Paris Hilton was released today from jail for her 23-day sentencing. She was placed into the Century Regional Detention Facility because of a second violation of driving without a license and a reckless driving charge. These past 23 days, Paris has been the hottest celebrity news. They have talked about her being allowed to go home after just 3 days, getting celebrity treatment, allowed to be kept away from the other inmates, etc. I really just have one question. Will this experience really change her? It could be a start, but I think it will take more. It will be interesting to see how this pans out...

Google map image: Century Regional Detention Facility

A couple weeks ago, I was searching around Google to see if anything has come out under my radar. I found a page in the Business section that allows you to submit your business address (Local Business Center). I thought this would be another good addition for the publicity of my company. It could help people find my location, get directions easier, and maybe even help someone find out about my company for the first time! I filled out the information needed and was told to wait for a postcard in the mail to confirm that it was my address.

A few days later I received a postcard from Google with an access code on it. I entered the code on their website and my company was added to Google Maps! I guess the coolest part about this was having my company added, but my favorite part has to be getting a postcard in the mail from Google! Anyways...make sure to check out my company, Nalod Associates, LLC on Google Maps!

Google map image: Nalod Associates, LLC

The vacation is finally over! I have to get back to the "grindstone" and get some work done for my clients. Before I start doing that, I figured I would talk a little about my trip to Reno, NV. The main purpose for the trip was to bowl in the USBC 2007 Championships. The tournament consists of a team event (5 people per team), doubles and singles. Almost everyone that goes bowls in all events, and then qualify for the all-events category (where they take all your scores from the 3 events). All of these are held in the National Bowling Stadium found in downtown Reno. I did not do so well. I know I have not been bowling as well as I used to since I came back (I took 2 years off to try to enjoy the game again), but this tournament really showed how rusty I am. I shot decent in doubles (620), but nothing in the other 2 events. The other side tournaments around town were just as bad for me!

But what about the rest of the time? I spent most of the time that I was not bowling hanging out with friends that came to the tournament (most also bowled, but there were a few that just came for the vacation) and gambled. We stayed at the Atlantis that is located a little bit out of the city. I am really happy for this since the city casinos scared me! We went to a casino that was right down the street from the stadium (I think it was called Cal Neva), and I was afraid I was going to get mugged inside the casino! I highly suggest that if you visit Reno, try to stay at a casino with a great reputation...may I suggest the Peppermill?

After visiting Reno, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City, I would only recommend someone to go to Las Vegas if they are going on a Casino-based vacation. Sure the others suffice for gambling and trying to win some money, but the atmosphere is something Reno and Atlantic City cannot compete with.

Google map image: National Bowling Stadium

Happy Dyngus Day. I honestly know nothing about this celebration, but I know it is huge in Buffalo! I tried to do some research on it, but it seemed to me that it was another St. Patrick's day...anyone know? My guess is that most people like to give up alcohol for Lent. To make up for missing St. Patrick's Day and to celebrate Lent coming to an end, they all meet up for a Dyngus Day Celebration and party the night away. I hope I am close with that guess...

I heard a few people last week talking about going to a Celebration place this afternoon, and thought it would make a good map image! If you are in the area, it sounds like the place to be will be the Hearthstone Manor on Dick Road in Cheektowaga. The party starts at noon (there goes people working today), and costs $8 to enter. Have a great Dyngus Day everyone!!!

Google map image: Dyngus Day Celebration

I enjoy looking at company "Campuses", and comparing them to what other companies have. My favorite 4 have to be Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Dell. After starting to write today's post, I found out that I never wrote about Google's campus...what was I thinking?!?! I will have to write about it very soon.

Did you ever wonder where these massive companies actually started working out of before they got these campuses though? Eric sent me a link to where Google first started. When Larry and Sergey had to move away from Stanford, they ended up renting a garage for their first location of their company. They were very smart with their money (or the money they really didn't have), and this is one of the ways that they could have saved a little. In the area, rental was very expensive, so renting out someone's garage ($1700/month) was a very cool idea. I left the "search" arrow up on the map image to help you spot the house/garage.

