NickG

I will soon be getting $1500 from a life insurance policy I am cashing out. In was going to open a Schwab account and put the money in a few ETFs. Schwab offers its ETFs at no commission and I figure this is the most affordable way to build a diversified portfolio with a small amount of money. The other option was to build a small portfolio of two or three stocks with a decent dividend yield, such as CTL. I am young and I would like to use this account to learn about investing so I am open to risk.

I am thinking of entering a 15-mile circuit road race, called the Tour de Grandview, as a category 5 racer. The race is as the end of the month. I have done a couple sprint-length triathlons but never a bike race. I also have not been training on the bike this year. Do you think it is appropriate for a beginner to enter a race like this, or will I just embarass myself? What time will I need to finish around the middle of the pack? I have a Trek 1000, will that be to much of a disadvantage? Thanks in advance for your advice.

Specifically, I would like to know if I can connect data from a database to points on a map and share the information over the internet. I see there is a "For Dummies" book, does anyone know if it is any good?

The Fed has announced they may cut interest rates in the middle of March. I am currently working on getting a mortgage for a property I will close in mid-April. Should I wait to lock the rate until after the Fed announces the cut?

I am fighting through a dungeon. I was attacked and my strength decreased alot. Now I am over-encumbered because I can only carry 170 and I have over 300 in stuff. What is having this effect and how can I get rid of it?

I have two tickets in section twelve of the Michigan Stadium for Saturday's OSU - U of M game. Is this the visitor's section?

I would like to study Historic Preservation but I need to keep my full-time job.

I am going to do a weightlifting routine (upper body) and run 3-miles on the treadmill. Does it matter in what order I do those two things? I am training for a triathlon so I think I should lift then run to simulate the stress of swimming before running.

I will be paying off a large amount of credit card debt with a loan I received. Has anyone ever had any luck with asking the credit card company to agree to a "pay-off amount" that is lower then the card's current balance? We have been making the minimum payments on the cards so we are not accumulating late fees or appearing as a risk to default. The cards all have balances around $3,000.

I am looking to buy some second hand pedals and the seller can only tell me that they have a black "PI" stamped on the front. I have included a link to photos of them. Can anyone tell me anything about them?

I have a 2003 Taurus that is misfiring. I got two codes:

Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected

Misfire Detected 1st 1000 Revs

I do not know what to make of the second error. I am going to check the plug and wire but I suspect it is the ignition coil, which I had to replace a few years back. Any suggestions?

I am doing a sprint length triathlon with a somewhat hilly 17 mile bike ride. My bike is a tri (3 rings). Is it best to do most of the riding on the middle ring and save the big ring for downhills and the little ring for the steepest climbs? I know alot has to do with personal preference and ability but what do you generally do?

My Taurus is misfiring and thus hesitating. As anyone had trouble with the ignition coil on these cars? I replaced it a couple years ago when it was having the same problem and that fixed it. Now the problem is back. I have also done the plugs and wires in the last couple years.

I am writing code for map labels in a GIS using VBScript. What is the command for a new line? The label has multiple parts and I want it to appear on two lines. Thanks!

Does anyone know how much e85 is going for these days? Specifically in Ohio.

I just purchased an antique looking table and six side chairs. The slide under the table is stamped Watertown Slide. A piece of paper stapled under the table lists the Niemann Table Co., Chicago. I know the slide was manufactured seperately from the table. Can anyone help me date the table and/or find a value?

I work with a mapping program and people are always telling me that the maps are shaped wrong. This is because I am using a projection they are not used to seeing. What projection are people most used to seeing?

I am looking for a Donnie Darko t-shirt. It has a picture of a house with a jet engine above it and arrow pointing down. It may specifically reference the movie. Ten points to the first person who can provide me with a link. Thanks!