Justin Bower

My 2008 Mazda 3 started a little rough for two days, then wouldn't start the third day. It tried to turn over, but then I just got clicking. I checked the battery and the positive terminal was corroded. I cleaned it with a baking soda solution. The cap for the positive side of the battery was also off, and I replaced it. HOwever, the car still woudln't start. The next day, by giving it a lot of gas, it finally turned over, but barely and only after cranking for a while. I ran it for 45 minutes or so. That evening it did the same thing...barely started. The next day, while driving at slow speeds, the lights started to dim and the radio turned off an back on again (electrics "flickered"). This happened only while at low speeds/coasting to a stop, not on the highway thank goodness. Is this a battery or alternator issue? I'm reluctant to drive to the shop if I don't know whether the electric will cut out on me.

So I'm trying to figure out the best way to approach a mortgage. Let's say you are borrowing 300,000 at 4.5% interest, for a 30 year (fixec) time frame.

If you then had an additional amount of money (let's say, 30,000), is it wiser to:

I

1) to pay down that loan (especially in the early years) to reduce the amount of time the balance is being paid, and therefore the interest it costs over the life of the loan (e.g. paying double the monthly payment of $1520.06 until the 30,000 is expended), or

2) pay the loan down normally, but invest that $30,000.

My guess is that since the interest rate is so low, as long as you're making at least the interest rate in your scenario 2 investment, you'll come out ahead. I've been averaging ~10% on similar investments for the last few years, so let's assume 5% to be conservative.

Is there anything I'm missing? Does one need to factor in the tax savings of the extra interest paid in the second scenario?

I started on a spreadsheet but something went awry...any ideas?

I'm not trying to be mean or make a point, I really am curious why people come here, ask a a question, wait for an answer, etc for things that seem like they would be really easy just to google. I mean I know a lot of people are just lazy kids who don't want to do their own work. but it seems like it's more work to come here and go through the whole process then just to google a question like "Is a bear a mammal"? I can easily find that information on wiki, much easier than asking it here. I really am curious, why does that kind of question get asked here? What's the rationale?

In Albany, NY, just southeast of Empire Plaza, at the corner of Lancaster and Eagle streets are two round stone structures like towers with their tops cut off.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/33074943

I cannot find any reference to what these are ANYWHERE. Anyone know?