Thursday, May 31, 2007

Maxed Out To Be Released Monday

"Maxed Out" will be released this Monday, June 5th, by
Netflix/Red Envelope Entertainment and Magnolia Home
Video. The DVD version features extras including
extended interviews with Elizabeth Warren, messages
from Dave Ramsey and Americans for Fairness in
Lending, and, of course, the complete "Mr. Money"
video.

The DVD is currently available for pre-order at
neflix.com and amazon.com. On Monday, it will be
available at major retailers.


Did you see...?

Did you see this funny video? Perfect reason to avoid beer and instead have a root beer.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Area Cost of Living Index

WIBW-TV 13 reported recently that my adopted home town is a bargain to live in, when compared to 293 other urban areas across the country.

Topeka, Kansas earned a ranking of 90 in the survey. A ranking of 100 is considered average.

According to a news release from the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, the composite index is based on six components—housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services.

Topeka ranked lowest at 81.5 in housing, indicating the Topeka housing market is a good bargain for buyers coming into the market area according to Marsha Sheahan, vice president public relations, for the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce which conducts the local survey twice annually.

A sampling of Midwest Cities
  • Chicago, IL 111.7
  • Denver, CO 102.3
  • Columbus, OH 98.0
  • Manhattan, KS 96.0
  • Kansas City, MO-KS Metro 95.1
  • Little Rock, AR 94.8
  • Austin, TX 93.4
  • Lawrence, KS 91.4
  • Oklahoma City, OK 91.1
  • Des Moines, IA 90.5
  • Wichita, KS 90.4
  • Topeka, KS 90.4
  • Springfield, MO 89.5
  • Omaha, NE 89.0
  • Houston, TX 88.2



Topeka ranked 89.0 in grocery items, 81.5 in housing, 93.3 in utilities, 91.4 in transportation, 93.4 in health care, and 96.5 in miscellaneous goods and services.

"Our cost of living is attractive when compared to communities on the east and west coasts, as well as cities in the Midwest," says Marsha Sheahan, Chamber vice president public relations. "We are pleased to see Topeka/Shawnee County getting recognition as a great place to live and work that is cost-pleasing to the family budget.We're pleased this study confirms our belief that Topeka offers a quality living experience at a below average cost."


In comparison, New York (Manhattan) NY ranked 213.7, New York (Queens) 145.2, Los Angeles 145.2, San Francisco 172.1 and Honolulu 165.3.

Billy Mac

A few months ago Billy Mac of Critique My Blog held a contest he called Monetized Mondays. The over all winner was to be announced on Memorial Day. That winner would receive $50 plus a book on blogging (approximate value $20). With the winner given the the choice of the book or the cash value. Well as you have probably already guessed, I was that winner and on Memorial Day, I received $78 via my Pay Pal account. Thanks Billy Mac.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Thanks G.and B.o.A.

I went to the mailbox today and found 2 itms of note.
1st a letter from "G." contained $1. Thank you G.




In addition I finally received the $35 check for opening my accounts at Bank of America. Thanks to to B.o.A.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

My Finances Really Stink

It is time to discuss my finances personally again. I was looking over my bank records for the month of May and I have already overspent. I still need to come up with money for the insurance which is due next week, plus pay for the overdraft that came out of my savings account. I can't believe I was so stupid.
To top all this off, I am to drive to Manhattan, KS (home of K-State) to go on my first date with a 29-year old K-State student. She is the one that got me thinking about the two previous dating posts, I made.
I don't know if a relationship will actually develop, but if it does, it will be nice to have that companionship again.
For those that are wondering, since I made my last post on my personal finances, I did finally get a raise. Now, I may be getting transfered to a smaller store in my comapny. If the transfer happens, it will mean no more over nights, but since the store, has a different name, even though it is within the same company and town, I will have to buy new uniforms. I will find out more about that later in the week.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Acts 16:31

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Parody Draws Lawsuit


Westboro Baptist Church cult, known nationally for picketing the funerals of service personnel, is being accused by a music company of violating copyright laws with an Internet video parody of the 1980s song, "We Are the World."

But an attorney for Westboro Baptist on Thursday said the parody, "God Hates the World," is protected under First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and religious expression. She said the church intends to keep the video posted on its Web site.


