tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55700492011-07-31T07:34:23.927-04:00A collection of quotations and practical experiences concerning life experiences and values which may assist others and myself in living a better and more productive life.Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3551100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-88765114178052925112009-03-28T19:21:00.005-04:002011-07-01T13:54:10.340-04:00

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-91063544205044596642009-01-17T21:15:00.001-05:002009-01-25T18:11:57.422-05:00

CNN & 25 ideas to get rich by .....1. For return on investment, the best home renovation is to upgrade an old bathroom. Kitchens come in second.2. It's worth refinancing your mortgage when you can cut your interest rate by at least one point.3. Spend no more than 2 1/2 times your income on a home. For a down payment, it's best to come up with at least 20%.4. Your total housing payments should not

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-59430323574864297932009-01-12T16:24:00.003-05:002009-01-16T18:55:55.789-05:00

Importance of Keeping Receipts....Normally I have one "box" in which I toss ALL of my sales receipts and another for any receipt that might have some tax consequence (I do a long form). I change the Tax Receipt box each year on Jan. 1st. If you ever have to take something back or justify an expense you will have a receipt.

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-4766981395343760692009-01-02T22:26:00.002-05:002009-01-16T18:56:59.283-05:00

Stock Market Investment Time.....Starting today...I am investing in the stock market on a long term basis again. Look for companies with a good balance sheet and who pay some dividend. Hold for the future.----------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-53261752810496233082009-01-02T22:22:00.003-05:002009-01-16T18:57:34.582-05:00

Reminder: Buying a new car is a luxury. Given the cost of credit, car insurance, property tax, depreciation, etc. you need to made this purchase with CARE. A used car purchase will save you 50% over the life of the car. Some people think that purchasing a new car over 60 months will save them money. The irony is that after 3 years the car is not worth the cost of the remaining payments. Never buy

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-12036720497753071262009-01-02T22:20:00.001-05:002009-01-16T18:58:01.304-05:00

Refinancing your MortgageI was watching a show on refinancing your mortgage. The obvious advice of there had to be at least 1% difference in your existing rate and the new rate plus you needed to live in your house for the next five years to break even. However, something I had not heard of before was the necessity of ASKING for the Reissue rate on "Tile Insurance Policy" that can save you up to

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-60319735332432611602008-12-17T21:31:00.003-05:002009-01-16T18:58:55.857-05:00

Shingles Vaccination....If your over the age of 60 you definitely want to get a Shingles Vaccination. The cost of the shot is $200 without insurance but I can guarantee you that after spending three months in bed in pain you will see this as a bargain after you see someone having the disease. Think of it as if someone took an electric sandbelt tool and ran it across your body. That your body

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-58779613910350806652007-06-13T20:33:00.001-04:002007-06-13T20:38:22.728-04:00

I am always amazed at people who somehow believe that their children OWE them time and attention. Children do not represent your old age retirement system or your support group. Children are a continuation of your SELF - their actions are only an extension of your own behavior and values. Hopefully you have done a good job and the best part of you and your spouse moves on.We love our children...

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-32082665044066393332007-06-13T08:09:00.001-04:002007-06-13T10:12:29.730-04:00

Just a reminder...Dr. Malito, Kathy Blackmore, Steve VanMater, and Monty Montgomery were the chief secret planners for the conversion of the 5,000 Parkway School District Macs to Windows XP (Approved by BOE in FEB 2007) .This conversion decision made in secret, with the participation only a few SELECT schools, no public plan of instructional or financial impact, no meaningful public discussion

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-40597986994741139172007-06-12T12:25:00.001-04:002007-06-12T12:25:32.532-04:00

I have been working for the last couple of months on family genealogy. While it has been a very enjoyable pursuit it has also made me even more aware of the necessity of keeping "backups" of important records at remote sites. Some things (photos, original documents, etc. are simply irreplaceable.) And since you can't keep original records in multiple locations you can can keep COPIES.------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-5444177065121508492007-06-12T09:09:00.001-04:002007-06-12T09:09:48.101-04:00

Having lived a good portion of my life - I have come to conclude that much of human existence is lived with an element of deceit. No matter how much professed "morality" or "good intentions" I suspect there is always some "untold" story, "truth", "behavior", or whatever that is not freely shared with other people for a variety of reasons - such as suggested by the "Seven deadly sins" of (pride,

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-87285498324288832802007-04-14T20:26:00.000-04:002007-06-14T09:59:37.339-04:00

In October of 2006 I made major conservation projects to our house. I installed new attic insulation, sealed all the holes in the foundation, and insulated spaces between the floor beams. After an interesting (and cold) winter a review of my housing energy costs show that both natural gas and electricity were down by almost 25%. Given that the US Government offered an addition $500 tax deduction

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-88371599913692126392007-02-10T09:07:00.001-05:002007-06-14T10:00:44.843-04:00

