Recent comments

  • Gas Is High Enough….   17 years 51 weeks ago

    if gas hit $5/gallon tomorrow, what would happen? Would the nation grind to a halt? Would office buildings be empty? Would supermarket shelves be bare? Doubtful. As we all know, we need gas the same way we need electricity or water. It's a utility, not a commodity. And so, we'd keep driving, we'd stomach the cost and we'd cut somewhere else. I'm amazed this didn't happen sooner. When corporations can charge whatever they want and still sell out, why wouldn't they. Think about it. If they sell 1 tenth less fuel due to our cost-cutting exercises, but make double profits, what do they care?

  • Book review: Work Less, Live More   17 years 51 weeks ago

    Thanks for the informative review. I'm really interested in creating a better balance between work and life.

  • Joy of Life Club   17 years 51 weeks ago

    I appreciate how you described our Joie de Vivre Hotels and the Joy of Life Club experiences, Margaret.

    We're growing quite extensively throughout California - hotels, restaurants and spas - and always love input on how we can continue to make things better whenever you travel within our state. We'd love your ideas for our Joy of Life Club members too.

  • Do You Have Your TV Converter Box Yet?   17 years 51 weeks ago

    If I am going to get a convertor box, I would at least like to have one with DVR Digital Video Recorder functionality. I understand that there are some in existence, but that they are ineligible for the coupon discount. While I am disappointed in that, I still want to get one.

    Can anyone advise on DVR-Convertor Boxes? What makes and models are out there, how do they compare?

  • "Stapler. Stapler." - FREE $20 Swingline Stapler   17 years 51 weeks ago

    This offer expired on 4/4/2008 at midnight. :0(

  • 2012 is Coming: What Are You Doing About It?   17 years 51 weeks ago

    >Will the world as we know it end on December 21st, 2012
    Note to self- wait to do Christmas shopping until Dec 22nd in 2012.

    More seriously, I don't believe any end of the world predictions, so I thought I would really hate this article-

    The article does make an excellent point -all of us do face an end of our lives at some unknown time in the future. Because it is unknown it's important to strike a balance between today and tomorrow. To coin a new financial term- life benefit averaging.

    -Rick Francis

  • 13 Natural and Easy Ways to Lower Your Blood Sugar   17 years 51 weeks ago

    Any advice on what to do during an infection or illness?

  • The Best (Inexpensive) Souvenirs   17 years 51 weeks ago

    I always make it a point to stop by the local Walmart or Walgreens... many times you can find t-shirts for the area you're visiting for a fraction of the price.

    Also, don't feel buy your items away from the attraction and you will save. We bought our South Dakota/Mount Rushmore shirts in Mitchell and saved 1/2 the price of what we would have paid in Rapid City.

    I also take lots and lots of photos. They truly are the best souvenirs.

  • Mind Control Guru Can Pay With Blank Sheets of Paper   17 years 51 weeks ago

    The above post about the count the money trick was a reply to the comment "Derren Brown does use actors".. post 43.. should have clarified that :P

  • Mind Control Guru Can Pay With Blank Sheets of Paper   17 years 51 weeks ago

    Untrue, if you examine the videos of "count the money in the wallet without seeing it" closely, you will see that the piece of paper that derren has "written" the amount of cash in the wallet on is in fact blank - another case of the mind sees what it expects to see. That is why the piece of paper is in an envelope and why Derren always gets it back soon after the trick is done. By then, a crew member will have already written the correct amount on another piece of paper, which is then held up to the camera in the post-trick interview.

  • The Best (Inexpensive) Souvenirs   17 years 51 weeks ago

    When we travel (rare occurrence), I like to carry my back pack and collect freebie flyers from places we go. Sometimes, you'll find a nice pamphlet in the lobby of your hotel of the amusement park or wherever you might go the next day. I collect up free maps of the park, whatever comes along. I take pictures of the kidlets enjoying themselves throughout the day.

    When it comes time to scrap book, I then have many resources to use on my pages- obtained for free. Sometimes, I'll just put a pamphlet in next to pictures of the place we had gone. Other times, I might cut the paper ephemera up. I figure that their PR person had an ace photographer take the picture- why should I waste my film or print paper?

    We also usually give the kids a certain amount each to spend on themselves- this way they can budget for what they want.

  • The Best (Inexpensive) Souvenirs   17 years 51 weeks ago

    prepurchase souveniers! For example, we were off to Orlando a few weeks ago. We didn't bring the kids along this time, but if we had...I would've bought some Disney stuff to take along with us and then would've handed the stuff out after visiting a theme park. We also saw many Disney items at the local flea markets (I don't know if that stuff was licensed or not)....I've even bought things at my local Goodwill and brought them along.

