Sign Seen at the End of the Universe

Explains a lot, doesn't it?

America's Top 5 Fireworks Displays

These are the Top 5- 4th of July Fireworks Displays in all of the country. Here's some pics and highlights on these top shows. If you were lucky enough to attend on of these- we envy you! Regardless of where you were, we hope you had an amazing 4th of July!

Top 5 Fireworks Displays

Source: AOL Travel

chriscarder, flickr

Fourth of July Fireworks should be larger than life. As Independence Day rounds the corner for the 235th time, we decided to take a look at the biggest pyrotechnic celebrations across the U.S.

Though some familiar names top the list of biggest firework displays – New York and Atlantic City's shows have been around for years and attract millions of visitors – there are also a few impressive but lesser known shows in more out-of-the-way locations.

Fireworks are to be taken seriously and the rankings below are the result of a highly scientific statistical analysis utilizing both publicly available data and the measurements of some of the nations great pyrotechnicians.

The calculation wound up looking something like this: (Attendance/2,000,000)5 + (Cost/2,500,000)5 + (Amount of Explosive Material/75,000)5 + (Length of show/46)5)/20 x 100 = Percentage awesome.

Of course values were not available for every category. When asked the number of fireworks used for his show, Philip Butler, producer of Atlantic City's extravaganza, said: "You wouldn't ask Michelangelo how buckets of paint he used on the Sistine Chapel, would you?" So some expert judgment was exercised along with 8th grade math.

1. Macy's Firework Spectacular - New York, NY

1987porsche944, flickr

SCORE: 92

Macy's annual firework show over the Hudson River regularly attracts around 2 million people, but vantage points are scattered all over the West Side and New Jersey so the crowd doesn't get too thick. The 26-minute show, which sets off approximately 75,000 pounds of fireworks, begins between 9 p.m. and 9:20. 23rd-59th Street along the West Side highway will be closed to traffic beginning at 4 p.m., so head over and nab a seat early – they fill up fast.

2. Atlantic City Firework Spectacular - Atlantic City, NJ

stevenmaciejewski, flickr

SCORE: 90

Atlantic City's show has two parts, making it one of the longest in the country. The first 22-minute show over the Marina is followed by a 24-minute display along the beach and boardwalk. With 200,000 attendees, it's important to get to the beach early to claim a spot. And, those from out of town should make those reservations fast – the city will be jam-packed this weekend.

3. Kaboom Town! - Addison, TX

heroiclife, flickr

SCORE: 86.7

Addison's 30-minute show is a three-decade old tradition that attracts a good 500,000 viewers. The fireworks can be seen from anywhere in Addison, including the city's 170 restaurants, which broadcast the show. The show itself takes place in Addison Circle Park and begins with an air show by the Addison Airport. Parking spaces, however, may be impossible to find – the best way to go is to park in a nearby town and walk.

4. Boston Pops Firework Spectacular - Boston, MA

jiangning, flickr

SCORE: 82

Boston's show is easily one of the most well known, and, at $2.5 million for the entire show, one of the most expensive. Over 20,000 pounds of fireworks are set off during the 21-minute spectacle as 500,000 revelers "ohh" and "ahh." The fireworks are shot over the Charles River, so both Harvard and Longfellow bridges offer unobstructed views. The riverbank tends to get crowded, so bring a blanket and stake out a spot early.

5. A Capitol Fourth - Washington, D.C.

dan-lem2001, flickr

SCORE: 80

The 20-minute show on the National Mall shoots 66,000 pounds of fireworks for its 500,000 visitors. The fireworks begin after 9 p.m., following a parade, and are set to a soundtrack by The National Symphony Orchestra. To sit on the Mall, be prepared to go through a security checkpoint where all bags and coolers are examined. It's worth it, though – the base of the Lincoln Memorial is a beautiful place to watch the show.

