Wina, my old high school friend ordered this cupcake set for her friend in Jakarta, Nilam.

I assume those of you in America had a more traditional Thanksgiving than I did: it isn’t hard to do. I didn’t have the motivation, or the proper kitchen, to plan ahead, find, and cook a turkey and other thanksgiving foods. These foods are expensive in Korea and are only available at Costco, the military base, or certain specialty stores in Seoul. I also didn’t feel like spending an hour and a half traveling to Itaewon and then spending $30+ on a Thanksgiving meal at a restaurant. Also, most of those places require reservations, which means planning ahead. As an alternative, I went with a friend to the TGI Friday’s in Gangnam, the southern part of Seoul.

I don’t usually go to TGI Friday’s in America; the only times I’ve been there were to get a drink and appetizers when nothing else was around or open. In Korea, though, I will probably go back. The food appeared to actually have been made in the restaurant, not simply heated up, and everything we had was delicious. Even better, though, the servers all wore hats: there was a raccoon hat, a polar bear hat, several cowboy hats, mickey mouse ears, and bunny ears. Someone in the restaurant near us apparently had a birthday, and the song they sang was quite a production. It sounded nothing like the Happy Birthday song I’m familiar with, and I am curious if it is just something they do at the restaurant, or if Koreans sing it to each other at birthday celebrations.

Despite being pretty, the green tea doughnut was just weird.

Koreans don’t eat turkey, although they do eat other poultry. So, as a substitute, I had chicken. It was on a sandwich accompanied by cheese, tomato, and bacon, but at least it was a bird. Instead of mashed potatoes I had french fries; for stuffing I had bread; and the mayonnaise was the gravy. By the time I had eaten half the sandwich, which was surprisingly delicious, I was too full for desert, and so abandoned my plan of having cheesecake replace pumpkin pie. However, we stopped at a Krispy Kreme before getting on the bus and I picked up some doughnuts to enjoy later.

The Krispy Kreme was different from what I’m accustomed to- it was cute, cozy, and trendy, like everything else in Korea. The interior felt very modern, and very much like a coffee shop, with nice couches and tables to sit at. They also had really interesting doughnuts. I bought an apple doughnut in the shape of a star- it’s almost like apple pie, and therefore American and a good Thanksgiving desert. I also bought a green tea flavored one, which I don’t recommend. Soon I will have to return and sample their other offerings.

Day 72 on the Maersk Arkansas

I am not sure why it is but I have noticed that I tend to have more dreams while at sea. So far most of them have been good dreams but last night I had a frightening nightmare that I was still married. I am not sure what brought it on but I have a pretty good idea. It had to do with the horror film I watched the previous night, Jane Austen Book Club. I know your next question, what was I doing watching Jane Austen Book Club and not in the company of someone with two X chromosomes? There really is no excuse but the fact that it was a disk that said “Jane Austen Cook Book”

 I thought it was going to have something to do with food and by the time I realized what happened I had already invested too much time into the thing and decided to finish it. I would like to find the person who copied this disk and explain the difference between a book club and a cook book and thank them for stealing 90mins of my life that I can never, ever, ever have back. I believe watching 90mins of women crying and talking of marriage and divorce caused my nightmare. And on top of that they kept talking about the exes favorite movie “Pride and Prejudice”…eeewwwww. For some, watching Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street can do it but clearly Jane Austen is my Freddy Kruger.

 Still reeling from the horror and checking my ring finger I made my way down to the galley where I saw fresh donuts. This confused me because we were a day out from Jebal Ali, UAE and when we get Dunkin Donuts they are usually gone in an hour (apparently United Arab Emirates “runs on Dunkin too”). We are even blessed with Krispy Kremes presence sometimes in Kuwait, but these weren’t Krispy Kremes. There were about a dozen tan donuts with a chocolate topping and I was told the steward made them. Fresh made donuts onboard a ship are unheard of (except on cruise ships of course) but as I explained in my previous post Doug isn’t your ordinary steward and I believe he is on a personal mission have us leave with more mass than we came with.

The donuts were still warm and the smell of chocolate glaze was working its way around the ship. I took a bite and entered donut heaven, the glaze was tasty and rich. The donut was a little heavier than your average Dunkin Donut and the dough had a great taste and perfect amount of sweetness. I somehow resisted the urge to down a second but made a few trips back throughout the day. I asked Doug if he would allow me to watch the process the next time he made them and he obliged a few days later.

