The Mexican Fisherman and the American Tourist

An American tourist was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The tourist complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."

The tourist then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?"

The Mexican said, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."

The tourist then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life."

The tourist scoffed, " I can help you. You should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat: With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor; eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and eventually New York where you could run your ever-expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

The tourist replied, "15 to 20 years."

"But what then?" asked the Mexican.

The tourist laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions?...Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your grandkids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

-Author Unknown

Case & Point: Know where you’re going in life — you may already be there.

I’m Not Lovin’ It: McDonald’s Menu Items That Failed

Although the world’s largest fast food chain has managed to stay on top for years, it is not to say that it hasn't experienced its fair share of menu failures. McDonald’s occasionally rolls out new menu items, some of them destined for success, others, well, destined to fail before they even begin. Take a look at some of the chain’s worst products that eventually vanished from the menu. Feel free to add comments to your favorite flops.

The Hula Burger

The famous Hula Burger was introduced by Ray Krok, the man who took over McDonald’s early on and transformed it into the success that it is today. The burger was debuted in 1963 in order to accommodate strict Catholics who couldn’t eat meat on Friday’s. Replacing hamburger meat with a slice of pineapple and throwing a piece of cheese on top didn’t catch on and turned into a disaster.

McPizza

In the nineties, McDonald’s introduced McPizza to its menu as a ‘dinner’ option and alternative to burgers. The result was a product failure that set McDonald’s back millions of dollars in wasted costs for ovens. The real reason for the flop was that customers did not associate the chain with pizza and preferred to go to an actual pizza parlour.

Arch Deluxe

The Arch Deluxe debuted in 1996 with a $100 million ad campaign that, frankly, fell flat. The idea was to create a product marketed towards sophisticated adults. However, the problem was that the McDonald’s brand wasn’t built upon the image of sophistication. A ‘not so lovin’ it’ pricey mistake!

McLean Deluxe

Believe it or not, at one point McDonald's tried to help customers shrink their waistlines. In the early nineties, the fast-food giant was under fire by nutritionists for what they considered to be an unhealthy menu. In response to this criticism, the McLean Deluxe was created. This burger was in fact healthier- 91% fat free according to the ads. However, the problem was the taste. Fat replaced with seaweed water turned out to be repulsive to customers.

McLobster

Another case where McDonald’s unsuccessfully tried to expand its menu offering beyond its fast food image was with McLobster- the most expensive item on the menu with a $5.99 price tag. What made the company think it could convince people of a quality product considering its brand?

McHot Dog

McHot Dogs flopped in the nineties regardless of previous research linking it to a potential cash-in. Despite revival attempts, the idea never stuck around.

McSpaghetti

McDonald's should take the cue for thorough R&D before a product release because customers will go elsewhere for their lasagna, spaghetti, and fettuccine alfredo. Recently, McSpaghetti was trialed in New Zealand and Australia, which led to a failure due to low demand.

Secret Menu Items at Your Favorite Places

Not content with ordering off the menu? Get ready to be introduced a smorgasbord of secret menu possibilities that you’ve probably never heard of.

Starbucks

Getting selective about their coffee nothing new for Starbucks fanatics. But did you ever think that some ordered in a whole other realm beyond the listed menu? Try any of these specialty drinks at your next visit.

Biscotti Frapuccino - This is a typical frapuccino but it has a biscotti blended inside. You will have to purchase the biscotti separate when you are checking out.
Short Drink - This is a less expensive version of any Starbucks drink. It is smaller than a tall with a lower price.
Red Eye - This is a shot of espresso in regular drip coffee.
Black Eye - This drink has 2 shots of espresso in regular drip coffee.
Green Eye - This drink includes 3 shots of espresso in regular drip coffee.
Poor Mans Latte - I recommend you do not tell your Barista you are planning on creating this drink when you order. Order an iced Americano with no water and half ice, then use the free milk on the side to mix it up.
Poor Mans Chai Latte - Same recommendation as above applies here. Order a Chai Tea Misto with extra foam, two tea bags, and half cinnamon and half vanilla syrup.
French Pressed Coffee - If you want coffee served fresh from a French press you may have it with any variety in the shop.
Chocolate Cream Frapuccino - This is a frapuccino made with chocolate syrup and chocolate frapuccino base.
Cake Batter Frap - Order a vanilla frappucino and ask for both the vanilla bean and almond flavorings. It will taste just like cake batter.
Crunchberry Frap - Flavored like the crunchberry cereal, this is a strawberrys and cream frappucino with hazelnut flavoring.
Strawberry Blended Lemonade - Although this had been taken off the menu, most locations will still blend the strawberry flavoring with lemonade for you.
London Fog - This is made with vanilla flavoring in Earl Gray Tea.
Zebra Mocha (also called a Tuxedo or Penguin Mocha) - This is a mix of the white chocolate and regular chocolate mochas.
Red Tux Mocha (also called Bleeding Penguin) - The same mix of white chocolate and regular chocolate mocha with raspberry flavoring

