Getting the most out of your phone calls is very easy nowadays, thanks to the business of calling card companies – a good calling card can easily solve all your problems related to the monthly phone bills, as well as the additional issues that commonly arise in trying to stay connected all the time when living an active social life.

Free calling is one of the factors that are considered most attractive about calling cards – and it’s certainly easy to understand why. When you’ve got a little piece of plastic that lets you place phone calls completely free of charge, you can get many benefits from its proper use, and make your life easier as a whole. There are some things to keep in mind when looking for a calling card though – as certainly free calling isn’t all there is to these deals.

Make sure the card comes with proper customer service – you’ll probably have to make use of it at some point, and the quality of some companies in this regard is just abysmal. Protect yourself from this common pitfall so that you can get assistance when you truly need it – get yourself a card from a renowned company who’ll serve you well. Also, think about the recharging scheme – it should be a good and convenient one, not one that’ll have you running around town like crazy to make the payment before your card has expired. It doesn’t take much to make the right choice, but you have to be patient.

Just because Hollywood is where some of the richest people on earth live, it does not mean that the community does not have a sense of social and environmental responsibility. Indeed, some of the most socially aware people are big figures in Hollywood. As another testament to how this part of the world is contributing to the effort to save Mother Earth, the first eco-friendly lounge is set to open in November of this year in Hollywood.

Dubbed Ecco, the lounge is located in the Cahuenga Corridor and is set to lay down the standards for an environmentally friendly night out. Ecco used to be the Tokio Hollywood, which was renovated and transformed into something which, many would say, is better.

So what makes Ecco different from the plethora of night clubs and lounges in Hollywood? Here are some of its features:

– Multi-colored state-of-the-art LED lighting, exclusively designed and installed by Disco Designer and Cosmos Lighting.
– Neutralized carbon emissions through LivClean.
– Green energy supplied by L.A. Department of Water & Power’s Green Power resources.
– Certified organic cuisine and beverages without fertilizers, pesticides, hormones or antibiotics.
– Energy efficient insulation, saving 20% more energy than standard insulation.
– Eco-friendly bathrooms with flushless toilets, Dyson “Airblade” hand dryers, and organic cleansers and hand soaps.
– Free valet service for hybrid vehicles.
– Paperless event ticketing, table and bottle reservations provided by UpCode Solutions USA/Mobile Access & Interaction technology (MAI)(TM).
– Custom audio provided by Turbosound, winners of the Best Club Awards

LED lighting, flushless toilets, organic food – you can’t get any “eco-friendlier” than that can you?

If I asked you right now who the most powerful women in Hollywood are, what would your answer be? When faced with this question earlier (my friend and I were talking about the very same topic), I named Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres. According to The Hollywood Reporter – which is definitely a more reliable source than I am – I got one correctly.

They recently honored the most influential women in Hollywood and Oprah was right there at the top. AP has a write up on the recent event:

The chairwoman of Harpo Inc. tops the trade paper’s 17th annual Power 100 list “based on her dizzying array of Oprah-branded media and her immense cultural influence,” Guider said.

Honorees are chosen by a panel of reporters and editors who consider each woman’s corporate position, control of purse strings and power to greenlight content.

During the same Q-&-A session, Disney’s co-chairwoman, Anne Sweeney, who was second on the list, said she uses chocolate as a salve, while No. 3, Sony Chairwoman Amy Pascal, opts to hide under the covers when failure strikes. The list was published Friday.

Who else made the list? I only really recognized Oprah in the top 10. Angelina Jolie made it to number 24, Tyra Banks is at 36, Tina Fey at 56, Rachael Ray at 65, and Miley Cyrus at 100. I don’t know about you but I was a bit surprised at number 100. Then again, the Hannah Montana phenomenon is indeed quite remarkable. For the complete list, visit The Hollywood Reporter.

Who is it? No, it is not Donald Trump. Never mind that this mogul who does not seem to mind wearing an ill-fitting wig can easily strike fear or inspiration in the hearts of people. And no, it is not Chuck Norris either. (Oh, heck, I think I see a round house kick coming just for writing that line!) So who is Hollywood’s most powerful man?

