Randy Pausch Passed Away Today

I just heard the news that Randy Pausch passed away. I was somber, then I smiled. After listening to his book on CD, I knew he had the privilege of accomplishing a lot and seeing his dreams come alive. He is the author of "The Last Lecture," an incredible story about achieving your childhood dreams. His story is an inspiration.

If you're not familiar with the book, go to Borders bookstore or Barnes and Noble in Aventura to get a copy. Watch this clip, you'll thank me.

Live Music Tonight

Tonight at Hoy Como Ayer the Spam Allstars will be performing all night long. This is an amazing local group that's rooted in Miami, but travels all over the globe to entertain and spread the vibe. To read more about the Spam Allstars at Hoy Como Ayer click the link.

Traffic Light Cameras in Aventura

We recently started to create a dot com version of our blog. This blog will still be active; however, it will have different content then our dot com. Today we launched our first official posting, it was submitted by Richard Barak Becker, LLC.

Have you noticed the traffic light cameras that were installed around Aventura? There are cameras on Biscayne Blvd right next to the City of Aventura sign. Traffic light cameras can also be found next to the entrance to the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club. Are you wondering what this is about and how the City tickets you? The post on our dot com deals with this matter , click on the link to read more about traffic light cameras in Aventura.

Men Without Shirts

The Miami Herald writer, DEBRA K. LEIBOWITZ, did a quick announcement about an Aventura resident. Here's an excerpt from the article.

Aventura resident Elie Neufeld wants you to vote for him. No, he's not a politician running for office. Rather, Neufeld is a competitive body builder and personal trainer at Olympia gym in Aventura.

Grand prize winner gets $100,000 in cash, a one-year modeling contract and more. First runner up gets $50,000 in cash, second runner up $25,000.

Online voting ends 12:01 a.m. Pacific time Aug. 1. The awards/finals are slated to be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 7. To vote for Elie -- or just ogle -- visit www.menwithoutshirts.com and click on ``Today's Top Five Contestants.''

READ MORE CLICK HERE
The link is not live for long.

I strongly encourage every reader to show your support to help Elie win the contest. Log in and vote, let's get this Aventura resident voted number one. I've known Elie for many years, he's worked very hard to get to the top and sure looks like he deserves this title. Let's all give him the votes he needs.

Right on Elie!

Technical Difficulty

This past week we made some changes to the user interface and back-end of this blog. These changes prevented us from posting all last week. We anticipate that we'll be back posting on a regular basis this coming week. Stay tuned! Thanks for your patience.

Glenn Fenster on his way HOME

Glenn A. Fenster
305-788-2761 voicemail
305-528-7854 cell
DestinyMaker4u@aol.com

RELEASE – For Immediate Release

DestinyMaker's Glenn A. Fenster of Aventura, FL will be riding into Aventura for his final mile after over 8000 miles by bike at 3pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Where: Power Smoothie in Aventura
20335 Biscayne Blvd
Aventura, Fl
Next to Chuck E Cheese

When: July 16th 3pm
press should arrive @ 2:45

If you want to cover the reunion between my son and I call 305-528-7854

Below is a new report done South of Jacksonville in St. Augustine, Fl


Firstcoastnews.com | Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Brunswick | Florida Man Bikes for a Cause

AVENTURA MALL ART

I took this picture in the Aventura Mall in the new section near the Ferrari Store. I found out more about this image on the New York Times website. Here's the info from the series of Thoughts on Democracy...

"Liberty Weeps" by Elliott Earls, 2008.

Clearly, Norman Rockwell’s America this is not. Elliott Earls’s reinterpretation of Rockwell’s “Four Freedoms” practically screams. A little girl seems to be crying, her eye bruised, with an American flag in the background and two words framing her figure: “Liberty Weeps.” The color scheme is red, white and blue, but patriotic pride has been supplanted by sadness.

Joshua Allen Harris

New York Magazine interviewed Joshua Allen Harris about his original street art around New York City. I think everyone will enjoy this short video.

WALL-E AMC Aventura Mall

This weekend you should check out the movie WALL-E. It's the new Pixar masterpiece. A great movie for the entire family. Stay out of the heat and check out the movie times at Aventura AMC in the Aventura Mall.