As much as I hate the message the Phelp's clan and theit cult. She is right, from a purely first amendment rights point of view, they do have a right to parody the song. If thet didn't then such parody artists as Weird Al Yankovic and Acappella (the Christian version of Weird Al) couldn't exist.

However, Warner/Chappel doesn't disagree. To them, the problem is one of copyright.

But Warner/Chappel Music Inc. in Los Angeles views the video as infringing on the copyright it administers for "We Are the World." The song raised money for famine relief that led to a video featuring some of American music's biggest stars, including Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen.

"According to our records, no request has been made to use the composition, no authorization has been granted nor has any license been issued for the use of the composition on the Web site," Kelly Isenberg, the company's director of legal and business affairs, wrote in a May 8 letter to the Topeka cult.


So anotherwords all the Phelp's had to do to prevent all this was to write a letter to Warner and possibly pay a small monetary amount and their would never have been a lawsuit filed.

Videos

Friday, May 18, 2007

My Pain

Clinton can't feel my pain, Clinton IS my pain!

Bleach (heavy-duty) recipe

Bleach (heavy-duty) recipe

  • 1 gallon water
  • 2 cups chlorinated lime (bleaching powder)
  • 3 cups washing soda

Mix in an old plastic bucket. Stir well. Let stand, uncovered, for 24 hours. Strain into storage containers. Use as any commercial bleach. AVOID CONTACT WITH SKIN AND FUMES WHEN MIXING.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

The recipe for the laundry soap is as follows. Feel free to add the anecdote if you like.

  • 1 c. shredded or grated bar soap (I use the food proc. to shred the little soap bars from motels, or buy soap at $1 store.
  • 1/2 c. super washing soda (Arm and Hammer) This can be tricky to find but some grocery stores carry it. A & H toll free locator number is 1-800-524-1328.
  • 1/2 c. borax (Borateem avail in laundry deterg. aisle.)

This doesn't suds up. Use only 1 tablespoon.

John 12:46

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

(Febreeze) Fabric Freshener

Carolyn from E Northport, NY wrote:

I love using Febreeze Fabric Freshener but have found it to be quite expensive when used constantly. So, I decided to make my own Fabric Freshener and it is less costly.

You will need:

  1. Spray Bottle (I use an empty Febreeze one)
  2. Liquid Fabric Softener

Take Fabric softener and fill it 3/4 full. Then add the rest with water and shake a bit. You now have Fabric Freshener that is as good if not better then the original Febreeze. The scent also lasts much longer and is a great efficient way of always having this on hand.

Spray away and be happy.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Clothes Spot Remover

Instead of buying Spray and Wash or a similar item you can make your own.

Clothes Spot Remover

1/3 cool tap water
1/3 all purpose cleaner
1/3 rubbing alcohol


Put in a spray bottle. Shake to mix and use as needed for spot removal on clothes.

Your Own Laundry Detergent


  • 1 bar of soap (whatever kind you like.)
  • 1 cup of washing soda (look for it in the laundry detergent aisle at your local department store - it comes in an Arm & Hammer box and will contain enough for six batches of this stuff)
  • 1/2 cup of borax (this is not necessary, but I’ve found it really kicks the cleaning up a notch - one box of borax will contain more than enough for tons of batches of this homemade detergent - if you decide to use this, be careful)
  • A five gallon bucket with a lid (or a bucket that will hold more than 15 liters - ask around - these aren’t too tough to acquire)
  • Three gallons of tap water
  • A big spoon to stir the mixture with
  • A measuring cup
  • A knife


  1. Put about four cups of water into a pan on your stove and turn the heat up on high until it’s almost boiling. While you’re waiting, whip out a knife and start shaving strips off of the bar of soap into the water, whittling it down. Keep the heat below a boil and keep shaving the soap. Eventually, you’ll shave up the whole bar, then stir the hot water until the soap is dissolved and you have some highly soapy water.
  2. Put three gallons of hot water (11 liters or so) into the five gallon bucket - the easiest way is to fill up three gallon milk jugs worth of it. Then mix in the hot soapy water from step one, stir it for a while, then add a cup of the washing soda. Keep stirring it for another minute or two, then add a half cup of borax if you are using borax. Stir for another couple of minutes, then let the stuff sit overnight to cool. And you’re done. When you wake up in the morning, you’ll have a bucket of gelatinous slime that’s a paler shade of the soap that you used (in our case, it’s a very pale greenish blue). One measuring cup full of this slime will be roughly what you need to do a load of laundry - and the ingredients are basically the same as laundry detergent. Thus, out of three gallons, you’ll get about 48 loads of laundry.



