Fifth Test Match Australia v England. When 2 - 6 Jan 2007. Where Sydney Cricket Ground

England will start the fifth test 4 - 0 down and facing a whitewash for the first time in over 80 years. Maybe this will spur the team on and revive the "will to win" the "skill to win" might be in shorter supply.

Fifth Test Match: Australia v England.

When: 2 - 6 Jan 2007.

Where: Sydney Cricket Ground.

I just want to see some fight and pride on parade, not the dismal performances of previous matches.

Sydney looks like a good place to visit regardless of what sporting events are taking place.

Destination Guides > Australasia & South Pacific > Australia > New South Wales > Sydney

Flying into Sydney provides a thrilling close-up snapshot of the city as the aeroplane swoops alongside sandstone cliffs and golden beaches, revealing toy-sized images of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House tilting in a glittering expanse of blue water. Towards Mascot airport the red-tiled roofs of suburban bungalows stretch ever southwards, blue squares of swimming pools shimmering from grassy backyards. The night views are nearly as spectacular, skyscrapers topped with colourful neon lights while the illuminated white shells of the Opera House reflect on the dark water as ferries crisscross to Circular Quay.

Sydneysiders are sports mad, especially for the ostensibly passive spectator sports of rugby league, Aussie Rules football, cricket, tennis and horse racing. No matter what it is, from surf lifesaving competitions to yacht races, it'll draw a crowd. They're keen participants too, whether it's a game of squash or the latest infatuation with yoga, but getting into (or onto) the water is their greatest joy. The Sydney Morning Herald 's Friday listings supplement, "Metro", has a Sport and Leisure section, with details of the best events around town.

Sydney has several great eat streets, each with a glut of cafés and restaurants: Victoria Street and Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, Macleay Street in Potts Point, Crown Street in Surry Hills, King Street in Newtown, and the Darling Street strip running from Rozelle to Balmain.By the sea, Bondi Beach , Coogee and Manly all have countless café and dining options. The standout ethnic restaurant areas are: Italian on Stanley Street in East Sydney and Norton Street in Leichhardt; Turkish, Lebanese and Indian restaurants on Elizabeth Street and Cleveland Street in Surry Hills; Eastern European and Jewish around Bondi; and Chinese in the Chinatown section of Haymarket. Sydney's Vietnamese community is concentrated in Cabramatta , west of the CBD (fourteen stops from Central CityRail); there are some superb restaurants clustered along Park Road and John Street, just west of Cabramatta Station.

Destination Guides > Australasia & South Pacific > Australia > New South Wales > Sydney > Ocean beaches

Sydney's beaches are among its great natural joys, key elements in the equation that makes the city special. Its ocean beaches provide surf, but also some more sheltered coves, and there's usually a sea pool where you can swim laps away from the waves. With the harbour splitting the city in half, the two stretches of ocean beaches on either side are deemed the Northern Beaches - which continue beyond Manly for 30km up to Barrenjoey Heads and Palm Beach - and the Eastern Beaches , which stretch south from Bondi to Maroubra.

Things I Didn't Know About Mexico - The flags history and travel information

This is my last day editting articles at LPR before the Christmas break (back on Wednesday). The unusual number of job and marketing articles were posted during the last few days. Many of them are duplicates with just the title changed. However, the article below about how Mexico redesigned their flag and forgot about "mirror imaging" made me smile. So today's Liberated Article Award goes to:

Where did the Mexican Flag Come From?

The current flag of Mexico has three stripes. It is green, white, and red with an emblem. The overall general design of the Mexican flag has been the same since 1821, but this flag was adopted in 1968. The design in the center of the flag is the image of an eagle holding a snake. The eagle is sitting on a rock near a cactus in a lake. The Aztecs had a legend that their gods had told them to build a city where they saw an eagle with a snake. The legend says this is the city that became what is now Mexico City.

When it was originally created, the colors represented green for their independence from Spain. The color white represented the religion of Catholicism that is prominent in Mexico. The color red was intended to represent the Americas union with Europe. The meanings have changed over time and the current official definition of the flag gets around the problem by not assigning any meaning to the colors. Generally the colors are now thought to represent to be green for hope. The color white is considered to represent either unity or purity. The color red reminds the people of their religion or blood of heroes. Notice how the religion has been changed from white to red and is no longer specific to the Roman Catholic Church.

Up until 1968 Mexico used the tri-color flag without the emblem for many applications.

However when they hosted the 1968 summer Olympics, this presented a problem. The flag that they were using in many areas was identical to the Italian flag. With the large number of people visiting for the summer games, this would not have looked good and could have caused a lot of confusion. To prevent confusion the current definition was adopted that requires the emblem with the eagle. In 1995 the legal description of the Mexican flag was changed once again. The previous description stated that the eagle had to face to the left. At first this seems simple, but it does not take into account what will happen when the flag is viewed from the back.

This may have been a simple oversite in the haste to get the flag changed before the Olympic games or maybe they originally expected the flag to be printed correctly on both sides. The definition didn't allow the back side of the flag to let the eagle to face right instead of left as it is on the front of the flag. I am not sure how the prevented people from seeing the back of the flag for all those years. After the 1995 change, the flag can be officially viewed from the front and the back.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- The Mexico501 website offers insight into life in Mexico and tips for people looking at moving "south of the border". You can find more information about the Mexico water supply at the site as well.

Mexico Travel

Destination Guides > North America > Mexico

Mexico enjoys a cultural blend that is wholly unique: among the fastest growing industrial powers in the world, its vast cities boast modern architecture to rival any in the world, yet it can still feel, in places, like a half-forgotten Spanish colony, while the all-pervading influence of native American culture, five hundred years on from the Conquest, is extraordinary.

You have to be prepared to adapt to travel in any country that is still "developing" and where change has been so dramatically rapid. Although the mañana mentality is largely an outsiders' myth, Mexico is still a country where timetables are not always to be entirely trusted, where anything that can break down will break down (when it's most needed), and where any attempt to do things in a hurry is liable to be frustrated. You simply have to accept the local temperament - that work may be necessary to live, but it's not life's central focus, that minor annoyances really are minor, and that there's always something else to do in the meantime.

Physically, Mexico resembles a vast horn, curving away south and east from the US border with its final tip bent right back round to the north. It is an extremely mountainous country: two great ranges, the Sierra Madre Occidental in the west and the Sierra Madre Oriental in the east, run down parallel to the coasts, enclosing a high, semi-desert plateau. About halfway down they are crossed by the volcanic highland area in which stand Mexico City (or México) and the major centres of population. Beyond, the mountains run together as a single range through the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. Only the eastern tip - the Yucatán peninsula - is consistently low-lying and flat.

Destination Guides > North America > Mexico > Mexico City and around
At the crossroads of everything sprawls the vibrant, elegant, frenetic and fascinating Mexico City . In population one of the largest cities in the world, with more than twenty million inhabitants, its lure is irresistible. Colonial mansions and excavated pyramids vie for attention with the city's fabulous museums and galleries, while above them tower the concrete and glass of thrusting development. But above all, the city is alive - exciting, sometimes frightening, always bewildering, but boldly alive.

You can't avoid it, and if you genuinely want to know anything of Mexico you shouldn't try, even if the attraction does sometimes seem to be the same ghoulish fascination that draws onlookers to the site of a particularly nasty accident.

Oil, Acrylic and Water Colour Painting, Making a Clock Painting

The "Great Tips" [see below] article is today's pick for republishing. I liked it because I'm a struggling artist (grin).


Yep another JackaStory!!

Back in January 06, me and my wife were lucky enough to be onboard the Queen Mary 2 for the very first cruise around Cape Horn. We boarded in NYC and 38 days later disembarked in LA. During the cruise we experienced some highs & lows. A so called passenger mutiny, some fantastic trips ashore and the obligatory food poisoning! The full story can be read here:

The 3 Legs of Our Voyage/Adventure QM2 'round the Horn 2006
Blog/Diary Events 15 to 26 Jan 06 - New York to Rio de Janeiro The pages recording the "Shenanigans" and controversy of the first leg of our voyage.
Blog/Diary Events 27 Jan to 7 Feb - Rio to Valparaiso Happier times, great pictures, finally 'round the Horn, some funny stories along the way.
Blog/Diary Events 8 to 22 Feb - Valparaiso to Los Angeles A sad tale of sickness and quarantine with some memorable tours and a "cunning plan"...