Come to think of it, I never really paid much attention to this in the past. I guess I have been to busy thinking about other things but this weekend, with everything and everyone in Hollywood buzzing about one single topic, it is hard to miss. Remember that little golden man?

Yup, I am talking about Mr. Oscar. It actually took an article from The Star Central to make me realize that indeed, this 13 ½ inch guy might very well be the most powerful man in Tinsel Town. Tonight, the whole world will see why.

Have you ever wondered why he was named Oscar? The truth is, his name was not always so. In fact, he didn’t even have a name to begin with. As the story goes, Margaret Herrick, once the Academy librarian remarked that the statue bore a resemblance to her Uncle Oscar and perhaps, Sidney Skolsky’s (a journalist) usage of the name to refer to Katharine Hepburn’s win in 1934 helped it stick. It was not until 1939 that Oscar became the official name, however.

Today, this name is known all over the world to represent the best movies that have graced the silver screen. And tonight, the whole world will be watching – yet again.

What’s going on in Hollywood aside from the current season of American Idol? By the way, I heard that the show gathered the most votes ever for their top10. Anyhow, after the recent Oscars, it seems to me that the movie scene has not been that active. However, that is not really true. There is much going on behind the scenes, and I got wind of one story that just might make it to the big screen.

The King of Sting is the story of real life con men. Think Catch Me If You Can. It runs along the same lines. The protagonists of this story are Craig Glazer and Don Woodbeck. They operated all across the United States, posing as cops, and conducting drug stings. The caveat is that they kept all the money and drugs involved. Now you can just imagine how much they raked in!

In fact, they were so successful in their activities that they were hired by the Attorney General of Kansas. Unfortunately, Woodbeck lost his life in their final attempt. Glazer subsequently wrote a book about his colorful life, titled The King of Sting: The Amazing True Story of a Modern American Outlaw.

It seems that it was received warmly and is now targeted to be turned into a movie. Eric Eisner, a known producer, is said to have locked in the rights to the story. While there are no other details known as of yet, I am thinking we’ll get to see this movie by early next year.

Who loves Thai food? I sure do! I do not know if you guys have ever tried Thai food but let me tell you, it is one of the best you can have. Though Thailand is a bit too far away from Hollywood just to go there for a meal, you can actually have a taste of the real thing right in La Brea Avenue!

The restaurant is called Pink Pepper (now isn’t that name just cute? Who has ever seen a pink pepper?) and has actually been in operation for almost 20 years now. It was in 1989 when Pink Pepper was opened by Tony Boon and it was located near the west end of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Naturally, the decoration of the restaurant included golden Buddha images. The interior was infused with rose and pink – probably the origin of the name. Unsurprisingly, the restaurant became a hit. Its popularity declined a bit after several years but today, it has once again risen in popularity and is THE place to be if you want Thai food in Hollywood.

What can you expect from Pink Pepper? How about some green curry fried rice, Thai herb-crusted salmon, and green papaya salad? Of course, they have more on the menu than that. To find out more about them, visit the Pink Pepper web site.

Do horses and Hollywood make a happy couple? Off the top of my head, I would probably say not really but I am sure that the people at Sunset Ranch Stables – and the countless tourists that have gone there – would strongly disagree. Sunset Ranch Stables is the only horse ranch in the greater Los Angeles area and has long established its name as a tourist attraction. Located just under the world famous Hollywood sign, Sunset Ranch Stables offer horse rides day and night as well as majestic scenery.

The ranch has been in its current location since 1954 and more than the horse rides, it is also famous for the Sunset Dinner. The original owner of the ranch is Jute Smith but it is now Stephen Smith, Jr., his grandson who is running the place.

They have various offerings with regard to the rides. Perhaps the most sought after package is the Sunset Dinner Ride, which lasts 90 minutes long. This ride starts out at the main area, goes through Griffith Park, then to Burbank, and then reaches the highlight – dinner at the Viva Fresh Mexican Restaurant. I think that the package price does not include the dinner, which can cost anywhere from $6 to $12 per person.

If you are interested in joining a ride, you have to make reservations unless it is a Friday. More so, you have to be at least 16 years old to participate. Public rides cost $60 per person while private rides will, naturally, cost more.

