Saturday, February 26, 2011

Slash Your Cable Bill with the Roku Streaming Player 1080p

Netflix offers over 20,000 movies and TV shows for $8 a month, yet you’re paying about $150 every month for cable. That’s just wrong!

But what to do? Your local video store just filed for bankruptcy, and you keep hearing that streaming video is the wave of the future. But you didn’t buy a 56 inch television so you could watch movies on your laptop, or worse yet, your phone. Please?!

Finally, there’s an affordable solution. The Roku XD Streaming Player 1080p connects streaming video directly to your television. This little device, which is only slightly larger than a keychain, and super-easy to set up, supports access to over 100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, Hulu Plus and more.

At $79.99, the Roku XD Streaming Player 1080p is by far the most versatile and least expensive streaming device on the market today. Downgrade your cable service, and you’ll recoup your investment in a blink.

Two Ways to Save

1. At this price point, you won’t find sales or coupon codes. But, if you have a child in your home, there is a way to get free 2-day shipping by signing up as an Amazon Mom. It’s free and easy.

2. If you are fortunate enough to have an .edu email address, you may be able to get a free Amazon Prime membership, normally a $79 value. This membership entitles you to free 2-day shipping, or $3.99 overnight shipping on millions of products, as well as a free unlimited instant video streaming of over 5,000 commercial-free movies and TV shows.

Slash Your Cable Bill with the Roku Streaming Player 1080p

Netflix offers over 20,000 movies and TV shows for $8 a month, yet you’re paying about $150 every month for cable. That’s just wrong!

But what to do? Your local video store just filed for bankruptcy, and you keep hearing that streaming video is the wave of the future. But you didn’t buy a 56 inch television so you could watch movies on your laptop, or worse yet, your phone. Please?!

Finally, there’s an affordable solution. The http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wwwkatesfaves-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B... width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /" title="Roku Streaming Player 1080p" target="_self">Roku Streaming Player 1080p connects streaming video directly to your television. This little device, which is only slightly larger than a keychain, and super-easy to set up, supports access to over 100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, Hulu Plus and more.

At $79.99, the http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wwwkatesfaves-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B... width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /" title="Roku Streaming Player 1080p" target="_self">Roku Streaming Player 1080p is by far the most versatile and least expensive streaming device on the market today. Downgrade your cable service, and you’ll recoup your investment in a blink.

Two Ways to Save

1.    At this price point, you won’t find sales or coupon codes. But, if you have https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wwwkatesfaves-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /" title="Amazon Mom" target="_blank">a child in your home, there is a way to get free 2-day shipping by signing up as an Amazon Mom. It’s free and easy. 

2.    If you are fortunate enough to have an .edu email address, you may be able to get a https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wwwkatesfaves-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /" title="Amazon Prime" target="_blank">free Amazon Prime membership, normally a $79 value. This membership entitles you to free 2-day shipping, or $3.99 overnight shipping on millions of products, as well as a free unlimited instant video streaming of over 5,000 commercial-free movies and TV shows.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Minnesota Police Reports Online | Bail Bonds

policeDo you ever wonder about being able to read through the character behind the mask? If so you can count on background history records, Minnesota Police Records being one of them can fruitfully start this kind of records searching as a form of identity checking, records clearance among various others.

Well today there isn’t much difficulty obtaining a recorded public data. The internet has borne so many channels of information that you can effortlessly gather on your own. From informal research to a much graver purpose of info-searching the World Wide Web has provided more than enough. Public records are valuable in ensuring the safety of another human being. These are recorded facts that we can rely on most in times of uncertainties such as when deciding on job vacancy filling and many others that require some investigative searches on a person.

It is actually plain and simple. Peace of mind and assurance of not being at the mercy of some ill intentions, are what you need. Same basic goal for safekeeping history data like criminal records are maintained in custodian governmental bureaus. Putting them on paper serves as a public alarm deterring possibilities of crime recurrences. In other words, solidifies the general public safety.

Precisely the same reasons why the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension gathers and maintains data from sources such as sheriffs’ offices, traffic enforcers, and local police departments. This same government agency serves requests for criminal history record that also includes records of arrest, disposition and incarceration. Access is for general public, is free of charge and is available 24/7..

Take a deep breath, you’ll truly find out how relaxing it can be digging up no-nonsense data as Police Reports. Now facing different characters can be challenging but when you know where to turn to in times of uneasiness, or when you just have to be 100% sure about somebody help is at hand.


