It’s not atypical of business leaders to be focused on the bottom line. What may be atypical, however, is a billionaire CEO who considers customer service to be a priority. Enter Richard Branson. The founder of Virgin Group has found incredible success due, in part, to his unwavering focus on customer service. Here is how …
We all have that one neighbor that is fantastic and the one that we could live without. Bad neighbors are not only irritating, but they can prevent you from selling your home. Whether you have the family who can’t keep their lawn mowed or a group of party-happy teens next door, it’s important to deal …
Approximately 64 percent of the nation’s children attend preschool prior to entering kindergarten. Preschool, in part, teaches children social skills and enhances behavioral traits needed to succeed in the educational environment. While these are important aspects of a preschool environment, what is often ignored is the importance of art in the preschool setting. Today’s educational …
Last week, I was in Sacramento and saw Before Midnight at the one theater in the city where it played. Those who have seen Before Sunrise and Before Sunset will find the format familiar. The setting is gorgeous–this time in the south of Greece–and the conversation is engaging and intense, with a few more participants …
The average salary for teachers in the United States, according to 2012 data, is $55,418. It’s important to keep in mind that this figure is, in fact, the average. Many teachers make far less and few make more. New graduates often find it difficult to support themselves and pay back student loans on a beginning …
Before Sunrise, Directed by Richard Linklater, Columbia Pictures, 1995. Before Sunset, Directed by Richard Linklater, Warner Independent Pictures, 2004. Those of you who listen to NPR or read the New York Times probably know already that a third movie in director Richard Linklater’s “Before” Series has been released recently: Before Midnight. In this installment Linklater …
Immigration reform has been a hot topic over the last few years and the issue is currently being debated in Congress. The most contentious issue when it comes to immigration reform is whether to allow undocumented immigrants a pathway to full citizenship. Immigration law firms around the nation have been debating this issue for some …
Google Play Music/All Access joins the list of “specific” streaming music services, like Rhapsody and Spotify, where you can pick specific songs and make specific playlists, as well as explore random musical palettes. Contrast this with purely semi-random services like Pandora, or the new iRadio, where you can only hint at what you want, and …
The Guardian newspaper reported today that in addition to recent revelations about government phone taps, email and internet surveillance to uncover terrorist threats, it is also true that a reclusive billionaire and a lapsed CIA agent are working tirelessly in New York to save the lives of innocent and generally photogenic people who are in …
The true thoughts of sad dogs…
When worlds collide, we often get comedy. A story on National Public Radio this morning showed how this can happen even in the most traumatic situations. Apparently, kidnapping is a booming business in Latin America. The Morning Edition host, Steve Inskeep, interviewed a woman in Venezuela whose adult daughter had been kidnapped. While negotiating with …
http://youtu.be/2mkr3GureeA
There is a mistaken sense of security that comes with driving on rural roads, and that can actually be considered a large part of their danger. You might think traveling on roads with much less traffic is safer, but in reality, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that twice as many accidents happen in …
Here is a revised version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”– a song originally recorded on earth and released June 11, 1969 to coincide with the Apollo 11 moon landing– which was recently covered by Canadian Astronaut, Commander Chris Hadfield, while on board the International Space Station. Someone had to do this eventually– cover the “Major …
Have you ever jumped on the bandwagon of the latest exercise fad? Maybe you thought you’d get a beach body in 90 days or tried to whittle your thighs into submission with the thigh master. If you can count yourself among the millions that have fallen for one of the latest exercise crazes, this is …
Much is made over famous entrepreneurs. Steve Jobs was practically immortalized, for example. But an important concept to keep in mind is that entrepreneurs rarely make it to the top alone. Successful companies have a team of successful employees who work together to make the entrepreneur’s ideas materialize. Not only is it crucial to hire …
In a recent article on Slate.com, Amazon has been compared to a charitable organization. Despite sales in the billions, Amazon’s profits tumbled by 45 percent. How in the world does this happen and why aren’t investors up in arms? The answer may lie in the fact that Jeff Bezos is looking at the big picture, …
Your new job will be in Washington, D.C., and you have visions of the Potomac, the Smithsonian and the National Gallery dancing in your head. But DC is a little more complicated when it comes to real estate. In fact, most people who work in DC live either in Maryland or Virginia. As you start …
There’s an enduring saying in the public relations industry that getting any sort of press coverage at all is a good thing, even if what’s being said is not favorable. While this might be true for companies that have virtually no name recognition and would do almost anything to get their names on the lips …
Because both lawyers and social workers commonly stand up for the rights of others, there are not only many similarities between the work that these professionals do, but several ways they can partner with each other to be advocates, especially in the healthcare field. An organization called the National Economic & Social Rights Initiative believes …
Years ago I read in the San Diego Computer Edge magazine that Andy Rathbone had been added as a contributing writer. Besides being the author of the original Windows for Dummies books, Andy is also known for being the inspiration for the character “Rat” in the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The “rat” character …
Bad Religion are considered the Godfathers of Punk and rightly so. Formed in 1979, they obtained notoriety with their 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction. Now with three-fourths of the original members back in the band, Bad Religion are hitting the road. With them will be beloved and acclaimed LA band, The Bronx, who have been …
When New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg moved to ban super-sized sodas he brought to light a huge problem in America today: Obesity. With two-thirds of Americans being overweight or obese, Bloomberg’s efforts were applauded by many. Even the iconic Coca-Cola weighed in recently declaring “obesity the issue of this generation.” While many have cited …
Vietnam may not be the first place that you think of when it comes to planning a beach getaway, but it’s quickly gaining popularity as a strong choice, thanks to over 3,400 kilometers of coastline characterized by powdery sand beaches, secluded tropical islands and jungle forests. Keep reading to learn about some Vietnamese beaches that …
So, Mike speaking here. I’m sitting in Austin-Bergstrom Airport at the end of my second SXSW. I’ve got the cans on to drown out the sound. You can’t knock it, there’s 3 live bands playing in the airport departure lounge on the Monday after it’s all over, but I need to concentrate. On the way …
If you’re buying a house, you’re probably going to have to get a mortgage. Few people have enough cash to buy a house outright, and if you want to invest in a rental home, leveraging your cash can get you a higher return rate. As successful investor Jim Randel states in his book, The Skinny …
For many nurses, patient contact is a part of every shift. However, according to the American Nurses Association, some hospital personnel members are at risk for ending their career due to injuries related to back and shoulder strains. In comparison to other occupations, nursing is one of the ten most likely professions to cause musculoskeletal …
Whether you want to save money for retirement, to open your own business, to buy a home, or any other reason, you have to figure out where that extra money’s going to come from. In order to build up your savings, you need to take control of your finances and make some smart decisions that …
Are you well-versed when it comes to your credit? If you’re not, don’t worry: You aren’t alone. Many people have false notions when it comes to their credit and credit reports. Whether you’re trying to get out of debt or preparing to make a major purchase, understanding exactly how things work is important. Here are …
Learning new random tidbits of knowledge is fun, but does it really add to your intelligence? It may seem like you’re just wasting time learning useless facts, but actually when you read a short piece of trivia or take a quick trivia quiz, you’re also helping your brain stay sharp and quick and even making …