Magic Tricks - Inventing Magic

Creating magic illusions is an increadibly satisfying aspect of magic that many magicians overlook. It leaves you with a unique trick that the audience will hopefully remember you by. However, there are many reasons why most magicians use off-the-shelf tricks. This article will explain some of the reasons for and against making illusions, and give some guidance.

# Uniqueness

Creating a illusion will guarantee that nobody can say "I've seen that before". Creating stage illusions is the most satisfying as it will look unique, feel unique and perform uniquely, however, they take the most work as they are typically physically large. Creating card effects (or similar) can be done anywhere with nothing but imagination.

# Branding

If you are creating a stage illusion, you can easily incorporate your branding, whether that's the colours from your website and flyers, or simply your stage name, photo or contact details designed on it, it will be positive advertising - especially if you allow photos in your performances. This can be applied in a similar way to close-up effects - why not print your own logo onto the gimmick.

# Suitability

In the unlikely event that you can't find any off-the-shelf tricks that'll be the perfect climax to your routine, then you will often find that with a little thought, you can create the perfect illusion.

# Risks

Creating illusions is not easy, especially if it means constructing gimmicks. It is essential to check, check and check again that everything works smoothly as expected. A guillotine with a special mechanism that may rust unnoticed over time could even be lethal. Think of the worse possible scenario while designing the illusion to ensure that nothing dangerous, in this case, can happen. Typically the worst that can happen is you make a fool out of yourself, but with stage illusions, you can trap unwilling guests in your contraptions or even just give them a splinter! Either way you could find yourself at the wrong end of a legal case with nobody to blame but yourself

# Is it really unique?

Before you start creating the illusion, make sure you are really the inventor of it, especially if you are hoping to sell it in the future. Depending on how much you value your time, it may be cheaper to buy an illusion that will be guaranteed to work (hopefully) without errors.

When starting to think of an illusion, there are several factors you must consider, including -

# Stage, street, close-up or for children - what situation will you be in when performing

# Short, medium or long effect - how long will it take to perform

# Comedy, silent or story-based - will it fit into your routine

# Target audience demographic - nothing scary or rude for the young/old

# Transportation - can you transport the illusion - does it need a van or a pocket?

To conclude, inventing magic is a satisfying way to expand your routine, but beware of the pitfalls that you may fall into. Sometimes using ready-made effects will do the job perfectly in a tried and tested manner!

The Organic Gardener

It's not always easy to be an organic gardener. Even committed organic gardeners sometimes long to spray herbicide on goutweed or pesky poison ivy. When Japanese beetles or rose chafers arrive in throngs just before your garden party, you may suffer an urge for the good old days - the time before you understood that spraying an insecticide would kill beneficial bugs along with the bad, aggravating your pest problems. But there are also problems that are more easily addressed with organic solutions.

Each winter, the Ecological Landscaping Association (www.ela. org) holds a conference and eco-marketplace where researchers, landscapers, gardeners and environmentalists meet to share knowledge and ideas. This year, one of the presentations I liked best was by Dr. Richard Casagrande of the University of Rhode Island, who spoke on biocontrol of invasive species. He explained that for some problems, organic controls work better than chemical controls.

Casagrande said that when gardeners hear that foreign species of insects have been introduced to help control invasive plants like purple loosestrife, there is a knee-jerk reaction: "Great. And when they've finished eating the loosestrife, what's going to happen next? Will they eat my delphiniums, or my peonies?"

He explained that although people of good will did introduce some evil exotics like kudzu and oriental bittersweet, the process of introducing foreign insects to combat these plants is very tightly controlled. The University of Rhode Island has quarantine labs that are as tightly controlled as the perimeter around the White House.

First, scientists look at how the invasive species performs in its native land. Purple loosestrife came from Europe in the early 1800s, probably in soil used as ballast in ships. But it is not a problem there. Why not?

It evolved there, and over time some 120 species of insects learned to love it. Of these, 14 are host-specific, meaning that they don't eat anything else. A few of these insects were brought to quarantine labs to determine if they eat related species of the target plants, or if they would attack any of our major crops, such as corn, wheat and soy.

If you've ever tried to dig out purple loosestrife, you know that it has an amazing root system that will challenge even the strongest back. Scraps of roots left in the ground will start new plants. Not only that, each mature plant produces millions of tiny seeds every year, so even if you did poison or pull a plant, the soil is full of time-release capsules - seeds that will start the process all over again next year, and the year after that, and so forth. Even burning the plants will not solve the problem. But it can be kept under control with the use of introduced beetles.

Since 1994, beetles that eat purple loosestrife have been successfully reducing stands of this exotic. They reduce the number of plants to about 10 percent of pre-introduction levels; as the number of plants drops, so does the number of predator beetles. Similar efforts are under way to control phragmites, that tall grass that has such beautiful plumes in wetlands and roadside ditches.

Casagrande has been using biocontrols to reduce populations of the lily leaf beetle that has been decimating our oriental and Asiatic lilies in recent years. The beetles are so pretty that you might want to use them as earrings: bright red with black trim, about 3/8ths of an inch long. Their larvae, in contrast, are disgusting: They carry their excrement on their backs to deter birds - and organic gardeners. Casagrande and his co-workers have introduced parasitoids from Europe, tiny wasps that reduce the beetle's population. The parasitoids are doing the job at test sites in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and are established at release sites in New Hampshire and Maine.

So what can the home gardener do? First, realize that help is on the way in the form of biocontrols. Second, recognize that herbicides for plants and insecticides for beetles ultimately don't work. Yes, you can kill lily leaf beetles or loosestrife with a spray, but you can't eliminate them. Third, use pest-resistant species such as 'Black Beauty,' a lily that is less attractive to the lily leaf beetle. Lastly, handpick beetles. I handpicked lily leaf beetles twice a day last summer and never saw a larva.

As organic gardeners, we have to accept that we are not in total control of the environment, and that sometimes we have to wait or endure some losses. Biological controls do work. Some exotic pests, like the birch leaf miner, are now nothing more than a minor annoyance, and there are already places where purple loosestrife is no longer a problem. So stay the course - be organic.

Planning A Flower Garden

If you're planning to start a flower garden, you might be a little stumped when it comes to choosing flowers. Although there's no such thing as a bad choice of flowers, there are some choices that can take your garden from okay to simply magnificent. Consider these simple tips when you're trying to choose which beautiful blooms you want for your garden.

First of all, how much light do you have? If your garden is located in an area that gets direct sunlight for part of the time, and shade for the rest of the time, your flower choices are almost infinite. The majority of flowers in the world are best adapted to these half-and-half lighting conditions. If your garden area is very sunny, on the other hand, consider planting flowers that not only enjoy sunlight, but can stand up to direct heat. A few good strong sunlight flowers are sunflowers (of course) and daylilies. On the other hand, if your area is more on the shady side, go for lower-light flowers such as irises, tiger lilies, or honeysuckle. These plants are more tolerant of the cooler temperature in the shade, and their photosynthesis process is adapted to smaller amounts of sunlight.

What about soil? If you're planting in a rocky area, you may have some trouble getting many plants to take root. The ideal dirt for flowers, of course, is black, fine dirt without much rubble. If you live in an area where the ground has a sand consistency, look into planting local flowers- those will be the ones most adapted to growing in sand, such as violets.

Now comes the fun part. Once you get an idea of what types of flowers you're able to grow, it's time to think about what types you'd like to grow. Try drawing out your garden on a sheet of paper, based on the various heights the plants are expected to reach. Try framing sunflowers with ground covering plants that will flourish in the shade of the taller plants around them. Pay attention to the colors of the blossoms and arrange them in a pleasing manner. Use your imagination here- feel free to plan a garden with a strict outline, featuring only blue and yellow flowers; or let your brain and your garden run wild, with bursts of random color everywhere. It's up to you.

