Is Marketing Out To Get You?

Sometimes is seems as though Event Marketing is targeted directly at you. This fall I received an email about a blogging conference that I was "invited" to attend. There would be blogging gurus in abundance, camaraderie with other bloggers, affiliates everywhere, and it would only cost a whole lot of money. Oh yeah, plus the airfare and hotel. But, according to the event sponsors I would learn the secrets to making money online with my blog. So, I considered the whole thing, but decided against it when I remembered that there are literally hundreds of "how to make money online" blogs out there, and there free.

The marketing gurus almost had me, but I think I used some better judgment in the end.

Check out the link above for some interesting info on what goes into an event like that.

The Red Chair

Now, I'm not too sure if the The Red Chair is actually functional, but it does look fairly interesting. The Red Chair is made from seven lacquered steel sticks and was originally shown in the “Five playful chairs” exhibition in 2005. The red chair was made in a limited edition of ten chairs totally and has been acquired by the prestigious Nationalmusem in Stockholm and The Röhsska Museum of Design and Decorative Arts in Gothenburg.

-Enjoy

The Spice of Life

Here's a cool Youtube channel my readers may enjoy: Johnny B. Wilson. Johnny describes his Youtube channel as him ranting, but quite a bit of his humor is insightful. In one video he talks about how all the people who make Youtube vids without getting compensation and at the same generating huge traffic for free. It was insightful and humorous, you should Watch it now.

-Enjoy

Lounge easy-chair

The Lounge easy-chair looks great, and with a name like that I just want to take a seat. As you can see in the images above, the Lounge easy has the choice of a swivel or fixed base. I can see the Lounge easy in a corporate or home setting, making it a versatile piece for any space.

-Enjoy

A site Zoie would love.

I just checked out a great clothing site, Heavenly Couture, that I am sure my little sister Zoie would love. Heavenly Couture is a clothing website that carries, stylish junior clothing for Seventeen dollars or less. I wish I know about Heavenly Couture for Christmas time, I would have been able to get Zoie a whole outfit for her, and probably kept the total under thirty five dollars. Take the Light weight Purple Zipup Hoodie pictured above, it only costs Thirteen dollars right now and could easily go with any of the pants or shirts on the site.

If your little sister or daughter has a birthday coming up soon I would definitely recommend a visit to Heavenly Couture.

-Enjoy

Dolphin easy chair

The Dolphin chair is great, both in design and style. Here's what the designer has to say about the Dolphin chair.

Easy chair for lounge habitat. An advanced moulding technique has made this particular chair possible: the seat and back rest are both moulded two-ways. The chair is an inspiration from the classic designs of the fifties. Choose between veneered, lacquered or upholstered.

-Enjoy

Police Gear

Here's a cool link for all you guys that like SWAT gear. LA Police Gear has all the tactical style clothing and accessories that may be hard to find (not your old navy gear). LA Police Gear carries flash lights, pants, holsters, side arm knives, and more from the top manufacturers in the field. So check them out and,

-Enjoy

UPS-able Upholstery

I just added some really cool, ups-able upholstery to the site, and they look great. Now you can put a large sofa in any room, even rooms with tiny doors on the fourth floor. The sofas, called convert-a-couches, take a tip from the futon industry in their manufacture and packaging. As if the whole package couldn't get any better, each convert-a-couch folds down into a full size bed.

So check it out and,

-Enjoy

Boston Living

I know the term Boston luxury apartments can be hard to believe. But with a good rental company like weRENTboston.com, nice apartments can be found in Boston. Just check out the link if you don't want to take my word for it. You'll find great spaces in Boston hot spots as well as more reasonably priced accommodations in the outskirts of the city. The layout of the apartment listings was easy to navigate and the small thumbnail image next to each listing gave you a feel for each apartment without the need to go any deeper into the site (a nice way to avoid an apartment that's not a match). I also liked the ability to selectively weed out spaces that won't fit your needs, such as the various sections of the site for, in example, furnished apartments or places with parking.

This is one of the sites you have to visit if you're planning a move to Boston.

