Monthly Archives: September 2009

Sep30

Online and In Person Customer Service

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Online and In Person Customer Service

Most businesses are beginning to realize that excellent customer service begins with the first encounter a consumer has with it. This can mean a phone call to schedule an appointment or viewing, or the moment the customer walks into business to make a purchase or acquire a service. These early aspects of customer service are slightly different with Internet based companies. The initial phone call becomes an email inquiry and walking into a business becomes visiting the company’s web site.

Many people may wonder how customer service can be applied to a potential consumer’s visit to a website. Steven Barbarich is well aware of the various aspects of customer service and the important role it plays in a business’ success, and it shows in the courtesy and professionalism he offers his customers.  An online business serves itself well when it recognizes this aspect of an initial visit to its website.

One of the ways it can increase actual business from a simple visit is to display various means of ensuring product quality and company integrity. This is accomplished by posting professional reviews and profiles and also by customer feedback options. One of the important aspects of online company is making sure that the customer can reach someone with questions and or concerns. This is demonstrated with immediate and professionally written response to initial email inquires.

Most consumers expect and appreciate expedience with online communications, and early demonstrations of this go a long way with developing customer trust and satisfaction. With any business, rather it is Internet or in house based, professional integrity, honesty and product quality are all aspects of excellent customer service and responding to concerns or questions on the part of the customer is essential for continued success. This not only assures positive word of mouth advertisement, but also frequently creates a repeat customer situation.

Sep28

Oil Changes: Proper Car Maintenance

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Oil Changes: Proper Car Maintenance

DIY auto repair, otherwise known as Do It Yourself, is becoming quite common during these times when people are trying to save money. Many car maintenance activities that can add up throughout the year, are easy enough to do for oneself, and they are not as daunting of a task as they may seem. Take oil changes for instance. This will involve getting a little grime under the fingernails, so be prepared. This will also ensure that it was all done right, with the time taken to do a job well done using the appropriate products for your car or motorcycle. Manuals will come in handy, so have the manufacturers manual for your particular make and model within reach.

There will be few tools that you will need, and it is recommended that you find a proper facility for which to discard the old oil. It is against the law to just throw that away. There are many places that will take the used oil, Jiffylube being one of those, and they will not charge a fee. The first step is finding a spot to perform this task. Once found, it is best to drive the car around for a few minutes to heat the oil up. This will serve to thin it out, making it easier to drain. Once done with the pre-oil change drive, turn off the engine and make sure that it is in gear with the parking brake set.

And as precautions are always wise to take when climbing under a vehicle, it is best advised to place cement blocks around the tires. Using your small engine repair manuals, locate the drain plug. Many times this will be labeled. You will need a socket wrench to remove the nut. Once the nut is loosened, cover the ground and get an oil pan. Once the plug is removed the oil will most likely drain out in a few minutes but it is best to wait for about an hour. Replace the plug. Now it is time to funnel the new oil in the engine, the manuals will give you information as to the number of quarts. Once that is complete, start up the car and leave it idling for a few minutes. Check for leaks, and if there are none, your good to go.

Sep27

New York City’s Franklin Furnace

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New York City’s Franklin Furnace

There is no other city on earth like New York. It’s a place where everything in the world happens every day, and twice. There is an energy to the place that is palpable and always changing, behaving like a molecule that refuses to behave. The pace of culture here is impossible to gauge, and harder to capture than mercury, because everybody seems to be looking to make or discover the next big thing. And despite or perhaps because of this searching, it’s one of those places that is simply magnetic, drawing the best minds and talents in the world into its folds. There is little question that for the best hotels, New York City can compete, because in many ways, New York invented the idea.

Our hotels are selected from the finest New York has to offer, so that you’ll be enjoying gorgeously relaxing nights in rooms decorated with real metropolitan style. You’ll wake up refreshed and ready to discover what the city has in store for you that day. Shopping and people-watching are always popular, and they can reveal many splendid and baffling things about the city. These activities can also keep your days very pleasantly full. At night, New York City doesn’t exactly come alive, since it never sleeps in the first place, but a lot of the great art happens at nighttime. Franklin Furnace is a fantastic place to check for what’s new in experimental performance.

