A work in progress: Crumble Drum video demo

My first attempt:

How To Find All Free eBooks On Amazon?

How To Find All Free eBooks On Amazon?:

Now you know why it has been so quiet on the blog lately. We’ve been working on a brand new website. It’s similar in function to our Lastminute Auction site, and kind of looks the same as well.
Without further ado, here is our new baby: FreebookSifter.com. If you’re a digital book fanatic, you probably know that Amazon offers a ton of free books, but it’s hard to get a good overview of them. Well, not anymore, thanks to our new site! Organized by category, and with options to search, order by average ranking, or filter by language, FreebookSifter makes it easy to peruse all the free books available for your Kindle or eReader.
Please pay special attention to the Added Today category. That’s where you can find the real treasures, which are only free for a limited time. FreebookSifter also offers a daily newsletter and RSS Feed with the newly added free books.
You will LOVE IT!
Link: Freebooksifter
Also on Facebook and Twitter

Actually am looking forward to this:

Source: http://FrugalDad.com

Source: http://frugaldad.com

Nick is a soccer star

Nick is a soccer star, a photo by SkipGienapp on Flickr.

The boys are playing Upward soccer this year, and seem to be enjoying it. It's a great way to learn basic athletic skills and sportsmanship.

Why I chose Perkstreet Financial

I'm certainly not the first person that has begun to see the value in cloud computing and online banking, and there are certainly many, well established personal finance websites and blogs available. But I thought it was worth putting down my own thoughts on the issue, if only for a resource to point back to for my friends who might be interested.

A Little Background On Me

You could begin by reading about how I got into debt. Or you could fast-forward to the Spring of 2008. I found Dave Ramsey and his message immediately struck a chord with me. I had heard his name before, seen his book, and had actually seen him live AND had an autographed copy of his book, but had never really paid attention to what he was saying. Meantime I had a self-imposed deadline of getting out of debt by the year I was 40. I turned 40 in December of 2007, and it hadn't happened yet. In the spring of 2008, I rediscovered Dave Ramsey, and began listening to his radio show.

Much has already been written about Ramsey and his methods, and I don't intend to re-write all of it. But I began to see that my former ideas were all wrong, and that it was possible to get out of, and stay out of, debt. I really began to examine everything that my wife and I were doing, and what are goals were for our family.

I don't mind telling you that I became a Ramsey fanatic, hanging on his every word. Everything he was saying was making sense, and I needed a clear direction. I needed motivation, I need inspiration. I began to learn about the proper ways of thinking about and handling money.

I was listening to all three hours of Ramsey's radio show every day. Ramsey single-handedly led me to several financial repairs. Each of them could be an individual blog post.. but for now.

1) We got on a written budget. Outlined by Ramsey

2) We used Churchill Mortgage to refinance our house. Endorsed by Ramsey

3) We used US Legal Forms to establish a will and start an estate plan. Endorsed by Ramsey

4) We used Zander Insurance to shop for term life insurance. Endorsed by Ramsey

5) We created an emergency fund.

6) Most recently, we established an online-only checking account with PerkStreet Financial.

Why an online bank?

I understand that not everyone would be so quick to jump on a bandwagon as whole-heartedly as I seem to have. Admittedly, if Dave Ramsey told me to jump off a bridge I'd have to give it a least a moment of serious consideration before politely refusing- but I don't think I'm in any danger of that happening. The thing is- he hasn't been wrong yet. I have yet to be disappointed by any suggestion he has made, or any service he has steered me to. I fully expected a quality experience from Perkstreet and I wasn't disappointed with them either.

I had already begun the move to online banking- I mean who has time to go to the bank to wait in line anyway? The drive-thru window at lunch? 6 p.m. on Friday evening? I spent most of my adult life in the every-week routine that we call banking. Plus- up until this year it wasn't always enjoyable. The thought of standing in line to deposit a check that i wasn't even going to see- usually being behind in covering bills- seemed akin to waiting at the dentist to have a cavity filled. Online banking was certainly a better way for me to manage time, and keep 24/7 track of our cash flow.

But once I was well in to the budgeting routine, and we had eliminated the last of our (mostly mine) credit card debt, something weird began to happen. I had some money left over. We had an emergency fund. We had some traction, and I finally had money to manage. Now, what to do?

Perkstreet's Idea

It's perfectly simple. Create a familiar online banking environment without the overheard of a brick and mortar bank, and all of the accompanying staff. Have a beautiful, streamlined web experience. Use social media to connect with your customers. Offer free checking, with no minimum balance. Offer perks, like iTunes credit or Starbucks credit. Offer up to 5% or $600 back annually on balances over $5000.