Keep in mind that the first year of a flower garden is only the beginning. If you truly want to enjoy your garden to the utmost, try to plant perennials that will return next season. That will give the plants a year to mature and gain strength, and with a little luck, you'll be surprised each year with a flourishing flower garden that gets stronger and brighter as time goes by.

King (Chinook) Salmon - The Prize Of Kenai River

Nine of the ten record setting King (Chinook) Salmon were caught in Alaska's Kenai River. The average size of Kings in Alaska is 20 pounds, but typically the Kenai yields 50-pound Kings. King Salmon spend 2 to 5 years in the ocean before they come back to spawn. Thus, the size of these fish can vary quite a bit. The largest King caught on the Kenai weighed 97.25 pounds.

What makes the Kenai such a popular spot for fishing fanatics? There are certainly other rivers in Alaska that host greater numbers of salmon. (This isn't to say that the number of salmon in the river is small. There's plenty to go around for all wanting to have a great day, week, or month fishing.)

This river draws fishermen for three primary reasons-size of the Kings, abundance of varieties of salmon, and the number of runs for each type. Along with the King, the Kenai is stocked with Sockeye (Red) Salmon and Coho (Silver) Salmon, with each of the species having two runs between May and October. And then there's the size of the Kings. If you want the best chance of landing a trophy Chinook Salmon, the Kenai River is the place to be.

It's a short jaunt from Anchorage to the 80-mile long Kenai. The first time you see the river, you may simply be stunned. With striking sapphire waters created by glacial melt, the river is simply breathtaking. Conservation measures have been instituted to preserve the natural beauty and nurturing environment of the river for residents and visitors.

During fishing season, the Kenai supports thousands upon thousands of salmon, making it relatively easy for many fishermen, especially those working with licensed guides, to catch their limit. Additionally, the river is home for world-class rainbow trout, which are the envy of anglers everywhere.

The Kenai is divided into three sections. The upper part is 30-miles long, flowing from Kenai Lake located on Cooper Landing and going to Skilak Lake. Rafters, drift boaters and other recreational and sport enthusiasts have easy access to the river at Cooper Landing.

The upper part of the Kenai flows down to and ends at the Russian River, a tributary that plays host to thousands of Sockeye Salmon. Just down river from this tributary is the Kenai River Ferry, which transports thousands of fishermen to the river's far bank. This section is popular with anglers and it's often packed.

Going down river, you'll find many miles of beautiful views, natural settings, and bountiful fishing. In this stretch between the Russian River and Jim's landing, despite the fact that it's bordered by the busy Sterling Highway, you will experience isolation and peace due to the natural buffer created by trees and thick vegetation.

The Kenai River meets Skilak Lake, forming the middle part of the river, which goes to Soldotna Bridge. If you're looking for wildlife and true isolation, this section is for you. With a ten-mile stretch that has no boat access and a variety of animals, including moose, bear, and waterfowl, the Kenai embraces the wild. To get to some prime fishing, you'll need a boat; however, some parts of the middle river can get too low to navigate. Throughout the summer, the Kenai rises, allowing boats easier passage.

In this remote section you'll find some of the best trout and Silver Salmon fishing on the river. Unlike the upper and lower parts of the Kenai, this section has fewer sportsmen, guides, and visitors on it.

Soldotna Bridge marks the end of the middle section and the beginning of the lower part, which terminates at Cook's Inlet. Before the inlet, the river can get very busy. Its banks are fairly crowded with businesses and homes. Along with being congested, the river also has some sandbars and large rocks, making it tough to navigate.

The second King run, in June and July, is the most popular with anglers looking to land the next world record salmon. The lower river has easy access and many of the approximately 400 registered guides can be found in this section.

The King (Chinook) Salmon can be as large as a man and as tough to haul in as any sport fish. It's the prize catch on any Kenai River fishing trip. For anglers looking for some of the largest salmon in the world, this section of the river offers the greatest opportunity for hauling in the ultimate catch and coming up with the biggest fish story.

10 Things You Should Know About Stretching

Before fitness training, one must give importance to doing warm-up or stretching exercises to prevent accidents or to enhance the output during the training. There are also a number of precautionary measures and tips to serve as guidelines when doing fitness exercises. Here are some of them.

1. To increase your flexibility and to avoid injuries, stretch before and after workout. Almost everyone knows that stretching before workout prevents injuries during the exercises, but only few people know that stretching after workout, when muscles are still warm, can increase flexibility.

2. Hold your stretching position for more than 60 seconds to increase flexibility. While holding your position for 20 seconds is enough for warm ups, holding each position for at least 60 seconds will develop the body's flexibility.

3. Do not go into a stretching position then immediately return to the relaxed position, and do it repeatedly. This is more appropriately termed as bouncing while in a position. When stretching, hold that position for several seconds, and then slowly relax. You may do this exercise repeatedly this way. Bouncing or forcing yourself into a position during stretching can strain or damage some joints or muscles.

4. Work slowly in increments instead of immediately proceeding to doing the hardest exercise or position.

5. Make sure that you have stretched or warmed up all muscle groups. For some people, even if they have strong bodies, they tend to neglect the neck when working out of stretching. Stretching the neck muscles can be as simple as placing the palm of one's hand against the front of the head and pushing it. Then, do the same to the sides and the back of the head.

6. Stretch regularly to continually increase your range of movements and your level of flexibility and strength.

7. Workout considering only your capabilities and not of others. Do not force yourself to do exercises that you are not yet capable of just because there are people who can do it. Increase your limits slowly. Listen to your body. There are days when your body may be too tired that you may have to consider reducing your range of motion.

8. Learn to rest. Rest in between sets and stations to make sure that the body has enough time to recover its energy. Also, it is advisable that you don't work the same muscle groups consecutively for two days. The muscles grow during the period when you rest and not when you are working out.

9. Do aerobic exercises to strengthen your heart. Aerobic exercises are those physical activities that much oxygen for fuel. This includes cardiovascular exercises such as skipping rope, running or swimming.

10. Music may help you when you want to train for longer periods or to increase your intensity. You can use mp3 players, CD players or lightweight am radio receivers for this. Just make sure that you brought your headset with you so you wouldn't disturb people who don't prefer music while exercising.

Apart from preventing injuries and increasing one's limit, it is also said that stretching is good for a tired body and also for a stressed mind and spirit.

Traveling to Nice and the South of France

Nice is in the south of France. The Queen of the French Riviera, which the French call " la Cote d'Azur" (AzureCoast or Blue Coast). It is a wonderful city with lots of charm and character; a mixture of French and Italian cultures where the people are easy-going and friendly even if you don't speak French.

Although you might think it is a summer resort, you can visit Nice at any time of the year and still have a good time. If you happen to go in the winter, you will be surprised to see flowers in their numerous parks and gardens. Nice has a Mediterranean winter, so the temperature stays around 40 to 50 degrees during the coldest months but if you like skiing, ski resorts such as Valberg and Isola 2000 can be reached by car in one or two hours. If you go in the summer, get ready to share the city with lots of tourists. The popular streets where most restaurants and cafes are, can get crowded, but they can be a lot of fun if you enjoy people watching; and since most of the streets are closed to traffic, it is not hard to just walk around and enjoy the upbeat atmosphere.

Nice has a major airport and its close location to the city makes getting there a cinch.

Finding a hotel should be easy, since there are plenty of accommodations for all kinds of budgets. The author is a frequent guest of the Meridien Hotel, a 4 star hotel located on the Promenade des Anglais, facing the Bay of Angels (Baie des Anges).

Things to see in Nice:

-Promenade des Anglais. The Victorian English residents of the 1800's provided the funds to build the beautiful boulevard, hence its name. It is a wide avenue that follows the bay's coast line and it's lined with beautiful palm trees and flowers.

