Take full advantage of the free market place..

I prefer to shop online but I also do quite a bit of research into checking prices and offers available before I make a purchase of most items. I've discovered that with just a few minutes of research it's possible to save money the majority of time and these savings ad up. I also highly recommend using coupon codes as another way to save when using online shopping. There are many different types of coupons and special deals that you can discover, such as Fashion Bug one of my bunch of daughters favorite place to shop. Or to find items that they like and then email me the link hinting/hoping that I'll shop for them. My 12 year old is very adept at this skill.

I prefer to use places that offer free shipping, but even when an online store like Cooking.com does not normally offer free shipping, using a coupon that gives you free shipping is being a smart consumer. Places like www.ecouponcodes.com, update their selection of special deals and coupons on a very regular basis, so if you are anticipating buying a large ticket item, at times by waiting a day or two then re-checking you can save money. Online merchants put out these coupon codes on a very non-scheduled manner from what I've been able to determine, so checking now and doing your research helps you take full advantage of getting the best deal in the free market...

Continuing Disappointment in Congress...

Another interesting article from the Washington Post on how voters both Republican and Democrat are becoming less than enchanted now that it appears many of the promises made by the Democrats as they desired to take the majority have come up empty.

Not to beat a dead horse, but the reality is unless both the Republican and the Democratic Party faces serious opposition from a third party I don't see the potential for real change happening any time soon. All that is currently happening is a series of revolving chairs with very little difference in the end if it is a D or an R that sits there now versus before...

Shift to the left...

Perhaps this will end up being a better end result for those who are independent/libertarian or more in the middle as to the concept of supporting third party candidates if the Democratic Presidential bunch openly snubs the centrists.

Personally I think it's a big mistake to cater to far to the left, they may be vocal but they do not represent the bulk of American voters, which are the middle class and lower middle class. Candidates who lean to far to the right or the left can end up alienating people with their message...

Freedom to be fashionable...

I've had to take a look at my wardrobe lately and accept that fact that I am sadly out of style and that it is time for me to take a serious look at purchasing at least one or two outfits to wear for events like tonight, I'm going to a Women's Political Dinner and I know I will look like a frump. Even if I had something like this Breast Cancer Scarf it might make a bit of a difference as far as making me not appear to be "Mom of five frump blogger".

Considering my knowledge of designer fashion is, well let's be honest, sadly lacking being able to visit places like The Diva's Dream has been very helpful for me. Especially with featured articles like the one on Seasons of Color, I am one of those who sees something in a window, not stopping to be realistic of how it will really look on me. Then of course trying to figure out which fashion accessories or even which purse would be the right one is also an area I need to work on...Since I can't bring Belisi to me, thanks to the internet I can go to them...

Republican candidates not interested in YouTube debate...

It's being suggested that the reason why only two republican presidential candiates have agreed to participate in a CNN/YouTube debate done in a similar manner to the recent Democratic one is that they are afraid to face the YouTube Generation.

That could be part of it, or it could also be that after they saw how inane the questions where that were selected from the thousands of people who sent in video questions they decided it just wasn't worth the effort.

It could have been a great opportunity to ask some questions of Presidential candidates and instead some of the questions were just plain...silly...even for YouTube standards.

Are we safer or not?

Apparently it depends on who you talk to, and what is the political hype behind the message they are putting out there. Recommended piece on CNN's On the Scene section, The bottom line on threat reports -- Is America safer? by Ed Henry where he asks some questions of White House Homeland Security Adviser Fran Townsend as well as taking a look at some of the other information reported by other sources.

Personal freedoms declining...We're all terrorists..

Disheartening story that I read this morning on Wired, titled, We're All Terrorists! Watch List Makes 20k 'Matches' in '06 that delves into the topic of how many people are wrongfully listed on the Watch List that have been delayed or even detained wrongly. In our attempts to be "safe", the personal freedoms we are having taken away from us seem to be growing and one can't help but wonder how much intrusion will be deemed to be "okay" before people start saying enough...

Looking for a "fit" date?