Here's the WALL-E Trailer...

Golden Toilet

Gold has recently soared in value and gained worldwide attention. The front page of the Wall Street Journal this Monday featured an entertaining story about Hang Fung jewellers in China. Years ago, this company built an extravagant Hall of Gold to attract tourists to its company and to raise brand awareness. It worked and now it's bringing them even more attention as they melt down tons of gold. They're melting everything except their solid gold toilet. They built everything when gold was at $200.00 an ounce and sold as gold pushed to $1,000.00.

Today's Gold Price

I guess once you're accustomed to a gold toilet there's no turning back.Tons of people visit HK regularly to see the holy throne - Holy S#$!.



read more about HK Jewellers

Personal Injury Attorney in Aventura

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LAWYER FOR YOUR PERSONAL INJURY

A personal injury is a harm caused to your body, mind, or reputation. The most commonly thought of personal injuries are those to your body. These personal injuries generally take the form of a bruise or broken arm and sometimes can be more serious injuries in the form of a spinal cord injury, concussion, paraplegia or even death. The most common causes of personal injuries are:

• Automobile accidents
• Slip and falls
• Animal attacks
• Assaults
• Medical malpractice
• Defective products
• Workplace injuries
• Motorcycle accidents
• Boating accidents
• Nursing home abuse
• Defamation; and
• False arrest.

If you have suffered any type of injury as the result of an act or a failure to act by someone else, you should contact an attorney immediately to protect your rights. The law places a deadline on how long you have to bring a claim. This deadline, known as a statute of limitations, varies from state to state and on the type of claim being brought.

There are an incredible number of lawyers available for a person to select from and it is important to choose the right one. If you find a personal injury attorney in Aventura, Florida make sure that he or she specializes in personal injury. He should be able to accurately assess the merits and weaknesses of your case and approximate its monetary value. He should have experience working with insurance companies and have some trial experience. He should be professional in his service to you by promptly returning your phone calls and keeping you updated as to the status of your case. Finally, you should make sure that you are both in agreement as to the fees and costs for proceeding with the action. Most personal injury lawyers handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid from the monetary award or settlement and if you do not win, they do not get paid.

Most personal injury lawyers in Aventura will provide you with a free initial consultation. It is during this consultation that the attorney will determine if he or she will take on your case and a fee agreement between the parties will be reached. During this consultation you should feel free to ask questions, such as asking about trial experience, to make sure that not only are you the right client for them but that they are the right attorney for you.

Disclosure: Although this article provides legal information, it is not and should not be considered legal advice. This article has been provided solely as an educational tool to provide general insight into the law and is not intended as legal advice or a legal opinion. Because specific factual circumstances may alter the manner in which law is applied and/or interpreted, we strongly recommend that you consult with an attorney to be certain that your interpretation of the legal information provided is appropriate in light of your particular circumstances.

Submitted by:
Richard Becker, Esq.
Richard Barak Becker, LLC
Phone: 305-508-7202
email:Richard@barakbecker.com

Starbucks in Aventura

There are two Starbucks in Aventura that are traditional storefront locations. There's also a Starbucks kiosk in the Aventura Mall and probably a few others hidden around town. These Starbucks are not part of the 600 Starbucks that will be closing this summer. In fact, walk into any of the Aventura Starbucks and you'll have trouble finding a seat - they're packed. It seems few people are phased by the slowing economy and refuse to give up their $5.00 plus designer coffee.

Here's a map of the Starbucks location in and around Aventura, Florida.

View Larger Map

Here's a blurb from a recent article about the closings. I also included a video of Luis Black, comedian, giving his insight into today's Starbucks culture.

Starbucks closing 5 percent of U.S. stores
As many as 12,000 Starbucks workers will lose their jobs when the company begins closing 600 U.S. stores this summer. The Seattle coffee company...

By Melissa Allison
Seattle Times business reporter

As many as 12,000 Starbucks workers will lose their jobs when the company begins closing 600 U.S. stores this summer.

The Seattle coffee company is cutting 5 percent of its U.S. locations as part of a wide-ranging effort to boost its bottom line and its stock price. The chain is accelerating international growth.

