Archive for May, 2009

May 29, 2009: 5:40 pm: CraigHome & Garden

Next Day Blinds Columbia Maryland offers high-quality window treatments, utilizing only the highest-quality goods for their wide range of window treatment products. All of their products are custom made in their own state-of-the-art factory in Jessup, MD (in the Columbia, Maryland area).

They now have 35 stores throughout the Washington, DC and Baltimore MD metro areas, showcasing a wide variety of window blinds, shades, shutters, and cornices in styles that suit every taste. They’ve also dedicated themselves to top-notch customer service, including low-price guarantees on their products. Their Columbia MD store has garnered rave reviews on their impeccable customer service.

So, what are you waiting for? Have you got drab rooms in your home that are desperately in need of an upgrade? Looking to create that perfect atmosphere for rest and relaxation?
Next Day Blinds is your answer. They also feature a FREE in-home consultation designed to best pin-down exactly the right style and color scheme for you and your home.

And if you don’t feel like leaving the comfort of your own home, shop Next Day Blinds online and have your window coverings shipped right to your door.

Next Day Blinds – Stylish, classy window treatments and acclaimed customer service. A winning combination!

: 2:42 pm: CraigArts & Culture, Society, Travel

When it comes to five-star hotels, Dubai offers something for everyone’s taste. There is certainly a consistency in quality, offering accommodations that are second-to-none in terms of taste and design, and exceptional in hospitality. Guests will be given the royal treatment, and are surrounded by luxury in one of the most exciting cities in the region. There are ample beaches, and a wonderfully complex urban life, and tourist explorations in any area will reveal more hidden jewels in this complex desert.

In the past few years there has been an unexpected boom in terms of culture and cultural production. The art scene here is thriving, and there is an elegance and sophistication here that makes for an active artistic community and an involved and educated public. One of the welcome products of this favorable mix is the BAF Art School. Part of BAF 2009, which is held in the historic district of Al Bastakiya, BAF Art School is the brain-child of Sara Raza.

Sara Raza, curator of BAF 2009 , has impressive credentials as the former curator of public arts programs at the Tate Modern. Based in London, she is also the co-editor of ArtsAsiaPacific Magazine, and she brings her visionary approach to BAF 2009. BAF Art School is a series of public programs presented in conjunction with the art fair, and consists of a series of panel discussions designed to investigate some of the more pressing issues of contemporary art that are specific to the UAE. Focusing on topics such as surveillance, collaboration, and the nature of artistic practice in today’s economy, BAF Art School is not just a presentation of ideas from scholars and practitioners, but is in fact a dialogue with the public. The intention is to promote lively discussion in conjunction with the well-attended and widely acclaimed BAF. By all accounts, the first Art School was very successful, and sets an impressive precedent for the art fairs to come.

: 2:20 pm: CraigEntertainment, Society, Travel

Looking for a five-star hotel in Dubai? The selection is abundant, in this city where hospitality and comfort are tradition. Dubai is one of the most popular cities in the region, and it’s reputation is growing by leaps and bounds. Celebrities and business professionals alike recommend it with their preference for visiting this city over all others. It has a fantastic contrast of natural wonder and metropolitan stimulation, and there are plenty of things to fill your itinerary. If relaxation is on the menu, then there are spas and restaurants to fit the bill. If culture is desired, then there are dozens of galleries to quench your appetite.

One place to find a wonderful listing of the local galleries here is Art Dubai. This event, Art Dubai, is actually part of a larger vision that is significant in the cultural scene here. Sponsored by the DIFC, the Dubai International Finance Centre, Art Dubai is an annual event where the most lucrative art works are displayed in participating galleries around the city, and in some other strategic international locations. Art works and trends are discussed in round table forums, there are guest speakers, and a host of other related events dedicated to discussing the contemporary art scene. The focus, though, is the financial possibilities for the art works. While art and commerce may be forever at odds, the event does spark very lively conversation and debate.

Art Dubai is also a fantastic opportunity to get a feel for the contemporary directions in the local art scene. It’s a centralized event with multiple sponsors, and some of the more prominent galleries participate. So by simply following the gallery route for Art Dubai will lead to many unexpected finds. There are pockets of hidden treasures all around the city, and this is a splendid place to start looking. It is also a place to make inroads where there are already galleries that are well-connected to the international art marketplace.

: 2:09 pm: CraigEntertainment, Society, Travel

For the seasoned traveler looking for the best of the best in a five-star hotel, Dubai graciously offers a sumptuous feast for the senses. The hotels are a splendid combination of old-world hospitality and new-world extravagance, to make sure that the guest is pampered and rejuvenated, and made to feel like a movie star. With the boom in reputation as a truly international city, with rising stars not only in real estate and technology, but also in global culture, there are plenty of movie stars around. Although the beaches and the shopping malls are enough to keep one distracted in world-class comfort, there is a culture of celebrity here that will please the trained eye.

