Places of Interest in Spain - Pamplona

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Pamplona is also called Laso Iruñea or Iruña in Basque. Pamplona is the main town in the province of Navarre. Moreover, it was the capital of the ancient Navarre kingdom. This city is world famous for the festival of San Fermin, where the operation of bulls or Bull Run is one of the biggest attractions. This festival called San Fermines by the locals was brought to the world's attention with Ernest Hemingway's first novel.

Location

Place of Pamplona is located in the center of Navarre in a valley known as the Pamplona Basin which connects the northern mountains to the valley of the Ebro. Furthermore, it is 92 km from the city of San Sebastian and 407 miles from the capital Madrid. The climate and landscape is a transition between the two main geographical regions of Navarre. Its central location at the crossroads served as a trade link between the very different parts of the natural beauties of Navarre.

History

In 1975-1974, the region was used as the field for the Roman General Pompey in the war with Sertorius. He is assumed to be the founder of Pompaelo, which was Pamplona later. It is also assumed that Pamplona was the capital of the Vascones and they called it Pampilona. Although it cannot be regarded as one of the leading cities of Roman Hispania, latest archaeological researches have shown a high degree of development.

3 Burgos

In the 11th century in the spur of economic development Pamplona resumed its life. Bishops from Pamplona regained their leadership church which was in previous centuries in isolated monasteries and they actually emerged as the religious authority. The pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela had done much to boost trade and cultural ties with Christian Europe beyond the Pyrenees.

Urban growth

Urban growth has been accompanied by the development of industry and services. Population growth was the result of strong immigration process in 1960 and 1970: Navarre is rural and less developed than other places in Spain, especially Castilla y Leon and Andalusia. Since 1990, immigration is mostly from abroad.

Like many other European cities, it is very easy to distinguish what is called Old Town (Casco Viejo) and the new neighborhoods. The oldest part of the old town is equivalent to the Roman city Navarrería. During the 12th century neighborhoods in Saint-Sernin (San Saturnino and San Cernin) and Saint-Nicolas (San Nicolás) were established. Charles III united three sites under a single municipality in 1423.

Read about rent villas spain also read about villa rental ibiza.

Are You a Lucky Number 3 Person?

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You are decidedly ambitious, you are never satisfied by being insubordinate positions; your aim is to rise in the world, to have control and authority over others. You are excellent in the execution of commands; you love order and discipline in all things, you readily obey orders yourself, but you also insist on having your orders obeyed. You often rise to the very highest positions in any business, profession or sphere in which you may be found. You often excel in positions of authority in life generally; and especially in all posts of trust the responsibility, as you are extremely conscientious in carrying out your duties. Your faults are that you are inclined to be dictatorial, to lay down the law and to insist on carrying out your own duties. For this reason, although you are not quarrelsome, you succeed in making some enemies. You are singularly proud; you dislike being under an obligation to others; you are also exceptionally independent, and chafe under the least restraint. You have best qualities like dignity, honour, name, fame, higher intuition, royal place, higher philosophy, sacrifice, etc. Your eyes will reflect the brilliance. You are ambitious by nature and occupy high positions in life. You are noted for self-confidence and noted for reliability. There is sympathy and warmth in your speech. You like order, system and punctuality. You laugh and enjoy laughter.

OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN:

On the reverse side, some people are extravagant and selfish. Leadership is the key of this number.

HEALTH:

As a Natural Rule: You should always be careful about your Health, because we are all human beings.

In matters of health, you may generally face skin ailments. You may develop some tendency to over-strain. Taking regularly pomegranates, apples, and saffron is good. No. 3person may suffer from over-strain of the nervous system, generally brought on by overwork and your desire not to spare yourself in anything you do. So avoid this type of tendency.

HERBS AND FRUITS FOR YOU:

Beets, Borage, Bilberries, Asparagus, Dandelion, Endive, Ewerwort, Lungwort, Sage,Cherries, Barberries, Strawberries, Apples mulberries, Peaches, Olives, Rhubarb,Gooseberries, Pomegranates, Pineapples, Grapes, Mint, Saffron, Nutmegs, Cloves, Sweet Marjoram, St. John's Wort, Almonds, Fings, Hazel-Nuts, And Wheat.

IMPORTANT CHANGES IN HEALTH:

Your 12th year,

21st year,

30th year,

39th year,

48th year,

57th year,

66th year.

