Upon Further Analysis...

I've moved!

2009-02-21T10:27:00.000-05:00

Hey guys.

I decided to change my blogspot name to "abluesicanwhistle.blogspot.com." I'll still keep this one up for a while, but I moved everything over there. It's still a work in progress.

Movie of the Year

2009-02-09T16:12:00.013-05:00

Sorry it's been so long. Things have been nuts here.

If the choice is between Slumdog Millionaire and He's Just Not That Into You, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE choose Slumdog Millionaire. I feel kind of bad saying this since I haven't seen any other film that's nominated for picture (but have a pretty big desire to see all of them), but I think this one should win it. Period. This movie is beyond incredible, and encapsulates my ultimate desires when it comes to filmmaking.

Completely off topic....

Also, in the near future I'm going to be changing my blog name. I've already made the site but have been too crazy to officially say anything (I guess this is it). I'm not sure why, but furtheranalysis just got old to me. And that I bad to type "anal" when writing it. :-) But either way, the new site's at http://abluesicanwhistle.blogspot.com.

Check it out and let me know what you think--I'm still working on the layout but hopefully it's alright.

How Cool Is Steve Carell?

2009-01-18T18:03:00.000-05:00

Steve Carell owns a general store in Massachusetts. Really.

Jan 16, 2009, 12:00 PM | by Mandi Bierly
Categories: Deals, Television, Things That Are Awesome!

Not that anyone needs another reason to like Steve Carell, but the Office star has given us one: He recently purchased the Marshfield Hills General Store in his native Massachusetts. The actor and his family spend their summers in Marshfield Hills, and, as Carell told the Boston Globe in an email: "This is much more of an emotional investment than a business one....I saw an opportunity to help to preserve a little piece of history. I also felt that places like the Marshfield Hills General Store represent a gathering place, and give people a sense of community. These spots are growing more and more scarce. I hope to keep this particular one alive and well."
While Carell's local sister-in-law will man the shop most of the time, Steve expects to pitch in when he's in town: "I will be manning the cash register and stocking the shelves as time permits!" he said. We're all thinking road trip, yes? What would you say to Carell if you saw him behind the counter? After I asked him how much the Atomic Fireballs cost (look casual!), I would probably launch into the story about how my friend Christa, a photo editor on a shoot he did for TV Guide years ago when he was still on The Daily Show, framed one of the outtakes and hung it in her bathroom. I think he would appreciate that.

All Day Today...

2009-01-18T01:32:00.000-05:00

R.E.M.'s incredible album Automatic For The People is on sale at Amazon MP3 for $1.99.

New Beirut Video - "La Llorona"

2009-01-14T15:17:00.000-05:00

Beirut's new album March Of The Zapotec/Holland is out 2/17 via Condon's Pompeii Records/Ba Da Bing. Both will be available on vinyl via Obey Your Brain.

FNBO Direct Featured in Kiplinger.com Article!

2009-01-14T15:10:00.002-05:00

Resolved: This Year, I'll Keep More Cash

by Stacy Rapacon
Thursday, January 1, 2009provided by

Given the recent turmoil in the financial markets and the prospect of a continuing economic downturn, 2009 may be the year you finally make good on your resolve to start an emergency fund, pay off credit-card debt or beef up your retirement kitty. Our guidelines on cutting your expenses and saving on taxes are guaranteed to put money in your pocket -- and your savings accounts.

More from Kiplinger.com:

• 8 Ways to Boost Your Income

• 12 Things to Look Forward to in 2009

• How to Cope with Financial Stress

1. Get your spending under control by using a free online budgeting Web site, such as Mint.com. This secure site tracks your checking, credit-card and investment accounts and offers money-saving tips, such as where you can cut costs or get a better rate on your credit card. Other free sites, including Wesabe and Geezeo, offer similar budgeting tools, but focus more on their online communities where users share strategies.
With the meat and potatoes of your finances laid out, it will be easier to see where you can trim the fat. For example, assuming that you and your significant other pay the average $33 per person for a restaurant meal (according to a recent Zagat survey) and $7 per ticket for a movie, one fewer date night a month will save you a total of $960 per year.
2. Set up a flexible spending account to help pay for medical expenses. If your employer offers this benefit, you can stash pretax dollars in the account and use the money to pay for out-of-pocket bills, including physician co-payments, prescription drugs, eyeglasses and braces for the kids' teeth. You can even spend the money on over-the-counter medications, such as antacids and pain relievers.
A flex account can save you hundreds of dollars in federal, Social Security and, in most states, state income taxes. For example, if you're in the 25% tax bracket and you put $1,450 in your account -- the average contribution for 2007 -- you'd save $546 for the year, assuming a 5% state income tax and 7.65% for the FICA tax. Plus, you can tap the entire amount at any time, even if you've contributed for only a couple of months.
Under the use-it-or-lose-it rule, you could forfeit any money left in the account at the end of 2009. But many companies now offer a grace period until March 15 of the following year. In fact, if you have money left over from 2008, treat it as a bonus to help pay for a major expenditure in early 2009.
3. File a new Form W-4. If you got a tax refund for 2008, adjusting your withholding will fatten your paycheck for 2009. With an average refund of about $2,400, you could be entitled to three extra exemptions. In the 25% tax bracket, that could boost your take-home pay by $2,625 per year.
4. Raise your insurance deductibles. Increasing the deductible on your car insurance from $250 to $1,000 can save up to 15% on your premiums -- or about $125 per year on an average premium of $829. Upping the deductible on your homeowners policy can slice your rate by about 25%, or $191 on an average premium of $764.
5. Cut the cost of credit. If you tend to carry a monthly credit-card balance, go with a low-interest-rate card, such as Wells Fargo's Prime Rate card, with a 5% interest rate and $19 annual fee. For gasoline or travel perks, try the BP Visa card or >Simmons First Visa Platinum Travel Rewards card.

More from Yahoo! Finance:

• How to Make Money With 0% Interest Rates

• Study: Spendthrift Men Lure More Mates

• 6 Best Budgeting Web Sites

Visit the Banking & Budgeting Center

If you'd rather pocket a cash rebate, consider the American Express Blue Cash card. You'll get a 1% rebate for gas, groceries and drugstore purchases, and you'll get 0.5% back on everything else. Big spenders can bump up those rewards to 5% and 1.5%, respectively, after dropping $6,500 for the year. Charging $15,000 worth of everyday purchases would save you $490.
6. Open an online savings account, such as the one at www.fnbodirect.com, which was recently paying 3.25%, or about $100 a year on a $3,000 deposit. You can open the account with just $1, and there are no monthly fees or minimum-balance requirements. To avoid the temptation to spend all the money that's now lining your pockets thanks to our first five tips, set up an automatic monthly transfer from your checking account or arrange to have part of your paycheck deposited directly into your new rainy-day fund.
7. Bump up your 401(k) contributions. Already have an emergency stash? With stocks on sale, now is a great time to build -- or rebuild -- your retirement kitty. For 2009, the contribution limit for 401(k) accounts rises to $16,500, and you can add another $5,500 if you'll be 50 or older by the end of the year. Contributions aren't subject to federal or state taxes, so loading up on the full $16,500 would save you $4,950 in taxes for the year, assuming a 25% federal tax bracket and a 5% state income tax.
Can't afford the maximum contribution or want to use part of your savings for something else? Try to kick in at least enough to capture any employer match.

Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/106416/Resolved-This-Year-I%27ll-Keep-More-Cash

Crazy News!

2009-01-13T23:35:00.002-05:00

Things have been more than hectic around here--I've been meaning to post a note about it for the past few weeks now. Beth and I have been given the opportunity to work in Moscow for the next two years. We're both very excited (and a little stressed) for the opportunity. We didn't expect it to come quite so soon, but have been wanting to for some time now.

On January 26th we will travel to Richmond, VA to train for 2 months (language, etc.) and we should be in Moscow by April 9th or 10th.

Stay up-to-date with us at http://rhodestomoscow.blogspot.com!

That being said, we hope to see you before we head out--Beth and I have been running ragged since the end of Christmas (we did not know for sure until December), so we've barely had time to do anything. We both quit our jobs last week (her on Tuesday, me on Friday). That was particularly difficult for both of us. Beth and I loved our jobs and the people we worked with.

Since quitting we've been packing, moving things, figuring out where things are going to stay for the next two years, trying to sell a car (but fixing it first), and so on. It's been a whirlwind, but everything is working out.

As excited as we are, Beth and I get attached to the people around us. That was by far the toughest part of of leaving for Russia. Please stay in touch-- Facebook is always great, as well as our e-mail addresses:

timothycr@gmail.com
bethbellrhodes@gmail.com

Our Skype name is: timandbethrhodes

And if you've always wanted to trek to Mother Russia-- COME VISIT! :-)

Gate Cottage Destroyed at TFC

2009-01-12T10:24:00.000-05:00

During the early morning hours today (January 12, 2009), Gate Cottage, on the campus of Toccoa Falls College, caught fire. The extent of the damage is not entirely known as of 5:30 AM.

Gate Cottage is located at the entrance of Toccoa Falls, houses a gift shop, and classroom space for the TFC School of Counseling.

Check back for additional updates throughout the day.

Update #1: All classes for Monday January 12, 2009 have been canceled.

Update #2: Employees report to work at 10 AM.

Update #3: Urgent Message to all Students, faculty and staff of Toccoa Falls College from Dr. Wayne Gardner:

We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Gate Cottage, one of our historic buildings. It burned down about 2:30 a.m. last night. Originally built around 1939 it withstood the flood in 1977. It housed our School of Counseling, Gate Cottage Restaurant, and falls gift shop. We are awaiting word as to the cause of the fire.

Please pray for the students, faculty, and administration as we work to ensure that all needs are met.

The Fire Department has now asked the campus to be closed today because of the ongoing work of their personnel on the campus. This includes all employees to remain off campus today – no access is allowed at either entrance.

From the TFC Website:

Gate Cottage was first built in 1920 as a small cabin to be used as a staff residence. The building served this purpose until 1939 when it was destroyed by fire. In the summer of 1939 students began to build the present building using stone from the area. Over the years the building has served many different functions. In the 40’s it served as the home economics department for the young women. In the 50’s it served as the kitchen and dining room for the school. The second floor of the building was also used for a variety of functions including married student housing, offices for alumni and advancement and is currently being used for offices for the School of Counseling. During World War II many women were trained there as secretaries and later were hired by the government.

The building was the first building on campus to be hit with the flood waters when the earthen dam above the falls broke in the early morning hours in November of 1977. Much damage was done to the inside of the building, but the structure still stood.

In recent years, the main floor was used as a restaurant. This area has been expanded to accommodate many more diners. The gift shop, which was on the lower level, has been moved to the main level. It has also been expanded and will include many new items for sale.

My 10 Favorite Albums of '08

2009-01-11T18:43:00.002-05:00

I was going to write a little more on this, but things have just been nuts. I'll have to tell you all about it.

Here are my favorite albums of the year. I always feel like I need to say that I'm not at all asserting these are the best by any means. These are just ones that have had the biggest affect on me. Check them out!

10. Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue
9. Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
8. Jon Foreman - Winter Fall Spring Summer
7. Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings And All
6. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
5. Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst
4. Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts
3. TV On The Radio - Dear Science,
2. Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
1. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

Coming soon: my favorite songs of the year. I've been meaning to post these for probably over a month now, but it's been rather tough narrowing them down!

