BRAT FEST - Madsion's Summer Kick-off

25-29 May 2007 Madison, Wisconsin

Gas prices are up! Memorial Day is here! Summer begins in America, heralded by the World's Largest Brat Fest!

Little did I know when I moved to Wisconsin a half-decade ago that I'd be participating the event that makes even the greediest cardiologist flinch! BRAT FEST!

This memorial day weekend join us in Madison Wisconsin as we celebrate the consumption of artery-clogging foodstuffs that helped make this nation great - well, great big and fat!

When I moved to WI in spring 2002 I'd never even heard of Bratwurst. One day while at my sister's, my brother-in-law asks if I'd like a "brat" (a what?). OK. It was hot and it had that fat-taste our tongues just can't refuse. Next day, nice weather - we're grilling. Same question - brat? (I guess so). After about a week of this I began to see a pattern - this food (pronounced "braht" with the soft "ah") is a staple here! Welcome to Wisconsin.

My first Brat Fest was in May of that year - what a blast! So ever since that Day of Decadence I've been supporting Boy Scout Troop 90 (in my own brat-eating way) and grilling brats by the hundreds as I join the line-up of 40-plus commercial grills and listen to the Johnsonville diesel roaring from the semi containing the World's Largest Grill (everything is World's Largest here!).

Brat Fest was a twice per year routine until 2005 - now it's the summer kickoff. Troop 90 is one of dozens and dozens of charity orgs that share in the profits - the Metcalf family splits the profits among the hundreds of volunteers' groups and they (The Metcalfs-organizing family of madmen and madwomen) get to clean up the mess and prepare for the NEXT year of rides, games, music, food, and summer fun!

Our goal this year: Break the Record of 189,432 Brats consumed. Or really just to have fun. My goal - to get back to grilling brats - last year I was on Hot Dog Duty - boiled hundreds of those puppies (5 to a pound of the Oscar Mayer brand - local Madison company) for kids and The Timid. But I'm a purist and want back into the Manly Art of Grilling. Whatever they need...rain or shine!

Brat Fest is now at the Alliant Energy Center on Willow Island. Come on down or shop for BratGear on the web. FREE admission, FREE parking, FREE entertainment, and I'll give FREE mortgage advice if you can find me - I'll be the guy in the yellow Bratfest shirt...

Art Blanchet

Bill Quigley

Your Home - Your Brat Fest!

25-29 May 2007 Madison, Wisconsin

Gas prices are up! Memorial Day is here! Summer begins in America, heralded by the World's Largest Brat Fest!

Little did I know when I moved to Wisconsin a half-decade ago that I'd be participating the event that makes even the greediest cardiologist flinch! BRAT FEST!

This memorial day weekend join us in Madison Wisconsin as we celebrate the consumption of artery-clogging foodstuffs that helped make this nation great - well, great big and fat!

When I moved to WI in spring 2002 I'd never even heard of Bratwurst. One day while at my sister's, my brother-in-law asks if I'd like a "brat" (a what?). OK. It was hot and it had that fat-taste our tongues just can't refuse. Next day, nice weather - we're grilling. Same question - brat? (I guess so). After about a week of this I began to see a pattern - this food (pronounced "braht" with the soft "ah") is a staple here! Welcome to Wisconsin.

My first Brat Fest was in May of that year - what a blast! So ever since that Day of Decadence I've been supporting Boy Scout Troop 90 (in my own brat-eating way) and grilling brats by the hundreds as I join the line-up of 40-plus commercial grills and listen to the Johnsonville diesel roaring from the semi containing the World's Largest Grill (everything is World's Largest here!).

Brat Fest was a twice per year routine until 2005 - now it's the summer kickoff. Troop 90 is one of dozens and dozens of charity orgs that share in the profits - the Metcalf family splits the profits among the hundreds of volunteers' groups and they (The Metcalfs-organizing family of madmen and madwomen) get to clean up the mess and prepare for the NEXT year of rides, games, music, food, and summer fun!

