Financial Peace Revisited $9.90 Dave Ramsey knows what it’s like to have it all. By age twenty-six, he had established a four-million-dollar real estate portfolio, only to lose it by age thirty. He has since rebuilt his financial…

Korean For Dummies $14.06 Start speaking Korean the fun and easy way with Korean For Dummies, a no-nonsense guide to Korean culture and the basics of Korean language. Pick up basic phrases and commonly used words so that you can converse with Koreans in both business and personal situations. You’ll learn Korean for everyday life and task-specific expressions for Korean on the go. In addition, you’ll discover important …

Start and Run a Coffee Bar (Start & Run …) $7.50 This book offers practical hands-on help for anyone wanting to start their own business in a range of disciplines. If you are one of the thousands of people who have expertise you think you can turn into your own business, the “Start and Run” series shows you how to set about achieving your dreams. Written by experts in their respective interest areas, but always easy to read, these books provide …

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Just Say “no” to the Recession: a Refresher Course for Retailers Who Want to Boom Rather Than Bomb This Holiday Season

These are the times that try retailers’ souls. Unemployment is at a 14-year high, consumer confidence is at an all-time low, and the stock market has yet to mellow out. If you own a retail store, you’re not sure what sales numbers to expect this holiday season. Should the stronger-than-expected Black Friday sales give you hope that holiday goodwill could trump the much-vaunted bad economy and surprise savvy retailers with a healthy (if not spectacular) shopping season? Or will shoppers stay away from stores now that the Black Friday deals have come and gone?

Why not ignore all of this economic bad news, let your more positive way of thinking win out, and just say “no” to the recession?

I’ve been noticing lately that the restaurants I go to are still full of patrons. And when the ski shop in my town had its preseason sale, its parking lot was full. And a good friend of mine, a real estate broker, just told me she had one of her best months in three years. My point? People are still buying stuff, big and small. And it’s not like Christmas was cancelled this year, so people will keep on buying. It’s your job to make sure they are buying stuff from you.

In other words, you can no longer use the bad economy as an excuse for not doing well. In fact, overall retail sales are much better than recorded because of two simple reasons:

• Gift cards have become a best-selling gift. However, they are not counted as retail sales until they are redeemed. So, many of these sales will not show up on the books until after the holidays, and as we know, not everyone redeems all of their gift cards.

• The biggest growth in retailing has been from the Internet. Those numbers are never included when retailers report same store sales.

Retailers who have a successful holiday season will be the ones who simply tune out the bad news and do everything they can to keep their doors open.

Poor management puts stores out of business, not economic climates. Recessions reward the flexible and nimble. There is business out there to be had, and I believe sharp retailers can achieve great sales numbers now despite the economy. They need to adopt the attitude displayed by a store owner who recently posted in response to my weekly Q&A session, Retailer’s Advantage. He said, “We choose NOT to participate in the recession.” The more store owners who mimic his resolve the better.

To make the most of the slow economy, retail store owners should get back to the basics. Here are a few suggestions:

Bring them in with hot items. To get customers into your store this holiday season and after, you must offer them merchandise they simply can’t turn down. Stock your shelves with items that have the Wow Factor and thus send customers into an “I have to have that” or an “I must give that as a gift this year” buying frenzy. Once you’ve identified the “hot” items for the season, determine which ones are the best fit for your store. Then research which other stores in your area sell those products. If you can become the sole seller of a certain “hot” item in your area, you will be in great shape. Providing great merchandise that’s heavy on the “hot” items for a given period will be your trump card for surviving any recession. Don’t you forget it!

Make your store the place to get the best stuff. Too many retailers put price first and item second. Reverse it—always put the item first and the price second. But do remember, this doesn’t mean that you can stick your head in the sand about price. I was at the airport in Louisville recently, and as I was walking past the PGA store, I noticed they had a table out in front with some terrific buys. I was shocked when I saw a sweater I liked for only $9.99. I quickly tried it on and decided at that price I had to buy it. As I was checking out, a store employee suggested another sweater that was $39.99. And since I already had my wallet out I figured I might as well buy it too.

My point is that pretty much everyone has a hard time resisting a good sale. So, get in touch with your vendors and see what buys they’re offering for cheap these days. And don’t be afraid to do some negotiating if necessary. Many of your vendors will be willing to sell cheap because of the slow economy. By including items in your inventory that you’ve purchased from your vendors on the cheap, you’ll be able to tempt your customers to part with their cash.

Give them something to talk about. Strong businesses are built on word-of-mouth advertising. The kicker is that in order for word-of-mouth advertising to work, you have to get people talking about your store. A great way to do that is through creative promotions, eye-catching window displays, in-store contests, and of course, all that great merchandise. All of these things are what make you different from the competition and what make your store stand out in the eyes of your customers.

The holidays are a great opportunity to use promotional activities to excite your customers and generate enthusiastic word of mouth. For example, offer a discount on a certain weekend to anyone brave enough to come to your store dressed as a holiday-related personality or character. Or partner with a nearby bakery and offer delicious holiday treats for shoppers along with a coupon that gives a discount at the bakery to every customer who buys in your store that day.

Stay in front of your customers. If you don’t already ask your customers for contact information when they buy from you, now is the time to start. Simply following up with past customers to ask how they like an item they recently purchased, to inform them about an upcoming sale, or to offer them special discounts is a great way to capture the fruit closest to the ground during a tough economy. You’ll tempt them into coming in again and making a purchase without giving away the store.

The key to having your existing customers come back to your store lies in you and your salespeople mastering the Art of the Friendly Reminder. I have seen stores have huge increases just by requiring their employees to make follow-up phone calls to customers. For example, if a customer recently purchased new cookware from your store, have a sales associate follow up with her to see how she is enjoying it and let her know that you just received a great shipment of cooking utensils or cookbooks.

Introduce the discount-later sales technique. There is a relatively new promotional idea that is being adopted by many retailers with a great deal of success. Here’s how it works: A customer makes a purchase for a certain amount, let’s say it’s $105. Because she’s reached the sales mark of $100 or more, you, the store, give her a coupon for 15 or 20 percent off of her next purchase. The kicker is the coupon cannot be used the day of the initial sale and is valid for only the next six days.

