Get Golden!

Gold is pretty. No doubt about that. Its also valuable. It has been for a long time. It’s been the world’s “currency of choice” from the beginning and it still holds tremendous value. Today, savvy investors often use gold to diversify their holdings and to insulate themselves from the shocks of other markets. That’s because gold does hold its value and really tends to perform well during times of economic and political uncertainty.

You can buy and safely store gold by using the Monex Deposit Company (MDC). They’ve been helping investors for over thirty years and understand precious metals inside and out. It might be time for you to start thinking about gold. Get in touch with MDC.

AFL Cheerleaders are AMAZING...

You can call them cheerleader, dancers, dance team members, morale boosting dexterous uniformed team support personnel, fan entertainment specialists, or anything else you can think of. Me? I call them sexy.

Obviously, I have an affinity for the gals who strut their limber stuff at the Kemper in support of the Brigade, but I must admit that my roving eye does occasionally find itself lingering on the form and talent of dancers from other squads.

For instance, the photo accompanying this post is of the lovely Brenna, who just happens to be a very talented dancer for the Colorado Crush. Wonder if we could trade a spare QB to Elway's crew in exchange for her?

If you share my appreciation for the gals who wear the lycra, I invite you to check out this wonderful list of links to AFL dancers from all of the league's teams. It even contains links to a few ballclubs that are no longer with us. The memories of their games--and of their hot dancers--lives on. Links are courtesy of the fine folks at ManlyWeb.

ARENA FOOTBALL CHEERLEADERS

Kemper Arena, Home of the Brigade

Well, until the papers are signed and the new Sprint Center is open for business, Kemper Arena is the home of the Brigade.

It isn't the biggest AFL football venue. It isn't the newest. It isn't the nicest. But it's home and it could be a lot worse. Even though Kemper gets a lot of bad press and more than it's fair share of negative comments, it does have one thing going for it--the views.

You can get a nice view of all the action from just about any seat in the house. And it isn't so big that you feel miles away when your ticket leads you to a cheap seat.

Some info re: Kemper Arena...

Capacity is about 19,500
Kemper hosted the 1976 Republican National Convention
It opened in 1974
Its distinctive look was designed by now-noted architect Helmut Jahn

See you at the Kemper!

Custom Ink!

If the name makes you think about tattooing, think again. Custom Ink is a great apparel company that specializes in screen printing and t-shirts for schools, businesses and sports teams.

If your intramural team doesn't look that good playing as "skins" and you don't want to get stuck wearing matching Hanes cheapies from Wal-Mart, Custom Ink can hook you up with some fantastic team shirts.

If you want to put something together with your company logo for customers or as an incentive, Custom Ink is ready to help.

If it can be printed and it goes on your body, it's right up Custom Ink's alley. They serve the US and Canada and can use digital printing technology for quick turnaround orders.

Voodoo Survival!

Strike up the band! Good news in New Orleans!

When Kansas City got its AFL franchise, the Brigade, they replaced the New Orleans ballclub, the Voodoo. New Orleans was still reeling from Katrina and its associated flooding and the team needed a new home. It found one at Kemper Arena.

The Voodoo may have magically disappeared as the Big Easy got back on its feet, but it didn't stay gone long. The New Orleans franchise is apparently back in business, as evidenced by a recent article in the Bestrop Daily Enterprise.

That old black magic is back in the Crescent City, and Tom Benson's club is making a few moves.

"VOODOO HOPEFULS: Former Rams Carlos Stevens and Troy Mason have been invited to attend the New Orleans VooDoo tryout camp in January... Stevens, who played defensive end at Northwestern State, is trying out at linebacker. Mason, who played collegiately at UNLV, is a wide receiver."

Read more about football on the bayou here.

Great site for AFL fans...

Whether you root for the Kansas City Brigade or one of the other AFL teams, you are sure to find something you like at ArenaFan.com.

ArenaFan is a completely fan-driven source of information and insight on the AFL. During the off-season, you can learn about all the key trades, free agent signings and other moves.

As the season progresses, you can follow all of the action with regular stat updates, game capsules, exclusive player and coach interviews and more.

The AFL might not get the kind of mainstream media coverage we fans would really like to see, but as long as sites like ArenaFan are around, we don't really need to feel bad about that. We can get all of the inside information and expert perspective we need online.

Check out ArenaFan as soon as possible. You'll be glad you did!

Supplement Resource

Ever wonder how those Brigade players get so ripped? It certainly takes a lot of time in the gym and weight room, but I'm willing to wager that at least some of those pro athletes rely on quality nutritional supplements.

No, I'm not talking about the illegal stuff that makes the headlines. I'm talking about new advances in nutrition and other bodybuilding supplements. There are literally thousands of different products available and more are sure to hit the market as scientific advances continue.

Anabolicminds is a good place to learn more about these products. In addition to great information on a variety of related topics, it also has an incredibly active forum that features over 600K worth of posts from people who are interested and informed about the field.

