Google Maps - A How to Guide

Satellite maps are a great resource to use when advertising a location, or to determine what the neighborhood and street of a location will look like. Is it an address you have never been to before? Do you want customers to know what the front of your building looks like? Is there nearby parking? This is the way to use Google Maps to your advantage.

The first step is to open a web browser and go to Google, then click on the link at the top of the page labeled Maps. Next, type either the name of a business or an address into the search bar at the top of the webpage. Be sure to include a city and state if possible, to help narrow your results. You can also type a business name and an address at the same time to find a business close to that location.

Once you have pulled up a map of a business, address, or place of interest you will have the options of reading and writing a review, learning more information about the location, getting directions, searching for a nearby location, zooming in, saving the location to My Maps, and sending the information. There will also be information such as the address, phone number, and website of the location you searched for.

Google Maps also allows users to view traffic, a simple map, a satellite map, and a terrain map. While viewing a satellite map, it's possible to view the map from a street view by dragging and dropping the little stick figure at the top of the zoom-in/zoom-out bar, or by clicking on a specific direction to see road at that stage of your trip. Feel free to drag the street view photo, as this will cause the photo to rotate so you can look down the street and behind you! It is also possible to move up and down the street to see what the neighborhood looks like, simply click on the arrows in the center of the photo (on the white line where the street name is provided). From the street view, you may also zoom-in by double clicking on the photo.

At the top right of your map you will always see three options: Print, Send, and Link. Print will allow you to print a basic map of the location you entered. Send will allow you to email or send to a phone, car, or GPS. You will be able to send to multiple destinations and include a personal message. Link will provide you with a link that can be used in an email or instant message, or with HTML that can be used for a website.

Using the Print, Send, and Link features as well as the zoom-in and street view features is a powerful tool for both marketing and your own personal use. Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) is an easy to use tool that is both free and useful.

To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter Summary - Chapter 25

Helen Robinson Receives the Bad News:

The boys, Jem and Dill, witness Helen, Tom Robinson's wife who is now a widow, collapse even before Atticus has the chance to tell her the bad news. Atticus tries to be gentle in breaking the news but Helen cannot hold in her emotions. Within two days, Tom's death becomes the town's topic for gossiping.

The Town's Stereotypes:

Most people in the town agrees on one thing. Tom performed the typical irrational thing they expected from a black man in his situation; he tried to escape. It should be noted, however, that they are operating from the presumption that Tom was guilty.

Mr Underwood:

In contrast, Mr. Underwood writes a good long review of his death in the newspaper, condemning the death of an innocent man in the paper's editorial section. Bob Ewell demonstrates a different reaction to Tom's death. He says one man down and two more to go. Jem informs Scout that Bob threatened the family again, but she tells him to just to ignore the remark because he is just all talk. Jem tells Scout not to tell Atticus.

Jem Finch:

Jem Finch is Atticus's eldest son and Scout's older brother. He finds Tom's case difficult to accept and tries to come to terms with the reality of how the town's prejudice convicted an innocent man. He finally comes to terms with the people and his surrounding environment as he grows up and observes the town. He sincerely takes the responsibility of taking care of his younger sister, Scout, and saves her from Bob's attack in a subsequent chapter, on a Halloween night.

This was a To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter Summary 25; there are 31 chapters in Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Traditional Chinese Paintings

The origins of traditional Chinese painting reach far back into China's distant history. Generally speaking, works dating from before the T'ang dynasty (618-907 A.D.) are mainly line drawings of people engaged in various activities; this was the "golden age" of human figure drawing. By the mid-T'ang dynasty, landscape and flower-and-bird paintings began their rise to prominence. Paintings of mountains, forests, fields, and gardens have the ability to transport one away from the vexations of the material world into a peaceful, carefree realm. Because of this, landscape paintings have always been highly regarded by China's literati and officialdom. The flowers, grass. trees. stones, and birds and other animals depicted in the lively and energetic flower-and-bird paintings are also widely admired. Thus the landscape and flower-and-bird types of painting, together with the earlier human figure painting, comprise the three main categories of traditional Chinese painting.

