The Chicago Spire is being considered in the same league as the Beijing National Stadium, Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, the Chrysler Building in New York, the Hill Bridge in Boston, The Great Court of London’s British Museum, the Sydney Opera House and the National Gymnasium of Tokyo.

According to Katherine Rosenberg-Pineau, the jeweler’s head designer, the diamonds are cut so that the naked eye sees the diamond’s “performance” – sparkle, brilliance and refraction. In the pieces based on Calatrava’s Spire, there appears to be movement as the diamonds refract and reflect light.

The luxury condo building, on Lake Michigan is scheduled to be completed in early 2012. Many of the units have been bought by individuals from around the world. And each unit of this magnificent building is pretty much unique as layouts of the building are different by floor. I suggest, that if you are into spectacular, modernA architecture with amazing views, you visit the sales center to see the outstanding finishes and details that will be incorporated into the building. I would be happy to set up an appointment for you. Just call me at 312.264.5853.

The Spire will certainly put Chicago real estate on the map of world-class architecture and the jewelry from Hearts of Fire,A which includes earrings that appear to spin off the earA while evoking the spirals of The Spire, should certainly help in the branding of this Chicago condo as an iconic new building.

The building, in future years, I am convinced will be not only be considered a special building but also a dramatic piece of art. As Rosenberg-Pineau indicated, “the spiral of the Spire will come out of the earth like the world’s most magnificent drill bit.”

For additional information about the building or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send me an email.

Audio sleep aids are also incredibly accessible – you can download many of them online for a small fee (including Speed Sleep of course).  Really, that is a small price to pay for an unlimited number of nights’ of quality sleep, especially when you consider the recurring expense of sleep drugs.  More importantly, an audio track simply doesn’t have the addictive potential or the possible side effects that prescription sleep drugs do – and shouldn’t that be reason enough to try these alternative sleep aids?

The relaxation techniques offered by audio sleep aids like Speed Sleep can be an excellent alternative to sleep drugs – after all, listening to a CD or mp3 doesn’t pose the same health risks or threat of long-term dependency as medications (even seemingly benign ones like Tylenol PM), and it will actually help improve the quality of the child/teen’s sleep as well, which is something that sleep drugs simply cannot do.  In fact, an article in yesterday’s New York Times even suggested that relaxation techniques and positive mental imagery can provide an excellent, long-lasting solution to sleep problems, so trying an audio sleep aid is certainly something to try if your child or teen suffers from sleep disorders.

In that article, Dr. Daniel S. Lewin, the director of the Pediatric Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, suggested “strategies like creating a quiet sleeping environment, going to bed at the same time and only when sleepy, focusing on nonstressful images, and challenging worrisome beliefs about insomnia”, particularly for teens.  He also advised parents to set a regular sleep schedule for their children (even on weekends), restrict stimulating activities before bedtime, and to develop a calming sleep routine.

In no particular order:

Mena House Oberoi in Cairo, Egypt – Imagine playing golf amidst lavish gardens in the shadows of the pyramids – what setting could be more inspiring than that?  At the Mena House Oberoi’s course located on forty acres at the foot of the pyramids in Cairo, you can play a round of golf near the final resting places of the pharoahs.

Durban Country Club in Durban, South Africa – One of the most unique and remote golf courses in the world that features stunning views of the Indian Ocean, this South African paradise is a long way from home for most golfers – but it is worth the trip.  It is also one of the world’s most difficult courses; it may only be 6,644 yards long but the wind seems to blow continuously, wreaking havoc with all but the most mentally tough and experienced golfers.

Leopard Creek in Malelane, South Africa – Located near Kruger National Park, this exclusive club offers not a championship golf course, but a chance to see African wildlife including the Big Five – lions, elephants, African buffalo, rhinos, and leopards; as well as hippos, antelope, crocodile, and a number of other creatures large and small (it is perfectly safe – you golf with a trained caddy/guide).  Where else can you combine the experience of a safari with an amazing round of golf?

Golf De Carthage in Tunis, Tunisia – This is oldest golf course in Africa, and it is located on the edge of the Mediterranean amongst eucalyptus groves in Tunis near the historic city of Carthage.  Do not let the age of the course fool you, however, it has recently been completely renovated and still provides quite a challenge to even advanced golfers.

La Palmeraie in Marrakesh, Morocco - Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., this course will be completely open in October 2008 and already offers some of the most rewarding golf in Africa.  Set against the combined backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, the hot sands of the Sahara desert, and the whitewashed medina of Marrakesh, this course features seven lakes and thousands of palm trees spread out over seventy seven hectares of greens.

Check back Thursday or subscribe to the Thought Free Golf blog for the top five Asian golf courses – we’ll be taking you from the graceful vistas of Japan to the opulence of Dubai and back again.

Laguna Phuket Golf Club in Phuket, Thailand – Designed by Max Wexler and David Abell, this award-winning golf course is surrounded by coconut groves and features a labyrinth of lagoons and lush fairways.  Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Andaman Sea, this course is complex enough to challenge the most experienced golfers – and the sheer natural beauty of the setting makes that challenge a pleasure.

Novotel Ocean Dunes & Golf Resort in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – This Nick Faldo designed course is considered one of the best in Asia, and due to the varying coastal winds it is also one of the most technically demanding.  Located on a stunning private beach next to a four star resort, this course also offers many amenities – golfers can take advantage of individual saunas and jacuzzis after a tough round.

Delhi Golf Club in Delhi, India – Established by the British in 1931, this distinctive two hundred and twenty acre course is dotted with monuments from the Lodhi period – it is a true piece of history and worth visiting for the sights alone.  Of course, the fact that the course itself is known for its difficulty and the way that the fairways are lined with thick scrub that makes it near impossible to recover misfired shots adds some appeal for players looking to test their golf techniques and skill level.