Thanks Trent

Recent Press

Good morning. I thought you all might be interested in knowing that the Prince of Thrift
made the news again, this past Sunday. Once again, stepping into his role as a community activist the prince better known in the community as Kevin Surbaugh, talked about the problems with dilapidated after they are torn down. click here for the video and story.

Don't Be A Jackass

Don't Be A Jackass! Vote Republican

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Two Richest Men in World Sells

So today, I was reading the Kansas City Business section that was emailed to my home computer.
The first caught my eye:

What’s it say about the status of two Kansas City public companies when the two richest men in the world are selling their shares?

I am not much of a fan of Kansas City, especially the traffic. They have no subway/light-rail system, which is disappointing for a city their size. That fact is the main reason I have always shrugged off the idea of moving to that city. However, that is another story, for another time. Back to the story about these two Kansas City companies and the men who sold their shares in these companies.


Wall Street mostly reacted with a yawn today after Bill Gates and Warren Buffett reported they have sold all or part of their stakes in Great Plains Energy Corp. and H&R Block Inc., respectively.

In midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Block shares were down 4 cents at $22.78 while Great Plains Energy was up 11 cents at $32.19.

In a filing Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corp., disclosed that in the first quarter his foundation has sold its stake in Great Plains Energy, the parent company of Kansas City Power & Light Co. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust sold 775,084 Great Plains shares.

Similarly, Buffett revealed that his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. sold about two-thirds of its Block shares, continuing a trend of selling part of his stake in the Kansas City tax-preparation giant.

In the fourth quarter of last year, Berkshire Hathaway sold 60 percent of its holdings in Block.

Berkshire’s position in Block was reduced to 1.25 million shares from 4.11 million in the fourth quarter.

Buffett first reported his ownership in Block six years ago with an 8.43 percent stake. It was more stock than co-founder Henry Bloch owned at the time.


So what did the oracle of Omaha do with all that cash? Why he invested in Johnson & Johnson of course.

While it was selling Block shares, Berkshire nearly doubled its stake in Johnson & Johnson to 48.7 million shares after buying 24.1 million shares during the quarter.

John 20:29

Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

BREAKING NEWS: Rev. Jerry Falwell Dies

image from spectator.co.nz
Source: BerkshireEagle.com after hearing on CNN


LYNCHBURG, Virginia (AP) - Rev. Jerry Falwell, a prominent conservative televangelist who founded a movement that helped mold the religious right into a political power, was hospitalized in "gravely serious" condition, said an executive with the university he set up, and has since died.

Ron Godwin, Liberty University's executive vice president, said Falwell was found unresponsive around 10:45 a.m. and taken to Lynchburg General Hospital. Godwin said he was not sure what caused the collapse, but "he has a history of heart challenges."

Falwell, a television evangelist, founded the Moral Majority in 1979. Falwell used the conservative Christian movement to mold the religious right into a political power and he became the face of the religious right in the 1980s.

Jerry Falwell’s biography as it appears on www.falwell.com


At the age of 22, having just graduated from college in June of 1956, Jerry Falwell returned to his hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia and started Thomas Road Baptist Church with 35 members.

The offering that first Sunday totaled $135. Falwell often says about the first collection, “we thought we had conquered the world”. Today Thomas Road Church has 24,000 members and the total annual revenues of all the Jerry Falwell ministries total over $200 million.


Within weeks of founding his new church in 1956, Falwell began the Old-Time Gospel Hour, a daily local radio ministry and a weekly local television ministry.

Nearly five decades later, this Old-Time Gospel Hour is now seen and heard in every American home and on every continent except Antarctica. Through the years, over three million persons have communicated to the Falwell ministries that they received Christ as Lord and Savior as a result of this radio and television ministry.


In 1967, Falwell implemented his vision to build a Christian educational system for evangelical youth. He began with the creation of Lynchburg Christian Academy, a Christ-centered, academically excellent, fully accredited Christian day school providing kindergarten, elementary and high school. In 1971, Liberty University was founded.

