Rob works for a company that offers a 401(k) plan. He has decided to leave his current job, accepting a new job offer with a different employer. He now has some decisions to make regarding his current 401(k) plan. Rob has some options that are available. He can cash it out and take what is in the account, minus taxes, but this is not advised. He asked his advisor the question, “can I roll my 401(k) to a Roth IRA?” The answer is yes, and it is probably the best thing to do. If Rob does decide to go ahead with the rollover, he must already have an existing Roth IRA account. If he does not, he will have to open a new account before proceeding with the rollover process.
Types of Rollovers:
Direct Rollover from 401(k) to Roth IRA
In regards to his 401(k) plan, Rob has two types of rollover options to choose from. The first is a direct rollover. This is usually the best option. With a direct rollover, the funds from Rob’s current 401(k) account will simply be sent over to the existing Roth IRA account. The only requirement is that Rob must already have an open Roth IRA account. With this type of rollover, there will be no IRA penalties or taxes involved. It is a simple matter of transferring the funds from one account to the other and the process moves very quickly.
Indirect Rollover from 401(k) to Roth IRA
The other type of rollover Rob can elect is indirect. This can be a bit complicated than the direct rollover. Rob has been trying to find the answer to whether he can roll his 401(k) over to a Roth IRA. Now that he has determined that is possible, some valuable time may have already been wasted, especially if he is opting for the indirect rollover. An indirect rollover occurs when there were distributions made from the 401(k). For example, Rob will receive a check for the amount from his 401(k) account. When he receives this check, he will immediately notice that the amount does not coincide with his recent statement. This is because 20% has been taken out of the amount to pay for taxes. This is where things can get complicated. For Rob to complete a rollover, he must follow all IRA rules. First of all, the rollover must consist of the entire amount that was in your 401(k). For example, if Rob has $100,000 in the account, he will receive a check for $80,000. When he goes to perform the indirect rollover, he will have to find a way to produce that 20% that was taken for taxes. This means that it is his responsibility to add $20,000 to the amount of the check. This may sound like a lot of money, and it is, seeing as he has to come up with it quickly, but as long as Rob follows the rules, he will receive that 20% in his tax returns at the end of the year.
Indirect Rollover: 60 Days to Complete the Transfer of Funds
As if that is not complicated enough, there is more! In addition to the 20% subtraction for taxes, Rob must now abide by a set timeframe in which to complete the rollover. From the date the he receives a check for the distribution from his 401(k), he will have only 60 days to complete the rollover. If Rob does not currently have a Roth IRA, he will have to take the time to open a new account. Upon making the transfer when the account is ready, Rob will have to make sure to include the $20,000 taken for taxes. So, he has 60 days to come up with the money, open a Roth IRA account and complete the transfer.
Requirements for a Roth IRA
Now that Rob has received all of the information he needs to determine that he can roll his 401(k) to a Roth IRA, he now must make sure that all eligibility guidelines for the Roth IRA are met. Of course, if Rob already had an existing account, he does not have to worry about this. However, if he does have to open a new Roth IRA, it is important for him to be aware of the Roth IRA rules. One of the most important factors will be the amount of Rob’s income. According to Roth IRA rules, Rob’s current adjusted gross income cannot exceed $120,000 per year. If Rob’s income exceeds this amount, he will not be able to open a Roth IRA account, in which case, he will have to roll his 401(k) over to a different type of retirement account.
Since Rob is leaving his current job, he must make a decision regarding his 401(k) plan. Rolling over his plan to an IRA retirement account is his best option. A direct rollover is preferred, because it is a faster and simpler process, but it is not always possible. The entire process of rolling over your 401(k) to a Roth IRA, regardless of what type of rollover is conducted, is not overly complicated as long as you abide by IRA rollover chart rules. Rob no longer needs to ask his advisor, “can I roll my 401(k) to a Roth IRA?”
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Penny Stock Prophet is a penny stock picker which works to identify soon be profitable penny stocks and notify you so that you can invest accordingly. I’ve heard mixed reviews on the system myself with some calling it a money making robot and others labeled labeling it a scam. When I heard of the 60 day money back policy, I decided to try it for myself first hand. This is my Penny Stock Prophet review.
