Lagavulin 16 Year Old Single-Malt

Lagavulin 16 Year Old Single-Malt is an excellent choice.

Canon G-10

Canon's Top-Range Compact Digital.
Advanced amateur photographers are a discerning group, and they've flocked to Canon's G-Series for its ability to meet and exceed their demands. The third-generation PowerShot G10 is a stunning successor, loaded with uncompromising specs like 14.7 megapixels, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and Canon's new DIGIC 4 Image Processor for notably improved face and motion detection. This is a camera that supports and nurtures creativity, with a full range of shooting and recording modes and compatibility with exciting accessories including Speedlite flashes.

The Sacher Torte

The Sacher Torte is worth the trip to Vienna!!

Get a Human Representative Directly

This is a great site that gives you a number to directly reach an agent.

Lifestyle: Lighting a Cigar

Part of the pleasure a man gets from smoking comes from the ritual of lighting the things, which takes a couple of minutes if it's done correctly. That ritual begins with a cutter. A guillotine cutter makes a slice across the head of the cigar just above the cap line to disperse the smoke and minimize the potential for bite.

Once cut, the cigar is lit, preferably with an odorless butane lighter. It can be lit with matches but that's a more cumbersome process. Either way, the cigar is held in the hand at a 90 degree angle above the flame, and rotated until all parts of the foot are evenly charred.

Then the cigar is placed between the lips and puffed, with the flame still under the foot, until the flames jump up. At that point, the ritual is complete and the smoking begins.

And that's how a cigar is properly lit.

Judging the Fit of a Shirt

Things that determine whether a dress shirt fits properly:

• A half inch of shirt collar should be exposed above the collar of your jacket.
• You should be able to fit two fingers between your collar and neck when the shirt is buttoned.
• The shoulder seam (the seam between the body and the arm) should be at the end of your shoulder.
• The shirt body should be smooth and unwrinkled across your chest and there should be no pulling at the buttons.
• The cuff should reach the bottom of your thumb when your arms are at your sides, and there should be enough cloth in the sleeve so it remains there when you lift your arms straight in front of you.
• The shirt should remain tucked into your trousers when you lift your arms over your head. This usually requires at least six inches of tail inside the waistband.

How interest effects monthly mortgage payments

How will a difference in interest rates change my
monthly mortgage payments? I have created a small
spreadsheet to the right which shows how your mortgage will change depending on your interest rate. However, the more interesting figure is how much you will pay in interest rate charges only-- over the course of a 30 year $500,000 loan. At 7% you will pay almost 700K whereas at 5% it will be 466K a difference of almost a quarter million dollars.

Merrill Lynch v. E-Trade v. Scott-Trade

I have posted in the past a ranking of brokers that was published in Smart Money. I wanted to give my impressions after using 3 different brokers:

1) Merrill Lynch--Merrill Lynch is one of the most well known companies on Wall Street. They have excellent customer service and my financial advisor is not only a close friend but I trust his judgment without question. ML is great for someone that wants an advisor to manage their IRAs or Brokerage Accounts. The Fees for Stock Trades is higher than E-Trade or Scott-Trade but you are also getting full service. The thing that is not good at ML is their web-page it seems to always be 24 hours behind. The other problem is that when you look at posted (credits/debits) transactions to the account it does not show you a running balance.

2) Scott-Trade-has a good service--very good customer service--simple web-page that is easy to understand and get around. The Fees are the lowest of the three only $7 per trade. The thing that led me to switch to E-Trade has to do wit the banking features. The problem with Scott-Trade is that you can electronically transfer money into the account but you cannot electronically transfer money out. This just does not make sense. Why do they need to send you a check. If you are in need of your money quickly this is just not convenient.

3) E-Trade--has a great web-site--lot of information that is easy to access. The fees are a bit higher than Scott-Trade but the banking features are much better. You can also get one of the highest interest rates around by putting money into their Savings Accounts--3.3% currently. The good thing is that you can electronically get your money out. So far I am very happy with E-Trade.

Speeding up Mortgage Payments

The best way to reduce your home mortgage quickly is to participate in a 26 Payment Plan. Usually these plans are free and offered by all mortgage companies. In this plan instead of paying your mortgage once a month you will pay half the amount every 2 weeks. In addition, you will make 1 extra payment per year or a 13th payment under a traditional plan. By paying every 2 weeks interest does not build up all month since you are paying more frequently.

I know that paying 1 extra payment per year can be difficult but the upside is that it will generally take 7.5 years off a 30 year fixed mortgage. If you use a mortgage calculator you will see that it will save you 10,000s of dollars.

Making PDF Files for Free

There is a great utility called pdf995---it will allow you to create a pdf file from Word, Excel etc. It is a free download.

Of course if you have a Mac it does this automatically!!!

Free Kibble

This is an amazing idea from an amazing girl!!!

NBC Nightly News tonight showed a story about a 12 year old girl at freekibble.com who's motivation helped her to start a website that donates free kibble to dog shelters.

When you visit Freekibble.com there is question on the home page. "Click on the answer that you think is correct. Right or wrong, you win! All you have to do is click on an answer, and every day you do, we'll provide 20 pieces of kibble to Animal Shelters to help feed their hungry dogs."

A Private Dance? Four Million Web Fans Say No

This is great!!

By CHARLES McGRATH

Published: July 8, 2008

The peripatetic Matt Harding’s dancing videos have been his ticket to Internet fame, travel and a lot of impromptu dance partners around the world.

Fare Compare

I highly recommend this new site I have come across Fare Compare.

The site allows you to compare rates between various airlines which is similar to Cheaptickets.com or Kayak.com. But what is better about Fare Compare is that it also shows you if a Business or First Class ticket is cheaper than coach.

Taking Screenshots in Mac OS X

Here are some Tricks to take a Screen Shot on a Mac

• Command-Shift-3: Take a screenshot of the screen, and save it as a file on the desktop
• Command-Shift-4, then select an area: Take a screenshot of an area and save it as a file on the desktop
• Command-Shift-4, then space, then click a window: Take a screenshot of a window and save it as a file on the desktop

Grab and Preview

Instead of using the keyboard shortcuts above, screenshots can be taken by using the Grab application included with Mac OS X. It is located at /Applications/Utilities/Grab.

In Mac OS X 10.4, the Preview application can also be used to take screenshots, by using the Grab submenu in the File menu.

Review: Nespresso Latissima

This is a great machine--very easy to use and practical. The best part is that the milk container that comes with the machine can be placed in the refrigerator and then when you want to make a coffee you just put it back onto the machine. The quality of the Espresso and Cappuccino are excellent. And at roughly 52 cents for each coffee it is much cheaper than Starbucks. The quality is also much better.

It has a compact design. Single press button cleans milk container. Machine is an easy clean up: pods mean no messy coffee grounds.

Below are three quotes that I live my life by.....

Perseverance reveals life's wonderment - Gurumayi

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions - Einstein

You make a living by what you get, you make a life by what you give -Churchill

Creed Fragrances --Simply the Best

These days, when the perfume industry is increasingly dominated by heavily advertised international brands, it comes as a refreshing surprise to discover that there still exists a discreet family-owned perfume house dedicated to the creation of highly original fragrances of extravagant quality.