Christmas Around the World

2009-01-09T19:54:00.001-05:00

I can't reiterate enough how much I love The Big Picture:

5 Ways to Remember to Vote For Me!

2009-01-07T09:02:00.001-05:00

First of all, thanks guys for voting for me. It's really meant great deal.

The contest is a six-month long "savings journey," so you've got until April. And the cool thing is you can vote at least once a day, but usually a few times. It's really hard for even me to remember to vote sometimes (it's not a lack of a desire to win or anything, I am just really forgetful sometimes). So I decided to devise a few ways to help you (as well as me) remember to vote every day!

Make the PYF Challenge your homepage! I know this is somewhat unlikely--I don't think the page rivals the importance of Drudge or this blog you're reading right now, but I think it's a good idea!
Three words: Remember the Milk. Although I myself am probably more biased to chocolate milk, I won't hold it against them. It's a great site, and if you're like me, you forget just about everything unless you write it down into the form of a list, much like this:

It's a bit overkill, and it actually gets worse a lot of the time.
Maybe I could just actually remember to regularly message you daily to vote for me! But alas, even I forget--almost all the time!
Sticky notes are always very cool. Maybe something above your monitor, or on your bathroom mirror. Or on your car's rear-view mirror.
Have Google Calendar remind you every morning with a daily e-mail.

Regardless of how you do it--vote often!

P.S. I realize this post is selfish and self-serving (but then again, what blog post isn't) and I apologize.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T22:40:00.000-05:00

I know it's late. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas filled with family and silence.

Here's a video I did for the PYF Challenge. I kind of rushed to get it done (things were busy leading up to Christmas) so it's not my favorite.

Saving For The Season from Tim Rhodes on Vimeo.

I'll try to post more in the very near future. I'd like to share some of my favorite music of the year, but I'm still working on it.

And don't forget, VOTE FOR ME!

Lipton Introduces Death Cab

2008-12-22T22:44:00.001-05:00

Great song, of course, but it's hard to beat Lipton's introduction.

Flight of the Conchords, the Second Season Premiere!

2008-12-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

Watch it here!

Season 2 Online Premiere - Flight of the Conchords (US Only) - watch more funny videos

I Love Hulu!

2008-12-15T13:11:00.000-05:00

Hulu is incredible.

They just added some classic cartoons:

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (I don't remember this show even though I loved it as a kid)

And one of my favorite cartoons of all time:

Rocky and Bullwinkle and Frieds this has got to be one of the cleverest shows I've ever seen-- and it's a cartoon!

PYF Challenge Finalist Profile

2008-12-15T07:37:00.000-05:00

Another video!

PYF Challenge Promo Video

2008-12-14T09:37:00.001-05:00

Interview in the Gwinnett Daily Post!

2008-12-11T04:49:00.002-05:00

Thursday, December 11, 2008

12/11/2008 12:01:00 AM

Email this article • Print this article

Tim Rhodes

Snellville resident competing in saving contest
23-year-old hopes to pay off student loans

By Heather Darenberg
Staff Writer

SNELLVILLE - Tim Rhodes is learning to pay himself first.

The 23-year-old Snellville resident is one of five finalists in a savings contest sponsored by FNBO Direct, a division of First National Bank of Omaha. The six-month Pay Yourself First Challenge ends in April.

Rhodes discovered the competition while searching online for a savings account. The Toccoa Falls College graduate submitted a 1-minute humorous video explaining his desire to pay off his student loans.

"I hate being in debt," said Rhodes, a production assistant at FamilyNet, a television and Sirius satellite radio station. "When I was growing up, one of the wisest things my mom told me was never spend money that you don't have."

When he learned he was a finalist, Rhodes set a goal to save $6,000 in six months.

To begin, Rhodes and his wife, Beth, created a budget. Sticking to the plan has been challenging, but Rhodes said he already feels like a winner. FNBO Direct is matching what all finalists save up to $5,000.

The couple has been clipping coupons and searching for deals before buying items. They also decided to minimize what they owned and sold boxes of old records, VHS tapes, books - even Beth's wedding dress.

To further cut household expenses, Tim and Beth Rhodes invited Tim's co-worker and his wife to live with them when the latter couple needed a place to stay. The arrangement allowed the Rhodes to reduce the amount they were spending on bills.

Rhodes is blogging about his progress at www.pyf

challenge.com/meet_tim.

The grand-prize winner will receive an all-expense paid vacation worth $7,500. The winner will be chosen on the following criteria:

n Saving the most money during the challenge, based on the percentage of the goal.

n Ranking by financial experts based on the challenger's saving skill level.

n Voting by American public via a poll on www.pyfchallenge.com.

n Adhering to contest requirements.

In the mid-1980s, Americans' savings rate exceeded 10 percent. Since 2004, the rate has averaged less than 1 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Research.

"In December (2007), we asked consumers to change the way they think about saving by automatically depositing their paychecks into online savings accounts, instead of traditional checking accounts," Rajive Johri, president of First National Bank of Omaha, said in a statement posted on the Challenge's Web site. "We're taking that challenge to the next level by launching an official contest so America can track the success of five individuals on a savings journey and learn valuable money saving tips along the way."

Rhodes' advice for those seeking to save?

"Set a budget. Stick with it. Be aware of what you spend," he said. "A lot of people can save more than they think they can."

Terminator Salvation Trailer

2008-12-10T16:24:00.000-05:00

McG had me skeptical. Although I still kind of am, this definitely helps:

Campaign Ad

2008-12-08T14:28:00.000-05:00

Now, I know I've already posted this, but for some reason with both Google Video and Youtube both files were poor quality. Facebook had the best quality of the three.

And now we can embed them!!

If You've Ever Said....

2008-12-03T11:43:00.001-05:00

"Boy do I want to see a walrus playing a saxophone."

It's your lucky day:

Hubble Advent

2008-12-02T07:44:00.001-05:00

Every day until Christmas, The Big Picture will post a picture taken from the Hubble Space telescope.

Sorry I'm on this "Big Picture" kick, but I can't get enough of this incredible site.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

2008-11-30T18:55:00.000-05:00

If only I had known about this sooner I would have alerted this to you earlier.

I'm a fan of Amazon MP3, as you probably know. Today, and only today (meaning about 5 more hours) they are selling A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack for only $1.99.

Get it NOW!

We're in the AJC!

2008-11-29T10:15:00.000-05:00

Snellville couple are finalists in money-saving contest

Can they scrounge enough bucks to win Internet bank challenge?

By GRACIE BONDS STAPLES

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Back in June, Tim Rhodes sought out a guest on the FamilyNet television for some financial advice.
With $25,000 in student loans and a new wife, he wanted to pay off his debt — and he wanted to start paying himself first.

Enlarge this image

Shane Blatt/sblatt@ajc.com

Beth and Tim Rhodes of Snellville clip coupons. Tim, 23, is one of five national finalists in an Internet bank’s savings contest.

What would you recommend for a savings account, he asked the financial adviser that day.
The man offered a few tips and suggested Rhodes check out his Web site. The 23-year-old production assistant from Snellville was comparing rates when a First National Bank of Omaha ad popped up touting its “Pay Yourself First Challenge.” If selected, the Internet bank would match his and four other finalists’ savings dollar for dollar up to $5,000. The winner and a guest also will receive an all-expenses-paid vacation.
The competition invited people to create a video detailing what they wanted to save and why. It could be serious, funny or anything in between.
That seemed simple enough. Producing video is part of Rhodes’ job, so creating a 60-second spot about saving would be a snap.
“I went for funny,” he said.
He and his wife sat on the living room sofa, and Rhodes talked about his $25,000 in outstanding student loans.
“I thought you had $15,000,” interrupted his wife, Beth, before leaving him alone on the sofa. He continued to nervously explain how he intended to save enough to pare his loan debt down.
In September, he learned he was one of five finalists for the national challenge: He had six months to achieve his personal savings goal.
The grand prize winner will be chosen based on:
• Saving the most money — based on percentage increase, rather than dollar amount saved.
• Ranking by financial experts based on challenger’s saving skill level.
• Voting by American public via poll on www.pyfchallenge.com.
• Adhering to contest requirements.
Anyone can meet the challengers, watch their video entry, follow their savings blogs and vote for their favorite at www.pyfchallenge.com. The challenge ends in April.
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, Americans’ savings rate — as a percentage of disposable personal income — exceeded 10 percent in the mid-1980s. Since 2004, the rate has averaged less than 1 percent.
Liz Pulliam Weston, a columnist for MSNMoney, said there was less motivation to save because of a strong real estate and stock market the past two decades.
“Wealth was going up whether people saved or not,” she said.
In addition, Weston said that credit was easy to get.
Now it appears, people are going old school: saving more and spending less.”I think we are going back to the old days,” said Weston. “People are scared to spend money. It’s not good for the economy but people are making the decision to take care of themselves and their families first.”
That’s the whole idea behind FBNO’s Pay Yourself Challenge. They hope the competition will help reverse the trend and encourage Americans to save more.
Like many newlyweds, the Rhodes are struggling to live on a budget while paying off debt, especially in these economic times.
Rhodes wanted to save $6,000, and to meet his goal he intended to work as much overtime as he could. He’d take on as many jobs as he could find making videos for weddings and businesses, and the couple clipped coupons and ate out less often.
He questioned whether he was really up to the challenge. The harder it seemed, Rhodes said, the more determined he became.
In late November, he was about halfway to his goal.
“I’m striving to win, but I feel like just being a finalist, I’ve already won,” Rhodes said. “Because of this we’ve found we have more to save than we thought. Budgeting is huge.”
But will he be able to stick to it after the challenge?
“That’s going to be the tough part,” he said. “I don’t know if we’ll be [able to] save as much, but we’ll try to be careful with our money and be very aware of where it’s going.”

Victor's Secret

2008-11-28T11:52:00.001-05:00

Oops....

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T07:53:00.002-05:00

"Every Moment is a Feast of Grace."

Meteor in Canada

2008-11-24T09:22:00.000-05:00

How cool would it have been to see this??

Just three more hours....

2008-11-23T20:30:00.001-05:00

to get your free Dr. Pepper!

The Big Picture

2008-11-22T10:01:00.000-05:00

"The picture is far too big to look at kid. Your eyes won't open wide enough"

The Big Picture helps us out a little. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

The Holiday Season is a Time For....

2008-11-21T09:00:00.001-05:00

Lists. Music lists, to be exact.

Paste Magazine just released their list of their top 50 albums of 2008:

50. TV On The Radio - Dear Science [Interscope]
Leave it up to TV on the Radio to craft its most upbeat, party-ready release to date as the economy crumbles, presidents change and wars rage. Dear Science is not the band's best, but tell that to the glorious beats, funky guitars and epic horns that surround Tunde Adebimpe's poetry throughout.

49. Sandra McCracken - Red Balloon [Towhee]
Listening to Sandra McCracken’s crystalline voice offers the sonic equivalent of drinking ice-cold mountain spring water at its source. Her lyrics are utterly defiant in their optimism and the folk-pop arrangements on Red Balloon are varied enough to lock in your attention from start to finish. Gorgeous, heartfelt stuff.

