Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio 's Blog

Up Town Butte Condos

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:57:46 -0700

Great Commercial Building with 7 condos and indoor parking garage for condo's 2 half baths in parking garage. A Great Monthly income already in place, Newly Remodeled with the best opportunity for growth of any piece of commercial property in Butte, Montana. First Floor has also has two great retail spaces. The main retail space is 4,000 square feet with kitchen area in. This space would make a great internet cafe, which Butte has non downtown. You could also have live music or open mic on the weekends. There is a back room that could be used for meetings or private events and a great office space with an antique built in safe. On the west side of the building is a great 750 square foot retail space, that would make a great shop of any kind. This building is one block off of main street, which makes it a great location for just about any type of business. The second floor has 7 completed condos, all currently producing income. There are four units whit three bedrooms and 2 full baths. These units are (1,400 to 1,535 square feet each) Two units has two bedrooms and one full bath. These units are (960 to 1000 square feet each) One unit has two bedrooms and two full bathes. This unit is 1,168 square feet. The indoor parking garage has spaces for 11 autos, two half baths in it, storage space, automatic garage door opener and exhaust system for auto emissions. This building is 20,400 square feet, 10,200 square feet per floor. Heat is natural gas and electric. Wiring is commercial specifications. Entire building has automatic sprinkling system for fire control and smoke alarms wired in. For more information please contact

tom@befirstinc.com

or phone 303 956 0569

Yellowstone Inn and Conference Center: Visit the Mecca of the West!

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Sun, 29 May 2011 13:17:49 -0700

Is there any possible way to combine fun and entertainment with fly-fishing, sports, hiking, and history, framed by the most beautiful wildlife and scenery you`ve ever seen in your life? Yes, as a matter of fact there is, and Yellowstone Inn gives you this package of sheer perfection so that you and your family get peace, serenity, and a whole lot of fun.

Over the nest few weeks we`re going to be talking aboutYellowstone Inn. Why? I know "you`re going to say there are other good hotels, so why this one? Readers, I can not stress enough the fact thatYellowstone Inn is the actual Mecca of beauty in the United States (and, quite possibly, the rest of the world). There is no other. Yellowstone Inn is the only place this avid traveler has found on this entire planet that gives you absolutely everything!

Yellowstone Inn and Conference Center is a part of the Best Western chain. And that monogram really fits. This facility is the BEST of the WEST, offering everyone who stays there the best accommodations, the best prices, in the best location that any "higher power` could`ve thought to create.

Only miles from Yellowstone Park, in a region that goes back in human history more than 11,000 years, Yellowstone Inn and Conference Center, located just off Interstate 90, has long been a landmark of Livingston, Montana. This monumental beauty of a hotel is the largest facility of its type, and has been a home away from home for thousands of people since its opening.

This northern gateway to Yellowstone Park, has earned a wonderful reputation for old western authenticity and has become the true `Mecca` of western hospitality. Always keeping up with the changing times, Yellowstone Inn has been remodeled throughout the years to keep the building perfect. And, the rates? Talk about peace and serenity. The amenities they offer, and the beautiful oversized rooms that are available, are given at the best rates this writer has ever seen.

When you walk into Yellowstone Inn, you can almost feel the history of the West sink into your pores. The perfection of modern-day facilities mixed with the old western world is a stunning combination that makes your experience go down in history as the `best of the best.`

From thousands of years ago to the very recent past, many groups of Native Americans use this tranquil world as their homes, hunting grounds, and transportation routes. These traditional uses of Yellowstone lands continued until a little over two hundred years ago, when the first people of European descent found their way to Yellowstone. In 1872, a country that hadn`t even celebrated its first centennial, established Yellowstone as the first national park in the world. With this "new` concept, people found a way to preserve and protect the best of what they had for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.

And, at Yellowstone Inn you and your family are a part of this amazing world. The fun of fly-fishing is all around, the wildlife roams, every single scene and location speaks to your soul as you tour this area and enjoy. And you will enjoy! Because, unlike other hotels, Yellowstone Inn supplies you with the most modern comfortable accommodations on the planet, so that you can wake up - rested and relaxed - to enjoy each and every day.

At Yellowstone National Park, a gorgeous journey from Yellowstone Inn, you will receive a glimpse of what, I assume, the Hereafter must look like. At Yellowstone there are so many "wonders` to explore. Take, for instance, the Canyon Area; with accessible walkways, you overlook the most colorful and inspirational spot in the world - the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Lower Falls, and Upper Falls. You can stand at `Artist Point,` and even hear the story of the Yellowstone super-volcano.

You and your family can experience the Forces of the Northern Range, which spotlights the natural wonders like volcanoes, glaciers, and the fire that shaped the landscape. Or, enjoy a walking tour atMammoth Hot Springs, with buildings constructed by the U.S. Army from (1886 "1918).

After the perfect evening at Yellowstone Inn you have the ability to view geysers, hot springs, and fumaroles all in one place! Your family can see the spectacular Great Fountain Geyser and its neighbor, White Dome Geyser, and travel the ever-changing travertine terraces.

Discover turbulent and explosive land, and watch your kids enjoy the `belching` Dragon`s Mouth - a wonder of color and science that will leave all of you gasping with awe.

And, no, I will never forget to mention Old Faithful. This amazing awe-inspiring area is at your fingertips when you stay at Yellowstone Inn. This best-known area is home to the world`s largest concentration of active geysers. Viewing Old Faithful, and then walking the trails past hundreds of geysers and hot springs is a day no one will forget. And, if you stay at Yellowstone Inn, you will experience the brand new Old Faithful Historic District which is absolutely steeped in beauty, color, and history.

After days that are this stunning - this magical - the ONLY way to hold on to these amazing moments are to stay at an equally amazing hotel.

The history, the culture, everything becomes part of your soul when you return back to Yellowstone Inn,and the modern world comes back to spoil, indulge, and pamper you to death. YOU are the star atYellowstone Inn. Like the wolves that are now roaming and thriving in the Greater Yellowstone Area, YOU thrive within the gorgeous walls of Yellowstone Inn.

There are so many amenities at this establishment that we don`t even have the internet space to list them all. The Best of Western Hospitality is the perfect definition for this newly remodeled and refurbished hotel in Livingston, Montana. It is a true landmark in this historic western train town, and Yellowstone Innis a traditional meeting place for residents and visitors alike. There is so much offered in Yellowstone Inn`s ninety-nine spacious rooms, accented by unique western flavors everywhere you look, and designed for easy, comfortable rest and relaxation the old fashioned way.

And, if you`re like this writer and want the beauty without the snow, Yellowstone Inn offers an indoor heated swimming pool, and an indoor heated parking garage which makes unloading and loading luggage, children, and gifts, easy and painless!

Now for the grand theme of Yellowstone Inn and Conference Center "the accommodations! You willnot believe it! Staying in these huge guest rooms make you feel as if you were just crowned Queen of the Whole Wide World. Yellowstone Inn doesn`t just offer you the basics like wireless high-speed internet access, etc. No, no! These people give you everything. It`s not even a home away from home - it`s a palace away from home.

Just imagine going to the `ballroom` and having a dream evening with the one you love; or, dining at their fantastic restaurant, Cafe Yellowstone & Double Shot Saloon (which we will cover in-depth next week because you HAVE to know about it), and going back upstairs to a huge selection of grandiose rooms offering King and Queen beds, such as The Wineglass Suite, which is a two-room King with a sleeper sofa, and a full kitchen/dinette with the most extraordinary mountain views imaginable. All the regular amenities are offered here, ladies and gentleman, BUT inside Yellowstone Inn you also receive HDTV, AND they have oversized executive parlors with loveseats, refrigerators, and microwaves.

Out of the stunning ninety-nine rooms, there are ninety-two non-smoking rooms; two rooms for the physically challenged; and, three of the most breathtaking suites you`ve ever seen.

The amenities offered for the physically challenged are extraordinary, as well - (bathtub seats, wheelchair accessibility, closed-caption television, safety bars in showers, extra wide doors in bathrooms) -Yellowstone Inn has thought of everything in order to provide all their guests comfort and peace.

Want more? (Gosh, you`re greedy) But, yes, there is more. A full service restaurant and lounge; conference, banquet, and meeting facilities; a guest 24-hour laundry with coin-operated washers and dryers; ice/vending machines; complimentary, wireless high-speed Internet access; a picnic area (Seeing Yogi and Boo-Boo would be cool, wouldn`t it?); fax and photocopy machine; 24-hour front desk and guest lobby; elevator, wheelchair accessible; 24-hour lobby coffee service; cable satellite television; 25-inch with four HBO channels and three ESPN channels in all guest rooms; AM/FM radio stereo; direct dial telephone with voicemail and dataport; lock bars in all rooms; room service (trust me, though, you`ll wantto go to the Yellowstone Café and Double Shot Saloon); coffee/tea maker; rollaway beds and cribs available; adjoining rooms; free local calls; ironing boards; wall mounted bathroom hairdryers with night lights; AND the BEST scenery in the entire world!

