Articles written by B. Iris Tanner

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About me - B. Iris Tanner

My credentials include over 20 years in financial services communications, over 18 years of breeding and showing purebred cats, nearly 5 years of experience as a CFA-licensed cat show judge, 2 CDs of original cabaret songs, and an obsession with fine food

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Food & Drink > Cooking Fruits & Vegetables Suggestions for cooking with leeks: 1 of 18
"First you take a leek. . ." I will never begin cooking a dish that includes leeks without remembering this frequent tongue-in-cheek comment from my late husband. Perhaps he made it so often because I typically buy them whenever they show up at my market. Sadly, this doesn't occur often enough. (In fact, it seems that one of ... More..
Pets & Animals > Cat Psychology Cat behavior and quirks based on breed: 1 of 13
While the average American can identify 10 or more different dog breeds without thinking twice about it, very few can name more than three breeds of purebred cat. How many do YOU know of? If you come up with anything more than "Persian, Siamese, and Tabby," give yourself a pat on the back for being much more knowledgeable tha... More..
Food & Drink > Drinks (Other) Great drinks to buy for someone you like: 1 of 10
When I arrived at the restaurant for the most memorable blind date of my life, a frosty wine glass filled with a mysteriously enticing libation awaited me. My date had arrived first and ordered a drink for me, knowing little about my tastes but secure in the expectation that my reaction would spark some spirited conversation.... More..
Food & Drink > Ethnic & International Foods What you need to know before you buy a wok: 1 of 8
I've been eating Chinese food since childhood and cooking it since my college days. So, when it recently became time to replace my trusty wok, you'd think I'd be fairly knowledgeable about my options. However, given the number of choices available today and the many things you need to take into consideration, it soon became c... More..
Health & Fitness > Nutrition Tips Dining out in a healthy manner: 1 of 8
To someone with my passion for fine food, eating sensibly while dining out used to feel like attending a concert with earplugs on. You really have to wonder what's the point of doing it in the first place! For me, going out to eat has always been more about the food than anything else . . . experiencing the creativity of some... More..
Personal Finance > Stock Market Investing in the stock market: 7 of 40
If you expect to stop working at some point in your life, your money needs to start working harder for you than it's probably doing now. Merely saving money isn't enough. Because the cost of living has been increasing over time, you need to ensure that your retirement assets can keep pace with it. And unless you start taking ... More..
Pets & Animals > Cats (Other) How to find a runaway cat: 1 of 5
You open the door to pick up the morning paper and a furry missile launches itself through the doorway before you can stop it. The latch on the back door doesn't latch all the way and some feline individual decides it's a nice day for exploring. Or you're having a window repaired and the contractor takes a coffee break withou... More..
Personal Finance > Stock Market What is a reverse/forward stock split?: 1 of 4
If we were playing "Jeopardy," the question "What is a reverse/forward stock split" might very well be a correct "answer" for all of the following clues:A stock pricing maneuver intended toa) reduce the company's administrative expensesb) eliminate small shareholdersc) temporarily reduce the number of outstanding sharesOf the... More..
Health & Fitness > Nutrition Basics Commonly found foods which are energy rich: 2 of 7
Given the frantic pace of life today, it's no surprise that many of us tend to run on empty. Who's got time to cook the kind of nutritious meals our junior high health classes told us to eat? Who's even got time to sit down and EAT a real meal?If you've got too much on your plate and none of it is food! - don't despair. There... More..
Personal Finance > Bonds Why bonds fluctuate in value: 8 of 21
People tend to think of bonds as "safe" investments because, in comparison to stock prices, bond prices may appear relatively stable. However, if you are considering investing in bonds or a bond fund, it's important to realize that prices of these securities can - and DO - fluctuate, usually in response to changes in interest... More..