Marriott's Website Named Fastest in Industry by USA Today Study

Top-Ten Consumer Website Ranked #1 in Performance.

When booking a hotel room online, marriott.com users are experiencing the best the Internet has to offer.  According to a recent USA Today-commissioned study, Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) beat all others as the fastest and best performing lodging website.

By winning the top spot, marriott.com (http://www.marriott.com) earned the Gold Award for “Best of the Web.”  This designation came from USA Today’s partner in the study, Compuware.  The study’s metrics included speed, navigation and room details.  Extensive testing found that marriott.com loads quicker than two seconds.  Other hotel websites were sluggish, some taking up to eight seconds to load. 

FULL USA TODAY ARTICLE:

http://travel.usatoday.com/news/story/2011/06/Which-travel-websites-are-the-fastest/47916944/1

Biggest Comebacks

As we wait for our economy to bounce back to it’s normal resilience I thought this would be the perfect time to recount some of our biggest comebacks in sports history!  If these are some of your favorite teams I’m sure you remember some of these highlights!

NBA

36 points    Utah(win) vs Denver       11/27/1996

35 points    Sacramento(win) at Chicago 12/21/2009

31 points    Utah(win) vs Chicago      02/04/1998

NFL

32 points     1992: Buffalo Bills (win) Vs. Houston Oilers

28 points     1980: San Francisco 49ers (win) Vs. New Orleans Saints

24 points     2002: San Francisco 49ers (win) Vs. New York Giants

NHL

5  points    Edmenton vs Los Angeles(win)       04/10/1982

4  points    Montreal (win) at Boston 04/08/1971

4  points    San Jose(win) vs Los Angeles 04/19/2011

MLB

12  points     Cleaveland (win)  vs  Seatle     08/05/2001

12  points     Tigers (win)  vs  White Sox      06/08/1911

12  points     Athletic’s (win) vs  Indians      08/15/1925

Fast Food Ratings

As we travel, whether by air or car or whatever, fast food seems to go hand-in-hand with those trips.  When you’re trying to make time on the highway or just move through the terminal on your way to your gate a fast food restaurant can be a convenient and fast way to stay on track.  What it lacks in nutritional value and overall taste it more than compensates in ease, quickness and even cost overall.

We’ve all fallen into the trap of using fast food as easy way to feed ourselves at one time or another.  So here is how those restaurants stack up according to QSR:

2010 QSR 50

There’s no other list like this one. The QSR 50 brings the biggest names in the quick-service and fast-casual industries together in an all out sprint to the finish. Their domestic sales would make companies like Nike, Whirlpool, and Progress Energy blush. They are the top 50 companies shaping our industry.   We are only listing the top 10 in each category.  To see the complete list click HERE:

McDonald’s

1Once smoothies and frappés were in the pipeline, McDonald’s wasted no time making another splash with beverages. Reports that the chain would reprice all sodas at $1 initially drew scoffing—from franchisees as much as competitors. But within weeks the home office confirmed to QSR that “many local markets” had already adopted the discount. Now units are being revamped into places where you might kick back with your latte, frappé, or$1 Coke.

Subway

2Subway’s success simply can’t be stopped. So far this year, the company has opened more than 1,000 new locations around the world, crossed the milestone of 33,000 locations and premiered its new breakfast menu at about 25,000 U.S. and Canadian stores. The only potential chink in the brand’s armor? Oversaturation.

Burger King

3The roll out of a new charbroiler, the foundation of Burger King’s open-flame cooking process, was completed last year, opening the menu to products like ribs and stuffed burgers. But it remains to be seen if the company will rally a franchisee community that all but yelled “Death to the King!” during the past year’s deep discounting. Some fear the brand has conditioned customers to shop for price, quality be damned.

Wendy’s

4Wendy’s is focusing on prepping for a breakfast re-entry and what CEO Roland Smith termed a “significant” facelift for stores. But the new a.m. lineup won’t be available systemwide until late 2011. Meanwhile, the brand’s new owners have vowed to raise comp sales by alternating limited-time deals with premium options. The chain is also following Starbucks’ lead in setting prices on a store-by-store basis.