In my dedication to food I woke up early before my morning watch and trudged down to the galley and all I could think about was those old Dunkin Donuts commercials “TIME TO MAKE THE DONUTS”. When I got to the galley Doug was rolling the dough out. Watching him glide around the galley I actually got a sense he enjoys his job. Singing and whistling along to what sounded like Air Supply blasting from the radio he rolled, cut, and tossed the donuts in scalding oil with ease. I had never witnessed donuts being made and watching sugar laden dough tossed into a bath of oil was slightly disturbing but the first bite made me quickly forget and not care about what an unhealthy process making donuts is. I look forward to getting home and trying this out.

Dougin Donuts

4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 package active dry yeast

1 cup milk

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

Vanilla Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

In a large mixing bowl combine 2 1/4 cups of the flour and yeast. In a saucepan heat and stir milk, butter and granulated sugar and salt just until warm (120-130deg) and butter almost melts. Add milk mixture to dry mixture along with eggs. Beat with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl. Beat on high for 3 minutes, stir in as much of the flour as you can.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately soft dough that is smooth and elastic (3-5mins) total. Shape into a ball and place in a greased bowl, turning once. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double (about 1 hour). Punch dough down. Remove dough to slightly floured surface and roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into shapes using doughnut cutter (or empty coffee can for donut and water bottle for holes). Place on greased baking sheets, cover and let rise in a draft free place until doubled in size (about 1 hour).

Pour oil into a large, heavy saucepan to 1 inch depth. Heat to 350-375degF. Handle dough as little as possible to prevent falling. Place 2 or three doughnuts in oil. Cook about 1 minute on each side, until golden brown. Drain on paper towel, repeat with remaining doughnuts.

Vanilla Glaze:

In a small bowl. combine all ingredients. Beat until smooth.

Chocolate Glaze:

Blend 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa into Vanilla Glaze Dip Warm doughnuts into Vanilla Glaze, or let doughnuts cool, then spread with Chocolate Glaze. Drain on rack and set over waxed paper.

TORIANO

Trong lĩnh vực đầu tư cổ phiếu, có rất nhiều lời khuyên tuyệt vời dành cho nhà đầu tư chứng khoán, song cũng có không ít lời khuyên tệ hại kiểu như câu châm ngôn khá nổi tiếng một thời: “Không quan tâm tới mức giá cao bao nhiêu, hãy mua tất cả cổ phiếu Enron nếu có thể”
Mua cao – Bán thấp

Trong khi có thể dành cả ngày vùi đầu nghiên cứu một danh sách dài các lời khuyên đầu tư hữu ích và thông minh, bạn hãy nghĩ đến những lời khuyên tuyệt vời dài không quá 4 chữ cho dù nó vẫn hiện hữu không ít nhược điểm. Dưới đây là một vài trong số đó:
Mua sự nổi tiếng – “Buy what you know”

Đây có lẽ là lời khuyên đầu tư gồm 4 chữ nổi tiếng, bắt nguồn từ những phân tích của rất nhiều nhà đầu tư chứng khoán gạo cội tại Wall Street – những người vẫn đứng vững sau cơn bão dot.com trên thị trường chứng khoán hồi những năm cuối thế kỷ trước. Và trong một bài viết vài năm trước đây trên tờ Wall Street Journal, nhà đầu tư nổi tiếng Jeff Fischer viết về lời khuyên này như sau:

Sẽ thật hợp lý với việc mua cổ phiếu của những thương hiệu bạn biết, những công ty sản xuất các sản phẩm bạn thích, và những cái tên bạn thường xuyên nghe thấy trong cuộc sống thường nhật.

Khi cổ phiếu của những công ty vốn lớn tăng trưởng, chiến lược này là hòan tòan hợp lý. “Nếu chỉ mua cổ phiếu IBM, General Electric và Hershey, tôi có thể nhân đôi số tiền của mình cứ mỗi ba năm!”. Đương nhiên, chiến lược đầu tư này đỏi hỏi ở bạn sự kiên nhẫn và sẽ khó tạo ra các khoản lợi nhuận kếch xù đột xuất, đặc biệt khi bạn mua cổ phiếu của các công ty nổi tiêng trong thời điểm nó đảm chạm tới đỉnh cao tăng trưởng theo chu kỳ 7 năm.

“Mua sự nổi tiếng” là lời khuyên một chiều vì ba lý do. Thứ nhất, những gì bạn biết có thể không đáng giá để đầu tư vào. Thứ hai, thực tế mua những cổ phiếu bạn biết không phải lúc nào cũng đồng nghĩa với những cổ phiếu tốt có lưu lượng tiền mặt ổn định, tình hình tài chính lành mạnh. Nó thường đơn giản được xem như việc “mua một nhãn hiệu nổi tiếng”. Nếu tình cờ bạn biết và yêu Kmart, nhưng bạn không tìm hiểu về tình hình tài chính của tập đoàn, bạn sẽ là một nhà đầu tư theo cảm tính với khá nhiều rủi ro phải đối mặt trong tương lai. Thứ ba, lời khuyên “mua sự nổi tiếng” thường không đi đối với lời khuyên “cẩn trọng đánh giá mọi mặt”. Nó dường như là “mua những gì bạn biết – tại bất cứ giá nào”.