No Parking Allowed...Beware of Creepy Clowns

FUNNY THINGS HEARD 'ROUND THE SF OFFICE

1. Is what I'm looking for where I think it is? Ummm.....Yes?
2. I want biscuits and butt rubs! -canine thoughts from Kona, our office dog.
3. I wonder if it's a company requirement that all UPS deliveryman have to look good in brown shorts?
4. "I am not going to die in the men's room surrounded by 20 of you people!" -comment made by a staff member as we were discussing where to go for safety should a tornado touch down during the recent storms

The REAL Mad Men of Design

(From l to r): George Nelson, Edward Wormley, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Charles Eames and Jens Risom. Playboy Magazine, July 1961.









For fans of Mid-Centry Modern Design, this classic image above from Playboy, July 1961 is like the Holy Grail. Design masters & fellow peers in their prime, beautifully captured in a time that was aesthetically crisp, uncluttered and innovative.

The World's Coolest Home Office...Make Yours Too

If you need inspiration for design, this should help. This is one of the coolest home office setups I've seen. This is a glorious fusion of Victorian wood, 19th century organ parts, computers, creativity, and a whole lot of free time.

Yes, that is his webcam...get out.

And USB Jump Drive?!...I know right.

The proud owner and his workstation.

Now, although we can't ship you one of these- we do have a load of incredible products to help you create your office or workspace into something a little more pleasing. Our designers can also do a custom layout and offer guidance for you at anytime. Check out our newest secret, yes it's true- enter Smart Office here.

Fun Stuff for Friday - 10 Work Excuses for Mondays

1. When I got up this morning I accidentally took two Ex-Lax in addition to my Prozac. I can't get off the john but I feel good about it.
2. The voices told me to clean all the guns today.
3. I threw my back out bowling.
4. My stigmata is acting up again.
5. I will be stalking my previous boss who fired for not showing up for work.
6. I am stuck in the blood pressure machine down at the local pharmacy.
7. Yes, I seem to have contracted some attention-deficit disorder and..hey, how about those Dodgers, huh? So I won’t be able to..yes, could I help you? No, no, I'll be sticking with Sprint but thanks for calling!
8. I just found out that I was switched at birth. Legally, I shouldn't come to work knowing my employee records may now contain false information.
9. I prefer to remain an enigma.
10. The dog ate my car keys. We're going to hitchhike to the vet.

Herman Miller At-a-Glance Chair Comparison Chart

We Are So Proud of Our Latest and Greatest CSR - Adam Litchfield

Don't ever let Adam Litchfield get away --- He is the best in customer sevice -- I have worked in the industry for many years and WON'T say how many -- but he is definately a keeper -- I will be a return customer just from my experience yesterday morning - Thanks again for all your excellent help

-Steve V. Key West FL

Excellent Job Adam - Well Done!

Customer Service Fails...(Things We Try to Avoid)

Here are things we try to avoid at Smart Furniture. Maybe you can identify with some of these. The following images inspire us in many ways, please enjoy...

If you can't tell this is a customer service help desk.

I'm not even mad...I'm impressed.

Bottom.

Quality.

The world's dorkiest shirt.

PS- we like Rainforests.

So now you know where we get our inspiration for greatness. If you have any other funny pictures from your life, your work, or your existence, please share with us at customerservice@smartfurniture.com

Up in the Eero with Design

I am in the midst of reading a very interesting fiction novel titled The Rift by Walter J. Williams, which describes the aftermath of an 8.9 earthquake striking the New Madrid fault line which runs from Memphis, TN to Cape Girardeau, MO. One of the most harrowing sequences of the novel is told from the viewpoint of a tour guide who narrates her struggles to rescue the terrified sight seers with whom she is unfortunately trapped at the top of the St. Louis Arch when the earthquake strikes.

I grew up not far from Cape Girardeau, MO and often traveled with my family to St. Louis to visit my great-grandmother. I remember the Arch reflecting the brilliance of the sun as we drove by and loving its sleek, curved and yet seemingly fragile structure. I still marvel at its simple beauty and majestic design. My curiosity spurred by the events described in the book and childhood recollections, I researched additional information about the “Gateway to the West” and was astonished to discover it had been designed by Eero Saarinen, a finnish American architect and industrial designer of the 20th century.

