No matter why you quit your job, a smooth departure is a must. You'll likely tell your supervisor, but you still should submit a resignation letter, Bankrate.com says. It's professional, and it gives you a chance to elaborate on the positive aspects of the job you're leaving. Remember, how you depart will be remembered by your boss and co-workers. Head to your new job on a high note and leave the door open at your old company; you never know when you might work with - or for - former employers again.
Health-conscious consumers are turning away from traditional fast-food restaurants, which in turn are trying to win them back by offering lighter fare. Sales of main-dish salads are up by 14 percent this year, but don't be fooled: Business 2.0 points out that some of the leafy options are as fatty as a burger with cheese.
Football fans traveling to Houston for the Super Bowl will discover that the 2004 host city has some of the highest taxes in the nation levied on visitors. There's a 17 percent hotel-occupancy tax, on top of increased room rates - if you can get a room. There's also an 8.2 percent city sales tax and a stiff, rolling markup levied on airport car rentals. The higher taxes help fund the three sports stadiums the city has built since 2000.
What do a Chevrolet Corvette and a Ford Focus economy car have in common? They are the only two American cars to make Car & Driver magazine's top 10 vehicle list for 2004, as they were last year. The rest of the vehicles are European or Japanese, though three automakers who made the list last year - Porsche, Nissan and Subaru - are absent this time.
Mortgage interest rates are no longer at record lows, but the average 6 percent rates are still a bargain by historical standards. Still, many home buyers have been looking for alternatives. The percentage of buyers seeking adjustable rate mortgages has doubled this year, according to Money.com. Experts say rising home prices also have made ARMs attractive.
