Romaine lettuce, we come here to praise ceasar [10 May 2008|04:16am] acc_hedonist http://www.accidentalhedonist.com/index.php?title=romaine_lettuce_ceasar_salad&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 That beautiful bunch of produce came from our CSA yesterday. It's so fresh it's practically pulsating. I've been eating salads all week and yup...I'm bragging because I can. Recipes aren't really necessary when you've got ingredients this perfect. In the photo above, just to the left of the tatsoi is a perfect, gleaming head of romaine lettuce. He's crisp and tender and tasty green. I rarely encounter a perfect head of lettuce at the market but our dedicated CSA will grow these jewels all spring and early summer. When life gives you romaine you must make the best salad on earth...the ceasar salad. Here's my version, which is very classic, and very Julia. I've made it this way for 20 years and I swear it is the best. I'm going to lay it out in steps because it's easier that way. Ingredients: romaine lettuce, 3 slices stale sourdough bread, olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, anchovies, an egg 1. Smash a clove of garlic and rub your salad bowl with it. Take 1/3 cup olive oil and add a smashed garlic clove to it. 2. Rub the garlic over the stale bread, brush it with olive oil, slice it into cubes, and brown them until crispy edged in a skillet over a medium flame. 3. Open the anchovies and drain them. blot them dry with a paper towel and slice them or chop them as you like. If you are timid about anchovies then chop them fine so you get the flavor but don't really see them. I lurv (yes, I did say "lurv") anchovies and the bigger the better as far as I'm concerned. 4. Squeeze 2 lemons or if you have an unreliable lemon supply you might use Santa Cruz Juice Co.'s lemon juice. I think it's pretty good. 5. Grate about 1/2 cup of the parmesan. 6. Gently rip the lettuce into manageable-sized pieces. Put them in the salad bowl. 7. Add the garlic-steeped olive oil, the lemon juice, the anchovies, and a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Crack the egg into the bowl and toss the whole lot about. Add the croutons and the parmesan and toss again. 8. Taste for seasoning and serve or be a glutton and eat the whole thing by yourself, straight from the bowl...I'm not saying I've ever done that (uhm...) but you definitely could. Also appearing in the picture above are a dozen fresh eggs, a bag of spinach, a bag of baby savory greens like mustard, kale, beet (they are really good as a sweet, soft little bed for a sizzling pork chop), ramps, radishes, sorrel, and dandelion greens. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to make with the sorrel? How about the dandelion greens? This past week at What Geeks Eat...I've posted about some killer tofu that I made and an avocado cucumber salad. go

It's a Miracle [09 May 2008|11:38pm] baseball [phatmatt] Thank God Eric Gagne is no longer leading the league in blown saves all by himself. I'm guessing it won't be long before he is again, though. go 7

Because I'll Swallow Anything [10 May 2008|12:00am] overheardnyc http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014610.html Guy: That's the house George Washington grew up in. Girl: Wait, really? Guy: No, you dumb bitch. Why did I ever marry you? --70th Ave, Forest Hills, Queens Overheard by: emma Alsome | Thumbs up | Thumbs down | Link · Email · Quote this! · Del.icio.us · Posted 2008-05-10 go 2

Wise back, available to Mets in twin bill [09 May 2008|10:50pm] mets_mlbnews http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080509&content_id=2669726&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym&partnered=rss_nym For more than a month, Mets reliever Matt Wise had been assigned to the disabled list. The reason: a simple bruise of the right forearm. At least that's what his colleagues believed. Back with the club, he could be activated for Game 2 on Saturday night. go

DivaCup I hope your comfortable! [09 May 2008|08:52pm] menstrual_cups [bananacakey] HI!  I just got my DivaCup and starting doing test runs today.  I think I get the jest of it - I have one question....I can feel the rim of the cup with my index finder after its inserted, but its not round (circular) its more pinched in the front and in the back and wide in the middle (I hope that makes sense).  I can't see how anyone "turns" the cup when it has popped open.  If I can only get one finger inside - how am I supposed to grab on to it and turn it without grabbing the stem??? I wore it all day today at work - no pain or discomfort so that's good.  I just dont know if its sitting in me correctly.  Thanks in advance for your suggestions. BananaCakey go 4

