Good article on Blogging
We know that keeping a business blog going requires time and energy. We also hear from some of our clients who complain that they don't get enough traffic or comments, and they wonder if blogging is worth it.
A blog will get you found more easily on the Web. Period. When you write about your topic using the same key phrases that clients are using to find solutions to problems, chances are your blog will come up in searches.
But simply writing on a blog isn't enough to drive business. You have to pay attention to four key areas to have a successful blog.
We have developed a system for advanced business blogging. You can use the CODA system to keep your blog on track:
1. C is for Content: post regularly, frequently, and stay relevant to what your readers want and expect.
2. O is for Outreach: find other blogs in your field and develop relationships with the authors through commenting on their blogs and linking to them in your posts. This is key to building up your readership.
3. D is for Design: pay attention to your blog's design, branding, usability, ease of reading and navigation. Include stand alone pages for your key editorial content.
4. A is for Action: use your blog for business by getting your readers involved and engaged. Build trust. Write persuasively. Link to your products and services. Get results.
The CODA system is an easy check list for paying attention to what really matters on your business blog. If you aren't getting the kind of results you want from your blog, study each of these areas to find where you can improve and then make the necessary adjustments. More on blogging......
By: Patsi Krakoff and Denise Wakeman
Hitspot.com | Hitspot.net | Promodiamonds.com | Finewine | MusicRow | Blog | Bar | Widgetgames | More widgetgames | TwoDog | Deals | Carryons | Eliot Cobb
Monday, December 17, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Great New Travel Sites
boo.com
Offers travel reviews from consumers, search capabilities for 2,500 destinations in 170 countries, comparison hotel prices, and booking through boo or hotel Web sites. Includes restaurants, bars and other interesting things to do in chosen destinations.
vayama.com
An online booking agency for international air travel with flight and fare options to about 190 countries. Allows travelers to enter preferences for connecting airports and travel time. Also has information about obtaining visas, passports and immunizations.
VibeAgent.com
Combines user-generated reviews, meta-search capabilities, and social networking (think TripAdvisor plus Kayak plus Facebook) for personalized hotel recommendations and booking at the best prices. Personalizes hotel searches via three categories: "Ambience," "Activities," and "Recommended For," such as a romantic hotel near the beach for gays and lesbians. Users can create custom groups, or become members of existing groups, such as marathon travelers, to exchange stories, tips and recommendations. Connects you to the Web site with the best price for booking from among 120,000 hotels.
YELLOWPAGES.travel
Searches up to 12 travel Web sites, including Orbitz, Kayak, Expedia and SideStep. Users click on each site's logo at the top of the page for the results. SearchBoth.com, a subsidiary of YELLOWPAGES.travel, allows users to search two travel sites at the same time and places the results from the sites on a split screen.
ProfessionalTravelGuide.com
Offers reviews of hotels and restaurants from professionals - journalists and expert reviewers from the travel industry — including insider tips and specific, detailed information about more than 159,000 hotels. These reviews are more like what you would find in a guidebook than in an anecdotal consumer review. Also has a customized guide for users who are traveling to several cities.
yapta.com
Stands for Your Amazing Personal Travel Assistant. Enables travelers to tag flights from several airlines, including American, United, Delta and Continental, and alerts them when the fare drops. But unlike farecast.com, which predicts whether prices are rising or dropping, yapta can continue tracking prices even after you purchase the ticket. If you booked directly with the airline and the price drops below what you paid, you may be eligible for a refund or credit from the airline. Other rules may apply — for example, some airlines charge a re-booking fee to capture the travel credit, so check the details. (Yapta currently only tracks airfare prices for U.S.-based carriers, though it does track international flights for these carriers, which include American, Continental, Delta, United and U.S. Airways.)\
TripIt.com
Organizes travel plans into one master online itinerary. Forward flight, hotel, rental car, and other confirmations to an e-mail account, and TripIt will e-mail travelers with the link so they can see and manage the itinerary. Includes weather, maps and city guides. Users can customize the itinerary with additional information, such as directions to a restaurant or tourist attraction.