Something I’d like to say up front in this Penny Stock Prophet review is a bit about how this program finds the profitable trades which are supposed to make you money. This program takes advantage of the full scope of the market when generating its picks. What this means is that it takes the past into account every time it analyzes real time market data.
This is effective and how the major trading houses predict market activity, as well, because the market moves and evolves in patterns which repeat themselves every several years. By taking the past into account you can identify similarities between the past and present in real-time market data and go from there.
As I mentioned, Penny Stock Prophet focuses entirely on penny stocks which works out to be a major advantage. Penny stocks are the cheapest investments to be found in the market, and consequently they are much more susceptible to outside influence.
As such, it’s common to see one of these stocks quickly fluctuate in value in a short period time. So if you can identify the stocks which are set to go on these jumps, hence using a program designed to identify these stock, you can effectively double or triple your investments in a short period time without spending the time analyzing market data yourself.
I’ve made money on every single one of this program’s picks since I got it over 2 months ago. Penny Stock Prophet’s trading methods help to give it easily the best winning rate of any stock picker in the market today.
In summation, I heartily suggest this program to anyone looking to realize their financial independence or anyone who is interested in investing but does not have the experience or has been worried about the risk associated with it or maybe does not have time to do so themselves.
Read a full insiders review here
Read a full insiders review here
Is Penny Stock Prophet another one of those Stock Trading scams? Read my full review of the Penny Stock Prophet newsletter and find out!
Numerous investors believe in and use the principles of technical analysis. In fact, large brokerage houses provide extensive support for technical analysis and a large part of the discussion related to capital markets in the media is based on a technical view of the market.
Technical analysis observes historical price movements of the stock market and individual securities and develops a variety of models and technical trading rules such as moving averages, regression analysis and relative strength index to predict future market behavior. By taking into account price and volume changes, technical analysis comes in sharp contrast with fundamental analysis, which suggests that past performance has no influence on future performance or market values. Technical analysis involves the observation of past market data to estimate future market trends and therefore an investment decision using the market itself to predict its future performance.
To predict future behavior, technical analysts use several underlying assumptions that lead to this view of price movements. First of all, technical analysis assumes that the market value of any good or service is determined solely by the interaction of supply and demand. This assumption is universally accepted by both technical and fundamental analyst as it constitutes a basic theory in economics. The price of any security is determined by the interaction of supply and demand.
The second assumption of technical analysis is that supply and demand are driven by a variety of rational and irrational factors. In these factors are also included economic variables that fundamental analysts recognize as determinants of market corrections, but also factors such as opinions, moods and guesses that actually shape trends which are fundamental in technical analysis. In regards to this second assumption, most observers acknowledge that supply and demand are driven by numerous variables that cannot be separated and the market has to continually and automatically weigh all these factors and reflect them in the stock price.
The third assumption of technical analysis is that the prices of individual securities and the value of the market as a whole have the tendency to move in trends, which persist for considerable lengths of time. These prevailing trends tend to adjust to changes in supply and demand. Technical analysts assume that stock prices move in trends that persist for long periods because they consider that new information enters the market over a period of time and not at once. This gradual pattern of information occurs as various groups of securities professional to the average investor receive gradually the information and or sell the stocks accordingly, moving the price accordingly and gradually reaching a new equilibrium. Therefore, technical analysis is based on a gradual price adjustment that reflects the gradual flow of information into the market.
There are numerous technical trading rules and a range of interpretations for each of them. Technical analysts, in majority, watch many alternative rules and decide on a or sell decision based on a consensus of the signals because it is rare to achieve complete agreement of all the rules. Many technical analysts assume that investors are wrong as the market approaches peaks and lows and they try to determine when the majority of investors are either bearish or bullish and trade in the opposite direction. In technical analysis, this is known as contrary-opinion rules. Another set of rules such as the Confidence Index, and the T-Bill Eurodollar Yield Spread follows the behavior of sophisticated investors and are widely known as the follow-the-smart-money tactics. Finally, there are momentum indicators such as the 200-day moving average, and the breadth of market, as well as stock price and moving techniques such as relative strength, moving-average lines, bar charting, resistance levels, and point-and-figure charts that are used to make aggregate market decisions based on rising and declining trend channels.
