You’ve said it a thousand times before: “I want to see what the United States has to offer, I mean, it Is our backyard!” Road trips are an adventure through culture and should be taken several times during a lifetime. Take a journey once in a while. Below we’ve included some US hot spots that are known for shock, awe, and a little rest and relaxation that’s much deserved. Feel free to tell us your story or recommendations:
Colorado
Two words: Calendar photo. Because that’s what pictures look like from the beautiful state of Colorado. Lush vegetation, countless hiking trails, fishing, rock-climbing, and museums, all for your enjoyment and that’s just during the summer! In winter, you can experience any sport under the sun including snowboarding, skiing, and ice climbing, all the while enjoying what the Centennial State has to offer.
Chicago, Illinois
The ‘windy’ city has the largest US building, the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sear’s tower), an observatory, a walk along path on the coast of Lake Michigan, zoos, and some very cultural clubs based on the home of the Blues.
New Orleans, Louisiana
After Hurricane Katrina, all seemed lost for the Mardi Gras foundation New Orleans created. One of the oldest cities in the US, a place is only as strong as its people and New Orleans inhabitants never give up. As the birthplace of jazz New Orleans has the Mardi Gras festival, the beautifully designed French Quarter, and delicious Cajun food for inquiring connoisseurs.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Viva Las Vegas! Elvis said it best in this culturally rich city. Even if you don’t gamble, Vegas is a smorgasbord of excitement. Extravagant shows, hotels like the Bellagio with gorgeous designs, nearby hiking grounds, and cool museums like the Neon make Vegas a unique place to visit. Not to mention a great club scene for party patrons.
Washington, DC
The nation’s capital is a historical centerpiece. The monuments, like the Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian Museums, and Georgetown will make this trip unforgettable. Washington is a quintessential stop for American citizens to soak in some historical knowledge and aesthetic pleasure
Ok, so we’ve provided several spots for your next road trip. Have you had any road trips experiences you would like to share or maybe we missed your favorite hot spot? Feel free to comment below:
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
What Does Your Car Say About You?
So, its 6:15 at night and you’re sitting in traffic at a standstill. Brake lights brighten up the night sky in an array of crimson during gridlock congestion. The radio is on, but it’s an infomercial that you’ve begun to ignore, so your mind wanders. You peer to the right and then to the left. The man on the right drives a gunmetal painted Hummer, while the person on the left navigates a fluorescent yellow Toyota hybrid. Immediately, you start to make assumptions. The Hummer is a beast, made for adrenaline junkies and off-road advocates, while the Prius is for the health conscious, environmentally friendly neighbor. Many of us associate certain cars with certain people.
A vehicle can provide insight into a person’s lifestyle, because our perception is based on the vehicle’s marketing. Volvo’s are marketed for safety, while Porsche is an instant sign of speed. So, what does YOUR car say about your lifestyle?
According to a study by researchers at UC Davis, an individual who drives a small car (Honda Civic, SmartCar, Prius) usually lives in a high traffic city. A small vehicle provides easy navigation through tight streets. They are usually more environmentally conscious and less concerned about their cars being a fashion statement or an indication of their status.
Mid sized cars (Chevy Sedan) are a tad harder to decipher. These drivers tend to be individuals belonging to blue-collar town, hold an above average income, are hard working, and enjoy their independence.
Luxury vehicle (Cadillac, Lexus, Infinity) drivers usually drive for status reasons. Middle-aged and retired people with a higher income are more likely to drive a luxury vehicle or a sports car. Generally, they are hard working individuals who enjoy their independence.
The infamous minivan is for outgoing and friendly individuals who enjoy the ‘act’ of driving, while the pickup truck driver is for lower traffic, very hard working individuals that most likely live in the suburbs. Truck drivers tend to utilize their vehicle for work or related activities.
Sports cars (Porsche) tend to be driven by college educated, financially stable, or unstable young people with lower self-esteem. Not confined to those characteristics, they can also be successful businessmen who enjoy having a fine vehicle that shows their status.
Car colors also say a lot about their owner. Check out these examples below:
Black: Aggressive personality, rebellious, prestige
Silver: Cool, calm, collected
Green: environmentally friendly and gracious
Yellow: Idealistic
Blue: Introspective, reflective, and cautious
Red: Someone who is full of energy and pizzazz
White: Status seekers, gregarious
Cream: Contained and controlled
So, what type of driver are you? Feel free to comment!