These kinds of deals are proving to be very effective. They give customers a compelling reason to come back to you and come back soon, while that sweater or purse or espresso machine she thought about but didn’t buy is still fresh on her mind. In fact, studies show that the return rate on these discounts is over 70 percent. That is a pretty significant success rate that will help you bring in a bunch of customers who may not have come back at all.

Sell every person who walks through the door. Remember, it is your job to maximize every customer who walks through your doors. You might be rolling your eyes at the impossibility of that proposal, but these tough times require a change in attitude. And yes, you can do this without being too aggressive or pushy.

Keep in mind that if someone enters your store, the potential exists for him to buy simply because he is in your store. Take the time to train your sales associates on how to engage your shoppers without alienating them. Remind them that just selling one item to one customer is not good enough and that the store benefits the most when a customer buys multiple items. So, make sure the phrase “May I also show you our fill-in-the-blank?” becomes second nature to them.

I believe we are about to observe an unprecedented period of growth. But in order to take part in that growth, you have to be around to see it, and that means taking the right steps now. Block out the naysayers who say you can’t be successful in this economic climate and ignore your own negative thoughts. If you take on a positive attitude and stay focused on doing everything you can to please and impress your customers, you will weather the economic storm.

# # #

About the Author:

Rick Segel, CSP, a seasoned retailer of 25 years, owned one of New England’s most successful independent women’s specialty stores. He is the marketing expert for Staples.com, a contributing writer for numerous national publications, and a founding member of the Retail Advisory Council for Johnson & Wales University. Rick is the director of retail training for the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. He is the creator of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts Awards of Excellence Program (RAMAEs) that has recognized over 50 of the most innovative retailers in the state.

Rick is currently serving on the Boards of Directors for five corporations and associations. After authoring and developing The Retail Technology Assessment Survey and The Retail Store Assessment Survey, online assessment applications designed for small- to medium-sized retailers, he created The Retailer’s Advantage, a membership website devoted to helping independent retailers improve their businesses.

CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation from the National Speakers Association, an elite rank held by only 7 percent of professional speakers. Rick is a past president of the New England Speakers Association, and he has been a featured speaker in 49 states, and on four continents, delivering over 1,900 presentations.

Rick has authored nine books, two training videos, and a six-hour audio program. Retail Business Kit For Dummies, published by Wiley, Inc., became the #1 selling retail how-to book in the United States in January 2002 and is now in its 2nd edition. Laugh & Get Rich: How to Profit from Humor in Any Business, published by Specific House, has been critically acclaimed as a must-read for its insightful outlook at our entertainment-based society and has been translated into Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. The Essential Online Solution: The Five Step Formula for Small Business Success, published by Wiley, Inc., is a primer for business owners on creating e-commerce success. He is also the author of Rick Segel’s Retail Inventory Control Solution: Open to Thrive and The 5,000 BEST Sale & Promotional Names & Ideas Ever Compiled and co-author of Retailing in the 21st Century. Most recently, he authored WOW Them Into Your Store: The Art and Science of Creating Powerful Promotions and Sensational Sales and Becoming the Vendor of Choice: The Secrets to Powerful Retail Relationships, both published by Specific House.

Rick also has tons of experience with the media and has appeared on TV, radio, and in many print articles. His down-to-earth, street-smart approach to business makes him a crowd pleaser wherever he goes.

About the Book:

Retail Business Kit For Dummies®, 2nd Edition (Wiley, September 2008, ISBN: 978-0-470-29330-0, $34.99) is available at bookstores nationwide and from all major online booksellers.

For more information, please visit www.RickSegel.com.

About the Author

Rick Segel, CSP, a seasoned retailer of 25 years, owned one of New England’s most successful independent women’s specialty stores. He is the marketing expert for Staples.com, a contributing writer for numerous national publications, and a founding member of the Retail Advisory Council for Johnson & Wales University. Rick is the director of retail training for the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. He is the creator of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts Awards of Excellence Program (RAMAEs) that has recognized over 50 of the most innovative retailers in the state.

How do you say “double digit IQ dummy” in Korean?

In the Korean Drama “Boys over Flowers” Jandi and Jun pyo call each other “double digit IQ dummy.” I can’t quite tell how to write it in Korean from the audio (I’m not that good at dictation) I really like that expression, and want to start using it, so a translation would be greatly appreciated.

In any language, it’s “George W.”

You mean for pollination? Yes, you should. But you can’t plant two of the same variety- they were grown from cuttings of the same tree.

Sometimes, the nursery makes it easier by grafting on a branch from a different variety as a pollinator. These would be labeled “Self- Fertile”

You can use any pear that flowers at the right time- if your neighbor has a bradford pear, that might work. You should really look at a pollination chart, and pick a variety that fruits at a different time so you can have fresh fruit longer.

Orient Pearl Rent-A-Car Inauguration & Blessing Part 1.avi

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Revere 3514027 2-Quart Covered Saucepan $21.89 Classically straight-sided, this 2-quart saucepan is perfect for making sauces, heating soups, and preparing countless other foods. The phenolic handles and knob are oven-safe to 350 degrees F, so the pan can be used to braise or warm foods in the oven under its tight-fitting lid. Revere’s Copper Clad cookware is made of handsome, mirror-finish, 18/10 stainless steel. Copper is cookware’s best hea…

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Bizarre Foods – Korea 1 of 5

Carter Sinclair Korea News UMass Amherst Nutritionist Will Collaborate With Korean Oriental Medicine Center

Carter Sinclair Korea News : Thanks to a new collaboration between the nutrition department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a highly regarded Oriental medicine center in Korea, researchers are now exploring Asian medicinal herbs as a tool for managing the global epidemic of Type II diabetes and obesity now sweeping through developed and developing countries alike. Through a recent Memorandum of Understanding between the university and Chungbuk Oriental Medicine Center, South Korea, Young-Cheul Kim, a UMass Amherst assistant professor of nutrition and an expert in how fat cells develop in the body, will study molecular-level biological function of certain medicinal herbs such as the vetch, Astragalus, also known as milk vetch or huang chi. In particular, Kim’s laboratory will use his well characterized fat cell differentiation model to test a number of plant-based compounds or phytochemicals for potential anti-obesity and anti-diabetes properties, first in in vitro cell culture, then in whole animals and finally in humans. He says, “Overall, we are trying to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development of fat cells in the body, especially by bioactive food components, with the goal to find therapeutic strategies for not only preventing chronic diseases such as obesity, cancer and heart disease, but promoting overall health. These chronic disorders are all related to our diet, illustrating the importance of nutrition.” On a recent visit to UMass Amherst, representatives of Chungbuk Oriental Medicine Center were quite impressed with the collaborative environment here, Kim says, where he and other university researchers are already working with clinicians at the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI) and Bay State Medical Center in Springfield on obesity research, for example. They expressed great interest in creating similar inter-disciplinary partnerships at the center in Chungbuk. Despite its use for hundreds of years in Asia to prevent or treat certain diseases, evidence for health claims of the herb Astragalus is “limited” at present, according to the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This is partly because one herb may contain so many different active components. As Kim notes, with new interest the time has come to investigate, with rigorous scientific methods, what compounds are present and how they work. Therefore, he says, “one of the goals of our collaboration with this prestigious center of Asian medicine in Chungbuk will be to identify any biologically active ingredients.” There is already some preliminary evidence from experiments with mouse cells in Kim’s laboratory that an extract of the hardy high-altitude shrub, Rhodiola, also known as “golden root,” inhibits the generation of new fat cells from precursor cells called pre-adipocytes. It acts by interfering with the genes that determine the progression of adipogenesis, or the formation of fat. Future studies by Kim and colleagues will extend the work to test more compounds and explore effects in primary cultures of human cells. If replicated, studies can move on to test effectiveness in whole body systems. Though some may be surprised by the Korean medical center’s interest in research on obesity and diabetes, Kim says these conditions have emerged as public health problems in Asia over the past two decades with the availability of fast foods and a tendency toward decreased physical activity. “We know from immigrant epidemiologic studies that a balanced diet and exercise play a critical role in maintaining health, preventing chronic diseases and reducing the incidence of metabolic syndromes such as diabetes and obesity. Unfortunately we can now see obese children throughout Asia, and many more people with diabetes,” says Kim, who grew up in Korea. “So the major research centers and food industry are now very interested to investigate the possible functional and beneficial roles of plants and herbs, as well as their nutritional value.” In addition to calling for collaborative research with UMass Amherst, the agreement with Chungbuk Oriental Medicine Center is expected to lead to faculty and student exchanges, joint workshops and other activities, Kim notes. In September, he plans to speak about the impact of bioactive dietary compounds in preventing chronic diseases at an international symposium in Chungbuk, Korea, and the following year at the World Oriental Medicine Bio-Expo in Jecheon. Carter Sinclair Org is non-profit organization that helps monitor health status, inform and educate people about health issues. Research for new approach and modern solutions to health problems. For more information please visit www.cartersinclair.org. Email at info@cartersinclair.org
About the Author

Carter Sinclair Links to information and advice about medications, equipment, and health care for people with diabetes. cartersinclair.org

Vegetarian food in Korea?

My wife is vegetarian and we have a terrible time finding restaurants that serve vegetarian food in Korea. Is there a chain restaurant that serves good, authentic Korean Food? Or how can we ask stores to prepare food for her without beef, pork, chicken, shellfish, seafood, fish, or any other creature that was once living. She does eat eggs and diary products and tofu.

Oh wow, im really sorry… but I had a list of vegetarian restaurants once upon a time for Korea.
They are here though dont worry about that!

As buddhists too dont use any of the above mentioned ingredients, there are some special buddhist freindly kitchens, and very delicious. I believe that there could even be a buffet restaurant near Jongro somewhere?

Let me do a bit of a search for you and find out… do you read Korean?
Oops are you in Seoul?
You could go to Bon Juk, and order the vegetable or mushroom juk. JUk is like a rice porridge.. and Bon Juk is everywhere….
Im sure that Kimbab Chonguk would also have something on the menu, as they have more than 65 items on there! Its all in Korean though…

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How to eat Kalbe (Korean barbeque)

How To Look After Your Weber Bbq Grill

Cover your Weber Grill

Grill covers are very beneficial. If you store your Weber charcoal or gas grill outside than you will want to protect it from the elements. The use of a grill cover can do this for you. Even if stored in a garage or shed you can use a cover to keep dust off the grill or to help avoid scratches. As most gas grills are made up of metals that may draw rust, they can be harmed by the accumulation of moisture on the surfaces.

By covering your gas grill you not only add safety of your grill from any damage if something falls on it or a heavy object is placed on it. But a grill cover also increases its durability and efficiency. If you use these covers, your grill will remain in excellent condition years after year. A grill cover used on a gas grill will also keep the igniter in good shape. Too much moisture will cause the igniter not to work. One last thing about using a cover, it will help keep animals and other bugs out of the grill when not in use.

Picking the right Weber grill cover is very important. Don’t be fooled by a generic brand grill cover. The generic brand is usually a lot thinner and cheaper material than what is used by Weber. A generic grill cover will rip easily and not fit the grill properly. But if you buy a Weber cover for your Weber grill you are guaranteed to get a cover made to fit your grill perfectly. If you are spending extra money on a top of the line grill don’t go cheap on the cover to protect it.

Check your Grill Gas lines

While you are doing your monthly upkeep on your Weber gas grill another thing you should add to the list is to check the gas lines. When maintaining your gas grill never forget to check the most important part, the gas lines. Usually you won’t have any problems with these but sometimes accidents do happen. So it is always better to be prepared. Some people move their gas grill from place to place so it is possible for the gas line to get damaged or rock out of place.

If by chance you discover a damaged gas line you can go right to the Weber web site and look up your grill model and find the product number you will need to order. You will want to use genuine Weber parts. If the grill is still under warranty make sure you read the warranty and follow the directions so you don’t void your warranty.

Finally to keep your Weber grill in new condition be sure to clean it frequently. If you have just purchased a new Weber grill be sure to read all the paper work on it. They will usually include proper cleaning routines for your new grill. If they don’t have anything on cleaning your Weber grill in the box than just do a search on the web as you will find many articles on how to clean your charcoal and gas grill.

