Seeing just a few swings gave me the itch to play some golf. It was too late to get 18 in on a regular course so I decided to take Casey out to eat and play chip-n-putt at Mulligan's in Whitehall.

Mulligan's has a pretty nice set up. They have a driving range with over 30 turf and grass tees to hit from, an 18-hole mini golf course, and a 9-hole par 3 chip-n-putt course. All of them are under lights, so we can play till at least 10pm.

Maybe if Casey is lucky I'll take her for ice cream after I whoop her on the chip-n-putt course.

Finally, Facebook goes beyond the Walls

It’s taken a while, but by using Facebook Fan Boxes (Embeddable Facebook Pages), businesses can leverage Facebook platform in a number of ways without needing to be a code monkey.

Three Reasons to Celebrate Facebook on your Site

This new widget is a huge opportunity to: Grow your following, build credibility, and keep current!

• Instant Opt-in: grow your opt-in audience with one-click access to becoming a Fan. Users of Facebook Fan Pages already know how easy it is to update Fans updates whenever you have something to share.
• Credibility Plus: build credibility by showcasing your fans on your Web page
• Keep your site Current: instantly update your Web page or blog by simply updating your Facebook status.

How to set-up Facebook Fan Boxes:

Look under your fan page for the link to your Fan Box - embeddable widget.

Copy the embed code, paste into your blog or Web site

Voila, Facebook on your site.

Summary:

Facebook Fan Boxes definitely up the ante against Google FriendConnect. The biggest enhancement Facebook brings is status. By comparison, Google’s widget offers a business card approach to networking, but without status updates (I’m sure it will come along soon). I’ve already dropped it on our blog and home page at Northern Edge Algonquin to integrate Facebook status updates and Fans into our home page. How will you use Facebook Fan Boxes to grow your business?

Links:

• Mashable article on Facebook Fan Boxes: Embeddable Facebook Pages
• Google Profile and Google Connect are Game Changers

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• world's best fossil forest
  
• Canada's oldest dinosaurs
• world's most complete fossil record
• world's smallest dinosaurs
• evidence of the 'missing link' between the Jurassic & Triassic periods of geological history
• best place in the world to see all three rock types from three different geological time periods: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic

The challenge / danger long term is that, traditionally, brands help consumers make decisions over two or more seemingly equal choices. When no compelling brand rises to the top, low price or value trumps. When a brand rises to the top, it wins. This has been true for as long as I can remember.

Coke trumps the low cost value brand every time. In the cigarette world, Philip Morris is still winning over generic, low cost and no-names. McDonald’s beats the no name roadside stand every time. To most people, Comfort Inn is more enticing than Betty and Bob’s roadside motel.

However, in tough economic times, consumers trade down to low cost options or do without temporarily - and then choose their desired brand again/more often when times get better.

Social media will make it much more difficult for brands that don’t have their act together. Each mistake they make will be visible to a much wider audience. Consumers will become experts that others look to for advice on the brands they are considering. Brands will still be viable and important, but how they succeed is changing dramatically. They will need to be more buttoned up, but also transparent.

If you think about how the independent restaurant cycle works: a new restaurant opens and gets buzz, does great while it is new and then begins to fade with age. This could happen / is happening to the travel industry as a whole - at an accelerating pace. It could potentially destroy the current brand-based business model and make the whole idea of inspirational travel disappear - if the entire market goes for low price, there is no sustainable business model for a high quality, branded experience.

Fortunately, there is no precedent for a complete collapse in the value a brand brings to the table. And while I do think marketing is undergoing a major revolution, in my humble opinion the idea of brand as a mechanism for choice will survive. How a brand manifests itself will change and has changed dramatically.

Those consumers who have traded down or done without as of late will choose travel brands again. Those that position themselves now for the upturn that will eventually come, will reap the benefits. Those that do not will be at the mercy of external forces for their very survival.