Incidentally, I don't have $5000 in my Perkstreet account. While the offer of iTunes and Starbucks will have an appeal no matter what your saving or spending level is, to get the highest possible cash back you'll need to keep $5000 in the account. My understanding of it is this is how they can afford to offer no-fee checking and free music. Perkstreet makes it's money investing the capital- but this does not mean that this account is not for the little guy (me).

What's stopping you?

I'm very much of a financial nerd. I like adding money up. I like watching it grow. I like trying to figure out how to make more. I'm not so hot on the spending. On the other hand, I like iTunes. This is how Perkstreet hooked me. I was already banking online with my regular bank of over 25 years. I was no longer going in the brick and mortar locations- except on Saturday mornings to make deposits. I was already seamlessly transferring money between online accounts. I already had experience with PayPal as an online bank vehicle. And I was probably spending $4-5 every week on iTunes. If Perkstreet would offer (at a minimum) one free iTunes song for every $100 that i spent, the question was not "Is this a good deal" but rather, "how can I spend what I normally spend" and be earning all the free songs for just doing what I was already doing?

While you are issued a pin number for ATM's, and a checkbook, it is the "non-pin" purchases that earn the awards. So instead of sliding my regular check card at the Burger King, movie theater, I use the Perkstreet debit card. For regular recurring purchases, such as Netflix, Audible, and my Dave Ramsey subscription, I use the Perkstreet card. This is money I was already spending any way. In addition, there are monthly "Power Perks" at various retail locations on a rotating or special basis.

My wife and I used the Perkstreet account to manage our Christmas budget. We opened the account and put all the money that we were going to spend on Christmas in that account, and earned perks on all of that regular shopping. We have a recurring transfer to that account every week, so that we'll have already saved our Christmas money before we get to Thanksgiving 2011.

These are just a few easy ways to earn free iTunes or Starbucks. But I have found that Perkstreet Financial is different from my traditional bank in another way. They seem to be pretty accessible. I'm a huge Twitter fan and so I quickly followed @perkstreet and discovered that connecting with their customers happens day and night. I don't think this is the sort of thing you could expect from your traditional bank.

All of this is why I'm glad I chose Perkstreet. And I believe that their view of how to handle money, and achieve financial success, lines right up with my own.

I have added the Perkstreet Financial Blog to my daily reading list.

Mac Powell Family Testimony

Mac Powell, vocalist for Christian Band Third Day talks about his adoption through Bethany Christian Services..

My own two adopted sons got to meet Mac and the guys at the Riverbend Festival last summer. It was their first rock show!

What the heck am I blogging?

I must not have anything worthwhile to say. It's also possible that my so-called spare time is dominated by trying to keep up with all of my other Internet channels. I'm drawn to Twitter I think because I like the challenge of being pithy or informative or humorous within the 140 character limit. The blog was originally intended to SEE if I had anything to say... more of a "If you build it, they will read" idea, a creative outlet for any muse that happened along. A few things have captured my interest for a short time- like my whole mini-series where I attempted to reverse-scam the 419 scammers. And then I tried it again.

In an attempt to prove I could produce, meaningful, heartwarming content I wrote about the adoption of our two sons. The blog took a decidedly parental tone after that because I realized that people would rather read about personal, emotional, and spiritual things than random posts about me playing online poker or stuff plagiarized from other sites, etc etc.

To quote a movie that was VERY important to me in the early 90's-
"What's the blog about?"
Does it have to be about ANYthing? It's more of a vehicle for me than you. If I can make you laugh or think... that's good enough.

VisualEconomics.com Best Infographics of 2010

VisualEconomics.com Best Infographics of 2010: "

(LINK TO FULL INFOGRAPHICS BELOW)

Food Consumption in America

The average American consumes a LOT of food and beverage over the course of a year. Just how much, you ask?

How The Average American Uses Energy

In the United States, we take light switches and electrical sockets for granted.

But how many of us know how much electricity we’re using throughout the day, the week, or even the year?

Or even where it comes from?

Cost & Effects of The BP Oil Spill

This is a visual representation of just how much the spill was costing BP (and the rest of the world), in May 2010.

Choosing a Certificate of Deposit (CD) vs. a Savings Account

There are several key factors to take into consideration when deciding between a certificate of deposit (CD) vs. a savings account.

