Chris Weigant: Congress Still Not Working

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Maybe it's just envy. I'll fully admit it, up front. After all, who wouldn't want a job where you get one-third of the time you're supposed to be working as free vacation days? Nice work, if you can find it. So maybe there's a tinge of envy which propels me, on a semi-annual basis, to essentially air the same complaint. But the regularity of these rants is also due to the fact that not much changes in Washington, ever, and one of the reasons that Congress just doesn't work these days is that Congress just doesn't work all that much.

We'll start with the numbers. From the beginning of this year to the last day in June -- exactly one-half of the year -- there were 181 days on the calendar. Subtracting weekends brings this total down to 129 days. In the first half of the year, there were five federal holidays (one more than usual, due to the year having a presidential Inauguration Day). This leaves us with 124 workdays.

The House managed to work on 84 of these days. The Senate only chalked up 78 days of doing business. That is, respectively, 67.7 percent and 62.9 percent, which is pretty dismal when you consider how much paid vacation the average American worker gets. The House was on vacation (to put it another way) for 40 days so far this year, and the Senate took 46 days off. Out of almost 25 full workweeks, the House took off eight of them and the Senate took off more than nine full weeks.

Historically, the record is also pretty dismal. The Senate is at the low end of the range of workdays for the first half of the year, and the House is in the middle of its recent historical range of how much work they do. But in good years, the Senate overperforms the House, so the House range doesn't really go as high. Here are the figures for the past few years (all of these figures are from data found on the Library of Congress' website) of the days Congress actually worked:

2013 House -- 84 days
2013 Senate -- 78 days

2012 House -- 85 days
2012 Senate -- 84 days

2011 House -- 79 days
2011 Senate -- 76 days

2010 House -- 84 days
2010 Senate -- 89 days

2009 House -- 85 days
2009 Senate -- 97 days

2008 House -- 80 days
2008 Senate -- 102 days

2007 House -- 92 days
2007 Senate -- 101 days

Here are the figures for the past three two-term presidents, for the equivalent year into their terms:

Bush
2005 House -- 73 days
2005 Senate -- 82 days

Clinton
1997 House -- 75 days
1997 Senate -- 89 days

Reagan
1985 House -- 74 days
1985 Senate -- 81 days

No matter what year you pick, these are not exactly numbers to be proud of, to put it mildly. As mentioned, this year's totals are on the very low end for the Senate, and towards the middle of a less-impressive range for the House.

And you'll note that because we're only measuring the first half of the year -- up to the end of June -- this year's numbers don't even include the current week, which both the House and Senate (of course) took off. The second half of the legislative calendar is often even more pathetic than the first, in fact, due to the five or six weeks Congress takes off in August, and the end-of-the-year holidays, where they also routinely take off an entire month. Good thing it's not an election year, because that would mean they would also be planning to take a large chunk off in October, to campaign.

This is what we get for our money, folks.

This year in particular is even more disgraceful than normal -- which is what motivated me to write this semi-annual rant instead of my usual weekly Friday column. Because Congress left some very big unfinished business hanging as they scurried out of town last week. They missed a legislative deadline which doubled the rate students pay on their student loans.

This is the message Congress is sending: Sorry, all you aspiring college students, but we just couldn't manage to squeeze it in what with our many, many days off this year. You guys understand, right? We had to go back home to raise some campaign cash, and you students got lost in the shuffle. That's the way it goes, so suck it up, students. Hey -- how's this -- we'll fix it later, and then backdate it. That won't interfere with your planning for the next school year, will it? Well, even if it does, you'll be happy to note that we had a great time in [fill in vacation junket destination] while we were all busy not doing the people's business (but don't worry, each and every one of us drew a paycheck for this week, so we'll be fine).

Think this is too harsh? I don't, and I'm not even a student. In fact, I don't think it even comes close to the disdain Congress just exhibited to their constituents. Because this was such an egregious dereliction of duty, in fact, I found myself agreeing with Greta Van Susteren (which doesn't happen often), who also wrote an attempt to shame Congress for their lack of work ethics last week. Van Susteren directed her wrath at the Senate, but she did so in a very non-partisan fashion, which I share. This isn't a problem of partisan politics -- this is a Washington problem. It's a problem with Congress as a whole. It's an attitude problem, in fact, because those in Congress feel entitled to take this much time away from doing what they're paid to do.