2/10/2007Our whole nation is founded on compromise. Shelby FooteAbraham Lincoln reportedly said that, given eight hours to chop down a tree, he'd spend six sharpening his axe.-- TidBITS 654, quoted by Derek K. Miller, via Art EvansOne test is worth a thousand opinions.A leader is best when people barely know that he exists.Less good when they obey and acclaim him.Worse when they fear and despise

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-12073565041587141502007-02-05T11:37:00.000-05:002007-06-14T10:07:00.126-04:00

1. For return on investment, the best home renovation is to upgrade an old bathroom. Kitchens come in second.2. It's worth refinancing your mortgage when you can cut your interest rate by at least one point. There are transaction costs and fees involved in any refinancing that must be either paid out of pocket or added to the mortgage principal. Some of those costs can be considerable. Title

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-7955816002096278562007-02-05T08:29:00.000-05:002007-06-14T10:07:50.695-04:00

"The most important things in Life are not things." - anon.

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1154303665538926202006-07-30T19:17:00.000-04:002007-06-14T10:10:27.444-04:00

A PRAYER.....I am not a religious person in the traditional sense. I do not believe there is an omnipotent and omminicent entity watching over this or any other planet. I believe that the only forces that can govern our collective survival is our ability to reason and a self-imposed "humanitarian moral order." Without these efforts we will not survive.If I WERE religious man this the one prayer I

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1153140707178475112006-07-17T08:47:00.000-04:002007-06-14T13:56:02.520-04:00

A recent article revealed that "Students with computers can wager 24/7 from their dorm rooms on unregulated, offshore Internet poker sites. And they do. Nearly 600,000 youths under age 22 gamble online every week, and online wagering among college students has increased fivefold since 2002, according to a study last year by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center.Not

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1152658833475447172006-07-11T18:44:00.000-04:002006-07-11T19:00:33.550-04:00

IMPORTANCE OF BEING OBSERVANT......I have been working on "rehabbing" my home so I have not found much time to work on my "life lessons." But today as I went to the local Home Depot checkout with a number of purchases the cashier told the purchase was "$278". I did a quick mental check of the monitor purchase list and it did not come close to that amount. I asked the clerk to check the items

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1152378228386065402006-07-08T12:58:00.000-04:002006-07-08T13:03:48.450-04:00

PRACTICAL ADVICE....A neighbor asked me why her lawnmower had such a hard time starting. I looked at the mower and noted she had a large gas container she used for the fuel. When I asked her how OLD was the gas she replied it was from last year.Gasoline is made for "seasonal" use - it has a slightly different composition for each season. In addition, gas left to set out will "separate" by the

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1152131468265211622006-07-05T16:18:00.000-04:002006-07-05T16:31:08.336-04:00

ENERGY CONSERVATION.....Being retired I have taken more time to constantly "insulate" our home and practice "energy conservation." Each small effort produces a saving over the long haul. My only regret is not doing this when I was younger.Today's conversation effort was to insulate the hot water heater. http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13070"Insulate

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1151882601679815682006-07-02T19:19:00.000-04:002006-07-02T19:23:21.690-04:00

LIFE EXPECTANCY...."In 1900, the average life expectancy was 50 and the major causes of death were infant mortality, malnutrition, infection and trauma, he said. By 2000, life expectancy had climbed to near 80 and causes of death shifted to chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer."This FACT of life is often over-looked in individual retirement plans. The fact of life is - your

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1151358145109661242006-06-26T17:37:00.000-04:002006-06-26T17:42:25.136-04:00

YOUR FUTURE JOB....You need to ask yourself whether your job will be affected in the future by the "China" economic revolution. In the new Chinese economy workers make about .35 cents an hour and no benefits. What are you making? Always keep an eye over your shoulder and constantly update your skill sets.----------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1151101465684055922006-06-23T18:23:00.000-04:002006-06-23T18:24:25.700-04:00

How the Monthly Mentality Messes Up Your Wealthby Laura RowleyI recently read an article by Laura Rowley on “How the Month Mentality Messes Up Your Wealth” and came to reflect on some distant family members who “fit the bill.” I strongly recommend you read the summary below and make any necessary corrections in your lifestyle so your “future retirement” willl work.In summary:“There are

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1150820109623354132006-06-20T12:14:00.000-04:002006-06-20T12:15:09.633-04:00

Life's Potholes....Periodically life reminds you of the frality of life with "potholes" in your life journey. There is seldom a warning of the "event(s)" nor ever the "understanding" you expect from others.That being said, life goes on....and what you have learned from the last "pothole" should benefit you at the next pothole but only if your astute, calm, and perceptive.-----------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1150670836648627812006-06-18T18:43:00.000-04:002006-06-18T18:47:16.663-04:00

ANOTHER BUSH INHUMANITY PROPOSALLET 'EM EAT....I have always considered that President George Bush one of the most selfish Presidents in our country's history. The following article from the AARP merely illustrates one such trait.Let 'em Eat…a Balanced BudgetSurplus food for low-income older Americans is on the federal budget chopping block.By Susan Q. StranahanJune 2006 When her food stamps

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1150564881682393472006-06-17T13:17:00.000-04:002007-06-14T09:58:03.103-04:00

Teachers....Everyone who remembers his own educational experience remember teachers, not methods and instructional techniques.