MONTHS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HEALTH EVERY YEAR:

December, February, June and September.

LUCKY DAY OF THE WEEK:

Thursday.

MOST FORTUNATE COLOURS FOR YOU:

You should wear some shade of mauve, violet or purple, or some touch of these colours should always be with you, also in the rooms in which you live. All shades of blue,crimson, and rose are also favourable to you, but more as secondary colours. Lotus colour is more appealing to you.

LUCKY STONES:

Amethyst And Simply A Gold Ring Without Any Stone Is Enough.

BENEFICIAL YEARS FOR YOU:

2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, etc.

DIFFICULT YEARS FOR YOU:

2012, 2013, 2015, etc.

MARRIAGE ALLIANCES:

If you have not got married yet and are not in love with anyone, you may select the following Lucky Number spouses, if possible:

Numbers: 1, 2, 4, 7, 9 and 3.

AVOID: 5, 6 and 8.

FAVOURABLE DIRECTION:

FACE NORTH EAST AT THE WORK SPOT.

MAJOR INNER QUALITIES:

FAME AND DIPLOMACY.

For more information and FREE learning & to know more about these, you may please visit my Blog:

http://learning-numerology.blogspot.com

ROCK SO FRESH SAN DIEGO BBOY crew

rsf!!!!!!!!

Wi-Fi Introduced on TGV Trains

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Officials for the French National Rail Authority, the SNCF, announced earlier this week that Wi-Fi would be introduced as part of a premium service packages available for passengers on TGV East services linking Paris, Lyon and other major cities.

From early December TGV passengers will to access a multiservice free hosting platform which combines Wi-Fi access with a media portal that includes movies, music, games and news-on-demand. Within a month of its introduction, the service will be available to some 11 million passengers who regularly travel on one of fifty-two TGV East trains.

Unfortunately, the luxury of 320km/h internet comes at a price: users will be confronted with a pay wall that asks for credit card verification to pay the 4.99 euro per hour service charge. SNCF executives have stated that the hefty initial hourly rate is to offset infrastructure costs associated with bringing a reliable Wi-Fi connection to a rapid transit environment.

1st and 2nd class travellers alike will have access to internet browsing, downloads and a host of multimedia services throughout their journey with TGV East. The success of the project was driven by partner projects that range from high-end telecommunications infrastructure companies to domestic and foreign content providers.

Online media will come from France 24, RFI and Le Monde, and customers will enjoy domain hosting of custom-generated information on weather, horoscopes, news culture and gaming. If the service succeeds on the TGV East lines, authorities have already discussed the possibility of unveiling the service nationwide on all of the Grandes Lignes.

Since Italian rail giant Thalys first introduced high-speed internet on its high speed trains back in 2008, rail providers across Europe have been searching out profitable methods of implementing a similar standard of service.

I'm 19 and from Devon, England. I like computers, surfing, music, and television though I'm not quite sure what to do with my life. I finished college last year, read every day and spend too much time on the internet. I usually write reviews and think-pieces about IT, free hosting, tech, gadgets Google and whatever else strikes my fancy.

CTA ADVENTURES

While riding the CTA Brown Line home from work I get hit on and solicited for... um... yeah.

Chicago - Liberation [part 1]

According to Billboard chart statistics, Chicago is second only to the Beach Boys as the most successful American rock band of all time, in terms of both albums and singles. Judged by album sales, as certified by the RIAA, the band does not rank quite so high, but it is still among the Top Ten best-selling US groups ever. If such statements of fact surprise, that's because Chicago has been singularly underrated since the beginning of its long career, both because of its musical ambitions (to the musicians, rock is only one of several styles of music to be used and blended, along with classical, jazz, R&B, and pop) and because of its refusal to emphasize celebrity over the music. The result has been that fundamentalist rock critics have consistently failed to appreciate its music and that its media profile has always been low. At the same time, however, Chicago has succeeded in the ways it intended to. From the beginning of its emergence as a national act, it has been able to fill arenas with satisfied fans. And beyond the impressive sales and chart statistics, its music has endured, played constantly on the radio and instantly familiar to tens of millions. When, in 2002, Chicago's biggest hits were assembled together on the two-disc set The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning and the album debuted in the Top 50, giving the band the distinction of having had chart albums in five consecutive decades, the music industry and some music journalists may have been startled ...