One day while looking for a bar, we stumbled into the onboard art classes.:




Art Class with Diane Palley-McDonald

This was the "find" of the voyage so far. Purely by chance we decided to attend Diane's Creative Art Class this morning. Fortunately, we arrived 10 minutes early, as the class was oversubscribe and a few people had to be turned away because the room venue is quite small (Entertainments Manager TAKE NOTE). It's easy to understand why Diane's classes are so popular, she makes everyone feel welcome from art virgins (us two) right up to semi-pros. The boundless enthusiasm and a technique of teaching that encourages each person to explore their own ideas was the key to everyone's enjoyment and some truly astonishing "works of art". I full recommend this class and we'll be trying our (newly creative) hands at "New York Landscape" if we can get into tomorrow's class. [FULL STORY]



Once we returned home, I tried my hand at various techniques: water colour, acrilic and oil painting with varing success. Then one morning I caught a Bob Ross TV demonstration... I was hooked. Now MY clouds are fluffy, my mountains are huge and my trees are... indiscribable!


My garage wall soon filled up with paintings, so I took some into work and actually sold a few.

The best selling art works have a clock inserted either top left (in the sky) or bottom right (in the forest) and have huge mountains. Paintings without a clock and mountain have never sold... strange, but true!


I now use a mixture of acrylic and oil washes rather than Bob Ross's wet-on-wet technique.

So, it comes as no suprise that the article below gets the vote for TOP ARTICLE OF THE DAY at Liberated Press Releases

Great Tips on Becoming an Accomplished Artist

Many people want to become an artist, yet they feel they were not "born" with the talent to do so. I personally disagree with this belief.


To become an accomplished artist is just like anything else in life. It requires the correct mindset and the willingness to succeed.


DESIRE - First and foremost, you need to have the desire to learn and grow. Without the desire to learn and grow, your interest will fade over time. You will definitely make mistakes and progress may not happen as quickly as you originally anticipated. If you lack the desire to continue and learn from those mistakes, you will not see much in the way of progress. I can attest to this. When I first began oil painting I recall how terrible my first paintings were. I had no experience mixing or matching colors. I did not understand that mixing colors is a science all in itself. I would either mix too many colors, or mix the wrong colors, and my mixtures came out terrible. I did become quite frustrated, and eventually discouraged, until I finally stopped for a while. It wasn't until I took a trip to The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, that I realized just how badly I wanted to paint. I became inspired and my desire to paint was ignited once again. So make certain that you always stay inspired to create. Surround yourself with creativity. Talk to other artists. Look at other artwork, etc.


LEARN & PRACTICE - Once you have found the desire to embark on your artistic journey, you will obviously need to learn and practice. You will need the right resources and teachers to guide you in the right direction. Everyone is different and your way of learning anything new can differ from another persons learning methods. Some people learn better by watching others. If this is the case, purchase some quality videos or DVD's. Watch them once or twice first before you participate. This will make the experience much more enjoyable and easier to follow once you are ready to join in. There are a number of well made and resourceful videos and DVD's on the market today. Perhaps you prefer to learn in a group or classroom setting with an instructor. Do a search for beginner workshops in your area and join a few. The benefit of the classroom setting is the instant feedback you receive on your work. You also have other students and an instructor there to answer any questions that you may have. There are workshops available on virtually everything from painting to crafts, so you should be able to find something in your area or online. Maybe you prefer to read books and learn on your own, at your own pace. This is the way I started learning. I have a nice little library now of great books that I am constantly re-visiting.


There is definitely no shortage of reading material out there. I usually go online first and do research at the popular online booksellers. Many of the books are rated by other customers. This will give you a good idea of what's popular and worth buying. You can either get the book online, or go to your local book store with a few titles that you researched, and skim through the books before you buy. If you are lucky enough to have a local public television station in your area, you should definitely check into it. Here in New York, there is a great public television station dedicated to the arts. It airs many educational arts and crafts shows, and I watch it every day. Find a method of learning that you are comfortable with or try them all! At the end of this article you will see a great resource with free art and craft lessons and other great resources for beginners. Make sure you check it out when you are finished reading this article.

BUYING YOUR SUPPLIES -

Before you go out to your local store or shop online for your supplies, make sure you do a little research first. Visit online forums and chat rooms to find out what materials & supplies other artists in your particular area of interest are using. You will be surprised by the number of responses you receive.


Many experienced artists are more than happy to give advice and answer questions. Make sure you make it known that you are a beginner and that you are looking for descent quality supplies for beginners. Once you learn more about the types of supplies you will need, don't settle for one brand or manufacturer. My advice would be to purchase supplies from a number of different manufacturers. Everyone is different and you will find that over time you will develop a preference toward specific products. Do not purchase the most expensive or highest quality supplies at first. In the beginning you are learning and experimenting. It is best to do this with cheaper supplies. You can then upgrade to more expensive or higher quality products later on.


SHARE YOUR WORK WITH OTHERS -


Once you create your first work of art go out and share it with family, friends and other artists. There are a number of discussion forums online where you can submit your artwork for others to view and comment on. Don't be afraid of the criticism and by all means, never let anything anyone says about your work discourage you. Everyone has been where you are now at one point in his or her artistic journey.


The majority of people you show your work to will be patient and helpful. This is a great way to learn and grow as an artist, so get out there and show yourself. I do hope these tips have helped and have given you some confidence and direction. Remember to never get discouraged. If you really want to become an accomplished artist, just keep at it. You will create your first work of art in no time.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- For more great art and craft ideas, articles and resources, be sure to visit http://www.creativespotlite.com/. The Best Source For Free Art & Crafts Lessons Online!



Fancy a Cruise Holiday??


Ship Name:
Queen Mary 2
Sailing Date(s):
January 10, 2007
Ports of Call:
Departs From Ft. Lauderdale, Florida visiting Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay; Cruise Cape Horn; Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile; Acapulco, Mexico; San Francisco, California; Honolulu, Oahu; Pago Pago, American Samoa; Cross International Dateline; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; Hong Kong; Singapore; Port Kelang (Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia; Cochin, India; Dubai, U.A.E.; Suez Canal Transit; Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Le Havre (Paris), France; Southampton (London), England

The Ashes a Cricketing Nightmare and a Great Golf Article

So, there's no chance of England retaining the Ashes. The British newspapers are full of reports about team mismanagement and poor player selection. In my opinion the real reason lies with individual player's "will-to-win" and poor pre-tour team preperation.

I picked the Golf article below as today's top article, as it does touch on the reasons why some players go on to be legends and reach the very top in their choosen sport.

It's a real shame the hopes of England's army of cricketing fans have been dashed, it will be shameful if the series went 5 - 0 to the Aussies!

Before Their Professional Golf Careers Took Off

Ever catch yourself daydreaming about what it would be like to walk the links with your own personal caddy at a PGA golf tournament instead of watching all the action unfold on TV? Wondering if the right training and mentoring could someday help you channel your talent and passion for the sport into your own professional golf career?

While it might seem like a far fetched idea that would hardly turn into a reality, just remember all of the great golf legends. Take for example some of the true icons of the game like Lee Trevino, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods. These individuals learned the sport inside and out and have realized such huge success and amazing accomplishments throughout their professional golf careers.

It might be difficult to imagine these stars focusing on anything other than golf since incredible drives, chip shots, and putts seem to go hand in hand with the mere mention of their names. But here's a rare look behind the scenes at where some of golf's greatest players got their starts and where the game took them.

Perhaps with one of the most interesting stories, is Lee Trevino's. One of golf's first and finest players grew up with little money and began working at an early age to help his family make ends meet. He started working in cotton fields and found his love for golf shortly after as he began caddying at a local course. Before making a professional golf career for himself, Trevino also served four years with the U.S. Marines.

Starting out on the college track, crowd favorite Tiger Woods first attended Stanford University. He left school after a few years to focus on golf and turned pro in 1996 at the age of 21. Other college bound pros include Phil Mickelson who attended Arizona State University where he studied psychology. Tom Lehman who got his degree in business and accounting. Fred Couples went to the University of Houston.

Taking a look back at some other players also proves that golf was not always the sport these legendary names started out playing, but rather, the one they stuck with in the long run. For example, Davis Love III, a big name on the course today, had a real affection for ice hockey in his younger years. Fellow teammate Lee Janzen took up baseball as a kid and spent his summers participating on Little League teams. He also pursued tennis for a while before realizing golf was the sport he liked and played best.

