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“Multimedia” and “virtual reality” used to be big buzzwords during the second half of the ’90s, before the “dot bomb” when internet start-ups were going up like mad and the stock market couldn’t get enough of them, throwing money at almost every one in a confident shotgun fashion.

And now those days are long gone, having moved onto the next big bubble (which was, by the way, subprime mortgages, something that’s still a headache the world over), but virtual reality and multimedia have only become better and better – though full sci-fic implementation is still quite some way off. That’s because a lot is involved in total sensory duplication, though for many, the “rated-G” audiences of families on a vacation package, say, something like the New York Skyride by serial entrepreneur Zalman Silber would be just fine (it is, briefly, an IMAX-like helicopter fly-over of famous city sites synchronized to motion seating). But in research and development laboratories around the world, all the biggest names in consumer electronics are busy figuring out how to apply declassified military technology in a relevant way to ever more immersive videogaming and other kinds of entertainment.

Two trends appear ready to finally come to fruition: 3D and kinetics. First, three-dimensional technology is one of the most heavily investigated fields in home electronics, and it seems poised for a prime-time debut in the form of immensely advanced television screens that require no 3D glasses to view 3D imagery. Secondly, the multiple billion-dollar videogaming industry has been pivotal in developing kinetic controls, whereby user commands are conveyed not through a physical interface but through the user’s own body movements. These two advances are being marketed right now by some of the biggest names in the business, famous labels such as Nintendo and Microsoft, companies that have a proven record of success in most of the things they do. A far cry from the likes of Zalman Silber!

Besides entertainment, the most obvious other applications for these technologies would be in real estate as well as education. Teaching subjects like chemistry and physics will certainly be revolutionized by the implementation of intuitive user controls and interactive 3D graphics that do not require a special interface. Wholesale property investment already makes significant use of virtual reality by providing 360-degree views and video walk-throughs of real estate to would-be buyers from around the world. Using virtual tours over the internet, possible buyers can consider from the comfort of their own homes whether an actual site visit is warranted, though property is also often bought just on the basis of the virtual tour!

Investing in Washington, D.C. can raise many challenges specific to that locale. Industry veterans like Isaac Toussie recognize that, first of all, the property markets of our nation’s capital possesses some very interesting characteristics. Even though the city’s real estate environment continues to be harsh due to still-disappearing gains, gains made during pre-2008 boom-times, new developments are going on that may point to a turn-around.

Not everyone understands that home sales have fallen as credit’s dried up the way a pro like Isaac Toussie does, contributing to ripple effects like job insecurity and worse. In fact, suburban D.C. has even been through price drops of up to one hundred thousand dollars! But as is frequently the case in the world of business, there may be a silver lining in even this disaster. That’s because one man’s tragedy is another’s opportunity, to put it honestly. And thus the flood of foreclosed properties has come to set off a buying spree in many places, particularly among the many first-time home buyers of Prince William County who finally found prices within their reach. It should also be mentioned that so-called “vulture investors” have swooped in as well to snap up distressed properties, which is generally considered to be a good reflection of the wider economic situation, as it is a strong sign of a certain confidence in the market, that market fundamentals remain solid. In fact, these two groups of buyers play a role not unlike that of canaries in a mine, signaling trends and shifts.

The second matter that has occupied many a thoughtful observer of late concerns the rate of mortgage delinquency, which has actually declined a little, according to a recent industry survey just completed. The rate at which mortgage payments have fallen behind has decreased slightly during the fourth quarter of 2009, which is surprising indeed considering that delinquency rates often rise during the last three months of the year, on account of all heating expenses for winter and the holiday shopping season.

Surprised though market analysts may be, very few are puzzled because most take this development for nothing more than a statistical outlier, a coincidence. Most economists and other experts continue to believe that the situation remains extremely dangerous, as there are still record numbers of homeowners in financial straits, with the biggest problem of all unresolved: that way too many have missed at least three payments, and these people are precisely the ones least helped by any relief program whatsoever, historically speaking; these are the very souls who will be going into foreclosure rather soon.

One more thing to know about D.C. property markets: the city was the nation’s murder capital throughout the 1990s, and still suffers from the effects of municipal mismanagement to this day. Of course, tony nabes like Georgetown exist, but for the most part D.C. is a place where real estate investors need to exercise due diligence when looking into opportunities. The city has been slowly recovering, with gentrification helping pull some pockets of poverty and despair up and out into the modern 21st Century economy, but it’s not a sure bet that current commitment levels will endure.

