So after running my monthly expense report (like I do every month around now), I ended up comparing expense reports and figuring out exactly how much I'm throwing away on interest this month making my credit cards' minimum payments (something I DON'T do each month).

The results are staggering.

Why? I mean, of course we all know that unsecured credit totally sticks it to you when you're forced by circumstance or irresponsibility to make only the minimum payments, and this is, of course, what makes the banks extremely wealthy. I'd bet most people have NO IDEA how much is actually pissing away into interest.

And why's that?

Because credit cards have interest rates we're all familiar with: Typically 9.99%, to 12.99%, maybe 15.99%, or as high as 29.99% if your credit REALLY sucks and you've made lots of mistakes. HOWEVER, this has to do with calculations based on your principle (total amount owed), and has little to do with minimum payments.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the math that leads banks to suck up such enormous percentages of what you're paying them, which I'm about to show you, but I'm sure it has to do with calculating the precise amount (around 1% plus some figure of interest) to come up with minimum payments that are grossly profitable (Did I just disgust myself with profit? Bad Eddie!) to the banks, and will keep you enslaved forever.

When you make a minimum payment, how do you know how much of that payment goes to what you owe (your principle), and how much goes into the black hole of interest?


(Assuming this is done on a closed card that you're not still charging--that way you get accurate numbers for this...)

1. On your current month, take a look at how much your balance is.

2. Take a look at the previous month's balance, after you made your monthly minimum payment.

3. The difference between the two is how much your last payment bit into your principle.

4. The difference between THAT number and the total minimum payment you made is how much got sucked away into interest.

5. Divide the amount that went to interest by the amount you paid (I might have the verbiage of that backwards--it's been a long time since I've been up on proper mathematical lingo), and that's the percentage of your minimum payment that (at least last month--it varies slightly month to month) went to interest.

I guarantee this number will be nowhere NEAR what 'interest' you thought you were paying on that card.

Here's examples from my own (extensive) credit card debt. I'll leave out the actual numbers. I don't want you to feel sorry for me ... unless you want to give me money, that is. But this is amazing:

Chase Credit Card: 42.6% of minimum payment went to Interest.

Sally Mae Student Loan: 45.1% of minimum payment went to Interest.

Discover Credit Card: 51.5% of minimum payment went to Interest.

US Bank Credit Card: 53.2% of minimum payment went to Interest.

Wells Fargo Line of Credit: 57.8% of minimum payment went to Interest.

And the major whoppers:

Lowes Credit Card (HSBC? That Chinese Bank I think?): 61.5% of minimum payment went to Interest.
(Edit: Turns out the bank is GE Capital Retail Bank.)

Wells Fargo Visa Card: 62.3% of minimum payment went to Interest.

Over my entire month's balance of minimum payments for unsecured debt, that's an average of 51.3% of all that money I'm paying, unless I can pay more than the minimum balance, going into the bankers' pockets.

And no, before this makes you hate banks, I don't despise Wall Street or any of that bullshit. I made this bed, and now I'm sleeping in it. While the banks are very tricky with making extreme profit from me and thousands of others like me through these obscene amounts of interest, it was a voluntary, mutual agreement. I chained myself. And now I'll slowly, painfully, work those chains free, a wiser man.

But, if you've never run these numbers before, you may find these percentages amazing. If you run your own numbers, this will help you formulate a plan for paying off your cards in the order in which you pay the most monthly interest, with that extra 10% each month or however you go about it as suggested by Dave Ramsey or whoever.

And if you're credit cards are still young, let this be a lesson to you. Pay them off before they grow into an enormous monster and you're a slave to the banks.

Not really another one for me. But, posts like these must be insanely common out there in the blogosphere. (Is that right? Blogosphere?)

How many people out there get to the point where they can't stand being out of shape anymore, and eventually go 'blaaaarrrrggg' into as blog entry, or even devote an entire new blog or website to their quest to finally get back into shape? And how many actually stick with it? Or become so successful at it that they go on to become a personal trainer / author, or get a plug on Oprah, or inspire others to do the same?