Starbucks

5After a whirlwind year for Starbucks, expect more of the same, say executives of the resurging coffee brand. Efforts to sustain the turnaround will bring more health-oriented products, along with higher-quality food, says CEO Howard Schultz. Meanwhile, the brand is reaping the benefits from its revamped loyalty program, My Starbucks Rewards, the No. 1 reason customers say they visit the brand more often than they did six months earlier.

Taco Bell

6Taco Bell officials call them “sales layers,” the departures from business-as-usual for the Big Tamale of Yum! Brands’ portfolio. The chain bid for the health-minded by trumpeting a Drive-Thru Diet Menu and, more recently, it’s expanded tests of breakfast and tinkered with a do-it-yourself taco bar that feeds four for $14.99. Management hints that more menu departures may be on the way.

Dunkin’ Donuts

7The transformation of Dunkin’ Donuts into a broad-menu contender with a doughnut bent is quickening. The past year brought the sort of new products you might expect from a burger or sub specialist, like chicken and tuna wraps, a value menu, and a new snack called bagel twists. Meanwhile, Dunkin’ grew faster than many of the full-menu brands, with 171 domestic units added during ’09 and 131 more in the franchise pipeline.

Pizza Hut

8Follow this zen logic, Grasshopper: Pizza Hut’s growth will come not from pizza, but from wings and pasta. But the challenge of the moment, execs cryptically point out, is reviving pizza sales. If that doesn’t lead to head scratching, consider that officials want to improve the perceived value of pies as a means of boosting wing and pasta sales. So they added a permanent discount, the $10 Any Pizza deal. Huh?

KFC

9With KFC, “we have our work cut out for us,” acknowledged David Novak, CEO of franchisor Yum! Brands. The daunting to-do list includes improving operations, consumer perceptions, and menu appeal. The home office is hoping to improve the appeal and service of units by providing additional field-level support. Already visible is the brand’s effort to be viewed as a bargain option, most clearly with the new value menu.

Sonic

10Hammered more than most chains by the economy, Sonic hopes to rebound by playing up its quick-service quirks. Marketing has focused on points of difference like the use of roller skaters to serve meals car-side. One of the few major chains to feature hot dogs, Sonic bulked up its Coney to four ounces and made it a true footlong. The chain hints about defending its rep as a beverage innovator by uncorking new selections.

For a more in-depth breakdown of how each chain stack up against the other in overall stores and revenue click HERE.  All those enjoying the $2 heart-attack-in-a-bag please enjoy these meals in moderation and you’ll have to excuse me my $5 dominos pizza just arrived!!!

Shocking Mom Secrets

Moms share all in a new survey from TODAY.com, the online home of America's No. 1 morning program, and Parenting.com, the website of Parenting and Babytalk magazines, who today released the results of a joint "Mom Confessions" study which asked moms to divulge the secrets they definitely wouldn't share on the playground. From why they judge each other to what they would change if they could have a "do-over" and how they really keep their kids in line, more than 26,000 moms got real with their responses.

According to TODAY Moms senior editor Rebecca Dube, "The revelations we uncovered in our survey should put a stake through the heart of the myth of the perfect mother. Moms everywhere are overwhelmed and they often feel like they're the only ones – but our findings show that they're not; everyone shares the same challenges. Whatever your mom confession is, someone out there is in the same boat – and talking about it makes moms feel a lot better!" 

NEARLY 3 OUT OF 4 MOMS WANT A DO-OVER:

·         If given the chance, 23% of moms would choose a different spouse/partner and 21% would have more children.

·         Out of the moms who ever wished their child was the opposite sex, nearly two-thirds are moms of boys. 

WOULD YOU RATHER? THE MOMMY VERSION

·         Weight versus smarts:  45% of moms would choose to weigh 15 pounds less rather than add 15 points to their child's IQ.

·         Money versus time: 42% would prefer to get a 50% raise at work than have 50% more time to spend with their kids. 

·         Sex versus sleep: 53% would choose a night of uninterrupted sleep over a night of mind-blowing sex.

