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lydah · 4 years

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hey everyone, I am approaching my tenth year of retail service because i am old, and i have noticed that a lot of my friends and followers are applying for their first jobs (i am so sorry) so i just wanted to share some Retail Survival Knowledge and advice for everyone who is joining the retail side of work (i am so sorry)

This is all just things I had to learn myself, that I wish somebody had told me 10 years ago.

1. Everything you read about interviews doesn’t apply to retail. The first 8 months of trying to get a job were held back by me trying to call back or walk in to ask about the job, giving bullshit answers to questions like “what is your greatest weakness” (EVEN THOUGH being a perfectionist IS my greatest weakness, i was able to repaint it to sound like it by saying “i am such a nervous wreck I can get very upset about trivial things and that’s something I’m working on etc explain explain explain” to make it sound real.)

2. Just bring a resume, even if its shitty. Put anything on there you can, Just 4 months ago I applied for 3 jobs and every single one said the same thing, “you have a resume, you’re already 2 steps ahead of everyone else who’s come in here.”

3. Retail interviewers are looking for warm bodies, not professionals. Most of my coworkers aren’t seasoned retail workers, but just teenagers looking for their first job. Go there, be a human, chatter, have fun, they’re just a human too, often a human who isn’t making much more than you will be.

I know it’s hard, especially if you’re a fellow anxious wreck, but think about it this way. When you walk into that interview, look at it like “i am here to provide you with a service, what can you do for me?” rather than “i need money please please hire me.” This helps a ton with confidence levels, and I think saying things the right way means more than what you say.

The past 3 jobs I applied for, I got job offers on, not because I was treating the interviewer like a saint who may give me a sweet, sweet paycheck that can’t pay my bills, but because I talked to them from one human being to another. Being real in the interview is refreshing. The more I talked to them as an equal peer, the better the interviews were received.

Remember, you ARE providing them with a service. Nobody wants these jobs, they don’t pay well, the retail customer culture has become a literal hellscape with weekly horror stories, and most jobs are understaffed. It’s easy to get a job in retail, because retail NEEDS people. Every hiring manager I’ve talked to has said it, whenever I’ve brought up the problem with understaffing and hours. “Trust me, we are looking, we are campaigning, we stand at the front of the store giving out flyers to find hirees. The problem is nobody wants to work here.”

4. All Retail jobs are the same. From Walmart to Target, from Winco to Kroger, from Petsmart to Best Buy, they all offer basically the same nearly pointless benefits, they all offer basically the same pay, and regardless of anything, they all offer basically the same work experience. Just apply to whatever is close by.

Winco gets so much positive press for being progressive and paying well, but you won’t see those benefits til you’ve been there for a decade, and who wants to stick around for 10 years, especially after the company got bought by Albertsons. Walmart gets a lot of shit for being a bad company when they’re literally doing the same thing everyone else does, but they’re more blatant about it. I worked at one Walmart when I started transitioning and it was possibly my favorite job, while Winco was probably one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had in my life, full of OSHA violations and daily cuts and bruises. It’s the workers that make the job, not the company. Remember that.

5. I cannot, stress this one enough, Loyalty doesn’t get you anywhere. If you don’t like your job, look for a new one. The raises you’ll get every 6 months to a year will not give you any difference in your paychecks. Oftentimes, the raises are so low you’ll end up eventually getting paid less than people who are just getting hired on, because the companies minimum wage climbs faster than the 6-10 cent raises you’ll get on a yearly basis. I gave walmart 4 years of my time with impeccable full time work, and by the end I was getting paid 80 cents less than a kid who was just hired and had no work experience. Experience doesn’t matter, seniority doesn’t matter, you’re a number to them, they don’t care.

6. Be friendly with your managers, but don’t forget that managers are not your friends. Anything you say to them can and will be used against you. As a Chronic Oversharer, this is probably one of the hardest things for me. Give them as little information as possible, don’t add them on social networking until after you’ve quit, be careful what you say. Their job is to manipulate. They get friendly so you stick around, so you share information you shouldn’t, and so you keep working hard for them even if they don’t pay you for your work.

7. Ask Questions. Ask So Many Questions. This was something it took me a while to get used to. I was scared of annoying my peers, so instead of doing things right, I took guesses to stay out of everyone’s hair. This isn’t good for you, it’ll make your coworkers hate you because when you make mistakes, we have to fix them. As the Local Retail Know-It-All, I will always love a coworker who doesn’t guess infinitely more than one who tries to keep a low profile by acting like they know what they’re doing. If you ever have a question, Ask It. Ask your coworker, ask your manager, ask the resources on the computer if the company has them posted online, if you’re not sure about something, ask until you’re sure. I’ve never had somebody get annoyed by it.

Asking shows you care, even if you don’t. It provides you with knowledge that will help you with this company, or help you with future companies. Every job I’ve had has had nearly the same premise with slightly different layouts and interfaces. I’ve gotten to the point where any retail store I walk into, I know how to do everything. Getting that knowledge makes you more hireable, which also makes you harder to pin down, because you won’t feel stuck somewhere if you hate it.

8. Finally, the minute that you might have an OUT to get away from retail and into any field you’re EVEN SLIGHTLY interested in, TAKE IT. GET OUT. If somebody says they want to teach you to be a dog trainer, TAKE IT. If somebody says you’d be good in an office because of how fast you type, TAKE IT. If somebody acknowledges that you’re super good with this piece of technology and that you’d be good working for this company that pays 5 dollars more per hour, TAKE IT.

OF COURSE this doesn’t mean you should be gullible, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be skeptical of people who seem shady, people you don’t know, and weird signs you find on the street. Scammers do exist, don’t put yourself in danger because somebody is offering something unrealistic. But if its a friend, a coworker, anyone who can give you a contact, it is ALWAYS worth looking into. I gave up too many opportunities because of my fruitless and unnecessary comfort and loyalty with where I was. I’ve been offered jobs that were clearly fake, too. Look into things, but don’t be brash about it. Look things up online, follow your gut, but don’t give up opportunities for a company that doesn’t care about you.

I know that looking for work can be scary, and I believe you’ll find something. If you’re not good at interviews, THATS OKAY, there will always be some manager who is so desperate for help theyll hire anyone who walks in. That might be the first job you get, and it might suck, but it’ll give you something to put on your resume. Just keep looking! I believe in you!

Also, I know that this is painting it all with a very negative lense, but don’t be intimidated by it, it gives you a place to start in life, and in this climate, that’s what is important. Retail has helped me a lot with my social skills and anxiety, and has made me a lot of memorable friends, and turned me into the person I am today. 10 years ago I thought I was going to do retail for the rest of my life, but after all of this shit, I have the confidence to pursue greater things.

My point is, don’t sacrifice your health, your safety, and your comfort for a shit job. ITS JUST RETAIL. Its your fellow coworkers who will make the retail life tolerable, it’ll be people like me who will teach you the ropes, and you should listen to them. The Cynical Coworker Who Has Been Doing This Shit Too Long has always been my best friend. You’ll be able to spot them a mile away. Hold onto them while you can, they always leave before you know it.

Good luck to everyone who might find this info useful, remember I believe in you, and I think you’re going to do just fine, it’s not as scary as it seems. Life will take you places, and you’ll get where you want to be, even if it takes you longer than your peers. Just keep moving forward, and know that YOU GOT THIS.

#okay to reblog

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call-me-kush · 5 years

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Why Blue Monkey Vape Shop should be the Vape Shop of your choice?

As I recently found out, at Blue Monkey Vapes, they like to let their actions do the talking - namely their state of the art shops; the impeccable customer service; the huge (possibly one of the biggest) selection of e-liquids and vape mods; and their prized jewel - The Blue Monkey Vapes Line, a collection of 23 regular and 9 salt e-liquids. Here are 4 reasons why Blue Monkey Vapes should be the vape shop of your choice.

The beautiful stores and the beautiful people.

State of the art with dark matte finishing and a chill vibe to try out new setups, my few minutes turned into some and I left with some e-liquids I never knew I need.

I also left with some much needed information. For example, did you know?

There are two type of box mods. Regulated and unregulated. Regulated are basically the mods with the ability to control the wattage and voltage of the device. Built by industry giants like Apire, Smok and Eleaf, they are hi-tech products Unregulated box mods are homemade devices with loosely regulated health and safety standards. If not built by an experienced vaper with knowledge of electrical engineering, accidents like this can happen: Vape explodes while a California man is shopping for a new television. They are usually unregulated - the inability to control the wattage or the temperature through a digital signal. Instead, you will need to calculate the wattage and the voltage with the batteries you use and the wattage of the coil you build. They sound dangerous but built with the hands of a seasoned professionals, they are something of a unicorn. Unique looking boxes with unique features but the plain guarantee of being as safe as the generic vapes on the market. The unregulated mod selection at Blue Monkey Vapes was an unicorn in itself without any compromise on safety.

The guys behind the counter in Blue Monkey Vape Shop were professionals and guided me through things plain and simple. It’s not really a vibe without people and the people behind the counter have just the vibe.

2. The e-liquid selection.

Where do I even start with this one. Blue Monkey Vape Shop carries 278 individual flavors from 45 different big name companies. You can get them in 7 general flavors with a unique signature. For example, if you wanted grape soda, you look into fruits and find a grape soda. Grape Drank by Ruthless actually tastes like grape soda if you were wondering.

The most unique e-liquids I tried included:

Bad Blood by Bad Drip: Crystallized blueberry with pomegranate and traces of vanilla.

100 Grand by Gemini Vapors: Cinnamon Toast crunch.

B Stumps by Charlie’s Chalk Dust: Granola bar with honeycomb.

Bad Karma by Sugoi Vapors: Mango cream topped with raspberry.

Chill’d Tobacco by Cosmic Fog: Menthol tobacco with hints of dark chocolate.

The huge selection of e-liquids is a blessing for a vaper like me. I have had issues in the past with finishing a bottle after being sold by a witty description . So, I like to try what I am about to buy. At Blue Monkey Vape Shop, you try the e-liquids before you buy them. Don’t like one, try another. To be honest, with the help from the guys behind the counter I didn’t need many tries.

3. Vape mods, kits and the accessories selection.

With 75 different box mods, 120 different tanks, and 129 different vape kits, Blue Monkey has the biggest collection among all the vape shop I have ever been to. It was part exciting and part enlightening on seeing how much the vaping industry has progressed and the type of vape devices and accessories I could buy. Some interesting devices that I was introduced to while in Blue Monkey Vape Shop includes:

Kanger Uboat Starter Kit: Portable pod system with submarine inspired structure.

Joyetech Autopack Dolphin Kit: Compact refillable pod based system with Dolphin like appearance.

Smok T-Priv Prism Kit: T-Priv 220 watt box mod and a TFV8 Big Baby Beast Tank with a limited edition finish.

Limitless Mod Co. Arms Race V2: 200 watt box mod with a striking chassis.

asMODus Galatek RDA Atomizer: Unique quadrilateral dome design, housing a “lay down” style two-post.

4. The Blue Monkey Vapes Line.

You can tell a lot about a company from their flagship product. In this case, I learned a lot about Blue Monkey Vape Shop from their Blue Monkey Vapes Line.