Why was I so astonished? The reason was this designer had also created my favorite table, the Saarinen Dining Table. I love the table’s fluid and flowing form. There are no hard-edges and I am amazed at how it appears to be constructed of one single curving line. Like the Arch, it is also a brilliant creation of simplicity and I can see the sweeping curves of the St. Louis Arch reflected in the pattern made of the table’s underside, column and base. Along with its appealing form, the table’s surface can also be optioned with a plain top or marble. In all honesty, the table is absolutely exquisite and the photographs on our website do not do its beauty justice.

Wanting to know more about the architect, Eero Saarinen, who sculpted these pieces I found some very interesting faq’s about him:

• He had a close relationship with fellow students Charles and Ray Eames (yes, of Herman Miller fame), and became good friends with Florence Knoll.

• Saarinen was assigned to draw illustrations for bomb disassembly manuals and to provide designs for the Situation Room in the White House.

• His other important works include the TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and the main terminal of Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C..

• Eero Saarinen’s "Tulip Chair" became the basis of the seating used on the original Star Trek television series.
  

The Arch memorializes Lewis and Clark’s exploration of the western part of the North American continent as they started out from St. Louis. Courageous like those earlier adventurers, Eero Saarinen ventured forth and became famous for innovative and sculptural forms whether he was designing furniture, airports, or grand monuments. You can still see his vision and art at SmartFurniture.com.

And the Employee of the Month Award Goes to....

The Green-Eyed Monster?

One of our customers contacted us because some shelving he ordered arrived in mismatched colors. We were quick to remedy his concern, but we are so lucky to have customers like you that can share in our humor. This was our reply to him:

Greenings Bryan!

It seems we shipped you a color that has since been discontinued and we are simply green around the gills regarding our mistake. We are not a company of greenhorns but we are human and we apologize for our error. The greenbacks you spent with us are much appreciated and I hope you will allow us the green light to go ahead and exchange your shelving. We will be sending you a kit that matches the lighter green kit to exchange the darker olive green shelving you received and will email a return label so the shelving can be sent back to us. So don't worry - you will soon be seeing greener pastures when your replacements arrive and you will be giving us a green thumbs up for how quickly we respond. Your neighbors will be simply green with envy at your new shelving!

Should you have any questions in the green-time, please let us know. With a green from ear-to-ear we are always happy to be of service!

Karen

Our customer shared in our humor...

Hi Karen!

You guys at SmartFurniture are nothing short of awesome! Not only did you manage to solve my problem but now I can't stop laughing and smiling after reading your email that my face is starting to hurt a little! This works out perfectly. I'm so happy with the light green color, that I may very well plan my whole room around it!

Also I just got the return label you sent, so I'll be send back the olive green shelving first thing tomorrow morning. I'm so glad for all of your help, you totally made my day! Yay!!

And our thank you...

Bryan,

Before celebrities vent too much information about themselves on talk shows - they often spend much time in the Green Room before their appearance. You are a star in our eyes and we support your consideration of Going Green and creating your own green room in your home. It will give the saying turning green a whole new meaning! Thank you for being our customer!

Greens and Giggles,
Karen

Come Rain or Shine

Even in bad weather, we are here for you! Tornadoes touched down in Chattanooga today; but, we did not want to miss your calls and chats. So, we gathered around our ping pong table (aka conference table) to wait it out. Eventually the storm passed, the clouds rolled away and all was well in the world.

5 Things Your Smart Furniture Customer Service Rep Wants You to Know!

1. We are here for you! Our goal is to make you happy, and we will go to great lengths to ensure that you are. Whether you call us (888-762-7841), email us, live chat or tweet, we will send you a super fast, personalized response (no automated, unfriendly stuff here)

2. We have samples! Deciding between two colors, or ten? Let us help you. We have samples of most of the options we offer, and can have them in your hands within 3-4 days from your request. And once you receive them, the samples are yours to keep.

