Asian Burgers & Mayo That Will Have Your Guests Begging For More

Mayonnaise 3/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup EACH finely chopped Thai basil, cilantro, and scallions 2 Tbsp lime juice BURGERS 2 lbs ground pork, 1/4 cup Asian or Vietnamese fish sauce, 4 tsp palm sugar or light brown sugar, 1 tsp of Asian chili sauce, 1/4 cup chunky peanut butter, 2 tsp EACH grated fresh ginger and minced garlic, 1/2 tsp ground star anise, 6 rectangular sandwich rolls, 6 butter lettuce leaves . Preheat a hot charcoal grill or gas grill to medium high. Combine all mayo ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to assemble burgers. Place fish sauce, sugar, and chili sauce in a large bowl, mix well. Add pork, peanut butter, ginger, garlic, and star anise. Handle the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it. Just mix well. Form mixture into 6 oblong patties to fit the rolls. Brush grill rack with vegetable oil. Place patties on rack, cover, and cook, turning once, about 5 minutes per side, until cooked through on a instant read thermometer that registers 155F. Spread roll bottoms with a thin layer of mayonnaise.Place a lettuce leaf, then a burger and a generous dollop of mayo on each. Add roll tops and serve.

Gourmet Burger ,Mayo & Salad Recipe That Will Impress Your Guests

Rolls: 6 Kaiser Rolls Mayo 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 4 cloves garlic crushed, 2 Tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp EACH of cumin, paprika, kosher salt & harissa*( * hot red pepper paste used in North African cooking-if you can't find it locally-you can make your own-click on link for recipe: www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Harissa-Sauce-107098 6 Tbsp olive oil,1 cup of mayonnaise. Combine all mayo ingredients except mayo in a food processor and process until well blended. Transfer to bowl and stir in mayo. Cover and refrigerate until assembling burgers. Carrot Salad 3 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp EACH ground cumin and kosher salt, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp EACH ground cinnamon and crushed red pepper flakes, 2 Tsp olive oil, 1 Tsp chopped flat leaf parsley, 1 tsp honey, 1 lb of carrots peeled and grated. In a bowl combine lemon juice, garlic, cumin, salt, paprika, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes mixing well to combine. Add remaining salad ingredients and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until assembling burgers. Burgers 1 1/2 lbs ground chuck, 1/2 lb of ground lamb, 2 oz EACH of dried apricots and pitted dried dates diced, 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro and 3 Tbsp fresh mint, 2 tsp EACH of harissa and kosher salt, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper,1 tsp of minced garlic, 1/4 tsp EACH of ground fennel, ground coriander,and cayenne. Romaine lettuce for garnish. Combine all burger ingredients in a large bowl, handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it. Form mixture into 6 equal patties to fit the rolls. Brush grill rack with vegetable oil. Place patties on rack , cover, cook turning once, about 5 minutes per side for medium. During last few minutes of cooking, place rolls cut side down on the outer edges on the rack to toast slightly. Assemble Drain carrot salad and squeeze out extra moisture. Spread generous amount of mayo on the cut sides of the rolls. On each roll bottom, place shredded romaine, burger, and some carrot salad. Add roll tops and serve.

How To Surf Safely On Public Wi-Fi

FACT: Absolutely nothing is safe on open Wi-Fi. But in a coffee shop, airport, lounge or library, people routinely surf the net or read their e-mails without thinking twice. So the first thing you can do is stick to a webmail system that uses HTTPS when you log in. But after you sign in, your webmail system usually switches back to HTTP because it reduces computer strain on their servers. That means everyone who is on the same wireless network can read your e-mail content. The only exceptions to this if you were viewing your e-mail on a corporate system or using Gmail. That's right, Gmail! Right now, the default setting in Gmail detects suspicious login detection algorithms and makes Gmail a standout for secure wireless surfing. So if you've been thinking about dumping your AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo account, now is the time. If that's too much of a hassle for you, then set up a Gmail account and have ALL your e-mails from other accounts forwarded to it. Then when you read your e-mails on a wireless network, the whole world won't be watching. Also watch out for a common misconception among business travelers. Most of them think that commercial hotspots that you pay by the hour or by subscription are more secure that free Wi-Fi hotspots. That simple is not true! So if your company offer VPN or a virtual private network connection, then take advantage of it. If it doesn't, you can download a FREE program called Hotspot Shield from www.AnchorFree.Com This company offers its own VPN software that you can install on your laptop prior to using a a public Wi-Fi. Once you enable it, it encrypts all of your traffic through a tunnel to a Hotspot Shield and then out on the Internet. It works just like a corporate VPN but its 100% FREE!