Orbitz.com
Offers a new social networking component — OrbitzTLC Traveler Update — with real-time updates from travelers about security wait times, traffic and parking, taxis, etc. at more than 40 airports. Travelers can post the information on the Web site or send a text message. Orbitz encourages people to send information by giving out perks to people who send in tips and updates, such as a free pair of airline tickets.
BestTripChoices.com
Matches travel personalities with best destinations. Travelers take a test and are classified into one of six travel personalities, ranging from "Venturers," people who are extreme risk takers, to "Authentics," people who want a relaxing, lazy vacation. The site recommends travel destinations based on the results. The destinations have been rated by travelers with similar personalities who have visited those places.
fabsearch.com
For the fashion-conscious traveler. Fabsearch features blurbs on hip restaurants and trendy hotels from media mentions in sources ranging from Vogue and Town and Country magazine to DailyCandy.com, the Financial Times and Wallpaper. Saves the mentions in a "my clippings" file.
Yahoo! Trip Planner (travel.yahoo.com)
Helps travelers create a personalized guide for an upcoming trip, with information on hotels, attractions and restaurants, and share the details of their trip with friends and other travelers. Coming soon: Yahoo! Travel will roll out a revamped version of My Travel with an interactive world map that will allow travelers to mark the places they have been and the places they want to go and connect users with others who share similar travel interests.
Our Partner
Offers travel reviews from consumers, search capabilities for 2,500 destinations in 170 countries, comparison hotel prices, and booking through boo or hotel Web sites. Includes restaurants, bars and other interesting things to do in chosen destinations.
vayama.com
An online booking agency for international air travel with flight and fare options to about 190 countries. Allows travelers to enter preferences for connecting airports and travel time. Also has information about obtaining visas, passports and immunizations.
VibeAgent.com
Combines user-generated reviews, meta-search capabilities, and social networking (think TripAdvisor plus Kayak plus Facebook) for personalized hotel recommendations and booking at the best prices. Personalizes hotel searches via three categories: "Ambience," "Activities," and "Recommended For," such as a romantic hotel near the beach for gays and lesbians. Users can create custom groups, or become members of existing groups, such as marathon travelers, to exchange stories, tips and recommendations. Connects you to the Web site with the best price for booking from among 120,000 hotels.
YELLOWPAGES.travel
Searches up to 12 travel Web sites, including Orbitz, Kayak, Expedia and SideStep. Users click on each site's logo at the top of the page for the results. SearchBoth.com, a subsidiary of YELLOWPAGES.travel, allows users to search two travel sites at the same time and places the results from the sites on a split screen.
ProfessionalTravelGuide.com
Offers reviews of hotels and restaurants from professionals - journalists and expert reviewers from the travel industry — including insider tips and specific, detailed information about more than 159,000 hotels. These reviews are more like what you would find in a guidebook than in an anecdotal consumer review. Also has a customized guide for users who are traveling to several cities.
yapta.com
Stands for Your Amazing Personal Travel Assistant. Enables travelers to tag flights from several airlines, including American, United, Delta and Continental, and alerts them when the fare drops. But unlike farecast.com, which predicts whether prices are rising or dropping, yapta can continue tracking prices even after you purchase the ticket. If you booked directly with the airline and the price drops below what you paid, you may be eligible for a refund or credit from the airline. Other rules may apply — for example, some airlines charge a re-booking fee to capture the travel credit, so check the details. (Yapta currently only tracks airfare prices for U.S.-based carriers, though it does track international flights for these carriers, which include American, Continental, Delta, United and U.S. Airways.)\
TripIt.com
Organizes travel plans into one master online itinerary. Forward flight, hotel, rental car, and other confirmations to an e-mail account, and TripIt will e-mail travelers with the link so they can see and manage the itinerary. Includes weather, maps and city guides. Users can customize the itinerary with additional information, such as directions to a restaurant or tourist attraction.