Getting Blown Is More of a Guy Thing [09 May 2008|10:00pm] overheardnyc http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014609.html 20-something girl: I was standing there on the subway, and this guy blew on me! And I was like, "Um, what?" and he was like "You started it!" and kept blowing on me! I think he put a curse on me. Friend: This is why I take cabs. --4th & 6th Alsome | Thumbs up | Thumbs down | Link · Email · Quote this! · Del.icio.us · Posted 2008-05-09 go 1

Mets-Reds opener at Shea rained out [09 May 2008|08:58pm] mets_mlbnews http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080509&content_id=2669603&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym&partnered=rss_nym The Mets' Friday night game against the Reds at Shea Stadium was postponed because of rain. It was rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday as the second game of day-night doubleheader. go

Why I Stuck Out My Cane in the First Place [09 May 2008|08:00pm] overheardnyc http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014608.html [A lady running up subway stairs slips and falls] Guy walking behind her: Are you okay? Lady, rudely: Ugh... Mind your own business. Guy: I'm glad you fell. --Willoughby St & Myrtle Promenade Overheard by: azzie Alsome | Thumbs up | Thumbs down | Link · Email · Quote this! · Del.icio.us · Posted 2008-05-09 go 5

I've just realized... [09 May 2008|05:29pm] menstrual_cups [devil_blondit] I've had my diva for over a year! Yay! hah. go 2

Pics: Bakersfield Blaze at Modesto Nuts [09 May 2008|05:13pm] baseball [flashfire] Part two of the Wednesday doubleheader and I finally got more of a high-scoring game: 10-6, Bakersfield. Of course, that made the game three hours long instead of most of the other ones clocking in closer to 2:15 in length. Julio Borbon, K.C. Herren and Manny Pina, with three hits apiece, accounted for half of Bakersfield's 18-hit barrage and Borbon led the way with a pair of doubles, 4 RBI, a couple runs and a stolen base. Evan Reed pitched 6 solid innings for the win, leaving with a 10-2 lead before Modesto staged a brief comeback attempt. Nuts knuckleballer Simon Ferrer, an outfielder turned pitcher after the 2005 season, continued to struggle as he fell to 1-6. His battery mate Michael McKenry hit the only home run of the game. Modesto is fast becoming one of my favorite places to work. Between the bases, the photo wells are closer to the mound and the plate than other ballparks I've been to and as the late afternoon sun moved more behind the first base seating it made for some great light behind me when I shot from that side. I was able to crank up the shutter speed to 1/4000 for some shots and I was rewarded for it with a great broken bat photo on a swing by Modesto's Jay Cox. Earlier, I also got my best hit by pitch photo when Modesto's Victor Ferrante was plunked. Overall, the number of other things I got in the field such as stolen bases, a rundown, Herren chugging around third and more was probably my best collection from a single game this season. I hope you'll forgive me for hitting you with two photos instead of one, but I really want to share the pair I mentioned above: 5/7/08: Bakersfield Blaze at Modesto Nuts go 7

Would It Be Feasible for Me to Throw Myself in Front Of My Own Train? [09 May 2008|06:00pm] overheardnyc http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014607.html Conductor: This is a Manhattan-bound number three train; next stop is Sutter avenue-Rutland road; stand clear of the closing doors please. [Doors close and open again.] Conductor: Please do not block the doors, stand clear, please. [Doors close and open again.] Conductor: Do not block the doors. Stand clear, please. [Doors close and open again.] Conductor: For the last motherfucking time, do not block the fucking doors! I know you ghetto-ass niggas don't care about school, but some people want to get the fuck to work! Stand clear! [Doors close and open again.] Conductor: I can't fucking take this shit. --3 Train Overheard by: Morel Farember Alsome | Thumbs up | Thumbs down | Link · Email · Quote this! · Del.icio.us · Posted 2008-05-09 go 8

