These internet SEO articles were written as part of a job completed for an individual who was outsourcing article writing to me. However at the completion of 70 jobs, he disappeared without paying me a cent. Any content used on the internet would be plagiarized and should be taken down.
The Importance of Regular Audits for Customs Entries
Auditing is a formal review of the processes within an
industry or the workplace, designed to assess efficiency and performance. In
the UK, Customs Entries is a persistently high volume operation that has to
ensure strict standards of procedure while dealing with high value goods and
products. Given the precarious nature of this work, it is essential that the
processes as well as the management of Customs Entries are regularly and
thoroughly audited.
Assessment of
Performance
One of the primary functions of auditing is to assess and
confirm that the internal controls put into place in your compliance program
are serving the purpose they are designed for. Through a regular review of
imposed controls, an organization can identify areas of liability or weakness
within their framework. As previously mentioned, auditing thoroughly reviews
and samples all different parts of the Customs Entry supply chain. This can
help the management be aware of specific areas that require attention and
improvement. Through audits you can confirm that your broker is classifying
your products correctly or that your commercial invoices are not deficient. Auditing
is a great way of identifying and reporting these issues for managerial review.
Preemptively
Addressing Threats
A lot of the time, the internal controls are in place and
perfectly designed to limit exposure. Yet during the different stages of
customs entry, these controls are not being effectively applied. Or there are
random errors on a significant level that can harm your organization’s
workflow. Regular audits become immensely important in catching errors but also
correcting them, on a larger strategy basis as well as on the micro application
basis. Correcting issues before the errors become a problem can save businesses
a lot of time, money and effort. No company wants to find persistent errors in
the system after years, and then face prior disclosure. Moreover, a history of
regular auditing can serve as a forecaster of future compliance. Reliance on
brokers is insufficient and impractical.
Targeting Better
Outcomes
A very important aspect of regular auditing is to find
channels of improvement in your import process, implement strategies of
improvement and then review your strategies to assess whether substantial
benefit is reaped. Regular auditing allows for establishment of desired goals
and outcomes, which can help organizations find the opportunities to target
specific areas of growth and then assess the effectiveness of those strategies.
This way, companies can improve their pass rate over time. This process
involves different parties, including your broker. This can streamline overall
performance, reduce threats from unexpected duties and penalties, and reduce
delays in clearance.
Synergos Consulting is a reliable and experienced firm that
can help organizations by putting in place processes for regular, thorough and
effective audits. This external review can be of immense value to importers in
terms of compliance, as well as reduction of errors and targeting improvement
in processes. Synergos offers a free, no obligation consultation for businesses
to review the process of auditing and better understanding the value created by
regular audits through its specialized consultants.
The Fast Evolving Reality of Virtual Reality
On July 31st, thousands of people tuned in on
their phones and Google Cardboard sets to watch a 360 degrees virtual reality
live concert viewing of Bob Moses from Brooklyn. It was truly revolutionary not
only in terms of the experience and navigation through the venue, but also in
terms of what it could mean for the music industry. In fact, virtual reality
could alter many industries including gaming, warfare and medicine beyond
imagination.
What is Virtual
Reality?
Virtual Reality is a form of immersive multimedia which
emulates a setting and reproduces an individual’s physical presence in that
setting. These settings can be imitations of the real world or imagined spaces,
and VR technology allows users to interact within that world. Virtual Reality
can create artificial sensory experiences which can include all five senses.
Products involving VR technology are beginning to appear on the market, and 11
million users are forecasted to make use of Virtual Reality devices by 2017,
only in the gaming industry. In the medical profession, Virtual Reality can
reform medical training altogether, and could be use for surgery,
rehabilitation and even counseling training. This beckons the next generation
of doctors, medical personnel and paramedics with high training and specialization.
When does Virtual
Reality become a reality?