Most customers whose Starbucks stores close will be a short walk from a caffeine fix, the company said, because many of the unprofitable stores were being cannibalized by nearby Starbucks locations.

This video explains the phenomenon just mentioned...

Jewish Community Aventura

Recently, I came across an article, on the net, from Canada that mentioned the Jewish community in Aventura, Florida. It's true that there is a vibrant Jewish community in Aventura that has developed over the years. The community has developed many synagogues, kosher restaurants, and several other Jewish services. The article I discovered clearly reports that this Jewish community is highly regarded by many. Here's a blurb from the article...

The Big Read: Sitting atop Jewish Living's list of Top 10 North American Jewish neighbourhoods is Aventura, Florida, a high-rise laden community just north of Miami and "the neighbourhood of choice for young Jewish families seeking luxury in a tropical climate." Boulder, Colorado and Lower Merion in Philadelphia claim spots No. 2 and 3 before Canada muscles in with its only entry -- Montreal's "McGill Ghetto," described here as having an "old-school, immigrant feel" that lends it the flavour of New York's Lower East Side, "but with tree-lined streets." - OTTAWA MAGAZINE

Gorillas using Cell Phones

When Apple's first generation Iphone was released it seemed that everyone in Aventura had it. The Apple store in the Aventura Mall was out of stock and the people kept coming in asking for it. The popularity of this phone proved there really is a cell-phone craze. Cell-phones have become a status symbol, causing a high demand to own the most recent and most expensive phone.

I've noticed that Iphone owners never keep the phone in their pocket when at a meeting, having coffee, or at a restaurant. The phone is placed on the table in front of its owner where everyone can see it. It's a cool phone and a great conversation piece; however, let's remember it's a phone and nothing more. Yes it has cool features and you can surf the net, but there's no real reason why every six months people feel like they need to buy the new "it" phone.

I've been reading some articles about potential consequences about our thirst for more cell-phones - click here to read the National Geographic article. I discovered that there is a mineral known as coltan, a mineral extracted in the deep forests of Congo in Africa. This location is also the home of the world's endangered lowland gorillas. This mineral is essential to cell-phone technology and its high demand is slowly destroying the natural habitat of gorillas and funding a brutal civil war in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The connection between war, gorillas and cell phones surprised me. I wonder why this is never spoken about on the news or a popular topic of everyday conversation? We use cell phones everyday and everyone I know has one, so I guess it's not something tech lovers want to hear. There's so much money in this cell phone revolution that I wouldn't be surprised if these companies have actively suppressed this topic from becoming mainstream. Check out the video on YouTube - http://youtube.com/watch?v=-QwI2O1_HlI

Watch these two videos and decide what's an important focus.





I have a Blackberry and don't plan on giving it up soon, but this situation certainly resonates in my head each time the phone rings. I'm going to research this issue more and maybe I'll give up my cell phone. It'll be great to have piece of mind again - no 24/7 constant contact. Also, without the cell phone maybe people will actually commit to a plan of when and where to meet.

Remember before cell phones you'd call someone and make plans to meet and they'd show up there. Now, we say "call me when you're in the area and we'll figure out a place and time." Even more frustrating are the cancellations. If you made plans to meet before the cell phone age and you called to cancel but get no answer, you knew you had to meet up unless it was a real emergency. Now people feel like they can always call and cancel or be late because they have the option to leave a message or tell you an excuse. These are the times and it's bad for business and relationships.

Do some Google searches about gorillas and cell phones, you be the judge. Pass it on and spread the word. Now you might think twice about showing off your new cell phone.

Glenn Fenster Epilepsy Awareness

Aventura, Florida Glenn Fenster sent us an email update. He's almost back home. It's hard to believe he traveled so far across America and he did it on a bicycle. Here's his message...

Happy July 4th here in America

Currently in Elizabeth City, NC.
I've surpassed 7000 miles today. Under 1000 to go.
I ache and Suffer from fatigue like never before.
The pain of Missing Nyle hurts the most.
I am also more determined then ever to not only finish
but to help educate, raise awareness, bring down the walls of Stigma,
raise money and most of all inspire those to help fund and find a cure for Epilepsy.
The question now is not if I will try to finish but if I can.
There's not much left except the will to get home.
Below is just one picture of over 2500.
www.destinymaker.org

Interior Designer Aventura Interview

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Leonardo Leib of Prima Cassa, Aventura's finest interior designer and home renovation specialist. Many of our readers might recall him from an earlier post this year - click here Prima Cassa. It's always great to speak with him and get updates regarding his latest creations. He is currently working on the renovations, remodeling, and interior design of a condo in Aventura, Florida. Leonardo Leib would like to share with us his background and influences that are responsible for his unique work.


