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Aldo Disorbo Explains Benefits of Moving Brokerage

In Business, General on August 19, 2013 at 9:11 am

Aldo-Disorbo-Call-Center-Presentation-SolutionsLike finding the perfect house, Aldo Disorbo says using a moving broker can make moving an easier, cheaper, and more pleasurable experience.

Q: What is a moving broker?

Aldo Disorbo: A moving broker is someone that acts as an intermediary between the customer and a pool of service providers.

Q: What are the benefits to using an agency such as this?

Aldo Disorbo: For my customers at Nationwide Relocation Services, we find that we can save them up to 70 percent off of their moves.

Q: And how is that?

Aldo Disorbo: Every day, hundreds of trucks are performing moves all throughout the Continental U.S. It’s very common, these trucks will continue to their next destination empty. Our affiliates will notify us of the location of their unfilled trucks so we can connect them to nearby customers in need. Thanks to this streamlined process, we will be able to offer incredible discounts.

Q: So Nationwide Relocation Services is not an actual moving company?

Aldo Disorbo: No, we are not a moving company and we will not transport an individual shipper’s household goods, but we will coordinate and arrange for the transportation of their household goods by an FMCSA authorized motor carrier.

Q: But aren’t all moving companies the same?

Aldo Disorbo: Not at all. Many moving companies only offer local moves. Others focus on long-distance or international moves. Some companies don’t have the capability to transfer large items such as pianos or vehicles.

Q: So you have a way to input the customers’ requirements to match them to providers in their area?

Aldo Disorbo: Absolutely. And again, at a highly competitive price.

Q: It seems like there are a lot of moving brokers nowadays.

Aldo Disorbo: Yes, but it wasn’t always so. In fact, Nationwide Relocation Services was one of the first. The system that we have in place has served as a model for many other companies over the years.

Q: What happens when a customer is not happy with the quality of service?

Aldo Disorbo: We hold all of our contractors highly accountable for everything they do. It doesn’t happen often, but when we do have an issue we take every step to rectify it immediately.

Q: How do you determine who the best moving services are?

Aldo Disorbo: We actually have an internal rating system. The system flags customer service agents as to who the best available is. This makes it much easier to provide quality providers to our customers.

Q: So Nationwide Relocation Services really does all the legwork?

Aldo Disorbo: Yes. We have a remarkably efficient system in place. We have helped thousands of individuals find the right relocation service provider.

Q: With the accessibility of information online, are moving brokers becoming obsolete?

Aldo Disorbo: Just the opposite is true. The Internet can be a wonderful portal of information but that information can also be tainted. It can be very difficult to filter through search results. It is also very time-consuming to compare pricing, service options, and availability.

Q: What is the future of the moving brokerage business?

Aldo Disorbo: I believe that this is an industry that is here to stay. Using a moving broker affords the customer the opportunity to rely on someone else’s expertise in the area so that they can focus on what’s important to them — whether it be getting to a new home or relocating entire office.

Q: How do you think moving brokerage firms can be better in the future?

Aldo Disorbo: I firmly believe that it all comes down to the customer, although sadly, many businesses don’t see it that way. It is our customers that drive us and having fulfilled customers inspires us to continue to pave a path of success for Nationwide Relocation Services and other companies like it.

Q: Do you rely on customer feedback?

Aldo Disorbo: Yes, we do. Each company that we utilize is rated by the most reliable experts – the customer.

Q: What exactly do you grade them on?

Aldo Disorbo: Customer service, efficiency, courtesy, and professionalism. Low marks in any of these categories can trigger an investigation by our quality control.

Q: It sounds like Nationwide Relocation Services keeps a close eye on their service providers.

Aldo Disorbo: Our reputation depends on our customers’ happiness. We cannot and will not allow that to be tainted by poor service.

Q: Well, we appreciate you being with us today we look forward to talking to you again in the future.

Aldo Disorbo: Thank you very much for having me.

Aldo Disorbo is the founder of Nationwide Relocation Services. The company utilizes his 30+ years of experience in the industry to recognize quality service providers and to match these companies with clients across the United States. Nationwide Relocation Services can help with long-distance moves.