Overall, technical analysis is applied to both domestic and global capital markets and can also be used to analyze currency exchange rates and determine the prevailing sentiment in the bond market.
A freelance writer, top MBA graduate with Finance major, passionate about business, finance, history and music; this is pretty much me in a nutshell.
I provide high quality writing services since 2005 in the field of Business & Finance, Movie Reviews, Book Reviews, Health & Fitness, Internet and Relationships. I also have a very good knowledge of Politics and History.
My advanced familiarity with financial modeling, financial statement analysis, capital budgeting and market research has helped me a lot, not only to be a successful professional, but mostly to see life under a more creative and innovative perspective. Besides, having lived for two years in Chicago, IL and Boca Raton, FL and for quite some time in Paris, France has provided me with an international aspect and has enlarged the way I see and understand life.
I currently work as a financial and investment advisor at an international financial institution. Yet, my dream is to be able to make a living as a writer.
In September 2008, the American International Group, AIG, the largest insurance company in the United States, collapsed under the weight of bad debts incurred from insuring mortgage-backed securities. Although the corporation made significant progress in addressing liquidity issues related to its financial products and its securities-lending activities, in the middle of continued financial market turmoil, it failed to preserve and maximize the value of its business practices for the benefit of its stakeholders. As a result, AIG reported the largest quarterly losses in U.S corporate history, $61.7 billion in Q4.
The Federal Reserve bailed out AIG with an $85 billion loan in exchange for a 79.9% equity stake. Three weeks later, AIG was granted $37.8 billion loan as liquidity for its securities-lending business. Even after these initial infusions, losses continued to mount and in November, the Treasury provided another $20.9 billion under a new program, summing up the total bailout package to $144 billion under three different credit line programs. In March 2009, the Federal government agreed on providing AIG another $30 billion with a fourth program raising the bailout bill to $174 billion. By July 2009, the bailout package had reached $182 billion.
At the same time, AIG became the target of extensive outrage as a result of the $165 million paid in bonuses to AIG senior management and traders that actually caused the collapse. Investors, taxpayers and the public in general were disgusted at the idea of the people who caused AIG’s collapse and financial distress to be rewarded as heroes.
The first immediate impact of AIG bailout is evident on investor confidence. In spite of the increased consumer spending and household income in the beginning of 2009, the AIG scandal overshadowed the markets. Considering that more than the US population owns stocks and other securities and with global capital markets reacting aggressively to AIG press releases and government bailout packages, the US economy and, consequently, the global economy, are affected by the governmental actions to help a corporate monster recover.
Besides, since October 2007 when the Dow was around 14,100 until today that is at 9,750, investors have lost 31 percent of their value. Even worse, in fourteen trading sessions, the Dow has toppled from 8,000 to below 7,000. At the same time, unemployment is at an all time high having affected nearly five million Americans, while productions levels continue to shrink and layoffs surpass any growth.
Technically what AIG was provided is a loan, but, in effect, it is a bailout because without that amount of money the company could have gone bankrupt. Now, AIG not only has to pay back the money, but taxpayers are also hooked with the company since they own, along with the U.S. government, 79.9% of it. The question about investors is how AIG can sell off its assets at a high price when capital markets are still in turmoil and there is not much liquidity in the markets? Wall Street is out of cash and investors are out of faith. So, in a way, AIG paying back its debt is a hope given that the company has a lot of debt in its liabilities. If the market explodes, taxpayers and the government are going to be on the hook for AIG.
Another thing that seems to be slightly misunderstood is the fact that AIG failure is not terrible only because the company was so big, but mostly because with AIG getting out of the picture for having backed mortgage-backed securities, the possibility of a domino effect is evident. Any business or individual that has been involved and has done business with AIG faces the reality of seeing own assets going under. And is such an unstable and weak financial environment this would a nightmare scenario.