A vehicle can provide insight into a person’s lifestyle, because our perception is based on the vehicle’s marketing. Volvo’s are marketed for safety, while Porsche is an instant sign of speed. So, what does YOUR car say about your lifestyle?
According to a study by researchers at UC Davis, an individual who drives a small car (Honda Civic, SmartCar, Prius) usually lives in a high traffic city. A small vehicle provides easy navigation through tight streets. They are usually more environmentally conscious and less concerned about their cars being a fashion statement or an indication of their status.
Mid sized cars (Chevy Sedan) are a tad harder to decipher. These drivers tend to be individuals belonging to blue-collar town, hold an above average income, are hard working, and enjoy their independence.
Luxury vehicle (Cadillac, Lexus, Infinity) drivers usually drive for status reasons. Middle-aged and retired people with a higher income are more likely to drive a luxury vehicle or a sports car. Generally, they are hard working individuals who enjoy their independence.
The infamous minivan is for outgoing and friendly individuals who enjoy the ‘act’ of driving, while the pickup truck driver is for lower traffic, very hard working individuals that most likely live in the suburbs. Truck drivers tend to utilize their vehicle for work or related activities.
Sports cars (Porsche) tend to be driven by college educated, financially stable, or unstable young people with lower self-esteem. Not confined to those characteristics, they can also be successful businessmen who enjoy having a fine vehicle that shows their status.
Car colors also say a lot about their owner. Check out these examples below:
Black: Aggressive personality, rebellious, prestige
Silver: Cool, calm, collected
Green: environmentally friendly and gracious
Yellow: Idealistic
Blue: Introspective, reflective, and cautious
Red: Someone who is full of energy and pizzazz
White: Status seekers, gregarious
Cream: Contained and controlled
So, what type of driver are you? Feel free to comment!
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
What Type of Gas Should I Get at the Pump?
Gas plays an extremely crucial part in our lives. As daily commuters, it’s a means to an end, our destination. As gas prices rise in the summer months, many are considering more fuel-efficient vehicles, transportation alternatives, and cutting their driving down considerably. One age old question that many consumers have at the pump, when they do visit, is what IS really the difference between gas types? It’s always the same scenario: you’re at the pump and you see the ambiguous numbers 87, 89, and 92 plastered on the front of the gas pump terminal. You read the benefits of the higher priced gas and think: “Is this really making a difference?” In today’s blog, we discuss the differences and how it affects your specific vehicle. Check it out!
When buying gas for your vehicle, you should consider a couple things. When you arrive at the gas station you fill up on unleaded gas, with three options: octane, special additives, and ethanol content.
Octane has three options: 87, 89, and 92. Large engines perform well on 87 octane, smaller cars do well with 89, and high performance cars run perfect on 92 octane. The higher the octane rating the more compression the fuel can handle before it ignites. If your engine begins to knock, then fuel is igniting from the compression, not from the spark. Thus, damaging your engine. If this continues to occur, it’s time to buy higher-octane gas.
Special Additives are beneficial because their utilized by fuel companies to keep the inside of the engine clean. For example, Exxon uses high amounts of additives in their gas to keep your system clean. All the major gas companies use detergent additives to help keep the engine clean, so this should not really be a consideration.
The final option is ethanol content. The lower the ethanol content, the better the fuel will burn in your engine, providing a longer life for your engine. Ethanol is also good because it improves fuel economy, sometimes giving up to a 20% boost.
Saving the planet, saving money, or prolonging the life of your car? These are all great options to consider, give us your feedback!
When buying gas for your vehicle, you should consider a couple things. When you arrive at the gas station you fill up on unleaded gas, with three options: octane, special additives, and ethanol content.
Octane has three options: 87, 89, and 92. Large engines perform well on 87 octane, smaller cars do well with 89, and high performance cars run perfect on 92 octane. The higher the octane rating the more compression the fuel can handle before it ignites. If your engine begins to knock, then fuel is igniting from the compression, not from the spark. Thus, damaging your engine. If this continues to occur, it’s time to buy higher-octane gas.
