Abstract: A method of providing financial advice to a client that provides sufficient confidence that their goals will be achieved or exceeded but that avoids excessive sacrifice to the client's current or future lifestyle and avoids investment risk that is not needed to provide sufficient confidence of the goals a client personally values. The method comprises obtaining typical client background information, as well as a list of investment goals, and ideal and acceptable values in dollar amounts and timing for each goal. The client is then asked to provide their preferences for each goal on the list compared to each other goal in the list, wherein the client's preference is expressed in terms of the price, in money or time, that the client is willing to pay in one goal to achieve another goal or a greater amount or sooner timing of other goals on the list. A matrix can be used to express these value contrasts.

Abstract: A brew basket for an automatic drip coffee maker has a funnel-shape with a relatively wide top end and relatively narrow bottom end. A stepped support ring is integral in and defines a ledge around a circumference of the brew basket. A coffee filter pod is supported on its periphery by the support ring during brewing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brewed beverage maker with a diverter valve assembly placed between a heater and a showerhead, the diverter valve assembly fluidly connected to both the heater and showerhead. Opening the beverage maker during a brew cycle automatically causes at least a portion of the fluid passing through the diverter valve assembly to be diverted to a channel that directs the fluid to a point downstream of the showerhead in the brew cycle. In one embodiment of the invention, the diverted fluid is directed to a filter basket. The channel may optionally include a basin to collect and direct the diverted fluid. The outlet of the diverter valve assembly may form the showerhead.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are used for the cultivation of subaquatic vegetation. The apparatus and method seek to mimic the actual ecosystem of subaquatic vegetation that is being grown. Because the vegetation that is grown is raised in natural conditions, it will have a better chance for survival upon ultimate transplantation in a river, bay or other natural ecosystem.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a financial plan, including a predetermined initial values of investments and one or more contribution or withdrawal amounts corresponding to selected times after the commencement of the financial plan, includes the steps of calculating the change in a predetermined initial value of an investment over a time interval based on changes in value over a randomly-selected first historical time interval to obtain a changed investment value, updating the changed investment value based on the selected contribution or withdrawal amount corresponding to the length of the time interval in accordance with the financial plan to obtain a further changed investment value, calculating the change in the further changed investment value over a second time interval based on changes over a randomly-selected second historical time interval to obtain a further investment value, repeating the steps of calculating, updating and again calculating with respect to a randomly-selected third historical time interv

Abstract: A collapsible container has adjustable height walls. The container includes a base defining the bottom wall of the container, an opposing pair of side walls, and an opposing pair of end walls. The side walls and end walls are pivotable between an upright position and a collapsed position over the base. The side walls and end walls each further include extension walls movably connected thereto between a nested, unextended position and an upright, extended position.

Abstract: Deposits and soot formation in a direct injection gasoline engine are reduced by providing as fuel for the operation of said direct injection engine a fuel composition comprising a fuel-soluble cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl compound.

Abstract: A brew basket for a hot beverage maker has a funnel-shape with a relatively wide top end and relatively narrow bottom end. A stepped support ring is integral in and defines a ledge around a circumference of the brew basket. A filter pod is supported on its periphery by the support ring during brewing. An adaptor can be integrally attached to the brew basket to give a user an option to place a second filter pod in the brew basket to yield more or stronger brewed beverage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are used in determining authorization to perform tasks in a computer environment, and specifically requiring multiple parties to authorize a task before access is granted. The present system provides for substantially real time communication to a second party authorizer when a task owner is attempting to perform a task.