Operating from it’s luxuriously appointed boutique in Paris’ 8th Arrondissement, the House of Creed has been for many years one of the best kept secrets of the perfume world, patronised by the seriously rich, chic and famous.

From Heads of State to celebrities from the film and music industries, Creed’s client list reads like an international Who’s Who. Over the years the Creed family has produced over two hundred perfumes, all original and hand-made, often creating fragrances for the exclusive use of their wealthiest customers.

The House of Creed was founded in 1760 when James Henry Creed opened his first shop in London. It rapidly became a favourite of the aristocracy and soon Queen Victoria appointed Creed as an official supplier to the Royal household.

Eventually Creed was adopted by all the courts of Europe: Napoléon III and Empress Eugénie of France, Franz-Joseph and Elizabeth of Austro-Hungary and Queen Christina of Spain. In 1854, under the patronage of Empress Eugénie, the House of Creed moved to Paris where it established a firm reputation for the rare beauty, quality and exclusivity of its fragrances.

Today Olivier Creed, direct descendant of James Henry Creed, continues this great tradition as Createur Parfumeur and President of the House of Creed. In France, or travelling abroad, he personally selects the purest rose essences from Bulgaria, Turkey or Morocco as well as Italian jasmine, irises from Florence, Tuberose from India or genuine Parma violets. Creed also manufacture their own essences using the traditional infusion technique, now abandoned as too costly by the modern perfume industry.

Wherever possible, Olivier Creed insists on using natural essences instead of the synthetic ones used increasingly by large perfume companies these days. This enables Olivier Creed, a perfectionist, to preserve the originality and superior quality of his fragrances. The components are then weighed, mixed, macerated and filtered, all by hand, before being shipped to only the finest department stores and specialist retailers worldwide. Creed fragrances offer all those who appreciate excellence the opportunity to rediscover the art of fine fragrance.

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An Amazing Charity the Central Asia Institute

If you have not read the book "Three Cups of Tea" it is the amazing story of Greg Mortenson. The book recounts the journey that led Greg Mortenson from a failed attempt to climb Pakistan’s K2 to successfully building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The book has been on the NY Times Bestseller List since the paperback was released by Penguin Publishers in February 2007!

Central Asia Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Enjoy Three Cups of Tea! The #1 New York Times Bestseller Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School At A Time, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, recounts the journey that led Greg Mortenson from a failed attempt to climb Pakistan’s K2 to successfully building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The book has been on the NY Times Bestseller List since the paperback was released by Penguin Publishers in February 2007! Greg Mortenson’s Speaking Schedule www.threecupsoftea.com for more information.

Home | About CAI | Events | Media and Press | Projects | Three Cups of Tea | Pennies for Peace
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Copyright © 2008 Central Asia Institute, All Rights Reserved
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SINGLE MALT WHISKEY RATINGS-FROM MALT MADNESS