The ruling and elite classes of the T'ang and Sung (960-1279 A.D.) dynasties were major supporters of Chinese painting. The creative aim behind artistic works produced in this period was more serious, and had political and educational significance; in style, the works tended to be elaborate and ornate. The Sung dynasty court established a fairly well systematized academy of painting. Sung Emperor Hui Tsung, a lover of fine art and painting, and an accomplished artist in his own right, granted special patronage to the painters in this academy, and sponsored the training of promising painters. The academy of painting reached the zenith of its activity in this period.

However, because of gradual, social, economic, and cultural changes, more and more men of letters began to take up painting, and literature came to exercise an ever-increasing influence on painting. By the time of the famous Sung poet Su Shih, the school of literati painting had already emerged. By the Mongol Yuan dynasty (1271-1368 A.D.), there was no longer a formal painting academy organization within the imperial palace, so the court style of painting declined. At this point, the literati school of painting entered the mainstream, and the leadership in Chinese painting circles fell into the hands of literati painters. Literati typically prefer to paint according to their own fancy and without restriction, and advocate a fresh, free, understated, and elegant style. Subject matter they are fond of includes mountains and rocks, clouds and water, flowers and trees, the "four gentlemen" (plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums), and so forth. Because natural objects such as these are less demanding subjects to paint than the human figure, the painter can better exploit the brush and ink's potential for free expression.

Whether Chinese painting is "realistic" is the object of frequent debate. Some may feel that it is not realistic, but such an answer tells only part of the story. Realism in Chinese painting reached its climax in the painting of the T'ang and Sung dynasties. However, the kind of "realism" sought after in Chinese painting is not an objective reflection of the existence of an object as perceived through the sense of sight, but rather is an expression of a subjective kind of recognition or insight. For example, no over effort is made to represent the shadows cast by a particular type of lighting at a certain place and time in the clothing on people depicted in the Sung dynasty painting Che K'an T'u, and for this reason the painting does not have a clear three-dimensional effect. After the painter set the lines down on the paper, he used watercolor wash techniques to achieve a chiaroscuro effect of light and dark, representing the forces of "yin" and "yang", to express his grasp of the eternal quintessential nature of of his subject. A square planter painted according to the objective principles of perspective should in theory appear longer in front and be foreshortened in the back, reflecting the perceived decrease in relative size of more distant objects. But the front and back edges of a real planter are equal in length, and this knowledge of the physical world is incorporated into the image the painter of the Che K'an T'u created: the planter is represented as a flat surface with slides that are equal in length.

In another work, called the "Splash-ink Immortal", by Sung dynasty artist Liang K'ai, the artist wanted to portray not just any man off the street, but an other-worldly recluse, and thus it would have been inappropriate to use an ordinary human being as a model. The highly unusual, even weird, forms in this painting, with their bold and unbridled brush strokes, provide just the right background to set off the characteristics of this very extraordinary individual. This painting is representative of the "freehand brushstroke" school of traditional Chinese painting. The fundamental component of Chinese painting is the line, as it is in Chinese calligraphy. Because of this shared feature, these two arts have had, beginning from a very early time, a close mutual relationship. By the time that literati painting had become popular in the Yuan dynasty, men of letters who painted put even more conscious effort into reaffirming the link to Chinese calligraphy, and actively led a trend to fuse calligraphy, and actively led a trend to fuse calligraphy and painting. And the close relationship between poetry and painting was formed under the strong influence of literature on painting. Scholar-statesmen and literati led the melding of poetry and painting, and this eventually spread to the academy of painting. The Sung Empror Hui Tsung is known to have used poetry to test painters on their ability to express with ink and paper the enchanted world created in written verse. While traditional Chinese painting still occupies an important place in the life of modern Chinese, many painters now desire to express their experience of new times. By combining new modes of expression with traditional Chinese painting techniques, they are opening up a vast, new world of artistic expression.