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1150317891309825212006-06-14T16:41:00.000-04:002007-06-14T13:52:50.563-04:00

A BASIC CONCEPT OF LEARNING (Training)....I used to have a supervisor who constantly fought with his superiors to spend more on staff training and LESS on hardware. Unfortunately, his supervisors could not grasp the importance of this concept.His supervisors believed in the "Theory of Learning Immunization" - that is, if you provide a "training" session (shot) that should provide a long-term

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1149595983336790732006-06-06T08:00:00.000-04:002006-06-06T08:13:03.433-04:00

MARRIAGE....Is certainly one on the most important choices you will make in your life. The selection of a mate not only is a great "emotional" decision but an economic one as well.A relative is in midst of making elaborate wedding plans and unfortunately has decided to place themselves into future bankrupcy by "borrowing" for this event.It is always interesting that people who have very little

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1149212244276952972006-06-01T21:31:00.000-04:002006-06-01T21:42:43.906-04:00

SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF....I have always marveled at how people can ignore the "small stuff" in life. It is the accumulation of many "small things" which become the "big things" that overwhelm people.I do "sweat" the "small stuff" everyday of my life and make no amends for it - neither should you.--------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1149179387526524722006-06-01T09:54:00.000-04:002006-06-01T12:29:47.610-04:00

BACKING UP.....for years I kept a favorite IT cartoon on my wall. It showed two IT managers in conversation at a party. The one IT manager said to the other "You know you really have to have a backup." In back of him were TWO WIVES, TWO DOGS, TWO CHILDREN, TWO CATS.....I mention this because even after retirement (from IT) I periodically have people call me seeking advice about their problems.

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1149033834830534802006-05-30T19:53:00.000-04:002006-05-30T20:03:54.853-04:00

WEIGHING ALL YOUR OPTIONS....I recently decided to paint (stain) my back fence. I made the usual trip to Lowes/Home Depot to shop for stains. In both cases you cannot purchase anything less than a gallon by selecting a "color" from a color chart. After I purchased a "gallon" for $27.00 I decided I didn't like the way in went on - but you can't return it.On an impulse I stopped by a small local

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148916272854123462006-05-29T10:36:00.000-04:002006-05-29T21:19:30.466-04:00

HAVING PROTECTION DOES NOT MEAN SOMEONE WILL USE IT.....There is a mind set among many people that "bad things happen" to other people - but not to them. Three interesting statistics:One in three people do not wear their seatbelts.One in three POLICE OFFICERS do not wear their bullet proof vest. About one-third of teenagers use no protection for sex at all.and the list goes on.....Lesson learned:

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148777545900133852006-05-27T20:51:00.000-04:002006-05-27T20:52:25.910-04:00

KEEPING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE........THOUGHT OF THE DAY: "For all our conceits about being the center of the universe, we live in a routine planet of a humdrum star stuck away in an obscure corner ... on an unexceptional galaxy which is one of about 100 billion galaxies. That is the fundamental fact of the universe we inhabit, and it is very good for us to understand that." - Carl Sagan ---------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148765250921835282006-05-27T17:17:00.000-04:002006-05-27T17:30:38.260-04:00

FRAUD IS A CONSTANT IN LIFE.......I visited a Civil War show recently. A number of participants had "artifacts" for sale. When I went to a table one man had a group of Indian artifacts (arrowheads, spear points, and hatchets.) As I starred at the objects contemplating perhaps a purchase the vendor turned to me and said "Now those are REAL artifacts."I was slightly taken back by the comment -

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148695981053675532006-05-26T22:11:00.000-04:002006-05-26T22:13:01.063-04:00

GETRICHSLOWLY....This is an interesting financial blog that I would strongly recommend for anyone trying to gain a hold on their own finances.http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148692075625416252006-05-26T20:48:00.000-04:002006-05-27T15:37:46.213-04:00

LESSONS FROM MY FATHER....I am reading the autobiogaphy of Marcus Aurelius (Roman Emperor.) One of the chapters dwelt on the childhood "lessons he learned from his "father" and family members. The thought of this has prompted me to reflect on what I have learned...This list will be on-going and subject to revisions:- Whatever your occupation always have an eye on the future - be prepared for any

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148521418646020572006-05-24T21:29:00.000-04:002006-05-24T21:43:38.730-04:00

WILLS AND TRUSTS......We are in the midst of making a major conversion of our existing will to a TRUST. (Don't worry my children you will still get your inheritance - and even more because of the TRUST.)A Trust costs more than a Will ($1500-10,000 depending on your financial complexity) but offers a major advantage of keeping your assets out of PROBATE COURT and prescribed state mandated fee