3. We work on the weekends! We know how difficult it can be to find extra time during the week. That's why we are available to help you all day on Saturdays, and Sundays too.

4. We make returns easy! We want you to be overjoyed with every purchase from SmartFurniture.com, but we know that sometimes things just do not work out. When this happens, call us. We will help you to coordinate the return of your item(s) and make sure that your refund or exchange is handled quickly.

5. We know furniture! Our goal is to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date product information possible. When you call or email, we can help answer questions about product availability, assembly, sizing, warranty, etc. We like weird questions too. Please try to stump us!

The Sincerest Form of Flattery Is...

...not imitation. Not even close. See one customer's comments below...

"You are an angel to get back to me when it is getting so late where you are. Thursday is going to be a very exciting day for us! Everyone I have dealt with at Smart Furniture has been so kind and thoughtful. I so appreciate it. I almost feel like I'm part of the family. Thanks again. "
-Joy W. Walterville OR

We at Smart Furniture believe the sincerest form of flattery is when our customers tell us they feel like a part of our family. This tells us a lot about your experience with Smart Furniture. You like doing business with us and we are honored to have you as a relative. Thanks again Joy!

5 Things Your Smart Furniture Customer Service Rep WON’T Tell You!

5. We’re located outside the U.S. When you call Smart Furniture you will be talking with someone who works in the good ol’ USA - Chattanooga, TN to be exact. We do not outsource our customer service – a real person actually picks up the phone when you call. No infuriating, cold, impersonal answering system here. However, we do have funny southern accents and don’t be surprised if we offer some sweet tea and biscuits & gravy while we chat and visit with you.

4. That’s not my job. You read that correctly. We believe ALL OF IT is our job – taking care of you, our customers, the best way we know how. Now you may get someone in the accounting department answering the phone instead of a CSR or a sales team member, but guaranteed that if they don’t know the answer to your question they will find out for you. Our goal is to provide you with the best customer service you have ever experienced – and that’s everyone’s job here.

3. I don’t care. To us, customer service is relationship building. Shopping online is impersonal but we aim to make your experience with Smart Furniture engaging, genuine and friendly. Often, the only impression one has of the business from which they buy is a brief phone call with them or the tone of an email you receive from them. We understand this and so we try to ensure that every point of contact you have with us (from our website, phone calls, emails, and even the t-shirts we sometimes send to customers) lets you know that you are important to us. We believe the difference between ordinary customer service and extraordinary customer service is that little “extra” – and every one of us at Smart Furniture cares about that!

2. I can’t do anything for you. Should you ever hear this from a customer service rep (words that will never be spoken by any staff member of Smart Furniture) basically what it means is “I don’t care”. (see #3 above). We pride ourselves on being creative and being able to think outside the box – abilities which help us to help you with any customer problem, concern or dilemma you confront us with. We can’t make everyone happy (see our special note to party poopers in our FAQs here) but you can be confident that we will do all we can to find a solution for you.

1. Your satisfaction is not our primary goal. Let’s be honest – there are hundreds, if not thousands, of companies that sell the same products we offer also online. So why should Smart Furniture be different? Because YOU are the difference. We don’t sell products – we offer award winning customer service and our relationship with you is not like other companies. You think it all ends once you get the email notification your order has shipped? Wrong!! We follow-up with you and ask about your experience with Smart Furniture, determine if your delivery went smoothly, send you a customer service inquiry begging for feedback on how we are doing, and sometimes we will call just to chat and say hello and let you know that we have not forgotten you. We want you to be satisfied, we want to exceed your expectations of our capabilities and we want to be the platinum standard of customer service by which you compare all other companies. Your satisfaction IS our primary goal – because we aren’t satisfied and happy until you are. Because you are that important to us.

Coming Up – 5 Things Your Smart Furniture Customer Service Rep Wants You to Know!