Other sports enthusiasts include Ernie Els who took his hand at rugby, cricket and tennis before turning pro in 1989 and starting his professional golf career. Like Els, Vijay Singh also played cricket and rugby when he was younger and dabbled in soccer before settling on golf and turning pro in 1982.

With golf as their main focus, many pros can't seem to get enough of the sport and have kept with it in other ways. Fred Couples has done work involving golf academies, equipment companies and clothing lines. Tom Weiskopf has helped design several courses across the nation and spent time as a golf analyst on TV.

So as you can see, not every professional golfer started out on the greens. Many pursued other educations, sports and hobbies and some even had to take it upon themselves to create their own opportunities. It just goes to show that with the right training, focus and determination, a professional golf career can be achieved if you're up for the challenge.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Andy West is a writer for SDGA. San Diego Golf Academy is a premier golf school with five locations across the United States. For information on how to start your professional golf career, please visit www.sdgagolf.com/golf_careers.php .

Travel Options for the San Diego Golf Academy

Destination Guides > North America > USA > California > San Diego

With its mix of laid-back libertarians and military-minded conservatives (drawn from its adjacent naval base), San Diego embodies both work-hard and play-hard lifestyles. With an easily navigable central area, scenic bay, 42 miles of beaches and plentiful parks and museums, the city is hard not to like from the moment you arrive. Although San Diego's money is lavished on classical music, opera and theater, the crowds flock to beachside discos and boozy music venues .

Exploring San Diego

Anza-Borrego Desert

Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo

Downtown San Diego and Coronado

Hillcrest, Ocean Beach and Point Loma

Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla

Old Town San Diego and Presidio Hill

Tijuana: A taste of Mexico

FREE HOTEL SEARCH SAN DIAGO

Customised Plaster Cast Clocks - A New Offline Hobby

It's a strange old world, during the past few months I must have read hundreds if not thousands of articles posted to LPR. Some of them are blatent article spam with little or no real value. However, most articles are well written and contain useful information.

The article republished below inspired me to try making some plaster casts with the idea of painting them. Nothing too complicated, just a little home hobby to get me off the computer, as some days I spend upwards of 18 hours "at the keyboard".

Plaster casting is a craft that dates back thousands of years. At first glance it looks easy, but there's a lot of things that can go wrong.

1. Use the right kind of plaster

2. Get the water to plaster ratio right

3. Prepare the mould to the right shape

4. Set the printer to print the Decal transfers at the right size

5. Only use the best varnish and spray rather than paint

6. Finish coatings in a dust free area

These are just a few of the things to watch out for. I'm learning all the time and have found some outstanding web sites that not only sell the raw materials, but also provide good tutorials.

I'll post some pictures of my "Plaster Cast Clock" when the paint dries.

In the meantime, here's the article that inspired me to take up plaster casting:

GLASS BEADS - The History and Making Of

Beads are amongst the oldest human art and technology, dating back 30,000 years. They have been dated back to at least Roman times. Perhaps the earliest glass-like beads were Egyptian faience beads, a form of clay with a self-forming vitreous coating.

Glass beads are usually categorized by the method used to manipulate the glass. Most fall into three main categories: wound, drawn, and moulded. There are composites, such as millefiori, where cross-sections of a drawn glass cane are applied to a wound glass core. A very minor industry in blown glass beads also existed in 19th century Venice and France.

It is believed that the Egyptians first used faience (a glazed fused quartz composite) but later developed the core, wound and mosaic methods of using glass to make beads and other decorations. They were the first culture to have glass-making guilds.

Glass beads, however, were not limited to the Egyptians in ancient times. There have been glass beads found in archaeological sites dated between 2,000BC and 10AD in both Austria and Switzerland.

In modern times, they have become a popular form of jewellery, especially in African cultures with necklaces,bracelets, and anklets made of these materials. They can be extremely colourful and bright, making them fashionable and popular in modern times for all cultures.

There are many types of beads and all are named according to the way they are made, including wound, drawn, moulded,lampwork, Dichroic, furnace and lead crystal.

The Types of glass used to construct these include rod, sheet, soda lime, lead, and borosilicate. The material chosen often depends on the hardness, colour, durability, and size required.

Nowadays the Czech Republic is a well-known and reputable producer of these object. Both online and in stores worldwide, Czech glass beads will be sold for a much high price on average than most other types of glass beads. These Czech pieces are often used in necklaces and bracelets and are sold in renowned jewellers across the globe. The Czech's have a reputation for creating beautiful yet durable glass beads consistently.

Many people enjoy making their own jewellery . There are even stores where one can pay to make their own jewellery with glass beads that are provided for them. This has become a popular hobby for many people and has increased the recognition of glass beads across the world. In additon , Lampwork and other artictic craftybeads are back in vogue on the jewellery ciruit.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Hayden Branston is the owner of Glass Bead Resource
http://www.glassbeadresource.com

Search for Other LPR Articles Using These Tags:GLASS BEADS drawn lampwork beads dichroic furnace czech glass beads wholesale beads

Some Czech Republic Travel Details

Almost untouched by the wars of the twentieth century, the capital, Prague , is justifiably one of the most popular destinations in Europe. An incredibly beautiful city with a wealth of architecture, from Gothic cathedrals and Baroque palaces to Art Nouveau cafés and Cubist villas, it's also a lively meeting place for young people from all over Europe. The rolling countryside of Bohemia is swathed in forests and studded with well-preserved medieval towns and castles, especially in the south around Ceské Budejovice . In the west, you'll find the old watering-holes of the European aristocracy, the spa towns of Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázne . The country's eastern province, Moravia , is every bit as beautiful, only less touristed. Olomouc is the most attractive town here, but Brno , the regional capital, has its own peculiar pleasures.

Destination Guides > Europe & Russia > Europe > Czech Republic > Prague

As far as live music is concerned, the classical scene still has the edge in Prague, though more new jazz clubs have livened up the scene. Some better discos and nightclubs have sprouted up around Wenceslas Square - although others still act as mini red-light districts.

Predictably enough, with a playwright as president, theatre in Prague is thriving; without knowing the language, however, your scope is limited, though there's a tradition of innovative mime, puppetry and "black light" theatre in the city. Tickets are cheap and available from any Ticketrro outlet (there's one in each PIS office) as well as from the venues themselves. As for particular areas, in the summer Hradcany hosts many open-air concerts and plays.

Classical music and operaClassical concerts take place throughout the year in concert halls and churches, the biggest event being the Prague Spring ( Prazské jaro ) international music festival , which traditionally begins on May 12, the day of...read more >>

Jazz and rockAghaRTA Jazz Centrum , Krakovská 5, Nové Mesto. Prague's best jazz club with a good mix of top-name foreigners and locals. Open until 1am. Metro Muzeum. Akropolis , Kubelíkova 27, Zízkov ( www.spinet.cz/akropolis ). Decent...read more >>

Busy Weekend with Loads of New Articles Being Submitted

I finally got around to including some press releases and news reports in LPR: http://www.liberated-press-releases.com/news/ This uses feeds from the New York Times, New York Jets (yep, I'm a Jets fan), Google News, BBC World News and my blog at Yahoo. Because I used the FeedReader all page content is spider ready. Not sure if it will work, but I need to find a way to get more traffic. Earning (a little) Learning (a lot).

The LPR article search is now fixed and shows the top 75 matching articles for keywords searches.

http://www.liberated-press-releases.com/search.php?q=money

A lot of new articles were submitted over the weekend, all the usual spam suspect cats, pimples, forex and job interviews. One day, I'll get a round to clearing them all out.

The article below contains nothing really new, but it does highlight some useful techniques.


How To Generate Website Traffic

Traffic generation is one of the most talked about, most needed, and probably the area where people waste the most amount of money. In order to take advantage of your site's exposure, it's fitting to use a combination of the tactics that suit your website. When you are into online marketing, you only have to remember these words: LOCATION, LOCATION, and LOCATION.

Your site needs to be mentioned frequently in places where your niche market hangs out if you want your site to be seen by as many potential customers as possible. If you think you could be doing more to boost your site's traffic numbers, start putting these two Traffic strategies to work for you now and you can then sit back and enjoy all that free traffic coming your way.

These strategies are Solo Ads and Viral Marketing. Solo ads are the best advertising vehicle available today. If you use ezines or coops to send out your solo ads, your ad is only going to interested marketers that have requested to be contacted. Your ad has nothing else to compete with for the readers attention.