McDonald's

Biscuits and Gravy - This one may only be available in the South – but it’s the classic combination of gravy smothering hot biscuits.
McKinley Mac – A big Mac with quarter pounder patties.
Grilled Cheese - A bun grilled with American cheese inside.
Big Mac with Quarter Pounder Patties - This is great if you are looking to decrease the cost and calories of the classic Big Mac Sandwich. You get the entire flavor with less meat.
All American - This is a normal sized hamburger with only pickles and ketchup.
Big McChicken - This is a huge sandwich in which the chicken patties replace the bun.
Fries with Big Mac Sauce - Fries smothered in the secret and special big Mac Sauce.
Chicken and Waffles - This is a McGriddle sandwich with chicken in the middle.
Neopolitan Milk Shake - 1/3 vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice creams blended together into one shake.
McLeprichon - This shake is only available in March and is composed of the shamrock shake mixed with the chocolate shake making a mint chocolate shake.
Pie McFlurry - If you purchase a pie you can have it blended into your McFlurry.
McGangBang - This is a double cheeseburger with a chicken patty in between the two beef patties.
Land, Sea, and Air Burger - The Land, Sea, and Air burger, has a beef patty, chicken patty, and fillet-o-fish patty all piled high onto a bun.
Root Beer Float - You can pick any size of root beer and they will add the vanilla ice cream on top.
Coke Float - Any size of coke with ice cream. You can even get it with chocolate ice cream.
Monster Mac - A big Mac composed of 8 meat patties.
2 Cheese Burger Meal Mac - Two cheese burgers, fries and a drink.

Burger King

Mustard Whopper - This is a normal Whopper with one difference, mustard is spread onto the sandwich instead of mayo.
Veggie Whopper - A great alternative for vegetarians who love the flavor of Burger King, the beef is substituted for with a veggie patty.
BLT - A bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich that comes in either a small or medium size.
Ham and Cheese - A classic sandwich option that you can have served either hot or cold.
Frings - An order of frings will split your French fry order with onion rings.
Suicide Burger - This is a large burger including four meat patties, four slices of cheese, bacon and special sauce.
Rodeo Burger - A burger assembled with onion rings and bbq sauce on it.
BK Club - This sandwich is the Original chicken sandwich with bacon, tomato, and cheese.

Subway

Pizza Sub – This sub was taken of the menu in most locations when Subway began marketing itself as healthy alternative to fast food. However, upon request you can get the Pizza Sub which combines cheese, tomato sauce, and pepperoni.

Wendy’s

Grand Slam - This burger has a total of four meat patties.
Big Bacon Classic - This is your classic burger with bacon.
Value Crispy Chicken Club – A reduced price Crispy Chicken sandwich with bacon, lettuce,tomato, and mayo.
Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe – This value sized burger includes lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles,and ketchup.
Barnyard – A spicy chicken sandwich with ham, bacon and beef separated by cheese.

Coca-Cola's Secret Recipe Revealed

It’s been outed -the extremely well kept secret original recipe of Coca-Cola that dates back to 1886. According to thisamericanlife.org, one of their staff members unearthed coke’s guarded recipe in a 1979 edition of the Atlanta Constitution-Journal. The only believed existing copy of the edition was thought to have been in a guarded vault at Coca-Cola’s corporate headquarters in Georgia. In the journal, the recipe is revealed in an old photograph from 1886 that was taken of the personal recipe book of Coke-founder John Pemberton. The complicated slew of ingredients is as follows:

Fluid extract of Coca—3 drams USP

Citric acid—3 oz

Caffeine—1oz

Sugar—30 (measurement unclear)

Water—2.5 gal

Lime juice—2 pints 1 qrt

Vanilla—1oz

Caramel —1.5oz or more to color
7X flavor—use 2oz of flavor to 5 gals syrup (this is supposedly what gives Coca-Cola its unique flavor)
Alcohol—8oz

Orange oil—20 drops

Lemon oil—30 drops

Nutmeg oil—10 drops

Coriander—5 drops

Neroli —10 drops

Cinnamon —10 drops

Still waiting for the Diet Coke version of the recipe so you can brew your own batch? Good luck

Spend a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner in the sky?

Yes, it is exactly as it sounds. With only a few days to spare, you can reserve your seats at an exclusive dinner party suspended 180 feet in the air! Along with breathtaking views, accommodations include a decadent multi-course meal, lots of champagne, and even the acoustics of a professional pianist. Dinner in the Sky’s high-flying venue harnesses 22 guests around a circular table with room in the center for the chef and assistants.

So how much does a night on the town like this go for you might ask? With a price tag of $40,000 this idea may not work within the limits of everyone’s pocketbook, but the splurge might be worth the cost for a once in a lifetime experience with your Valentine.

That Ad is Hot!

Genius advertising seems to be ad agency Colle + McVoy’s forté. In a recent campaign launched by Caribou Coffee, larger than life ads have been gracing bus stops and subway stations alike in cities across the country. Take the ad for new “hot breakfast sandwiches”. The bus stops resemble a life-size oven and are even equipped with real heaters for cold bystanders. Great thinking!

Government Agency creates WTF

So what is the most recently instated CIA task force that will be used to protect the American public? WTF. For those who are unaware, the not exactly new acronym now stands for the WikiLeaks Task Force. The new group is dedicated to analyzing the impact of WikiLeaks on US foreign relations. With the new focus, the CIA believes it can tap into extensive knowledge released by WikiLeaks thus far, and from there formulate a counteractive plan of action.

A New Take on Flowers for Valentine's Day

It is true that on Valentine's Day real flowers are received well and also appreciated- but why not make this year different with a unique gift that won't wilt and will last forever? Choose from a variety of flowers at itunube.com and make this February 14 special!

Sign of hope- the Prototype

Some know Michael McKean as Professor McKean at Virginia Commonwealth University. In light of his most recent creation, a man-made rainbow, McKean is making unprecedented headlines. Not a scientist by profession, he has been working on his rainbow machine prototype for some eight years now. The machine works with a combination of commercial jet pumps and custom spray nozzles- really just a high tech sprinkler rainbow that you could make in your backyard. The prototype will be placed on the roof of Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha in the summer of 2012 and will create two rainbows a day that will be visible from 1000 feet away.