And the cost is absolutely minimal! There are also AAA discounts and internet rate discounts available for all!

You and your family will go to Yellowstone Inn for a family vacation; or, you, the businessperson, will go to Yellowstone Inn for your event or conference, BUT, after one night, (or, more likely one hour) you will be begging the management to rent you a room for life!

That is the only downside here, readers. Forget the real world you will NEVER want to leaveYellowstone Inn.

Yellowstone Inn and Conference Center
1515 West Park Livingston, MT. 59047
(I-90 exit 333)
*
Phone: (406) 222-6110
Toll-Free (800) 770-1874 (U.S. Reservations)
Fax: (406) 222-3357

For Reservation information:
reservations@theyellowstoneinn.com

Cape Coral Sailboat Access Pool Home is a Favorite for Boaters

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:47:06 -0700

Cape Coral Sailboat Access Pool Home is a Favorite for Boaters. Don't you just love boating when some dolphins are hopping on each side of your boat? Then you go home and relax in the pool with a drink in hand? Rent this beautiful 3 bedroom, 3 bath home with 2 car garage in Cape Coral Florida with a direct sailboat access canal in the back yard a straight shot & less than 5 minutes to the river & the Gulf of Mexico by boat. The whole back of the home opens up with huge pocket sliders into the lanai. The heated pool (solar & electric) with cover is enclosed & has total privacy, with fruit trees right outside, no neighbors on the other side of the canal. Near RSW Ft. Myers airport, 15 minutes away. Sleeps 8-10 & has split floor design, the master is separated from the other bedrooms for added privacy. Boat ramp is right down the street, but you can park your boat right in the canal in your back yard. Then wake up & do it the next day. There is real good fishing nearby and Ft. Myers beach, Captiva Island or Sanibel Island Beach by boat is always fun. Let us know if you would like to rent our Cape Coral Fl. sailboat access vacation home. Jan - March .. $1150/week .. $3500/month. May - Oct .. $ 750/week .. $2200/month. Nov - Dec .. $900/week .. $2750/month. 3 day specials 2011: anytime from 05/1/11 to 11/15/11 is $600.00 Call now to book your vacation: 1 800 421-1974 or 636 530-1974 (636) 675-2361 after 5pm. or weekends. Do you have family members on a sports team? If so you need to tell them about www.shop4teams.com where they can save 50% on custom uniforms for all sports.

Taking your Company Social

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:43:57 -0800

Have you finally reached the point where you realize that taking your company social, is a must to succeed in the new Paradigm of business?

Where do you start, and how much time ought you devote every day? The answer is to look where you will find the largest group of your clients, on the Internet. Facebook is a wise first choice with a Facebook Business Page. Facebook has over 500 million users worldwide, and business pages are easily found in the search engines, by perspective clients looking for products, services or travel destinations like yours.

A Facebook Business Page creates a captive audience for your company, by enthralling all those who are interested in your products, services, events, and what is going on within your company. A business page allows you to post video's of your resort, product or service in action. You can create "How To" videos to establish client comfort in using your product. If you are in the travel or adventure business, your clients can get a first hand taste of what is in store for them, upon arrival.

Be Social With Facebook, And Allow Your Fans To Be Too

Locking down your page to limit management time is going to make your page less fun, and less interactive for users. Allow users to post on your wall, add photos, tag, add videos and comment on your posts and posts made by other fans. Enabling interactive options may result in a spam post here or there, but you can monitor all activity and delete what you deem inappropriate.

Optimize Your Status Updates With Keywords

It's significant to note that Facebook pages are indexed by search engines, meaning public updates from your Business Page (unlike your Personal Profile) often show up in Google's real-time search results. When posting a new update on your page, keep your most important keywords in mind. Also, try to add a picture when possible - Facebook updates with images posted on business pages are clicked on 57 percent more than text-only updates, and 24 percent more than posts with a video update.

Add The "Like" Button Plug-In To Your Website

To encourage your website visitors and blog followers to follow you on Facebook, add the Facebook "Like" plug-in to your site. This button is a single line of generated code that allows people to share your content with their network of friends. By clicking on the Like button, a story appears in the user's friend's news feed, with a link back to your site. In addition, users have the ability to add a comment, giving more prominence to the published story on Facebook.

Add Interactive Applications.

Facebook offers over 550,000 active applications, many of which help promote your own website and content via your Facebook Business Page. In addition to providing a user-friendly interface, most of the applications are very easy to install and customize. Also, integration and usage of these applications will promote links to your website, blog, or online retail space. Here are my top five must-haves: Networked Blogs, Static FBML (Facebook's HTML), Promotions, Slideshare, and Reviews.

Facebook Business Pages are becoming a second web page for most mid-size to small businesses. Employing these basic optimization tactics within your Business Page can significantly enhance your visibility and outreach not only through Facebook, but the entire World Wide Web.

Tom Ski is a master of the great outdoors. You can find Tom fly fishing in Montana, photographing elk and bison, watching birds from a hide or in the long grass, talking about life on his radio show and writing about his adventures at NewsBlaze.

Biltmore Estate Tour Leaves a Lasting Imprint on The Soul

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 07:52:59 -0800

Having heard fabulous raves about the Biltmore Estate, Sherry and I planned our next Road Trekin Adventure to include Asheville, North Carolina. We had the privilege to spend an entire day at the Biltmore Estate. The house was built by George Vanderbilt in1895 and portrays amazing craftsmanship, creativity, and ingenuity.

Before talking more about the Biltmore, I'd like to convey a bit about George Washington Vanderbilt and his wife Edith, as I find their dreams and visions just as inspiring as their estate.

George Vanderbilt grew up as the youngest of three children in a family that took responsibility for their future and took advantage of the great opportunity America offered. George's grandfather Cornelius Vanderbilt started a Ferry business, which was one small venture that changed the families' entire future, creating an empire of shipping and railroad companies.

Upon these ventures of success, the family expanded into what was known as American royalty. The family believed in philanthropy, enhancing other people's lives through medicine, education, conservation and the arts.

I believe this philosophy of George and Edith Vanderbilt, was the true success and the continuing success of the family.

The Biltmore House was built in the tradition of a European style summer home, to be enjoyed for relaxing and entertaining. The original grounds covered 126,000 acres consisting of rolling countryside, heavily timbered areas, abundance of game, and a beautiful river flowing through the estate. Upon entering the grounds was when I began to feel the energies of wonder and awe.

Enormous fountains and gardens greeted visitors upon entering the main courtyard. The entire estate was decorated with Christmas ornaments along with merry spirit inside and out. December was a fabulous time to visit. Shuttle after shuttle dropped visitors off at the front entrance. Two stone-carved lions with the big red ribbons around their necks proudly stood to greet them and have their photos taken.

The sun was shining and the skies were blue, but the winter air was crisp. We enjoyed shooting photographs until we were too chilled to stay out any longer, and there was much to see.

The Biltmore House is built of steel and brick with a veneer of limestone covering it. The stone statues, gargoyles, and other designs, all hand carved. Detail and character were everywhere.

Upon entering the castle like entrance, we decided to explore the upstairs first, as the main floor was already filling up with visitors. The main staircase was made of concrete, very wide and curled to the next level. A gigantic chandelier hung down the open center, illuminating the way. I found it interesting that there were narrow wooden doors just off the stairs that provided just enough room for outside access for window washing and for an incredible view of the grounds.

Throughout the interior of the mansion, the craftsmanship was like nothing I have ever seen. In the main Banquet Room, the ceiling was seven stories in height with an enormous pipe organ at one end and a triple fireplace at the other. The carvings on the rail of the pipe organ loft were beautifully carved and a great representation of the work throughout the house. The Banquet Room also had Flemish Tapestries from the 1500's hanging on the sidewalls with incredible side seating down the east wall with two throne style chairs, as well as more seating. From the banquet room we went upstairs to view the main bedrooms and sitting rooms.

On the second floor, were George's bedroom and The Oak Sitting Room. The ornate woodcarvings framed the fireplace and around the door, kept my attention for over 40 minutes, focusing on the incredible detail and thoughts behind them. After leaving the Oak Room in a total daze from the awe of the craftsmanship, I found myself in Edith Vanderbilt's room. The curved door caught my eye right away, such an artistic flare. Another detail that I found interesting was that the hall walls were painted in two colors as a map to direct the guests. Biltmore Terracotta was painted on top and Coffee Brown on the bottom third of the wall below the chair rail.

The third floor of the house was designed as a guest retreat. The Vanderbilt's hosted a variety of guests from writers, diplomats, artists, to politicians. The furnishings and art in the Living Hall were absolutely beautiful. I imagined being at a party there. For a moment, I thought I could feel the energy of a room full of George and Edith's friends laughing and having fun playing games and talking about world travel.

From the third floor we took the stairs to the basement. In this portion of the Biltmore House are the kitchens, pantries, storage, and the servant's quarters. There was also a recreation area with a 70,000 gallon heated indoor pool. The pool area was in a unique setting with a curved ceiling vaulted room of white brick and even had the original underwater lighting. There also was a bowling alley, gymnasium, several guest-changing rooms and even a "Halloween" room.