Though the existing economic catastrophe has also disrupted Connecticut realty, industry experts like Isaac Toussie believe that there’s no danger of oversupply in Connecticut in large part due to the state’s inventory levels being rather constant, likely because of Connecticut’s housing escaping the kind of speculation other places have seen. Such a happy instance is probably also on account of the fact that Connecticut is home to some with the most expensive land anywhere in the country after California, with over three percent of them priced around a million dollars as of the turn of the century. Southwestern Connecticut lies within the greater New York City metropolitan region, but areas further away, such as those communities in the northeast, are better described as luxury retreats for the monied classes, given median home values in the multiple of millions.

There can be a lot of “upside” to Connecticut realty. Condominium inventory in Connecticut are actually at steady ranges despite the financial downturn of late, which is really an extremely positive sign that bodes well for the overall real estate market there. Connecticut land ought to be fine pretty soon. Investing in commercial properties there is frequently a good bet even in this economy. Slow but steady growth has marked the history of Connecticut property for some time. In truth, in spite of the current financial meltdown these days, the State of Connecticut has not witnessed a lot of overly dramatic shifts.

The Danbury Fair, the state’s largest shopping mall, is a case in point. Founded in 1947, it has three levels, forty-seven shops, and nearly four hundred thousand square feet of retail space. Industry experts like Isaac Toussie are convinced that once the New York City Metropolitan Area recovers, retail outlets like this one in Connecticut will follow right along. Indeed, three of the state’s eight counties, which also happen to house most of the population, make up the Tri-State Region of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Despite such proximity to a world-class metropolis like New York City, it should be noted that Connecticut was never that hot a real estate market, so it shouldn’t be surprising that Connecticut has endured the housing scandal and its subsequent crisis much better than many other states. Indeed, once-industrial and then dilapidated Waterbury now attracts newcomers, most notably Orthodox Jewry, a welcome development that has brought new life to the local economy.

Certainly, Connecticut has in fact done well in comparison to states like Florida, Nevada, and even California, for sales are already reported to be running at about 70% of 2008 levels, and though median prices have moderated they are at least not nose-diving! Yes, mortgages are harder to come by, but a lot of this is because of the long-overdue correction of slipshod lending practices in the first place and is actually, in the long term, a positive development for Connecticut’s economy.

Having said all that, readers are still advised to consult those properly licensed and/or otherwise qualified when it comes to making business decisions of any financial importance as neither author nor publisher shall be held liable for such information as has been presented so far, which only constitutes mere opinion and should under no circumstances be misconstrued for financial advice of any kind whatsoever!

Taxes and all of those forms… We should face it, tax forms can often be difficult. There are a variety of questions men and women ask when they receive or need to send out tax forms. One of the more popular questions is, if you get a W9 form request, what precisely should you do with it?

Well if you receive a W9 request then in accordance to the Internal Revenue Service you require to reply to it, as long as that person seeking it is responsible to give you a 1099 form (this is an information return). If they are not required to give you a 1099 form (information return), well that would be a whole different story.

So what happens if you don’t respond to the form W9 request?

If you will not respond to the form W9 request you will be subject to a $50 penalty and also future backup withholding. Backup withholding? you may ask, well if choose not to give the information needed to a required filer of an 1099 Form (information return, not to be confused with a 1040 form) they are required to withhold up to twenty eight percent which is remitted to the government.

A large number of detox diet’s will allow for a gradual re-introduction of foods (other than those that were restricted on the diet). A Detox Diet restricts foods made up of anything thought to be harmful to your health. Now that you have completed a detox diet, it is a great period to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, and stick to that habit. Examples being to add some berries to your breakfast every day or a tomato at lunch time, and them maybe some broccoli with dinner. And do not forget the drinks, throw away the soda and drink some vegetable juice. Most people that complete a detox system will tell you that it is a good way to boost health and all around well being.

Is it possible to use an online course to get the kind of knowledge a developer like Isaac Toussie has regarding real estate?

The information superhighway will soon be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. It took a handful of decades for the web to percolate out from a fairly small coterie of research scientists and other academics into the wider general population, but once it did, our world was changed forever: It was wired.

And so just about everything is on the internet these days, and almost anyything is done through it – even sex! And the once near-exclusive preserve of worthless diploma mills, so-called distance learning has really come of age with a vengeance with the advent of the worldwide “w.” And now, in this age of Web 2.0 going on 3 or even 4, it seems like every corporate body and its subsidiary is getting in on the action.

