American Made Masterpiece: RGM Pennsylvania Tourbillon Watch


RGM Pennsylvania Tourbillon watch

The boys in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania have done us Americans proud. However, I found it ironic that I needed to see this American-made watch in Switzerland. This is the RGM Pennsylvania Tourbillon MM 2 watch. Almost all of it is made in American, including the case and much of the movement. Certain parts, like the balance spring, really make no sense to try to manufacture yourself. Designed after classic American pocket watches, the Pennsylvania Tourbillon is a handsome timepiece for discerning collectors and you don't have to be American to like it.

I previously wrote about the RGM Pennsylvania Tourbillon MM 2 watch here. There you will learn more about RGM, the technical specs, and other facts that I don't feel like repeating here. This is about my hands-on experience with the first-ever American made tourbillon watch. A while back, the US made a lot of watches. We bested Switzerland and brands like IWC were actually created when the US decided to outsource its watch-making to Switzerland - no joke.

Since those golden days, and the quartz crisis/revolution, the US has all but stopped making watches in any mass amount. While there are a number of small US watch brands, few do anything with movements. RGM, based in one of the watch hotspots of the US, made their first movement (the caliber 801) a few years ago. They have since followed up with the Pennsylvania Tourbillon. The movement is manually wound with a slow beat, large diameter tourbillon opposite an off-centered watch dial. The face of the watch is all about appreciating the movement - with its German silver engraved dial and exposed mechanics. A traditional movement throughout, it has a unique American flavor and design.

Read the rest of the story here.

Please follow The Life on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/flqB6_MfKWw/american-made-masterpiece-rgm-pennsylvania-tourbillon-watch-2011-6

debt planner debt ratio calculator debt ratio formula debt recovery agency

The Angels Edge The Mets 4-3


torii hunter

NEW YORK (AP) — Peter Bourjos hit a tiebreaking double and turned in a sensational catch to help Joel Pineiro nail down his 100th major league win at last in the Los Angeles Angels' 4-3 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.

Hard-throwing rookie Jordan Walden walked his first two batters in the ninth inning, then struck out the next three to hold on.

Torii Hunter had three hits, including an RBI single, while Maicer Izturis and Howie Kendrick each scored twice. The Angels, who had lost seven of 10, used some slick defense to improve to 27-10 in interleague road games since 2007 — the best mark in the majors.

Los Angeles has won 28 of its last 40 overall against National League teams.

Pineiro (3-3) had failed six times to earn win No. 100 since his previous victory May 10 against the Chicago White Sox. But he ran into the right opponent Friday, pitching 6 1-3 solid innings to up his record against the Mets to 4-0 with a shutout in seven career starts.

The right-hander, who allowed two runs and six hits, shook off an early line drive to his leg and held nemesis Jose Reyes in check.

Reyes, who began the day leading the majors with a .348 batting average and 101 hits, entered 7 for 12 (.583) against Pineiro with a homer and a triple. But the speedy leadoff man went 0 for 4 with a ninth-inning walk.

Angel Pagan had a pair of RBI singles for the Mets, back home after a 6-4 road trip.

With the score tied 2-all, the Angels mounted a two-out rally against Chris Capuano (5-7) in the sixth.

Mark Trumbo reached on an infield single that was bobbled by Reyes at shortstop, putting two on. Bourjos grounded an RBI double that glanced off the glove of rookie third baseman Justin Turner, giving Los Angeles the lead.

Bourjos helped preserve it in the bottom half with a leaping catch as he banged into the left-center fence to rob Ronny Paulino, who was leading off the inning. On the mound, Pineiro applauded in appreciation.

Hunter added a run-scoring single in the seventh off Bobby Parnell after Izturis led off with a double.

Hisanori Takahashi, a surprising success for the Mets last season, entered in the seventh against his former team and set down both batters he faced.

Paulino drove an RBI double to right-center — far out of Bourjos' reach — to cut it to 4-3 in the eighth. But a sharp grounder by Ruben Tejada was smothered by Trumbo at first, and Scott Downs struck out pinch-hitter Scott Hairston to end the inning.

Walden then earned his 16th save in 19 chances.

After the start was delayed 33 minutes by rain, Kendrick doubled in the second and scored on a two-out error by Turner, who rushed a high throw with the speedy Bourjos racing up the line.

Daniel Murphy opened the bottom half with a triple, pounding the dirt three times after diving headfirst into third. Pagan followed with a single that tied it 1-all.

Cleanup hitter Vernon Wells, who began the night batting .193, ripped an RBI single off Reyes' glove in the third. Capuano minimized the damage, getting Kendrick to ground into an inning-ending double play with runners at the corners.

Moments later, Pineiro was hit near the right knee by Carlos Beltran's line-drive single, drawing a groan from the crowd of 29,513 — and another when the replay was shown. A trainer and manager Mike Scioscia came out to check on Pineiro, who threw two warmup pitches and stayed in the game.

