While I was in Austin recently, besides getting a place to live, I visited some of the tourist locations. This video is of the Texas Peace Officers memorial on the grounds of the Texas State Capital.
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Discussing faith, business, personal finance, news (business and financial related), politics, and pretty much everything else.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Endorsements in the Kansas Primary
I have been reluctant to issue any endorsements this year in the Kansas primary. However with the August 3 primary upon us, I have decided that I should. In addition, with my upcoming move to Texas, I have decided to restart KevinsView.com. For those unfumiliar with Kevin's View, it was a political blog, which I ran for several years, before I started DebtFree4ever.net. The readership, of the financial blog surpassed that of the political blog, so I merged them together. Now, perhaps it is time again to have a political blog as well as the financial blog. Below is my endorsements for the last election, that I will vote in here in Kansas.
Governor: Sam Brownback
The Economy is the main reason, I have supported Sam from the very get-go.
U.S. Senate: Todd Tihart
Tihart's opponent is a very good man. One I would be proud to see in the Senate. Can't go wrong with either one. However, I believe Todd would be the best for Kansas and he current Economy. He has proven himself the financially responsible, while he has been in the Congress. His opponents mailer sealed my endorsement of Tihart. As a former Democrat, I don't take kindly to his opponet trying to put him down, because he was a registered Democrat before he ran for Congress. What was the point? Ronald Reagan, one of this Nation's best Presidents (and most Conservative) also was a former Democrat. I would rather look at Tihart's Congressional voting record. That tells me a lot more then, how he was registered to vote 26 or 30 years ago.
Congress (2nd District): Lynn Jenkins
Lynn is the former State Treasurer, and a confirmed reader of DebtFree4ever.net, as such you know she must have a good handle on finances. Her own words prove that to be true.
Attorney General: Derek Schmidt
Sec. of State: Elizabeth "Libby" Ensley
Libby is the only Republican candidate, who has first hand knowledge of the job. She has served as Shawnee County Election Commissioner, since she was appointed by then Secretary of State Bill Graves in 1992. Before that, she had worked in every department in the Secretaries office since 1981.
Insurance Commissioner: Sandy Praeger
She is the only experienced candidate for this office.
Treasurer: Ron Estes
As Sedgwick County Treasurer, Ron has the qualifications to be our next State Treasurer and first elected Treasurer since Lynn Jenkins resigned to go to Congress.
---
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The Economy is the main reason, I have supported Sam from the very get-go.
Sam Brownback is running for Governor to grow Kansas. Economic growth supports everything we do as a state---it feeds families, provides opportunities for young people, makes seniors more secure in their retirement, generates revenue for government services and charities at all levels and provides the goods and services that support our quality of life. Economic growth is the engine that makes our state go. Restoring growth will be Sam Brownback's top priority as Governor.In addition when it comes to Taxes, Brownback opposes tax increases, particularly in times of economic distress. To prove his commitment to this, he signed the Americans For Prosperity's “No Climate Tax” Pledge.
Tihart's opponent is a very good man. One I would be proud to see in the Senate. Can't go wrong with either one. However, I believe Todd would be the best for Kansas and he current Economy. He has proven himself the financially responsible, while he has been in the Congress. His opponents mailer sealed my endorsement of Tihart. As a former Democrat, I don't take kindly to his opponet trying to put him down, because he was a registered Democrat before he ran for Congress. What was the point? Ronald Reagan, one of this Nation's best Presidents (and most Conservative) also was a former Democrat. I would rather look at Tihart's Congressional voting record. That tells me a lot more then, how he was registered to vote 26 or 30 years ago.
Lynn is the former State Treasurer, and a confirmed reader of DebtFree4ever.net, as such you know she must have a good handle on finances. Her own words prove that to be true.
I am convinced now more than ever that our federal government’s greatest problem is its addiction to spending. Too many politicians who have been in Washington for too long have forgotten that taxpayers are what keeps our government going. Instead of being responsible and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse or reigning in spending, many politicians think they have been given a blank check to do as they please. I couldn’t disagree more.
That’s why I have stayed committed to conservative fiscal policies that put America’s security and future generations first and foremost. We cannot continue to give hostile foreign nations greater influence or simply pass the burden on to our kids and grand-kids. If we want to put our nation back on the path to prosperity, we need people in Washington who believe in and will practice fiscal restraint. I pledge to continue doing just that by opposing wasteful earmarks and pushing for reforms in the earmarking process.