In fact, I don't think I've gotten harsh enough in pointing out Congress' pathetic priorities. Consider the fact that right when the whole "spying on Americans" N.S.A. leak story hit the height of frenzy, the N.S.A. scheduled a briefing for the entire Senate. Since it was such a hot issue, it was determined that every Senator should have the opportunity to find out what is going on. Less than half of them even bothered to show up for the briefing. The reason for such poor attendance? It was scheduled for Thursday afternoon. And that interfered with plane flights home, because the Senate was planning on wrapping up their workweek at noon on Thursday.

This is a little secret that even those calendar counts doesn't reveal -- some "workdays" either happen for a few hours in the morning, or a few hours in the afternoon. Congress can gavel itself into session at noon on Tuesday, work a feverish two full workdays, and then leave to go raise some more campaign cash at noon on Thursday -- while the calendar will actually show three days worked instead of two.

Pathetic.

Congress has even shown this year how -- when it comes to not inconveniencing themselves -- they can move with lightning speed, as they did when the sequester was threatening to slightly delay their own flights back home for their regular four-day weekends. Boy, howdy, Congress moved quick to fix that particular problem, didn't they? Their quick action inspired me to write the following bit of snark when it happened:

The real message of this week is a simple one: for all the talk about how "Congress is broken" and "Congress can't do anything," the hard cold truth is that Congress is indeed capable of moving very quickly indeed -- when it wants to. Inside of one week they put a bill on President Obama's desk. That's the yardstick to measure all other legislation -- legislation which affects other Americans than "those in Congress" -- when you hear either Harry Reid or John Boehner moan about "process" or some other wonky way of describing "sitting on our fat asses and not producing legislation." Sorry guys, but when you are personally motivated, it takes one single week to pass a law. Especially when you buckle down and concentrate, without getting distracted by attending hearings on America's job crisis (and other subjects which don't affect you personally). One week. That's the standard we can now hold you to. We'll be sure to remember that.

In fact, Congress only ever moves this fast for two reasons: selfishness (avoiding their own personal inconvenience), or when even more of their vacation time is threatened. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid admittedly has quite a few drawbacks as a legislative leader, but he is an absolute master of getting bills passed the day before a vacation break. Reid announces "we won't be going on vacation until this vote is held," and the Senate panics and the obstructionism melts away like an ice pop on a July sidewalk. You'll notice that immigration reform passed right before the Independence Day break -- only the most recent manifestation of the power of threatening loss of vacation time in the Senate.

Of course, by the original schedule of the issue, immigration was slated to be done in March or April. And Harry could have kept the Senate in session until they had passed some sort of student loan fix before blowing town (the House had already passed its own version). So it's not like the last few weeks have been anything to cheer about in the Senate, really.

The reason why Congress keeps right on getting away with only working about two-thirds of the time available is that the American public either doesn't know about it or accepts it as part of Washington being Washington. Which is why I keep writing these columns, twice a year -- to remind people just how bad things have gotten, and to put it into some sort of perspective.

I've always been astonished, personally, that more people don't get upset about Congress' lackadaisical attitude towards doing what it is supposed to do to earn all those taxpayer dollars we pay them. Perhaps if the work schedule of Congress were made a political issue?

Picture the following scenario, to see how this could work. President Obama listens to the House bickering over immigration bills throughout the month of July. Towards the end, when not much has been accomplished, he starts pointing out that the current Congress is measurably worse than Harry S Truman's "Do-Nothing Congress" in terms of doing their jobs. Obama announces that not creating a commonsense immigration policy is not acceptable. He can do this without wading into the details, by focusing on the fact that the House isn't getting anything done.

Obama then announces that he will be using his constitutional power to call Congress into session whenever he wishes, and that Congress will be working right through August until they have passed something in the House and at least created a conference committee between the two houses to work out the details. Every member of Congress will be coming to work every day, until this is achieved. All those five-week-long vacation plans? They will not happen. Not until the job is done.

By doing so, Obama would shine a spotlight on Congress' dismal work record -- a record which is truly indefensible. Whining from Congresscritters about their lost vacation plans will likely fall on very deaf ears in the public at large, most of whom don't get as much paid vacation all year as Congress takes off during the August break alone.

You think that might motivate Congress to act? Republicans could moan and groan, but it's right there in the Constitution -- the president can order Congress into session whenever he feels like it. Obama's constant refrain of "not doing your job is not an option" would win out over any such complaints.

That's my guess, at any rate. Call it a summertime daydream, if you will, but at least envisioning such a scenario is better than contemplating a senator reclining on a beach, drenched by the sun, drinking mai tais, while students across the land have to wait and worry about their loan rates. Or immigrants about whether Congress will act or not this year. Or any of the thousands of other issues that are falling by the wayside as the sun slips slowly into the sea and another round of drinks is ordered by our supposed "public servants."