DESPERATE MOM MEASURES:     

·         Nearly 1 in 5 moms confessed to medicating their child to calm him/her down before a big trip – and nearly 1 in 12 do so on a regular night just for some peace and quiet.

·         49% have knowingly sent a sick child to daycare or school.

EVERYONE'S A CRITIC: 87% OF MOMS JUDGE EACH OTHER

·         More than 1 in 3 admits to judging moms of overweight kids.

·         43% judge moms who still breastfeed their toddlers.   

"Moms are so often idealized as superwomen, a role that comes with a tremendous amount of pressure and feelings of 'everyone is getting it right but me,'" said Rachel Fishman Feddersen, director, digital content, strategy, and design for Parenting.com.  "The survey provided moms with a private, anonymous forum to tackle these issues, allowing them to dish on what it's really like to raise a family today."     

Methodology
This survey was hosted on TODAY Moms and Parenting.com between June 13 and 20, 2011.  A total of 26,138 mothers participated in the study.  

Save a Wet Cell Phone

I’ve been guilty of doing this twice.  I’ve had a cell phone in my pocket and jumped in the pool.  I had insurance on the phone in that case and had the phone replaced that time but the time before when I wore my phone on a hip holster and was in the airport and had it fall in the toilet… that one hurt.  I mean first I had to grab it… ewww!  Then it was a company phone and I had to explain it to my boss.  Great. 

In discussing this I found out that this is fairly common.  It happens more often than we want to admit.  Some of the more common ways to soak a phone:  dropping your cell phone in the sink, or the toilet; leave it in your pocket and run it through the washer; swim with your cell phone in your pocket. Ever have it fall into the pet's water bowl?

Getting your cell phone wet usually means you have to replace it, but sometimes if you're fast enough, you might be able to save the phone! Follow the steps outlined in this article to try and save your wet cell phone.

1)     Take the phone out of the water as soon as possible. The plastic covers on cell phones are fairly tight, but water can enter the phone in a short period of time, perhaps only 20 seconds or less. Grab your phone quickly. Don't switch the phone on, or shut it down immediately, as being powered on can cause it to short circuit – if it has been in water, assume it needs drying immediately whether or not it is working.

2)      Don't panic. Your phone will probably not be too damaged if you take it out of the water right away. A longer period of immersion, such as being in the washing machine cycle, will be cause for more alarm but it is still worth trying the following steps before giving up completely.

3)     Remove the battery. This is one of the most important steps. Don't take time to think about it; electricity and water do not mix. Cutting power to your phone is a crucial first step in saving it. Many circuits inside the phone will survive immersion in water provided they are not attached to a power source when wet.  

4)     Remove the SIM card if you have a GSM carrier. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) could be stored on your SIM. For many people, this could be more worth saving than the phone itself. SIM cards survive water damage well, but some of the following steps might damage it, so getting it out immediately makes good sense. Just pat it dry and leave it aside until you need to connect your phone to your cellular network. (This step does not apply to CDMA carriers such as Verizon, Alltel, US Cellular, Sprint, etc.)

5)     Remove all other peripherals and covers that can be removed. Remove any covers and external connectors to open up as many gaps, slots, and crevices in the phone as possible.

6)     Dry your phone. If there is even one drop of water left inside, it can ruin your phone by corroding it and making the wrong contact. Obviously you need to remove as much of the water as soon as possible, to prevent it from easing its way into the phone:

Note: Gently wipe off as much water as possible without dropping the phone. Avoid shaking or moving the phone excessively, so as to avoid moving water through it.

Note: Wipe down using a towel or paper towel. Ideally, try not to clog the wet paper in the gaps and grooves of the phone. Keep wiping, to gently remove as much of the remaining water as possible.

Note:(Optional): If you pulled the battery out in time, cleaning the inside of your phone with cleaning alcohol (alcohol will displace the water) or distilled water to remove extra corrosives such as salt from the ocean, sugar from soda or juice or soap from the washing machine.  Contact spray might work for just water.