Libby is the only Republican candidate, who has first hand knowledge of the job. She has served as Shawnee County Election Commissioner, since she was appointed by then Secretary of State Bill Graves in 1992. Before that, she had worked in every department in the Secretaries office since 1981.
She is the only experienced candidate for this office.
Commissioner Sandy Praeger was elected as Kansas' 24th Commissioner of Insurance on November 2, 2002. She was reelected on November 7, 2006. Commissioner Praeger is responsible for regulating all insurance sold in Kansas and overseeing the nearly 1,700 insurance companies and more than 92,000 agents licensed to do business in the state.
As Sedgwick County Treasurer, Ron has the qualifications to be our next State Treasurer and first elected Treasurer since Lynn Jenkins resigned to go to Congress.
---
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Kansas Republican Primary Endorsements
I have been reluctant to issue any endorsements this year in the Kansas primary. However with the August 3 primary upon us, I have decided that I should. In addition, with my upcoming move to Texas, I have decided to restart KevinsView.com. For those unfumiliar with Kevin's View, it was a political blog, which I ran for several years, before I started DebtFree4ever.net. The readership, of the financial blog surpassed that of the political blog, so I merged them together. Now, perhaps it is time again to have a political blog as well as the financial blog. Below is my endorsements for the last election, that I will vote in here in Kansas.
Governor: Sam Brownback
The Economy is the main reason, I have supported Sam from the very get-go.
U.S. Senate: Todd Tihart
Tihart's opponent is a very good man. One I would be proud to see in the Senate. Can't go wrong with either one. However, I believe Todd would be the best for Kansas and he current Economy. He has proven himself the financially responsible, while he has been in the Congress. His opponents mailer sealed my endorsement of Tihart. As a former Democrat, I don't take kindly to his opponet trying to put him down, because he was a registered Democrat before he ran for Congress. What was the point? Ronald Reagan, one of this Nation's best Presidents (and most Conservative) also was a former Democrat. I would rather look at Tihart's Congressional voting record. That tells me a lot more then, how he was registered to vote 26 or 30 years ago.
Congress (2nd District): Lynn Jenkins
Lynn is the former State Treasurer, and a confirmed reader of DebtFree4ever.net, as such you know she must have a good handle on finances. Her own words prove that to be true.
Attorney General: Derek Schmidt
Sec. of State: Elizabeth "Libby" Ensley
Libby is the only Republican candidate, who has first hand knowledge of the job. She has served as Shawnee County Election Commissioner, since she was appointed by then Secretary of State Bill Graves in 1992. Before that, she had worked in every department in the Secretaries office since 1981.
Insurance Commissioner: Sandy Praeger
She is the only experienced candidate for this office.
Treasurer: Ron Estes
As Sedgwick County Treasurer, Ron has the qualifications to be our next State Treasurer and first elected Treasurer since Lynn Jenkins resigned to go to Congress.
---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.
Sponsor This Post(via PayPal) for $75 and Replace This Text.
The Economy is the main reason, I have supported Sam from the very get-go.
Sam Brownback is running for Governor to grow Kansas. Economic growth supports everything we do as a state---it feeds families, provides opportunities for young people, makes seniors more secure in their retirement, generates revenue for government services and charities at all levels and provides the goods and services that support our quality of life. Economic growth is the engine that makes our state go. Restoring growth will be Sam Brownback's top priority as Governor.In addition when it comes to Taxes, Brownback opposes tax increases, particularly in times of economic distress. To prove his commitment to this, he signed the Americans For Prosperity's “No Climate Tax” Pledge.
Tihart's opponent is a very good man. One I would be proud to see in the Senate. Can't go wrong with either one. However, I believe Todd would be the best for Kansas and he current Economy. He has proven himself the financially responsible, while he has been in the Congress. His opponents mailer sealed my endorsement of Tihart. As a former Democrat, I don't take kindly to his opponet trying to put him down, because he was a registered Democrat before he ran for Congress. What was the point? Ronald Reagan, one of this Nation's best Presidents (and most Conservative) also was a former Democrat. I would rather look at Tihart's Congressional voting record. That tells me a lot more then, how he was registered to vote 26 or 30 years ago.
