Cell Phone Jerk

Please don't be a cell phone jerk.  


Cell phones allow us to be constantly available but it is important to know when to 'hang up' the phone.  It seems that most people recognize the importance of "netiquette" in the digital realm--such as using respectful language, NOT WRITING WITH CAPS LOCK ON and not writing anything that you would not be willing to say to someone face to face--but I've noticed that many are failing to understand the importance of cell phone etiquette with respect to those around you.


The following video will explain more thoroughly:   

Cell Phone Etiquette 

What can we learn from this video: 

1. Bluetooth is fine, just make sure that those around you don't think that you are talking to them.
2. Business meetings, bathrooms (awkward), and restaurants are not appropriate places to carry on cell phone conversations.
3. Do not text, check your email, or play Angry Birds while driving--beating level 25 is not worth killing someone or crashing your car.
4. Learn to unplug (every once in a while)
5. Those who drive while talking have the reflexes of a senior citizen (no offense Grandma).
6. Lastly, try not to let your phone take priority over / annoy the person right next to you!
7. In fact, the National Safety Council reported that phone conversations cause drivers to become "more emotionally engaged" and "less attentive to safety signals" ("Unsafe Driving in,").  Furthermore, according to Nationwide, "distractions from cell phones" reduce reaction time to that of a person driving with a "blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent" (Nationwide).  In short, be smart and don't goof around with your phone while driving.

Remember, children mimic their parents--so be careful!

Note: this was an assignment for class--thanks for reading!

References: 
Nationwide. (n.d.). Driving while distracted: Statistics to know. Retrieved from http://www.nationwide.com/newsroom/dwd-facts-figures.jsp
Unsafe driving in the cell phone era. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cellphonesafety.org/vehicular/era.htm

So You Think You Know Chocolate?

Here is a fun little game for anyone who's interested.  The following are four popular chocolate treats (all of them name brand chocolates).  Can you name them all?  Be Specific!

Are you ready for the answers?
...
...
...
Are you sure?
...
...
...
Okay, from left to right they are:

1. Snickers
2. Hershey's Dark Chocolate (we had to turn it over to hide the logo)
3. Andes Mints
4. Milky Way Dark Chocolate!

How many did you get right?  

If you liked this, try out this other candy quiz at: Sporcle.com

How to Become a Millionaire with Only $10,000

So I am taking FIN 300 (Intro to Finance for all non-finance majors) right now.  The other day, my professor told us that there are three ways to get rich:

1. Marry Money
2. Inherit Money
3. Invest Money slowly over time

So how does that work for me: 

1. Marry Money--Since I'm already married and have merged bank accounts with my wife, I've pretty much maxed out this option.  
2. Inherit Money--Being the youngest child, my claim on the "birthright" is pretty non-existent.
3. Invest Money slowly over time--This seems to be my best shot at becoming a millionaire so I found a website that will show me how to do it.

To see how it's done, click the link and then enter the information below: How to Make a Million with Only $10,000

Enter the Following: 

• Ending Value: 1000000
• Beginning Value: 10000
• Number of Periods: 40 
• *A period is generally considered to be a year

Thus, with a principal investment of $10,000 at age 25, with compounding interest, I should be a millionaire by 65!

Anyone see a hole in my plan?  Help me out you finance majors.