-Hotel Negresco. Beautiful and glamorous, it is located at 37 Promenade des Anglais and if you are not rich enough to stay there, you must go and see it.

-Old Nice. Winding narrow streets with Italianate buildings painted in earthly colors, describes this old part of the city. You will enjoy strolling. people watching and quaint little shops full of charming provencal crafts.

-Marche aux Fleurs. Located on the Cours Saleya, the flower market is Open Tuesday through Sunday, 7am-5pm, but if you decide to go, check with your hotel for the hours of operation. You can also have lunch or dinner there, where a large variety of restaurants set up tables and chairs outside where you can dine in a pleasant and fun atmosphere.

-Marc Chagall Museum. If you like modern art, you can catch a glimpse of the painter's most important collection. The hours of operation vary depending on the season so check with your hotel clerk before you go. Nice is so well located that you can take half-day and full-day trips either by car or by public transportation. Easily reached towns by car or public transportation are: Monaco, Eze, Grasse, St Paul de Vence, Cannes and St Tropez.

-Monaco- A symbol of glamour and elegance, Monaco sits on a beautiful stretch of the Mediterranean coast. Its most famous town Monte Carlo, has much to offer with its casinos, boutiques and exotic gardens. Don't forget to visit the village of Monaco, located high on "the rock" as it is affectionally called by the locals. It is a charming town with shops and cafes and a wonderful view of the sea.

-Eze- This small medieval village perched on a hill is a must see. Both tourists and artists flock to Eze during the summer months because of its picturesque setting and magnificent vues. If you are staying in Nice, you can make it a half-day trip or just stop there for lunch and continue to Monaco for a full-day trip. If you are feeling rich, have lunch at the Chevre d'Or. The restaurant offers fine cuisine and breathtaking panoramas. The restaurant is only open for lunch.

-Grasse- Considered the perfume capital of France Grasse is a small hilly town with beautiful parks and panoramic views. I you go to Grasse, you must visit the perfume factories. The biggest is Parfumerie Fragonard. An English speaking guide will show you the process of extracting the perfume from hundreds of pounds of flower petals.

-St Paul de Vence- A picture perfect medieval town, sitting on top of a hill, St Paul de Vence has been painted by many artists and photographed by thousands of tourists. It is located 19 miles from Nice. Enjoy a meal at the famous Colombe d'Or Restaurant or sip a beer at an outdoor cafe while watching a local game of petanque.

-Cannes- Cannes sits on the shores of La Napoule bay, sorrounded by a backdrop of Mediterranean hills. While Nice has the Promenade des Anglais, Cannes has la Croisette Boulevard, an elegant promenade, lined with palm trees and and gardens. Cannes hosts the famous Cannes Film Festival every year and it is most favored by celebrities. So if you go, make sure to do a lot of people watching, because you never know...

-St Tropez- Once a small fishing village, St Tropez is now a summer place for the jet set. Its setting on the southern shore of France, made it attractive to turn-of-the-century artists who were then followed by writers, poets and eventually movie stars and their fans. It is now internationally famous.

So get your tickets, book your hotel and go to the south of France. I promise you will have an unforgettable experience.

Perfect Scrambled Eggs

The truth is that scrambled eggs are easy to make. Unfortunately, they are also the easy to make WRONG. At a root level, scrambled eggs are simply beaten eggs which are fried and - for lack of a better word - scrambled. But like most things that are simple (take love and martinis as examples), people have found ways to make them needlessly complex.

No cheese. No overt flavorings. Just eggs and what it takes to make them taste and look like great eggs.

What NOT To Add

Cottage Cheese -- Several recipes I encountered recommended whisking a Tablespoon of small curd cottage cheese in with each egg. Visually, the result was creamy and mildly fluffy scrambled eggs. In terms of taste, the cottage cheese did not contribute or detract from the eggs -- but it did make the dish seem somehow impure. You knew there was something in there besides the egg. The aspect of cottage cheese that secured its fate as a stay-out-of-our-scramble ingredient was that no matter how vigorously you whisked the dish had texture irregularities. Every other bite had the unwelcome surprise of a noticeable cottage cheese curd.

Real Cream - I tried two recipes that used real cream ("the fat skimmed off the top of raw milk" as defined by the Wikipedia Dairy Products Guide). One said to add 1 Tablespoon of real cream per egg. The other instructed the use of 1 and ½ Tablespoons of cream per egg. Both recipes created beautiful eggs with a creamy yellow color. Sadly, the resulting flavor was not so beautiful. In both cases the first bite tasted terrific, but the more I ate the more I had to admit that these eggs were just too creamy. The recipe with 1 and ½ Tablespoons of cream left a slight, unpleasant milky after-taste.

Sour Cream - Scrambled eggs with sour cream can not be considered scrambled eggs in a purist sense. The sour cream adds a distinct flavor. Therefore, scrambled eggs with sour cream will be saved for mention in a future article on specialty or flavored scrambled eggs.

Baking Powder -- Scrambled eggs with a pinch of baking powder per egg had a great appearance. They were fluffy, yet firm. I was surprised to find there was no trace of baking powder taste. Unfortunately, the texture of the scramble in the mouth was uneven with specks of firmer pieces in a single bite.

Sea Salt - When salt is heated it breaks down to the same components regardless whether its table salt or sea salt. As Robert Wolke says in his book What Einstein Told His Cook, "...when a recipe specifies simply 'sea salt' it is a meaningless specification. It might as well be specifying 'meat'." If you see a recipe that says to add sea salt to eggs before whisking…. you can be sure it was written by someone who needs to learn more about the ionic bonds that hold sodium and chlorine together.

Sugar - Eggs, flour and sugar are the primary ingredients of a great many deserts. Remove the flour and you end up with neither desert nor scrambled eggs - at least not from a purist scramble perspective. What you do end up with is a kind of specialty egg dish that deserves further exploration in the field of breakfast. It's not fair to call them scrambled eggs, but their sweetness makes them an interesting complement to pancakes and waffles

What NOT To Do

DON'T beat egg whites until stiff peaks form

With or without added ingredients like sugar and cream of tartar, the result of scrambling looks like a big dollop of melting Crisco crossed with cottage cheese.

DON'T stir eggs slowly for an extended period

I came across one recipe that actually instructed to stir the eggs in the fry pan (heated at your stove's lowest setting) with a wooden spoon for 30 minutes.

First of all, the eggs didn't set after 30 minutes at the lowest heat setting. I tried once more at a slightly higher setting. After 10 minutes, the eggs began to show subtle signs of setting. I continued to stir the eggs in the pan for 10 minutes. The result looked more like butternut squash than any eggs I've ever seen. The texture was close to chewy and the extended cooking time seemed to have cooked away all the flavor of egg

Do It Or Don't - It doesn't Make a Difference

Keep eggs at room temperature before scrambling - Kitchen tests showed no significant difference between room-temperature and refrigerated eggs from the same carton. Refrigeration actually deters the growth of salmonella enteritis. Even though salmonella is very rare (1 out of every 20,000 eggs may contain the bacteria), it is advised that your eggs always remain stored in the refrigerator.

The Art of Scrambling - Proper Technique

The Best Way To Beat Your Eggs

One of the most important ingredients in scrambled eggs is hardly ever mentioned... air. It would be nice if we could just dollop a Tablespoon of air into the mixing bowl, but for the time-being, incorporating air into beaten eggs requires good old-fashioned elbow grease (or the electric equivalent).

The more you whisk -- the more air bubbles become trapped in the shaken and unraveling protein of the eggs. As the eggs cook, protein molecules firm-up around the air bubbles resulting in a spongy texture and hopefully full and fluffy scrambled eggs.

The American Egg Board describes well-beaten eggs as "frothy and evenly colored". When your eggs match that description (generally after about 2 minutes) you should stop beating.