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Sergei Rachmaninoff Recalled Fondly by London Piano Institute

In Music on August 13, 2013 at 9:56 am

London-Piano-Institute-Sergei-RachmaninoffRussian pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff continues to influence budding young artists today, says London Piano Institute. Today, Celine Gaurier-Joubert of London Piano Institute talks about one of her main musical inspirations.

Q: Good morning, and thank you for being here today.

London Piano Institute: It is absolutely my pleasure.

Q: First, for our readers’ sake, can you tell us a bit about London Piano Institute?

London Piano Institute: We’re a private music school that specifically teaches adult learners how to play the piano. As an instructor, I work with students of all skill levels and from all walks of life.

Q: We understand you have a few favourite composers. Could you share one of those with us?

London Piano Institute: Indeed, I do have many favourites. The first to come to mind is Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Q: He was a Russian pianist, correct?

London Piano Institute: Yes, he was. Rachmaninoff was a very popular Russian-born composer, conductor and pianist who lived from the late 1800s to the 1900s.

Q: What’s particularly notable about his music?

London Piano Institute: He is popularly considered to this day one of the finest pianists of the early to mid-20th century. He is a fine representation of Romanticism, as his work is reflective of Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov.

Q: And what is his musical background?

London Piano Institute: He was born into a musical family; his father was an amateur pianist.

Q: So did he learn music from his dad?

London Piano Institute: No, actually. His mother—a gifted instrumentalist herself—gave him informal lessons when he was 4. However, his grandfather hired a private music teacher from St. Petersburg when Sergei was 9 years old and this is what made the biggest difference in his choice of careers.

Q: We understand he made friends with Tchaikovsky and many other famous composers.

London Piano Institute: Yes, he considered Tchaikovsky one of his greatest friends until the latter’s death in 1893. Later in life, Sergei befriended a young Vladimir Horowitz who considered the elder composer a great influence.

Q: Tell us about Vladimir Horowitz’s composition of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Sonata No. 2.

London Piano Institute: Rachmaninoff had a strong faith in Horowitz’s skill. So much so that he allowed the young pianist to create a fused rendition of his second piano sonata.

Q: This was unheard of at the time, no?

London Piano Institute: That’s right, and Rachmaninoff enjoy the interpretation so much that he is quoted as saying he never believed his concerto could be played the way he had always dreamed, but that Horowitz had done just that.

Q: Let’s talk about Rachmaninoff’s playing style for a moment.

London Piano Institute: After his early nods to Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff was one of the most original composers of his time. He is noted for producing bell-like sounds by using widely spaced chords.

Q: This was very unusual for Russian composers, wasn’t it?

London Piano Institute: Yes, it was. However, it worked well. He was also very fond of Russian orthodox chants and used them throughout his career.

Q: Rachmaninoff had one very outspoken critic. Explain this?

London Piano Institute: Yes, Thomas Edison. Edison did not care for Rachmaninoff’s playing style at all. Edison owned a major recording studio at the time and passed on the opportunity to sign the musician. However, Edison’s company pianist Robert Gaylor convinced the near-deaf Edison to change his mind.

Q: And it’s such a good thing he did. Well, that’s all the time we have. Thank you for filling us in on this great musical talent.

London Piano Institute: You’re welcome, my pleasure.

Celine Gaurier-Joubert is a master pianist and founder of London Piano Institute. She opened London Piano Institute with the belief that adults, regardless of previous musical experience, can learn to master the often misunderstood and unnecessarily intimidating piano. Located just off Liverpool Street Station, London Piano Institute is a convenient and affordable teaching establishment that has earned the respect of business professionals throughout the city and the surrounding boroughs.

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Entrepreneur Sandra Dyche Explains the Genesis of the New York City Regional Center

In Business on August 5, 2013 at 7:58 am

Sandra-Dyche%3DNY-Center-Regional-CenterAs a co-founder of the New York City Regional Center (NYCRC), Sandra Dyche led the charge in developing the organization’s core values. Sandra Dyche also headed the movement to seek federal approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Presentation Solutions: What is the NYCRC?

Sandra Dyche: The NYCRC is the first EB-5 Regional Center, and it funds a variety of economic development projects in New York City. Each NYCRC project is located within one of the four major boroughs of New York City (Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx). The NYCRC offers loans to larger real estate projects.