7)     Use a vacuum cleaner if possible. If you want to try and suck the liquid out of the inner parts of the phone, try using a vacuum cleaner. Remove all residual moisture by drawing it away with a vacuum cleaner held over the affected areas for up to 20 minutes, in each accessible area (take it in turns with a friend). This is the fastest method and can completely dry out your phone and get it working in thirty minutes. However, unless the exposure to water was extremely short, it's not recommended to attempt to turn your phone on this soon. Be careful not to hold the vacuum too close to the phone, as a vacuum can create static electricity, which is even worse for the phone.

Note:  Do NOT use a hairdryer!  This can push the water into other areas of the phone and the heat could do additional damage.

8)    Use a substance with a high affinity for water to help draw out moisture. Leave the phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice overnight. The rice would absorb any remaining moisture

Note: If available, it is preferable to use desiccant instead. Desiccant will absorb moisture better than rice. If you use this method, slip the cell phone inside a plastic bag that can be sealed or a plastic container (airtight). Add the desiccant packet (often found with shoes, noodle packets, etc.) in with the cell phone. Leave as long as possible (overnight) to absorb the moisture.

9)     Let the phone sit on absorbent towels, napkin, or other paper. After removing the phone from the rice or desiccant (or if you were not able to use either method), place the phone on absorbent material. Remember that the goal is to evacuate all of the moisture and humidity, not to trap it or add even more.

10)    Test your phone. After you have waited at least 24 hours, or longer if possible, check to see that everything on and in your cell phone is clean and looks dry. Re-attach the battery to the phone. Try turning it on.

Note: If your phone still does not work, try plugging it into its charger without the battery. If this works, you need a new battery.

Note: If not, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer. Sometimes they can fix it. Don't try to hide the fact that it has been wet – there are internal indicators that prove moisture and they're more likely to be able to help you if you explain exactly what has happened.

11)    LAST RESORT: Take the phone apart if your phone doesn't turn on at all. If you feel comfortable doing this, try taking it apart. First, make sure that you have all of the right parts and know exactly where they go. Be sure to put everything back in its proper place once finished. As you're disassembling it, pat each individual part dry with a small towel and use the vacuum cleaner once more on the crevices (but be careful not to accidentally suck up any loose parts – keep them well to one side, or stretch a length of old pantyhose over the nozzle). If this doesn't work, or you're too unsure about undoing your phone, get help from cell phone professionals.

Rewards Programs

WITH SO MANY CREDIT CARDS offering rewards programs these days, the question for many card users is no longer whether to use a rewards card, but which one to pick.
For people who carry a balance, the No. 1 priority should be to find the credit card that offers the lowest possible interest rate, or annual percentage rate. But for those who pay off their balance in full each month or who carry a balance but can get a competitive APR from a rewards card rewards programs are the rare situations in life when the lunch is truly free.
So which is best? Rewards programs can vary widely in terms of how quickly you can earn points and how many points you need to redeem a reward.

We decided to look at the four largest and most popular rewards programs: American Express' Membership Rewards, Citibank's ThankYou Network, MBNA's WorldPoints and Visa's rewards program for debit cards, Visa Extras. Unlike other rewards programs that tie your card to a single brand or merchant, these offer a wide choice of rewards, including travel, merchandise and gift certificates.

We'll be honest: We can't pronounce a clear winner in all areas. Citibank and American Express, for example, came out a step ahead of MBNA and Visa Extras in terms of generosity. (You need 10,000 points for a $100 gift certificate from AmEx or Citibank, but 13,000 points with MBNA and a whopping 40,000 with Visa.) On the other hand, the Visa Extras program doles out loads of bonus points.

Here's a rundown of the best features of each of the four programs, along with some useful tips on how to earn more points and redeem them smartly. We've also provided a detailed, side-by-side comparison of each program in two tables, one on earning points and the other on redeeming them.

Ultimately, deciding which card is right for you will depend on how you plan to use the card and what you'd like to do with your points.

