what should i do about my car payment?

im trying to cut our budget back as much as possible… the car payment is our second biggest expense right now, so i was wondering if i could do something about it.

we are about $1000 upside down on our loan after 16 months of payments. we owe $18660 and its blue book is about $17700. our payments are right at $400 a month, but we have started sending $450. we still have right at 5 years to pay on the car, or another $24000.

we dont have much going on savings-wise to be able to put another down payment on a different car, but we are not opposed to trading in for a used car.

i just dont know what the smartest option would be. do we just hunker down and pay off the car as fast as we can or should we trade it in for a decent used car with a lower price and lower monthly payment that we could be done with in 2-3 years instead of 5?

our car (08 toyota rav4) has less than 10,000 miles on it and i suspect that it will last us quite a while. its a good family car, im okay with the mpg it gets, and it has pretty low emissions, which is also important to me. i dont want to trade it in for something that will be a blight on the ozone. its in excellent condition except some a-hole scratched the poo out of it on one side, its about a 2 foot long scratch (i almost puked when i saw it) and it has rust in it. there are about 3-4 other tiny tiny tiny dings in one of the doors that i never noticed until we had the opportunity to wash it this spring, they look to be a little rusty, too. but other than those things, its in great condition.

its something i could see us driving for quite a while to come and toyotas are good cars… thats why im having such a problem making a decision. of course if i could do it all over we would have just bought a used car at the beginning, but you cant go back in time, so now i need to figure out our best option.

now that ive rambled on for so long, hopefully someone will be able to give me an answer and explanation (?)

thanks in advance!

HEY GIRLS-Which option is better?

So, there’s the girl that I go to college with. Me and her are like best friends. She is 21 and absolutely gorgeous! I am 19 and big and fat lol. But for some reason we have soooo much in common and get along really well. Neither of us has ever been in a relationship before (yeah I know it’s weird-especially for her because she is so darn pretty). Anyways I’ve really started to like her as more than a friend and I need to tell her. Honestly she’ll probably say no, but I’ve gotta ask-ya know what I mean. Anyways, my biggest concern is losing her friendship. What would be the best way to talk to her about this? Should I have a face to face talk with her-or should I write her a note? The note that I’ve written is below the dashed line for you to read if you want-but you don’t have to if you prefer not to. Which would be better for our friendship’s sake? Which would be more romantic? Please tell me the pros and cons of each option and let me know which one you would choose and why. Thanks!

———————————–

Hey there. You know, you really are one of my favorite people and I really enjoy the time that we spend together. You make my day, and I think that it’s safe to say that you’re my best friend. I really cherish the friendship that we have and I wouldn’t trade it for the world! But, I need to get something of my chest. Do you remember a couple of weeks ago-when we asked each other what our first impression of each other was? Well, I wasn’t entirely truthful. If you remember, I said that I noticed that you dress conservatively and that I thought that it meant that you respect yourself. Well, that’s true but there’s more. You see, the first time I saw you I thought that you were the most beautiful girl that I’ve ever laid my eyes upon. I fell for you instantly. But, I kind of (before I really knew you) lumped you into a category with just about every other pretty girl that I’ve met, I thought that you wouldn’t have even persue a friendship with me. Please remember that at this point I didn’t even know your name! It wasn’t until we had a class together that I realized how wonderful of a person you are: kind, caring, gentle, smart, funny, fun to be around and of course I still think that you’re the prettiest girl that I’ve ever met. I have to be forthright: I do have feelings for you beyond our wonderful friendship. We have so much in common-it’s weird! But it’s also good. I think that I should also mention that the few times that we have hung out I haven’t thought of it as anything more than just hangin’ out. I guess that what I’m trying to tell you is that I know how I feel-but I don’t know if you feel the same. If you do, then that’s great-lets go out on a few dates and see how it goes! If not, it’s okay. I really hope that we can still be great friends because I wouldn’t trade our friendship in for anything! I just feel like I need to tell you this because I’d be a fool to pass up an opportunity that could be something wonderful. Please forgive me for writing this rather than telling you in person. I felt that this would be a low pressure way (for the both of us) for me to just tell you this. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. Please let me know if this is a mutual feeling. If it’s not, like I said-it’s okay. Just pretend that you never even saw this. And most importantly, let’s still be friends-I promise that I can move on.

A case for yellow cards in the UFC. Kimbo vs. Alexander. Opinions?