Special Additives are beneficial because their utilized by fuel companies to keep the inside of the engine clean. For example, Exxon uses high amounts of additives in their gas to keep your system clean. All the major gas companies use detergent additives to help keep the engine clean, so this should not really be a consideration.
The final option is ethanol content. The lower the ethanol content, the better the fuel will burn in your engine, providing a longer life for your engine. Ethanol is also good because it improves fuel economy, sometimes giving up to a 20% boost.
Saving the planet, saving money, or prolonging the life of your car? These are all great options to consider, give us your feedback!
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Do You Have Android, Apple, or Blackberry?
Are you a businessperson, bent on maximizing your potential? A tech guru who enjoys open source operating systems, or a combination of both? Your phone has to encompass all three to cater to everyday needs of an individual on the go. ? In today’s blog, we’ll discuss the best smartphone based on your needs. The 3 big conglomerates: iPhone, Android based phones, and Blackberry by RIM lead the pack with their innovations. Lets dive in!
iPhone: the iPhone has a HUGE, dedicated fan base of followers. Debuting in 2007, the iPhone took the cake in innovation. Creating a user-friendly operating system that was simple to use, and quick implementation was ideal. Apple has introduced many innovative features in its smartphones and has redefined the mobile-device landscape, forcing the competition to evolve and play catch-up in many cases.With the new operating system iOS 4 the phones move quickly (except for older models losing some of that speed in the process). Pros: Operating System, App Store, Web Browsing, Hardware, and Flexibility. Cons: Battery Life, iTunes, Durability, Consumer-centric.
Blackberry: RIM’s (Research in Motion) first smartphone hit the streets in 2002 with a heavy focus on e-mail and corporate messaging. Blackberry’s niche in business makes it a strong contender in the smartphone market. Creating an operating system and hardware also contributes to RIM’s success. Blackberry has the best contact management, calendaring, and e-mail client of all the devices. It is built for the business user and has extras for the consumer. A strong emphasis in battery life provides THE most optimal power consumption for the business user. Pros: Battery Life, Operating System, Durability, Productivity, and Hardware. Cons: Apps, Web Browsing, Business-centric, and Server software.
Android: Android’s operating system is like no other. It is owned and operated by Google, flourishing on a plethora of devices. What started on specific phones has become strictly an operating system for countless phone manufacturers. Android prides itself on being open source, boasting an application store containing thousands of free and paid apps. Android outsells both Blackberry’s and iPhone becoming the number one selling OS. Pros: Google Apps, Android Market, Choice of Hardware, Open Source, ActiveSync. Cons: Battery life, applications, fragmentation.
So…what do you use? Feel free to comment!!
iPhone: the iPhone has a HUGE, dedicated fan base of followers. Debuting in 2007, the iPhone took the cake in innovation. Creating a user-friendly operating system that was simple to use, and quick implementation was ideal. Apple has introduced many innovative features in its smartphones and has redefined the mobile-device landscape, forcing the competition to evolve and play catch-up in many cases.With the new operating system iOS 4 the phones move quickly (except for older models losing some of that speed in the process). Pros: Operating System, App Store, Web Browsing, Hardware, and Flexibility. Cons: Battery Life, iTunes, Durability, Consumer-centric.
Blackberry: RIM’s (Research in Motion) first smartphone hit the streets in 2002 with a heavy focus on e-mail and corporate messaging. Blackberry’s niche in business makes it a strong contender in the smartphone market. Creating an operating system and hardware also contributes to RIM’s success. Blackberry has the best contact management, calendaring, and e-mail client of all the devices. It is built for the business user and has extras for the consumer. A strong emphasis in battery life provides THE most optimal power consumption for the business user. Pros: Battery Life, Operating System, Durability, Productivity, and Hardware. Cons: Apps, Web Browsing, Business-centric, and Server software.
Android: Android’s operating system is like no other. It is owned and operated by Google, flourishing on a plethora of devices. What started on specific phones has become strictly an operating system for countless phone manufacturers. Android prides itself on being open source, boasting an application store containing thousands of free and paid apps. Android outsells both Blackberry’s and iPhone becoming the number one selling OS. Pros: Google Apps, Android Market, Choice of Hardware, Open Source, ActiveSync. Cons: Battery life, applications, fragmentation.
So…what do you use? Feel free to comment!!
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