I headed back up to the main floor, wandered through the Tapestry Gallery to the Library. The Library, to me was the most fascinating room in the entire house. Starting with the painted ceiling "The Chariot of Aurora" by Italian artist Giovanni Pellegrini. This painting once graced the ceiling of Pisani Palace in Venice. Napoleon Bonaparte's chess set and gaming table were also part of the fabulous decor. A very large table had several large magnifying glasses lying on it, just in case the type was too small or maybe it was to get another perspective.

My eyes reached the end of the room and stopped to absorb the woodwork and the many volumes of books and great works of knowledge. The Library is said to house almost half of George's collection of books. The energy in the room was full of words and the vibration could be felt deeply. I would have loved to been able to sit there for days reading and absorbing the energy of the room. I stayed still for as long as possible in a large group of visitors like myself.

Once leaving the house, we wondered down to the garden area. Even though it was winter, we could only imagine how beautiful it was in the summer time, which I am looking forward to on the next trip. From wondering around the outdoor garden, we went into the green house.

The Green house design is fun and interesting. It was there that the tropical plants, poinsettias, and holiday plants flourished and waited for their next assignment. The arrangements in the green house were very interesting and it was a lot of fun to just wander through.

The Birds of Paradise were great to photograph as well as many other plants. As I was photographing, four very lovely women were setting on and standing around a white metal bench. I found it touching to watch them connect with each other and enjoying the wonderful holiday season.

Jessica Peters, Kayla Hearld, Pam Hearld, and Jenny Herald

We walked the trail through the woods to our van, which was very tranquil. I imaged what it must have been like to live there. We traveled to the Village, which is on the estate just a couple miles from the house. The Village includes a variety of shops, a great restaurant and bar, a theatre with an informative documentary on the Biltmore House, and the winery. The best part of the village was the winery.

The tour of the winery was quite interesting and well worth the time. We stopped at the wine tasting room for samples; my favorite was the Biltmore Pinot Noir, with its cherry and vanilla accents.

The winery is housed in the old stone "barn" which used to be the dairy. Back in the days, the dairy supplied milk and butter to the surrounding area. Today the Biltmore Winery is the most visited in the United States with over a million visitors a year. Milk to wine, brilliant concept!

The opening of Biltmore Estate to the public, and the concept of the Winery have kept the Biltmore Dream alive, demonstrating true ingenuity. The winery and the eco-friendly conservation of the land, also shows forward and creative thinking. The Biltmore Estate employs 1800 people.

I have only barely touched on the story of the Biltmore House and of George and Edith Biltmore. I believe the visions they held were, what America ought to be seeing now, unlimited opportunities and taking responsibility for ourselves through innovative and desire.

Touring the Biltmore Estate was an experience that made a lifelong impression on my soul. Words cannot describe the feeling and the essence of this land of dreams. I see the Biltmore as a true light of inspiration, passion, and unlimited boundaries, which is still manifesting. I am looking forward to the next visit to bring more of the Vanderbilt's grandeur and vision, to the world.

A Stroll Through Rock & Roll, An Experience

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:01:51 -0800

I grew up near the heart of rock & roll. Detroit was where Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Mitch Rider and the Detroit Wheels, Kiss, Grand Funk Railroad, Motown, and many other bands formed.

Rock & Roll is not just about the music, it's about the heart and soul that brings it to life. Visiting the R&R Hall of Fame was like entering a main vein that flowed right to the root of the cause.

It was a beautiful blue-sky day, with icy cold temps. Sherry and I arrived early and got a great parking spot. We were both amazed that there were so many places of interest in one area, including The Steamship William G. Mather, The Great Lakes Science Center, The International Women's Air & Space Museum, The Cleveland Brown Stadium, as well as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The architectural style of the Rock & Roll Hall was an artistical statement of it's own, which possibly was a reflection of what it held inside. Music played outside the hall and we recognized the tune right away as Boston's "Don't Look Back" which set the mood.

Once inside, the first things that caught my eye were the wild displays of fuzzy, glitzy cars that hung from the ceiling. Oversized crazy looking guitars lined up at the windows and music playing in stereo. More cool rides included Joan Jett's Jaguar, which was her very first car. The Jag was purchased before she even had her driver's license and drove it off the lot with just a learner's permit! ZZ Top's famous "Eliminator" was parked nearby along with Jon Bon Jovi's Harley Davidson.

The very first exhibits were items of Muddy Waters and T-Bone Walker, two of the greatest blues men of all time! Next-door were the items of Hank Williams, minus his guitar, which is owned and played by Neil Young.

Elvis Presley's exhibit was quite impressive showing off a beautiful Cadillac that he had owned and had given away as a gift. A TV screen played an early show with him singing to a small audience with the girls screaming with excitement when he flashed that charismatic smile. The Elvis magic was definitely in the room among the displays, music, photographs, and the stories. My personal favorites included the black and white images of Elvis taken by Alfred Wertheimer. Alfred was Elvis' personal photographer even before "The King" became famous. One image stands out in my mind; it showed Elvis casually sitting in a café in New York City, it may have been one of his last photos taken in public without being recognized. Alfred's photos portray many casual and personal moments of Elvis, capturing a special essence of a great man.

Then I entered the maze of memorabilia. Among the items that stuck in my mind were U2's first logo, John Lennon's piano covered with melted candle wax, Jethro Tull's flute, Michael Jackson's glove, a Sgt. Pepper's Uniform, Stevie Nicks gowns, Jimi Hendricks couch and his many album covers, Jim Morrison's boy scout uniform, James Taylors first guitar, just to name a few. There were lyrics written on note pads, napkins, as well as thank you notes and rejection letters, all these items were just bits and pieces of history. It was quite different seeing some of the famous costumes up close and "empty".

Sherry was feeling the high energy and I think she realized that rock & roll was not only an expression of words with music but also a complete artistic form of freedom of expression. Here is what she said,

"The Rock & Roll Hall of fame contains art and inspiration of so many different levels! Rock & Roll is not just about the music, it is about justice, freedom, living, loving, peace, expression, passion, people and it's about every single thing!" She still contemplates Jimi Hendrix's message, "Are You Experienced."

Some of the rockers outfits and costumes were truly amazing, some looked better on the stage or screen with the dawning of MTV on the music scene. Music videos definitely changed how music was listened to and watched. Martha Quinn was my favorite VJ and I always enjoyed her shows and Videos of the Day.

Moving beyond the music scene, I grew to appreciate more of John Lennon's poetry, idealism and artistry as well as with Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison. In my opinion, these men were well beyond their time of existing upon this plane. If we would all take the time to "Imagine", who knows where consciousness would be now.

The main exhibit area holds some very impressive articles of the times and places that once were. It is incredible how one thought or idea can expand imaginations and illuminate new paths such as the Les Paul story and the beginning of the electric guitar sound. Les Paul was actually known as the "Axe" to some guitar slingers. He was always trying to improve the sound of the using whatever was available.

Several floors held priceless treasures, it would take days to read and absorb everything. It was great to take a break and sit in the cafeteria and watch others expressions and listen to other points of view. Overhead was the Pink Floyd display from "The Wall" which was very cool and showed incredible creativity. On the top floor was the Bruce Springsteen the featured exhibit. I found it interesting to see how the "Boss" got his start. I also enjoyed reading his poetry, looking at his collection of guitars and photographs. "From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen"

The hall of Rock also has theatres where you can watch films of past concerts and documentaries. In the hall of Rock, there are four categories, which give the hall of Rock depth of musicians that have been inducted, as some would say all this in the house Rock Built. If you are ever in Cleveland and you like Rock & Roll, it's worth the stop!

ZZ Troutski's Fly Box: Tying a Dubbing Leech

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 09:58:06 -0800

The Dubbing Leech is another great fly for beginners. This pattern is easy, inexpensive and a great fly to cast stream side.

With this in mind, the beginner can afford to lose flies in the brush or stream and concentrate on enhancing casting techniques.

I have used this fly pattern both heavily weighted and un-weighted with fantastic results and great to use warm or cold water. This fly also works well on either a turned down or straight eye hook. I have caught trout of every size and even a few bass with this particular pattern.

Materials:
(Use your favorite brand*)

- Dai Riki #210 hook size 2/0 - #10(hook in a - 2, 3, or 4 extra long)

-Dubbing with sparkle or without

-Thread 3/0 or 6/0

-Peacock Sword

You may also rib this fly with gold, silver, mylar, or any material you can imagine. Try using wire, tinsel or even cross-stitch floss for different effects. I have caught a lot of fish by creating new "recipes".

Tight Lines.

This Video Sponsored by: Fly fishing Adventures

http://www.roadtrekin.com

http://www.befirstinc.com

Social Media Determines Travel and Activity Purchases

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:56:21 -0800

Real time shopping is becoming very popular to travelers across the world. Online purchases show that more travelers are booking their own airline reservations, scheduling accommodations, and choosing more activities than ever before.

