Connecting with people has never been easier with an iPad. Remember having to drive over the river and through the woods to get to grandma? That’s ancient history. You can talk visit with grandma while you’re 3,000 miles away in California or just around the corner. Face Time allows you to see and hear your loved ones in real time video. Distance is no longer a factor in how we communicate with each other. A father-to-be on a business trip can see his newborn daughter with just one touch.

iPads make our bags lighter. They are the ultimate entertainment console. Movies, books, and games are all at your fingertips. Imagine taking all that on a car trip or trying to stuff it in your luggage. That’s an overweight bag fee for you my friend. iPads take the hassle out of packing and puts everything at your fingertips.

iPads in turn make traveling easier. From long layovers at the airport to screaming children on the plane, we can make miserable situations more entertaining. You can buy books to read during layovers, block out the guy snoring loudly next to you with your death metal playlist, or comfort your cranky kid with interactive games and be revered by all as the coach class hero. If anything, they make the airport a tolerable place.

Your iPad can also adapt to unique situations. Are you flying out to L.A. for a video shoot? You get a call that the teleprompter on set is damaged. What can you do? Turn your tablet into a teleprompter. You can easily download the software through iTunes and save the day. All you need is a universal tripod mount and an adjustable camera mount. The iPad teleprompter is smaller, but it still has the same functionality of larger models. It’s also lightweight and easy to use. The teleprompter’s compact size and the iPad’s versatility make this an easy solution for any close-up video shoot are small speaking engagement.

The iPad is a lesson in versatility. It is a digital portal to almost anything you can imagine. You can connect with friends and family, create your own personal theater, or catch up on the latest best-seller. You can even make the airport bearable. If that isn’t enough, this thin device can even be an asset at your next video shoot or speaking engagement. The question is, what will your iPad do next?

“We are the first 100% mobile drug testing franchise company with a national footprint,” says Jeffrey Sardisco, COO of USA Mobile Drug Testing (USAMDT). “Our certified drug testing services, performed by compliance specialists, bring increased productivity, centralized recordkeeping and lower liability to clients, whether they have five or 75,000 employees. Clients can be assured of complete compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements and other applicable regulations through our Compliance Data Information System. We stand behind our clients in the event they are audited.”

What can you expect from USAMDT? A level of service that will surpass your expectations. The Tampa headquarters supports a nationwide network of local franchises near you. Testing is quick and convenient. This means no money is spent on employee travel and loss of productivity is minimized. All test results are handled in a prompt and professional manner on location. All procedures are in accordance with federal and state regulations.

Drug testing isn’t the only service that they offer. If you need assistance setting up a drug free work place program, they can do that too. Companies with a drug free workplace program see immediate results. Over 50% of all workplace accidents are reduced within 2 years of implementing a drug free workplace program. They also offer background checks for new job applicants. This service includes criminal records search, social security number verification, reference checks, and employment verification to name a few. Training is also provided for supervisor and employees to increase awareness on the latest federal regulations on drugs and alcohol. Training topics include The Supervisor’s Role, Drug and Alcohol Testing, and Employee Awareness Training. You can empower your company through new policies and increased awareness on a national issue.

USAMDT strives to increase awareness of drug and alcohol use in the workplace while adding value to your business. Companies that implement a drug free workplace policy can expect increased productivity, a dramatic decrease in money spent on accidents and claims, and a reputation of integrity and trust within the community.

First, you should choose a safe location for your family to wait out the storm. This might be inside your house; you should think about a windowless room on the first floor or basement. If you cannot find a safe location in your house, try to find at least two emergency shelters near your house. If you or your family has special medical requirements, you should call your county ahead of time and work something out.

Another tip is to have a lot of food and water available. There should be enough non-perishable food and water in your house so that your family can live for 3 weeks. Your stock of food might get old after a few years, so be sure to check on it from time to time and refresh it.

Next, you should have disaster supplies on hand – batteries, flashlights, tarps, plastic bags, rope, and clothes for bad weather.

Fourth, prepare your home itself for the storm. You should make sure your hurricane shutters have all the parts you need and have some extra screws and washers on hand. Also have some precut plywood to cover your windows.

Fifth, have a communications plan set up with your loved ones. You could get separated during the storm. Consider having an out of state contact that everyone in your family is instructed to get in touch with during the storm.

Further, it is wise to have a good look at your insurance coverage. Companies will not write coverage when the storm is coming. You should make sure your insurance has sufficient windstorm damage to rebuild your house at current prices.