The government AIG bailout shows the levels of corruption in corporate America. Before AIG, the common measurement of bonuses was a company’s profitability. If the business was profitable, management was compensated with a bonus. If the business was losing money, there was no bonus involved. After AIG, things got reversed.
On the other hand, there are people who think that government bailout to AIG helped US economy to overcome the depression. However, the experience of previous recessions has shown that the end comes only when inflated prices shrink to a level that allows the majority of people to enjoy fundamental goods of life such as housing, clothing and nourishment.
The U.S. government is on the hook for succeeding in saving AIG for the moment. But, those who will make sure this bailout works are the U.S. taxpayers. The systemic risk that AIG posed in the first place and continues to pose combined with the volatility of capital markets, the cost to the US economy and the governmental inaction does little to re-inspire investor confidence. Even worse, government AIG bailout is a straight attack on the common sense of people. Unfortunately, this will take a long time until it can be forgotten and translated into rising capital markets and attractive stock performances around the globe.
A freelance writer, top MBA graduate with Finance major, passionate about business, finance, history and music; this is pretty much me in a nutshell.
I provide high quality writing services since 2005 in the field of Business & Finance, Movie Reviews, Book Reviews, Health & Fitness, Internet and Relationships. I also have a very good knowledge of Politics and History.
My advanced familiarity with financial modeling, financial statement analysis, capital budgeting and market research has helped me a lot, not only to be a successful professional, but mostly to see life under a more creative and innovative perspective. Besides, having lived for two years in Chicago, IL and Boca Raton, FL and for quite some time in Paris, France has provided me with an international aspect and has enlarged the way I see and understand life.
I currently work as a financial and investment advisor at an international financial institution. Yet, my dream is to be able to make a living as a writer.
You may find me at:
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Planning a visit to Varadero, Cuba? Take that dream vacation you\’ve been planning with a low rate vacation loan from . Vacation payday loan is fetching well-liked among tourists, because it makes traveling excitement, reasonable and trouble-free!
This country continues to attract tourists from all over the world. And it is not surprising – the climate in Cuba, just wonderful! And the emerald sea, colorful locals, an abundance of festivals and carnivals fetch picture. Besides, who refuses to try the famous Cuban rum and cigars?
Varadero\’s largest shopping complex is Plaza America where fancy boutiques and all manner of shops cater to American-style consumerism. There are a number of artisan markets that sell a wide variety of souvenirs along 1th Avenue. For cigars the Casa Del Habana sells excellent quality cigars.
Many travel sites offer information on this topic, as often about Cuba can be heard from the news, but nevertheless wish to once again talk about Cuba, because Cuba – an island of freedom.
There are many bars offering live music, cabaret shows are popular, and dance clubs and discos in the town cater to Cubans and tourists alike. The hotels have nightly entertainment, with lots of Cuban music, dancing and cocktails on offer.
The Pearl Islands is considered to be the Varadero is located on the island Ikakos. Such amazing beaches with white sand and clean sea still need to search! Tourists are invited to visit the Dolphin Aquarium. Trained dolphins put on shows, after which you can swim alongside these graceful mammals, if you like. Very interesting will visit the cave Ambrosia with its ancient rock paintings, as well as the famous National Park Varadero.
Those who like active rest, too, do not be bored: for their services as much -there are over 30 dive sites around Varadero and dive centers offering dive courses. Deep sea fishing, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking and sailing are all offered. Land-based activities include golf, skydiving and bowling.
The capital of Cuba, Havana is famous for its museums – colonial and anthropological. There is even a museum to combat illiteracy.
The largest park in the Cuban capital is named after V.I. Lenin, you must visit him. Would be an interesting visit to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (the mid 17 the century), Monastery of Santa Clara (17 century), the zoo and the capital Havana Botanical Garden. And not far from the fortress of La Cabaña is a majestic monument – sculpture «Havana Christ», the whole height of 18 meters! Every evening in the castle passes pompous ceremony cannon shots – try to get it. In the time of the colony cannon shot signaled the closing of the gate for travelers and the cessation of movement of ships between the fortresses of La Punta and El Moro. Today, the gun shot in the evening – it\’s just a tribute to tradition and yet another entertainment for tourists, marking the onset of interesting Havana Nights.