Growing Faith in a Community's Future

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Today, I'm riding the spanking new, Valley Metro, light rail. I'm not going anywhere specific, particularly. (I'll just feel a brief moment of exhilaration about experiencing a travel modality that is quiet and efficient, and a twinge of modest vindication.) But metropolitan Phoenix surely is.

This is a leap forward in mass transit and in urban planning for America's fifth largest city. It's been a long journey getting here. Here's a bit of history. In 1985, Phoenix had an election for a joint regional freeway RPTA entitled Proposition 300; this was to secure tax funding for the development of a regional Maricopa County freeway system over 20 years (tentative completion by 2005). The initiative also created the Regional Public Transit Authority, whose small percentage of the freeway tax was to be used to plan, design and find a funding source for a regional transit system within 5 years.

By Prop 300 requirements, the RPTA was created to design a transit plan. In 1989, the agency proposed an initiative to secure a one-percent sales tax funding source over 30 years for the following components: A regional Maricopa County-wide bus system (7 day-a-week service on every major street in the county), regional-express rapid-bus transit system, multiple commuter trains which would use freight railroad tracks and a 103-mile, elevated, double track, 60 mph rapid-train system. It was totally ambitious, this VALTRANS plan. It made for a very contentious election, in which many voters felt that the plan was too large, too long, too expensive but, somehow, not detailed enough. Even more voters did not like the idea of transit vehicles travelling overhead above neighborhood backyards and streets. Still more were skeptical, concluding that despite the County's 1985 freeway tax imposed four years earlier, only 10-15 miles of freeway had been built with the taxes collected-so who was to say this wasn't another boondoggle for a few vested interests?

Having served on the City of Phoenix's Surface Transportation Advisory Board for 3 or 4 years beginning about 1985-86, I was recruited by the RPTA proponents to become a vocal supporter of the initiative. I felt up to the task, since I had spent years in Naples, Italy and metropolitan Washington, D.C. depending on mass transit, and I particularly was a fan of the Paris Metro and bus system that Peggy and I rode for miles daily during the first year of our marriage. No one prepared me for the public hostility awaiting me at Kiwanis breakfasts and Rotary lunches where panels or debates on the proposition usually spoiled the meals. Many agendas emerged in the opposition to the VALTRANS proposition, but it clearly was doomed--very early in the pre-election process--and no one was shocked that the voters savaged it by a 3-1 margin.

It seemed not so much that the valley was populated by backward-thinking people. Much of the resistance was from folks who weren't ready to abandon driving their cars, and/or didn't especially care to emulate the transit-heavy eastern cities from which they had migrated westward (New York/NJ, Chicago). Since much of the in-migration of the 1980s was from California, many newer arrivals weren't frustrated by habits of spending hours in vehicles commuting daily. Some of the local communities' entrenched leaders were convinced that freeways alone would address the pressures of sustained growth-and they had waited too long already for the funding with which to lay asphalt.

Well, perhaps that hasn't changed much. Honestly, it doesn't matter tremendously whether the over-40 crowd doesn't ride light rail here. There aren't going to be that many converts among those with a reserved parking stall (except when they realize they are needlessly paying a premium to sit for 30 minutes in a parking garage downtown after a Suns or Diamondbacks game). It's enough that parents don't forbid their children to ride. Those who aren't predisposed to disregard mass transit as a viable mode for travel will in time create the critical mass to reach the "tipping point," where light rail becomes, beyond vogue, a behavior pattern. I used to think that it would take about 25 years for that to happen, but I'm going to make an optimistic prediction: 15 years, and the Valley Metro ridership will more than cover the expense of its ongoing maintenance. If I'm crazy, then Denver is collective-crazy. Take a look at the acceptance of rail travel in the business and hospitality sector corridors in that city. There's no Portland-tree-hugging, chip-on-the-shoulder attitude in Denver. It's Middle America; and the population there understands that transit solves an urbanization problem. And take a look at the impact of Denver transit on its urban form, too. Perhaps that's the most exciting potential for Valley Metro-a transit-driven urban form, and the eventual electrification of Phoenix's downtown that some of us have been waiting patiently for-lo, these many decades.