What a Returning Customer Has to Say about Smart Furniture Customer Service

Susan came back to shop with us again last evening. This time, she ordered shelving and a Steelcase Uno chair. Here is what she has to say about our service....

"Smart Furniture has Zappos-grade customer service. And soon I will have another bookcase! One more and I'll be done. With bookcases, anyway."
-Susan T. Gaithersburg MD

More Pats on the Back!

Thank you all for your speedy and kind assistance with my order! It is clear to me why your team has been said to have "award winning customer service." You are kind, courteous and helpful in ways that companies just are not any more. I purchased one Cubitec system and within a week came back to buy an additional system. You can bet that when I need things in the future, I will look here first!

-D. Parks, Brooklyn NY

Sometimes we like to pat ourselves on the back. Check out these recent kudos from our beloved customers!

I have to say the service from Smart Furniture is pretty amazing. You guys are totally together. Everyone has been knowledgeable, professional and polite. A winning combo.

-K. Greene; Coatesville PA


Thank you Adam. It is a pleasure to deal with you and your company. The service is excellent!

-M. Mlowkowski; McLean VA


I have just completed your after sales survey and would like to additionally thank Karen Jennings in your customer service team for her outstanding service. Karen was able to provide me with prompt and detailed information and advice on what was a very special purchase for me. I also found Karen to be extremely courteous and genuine in her dealings with me. I would like to thank Karen for her terrific service and support.

-A. Baldrey, NSW Australia

Getting to Know Us - Karen Jennings, CSR

This pic was taken when I was about 2 or 3 and yes, I do remember by mother placing a blue bowl on my head to cut those bangs. Awesome, huh?

Name: Karen Jennings

Employed with Smart Furniture since: May 2005

Favorite Movie: Favorite Fantasy – Lord of the Rings trilogy, Favorite Comedy - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Favorite Sci-Fi – The Terminator epics; Favorite Horror Movie – The Exorcist; Favorite Romantic Movie – Somewhere in Time

Favorite Book: The Bible, Where the Red Fern Grows (it was this book that taught me the power of the written word to elicit emotions) and all works by Stephen King and Robert McCammon.

Favorite Food: Grilled chicken salad at Houston’s Restaurants

Favorite Quote: Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it. – Song of Solomon. Favorite Quote #2: I can complain that the roses have thorns or choose to rejoice that the thorns have roses.

Hobbies: Reading, movies, music, puzzles, linear brain teasers, and playing games on the PC.

Likes: Learning something new, kittens and puppies, spending time with family, being able to help people.

Dislikes: close-minded, rude, obnoxious, inconsiderate people. And peas.

If you could meet one person dead or alive, who would it be? And why? Abraham Lincoln – an amazing President. Oh the questions I would ask him!

Vanilla or Chocolate? Neither – Pralines n’ Cream Baskin Robbins

Hamburger or Hotdog? Hamburger

Ketchup or mustard? Ketchup

Paper or plastic? I honestly don’t know – Do I select paper which fosters guilt for the destroyed trees used to make it or the satisfaction it gives that at least it’s biodegradable. But then what about plastic – less expensive to make, easier to hold and carry groceries but will never break down and encourages use of fossil fuels. Such a dilemma.

Favorite soft drink? Caffeine-free Pepsi

What’s on your Bucket List? Riding in a helicopter, hot air balloon, sky-diving, visiting the British Isles, France, making a difference in someone’s life, storing up as many treasure I can in heaven.

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Lavender or Violet

Any pets? Yes, 3 beautiful fat gorgeous kitties adopted from the Atlanta Humane Society: Claire, Chloe & Katie.

Favorite Sport: Any water sport.

What is most important in life? My relationship with God and my family.

What makes you laugh? Seeing the humor in the mundane, a witty remark, frolicking puppies and the laughter of little children.

What asset do I bring to the Smart Furniture team? Mommy hugs, smiles and 20+ years of customer service. I especially enjoy being able to turn a customer’s frown upside down with a positive attitude, an ability to listen and trying to take that extra step.