Memories last a lifetime! At least once in their lifetime to change the cold winter to sunny beaches of Varadero, visit the home of Roma and the Cuban cigars, or even meet New Year in Cuba – believe me, it\’s worth it!
I had good deal from my travel agency, but couldn’t pay right away and my credit was not perfect but I was able to get a from a payday loan company and instant cash was in my pocket. With same day instant cash loans, you are not anymore required to worry about any vacation emergency. I was able to get my vacation dream and enjoyed Varadero a lot!
Helen is financial advisor and might help you with your questions about
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Traditional cigarette poses an undeniable hazard to our health. In the United States, traditional smoking kills nearly 440,000 people every year and about 1 in every 5 deaths is attributed to smoking. In the UK, approximately 11,000 die from smoking. Traditional smoking is a main cause of cancers of the lung, pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, etc. What device could take the place of the cigarette but let the smoker enjoy the same hand to mouth sensation? is ideal.
First developed in Beijing, China, electronic cigarettes (also known as personal vaporizer, e-cigarette) simulates smoking a real cigarette without the tar, tobacco and other chemical elements. They always take the form of cigarettes, pipes cigars, and pen. Instead of producing smoke when smokers use, e-cigarettes produce vapor. So there is no arsenic, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and other bad chemicals. The bad health affection to smokers themselves or others who are around them will be massively cut down or even cut down to zero. Plus, they are not as expensive as before, especially when you from suppliers.
I. What Does an E-cigarette Consist of?
Almost all the personal vaporizers consist of three parts, that is, the battery, the heating element, and the mouthpiece which houses the cartridge.
- Battery
Lithium-ion rechargeable battery is employed by most electronic cigarettes. The battery life span is up to the size and type of the battery, using frequency and operating environment.
- Heating element
Also called atomizer or atty, the heating element is used to vaporize the liquid in the mouthpiece so smokers could inhale vapor.
- Mouthpiece
This part refers to the small disposable plastic cup. It is affixed to the end of the tube. Absorbent material is contained inside in this part.
II. What Are the Benefits of E-cigarette?
In comparison to traditional cigarette, the electronics cigarettes have the following benefits:
- No flames and less pollution
Personal vaporizers run on batteries. It is not necessary for smokers to spend extra money on buying lighters, lighter fluid and matches any more. So there is much less pollution and no fire to catch onto anything.
- Less waste
The batteries of e-cigarette are always rechargeable, so less waste will be produced.
- No hovering cloud of smoke or second hand smoke
E-cigarettes only produce smoke-alike vapor. They reduce smokers’ influence on our health to the least degree.
- Big money-saving
Although one pack of electronic cigarette is more expensive than traditional types, one cartridge for the electronic is equal to 2 packs of cigarettes. In the long term, e-cigarette helps save more.
- Legal in any place.
Smoking is prohibited in the public area in many countries. But e-cigarette is not a real cigarette; smokers could use them in the public area like restaurants and bars without being punished.
III. What Are the Popular Models of Personal Vaporizer?
Popular models include Crown 7, Gamucci, Smartfixx, Njoy, and so on. If you want to find cheap products, you could consider buying from China markets.
Felicia is a distributor dropship consumer electronics direct from china and serves you the best
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Put This in Your Pipe and Smoke It – Top 5 Nicaraguan Cigars
Arnold Schwarzenegger. Tom Cruise. Mel Gibson. Harrison Ford. Sylvester Stallone.
What in the world do all of these high-octane megastars have in common? No, they’re not all starring in Mission: Testosterone, this summer’s most muscled blockbuster. But, they do share a unique bond. In fact, they share the same connection with such historically notable folks as Fidel Castro, W.C. Fields, and even King Edward VII.
How could kings, comedians, and revolutionary leaders have anything in common with the Terminator, Rambo, and Braveheart?
It’s simple: They all love a good cigar! No, actually, they all love a great cigar!
And, when it comes to great cigars, arguably there are none better today than those coming from rich soils and humid mountain hillsides of Nicaragua. Long having taken a backseat to the Cuban cigar-making dynasty, Nicaragua is making its mark on the international scene with the finest cigars found anywhere on the planet.