    As for me, my vote is for pictures. I've started now also taking photos of signs and markers. It helps in keeping things organized when you do an album later, plus no need to write where you are...cause there it is already! It works especially nice with some of those weather beaten and handmade signs.

  • 2012 is Coming: What Are You Doing About It?   17 years 51 weeks ago

    That being said. That beach deal sounds like a package I could sign up for. It was a long winter in upstate Ny.

  • The Best (Inexpensive) Souvenirs   17 years 51 weeks ago

    When I travel, I love poking around grocery stores and farmers' markets to find local food specialties that travel well. I've brought back barbecue sauce from Kansas City, wine from Washington State, Everglades Seasoning from Florida, salad dressing from a vendor at the farmers' market in Hilo, Hawaii ... you get the idea.

    Lately I've also made it a point to find local artists' co-ops in the places we visit. A pair of earrings purchased from a local artist doesn't cost much, but it puts some money back into their community, and I can remember my trip every time I put the earrings on.

  • 5 More Fun Money-Making Ideas!   17 years 51 weeks ago

    Hi..i found your site while googling an idea..
    good info..

  • The Best (Inexpensive) Souvenirs   17 years 51 weeks ago

    Photos are the best. I like taking photos that record the travel as well. From our way to the airport, and everything in between. The best are those pictures of just everyday life happening around while vacationing. They capture the real essence of the place you are visiting.

  • The Best (Inexpensive) Souvenirs   17 years 51 weeks ago

    If I buy anything, it's something I already need but haven't bought at home. Once it was a few plates, another time it was a dishtowel. then I actually use it.
    My favorite is an item from a thrift store in Wales! I supported the Wales air ambulance (through the store), got to talk to people who rarely saw americans, and picked up a cool re-used souvenir rather than buying a new product in the US

  • Quick Vista Hack to Get You Browsing at High-Speed Again   17 years 51 weeks ago

    XXOO

  • Horizon Organic Milk: Is it All Just Lies?   17 years 51 weeks ago

    I have been buying Horizons for a year thinking I was giving my child the best Organic milk out there. I pay $4.05 for milk that will last me 4 days max, so I am spending $12.13 on milk for my baby a week. We all know how our economy is faring these days, but money is not the issue. The issue is that I feel like I was lied to and that I could have done better for my child. This truly breaks my heart. Does anyone know an alternative organic milk that I should give my daughter?

    Concerned Mommy.

  • Horizon Organic Milk: Is it All Just Lies?   17 years 51 weeks ago

    I have been buying Horizons for a year thinking I was giving my child the best Organic milk out there. I pay $4.05 for milk that will last me 4 days max, so I am spending $12.13 on milk for my baby a week. We all know how our economy is faring these days, but money is not the issue. The issue is that I feel like I was lied to and that I could have done better for my child. This truly breaks my heart. Does anyone know an alternative organic milk that I should give my daughter?

    Concerned Mommy.

  • The Best (Inexpensive) Souvenirs   17 years 51 weeks ago

    My favorite is cookbooks--I can revisit the place by rereading them, and I often use them to recreate something when we're at home.

  • What's an employee to do? Part 2   17 years 51 weeks ago

    Yeah, I was caught in layoffs twice early in my career.  After that, though, I had a good 20-year run at my last job.  I'm kind of glad it wasn't the other way around.  Those early layoffs taught me a lot about what job security had become.

    Health insurance is a big deal.  I'm still riding on my former employer's insurance (part of the severance package for people with so many years in).  In converts to COBRA in a few months.  Then I have to try to get private insurance.

    As a back-up, if you exhaust your COBRA, you're guaranteed coverage under HIPAA, even if you have preexisting conditions--but it's not guaranteed to be affordable, and it's not guaranteed to be good insurance.

  • How to Launder Money   17 years 51 weeks ago

    Now we know the ways to launder. What's a lucrative way we can make money easy without laundering? Hell i'm too flampoyant to be doing illegal activities. The police would invstigate me just because...i don't need that.

  • The Best (Inexpensive) Souvenirs   17 years 51 weeks ago

    I like the tickets to bus and train rides and to the museums, parks etc the best as souvenirs. They are free, they are colorful, they remind me of all the fun things that I did during the trip. After coming home I usually arrange them together on my scanner and get a nice collage summing up most of the things we did during the trip. Usually it gets uploaded alongwith my pics to my google account. And there it is the colorful compilation of all we did, absolutely free and the best thing is that I don't have to dust it :) I usually trash the tickets etc once I have scanned them.

  • How the rich stay rich; a lesson in lateral thinking   17 years 51 weeks ago

    lol this is hilarious. Look at the cheapskates who wont reward themselves of any luxury are the ones who are the bottom of the barrel millionaires. These millionaires maybe paper rich or they make lowly salaries from their business. The milionaires who no longer feel poor are the ones who will actually take a woman to a movie on a saturday night.