If you want tips, hints or product reviews for weightlifting and bodybuilding supplements, it's certainly worth taking a long look at the site.

Chiefs fans dig Brigade, too...

The Flight Crew, a collection of Brigade fans I mentioned a few posts ago, have Chiefs watch parties.

They certainly aren't the only fans of both teams!

I was surfing the net for things Brigade-related and found this at the Coalition Forums, which are dedicated to all things Red and Gold, if you get my drift... Nonetheless, they have a portion of the boards set aside to talk about the Brigade...

Here are some of the topics I found at a glance:

1. The KC Brigade (24 replies)
2. Neil Smith to be honored at Halftime Monday Night (8 replies)
3. Former Broncos QB still target of KC as arena team owner (7 replies)
4. Brigade take down Avengers, 62-45 (6 replies)
5. Anyone out their still watching the Brigade? (5 replies)
6. :sigh: (2 replies)
7. Just vistiing (1 replies)
8. . . . . . . . . (1 replies)
9. Bill Gramatica (4 replies)
10. Game tonight (4 replies)
11. Great game! (10 replies)
12. andy kelly (10 replies)
13. Home opener (4 replies)
14. Who has the best AFL cheerleaders? (7 replies)

Nice to see that people are rooting for both KC football teams.

You can check it all out right here.
Oh, and the answer to #14? If you have any doubts in your mind, check this out.

Rocking animated header at Brigade home page...

I was just over at the official page of the Kansas City Brigade and noticed the header graphic. If you haven't seen it before, take a look. I don't know how long it's been that way, but I have never noticed, probably because I always scroll down right away.

Anyway, it features some B2's buzzing the Kansas City skyline and it is completely awesome.

Right now, the Brigade also have some of the new advertising materials up and running right now and that is worth checking out, too.

I don't want people to run away from my Brigade page to any other, but when it comes to the team's official HQ, I can make an exception. Head over there now. Check out the header, the new vids, and don't stay so long looking at all the cheerleader pictures that you start salivating on your keyboard, okay?

New internet marketing blog up and running...

If you are like me, you keep an eye out for new online developments that can put money in your pockets. I do a little internet marketing and hope to do more in the future, because there appears to be real potential in the field.

The problem is that so much of the information out there about earning a living online is a little on the high-hype side. That's why I was happy to find out that the people at USWeb, a recognized and respected search engine marketing firm, have launched NetResults, a blog focusing on the internet marketing industry.

They plan to cover everything from how to transform your IM business into something that is "Web 2.0" friendly to nuts and bolts issues like servers and checkout options. You know they will cover the search engine optimization topic effectively, too.

To make matters better, this particular internet marketing blog is more than just a tricky way to make sales for its owner. The folks at USWeb are keeping it informative, honest and valuable. Advertising is even at a minimum.

Add it to your bookmarks. I will be! It should be a great read and will hopefully help me to boost my online earnings.

Flight Crew weighs in on Brigade QB question...

The Flight Crew, a collection of Kansas City Brigade stalwart fans, has a great website providing information about the club and the fun activities in which Crew members participate.

Right now, The Flight Crew's site features a poll asking visitors to predict who the #1 and #2 QB choices are going to be for the upcoming season.

Will it be Philyaw and Bishop?
Quinn and Philyaw?
Quinn and Bishop?
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.

Stop by, take a look at what the Crew is doing to support Arena Football in Kansas City, join up, and make your prediction for the Brigade's quarterback known. After you vote, you can get an idea of what the rest of the KCB diehards think about the situation.

Highway 64 has stake in Brigade...

You know that Neil Smith, the former Chiefs standout defensive end, has a spot in the ownership team that runs the Kansas City Brigade. He's not the only former Chief (or NFL player, for that matter) with an interest in Club.

Ralph Tamm, a former offensive lineman who spent time with a series of NFL teams, including KC, is also a part owner. Tamm currently lives in Colorado and has a horse ranch, as well as being involved with the Brigade.

Known as "Highway 64" when he played (64 was his uni number), Tamm had a reputation as a hardnosed lineman, actually finishing #3 on a list of the "dirtiest players" in the league at one point.

If you want to read more about Brigade co-owner Ralph Tamm's college and pro career or find out a little more about what happened to him after his playing days were over, you should check out the article I found at PhilyBurbs.

Magazines on the cheap...

If you're like me, your household probably subsribes to somewhere between five and ten magazines. They are addictive little sources of regular information and although I like getting the scoop online, too, there is something about the slick paper of magazines and the ability to read them while chilling on the sofa that I just can't yet capture using technology.

Anyway, the problem with magazines is that, unlike the Kansas City Brigade Extra, they are not free. However, it is possible to get subscriptions inexpensively. MagsDirect.com, for instance, sells subs to over 1300 magazines at the LOWEST prices the publishers will allow for net sales.