Process of publishing a solo ad: Choose a newsletter/Ezine Write the Solo Ad Write an Effective Title Design the website where your visitors go Tips to Create Effective: Choose the Ezine you want to advertise in very carefully Get the readers attention with the headline Don't sell anything in your ad Make your ad easy to read Tell the benefits Create sense of urgency The solo ad is not placed with a well targeted ezine or website. By using automatic ad submitters, or even an advertising co-op, you are not going to receive the type of audience you need for your ad.

Viral advertising, on the other hand, refers to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce exponential increases in brand awareness, through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of a computer virus. It can often be word-of-mouth delivered and enhanced online; it can harness the network effect of the Internet and can be very useful in reaching a large number of people rapidly. The term "viral advertising" refers to the idea that people will pass on and share interesting and entertaining content; this is often sponsored by a brand, which is looking to build awareness of a product or service.

An effective viral marketing strategy includes: Gives away products or services Provides for effortless transfer to others Scales easily from small to very large Exploits common motivations and behaviors Utilizes existing communication networks Takes advantage of others' resources For a viral marketing campaign to be successful, it must be easy to use. For example, if the promotion is some sort of game or contest, then asking for referrals should be an option immediately after the game, not as a condition to play.

Notable examples of viral marketing: The spread of text messaging The spread of IRC / Chatting Gmail McDonald's "McRib Farewell Tour" Microsoft's Origami Project campaign Microsoft's Xbox 360 campaigns, called OurColony and Hex168 Tupperware parties The Ring movie and its massive cursed video secret promotion, possibly the greatest effort of viral marketing ever You see, people tend to equate traffic with success online. But that is not really the case.

What is success online? Is it not the accomplishment of a desired goal, for example, making money online, teaching people about your pet cause, etc. The traffic building is simply one of many tools that you can use to do your goal better and faster. That's it. Traffic generation is not an end in itself, by any means.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Costa Dedes is an SEO and Internet Marketing Expert. He has been selling products online since 1997. Costa's websites are always in the top 10,000 most popular sites on the internet. http://www.10seo.com

The Grand Strand Features over 50 miles of Golfing, from the Southern tip of North Carolina all the way down through Georgetown, South Carolina

Back on the destination articles editing! Myrtle Beach sounds like golfer's heaven and a great place to have a holiday. It's doesn't cost a lot either:

Destination Guides > North America > USA > South > South Carolina > Myrtle Beach

Research

Birthplace of Wheel of Fortune star Vanna White, MYRTLE BEACH is a brazen splurge of seaside fun, an unmitigated stretch of commercial development twenty miles down the coast from the North Carolina border at the center of the sixty-mile ''Grand Strand.'' Predominantly a family resort, it's packed fit to burst during mid-term vacations with leering, jeering students in fluorescent beachwear if you've seen the movie Shag , you'll know what to expect. Fans of crazy golf, water parks, factory outlet malls, funfairs and parasailing will be in heaven, and the beach itself isn't bad. The widest stretch is at North Myrtle Beach, a chain of small communities among which Ocean Drive is the center.

This is the pick of todays destination articles at LPR

Myrtle Beach - Golf Vacation Anyone?

If golf vacations are your idea of the perfect vacation getaway, then start looking for your Myrtle Beach vacation rentals now! The "Grand Strand" features over 50 miles of golfing, from the southern tip of North Carolina all the way down through Georgetown, South Carolina. In fact, Myrtle Beach features more golf courses than any other destination in the United States, and nine of the courses on Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand received the 2005-2006 honor of "American's Top 100 Greatest Public Courses" in Golf Digest's list.

Over one million people get vacation rentals each year to serve as "home" during their golf vacations. The same one million visitors play over four million rounds of golf each year! Most local Myrtle Beach vacation rentals feature special golf packages that include accommodations and discounts at the many area golf courses. Some vacation rentals go as far as offering golf lessons and training directors to help make your golf vacations as memorable and enjoyable as possible. During the summer months, Myrtle Beach plays host to a series of single day golf tournaments that are fun for the entire family. The PGA tour rolls through and there are many other tournaments that you can join in for fun or on a professional level.

While you're staying in your Myrtle Beach vacation rentals, you'll be able to enjoy the many restaurants that are located in close proximity to the Grand Strand. Italian, Mexican, American, an abundance of seafood eateries thanks to the oceanfront locale; and the ever-famous, Caddy Shack restaurant founded by Bill Murray and his brothers, Ed, Brian, John and Joel. The Caddy Shack gives discounts to patrons who come in with that day's score card so make sure to save it even if the score isn't that great!

One of the unique features of South Carolina golf vacations is the ability to attend golf school while you are on vacation. Learn better posture, greenside bunker shots and fairway bunker shots. Take advantage of what you can learn during your golf vacations from a personal golf instructor as there are many available in Myrtle Beach for you to work with to improve your game skills. For families with only one golf player, Myrtle Beach is the perfect solution to giving everybody what they want in a vacation. The golfer of the family can enjoy fabulous golf vacations while the rest of the family can take advantage of the beachfront community that has so much to offer!

Beach lovers can enjoy miles of unspoiled sandy beaches, for sunbathing, swimming, surfing, collecting shells, volleyball playing or Frisbee-throwing, and para sailing. Get waterfront Myrtle Beach vacation rentals to enjoy all that the sea has to offer- fishing, boating, windsurfing, and even scuba diving. Sports enthusiasts will find plenty to do in Myrtle Beach- from the 200 tennis courts to the Speedway, to games played by the Myrtle Beach Pelican Class-A baseball team- there is really something for everyone.

Theatres, Amusement Parks, Ripley's Believe it or Not, unique shopping venues and large aquariums make up the tourist attractions. Several indoor and outdoor miniature golf courses give people of all ages some stress-free golf playing action.

Whether you book your Myrtle Beach vacation rentals for a beach holiday or to enjoy golf vacations on one of the 100 quality golf courses- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a destination for the entire family.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Matthew Kekelis is employed by VacationMLS.com where you can find more information about Myrtle Beach Vacation Rentals.

More About the Local Area

South of Myrtle Beach lie Murells Inlet , a fishing port with lots of good fish restaurants, and Pawleys Island , a secluded resort once favored by plantation-owners and today retaining a far slower pace than its neighbors. Between the two on Hwy-17 is the beautifully landscaped Brookgreen Gardens, a former rice and indigo plantation with an outdoor display of American figurative sculpture, and the setting for many of Julia Peterkin's novels of gullah life. There's also a wildlife sanctuary, where you're likely to spot alligator and deer, and an hour-and-a-half boat tour around the area.

AskVicki's More Hotels in Myrtle Beach

South Carolina's fascinating subtropical coastline of sea islands , great beaches, marshes and lush palmetto groves preserves traces of a virtually independent black culture (featuring the unique patois gullah ), from the days when slaves escaped the mainland plantations. Beyond the grand old peninsular port of Charleston , arguably the most elegant city in the US with its rainbow-colored old buildings and magnificent, tree-lined avenues, restored plantations stretch as far north as Georgetown , en route toward the poseur's paradise of Myrtle Beach . Inland, the rolling Piedmont and flat coastal plain hold little to see.

South Carolina Getting Around South Carolina Explore South Carolina

Three Hard Drives Fried in as Many Days

The article below caught my attention because recently three of my computers had serious hardware failures. In all cases the hard drives became usless and failed to boot up. I paid quite a lot of money to try and recover the data, but it proved to be impossible. The loss of Grans pictures and most of the pictures taken on our cruise hurt the most.

Did I make a back up??

Nope.

The Importance of Backing Up Your Computer

If you are a computer owner, there is definitely one thing that you need to be very concerned about. This is making backup copies of all of your computer files and programs. After all, if your computer is hit with a virus of any sort that threatens to destroy it, you will not lose valuable information.



How can you lose your files?

There are many things that can happen that can cause you to lose your computer files. Not only can your computer be hit by a bad virus, irritating spyware, or malware, but other unfortunate circumstances can also occur. For example, a lightening storm could short circuit your computer, if it is not protected by a power surge. This could wipe your computer out, or make it entirely unusable. The same thing holds true in the event of a power surge. Why, a simple child playing around with your computer can even do a great deal of damage! This is why it is in your best interest to keep backup files of everything that is important to you.



What types of files should you backup?

The types of computer files that you should backup are completely up to you. It all depends on what files are the most important and valuable to you. Most people typically find the following types of files to be rated high on their list of valuable files: bank records and finances, work projects, email address books, digital photographs, software, music, or other files downloaded from the Internet, Internet Explorer bookmarks, and Outlook calendars.



How can you backup your computer files?