48. REM - Accelerate [Warner Bros.]
After years of critically lambasted discs full of messy jangle pop, the Athens trio crawled their way back from the brink with a record full of razor smart lyrics and musical throwbacks. While no Monster, it’s a vital return to their rock and roll form.

47. Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim [Astralwerks]
Whether they're her own, imagined or borrowed, eighteen-year-old Laura Marling does battle with some considerable demons on her first full-length debut: Miserable lovers, various psychoses, God himself. But despite her youth, ghastly pallor and the lovely, lightly string-and-horn touched strumminess of these songs, our money's on Marling for the win.

46. Lykke Li - Youth Novels [LL]
Those Swedes really know how to turn out pop princesses. Leading the innovative cool-girl pack on her ambitious debut, Li is the hook heavy, Euro-dance infused soul sister to friend El Perro del Mar’s lo-fi anthems. Don’t miss the kooky-good video for her slick “I’m Good, I’m Gone.”

45. M83 - Saturdays = Youth [Mute]
Smooth, buoyant energy marks M83’s fifth album, dedicated to the digital outfit’s decade of choice, the 1980s. Purged of the ironic distance that normally colors such nostalgia, the record’s expansive tracks create a sublime vision with nods toward John Hughes and other lost luminaries.

44. Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers [Zoë]
This Canadian gem is a go-to for those looking for humor, heartbreak and political awareness in one rootsy package. We'd expect nothing less from a record with a song called "I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory."

43. Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer [Roadrunner]
Remember Tori Amos? Palmer is like that, but throatier—a little less ethereal, a little more punk. Ben Folds produced this solo debut, which courses with anger, wit and damaged romanticism.

42. Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings & All [Kill Rock Stars]
Written and recorded in the year or so after Thao Nguyen graduated from college and landed her first record deal, this debut captures all the nebulous beauty and terror of being young in the world—a smoky-voiced, riff-picking, hand-clapping mosquito trapped in the amber of Tucker Martine's rich, bubbly production.

41. The Tallest Man On Earth - Shallow Grave [Gravitation]
Exposing Dylan imitators everywhere as stunted imposters, The Tallest Man stands atop the tempestuous spirit of his forebear and spins shimmering, fantastical tales over arrays of finger-picked guitar and banjo to forge this Americana masterpiece all the way from Scandinavia.

40. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords [Sub Pop]
These college flatmates and New Zealand transplants turned comedy on it’s head with their hilarious sketch style show on HBO. Then, the talented musicians put out their first full length record, a rollicking sampling of bitingly hilarious tracks from the show.

39. The Dodos - Visiter [Frenchkiss]
The Dodo's Frenchkiss debut effectively combines so many typically separate elements of folk, Americana, electronic, indie and art-house into one album that it can almost feel like a cohesive, brief sampler CD through the modern landscape of indie-rock subgenres while never leaving their comfort zone.

38. Jamie Lidell - Jim [Warp]
This is no half-assed attempt at a white-boy Motown reproduction. Paste Best Of What’s Next artist Jamie Lidell’s background in electronica adds a unique edge to his sunshiny soul music. In the words of Lidell himself, “a little bit of feel good goes a long way.”

37. Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit - A Larum [Lost Highway]
One of the problems with the word “Americana,” is how it ignores the vernacular traditions of the Old World. Englishman Flynn has crafted a quirky folksy romp that surpasses most of his peers on this side of the Atlantic.

36. The Bridges - Limits of the Sky [Verve]
Harkening back to when music was a family affair, the beauty of this sunny debut lies in its simplicity: soaring pop songs anchored by charming hooks and bridges (no pun intended). Case in point: “Pieces” might be the catchiest tune you’ll hear all year.

35. Colour Revolt - Plunder, Beg and Curse [Fat Possum]
These Mississippi boys offer the best edge-of-your-seat energy since The Arcade Fire. Frontman Jesse Coppenbarger seamlessly alternates between a quiet moan and a roar, and his cryptic lyrics offer a new revelation with each listen.

34. Torche - Meanderthal [Hydra Head]
You'd be hard pressed to find something as alternately punishing and pleasant (at press time, our best guess was a marshmallow with—surprise!—a thumb tack inside), but Torche's latest slab of melodic metal combines the oil-and-water rivals to fine effect.

33. Santogold - Santogold [Downtown]
This wildly innovative solo debut from Santi White (a.k.a. Santogold) effortlessly vacillates between singing and rapping, gleefully hopping from one genre to the next. “L.E.S. Artistes” shines the brightest on a sonically eclectic record devoid of vacuous filler.

32. Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea [Drag City]
Wistful, poetic heartland rock and psychedelic-tinged, truck-stop country tunes delivered from a lonesome mountaintop in David Berman’s wizened, exhausted Cohen-meets-Cash croon.

31. The Walkmen - You & Me [Gigantic]
A moody, searching record from a band that’s tried on several different musical costumes since its inception, You & Me has allowed The Walkmen to find their beat, pulsing drunkenly from a heart of darkness under the blurry lights of some long-forgotten, cotton-candy-smeared midway.

30. I'm From Barcelona - Who Killed Harry Houdini? [Mute]
Still the best argument for indie-pop hyperbole, these 29 Swedes dial up some darkness to expand an emotional palate otherwise rife with exuberance. The band doesn’t mind that leader Emanuel Lundgren worries about staying a kid in his heart; they celebrate altogether, regardless.

29. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III [Cash Money/Universal]
Without a doubt, 2008 hip-hop belonged to Dwayne Carter. After giving away countless songs for free leading up to the release of Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne proved that his saturation plan was effective, selling a million copies in a week. Fitting, as it felt like the album's "A Milli" found that many freestyle versions from Wayne's peers as well.

28. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular [Columbia]
Whether brandishing kinetic synth beats on “Kids” and “Electric Feel,” or mellow harmonies with “The Youth,” MGMT never loses its indelible exuberance and panache. It’s almost as if the Brooklyn-based duo exists in its own hyper-dreamlike world and we’re just merely visiting.

27. Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning [Yep Roc]
Music flows in the veins of this New Zealand wunderkind. Son of 80’s pop maestro Neil Finn (of Crowded House), Finn’s songs unfold in painstakingly intricate narratives that speak to the insecurities in us all, announcing the thunderous arrival of a unique talent.

26. Lee Ann Womack - Call Me Crazy [MCA Nashville]
If you can get past the “I Hope You Dance” stigma, you’ll find a delightful assortment of true-blue country and wistful pop on Womack’s latest. Don’t miss smoky-bar song “Solitary Thinkin’,” George Strait duet “Everything But Quits” and standout “The Bees,” based on the novel The Secret Life Of Bees.

25. Mugison - Mugiboogie [Ipecac]
Iceland’s answer to Tom Waits takes another giant leap forward on Mugiboogie, the most viscerally super-charged album of his career. With sweat-dripping Pentecostal fervor and big-top grandiosity, Mugison claws out his still-beating heart and wrings it dry for listeners. The product is a genre-shifting revelation featuring the most delightfully untamed voice in modern music.

24. Santogold and Diplo - Top Ranking  [Mad Decent]
A sizzling mixtape that re-imagines  Santogold’s sound (which was pretty imaginative to begin with), Top Ranking boasts a strong Caribbean accent and a genre-jumping tracklist—the record drops young Santi White alongside Aretha, Devo, Desmond Dekker and Panda Bear, and she hangs right in there. Available at turntablelab.com.

23. Mates of State - Re-Arrange Us [Barsuk]
More accessible than ever, indie pop’s favorite married duo is maturing. With their best effort since the sugary confection of Team Boo, the Mates lace lyrics detailing life’s battle wounds through their twee-harmony sound, encouraging contemplation while you’re swaying.

22. No Age - Nouns [Sub Pop]
This Los Angeles duo sprawls on Nouns, transcending its guitar/drums core with cascading atmospherics and feedback loops, flying just close enough to sunshine pop for its punk-rock wings to melt into new, astonishing forms.

21. The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust [Vice]
The sound of innocence lost, Lust’s sugar-coated walls of static wrap lovingly around the sexiest, most cavernously echoing early-’60s-pop-influenced noise rock since The Jesus and Mary Chain’s Psychocandy.

20. Hot Chip - Made In The Dark [Astralwerks]
Dark is clever, sexy dance music that rewards repeated listening—the more you hear it, the more you can’t live without it. The record gets bonus points for “Ready For The Floor,” one of the best songs of the year in any genre.

19. Gentleman Jesse and His Men - Introducing Gentleman Jesse and His Men [Douchemaster]
This Atlanta power popper’s long-in-the-works debut LP echoes many heroes past and present, from Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello to the Exploding Hearts. But what the record lacks in originality it more than makes up for with hooks and hooks and hooks and even more unforgettable hooks.

18. Death Cab  for Cutie - Narrow Stairs  [Atlantic]
Death Cab’s second major-label release is a sonic feast. The drama-building atmospherics of sprawling first single “I Will Possess Your Heart” display a Radiohead-like shrewdness—an appreciation for the perfect mix of instrumental textures, anchored by metronomic drumming. You can tell that Ben Gibbard and company have plenty of steam left in their creative engines.

17. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy - Lie Down In The Light [Drag City]
Only after “seeing a darkness” and “learning to let go” could Will Oldham find himself in the light like this, coolly cooing about worldly balances and rightfully declaring himself “the king of infinite space.”

16. My Morning Jacket  - Evil Urges [ATO]
The latest from one of the most inventive bands of the decade, Evil Urges finds MMJ hitting all the reverb-drenched, keyboard- and guitar-rock pleasure points while hurling one nasty, space-funky curveball that’ll leave you scratching your head in perplexed ecstasy.

15. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! [Mute]
The Dark Prince of Rock ’n’ roll drops his most ass-shakin’ graveyard romp yet, throbbing with enough moonlit swagger to roll the Stones right outta their high-holy thrones.

14. Langhorne Slim - Langhorne Slim [Kemado]
His most ambitious, fully realized album to date, Langhorne Slim comes across like a gritty update of Blonde on Blonde, with Slim yelping unadorned poetry about the everyday struggles of life and love.

13. Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart [Waterfall/RCA Label Group]
At once deeply confessional and dangerously carefree, Norway’s latest export sings every song like she’s on the verge of breaking into a million pieces. The music holds her together.

12. Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping [Polyvinyl]
The giddy experimentalism and collagist aesthetic of Kevin Barnes’ avant-pop outfit changes direction so frequently, you’ll marvel at the number of compelling ideas he manages to cram into an album that clocks in at just under an hour. Exhausting! Exhilarating!

11. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive [Vagrant]
Separation Sunday earned The Hold Steady a monopoly on best-bar-band-in-the-country honors. Now, after Boys and Girls in America and the powerfully anthemic Stay Positive, they’ve become one of the best bands in America. Period.

10. Deerhunter - Microcastle [Kranky]
Following its often noisy predecessor, Cryptograms, Microcastle mostly eschews rage for atmospherics, offering a gentler and more meditative Deerhunter. Whether it’s due to Bradford Cox’s time spent touring and releasing records as Atlas Sound or simply stylistic evolution, the gorgeous pop melodies paired with fuzzy, laidback guitars suit his proper band just fine.

