26th of July, 2010

Posted by Doug in Travel at 3:10 pm

From the windows of the best Miami resorts you can watch the sun rise over the ocean. A memorable sight many take with them from this magical city whether they are witnessing it as they turn in after a night out at the clubs or waking up to greet the day and maybe squeeze in yoga on the sand.

Miami has over 10 miles of beaches for tourists to sun, snorkel, and explore, and that is before you even start looking at the jewels just off the coast to the south of Miami. No matter your taste in beach experience you’ll find what your looking for in Miami. Whether you want to find the perfect photo opp or catch sun you won’t be disappointed.

Be sure to do your research beforehand. While some of these beaches have boardwalks and concession stands for the hungry or thirsty beach goer to refuel, several don’t and it’s important to keep hydrated.

Don’t worry, even if you’ve been to Miami more than once and feel you’ve explored it to the max the Keys are just a quick drive south and you’ll be able to tell your friends you had Key Lime Pie from the source.

21st of July, 2010

Posted by Doug in Travel at 3:10 pm

The city of Seattle has always seemed ripe for buskers . For those who might not know the term, busking refers to street performance, and anyone who sings on a street corner with a hat at their feet is busking. It’s a very old tradition, and probably stems from the same impulses to perform anything anywhere, and just needed a city with a population with change in their pockets, to get underway.

So a city like this, with a very intelligent citizenry, who also happen to like and appreciate arts and culture of all kinds, would be one of the more likely candidates for a high level of street performance. There are a number of people who do work downtown, and it’s usually the guitar and vocal kinds of entertainment. Buskers have a local hero with Magic Mike , also known as Michael Berger, who has been working Seattle Center, doing magic tricks and making balloon animals for the kids.

He’s been involved in a long legal argument with the city over his right to work there, and it’s an interesting case. He’s won settlements, and the verdict has been overturned and turned again multiple times over the past few decades. For wannabe street performers, looking for cheap Seattle hotel rates to try their luck in the city, it’s still a difficult place to work without a permit, but there are signs of hope everywhere.

17th of July, 2010

Posted by Doug in Sports at 3:10 pm

Knee pain can be related to overuse that creates small stresses placed a number of times on the knee without allowing recovery time such as running to much too soon, or excessive jumping. Knee problems are very common with people involved in sports and high activities and knee pain can be acute where the injury is caused.

The knee is basically a hinge with many distinct parts all working together to make the knee function free from discomfort. If one of those components is not in a healthy working order, it can cause soreness, inflammation and instability. Unfortunately, this discomfort is something that has to be coped with, but it doesn’t have to keep an individual from doing the activity they love.

A knee brace, not the kind that can be purchased at your local drug store, but a knee brace that can be special ordered or prescribed by your physician is what will help keep you as active as before. There are hundreds of types of knee braces. If you are interested in using a knee brace for competitive sports, first contact your team doctor or an orthopedic surgeon to see what they recommend. A sports doctor can prescribe the proper type of knee brace for a particular injury or for a particular sport. Plus, for a knee brace to be of benefit, it needs to fit properly, so once you have a knee brace, let your doctor inspect the fit to ensure that it will help with the right amount of support for the best recovery from an injury or to help prevent an injury.

12th of July, 2010

Posted by Doug in technology at 3:10 pm

It’s one of the most exciting times to be working in the world. The digital, information, and technological age that has been here for a few decades has taken some unusual turns suddenly. John Cage had a notion, back in the 1950s, that people would be able to communicate without wires sometime in the future. And the internet was just an idea in the 1970s, leading to a phenomenon called electronic mail . That was available to a few businesses, and to university professors and students, but it took a little time before it caught on. Of course, today, these things are part of the fabric of reality, and what was once extraneous is now a necessity.

It is possible to communicate without a cell phone, and probably even possible to have a business without a website, but they pay off so quickly, it’s hard to think of good reasons why. It’s usually not a choice, then, to consider whether to have them or not, but who to work with. Web site hosting is an important consideration, and has as much to do with the site’s success as the cell phone carrier. This still leaves the bulk of the responsibility for success on the business and individual. A site that has a strong presence speaks of a place in the world in the present moment.

2nd of July, 2010

Posted by Doug in Education at 3:10 pm

In Washington D.C., the International Spy Museum is dedicated to espionage and provides a global perspective on an all-but-invisible profession that has shaped hisory and continues to have a significant impact with world events. Featuring the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever displayed for the general public to see, some for the first time. Located at 800 F Street NW, next to a hotel Washington USA provides its visitors, you’ll be able walk to the museum and see artifacts that illuminate the work of famous spies and pivotal espionage actions.