They have 32 different e-liquid flavors - 23 regular and 9 salts.

All their house e-liquids are FDA approved and shipped worldwide with wholesale sales to other vape shops around the nation and internationally.

They have 36 physical locations in the United States so you have the same probability of finding a Jollibee as I have of finding a Blue Monkey Vape shop. If not, I can just go online and buy it from Blue Monkey’s online vape shop.

Blue monkey’s online vape shop sells all it’s e-liquid offerings online. The site is constantly updated and you can check all the new arrivals online.

However, if you are looking to buy a setup, you will need to find the nearest location of the Blue Monkey Vape shop. On a phone interview with Ido Lazarovich, the CEO of Blue Monkey Vapes explains, “We like to get customers to get a feel for the setup before they buy it. We have the reputation of being the next door vape shop since we want customers to come in, look for what they need and find exactly what they want.“

My experience with Blue Monkey Vapes has left me a lasting impression and I feel a newer enthusiasm towards vaping. It’s hard to believe how far the vaping industry has come. From mixing in a garage to million dollar regulated companies; from 30 watts to 300 and more; the evolution of vaping is a sight to behold. Blue Monkey Vape Shop should be the vape shop of your choice because it is the vape shop of the future. The vape shop that represents what the vaping industry has become and in the future will represent what the vaping industry will be

#vapeshop #vapelife #vape #bluemonkeyvapes

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wineanddinosaur · 3 years

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The ‘Purple Corkscrew Ladies’ Steffini Bethea and Racquel McCreary Are Creating a Community Haven for Atlanta Wine Lovers

Steffini Bethea is the founder and owner of the Purple Corkscrew Wine Shop & Tasting Room in Avondale Estates, Ga. She’s also a former Democratic nominee for Georgia State Representative who left her political aspirations (along with a former career in pharmaceutical sales) behind to pursue her dream of building a career in wine. In the spring of 2012, she realized that dream when she opened the Purple Corkscrew.

One year later, during a visit to the wine store, Racquel McCreary, now wine manager of the Purple Corkscrew, recognized that Bethea was doing something unlike anyone else in the Atlanta area at the time. She believed in Bethea’s vision for the Purple Corkscrew and wanted to assist her in building a wine business greater than any other in the area. Bethea hired McCreary as wine manager in 2014, and both business and friendship have grown since then.

With the help of a dedicated team of wine professionals on staff, Bethea and McCreary have created a community haven for wine enthusiasts of all levels. The part wine store, part tasting room serves as a popular lounge space for the surrounding community, offering a place to discover a new bottle of wine while indulging in a glass of your favorite; a place to prepare a presentation, or read a book, or simply unwind after a long day at work.

Whether patrons have questions regarding charcuterie pairings, up-and-coming grower wine brands, or wine tariffs (both are in strong support of reversing the current tariffs on wine), Bethea and McCreary have a knowledgeable and informed answer. Follow along as Bethea and McCreary (a.k.a. the “Purple Corkscrew Ladies,” or simply “the Purple Ladies,” says McCreary) share top strategies for running a successful wine shop, their experiences as women in the wine business, and who their dream drinking partners would be.

1. Steffini, why did you decide to open a wine shop?

Years ago, my mom and I took a trip to Spain to explore and drink wine. During this trip, I fell in love with Tempranillo. That was the first varietal I had really experienced outside of the noble grapes. I loved it so I kept trying different varieties, seeking out more wines and tasting opportunities in order to grow and develop my palate. You know what? I really enjoyed it! Eventually, my husband sat me down and said, “Listen, if you’re going to drink this much wine, you have to figure out a way to make money doing this.” Well, I knew that I loved wine but I just wasn’t sure about which direction to take within the industry.

2. That’s quite a story. Did you have any previous experience in the wine industry?

I had a career in pharmaceutical sales but was laid off. After deciding that I wanted to open a wine bar, I got a job at a wine shop here in Atlanta. Soon after, I convinced the owner to let me run the wine bar. I worked hard, studied wine, and anything I didn’t know. … Well, let’s just say Google was my best friend. I did that for several months before I felt it was time to step out on my own. I don’t know if I was smart or stupid but I found a spot and just went for it. So just for laughs, I enjoy telling people, “I went from selling drugs to selling wine.”

3. Racquel, how did you step into your role as wine manager of the Purple Corkscrew?

I was a member of a local group named “The Sipping Sisters.” Every first Saturday of the month, we would meet somewhere new and immerse ourselves in wine. I found out about a new wine shop opening called the Purple Corkscrew and chose the location as our monthly meeting location. It was just a great and wonderful space to experience wine!

At that time, Steffini had both an on-premise wine lounge and a retail shop adjacent to one another. She just happened to be looking to hire someone to run the retail wine shop part-time while her business partner was on maternity leave. Over time, my role transitioned into a full- time managerial role and seven years later I’m still here.

4. What has been your experience running your business in the male-dominated wine industry as Black women?

RM: Luckily for us, in Atlanta, the retail wine and wine-bar business is fueled by women. As a matter of fact, being two of the few Black women in this business in metro Atlanta, we stand out. You may not remember our names but people always remember the “Purple Corkscrew Ladies” or simply “the Purple Ladies.” Whether we are talking to a winemaker, attending a trade show, meeting with a distributor or traveling the world, once people realize that our wine knowledge is solid, we suddenly become less of a novelty and more like kindred spirits in the wine arena.

SB: Being two of a few Black women in the retail wine industry has had its challenges. Sometimes we’d be the only Black people at the trade shows, and it would be so hard to get the attention of the winemakers, our wine reps would have to step in and make introductions … and it’s not like that for others in the room. We would face some of the same challenges when dealing with distributors. We’ve had distributors bring us what they thought we should have versus what we wanted. This year we’ve been offered allocations of wines that we were not offered previously. So basically, I think our greatest challenge has been getting people to take us seriously.

5. What is one of the greatest lessons you’ve learned when it comes to the relationship between a distributor and a retail wine business?

SB: In order to be taken seriously by distributors, you have to be excellent in sales. Our distributors and suppliers recognize our growth and knowledge and our strength in sales, which has translated into access to greater wine choices and allocations. This didn’t happen instantly. Women have to work harder than our counterparts, and as Black women, we have to work even harder still. It has taken years to gain the respect and consideration of distributors, but we are wine buyers and we know wine. People tend to take us much more seriously these days.

6. What tools or strategies have you found work well for you two in business?

SB: Knowing this business and continuously learning. Fostering positive relationships with suppliers, winemakers and our clients. Developing good relationships with the delivery drivers. They actually have helped us tremendously because through them we know what’s being delivered across town. We get information on new wines on the market, how many cases are being sold or allocated. Because of this we now know what to ask for and/or order for the store.

RM: I believe being hospitable and being able to read our customers are both our secret weapons. While we would love to sell the more expensive bottles of wine, it’s more important that we recommend a good wine that closely matches a customer’s needs. Also, organizing the store in an easy-to-shop format. Old World, New World, and Bubbles. This also makes it easier to explain the wine’s nuances to the customer as well.

7. Owning a wine shop is hard work and certainly not for the faint of heart. Can you name a few small yet often overlooked details that may contribute to a wine shop’s success?

RM: Impeccable stemware, a good playlist and a very friendly staff. Glassware should be of good quality, clean/dry, free of perfumed soaps, and polished to a brilliant finish. A playlist establishes a certain vibe in the shop and if curated correctly, encourages your clients to linger and shop longer. Lastly, hiring staff that enjoy helping people and are able to read a client’s mood.

SB: When hiring, Racquel always says, “We can teach you wine, but you have to be up to the challenge of offering exceptional customer service.” There is a famous quote that says, “People may not remember what you say but they will remember how you make them feel.” This is so true, especially in this business. We also pride ourselves on establishing a great ambiance through a curated playlist. We always receive lots of compliments about our curated playlist, too. A great playlist makes all of the difference in the world in the retail business. Also, impeccable stemware goes a long way.

8. Steffini, you’ve been very active in spreading the word about the effects of tariffs on American wine businesses. What were some of your strategies for educating wine professionals and consumers? Also, how have the tariffs affected your business?

The currently enforced, as well as the threat of future tariffs, forced me to play an active role in highlighting the issue with my elected government officials. I joined a coalition and we scheduled meetings with our senators and congressmen, stressing how dangerous these tariffs were to American businesses. We mainstreamed the information and created awareness for people in the wine world. As a result of the hard work of many people, we are looking forward to the tariffs not being an issue in the upcoming months. As far as the tariffs affecting our business, we did see an increase in wine prices. We also found some wines were difficult to get, but again, with the new administration in D.C., we are feeling very optimistic.

9. Who would you love to share a glass of wine with?

SB: I’d love to sit along the Seine River and share a bottle of wine with James Baldwin.

RM: I would love to share a bottle of wine with Langston Hughes. The rhythm of his words are akin to wine swirling in a glass.

10. What does the future hold for the Purple Corkscrew? Any big plans you’d like to share?

SB: We’ve got big plans and there are so many great things coming up for us. I don’t want to say too much right now, so you guys will just have to stay tuned. We’re feeling great about our future because our wildest dreams are coming true.

The article The ‘Purple Corkscrew Ladies’ Steffini Bethea and Racquel McCreary Are Creating a Community Haven for Atlanta Wine Lovers appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/purple-corkscrew-wine-shop-atlanta/

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johnboothus · 3 years

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The Purple Corkscrew Ladies Steffini Bethea and Racquel McCreary Are Creating a Community Haven for Atlanta Wine Lovers

1. Steffini, why did you decide to open a wine shop?

2. That’s quite a story. Did you have any previous experience in the wine industry?

3. Racquel, how did you step into your role as wine manager of the Purple Corkscrew?

4. What has been your experience running your business in the male-dominated wine industry as Black women?

5. What is one of the greatest lessons you’ve learned when it comes to the relationship between a distributor and a retail wine business?

6. What tools or strategies have you found work well for you two in business?

7. Owning a wine shop is hard work and certainly not for the faint of heart. Can you name a few small yet often overlooked details that may contribute to a wine shop’s success?

9. Who would you love to share a glass of wine with?

SB: I’d love to sit along the Seine River and share a bottle of wine with James Baldwin.

RM: I would love to share a bottle of wine with Langston Hughes. The rhythm of his words are akin to wine swirling in a glass.