I'm definitely getting off course here already. This isn't about becoming a famous weight-loss personality. It's about saying 'enough is enough' and 'it's time to kick shit into gear' and 'time to get fucking serious' and all the other crap involved with starting another diet and, hopefully, a transformation into a healthier person.

I used to be a personal trainer. I took pride in that. I still do. It's an admirable profession, though difficult to succeed in. However, people who know me these days, and only got to know me within the last few years, would have no freakin idea that I used to be a mountain-climbing, adventuring, iron-pumping machine with good self-discipline and a size 29 waist.

I think my waist is like 43 today. I don't really keep up on it. And that's a problem. Because since, oh, about early 2008, I've been totally sedentary, very indulgent, and not abstinent of any vices.

There's definitely something to be said about an encroaching weight problem creeping up on you. It's there when you have a mental image of being thinner than you are when you see pictures of yourself (holy shit!!! fat!!). And what's worse, there comes a point when your body is so heavy for its frame that it starts malfunctioning and breaking down.

Seriously. As in, I'm developing a 'trick knee'. That's all I can call it, without being properly diagnosed, because I don't show any symptoms of tearing any muscles or ligaments, but more like 'tendonitis' of the patella and surrounding tissues, very likely because I'm just getting too damned heavy for my knees that are designed to support somewhere around 160-180 pounds. Quite a ways off from where I really stand on the scale.

My right knee goes out sometimes. Or becomes extremely painful when going down an incline, or doing squats or lunges. It looks like I've let my weight get bad enough to where simple exercise won't fix things anymore. I've got to lose weight.

I remember seeing movies, or reading testimonies, etc., where people, finding that their weight is so great that their life is in danger if they don't change, suddenly make the decision to finally take weight loss seriously. And thinking on this tonight, I realized that I'm practically in that boat. If I don't lose weight to a level manageable by my joints, etc., I presume I could permanently damage my body. And I guess that's pretty damned serious.

And I'm only 32. Shame, shame.

Well, one thing I know about the body is its ability to change and adapt in amazing ways. I've read accounts by many middle-age men who never took fitness seriously until they started, say, 'Body for Life' or something in middle age, and now, in their 40's and 50's, they're stronger and fitter than they were in their 20's.

Simple stuff. Only willpower.
So this is another of thousands of blog entries saying that, 'this time, I MEAN it'. Lol. As if. I guess I'll see. (But I'm super SERIOUS this time!) ... (We'll see, won't we?)

So here's a very simple diet that's effective and works, along with a basic exercise program for dead meat like me:

Diet

- No sugar that's not already present in natural food (no non-diet soda, no candy, no baked goodies, no added sugar).
- No processed foods.
- No trans fat.

A version of 'The Paleo Diet'
- All variety of meats, excluding processed meat (deli meat and slim-jims, for instance).
- Fish.
- Poultry.
- Game meat.
- Eggs.
- Dairy.
- All variety of fruits and vegetables, the more raw the better.
- Seeds and nuts.
- Avoid breads, grains, and starches when possible.

Limiting alcohol intake to one drink a night.

I won't be giving any special attention to avoiding fat. Fat is good for you. All fats, including saturated fat, except for trans fat. This means dairy, animal fat, polyunsaturated (fish, seeds, and some oils), monounsaturated (olive oil, avocado, nuts).

Attention will be given to portion sizes. Watch the input. Don't eat to much. Weight management doesn't have so much to do with WHAT you eat, as HOW MUCH you eat.

Exercise:

Plyometrics and bodyweight, mostly. Strength training with additional weight will focus on each major muscle group worked hard only once a week to allow maximum time for rebuilding.

Will work into a daily routine of bodyweight exercises, such as:
- Jumping Jacks
- Pushups
- Squats
- Situps and Plank
- Calf Extensions
- Burpees
- Squat jumps

Will later work in a weekly routine like I used to train with:
- Chest/Back day
- Legs day
- Arms and shoulders day

Lots of stretching to work back to my previous 'Yoga' self.

So here we go. With all of the public (that bothers to read my blog) keeping me honest, will I go through with it? I'd better, or I'll be an old man in my 30's.

