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Alright, please only read on if you're a little financial/math savvy.

I'm currently repaying my mortgage using biweekly payments. Every two weeks half of my payment is put into escrow and then applied to the loan at the end of the month. This results in 13 payments per year and the eventual early repayment of my loan.

Most financial advisors will tout the tens of thousands of dollars saved in interest over the term of the note using this method. What I would like to do is manually compute the difference between the interest amounts and then set aside that difference every month into a savings account. Essentially I want to still pay that interest, but to myself, and once the savings account has a healthy balance use it for investments.

Any way, first I need to figure out how much I WOULD be paying every month in interest and compare it to what I am CURRENTLY paying now.

I live across the pond but after two trips to the UK I've fallen in love with it. Anyway, I watch Doctor Who and just re watched 007 with Daniel Craig in it. In a scene he jumps on the end of a train in the tube and says that he's "Health and Safety" to the driver. I recall David Tennant doing the same thing once or twice during his tenure as the Doctor. I imagine its some bureaucratic department but I was just wondering if I'm missing a larger joke, something I wouldn't understand without living there. Cheers!

I'm leaving my current employer as a bottom of the ladder grunt for a new environment as mid level management. My military experience and school work, pursuing a degree in business management, has given me some helpful insights on how to lead. I'm no stranger to responsibility or giving direction but I have a new task ahead of me.

All of my leadership experience and personal philosophy involves leading people I have had lots of time to build relationships with. There's a two way flow of influence and respect.

Now I'll be coming into a place of employment brand new as "that manager who doesn't even know what the job is". I have people sells and am definitely not the table banging whip cracking sort of leader. I can motivate and lead effectively in my opinion.

I guess my question is how should I be these first couple weeks? How do I assert my authority in a way that leads the staff to respect me and follow my direction because they choose to and not solely because they have to?

I've always said, in the military, if you have to point to your rank you've already lost. I want to avoid making that mistake at all costs.

Thanks in advance.

So I just discovered the Elder Scroll series with the release and buzz of 5: Skyrim. After over 100 hours of gameplay I'm running out of quests and storyline and not too interested in playing through again just to take slightly different branches in the story.

That being said, would I be disappointed if I picked up the last instalment, Oblivion, released in 2006? I've done this before with other games and generally found that the decrease in graphics quality, features, and the overall polish that I experienced in the newer game made the older one less enjoyable.

So, what do you think folks? Get it or skip it?

A very close friend of mine and his wife have allowed me to stay in their extra bedroom when I got home from active duty while I shop for and ultimately close on a home purchase. I'm about a week away from closing and I'm trying to figure out a fair way of thanking them.

I stayed with them for three months. They have never asked me for anything towards utilities and I have purchased my own food. In essence I've used a bit of water and electricity. I do the dishes when they need to be done and vacuum, my idea not theirs. I'm not opposed to giving them cash but it feels so impersonable and I want to show them how much I appreciate everything.

So...

Cash?

Nice dinner?

Gift?

Hookers and blow?

Thanks folks!

A very close friend of mine and his wife have allowed me to stay in their extra bedroom when I got home from active duty while I shop for and ultimately close on a home purchase. I'm about a week away from closing and I'm trying to figure out a fair way of thanking them.

I stayed with them for three months. They have never asked me for anything towards utilities and I have purchased my own food. In essence I've used a bit of water and electricity. I do the dishes when they need to be done and vacuum, my idea not theirs. I'm not opposed to giving them cash but it feels so impersonable and I want to show them how much I appreciate everything.

So...

Cash?

Nice dinner?

Gift?

Hookers and blow?

Thanks folks!

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION. DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU CAN'T APPROACH THIS FROM AN INTELLECTUAL/CONVERSATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

Many nightclubs charge men admission yet allow women free entry and no one seems to care. This is justified by claiming it encourages a female rich environment so that everyone has a good time.

What if an establishment wanted to create a race specific atmosphere and let that one in free and charged others money, maybe even a prohibitively high amount, for entry.

Would this be the same thing?

Again, intelligent answers only please.

After months of looking, placing multiple offers on homes and losing bidding wars I have finally found my dream home!

It's close to family, in the town I grew up in, lots of bedrooms, garage space, quiet neighborhood, priced right and the bank offered to pay some closing costs and some other extras. It's perfect!

My father who is on the local fire department found out from one of his co workers that the last occupant died naturally there in 2010 and wasn't discovered until a week or so had gone by resulting in quite a mess.

So, this is how bad horror movies start out. I don't think it bothers me, but just looking to bounce it off the Internet sound board. Would YOU buy a place the last person died in?

Here's the facts. Before I go and rip off a PS3's head tomorrow I need some guidance

- I'm a reservist. Have been on ADSW orders for five month. I am demobilising this week.

- my final LES for Sep just came out and there's an "advance debt" of $3400 on there! It's also subtracted in the deductions for a net of $0 but from what I'm reading they're warning me that they're about to screw me the **** over

- in these five months I NEVER EVER FOR ANY REASON took out an advance payment of ANY sort. I tracked my entitlements and only got what I'm due, base, BAH for HOR locale, and BAS. That's it and its stayed constant since I went onto active duty.

So what reasons would this show up for? Like I said, my pay has been simple without any advances or other funny business, just basic military pay. Any help? I'm going to finance tomorrow just looking for some experiences from others.

Had this idea and wondering what people might think.

