Drive a Tank This Summer

If you are looking for something unique to do for summer vacation, how about driving a tank?

An old limestone quarry is just the place. Located near Kasota, Minn., you can experience the thrill of driving a tank, even crushing a car with it.

The place is driveatank.com.

Opened and owned by one Tony Borglum, he has bought old war surplus tanks and opened up the property to would-be tank commanders.

For $399, and even firing a machine gun, the chance to drive these metal monsters can be yours. Want to crush a car? Add $549. If you really want to go big, pay $3500 and drive the tank through a trailer home.

Be sure to book your tank adventure early. Word is they sell out. Who knew?

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Veterans lump sum pension payouts are a rip off

Ever hear of annuity utilization contracts?

If you are a retired member of the armed forces, you are drawing a pension that is attractive to illegal operators who want a piece of it. Your pension may not seem like it is big enough, so these companies entice you with a lump sum payment in return for you paying them your monthly check for many months.

It usually works like this. Say you are drawing $1,000 a month. In 5 years, that's $60,000. These companies will offer you a lump sum payment of $30,000 in return for your check for the next 5 years. That means you pay them $60,000 to get $30,000. That's 100% interest over the life of this so-called loan.

What makes it more attractive, is the longer you agree to pay, the more they will give you. You could get $100,000 and need to be paying your whole pension for a long time.

These are not good deals. And newly retired service members seem to be an easy mark. They are a little younger and a lump sum looks very good. Don't do it.

Here's the rub. Companies that do this with military pension are 99.99% illegal. Some even go out of business.

These are called, annuity utilization contracts. Beware of getting ripped off.

If you recently retired from the military, you are probably being targeted. They even sound legit. Many companies have official sounding names, like "Retired Military Financial Services." They are anything but legit. Ignore anything related to military pensions and loans. They will even lie and say it's not a loan. That they are just buying your pension for a lump sum. Many of these mailers or websites look very patriotic, all red, white, and blue.

Don't fall for one of these scams. You lose an awful lot of money.

Like stated earlier, these annuity utilization contracts, or military pension loans are for the most part illegal.

Free passes to National Parks for Military members

All active duty military personnel will be able to get free passes to all National Parks and recreational areas. The total is more than 2,000 places where the free pass will be valid. This includes all 397 National Parks. The free pass will be good for one year from the date it was obtained. The free National Parks pass is free to all active members of all branches of the military, as well as active members of the National Guard and Reserve. You cannot transfer the pass, but here's the good part. The pass is good for the pass owner and all passengers in the vehicle they are using to enter. If the park or area charges by the person, the pass owner and 3 more adults are covered. If your children are under 15, they are free. This means a military member driving with their family, for example, into Yellowstone will all get in free as long as they are driving in using the normal family vehicle. Visit: http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=1333 for more info. Military members now can plan cheaper vacations with their families. Please pass this information along to all your friends and neighbors. Our military families are worth a whole lot more! >>How to keep deer out of your garden. >>Fun facts about the United States.