Please visit www.chinatownconnection.com to view Traditional Chinese Art.

Cycling, Mediating, and Motivating - A Passioneer Who Made the Leap

The Passions and Possibilities Project is a program that profiles bold individuals who have leaped fully into their passions - ordinary folks who stopped playing small and started living large.  I call them "passioneers," having purposely chosen not to interview the rags-to-riches stereotype.  Instead, my hope is that these reality stories provide approachable, inspiring footholds for those who are scared or discouraged about their own leap into their dreams.  In all honesty, these interviews will help allay my own fears when the entrepreneurial road gets rough.  This project is a simple way for passioneers to share their wisdom and for me to fulfill my calling as a dream catalyst.  I'll be conducting these interviews for the next several months, so please contact this author if you want to participate.

Richard Trimble: Certified Mediator, Facilitator, and Motivational Cyclist When it comes to passions, Richard Trimble doesn't mess around.  In 2007, he left a successful career in utilities engineering and management to focus on what he loves most: conflict resolution.  Over the past seven years, he has earned the coveted designation of certified professional mediator and facilitator with over eight areas of specialization.  Most recently, he has become a motivational cyclist, having completed over 3,300 miles of a 12,000-mile bike ride around the U.S, with an expected completion in two years.   His Inspiration Richard is very clear about his passions.  "I love helping people communicate more effectively, so they can achieve their dreams and be happier," he says.  He shares a poignant success story of a couple who had never communicated directly, outside of court, since their separation.  "Through mediation,"  he says, "they were able to speak directly to each other, in front of their children, in a way they had never experienced.  That was a great day's work. I really love seeing a life change in just a few moments."   While cycling across the country, Richard gets to connect with many interesting people, hear what they are striving for, and share some encouraging words.  He knows firsthand what it's like to face a huge goal and experience major self-doubt:  before his 12,000-mile trek, Richard tackled the Pacific Coast, not really believing he could make it.   However, halfway along the Coast, he realized that, by going at his own pace, he could finish the trip and any future ones.  "I'm not a 70-mile a day cyclist," he confesses, "but I got that, even at a low daily mileage, I would make it.  That was an epiphany."   Biggest Rewards For Richard the rewards of pursuing his passions are intangible, yet immeasurable: 

As a mediator - "Knowing at the end of the session that I made a difference in their lives and helped them to accomplish something that was huge for them.  I would do it for free." As a motivational cyclist - "Meeting  people I would have never met before and hearing their great stories.  The physical reward, challenge, and accomplishment." Biggest Challenges According to Richard, one of the biggest challenges in leaping fully into his two passions was "simply believing that I could do something so outside of the box, in both areas."   Like many passioneers, he also faces the challenge of making less money than he did before the leap.  "My biggest fear," he notes, "is that I can't keep doing it, for financial reasons."   Another challenge is finding bigger audiences, as he gains even more credibility as a motivational speaker.   Pit Crew Richard has a strong support network, and many people have given him advice. However, his greatest support are his friends and family who believe in him.  "They hear what I am doing, they're impressed, and they encourage me," he says.  "There's nothing like having your daughter say to you, 'I'm telling my friends.  I'm really proud of you.'   That's the biggest boost I can get.  My girlfriend has also told me how personally impressed she is with me for doing this."    Advice for Others "My bike ride is an analogy for life.  There are goals that seem outside of my reach;  a bit too much. Maybe I can't do it...That's my motivational message - to help people realize that they can achieve great things through tenacity and bit of organization." "I have this life and a finite time to accomplish what I want to accomplish.  This sets my priorities.  My time's limited.  So, live fully every day and pursue your dreams." Next Big Leap While Richard is cycling for the next two years, he wants to establish himself as a motivational speaker and publish a book on the topic.

Snowboarding DVD's

Snowboarding DVD's are available for purchase or just for your viewing pleasure across the internet. Whether you are just looking for some entertainment or trying to find a video of that trick you want to try, snowboarding DVD's have it all. Whatever the case may be, you will usually be able to find that snowboarding DVD that has the topic covered. A majority of the time you will have to purchase the DVD's; however, if you can learn something from them, then it will all be worth your time and money.

