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 Websites can sometimes be outdated and mix-ups happen.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

For info on buying and fixing the turkey, sides dishes crafts and games, make sure you visit http://urbanext.illinois.edu/turkeyls For the best Bl;ack Friday deals, go2: www.black-friday.net

How To Fake Gourmet Fixings

To supercharge MAYO mix a tablepsoon of lemon juice, add a 1/3 cup of olive oil, a dash of black pepper, a dash of garlic and fresh herbs into a store bought cup of mayonnaise. To upgrade OLIVES drain a 7 oz jar of ordinary brine. Then gently crush the contents of the jar, put in a new container, add 1/4 cup of olive oil, one or two crushed cloves of garlic, and one tablespoon of thyme. Chill for 3 or 4 days, and they'll rival anything you can buy at the gourmet deli. Soup up your STOCK with a quick shot of flavor. Mix 2 or 3 chicken bouuillon cubes with a 1/2 cup of white wine, 3 tablespoons each of carrots, onions and celery. Then add two sprigs of parsley, a 1/3 of a bay leaf, and a pinch of thyme. Simmer for one half hour.

New Book Reveals Hidden Dangers Of Cell Phones,Cordless Phones,WiFi & Microwaves

A new book titled Public Health SOS, The Shadow Side Of The Wireless Revolution by Camilla Rees stated that in 2007, The American Journal of Epidemiology reported that cell phone users who spent more than 22 hours a month on their cell phones were 58% more likely to develop tumors of the salivary gland then those who didn't use cell phoneas as often. Studies funded by the cell phone industry show that cell phones are safe. However, they usually last 6 years or less which is not long enough for a tumor to develop. Plus cell phone studies define heavy use as just a few hours a week. So to be safe, use cell phones only for emergencies or to retrive messages. Return all calls on a land line phone. Also, regularly switch the cell phone from one side of the head to another to minimise one side radiation exposure. Also, turn off your cell phone when not expecting a call because cell phones send and recive signals even when you're not talking. Another good habit is don't let the cell phone tocuh your ear or body parts. When talking, hold it at least one inch away from your head or use the walkie-talkie feature. Naturally, text-messaging is safer because the phone is away from your head. Bluetooth technology uses radiation but it is less than levels generated by your cell phone. To be safe, use a pneumatic plastic tube ear piece to reduce your exposure to radiation. A company called Mercola sells these headsets. You can visit their website at http://products.mercola.com Next, don't use a cell phone in the car. In a car, it uses more power because it must continually reconnect with antennas. Plus the signal is reflected by the metal in the car which increases exposure to radiatrion. Cordless phones used in the home pose the same risks as cell phones. To be safe, you should replace all cordless phones with corded phones when practical. WIFI is also a strong source of electromagnetic radiation. So use cables to connect everything to your computer. But if you must use a wireless router, place it as close as possible to the devices it controls. Microwave Ovens leak radiation even up to 20 feet away. So your best defense is to leave the kitchen when the microwave is on. If you want to test your mircowave, put your cell phone in the microwave and close the door. ( DO NOT TURN ON THE MICROWAVE ! ) call your cell phone. If you hear it ring, then it means radiation is able to pass out of your microwave.

Natural Swine Flu Remedies

If you don't plan on getting the swine flu vaccine, or if it is not available in your area, here are some natural remedies that may protect you. If you would like to improve your immune system and take preventative steps, then you should take an Astragalus capsule once or twice a day before meals. If you start to notice the signs of swine flu symptoms, then you should take Oscillococinum (pronounced o-sill-cox-see-num)capsules which may reduce the severity and duration of the flu.Another potent remedy against swine flu are chinese herb formulas. They often have an antiviral effect and may increase your immunity. The best and purest brand of Chinese herbs is Wellness Formula by Source Naturals. Just make sure you only buy formultaions made in the USA since formulations made in China may contain toxic levels of mercury. Another great antiviral supplement is Black Elderberry. And naturally, before you take any supplement for a medical condition you should always first consult your doctor.

The Best Place To Buy Mens Suits, Shirts & Shoes

The best place to buy a men's suit is at Nordstrom. The house brands called John W. Nordstrom and Broletto sell for around $600. But these garments are equal in quality to suits selling for $1,000 or more. Nordstrom also employs skilled tailors and sales associates which will increase the odds that you will get a good fit for your body type. If you live or work near a Saks Fifth Avenue store, their Saks house brand suit at $695 is another excellent value. Just maker sure you choose a timeless style that won't go out of date and select a fabric in an 8.5 oz to 10 oz weight. This fabric can be worn year around in every season. The best place to buy high quality dress shirts with french cuffs at a fair price is at Charles Tyrwhitt in London. You can buy one shirt for $59 or 4 for $199. See: www.ctshirts.co.uk Since many people will form an impression of you based on the quality of your shoes it's a good idea to invest a few extra dollars in a quality pair of shoes. You can now wear dark brown shoes with gray or blue suits but you should wear black shoes with black suits. Just make sure you buy laced-up shoes or slip-ons and avoid shoes with tassels. They look dated. The best value in quality men's shoes from $195 is at Allen Edmonds. They are made in the USA and the company will "re-craft" your old Edmonds shoes like new starting at $30. Call 800-817-7615 or see: www.AllenEdmonds.Com