They’re an organization that’s been around for more than thirty years, begun by Martha Wilson in 1976. It was started with the intention of supporting avant-garde artists who were falling outside of the genres and content specified by institutional art. This noble beginning has produced some magnificent results, and has helped to launch and support the careers of artists who fall outside of the mainstream. These artists include such visionaries and recognized geniuses as Allan Kaprow, Nicolas Dumit Estevez, Annie Sprinkle, Vito Acconci, and Carolee Schneemann. It’s an organization with a small and intimate space, and a fantastic reputation among art-lovers, and especially artists, who keep seeing things that we can’t.

Sep17

Improving Circulation

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Improving Circulation

Hot water has an enormous array of benefits that are well-known to most, but there are other hidden benefits that go with the territory.  You’ll be able to enjoy all of them with your new portable spa, turning your back yard into a resort.  You’ll especially love how you’ll have to experiment over and over again, by getting into your new hot tub in order to test out the newest scientific theories.  There are health benefits to hot tubs that are so numerous, it seems as though there are new studies every day proclaiming the positive effects on health from the simple act of immersing yourself in water.

Our spas have an enormous variety, allowing you to choose the option that suits your needs and tastes, with a host of extras to make it personal.  With fantastic touches like a television, or a stereo system, even colored lights, you’ll be able to find your exact match.  You’ll enjoy having it even more than you’ve enjoyed daydreaming about it, when the big outdoor parties, and even the quiet evenings, start to unfold.  You may not want to tell your guests that while they’re having the time of their lives that they are also improving their circulation in the water, but then again, you just might.

Using water to help the circulation of the blood is an old method that really works.  Called hyrdotherapy, it simply consists of immersing the body in warm water, or, in variations, going from hot to cold and back again.  The temperatures cause an immediate response in the skin and organs, and it’s a very healthy response that moves the blood.  Warm water is heavenly, and add bubbling jets to this, and it’s unimaginably sweet, and it’s even doubly sweet to realize it’s also very healthy.

Sep14

Washing Vegetables Made Easy

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Washing Vegetables Made Easy

Having an outdoor kitchen invites a whole new lifestyle to your world.  It suggests that you give a special place in your home for leisure, and place extra importance in being social.  There is a splendid feeling that comes with the smell of grilling in the great outdoors, and this can be something that happens in your own backyard.  As you begin to learn the intricacies of outdoor grilling, you’ll start to dream of making your set-up distinctive.  You’ll move from being an occasional cook to an outdoor chef.  One way to begin this transformation is with the addition of an outdoor sink.

An outdoor sink can make a huge difference in your cooking experience.  It adds a certain level of convenience to what you do, and adds a special touch to the entire process.  You probably hear about the importance of washing fruits and vegetables, to remove any traces of pesticides, and to counter any contamination that might occur from the many hands that have already touched the food.  For maintaining the nutritional quality, as well as preparing food correctly, washing is extremely important, and now you’ll be able to move through the process very smoothly.

Even a brief washing can get rid of a very high percentage of the contaminants, and it’s also true that fruits and vegetables simply tastes better.  Care and attention to the ingredients always comes through when the meal is served.  It’s part of the magic of cooking, that turns it from science into art.  One important discovery that all outdoor chefs make is that everything can be grilled.  It’s simply amazing how many new tastes are waiting for you!  Roasted garlic and potatoes are fantastic, and the same magic can be applied to oranges, mango, and papaya, to give your already savory meals and extra boost toward heavenly.  It’s very to prepare when the sink is part of your set-up, where washing and peeling can be performed right there at the grill.  It’s all at your fingertips, and great rewards come to those who dream big.

Sep14

Sydney’s Yulli/Crowley: Why Not?

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Sydney’s Yulli/Crowley: Why Not?