Orbitz.com
Offers a new social networking component — OrbitzTLC Traveler Update — with real-time updates from travelers about security wait times, traffic and parking, taxis, etc. at more than 40 airports. Travelers can post the information on the Web site or send a text message. Orbitz encourages people to send information by giving out perks to people who send in tips and updates, such as a free pair of airline tickets.
BestTripChoices.com
Matches travel personalities with best destinations. Travelers take a test and are classified into one of six travel personalities, ranging from "Venturers," people who are extreme risk takers, to "Authentics," people who want a relaxing, lazy vacation. The site recommends travel destinations based on the results. The destinations have been rated by travelers with similar personalities who have visited those places.
fabsearch.com
For the fashion-conscious traveler. Fabsearch features blurbs on hip restaurants and trendy hotels from media mentions in sources ranging from Vogue and Town and Country magazine to DailyCandy.com, the Financial Times and Wallpaper. Saves the mentions in a "my clippings" file.
Yahoo! Trip Planner (travel.yahoo.com)
Helps travelers create a personalized guide for an upcoming trip, with information on hotels, attractions and restaurants, and share the details of their trip with friends and other travelers. Coming soon: Yahoo! Travel will roll out a revamped version of My Travel with an interactive world map that will allow travelers to mark the places they have been and the places they want to go and connect users with others who share similar travel interests.
Our Partner
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Euro Travel
Euro Travel
By: Steve Cowan If you’re going to Europe, and planning on traveling, rather than staying in the one place for the duration of your vacation, and you don't want to spend a fortune, there’s two or three alternative ways that you can travel throughout the continent.
The first option would be to take what you might call the “traditional� budget alternative, which would generally be backpacking and traveling by train. Nothing wrong with that at all, and by using a pass on the trains (known as a Eurailpass, and available in the USA from http://www.raileurope.com/eurorail/index.htm) you can certainly reduce your spending, whilst journeying widely throughout many countries. There are, however, a couple of down sides to this traditional “budget� planning. First, whilst it can often be exhilarating and exciting to meet and travel with strangers on a train, equally, sometimes, it’s nice to have your own space to enjoy the journey, on your own. Secondly, by definition, trains can only take you as far as the railway station, and railway stations are not always placed where you want them to be placed. In other words, if you have definite “target� places that you want to see, then you might end up having to take a train, then a bus or taxi (for who knows what distances) before arriving at your destination. This shouldn’t be a problem if the place you so desperately want to visit is in the city, but what if it not? And, of course, trains run to their timetable, not yours! An alterative to trains are planes. Flying within Europe is now extremely cheap, and can be reasonably convenient, especially if you are visiting a country that it widely geared up for tourism. For example, right now, it is possible to fly from the UK to beautiful Salzburg in Austria for GBP19 one way (approximately $35) or to Istanbul in Turkey for GBP31. See http://www.easyjet.com or http://www.ryanair.com for more information on availability of flights and fares.
More here...........
Newcarryon.info
Our Partner
Hitspot.com
Editor: Eliot Cobb
By: Steve Cowan If you’re going to Europe, and planning on traveling, rather than staying in the one place for the duration of your vacation, and you don't want to spend a fortune, there’s two or three alternative ways that you can travel throughout the continent.
