For quite some time now I have wanted to invest in the stock market. Back in 2004, Google went public. I really wanted to buy some stock then at $80-something a share. However, it was right before I moved to Guam and felt it wasn't a good time to do that since I was trying to save money. Well...hindsight is 20/20. That stock is now valued over $600! The 52-week high was $747.24. Yep. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.

I received a small sum of money for Christmas and decided this year I would invest it. So now I'm researching companies to invest in. Now looks like a great time to get started as the market is WAY down. Most stocks I've been looking at right now are just above their 52-week low. My strategy is going to be buy and hold long term. Probably something that returns dividends, but I haven't made up my mind on that yet.

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You'll only be able to see the snow while it lasts here, but we're supposed to get between 2-4" of snow here in Greenville.

BJU Campus Webcams - 3 cameras here about 1.5 miles from my house
WYFF Weather Cam

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The Filipiaks are leaving in the morning for a vacation/mission trip to Taiwan. I helped them plan the trip, so today's webcams are going to be from Taiwan and some of the places they'll see!

*Note - you will need to view these with Internet Explorer
Taipei Zoo

For the next webcams, you have to select the area from the menu. It won't let me link directly.
Taipei City
Kaohsiung City
Taichung City

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I think I was bitten by the travel bug a few years ago on my first trip to Guam. It was probably before that, but that definitely got me itching to travel!

I've been home a total of 4 days now & I'm ready to pack my bags and travel again!

Every time I pass the luggage section in a store, I'm compelled to look even though I have more suitcases than I'm allowed to take. (Unless I'm flying Business Class!)It's also weird because my favorite luggage is eBags, which you can't buy in stores! My dream suitcase from them is the carryon suitcase that will hold a laptop as well.

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On January 7th, Mark Malkoff moved in to IKEA for a week while his apartment is being fumigated. As a kid, I always thought it would be cool to spend the night in a store. I don't know why. I just did. Check out Mark's website to read more about it and see videos of his adventures.

He's also the guy that in one day visited and bought something at all 171 Starbucks in Manhattan!

This guy is crazy!

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On my way to Iowa, my good water bottle fell out of my bag and was lost on the plane. I was sad. Thus began the search for a replacement. I had read a tip that drinking water from a bottle with a straw encourages you to drink more, so this was a good time to give it a try!

I found a 32 oz Camelbak bottle that is spill proof and absolutely love it! The straw flips back into the lid to help keep it clean.

It's with me during the day and since I've been sick, I keep it by my bed at night too. When I wake up coughing, I take a couple sips. I don't worry about knocking it over and dumping it out or having to unscrew a lid, sit up and try to drink without spilling it all over myself.

If you're looking for a good water bottle to help you keep a New Year's Resolution to drink more water, then pick up one of these in one of 4 different colors! (There are also smaller bottles available in up to 9 different colors.)

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I have spent the last couple weeks in Waterloo, IA for Christmas with my family. The last couple days have been FREEZING! Right now it's -1 and the wind chill is -16. Brrr!!! The high today is supposed to be 8 degrees.

The (update 6/11/08 - link is broken. Not sure if it is permanent or due to high web traffic or other problems related to the current flooding) webcam for today comes courtesy of KWWL news in Waterloo, IA. (They don't have a direct link to it, so below the weather maps you'll need to click on the Skycams button.)

The weather in Greenville is cold right now too, but looks to be in the mid to upper 60s when I get back, so it will feel like a heat wave to me!

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