There are a variety of ways to backup your computer files. The most basic way is to backup your files once a week or once a month (depending on how much you use your computer) by burning your important information on a CD. If your computer does not have a CD-ROM drive to do the burning, you could always purchase an external hard drive to put the files on. External hard drives come in a multitude of memory sizes. You can get one that is small enough to fit on your keychain. The price range for external hard drives varies. You can get an external hard drive for as little as twenty dollars, or for as much as a few hundred dollars. The memory space and compactness will often determine the price. External hard drives are typically plugged into your computer using the USB port.



Where should you keep your computer's backup files?

Once you have backed up your computer, where should you keep the files that are on a CD, external hard drive, or other device? The answer is simple: somewhere safe and sound! It may even be a good idea to back up your computer two different ways and then store at least one of the backups in a safe. It pays to have a safe copy of your files. It is always better to be safe than sorry!

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- More Computer File Backup Articles at http://eComputerSecurity-Today.com. Learn how to operate a Successful Niche Website Network at http://eWebCreator.com. Matthew Hick has been designing profitable Niche Adsense Websites for over 5 years.

For or Against Tipping - Fair Wage or Rely on Charity?

The article feed turned on from Article Marketer today, so it's been hectic with over 200 articles to review. Most of the new stuff is jobbing related (one author posted 38 articles in 30 minutes! I think he's spamming) anyway, I've picked this one out because "tipping" is often a controversial subject. It also brought back some fond memories from my boyhood.

Yep, Another Tall JackaStory Tale

Years and years ago, well 1964 to be precise, I was nominated to call on the "New Yanks" a wealthy couple from America whom had just moved into a huge house in our village (Broadway, Cotswolds, UK) they were supposed to be artists.

I had to offer them a chance to have a "Bob-a-Job".

Huh, nowadays that sort of offer has totally different connotations!

In 1964 "Bob-a-Job Week" was a means of raising funds for the local Cub Scout Troop. Each Cub was allocated a number of streets or avenues in the village to "work". Each job completed cost a "Bob", which is 5p in new money or around 15 cents in US Dollars.

It's difficult to believe now, but I was just 9 years old at the time.

Because I was a Cub Scout "Sixer" my allocated area was the Top High Street in Broadway where the most exclusive, expensive housing was situated and they probably still are.

The idea was to knock on each door two or three times and wait. If there was no answer, you were allowed by the Cub rules to knock once more. If there was still no answer, you had to move on.

If the householder did answer, we were coached to:
1. Smile
2. Say loudly, "BOB A JOB?"
3. Look the person straight in the eyes and smile again.

Most working class locals knew what Bob-a-Job was and quite cheerfully gave small jobs like sweeping leaves or weeding a little patch of their garden. They would then send you on your way with a "Bob". The Cub would then paste a sticker to their garden gate to alert other Cubs NOT to call again.

Often, people would pay a "Bob" just to get a sticker.

It was widely recognised that the "Nobs" (Nobles) living on the Top High Street were the most difficult to work for. Often, to earn a Bob would mean working all morning and then find the Nob had forgotten about you and payment was never received.

Now, the Yanks were THE hot topic of gossip in the village. They would cheerfully have a few pints with the local working class at the New Inn and then go on to have dinner with the local MP.

This was not the done thing at the time, and caused much angst.

With some trepidation I approached their door and gave the door knob (which I could only just reach) three hard raps, after a pause I knocked again. Once again there was no answer.

I turned to leave somewhat relieved when the door flew open and a female voice said, "Hi, how can we help you?"

True to my training, I turned, smiled and said "BOB A JOB" and then I looked up to get eye contact and then did my second smile.

They invited me in and gave me some milk and chocolate biscuits. They asked me a few questions about Bob-a-Job Week and seemed to think that my answers were very funny.

Eventually, I asked what job they wanted me to do. The man said, "Oh, no job, we'll GIVE you some money with pleasure". He reached into his pocket pulled out a note and gave it to me. I looked down and saw to my horror a FIVE POUND NOTE.

For those not familiar with Old Money:
One pound = 20 Shillings and the slang for a Shilling was a "BOB".

This meant that for drinking some milk and eating a few biscuits I'd earned the equivalent of 100 jobs.

When I got home and told my Mum about my good fortune, she nearly blew a gasket.

My Dads weekly wage at that time was just under £12 which included obligatory overtime.

There was never any question that ALL money collected would be given to the Cubs.

I realise now the thing that upset everyone was the "unfairness" of ME accepting such an overpayment. It was regarded as being dishonest and they were afraid I might be arrested by the village Bobby for taking advantage of the Yanks (I was NINE YEARS OLD).

Some how or another, my Mum and Dad found £4 19 shillings in change.

I was told to return the money.

When I went back to the house, the Yanks were surprised to see me return so quickly. I marched up to the man and handed him a large bag of assorted coins and said, "There's your change… It's a BOB A JOB… A FAIR JOB FOR A BOB"

They both looked astonished.

Years later I found out that the same couple had donated £500 to the local Scouts and Cubs the following day.

The article below triggered this tale in particular these statements:

In the United States, tips are used as an excuse to not pay you a living salary.

In the United States, count on a minimum wage everywhere where there isn't an exception to that law - such as so-called 'right-to-work' states where your wage will be well under minimum.
This is true precisely because of tips - in other countries tips are considered a gratuity on top of your salary, something extra.



So You Want to Be a Waitress

Well, if you're determined to pursue a waitress career, I'm certainly not going to stop you. So, just to make things easier, here's a combined assortment of tips for coming through the experience in one piece.

Some skills to survive in the waitressing game, you need many skills that will help you during your time working on the food chain. These include, but are not limited to:

Lying: You take an order from customers and spend the next half hour serving other people in your section. Then you realize - whoops, you forgot to give the order to the kitchen! What do you do? First, tell the customers there was a slip-up in the kitchen. Make vague references to the hassled chef - they're always so busy, you know! Promise it will be out soon. Give the order to the kitchen with the express direction to make the meal ASAP because it's for two heart surgeons on their lunch break. Situation averted, and you're cool.

Look busy at all times: Follow the George Costanza school of business and always look kind of annoyed and walk with a purpose. This works to put customers off-balance as you can get away with a lot more when a customer can clearly see you've run your feet off. And if you spend your free time doing menial tasks such as folding napkins and restocking the toothpick dispenser you won't get asked to carry the plates to the kitchen or do the washing up. The boss sees that you're using your initiative.

Suggest Sir or Madam tries the bread or a salad with their meal: If practiced often in a clear and ringing tone, your boss will notice that you're up-selling the product. Good for you, you might get a raise or promotion. Plus the customers will be impressed by your superior menu knowledge and great ideas and you may get a tip as a result. Nothing wrong with tips, are there?

Get the bill to the table as soon as possible: The reason being that you want a tip included. Instead of letting the customer make their way to the register before getting the bill, take it to them.

There are three things which may occur: Either they will leave an amount of money with the bill which is a little over the requested price, but they don't bother waiting for the change so you can pocket it. Or they put some money with the bill then wait for their change at the table, giving them ample time to think about telling you how much of the change is yours to keep. And some will take the bill to the counter anyway. This is the worst choice as people will often forget they're in a restaurant and think they're just in a normal shop. Oh, well, you can't win them all, and some people wouldn't tip if their life depended on it.

No matter what, be polite: This will make you look like a saint and everyone who barks at you will appear mean-hearted and crazy.

General Advice
In the United States, count on a minimum wage everywhere where there isn't an exception to that law - such as so-called 'right-to-work' states where your wage will be well under minimum.

This is true precisely because of tips - in other countries tips are considered a gratuity on top of your salary, something extra.

In the United States, tips are used as an excuse to not pay you a living salary.

Sadly, many customers don't realize the fact that when they don't tip you, you're working virtually for free. Weekends and evenings are the best times. Always try to find someplace which gets a lot of business at least at certain times - collage areas, conventions and travel destinations, in a hotel or casino, near a sports stadium, and so on.

Never skip working on a Holiday if your restaurant's open that day - Holidays are your most profitable time. Your shift is likely to consist of lingering periods of inactivity punctuated by rushed times when you can barely keep up.

The ideal schedule for a table is five visits at minimum. First you greet and perhaps seat them if there isn't a hostess. Next, immediately bring menus, and ask initially if they'd like a beverage or would perhaps order right now. If they're regular customers they may already have an idea what they want. Next return to take their order. Then of course bring their food. Check once about five to ten minutes into the meal to see if they need anything else. Then at last bring them their bill and close your interaction. Add more visits depending on whether you have to refill a beverage or check every ten minutes to see if they're ready to order.