Mobile Phone Security Alert

Imagine sitting in a cafe and closing an important business deal by phone. After you hang up, you get a text message from a stranger referring to the deal and asking money in exchange for silence. According to university researchers, cells phones make excellent surveillance devices. And its done through the implanting of malware. So, in general, always be suspicious of phone downloads or ringtones as they could harbor spyware. Fortunately, major antivirus software makers offer tools that protect against phone malware. But one start up company offers a FREE mobile security tool that offers a suite of mobile firewall, mobile data backup,and the ability to wipe a lost or stolen phone remotely. Go to www.MyLookOut.Com and get it now for free.

Keep Clear Of New Craig's List Scams

Check Fraud You list a used piece of furniture for $100 on Craig's List and a scammer calls you and says he will be out of town. So he mails you a check for$250. When you ask him about it, he apologizes for the mistake and asks that you wire him the over-payment. Plus he'll throw in a few bucks for your inconvenience. The fact is, the check is fake and you'll be out $150+! Employment Fraud Two common scams are asking for up-front training fees and gathering personal info under the guise of "background check"purposes. You'll either get beat for the training fees or have your identity stolen in a NY minute. So watch out for job offers that post great salaries, requiring little or no experience, or that involve fees, or telecomuting without meeting your boss or hiring without any interview. These are BIG RED FLAGS!

Why You Should Avoid Buying Chinese Garlic

In 2006, the average wholesale price of Chinese garlic was about 35 cents a pound. Then large amounts were dumped on the US market at 7 cents a pound which is below its production costs. Right now, Chinese garlic is being dumped all over the world, and right now, garlic farmers all over the world are going out of business because they cannot compete with the dirt cheap price of Chinese garlic. In California, garlic farmers cut their production from 160 million pounds of garlic in 2003 down to 95 million pounds in 2007. There are only five garlic growers left in New Zealand and Thailand's garlic production is down 20%. And in 2000, China suspended imports of South Korean cell phones in retaliation of Korea's sharp increase in garlic tariffs. So the Chinese are not dumping cheap garlic all over the world because their nice guys. The plan is to put everybody out of business, dominate the market, and then charge whatever the market will bear. And here's something you didn't know about Chinese garlic. Its not as tasty or nutritious as Garlic grown in the US. That's because the root of the garlic contains disease and pestilence that might spread in the US. So the roots are gouged out before they get here. That's why there's a concave gouge at the bottom of Chinese garlic. Plus all Chinese garlic is irradiated before it gets here so the process kills all the taste and nutrients. So make sure you avoid buying Chinese garlic whenever you can. And in light of what they're doing in the garlic market,it might be a good idea to avoid buying any kind of produce grown in China.