9. Lucinda Williams - Little Honey [Lost Highway]
After a career of breaking our hearts with lovelorn laments, Williams kicks off her ninth LP with unbridled glee. It’s her most sonically and emotionally diverse record ever, and her best since Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.

8. Sun Kil Moon - April [Caldo Verde]
Mark Kozelek’s comforting voice floats on a blanket of ringing guitars, a ray of golden solace peaking through dissipating springtime thunderheads; a harbinger of struggled-for inner peace.

7. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals [Illegal Art]
Gregg Gillis creates giddy friction between disparate moods, tempos and genres—all of which hook up like drunken college kids. In an apocalyptic year, Animals sounds like the last party on Earth, one final chance to cram in every great beat, hook and riff before the whole planet goes poof.

6. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes [Sub Pop]
Merely calling this Seattle band’s debut “pastoral,” eliminates countless opportunities for fun with psycho-topography: Opener “Sun It Rises” shimmers like a silvery mountain lake, “Oliver James” howls up from a glorious harmonic canyon, and “Meadowlarks” best embodies the romantic rolling knolls Fleet Foxes’ sound is most associated with.

5. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins [Jagjaguwar]
Rough, lush and magniloquent, this album is far more than a postscript to 2007’s The Stage Names. Singer Will Sheff wails “we have lost our way,” but the claim couldn’t be further from the truth on this brilliant, cacophonous cataloging of fame and misfortune.

4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago [Jagjaguwar]
Justin Vernon’s rags-to-riches story only adds to the beautiful depth of this folky debut. Stitched together during a self-imposed winter isolation in a Wisconsin cabin, this nine-song heartbreaker brims with a quiet intensity and a hushed vibrato that’s raw and addictive enough to leave Sam Beam jealous.

3. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend [XL]
Proudly trumpeting its Afro-pop influences, this scholastic quartet of Columbia grads made the year’s most rambunctiously inventive (and hyped) debut. From its pulsating musicals flourishes to frontman Ezra Koenig’s sprightly falsetto, Vampire Weekend’s infectious pop rock never strikes a false note.

2. Sigur Rós - Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust [XL]
This record’s most exhilarating peaks are found in its hushed sonic valleys, especially the anguished opening strains of “Festival.” The first half of the song scrapes away all sonic clutter, featuring a minimalist aria of keyboard swells and lead singer Jónsi Birgisson’s falsetto soaring beyond heaven to an even more blissful plateau.

1. She & Him - Volume One [Merge]
Maybe it’s just a sweet little folk record—a tiny, flawless diamond. Or maybe it’s a pristine distillation of harmony and craft; 50 years of songwriting experience served up on a spinning silver platter. Either way, it’s our album of the year. Produced with touches of girl-group splendor and arranged with a dreamy, old-fashioned vibe, She & Him’s debut couldn’t be more adorable.

What do you think? Where do you agree or disagree?

Woohoo!! Go with FNBO Direct!

2008-11-17T11:53:00.002-05:00

FNBO Direct Rated Best Online Savings Account By Kiplinger

By Flexo on Monday, November 17, 2008 in Banking

Kiplinger Magazine picked several banks when naming the best savings and checking accounts for 2008. Here is what they’ve chosen.
Best online savings account: FNBO Direct. I am a fan of FNBO Direct, and I’ve started moving more money into this account thanks to its 3.25% interest yield. It’s not currently the highest, but I have had good experiences with the bank since opening the account in September.
Best money market account: Flagstar Bank. A money market account is like a savings account, but will usually have check-writing privileges. Like a savings account, you’re limited to six withdrawals per month, so if you plan on writing lots of checks, use a checking account.
Best checking account: Schwab Bank High-Yield Investor Checking. This account earns 2.2% interest and free checks and debit card access.
Best money market mutual fund: Fidelity Cash Reserves. This account requires a minimum balance of $2,500. Money market mutual funds are slightly more risky that savings, money market, and checking accounts, and are not insured by the FDIC. Kiplinger points out that this fund has signed up for protection under the new law that guarantees money market mutual funds values, but that only applies to deposits before the rule was in place, not new money.
Top Picks in Savings, Checking, Washington Post and Kiplinger, November 16, 2008.

Gotta Love The Onion

2008-11-13T10:11:00.000-05:00

YouTube Contest Challenges Users To Make A 'Good' Video

Switchfoot - "The Blues"

2008-11-11T20:18:00.001-05:00

Make Your Vote REALLY Count This Election Year!

2008-11-03T07:38:00.001-05:00

There IS Hope!

2008-11-02T21:05:00.001-05:00

Instead of providing new assistance, the Treasury Department told GM that the Bush administration will focus on speeding up the $25 billion loan program for fuel-efficient vehicles. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters)

U.S. rejects GM's call for help in a merger

By Bill Vlasic and Micheline Maynard

Published: November 3, 2008

E-Mail Article

DETROIT: The Treasury Department has turned down a request by General Motors for up to $10 billion to help finance the automaker's possible merger with Chrysler, according to people close to the discussions.
Instead of providing new assistance, the Treasury Department told GM on Friday, the Bush administration will now shift its focus to speeding up the $25 billion loan program for fuel-efficient vehicles approved by Congress in September and administered by the Energy Department.
Treasury officials were said to be reluctant to broaden the $700 billion financial rescue program to include industrial companies or to play a part in a GM-Chrysler merger that could cost tens of thousands of jobs.
But it remained unclear whether the officials were also seeking to avoid making any decision that would conflict with the goals of a new presidential administration. The Democratic candidate, Senator Barack Obama, has said in recent days that he supports increasing aid to the troubled auto companies, while Senator John McCain has not said whether he would support aid beyond the $25 billion.
While GM and Chrysler continue to talk, no deal is expected until the government clarifies its role, if any. Potential investors in the deal have been hesitant to back the merger without federal assistance.

GM's chairman, Rick Wagoner, had lobbied Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr. to provide emergency aid to the auto companies under the bailout program to stabilize the financial markets.
The Bush administration is still considering a range of options to aid the Detroit automakers, which are losing billions of dollars and rapidly depleting their cash reserves, said auto industry and administration officials, who did not want to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.
The first step is to get the Energy Department to expedite the release of the $25 billion in low-interest loans for GM, Chrysler and the Ford Motor Company.
Beyond that, the administration is also bringing the Commerce Department into discussions about channeling additional aid to the automakers.
With auto sales deteriorating to their lowest level in 15 years, Detroit's traditional Big Three are struggling to stay solvent and avoid bankruptcy.
The deepening troubles led GM into merger talks in September with Chrysler's majority owner, the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, and the request to the Treasury Department for assistance.
Auto industry executives and analysts said over the weekend that the loan program is essential to retooling plants and developing vehicles that meet more stringent government fuel-economy mandates.
Getting the loans will allow GM, Ford and Chrysler to redirect money already budgeted for cleaner cars to other capital needs.
"The auto companies are clearly running out of cash, and badly in need of more liquidity," said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan "Releasing the $25 billion in loans is a necessary first step."
The Detroit companies employ more than 200,000 workers in the United States and provide health care and pensions to more than one million Americans. The companies are also a lifeline to thousands of dealers and countless suppliers.
Support for aiding the industry is growing among political leaders in states with heavy automotive employment. Last week, the governors of Michigan, Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Delaware and South Dakota wrote a letter to Paulson and the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, urging "immediate action" to assist the industry.
"While all sectors of the economy are experiencing difficult times, the automotive industry is particularly challenged," the letter said. "As a result, the financial well-being of other major industries and millions of American citizens are at risk."
Cerberus, which bought Chrysler last year for $7.4 billion, has been unable to reverse a steady decline in the fortunes at the company, the smallest of Detroit's Big Three. While overall auto sales in the United States are down 12.8 percent this year, Chrysler's sales have fallen 25 percent, mainly because of its focus on gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks.
Cerberus has had discussions with the Japanese automaker Nissan Motor and its French partner, Renault, about bringing Chrysler into their international automotive alliance. But people familiar with the discussions said Cerberus is now focused solely on a potential GM deal.
The depth of the Big Three's problems will become even more evident this week with the release of October sales figures and third-quarter earnings announcements by GM and Ford.
Industry sales fell 26.6 percent in September, but October's totals could be even worse. The auto research Web site Edmunds.com forecasts that sales of new vehicles during the month will drop nearly 30 percent from the same period last year. More Articles in Business » A version of this article appeared in print on November 3, 2008, on page B1 of the New York edition.

If you're still wondering...

2008-10-30T11:51:00.000-04:00

This'll settle it for you:

www.isbarackobamaamuslim.com

Built to Spill covers "Paper Planes!"

2008-10-27T13:16:00.000-04:00

I'm a fan of Built to Spill, although I haven't heard much from them recently.

I found this cover of "Paper Planes" and love it.

It's about 3:30 in, but the first song is worth listening to as well. The video isn't so hot, but the music is worth a listen!

If I Had a Ton of Money....

2008-10-27T11:14:00.000-04:00

I would totally do this too:

Lost Season 5 Promo

2008-10-23T16:51:00.002-04:00

With Products Like This....

2008-10-19T17:02:00.000-04:00

Things can NEVER end well.

The Office - "Baby Shower" deleted scenes

2008-10-19T16:23:00.002-04:00

Funny stuff.

Someone Voted For Me!

2008-10-15T07:31:00.000-04:00

FNBO Direct ATM Card

October 10, 2008

My FNBO Direct ATM card came in the mail yesterday. I’m using the account for long term savings so I don’t anticipate needing regular access to the money in the near future but the ATM card will be nice to have if I need it.

I also got an email about FNBO’s Pay Yourself First Challenge, the bank’s promotional effort to encourage a higher rate of savings in the US. Here is a blurb about the challenge.

The Challenge will follow five everyday people in their quest for savings greatness by using the Pay Yourself First method. FNBO Direct will match, dollar-for-dollar1, what each of the five finalists has saved at the end of the Challenge. The grand prize winner will also be whisked away to a luxurious spa destination to restore his or her personal balance.
Pay Yourself First means depositing your paycheck into an FNBO Direct Online Savings Account (OSA). When bills are due you simply transfer just what you need from savings to your FNBO Direct Online BillPay account. Whatever’s left over - whether it’s $25 or $500 — stays in your OSA and earns an interest rate that is seven times higher than traditional saving accounts

I checked out the finalists, Tim’s video about quitting his job was pretty funny so I gave him my vote.

The link: http://moneysmartlife.com/fnbo-direct-atm-card/

THANK YOU!

When I Got the Call

2008-10-10T17:58:00.000-04:00

If Only I Had Some Extra Money.......

2008-10-09T13:43:00.000-04:00

The Ghostbuster’s Ecto-1 For Sale

Posted on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 at 10:45 pm by: Peter Sciretta

Someone is selling a restored Ghostbuster’s Ecto-1 which was used in Universal Studios Florida for over fifteen years.

“This car is one of three Sony/MGM authorized Ghostbusters 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor Ecto-1. There are the two original cars used in the films and this one built exclusively for the Universal Studios Theme parks. This car has a rich history and thousands of fans have been photographed with this car. The only major change made to this car was the roof rack. We modified the roof rack to resemble the screen used Sony Ecto-1 original car. Other upgrades are cosmetic and mechanically it’s very sound.”

So if you have $45,000 to spare, check out the auction on ebay.com.

