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My Best Friend's Girl (2008) Movie Trailer
My Best Friend's Girl (2008) movie trailer :: VIDEOS.2ESS.COM
Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, and Alec Baldwin star in this romantic comedy about a man (Cook) who makes his living convincing women to run back into the arms of the men they have recently dumped by taking them on the worst possible dates imaginable. The nightmare lothario's lucrative scheme hits an unexpected hitch, however, when he is hired by his best friend to take out the beauty he longs to win back.
Cast: Dane Cook, Kate Hudson, Alec Baldwin, Jason Biggs, Lizzy Caplan Director: Howard Deutch Genres: Romantic Comedy, Comedy
Opens September 19, 2008 My Best Friend's Girl (2008) movie trailer :: VIDEOS.2ESS.COM ... more -
World's 10 Best Airports
For the seventh year, the Hong Kong International Airport was ranked the best by millions of worldwide passengers.
Judging more than 40 categories, airport customers chose it over 190 others in an annual survey conducted by Skytrax, a privately-owned research company in London, which released the results today.
The company ranked the airports after collecting 8.2 million questionnaires completed by passengers over a 10-month time period from 2007 to 2008. They judged each airport on factors like shopping, dining, staff courtesy, baggage delivery and wait times at security.
In Depth: World's 10 Best Airports
Overall, airports in Asia did well. Hong Kong, with its reputation for efficiency and comfort, bested airports in Singapore and Seoul, South Korea, which ranked second and third. Also in the top 10 were airports in Kansai, Japan, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Airports in Europe-- Munich, Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; Zurich, Switzerland; and Helsinki, Finland--took most of the remaining top spots. Cape Town, South Africa rounded out the list at No.10.
Missing from the list were any airports in the United States. Though none of them cracked the top 10, international airports in San Francisco, Denver, Dallas and Atlanta had slightly improved positions over last year, coming in between 11 and 25.
Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, attributes the less-than-world-class rankings to an older airport infrastructure in the U.S.
"The three or four at the top," says Plaisted, "have developed purpose-built, 21st century airports that have every conceivable item of product and service." This includes amenities like free wi-fi and speedy train service from the airport to the city's downtown area.
At the seven-year-old Seoul Incheon, passengers can also take advantage of the on-site hair salon, a children's play room and a business center with overseas shipping. The airport's Web site even maintains a list of activities based on the number of hours a passenger must wait. Within eight hours of a flight, the airport recommends the shower and massage services.
The staff at Munich's airport aims to relax passengers with miniature golf, a 60-seat cinema, and cosmetic and physiotherapy services, among other cutting-edge amenities. The airport also promotes aviation technology and history with educational experiences like behind-the-scenes tours and "kinderterminals," a touchscreen that allows children to learn more about how an airport works.
On the other hand, Plaisted says, 1960s-era airports in the U.S. are largely function-driven and have been slow to adopt a globally competitive approach.
Getting From Here To There
A modern feel is important to consumers, but so is efficiency, says Richard Gritta, an airline industry expert and professor of finance at the University of Portland.
"The reason you don't see U.S. airports [on the list,]" says Gritta, "is because, by and large, our airports have become so crowded. There are security and weather problems and a lack of more sophisticated air traffic control. You're picking up the anger of the entire industry."
What are you flying survival secrets? Weigh in. Post your thoughts in the Reader Comment section below.
Though on-time performance by the major airlines has slightly improved this year, 21% of flights were late as of May. And the current state of the airline industry--under immense pressure with rising oil prices--doesn't bode well for customer satisfaction in the future.
There's bad news and good news, says Gritta. The airlines are "coming apart," but it will force consolidation and result in fewer flights, which, in turn, should address the crowding problem in airports.
To Plaisted, the situation is straightforward.
"The procedural side [to visiting an American airport] is still leaving a fairly bitter taste in customers' minds," he says. "Once they've been bitten by that, they don't want to repeat the process."
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Pictures included at the link For the seventh year, the Hong Kong International Airport was ranked the best by millions of worldwide passengers. ... more -
America's Best Places to Live 2008
Great jobs, schools, housing—these 10 small cities have all that and more
Courtesy of City of Plymouth, Photo: Martha Johnston
Plymouth's Medicine Lake at sunset
Chances are, you love the corner of the nation your family calls home. And that’s exactly as it should be. But let’s face it: Certain towns have more of the things that make a place great for raising a family and building a rich life—like plentiful jobs, excellent schools, scenic beauty and houses that won’t suck away your last dime.
