The Importance of Going Public for Transglobe REIT

By Doug

Apr

30

The past couple of years have resulted in hard economic times for companies worldwide. Sales and profits have dropped at an increasing rate forcing companies to close their doors. Those who are fortunate enough to still be around have had to get creative with the how they run their businesses. One way that companies are increasing their values is by taking moving from a strictly private market to a public market. One such company is Transglobe REIT.

In April of 2010, Transglobe submitted the preliminary prospectus to open their company up to the public. This decision has many benefits both for the company and the shareholders.

To begin, going public raises additional capital for the company in a much easier and faster way than trade shares because the funds go directly to the company. This is not only an important part of keeping the business operating at the ideal level but also for making improvements and taking the company to the next level. It also substantially opens the field of investors, allowing more people to contribute.

The benefits of the change are not one sided. Although there are many benefits to the company, the investors benefit as well. As an individual investor, the value of your stock in the company goes up as the company continues to succeed. For the existing investors, even though their stock value decreases when the company first goes public, their stock will ultimately go up as the company grows and continues to do well.

The benefits of going public are shared all around. The company receives the capital it needs to remain operational and even get ahead, while individuals and investors benefit monetarily from their success. Although it is frequently only open to the company’s country of origin, which for Transglobe is Canada, the prices are so low, only $10 a share, that many people will be able to take part.

Chopping Videos Are Hot

By Doug

Apr

29

Loving to cook is a good thing. Someone who can cook well is pretty much always appreciated. It looks it is also becoming a skill more and more people want to learn because as I was looking through some of the best videos on the web today I came across this one.


How To Use Your Guide Hand – The funniest videos clips are here

It has gotten a lot of hits, and is honestly a pretty good cooking video.

Southwestern Company Provides Tips to Stay Safe During the Summer

By Doug

Apr

28

Southwestern Company often gets phone calls from customers who were, at first, skeptical of the student dealer and then excited to learn they were legitimate sales people selling products from a legitimate company.

While Southwestern Company works to train the student sales force in ethics and ‘doing the right thing,’ there are other groups or individuals that do not have as high morals and ethics. Southwestern company encourages all homeowners to be alert and look for ‘red flags’ when dealing with unknown sales people.

Below are a few tips that will help you identify a Southwestern Company student dealer or other reputable sales person and should be kept in mind for all door-to-door sales calls.

Legitimate salespeople, including Southwestern Company student dealers will:
o Identify themselves immediately, many have a photo ID in sight (as do Southwestern Company independent dealers)
o Identify the products they are selling and the name of their product provider
o Possess a solicitation permit (if required)
o Have the product or a sample in their possession
o Will not use high-pressure sales tactics
o Respect a consumer’s privacy
o Respect a consumer’s right to end the sales call at any time
o Explain verbally and in writing the cancellation policy which Federal law states as a three-day cooling-off period
o Leave two copies of the receipt

With these basic tips, you can be assured your safety will be less compromised. Remember, if you are uncomfortable, check up on the company and the individual with the Better Business Bureau and local authorities.

NY Skin Art

By Doug

Apr

27

There are many towns in this world where getting a tattoo seems particularly perfect. That is, if one is looking for a tattoo, because it’s not for everyone, although there are more and more people these days, from all walks of life, getting inked. The towns that have the biggest urban scenes are usually the ones that seem to have the most appeal for getting new designs drawn on the body. That puts New York at the top of the list, very likely. Because it does have the reputation of being the best city in the world, and that’s a reputation that’s sometimes even considered by those who don’t live there, it’s a perfect place to get a tattoo, or at least get to know the scene a little bit.

Some of the best artists and designers in the world are pulled by the magnetic attractions going on here, so one could reasonably expect that New York tattoo artists might have a good reputation. They certainly do. There are lists of the best in the city, and the list is growing all the time. Scott Campbell seems to make it on most of the lists, as does Anil Gupta . There are dozens more, including Stephanie Tamez, whose move from graphic design to skin art has put her in the rising star spotlight.

