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If your company is like a lot of others, optimized Wi-Fi isn’t a luxury, it’s a must. I got with the team here and hammered out the three most important factors businesses need to consider when setting up a Wi-Fi network to have a real business impact.

Interference

Interference can come in a lot of forms, and it’s typically the biggest issue with business Wi-Fi. Interference can be physical barriers blocking the signal from access points to devices or any devices/objects that interrupt the communication as it travels from point to point. Now, you might be thinking you know how to solve this: more access points will negate the influence of physical barriers and maybe reduce the load on each access point. Well that’s not exactly true. And by “not exactly,” I mean it’s the opposite of what you should do.

The best way to reduce interference is to reduce the overlap of your access points. The more access points you have, the more each one interferes with the others. Plus, manually managing all those access points is a pain for your IT staff/person. The key here is “fewer, but more effective.” Your equipment should be able to dynamically change channel and power to specifically avoid interference. In layman’s terms, each access point should be smart enough to pass off a device to the next logical channel as the device moves.

Capacity

A lot of people in a little space – that puts a big strain on wireless networks. That’s why it’s hard to get a signal sometimes at a sporting event, or when you do get a signal, your phone is working extra hard and your battery is drained by the 4th inning of a baseball game and you can’t post those selfies of you and the mascot on Facebook until you get home (#bummer). Seriously though, while your business likely doesn’t need to accommodate 50,000 smartphones at once, it does need to work with mobile devices that help your company operate at maximum efficiency.

There’s no real “trick to the trade” here; technology is your best ally. Adaptive antenna technology, specifically, addresses the issue of capacity. What does that mean? According to our resident Wi-Fi expert (thank you, Mark Giles), the antenna system forms a relationship with the connecting device that optimizes the signal by maneuvering its beam in the direction of the targeted device. This ensures each device is getting one-on-one treatment from the network.

Ease of Use

This one isn’t hard to understand: Your wireless network shouldn’t require a massive staff to operate. In fact, wireless technology has advanced to the point that you shouldn’t need more than a couple of people to keep things up and running. A good network can be controlled through the cloud or onsite from a centralized platform. From there, the IT staff or manager should be able configure the system to run at optimal efficiency. If you’re an SMB with a limited IT staff, you really need to take ease-of-use into account.

The tech talk can be complicated, but the concepts behind effective Wi-Fi networking are really pretty simple. As always, do your research, ask the right questions and never stop looking for that competitive edge.

Known as “The Gathering Place,” the Hawaiian island of Oahu offers plentiful cultural activities, metropolitan excitement and natural scenic beauty. This majestic island features more to see, do and experience than a short vacation will allow. Plan accordingly.

Hike to the Top of Diamond Head Crater

One of Hawaii’s most recognized landmarks, Diamond Head Crater can be explored by foot. In addition to the panoramic view of Oahu’s leeward coast from the rim, Diamond Head also features World War II bunkers visible during a hike up the crater.

Visit a Royal Palace

Home to the Hawaiian Kingdom’s last monarchs, Iolani Palace, in downtown Honolulu, is the only official state residence of royalty in the United States. The palace is steeped in Hawaiian history. The Hawaiian Kingdom’s last monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, was imprisoned here after the overthrow of the constitutional monarchy in 1893.

Learn About Hawaiian History at the Bishop Museum

This Honolulu museum’s vast collection of 24.7 million items tells the rich story of Hawaii and Polynesia. Among the artifacts are heirlooms of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s royal families. The museum also boast one of the largest natural history specimen collections in the world.

Witness the Big-Wave Surfers of the North Shore

Wintertime yields high surf on Oahu’s North Shore, where top professional surfers catch some of the most infamous waves in the world. Spectators gather at Sunset beach, Pipeline and Waimea Bay to watch the action unfold.

Cars and gadgets are two things that keep changing and evolving over a period of time. This is the reason purchasing a new car or a new mobile phone or a new television can become a cause for regret later on. This is because there are new models launched almost every day and the next one is always better than the previous one. If you are not too sure about which car you want to invest in then the best thing to do is hire different cars from limohire-sportcarhire.co.uk. This way you will not have to invest a huge amount in the car and you will be able to test out different cars.