One of the neat things about the internet is the way that online dating services have specialized to create specific ones for different groups of people focusing on a specific culture or interest. One of the more interesting ones I've come across is fitness personals, the focus of this user friendly dating site is to connect people who focus on fitness and health as an important part of their life. The online service provides all of the basic features that most other dating services provide, and membership is free, but with the priority being on fitness dating means that all the members you search through automatically have that in common. I browsed some of the many profiles and those that are members are looking for not only Mr. or Mrs. Right but Mr. or Mrs. Fit...

Blaming the internet rather than taking responsibility

It never ceases to amaze me how far people will go in avoiding taking responsibility for their own actions. It's one of the main reasons we have too much governmental regulations and interference, we allow a few "Darwin Award" type people to create scenarios where laws and regulations have to be passed to "protect" us. This Nevada couple is blaming playing Dungeons & Dragons online rather than carrying for their two children aged 22 months and 11 months. All that can be hoped for is that a few years in prison away from the internet might make these two parents realize that it wasn't the computer...it was their own selfish behavior...

Small Businesses are the key...

Here in Ohio as well as many other states the majority of employment growth comes from small businesses, which makes having information on small business loans very important to those considering venturing into being their own employer.

My husband has dreamed of opening a small business for several years, and he is still working on saving the necessary capital and searching for those interested in possibly investing in his idea. It's not easy, which is why loans end up being a very important part of making this dream come true. We've also learned that it is very important to have a complete business plan and find out what type of organizations exist in your area as a resource that could help you develop winning strategies to take your dream of owning your own business from on paper to reality...

Two of my favorite allegories...

Maybe because I spent so much time around my grandmother who was an expert at her allegory type statements....

But two of my favorites I'm sharing with you:

A Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: “You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?”

So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: “See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides.”

So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: “Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along.”

Well, the Man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: “Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours—you and your hulking son?”

The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.

“That will teach you,” said an old man who had followed them:

“Please all, and you will please none.”

A Lion used to prowl about a field in which Four Oxen used to dwell. Many a time he tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them. At last, however, they fell a-quarrelling among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field. Then the Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of all four.

United we stand, divided we fall.

Gothic Dating....

Years ago I was involved in the Goth Lifestyle, trying to find someone to date that shared similar interests was very difficult. Now there is the Goth Scene which is an easy way to take advantage of gothic personals to find just the person you are looking for. Through photos and personal information shared by members this gives you the opportunity to start in a dating site that specializes in people who are interested in all things Goth.

The Goth Scene states they are the #1 Alternative Dating Community on the Net, the website is very user friendly and membership is free. If you are looking for either friends or are looking for more information on goth dating, I recommend taking a visit over to the website. Your perfect mate could be just around the corner...

Libertarian Celebrities...

Are you thinking that Democrats and Republicans have all the Hollywood stars! Who are some Libertarians who are also Celebrities? Not so my friend, there are many Libertarians who are famous. In fact some of them you might not even realize are Libertarians until you visit this list.

Like Drew Carey, or Clint Eastwood, many people that I talk with did not realize both men are supportive of libertarian beliefs...



:-)

Tutoring possible solution for boy "crisis" in education...

A recent article in my local newspaper pointed out the reason parents should look for an innovative tutor scenario like Score offers parents. It is being reported that while girls appear to be excelling that boys are being left behind. A survey done of local graduates demonstrated a much higher number of girls were reaching the top ten percent of their class compared to their male counterparts. It's important this type of situation be addressed when these students are younger, which makes Score perfect since they specialize in assisting children ages 4 to 14...

Ron Paul leading in local polls...

At least here in my part of Ohio it does not seem that the banning of Ron Paul from the debates has hurt him. It actually seems as if it has helped him since it has assisted in his image that he is not an "insider". Polls at two popular local message forums in Toledo have Ron Paul leading with Obama coming in second, making it clear that those who lean more conservative are at this point at least supporting Ron Paul. His libertarian background is appealing to many who are tired of big government and huge spending.

If you'd like more information on his presidential campaign, you can visit him online at Hope for America.

Termites are destructive little buggers...

I've been very lucky to have never had a home that has been infested by termites, but I have a friend who lost beautiful wood columns because she did not realize that the termites had taken over. By the time she did? The entire inside of the columns were eaten away and crumbled when she tried to have the base repaired. At www.killthetermites.com you can learn helpful information to help you determine if you have a termite problem and what to do if you do...