Ohio's GOP primary -- A few visits, some commercials and a lot of do-it-yourself Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2012/02/15/ohios-gop-primary-few-visits-some-commercials-and-lot-do-it-yourself

Voters are less than three weeks out from the biggest contested Republican primary of Super Tuesday on March 6.

That's Ohio, the always-critical presidential battleground state.

Lots of excitement? Lots of activity? Lots of money being spent?

No, no ... and no.

For now, it is a low-budget, low-key affair in the Ohio nominating contest.

In terms of campaign visits to Ohio, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum have yet to make a stop here (though Santorum will be in Ohio on Friday).

Newt Gingrich's first swing through the Buckeye State was just last week. Mitt Romney has made a couple of visits.

That's it.

Ditto grassroots campaign operations.

"(That's) largely non-existent," said Chris Littleton, a Paul supporter in Westchester.

So, without a campaign to work for, some banded together to create their own presidential political operation.

Littleton said, "There are many of us who decided ... we didn't see the campaigns were going to engage in a large level, so we decided to do it for ourselves."

The buttons the surrogate-Paul campaign hands out are home-made, cranked out of a machine, one at a time in a makeshift Columbus office.

If there is a candidate who has momentum in Ohio, it would have to be Santorum. Coming off a trio of state contest victories last week, the former U.S. senator is getting a second look from Republican voters.

"It is clear now," said Lori Viars. "Santorum is the one who can beat Romney and he's the one who can beat Obama."

Viars is a political activist in Lebanon. Without any sort of Ohio campaign office to ask for some signs, Viars on Monday gathered some friends at the local ice cream parlor and made hand-lettered signs for Santorum's visit this weekend. One sign read "Invest in Our Future". Beneath the lettering was a drawing of a sweater vest, which has become a Santorum campaign symbol since he wears them so often.

What Santorum supporters are leery of is a TV ad blitz from Romney. The pro-Romney SuperPAC, Restore Our Future, appears to be running the only campaign ads in Ohio right now. The ads go after Santorum over earmarks and votes to raise the federal debt ceiling. There are likely more Romney ads coming.

State Sen. Mark Wagoner, a Romney supporter said: "Given the short time frame, I do expect a fair amount of TV advertising and a media blitz. Ohio has eleven-million people. It's impossible to shake everyone's hand."

"If it does come down to engagement," said Littleton. "Romney's got the biggest pocketbook at this point."

But so far, the Restore Our Future ad buy has been small by Ohio standards -- $140,000.

Credit Card Disputes And Billing Mistakes_41946

The relationship between stress and credit card debt is a very close and, unfortunately, widespread one. A Public Interest Research Group and Consumer Federation of America analysis of accurate Federal Reserve reveals some astounding figures: the average household has debt ranging between $10,000 to $12,000 and the average number of credit cards is nine. Such statistics are representative for several other countries, besides the US, such as the UK, Canada or Australia. The convenience of using credit cards is the same everywhere, and the psychology of the human society is relatively identical. We all want to own more than we can afford and, at the moment we reach a certain social status or level, we aim for the next and so on. This "race" also has its victims - and they are numerous. Credit card debt is a very frequent problem and many therapists and medical staff have to attribute severe cases of depression, stress and anxiety to debt related triggers.

The crisis that develops stress

One of the most important human values is that of equilibrium, stability. Combined with the desire to feel protected and safe, the need for stability dominates our lives in adulthood. Being in debt is a strong negative factor that disrupts the balance we desire. Not only do we have to give back a lot of money, we are also in the danger of loosing what we already own. People going through prolonged periods of being in debt start developing different aspects that ultimately lead to serious medical conditions.

Depression is one of the most frequent problems related to credit card debt, combined with a feeling of being incapacitated to solve the problem. The crisis that triggers the life ruining stress may often develop throughout time, taking baby steps and creeping up on you. By the time you realize how big the problem is, there are relatively few solutions that you can take. The crisis may occur because of poor financial planning, living a life style that is beyond your financial possibilities or simply because of an emergency that drained all of your financial resources.

