Archive for January, 2009

January 31, 2009: 12:28 pm: CraigTravel

With twenty-five million visitors every year, Central Park is hands down the most visited US park. Located in New York city, this urban park serves as the dividing line between Manhattan’s Upper East Side and its Upper West Side. With its prime Manhattan location, Central Park is close to several five star New York hotels as well as fine restaurants and clubs.

The park was designed by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted and opened in 1859. It covers 843 acres and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963. Central Park houses a number of ponds and lakes as well as natural woods and a reservoir. There are extensive walking paths, two ice rinks, and a popular running track that circles the reservoir.

Other features of Central Park include the Central park Zoo, a wildlife sanctuary, and the Central Park Conservatory Garden. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located in Central Park. Every year the summer “Shakespeare in the Park” productions are held in the park’s Delacorte Theater and SummerStage produces free plays and concerts both in the park and throughout the five New York boroughs. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is also held here, on Central Park West.

January 28, 2009: 3:01 pm: CraigAutomotive, Business, Economy, Finance, Industry

Almost all businesses that have customers at some point receive complaints from these customers. Often these complaints are perceived as an inconvenience. To some they can even be a major concern. You should note that complaints are not necessarily a bad thing. They are an opportunity to improve. Many quality systems such as ISO identify complaint handling as necessary.

Collection and processing can be one of the biggest challenges associated with customer complaint handling. This is because complaints often arrive into the business in many different ways – letters, emails, sales reps, phone calls etc. This results in the fact that often complaints get ignored, mishandled or lost. The ultimate solution is to have procedures developed so that all complaints can be processed and recorded.

Central customer complaint handling systems such as complaint handling software is often used. This type of system means that staff throughout the organization, and out in the field, a way to record and store each complaint they receive in real time. The software can include methods to attach documentation and also to assign tasks to others for investigation and resolution. It can also be used to record corrective actions, root causes and outcomes. The result of using specialized complaint handling software is that the history of each individual complaint is recorded from the initial contact through to final resolution. Production or service improvements can be determined from this type of information.

January 25, 2009: 8:10 pm: CraigTravel

Tourists are drawn to the exotic city of Chennai for its interesting blend of traditional and modern India. Formerly known as Madras, Chennai serves as the Tamil Nadu capital, making it the center for Tamil culture and food as well as the arts and performing arts. It’s the major producer and distributor of Tamil language film for not only India, but Tamil communities throughout the world.

Founded in the 17th century, Chennai was a major British naval base and economic center during the colonial era. Since Indian Independence, the city has grown into one of the country’s expanding mega-cities, a bustling urban metropolis full of restaurants, shops and markets, 5 star Chennai hotels, and numerous clubs and lounges.

Those wanting to escape the urban landscape will find numerous opportunities to do just that. The city has a number of beautiful beaches for relaxation as well as recreation. Chennai also has an entire national park within its borders. Guindy National Park is home to a wide variety of species of wildlife and plants. The Vandalur Zoo includes an aquarium and several safaris. Chennai’s Botanical Garden is an oasis of plants and flowers, including a fossilized tree trunk that is believed to be at least twenty million years old.

Chennai is known for its variety. There are Hindu temples as well as several amusement parks, including a large water park. It boasts the best Bhratanatyam(classical Indian dance) performances in the world as well as sporting events such as cricket, tennis, and motorsports. Shopping ranges from traditional arts and crafts available in bazaars to modern electronics markets and designer boutiques.

January 24, 2009: 1:48 am: CraigNews

There is no price that can be put on saving an individual’s life.  This needs to be kept in mind when choosing a drug rehab center.  There possibly comes a time when there are only two options: get help or risk losing your friend or loved one who is in need of rehabilitation.  It is important that the person gets help as soon as possible to prevent them from causing any more damage to their own body or emotionally to those that they love.
Watching a friend or family member suffer through addiction is a very painful experience.  You want to do everything you can to help this person but there is nothing you can do if they are not willing to accept the fact that they need help.  There is a risk of alienating this person or losing them as a friend if you approach them about the subject of drug or alcohol rehab, particularly if they don’t yet think there’s a problem.   But when all is said and done if that person chooses to get help they will end up thanking you for being one of the first to notice they have a problem and should seek help.