10. What does the future hold for the Purple Corkscrew? Any big plans you’d like to share?

The article The ‘Purple Corkscrew Ladies’ Steffini Bethea and Racquel McCreary Are Creating a Community Haven for Atlanta Wine Lovers appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/purple-corkscrew-wine-shop-atlanta/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/the-purple-corkscrew-ladies-steffini-bethea-and-racquel-mccreary-are-creating-a-community-haven-for-atlanta-wine-lovers

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thewul · 3 years

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Why Majordomo

Majordomo is the outcome of a personal ambition, and that ambition was to become a top notch waiter, and it came from my background in customer service mostly through the BPO industry. When you have done customer service for many years you start looking at customer relationship management as the cornerstone of what a business does, for it wouldn’t be there without its clients

And it’s going to be successful in regard of how well it fares at caring for its existing clients and attracting new ones, its own brand image and brand recognition depends of what customers think of the corporation, how they feel about it that’s what the customer centric approach is based upon, ok you buy goods in a store but where’s the service, and the more value the goods or services have the more it becomes important to care for your customers within the lifetime of the goods or services they have purchased and even after

Also BPO is mostly conducted through phone, chat or email, even videoconferencing and I felt that becoming a waiter could bring that additional human touch to it, as in person to person vs operating distantly as the whole offshoring industry is usually based upon

Can we be different

We all are different, nature values diversity in a good way, it’s a wealth in itself. So I believe I can be different through Majordomo which is a cursus for becoming a waiter, there’s even cooking lessons to become a cook or a chef, all certifiable

I feel strongly about the fact that my customer relationship management career has so far lacked person to person experience with my customers, which ranged from banking, insurance, online stores, parcel delivery, gaming and telecoms, where you have to do two things actually meaning tech support for the solutions they are using and commercial support because it’s not only users its customers as well

And how I feel about it is that becoming a top notch waiter can bring a lot to my CRM experience, knowing the customer more is being able to deliver better in what I know already. So yes I am convinced that Majordomo can make me different, more able to service my customers within that customer centric approach we discussed

That entails not only being a voice over the phone, or chatting with them online, or servicing their emails and tech or commercial requests within proprietary systems, or even over Twitter recently but also knowing them in real life, which requires an additional set of skills that Majordomo can provide for me and where I can tap into my CRM experience to be successful at it

Another thing that you are when you work in CRM is a brand ambassador, you’re being called a representative and there’s not much difference with the corporation’s top PR person because you are representing that corporation towards the customer, and you are being responsible not only for what you do but actually what you say is what the corporation ought to be saying, the larger the corporation the more responsibility is placed upon you

Life aboard a submarine

Designing the submarine was only the start of it, then came the yearlong trip, then came the realization that no that submarine can be a home beneath the seas for months on end, so what do you do inside a submarine at hundreds of meters beneath sea level

Majordomo stemmed from that realization that we needed things to do, and I had seen the value in becoming a top notch waiter and I said why not propose that, why not propose that the submarine crew should be composed of Majordomo teams that wake early every morning to make the pastries of our breakfast, or cook our lunch or diner, and serve as waiters on diners

What do you do inside a submarine for months, well you can and should acquire that skill and others which in the end make you a better person then when you first embarked

Also how do you fashion a community, because the passengers and crew of the submarine are a community, well you give it things to do together for the benefit of all and of themselves

Things to take with you

You’re standing on a dock and there’s that brand new and shinning submarine next to you that comes with a sense of entitlement, and even the preparation for that journey has made the sense of belonging to the ship’s community grow within you and so you have hopes and aspirations that the ship and its community have to answer for you

It’s a yearlong trip to discover the world, see many places, meet many people, learn diving even one of the things we do on board is diving and spear fishing, so in the end what is it that you take with you, souvenirs, pictures, new lifelong friends but what else, and Majordomo with its certifications is something that you can take with you

Its not only the diplomas for waiting tables and cooking, its the experience and know how and skills to which your diplomas and certifications attest, it is a new experience in life being a waiter and a cook, and it has value for you in your own life and value for you and for your friends and family, and it opens new perspectives in life where you can tell your boss at some point, you know aboard that submarine I really like being a waiter and so here’s my leave for a few months because I found some nice restaurant close to where I live that has nice people and an interesting clientele

And I am going to work there as a waiter because it’s what I really want to do right now and you’ll see when I come back I will be better at what I do because experience it’s not something that you divide in parts, it’s a whole its professional and life experience that makes me the person that you know and like and value at this corporation

A customer centric approach

Come to think of it there are very few things that require such an acute customer centric approach as being a waiter, because you are there in person, you have to be impeccably dressed and groomed, you have to be courteous and likable, your service has to be impeccable and your clients have to feel that it’s money well spent and they have to be eager to return, it’s not only the cuisine it’s also because of the value that you put in what you do when servicing them, your meticulous attention to details, how you yourself value their presence at your restaurant tonight and your keen sense of proposing to them what you believe is going to fulfill their needs and expectations be it outspoken or implicit

These are all things that I used to do in CRM, still do, but like I said it has been lacking the person to person real life touch, and it is that which I am proposing to bring to Majordomo to make it a success for me, on the other hand if you do not have the background that I have in customer relationship management you can see how customer service as a waiter is an enabler to gain new sets of competencies that can directly translate in your work and life experience

And it all revolves around the customer centric approach, where even as a high end exec in a corporation you have to fit in the role that is the role of a waiter and it’s a lot of being down to earth, serviceable and even humble at times which is tons of work on yourself if you don’t see it from your actual big shot perspective, as a wealthy customer or just a customer being used to acting like yourself around waiters, sales clerks or customer representatives over the phone you are about to make a big leap in understanding life and business

Why do you need to learn customer service

Majordomo is an ongoing activity at both Bombardier, the BPN and the even the BGP, it’s an experience that finds its way into your career and everyday life even as a CEO, a high end exec or an engineer, and it’s not only because of what we discussed its because no matter what your job is in an organization you have to understand your customers and clients better to understand your business better and do it better

You have to become that corporation representative of your corporation or organization no matter what you do, and you have to become that sales representative within your corporation or organization no matter what you do, you have to step into the shoes of a customer representative that is also a brand ambassador and a PR person that delivers the brand image and brand recognition that the corporation aspires to deliver to set it apart from the competition and make it a success in the market, even as an IT guy or an engineer, you are bound to meet the customers and clients that well provide you with that job that you like doing

And as a high end exec or chief officer you have even to do more of that as you understand that the nice pay and all the perks well it stems from something and it doesn’t stem just from being good at what you do I would be tempted to say that it stems from being good at everything the corporation does and customer service is an excellent place to be for that , in fact it should be the place to start and pursue your career from then on but things are different often which by no means is an obstacle to going back to basics, indeed knowing your customers better is knowing your business and daily work better

A world of waiters

But we would still need patrons to fill the tables, humor me

Thank you for reading this far

#neo thunderstorm III

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introductiontoessay580 · 4 years

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williamlwolf89 · 4 years

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WordPress Hosting: A Brutally Honest Guide (to Save You $)

This is painful to say, but…

Most of what’s published out there about WordPress hosting is total crap.

Not just incomplete information. Not just half-truths.

I’m talking outright lies and boldfaced scams.

You can’t even get straightforward answers to basic questions like…

Should you go to the trouble of setting up a WordPress site or just start a blog for free on Medium?

Which company is good? Who can you trust?

Are there any decent free WordPress hosting services?

What’s the difference between all the different options?

It’s infuriating, but listen…

I make money blogging because I have built and run some of the most popular blogs in the world, scaling them from nothing to millions of visitors per month. During that process, I learned a lot of valuable lessons — often the hard way — about what makes a good WordPress host.

And today, I’m publishing the guide I wish somebody had given me.

It’s brutally honest. It’s full of technical details (that I do my best to explain). It’ll also save you tons of time and money.

The Different Levels of WordPress Hosting Plans

To start, here’s an infographic explaining the typical path most bloggers take:

They start with a shared hosting plan, and then they grow to a Virtual Private Server, and then they grow to a Dedicated Server.

Wondering how that applies to you?

Here’s the short answer:

TLDR: The Best WordPress Hosting Right Now (In My Opinion)

If you’re under 100,000 visitors per month, don’t torture yourself by getting a VPS or dedicated server. Just grab a cheap, no-frills shared hosting account and install WordPress. Most hosting providers these days offer one-click WordPress installation, which makes the whole process a breeze.

Is it the best WordPress hosting in the world?

No, but it’s way better value than the alternatives. Here’s a pricing comparison:

The more expensive things get, the more complicated and frustrating it gets too. You’ve never experienced misery until you try to optimize a dedicated server for the first time.

My advice?

Keep it simple and cheap. Use a shared host.

Now, that begs the question…

What’s the Most Cost-Effective Hosting for WordPress?

Personally, I use SiteGround (affiliate link) for all my new WordPress websites. Here’s why:

It’s the best balance I’ve found of quality and price. You can find cheaper hosts, but you can’t find anyone cheap that’s as good as them.

They are optimized for WordPress. The load times for your site will be faster there than on many hosts

I use them personally to host most of our sites, and both their servers and support have always been excellent.

That being said, I’ll be straight with you…

SiteGround isn’t the only great host in the world. They’re just the one I personally use and recommend to our 3+ million readers. I wouldn’t endorse them publicly without having a lot of confidence in them.

But there other good companies with a different approach.

Who Is the Best WordPress Host, Regardless of Price?

WP Engine (affiliate) has an impeccable reputation for flawless hosting, high performance, great uptime, and a dynamite support team. In my opinion, there’s no question they are better than SiteGround, but they are also 10X more expensive.

Is it worth it?

If you want a managed WordPress host that can take unlimited traffic, offer perks like site migration and WordPress staging, and has WordPress experts standing by to help you with pretty much anything you need (plus you’re hosting an e-commerce website with a significant budget), maybe it’s worth the extra cost.

Quite a few big blogs host with them, and they believe it’s worth every penny.

I’ve also been to their offices in downtown Austin and met with the executive team. It’s a solid company that’ll be around for years to come.

The bottom line:

If you want to skip the rest of this post and just choose a host, go with SiteGround (affiliate link) if you have a small budget and WP Engine (affiliate) if you have a large one. You won’t regret going with other company.

Before you choose any WordPress host though, here’s an important point you should understand:

Most Reviews Are Bought and Paid for

Pretty much every blogger making a hosting recommendation is getting compensated by the host. And yes, that includes me.

The difference?

I’m not hiding anything. I’m proud of the partnerships I have with SiteGround (affiliate link) and WP Engine (affiliate), because I have personal experience with both companies, many of my students are customers, and they treat everyone extremely well. I would happily recommend them even if they weren’t paying me a penny.

And that’s NOT true for other bloggers.

Most don’t even use the host they are recommending. In my opinion, that’s just unethical.

Especially when it comes to one particular company…

Many Hosts are Owned by the Same Terrible Company

Do any of these sound familiar?

2slick.com AccountSupport A Small Orange ApolloHosting AptHost Arvixe Berry Information Systems BigRock BizLand BlueDomino BlueFur Bluehost BuyDomains Cirtex Hosting Cloud by IX Constant Contact Directi Dollar2Host Domain.com DomainHost Dot5Hosting Dotster easyCGI eHost EntryHost Escalate Internet FastDomain FatCow FreeYellow Glob@t Homestead HostCentric HostClear Host Excellence HostGator HostMonster HostNine HostYourSite.com HostV HyperMart IdeaHost IMOutdoors Impress.ly Intuit Websites iPage IPOWER/iPowerWeb IX Web Hosting JustCloud JustHost LogicBoxes MojoMarketplace MyDomain MyResellerHome NetFirms Networks Web Hosting Nexx PowWeb PureHost ReadyHosting ResellerClub SEOGears SEO Hosting Site5 SiteBuilder.com Sitelio Sitey Southeast Web Spry StartLogic SuperGreen Hosting TypePad USANetHosting vDeck Verio VirtualAvenue VPSLink WebHost4Life WebHosting.info WebsiteBuilder.com Webstrike Solutions Webzai World Wide Web Hosting Xeran YourWebHosting

Ever heard of Bluehost?