Today, over 21,500 students from 50 states and 80 nations attend this accredited, liberal arts Christian university. Falwell’s dream has become a reality. A pre-school child can now enter the school system at age 3, and 20 or more years later, leave the same campus with a Ph.D., without ever sitting in a classroom where the teacher was not a committed follower of Jesus Christ.


Falwell is also publisher of the National Liberty Journal, a monthly newspaper which is read by over 200,000 pastors and Christian workers, and the Falwell Confidential, a weekly e-mail newsletter to over 500,000 pastors and Christian activists.


In June 1979, Falwell organized the Moral Majority, a conservative political lobbying movement which the press soon dubbed the "Religious Right."

During the first two years of its existence, the Moral Majority attracted over 100,000 pastors, priests, and rabbis and nearly seven million religious conservatives who mobilized as a pro-life, pro-family, pro-Israel, and pro-strong national defense lobbying organization.

The Moral Majority chose California Governor Ronald Reagan as "their candidate" for President in 1980, registered millions of new voters, and set about to inform and activate a sleeping giant - 80 million Americans committed to faith, family, and Judeo-Christian values.


With the impetus of the newly organized Moral Majority, millions of people of faith voted for the first time in 1980 and helped elect Ronald Reagan and many conservative congressmen and senators.

Since 1979, about 30% of the American electorate has been identified by media polls as the "Religious Right". Most recent major media surveys have acknowledged that these "faith and values" voters re-elected George W. Bush in November 2004.


Though perhaps better known outside Lynchburg for political activism, Jerry Falwell's personal schedule confirms his passion for being a pastor and a Christian educator. He often states that his heartbeat is for training young people for every walk of life.

Falwell and his wife of 49 years, Macel, have three grown children and eight grandchildren.


You will be missed pastor. Enjoy eternity in Heaven.

Mark 9:23

And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes."

Monday, May 14, 2007

Paper or Plastic? Environmental or Economical

I have to confess something. I am only an environmentalist, when it is economically feasible to me. That is why I have over the past couple of years, have tried to avoid using plastic bags. All because of all the oil used in those plastic bags. Less oil we use, I figure, the less gas eventually will be. However, Americans continue to use on average more gas and oil based products. Perhaps they don't understand that they are driving the gas prices up themselves.

Let's take a look at the numbers, according to NBC,

To make all the bags we use each year, it takes 14 million trees for paper and 12 million barrels of oil for plastic. The production of paper bags creates 70 percent more air pollution than plastic, but plastic bags create four times the solid waste — enough to fill the Empire State Building two and a half times. And they can last up to a thousand years.


From an environmental point of view, neither option is good. From an economic consumer paper is slightly better. However, from a business point of view plastic is cheaper, so if consumers start using more paper, then retail prices will go up to pay for those bags. There is, of course another option, using cloth or canvass bags, and taking the bags with you when you go shopping.

As you can tell, this is a bit of dilemma for me. Do I pollute the air and use paper or do I fill up the land fills and use plastic? What I really need to do is, make a stronger effort and use canvass bags more.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

John 6:35

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Smoking Section

Isn't having a smoking section in a restaurant like having a peeing section in a swimming pool?

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Revisiting Practical Way to Become Debt-Free Forever!

In August of 2006 I posted Practical Ways To Become Debt Free Forever. Today, I thought I would re-post the article, with a few minor updates.

1. If you have Credit Cards with Outstanding Balances.
A. Cut up ALL Your Credit Cards, and do NOT open new lines of credit.

B. Call those cards and ask them to reduce the interest rates.

2. Save or Earn an Extra $150 - $200 Per Month.
3. Pay this Extra Money off ONE Credit Card each Month until it is Paid Off.
A. Do NOT open new lines of Credit, as the idea is to get OUT of debt, not deeper into it.

4. Continue to Pay the Minimum of ALL your other Credit Cards each Month.
5. Once One Card is paid Off Apply the TOTAL amount to a Second Card.
6. Continue until All Your Credit Cards are Paid Off.
7. Apply the Same Method to your Car and House Loans.
8. Do Not Borrow Money for Consumer Goods Ever Again.
9. Use this Monthly Amount to Build Your Assets (aka Savings).