Most people these days are opting in for car rental services rather than purchasing their own cars. There is a lot of convenience when it comes to hiring car rental services. The rates are affordable and you will be able to get to your destination in no time. All of this happens without any hassle of driving through traffic or tackling erratic drivers on the road.

You just need to sit back and relax while the driver takes you to your destination. You will be able to get to your destination and in no time with the help of the most reliable car rental service. Once you have opted in for the services you will realise that there is no point purchasing a car.

You can get all the benefits of a car and much more when you opt in for car rental services. Another advantage of car rental services is you will be able to pay the fare each and every time and it doesn’t even burn a hole in your pocket. Purchasing a car and maintaining it can be quite an expensive affair. The worst part is when you have purchased the car you cannot even part with it because there is a loss that you would have to undertake. This means that if you regret purchasing a car or if you purchase the wrong model you will have to bear with it for minimum of 4 to 5 years. However that is not the case with the car rental service.

If you are not too sure about one particular car model or you not comfortable sitting in it, you can opt in for a different car model the next time you are availing the services. You can specify the same to the car rental company and they will provide you models that you are comfortable with. You can even ensure that you get the best drivers as well because car rental services hire only the best. You will be able to reach comfortably wherever you need to get to and you will never complain about rash driving or anything of that sort.

The best car rental services always ensure that you keep coming back for more because they would want repeat business. This is the reason they will always treat you with respect and ensure that their services are reliable.

My little brother just put me on to the south side Chicago emcee Mick Jenkins. He wanted me to be as juiced about Mick as he was, so he led off by texting me a Boy Meets World reference. “It’s been tragic/ Ever since Boy Meets World, it’s Ben (been) Savage/ But the goal was never really to beef, it’s been cabbage.” Sending me a BMW reference to whet my palate is like sending Ricky Henderson to the plate to lead off the game. My interest was piqued. I still didn’t know just how special Mick Jenkins was though until I cued up his new video for “Jazz.”

The theme of the video is a water shortage and folks are selling water in Chicago like it’s heroine. Except that not just fiends are pining for it–everyone is as though it’s the elixir of life. I mean, I suppose it is. It’s a tad hyperbolic, but is a vivid representation of Jenkins’s belief that “Water is the most important natural component we have today.” He goes on to say, “It makes up our world, our bodies. It has the ability to destroy and create.”

With that much power, how valuable does water become in a drought? We here in Cali are enduring this plight right now. Our commitment to mitigating the present drought is half-assed because in the back of our minds we can’t really fathom a world in which we don’t have one of its most basic resources. There are radio PSAs about taking “power showers” and not watering our lawns, but imagine if we had to each live on only a few gallons of water per day. I’m talking to drink, cook with, bathe in, wash dishes and clothes with, etc. It’s a plight faced by many third world nations, but isn’t real to us. But imagine if the rains don’t come, the reservoirs dry up, LA’s swimming pools become skate parks, and you don’t have running water in your house. How would that change things? Would you not be another knock searching for a sip?

“We need water, our world needs water, our bodies need water, it’s probably the most essential element to life… I chose water specifically because I feel like it can metaphorically be taken into a lot of directions.” No matter which track you listen to, you’ll hear him riffing off water, while also exploring the plight of America’s black community, the music industry, and life in the Chi over chill instrumentals. Sometimes, he has a laid back KRIT vibe to him and sometimes he revs up, but he consistently bodies verses and challenges listeners not to fall for the okey doke.

On “Martyrs” he shares the results of a community coping with racism, violence, and trauma. The result? A tongue-in-cheek chorus that mirrors the self-hatred that bleeds through so much hip-hop these days. I hate to invoke radio rap as a comparison, because we all know what a low bar that is, but it’s hard not to listen to Mick Jenkins and imagine how much better off we would be if the airwaves were flooded with this brand of wisdom, rather than a steady diet of hyper-capitalist misogyny. I realize that such a statement officially makes me a hating-ass old head with a vintage Jansport, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true.

