Life In Car

Automotive Blog

October-4-10

The Best Summer Internship Experience

Posted by bill under Education

As the last couple years of college near, one thing that many students look forward to the most is completing a summer internship. It is often the first opportunity to work in the “real world”, apply what they have been learning in class, and hopefully make some valuable connections.

There are many internships out there to choose from in a variety of different fields. While may sound fun and exciting, choosing one that is closest to their desired field will be the most beneficial. For instance, teaching English to children in foreign countries is a fun and worthwhile effort; however it probably won’t be as beneficial to breaking into the sales industry as an internship at Southwestern Company .

However, now is not the time for limitations. This is the ideal time for soon-to-be grads to try new things and where they want to go and what they want to so after college. If an internship abroad is what they have their heart set on, there are many companies that offer international internships and have offices in other countries like Southwestern Company. Photos , life long memories, and a wealth of experiences to take into the future are just a few of the things that students will take away from the best summer internships.

October-2-10

Dallas World Aquarium

Posted by bill under Travel

Downtown Dallas is one expects to find skyscrapers, urban nightlife, and five star hotels. Dallas ‘s West End Historic District, however, is also home to Dallas World Aquarium. Founded in 1992, the Aquarium made it’s home in an empty warehouse that was originally build in 1924. Later expansion took over another former warehouse in 1996 to install the Orinoco – Secrets of the River, and then a few years later, the Aquarium expanded further, this time building a home for the Mundo Maya exhibit, which opened in 2004.

More than an aquarium, the site also houses a zoo and offers a variety of natural experiences, from the Wilds of Borneo to the Orinoco rainforest exhibit. There’s also a South Africa exhibit and a seasonal Madagascar display outside the main building. However, the main attraction is the Aquarium, featuring species from all over the globe in 10 main tanks, including the Mondo Maya tank and tunnel which offer a 180 view of manta rays and sharks. In addition to countless aquatic life, the Aquarium is also home to plants, birds, and other animals, from tarantulas and snakes to monkeys, bats, and jaguars.

A big part of the Dallas World Aquarium ‘s mission is to aid education and conservation of endangered and threatened species. As such, it is part of a cooperative breeding program with other zoos in the US and around the world. Visitors can also enjoy three on-site restaurants and shop at two gift shops.

September-25-10

Several Ways to Explore Hong Kong

Posted by bill under Travel

The Harbor City Ocean Terminal is a great place to begin exploring Hong Kong. With all forms of public transport only a step away, it’s simply a matter of setting sight-seeing priorities and deciding how best to reach them. The entire system was designed to move millions of people around Hong Kong’s complicated geography with both efficiency and speed.

On foot from the terminal is the main shopping area of Tsim Sha Tsui and Nathan Road. Using buses while shopping in the Tsim Sha Tsui area will be useful to avoid many steep streets, especially if carrying shopping bags. Kowloon Park with shady paths and ornamental lakes is not far from Nathan Road, either is the historic Signal Hill Garden. The Star Ferry Terminal is nearby, enabling one to cross Victoria Harbor and reach the northern part of HK Island. The main museum area is only minutes from the Harbor City Ocean Terminal.

However, using Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR) system is ideal during the sultry summer months or inclement weather. The MTR has 10-lines with many interchanges and is very efficient and cheap. Tourists coming from any Hong Kong Hotel in the north of the main West Kowloon hotel district may prefer to use the MTR to reach HK station on HK Island and then proceed on foot. Using the MTR, one will avoid crossing Victoria Harbor by ferry.

The Peak Tramway is a 121-year old funicular railway built by the British, and is one of the oldest in the world. It starts in Central HK from near the Old Government House and climbs a breathtaking 1300 feet in under a mile to reach The Peak Tower. Once there, visitors get a spectacular view of Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong’s skyline.