Article Source: By Elaine Jeans

Public Police Records

Bail Bonds, Washington Co, MN

cocaineIt is not a secret that a number of drug crimes tend to be the effect of substance reliance problems. For both persons facing their first arrest and those that have a prior criminal record, it might look as though there is no chance to leave behind the destructive behavior, especially if such has generated legal penalties that could affect them for the rest of their lives. Fortunately, Minnesota drug courts were implemented as a means to rehabilitate as opposed to merely punish, and could act as a penalty alternative in many instances. So how does Minnesota’s drug court work? Who might be qualified to apply, and what might you expect from the process?

Drug court strives to assist individuals stricken by dependency, and lower the likelihood of future criminal acts after the right kind of treatment methods. This may be realized through the collaboration of judicial authorities and drug rehabilitation experts. This alliance forms a basic foundation of discipline and aid that can be modified to suit every eligible offender’s specific needs. The court steps itself is non-adversarial, and can call for a judge, lawyers, police officers, and rehabilitation professionals.

A person might qualify for drug court as long as they meet a few requirements, the first of which is they were actually dependent on substances or drinking during the wrongdoing. A drug abuse evaluation is implemented and can result in drug court. The violation has to have been of a non-violent nature, and it also should be proved that this individual is likely to gain benefit from the treatment made available. It doesn’t have to be their first offense to be sorted out in drug court, but the nature of particular previous offenses might necessarily suggest being turned down for the process.

Customary penalty charges for non-violent illegal substance crimes range from fees, service hours, jail time, driver’s license suspension and probationary periods. These penalties might yet be applied when a drug court participator neglects to conform to the terms and conditions, of which there can be several. In the initial few months of drug court, an average week can include three therapy treatments, attendance at support groups and appointments with a probation officer. Repeated drug screening is also likely.

The court can add other specifications in case the offender doesn’t adequately fulfill the fundamentals. Talk with your defense attorney about drug court to determine if this is a viable option for you.

Article Source: By Joshua Keller

New Jersey criminal law firm

Bail Bonds, Washington Co, MN

Though he practices in Utah, Mr. Jacobs makes a number of excellent points about defense lawyers that should be helpful to people in Minnesota as well.

Why it is Necessary to Hire an Expert Defense Lawyer in Criminal Cases?

By Blake Jacobs

defense attorneyTo find a skilled defense lawyer for your criminal case, one convenient and quick way to find them is to make an online research regarding who is the best defense lawyer in a certain state. For example, when you are in the state of Utah, you can search for Defense Attorney Utah, Utah criminal attorney, UT Defense Attorney, Utah defense lawyer, Utah Defense Attorney, Utah criminal defense attorney and many more. While doing your online search, you can also specify the city. It is particularly vital for the person to get a highly skilled and knowledgeable defense attorney for his own sake, and his family.

The defense lawyer that you will hire must have long years of experience as a defense lawyer in criminal proceedings. The work of a defense lawyer is not that easy. They need to gather all evidence needed in the proceedings or court trial, they must also meet all the requirements needed before even the trial starts. He should also get a copy of the police report, testimonials from witnesses or any other thing that are bound relative to the case. It is necessary that he settle everything with his client and orient him on the proper behavior in court in order to avoid any punishment from the judges.

Criminal cases and proceedings are extremely complex. In this regard, it is extremely vital that the person involved with the criminal defense should hire the best defense attorney that he can get in order to help them on the proceedings. When a certain individual is charged with criminal charges or crime, you will expect that evidences are stacked to prove your guilt. That may be the case, having an evidence does not necessarily mean that you cannot challenge those evidences; the truth will prevail in the long run. Remember that everyone is still innocent until proven guilty of the crime.

Since a criminal proceeding has many sessions, it can be highly tiring and challenging for the person involved because in a criminal case, even the smallest detail about the personality of a person is checked. The good thing about going into trial is that both parties will undergo due process. A person charged of the crime is innocent until he is proven guilty. It also happens that the evidence inflicting a person of the crime is too strong, that the defense lawyer will ask the higher court of some measures that are lower to the sentence given. They can make bargaining or plea in that case. However, if the evidence is planned of fixed, due process will also determine of its validity or not.