In Japanese mixed martial arts organizations, Pride had them, Dream still does, if a fighter or fighters intentionally stall the action, make no attempt to initiate an offensive attack, make no attempt to damage the opponent, or in general make no attempt to WIN, they are issued a yellow card.

A yellow card is a penalty card meant to be taken as a warning. If you’re issued a yellow card, 10% of your purse is deducted. If you receive three yellow cards over the course of a fight, you’re disqualified.

I believe that there’s now a case that yellow cards need to be implemented by the UFC. Let’s take Kimbo Slice vs. Houston Alexander as a SHINING example.

I’ll get straight to it, Houston Alexander was fleeing the entire fight. He threw weak lead leg kicks and circled the Octagon as if he were going for laps. When Kimbo attempted to initiate a stand up exchange, Alexander threw one, possibly two techniques, and retreated.

He made no attempt to ‘win’ that fight. He made no attempt to inflict damage. He made no attempt to fight. He is a professional FIGHTER. Is there any excuse for this?

He should have been yellow carded two minutes into the first round.

I know what arguments to expect. He was following a game plan. He knew Kimbo had a bad knee, and he was trying to weaken the legs to move in for the kill. A valid argument. However, if he were trying to weaken the knee he should have varied his attack, threw more than a lead leg kick with NO power behind it, and initiated at least SOME of the action. Feint Kimbo out, try to get him to cross his feet, cut an angle and attack hard. He could have done SOMETHING. There is no strategy in blatantly running away. Another valid argument would be that he didn’t want to stand toe to toe and trade with Kimbo. Who would want to do that? It’s not smart. But there are things you can do. If you’re so afraid of engaging that you flee the entire fight, don’t accept the fight. Use footwork, attack when an opening presents itself, if you don’t feel an opening is present, create one! Kimbo is not a master with his footwork, nor is he a master strategist. Something could have, and should have, been done.

Now I don’t place all of the blame on Houston, Kimbo could have been doing a lot more himself. Kimbo had an AMAZING second round. He showed a lot of good, well rounded skills. Still, he could have cut an angle and threw hands, he could have stalked Alexander, cut off the ring, put him against the cage and engaged. He did a few times. It wasn’t perfect, but he tried. HOW DO YOU FIGHT SOMEONE THAT DOESN’T WANT TO FIGHT? Even so, Kimbo should have been issued a yellow card as well.

Now I know there might be complications in getting the approval of various state athletic commissions, but it’s not un-doable. There is an argument for the practice.

As for those who think strategy goes out the window and yellow cards just encourage brawls, look at Dream. If you’ve watched Japanese MMA, you know that yellow cards do not devolve all fights into bar room brawls. There are a number of very strategic fighters who work fine with the yellow card rule in place. (Shinya Aoki for example.)

No one should have to watch two guys circle stupidly around the cage for 9 minutes out of a 15 minute fight.

So what are your opinions? Do you at least believe the option should be considered?

I realize a lot of these fighters aren’t making a lot of money, but when it’s blatant that you’re stalling, and it’s blatant you don’t want to fight, you need to do something.

Again, I’m a fighter myself so I feel I can say this, if you don’t want to fight that’s fine, just don’t fight.

(For the record, I don’t believe the fight was fixed. I just don’t think Houston wanted anything to do with fighting Kimbo.)

Hey Ladies-should I do this or not?

So, there’s the girl that I go to college with. Me and her are like best friends. She is 21 and absolutely gorgeous! I am 19 (turning 20 on mar. 15)and big and fat lol. But for some reason we have soooo much in common and get along really well. Neither of us has ever been in a relationship before (yeah I know it’s weird-especially for her because she is so darn pretty). Anyways I’ve really started to like her as more than a friend and I need to tell her. Honestly she’ll probably say no, but I’ve gotta ask-ya know what I mean. Anyways, my biggest concern is losing her friendship. What would be the best way to talk to her about this? Should I have a face to face talk with her-or should I write her a note? The note that I’ve written is below the dashed line for you to read if you want-but you don’t have to if you prefer not to. Which would be better for our friendship’s sake? Which would be more romantic? Please tell me the pros and cons of each option and let me know which one you would choose and why. Thanks!

