Archive for February, 2010

• Finding a Good Lawyer in Phoenix

  Saturday, February 27th, 2010

  There are a lot of things people don’t know about Phoenix lawyers. Mostly this is because lawyers in general seem hidden from view and buried in bureaucracy when we think about the legal system. They are often disliked for reasons that don’t even pertain to them. All this said, when you need a lawyer, you need to know a few things about the lawyers in your area. Although there can be a lot of x factors in finding the right lawyer for you, the first thing you will need to do is determine what sort of lawyer you need to meet with. There are many different types of lawyers including criminal defense or prosecution, civil, business, etc. Finding a list and looking over the descriptions, or just having a brief conversation with a lawyer can help clear up what you should be looking at. Now that you have found the area of expertise your lawyer should have there is still a large range of skill in Phoenix lawyers . The key to picking the right one is to look at their experience. You gain this type of experience not just from practicing law, but by practicing law in an expertise in the same area. Changes in either of these things can not only throw off the lawyer, but can change how he should progress with a case. This means a lawyer who has consistently won cases in California may not be the best Phoenix lawyer . Usually a lawyer’s skills have matured enough after about five to seven years, and this is a good time to look at their history. If it is consistently good in Phoenix it will probably be a good fit for your case. You should not worry about if the lawyer comes from a large law firm or a small law firm. Unless you are a large tobacco company and can spend billions of dollars at a time you will only end up with one or two lawyers working on your case anyway. If that is all the law firm has there will be no big loss. It used to be that large law firms could buy more law books and buy more research material, but most of the law research is done online these days, evening out the playing field substantially as well as lowering the lawyer fees.

• Remember New York

  Thursday, February 25th, 2010

  The list places to see and learn about in New York seems to be endless. For hundreds of years people have come to live or visit this amazing metropolis because of the intensity of human life the city has going on all the time. This is were all the latest in many things come from. Human passion and creativity are on super high in New York. Some of the best hotels in New York City are here located in some of the most historical buildings in the world. They are surrounded by generations of skyscrapers that make the skyline of this city so famous.

  On September 11 2001, the skyline had a dramatic change and now people come from all over the world to see what happened on that terrifyingly tragic day. There are hundreds of kinds of tours of the city and the water around it but one of the most important and popular tours is that of ground zero. They have had over eight years of stories being told and photos collected to put in a collection at the Ground Zero Museum Workshop. Many people watched for hours and days the footage of airplanes flying into the World Trade Center buildings with complete shock and heartbreak. Most of the world felt the sadness and came together as one during this time. There were many people lost in this devastation and many of them were working for foreign companies from all over the world so it was not just an attack on America it was an attack on the world.

  The Ground Zero Museum Workshop has some genuine support from all sorts of people including some of the family of the fallen. There are so many pictures taken by talented photograghers like Gary Suson,  who hid behind his camera to capture the story that was felt so painfully in his own heart. There were a lot of brave people putting themselves in hard situations to make sure that the people who died that day would be remembered and honored.

• Dallas Weather Dogs

  Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

  In the end, we’re all just people, right.  This is not the scent, I think I may have lost the trail.  I have issues with focus.  Not with you.  I am following him around through the city because I want him to know that I think there’s no one else worth following.  I am a fan.  I am also a dog.  And it’s a difficult life because the one I live with thinks that playing with me when he first wakes up counts as a real relationship.  This isn’t real, it’s just for show, I am only a show dog, a cheap show dog.  It has not always been like this.  A month ago, when I was still a puppy, it was a very different world.  There was only me and only him and once in awhile there was tug of war and most of the time it was a chance to lick, and this was paradise.  Dallas is paradise for so many, and places like these are examples of how good things can become.
  I don’t know exactly how it started, things going wrong, and I don’t know how I decided to start thinking about other owners, but I do know when.  The weatherman comes on in the morning when we are playing and I am happiest.  I am finding out more and more that I seem to be subject to enormous suggestions when I am happiest.  I do not suspect brainwashing, however.  The weatherman comes on the television, and there is a crowd of frightened people from Iowa, they are staying at a hotel, and they are enjoying the city, and they brought their dog.
  The weatherman looks at the dog and pets the dog, and pets the dog as if he loved dogs.  This is someone who loves dogs.  And it is not even morning.  Since then, I dream of a better life, one where I can love and be loved, freely, without limitations, and without too many high pitched sounds that will make me bark.  I cannot help it.  I have to bark.  I have to find him.  His heart is large and his hands are large and he loves to love dogs when it is not morning.