“We’ve been ready to take off for like 400 years now / But we’re blinded through our ears now.”

Also, be sure to check out some highlights from first mixtape Trees and Truths below.

Here is an introduction to Mick. Tell me he doesn’t look like Basquiat and sound a tad like 3 Stacks in his video for “Chicago.”

On “Value Village” Jenkins implores listeners without the means, like himself, to reject brand name dependency with his refrain, “Don’t listen, save money” and “Fuck the mall.” Mind you that this thrift store anthem was recorded and released before Macklemore & Ryan Lewis rode the concept to stardom. #ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmm

Plenty more dope music from Mick can be found on Youtube. Seek him out, spread the word, and save water!

Given the scenery, Hawaii is all but built for romance. So, it stands to reason couples will find countless ways (and an endless array of places) to pass the time—whether they’re planning a honeymoon, anniversary getaway or straight-up rendezvous.

Attend a Luau

Each night beginning at 4:15 p.m. on the terrace on Ka’anapali beach, the Hyatt Regency Maui resort & Spa features a nightly “Drums of the Pacific” performance, torch lighting ceremony and luau. An authentic imu ceremony reveals the main dish to be served: Kalua pua’a. Everyone gets to wear a shell lei. The all-you-can-eat buffet features everything from lomi lomi salmon to ulupalakua beef, taro and a dessert bar with pineapple cake and bread pudding.

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
200 Nohea Kai Dr.
Lahaina, Hawaii
(808) 661-1234

Take a Hike

Enjoy a 2 1/2-hour, 1.4-mile hike up to the summit of Oahu’s 760-foot Diamond Head Crater, which is known for its panoramic views of Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, guides reveal interesting tidbits about local history, plant and animal life, and geology. Tours are offered at 6 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., and hotel pickup can be arranged.

Oahu Nature Tours
1549 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, Hawaii 96826
(808) 924-2473

Swim With Dolphins

Get up close and personal with Hawaii’s dolphins, penguins and sea turtles at Sea Life Park Hawaii. Those who opt to book the “Royal Dolphin Swim” take a dorsal fin ride. There’s the option to enjoy a simple shallow-water “fin shake,” too. Alternatively, you can get to know the park’s sea lions. A trainer will teach you how to give commands and allow you to hop in the water with the affectionate creatures. Reservations also can be made to hang out with stingrays, learn about their anatomy, feed them and touch their strangely slippery skin.

Sea Life Park
41-202 Kalanianaole Hwy #7
Waimanalo, Hawaii 96795
(866) 393-5158

Take a Submarine Ride

Journey to the depths of the sea to view tropical fish, coral reefs and sunken airplanes, and ships 100 feet below the water’s surface. Offered aboard a 48-seat or 64-seat submarine–the larger of the two features a especially roomy viewing area.

Atlantis Submarine Tour
Honu Hawaii Activities
(888) 808-4668

Growing in popularity, destination weddings offer couples the chance to celebrate with friends and family while allowing the bride and groom to escape the hassles of planning a traditional wedding. Consider California when choosing a location for a destination wedding: California provides a variety of landscapes and year-round destinations.

Lake Tahoe

According to the Lake Tahoe Wedding & Honeymoon Association, Kodak called Lake Tahoe one of the most photographed places on the planet. Imagine a wedding ceremony by the cobalt-blue waters surrounded by the Sierra Mountains. Offering over 300 days of sunshine year-round, Lake Tahoe provides breathtaking wedding locations in both the summer and winter. Consider The Wedding Chapel at Harveys or Chapel of the Bells for a more traditional ceremony. Capture the beauty of Lake Tahoe with an outdoor ceremony at Emerald Bay aboard a boat or on Regan beach West.