“Mua những gì bạn biết” có thể giúp các nhà đầu tư mới làm quen và cảm thấy thoải mái hơn với thị trường chứng khoán, nhưng nó sẽ không dễ dàng giúp bạn tậu về các cổ phiếu tốt nếu bạn không tiến hành đánh giá, phân tích kỹ lưỡng.

Rất nhiều người đã mua cổ phiếu Krispy Kreme (mã chứng khoán tại NYSE: KKD) bởi vì họ biết nó, và đây là thảm hoạ. Rất nhiều người mua cổ phiếu Harley-Davidson (mã chứng khoán tại NYSE: HOG) bởi vì họ biết nó và thực chất nó đang hoạt động tốt. Đây mới chính là lựa chọn đúng đắn.

Mua thấp, bán cao – “Buy low, sell high”

Chắc chắn đây là lời khuyên đầu tư ngắn gọn và nổi tiếng nhất trong lịch sử thị trường chứng khoán. Jeff Fischer nhớ lại hồi ông mới tốt nghiệp đại học và buổi đầu tiên đến làm việc tại một công ty đầu tư chứng khoán. Vị giám đốc ở đây đã rất bực tức khi nhìn thấy trên lưng Jeff là cả một balô chứa đầy các lọai sách về chứng khoán. Ông ta yêu cầu Jeff vứt hết đống sách đó đi và trong vòng 1 tuần đầu tiên chỉ làm một công việc duy nhất đó là chép ra giấy cho đủ 10.000 từ “Buy low, sell high”.

Trên lý thuyết, nếu thành công với việc mua thấp và bán cao, bạn đã thu được lợi nhuận. Bất cứ giao dịch mua cổ phiếu nào cũng có một mong đợi – hay ít nhất một hy vọng – rằng bạn sẽ bán được ở một mức giá cao hơn mức giá bạn đã mua vào. Nhưng do bản thân lời khuyên này không đưa ra những hướng dẫn về việc thế nào là “thấp”, thế nào là “cao”, nên nó không thể được sử dụng mà không có những yếu tố bổ sung khác.

Bạn hãy mua những cổ phiếu có chỉ số P/E thấp, hay ở mức thấp nhất trong vòng 52 tuần qua, hay trong thời gian thị trường suy thoái, hay bất cứ phân tích kỹ thuật nào giải thích rõ ràng rằng cố phiếu đó đang có mức giá thấp hơn giá trị thực.

Việc bán cao chưa hẳn đã là một lời khuyên bổ ích. Như tác giả nổi tiếng về chứng khoán Philip Fisher đã từng tuyên bố và được sự đồng tình từ “cây đại thụ” Warren Buffett, nếu nghiên cứu một cách chính xác nhất, thời điểm tốt nhất để bán cổ phiếu hầu như chẳng bao giờ cả.

Chúng ta có thể kể vô khối các câu chuyện về một nhà đầu tư nào đó bán cổ phiếu để thu lời lớn khi giá đã ở mức cao, nhưng anh ta dường như vẫn bỏ lỡ hàng trăm thậm chí là hàng nghìn USD lợi nhuận khác có thể có nếu tiếp tục giữ nó lâu dài hơn.

Mua quỹ chỉ số – “Buy an index fund”

Index fund (IF) là một loại quĩ tương hỗ chỉ chuyên tìm mua các cổ phiếu của các công ty trong danh sách có chỉ số hóa lớn như S&P 500,…. Chỉ số S&P 500 cũng giống như chỉ số VN-Index vậy, chỉ có điều nó chọn ra 500 công ty lớn nhất đang niêm yết trên thị trường Mỹ (ở Mỹ có hàng ngàn công ty niêm yết), trong khi VN-Index bao gồm tất cả các công ty niêm yết trên thị trường TPHCM (khoảng trên 100 công ty).

Như bao nhiêu quỹ đầu tư khác, các IF cũng thu phí từ nhà đầu tư. Nhưng bởi vì công việc của họ rất đơn giản cho nên phí của họ chỉ bằng 1/20 (hoặc ít hơn) phí của những quỹ đầu tư khác. Người ta còn gọi các IF là các quỹ bị động, bởi vì công việc quản lý quỹ của họ là theo dõi chỉ số S&P 500 và bảo đảm các công ty mà quỹ nắm giữ cổ phiếu cũng giống như y hệt như danh sách các công ty trong S&P 500.

