.

“World’s Greatest Dad” puts Robin Williams in a familiar role — that of a high school poetry teacher. At a private school. Where the kids wear uniforms. You can check for more similarities between “World’s Greatest Dad” and “Dead Poet’s Society” by watching the trailer at the bottom of this post. I haven’t found any others, so leave your comments if you notice anymore parallels.

More about Bobcat Goldthwait’s movie

While Robin Williams’ character, Lance Clayton, seems like the kind of guy who always gets the best personal loan rates, even the short glimpses of him in the “World’s Greatest Dad” trailer show that his life hasn’t turned out the way he imagined him.

He is a writer who has never had anything published. He has one son, who is described on IMDB as “an insufferable jackass who won’t give his father the time of day.” His girlfriend doesn’t publicly acknowledge their relationship. Sound like a comedy? Bobcat Goldthwait promises that it is.

Meet the maker

One critic on Rotten Tomatoes calls “World’s Greatest Dad” “an amazing work of dark, dark genius.” Aaron Hillis from the Village Voice says “Goldthwait wrings tender humanity from disturbing premises.” ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Meet Bobcat Goldthwait | Watch 'World's Greatest Dad' Trailer"

Meet Bobcat Goldthwait | Watch 'World's Greatest Dad' Trailer

Bobcat Goldthwait’s latest creation

Bobcat Goldthwait

More about Bobcat Goldthwait’s movie

Meet the maker

'Illegally Thin' | DNP Weight Loss and Government Conspiracy

DNP weight loss story will sell well

Beware promises of magic.

My prediction for the next book that will skyrocket in sales: “Illegally Thin,” a book about DNP weight loss by someone who goes by the name Random Knight. This book has got everything: A supposed “miracle drug” that helps people lose weight. A government conspiracy. Crime.

Yep, now that word has gotten out about “Illegally Thin,” I predict we’ll see it on the best-sellers list almost as fast as you can get an online personal loan. Here are five reasons this book about DNP weight loss is destined for high sales.

1. People want to lose weight ‘the easy way’

“Illegally Thin” is a book about “the most valuable drug ever discovered” and DNP weight loss, or so says the product description that people marketing this book are circulating. The promoters also claim:

“It is a fat burning drug, clinically proven to be so effective; it could quickly, safely and easily rid the world of all problems related to excess body fat.”

Safely? Easily? Completely rid the world of problems related to excess body fat? In case you haven’t guessed yet, I find these claims outlandish and impossible. However, I predict at least a million Americans will be willing to spend $20 to find out if these claims are true. Anything labeled “fast” and “easy” and “weight loss” usually makes a killing in the U.S., even though it either doesn’t work or kills people. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "'Illegally Thin' | DNP Weight Loss and Government Conspiracy"

'Illegally Thin' | DNP Weight Loss and Government Conspiracy

DNP weight loss story will sell well

Beware promises of magic.

1. People want to lose weight ‘the easy way’

“It is a fat burning drug, clinically proven to be so effective; it could quickly, safely and easily rid the world of all problems related to excess body fat.”

Monday, July 27, 2009

Michael Vick Has Been Reinstated Into the NFL

On a conditional basis, Vick reinstated by football

Justice. (Photo: Infidelsparadise.com)

Anyone who commits a crime should be held responsible for their actions. This includes celebrities and superstar athletes who frequently find themselves in a position where they are held above the law. No special plea bargains, no special privileges, no skating where normal people would be put away for hard time. The time in which high-powered attorneys and PR teams can confuse juries by obfuscating the truth and wage war on those who sue their clients - beating them back via pure attrition - must end. The dog fighting crimes for which Michael Vick was arrested and served time were heinous, resulting in the careless death of many animals.