Australia is a fantastic place to visit.  The country is always revealing more landscapes and more mystery, and the cities are vibrant.  There are always a hundred things to do, with a rich cultural life that buzzes all day and all night.  Sydney is one of the cultural centers for Australia, and there are interesting artistic revolutions that happen here all the time.  Australia is often underestimated for it’s influence on the international art scene, but it’s absolutely there, and a visit can get you acquainted with the depth of this history, as well as the upcoming global trends.  There are many ways to see the city, and the best is in luxury.  Sydney hotel accommodations are indeed splendid, offering a sumptuousness in style and comfort.

You’ll enjoy resting and rejuvenating in our gorgeous rooms, falling asleep and waking up in a beautiful space.  Our world-class chefs are ready to prepare superb meals for you, using techniques that draw on tradition as well as the latest innovations in international cuisine.  You may want to even enjoy a work-out before having a new adventure in this spectacular city.  Sydney’s art scene is worth writing home about.  There have been many movements here, and the 1970s was particularly lively.  For a brief time, it almost seemed that local artists could sustain themselves on their work.  There were some key figures from this time who are still doing important work today, and one of the key curators from that time is running the Yulli/Crowley in Sydney.

Kerry Crowley has a very strong reputation as a very strong woman, and has been working in the art scene here for a few decades now.  Her tastes run to the conceptual, and she is fairly influential here.  Some see Crowley as a force of history, and some see her as a force to be reckoned with.  The Yulli/Crowely gallery is much like her, hard to find if you haven’t been there before, and even the website is obstinate about not giving much information.  This is art that is for collectors, practitioners, and those who are part of the scene, and not for a general public.  It is also some of the most interesting work in the world, and her tastes are exquisite.  It’s worth the trouble to get there.

Sep9

Paper Mill of Grand Rapids

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Paper Mill of Grand Rapids

The Blandin paper mill built by the Mississippi river dominates the town of Grand Rapids. This is where the river is damned; hiding behind the trees behind the mill complex. The mill is almost as large as the town itself. I was told, when I took a tour of the mill, that most likely, any of the magazines I have laying around my house has the paper that was made right here at this mill. The front entrance of the mill is right in the middle of downtown. That’s why I took the tour, it was right next to one of the hotels Grand Rapids offers to it thousand of visitor every week.

I remember driving by the paper mill in my town when I was a child and all I remember is the stench it would give off. This particular mill is well known in Mississippi, Southern Kentucky because they could both smell the stench depending on where the wind was blowing. The smell is due to the chemicals they use to prepare for the wood pulp. But, here at Blandin’s paper mill, they use a different process, which is extremely fortunate for the residence of Grand Rapids. It has no smell whatsoever.
Across the street from the mill is a statue titled ‘Papermakers,’ but I couldn’t make out the artist’s name or even find a name at all. The statue is a source of pride for Grand Rapids, because without this paper mill, Grand Rapid would not exist.

The Mississippi river runs right through the center of Grand Rapids and there’s a River Park just south of the mill on the west bank. I found the park very pleasant and delightful, but most of all I really liked knowing that it was the Mississippi River running next to the park. As I was walking back to my hotel room I past a building that had a huge mural painted on one entire side of it. It was a representation of the ‘Wizard of Oz’. Later, I found out the reason, Judy Garland was born here.

Sep8

Nitasha Jaini’s Work in Jaipur

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Nitasha Jaini’s Work in Jaipur

When planning your stay in Jaipur, luxury hotels offer splendid dreams that will deliver upon your arrival.  Our hotels are carefully selected to provide the best in service, comfort, and design, and for their excellence in setting an ambience that rejuvenates the visitors.  There are certainly adventures lying in wait for you here, and your hotel should help to continually restore your energy so that you can see the city in style.  Jaipur is a fascinating place, the city built according to scientific and astrological principles that are said to offer its citizens both comfort and prosperity.  It is one of India’s most beautiful urban spaces, with the fantastic pink facades that have captured the imagination of so many.