When you start to hire your defense lawyer or defense attorney, you must be aware with how many years have they been working as a defense lawyer in criminal cases. You can also ask them regarding the cases that they have handled in the past, where they be able to in them or have they had any criminal case that won. If they have been practicing criminal law for such a long year, have they been winning most of their cases or just losing all of them? These questions will guide you in determining if the person is skilled or not.

Criminal proceedings or trial is one of the most unpleasant court trials there is. Everything is being dealt with, even the smallest thing like the attitude of a person, his personal life, his history almost everything that will prove his misbehavior that can be connected to committing the crime. When the criminal case proceeding starts, even the private life of the person charged with the crime is affected. People will talk about you and your family, in this case, it creates trauma not only to the person charged with the crime but also to his family.

It is needed that if a certain individual would like to win his case in a criminal proceeding, to have a highly skilled and a strong defense lawyer in his side can be the first thing that he need to consider. No matter how strong the prosecution is especially with their witnesses or evidences, a skilled criminal defense lawyer can still challenge them.


About the Author:

Blake Jacobs has been in the field of handling Defense Attorney Utah sites and services for quite sometime and maintains a Utah Defense Attorney website where you can get answers to the rest of your questions.

How Bail Bonds Work | Bail Bonds

Have You Ever Wondered How Bail Bonds Work?

While most people are familiar with the concept, few understand exactly how bail bonds work.

law enforcementWhen a person is arrested on suspicion of a crime in St Louis Co MN Co., he or she will be taken by law enforcement agents to jail. While waiting for the case to be tried in the court of law, the suspect will be held in jail unless he or she chooses to bail out.

So what exactly are bail bonds and how do they work? Bail bonds are surety bonds which are used to guarantee the appearance of the suspect in court. By its definition, bail is a financial arrangement that a bail bonding agency will make on behalf of the suspect. The agency would have to act for the defendant and it will arrange with the court to have its client released from jail while waiting for the trial in exchange for money or collateral (tangible assets). The court will be the one to set the monetary value of the bail.

Bail bonds are considered as guarantee that the entire bail amount will be paid. There are some courts though that will accept at least 10% cash down payment for the release of the criminal defendant. The main benefit of bail bonds to the client is not having to spend all of his time in jail until the date of the trial. The defendant  can still go to his job, spend time with his family and live his life pretty normally.

He is expected to abide by certain restrictions, however, until the case is heard before a judge. One example is that the criminal defendant will have to ask for the consent of the court before he or she can travel outside the jurisdiction of the court. Electronic monitoring or scheduled visits with law officials may also be required during the interim period.

In order to obtain a bail bond, the suspect must agree to attend to all proceedings related to his or her case. Failure to comply with all the conditions set forth in the bail arrangement can lead to forfeiting the bail money and, of course, what all suspects dread the most–immediate return to a St Louis Co MN Co. jail cell.

Bail Bonds MN: What Is Bail? | Bail Bonds

So What is Bail Anyway?

We hear about bail all the time on television, but have you ever wondered exactly, “What is bail?” (No, it wasn’t invented just for Lindsay Lohan.) By definition, “bail” means the legal system that allows an accused individual to be provisionally released from custody. This is usually on the condition that a sum of money or a tangible asset guarantees their appearance at trial. This is based on the understanding that the accused party will return for trial or forfeit the bail and possibly be brought up on charges of the crime of “failure to appear”.

jail cellThe option of bail in Hennepin Co. is generally extended to persons who have been charged with a crime that merits incarceration between the time of arrest and the date that the case will be tried in a court of law. To simply explain the term “Incarceration”, it means that the person will be denied the normal liberty of movement. Some people refer to it as detention by enforcement authorities such as police or military.

While it is true that bail can be granted after an arrest has taken place, it will still depend on the jurisdiction and the nature of the crime (especially). The person has the option to bail out within a few hours after entering jail. This is mostly applicable for relatively minor offenses and in situations that the chance of the suspect fleeing the immediate area is very low.

The amount of bail can differ from a small sum to a very expensive amount that would daunt many people. Fortunately enough, the Hennepin County court does not always require the suspect to pay the entire bail amount before being temporarily released. In other words, the suspect may choose to post a fraction of the total bail and be granted a release until the specified court date. A relative, close friend or defense attorney is allowed to provide the bail money required by the court with a pledge on the remaining amount. In most cases, the suspect has to pay at least one tenth of the total bail amount.