Here's a Clock That Will Blow Your Mind

Just click on the link: www.usdebtclock.org

Must Try Asian Grill Recipes

Baby Back RibsServes 4. Get 4 racks of true baby back ribs ( each 3/4 to 1lb) 6 cloves coarsely chopped garlic, 1 piece (2 in) fresh ginger,peeled and coarsely chopped, 1 tbs. sugar, 1 tbs. coarse salt, 2 tbs. honey, 1 tbs. soy sauce,1 tbs. Asian fish sauce or additional soy sauce. For the dipping sauce 4 tsp coarse salt, 4 tsp white pepper, and 4 juicy limes cut in half. To prepare the ribs remove the thin, papery membrane from the back of each rack or ribs. ( some stores sell them already removed). If you have a large rack of ribs, cut each rack in half. Place ribs in a non-reactive baking dish just large enough to hold them in a single layer. Place the garlic, ginger,sugar,1 tbs salt and black pepper in a motor and pound to a paste. If you don't have a mortar and pestle, puree ingredients in a food processor. Work in honey, soy sauce and fish sauce or additional soy sauce. Spread spice over the ribs on both sides and let marinate in the frig covered from 1 to 4hours. For the dipping sauce, place 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of white pepper in neat mounds side by side in each of 4 tiny bowls. Place 2 lime halves next to each bowl. Then preheat your grill to medium. When ready to cook, brush grill grate clean and apply a thin coat of olive oil to the grate. Place ribs bone side down on the hot grate until then are golden brown and cooked through about 8 to 12 minutes per side. Cook a little longer for full size ribs. When done, transfer ribs to a cutting board and cut into individual ribs. Then arrange on platter for serving. Just before eating, instruct guests to squeeze 1 to 2 tbs of lime juice into bowl of salt and white pepper and stir until mixed. Dip ribs in sauce before eating. Beef Kebabs Serves 4. You need 1.5 lbs of rib eye steak about 1/2 in thick. 3 tbs light brown sugar, 2 tbs ground coriander, 1 tbs ground turmeric , 1.5 tsp ground cumin, 1.5 tsp freshly ground pepper,3 tbs Asian fish sauce or soy sauce, &3 tbs vegetable oil. Cut steaks into 1/2 in cubes without trimming fat. In a nonreactive mixing bowl, stir in brown sugar, coriander, turmeric, cumin, pepper, fish sauce or soy sauce, and oil. Let beef marinate in frig for at least 2 hours. Then drain beef cubes and discard the marinade. Thread beef onto bamboo skewers leaving the bottom half of the skewers for a handle. Preheat grill to high. When ready to cook, brush grill grate with a thin coat of oil. Arrange skewers on hot grate with a strip of aluminum foil placed under exposed ends of skewers to keep them from burning. Grill cubes 1-2 minutes per side for medium rare, a little longer for medium. Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 F. Serve beef cubes with a tasty relish or fried garlic peanut sauce. Asian Cucumber RelishAsian Cucumber Relish Makes 1 to 1.5 Cups. Take 1 medium cucumber, cut in half lengthwise and take out seeds. Then take 1 shallot and mince to get 2-3 tbs or 1 scallion, white and green parts, trimmed and minced. Then get 1 small hot red chile, stemmed, seeded and minced. Put aside 2 tbs rice vinegar, 1 tbs sugar and coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Cut cumber into 1/4 in dices. Place cucumbers, shallot, chile, rice vinegar and sugar in a mixing bowl and toss gently to mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste. You can make this relish up to 2 hours ahead. Fried Garlic Peanut Sauce Yields 2 cups. Ingredients are 2 tbs veg oil, 5 cloves garlic , 3 thinly sliced crosswise and 2 minced, 1 shallot minced, 2 strips lemon zest 1/2 in by 2 in, 1-3 small hot chiles stemmed, seeded and minced. ( for hotter sauce leave in seeds) 3/4 cups peanut butter, 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 2 tbs sugar, 2 tbs soy sauce, 1 tsp fish sauce (optional) 1 tsp fresh lime juice, 1 tsp finely chopped cilantro, coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Heat oil in a sauce pan over medium high heat. Add sliced garlic and cook until golden brown or about 2 minutes. Remove garlic with a slotted spoon. Place on paper towels to drain. Add minced garlic, shallot, lemon zest and chiles and cook over medium high heat until fragrant and lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in peanut butter,coconut milk, sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce if using, , lime juice and 3/4 cup of water. Reduce heat and gently simmer until sauce is thick and pourable about 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in cilantro during last 2 minutes of cooking. Just before serving, stir in fired garlic. If sauce turns thick and pasty, add 1 tbs or so of water. Add salt and pepper to taste and more sugar and lime juice if needed. Coconut Grilled Corn makes a great side dish with the ribs or beef skewers. Serves 4. You'll need 4 ears of sweet corn,husked,3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk, 2 tbs light brown sugar, 1-2 bay leafs, 1/4 tsp salt. Combine coconut milk, sugar, bay leaf and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Let simmer gently until sugar dissolves, 3 to 5 minutes.Taste for sweetness adding more sugar if necessary. Remove pan from heat and let mixture cool to room temperature. Preheat grill to high. When ready to cook, brush grill grate clean and apply thin coat of oil to grate. Place corn on hot grate.Start basting with coconut milk mixture after a few minutes. Baste several times until corn is nicely browned on all sides, about 2 -3 minutes per side, 8 - 12 minutes total, turning with tongs. Baste corn one final time, plate and serve.