The Best Way To Find A Job

The odds of finding a job mailing out resumes is just 7%. When you respond to ads in a professional journal your odds of success are still static at 7%. Responding to job on the internet gives you a slight boost at 10%. Responding to newspaper ads gives you the lowest odds of success at 5%. But it could jump to 24% if you're looking for a minimum wage job. Working with a private employment agency only gives you a 5% success rate since employers don't feel the need to pay private search firms in a down economy. However, your odds of finding a job by networking jumps to 33% because employers love to hire people based on personal recommendations from trusted employees and cntacts. If you don't mind knocking on doors unannounced your odds of success will jump to 47%. But this tactic doesn't work well with large companies. So limit this method to companies with 50 employees or less. Calling companies out of the yellow or white pages can boost your chances of finding a job to 69%. Just ask for the owner and briefly explain your background or skills. Then ask if he or she knows anyone who would be interested in hiring someone like you. Keep in mind this won't work with large companies that have voice mail systems and operators. The best odds of finding a job jumps to 70% when you partner with others to form a job hunting group. Just put together a group of job seekers like yourself and agree to keep any eye out for each other for jobs for people in the group. You could meet once a week at a coffee house or someone's home to trade job info and strategies.

How To Eat Steak On A Hamburger Budget

The pre-cut, pre-packaged meats you see at the supermarket are grossly over priced. You can request much cheaper and equally delicious alternatives from the butcher working behind the meat counter where you shop. Instead of Rib Eye Steak at $13 lb, you can buy Chuck Eye for about $2 lb. Ask your butcher to cut a 4 inch roast off the front of a bonless chuck, peel out the chuck eye, and cut it into steaks. Instead of buying Beef Short Ribs at $5 lb, buy Flatiron at $2 lb.Wait until there is a sale on cross rib roasts which happens all the time. Then ask your butcher to carve a flatiron roast out of the cross rib. Then have him cut up the flatrion into boneless country-style ribs. Instead of buying Lean Ground Beef at $7 lb, buy Bottom Round a lean, meaty beef cut at $2 lb. Just ask your butcher to grind up a bottom round roast for you. Instead of opting for Pork Tenderloin at $6 lb, ask for Boneless Loin Roast at $2 lb. Ask the butcher to carve an entire roast or cut it into medallions fro frying, chunks for BBQ's, oe thin slices for strir-fry. Roasting Chickens or large whole frying chickens are $1.69 lb. Instead, buy pre-packaged Whole Fryers at .69 to 1.29 lb. You can also buy dark meat hindquarters at .59 lb. Instead of buying Veal at $13 lb, get Boneless Pork Sirloin at$2 lb. Its a tender cut from the backbone of the hog that has the same color and mild flavor as veal. Ask your butcher to slice it very thin and it makes a great substitute for veal in veal Parmesan and veal Scalopini. Instead of buying Italian Sausage at $4 lb, get Pork Shoulder Butt at $2 lb. Have your butcher grind it then you can easily mix it with Italian or breakfast sausage seasoning yourself. Without seasoning, its a great substitute for ground beef. If you buy organic meats, you can cut the price of organic cuts by 66% by using this tips.

How Rent Out Your House Or Apartment For $10,000 A Day

Resourceful people know that they can rent out their house or apartment for movie shoots, TV commercials, fashion shoots and other events for $1,000 to $10,000 a day. When you rent just make sure you're dealing with a reputable company. That means you should have a contract , the producer should be insured and you should be paid before the shoot. Also, anything fragile should be put away or protected. In addition, the production company must carry at least $1 million in general liability and third-party property damage. They must also supply a security deposit. For more information, contact the www.EmpireLocationCompany.Comat 646-717-4307 and www.WorldLocations.com at 310-659-0599.