September-22-10

LEGO KidsFest Comes to Boston

Posted by bill under Travel

The first stop on the LEGO KidsFest Tour is Boston, MA. KidsFest will be at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center on September 25-26, 2010. The event kicks off a national tour that will run through May of 2011. LEGO KidsFest began as a pilot event in Hartford, Connecticut in November 2009 and attracted over 25,000 attendees from more than 14 states. The Boston weekend is expected to surpass that attendance with families coming from all over New England to stay in Boston Hotels .

LEGO KidsFest is a weekend of creative, educational, and interactive activities for kids and their families based on the popular LEGO franchise. The event will feature lifesize LEGO models and offer kids a chance to build, create, and play. One lucky family will win a trip to LEGOLAND California . Other prizes will be awarded based on drawings from those who complete the LEGO Passport Program, by visiting every participating booth and getting a passport stamp. Creation Nation allows kids and families to create a personal mosaic of legos that will be added to a basketball-court sized map of the US, contributing to the physical representation of individual creativity. The Roaming Railroad will offer kids a scenic ride through the festival with ticket proceeds being donated to a local charity. Kids can also race their favorite cars at the Roaming Racetrack and visit the Construction Zone. Area schools are invited to participate in the Landmark School Competition by creating a replica of a town landmark. And parents will love the opportunity to shop early for Christmas at the KidFest LEGO Retail Store.

KidFest will continue with 2010 dates in Hartford, CT, New York, NY, and Chicago IL before moving on to Atlanta, GA, Philadelphia, PA, and Los Angeles, CA in 2011.

September-17-10

Eating in Singapore

Posted by bill under Travel

Experienced travelers know that finding food in a new and exotic location can be a challenge. It’s not just a matter of finding food that is safe to eat. Most modern cities will have plenty of clean and sanitary eateries and the spread of international chains and franchises means that Starbucks, McDonalds, and even familiar sit down restaurant names can be found virtually anywhere. The real questions are where to find “local” food, how to order it, and how to eat it without offending the locals.

In Singapore, the best place to start is at the front desk. Pretty much any hotel in Singapore is going to have a concierge desk that can direct you to the better local eateries and maybe even give you a quick primer on dining etiquette. Singapore restaurants offer cuisines from all the corners of the world, with Chinese, Malay, and Indian foods being predominant. Some of the more popular dishes include chili crab , Katong laksa (chili paste and chopped laksa leaf) and satay with peanut sauce, onions and cucumber. A few translations may be needed. Assam is tamarind, lengkuas is blue ginger, and serai is lemon grass. Bee hoon are thin rice noodles, hor fun are wide, flat rice noodles, while mee are thick egg noodles, and sotong is squid or cuttlefish. When in doubt, just ask.

You can rest assured that most foods are eaten with a fork and spoon, while noodle dishes and Chinese foods traditionally use chopsticks . Remember to use your fork to push and cut food with your left hand and to eat with the spoon in your right hand and never to stick your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice and you’ll be fine. Malay and Indian foods are usually eaten without utensils. Use your right hand to pick up food. Most places are fine if you request a fork — even Chinese eateries.

September-4-10

Historical attractions of Rome

Posted by bill under Travel

If you’re on vacation in Rome you won’t want to spend all your time in a Rome hotel . This city has so much to offer there is no way you’ll see it all on your first visit so choose wisely. Many who come to Rome come for the history. Whether they want to see the ruins of ancient Rome, the catacombs, or visit the art and architecture of the Italian Renaissance is a matter of personal tastes.

For those interested in the ancient ruins the Coliseum comes to mind immediately, this crumbling monument to the times of the Caesars is where gladiators would battle each other and wild beasts for the entertainment of the masses much like today’s wrestling and fighting sports only these individuals played for keeps. Today it’s one of the first stops for visitors and the ground above the cells below it has caved in places limiting tour areas. The Coliseum is also a protected cat colony and home to over 200 feral felines.

The renaissance started in Italy though it didn’t thoroughly effect Rome until later when it was promoted by popes in the 16th century. This is highlighted by the stunning sculptures and and paintings in many of the cathedrals and churches. St. Peter’s Basilica of Rome, in fact, is home to the famous sculpture La Pieta by Michelangelo .

August-27-10

Students Investigate Intern Options

Posted by bill under Education

If you are a student and you’re curious about organizations like the Southwestern Company and are considering the possibility of participating in a summer intern program there are some things that will help you to make your decision. Of course one of the first and most important is to research the company and also determine that the particular program will work with your schedule and is appropriate for you.

Southwestern Company is one of the nation’s primary intern placement companies that has a solid, respectable and reliable history. These are important features of any potential program. Meanwhile there are other things to consider and one is that you can devote the time and energy to your work and are ready to reap the benefits that participation in one will offer. And the benefits are broad and diverse and include everything from professional skill development to resume improvement .

Once you have decided on a specific company and are interested in the program, it is time to complete your application and make your introduction. You should congratulate yourself on the great decision you have made for your summer as well as your future and your career. You might want to start a journal and chart your personal growth and the lessons you learn along the way. You will be in a new place by the end of the summer.

August-24-10

Vancouver Districts of Interest

Posted by bill under Travel

Vancouver is a gorgeous, multi-cultural city that everyone should visit once. No mater you or your companions’ interests this city has something to cater to you. It has all the appeal and quirk of most cities along the west coast of the United States but has the personality of a friendly small town. Vancouver always seems to be ready to make one feel welcome.

Like most major metropolitan areas the city has districts so you have a wide option of Vancouver hotels and bed and breakfasts to choose from. If your trip is for relaxation and you fancy some antique shopping the Gaslamp District is probably your goal with its distinctive late-Victorian architecture making you feel like you’ve traveled back in time despite modern store fronts lining the avenues.

Like most western cities there’s a strong Asian influence easily seen in the rich culture surrounding Chinatown. Vancouver’s is located downtown in the West End district. Full of bustling shops, wonderful restaurants and markets full of delightful Asian wares The streets are lined with examples of some of the oldest surviving architecture in the city. A traditional Chinatown gate marks the entrance to the Chinese Cultural Centre, where visitors can observe exhibitions and lectures and or take walking toursone of the most stunning attractions of this area is the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden , a classic Chinese garden styled after gardens of the Ming Dynasty era.

August-20-10

Scottsdale and Leslie Nielsen

Posted by bill under Travel

There is a mystique about Scottsdale that’s not entirely unusual for cities in Arizona. Its past is rather simple and puzzling all at the same time, with a very long history of human occupation by the First Nations that have been in the area for hundreds of generations. Its appeal as a tourist attraction comes from its years when the streets were dust, and there was something of the wild west here. Lately, however, the popularity of Scottsdale, Arizona hotels comes from a reputation that’s based on wealth and opulence.

The entire area is not riches beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, and some of the older parts of the city are quite modest. It seems that the wealth, at least in its conspicuous displays, comes in part from the culture of the other towns. Paradise Valley, for example, is near by, and for many people, being in the residential section of either place is almost entirely indistinguishable. The irony of the situation would not be lost on Leslie Nielsen . The dramatic actor who turned his career into something rather explosive when he decided not to take himself seriously, hails from Paradise Valley. His iconic presence as the strong man who is actually the opposite of what he pretends to be is somehow entirely local.

August-17-10

Race Car and Air Navigation Video Games

Posted by bill under Technology

Video games continue to increase in popularity as the technological sophistication in creating them also expands. Every year there are new genres of games being developed as well as interesting reincarnations and adaptations of previous favorites. There are also consistent theme oriented games with various game software applications included as part of their features.

Some of the most popular themes for many games are those that include some kind of driving adventure or aviation journey. These continue to be a popular choice for adults and children alike, and while they have become more complex as the years have progressed, they consist of the same basic elements, treacherous road or air conditions and quick response navigational skills .

As games and gaming communities continue to expand in thematic structures, individual games also remain popular and these race car and other driving or air born pilot navigation games remain at the top of the list for most players. And while the variety of options also continues to increase the same basic elements must be present for the game’s ongoing success. There must be a variety of skill levels and challenges, it must be somewhat thrilling with a sense of the unexpected and also easy to use.