Our goal this year: Break the Record of 189,432 Brats consumed. Or really just to have fun. My goal - to get back to grilling brats - last year I was on Hot Dog Duty - boiled hundreds of those puppies (5 to a pound of the Oscar Mayer brand - local Madison company) for kids and The Timid. But I'm a purist and want back into the Manly Art of Grilling. Whatever they need...rain or shine!

Brat Fest is now at the Alliant Energy Center on Willow Island. Come on down or shop for BratGear on the web. FREE admission, FREE parking, FREE entertainment, and I'll give FREE mortgage advice if you can find me - I'll be the guy in the yellow Bratfest shirt...

Art Blanchet

Bill Quigley

Your Home - Your Brat Fest!

Identity Theft at the Pump - Robbed Twice

22 May 2007 - Madison, Wisconsin

It's bad enough we're paying over $3.50 per gallon for gas (and Exxon's profits are up 50%), but we're being robbed at the pump in other ways - Identity Theft! Things are getting ugly.

Our friend Scott Bilker (http://www.debtsmart.com/index.html) had this posted on his website. It's from from Sheriff Ken Jenne of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (Florida) and it's an eye-opener.

Scott is dedicated to helping people control their credit card and consumer debt and has written three books on the subject. He also posts articles and news daily and is worth a periodic visit. We've had him twice on our weekly radio show - Your Home-Your Money - and he's been all over TV and radio and in print. His is one credible son of a gun.

Check out this slick crime spree going on in Florida - and probably elsewhere. Gone in Four Seconds. Four seconds! Imagine the time it takes to regain your security and identity AFTER the crime.

Identity Theft takes many forms now - you just saw the "direct" approach. Consumers from Florida to Wisconsin, and all over the U.S., need to be diligent to avoid being a victim. Even getting gas! Four seconds of prevention is worth months of cure!

As Sergeant Phil Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues used to say, " Hey, let's be careful out there."

Art Blanchet

Bill Quigley

http://www.YourHome-YourMoney.com/archives

RADON, ASBESTOS and LEAD - OH MY!

4 May 2007 - Madison, Wisconsin

The Mortgage Guys rip one from the podcasting archives in this favorite about Home Inspections.

#22 - RADON, ASBESTOS and LEAD, OH MY!

Nope. We're not in Kansas any more Toto - we're in Real Estate! Now it's time to find out what's more dangerous - the Wicked Witch of the West or Your House. To do that, you need a home inspection...

"I'm ALREADY paying for an appraisal - now you say I should pay for a Home Inspection?!?!" Welllll...after you listen to this this recorded interview with Kimberly St. Louis, a Certified Home Inspector with A-Pro Home Inspections (a-pro.net/madison), you may want to spring for it! Kimberly talks to The Mortgage Guys about just what an inspection is, who benefits from it, and discusses the powerful information contained in the report.

Whether you are buying a brand new yellow brick home or live in a century-old castle (flying monkeys and all), Kimberly says a home inspection might save you thousands of dollars and even uncover health and safety hazards (a little fire, Scarecrow?).

Don't worry, Bill Quigley and Art Blanchet will get you all the info you need, and it won't cost you a tin', man.

http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=1071

(FREE "Podcasting & Real Estate" webinar coming your way - email us at info@yourhome-yourmoney.com (Subject: Podcasting) to queue up. Details will be forthcoming.)

Ben Benanke's Rival Makes His Bid - or Why I'll Never Look at the Federal Reserve the Same Way Again

A little treat for those who keep track of the Federal Reserve. Remember Sting, The Police, and"Every Breath You Take" - you will, very soon...

Personally, I think Ben Bernanke is doing well, but it's difficult to measure a man's performance as Fed Chief after only a year. Give Mr. Bernanke a presidential administration of two to show his stuff, then evaluate.

The singer in this video is Glenn Hubbard, Dean of the Columbia School of Business - and you thought these guys were GEEKS! Ha!! You can't judge all college deans by National Lampoon's Animal House standards.

In the mean time, enjoy this little ditty courtesy of YouTube, with a special thanks to Shailesh Ghimire of Arizona for pointing this at me.