The Wedding Chapel at Harveys
P.O. Box 128
Stateline, NV 89449
Phone: 800-553-1022
Web site: www.harveystahoeweddings.com

Chapel of the Bells
2700 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Phone: 800-247-4333
Web site: www.tahoechapelofthebells.com

Catalina Island

Get swept away to another country without leaving the United States. Located about 22 miles off the southwest coast of California, Catalina offers a Mediterranean-style setting. Access the island via the Catalina Express, which leaves from the Long Beach port several times daily (purchase tickets in advance, as they often sell out for the hourlong boat ride). Choose from beach-side settings, ballrooms, secluded coves or banquet rooms in restaurants. Check the Catalina Chamber of Commerce Web site for wedding planners, wedding packages and other services.

California Wine Country

Plan your nuptials in California wine country. While Napa and Sonoma may come immediately to mind, consider other destinations such as Monterey, Santa Barbara and Paso Robles. Planning ahead for a destination wedding at a winery or vineyard is essential because they do book up quickly, especially during the summer and harvest. Serving the products from the winery at your destination wedding are a given, but inquire about catering services and other beverages. Wineries and vineyards provide not only picture-perfect scenes but the convenience of the same location for both the ceremony and reception.

Online Social Gaming, which boasts an average of 250 million users each month, is a heretofore undervalued and under appreciated medium despite its gaudy audience numbers.

This is an open letter to all marketers…

Dear Mr., Mrs., Miss & Ms. Marketer:

What if I told you I know where you can get your product, service or ware in front of 250 million potential customers and it doesn’t involve creating a TV spot or print ad or billboard or any physical collateral?

What if I also told you that 59% of the 250 million who are considered “adult” are women? The same women who…

Are involved in almost 75% of all electronics purchases

• Make 74% of NBA and NFL purchases
• Make up more than 50% of the automotive market, spending an estimated $80 billion a year on new-car sales
• Make up 85% of ALL brand purchases in the US

Without even knowing what context I am referencing these numbers in, I’m guessing I would have your undivided attention, right?

Well, apparently not… at least not those who took part in a recent Forrester report which revealed 84% have no plans to use online social games in their U.S. marketing strategies in the next year.

Did I mention the 250 million potential customers?

Furthermore, the Forrester report shows only 19% believe games will become more effecting marketing vehicles in the next three years.

What in the name of Farmville is going on here?

I had to laugh when I read one particular line from the article about this report on MediaPost.com:

“Forrester views this as a missed opportunity…”

Now, I don’t know if this is the author of the article speaking or if Forrester really did use the phrase in its report, doesn’t matter. After reading the line, I felt like screaming aloud “NO KIDDING!!!!”

Not taking advantage of an audience of 250 million is a missed opportunity? You don’t say.

Not all is lost however as some companies such as McDonald’s and Farmer’s Insurance, have in fact seen the online social gaming light and have advertised on Farmville but they appear to be in the minority.

My advice to all marketers is simple and comes down to the four-letter word every marketer learns on their first day of marketing class: Test.

Making the assumption you know who your target customer is, AKA their demo, overlay those figures onto the online social gaming space and find a game that best matches up and test, test and test!

And as for metrics… developers and third parties are already doing that, tracking such metrics as fans, click-throughs, time spent, site visits and purchase intent.

So don’t just sit there marketers of the world… get your game on, your online social game that is.

Thank you for your time.

Honeymoons are often thought of as lavish and luxurious vacations where newlyweds can relax and enjoy their time together. Luxurious and relaxing does not have to be expensive. Newlyweds can save some much-needed cash by picking a less expensive honeymoon location that they can enjoy just as much as basking in the luxury of the south of France. cruises, Mexican vacations and winter destination honeymoons can all be great honeymoons without sending the newlywed couple into debt.

Mexico

Mexico’s weak currency and reliance on tourism often means blowout deals on travel. West Coast couples also have the opportunity to drive into Mexico, which saves on airfare. If you must fly, book your flight 30 days in advance for the best deal, and shop around for an all-inclusive resort. All-inclusive resorts often offer room upgrades and other specials for honeymoon couples, and the romantic setting on the beach is deal for honeymooners.

Cruising

Cruises can be an inexpensive and luxurious way to spend a honeymoon. Because most cruises are all-inclusive, you will spend less than you would if you flew to a location and booked a hotel. Cruising to the Caribbean from the Eastern Seaboard can be particularly inexpensive, running around $600 to $1,500 for two people, depending on the length of the cruise, ports of call and departure port. Excursions and planned trips off the boat will cost extra, but the lower cost of cruising can help to offset additional costs. Book a cruise three to six months in advance for the best rates.

