Piccolo Universe

Piccolo Universe

  • There are over 25 million people in the US who suffer from asthma. And while those who experience the condition will know just how difficult it can be to manage, there are an awful lot of misconceptions out there about just how bad it is. It can stymie any attempts on the part of the… [Continue Reading]

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    The Problems That Asthma Sufferers Face

  • There’s almost a checklist you can go through to confirm whether a video game character has attained true mainstream breakthrough status. As a starting point, there should be a range of video games starring that character available for players – ideally spanning multiple eras, and appearing on multiple platforms. Then, the character should have made… [Continue Reading]

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    Lara Croft Reborn At The Casino

  • The answer is simply that they are effective ways in which to keep an active mind and body. As the population gets older it has never been so important, as rates of dementia and mental health problems continue to rise. But whatever age you are, it’s never too late to incorporate fun ways to stay… [Continue Reading]

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    What do Monopoly, Walking Around the Block and Playing Bingo have in Common

  • From selling ice cream on his local beach between finishing high school and going to college, Jordan Belfort – the subject of the 2013 movie ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ – went on to make millions through fraudulent stock market manipulation schemes before eventually ‘going straight’ as an author and motivational speaker. Fraud on an… [Continue Reading]

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    The Man Behind The Wolf: Jordan Belfort

  • Traveling overseas should be safe and enjoyable, and most of the time, it is. Being far from home in a foreign land can occasionally lead to misadventure and sometimes even disaster. What will you do if your wallet and passport are lost or stolen? Being abroad with no money is a terrifying scenario, luckily keeping… [Continue Reading]

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    Keeping Your Money Safe While Traveling Overseas.

Adam

Interdependence PR – What to Look For During a Meeting With a PR Firm

Two years ago my business took the plunge and made the decision to get a great PR firm on board to help us to reach our business goals. After many meetings we eventually settled on the amazing team at Interdependence PR, who have given our business a new lease of life since they have come on board. Before we got to this brilliant team however we had to sit through so many meetings as we were trying to find the very best which met our needs. As such we have learned exactly what to look out for during a meeting with a PR firm and what to focus on during such a meeting. If you are looking for a PR firm then here is what you should be looking to focus on during the meeting.

Quality of Service

It is amazing how many of those companies who we met with had poor customer service skills and this was a real red flag early on in many meetings. I don’t know the reason behind this but it is important to remember that they are operating in a service industry and as such you should expect to receive a warm welcome and a high level of service. If you don’t feel this then it should set off alarm bells about what else the company may shirk on.

Market Knowledge

A public relations firm which is at the top of their game in the tech industry is not going to be able to give the same quality of results if they are operating in finance or manufacturing. You need a public relations company which knows your market and which understands how that market works and how to speak to those within it. Each market is very different and when it comes to the things that the PR company is going to be doing for you, it is even more important that they grasp it.

Transparency

An experience which we had many times was this attitude of ‘don’t worry we’ll take care of it’ when it came to understanding how and on what the company were going to spend our money. You deserve to have absolute transparency from a PR firm and given that it is your cash, you also need to know where it is going to go. The companies I met with may well have handled their business but as a paying customer I had the right to know what their strategy was to achieve the goals that we were aiming for. If they cannot be transparent then it gives off an air that they don’t really know what they are going to do just yet, but they’ll figure it out. This of course is not what a business wants to hear when they are trying to find a service who will be acting as their mouthpiece.

From my experience these were the key things which I learned to focus on when meeting with a PR firm.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Richard Soper MD – The Human Behind the Doctor’s Coat

Doctors are rightfully some of the most respected people within our community but we often don’t see the real person behind the doctor’s coat. My neighbor Richard Soper MD is someone who I know very well and we have spent many late nights talking about deep stuff in relation to what it is like to be a doctor. Through this friendship with Richard I have learned just how tough this life is and why they deserve all of our respect and support. Here are just a few examples of the struggles which doctors face in their own lives.

Sacrifice

There is a reason why being a doctor is one of the worst professions when it comes to divorce rates as they have to make a hell of a lot of sacrifice to do this job. The long hours that they work mean that they very often have to cancel appointments, engagements and events. This is fine when it comes to a friend, they will generally understand and reschedule, when it happens in a marriage however, over and over again, things can easily get very tense. Doctors sacrifice time with their loved ones and their families which they can never get back, just so that they can improve the lives of others.

Heartbreak

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that doctors treat the body of their patients in the same way that a mechanic would treat a car, or that they somehow get ‘used’ to death and tragedy. This is not the case at all and whilst doctors do have much thicker skin than you or I , they still do carry around a burden of emotion. I have spoken to Richard many times after those days where things get too much and it is tough to see. How many jobs involve death, or telling someone that their loved one has passed on? It is inevitable that these emotions stay with nurses and doctors and that eventually they are going to get the better of them. After all they are only human and we would all do well to remember that.

Daily Checkups

A slight annoyance which many doctors have, and I have been guilty of this before with Richard, is that as soon as someone finds out that you are a doctor they want you to quickly check on something which has been concerning them. Richard says that when he goes to family parties now he practically has to set up a consultation room in the kitchen as they all come out of the woodwork with their ailments and their complaints. Richard says that he doesn’t mind when it is family but he has even had strangers at parties asking for some medical attention, there is a line!

This is the side which we don’t see when it comes to doctors but it is a human element of who they are that we all must bear in mind.

To read more on topics like this, check out the health category.

Lyoness – Easy Ways To Save Money Each Month

Would you like to save a little bit of extra money each month but you are not sure how to go about it? If so then this is a post just for you as to how you can find ways to squeeze a little more from your pay packet each month. We are not talking about additional income here although that would obviously help matters, but rather ways in which you can make your existing income go that little but further. If this sounds like something which you are interested in then read on and get saving.

Monthly Bills

Monthly bills are not as steadfast as you may think and there can often be some wiggle room which can help you save. The first place to start is with bills like energy and broadband, take a look online and see if you can find a better deal than the one which you are already on. If you do find a cheaper deal then speak with your existing provider to see if they will match it, something which they will try and do as they don’t want to lose customers to their competitors. If your existing provider won’t match the offer, switch to the competition and start saving.

Weekly Shop

There are many ways in which you can save on your weekly food shop, without having to buy poorer quality products. One great way is to use a cashback site such as Lyoness, which can offer you mammoth savings on products which you are buying each week. Cashback is like saving but you only get that saving once you have bought the product, Buy the product which is on offer, show proof of purchase and a percentage of your open back in cold, hard cash.

Another way to save on your weekly shop is to stick to a list and avoid additional purchases which you don’t need, you can also check out bags for the best offers. Some people dedicate themselves to helping people save money and they will break down where the best savings are, and what you need to do to get them. The hacks and tips which are shared on these blogs can really help you to save a lot of money on your weekly shop, without having to change the products which you want.

Get Appy

One of the most dangerous things when it comes to our spending is those frivolous spends which we make each day at work or when we are out and about. That sandwich, that coffee, that bag of chips, it all adds up. In order to stop this spending you need to see how it is happening which is why you should download a spending tracker app. At the end of the month you can review everything you have spent and you’ll find that you are surprised by just how much those little purchases add up. Learn where you spend and then you can stop it.

Make your wage go a little further with these tips.

To read more on topics like this, check out the budget category

Bogoljub Karic – Best Albums for a Road Trip

Road trips give you a great opportunity to listen to a music album in its entirety. This is something which many people no longer do, preferring instead to put playlists together and listen to a number of songs from different artists. There is nothing wrong with this of course but having the time on your hands to allow yourself to go on the journey which the artists has intended when you listen to their albums is worth taking advantage of. My buddy Bogoljub Karic and I have spent hours on the road listening to albums and these are our favorite pieces to listen to on a long journey.

Fleetwood Mac – Rumors

Fleetwood Mac make such easy listening music and this offering from them is their most famous album by a long stretch. Rumors is filled with beautiful love songs break-up anthems and optimistic messages, all packaged together in perfect harmony. If you want a sing-a-long album then this is it, belt out tunes along with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham as you tear up the open road.

Paul Simon – Graceland

Graceland should be an essential part of any road trip, a beautifully crafted album which has a run time of over an hour, perfect to fill in the time. The album ranges in styles from songs you can sing to like You Can Call Me Al and The Boy in the Bubble, as well as some easy listening tracks which feature African musicians Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Everyone loves Paul Simon and this is the album which helped him to step away from the shadow of his Simon & Garfunkel days, a true classic.

Beatles – Number 1s

The Beatles have set the bar so high and become so ubiquitous that many people no longer listen to the band with regularity, because they already know the hits inside out. This makes some sense but when you are on the road you need some uplifting, well written and banging hits to sing to and to keep you entertained. You could choose just about Beatles album to accompany you on your road trip but I have always found that the best choice is their Number 1s album, featuring all 26 of the Fab Four’s number 1 hits.

AC/DC – Back in Black

When you’ve been on the road for a long time and you need something to lift you out of your seat and raise spirits, you need some heavy rock and roll. In moments like these there is only one album which you need in your car and that is Back in Black by AC/DC. This is an album with stomping rock anthems, awesome guitar solos, all brought together by the screaming vocals of Brian Johnson. Just when things are starting to lull, get this monster rock album on, turn it up to 11 and have yourself an hour of pure, unadulterated fun.

What are your favorite albums to listen to on a road trip?

Join the discussion on this topic with Piccolo Universe by visiting our contact page.

Reputation Management Consultant Reviews – The Power of a Positive Reputation For Your Business

Does your business have a great online reputation? Are you aware of what kind reputation which it does have? Most people have no idea what their company’s online reputation looks like and whether or not you operate online, it is absolutely vital that your online reputation is positive. It is in fact for this reason that reputation management companies exist and you only need to look at the reputation management consultant reviews to see the benefit which they can have on a business. If you aren’t sure whether or not this is a service which you think that you could benefit from, here are just a few reasons why a positive online reputation is so important.

Organic Search

Organic search is quickly becoming the number one way in which people are looking for business, products and services. Let’s imagine that someone is looking for a local hardware store, they search for ‘local hardware store in X location’ and they find your business. Once they have found you they are likely to have a quick look to see what people have said about your company and if they find bad information or negative reviews about your company then they are not going to come through your door. You need to ensure that people are reading only great things about our business in order to boost sales.

Sharing

Social media can be a wonderful tool to use for your business and if you get it right then you will find that people are willing to come and spend money with you because of the positivity that is being whipped up about the business. Unfortunately however social media is very much a double-edged sword which means that negative information can also spread like wildfire. Which would you prefer, people going crazy with positivity or people spreading the word on how poor your business is? We think we know which one you might say.

Competition

If you are not conscious of what your online reputation is then you are leaving yourself wide open to having your reputation tarnished by the competition. It can be easy for them to leave false reviews on sites like Yelp and Google, they could even write negative blog posts about you and your business, and whilst it will all be false nobody will be any the wiser and this will only have a negative impact on your business. If however you are using a reputation management team then you will find that this kind of activity can be very quickly managed for minimal impact, and it can also be prevented simply because your competition will know that you are mindful of what is being said online. Don’t leave yourself open to these kind of attacks.

If you want your business to do well then you must ensure that your online reputation is glowing, failure to do so could cause you massive problems.

To read more on topics like this, check out the budget category

Kelly Curia-Schmidt – The Vital Knowledge You Need Before Launching Your Business

Kelly Curia-Schmidt has dedicated her life to helping others reach their business potential and she is someone who is very successful at what she does. Kelly is also a very good friend of mine who has helped me in my own business endeavors over the years, with varying levels of success, but that isn’t something that she can be blamed for, far from it. I get a lot of people asking me about business tips and what they need to know before launching a business, and so I asked Kelly to give me a hand with some of those answers.

Do You Care Enough?

Something which so many people do is to launch a business because they want to make money, or because they want to be a business owner, yet they fail to launch a business in a nice or an industry which they actually care about. If you do not have a real passion for the business which you are going to launch then you are not going to do well, or at least success, real success is going to be unlikely. Those who create businesses based on their passion are far more likely to find better levels of success.

Do You Know Your Market?

Creating a killer product is one thing but if you don’t know your market then you are not going to get very far. You need to invest time in researching who your competitors are, what the customer trends are right now, how you are going to fit into the market and what you are going to bring that is different from what is out there already. You also need to look at which businesses are successful and why, what did they do which got them to where they are. You need to know how much money is in your market and what you can do to meet with what the customer wants in order to get it.

Do You Have a Plan?

It may sound basic but many businesses fail to have a long term plan before they launch. The reason why a long term plan is essential is because this is what you will use to dictate your decisions and your actions going forward. What are you looking to achieve from your business and how do you plan on getting it? Basic stuff but essential nonetheless.

Finances

The single most common reason why businesses fail is that they poorly manage their finances, what plan do you have in place to avoid this happening to you? This is a really crucial aspect of the business and whilst it is of course important to ensure that you have enough caput behind you to launch your business, you also need to ensure that you have a robust plan in place which will help you manage the finances well once your business is launched.

The key to success is in the preparation process.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

David Serna – What a Defense Lawyer Can Do For You

If you have been charged with a crime then you absolutely are going to need the best defense attorney that you can find. David Serna is the best in this trade here in New Mexico, he works out of Albuquerque and he is without doubt one of the most widely respected criminal defense lawyers lawyers here. David is also a very good friend of mine who I spoke to with regards to understanding why a defense attorney is necessary and what they can do for you if you have been charged with a crime.

Personal Support

Before we get into the professional support which a lawyer can give you it is important that we first focus on the personal and emotional support which a defense lawyer can provide. These men and women are far from therapists of course, but because they know this world so well, and because they understand how things are going to pan out, they can give you the reassurance and the guidance which you will need during what is going to be a tough time for you.

Witnesses

A defense attorney is looking to build the strongest case that they can on your behalf and central to that will be important evidence and witnesses. An attorney is able to use both their contacts and influence to help them get their hands on these important pieces of information at high speed, helping them to build the strongest case possible for you.

Looking For Details

The police and the court must follow strict protocols when handling your case, from the moment to arrest, to your detention, right up to your appearance in the courtroom, you must ensure that this has all been done in accordance with the law. A failure to carry out these tasks in accordance with the law could see the whole case thrown out. A defense attorney will have an eye for detail and will be able to see exactly whether or not everything has been done by the book in terms of how you have been processed.

Plea Deals

A plea deal is how many cases finish up and they are usually beneficial for all involved. More often than not the guilty accused will plead guilty for a much lesser charge which will see them escape jail time or at least have it significantly reduced. In exchange for this deal the court is able to close a case and move on to the next one, and the prosecution get to put one in the win column. The only way that you are going to get a deal like this is if you have a great lawyer on your side is will be able to negotiate this deal n your behalf. Without a defense attorney any hopes of a plea deal will be dashed.

These men and women play a vital role in our criminal justice system and if you have been charged, you need to try and find the best.

If you want to learn more about our blog, please click here.

Why AMDA Reviews Are Consistently Good Every Year

Why The AMDA Reviews are good

For anyone planning to go to college to study the performing arts, choosing what college to go to is never an easy choice. As there are quite a number of colleges with performing arts departments, prospective students have to turn to sites like Google and Yelp to read reviews by past students in order to know what they are getting into.

One school for performing arts that gets consistently good reviews is the American Music and Dramatic Academy. AMDA reviews are excellent because past students seem to have mostly glowing praises for the institution and encourage other students to attend if they have an opportunity.

What is so special about attending the AMDA? Read on to find out.

Life on AMDA campus

Life for a student on the AMDA campus is very different from the life of a student studying more mundane courses in regular colleges. The courses encountered run from the mundane to the spectacular, and students will find themselves almost constantly emerged in music, drama, and more. The work involved in school brings students together in groups and teams, allowing students to get to know each other, build bonds, and make friends easily. As with other performing arts schools, students are encouraged to tap into their ability to express themselves freely, therefore many students consider their 1-2 years on campus as some of the best years of their lives.

What it’s like to study performing arts

Studying the performing arts can be both a challenging and meaningful experience for a creative student. Being accepted to study at AMDA is a hugely competitive effort and those who get in every step taken must ensure that they deserved to be accepted. Of course, this will involve spending many days and nights learning about all forms of performing arts, attending practice sessions, putting up regular performances and more. The intensity of the course work is on a level that local art schools never reach and students who attend the American Music and Dramatic Academy work till their hearts might seem ready to give up in order to keep their grades up. However, the teaching team at the academy is absolutely stellar. They work students down to the last drop of effort, bringing to bear all the expertise they have gathered after working on Broadway and with the best professionals in the business.

How to get the most when attending a performing arts school

Studying at the AMDA can be rewarding, but it is up to the student attending to make the most of it and the school gives opportunities to do this. They provide flexible schedules so that students can study courses that interest them instead of only the course they choose. Students are advised to find their place in the community and forge close relationships with colleagues so as to always have support while working through the challenge of the academy. Students are also advised to make the best out of work placements so that they can gain solid industry experience and build up industry connections.

Studying performing arts in any institution can be both challenging and rewarding. But for the student who attends the AMDA, studying performing arts can signal the beginning of an artistic journey that they will never forget.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Success category.

Ahmed Nashaat – Tips on How to Discover New Music

Back in the days before the internet new music was easily accessible through cool radio shows and music magazines. Things have changed a lot now and it has never been easier to listen to new music. Something which many have problems with however is actually finding that new music to listen to, simply because things just aren’t as they once were. I am very lucky to have a DJ friend Ahmed Nashaat who is always the first to put me on to new music, but if you don’t have a friend who can help, how do you go about it? If you have a desire to listen to new artists and albums, here is how you can find them.

Social Media

Social media is a brilliant way of discovering new artists and new music, the key is in how you use it. For me the best social media platform for this is Twitter, and the reason being is that you can follow a huge range of industry insider, record company executives and influential people in the music industry. These men and women often share exciting new bands and artists to check out. Even if you search the term ‘new music’ you can find a wealth of great tips and exciting new music which you can sample.

Magazines

Believe it or not many magazines still exist, the only difference being that they have stopped producing the glossy magazine in favor of an online version. There are many famous music magazines like Rolling Stone and NME who have their finger on the pulse of the music scene and what new artists are coming out. Some of these magazines do charge a subscription for premium content and in my view it is well worth it.

Festivals

Festivals are a great place to discover new music, the key is that you actually do it rather than just going to see the bands which you already know. Every festival has a smaller tent where they give opportunities to new musicians and artists, if you spend a couple of hours in there you will get the chance to hear these new artists live, the best way to see whether or not you like them.

Focus on Discovery

Streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify have many playlists which feature the newest and hottest music. The important thing for you to do is to actually give them a try, rather than simply going back to those playlists which you already know and love. The best bit about this is that it drills down into the genre of the music so if you want to hear the newest rappers, folk singers or rock bands, you can look specifically for these types of artists. Very often those that feature on those playlists are artists who the record company is trying to push, which can be a good indicator of their quality.

Things have changed, but there are still many ways in which you can find new artists.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Online Magazine category.

Qualities of a Good SEO Firm to Collaborate With

 

You need an SEO firm to help boost the popularity of your company. You can’t deal with all the details alone. SEO involves lots of complex processes and it would be great to have expert help in doing the job.

You will find lots of SEO companies presenting themselves as the perfect choice. These are the qualities to consider as you check the best options.

Longevity 

You need an SEO firm that has been around for a long time. It indicates that the company is doing a great job. It wouldn’t have lasted long if it had failed to satisfy the clients. Given the fast-paced world of SEO, it’s also crucial that they change their strategies to benefit the clients. Their experience in the business could be useful if you decide to partner with them.

Diverse strategies

Some SEO strategies work while others fall flat. Therefore, it helps to have a firm by your side with diverse strategies. It means that even if some of them failed or didn’t reach your goals, it’s okay. You can still survive and continue your relevance in the online competition.

Regularly provides updates

You need a firm that tells you if the strategies used worked in your favor. You can’t remain blind about what they’re doing. There needs to be a clear standard so that you can tell if you have to continue the same strategies. If not, it might be time to change what you’re doing. You can also tell the firm to come up with more creative ways to help boost your business since they’re tools aren’t moving anything at all.

Patient 

Since you’re the client, you might have demands to ensure that your business remains popular. You might even complain at times because you’re not getting what you want. Despite that, you need to have a firm that remains patient when dealing with you. Another factor is your creative difference. You might have a different view on how to move the company forward. The firm also has a different idea. You need them to be patient with you so that everything will end well.

Affordable 

You have to spend money to boost your marketing campaigns. However, you have lots of other things to consider. As such, it would be great if you have a firm that offers affordable services. Despite the cost, you still hope to receive the kind of services you deserve.

After checking out these qualities, you can determine which firm to partner with. You can test them first and decide if you will pursue further transactions. If you’re happy with what you’re getting, you can keep collaborating; otherwise, there are other local SEO Miami firms available.

The goal is to look for the right SEO firm since you have to boost your online presence. You can’t be behind your competitors since it’s a tough world out there. Your business could get affected if you fail to match the others in online campaigns.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.