About the Author

I hope you enjoyed reading about how to go about looking after your Weber BBQ grill. If you are looking for reviews, ideas, barbecue recipes, guides and how-tos for everything BBQ, then please visit Barbecue Partys BBQ Blog, there is a wealth of great information there.

time for a VARIETY SURVEY!

bbq beef or bbq pork
sit in the sun or stand in the shade
candy or flowers
would you rather visit: Iran or North Korea
your home:rent or own
monster trucks or demolition derby
ice cream cone or sundae
which do you have more of: tattoos or bumper stickers
the eagles or journey
BONUS:WHICH WAS TOUGHEST?

BBQ Beef
Sit In The Sun & Work On My Tan
Flowers – Alstromerias
North Korea I Guess
Right Now, We Rent, But We’re Building Next Year
MOSTER TRUCKS!!!!!!
Ice Cream Cone
Tattoos
Journey
The Toughest Was North Korea Or Iran B/C I Wouldn’t Wanna Go 2 Either Place

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Home Decorating with Asian Decor and Asian Furniture

One of the recent trends in home decorating is the influence of the Far East. With its simplicity and attention to space, this lends itself well to our hectic Western lifestyle. A lot of the elements of Asian home decorating can be trace back to two schools of thought, one originating from China and the other from Japan.

Feng Shui is a Chinese concept of space and object placement. Feng Shui associates the home with both health and prosperity. There are various rooms in which Feng Shui is more prevalent. The kitchen is one of them. Couple this perspective with the role of the kitchen as “the heart of the home,” and you can see that any feng shui in this room can have a significant impact on your family. A few things you can try are to place Buddha statues at strategic places. Buddha statues are known to add vibrant chi power to your home. Especially the Laughing Buddha Statue. Buddha statues can be made from various stones. Jade as well as bronze are the most popular choices. Quan Yin is the female version of Buddha.

Common Feng Shui gifts include Chinese dragons. These dragons are said not only to provide powerful chi energy, but also keep evil spirits from entering your home. For better wealth, riches and prosperity, one can turn to Chinese Feng Shui money frogs. These frogs are made from either jade or agate. They symbolize fortune and good luck with your hard work and clever mind. If you’re looking for a healthier frame of body and mind, an Asian Feng Shui crystal globe might be your answer. This is one of the most commonly used cures and produces amazing results. When sunlight hits these crystals, beams of colored light radiate in all directions activating chi energy, and can also be used to slow down chi. Incidentally, various Asian animal figures such as jade horses can also be used to the same effect.

The Japanese perspective of home decorating and home furnishings is quite different. Rather than concentrate on objects to attract or repel energies, the Japanese focuses on spatial matters. It uses room dividers known as Shoji screens to separate form and function within a living space. A single Shoji screen can transform a dull square room into practical, attractive living areas. These oriental screens are often made with rice paper and can have vibrant colors or symbols. Some common designs are bamboo tree shoji screen, cherry blossom shoji screen or Geisha shoji screen. Light also plays a vital role in Japanese home design. Japanese lanterns are known for their boxy shape which reflects strength and substance. The thin rice paper allows ample light to shine through while displaying the intended images, much like the way silk paintings are. In fact, Japanese lanterns are sometime made from silk.

We hope you enjoyed our brief tour about Asian décor and Asian furniture with a Chinese and Japanese flair.

About the Author

Dave Poon is the owner of My Asian Decor. We take the mystery out of Oriental, Feng Shui and Asian home decorating. We offer the most unique selection of
Shoji screens and Buddha Statues
anywhere. Come visit us at http://www.myasiandecor.com.

What does one do when someone gifts you a laughing buddha ?

Is it good or bad, when someone gifts it to you ? Are there any particular rules in fengshui of keeping a laughing buddha at home ?
Pls. suggest some websites.
Should one buy it or should one gift it ? Which is better ?

A good luck charm it is and u can keep it

It has to be placed at an height of some 30” approximate and should be
facing the main door directly.

and If this location is not possible, the next best place to keep the Laughing Buddha is on a side table or a corner table, which is diagonally opposite to the main door and facing the door.

Financial Peace Revisited $9.90 Dave Ramsey knows what it’s like to have it all. By age twenty-six, he had established a four-million-dollar real estate portfolio, only to lose it by age thirty. He has since rebuilt his financial…

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Start and Run a Coffee Bar (Start & Run …) $7.50 This book offers practical hands-on help for anyone wanting to start their own business in a range of disciplines. If you are one of the thousands of people who have expertise you think you can turn into your own business, the “Start and Run” series shows you how to set about achieving your dreams. Written by experts in their respective interest areas, but always easy to read, these books provide …

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Documentary: Korean Dance for Dummies (Part 1/2)

What Are Slush Funds?

According to David McClintick (“Swordfish: A True Story of Ambition, Savagery, and Betrayal”), in the late 1980’s, the FBI and DEA set up dummy corporations to deal in drugs. They funneled into these corporate fronts money from drug-related asset seizures.

The idea was to infiltrate global crime networks but a lot of the money in “Operation Swordfish” may have ended up in the wrong pockets. Government agents and sheriffs got mysteriously and filthily rich and the whole sorry affair was wound down. The GAO reported more than $3.6 billion missing. This bit of history gave rise to at least one blockbuster with Oscar-winner Halle Berry.

Alas, slush funds are much less glamorous in reality. They usually involve grubby politicians, pawky bankers, and philistine businessmen – rather than glamorous hackers and James Bondean secret agents.

The Kazakh prime minister, Imanghaliy Tasmaghambetov, freely admitted on April 4, 2002 to his country’s rubber-stamp parliament the existence of a $1 billion slush fund. The money was apparently skimmed off the proceeds of the opaque sale of the Tengiz oilfield. Remitting it to Kazakhstan – he expostulated with a poker face – would have fostered inflation. So, the country’s president, Nazarbaev, kept the funds abroad “for use in the event of either an economic crisis or a threat to Kazakhstan’s security”.

The money was used to pay off pension arrears in 1997 and to offset the pernicious effects of the 1998 devaluation of the Russian ruble. What was left was duly transferred to the $1.5 billion National Fund, the PM insisted. Alas, the original money in the Fund came entirely from another sale of oil assets to Chevron, thus casting in doubt the official version.

The National Fund was, indeed, augmented by a transfer or two from the slush fund – but at least one of these transfers occurred only 11 days after the damning revelations. Moreover, despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, the unfazed premier denied that his president possesses multi-million dollar bank accounts abroad.