Tailor your service to the customer.

The only way you'll get good at this is by learning body language. When you recognize a business person rushing in at lunchtime who is obviously in a hurry, cut out as many steps and be as efficient as possible. When you recognize a couple on a date, give them some time alone and intrude at the minimum; possibly suggest a single dessert to share. Stay and chat an extra minute with a lone diner who's not in a hurry if you have the time. When a lone diner arrives with a book, however, give them time to themselves; nobody who brings a book to dinner is ever in a hurry.

Jump to serve a large party or family, and be extra warm and personal; large parties tip the best since they're likely to be having a festive time with all the company.

Good luck with your job.

Whether you're waitressing to support yourself through school, just trying to work off your credit bills or you've got nowhere else to go, it's a career move which is interesting. Like cab driving, it will teach you about people, and you'll meet the most interesting varieties of them.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Freelance writer for over eleven years. Waitress Aprons Restaurant Uniforms Medical Uniforms


Language & Currency Options for International Travel, Hotel & Holiday Information
Reis, Hotel en de Informatie van de Vakantie Voyage, hôtel et information de vacances Spielraum, Hotel und Feiertag-Informationen Corsa, hotel e le informazioni di festa Recorrido, hotel e información del día de fiesta

Destination Guides > Europe & Russia > Europe > England

Germs, Viruses and Disease Makes Me Rethink Detox Regime

Just occasionally an article gets submitted to LPR that really sparks my interest. After reading the article below, I thought to myself, "Well, I didn't know that". However, even a brief search I turned up plenty of people will to support Bechamp:

Bechamp however maintained a pleomorphic theory — essentially that bacteria change form and are not the cause of, but the result of, disease, arising from tissues rather than from a germ of constant form. This has also been called the cellular disease theory, in that scavenging bacteria are supposed to arise from what he called microzymas (microorganisms) he postulated to be normally present in matter (including tissues). These bacteria then feed on dead or decaying cells. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_B%C3%A9champ

These sort of arguments fascinate me when widely accepted views are challenged.

The champions of Bechamp tend to state:

[quote] Latterly, Béchamp's name and work have been misused by multi-level marketers and anti-vaccinationists in efforts to construct plausible-sounding alternatives to current scientific theory which would allow their financial or meta-medical schemes to be effective [end quote, nobody seems to know who to attribute this quote too]

While Pasteur was not the first to propose germ theory (Girolamo Fracastoro, Agostino Bassi, Friedrich Henle and others had suggested it earlier), he developed it and conducted experiments that clearly indicated its correctness and managed to convince most of Europe it was true. Today he is often regarded as the father of germ theory and bacteriology, together with Robert Koch.

So, it's up to you, I'm going to start looking after my colon a bit more carefully in future.

Are Germs and Viruses the Real Cause of Disease?

There is a universal belief that germs and viruses are the cause of disease; but this is not true. Louis Pasteur, for whom the pasteurization process is named, first put forward the idea that germs from outside the body are the cause of disease. Living in France at the same time as Pasteur was another scientist who was also conducting research on the cause and development of disease. This man was Antoine Bechamp. Pasteur actually "borrowed" part of Bechamp's research and publicized it as his own.

Dr. Guylaine Lanctot explains it thus: Pasteur was ambitious, an opportunist. He was also a genius in the art of promoting himself, and he plagiarized, and then vulgarized, the work of Bechamp. He stole the idea of small organisms being responsible, but he only revealed a small part of Bechamp's discoveries. Pasteur proclaimed that these small organisms only came from the outside. He forgot to mention that, once exposed to air, germs and other morbid (abnormal) microzymes lose their virulence very rapidly. And this deceit has been perpetuated ever since.

It has been said that Pasteur, on his deathbed, admitted to his colleagues that an individual's natural immunity is more important than germs in the matter of disease. He had been unable to grow his germ cultures on healthy, fresh fruit, and instead had to grow them on rotting soup.

Dr. Joel Robbins teaches that two conditions must be present in order for disease germs to enter into, or develop in, living tissue: first, something besides the germ must have previously weakened the tissue; and second, there must be acidic debris present in the tissue for the germs to live on. They cannot exist in a balanced acid-alkaline environment, neither can parasites.

The conclusion is logical. If our bodies are relatively free of toxic wastes, serious disease bacteria cannot develop within us. No harmful bacteria, parasite, or virus can proliferate in a body that does not have a build-up of toxic waste.

A body that has healthy levels of cellular oxygen and a strong immune system will remain a healthy body. How the Body Deals with Germs and Viruses The body has a built-in natural intelligence. It knows how to fight germs and viruses.

When it comes to disease, there are three principles that must be understood:

1 All forms of disease are caused by accumulations of acid and toxic waste in the body's systems, the first and foremost of which is the colon. Disease starts in the colon.

2 The body initiates all acute diseases like colds, flu, fever, skin eruptions, diarrhea, scarlet fever, and measles, in attempts to reduce the accumulation of stored waste material. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, bronchitis, heart disease, and cancer, are caused by the continued build-up of waste in the system, and the suppression of acute disease cleansing attempts by wrong treatment.

3 The body has the ability to return to health provided it is given the proper nutrition and conditions to do so. We don't "catch" diseases.We cause them! We create them by the way we live.We don't "catch" a cold or flu.We actually "earn" it by fostering toxic waste conditions in our bodies, as a result of our lifestyles.

When we continue to suppress illnesses with drugs and antibiotics, the body eventually develops degenerative disease conditions because it has not been allowed adequate opportunity to detoxify and heal naturally.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Ron Garner, BEd, MSc, is the author of "Conscious Health - Choosing Natural Solutions for Optimum Health and Lifelong Vitality." Conscious Health takes the mystery out of how the body operates and how health problems can be reversed. To learn more visit: http://www.conscioushealth.ca/

If You're Visiting Paris

Pasteur won the Leeuwenhoek medal, microbiology's highest honor, in 1895.
He died in 1895, near Paris, from complications of a series of strokes that had started in 1868. He was buried in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, but his remains were soon placed in a crypt in the Institut Pasteur, Paris, and will be remembered for his life saving works.

Some really good travel options:

Destination Guides > Europe & Russia > Europe > France > Paris

Ocean City Maryland - Strewth another destination to visit, at this rate I'll be travelling all year round!

This is the last destination article for a while. I've editted around a dozen and the blog's getting a bit one sided. Travel information, especially intimate local details can often be interesting and the article below is packed with useful tips and hints about places to eat and visit. There's even a section about taking your dog. Sounds like a good place for family holidays.

Destination Guides > North America > USA > Capital Region > Maryland > Eastern shore > Ocean City

With more than ten miles of broad Atlantic beach, a boisterous boardwalk amusement park and hundreds of thousands of visitors every weekend, OCEAN CITY is Maryland's number one summer resort. No matter how you get here up or down the coastal highway or across the rural eastern shore along US-50 , its tower-block hotels may come as a shock; it is so overgrown, in fact, that its northern reaches now encroach into Delaware.

Ocean City, MD - East Coast Vacation Jem

Ocean City Maryland is a popular summer vacation destination for families looking to enjoy a beach vacation, and the Maryland shoreline is scattered with various vacation rentals to accommodate the many tourists each year. The quaint community is far more than your average beach town! Walk the infamous boardwalk, and enjoy arcade, amusement park rides, antique carousels, water attractions and miniature golf courses. If you have younger kids in tow, they won't be left out of all the excitement as they can ride the kid-sized roller coaster and sit beside you on the famous Ferris wheel.

Vacation rentals are available year round, in Ocean City Maryland. While it is much too cold to swim in the ocean anytime other than the hottest months of the summer, there are spectacular winter festivals and activities to keep tourists and locals entertained during the "off-season". The winter-fest of lights is an annual event of over one million sparkling holiday lights up for display. You can ride around inside a heated tram and enjoy the show while getting into the holiday spirit. You can enjoy the colors of fall and mild temperatures that allow you to walk the shore, or watch the waves rolling in while sitting on your vacation rentals veranda or deck overlooking the water.

Visitors to Ocean City Maryland have a nice selection of vacation rentals to choose from. Enjoy the convenience of house vacation rentals, or condos, the resort accommodations of big name hotels or the quaint bed and breakfast lodging. You can make your vacation as exciting as you want- or simply use the time for some much needed rest and relaxation.