Bah, humbug, some are tempted to say. No mere Luddites, these, some people just wonder whether e-learning can ever truly substitute for the face-to-face interactions of traditional modalities. In this article, we shall be taking a look-see at the issue for ourselves. Due to issues of legal liability, we shan’t name any names, lest we libel the guilty – wink, wink. But a brief survey of three of the most widely advertised such courses online has revealed to this author at least that business fundamentals can indeed be properly passed along online. These courses will never compare to actual field experience, lending anyone the knowledge of an Isaac Toussie, but then again nothing ever can.

No, the main attraction for these courses – their competitive advantage, to borrow an economist’s term, if you will – is that they are extremely accommodating of your schedule. With most such courses, you can attend class whenever you want – and certainly in whatever you want, including your birthday suit! Convenience is their number one draw, and this kind of accessibility is not to be discounted, especially since it is not necessarily any more costly than the kind of learning offered by the traditional classroom setting. In fact, these courses can cost rather less money, especially if you think about factors like time, such as the time it takes to commute to a brick-and-mortar school.

More problematic is the hands-on approach that is probably necessary for a really good grasp of how the real estate business works. Learning about the relevant laws is important but not quite what one actually does in real estate. What’s really needed is a way of cultivating the mindset of a real estate tycoon! Perhaps one of these internet real estate courses, possibly offered by a “real” school such as a government-supported local community college, may involve an actual internship as a part of the experience, which would go a long way towards just that end of teaching real-world knowledge.

Now even with all that said, however, we must end on this note, that of the legal disclaimer: Neither the author nor the publisher shall be held liable for the content of this article, which constitutes mere opinion only and should never in any way be misconstrued as professional advice of any kind whatsoever! Always consult the relevant professionals, properly licensed and/or otherwise qualified, when making business decisions of any financial consequence.

Camping supplies are a necessity even when simply hiking. This is because there is always the possibility of mishap which will cause you to stay the night in the forest (mountain or desert or wherever else you are trekking through).

Never underestimate the power of Mother Nature; the weather conditions can change in a sudden flash in many places upon the earth. Indeed, our planet is really a living one, and the very ground upon which we walk can betray us. A rockslide, or worse, can present insurmountable obstacles in our way, necessitating some fieldcraft to maneuver around.

Thus it’s always a great idea to take along camping supplies, just in case. You do not need to bring everything, but some things are absolutely required. At a minimum you will most likely need some kind of shelter, so a tent or sleeping bag must be the first thing on your list. Food and water is next, and it’s a good idea to bring at least one day’s worth, though three days’ is the standard recommended minimum.

Emergency supplies such as first-aid kits and flare signals must also be packed. Of course, much depends on your choice of venue, the time of year, and your own familiarity with the location as well as your general expertise in the field, but having the right gear around should disaster or, even, just a fairly minor setback, strike won’t cost you too much in terms of weight.

Essential camping gear should be no more than thirty pounds or so, easily portable and convenient. Do not skimp on common sense! Most serious hikers, campers, and outdoors types know that the possibility of danger is often present, however minimized. If you’re just a casual camper or hiker, then you truly will need to do things by the book and think a few steps ahead!

The all-important first date. The getting-to-know-you can be greatly helped along by an amusement ride, and the most exhilarating one of all must be the Skywalk by Zalman Silber. A serial entrepreneur who made his first big fortune with New York’s infamous Skyride, a much ballyhooed but modest thirty-minute movie of helicopter flyovers, Sydney, Australia’s Skywalk is a much more visceral affair – and for a first-date, visceral is where it’s got to be at!

No, get your mind out of the gutter – “visceral” here simply means heart-pounding thrills which, studies show, make dates more attracted to one another. Yep, it’s true: the more physically exciting the activities the more likely dates are to think of one another as being physically attractive. Scientists have paired up total strangers of the opposite sex and asked them to secretly rate one another’s attractiveness. Then each pair was put through a roller-coaster, sitting side-by-side, and asked again to rate one another’s attractiveness after the ride. The second set of responses were almost always substantially higher than than the first set!

So if you want to make a great impression, make sure to get her (or him!) engaged in some kind of physically exhilarating activity with you – such as the aforementioned Skywalk from Zalman Silber. Situated at the top of the Sydney Tower, the Skywalk is really a catwalk with glass flooring that provides visitors with a panoramic view of the city a thousand feet above street level. Being a catwalk, everything is out in the open, with no windows between guests and…nothingness. The Skywalk offers not only a bird’s-eye view of the Harbour City but all the visceral feelings to go with it as well!