Also, remember your family pets. Shelters rarely accept animals. You should be sure to evacuate your pets ahead of time to a friend’s home before the storm hits.
Further, have enough gas in your car. Keep at least ½ a tank in each vehicle. Lines can get very long for gas as the storm approaches.

Ninth, make sure you have several hundred dollars in cash at home. ATMs could be non functional when the storm hits. Also have enough medicines for all family members, and have a good first aid kit.

Last, you should create a ‘take’ box that has everything in it that you would need to rebuild your life if you lost everything. Passports, birth and wedding certificates, adoption and divorce papers, copies of insurance policies, mortgage information, car and house title are some examples.

The main advantage to using a teleprompter in your presentations is the connection that it enables you to make with your audience. When you can make continuous eye contact with the men and women behind the lens of your camera, an instant connection is created that is hard to match. When the viewers see you gazing warmly into their eyes while telling them what they need to hear, they feel connected to you and drawn to what you are saying. This kind of connection is extremely hard to create without the use of a teleprompter. With note cards or other kinds of cues, your attention is continually being distracted as you refer to your notes, and eye contact with your audience is continually broken.

Another advantage to using a teleprompter is how much your presentation will improve when you remove all memorization from the equation. Whether you are used to referring to your notes or memorizing your script ahead of time, remembering what to say next is a nightmare that will be a thing of the past when you use a teleprompter. On the contrary, you will appear more spontaneous and more brilliant than ever, as well as more precise in your speaking. A teleprompter can help you forget about remembering and instead focus only on getting your point across and speaking to the souls of your viewers.

There are many more advantages to using a teleprompter such as being able to pace your presentation to fit into a specific time slot, use exact wording, and appear less clumsy, but let’s now talk about a few disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that you will have to invest money in order to get a teleprompter that is really worth having. Although there are plenty of cheap teleprompters out there, to really boost your presentation to the maximum, be prepared to invest quite a hefty sum. Another disadvantage is that teleprompters don’t work under water. If you ever need to give a magical, underwater presentation about the mating habits of dolphins, be prepared to revert to plasticized note cards.

One key distinction to make when discussing the concept of renewable energy is that of sustainability. One could make the argument that, in the long term, fossil fuels are a renewable energy resource. While the logic stands on its own, this is a failed notion. The central difference between fossil fuels and other forms of renewable energy is that fossil fuels are being depleted at a rate faster than they can be replenished. For this reason, fossil fuels cannot be considered truly renewable. They are simply not sustainable, due to the accelerated rate of consumption.

Some of the more popular renewable energy resources include sunshine, water, and wind. Solar energy refers to the energy that is collected from sunlight. This form of energy is captured using a photovoltaic array, more commonly known as a solar panel. The solar radiation is captured by the photovoltaic array and converted to direct current (DC) electricity. From there, the direct current electricity must be converted to alternating current (AC) for use in most applications. The converted electricity is then stored in a battery for use at a later date.

There are also various forms of energy that exist in water. One of the most commonly acknowledged is that of hydroelectric energy, but there are a number of others including tidal power and ocean thermal energy conversion. Hydroelectric energy generally employs the use of a dam, wherein the energy of the water flow is captured and used to power a turbine. The turbine then generates a supplementary form of electricity. Tidal power attempts to make use of the natural energy potential of tidal activity in the oceans and seas. In simple terms, the high tide is captured and fed through a turbine to generate electricity. Ocean thermal energy conversion attempts to exploit the variances in water temperature, from the warmer surface water to the cooler deep water, resulting in a cyclic heat engine.

Wind power is one of the oldest accepted forms of renewable energy. It has been used for centuries as a source of power, dating back to the creation of the sailboat. The innate potential of wind power was realized a number of years later in the form of a wind mill. In this instance, the kinetic energy of wind is used to drive a turbine which, in turn, generates electricity. Wind energy possesses immense potential for sustainable energy generation, and a number of large-scale development projects are currently underway throughout the world.

One of the greatest challenges facing humanity is to discover a way to reduce our reliance on unsustainable resources, like fossil fuels. Most, if not all, modern industrial societies rely far too greatly on fossil fuels and increasingly, this is becoming an undeniable reality. Wars of conquest are being waged to secure what is left of the world’s oil reserves. If only the resources of the powerful nations were channeled into developing sustainable energy alternatives, as opposed to driving a war machine bent on dominating the oil markets. Our modern way of life is going to undergo some difficult times in the very near future, if this reality continues to be ignored. Ask yourself what you can do to make a difference. You might be surprised at what you can accomplish.