If you enjoy eating at restaurants while vacationing, you are going to love the selection in Ocean City. There are more than 385 restaurants in the beach front community known as the "crab capitol of the east coast"! If seafood doesn't agree with your palette, you can enjoy pizza or full Italian restaurants, Mexican or Chinese food, or steak houses. If you just need a snack to hold you over, take a walk down the boardwalk and enjoy ice cream or sandwiches from one of the many delis in the area.

Do you like shopping?.

You can often find vacation rentals within walking distance to the fabulous night life, day time activities and many of the popular restaurants and shops. Tourists love the specialty and gift shops, the beach stores that sell everything from body boards to sun tan lotion, and the open-late grocery stores.

Skateboarders enjoy Ocean City Maryland and the popular Cloud Break Board Shop. Not only can you purchase any necessary items for skateboarding, but they have a skateboard park that boarders can enjoy without the local law enforcement getting on their case! Day passes available, so if you're staying in one of the nearby vacation rentals with your teenagers, send them over for a day of skateboarding while you relax on the beach!

Ocean City Maryland even remembers the beloved family pet! If you like to vacation with your dog, you'll need to keep your buddy on a leash at all times. Dogs are not permitted on the boardwalk or the main beach from May to September, but you can enjoy some doggie time at the Assateague National Park Beach all year round. Check the details on homes, condos and hotels that allow pets. Enjoy!

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Matthew Kekelis is employed by VacationMLS.com where you can find more information about Ocean City Vacation Rentals.

See Rome but DON'T Die! Enjoy the Sites.

More destination articles from my favourite author. Rome certainly sounds a good place to visit. However, be careful of street crime and pickpokets.

Despite what you hear about the Mafia, most of the crime you're likely to come across in Italy is of the small-time variety, prevalent in the major cities and the south of the country, where gangs of scippatori or "snatchers" operate. Crowded streets or markets and packed tourist sights are the places to be wary of; scippatori work on foot or on scooters, disappearing before you've had time to react. As well as handbags, they whip wallets, tear off visible jewellery and, if they're really adroit, unstrap watches.

Rome History Money Opening Hours Arrival City Transport Eating And Drinking Entertainment And Nightlife Gay And Lesbian Rome Kids' Rome Best Of Telephone Codes Introducing The City Climate Clothes Information Tours Directory Explore Rome Hotels in Rome

Pantheon
Originally the Pantheon was built around 27 BC under the consulship of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, as a temple to the Gods. The building is still in use today as a Christian church. Its spectacular domed roof is awesome - built probably to represent the arched vault of the heavens. There are many famous people buried here including Raphael.

Vatican City
No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican - the centre of Christianity. The Vatican is the smallest, richest state on the planet. At its centre is the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle over which is built the Basilica. This is the largest religious building in the world. You will be awe struck by the sheer volume of priceless art and artefacts on display. The Sistine Chapel is a must see with its famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo himself.

Coliseum
This magnificent piece of Roman architecture was built nearly two thousand years ago as a venue for entertaining the citizens of Rome. Gory, gladiatorial contests took place here attended by up to fifty thousand spectators. It must have been a glorious sight complete with its huge canopy to protect the crowds from adverse weather.

Trevi Fountain
The film 'Three Coins in a Fountain' fuelled the popularity of the beautiful baroque fountain set in the Quirinale district. Legend has it that if you turn your back and toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, you will always return to Rome.The sculptures in the fountain were originally designed by Bernini and completed by Salvi in 1792. They mark the end of the aqua duct Aqua Virgo. The figure of Neptune - God of the sea - dominates the scene which represents the many moods of the sea.

The Baths of Caracalla
It was in the Bathhouses that much of Roman business and social life took place. The baths of Caracalla were huge, holding up to 1600 people. It was an extremely luxurious place needing the work of many slaves to keep it running. Here the Roman citizens would enjoy hot and cold pools, a stroll in the beautiful gardens or browsing through the extensive library. Brothels were also provided to feed the decadence of ancient Rome.The design of these baths inspired modern structures including Pennsylvania Station in New York.

Roman Forum
This is located in a valley between the hills of Rome. It was the political and economic centre of Rome during the Republic. Remains of many of the judicial buildings can be seen here, alongside major temples such as 'The Temple of Castor and Pollux'. This is a huge site worth taking the time to fully explore.

The Eternal City
Rome is an exciting, vibrant city. Experience 'la Dolce Vita' as only the Italians know how. Indulge yourself in the home of the pizza and ice-cream. Visit one of the opera houses or go to an open air performance with the coliseum as a backdrop. Enjoy sitting outside one of the many cafes and bars and just watch the world go by. Called the 'Eternal City', Rome has a timeless quality. Its ancient treasures are unsurpassed. Millions of tourists visit Rome every year making it one of the most popular destinations in the world.

Ann Coveney is a freelance writer and part time school teacher. She can be hired to write articles on a wide range of topics. The web site she uses the most for low cost travel and hotel booking is http://www.AskVicki.co.uk

I NOW want to GO to Lake Michigan!!

I get the overwhelming urge to visit the travel topic location when approving destination articles for publication. So I did much more research and found some great descriptions and photos. You know, I just might go next year...

BE THERE NOW
Hotels in Marquette

Ramada Inn
Marquette from $114.00 USD
Nordic Bay Lodge
Marquette from $99.24 USD
Travelodge Marquette
Marquette from $56.10 USD

More Hotels in Marquette >>

READ IT HERE
Forty miles west of Munising is the unofficial capital of the UP, the bustling college town of MARQUETTE , also the center of the area's massive ore industry.

Downtown, JJ's Shamrock , 113 S Front St, serves basic bar food along with occasional live music. For a more formal dining experience, locals favor the Northwoods Supper Club, just west of town off US-41, with a meat-and-potatoes menu in a rustic setting. Popular drinkspots include Remie's Bar , 111 Third St, with a rowdy local crowd and live music on Wednesdays. (Sounds like my kind of place)

Destination Guides > North America > USA > Great Lakes

Explore Great Lakes


Lake Michigan - Year Round Fun!

Outdoor recreation is the standard for vacations in the Lake Michigan area of the Great Lakes. There are endless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, including biking, hunting, camping, bird watching and water activities such as boating, fishing, scuba diving and swimming. The lake itself is enough of a reason to start your search for vacation rentals- as it is the largest freshwater lake within the United States, as well as the largest lake that is completely located within a single country. It is a sight to behold- and its' 22,300 square miles makes it the fifth largest lake in all the world.

Lake Michigan vacationing is a pleasure regardless of whether you go during the summer season or the winter months- there are advantages to each of the seasons! In the fall, you can enjoy vibrant colors as the leaves change, and enjoy many festivals that celebrate the changing of seasons during the fall.

There are several options for Lake Michigan vacation rentals. For the true outdoorsmen, camping might be your perfect choice, particularly in the warmer months. If you're planning to stay in one of the many vacation rentals over the winter months, you'll enjoy snowmobiling and skiing, as well as many of the indoor activities. Museums, wineries, casinos, zoos and planetariums make up some of the many indoor opportunities for recreation in Michigan, perfect for when the weather isn't perfect or for the cold winter months.

Lake Michigan is a family destination. Enjoy an afternoon in one of the many state parks, or enjoying the water's edge. There are indoor and outdoor miniature golf centers, go-carts, water parks, amusement parks and several paintball opportunities.

Ludington: Known for being one of Lake Michigan's popular beach towns, Ludington sits along the eastern shore. The vacation rentals of Ludington consist of full homes for rent, furnished apartments and condos, and the standard hotel rooms. While staying in Ludington, be sure to visit Historic One Pine Village, for signs, artifacts and archives of the area's history.

Saugatuck: On the south eastern shore lies a small, rural community known as Saugatuck, known as the "Art Coast of Michigan". It is here that students from The Art Institute of Chicago come each year to study on a lagoon. The areas incredible natural beauty has resulting in many artists taking up residence year round. Visiting Saugatuck is a pleasure and plenty of attractions to keep tourists entertained.

Manistique: The name reminds people of "magnificent", and for a very good reason. Manistique is located on the upper peninsula and offers the community and tourists state parks, lighthouses, historical attractions, a boardwalk where hundreds of unique shops gather to sell their wares, and "Big Springs" in Palms Book State Park. Big Springs is the largest spring, and a site to behold.

Be sure your Lake Michigan vacation rentals are within traveling distance to Big Springs, so you can enjoy the 10,000 gallons per minute gushing from limestone fissures underground. The springs are forty feet deep, and two hundred feet wide!