Presentation Solutions: Where is the NYCRC located?

Sandra Dyche: The central office is based in Manhattan, with an additional office in Shanghai.

Presentation Solutions: What is a regional center?

Sandra Dyche: Regional centers are units with U.S. federal government approval that are designed for foreign investors. Regional centers may incorporate either a major city or a region of a state. Right now, there are more than 240 regional centers across the country.

Presentation Solutions: Who supervises the NYCRC?

Sandra Dyche: All activities related to the NYCRC are supervised by USCIS, a division of Homeland Security. In 2008, the NYCRC earned full approval from USCIS and continues to receive government approvals for its investor petitions.

Presentation Solutions: How does a regional center help the economy?

Sandra Dyche: The principals of the NYCRC have extensive knowledge of industries such as urban planning, government, law and real estate. This expertise leads to secure foreign investments, resulting local job creation and tax revenue.

Presentation Solutions: What countries have participated in the NYCRC?

Sandra Dyche: Germany, Italy, China, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, Russia, Taiwan, Nigeria, Indonesia, Venezuela and Japan have all had individuals participate in NYCRC projects.

Presentation Solutions: What kinds of projects have been completed through the NYCRC?

Sandra Dyche: Completed projects have included infrastructure, hotels, restaurants, retail stores, civic and office buildings, sports and entertainment buildings, light industrial and warehouse facilities, medical facilities, and mixed-use facilities, both commercial and residential.

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Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon on the Definition of Kosher

In Business on August 5, 2013 at 3:27 am

Rabbi-Binyomin-Lisbon-Kosher-Food5According to Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon of KSA Kosher, several misconceptions exist about the term “kosher.” Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon explains that kosher most often describes food permitted for consumption by people who observe Jewish dietary law.

Q: Why are certain food products considered non-kosher?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Foods may be rendered non-kosher for a variety of reasons, including the species of animal and improper slaughtering or processing procedures.

Q: What else?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: The mixing of meat and dairy ingredients is forbidden. Plus, the usage of ingredients drawn from non-kosher sources is not allowed under Kashrus law.

Q: Define Kashrus.

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Kashrus, the term used to explain the concept of dietary laws, relates to the kinds of food permissible for preparation and consumption.

Q: What animals are considered kosher?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Cattle or bovine are deemed kosher because they have cloven hooves and chew cud. If an animal does not possess both of these distinctions, it is strictly forbidden.

Q: What other characteristics should kosher consumers examine?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: The animal being slaughtered must have no flaw or disease. Further, the origin of the animal is a major concern to kosher production.

Q: What are some examples of kosher animals?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Examples of kosher animals are sheep, goats, lambs, cows, bulls, springbok and veal.

Q: What about the animal’s milk?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: The milk from non-kosher animals is strictly prohibited.

Q: Are there any other restrictions?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Dairy products may not contain any non-kosher additives, and they may not include meat derivatives or products.

Q: What’s an example of these products?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Many kinds of cheese have been manufactured using rennet. Therefore, they would need kosher certification.

Q: Can kosher consumers ever trust preprocessed foods?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Only the kosher certification symbol verifies a product’s viability. Many preprocessed foods contain small portions of milk products. One example of a popular milk product is whey.

Q: Have these been deemed non-kosher?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: According to food regulations, such small additives in these products do not have to be labeled on packaging. Nonetheless, these products would still be rendered dairy.

Q: How are kosher animals slaughtered?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: To be eaten by the kosher consumer, a species must be slaughtered in a ritual known as “Schochet.”

Q: What does Schochet mean?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: Jewish law prohibits causing any pain to animals during the slaughter, so death must occur almost instantaneously for the animal to be deemed kosher. The Schochet is the rabbi performing the ritual.

Q: How is the animal prepared for cooking after the slaughter?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: After the animal is slaughtered, the kosher supervisor treats the carcass by removing certain forbidden veins and fats.

Q: How are the animals cleaned?

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon: All blood from the animal should be drained or cooked out of meat before the consumer eats it.

Rabbi Binyomin Lisbon is the chief administrator of KSA Kosher, the largest kosher certification agency in the Western United States.