The People Who Film and Distribute It? [09 May 2008|04:00pm] overheardnyc http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014606.html Teenage girl: But she sucks a lot of dick for money! Teenage boy: At least she's getting paid! You suck a lot of dick for free! Who's the winner in that situation? --153rd St & Amsterdam Ave Overheard by: Emily Alsome | Thumbs up | Thumbs down | Link · Email · Quote this! · Del.icio.us · Posted 2008-05-09 go 2

Shea's days numbered: Nos. 69-60 [09 May 2008|03:01pm] mets_mlbnews http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20080509&content_id=2668902&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&partnered=rss_nym Mets reporter Marty Noble offers a few suggestions for who should be helping count down the number of games to be played at Shea Stadium. go

Early Retirement Requires Financial and Lifestyle Planning [09 May 2008|07:30pm] getrichslowfeed http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/getrichslowly/~3/287042916/ http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1792 As I continue to achieve my short-term goals, my attention is turning increasingly to long-range plans. What is it I want to do with my life? I’ve always toyed with the idea of early retirement, and lately I’ve been reading more about the subject. Three books that have helped me so far are: Timothy Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Workweek, which explores the notion of “mini-retirements”. (I recently recorded a phone interview with Ferriss on this subject — look for a transcription soon.) Work Less, Live More: The Way to Semi-Retirement by Bob Clyatt describes techniques for leaving the traditional job path years (or decades) before the traditional retirement age of 65. This is a great book. Fred Brock’s Retire on Less Than You Think, which argues that the traditional rule of thumb — you’ll need 80% of your pre-retirement salary during later years — is misguided. I’m still in the early stages of my research, which means I love finding new information about the subject. Recently Walter Updegrave, Money’s “ask the expert” columnist, fielded a question from a reader who hopes to retire early: I’m 50 years old, my wife is 44 and we would like to retire by the time I’m 55, if not sooner. We have a little over $600,000 in 401(k)s, IRAs and other retirement accounts and another $250,000 or so in stocks, mutual funds and cash that we can draw on once we retire. Our mortgage will be paid off shortly and we have no other debt. Do you think we can pull off early retirement? “I can’t give you a definitive answer to your question,” Updegrave writes. “But I can tell you how to assess your situation [on your own].” Whenever you discuss early retirement, he says, you need to consider two factors: money and lifestyle. In fact, Updegrave (and other experts) believe it’s important to focus on the retirement lifestyle you want first, and then run the numbers. A lot of retirement advice is based on “percentage of current income”, but a more accurate picture of your needs can be obtained by looking at your current expenses. It’s important to look at both income and expenses. If you, too, like to crunch the numbers to explore the feasibility of early retirement, be sure to remember the following: If you retire at young, you will not be able to draw on Social Security for several years. You’ll have to tap into more of your savings. You also won’t qualify for Medicare for many years, so you’ll need to consider healthcare costs. There are penalties for accessing certain retirement accounts early, so it’s better to withdraw from taxable accounts first and save tax-deferred for later. Whatever your plans, it’s important to start saving as much as possible as soon as possible. A story from Monday’s Morning Edition on NPR described how older workers are more frequently opting to remain in the workforce rather than retire. For some, it’s because of the economy. But for many others, it’s because they didn’t save enough when they were younger. Updegrave’s subject has $850,000 saved at age 50. I’m 39, and am a long way from that. It may be that my dreams of early retirement are just that — dreams. But that’s not going to stop me from working toward that goal. --- Related Articles at Get Rich Slowly: links for 2007-06-12 Making Early Retirement Happen Ask the Readers: Quality Early Retirement Resources? Daily Links: Free Downloadable Suze Orman e-Book! Personal Finance Resources from the U.S. Government go