Lynn is the former State Treasurer, and a confirmed reader of DebtFree4ever.net, as such you know she must have a good handle on finances. Her own words prove that to be true.
I am convinced now more than ever that our federal government’s greatest problem is its addiction to spending. Too many politicians who have been in Washington for too long have forgotten that taxpayers are what keeps our government going. Instead of being responsible and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse or reigning in spending, many politicians think they have been given a blank check to do as they please. I couldn’t disagree more.
That’s why I have stayed committed to conservative fiscal policies that put America’s security and future generations first and foremost. We cannot continue to give hostile foreign nations greater influence or simply pass the burden on to our kids and grand-kids. If we want to put our nation back on the path to prosperity, we need people in Washington who believe in and will practice fiscal restraint. I pledge to continue doing just that by opposing wasteful earmarks and pushing for reforms in the earmarking process.
Libby is the only Republican candidate, who has first hand knowledge of the job. She has served as Shawnee County Election Commissioner, since she was appointed by then Secretary of State Bill Graves in 1992. Before that, she had worked in every department in the Secretaries office since 1981.
She is the only experienced candidate for this office.
Commissioner Sandy Praeger was elected as Kansas' 24th Commissioner of Insurance on November 2, 2002. She was reelected on November 7, 2006. Commissioner Praeger is responsible for regulating all insurance sold in Kansas and overseeing the nearly 1,700 insurance companies and more than 92,000 agents licensed to do business in the state.
As Sedgwick County Treasurer, Ron has the qualifications to be our next State Treasurer and first elected Treasurer since Lynn Jenkins resigned to go to Congress.
---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Learn About the Changes to Your Credit Card Statement
I received an email from Five Cent Nickel, that read
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As I’m sure you know, credit card statements are changing this month as a result of the Credit Card Act. Five Cent Nickel has used information from the Federal Reserve to create an easy-to-understand interactive info graphic explaining the new statement changes. By hovering over different parts of the info graphic readers will see all the ways the credit card statement has changed.I found the interactive display to be of great quality and wanted to share it with my readers. Again this is a reproduction Nickel of the information at the Federal Reserve website.
Credit Card Statement Changes from Five Cent Nickel
Do you think consumers will pay off their credit cards faster once they know how much interest they're paying and how long it will take? Tell us what you think of the new statement.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Personal Capital: Foundational Concepts of Capitalism
I was asked a few months back to review the book, "Personal Capital," by J. L. Eaton. A chance that I jumped at. Unfortunately that's when things become so hectic around my home. I began planning a move. I went into hyper-drive to try to get my debts paid off. Anyway the book was placed on the back burner; and I delayed reading it and writing my review.
This past week, while I was traveling in Austin, to look at apartments, I used the time to get the book read. The time on the plan, even though short jaunts was time for me to relax and just enjoy a good book.
Which I can say, that I really did enjoy from the very first paragraph. That first paragraph said in just a few words, what I have been saying on this blog since its first inception.
We all should know, and regular readers do know that I think Madison Avenue, not to mention the attitudes of most Americans, is ludicrous. In fact the second paragraph stated,
The thing is, it's trying to keep up with the Jones'. A very dangerous practice particularly if you can't afford it. As Thomas Jefferson said,
Good advice from this countries third President, advice I wish even our leaders in today's Washington would heed. But, lets not get into politics here today. This book focuses on Economics, but personal economics, rather then national or international. Although in some ways, the lines between the three blur. As the author states, every dollar you earn is an allocatable resource that you must decide how to spend (or save).
As such, he goes through the various aspects of your personal economics. He covers everything from Basic Economics (part 1) to Debt (part 2) to Taxes (part 3) to the Basics of Real Estate (part 4) and Investments (part 5).
He seems to teach a lot of the same ideas as Dave Ramsey, except for on glaring exception. That being on the issue of credit cards, Eaton tells his readers, simply to refuse to carry a balance on credit cards. I'm sorry but that seems to go against the Thomas Jefferson quote (cited above) that he (Eaton) placed in the beginning of Chapter 1, of his book. If you are paying with credit, instead of saved money, then you are spending it before you earn it, even if you pay it off at the end of the month.
However, the rest of his message seems to very close to Dave Ramsey and John Cummuta, who tell us to cut up our credit cards and get rid of debt.