Link: http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/10/07/the-ghostbusters-ecto-1-for-sale/

The Mornings Interview

2008-10-08T13:20:00.001-04:00

Small disclaimer: Dan Harley's name is misspelled! AH!

STOP THE PRESSES!!

2008-10-08T11:14:00.000-04:00

George Clooney grows a moustache

George Clooney has been spotted sporting a grey moustache.

By Chris Irvine
Last Updated: 9:28AM BST 08 Oct 2008

George Clooney shows off his new moustache during a basketball game Photo: SPLASH NEWS

The actor, regularly known as the world's sexiest man, is currently in Puerto Rico. He is training for his latest film, where he plays a US soldier who fights the enemy using ancient Chinese mind techniques. He has grown the moustache for the role.
Clooney, 47, had hidden in his hotel on his arrival but popped out of his room to play basketball with friends.
The Ocean's 11 star is starring in Men Who Stare At Goats, a war film based on British writer Jon Ronson's satirical novel.
The book details a secret unit established in 1979 by the most gifted minds within the US Army.
Defying all known accepted military practice and the laws of physics, they believed a soldier could adopt the cloak of invisibility, pass cleanly through walls, and kills goats just by staring at them.
They were known as the First Earth Battalion, and it also details some of the stranger national secrets at the heart of US President George W Bush's War on Terror.
Clooney will play Lyn Cassady, who claims to be a former member of the unit who was reactivated in the wake of September 11, with Ewan McGregor playing a reporter who stumbles upon the story.
Jeff Bridges is also set to play the founder of the programme with Kevin Spacey playing a former soldier now running a prison camp in Iraq.

Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3155577/George-Clooney-grows-a-moustache.html

Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals

2008-10-07T11:20:00.000-04:00

I know you guys have probably already seen the SNL Biden/Palin debate parody. You guys may have seen this, but for some reason I found it really funny:

In Other Third Grade News...

2008-10-06T16:03:00.001-04:00

I was on Mornings today!

2008-10-06T13:15:00.001-04:00

Hopefully I'll be able to post a video by the end of today!

Pay Yourself First Challenge Press Release

2008-10-06T10:43:00.001-04:00

Six-Month Savings Journey Kicks-off for Five Challengers from across the Nation

FNBO Direct announces finalists for the Pay Yourself First Challenge

Last update: 9:28 a.m. EDT Oct. 6, 2008

OMAHA, Neb., Oct 06, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Five finalists from across America embark on a six-month savings journey today as part of the FNBO Direct Pay Yourself First Challenge, a national online savings contest that follows real consumers as they overcome their saving challenges. The finalists, chosen from over 150 entrants, have savings goals that are familiar to many Americans: paying for college tuition, preparing for a new baby, buying a larger home and paying off student loans. Americans can follow the Challenge by reading the finalists' blogs, downloading podcasts, posting comments and voting for their favorite finalist at www.pyfchallenge.com.

The timing of this challenge could not be more fortunate for America's "savings-challenged." In the mid-1980s, Americans' savings rate exceeded 10 percent. Since 2004, the rate has averaged less than 1 percent (Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Research, March 2008). "Americans should be doing more to save for a rainy day," said Liz Pulliam Weston, the Internet's most-read personal finance columnist. FNBO Direct has teamed up with Weston to bring an exciting element to this challenge. According to Weston, the nation's personal savings rate fell below 0 percent in 2005 -- something that had not happened since the Great Depression. "It is now more important than ever for consumers to save more of their hard-earned money," said Weston. And that is what the Pay Yourself First Challenge is all about -- helping consumers build sound saving habits.

"I'm excited about the Challenge because I hope it will inspire and encourage Americans to save more," said Weston. "And I look forward to helping our Challengers on their savings journey by offering sound, time-tested financial advice -- and have a little fun along the way," she said.

Meet the Pay Yourself First Challengers

The Pay Yourself First finalists represent a good cross-section of Americans who are struggling with many of the same savings problems, such as setting up and sticking to a budget, paying off debt and controlling their spending. Meet the Pay Yourself First Challengers, watch their creative entry videos, follow their savings blogs and vote for your favorite finalist at www.pyfchallenge.com.

Challenger Tim Rhodes speaks on behalf of all five finalists when he says "I've never mentioned 'saving money' and 'fun' in the same sentence before. But now, after meeting the other Challengers and Ms. Weston, I realize that learning about and sharing new saving tactics can be really fun and ultimately really rewarding," he said.

What can they win?

After working hard for six months to build a savings balance -- FNBO Direct will match each finalist's savings dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000(1) -- and the grand prize winner and a guest will be whisked away to an all-expense paid vacation to a luxurious resort and spa destination to restore his or her personal balance.(2)

Media Assets

-- Learn about the FNBO Direct Pay Yourself First Challenge at http://www.pyfchallenge.com.

-- Additional video of Mr. Rajive Johri, Ms. Liz Pulliam Weston and the five Challengers is available upon request.

About FNBO Direct

FNBO Direct ( http://www.fnbodirect.com) is an Internet bank that offers consumers innovative online banking products. FNBO Direct is part of First National Bank of Omaha, a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska, Inc. First National of Nebraska has grown into the largest privately owned banking company in the United States. This all-American bank celebrated 150 years of banking excellence and commitment to community with a recent nod for a seventh year in a row as one of the 2008 Working Mother 100 Best Companies.(3) First National and its affiliates have $21 billion in managed assets and more than 8,000 employee associates located in 35 states. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas.

Copyright (C) 2008 First National Bank of Omaha. All Rights Reserved. Online Savings Accounts offered by First National Bank of Omaha, Member FDIC. Deposits are insured to the maximum permitted by law.

(1)FNBO Direct will match what each finalist saves, up to a maximum of $5,000 per finalist. See Official Rules for details at http://www.pyfchallenge.com/officialrules/

(2)The Grand Prize winner will receive an all-expense paid vacation, worth up to $7,500. See Official Rules for details at http://www.pyfchallenge.com/officialrules/

(3)Working Mother magazine named First National Bank of Omaha one of the 2008 Working Mother 100 Best Companies. This is the seventh consecutive year First National has won the award. www.workingmother.com.

SOURCE: First National Bank of Omaha

TAKEN FROM: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/six-month-savings-journey-kicks-off-five/story.aspx?guid={C953F937-0437-4AC2-85E1-C8A7509EDB05}&dist=hppr

Tomorrow, It Begins

2008-10-05T13:35:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow, the Pay Yourself First Challenge begins. Please check out the site and subscribe to my blog here.

To say I'm excited is an understatement. I can't wait.

And be sure to vote for me while you're there. :-)

Daniel

2008-10-05T11:06:00.000-04:00

Thank you guys for your prayers for Daniel. On Monday he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He spent a couple days in the hospital getting his blood sugar back to normal and also getting educated on the changes that he would need to make in his life.

He's taking it amazingly well-- I'll admit I'm more freaked out about it than he is. He's a great kid, and is a lot cooler than I was when I was 13.

He decided to screw up some graduation pictures:

And this one too.

One of my favorites-- he looks like a hobo. :-)

PYF Challenge -- Video Blog Teaser

2008-10-04T23:15:00.001-04:00

Fun with Truth Talk Live

2008-10-02T10:11:00.002-04:00

There's this radio show that airs on FamilyNet (the satellite radio channel), that 95% of the time I absolutely cannot stand: TRUTH TALK LIVE.

There are many reasons why I do not like this show. You'll get an idea of how bad it is just by some of the topics they have on the show:

Should Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter get married?
What in the World is going on?
What's the BIG deal about evolution in public schools?
Can Prayer END Abortion?
Which Presidential Candidate makes you feel safe?
Did Jesus really rise from the dead?
Should a Christian ever sell a billboard ad to an Adult establishment
Why Black Americans should have doubts
Should societies protect Animals over Babies?

I could go on. But I'll spare you.

Then one day, this topic came up:

Yes, that was the topic.

So, to be as sarcastic as possible, I posted this (you may have to click on it to see it):

I of course got some feedback

And posted back.

Fun fun for everyone. But whether you like Palin or not, isn't this question pretty ridiculous? Especially in our current times, especially for a one hour radio show?

PYF Challenge Kickoff in Omaha - the Pictures! Pt. 2

2008-10-01T11:18:00.005-04:00

During wardrobe, this came up as a possible outfit I was going to have to wear.

This was me bringing Sexy back.

More from the photo shoot!

We also did a shoot at a really old bank safe. It was pretty awesome.

An adorable picture of Beth.

Jean-- a pretty awesome person we met there.

Phil and his wife Teresa. He is one of the contestants and is a pretty incredible guy. Check him out at Prime Time Money.

Dave-- another contestant. He is an awesome guy too.Check him out at Three60 TV.

The entire group minus Kristen (but her husband Michael is there to take her place).

In a day or so I'll let you know a little more about the PYF Challenge. Remember, the big kickoff is October 6. I can't wait!

Music Builds Tour - 09/20/08

2008-09-25T11:39:00.005-04:00

Jars of Clay opened, and sounded awesome.

As usual, Switchfoot mopped up.

Because they wouldn't allow us pictures with the band afterwards, I got a picture with the next best thing -- someone Stephen and I referred to as "Fake Jon Foreman." This guy had us fooled once.

Third Day was there.

They told us to pull out our cameras and wave them-- I took a picture of it and liked it.

Then, everyone came back out. Pretty awesome.

Stephen and Alison, great friends, and it was all because of Stephen that I was able to go. THANKS MAN!!

I dont' have many pictures of them (or any at all, none of them turned out really well), but check out Robert Randalph and the Family Band. They were PHENOMENAL.

Hunter's song from The Office

2008-09-24T17:40:00.003-04:00

Remember that song Jan's previous secretary Hunter made for her? "That One Night?"

HERE IT IS.

It is now my ringtone!

I'm A PC

2008-09-20T14:24:00.001-04:00

From what I hear on the web, not a lot of people like this. But I don't think it's bad at all. It's pretty neat:

The New Bond Theme Song

2008-09-19T11:19:00.001-04:00

"Another Way to Die" by Alicia Keys and JACK WHITE

YES.

Another Way To Die (Feat. Jack White) - Alicia Keys

PYF Challenge Kickoff in Omaha - the Pictures! Pt. 1

2008-09-17T16:12:00.005-04:00

It's taken way too long to get to this, but things have been really busy. Here are some snapshots from over the weekend:

My wardrobe (kind of).

What we received when we arrived at the hotel.

One of the coolest T-Shirts. Those FNBO people know me well. :-)

Their cool FNBO Direct shirt.

Part of the studio (featuring PT Money, Betsy, Teresa, Jean, Dave, and Pat)

More of the studio (with Betsy and Teresa again)

Some of the breakfast spread (my favorite: raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and pineapple)

The awesome Betsy and Teresa

Me getting made up.

As you can tell, it was positively therapeutic.

Watch out ladies, you might stumble on this one.

Prep for the video interview.

Beth and me!

Pt and me!

The money shots.

On our way home

2008-09-14T15:50:00.002-04:00

Well, this past weekend has been beyond incredible. I haven't posted as many pictures as I would have liked, but we were busy from wake to sleep.