It may not be the newest hotel in the area, nor is it the grandest, but the Chateau Marmont is the hotel steeped in authentic Hollywood history. Located at 8221 Sunset Boulevard, the hotel was built in 1927 by Fred Horowitz. It was modeled after the famed Château d’Amboise in the Loire Valley in France. Originally, though, the project was not meant as a hotel. In fact, it was opened in 1929 as an apartment building. Due to the high rent and the Depression, there weren’t many takes. As such, it was converted into a hotel in 1931.

In 1990, Chateau Marmont was bought and has since then been run by hotelier Andre Balazs. So what is so special about this hotel? Let’s just say that countless Hollywood (and non-Hollywood) celebrities have spent many a naughty time in this place. This hotel is perhaps the most discrete and most private that you can find in all of Hollywood. And, in a place where privacy is hard to come by, Chateau Marmont is a haven for many. Indeed, Harry Cohn (founder of Columbia Pictures) is quoted to have said that “If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont.”

This license for the naughty and the privacy does not come cheaply, though. The hotel has 63 rooms, cottages, and bungalows. The cheapest room – standard – will cost you a hefty $300++ per night. For the utmost privacy, the bungalows are what the stars choose. I can’t even begin to imagine how much these cost!

The next time you find yourself with cash – lots of it – to burn and you want a genuine Hollywood experience, check yourself in at the Chateau Marmont.

Did you know that Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrated its 20th anniversary in May of this year? Ever since it was conceived in Walt Disney’s mind 4 decades or so ago, this theme park has reached unprecedented heights: it is now one of the most visited theme parks in the world. As with many other institutions, though, this park has its own secrets, and in celebration of the park’s 20th anniversary, the LA Times treated its readers to these secrets. Here are some of them.

Many buildings in the theme park are not as big as they seem. In fact, many of the architectural structures in Disney theme parks follow the concept of “forced perspective.” Following this concept, buildings have smaller scaling as one goes up. Many a visitor has found his mouth hang open in awe of the buildings thanks to forced perspective.

The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is actually the first ever Disney roller coaster to invert riders. This applies to ALL of the Disney theme parks. So, more than an exciting ride, you’re also getting a piece of theme park history here!

The Sorcerer’s Hat is painted using a unique technique called “chameleon paint.” This hat is the main icon of the studio and was dedicated in 2001 to celebrate the 100th birthday of Walt Disney. The chameleon paint makes the hat change in color as people move from one place to another.

Here’s another piece of trivia about the Sorcerer’s Hat. All other Disney theme park icons have some sort of attraction except for the hat! That doesn’t take away from its popularity, though.

These are only several of the secrets, though. You might want to check the article from LA Times to discover the rest.

I once heard someone ask “What is America’s national food?” A friend then replied without any hesitation, “Hotdogs!” Now I would have to say that there just might be some truth to that answer, although of course, it could be questionable. The fact is that we love hotdogs and many of us have our own favorite brand.

If you are ever in Hollywood, if there is one hotdog place that you should try, it should be Pink’s Hotdogs. This is actually one of the famous landmarks in Hollywood and in fact offers more than hotdogs today. Indeed, the Pinks have gone a long way since Paul and Betty Pink sold hotdogs in a pushcart in 1939. Back then, they did their business on the corner near La Brea and Melrose.

Today, Pink’s home is in a building found at 709 North La Brea. Their menu has also expanded to more than hotdogs – from burgers to side orders and special hotdogs, one can expect to have a LOT of choices at Pink’s. Of particular interest to many tourist are their special hotdogs which are named after Hollywood Stars. It is said that these are the hotdogs that the stars themselves have ordered in the past. Want a few samples? Well, they have The Ozzy Spicy Dog which has spicy Polish dog, Nacho cheese, American cheese, grilled onions, guacamole, and chopped tomatoes. This one goes for $5.40. There are other interesting concoctions like Rosie O’Donnell Long Island Dog, and the Martha Stewart Dog (which seems to be popular).

Pink’s is definitely a place to visit – just be sure to pack along a lot of patience with you as there is usually a long line.