And if the simple fact of being up so high doesn’t get your date’s heart throbbing, make sure she looks down! Visiting the Skywalk is a perfect first date because the Skywalk is the perfect ice-breaker. Don’t be surprised if she instinctively grabs your arm! Even though everyone is tethered by cable to sturdy metal support structures, the frequent gusts of wind can be strong enough to make one forget all the safety features built into the experience. Afterward, you and your date can retire to the conventional observation deck of the Sydney Tower to enjoy the romantic view while sharing fond memories of your Skywalk. Or better yet, purchase another set of tickets to really jack up the excitement and send her emotions through the roof!

Ah, a portable ice maker. At last, a sure-fire way of keeping cool when out of doors under a hot summer sun. You have a picnic, or a outdoor camping trip, or even just a little get-together in the backyard and do not want to keep running back inside for ice – you need a portable ice maker.

It will not only save you trips and bother, but save you from such things as running out of ice all of a sudden. Having one of these niffty little marvels of modern engineering will prevent you from looking like a bad thoughtless host. And nothing beats a portable ice maker at the beach! Like, booyeah.

It’s just what you want when enjoying the landscapes. It could even be a great conversation starter. Forget about helping to apply suntan lotion – give her the gift of perfectly shaped ice cubes and see what happens next! No, really, it works (with some people, but not all). After all, the water’s salty – but fresh ice cubes? Come one, you’ll be the king of the beach.

Make sure you get one with helpful features for example a low water light to remind you of refills. Some models will even reuse melted water right back into ice cubes. Make sure to get the capacity you will need, too. Portable ice makers are fairly straightforward machines so you should have no trouble finding one that’s just right.

Take one to your next tailgating party. Need one for your RV? Portable ice makers are practically required on boats. These devices are helpful in a number of situations. When in the market for one, you might find that the most essential aspect of your purchase is simply the choice of color! That’s how simple it is to buy one, because that’s how straightforward they have become nowadays.

When choosing real estate, articles generally talk about what is recommended by industry experts such as Isaac Toussie. But learning from failure is as important as learning from success; indeed, the two are symbiotically interweaved. And thus, following up on the previous installment’s discussion of desirable but still affordable New York City neighborhoods, we will consider the worst of the worst here by way of steering you to properties elsewhere!

A borough-by-borough run-down concludes as follows:

Staten Island: generally speaking, the areas closest to the ferry terminal will be the worst, with crime, noise, and other social ills most prevalent.

Manhattan: a much more diverse set of conditions here, but a good rule-of-thumb principle holds that areas north of Central Park should be avoided (though gentrification has made many such areas much better than previously was the case). With the exception of Chelsea and Upper East and West Side areas like Lincoln Center, avoid all areas with a public housing project.

Bronx: the whole borough should be avoided (but for Riverdale on the west coast and Throgg’s Neck on the southeastern one).

Queens: the most complex situation in the whole city, with many neighborhoods fairly mixed ethnically, racially, and socio-economically. But clearly inferior places include vast tracts of Jamaica and surrounding areas, especially towards points south near Brooklyn. Ravenswood is another problem area, next to Astoria in Long Island City. Roosevelt Island is deliberately mixed, but as is always the case, the bad will drive out the good, and it’s quite a debate whether gentrification can work there. East Elmhurst (but not all of Elmhurst proper) should also be avoided for the mix of noise, crime, and other social ills presented by many of its denizens. Jackson Heights is on the borderline, once a nice nabe but now host to a vast illegal immigrant community.

Brooklyn: another complex case, though rather more clear-cut than that of Queens noted above. Sunset Park is gritty and working-class but at least somewhat safe, relatively speaking. Definitely avoid Bushwick and surroundings, as well as Flatlands and even, nowadays, Canarsie. Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights are not very desirable areas and have a history of violence, as is the case with Ocean Hill and Brownsville. East New York should be avoided like the plague. Coney Island is also often bad, though the City of New York is finally committed to a wholesale revitalization effort.

Tough stuff? Barely. One cannot be too truthful when it comes to the persisting pockets of urban blight. For those new to New York, such “color” is quite often appealing. But for many others, peace and quiet is desired above all for thinking, studying, and enjoyment of being.

The neighborhoods listed are anathema to those values, peopled as they are by those of a disposition, whether cultural or otherwise, towards noisy commotion and even physical violence. Yet because the city bursts with new arrivals each day, industry observers like Isaac Toussie agree that property prices and rent will still be very expensive, even when compared with more desirable spots in the same city. For example, Kingsbridge and Bedford Park in the Bronx, ghetto to the core, can still command rents only a couple of hundred less than those in premier places like Riverdale or Throgg’s Neck!