He later rescinded this last bit of disinformation. The president, he said, has no bank accounts abroad but will promptly return all the money in these non-existent accounts to Kazakhstan. These vehemently denied accounts, he speculated, were set up by the president’s adversaries “for the purpose of compromising his name”.

On April 15, 2002 even the docile opposition had enough of this fuzzy logic. They established a People Oil’s Fund to monitor, henceforth, the regime’s financial shenanigans. By their calculations less than 7 percent of the income from the sale of hydrocarbon fuels (c. $4-5 billion annually) make it to the national budget.

Slush funds infect every corner of the globe, not only the more obscure and venal ones. Every secret service – from the Mossad to the CIA – operates outside the stated state budget. Slush funds are used to launder money, shower cronies with patronage, and bribe decision makers. In some countries, setting them up is a criminal offense, as per the 1990 Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure, and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime. Other jurisdictions are more forgiving.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands issued a press release November 2001 in which it welcomed the government’s plans to abolish slush funds. They described the poisonous effect of this practice:

“With a few notable exceptions, the practice of directing funds through politicians to district projects has been disastrous. It has created an atmosphere in which corruption is thought to have flourished. It has reduced the responsibility of public servants, without reducing their numbers or costs. It has been used to confuse people into believing public funds are the ‘property’ of individual members rather than the property of the people, honestly and fairly administered by the servants of the people.

The concept of ’slush-funds’ has resulted in well-documented inefficiencies and failures. There were even accusations made that funds were withheld from certain members as a way of forcing them into submission. It seems that the era of the ’slush funds’ has been a shameful period.”

But even is the most orderly and lawful administration, funds are liable to be mislaid. “The Economist” reported recently about a $10 billion class-action suit filed by native-Americans against the US government. The funds, supposed to be managed in trust since 1880 on behalf of half a million beneficiaries, were “either lost or stolen” according to officials.

Rob Gordon, the Director of the National Wilderness Institute accused “The US Interior Department (of) looting the special funds that were established to pay for wildlife conservation and squandering the money instead on questionable administrative expenses, slush funds and employee moving expenses”.

Charles Griffin, the Deputy Director of the Heritage Foundation’s Government Integrity Project, charges:

“The federal budget provides numerous slush funds that can be used to subsidize the lobbying and political activities of special-interest groups.”

On his list of “Top Ten Federal Programs That Actively Subsidize Politics and Lobbying” are: AmeriCorps, Senior Community Service Employment Program, Legal Services Corporation, Title X Family Planning, National Endowment for the Humanities, Market Promotion Program, Senior Environmental Employment Program, Superfund Worker Training, HHS Discretionary Aging Projects, Telecomm. & Info. Infrastructure Assistance. These federal funds alone total $1.8 billion.

“Next” and “China Times” – later joined by “The Washington Post” – accused the former Taiwanese president, Lee Teng-hui, of forming a $100 million overseas slush fund intended to finance the gathering of information, influence-peddling, and propaganda operations. Taiwan footed the bills trips by Congressional aides and funded academic research and think tank conferences.

High ranking Japanese officials, among others, may have received payments through this stealthy venue. Lee is alleged to have drawn $100,000 from the secret account in February 1999. The money was used to pay for the studies of a former Japanese Vice-Defense Minister Masahiro Akiyama’s at Harvard.

Ryutaro Hashimoto, the former Japanese prime minister, was implicated as a beneficiary of the fund. So were the prestigious lobbying firm, Cassidy and Associates and assorted assistant secretaries in the Bush administration.

Carl Ford, Jr., currently assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research, worked for Cassidy during the relevant period and often visited Taiwan. James Kelly, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs enjoyed the Taiwanese largesse as well. Both are in charge of crafting America’s policy on Taiwan.

John Bolton, erstwhile undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, admitted, during his confirmation hearings, to having received $30,000 to cover the costs of writing 3 research papers.

The Taiwanese government has yet to deny the news stories.

A Japanese foreign ministry official used slush fund money to finance the extra-marital activities of himself and many of his colleagues – often in posh hotel suites. But this was no exception. According to Asahi Shimbun, more than half of the 60 divisions of the ministry maintained similar funds. The police and the ministry are investigating. One arrest has been made. The ministry’s accounting division has discovered these corrupt practices twenty years before but kept mum.

Even low-level prefectural bureaucrats and teachers in Japan build up slush funds by faking business trips or padding invoices and receipts. Japanese citizens’ groups conservatively estimated that $20 million in travel and entertainment expenses in the prefectures in 1994 were faked, a practice known as “kara shutcho” (i.e., empty business trip).

Officials of the Hokkaido Board of Education admitted to the existence of a 100 million yen secret fund. In a resulting probe, 200 out of 286 schools were found to maintain their own slush funds. Some of the money was used to support friendly politicians.

But slush funds are not a sovereign prerogative. Multinationals, banks, corporation, religious organizations, political parties, and even NGO’s salt away some of their revenues and profits in undisclosed accounts, usually in off-shore havens.

Secret election campaign slush funds are a fixture in American politics. A 5-year old bill requires disclosure of donors to such funds but the House is busy loosening its provisions. “The Economist” listed in 2002 the tsunami of scandals that engulfs Germany, both its major political parties, many of the Lander and numerous highly placed and mid-level bureaucrats. Secret, mainly party, funds seem to be involved in the majority of these lurid affairs.

Italian firms made donations to political parties through slush funds, though corporate donations – providing they are transparent – are perfectly legal in Italy. Both the right and, to a lesser extent, the left in France are said to have managed enormous political slush funds.

President Chirac is accused of having abused for his personal pleasure, one such municipal fund in Paris, when he was its mayor. But the funds were mostly used to provide party activists with mock jobs. Corporations paid kickbacks to obtain public works or local building permits. Ostensibly, they were paying for sham “consultancy services”.

The epidemic hasn’t skipped even staid Ottawa. Its Chief Electoral Officer told Sun Media in September 2001 that he is “concerned” about millions stashed away by Liberal candidates. Sundry ministers who coveted the prime minister’s job, have raised funds covertly and probably illegally.

On April 11, 2002 UPI reported that Spain’s second-largest bank, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), held nearly $200 million hidden in secret offshore accounts, “which were allegedly used to manipulate politicians, pay off the ‘revolutionary tax’ to ETA – the Basque terrorist organization – and open the door for business deals, according to news reports.”