Mike Widener has practiced law in Arizona for 25 years, and is a Certified Specialist in Real Estate Law, according to the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of Arizona. Mike is listed in SuperLawyers (2008 Southwest Edition) and in 1000 People to Know in [Arizona] Commercial Real Estate, 2008-09. Mike's real estate portfolio contains holdings in the States of Florida, Arizona, Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Virginia. You can contact him at (602) 274-1100 or at mnwidener@gmail.com.

A Greener CTA - Clean Air Buses

Public transit is one of the most effective ways urban dwellers can reduce their carbon footprint. CTA is going further in its everyday practices to make Chicago's transit as green as possible. Adding hybrid buses to its fleet is just one of the ways CTA is making a difference. This clip featuring CTA's clean buses is edited from a September 2009 Connections episode about CTA's Green initiatives. Connections is the CTA's monthly cable show - podcastchicago.tv

How a bus changes signs + other very werid things!

This is how a CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) bus changes it's sign and there's a very werid situation at the end....

Injured While Using Public Transportation

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Using public transit systems, such as buses and metros, are many people's preferred method of transportation in large, urban areas, such as New York City. The concentrated population makes driving less efficient and cost-effective. While public transit systems are a great alternative to driving, accidents on public transit do occur and can result in serious injuries, and in extreme cases, even death.

Facts and Figures

New York City has one of the most complex and developed public bus transportation systems in America. In NYC alone:

• There are 4,500 city buses that run along 250 different routes

• Over 2.4 million people ride the city buses every day, and thousands more ride other bus transportation in and around the city (such as charter buses or school buses)

• There were over 500 bus accidents in New York in 2008, resulting in 860 injuries and 12 fatalities

The density of the city often makes public transportation the best option for getting from point A to point B; however, if you are one of the thousand people who were injured on a New York bus last year, you may have the right to file a personal injury claim.

Accidents and Liability

Bus accidents can cause serious injury or even death to passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers. If you have been injured in a bus accident, your case should be investigated for liability. Depending on the circumstances, a number of parties may be liable, such as:

• The bus driver

• The city's public transportation authority

• Another motorist

• Another passenger on the bus

If you have been the victim of another party or person's negligence or recklessness, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for medical expenses, property damages, pain and suffering, lost wages and the wrongful death of a loved one.

For more information about how to receive compensation for an accident involving a city bus, contact the New York City public transportation accident attorneys of Parker Waichman Alonso, LLP today.

James Witherspoon

Transit App Center - Connections - June/July 2010 - Chicago Transit Authority

If you haven't been to the CTA website recently, check it out. There's a new App Center page where you can find the latest web applications to fit your individual transit needs. Find apps made by developers which can help you get where you're going. For more info, visit www.transitchicago.com

An Introduction to New York's Subway and Buses

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New York City has a very comprehensive public transit system. Run by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, also known as the MTA, there are very few areas within the city limits that are not served by trains or buses. In fact, many people find that it is easier to visit Manhattan when they leave their car at home, and there are quite a few life-long New Yorkers who have never had a driver's license. Using this system is easy -- all you need is a map and a MetroCard.

You should never pay for an MTA subway or bus map. These maps are available for free at several locations, including LaGuardia and JFK airports. You can also obtain a subway map at the token booths located in the subway stations. Bus maps of the borough you're in should be available as well. These maps are also posted in each subway station by the token booth, as well as a map of the immediate area. In addition, subway maps are normally posted on the platforms, and in each car. A bus' route and schedule is normally posted at each bus stop.

Regular subway and bus fare is $2.25 a ride, with free transfers between the subway and bus, bus to subway, or between one bus and another, within 2 hours. A reduced fare is available to seniors 65 years old and over. To buy a reduced fare card, seniors need to bring a photo ID to 3 Stone Street in lower Manhattan. Bus fare can be paid with a MetroCard or exact fare in coins, but to take the subway you need a MetroCard.

There are an assortment of MetroCards available for purchase. A one-day "Fun Pass" costs $8.25, and gives the user almost unlimited access to the subway and buses. It expires at 3 am the morning after the first time it's used. For example, if you swipe the one-day Fun Pass for the first time at 8 am on Thursday morning, you can use it as many times as you wish until 3 am on Friday. Other unlimited ride MetroCards are a 7 day pass for $27.00, a 14 day pass for $51.50, and a 30 day pass for $89.00. These cards expire at midnight on the 7th, 14th or 30th day respectively. Unlimited ride cards are for use by one person only. Because of that, they are limited to one swipe every 18 minutes, meaning you'll need to wait 18 minutes after using it before you can use it again.