-Enjoy

Modern Furniture - Again

Some of you may be breathing a shy of relief (or frustration) because I'm back on a modern furniture kick again. The Boomerang bench is a sleek birch and chromium affair that looks great. Head over to Lervik Design and as always,

-Enjoy

Violin Lessons

When I was younger I used to play the violin, fairly badly (I was 10), but I still enjoyed playing. Recently my little sister, Halley, started violin lessons and I thought I would share a great site that offers video lessons. The Academy of Music Performance offers three lesson series on their site (beginner, intermediate, and holiday courses), catering to all levels of musicians. Each series has individual lessons as well, focusing on individual songs before moving on to the next lesson. This style of lesson format allows the student to repeat as many times as necessary to feel comfortable with with the material at hand. The Academy of Music Performance site looks sharp and has a wealth on info for the casual browser or returning student.

-Enjoy

Earth Hour - 2008

About Earth Hour On March 31 2007, for one hour, Sydney made a powerful statement about the greatest contributor to global warming – coal-fired electricity – by turning off its lights. Over 2.2 million Sydney residents and over 2,100 businesses switched off, leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming caught the attention of the world. If the greenhouse reduction achieved in the Sydney CBD during Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.

This year the idea is going global, and this is your chance to participate. Visit The Earth Hour Site for more info.

-Enjoy

Cool Educational Toys

Here's a good link for all you "breeders" out there, here's a great link. Cool Stuff Express has some really Cool Educational Toys for your kids, so you can cram as much educational stuff in their heads and still make keep them entertained. You'll find crystal growing sets, ant farm toys, and, well, almost anything to do with nature.

So, head on over there and get your kids some educational toys today.

-Enjoy

Product of the Year, Sweden -2005

The Uddabo is a kitchen table with a planning bench at the end of the table top. It's described as a table for active people who need the kitchen table for more than a place to eat. The planning bench part can also be used for cutting bread and cracking crab claws. While I don't really think the crab claw part is very factual, the table does have an interesting look.

-Enjoy

Wrist Watches

Over the past few months, taking care of Noelle's grandmother from home, I've found that I really didn't have to pay a whole lot of attention to the time. Recently, however, my need to pay attention has peaked. To make a long (and boring) story short, I've been looking for a new watch, and I've really liked one Seiko Watch in particular. That's when I visited Bluedial.com, an online watch retailer that has a huge selection, cool design, and fast shipping options. And that's what really matters for an eCommerce site. One thing that I thought was very impressive was fast shipping, by default Bluedial.com ships everything second day air. That's incredible.

-Enjoy

Plastic Subway Animals

This is such a cool idea, it's a wonder that no one did this before. There's an artist who's been making animals (like the one pictured above) out of discarded plastic bags. He (or she) ties the bags to the ventilation grates above the subway lines so that when the subway rolls by underneath, the animal inflates and springs to life. Such a cool idea.

-Enjoy

Ocean Potion

Alright, I'm back on the Ocean Potion "Xtreme" Tanning Lotion kick again. As some of you may remember, Ocean Potion has some pretty great sun care products, and their Xtreme tanning products are no exception. Heres one of the great facts I found on their products:

All our formulas are PABA-free, cruelty free and many are fragrance free and hypo allergenic. We care about your skin too, with products designed to nourish, and keep your skin looking its best, longer.

Ocean potion is also holding a Spring Break contest where the top video submission could win $5000 dollars. So head over there and vote for my video and, well, I'd be most appreciative.

Getting on the Patriotic Band Wagon

Ok, I just saw a write up in the local news paper about my former employers business and I had to laugh. RZ is not stating that 90% off all the merchandise in his establishment is US made. I ran the warehouse and was responsible for all the receiving and I know that he is full of shit. He used to carry so much furniture and accessories from China, Vietnam and Malaysia, it was ridiculous.

But, I guess when you really want to appeal to your customers in a way that you can, you'll say almost anything to get people in the door. If only they knew, and if only the local paper that takes all of RZ's advertising money their readers may have gotten a truthful article instead of a sugar coated sack of shit.

So, if you're shopping in Northampton, MA for furniture, get ready to be lied to.

As always,

-Enjoy

Credit Card Offers, are they all shady? I think not.