If you do happen to be on the lookout, thinking it would be a cool thing indeed to get your mark made here in NYC, then it’s a very good idea to plan ahead. It’s certainly possible to look at the selection online from the comfort of your luxury hotel , but getting in on the same day is virtually impossible. Even with the best connections.

These artists, and the best studios, are usually booked way in advance. They can also be pretty pricey, where some artists might charge around 100 dollars an hour, these folks can earn upwards of 200-300, or even more, depending on the circumstances. However, planning ahead when it comes to permanent art is always a good idea, because haste can open the doors to regret, but a little hesitation and some thought can lead to a work of art that you will love for the rest of your life.

Ways to Use Video Conferencing in Classrooms

By Doug

Apr

25

As technology evolves, so too should education and what better way than to introduce technology into the classrooms both for the kids and for the teachers. There are a number of ways this can be done, but here is a list of five really good ones suggested by a young pioneer.

Parenting With Disabilities

By Doug

Apr

24

CNN recently did a series of interviews with parents with disabilities finding out what they have to change to interact with their kid, as well as what is the same about such an experience as it would be for those without disabilities. In the past a lot of focus has been on children with disabilities, but the  whole thing is different when the parental unit, especially the mother has a disability that keeps her from being able to do everything she would otherwise be able to do. One mom who’s joints in her arms don’t work too well changes her son’s diapers with her feet, as well as doing a number of other things with them.

The Different Needs of First Time and Experience Tire Purchases

By Doug

Apr

23

Selecting the appropriate tire for your car or truck can be a confusing and somewhat complicated decision that is faced by most drivers at some point in their driving career. With a little bit of expert guidance, which should be provided by the best tire sales staff and stores, any driver can walk out with the best quality and affordably priced tire for their particular vehicle. This is an important assurance for new tire purchasers who often have no idea what the different descriptive terms mean, or what is considered important in buying a new tire. An experienced and attentive sales staff can make an important difference in this first time buying encounter and consequently can determine a one time sale or a life long committed consumer relationship.

After a person has had an introduction to tire purchases and has a bit of experience under their belt, the process of selecting new tires generally becomes somewhat exciting and something many people enjoy and even look forward to. Finding the perfect tire and wheel for your car or truck is an essential feature of its functioning and also its appearance and many vehicle owners are equally concerned with both. At this point in their buying careers, people are comfortable enough with their ability to choose the right tire for their vehicle and generally begin to seek out the best options for finding great tires on sale .

After finding the right price range and already being aware of the style, brand and size of tire a consumer is looking for, decisions might still need to be made. As in most things in life, tires are not created equal, and two seemingly similar and for all practical purposes equally functioning tires, might find themselves loved by one person and completely ignored by another, depending entirely on that person’s taste. And this is where the quality and price of the tire is left behind and the exact taste and preference of the consumer comes into its strongest priority.

New York’s Central Park

By Doug

Apr

21

Central Park is one of the most iconic parks in the world. It’s the first public park in the United States, and its origins go back to the middle of the 19th century. Olmstead’s famous design for the park was a conscious evocation of the English garden, giving the feel of a vast, sweeping countryside. The fact that it still offers a sense of nature in the middle of one of the most developed metropolitan areas in the world is a testament to the design and planning, although the land itself has something to do with it. (see Swiftrank)

This area was a lot of swamp, and that made it very difficult for any kind of planning and development, so it seems in hindsight to be the perfect location for nature to continue its cycles free of any human interference. At least, that was the idea, but any kind of design will eventually turn the natural into something a little more artificial, and as people continue to use the park, there are more developments and means of harnessing the forces of the elements. There are still plenty of hidden nooks to find a moment’s peace and quiet, although like anywhere in New York, there’s more safety in numbers, and being seen has its advantages, not only in social circles.