Trong suốt hàng chục năm qua, chỉ số S&P 500 tăng trung bình 11%/năm, nên các IF cũng đều có mức lợi nhuận như vậy, mặc dù hơi thấp hơn 11% một chút do phải trừ đi phí.

Đây có thể được xem như lời khuyên đầu tư an toàn và có sự tính toán kỹ lưỡng nhất. Nếu bạn có ít thời gian để theo dõi các cổ phiếu, chiến lược đầu tư này là thích hợp nhất. Nhược điểm duy nhất của nó là đem lại khoản lợi nhuận không cao và khá dài hạn. Ngoài ra, bạn phải dành nhiều thời gian để tìm ra những Quỹ thích hợp nhất.

Nói tóm lại, cho dù những lời khuyên đầu tư có tuyệt vời và ngắn gọn đến đâu, để thành công khi đầu tư chứng khoán trên thị trường, đòi hỏi các nhà đầu tư không chỉ có kiến thức về chứng khoán và thị trường chứng khoán mà còn phải thường xuyên quan tâm, theo dõi, bám sát thực trạng, phân tích xu hướng phát triển của cổ phiếu.

Có thể hơi dài dòng nhưng lời khuyên đầu tư tốt nhất vẫn là mọi nhà đầu tư cần tiến hành khảo sát thực tiễn, thu thập thông tin, tài liệu để tiến hành phân tích từng chứng khoán cụ thể, lập và quản lý danh mục đầu tư… nhằm hạn chế rủi ro, nâng cao hiệu quả vốn đầu tư.

Trần Phương Minh dịch từ The Fool

I’ve had a serious doughnut craving for the past few days. I finally succumbed tonight and ate three of them sitting in the parking lot of my local Krispy Kreme. Once they were gone, I instantly felt guilt. I was full but not satisfied. I had just eaten a ton of sugar, one of the vices I know I need to give up being that I am a pre-diabetic.
I rationalized the whole experience by telling myself I will allow myself to indulge once in a while, that taking an all or nothing approach to improving my diet will only result in sabotage and eventual failure. But the problem is I’m just indulging all the time.
I don’t want to diet. I want to work towards eating a plant based diet, hopefully incorporating lots of raw foods.
We shall see how it goes.

This past week, instead of blogging, I’ve been trying to keep up with my youngest son, Keeve, who is in the midst of his birthday week (why do only one day?!?) as well as other star-studded events that have blocked me from blogging.  For his party he wanted green balloons, green streamers, a green table cloth… and to play football at the park with all his friends (including a 38-year-old friend who was the only person over 12 years old that made the list.)

(that’s Kenadee!)

The excitement continued on Saturday (I always want to yell HEY! after spelling Saturday… like the Bay City Rollers) when the Keevester threw FOUR touchdown passes for the Ravens…. the first football team he’s ever played on.  I even brought my camera to the right game!!!  Uncle Rob (he’s my brother) was coaching and his cousin Drew (who, incidentally, was born on the same exact day as Keeve!) is also on his team.

THEN, if being a sports star was not attention-getting enough, Keeve was the grand prize winner of a 50-50 draw from Austin’s hockey team.  No, we don’t support gambling, but we do support Austin’s hockey team and 50% of the Rickster’s hard-earned money was going directly to Aus’ team.  Totally not gambling.  So Rick told the kids he would buy them each two tickets, but if they won, they had to split the winnings with him.  I bought six tickets of my own, so I didn’t have to split Rick’s money with him.  It didn’t help.  Anyway, Keeve’s name was drawn and he got this colorful envelope congratulating him on being the team’s winner…. are you wondering how much it was??? 

We were at the rink about an hour before the draw and they counted just over $500.  We figured it would be $260 or so.  Nope, $371!  I can’t believe it either.  So, being the saving-maniac that he is, Rick ALWAYS has the kids save 40% of any money they make.  They each have large savings accounts, thanks to their father.  I, on the other hand, would gladly help them spend it on fun and exciting things that they probably didn’t need.  So after tithing, savings and paying back a minor loan to me, Keeve was itching to get to a store.  Today in Staples I was finding the correct printer ink and I glanced over and Keeve pulled $70 out of his pocket.  My eyes lit up!  I already know what I want for Christmas!  But no.  He had his eye on several Nerf guns at Walmart and other weapons of warfare….. a black and white checkered Ford Mustang seat-belt belt, green sunglasses and a body pillow.  The luxury items of an 11-year-old!

Tomorrow is his actual birthDAY… so we’re off to Krispy Kreme and then his cousin’s birthday party.