Time Principles: Tips for Smart Time Management

In General on August 4, 2013 at 8:05 am

6How you spend your time is more valuable than money. Once you spend it, you can’t get it back. By employing smart time management techniques, one can become more efficient, more effective, and more profitable. Time is a precious asset, and using time management techniques can improve both one’s personal and professional lives.

Tackle tedious tasks first

Start off with tasks that annoy you most because they drain you of energy, such as the car that needs an oil change, or booking that dentist appointment. By writing them down and planning to eliminate them, you are taking the first step to freeing up time for things you prefer to do.

 

Delegate

If you aren’t utilizing your team—whether that’s your staff, spouse or family—you will get overwhelmed. If you’re taking on too much, you aren’t being efficient, either. It benefits everyone to rely on each other.

 

Say “no”

To make time for what matters most, you must say no to some things that don’t. Ask yourself throughout the day, “Is this the best use of my time, right now?” We feel like we’re letting people down when we decline requests, but in reality we aren’t doing anyone a favor by taking on things we don’t have time to do, then falling through on them.

 

Time wasters

Identify things at home that waste your time. Perhaps friends call for small talk or a favorite television show comes on during the day. Try to eliminate these time wasters. Studies show the average American watches 2.7 hours of TV a day. Cut that down to just one hour and spend the other 1.7 hours getting things done. Internet, Facebook, Twitter can also be considered time wasters. Limit time spent on each site to a certain number of minutes, a certain number of times per day. The key is self-control and discipline.

 

Make time for people you love most

Remember why you love your family and friends. Think of your shared experiences and memories, your time together, and intentionally create new memories by investing your time where it matters most.

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Gregory J. Daniels DDS Warns Against the Hazards of Acid Found in Soda

In Health and Beauty on July 31, 2013 at 5:36 am

PresentationSolutionsGregory J. Daniels DDS has been providing dentistry services for more than 30 years. Throughout his career, Gregory J. Daniels DDS has witnessed firsthand the impact that excessive consumption of sugary and acidic beverages can have on teeth. Gregory J. Daniels DDS and his team have treated many difficult oral health challenges and he reminds readers that tooth decay from soda is one that is completely avoidable.

Gregory J. Daniels DDS notes research findings published in General Dentistry. This study revealed a shocking similarity in the extensive tooth decay suffered by a patient who drank a 2-liter bottle of diet soda every day for three to five years and that of a self-described methamphetamine addict and a crack-cocaine addict. All three subjects admitted to poor dental hygiene throughout their lives, in addition to their drug and soda consumption. While the study was small, Gregory J. Daniels DDS explains that this revelation has shed renewed light on the ill effects of soda.

As Gregory J. Daniels DDS confirms, the sugar and acid found in soda are problematic. While people most commonly blame the high sugar content in sodas for dental issues, it is really the acid in soda that is most harmful, says Gregory J. Daniels DDS. Soda often contains citric, carbonic and/or phosphoric acid, all of which have erosive properties that can damage teeth. Similarly, methamphetamine and crack-cocaine also contain acids, sometimes battery acid, drain cleaner, or even lantern fuel. The acid breaks down the protective enamel on teeth, explains Gregory J. Daniels DDS, thus leading to increased tooth decay, sensitivity, cracks and discoloration of the teeth, as noted in the research findings.

For better oral health, Gregory J. Daniels DDS encourages patients to avoid soda and drink water instead. As Gregory J. Daniels DDS explains, diet soda or “zero” sodas are still harmful. WhiIe diet sodas are slightly less harmful than regular sodas due to lower sugar content, says Gregory J. Daniels DDS, diet sodas still contain erosive acid. If water isn’t an appealing replacement, Gregory J. Daniels DDS, advises his patients to cut down on the amount of soda consumed, rinse the mouth with water, or chew sugar-free gum after consuming soda to minimize the erosion caused by acid.

Gregory J. Daniels DDS cautions parents in particular when it comes to excessive soda consumption. As Gregory J. Daniels DDS confirms, today the average size of a soda is nearly 20 ounces, and some teens drink as many as 12 sodas a day. This excessive consumption of sugary, acidic drinks causes serious damage to teeth that will have long-term effects on the very young patients who visit Gregory J. Daniels DDS and his team. Children develop lifelong habits at a very young age and will replace soda with water if they are encouraged to do so starting today, says Gregory J. Daniels DDS.