SINGLE MALT WHISKEY RATINGS

CLOSE TO PERFECTION –90 POINTS

97 - Glendronach 25yo 1968/1993 (43%, OB, 100% Sherry)
97 - Saint Magdalene 19yo 1979/1998 (63.8%, UD Rare Malts)
97 - Springbank 12yo 100 Proof (57.1%, OB / Samaroli, 1980's, 2400 Bts.)
96 - Ardbeg 25yo 1975/2000 (50%, DL OMC, 702 Bts., Btl. October)
96 - Ardbeg 1976/2002 (53.1%, OB, C#2390, Feis Isle 2002)
96 - Bowmore 1965 Full Strength (50%, OB, Bottled 1980's)
96 - Glenfarclas 25yo (43%, OB, Frattina Import, Bottled +/-1979)
96 - Laphroaig 31yo 1974/2005 (49.7%, OB for LMdW, Sherry, 910 Bts.)
95 - Aberlour-Glenlivet 8yo (50%, OB, Cube bottle, 75cl, 1970's?)
95 - Adelphi 1953/2003 'No Name' (54.3%, Adelphi, C#1668)
95 - Ardbeg 28yo 1967/1995 (53.2%, Signatory, Dark Oloroso, C#574)
95 - Ardbeg 29yo 1973/2002 (51.4%, DL Platinum, 137 Bts.)
95 - Brora 31yo 1972/2003 (49.3%, DL Platinum, 221 Bts.)
95 - Glenfarclas 1969/2007 (56,2%, OB, Familly Cask #3184, 148 Bts.)
95 - Glen Garioch 29yo 1968 (57.7%, OB, C#7, Bottled +/- 1997)
95 - Lagavulin 16yo 'White Horse' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1990, 75cl)
95 - Macallan 'Coilltean' 1992/2004 (55%, Samaroli, C#8518, 420 Bts.)
95 - Port Ellen 21yo 1982/2004 (50%, DL OMC, REF414, Sherry cask)
94 - Ardbeg 24yo 1975/2000 (50%, DL OMC, 713 Bts.)
94 - Ardbeg 27yo 1973/2000 (50%, DL OMC, 240 Bts.)
94 - Brora 22yo 1972/1995 (58.7%, UD Rare Malts)
94 - Brora 29yo 1972/2001 (59.5%, DL Platinum II, 240 Bts.)
94 - Brora 30yo '2004' (56.6%, OB, Bottled 2004, 3000 Bts.)
94 - Glen Garioch 1971 (59.6%, Samaroli, 2280 Bts., +/- 1988, 75cl)
94 - Glen Grant 1969/2004 (46%, Berry Brothers, C#1773)
94 - Highland Park 32yo 1974/2006 (51.9%, SMWS, 4.109, 141 Bts.)
94 - Highland Park 36yo 1967 (49.7%, OB for TWE, C#10252, 138 Bts.)
94 - Lagavulin 12yo (43%, OB, cream label, Cinoco, 1979 rotation, 75cl)
94 - Lagavulin 16yo 'White Horse' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1993, 100cl)
94 - Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength (57.3%, OB, Green stripe, +/- 2002)
94 - Laphroaig 27yo 1980/2007 (57.4%, OB, 5 Oloroso Casks)
94 - Port Ellen 23yo 1979/2003 (46%, Wilson & Morgan, C#6769)
93 - Ardbeg 1974 'Provenance' (55.6%, OB, Btl. 18/11/1997, Europe)
93 - Ardbeg 28yo 1967/1995 (53.7%, Signatory, Pale Oloroso, C#575)
93 - Ardbeg 28yo 1972/2000 (50.1%, DL / Alambic Germany, 234 Bts.)
93 - Ardbeg 28yo 1972/2001 (49.5%, DL OMC, 222 Bts.)
93 - Ardbeg 30yo 1967/1997 (50.3%, Signatory, C#1141, 510 Bts.)
93 - Benriach 37yo 1968/2006 (52%, OB, C#2712, 157 Bts.)
93 - Bowmore 'Black' 1964/1993 (50%, OB, 2000 Bts., First Edition)
93 - Brora 32yo 1970/2002 (58.4%, DL Platinum III, 297 Bts.)
93 - Glenfarclas 15yo (46%, OB, Mahler & Besser, Early 1980's)
93 - Glen Grant 36yo 1970/2006 (53,2%, Bl'adder, C#7216, 173 Bts.)
93 - Glenlivet 1971/2003 (55%, Berry Bros, C#6447)
93 - Highland Park 17yo 'No vintage' (43%, OB, James Grant, 1970's)
93 - Highland Park 24yo 1980/2004 (58%, OB / Park Avenue, C#7366)
93 - Lagavulin 16yo 'White Horse' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1995, 70cl)
93 - Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength (55.7%, OB, Red Stripe, +/- 2005)
93 - Ledaig 30yo 1974/2005 (48.7%, SigV, Sherry C#3223, 208 Bts.)
93 - Miltonduff 1966/1990 (61.4%, Antica Casa Marchesi Spinola, 75cl)
93 - Port Charlotte 2001/2005 (61.4%, Gordon Homer, C#R23, 39 Bts.)
93 - Port Ellen 22yo 1978/2000 (60.5%, UD Rare Malts)
93 - Port Ellen 22yo 1982/2004 (61.1%, DL / PLOWED, 264 Bts.)
93 - Port Ellen 23yo 1983/2007 (56.7%, DL Platinum for Whisky Fair)
93 - Suntory Yamazaki 1984/2005 (56%, OB, Japan, 70cl)
93 - Talisker 20yo 1981/2002 (62%, OB, Sherry, 9000 Bts.)
93 - Tomintoul 37yo 1966/2003 (52.8%, DL Plat., Rum Finish, 201 Bts.)
92 - Aberfeldy 25yo 1975/2001 (57.0%, Cadenhead's, 228 Bts.)
92 - Adelphi 15yo 1991/2006 'Breath of Speyside' (60.2%, C#5642)
92 - Ardbeg 6yo 1998/2005 (56.2%, SMWS, 33.57, Sherry gorda)
92 - Ardbeg 17yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 1998)
92 - Ardbeg 1966/1987 (46%, Moon 'The Birds', C#2443, 264 Bts.)
92 - Ardbeg 21yo 'Committee' (56.3%, OB, 2500 Bts., 2001)
92 - Ardbeg 29yo 1972/2001 'Ardbeggedon' (48.4%, DL for PLOWED)
92 - Ardbeg 30yo 1967/1997 (52.2%, Signatory, C#1138, 586 Bts.)
92 - Ardbeg 1972/2004 (45.3%, OB for Germany, C#861, 216 Bts.)
92 - Benriach 36yo 1968/2005 (46%, OB for LMdW, C#2711, 152 Bts.)
92 - Bowmore 22yo 1965 (43%, The Prestonfield, C#47)
92 - Braes of Glenlivet 15yo 1979/1995 (60.0%, Signatory, C#16040)
92 - Brora 30yo 1972/2003 'Broraggeddon' (50.8.%, DL, 201 Bts.)
92 - Dalmore 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1977, 75cl)
92 - Glenfarclas 38yo 1966/2004 'Nectar' (42,3%, WMag, C#6461)
92 - Glen Garioch 21yo 1965 (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1986)
92 - Glengoyne 18yo 1989/2007 'Billy's Choice' (54,1%, OB, C#1202)
92 - Glengoyne 19yo 1986/2005 'Ewan's Choice' (51.5%, OB, C#441)
92 - Glengoyne 21yo 1985/2006 (53%, OB SC)
92 - Glengoyne 37yo 1967/2005 (47.6%, OB, Sherry, C#975, 246 Bts.)
92 - Glen Grant 1958/2006 (40%, G&M licensed bottling)
92 - Highland Park 40yo 1958/1998 (44%, OB, 665 Bts.)
92 - Inchgower 24yo 1980/2005 (60.4%, Adelphi, C#14152)
92 - Isle of Jura 5yo 1999/2004 (60.6%, OB for TWE, C#19)
92 - Lagavulin 16yo 'White Horse' (43%, OB, +/- 1998, 70cl)
92 - Lochside 35yo 1966/2002 (51.3%, Premier Malt, C#7541)
92 - Longmorn-Glenlivet 1971/1999 (57.8%, Scott's Selection)
92 - Longmorn 1973/2006 (54%, G&M Cask, Cask #3650)
92 - Longrow 1987/2000 (45%, Samaroli, C#123)
92 - Longmorn 18yo 1971/1990 (58.1%, G&M for Spinola, Italy)
92 - Macallan 25yo 1976/2001 (50%, Silver Seal, Single Barrel)
92 - Macallan 30yo 1976/2006 (45.3%, Adelphi, C#2749, 206 Bts.)
92 - Port Ellen 21yo 1982/2004 (61%, DL Platinum / WCOA, 302 Bts.)
92 - Royal Brackla 27yo 1975/2002 (59.7%, TWE, C#5471, 204 Bts.)
92 - Saint Magdalene 23yo 1970/XXXX (58.1%, UD Rare Malts)
92 - Single Speyside Malt 41yo 1965/2007 (53.5%, TWF, Sherry)
92 - Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, Bottled +/- 1998)
92 - Talisker 1955/2005 'Secret Stills #1' (45%, Gordon & MacPhail)
91 - Ardbeg NAS 'Committee' (55.3%, OB, vatting, 2002)
91 - Ardbeg 10yo 1993/2004 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 338 Bts.)
91 - Ardbeg 1990/2003 (46%, G&M for Symposion Sweden, C#3133)
91 - Ardbeg 17yo 1974/1992 (43.0%, Signatory, C#2026, 1200 Bts.)
91 - Ardbeg 1976/2004 (51.4%, OB, C#2398, 504 Bts., Feis Isle 2004)
91 - Balvenie 32yo 1968/2000 'Vintage Cask' (50.8%, OB, C#7294)
91 - Benriach 11yo 1994/2005 (59.7%, Signatory, C#05/355/1)
91 - Bowmore 1991/2005 (59.6%, SSMC, C#575)
91 - Bowmore 38yo 1964 (42.9%, OB, Oloroso, 300 Bts.)
91 - Brora 30yo 1972/2002 (46.6%, DL OMC, 204 Bts., Germany)
91 - Brora 30yo '2003' (55.7%, OB, 3000 Bts., Bottled 2003)
91 - Brora 30yo '2005' (56.3%, OB, 3000 Bts., Bottled 2005)
91 - Caol Ila 12yo 1978/1990 (65.5%, Cadenhead's)
91 - CC Highlands 1993/2006 'Monbazillac' (46%, CC., 365 Bts.)
91 - CC Speyside 1991/2006 'Sauternes' (50%, CC., 297 Bts.)
91 - Glendronach 20yo 1970/1990 (56%, Signatory, C#513-518)
91 - Glenfarclas 1959/2002 (46%, OB, Historic Reserve, 240 Bts.)
91 - Glen Garioch 29yo 1968 (53.7%, OB, C#627, Hogshead)
91 - Glen Garioch 36yo 1967/2003 (55.5%, DL Platinum, 132 Bts.)