So, what is bail again? While it’s not a “get out of jail free” card, it frequently allows the temporary freedom of a suspect until he can be convicted or acquitted.

Bail Bonds, Dakota Co, MN

ArrestedGenerally, people accused of crimes in Dakota County are held in a detainment facility (aka county jail) until they are proven guilty or acquitted–unless they get a bail bond. Fortunately for the suspect, he frequently has the option to be temporarily released while awaiting trial. Bail is set by the judge during the defendant’s first court appearance. For minor bad behaviors (such as driving violations), bail does not need to be set.

Usually, a friend, relative, or defense attorney will contact a Dakota Co. bond company by phone and during the preliminary phone consultation; the company has to collect basic information about the situation. This information will include where the detainee is being held, how long he has been there and of course the charges involved. Personal information such as current residence and occupation also have to be obtained. The bail company or agency will need this information to assess the risk involved in issuing the bond.

Should the suspect opt to purchase a bail bond, he or she will have to sign some bond documents and that include a bail bond application, bail indemnity agreement and a receipt. Once the paperwork is finalized, an accredited agent will post the  bond at the correct detention facility or jail and this will result in the release of the defendant. This process can take anywhere between 1 and 2 hours (ideally). Note that the whole process cannot start until all the arrest and booking procedures have been completed.

Generally you can get a bail bond in Dakota Co. 24/7. Bail bondsmen are on an “On Call” basis whenever they are not in their offices. Other countries, or even other states outside of MN, may have a totally different policy when it comes to bailing out of jail. The courts have numerous methods available for releasing defendants on bail and the judge is the one who determines which one of these methods is the most appropriate to use.

Signing the bail bond is a promise or guarantee that the defendant or suspect will appear in the specified date of the court hearing. If the suspect fails to appear in the proceedings, this will cause the signers of the bond to pay the court the designated amount. In general, the amount of bail is calculated depending on the seriousness of the alleged offense or crime. There are some instances that a suspect can be released upon his or her own recognizance which is defined as the latter?s written uninsured promise to return for trial. A release of this sort is granted for somebody with a steady employment, stable family ties and a long history of residence in a certain community. Violation of the terms of a personal recognizance constitutes a crime in Dakota Co. and is punishable by law.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Total Disaster - Christchurch Earthquake Update | Affilorama

This is amazing (don't ever think you can hide in a crowd)

 

Subject: This is amazing (don't ever think you can hide in a crowd)

This is a photograph of  2009 Obama Inauguration. You can see IN FOCUS the face of EACH individual in the crowd !!!
 

You can scan and zoom to any section of the crowd.  .  . Wait a few seconds.  .  Double click anywhere   . And the focus adjusts to give you a very identifiable close up.
 

The picture was taken with a robotic 1474 megapixel camera (295 times the standard 5 megapixel camera). Every one attending  could be scanned after the event, should something have gone wrong during it. 

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The 10 Cheapest Cars to Own- Yahoo! Autos Article Page

The price you negotiate for a car and the interest you pay on the car loan are only part of the cost equation. Insurance, depreciation, taxes and fees, what you pay over the years for fuel, service and repairs, and even the opportunity cost of the money you lay out as a down payment (what you'd make if you invested the money elsewhere) are all important ingredients in the cost of ownership.


All the vehicles on the list are small -- either compacts or subcompacts -- because they tend to have the lowest market price, the best fuel economy, and reasonable insurance rates -- since premiums tend to rise with horsepower.


Note that with the lower-price class, you may also have to pay extra for automatic transmission, air conditioning and sometimes even a radio-not to mention such safety features as anti-lock brakes. Most are equipped with six standard airbags but only half have standard stability control. (The market price is the average transaction cost and reflects rebates; all vehicles have manual transmissions, unless otherwise noted. Source: Vincentric.)


Nissan Versa 1.6 Base 4dr

Market price: $10,922
5-Year fuel cost: $8,456
5-Year insurance cost: $4,851
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $26,233

 Nissan's subcompact hatch, which gets 26 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, hits the streets at a smidge over ten grand but offers a bigger interior than classmates Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. Six airbags are standard on even the lowest trim, but you'll pay $250 extra for ABS.