Surprise is a word I don't often use when performing a review of sites that promote or share low interest rate credit card offers. Creditnet, however, shifted my opinion of credit card resource websites. Here's what swayed my opinion of Creditnet:

"Introductory rates often have stipulations, and you should always read the Fees, Terms & Conditions provided by the issuer before taking full advantage of the introductory rates. The issuer may review your application and credit history to determine the length of time the introductory rates will apply to you.

An introductory rate on balance transfers helps consumers save money by allowing them to transfer balances from high interest credit cards to the card with the introductory rate. Some issuers only offer this rate if you transfer your balance at the time of your application. Often, introductory rates are only valid as long as you pay at least the minimum payment on time."

I really appreciated that Creditnet is actually providing good advice for credit card holders. Also, the site layout and navigation was nice, and very easy to find what you're looking for. So, head on over and take a look at the excellent credit card offers that Creditnet has on their site.

-Enjoy

Street Art At It's Finest

I saw this image on another site, and I couldn't resist posting it here for my readers. Featured over at The Wooster Collective, a site that has a plethora (yeah I watched the Three Amigos last night, wanna fight about it?), a site that contains fine examples of street art. I think the image at the top of the post is definitely one of my favorites.

Here's a few examples of the images you'll find on the Wooster Collective:





Check it out and as always,

-Enjoy

How can you become a better shopper

Ok, as a thirty year old guy, I view shopping as an in and out kind of experience. Just find something that looks nice and go with it. I avoid all the browsing / trying on (if I can avoid it), and sometimes just go with the first thing that floats my boat. Well, after checking out Jennifer's blog over at The Gift Therapist's Bargain Zone I saw maybe Jennifer has a few shopping pointers that I should take into consideration next time. For instance, right off the bat the blog launches into finding deals and what motivates them in their shopping.

This type of read got me thinking about my shopping tendencies and why I shop for certain items. So, when I saw the Subscribe to my blog RSS feature in the address bar I'd check it out and make a point to visit every once in a while.

Check it out and as always,

-Enjoy

Star Trek Shower?

Ok, I don't think I ever saw a shower on any of the Star Trek episodes, but if they did show one it would look just like the Cabin shower. It appears that the shower has wall nozzles, as well as a large shower head above. I also suspect that the shower may even have some sort of steam element since it is all sealed in.

-Enjoy

Luxury Apartments

In my recent apartment remodel, I can tell you, with 100% certainty, that a nice living space goes a long way in raising your quality of life. That's often the difference between an apartment and a home. Take for instance, a Bucknell Apartment listing at Lewisburg Luxury Rentals. The apartments in their listings look great; the spaces include a chef's kitchen, beautiful hardwood floors, Kohler fixtures, radiant-heated bathroom floors (very nice), central heating and cooling, in-unit Laundry, and energy-saving design features.

It's nice to see a company that wants to promote quality of living rather than a quick sell. Check it out if you're in Bucknell area.

-Enjoy

Glass Bathtubs?!

The Milo bathtub definitely has an extremely revealing design. Thick glass and dark woods blend well, but the whole feel is a bit to stark for my taste. The Milo is probably very comfy, but I still think it is more suited to the set of Dune than your typical bathroom.

What do you think? Feel free to share your opinion with the rest of the readers.

-Enjoy

There's still time for your Disney Vacation

Ok, I know it may be getting late in the season to be thinking about heading to Florida for a vacation (temperatures have been in the fifties here in Western Mass) but there are still some great opportunities to save big at the hotels near Disney World. Not just for a family either, the Lake Buena
Vista Hotels are just right for anyone headed to any of the Orlando conventions / events taking place this year. Take the AUA (American Urological Association) 2008 Annual Meeting, this year it's being held in Orlando and the Lake Buena Vista Hotels are just a stones throw away.

Not that your trip has to be all about business. The Orlando Vista Hotel is conveniently located at the entrance to the Downtown Disney® Resort Area as well as being just a half mile from Pleasure Island and minutes to the Orlando Convention Center, SeaWorld®, Universal Studios®, and the Florida Mall. Prime location, warm weather, plenty of adventurous activities. Can it get any better?

Well, I think so. There are also one hundred and seventy six Orlando area golf courses that'll just call your name. If you're into golf, that is ;)

So, while you may go to Orlando for the Convention, you'll definitely go back for all the amenities. I know I would.