American Express Membership Rewards
What we like: Membership Rewards is the oldest such program, and it still holds the lead in terms of the range of rewards offered. It boasts a strong travel section and is the only rewards program that allows you to combine your points with one of 15 frequent-flyer programs.
Our favorite feature is the ability to earn points by taking advantage of the many promotions (usually short-lived) that AmEx runs for using services provided by specific partners. (That's provided, of course, that you were already planning on using these services.) Currently, you can earn 1,300 bonus points on each $10,000 of a mortgage you finance through Citibank, Chase, Washington Mutual, or Wachovia, if you go through the AmEx web site. You can also get 2,000 bonus points for each wireless service line you open with SprintPCS, up to 10,000 points.

What we don't like: Slow earn rate otherwise. You earn only a point per dollar spent, unless you carry the pricey AmEx Green or Gold Preferred Rewards cards ($110 and $130 annual fees, respectively).

Citibank ThankYou Network
What we like: Citibank has a clear advantage in the everyday earning category: depending on the credit card you get, you can earn two, three or even five points per dollar on specific purchases. With the Citi PremierPass card, you even earn points for the miles you fly.
We also love the ability to accelerate your earning power through Citibank's ThankYou Merchants network. All you need to do is register your Citi card and use the ThankYou Merchants web site as a shopping portal. If you need to buy something from Overstock.com, for example, go through the ThankYou web site, click on Overstock in the "Shop & Earn" section and it will take you to the original Overstock.com. The difference: Now you'll earn seven bonus points for each dollar you spend, in addition to the point-for-dollar earnings when you use your Citi card.

What we don't like: Most credit cards cap the amount of points you can earn each year. The Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards card for example, limits you to 75,000 points during any calendar year. (The caps vary depending on the type of card you have.)

MBNA WorldPoints
What we like: Redemption choices abound. You can redeem points for cash, merchandise, travel and gift certificates, including Visa- and MasterCard-brand gift certificates that you can use anywhere and for anything you like. (It's smarter than redeeming for cash, which will cost you 200 points per dollar, vs. 130 points with gift certificates.)

What we don't like: Points expire after five years. There are no promotions and only three bonus point opportunities (see table). Point-per-dollar redemption rates are higher than those offered by Citibank and American Express.

Visa Extras
What we like: The Visa Extras program has the most generous bonus point program you can earn up to 20 bonus points on each dollar spent with certain merchants (see table). It works like Citibank's ThankYou Merchants program: You have to go shop online by going through the Visa Extras web site first.

What we don't like: You need 20,000 points for a $50 gift certificate. In addition to that, you typically earn just one point for each $2 spent on regular merchandise.



No Equipment Travel Workout

A vacation can do wonders for reducing stress levels, but it often reeks havoc on your fitness regimen. Fortunately our onsite gym can make sure your lifestyle remains uninterrupted but some people are not comfortable with working out in a new environment.  We understand. 

Even some of the most die-hard exercisers find it difficult to stick with a workout program when away from home. Sure, many have good intentions. They may even pack their workout attire. Unfortunately, it usually never makes it out of the suitcase until it’s unpacked when their back home.

But travel from home doesn’t have to result in an interruption or complete abandonment of your healthy habits. You can still fit in exercise time when away from home, regardless of whether you find yourself in a warm or a cold climate. Even if bad weather forces you into seclusion in your hotel room, there are exercises you can complete without a single piece of equipment.

Below are some tips to help you stay fit away from home. 

Be realistic. You probably won't be able to fit in your normal weekly workouts and that's okay. Shoot for completing at least 50% of your normal regimen.

Plan ahead. Before leaving town, find out what facilities your accommodations will have or if there is a nearby park or jogging track (weather permitting, of course).

Scope out local gyms. If you are staying somewhere that doesn’t provide a workout area then inquire at the nearby local fitness centers or community centers for their rates. Often they offer day passes for minimal fees.

Pack a resistance band in your suitcase. The band takes up very little space, yet can provide you with an entire upper and lower body workout routine.

Don’t deprive yourself of all local delicacies. You can enjoy some special meals without going overboard. Ask the restaurants to prepare your favorite dishes with a few lower fat ingredients.

Be creative. Find unique, fun ways to exercise instead of doing the same routine you do when you are at home. Try biking, hiking, a pedal boat excursion, water skiing, beach volleyball, etc. Effective workouts aren’t limited to the standard fares of walking, jogging and fitness machines.