Home Made Gelato Recipes From Florence, Italy

Plain Base First make 1 quart of plain base with 2 cups whole milk,1 cup heavy cream, 4 large egg yolks and 1/3 cup sugar. 1. In a heavy bottom sauce pan, combine milk and cream. Place over medium-low heat and stir occassionally so a skin doesn't form. Keep on heat until tiny bubbles start to form and the mixture reaches 170 F.( use a candy thermometer ) 2. In a medium heat proof bowl, wisk egg yolks until smooth. Gradually wisk in sugar until the mixture is a thick, smooth pale yellow. Temper the egg yolks by slowly pouring them into the hot milk mixture while wisking continuously. Return the custard to the saucepan and place over low heat. Cook, stiring frequently with a wooden spoon, until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and it reaches 185 F. DO NOT bring to boil. Poor the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl and let cool to room temperature stiring every 5 minutes or so. To cool the custard quickly, make an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and water and placing the custard in it. Stir the custard until cool. Cover and refrigerate until very cold for at least 4 hours or overnight. Banana Gelato This requires 2 chilled ripe bananas,1 tablespoon sugar,and 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Make your Plain Base and chill. Place the bananas, sugar and lemon juice in a blender and add half the plain base. Blend until smooth, then wisk in remaining base. Pour the mixture into the container of an ice cream machine and follow the manufacturer's directions. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for a least 2 hours before serving. Lemon Poppy Seed Gelato Requires 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 2 reaspoons grated lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds. Make the Plain Base as directed. Then gently wisk in the lemon juice and zest into the base. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker container and follow manufactuer's dirfections. Add poppy seeds 5 minutes before the churning is completed. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.

Leave The Haggling To Someone Else

If you've ever bought a used car, the worst part of the process is haggling about the price. Now a new company has emerged that will do the dirty work for you and save you money which is www.Carsala.com Call or log onto their website and enter the make, model, year range etc. Carsala will then send you a report listings cars that fit your description. It also removes any damaged, wrecked or flooded vehicles from the search plus any dealers with bad business practices. You can select up to 20 cars for Carsala to negoigiate for you, including cars you found on your own. Pro hagglers take over and get you the deal in writing. Plus you get another report with all the negoiated deals and then you can take a test drive and complete the deal. Carsala charges 20% of the savings OFF the asking price which is capped at $300 for up to 20 cars. So if the asking price is 15 grand and Carsala gets you a price of $14 grand, you pay $200 or 20% of the $1,000 difference. Until Oct 1, 2010, Carsala is offering a $99 flat fee when you use the coupon code, KIPIE.