They also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so you don't need to worry about whether you are dealing with the real deal.

With all of those titles, you know they will have something you absolutely love. So, consider looking online at MagsDirect.com the next time you decide to add a few magazine subscriptions to your list.

Former Brigade DS is going to Disneyworld...

Former Brigade defensive specialist Chris Pointer has been signed as a free agent by the Orlando Predators, according to the Predators' official website.

Although Pointer's solid play clearly wasn't enough to vault Kansas City into the Arena Bowl last year, Orlando thinks he can certainly help them on the defensive side of the ball.

The article about Pointer is, expectedly, very positive about the DS and his future in Florida. It also provides a nice encapsulation of his professional football career:

"A veteran entering his fifth season, Pointer started all 16 games for the Brigade last year – recording a career-high 74 tackles with one interception and 10 pass defenses. For his AFL career, he has 219 career tackles with 38 pass defenses and three interceptions – playing for the Brigade, New Orleans VooDoo and New Jersey Gladiators."

Brigade Girls Get Nod...

The Professional Cheeerleader Blog has a nice piece on this year's Kansas City Brigade Girls.

Sasha notes that the squad has expanded to 32 amazing participants and provides a full roster of the folks who will keep the fans excited and entertained throughout the coming season.

The post also features a great color photo of the whole team, which is something every fan of the team (and the dance squad) will definitely want to check out!

According to the blog, the roster will be made up of the following great dancers and entertainers:

"Returning Veterans
Amy S, Angie, Brandy, Candice, Erin B, Jodi, Julee, Kirby, Michelle, Stephanie, Sumayyah, and Valerie.

Newbies
Affton, Amanda, Amber, Amy W, Ashley, Brittany H, Brittany K, Davinia, Erin B, Jaci, Jenni, Jessica, Julie, Kasey, Nadia, Rachel, Tessa, Tonya, Whitney, and Yolanda"

On link popularity,,,

Okay, everyone has figured out that link popularity is the key to search engine result placement success. If you don’t have plenty of links out there pointing back to your site, it is incredibly tough to end up with a highly placed result for your keywords.

That’s important, because search engine traffic is the lifeblood of most commercial sites. Without it, there aren’t enough visitors to convert into sales and sites go under. With it, there are always checks to cash.

The problem is figuring out how to get those links, right? Not necessarily. Yeah, you could try to organize a series of trades. You could try to write something so amazing that people would link to it organically. If you want tons of links, though, that can be inefficient. Oh, and you do want tons of links. Experts argue that volume is incredibly important to search engine success.

One interesting solution is partnering with Blogitive. Blogitive will take information about your site and hand it over to an army of bloggers who will then write about you and who will link back to you. You can amass a substantial quantity of backlinks in a hurry with a service like Blogitive.

Remember, the algorithms keep changing but one thing remains constant when it comes to search engines. Links create better results. And that means more traffic. Traffic, of course, is money. Get your links and get plenty of them.

Sioux City's Bauman moves up to AFL with Brigade...

The off-season personell acquisitions continue.

Three hundred pound nose guard Damien Bauman is making the jump from the Sioux City Bandits to the Kansas City Brigade after inking a two year deal.

Bauman has been playing pro ball for four years. In addition to his season with Sioux City, he spent three years with the NIFL team in Omaha.

Bauman played college ball for the Huskers in Nebraska and, according to a Sioux City Journal article, he's looking forward to becoming part of the Brigade. The plan to use fewer two-way players in the AFL seems like a welcome change to Bauman, who seems enthused to perfect his nose guard skills and contribute to a winning team in Kansas City.

Get to know your new Brigade lineman. Read the Sioux City Journal article in full...

Brigade Hooks Up with Bishop

Right on the heels of bringing former Chiefs back up QB J. Quinn into the fold, the KC Brigade signed another recognizable name to take snaps next year. Former Kansas State standout Michael Bishop has signed a deal with the Kansas City Arena Football League club.

The move has been lauded by the KC Star as proof positive that the Brigade understand the marketing value of a local gridiron hero like Bishop. They also note that the former Big XII quaterback can probably lead the team to a few wins.

It seems like a great move to me. Now, the question becomes whether Kemper Arena is big enough for two guys with local ties who have both spent time on NFL rosters and who both play quarterback.

My guess? Despite early indications to the contrary, I doubt Jonathan Quinn will ever take the turf as a member of the Kansas City Brigade now that Bishop is on the team.

Getting an online degree...

Not everyone loves the idea of attending college the traditional way. We don't all have schedules or lifestyles that make attending scheduled classes at a physical campus sensible. Some of us need additional flexibility or are simply in search of a more efficient option. Capella University may be the solution for those who feel that way. Capella serves over 16K students from all over the world, allowing them to complete four year and graduate degree programs via an online distance learning model.