• Italy in Singapore

  Sunday, February 21st, 2010

  I kind of wanted to go to Italy, but she said we should go to Singapore, because she heard it was interesting, and it was a childhood dream of hers, and I was so annoyed that I just agreed.  We could go to lots of different restaurants, and they have Italian food, so it would be almost the same, but not the same.    If it were up to me, we’d all be agreeing whenever there was anything to talk about, because the way it works, we all disagree about small things.

  Place might not be a small thing.  I really don’t mind being in Singapore, either, it’s great.  There’s lots of things to do every night, and cool culture everywhere.  I can even find the Italian shoes I was looking for, because fashion seems to be a big part of how they do things here.  It’s also a pretty distinctive place, where traditions from all over the planet kind of come together.  The Italian food is really pretty amazing too.  But after being here for just a few days, I want to try everything else, too.

  Again, place is not small.  It might even be worth arguing about, because places have histories, human beings, and memories.  These things are worth our trouble and our time.  What I think isn’t worth all that much trouble, and not worth arguing about, are little things.  Things like how you might like to eat some pastas with a spoon.  And how parmesan cheese doesn’t go on everything, it really doesn’t.  And if you happen to make out with your girlfriend’s best friend at a party where everyone said none of this matters here, then it should be swept under a rug or something, but I have a feeling we’re going to talk about it soon enough.

• Advertisement That is Straightforward Is More Effective

  Friday, February 19th, 2010

  Trends go in and out, and there is no better place to watch this than in advertising. It was once common to just say what you mean in advertising, there was no need to entertain the audience, just to give them the hard facts on the company and product and let them make their own decision. It is looking like this trend is going to be coming back. Head On is not the only company doing it either. The benefit of this is that we can do a lot of fact gathering from the commercial, and make a decision if we want more information on the product than what we’ve been given. For example, I decided I didn’t want more information on Head On, because I don’t need it, but I do need money fast to give me a little extra money while my guest is in town. I know I can pay it back, so I am going to listen to the super direct commercials of Money Mutual and look into more information about them. This is the benefit of the information age, I don’t just have to go where they tell me to go, I can look anywhere, including looking into YouTube for any videos made by people who both like them and dislike them, their own videos, and I can look at Twitter and see what is being said about them.

  All in all this isn’t a bad way of doing business. Being upfront about what the company and product do and what your benefits are can inspire people to go to you when you need help. Putting your name on social networking sites lets people know that you are not going to hide, and you are out there for everyone to see. This instills trust in both the company and the product. This is a great marketing campaign and I’m not surprised to see that it is coming back.

• Oldest Bar in Miami

  Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

  Miami has a host of museums and sites well worth seeking out, from the Miami Science Museum to Parrot Jungle Island, to the Venetian Pools, and so on, but after all that sight-seeing and museum-watching, you really want a great place to eat, a place that’s soaked in the local flavor and feel of the city, and I don’t believe I’ve found a better place than Tobacco Road.  Just by ordering a drink at the oldest bar in Miami, you’re participating in history.  For historical buffs, you might pause a moment when you consider a bar in the United States that’s operated continuously for at least ninety-five years.  What about Prohibition?  It seems Tobacco Road was not only serving during Prohibition, it had as one of its customers, the infamous gangster, Al Capone.

  Tobacco Road obtains its status as a Miami landmark legitimately.  It’s seen its way through the Great Depression, Al Capone, and several wars and hurricanes.  At various times, in a shady past, it’s been everything from a speakeasy to a gambling den and a blues bar.  Owners have changed several times, but the building’s remained the same.  In the 1930s, the place looked like a bakery, but that was a front for a speakeasy.  There was a hidden room behind a bookshelf on the second floor where the illegal booze was stored.  The second floor may also have been a “gambling den” at the time.  In the 1940s, the bar was bought by a New York racketeer and bookie who gave the place its current name.  The place was a gay bar at this time, with female impersonators and male strippers, making it the focus of the city’s Morals Squad.  It was off limits to the military until the 1986.  The bar operated under many names over the decades, but in the 1970s, the place was purchased by a Miami police officer, and the bar became once again, Tobacco Road.  The bar and restaurant has had a tough history, but also its highlights, including a home for national blues and jazz performers. You could see at Tobacco Road such people as George Clinton, Koko Taylor John Lee Hooker, and Albert Collins.

  Over time, the bar gained a different, much improved reputation.  It’s now a place where college students and tourists, downtown professionals and musicians gather.  Even politicians and celebrities will come to Tobacco Road.  In addition, the food is terrific.  They smoke their own ribs and turkeys and make their own pulled pork.  The salads are from locally grown produce and the burgers have been made by the same guy for the last twenty-five years.  Anyone with that kind of longevity is doing something right.

  Once you find a room in Miami, drop by for some dinner and live music at Tobacco Road.  Perhaps see a celebrity who’s hiding out.  But enjoy the atmosphere and food in one of Miami’s historic spots.