Bintan Lagoon Golf Resort on Bintan Island, Indonesia – Surrounded by breathtaking views of the sea and lush jungles, this course combines the feeling of being in an island paradise with a rewarding round of golf.  Even the water hazards and sand traps are uniquely designed and gorgeous, making this one of the most enjoyable golf courses for players of all capabilities on our list.

Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Home of the Dubai Desert Classic, this course blends stunning visuals, an elaborate design created by Nick Faldo, and a professional level of difficulty.  Consistently listed as one of the top one hundred in the world, this course is an exceptional experience for any golfer.

Golf Harbour Country Club in Auckland City, New Zealand – A world class course in a world class setting designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.; the Golf Harbour Country Club course has been compared to other notable courses like Pebble Beach.  Sprawled across several hilltops next to oceanside cliffs, the visuals alone are worth the trip, and the course itself will put your golf technique to the test.

Kauri Cliffs in Matauri Bay Road, New Zealand – Designed and built by David Harman, six holes on this golf course over the Pacific Ocean while the rest wind through marsh, forest, and farmland.  Known for its unique challenges and varied terrain, the experience of golfing on this course is a round that you’ll remember forever.

Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia – This historic golf course is consistently ranked among the best in the world, and has been one of the most prestigious places to play a round or two since it was built in 1926.

New South Wales Golf Club in Sydney, Australia – Also considered one of the top golf courses on the planet, the NSW Golf Club is flanked by the Pacific Ocean on one side and rugged mountains on the other.  In addition to the gorgeous scenery, the course itself offers a diverse range of challenges that will test any golfer’s mettle.

Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania, Australia – Located on the edge of Tasmanian wilderness along the pristine coastline, this rewarding course is one of golf’s best kept secrets despite being constantly ranked among the top fifty courses in the world.

Check back next week for the Europe edition!

Royal County Down in Newcastle, Ireland – Located on the emerald green coastline, this is one of the oldest golf courses in Ireland.  The course itself is known for its difficulty, and the surrounding scenery means you will be able to test your golf techniques while enjoying spellbinding views.

Golf de Morfontaine in Paris, France – The idyllic setting outside the City of Light belies the challenges that this course holds.  Built in 1913 by the Duke of Guiche for his own private enjoyment, this course remains exclusive to the club’s 450 members, so if you ever get a chance to play a round or two on it, be sure to savor the experience.

Golf Club Biella in Valcarozza, Italy – Winding through the hills of northern Italy, this course will make your heart and your golf clubs sing.  Although the course demands talent and precise golf techniques, the stunning vistas and gorgeous scenery make it all worth all the effort and more.

Club de Golf Valderrama in Cadiz, Spain – Situated on the sunny Andalucian coastline, this course is located in the perfect climate for year round play – and since it has played to numerous PGA Tour events, you know it will challenge your golf abilities.

St. Andrews in Scotland – The fact that it is the birthplace of golf alone makes it a must visit for any serious golfer, not to mention the sheer beauty of the landscape and the difficulty of the courses.

Check back Thursday for the best golf courses in North America!

This real-time reporting tool from Inova Solutions, called Performance Tracker™ 2.0, consolidates call center operational data from sources such as ACDs, workforce management systems and internal databases and displays it graphically in the form of charts, gauges and grids. The unique value of the tool comes from the ability to set threshold levels for each Key Performance Indicator (KPI), so that call center management is instantly aware if current conditions deviate from pre-determined goals.

Accessible from any computer with web access, Performance Tracker is compatible with most contact center data sources and is based on the Microsoft SharePoint^TM platform. It is intuitively designed and offers customizable dashboard views tailored for various business roles. These views may be easily configured to display a contact center’s most valuable metrics, whether they are real-time or historical.

“The ability to set threshold values for data fields increases productivity,” said Inova Solutions President & CEO Tom Hubbard. “When call center management knows how actual performance relates to company goals, they may take proactive measures to ensure improved future performance.”

Reporting vs. Analysis

“Companies often confuse reporting with analysis,” said Hubbard. “When faced with vast amounts of data, true analysis becomes very difficult without the help of actionable alerts. Performance Tracker greatly simplifies the complexities of call center management by allowing managers to quickly analyze operational metrics and make informed decisions.”

Performance Tracker enables actionable business intelligence by providing:

• Unified dashboard views of multiple data sources that integrate real-time and historical information
• Actionable alerts that identify potential problems according to the company’s business rules and thresholds
• High-level business and operational metrics with drill-down capabilities
• Graphic representations of KPIs with charts, grids and gauges
• Wizard-driven tool that makes dashboards easy to create, view and edit

Companies interested in obtaining more information about Performance Tracker may view a brief demo at www.inovasolutions.com or call 866.686.8774.

Note: Product Photos and Interviews Are Readily Available

About Inova Solutions Founded in 1984, Inova Solutions is a global provider of real-time visual communications that help call centers, public transit systems, schools, hospitals and others instantly communicate vital information.

No one wants to spend all their time cleaning, especially in areas like garages that are prone to spills and general messiness, due to the fact they are almost always where tools and yard implements are kept. Morever, your garage is usually more subject to outside mud and dirt than the rest of your house. It only goes to follow that installing a Floorguard flooring system will save you valuable time and energy– and after all, no one enjoys scrubbing floors.

Floorguard, Inc. Chicago garage floor coating company

SteelSentry has an excellent selection of LAN workstations and, as an added benefit, will work closely with customers to fully customize the furniture. Each customer will have different needs and will want a different number of LAN stations. This company will communicate with its customers throughout the production process and ensure that each specification is perfect before finalizing the order. Customers can even contact others who have bought a LAN workstation from SteelSentry—a rare benefit that most companies do not offer.