Now we see news of Michael Vick reinstated by the NFL. This is a colossal mistake and I hope that fans boycott whatever team signs him (there will be one, as he is an athletic talent, if not a great quarterback). That would include all of said team’s sponsors. Hit them where it hurts, where a team will notice. Put them in a place where they need cheap loans for quick cash. However, if you attend their games, watch them on television or purchase the merchandise of Vick’s new team, you are labeling yourself a barbarian. You are saying that it’s ok to maim and kill animals for your amusement. You, sir or ma’am, would label yourself a disgusting excuse for a human being.

Commissioner Goodell has lost his mind

Mark Maske reports for the Washington Post that on behalf of the National Football League, Commissioner Roger Goodell has agreed to a condition-laden reinstatement of Michael Vick. Currently, Vick is allowed to attempt to sign with a team and participate in their training camp activities. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Michael Vick Has Been Reinstated Into the NFL"

Princeton Review Rates 2009's Best Party Schools

Schools of thought on picking a university

Is this what you picture happening at your dream school?

A lot of different factors can affect a college student’s decision about where to go for their higher education. Some base their decision on how much money other graduates from that university make.

Some students and their families decide based on the cost of attending the school. Some students, however, might let the Princeton Review’s List of Top Party Schools affect their choice — one way or the other.

What makes a party school?

Truth be told, it’s a little difficult to find out the Princeton Review’s criteria for ranking the top party schools in the country. “The Princeton Review is a New York company known for its test preparation courses, educational services and books and is not affiliated with Princeton University,” says the Washington Examiner.

But I think the general college-going public understands what “party school” means. It means the students are more likely to get an emergency cash loan for beer rather than books. This year, the winner was Penn State University. The Washington Examiner reports: ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Princeton Review Rates 2009's Best Party Schools"

Mary Jo Buttafuoco Says Joey Had Sociopathic Tendencies

Mary Jo Buttafuoco promotes her book

Mary Jo Buttafuoco, image from The Hollywood Gossip online.

In an interview on “Good Morning America” today, Mary Jo Buttafuoco talked about her book, her ex-husband Joey Buttafuoco’s sociopathic tendencies and, of course, Amy Fisher. I predict it’s the first in a long string of interviews to promote her book.

Mary Jo Buttafuoco’s book, “Getting It Through My Thick Skull,” came out last week. Her purpose in writing the book, she says, is to share the sociopath definition and help others who may be involved with someone who has sociopathic tendencies.

Taking it in the skull

There’s no need to take out an installment loan to buy Mary Jo Buttafuoco’s book; it’s on sale at Amazon.com for $16.47. ABC News reports:

It’s Joey whom Buttafuoco takes aim at in her new book, “Getting It Through My Thick Skull.” The title, she said, came from the way her mother always referred to her “thick skull” when citing her stubborn nature, and a joke she made in the hospital about how her thick skull finally served a good purpose.

The full title of the book is “Getting It Through My Thick Skull: Why I Stayed, What I Learned, and What Millions of People Involved with Sociopaths Need to Know.” The sociopath she refers to, of course, is her ex-husband. Joey Buttafuoco says “he would prefer to be diagnosed as a sociopath by a doctor, rather than his ex-wife and felt ‘victimized’ by the accusation.” ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Mary Jo Buttafuoco Says Joey Had Sociopathic Tendencies"

Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act | Get Free Candy Starting Friday

Mars is here to help

Just when I thought the days of tying regular promotions to the economy and the recession were over, Mars has come out with the Real Chocolate Relief Act. The official Real Chocolate Relief Act web site, at realchocolate.com, says "Times are tough and we at Mars want to help."

Mars says it is giving away free chocolate to help in tough economic times, and it is also highlighting the fact that Mars candy is made with real chocolate.

Taking pride in chocolate

Here is the explanation from Mars for why their chocolate is superior to certain other candy makers’ chocolate:

“For nearly 100 years, we’ve made chocolate with 100% cocoa butter, which is the taste bud-craving, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate you expect from Mars. Without cocoa butter, chocolate simply is not chocolate.

Some companies use artificial ingredients to make their chocolate sweeter or because it’s cheaper. Know that with Mars, there is no substitute for cocoa butter. We know you prefer Real Chocolate. And that’s what we plan to deliver.”