The money may have gone to luminaries such as Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, Peru’s Alberto Fujomori and Vladimiro Montesinos. The bank’s board members received fat, tax-free, “pensions” from the illegal accounts opened in 1987 – a total of more than $20 million.

Latin American drug money launderers – from Puerto Rico to Colombia – may have worked through these funds and the bank’s clandestine entities in the Cayman Islands and Jersey. The current Spanish Secretary of State for the Treasury has been the bank’s tax advisor between 1992-7.

The “Financial Times” reported in June 2000 that, in anticipation of new international measures to curb corruption, “leading European arms manufacturers” resorted to the creation of off-shore slush funds. The money is intended to bribe foreign officials to win tenders and contracts.

Kim Woo-chung, Daewoo’s former chairman, is at the center of a massive scandal involving dozens of his company’s executive, some of whom ended up in prison. He stands accused of diverting a whopping $20 billion to an overseas slush fund.

A mind boggling $10 billion were alleged to have been used to bribe Korean government officials and politicians. But his conduct and even the scale of the fraud he perpetrated may have been typical to Korea’s post-war incestuous relationship between politics and business.

In his paper “The Role of Slush Funds in the Preparation of Corruption Mechanisms”, reprinted by Transparency International, Gherardo Colombo defines corporate slush funds thus:

“Slush funds are obtained from a joint stock company’s finances, carefully managed so that the amounts involved do not appear on the balance sheet. They do not necessarily have to consist of money, but can also take the form of stocks and shares or other economically valuable goods (works of art, jewels, yachts, etc.) It is enough that they can be used without any particular difficulty or that they can be transferred to a third party.

If a fund is in the form of money, it is not even necessary to refer to it outside the company accounts, since it can appear in them in disguised form (the ‘accruals and deferrals’ heads are often resorted to for the purpose of hiding slush money). In light of this, it is not always correct to regard it as a reserve fund that is not accounted for in the books. Deception, trickery or forgery of various kinds are often resorted to for the purpose of setting up a slush fund.”

He mentions padded invoices, sham contracts, fictitious loans, interest accruing on holding accounts, back to back transactions with related entities (Enron) – all used to funnel money to the slush funds. Such funds are often set up to cover for illicit and illegal self-enrichment, embezzlement, or tax evasion.

Less known is the role of these furtive vehicles in financing unfair competitive practices, such as dumping. Clients, suppliers, and partners receive hidden rebates and subsidies that much increase the – unreported – real cost of production.

BBVA’s payments to ETA may have been a typical payment of protection fees. Both terrorists and organized crime put slush funds to bad use. They get paid from such funds – and maintain their own. Ransom payments to kidnappers often flow through these channels.

But slush funds are overwhelmingly used to bribe corrupt politicians. The fight against corruption has been titled against the recipients of illicit corporate largesse. But to succeed, well-meaning international bodies, such as the OECD’s FATF, must attack with equal zeal those who bribe. Every corrupt transaction is between a venal politician and an avaricious businessman. Pursuing the one while ignoring the other is self-defeating.

About the Author

Information on <a href=”http://www.healthandnutritiontips.net/pulled_muscle_symptoms/pulled_muscle_symptoms.html”>pulled muscle symptoms</a> can be found at the <a href=”http://www.healthandnutritiontips.net”>Health And Nutrition Tips</a> site.

Japanese/korean comedy series/movies ?..?

Hi.. i am very crazy about dramas starring pretty & smart girls falling for dummy, nerd, ugly guys, such pure love.. XD

Korean series:
마이 걸 – My Girl
COOL!! COOL!! Must watch!! that’s it!!

유리화 (yurihwa) – Stained Glass (romantic but sad)

이 죽일놈 사랑 (i jukil nom sarang) – A Love to Kill
Touching, sad ending (but peaceful), romance between an actress and her bodyguard.

이브의 모든 것 (ibe-ui modun got) – All About Eve
It’s a really old drama, but one of the best ones!! The setting is a TV station, circles around who should become the evening news presenter. One of the stars is Jang Dong Gun and he was still so young then!! >.<

상두야, 학교에 가자! (Sangduya, hagyo-e kaja!) - Sangdoo, let's go to school!
About a gigolo named Sang Doo who didn't manage to graduate highschool. But now he meets his first love who is teaching high school. So he entered the highschool to get back with her.

궁 (Kung) - Princess' Hour
It's an imagination if Korea were still a Kingdom. So drama takes place in the 21st century Korean Kingdom. Funny and interesting. It centers around the life of the wife of the crown prince.

꾳비는 봄이오면 (WHEN THE SPRING COME)
interesting

감사 합니다 (thank you)
it's a really fascinating MUST WATCH STORY about a korean family in a small island. there's this child who's infected with AiDS due to a doctor's fault. The doctor then died and her boyfriend (who's also a doctor) went to the island to look for the child. the story is about their growing relationship in that small island with conservative community - a child who's infected with AIDS, a single mom, her grandpa, and a doctor who's falling in love with the whole family.

Autumn Shower (forgot the Korean title)
love-triangle

황진이 (hwangjini)
a story about a gisaeng (equivalent to Japanese geisha).

Perhaps Love
main stars: Lee Hyori and Lee Dong Gun. Hyori plays a singer who was betrayed by her manager, and Dong Gun plays a gangster.

Korean Movies:

사랑하니까 괜차찮아 (fly high)
백만자 첫사랑 (the millionaire’s first love)
홍반장… (mr. Handy)
로빈꼬시기 (Seducing Mr. perfect)
Daddy’s Long Legs (the comic books are better though..)
B형 남자 친구 (B-hyong namja chingu) – My Boyfriend is Type B
내 사랑 싸가지 (ne sarang ssagaji) – i forgot the english translation, maybe it’s 100 days love or something like that, anyways, it’s a must watch and EXTREMELY FUNNY!!
내 머리속의 지우개 (ne morisok-ui jiuge) – A moment to remember – touching, sad!
늑대의 유혹 (nukde ui yuhok) – i also forgot the english title, literally it means the wolf’s seduction but I’m quite sure the english title is not even close to that, it’s about a boy who falls in love with his step sister whom he hadn’t seen for years.
우리들의 행복한 시간 (uridul-ui hengbokhan sigan) – Maundy Thursday ~ sad, touching, but kind of dark

Japanese series:

Antique
Hideaki Takezawa and Naohito-kun^^. three weird guys in a bakery

Gokusen
the silly student who falls in love with his teacher

Aneechan
CUTE!!

