I'm not so na ve to think that photos (especially food items) are entirely indicative of the end result, but shouldn't they at least resemble the product somewhat realistically? In the drive through image the '4-Alarm' Spicy Chicken looks like quite a sandwich. The chicken is overlapping the bun and everything is stacked impressively high. In reality, the chicken on my sandwich was nearly hidden inside the sandwich and stacked maybe half the height of the advertisement.

(Photos: Tengaport,Tengaport)

Here it is, your guide to secret menu items. Sure, it's not the secret rib eye at Nobu, but it's something. Before reading this please note that this article has not been fact-checked. This report is based purely on reader suggestions. We are posting them entirely without confirmation and are not going to try to order any of this crap in order to confirm its existence. We would die of heart disease, be broke, and our ass would be the size of Texas. This is the internet, the internet is not fact-checked, and these are your secret menu items. Enjoy.

Taco Bell: Everything Taco Bell makes is comprised of a few basic ingredients, so they'll likely make anything they have the stuff for, which is probably pretty much anything they've ever served. Examples to attempt: Cheesy Gordita Crunch, Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes, Encharito.

Wendy's: A tipster tells us, "order a "Grand Slam", It would otherwise be called a Classic Quadruple, were it on the menu." Reader bringafajita suggests trying to get a "Quarter Pound Double Stack with Cheese." FishingCrue tells us to try "Everything" (lettuce and tomato) on a Wendy's Double Stack, sometimes it's even free. If they look at you like you're crazy, tell them there's a button for it. A double stack with everything, add bacon is a decent sandwich for somewhere south of 2 bones."

Chipotle: Chipotle will, like Taco Bell, make anything they have the ingredients for. Unlike Taco Bell, this is an official policy. Some suggestions: Nachos, Quesadilla, Individual Tacos, Taco Salads, Tiny Bean Burritos Using Taco Shells, Fresh Cilantro on Your Tacos, whatever you can think of.

Subway: Subway will still make the "pizza sub," and many other former menu items. Also, they can't sell "broken cookies," so they may give you some for free.

Jamba Juice: Jamba has an entire secret menu of "unhealthy" smoothies named after things that would involve copyright violations were they to be included on the menu. The ones we know of:White Gummi Bear, Red Gummi Bear, Green Gummi Bear, Raspberry Dreamin', Pineapple Dreamin', Sourpatch Kid, Tropical Tango, Pacific Passion, Berry Depressing, Now and Later, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Apple Pie, Fruity Pebbles, Rainbow Sherbet, Strawberry Shortcake, Push Pop, Skittles, Andres' Surprise, and Lemonade Lightnin'. (Thanks,ronaldscott!)

In-N-Out Burger: Has their "secret" menu posted on their website, but a tipster writes in: "Not only can you get an animal style burger but you can also get animal style fries which are amazing. It's fries piled with onions, cheese and sauce and they come with a fork." In addition, we hear several voices calling from the mist, whispering that the secret menu doesn't stop at 4 x 4., but may, in fact, go on to infinity. Or at least to 100 x 100...
(Thanks, xapplexjuicex!)

Starbucks: Starbucks will make you absolutely anything you want no matter how insane it is, according to our tipster.

"Baristas might try and tell their customers that no, we can't do that with the blenders. This is a lie. Starbucks corporate policy is that the customer is ALWAYS right (even when the request is stupid). If you really insist that you want your iced soy latte blended, the baristas HAVE to do it. If they continue to refuse, ask to speak to a manager and either they'll realize they're about to get in trouble and will fill your request, or the manager will come out and politely tell the barista to make the customer happy.

Absolutely any concoction that you can think of (involving any type of milk, syrup, coffee, etc.) will be made for you. The limits to Starbucks "secret menu" are merely the limits of your imagination. You can even bring supplements from home and ask the barista to please include that in your drink."

(Photo: cogdogblog)

• More 24 hour locations.

• Extended hours at non-24 hour locations.

• Longer breakfast hours. Perhaps breakfast all day.

• McCafes that sell espressos and premium baked goods.