Regardless of where you decide to visit, you can enjoy outstanding accommodations and attractions to make you want to take every vacation in the area. Rustic cabins or high class, modern resorts, bed and breakfasts or camping- whatever your preference, Lake Michigan has it.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Matthew Kekelis is employed by VacationMLS.com where you can find more information about Lake Michigan Vacation Rentals.

Expect Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers when Traveling in Ireland

Having spent many "wet holidays" in Ireland, the article below made me smile. It was a real pleasure to research some travel links and the "Brief History of Ireland" (scroll to end of page).

Some Useful Links
Ireland When To Go Getting There Visas, Customs Regulations And Tax Costs, Money And Banks Insurance And Health Getting Around Food And Drink Post And Phones
Festivals And Entertainment Travellers With Disabilities History Where To Go Best Of Information, Maps And Web Sites The Media Opening Hours Public Holidays Sports And Activities Security And The Police Sexual Harassment, Prejudice And Racism Directory
Nature Music Literature Books An Irish Glossary Explore Ireland

Ireland view all cities
Top Destinations
Belfast Dublin Galway city

How to Beat the Weather when Traveling in Ireland

I think it is fair to say that Irish weather is pretty notorious. It is known for being both weepingly wet and laughingly unpredictable. A devilish combination if ever there was one. But does it deserve this infamous reputation? Probably not, but the Irish do such a good job complaining about it, that everyone is convinced it does. Including, the Irish themselves.

Average annual rainfall in Ireland runs to 30 inches.

Quite a lot you may think.

But Seattle, Washington gets 36in, New York, 45in (ok, 28in of that is snow) and Miami gets a whopping 60in of rainfall! No snow there.

So Ireland is not that wet after all. In fact, the average Earthly rainfall is 34in, so we are begrudgingly below average. So why does everyone think Ireland is so wet when it is in fact below average?

The reason is that most *normal* climates get all or most of their rain out the way in one season, leaving the remainder of the year mostly dry. Not in Ireland. We like to spread it throughout the whole year. We have the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream to thank for that. It keeps our winters mild, our summers cool and makes both equally likely to produce a shower of rain at any time.

Which brings me to the unpredictable nature of Irish weather. OK, here I must raise my hands in surrender, or at least Irish Weather would if it had a conscience. Everything you have heard is true, no point denying it. Beautiful and sunny in the morning, grey and torrential by the afternoon. It would be great if you could set your watch by it, but you most certainly can not.

The reverse could just as easily be the case. But, most likely the reverse in various guises numerous times over before noon will be true. Hence, the favorite phrase of those brave men and women at the Irish Meteorological Office when forecasting the weather: sunny spells and scattered showers.

Spring and autumn are particularly schizophrenic, when hail and thunder may be experienced in the same day as the aforementioned sunny spells. Many people ask us: what is the weather like in Ireland in May, or September? The short, honest answer is we have not got a clue. Every year is different. Sure, we have seasons, but our seasons are generalizations at best. They are a reasonable indication of temperature and whether schools will be open, but little more. I cannot speak for my colleagues, but I usually base my answer to the above question on my memory of that month's weather the previous year, while couching my response in language supplied by our weather lawyer.

Take this summer so far.

May this year was depressingly wet. It rained almost every day. By the end of the month the entire population of Ireland was on the brink of psychological breakdown. Thankfully, the first two weeks of June were fantastic, but the following two were nondescript; overcast, but dry for the most part. July was been up and down, days of rain followed by days of intense heat and sunshine. August started well, but took a turn for the worse this week. What will it be like next week? No one knows. So what is a sane person to do? The Irish answer is to talk about it. I am not sure if we actually love talking about the weather, but it certainly makes for an easy conversation opener. Friends who have known each other 50 years will comment on the day's weather before moving to more important topics. But it works just as well for strangers on a train. It is the common burden or joy we all share, depending on the day. You will never offend anyone by commenting on the weather since no one cam claim credit and no one can be blamed.

But what can you do as a visitor to Ireland to prepare for Irish weather?

Well, I was sitting under the awning outside a coffee shop one afternoon last week. It had started raining an hour previously. Prior to that it had been sunny and warm for almost four days. It had seemed like sunshine was our right. I noticed, as I sipped my latte, that all the locals were dashing about in tee-shirts, sun dresses and sleeveless blouses getting rather drenched. On the other hand, every tourist I saw was strolling around sporting rainproof jackets, quite unperturbed by the sudden change in the weather.

The moral of this story? The answer to this question?

Forget the Irish, be like the tourists. Be prepared. Top Tips for beating Irish Weather:

1. Bring a rainproof jacket and shoes (and trousers if you intend golfing, hiking or cycling)
2. Bring layers of clothes that you can put on or take off as the weather dictates.
3. Watch the weather forecast so you know what to expect the next day. It is on after every news bulletin on tv and is often the funniest thing you will see all day. The forecasts are normally very accurate. Our weathermen and women are probably the best in the world.
4. If in doubt, ask a farmer
5. Do not let bad weather get you down. Get out there and do exactly what you planned to do. Irish weather changes fast. Thankfully, half the time it changes for the better.
6. Never, ever complain about the heat, dryness, humidity or sunshine.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- © 2007 Ivan Lynch Ivan Lynch is co-founder of Authentic Ireland Travel, an Irish based company specializing in vacations to Ireland. Find out how practical advice and expert local knowledge can make your Ireland vacation unforgettable at: http://www.authenticireland.com/

A Brief History of Ireland

Earliest Inhabitants
During the last Ice Age, when most of the country was covered by an icecap, low sea levels meant that Ireland was attached to Britain, and Britain to the European continent. As the climate warmed (from about 13,000 BC), and the ice gradually retreated,...read more

The Celts
The Celts were an Indo-European group called Keltoi by the Greeks and Galli by the Romans, who spread south from central Europe into Italy and Spain and west through France and Britain. By 500 BC, Celtic language and culture were dominant in...read more >>

The Coming of Christianity
The christianization of Ireland began as early as the fourth century AD, well before the arrival of St Patrick (whose existence is now the subject of some controversy). Vestiges did survive of the previous religion of the Celts, but after the...read more >>

Invasion: Vikings and Normans
From 795, Ireland was increasingly plagued by destructive Viking raids , in which many of the great monasteries were plundered and burned (though many more were destroyed as a result of indigenous intertribal warfare in the eighth and ninth...read more >>

The Tudors and the Stuarts
The continued isolation of Irish politics from English and Continental influence during the fifteenth century, and England's preoccupation with the Wars of the Roses, helped Ireland's most powerful Anglo-Norman family - the FitzGeralds of...read more >>

The Penal Laws to the Act of Union
In 1641, 59 percent of the land in Ireland was owned by Catholics. In 1688, the figure was 22 percent, and by 1703 it was fourteen percent. The Protestant population, about one-tenth of the total, lived in fear of an uprising by the vast majority of...read more >>

Daniel O'Connell
The quest for Catholic emancipation by peaceful constitutional means was the life's work of Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847), the lawyer who became known as "The Liberator" and whom Gladstone called "the greatest popular leader the...read more >>

The Famine
The failure of the Irish potato crop from 1845 to 1849 plunged the island into appalling famine . Elsewhere in Europe, the blight was a resolvable problem but Irish subsistence farmers were utterly dependent on the crop. No disease affected...read more >>

Parnell and the Home Rule
The second half of the nineteenth century was characterized by a complex interplay of political and economic factors which contributed towards the exacerbation of religious differences. The most important of these was the struggle for land and for the...read more >>

Rebellion and Civil War
The British parliament eventually passed the Home Rule Bill of 1912, and for a while the conditions appeared to exist for Ireland to erupt into civil war. Before this could happen, however, the outbreak of World War I dramatically altered the...read more >>

The Irish Free State
With the death of Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith during the civil war, the leadership of the Irish Free State fell to William T. Cosgrave, and finally in the summer of 1923 the new government began to reconstruct Ireland as an independent nation. A...read more >>

The Republic
It took the Republic (which finally came into being in 1949) twenty years to recover from the economic stagnation brought on by the war. Vast numbers of people, disproportionately drawn from among the young and talented, moved across to fill Britain's...read more >>

Northern Ireland from 1921
On June 22, 1921, the new political entity of Northern Ireland came into existence with the opening of the Northern Irish Parliament in Belfast's City Hall. In order to understand the present situation in the North it is necessary to grasp the...read more >>