Stunning Bathrooms

As my search through the internet marches on, I seem to have found a new trend (to myself at least) of wooden fixtures in for the bathroom. At first when I saw pieces like the Calypso Wenge I was shocked, but the idea grew on me the more I saw. The timeless look of the wooden bathtub and sink really tie in well with modern surroundings. I bet they would look good in a classic space as well.

-Enjoy

Are oysters funny?

What did one oyster say to the other about people giving pearls as gifts? Any guesses? The first oyster said that humans may as well just give a kidney stone as a gift, since pearls are just a pain in the gullet.

Seriously though, if you enjoy eating Gulf oystersyou'll want to get you facts straight before partaking, it's no laughing matter.

First, consumption of raw or undercooked oysters by at-risk individuals may cause serious illness or even death from Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. If you have liver disease, diabetes or a weak immune system, you should avoid raw oysters.

Second, oysters also provide a low calorie protein that are an excellent source of zinc, vitamin B-12, and omega-3 fatty acids.

So in moderation, an oyster may be just what you're looking for. But make sure you can handle them. Head over to Be Oyster Aware if you have any unanswered questions about eating raw oysters or the risk involved.

-Enjoy

Bean bag chair of a different color

I like bean bag chairs, who doesn't? Well, here's who, anyone out of their early twenties. So heres a bean bag chair for all the adults still holding on to that kid inside. Here's a description of the "sunk" chair by the designer:

SUNK is a bean bag. However SUNK is very different. It has a wooden frame to stabilize the square shape. Inside the wooden frame there is stretchable belt to make the SUNK comfortable when you sit in it. The balls inside SUNK is placed in a bag that can move around a polyether frame so that the armrest and back builds up when you sit in it.

-Enjoy

Do You Want A $20,000 Home Makeover?

Ok, if the title of the post didn't grab your attention, this should. You could win a twenty thousand dollar home makeover from TriScents. Right now your probably asking how and where, and rightfully so.

So here's the deal, from the official contest rules:

Once registered, entrants can submit an entry into the Promotion by creating and uploading their own video file, photo file and essay by typing the submission into the free-form text field included on the Promotion web page. VIDEO FORMAT MUST BE IN MOV OR WMV. VIDEO NOT TO EXCEED 2 MINUTES IN LENGTH AND 20 MEGABYTES IN SIZE. PHOTO FORMAT MUST BE JPG OR GIF WITH A MAXIMUM SIZE OF 500KB. ESSAYS MUST BE WRITTEN IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WITH A MAXIMUM OF 250 WORDS.
To be eligible, submissions must include a video or photo and essay showing and explaining why your home needs a makeover from Renuzit Tri Scents and Tanya Memme. Entries will be judged on convincing explanation and demonstration of why your home needs a makeover and why Renuzit TriScents can help. You must visually show your home to be eligible.
The entry must be the entrant’s own work. Should you experience any difficulties with any aspect of the Promotion, please send an email to RenuzitTriScents@promosupport.com and your request will be answered promptly
Once you submit your Entry, you will be officially entered into the Promotion. Promotion entries cannot be revised or altered once submitted. Once submitted, all submitted components become the property of the Promotion Entities and will not be returned.

So, that's it a quick vid about how your stinky home (maybe you have dogs or live next to a paper mill) needs a quick face lift and how TriScents can help.

So, check it out and enter to win while you still can. And even if you don't win, you'll still be able to use the handy, downloadable coupons on the TriScents website.

People Chair

The People chair is really cool. It appears to be an office chair with a built in ottoman. Here's what the designer has to say about the design:

“People” is a very comfortable and still looks slim. It has an optimal seating curve with a high back. It has armrests and you can lean back and adjust the angle to your own liking. And People have a 100 % disappearing footstool. When the footstool is pushed in it is no longer a footstool it is a part of the seat. The footstool pleats it self on to the front of the armchair. The “accordion” footstool has a very low-tech construction. The only thing that makes the fabric to plead it self in the right way is by “learning” the fabric the right way to go. We do it once and then the footstool knows which way to go. The glass fibre “arms” that holds the footstool up has a very comfortable “trampoline” effect. The costumer’s leg will softly float above the floor.