Capella isn't some sketchy, phony "school" that will just take the money and run. It's headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has been operating since 1993. Unlike many of its competitors, its accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and maintains a membership with the North Central Association of colleges and Schools.

Do you want a business degree online? Looking for a way to snag that graduate degree? Interested in studying and advancing without spending days and nights in stuffed classrooms on a schedule that just doesn't meet your needs? You might want to check out Capella University. You can find them online or give them a buzz at 888-CAPELLA.

Former Chiefs QB to Compete for Brigade Spot

If you want to win in the AFL, you need a good QB. Teams have found them in a variety of places. Undrafted college players. Guys who spent time in the World League and just couldn't put it together. Grocery clerks from Iowa who later went on to win Super Bowls, etc.

Sometimes it works like this: You get a break in the AFL. You excel. You end up in the NFL. The Kansas City Brigade is going about things from the opposite direction. They've signed former Tulane standout and venerable KC Chiefs backup quarterback Johnathan Quinn to compete for the 2007 QB job.

The Brigade's press release stated, in part:

"While not from the traditional pool of Arena Football talent, his is a name many in Kansas City will recognize. The team on Friday announced the signing of former Kansas City Chiefs backup quarterback Jonathan Quinn to compete for a spot in 2007 alongside current signal callers Raymond Philyaw and Chris Sanders. A veteran of eight NFL seasons, Quinn is one of many pieces being put into place as the Brigade prepares to play in a new division next season."

Nothing wrong with Philyaw or Sanders, but I would love to see Quinn get the job. He was a part of some fun Chiefs teams and has the kind of top-level experience that should qualify him for AFL success.

Welcome back to KC, Mr. Quinn. Hope you stay here for awhile!

2007 Brigade Girls Video Released...

Check out the Brigade's official site if you'd like to take a gander at the 2007 Brigade girls. I thought it would be hard to top last year's collection of incredibly attractive dancer/cheerleaders, but based on the footage of this year's tryouts, there is a strong likelihood that things will get even more attractive inside Kemper Arena.

The short video is great! It's available in multiple formats. Here's the link. Prepare to bookmark it, because you'll probably want to check it out more than one time! I love the guys in blue, but I have a very special affinity for the gals, too, and if you watch this video you will definitely see why I feel that way!

Take care. And GOOOOOO BRIGADE!

Funeral Flowers...

If you need to purchase funeral flowers, you might want to consider the folks at Dot Flowers. Dot Flowers isn't just another florist. Yes, they have everything you'd expect (and more) in terms of arrangements.

The Dot Flower Difference stems from their attention to detail. They make a call to the funeral home to verify delivery instructions and times. They verify receipt of the arrangement. They allow you to focus on the most important things as they handle all of the details of funeral flowers for you. Choosing flowers for a funeral will never be easy, but Dot Flowers will make it less stressful.

Thoughts on Gold...

If you knew trouble loomed ahead, would you rather have gold bullion at your disposal or paper money? The answer is obvious and it explains, in large measure, why so many investors make gold part of their overall strategy. Gold has the wonderful ability to retain its value during even the toughest circumstances. In fact, gold actually become more attractive during periods of economic and political tension. It's no wonder so many savvy investors hold gold.

The Monex Deposit Company (MDC) has been in the gold business for over three decades. They can help investors purchase gold and can even arrange for personal delivery or storage of the precious commodity in a properly secured repository. If you are interested in gold as an investment, be sure to take a look at what MDC can do for you.

Interesting 9/11 Fund Case...

Contingency fees aren't unusual for attorneys, but when one lawyer demanded $2 million from a client after assisting her in receiving compensation from the 9/11 Victims Compensation fund, the client balked. The 9/11 widow sought compensation after losing her husband in the attacks and felt the attorney's demand was inappropriate considering the nature of the assistance received and the no-fault nature of the VCF. Simmons, Jannace & Stagg represented her in relation to the original attorney's demand for payment. In the first federal court decision involving Victims Compensation Fund cases and attorney fees, Simmons, Jannace and Stagg successfully managed to have the attorney's action stayed.

If you need to go back to school...

OK...Try this one on for size... There is a school, headquartered in Minnesota, that offers over seventy five degree programs (including advanced degree options), over fifteen specialized certifications, and is recognized by the Higher Learning Commission. This school has a track record that stretches well over a decade and is currently serving over 15000 students.

Can you name it? Nope. It's not UM, MSU or even Macalester. It's Capella University. If you aren't familiar with Capella, it may be because it doesn't have dorm rooms or a sprawling campus. Instead, it is a distance learning option for those who want all the advantages of a higher education without putting up with many of the hassles that can can make the educational experience so frustrating.

If you need to "go back to school," you can get your ba, bs, ma, ms or mba online. Distance learning via the internet is a perfect way to improve and expand your knowledge base and qualifications.

Spears Kid Nattily Attired...