A leading travel market research firm has discovered that social media through real time searches will have a massive impact on what travelers do and how they will spend their money on vacation. Travelers in the U.S. last year spent 26.8 billion on tours, skiing, sports events, amusement parks, spas, museums, zoos, concerts and other cultural and recreational activities. That's more than twice the amount spent on cruises and package tours, and nearly twice the amount spent on car rentals.

Through social media, you can determine what is attracting travelers, and what they are going to do once they get there. Location based searches and social networks are already having a huge effect on consumer trip planning. The impact is becoming more profound as tablet PC's and android style phones are becoming more prevalent with users and travelers due to ease of use and real time searches. They know what is going on and what others are saying about hotels, events, and activities.

Destination hotels and travel attractions ought to have a social marketing strategy in place to adapt to the fast changing digital landscape to ensure they are in position to take advantage of opportunities. Those who move quickly to develop and engage consumers will gain a significant advantage in a very competitive market place.

Research has discovered three out of four travelers use digital media devices while traveling. Two-thirds say they are more likely to shop, book travel activities and rooms from their devices while traveling. More than three in four travelers cite travel reviews, articles, videos and photos, as a major influence in their decisions before booking. Travelers that are spending the most money on activities are influenced by web content, blogs, buyer's guides and social networks. Four in ten travelers say they always solicit advice from their social networks.

Social Media will continue to significantly influence consumer's choices of activities and destinations. Social media will continue to expand as travelers increasingly depend on reviews, videos, and personal recommendations on socials networks in making future vacation plans and activities.

ZZ Troutski's Fly Box: Tying a Wooly Bugger

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:34:12 -0800

The wooly bugger is a great fly to begin tying for fishing success.

When I guided and fished a little more than I am at this moment, I always advised fellow casters, "When hiring a guide, find out if he or she ties." In my opinion, a guide who doesn't have a few of his own special patterns, he's not much of a guide.

This pattern is a great place start with the basic techniques and principles to start catching more fish, having fun and saving money on flies. The other thing is, you just can't have to many buggers.

Materials needed:

-Hook sizes 10 - 2/0 in three to four extra long.

-3-4 extra long hooks of your favorite brand

-3/0 to 6/0 thread,

-Chenille or Dubbing of your choice of color

-Marabou,

-Saddle hackle

-Weight material if you desire to weight them.

The wooly bugger represents many different foods to the trout, stonefly nymphs, baitfish, leeches, dragonfly nymphs, damsel nymphs, or anything that might be alive and edible.

Enjoy, have fun and tight lines.

This video & Road Trekin Adventures is Sponsored by;

Montana Fly Fishing Adventures; Book your Montana Fly Fishing Adventure today, Just a Few smith River Dates Left;http://bit.ly/fZMjD6

Trip to Michigan Completes The Holiday Season

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:48:19 -0800

We have been quite fortunate in so many ways. The weather has been extremely good to us. The day we left Montana the temperature was in the 70's, which is pretty incredible for November. The very next day, Dad told us that is was snowing back home. News of more snow and bitter cold temperatures back home, just made our trip more exciting. We had left, just in time!

It had been twenty-six years since my last trip to Michigan. Much has changed, and yet some things seemed exactly the same. I was blown away by the changes in my old neighborhood, where I grew up. Hills seemed smaller, the trees towered, and the Cardinals seemed redder. I felt as if I were in some sort of time warp.

The growth in twenty six years was incredible and the later falling apart of Detroit from corruption and the U.S. auto industry tanking made for a unique picture to observe. In the Detroit metro area, what used to be open space are now parking lots, stores and subdivisions. In the Detroit inter city where neighborhoods used to be, are ghost towns.

To me, parts of Michigan seem to have lost an appendage of ingenuity and a sense of self. The Upper Peninsula seemed the same without much change at all, as if it been stuck in time.

The best part of the trip was connecting with my family and friends from several chapters ago in my life. It was great to spend time with them, noticing how they had changed and realizing how I have changed.

Living on the road, you have to expect things will not always go as planned. I guess that is part of what makes life interesting. We decided we'd better take care of a few things before we left Michigan, like getting the computer fixed and take the van in for some minor repairs and maintenance.

Sherry was super bummed out over the computer freezing up, as the warranty had just expired. We rely pretty heavy on our computers, as they provide our lifestyle. Sherry didn't tear out all of her hair over it, but almost. We scheduled an appointment at the Apple Store in Troy in the Somerset Mall, hoping that the crew at the Genius Bar would have good news for us and do a little shopping.

Walking to the Apple Store was amazing!! It was like stepping into the future. (Our store back home, is like an office with two desks and a dog to greet you at the door.) The energy was electric, to say the least and no pun intended. The latest and greatest Apple Computers, gear and gadgets, were everywhere. It was an exciting place to be.

The Genius Bar was at the rear with several solution stations. The whole place was buzzing with activity; we were checked in right away and waited nervously. Sherry said it felt like waiting at the doctors' office. Finally, it was our turn.

(Dr.) Bill asked us a few questions and proceeded to take the Mac into the backroom. He returned several minutes later and told us some bad news...the hard drive could not be opened up. I was surprised that Sherry did not cry. Bill talked with his manager and said that since the warranty had just expired that there would be no charge for this repair. He asked us if we could wait a couple of hours to pick up the computer.

I think the combination of getting the computer back the same day, fixed, at no charge was a band-aid to loosing information. All was good.

We took off to tour the mall and to explore what was new for Christmas this year. One store we wandered into was the All Things Detroit. A great place if you are interested in Detroit Products, Motown Music and memorabilia from the Motor City. We had a great time covering all three floors and talking to folks from the area and observing all the unique holiday decorations. Shopping can be great exercise.

We arrived back to the Apple Store two hours later and Bill saw us coming and greeted us with a finished product ready to go and even gave us a few pointers. We wished each other a Happy Holiday Season.

Again, we would like to thank Bill and all the Apple Store Crew Members for the great customer service and going the extra mile!

Later that afternoon, we went to the Bean & Leaf in Rochester to catch up on some projects. It is a quaint little corner coffee house with wi-fi, great coffee and fun employees. I found it interesting, as there is a Leaf & Bean in Montana.

Rochester is also the home of Leader Dogs for the Blind. While we were sipping our coffee, 2 dogs in training came in with their people. Sherry bounced right over and struck up a conversation with the trainers and even got to love up the dogs. She would have signed up as a volunteer right then and there, but chose to continue road trekin.

About 270 students come to the center each year to be paired with a guide dog. This is a special place and for some, it means independence, for others self worth, as well as safety. For more cool information on Leader Dogs, please check out: http://www.leaderdog.org/about/faqs.php

The main reason we were in Rochester was to see the incredible Downtown Christmas Light Display that everyone had been raving about.

At 6:00 pm sharp, all the Christmas lights came on and lit up the town! It was absolutely beautiful.

We walked the main street taking pictures, then hopped in the road trekin van and put the mile long main street on video. The video just doesn't capture the feeling of being there. From there we picked up a hot pizza and headed down the highway.

We spent five weeks wandering around Michigan and it only really snowed once. Sherry dug out her snow pants to sit in the snow and take pictures of all the fabulous birds That is probably the last time she'll use them for awhile, cuz...were heading south!

Stay tuned for our next stop in Cleveland at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Remarketing With Content Writing and Sentiment Tracking

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:11:12 -0800

What is remarketing?

Remarketing is about using social media as a tool to explosive sales by up to 20% with your present client base.

Websites are more dynamic and interactive than ever before. Now it is possible to leverage the high volume of conversation, on the engaging, emerging, energizing, ever expanding, framework of digital life, it is called Social Media!

In today's world, social media is the leading edge to renewed success. Remarketing increases new customer growth and the ability to bring past clients back to your company, expanding the bottom line.

The social media revolution is unlike any sector of the Internet Revolution to date. Social Media is changing the attitude towards the web rather than a changing technology.

The tremendous flow of content online and the sharing of conversation, allows companies and individuals to leverage a flow of information to their advantage.

Understanding the expanding use of social platforms is something to pay attention to. Twitter has grown 79% this year, now with around 300,000 new users a day, and a total of 105 million users to date! Facebook has reached 500 million users to date.

A great place to start your social interaction is to choose a platform, such as Twitter or YouTube. Set up a profile with the company logo. Begin posting content and interacting with prospective clients.

The reach a company can have is simply amazing. You must understand that any company can reach anyone, anywhere in the world, so tracking the information is as important as posting it. You can track clicks, comments, real time conversations, the number of reposted of articles, Diggs, Stumbles, Buzzes, Buzz Ups, Mixes and more. It all matters in sending your message virally throughout the virtual world of consumers.

Content is not about 140 characters. Content includes slide shows, videos, photos, articles, blogs, and online radio.

As interest or renewed interest in your company increases, it is the prime time to track what clients are saying about your product or service in real time.

Writing articles and posting content on your social profiles will allow you to monitor your brand, and let you know what is being said about it, positive or negative.

Real time sentiment tracking allows you to change how your company is run, a service is performed, or how a product is built, or delivered to the consumer. Sentiment Tracking, Article Marketing, and Online Radio interviews are the connecting pieces in creating the loop back to your Company.