[Program Note: Sorry for the lack of a Friday Talking Points column this week, but, well, everyone was on vacation and not much happened in the American political world. Which, obviously, is what brought this rant on in the first place. FTP will return as usual next week.]

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GOP: Obamacare delay is proof of health law is wrong, it should still be repealed

WASHINGTON - Republicans exploited takes abrupt administration of the employer mandate in the health law as new evidence that the signature of President Barack Obama domestic policy is unworkable and repeal, an argument that energized the party base before the election of the 2014 Congress.

But the will of the White House to respond to the concerns of business - and avoid the ghost of dismissal from work due to the unpopular law health - political headache one Democrats in races next year.

"The shortest possible time for Obamacare is permanent," leader of the majority of the House, Eric Cantor, R - Virginia, said Wednesday, hours after the Government announced a delay of a year in which requires companies with 50 or more employees for health care for their workers coverage or pay a fine.

House Speaker John Boehner, r-Ohio, said unexpected postponement of the administration of a key provision designed to ensure more Americans was an admission that the 2010 law is unworkable. The Republicans in the supervision of the power house and trade panel embarked upon an investigation of the decision, seeking documents from the Treasury and the departments of health and human services.

In midterm elections depends to a large extent in which the voters of the party base, and Republicans considered the latest twist of an opportunity to the health care law and turn on a GOP base already strongly opposed reform of Obama. Members of the Republican party in Congress rushed towards the decision of the Administration to make a point hope will resonate with voters in their States.

"I've heard countless entrepreneurs in Maine, who say costly fines and Obamacare provisions offer powerful and perverse incentives not to hire new workers or to cut back on the hours that their employees can work," said Senator Susan Collins, who faces re-election next year.

In its strategy for the next year's elections, Republicans were determined to focus on how small and medium enterprises would respond to the requirement of the law and the possibility of that would result in job losses. The Republican Party was ready to blame the Democrats who voted for the law, if the companies had to lay off workers.

The delay of one year to January 2015 largely erase that aspect of the criticism of health in mid-term election year.

Ken Hoagland, President of the voice of America of conservative restoration and a fierce opponent of the law, said parts of House and the Democrats in the Senate who voted for the law.

"Pushing the economic damage of Obamacare further than the next election it will not change the reality of the damage to employees or the economy in general," Hoagland said in an interview. "It only seeks to protect those responsible for legislation".

Democrats sought to cast the issue as the Administration to listen to the business community.

"The Administration has demonstrated its commitment to implementing the Affordable Care Act with greater flexibility for 4 per cent of United States companies affected by the requirement of the employer's responsibility", House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement on Wednesday.

Pelosi argued that a significant majority of companies already providing health insurance to their employees. The legislator from California who was instrumental in securing the passage of the law when he was speaker of the House insisted that the Americans will soon benefit from greater access to affordable health care.

Democrats have always been persecuted by the fact that few Americans understand the law and many fear its effect.

In the most recent survey, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that more Americans see unfavorable law as favorable, a negative inclination that has remained stable since Obama signed it in March 2010. The Foundation this spring survey found 43 percent with an unfavorable opinion of law, 35 percent with a favorable view and 23% undecided.

The poll also found more people saying that the country will be worse under the law better, a change of public opinion immediately after its passage.

Democratic strategist Steve Elmendorf said that Americans oppose the law are vehement while other Americans are waiting to see what happens.

Delay of a year of administration "affects a very small number. ... More people will be impacted by their ability to have insurance in the exchanges, elimination of pre-existing conditions and, ultimately, what the price will be. ... I think that in terms of the 14 elections, I don't see this decision in particular having much impact.

Brad Dayspring, a spokesman for the Committee of the campaign of the Republicans in the Senate, called the movement "the worst of all worlds for the Democratic candidates" because it will frustrate the Liberals who support the law as recently to quiet mockery Republican.

"So what is a democratic candidate to say in the light of this?" Dayspring said. "Do" "" Yes, I have supported Obamacare, but fortunately we have delayed to protect themselves from the bad is "?"

Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp, who won last year in North Dakota Republican - leaning, offers a template for how Democrats would respond to questions about health care and the latest initiative of the Administration Act.

"Several times I have said that there are good and bad in health care law, and we have to improve it. A needed improvement is to make it as simple as possible for our businesses to comply. "I applaud the Administration for delaying this requirement until there is a system in place that is viable for the companies, said in a statement.

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Major Transformation! Brad Pitt's Hair Is All Gone ... But He's Still Gorgeous

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So it's Brad Pitt, and guys, all of his hair is gone. It's gone-gone.