Or maybe Hostgator?

Both hosts are owned by a conglomerate called Endurance International Group (EIG). In fact, EIG runs most of the big hosting companies, and it continues to buy new ones all the time.

So what makes them so awful?

After they purchase a host, they lay off support staff, stop investing in new technology, and funnel the money into increased advertising and payouts to shareholders. Sure, they usually try to entice customers by offering perks such as free domain names or unlimited websites, but these relatively small perk aren’t worth it. In every case, the reputation of the host plummets.

Of course, you might be wondering how you find out if they own your host. Or for that matter, how do you know if your host is a good one if nearly every review is bought and paid for?

The answer:

The Best Way to Get Unbiased Reviews

Web Hosting Talk is the biggest forum on the web about hosting platforms, and it has literally millions of hosting reviews. They don’t allow affiliate links either, so you can count on the reviews to be unbiased.

Granted, every host — be it SiteGround or WPEngine, DreamHost or A2 Hosting, GoDaddy or InMotion hosting, or one of the less-than-ideal hosts mentioned above — gets a bad review now and again, but you can comb through dozens of reports to get a much better feel for the reputation of the host, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

Also, here’s a little hack to save you some time…

Instead of using the search tool built into their forum, which can be a little clunky, grab the URL of the forum you want to search, and then put the following in Google:

site:URL “host name”

For example, if you wanted to verify the reputation of SiteGround (affiliate link), you can go to their list of forums, right click on the one that seems most appropriate, and copy the link:

From there, use the search parameter above in Google. In this case, it would be:

site:http://www.webhostingtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1 “SiteGround”

And voilà, you have a listing of reviews you can easily look through for reliable information.

In particular, here’s the biggest factor that should influence your decision:

How to Evaluate Customer Support

Customer support. When you’re a beginner or small business, it’s more important than anything.

No surprise there, right?

But here’s the big lesson…

It’s not just about wait times or the intelligence of the technicians. It’s also about the method of support, what the host supports, and the helpdesk schedule.

For instance:

Do you have to submit tickets through their helpdesk and wait for a response, or can you do a live chat or phone call with a technician and actually have a conversation?

Do they offer WordPress support, including the most popular WordPress themes and plug-ins? It’s shocking, but unless they specifically mention it, many don’t.

Do they offer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or is it only during normal business hours?

Do they do daily backups?

Personally, I want a host with technicians I can interact with in real time (either through phone or chat), have a thorough knowledge of WordPress.org, and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And that’s actually relatively difficult to find at an affordable price.

That’s why I think SiteGround (affiliate link) is the best host for most beginners. They give you all those things for an entire year for less than the cost of a dinner at a nice restaurant.

And here’s what’s even cooler…

Their servers are also configured especially for WordPress. Let’s talk about that next.

The Configuration Matters More Than Tech

Chances are, you’ve seen a hosting package that looks something like this:

Almost like a foreign language, right? Disk space, RAM, page views, MySQL, cPanel (control panel), data centers, unlimited email accounts, SFTP, WooCommerce, downtime, CMS, WP-CLI, Git integration, add-ons, SSDs — what’s it all mean? And for that matter, how are you supposed to know which hosting plan is right for you?

Actually… you don’t have to. If you’re running a relatively simple WordPress site, none of those technical details matter much. You can ignore them.

Here’s proof:

In 2012, a fellow named Ewen Leith managed to get a $15 server to run a WordPress site receiving 10 million hits a day.

Granted, it was an extremely simple site using a set up that would be tough for a novice to manage, but it’s still proof the configuration of your web host matters much more than having high-end hardware or a free CDN (Content Delivery Network) like Cloudflare.

That’s another reason why I recommend SiteGround (affiliate link) – their servers are configured specifically for WordPress. Your site will be able to handle far more traffic with far fewer resources. Over the long term, it translates into significant savings, because you have to upgrade less often.

Granted, SiteGround isn’t the only host who does this. If you decide to search for someone else, here’s what to look for:

Litespeed or Apache NGINX

Database caching through Memcached

Support for PHP version 7 and HTTP/2

RAM, SSD storage, bandwidth — for a normal WordPress site, none of those specs really matter much. Ignore them and focus on the three above details.

But, also remember:

Installing Too Many Plugins Can Mess up Any WordPress Host

So, you found a host that’s perfectly optimized for WordPress. Your site should be nice and zippy, right?

Actually… not necessarily.

If you install too many WordPress plugins (or even just one really bad one), you can slow down your site or even cause your host to cancel your account. It’s the most common source of problems. (Plus, an out-of-date plugin can make your site vulnerable to malware and other attacks, so the more you have, the greater your risk.)

So, how do you know which plugins to install and which ones to avoid?

The short answer: install as few as possible, and if you ever have problems with your site, the first thing you should always do is try deactivating plugins. For a detailed answer, take a look at our post on essential WordPress plug-ins.

Make Sure You Get a Free SSL Certificate

Ever since Google announced that having an SSL certificate is now a ranking factor, it’s become essential for you to have one if you’re serious about your content being seen in search engines.

What’s an SSL certificate?

It’s an extra layer of security and reporting around the safety of your WordPress website. Any site using SSL will have the prefix “https” in the URL.

In the past, you had to pay a yearly fee to register your SSL certificate, but most of the top web hosting services are now offering one for free via services like Let’s Encrypt. You should take advantage of that savings and have your site on https from day one.

The 7 Things That Really Matter When Choosing the Best WordPress Host

By this point, I wouldn’t blame you if your head is spinning.

We’ve covered a lot of technical details in this post, so I thought I would conclude with a quick checklist to help you choose the best WordPress host for you. Here are the seven most important things to remember:

Unless your site is massive, you don’t need a VPS or dedicated server. Stick with shared WordPress hosting.

For the love of God, avoid any hosting company owned by EIG.

When evaluating customer support, look for 24/7 live chat and/or phone support.

The configuration of your web host matters more than the technical specs

Go easy on the WordPress plugins. They can slow down your site.

You should expect to get a free SSL certificate. Use it.

If you’re tired of thinking about all this stuff, go with a managed WordPress hosting solution like SiteGround (cheap but good) or WP Engine (premium). SiteGround offers a hassle-free, 30-day money-back guarantee, and WP Engine offers 60 days for new customers.

Follow those recommendations, and you’ll save yourself tons of time, money, and headaches. I speak from experience.

Ultimately though, the decision is yours. Choose wisely, my friend.

The post WordPress Hosting: A Brutally Honest Guide (to Save You $) appeared first on Smart Blogger.

from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/wordpress-hosting/

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arianadiscovers-blog · 7 years

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2 Days in Hackney Wick

It's almost been a week since I last posted. I don't know why I leave it so long, but Anni and I made it to Hackney! I collected Anni from Victoria, she had got the Gatwick express, we ended up going the wrong way on the underground, once we arrived at Hackney Wick, we used Google maps to try and find our Air bnb. We were so close but it was kind of a dodgy looking area, we didn't want to intrude or cause anything, so we basically waited 2 hours in and around our air bnb or at least where we thought it was. We walked around and 3 people asked if we were okay, and we slowly warmed up to the place. We walked 3 minutes up the road where we found a river with boats on it, there was a place with benches, and I proposed that we go and sit there. My mum packed a whole suitcase of food, well one side, the other side was for my stuff. We made our way to this place, I opened my suitcase and made us each jam on a slice of bread. I was still so hungry! Anyway, I went on the website and it gave me solutions as to how we can get in contact with your host. One option was to install the app and message on there. We did this, and instantly got instructions! So we ended up going back to where Google Maps took us to, and there was a big red fence on the left made of metal, with a tiny door in the side that was really high up for a door? Lol, confusing, but we ended up getting the key and got in to find it was one big room instead of a whole house. (Cheeky marketing)

This place had no carpets, (I'm used to that already) and Anni and I looked at eachother like "tf is this" since we paid for it, yknow? the walls were filled with old newspaper articles, and drawings, and around was notes from other guests, they were all positive. On the main table there was a big clamp, a record player, a typewriter, crockery, a big magnifying glass, and lamps. There were old bikes without seats, an old fashioned small oven, as Anni was looking at her suitcase, I didn't really notice but I had been narrating this out loud, my curiosity and open mind was changed into positivity, and I felt myself feeling more and more passionate and excited about this place with all the cool nik naks and things, I felt like it really was unique and shows a lot about the owner, and I was even debating out loud as to whether these objects were purposefully planted to make us think or if this is somebody's life in our presence.

We headed out to Central London at 4pm. We walked all around taking photos of course, and ended up going to eat at Pizza Express. It was Anni's first time !!! I got Calamari to start, and Anni got Doughballs, I had a Margherita Pizza and Anni has an American. We decided we would have a coffee after, and we were going to go to Café Vergnano 1882 but decided to visit the fountains! I decided to be funny and run in whilst the water was down, and made it, then the wind changed direction when they came up. I was s o a k e d. After making a few Jason Nash parody videos (lol) We decided to finally get some coffee. I vlogged a bit outside the restaurant, here's me thinking I'll be kicked out, I explained the situation and they said I can sit anywhere but outside is preferred! I decided because they were pretty understanding that we would sit outside. We got the Cappuccino and it's as foamy and thick as I remember! It was stunning. We ended up going home at 1am, and we had just missed the last train from Stratford to Hackney Wick. And we were tired, we had been walking for almost 8 hours, Anni had just flown in and had almost been awake 22 hours, we just wanted to go home! So we ended up getting a black taxi from Stratford, and it was only £10! We got home, Anni showered, and we crashed out on the bed!

We woke up at around 9pm, and ended up heading towards Clapham Junction on the Overground from Hackney Wick, and I met my cousin who we had a lot of fun hanging out with. After 2 hours with her, we walked back to the station to go to Bond Street and walk to the Tate Modern! It was great, even though we literally got half an hour in there, we then ate at yet another Italian place, Carluccio's! Right outside the museum. And it was amazing. The customer service was impeccable, friendly staff, amazing food, big portions and full of flavour. I was even serenaded by a waitor, and I sung to him too haha! For my starter I had Crab Mac and Cheese, Anni had a Garlic and Cheese Foccacia, for mains we both had pasta dishes, I had Spaghetti Bolognese, and Anni had Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli, and sides were potatoes and plain mac and cheese. It was really nice, then since it's an Italian restaurant, we had another Cappuccino and a Caramel sundae with amaretto biscuits.

We had such a lovely last evening, ending in us collapsing on the bed at like 2am, and we had to wake up and leave at 8am to get Anni to Gatwick to continue her travels to France.