Maintaining and monitoring a social media presence is a vital part of any company in today's world. Online marketing is not a onetime strategy; it is a long-term commitment to build brand recognition. Remarketing is one very useful tool.

Great Lakes Adventure is a Real Treat for Everyone Who Loves Road Trekking

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:42:33 -0800

Duluth, Minnesota, marked the beginning of our Great Lake Adventure. Seeing Lake Superior was a real treat for Sherry. She said it reminded her of that amazing feeling of seeing the ocean for the first time. Sometimes it is just as much fun seeing the excitement of another's experience.

We traveled through Wisconsin toward the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and stopped at The Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, located just before Ashland. Little did we know this stop would begin the theme for this journey.

Cabin Creek Coffee Alpena Michigan Road Trekin Adventures

It's early November and most of the tourists are gone. There were a only couple of cars in the huge parking lot. We were surprised that the Center was actually open and free admission. We had plenty of time to wonder, explore and learn about the Great Lakes. I did not remember that there were over 2,000 ships that sank in the lakes.

canoe NOAA Alpena Michigan Road Trekin Adventures

We met Rosy who worked at the information desk and she was more than happy to answer all our questions and gave us more ideas of places to visit. She told us the inspirational story of Mike Link and Kate Croley, the couple that walked around Lake Superior earlier in the year. The Center is operated by the US Department of Fish and Game and is staged for global eco system education and has fabulous natural trails.

Chewy Chocolate Raspberry cake cabin creek coffee house road trekin alpena michigan road trekin adventures

The building itself has an interesting design, including a third floor observation area with an outdoor deck, with amazing views of the farm lands and Lake Superior. The center offers activities and events for all ages throughout the year. Check out what is happening at the Center at http://www.northerngreatlakescenter.org/

The best part of this journey is that we didn't have any time restrictions. So we took the time and watched a documentary on the sinking of the Edmond Fitzgerald. It really struck my heart as it was just 2 days before the 35th Anniversary of the fate of the ship and her crew.

Escanaba Michigan road trekin adventures great lakes

The story was told of that tragic November Day. Gordon Lightfoot's song played and had more meaning to me than ever. Words from families & friends were told. It was hard not to bust a tear. The film showed how the ships bell was recovered, which is on display at the shipwreck museum at Whitefish Point for all to see.

Great Lakes Visitors center Wis. Road Trekin Adventures

We have converted our van to suit our traveling needs. When we get tired we find a nice quiet spot to park and cozy up in our van bed. We have a cooler with food, camp stove, coffee, coffee grinder & a tea pot.

Light House Lake Huron Great Lakes Michigan Road Trekin Adventures

What a great way to begin a day. We discovered another incredible find downtown called the Stone Cup Coffee House. All I can say is, Great Coffee, Friendly Staff, and Incredible Goodies. You can tell a lot about a place just by watching the customers that frequent places. The atmosphere is quite cozy and comfortable, a great place to meet a friend, have lunch, or just have coffee and read.

Makinac Bridge Michigan Roak Trekin Adventures Great Lakes light Hiouse

The next big adventure was going to the Mackinac Bridge. In our travels towards the bridge we stopped along the beach at several Road Side Parks. It allows us great access to the beach and wonderful places to take pictures. Had the temperature been a little warmer, Sherry would have jumped in the lake to get clean, so instead we found a truck stop with hot showers! It's amazing how wonderful little things in life can be.

We arrived at the straits of Mackinac all fresh and clean and encountered the first road construction crossing the bridge. The sun was shining and the skies were blue, it was great to be here and to enjoy some more warm weather. Back in Montana, the snow was flying and the temperatures dropping.

Makinac Bridge Michigan Roak Trekin Adventures Great Lakes

The Mackinac is a suspension bridge, five miles long. I can't imagine what it might be like to cross it on a high wind day. After crossing the bridge we stopped in the city of Mackinac and wandered along the shoreline taking pictures of the bridge and the Lighthouse. This time of year everything is all closed up for the season.

Mackinac has some very interesting History; Fort Mackinac was founded during the American Revolution. Believing Fort Michilimackinac at what is now Mackinaw City was too vulnerable to American attack, the British moved the fort to Mackinac Island in 1780.

Replica of Steamship wrecked in thunder bay NOAA Alpena Michigan Road Trekin Adventures

Americans took control in 1796. In July 1812, in the first land engagement of the War of 1812 in the United States, the British captured the fort. In a bloody battle in 1814 the Americans attempted but failed to retake the fort. It was returned to the United States after the war. The fort remained active until 1895. During these years Mackinac Island was transformed from a center of the fur trade into a major summer resort.

Upon leaving Mackinac we headed down the east shoreline of Michigan following the shoreline of Lake Huron. We traveled that evening till around 7 pm and stopped in the town of Alpena. After driving around town for about an hour, we finally decided to go into John Lau's Saloon & Steakhouse in the old section of town. The saloon was built in the 1800's and has some interesting history and a maybe a ghost. Everything on the menu looked delicious, making it difficult to choose. The décor is full of character of interesting antiques and pictures on the walls.

Ship wreck replica of western hope thunder bay alpena michigan road trekin adventures

Later on that evening, we ventured out to Long Lake to spend the night on the shores of the lake. It was absolutely beautiful! A dark, clear, calm evening with bright stars everywhere. Would you believe there was a reflection of the Big Dipper on the water? If it hadn't been so chilly, I would have taken a picture, as it truly was an incredible site!

The next morning we were greeted by a crisp morning of frost. Once we got the Road-Trekin Van warmed up and the windows scraped, we headed into town. The evening before, we scouted out a coffee house so we knew exactly where to go in the morning. We went straight to the Cabin Creek Coffee shop for some interaction, internet and coffee. Seems to be a favorite stop for the locals, bet it's jam packed during the "on" season. I

think this is where I justified having dessert for breakfast. Chocolate just goes well with coffee and the chewy raspberry chocolate cake- looked irresistible. Yes, it was incredible! If you're ever in Alpena, be sure to stop by for a fabulous coffee experience.

It was November 10, the anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald which was quite fitting as our next stop was just down the street at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary to learn more about the ship wrecks of the Great Lakes. Did you know there are 200 ship wrecks just in Thunder Bay alone?

Divers are allowed to explore the wrecks, but not allowed to remove items from them. There are fabulous displays of ship models, memorable photos and lots of artifacts. It's a little eerie to me viewing underwater photos of the wrecks, knowing many lives were lost with them. The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage center is the visitor center for the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and under water preserve. The Center is open year round and admission is free.

The Facility is 9,000 square feet, with a full size replica of a wooden Great Lakes Schooner and shipwreck where you can walk the decks, and experience a simulated storm upon the Great Lakes. You can touch the timbers of the boat resting on the lake bottom, without getting wet. The center is also a scientific research facility and a dive operations center. They also have a community boat building center and small watercraft workshop. It is a great learning experience for all ages!

Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center 500 W. Fletcher Street Alpena, MI 49707 989-356-8805www.thunderbay.noaa.gov

After an incredible morning of discovery and conversation with some of the locals of Alpena, we continued down the shoreline of Lake Huron photographing Light houses along the way. We stopped in Port Huron to take photos of a freighter coming up the Huron River. We met up with family to try the famous deep fried chicken livers and found some porter beer from Great Lakes Brewing Company, named "Edmund Fitzgerald". We made a toast to the crew and to the next adventure. Cheers!

Till next time... Road Trekin Adventures!

Social Media Offers Road Map to Success

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:19:40 -0800

Remember how you were taught to believe that the world is round? Well, maybe it's time to change how you think and look at the world from a business point of view. The world has become truly flat.

Every company, brand, and product has the ability to compete in the local or global markets of the world. At the moment, the size of a company does not matter. Any company, brand or product can get a foothold in social media and have the ability to dominate their markets.

It takes planning and time to complete the circle, a funnel, or cash flow working back to you. As I have always said, it's all about infinite patience. I credit the sport of fly-fishing that taught me infinite patience well beyond the average level, but that's another story.

To capture the top 10% of a market, takes consistency and patience. You have heard about instant successes, what was the real story before they were instant successes?

It is very important to build a road map to success through social media. Managing your social media platforms, is as important as managing your financial portfolios, as the bottom line makes all the difference.

Create a business portfolio with each social media account having a separate folder. The folders in your portfolio work differently, keeping your presence in front of your audience.

On Facebook for example, you ought to create a personal and a company page for customers and prospective clients to read about you and what is happening at your company in real time.

Place an appropriate picture on the personal and the company logo in the business page.

Create photo albums, post events, company videos and status updates.

Each folder has its purpose to reach new customers, and a real time connection with your present customers, allowing you to understand your market through the sentiment of people and allowing you to achieve an understanding of how they feel.

Twitters, Facebook, Linkedin, Viadeo, Foursquare are some major social media platforms. The Social Media channels are too numerous to name all of them. Many sites are often overlooked or not used from lack of knowledge or from fear.

Posting articles and press releases are a must at least a couple of times a month. Some of the online EZine papers offer press clubs, with a very influential and broad reach.