The first option would be to take what you might call the “traditional� budget alternative, which would generally be backpacking and traveling by train. Nothing wrong with that at all, and by using a pass on the trains (known as a Eurailpass, and available in the USA from http://www.raileurope.com/eurorail/index.htm) you can certainly reduce your spending, whilst journeying widely throughout many countries. There are, however, a couple of down sides to this traditional “budget� planning. First, whilst it can often be exhilarating and exciting to meet and travel with strangers on a train, equally, sometimes, it’s nice to have your own space to enjoy the journey, on your own. Secondly, by definition, trains can only take you as far as the railway station, and railway stations are not always placed where you want them to be placed. In other words, if you have definite “target� places that you want to see, then you might end up having to take a train, then a bus or taxi (for who knows what distances) before arriving at your destination. This shouldn’t be a problem if the place you so desperately want to visit is in the city, but what if it not? And, of course, trains run to their timetable, not yours! An alterative to trains are planes. Flying within Europe is now extremely cheap, and can be reasonably convenient, especially if you are visiting a country that it widely geared up for tourism. For example, right now, it is possible to fly from the UK to beautiful Salzburg in Austria for GBP19 one way (approximately $35) or to Istanbul in Turkey for GBP31. See http://www.easyjet.com or http://www.ryanair.com for more information on availability of flights and fares.
More here...........
Newcarryon.info
Our Partner
Hitspot.com
Editor: Eliot Cobb
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Macy's Inc. is turning to star power
CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) -- Macy's Inc. is turning to star power this holiday season to fight disappointing sales and resistance to its takeover of local department stores.
Macy's hopes ads staring celebrities such as Jessica Simpson and Sean "Diddy" Combs will lure shoppers.
more photos » Macy's launched star-packed ads featuring celebrities such as Donald Trump and R&B singer Usher, made changes in merchandise including exclusive alliances with well-known designer brands and returned to more promotions at some locations.
The changes are meant to drive traffic and win over shoppers in some markets where the Macy's name replaced local favorites it absorbed as part of its acquisition of the May Department Stores Co. in 2005.
"They've started in the right direction," Wendy Liebmann, president of WSL Strategic Retail, said. "Now they have to deliver on the new message and the quality of their merchandise."
Macy's says its exclusive home furnishings collection by domestic entrepreneur Martha Stewart that debuted in September is off to a good start.
"There will be more Martha Stewart product in the stores for the holiday, and we're optimistic about it," Macy's spokesman Jim Sluzewski said.
Macy's recently announced deal to be the exclusive department store retailer for the Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. brand of men's and women's sportswear in the United States, won't begin until fall 2008, but the designer appears in current TV ads.
More Shopping
Easycarryon.info
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tyler-com-home.html
Macy's hopes ads staring celebrities such as Jessica Simpson and Sean "Diddy" Combs will lure shoppers.
more photos » Macy's launched star-packed ads featuring celebrities such as Donald Trump and R&B singer Usher, made changes in merchandise including exclusive alliances with well-known designer brands and returned to more promotions at some locations.
The changes are meant to drive traffic and win over shoppers in some markets where the Macy's name replaced local favorites it absorbed as part of its acquisition of the May Department Stores Co. in 2005.
"They've started in the right direction," Wendy Liebmann, president of WSL Strategic Retail, said. "Now they have to deliver on the new message and the quality of their merchandise."
Macy's says its exclusive home furnishings collection by domestic entrepreneur Martha Stewart that debuted in September is off to a good start.
"There will be more Martha Stewart product in the stores for the holiday, and we're optimistic about it," Macy's spokesman Jim Sluzewski said.
Macy's recently announced deal to be the exclusive department store retailer for the Tommy Hilfiger U.S.A. brand of men's and women's sportswear in the United States, won't begin until fall 2008, but the designer appears in current TV ads.