-Enjoy

Marble Accents

I just checked out a site called Marble Unique, importers of fine marble products for your home. Marble Unique has an interesting selection of leading direct
importer of quality marble and stone fireplaces, water fountains, statues, and more
I checked out the marble fireplace page at Marble Unique and I was impressed with the vast selection. Some of the designs were a bit too over the top for my taste but they definitely have something for everyone. But, it's not just for the inside of the home, Marble Unique carries garden accents, pedestals, human and animal statues, as well as fountains. The only thing that I think needs a little work is the text on the home page. It's a bit hard to make out over the image, but other than that the site looks great and is easy to navigate.

-Enjoy

This will blow your mind

Well, maybe it won't but I still think the Andstretch looks awesome. The concept for this flat-pack paper rack is simple. With only a thin bendable plywood / plastic sheet and a rubber band the design was quite innovative. I truly enjoy the work over at Thorunn, it's always a new twist on a familiar idea.

-Enjoy

Wet basements anyone?

I am so tired of my basement this spring, what with the rain and melting snow creating a constant flow of water in every crack. I can't tell you how many sump pumps I've had to replace over the years, and after finding a site like The B-Dry System, I may have to act on my wet basement annoyance. Here's what B-Dry does.

The B-DRY® BASEMENT WATERPROOFING SYSTEM takes care of
-Wet Basement Wall Leaks
-Water Leaking At The Floor Wall Joint
-Water Leakage Coming Up Through Concrete Floor Joints or Cracks
-Wall Leaks in Stone Basements

How do they do it?
Through the use of a Rigid Sealer which provides a dependable waterproof basement sealer. A barrier is then formed between your wet basement walls and any wall panels,insulation or other building materials.

B-Dry Rigid sealer panels are formed from a special plastic-polymer. It provides for the special purpose of spanning cracks and other defects in your basement walls.

The concept is just what I've been looking for, and I hope to implement something like this before the next mud season rolls around.

-Enjoy

Mattress Fire Codes

I got a call today from a customer who wanted some additional information on the various fire codes that are involved in the futon / mattress industry today. As of July, 2007 every mattress or futon is require to be able to withstand an open flame for minutes without bursting into flames. The side by side demo in the video above is a great example of the difference this new law makes.

What it doesn't address, however, are the affects of such chemicals in our bedding. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think about the new laws.

-Enjoy

Baby Furniture & More!

Since I see what the majority of my site visitors are searching for (baby / kids furniture), I thought I'd share a review of Baby Mall Online. The majority of the items carried at Baby Mall Online consists of infant baby clothes, but they also have a fairly varied selection of bedding for your baby. I was really impressed with the prices and variety that I found. For instance, you can purchase a four piece crib set that includes a comforter, bumper, dust ruffle, and crib sheet for only $39.95. Baby Mall Online has sets for boys and girls (blues & pinks) in a variety themes as well. I liked the sports theme for the boy crib, especially since you can add matching blankets and room accessories to complete your set from the rest of the site.

Though it may be hard to see, the Andaglas lamp actually heats and burns in incense stick that rest near the bulb. Here's how the designer describes the process:

"The lamp lights up the smoke from the incense stick as it travels up the glass pipe. The lamp rocks a little bit on its round bottom, if someone touches it, and then the smoke starts dancing. The heavy smell of incense and the strange blueish light makes watching the lamp a mesmerizing experience."

Another ground breaking design idea THORUNN ARNADOTTIR Design.

-Enjoy

Spa or Detox?

With all the hype about celebrity break downs and addictions in the media this year, it's no surprise to me to see a new type of spa style Addiction treatment, Addiction treatment center on the rise. When I think of a detox center I tend to think of stark surroundings and spartan living quarters. Usually in an area far away from home where you would normally want to visit.

Well, Addiction Treatment is one of the companies that is making a change in how detox / rehab is being approached. Addiction Treatment offers top-notch caring and professional therapists who will pamper you with luxurious amenities found in only the best 4 star hotels. While you take your journey to better, healthy living you will be able to enjoy a healing massage, yoga and fitness instruction from a private trainer, walks along the world-famous beaches in Malibu California, surfing, horseback riding, and peaceful meditation in our gorgeous gardens.