Along with his team, Gregory J. Daniels DDS serves patients in Hinsdale, a western suburb of Chicago. Gregory J. Daniels DDS has developed a reputation as a kind, caring dentist who puts quality care first. When he’s not in the office, Gregory J. Daniels, DDS, spends time biking and traveling.   go to hinsdaledentist.com

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The Story Behind YOR Health Co-Founder Dennis Wong

In Health and Beauty on July 30, 2013 at 8:45 am

_DSC0059_resizeDennis Wong and his sister are the co-founders of YOR Health, a nutritional products company that has improved the health of numerous Americans. YOR Health is just the latest in a series of successful business ventures for Dennis Wong. Dennis Wong of YOR Health describes the unlikely journey of his carefully assembled team as they attained their goals in the nutritional products world.

Q: How did the story of YOR Health begin?

Dennis Wong: A friend and mentor from China was essential in providing expertise and invaluable advice.

Q: What industry did he recommend becoming involved in?

Dennis Wong: This mentor was supportive in the establishment of a real estate development firm and general contracting company.

Q: What was the name of this company?

Dennis Wong: The company was called Vision Builders. It served the Los Angeles area for 11 years.

Q: How was this success attained?

Dennis Wong: The team positioned itself to purchase substantial amounts of foreclosure properties from the banks when the real estate market crashed.

Q: Why not stay in this field?

Dennis Wong: As the real estate market began to suffer in the United States, the China real estate market was exploding. Therefore, investments were redirected to China.

Q: What types of business trends were prevalent at the time?

Dennis Wong: There was a new trend emerging that involved reselling long distance.

Q: What developed from following this new trend?

Dennis Wong: A telephone company of which I was a part in China grew revenues by more than 150 percent due to the team’s efforts.

Q: How was this knowledge applied to other projects?

Dennis Wong: Eventually the team taught the new corporate management team of this company how to rebuild an effective infrastructure, which completely revolutionized their business operations.

Q:  What circumstances contributed to this success?

Dennis Wong: Through the core value of relationships the company was revitalized.

Q: What was the core mission of all businesses improved by the team?

Dennis Wong: The emphasis was on building great relationships, which is imperative for long lasting business.

Q: What happened next?

Dennis Wong: By 2000, the long distance industry had run its course. The decision was made to open our own network marketing company to take advantage of another trend: the Internet boom.

Q: What did the company offer?

Dennis Wong: From 2000-2007 this network marketing company offered various Internet products and services such as web hosting, email services, e-commerce shopping, dial-up Internet service and voice over Internet service.

Q: What partnerships were established from this new company?

Dennis Wong: In 2005, the company held contracts with a few of the largest voice over Internet providers and had a larger reselling territory footprint than Vonage.

Q: What areas were included in this coverage?

Dennis Wong: The company covered most of North America, while Vonage only covered the United States. However in 2007, the company’s monopoly in the voice over Internet industry began to fizzle out.

Q: What was learned from this shift?

Dennis Wong: We determined that these products and services were just not sustainable. The one sustainable aspect is the sales team, so then the focus shifted toward new products in the marketplace.

Q: Why do these team members succeed?

Dennis Wong: They prevail because of the incredible support among all team members and the feeling that they are valued as members of our family.

Q: How will YOR Health progress in the future?

Dennis Wong: The company is firmly entrenched in this new expanding industry as far as network marketing. The innovative products of YOR Health are all presented from this unique marketing platform.

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Developer Richard E. Dover Sells Items from Historic Alexander Inn Ahead of Renovations

In Uncategorized on July 26, 2013 at 8:55 am

Richard-E-Dover-PresentationSolutions-Alexander-Inn-SaleRichard E. Dover is a real estate developer based in Knoxville, Tenn. A Tennessee native, Richard E. Dover has previously worked as a project manager for General Homes of Houston, Texas, as well as for its parent company CBRE. Richard E. Dover was also a self-employed real estate developer until taking the helm of Family Pride Corporation in 1993, a company primarily involved in developing high-quality assisted living facilities.