So, if you sometimes find yourself applying for a same day loan to support your sweet tooth, you can apply for the Real Chocolate Relief Act.

Application for chocolate intake modification

Starting this Friday, July 31, you can go to the RealChocolate web site and plug in your e-mail address. Of everyone who provides their e-mail address, 250,000 people will get a coupon each week for free chocolate

You must apply on Friday for the duration of the promotion, but you can apply every Friday. The promotion lasts throughout September, so you’ve got two months worth of Fridays to try for your free chocolate. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act | Get Free Candy Starting Friday"

The Best Way to Make Extra Principal Payments on Your Mortgage?

If your like me you make extra principal payments to your mortgage.

My wife and I are currently focusing on prepaying one of our mortgages with the highest interest rate. The mortgage is a 30yr fixed @ 6.5% administered by Chase on House #2 (rental). We currently contribute an extra $75/mo for additional principal payments taken out with each monthly auto-debit mortgage payment on the mortgage as well as make additional separate principal payments periodically.

After a period of time I began to wonder how Chase calculates the monthly interest payment. No matter when I contributed a lump sum (of say $1,000) it seemed as though the amount interest calculated on the next monthly mortgage payment wasn’t changing as much when principal payments were made early in the month. I was expecting a sharper drop in the amount of interest paid if I made an extra principal payment at the beginning of the month versus the end of the month (ie. 30days of interest savings). I decided to dig into this a bit to see exactly how this was working.

First I started digging through my mortgage closing papers looking for an explanation of how the mortgage interest was calculated. I couldn’t find much other than interested appeared to be calculated monthly, not daily like I was expecting. That means the interest portion of my mortgage payment is calculated based on a balance once per month, not based on a daily balance apparently like my equity line.

So I tried to validate this with recent transactions on my mortgage. Here is a table of the transaction history on my House #2 Chase Mortgage:

Date	Description	Payment	Principal	Interest	Ending Loan Balance
7/7/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$75.00	$75.00	$0.00	$89,534.21
7/7/2009	PAYMENT	$817.45	$171.04	$486.31	$89,609.21
6/26/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$6,500.00	$6,500.00	$0.00	$89,780.25
6/2/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$100.00	$100.00	$0.00	$96,280.25
6/1/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$75.00	$75.00	$0.00	$96,380.25
6/1/2009	PAYMENT	$817.45	$134.16	$523.19	$96,455.25
5/27/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$100.00	$100.00	$0.00	$96,589.41
5/1/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$75.00	$75.00	$0.00	$96,689.41
5/1/2009	PAYMENT	$809.24	$132.49	$524.86	$96,764.41
4/27/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$1,500.00	$1,500.00	$0.00	$96,896.90
4/17/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$100.00	$100.00	$0.00	$98,396.90
4/1/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$75.00	$75.00	$0.00	$98,496.90
4/1/2009	PAYMENT	$809.24	$122.75	$534.60	$98,571.90

So then I studied these Loan Balance after each transaction and calculated an interest payment based on that loan balance using a monthly interest calculation. Annual Interest Rate = 6.5% / 12 (monthly payments) = 0.54167% Monthly Interest Rate. The Calculate Monthly Interest Colum is equal to the ending loan balance x 0.54167%.

Date	Description	Payment	Interest	Loan Balance	Calculated Monthly Interest
7/7/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$75.00	$0.00	$89,534.21	$484.98
7/7/2009	PAYMENT	$817.45	$486.31	$89,609.21	$485.39
6/26/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$6,500.00	$0.00	$89,780.25	$486.31
6/2/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$100.00	$0.00	$96,280.25	$521.52
6/1/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$75.00	$0.00	$96,380.25	$522.06
6/1/2009	PAYMENT	$817.45	$523.19	$96,455.25	$522.47
5/27/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$100.00	$0.00	$96,589.41	$523.20
5/1/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$75.00	$0.00	$96,689.41	$523.74
5/1/2009	PAYMENT	$809.24	$524.86	$96,764.41	$524.14
4/27/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$1,500.00	$0.00	$96,896.90	$524.86
4/17/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$100.00	$0.00	$98,396.90	$532.99
4/1/2009	PRINCIPAL PAYMENT	$75.00	$0.00	$98,496.90	$533.53
4/1/2009	PAYMENT	$809.24	$534.60	$98,571.90	$533.93