Right now Beth is in Dayton, OH (diverted from bad weather in Cleveland, OH), and I'm in Omaha, Nebraska, waiting for my plane to start boarding. Weather permitting, we're hopefully going to be home tonight, and if it's not too late I'll add some photos of the weekend.

I have had an amazing time, and can't wait to tell you guys about it.

Multimedia message

2008-09-13T12:47:00.000-04:00

Me all made up! I look orange.

Multimedia message

2008-09-13T11:46:00.000-04:00

Tthe vault!

Multimedia message

2008-09-12T16:05:00.000-04:00

Random. A picture i found on my phone.

Multimedia message

2008-09-12T11:29:00.000-04:00

On the set!

Multimedia message

2008-09-12T09:37:00.000-04:00

We are here! Things have gone boarimg so far. Last night we had a big welcome reception, getting to meet the FNBO crew and fellow pyf challengers! right now i am waiting to get made up!

Who Mobile Blogs??

2008-09-11T11:24:00.003-04:00

I do, now. I decided to try a little bit of blogger mobile out.

I don't know how much I'll be using it over the weekend, but I may here and there. I'm headed out to the airport in about 30 minutes!

Gearing Up

2008-09-10T21:31:00.002-04:00

Well, Beth and I are putting the finishing touches on packing tonight, and we're heading out tomorrow for the PYF Challengea kickoff this weekend to be held in Omaha, Nebraska. We couldn't be more excited, and I can't wait to let you all know how it goes. I'll be sure to keep you posted as much as possible. I'm bringing my camera, so hopefully during downtime I can post some things here and there.

I can't wait!

Thoughts on the Eve of September 11

2008-09-10T21:22:00.004-04:00

Warning: this has some profanity and sexual references (and by some I mean a crapload), but I think it fits:

FNBO PYF Challenge Press Release

2008-09-08T16:18:00.002-04:00

Here's a press release announced today:

FNBO Direct Announces Semi-Finalists for the Pay Yourself First Challenge

Posted : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:01:33 GMT

Author : NE-FNBO-DIRECT

Category : Press Release

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OMAHA, Neb. - (Business Wire) The search for America’s Pay Yourself First Challenge grand prize winner is one step closer to completion. Internet bank FNBO Direct, the sponsor of the Pay Yourself First Challenge, has selected 20 semi-finalists from across the United States. 150 entry videos were submitted by consumers hoping to take on the Challenge and save for a new home, for their retirement, or simply to build up an emergency fund. The Pay Yourself First Challenge is a nationwide contest that leverages the power of social media to inspire, motivate and educate the “savings-challenged” and the “savings-savvy.” FNBO Direct is the Internet bank of First National Bank of Omaha, a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska, Inc., the largest privately owned bank holding company in the U.S.

“Interest in the Challenge from across the country has been phenomenal and we’re impressed by the wide variety of clever and creative videos we received,” said Rajive Johri, President, First National Bank of Omaha. “FNBO Direct obviously tapped in to something that’s very important to Americans. Selecting the five finalists and the eventual grand prize winner will be difficult,” said Johri. The top 20 contestants receive $500 in cash each; and the five finalists will have their savings matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000.¹ Check out all the video submissions through www.youtube.com/pyfchallenge.

FNBO Direct’s Pay Yourself First Challenge is dedicated to solving a problem many consumers face every day – not saving enough. Month after month, consumers automatically deposit their earnings into checking accounts from which they pay their bills. Then, rather than save some of what’s left over, the rest seems to vanish on impulse buys and morning coffees.

In the current economic environment, it takes more discipline than ever to save. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, you don't always have the flexibility to adequately cope. So, you may wind up pulling out your credit cards, only adding to your debt woes. Liz Pulliam Weston, the Internet's most-read personal finance columnist and co-host of the Pay Yourself First Challenge, offers these tips to help you save more:

Build up a cushion. Start with a goal of setting aside one week’s pay. After that, you may have other financial goals that take precedence for a while, such as paying off credit card debt. Once you’re able, though, you should start building your emergency fund to equal at least three months’ worth of expenses.

Set your own limits. Some lenders will still let you borrow more than you can comfortably afford to repay, especially if you have good credit scores. So you need to draw the line on how much you borrow. Try to limit car loans to no more than four years; don’t borrow more for an education than you expect to earn your first year out of school; and don’t agree to a mortgage that eats up more than 30 percent of your income. If you’re carrying credit card debt, pay it off–you may need access to that credit in an emergency.

Improve and protect your credit scores. More so than even before, these three-digit numbers are the ticket to credit at affordable rates. Three keys for improving your scores: Pay your bills on time, all the time; pay down your credit card debt and use no more than 30 percent of your credit limits at any given time; don’t let disputes or unpaid medical bills wind up in collections if you can possibly avoid it.

Start saving today. There’s no time like the present to get started on your savings goals. The peace of mind you get from a nice stash of cash, tucked away in your FNBO Direct Online Savings Account, is enormous. Once you have started to build your savings you'll never go back to your old living-on-the-edge way of life.

Let the Challenge begin!

The top five finalists for the Challenge will be selected this month and will embark on their savings journey, which will be documented in real-time at http://www.pyfchallenge.com, starting in October 2008. After working hard for six months to build a savings balance, the grand prize winner and a guest will be whisked away to a luxurious spa destination to restore his or her personal balance.² Learn more about the FNBO Direct Pay Yourself First Challenge at www.pyfchallenge.com.

About FNBO Direct

FNBO Direct (http://www.fnbodirect.com) is an Internet bank that offers consumers innovative online banking products. FNBO Direct is part of First National Bank of Omaha, a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska, Inc. First National of Nebraska has grown into the largest privately owned banking company in the United States. This all-American bank celebrated 150 years of banking excellence and innovation with a recent nod in Computerworld’s annual survey, ranking it among the top places to work for IT professionals.³ First National and its affiliates have $21 billion in managed assets and more than 8,000 employee associates located in 35 states. Primary banking offices are located in Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas.

¹ FNBO Direct will match what each finalist saves, up to a maximum of $5,000 per finalist. See Official Rules for details at http://www.pyfchallenge.com/officialrules/

² The Grand Prize winner will receive an all-expense paid vacation, worth up to $7,500. See Official Rules for details at http://www.pyfchallenge.com/officialrules/

³ Computerworld Annual Survey (2007). 100 Best Places to Work in IT- http://www.computerworld.com/ action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9024364

(Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

For FNBO Direct
Kristin Jones, 402-334-2948
kristin@jonespr.net
or
First National Bank of Omaha
Kevin Langin, 402-633-3541
klangin@fnni.com

A sign of the end times

2008-09-05T11:43:00.001-04:00

Neat Quote from J.J. Abrams

2008-09-03T13:57:00.002-04:00

AVC: If you look at a lot of the TV and movies you've been involved with, like Cloverfield or Lost or nowFringe, you seem to be trying as hard as you can for as long as you can not to reveal the trick.

JA: I think that that's partially true. Like with Cloverfield, the whole idea with the marketing and the quick release was for people to have an experience as it happened, instead of pre-experiencing it by reading all about it. But I feel like withFringe, the mandate is to try to do something week-to-week that's a procedural like CSI, but a skewed procedural, that's as creepy as humanly possible. While with Lost, on the one hand, it is a show that seems to duck answering questions. At the end of the pilot, you have Charlie asking "Where are we?", and that's something the audience still wants to find out. But week-to-week, that show answers a lot of questions, just not always the ones people feel are the ones that matter.

I think that even if you're wondering if two characters are ever going to kiss, drawing out the inevitability is part of the fun. Whatever the genre happens to be. Now in a movie, you get all the answers by the end, except in Pulp Fiction, where you don't ever really get to know what's in that case. But even in movies—a great example is North By Northwest, where you don't really know what the microfilm is, but who cares? By the end of the movie, the answer that you get is not really the answer that you thought you wanted to know. The answer you get is: "Oh, they're in love, and now they're married, and these were the circumstances that led up to that. They almost died a number of times, but they survived and they found each other," I feel like in telling stories, there are the things the audience thinks are important, and then there are the things that are actually important.

I HAVE EARTH-SHATTERING NEWS---- that I will reveal in the future

2008-09-01T09:11:00.010-04:00

Anybody remember this from a week or so ago? There was this big hooplah about bigfoot being found, and then it ended up turning into nothing:

ATLANTA (AP) - Turns out Bigfoot was just a rubber suit. Two researchers on a quest to prove the existence of Bigfoot say that the carcass encased in a block of ice - handed over to them for an undisclosed sum by two men who claimed to have found it - was slowly thawed out, and discovered to be a rubber gorilla outfit.
The revelation comes just days after a much ballyhooed news conference was held in California to proclaim that the remains of the creature were found in the North Georgia mountains was the legendary man-ape.
Steve Kulls, executive director of squatchdetective.com and host of Squatchdetective Radio, says in a posting on a Web site run by Bigfoot researcher Tom Biscardi that as the "evidence" was thawed, the claim began to unravel as a giant hoax.
First, the hair sample was burned and "melted into a ball uncharacteristic of hair," Kulls said in the pThe thawing process was sped up and the exposed head was found to be "unusually hollow in one small section." An hour of thawing later and the feet were exposed - and they were found to be made of rubber.
Matt Whitton, an officer who has been on medical leave from the Clayton County Police Department, and Rick Dyer, a former Georgia corrections officer, announced the find in early July on YouTube videos and a Web site.
"Everyone who has talked down to us is going to eat their words," Whitton said at the time.
Phone calls to Whitton and Dyer went unreturned on Tuesday. But the voicemail recording for their Bigfoot Tip Line - which proclaims they search for leprechauns and the Loch Ness monster - has been updated and announcing they're also in search of "big cats and dinosaurs. If you see any of those, give us a call."
On Tuesday, Clayton County Police Chief Jeff Turner said he has not spoken to Whitton but processed paperwork to fire him.
"Once he perpetrated a fraud, that goes into his credibility and integrity," Turner said. "He has violated the duty of a police officer."

From the very beginning, I expected this to be a sham. For a few reasons, not counting the one about bigfoot probably not existing at all (although I'm just going to assume here that there is a such thing--you never know).

The pictures they released of bigfoot:

.

What IS this?? If I had legitimately found bigfoot, or something incredibly important like a legendary-but-not-yet-proven creature roaming the forests of North America (in this case, Northeast Georgia), I would have taken some extensive, clear photos. These are just ridiculous. What do they show?

But perhaps the biggest thing that they did that almost convinced me it was some sort of scam....

They announced their findings, but then said they would hold a press conference in the next few days.

I could not believe this. If I had news that could potentially be earth-shattering, changing our entire way of thinking in some areas, there is no way I would put off some sort of information in my discovery. If there was some sort of major discovery, it makes no sense to wait to announce it. Granted, they did announce a discovery, but to give no more than that and a few pictures is just ridiculous.

Like I said, it's only bigfoot, but that's still a big deal. It changes some of our assumptions in science. Why would we hold back on information if we were 100% confident and truthful in the evidence we had.

Bad Wording?

2008-08-29T11:36:00.004-04:00

I don't know if I would have used this wording...

What Was So Bad About Franklin Graham's Statements?

2008-08-29T10:46:00.002-04:00

I know, I know, this is an old issue. But it has been on my mind.