Not to be overlooked is Youtube. This is where major brand recognition will achieve a greater circle of influence leading back to your company.

In using Youtube, it is recommended to post a video every week or more, but no less than a couple times a month. Once you post your video, broadcast it through all of your social channels. Have it embedded in your Article or Press release, to create a track-able audience and what they have to say or how they react to your message.

This allows:

- Real time tracking of your company's direction.

- Real time changes, operating in the present, instead of guessing on the future of an idea.

- A company to operate from a position of innovative thinking.

The door to the world is open and there are many roads to take. Opportunity is within reach to anyone who is willing to reach out and take it!

Positively build on your present market and create new ones. It's really is up to you. The world through social mediais flat. Don't let the rotation pass you by, Be First.

Budget in advance for credit card debts

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:32:01 -0800

Financial solutions company Think Money has advised anyone planning on spending money using their credit card this Christmas and beyond to budget in advance for their repayments in order to avoid potential financial difficulty.

Think Money's advice is in response to a recent study by Sainsbury's Finance, which found that 25.4 million adults now regularly make purchases online using their credit cards, with an average monthly online spend of £192 per person.

1.2 million online shoppers are spending more than £1,000 a month using their credit cards, the research also found.

A financial expert at Think Money commented:

"Using a credit card for online spending can be one of the safest ways to pay. Credit cards offer a lot of protection, because under the Consumer Credit Act all purchases between £100 and £30,000 are insured in the event of an incomplete transaction or if the goods supplied are faulty.

"Not only that, but card users are also protected against fraud - they should get their money back if someone else uses their details to pay for something without their consent.

"However, it's important that people don't allow their credit card balance to get out of hand. You should only ever spend an amount that you know you can comfortably afford to pay back - preferably before the deadline at which interest is charged.

"Falling behind on credit card repayments can be very serious, especially if there is a lot of debt involved. By bettermanaging debt at an earlier stage, borrowers can hopefully avoid unnecessary interest, costs and future financial problems, thereby reducing their risk of needing a professional debt solution such as debt management or bankruptcy.

"One of the best ways to do this is by budgeting in advance - whatever you spend on your credit card, hold back an equivalent amount of your salary so you know you have enough put aside to pay the balance in full before any interest is charged. This way, you should enjoy all the benefits of a credit card without having to worry about future financial problems."

Montana Fly Fishing Adventures

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:41:11 -0800

Enjoy serenity and some of the finest fly fishing in the west. Central Montana offers the most incredible wade and float fishing in the state. Start your fly fishing adventure in central Montana and experience the best of Montana. Spend a couple days or weeks and create your angling memories of a lifetime.

Fish the local streams, such as Missouri, River, Smith River, Blackfoot, Big Spring Creek and Warm Spring Creek. Take a short drive to the Judith River for some amazing views and more fine fishing. These streams are all wade able with Rainbow and Brown Trout as big as 25 inches.

We offer customized packages for wade fishing the Prickly Pear Creek, the Missouri River (below Holter Dam), to a day on the Bitter Root, Clark Fork, Rock Creek, the Big Hole, Madison and Gallatin Rivers. Spend a few days on the Big Horn or take a five day trip on the Smith River.

Let us connect you with the best Fly Fishing in Montana with top guides or connect you with the best streams for your own self guided tour. Our knowledge of the rivers and streams in the state is second to none with our own expert on staff who will work with you personally to customize a package to fit your needs and expertise. You can even end your adventure with a relaxing day on Big Spring Creek, before catching your flight back home.

Bring the family or friends for a group booking, even if they do not fish, Lewistown offers many activities for the outdoor enthusiast. Our aim is to simplify the complex process of travel planning, including airline and en route arrangements and to provide you with the best accommodations at the best rates

Start Casting Today. Call or E mail for more Information.
tom@befirstinc.com 303 956 0569

Montana's Geological Paradise Makoshika State Park is Not a Bad Land After All

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:54:12 -0800

Just outside of Glendive Montana, we saw a sign that read Makoshika State Park. Sounded like an interesting place to explore and a perfect time to take a stretch break. Turns out, Makoshika is the largest State Park in Montana with a land mass of 11,400 acres.

A geological paradise filled with such diversity of plant and animal life of millions of years ago. Fossils of palm trees and magnolia bushes, fish, such as rays, amphibians, crocodiles and other reptiles, rare and extinct birds and mammals, and several species of "terrible lizards" have been found here, including pieces of the duck-billed hadrosaur (Montana's state dinosaur) and the popular tyrannosaur.

We both have lived in this beautiful state for many years, and neither of us had heard of it, sad but true. This is exactly why we are on this Road Trekin Adventure, to take the time to explore, connect and to learn about the great place we live.

Makoshika, pronounced "Ma-ko'-shi-ka" is known as a Lakota phrase meaning bad land or bad spirits. The area is certainly unique. It was as if we had entered a different world. There were all sorts of weird funky formations.

What exactly did the Lakota know or understand about this particular area? It is believed that people have inhabited this area for 12,000 years or more. When European settlers came to the area in the 1800's, they called the place "hell without the fire" because of the stark beauty of the place impressed them.

Eastern Montana is very much grassland and prairie like. Makoshika State Park is completely different. Located next to the North Dakota border. The park is an arid and desert like environment. Unique rock formations of all sorts of shapes & sizes create unbelievable artistic landscapes. The sedimentary layers expose many different colors and textures. The layers date back to the dinosaur age and are older than the Dakota, Badlands, and dating back 65 million years ago.

Makoshika State Park offers miles of trails, great camping areas, amphitheater, a group use shelter and a plethora of photo opportunities to set your mind free as a shutter bug.

Besides the great trail system, there are 12 miles of roads with picturesque vistas. Another way to enjoy the beauty is to play a game of disc golf on the parks grandiose18 basket course or try your aim at the rifle or archery range.

It would be getting dark soon and having just started our trip to the Great Lakes Region, we were anxious to head down the highway. I highly recommend to anyone passing by the area to stop and visit this natural wonderland and let your imagination go wild.

We definitely plan to visit this place again, maybe in June on "Buzzard Day" and maybe go on Montana's "Toughest" 10K race. Hope to see you there!

New and Awe Inspiring Pieces of Art Beckoned Attention From All Around

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:01:23 -0800

This past Tuesday was an exciting evening in Miami. I was invited to the VIP Miami Art Reception, with thousands in attendance. The air was filled with electricity!

New and awe inspiring pieces of art beckoned attention from all around.

Art Basel is one of the most important shows in the country, from a cultural and social stand point in America. Art Basel has a sister show in Switzerland, which for the past 41 years has been the most prestigious show in the world. The Miami Art Basel offers selections from 250 galleries around the world, with other events happening also, such as; Music, Film, Architecture and Design. The Art Basel in art walk is located in the beautiful Art Deco District of Miami.

After taking in a few hours of incredible art, I went looking for my favorite artist Daisy Papp, who was wandering around showing off her new piece aimed at Wall Street. Called "Bull Shit Nailed", so correctly named with the very essence of Truth. Another great artist also collaborated on this piece with Daisy, photographer Martin Kaupp.

Upon seeing the awe inspiring piece of truth, I decide to interview a few passersby to get their opinion on the piece.

This they had to say:

JonaCervinske, a well established artist residing in Miami, who is a friend of Lenny Krawitz, stated: "That's cool and a huge message and statement! Love it!"

Rudi Sodamin, the famous gourmet chef and food consultant of the Holland America cruise line states:

"I'm a real fan of Daisy Papp's works. With the Wall Street bull shit, Daisy speaks out visually what most Americans feel and think. The smallest actual good is better than the most magnificent promise of impossibilities."

Thomas Babington Macaulay made an offer to buy this piece, but Daisy didn't accept his $20,000 check. I guess this huge painting will end up in another collection.

Maybe Martin Margulies, one of the biggest art collectors in this country will get it for some 10 k more. Rudi commissioned one of Daisy's COWPIE pieces and is now the number 3 art collector who has ordered one of Daisy's sculptures made out of a special foam, 3ft by 2 ft and 1.5ft high sculpture nailed with a 9 inch nail.

"I have 2 dogs running in the backyard of my mansion in Coral Gables and I am happy to welcome finally a doodoo larger than my dogs... That's too funny; I'll have a crap of art in my garden and pay for it without the smell," said Rudi.

After a great evening out it was time to bid everyone good night and head back to the Road Trekin rig.

Fine Tuning Your Social Marketing Plan Through Sentiment Analysis

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 10:00:52 -0800

I was asked this last week to write an article about how marketing is changing and the positive or negitive sentiment of a company or product is now being tracked in real time by search engines. I hope this will help all of you with branding of your selves and your companies.

Social media marketing is rapidly expanding the way businesses are relating to their clients and the world. Companies are being bombarded with platforms, tools and technologies without a real understanding of how to integrate social media effectively.

Social Media Marketing is the way forward enabling marketers and companies to develop and manage sound strategies for ongoing future of expansion. This is possible through a practical and valuable insights of a well mapped out direction.