Read the whole story at www.fishwrapper.com

Heather Wagner: 'Real Housewives Of Orange County' Recap: 100 Episodes Later, They Still Say The Darndest Things

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Note: Do not read on if you have not yet seen "The Real Housewives Of Orange County: 100th Episode Special."

It's a historic day, America. Together, we forged a society in which a humble reality show, initially titled "Behind The Gates," permeated the pop culture consciousness and made it to this milestone 100th episode. To commemorate this dubious occasion, I'm going to recap the anniversary special in a manner that best reveals the bizarre appeal of these women: in their own (grammatically compromised) words.

Without further ado, I present the 100th episodes of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" in 100 sound bites. Woo hoo!

"Holy crap." -Vicki

"He's pretty much keeping me." -Jo on Slade

"Don used to fill up my love tank, and now that love tank is depleted." -Vicki

"Who has a vibrator with a cord?" -Tamra

"These are not fake." -Gretchen

"It takes a tickin' and keeps on lickin'." -Lynne

"I bid $2,500 in order to participate in the 'Housewives.'" -Slade

"I did it for love." -Jo

"I'm trying to make money here, Briana." -Vicki

"It was like an altered state of reality. Where was this place where there was a grotto and moms in bikinis? It was a place I wanted to go." -Andy Cohen

"A good 'Real Housewife' is pretty, she's outspoken, she's opinionated, she has strong feelings about how she lives her life, and how others should live their lives." - Andy Cohen.

"This last season, I have to say, the girls are tools." -Gretchen

"You didn't know if Tamra was a vixen or victim." -Andy Cohen

"Game on. Who is this bitch? I'm going to slash her tires." -Tamra on Jeana

"I was trying to train her how to sell life insurance. The girl sucked at sales." -Vicki on Lauri

"I shaved, I moisturized, I had an avocado peel. I worked out in my underwear. I looked like a douche." - Slade on his first episode

"I literally think for the first months of filming I ate nothing." -Alexis

"They're housewives one day, and the next, they're famous." -Andy Cohen

"You're competing with people in Beijing and Bangalore, and they're not watching the 'Real Housewives'." -President Barack Obama

"Rolex with diamonds. I'm 40. I deserve it!" -Tamra on her birthday gift from Simon

"Rolexes are special, they mean you've made it in life. I have the same one in a different color ... I just don't wear it." -Jeana

"When I showed my [engagement] ring to Jo, she just about fell off her chair. I think she was jealous." -Lauri on her ring

"When the camera gets on, people like to show off their s***. Lauri and George for instance." -Vicki

"I don't want someone with mosquito bites. I want something." - Simon on Tamra, pre-breast enhancement

"My vagina is perfect." -Vicki

"If you weren't doing a short sale, you couldn't sell your house. I went from six cars to one car. Why did I need six cars?" -Jeana

"One of the hardest moments was when Lynne and Frank got served an eviction notice." -Tamra

"That was the worst day of my life. I thought we had money when we didn't." -Lynne on her foreclosure

"Why would you send a family van? You have a little family van! We have six people. Why are you sending a family van for six people?" - Vicki (screaming) to limo company

"Hold on to your daddies, girls, here comes Gretchen!" -Tamra

"It sucks being the new girl, sorry!" -Vicki

"I bet you $8,000 those aren't real boobs." - Jeana to Gretchen

"You're like, dingy." Vicki to Lynne

"Hey, honey -- just cause I'm the new girl, doesn't mean you get to tell me to shut up." - Gretchen to Vicki

"Out of five girls, four of us think you say offensive things sometimes." - Alexis to Vicki

"It's a blowjob helper," - Gretchen showing off a sex toy to Heather
"My God." -Heather in response

"She's everything Alexis wants to be, but isn't. She's elegant, classy, smart, and has real money." -Tamra on Heather

"When you're in it, and someone's screaming at the girl next to her, and she's about to cry, it's freaking real." - Lydia

"Did you go to Bass Lake?" Tamra to Gretchen about frolicking on vacay while her fiancé was in the hospital

"Everyone's constantly stabbing each other in the back. Once you get stabbed, you need a new friend." -Lauri

"To skinny bitches." -Tamra

"We're going to get her naked wasted." Tamra about Gretchen.

"You turn me on." -Gretchen to Tamra's son at the "Naked Wasted" dinner

"Truth is way stranger than fiction." - Andy Cohen

"At the end of the day, we all care about what's going on. We're one dysfunctional effed up family." - Gretchen

"Stay out of our marriage. It's none of your business. I'm done." - Simon to Vicki

"Relax, Vicki. Stop letting him tell you what to think." Gretchen to Vicki re: Brooks
"HE DOESN'T TELL ME WHAT TO THINK." -Vicki in response

"If you go over 80 [mph], I'm going to slap you and you're not going to drive. I'm going to knock you out, Kara." Jeana, to her daughter Kara, on a road trip to Berkeley

"Cruise control, mom." -Kara

"Relationships, issues, dramas, problems. It explodes." -Heather

"The evil eye wards off evil spirits. Tamra, let me put it on you." -Gretchen

"I'm bored with this. Put yourself together or you can leave." -Heather

"Biatches be cray." -Kara

"It's none of your effing business. Do you understand me? Stay out of my life. This is a letter from my attorney. It's 'cist and decease'!" -Tamra to Jeana

"I'll throw your skinny ass in the pool." - Jeana

"Just because you pop a child out between your legs doesn't give you the God right to be a parent." -Gretchen to Vicki

"You are smoking crack, Vicki. Why are you dating Brooks? He went to jail!" -Gretchen

"At the end of the day, this bird is going to win." - Vicki

"As the production became bigger, our fashion got better, our makeup got better." -Jeana

"I think Vicki burned everything she wore on the first season." -Jeana

"The gold shirt and the brown pants. Burn it." -Vicki

"My fashion is pretty fabulous on the show." -Gretchen

"She takes chances." -Tamra on Gretchen

"The vacation episodes ... the women are all together for an extended period of time. They really have to deal with each other." -Andy Cohen

"We're going to Mexico!" -Vicki

"This is not 'glamping' -- this is full-on camping. There's no ice, there's no counter space for your makeup." -Alexis

"It was my dream come true, my fairytale wedding, with a storybook ending." -Lauri on her marriage to George

"The fact that Gretchen ended up being with Slade and met him through me -- that just violates girl code." -Jo

"The camera forced her to act out and show who she really was."- Slade on Jo

"You're just a bitch. That's rude." -Don to Vicki

"The good thing about his job is he's gone a lot." -Jeana on (now ex-) husband Matt

"I love her so much, but I have to let her go. It's real -- that you need to be without me." -Slade to Jo

"I can't believe we broke up on a couch." -Jo

"I want a respectful wife that acts like she's married." -Simon on Tamra

"I want a divorce. Eff you." -Tamra to Simon

"The kids are what grounded the show. They were the Greek chorus of what the audience was thinking." -Andy Cohen

"Why would you do that to yourself?" -Tamra on her son's full-body tattoo

"Did you just order a martini?" -Lynne to her underage daughter

"If she buys me this car, it will prove that she loves me." -Kara to her mom Jeana

"You're not even divorced and you're dating a guy that has a ton of kids ... he's driving your car around." -Briana to her mom Vicki

"Woo-hoo! Where's the party?" -Vicki surprising her dumbstruck son Ryan at his fraternity house

"I don't know what to say." -Ryan

"The reunions took on a life of their own." -Andy Cohen

"I get chills when I hear the word 'reunion'." -Alexis

"Kill me." -Tamra

"Is your ass jealous of the s*** that comes out of your mouth?" -Tamra to Gretchen

"If everyone says you're dead, it's time to lie down." -Heather to Alexis

"It's about moral character. That's what it's about." -Tamra

"Words hurt." -Lynne

"He's so brilliant that he doesn't have a job" -Tamra regarding Slade

"How does it make you feel to be called a transvestite?" -Andy Cohen to Lauri

"I'm the OC of the OG, or whatever he calls me." -Vicki on Andy Cohen

"At the end of the day, it's all worth it." -Alexis

"I'm pretty sure we're going to hell ... 'Housewife' hell." -Lauri

"It's like you left a little mini-legacy .... minus the French maid outfit." -Jo

"It became a phenome-mon. Phenome ... I can't say that word." -Gretchen

"I'll treasure every one of these moments." -Tamra

"Here's to being us." -Vicki

Well, dear readers, on that note, please tune in to the next episode -- 101 -- next Monday! At the end of the day, I will still be watching, and hope you will do.

"The Real Housewives of Orange County" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.

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(L-R) Television personalities Gia Giudice, Teresa Giudice, Milania Giudice and Gabriella Giudice attend Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" season two premiere at The Brownstone on May 3, 2010 in Paterson, N.J. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Television personalities Jacqueline Laurita (L) and Ashley Holmes attend Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" season two premiere at The Brownstone on May 3 in Paterson, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Television personality Jill Zarin attends Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" season two premiere at The Brownstone on May 3, 2010 in Paterson, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Television personalities Alex McCord (L) and Simon van Kempen attend Bravo's 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' season two premiere at The Brownstone on May 3, 2010 in Paterson, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Television personality Teresa Giudice attends Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" season two premiere at The Brownstone on May 3, 2010 in Paterson, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

(L-R) Sonja Morgan and Ramona Singer attend "The Real Housewives Of New York City" Season 4 Premiere Party at Covet on April 5, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

(L-R) Sonja Morgan, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer, Cindy Barshop and Kelly Killoren Bensimon attend "The Real Housewives Of New York City" Season 4 Premiere Party at Covet on April 5, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

(L-R) Ramona Singer and Avery Singer attend "The Real Housewives Of New York City" Season 4 Premiere Party at Covet on April 5, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

Kelly Killoren Bensimon attends "The Real Housewives Of New York City" Season 4 Premiere Party at Covet on April 5, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

"Real Housewives of NYC" star Sonja Morgan wearing her Cavalli outfit poses for a photo during Roberto Cavalli Celebrates Fashion's Night Out at Roberto Cavalli Boutique on September 10, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Marlin/Getty Images for Roberto Cavalli)

(L-R) Jill Zarin and Bobby Zarin attend the "Real Housewives of New York City" Season 3 premiere party at La Pomme on March 4, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps attends the "Real Housewives of New York City" Season 3 premiere party at La Pomme on March 4, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

Socialite Lisa Vanderpump arrives at Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" series party on October 11, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Socialites Nicky Hilton, Kathy Hilton, Kyle Richards and Kim Richards arrive at Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" series party on October 11, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Socialites Nicky Hilton, Kim Richards and Paris Hilton arrive at Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" series party on October 11, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Cast members Camille Grammer, Adrienne Maloof, Kyle Richards, Kim Richards, Lisa Vanderpump and Taylor Armstrong arrive at Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" series party on October 11, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Socialite Lisa Vanderpump arrives at Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" series party on October 11, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Actress Camille Grammer arrives at Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" series party on October 11, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Socialite Adrienne Maloof arrives at Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" series party on October 11, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Socialite Kyle Richards arrives at Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" series party on October 11, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Socialite Taylor Armstrong arrives at Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" series party on October 11, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Socialites Kim Richards, Kathy Hilton, Kyle Richards, Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton arrive at Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" series party on October 11, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

(L-R) TV personalities Sheree Whitfield, Lisa Wu Hartwell, NeNe Leakes and Kandi Burruss from "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" pose in the press room during the 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kim Zolciak arrives at the NBC, Universal Pictures and Focus Features' official after party for the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: Caroline Manzo from the 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' poses with Ryan Kwanten as they attend the Capitol File's 7th Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner after party at The Newseum on April 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

LAGUNA BEACH, CA - APRIL 21: (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS, EDITORS NOTE: This image has been retouched) Tamra Barney of 'Real Housewives Of Orange County' poses during a photo shoot April 21, 2012 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: (L-R) TV personalities Taylor Armstrong, Lisa Vanderpump, Adrienne Maloof, Kyle Richards and Kim Richards of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills attend the Bravo Upfront 2012 at Center 548 on April 4, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: (L-R) TV personalities Ramona Singer, LuAnn de Lesseps, Aviva Drescher, Caroline Radzwill, and Heather Thomson of The Real Housewives of NY attend the Bravo Upfront 2012 at Center 548 on April 4, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: (L-R) Alexis Bellino, Vicki Gunvalson, Gretchen Rossi, Heather Dubrow and Tamra Barney of Real Housewives of Orange County attend the Bravo Upfront 2012 at Center 548 on April 4, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: (L-R) TV personalities Kandi Burruss, Phaedra Parks, Nene Leakes, and Cynthia Bailey of the Real Housewives of Atlanta attends the Bravo Upfront 2012 at Center 548 on April 4, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

LAGUNA BEACH, CA - APRIL 21: (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS, EDITORS NOTE: This image has been retouched) Tamra Barney of 'Real Housewives Of Orange County' poses with her family during a photo shoot April 21, 2012 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Actress Fran Drescher and 'Real Housewives of New York City' Aviva Drescher attend Fran Drescher new picture book celebration of 'Being Wendy' at Dylan's Candy Bar on November 17, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Penguin Young Readers Group)