Google map image: Google Garage

The Intel Corporation has been in the news a lot recently. A lot of the articles are related to their newest processor line, the Core 2 Duo. Even though they are bragging about their newest processor to sell it, there are even more articles talking about their future (Quad Core). Because of all of this news, I went on a "virtual tour" of Intel and found their Headquarters on Google Maps! Their Headquarters is found in Santa Clara, CA. It has about 8,500 employees at this one location (about 15 locations in the US, and who knows how many in other countries!) Most of the locations are specialized in certain areas of the company, but since this is headquarters, these employees partake in many different branches of the company.

One fact that really caught my eye is that over 100,000 people visit this Intel location every year so they can see the Intel Museum. This museum holds all of Intel's history, and also shows the evolution of the computer. I'm not a big museum fan, but I would still love to see this!

Since Intel is spread out across the country (and the world), I do not think I can classify this as a Campus (like Google and Microsoft). Campus atmospheres are my favorite to view, but I will have to do with what I get.

Google map image: Intel Corporation - Santa Clara

There is a little restaurant by my house called "Apollo's". It is my mother's favorite place to go for dinner. It seems like every time we go to eat there, it is a Friday...and I am always asking "Where are the performers?" Ma never gets it, but (to me) the Apollo is not a restaurant, but a place where people in the entertainment business can have their dreams come true and be on stage! So many stars have played at the Apollo and became who they are today because of their performance there. On the flip side, the Apollo has killed so many careers in the entertainment business. The Apollo was built in 1914 in Harlem, NY. It did not start its "Amateur Nite Hour at Apollo" until 1934. The venue helped people like James Brown and Michael Jackson start on their road to stardom. Today, there is still a television show called "ShowTime at the Apollo" running weekly that does the same thing "Amateur Nite Hour at Apollo" did. It really is a dream for many people to perform here, but even more of a wish to do well and have the audience accept you on the stage. Just remember that if you get on stage, you better rub the Tree of Hope for some good luck!

Google map image: Apollo

The next time I visit Boston, I really want to go see the Museum of Science! I know a lot of you would not want to waste your vacation time to see a museum, but this specific museum has a lot of meaning to me. When I was younger, I got the opportunity to sleep overnight in the museum. I was in a huge contest that held the regional part of the contest right inside the Museum. When you registered, they gave a card saying where we would be sleeping. My family and I got the brain room! When my sister saw the cat brain, we moved out to sleep in the hall. It was a weekend packed with fun playing and seeing everything that the museum had to offer. The museum had a lot of hands-on things that you could do, and I would love to go visit it again and see what is still the same (of what I can remember). Looking at the map image of the museum, I already noticed one thing that I did not remember...water all around the building! I was only 10 years old at the time, so I am sure details like that were lost. I am hoping to take a trip to Boston sometime during August, so if you want to meet up with me and visit the Museum of Science, leave a comment!

Google map image: Boston Museum of Science

While looking around Philadelphia last night looking at all of the attractions found in the city, I came across a building that caught my eye. This building is called "Please Touch Museum". I was never a big fan of science museums or art galleries because of the idea "look, but don't touch". When you are a little kid, what fun is that? The idea behind the Please Touch Museum is to allow kids to have a hands-on experience at the museum. I think this is such a phenomenal idea! If they had this around when I was younger, I'm sure I would have loved to have gone. The admission fee seemed to be a little high (at $9.95 per person -- children or adult), but for your child's learning, this is just an investment to their education. They also have membership rates that you can purchase if you plan on coming to the museum often. The membership gives you free admission, invitations to special events at the museum, and discounts to many great offers. I hope to see museums like this start popping up all over the country!

Google map image: Please Touch Museum

When you think of music in New York City, you think of Radio City Music Hall. Many artists dream of having a concert right in the Hall, while others hope to get a call from Radio City Entertainment to do a concert for them. Radio City is known not only for the Radio City Hall, but also for their outdoor Christmas special and a few of the best Super Bowl half-time shows ever. Radio City Music Hall has been used for many concerts every year, awards show, movie premiers, and a lot more. It has even been recently used for sporting events. Radio City Music Hall is next to Rockefeller Center in the most famous and busy part of Manhattan.

Google map image: Radio City Music Hall