It may be that you want to learn how to board and you can't find anyone to teach you. Well, your next best option to your own personal coach is a boarding VIDEO that will help to teach you on a one-on-one basis how to board. With a VIDEO, you can stop and play the same section over and over again until you have mastered the idea that the VIDEO is trying to portray to you. This is actually one of the best ways to learn some of the safety aspects, lingo and technical points of boarding.

If you are just really into boarding and are looking for something that is purely for entertainment purposes, then you will love the boarding video's that offer a unique view of hard rides and even harder tricks and stunts. Can't believe that they pulled that trick off? Well, believe it now, because it has been recorded and you can even view it. Who knows, maybe one of these days you will see yourself starring in your own boarding VIDEO. How cool would that be?

Most boarding video's will cost you anywhere around $14 to $23 on average and they can be worth every penny if you are really into boarding. The sound tracks on the video's are definitely something to talk about, not to mention the graphics and angles of the cameras. They will give you a heart-pumping adrenaline rush just like you were there. They are produced by top companies that are dedicated to the boarding industry; therefore, it's not like you are viewing homemade video's. These are professional quality video's.

Across the internet you will be able to search and locate a variety of boarding DVD's that have been rated by people who have actually already viewed the DVD's. You can judge and base your decision on which one you want to purchase by what other boarders have to say. Don't think that only professional boarders are on these DVD's either because you would be wrong. Yes, some of the DVD's do contain the top professionals in the sport; however, most of the snowboarding DVD's will be normal, everyday people just like you who are out there performing their hearts out with the same drive and determination that you have.

Investing in a quality snowboarding DVD can be in your best interest, especially if you are looking for tips and tricks or just some how-to advice about the sport.

New Car Stereo Or Old Car Stereo - Which One to Choose?

A little about the car audio system

One of the favorite pastimes of people is to listen to music in their leisure hours. This habit will always be an integral part of human soul. With the progress of the technology, audio systems have come up a long way and has segregated into various forms and functionalities. Among them, one of the most amazing forms of audio systems produced was the car audio player, which derived a lot of popularity in its coming years.

Initially when invented, it was known as car audio player but later with modernization it came to be known as car stereo system and it eventually became a vital section of car accessory.

A stereo system is an immobile accessory that is fitted into your car either by the manufacturer of the car or separately by the owner. In recent times, the new car comes along with a fitted mobile stereo in it and all other components that are required to enhance the performance of the car stereo like integrated car speakers, car video, improved amplifiers, CD player and other related gadgets. These parts are built particularly keeping in mind the design of the car as well the audio system.

The demand of the car stereo players are on the rise and there is a tough competition in the market among the various car audio manufacturers and now the home audio manufacturers also have stepped down so as to meet the needs of the customers. The competition has pulled down the price of the car audio and mobile stereo speakers and the manufacturers have to constantly upgrade their products to keep up pace with other competitors.

Comparison between Old and new car stereo

Here is a list of differences between the old car audio and the new car stereo system will give you a great picture of development in this particular field.

Earlier, the car audio systems were not pre-installed in the car but had to be installed separately by the owner but the latest cars are mostly coming with an inbuilt car stereo as well as other enhanced accessories.

Before, the audio systems of the cars were battery operated and did not really run for long. It did not perform well under extreme temperatures and used to tremble inside the car disturbing the joy of the ride. Much later, car stereo was enhanced and came in the size of the dashboard which fitted in well and also had two stereo speakers attached in the front to give a better experience.

Earlier the audio systems could play only audio cassettes along with radio. The sound quality was not great as there were no additional enhancements and was less durable also compared to the new car audio players which produces better quality sound along with FM, MP3 and even pre-installed car video for the ultimate joy ride. These stereo systems are much durable and can be played for long hours without any trouble.