Over-beating will completely unravel the protein molecules and destabilize their ability to form a microscopic casing around the air. In terms of whisking motion, a tilted wheel motion works far better than a vertical stirring motion. A fork works as well as a whisk but requires a slight bit more time and energy.

The Best Way To Scramble In The Pan

The actions you take once the eggs hit the fry pan will dictate the size of the scrambled egg pieces (curds). Some recipes suggest stirring the eggs with a wooden spoon immediately as the eggs hit the heated surface. Others direct you to let the eggs start to set before stirring/scrambling. Of the two, the second method results in larger fluffier pieces.

Getting Hungry?

Before we scramble our brains contemplating the best plate to eat scrambled eggs off of, the texture differentials of eating with a spoon and the ideal temperature of the chair you sit in as you eat... let's get back to the reason we're here. For your breakfast pleasure, The Fish Creek House Presents...

This recipe serves 2 hungry people.

6 large eggs

6 teaspoons (1 teaspoon for each egg) low-fat milk

3 dashes of salt (1 dash for every two eggs)

1 Tablespoon butter for frying

• Heat a large non-stick frying pan to a setting just above medium. A 12-inch pan works well for 6 eggs. Do not add butter yet. We just want get the pan ready.

• In large metal or glass mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk and salt. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes.

• Alternatively, you can place the eggs, milk and salt in a blender and blend for 20 to 25 seconds. Allow the mixture to set for a couple minutes to let the foam settle.

• Melt the butter in the frying pan. As the very last of the butter is liquefying, add the egg mixture.

• Do not stir immediately. Wait until the first hint of setting begins. Using a spatula or a flat wooden spoon, push eggs toward center while tilting skillet to distribute runny parts.")

• Continue this motion as the eggs continue to set. Break apart large pieces as they form with your spoon or spatula. You will come to a point where the push-to-center technique is no longer cooking runny parts of the egg. Flip over all the eggs. Allow the eggs to cook 15 to 25 seconds longer. Transfer eggs to serving plates. Add salt and pepper to taste. Eat up!

What Exactly Is Dealer Invoice?

My first answer to that would be… who really knows? It's a very elusive term thrown around by about all the car manufacturers' and car dealer's marketing departments. You know after many years in the business, I'm not sure I could tell you precisely what true dealer invoice or what is termed 'dead cost' is on any particular vehicle. I'm sure the owner or the ownership group could somehow calculate this elusive dollar figure but most of us humans will continue to search for the ever elusive animal we refer to as dealer invoice.

To say this term is a bit misunderstood is a rather large understatement. Maybe that's why it works so good for the folks in the marketing department. Many potential car buyers assume that what they uncover on the internet is the car dealer's invoice price. Well, not really. It's certainly one heck of a lot closer than checking the MSRP of a give vehicle, but it probably isn't going to be 'dead cost'.

You hear it all the time. In fact right here where I'm at there is a local dealer that says all you'll ever pay is $50 over factory dealer cost; and they have been selling cars this way since day one oh so many years ago. I guess it shouldn't, but it really baffles me how this works on the consumer. Just do the simple math; if this dealer sold 300 cars a month (about 10 cars a day!) times $50 over factory cost (the inference here is that you are paying $50 over what the dealer gets the car for) this dealer would be grossing $15,000 per month on new car sales. I can unequivocally tell you that this would never cut the mustard! Think about it $15,000 a month and this dealer hasn't even paid rent, utilities, insurance, salaries, benefits, and on and on. So, $50 over factory invoice… not hardly.

So what is it then… this thing car dealers call cost or invoice? Well, it's a bunch of numbers being added – subtracted – multiplied – and divided before anyone knows the dead cost of the car for the dealer.

What's a consumer to do?

Getting out on the internet and doing your homework is a very good start. The exercise of comparing the information you gather is a good one and is to your advantage if you want to start your negotiations at 'invoice' price. Which, by the way, you NEVER negotiate from the sticker price down.

While doing your research on dealer invoice prices it's important to make certain you are comparing exact features and option packages to one another. This will at least give you baseline comparisons with which to work. All car dealers receive different incentives from the manufacturer; factory to dealer – marketing incentives – dealer holdback, and on and on. The fact that much of this is not disclosed is why it is very difficult to come up with dead cost for the car dealer.

For instance, in the case of dealer hold back; the dealer doesn't even get this money until after the car is actually sold.

There are other expenses that the dealer has that are applied to the overall cost of a particular car, including how long a particular car has been sitting on the lot. You see the dealership finances their inventory and as such pays interest on this financing so a car that has been sitting on the lot for some time has cost the dealer more than the ones that they are just unloading from the truck.

As you can see, there are too many variables to any particular car at any particular dealership to know exactly what the dealer has put into a car in terms of cost. However, as we talked earlier, doing your research on the 'invoice price' is a good place to start. Just don't stop there thinking you have all you need and don't need to do any further negotiating on the selling price.

Purchasing cars and negotiating is almost synonymous. Getting a good feel for the invoice price is just a starting point. Now it's time to roll up your sleeves and work on getting the best possible price you can.

Rising Insecurity- Rising Demand for Private Jet Charter Services

Thanks to the growing security chaos at the airports, companies now increasingly prefer to travel through private charter jets.

According to a survey conducted by Air Charter Guide, there was an 80 percent increase in business-related bookings of private jet charters within two weeks of Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when commercial airlines were hijacked to ram into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Similarly, private jet service companies reported a rise in demand from their customers, both old and new, following a terror alert in the UK.

Following 9/11 and the subsequent increase in terror threats, stringent security checks at the airports have made the whole experience of traveling even more frustrating and exhausting.

One has to endure long queues, all kinds of checks and intimate body searches to board an aircraft. Confiscation of even petty things such as nail clippers and tweezers has become a common sight at the airports.

Hence, when we explore the reasons why more and more people are now preferring to travel by private charters flights instead of commercial flights, despite the obvious difference between costs, the reasons are quite a few:

• In the wake of terrorist attacks, security is unquestionable. In a private air charter, you know exactly who the pilot is, what type of baggage is on board and who the fellow passengers; if any, on the flight are. This provides the much needed peace of mind.

• Time is money for business travelers. Private charters have become even more popular among top corporate executives whose time is too valuable to waste in long queues. There is no question of delayed or cancelled flights; as the private flight is scheduled only at the time you want. In fact some organizations don't mind spending an extra bit on arranging private jets for their senior staff too apart from their top executives.

• Private flights enable the optimum utilization of time and ensure confidentiality. You can work on your laptops, conduct meetings; just about everything in the sky that you can do on the ground in your office. Fax, e-mail, phones, computers; everything is easily accessible.

• Private charter flights maximize the productivity of the employees by saving their valuable time.

Apart from business honchos, an increasing number of common people are also considering private flights as a preferred alternative to commercial flights.

Charter-aircraft operators now claim that as many as 90 percent of their inquiries are from new or first-time charter customers.

Apart from convenience, privacy and comfort, private air charter also provides better protection and security in these chaotic times.

The Most Important Part Of Article Marketing - Getting Your Articles Read!

Using articles as a method of marketing is all well and good, but there really isn't any point if your article does not get the exposure to drive traffic to your site. Of course you will still gain from backlinks by the article sites that accept your article, but you will be missing out hugely from the publishers looking to pick up informative and interesting articles from these sites to syndicate on their own.

There are many people that dread having to write articles, and this may have a large part to play in the poor end product. Rushing to the end of an article by writing the same content reworded is certainly not the way to go if you want to fulfill the potential that your article could have on readers.

Similarily, to some people, reading articles seems like to much hard work too, and this is especially the case if the article they are reading is boring and bland.

So how do you make an article interesting to read?