The philosophy behind the park’s development was to offer something to the people of the city, so they could have a place to go and contemplate without distraction. There were also other factors, such as the push from the teetotalers to offer an alternative to the pubs. Economics was also a motivating factor, because people who are relaxed are more likely to be relaxed about spending, and there were many merchants behind the establishment of Central Park.

Today, it offers a vast array of attractions that appeal to visitors, as well as giving the locals some fine weekend festivities. With the Central Park Carousel and Zoo, there are great opportunities to enjoy a pleasant day, giving children the chance to play and enjoy some good, wholesome fun, before relaxing back at the stylish hotel . It’s also a fantastic place for a cheap date, where walking and enjoying views of nature as well as the city can provide long moments of leisure. It’s also one of the great public spaces in the world, and New Yorkers take advantage of it like nowhere else, enjoying concerts, sporting events, an even some carefree afternoons, doing nothing but enjoying the great outdoors.

Jumper Saved By Stranger

By Doug

Apr

20

A man who jumped off a bridge today was saved by a complete stranger who after seeing him start to drown, took off his shoes and jumped in there with him. The video below tells the whole story as well as a few interviews. It has not been released who the man was who jumped, or why he did so.

Facebook is Announcing a New Feature: The Like Button?

By Doug

Apr

19

Facebook is announcing a new feature soon. There has been no official talk yet, but it looks as though all the rumors point in the same direction. Soon Facebook will be announcing a button that allows you to “Like” web pages. With it being a little colder than becoming a fan, and takes most of the same styling of Digg, one wonders how well this will work out.

London Music Origins

By Doug

Apr

19

On the tail end the life of Malcolm McClaren, one of the more complex godfathers of London Punk, it seems appropriate to find that the city is more alive than ever in terms of music and culture. There are some who will say that punk rock here is dead, but the purists will understand the irony of the statement, because it was never really alive.

That might be something that needs unpacking, and to do so means looking at a kind of history, or pre-history of punk in London . Right now, visitors to the city can find plenty of memorabilia, and some traces of what appear to be the makings of another wave of punk rock, and there are many ways to take history tours of the city to see the places made famous by bands like the Sex Pistols, to name an obvious face for the music. Even here, looking at the ephemera, there are philosophical traces that reflect its origins.

One could argue that it started in 1976-1977, with the Pistols here, the Ramones in the U.S., and the Saints in Australia. That’s a fairly standard version, and also fairly contested, because there are many who will argue the point to the wee hours of the morning. There are plenty of worse ways of spending time in a pub in London, however, and it’s a fine way to meet people. The time spent mulling over these conversations in the charming hotel later will also be time well spent.

The ones who argue most for the U.K. origins will want to trace it back to the Who and the Kinks , and similar bands who were expressing a similar energy. The energy here is really the key to the music. That sentiment expressed in Pete Townshend’s guitar-smashes was characteristic of the generation. It demonstrates a destructiveness and a frustration that borders on art, and it seemed to be a rare moment that captured something elemental. However, Townshend himself would remind interviewers that he was always quoting in his performance, and his live work has always been a masterful study on how to move a crowd.

The origins, artistically, to punk actually belong to Paris, because it was the Dadaists who seemed to animate the teenage impulse toward active ennui. That desire to undermine meaning and stop making sense didn’t start here either, but it certainly became codified, and then dismantled immediately. Visitors to London looking for its origins are promised a brilliant time of it, and might want to look into Paris as the next destination.

Twitter Launches New Features

By Doug

Apr

18

There have been a number of new features launched lately from Twitter, right around the same time in announced that it now has over a million users. This does not come close to the number of users Facebook has, but that is to be expected. What twitter has over Facebook is enormous however, and their users are expected to grow, however the only way Twitter will be able to keep up with it is if they can also pull in the revenue stream. Hopefully, some of these new features will help them do just that.