Using this Simple Method, as John Cummuta says, most People can become Debt Free in 5 to 7 Years and Wealthy in 10 to 15 Years. Please note Dave Ramsey say, that you will be more successful if you build an emergency savings of $1,000 ($500 if you make less than $20,000/year) first, and then pay off you smallest debt first. According to Ramsey, it may be mathematically correct to pay off the highest interest rate first, but if we were think mathematically, we would never have gotten ourselves into debt in the first place.

John 3:18

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

The Simple Dollar Morning Roundup: Preapproval Craziness Edition

Thank you to the simple dollar for the link and great comments about a recent article posted here.
Becoming & Staying Debt Free: 33 Ideas for Dating Frugally

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Mural Wall Pictures

If you haven't driven by the mural wall lately, you haven't seen that work has begun. Take a look at the pictures below that Roy O'Neil took.

















Take a drive by and see the progress.

33 Ideas for Dating Frugally

I recently wrote about my desire to get back into the dating game and trying to figure out how to balance that with my desire to get debt-free. As a result I found several excellent ideas, but first lets set the mood by quoting Dating on a tight budget By Leah Gliniewicz of Bankrate.com.


You've made a love connection, but now you're weary of the wooing process because you're on a tight budget. But don't worry, because dating without much cash is possible and it can allow you to be creative while showing your date a good time. If you think that showing your true frugal colors may be a turn-off, then no need to tell your honey how much money you're saving.

Shel Horowitz, author of The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty on a Peasant's Pocketbook, is a frugal guru with more than 25 years of experience in saving money, time and lowering your cost of living.

"Always investigate if there is a cheaper way or a cheaper option," Horowitz said. He gave the example of going to see a show at a community theater where the seats are often right at the stage, instead of buying the "cheaper" tickets to a Broadway show in the nosebleed section. Horowitz said he has seen the advantages of finding cheaper or free alternatives; they far outweigh the benefits, and are more rewarding.

When you are dating on a budget, Horowitz advises you to be a little adventurous.



  1. Test drive a sports car together.

  2. Browse a ritzy museum gift shop or art gallery.

  3. Find a dark, romantic bistro with great coffees and desserts, or an independent bookstore that encourages browsing.
  4. Spend the whole evening dressed and acting as characters from a play, movie or book that you both enjoyed.

  5. Do some star gazing at a local college observatory. It's open to the public during the school year and free.

  6. Have a picnic and explore a state or national park. You'd be surprised what you learn when you're closer to nature. Admission to these parks is usually under $10 or free.

  7. See a music laser show at a planetarium for around $6. Watch the colors fly through the air to some popular music.

  8. Check out a poetry reading or other events at a bookstore. Sometimes snacks or beverages are provided. Some bookstores have a calendar listing for all of their events.

  9. Create a food theme night (like Mexican, Mediterranean or Italian), and cook each other a dinner and appetizer at home.

  10. Rent a canoe or kayak and go out on a river or lake for an afternoon -- under $40.

  11. See a radio station music festival. It often features a day of bands, and tickets usually cost under $20. Or, check out a concert at a college; tickets may also be cheap.

  12. Look into local arts festivals, craft fairs, flea markets or antiques fairs. Admission is under $15, the browsing is free, but you may want to watch the cost of the food.

  13. See an IMAX movie for under $10. These films use a large film frame, a six-story movie screen and digital surround sound. These are cool because you feel like you're in the movie.

  14. Attend a wine or beer tasting. At less than $10 each, you get more bang for the buzz.

  15. Volunteer together. You'll be able to spend quality time together for a quality cause for free.

  16. Swing is back. Take a dance lesson and tear up the dance floor with the hottest moves. Sometimes the first lesson is free.

  17. Attend a student art show. Often the shows are free and refreshments are served.

  18. Rent your favorite movies that your date hasn't seen and watch them together. Keep your date in suspense, and don't leak out the good parts or the ending.

  19. Rent a Movie - You can duplicate the cinema experience by renting a favorite movie, making popcorn, and dimming the lights. Your date might even appreciate the extra leg room and ability to pause the flick for a restroom break.

  20. Sip Mocha Lattes - Starbucks can be your best friend when it comes to lounging with your date, shooting the breeze, and sipping your favorite coffee beverage. You might even take your relationship to a deeper level thanks to the coffee talk.