While this may sound like a vacation, don't the the amenities fool you. Addiction Treatment is still about fighting your addictions, what ever they may be. Be it alcohol, drug, or any other type of addition, you will still get the treatment you need without the need to stay in a minimum security prison.

Sounds like a nice change to the system.

Interior Design With Concrete

Normally I don't really get into concrete in the home, maybe it's because I live in a 1920's duplex and don't think it would be worth the investment. But, I must say that the concrete counters, sinks, and bathtubs by Stone Soup Concrete have really caught my eye. Stone Soup works primarily in New England, but I'm sure they'd take on jobs outside the region for the right price. The bathtub shown above is assembled from 5 tongue & groove pieces, weighs 1750 lbs & has a 120 gallon capacity. Plus, it looks really nice as well. But that's all that matters, right?

-Enjoy

Health Care

Have you ever wondered how health insurance companies come up with their plans and pricing?

If you have let me introduce you to a company named HealthLeaders-InterStudy. With a focus on analyzing health plan trends HealthLeaders-InterStudy breaks down HMO, POS, Medicare, Medicaid, and PPO enrollmen, health plan market share, HMO financial data, hospital and physician networks data, executive contacts and vendor information for businesses.

With this data businesses can evaluate which health care plan makes the most sense for their employees and area. Hopefully the data provided by HealthLeaders-InterStudy will allow employers to get the best possible coverage for their employees and employees to get the most effective health care for their hard earned cash.

So, whether you're an employer or employee, you should be able to benefit for the services provided by HealthLeaders-InterStudy.

-Enjoy

Stone Sinks

Lately I've been checking out a lot of Stone Sink options for what I hope is a soon to be redone counter and kitchen sink. As you can see there are both modern and Antique Stone Sinks on the market today. Besides, I don't think I'd really want to use an antique. The modern version above looks great, it has a nice strong look and it must be quite substantial.

-Enjoy

Event Planners

When I was out in Las Vegas for the World Market, I went to a gala event for all the buyers and exhibitors that were attending. It was great, there were free drinks, carving stations, dessert stands, the works. And I'm almost 100% certain that the Las Vegas World Market couldn't have pulled it off without using a company like Innovative Entertainment, San Francisco event planners. Here's what they do. Well, Innovative Entertainment handles everything your event may need. Food, lighting, music, staffing, corporate event planning, event management, theme parties, dance bands, theatrical productions, interactive entertainers and games, environmental entertainment, virtual reality, as well as major headline entertainers can be arranged for you. The events they handle are both corporate or private, from wedding to fund raisers.

Definitely a stress lifting service for anyone who may be planning a major event.

Last Night

No, this post isn't about The Strokes. It is, however, about my fine dining experience last night at Sienna in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. Noelle and I finally went out together after a long period of taking care of her terminally ill grandmother. Marie (Noelle's grandmother) passed away on Saturday in her sleep, which was coincidentally her 92nd birthday. So, to make a long side tracking story short, after a year of care taking Noelle and I went out to celebrate Marie's 92nd birthday.

Here's a quick review of our Sienna experience. First our party consisted of Noelle, Bailey (Noelle's sister), Bev (Noelle's mom), Betsy (our friend) and myself. The mood and decor of the restaurant was very nice. We found low lighting and local artwork very pleasing and the music was spot on (a mix of jazz and African). We all stuck to beer with both our appetizers and entre's, Sienna has a nice selection of micro brews, which we were told rotates occasionally.

For appetizers Noelle had Caesar salad, Bailey went with fried oysters, Bev tried the Thai mushroom soup, and I had the wild boar sausage & shrimp over fried polenta. In a word the appetizers were great. I particularly enjoyed the wild boar shrimp combination, the loose style sausage was pan seared in a traditional tomato sauce and the shrimp were finished to perfection.

Next we had our entre's. Bailey ordered the flat iron steak over potato with shallot marmalade. The steak was cooked perfectly and finished with a demi glace and mushroom springroll. Noelle had a serving of the polenta with the tomato for a light meal and Bev had the crabcake. Both were great. I tried the pancetta wrapped venison loin, which came with sweet potato fries and asparagus. Let just say it was fantastic. I would highly recommend the venison to anyone.

