Honey, Here Is What I Told the Kids!

What we teach our children matters, so we must teach them well.

Every family leaves behind a legacy of some kind. My great-granddad told fantastic stories. I've only heard a few of them but everyone in my family who remembers him says he was a great story-teller. That's part of our legacy, knowing Grandpa Joe loved to tell stories. I wish we could hear his stories and share them with our kids. You only realize too late what you should have passed on to your own kids. But there are many life lessons we teach our young, including (I hope!) respect for others and good self-esteem.

How to Deal with the Dirt and Worse When You Travel

Of course you won't find a hotel room like this, but some can feel this dirty.

I think most people enjoy traveling. It's easy if you can afford a hotel room. But what do you do if the hotel room is grungy and there are no other vacancies? Worse yet, what if you book a camping trip and only discover you have a moldy tent at the last minute? These are the things no one tells you about when they're selling you a stay in a hotel or camping gear. If sleeping in the car seems like a better option, you may want to prep better for your next trip. Let me share some old travelers tips.

Why I Don't Like the Big Name Financial Gurus

If you have to buy their books or seminars, they don't have your best interests at heart. Pass 'em by.

If you're following people like Dave Ramsey or Suzie Orman you probably won't like me. I don't consider myself a personal finance expert but these people have made millions of dollars selling books and seminars. One of my friends says that proves they know what they are talking about. But to me it just means they are getting rich off other people's misery. Dave Ramsey may have once been poor like millions of other Americans but he's no longer one of us.

What a Real Earth-like Planet Should Look Like

We haven't yet discovered a truly Earth-like planet. I wish scientists would stop saying we have.

Over the past few years scientists studying the galaxy have announced "Earth-like planets". Every time I see one of these stories I hope they really have found one. So far every announcement has been a disappointment. I may not be an expert on planetology or whatever, but I know I would not feel at home or safe on any of these "Earth-like" worlds they talk about. Here is what I know I would want in a real Earth-like planet.

Camping Gear You Can Use and Enjoy at Home

Camping gear isn't just for the outdoors. There are clever ways to use it at home.

Sooner or later every parent helps their children build a blanket fort in the living room. It's a rite of passage. There's just something about building your own little space that enlivens a child's imagination. Taking them camping is kind of hit or miss. Some kids love it and some kids can't wait to get home. I admit I was always the kid in my pack who wanted to get back home. I never liked bugs. Seems like every time my dad took us camping he found the biggest mosquito city on the planet. I promised myself I would never force my kids to go camping if they didn't want to.

Global Warming Should Create a Lot of Jobs

Global warming threatens our economy but may generate many new jobs, too.

I'm not saying we're going to do this right. Mankind has found a lot of ways to screw up the planet. But we haven't done such a bad job of cleaning up our rivers and forests over the last 50 years. When pollution became so bad that even the government decided something had to be done, America looked almost like a toxic wasteland. Companies were dumping chemicals into rivers and everywhere without penalty. It took a long time to clean up that mess but we're making good progress.

Why Are Shopping Malls Vanishing?

Shopping malls are still big business in America, but for how long?

The American tradition of spending a weekend afternoon at a shopping mall is vanishing. Although some malls are still very profitable, many of them are closing down. One reason is that many traditional retail chains are going out of business. Amazon and the Internet have changed the way we shop. But there was something special about going to the movies, eating in the food court, and browsing the big stores at the local mall. I have many fond memories of afternoons and evenings spent in our hometown mall when I grew up. It's gone now.