Depreciation: $6,874 Fees & taxes: $905 Financing 5-year loan at 5.95%: $1,371 Opportunity cost of a 15% down payment: $452 Maintenance: $1,917 Repairs: $1,406

Hyundai Accent GL 2dr hatch

Market price: $9,677
5-Year fuel cost: $8,085
5-Year insurance cost: $5,134
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $26,715

 For under $11,000, the Accent boasts killer fuel economy of 34 mpg on the highway and 28 in the city. Even on the base model, optional equipment includes an iPod hookup ($35) and Bluetooth ($325). Six airbags are standard, but there’s no option for ABS.

Depreciation: $7,748 Fees & taxes: $822 Financing 5-year loan at 5.95%: $1,207 Opportunity cost of a 15% down payment: $423 Maintenance: $1,795 Repairs: $1,500

Chevrolet Aveo5 LS 4dr hatch

Market price: $11,038
5-Year fuel cost: $8,171
5-Year insurance cost: $5,446
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $26,958

 Chevy’s smallest car will be replaced next year by the Sonic, but for 2011 the little hatchback offers good interior space and cargo room -- 15 cubic feet with the 60/40 split rear seat up. Maintenance and repairs average just $3,000 for five years. Side airbags and six months of OnStar Automatic Crash Response are standard, but ABS and side-curtain airbags are not available. Mileage is 27 city, 35 highway.

Depreciation: $7,547 Fees & taxes: $919 Financing 5-year loan at 5.95%: $1,385 Opportunity cost of a 15% down payment: $451 Maintenance: $1,618 Repairs: $1,422

Ford Fiesta S 4dr

Market price: $13,212
5-Year fuel cost: $7,576
5-Year insurance cost: $5,623
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,402

 The return of the Fiesta to Ford’s lineup brings serious value -- and premium-car amenities -- to the compact category. A wallet-friendly price meets a peppy engine, an ultra-smooth manual transmission, and terrific handling. The SE trim offers Ford’s SYNC system (to connect phones and music players) as a $665 option. Even the entry-level Fiesta boasts a full complement of safety equipment: seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), ABS, stability control and traction control. Mileage is 28 city, 37 highway.

Depreciation: $8,919 Fees & taxes: $1,063 Financing 5-year loan at 5.95%: $1,690 Opportunity cost of a 15% down payment: $467 Maintenance: $1,564 Repairs: $1,500

Mazda2 Sport 4dr hatch

Market price: $14,625
5-Year fuel cost: $7,825
5-Year insurance cost: $5,630
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,593

 Its design is unmistakably Mazda, but the Mazda2 isn’t just a downsized Mazda3. Built on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, this sporty hatch takes corners with ease, and it has a full line of standard safety equipment-- ABS, stability and traction control, and six airbags. Mileage is 29 city, 35 highway.

Depreciation: $8,405 Fees & taxes: $1,139 Financing 5-year loan at 5.95%: $1,864 Opportunity cost of a 15% down payment: $490 Maintenance: $1,613 Repairs: $1,627

Toyota Yaris 4dr

Market price: $13,818
5-Year fuel cost: $7,737
5-Year insurance cost: $5,163
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,616

 The Yaris’s 1.5-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder engine pushes fuel economy to the max. The car gets 29 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway, giving it ultra-low fuel costs over five years compared with the competition. Good resale values give the car a leg up in our cost calculations. ABS and stability control are standard, as are six airbags.

Depreciation: $9,377 Fees & taxes: $1,089 Financing 5-year loan at 5.95%: $1,757 Opportunity cost of a 15% down payment: $463 Maintenance: $1,623 Repairs: $1,406

Kia Rio 4dr

Market price: $11,824
5-Year fuel cost: $8,085
5-Year insurance cost: $5,447
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,157

 Kia keeps even low-budget customers happy by offering many standard goodies -- auxiliary connections and USB ports for music, plus Sirius satellite radio (a subscription costs extra). Six airbags are standard on the base trim; stepping up to the LX ($15,690) gets you standard ABS. Mileage is 28 city, 34 highway.

Depreciation: $9,158 Fees & taxes: $966 Financing 5-year loan at 5.95%: $1,500 Opportunity cost of a 15% down payment: $458 Maintenance: $2,042 Repairs: $1,500

Kia Soul 4dr hatch

Market price: $13,826
5-Year fuel cost: $8,771
5-Year insurance cost: $4,402
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,275

 Kiplinger’s Best New Car for Teens makes boxy cool again. Along with its funky looks, the Soul has 19 cubic feet of cargo space and the most rear legroom in its class. It’s also an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick. All the safety equipment you’ll want is standard: six airbags, ABS, stability control and traction control. Mileage is 26 city, 31 highway.