91 - Glengoyne 15yo 1989/2005 'Duncan's Choice' (55.7%, OB)
91 - Glengoyne 19yo 1985/2004 (52.6%, OB, C#608, 'Summer')
91 - Glen Grant 1970/2001 (55%, Berry Brothers, C#1035)
91 - Glen Grant 1956/2005 (46%, G&M for LMdW, 459 Bts.)
91 - Glen Keith 1967/2006 (53%, G&M for LMdW Paris, 215 Bts.)
91 - Hanyu 1988/2006 (56.3%, Full Proof Holland, C#9204, Puncheon)
91 - Highland Park NAS (70 Proof, G&M OB, Saint Patrick, +/- 1960)
91 - Highland Park 21yo 1959/1980 (43%, OB, J. Grant, Green dumpy)
91 - Inchgower 24yo 1980/2005 (54,7%, SMWS 18.24)
91 - Invergordon 36yo 1965/2002 (51.8%, Peerless, C#15539)
91 - Jura Whisky 3yo 1999/2002 (60.7%, OB, C#92, 447 Bts., Japan)
91 - Lagavulin 12yo (43%, OB, Montenegro in Zola, early 1980's)
91 - Lagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition (43%, OB, +/- 1997, PX finish)
91 - Laphroaig 15yo 1985/2000 (50%, DL OMC, 'Laudable', 318 Bts.)
91 - Macallan 18yo 1970/1988 (43%, OB)
91 - Macallan 18yo 1976/1995 (43%, OB)
91 - Macallan 30yo 1971/2002 'Vintage' (56.4%, OB, C#4280)
91 - Mortlach 50yo 1936/1986 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail)
91 - Nikka 18yo 1987/2006 (55,2%, SMWS C#116.9, Japan)
91 - Port Ellen 19yo 1982/2001 (59.5%, The Bottlers, C#573)
91 - Saint Magdalene 24yo 1978/2002 (50%, DL OMC, 504 Bts.)
91 - Springbank 35yo 1968/2003 (46%, Berry Bros, 3 casks)
91 - Springbank 35yo 1970/2005 (59.5%, The Whisky Fair, 120 Bts.)
91 - Strathisla 35yo 1967/2003 (54.3%, G&M for Barmetro, C#2063)
91 - Talimburg 32yo 1972/2005 (45.2%, TWF, Rum finish, C#1568)
91 - Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, +/- 1992)
91 - Talisker 14yo 1979/1993 (64.3%, Cadenhead's)
90 - Aberlour NAS 'A'bunadh' No Batch # (59.6%, OB, +/- 1998)
90 - Aberlour A'bunadh' Batch #20 (60.5%, OB, Bottled +/- 2007)
90 - Ardbeg 13yo 1990/2004 'Cask Strength' (55%, OB for Japan)
90 - Ardbeg 25yo 'Lord of the Isles' (46%, OB, Bottled 2001)
90 - Ardbeg 26yo 1974/2001 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 252 Bts.)
90 - Ardbeg 28yo 1974/2003 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 264 Bts.)
90 - Ardmore 18yo '500 Years' (51.4%, James MacArthur)
90 - Ardmore 21yo 1979/2001 (50%, DL OMC, 0345, DL266, 648 Bts.)
90 - Balblair 40yo 1965/2007 (47.7%, The Single Malts of Scotland)
90 - Balvenie NAS (40%, OB, Bottled 1970's?)
90 - Benriach 30yo 1976/2006 (53%, OB for LMDW, Cask #3557)
90 - Benriach 31yo 1975/2007 'Lightly Peated' (53,7%, OB, , C#4451)
90 - Brora 19yo 1982/2001 (50%, Silver Seal, Sherry, 240 Bts.)
90 - Brora 23yo 1981/2005 (61%, Duncan Taylor, C#1425, 542 Bts.)
90 - Brora 29yo 1971/2001 (50%, DL OMC, 258 Bts., Btl. 04/'01)
90 - Brora 30yo 1972/2003 (47.4%, DL The Whisky Shop, 220 Bts.)
90 - Port Charlotte 2001/2004 (67.3%, Private Bottling, C#286)
90 - Bunnahabhain 34yo 1968/2002 'Auld Acquaintance' (43.8%, OB)
90 - Caol Ila 1994/2005 (58,2%, G&M Cask, C#12423-12424)
90 - Caol Ila 12yo 1992/2005 (46%, Whisky Galore)
90 - Caol Ila 15yo (57%, Bulloch Lade & Co. Ltd., 75cl, Orange label)
90 - Caol Ila 21yo 1975/1997 (61.3%, UD Rare Malts)
90 - Caol Ila 22yo 1984/2007 (55.9%, Whisky Fair, Sherry, 287 Bts.)
90 - Caol Ila 25yo 1979/2004 (61.2%, Blackadder, C#5334)
90 - Clynelish 13yo 1990/2003 (59.3%, Blackadder, C#3593)
90 - Clynelish 28yo 1976/2004 (46%, Murray McDavid Mission IV)
90 - Dailuaine 31yo 1973/2005 (47.8%, The Whisky Fair, C#14739)
90 - Glenfarclas 30yo (43%, OB, +/- 2004)
90 - Glen Garioch 29yo 1968 (55.9%, OB, C#629)
90 - Glengoyne 1989/2006 'Charlie's Choice' (56%, OB, C#1231)
90 - Glengoyne 1989/2007 'Robbie's Choice' (55,1%, OB, C#328)
90 - Glengoyne 1986/2006 'Peter's Choice' (51%, OB, C#433)
90 - Glengoyne 32yo 1972/2005 (48.7%, OB, White Rioja, C#985)
90 - Glen Grant 1972/2007 (54.9%, The Single Malts of Scotland)
90 - Glen Grant 50yo 1956/2006 (40%, G&M, Unknown series / cask#)
90 - Glen Keith 1967/1988 (46%, Moon 'The Sea', C#1417, 360 Bts.)
90 - Glenlivet 28yo 1975/2003 (54.1%, Signatory, C#5719, 551 Bts.)
90 - Glenlivet 29yo 1963/1992 (52.8%, Signatory, C#269-270)
90 - Glenlossie 1975/2001 (55%, G&M Reserve, C#2909)
90 - Glenrothes-Glenlivet 16yo 1990/2007 (57,3%, Cadenhead's)
90 - Highland Park 19yo 1959/1978 (43%, OB, James Grant, 75cl)
90 - Highland Park 'Online Tasting' 1974/1998 (52.6%, OB, 228 Bts.)
90 - Highland Park 38yo 1966/2005 (42.4%, DT for The Whisky Fair)
90 - Highland Park 1902 (39.8%, Berry's All Malt, 1952-1953)
90 - Lagavulin 12yo Special Release #1 (58%, OB, 2002)
90 - Lagavulin 12yo Special Release #2 (57.8%, OB, 2002)
90 - Tamifroyg NAS (49%, Regensburger Whisky Club, 2006)
90 - Laphroaig NAS 'Quarter Cask' (48%, OB, 2005, Second edition)
90 - Laphroaig 10yo 'Unblended' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1980)
90 - Laphroaig 11yo 1992/2004 (60%, Signatory, Portwood Finish)
90 - Laphroaig 13yo 1991/2005 (59.1%, SMWS, 29.40)
90 - Laphroaig 16yo 1987/2004 (50%, DL OMC, DL REF 745, 312 Bts.)
90 - Laphroaig 17yo 1989/2007 (50.3%, OB, 4000 Bts., Feis Isle 2007)
90 - Laphroaig 1976 'Vintage' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
90 - Laphroaig 30yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2006, Ref LQ0167)
90 - Ledaig 31yo 1973/2004 (54.8%, Chieftains, Sherry, C#1710)
90 - Linkwood 12yo (43%, OB, John McEwan & Co, Black Label, UK)
90 - Longmorn 1974/1985 (60.8%, Samaroli, Sherry, 600 Bts.)
90 - Longmorn 31yo 1974/2006 (49.8%, TWF, C#3494, 135 Bts.)
90 - Longmorn 1972/2006 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail, C#1088)
90 - Longmorn 1973/2006 (54%, G&M Cask, C#6350)
90 - Longrow 16yo 1974 (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 1991)
90 - Longrow NAS 1973 (46%, OB, Small Caps Label, +/- 1990)
90 - Macallan 10yo '100 Proof' (57%, OB, +/- 1996)
90 - Macallan 12yo 1990/2003 (57.5%, Wilson & Morgan, C#8748)
90 - Macallan 18yo 1981/1999 (43%, OB)
90 - Miyagikyo 1989/2007 (60%, OB, Warehouse #20, Japan)
90 - Miltonduff 23yo 1966/1990 (62.4%, G&M for Spinola, Italy)
90 - Yoichi 1991/2007 (62%, OB, Warehouse #15, Cask #129493)
90 - Oban 32yo 1969/2002 (55.1%, OB)
90 - Old Farm 1938/1943 Straight Rye Whiskey (50%, OB, USA)
90 - Port Ellen 27yo 1978/2005 (52.3%, DL for TWF, 198 Bts.)
90 - Probably Speyside's Finest 40yo 1965/2006 (50%, DL OMC)
90 - Royal Brackla 30yo 1976/2006 (53.6%, Cadenhead's, 126 Bts.)
90 - Scapa 25yo 1975/2001 (50%, DL OMC, 438 Bts.)
90 - Speyside The Whisky Fair 35yo 1971/2006 (51.4%, TWF)
90 - Springbank NAS (46%, OB, House & Tree Label, France, 70cl)
90 - Springbank 21yo (46%, OB, Bottled late 1990's or 2000)
90 - Springbank 1966/1998 'Local Barley' (54.4%, OB)
90 - Springbank 35yo 1971/2007 (59%, TWF, Sherry, 239 Bts.)
90 - Suntory Yamazaki 1991/2005 (56%, OB, 70cl, Japan)
90 - Suntory Yamazaki 25yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2006, 75cl)
90 - Invergordon 1964/2005 (47.1%, Adelphi, C#57637)
90 - Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, +/- 1995)
90 - Talisker 19yo 1980/2000 (50%, DL OMC, 'Tactical', 348 Bts.)
90 - Talisker 1955/1993 (53.6%, G&M Cask series, C#1310+1311+1257)
90 - Tamnavulin 37yo 1967/2005 (46.7%, Duncan Taylor, C#1018)
90 - Tobermory 32yo 1972/2005 (49.5%, OB, Brown / Purple Label)
90 - Tomatin 1968/2001 (40%, Connoisseurs Ch., New Map Label)