More Shopping
Easycarryon.info
Sitemap
waukegan-il-images-of-america-paperback-target-official-site.html
odessa-convention-and-visitors-bureau.html
luggage-in-south-gate-ca-yellow-pages-by-yellowpages-com.html
golf-cars-carts-in-rapid-city-sd-yellow-pages-by-yellowpages-com.html
shopping-in-port-arthur-australia-yahoo-travel.html
l-a-luggage-mossy-oak-and-realtree-bags.html
living-room-furniture-in-murfreesboro-tn-local-com.html
springfield-furniture.html
furniture-repairs-reupholstery-restoration-racine-wi.html
utica-in-home-furnishing-at-shopping-com.html
des-plaines-il-golf-courses-chicagogolfguide.html
collindale-golf-course-golf-recreation-departments-city-of-fort-collins.html
chula-vista-attractions.html
temecula-valley.html
green-bay-wisconsin-shopping-and-sales-guide-citysearch-com.html
tyler-com-home.html
Monday, November 5, 2007
Luggage Tips for Safer Travel
Luggage Tips for Safer Travel
Author: William Manor
Ever had your luggage lost during a trip? Heard horrors stories about lost luggage from others? Well, losing your luggage is not the only thing that can happen to your bags and their contents while traveling. Your luggage could be broken, broken into or, even, stolen. To minimize the risk of these things happening to your bags and ruining your trip, follow the luggage tips below.
The first thing to consider is the type of luggage you use. While the idea of traveling light is appealing, you should give priority to luggage that is sturdy and durable. Checked luggage is not always handled appropriately. This may result in parts of the suitcase breaking or opening unexpectedly.
Even with sturdy luggage, avoid over packing. The pressure may lead to a broken zipper or busted seam, especially if dropped. As an extra safety measure, place a protective strap around each bag.
You should never pack valuables such as jewelry, money or travelers cheques in your checked luggage. Extra glasses or medications should be packed in your carryon or placed in your briefcase or purse.
If you will be traveling with sensitive or proprietary documents, double envelope the information and hand carry it. Placing such important items in your checked luggage would place them at risk of being lost or stolen.
To facilitate the return of your luggage in case it is lost during your trip, put your name and address inside each bag. Also, be sure that your luggage is tagged with covered tags that protect your address from open observation. If possible, use a business address and telephone number to avoid exposing your personal information.
All bags should be locked with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved luggage locks. Travel Sentry and Safe Skies have an arrangement with TSA to supply “accepted and recognized” locks.
If you travel with more than one suitcase, use a different combination for each piece of luggage. For bags with double locks, set each lock to a different combination.
Check with the airline and/or your personal insurance company regarding any lost luggage coverage. Research the airline you plan to use concerning procedures for recuperating lost luggage. This way, if it happens, you will know exactly where to go and what to expect.
Finally, you should never leave your bags unattended. Don't even turn your back to your luggage. It only takes a few seconds for someone to steal your bag and disappear in the crowd.
By following the tips above, you greatly decrease the chances of problems with your luggage and increase your chances of a safer, more enjoyable journey.
Where to Get a Passport provides step-by-step application information and reviews of travel visa and quick passport expediters. You can also browse a wide selection of popular and name-brand luggage at discounted prices.
More on Luggage................
Carryonlive.com
Author: William Manor
Ever had your luggage lost during a trip? Heard horrors stories about lost luggage from others? Well, losing your luggage is not the only thing that can happen to your bags and their contents while traveling. Your luggage could be broken, broken into or, even, stolen. To minimize the risk of these things happening to your bags and ruining your trip, follow the luggage tips below.
The first thing to consider is the type of luggage you use. While the idea of traveling light is appealing, you should give priority to luggage that is sturdy and durable. Checked luggage is not always handled appropriately. This may result in parts of the suitcase breaking or opening unexpectedly.
Even with sturdy luggage, avoid over packing. The pressure may lead to a broken zipper or busted seam, especially if dropped. As an extra safety measure, place a protective strap around each bag.
You should never pack valuables such as jewelry, money or travelers cheques in your checked luggage. Extra glasses or medications should be packed in your carryon or placed in your briefcase or purse.
If you will be traveling with sensitive or proprietary documents, double envelope the information and hand carry it. Placing such important items in your checked luggage would place them at risk of being lost or stolen.
