Costco Connection - December 2004

December 2004
VOLUME 19 ■ NUMBER 12

DEPARTMENTS

Food and Wine

2 Bon Appétit
Cheese for the holidays
By Anne Desjardins
3 The Wine
Connection
4 A toast to Baileys

Arts and
Entertainment

5 Cover: Sam Raimi
8 Book Club:
The Known World
9 Book picks
10 Marvin’s magic
12 Yoda’s way
13 DVD box-set wrap up

21 The Consumer
Connection
By David Horowitz

COVER PHOTO:
MELISSA MOSELEY

The Costco Connection is published by Costco Wholesale. All facts, opinions and statements appearing within this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by Costco Wholesale or its officers. Publishing offices are located at 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA 98027. Information in The Costco Connection is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed. Copyright © 2004 Costco Wholesale. Products advertised may not be available at all locations at time of publication.

Privacy Statement

A lifestyle magazine for small business

FEATURES

5COVER STORY

Simple guy, extraordinary talent

BY MARK E. STRODER

The challenge: Bring the revered

Spider-Man story to the big screen

without insulting the myth’s integrity.

Director Sam Raimi’s spin on the

Marvel Comics superhero has

helped the first two Spider-Man

films become box-office gems.

4A toast to Baileys

BY FIONA SIMS

12Yoda speaks! BY BILL URLEVICH

Snuggling with a blanket and a glass of

The reclusive Jedi master elucidates as only

Baileys Irish Cream—the world’s number-one-

he can about his personal code and service to

selling liqueur brand—has become a holiday

the Force.

tradition. From our UK-edition arch ives.

10Tricks of the trade BY SUSAN WOLK

20Watching out for check fraud

BY DAVID WIGHT

The mastery of Marvin Berglas is no

Tips to help you avoid being victimized by

illusion. The talented Watford, England, wizard has craft ed Marvin’s Magic, the world’s leading

this thriving scam. From The Connection

archives.

exporter of magic products.

INSIDE COSTCO

14Clicking away your holiday shopping list

BY WILL FIFIELD

A few clicks on costco.com can bring your

last-minute holiday shopping needs right to

a loved one’s front door.

16Buying Smart: Exercise equipment BY PAT VOLCHOK You can get thin—but your wallet doesn’t have to—with Costco’s full line of home exercise equipment, from treadmills to weight sets. 18Online investment strategies BY TIM TALEVICH ShareBuilder offers an easy and affordable way to set up online investment programs, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 19Member Services Update Ready to buy a vacation home? Costco and Lending Tree offer three options to help your dream come true.