A Great Cigar--Paul Garmarian

PG cigars have great flavor and excellent quality control. I have never had to re-light one of these cigars unlike the Cubans.

P.G. cigars have earned their international reputation by word of mouth for their balanced medium strength, rich, spicy and deliciously smooth flavors and aromas. Made in Santiago, D.R. with complex aged fillers and binder, and colorado shade grown Connecticut wrappers, (grown in Equador) P.G. cigars have come to represent the finest in quality, consistency and integrity.

An Outstanding Cognac--Tesseron

COGNAC TESSERON

Tesseron Lot N° 76 "X.O Tradition" is an exceptional blend of reserve stocks of Grande Champagne Cognac, matured to perfection in old casks. Lot N° 76 immediately establishes its quality on the nose which exhibits a wealth of caramelised peaches, almond and candied fruit aromas. This carries through magnificently on to the palate, with rich, delicate flavours of nuts and dried fruits. A rare range of tasteful sensations.

IWC's Pellaton movement

To explain how the movement works I want to quote Michael Friedberg, because it’s difficult to explain: ‘This movement used the now famous Pellaton winding system, in which rollers (shown at left in red) oscillate between an eccentric cam, which causes two clicks (shown in yellow) to ratchet against a saw-toothed winding wheel. The system had many advantages: it was easy to disassemble for service and it offered shock resistance. It also was efficient in winding, both because of the ingenious design and because two jewels could be used as bearings due to the shock resistance. While the mechanism was unique to IWC and patented, its concepts had antecedents’.

The World's Best Watches--A Collectors Guide

Collectors Guide
The World's Best Watches
Neal Santelmann

In an age when the current time--or something close to it--blinks on every cell phone, laptop, microwave and dashboard, wristwatches are still vital. We are obsessed with time, paradoxically pursued by it and never having enough. Whether we are running late for a plane, dashing to a meeting or waiting for a friend on a street corner, we all share a universal mannerism: the reflexive wristwatch check. And seeing as how we spend so much of our lives rotating our wrists and checking the time, we may as well have something beautiful or cool or interesting to look at.

	Click here for the slide show.

The appeal of a fine wristwatch goes well beyond mere time telling. Strapped snugly on the left or the right, watches speak of class, taste, functionality and, of course, punctuality. With incredibly sophisticated movements, mechanical watches are like high-performance automobiles--though without all the maintenance or parking hassles. Beside neckties, they're one of the few fashion accessories that reveal a man's personal style. And a quality wristwatch can be passed down for generations, replete with all the heart-tugging "I was wearing this when I first laid eyes on your mother...saw your first Little League at bat...proved Goldbach's Conjecture...on 9/11" you can muster.

Perhaps most conveniently, the watch market is full of affordable product. While even the most uncomplicated wristwatches from legendary manufacturers such as Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe may run you as much as a midsize car, there are plenty of quality watches available for a whole lot less. "It used to be that $1,000 was the cutoff for a really great watch, but nowadays the threshold is much lower," says Keith Strandberg, watch editor of InSync, a consumer and trade publication. He notes that Hamilton--a classic American design now owned by the Swatch Group and manufactured in Switzerland--has a great selection of mechanical watches for as little as $300.

If you haven't come across the wristwatch of your dreams just yet, you must not be looking hard enough. Or perhaps you're looking too hard, as the volume of watches available at retail is nothing short of daunting. Low-end quartz-movement brands such as Fossil introduce hundreds of models each year. Meanwhile, makers of fine watches typically maintain multiple collections--such as sports watches, dress watches and Grand Complications--multiple models within those collections--such as chronographs, pilot watches and day & dates--as well as numerous versions of each model. Want it in stainless steel with a black dial? Rose gold with a white dial? A platinum pavé speckled with diamonds? Chances are it's in the collection--and let's not even get started on all the possible bracelet and strap combinations.

Add to all of this the many fashion designers, sports franchises, entertainment conglomerates and consumer goods manufacturers that routinely pump out watches for sale or giveaway. From the plastic freebie your kid digs out of a cereal box, to stylish line extensions from Tommy Hilfiger (nyse: TOM - news - people ) or Calvin Klein, to calculated collectibles such as Casio's limited-edition "G-Shock" Jeremy Shockey signature watch promoting the New York Giants' hobbled tight end, there are almost too many watches to contemplate.