Try out your travel routine at least once at home. A new workout that you’ve never done before will require more time and preparation. This type of frustration just makes for an easy excuse to skip the workout.

Prepare snacks. If your journey includes a lot of time in the car, be sure to pack some healthy snacks so you aren’t forced to eat at all the fast food and convenience shops along the way.

Play in the pool. If lounging poolside is part of your vacation plans, then hop in the pool every 20 minutes for 5-10 minutes of pool walking (try it in waist-deep or higher water for a really challenging workout).

Get comfortable. Don’t forget to pack comfortable workout attire that fits your destination’s climate.

This workout targets the entire body and is great for travelers or those who don't have a lot of equipment.  All you need is a thick phone book (or any other thick, heavy book) and a stool or chair.  Some exercises are very advanced, so use caution and modify the workout to fit your fitness level.

1. Begin with a warm up of light cardio
2.  Beginners perform 1 set of 12-16 reps of each exercise, modifying each move to fit your fitness level
3.  Intermediate/Advanced:  Performs 2-3 sets of 10-16 reps with short rests in between
4.  Add intensity by adding weights or slowing the movements down
5.  See your doctor if you have any injuries or illnesses
6.  Click on pictures for a closer view

Staggered PushupsTry a different version of your usual pushup by putting one hand on a phone book (or any other object) and the other on the floor.  On your knees or toes (and with body straight) lower down into a pushup and push back up.  Do as many as you can and move on.

Good Mornings
Stand with feet about hip-width apart holding phone book (or medium weight) straight up overhead.  Keeping abs braced and knees slightly bent, tip from the hips and lower the torso until it is parallel to the floor, keeping the arms in line with ears.  Lift up and repeat.  Keep the abs braced throughout the move.  If you have any back problems, skip this move! 

Pike Shoulder PushupThis is a very advanced exercise, so use caution!  Place your toes on a step or stool and hands on the floor.  Lift your body up into a pike position with your hands directly under your shoulders and the top of your head facing the floor.  Bend the elbows and lower body into a pushup.  Push back up and repeat.  The move is shown on a ball which is even more advanced.  Be careful!

Rear Delt Fly
With feet hip-width apart, tip from the hips until back is flat and parallel to the floor, abs braced.  Lift the arms straight out to the sides to shoulder level with thumbs pointing up to the ceiling.  Lower and repeat.  Add light weights for intensity...if this hurts your shoulders, skip it!

Triceps Dips
Sit on a bench or chair with hands resting next to thighs. Push up and bring the hips out, butt just brushing the bench, knees bent. Bend the elbows and lower body down (staying close to bench) until elbows are 90 degrees. Push up and repeat. Straighten the legs for more intensity. 

Triceps One-Armed Pushup
Lie down on left side, hips and knees stacked. Wrap the left arm around torso so that left hand is resting on the right waist. Place the right hand on the floor in front of you, palm parallel to the body. Squeeze the triceps and push your body up. Lower and repeat before switching sides.

Squats on Tiptoes
With feet wider than hips, squat down and place hands on phone book in front of you.  Raise up on the tips of your toes.  Staying on tiptoes and fingertips, lift hips up towards the ceiling and straighten the knees as much as you can.  Squat back down and repeat, staying in tiptoes the entire time.  Modify by placing hands higher (on a chair or bed). 

Lunge with Arms Overhead
Stand in split stance with feet about 3 feet apart.  Hold phone book or weight straight up overhead.  Bend the knees and lower into a lunge, bringing both knees to 90 degree angles, front knee behind toe.  Keeping weight overhead, push back up and repeat before switching legs.

Single Leg Lift and

SquatPlace

hands behind the back and tip forward until back is parallel to the floor and flat, abs braced.  Take right leg out to the side, resting on toe.  Squat down with the left leg while simultaneously lifting the right leg a few inches off the ground and out to the side, leg straight.  Straighten and repeat for all reps before switching sides.

Calf RaiseStand on phone book with heels hanging off the back.  Keeping body straight, lift the body up onto tiptoes by contracting the calves.  Lower and repeat.  You can do this on the floor as well.