Its readily apparent that the monthly interest calculated is based on the ending balance of after the last transaction of the month before the mortgage payment is applied. I have seen no evidence of adjustments made to the loan balance for principal payments that are applied anytime before the time that the interest is calcaulated. Perhaps these adjustments are made at the time of payoff.

This means a couple things to me:
1) Im wasting a month’s worth of interest on that additional monthly principal payments I am making with my mortgage payment. Rather that contributing the extra $75 principal with my mortgage payment I should be making that payment right before the next mortgage payment and earning interest on that money somewhere else for the month.
2) For seperate additional principal payments I see no advantage of sending in a principal payment before the last possible day of the month - might as well earn interest elsewhere because the mortgage company treats them the same regardless of whether they are received on the 1st or the 30th of the same month.

Bernanke: 'I Had to Hold My Nose' To Bail Out Banks

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said last year’s taxpayer-financed bailout of big financial companies was necessary to avoid “a second Great Depression.” His comments came during a town hall-style meeting designed to reassure Americans about the economy.

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Friday, July 24, 2009

Secret Millionaires Club

A lot of conspiracy theorists start salivating in a completely Pavlovian manner if someone were to mention the Secret Millionaires Club. However, put any thoughts of conspiracy, secret handshakes or whatever out of your mind – the Secret Millionaires Club is a web cartoon show. The web cartoon is starring perhaps the most unlikely cartoon voice actor ever, Warren Buffet, who decided to be in the show to teach children about investing basics, and how to look at long term financial issues. The Secret Millionaires club will be available on DVD shortly, and since it seems more vital than ever to educate your children about finance, it might be worth a cash advance to get the show for your children

Cash For Clunkers Stimulus | Too Little For Too Few?

Will your vehicle hit the $4,500 jackpot?

Does the math for the "Cash for Clunkers" stimulus program actually add up? (Photos: Cargurus.com)

In principle, it sounds great. People have the opportunity to trade in their older, less fuel-efficient cars for vouchers of up to $4,500. These vouchers are usable on new vehicles that are more fuel efficient than the “clunkers” being traded in. President Obama’s point here is at least three-fold: first of all, putting more fuel-efficient vehicles on the roads to lessen the constant need to refill the tank; second, getting newer vehicles with higher emissions standards out there will help the environment; finally, it will help more people afford better vehicles.

However, there are serious doubts as to whether the Cash for Clunkers stimulus will do enough for enough people. For many, they’d be better off looking into a payday loan or cash advance if they help with a down payment.

What are the qualifications?

Don Fenley reports for TimesNews.net that while the Cash for Clunkers stimulus could be what you’re looking for, it pays to do your homework first. That $1 billion program Congress and the president have passed on to us sounds great, but as Kiplinger.com notes, “the math may not match some of the sales pitches and public expectations vs. what qualifies.” ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Cash For Clunkers Stimulus | Too Little For Too Few?"

Thursday, July 23, 2009

One Trillion Dollars Visualized

It’s official, trillion is the new billion. No longer is government spending talked about in terms of a mere ten digits. With the recent flurry of government spending, we are going to need another …

My Mother’s Ring Finger

Recently my sister gave me a Bodum® coffee-press travel mug for my birthday. The filter is a little coarser than the one on the full-size coffee press I normally use, and I'm still fine-tuning the grind. This morning I filled the mug just before I left my house for work, pressed the plunger somewhere along my 10-minute commute, and had freshly-brewed coffee ready to drink when I got to the office.