"It's relatively easy to get started in the watch business," notes Strandberg. "Simply contract a movement from an established watchmaker and put your name on it. You might not be selling timeless creations, but if you catch a trend they'll sell."

Though clocks have been around since the 13th century, the history of the wristwatch is barely 13 decades old. Queen Elizabeth I is known to have received a gift of a small timepiece fastened to a bracelet as far back as 1571, yet it wasn't until 1880 that true wristwatches were produced in any quantity, notably for the German navy by the Swiss firm Girard-Perregaux. Watches gradually caught on with military types during the Boer War (1899-1902) and with pioneering pilots soon after that. Still, if not for their popularity as jewelry for women, wristwatches might never have survived the turn of the 20th century. As noted in Wristwatches, a collectors' guide by Gisbert Brunner and Christian Pfeiffer-Belli: "[Men's] tendency to accept the known and reject the new can be seen in retrospect as a hindrance for the earlier acceptance of the wristwatch."

Once wristwatches did catch on, however, there seemed no stopping them or their technological advances. The first chronographs appeared in 1909, the first date watches in 1912, and waterproof watches surfaced in 1915, encouraged by the military necessities of World War I. Indeed, the Allied armored combat vehicles that defended France during the Great War inspired Louis Cartier's famous Tank Watch, the first examples of which were presented to American Gen. John J. Pershing. Rolex patented its first "Oyster" watch with a waterproof case and screw-in crown in 1926, and garnered exceptional publicity the following year when a long-distance swimmer wore one, without damage, while stroking across the English Channel.

Self-winding watches began relieving the burden of winding in 1932, and the world's first electric watch--a Hamilton Ventura--became an instant hit in 1957. When Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon in 1969 with an Omega Speedmaster-Chronograph on his wrist, there were some 1,600 watchmakers in Switzerland, the Detroit of the industry. Yet time stopped shortly thereafter with the appearance of cheap quartz technology. In the upheaval that followed throughout the 1970s, many classic old-line watchmakers went bankrupt and shut down, while the Swiss government rushed in to save what it could. In the end, employment in the Swiss watch industry dropped from 90,000 in 1970 to just over 30,000 in 1984. These days there are around 650 watchmakers in Switzerland, with some 40,000 employees between them.

Though close to 90% of all watches manufactured worldwide have quartz movements, a quality mechanical watch is the way to go. That's something that has only recently begun to dawn on many Americans. "In Europe you'll see street sweepers with $5,000 watches, whereas CEOs in the U.S. will be happy with $20 quartzes," says InSync's Strandberg. "We just don't have the same tradition of fine watches here."

When the wonder of fine watches finally dawns upon you, what will you find? One of the current consumer trends is big watches, and the bigger the better: from 45 millimeters to 51 millimeters in diameter (a half-dollar is a mere 38 millimeters across), depending on the material. The weight of these watches varies according to the metal used; a stainless steel watch would feel comparatively heavy, while a titanium watch would feel like nothing at all. While "watch wardrobing" has been around for years--i.e., a sports watch to go with your jogging outfit; something slim and elegant for the office--lately watch wearers have adopted a crossover approach. Today it's a Breitling dive watch to go with an Ermenegildo Zegna suit, or an aforementioned big and clunky timepiece for a lady's slender wrist.

Speaking of ladies' watches, they're still around and as svelte and elegant as ever, though these days many women are choosing sports watches that better reflect their contemporary lifestyles. At the same time, minute and gem-encrusted "jewel" watches from the likes of Piaget and Van Cleef & Arpels are as much jewelry as they are wristwatches. And lately fashion watches have been bursting with flashy colors, both on dials and straps. Indeed, watch firms such as Cartier and Michele have recently introduced in their fashion lines easily interchangeable straps in a rainbow of colors, so you no longer have to go back to the retailer in order to change them.

Then there are the timeless classics, those complex wristwatches that do everything from follow moon phases to calculate how much you owe the IRS. Referred to as "complicated watches," they cost as much as a good-size house and dazzle the eye with extras. Be forewarned, some complicated watches are as hard to pin down as psychological baggage. For instance, the fabulous Opera Three from Girard-Perraguax, which plucks Tchaikovsky and Mozart tunes on a miniature interior music box, is an amazing timepiece at $475,000 but virtually unavailable. ("We'll get one in sometime next year," says Ronald Jackson, president of Girard-Perraguax USA.) Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Patek Philippe notes that a number of the company's Grand Complications have buyers long before they're finished, often at a rate of just a few per year.

For your watch-buying pleasure, we've compiled a selection of 18 fine watches that'll stop time. They range in price from under $2,000 to $2,000-$5,000 to $5,000 and up, as well as a few that are "sky's the limit." We've found them in a range of styles, including sports, fashion, dress, cool complications, ladies' and over the top. And they're all available right now.

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Global investing: One world, one fund

Many experts say you don't need to invest in U.S. and foreign stocks separately. So are new 'global' funds the way to go?

(Money Magazine) -- Deciding where in the world to invest can be just as important as choosing what to invest in. But if you've tried pinpointing the best markets over the years, you know it's like shooting at a moving target.

In the 1980s, Japanese stocks were the surest path to investment success. In the '90s, it was the U.S., thanks to our booming tech economy. So far this decade, foreign equities are again shining the brightest - this time thanks to the emerging economies of China, India and Latin America. If you had to keep traipsing around the world hoping to spot these tectonic shifts early enough to take advantage of them, you'd suffer perpetual portfolio jet lag.

Here's the thing, though: You don't have to globe-trot anymore. Dozens of new portfolio mutual funds have been launched recently that promise to simplify your life by investing in a diversified mix of foreign and U.S. stocks. In other words, you can now gain exposure to all the world's stock markets through a single mutual fund.

The rise of these global funds reflects a significant shift in thinking. It's long been argued that you need both U.S. and foreign stocks at all times (because different markets run on different cycles and because you want to diversify your currency exposure).

What's changed is the idea that you need to treat U.S. and foreign stocks as distinct assets. In a world where around 65% of McDonald's (MCD, Fortune 500) revenue comes from overseas and 35% ofToyota's (TM) sales are made in North America, what's the point? "Stock picking is stock picking," says Mike Thompson, a managing director of Thomson Reuters.

Global stock funds aren't exactly new. The concept has been around since the 1950s. But only recently have these funds grabbed investor attention. In the past three years, 59 new global funds have been launched, according to Morningstar.

And some of the industry's most respected players are joining the trend, lending further credibility to it. Dodge & Cox, for instance, launched its first global fund in May. And Vanguard announced plans to roll out an index global fund this summer.

While you should always be wary of hitching your wagon to a hot investing trend, there's a strong argument for using a global fund as a core holding - in other words, a fund you should always have in your portfolio because it gives you exposure to a critical asset class.

Global funds simplify your strategy

With a global fund, you don't have to decide what your mix of foreign and domestic stocks should be at all times. In the case of actively managed portfolios, the fund managers will make those adjustments for you, based on where they think the best opportunities are. With Vanguard's index fund, your exposure will be based on each country's share of world market capitalization.

The simplest way to incorporate these funds into your plan is to use one to replace your existing large-capitalization U.S. stock funds and foreign portfolios.