To facilitate the return of your luggage in case it is lost during your trip, put your name and address inside each bag. Also, be sure that your luggage is tagged with covered tags that protect your address from open observation. If possible, use a business address and telephone number to avoid exposing your personal information.
All bags should be locked with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved luggage locks. Travel Sentry and Safe Skies have an arrangement with TSA to supply “accepted and recognized” locks.
If you travel with more than one suitcase, use a different combination for each piece of luggage. For bags with double locks, set each lock to a different combination.
Check with the airline and/or your personal insurance company regarding any lost luggage coverage. Research the airline you plan to use concerning procedures for recuperating lost luggage. This way, if it happens, you will know exactly where to go and what to expect.
Finally, you should never leave your bags unattended. Don't even turn your back to your luggage. It only takes a few seconds for someone to steal your bag and disappear in the crowd.
By following the tips above, you greatly decrease the chances of problems with your luggage and increase your chances of a safer, more enjoyable journey.
Where to Get a Passport provides step-by-step application information and reviews of travel visa and quick passport expediters. You can also browse a wide selection of popular and name-brand luggage at discounted prices.
More on Luggage................
Carryonlive.com
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Is Wine Made in the Vineyard?
Is Wine Made in the Vineyard?
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 at 12:44:53 PM
by Jim Gordon
Yesterday I moderated a panel discussion on red wine fermentation at the Napa Grape + Wine Expo, and got to pump two of the valley’s, maybe the world’s, most accomplished winemakers. With my questions, and a lot more from an audience of mostly younger winemakers and other industry folk, the winemakers revealed a lot about their philosophies of winemaking and actual techniques and practices.
Celia Masyczek makes wine for nine Napa Valley clients, and was the Staglin Family winemaker for about 10 years. Bob Levy heads winemaking for Harlan Estate, Bond and The Napa Valley Reserve.
I mentioned in my last post how one of Celia’s wines, the Rocca Family Cabernet, won a a cool accolade in Bordeaux a couple of weeks ago. Bob, likewise, has been in the news, as several of his high-flying, high-priced Cabernets from the 2004 vintage have gotten stratospheric scores from critics. Celia said her highest-priced wine is about $125, while Bob’s are all more expensive than that.
Since I’m the editor of the industry magazine, Wines & Vines, I was trying to bring out of the two winemakers as much useful, how-to advice as I could for the panel audience and our magazine audience. We went over everything from sorting tables to post-fermentation maceration. But to me one of the most interesting lines of discussion was how important the vineyard is compared to the work of the winemaker.
Is wine really made in the vineyard, as the winemakers mantra goes, or does the winemaker have a big influence? In response to an audience question, Bob said that choosing the vineyard site is by far the most important decision in winemaking.
But he also made the obvious point that there are many examples of vineyards selling grapes from the same site to different winemakers, and those wines do turn out differently. They may have a family resemblance, but you can easily taste the winemaker’s influence.
As a journalist covering wine, I get tired of hearing that the wine is made in the vineyard, even if it is true. It’s become a cliche. It seems like a marketing ploy sometimes. Our Wines & Vines columnist, Tim Patterson, thinks this line of rhetoric might hurt wineries in the long run.
If the vineyard did all the work, you’d never get wine, just raisins. The winemaker has to wave the wand or there’s no magic.
Our Partners
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 at 12:44:53 PM
by Jim Gordon
Yesterday I moderated a panel discussion on red wine fermentation at the Napa Grape + Wine Expo, and got to pump two of the valley’s, maybe the world’s, most accomplished winemakers. With my questions, and a lot more from an audience of mostly younger winemakers and other industry folk, the winemakers revealed a lot about their philosophies of winemaking and actual techniques and practices.
Celia Masyczek makes wine for nine Napa Valley clients, and was the Staglin Family winemaker for about 10 years. Bob Levy heads winemaking for Harlan Estate, Bond and The Napa Valley Reserve.