You should write an article about something that you feel passionate about and have an avid interest it. This will give you the best possible opportunity to write an informative article as writing is unquestionable easier when it is something that you already know as second nature and enjoy discussing. Here are a few tips to get you started on writing your article so that it gets read in its entirety:

1) Use short paragraphs that provide a fact or a valuable piece of information for the reader. Often when authors write articles, they get so wrapped up with what they are trying to say that the sentence rambles on. This may result in the sentence or paragraph becoming quite confusing and difficult to read

2) Use numbers and bullets to highlight the key points, tips, or guides. This will indicate to the reader where the key points of the article are, and will also make the points easier to digest and remember.

3) Use a title to the article that is attention-grabbing. If your title is enticing and grabs the readers' attention in some way, you are already half-way in getting a person to read the entire article.

4) If possible, use real life situations that can be adopted by the reader. Use good descriptions and metaphors to drive in your point. Graphic metaphors and similes would make it easier for the reader to imagine what it is you are talking about.

5) If there are any facts and figures that you can use in your topic, then do so. Using specific facts can heighten your article because it makes it authoritative. However, blend these facts into the article lightly rather than being too formal.

Here I've highlighted a few points that you can follow the next time you write an article, although there are many things that contribute to the success of your article marketing efforts.

Is your site sexy?

Recently on-line classified sites became very popular among the wide Internet public. Why? From the one hand it is a free advertising for the customers that is worth value for their money, from the other- classified and well-structured information in various categories (businesses, products, services) is very useful for those who are looking for some info as it saves their time. According to one freshly research, on-line advertising begins to outrun printed press, though we know that originally free classified advertising appeared in newspaper media.

For example: France Classified provides you with the all info concerning France as well as specific info about all regions of France. Organised information in categories like: Estate Agents, Bed and Breakfast, Professional Services, Building Services, Cars and Motorbikes, Multi Media and more is the nearest goal for the clients that they achieve very quickly. This site is a great help for the citizens of France and tourists.

Reliable, professional classified web ads on France Classified is the best chance to promote your business on-line and excellent way to access what you are looking for! You see now how it works and what does it mean to be a "sexy site" for a buyer and seller, male and female, young and mature. It caters for all tastes!

Secrets We Keep From Those We Love

Everyone keeps a few secrets from a husband or wife, boyfriend and girlfriend. And people keep their secrets for a lot of reasons. Often people are embarrassed or they are fearful of a partner's hostility or possible rejection.

And research shows that it is in one's best interest to keep some things private, especially when partners or spouses are likely to respond poorly to the truth. Being rejected, scorned, or stigmatized does not help any one work through a serious issue.

But, keeping secrets can also be harmful.

Keeping secrets often prevents people from dealing with the problem at hand. Keeping secrets leads to increased stress, anxiety, and it often makes people think about the issue (event or topic) more frequently.

For instance, people who have a secret crush on someone often dwell on their feelings more than people who are able to talk about their feelings out in the open. More often than not, keeping something secret makes it seem more important than it really is.

Likewise, revealing secrets is very helpful when it is done right; that is, in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Revealing secrets can reduce stress, it helps people let go of an issue and think about it more clearly.

If a secret is bothering you, it really does help to get it out - as long people don't respond negatively or use the information against you.

In fact, research shows that the simple task of writing down a secret, even if no one ever reads it, makes people feel better. Writing a secret down reduces stress - it is cathartic.

With this in mind, we have created a place where people can anonymously reveal the secrets they keep. Maybe you will find that letting go of one of your own secrets is helpful and not so embarrassing after all.

Immense Thoughts, Immense Ambitions, Immense Results!

Big thoughts and big actions. Do them together and you can certainly make your dreams come alive. This process is simple and direct, as you just need to apply the law of manifestation.

The size of your thinking determines the greatness you are going to achieve in life. Think small and you will live small. The guts and dare to think big, you are going to achieve a whole new level of results. Dream of a small car in life then that's what you are going to receive. Desire more and willing to work to get that more, you are going to get more.

Emotions and feelings are the motivation fuel. Your feelings of "I want this very badly" will spur your commitment and determination to a level that would allow you to push past your limits and comfort zone to reach your goals. Search deep inside you to truly understand the reasons "WHY" you need to reach those goals. Once you understand them, pen your goals down on paper to create an impression in your subconscious mind.

Following that, take BIG actions that correspond to your great and big thoughts! If you are searching for your dream house, see how much it costs and plan it out on how to obtain the dream house of yours. Dream and visualize about your dream house everyday. In this way, it activates the law of attraction and simultaneously you start to attract people and events that relates to your thoughts. Stay alert for "coincidences" from the universe – for example, suddenly meeting an architect or anyone who can help you get that dream house.

Keep an open mind when it comes to your strategies and action plan. If you find your strategies are not getting you to where you want to be. Change! However, bear in mind that you only change your plans and not you goals. It's easy to give up when the going gets tough but it takes commitment, determination and guts to persist and ultimately succeed. Remember, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going!

Gordie Taught Them All Howe

Gordie Howe entered the National Hockey League in 1946 at the age of eighteen. Entering the NHL at 18 has been common among many young professional hockey players throughout the decades, but what Howe did in his career was anything but common. Howe played in over 2,400 games, scored over 1,000 goals and over 1,500 assists during his career. He was on four Stanley Cup Champion teams with the Detroit Red Wings.

When Howe was a rookie, the NHL had six teams. When Howe retired for the first time in 1971, the National Hockey League doubled. Clarence Campbell, the NHL president in 1971, said, "Gordie, when you entered into the league, hockey was a Canadian sport. As you exit, you have made it a North American sport!" . One of Howe's biggest fans was Wayne Gretzky, who played from 1979 to 1999. Gretzky is also one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Howe and Gretzky inspired thousands of players around the world. Howe was a pioneer with hockey expansion because professional hockey is now played on other continents, such as Europe. Howe loved hockey so much that he played over three decades and his passion for the game flourished around the world.

1. Howe played professional hockey for 32 years
Howe's hockey career spanned from 1946 to 1980. Howe did not play for two seasons after his first retirement in 1971. For six of the seasons, Howe played in the World Hockey Association, another professional hockey league, which Wayne Gretzky also played. The WHA ended in 1979.

Many of your careers will last many decades. Will you evoke the same passion in your career as Howe did? Howe did not have to come back to play hockey in 1973 at the age of 45, but he did for his love of the game. Howe defines what it's like to have passion for one's career.

2. In the 1979-80 season, Howe, at age 52, played all 80 games and was leading scorer for most of the season.
For most of you, working many days and weeks in a row may seem tiresome. Howe played one of the most physically-rigorous sports and played in every game in his last season at age 52. He retired after the 1979-80 season. Considering that many professional hockey players retire in their thirties, Howe proved that age is only a number and not a state of mind. How many of you think that you are too old to do something? Gordie Howe didn't make any excuses.

3. Howe was a very versatile player
Howe played positions of center, right-wing and defense and could shoot right or left-handed. He was a physically tough player and was the top scorer of all time until Wayne Gretzky broke his record. Howe's versatility made him the player that he was.

Many of you have skills, but are there other skills that you could obtain on the job or by taking a class that would make you even more valuable and resourceful in the workforce? Howe epitomized versatility and the ability to multi-task before the term "multi-tasking" was even coined.

Do you love what you do for a living? You don't have to be one of the greatest hockey players of all time to love your career.

Howe greatly influenced Wayne Gretzky, who is also one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Who are some of the people that you have greatly influenced? Although it may not be likely that you will greatly influence Hall of Fame hockey players, you will influence people nonetheless. You never know if you will greatly influence a great author who writes a terrific novel, the scientist who cures cancer, or a teacher, who may go on to inspire other influential people. You never know whom you will inspire.

What Style of Biker Are You?

From touring to off-road riding to track riding to cyclo-riding to recreational biking-there are almost as many different styles of riding as there are bikes. The following is a discussion of three of the most popular styles of biking today.