  21. Share a Sundae on Sunday - Take a trip to your local ice cream store and build a sundae together. You'll flirt over the toppings and sit close together as you spoon your way to sugar heaven.
  22. Walk in the Park - Combine exercise and fitness with romance.
  23. Natural Surroundings - The beauty of nature is all around us and it doesn't cost a dime. Whether it's a trip to the beach, a walk in the forest or a search into a cave, it can be done together for practically nothing. Take the time to find the natural scenic spots in your area and utilize them for your dates.
  24. Public Exhibits/Museums - Think about the museums and galleries around you, all filled with collections of interesting items for you to chat about. Most are reasonable in price and usually offer discount days, so keep you eye out for those.

  25. Special Events - On any given weekend, you can be guaranteed that some special event is going on nearby. Fairs, craft shows, festivals and exhibitions are usually free or for a nominal cost. It gets you and your date out and in an environment where you can both explore your surroundings while getting to know each other.

  26. Sporting Ideas - If you and your date are both athletic, sport activities together can be a great way to spend your time. Play a set of tennis, jog in the park, toss a Frisbee about, play catch with a baseball or football or shoot some baskets. Whichever you choose, you can spend quality time at minimal cost and get some exercise in, too.

  27. Video Games - Gaming has come a long way since Donkey Kong & Pac Man. It’s glorified board games for adults, basically. You can find a whole slew of trivia and game-show type games available at your local rental store. Five bucks for an hour or two of one-on-one friendly competition never hurt anyone and most realize that games aren’t just for kids.

  28. Second run movie theaters - we used to call these dollar movies, because the theater only charged a dollar for them. Now however, with movie price going up, these theater charge about $3-$4. Still a bargain when you would pay $8-$11 to see the new releases at the regular theater.

  29. Picnic - Picnics are great for dates because they can be taken along wherever you plan to go for the day and they cost a fraction of going out for a meal. They also can be made as casual or as romantic as you want. Take a casual picnic meal, add some cheese & wine along with a red rose and the picnic instantly takes on a romantic feel.

  30. Memory Album - Take your camera or purchase an inexpensive disposable camera and make a day of taking photos together. Make a theme for the day if you want or just take any crazy photo that comes to mind. Once finished, get the photos 1 hour processed and create a memory album together for the day that will live on forever.

  31. Historic Places & Buildings - It seems the only time people go looking at the historic landmarks near where they live is when visitors come from out of town. Many of these historic or culturally significant spots have no or small entrance fees and make a great place to go on a date. You also get to learn more about the area you live.


  32. Meal/Evening At Home - Cook up a meal at home and spend the evening watching movies or some other activity such as a board game. The meal most likely will be better than at a restaurant and the evening will cost a fraction of what going out to dinner and a movie would cost. Cook the meal together to spend even more time together, or do it yourself as a special surprise.
  33. Exercise together - Skating (Ice or Roller),
    Scenic Bike Ride, a walk in the park are all great ways to exercise and yet have fun as well.


I am sure there are other ideas and would love to hear them. If you have any other ideas, comment to this post and let me know. I want to hear all of the ideas you have. I am sure there is 101 ideas out there, I just need to find them. Even if they won't work for me, they will for somebody. For example, I don't eat Italian, Mexican or Chinese food, so #9 wouldn't work as well for me. At least without some tinkering.

So what do you all think? Can you think of anything I missed?

John 6:47

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

Monday, May 7, 2007

Awesome Live Event Was Biggest Ever

Saturday morning, I drove to Kansas City to attend the Dave Ramsey, "Total Money Make Over," Live Event. According to Dave Ramsey officials the Kansas City event sold out faster then any other event in Dave Ramsey history. It also was the largest live event ever with 10,000 tickets sold. I however, know of two tickets which were not used.

I arrived in Kansas City around 10:30 am, about an hour before the door opened. While I waited, I stopped in at the Wendy's about a mile or so from Municipal Auditorium, where the event was held, and met several people on their way to the same place I was. Many of them could be reading this blog for the first time this week.

Over the past year, I have often tried to compare Ramsey's teachings with those of John Cummuta. They both teach basically the same thing. Although Cummuta teaches paying off your debt first, Ramsey teaches building your emergency fund first. However, during his his live event, he actually said that he used to teach get out of debt first, then build your emergency savings. Problem was, he said, that people kept falling off the wagon.