As I was walking back down the hall from the break room where I rinsed out the filter and the mug, I pinched a coffee ground off the tip of my tongue, using the thumb and ring finger of my left hand. That indelicate gesture transported me to the sunny kitchen table of my childhood home on an expanse of rolling wheat fields in the very early 1960s, where my mother sat drinking percolated coffee, smoking cigarettes, and talking to a neighbor lady. I watched her as she lifted one elbow from the sticky plastic tablecloth — but watched isn't the right word. For an instant, I lived through her as she stuck the tip of her tongue between her clenched teeth and pinched a coffee ground — or just as likely a fleck of tobacco — between her thumb and ring finger and flicked it into the big, black and pink-speckled ashtray in the middle of the table.

She's been gone for many years. But just now my mother was here, walking back down the hall to my office, and it was harvest time. Everything is flaxen – the waving wheat fields, the baking sun, her coarse, unkempt hair, even the arabesque of the plastic tablecloth. It's hot out, and as she does that thing with her thumb and ring finger, I wrap myself around her arm and I beg her please, please take us swimming.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Harvey Mudd College Graduates Make Bank!

Harvey Mudd College among the greats

T-shirt It should come as no surprise that graduates from Dartmouth and MIT end up in very high-paying careers. However, some people are surprised that fourth on the pay-scale list, right after Harvard, is a liberal arts university called Harvey Mudd College.

The New York Times reports that the mid-career median salary for Harvey Mudd College is about $124,000, right in the same range as MIT and Harvard. Dartmouth tops the list with a median mid-career salary of $130,000. That’s enough to allow you to pay back the personal loans that paid for your tuition in just a couple of years.

Why the surprise?

People are not the least bit surprised that MIT graduates make big money because it’s common knowledge that jobs in technology are among the highest paying in the country. But Harvey Mudd College is just another liberal arts school in California, right? Though it does label itself a liberal arts university, the Harvey Mudd College web site says:

We're one of the premier math, science and engineering colleges in the nation. We're also unique because we are a liberal arts college. Aren't math, science and engineering mutually exclusive of the liberal arts? Maybe at some places, but not at HMC. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Harvey Mudd College Graduates Make Bank!"

Romaine Lettuce Recall | Salmonella Found in Wisconsin

Company issues quick romaine lettuce recall

California company Tanimura & Antle Inc. has recalled a batch of romaine lettuce after the Department of Agriculture found lettuce in Wisconsin that was contaminated with salmonella.

Agriculture industry news blog The Packer reports:

The traceback was swift because of the Tanimura & Antle’s use of technology. … The cartons of bulk and wrapped lettuce have the lot code 531380, and the lettuce was harvested June 25 to July 2. The company shipped the romaine to retail, foodservice and wholesale customers.

29 states affected by recall

Portions of the possibly contaminated lot, which was past its shelf life at the time of the recall, were shipped to 29 states as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. Are you ready for the list of states? Here it is:

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Romaine Lettuce Recall | Salmonella Found in Wisconsin"

Before Paying More for the Brand Name

I won’t drink coffee unless it’s from Starbucks. They just make a better product.

Branding is very important in the retail business, because you can charge more per product and still outsell your competition. When I was a salesperson and making long drives in an unknown city, I would always stop by a Starbucks whenever I’m tired. It’s not that I thought the coffee was a notch above the rest either. It was just that the experience was consistent and predictable. I knew the setting, I knew what I wanted, how much it would cost and the product that I was getting.

If I went to local coffee shops, the predictability stops. Do they sell ice coffees? Are credit cards accepted? Is it going to be too sweet? Sure, I can be adventurous, but I wasn’t in the right mood after a full day of meetings and driving. Is it worth the hassle when my main goal is to have good sales meetings? Not really.

Branding is an art-form that millions study. With careful and clever advertising, consumers can be lured into paying ridiculously high prices for a certain product that cost nothing to produce. Think of those t-shirts that cost 50 cents to make, or an pair of shoes that cost nothing more than a few dollars to produce.