I mentioned in my last post how one of Celia’s wines, the Rocca Family Cabernet, won a a cool accolade in Bordeaux a couple of weeks ago. Bob, likewise, has been in the news, as several of his high-flying, high-priced Cabernets from the 2004 vintage have gotten stratospheric scores from critics. Celia said her highest-priced wine is about $125, while Bob’s are all more expensive than that.
Since I’m the editor of the industry magazine, Wines & Vines, I was trying to bring out of the two winemakers as much useful, how-to advice as I could for the panel audience and our magazine audience. We went over everything from sorting tables to post-fermentation maceration. But to me one of the most interesting lines of discussion was how important the vineyard is compared to the work of the winemaker.
Is wine really made in the vineyard, as the winemakers mantra goes, or does the winemaker have a big influence? In response to an audience question, Bob said that choosing the vineyard site is by far the most important decision in winemaking.
But he also made the obvious point that there are many examples of vineyards selling grapes from the same site to different winemakers, and those wines do turn out differently. They may have a family resemblance, but you can easily taste the winemaker’s influence.
As a journalist covering wine, I get tired of hearing that the wine is made in the vineyard, even if it is true. It’s become a cliche. It seems like a marketing ploy sometimes. Our Wines & Vines columnist, Tim Patterson, thinks this line of rhetoric might hurt wineries in the long run.
If the vineyard did all the work, you’d never get wine, just raisins. The winemaker has to wave the wand or there’s no magic.
Our Partners
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Bruce Springsteen’s first album.................................
Review of Springsteen's new CD
Bruce Springsteen’s first album of original songs with the E Street Band since he lost the vote for change in 2004 starts with guitars --a wall of angry, droning treble that, for the three minutes of “Radio Nowhere,” is blessedly louder than the oceanic static of bent truths, partisan reporting and general bullshit that passes for life-and-death debate in the new wired order. Springsteen isn’t just pissed about the state of rock & roll radio --that’s like kicking a corpse --although he is blunt about what’s missing. “A thousand guitars . . . pounding drums,” he demands against the racing squall of his band. But “Radio Nowhere” is actually about how we speak and listen to each other through the murk --”Is there anybody alive out there?”he growls, over and over --and how a firm beat, some Telecaster sting and the robust peal of Clarence Clemons’ saxophone can still tell you more about the human condition than a thousand op-ed words. More...............
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16587992/review/16682049/magic
source: Rolling Stone Magazine
Music News
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Bruce Springsteen’s first album of original songs with the E Street Band since he lost the vote for change in 2004 starts with guitars --a wall of angry, droning treble that, for the three minutes of “Radio Nowhere,” is blessedly louder than the oceanic static of bent truths, partisan reporting and general bullshit that passes for life-and-death debate in the new wired order. Springsteen isn’t just pissed about the state of rock & roll radio --that’s like kicking a corpse --although he is blunt about what’s missing. “A thousand guitars . . . pounding drums,” he demands against the racing squall of his band. But “Radio Nowhere” is actually about how we speak and listen to each other through the murk --”Is there anybody alive out there?”he growls, over and over --and how a firm beat, some Telecaster sting and the robust peal of Clarence Clemons’ saxophone can still tell you more about the human condition than a thousand op-ed words. More...............
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16587992/review/16682049/magic
source: Rolling Stone Magazine
Music News
Sitemap
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Buying Diamonds Without Being Ripped-Off
Good article on Diamonds:
Diamond News
Buying Diamonds Without Being Ripped-Off
By: Sam Serio
Buying diamond jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you’re considering a gift of diamond jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here’s some information to help you get the best quality diamond jewelry for your money, whether you’re shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.
Diamonds
A diamond’s value is based on four criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The clarity and color of a diamond usually are graded. However, scales are not uniform: a clarity grade of “slightly included” may represent a different grade on one grading system versus another, depending on the terms used in the scale. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color or clarity of the diamond you’re considering. A diamond can be described as “flawless” only if it has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.