One place where the lives of the movie stars are published in a rich, glossy format is Ahlan! magazine. This is the premiere magazine for celebrity news and gossip, and it also covers glamour and fashion. The result is magnificent eye candy, where all the latest trends are covered with an eye toward global pop culture. Following the most current waves in glamour, international celebrities find their way here for their boldest fashion risks, and some succeed exceedingly, and some fail magnificently. There is no middle ground here, of course, and the magazine’s experts are incisive and curious, qualities that lead the way in today’s global marketplace. Although the stories cover some of the most visible superstars as they travel the globe, the focus is especially keen toward Dubai culture and nightlife. Local stars, international celebrities who are staying in town, and global superstars of Hollywood and Bollywood who have a strong presence in Dubai will find themselves well-represented in these pages. Ahlan! speaks to the pulse of the complex world of the UAE, in its pop guises.

There is also a strong local investment in Dubai. Ahlan! always covers the most recent news on the DWC, or Dubai World Cup. The DWC is not only the world’s richest horse race, it is also one of the pre-eminent places to see and be seen in the region. National and international figures attend, and their presence is photographed for the pleasure of the readership. In March, 2009, the magazine sponsored a Glamour Studio, where the celebrity attendees could have their images captured by photographers who specialize in glamour. The lines were reported to be up to an hour long, and well worth the wait, judging from the quality of the work displayed on the magazine’s pages.

May 27, 2009: 3:30 pm: CraigTravel

Why not take a relaxing cruise to experience all of the Hawaiian islands on your next vacation?  Enjoy islands such as the Big Island of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, and Oahu with their exquisite natural beauty and their exciting sights as you go from one magical isle to the other. Or take Hawaii cruises.

Visit the Kilauea Volcano, a still-active volcano on the Big Island, enjoy the famous Waikiki beach in Oahu, take in the lush rain forests of Kauai, the sumptuous flowers of Maui, and enjoy all the swimming, sunning, and snorkeling you can handle as you go from port to gorgeous port.

There is so much to do on a vacation to Hawaii, and seeing the islands from the point of view of a cruise ship is one of the best ways to take it all in.  With less stress than you might have on a land-based vacation trip, a cruise allows you to lay back and enjoy each port of call without having to make plans yourself.  And as you travel from one Pacific paradise to the other, your vistas will be from the comfort of the deck or roof of the ship as the crystal blue water leads you to an inviting sandy beach.  Disembark and you can roam, play, and explore to your heart’s content until the next Hawaii island beckons.

: 11:21 am: CraigTechnology

You can share with your friends, colleagues and other associates just what the sought-after data storage and backup company Carbonite can do for them, and probably get brownie points in return.

In addition to saving you TONS of worry regarding the loss of valued emails, documents, photos and the like, Carbonite offers special web-based protection, which acts like an accessible offsite server.

Carbonite, the data backup client offering data protection with a 15 Petabyte storage capacity, provides internet and computer users an indispensable service, at a bargain rate of only mere pennies a day. They offer a 15-day free trial, to introduce you to their services.

Carbonite uses a combination of encryption techniques, similar to those used by banks, to safeguard your data. Files are encrypted twice before they leave your computer and remain encrypted on our servers, making it virtually impossible for anyone to access your files without your secret password. Users are also given the option to manage their own encryption key.

If your computer crashes or is stolen, you can recover lost files to a new computer by visiting our website. Recovering small amounts of data (a few files here or there) will probably take only seconds or minutes. Restoring all of your data will take longer and depends on how much data you have and the speed of your Internet connection. Most DSL services will allow you to download about 600-800 MB per hour, or roughly 14-18GB per day. For an average user, complete data restoration is likely to take at most a day or two.

The Carbonite client is always looking for new data on your PC, once you’re online. When you add or modify files, Carbonite starts backing them up immediately. It backs up about 2GB per day over broadband. Carbonite’s backup solution works by placing colored dots on your files and folders. Different colors represent different “file states”:  1) If the file has been backed up, 2) will be backed up, or 3) will not be backed up.

May 18, 2009: 12:47 pm: CraigHealth

Many people are turning to lap band surgery abroad in Mexico because it’s less expensive (http://www.worldmedassist.com/Lap-Band-Surgery-Mexico.htm) and gastric bypass. With the advent of Medical Tourism, the million dollar business that assists would-be patients in finding the best hospitals and surgeons for their needs along with a relaxing vacation once they are released, it is not difficult to arrange the particulars. Sending your medical information including X-rays and the like, booking your flight and hospital, and arranging for consults with your selected surgeon before you arrive, are just some of the things that your agent will handle. With many Mexican surgeons receiving their post graduate degrees from North American and Canadian hospitals, care is as good as you would expect in your own country. With state-of-the-art hospital cropping up all over Mexico, you will have peace of mind regarding your procedure. In the case of lap band surgery, along with knee replacement surgery and the like, this is one of the most called for procedures in Mexico, especially with the cost being up to 60% lower than costs in the states. Because you can have a friend or loved one stay with you in your hospital room, you will save on a hotel room and at the same time have someone to travel with later should you decide to stay on and enjoy some of the beautiful Mexican beaches and towns.