An old friend of mine from Vegas posted this picture on his Facebook page the other day. I can see, to people with no sense of politics, or understanding of Capitalism vs Socialism, or even with slightly confused unrefined views of Capitalism might see this douchebag's letter (my friend isn't the douchebag--this Liberal 'professor' is the douchebag), and think it sounds pretty reasonable.

Until you examine what exactly he's saying, and realize that it's merely aimless bitching that 'someone' (the government, or the government after confiscating the wealth of 'the rich') should SAVE everybody.

Here's the stupid letter:




And here's the ongoing Facebook Conversation that's following:

---

Me:
Yeah ... the big problem with that is that the government shouldn't be taking care of people. We should take care of ourselves. If what you're taught, as far as the right way to succeed and play by the rules, is failing ... question the 'right way' and learn what to do. Question your teachers.

I mean, what's the point of this? To make people take care of everybody else? To make the government? Just general bitching? Oh yeah, right ... it's 'Wall Street's fault.

---

Isaac:
No..more along the lines of that wealth distribution is biased.

---

Me:
Sorry ... did you want more wealth distributed your way?

---

Isaac:
If you want to rant or cut down a social ideology, either find a better forum, or stop speaking with a condescending tone so I can take your argument more seriously.

---

Me:
This dude's letter is a rant, and his insinuation (or lack of coherent insinuation thereof) is condescending to me, and to a Capitalist mind of clarity. I thought my previous comments were pretty clear.

How, Isaac, is wealth distribution biased? Why even use that term? Should wealth be distributed, or earned? Or do you mean the opportunity to earn wealth is biased? That would be a much less Socialist thing to say, and more to the point of what I think you mean.

---

Isaac:
Is this the forum I which you want to engage this? No minds being changed, no lasting effect noted... Nothing but wounded egos and stubbornness are all that await from a verbal engagement here

---

Me:
That's alright. I'll spare you the debate. If you're really way over there, then I've learned by now that I can't really change other peoples' minds anyway. You have to figure it out for yourself.

---

Isaac:
I'm not way over anywhere...I just realize that things are not working the way they are now, and that the resources exist to exact change but there is no true way to exact some sort of acceptable change.

I'm not asking for a handout, I'm asking that if people are busting there ass then they deserve the ability to feed there kids and make sure that their medical needs are met. It's unfair that there are "invisible privileges" that are exploited by classes/subcultures to maintain their status-quo while others work just as hard and exert just as much and have to sometimes choose between having wisdom tooth pulled or eating... Between an eye exam and contacts, or staying current on bills.

This view may have you believe me to be a socialist but please do not confuse my belief of resources being mis-allocated with others who believe that everyone is entitled to a handout.

I'm not extreme left, I for sure am not extreme right, I just don't call the CEO of NV energy receiving 5 million a year, while friends of mine with Doctorates live paycheck to paycheck, justice. (And yes, they are gainfully employed)

---

Drew Finnin (random interloper)
Okay, speaking of the the Moderate Left here... I have a 6% IRA fee on my paychecks without match from my company because I know when I hit 60 it should worth it.. I have a paycheck that looks like I should be working for our sweatshop, I do not complain. I do not make waves. I only ask that when I finally decide I can afford to go to school, I should be able to apply to a scholarship and not be told "I'm sorry, we've had to downsize our choices by half because there isn't enough funding." Or be told by my job that PTO won't be paid when I get fired because the company lost the foresight to make sure their workers would get due compensation.

---

Me:
Isaac, consider the view of Capitalism. Busting your ass does not make you 'deserve' anything. Other than what you agreed to earn based on said busting of ass. Working smart trumps working hard any day. Honestly, if you or your doctorate friends aren't satisfied working where they're working, because they can't pull a tooth or whatever, then do something else. And it's hard finding another job, sure. But break out of the box of just 'working jobs'. This is America. With intelligence and hard work, you can forge your own path and make as much money as you can. There's a reason the CEO of NV Energy got where he is today and makes 5mil a year--it's not like he's royalty or anything. There are no 'invisible proviledges'. I mean--maybe there are sometimes due to corruption, but don't use that as a crutch. Don't hate the CEO because he makes 5mil a year and you want some, and you want your friends to have some. Go out and make your own 5mil. That's the thing about Capitalism--you can do whatever you want to do. You can also bitch about how it's not fair that you and yours work hard (it doesn't take any creative entrepreneurship to be an employee) and don't make enough.