As with other gems, diamond weight usually is stated in carats. Diamond weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat. If the weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate to the last decimal place. For example, “.30 carat” could represent a diamond that weighs between .295 - .304 carat. Some retailers describe diamond weight in fractions and use the fraction to represent a range of weights. For example, a diamond described as 1/2 carat could weigh between .47 - .54 carat. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, the retailer should disclose two things: that the weight is not exact, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight tolerance being used.
Some diamonds may be treated to improve their appearance in similar ways as other gemstones. Since these treatments improve the clarity of the diamond, some jewelers refer to them as clarity enhancement. One type of treatment - fracture filling - conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them with a foreign substance. This filling may not be permanent and jewelers should
tell you if the diamond you’re considering has been fracture-filled.
Another treatment - lasering - involves the use of a laser beam to improve the appearance of diamonds that have black inclusions or pots. A laser beam is aimed at the inclusion. Acid is then forced through a tiny tunnel made by the laser beam to remove the inclusion. Lasering is permanent and a laser-drilled stone does not require special care.
While a laser-drilled diamond may appear as beautiful as a comparable untreated stone, it may not be as valuable. That’s because an untreated stone of the same quality is rarer and therefore more valuable. Jewelers should tell you whether the diamond you’re considering has been laser-drilled.
Imitation diamonds, such as cubic zirconia, resemble diamonds in appearance but are much less costly. Certain laboratory created gemstones, such as lab-created moissanite, also resemble diamonds and may not be adequately detected by the instruments originally used to identify cubic zirconia. Ask your jeweler if he has the current testing equipment to distinguish between diamonds and other lab-created stones.
Diamonds at Diamonds-360.com
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Diamond News
Buying Diamonds Without Being Ripped-Off
By: Sam Serio
Buying diamond jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you’re considering a gift of diamond jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here’s some information to help you get the best quality diamond jewelry for your money, whether you’re shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.
Diamonds
A diamond’s value is based on four criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The clarity and color of a diamond usually are graded. However, scales are not uniform: a clarity grade of “slightly included” may represent a different grade on one grading system versus another, depending on the terms used in the scale. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color or clarity of the diamond you’re considering. A diamond can be described as “flawless” only if it has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.
As with other gems, diamond weight usually is stated in carats. Diamond weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat. If the weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate to the last decimal place. For example, “.30 carat” could represent a diamond that weighs between .295 - .304 carat. Some retailers describe diamond weight in fractions and use the fraction to represent a range of weights. For example, a diamond described as 1/2 carat could weigh between .47 - .54 carat. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, the retailer should disclose two things: that the weight is not exact, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight tolerance being used.
Some diamonds may be treated to improve their appearance in similar ways as other gemstones. Since these treatments improve the clarity of the diamond, some jewelers refer to them as clarity enhancement. One type of treatment - fracture filling - conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them with a foreign substance. This filling may not be permanent and jewelers should
tell you if the diamond you’re considering has been fracture-filled.
Another treatment - lasering - involves the use of a laser beam to improve the appearance of diamonds that have black inclusions or pots. A laser beam is aimed at the inclusion. Acid is then forced through a tiny tunnel made by the laser beam to remove the inclusion. Lasering is permanent and a laser-drilled stone does not require special care.
While a laser-drilled diamond may appear as beautiful as a comparable untreated stone, it may not be as valuable. That’s because an untreated stone of the same quality is rarer and therefore more valuable. Jewelers should tell you whether the diamond you’re considering has been laser-drilled.
Imitation diamonds, such as cubic zirconia, resemble diamonds in appearance but are much less costly. Certain laboratory created gemstones, such as lab-created moissanite, also resemble diamonds and may not be adequately detected by the instruments originally used to identify cubic zirconia. Ask your jeweler if he has the current testing equipment to distinguish between diamonds and other lab-created stones.
Diamonds at Diamonds-360.com
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