(I won a gallon of Alpenrose ice cream when I was 6!… winning runs in the family.)

Buy a Krispy Kreme Wall Calender for $5 and  receive $75 worth of coupons.Prices may vary by region and available only at participating U.S. Krispy Kreme locations.

Thanks, Kansas City Mamas.

Once again, I had to walk by that yummy smelling Krispy Kreme donut shop on the way into the courthouse.
One day I’m going to go in and buy a donut and coffee. Just not one day soon. The smell is soooo good. They have a drive-thru too.

I finally made it to the courthouse office and found 8 listings. The courts are now closing early on Fridays. They close today at 3. And there was only one clerk window open. It’s from the cutbacks in staff and everything.

I was so tired last night, not the usual tiredness. It’s the kind that is from the weather change. I slept in, sort of. Sometimes lately, Nala wakes me up in the middle of a dream, loudly meowing. She wants out. And then some time during the night she knocked the lamp off the dresser above me head, nearly hitting my head. That wouldn’t be the first lamp she’s destroyed. She likes sleeping in the bedroom with me now. I close the door and put on the heat.

And Amber called me, the client in Surfside. She said to come as late as 3 today. That’s perfect for me. I think I’m going to make a flier to post over there in that little community, for a roommate for next year, just in case. And who knows, maybe I’ll find a nice place to live, cheaper, right on the beach. And she pays me cash, so maybe I’ll have enough money to get my car oil and filter change today later.

I noticed that the Omega 3’s that I was prescribed by the doctor, have been really making me feel much better. I’m not sure of the actual physiological benefits of taking them. They’re supposed to take my triglycerides down. Well maybe they’re lowered now, because I feel much better than before.

I got a call from the rabbit vet. His message said that I was right about the vegetables making my bunnies pee red urine. He wants me to bring Priti back for a check on Saturday. Not if I have to pay for it I’m not.

I almost forgot to write about the idiot who parked in back of me a couple days ago, as I was leaving for the veterinarians. There was a white Chevy SUV parked so that I couldn’t back out of my garage. I had to call maintenance and they went and found the guy. Somehow they knew who it was. So this ass comes walking down the stairs and I was so mad. He’s a black smart-ass kind of jerk. As soon as I saw the smug look in his face I reminded him that he isn’t supposed to be parking there. And then he said “ma’m I’m visiting my mother, I am “well aware” of the rules.” So I said “Well if your well aware of the rules, then why aren’t you following them?” And he said “are you going to tell me that I’m the only one who’s ever parked here?” I yelled then, “no you aren’t, and when they do park there, I call the tow truck!” He said “go ahead.” Well, it just happens that I saw the idiot again this morning, sitting at the front gate, while waiting for someone to come in and use their security key to open the front gate and drive in. I couldn’t believe the audacity of him. I tried calling the office here, but they weren’t answering. These women take siestas for most of the day. So as I came home and was pulling into the parking lot an hour later, there was a tow truck pulling out of the apartments here, with the white SUV on top of the back of the tow truck. They towed him! He totally asked for it. I guess the maintenance did it. Revenge yes!

First, a big thank you to all of you who have served and sacrificed so much for our country! My hat is off to our veterans this day!

In honor of Vets Day, the USA Today is reporting some nice promotions being offered to men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces from some major chains.  They are also sharing some promotions that leave some scratching their head:

• Applebee’s, with nearly 2000 locations, is offering a free entree
• McCormick & Schmick’s with nearly 87 locations, is offering a free entree also. They were actually offering it last Sunday to allow it to be a family affair!
• Golden Corral a chain with 485 units is offering an entire free buffet meals

Other restaurants not in the article that are or have made  entree special offers include:

• Uno Chicago Grill with its 200 locations is offering veterans a free entree or a pizza with the purchase of another entree or pizza.
• Texas Roadhouse is buying dinner for Vets
• Abuelos Mexican is buying dinner.

In addition to these, again since 2002, OSI Restaurant Partners (with nearly 1500 units) had volunteers  visit and support  soldiers by serving food  from OSI’s five restaurants: Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine.

Now I do not want to knock any free offers to our vets. There are approximately 1,400,000 in active duty and another 19,400,000 living war veterans and they deserve more than they get from us.  Although I believe someone ought to share something with these restaurant’s leaders. That is if you are going to be promoted in a national publication like USA Today for sharing with men and women who risk their lives to defend our freedoms, then do you want to be known for giving them a free doughnut? HUH?? Why cant it be doughnut and a coffee? A free doughnut…

“Thank you so much for your service to our country. Here is your free doughnut.”

I am not saying a free doughnut is bad. But if you are going to try to cash in on some publicity to serve veterans then make it worth it. Otherwise do it quietly, or don’t do anything at all.

