The Success Chain

It doesn’t necessarily matter that her name was not this name, nor that name, nor was there anything remarkable about any of the things that drove me to find time away from my usual preoccupations.  Among these preoccupations were the usual laundry lists, but there was also something about a cupcake with a Singapore flag that would always remind me of almonds in the time of, in the time of something.  The important thing is that it did not matter.  And at the moment, Singapore did, or rather, does.  It always has mattered, whether I was here or not, and whether or not I was trying to forget her.  How she would often tell bold lies throughout the course of the evening, and only speak the truth in whispers.

She wasn’t the only one, and I would like to say that I was the only one who recognized her speech patterns, but I saw in her what I had seen a dozen times before.  And she saw it in me, too, and we would sometimes talk about how we had found a way not to talk about the only things that were on our minds.  Among these were obsession, cupcakes, and the smell of particular trees in this part of the world.  Hotels in Singapore have never reminded me of anything that reminded me of her, and this is where I felt safe.  Until I understood that they had nothing to do with her, then they became fetishized for their ability to take me away from her.   It’s an old cycle, and it’s not necessary to continue to watch the wheel turn.

Enough here to be here, in this place where I can find myself looking at all the things I would never consider buying for myself.  Shopping in Singapore is one thing, but shopping for a memory is quite another, and there is usually no end to the options.  One day I would make a film about everyone I ever met, everyone who was ever here, and everyone who was ever not her.

The television show TMZ has become more than extremely popular in its four years of existence. It has also seemed to transition paparazzi filming interviews to credited journalism status. And while that statement may seem to be as exaggerated as the validity TMZ has been given, it represents the views of many individuals who are surprised to hear major news stations crediting TMZ as their source. However, even the show’s greatest critics seem to be attracted to it and its swiftrank status continues to grow.

The program was created by its star Harvey Levin, who also seems to be its guiding force. And while not everyone in the room always agrees with his comments, his presence on the program does lend a sense of grounded and ethically based quality reporting. This may also be due to the fact that Levin is a journalist who previously worked as a lawyer and has professional reporting standards. The show’s structure is part of its attraction and some of the staff reporters that are featured in the program are extremely popular with viewers. The open newsroom discussion and quality of story presentation lend to the show’s credibility. People are more likely to trust what they hear when they feel like they connect with or know the person they’re hearing it from.

The show’s title refers to a geographical area in Los Angeles, California in which most of the stories originate. TMZ refers to the thirty-mile zone, which is the studio zone that encompasses a thirty-mile radius point from the intersection of West Beverly Boulevard and North La Cienega Boulevard. The show itself is an interesting blend of formats that basically has initiated a new genre of Hollywood and celebrity news and gossip reporting. Even many of the stars that are approached by the program seem to enjoy or at least not mind the program or being filmed by them. In addition they have been the first to report on many breaking stories such as the Mel Gibson DUI arrest and the news of Michael Jackson’s death.

Mike had recently begun taking yoga classes and was already amazed at the changes he felt taking place in both his body as well as his mind. He actually felt more centered, confident and stable during his stressful days at the law firm and he thought he was better able to leave work at the office when he returned home everyday. He was so inspired by the changes he felt occurring that he wanted to be sure and incorporate yoga into his daily life and he wanted to create all the resources necessary to make this possible. He was going to set up a small studio in his den when a thought suddenly struck him. He had been interested in overhauling his backyard for the past few months but wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with it. He want to his French doors that led out to his patio. He stared out for a moment and suddenly knew exactly what he wanted to do.

The next day after work he stopped at one of the home improvement stores that he knew carried hot tubs and home spa designs.  He looked through the models and found one he knew was right for him. He made the purchase that day and also consulted with the department that supplied deck building materials. Previously Mike had thought he would pay someone to construct the deck but now he thought it would be more therapeutic for him to do it himself. He felt particularly zen as he worked on the deck for about a month and when it was ready he had the hot tub installed. The deck included a small gazebo on one end with a nice area that would be perfect for him to lay down his yoga matt and do his morning routine. He planted lilacs next to the deck so that the aroma could waft over him as he practiced his yoga and as well as soak in his new tub. Mike was so pleased with his new health oriented backyard that invited all of his friends over for a dip in the tub and in the process made some converts to the practice of yoga.

When you look at the fireplaces of today, the style and the design, you see the degree of elegance in the architecture.  Napoleon fireplaces have long been know to be quality in construction, and awesome in design.  They offer many different styles, from simple and conservative, to extravagant and artistic.  And…they provide this at a very competitive rate, often quite inexpensive to speak the truth.  Napoleon fireplaces range from gas fueled with direct vents to those that are actually vent-free.  They have won design awards and are well known for their technological advances towards creating products that are extremely eco-friendly. They offer by window face-plates, that make the fireplace part of the wall in a way, visible and creating heat for many different rooms all at the same time.  Some are now equipped with cooking surfaces as well, and how great would it be to have one installed between the kitchen, and the dining room.

From the fire to the plate, and all done with the ambiance and the mood that only a fireplace can inspire.  Not only is this a convenient appliance to work with during a dinner party, but installing a fire place will help to lower your monthly heating bill.  Just one of the many reasons why choosing the right one for your house and your living space is so important.  All of the models are certified by the EPA, and you will be assured that while you are heating your house, you are not heating the “green house“.  Take care when designing your own home, that you consider the size of the fireplace, in proportion to the square footage, as this will provide you with information to build the most efficient fireplace possible.  In all, a fireplace will welcome you home, warm you on the cool winter nights, and create a safe place for your family, and your guests.

While people often search for a fireplace inside their home or apartment, the crackle of flames stirring some warm and cozy memories of childhood and time spent with friends and families, I find that it’s the outdoor patio fireplaces that trigger some ancient, primal memory for me.   My own brother loves roasting and grilling turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas over an outdoor fireplace, and I think it might trigger that same memory for him, linking us to our earliest ancestors, two hundred to four hundred thousand years ago, when cooking over an open fire was not a luxury but a necessary skill to learn for survival.

To ensure our continued survival, we want to make absolutely certain that our outdoor fireplace is safe and secure.  There’s a few things you want to keep in mind to accomplish that goal:

First, make sure the fireplace is in a level area, that it’s some distance from the house or any other buildings in the backyard; the fireplace should be placed, too, on a concrete surface, or any surface, really, that’s fireproof.  Second, make certain the cooking area is thoroughly clean.  If there’s debris or grease from previous outdoor cooking excursions, then this can present itself as a possible hazard.  If you have children, make sure they understand that they are to stay away from the fireplace when it’s in use.  Children can often do unexpected things, which are not in your or their best interest.  Better to have someone watch over them while you cook, so you can give the job all the attention it deserves.

Finally, once you start a fire, don’t leave it alone or unwatched.  A fire is a lot like children, in that it can do unexpected things.  If a wind comes up, or any number of events, the fire can spread extremely quickly.  Keeping a fire extinguisher nearby is always a good idea.

There are many different way’s to earn a customer’s respect and attention.  With so many different choices for consumers these days, it’s difficult to find the right product from the right company.  There’s also a lot of flash and style but no substance behind it, so that the well-designed websites, or the gorgeous retail building, might hold the promise of excellent merchandise, but turn out to be just the opposite.  We live in an era where people are used to playing many different roles while believing in none of them.  So to find a person with a business sensibility and an inventor’s creativity, like Steven Barbarich, there’s already something that sets him apart from the rest of the herd.

His business practices have always been based on excellent customer service, which means listening carefully to the customers needs as well as wants, and trying to determine what would be the best long-term choices for them, rather than making the quick sale.  It’s time-intensive, but it has many important rewards, and rewards that aren’t always immediately readable.  They pay off in other ways, however, like having the satisfaction of working with a customer base where the people are satisfied with their purchases, and also understand that if they should have any issues with their products, when they call there will be another human being on the other end of the phone.

Aside from the customer service, which is really plenty to recommend him, there is another quality that is extremely commendable.  Donating a portion of the profits to help victims of natural disasters suggests a business model that is committed to the community.  It means that they intend to stay in the community, too, and have an investment not only in their own business surviving, but in the well-being of all the people who make up the community.  Compassion is a difficult thing to find these days, and when it shows its face, it deserves all the recognition it gets.

Troy was headed to Modesto, California to take part in a large family reunion. He was excited to go because he wanted to see three cousins that he hadn’t seen in years. However, he was afraid he wouldn’t even know many of the people there and had considered not going at all. Naturally his mother would have none of that and while Troy was twenty two years old and could obviously make up his own mind, he still gave in to his mother’s wishes on most occasions. And this was important enough to her that he wasn’t going to mess with thinking about not going. Meanwhile, Troy had never before been to Modesto so he decided to see what all might be there that he would want to see and do.

Coincidentally, the Xclamation Festival was going to be taking place the same time that he would be in town. Troy had never heard of this before but found out that it has a sort of Mardi Gras feel to it and that it would include great music, great food and lots of cute girls- hopefully. Meanwhile, he thought this would be the perfect thing for him to do with his cousins on the Saturday before the reunion, so he got the festival information together and sent it to them.

As it turned out not only did Troy’s cousins go to the festival but so do some miscellaneous other relatives including a few that he didn’t know. They had all found out that the rooms in their hotel Modesto were all sold out and were happy that they made their reservations in advance. Continually through the eight hours of music Troy and his cousins ran into other family members, including his mother, and the event became something of a pre-reunion. He had a great time and really enjoyed the city of Modesto throughout the remainder of his stay.