Working hard and not making the same as 'the rich' has NOTHING to do with Justice. Justice is equal opportunity. And it's right there, waiting for you to open up to it.

Drew, if your paycheck looks like you work in a sweatshop, then STOP WORKING FOR A SWEATSHOP. Go do something better. Make your own way.

And education is not a magic bullet for getting more money. Just ask Isaac's doctorate friends. Unless we're in a boom and jobs are easy to get, it's getting pretty obvious that education does not guarantee work. All education can do is better yourself ... for yourself. For a purpose. It must serve a purpose.

---

Isaac:
That'd be great if we actually did have a true capitalist society and there really wasn't class divisions.

---

Me:
There are no class divisions.

The lack of a true Capitalist system is caused by over-regulation, which interferes with Capitalism's natural system of checks and balances. And who perpetuates that?

And the idea of class divisions is pounded into peoples' heads by leftists, because a divided people is easier to control. I mean ... think about all the people in the media, or the activists, who are always bitching about things not being fair. Who's doing the talking?

Why is Capitalism under attack? Who has been perpetuating poor vs rich all this time? Blacks vs whites?

Class divisions are an illusion. Anyone can climb to the top. Whatever ACTUAL class division exists, and even corruption to hold people back from climbing too fast, is too small to REALLY get in the way.

---

Isaac:
These are all great theories, bit there are still facts, incidents, events, and a multitude of other things that show just the opposite. Still, I say again, there is no convincing a dog there is a rainbow and there is no convincing you that there is any validity in my beliefs. While I will admit that some of the things you say are true and valid, you would never acknowledge the same, it seems. So enjoy your final word, as you'll probably get in, but again I say that there is no change to be had by arguing here.

---

Me:
I'm strong in my views, just like you. And there's no convincing me of something I think is fundamentally wrong. I've seen the glory of Capitalism, and I don't need to 'go get a job'. I make my own way. And I could do WAY better if I just got off my lazy ass and worked harder, but that's my responsibility, and the balance of Capitalism. And I'm not going to try to convince you of anything, because of that whole dog/rainbow concept. I came to understand that a long time ago. Maybe, with an open mind, you might find something you like. You could say the same thing about me, but if you open to me, it leads the way to positive things. And if I accept your views, it seems to just lead to negativity, since nothing productive could come out of what you're saying.

Incidentally, I just watched this, about similar stuff we were talking about. Watch from 9:58 on. Everything before it is about a problem with Cain's 9-9-9 plan, which you're probably not interested in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTZRwLdb2nQ

I was born in 1979. And as an adult, I really got into classic rock, which was a genre before my time. So when I heard that Styx was coming to Colorado Springs (tonight), I figured I'd better go and see this legendary classic rock band, or I'd never get to. Not as old as I thought they'd be (all of them were around my parents' age), I was absolutely floored at how skilled these rock-stars were. Truly masters of their craft, it was the most moving concert I'd ever seen. In fact, the two guitarists (James Young and Tommy Shaw) and the keyboard player (Lawrence Gowan) ALL seemed to be front-men, lead singers, and soloists in their own individual rights.

I've heard the popular Styx songs, and I've listened to a few others (a clip from Suite Madame Blue is my ringtone), but I've never really LISTENED to the lyrics and themes of their music before. Styx is amazing. Master composers, and positive, uplifting lyrics that focus on self-esteem and being whatever you want to be.