Winter Destinations

If you life nearby a winter hot spot, book a room in advance and honeymoon on the slopes. If you book a peak-period trip during off-peak months, you will get a better deal. Many skiing and snowboarding locales offer honeymoon specials. Since there are plenty of mountains to choose from in the U.S., stick to one that is closer to home. For example, head down to the Poconos in Pennsylvania if you are in the Tri-State area. Driving to your location will cost less than if you flew somewhere, and you can spend as little as three days on a honeymoon to keep costs low without feeling bad about wasting airfare on a short trip. To save more money, look for a resort or hotel that offers deals on ski instruction or lift-ticket discounts.

Sometimes the best travel deals are all inclusive vacation packages. Most of these all inclusive vacation packages vary in what’s included. For instance, you might find a deal that includes airfare, hotel, car rental and a few days at the location of your choice. You might even come across a special package featuring airfare, luxury resort, car rental, unlimited meals and drinks. There are many different all inclusive vacation packages to choose from.

Disney Magic Your Way Premium Package

The Disney Magic Your Way Premium Package is a generous vacation package featuring luxury resort accommodations, Magic Your Way Base Ticket which allows you to customize it to your needs, three meals and two snacks per person and unlimited access to select recreation which includes golf, tickets to a show and more.

Sandals Carribean All Inclusive Vacation for Two People in Love

Sandals is know for their all inclusive vacation packages. The All Inclusive Vacation for Two People in Love package features the luxury resort, three meals, unlimited drinks, scuba diving, golf in Jamaica or St. Lucia, access to some of the Caribbean’s best private beaches, and it covers all tips, gratuities and hotel taxes — in some cases it includes butler service for your suite.

Alaska Explorer Safari

If you’re looking for a little more excitement from all inclusive vacation packages, consider the Alaska Explorer Safari. You’ll get to explore the Alaskan wilderness for nine days in style. You’ll hardly be roughing it. Your first two nights will be spent at the exclusive Kenai Backcountry Lodge. Your next two nights feature deluxe tent camping in Denali National Park. Enjoy the next six days cozied up in a cabin. Explore the wilderness around you before ending the vacation experience with two more nights of tent camping. The best part of the experience is you get to enjoy the experience and the natural beauty of the landscape while the camping guides do all the work.

Google’s mobile site templates make it easier for businesses to create a mobile site and increase their mobile search presence.

Because there are already too many articles out there stressing the importance of creating a mobile presence, I’ll spare you the talking points and just get right to the point: You can now create a mobile site that, while it may not work as a permanent solution, can at least allow you to dip your toes in the water. And you can do it for next to nothing and very few technical skills.

While a search on “Mobile Site Templates” will return a slew of sites that are to mobile site templates what WordPress is to web templates, things just got more serious because Google has joined the fray with their own set of mobile site templates.

It’s a simple, basic solution that will serve users a mobile version of your site with just the information they need. And because it’s a Google template, you know you’re getting a search-friendly solution you can trust to get the job done.

For example, say you’re a restaurant, which is exactly the type of industry where mobile is becoming most valuable and important. Google has a mobile site template for you that will allow you to serve users a landing page with your logo, an area for other images or text like your hours, and a prominent phone number that users can click to call. In addition, at the bottom of the page, there are links to coupons, menu, and directions. As the image shows, all of this appears on the page so that users won’t have to scroll to see the restaurant’s most important information.

Even if you’re not a restaurant, Google has a template for you. They have Local Business templates, which allow you to list products and promotions; Lead Generation with a click to subscribe button; Social which has links to all of your social sites like Twitter, facebook, YouTube, etc.; eCommerce for product sales – with pricing; and Custom, in case none of these work for you. And because they’re templates, there is no reason you can’t customize any of these if you have a skilled development team.

The bottom line is that creating a mobile site no longer takes a huge budget; it just takes a little time and planning.