Pay-per-Ride MetroCards are also available. You can buy or add any dollar amount between $4.50 and $80.00. If you add at least $8.00 at a time, you will gain a 15% bonus on your card. These cards are refillable, and can be swiped up to four times, for four different people at one time. There is no extra cost to purchase a card. Any of the above cards and passes may be purchased at a MetroCard vending machine located at the subway entrances. They are available for purchase elsewhere, but as a visitor to New York City, that will be the easiest place to buy and refill your card. Subway stations with a green ball on the post by the entrance have MetroCard machines, while entrances with a red ball on the post do not.

All MetroCard vending machines take cash, debit or credit. Be aware that if using cash, the vending machine will only return $6.00 in change, and it will be the dollar coins. Except for reduced fare and 30 day unlimited MetroCards, you should treat your card like cash, since it cannot be replaced. You cannot buy a MetroCard on a bus.

You can check the remaining balance, or remaining days, on your MetroCard at the token booths. There will be a card reader on the front of the booth, and you just swipe your card through it to see your remaining balance. No money will be removed from your card when you do this. The remaining balance on your card will also be displayed every time you use it at the turnstile, or on the bus. Pay-per-Ride MetroCards do expire -- the date will be printed on the back of the card -- but it is possible to transfer the remaining balance onto a new card. Just bring it to a token booth clerk within a year after the expiration date.

When using your card at a turnstile, you may see the message, "Swipe card again at this turnstile." Just swipe your card again, and it should take your fare, and let you through. If you move to another turnstile, you may lose that fare, or if your're using an unlimited card, you will need to wait 18 minutes before you can use it again. If it shows the message "Please swipe again," then you may move to a different turnstile without repercussions. If you get the message "See agent," you'll need to go see the token booth clerk to find out what's wrong with your card. Check to make sure you're going in the correct direction before using the turnstile. The entrances to smaller stations often only allow access to the trains going in a single direction. This will be posted before you enter.

If you're traveling with children, up to 3 children under 44" per fare-paying adult are free. If you are using a stroller, you'll need to enter the subway through the emergency exit gate. First, you will need to ask the station attendant to open the gate for you. This may mean standing in line at the token booth. Then, you will swipe your MetroCard at the turnstile closest to the exit gate, and spin it to take the fare. After you do that, the attendant will buzz you through so you can enter. You will also exit the subway through the emergency gate, as well. The MTA recommends you fold your stroller, and carry your child. During rush hour, there may not be enough room on the subway for an unfolded stroller. On buses, you will be required to fold your stroller before you get on.

When entering the subway, you may be approached by someone offering you a "swipe." This person has obtained, possibly illegally, a MetroCard for free, and is selling entry into the subway for cash at a lower price than the fare. It may be risky to take them up on their offer.

All of the information in this article is correct as of September 30, 2010. None of this information in this article applies to the express bus service. Express buses can be identified by the letter "X" before their number, and they have a different fare schedule than the one listed in this article.

Traveling in New York City can be easy with the right tools. Take a bus down 5th Avenue, and see the city for $2.25. Leave your car behind, and avoid high parking rates and expensive parking tickets. Or, drive in, park, and then explore. Leave the traffic jams to others, and become absorbed into the heartbeat of the city.

Colour My World - A Celebration of the music of Chicago

"Colour My World, a Celebration of the music of Chicago" is an 8 piece band consisting of veteran musicians (each with too many credits to list here), who LOVE the great music of Chicago. "Colour My World" came together with a common, sincere appreciation for Chicago's wonderful musical contribution to the whole world... * For more info about this classic tribute to Chicago, check out - www.colourmyworld.com

Visit Boston On The Cheap

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Boston is one of those cities that can combine sports, history, culture and fun. However, it's not known for being particularly cheap. Follow our tips below to see Boston on a shoestring budget with money left over for tea and cream pie.

Once You've Arrived

We love it when airports and public transit systems make it easy for travelers to get into the city center on the cheap. Boston is one of those cities with a rapid bus/subway connection. But no matter how you get to Boston, it’s pretty easy and cheap to get to where the action is.