Our desserts were also spot on, classic creme brule & cheese cake finished our dinning experience wonderfully. I would give Sienna a 8 out of 10 and definitely recommend it to anyone in Western Mass, whether you live in the area or just passing through.

-Enjoy

Golf in Vegas

As some of you may remember, I just got back from a conference in Las Vegas in January. The trip was hectic, and I really didn't have a whole lot of time for any recreational activities. Which was really too bad, as there are tons of Las Vegas golf courses that I might have checked out if I had the time. When I flew in to Vegas I saw quite a few courses, and when I checked out the Las Vegas Golf Authority website, I found some great prices and tee times at quite a few award winning golf courses in the Las Vegas area. So, if you have some leisure time on your next trip to Vegas you'll want to check out Las Vegas Golf Authority first.

-Enjoy

Sustainable Furniture Design

The Graphic Armoire is another stunning example of sustainable design. Gloss white laminate and kirei teaturing FSC cerified plywood. As usual Iannone's furniture features premium soft close dovetailed drawers. I really appreciated the contrast of the white laminate and the clean wood detailing.

-Enjoy

Rap Music

Now, I don't know a whole lot about your average rap artist, but RapArtists.com is a place to learn a little something. RapArtists.com has a nice layout which includes a forum, artist listing, new release section, and a top ten. Theres also a nice tie in to iTunes & Amazon music where you can buy and download the top ten albums. I really liked the layout and think the site will do very well. The only thing I didn't find was a sample clip section to the site. This really would have upped the ante on other sites.

-Enjoy

Bamboo Side Board

This Amber bamboo sideboard with bamboo inlay looks great. Clean modern lines fit well with the strong focus on environmentally friendly materials. Features bamboo plywood and FSC cerified plywood with a low VOC water based lacquer finish. Premium soft close dovetailed drawers cap off the whole package.

Something Every Business Needs

Ok, the title could be about, well, just about anything. But this post is about free ads at WhyNotAd. WhynotAD is a Web 2.0 Wiki Style Free Ad, Advertising and Classifieds Portal. In fact, whynotAD is the world's first all-in-one Web 2.0 Ad, Advertising and Classified - Free Advertising Portal.

The site is awesome, it's like a Craigslist on steroids. The homepage makes me want to explore. What's also nice is that most advertising is acceptable on the whynotAD Ad portal as long as the Ads are of "QUALITY" content. WhyNotAd does not allow ads that resemble spam or ads that are pornographic in nature. Which is great for your average user. I hate going on Craigslist and finding fifty work from home pyramid scheme ads. Hopefully the advertising on their site will be different.

Obviously theres no registration required for browsing, but advertisers will need am email to register. Also very revolutionary is the ad ranking system. People can vote for an ad or classified and this then increases the ad’s individual ranking. Ads with a higher ranking will of course rank higher in our search results and other interesting features!

To vote, simply move your mouse over the star rating and click on the rating you wish to give the ad or classified. Also nice is the feature that stops advertisers from finding loop holes in the system and boosting their own standings. But, usually it's only a matter of time before exchanges start taking place behind the scenes and advertisers find a way to boost their ranks.

Definitely head over and check it out. I think you'll enjoy it.

More Space Saving Designs

Philippe Malouin has done it again with the Unit. The space saving design is fantastic, combining your kitchen and bathroom. Developed with European flats in mind the Unit could easily be used in any area where space is at a premium. Very innovative and stylish.

-Enjoy

Is there a fight in the credit industry?

Wel, I wouldn't have said it if there weren't. As is turns out two companies that offer credit fraud protection services, lifelock and Experian, are exchanging blow both in and out of the courtroom about the measure taken by Lifelock to protect the consumer.

Experian's complaint states

"LifeLock's scheme costs Experian millions of dollars every year in processing large numbers of improper initial fraud alerts, mailing mandatory notices to consumers, and providing free credit reports to consumers who are not eligible for such reports,"

What Experian doesn't say is that they also provide such services and that Lifelock is one of their competitors. Sounds a little fishy to me, having to sue your competition for (according to Experian) over zealous protection of the consumer. Experian also doesn't state that they are losing sales and profits since Lifelock offers a $10 a month protection plan, with recurring alerts on any questionable credit activity. Most alerts expire after three months unless re