Many people report uneasy feelings in "haunted" locations. This can usually, in theory, be attributed to high EMF levels or even just the power of suggestion.

An idea I had, only casually as a thought experiment, was what if in these locations of intense emotional distress and death and our feelings of uneasiness is an echo and a product of biological evolution that this is a place to be avoided just as the gazelle at the watering hole always has an eye on the grass.

Just looking for thoughts.

After a contract in the USNR as a Master-at-Arms (security forces) I am considering jumping to the Air Force for a tour to see what their side of the house is like. Don't really care to stay in security forces, been there done that. In fact, I'm not really set on any career field.

How about all the usual "I want to go EOD" questions.

- How long is school

- If a student fails out of school what are the options

- How difficult is the school

- Speaking as prior service I can say this: really, how difficult is the school because many people in the military can't even spell their own name, so for someone who has been to college, is the school all that difficult? Why do people fail out?

- For reserves what can I expect to be attached to, deployment cycles, drill activities, AT activities, etc etc.

Thanks! Also, if you've been in the USAF what are good career fields?

I'm on holiday in London and noticed something that concerned me. I bought something in Camden a few days ago and knowing the sometimes other-than-honest nature of some shop owners I was very alarmed when I saw my entire credit card number with expiry on the slip he was to keep. In the States this NEVER happens in a reputable shop and is always a sure sign of a scammer. I crossed out the number with the pen, the cashier demanded to know why I had done that, and I left.

Since then I have noticed the same thing happen at what I would consider reputable businesses, those that are in Westfield and on Oxford Street and haven't been quite as concerned.

Is this normal in the UK? I would have to think credit card fraud would be rampant with such a system.

Just out of my curiosity. In the US the people have been deluded into thinking that the US military is someone securing their freedom by fighting for the will of politicians in the middle east. A soldier can't walk down the street or airport without being stopped every 50 feet for a "thank you."

Just wondering of its the same in the UK.

Looking for some new music. I can't stand American hip hop, nothing but black guys talking about "bitches and gold teeth." I enjoy Mike Skinner's albums but need something new on my iPod. Cheers!

Have been a fan of John Grisham novels for many years however I am craving something new. Looking for suggestions for talented mystery authors or perhaps a series of books to start. Cheers!

Trying to wade through this girl's mixed signals. Here are just the facts.

- She is new at my company. Since she has been there she has stopped by my office several times for other than work things.

- We had both signed up for a tourist type activity one day and she texted me in the morning to ask if I was still going. She didn't know anyone else on the trip. We spent time on a boat and she asked me to help put sunscreen on her.

- After the trip I suggested getting lunch which she said yes. When I dropped her off she offered that I come in and hang out. Nothing happened but we spent a couple hours together.

- Yesterday afternoon I took a chance and tried a game. I wanted to see if she would make time for me on short notice on Friday night. I told her I wanted to order in pizza and watch movies with her. She said yes, offered her place. Again though, absolutely nothing happened (I'll get to why I haven't turned up the heat)

- Last night, at her house, before the "date" was even over she said she wanted to see a movie in the cinema. I said I did too. She said we should go together tomorrow before going to a party we both had independently planned on attending. We have plans to see the film, hang at my place. Then go to the film.

Alright, so this girl has consistently made time to hang out with me alone and in private.

However

She has a boyfriend who lives in another city. They have been apart for some time. She does bring him up in conversation from time to time which I've always thought was meant to push me away. She doesn't go one about him constantly but he comes up when it's natural in the conversation.

So...what do I do? Am I just her only friend or is she looking for a little play for the time being? I've tried to be as impartial as I could and may described the facts. Please help me decode the female mind!

I'm in the SELRES. There is a mobilization I want to take but it would extend past my EOS in February by 3 months. Is there any issue with this?

I HAVE TRIED CONTACTING MY UNIT, MY COC, MY DETAILER, AND MY GRANDMOTHER. NOONE HAS AN ANSWER. If that's your only advice then please don't bother.

Going to London on holiday with my girlfriend. We both enjoy watching Doctor Who and were curious if there are any restaurants that do a doctor who meal, like fish fingers and custard.

Cheers!

Is the value of respect quantitative or does it have a static value? Here's an example.

A soldier calls an officer "sir" because he is forced to versus referring to an ordinary gentleman as "sir" because he has earned the respect.

I was thinking about this today during my interactions with certain individuals and how there is only an illusion of courtesy and respect and how they are all referred to as "sir" but with many it is a hollow title with nothing emotional backing it up.

~~~ This is an exercise in logical reasoning. CHECK YOUR EMOTIONS AT THE DOOR! ~~~

Currently, after conception, women have a choice, like it or not, to decide if they're "ready to be parents" or not and if they decide they don't quite feel like it a quick trip to the doctor ensures a quick death for their child.

Men have no comparative option, legally or practically. They have no say whether their child lives or dies not do they have any similar way of deciding they "aren't ready."

So, those of you who are no doubt fuming after my introduction, would you support such an option?

Disc: I do not support anyone who fails to take responsibility for their actions or takes the easy way out. They're cowards and people should recognize that reproduction is a known, foreseeable, and likley result of sexual activity and should accept that risk before engaging in said act. But now, after Roe v. Wade, and in what Updike once called our “post-pill paradise,” most liberal youngish people don’t accept that idea, and operate under the general assumption, after a couple of glasses of wine, that you can go home with someone and not end up with 18 years of bills for diapers and babysitters and Lego ninjas.