Found out about this delicious freebie after I’d written Friday’s post.  Doughnut lovers, take note: Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation is honoring America’s service men and women on Veterans Day by giving away free doughnuts to all veterans and active military personnel. Veterans and active military personnel are invited to visit any participating U.S. Krispy Kreme store on Veterans Day, November 11, and enjoy one free doughnut of any variety. I realize that a free doughnut is a small gift for the service the military provide to our country, but I’m sure people will agree with me that, nonetheless, we appreciate the hard work they do.

Veterans Day is November 11.

In honor of Veterans Day this Wednesday, many restaurant chains are offering free food items to veterans and active duty personnel. In a recent USA Today article, Bruce Horovitz linked these holiday promotions to the past year’s decline in restaurant sales and a corresponding PR initiative.

Beyond simply showing appreciation for the vets’ service, the actions are about boosting brand image and business in one of the casual-dining industry’s worst-ever periods.

Since USA Today tied these promotions back to restaurants wanting to increase sales by improving their images, I decided to explore various Veterans Day restaurant offers and the PR efforts (if any) used to share them with the public.

Golden Corral

Golden Corral is holding its 9th annual Military Appreciation dinner on Monday, November 16 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Anyone who has ever served in the U.S. military will receive a free dinner that night. The event is being held the week after Veterans Day so it avoids conflicting with holiday activities.

Golden Corral has created a Web page with details and frequently asked questions about the event, as well as three PSA videos promoting the event starring Gary Sinise, Bo Derek and Collective Soul.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is giving out free doughnuts to veterans and active military personnel on Veterans Day. The company issued a press release last Thursday to announce this promotion.

Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse is giving documented veterans and active military a free “Bloomin’ Onion” (aka: crazy fried goodness) and a beverage on Veterans Day. The chain has created a Web page and a video about this offer and is using its Facebook page to share both with its 110, 749 fans. Only 6 hours after Outback posted the video to its Facebook page, 565 people had “liked it” and 120 people had commented on it, which I find pretty impressive.

Applebee’s

Applebee’s is offering veterans and active duty military a free entrée from a list of six favorites on November 11. This is the first year for the promotion and Applebee’s has creatively used several media tools to help launch it. Applebee’s has devoted a special Web page to its Veterans Day promotions that lists the menu items vets can choose from and the type of military documentation needed to receive the offer.

The site also has links to social media portals like Twitter and Facebook that patrons can use to help spread the word about the promotion. Applebee’s also aired a TV commercial that is featured on its Veterans Day Web page and its ApplebeesVets YouTube channel.

One of the comments in response to Applebee’s commercial on YouTube is from monkeeanna and represents the many positive reactions veteran-honoring restaurants are receiving from customers.

Thank you so much Applebees.. my dad served 21 years in the airforce and am so proud of him. Thank you for putting your hand out and shaking the hand of those who keep this country FREE!

You earned so much respect in my book!!!

Other promotions

According to coupondivas.com, Ponderosa and Abuelo’s are also offering free meals to veterans on November 11, but neither restaurant has done much to announce it, as far as I can tell. There is no mention of promotions on either Web site, nor any found press releases. Consequently, both restaurants were excluded from USA Today’s list.

This is first-hand proof that time spent promoting offers and events leads to media coverage. Golden Corral, Krispy Kreme, Outback Steakhouse and Applebee’s all created press releases, Web pages and/or videos announcing their Veterans Day promotions and all earned mentions in USA Today, in addition to other articles and posts.

Thank you, veterans! Enjoy your free crazy fried goodness.

This morning I had 3/4 c. of Special K.  In the past when I flirted with calorie counting or weight watchers or low-carb, I would always eyeball measurements.  Eyeballing is the enemy of successful calorie counting.  When you guess measurements, you’ll end up fudging them, and this is one situation where you’re only cheating yourself.  You’re not getting away with anything.

So this lesson is simple: measure your food.

If the box says 120 calories for 3/4 c., then measure it out.  If, however, you gain a good deal of experience measuring your food, then you can start an experiment.  You might want to take different types of food, measure them out to the same measurement and see what they look like.  This will be most useful for things like tablespoons vs. teaspoons, a cup vs. half a cup, etc.  You will still be unable to accurately measure 3/4 c. exactly.  That’s why the smaller measurements will be more useful, especially as you cook.  My theory is that so many people don’t cook because recipes look so daunting with all the measurements.  If only people were more comfortable “feeling out” a tablespoon and not measuring it, they wouldn’t be so intimidated.  But I’m getting off topic.