Q: Leonardo, how did you get started in the interior design and home renovation business?
A: I have been in the hotel business for about twenty five years (25) as an owner/manager. I transitioned from that to focusing on single family homes and condos. I sold the hotels and wanted to continue my involvement with transforming space into an atmosphere that's relaxing and comfortable. Working with single family homes and condos was a perfect fit for my talents. I enjoy working on each new project and building a relationship with the owners.


Q: Interesting, the hotel business. Where were the hotels?
A: When I came to the United States in 1978 from Buenos Aires, Argentina I headed for Sunny Isles. The hotels were mostly in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. If you've been living in the area long enough you'd remember the Desert Inn, Magic Isle, and Sun Spa in Hollywood. I also had involvement with the Sahara and the Beach Club.


Q: How do you use your experience from the hotel business in your work today?
A: I still keep in contact with some of the subcontractors that worked for me back in the hotel days. These types of relationships are vital to my success in home renovations. I know how to get things done and who to call. Don't forget I was the owner/ manager of those hotels, so if something had to be fixed it was in my best interest to get it done fast and for the best price. My clients benefit from this type of experience. Most people wouldn't even know where to begin, I know how to get things started correctly and how to cross the finish line fast.


Q: Sounds good, what's the best way for people to get an idea of your work?
A: You can see my portfolio on my website - click link Aventura Interior Designer . The url is www.primacassa.com. I can always be reached by phone at 786.301.2576.


Thanks for the interview Leonardo! I'm confident that our readers in the community will enjoy reading about your beginnings and how they can benefit from your experience. It's great to follow up with you and I look forward to seeing the photos when you're finished with your current project in Aventura.

Fireworks Show Aventura

Are you wondering where to watch fireworks in Aventura, Florida? There will be fireworks to see in Aventura and they can be viewed at 9 p.m. from any location along the Country Club Drives (the circle). It will be an amazing show to celebrate July 4th. Click this link to check out the flyer - Fireworks show in Aventura.

Happy 4th of July!

GONZO JOURNALISM

Hunter S. Thompson forced journalism to take a sharp turn. He pushed it to the edge and fell off. He carved a new road and fell off again. Nobody could plot his writing in a straight line and predict his next adventure. He transformed his life travels and experiences into novels that shocked literature and demanded their own genre. Hunter Thompson, the mad scientist of words, created gonzo journalism.

His style is just as important and American as Jazz music. That's why it's appropriate the movie about Hunter's life will be released this coming July 4th. GONZO is the highly anticipated documentary film about the man and the legend - Hunter Thompson.






Here are the list of links from Wikipedia about Hunter S. Thompson and Gonzo Journalism

Chat with Director Alex Gibney about his documentary "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson."
"Shotgun Golf With Bill Murray," Thompson's final column for ESPN.com's Page 2.
"Audio interview with Thompson's former assistant," Interview for Men's Vogue
"Fear and Earning," a remembrance by screenwriter and novelist Lucian K. Truscott IV, published in The New York Times, 25 February 2005.
"Bedtime For Gonzo," A Review of Thompson's 2003 Autobiography Kingdom Of Fear, by Jack Schafer in The New York Times Book Review, 23 February 2003.
The Doctor Hunter S. Thompson Bulletin Board & All-Nite Shooting Range - The Doctor Hunter S. Thompson Bulletin Board & All-Nite Shooting Range"
"All Aboard The Hell-Bound Train: An Interview With Hunter S. Thompson Claimed as Thompson's Final Interview. By Jess Hopsicker, from The College Crier.
Hunter S. Thompson at the Internet Movie Database
A collection of articles on Thompson from The Guardian
Excerpt from "Hunter: The Strange and Savage Live Of Hunter S. Thompson, by E. Jean Carroll, first published in Esquire Magazine, February, 1993
Article about the funeral with photo of memorial tower
Promo site for Starz Documentary Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride - Hunter S. Thompson on Film
Hunter S. Thompson: The Crazy Never Die, 1988 documentary by the Mitchell brothers
'"Blasted!!! The Gonzo Patriots of Hunter S. Thompson", 2006 documentary
'"Totally Gonzo - Your Daily Dose of Gonzo News"', 2008 fansite
Hunter S. Thompson Shrine on Snowmass Mountain in Colorado


HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE JULY 4TH.