Music Scene in Miami

By Doug

Apr

17

Anyone coming close to Miami’s radius might find themselves locked in some kind of peculiar spell, where life seems to be suddenly sweeter and more elemental. The draw of the sea and the strength of the city have an unusual force, and the force has a rhythm, or better, polyrhythm, and that’s the product of its lively music scene. The music scene here is, of course, a reflection of the cultures that mix in the city. Latin rhythms dominate, brought by the Cuban community migrating to these shores, who in turn adopted their rhythms to a particularly West African pantheon of tones, sounds, and beats, that are as old as human civilizations on the planet.

Most travelers here, enchanted by the pull of these sounds whenever they leave their luxurious hotels , might not recognize the African influence, and are usually stepping out with their hearts set on dancing the night away. This is certainly the city to do it. The clubs are open very late, and staying out until dawn is not unusual. There’s not much more than simple common sense to lure someone into enjoying a night on the town, but there are some general guidelines to keep in mind when enjoying Miami’s amazing music scene .

First, a brief reiteration. The clubs are open very late. This means that things often won’t get started until 11pm, or even midnight, reflecting Latin American, as well as European, standards of partying. Most last calls happen at 5am, and some places even have 24-hour licenses. The weekend begins on Thursday, and be aware that the locals here do know how to make a party. Getting into some clubs can be difficult, so it’s important to follow protocols, and getting on the guest list always helps. Connections are as important here for clubs as anything else.

Also, as far as djs, electro-techno, hiphop, and anything Latin goes, there’s plenty to choose from. Local music is sometimes hard to come by, because the tastes run toward getting large crowds to dance and drink. There are some meccas for indie rock here, and Churchill’s in particular has a reputation for being this part of the world’s CBGB’s. One of the reasons local bands have a tough time in Miami is because it’s location is far from other major cities, making touring difficult. But that scene is also picking up steam, and anyone visiting here will find something in the rhythm to surrender to.

Danny Rose Goal

By Doug

Apr

16

Watching this match was amazing. Debut goal, beautiful shot, and it was even on his weaker foot. This is one guy you have got to watch if you like football.

Bones and Booth, What’s In Store Next?

By Doug

Apr

15

Last weeks episode has everyone wondering what is next for these two? While it is generally acknowledged by fans that they would love to see the couple get together even after all this time, it seems ever less likely because that would be the thing that ruins all the tension the majority of the show has been set up on. As always the producers tease the fans with the idea that maybe, just maybe they will finally get together, but we have to wait for the season finally to get a real view of what is in store for them in the future.

The Best Type of Writing for Films

By Doug

Apr

13

When movies changed from silent films to talkies, the whole style of writing also changed. It turns out that there is a very specific style of writing that is ideal for script writing in modern films, and there are a number of people who go to school for it under a different name. Here is the full story because she can put it much better than I can.

Boston Historical Maps

By Doug

Apr

12

Travelers visiting Boston always get lost in the history of the region. Even a night on the town, enjoying the best of Boston’s famous pubs and nightclubs, there’s a strong sense of the past. That’s one of the truly great appeals of the city, because there is an extremely contemporary urban sensibility here, and taken with the historical consciousness, it becomes a rather magnificently uncanny town to visit. It’s difficult to set foot on any of the bustling streets without wondering what it might have looked like a hundred years ago.

Thanks to the foresight of a number of collectors and historians, and the radical evolution of digital imaging technologies, it’s possible to get the bird’s eye view of Boston in some famous map collections. For the casual visitor looking for a place to eat, there are plenty of resources for Boston maps to help you find your way around, but there are also some bigger treasures.

For someone who has an interest in cartography, even a passing one, this is a place to visit for sure. Not only are there plenty of resources available, but you can also walk the very same roads that you can find on old maps, and might even be able to find your own hotel , or what it used to be in centuries past.

The David Rumsey Map Collection could very easily be among the best in the world. His collection has thousands of maps of North and South America, and there’s a special collection on Boston. Thanks to the innovations of Luna Imaging, the maps have been carefully scanned and made very searchable online, so that it’s possible to look at several city maps side by side, and compare how Boston has changed over time.