Oh boy do we love to eat! The gastronomic capital of South America is blessed with thick culinary heritage especially from its ancestry Italian and Spanish roots. Famous for the best barbequed meat (parrilla), Argentina is paradise especially for the meat lovers. From sophisticatede fine dining to simple snacks, food here comes at a good price and definitely in generous portions!

Parrillada

Most authentically Argentinean, the parrillada is an assortment of meat and internal organs barbequed to perfection. As the world envies the Argentineans for their world class grilled meat, this nation definitely never gets enough of its parrilla. For the faint-hearted, internal organs such as intestines, liver and kidney are also served up. Coupled with ice cold Quilmes beer, the grill definitely fills you up to your heart’s content.

Bife de Chorizo

Undoubtedly Argentina’s créme de la créme, the bife de chorizo is the most popular beef steak in the country. Thick and juicy, chorizo is one of the best parts of the cow to be grilled. Almost any restaurant in Argentina serves up juicy steaks at tempting prices.

 La Pergola at Plaza Dorrego in Buenos Aires, offers dinner sets for 40pesos (8euros) that includes a generous platter of bife de chorizo and fresh salad. Tango performance (additional cost of 10pesos) at the restaurant allows you a glimpse into the high-end local Porteño life. 

Cazuela de Llama

Like any other country, different parts of Argentina have its own culinary specialty and typical dish to take pride in. Northern Argentina has its unique Andean flavors that are rarely found in other parts of the country and are created to suit the geographical and climate of the region. The llama stew is typically found in the Jujuy province, with tender llama meat and its internal organs stewed into a rich gravy based concoction.

Napolitana con arroz

Due to the influx of italian immigrants, Argentinean cuisine is also deeply influenced by Italy. Napolitana consists of a beef steak, topped with melted cheese and ham. Served with rice, this dish is unique, although I personally think the taste of the beef is overshadowed by the ham.

Bife al Milanesa

Milanesa refers to the method of breading the beef and deep-frying to golden brown perfection. Found in every part of Argentina, this is a popular dish, usually served with fries or salad.

Humitas

Wrapped in corn leaf and steamed, humitas are grinded corn bits mixed with quinoa (Argentinean soy beans). With a slightly sweet flavor, the dish is extremely popular in the north and also in other Latin American countries.

Pizza

Commonly eaten for lunch, pizzas play a big part in Argentinean gastronomic life, almost as much as the italians’ lives. Pizzerias are found in every other corner of Argentina, providing an economic and culturally thick culinary delight.

Empanada

Argentina’s pride, the empanada, is a simple snack of meat/vegetables wrapped in a dough and baked to crispiness. Often taken as a tea break, the empanada is so popular among the locals and foreigners. With a variety of lfavours to choose from, from meat empanada to vegetarian or llama empanada, they are tasty and convenient.

Argentinean Wine

Wine is quintessential in an Argentinean culinary experience. With its own breed of wine, the most famous coming from the region of Mendoza, Argentinean wine is light and dry, perfect for a combination with steaks. The Malbec is one of my favourite with various species to choose from.

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Related Posts:

• Andean Villages of Northern Argentina
• Horse-riding in Cordoba, Argentina
• Masterpiece of Nature – the Iguazu Falls
• Enchanting Cemeteries of Chile & Argentina
• Budget Travel in Buenos Aires, Argentina

1 - Las Vegas “What Happens here, stays here” (since 2003)
2 - Incredible India (2009)
3 - New Zeland - 100% Pure (since 1999)
4 - Australia - Paul Hogan’s ads (1984-1990)
5 - Jamaica - “Once you go, you know” (since 2004)
6 - Pure Michigan - since 2006
7 - Alaska - “B4UDIE” 2005
8 - Canada - Locals Know 2009
9 - Oregon “150 Challenge” 2009
10 - Virginia - “Virgina is for Lovers” since 1969

Read the story Travel Campaigns Aim To Get People To Hit The Road in Forbes.com

Happy travelling.

Jaime