[09 May 2008|03:06am] newyorkmets [cutiepie0319] question: how can i find out if the game gets postponed? is there some number i could call or do i have to go to the stadium? i'm assuming its going to get called with the way its raining but just to be sure.  go 6

This Actually Makes Me Want to Have Kids [09 May 2008|02:00pm] overheardnyc http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014605.html Eight-year-old brother speaking to four year old brother in high pitched witches voice: First I'll burn you to a black crisp in a huge oven, then I'll start with your flesh... Four-year-old: What will it taste like? Eight-year-old brother, without pausing: It will taste like a delicious steak, then I 'll eat your teeth and they'll taste like crackers! But your hair, your hair will be completely burned off. Four-year-old: [Giggles maniacally.] --C Train Overheard by: never having kids Alsome | Thumbs up | Thumbs down | Link · Email · Quote this! · Del.icio.us · Posted 2008-05-09 go 14

[09 May 2008|12:56pm] menstrual_cups [winterthunder] I have a story that only you ladies would appreciate. Typically I empty my cup at night, but I'm a bit off this time around and ended up emptying it in the shower this morning, which is something I've done before but not regularly. I was a bit preoccupied and not really paying attention, so as I squatted down to convince my Diva to come within reach of my fingers, I neglected to notice that my rear was directly under the tub faucet. And I think you can guess where this is going... I will just say that, for once, I am glad that I do not have a significant other. I very much prefer not having to explain exactly why I have a new faucet-shaped bruise on my ass... go 10

We Don't Rave with Good Dancers [09 May 2008|12:00pm] overheardnyc http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014604.html Chick: What are you doing this weekend? Guy: I'm going to a passover rave. Chick: What the hell is a passover rave? Guy: That's where we have a Seder, then drop ecstasy and go dancing. Chick: That is so awesome. Can I come? Guy: You're not Jewish. --Waiting Room, Pacific College of Acupuncture Clinic Overheard by: Colleen Alsome | Thumbs up | Thumbs down | Link · Email · Quote this! · Del.icio.us · Posted 2008-05-09 go 4

It Stems Back to a Traumatic Experience Involving One of His Bitches [09 May 2008|10:00am] overheardnyc http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014603.html Salesperson to small shaking dog: Are you cold or scared? Man holding small shaking dog: He's afraid of dildos. --Babeland, LES Alsome | Thumbs up | Thumbs down | Link · Email · Quote this! · Del.icio.us · Posted 2008-05-09 go 18