Their performance played on the audience (and myself) in an explosion of positive energy like I'd never felt before. During many songs their harmony and epic extended instrumentals nearly brought me to tears. And, as cliche as it might be, "Come Sail Away" actually DID get the tears flowing. But, it wasn't just the music--it was a strange and magical cumulative effect they had on the audience that raised an odd (but powerful) sensation of togetherness that I had never felt before. And though I was there alone, I could see it and feel it in the people around me. During "Come Sail Away", people were actually swaying in many places with arms locked over shoulders. In such a 'hippie-fest' of feeling, I was helpless to the effect.

You could see such positive energy in the band itself, the guitarists and bassists often lining up to do a sort of 'magnificent seven' advance on the stage, side by side and choreographed. Another moving part was when an older man came out to guest-play the bass, which was obviously significant to older members of the audience. Turned out he was one of the original (and retired) band members who contracted HIV at some point. It was moving in the way a stranger can feel the significance of looking on old friends united.

Again, a very moving concert. Enough to soften the heart of this hard-hearted Liberty defender who has accepted the idea of becoming a monster in order to fight evil with effect. Such overwhelming positive energy gives me pause enough to look at the anger and fire inside myself, and think about applying myself in a positive way that bypasses and ignores evil. ... Almost.

I expected Styx to be pretty aged, and that if I didn't see them now, I'd never get another chance. But, they're freakin incredible and obviously going to be around rockin for quite a while. See them when you can. It's almost a religious experience.

Researching the topic of such illegal activity, I came across a forum that discussed it more than anywhere else I've found:

http://www.defensivecarry.com/forum/con ... ermit.html

Here's my contribution:

---

I realize that I'm resurrecting a post from 2009, but it's an important issue, and there's not much discussion about this stuff out there on the internet. It's even more important THESE days, where multiple states are pushing for new laws allowing for citizens legally able to carry to be able to carry concealed without a permit.

While I don't condone illegal activity, as a normal, non-criminal dude, there is something all of you have to remember, if you can put aside your worship for the law for the sake of law:

Our right to carry shall not be infringed. Because of our negligence and laziness, we've already allowed 'them' to take away our ability to carry concealed without a permit, which should have never happened in the first place. It's unconstitutional to infringe upon that right, and unconstitutional laws must be challenged. Some would say that such laws are null and void, but the law still has the strength to enforce it anyway, regardless of whether it's right or wrong. So we have to deal with it until it's set right (if ever).

I tried to play by the rules and obtain a CHP here in Colorado. After jumping through some hoops because of some crap in my background, stuff that never should or would have disqualified me from the 'privilege' of carrying concealed with a government permission slip, our good sheriff denied me anyway. And never considered my appeals. And responded with an informal letter simply quoting a law that allows the sheriff to deny a permit for whatever reason he wants.

And recently, Colorado tried to pass a 'Constitutional Carry' bill just like Arizona, Montana, Vermont, Alaska, etc., but it was killed in the Senate by a kangaroo committee assigned by a damned Liberal Senate Leader designed to kill the bill.

So if I want to be able to protect myself, my family, and people around me, without the hassle of simply Open Carrying everywhere (which I can't do while working, when it's cold out, and in certain locales), I must resort to becoming a criminal.

Someone once said that the only way to control free men is to make them into criminals.

Grady, your friend is in the wrong in his approach. As many have pointed out, playing the 'ignorance of the law' card is no way to defend yourself when the chips come down. I am, however, comforted by the fact that so many people know other people that carry anyway, some no doubt because of being in similar situations that I'm in, despite such unconstitutional laws.

I must say, after trying the legal route, and supporting the legislative route, that I've toyed with the idea that the only way to defeat this anti-gun oppression in places (like here) where the legal approach has failed to reach justice, would be to carry illegally with the idea that if eventually 'getting caught', I, or someone else in the same shoes, could take the charges (in Colorado, a Class 2 Misdemeanor) to the Supreme Court in hopes of defeating a bad law. There has been a bit of Supreme Court action regarding gun rights lately, and it's a good time for it.

Of course, it's speculation (moderators), and I'm certainly not recommending illegal activity, or even conspiring. I've done no such thing. But as far as brainstorming goes, how else do we take back the rights that we've lost, if your particular state's legislature is populated by anti-constitutional statists?

Food for thought.