Would You Rather Be James Bond Or The Most Interesting Man In The World?

Many of us identify with the larger-than-life image of James Bond played by Sean Connery. He's a man's man, attracts women with ease, and can defend himself when needed (or wipe out armies of adversaries whenever he wishes).
Although I insist that I'm way beyond hero worship, in my secret heart-of-hearts I sometimes dream of having the qualities I imagine are part of the James Bond mystique. Although the image is one of charisma, health, and wealth, the reality for men is often quite different. The James Bond films are based on the fictional character of MI6 agent James Bond (code designation "007") appearing in novels by Ian Fleming, a real life "James Bond," who was a Navel intelligence officer during World War II.
Unlike the fictional character in his novels, Fleming, like many men who went to war, later suffered PTSD. In 1961 Fleming, a heavy smoker and heavy drinker, had a heart attack and three years later, at age 56, had another heart attack and died on his son Caspar's 12th birthday in 1964. Eleven years later, Casper committed suicide with a drug overdose and was buried with his father.
Another image of the modern man is portrayed in Dos Equis beer commercials as "the most interesting man in the world."
"The most interesting man in the world" is a distinguished older gentleman, played by actor, Jonathan Goldsmith, who is shown through film clips of deliberately varying quality to have led an extremely eventful and colorful life, packed with over-the-top heroism and adventure. There are generally two types of ads: one features the man in a bar environment giving advice or opinions about various subjects, and the other features a narrator describing the man's distinguishing, but quirky background. Some examples include:
"If he punched you in the face, you would have to fight off the strong urge to thank him."
"He lives vicariously through himself."
"He once taught a German shepherd to bark in Spanish."
"His personality is so magnetic, he is unable to carry credit cards."
"Bulls flat out refuse to fight him."
"They say he once found the fountain of youth but didn't drink from it, because he wasn't thirsty."
"He can speak French in Russian."
"He's been known to cure narcolepsy, just by walking into a room."
"He once had an awkward moment, just to see how it feels."
"Even his enemies list him as their emergency contact number."
"He is The most interesting man in the world."As one blogger commented, "It takes serious balls to claim you're the most interesting man in the world, but the current Dos Equis spokes-character is trying his darndest."
As one blogger commented, "It takes serious balls to claim you're the most interesting man in the world, but the current Dos Equis spokes-character is trying his darndest." Interestingly, Goldsmith, the real man behind the ad, first established himself as an actor in Western films, appearing in over 25 films in that genre. In the 1976 film The Shootist, Goldsmith played a villain who was shot between the eyes by hero John Wayne, who fired blood capsules from a special pellet gun at pointblank range into Goldsmith's face for seven painful takes.
Rather than trying to emulate the "most interesting man" character, we may do better by following in the footsteps of the real-life person. According to his bio Goldsmith enjoys wine tasting, and he has been quoted saying, "I actually don't drink beer at all. In fact I usually spend my nights reading a book, not partying with women."
If you were picking a role model, who would it be? If you were raising a son, who would you like him to become? If you were going to live happily ever after, who would you want to be with?

Va Home Loan Refinance: A World Of Opportunity For Veterans

Veterans have some significant advantages over other borrowers once it comes to home refinancing. The government, aimed to help former service members, offers quite a few options. Whether you just want lower monthly mortgage payments, or have major expenditure in mind, such as home renovation or a large purchase, VA may offer a low-cost solution. Many veterans also take advantage of VA loans if they need debt consolidation, as it allows for getting out of debt quicker and saving money on rates and loan fees. No matter what your goals are, the following financing options, available through VA only, may help:

VA Streamline Refinance Loan

Being the best loan refinance product in the lending market today, VA streamline refinance loan may help you to refinance at an attractive rate and flexible terms, bringing the benefit of reduced monthly payments and lower overall borrowing cost. It is also known as IRRRL and has very relaxed qualification requirements. Credit scores of the borrowers are commonly not considered, making it an extremely attractive choice for bad credit borrowers.

VA Debt Consolidation Loan

VA debt consolidation loan allows you to borrow as much as 100% of your home equity. It is great for homeowners who have accumulated some equity in their homes and are looking to consolidate all or part of their debts into one loan with lower interest and more affordable payments. Due to attractive interest rates and prolonged durations, it is probably one of the most money-saving debt consolidation products in the market today.

VA Refinance Relief

Recent real estate crisis that left many households with decreased home values also caused many to get upside-down on their mortgages. VA refinance relief, a lending product specifically developed to assist troubled homeowners, allows veterans to refinance their non-VA loans that have less attractive terms. Available to qualified veterans and active duty members, VA refinance relief is an attractive solution to those who have no equity due to real estate market crash.

VA Home Improvement Loan

The name says it all this loan is designed for borrowers looking to improve their living conditions. This loan allows you to borrow up to 90% of your home value at a low rate in order to perform value-adding enhancements to your home, such as structural repairs, refurbishments, furnace replacements, and so forth.

VA Energy Efficiency Mortgage

You may add up to ,000 with this lending product to the overall borrowed amount should you make energy efficient upgrades to your home or purchase a new energy efficient home. Despite the need to have your house evaluated by an approved third party, it is an attractive incentive to individuals looking to purchase a higher-priced energy-saving home.

VA Cash Out Refinance Loan

VA cash out refinance loan is one to consider for veterans with excellent credit history who have some equity in their homes. While it is most commonly used for debt consolidation, the loan proceeds may be utilized for any purpose: making large purchases, building cash reserves, and so forth. This is a credit-based loan; therefore, a good credit history is a must-have. In addition, a home appraisal is a must-have in order to qualify. While VA cash out refinance loan offers an attractive rate, a mandatory 3% origination fee may upset some borrowers. It may be, however, included into the amount of your loan.