There are also a number of different types of CDs to choose from, depending on what the customer’s specific needs for the money will be.

How Much The Average American Spends on Entertainment

It’s no secret that America loves its entertainment, from movies to music to video games. Just how much do they spend on these things every year?

The Republic of Facebook

It’s impossible to ignore the immensity of Facebook, its users, and how much money is involved with it.

Here’s a look at some if its statistics, and how Facebook would look as its own independent economy.

How Much Does It Really Cost to Raise a Kid?

Just how expensive is it to raise a child? The answer is shocking!

How The World Spends Its Time Online

Millions of people across the world are constantly connected by the internet. Here’s a look at what everybody’s doing when they’re in front of their computer screen.

What BP Could Have Bought With All the Money They Lost

Obviously BP has lost a lot of money on their whole oil spill fiasco, but here’s a different perspective on just how much money that is.

Healthcare Costs Around the World

The United States spends more on healthcare than any other country in the world, but has high rates of infant mortality, diabetes and other ills than many other developed countries.

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Happy New Year!

1231101426
Originally uploaded by SkipGienapp

Damien (8) and Nick (6) try out the slingshots they got for Christmas. The slingshots require a lot of arm strength. They're working on it.

This little adventure this afternoon was really only our second foray in to the outdoors this holiday break. We spent most of Christmas week being home-bodies. With the one exception of playing in the Christmas snow, we've largely been inside.

This should not be interpreted as a complaint on my part- I toggle back and forth between laziness incarnate and a workaholic. I can't figure what brings me more pleasure- doing nothing or doing a whole bunch. I've got a lot of irons in the fire between two jobs and career goals and side projects and interests- still have many leisure pursuits that I'm always promising myself I'll get to... But this year for the holidays all of that culminated in Laurie and I simply deciding to do nothing. I mean NOTHING. We neither hosted nor attended holiday parties. I'm writing this on New Years Eve, where I'm vicariously ringing in the New Year by Twittering and watching episodes of House, MD. It seems like the appropriate time to write a blog entry. Success! Another "lick and a promise" to another hobby.

Visting the Nina and the Pinta

100_1108
Originally uploaded by SnLGienapp

Damien and Nick got to visit the Nina and Pinta last week. These two replica ships docked in Chattanooga last week and we got discount tickets via our homeschool group. The boys have been studying Columbus this month, having read 3 different books around Columbus day. it was a great learning experience, and a beautiful day to be downtown on the river.

Flat Stanley Project

Flat Stanley Project
Originally uploaded by SkipGienapp

Be on the lookout for a Flat Stanley coming in your mailbox! Damien and Nick have started this project.

5 Success Traits God Wants Us to Have

5 Success Traits God Wants Us to Have: "

The dictionary definition of success is “favorable or desired outcome”. Do you want to have a favorable outcome for your career? Your marriage? Your finances? Me too.  The good news is that our heavenly father passes his own success traits down to his children.

Although I list only five, I am sure there are many, many others. Please share the ones you think of at the end of the post.Here are my five:

1. Diligence

God, of course, is diligent – he created the world in six days and never broke sweat. His children should likewise be diligent. We are told to “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:23) We do not work for an hourly wage, nor do we work to keep a job or to satisfy our own consciences; our challenge is to work for the Lord himself. A Christian therefore knows that ‘good enough” is never good enough; only our very best work effort will suffice. This being said, the worker who works to please the Lord is the one who will be recognized and therefore the one who will get those promotions. He will succeed.

2. Creativity

God’s first action was creative. The first sentence in the bible says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”. He visualized every detail of the universe and spoke it into being. If that isn’t creativity I don’t know what is. As his children, we too have great potential for creativity.

All of the following were Christians:

• Galileo Galilei, the first astronomer to use the telescope in his research, discovered craters in the moon, moons orbiting Jupiter and the phases of Venus.

• Blaise Pascal pioneered the laws of probability and invented early calculating machines, the syringe and the hydraulic press.

• Isaac Newton, among many accomplishments, discovered the law of gravity and the invention of calculus.

• George Washington Carver’s research on peanuts resulted in more than 300 by-products while his research on sweet potatoes resulted in over 100 by products.

• Louis Pasteur’s research on bacteria led to the process of pasteurization sterilization and the development of numerous vaccines.

What does creativity have to do with success? Simply that creative people think outside the box and are therefore better able to achieve the desired outcome.