If that's your strategy, you might want to stick with a global fund that keeps about half or more of its assets in the U.S. After all, you don't want to take on too much foreign currency risk by investing the majority of your money abroad.

If you plan on hanging on to a few other domestic portfolios - for instance, a specialty sector fund or a small-cap fund - those holdings will help boost your overall exposure to the American market.

Some financial planners warn that by giving a fund the latitude to invest around the world, you give up control of your foreign exposure. "My concern is that the fund managers will take on too much risk if one area, like foreign, is doing really well," says Northampton, Mass. planner John Perkins.

That's a valid concern. But remember that the majority of U.S. stock funds are also venturing overseas. More than 80% of U.S. large-cap stock funds now own foreign equities, and some keep more than 50% of their assets abroad.

What's more, history says the difference in performance isn't that big over the long run. T. Rowe Price analyzed various combinations of U.S. and foreign equities. From 1970 to 2007, a 60% U.S.-40% foreign mix delivered an average annual return of 11.3%, as did a fifty-fifty mix. A 60% foreign-40% U.S. portfolio did only slightly better - 11.4%, with a slightly bumpier ride.

Global funds reflect the new world order

Foreign stocks don't diversify your portfolio as much as they once did. Over the past five years, U.S. and foreign equities have moved more or less in lockstep, a big change from 2000. What foreign stocks can still do is help you cast a wider net in your search for the best investments.

A recent report from Ned Davis Research found that at the moment the biggest performance differences among equities are between market sectors, not countries. Global funds are best positioned to take advantage of this trend.

Why? They can simply pick the best stocks in the world, no matter where the companies have their headquarters. Your foreign-only fund manager, on the other hand, might be compelled to invest in, say, a European drugmaker even if he thinks that some U.S. pharmaceutical companies are better picks.

So far this global-mindedness has paid off. Among world stock funds with at least a 10-year history, the average annualized return is 6.2%. That beats the S&P 500's record of 3.8% and nearly matches the 6.8% annual gain for the Morgan Stanley EAFE index of foreign equities.

Three things to watch for

As with all fund decisions, though, you can't just rely on past performance. Here are a few points to consider before taking the global plunge.

Know the fund's style Not all global funds are created equal. Some funds will gravitate toward shares of fast-growing companies, while others will focus on beaten-down or overlooked value stocks.

Moreover, many currently embrace a foreign-heavy mix. The typical global fund recently kept only around 40% of its assets in U.S. equities, according to Morningstar. Some have been holding even less: As of the end of March, just under 14% of the stocks in Mutual Discovery Z were based in the U.S.

Consider track records Though many global funds are new, there are several with solid long-term records. T. Rowe Price Global Stock fund and Vanguard's managed fund, Vanguard Global Equity, are more than a decade old. And each has beaten more than 70% of its peers over the past three, five and 10 years.

If you're considering one of the many new global funds, make sure the firm running it has a good record managing foreign and U.S. assets. For example, Dodge & Cox Global Stock will rely on the same analysts who work on its sibling U.S. and international funds, both of which have beaten around 80% of their peers over the past five years.

Says Morningstar senior fund analyst Dan Culloton: "It will be the company's best ideas unconstrained by any geographic requirement."

Go cheap As always, you want to minimize expenses. On average, global funds bill investors 1.55% annually. But the newest funds are expected to pull the average down: Dodge & Cox has said it will cap its annual fee at 0.9%, and Marsico Global charges 0.75%.

As William Bernstein, co-principal of Efficient Frontier Advisors and author of A Splendid Exchange, a book about the history of world trade, says, "Performance comes and goes; expenses are forever." That's true whether you're investing in the U.S. or in foreign markets. Or both.

Are you prepared for a financial emergency?

With a recession and rising inflation, it's more crucial than ever to have a six to 12-month living-expense cushion in cash for an emergency. Don't have it? Drop us a line at makeover@moneymail.com. Include your name, age, city, state, marital status, occupation, how much you have in cash savings and retirement savings. Please send a photo of you (and your spouse, where applicable) too.

Money 70: The best mutual funds you can buy

These funds are built to last, no matter what the market brings. Use them to create a steel-plated portfolio that will get you to your goals.

Your safest investments now

• The Money 70
• Funds for the long run

Money Makeovers:

1. Twentysomething: Start out strong
2. A thirtysomething's search for financial security
3. Mid-career: Reduce retirement plan risk
4. The home stretch to retirement
5. Retired - and ready to play it safe

Money Magazine's list of recommended funds is not about aiming for the highest short-term returns. Our lineup is designed to let you build a well-balanced portfolio that will help you reach your most important financial goals, like putting your kids through college, starting a business or achieving a comfortable retirement.

We focus on criteria that have real predictive value: low expenses, a strong record for putting share-holder interests first, a consistent investment strategy and experienced managers.

A fund that meets our standards typically ends up delivering above-average returns - over the past five years, 73 percent of the actively managed funds on our roster outperformed their category average. Even in 2007's difficult market, 57 percent delivered returns that rank in the top half of their category.

The Money 70 is designed to help you construct all aspects of your portfolio. It includes a range of actively managed stock and bond funds, as well as low-cost index and exchange-traded funds. Or you can put your investments on cruise control with one of our target-date retirement portfolios, which give you a preset mix of funds that automatically becomes more conservative as you near retirement.

See more on how we picked the funds and what changes we've made since last year.

Actively-managed funds Index funds ETFs Target-retirement funds

Ticker	Fund name	1-yr return	3-yr return	5-yr return	Exp. ratio	Min. inv.	Style
LARGE-CAP
FSMKX	Fidelity Spartan 500 Index Investor	-6.8%	7.5%	9.7%	0.1%	$10,000	Blend
FSTMX	Fidelity Spartan Total Market Index Inv	-6.3%	8.3%	10.8%	0.1%	$10,000	Blend
VFINX	Vanguard 500 Index	-6.8%	7.4%	9.6%	0.1%	$3,000	Blend
VTSMX	Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx	-6.3%	8.2%	10.7%	0.1%	$3,000	Blend
MIDCAP
VIMSX	Vanguard Mid Capitalization Index	-6.5%	10.6%	14.9%	0.2%	$3,000	Blend
SMALL-CAP
NAESX	Vanguard Small Cap Index	-8.2%	9.1%	14.1%	0.2%	$3,000	Blend
SPECIALTY
VGSIX	Vanguard REIT Index	-12.4%	10.5%	16.9%	0.2%	$3,000	Real estate
FOREIGN
FSIIX	Fidelity Spartan International Index Inv	-2.3%	16.9%	19.1%	0.1%	$10,000	Blend
VEIEX	Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx	21.3%	31.9%	33.6%	0.4%	$3,000	Emerging markets
VGTSX	Vanguard Total Intl Stock Index	1.6%	19.1%	21.2%	0.0%	$3,000	Blend
BOND
VBISX	Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index	7.1%	4.5%	3.2%	0.2%	$3,000	Bonds
VBMFX	Vanguard Total Bond Market Index	6.4%	4.1%	3.7%	0.2%	$3,000	Bonds
Data as of: May 30, 2008

SmartMoney 2008 Broker Survey

Smart Money reviews brokers every single year and they recently just gave a preview to their results. Rather than give the straight ranking, they discussed some headline categories (Commissions & Fees, Research, Trading Tools) and then listed the best and worst from each category.