Tips on avoiding stress and preventing credit card debt

The difficulty of stopping a certain spending pattern is huge, and many people resort to extreme measures, such as cutting up their credit cards in order to freeze their spending. Paying the minimum monthly balance is also extremely tempting and many fail to realize that with each passing month their debt grows substantially due to the credit card's interest rates. Here are a few ideas that will help you diminish your credit card debt or stop it from appearing in the first place:

Stop unnecessary spending - don't consider your credit card a loan, as this will disrupt the balance of your lifestyle and you will spend well above what you can repay. Try to plan ahead and never spend above the determined monthly amount.

Plan your budget - examine your past spending habits and adjust them. The best way to eliminate credit card related stress is to be in complete control of your finances. When you know exactly how much you can spend, you will undoubtedly set some more realistic goals for your money and your spending will be more rational, rather than emotional.

Plan ahead for large investments - don't use your credit card to pay for larger investments, such as a car or home improvements. Also keep in mind, when taking a mortgage or car loan that your debt will increase correspondingly. It's hard to believe that you will be able to avoid credit card debt if you take out a large loan and also continue to spend money just like before the loan.

Don't pay one credit card debt with another credit card - there's not a lot more to say here, except that medium and long term solutions such as this will most likely lead to bankruptcy, as the interest rates are too high to recover.

Less is more - do you really need 9 different credit cards? Are the points and reward systems offered on some so attractive and useful? Most financial consultants recommend using one or two credit cards, as this makes perfect sense for better finance management. The more cards you have to manage, the more stress you will bring upon yourself.

In romantic love, you want the other person

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
- Khalil Gibran
Sow a seed and the earth will yield you a flower.
Dream your dream to the sky and it will bring you your beloved.
- Khalil Gibran
And think not, you can direct the course of love; for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
- Khalil Gibran
You are my ground and you are my rainbow.
You are my butterfly and you are my ecstasy.
You are the start of my journeys and always my destination.
You are my home - the place to which I always return.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
In real love you want the other person's good.
In romantic love, you want the other person.
- Margaret Chase Smith
Romantic love is mental illness. But it's a pleasurable one.
It's a drug. It distorts reality, and that's the point of it.
It would be impossible to fall in love with someone that you really saw.
- Fran Lebowitz

Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world. - Helen Keller

Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success.
They quit on the one yard line.
They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown.
- Ross Perot

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.
- Leo Buscaglia

Being defeated is often a temporary condition.
Giving up is what makes it permanent.
- Marilyn vos Savant

For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, "It might have been".
- John Greenleaf Whittier

Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world.
- Helen Keller

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
- Albert Einstein

Thinking will not overcome fear but action will.
- W. Clement Stone

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength,
not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.
- Vince Lombardi

My Mama always said you've got to put the past behind you before you can move on.
- Forrest Gump movie

Jonathan Lockwood Huie

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.
It is the source of all true art and science.
- Albert Einstein

Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.
- Franz Kafka

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
- Confucius

We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
- Anaïs Nin

Even from the darkest night, songs of beauty can be born.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

Beauty is truth's smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror.
- Rabindranath Tagore

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread.
- John Muir

Let the beauty we love be what we do.
- Rumi

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
- Anonymous

I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.
- Anne Frank

Call a plant beautiful, and it becomes a flower.
Call it ugly, and it becomes a weed.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

There is beauty and serenity in the eye of the storm.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Seek not good from without:
seek it from within yourselves,
or you will never find it.
- Epictetus

Inner Peace Quotes

Inner Peace Quotes

Freedom from desire leads to inner peace.
- Lao-Tzu

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
- The Buddha

The life of inner peace,
being harmonious and without stress,
is the easiest type of existence.
- Norman Vincent Peale

Be gentle first with yourself - if you wish to be gentle with others.
- Lama Yeshe

The key to happiness is inner peace.
The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions
such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion,
while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility
are the sources of peace and happiness.
- Dalai Lama

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.
Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever,
even if your whole world seems upset.
- Saint Francis de Sales

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
- Dalai Lama

When you find peace within yourself,
you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.
- Peace Pilgrim

Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.
- Lao Tzu

If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else.
- Marvin Gaye

May your own thoughts be gentle upon yourself.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

The simplification of life is one of the steps to inner peace.
A persistent simplification will create an inner and outer well-being
that places harmony in one's life.
- Peace Pilgrim

I am Counterpoint to the Clamor of the World.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie