Archive for January, 2007
Yellow Tea Kettles for an Afternoon Cup
Steven Magill asked:
In the early 16th century, tea kettles came in a variety of colors: copper and non copper. Copper tea kettles were very popular during that day. As a great conductor of heat, copper was in such demand that a copper tea kettle industry was situated in the largest exporter of copper then, Wales. Because copper was mined in the Bridgend and Cardiff area, many tradesmen migrated to the city and began producing works based on copper because the material was inexpensive there.
You had Dutch and Turkish immigrants making copper kettles of high quality and value. It is widely believed that the drinking of tea started in this area by such immigrants and gained popularity with the colonization of Ceylon by the British and the discovery of its best selling product: Ceylon Tea Leaves.
Though stainless steel has replaced copper in most of the kettles these days, copper is slowly making a comeback and purchasing a copper based kettle has a premium on it. Stainless steel is tough though especially with the almost impenetrable 18/10 stainless steel. The designs of tea kettles by famous craftsmen can fetch prices of around 300 dollars. Improvement in paint technology enable enamel based paints to resist such heat. Of the colors that are popular, yellow tea kettles have this dainty feel. Perhaps because it resembles sunshine, yellow tea kettles are popular especially for tea enthusiasts having an afternoon cup. Such kettles come in different designs and price ranges. They can be found in the market or online. Here are but some of the various yellow tea kettles that may be a great gift for this Christmas season:
- Chantal Livestrong Loop kettle which benefits Lance Armstrong’s organization for fighting cancer and retails for 47 dollars
- Rachel Ray 2 quart ball style yellow tea kettle which retails for 40 dollars
- Newti Tovolo 2 quart Porcelain Enamel kettle which retails for 45 dollars
- Calypso Basic 2 Quart Enamel on Steel kettle yellow which retails for 22 dollars
- Oxo Good Hrips Uplift Yellow Teakettle which retails for 60 dollars
- Chantal Bridge Enamel on Steel Yellow Teakettle which retails for 40 dollars
- Copco 2 Quart Camden Yellow kettle which retails for 16 dollars
- Le Creuset Whistling Yellow Tea Kettle which retails for 70 dollars
- Le Creuset Demi Yellow Kettle which retails for 50 dollars
If you want an exciting kettle, go for those with colors. Most modern homes are either themed house or painted with vibrant colors. A yellow tea kettle is perfect to match for a vibrant house.
Hire Licensed and Respected Home Improvement Companies
Home Remodelers Group asked:
Finding the right home improvement company to update or renovate your home doesn’t have to be a stressful and disheartening process. Yet most homeowners have no idea where to start because they are bombarded with bad press about contractors who are dishonest, inexperienced and downright unreliable. Homeowners today are wary of who they can trust.
Home Improvement Complaints and Scams:
“With lower-rate mortgages tempting homeowners to trade up to a bigger house, or to refinance and expand or repair their existing home, we’re finding that construction and home improvement activity is way up, and with it is the number of complaints in those areas,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Edwin R. Rodriguez. (Consumer Affairs, January 2006)
“Home improvement complaints rank as the top consumer complaint in Connecticut and elsewhere across the country,” Rodriguez said. “While home improvements themselves can be expensive, any problems that arise often cost consumers thousands more to fix. Unfortunately, there have been many cases where a homeowner is left with a huge problem and has no financial means of getting it repaired.” (Consumer Affairs, June 2006)
Basic scams usually do not occur with accredited companies, so make sure the company you use is licensed. “The law requires home improvement contractors to register and follow certain procedures for a reason, to protect homeowners,” Rodriguez said. “This includes complying with state laws that assure consumers a level of financial protection.” (Consumer Affairs, June 2006)
Be Wary of Certain Sales Tactic:
According to the National Consumer Law Center at consumerlaw.org, unscrupulous contractors mostly target senior citizens. Do not fall into the trap of the following sales tactics that take advantage of homeowners:
• “Bait and Switch” – offers low prices for installed items like windows and home siding, and then tells the homeowner the item is out of stock and can only be replaced with a high-priced substitute.
• Misrepresent the urgency of a needed repair.
• Claim the item is more expensive than advertised because it has to be “custom made” to fit the home.
• Misrepresent that the consumer is receiving a discount because the home is selected to model the repair when, in reality, the consumer is paying market price or more.
• Misrepresent the energy savings, health benefits and value added to the home.
• Misrepresent the terms on which financing is likely to be arranged.
Practices to Follow for Finding the Right Contractor:
If you hire a contractor with a license and a good reputation (such as the Home Remodelers Group®), you are guaranteed to avoid unfinished work, financial wrongdoing and fraud.
The National Consumer Law Center has a list of suggestions for homeowners looking for a home improvement company:
• Do not hire an unknown contractor that solicits business by knocking on your door. Deal with companies recommended by friends or reputable building supply stores.
• Before agreeing to hire any home improvement contractor, get a second estimate for the same work from another contractor.
• Get references for the contractor and speak to those references. Ask about satisfaction and any problems that arose.
• Look at other work performed by the same contractor.
• Many states require contractors to be licensed and/or bonded. Check with the state licensing body to see if the contractor you are considering is licensed.
• Get a written contract describing explicit specifications of the work, the price (including details of any financing or credit terms), the responsibility for cleaning up, and the hourly rate for any added work. Ask for guarantees and other promises to be made in writing.
• If the written documents are different from oral promises, do not sign them.
• A 3-day right-to-cancel applies to door-to-door sales and home improvement loans even after the papers have been signed.
• Do not allow a contractor to begin work until financial arrangements to pay for the work are complete.
• Do not agree to pay the final payment until the project is finished.
• Do not consolidate other debts with a home improvement loan.
• If problems with a contractor or home improvement lender arise, get help from a lawyer or housing counselor immediately.
Take Care of Your Home:
The Home Remodelers Group® has been in business since 1964 and there is a simple reason for our longevity. We take great pride in helping our customers beautify their homes, we enjoy our work and we want our customers to be happy with their homes. The Home Remodelers Goup® is licensed and insured so you can feel secure when working with us. Before you sign any contract, we provide a written estimate and detailed information on the scope of the project. You’ll know exactly what you are getting before we do anything. We do this to provide our customers with peace of mind. We have survived in this business because we focus on customer satisfaction, attention to customer service and offer quality products at a fair price.
Think of your home like a child that needs a doctor. You would take your child to a licensed and professional doctor, not someone that comes to your door. So make sure your home receives the care it deserves by hiring experienced and well-accredited home improvement professionals.
For more information visit http://www.homeremodelersgroup.com/?source=articles
Finding the right home improvement company to update or renovate your home doesn’t have to be a stressful and disheartening process. Yet most homeowners have no idea where to start because they are bombarded with bad press about contractors who are dishonest, inexperienced and downright unreliable. Homeowners today are wary of who they can trust.
Home Improvement Complaints and Scams:
“With lower-rate mortgages tempting homeowners to trade up to a bigger house, or to refinance and expand or repair their existing home, we’re finding that construction and home improvement activity is way up, and with it is the number of complaints in those areas,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Edwin R. Rodriguez. (Consumer Affairs, January 2006)
“Home improvement complaints rank as the top consumer complaint in Connecticut and elsewhere across the country,” Rodriguez said. “While home improvements themselves can be expensive, any problems that arise often cost consumers thousands more to fix. Unfortunately, there have been many cases where a homeowner is left with a huge problem and has no financial means of getting it repaired.” (Consumer Affairs, June 2006)
Basic scams usually do not occur with accredited companies, so make sure the company you use is licensed. “The law requires home improvement contractors to register and follow certain procedures for a reason, to protect homeowners,” Rodriguez said. “This includes complying with state laws that assure consumers a level of financial protection.” (Consumer Affairs, June 2006)
Be Wary of Certain Sales Tactic:
According to the National Consumer Law Center at consumerlaw.org, unscrupulous contractors mostly target senior citizens. Do not fall into the trap of the following sales tactics that take advantage of homeowners:
• “Bait and Switch” – offers low prices for installed items like windows and home siding, and then tells the homeowner the item is out of stock and can only be replaced with a high-priced substitute.
• Misrepresent the urgency of a needed repair.
• Claim the item is more expensive than advertised because it has to be “custom made” to fit the home.
• Misrepresent that the consumer is receiving a discount because the home is selected to model the repair when, in reality, the consumer is paying market price or more.
• Misrepresent the energy savings, health benefits and value added to the home.
• Misrepresent the terms on which financing is likely to be arranged.
Practices to Follow for Finding the Right Contractor:
If you hire a contractor with a license and a good reputation (such as the Home Remodelers Group®), you are guaranteed to avoid unfinished work, financial wrongdoing and fraud.
The National Consumer Law Center has a list of suggestions for homeowners looking for a home improvement company:
• Do not hire an unknown contractor that solicits business by knocking on your door. Deal with companies recommended by friends or reputable building supply stores.
• Before agreeing to hire any home improvement contractor, get a second estimate for the same work from another contractor.
• Get references for the contractor and speak to those references. Ask about satisfaction and any problems that arose.
• Look at other work performed by the same contractor.
• Many states require contractors to be licensed and/or bonded. Check with the state licensing body to see if the contractor you are considering is licensed.
• Get a written contract describing explicit specifications of the work, the price (including details of any financing or credit terms), the responsibility for cleaning up, and the hourly rate for any added work. Ask for guarantees and other promises to be made in writing.
• If the written documents are different from oral promises, do not sign them.
• A 3-day right-to-cancel applies to door-to-door sales and home improvement loans even after the papers have been signed.
• Do not allow a contractor to begin work until financial arrangements to pay for the work are complete.
• Do not agree to pay the final payment until the project is finished.
• Do not consolidate other debts with a home improvement loan.
• If problems with a contractor or home improvement lender arise, get help from a lawyer or housing counselor immediately.
Take Care of Your Home:
The Home Remodelers Group® has been in business since 1964 and there is a simple reason for our longevity. We take great pride in helping our customers beautify their homes, we enjoy our work and we want our customers to be happy with their homes. The Home Remodelers Goup® is licensed and insured so you can feel secure when working with us. Before you sign any contract, we provide a written estimate and detailed information on the scope of the project. You’ll know exactly what you are getting before we do anything. We do this to provide our customers with peace of mind. We have survived in this business because we focus on customer satisfaction, attention to customer service and offer quality products at a fair price.
Think of your home like a child that needs a doctor. You would take your child to a licensed and professional doctor, not someone that comes to your door. So make sure your home receives the care it deserves by hiring experienced and well-accredited home improvement professionals.
For more information visit http://www.homeremodelersgroup.com/?source=articles
A Brief History of the Continent of Australia
Craig Elliott asked:
There are many individuals who think that the continent of Australia was largely unsettled before its “discovery” by European colonists. Contrary to this belief, the Australian continent was populated by the Aborigines peoples as well as Torres Straight Islanders before these explorers arrived. The Australian continent was made up of many different cultures and languages, and still is. The peoples of Australia had different religions, but shared a common and profound connection with the land on which they lived. They also shared a complex social structure. The Aborigines peoples and the Torres Straight Islanders had minimal outside contact with the rest of the world, but largely flourished in their isolated land.
The Aborigines and the Torres Straight Islanders lived on the Australian continent for thousands of years, and the Asian and Oceanic peoples had regular contact with these groups for thousands of years before the arrival of explorers from Europe. The first white people to arrive were Dutch explorers, who carted the area along the northern and western coasts of the continent. They reached Tasmania, which lies about 240 kilometers south of Australia, before turning back.
The Dutch were followed by the English, in the form of explorer William Dampier, who landed on the northwestern coast in 1688. His compatriot, Captain James Cook, was the first to claim the southeastern part of the continent for the British two years later, naming it the Colony of New South Wales and eventually settling it with approximately 1,500 convicts, mostly accused of minor crimes.
Along with foreign explorers, the Aborigines and the Torres Straight Islanders of Australia were also introduced to European animals that had never been seen on the continent before. To this day, the population of Australian feral cats thrives. The settlement of convicts in Australia was due to the American independence movement, which meant that the British could no longer send their convicts to America. The original convicts were followed by about 160,000 more over the next 80 years.
The population of the Australian continent saw a remarkable jump in both numbers and in wealth when gold was discovered in Australia in 1851. This discovery saw an influx of people seeking their wealth, and also lead to much more trade with the continent. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed fifty years later, in 1901. The Commonwealth consisted of six states, which included New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The Canberra territory, which houses the Australian capital, and the Northern Territory were later additions.
The foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia lead to new political powers on the continent, which headed toward egalitarian ideals, but whose love for the secret ballot and for democracy did not extend to acceptance on racial matters. The government of the Commonwealth of Australia created immigration laws which restricted immigration to anyone living outside the European nations. This was hoped to form a “white Australia”, and the laws that support it were only finally repealed in the mid 1970s.
One of the effects of the influx of Europeans to the Australian continent, particularly the many people who arrived in Australia from Europe in the early years of the 20th century, was that they began to take much of the land away from the native Aboriginal peoples. The Aborigines became displaced, and the children of the Aborigine people were often taken away in order to become assimilated into the European culture on the rest of the continent. This practice cut the children off from their traditional customs as well as from their culture and their native lands.
The Aborigine people became isolated from their own people and from their home lands, and were unable to practice their traditional hunting or cultural activities. To many, it appeared that the goal of the white settlers of the continent was to eradicate the Aborigine’s culture leaving the entire Commonwealth of Australia to themselves. The population levels of the Australian native people dwindled, and died down to only about 60,000 native people by the end of the 1960s.
The people of Australia have a strong sense of national pride despite the origin of the country. The Australian people banded together to form fierce fighting squadrons during both of the world wars, and have proudly sent their troops to the aid of the United States in several wars, including the wars in Korea and Vietnam as well as the war in Iraq. Australia has benefited from a proud government and an economic boom that has lasted decades. The natural beauty and unique culture of Australia make it a first rate tourist destination. Today, Australia is a thriving, modern country on a truly breathtaking and beautiful continent. Its history has paved the way for its future, and its beauty and mystery make it an attraction vacationers journey halfway around the world to experience.
There are many individuals who think that the continent of Australia was largely unsettled before its “discovery” by European colonists. Contrary to this belief, the Australian continent was populated by the Aborigines peoples as well as Torres Straight Islanders before these explorers arrived. The Australian continent was made up of many different cultures and languages, and still is. The peoples of Australia had different religions, but shared a common and profound connection with the land on which they lived. They also shared a complex social structure. The Aborigines peoples and the Torres Straight Islanders had minimal outside contact with the rest of the world, but largely flourished in their isolated land.
The Aborigines and the Torres Straight Islanders lived on the Australian continent for thousands of years, and the Asian and Oceanic peoples had regular contact with these groups for thousands of years before the arrival of explorers from Europe. The first white people to arrive were Dutch explorers, who carted the area along the northern and western coasts of the continent. They reached Tasmania, which lies about 240 kilometers south of Australia, before turning back.
The Dutch were followed by the English, in the form of explorer William Dampier, who landed on the northwestern coast in 1688. His compatriot, Captain James Cook, was the first to claim the southeastern part of the continent for the British two years later, naming it the Colony of New South Wales and eventually settling it with approximately 1,500 convicts, mostly accused of minor crimes.
Along with foreign explorers, the Aborigines and the Torres Straight Islanders of Australia were also introduced to European animals that had never been seen on the continent before. To this day, the population of Australian feral cats thrives. The settlement of convicts in Australia was due to the American independence movement, which meant that the British could no longer send their convicts to America. The original convicts were followed by about 160,000 more over the next 80 years.
The population of the Australian continent saw a remarkable jump in both numbers and in wealth when gold was discovered in Australia in 1851. This discovery saw an influx of people seeking their wealth, and also lead to much more trade with the continent. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed fifty years later, in 1901. The Commonwealth consisted of six states, which included New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The Canberra territory, which houses the Australian capital, and the Northern Territory were later additions.
The foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia lead to new political powers on the continent, which headed toward egalitarian ideals, but whose love for the secret ballot and for democracy did not extend to acceptance on racial matters. The government of the Commonwealth of Australia created immigration laws which restricted immigration to anyone living outside the European nations. This was hoped to form a “white Australia”, and the laws that support it were only finally repealed in the mid 1970s.
One of the effects of the influx of Europeans to the Australian continent, particularly the many people who arrived in Australia from Europe in the early years of the 20th century, was that they began to take much of the land away from the native Aboriginal peoples. The Aborigines became displaced, and the children of the Aborigine people were often taken away in order to become assimilated into the European culture on the rest of the continent. This practice cut the children off from their traditional customs as well as from their culture and their native lands.
The Aborigine people became isolated from their own people and from their home lands, and were unable to practice their traditional hunting or cultural activities. To many, it appeared that the goal of the white settlers of the continent was to eradicate the Aborigine’s culture leaving the entire Commonwealth of Australia to themselves. The population levels of the Australian native people dwindled, and died down to only about 60,000 native people by the end of the 1960s.
The people of Australia have a strong sense of national pride despite the origin of the country. The Australian people banded together to form fierce fighting squadrons during both of the world wars, and have proudly sent their troops to the aid of the United States in several wars, including the wars in Korea and Vietnam as well as the war in Iraq. Australia has benefited from a proud government and an economic boom that has lasted decades. The natural beauty and unique culture of Australia make it a first rate tourist destination. Today, Australia is a thriving, modern country on a truly breathtaking and beautiful continent. Its history has paved the way for its future, and its beauty and mystery make it an attraction vacationers journey halfway around the world to experience.
London on a Budget
Plr Travel Articles asked:
Visiting London on a budget may seem impossible but it can be done if you choose traveling options off the beaten path. High tourist season is typically early April through late September. If you can opt to vacation there from early October through late March, you are likely to find less expensive airline tickets to and from London.
Once you’re in the Square Mile, you’ll have unlimited options for having fun, sleeping cheap and eating well without spending a wallet full of Euros. Typically, the second most expensive aspect of traveling abroad is the hotel stay, second only to the airfare to get there. Depending on the time of year you travel and your comfort level, your options are wide open.
Consider a home exchange. There are many home exchange facilitators, you can run a web search to find one you like. Members will pay an annual fee, usually $50 to $100. Most house swaps are offered in 1 week increments with a minimum of 2 weeks and you don’t necessarily swap your house with the same family whose house you will stay in. You might stay in a London flat while the family of Londoners stays in a home in Thailand while the Thai family stays in your home. Other than the annual fee and possibly a small swap fee, typically under $100, this is a free stay. Of course, you have to be comfortable with a group of strangers in your home while you’re away.
Summer holidays in London, while airfare will be at its peak, can still be cost efficient if you don’t mind staying in a university dormitory. Many universities throughout Europe, including in London, rent out their empty rooms for about $100 per night during summer and other school breaks. You won’t find perks like room service or even a private bath, but the price is right if you just need a place to lay your head.
Religious or not, you can rent a basic, clean room at one of the many convents and monasteries in the London area. You aren’t required to participate in any religious activities and nearly all convents and monasteries will rent to ye of little faith, no faith or a different faith.
As for fun and sightseeing, avoid the rental car and driving around town; strap on some comfy shoes or rent a bike instead. No need to search for a tiny parking spot or learning to drive on the opposite side of the street and you can stop to smell the roses whenever you like. Start each day in a different direction and go wherever the wind takes you.
Public transportation is an adventure on its own and can take you all over the city and even into the countryside. Take the London Underground rail system or a double decker bus for a few pounds. London is also working on an above ground rail system to help facilitate transportation.me great eating deals include take out (called “takeaway”) meals. The Value Added Tax (VAT) can be 10% or more on dine in meals. VAT isn’t charged on takeaway. The added bonus is you get to choose the view or find a great place to eat and people watch.
Eat un American. Try picking up a late afternoon lunch at an ethnic or vegetarian restaurant. You’ll not only find some great deals but you’ll enjoy a wonderful new dining experience.
Follow or ask the locals. Employees at petrol stations (gas stations), grocery stores and your hotel front desk will likely know some out of the way dining establishments that offer great food for the budget minded.
Understand that budgeted travelers should be flexible and consider their trip an adventure. You might find a hotel, with reliable quality, to be worth the extra money. Dining at a pub might be great for the locals but you may not have the tolerance for fish and chips. Get out there and have fun.
Visiting London on a budget may seem impossible but it can be done if you choose traveling options off the beaten path. High tourist season is typically early April through late September. If you can opt to vacation there from early October through late March, you are likely to find less expensive airline tickets to and from London.
Once you’re in the Square Mile, you’ll have unlimited options for having fun, sleeping cheap and eating well without spending a wallet full of Euros. Typically, the second most expensive aspect of traveling abroad is the hotel stay, second only to the airfare to get there. Depending on the time of year you travel and your comfort level, your options are wide open.
Consider a home exchange. There are many home exchange facilitators, you can run a web search to find one you like. Members will pay an annual fee, usually $50 to $100. Most house swaps are offered in 1 week increments with a minimum of 2 weeks and you don’t necessarily swap your house with the same family whose house you will stay in. You might stay in a London flat while the family of Londoners stays in a home in Thailand while the Thai family stays in your home. Other than the annual fee and possibly a small swap fee, typically under $100, this is a free stay. Of course, you have to be comfortable with a group of strangers in your home while you’re away.
Summer holidays in London, while airfare will be at its peak, can still be cost efficient if you don’t mind staying in a university dormitory. Many universities throughout Europe, including in London, rent out their empty rooms for about $100 per night during summer and other school breaks. You won’t find perks like room service or even a private bath, but the price is right if you just need a place to lay your head.
Religious or not, you can rent a basic, clean room at one of the many convents and monasteries in the London area. You aren’t required to participate in any religious activities and nearly all convents and monasteries will rent to ye of little faith, no faith or a different faith.
As for fun and sightseeing, avoid the rental car and driving around town; strap on some comfy shoes or rent a bike instead. No need to search for a tiny parking spot or learning to drive on the opposite side of the street and you can stop to smell the roses whenever you like. Start each day in a different direction and go wherever the wind takes you.
Public transportation is an adventure on its own and can take you all over the city and even into the countryside. Take the London Underground rail system or a double decker bus for a few pounds. London is also working on an above ground rail system to help facilitate transportation.me great eating deals include take out (called “takeaway”) meals. The Value Added Tax (VAT) can be 10% or more on dine in meals. VAT isn’t charged on takeaway. The added bonus is you get to choose the view or find a great place to eat and people watch.
Eat un American. Try picking up a late afternoon lunch at an ethnic or vegetarian restaurant. You’ll not only find some great deals but you’ll enjoy a wonderful new dining experience.
Follow or ask the locals. Employees at petrol stations (gas stations), grocery stores and your hotel front desk will likely know some out of the way dining establishments that offer great food for the budget minded.
Understand that budgeted travelers should be flexible and consider their trip an adventure. You might find a hotel, with reliable quality, to be worth the extra money. Dining at a pub might be great for the locals but you may not have the tolerance for fish and chips. Get out there and have fun.
Three Things Before Opening Your Coffee Shop
Shawn Larson asked:
There is more to running a successful coffee shop than deciding what kind of coffee you will serve. Don’t get me wrong, part of your job in running your thriving coffee shop is providing your customers with an all around flavorful experience which includes the coffee, however there is so much more to know. I believe there are three essential steps to take before starting your coffee shop. Let’s explore them together.
Step One – Do the research. Learn all you can about starting a coffee shop. You can do this in a variety of different ways. My personal favorite is going to several other coffee shops, having a cup of coffee and soaking in the experience. In doing this, watch the dynamics of both the social and business environment. Observe how the business treats their customers, what menu items they sell, what kind of equipment they carry and so on. Some people even choose to get a job at an existing coffee shop before starting their own.
The more obvious means of research you can do is reading. You can learn a lot from the materials out there. There are a lot of resources to choose from. When choosing what to read I recommend that you purchase books specifically on coffee shops, not re-released restaurant startup up books. The differences between the two are crucial. I recommend this book.You can also do a lot of good research on the internet. Library research can be sketchy. If you do do research at the library make sure you checkout current books. There is a difference in business dynamics between current and older coffee shops.
Step Two – Put together an effective business plan. Notice that I use the word “effective”; developing a plan that covers every aspect of your business will save you a lot of money and heartache in the future. There are two aspects towards putting that business plan together. The first thing to do is search for coffee shop business plans on the web, and in books in either your library or purchasing books at a place like Amazon.com. While looking at coffee shop business plans try to poke through to find out what made them successful or unsuccessful. Their success, or lack thereof can do a lot to help you plan to make yours a success.
Secondly, I would recommend using a software package like Business Plan Pro. Software packages like business plan pro will ask specific questions relevant to starting your business. Each question asked will help you develop in your mind what your coffee shop will look like and how it will operate. When finished the business plan software will have given you a professional business plan you can bring to your bank and give you something to keep you on target every step of the way.
In actuality you will do well to develop two distinct plans. The first plan will be a basic layout of what you want to do and what steps you plan to take to make you successful (some people call this an action plan). This plan will keep you on track. It should only be a page or two that you can tape up to your office wall that will remind you to stay on task.
The second plan type of plan I mentioned using a software package like Business Plan Pro. You will use this plan for specific long and short range goals and to share with some investors and bankers. Keep in mind that this is a plan that you are going to share with investors so try to keep it positive and realistic. Some people actually develop a third document that they will give to their investors or bankers that will be a summary page with their mission statement and a quick over view of their business plan. If you decide to go this route, give them the short documents on top of the more advanced document.
Step Three – Get Legal. You will save a lot of time later on by getting all of your legal affairs taken care of now. First, you will need to register your name with the state, get sales tax licenses, and possibly set up a corporation. This can be a daunting task. When I first opened up my business, I tried to do it myself. I hate spending extra money. In the end I paid someone to handle the initial forms for me. After the first time I used the service I no longer needed to go back to them because it is pretty simple to keep up with those forms after once you are familiar with the process. You can spend a lot of money on a Lawyer or a CPA, but you could just use a good online service to get things set up instead. In the process don’t just give someone on the internet all of your personal info. Instead, I recommend doing research and using a company like LegalZoom.com. Make sure that you Google the website first to see if they have any complaints against them or check sources like the BBB.
Even though you may not use a lawyer or CPA to help set up your business forms, it is still a good idea to acquaint yourself with a good CPA and Lawyer for tax preparations and potential legal issues that may come up.
Develop a disaster prevention plan. This would be something like a short what if / action plan. Ask yourself what could go wrong and how could I possibly get sued, and then develop strategies to prevent those things. You will also need to get insurance at this step too. Remember the “Hot Coffee Lawsuit” a few years back? There are definite lessons to learn from that.
There is more to running a successful coffee shop than deciding what kind of coffee you will serve. Don’t get me wrong, part of your job in running your thriving coffee shop is providing your customers with an all around flavorful experience which includes the coffee, however there is so much more to know. I believe there are three essential steps to take before starting your coffee shop. Let’s explore them together.
Step One – Do the research. Learn all you can about starting a coffee shop. You can do this in a variety of different ways. My personal favorite is going to several other coffee shops, having a cup of coffee and soaking in the experience. In doing this, watch the dynamics of both the social and business environment. Observe how the business treats their customers, what menu items they sell, what kind of equipment they carry and so on. Some people even choose to get a job at an existing coffee shop before starting their own.
The more obvious means of research you can do is reading. You can learn a lot from the materials out there. There are a lot of resources to choose from. When choosing what to read I recommend that you purchase books specifically on coffee shops, not re-released restaurant startup up books. The differences between the two are crucial. I recommend this book.You can also do a lot of good research on the internet. Library research can be sketchy. If you do do research at the library make sure you checkout current books. There is a difference in business dynamics between current and older coffee shops.
Step Two – Put together an effective business plan. Notice that I use the word “effective”; developing a plan that covers every aspect of your business will save you a lot of money and heartache in the future. There are two aspects towards putting that business plan together. The first thing to do is search for coffee shop business plans on the web, and in books in either your library or purchasing books at a place like Amazon.com. While looking at coffee shop business plans try to poke through to find out what made them successful or unsuccessful. Their success, or lack thereof can do a lot to help you plan to make yours a success.
Secondly, I would recommend using a software package like Business Plan Pro. Software packages like business plan pro will ask specific questions relevant to starting your business. Each question asked will help you develop in your mind what your coffee shop will look like and how it will operate. When finished the business plan software will have given you a professional business plan you can bring to your bank and give you something to keep you on target every step of the way.
In actuality you will do well to develop two distinct plans. The first plan will be a basic layout of what you want to do and what steps you plan to take to make you successful (some people call this an action plan). This plan will keep you on track. It should only be a page or two that you can tape up to your office wall that will remind you to stay on task.
The second plan type of plan I mentioned using a software package like Business Plan Pro. You will use this plan for specific long and short range goals and to share with some investors and bankers. Keep in mind that this is a plan that you are going to share with investors so try to keep it positive and realistic. Some people actually develop a third document that they will give to their investors or bankers that will be a summary page with their mission statement and a quick over view of their business plan. If you decide to go this route, give them the short documents on top of the more advanced document.
Step Three – Get Legal. You will save a lot of time later on by getting all of your legal affairs taken care of now. First, you will need to register your name with the state, get sales tax licenses, and possibly set up a corporation. This can be a daunting task. When I first opened up my business, I tried to do it myself. I hate spending extra money. In the end I paid someone to handle the initial forms for me. After the first time I used the service I no longer needed to go back to them because it is pretty simple to keep up with those forms after once you are familiar with the process. You can spend a lot of money on a Lawyer or a CPA, but you could just use a good online service to get things set up instead. In the process don’t just give someone on the internet all of your personal info. Instead, I recommend doing research and using a company like LegalZoom.com. Make sure that you Google the website first to see if they have any complaints against them or check sources like the BBB.
Even though you may not use a lawyer or CPA to help set up your business forms, it is still a good idea to acquaint yourself with a good CPA and Lawyer for tax preparations and potential legal issues that may come up.
Develop a disaster prevention plan. This would be something like a short what if / action plan. Ask yourself what could go wrong and how could I possibly get sued, and then develop strategies to prevent those things. You will also need to get insurance at this step too. Remember the “Hot Coffee Lawsuit” a few years back? There are definite lessons to learn from that.
Helicopter Flight Services Crashes Overloaded Helicopter
Helicopter Facts asked:
The NTSB has released the Probable Cause for the tour helicopter crash that was opperated by Helicopter Flight Services.
The helicopter landed at the heliport with approximately 220 lbs. of fuel on board. At that time, the helicopter was oriented to north, with a light westerly wind. The helicopter was on the ground for 2 to 3 minutes while ground personnel boarded passengers for a sightseeing flight. The helicopter lifted up to a hover and initially turned left 90 degrees toward west, but the wind was from the northeast at approximately 5 knots. When the pilot realized the wind was from the other direction, he then turned right about 270 degrees. The pilot initiated a southeasterly takeoff run, oriented about a 160-degree heading. During the approximate 275-foot takeoff run, the skids contacted the ground at least once as the pilot attempted to increase forward speed. The pilot felt like the helicopter did not have full power during the takeoff run; however, the pilot and passengers did not recall any cockpit warnings or anomalies. The helicopter did not gain altitude as it neared the end of the heliport, and the tailrotor struck the edge of the pier as the helicopter descended towards the water. The helicopter subsequently impacted the water and rolled inverted. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot did not ask passengers their weight, and did not have a scale at the heliport. Rather, he estimated the weight and balance. For the accident flight, he estimated 150 lbs. per person, as there were three male passengers, and three female passengers. However, the average weight of the passengers was approximately 188 lbs. The weight of the occupants and the weight of the fuel revealed that the helicopter was about 222 lbs. overweight at the time of the accident; not including the weight of clothing, personal effects, and baggage. In addition to being over the maximum gross weight, the helicopter was at or beyond its performance limits for the environmental conditions, and the takeoff was attempted with a light left crosswind or quartering tailwind.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in an attempted takeoff with an overweight helicopter, and subsequent impact with a pier and water. Factors were a high ambient temperature and unfavorable winds.
The NTSB has released the Probable Cause for the tour helicopter crash that was opperated by Helicopter Flight Services.
The helicopter landed at the heliport with approximately 220 lbs. of fuel on board. At that time, the helicopter was oriented to north, with a light westerly wind. The helicopter was on the ground for 2 to 3 minutes while ground personnel boarded passengers for a sightseeing flight. The helicopter lifted up to a hover and initially turned left 90 degrees toward west, but the wind was from the northeast at approximately 5 knots. When the pilot realized the wind was from the other direction, he then turned right about 270 degrees. The pilot initiated a southeasterly takeoff run, oriented about a 160-degree heading. During the approximate 275-foot takeoff run, the skids contacted the ground at least once as the pilot attempted to increase forward speed. The pilot felt like the helicopter did not have full power during the takeoff run; however, the pilot and passengers did not recall any cockpit warnings or anomalies. The helicopter did not gain altitude as it neared the end of the heliport, and the tailrotor struck the edge of the pier as the helicopter descended towards the water. The helicopter subsequently impacted the water and rolled inverted. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot did not ask passengers their weight, and did not have a scale at the heliport. Rather, he estimated the weight and balance. For the accident flight, he estimated 150 lbs. per person, as there were three male passengers, and three female passengers. However, the average weight of the passengers was approximately 188 lbs. The weight of the occupants and the weight of the fuel revealed that the helicopter was about 222 lbs. overweight at the time of the accident; not including the weight of clothing, personal effects, and baggage. In addition to being over the maximum gross weight, the helicopter was at or beyond its performance limits for the environmental conditions, and the takeoff was attempted with a light left crosswind or quartering tailwind.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in an attempted takeoff with an overweight helicopter, and subsequent impact with a pier and water. Factors were a high ambient temperature and unfavorable winds.
Cheaper air ticket Bangalore Chicago US | Cheapest air tickets deal
Birendra Singh asked:
Looking for airline tickets cheap or discount flights? Choose your destination and send request for best prices of the largest operators for the larger companies. Discover our offers discounted flights. Choose your destination and buy tickets online. Your ticket to the lowest fare, all flights at lowest rates.
Flight Booking History By us on 16Sep, for 31Oct Bangalore To Chicago Rs. 31500.00.
EzeeFlight offers tickets at low prices departing from Bangalore to Chicago.
The prices of different airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa Air Canada, and American Airlines, we have listed on this site for the cheapest history. Low-cost airlines give you the opportunity to get a ticket at a very low price.
Increasingly, the airline is expanding from one country to another, from one contains another, and all this in order to best meet the needs of displaced people: tourists, researchers, men of business … everyone to some extent feel concerned if they are traveling a distance, more or less important.
From there, anxious to fit the needs of air travel of people, many airlines have opted for an interesting pricing adapted to any type of budget. Offering airline tickets cheapest airlines also called low cost airlines, attracted more and more frequent travelers. For the discovery of a tourist city in Europe inevitable in Africa, Asia or America, the cheap fares that offer some airlines are more than satisfied.
Everything you need to go quietly is on the ezeefligth.com, availability for flights and hotels you have desired. A selection of the best deals for airline tickets at very low prices.
Looking for airline tickets cheap or discount flights? Choose your destination and send request for best prices of the largest operators for the larger companies. Discover our offers discounted flights. Choose your destination and buy tickets online. Your ticket to the lowest fare, all flights at lowest rates.
Flight Booking History By us on 16Sep, for 31Oct Bangalore To Chicago Rs. 31500.00.
EzeeFlight offers tickets at low prices departing from Bangalore to Chicago.
The prices of different airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa Air Canada, and American Airlines, we have listed on this site for the cheapest history. Low-cost airlines give you the opportunity to get a ticket at a very low price.
Increasingly, the airline is expanding from one country to another, from one contains another, and all this in order to best meet the needs of displaced people: tourists, researchers, men of business … everyone to some extent feel concerned if they are traveling a distance, more or less important.
From there, anxious to fit the needs of air travel of people, many airlines have opted for an interesting pricing adapted to any type of budget. Offering airline tickets cheapest airlines also called low cost airlines, attracted more and more frequent travelers. For the discovery of a tourist city in Europe inevitable in Africa, Asia or America, the cheap fares that offer some airlines are more than satisfied.
Everything you need to go quietly is on the ezeefligth.com, availability for flights and hotels you have desired. A selection of the best deals for airline tickets at very low prices.
You Can Always Looking for New Recipes Online
michael Raju asked:
It’s really incredible the amount of information available online nowadays, you really can find anything your heart desires. The best place you can go to is a search engine, these engines allow you to search directly for what you want by using keywords, or you can also pick categories and subcategories on their websites to find what you want.
For more details go to: www.delicious-sandwich-recipes.com I’m a big foodie freak, mainly because I’m a Chef, so I’m always looking for new recipes online, and adding new ones I make to my own websites such as cooking light, cooking healthy, holiday recipes, gourmet, grilling, etc. I also like to find cooking shows online that I may have missed on TV like Top Chef, which if you search for can be found online not only to see when it’s on next but to actually watch it on your computer! And once in a while I find myself going to these search engines to find things like restaurant names, locations, phone numbers, etc.
Any of the above and so much more are available to you quickly, easily, and most important conveniently! I think that those are probably the top 3 reasons people even bother to use search engines to begin with instead of calling information or looking in a phone book. And besides information went up a dollar over here! Yep, it’s now over a dollar to ask someone to find a piece of information for you that you could find for free (technically) on your own! Don’t worry; I say technically because you are paying for your Internet, not because you have to pay these search engines! The day it actually costs money to use a search engine, is the day I will actually keep my phone book!
These search engines are really quite simple to navigate, just go to the search engine you like, put in the keyword you want, and get the results. Or as said above, they also may ask you to refine your search results, which is nice because then you can say okay I want a restaurant located in Naples Florida, but I want it to be on Sea Gate Drive because I’m going to be in the vicinity and will want to grab lunch. So just enter in that easy info and voila, results! If you are really lucky you may just go to an engine and they asked for the type of restaurant you want such as eat in, dine out, delivery, etc.
For help visit: www.july4-recipes.com or the type of food the restaurant serves such as Italian, French, Japanese, Mediterranean, etc.
All in all these sites are perfect for just about anything you want to find on them. It doesn’t necessarily have to do with food; it can deal with any of the other zillion and one things you might be searching for such as electronics, jobs, finance, sports, health, computers, etc! Need to rent a car? Go to travel. Looking for a Dentist? Go to health. Want to know where the nearest salon is? Go to beauty! Yea, it really is this easy. Just think about what category it would be in and you are good to go.
It’s really incredible the amount of information available online nowadays, you really can find anything your heart desires. The best place you can go to is a search engine, these engines allow you to search directly for what you want by using keywords, or you can also pick categories and subcategories on their websites to find what you want.
For more details go to: www.delicious-sandwich-recipes.com I’m a big foodie freak, mainly because I’m a Chef, so I’m always looking for new recipes online, and adding new ones I make to my own websites such as cooking light, cooking healthy, holiday recipes, gourmet, grilling, etc. I also like to find cooking shows online that I may have missed on TV like Top Chef, which if you search for can be found online not only to see when it’s on next but to actually watch it on your computer! And once in a while I find myself going to these search engines to find things like restaurant names, locations, phone numbers, etc.
Any of the above and so much more are available to you quickly, easily, and most important conveniently! I think that those are probably the top 3 reasons people even bother to use search engines to begin with instead of calling information or looking in a phone book. And besides information went up a dollar over here! Yep, it’s now over a dollar to ask someone to find a piece of information for you that you could find for free (technically) on your own! Don’t worry; I say technically because you are paying for your Internet, not because you have to pay these search engines! The day it actually costs money to use a search engine, is the day I will actually keep my phone book!
These search engines are really quite simple to navigate, just go to the search engine you like, put in the keyword you want, and get the results. Or as said above, they also may ask you to refine your search results, which is nice because then you can say okay I want a restaurant located in Naples Florida, but I want it to be on Sea Gate Drive because I’m going to be in the vicinity and will want to grab lunch. So just enter in that easy info and voila, results! If you are really lucky you may just go to an engine and they asked for the type of restaurant you want such as eat in, dine out, delivery, etc.
For help visit: www.july4-recipes.com or the type of food the restaurant serves such as Italian, French, Japanese, Mediterranean, etc.
All in all these sites are perfect for just about anything you want to find on them. It doesn’t necessarily have to do with food; it can deal with any of the other zillion and one things you might be searching for such as electronics, jobs, finance, sports, health, computers, etc! Need to rent a car? Go to travel. Looking for a Dentist? Go to health. Want to know where the nearest salon is? Go to beauty! Yea, it really is this easy. Just think about what category it would be in and you are good to go.
Case History: the Directory as an SEO Tool
Europelowcost asked:
The Europelowcost project originated as a search engine and price comparison tool for both leisure and business travel. The subsequent development towards themed directories has a clear strategic validity, both in terms of positioning on search engines, and ease of use, by allowing travellers to make the best use of the information.
Preliminary analysis
The fundamental assumption is that the organisation of data into categories with varying levels of depth is the most logical solution for providing simple, rational and fast data retrieval. This type of structure on the web is known as a directory.
We discovered the best way to organise the content available by analysing two possible alternatives:
• Sub-division by country, grouping together all the services for that destination (i.e. flights, hotels, hostels and cruises are offered together).
• Vertical sub-division by service, separating and “specialising” the individual directories (i.e. organisation by service: just flights, just hotels, etc).
After the necessary consideration, the development team opted for the second solution: to divide the information by theme.
The logic that led us to reject the first option resulted from the fact that, in terms of ease of use and of indexing by the search engine spiders, developing a multi-service directory organised according to destination would have resulted in information overload (and therefore a sense of disorientation for the end user), due to information on airports, airlines, hotels, hostels, cruises, etc. all being on the same page.
It was therefore clear that we should specialise and sub-divide the search by service, with cross marketing of services by destination (e.g. from the page of flights to a particular destination, there are links to hotels and hostels in the same city/country).
Search Engine Optimisation Requirements
From the point of view of search engine optimisation, the path we chose is more effective in terms of its thematic focus: a large number of pages with unique, specialised content, which are rich in hypertext information.
The model of directory development can be summed up as follows:
1. Home page, with the usual search function, special offers and top searches, as well as links to the four main categories of the directory (e.g.: http://en.europelowcost.com/cheap_flights/default.aspx and static pages containing useful information;
2. Unique internal pages. Great care was taken in the differentiation of the title tag (which not by chance includes the europelowcost brand), the meta description and the introduction texts;
3. Rewriting the dynamic URLs.
The whole design of the site fully conformed to the search engines’ quality guidelines, there was no addition of graphics to slow down access, and despite what the many detractors of all things Microsoft have to say, the Asp.NET programming language proved itself to be robust, fast and versatile.
Organisation of content
Large databases and a proprietary multi-service search engine allow us to record and trace a large quantity of data based on user behaviour (the toolbar for Internet Explorer and Firefox was also a significant factor). The crucial point was to decide how to make best use of this mass of information, by rationalising it and making it easy to consult.
The most important sector in strategic terms was the flights, which were organised in the usual way, listing destinations by continent, country, and city.This classification of results was extended to the other directories (hotels, hostels, cruises). The way the information is structured allows for two main search criteria: for flights to and from a destination or airport, each country is linked to the list of national and international airlines that serve that destination. The area dedicated to airports, which is also present for every single location, allows users to consult information on every airport worldwide, shown on interactive maps with satellite photos.
The Conversion Rate of the project, which is significantly over 4% (October 2006 – January 2007) and its stable presence on Google, achieved in less than two months (77,000 pages indexed, excellent search engine results position for a very large number of searches, no penalties whatsoever) are very encouraging and positive results, which lead the observer to believe that the tool is of particular significance and popular with the public.
The Europelowcost project originated as a search engine and price comparison tool for both leisure and business travel. The subsequent development towards themed directories has a clear strategic validity, both in terms of positioning on search engines, and ease of use, by allowing travellers to make the best use of the information.
Preliminary analysis
The fundamental assumption is that the organisation of data into categories with varying levels of depth is the most logical solution for providing simple, rational and fast data retrieval. This type of structure on the web is known as a directory.
We discovered the best way to organise the content available by analysing two possible alternatives:
• Sub-division by country, grouping together all the services for that destination (i.e. flights, hotels, hostels and cruises are offered together).
• Vertical sub-division by service, separating and “specialising” the individual directories (i.e. organisation by service: just flights, just hotels, etc).
After the necessary consideration, the development team opted for the second solution: to divide the information by theme.
The logic that led us to reject the first option resulted from the fact that, in terms of ease of use and of indexing by the search engine spiders, developing a multi-service directory organised according to destination would have resulted in information overload (and therefore a sense of disorientation for the end user), due to information on airports, airlines, hotels, hostels, cruises, etc. all being on the same page.
It was therefore clear that we should specialise and sub-divide the search by service, with cross marketing of services by destination (e.g. from the page of flights to a particular destination, there are links to hotels and hostels in the same city/country).
Search Engine Optimisation Requirements
From the point of view of search engine optimisation, the path we chose is more effective in terms of its thematic focus: a large number of pages with unique, specialised content, which are rich in hypertext information.
The model of directory development can be summed up as follows:
1. Home page, with the usual search function, special offers and top searches, as well as links to the four main categories of the directory (e.g.: http://en.europelowcost.com/cheap_flights/default.aspx and static pages containing useful information;
2. Unique internal pages. Great care was taken in the differentiation of the title tag (which not by chance includes the europelowcost brand), the meta description and the introduction texts;
3. Rewriting the dynamic URLs.
The whole design of the site fully conformed to the search engines’ quality guidelines, there was no addition of graphics to slow down access, and despite what the many detractors of all things Microsoft have to say, the Asp.NET programming language proved itself to be robust, fast and versatile.
Organisation of content
Large databases and a proprietary multi-service search engine allow us to record and trace a large quantity of data based on user behaviour (the toolbar for Internet Explorer and Firefox was also a significant factor). The crucial point was to decide how to make best use of this mass of information, by rationalising it and making it easy to consult.
The most important sector in strategic terms was the flights, which were organised in the usual way, listing destinations by continent, country, and city.This classification of results was extended to the other directories (hotels, hostels, cruises). The way the information is structured allows for two main search criteria: for flights to and from a destination or airport, each country is linked to the list of national and international airlines that serve that destination. The area dedicated to airports, which is also present for every single location, allows users to consult information on every airport worldwide, shown on interactive maps with satellite photos.
The Conversion Rate of the project, which is significantly over 4% (October 2006 – January 2007) and its stable presence on Google, achieved in less than two months (77,000 pages indexed, excellent search engine results position for a very large number of searches, no penalties whatsoever) are very encouraging and positive results, which lead the observer to believe that the tool is of particular significance and popular with the public.
Animation Character – Heroes Of My Youth
Hans Hasselfors asked:
My daily routine when I was a young kid at school was to go home and watch the cartoons before it was time for supper. This was usually Popeye, Yogi Bear, Tom and Jerry, Roadrunner or Top Cat. I would laugh myself silly, and it was the perfect way to relax after a double lesson of math. My favorite animation character then was Top Cat. Inspired by the Sergeant Bilko TV series with Phil Silvers, TC ran his alley and gang of alley cats with cunning and style. I knew I would never be as cool as him.
I have retained a fondness for the animation character heroes of my youth, and love to watch the replays. Cartoons, on TV and in movies, are still my favorite things to watch. I’m sure I’m not alone in this, and I think adults gain as much enjoyment from Toy Story, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles as children do. In fact, adults probably appreciate them more, because the best story involving an animation character works on two levels. There is the story which appeals to the kids and there are the inside adult jokes going on too.
The animation character has evolved over the years, from the first monochrome squiggles to the computer produced images we see today. The Walt Disney Studio made the major contribution in the early years, creating the iconic animation character of Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Goofy and Donald Duck. Walt Disney had a flair for knowing what the audience wanted and he wasn’t afraid to try new things. The movie industry was skeptical when Disney released the first full-length feature film for the animation character, with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was a success and the studio went from strength to strength, ending up with an empire of production companies and nine theme parks.
There is a huge industry surrounding the animation character, with merchandise and DVD’s. Just as there are rows upon rows of action figures of Buzz Lightyear in the film of Toy Story, so there are real figures of Buzz Lightyear in the shops. The Disney theme parks give fans the chance to see their favorite animation character up close and personal. Children are thrilled when Mickey Mouse walks right up to them and says hello.
The biggest television animated hit of recent times is of course, The Simpson’s. This dysfunctional family has captured the imagination of fans around the world. Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and baby Maggie are well thought out examples of an animation character, appealing to adults and children alike. The kids like the antics of Bart and can sympathize with Lisa. There are lots of cultural references in the programme for the adults to enjoy, and guests queue up to be immortalized as an animation character. They include Paul McCartney, Sonic Youth and The Who.
My daily routine when I was a young kid at school was to go home and watch the cartoons before it was time for supper. This was usually Popeye, Yogi Bear, Tom and Jerry, Roadrunner or Top Cat. I would laugh myself silly, and it was the perfect way to relax after a double lesson of math. My favorite animation character then was Top Cat. Inspired by the Sergeant Bilko TV series with Phil Silvers, TC ran his alley and gang of alley cats with cunning and style. I knew I would never be as cool as him.
I have retained a fondness for the animation character heroes of my youth, and love to watch the replays. Cartoons, on TV and in movies, are still my favorite things to watch. I’m sure I’m not alone in this, and I think adults gain as much enjoyment from Toy Story, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles as children do. In fact, adults probably appreciate them more, because the best story involving an animation character works on two levels. There is the story which appeals to the kids and there are the inside adult jokes going on too.
The animation character has evolved over the years, from the first monochrome squiggles to the computer produced images we see today. The Walt Disney Studio made the major contribution in the early years, creating the iconic animation character of Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Goofy and Donald Duck. Walt Disney had a flair for knowing what the audience wanted and he wasn’t afraid to try new things. The movie industry was skeptical when Disney released the first full-length feature film for the animation character, with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was a success and the studio went from strength to strength, ending up with an empire of production companies and nine theme parks.
There is a huge industry surrounding the animation character, with merchandise and DVD’s. Just as there are rows upon rows of action figures of Buzz Lightyear in the film of Toy Story, so there are real figures of Buzz Lightyear in the shops. The Disney theme parks give fans the chance to see their favorite animation character up close and personal. Children are thrilled when Mickey Mouse walks right up to them and says hello.
The biggest television animated hit of recent times is of course, The Simpson’s. This dysfunctional family has captured the imagination of fans around the world. Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and baby Maggie are well thought out examples of an animation character, appealing to adults and children alike. The kids like the antics of Bart and can sympathize with Lisa. There are lots of cultural references in the programme for the adults to enjoy, and guests queue up to be immortalized as an animation character. They include Paul McCartney, Sonic Youth and The Who.