The use of Virtual Reality could lead to very promising
outcomes. The airline industry along with other industries use simulators for
training, but Virtual Reality technology presents the opportunity to take that
one step further in the first person perspective. It promises to save
significant costs in addition to providing real life imitation of near-infinite
settings. This could be the beginning of the Matrix (just hopefully in a good
way). Oculus VR is the most well-known in the industry geared towards producing
the first individual consumer virtual reality headsets. These are scheduled to
be realized in the first quarter of 2016. Sony’s Project Morpheus is scheduled
for some time in early 2016 as well and mounts a challenge to Oculus’ Rift. In
terms of early software testing projections, the Rift provides higher
resolution with a greater 110 degree viewing angle.
What could Virtual
Reality lead to?
For one, it could mean you zooming through James Cameron’s
Avatar world. On a serious note, speculation has been cautious because of the
price tag Virtual Reality products may come with. However, it remains almost a
certainty that once dependable products hit the market, development on
immersive technology and experiences will follow in quick succession. This
could bid poorly for the travel and tourism industry as travel experiences may
be easily replicated on VR devices. As the Atlantic mentioned in its coverage
of Virtual Reality “One could have breakfast at the Louvre beside the Winged
Victory of Samothrace, followed by a lunchtime spelunk through Thailand’s water
caves.” It would also be interesting to see how developments in Virtual Reality
could lead to interactions between individuals in the virtual worlds. One
outcome could be actualization of the Second Life game series. While there are
innumerable possibilities that could emerge with successful and accurate
Virtual Reality technology, it will take some time to assess whether all such
possible outcomes are positive. We’ll have to wait till 2016 to see.
Miele Pet Vacuums: A Sweeping Product
I’ll be honest with you, I was always skeptical about pets
at home. I’d always thought they require too much attention and make a great
mess. If I wanted either of those two things, I’d have a baby. Then I met my
boyfriend. And soon I met his golden retriever, Faulkner. And soon I was
talking about moving in with my boyfriend. Honestly, I was more worried about
the mess and hairy residue his dog would leave all over the apartment, than I
was about committing to the guy.
As a precondition, I started a thorough search on the market
for a pet vacuum. Eventually, I purchased Miele C3 Powerline vacuum, and it was
a great buy. The search took longer than I expected it to, as I scoured through
features and user reviews endlessly. Which is why I wanted to put together an
article summarizing what you ought to look for in a good vacuum, what features
matter, what other users have to say and why you should seriously consider a
Miele pet vacuum.
What to Look For?
1. Convenience: Our apartment is a narrow, two storey place,
and Faulkner tramples through all corners of it. I needed something that would
allow me access to nooks and crannies. And so, a smaller handheld vacuum was a
better choice for me. You should assess your space and the use of the vacuum,
and make a decision on a full-sized vacuum versus a powerful compact model.
2. Maneuverability: New vacuums come with a cordless option
(I know right, technology!). Personally, I depend on something that comes with
a trusty old wire. However, you should consider the length of the cord against
your living space, to ensure that you can move around and clean with ease.
3. Cleaning and Bagging: I get negative reactions to
suspended dust particles, so I chose a bagged vacuum. It requires repeated
replacement of the dust bag, but it’s better at holding the dust in. Also,
Miele vacuums have a great filtration system. Bagless vacuums are however,
easier to clean. And that’s a big plus sometimes.
Product Features:
I can tell you what my Miele C3 offers and you can take cues
for your own choice from there:
·
A powerful motor (1200W in my case) for great
suction. Suction is important, remember.
·
A Turbobrush head with a slide vent and rotating
brushes. This makes pet hair cleaning really easy.
·
A 4.5L dust bag capacity, which means you don’t
have to clean each back frequently. My vacuum came with four replacement bags,
and I change them every six months.
·
The wire is 7.5m long. This could have been
longer, and there are Miele products that offer longer cords. What this means
for me is plugging it in a different socket for the portion upstairs.
User Reviews:
It’s always important to know how other users rate the same
product. For the Miele products, consistent praise is reserved for its power
capacity and effectiveness with pet hair. It works great with hard floors, and
I can testify to its quietness. This is a welcome relief from the hovering
noises of past models. Cord length and size of the machine are mentioned
sporadically as cons, which really depends on your usage of the product.
Conclusion:
Personally, I have found rave reviews for Miele products on
the market, via other users and salespersons. It is important that you
understand your needs from a vacuum and find a model that fits those needs. For
me, Miele M3 did just that, and has done a very fine job since in terms of
keeping me a happy customer. A brand is only as good as its reviews, and
therefore I make a case for why you should seriously consider a Miele pet
vacuum when choosing the new product.
Sources:
Navigating the Labyrinth of Surgery Billing
If you thought surgery was complicated, surgery billing can
sometimes be a bigger pain. The processes can be tedious and elaborate. Every
year, hospitals and surgeons perform a number of surgical procedures and file a
claim for each surgery.
One of the foremost actions that can improve your
familiarity with the surgery billing process is acquaintance with the
physician’s manual. Usually, billing rules are specified in the “Preamble”
section of the manual. These rules include explanatory codes, health service
codes and fees, in some cases details of specific cases (for instance if
another surgeon assists with the surgery), as well as general information about
the claims submission process.
One of the most integral aspects of the claims submission
process is the timing. These are often different for different departments,
medical consortiums, districts, provinces and countries. However, the surgeon
or biller should have clear records of surgery and be mindful of the timing of
the claims. Usually, there is a period of 90 days to submit claims, from the
date of the surgery. Exceptions beyond that are allowed but only in
extraordinary circumstances. Reversals of claims in case of accident or other
circumstances can also be submitted, as long as original claims are still
available. It is imperative that a surgeon’s office maintain proper surgery
billing records of all surgeries and file them appropriately.
In terms methodology, most submissions can now be made
electronically for Fee for Service (FFS) and Shadow claims. However, to
expedite the process and avoid conflicts with the department designated for
approval, it is important that these comply with the guidance of the
physician’s manual. There are many benefits of timely and accurate billing:
·
It reduces the possibility of the claim being
rejected
·
It reduces the possibility of poor audit results
·
It helps to maximize surgery billing
·
It helps to capture benefit of services eligible
for incentives.
Some of the more common billing errors include a lack of
documentation, citing a visit when the encounter between surgeon and patient
was in fact the procedure, and citing a full visit for a non-complex problem.
It is imperative that surgeons try to avoid these since it needlessly tarnishes
the reputation of the surgeon and the institution sometimes. It makes sense for
surgeons and physicians to hire or request extra help for these purposes. A
proper filing system should be put in place. Additionally surgeons should
establish clear channels of communication and review the claims before they are
filed. Since there are different billing rates and percentages for single
procedures, multiple procedures and bilateral procedures, there is always room
for confusion.
There are different softwares available on the market for
medical billing. These can serve as good alternates to manually filling out
claims, and reduce the risk of error. As a final note, here are some tips for
better surgery billing:
1.
Organize your paper work: A simple but essential
step.
2.
Document visits and procedures scrupulously.
3.
Understand insurance coverage: if you don’t know
what insurance covers or does not cover, your job will be more difficult.
4.
Don’t let denials get to you: often it is a
frustrating and complex process, but there are appeals and coverage in place to
protect your claims as long as they are valid.
5.
Use all available resources, be it software or
an external agency.
A Sluggish Retail Sector in Canada: Consumer Confidence At A
Low
The Canadian financial landscape presents a worrisome image
right now. The exit of US retail giant target, along with other multi-chain
stores sparked a litany of concern. This was on the back of falling oil prices
that continued to bring the value of the Canadian dollar down. The real estate
market produced an almost artificial boom at the start of the year. And now
reports of Mexico’s competitive advantage over Canada in terms of manufacturing
are making the rounds. Speculation is rife, and with upcoming elections in
October 2015, it is likely that the party with the best plan for economic
revival will sway the voters.
The sluggish behavior in the retail sectors is a major
finance issue in Canada. It signals the lack of confidence on part of Canadians
in the economy. Only two years ago, the same industry was going through a major
boom, but with the loss due to falling oil prices, 2015 has been a year of
turmoil. The departure of Target was followed by news of Loblaws closing 52
stores across the country. More recently, the retail lease market has shown
signs of struggle as Target locations have proven difficult to find tenants.
The retail sector is usually a good indicator of the health
of Canadian economy and consumer trends. Moody’s investor service highlights
some of the baseline problems causing slow retail sector performance. There has
been a slow wage increase relative to inflation. Sustained low oil prices have
created a climate of tension amid layoffs, especially in the economic
powerhouse that is Alberta. There are also growing trends in household debt.
These factors have diminished consumer spending, creating a vicious circle. The
low oil prices are believed to slow down dispensable income growth as well.
Without a doubt, this is a significant finance issue in Canada. In order to
provide the groundwork for resurgence, the interest rates have been at a
historic low. The Canadian financial officers have to devise strategies that
can increase consumer confidence in the economy. One way to do this is by creating
conditions conducive to greater spending. However, there is also a need for a
comprehensive long-term strategy. And so, a lot hinges upon the upcoming
federal elections.
Why We’re Witnessing the Resurgence of Sci-Fi Films and TV
Series
A revered figure in the Sci-Fi realm, Ridley Scott famously
pronounced the death of science-fiction films in 2007. After a spectacular
couple of years, perhaps it’s safe to say however a new era of Sci-Fi is set to
dawn upon the film industry landscape. Already millions of people are dusting
their Chewbacca costumes for the next Star Wars trilogy, with J.J. Abrams at
the helm. The second episode of Avatar by the inimitable James Cameron is on
the horizon. It’s an exciting time to re-imagine our futures, one film at a
time.
This is hardly surprising. The pace at which technology and
science are advancing around us is dizzying and astounding. Virtual Reality is
transforming into real reality. Space exploration is being aggressively
pursued. We now know what Pluto looks like. Despite sobering world events
around us, there is an air of excitement and optimism. And this is reflected in
the direction Hollywood and other film industries are taking.
It’s no secret: art informs life. Contemporary philosophers
like Slavoj Zizac have been emphasizing the role of cinema for that reason. For
instance, in 2002, Minority Report
starring Tom Cruise came out. A remarkable film on its own, it demonstrated use
of fictitious technology that was deemed impractical and unachievable. A decade
later, it is known as the film that predicted the future of technology, from
facial recognition to personalized advertisement. If you haven’t seen the film,
do check out Minority Report on Netflix.
Sci-Fi films allow directors and producers to challenge
themselves while pushing the envelope pass genres. With improved storytelling
and cinematic effects, the quality of Sci-Fi films has been improving
exponentially. Think about the genius of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and compare that to enthralling scenic
imagination of the cosmos in Gravity (2013).
Or take Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar from
2014, the perfect sci-fi story of people exploring within themselves as they
simultaneously explore new universes. Every repeated viewing of Interstellar on Netflix fills me with
awe.
There may be two primary reasons for this welcome resurgence
of Sci-Fi. The first is the improvement in cinematic technology. Storytelling
has received a new avenue with a futuristic style. It opens the doors for boundless
story lines, whether that is a world without fertility, as in Children of Men, or the nonlinear
narrative of Mr. Nobody. In a sense,
these films capture and reproduce not merely our cosmic fascination but also to
a world that we can leave our imprint on.
Secondly, these films and television series allow
storytellers to visualize life with the onset of technology. Joaquin Phoenix’s
character in Her shows that despite
all advances in a brave new world (hard not to reference the revered Aldous
Huxley here), we are still fragile human beings trying to cope. The fantastic
British television series Black Mirror
choose to demonstrate a darker timeline with the advent of technology and its
pervasiveness in our lives. But that is the point. We are on the cusp of
limitless advance. The future is being written through devices and
technologies. And the resurgence in Sci-Fi films is an attempt on part of the
film industry to mark the blueprints of that advance and guide us there. What a
time to be alive!
Jesus Returns in 2015: There is Still Time to Seek
Forgiveness
God has created man in His own image and likeness. God has
given man a free will to either acknowledge God as the Almighty, or to reject
him as the Creator. This in itself is evidence of God’s love for mankind, the
element of free will. Satan deceived Adam and Eve, the first human beings, into
rebellion against God. God punished them for their sins, yet loved them enough
to give them a chance to redeem themselves. God sent Moses to set His people
free. Why? Because God wants us to be better. 2000 years later, mankind was
steeped in depravity led by Satan’s deception, and God sent Noah to warn the
people against disbelief. 2000 years after that, God sent Jesus to pay for the
price of sin, to lead us to glory and a better path. People rejected him and
continued to be deceived, except for the Blessed. The signs are now all around
us for the Second Coming of Jesus and the End of Day. God is giving us the
signs because of His love for us, to give us a chance to make amends. Signs
point to a historic event in September 2015. There is still time. Embrace Jesus
as a savior, and God as the Forgiver will embrace you.
The Seiko Alarm Chronograph Revolution
Ever since Seiko was found in 1881, it has been pioneered
and perfected watches. The Seiko Men’s Watch has been an emblem of remarkable
engineering, craft and style. Seiko emphasizes that a watch tells more about a man
than any other trait. This is reflected in the quality and the fashion of the
Seiko Men’s Watch. In 1977, the company released the first Seiko Solar model, a
watch that is charged through solar energy and does not require batteries. This
meant the watch essentially required no maintenance and was powered by clean
energy, and even would remain operating for an extended period of time without
needing to be charged.
A few years later, more recently, the company released the
Seiko Alarm Chronograph series. Again these series led watch engineering by the
horns and took it to a new level. The Seiko Alarm Chronograph series introduced
two important elements of technology in a wrist watch: a handy alarm feature
and the chronograph, which helps users to record time, as a stop-watch would
do. These features proved remarkably popular, and the Seiko Men’s Watch
perfected them with its newer models.
Let’s review some of the popular models from the Seiko Alarm
Chronograph series:
Seiko SSC081P1
The Seiko SSC081P1 is a beautiful ornament as well as a
sturdy watch. It is powered by solar energy and is a very reliable product. It
comes not only with the Chronograph technology, but is also embedded with a
Bezel ring rotating compass. This makes the product a great watch for the
adventurous and sporty as well. It has a stainless steel frame, is water
resistant up to 10 bar W.R. and has a chic leather band as well as an elegant
display.
Seiko SSC083P1
Seiko invented and continued to refine the quartz
technology, and Seiko SSC083P1 is the perfect evidence of how far it has come.
It has a stainless steel band, which gives this watch a luxurious appeal. The
diameter of the case is 42mm which watch seekers describe as neither too large
nor too small. The watch has an elegant white dial, with the glass surface
protected by Hardlex crystal glass technology. It is part of Seiko’s sports
series, and comes with a fold over clasp fastening mechanism. In addition to
the alarm and chronograph features, this watch has a Lumibrite display for its
markers and hands, for increased visibility and display in the dark.
Seiko SSC085P1
Seiko SSC085P1 improves upon its previous models in terms of
elegance and display remarkably. It weighs merely 5.92 ounces but may just be
worth its weight in gold. This model has a stainless steel band with fold over
clasp fastening, and has all the features including the alarm technology,
water-resistance and chronograph. However, it is the deep blue dial which makes
this watch a classy affair. Users have reviewed this as a high quality and
functional watch.
Seiko SSC087P1
Saving the best for the last, Seiko SSC087P1 is truly
beautiful. It has an attractive black dial, with silver markers and handles,
and small three small chronograph circle fittings, for extended functionality. It
looks like a very high-end product, but is extremely well-priced. The solar
technology, quality stainless steel band, a mineral dial window and other
features give this watch an edge in its category. It’s accompanied by excellent
reviews on the market and is one of the best selling models of late.
Art and Science: Friends or Foes?
Since the dawn of civilization (or rather liberal arts
education), Art and Science have tussled as two apparently independent and
incompatible structures. The STEM fields, comprising of science, technology,
engineering and mathematics, are referred to as the singular source of
knowledge and truth. And apparently Art is what hippies do (think: drugs,
poverty, Woodstock, long hair, drugs). It’s particularly funny and depressing
and discouraging and other words that signal ironic sadness, when one graduates
from university with a social science major, only to be told a few thousand
times in the next few months, ”but social science is not really science, is
it”. Or is it? And what then does “state of the art technology” really mean
then?
Let’s engage with this question a little. A long time ago,
like a really long time ago, Plato wrote in Phaedo
about things existing in and emerging from pairs, the concept of binary
existence. Life exists with Death, day exists with night, Taylor Swift exists
with Nicki Minaj, winners and losers.
It’s like that famous Harry Potter prophecy “one cannot live while the
other survives” (but not literally). There is a natural tendency for us to see
one part of the binary as superior to the other. Good is superior to bad. Light
is superior to Day. And just like that, Science is superior to Art.
Hegel, that German philosopher, was one of the first persons
to formally suggest things may not be so black and white (aha! Shades of grey!)
His famous master-slave dialect represented how the binary hierarchy between
two concepts is fluid, and interrelated. The TL;DR relevant version of that fun
story is: the master and slave are dependent on each other in a complex
relationship. Without bad, there can be no good.
And that brings us back to the primary topic. The separation
of arts and sciences is a fundamentally flawed phenomenon. The two concepts are
bound together. Take a famous Mozart symphony and break it down. From the
genius of the composition emerge scales, notes, patterns and repetition. Take a
historic piece of architecture like Eiffel Tower. Its construction embodies
advanced principles of civil engineering. Take the latest high resolution
picture from the Hubble Telescope, the zenith of technology. Doesn’t it remind
you of great realist paintings and artistic expression? Let’s do an exercise.
Name five famous scientists.
Chances are you thought of Einstein immediately. Don’t shake
your head, I know you did. Let’s hear what the big man had to say on the
subject: “After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science
and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity and form. The greatest
scientists are artists as well.” Art does not undermine science, nor does
science downplay the importance of art. It is within the synthesis of the two
that greatness resides.
Let’s shift the debate to the other side: science as a
composite to great art. This can be found in the running meters of a Whitman
poem, or in the careful proportions of a Rothko canvas. Or let’s address a
famous piece of work by Leonardo Da Vinci, that guy from that book by Dan Brown
The Da Vinci Code (if this suffix did
not make you want to kill me, it would be a great time to start reassessing
your life). The Vitruvian man dates back to 1487. It is a drawing of two men
drawn in an overlay with legs and arms stretched apart. It is also a
representation of geometrical ideology. It epitomizes the synthesis of
aesthetics and scientific endeavor as it is founded upon the ideal human
proportions.
Another absolutely brilliant composition that combines art
and science is a 9 minute song by Tool, called Lateralus. The song is about reaching
outwards, pushing the envelope, constantly seeking and exploring to improve our
human condition and human race. The lyrics of the song are written in the
famous Fibonacci sequence. The first verse contains one syllable; the next
contains two, the one after that, three, then five, then 8, then thirteen. Just
look up the sequence and you’ll know how it works. The beauty of the synthesis
resides in the fact that the Fibonacci sequence is an infinite and endless
spiral of numbers, always growing. And those are exactly the lyrics as well.
Pretty cool stuff, to say the least.
So what is the point
of all this banter, you ask. The point is that art and science are inherently
two attuned concepts that function in synchronicity. These are big words so you
best believe it. Art represents creativity, inventiveness, imagination,
inspiration. Artists observe their surroundings and conceive things as these
observations filter through their creative channels.
With the astonishing advances in Science and Technology, we
are mapping the designs of future. Every day, someone invents a piece of
technology that is not only conceived by brilliant computer codes and
mathematical concepts, but also really creative ideas and solutions to solve
issues all around us. In order to really be able to break down and solve
problems, it is important to be able to understand them on a creative level and
develop innovative solutions. Art is the falling apple in Newton’s story. Art
prefaces scientific evolution. Without being able to design solutions, one
cannot create them. It is imperative, therefore, that STEM students and majors
engage in activities that stimulate their artistic drive. It is essential that
they undertake studies in the humanities to broaden their horizons, learn to
approach a problem with intuition and flair, dissect it with creativity as well
as technical discipline.
Today, we live in a world dominated by science. We go to
school and are shown ways to get the answers, to uncover facts. We are told
there is only a linear and singular truth. We are told STEM majors are paid
more, which is true. But to approach the truth, you need skepticism,
uncertainty, disbelief. You need to question things as they exist. The same way
Copernicus did with the model of the universe. The same with Galileo did with
the myth of flat Earth. Humanities teach you how to challenge the status quo,
how to question authority. And science paves the way to confirming or rejecting
our artistic hypotheses. So never again say Art and Science are incompatible.
*drops mic, walks away*
The Scenic Area of Altadena, California
Altadena, California resides in the folds of the Los Angeles
County. It is an unincorporated and census elected area, nearly 14 miles from
downtown Los Angeles. Altadena is also just north of Pasadena, California. The
area has a population close to 43,000, which is made up of several prominent
racial groups, primarily Caucasian, Hispanic and African American residents. A
quarter of that population is under the age of 18, whereas nearly 45% of the
residents are of age 45 or older. Altadena, California is a high income bracket
area, with a median household income of $80,849, compared to California’s
median of $60,190.
The area’s name Altadena represents in complex history with
the neighboring city of Pasadena. Alta
means “upper” in Spanish, while dena
is derived from Pasadena. For several decades in early 20th century,
Pasadena attempted to annex with Altadena, though these attempts never
succeeded. Despite no formal annexation, Altadena, California shares strong
informal ties with Pasadena. It also shares two major highways and the Pasadena
Unified School District. Altadena is close to the Eaton Canyon and has a hilly
topography. The area experiences dry summers and has a warm-summer
Mediterranean climate, with temperatures usually south of 71 degrees Fahrenheit.
The official tree of Altadena, California is the Deodar
Cedar, indigenous to the Himalayas in South Asia. The seeds of these trees were
brought from Italy by founder John Woodbury. These can be found growing regally
along the stretch of the Christmas Tree Lane. This lane is a holiday attraction
and also the oldest outdoor Christmas lighting venue (on a large scale) in the
world. The Christmas Tree Lane is a California Historical Landmark and a great
place to be amid nature. Also famous for its lighting display is the Balian
Mansion, which has attracted tourists from around the world since 1955. Locals
argue that the Balian Mansion established the practice of home holiday
lighting.
The California Golden Poppy is the official flower of
Altadena, California. This was a landmark for the earlier Spanish settlers who
recognized Altadena and its surrounding areas as sabanilla de oro, or the sweeping gold carpet. The Cobb Estate in
Altadena is a great place to hang around these flowers. It is a free botanical
garden quite popular among the local residents. The Cobb Estate is fortified by
landmark gates and leads an invigorating ascent to one of Altadena’s grandest
mansions. Fansworth Park is another local site close to Lake Avenue, which
offers sprawling picnic grounds, a club house, an amphitheater for outdoor
entertainment and play areas. The Fansworth Park is also a part of the National
Register of Historic Places since 1997.
Altadena, California is home to many notable figures,
including Richard Feynman (physicist), Octavia Butler (author) and Bob Lillis
(former MLB player and coach). In close proximity to Altadena is the Huntington
Library, famous for its beautiful gardens and historical structures, and the
Norton Simon museum with brilliant collections of European Renaissance art.
Altadena shares a lot of entertain venues with Pasadena and offers beautiful
trails like the Mount Lowe trail for outdoor excursion in return.