———————————–

Hey there. You know, you really are one of my favorite people and I really enjoy the time that we spend together. You make my day, and I think that it’s safe to say that you’re my best friend. I really cherish the friendship that we have and I wouldn’t trade it for the world! But, I need to get something of my chest. Do you remember a couple of weeks ago-when we asked each other what our first impression of each other was? Well, I wasn’t entirely truthful. If you remember, I said that I noticed that you dress conservatively and that I thought that it meant that you respect yourself. Well, that’s true but there’s more. You see, the first time I saw you I thought that you were the most beautiful girl that I’ve ever laid my eyes upon. I fell for you instantly. But, I kind of (before I really knew you) lumped you into a category with just about every other pretty girl that I’ve met, I thought that you wouldn’t have even persue a friendship with me. Please remember that at this point I didn’t even know your name! It wasn’t until we had a class together that I realized how wonderful of a person you are: kind, caring, gentle, smart, funny, fun to be around and of course I still think that you’re the prettiest girl that I’ve ever met. I have to be forthright: I do have feelings for you beyond our wonderful friendship. We have so much in common-it’s weird! But it’s also good. I think that I should also mention that the few times that we have hung out I haven’t thought of it as anything more than just hangin’ out. I guess that what I’m trying to tell you is that I know how I feel-but I don’t know if you feel the same. If you do, then that’s great-lets go out on a few dates and see how it goes! If not, it’s okay. I really hope that we can still be great friends because I wouldn’t trade our friendship in for anything! I just feel like I need to tell you this because I’d be a fool to pass up an opportunity that could be something wonderful. Please forgive me for writing this rather than telling you in person. I felt that this would be a low pressure way (for the both of us) for me to just tell you this. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. Please let me know if this is a mutual feeling. If it’s not, like I said-it’s okay. Just pretend that you never even saw this. And most importantly, let’s still be friends-I promise that I can move on.

I don’t know what to do-please help?

So, there’s the girl that I go to college with. Me and her are like best friends. She is 21 and absolutely gorgeous! I am 19 and big and fat lol. But for some reason we have soooo much in common and get along really well. Neither of us has ever been in a relationship before (yeah I know it’s weird-especially for her because she is so darn pretty). Anyways I’ve really started to like her as more than a friend and I need to tell her. Honestly she’ll probably say no, but I’ve gotta ask-ya know what I mean. Anyways, my biggest concern is losing her friendship. What would be the best way to talk to her about this? Should I have a face to face talk with her-or should I write her a note? The note that I’ve written is below the dashed line for you to read if you want-but you don’t have to if you prefer not to. Which would be better for our friendship’s sake? Which would be more romantic? Please tell me the pros and cons of each option and let me know which one you would choose and why. Thanks!

———————————–

Hey there. You know, you really are one of my favorite people and I really enjoy the time that we spend together. You make my day, and I think that it’s safe to say that you’re my best friend. I really cherish the friendship that we have and I wouldn’t trade it for the world! But, I need to get something of my chest. Do you remember a couple of weeks ago-when we asked each other what our first impression of each other was? Well, I wasn’t entirely truthful. If you remember, I said that I noticed that you dress conservatively and that I thought that it meant that you respect yourself. Well, that’s true but there’s more. You see, the first time I saw you I thought that you were the most beautiful girl that I’ve ever laid my eyes upon. I fell for you instantly. But, I kind of (before I really knew you) lumped you into a category with just about every other pretty girl that I’ve met, I thought that you wouldn’t have even persue a friendship with me. Please remember that at this point I didn’t even know your name! It wasn’t until we had a class together that I realized how wonderful of a person you are: kind, caring, gentle, smart, funny, fun to be around and of course I still think that you’re the prettiest girl that I’ve ever met. I have to be forthright: I do have feelings for you beyond our wonderful friendship. We have so much in common-it’s weird! But it’s also good. I think that I should also mention that the few times that we have hung out I haven’t thought of it as anything more than just hangin’ out. I guess that what I’m trying to tell you is that I know how I feel-but I don’t know if you feel the same. If you do, then that’s great-lets go out on a few dates and see how it goes! If not, it’s okay. I really hope that we can still be great friends because I wouldn’t trade our friendship in for anything! I just feel like I need to tell you this because I’d be a fool to pass up an opportunity that could be something wonderful. Please forgive me for writing this rather than telling you in person. I felt that this would be a low pressure way (for the both of us) for me to just tell you this. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. Please let me know if this is a mutual feeling. If it’s not, like I said-it’s okay. Just pretend that you never even saw this. And most importantly, let’s still be friends-I promise that I can move on.