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148434374497760112006-05-23T21:28:00.000-04:002006-05-23T21:32:54.506-04:00

FEELING SAFE?In the entire 6 years of the Second World War we exploded about 2 Mega tons of TNT. Today we have over 10,000 Mega tons of TNT held in nuclear weapons threatening our "cosmic" end.At this moment there are about 15-20 wars going on. Will one of these events precipitate our demise?-----------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148241554485107242006-05-21T15:55:00.000-04:002006-05-21T20:18:15.140-04:00

$52 PER GALLON....We went to the show today. Because the have a "membership" card we received a free soda. The "free soda" represented about a pint (volume without ice?). The cost of the soda if you paid for it was $3.25 - this translates into $52 a gallon.And to think people complain about $2.75 gas......And to think that a 16 oz beer at the new Busch Stadium costs 7.75 or $62 a gallon....sigh -

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148216075680182942006-05-21T08:27:00.000-04:002006-05-21T15:55:08.743-04:00

ZANFEL....If you have EVER experienced Poison Ivy, Oak, etc. you know the extreme discomfort once you have been exposed. In fact, a really bad exposure can last 6-10 weeks depending on age and all with anguish.Even if you KNOW that you touched the plant just washing your hands will NOT remove the irritants because it actually BONDS with the skin.Once the skin erruption occurs your only options

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148169757918287392006-05-20T19:59:00.000-04:002006-05-20T20:02:37.930-04:00

PET COSTS.....I have mentioned this before but this newspaper article is a sober reminder.....http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/pets/story/3E158FB56AB9457C862571730069D954?And while CATS can be less enpensive a BIG DOG is the price of a new car."An average owner with a healthy, medium-to-large dog should expect to pay $25,000 in food, vaccinations and pet-related expenses

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148169226729133022006-05-20T19:42:00.000-04:002006-05-20T19:53:46.750-04:00

ASKING FOR DISCOUNTS....As in every marriage there are some tasks that one spouse will take ownership over another. The other day my wife was taking the cat to the "Vet" for an annual checkup. Just as an afterthought I asked her to check IF the Vet offered any senior discounts. When my wife came home she said YES we were eligible for a 10% discount. In fact, we were eligible for the past 4 years.

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148083727132591552006-05-19T20:05:00.000-04:002006-05-27T16:21:47.250-04:00

LIFE RULES.... a work in progressThese rules are subject to future updates and revisions.... 0 "Spend less than you earn." This should be a lifetime pursuit. Try to save 10% of your net income. Be sure to have an ACTIVE savings plan.1 "The first rule of financial success is to protect what you have." This RULE should carry over into your everyday actions for the rest of your life. http:/

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1148004329665031922006-05-18T21:44:00.000-04:002006-05-18T22:09:09.016-04:00

ATTENTION TO DETAILS......I bought a new "used" car the other day. As you can read in other entries (below) I do not believe that a new car is a realistic purchase since you normally loose 30% of your purchase in the first year. Still, every purchase requires your attention to the details if you plan to obtain your best purchase.I spent considerable time on-line researching the type of car,

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1147800355545595442006-05-16T13:23:00.000-04:002006-05-16T13:25:55.553-04:00

POWER OF COMPOUNDED INTEREST.....As my insurance agent recently reminded me - "This is the 8th wonder of the world." Personally, I think it should be in the top three. -------------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1147640760573691212006-05-14T17:02:00.000-04:002006-05-14T17:06:00.586-04:00

ADVICE....Many people make judgements and decisions without taking in the benefit of advice. The more you reject "listening" to other peoples life experiences the less they are willing to share it with you. The advice may not always be accurate - but it is a "starting point" in your assessment of a situation.----------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1147572000697260272006-05-13T21:58:00.000-04:002006-05-13T22:00:00.710-04:00

ADVERSITY BUILDS CHARACTER.....No, it only reveal it.(commercial)--------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1146704736925286632006-05-03T20:53:00.000-04:002006-05-03T21:05:36.956-04:00

FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF....Don't waste your time. It is more important to spend your time on finding solutions or accepting your problems/issues than ever experiencing "self-pity."I was watching this evening the Discovery Health Channel show called "Rebuilt: The Human Body". People with the loss of body parts go on with their lives uses prosthetic devices. One young man called "Roy Perkins"

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1146608036419932422006-05-02T18:13:00.000-04:002006-05-03T14:29:45.620-04:00

AND HERE'S A SCARY THOUGHT:students are learning manners from us whether we are "teaching" them or not. As Robert Fulghum (All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten) said:"Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you."(That quote is equally true for most adults as well. Actions take precedence over words.)-----------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1146423703298916752006-04-30T14:51:00.000-04:002006-05-02T17:24:51.513-04:00