The new car stereos are much portable compared to the old car audio systems and they include amazing features like DVD player, LCD display and an additional space called the memory to store unlimited amount of songs. You can now also insert a Micro SD card or a flash drive into the car stereo player, and listen to your favorite track list while you are enjoying the drive.

The quality of the car speakers is much improved and superior in comparison with old speaker systems. The sound effect of the car stereo is after all improvised by these speakers to produce rich digital sound that does not disturb your ears but soothes them.

For personal experience you can even add stereo headphones or Bluetooth headsets, which were impossible to even think with the old car stereo players. However, remember that these are against the law and extremely dangerous.

Car stereo players today are a class apart from what they were. You can enjoy a whole lot of functions with these new devices.

Is it Wise to Purchase Travel Insurance?

The best way to determine if, for you, it is wise to purchase travel insurance, is to consider the various emergency situations that could arise during your trip, determine the best guess for the cost of each, and see whether you can afford to pay for the worst case scenarios out of your own pocket.

If the answer is no, then it is indeed wise to purchase travel insurance.

Even if the answer is yes, however, money is not the only issue in determining the wisdom of travel insurance.

Let's take a look at what can happen in your travels - the situations that travel insurance could have covered. You and your family take a delayed flight from home to another location where you are to change planes. Because of your delay, however, you have missed your connection. Your tickets are non-refundable, non-exchangeable. You are now faced with the purchase of new tickets, with a hefty last-minute price tag, as well as the feeding and housing for your whole party as the next flight is tomorrow morning. If you had been wise and purchased travel insurance you would have been reimbursed for these costs.

Your spouse is diabetic. Her purse is stolen while you are traveling. You have no travel insurance and you're in a foreign country. How do you retrieve the money lost from her wallet, replace her much-needed reading glasses and, most importantly, get her the insulin she so desperately needs? If you had been wise and purchased travel insurance you would have been reimbursed for these costs. You would have also had someone to call or see for help purchasing insulin.

You have had a wonderful vacation and you're ready to travel home. You suddenly get the word that the airline on which you are returning has gone bankrupt and all planes are grounded. How do you get home? To whom do you turn for help and advice? You are in a country where few people speak your language. Who can help you translate? If you had been wise and purchased travel insurance you could have not only been reimbursed for the loss of the price of your airline tickets but you could have been provided with a translator and someone to help you find an alternate flight or cruise home.

These are but a few of the common occurrences when traveling. Perhaps travel insurance is indeed a wise decision.

Children and How to Keep Your Kids Happy and Safe

Consider your children's personalities, number of children in the house, and ages before selecting a K-9. Everyone will lose out if you don't make a good choice, so take some time to be introspective about this. Are all your two kids under 9? If they are, you might not want to get the high-energy breed that might require the same amount of time and caring as your children do. Also, take into consideration how mature your children are. There are some thirteen year-olds that are not ready for dog-ownership responsibilities, while there are some 9 year-olds that are mature enough to have a dog. You have to be honest with yourself. There are many obnoxious children and there are some who have a hard time with impulse control or anger management. If your kids are always bothering you with things such as endless questions, poking, and other disruptive behavior, most likely they will act the same way with the dogs. Every dog has their boiling point, and some are higher than others. You must ask yourself this very important question before getting a dog-Is your child ready to have a dog in the house?

Some breeders who will not place a dog if there are very young children in the house. They are worried that the toddlers is too young to understand the restraints when playing, or that the dog might not be getting right attention. Puppies can learn to be shy with humans if they are treated too roughly, and a small dog can be injured accidentally by a baby. If you have a little one, you should seriously consider these things.

After you have made up your mind that your child is grown up enough for a K9 and that you are going to be able to spend enough time to watch over their interactions and the dog will receive enough exercise, it's time to figure out what does your child need in a dog. A little pet is not likely to be the ideal friend for your child if he is rambunctious and full of energy. For example, a 4-pound Yorkie is prone to accidental injuries and isn't going to be up to running around the neighborhood. You want to encourage a good relationship, in addition to safety concerns. The best bet for a child like this would be an adolescent or an adult Golden retriever. These dogs love endless ball tosses and playing with friends.