Gorgeous Gifts for Mother’s Day [09 May 2008|01:57pm] knickers_rss http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/knickers/~3/286844276/ http://www.knickersblog.com/?p=1149 Mother’s day is all about spoiling moms, and making them feel special; if you’re still searching for a gift for your mom, don’t fret! With sleepwear, flowers and plants to suit different tastes, we have found a few ideas that will be perfect for pampering moms on Sunday. Bedhead Fuchsia Rose Sateen Pyjamas [Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<ahref ="http://www.purepajamas.com/p3656/fuchsia-rose-sateen-pj-s-by-bedhead-pajamas/product_info.html">') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.] <p class="ljsyndicationlink"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/knickers/~3/286844276/">http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/knickers/~3/286844276/</a></p><p class="ljsyndicationlink"><a href="http://www.knickersblog.com/?p=1149">http://www.knickersblog.com/?p=1149</a></p><p>Mother&#8217;s day is all about spoiling moms, and making them feel special; if you&#8217;re still searching for a gift for your mom, don&#8217;t fret! With sleepwear, flowers and plants to suit different tastes, we have found a few ideas that will be perfect for pampering moms on Sunday.</p> <h3>Bedhead Fuchsia Rose Sateen Pyjamas</h3> <p><ahref ="http://www.purepajamas.com/p3656/Fuchsia-Rose-Sateen-PJ-s-by-BedHead-Pajamas/product_info.html"><br /> <img src='http://www.knickersblog.com/wp-content/FuchsiaRoseSateenPyjamas.png' alt='' />With a beautiful rose print on sateen cotton, these <a href="http://www.purepajamas.com/p3656/Fuchsia-Rose-Sateen-PJ-s-by-BedHead-Pajamas/product_info.html">Fuchsia Rose Sateen Pyjamas by Bedhead $140</a> will be perfect for this time of year, they&#8217;ll be cool on warmer nights, and cosy enough to keep you warm if needed, and - they are just so pretty! If she&#8217;s the type of mom to only lie in once a year, she&#8217;s going to love being pampered with new PJs, breakfast in bed (when she chooses to wake up) and have a lazy morning to get prepared for the rest of her treats! </p> <h3>Il Cieli Reversible Silk Robe</h3> <p><a href="http://www.juliannarae.com/products/il_cieli_robe.htm?salecategoryID=12"><img src='http://www.knickersblog.com/wp-content/JuliannaRaeIlCieliRobereversible.png' alt='' /></a>Unless your mom is like one of those on Gossip Girl, she&#8217;s probably not indulged in anything luxurious for some time (somehow, they don&#8217;t feel they should!); it should never be forgotten that Mothers most likely indulged in something lovely before you were born, so why not now? So that she is reminded that she does deserve something beautifully indulgent, how about this gorgeously elegant <a href="http://www.juliannarae.com/products/il_cieli_robe.htm?salecategoryID=12">Il Cieli Silk Robe $176 </a>(until 12th May); it&#8217;s luxurious enough to make mom feel special, and cosy enough with its terry lining (we hate to say practical!) to keep her warm after a nice long soak in the bath. </p> <h3>Roses and Bulbs Every Month</h3> <p><a href="http://www.ftd.com/monthly-gifts-ctg/product-monthly/"><img src='http://www.knickersblog.com/wp-content/Monthlybulbsandroses.png' alt='' /></a>If you are really going to spoil your mom, how about combining two gifts that she&#8217;ll adore? Roses each month (to go with her PJs), or a pot flower which she can plant in the garden afterwards and enjoy for years to come! The monthly <a href="http://www.ftd.com/monthly-gifts-pcg/monthly-rose-gift-plan/product-monthly/fmrp/">Rose Plan</a> starts at $139.99, and the <a href="http://www.ftd.com/monthly-gifts-pcg/monthly-bulb-program/product-monthly/00bb/">Bulb Plan</a> starts at $109, for three months. </p> <h3>Bodas Mousseline Chemise</h3> <p><a href="http://www.lilleboutique.com/?c=root&#038;product=MOU472"><img src='http://www.knickersblog.com/wp-content/BodasNightySpringSummer08.png' alt='' /></a>When we think of moms, we tend to think of our own (I forget I&#8217;m a mom when it&#8217;s Mother&#8217;s day!), so we must remember that there are moms out there, who might feel like they have been a bit neglected post-babies. There is nothing better than feeling pampered when you&#8217;ve been hurtling around picking up diapers, wiping unknown marks off your top, or driving your kids here there and everywhere. A beautifully simple chemise, like this <a href="http://www.lilleboutique.com/?c=root&#038;product=MOU472">Cotton Mousseline Chemise by Bodas $144</a>, available at Lille Boutique, will make all the difference to a mom who is usually so preoccupied with what the kids need, that she&#8217;s forgotten herself. </p> <h3>Texere Silk Royal Peacock Gown and Robe</h3> <p><a href="http://www.texeresilk.com/white-silk-nightgown-robe-p-31.html"><img src='http://www.knickersblog.com/wp-content/Texeresilklongnightdressroyalpeacock.png' alt='' /></a>You may remember, we <a href="http://www.knickersblog.com/?p=1132">reviewed</a> <a href="http://www.texeresilk.com/index.php">Texere Silk</a>&#8217;s robe, and chemise set <a href="http://www.knickersblog.com/?p=1132">last month</a>; we still love them, not least because they are just so wearable, yet make us feel sexy and beautiful whenever we are encased in their silky loveliness. The print on this <a href="http://www.texeresilk.com/white-silk-nightgown-robe-p-31.html">Royal Peacock Robe and Gown $259</a>, is just beautiful, with luxuriant colours on gorgeous, cream silk. The sumptuously elegant robe and gown set is a perfect gift for any mom who normally makes do with threadbare pants and t-shirt, because they&#8217;re comfy and practical. Practical and comfy is great, so why not do it in silk instead?</p> <h3>More Treats with Bonsai Trees and Orchids</h3> <p><a href="http://www.ftd.com/monthly-gifts-ctg/product-monthly/"><img src='http://www.knickersblog.com/wp-content/MonthlyOrchidsandBonsai.png' alt='' /></a>We love the idea of the monthly flower and plant plans, and we&#8217;re thinking: if the mom you&#8217;re buying for loves the idea of simplicity and elegance, why not give her orchids, or even a stunning bonsai tree. Not only will she feel gorgeous in her nightwear, but she&#8217;ll have a constant reminder about how special she is all the time.<br /> The monthly <a href="http://www.ftd.com/monthly-gifts-pcg/monthly-orchid-plan/product-monthly/fmor/">Orchid plan starts at $149.99</a> for three months, and the <a href="http://www.ftd.com/monthly-gifts-pcg/bonsai-of-the-month-club/product-monthly/bn00/">Bonsai of the Month Club at $119.99</a> </ahref></p> <h3>Katie&#8217;s Mother&#8217;s Day Bargains</h3> <p>Always on the look out for <a href="http://www.knickersblog.com/bargains/">Beautiful Bargains</a>, Katie has found some gorgeous treats, perfect for <a href="http://www.knickersblog.com/bargains/mothers-day-lingerie-sales/298">Mother&#8217;s Day</a>! For Mother&#8217;s Day gifts, and other bargains, check out the <a href="http://www.knickersblog.com/bargains/">Knickers Bargains Page</a>! </p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/knickers?a=mUc2yH"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/knickers?i=mUc2yH" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/knickers?a=d9btxH"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/knickers?i=d9btxH" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/knickers?a=3jpNih"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/knickers?i=3jpNih" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/knickers/~4/286844276" height="1" width="1"/> go