Our economy has been slowly growing for about a year now, but has produced few, if any new jobs to show for it. And now that the government is reporting a weak growth rate of less than three percent in the second quarter and federal stimulus funds are drying up, our job outlook appears even more bleak.

Economic growth has fallen drastically during the latest quarter, according to a report released by the Commerce Department. Not surprisingly, consumer spending was weaker than initially indicated earlier in the recovery.

Many economists predict further slowdowns through the second half of 2010, possibly even as low as 1.5 percent annually. That is largely because businesses have refilled the stockrooms that were emptied during the early days of the financial crisis, and there will not be much need for additional orders for some time to come.

The fiscal stimulus programs that have artificially propped up growth are running out. That’s good news for people who believe in an economy based on sound financial principals rather than redistribution of wealth. State Representative Rachel Burgin said “It is business, not government, that creates jobs.”

Government spending has shot up more than most could have imagined, at an annual rate of 4.4 percent. Adding insult to injury, salary for public sector jobs has risen to nearly twice that of comparable jobs in the private sector while the unemployment rate hovers at just under 10%. A far cry from the promises of Obama that it would never go above 8%.

For the time being, American businesses, and to a lesser degree, American households, seem to be hanging on. But a report released by the University of Michigan and Thomson Reuters showed that consumer confidence tumbled in July.

The approaching midterm elections could have a dramatic impact on both our economic and our employment circumstances. Voters are becoming far more vocal and active then we’ve seen in years, pushing hard for a back to basics approach. They’re tired of seeing their tax dollars and the futures of their children and grandchildren squandered by politicians trying to buy votes.

So what can be done to fix the problems we’re facing? Unfortunately, there is no quick and easy answer, but we can start by electing politicians who understand how important it is to support small businesses, which employ nearly 6o million Americans. “Representative Burgin once again showed why she’s earned the trust of the business community, both in her district and around the state,” said Adam Babington, the Chamber’s Vice President of Governmental Affairs. “She was willing to take the tough votes and support the key issues that are vital to turning our economy around and creating jobs in our state.”

The US job outlook is bleak, to say the least, but by replacing career politicians with those who care about the private sector, we will begin to see a shift in focus that allows small business to thrive and grow.

Now that you’re stuck with that mental picture forever burned into your mind, I’ll share some good news with you. There is a way to change your scenery, and it doesn’t involve calling a Realtor!

I came across this company right here in Tampa called Create My Scene that prints all sorts of murals. They have a database of thousands of images from professional photographers, and you can even upload your own if it’s large enough, or have there designers create something custom for you. I started browsing their website last night, and after searching through their beach scenes for three hours, I realized that I really need a vacation. But I digress…

So you can choose from either adhesive or non-adhesive wall murals, or static cling for windows. As for me, I’m particularly excited about the static cling option since it means I will never again be subjected to the horrors of a 60-something year old man who apparently doesn’t own a mirror. I can’t wait to open my windows, look out and see a beautiful and relaxing beach, complete with crystal blue water and pristine white sand.

It will be quite a chance of scenery indeed!

If you want to enjoy the fun of a theme park without the mind-numbing drive to Orlando, Busch Gardens of Tampa Bay is where you want to be.

Busch Gardens offers something for everyone. If you’re an adrenaline-junkie who loves roller coasters, you’re in luck, because Busch Gardens offers an assortment of them, along with the new Shekria, which takes you on a wild ride with twists, turns and a 90 degree drop! And for those who want a bit of a break from Florida’s scorching summers, be sure to hop on one of their many water rides to cool down.

If rides aren’t your thing, check out some of the shows that Busch Gardens has to offer. Wild animals are abundant throughout the park, with a bird aviary, zebras, hippos, giraffes, lions, monkeys and more; you may even feel as though you’re right in the heart of Africa.

Food and beverages are reasonably priced within the park, and multi-day discounts are available, which is a great things since you can’t possibly squeeze everything the park has to offer into just one day.

Tampa Lowry Park Zoo

Voted the “#1 Zoo in the U.S.” by Parents Magazine (2009) and Child Magazine (2004), Tampa’s very own Lowry Park Zoo is the home to more than 2,000 animals in 56 acres of exotic natural habitats.

The Zoo is made up of seven exhibit areas: Asian Gardens, Primate World, Manatee and Aquatic Center, Florida Wildlife Center, Free-Flight Aviary, Wallaroo Station Children’s Zoo and Safari Africa .