You’ll get to bring to life the strategies and techniques by the men and women behind some of the most secretive espionage missions in the history of the world with
Operation Spy (OpSpy), which is not an exhibit but a live-action spy adventure. You don’t read about spies, you are the spy! You’ll have one hour to find a missing nuclear trigger, as you dive into an intense challenge combining live-action, themed environments, special effects, and hands-on activities such as cracking a safe, decoding messages and conducting a polygraph test of a suspect agent. This operation is for children ages 12 and up and is considered a separate experience at the International Spy Museum.

The International Spy Museum’s mission is to educate its visitors about espionage in a very engaging way, by providing context that fosters an understanding of espionages important role in and its impact on historic and current events. The Museum focuses on human intelligence and reveals the role spies have played throughout history. The presentations are nonbiased, apolitical and accurate. In addition there are several permanent exhibits such as the ‘Introduction to Espionage’, which is a ‘who-done-it’ exhibit featuring movies, film noir and literature that portray anything to do with spies, but you’ll leave with your preconceived ideas behind and you learn about the authentic tradecraft that has been used throughout time and around the world; with ‘The Secret History of History’, you’ll travel back through the centuries and get to trace the earliest moments of this profession; ‘School for Spies’, examines over 200 spy gadgets, weapons, bugs, cameras, vehicles and technologies; and in the ‘Spies Among Us’ exhibit, experience the storm clouds gathering as World War II draws near, and the fronts which concealed German and Russian spy rings operated right under our noses.

Hours are: 9am to 7pm and general admission is $18 for adults and $15 for children. Additional cost is added for OpSpy and other interactive activities, check website for details.

30th of June, 2010

Posted by Doug in Travel at 3:10 pm

There are some amazing tombs in Delhi and people travel from all over the world to see them. They are featured as masterpieces in the world of architecture and they have amazing stories surrounding their existence. One of the most visited tombs is the Humayun Tomb which is a 16th century, Mughal style masterpiece. It was built to be the grave of the Mughal emperor Humayun by his wife Hamida Banu Begum. It was the first in a few categories such as being the first garden tomb in the area. This building was the first to have used so much of the beautiful red sand with such a large building. This tomb houses a number of the Humayun family as well as some of the Emperors who followed. There are a few other tombs that are along the path that leads to the Humayun Tomb. There is the Tomb and Mosque of Isa Khan, Bu Halima’s Tomb and Garden, Afsarwala Tomb, Arab Sarai and Nila Gumbad or Nila Buri. These are not far from the Delhi hotels .  

Other tombs are found with the buildings for Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya who was alive from 1238 to 1325. His mausoleum, Nizamuddin Dargah is another ancient masterpiece of architecture. Nizamuddin Auliya was a Sufi saint and the Muslims still visit his Dargah everyday. People travel from all over the world and from all kinds of faiths to see this mausoleum. Surrounding the mausoleum are the tombs of Amir Khusro who was a musician, poet and scholar and Jehan Ara Begum who as the daughter of Emporer Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal.  

All of the building and grounds surrounding the many tombs and other historical sights are outstanding. They have been well preserved and continually groomed and they are full of interesting stories of rich history.

26th of June, 2010

Posted by Doug in History at 3:10 pm

Las Vegas is well known for its contemporary cultural atmosphere and the unique casino giant city that it is. And while millions of people flock to the resorts every year for the gambling and incredible shows that take place on a nightly basis, the history of this incredible town can be just as interesting as what is taking place onstage. And surprisingly, much of the area was originally settled by Mormons who had traveled from Salt Lake City. Much of the city’s early history is overshadowed by the glitz and glamour of the contemporary society, though many of the stories are fascinating as well as informative and worth looking into if you plan to visit, or simply enjoy history.

In the mid 1800s the Mormon settlers were arriving from Utah to protect the Salt Lake-Los Angeles mail route. By 1855 they had begun construction on an adobe building that was about 150 square feet of sun dried clay bricks and grass. Around the fort they planted vegetables, fruit and mined for lead for bullets though they left the settlement by 1858 in large part due to Indian raids. A large portion of this early fort remains and was re-discovered during an archeological dig in 1992. Today the sight stands as an historical landmark.

The Las Vegas hotels are great places to acquire information on this and other interesting historic attractions in the city, in addition to the prime headliner show venues and gambling establishments in the city. This brings up another interesting aspect of the city’s history, its gaming industry. Nevada was the first state in the nation to legalize casino style gambling and the last to make it illegal, which occurred in October of 1910. However, underground games soon popped up and gambling activities occurred in the city until it was officially legalized again during the Great Depression. Part of the argument for legalization was the necessary tax money it would bring it for schools and other social services. The Hoover Dam Project soon began, which brought an additional population of over 5,000 to the city, and this was the beginning of Las Vegas being a national fascination and popular tourist destination.