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 22: Television personalities Camille Grammer (L) and Adrienne Maloof present an award during the 2011 NHL Awards at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort June 22, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 08: Kyle Richards of 'The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills' attends Fashion's Night Out celebration at Macy's State Street on September 8, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Macy's)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: TV personality Phaedra Parks attends the Bravo Upfront 2012 at Center 548 on April 4, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 27: Heather Thomson is seen on the Streets of Manhattan on January 27, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Honoree, fashion designer Heather Thomson (L) and singer Kelly Rowland attend the City of Hope-East End Chapter 2010 Spirit of Life Award luncheon at Waldorf Astoria - Grand Ballroom on April 26, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for City of Hope)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 14: TV personalities Jim Bellino and Alexis Bellino arrive to Bravo Media's celebration of the book release of Andy Cohen's 'Most Talkative: Stories From The Front Lines Of Pop Culture' at SUR Lounge on May 14, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 14: TV personality Alexis Bellino arrives to Bravo Media's celebration of the book release of Andy Cohen's 'Most Talkative: Stories From The Front Lines Of Pop Culture' at SUR Lounge on May 14, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: TV personality Gretchen Rossi attends the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival Premiere of 'People Like Us' at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 on June 15, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 14: TV personality Gretchen Rossi (R) arrives to Bravo Media's celebration of the book release of Andy Cohen's 'Most Talkative: Stories From The Front Lines Of Pop Culture' at SUR Lounge on May 14, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: TV personality Cynthia Bailey attends the Bravo Upfront 2012 at Center 548 on April 4, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 15: Cynthia Bailey and Peter Thomas attend the Raul Penaranda fall 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Midtown Loft & Terrace on February 15, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images)

Follow Heather Wagner on Twitter: www.twitter.com/heatherwag

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Len Filppu: message father's day dads: may still be heroes

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I remember my childhood dreams of becoming a star of American football in the NFL, save someone's life as a Boy Scout, explore the seas as a famous aquanaut. Time and reality whittled the heroic dreams to prosaic size.

It seems fate and character choose only a few heroes larger than life. Found you on the battlefields, disaster zones, urban and buses in classrooms around the world. Inform and inspire us by their acts of courageous generosity. As mere mortals, we can have missed the boat to become historical figures. But there are plenty of opportunities to serve as everyday heroes.

Exhausted everyday heroes dragged out of bed to earn a living for their families. Let your TV, or NAP ball game or work to respond to requests for their children to play or watch a butterfly or clean one back or pour the milk. Everyday heroes removed slivers of feet, keep your fever and coughing all night long descent, take your time to answer questions without end about how it works or how that. Leave aside things of adults to embrace childish. Everyday heroes hold the line, his anger, the diaper that stinks and a tremendously warm place in the hearts of their children.

Everyday heroes, who know their actions give, teach, care, breeding and slaughter are standard parental procedures performed from cave dwelling days. But everyday Heroes don't seek medals or acclamation. Nod and smile is encouraging for other parents of the everyday hero, helping to maintain the balance. They are busy faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles due to love all-encompassing, elemental, unveiled through family planning and for that casual look, sincere total admiration of the child whose favorite toy magically fixed by changing the everyday hero of the batteries.

It is invariably the simple things that make heroes of the parents. My daughter has always wanted to see Cake Boss, the TV program about bakery of Carlo who creates artistic cakes for celebrations. Whenever we watched the show together, decisively said, "I want to go to the bakery." Since we live in California and the bakery is in New Jersey, I never paid much attention to your dream trip.

However, the summer passed vacationed in New York, and in honor of our daughter, decided to make one of the outputs of day a trip to Hoboken see Carlo bakery. Yes, was waiting for us online considerably more than one minute in New York, but our daughter was delighted with the metro, and train rides lobster tails delicious of the bakery and the fact that this adventure was customized to fulfill his dream. She treasures the t-shirt.

When my son was in first or second grade, he gave me a big handmade card with a colorful portrait of a smiling man with hair short, thinning, obviously yours truly. It is still in the wall of my Office. The card says: "my hero is my dad. It taught me a trick of magic. It is in very good shape. He is a great Dad."

Len Filppu of follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MidlifeDad

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Tiffany Aliche: Pay Off Debt in 7 Steps and Still Maintain Your Lifestyle

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AppId is over the quota

By show of hands, how many of you want to pay off debt? That many huh? No worries, so do I and so does just about everyone you know.

Unfortunately, debt is a way of life for many of us. I didn't want that to be my life, so I created a 7-step, pay off debt system that will have me debt free in a few years!

My pay off debt system is working so well for me, that I had to extend my financial help to you.

Ready? Set? Let's pay off debt...

Step 1) Create your Money List aka a quick budget. Before you can dig your way out of debt, you need to know where you currently stand financially. This process should take you no more than 30 minutes.