Those who still like to have a map in their hands, there’s also the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at Boston Public Library, with a huge collection of world maps as well as maps of New England and Boston.

San Francisco and Bay Weather

By Doug

Apr

10

The weather in the Bay is always a great topic for discussion, because there is usually a lot to talk about. It’s always changing, and there are great variances in the climate here that make it difficult for visitors coming who might expect a warm summer and a cold winter. There are some general patterns annually, making it possible to plan the wardrobe for a trip to San Francisco, but it’s always a good idea to have choices. Its unusual geography , where it’s a bay surrounded by water on three sides, make it susceptible to changes from the ocean that come in contact with the warmth from California’s inland.

This unique geography means that the Bay Area experiences mild temperatures that are fairly uniform all year round. Days that reach into the 60s and 70s, and nights that dip into the 40s, and sometimes 30s, are not unusual, even in the summer. In fact, the warmest months of the year are in the late fall, when travelers usually expect the typical fall snap that doesn’t happen here. There are seasons, but like in other coastal Mediterranean climes, they’re divided in two, wet and dry. November to March is the wet season, where the city gets 80% of its rain.

One thing that’s always striking to travelers here, and for that matter something that’s a source of fascination and inspiration to the locals, is the fog. It’s not at all unusual to set foot outside of your San Francisco hotel and be greeted by layers of dense fog, especially in the summer months. This is caused by the blend of the cool ocean air coming in contact with the warm fronts further inland. To make matters even more interesting, the city can vary in weather pretty greatly, even within the city, on any given day. The western sections of town might have a thick mix of rain and fog, while to the east it’s sunny and clear.

That old aphorism about doing as the Romans do is certainly appropriate here. The locals will no doubt be sporting some rather fashionable, and at times delightfully eccentric, tastes in clothes, but if one pays attention, they’re also very layered. Layering is really the key to spending time here, being prepared for rain as well as the possibility of an evening on the town in a light summer dress.

Yelp Takes Steps Toward Legitimate Reviews

By Doug

Apr

10

There have been a number of issues people have had with reviews on Yelp, and the company is ready to address them. A number of steps have been taken to give legitimacy to real reviews and to throw out those that are fake. This article has a good description of some of the things that have been changed.

Elixir Interactive on Selling Search the Traditional Marketer

By Doug

Apr

9

Elixir Interactive’s CEO Fionn Downhill spoke at Search Engine Strategies New York on the topic of selling to search to traditional marketing. This lively session was called “Selling Search to the C suite”. Fionn also addresses the issue of integrating search into today’s college marketing curriculum.

Will an Ipad Blend?

By Doug

Apr

8

The answer is yes. Here is the video from the well known and loved series “Will it Blend?”

Movies in Bethesda

By Doug

Apr

8

Bethesda, Maryland is a gorgeous city, close enough to DC to enjoy all the cultural offerings there, and far enough out to enjoy quiet neighborhoods in a rather elegant town. It has a quaint history as a town in between places, having once served as a stop along the way for the postal service in the 19th century, and is now one of the most attractive places to live. The affluence is very apparent by the lovely homes and streets, and always ranks highly on the lists of best places to live. It’s also a great place to stay, with some exquisite hotels that compliment the area rather nicely.

People visiting here have a lot of options for things to do, with nice restaurants, great sight-seeing, and some pretty spectacular offerings for film-lovers. For top of the line film showings, there’s the remarkable Bethesda Row Cinema , which might seem like any ordinary cineplex, but a visit here will reveal some rather extraordinary differences. They have eight screens showing work that’s not typical run-of-the-mill fare, but is actually some of the best in foreign and independent film today. It’s on several stories, so that each auditorium has a feeling of vast space, as well as intimacy. They also have a gourmet snack bar, so that movie buffs can enjoy some espresso and fresh-baked goods while watching their favorite new movies.