Other chains are getting in on the fun as well. Wendy's is testing a breakfast menu at 120 stores. Dunkin' Donuts plans to triple its stores and offer menus that include "breakfast pizza." The future of fast food depends on longer hours, more menu options, and more breakfast! —MEGHANN MARCO

McDonald's 24/7 [Business Week]

"For all I know, It could've been a rat poison wrapper," our reader writes.

We're not sure what's more disgusting, the wrapper, or reheating a cold slab of grease meat. Fast food is best consumed as quickly as possible, before the liquid fat has a chance to congeal.

Another lovely picture, inside. — BEN POPKEN

Beef hacked off the side of a holy Japanese cow. Mushrooms decried in the wild by the quivering snout of a trained French pig. A single slice of cheese congealed from the lactations of an angel's snowy breasts.

Meet the most expensive hamburger in the world, sold at the Boca Raton Old Homestead Steakhouse for $124.50 each. The restaurant donates 10 bucks from each sale to the Make-A-Wish foundation. Gee, how generous.

Looking at the full list of ingredients, sure, it does look prestigious and swell. But I can't be the only one who looks at the picture above and finds their mouth's loins a quiver for a three buck Wendy's Bacon Double Cheeseburger.

Fla. Restaurant Sells $100 Hamburger [AP]

While many companies seem to do the right thing and respond to these criticisms with a clear, concise, non-political message, a lot of companies seem to panic. For example, Ford responded to complaints that it was prejudiced against homosexuals by switching sides, outraging family values advocates. At the end of the day, Ford simply came across as looking hypocritical, where as other companies like Miller dialogued with those who were outraged and tried to reach compromises.

And listen to this:

Although [Wendy's] hamburger chain's PAC has given 93% of its campaign contributions to Republicans over the past five years, it views itself as a "nonpolitical company" that does not take positions on controversial issues, says spokesman Denny Lynch: "We serve customers on both sides of the aisle." Wendy's backs winners, he says, and today those incumbents are mostly Republican. "We're not a red company," Lynch says. "If Democrats start winning, we'll move our money to Democrats. It's just business."

Isn't it refreshing to hear a corporation just straight out admit that it has no political values and is simply gaming the system? Paying the bribes where they're due!

Impromptu poll time. Have you ever boycotted a company for political reasons? What company was it? What were the reasons?: Let us know in the comments section.

Companies In The Crossfire [Business Week]

Why don't these companies just take the smart tact: take an incompetent employee or half-assed program out of the loop entirely? Allow drive-thru customers to just punch in their order on easy-to-read computer screens. While that still depends on an anonymous incompetent on the other end actually filling that order correctly, is anyone who has ever endured customer service from Dell recently really relishing the idea of someone identifying himself as "Joe America" fielding his order for a cheeseburger from ten thousand miles away?

Tower of Cups [Flickr]

In all, the pair collected about 330 cups, more than enough for two round-trip flights for each of them. "It's pretty disgusting work, especially when you grab a handful of chewed meat," says Danielle, who asked that her full name be withheld to ensure that AirTran would honor her claim. "But it's about the only way I can afford to see my family [in San Luis Obispo, Calif.]."

It's been a few years since we traipsed in the greasy backs of fast food alleys, so we may be out of practice. Getting a $700 round-trip ticket for just a couple hours of digging almost sounds worth the trouble. Have any of you make a fortune digging through Wendy's trash yet? (Thanks, Ryan!)

• For the hobo in need of a vacation, AirTran is accepting 20 or 32 oz drink proof of purchase from Wendy's as 1/4 Rewards credits. Confusing? This is easier: dig 32 cups out of the dumpster, get a free domestic flight. (Taxes and fees apply, so try to dig out a watch or some gold fillings while you're down there.) You can redeem up to 128 Wendy's cups.

• Sign up for dude's debt consolidation information, get a proudly homosexual wallet. We're sure there is a connection, but we leave it to your and your johns to discover it.

• Trade your personal information to Toys R Us for a chance to win an Xbox 360 ... next year.

• Free Playtex Sipster cup from Juicy Juice when you use this code: 6F6468291. Yes, that Playtex.