Basically, calorie counting is measuring.  If you measure, you can eat anything you want.  Anything.  If you don’t measure, you have to be extremely mindful of the things you eat, which is basically measuring in a different way.  If you don’t want to do those things, you usually end up doing a fad diet and gaining it all back.  Calorie counting works because it’s simple math.

Here’s the beauty of calorie counting: you learn to eat right.  By “right” I don’t mean you become a rabbit and nibble on salads forever, but when you know that a Krispy Kreme doughnut has 250 calories, you’re less likely to wolf down 14 of them in one sitting, aren’t you?  You know that certain foods have certain values, and you’re better able to eat sensibly.  Eating sensibly helps you maintain the weight that you want.

Us overweight folks are experts at make believe.  We can pretend that we didn’t eat nearly as much of a certain food as it might seem.  We’re fat because of our genes–our metabolism–and it’s just not our fault!  But it is.  Except for people with thyroid issues, we are fat because we’ve made ourselves that way.  The good news is we can un-make ourselves.  It’s an extreme metabolism makeover, and it begins with knowledge.  Knowing calorie values is your best weapon against unwanted weight.

Huzzah!

Just tried Dreamy Donuts in Garden City, we thought it will be as good as Krispy Kreme but not quite. The chocolate  Dreamy Donuts tastes like Coles’ donuts except it is 11 times more expensive. I heart Krispy Kreme and resent the fact that they don’t have a store in Perth. why …

Finally brought ‘Ratty’ home yesterday & spotted Ratty look-alike in ZU & Country Road. Busy weekends ahead, working from fri to next mon straight, except on sat which is reserved for Britney Spear’s concert. Can’t wait.

Random, I find this funny … A father in Sweden tries to sue a wild sea eagle after it attacked and killed his little girl’s pet rabbit. In a way, the father is really sweet but how to sue an eagle ?

Ahhh  ’Kreepy’ Kreme !

Here’s my new sandal, Ratty. Surprisingly comfortable.

P.S. Dyeing my hair black … again.

戒冬甩

曾經很喜歡donut，每星期必吃一次。與同事輪流請客。但近年己差不多戒掉了吃donut。太甜同太肥，忍忍口。

笑冬甩

美國同加拿大人喜歡笑警察偷懶時，總可以在Donut店找到他們在吃Donut飲coffee。所以有人話Donut係美加警察的主要食糧。一笑。

炒冬甩

其實大家可能唔知Donut未必一定係炸的。有時係炒的。話說，加拿大最出名的Donut店是Tim Hortons，公司响2006年3月上市，高開到$33.1，07年十二月更升至$38.89。不幸地，現在(09年10月16日)足足三年之後，Tim Hortons (THI)跌到$31.29。得個桔。

美國最出名的Donut店是Krispy Kreme。當年KKD上CNBC，人人以為佢係寶貝神奇冬甩。03年8月15日曾經有人炒Krispy Kreme的股票炒到$48.9的天價，現在(09年10月16日)KKD跌到$4.3。係$4.3，連10%都冇！唉，怕未？

其他冬甩網友文章請看兩周一聚。

Elite employees were craving donuts…the best place to get some would be Krispy Kreme! Watch our little adventure. You’ll see Will’s car hitting speeds over 100!

Misconception #1 – Garden Centers Should be Open Year-Round – Oh Really?

(Read time: approximately 3 minutes.)

Are Krispy Kreme's Hot NOW?

(Garden centers may be violating the Scarcity Principle)

A correct statement would be closer to this:

Belief #1 “In certain conditions garden centers should be open year-round, and in other conditions they should not be.”

The conditions for being open fall primarily into three categories.

1. The market the garden center is located in is year round. I recognize there are some markets that are year-round and this post may not apply to those situations.
2. The garden center has a particularly strong product niche and is located where there is sufficient daily store traffic to support a profitable sales level. There are a few garden centers that are in high traffic locations and have successfully integrated non-core product lines to be profitable nearly every day they are open.
3. The garden center has incurred financial burdens including operating expenses and personnel obligations that require it to be open although contribution to profits are at, marginally near or below the point of diminishing return. Still, even in dire financial conditions the best approach is almost always to generate more revenue when the business is in peak demand and lower expenses all the time – especially when the demand is diminished.

In my experience a large majority of garden centers fall into the third category. However, there are two major misconceptions related to being open year-round that often add justification to this mistaken precept of running a garden center.

• “We’ll lose ground because our customers will forget about us while we’re closed.” I’m not going to tie up space here going through the entire litany of excuses and justification related to this here. The reality is that if you become less relevant to your customers lives they will begin to forget about you. Being open doesn’t mean you’re relevant and you can measure that with store traffic, sales dollars, and profit from those sales.
• “We’ll lose our experienced staff of knowledgeable professionals.” In my experience garden centers that have taken the step to close during the winter season have been able to retain associates to the satisfaction of the owner and the customers. This does not mean that every associate is retained. Some embrace the closed period, others accept it, and in certain circumstances owners find ways to compensate employ mission-critical associates even though the business is closed.