Valentine's Day Recipes

Linzer Heart Cookies Preparation Time: 1 hour plus chilling Bake Time: 10 to 12 minutes Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Confectioners’ sugar 1/2 cup raspberry jam, strained 1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium, beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy; beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture until combined. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill 1 to 2 hours or overnight. 2. Preheat the oven to 350F. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough to an 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 2 1/4-inch heart cutter, cut out heart shapes, rerolling scraps as needed. Repeat with the remaining dough. 3. Place the heart shapes 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using a small heart cutter, cut out centers from half of the hearts; remove the centers with a small spatula. 4. Bake the cookies until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and cool completely. 5. Set the racks, with cookies still on them, over waxed paper. Sift confectioners’ sugar over the heart frames. Lightly spread about 1/2 teaspoon of the strained jam over the large uncut hearts. Place the heart frames on top of jam-topped cookies. Tip: Baking Times The heart frame cookies will take less time to bake than the uncut hearts. Check the cookies after just 8 or 9 minutes and remove any cookies that are done. Variations Instead of raspberry jam, you can use strawberry—or whatever flavor strikes your fancy. For chocolate lovers, replace the jam center with melted semisweet chocolate. When set, drizzle more melted chocolate on top of the confectioners’ sugar. Brownie Heart Tartlets Preparation Time: 45 minutes Bake Time: 15 minutes Makes about 3 dozen tartlets Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 egg Confectioners’ sugar Mini candy hearts 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. In a food processor, combine the flour, granulated sugar and cocoa and process until blended. Add the butter and process until the mixture is crumbly. Add 2 tablespoons milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla; process until a dough forms. 2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a cookie cutter or a glass with a 2 1/2-inch diameter, cut out rounds of dough. Reroll scraps as needed. 3. Carefully press the rounds into the cups of heart-shaped mini muffin pans. Trim off excess dough by gently pressing a dull knife along the tops. 4. In a medium bowl, combine the melted chocolate, melted butter, brown sugar, egg, remaining 1 tablespoon milk and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of the filling into the dough shells in each heart cup. 5. Bake the tarts until the filling has set, about 15 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool slightly. Carefully remove tarts from the pans; cool completely. Decorate the cooled tarts with confectioners’ sugar and candy hearts. Tip If the rounds of dough tear, don’t panic! Just press the pieces together when placing the dough into the muffin cups. Variation Dress up these tarts even more by piping whipped cream along the edges and topping with a cherry. Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Makes 9 berries Ingredients: 2 ounces semisweet chocolate 1 tablespoon butter 9 large strawberries with caps or stems 1/4 cup cognac or orange juice 2 tablespoons honey 1 cup sour cream 1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside. Heat the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water, stirring, until melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Let cool slightly. 2. Holding the strawberries by the cap or stem, dip one at a time into the chocolate mixture, coating halfway. Gently place the berries on the lined baking sheet; let coating set. 3. Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce. In a small pan, simmer the cognac and honey until reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. Cool briefly, then fold the mixture into the sour cream in a small bowl. When the chocolate is set, arrange the strawberries on a serving plate. Serve with the dip. Tip Don’t refrigerate the dipped berries or the coating will “sweat” and become mushy. Molten Chocolate Cakes Preparation Time: 15 minutes Bake Time: 15 minutes Makes 12 individual cakes Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) butter 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips 4 medium eggs 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 12 caramel candies 4 tablespoons evaporated milk 1. Preheat the oven to 325F. Grease 12 muffin cups. 2. Combine the butter and chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler set over simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly, until the chocolate is melted. Let stand to cool slightly. 3. In a large bowl with a mixer set at medium, beat the eggs and sugar until thickened, about 5 minutes. Gradually add the flour, beating at low speed. Add the chocolate mixture and beat until thick and glossy, about 3 minutes. 4. Fill the prepared muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake the cakes for 5 minutes. 5. Meanwhile, combine the caramels and 2 tablespoons evaporated milk in the double boiler. Cook, stirring constantly, until the caramels are melted. 6. After baking the cakes for 5 minutes, spoon 2 teaspoons of the caramel mixture into each muffin cup. Bake for 8 minutes longer. Invert cakes onto individual serving plates. 7. Stir the remaining 2 tablespoons evaporated milk into the remaining caramel mixture. Serve the sauce with the warm cakes. Tip: Microwave Option To melt the chocolate chips and butter in a microwave oven, use the Defrost setting and microwave, stirring the mixture occasionally, for about 4 minutes.

How To Avoid Eating Food Made In China

If you are like us, you don't want to buy food "Made In China ". But unfortunately, the great majority of everything we find in a store is just that... " Made in China ". Just look at the labels. It will surprise you. Especially your FOOD, Meat, Canned Fruit, Seafood and many other items. Why are we buying MADE IN CHINA when the USA produces (or used to produce) the best and the most food in the world? Is everything we have being OUTSOURCED? With 'Melamine' and 'Rat Poison' laced foods flooding the market.......You need to read this article... and print out the list and carry it with you when you shop. Food Bar Codes Maybe this will be of interest to those who care where their goods come from, especially baby food and pet food. The whole world is scared of Chinese 'black-hearted goods'. Can you differentiate which one is made in the USA , Philippines , Taiwan or China? For your Information, the first 3 digits of the barcode is the country code wherein the product was made. Sample: All barcodes that start with 690 up to 695 are MADE IN CHINA. 471 is Made in Taiwan This is our right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the public, therefore, we have to INFORM ourselves. Nowadays,Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products 'Made in China', so they don't show in which country it is made. However, you may now refer to the barcode. Remember, if the first 3 digits are 690 to 695, then it is Made in China . 00 ~ 13 USA & CANADA 30 ~ 37 FRANCE 40 ~ 44 GERMANY 49 ~ JAPAN 50 ~ UK 57 ~ Denmark 64 ~ Finland 76 ~ Switzerland and Liechtenstein 471 ~Taiwan 480 - 489 ~ Philippines 628 ~ Saudi-Arabia 629 ~ United Arab Emirates 690 -695~China 740 ~ 745 - Central America