19th of June, 2010

Posted by Doug in Business at 3:10 pm

In the past many companies did not see the importance of maintaining good customer service skills . They relied solely on the price and quality of their product. Fortunately in many businesses that is changing; they are beginning to see there is more to running a successful business than just offering good prices and quality products. Making sure the customer feels important and appreciated is also an important part of running a successful business.

One company that has consistently put customers first and maintained superb customer service is Next Day Blinds . One story that is particularly inspiring is the story of Kristin. She had read some positive reviews about them and decided that she would use their services to replace her existing blinds. She ordered the blinds and had them installed without any problems. A couple of days later she received a surprise visit from a company representative. The gentleman asked her how the ordering and installation process had gone, how her new blinds were working, and whether or not she was pleased with the final product. She explained to him that everything had gone quite well, that she received exactly what she paid for, and generally speaking, she was pleased. Her only problem, which was not the fault of Next Day Blinds but her own error in judgment, was that the look didn’t fit quite as well as she originally thought. The next day she received another surprise when her customer service rep called and explained that the visitor the day before had been the a company VP and that he often did surprise visits to see how customers liked the products. To top it off, the rep explained that they would like to replace her blinds and correct the problem even though the fault did not lie with Next Day Blinds. The phenomenal customer service that Next Day Blinds displayed inspired Kristin so much that she decided to keep her blinds and take all of her future business to the company.

It is stories like that and companies like Next Day Blinds that inspire consumers to become loyal customers. Companies that offer customer service that goes above and beyond are the companies that are much more likely to succeed. Perhaps by encouraging these companies to greatness, others will follow suit.

18th of June, 2010

Posted by Doug in Travel at 3:10 pm

There are so many exciting cultural attractions that are a part of the overall atmosphere of Atlanta, that it can be easy to forget that there are also numerous beautiful, harmonious, quiet and peaceful aspects as well. And these are some of the favorite features of many people’s vacation there. And while the great nightclubs, theatres, music venues and other popular entertainment features are a common item on most tourists’ agendas, places like the Atlanta Botanical Gardens are a great alternative and sometimes are even more enticing. All of the diverse elements of Atlanta’s culture can be combined to create an extremely dynamic and fulfilling trip.

Plans to develop the Atlanta Botanical Gardens were originally developed in 1973 when civic minded residents proposed the idea to the city. It was officially incorporated in 1776 and the gardens have become a major source of pride and contentment as well as beauty and environmental satisfaction for residents and guests to the city. It is one of the most popular places for guests in the hotels Atlanta, USA and it is also one of the favorite aspects of their city for many of the residents.

There are some incredible indoor and outdoor plant collections at the garden and demonstrate an extremely diverse horticultural make up. In addition there are great special engagement events and ongoing classes presented by the gardens. Many plant and environmental experts hold lectures and these are always greatly informative as well as interesting. Some of the classes for adults include water color painting, floral design and gardening workshops. There are also classes structured for children and these are a mix of fun topics that not only engage their interest and imaginations but also help to develop an early appreciation for plants and flowers as well as a respect for the environment.

16th of June, 2010

Posted by Doug in Entertainment at 3:10 pm

Trinity Nightclub in Seattle is an ornately adorned 2-level labyrinth, housing 3 rooms: The Main Room, the Blue Room, The Card room and a large private VIP room. Each room has a unique theme and decor with 2 spacious dance floors, full lounge, state of the art sound and lighting, plus internationally acclaimed DJ’s.

The Main Room, is a majestic room featuring Seattle’s top sound and lighting systems. It also has one of the largest dance floors on the west coast. Many of the room’s features are from a Seattle area church, including the DJ booth, which was constructed from its pulpit. This design gives The Main Room a classic, old-world feeling with all the modern amenities, including fully appointed VIP room with full bar and private restroom.

The Blue Room, is the fun, flirty side of Trinity. Royal blue with white accents, including a sparkle-infused blue dance floor. It’s reminiscent of the 50′s, but with aretro-modern style, and a pinch of an overdone Roger Moore James Bond film style. The Blue Room also features computer-controlled LED lighting system suspended from the ceiling and a custom designed DJ booth.

The Card Room, is an eclectic Asian themed lounge side of Trinity. Featuring pieces rescued from the Asian room at the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle. The Card Room is very exotic and relaxing, a place to enjoy dim sum, drink and a good conversation.

The VIP Room, is a private and intimate area with up-matched elegance. The perfect setting for professional and personal entertaining. This sophisticated room offers a fully stocked bar, plush seating, a private restroom, a climate-controlled atmosphere and the VIP guests get to enjoy an unsurpassed service, which includes table-side premium service made available by your personal host and professional staff. Reservation are necessary.

You’ll find Trinity at 111 Yesler Way, not far from a downtown boutique hotel Seattle, USA offers its fine international guests.