January 17, 2009: 9:33 pm: CraigTravel

Visitors to Catalonia’s charming capital will find much to love about this unique city. Barcelona offers an exciting and enchanting experience as it blends Catalan, Moorish, and Mediterrarean influences with modern Spanish sensibilities. The city is known for its amazing food, friendly residents, and beautiful architecture. Barcelona’s rich cultural heritage offers a variety of attractions and sites to delight visitors.

Barcelona’s museums offer an range of cultural artifacts and history. Art museums include the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in the Palau Nacional, and the Caixa Fòrum. The city is also home to museums bearing the names and works of Picasso, Miró, and Tàpies. The Museum of the City of Barcelona offers access to underground Roman ruins while Catalan culture is celebrated in the Museu d’Història de Catalunya. Barcelona is also home to science, ethnography, archaeology and national history museums. There is also a Maritime museum and a privately-owned Egyptian museum. The city offers an “articket” that allows holders admission to eight museums at a discounted price.

The city is home to a thriving performing arts community that features theater, opera, and live music. The Barcelona and Catalonia National Symphonic Orchestra performs over seventy concerts a year and is housed in l’Auditori. Other venues include the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, Gran Teatre del Liceu (opera), the Palau de la Música Catalana, and the Teatre Lliure. Barcelona also hosts the annual Sónar Music Festival every June.

No visit to Barcelona would be complete without taking in some of the amazing architecture throughout the city. The works of architects Lluís Domènech i Montaner and Antoni Gaudí have been designated UN World Heritage Sites. Some of these sites include the stunning (and still under construction) Sagrada Família, the Palau de la Música Catalana, the Palau Güell, the Casa Batlló and the Hospital de Sant Pau.

In addition to the many cultural attractions, Barcelona is home to parks, beaches and several major sports venues. Tourists will also find luxurious 5-star hotels in Barcelona as well as terrific nightclubs, abundant shopping and some of the finest restaurants in Europe. Everything you could ask for to ensure a wonderful vacation.

January 14, 2009: 7:54 pm: CraigTravel

Known as the Pearl of the Andaman, Phuket is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand. As the largest island in Thailand, Phuket is approximately the size of Singapore. It’s location on the Adaman Sea, provides it with many beautiful beaches and a year-round temperate climate. No wonder it’s become a paradise for those seeking, sun, sand, and surf!

Visitors to the island will find that the beaches include more than just sand. Many are host to popular clubs, restaurants, and five star Phuket hotels. The main tourist season runs October through May, but the incredible weather makes pretty much any month a good time to visit Phuket — and visiting off season means the beaches will be less crowded.

Many of the beaches feature strong currents, especially during monsoon season. Be sure to watch for warnings and advisories on any beach. Also, although many of the tourists in Phuket are European, nudity is frowned upon in Thailand. To avoid insulting the locals, it is best to avoid going topless or to sunbath nude.

Most of the beaches include recreational areas, making it more than just beautiful views, warm sun, and great swimming. Sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling, and scuba diving are all popular activities. Surfing is possible on the western beaches.

Patong Beach is perhaps the most popular tourist beach on the island. Located on the central western coast, it features bargain shopping and some of the hottest nightlife and best seafood restaurants on Phuket. Other beaches of note include Phromthep Cape on the south end of the island, Hat Karon which features a coral reef, Karon Noi, Rawai, Bang Tao, and Kamala. The beaches on the north tend to be lesser developed (not as many shops, restaurants, and clubs) and provide a more relaxed environment for families and those seeking a less crowded beach experience.

If you want a unique experience, schedule a visit to the northwestern coast of Phuket during March and April. Here you’ll find Sirinat National Park. Established in 1981, it protect ninety square kilometers of marine area. Nai Yang beach is part of this preserve and it is where sea turtles come to lay their eggs every year.

January 9, 2009: 5:39 pm: CraigHealth, Real Estate

Anthem is a development to the north of Phoenix in Arizona. It is close to the town of New River. It is a planned suburb that opened in 1998. It presently has an estimated population of around 40,000 people.

Anthem has many attractions including mountain views, and recreational activities such as hiking, water sports, sports leagues, kids and teen camps, golf and community carnivals. Services include a high school, shops, churches, restaurants, doctor Anthem, dentist Anthem, lawyers, guitar instructor, financial services as well as other amenities such as family dentist Anthem and vets, and other local services.

Access to Anthem is via the I-17 freeway. It was developed by the builder Del Webb to provide affordable housing and services in a beautiful setting out with the city. Many families chose to move away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and live in a friendly community located in a peaceful area.