My point is that making these assumptions and not considering the possibility of being closed when your customers aren’t voting with their pocketbooks that you should be open is not wise. Explore the possibilities and consider making a decision to close when the return is not there.

Once a company has expanded and incurred obligations it is very difficult to dig out of such a hole. While the effort of remaining open year-round is futile, it may feed necessary financial obligations. However, do not blindly accept being open when you don’t absolutely need to be.

It may not be a coincidence that the peak sales and profit generating time of year for a garden center is when its consumers suffer “Spring Fever”. Consider the situation of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. While the company that makes these famous doughnuts has suffered many and varied problems I submit that one of those is the ubiquitous availability of them.

Krispy Kreme's Famous Sign

Krispy Kreme violated the “Scarcity Principle”, a principle that drives consumption, traffic, and brands in our business as well when expanded their wholesale business rapidly and allowed their famous HOT NOW sign to appear in the windows of convenience stores.

Most garden centers do not use the scarcity principle to their best advantage, or even attempt to do so, or are willing to think about it. But there is one good example I know if that I would like to bring to your attention. I will not give their name because I don’t want to tip off their local competition to what they’re up to. This company I speak of was seeking advice on expanding to offer more products and services. Upon learning about their business I discovered that they open about April 15 each year in a Zone 4 market and sell primarily annuals and perennials that they grow along with some fertilizers, soils, containers, and a few decorative garden accessories directly related to growing the plants they sell (such as trellis). Then they sell down the product until time to close at July 4th. Yes, remaining inventory is discounted the last week they are open. They re-open late in August when their mums begin to peek color, and close again on the day their mums sell out. They re-open when the Poinsettia reach sufficient color, and close again when the last one is sold. I asked this company to consider how profitable they were compared to other retail growers, and how great their lifestyle was compared to others. After thinking on this they agreed that they should not go where they were thinking of going. Instead, we have begun working on expanding their core business by making improvements to their capacity to serve when demand (and profitability) are highest.

I said all of this to say this, the Scarcity Principle may be your friend. Think about it.

Belief #1 – “In certain conditions garden centers should be open year-round, and in other conditions they should not be.”

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On Saturday, October 24th, the doors to the new Krispy Kreme Neighborhood Shop — located at 442 Fayetteville Street in the new City Plaza in Raleigh, NC — will be open at 11 a.m.

The first customer to walk through the door will receive a free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts every week for a year and the next 11 customers will receive a free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts every month for a year. In addition, the first 50 customers through the door will get a Krispy Kreme travel mug with a coupon for a free medium coffee, and the first 100 customers will receive an official Krispy Kreme Raleigh T-shirt.

Krispy Kreme is opening this Saturday in the new City Plaza in downtown Raleigh. Following the opening of City Plaza at 11 a.m., the greater Triangle community is invited to be among the first customers at the new shop for a chance to win prizes. Select prizes include: one free dozen Original Glazed^® doughnuts and one cup of coffee every week for a year; one free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts and one cup of coffee every month for a year; or an official Krispy Kreme Raleigh T-shirt. Free samples of Kool Kreme soft serve and other Krispy Kreme treats will be available throughout the day.

The 900-square-foot store will feature Krispy Kreme’s unique offerings, including its one-of-a-kind doughnut varieties, signature coffees and espresso drinks, Krispy Kreme Chillers^® and iced beverages. The shop will also be the second in Wake County to offer Krispy Kreme’s Kool Kreme^® soft serve menu. Offered in Very Vanilla and Deep Chocolate, Kool Kreme soft serve is available in traditional cones, shakes and sundaes, all paired with a toppings bar.

I had the greatest idea to go for a run this morning.

45 degrees, 2 shirts, 2 shoes (a right and a left), 2 knee warms (r&l),1 pair of shorts (bowers as well), and 1 hat later I was running toward the Krispy Kreme once again. It was so cold that it hurt. Ha, I loved it. But really it wasn’t a run, it was more of a swim.

I believe to have a slight throat problem, in which saliva/flem builds up rapidly/frequently in my throat when I begin  to put my body through any strenuous activity. So instead of unobstructed breathing I was drowning in my own spit. It sucked. Or better yet, it spat.

So once again I barely made the run to and from the Krispy Kreme. But all I can do is keep on running. I guess.

At the moment I crave a doughnut but I am sure by the end of this adventure I will never crave one ever again.