For best commissions and fees, they listed Interactive Brokers, a brokerage firm I hadn’t heard of but does charge pretty rock bottom fees (half a cent per share on equity trades). They also showed the spread was anywhere from $4.95 for TradeKing to $112.50 for Fidelity on broker-executed trades. Zecco was also mentioned with a $0 per trade but no discussion of why they didn’t take the top spot.

For research, my Roth IRA brokerage, TD Ameritrade, took the top honors with Zecco and SoGoTrade splitting the worst place ribbon. One interesting point made was that J.D. Power’s research showed that good research trumps trade execution and customer service with regards to overall satisfaction. I found that pretty surprising since there is a wealth of free investing information out there but trade execution and customer service is where the rubber actually meets the road. If they can’t execute your trade or if you can’t get on the phone with someone in a few minutes, that’d be a deal breaker for me.

Last but not least, E*Trade and TD Ameritrade snatched the number one and one-a spot for trading tools with Sharebuilder playing caboose. It’s not surprising because Sharebuilder isn’t for the typical trader, it’s for people looking for an easy way to reinvest their dividends back into equities. TradeKing’s social networking area got a shout out as did Zecco and WellsTrade, but that was because they offered less than half the thirteen tools their researchers were looking for. Thirteen tools? Wow.

Anyway, check out the preview, I’m eagerly anticipating their results and whether TradeKing will need to update their current banner and call it a three-peat.

SmartMoney’s 2008 Broker Survey

Check My Trip

To continue with travel related theme. There is a great website called Check My Trip.

Once you have made a reservation your travel agent will provide with you with a 6 Number (Alpha-Numeric) Reservation Code. With your reservation code you simply type in the reservation number and your last name on the main page of Check My Trip. Click Enter and the next page will bring you to your Reservation. This is the exact reservation your travel agent will see. It will tell you the type of plane you will fly on and your complete itinerary including your seat assignment. You can then take this information to Seat Guru (Check the previous post) and see what kind of seat you have been booked on.

How to get the Airline Seat you want

Have you ever wondered how you can get a good seat on plane? Take a look at Seat Guru.
You simply take your seat assignment if you have one---choose the Airline--choose the type of plane you are flying on--and you will see a diagram of that airline's seat configuration. You can then request the seat you want. I always check out the plane configuration prior to booking so I can get the seat I want. The site also warns of seats that are too close to the bathroom, in an exit row, and that does not recline all the way.

Brewing the Perfect Cup of Coffee

Ruling the Roast

It all starts with the freshest coffee you can find -- and by that, we mean freshly roasted beans. Coffee begins to lose flavor soon after it leaves the roaster, so that sack or can of pre-packaged supermarket grind stuffed in your cupboard is operating at minimum taste wattage. Find the nearest local coffee roaster, or an online source, and buy just what you need for the week.

The Daily Grind

Now that you've got the beans, it's time to get grinding. You can either ask the nice folks at the store to grind them to your maker's specifications (automatic drip, paper cone, French press, etc.), or invest in a grinder ($18 - $75). Blade grinders tend to be less expensive, but don't offer the consistent chopping of burr grinders. Once you've made your selection, read the manual to determine how long to grind.

If you don't have time to do this every day, figure out how much coffee you'll need for the week, and grind it all at once.

Airtight & Outta Sight

Whether you're grinding ahead of time or fresh every day, it's key to keep that flavor safe. Air and light are the enemy of coffee freshness. Store it in a dry, dark, cool (but not cold - the fridge and freezer are BIG no-nos) place, either in a cupboard or an opaque container. If you're storing it in a bag, make sure to force the air out before sealing it. Coffee, once ground, loses its maximum flavor after about a week, even under ideal conditions.

Proportionally Speaking

The ideal coffee-to-water ratio for the perfect cup is?

Well, that's up to your personal taste. A good starting point is 1 heaping tablespoon per 8 oz of coffee you want to end up with. Note - that's coffee coming out, not water going in. Experiment with your coffee maker to determine how much liquid gets lost in the brewing process, and add more or less coffee to suit your palate. This will also vary depending on the roast and grind, so have fun experimenting!

The French Connnection

Your best bet for major flavor is an inexpensive French press (a.k.a. press pot). Just measure your ground coffee into the carafe, bring water to a boil on the stove, remove it from the heat, and let it sit for a few seconds to bring it down a few degrees. Pour it over the coffee, not letting the water level rise above the press's metal band. Place the plunger top on the top, but don't press it down. Wait five minutes, stir with a plastic or wooden spoon, and then press all the way down. Presto! You've got a great pot of coffee. If your household has varied wake-up times, keep it hot in a thermos or air pot.

On a Different Note: Robusta v. Arabica Coffee

There are two major types of commercial coffee beans -- arabica and robusta.

Robusta (Coffea canephora) is the bean that's found in the majority of grocery store coffee blends. It's generally grown at low altitudes on massive coffee plantations, mainly in Vietnam, Brazil, and Indonesia. As it's grown in such large quantities, and the plant matures to harvesting age more quickly than arabica, robusta beans are much cheaper. They've got twice the caffeine of arabica, but produce a less flavorful brew.

Arabica (Coffea Arabica) tends be shade grown on mountainsides, and hand-harvested by families of farmers. These beans have been cultivated in Ethiopia for over a thousand years, and now thrive in Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, Kenya, and other nations around the globe. Coffee connoisseurs tend to favor the less bitter flavor of these beans.

The "beans" of both arabica and robusta are actually the seeds of the coffee fruit, or "cherry". Once they're harvested from the bush, the cherries are either air processed in the sun, or pulped with a water technique to separate the green beans from the outer fruit. Once they're dried, they're ready to be shipped and roasted.

Recommendations: Indonesia Sumatra, Mexican Altura, Kenya AA, Costa Rica Organiz

Dave Ramsay's 7 Essential Baby Steps to Financial Freedom

Dave Ramsay has an excellent way for people to get out of debt. He calls it the 7 Baby Steps:

1) Start by making sure you have $1,000 in an Emergency Fund
2) Pay off debt using the debt snowball
3) Save 3-6 months of expenses
4) Invest 15% of pre-tax dollars in a Roth IRA
5) For those of you with kids begin a college retirement account
6) Payoff your home early
7) Build wealth through real estate and mutual funds

The Importance of an Emergency Fund

Why You Need an Emergency Fund

Emergency funds are an absolute necessity for financial security because they give you funds to fall back on if you become ill or disabled and can't work, or if you or your spouse lose your job, incur large medical bills, or have an unexpected large bill such as a major car or home repair.

Without an emergency fund, you may be forced to incur credit card debt that could take you many years to pay off and end up costing you much more in the long run.

You never want to be in the position where you have to buy daily necessities like food, transportation, and housing on credit. Imagine still making payments on groceries you bought (and ate) three years ago, at 10-18% interest. Pretty depressing.

How Much You Need in Your Emergency Fund

The minimum amount in your emergency fund should be three to six months worth of basic living expenses. Singles who don't have dependents who rely on them may be able to get by with three months' worth (although it makes me cringe to say so), but couples or anyone with dependents should definitely shoot for six months worth. The more people you support, the more likely you are to have unexpected or unplanned costs.