GO WATCH SOME COOL FIREWORKS OR EXPLODE YOUR OWN!

Self Storage Center Aventura

VISIT BUDGET MINI-STORAGE IN OUR BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Do you need to find storage for furniture, inventory, collectibles, supplies, or other items? I'm pleased to announce the opening of a fantastic self storage center near Aventura, Florida. This is an air conditioned storage center that is exactly what you've been waiting to use. The most important feature is the convenience of the storage and the price. If you have never used a storage unit before, this is the perfect temporary location for your belongings. I found what I was looking for at Budget Mini-Storage in Aventura.

19500 West Dixie Highway
Aventura, FL. 33180
budgetmini@sentry-selfstorage.com
http://www.budgetmini.com/
305-931-6031

OFFICE HOURS
MON - FRI:
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SATURDAY:
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SUNDAY:
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

This storage center is a step above the competition by offering many helpful features. Here's a list of those features that make this self storage a no-brainer.

Covered truck level height loading docks

Drive through covered loading area

Truck rentals available

Business center with Internet access

Conference room available

Climate Controlled units

Month-to-Month leases

Computerized security

Packing materials available

Individually alarmed units

These are only a few of the great things about Budget Mini-Storage in Aventura. I'm confident that this storage center will have the right size storage unit you are looking to find. They have a variety of sizes to choose from, so you'll get the perfect fit.

5x5 Storage Unit

5x10 Storage Unit

5x15 Storage Unit

10x10 Storage Unit

10x15 Storage Unit

10x20 Storage Unit

If you need larger, just call and ask. The friendly staff will be glad to help you every step of the way. This storage center even offers U-HAUL trucks. Basically, it's a one stop shop for all your storage needs. Visit today and mention this blog post, you won't be disappointed.


View Larger Map

Summer and Education

What does summer have that the rest of the year is missing? Right, summer in America is a “vacation time”. Families go away, kids go to camp, people just stop what they do during the rest of the year, and for those two to three months, June, July and August, people just do different things. Now, while we all know that vacations are important and getting away from the “every day routine” is important, that doesn’t mean that our minds must stagnate and do nothing that has anything to do with education. So, what I am suggesting is abhorrent, beyond the imagination, “real way out” but, what we should consider is READING! Reading a book can be fun, especially if it is a book that we enjoy and without a deadline. Reading can put us in different places, whether real or imaginary. We might want to read the books scheduled for the next school year or read just for reading’s sake.

One of the things that I enjoyed doing when I was a kid was reading comic books. They were fun, exciting and put me in a different quadrant. Nowadays, those same comic books that cost ten cents, in good condition, cost hundreds of dollars!. In fact, I recently met someone who enjoyed comic books so much, and his mother didn’t throw them out, that he now has a career selling and trading vintage comic books.

How about writing? We can write a story, write in our diary, write a synopsis of the book we are reading or write just to write. In the past, I might have suggested summer school, in which we could have taken courses earlier and could have graduated sooner, but unfortunately, in Florida that is no longer an option.

The summer months are important since they give us time to think, recollect and gather our resources together for what comes for the next school year. Let’s not waste the time; let’s do things that have meaning. Remember the commercial that said “a brain is a terrible thing to waste”, so let’s give summer some meaning. Let’s do things that motivate us, enhance us, and will teach us. Good luck and have a good summer!

Howard Chusid, M.S. Ed. is an experienced Career Counselor. He has the training and experience to give Career Assessments such as the Strong, MBTI, SDS and others. He is also a Registered Mental Health Intern and a member of the National Career Development Association, American Counseling Association and the American Psychological Association. Visit the website at www.professionalcareerstrategiesfl.com