Pagan's two-out single tied the score again.

NOTES: Angels 3B Alberto Callaspo, sidelined since Saturday with a pulled left hamstring, worked out before the game and felt fine. The team hopes he'll be available off the bench this weekend, Scioscia said. ... Playing under National League rules, the Angels left surging DH Bobby Abreu on the bench. Scioscia said he wanted his most athletic outfielders to start in the team's first game at spacious Citi Field, but Abreu will play at some point in NL parks on this road trip. ... Before the game, Mets manager Terry Collins said he won't give any more rehab updates on LHP Johan Santana (shoulder surgery) because he thinks they are putting too much pressure on the injured ace. Collins said he told GM Sandy Alderson to answer those questions from now on. ... Collins is in his first year as manager of the Mets. His previous big league managing job was with the Angels from 1997-99 before Scioscia took over in 2000. ... The Mets placed a huge get-well card for Gary Carter in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field so fans can sign it before it is sent to the Hall of Fame catcher.

Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/webgdsWKXvI/the-angels-edge-the-mets-4-3-2011-6

business debt settlement capquest debt recovery christian debt relief clear your debt

The Pros and Disadvantages of Filing for Bankruptcy

Hire a skilled bankruptcy lawyer. This is one important act that you need to take to make sure the success of your claim. Look for guidance and help from a bankruptcy lawyer that has ample information of the ins and outs of bankruptcy application inside the state where you’re submitting your claim. You do not [...]

Source: http://www.legaldebthelponline.com/2011/06/16/the-pros-and-disadvantages-of-filing-for-bankruptcy/

debt collection rights debt consolidation agency debt consolidation blog debt consolidation canada

Father's Day Do's and Don'ts


It's that time of year to not forgot good ole' dad.   With Father's Day right around the corner, what do you have planned to wow dad this year?   To help make you the golden child and the special son or daughter this for your father, I've come up with this list of Father's Day do's and don'ts.  

Father's Day Don'ts

  • Don't forget to call your Dad on Father's Day, June 19th 2011.  It's never a good idea to forget to give dad a ring on the big father's day even to wish him a good holiday, especially if you're far away and won't be able to spend time with Dad this father's day.   
  • Don't overspend on Dad as Dad may feel bad if his child is going over board, instead get Dad a present that is your price range and won't make him feel bad you spent too much money on him this year. 

Father's Day Do's  

  • Do send Dad a Free Father's Day Greeting Card.   It's very easy nowadays to create and customize a personalized greeting card or free e-card for Dad this Father's Day.   Add a special message and you can even add your own photos of you and dad to your card to make him feel like you went the extra mile this year.  Also, the best part about this Father's Day gift is that it's free! 
  • Do get Dad a cool unique gift if you have the extra funds to make Dad feel good this year.  Some of the most interesting father's day gifts this year can be anywhere from apps for a techy dad to golf clubs for a sporty dad.  

Want to learn more about this special day for Dad for spicing up the conversation around the dinner table, look up some funny and fun Father's Day Facts, such as the date when Father's day became an official holiday and how most people didn't consider Father's Day to be as real of a holiday as Mother's Day.  

Hope these Do's and Don'ts help you make this Father's Day one to remember.  Set the bar high for the rest of the family this year and maybe Dad will return the favor, say, on your birthday?  

Please follow The Life on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/u_SbliCpH80/fathers-day-dos-and-donts-2011-6

debt ratio calculator debt ratio formula debt recovery agency debt recovery agents

A Father, A Son and A Pair of Shoes

By Meg Meeker, M.D.

My husband and son recently returned from Puerto Maldonado, Peru, where they worked with a medical team to bring care to folks who rarely see a doctor. Their team consisted of two physicians (my husband was one), a group of college students pondering the meaning of life, a few medical students, two translators and a cook.

My 19-year-old son was hesitant to go because they were going to be in the Amazonian jungle, and even at 6?3?, he?s, well, not very fond of snakes, spiders, humidity, heat or the possibility of catching malaria. After one year of college and a heavy hit from a philosophy teacher about humanity, existentialism and the question of God?s existence, he decided to set aside his queasiness in order to figure out a few things about life. He just happened to do so at his father?s side.

Each morning, their team carted supplies to a church or school in the city where they were greeted by lines of children, old men and women who had waited hours to see a doctor. Some needed their sight restored, some sought insulin, and others just wanted to know that someone cared. My son spoke to them in broken Spanish, took blood pressures, and gave fluoride treatments. And sometimes, he played soccer in the sweltering heat with young boys and deflated soccer balls.

In the evenings, the team shared stories and encouragement over thick Peruvian coffee. The next morning, they got up at 6 a.m. and started the process all over again. Toward the end of the trip, my son noticed something peculiar.

He noticed that some of his dad?s belongings were missing, like his favorite running shoes.