Just like its booming real estate market that has rebounded after natural disasters and political unrest to become one of the best places in the world to invest, the Nicaraguan cigar industry is benefiting and experiencing a renaissance as well. From the center of it cigar revolution in Esteli to Condega and all the way out to the Jalapa Valley, Nicaragua is home to the world’s best cigar makers, tobacco, and established and up-and-coming brands.
With so many great cigars to choose from, the problem for the cigar aficionado and the newbie alike becomes not “How can I find a good Nicaraguan cigar,” but where should I even start? To help you make your way through the jungle landscape of choice, let’s take a look at five all-time favorites.
5. Plasencia Organica Nesticos
Profile: small cigar, mild, but rich taste
Big things come in little packages! The world’s first 100% Certified Organic cigar, the Plasencia Organica Nesticos are pure handmade tobacco magic. These little cigars take advantage of Plansencia’s renowned three-year-aged, organically-grown Nicaraguan tobaccos and serve it up in a smoke-able size that allows you to enjoy big cigar flavor even when you don’t have a lot of time.
4. Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970, Robusto Grande.
Profile: strong, robust, earthy, woody, big, heavy-bodied…you get the idea, this cigar ain’t messing around!
This hefty all-Nicaraguan tobacco cigar was crafted to appeal to an American clientele who could no longer puff their favorite Havanas after the Cuban revolution. Let’s just call it like it is: The Robusto Grande is a big daddy of a cigar – both in size and flavor. There’s no getting around the fact that it packs a seriously rich blow with that characteristic Nicaraguan metallic twang. If you like your cigars to knock you out with a power-packed punch, this is your choice.
Rated 90 by Cigar Aficionado, this ridiculously rich tasting cigar by Felipe Gregorio is definitely round and robust, but has a seamlessly smooth quality that makes it a definite contender. The Fat Boy’s small, but stocky size (3.5 x 55) gives it a definite “Don’t Mess with Me” attitude. When you’re feeling like a fine fatty at a reasonable rate, find yourself a Felipe II and get ready for a taste explosion.
2. Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series
Profile: medium to full-bodied, long finish, perfectly balanced.
If you want to feel like a celebrity, then you’ll want to take a pull on any cigar from the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series. Made to celebrate their 30th anniversary, this line is crafted from only their best tobaccos and is often quite difficult to find. However, when you do get your hands on one, you’ll experience a masterful cigar from first spark to final ash tap. Despite the price, this is a must-have in your collection.
1. Perdomo Edición de Silvio
Profile: robust, delicate tones, perfection
This exquisite cigar is considered by many to be one of the best in the world bar none. With a secret blend of the finest tobaccos, this is the holy grail of cigars. And, although it is by far the most exclusive (read: expensive) cigar on my list, it’s not to be missed. So, when you start making huge profits with your Nicaraguan real estate investments, you can experience a little decadence with a Perdomo Edicion de Silvio.
As you can quickly see, the Nicaraguan cigar revolution is in full swing – a rich variety of flavors that is unmatched anywhere in the world. With its fascinating history, the Nicaraguan cigar story is one that can’t be missed. When you light up any of the above cigars, you’ll know that you’ve found a new favorite in Nicaragua.
Originally from San Diego, California, Scott Taylor is an extreme adventure-loving world traveler and international real estate expert and investor living and working in Panama City, Panama. With years of experience investing in countries around the globe, Scott has a particular affection for the land, people, and?of course?real estate of Nicaragua.
Have you ever wondered where cigars were first produced? It is widely believed that cigars were first produced in Spain. But before cigars became all the rage in Europe, tobacco was needed to make them. Tobacco is indigenous to the Americas, where native peoples have produced it for hundreds of years. It is believed that the Maya of Yucatan peninsula in Mexico and parts of Central America cultivated tobacco, and even smoked it! Tobacco use spread to other tribes, both north and south. It is believed that its first use in the United States was probably among the tribe along the Mississippi. It wasn’t until Christopher Columbus sailed his famous voyage to the Americas in 1492 that the rest of the world came to know tobacco.