Presentation Solutions: Mr. Dover, please tell us about your renovation of the historic Alexander Inn.

Richard E. Dover: We are preserving this Oak Ridge historic property by renovating it and converting it into an assisted living facility.

Presentation Solutions: How is it historic?

Richard E. Dover: It was built in 1942, known then as the Guest House, when the Manhattan Project was starting in Oak Ridge. It housed some of the top scientists working on the atomic bomb such as Robert Oppenheimer and Enrico Fermi.

Presentation Solutions: How long will the renovation take?

Richard E. Dover: It’s a nine-month process. If you walk along the outside façade of the building today, you can see that there are lots of things that need work.

Presentation Solutions: Such as?

Richard E. Dover: All the windows have to be updated. But since we are committed to a historic renovation, the wood will need to look the same as it originally did.

Presentation Solutions: Your company is called Family Pride Corporation, correct?

Richard E. Dover: That’s right. We’ve done this before and we know we’ve got our work cut out for us. But people have waited a long time for this and we’re ready.

Presentation Solutions: Where are you in the process?

Richard E. Dover: We’ve just finished demolition, removing anything that’s hazardous to our crews. Despite the dilapidated appearance, the building could be a lot worse.

Presentation Solutions: How’s that?

Richard E. Dover: The general structure is in great shape and the areas that are bad, we’ll just start from the ground up and build anew.

Presentation Solutions: Will it be restored to look just like it did in the 1940s?

Richard E. Dover: Yes. As a protected historic site, the inn will be preserved to its original form. We think it’s great any time you can save a historical building like the Alexander Inn that has such a history in Oak Ridge.

Presentation Solutions: We’ve learned that the public has had a chance to own some of this history.

Richard E. Dover: That’s right. During demolition, we found all kinds of furnishings that were just going to be thrown away, so we wanted to give people a chance to have some things from the building.

Presentation Solutions: What about the historical pieces?

Richard E. Dover: All furniture and architectural pieces of real historic value have been removed and placed in several local museums, but there were still many other items for sale.

Presentation Solutions: What kinds of items?

Richard E. Dover: Mirrors, dressers, bed frames, old upholstered armchairs, and more. Volunteers removed all the remaining furniture and items from the dozens of rooms and held an estate sale.

Presentation Solutions: Were the items expensive?

Richard E. Dover: The items were mostly from the ’60s and ’70s and priced below $50.

Presentation Solutions: Who benefited from the sale?

Richard E. Dover: The funds benefited the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance.

Presentation Solutions: That sounds like a really great opportunity!

Richard E. Dover: There was some really neat stuff just sitting there and in great shape; it just took knocking the dust off it.

Presentation Solutions: Thanks for talking with us.

Richard E. Dover: My pleasure.

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Bonaventure Senior Living Says the Great Omani Inspired a New Generation of Daredevil

In Lifestyle on July 25, 2013 at 7:47 am

Ronald Cunningham was 92 years old when he passed away in 2007, says Bonaventure Senior Living. In his nearly 10 decades of life, the Great Omani, as he was known, served as a reminder that time was just a man-made calculation. Bonaventure Senior Living pays tribute to the global inspiration—a man known as the World’s Oldest Escapologist.

The man without a plan

According to Bonaventure Senior Living, Ronald Cunningham did not come from a showbiz family. He was born in 1915 in Windsor, England. His father was a wine importer, his mother a homemaker. Cunningham attended the Dorset Public School and lived a privileged life until his father’s death. According to Bonaventure Senior Living, the senior Cunningham passed away unexpectedly and his wine and spirits company dissolved, leaving Ronald uncertain about his future.

With a blazing spirit unquenched by despair, Ronald Cunningham signed up for military service in World War II, says Bonaventure Senior Living, but was rejected due to a congenital heart defect. Bonaventure Senior Living explains that Cunningham had no particular plan until a chance encounter with gravity at a local bookstore gave him an idea. The Secrets of Houdini was haphazardly placed on a top shelf; it fell, hitting the Great Omani in the head. When Cunningham recovered from the literary ambush, he bought and read the book, says Bonaventure Senior Living.