Suddenly, he recalled an elderly blind gentleman who had visited their make-shift clinic three days earlier. Over dusty, rock-laden paths, this man had trekked barefoot three miles to stand in line for two hours and see the doctor. Then my son remembered another image. It was the old man hobbling back onto the dusty road with his dad?s running shoes on.

When he arrived home from Peru, my son changed his summer plans. After his first day of work at his summer job, he signed up for Calculus 2 at the local college. He wanted to get a jump on switching his major from engineering to pre-med. In spite of the prodding from engineering professors and persuasive arguments about the meaning (or lack thereof) of life, my son came home and wanted to do what his father did.

Fathers don?t need outstanding parenting skills, coaching in communication or large budgets to afford summer camps and a lot of nice stuff for their sons and daughters. Nope. Dads need to let their kids live life next to them. Because good men influence who their children become. Now that?s something to celebrate this month.

Pediatrician, wife, mother, and best-selling author of six books, Dr. Meg Meeker is one of the country?s leading experts on parenting, teens and children?s health. Find out more about her at megmeekermd.com.

Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials

Source: http://www.daveramsey.com/article/a-father-a-son-and-a-pair-of-shoes/lifeandmoney_relationshipsandmoney

debt planner debt ratio calculator debt ratio formula debt recovery agency

My Father's Last Gift To Me

By Dr. Meg Meeker

Dear Gentlemen,

I believe that God put me in your lives to give you encouragement as you parent your lovely daughters. You must always know that, no matter what, you will always be extraordinary in their eyes. If you feel that this might encourage another dad, please share with whomever you like.

Two days ago, I held my father's hands for the last time. They were the hands that showed me how to use a fly rod, pulled covers over my shoulders while I slept, and picked up the phone to call and tell me not to drop out of medical school when I felt like a failure. I saw them change through the years. They were beefy when he was younger and so calloused during his years running cattle on his ranch that he could barely feel touch. But two days ago, they were soft from age, frequent massages, and Lubriderm. In his right mind, he would have hated their softness.

During his final five days, I held vigil over them because I didn't want him to feel me let go. My thought was irrational because he had dementia. But, somehow, I believed that he knew that the hands that gripped his were mine. But, as his death grew closer, I realized there was a different reason I held them so tightly. It had nothing to do with me comforting him.

Just before he died, his pneumonia caused his temperature to spike to 106.7. Even as a pediatrician, I had never seen such a high fever. I hated the fire that death brought. It hurt my hands. It caused him to suffer, and I couldn't do a thing about it. I tried to hold on through the fire but it hurt. So I sobbed. How could his hands hurt me? Death was ugly.

Suddenly a stream of coolness shot into his hands. As quickly as this happened, he opened his eyes so wide that it startled everyone around his bed. He had been in a coma for five days. The nurse on the side of his bed shouted, "Wally, what do you see?" My sister jumped up from her chair. He took several deep, long breaths. The marbles that rolled in his chest from the pneumonia disappeared. His face quieted, and he exhaled for the last time.

What did he see? Was it God? Was it an angel ... or Jesus? One day I'll know. But, in the meantime, I don't care because there is one thing that I know for sure. Someone poured love over him and embraced him. I saw it all over his face, and I felt it in his hands.

In that moment, I recognized the real reason that I held onto his hands for so long. It wasn't because I wanted him to feel loved. I held on because he didn't want me to miss his final gift. He wanted me to see that God is real. The great mystery is that he couldn't have done this alone. He was collaborating with God; rather, God was collaborating with him.

I will miss you, Daddy. But for now I thank you that, until your last breath, you gave me good gifts. And to the God that loves us more than we can fathom, I give even bigger thanks.

Pediatrician, wife, mother, and best-selling author of six books, Dr. Meg Meeker is one of the country?s leading experts on parenting, teens and children?s health. Get her book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters today!

Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials

Source: http://www.daveramsey.com/article/my-fathers-last-gift-to-me/lifeandmoney_relationshipsandmoney

best way to pay off debt business debt collection business debt consolidation loan business debt management

Credit Counselor Certification

[WizardRSS: unable to retrieve full-text content]

If you are a personal finance professional that is looking to expand your horizons you should definitely look into becoming a certified credit counselor. Whether you are a bankruptcy attorney, personal finance advisor, or just somebody who would like to have a useful certificate in their back pocket should definitely look into the certification program.

Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6348489

debt consolidation lenders debt consolidation loan calculator debt counseling corp debt definition

A Mortgage Refinance in Retirement - Good Idea or Bad?

[WizardRSS: unable to retrieve full-text content]

Interest rates today are lower than anyone can ever remember having seen before. At no time has a mortgage refinance made so much sense - especially for people over 55 who may be looking at their anemic retirement savings and hoping for a way to get it back into shape. For people to take up something as huge as a mortgage refinance close to retirement has always been considered a terrible move.

Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6358628

family credit counseling federal debt consolidation freedom debt relief scam get debt help