A young child may have lots of children that stop by. That is why you want to be sure that the dog you get is not an escape artist. There are some pets that just want to run, as anyone who has owned a Grey Hound would confirm. And no matter how great our efforts are, a child and an escape artist are just a bad combo. Kids leave doors ajar and gates open. Their school mates do this even more. While some guardian breeds make great companions for your own children, some may be inappropriate, because they can be too protective. What if the dog misinterprets a friendly wrestling match between your children? What if one of your kid's friends let himself into your home without knocking on the door?

For more pet information please visit the Animal Shelter http://www.animalshelter.org

Three Phases of Social Media Maturation

At Strategic Communications Group (Strategic) we've been through the cycle.

From start-up to execution and now ROI evaluation, we have lived the maturation of social media and digital public relations programs. Our client work has also covered a broad spectrum of organizations, with representation of global firms like British Telecom (BT), Microsoft, Spirent Communications and BearingPoint, as well as emerging growth companies such as GovDelivery and Epok.

During the last few weeks I have made the swing visiting with clients to share the best practices and lessons learned we've picked up along this journey. It was during one of these discussions at a Starbucks tucked in a corner of a shopping mall in Washington, DC that a client helped define the three phases of a social media initiative.

Phase One: Pockets of Innovation

Strategic typically engages with a client in a pilot program environment, with the scope of work aligned with a funded requirement, such as a product launch, thought leadership campaign or industry conference. I assumed this pilot methodology was easily digested because it kept the budget (and risk) relatively modest.

While this is partly true, it's also apparent that certain individuals within an organization emerge as champions of social media. They may recognize that their customers and partners have become engaged in social networks and online communities. You have to fish where the fish are, right?

Or, perhaps it is a competitive threat in which an upstart has stolen away mindshare and momentum through their use of social media as a thought leadership platform.

Regardless of the reason, the social media champion correctly concludes that how companies position, brand, promote and identify leads has shifted. Their desire is to drive innovation in their communications program in a meaningful and measurable way.

During this initial phase, the social media program wins funding, a strategy is defined, an editorial content direction is agreed upon and tactics move to execution. The benchmark is to attract a community of readers, which is carefully tracked on an ongoing basis.

Phase Two: Bridging to Pervasive

There is a proverb that states success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan. This has proved to be spot on when it comes to a social media campaign.

As readership grows, the word spreads internally about the traction generated through social media tactics. There may even be instances in which direct sales and business development opportunities are identified through online channels. This resonates across multiple departments within a company, such as marketing, sales and product development.

This internal buzz stimulates action. Others in the company closely track the campaign and begin to invest more time engaging in their own social media activities. LinkedIn profiles are updated. Discussion groups are joined. Twitter feeds spring up.

For our social media champion, this second phase is about accelerating readership and encouraging dialogue. The editorial content strategy may evolve and multi-media elements -- such as video, podcasts, customer Q&As, etc. --are incorporated into the program. We also see a more consistent flow of comments, as well as other examples of readers reaching out to engage.

The promotion strategy to drive interest and among target audiences also becomes more effective and efficient. There is now a baseline. Readership and participation is measured with hot topics and themes fed to the sales organization as a form of real-time market intelligence.

Phase Three: The Last Mile

With the social media program now established and clicking along, our champion turns to the issue of ROI attached to measurable benchmarks.

At Strategic, we view community, conversation and awareness as merely the starting point. Is there an appropriate way to cross this last mile to identify members of our engaged community as sales leads, potential partners or new hires?

It's in this phase that interaction with the organization's sales team becomes paramount. Thought leadership-based lead generation tactics -- such as educational Webinars -- combined with good old fashioned sales outreach must be defined and put in place.

Although we never stray from what's appropriate in social media participation, the last mile phase is all about justifying the spend to date and making a business case for continued investment.