Five Ways To Avoid Or Dispute Surprise Medical Bills

1. Stay In Your Network This is the best way you can avoid extra charges. 2. Double Check Everything The first time you visit a doctor, always call to verify that he or she is in your network. Websites can sometimes be outdated and mix-ups happen. Also make sure before you're admitted to a hospital that you will be treated by doctors in your network. That way you won't be hit up for "balance bills". 3. Negotiate Everything Upfront If you know you must go out of your network, be ready to talk money before you are treated. Keep in mind that even in emergency situations, insurers only pay what they deem as "usual" and "customary" treatments in your area. So if your P.P.O pays 80% of out of network charges, that means 80% of reasonable and customary fees. If your doctor charges well above what the insurance company deems reasonable, you may be "balanced billed" for the difference. So ask the out-of-network doctor what the charges for your care will be. Than check with your insurer to see how their payouts match up. Armed with this info, you can negotiate with the doctor to accept the insurance company payment in full. If you want to use an out-of-network hospital, you'll also need to get pre-approval on surgeon's fees and other charges. 4. Negotiate Everything Afterwards Too When you get a balance bill, don't hesitate to call the doctor and ask why he or she feels the insurance payment is not sufficient and why you were not told about the extra fees ahead of time. 5. File An Appeal If you feel your insurance company is not paying its fare share, consider a formal appeal. (If you found this post helpful,why not click on the small "envelope icon" below and e-mail this post to ten of your friends or family members.)

How To Get Out Of Almost Any Service Contract Without Penalties

If you agreed to a 2 year service contract on your broadband or smartphone service ,you may be able to ditch your obligation if your provider changes the terms after you sign up. In December, one phone carrier notified its customers of a 40 cent monthly increase on all lines and a $5 increase on accounts with spending limits. That constitiued a "materially adverse change of contract" as per the carrier's terms. So if your provider alters the terms of your contract and you want to break it, just contact the company in writing ( certified mail is best ) within the time period specified in your contract. It is usually 30 to 60 days. Make it clear in your letter that you are leaving because of the "materially adverse" nature of the change. P.S. If you found this post helpful,please forward it to your family and friends.

How To Learn Something For Nothing

www.AcademicEarth.Org This site offers the courses of 10 elite universities with 130 full courses and 3,500 video lectures. www.CNX.Org Connexions hosts more than 16,000 modules that make up a collection of say an algerbra textbook or a statistics course. www.OcwConsortium.Org This consortium represents 250 universities from around the globe that want to advance free educational resources. www.ItunesU.Com is the largest entry point into all of online education with nearly 300,000 audio and video files from more than 600 colleges around the world. www.YouTube.Com/Edu currently hosts about 300 universities with 200 full courses and 60,000 videos.

10 Best Donut Shops In America

1.Doughnut Plant -NYC Best bet: Creme Brulee. 2. Zingerman's- Ann Arbor, MI Best bet: Roadhouse Donut 3. Fractured Prune-Ocean City, MD Best bet: Black Forest Donut 4.Psycho Donuts - Campbell, CA Best bet: S'mores Donut 5. Glazed Dounts-Chicago, IL Best bet: Oatmeal Chocolate Stout 6.Dynamo Donuts-San Francisco, CA Best bet: Spiced Chocolate 7. Dreesen's - Easthampton, NY Best bet: Plain 8. Top Pot Donuts-Seattle, WA Best bet: Pink Feather 9.Stan's - Westwood, CA Best bet: Peanut Butter & Fresh Banana With Chocolate Chips 10. Sweetwater's Donut Mill- Kalamazoo, MI Best bet: Grasshopper

Best Meal Deals In Paris

L'Argume, 15, rue des Fosses St.-Marcel;Phone (33-1) 43-31-86-48.Lunch 14-16 euros, Dinner 35 euros. Le Chateaubriand,129, avenue Parmentier,(33-1) 43-57-45-95. Dinner 45 euros. www.Bistrot-Jadis.Com ,208,rue de la Croix Nivert,(33-1)45-57-73-20Lunch 25 euros,dinner 32 euros. Yam'cha ,4, rue Sauval,(33-1)40-26-08-07. Lunch 30-65 euros,dinner 65 euros. www.Frenchie-Restaurant.Com , 5, rue du Nil, (33-1)40-39-96-19Lunch 21-25 euros,dinner 31-35 euros. www.LaGazzetta.Fr,29, rue de Cotte,(33-1)43-47-47-05.Lunch 16 euros, dinner 38-50 euros.