While a social media presence and campaigns are gathering steam and adoption is rising, the key aspect of having a finger on the pulse about your campaign is a high priority factor that has a direct bearing on the success of your campaign.

From Brand Recognition through News articles, online Radio Interviews such as the "American Perspective", toTwitter Presentations, and Premium Optimization with Digital Media, the effort and time that an organization puts into running the campaign can be mapped directly to results based on what the response is from the platforms where it is running. While this sounds easy, there are a lot of things that need to be taken care of. Let us look at this in detail.

Considering the number of blogs, micro-blogs, and other various sites talking about huge numbers of trending topics, the sentiment analysis needs to be focused and non-biased. Sentiment need to rise above tracking dictionary matches to key words or terms that are associated with your campaign.

The tool that is being used needs to have the capability to analyze whether a mention is positive or negative. Hence, it facilitate course corrections based on regular reporting of the sentiment. It pays not only to listen, but after listening and hearing what is being said, you need to be able to activate the data.

Let me state this up front. Sentiment analysis is getting better. As processing power and algorithms grow increasingly more powerful and sophisticated, this will naturally happen. While no system can analyze everything in every possible way, when it comes to your social media campaign, you need to be engaging a system that is at least 60% accurate and is using an algorithm that can smartly learn from ongoing data analysis.

We can clearly and safely say that. With such a system, the bridge between a man and a system analyzing trends and sentiments can get narrower with time. And the data that such a system can come up with; will be an excellent enabler for the final decision and course correction flow to take over.

Key Points:

Build a successful marketing strategy with social media, effectively aligning with your overall business needs

Find and track the right measures and metrics to monitor and convert effectiveness

Define realistic KPIs and goals of social media marketing to maximize social media potential and increase ROI

Compare and select the right social media tools and channels for your marketing campaigns

Allocate resources for your social media marketing initiatives

Manage the Big Picture: Integrate social media marketing into your current and future business needs

Getting There: Identify and manage operational pitfalls and obstacles so that you get the most out of social media marketing. Avoid and manage implementation pitfalls and operating issues

If I may be of any help please drop me a line.

Energize and Expand your businesses bottom LINE.

Worried About Falling House Prices

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:20:36 -0800

Worried about falling house prices

So it's nearly time to start thinking about moving to a new home. We've been in our current place for almost four years now, and considering we only intended to stay there for a couple of years in the first place, we're both starting to get a bit impatient about taking the next step!

When you've been living in one place for so long, you start to notice all the problems a lot more - like cracks in walls, worn carpets and buzzing light switches - and given the events of recent years, you do wonder how it might affect the value of your home.

We've done a lot to improve the place since we moved in - completely re-worked the kitchen and redecorated the living room and spare bedroom - but even that might not help to counteract the general fall in house prices.

Prices in our area have actually been on the up recently, but they're still some way off the kind of price we paid for our house four years ago. I'm hoping the improvements we've made will add at least a few thousand to the price, but I'm not convinced.

What if our house price has fallen? We're lucky enough to have put down a large deposit, but other people may not be so fortunate. Falling house prices have put a lot of mortgages into 'negative equity' - when the value of a property is less than the remaining mortgage debt, meaning selling the property won't pay off the mortgage.

This has particularly affected people who put down small deposits (only 5% or 10%), as well as people who got a 0% deposit mortgage before the housing crisis hit.

As for people like us who put down a sizeable deposit, the impact may not be so severe, but any loss of value does effectively eat into the deposit - potentially affecting the amount we can borrow next time. I only hope our home is one of the lucky ones that have managed to ride out the house price falls without too much trouble.

Virtual Assistant Programs and Twitter Accounts

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:44:10 -0800

I was asked to write this article on twitter and and virtual assistants for News Blaze and also felt that this pertained to the real estate industry as well. By creating the proper structures a real estate agent or company can reach new levels in sales and find more clients, then they ever believe possible.

The benefits of hiring a virtual assistant to manage your social media presence will give your company the edge to success. A quality virtual assistant will look at all of your output and work with you to improve on the message and the amount of money and time your company invests in to social media advertising.

Hiring a virtual assistant as part of your team to run your social branding will allow you the extra time to spend doing what you love doing and time to spend with your family. Choosing a virtual assistant who is connected to a marketing company can turn your social media presence and website into a 24/7 salesman.

Here are some good reasons to be on Twitter, even if your clients are not.

- SEO. By posting links to your company and talking about projects, products, and services, will enhance your presence in the search engines, since they work in real time. Keep a consistent message in your Twitter Postings.

- Engage in a worldwide or local audience, your company and its qualities gain recognition. Attract new customers who never knew you were there.

- "Word of Mouth", has been proven over and over again. By having your company name out there on the web, being repeated over and over again only helps. This is a great way to lay the foundation for your Brand Recognition Building.

- Listen to what people are saying about you. Twitter makes tracking easy. Along with doing live events, holding a question and answer session with your followers to find how they view your product or service in real time.

A Great Virtual Assistant program will optimize your time, so you may spend more with your family, along with giving you a higher rate of return on your investment. Your Virtual Assistant will maintain your Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Viadeo, Youtube, Blog accounts, pay per click ads, radio, TV, and Press and Article releases.

Leverage today's virtual technologies!

Tom Ski is a master of the great outdioors. You can find Tom fly fishing in Montana, photographing elk and bison, watching birds from a hide or in the long grass, talking about life on his radio show and writing about his adventures at NewsBlaze.

Fast Company Influence Project 2010

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:21:22 -0800

In the summer of 2010, Fast Company Magazine decided to find out who is most influential online. The idea was based on who could get the most people to follow a link to a website. The group that jumped in to see who had the most influence was as broad as Youtube Celebrities to Social Media officers as well as the average person on Twitter.

The race was on for six weeks, with as many 32,955 participants bringing in 1.63 million unique visitors. Fast Company created the "nobodies into somebodies". With the top person receiving 500,000 clicks. In the magazine fold out the pictures are sized according to the amount of votes you received.

Anyone can have a Twitter account and if they work at it, have many followers. The Influence Project spotlights those who stand out with quality content.

A great example would be Gail Goodwin of Inspire Me Today who has 45,000 followers on twitter and a newsletter of 10,000 daily readers. Gail finished number 35.

We have our own Tom Ski of Be First Inc, a social media marketing company with 124,000 followers on Twitter, 3,200 friends on Facebook and managing ad sales at NewsBlaze and Baret News.

Tom participated the last 3 weeks of the influence project and finished number 45.

It was all about how people in the world respond to the message you post and whether you post good content. To view the rest of the 32,955 participants go to FastCompany.com

To contact Tom Ski - Follow Tom twitter.com/Greatvine32
V. P. of Sales & Marketing
Phone 303 956 0569

www.newsblaze.com
www.befirstinc.com
www.roadtrekin.com
intuitivelifenetwork.org
www.choicetreasures.com
www.baretnews.com
www.gemjin.com
www.qrockradio.com
Skype; tom.ski32

www.youtube.com/befirstinc

A Successful Life Begins in Preschool

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:42:33 -0800

Did you know... 90% of our brains are developed between the ages of 2 and 6? What if more educational emphasis was placed on this particular age group, and we placed our best and brightest teachers with these students in order to develop a solid foundation and a love of learning that would last a lifetime?

Last week I was involved in an engaging conversation with a group of young, new teachers that were about to embark on their journey of re-shaping the consciousness of the world about education. The "No Child Left Behind Act" was discussed, and these teachers felt that it needed to be revamped in order to create successful learners. Teaching a child useless facts in order to take a test is a disservice to the children of this country.

My question to these teachers was, "What options do parents and teachers of preschoolers have?" They stated there are several great pre-school learning programs available to both parents and teachers, but one of their favorites was "The Adventures of Scuba Jack". This group was really excited about the Scuba Jack experience for themselves and their students. After finishing our discussion, I decided to go and engage in some Adventures of Scuba Jack on my own, and discover the magic of its learning programs.

I sat down at my computer and went to the Adventures of Scuba Jack's YouTube channel and watched all 22 videos. Awesome! I learned how to make play dough and silly putty, even had a great time using it to pull the comic strips from the paper as I did as a child. I found that even as an adult, Scuba Jack's interactive lessons and instructions were interesting and tons of fun! I am looking forward to doing this with my granddaughter soon. Even their Facebook page offers games, contests and crafts for children! Wow, engaging, Fun Ideas for the whole family! Great Idea!

The Adventures of Scuba Jack company creates premier educational DVDs and learning activity books for preschoolers. Each DVD includes core skills and knowledge that every preschooler needs to know for a successful entry into Kindergarten and is fully supported by episode specific activities, worksheets and crafts. Their newest episode, Coastline Critters, is a very entertaining experience for everyone. There are many colorful characters including Larry the Lobster and Carl the Crab, who bring an understanding of numbers, the alphabet and much more! And of course, there is everyone's friend, Paco the Pelican, who teaches Spanish.

Professor Galaxy and Scuba Jack teach about the creatures that live on the shoreline and visit the Seacoast Science Center where they find out fascinating facts from Ms. Wendy. The characters create an energetic learning environment that is fun and teaches about the world around us.