In addition he showed this video clip, that I had posted on this blog last year. Take a look at the video again. It is hilarious.




Over all I had a great time, and am pumped to do what I can to get back on track and get these dang debts paid off.

1 Peter 2:6

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious; and he that believeth in Him shall not be confounded."

Sunday, May 6, 2007

You Have To See This Hilarious Video

I was recently catching up on Save Leigh Ann's blog and seen this hilarious video

Ohio MBA Student Starts Scholarship Fund in Honor of a VT Alumnus

You may recall recently talked about Jon Hanson and his book, "Good debt, Bad debt." I even gave away 3 copies of his book. Last week he made the following annoucement.


Columbus, Ohio, couple donates $5,000 cash and $20,000 in goods to create a "living endowment" at Franklin University, asks others to give online or by mail.

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) May 1, 2007 -- A Columbus, Ohio couple has donated $5,000 cash and $20,000 in goods to create a "living endowment" at Franklin University, and the couple asks others to give online or by mail. The scholarship fund was started in honor of Virginia Tech alumnus Dave Gordon.

Several questions prompted the couple to act, including: Does your Alma Mater matter? What if the news every 10 minutes was about your Alma Mater not Virginia Tech? Is there a nationwide esprit de corps of the Alumni at 4,216 colleges and universities waiting to show solidarity for their VT Brothers and Sisters? What is the future of higher education funding? These are some of the questions that have been nagging Jon Hanson, a Franklin University MBA student, seeking to transition into fundraising and development work after spending the last 2 years promoting his book Good Debt, Bad Debt (Penguin, 2005).

Hanson said, "I spent most of last week trying to set up a fund in memory of the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings, I planned to create a fund at ScholarshipAmerica.org for the VT slain. Timing and appropriateness issues slowed progress. Now that Virginia Tech (vt.edu) has a similar fund set up to memorialize the victims--I decided to do something closer to home to honor my favorite Hokie."

Goal: Create a Living Memorial

Hanson and his wife, Nita, a Capital University Law Student have donated $5,000 to Franklin University from their fund at The Columbus Foundation, to establish the Dave Gordon Leadership Fund, a scholarship with a preference for adult transitional students, over-leveraged single parents, workers in non-profits, entrepreneurs, and self-employed persons.

Besides calling on others to give, Hanson plans to generate another $20,000 for the fund by donating 1,000 hardcover copies of Good Debt, Bad Debt to be sold at www.gooddebt.com .

"The scholarship will receive the entire $20 per book (Hanson will absorb the cost) and you are welcome to buy more than one. They come 28 to a case and are wonderful graduation and wedding presents." There is not a tax deduction for purchasing the books. Hanson will arrange to speak to your group depending on the amount of books purchased or honorarium paid to the fund. If you wish to make a tax deductible contribution contact Hanson through gooddebt.com or mail a check to Dave Gordon Leadership Fund c/o Franklin University, 201 S. Grant Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Touch Lives Not Buildings

Many donors prefer capital campaigns because you can see the building, you can walk in it, touch it--buy naming rights. "With a scholarship endowment we are able to create a living memorial; your donations will still be helping students 100 years from now. You are not buying a brick but a capital share in someone's future."

"Dave Gordon of Pickerington, Ohio (48) died from cancer in December 2006. He was a VT Alumnus and engineer for American Electric Power. He left behind his wife Jackie and three beautiful daughters. Dave was an enthusiastic supporter of Virginia Tech, traveling to many of their football games. The VT shootings brought Dave's memory to the forefront for me, I was driven to do something--I just wasn't sure what to do. A fund in his name will honor his memory from now on," said Hanson. "Dave practiced Servant Leadership and was an inspiration to all that knew him, even during the darkest days of his sickness. We need more people like Dave Gordon."

Hanson is concerned about the difficulty of older students locked into working and unable to generate the extra funds for grad school or even a bachelor degree. Franklin does a great job with adult students but, someone needs to pay. "Almost all of my MBA class receives employer reimbursement." Hanson says, he'd like to see the Dave Gordon Leadership Fund rise to about $340,000 to allow a full program scholarship each year to be awarded to a non-traditional student, working single parent, self-employed, or someone working at a non-profit. "The educational pie can only be cut so many times until the pieces are too small to be nutritious for everyone needing pie--those unable to pay or whose employers don't pay. The goal is to get more pie (scholarship and grant money)."