#travelling diary #london #hackney wick #underground #overground #central london #embankment #coffee #coffee shops

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mylatesttrending-blog · 5 years

Text

Ten gorgeous classic cars with modern hearts

‘They don’t make cars like they used to’ is a phrase often quoted by old people wound tight in the grip of nostalgia. But nostalgia lies. They don’t make cars like they used to, because old cars are generally rubbish. They leak, they break down, they’re slow and they smell of unspecific grandparents. In fact, very few things improve significantly with age - wine, experience and Rachel Riley make for a very shortlist. There are loads of examples as to why. In adopting pedestrian-friendly bonnets, cars lose their slinky, low noses along with the option of bouncing a pedestrian’s head off the engine block. With strong, crashworthy monocoques, you not only lose the ability to be squashed flat during a roll, but also the airy, glassy, thin-pillared elegance of yesteryear. So you get two rather stark choices: pretty, characterful, unreliable deathtrap, or soulless modern conveyance. I may be over-simplifying this, but you get my point. But there is a third way. Because there are people out there who like the style of the old with the convenience of the new. The resto-mod crowd. And the movement is growing. Take Ares Design in Italy - showcasing several models inspired by the old, but powered by the new. The company’s ’64 Corvette Stingray features all the grace of the early sixties design, but with modern Corvette C7 (2017) underpinnings. That means slinky outside, 6.2-litre LS3 V8 with 525bhp inside - and the right suspension to be able to handle it. Then there’s ‘Project Panther’ - a re-imagining of the swoopy, edgy brilliance of the classic DeTomaso Pantera, but with a modern Lamborghini strapped underneath (pictured above). Here are a few more.

Land Rover Defender Works Bit of a weird one, this, seeing as it’s produced by the manufacturer itself, but the recent ‘Works’ V8 Defender counts because the car is out of production. The last V8 Defender was 20 years ago, and this time, the £150k special gets a 400bhp 5.0-litre n/a V8 from a Jag, plus an ultra-modern eight-speed auto to go with it. Scarily, that’s 60mph in 5.6, and a possible 106mph, limited because of the Land Rover’s barn-door/breezeblock aerodynamics. Ok, so it gets a thoroughly uprated suspension, but still. And best of all, it still just looks like the Defender we all know and love… and your elbows will still be forced out of the side window by ergonomics designed by someone with very strange proportions. Obviously, there’s an entire cottage industry devoted to the Defender, so if you want something marginally cheaper, you could also take a look at the JE Engineering Zulu or Twisted Automotive and the like. But if you want something even older…

Congleton Service Range Rover Classic Strange to talk about a company from Vermont when it comes to Range Rover Classics, but by all accounts, Congleton Service does impeccable work. Rather than re-working or hot-rodding, Congleton strip a Rangie down to its component atoms and re-build it ready for the next 50-years of service. Subtle improvements are the key here - and usually down to specific customer request - but generally, they address the weaknesses of the original icon and make it ready for another half-century. It’s not cheap, mind - a full re-work will set you back getting on for $185,000, and the exchange rate isn’t that good. The UK version is probably Kingsley Cars of Witney, who do a very similar thing without the travel costs.

Ring Brothers Defiant Rather than specializing in one marque, Ring Brothers (Jim and Mike Ring), of Wisconsin USA, consistently build top quality resto-mods from across the automotive spectrum. Built mainly as advertising for their parts and engineering business, their various antics have included a De Tomaso Pantera called ‘Adrnln’, the ‘Recoil’ Chevelle, a ’69 Camaro called ‘G-Code’, a similarly ’69 Dodge Charger called ‘Defector’ and even an AMX Javelin from 1972 called ‘Defiant’ (pictured above). But despite the company’s fondness for a decent name, the cars are all famous for one thing: being very modern interpretations of gorgeous older vehicles, executed with the very best modern engineering possible.

Singer Vehicle Design

Probably the most recognized of the resto-mod crowd these days, SVD has a rabid set of lawyerish rules that mean that you have to be very careful as to how you describe them, lest Porsche HQ releases the hounds of the brand. But that doesn’t take away from the product: 964-designation air-cooled 911s ‘restored, reimagined, reborn’. All the beauty and timeless elegance of the old stuff, with rampantly modern bits finagled into the cracks. So you get a seam-welded chassis, composite body panels, sophisticated modern springs and dampers, and engines blueprinted/enhanced by Ed Pink Racing. There’s even a super-lightweight, mega-power version coming soon that’s been developed in conjunction with Williams (they of the F1). These are, without doubt, some of the most desirable Porsche 911s on the planet. The only catch being that you get what you pay for - even a basic resto by Singer will cost you several hundred thousand dollars… Probably the best way of describing it came from TG Magazine some years ago*: “The Tao of Singer is simple. Strip it bare, and remake it better. Identify the weak spots and eliminate them. Improve, elasticate the remit, but don’t Disneyfy the experience and asset-strip the soul. This is the early Nineties 964 Porsche 911, and there’s a confusing aesthetic tangle of earlier 911 design cues littered around the body and interior, and yet - as a whole - it’s pretty enough to be a visual punch in the guts. It’s as easy to drive as a VW Golf GTI, but as challenging to drive fast as anything you care to mention. The most exciting car ever built by Porsche… isn’t.” *full disclosure, this was me.

Eagle Spyder GT Run by possibly one of the nicest men TG has ever come across (his name is Paul), Eagle restores Jaguar E-Types to what it calls ‘zero miles’ specification. But better than that, if you so require, Eagle also takes an E-Type and improves it without losing the character that defines the car. So you can specify if you want, a 4.7-liter motor with throttle bodies, a completely upgraded chassis, modern brakes, cooling, air-con, power steering, brakes, electrics and multimedia (hidden, of course). The interpretations of the Low Drag GT and Spyder GT are worth selling your least favorite child for, and in terms of impact, you could turn up in the most outrageous Lamborghini ever created and still not be as cool as this. They say you can’t buy class, but Eagle begs to differ.

Icon Bronco A wealth of heart-but-not-soul transplants are available from LA-based American restorer Icon. Run by the irrepressible Jonathan Ward, Icon first became noted for their re-workings of Toyota FJ products, later moving into bespoke Ford Broncos (Icon BR, above) with contemporary Mustang engines. Now they re-birth everything from Chevy stepside pickups - the Icon TR - to ‘Derelict’ semi-rat patina rods. As ever with the best of the resto-mod movement, Icon’s products are seriously high-end in terms of engineering, but sympathetic to the point of perfection. All of the cool, none of the drool from the engine bay.

Alfaholics GTA-R 290 Bristol-based Alfa Romeo specialists (who knew?) Alfaholics produce a car that Chris Harris described as “driving at its very best, essential driving” - the GTA-R 290. An Alfa Romeo GTA so thoroughly re-worked as to be unrecognizable to drive and yet completely familiar to even the most hardened Alfisti. A 2.0-liter Twin Spark motor tuned to perfection. Suspension developed to both ride and handle - and featuring things like titanium wishbones if you so wish - this is a car that now performs as brilliantly as its gorgeous (and largely untouched) styling would suggest.

Mechatronik W111 Coupe If big-body ‘Benzes are your thing, then you can’t go far wrong with a re-worked W111 Coupe or convertible from German engineering firm Mechatronik. Restored and improved with a 5.5-liter V8 AMG motor and modern suspension, these cars not only feature modern safety systems but the kind of attention to detail that makes them really very expensive indeed. Mechatronik says that it ‘keeps the appearance of this icon as unaffected as possible’ while equipping it with ‘unexpected performance’. The kind of thing we can get behind.

Spydercars Elan Based in Peterborough, UK, Spydercars take old Lotuses (Loti?) and bring them back to life with a reliable, modern heart. Automotive CPR is provided on ancient, pre-broken Elans via the medium of the reliable - and common - Ford Zetec, meaning you get a car that is effectively upcycled into something you can actually drive without immediately breaking down. You can even upgrade to modern, fully-independent suspension and a spaceframe chassis if you’re particularly committed. The usual re-trims and upgrades can also be applied, which means that you get all the efficiency and usefulness of a modern small sports car, without the oily hands. Although it has to be said, you probably don’t want to crash one.

Frontline Developments MG Twenty-five years of taking various MG products and making them good is no mean feat, but Frontline has managed it. Everything from upgrades and tweaks to MGCs and Midgets, to full, bespoke builds of classic MGBs that include 290bhp and 160mph capability. That also equates to zero to 60mph in under four seconds. Phew. Mind you, even though the performance figures are unimaginable for an owner from back in the day, so are the prices; the ‘Abingdon Edition’ car will set you back some £86,475. Read the full article

#car #cars #classiccars #latestcars #Spydercars #trendingcars

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passionate-baker · 7 years

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Winter Weekend in Westport

Friends, I have to be honest with you: Westport was never one of the places on my “to-go list”. Why would I want to go to a small town tucked away in the back arse of nowhere? A trip to Westport would have meant leaving Dublin behind to experience that true Irish-country-feel that tourists seem to revel in, & to be honest, the smell of cow poop that comes to mind when I think of previous country visits doesn’t do all that much for me. Then Boyfriend came along. He spoke of the wonders of the Wild West & insisted time and time again that we visit Westport together, because apparently I would love it. I was skeptical, but when Boyfriend uses his puppy dog eyes on me I am rendered entirely powerless (which he 100% uses to his advantage).

We set out for Westport in January 2016, and returned again in December 2016. 2019 edit: since then, we have visited a further two times - Boyfriend always knows best.

It takes just over three hours to drive from Dublin to Westport, & the journey is filled with the most gorgeous landscape views. With the ‘Into The Wild’ soundtrack playing on full volume, we drove from one side of the country to the other & eventually touched down in Co. Mayo. I had never been to Mayo before, but ever since our first visit to Westport, I’ve been hooked. There’s just something about the place that hits you in the face & sticks in your mind long after your visit has ended - a certain type of magic that you can’t really put your finger on. You can taste it in the air, see it in all of the quaint little shopfronts, & feel it when you venture into your first Westport pub for a local Mescan beer.

STAY

The Wyatt Hotel // a charming hotel filled with character. Perfect location, excellent rooms, extremely friendly & helpful staff, not one single thing we could fault it on. Added bonus: the bar in the hotel does an outstanding club sandwich, which is not a statement we would make lightly.

The Mill Times Hotel // a very central hotel. Located just off the main street, this is a standard, cheap hotel. The room was comfortable & the breakfasts in the morning were hearty and filling.

EAT

An Port Mor // an absolute must. An adorable, quaint little restaurant from the outside, a real deal seriously great restaurant on the inside. The food is outstanding, perhaps the best we’ve had in all of Ireland. Every single meal we’ve had there - yes, there have been a few - has left us in awe, wanting to come back again the very next night. The service is impeccable. A little pricier than most places in Westport, but after one bite of your roasted pig cheek you’ll forget all about that, we promise.

The Pantry & Corkscrew // the sheer volume of glowing reviews for this place on Trip Advisor piqued our interest so much that we had to try it out. The whole truth: I have never been so pleasantly surprised in my whole life! We loved it so much we cancelled one of our bookings & ate here two nights in a row. Pro tip: get the fried chicken - mouthwatering, moist, tender, crispy & delicious!