It is said that Columbus was not impressed by tobacco or its use among native peoples, but many sailors grew found of the strange plant. Soon it quickly caught on in Spain and Portugal. From there, it spread to France, where the French ambassador Jean Nicot lent his name to the scientific name for tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). The origins of the word tobacco itself are still suspect, although many believe it is simply a corruption of the word Tobago, which is the name of a Caribbean island. Still others believe it comes from the word Tabasco, a region (and now state) in Mexico.
The first tobacco plantation in the United States was established in Virginia in 1612. More tobacco plantations followed in Maryland soon after. Although tobacco became a popular crop, it was only smoked in pipes. The cigar was not introduced to the United States until the late 18th century. Israel Putnam, an army general who had served in the Revolutionary War, is credited with introducing the cigar to the United States. He had traveled to Cuba after the Revolutionary War and returned with a box of Cuban cigars. Their popularity quickly spread, and soon enough cigar factories were established in the area of Harford, Connecticut, where General Putnam resided.
In Europe, cigar production and consumption did not achieve widespread popularity until after the Peninsula War in the early 19th century. British and French veterans returned to their homelands after years of serving in Spain with their tobacco pipes in tow. Among the rich and fashionable, the favored method of taking tobacco was the cigar. Cigar smoking remains a habit associated with the rich and discriminating of upper society.
Have you discovered 4 gallon square buckets yet for your home organization, preparedness efforts, and clutter control? Truly, 4 gallon square buckets have revolutionized the way I store my food and household supplies, and organize my closets and pantries! In fact, 4 gallon buckets are my new best friend.
For starters, due to the shape of the 4 gallon square buckets wasted space is eliminated that you have by using round buckets. The square buckets line up flush with the wall, including corners, and they are easier to fill without wasted space. Since the 4 gallon buckets are a bit shorter as well as square, they make for better storage bins in the trunk of your car as well. Additionally, due to the flat lid surface of square buckets, it’s easier to make use of the height of your available storage space by being able to stack as many as 6 to 8 high.
The 4 gallon square bucket size is also much easier to handle by all (petite females, kids, elderly and out-of-shape computer geeks.) Unlike some of the five gallon round buckets I’ve hefted, my back does not yell and scream at me when I load up the 4 gallon buckets with wheat, rice, beans, or toothpaste.
Instead of spending tons of money on plastic organizers for your home, purchase some 4 gallon square buckets. You can store first aid supplies, bulk foods, nails, spare wires/cables, and so many other goods inside. When I fill the buckets, I like to print out a full color label with large font and then tape it to the side with clear packing tape. I deliberately try to keep track of the colors of my labels as well so that just at a glance I can tell what category of goods i.e.: food, carpentry supplies, medical supplies, etc., the bucket contains. (Thank goodness for the color technology printers nowadays that makes this method so easy.) As such, 4 gallon buckets make for a very organized tool shed, pantry, garage, and closets for a very small fraction of the cost of what you normally spend on plastic organizers. I personally have been shocked by how much more space I have once I organize items into these buckets. I suppose it’s just simple physics. When it comes to food storage, square is definitely better than round.
Be sure that the storage buckets you purchase with the intent to preserve food storage don’t allow light penetration. When you’re trying to store food long-term, such as wheat, beans, and rice, light will quickly zap the nutrients from your food, making it virtually worthless. So be sure that your food storage buckets are opaque in color, and are not made of a clear or flimsy plastic. Additionally with a rugged, snug lid that typically accompanies your square bucket you can rest assured that items inside your buckets will be better preserved in the event of an earthquake or flood.
4 gallon square buckets also protect their contents better than the traditional round buckets. Pure and simple, a square shape provides a better foundation than a round one does. In fact, it’s for this very reason that I like to wrap my small jarred goods and put them inside these buckets. For instance, when we get bottles of salad dressing on , I wrap them up thickly in newspaper and then put them inside a square bucket. This way if any of the square buckets were to get toppled due to an earthquake the contents inside would be more likely to survive as opposed to simply having the bottles sitting on a shelf. Since they are only 4 gallons in size, it’s also more likely that I’ll have a sufficient amount of one type of item to fill it with. The difference in weight between a 5 gallon bucket and a 4 gallon bucket seems to be significant to my back as well.