The Adventures of Scuba Jack has just established Pre-School Planet, a website that offers on-line seminars for pre-school teachers in accordance with continuing education standards.

This gives preschool educators a new option in complying with their state's certification requirements. Pre-School Planet allows educators to download a text based seminar and complete an exam designed to test understanding of the concepts presented. Upon successful completion of the exam, educators will be mailed a Certificate of Completion equivalent to one hour of training. The company's mission is to provide essential tools that help teachers create learning environments that engage students and offer significant opportunities to develop knowledge.

Pre-School Planet's first seminar "Stop and Think", based on theories and practices formerly known as Time Out, is now available for purchase and download. Seminars can be purchased by individuals or in bulk by Directors of preschool facilities wishing to have their entire staff complete their continuing education requirements.

With the importance of early education and extensive research in preschool education, I can't say enough about Scuba Jack's learning system. I highly recommend that every parent, childcare provider and teacher check this learning system out. Give your children tools to help them succeed in life.

A Day With Birds of Prey

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:38:06 -0800

I was driving past Bridger Bowl and noticed a sign stating that there was a Raptor Festival going on and so I immediately turned around. The parking areas were full, so I had to park a ways back and hike up the hill to the buildings above.

Perched on the back deck of the main lodge were a Swainson Hawk, a Great Horned Owl and a Turkey Vulture named Pilgrim. I introduced myself to Becky, the Director of the Center and Cynthia, a volunteer of 5 years.

I was invited to visit the Montana Raptor Conservation Center for the opportunity to speak more with the ladies and to observe some of the daily duties!

Photo: Tom Ski, Sherry Gillam

I really had no idea of what to expect as Sherry & I rolled up to the Center. After some initial introductions and basic information, we followed Becky & Cynthia around as they were beginning their daily duties. It was like a MASH Unit for Birds...basic supplies and lots of TLC.

The first bit of excitement was the banding of an ...owl, for it was to be released that day! I would have never imagined this little thing to made clicking sounds. The gals were very gentle and caring for each bird they handled. They were quick at each task keeping in mind of the birds' stress levels.

Photo: Tom Ski, Sherry Gillam

Then Emily showed up, she is one of the volunteers, one of her duties was to prepare the meals for the day for the raptors, consisting mainly of mice. It was only her second day as a volunteer and she seemed right at home preparing the morning feast, cutting up portions to bite size for the birds during their recovery.

Some of the birds received special treats such as quail, which had to be skinned. The center goes through approximately, 18,000 mice a year.

Photo: Tom Ski, Sherry Gillam

The Prairie Falcon was next on the agenda; it was his day for an x-ray as he had an injured wing. We were fortunate to watch the entire process. I was blown away at how systematically Becky & Cynthia worked together and how calm the wild bird seemed to be.

I'll bet the whole x-ray process took them less than 5minutes. The falcon was then examined and released back to his barn with breakfast waiting. What an amazingly beautiful bird!

After all the meals were on the silver tray, we followed Cynthia from cage to cage to learn more about the birds and how the center operates. In the big outdoor "barn" were two Red Tail Hawks, which would soon be ready to be released back into the wild.

Photo: Tom Ski, Sherry Gillam

There were two more Red Tail Hawks in the loft of the barn in large cages. It seems owls, hawks, and falcons run into quite a few barbed wire fences.

As we went from building to building to feed the birds, we met an amazing female bald eagle. She had been "imprinted" by a human, which means the bird is used to people and means an automatic sentence to a "life in a cage". The center has tried releasing her, but she likes people and gets in to trouble. Even in her cage, she can't room with other eagles, as she will attack them.

We met the rest of the educational birds, called the "Ambassador Raptors". They have each received injuries that prevent them from being released back into the wild. Each one is used for educational purposes, which means they get to travel and are used to teach the public about them.

Photo: Tom Ski, Sherry Gillam

If you know of or find an injured raptor in Montana, please contact:
-MRCC: 406-585-1211
-All West Veterinary Hospital (Dr. Karyn Cook): 406-586-4919MT.
-Dept. Of Fish, Wildlife, & Parks: 406-994-4042

It was quite interesting to me that each bird has it's own personality, in how they eat and their interaction with different people. My personal favorite next to the Bald Eagle, is Chaco, a Swainson Hawk.

Swainson's Hawks are summer residents of grassland and agricultural habitats in the Western U.S and Canada. They nest in trees and shrubs and lay 2-3 eggs in a fairly flimsy stick nest. The entire population is migratory and most of these birds travel great distances to winter in South America, primarily Argentina. The name "Chaco" is from the name of a province in northern Argentina where Swainson's Hawks are known to concentrate in the winter.

Photo: Tom Ski, Sherry Gillam

The dedication and passion was quite apparent. These were the most amazing group of women I had met in a long time. Volunteering their time to save injured birds of prey and returning them to the wild is their passion.

Montana Raptor Conservation Center is a non-profit organization. They only are able to help injured birds through donations and from volunteers. MRCC sits on 13 acres with room to create a first rate Center to help injured raptors return to the wild to live their lives.

There are many ways you can help and Donations are always welcome!

Photo: Tom Ski, Sherry Gillam

Please visit the website: www.montanaraptor.org

Montana Raptor Conservation Center
P.O. Box 4061
Bozeman, Montana 59772
E -Mail; mrcc960@aol.com

Please do what you can to help this great organization healing birds back to health and wellness. Also please watch for more articles on Raptors and bio's on the Ambassador Raptors, in the near future.

Crossing the River and Climbing the Mountain / Cowboy Wisdom

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:33:09 -0700

"The Wisdom of a Cowboy: Crossing the River and Climbing the Mountain, is a treasure chest of rare jewels of wisdom, gathered by Rob Wilson during a trek, in the high desert of Arizona, "Crossing the River and Climbing the Mountain" and throughout the challenges of his life.

Rob shares the wisdom that he's gleaned from his experiences in the life of a cowboy, using metaphors to illustrate for the reader how the aspects of a cowboy's life hold deep knowledge for all. From being the Gun fighter in your own life to the fast paced life expanding adventures of the Pony Express Rider. This is a book to savor, as one would a rich and satisfying meal of many courses of delicious, nutritious food - in this case the food is wisdom for the soul.

Each chapter, each page offers a multitude of thought-provoking examples of how one's inner life is reflected in the outer world. At the end of each chapter, Rob offers the reader three energizing affirmations and three penetrating questions to empower those seeking to know their own inner wisdom. The real question to ask yourself here is your sunrise gallantly over flowing with blessings everyday in every way for you.

For a real Life expanding adventure this a must read for everyone. Rob Wilson is a NLP Practioner - Hypnotherapist.
This book is published by InnerCircle Publishing and is available at: www.innercirclepublishing.com and www.cowboy-wisdom.com

Montana Moments from the Fly

Tom Ski ~Social Media Marketing, Online Radio (BE First Inc.) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:01:14 -0700

It's winding down to the last few days of a week's worth of fishing through central Montana. I began the first few days hiking up Bear Trap Canyon, into the wilderness area several miles up on the Madison River to fish my way out. The wind was blowing about 15 to 20 miles an hour with hoppers popping up everywhere.

For the first couple of hours I had a hard time holding on to any fish, as they were furiously taking the fly. A couple of Rainbows took delight in throwing the hopper pattern right back at me. Finally after about 2 hours of them having their way with me, I managed to hang onto a small Rainbow.

At about this time, a hatch of olives began and the wind kicked it up a few notches, which was possibly an indication to put a small #16 light pink soft hackle trailer behind the hopper. I proceeded to land another 3 Rainbows on the soft hackle over the next hour. Over the next day and half, I landed 23 trout on the combination with the biggest being 18 inches!

The next few days, temperatures reached into the 90's and high 80's, which was rarely seen all summer. I traveled from small streams to spring creeks in the area, landing fish every day.

One day in particular, the wind was hitting 30 to 40 miles per hour. Clouds of olives were blowing by and hoppers struggled to stay on land.

I took off hiking a couple of miles upstream to find one of my favorite stretches on a small stream outside of Bozeman. It was one of those afternoons where deer were bustling from the brush. Bumble bees were buzzing and caterpillars creeping at every patch of wild flowers.

As I reached my favorite run and pool, fish were rising everywhere! I decided to sit upon the bank and watch for a while, instead of disturbing the river habitat bliss.

After about twenty minutes of sitting quietly, I could not stand it any longer. I quietly slid down the bank and carefully worked my way to the center of the stream onto the gravel bar to where the fish were rising in the tail out. I started false casting to the side so as not to spook the rising trout and on the very first cast; I hooked and landed a 14-inch Brown Trout.

For the next hour and half, I proceeded to hook 15 fish and land of 9 of them. It was an awesome display of acrobatics and sheer laughter as the trout plainly put me in my place, throwing flies at me and just flat running away with everything.

This ended a perfect week of hiking and wading small streams in south central Montana.

Off to the next trip. Tight Lines.

ZZ Troutski