Cronin’s Sheebeen // a 40-minute trek out of Westport town, the Sheebeen is the perfect place to refuel. I don’t know about where you live, but in Dublin when you eat in a pub it’s always the same dried out food that you always regret eating. Cronin’s Sheebeen is so far away from that, the food is always delicious. The goat’s cheese starter is a winner - it comes baked in angel hair pastry & it is the most delicious & delicate thing ever. Added bonus: they do a ‘smoked bacon mashed potato’ that tastes exactly like Bacon Fries. Trust.

DRINK

Matt Molloy’s // this is one of those places in Westport that everyone goes to - if you say you’re going to a pub, people assume you mean Matt Molloy’s & that’s just the way it is. If you push through to the back room, you might get lucky & secure a seat beside the fire where you can watch the live band play every night. Alternatively, if you find yourself seated at the bar there’s a great collection of American police badges pinned up all over the walls from all sorts of random towns & cities.

McGing’s // definitely our favourite pub in Westport. I mean, have you seen the outside? A grey dull building that is entirely brought to life by the mad bright colours of the pub. Walking in through the doors is like stepping back in time to one of those great pubs your grandparents used to drink in, so full of character & warmth. In the sitting room - yes, there’s a sitting room - there’s a lovely blazing fire to keep warm while you sip away on your Mescan. What more could you ask for?

The Gallery Boutique Wine Bar // a chic little wine bar to nestle into for a glass of wine. When we asked the owner, Tom, what wines he had by the glass he answered us with a question: what would you like? Two glasses of malbec later, we were satisfied customers.

Marlene’s Chocolate Haven // the only place I have ever ordered a hot chocolate & actually enjoyed it. Basically, the inside of the cup is coated with luscious melted chocolate & piping hot milk is poured into the middle. Two options: stir thoroughly to feel like you’re drinking liquid chocolate or do it my way & scoop all of the melty chocolate out with your spoon & make a right mess.

Hunt down some Mescan // this one goes without saying. Do it.

This Must Be The Place // a beautiful new cafe occupying the space where WTR was. The menu is healthy and fresh, filled with original ideas not found anywhere else in Westport. The food is delicious - as is the coffee - so much so that Boyfriend & I stopped in for a speedy lunch before setting off home. Pro tip: get the homemade beans with the feta and the chorizo, it is mouthwatering-ly good.

Willow Tea Rooms // adorable little tea rooms just beside the clock tower (with an A+ window display also), serving up a huge choice of loose leaf teas & cute little baked goods. I’m a sucker for a cute mince pie & this was definitely the best one I’ve had in my whole life - heated ever so slightly with a healthy (or not so healthy) dollop of softly whipped cream. Perfection. 2019 edit: now closed, but leaving this here for the memories.

#westport #travel #ireland

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chaos-of-the-muse · 7 years

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Offering the best of land and sea, of all the Trincomalee hotels this luxury Sri Lanka beach resort simply known as Jungle Beach has artfully incorporated existing trees and natural plant life into the hotel’s design, making you feel like you’re in a luxurious tree house.

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Without further ado, let me introduce you to this magnificent establishment:

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Three choices of rooms are available at the truly unique Trincomalee hotel, facing the beach, the lagoon or fully immersed in the jungle, where you can still hear the lapping of the waves mixed with the songs of birds.

Follow the teak walkways and stepping stones to find your way to the rustic dining area open to the sea breezes. Whilst crossing the bridge over the lotus pond to the bar and then onto the floating platform for lounge chairs by the pool, the waterfall heightens the sense that you have escaped into a tropical jungle oasis.

Located close to Trincomalee, this ocean beach resort is one that offers a blend of luxury and exciting adventure activities, as well as sightseeing opportunities that provide a glimpse into an ancient civilization and a rich cultural heritage. Several noteworthy nearby attractions in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka worth exploring include:

Snorkeling with reef fish, diving with whales, jet skiing, or sailing off the coast of Kuchchaveli.

Hot springs at Kannya that have a beautiful legend connected to the mythical king of Lanka, Ravana.

Koneswaram temple, the temple of a thousand columns, with its breathtaking location atop a cliff 400 feet above the sea which attracts both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims.

Lover’s Leap, which is an attraction that owes its name to the real-life tragedy of Francina Van Reed who jumped to her death because her Dutch officer fiancée broke off their engagement.

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So, have you fallen in love yet?

If you’re still undecided, just wait until you read my experience!

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BASIC INFORMATION REGARDING MY STAY:

HOW LONG I STAYED THERE: 2 nights, 03/07/17 to 05/07/17

WHO I WENT WITH: My family – consisting of 4 adults

ROOM TYPES: 2 Jungle Cabins – nearest to the beach

BOARD STATUS: Half

CATEGORIES:

ROOM QUALITY:

The cabin was absolutely impeccable. It was spotlessly clean and felt incredibly spacious and fresh, and yet it was rather cosy and welcoming. A high-quality air conditioner was fitted strategically in the room (so as not to give you a cold when you wake up the next morning!) with the addition of a classic overhead fan. The bed was extremely comfortable and roomy enough for two people.

There were two showers: one indoors and one just outdoors. I know, it probably seems very daunting to have a shower outside, let alone in the middle of a jungle, but believe me when I say that it’s completely secluded and safe – trust me, I checked! It was one of the more organic moments of my stay – which probably seems like a strange thing to say. But it felt like you were connected to nature in such an intimate and comforting way, with the sun’s soft rays shining down on you and birds calling out in the trees right next to you – such a welcome change from my busy urban lifestyle. Honestly, it was simply a once in a life time experience. {I’d just like to add that their soaps gave me the softest and lushest-smelling hair ever!}

The cabin had much fewer insects/animals than I imagined there would be. I mean, think about it, you’re in the middle of a jungle. Of course, you’re definitely going to be surrounded by wildlife! But inside our cabin, there were only two ants and a single, tiny lizard. I have to say, it was a pleasant surprise!

SERVICE:

The staff were so courteous and friendly, looking after your every need as a guest. Unlike the other hotels we had been staying in, it was easy to tell that the service was absolutely genuine and from the drawn from the heart – quite honestly, it felt like a home from home.

My family and I instantly connected to the sincere members of staff, and I’m sure that we have made long-lasting attachments that will guarantee our repeat custom to the establishment!

FOOD:

Okay, if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love my food – to the extent where I should really consider being a professional critic. So I know good food when I taste it.

Let me tell you now, this food was not good. “Good” is too inadequate of a word to describe the sheer wonder my taste buds experienced for the first time. It was simply exquisite.

BREAKFAST: There is an initial “breakfast tray” that is provided for you, made up of a selection of pastries, fruits and freshly made organic yoghurt. After that, you are able to choose from a set menu, which consists of an array of both continental and native cuisines. I tried one of each and they were absolutely delicious!

DINNER: I was quite excited to experience some more exceptional cuisine, especially after the positive impression that the breakfast meal had given me. And I was not disappointed in the slightest! The meal consisted of four courses that were artistically presented – I felt as though I was dining in an exotic Michelin-starred restaurant. By the end of the meal, my body and soul felt satiated. It’s certainly true that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach – I was simply in love!

ACTIVITIES:

BEACH: My family and I spent a lot of time relaxing by the beach, swimming in the sea and, of course, I made the largest sandcastle I could possibly create! That beach was picturesque and very clean. Unlike many of the other beaches in Sri Lanka, I found that the coast in Trincomalee had the softest sand and the calmest tides.

POOL: The pool was stunning and included a beautiful mini waterfall which completed the authentic, relaxing atmosphere. I spent a large part of my stay in here, I have to admit!

GYM: My sister and I tried out the gym together during our first morning. It was located in a small separate building that especially dedicated to it. There were an array of machines that seemed to be of the latest technology, including a TV screen in the corner. We spent at least an hour there and left feeling re-energised!

JET SKIING: On the morning of our last day, my sister went jet skiing for the first time, (whilst I, on the other hand, took a relaxing shower outside and went for a walk around the site!). Apparently, she thoroughly enjoyed herself – it was an incredible memory to have made!

OVERALL EXPERIENCE:

All in all, I was completely taken aback by how much of a hidden gem this resort is! Even though it’s a relatively new hotel, I cannot believe how modern and honest its foundations are.

I was lucky enough to be able to have a personal tour around the grounds, which enabled me to clearly see how the resort is run responsibly, both socially and environmentally.

SOCIAL ASPECTS: The Uga Jungle Beach Resort take in many of the local people, training them extensively in the profession of hospitality before employing them as staff. This, in turn, encourages the cultivation of the local economy and advances the future prospects of the generations from the villages. There is a real sense of community within the staff, which consequently translates into genuine service towards the guests. The staff have their own quarters and facilities on site, including their own garden – all of which are impeccably maintained.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS: Within the estate, there are many fruit trees and gardens, from which the hotel grow their own produce to incorporate into their native cuisine. Even the beautiful wild flowers that are found on the site are arranged artfully on the dining tables. In addition, they have their own water purifier, generator and solar panels on each of the Jungle Cabins, which promote sustainability and renewable energy in a number of ways.

RATING OUT OF 10:

10 – Quite honestly, I was (and still am) astonished at the pure basis on which this establishment is standing. I have stayed in multiple hotels across Sri Lanka, but the manner in which the environment and staff are maintained and the quality of the service provided at Jungle Beach vastly outperforms any other resort.

I will most certainly be revisiting Jungle Beach again repeatedly in the future!

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I hope my review has persuaded you to go and visit the luxurious Jungle Beach Resort by Uga Escapes!

If you feel inspired by my account, please show your support for this resort by voting for them in the South Asian Travel Awards for 2017, just as I have!

Thanks for tuning in,

Chaos of the Muse

Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes

#asia #blog #culture #family #hotel #hotel review #life #Personal #resort #review #sri lanka #travel

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sven-kroosl · 7 years

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My Top 10 Games of 2016

Man I'm glad 2016 is over but the games were good...

Some years play rough and 2016 was one of those years and I am very happy for it to be over. On the other hand in terms of video games, and only video games, this was a really great year. From a really solid resurgence in the quality of triple A shooters, to the Juggernaut that was Overwatch, and some really solid indie releases, there were actually too many good games for one person to play. Also there was a massive update to DotA 2 this year which is always welcome. So here we go, my top ten games of 2016.

Honorable Mention - The Final Station

Of all the games I played this year I had the most intense reaction to The Final Station. Upon completion of this game I set aside my controller, turned off my monitor, not the PC, just the monitor, then I went for a walk around the block. I was moved to this act not by any great aspect of the game’s production or by some jaw dropping set piece but instead by the oppressive weight and bleakness of The Final Station’s world. A dangerous world where even the simplest task can expose you to being torn apart by brutal attackers. A world where infrastructure is crumbling and the people normally trusted with protecting everyone have secretly betrayed the trust of the people. After the way 2016 played out, the bleak outlook of The Final Station resonates even more.