As a consumer, brand name is expensive. Yet, many of us will gladly pay extra for it. Knowing when it’s worth it really comes down to personal choices, but before you shell out another dollar of your hard earn cash, think of these few factors before you give the cashier the chance to ask “credit or debit?”

Consumable vs Everlasting – Is the product everlasting (like a watch) or is it really just a consumable (like coffee)? Is it really worth paying twice as much to consume a product that will be forgotten in 45 minutes?
The Price Difference – Obviously, a $2 difference isn’t the same as $500, but do you actually know how much the alternatives cost?
Design and Value – Some products just lose value as time goes on. Fashion and gadgets come to mind. If this season’s color is purple and you are still buying clothes that are silver and gold, you are a little out-dated.
Importance to You – Some of you probably rolled your eyes when I talked about the color nonsense, while others will completely agree. Like I said, it’s all a personal choice, because different people value products differently. I couldn’t care less whether I’m wearing a red t-shirt or a blue sweater (I couldn’t even tell you what I’m currently wearing), but paying more for the latest iPhone versus the other version is important to me (if I was getting one). Know what’s important to you, and the decision becomes much more natural.

I Need More Help Deciding

Still stumped about whether you should pay more for it? Here are several ways to help you decide.

Bring an Expert – People who are really into fashion know that a Louis Vuitton hand bag is hand stitched and can last many years more than a regular no name brand. Other brands of clothing use high quality garment that also helps it last for years. Once you know the real differences, you can decide whether there’s value in the higher price tag.
Add Ignorance – Another trick is to bring someone who has no interest in the product you are considering. By not having the bias towards any brand, your friend can see quality with a much more objective eye.
Ask Around – Look for other people’s opinion about a product. Is it really all hype or is the higher price justified?

My New “No Name Brand” Sunglasses

I finally ordered my pair of new glasses because my glasses popped out again (this time, it happened while I was driving so that’s the end of waiting!). At first, I went to a store and the sales person kept pushing me high end spectacles. After looking around for a while, I tried on a pair that I really liked, and it happened to be 20% of what the other pairs cost. I was so happy. I forgot how pleasurable it was to find something I like at a price that’s much lower than expected.

It wasn’t a brand name, but it was just as nice, just as functional and best of all, it was much cheaper. Think carefully before you pay for another brand name.

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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Summertime Fettuccine

This is a super-simple pasta dish that's just perfect when fresh herbs are available and it's too hot to cook. Serve it with a leafy green salad.

12 oz fettuccine without eggs
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 Cup chopped fresh basil
¼ Cup chopped fresh oregano
½ Cup chopped fresh chives
1 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper

In a large saucepan of lightly salted boiling water, cook the noodles until just tender, about 8 minutes or according to package directions. Drain, reserving ½ cup of the cooking water, and transfer to a warmed serving dish.

Add to the fettuccine the olive oil, reserved ½ cup cooking liquid, the walnuts, basil, oregano, chives, salt and pepper. Toss to coat well. Sprinkle with Herbed Bread Crumbs (below) if desired and serve immediately.

Herbed Bread Crumbs

4 slices dried whole wheat bread
1 tsp dried basil
½ tsp dried thyme
4 garlic cloves, minced

Preheat oven to 350° F. Put all the ingredients into a food processor fitted with the metal blade, and process until the bread is chopped into crumbs. Spread crumbs evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes, stir the crumbs, and continue to bake until light brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes.

I am such a klutz

Yesterday I was standing on this bench. I went to take a step to the side and realized that there happened to be no bench left there. It made the fall a little painful. I seem to always be tripping over things and running into things. Then last night I walked into my room to grab something and tripped on my bag. Then I went into my room again and tripped over the same bag in the same exact way. I just don't know what to do with myself. One day I'm going to have to learn to be a little bit more careful about where I'm walking. Maybe I should just be more observant of my surroundings.