As we do every year, we set out to identify those communities that just seem to have it all. We analyzed the nation’s small cities, those with populations of 50,000 to 300,000. That means you won’t find, for example, Chicago on our top 10 list—but you will find places that offer Chicago-like amenities (such as cafés and culture) plus other benefits the Windy City can only dream of (such as low crime and affordable homes).
These 10 towns aren’t mere suburbs; they’re places in their own right, with thriving commerce and job growth. That means many residents need not leave town for work—a huge plus with gas at $4—and some rarely need to drive at all. One result: a strong sense of community. “One of the great things about walkable cities is that if you’re constantly passing by someone you don’t know, eventually you say hello,” says Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, dean of the University of Miami’s School of Architecture.
No 1: Plymouth, Minn.
Population: 70,100
Miles from Minneapolis: 10
Number of lakes: Eight
Rank of its main school district: Top three in the state
Pros: Plenty of green, great schools, close to the Twin Cities
Con: A long, cold winter
When Steve and Sarah Berg had their second son, Tanner, back in 1993, they were living in a Minneapolis suburb full of older people and craving a more congenial place to raise their family. They drove through Plymouth and knew they’d found the perfect spot. “It was National Night Out, and we went past all these neighborhoods with hundreds of kids outside, and I said, ‘Okay, we’ve got to move here,’ ” remembers Sarah, a 43-year-old stay-at-home mom. She and Steve, 43, a managing director at an investment firm, bought a house near the wooded 310-acre French Regional Park, and they’ve never looked back. “Whether it’s grocery shopping, entertainment, friends or activities,” Sarah says, “Plymouth is great for raising a family.”
Courtesy of City of Plymouth
Steve Berg and sons Tanner (left) and Andrew head to Medicine Lake
Topnotch schools, good jobs, affordable housing, low crime, an active outdoor culture—yep, they’re pretty much all here. Ten miles from Minneapolis and 18 from St. Paul, Plymouth (originally a Dakota Indian settlement) could easily have become just another Twin Cities suburb. But more than 50,000 jobs in industries from professional services to education keep many residents working in town. Home prices, while not dirt cheap, are hardly stratospheric: The typical three-bedroom, two-bath house goes for $350,000. Education is a big draw—the city’s main school district is ranked among the top three in the state—and the arts are close at hand. Plymouth’s open-air amphitheater, the Hilde Performance Center, hosts numerous summer concerts, including symphonies by the Minnesota Orchestra. Residents are a quick drive from the Twin Cities’ professional sports teams and the Mall of America, the nation’s biggest mall. Great jobs, schools, housing—these 10 small cities have all that and more Courtesy of City of Plymouth, Photo: Martha Johnston ... more -
The top 20 best places to live in America
ACBJ (American City Business Journals) used 20 statistical indicators to rate living conditions in all 3,141 counties and independent cities across the nation.
Topping the list is Los Alamos County, located about 30 miles northwest of Santa Fe, N.M. Rounding out the top five are Olmsted County, Minn., which includes the city of Rochester; the Colorado counties of Pitkin and Douglas; and Loudoun County, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C. ACBJ (American City Business Journals) used 20 statistical indicators to rate living conditions in all 3,141 counties and independent ... more -
Mix Magazine Profiles SugarHill Sessions on Pacifica
With SugarHill sessions voted best radio show by Houston Press..I thought I would share this profile on SugarHill Studio's impressive history.
Last year, SugarHill partnered with the Pacifica Radio Network and launched The SugarHill Sessions radio show, offering a place for local music to shine. Current owner/studio manager Workman said, “With the advent of modern low-cost recording equipment, our new focus is to be the region's production company — the place you go to connect with the people who know how to make your music sound the very best it can. The music can only get better as we are liberated from being ‘the keepers of the holy machines.’ Now, we can concentrate on every aspect of our clients' musical performances.” With SugarHill sessions voted best radio show by Houston Press..I thought I would share this profile on SugarHill Studio's impres... more -
Senistar and Darren Talent
This is vintage: Senistar and Darren Talent artist on God's Water Entertainment. Cameras: David Dj James
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