From the airport, the very cheapest way is to use public transit. Logan airport recently added the Silver Line rapid bus service to connect travelers to the Red Line and the South Rail Station of the MBTA system (subway). The fare is only $1.25 for the bus (another nice feature is that there are change machines inside the airport). The Blue Line also connects to the airport with a shuttle bus. If you want to take the bus directly to and/or from the airport, choose routes 448 or 459.

One of the cool things about Boston is that the airport is accessible by water. If your starting point or destination is as well, check out one of the water shuttles or taxis that serve Logan airport. Some of them aren’t very expensive and definitely add to the experience. In fact, children travel free on the Boston Harbor Water Taxi.

Getting Around Boston

Walking: By far the cheapest way to get around, Boston truly is a walking city. In fact, the Freedom Trail is consistently rated as one of the country's top walks. The city center is fairly compact and there are lots of narrow side streets to explore.

Subway: The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) runs the city’s subway, known to locals at the T. The T generally runs every 15 minutes between 5am and midnight, but check individual stations for exact information. Train lines are organized by color (blue, green, orange and red) as well as by the last stop on the line. The blue line even links with Logan Airport. Each trip costs approximately $1.25, but Visitor’s Passes can be purchased for one day ($7.50), three days ($18.00) and seven days ($35.00). Kids, senior citizens and those with disabilities travel for less.

Bus: The MBTA also runs Boston’s bus service as well as streetcars and trackless trolleys. Though buses can get caught up in rush hour traffic and the effects of the Big Dig, they are still a highly economical way to travel with fares starting at just $0.60. Visitor’s Passes can also be used on city buses. Unfortunately, the trackless trolleys (buses designed to look like trolleys) cost $20 for the day but allow visitors to get on and off as often as they’d like, and stop in front of major attractions.

Free Boston

In a city restricted by entry fees, there are still some attractions that buck the trend and remain free to the public. Take advantage of these bargains while you still can!

Our Choice: Boston Common (Tremont, Beacon, Charles and Boyleston Streets)

Opened in 1634, Boston Common is one of the oldest public parks in the country. Today, the Common and additional Public Gardens occupy 75 prime acres in the center of Boston. Historically, the Common was used to graze cattle, for public hangings, and as a camp ground for British troops before they traveled to Lexington and Concord in 1775. The Common is also the starting point of the Freedom Trail, a walking tour of Colonial and Revolutionary Boston.

Also Notable: Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market (Faneuil Hall Marketplace)

Since 1742, Faneuil Hall (Quincy Market) has been a marketplace and meeting place in downtown Boston. It was at the Hall that Samuel Adams delivered stirring addresses for the cause of American independence, and many city government meetings are still held on the second floor. Today, the first floor is a bustling market, and historical talks are given every thirty minutes.

Old North Church (193 Salem Street)

Built in 1723, the Old North Church is Boston’s oldest church and contains Boston’s highest church steeple. This was the site of the infamous “one if by land, two if by sea” lantern signal as the British approached the city in 1775. Voluntary donations are always welcome, and Episcopal services are still held in the church every Sunday.

Boston Esplanade (Storrow Drive)

On the south bank of the Charles River, the Esplanade is the informal name of the Charles River Reservation park. Throughout the summer, free concerts and movies are routinely held at the Hatch Shell stage. On the 4th of July, the Boston Pops orchestra performs with a fantastic fireworks display, and fireworks are also presented on New Year’s Eve.

The history and culture of Boston should not be missed. A little planning ahead will make it a memorable trip that is easy on your pocketbook. For more ideas on how to visit Boston on the cheap, please visit our website at [http://www.onthecheaptravel.com/].

Happy Travels!

Kadie Kozee is the founder and editor of On The Cheap Travel. She takes great delight on exploring the world's most fascinating places on a minimal budget.

The Aging Workforce - A Disappearing Asset?

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For as long as I can remember, commentators have suggested that all organisations should consider people their "greatest asset". In the boom years of the late 80s and the 90s, this "asset" thinking literally translated to "pay people more and we will keep them". But today, despite higher salaries and benefits, we find people change employers quite regularly. Statistics on change of employer over a working lifetime are hard to come by - estimates range between 3 and 7. The key point however, is that people are now far more willing to change employers than ever before.