Street/Urban Riding
Street/Urban riding is when you bike through urban areas, ride on ledges and other man-made obstacles. Some riders execute tricks as well as stalls and grinds. Hybrid bikes, sometimes called city bikes, are typically used for street/urban riding. Hybrid bikes are a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike. Most have front suspension with wide comfortable seats and upright handlebars.

Free Riding
The essence of free riding has it origins on the shores of British Columbia. As some free riders have explained it, free riding is more than just riding, it's about riding with your friends and doing things on your bike that push the limits of both yourself and your bike. It's not about being the fastest or coming up with a new trick. Rather, it's about being totally free on your bike. Free riding is different for everyone. Essentially, when you ride for pure enjoyment, do your own thing, in your own way, that's free riding--making it more of a mindset than a structured style of riding. For example, you could free ride downhill, cross-country or down the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland.

Many free ride bikes closely resemble downhill bikes and weigh as much, although they are usually designed to be easier to pedal. Free ride bikes should be in the 30 to upper 50 pound range, have a steeper angled frame in order to make maneuvering on narrow obstacles possible, and be built from stronger, heavier materials.

Downhill Mountain Biking
If you think downhill biking is all about kicking back, stretching your arms and cruising at a leisurely pace, think again. Even though it's all downhill, biking down a mountain demands concentration, quick reflexes and bike-handling skills much different than free riding or city riding. It's also a blast! Downhill mountain biking races involve race courses that are designed for riders to speed down while navigating huge jumps, obstacles and more. It's very similar to motor cross racing.

While it's true that all bikes go downhill, bikes that provide the optimum ride for Downhill Mountain Biking have what is called full suspension. This means that the front and rear of the frame are equipped with shock absorbers.

The Good & The Bad Of Office Romance

Professionals often spend significantly more time at the office than at home. So much so that there is always a generous amount of single men and single women who don't have the time to meet new people. So the logical choice for them to meet other single men and women is naturally, the office.

When single people spend at least 40 hours, in some professions 50 hours and more, with like minded people of similar backgrounds and interests, relationships are a tempting side effect. Although it's a logical choice to look within the office for romance, there are definitely good and bad aspects to the office dating scene.

The good in office dating

There are several advantages to office dating one of which is obvious -- the time you have to check out the available singles is during your work hours so no longer do the constraints of office hours apply. Also the awkwardness of first introductions is usually eliminated as initial conversations are done within the pretense of a work environment once again relieving the stress of having to make such a critical first impression since the impression would be based on some sort of work objective as opposed to strictly a personal objective like you would have in the normal dating process.

A second advantage is knowing the person before you date them, at least to some degree. The truth is you may interact with a potential date several times on a business level and get to know something about their personality and themselves without being on the spot as you would in a normal social setting. This helps avoid the common pitfall of most early relationships -- incompatibility.

A final advantage, is the ability to quickly build a relationship as the time you see each other is significantly more than people who would meet outside the work place?

The bad in office dating

As with any dating scenario there is defiantly a bad side to office romance. For example just as being in constant contact with each other due to sharing an office can be an advantage it can also be a huge disadvantage. This amount of time spent together can cause a relationship to fall apart just as quickly as it developed, why? We all need alone time and seeing each other five days a week for eight hours or more and then spending time together on the weekends makes for precious little alone time.

Another disadvantage to the office romance is when a person must exercise their professional responsibilities which might include having to discipline or even fire the person they are dating . Although this might seem like a remote idea when you being the relationship, I don't think you would be very comfortable having to tell your boyfriend or girlfriend, "your fired". Another example of this might be a need for one of the participants to go out of their way to show the rest of the office they are not playing favorites maybe even to the point of not promoting the person even though they might be the most deserving.

A final disadvantage to office dating could be jealousy especially if the relationship is "under cover". If you see your officemates flirting with your date the natural reaction would be negative and why would being in a office environment generate any other reaction than a natural one? With that reaction might come a unnecessary reaction including punishing someone for something that is not work related at all.

Before you entertain the thought of dating the cute secretary on the fourth floor or the hot hunk VP you saw during the last office meeting, entertain the consequences of dating that person, balance the pros and cons and if you decide to move foreward keep an eye out for all of the things that can go wrong and have an understanding of how you might handle any of those situations. Remember you are dating a professional single so to keep your job keep the professional in front of the single.

Do We Relate Differently With Family Compared To Friends

So many times, you will hear from someone that they are so and so. They are from the xyz family. They would say. Their family is famous for this and this, they would add. Family and a strong sense of belonging to our last name is important to many of us. Even if someone's great great grandfather/grandmother was distantly related to the monarch of that country or a very rich family, ages ago, one remembers that and recollects that fact with pride. Common blood stream coming down the ages makes a big difference to a lot of us. Leave aside common people, in this modern age, even kings and queens are decided by heredity and not by qualities.

I will talk of an imaginary situation. Say, I have a cousin, who I meet once a year. And I have a friend, with whom I share all my successes and failures and meet at least once a week. If a quirk of fate is drowning both and I am given the choice of saving only one of them, whom shall I chose? My decision will be dependent on my sense of belonging to common family and the value I put to my friendship. This decision may be tough to make, but I will have to make it and live with it for the rest of my life. What would you do, if such a situation arises in your life?

Is man a logical animal? Do we behave and act in ways that are governed by certain rules? No! We all have our own rules, and values. We all look at the same situation very differently. Our reactions are very different during the times, when it comes to crux issues. I have seen examples where, if the men of two families break their friendship, both the families follow. Everybody says bye to the other family, as if every other relationship of friendship that was shared amongst the members of both the families never mattered!

It all depends on one's values. It also depends on the values of a nation. Citizens of a nation talk of the royal family in a hushed tone, watch over their every movement, look at all the pluses and minuses. Why? The smallest kid of the royal family becomes a celebrity right from the birth. Why? It all boils down to values.

Before this discussion talks only about family, let us all remember that, for many of us friendships matter more than ties of blood. Qualities are more important than inheritance. For many of us the most important factor is the person and not any other tag attached with that person.

Saving Time While Booking Travel Online

Before they haul out the big suitcase, before they put a hold on the mail and before they make house- and pet-sitting arrangements, a growing number of American travelers are taking a different sort of trip: a trip online.

That's because travel arrangements have evolved, with Web sites often taking the place of travel agents in the organization and planning of family vacations, weekend getaways, business trips and more. In addition, in 2005, four out of five Americans who arranged trips on the Web also bought their tickets online, up from 70 percent in 2004.

When booking a trip, many consumers use a site such as Expedia, Travelocity or Orbitz. These sites are known as online travel agencies, or OTAs, and they work by rapidly searching through many travel suppliers, such as airlines, hotel chains, etc.

Meanwhile, a recent study conducted by MSN and Harris Interactive says that 75 percent of U.S. adults who have ever taken a vacation visit three or more Web sites when researching and booking their travel plans. The question then becomes, why do consumers search multiple sites when planning and booking travel?

Many do so hoping to find a great deal. But is it worth it to shop around? The answer is yes; no one OTA searches all of the travel suppliers in the United States, and each OTA has different arrangements giving them access to deals the others don't have.

Oftentimes, consumers miss out on finding the best deals for their trips because they don't shop around enough or they don't know where to look. One Web site, BookingBuddy.com, has all of the travel sites-from Expedia to Travelocity to JetBlue to Hertz-under one roof. While the site doesn't sell travel, it makes it easier and faster for consumers to book travel.

A site such as this lets users enter their itinerary once and then search any OTA or travel supplier without having to type in the Web address and itinerary over and over again. It's a big time savings, and because it's comprehensive, consumers won't miss out on a site just because they didn't know about it or didn't remember it.

And as with other OTAs, consumers can use BookingBuddy as a one-stop shopping portal for hotels, package deals and car rentals.