How To Sell Your Home Fast In A Weak Market

1.Choose A Broker That Can Sell To find the best broker,determine which realtor dominates your market by "For Sale"signs and recommendations by neighbors. Then call the sales manager at the realty office and find out who are the top 10% agents as measured by sales. These agents generate 90% of revenues for an office. So they are most likely to sell your house at the best price. Before you commit to an agent make sure he or she has sold several homes in your neighborhood at attractive prices. Also, make sure that no more than 6 months had passed between the time the homes were listed and sold. Then make sure the agent has a marketing plan tailored to your home. 2.Get Your Marketing Right Most home buyers start their search on the internet. So make sure your agent lists your property on the seven biggest real estate sites which are Yahoo, Craigslist ,Trulia, Zillow, Homes.Com ,Realtor.Com and MLS. Only real estate agents can list homes on Homes.Com, Trulia, Realtor.Com and MLS. Ads range from free to $300+ for first page positions, slide shows and videos. 3. Use Professional Photos Market reserach proves that photos influence buyers more than any other tool. Some agents will send out a professional photographer to take photos. If yours doesn't, you can hire your own for $100 to $500 depending where you live. 4. Clean Out Your Closets Neatness implies that you take care of things. Buyers may think that a messy closet means faulty wiring or plumbing. 5. Get Rid Of Clutter Eevery piece of junk reduces your homes value because buyers can't see past it. If necessary, rent storage space for a few months. 6.Let There Be LightBuyers want a bright house above all except location. So ditch the heavy drapes, wash the windows, and move furniture away from the windows. Then trim any outdoor plants blocking the sun. Paint the walls creamy white. And if possible, piant the outside of the house yellow. If you need to re-paint or change the siding of the house, make sure it's yellow. Yellow houses have the most curb appeal and sell faster than any other color. 7.Swipe And Deploy Attend an open house at a few new developments and take note on how the model homes are decorated. Then try to apply some of these latest decorating trends to your house on the cheap. 8. Price It Right The smartest strategy is to under price your house below market value. That's because buyers are looking for value when they buy. This also might force buyers into a bidding war over your house with one another. If you price high and then go low, buyers will sense your despiration and start making low ball offers. 9.Offer Incentives Giving buyers a cash incentive will give you an unfair advantage over other sellers. Offer to pick up part or all of the closing costs. Then advertise this in advance and more people will want to see your property. 10. Hold The Paper First fo all, one-fifth of all homes sold involve partial or seller financing. Second, buyers may not be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage because they may be self-employed or can't come up with 20% down. If you don't have a mortgage to pay off, and you aren't buying another house, or if you don't need the cash, this is a win-win for you and the buyer. You can charge 5% interest or more, and the collateral is a property you know and trust. The buyer gets to skip the hassle of applying for a mortgage, and saves on closing costs. The down payment also becomes negotiable. Plus you might be able to spread any capital gains you might owe over several years. Just make sure your agent or lawyer runs a credit check on the buyer and let your lawyer draw up a formal contract. Also, make sure your contract states the if the buyer falls behind on payments just one or two months,the buyer forfeits the down payment and you can take back the property.