10 - Pokemon Go

I am not a Pokemon fan. I fully recognize the good and great qualities of the Pokemon universe, but the games and cartoons have just never done much for me. The runaway success of Pokemon Go demanded that I give the game a shot despite my usual lack of enthusiasm. What I found was a really solid AR experience filled with tons of excuses to get me up and about in the real world and a great new icebreaker to start conversations with people I would otherwise have nothing in common. Oh yeah, and some weak ass Pokemon.

9 - Reigns

Reigns is a truly fantastically simple game. Of the two mobile games on this list Reigns is the one that fit into my life the best. In that way Reigns was the anti Pokemon Go; Pokemon Go was the mobile game that changed my routine and Reigns was the game that fit into my routine. When you’re waiting in line for the movies or whatever you can’t go running after that stupid Zapdos. But you know what you can do? You can live the lives of half a dozen Medieval Kings, you can meet the devil in the form of you dog, you can fight skeletons in a dungeon, and even more cool stuff. Also it’s a mobile game that you just pay for up front and it never bothers you for money again, which is always nice.

8 - Darkest Dungeon

Fun fact: for most of my 2015 Extra Life Marathon I was having internet service issues and about the only game I could reliably stream was the early access version of Darkest Dungeon, so I have more than a little experience with the game. The way that every part of The Darkest Dungeon works together to to create a gothic horror landscape is just fantastic. The way the cartoony artstyle contrasts with the animation and sound design is just dissonant enough to be unsettling. The way that the psychological maladies effect the gameplay and can just straight up end a dungeon run or in some cases even end a game is a risky gamble that really adds a sense of tension that works incredibly well with the tone of the game. Ultimately Darkest Dungeon is a really great, creepy, game. Be ready to grind a bit though because you'll definately need to.

7 - The Banner Saga 2

In a year when the second entry in the XCOM franchise was a disappointment there was a shining star in the turn based strategy genre and that star was The Banner Saga 2. Where XCOM 2 made the mistake of assuming players had maintained their skills from the first game The Banner Saga 2 eased players back into the combat system with a few easier battles before dialing up the difficulty. It also doesn’t hurt the game that it has some of the best hand drawn style art and animation of any game ever. Bottom line: The banner Saga was the best turn based strategy game released this year and I really like that type of game.

6 - Overwatch

I really enjoyed my time with Overwatch this year. Zarya is top tier A-plus defensive tank, and is also just the best. The way that Blizzard has built not just a great multiplayer game but also the UI framework around that game which celebrates every player’s contribution is a great accomplishment. I think that the characters in Overwatch are all really fun as is the game itself. It’s just a shame that there’s really no good single player experience in the game and that the story exists entirely outside the game, and that the community for that game is becoming toxic in spite of some masterful design efforts to combat that. Also shameful is Blizzard's decision to add the worst free to play practice, blind loot boxes with repeats, to a full price retail game. Overwatch is a really great game that is slowly getting worse over time and that’s kind of sad.

5 - Dark Souls 3

Dark Souls 3 is my first Souls game so I was unprepared for the absolute savagery with which this game assails players, even in the tutorial. Once I played for a while, though, patterns began to reveal themselves and a game that seemed ferocious at first became simply challenging but fair. The appeal of Souls games was lost on me for a long time. I couldn’t understand why people were so excited to play blatantly unfair games. Now that I’ve played one I understand that these games aren’t really unfair or even onerously difficult. Souls games simply operate at a different tempo from other games and learning that tempo is the really difficult part of mastering them.

4 - Stellaris

Just. One. More. Turn.

Getting you to say that after 8 hours is the ultimate goal of all games like Stellaris. What Stellaris offers you that others like it don’t is freedom. Freedom to design your own civ, freedom to find your own way to win the game, freedom to be weird. Games like Stellaris, most notably the Civ series, tend to force players into a few basic strategies. Sure you can try a pacifist playthrough in a Civ game but good luck actually winning or even surviving very long that way. Stellaris has a way of making all playstyles viable by making them all just flawed enough that really drew me in to an extent greater than any other game I played this year. That said I tend to be fairly biased in favor of this type of game in general so it’s not a huge surprise that it affected me this way.

3 - Doom

Doom is a game about momentum which is important because that is the way it is different from practically every other game this year. The new hotness in games lately has been agility; letting players flit about the environment hither and thither. Doom ignores this trend, almost with disdain, forcing players to keep their feet mostly planted on the ground but letting them move at unheard of, in recent years, speed across it. What this means is that Doom isn’t a game about not getting blasted so much as it is a game about blasting things. The whole point of the game is to treat enemy encounters the way the Kool-Aid Man treats walls. This isn’t just a return to form to the series because this year’s DOOM added a new piece to the old formula; storytelling. In DOOMs of yore story was an afterthought for the most part. This DOOM, though, actually has a story with a plot and everything and actually interesting supporting cast members. This game even managed to give the “Doom guy” a little bit of a personality and for that alone it will go down as maybe one of the best shooter campaigns ever. In a year where the most popular game is often about five opposing team members finding ways to keep you from killing the sixth Doom is a breath of fresh air, letting you really cut loose against a horde of angry demons released by the worst kind of short sighted corporate greed.

2 - Hyper Light Drifter

I’ve said this a lot this year and I’m going to keep on saying it, because apparently it needs to be said. Everyone, play, Hyper Light Drifter. As a medium video games are often criticized, occasionally correctly, for being too over the top. With that being the case Hyper Light Drifter is possibly the exception that proves the rule. Which is to say sublimely simple and quiet but also incredibly fun and engaging. It doesn’t hurt that the game has the what is probably the best pixel art and sprite work in a game since Fez, an amazing synth heavy soundtrack and great sound design overall. The real beautiful aspect of Hyper Light Drifter, though, is the gameplay, specifically the combat. Few things this year have been more satisfying than mastering the combat in Hyper Light Drifter. The combat is just different enough from other similar games to be challenging while being familiar enough to not be off putting. But more than anything about the game it is the quiet tone of Hyper Light Drifter that impressed me. So what are you waiting for. Go play this game!

1 - Titanfall 2

Titanfall 2 is a truly magnificent accomplishment in game design and execution. Every bit of the game is impeccably well done, it looks and sounds amazing, plays like a dream and most importantly is a joy to play. While a lot of games have the kinds of traversal mechanics that Titanfall 2 has, nothing feels like Titanfall 2. That is what makes this the best game of the year, the way it feels. More than any other aspect of the medium, feel is what defines and differentiates games. In a year where great games were built to make you want to gamble on a loot box or increase accuracy of your favorite GPS app, the relative purity of Titanfall 2 makes it stand out. Instead of trapping players in a restrictive character class Titanfall 2 lets people customize almost every aspect of their multiplayer loadout. The game is even more distinctive on account of its campaign, remember those, which is a masterclass in how to pace mechanics. Titanfall 2 is constantly introducing and discarding new, interesting gameplay mechanics and consequently never gets dull or repetitive. When the mechanical brilliance of the campaign is put together with Titanfall 2’s solid “A boy and his robot” story and one of the year’s standout new characters, BT 7274, and you get, arguably, the best campaign of the year.

As parts of video game industry more and more often leave out parts of their games so they can sell them to us later or add sleazy free to play hooks to games they also expect us to pay for up front, it becomes important to celebrate games for simply being complete experiences on release. Unlike some games on this list Titanfall 2 is at that and more, the best game of the year.

#Titanfall 2 #Hyper Light Drifter #DOOM #Stellaris #Dark Souls 3 #Overwatch #The Banner Saga 2 #Darkest Dungeon #Reigns #Pokemon Go #The Final Station #Top 10 #Game of the year

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thisisluxurytravel · 4 years

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Review of Six Senses Uluwatu in the time of Coronavirus in Bali

I spent 3 days at Six Senses Uluwatu in May. It is one of the few hotels in Bali that stayed open during the crisis. Read on for my general review of the Six Senses Bali as well as my impression of what it feels like to travel during the Coronavirus

Getting to the Six Senses Uluwatu.

The Six senses is located in the southernmost part of Bali. It is a mere 30 minutes drive from the airport so very convenient if you are coming to Bali for just a few days.

I came from villa Seaview near Air sanih in the North of Bali. So it was a long drive that took over 3 hours.

I was in Bali before all the travel lockdowns started and decided to ride the coronavirus here. I stayed in a beautiful and isolated villa Seaview and had been self-isolating in the house for 8 weeks. You can find more info about the villa here. As the coronavirus situation in Bali seemed mostly under control, I decided it was time to go for a minivacation and the six senses seemed like a good and safe option.

A car from Six Senses Uluwatu came to pick me up at 9 am and we drove through the whole island. I felt weird to go out of the house after 8 weeks. We drove through many villages in North Bali where life seemed almost normal. I was impressed that most of the people seemed to be wearing masks and water stations for hand washing have appeared everywhere.

Ubud and the south of Bali were much quieter with most of the shops and restaurants targeted to tourists still closed. It had an eery feeling.

Checking in the Six Senses Uluwatu

We arrived around 12:30.

As we crossed the hotel security, an officer did the normal car security check. What was different this time is that he took my temperature.

The resort is built along a cliff and the lobby is at the top of the cliff. The view from the lobby goes out to the sea and is stunning. There were very few customers in the hotel. I was told they were running at 10 percent occupancy.

My check-in was very swift with no other customers’ in sight. I was given a drink of Jammu (a Balinese mediational drink) and a few delicious cookies.

I and my luggage were then transferred into a golf cart and we were on our way to the villa

The Six senses Uluwatu resort and its infrastructure

As we were driving down the curvy lane, I realized how massive and built up the Six Senses resort actually is. There are over 100 rooms. Most of them are little villas with a private pool. Given the cliffside location, all the rooms have a beautiful sea view.

What surprised me however is that we could not hear the sea. The cliff is so tall that even if you are by the side of the cliff, you can’t hear the ocean. I was coming from villa Seaview by the sea in North Bali where the pool falls into the sea and had gotten addicted to the sound of the wave so that was a bit of a disappointment.

The main area of the resort is by the cliff. There you will find the restaurants, bars, spa, gym, library, boutique, and the main pool.

The main pool is simply stunning. Imagine a huge infinity pool right by the cliff. No-one could tell me the length of the pool but I would guess it was at least 100 meters long. Most of the time, I had that huge pool to myself and it was an amazing place to do laps.

The lounge chairs by the pool are plush and comfortable. Service was flawless with water and towels brought up each time I arrived. Worth noting that the umbrellas are not moveable so at some time of the day it was difficult to get shade (and the resort is facing South)

The pool is surrounded by the Roka and Crudo restaurants. The Roka Bar has a great location and sea view.

I didn’t get to try the spa. The gym was unimpressive. It was relatively small and didn’t have a sea view so I didn’t use it. The equipment looked clean and modern though so you can keep your workout routine while there.

The garden is beautifully landscaped with a lot of bougainvillea and other exotic plants. My only complaint would be that the resort is too built up with rows upon rows of Villa. I understand that land in Bali is getting expensive and most new hotels in Bali are overbuilt. But as the six senses resorts promote sustainability, I would have appreciated a bit more space left to nature and gardens like at the Six Senses Con Dao

The activities at Six Senses Uluwatu

Six senses usually have a weekly program of activities to keep guests entertained. I was looking forward to it (especially since I had stayed home for 8 weeks before that)

I was a bit disappointed to see that little activities were organized that week which is understandable given the low occupancy of the resort. The only activity on offer was the outdoor cinema.