HR 3200 | What is It, and How Will We Pay for It?

America’s Affordable Health Choices Act

Congress is currently considering HR 3200, otherwise known as “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.” It’s the massive health care bill that we’ve seen coming for quite some time. OpenCongress.org provides a PDF that explains HR 3200 in detail as well as the following summary:

America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

OpenCongress Summary:
This is the House Democrats’ big health care reform bill. Broadly, it seeks to expand health care coverage to the approximately 40 million Americans who are currently uninsured by lowering the cost of health care and making the system more efficient. To that end it includes a new government-run insurance plan to compete with the private companies, a requirement that all Americans have health insurance, a prohibition on denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions and, to pay for it all, a surtax on households with an income above $350,000.

A word from HR 3200’s sponsors

The emergency cash loans needed to fund HR 3200 will come from a mixture of sources. The PDF on OpenCongress is a document created by the House Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor. The committees, who wrote HR 3200, say: ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "HR 3200 | What is It, and How Will We Pay for It?"

Free Starbucks Pastry

There’s a Starbucks right near my house. I would go there every day if I could, but there’s a small matter of cost. Every single item that you find in your local Starbucks store is expensive. I consider myself neither are a rich man or a poor man, but the reality of it is that if you’re spending $3.50 to $4.50 for a cup of jazzed up coffee every day, you’re dumping a mint into Starbucks’ coffers. I don’t know about you, but I need that money for other things. Namely, I have kids to feed and rent to make.

It’s not like I need quick cash from cheap loans; I’m doing alright as it is. However, to enjoy some of the finer things that I like (such as those egg dog scones Starbucks offers only during the fall) means that I have to be willing to pay. My stomach usually wins that battle, which you could tell by looking at me. However, they are so good. If there were an economic recovery plan that covered Starbucks pastries, Pres. Obama would rightly be a genius.

Ah, but look what we have here! This Tuesday, July 21, all Starbucks stores will be offering a free pastry to each customer who purchases a beverage. I know, I know; it isn’t perfect. You still have to pay for the coffee. When I think free, that’s exactly what I want — something free. But I suppose this will have to do for now. Perhaps it’s the next best thing, but only if you live in the 49 states that aren’t Hawaii. Apparently Hawaiians do not deserve free pastry. Perhaps this is because their weather is good enough or there surfing these two spectacular for free from crumb cake. Keep in mind that this special runs from the time your Starbucks store opens to 10:30 AM. That’s it, no more. Have a balanced breakfast now while you have the chance for a free Starbucks pastry.

Pulling Up Dandelions: The Roots of Making Money

I spent part of my weekend hanging out with a friend who was bemoaning the weedy state of her lawn. I offered to help do some gardening and ended up spending a while crawling around tugging up weeds, which was actually rather pleasant– probably because it was someone else’s yard and I could stop whenever I felt like it!

As I amused myself with this pastime, I found that it put me in a sort of meditative state, as mindless tasks often do. I kept thinking about how I had to yank out as much as possible of the dandelion roots to keep them from growing back. Suddenly, I had a flashback about why I had this fixation on the correct way of pulling out dandelions: it’s because I was once paid to do it! I forget how old I was, but I think it was a neighbor across the street who offered to pay me to pull out dandelions, but only if I did it correctly. If I presented him with the pulled out dandelions, he would pay me some small amount for each one, but only after counting the roots. It’s funny how that lesson has stayed with me ever since. Though I’d forgotten exactly why for approximately 30 years, I don’t think I’ve ever pulled a dandelion without feeling dissatisfied if I didn’t pull up the roots.

I did other odd jobs as a kid– raking, babysitting, stuffing envelopes and writing checks for a bookkeeper– but I can’t think of any specific lessons those jobs taught me that still come into play today (other than the most general things like “grab the baby and run if the house is on fire”).

Do you remember little jobs you did as a kid? Did the people who hired you turn it into a lesson and make sure you did it right, or just give you money for trying? Let’s hear some stories!