I love how the square buckets neatly lay on their sides on my shelves. That way I can fill them up with the various types of pasta we get and have it all stay organized and neatly stacked—something I’m not able to accomplish simply with shelves or with round food storage buckets. Let’s hear it for 4 gallon square buckets!
While I am convinced that the 4 gallon square bucket is the size that fits most scenarios, I also recommend you take a look at 8 gallon and 2 gallon square buckets as well. An 8 gallon bucket could hold more of light bulky items whereas a 2 gallon square bucket may be better suited for something heavy such as nails.
One last thing—whether you purchase 2, 4, or 8 gallon square buckets, be sure to check out the availability of rubber sealed flip-top gasket lids to use with them. The flip-top lid makes it so that you can easily get in and out of your buckets conveniently without breaking a nail or cussing and swearing while you’re wrestling with the typical snap-on lids. (Yes, I’ve had this very problem.) The small rubber gasket going around the lid will give you a better seal so that you can store food in your square buckets with peace of mind.
Copyright 2010 Five Star Preparedness and Eliza Vaile. All rights reserved. You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to and Eliza Vaile.
Eliza Vaile, Orem, UT is the owner of Five Star Preparedness, which is the largest supplier of used square food storage buckets in the United States. Five Star Preparedness purchases used, food-grade buckets from several suppliers then meticulously hand-cleans each one of them using a proprietary method—ensuring that your buckets are ideal for food storage and anything else you’d like to use them for. You can contact Five Star Preparedness by going to
I have thought about opening my own Italian restaurant because I love to cook and I love to cook Italian food. One of my favorite items to cook is lasagna. I actually cook lasagna for thanksgiving dinner instead of turkey. But whether you are cooking lasagna, manicotti, ravioli, or even pizza, the key is in the pasta sauce. Here is my recipe for great pasta sauce which is the basis for most Italian meals.
I used to use a large soup pan to prepare the sauce but now I use a slow cooker. It is easier because I do not have to stir the sauce as much as I do cooking it over a stove. I do sometimes open the lid on the slow cooker to stir maybe two or three times but other than that the sauce is on its own. You need a food processor for this pasta sauce recipe. And of course you need the slow cooker.
This pasta sauce is a vegetable based pasta sauce. Sometimes I add chicken or beef. Use your food processor to grate four medium sized carrots and three baby zucchini squash; process one large onion with three cloves of garlic and process a half stalk of celery with one bunch of parsley. Place all these all these ingredients on the bottom of your slow cooker which you have set on the low cooking time and temperature.
Now cover the ingredients with two 28 ounce cans of diced tomatoes and one eight ounce can of tomato paste. Stir all the ingredients together. Now add the spices. You add one teaspoon each of rosemary, thyme, oregano, marjoram, basil, savory, and sage. Give that a good stir. Now you add about two tablespoons of sugar. The sugar cuts down the acidity of the tomato.
You cook this in the slow cooker for two to three hours at the lowest temperature setting. You can stir the sauce during the cook time a few times but unlike cooking your pasta sauce on the stove top you do not have to come back and keep stirring.
Some pasta sauce purest would never use a slow cooker for pasta sauce but I have tried both and I do not taste a difference in the sauce and it is easier for me to use a slow cooker because I can go off and not worry about the sauce boiling and splashing my stove top.
But if you want to use a stove top method raise the sauce first to a boil and then reduce the flame to a low simmer. And keep stirring the sauce so it does not stick to the pan. Once the cook time is over prepare some spaghetti and try out your sauce I am sure you will enjoy it.
Remember to refrigerate it once it cools down. I place the sauce in a cool sauce pan so it will cool faster. You will have plenty of sauce to last you all week if you are serving one or two. Or if you have prepared the sauce for many guests it may all go at once. Perhaps you will visit my Italian restaurant someday and recognize this pasta sauce recipe.
As offer some of the finest cuisine, also have outstanding desserts. If you’re thinking of eating a one-of-a-kind meal, remember to visit those restaurants!Article Source: