With Hanukkah tomorrow, time is limited to get the best gift to someone on short notice. As just about every store and business takes gift certificates or cards, it may be the best gift anyway, especially for the people who are hard to shop for.

GiftCertificates.com offers a wide selection of gift cards, or you can give a general gift card, called a SuperCertificate, which lets the recipient select their own store or merchant. Gift cards and certificates can be given as a tangible item or sent via email. Check their Web site for complete details.

Business • Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink

The memory of one pop quiz from my high school days still comes to mind on occasion. It was Spanish class of all things, and one day my teacher hands us a list of names. The names were all leaders – everyone from local, state and national government to the real name of Pope John Paul II. Our task was to name who they were. As I was one of the few in my class who cared about the world around me, I got the best score, missing just one question.

Knowledge of our public officials is important in a democratic society. It’s surely better to know who they are and what they stand for before it’s too late and too late usually means when you want something from government and the person you elected is opposed to it. This is why when fresh out of college I subscribed to the local paper, much to the amusement of my fellow co-workers, all recent grads. That was a few moons ago, and today I get my news just as you are reading this – online.

It is also the role of elected officials to let us know who they are. But what if it is unclear? I live in Chicago’s 42nd Ward, and by visiting the City of Chicago’s Web site and fumbling your way through it (a topic for another time), you can find out the Alderman is Brendan Reilly. Where it is clear there, it is not on his own Web site, especially when you compare it to the one of the former Alderman Burton Natarus, a 30-plus year politician whom Reilly defeated earlier this year.

If you compare the Web sites of Reilly and Natarus, who do you think is the real alderman? Both are Web sites paid for by their campaigns, which is very clear on both sites. That unfortunately is the only thing that is clear. Take a look at both sires and tell me who you think it is! Apparently there is no campaign law about keeping an outdated Web site in place, however the onus would be on the current Alderman to ensure his Web site is even clearer to all who visit. A picture of himself would be nice too.

Maybe Alderman Reilly can buy the Web site from former Alderman Natarus and change a few images? It would be a nice start and a notable improvement. And it would surely help kids in the 42nd Ward with any pop quizzes.

Business • (6) Comments • Permalink

It is with great joy that I announce I have closed the post office mailbox I have had since I started by business. After years of mail being jammed into the box – especially items marked “Do Not Bend” – and slips for packages that could not be located, I have stopped the insanity.

If you are a regular reader of The Hot Iron you know I have my business mailing address at The UPS Store in Chicago’s Loop, which just so happens to be right across the street from the Loop post office where my box was. One day last year after getting frustrated from more damaged mail, I literally saw the light – the illuminated sign of The UPS Store, and I promptly moved my address there. After I submitted several change of address notices – apparently it takes several attempts for a postal employee to process them – all my mail is coming to its new home, as well as UPS, FedEx and all other packages, which are not accepted by the post office.

Recently it was announced Chicago has the worst mail deliver service now 2 years in a row. Around that same time an article in the Chicago Tribune said service has improved, according to an “independent survey” whose source was not cited. Where this is good to hear, in the meantime life and business must go on. I could not bear the loss or damage of any more mail.

Where it appears the common citizen can do little against the behemoth post office, I did what I could do – vote with my wallet.

Business • (1) Comments • Permalink

Have you ever wondered about working in real estate? Or would you simply like to learn more about the industry and how you could profit from it? Then there’s no time like the present to get an education from American Real Estate Academy in Waltham, Mass., who is one of my clients.

The Academy, or AREA for short, has been educating real estate professionals for over 35 years. They offer the courses to become a real estate salesperson, broker, mortgage lender, property appraiser and home inspector, as well as continuing education courses to maintain your salesperson and broker licenses. Thousands over the years have taken courses from AREA all across Massachusetts and New England and have enjoyed a successful real estate career.

Many people also take courses from AREA to learn more about the real estate industry, and use this knowledge for the purchase of their own home or to become a real estate investor.

Check out their Web site for more information and to register for their courses. AREA also offers a complete line of books, software, audio and accessories to compliment your real estate education.

Business • Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink

If there is a man on your gift list in the Chicago area, there’s no better gift than a visit to The 316 Club. I have written about them before as I am a member of this men’s spa in the Loop next to the Chicago Board of Trade.

As the “oasis with premium grooming services” for men, you can get a blade shave – even your head for bald guys like me – or a haircut, massage, etc. – check out their menu of services for complete details. They feature a bar with fine scotches, a pool table, WiFi and you can even get a shoe shine. Gift cards are available both at the Club or online, so you can treat someone to a single visit or a membership for a year of services.

Business • Diversions • (1) Comments • Permalink