The book (Personal Capital:Foundational Concepts of Capitalism by J. L. Eaton) was very interesting and one that I will certainly be reading again. I encourage each and everyone of you reading my words to read this book and apply it to your financial lives.
---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.
Sponsor This Post(via PayPal) for $75 and Replace This Text.
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This past week, while I was traveling in Austin, to look at apartments, I used the time to get the book read. The time on the plan, even though short jaunts was time for me to relax and just enjoy a good book.
Which I can say, that I really did enjoy from the very first paragraph. That first paragraph said in just a few words, what I have been saying on this blog since its first inception.
Although the idea of selling high-end merchandise to middle and upper-middle income people has been around for some time, Madison Avenue and it's marketing gurus have managed to foist the idea that everyone deserves everything imaginable. All that they have to do is carry the right card. The card magically provides the want-to-be rich with spending power; and suggest that they are independent, virle, sexy and just plain cool. Spending power relies on nothing more then using credit to buy whatever you want. Hyping the idea of spending power simply encourages you to buy higher-end goods and services than you need.
We all should know, and regular readers do know that I think Madison Avenue, not to mention the attitudes of most Americans, is ludicrous. In fact the second paragraph stated,
The credit industry has created a false reality.
The thing is, it's trying to keep up with the Jones'. A very dangerous practice particularly if you can't afford it. As Thomas Jefferson said,
Never spend your money before you have earned it.
Good advice from this countries third President, advice I wish even our leaders in today's Washington would heed. But, lets not get into politics here today. This book focuses on Economics, but personal economics, rather then national or international. Although in some ways, the lines between the three blur. As the author states, every dollar you earn is an allocatable resource that you must decide how to spend (or save).
As such, he goes through the various aspects of your personal economics. He covers everything from Basic Economics (part 1) to Debt (part 2) to Taxes (part 3) to the Basics of Real Estate (part 4) and Investments (part 5).
He seems to teach a lot of the same ideas as Dave Ramsey, except for on glaring exception. That being on the issue of credit cards, Eaton tells his readers, simply to refuse to carry a balance on credit cards. I'm sorry but that seems to go against the Thomas Jefferson quote (cited above) that he (Eaton) placed in the beginning of Chapter 1, of his book. If you are paying with credit, instead of saved money, then you are spending it before you earn it, even if you pay it off at the end of the month.
However, the rest of his message seems to very close to Dave Ramsey and John Cummuta, who tell us to cut up our credit cards and get rid of debt.
- Start Tax Advantaged Retirement Accounts Now (40k, 403b, Thrift Savings plan, etc).
- Buy a moderate Home.
- Refuse to carry a balance on credit cards.
- Accelerate and pay off student Loan Debt Early.
- Purchase additional Investment Assets.
The book (Personal Capital:Foundational Concepts of Capitalism by J. L. Eaton) was very interesting and one that I will certainly be reading again. I encourage each and everyone of you reading my words to read this book and apply it to your financial lives.
---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.
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Monday, July 19, 2010
10-14 Guest Posts Wanted
As I prepare to be for my upcoming wedding I must put out the request for guest posts. I will be away from my computer for a week. Maybe even two weeks as I get set back up from the move taking place at the same time. Not to mention, between now and this I will be spending more time packing and less time paying attention to the computer.
So please, if you would like to submit an article to be considered a guest post, please send to the email in the left sidebar. Once I have reviewed it, I can get it into Que to post at an appropriate time. All posts will be given proper credit and will link back to the authors website (if they have one). Please don't hesitate, get your submissions in ASAP, and feel free to submit more then one article (as long as they are different and yours).
thanks in Advance
---
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So please, if you would like to submit an article to be considered a guest post, please send to the email in the left sidebar. Once I have reviewed it, I can get it into Que to post at an appropriate time. All posts will be given proper credit and will link back to the authors website (if they have one). Please don't hesitate, get your submissions in ASAP, and feel free to submit more then one article (as long as they are different and yours).
thanks in Advance
---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.
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University of Texas Bell Tower
I recently visited Austin, TX. While I was there I secured an apartment for my soon to be wife and I to live. It actually ended up being the first apartment that was looked at (and the biggest). Best of all, it will only be a mile or two from my fiances' son, who lives in an apartment nearby.
While I was there, we went to Lake Travis, the UT Bell Tower (as in the video above) and the State Capital grounds.
---
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