Shopping Throughout Asia: Find Hidden Treasures Among the World's Finest Clothing and Jewelry

In between climbing pagodas and snapping pictures of golden goddesses, most travelers to Asia take time to visit the shopping districts. The quality and selection of designer clothing and extravagant items found in shops across Asia will not disappoint those with a penchant for luxury goods. From China to India, great buys are available for those who know what to look for.

Mainland China is a fantastic place to find extravagant jewelry at discount prices. Jewelry markets are filled with glittering gems and beautiful jade pieces abound.

Exquisite strands of high quality, lustrous pearls are easy to find in China. When purchasing jewelry in mainland China, feel free to bargain. It's the way business is done in China, and most owners of small shops expect it.

There have been cases of shopkeepers taking advantage of tourists, and the best defense is knowledge. If buying pearls, test them against your teeth for roughness. You might want to test both a real pearl and faux pearl in advance to make sure you can recognize the difference. For gems, consider purchasing a jeweler's loupe and learning to use it. Be especially careful when buying jade, since it can be difficult to tell true jade from false.

Silk is also a good buy in China. Stores that sell lengths of fabric and silk garments are abundant, and some shops will make a shirt or dress from the silk fabric of your choosing.

Because there is no sales tax in Hong Kong and imported goods are not taxed, designer clothing can be purchased there for excellent prices. Bargains can be found on cameras and electronics, but make sure you know the going prices for these items so you'll be able to spot a good deal. Hong Kong is also an excellent place to buy watches and jewelry.

Thailand is another great source for jewelry. Unfortunately, dishonest jewelry dealers are plentiful. Never follow any "helpful" individual who offers to lead you to a jewelry store with incredible bargains - it's probably a scam. To avoid being cheated it's best to deal with a respectable jewelry firm, preferably one that is a member of the Jewel Fest Club. The Tourism Authority of Thailand founded this reputable organization, and member stores are listed in a booklet and display the Jewel Fest Club logo.

In India you can find many items made from the amazing textiles created in the country. Clothing, tablecloths, towels and other household goods are good buys here.

Jewelry is also a good buy in India, but again, beware of fakes and frauds.

Eleuthera's 5 best beaches

With all the beaches to choose from on the two, long 100-mile shorelines of Eleuthera, which ones stand out and why? You have a choice of among 50 or so, and unless you are planning on spending three to six months on the island exploring all of the pock-marked rough roads that take you to each of the hidden beaches then you'll want to know which ones to make sure you get to. Here is a list of the beaches that are the "must-sees" during your week in paradise.

#5 Twin Bay (Rainbow Bay Subdivision) – these two charming beaches win the contest hands down for the most romantic. Set below a cliff, Twin Bay offers two cozy cave beaches with space so intimate that they're really only suitable for one couple lest you invade on another's privacy. You need to get up early to claim this beach first. Both beaches are side by side on the Atlantic side and are reached by climbing down a set of rock stairs carved out of a fallen boulder. They each offer shade in the sandy cave, some sun by the water's edge, and a lot of wave action due to the nearby breaker. It is possible to have a strong current. In high tides they will flood so be prepared in case the water levels rise. Be sure to pack a picnic lunch and grab a bottle of wine to enjoy the full day at these amazing little beaches.

Pluses: Seclusion, shade, interesting terrain due to the caves, good waves.

Minuses: They may already be occupied, strong current, not a lot of sun, a steep climb down rocky stairs.

#4 Ten Bay (Ten Bay Subdivision) – with only one private home on the beach and with ½ mile of gorgeous pink sand, Ten Bay has become a favorite for everyone, young and old alike. It offers a spectacular unobstructed view onto the horizon for picturesque sunsets. The landscape is dotted with tall palm and casuarina trees for shade especially around the middle of the beach. The water is usually very serene and quite shallow with no current. This is a good beach for sunning, wading, snorkeling, and bonefishing. This is an excellent beach for toddlers because of the soft cool sand and shallow waters. It tends to be more popular so you are likely to see a few visitors on the beach from time to time. It is also a good strolling beach, and there is usually an abundance of conch shells at its northern end.

Pluses: Sunsets, extremely clean, shallow calm water, good snorkeling around the sides of the bay, lots of sun, shelling.

Minuses: Other people on the beach, no waves, shallow water.

#3 Double Bay (Double Bay Subdivision) – this beach has it all and is one of the great wide Atlantic beaches of Eleuthera. Private houses are spread far and wide up its 2 mile coastline and they are largely hidden by dunes, and lush vegetation. The beach is quite wide by Eleutheran standards with plenty of sand between the dunes and the sea. A pretty landscape is dotted by several small cays, and the southern shore juts out convincingly separating Double Bay from Savannah Sound. The sand is firm and offers a great walk due to its length. There are small pockets of reef to snorkel on and at the southern end of the beach are two shipwrecks, one partially visible, and the second larger one much further out from shore offering a more daring snorkel and spear fishing. The water is delightful, and this is an excellent swimming spot due to how quickly it gets deep. This beach has awesome ambient sound as the small waves crashing to shore offer a delightful tone to complement the magnificent view.
Pluses: Swimming, lots of beach, shipwrecks for snorkeling, interesting landscape, good walking or running, easy roads and easy access.
Minuses: Very little shade, few access spots, many private houses, ship debris.

#2 Jack's Bay (near Cotton Bay) – a very pristine spot with very few houses. Because of its remoteness you are likely to have this beach to yourself. It is a sandy half moon bay on the Atlantic, which is protected by a strong breaker at the mouth of the bay. This has the benefit of providing great crashing waves that you can see and hear offshore while providing a protected swimming area close to shore. There is lots of sun and little shade on this beach. Snorkeling can be done along the northern shoreline, although the tides can make this quite shallow. The water in the bay tends to be shallow and calm due to how well protected it is. There are lots of baby conchs in the grassy areas off of the shoreline.

Pluses: Calm protected waters, wave sound at bay entrance, pretty half moon shape.

Minuses: Little shade, no waves, few shells, some debris, bumpy access road.

#1 Lighthouse Beach (Lighthouse Sound) – few beaches match the raw beauty of what is found at the Lighthouse. With large beaches on both the Caribbean and Atlantic separated by a natural limestone outcropping that can be climbed to where the old Lighthouse still stands, these beaches offer everything a vacationer could hope for including breathtaking panoramic views, interesting limestone caves, miles and miles of pristine beaches, and fabulous swimming on both sides and in both oceans. It is possible to swim from the Atlantic to the Caribbean using the channel that runs between the rocks and feel the power or two seas colliding. The best reefs are far offshore for snorkeling and currents can run strong where the oceans meet so be careful. Bring a kayak to reach the best offshore snorkeling spots.

Pluses: Elevated views, two beaches, two oceans, miles of sand and water, good snorkeling offshore, lots of shady spots, lots of sunny spots.

Minuses: Difficult to reach and rough road, no civilization nearby, likely to have other tourists because of its unique characteristics.

Honorable Mention
Papaw Bay, Winding Bay, Deep Creek, Club Med, Savannah Sound, Airport Beach, Rainbow Bay, Windermere Island (private).

London open air events in june 2008

From the 3rd of June until the 9th of August (2008) the Holland Park Theatre (Holland Park Theatre, W8 6LU) hosts the Opera Holland Park event. This remarkable opera company, that has defied expectation and budgets to produce productions of the very highest standard, proposes Italian operas such like 'Il Trovatore', 'Tosca', Donizetti's 'La Fille du Regiment', and Ponchielli's 'La Gioconda' but also 'The Magic Flute' and Tchaikovsky's odd fairytale 'Iolanta'. The perfect scenery of the west London's prettiest park contributes to create a magical atmosphere for all the productions! All venues are hosted in the magic Holland Park Theatre and start from about 7.30 pm. The Park is easily reachable by tube, stop Holland Park. Prices are also very affordable and range from 10-52 pounds. For more information you can contact the organization at 020 7361 2295.