22 Things Restaurants Don't Want You To Know

1. Waiters are not allowed to tell a customer they don't like a dish 2.If you're looking for your waiter and another waiter tells you he's getting something out of the stock room, he's probably out back having a smoke. 3. If you order a frozen drink that's a pain to make,they'll tell you that they've run out 4.They put extra sugar in all the kids meals including the pizza dough 5. At most restuarants "specials" are things they must sell before they throw them out 6. Never order lemon with your drink since no one washes them and everyone touches them 7.If youb ask how many calories are in a drink, waiters are not allowed to tell you even if they know. They are told to say you should check online 8. In a restuarant, skim milk is almost never skim milk and 9 times out of 10. Even at the best places around, the breakfast buffet scrambled eggs are powered 9. If your food took a long time to come out, 9 times out fo 10 its the kitchen's fault. 10. If they say the desserts are homemade, they were homemade at a bakery a few miles down the road 11. A lot of places buy salad dressing on 1 gallon jars, add a few ingredients, and call it homenade 12. Afetr 8pm, all the coffee is cafinated since no one wants to clean two coffee pots 13. Don't call a place and ask to speak to the chef. If you really knew the chef, you'd have his or her cell phone number 14. If you want great service, use your waiter's name. And if you return, ask for your waiter by name even if he or she doesn't remember you 15. Never order fish on a Sunday or Monday since most fish deliveries are on Tuesday and Thursday 16. In some places, the salads are made up to 3 days in advance 17. If you don't like something, don't eat it, send it back right away and order somethin else. If you want to know if a restauarant is clean, check the bathroom. If its dirty, the kitchen is much worse 19. Watch out when the waiter comes over to fill your glass. If the pitcher touches the rim of your glass, you get to share all kinds of germs 20.If you have a problem, always ask to speak to the owner. Managers usually aren't allowed to comp meals and will take it out on the waiters 21. If you want to be known as a regular, go the restaurant on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 22. The two worst times to go out and eat is Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. Try to avoid eating out on these two days unless you like lousy service and an over priced food. To celebrate these two days, trying going out a few days before or a fews days after these two dates for a memorable meal. If you insist on eating out on these two days, then make sure the restaurant is high end and rated 5 stars. Outstanding restuarants are usually outstanding no matter what day you choose to dine.

7 Insurance Myths That Can Cost You Big Time

Myth #1-Replacement Cost-Reality: Usually, replacement cost coverage ONLY covers the depreciated value of your damaged possessions. In this case, you'll have to come up with the extra cash to buy new replacemnet items. Plus, many times you'll have to do it in 12 months from the date of the loss. What You Should Do: Check the time limit. Check with contractors and ask if they are willling to work with your insurance company to recover the full cost. For damaged contents, replace some items quickly and file a claim. Then use the insurance settlement money to replace more. Myth # 2-Insurers Only Replace The Damaged Sections-Reality: If replacing a damaged section of your home creates a visible difference between the replaced section and the old section, the insurer MUST replace the undamaged areas as well. What You Should Do: If your insurer tries to dodge responsibility to replace undamaged sections, write a letter to the adjuster stating what should be covered by the policy. Then add: " It is my understanding that in accordance with the line-of-sight-rule, I'm also entitled to replacement of the siding on the south and west side of my home as well. If you have any doubts about this, please refer to your Fire, Casualty and Surety( FC&S) Bulletins and get back to me." Most adjusters usually back off when policy holders cite this trade publication known by few outsiders in the insurance industry. Myth # 3- You Have To Live With The Work The Auto Repair Shop Mandated By Your Insurer Reality: Right after your insurer's mandated repair shop finihses its work, take the vehicle to a dealership service department and request an evaluation of the damaged area. If the vehicle was in a serious collision, request a 4 wheel alignment. These types of alignments usually uncover lingering problems with vehicles that have been in collisions. Share your findings with your insurer, and say, "You warranted these repairs, so take my car back and fix it properly." Myth #4-My Car Is Covered By Any Driver - Reality: When you lend your car out, it depends on the policy. Some insurers now provide coverage only to drivers specifically named on the policy. So before you lend your car out, check with your insurer. Myth # 5 - It's OK To Call Your Insurance Company To Inquire About Small Claims- Reality: Your insurance company wll open a claim as soon as you call the claims department even if you don't persue payment. What You Should Do: Don't call your insurance company unless its going to cost you more than your deductable. Myth # 6 - Independent Insurer Adjusters Are Fair- Reality: An adjusters job is to look out for the insurance company whether he or she works for the insurer or is independent. He or she will pretend to be your friend and try to steer you towards repairs instead of replacing the damaged areas. The only exception to this rule is when you're dealing with company adjusters from Chubb or Amica who are pro customer. What You Should Do: If you feel an adjuster is not being fair with you, hire a public adjuster. In fact, most public adjusters will tell you that you should contact them FIRST before you call your own insurance company! Reason? They can get you more money before your insurance company has a chance to downplay the claim and offer you a paltry sum! Public adjusters represent policy holders in their negociations with insurance companies. However, they are not all created equal. So when you decide on which one you will call, make sure you check out the adjuster's reputation at www.BBB.Org Public adjusters can be found in the yellow pages under "Insurance Adjusters" or "Adjusters-Public" or through the National Assocation of Public Adjusters. Call 703-433-9217 or go2: www.Napia.Com Public adjusters usually charge 10% to 25% of the total claims settlement which you should negoiate before you sign a contract.Myth # 7- You Can Cancel Your Insurance By Not Paying The Bill - Reality: Insurers usually give you a 30 day grace period before coverage is terminated. Policyholders are legally responsible for premiums charged during the grace period even if you have no intenion of continuing with the coverage. So its better to call and cancel a policy you no longer need.