The cinema is located on the right of the main pool and is totally breath-taking. I was alone so I could choose the movie from a list of about 40 movies. I loved every moment of it. Don’t miss it!

While in Bali, don’t miss exploring the island. You can read about day trips to East, West, North and even the center of Bali here.

The cliffside villa room review at Six senses Uluwatu

I stayed in the cliffside villa 36. Most of the villas at Six senses Uluwatu are one-bedrooms cliffside villas. They are quite modern and pleasantly laid out. Calling them “villa” is maybe an exaggeration because it is basically a bedroom and a large bathroom and a terrace with a pool.

The room is very well designed and comfortable. The style is “zen chic” and reminded me more of the Alila brand than the other Six Senses I have stayed at before.

The room is full of automation. You can control everything from the bed (except the pool and garden lights which are automatic so you can’t turn them off yourself). I don’t understand why hotels invest so much in-room automation. I personally find it annoying. For some reason, on my last day, the radio came on at 6:15 AM and the same song played 3 or 4 times. I never found out how to turn it off but fortunately, it turned off by itself.

The bathroom is the highlight of the room. There are 2 outdoor showers, 1 indoor shower and a great bathtub from where to relax with a pool and sea view. There is also a Japanese style toilet that stays warm the whole time. I am not sure how these fit with six senses eco-friendly values.

The pool is on the small size but big enough for a bit of swimming and I really enjoyed alternating my days between the privacy of the room pool and the splendor of the main cliffside pool.

My only regret is that the villas are too close to each other and I could hear the people staying in the villa next to me.

TIP1: if you want more privacy on your terrace, avoid the rooms near the central staircase.

TIP 2: the best villas are located at the bottom of the resort. Nearer the cliff and facilities of the resort. The lower you are, the easier it will be to climb up to your room after a visit to the restaurants or the spa.

If you are traveling with a group or family, there are 2- and 3-bedrooms villas available. The presidential villa looks stunning.

Review of the food at Six senses Uluwatu

As can be expected from Six Senses, the food was very good.

Due to the low occupation of the hotel, only the Roka restaurant was open.

It is a large restaurant with a view of the cliff and an indoor and outdoor area.

The breakfast was a la carte as there were not enough customers to justify a buffet

It was a cloudy day so we could use the terrace and enjoy the Seaview.

TIP: If you don’t want sugar in your juices, mention it. My first juice was very sweet

Service was impeccable and the food tasty.

Worth noting that as a precaution for the coronavirus, they would take our temperature and give hand sanitizer before allowing entry to the restaurant

True to the Six senses habit, there was a free ice cream station. It is located near the library and the boutique. I enjoyed my daily ice cream to keep me fresh on my way climbing back to the room.

My impressions of traveling in Bali during the Coronavirus crisis

While we move to the “new normal” phase and learn to live with the virus, many people are wondering if travel can still be enjoyable.

While some changes are noticeable, it didn’t prevent me from really enjoying my stay at Six Senses Uluwatu. I view the measures of temperature checking, hand sanitizer, and extra cleaning as necessary to ensure everybody’s health and safety. The staff was all wearing facemask which sometimes made them harder to understand but it is in my opinion a small price to pay if it means we can still enjoy travel. After staying home in lockdown for so many weeks, traveling to a new destination feels like taking a breath of fresh air.

The tourism industry has been one of the hardest hit by the Coronavirus crisis so traveling during this time also provides an income to many people who need it right now. Balinese people are very proud and will not complain but many have been hit financially very hard.

The rate of Coronavirus infection in Bali is much lower than in many other countries so the risks are probably lower here than in your home country. What you need to be careful of is not to bring the virus to the destinations that you visit. I did get a quick test before traveling and I think it is a responsible thing to do.

I would also suggest avoiding crowded places and built up hotels. Staying in low-density hotels or private villas is probably the way to go for the next few months

With those precautions in mind, happy travel!

Conclusion

The Six Senses Uluwatu resort deserves praises for its great service and modern rooms with private sea view pools. The promotional rate due to Coronavirus is a great value (you need to book it directly with the hotel). I recommend the hotel to people coming to Bali for a few days who want a convenient and relaxing escape in Bali.

Be aware that the hotel feels much more built-up than the other six Senses resort and has little Balinese feel. You could be in a luxury hotel anywhere in the world. If you are looking for a beach hotel, it is also not the place for you as there is no beach access.

The post Review of Six Senses Uluwatu in the time of Coronavirus in Bali appeared first on Luxury travel Inspiration.

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#This is Luxury Travel

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tcbusinessmarketing · 4 years

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Socially Distanced Skincare – Green Vanity

Find out how Nikki Hunter from Green Vanity is making it work for her clients during COVID_19

We love talking about what’s happening in our community. It’s inspiring to watch businesses support their clients and their community in unique ways during this COVID_19 crisis. We want to spread the good word! This month, we’re sharing some of an interview we did with the owner of Green Vanity, the always-inspiring Nikki Hunter! Green Vanity offers a multitude of ethical, vegan and cruelty-free skincare products, make up, one-on-one consultations about skin health and wellness, and so much more. Nikki is doing amazing things for her clients during this difficult time. Read below to find out more about her business, how things have changed and how she’s meeting these new challenges to stay engaged with her clients through Green Vanity.

Fast Facts:

The physical storefront of Green Vanity is closed, but the shop is ‘open online’ taking orders and most importantly, taking virtual appointments to discuss your product needs (and so much more).

Green Vanity has impeccable sanitary practices! Here’s a quick breakdown of how Green Vanity packs your online order to keep you safe:

Staff pack your ordered products with fresh gloves and either UV Sterilization or specialized disinfectant depending on the product type.

If ordered to an area outside of the Kelowna delivery zone, your sealed order is packaged and put into a quarantined area until ready for pick-up by mail.

If ordered within the Kelowna delivery zone, delivery is made in a closed, sanitized tote and only opened when at the delivery destination (with a fresh set of gloves) and left at your doorstep.

Even though Green Vanity’s ‘signature in-store consultations’ aren’t available right now, you can take advantage of their awesome online consultation services (everything from skin consultations to an ‘I need some love’ option)!

Get to know Nikki and Green Vanity:

Green Vanity has been open since October 2015, and is a proud leader in the Clean Beauty movement, with a wide range of products that are sustainability-focused, vegan and cruelty free. Beyond the products sold, is a movement of motivation and inspiration, led by owner Nikki Hunter, all about healthy practices in skincare, product buying and self love. She sees the quest for happy, healthy skin as going beyond the ‘skin-deep’ level. Nikki, known as the ‘skin wizard’ by her clients, believes that gaining a deeper understanding of why you do what you do can save you emotional toil, time and money. Even if it means Green Vanity loses a sale, Nikki sees a healthy client buying the right products as the biggest win.

Her holistic approach to matching the right products with each client and engaged, caring interaction is one that is proven to work. With over 2,000 followers on Facebook, over 3,000 on Instagram, and actively visited podcasts and blogs, Green Vanity is thriving! Check out our conversation with Nikki, below.

Interview with Nikki Hunter:

How has business changed for you?

“Believe it or not, I had prepared for my worst fears, already. My ‘plan through my fears’ need had me prepare for what I would do if something like a world disaster or pandemic hit. So, by asking myself the questions of ‘what would that look like?’ and ‘what could I do to respond to that?’ I inadvertently created a pandemic plan for Green Vanity long before I actually needed one.

This is why I already had not one but two UV Sterilizers for Green Vanity. I knew being prepared for these things would ease my own anxiety of ‘what if’. Since we have a rigorous and extensive sanitation method in place, and can ship across North America or do door drop delivery in Kelowna, we are still actively in business!

We’ve also shifted our usual ‘in the chair’ consultations to virtual consultations, online. This is totally doable, as I can look at someone and divine crucial information from what I see in the virtual consultation. This, along with their answers to questions I ask about their skin, their stress levels, their routines, etc, means I can keep being the ‘skin yoda’ to the Green Vanity community. It’s tough because our store is an amazing place that brings people together in our community, and I miss that. I miss the physical connection of having clients in my chair, but we are making the most of the situation and I’m so glad to still be connecting with regular and new clients, online.”

Is Green Vanity still offering everything as usual?

“As I said, Green Vanity is still fully operational online. While we’re proud to sell awesome products, the biggest thing for us is meeting with our clients, online. There’s just so much turmoil going on; people are losing jobs, feeling stressed out and upset. Their skin is showing that stress and no product is going to magically fix that. There is no 911-ing your skin in a stressful situation, and it’s very normal for basic routines to be left by the wayside. So while clients may come to Green Vanity thinking they need new products, what they actually need is to keep up their routines, or to form new, healthy routines that will need time to settle.

There is huge peace and grounding to be found in routine, especially in difficult and uncertain times like these. I go live on social media with a face-washing routine every night to keep myself and my clients accountable. Your skin sees the benefit, but your mind and soul sees it, too. I am so glad to have the opportunity to connect with my clients, online. Green Vanity isn’t fear-based marketing or opportunism, we’re about sustainability, accountability and kindness. We market on community and connection, not just on products or the bottom dollar.”

What is a message you want sent out about Green Vanity going forward?

“To sum it up, I guess I would say that we’re all doing our best, and we need to show each other and ourselves, grace. Some days are hyper-productive and I’m feeling on fire with new ideas and goals for Green Vanity, and some days I need to stay in bed and rest. And I know from my clients that it’s the same for them. I’m so glad I can do my part to help answer questions and ease burdens for any of my customers, because they do the same for me. Green Vanity is all about them, it’s my clients’ business, not mine. I’m here to serve them and I look forward to it, every day.

And finally, I’d like to say that Green Vanity is serving up personal accountability like it always has. We’re here to help you dig in, be invested and find a long term, routine-based skin solution that works for you. Come join us and get going on a routine that will help you during times of stress and times of peace.”

Follow Nikki and Green Vanity to get connected with a happy, healthy skincare and beauty tribe:

Green Vanity Website: www.thegreenvanity.ca (check out the awesome blogs with tips, guidance and honest recommendations)

Green Vanity On Facebook: The Green Vanity (@thegreenvanityboutique)

Join Nikki’s wonderful face-washing and skincare group with live videos, here

Green Vanity On Instagram: the.green.vanity (@the.green.vanity)

Podcast: The Nikki & Raina Show (on Spotify or Itunes, link on website and on social media)

Businesses are needing to adapt every day because of COVID_19. We are seeing just how important it is to shift into an online model to still engage with and meet the needs of your clients. If you ever need to talk out options or ideas, we at Lifeblood are here to grab a virtual coffee with you! Reach out anytime, www.lifebloodmarketing.ca. Have a community story or a company you’re loving that you want to share with us? Email Carmen at [email protected] or message us on Facebook or Instagram at Lifeblood Marketing. We love hearing from you!

#Socially Distanced Skincare – Green Vanity

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