Not only do people change jobs more readily, but the workforce is aging. Figures in the US suggest that the average working age is now 41 up from 35 in 1980. By 2015, according to the American Association of Retired Persons, one of every five employees will be at least 55. In the UK, the combination of declining birth rates and greater longevity means that by 2030 the number of people aged 50 and over will have reached 46 per cent of the total UK population, rising from 33 per cent in 2002. These trends are also evident in other developed countries such as France, Germany, Spain and Japan.

An aging population means more people leaving the workforce for retirement. On the other hand, the number of older people who work part-time is also increasing.

These trends represent two challenges for organisations. Firstly, how do we keep our best, most experienced and knowledgeable people? And secondly, how do we make better use of those who are considering retirement?

The answer to the first question is simple (although implementing it may be more challenging). Treat people better, engage them fully and develop employee loyalty. It is long past due that organisations realise that treating people as "their greatest assets", means more than traditional financial asset management through pay and benefits.

However keeping older people employed and thus reducing staff turnover rates, does provide an immediate financial benefit. Additional financial incentives for organisations to keep older workers engaged, is also given by studies which suggest older people are better workers. For example, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety report that older workers exhibit lower turnover, more dedication to the workplace, and have more positive work values. Absenteeism is less frequent, although it is longer when it does happen.

The answer to the second challenge - making better use of older workers - is already being met by some organisations. Can we take a lead from the following three examples?

In 1989 the UK DIY retailer B&Q opened an outlet in Macclesfield. The new store enjoyed low turnover of staff, low levels of absenteeism, high profits and soon established a positive image in the local community. It was also staffed entirely by over 50s. The success of this organisational experiment pushed the company to develop its over 50s recruitment policy. It now boasts that of a total staff of 37,000, 22 per cent are over 50.

In the public sector, The Chicago Transit Authority implemented a Phase-In Retirement program for retiring employees. This program gradually acclimatises mature workers to retirement by steadily reducing their work hours and pay rates, but concurrently gives them their pensions. Older workers are also encouraged to become mentors for younger employees.

The third example comes from Hewlett Packard which has found a new resource - loyal former employees. HP has an army of former employees who often give their time voluntarily as marketers, good will ambassadors and in-store sales people.

Enlightened organisations such as these are now re-employing former workers either full time or part time to take advantage of their expertise and in many cases, their desire to stay actively engaged in the workforce.

However to take advantage of the aging workforce, organisations need to treat their existing employees (both young and old) as more than merely "assets". Long term loyalty can only be gained through a dedicated approach to ongoing people development. The result is probably best summed up by a former HP employee John Toppel, who now gives his time freely as an in-store sales consultant. In a recent press interview Toppel said, "I feel like I have two marriages; a wonderful marriage at home for 36 years and a wonderful marriage at HP. I guess that's now a former marriage, but I still have strong feelings for it" (Herald Tribune, March 11th, 2008)

Bob Selden is the author of the newly published "What To Do When You Become The Boss" - a self help book for new managers. He also coaches at the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland and the Australian Graduate School of Management, Sydney. You can contact Bob via http://www.whenyoubecometheboss.com/

Glass Block Windows - 4 Simple Steps For Design Success

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Glass block windows today offer a vast selection of designs, patterns, and styles for any budget or purpose, but, before deciding to use this product there are more basic questions to be answered. First, why should you use blocks, where should you use them, and how can this product help to solve your problems or needs? The four steps to glass block design success will answer these questions and more.

o Step 1 - Ask, "What are my goals, then Determine Your Patterns and Products."- Begin with the end in mind. What problems do you want the block windows to solve? Do your existing windows seal poorly, are the frames rusted or rotted. Do you lack the privacy you desire, are you worried about the safety of your family or workers, or just looking for a hot look to add style to your property? Here are some block window recommendations to solve these specific problems:

o Drafty windows that don't seal properly - Consider the thin line series (3 1/8" thick) series of blocks. They are more cost effective than the commercial series (3 7/8" thick), and come in a wide variety of sizes (generally 4 x 8, 6 x 6, 6 x 8, and 8 x 8) for proper sizing of any window opening.

o Need More Privacy - If you're concerned about someone looking into your windows - especially in basement, bathroom, and garage windows - consider the high privacy Ice and Pristal patterns from Mulia or Icescapes or Delphi from Pittsburgh Corning. You can do without blinds or shades (saving you money) with these patterns but you don't have to sacrifice light transmission (in fact, some say they get more light because the old frame is removed in many glass block installation projects).