3. A can-do mindset

God has never had a negative thought. He has never doubted his own abilities and has never been paralyzed by fear of the unknown. He never makes excuses and he always finishes what he starts. As his children, we should be willing to take on the difficult, to venture into the unknown and to boldly live on the edge. Success awaits those who do.

4. Honesty

Jesus claimed to be “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). He was not simply truthful; he WAS truth.

Thomas J. Stanley, in his classic work, “The Millionaire Mind”, determined that the number one success factor for millionaires (according to actual millionaires surveyed) is “being honest with all people”. Does Stanley’s study validate that honesty (an inherent trait of God) really is the best policy? It certainly seems so.

5. Generosity

God is a giver. He created the world for us and, when we made a mess of things, he gave up his beloved son as payment for our misdeeds. The characteristic of generosity is the very culmination of success. Why? Because, pragmatically speaking, we can only be generous when we have goods, time or talent to be generous with. Jesus taught: “Give, and you will receive. … The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” (Luke 6:38) Clearly, the more generous we are, the more God helps us succeed so we can be even more generous.

Closing thoughts

Because our heavenly father is diligent, creative, can-do, honest and generous, his children should inherit those same traits. This being said, the more time we spend with our heavenly father, the more we will be like him. Do you want to succeed? You can do it. How? By spending time with a father who loves you and wants to spend time with you.

Sounds like success to me.

Related Articles:

• Success or Value?
• Three Feet From Gold | Review
• What To Do When People Mock Your Financial Plan
• Add value
• 8 Ways to Tell if You’re a Winner
• Overcoming the fear of failure
• Failure
• Full of Bull | Review
• Can You Afford Retirement?

Joe Plemon, a retired engineer, financial counselor and blogger, lives in Southern Illinois with Janice, his wife of 39 years. Joe likes online Scrabble, St Louis Cardinal baseball, blues music, power naps, high school football, short term mission trips and Sunday family dinners. You can read more from Joe at Personal Finance by the Book.

The articles on this site are for entertainment purposes and should not be taken as financial advice. Please contact a financial professional for specific advice regarding your situation. Also, many of the CPF articles help us pay the bills by using affiliate relationships with Amazon, Google, eBay and others. Find out more here.

"

Google: There Are 129,864,880 Books in the Entire World

Google: There Are 129,864,880 Books in the Entire World: "

How many books have ever been published in all of modern history? According to Google’s advanced algorithms, the answer is nearly 130 million books, or 129,864,880, to be exact.

We’ll admit it’s practically impossible to count every book that has ever been written, but in order for Google Books to successfully catalog the world’s supply of printed knowledge, the company needs an estimate of the amount of books it needs to scan. That’s why Google set out on the task to do just that.

In a detailed blog post, software engineer Leonid Taycher outlined just how complex counting books actually can become. The first step is defining exactly what a book is. The company decided to discount anything that wasn’t an idealized bound volume:

“One definition of a book we find helpful inside Google when handling book metadata is a ‘tome,’ an idealized bound volume. A tome can have millions of copies (e.g. a particular edition of Angels and Demons by Dan Brown) or can exist in just one or two copies (such as an obscure master’s thesis languishing in a university library).”

Google admits their definition is imperfect, but it’s workable and similar to what ISBNs are supposed to represent. ISBN, or International Standard Book Numbers, are designed to be unique identifiers for books. Because they’ve only been around for 30-40 years and are used in mostly Western countries, they can’t be used by themselves. That’s why Google took data from the Library of Congress, WorldCat and others to find as many books as possible — one billion raw records by the company’s count.

Here’s where Google’s engineering talent comes into play. The company used countless algorithms to determine and discard duplicates in an effort that required more than 150 pieces of metadata related to the world’s books to evaluate whether each book record was unique or a duplicate of another. Analyzing this data resulted in 210 million unique books.

Next, Google subtracted the millions of microforms, audio recordings, maps, t-shirts, turkey probles (yes, turkey probes) and videos with IBSNs, arriving at a much more reasonable number of 146 million. Finally, the company removed 16 million government document volumes from their estimate, getting to the 129.8 million count they announced today. Of course, publishers are issuing new books even as this post is being typed, so the company is constantly recalculating the book count.

While we don’t have an army of software engineers and algorithms to back us up, my gut says this number is too low and the company has many more books to count from the annals of history. Still, this project to figure out the world’s book supply is simply fascinating and could be useful for research and historical purposes for years to come.

Google’s next challenge: to stop getting sued over Google Books.

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Reviews: Google

More About: books, Google, google books

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