• Out of Work Actor Explores Theatres in Ogunquit

  Monday, February 15th, 2010

  I’m an out of work actor. I know that’s nothing to brag about and I wasn’t trying to do so. I only made the statement because it sort of defines who I am, not the out of work part but the actor part, and it feels relevant to the story I want to tell. I’ve been in New York for the past year trying to get a job and have landed one minor chorus part in that time. I was recently in Boston, I’ve been thinking about going back to school and while I was there I noticed an audition notice for a non profit company in Ogunquit, Maine. Audition notices always catch my attention and this one did because I had never even heard of Ogunquit, Maine before. I figured it was some rinky dink thing but non profit always kinds of lends a bit of validity to any company, in my humble opinion. Or at least it inspires me to give it a second glance.

  The other interesting thing was that my aunt had invited me to spend a couple of weeks with her and she lives in Portland, Maine. So, like a standard naïve person who asks the question, “oh, you live in Chicago, do you know so and so?” I called my aunt and asked her if Ogunquit was close to Portland. Well, it turns out it’s a small world, or a small state and Ogunquit is just under an hour’s drive from my aunt’s house. She also said it was a beautiful little town and it would be a great day trip to make while I was there.

  So, without telling my aunt the actual reason I accepted her invitation, and also I was considering it anyway this just put me over the definite edge, I said yes and agreed it would be fun to check out this theatre. I was out of work after all, what else had I to do? It turns out Ogunquit really is a beautiful town and it’s right on the water’s edge. There is more than one theatre there and we decided to go ahead and spend the night. We stayed in a great little bed and breakfast though there are many standard and fancy accommodation resorts in town and couldn’t have been happier with our choice. It ended up being a productive yet leisurely and peaceful trip for me and my aunt really seemed to enjoy herself as well.

• Miami Did You Know

  Friday, February 12th, 2010

  There are lots of interesting things about the city of Miami Florida that maybe even many residence do not know. It is funny how people can live their whole lives in a place and not know many of the facts of the area. Here are a few little mindless bits of info about Miami since you are looking for a room at one of the great hotels located in Miami Florida. They may be just random pieces of info to keep in mind as you travel around the city.

  Miami is known for the Art Deco Architecture at least that is what seems to come to mind when people think of Miami. The Art Deco District does contain the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. There are over 800 buildings with this certain style in fairly concentrated area of Miami. Speaking of over 800. There are over 800 parks in the Miami area. Some of the big national parks include the Biscayne National Park and The Everglades National Park. There are a few county and state parks such as Crandon Beach County Park and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Bill Baggs was a popular editor of the Miami News who campaigned for the civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s.

  There are three professional sports teams in the city including the Florida Marlins baseball, Miami Dolphins Football and the Miami Heat Basketball. All of which would be a great night out while staying in town. Miami is of course the diving capital of the world. There are more than 50 ship wreck sites that divers are allowed to explore. There is even a 727 Jet that was sunk near by to give a better reef for the marine life. So these are only a few things that are around Miami after you visit maybe you will have your own list.

• West Virginia University

  Monday, February 8th, 2010

  Ah, the beautiful state of West Virginia. There is such a spectacular amount of geographical wonders and incredible views that it is nearly impossible not to be completely enchanted by this state’s beauty. Oh, and I’m not from there or anything. Heck, I didn’t even grow up there. But I was captivated by it from the time I was a child and heard John Denver singing Country Roads. This was a live concert and it was incredible, but the song itself, well and his straightforward sincerity belied passion gave it such power. That was my favorite song for something like three years and it still has a special place in my heart.

  When it was time for me to consider colleges I was looking through a catalogue while waiting for a mandatory meeting with our high school guidance counselor. I’ll never forget the feeling I had when I flipped the page and saw the ad for West Virginia University. Instantly I knew that this was the school for me and that it was also the opportunity for me to fulfill my dreams of living in West Virginia. I went ahead and applied for three colleges, which my parents insisted on for some reason though I knew where I wanted to go and fortunately I was accepted. My mom, dad and I took three days to visit Morgantown and the campus of West Virginia University. We stayed in one of the best hotels in Virginia, which also happened to be close to the school.

  It was an incredibly beautiful campus and I was instantly in love with it. Well, truthfully I loved the school, the city and the state well before I ever visited it. I had a great time in those years and will never forget my undergraduate days. I went further east to pursue my graduate studies and then ended up all the way out west for my doctorate degree. I established my career here in California, though part of my heart will always rest in West Virginia. I haven’t been back for about ten years though I would love to take a couple of days and maybe stay in that same hotel my parents and I did before I went to school. Take me home country roads, take me home.