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Dave Ramsey is Coming! Dave Ramsey is Coming!

I am so pumped. In about two and a half hours, I will be leaving Topeka to drive to Kansas City to hear Dave Ramsey. Another reader of this blog and I, being single guys, are car pooling and driving to Kansas City together to financial guru Dave Ramsey. The $7 parking fee will be split, thus saving both of us money, if we had drove separately.
I would like to ask Dave a question, sort of a mini interview, but I really don't want to wait in line. Once I get out of the event, I just want to get back on the road and get home.
We will have to see what happens. It should be a great time. We are planning on stopping by a Wendy's and get items off their .99 menu. Biggie fries and Burger baby. Heck the burger is bigger then McDonald's $1 double and is a penny cheaper as well.
And you all know what Ben Franklin advised, "A penny saved, is a penny earned."

Till next time, see you, and here's to everyone getting debt-free. God bless everyone.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Desire to Date and Desire to Be Debt-Free

The biggest struggle I have right now is a war between my two biggest desires. My desire to find a wife, settle down and raise a family and my desire to be debt-free. As tight as my budget is, I cannot afford to to go out, let alone take out a girlfriend who might become the future princess of thrift.
Of course, I could wait until I am 100% debt-free and then I will have additional cash to spend as well as save. However, I am 38 (39 in July) and am not sure I can wait another two years to start dating.
Of course, I never planned to be nearly 40 before starting a family, but the best laid plans don't always go the way we plan. For example, I was in the news recently (4/22/07) because I didn't give up on one of my political dreams. A dream as all (KTKA-TV49, WIBW-TV13, and Topeka Capital-Journal) press accounts pointed out, that took me 17-years to finally accomplish.
As you can see, I am not a quiter. Throughout all the press coverage and the subsequent votes in favor of my resolution, I repeated the Henry Ford, several times. The quote, which I have mentioned on this blog before, "If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right."
I intend to find a girlfriend and with any luck and God's guidance, she will eventually be my wife. In fact, there is someone. Two really. One I have been interested in for quite some time, who until recently, had been an employee in the store that I am a member of management in. Unfortunately, she has yet to answer the phone when I call. She is very busy with her job and may be to busy for a relationship.
The other gal, I met on-line and lives about 45 minutes from Topeka. Is attending K-State and working part time at a hardware store. She and I have sent numerous text messages and made several phone calls back and forth over the past week. This is the gal that seems to be the most likely for something to develop with. However, it is still way to early to know what might happen. I don't want to put the cart before the horse.
The question that I am struggling with is how do I balance both of my desires, so that I can accomplish both of them.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

New Thoughts on The Gas Out - A Realistic Way to Effect Change

I had never heard of this gas out idea before this year. As a result I posted it on my blog, then emailed it to a local talk show host.
The host and I both looked it up on snopes and found that it won't work for the very reasons you have mentioned. However, there is another thought out there. The other thought has a much better chance of working.
That idea is boycotting the largest fuel distributor (Exxon-Mobil) altogether. By boycotting the biggest, the theory goes, their profits suffer, while others like BP may go up, as a result they will try to get more customers back to their stores and lower their prices. If they drop their prices, everyone else will have to drop their prices as well to remain competitive. So what about it, lets boycott Exxon-Mobile stations for the next year or so. Force them to drop their prices and thus forcing all the other companies to follow suit.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Humorous Video Explains High Water Bill

I recently found this video online. A couple couldn't figure out why their water bill was high. Then one day, they found out. Surprised they video taped. The answer will surprise you. While the video is funny, it has a serious side. In this case to keep their water bill normal or lower, this couple started keeping the bathroom door shut. Anyway, just watch the video and you will understand why.

NO GAS...On May 15th 2007

A friend of mine, recently sent me the following message. Because the message is so important, I am posting it here.

NO GAS...On May 15th 2007
Body: Don't pump gas on may 15th
Body: ...in April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

On May 15th 2007, all internet users are to not go to a gas station in protest of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most places.

There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the internet network, and the average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.

If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take
$2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companys pockets for just one day, so please do not go to the gas station on May 15th and lets try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day.

If you agree (which I cant see why you wouldnt) resend this to all your contact list. With it saying, ''Don't pump gas on May 15th"