Depreciation: $9,305 Fees & taxes: $1,381 Financing 5-year loan at 5.95%: $2,338 Opportunity cost of a 15% down payment: $487 Maintenance: $1,956 Repairs: $1,500

Honda Insight 4dr hatch

Market price: $18,097
5-Year fuel cost: $5,955
5-Year insurance cost: $5,497
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,953

 Proving that hybrids don’t have to break the bank, Honda’s Insight boasts estimated service costs (maintenance plus repairs) of just $3,149 for five years. Low fuel costs are a given, with 40 miles per gallon in the city and 43 on the highway. Automatic transmission, ABS, stability control, traction control and six airbags are standard.

Depreciation: $11,145 Fees & taxes: $1,381 Financing 5-year loan at 5.95%: $2,338 Opportunity cost of a 15% down payment: $487 Maintenance: $1,727 Repairs: $1,422

Ford Focus S 4dr

Market price: $13,643
5-Year fuel cost: $8,571
5-Year insurance cost: $5,484
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $30,290

 The Focus will get a redesign for 2012, but the 2011 version is already a solid value. The 2.0-liter engine puts out 140 horsepower but sips fuel politely -- it gets 25 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. Stability and traction control, ABS, and six airbags are standard.

Depreciation: $9,819 Fees & taxes: $1,101 Financing 5-year loan at 5.95%: $1,741 Opportunity cost of a 15% down payment: $490 Maintenance: $1,661 Repairs: $1,422

 

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Savor Dining in Minnesota

When you think about what constitutes a good eatery ask yourself, "Good for what?"

Think about whether you are seeking a fantastic vino, a kid friendly environment or a place to sign a business. Do you wish to savor the creations of a good chef, or merely refuel and collect your thoughts?

Unless the eatery is a real dog, and those don't stay around long these days, odds are expectations may be a key determinant in your overall satisfaction with your dining experience.

That said, there are a couple of additional aspects to consider.

  1. Location: If you are meeting people at a restaurant, try to choose one that is straightforward to locate and has sufficient parking. If entertaining out-of-towners you may want to opt for outside seating, making it possible for your guests to soak up Minnesota's lovely summer sunshine, or select a place with a good view. If your companion just got off an airplane in January with no coat, she almost certainly won't appreciate icy sidewalks or an invigorating walk.
  2. Atmosphere: Either for business or personal occasions, occasionally it's critical that a dining experience go especially well. For those occasions, be sure to visit the restaurant in advance. Go in for a drink, an espresso or a dessert. Check out the sound levels, the seating arrangements, the décor, even the restrooms. Afterwards determine whether to reserve a table.
  3. Service: Service does not need to be a one-way relationship. Help the servers provide wonderful service by being friendly and moving personal items on the table to enable them to serve you more easily. The majority of wait staff will reciprocate by becoming more attentive to your needs, and your dining companions will notice too.
  4. Menu: Food is sometimes secondary to the overall dining event, but some food is so exquisite and unforgettable that it's really worth waiting for in long lines or enduring with a few inconveniences. Consider the reputation of the chef and understand what his specialties are. Check out the wine list before you go. It may consistbe comprised of a small collection of extremely good--and pricy--bottles, matched to certain dishes on the menu, or it may be broad. In any case, it's a great idea to understand a bit about the wines and the dishes and be capable of making a recommendation. Don't pass up the fine ethnic restaurants edina has to offer.
  5. The Deal Breaker: Many metropolitan areas possess a number of good restaurants contending for your dining dollars. If a place doesn't appear clean and doesn't treat you well, move on.

Visit Restaurants Edina for detailed information about dining in the Greater Minneapolis Area.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Don't Be A Movie Critic Marketer : Jonathan Leger

Jeff Stibel, the current Chairman and CEO of Dun & Bradstreet, put it very well in an article he wrote about analysis-paralysis:

"Decisions are destroyed by over-analysis… The more information you pile on, the less likely you are to make educated guesses. But educated guesses spring from wisdom: all of your past experiences, knowledge and knowhow, coupled with the most recent information and analysis. In other words, wisdom comes from your gut."