Personalized baby gifts are a great idea for almost any parent. There are exceptions, of course. You'd probably strike out with Britney Spears. The ex pop-princess turned mommy has a penchant for putting her kid into some pretty flashy duds. The little dandy, Sean Preston, is so well-clothed that he recently broke Esquire's list of best-dressed men/boys.

Spears, who hasn't bothered actually doing anything that would warrant attention in terms of her career for a couple of years, dropped around five grand in one of those crazy LA clothing stores recently. According to one paper, she spent a considerable amount of her time eyeing the baby t-shirts. Hey, if you have $5K to invest in Garanimals, you can get your kid into Esquire!

Stock options trading note...

So, you have a nice growing investment portfolio. That's great. The problem is that you aren't actually generating any immediate cash value off of it. Hey, you have great stocks, they just don't pay dividends. The companies are reinvesting profits in growth instead of hooking you up with cash. All is not lost, though, if you are looking for a way to bring home some cash from that investment. You can sell options on the stock. You sell the right to buy your stock at a certain price and you get paid for option itself up-front. Of course, just like anything related to investment, it can get ugly if you don't know your way around. That's why you should consult with PowerOptions, where you can get the tools and info you need to make stock options trading a good plan for you.

Car insurance notes...

Car insurance quotes. You want to get as many as you can to make sure you are getting the best possible deal. You probably don't want to run around town talking to dozens of insurance agents, though. Good news! Sheila's Wheels allows you to compare offers from tons of insurers online and quickly. It is a great way to save time and money. The site also has some pretty interesting ideas, including a blow up doll that looks like a nice tough mail traveling companion. Women can toss the "buddy on demand" into the front seat and drive around with a greater feeling of security. Find the right car insurance quote, or the right inflatable pal!

CREDIT CARDS

It's hard to function without a credit card. Try renting hotel space, buying plane tickets, renting a car or making an online purchase of any sort without a card and you will see what I mean! On top of that, dealing with unforeseen expenses is sure a lot easier when you have a line of credit available to you in the case of an emergency. It shocks me how many people struggle to live a regular every day life simply because they don't have a credit card.

Everyone should probably have a credit card and use it responsibly. If you are looking for one, I found a place that will help you by doing a credit search--with no obligation--showing you various credit cards and links to their online applications. The range is impressive and contains some of the most recognized names in MasterCard/Visa issuers. There's no risk in seeing what's available. Take a look!

Kansas City Brigade Player to Appear in Film

Big BJ Cohen is getting some face time in the movies!

He has a role in "We are Marshall" a movie about the Marshal Thundering Herd football team that re-emerged after a horrible plane crash all but destroyed the team in the early 70s. Though he is an MU alum, Cohen isn't playing part of the Herd!

You can read more about Cohen's silver screen efforts here.

Excerpt:

"Expect Cohen to return to football after filming. He figures to play three or four more years (Cohen recently finished his first season with the Kansas City Brigade), but already is prepping for life after the game.

Cohen is "dabbling" in real estate in Kansas City and has coached youth-league teams during recent summers.

"I hope to have an easy transition into the working world with something I would love to do," Cohen said. "All my life, I've played football and I love lacing up the cleats and putting on the pads."

The Best Website EVER. The Kansas City Brigade Girls

Even when the Brigade was losing, I was winning, thanks the red hot cheerleading and dance team known as the Brigade Girls.

Anyone who thinks Kansas City suffers from a paucity of hotties need only make their way to Kemper Arena to witness these bombshells in action to have that notion blown away.

The Brigade Girls site is a must-see.

I don't want to make it sound like sexy girls in skimpy outfits is better than big dudes in pads beating the snot out of one another, but then again...

In any case...

One of my favorites? Lindsay. She makes smoothies, digs Taco Bell, and is downright gorgeous!

Kenny McEntyre to Join Brigade

In a great off-season move, the Kansas Brigade has signed veteran Arena defender and stand out Kenny McEntyre.

More moves like this one may be just what the doctor ordered for the Brigade, who disappointed last year in terms of won/loss record while still managing to build a great fan base in KC.

More about the McEntyre signing is available here. Here's an excerpt of the coverage:

"The nine-year veteran-a two-sport athlete at Kansas State-has spent his entire Arena Football League career with the Orlando Predators, setting a slew of records on his way to becoming arguably the best defender in the league."