INVESTMENTS AT THE GROCERY STORE....I always annoy my wife when we go shopping by purchasing large numbers of sale items we use on a regular basis. For example, we both eat cereal for breakfast (5 days a week.) Today I purchased 12 boxes of the 1.99 (sale price) which normally sells for $3.69 (or more). This translates into a $20.40 savings - (not including the sales tax on the purchase.) This

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1146226508694306922006-04-28T08:12:00.000-04:002006-04-28T08:24:07.506-04:00

YOUR REALLY OLD WHEN.....you can remember that the national debt was a smaller number than the 100+ billion stars in our Milky Way. But don't worry - President Bush and the Congress are heading us towards national bankruptcy.(Note: just for personal reference - "one billion" measured in seconds is slightly over 32 years on a calendar.)--------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1145931250303403502006-04-24T22:02:00.000-04:002006-04-24T22:14:10.330-04:00

LIFE DOES NOT COME WITH AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL....and even if it did I doubt if most people would read it.I was reflecting the other day on a female acquaintance who told me that MEN never understood her. I thought how much easier it would be for her date if he had an OWNERS MANUAL preceded the dating experiences. Perhaps something like a CONSUMERS REPORT critique should be part of the dating

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1145914492035704622006-04-24T17:27:00.000-04:002006-04-24T17:34:52.123-04:00

PUSH THE BUTTON.....The garbage disposal quit working the other day. I checked the electrical panel and wiring and discovered the device was receiving electricity. I cleaned the "sink switch" to make sure it was not clogged - it wasn't. My conclusion was that the "switch" was broken and needed replacement.I was going to go "on-line" to check the DIY (do-it-yourself) sites for suggestions but

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1145818286917455082006-04-23T14:44:00.000-04:002006-04-23T14:56:51.453-04:00

VIRTUE OF ORGANIZED LIVING.....Following my retirement last year I have increasingly been spending more time "organizing" THINGS not only in my life but also in those people in my immediate circle (family & friends). What I have discovered is not only does it make "things" work better but also makes life less expensive. I have discovered that I have NUMEROUS duplicate tools (to which I have added

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1145657341433667032006-04-21T18:06:00.000-04:002006-04-21T18:33:30.476-04:00

DISCOUNTS COUNT......You can find all kinds of discount coupons on-line to local establishments. Here is a good link if you live in St. Louis:http://www.familyattractionscard.com/MO/STL/StlAttractionOffers.htmlAND if your into less expensive gas prices:http://www.stlouisgasprices.com/OTHER:http://www.couponcabin.com/top.htm-------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1145623343590671342006-04-21T08:41:00.000-04:002006-04-21T08:42:23.603-04:00

LEADERSHIP....Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him.~Booker T. Washington--------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1145405796523384032006-04-18T20:15:00.000-04:002006-04-18T20:16:36.536-04:00

MORTGAGES....An interesting snippet from Kiplingers Money Magazine.....MORTGAGES 101Buying by the numbersLenders look at three things when you apply for a mortgage: credit score, debt-to-income ratio and down payment. "If you've got two of the three elements working for you, you're in good shape to buy," says Jim McMillan, a senior loan officer with JP Mortgage/JPMorgan Chase.All lenders are

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1145147166559223012006-04-15T20:23:00.000-04:002006-04-15T20:26:06.570-04:00

CREDIT REPORTS.....Once a year you can obtain a FREE credit report from each of the three major Credit Review Agencies. It is strongly recommended that you do this. The following article is from "bankquote.com" and represents excellent advice. (Note: while there is a request for your SSN# it is on a Secure site.)How to get your report"The reports will not automatically be sent out. Consumers

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1145069462942209732006-04-14T22:43:00.000-04:002006-04-14T22:51:02.970-04:00

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS....IS SO VERY HARD TO DO....This should probably be a song title. I have been disposing of "leftovers" and "cast-away" items from the family basement on Freecycle.com recently. And what prompted this entry is the unbelieveable number of people who will respond to your OFFER without reading and observing the directions.I recently asked for anyone interested to MY OFFER to 1)

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1144367247057189532006-04-06T19:43:00.000-04:002006-04-06T19:47:27.070-04:00

LIFE COUNSELORS....I was sitting at the Doctors office this morning and I happened to chance upon a “medical infomercial” about a new type of "professional support" called a “Life Counselor.”A “life counselor” is evidently a person who helps a person focus on the future and not the past (role of a psychologist). My gut impression is that anyone willing to pay $300+ a month to have a

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1144182336091128292006-04-04T16:23:00.000-04:002006-04-04T16:25:36.106-04:00

YOUR WORD....What is your word worth? To the people you work with? To your friends? To your family?--------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1144106095614333912006-04-03T19:14:00.000-04:002006-04-03T19:14:55.623-04:00

