4th of July Weekend

I'm heading up to Idaho this weekend for the 4th of July. Before I go, though, I like to read the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. I try to read both a couple times a year, and I make it a point to read them around the 4th of July. They are short documents, and they serve as good reminders.

At any rate, I hope you have some festivities planned for the 4th, and I also hope that we can all take a minute to reflect on our nation, our founders and what we can do to be better citizens.

Enjoy this rendition of the Star Spangled Banner from the United States Marine Band. Also, I've included a fun video from JibJab and ThePartyParty.com of former presidents saying words that belong in the national anthem. Finally, there is a version of the Star Spangled Banner that teaches you the words to the song.







Happy 4th of July!

Robot on Robot Violence and Shameless Self Promotion

Summer always kills me. Between The Boy and Josh, my schedule is out of whack. On top of that I'm often unmotivated and frequently shifting work around. Like now. I went and watched Transformers, but I don't have enough time to go home and do some work before I pick up The Boy from day camp. So I'm on a public computer in a library, harvesting links for blog posts to be written later this evening or tomorrow. So I can at least pretend that I've been productive.

I was reasonably entertained with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Like the first Transformers, this movie had too much relationship angst. My husband pointed that the lame humans aren't much in the regular series, so there's really no reason to have so much of them in the movies. But, apparently, that's what people want to see. Some sort of emotional human interaction. Josh tells me that many of the reviews about the movie express disappointment that there isn't more deep, meaningful human interactions. Seriously? The movies are based on cartoons created to sell toys. Besides, I expect certain things from Michael Bay. I want to watch things blow up. Thankfully, there was more of that in this movie, which almost compensated me for the fact that I almost threw up perfectly good cookie dough bites during certain scenes.

Anyway, I've started writing for MainStreet.com, so I thought I'd share links to my first two stories: 5 Safe Splurges and Can You Still Find Good Deals on eBay? I also recently did something on finding a babysitter for your kids on Personal Dividends, taking a staycation on Bizzia and the 10 most expensive to buy a home on Banks.com. I also wrote about the fact that I am being cut back with major client on Yielding Wealth. Which isn't so bad. New opportunities are already coming in. I feel extremely blessed and grateful for what I have been given.

Finally, in honor of Michael Jackson, I thought I'd share this. Supposedly, it's a video of the first moonwalk performance.

Shameless Self-Promotion: Look Where I've Been Edition

It's been a tough week. The Boy is out of school, and I've had him with me all day every day this week. Luckily, child care starts up next week. My cousin fell through as a nanny, but he can go to morning day camp twice a week, and afternoon recreation at the park another two days of the week. It will be nice for everyone involved, since he's been itching for things to do, and I've been trying to arrange my schedule around him. This week, I thought I'd link to places I've been mentioned:

1. One of The Wall Street Journal's blogs, The Wealth Report, mentioned me and one of the posts I wrote for Bankling.
2. MainStreet.com monitored Twitter responses to last week's "Un-Broke" special on ABC. Several of my comments made the cut (I'm @MMarquit).
3. I entered the PF Bloggers Weight Loss Challenge at Man Vs. Debt, and was assigned to team Beta. Matt at Debt Free Adventure gave a shout-out to all the Beta team members.
4. My Yielding Wealth blog was reviewed on DoYouDiggIt.com.
5. And, finally, a pre-order page for the forthcoming book I'm co-writing with Robyn Tippins is. No book cover yet, though. And the excerpt is an unrevised part of the book, so watch out for the grammar. But, still exciting. We've even had one pre-order already.
   

Learn About Money on "Un-Broke"

So, tonight I'll be at my parents' house. But I might watch UN-BROKE: What You Need to Know About Money on ABC. It starts at 9 pm Eastern, and is supposed to run for an hour. At the very least it should be amusing. And the nation really could use a little "back to basics" Money 101 review.

Un-Broke: The Seth Green Cribs Edition - watch more funny videos

Memorial Day

Image via Wikipedia

Today is a day for gratitude and reflection. It is the observation of Memorial Day, and we are planning to do a little bit in honor of this day. Expressing thanks and remembering all that has been done on our behalf is important on this day.

I hope that you are joining me in an effort to never forget.

Let's have a grateful Memorial Day.

Credit Card Bill Includes Concealed Weapons Rule

One of the most interesting items included in the just-passed credit card reform bill is the ability to carry concealed weapons in National Parks.

I love this because it is a prime example of the sort of legislative dealing and what-not that goes on. What does allowing concealed weapons in National Parks have to do with Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009? Why, nothing at all. But, like so many "fine print" and inapplicable measures that are passed every year, it is something that some group (in this case the NRA) wants to see happen. In return, the group promises that the lawmakers it influences will vote for the measure, rather than oppose it. So a credit card bill repeals a ban on weapons in National Parks.

Do I care? Not particularly. Most people with concealed weapon permits have been through classes, and are (generally) responsible with their use. But this whole thing still illustrates something about the way laws are made in this country. And sheds light on a practice that maybe should discontinue. After all, there was so much focus on the main thrust of the bill that this small addition didn't really get any attention. Think about how many laws are passed in the same way. With little attention and almost no debate.

Gary Herbert Say's He'll Offer "Continuity", But I'm Not So Sure

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

With Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. getting ready to go to China, Lt. Governor Gary Herbert is getting ready to step into place. He says that there will be continuity, but the things I, personally, liked about Huntsman are absent in Herbert. I like Huntsman's stances on the environment and gay rights. Those are the biggest disagreements between Herbert and Huntsman -- and the things that, here in Utah, are most likely to see support for Herbert to change the line. This is especially true with respect to partner rights. The Salt Lake Tribune breaks it down for partner rights:

But on the high-profile issue of gay rights, Herbert signaled a swing to the right.

He said he opposed civil unions for gays and strongly supported Amendment 3, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. He also said he has not been involved in any discussion on the Common Ground Initiative, which would have granted basic rights such as hospital visits and inheritance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

"I supported Amendment 3, and I'll just leave it at that," he said.

Huntsman, by contrast, had endorsed civil unions and backed the other parts of the Common Ground Initiative.

I think this is too bad, since, for some reason, this is the one issue that the legislature and the good people of the state of Utah are not taking direction from the LDS Church, which has stated publicly that it is not opposed to partner rights for gays, and legal other rights (but not marriage). It's kind of ironic that in Utah, where people are still sensitive about legal rights they were denied more than 100 years ago, legal rights are being denied to a segment of the population.

I also think that Herbert will likely shift away from Huntman's good work in terms of the environment. I've been proud that our governor has been a leader here in the mountain West on environmental issues. I doubt that Gary Herbert will offer that kind of leadership. In fact, since he has already expressed a desire to run next year in the special election to choose a governor, I have a feeling he will work to define his position as different from Huntsman's in these areas as a way to build political capital.

What do you think about Gary Herbert?