“American evangelist Franklin Graham came under fire this week [early June] for saying he opposed evangelism during the Beijing Olympic Games.

Graham had made the comment to Chinese reporters during his recent trip to mainland China, where he visited government officials, church leaders, and preached to 12,000 people at a Chinese megachurch.

The eldest son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham said he opposed missionary work during the Games because it is prohibited under Chinese law, and he does not encourage anything illegal.

In response, a respected religious freedom activist defended Chinese house church Christians as “law-abiding, patriotic citizens” who are not doing anything wrong except following their faith which teaches them to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“[Christians] cannot and will not [concede] to a ‘faith moratorium’ in order to please an atheistic government during the Olympic Games, even if that means enduring imprisonment and torture,” said Bob Fu, president of China Aid Association, in a statement on Wednesday.

Fu, who was recently honored by President Bush for his religious freedom advocacy in China, denounced the Chinese law as unjust because it asked Christians to go against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

He called Graham’s comment about submitting to the ban on Olympic evangelism “a deep offense” to the hundreds of house church prisoners and their family members.

In China, the Christian population is divided into two groups – those worshipping in the state-sanctioned churches under the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and those attending unregistered house churches.

TSPM leaders have publicly stated that foreign evangelistic efforts during the Beijing Olympics are not welcome or tolerated, Fu said. But house churches feel differently.

“To the house church leaders, it’s an issue of the lordship of Christ to the church,” Fu explained to OneNewsNow. “And if the church ceases to do evangelism, is it the true church? It’s a big question.”

Religious freedom has improved in communist China in recent years, but the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) this year still recommended the State Department to keep China on its religious freedom blacklist because of its treatment of house churches and religious minorities not recognized by the Chinese government.

Recent persecution of unregistered churches include the arrest of 270 Protestant house church pastors in December, and the expulsion of more than 100 foreign missionaries last summer – the largest event of its kind since 1954 after the communist government took power in 1949.

Article from http://www.christianpost.com/

The first time I heard Franklin Graham's statements about Christian tourists in China for the Beijing Olympics, I couldn't agree more--and I'm surprised that Fu is as offended as he is about this. I mean, what could be more harmful to the missionaries already in China than Christians ignorant of the Chinese culture coming in and thinking they know what they're doing?

This is what Graham said, and it's very honorable:

In my work with both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, I want to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of those that are suffering and hurting. This year we will work in more than 100 countries and in each one we are always open and honest about our ministry, that we are Christians and that we want to help their citizens in the name of Jesus Christ.

I support Christian groups that want to do ministry in China during the Olympics. However, I believe we must be sensitive to and respectful of the local church and the impact we as outsiders could have on them. We are guests in China and anything we do or say has a lasting effect on Chinese Christians that will be there long after the Olympics when we are gone. If we intentionally or inadvertently engage in any illegal activity we could jeopardize the well being of these Christians and the church in China. For anyone that wants to review the current laws of China regarding religious activity we have posted this information on www.billygraham.org.

During my visit to China I have been very impressed and surprised by the incredible growth the church has experienced over the past 20 years. Personal evangelism and discipleship is alive and vibrant in China. The church is growing so fast that the greatest need right now is for more theologically trained faculty to prepare the next generation of pastors and clergy.
There is still progress that can be made in the area of religious expression in China, but I am encouraged by the current direction. My prayer is that the church in China will continue to be strengthened and grow. Let us do everything we can to encourage and help the church in China as the world’s eyes will be on their nation this summer.

I'm really surprised that Graham's statments has received as much criticism as they have. Well, maybe not. But I think it's definitely something to think about, especially coming from someone who's actually been to China.I really think that a majority of people criticizing his statements are people who have never been there. Maybe I should heed my own advice--I've never been there either.

I'm not sure what people did during the Olympics. A year or so ago it was said that Bibles would not be allowed, but in the recent months I have heard that they are now allowed. I don't know if people are going to be going over there with the intention of taking advantage of the situation or not. I just think that we should, unlike Putin, observe a cease fire and respect China's rules--not just for China, but for the people who are working so hard inside the country. Let's show China the love of Christ through our lives--and maybe lay off our cultural western-oriented evangelism.

PYF Challenge - The Details

2008-08-24T19:43:00.003-04:00

I'm a Finalist.

I still am blown away. I was selected as one of five finalists in the FNBO Direct Pay Yourself First Challenge.

The Details:

--They're going to fly me and the other four finalists out to Omaha, Nebraska. This trip will be an orientation to what's to come over the next few months--along with some publicity stuff, and we'll be able to meet the FNBO Direct president, Rajive Johri and personal finance columnist Liz Pulliam Weston.

--Over six months (October 2008 - April 2009), FNBO Direct will match up to $5,000 in savings that I deposite into their Online Savings Account. My progress will be posted over the six months through blogging (written and video), where I will give my experiences through the process and all that I've been doing to save money.

I've kind of forgotten about it, but there is a grand prize that they will award to one of the finalists of their choosing. The grand prize is a $7500 vacation package (or the money if you'd like), and they will judge based on the amount saved during the six months, a ranking by financial experts, an online poll, and adherence to the contest rules.

Needless to say, I was pretty focused on just making it into the top 5 that the grand prize was not even on my radar. But things have been pretty exciting--needless to say.

Once I find out the details, I'll keep you posted throught it all--and I'll let you know where I'll be blogging and updating. I'm ESPECIALLY excited about the video blogging. I've got some pretty cool ideas.

Thanks again. I can't wait!

Murder Checkers!

2008-08-22T13:07:00.001-04:00

Almost a month!

PYF Challenge FINALIST!!!

2008-08-22T10:22:00.003-04:00

Hey guys!

You read that right-- I'M A FINALIST!!

For about half of yesterday I was in this sort of shock-esque stupor. Some people said I looked like I had just found out I was having a baby.

But no. I found out that I was one of five finalists in the FNBO Direct Pay Yourself First Challenge! I've won $5,000 (If I can save that much within a 6-month time period), and I'm going to be flown to Omaha a weekend in September for a "Challenger Kickoff."

Thank you guys so much for watching, rating, supporting, and encouraging. It has meant a GREAT deal to me. I really still can't believe that I've made it this far.

Here's the video again.

I just like this picture

2008-08-21T14:37:00.001-04:00

World Relief Hit Again

2008-08-21T11:02:00.003-04:00

Copper Thieves Hit Refugee Help Group

Posted By: Julie Wolfe

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- Inside the Stone Mountain headquarters of World Relief Atlanta, the doors and windows are open wide. They're hoping for a summer breeze that still hasn't arrived.

A look outside explains their hopes. Seven out of ten air conditioning units are gutted. Thieves stole all the copper Tuesday night. A HVAC maintenance man discovered the missing parts Wednesday morning.

"My first reaction was, oh no, not me," World Relief Atlanta director Brian Burt said. "Then it turns to frustration. We feel like we're doing a good thing in the community."

Maybe those copper thieves didn't know the faces of their victims the way Burt does.

World Relief helps refugees adjust to American life: find an apartment, get a job, and become self-sufficient.

Richard Crotteau is a World Relief volunteer. He's been working with the Dahal family since they arrived in the United States about three months ago.

They are originally from Bhuta, a small land-locked nation in South Asia. They are among the 125,000 Bhutanese people forced to leave the country due to discriminatory practices of the current government.

The Dahal family spent 17 years in a Napal refugee camp. "We had no freedom," one of the brothers explains. "We had to stay in the camp or be threatened." They came to the United States as refugees and have already started building their American dreams.

The younger children are enrolled in Dekalb County schools. The older children are making plans to attend college next fall. All are taking English classes.

World Relief Atlanta estimates it will cost about $35,000 to replace the stolen air conditioning units. Insurance will cover some of the cost. Every penny spent there is money not spent on the refugees.

Burt said he's seen the rash of copper thefts targeting schools, churches, and other non-profit groups throughout the summer: "That's part of my frustration. It seems like those targeted by this crime seem to be doing some of the best work in the community, but we're also the most vulnerable."

The Jury Is Still Out on Science

2008-08-20T13:05:00.000-04:00

W. was a Mornings Show guest!

2008-08-14T16:30:00.002-04:00

Well, not really. But his impersonator, John Morgan, was here.

Most of the time he was pretty spot on.

Here's a little slideshow with the Mornings crew.

Mountaintop Golfing Backfires

2008-08-06T16:04:00.000-04:00

Mountain Top Golfing Backfires - Watch more free videos

Thanks guys

2008-08-04T15:48:00.002-04:00

First of all,

Thank you guys so much for everything.

My video has been selected as a semi-finalist in the contest! I just won $500 and hopefully will be one of the five finalists to win $5,000!

Pay Yourself First Challenge

2008-07-25T17:07:00.001-04:00

I submitted this video for a contest--please rate it highly in order for my chances of winning to go up!

Mornings

2008-07-22T12:36:00.002-04:00

Here are some pictures posted on the Mornings blog that I thought I'd share.

* I look ridiculous, as always

On Friday, July 18th, we said goodbye to one of our favorite Mornings crew members, Andy Sixsmith.

So in honor of his departure, and in celebration of our newest member Tom we threw a little party. Doughnuts and coffee!

And of course our celebration would not be complete without a few pictures of the stunning Mornings crew.

( Above: Lorri, Larry, and Andy)

We were able to get a few pictures of the whole Mornings crew together one last time before Andy left!

(From L-R: Tim, Josue, David, Lorri, Andy,

Chris, Larry, Patricia)

We were also able to take a few pictures of the Mornings crew behind the scenes. We thought we would introduce some of the people you don't see in from of camera often. So here is a look at the people who make up the Mornings family! Enjoy!

Now Introducing..... the Mornings Crew, behind the scenes!

Producer extraordinaire Chris Larson, He was having a rough day....

Graphics Genius David Hamilton

Josue Rodriguez also known as J-Rod

Tim Rhodes, also known as Dusty Rhodes

Graphics Mastermind, Patricia Gaddy

And last but certainly not least, the newest addition to the Mornings Family, the incredible Tom Williams!

2008-07-18T20:09:00.000-04:00

A quote from a couple Mornings Shows ago

2008-07-15T12:40:00.002-04:00

"I know Christ is concerned about the heart. I'm not sure how concerned He is about western civilization. I'm not sure how concerned He is about my comfort here."

--Dan Merchant

Thank you, Jesse Jackson

2008-07-14T09:48:00.002-04:00

For effectively getting rid of the phrase "Don't taze me, bro," and replacing it with something much, much cooler.

I Hope We Get This Excited Again Soon.

2008-07-11T17:29:00.003-04:00

I know this is just a video of the people involved in the Mars rover. But their excitement is so infectious. Although I was not alive then, I remember hearing about and seeing early NASA missions, and the way it would captivate the entire nation. People would be so interested in what we were doing outside of our atmosphere. We celebrated during moments of great triumph, and we mourned during moments of great loss.

Now it seems like we hardly notice the great accomplishments and discoveries that are happening.

Of all the things the government gets wrong, I think NASA is one of those things it gets right. There are definitely problems from time to time, but I think space exploration is incredibly important.

It's something worth getting excited about again.

2008-07-09T14:26:00.000-04:00

Death Cab For Cutie - "No Sunlight" Video

2008-07-08T14:08:00.003-04:00

Death Cab For Cutie and Whirlyball

Death Cab For Cutie - "Cath..." Video

2008-07-08T11:54:00.001-04:00

My Baseball Glove is Famous!