SUCCESS....(According to the Book of Jobs (Steve that is)And it comes from saying no to 1,000 things to make sure we don't get on the wrong track or try to do too much. We're always thinking about new markets we could enter, but it's only by saying no that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.-- Steve Jobs to Business Week, Oct. 12, 2004---------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1143917959753269102006-04-01T13:57:00.000-05:002006-04-01T19:20:35.620-05:00

PROBLEM SOLVING....PLACE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS IN THE CORRECT ORDER FOR EFFECTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING:Making your feelings known to others (in a calm and clear manner)Gathering all the necessary information to discuss the situationFormulating a written plan with ALL the people who part of the solution(That wasn't so hard was it?)-----------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1143858197853280722006-03-31T21:22:00.000-05:002006-03-31T21:23:17.866-05:00

SO MUCH FOR BEING AVERAGE....According to a November Washington Post poll (whose results were published in February), 94 percent of Americans said they are "above average" in honesty, 89 percent "above average" in common sense, 86 percent "above average" in intelligence, and 79 percent "above average" in looks. [Washington Post-AP, 2-5-06] [Washington Post, 2-8-06]--------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1143693648978445782006-03-29T23:32:00.000-05:002006-03-29T23:40:48.990-05:00

JUDGING BOOKS BY THEIR COVERS....If you have ever listened to Jeff Foxworthy (comedian) you leave with the impression that here is a "Good o'le Boy" from the South who made good. The irony is that He was a member of the class of 1979 at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, but left his mainframe maintenance job at IBM (where his father also worked) after five years to become a

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1143682047622158582006-03-29T20:25:00.000-05:002006-03-29T20:27:27.636-05:00

CLIMATIC CHANGES WILL AFFECT OUR FUTURE.....Climate Change: Instant Expert "Climate change is with us. A decade ago, it was conjecture. Now the future is unfolding before our eyes. Canada's Inuit see it in disappearing Arctic ice and permafrost. The shantytown dwellers of Latin America and Southern Asia see it in lethal storms and floods. Europeans see it in disappearing glaciers, forest fires

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1143650839588634572006-03-29T11:46:00.000-05:002006-03-29T11:47:19.600-05:00

SMOKING KILLS.....Since 1965 each package of cigarettes has had a warning that "smoking causes" some health risks: lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, complicate pregnancy, premature birth rates. Cigarettes contains carbon monoxide and 4000+ toxins including nicotine. Once you become a habitual smoker, your mind and body develop a physical dependence for nicotine. When ingested the person

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1143593943548021002006-03-28T19:53:00.000-05:002006-04-23T09:33:55.660-04:00

THE QUESTION IS....Art Buchwald is in a hospice waiting to die (following kidney failure and a refusal to go on dialysis. He said that a number of people asked him "where are you going when you die?" He said the better question is "What are we doing here in the first place."In either case.... there are no clear answers (to please everybody.) Interesting to note that a search of the internet

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1143324914680168202006-03-25T17:11:00.000-05:002006-03-25T17:15:14.693-05:00

RAISING CHILDREN....This topic could probably be a Blog by itself. However I just read a blog entry and thought the ideas were so good that I would post some of the good advice here.Why kids should get allowances, 'cards'http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20060324/cm_usatoday/whykidsshouldgetallowancescards"• Fewer than 60% of children ages 6 to 17 get any allowance.• The range for 6- to 11-

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1143212461941200082006-03-24T09:56:00.000-05:002006-03-25T10:57:10.003-05:00

THIS IS THE TRUTH....AND IT WON'T GET ANY BETTER"Microsoft isn't evil, they just make really crappy operating systems."- Linus Torvalds (world genius of programmers - created Linux computer operating system in 1991 at the age of 21)SOME FUN READINGS: http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30516http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30128PS - Six versions of Vista announced:"Microsoft is planning six

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1143154035393476772006-03-23T17:46:00.000-05:002006-03-23T17:49:32.750-05:00

WHO PACKS YOUR PARACHUTE?Charles Plumbplumbtalk@aol.comCharles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane as destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.One day, when Plumb

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1142993688498777572006-03-21T21:14:00.000-05:002006-03-21T21:14:48.510-05:00

PROBLEM SOLVING....An artist was commissioned by a prominent banker to paint his portait. After two months of work the artist invited the banker to review his "master piece". The banker asked the artist the price and he replied $5,000. The banker looked at the painting again and replied "That looks nothing like me - I'm not paying it!"The artist said "I am really sorry to hear that - I thought it

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1142978357386322962006-03-21T16:58:00.000-05:002006-03-21T17:01:01.536-05:00

KNOWING....Know thy enemies but know thy self first. - Lao Tzu--------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1142958310158816702006-03-21T11:22:00.000-05:002006-03-21T11:28:35.633-05:00

OVERCOMING OPPOSITION....The only way to overcome an opponent's idea is to convert them to a (better?) idea.--------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1142868739079985582006-03-20T10:29:00.000-05:002006-03-20T10:32:19.080-05:00