For something similar but probably more familiar and easy going, you should spend an evening at Kenwood House (Hampstead Heath, NW3 7JR) where every summer (this year from 28th June- 23rd August 2008)

they organize Picnic Concerts. What is this? Let's start saying that Kenwood House is a magnificent stately home on Hampstead Heath surrounded by a gorgeous green park, with its own lake, keeping the city beyond. This is certainly one of the finest settings where to cherish fine music on a mid-summer warm evening.

How to proceed? Well, first of all, organize your friends in a sort of pot luck where everybody takes in something to eat. Do not forget to take a bottle of champagne, a couple of good pillows and a blanket! It will be just perfect! The concerts usually take place at sunset. This summer programme includes Buena Vista Social Club, West End royalty Michael Ball and Lesley Garret, Beach Boys genius Brain. For all details contact the organizers directly!

If you like open air performances and events, you should take note that from 2nd June- 3rd September 2008, Regent's Park (Nearest Station: Baker Street Tube / Regent's Park Tube) organizes the 76th season for the Open Air Theatre. One of the biggest draw is 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', under a darkening summer sky, surrounded by English parkland. Probably adapted for tourists, or not an English mother-tongue audience, or teen-agers, this year they perform a new production, shortened and with some of the difficult words cut out. The other Shakespeare is an unseasonable 'Twelfth Night' and a 'Romeo and Juliet'. For details of the programme you can contact the organizers directly at 0870 601811. Prices range from £8 - £40.
Sleeping in London can cost you a fortune even if you are trusting in a last minute offer.

There are some website that compare prices and services in London hotels all in one page and are quite efficient. They offer online confirmed bookings that grant you a confirmed reservation usually up to 3 days in advance your check in date. So try searching online, using some keywords in search engines that will give you a more restrictive and focused selection. In order to better select the range of budget accommodations in London, try with keywords cheap accommodation London, cheap hostels London, cheap B&B ( Bed and Breakfast) London.

Among other bookers, we noticed that a few offer what they promise. Flashbooking.com for example is targeted for cheap young users, independent travellers, family budget accommodation and lists a consistent number of accommodations like hotels, B&B, guest houses and youth hostels starting form 15 euros per person per night. Not bad! Some other sites are more informative and can give you tips on London night life and events like Timeout. So do you best and look for a central location where to stay without spending a fortune!

No Shortage Of Attractions In New Jersey

The state of New Jersey is a mix of a variety of different attractions including beaches, gambling, gardens and historic landmarks. The largest city in New Jersey is Newark which has the famous Newark Museum which has a large collection of fine art to enjoy. Then there is Jersey City which has the Liberty State Park and the Liberty Science Center. Jersey City also offers a number of amusement piers and shoreline scenes. For the arts scene an excellent option is the city of Asbury Park. The largest gambling town in New Jersey is Atlantic City. Or you can visit the state capital at Trenton. For skiing and hiking an excellent option is the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Located just across the Hudson River from Manhattan is Jersey City. There are some excellent attractions that you should see when staying in Jersey City. Among these are the Washington Rock State Park and Liberty State Park which have over a thousand acres and many recreational activities to choose from including walking, horseback riding and boating. Located within these parks is also the Liberation Monument, Liberty Walkway and Liberty Science Center. A large attraction is the Colgate Clock which faces towards the bay with a 2,200 pound minute hand that moves twenty-three inches every minute.

Since the late seventeen hundreds, Trenton has been the capital of New Jersey. Visitors can select a number of activities in this city, but the most attractions are for those who love history. Two of the most popular museums in this city is the New Jersey State Museum and the Old Barracks Museum. To visit preserved colonial buildings and historic sites you can take a walk through the State House and the Mill Hill Historic District. Or you can tour the William Trent House which is believed to be the oldest in the city and is still decorated with many period furnishings.

When it comes to hotel in New Jersey there are two excellent hotel options. The first of these is the twenty-six story W Hotel in Hoboken which features a five thousand square food spa, a fitness center and excellent view of Manhattan across the river. Another option is the Appalachian Hotel which is near the Vernon ski area for those who are traveling in the winter. This hotel is actually a part of the Mountain Creek Village ski resort and has an all season pool, two hot tubs, a fitness center and an excellent location right at the foot of the ski slopes. You can easily find an accommodation to meet your needs in New Jersey by going to http://www.njinns.com where you can find the location of every hotel in New Jersey as well as a schedule of the visiting attractions open during your travel period.

Exercise For Weight Loss

Proper, health exercise is an important part of any weight loss program. Do remember to consult your physician before starting an exercise program. You don't want to hurt yourself!

Ideally, an exercise program will not only help you lose weight, but will help you build muscle and stamina. You also want to design a exercise program that is balanced and exercises each part of your body.

Of course, if you are a member at your local gym, all you have to do is go to your gym, where you can easily do a complete body workout with just a few machines.

If you don't have access to a gym, or you're like me and prefer to work out other ways, you'll want other exercise options.

Biking
Biking is an excellent exercise for losing weight, especially if you are not in good shape to start with. If you choose a relatively flat route and start out with short distances, you can start out very easily and work up to more strenuous rides. Be sure, though, that you are properly outfitted with an appropriate bike and equipment – visit your local bike shop for help and advice.

Swimming
Swimming is another excellent exercise for losing weight. It is not hard on the body, but provides an excellent workout. Especially if you are a novice at swimming, you should swim in a pool with a lifeguard. If you don't know how to swim, check your yellow pages or ask around – you can get swimming lessons pretty cheaply most places.

Running
Running is a great way to lose weight and get in shape, but it is harder on your body than swimming or biking. If you need to lose weight, you should probably start out with one of the other exercises until you get into better shape. Keep in mind that running and biking both work the legs, but they do work different primary muscles.

Don't wait – start and exercise program today to lose weight!

Weight Loss Made Easy

Weight loss is a major problem in U.S. Every day there is a formula or a new method to loose excess weight or to get rid of obesity. There have been scientific interventions in midst of natural ways of loosing weight. Many people in US follow different methods to keep themselves happy.

The health experts recently mentioned the only loosing of weight can be done through natural process. There are people who intake weight loss tablets or medicines, this can create a huge misunderstanding within the system of body and can really carry a lot of negative implications as one starts aging.

The best remedy for the weight loss is through natural process, this was the basic conclusion by the experts. Natural process of weight loss comes with understanding your body and really taking to heart that you need to reduce weight for your own sake and your body's sake.

Before going to natural way of losing weight or weight loss method, it is best to take consultation from your personal health expert, taking suggestions from him or her for the best way to go around in losing the excess weight.

Some of the methods that many health experts suggest for losing weight is watching the diet, exercising and drinking lot of water. Health experts once came to say that, drinking 2-3 bottles of water daily can reduce obesity in no time, people have not been able to grasp that well, but water really plays a great affect in keeping one fit and healthy.

Obesity is an illness and some times it is psychologically in the head. It is important to remove any negativity from the head about your obesity and move on to having a healthy life style. Most people in U.S are suffering the problems of obesity for the very reason of being obese and not ever being able to come to a normal lifestyle. People need to really take it serious and to heart, that obesity is just a illness in head and once people decide to lose weight by proper implications than it is easy to lose weight in no time.

Losing weight is not difficult, it is an easy method. Losing weight involves, taking care of diet, taking care of intake on calories, drinking to the most 2- 3 bottles of water every day and exercising. These are the best methods to lose weight and gain confidence about your self.

Major observation given in losing the weight is watching the intake on calories every day. People have no balance on what they are eating every day. Many testimonials of obese people who have lost weight have said that, they never maintained their calorie levels daily, they had no control over it and they kept eating till they were tired. But once they started maintaining a diary on the intake of calories they have in a day that changed the whole perspective for them. They also made a point of exercising for one hour in a day, which is said to be more than enough period to lose on extra fats in a day.