Beautiful Life
touching!!

Kimi wa petto
A 30 years old single woman who has this high school boy as her pet

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Living in Korea Song

Knowing Korean Language Helps

It has been many years since you have been promoting your export and import business and you have earned lots of money through it. Over these years you have built up a strong relationship with your overseas clients and have even visited some of them. It gives one a warm feeling when they are able to meet their business partner in flesh and blood. While you have discussed the finer points of business with them through various medias, meeting the live is another thing all together. You still recall the sights you were fortunate enough to see during your trip to the United Kingdom. These are the things dreams are made up of and these are memories that last one a lifetime.

These cross-cultural meetings help to strengthen the bonds between you and your business partners and make you all more of a global family. There have been other requests from your other business partners and you have been thinking about it too, but there are times when you find it difficult to accept their request. Recently one of your Korean clients requested you to spend your Christmas holidays with them in Korea. Though you are delighted over the prospect, you are worried since you do not know the Korean language at all. You just know a few words and they are all to do with your trade. They will not help at all when you are visiting Korea.

It is essential that you learn the Korean language before you accept your friend’s proposal. But where can you learn the Korean language? Just check out the Internet and you will be amazed to see the number of sites that help promote this language. In fact, some of these sites, that are affiliated to the Korean university go all the way and even offer degree courses in the Korean language. It is doubtful whether you’ll have the time or whether you do require a detailed course in the Korean language, but you do need to learn the basics. What if you got lost somehow while in Korea? You have heard that most natives over there do not know the English language and that the Korean language is the only means of communication.

You have got many options before you and one of them is going in for a special tourist course that will familiarize you with the common phrases and words. These courses are targeted for the tourist and will permit you to find your way back to the hotel in case you loose your way by mistake. This course will also give you a solid foundation about the Korean language and will assist you in the future, if you plan to go in for advanced studies. Apart from the websites, you can also check out the Korean embassies and consulates. Most of them have a library that is rich in books in the Korean language and if you are lucky, you might find some targeted at beginners.

About the Author

Park is a professional Korean translator working for VERY TRANSLATION which provides
Korean translation
.

how do the japanese people view the chinese and korean people living in japan?

It all depends. I have many Korean and Chinese friends as well as Japanese friends. Korean culture is becoming more popular here because of Korean Pop and dramas, plus they seem very highly educated and learn the language quickly.

Chinese sometimes have a harder time, as they tend to be rather agressive when speaking to Japanese people and doing buisiness with them. As long as they are polite and seem to try to mix with the culture the best they can, they are usually OK and can be very successful here.

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Annie Chun’s Seaweed Snacks, Roasted Sesame, 0.35-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12) $15.98 Annie Chuns Seaweed Snacks; Roasted Se same; 0.35-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12)…

Annie Chun’s Seaweed Snacks, Roasted Wasabi, 0.35-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12) $12.49 Annie Chun’s will bring excitement to your snack choices with a unique new product that is delicious yet healthy. Our crispy seaweed snacks has been a staple in the Korean diet for centuries but now it’s going to help revolutionize the way Americans snack. A great new snack alternative!…

Korean Food: Garlic Chive Pancakes (부추전)

Ideas for the Banquet Chef

Like a good book, a good banquet is so much more than a meal for a crowd. The planning and execution is a task for the master idea-maker. Pulling it all off requires a cast and crew rivaling the filmmakers of Hollywood in size and skill. Timing is everything – one person off their cue and the soup gets cold, the centerpieces melt, and the whole show comes crashing down. It is an art with a hundred variations.

What scale of a production are you looking to make? If you’re given creative freedom, you might be looking for that one idea for a theme or attitude from which the unfolding of your entire scheme can emerge. Herein, some ideas for inspiration:

The Medieval Renaissance Banquet
Renaissance Faires are becoming an annual event in every major city, usually around the Fall. Groups like the Society for Creative Anachronism organize on the Internet and travel around in a circuit. The popular restaurant and entertainment chain Medieval Times has also helped establish the Middle Ages theme as a popular banquet genre.

For Medieval banquets, the food is usually simple and heavily features roast meat. If you serve alcohol, mead is a popular Renaissance-era beverage, but finding somebody who knows how to make it is difficult. Other Renaissance alcohol might include ales, malt beverages, and grog or rum. Side dishes may be simple steamed vegetable or potato dishes. Breads and soups go well together, and a bread soup-bowl – that is, a large crusty loaf hollowed out and served that way, like soup in an edible bowl – actually had it’s origins in the Renaissance. Other foods include tarts and cakes, and cheeses and wines.

While there is a myth that Medieval folks ate roasts with their bare hands straight off the bone, actually times for the better-off of the period – the ones who could actually manage banquets! – were more civilized and utensils are encouraged. You might think about wooden serving tools, costuming the staff in European Middle-Age garb, and referring to the servers as “serving wenches and rogues”. Attend a Renaissance Faire in your area to get a feel for it; these are great fun and a cultural expedition.

The Elegant Oriental Banquet
Here’s an opportunity to put your sushi or teppanyaki chef to good use! Steak and seafood restaurants with an oriental theme have made their mark on the culinary world, notably the popular Benihana restaurant chain. The steak and grill house style of Japanese restaurant is only one way to look at it, however, and you may consider something a little more formal than having a cook at each table flicking steak knives and flaming pans around inches from your guest’s noses.

A formal Oriental occasion is more relaxed and refined. Think more of geisha servers, elegant centerpieces, and delicate foods. This is an occasion which calls for a tea serving. Start with a basic sado ceremony and alter it for your needs. Perhaps replace tea with a choice of hot beverages before the meal. Keep a menu that is consistent with the whole event, sticking to Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, whatever you pick.

The whole event can be kept to an Oriental style of refinement when you keep the spirit of “wabi”. Wabi means “quiet or sober refinement, or subdued taste” and is characterized by humility, restraint, simplicity, naturalism, profundity, and a kind of humbling slight imperfection.