Part of the reason for its excellence in film is certainly due to the elegant taste of Cinema Art Bethesda , a non-profit organization made of volunteers who all have a great love of cinema arts. And if that’s not enough, visitors to Bethesda can pop over to DC to check out the newest works in film presented by the AFI , one of the nation’s true cultural treasures. One can also find plenty of classics to see on the silver screen, the way the filmmakers intended.

Who Will Win the Grand National 2010?

By Doug

Apr

7

One of the biggest days in horse racing is coming up soon and Saturday the 10th marks the big day. This is the event to see and be seen and is the race the whole event has been leading up to. Horse racing’s biggest stars will be there, with forty of the greatest names racing across the famous track it is hard not to be excited. With the most prize money yet to be awarded to the winner of a horse race, and it being anyone’s game after last year’s win by 100-1 winner Mon Mome. This is one of the few times this has happened since Foinavon ran in 1967. Other than those two only three others have won on 100-1 odds, but even being given a number that high is rare in these races that ensure quality racers before allowing them to race the course. This is mostly for health reasons as the race track used for the Grand National is one of the most dangerous in the nation. This is what sets this race apart however and is one of the big draws to go down and see the horses run on Saturday instead of watching any number of the other races that go on throughout the year.

As per the usual, a number of great horses are lined up for this year’s race and a number of them have won this race before. That may be the one thing that consistently is a decisive measure in whether a horse has a chance of winning this race, but it is not the only factor that matters and is not a rule that holds true all the time. The race is expected to have over 150,000 people watching from the stadium and will be televised with an expectation in excess of six hundred million viewers.

Has Sharon Lawrence Gotten Hitched?

By Doug

Apr

6

It looks like Sharon Lawrence will be joining the new sitcom Hitched, focused on a newly wed couple dealing family and friends. TV Guide has the full story.

Parks in Virginia Beach

By Doug

Apr

4

It might be one of the most interesting coincidences that the Europeans landed here first when they were on their way toward colonizing new worlds while trying to escape colonization. Virginia Beach is a pretty magnificent spot, as part of some of the most gorgeous shoreline in the country. The Atlantic Ocean never looked so good, and the histories of the lives that have crossed and been lost to the waters are endlessly fascinating. Today, it is a magnificent spot for vacationers, with a myriad of possibilities for enjoyment and recreation.

With a wealth of registered historic places, the legacies of many famous people like Edgar Cayce, and the spectacular cornucopia of nature available for vacationing pleasure, it is really no wonder it’s such a popular spot. There are a couple hundred parks here, in the largest city in Virginia, and they all offer special kinds of outdoor pleasures for the visitors. It’s also almost impossible to miss the opportunities to enjoy the boardwalk, and the giant statue of Neptune is a traditional spot to snap photos. There are plenty of photo-ops here, of course.

On the North Landing River, disc golf enthusiasts will no doubt enjoy Munden Point Park . There is a disc golf course that runs through the 100 acres, along with ball fields and basketball courts, and certainly there are playgrounds as well. There is even an outdoor amphitheater available for special events, and visitors can rent kayaks. From your Virginia Beach cheap hotel to a lovely park, this is a great vacation in the making.

However, if the water is really your idea of fun, then make sure to set some time aside for First Landing State Park . Here you can swim in Chesapeake Bay, but keep in mind there are no lifeguards. There are also lots and lots of trails that are perfect for hiking. This is the most visited park in the state, so there will no doubt be chances to meet with other visitors and locals who are pulled toward enjoying all that there is to offer here. There is camping here, too, but necessary to call ahead, and it is primitive.

For deeper adventures, in a park that’s famous for shipwrecks, there’s False Cape State Park. This is a landlocked wildlife refuge, so there’s no driving into the park or near it. It looks like a cape, and there were many instances where ships turned in, only to find they were sinking, having misestimated the depth of the water. There are plenty of great hikes here, as well, and all of these give a fair and broad picture of what Virginia Beach is all about.