2008-07-08T11:25:00.005-04:00

Youngsters new to America enjoy Braves game

By MARY LOU PICKEL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/04/08

They learned the tomahawk chop and the wave.

As for who was playing or who was ahead at Wednesday's Phillies-Braves game at Turner Field, they weren't sure.

A group of refugee youngsters — new arrivals to America — celebrated the Fourth of July early. It was their first time in a major league ballpark, witnessing America's pastime.

The scoreboard was a mystery. The game of baseball, confusing.

For Thomas Mufolo, 16, the biggest thing was that everyone in the ballpark seemed happy.

"I'm having fun. I like the music," said Thomas, who fled war in Congo and grew up in a refugee camp in Zambia.

"I've never seen this game in Zambia," he said. "I used to play basketball and soccer."

World Relief, a refugee resettlement agency in Stone Mountain, brought a group of 19 middle school and high school students to the game in two big vans.

The children, ages 11 to 18, are from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) and Burundi, along with a pair of brothers each from Congo and Cuba. They have lived in the United States with their families about one year, in apartment complexes in Clarkston. Those from Myanmar, Congo and Burundi fled their countries years ago and grew up in refugee camps. Some were born in the camps.

Jerod Morant, a parking lot supervisor at Turner Field, drove his cart up to the group to say hello. He immediately sensed this was a special group of fans.

"I thought, 'Let me go over here and be nosy,' " Morant said.

He asked the kids where they were from and told them to shout "GO BRAVES" on the count of three. Their first try was weak. On the third try, they got it down.

Htoo Ra Moo, 14, of Myanmar, took in the view from the group's upper balcony $6 seats. She said she had never seen so many people in one place before. She was amazed at the size of the stadium.

Ya Day Moo, 18, also of Myanmar, agreed.

"I'm interested because I never been in a place like this before. I've never seen people playing — with my eyes," she said, meaning she's only seen baseball on television.

When the bugle call came over the loudspeaker and the crowd cried "charge!" some of the Burmese children looked up into the stands, wondering where the music came from. Earlier they were able to ride the escalators to the upper level with no problem. This was a big improvement over their first days in America, when escalators and revolving doors puzzled them, World Relief workers said.

Refugees from Myanmar are the newest group arriving in Atlanta. They fled their country and have waited in refugee camps, some for as long as 15 years, to come legally to the United States.

The brothers from Cuba said their father was a political refugee, an opponent of dictator Fidel Castro, who waited many years to leave Cuba.

Baseball was familiar territory for the Cubans.

Gabriel Ulloa Blanco, 15, pointed to Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar, who is also from Cuba. Gabriel and his brother, Grabiel, 12, had visited ballparks in Cuba, but they were smaller, he said.

The two boys commented on the green, uniform look of the field. They were impressed that it was real grass.

Grabiel couldn't take his eyes off the park's huge video screen, and he noticed that there was a restaurant inside the park — the Braves Chop House. Luxury! Vendors sold a wide variety of treats.

The kids didn't get the typical hot dog and peanuts at the ballpark, though, because the refugee agency operates on a tight budget. They had to ask donors for money for tickets and gas. Instead, each kid got a bag of chips, a bottle of water and a granola bar. One girl from Burundi was ready to leave at the seventh inning because she was hungry. The kids were told to eat before they came, but not everyone got the message.

Little Jula Paw, 11, of Myanmar, took some time before she enjoyed herself.

She hardly spoke a word and sweated streams up in the sunny seats. She kept rolling her program up into a cylinder.

Did she like baseball?

"No."

Why?

"Because I can't play it," she said through an older Burmese girl, who translated for her.

After the sun went down, though, Jula started to revive.

She joined the other Burmese girls in the back row doing the tomahawk chop, the wave and the "YMCA" song.

When Braves third baseman Chipper Jones hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth, and fireworks came out of the giant Coca-Cola bottle, there were smiles and giggles all around.

Considering it was their first time in a major league ballpark, Hser Ku Moo, 16, (from left) and Lay Gay Moo, 14, middle, were quick to catch Braves fever. Jula Paw, 11, took some time to warm up to the situation, but once the sun went down, she caught the fever and joined the others in the wave and "YMCA."

The children are new arrivals to America, all refugee children from Myanmar, Burundi, Congo and Cuba. Here, Hser Ku Moo (left) and Jula Paw take the escalator up to their $6 seats, part of a group of 19 middle and high school students brought to the game by World Relief, a refugee resettlement agency in Stone Mountain.

Ya Day Moo, 18, (center) and Gorette Nimbona, 14, stand during the playing of the national anthem on Wednesday. The Braves played the Phillies.

Sumaili Gedeon, 12, tries on a baseball glove while his brother, Thomas Mufolo, 16, shields his eyes with a Braves program. For Thomas, who grew up in a refugee camp in Zambia, the best surprise was a ballpark full of happy people. "I've never seen this game in Zambia," he said.

Now that the game has started, it's time to practice fan skills. Case worker Kristine Van Noord teaches an important lesson to Htoo Ra Moo, 14, (left) and Ya Day Moo, 18: the proper arm movement for a tomahawk chop.

Though the scoreboard was a mystery and the game confusing, Niyonsenga Claudine, 12, (left) and Gorette Nimbona, 14, quietly got the hang of it.

That's the spirit! Lay Gay Moo holds up his glove in anticipation of a pop-fly.

In the back row, Tim Rhodes talks baseball with a barely visible Kagabi Noel, 15, while the rest of the crew soaks up the sun and the game. They are Hser Ku Moo, 16, (left middle,) Lay Gay Moo Kyaw Yen Win, 14, (bottom left,) and Nay Kaw, 16, (holding ticket.) Marcus Yam / myam@ajc.com

Quantum of Solace Teaser Trailer

2008-06-30T11:22:00.001-04:00

Yes, it's a strange title. But that doesn't make me any less excited about it.

The new Bond film teaser trailer was just released today.

Six Flags story updated

2008-06-30T10:35:00.001-04:00

SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA

Roller coaster reopens after fatal accident

By S.A. REID, YOLANDA RODRIGUEZ, RHONDA COOK
Published on: 06/29/08

Six Flags Over Georgia officials expect to open the Batman the Ride roller coaster Monday morning, a spokeswoman for the park said.

The amusement park in Austell opens at 10:30 a.m. "We anticipate reopening the ride today," said Hela Sheth, a spokeswoman for the park.

Asia Leeshawn Ferguson died Saturday after he and another teenager scaled two fences and entered a restricted area. Ferguson was hit by the speeding roller coaster and was decapitated.

The ride was shut down Saturday after the accident.

An autopsy on the teenager is also scheduled for Monday, said Michael Cosper, operations manager for the Cobb County Medical Examiner.

Ferguson, 17, was traveling with members of the Oakley Spring Baptist Church, which was visiting the park from Columbia, S.C.

Phone call told parents of accident

The cellphone call came just as Asia D. Ferguson and his wife, Letha, finished lunch Saturday afternoon at a picnic area beside the east parking lot at Six Flags Over Georgia, which they were visiting with a church group.

Letha Ferguson answered.

On the other end was David Jenkins, a cousin, with the news the couple's 17-year-old son, Asia LeeShawn Ferguson, had been in an accident. A horrific accident.

"Shawn," as family and friends called him, had been decapitated by the Batman the Ride roller coaster at the Austell park.

The speeding roller coaster struck the Columbia, S.C., teen as it sped through a restricted area that he and another teen entered by scaling two 6-foot fences, ignoring warning signs, police said.

On Sunday, Shawn Ferguson's relatives struggled to comprehend their loss as authorities continued their investigation and Six Flags officials prepared to reopen the 11-year-old ride Monday. It was shut down after the Saturday afternoon accident, though the park remained open.

"We're awaiting the results of the investigation. We're going to have someone investigate, too," his father said. "We're not blaming the park."

The elder Ferguson had a hard time finding the words during a cellphone conversation Sunday as he and his wife rode home with other Sunday School members from Oakley Spring Baptist, a church of about 200 members in Springfield, S.C. The 67 young people and adults had come to Atlanta on Friday to sightsee and hang out at Six Flags.

"It's really hard for me to talk right now," said Ferguson, also father to Shawn's brother, Jacolby. "I'm really upset. I lost my oldest son."

Leaving Shawn's body behind for an autopsy on Monday compounded their heartache.

"It's real tough," Ferguson said. "My wife is still crying."

Jenkins, Ferguson said, hasn't been in a mood to talk about what happened to his cousin and what led the younger Ferguson to take an apparent shortcut.

Ferguson himself is at a loss to explain it.

"You don't know what's in a teenager's mind," he said. "Teenage boys do what teenage boys do. Sometimes they make some good decisions. Sometimes they make some bad decisions."

He said his son — the fourth in line of Ferguson men named Asia — was never in trouble.

Shawn Ferguson was an average student and a rising senior at Columbia's W.J. Keenan High School.

Ferguson said his son loved PlayStation 3, working out with weights and playing basketball. He also was avid churchgoer, played the drums, sang tenor in the choir at Oakley Spring Baptist and had a love for both gospel and secular music, including rap.

"He didn't do anything wrong," Ferguson said. "He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Police said the teens had been inside the park earlier and were trying to re-enter without going to the front entrance. They did not identify the other youth.

They first scaled a decorative black iron fence that circles the entire park, then a chain-link one that encircles the ride. The fences are each about 6 feet tall.

The fences are posted with signs warning of a danger zone and a "restricted area" accessible only to authorized park employees, Six Flags said in a written statement.

The Batman the Ride roller coaster travels up to 50 mph as it takes riders ski-lift style upside down and on vertical loops, corkscrews and 11-story climbs.

Neither Ferguson's companion nor any passengers were hurt when the ride struck Ferguson.

His death is the second reported in connection with the ride since 2002, when a maintenance worker was hit in the head by a rider's foot as it passed overhead. The ride opened in 1997.

Boy Decapitated at Six Flags Over Georgia

2008-06-28T18:56:00.001-04:00

Boy Decapitated at Six Flags Amusement Park

Last Edited: Saturday, 28 Jun 2008, 4:33 PM EDT

Created: Saturday, 28 Jun 2008, 4:01 PM EDT

Six Flags Over Georgia

COBB COUNTY, Ga. (MyFox Atlanta) – Investigators with Cobb County police said a boy was decapitated at Six Flags amusement park Saturday.

Authorities said the incident happened just after 2:00 p.m. Saturday. A church group went to the amusement park and a group of boys with the group jumped a fence and entered an area that was marked off limits.

One of the boys jumped up and tried to grab someone's feet who was on the Batman ride. The boy ended up being decapitated.

Investigators did not release the boy's age, name or the name of the church the boy was traveling with.

The Dark Knight + The Office

2008-06-23T16:03:00.001-04:00

Equals hilarity.

Stephens County, Represent!

2008-06-16T15:19:00.002-04:00

Weezer - "Pork and Beans"

2008-06-10T17:35:00.001-04:00

There's a fair chance you've already seen this. I saw it a few days ago and it really cracked me up. I'm not the biggest fan of Weezer, but they do have a decent amount of songs that are great.

Enjoy!