The Technology Company Banquet
The computer and electronics industry continues to grow at a fierce pace. More and more you’ll find yourself catering company events for a computer-related enterprise. In these cases, management is like management everywhere, but the workers are something else. The theme isn’t so much a matter here as the kind of food.

Technology workers such as engineers and programmers tend to be high-minded in their food preferences. The stereotype of the computer geek snacking on junk food is absolutely false. All computer types are at least discriminating in their diet and many are highly health-food conscious. Many prefer spicy ethnic food, and on their own organize group expeditions to the most exotic restaurant in town. The only place where the stereotype is on track is caffeine; IT people still love their coffee and energy drinks. Setting up a quality espresso bar is sure to be a big hit.

Theming is something you should discuss before-hand. Find out if there is a strong company subculture you can cater to. A science fiction show popular to the group, perhaps. In any case, theming will be largely a matter of decoration rather than menu. The only general constraint is that most technology workers are urban and like some sophistication in their settings.

The Western Banquet
A “no-brainer” for the American culture. Western themed restaurants aren’t hard to come by. Ranch fare is hardy and simple to prepare and is served without too much trimmings. Barbecue, chilis, ribs, cornbread and corn dishes, roast beef, roast turkey, and just about anything you can put gravy on will fit in. Desserts such as cherry pie and apple cobbler.

Beverages may be either of coffee or sarsaparilla (root beer). Don’t go overboard on the theming but keep it stylish. The key is not to decorate with cliches like cattle skulls, wagon wheels and hay bales, but to keep an atmosphere of the typical classy ranch house with a western flare.

The Christian Banquet
A Biblical theme is an interesting experience. You may get a call for this whenever you have a church wedding, a religious social event, or a business with a heavy faith accent. Be sure to find out ahead of time whether they have dietary constraints such as a class of meats they don’t eat or Kosher restrictions.

Fish, poultry, and lamb will be a safe choice for meats. Salads are popular, as is any raw or steamed vegetable. Bread is also a big part of Biblical fare, particularly whole grain breads with a lot of wheat and barley. Fruits can be dates, figs, pomegranates, or grapes. Beverages should be fruit juices, which are pretty much the only safe choice with all of the religious restrictions on alcohol and hot drinks out there.

Hope these ideas got your creative juices flowing!

About the Author

Freelance writer for over eleven years.

Chef Aprons

Chef Uniforms

Uniform Scrubs

i need to lose 15+ pounds by the beginning of september?

im 14, 5′4, and 130-132 lbs and i need to lose at least 15 pounds before school in september. ive started to eat alot of korean food since im korean and i was thinking of eating 3 meals of korean food a day and watermelon as a snack if im hungry in between.
i will also be walking in the morning or evening depending on when i can for 45 min. also i will be drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day. will this work ? im really desperate and i need to lose all around. thanksss !
no fried korean foods and not alot of rice. the rice isnt white its made up of different beans and grains and stuff. its alot healthier than white rice from what i heard.
OH and what kind of vitamins and stuff do i need to take ? what brand ? how often ?

From what I’ve heard, walking is the best way to lose weight but you have to walk for long distances for it to have any real effect. Set realistic goals for yourself, like walking for two hours every other day. Diet is really important. I’m Korean too and it is a fact that Korean food is overall pretty healthy. Just stay away from sugar and fried food. Drink only water…if you follow just these things for just a few weeks, I guarantee you will notice the difference.

Joyce Chen 10-Inch Bamboo Steamer Set $14.99 This traditional steamer traps steam and absorbs moisture preventing dim sum from getting soggy. Fits perfectly inside any of Joyce Chen’s 12″ stir frys or 14″ woks. Steam from the wok is used to cook meats or seafood in the bottom tier, then add vegetables in the top tier. The bamboo steamer can be used to cook wheat buns, cakes, and dim sum, and is also a great way to steam small amounts of tam…

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Easy Stir Fry Tofu and Oriental Rice – Maria J. Ronquillo

How to Use Canned Tuna to Make Easy and Tasty Entrees For Your Family

One of the ways to prepare quick, easy, economical and tasty family entrees is to use canned tuna.  Here are some recipes using canned tuna that are sure to become family favorites.  Tuna Pilaf with the rice, Oriental vegetables and soy sauce gives this dish an Asian flair.  The Cheesy Tuna Peppers serve a hot tuna and noodle mixture in a bell pepper half.

TUNA PILAF

1 cup uncooked long-grain rice

1 tsp butter

2 green onions, chopped

2 1/2 cups water

1 (10-oz) pkg frozen mixed Oriental vegetables, thawed

1 (10-oz) can tuna in water, drained and broken into chunks

1 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce

Combine rice and butter in a small Dutch oven.  Cook over medium heat 2 minutes or until rice is transparent.  Add green onions and cook 1 minutes or until tender.  Stir in water.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and cook 20 minutes or until water is absorbed.  Add Oriential vegetables and continue to cook over low heat 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.  Fold in tuna and soy sauce.  Serve hot.

CHEESY TUNA PEPPERS

5 medium green bell peppers
1 package Tuna Helper mix for NOODLES, CHEESE SAUCE ‘N TUNA
3 cups hot water
1 can (6 1/2 oz) tuna, drained
1 jar (2 oz)chopped pimientos, drained
2 tbsp chopped dried chives
1 tsp paprika

Cut thin slice from stem end of each pepper. Remove seeds and membrane; rinse. Cut each pepper crosswise into halves. Heat Noodles, Sauce Mix and water to boiling in a 10-inch skillet, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring constantly, for ten minutes. Mix tuna, pimientos, chives and paprika in large bowl; stir in noodle mixture. Place two pepper halves, cut sides up and side by side, on each of 5 plates. Spoon tuna mixture over peppers. Sprinkle with chives, if desired. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

About the Author

For more of Linda’s recipes and diabetic information visit http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

What is a good “seasoning packet” (like McCormicks or another) to add oriental flavor?

Cuz I’m steaming some rice and veggies and just soy sauce won’t cut it. A seasoning packet or maybe some sort of goo in a jar?
Thanks.

Oriental flavoring is most commonly these ingredients:
garlic
ginger
soy sauce
rice vinegar
sesame oil
green onions

Just add those things, or whatever combination of them you have at home.