: 11:46 am: CraigTravel

There are many unspoken rules of etiquette in Singapore. There are three main cultures all living together in the country, the Chinese, the Malay, and the ethnic Indians. Each have their different forms of etiquette, and for many traveling for pleasure or for business and staying in the five star Singapore hotels, these rules can be a bit confusing. It is of importance however to understand these different customs as to avoid offense. This applies to the giving of gifts, for what one is not intending to cause when giving a gift, is offense.

When giving a gift to a Chinese person, it is important to note that they may refuse the gift, as many as three or four times. This is just meant for them to show that they are not greedy, so keep offering. Some of the presents one may give, have symbolic meaning and will cause offense. Gifts such as knives or scissors indicate that one would wish to sever the friendship or the relationship. The color of the wrapping paper is important as the darker colors tend to signify death, or funerals. Colorful and elaborate wrappings are most polite and most appreciated. Storks, in the United States, are often related to babies. However, the Chinese associate storks with death, so never give a child a stork or use wrapping paper with the storks on it.

When invited to someones home for dinner, never bring flowers or treats. Flowers again, are considered to be given to those who are ill or dying, and to bring even a desert cake will imply to the host, that they are unable to provide you with hospitality. It is best to bring treats for the hosts children, fruit or cakes. This way the feeling of giving is there however, there will be no offense taken. These are tips to provide one with the knowledge of the simple act of giving and receiving gifts to the Chinese locals in Singapore.

: 10:27 am: CraigTravel

The English city of Bath is located close to the hills and quaint villages of the Cotswolds. Stone walls line the streets, and the Bath hotel, the market places and the tiny cottages in the town are made from this famous stone as well. Many visitors are soon taken with charm and the beauty of the region, and of the local hospitality. Many activities and festivals take place throughout the year in the Cotswolds, making this area one of the most desirable places for those in neighboring cities and now, those traveling internationally as well.

One of the medieval market sections, is Moreton in Marsh. This is a large open air market in the town with history dating back to the beginning of the thirteenth century. These markets are open every week, and are a festival in and of themselves. There are many restaurants, coffee shops and tea rooms located at Moreton in Marsh, and they provide the perfect afternoon spot for relaxation and a bit of a break from the shopping. Many bridges wind back and forth over the river as well, the perfect afternoon or morning walk with tea. Located in this area as well, is the largest collection of antique shops one will find out side of the larger cities, even more expansive than in London.

There are parks and gardens located just outside the marketplace. There is an arboretum that is most delightful during the changing of the seasons. The Dyrham House and Park is a favorite for picnicking, and many of the children, and adults alike, find the Wildfowl and Wetlands Reserve fascinating. This reserve has the most extensive collection of wetland birds and wild fowl in the world, and is a must see for those traveling through on vacation.

May 16, 2009: 5:52 am: CraigTravel

Goa India is a beautiful place to visit any time of year. Some vacationers chose particular seasons or exact dates to visit that will coincide with a specific celebration, holiday or festival. New Year’s Eve is one of the most popular and exciting times to be in this paradise of coastland. New Year’s is one of the oldest celebrations, which dates back about 4000 years to ancient Babylon. It is one of the many pagan holidays that was banned by the Catholic Church only to be reinvented as a secular celebration and continues today. Many guests are lucky enough to stay in a Goa luxury hotel that provides a great party right there outside their room. Some even have balconies with great views that allow people to watch the parades and fireworks while staying cozily tucked into their own space.

Although New Year’s is not a religious holiday today, the Church’s of Goa decorate for Christmas with poinsettias and colorful papers. They light many aromatic candles to illuminate and complete this beautiful ambiance. They leave these decorations up through New Year. Parties in Goa are extremely elaborate and festive and many of them continue through the night. One of the belief customs associated with New Year’s is the idea that whatever one eats or does on the first day will affect their luck throughout the year. Some people take this as seriously as many Westerners take the idea of resolutions. There are many ways to celebrate New Year’s in Goa, and one of the most popular is to attend the fabulous bonfires and barbeques at Pine Shack. This blazing party is specially organized for tourists and excitement and revelry fill the air and add to the flames. Another popular activity is a river cruise down the Mandovi River. Live music and dancing accompanies this scenic cruise.