[09 May 2008|10:30am] duckumu today i am $600 richer, so i paid my student loans for the month ($350) and registered for a silkscreen class at SVA ($285). i'm only $35 in the hole and i feel like an empowered consumer. thanks, government! today marks the end of my first week at AI. i love it more and more each day. what a fantastic place. and we just got mariokart. because, you know, i need more distractions at this office. but i get my shit done. this weekend is going to be fun (saturday) and annoying (sunday). on saturday me and teddy are checking out the murakami exhibit at the brooklyn museum and that will be most excellent. on SUNDAY i have to be at my apartment all day since one of my roommates is moving out and we need to find a replacement. >:O i hope we find someone quiet and antisocial. ok so i hope you are doing well, everyone. :) p.s. http://manbabies.com/ go 8

A Whiskey Question for Chemists [09 May 2008|02:20pm] acc_hedonist http://www.accidentalhedonist.com/index.php?title=a_whiskey_question_for_chemists&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 Here's the scenario: You fill a cask (let's say a barrel or 31 gallons) of fresh distillate that is sixty percent alcohol by volume. The other forty percent is water. Every year, two percent of the contents of the barrel evaporates. Eight years later, you tap the cask and bottle. The question I have is thus: What's the Alcohol content of the spirit? The reason I ask (and I admit, I should really know this by now), is that I cannot get anyone in the industry to give me a straight answer. I had an heir apparent to a whiskey empire tell me it's mostly the alcohol that evaporates. Elsewhere, I had a marketing director tell me it was the water that evaporates. The books I have read have given me either vague or contradictory answers. And the two times I had the opportunity to ask a master distiller, I forgot completely to bring it up. As I wrote in the Heritage Bourbon post, my belief is that both alcohol and water will evaporate, but the ration depends on several variables, like heat, humidity, etc. etc. Am I close? Is there a rule or law that will help me understand just what the heck is going on? go