How To Make 8% On Annuity Investments And Ten Questions You Should Before You Buy

1. Why Am I Buying It? People buy annuities to protect their savings from market downturns, to enjoy tax deferred growth, or to generate a guaranteed income for life or for some other fixed period of time. If you're not trying to achieve one or more of these goals, annuities may not be for you. 2. How Much Will My Annuity Pay Out? Your sales advisor should be able to tell you the guaranteed minimum it will pay each year, based on your initial investment and the date of your distribution. Note that if you are funding a varible annuity over time, that won't be the case. 3. How Much Will This Annuity Cost? You should know the mortality and expense charges that fund the annuity guarantees,any administrative fees, and in any fees for optional benefits. With a varible annuity, you should know the underlining expenses for the investment in your account. 4. What Are My Investment Option? When you a buy a varible annuity,you typically invest in a portfolio of stock and bond funds until you begin withdrawals. The end avalue of that portfolio will impact how much money you will actually receive. So you should be comfortable with the investments your varible annuity offers you. 5. Will My Heirs Get Back My Investment If I Die Prematurely? Buying an annuity without a death benefit means higher income for you. But if you don't vfeel good about the possibility that an insurance company will keep any portion of your premium that it hasn't paid out by the time you die, loook for an annuity with a death benefit. Most offer them. You can also choose a "joint and survivor" annuity that continues to pay out as as you or a designated second person like your spouse is alive. 6. Can I Get My Money Back If My Circumstances Change? Once you convert you account balance into a guranteed stream of income, you can only access the money on that schedule. If that's a concern, ask about options that permit additional withdrawals. 7. What Surrender Fees Apply? Most fixed or varible annuities impose surrender fees if you make withdrwals during the first several years of ownership. If that'sa concern, look for annuity with a "free corridor" that lets you withdraw some money each year without a fee. Just make sure to compare corridor terms from one provider to the next. 8. What Are The Tax Consequences Of Annutities? Annuities are tax deferred investments, but depending on your age and other circumstances, some withdrwals could jepardize your tax status. For instance, taking money out beofre 59 1/2 generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty. Also, any portion of your withdrawals representing investmnent earnings are taxed as oridinary income, not capital gains. 9. Can I Lose Money On This Annuity? You can lose money on any annuity that doesn't have a death benefit. But you can also lose money on a varible annuity that does not offer any minimum withdrawal or income guarantees. That's because your account valuen can go up or down based on your investment portfolio. 10. How Strong Is The Insurance Company? No matter how attractive an annuity may seem, it will prove to be a poor investment if the inssuing company isn't around to make good on its guarantees when you need them. So check out the issuer's financial strength at websites of the major rating companies. To make 8% interest on a $100,000 investment that pays $700 a month for life see www.ImmediateAnnuities.Com and www.AnnuityQuickQuote.Com

How To Have A Great Thanksgiving Holiday

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