Asian Gardens: Malayan tapirs, tigers, komodo dragons, Lorikeet Free Flight Aviary (feeding allowed), Indian rhino, sloth bears, babirusa pigs, Asian python, anoa, the Sulawesi Aviary and clouded leopard. Safari Africa: African elephants, giraffe (feeding allowed), Grant’s zebra, Grevy’s Zebras, African penguins, white rhinos, flamingos. The “Ituri Forest” area in Safari Africa opened in 2007 and is named after a deep jungle in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This area features cheetahs, striped hyenas, red river hogs, pygmy hippos, shoebill storks, ring-tailed lemurs, greater African flamingos, great white pelicans and okapis.

Florida Wildlife Center: Bald eagles, whooping cranes, deer, black bear, red wolves, skunks, Florida panther, crocodiles, alligators, flamingos, and river otters. The zoo is the only wildlife center in the world where you can find the most comprehensive collection of Florida’s endangered native species.

Manatee & Aquatic Center: Has the famous manatee & aquatic center with manatees, aquariums, reptiles and sting rays. The zoo’s David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Hospital is the only non-profit manatee hospital in the world specifically dedicated to the treatment of sick, injured and orphaned manatees.

Free Flight Aviary: A sub-tropic rainforest with over 200 species of birds from around the world.

Primate World: Habitats include chimpanzees, siamangs, orangutans, colobus monkeys, marmosets, lemurs, mandrills and Guenon.

Wallaroo Station: The zoo’s four-and-a-half acre Australian themed children’s zoo features Eastern gray kangaroos, Bennett’s wallabies, ponies (Pony Trek ride), llamas, goats (petting area), New Guinea singing dogs, flying fox bats, emus, laughing kookaburra and koala.

Families can get hands-on at interactive exhibits like giraffe and white rhino feeding, Stingray Bay, the Kangaroo Walkabout, Lorikeet Landing and a petting zoo.

There are also a variety of rides for everyone, like The Safari Ride, Treetop Skyfari Skyride, Jungle Carousel, Camel Safari and Gator Falls water flume ride, and the kids will love cooling off in the zoo’s many water play areas.

Bayshore Boulevard

Bayshore Boulevard is located in South Tampa right next to Tampa General Hospital, connecting to downtown Tampa. It is a long, scenic and winding sidewalk along the bay. Many locals Rollerblade, bike, walk, run and jog the trail, in fact, it’s been rated as one of the nation’s top running paths. It’s great for anyone who wants to get a good workout or just take time to enjoy the water and spectacular homes along Bayshore Boulevard.

Hyde Park

This quaint and historic community is tucked away just south of downtown, deep in the heart of old Tampa. As one of Tampa’s oldest neighborhoods, Hyde Park showcases beautiful pre-1940′s architecture in styles such as Queen Anne, Tudor, Classical, Colonial and other revival styles. The homes themselves are a shining example of old Tampa’s classic charm. In fact, Walt Disney Co. executives toured Hyde Park in the hopes of duplicating the unique designs when the company was planning its first housing development. Many of the homes in Hyde Park have been carefully restored and renovated and the Hyde Park Village offers more than 50 upscale shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. The Village resembles a European promenade, with tree-lined streets, colorful awnings, patio restaurants, and lush parks. The community dates back to 1879, and picturesque street lamps further add to its vintage charm.

Though it was less than a 1-minute drive from my house, I hadn’t noticed Gaspar’s Cigar Shoppe until a friend pointed it out. For me, finding this tiny cigar shop tucked neatly away was like finding my very own buried treasure. It has a great atmosphere, reasonable prices and is a the perfect refuge for any cigar aficionado. I’ll often haul my laptop over when I want to get some work done while enjoying a cigar (it’s tough to do that in an office) or just drop in to watch a little bit of television, or talk business or politics.

Gaspar’s was established by fourth generation Tampa native, Davelis “D.C.” Goutoufas, whose roots run deep in Tampa Bay. Goutoufas is the great grandson of a pioneering Greek who helped settle Tampa in 1887.

Inside, you can find a wide range of familiar cigars, as well as locally hand-rolled cigars, and Tampa’s only all-hours smoking den. Choose a cigar and stay for a smoke while enjoying a coffee, game of dominoes or television program, or even just sit back and relax in their overstuffed leather chairs. They can even provide a large conference room for meetings.