Ask the Readers: Pay Down Debt or Save for Retirement? [09 May 2008|12:00pm] getrichslowfeed http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/getrichslowly/~3/286776899/ http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=1797 Personal finance is filled with tough decisions. Prepay the mortgage or invest the money? Pay down high interest debt first or use a debt snowball to tackle the small balances? Roth IRA or traditional IRA? Sara wrote recently with another dilemma I think many of us have faced: is it better to pay down debt or to begin investing for the future? I’m 28. I work at a job with no retirement benefits and I want to open a Roth IRA. My husband and I have about $9,000 in credit debt on a credit card which, unfortunately, has a high interest rate. (I plan on transferring the balance soon, but am investigating cards carefully.) We also have a small loan that we are paying off quickly.   Your recent posts on the benefits of compound interest for retirement are making me question my current plan of “pay off all debts first, then invest”. I don’t want to lose out on the benefit of time any longer. What should I do? If I have $600 a month to throw at something, is it better to focus it all on the debt, or start on my Roth? In this case, it might be helpful to reframe the question. Would you take out a loan at 12% or 15% or 18% interest in order to make an investment with an uncertain return (but which would most likely yield about 8%)? That’s basically the situation here. From a purely mathematical perspective, it doesn’t make much sense. But there’s more than math involved in this decision. Building retirement savings can be a powerful motivator. Just getting in the habit of setting money aside is a valuable skill itself. Although there’s a cost involved, I wouldn’t say that it’s wrong to save for retirement while also repaying debt. As always, do what works for you. If the debt bothers you, or if you think you might struggle to pay it off otherwise, then focus on the debt. But if you’re worried about the lack of retirement savings, then focus on that. I did a little of both. While I was paying off my debt, I began to set aside a little cash every month to fund my retirement. It wasn’t a lot at first — just $100 — but as my expenses dropped and my income grew, I was able to contribute more. This allowed me to get into the habit of saving while also making progress on debt reduction. I know that I wasn’t making the most of either situation, but I didn’t care — it felt right for me. (And to be honest, I’d probably take the same approach again.) What about you? What would you do in a situation like this? (Or what have you done in a situation like this?) Would you sacrifice a few hundred dollars in order to develop the saving habit? Or would you buckle down and get that debt paid off first? --- Related Articles at Get Rich Slowly: Ask the Readers: How to Live Debt-Free? 43% Won’t Have Enough in Retirement Retirement Savings or Debt Reduction: Which is the Top Priority? Ask the Readers: Emergency Fund or Debt Snowball? Reader Survey: How Do You Cope with a Limited Income? go

Or Straight [09 May 2008|08:00am] overheardnyc http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014602.html Boy: You know what, I don't know anyone who has such good taste in fashion as me, and I'm only twelve! Mom: Honey, stop saying those things. People will think you're arrogant. Girl: It's only arrogance if you're wrong. --McDonald's, Times Square Alsome | Thumbs up | Thumbs down | Link · Email · Quote this! · Del.icio.us · Posted 2008-05-09 go 5

No Autoerotic Asphyxiation Until You're a Teenager [09 May 2008|06:00am] overheardnyc http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/014601.html [A small girl in scarf hands end of scarf to babysitter, who is on the phone. Babysitter absentmindedly holds scarf. Little girl pulls away.]. Babysitter: No, honey, we're going to go this way [tugs in other direction]. Little girl: But I want to choke myself! Babysitter, not really paying attention: No, no... Little girl: But I want to choke myself! [pulls away harder]. Babysitter, still vague: No, honey, that's bad... --Grand Central Station Alsome | Thumbs up | Thumbs down | Link · Email · Quote this! · Del.icio.us · Posted 2008-05-09 go 1

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