THE THINGS THAT MAKE A MAN STUPID:"There are two things that make a man stupid - sex and money. But money does not enter the blood stream." - Dr. Stone------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1142868550955192692006-03-20T10:24:00.000-05:002006-03-23T20:36:53.793-05:00

RISK.....CHANCEThere is always RISK in everything we do. I watched a TV poker game the other day where the two players faced off on the final card. The first player had a 99% chance of winning. But when the card was turned over he lost.LESSON LEARNED: As long as there is a CHANCE the game is never over.PS - Remember Ron Wayne? He is the long-forgotten third founder of Apple. According to Woz, Ron

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1142868166747720212006-03-20T10:15:00.000-05:002006-03-20T10:22:47.716-05:00

ALWAYS ASK....Many years ago a collector friend of mind was at a show and commented to me how much he wanted a particular item. I asked him WHY he didn't buy it. He replied he did not have the amount of money it way worth. Some time later the man came by my table carrying the item. I asked him how much the item was and he replied $1200 (what it was worth). I commented that it was really nice. He

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1140131158378295192006-02-16T17:59:00.000-05:002006-02-16T18:05:58.390-05:00

BEWARE OF GREEKS....bearing gifts. Perhaps this ancient quote should be revised to state "Beware of PEOPLE offering gifts so they can hold it over your head."I have seen a large number of people in my life who had to suffer mental outrages because they unwisely took a gift from a fiend/relative who felt it gave them some form of moral superiority over that persons life. Be sure that the "GIFT" is

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1140050642230456472006-02-15T19:31:00.000-05:002006-02-15T19:44:02.280-05:00

INHERITANCES:Many years ago I can remember my father waiting for his Aunt and Uncle to visit God and leave them their money. My father made casual visits once in a while checking on their health but nothing more.One day he received a call his uncle died and several months laters the aunt followed. At the reading of the will my father walked out of the room shocked. In stead of the hundreds of

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1140033259084961282006-02-15T14:41:00.000-05:002006-02-15T14:54:19.156-05:00

ASKING BEFORE THE ACTION....Yesterday I had to go to a PAIN MANAGEMENT CENTER to deal with a severe neck pain as the result of a neck operation about a year ago. I had already seen my surgeon, taken a CAT scan, X-Ray, and physical therapy prior to this step.As I talked with the Pain Management Doctor he explained the procedure as inserting cortosone through a 6" syringe into my neck veterbrae

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1139930866770044922006-02-14T10:26:00.000-05:002006-02-14T10:27:46.783-05:00

LEARNING FROM THE PAST:You should learn from past mistakes to PLAN for a better future.(But few people do.)----------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1139877404649735692006-02-13T19:36:00.000-05:002006-02-13T19:36:44.830-05:00

ANYONE CAN BE PRESIDENT:Bush proves each day what crusading attorney Clarence Darrow meant in the 1920s when he said, "When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become president. I'm beginning to believe it."----------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1139876768781725962006-02-13T19:22:00.000-05:002006-02-13T19:26:08.800-05:00

WHAT DO YOUR CHILDREN OWE YOU?Nothing. It was your choice to HAVE THEM. If they are periodically good to you gleem the moment - otherwise live your life as best you can.Most parents will watch over their children for the rest of their lives - whether they want it or not. My own father would always tell me to water the Xmas tree (at the age of 90) even after we would tell him each year that it was

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1139452855154826662006-02-08T21:40:00.000-05:002006-02-08T21:40:55.166-05:00

HOW DOES THE SAYING GO?"A Fool and his money are soon parted."----------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1139265561275740222006-02-06T17:38:00.000-05:002006-02-06T17:39:21.290-05:00

"GOOD DEEDS" ?What is the old saying? "No good deed goes unpunished."Time will tell won't it?-----------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1139199991437691442006-02-05T23:25:00.000-05:002006-02-05T23:26:31.446-05:00

PERSONAL JUDGEMENT:Just because someone underestimates you does not mean you have to do the same for them.----------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138983495841183412006-02-03T11:06:00.000-05:002006-02-03T16:18:49.460-05:00

PERSISTENCE:Today I went to renew a CD with a long established financial institution (having done business with them for over 25 years). This institution would always MATCH any money market rate of a local competitive bank.I always do my HOMEWORK before investing any monies. I found in the paper a favorable renewal rate at another bank for .47% more than what they advertised. When I told the

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138921864001546522006-02-02T17:57:00.000-05:002006-02-03T16:12:33.913-05:00

JUST FOR YOUR EDUCATION: SOME BASIC WAR MATHThe Bush administration said Thursday (2/2/06) it will ask Congress for $120 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $18 billion more this year for hurricane relief. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that $320 billion has been spent on Iraq and Afghanistan since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, including $50 billion that Congress

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138836643108871642006-02-01T18:28:00.000-05:002006-02-05T10:45:27.643-05:00