Cunningham, explains Bonaventure Senior Living, was captivated by the contents of this then-controversial work. Fortunately for him, he was able to read it before the Magician’s Circle pulled it from shelves for divulging too many of magic’s greatest secrets, explains Bonaventure Senior Living.

A natural showman

Bonaventure Senior Living reports that the book was Cunningham’s constant companion. In 1950, says Bonaventure Senior Living, Cunningham was ready for his public debut.

It was evident early in his magic career that Ronald Cunningham was a showman at heart. Bonaventure Senior Living says he was always his best in front of the crowd. Cunningham spent a great deal of time on Brighton’s West Pier, diving into a bed of flames and being padlocked during high tide. Bonaventure Senior Living says that the great magician notably highlighted his career in 1977 during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Bonaventure Senior Living reports that Cunningham stood on his hands almost literally on the end of the world—on the precipice of Beachy Head—with a Union Jack clenched tightly between his bare toes.

The Great Omani performed until 2005. As Bonaventure Senior Living notes, Cunningham explained that magic was “a very hard profession to leave.” An endless exhibitionist with a crowd-pleasing personality, Ronald Cunningham’s last act was eating fire for a television crew a week before he opened the eternal trapdoor. The Great Omani passed away two weeks before Halloween in 2007. Bonaventure Senior Living says even in his final days he maintained a great sense of humor and left this final note for family and friends:

They lay the Great Omani in this box…

They have done it up with nails, not locks.

But at his funeral, do not despair,

Chances are, he won’t be there.

Bonaventure Senior Living has been serving exceptional seniors on the West Coast for more than 10 years. Boasting the tagline “life on your terms,” Bonaventure Senior Living breaks the barriers of retirement care by providing customizable housing options spanning from independent living to intensive memory care services. Bonaventure Senior Living, with 37 locations in six states, provides residents with a family-like environment and is managed by industry experts who hold themselves personally accountable for each and every member of the Bonaventure Senior Living family.

Internet Safety for Kids

In General on June 26, 2013 at 4:49 am

presolThe Internet is the answer to a parent’s need to provide unlimited information for children’s educational needs. It is also a parent’s nightmare of uncensored information readily accessible to anyone who knows how to click and surf the Web.

The World Wide Web is a wealth of infinite possibilities—a collection of all knowledge every produced or accumulated by mankind since the dawn of time, and available on smartphone the size of a shirt pocket. The scary part is that a 5-year-old child is probably savvier about its use than the majority of adults around her or him. So what’s a parent to do?

First of all, don’t wait until some ideal time to broach the subject with your children. Start early and establish definite boundaries. The Internet can be fun for kids, so start with entertainment and games, then slip in a lesson or two about what is good information and what is bad. Most 2-year-olds can operate a smartphone and click around a computer, so it’s not too early to teach boundaries and rules.

There is a fine line between protecting children and completely invading their privacy. Even kids entering young adulthood should be allowed a certain degree of privacy in order to develop into responsible adults who can make good choices for themselves. Parents have a responsibility to guide children to good choices.

Guiding children to good choices

Parents should develop open discussions with children early on. Assure them it is OK to talk about any issues they face. Stay informed about current cyber threats and trends so you can teach your children to be safe. Some of the most common threats are sexual predators, hate speech, bullying, phishing, radicalization and more. Find out what the latest threats are and develop a plan for how to tackle each one.

Keep your computer in a common area of your home. Kids are less likely to encounter online trouble if an adult is nearby. “Friend” and follow their online activities. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest make it easy for anyone to post any sort of information online, even information that is dangerous or inappropriate. If your child knows you are interested in their activities and social media sites, they may pause before clicking on that link or hitting that send button.

Parents also have access to online monitoring tools such as TrueCare, Avira and Instant Checkmate. These monitoring systems are more about identifying danger signs than about spying. They can target keywords like alcohol, drugs and suicide, and send weekly reports to parents. They can also alert parents to potential risks such as bullying, stalking or abuse. Avira will email you if a sex offender friends your child or if inappropriate photos of him or her appear on the Internet. With Instant Checkmate, you can find out if a stranger is showing an interest in your child and get a comprehensive background check on the individual in question.

Stay informed so you don’t have to stand behind your child and watch over his or her shoulder when they are on the computer. You will rest easier and your child will be safer for your continued involvement.