FURNITURE

If you need furniture, and we all do, you should take a look at BFO--Best Furniture Online. BFO is a perfect example of how valuable experience, a commitment to quality customer service, and an understanding of what makes the internet such a perfect place for commerce can combine to produce fantastic results. BFO does a great job of providing honest advice and expert knowledge to potential furniture buyers. Furniture is an age old artform. From the ancient Greeks and Egyptians through today, great designers and artisans have made wonderful furniture. Today's options are seemingly limitless, often informed by classic designs and utilizing modern technology. Making the best possible decisions on anything from a couch to a new set of folding chairs is easier when you shop at the right place. BFO is the right place for furniture.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Who handed out the Christmas gifts during the Protestant Reformation? It sure wasn’t jolly old St. Nick. Back in the 16th century, the role of saints was on the decline and some already-established gift-giving traditions involving St. Nicholas were under attack. Luckily, the big ol’ elf persevered. In 1823 a poem now known as “The Night before Christmas” celebrated his giving ways and helped to elevate him to his now iconic status. Today, St. Nick isn’t the only one handing out presents, though. All of us do. Gift baskets are a very popular choice. They can be a perfect gift for everyone. You can even have them custom-made. Do your best to make up for the years when St. Nick was kept out of the giving loop by handing out some good cheer of your own in the form gift baskets.

SILVER

You could get four gallons of gas for a dollar back in the day. Then, U.S. currency was backed by precious metals, like silver. Dollar bills even said “silver certificate” right on them. That’s no longer the case, and in some places you can’t get much more than a gallon of gas for a buck. The same amount of silver, however, still buys the same amount of gas it once did. Precious metals, you see, retain their value even while paper money loses a great deal of its buying power. That makes precious metal investment an attractive option--especially in unsteady political and economic times like ours. A company like Monex, who has been giving investors great guidance with respect to precious metals for almost forty years, can help you diversity your portfolio with a little bling! Precious metals might be just what you need to round out your investment plan.

WEDDING EXPENSES

Getting married? It’s time to think about paying for the wedding.

Here’s the formula:

Bride’s Family’s Contribution + Groom’s Family’s Contribution + Bride’s and Groom’s Contributions = Total Wedding Funds Available.

Now, here’s another important equation:

Total Wedding Funds Available >= Total Wedding Costs

It can be tricky to make it all work. Basically, you need to scrape up enough money to cover the difference between your wedding plan and what you can get from others. That may mean upping your own contribution or decreasing your expenses.

There are some essentials you shouldn’t do without--things like wedding cameras, a memorable cake, a beautiful gown, etc. However, it is possible to cut costs here and there and still have a great wedding day.

Alternatively, or in conjunction with that strategy, you can do your best to put away more money to pay for the wedding. That might require smarter, cheaper living, but the sacrifices made will undoubtedly pay off when the wedding goes off perfectly.

A recent report said that a 150 guest wedding averages a cost of about $25K. Your costs may be lower or higher, depending upon a number of factors, but the undeniable fact is that exchanging vows tends to be a real investment. Take it just as seriously as you would any other investment and plan carefully!

Pegues Coming Back

The Kansas City Brigade has resigned OL-DL Chad Pegues. He'll be back for another (hopefully more successful) season next year.

Verified here.

KC Brigade Names Boone ROY

"Former Wildcat Aaron Boone was recently named the Rookie of the Year for the Kansas City Brigade of the Arena Football League. Boone started all seven games for the Brigade after being traded from Philadelphia and caught 66 passes for 748 yards with 19 touchdowns while also playing outside safety on defense."

That's according to the Lexington Herald-Leader, a fine paper with a nice sports page. This season was lousy, but we cannot blame Boone, who played very well. Way to go, Aaron!

GPS HANDHELD

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration raster navigational charts (RNC's) provide the most detailed navigational information for boaters and sailers. Mariners rely upon RNC's for safe travel and download them free of charge from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website, where they are constantly being updated by the Feds. Mariners also rely upon Northeast Marine Electronics for great equipment like GPS Handheld devices and fish finding equipment by manufacturers like industry leader Furuno. The Northeeast staff is knowledgeable and helpful. Just like the NOAA and RNC's.

A NOTE ABOUT ADVERTISING

Hi. This blog will occasionally feature entries that are written for advertising purposes. These posts will be clearly indicated by the use of the graphic found on this post. Many don't care for advertising, and that is completely understandable. Hopefully, by clearly marking the commercial posts the reading experience of those who prefer an ad-free environment will be disrupted less. Thank you.

Brigade fans...protect your car at Kemper...and save some dough, too...

If you are like me, you don't park in one of those reserved lots down by Kemper when you go to the Brigade games. Instead, you find some off site lot or you just scramble for a space. Although I don't live in California (the car theft capital of the world), I do have some concerns about leaving my vehicle unattended during the games down there. I was reading a list of things you can do to decrease the chances of theft that GEICO put out.

They say to have the VIN etched on every window because thieves don't want to deal with having to replace glass before they can sell a stolen car. Awesome idea and I had never even heard of doing that. They also recommend many "common sense" strategies like making sure every window is completely closed, that we often overlook. Oh, and according to what I read you are totally helping out thieves by leaving your title and registration in the car--so don't.

The high risk of theft might be one of the things leading to higher insurance prices. Personally, I learned that the best way to score good car insurance prices is to use online sources like Carinsurance.com, because they check for the best possible rates all over the place. Comparison shopping is always a good idea.