Our hotels offer an incredible host of amenities that will please our guests of all ages.  One of the finest offerings here, and in India in general, is the cuisine.  Our chefs are trained in the most current and classical cooking techniques to demonstrate the gorgeous array of Indian cooking.  Jaipur’s cuisine has more Afghan and Mughal influence, offering a heady regional difference, with variety that will appeal to every palate.  After a delicious meal, you’ll be ready to begin your own India adventure.  Jaipur’s art galleries are a wonderful place to get to know the country, as its culture and customs find their way into art – and vice versa.  There is an incredible variety of work that one can see here, from antiquity all the way up to five minutes ago, and the splendor of India’s visual traditions will be immediately apparent.  When browsing through the art here, keep an eye out for works by Nitasha Jaini whose work continually amazes viewers.

This painter lives and works in Gurgaon and Delhi, but her work has regular showings in Jaipur.  She has had quite an illustrious career behind her, and seems to have a similar path ahead, but there have been more than its share of bumps.  For Nitasha Jaini, her subject is, like for most artists, the human form.  However, she’s had some commotion raised over her choice of gender, and her work focuses on the male.  In interviews, she raises some very interesting points in noting that for the history of art, cinema, photography, and even theatre, there is an obsession with depicting women, but not necessarily so with men.  So, to balance things out, her focus is on the male form, and she’s making some tremendous strides toward making her own reputation in the local and international art world both from her style and from her subject matter.

Sep3

Walking Green In New York

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Walking Green In New York

Well, I didn’t know much about being ‘Green’, until I was staying at one of the top New York Hotels and visiting with a long time friend. My friend, instead of picking me up in a cab, walked or took the subway to my hotel and made me do the same, either walk or take the subway. She told me it’s here little way of keeping her carbon footpring low. Well, she said, most New Yorkers are actually doing their part anyway in keeping the carbon footprint low beause New York is mostly a drive less and walk more city. Plus, the New York City Department of Transportation is really reinforcing New Yorks way of life and is working on projects that will make walking a more pleasant experience.
 
She told me of two such plans, the PlaNYC sustainability plan and the Sustainable Streets initiative. The transportation department, with the assistance form an urban planner, who’s Danish, has outlined some new policies for the design and function of New York streets. All these initiatives will make New York City safer and greener for everyone. They plan to broaden most of the sidewalks to accommodate foot traffic.
 
I asked her what is this all about, and she asked me if I understood what ‘going Green’ meant. I confessed to her that I did not. She actually was happy to explain it to me. I had no idea my friend was so into the ecology. I’ve never seen her so enthused and excited about something as simple as walking. She has always taken a cab to where ever she wanted to in the past. This change in my dear friend seems to have given her a whole new outlook on life. I wonder if I ‘go green’ what kind of impact that will have on me?

Sep3

Bondi Markets in Sydney

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Bondi Markets in Sydney

There are some cities that are famous for their excellent food, and with our top restaurants, Sydney is certainly in this category. Its exceptionally beautiful location, with close access to both farmlands and, of course, the sea, makes it the perfect spot to taste the best of all worlds. Our restaurants are carefully selected for their ability to demonstrate the best in the region, highlighting the enormous variety here. We also choose according to the level of excellence in our chefs, only working with the top culinary geniuses in the food, who have knowledge of both traditional cooking techniques as well as the newest innovations.

It’s a dining experience that will make even the most savvy world traveler swoon with delight. Tempting and satisfying the taste buds might be the greatest part of any journey, but there are also a host of other attractions in Sydney, waiting for your participation. After a lovely meal, you might want to take in a show, having a look into the local club scene, which is fantastic, or perhaps check out one of the offerings from Sydney’s thriving performing arts scene. There is also plenty to find among the wide array of offerings at the local markets. And on a Sunday, some of the best in town are the Bondi beach markets.

Offering an incredible array of goods, the Bondi beach markets are in one of the the funkier and colorful sections of beach in the area. The offer something that will appeal to nearly anyone, but those who live for the thrill of a rare find will be especially at home here. With a very wide range of goods, from rare old furniture, used books, vintage clothing and the latest in local crafts, it’s an event that will offer a fantastic window into the local cultures here. The more seasoned buyers could walk away with the extremely rare treasure, but everyone can find something they’ll like (and probably find many things that will tempt your pocketbook). All the while, when you’re browsing, you’re also contributing to the local community, since a portion of the revenues benefit educational programs.