LAW OF ADAPTATION:This is the first Law of Evolution (those species that adapt - SURVIVE). This is true both both for your personal hardware (body) and software (mind & soul).----------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138820005364441072006-02-01T13:52:00.000-05:002006-02-15T15:04:45.233-05:00

RAY'S TREE SERVICE - St. LouisDo not ever do business with this company! They cannot be trusted. Always get your BIDS and BILLING of services in WRITING.----------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138818531713241092006-02-01T12:57:00.000-05:002006-02-01T13:35:24.280-05:00

THE INTERNET: Growing Important...In 1993 I can remember our school system being first connected to the Internet. It was a "milestone" but few teachers or technology IT people could fathom the importance of this technology to future education. Now, 13 years later the Internet has been accessed by 3/4's of the people in the U.S. and according to Pew Internet and American Life Project foundation

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138811407239646692006-02-01T11:07:00.000-05:002006-02-05T10:57:52.426-05:00

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTION - GIVING THECHANCE:A friend told me the other day that "chance" was not a consideration in the formation of our life forms. He argued that "no where" else in our universe could life exist.A quick review of an on-line science encyclopedia shows there are over 100 billion galexies in our known universe (and our Milky Way Galexy is but one.) And in the Milky way we have

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138750627276131592006-01-31T18:28:00.000-05:002006-01-31T18:37:07.286-05:00

GIFT CARDS: DON'TSometime ago we received a Gift card for Blockbuster. Like many people we were pleased to get it but stuck in a packet of coupons. When we finally went to redeem the card we were "penalized" for not using it promptly. This penalty is NOT unique it seems. Many companies, including Kmart, Macy's, Red Lobster, etc. have similar FINE PRINT on the back of the card. And while the terms

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138669994445844242006-01-30T20:09:00.000-05:002006-01-30T20:17:00.326-05:00

RELIGIOUS COMFORT:or amusement ?http://shipoffools.com/http://shipoffools.com/Gadgets/index.htmlI am not picking on Christianity - every religion has similar critics. Still, it is amazing the diversity of beliefs and critics in our religious experiences. And according to the site's author "We're here for people who prefer disorganized religion to the organized kind," says ship-of-fools.com editor

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138497501986171072006-01-28T20:13:00.001-05:002006-01-28T20:18:21.996-05:00

TAX TIP: (US) Feb. 1, 2006 datelineIF you have any need of obtaining a "PRIVATE LETTER RULING" you had better run to your tax advisor and get your petition before Feb. 1, 2006. The IRS will raise the rates from the current $95 fee "TO MORE REALISTICALLY REFLECT THE COST OF SUCH TRANSACTIONS" - That translates into a MINIMUM of $3,000 plus the costs of attorneys and tax advisors. If you have

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138490573947293132006-01-28T18:14:00.000-05:002006-02-05T16:27:42.730-05:00

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO LIVE DURING RETIREMENT?Guidelines suggest you save enough for retirement, including Social Security and a pension, to replace 60% to 80% of your income. (Based on my personal experiences - this seems realistic.) Whether or not existing income from COLAs, dividends, and CD rates keep up with inflation still remains a long term guess. Personal health, health insurance and

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138481768875645402006-01-28T15:55:00.000-05:002006-01-28T23:22:01.576-05:00

THINK before you EMAIL.... (and especially from work)Got a little time on your hands than take a look at:http://www.enronemail.com/This company has developed a powerful software engine which allows “companies” (or governments) to search through your e-mail. The FREE on-line example is for YOU to search through the hundreds of thousands of email between 176 Enron Executive and employees in 2000-

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138414362896009182006-01-27T21:09:00.000-05:002006-01-27T21:12:42.906-05:00

ON-LINE DISCOUNT:As I prepared to make an on-line purchase I noted there was a field for a DISCOUNT CODE. I immediately did a search at Google for the company name and "discount code" - which returned codes for 5-10%. I entered the 10% code and it worked, saving me about $9 for a 10 minute search.---------------------------

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138323170993849322006-01-26T19:52:00.000-05:002006-02-05T11:07:16.133-05:00

ATTENTION TO DETAILS:As much as people state that they have all the facts when making crucial decisions I would venture this is not the case in the majority of cases.Today Oprah denounced James Frey for the factual holes in his memoir, "A Million Little Pieces." Without recounting the entire incident lets just say that Frey’s book was an elaborate embellishment of partial truths with the self

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5570049.post-1138317152518232012006-01-26T18:12:00.000-05:002006-01-26T18:12:32.520-05:00

THE BEST TIME TO BUY.....According to Money Magazine:Airline Tickets: WEDNESDAY. “That's when airlines release their available seats for the upcoming weekend and the weekend after. Likewise it's still best to book a domestic flight at least two weeks in advance, and even further ahead for international travel. But if the two-week window isn't an option for you, she advised delaying the purchase

Kent Forrestnoreply@blogger.com