Hopefully, we can have some good quarterback comparison shopping before next season, because I think we need someone else behind center. Any suggestions?

How to afford those first row Brigade tickets?

If you are looking to upgrade your Brigade season tickets for next year and would like to grab some of those cherry first row seats, you will have to earn some big bread. I don't know if this is a good way to get richer in a hurry, but I have been told it's good investment advice:

Buying gold coins makes a lot of sense. Economic and political uncertainty make precious metals a neat idea for investors. They retain their value like nothing else and experts recommend having precious metals in one's portfolio as a hedge against market vagaries.

Many of us have thought about buying gold coins but don't really know where we should get the goods. Monex is a company that has been in the business since 1967 and has serviced over 100,000 precious metal investors. Its experience and steady history make it a solid choice if you are looking to find a way to protect your financial interests and/or to profit even more.

Those front row seats cost over a C-note a pop per game. Better get started now! And owning some precious metal might just help!

Take a Break..Forget about the season..Hawaii...

Now that the AFL is on hiatus, it's time to start thinking about someting other than incredibly disappointing losing seasons for our local team. How about renting a Maui Condo and vacationing in Hawaii.

This outfit called Gebhart Properties rents out some of the most amazing luxury resort properties you can imagine. They have awesome locations and digs you have to see to believe.

They have one three bedroom condo at the Mahana at Kaanapali Resort that has everything from a gourmet kitchen to private elevators. Not too mention cool Hawaiian art and a great view. It's huge, too--2500+ square feet.

In Old Lahaina, they have a two bedroom corner condo unit that is within a football toss of the beach. Thirty feet. Walk outside, take a few steps, and hit the water. Amazing!

Reminder for all Kansas City Brigade Fans...

Lovin' the rough and tumble game of arena football is all fine and dandy, but don't forget your momma in the process! Mother's day is coming up.

Resist the urge to buy her a brigade jersey or cap. Instead, consider a nice gift basket or maybe even some beautiful Mothers Day Flowers.

You may now return to your regularly schedule football obsession.

Feelin' Bad for the Brigade...

Let's be honest. These guys were rotten. Andy Kelly? Give me a break. Kelly LeBrock would have been a better QB (don't know who that is, look it up).

But, I like Neil Smith. I like Copeland's, too, although the crawfish etoufee isn't really that authentic. I'd like to send Neil a gift basket or something to make up for this horrible first year.

Sorry, Neil, maybe next season.

Brigade Not Considered a Typical Expansion Team

Yeah, we got the Brigade in Kansas City a few years earlier than we were planning on landing an Arena Football expansion club. What a deal. Not only did we get to cut the wait time way, way down, we also inherited a legitimate ballclub from New Orleans.

The folks at Oursportscentral will back me up on that. They note:

"None of those ?big losing teams' is around now. But Utah and the Kansas City Brigade are not typical of expansion teams. The Blaze was healthy from the start with the likes of Joe Germaine, Orshawante Bryant, Siaha Burley and some experienced linemen, as is KC with Andy Kelly, B.J. Cohen, Steve Smith and Aaron Hamilton.

So we're cutting the expansion crup. Heck, these are some talented teams and they'll embarrass some of the "better" teams in the league, as did head coach/general manager Danny White's orange & black Blaze against the 'Cats."

Hey, don't let the opening road loss get you down. The Kansas City Brigade is a legitimate AFL football team!

Not much else about the Brigade here, but more about the AFL if you are interested.

Bought a Kansas City Brigade Hat...

I still think it was a marketing disaster that the KC Brigade didn't get their jerseys and caps out to stores in time for the holiday rush, but I have noticed some stuff trickling into area stores.

I found what the sales dude called an "unstructured" Brigade hat at a local store. Under $20. It's a black hat with the logo in silver. Not very flashy, but comfortable.

I will keep my eyes open for Brigade jerseys and other KC Brigade stuff and will report my findings here.

Oh, the hat was at Oak Park mall--the ticket-selling store--but I saw it in another store, too.

Kansas City Brigade Drops Opener

Well, the first appearance for the silver and blue Kansas City Brigade jerseys ended in defeat. The Brigade lost its opening game 58-44 to Dallas.

Annoying: The Loss
Annoying: Only saw the game on tape-delay on tv. It was supposed to be on according to my guide at 2 p.m., but when I got there it was the 700 Club.

Cool: The Brigade jerseys look better than I had thought.
Cool: Arena Football is a trip. That is some exciting stuff.
Cool: We are going to get to learn some of the Arena Football rules in Kansas City--there are some interesting wrinkles.

Game recap by the Associate Press (found at Forbes):

"Clint Dolezel was 25-of-35 for 270 yards and six touchdowns and also ran for a score to lead the Dallas Desperados to a 58-44 victory over the expansion Kansas City Brigade on Sunday in the opener for both teams."

Good Brigade Tickets Available...