A Money List in 3 steps:
a. List EVERYTHING you spend money on (i.e. bills, entertainment, grooming, the kids...everything)
b. Write down how much each thing on your list costs you monthly. Unsure? Overestimate.
c. Add up your monthly spending and subtract it from your monthly, take-home pay.

Step 2) List all of your debt from lowest to highest.

FYI: You might need a box of tissues handy. Looking at your debt can be a bit depressing, but cheer-up chuck. You're only 5 steps away from getting your situation under control.

Step 3) Figure out how much money you can squeeze from your Money List, for your pay off debt plan. Good news! There's no need to change your lifestyle, unless your budget is wildly out of control (but that's another post). There are ways to free-up cash, without making dramatic changes to the way you live.

First, I suggest doing things like: reduce your cable (ask your provider to get rid of the channels you don't watch), cancel magazine subscriptions (ehm...the library), cancel a gym membership (come on, you're not using it), and call your service providers and ask for discounts (i.e.: car insurance, cell, utilities). This works! If they claim they can't help you, use the magic words, "Can you please transfer me to your Retention Department?". There's always a deal to be made.

Step 4) Pay only the minimum amount required on all of your debt, with the exception of the one debt you are trying to pay off. This should be the debt with the lowest amount owed. I suggest paying the lowest debt off first vs. the debt with the highest interest rate, because when you pay off debt quickly, having early success will trigger an emotional reaction from you (happy-dancing), and that will enable you to feel encouraged and will motivate you to continue with your pay off debt plan.

Step 5) Pay the minimum and the money you squeezed from your Money List (step 3) for debt reduction, toward the first (lowest) debt on your list. Make sure to automate the payments. This will leave you with less work and tallying to do each month. Remember to reset your automation when you move on to the next debt on your list.

Step 6) After paying off the first debt, apply ALL of the money you used each month to pay off debt #1 and put it towards the next debt on your list. This means that the minimum amount from the first debt, the minimum from the second and the extra money that you found in your Money List, will be applied toward the second debt on your list. Don't forget; automate this new payment; doing so will help you stick to your pay off debt plan. Haven't you heard? Automation is the new discipline.

Step 7) Pay off debt #2, then transfer ALL of the money you were paying each month to the second debt and apply it towards the third debt, along with its minimum. This means the third debt will be getting: the first debt's minimum, the second debt's minimum, its own minimum, plus the extra money you found in your Money List. Once again...AUTOMATE this new payment and continue with the cycle until you're debt free!

The AWESOME thing about this pay off debt plan is that, as you begin to pay off debt with higher balances, you'll have larger amounts of money to pay them. The reason is, you'll have "collected" all of the minimums from the previous lower debts, and will be using them along with the money found in your Money List to pay the higher debts off.

A little extra financial help: After using this pay off debt system, continue to make "payments" to yourself and finance your savings, retirement and investment goals. BOOM!

SIDEBAR: Give your pay off debt plan a Turbo Boost!

Use Unexpected Money (UM) to help pay off the main debt you're focused on. UM is any money received outside of your primary source of income, a.k.a. your J-O-B.

Examples of "Unexpected Money" are: a raise, loan repayment (to you), a refund (from taxes or from returning unwanted items), rebates (do you fill out and mail in those forms? I do!), found money, gifted money (happy birthday!). If you purchase an item that is on sale but don't realize it until you get to the cashier, the money you save is "Unexpected Money". You already planned to spend the money on the item, so you won't miss it if you use it for your debt reduction instead. If you have generous friends who occasionally surprise and treat you by paying for your meal, the money you were going to pay is also Unexpected Money. Cha-ching! Are you starting to see the possibilities here?

In a nutshell, "Unexpected Money" or UM, is any money that you did not expect to receive or save. It's money that does not normally contribute to your day-to-day living expenses. So, it's therefore not calculated into your Money List you now have. You do have a new Money List, right? (step 1)

The best way to use UM is immediately. As soon as you encounter UM, go online and make an additional bill payment in the amount of the UM, to the lowest debt you're working on. There is no amount too small and it really adds up!

Soooo, now that you've got your pay off debt plan in place, do you feel a little better?

Questions? Thoughts? Please share them nicely with me in the comments below.

LIVE RICHER,

Tiff "The Budgetnista" (sharer of all things, frugal, fun and fabulous)

This post originally appeared on thebudgetnistablog.com

Content concerning legal matters is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon in making legal decisions or assessing your legal risks. Always consult a licensed attorney in the appropriate jurisdiction before taking any course of action that may affect your legal rights.

Follow Tiffany Aliche on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thebudgetnista

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