If you want to get in the first row right up on the glass this season, I know how you can get it done.

"Bull," you are probably thinking... "The Kansas City Brigade have alread sold 1000s of season tickets and more people are buying every day. Plus, everyone knows those VIP seats right next to the field are long gone!"

Here's the deal... You'd be right if you said that, but you would still be wrong about getting great Kansas City Brigade tickets. I was in a local mall the other day and there is a store that sells tickets that still has the BEST seats for all of the games at Kemper. The girl who was working there also told me they could get tickets for any of the Kansas City Brigade games on the road--and they are even selling tickets for the AFL Championship in Las Vegas.

The downside is that some of the tickets can cost some money. That is not that big of a deal, because most of the real awesome tickets up close at Kemper were expensive in the first place, but you will pay more. Apparently, these people buy really good tickets and then mark them up a little bit, I guess. Anyway, the girl told me you could get seats anywhere for any game. So, if you need Kansas City Brigade tickets and want to set in style, I would go the mall. The one in Lenexa on Quivira. The store is Ace Sports and Nascar Tickets.

That's your helpful hint for Kansas Brigade fans today!

Preseason Notes: KC Brigade Looked Good vs. Grand Rapids

On Jan. 13, the Kansas City Brigade scrimmaged with the Grand Rapids, MI, AFL squad... Apparently, the KC Brigade played some pretty good Arena Football.

According to one source:

"



DEPORTES - Sports

Kansas City Brigade Defeats Grand Rapids Rampage

Coach Kevin Porter gives the team some feedback


Neil Smith

Anxious to see their first real action of the preseason, the Brigade certainly did not play against the Grand Rapids Rampage on Monday afternoon at Kemper Arena like it was a scrimmage. All three Brigade
Quarterbacks threw touchdown passes and the defense scored nine points of its own on the way to a 30-28 win.
“We saw some positive things and we saw some things that we need to work on,” Coach Kevin Porter said. “Overall I would say that the day was a success, but now we will evaluate the film and get back at it on the
practice field. We have very high standards for our team, so we are never completely satisfied, but I thought our key players were consistent and some of the new guys stepped up at times to make some plays. We still have a lot of [training] camp left.”

Dos Mundos supplied the article from where that was excerpted. The full story is worth reading and they have some good Kansas City Brigade pictures, too.

Dallas Coach: Kansas City Brigade is NOT an Expansion Team...

Coach McClay from Dallas got something right... He recognizes that the Kansas City Brigade is a lot more like the New Orleans Voodoo than an expansion team.

The DFW paper quotes him:

"You open with "expansion" Kansas City, but the team is mostly New Orleans players. Is there a fear of taking this team too lightly? No. We go through the roster, and if there's a bunch of names we don't recognize, it's an expansion team. But it's New Orleans' roster moved over, and we know that. We know New Orleans was a good football team, and had a good coach in Kevin Porter and his staff. They have some familiarity with this. It would be different if it was a new team that had a new coach who's never seen the game. This is like playing New Orleans."

One change... It is a lot more like playing the Kansas City Brigade than New Orleans, coach.

You can read the original Kansas City Brigade AFL article right here.

Brigade Stude Cohen Gets AFL Honors...

We definitely have some talent on this team!

According to the Kansas City infoZine:

"Kansas City Brigade OL/DL B.J. Cohen was named to the All-AFL preseason team by AFL Writer's Association today. This comes on the heels of receiving votes for the AFL All-time top 20 team. Cohen, who is a leader on and off the field for the Brigade, plays tight end on offense and is 8th all-time in sacks on the defensive side of the ball."

That is great. One of the all-time greatest AFL players and we have him right here on the Kansas City Brigade!

Link is here.

Booth on Practice Squad for Kansas City Brigade???

According to OSC:

"Practice Squad Announced: The Kansas City Brigade filled out its four-man practice squad this week with the signings of quarterback Steve Bellisari, wide receiver/linebacker John Booth, offensive lineman/defensive lineman Reggie Poole and defensive specialist Travis Coleman.

Booth, a standout quarterback at MidAmerica Nazarene, played on the Chiefs practice squad and in NFL Europe before catching on with the Brigade. Coleman appeared in seven games on special teams and for the Chicago Bears in 2002 and has one year of af2 experience with the Columbus Conquest in 2004. Bellisari, who started 31 games at quarterback for Ohio State, played last season with the Dayton (Ohio) Warbirds in the National Indoor Football League. Poole also has a season of af2 experience with the Green Bay Blizzard in 2005 and prior to that played with the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe."

A few questions...Why the practice squad? Are you telling me Booth, who saw some preseason action with the Chiefs can't cut it in the AFL? And why would he be listed as WR/LB...Couldn't we sneak QB in there somewhere? Oh, and is this like the worst marketing decision ever? Booth was a local small college stud... I think the locals would like to see him on the Real Roster... Just a thought.

The link