o Want more security - Since many of the glass block windows are mortared together breaking in through this type of window opening is very difficult and time consuming. These windows are also more cost effective than installing electronic security pads on windows and offer strong energy efficiency benefits as well.

o Looking for a cool, hot, contemporary look - Why have boring windows when you can add style and uniqueness to your home or business? Colored glass blocks, block patterns with beveled edges, frosted blocks, and artistically designed blocks with the ability to create one of a kind designs are all available in today's block window.

o Step 2 - Ask, "Do I have any special window needs?" - Especially in the commercial, institutional, and architectural markets glass masonry units can solve some very specific design challenges. Here are some examples:

o 60 or 90 minute fire ratings - Blocks with thicker faces (often called Thickset) can (with the proper installation) provide 60 and 90 minute fire ratings in window assemblies. Standard blocks also provide an excellent 45 minute fire rating which is good for most residential applications.

o High Security or Vandalism Applications - The Vistabrik pattern glass unit masonry block is a 3" solid piece of glass which resists bullets, fire, noise and graffiti. This product has been used extensively in transit authority projects in New York and New Jersey markets.

o Reducing Solar Heat Gain - Solar Reflective blocks, which use a metal oxide coating on the inside surface of the block, greatly reflects solar energy while reducing the passage of light. This helps property owners to cut their cooling costs and also to minimize fading of floor coverings as well.

o Step 3 - Ask, "Where should I use glass block windows?" - The following outline may very well broaden your thinking on where blocks can be used to provide privacy, security, energy savings, light transmission, or just an interesting design element for your home or commercial property.

o Use blocks outside and inside - Block windows are usually thought of as being used in an exterior window application like a basements, bathrooms, garages, and stairwells. Here are some new applications to consider:

Under kitchen or den cabinetry to let in light

Interior borrowed light window walls to move light through an inside wall while maintaining privacy (for example in small, dark water closets, or on the inside walls of basements to move light passively through the home).

In closets in homes to let in natural light to see your clothing and colors better while maintaining privacy.

Above one piece shower units in smaller bathroom to eliminate the need for costly skylights.

o Use glass blocks in new construction and remodeling projects - Often thought of as a renovation project block windows are now frequently found in new construction as well. In new home and room additions glass block new construction windows with nailing make installations simple and painless. In remodeling projects pre-fabricated window panel assemblies are factory made and allow the window to slip into the opening vs. the difficult task of laying the blocks one by one (improves your quality and cuts your time to get the job done).

o Step 4 -Ask, "Would I like this window to provide ventilation" - Glass block windows do not have to be solid glass. There are a variety of window block venting products to choose from. Here is a quick list of your choices:

o Air Vents to reduce heating and cooling costs and keep air flowing- With double pane glass and slim line vinyl frames the new generation of air vents allow air to come in while being small enough to keep intruders out. Available in white and tan and sizes to match exterior colors and maintain the symmetry of the block window.

o Power Vents to get rid of musty smell and improve indoor air quality - Power vents are vinyl framed ventilators with two powered fans that can move 145 cubic feet per minute of air to fight mold, power away smoke, circulate the air for healthier, thereby providing fresher living spaces. The Power Vent comes with an A/C adapter that plugs right into your wall.

o Dryer Vent Blocks to move air out from a dryer in a glass block basement or utility room window - Dryers are often located in basements and their venting is often directed through an inefficient single pane metal or wood framed basement window. Vinyl dryer vent blocks replace the space taken up by one block in a new glass window and allow you to get the benefits of the block without having to vent your dryer through the foundation (which can be considerably more expensive).

Now that you've got the 4 design steps you're ready to choose the right block window for your project. Be on the lookout for the next article in this series on the steps for glass block window installation success.

Mike Foti is President of Columbus Glass Block, Cleveland Glass Block, Mid America Glass Block Cincinnati, Dayton, and Akron and Vice President of Eastern Glass Block of New Jersey and New York -nationwide suppliers and installers of glass blocks.
Tel. 614-252-5888
mfotigb@aol.com

http://www.columbusglassblock.com/windows.aspx glass block window benefits and product options

http://www.columbusglassblock.com/product_new-construction.aspx glass block windows for new construction & room additions

Chicago's CTA Christmas Train 2008

Once again the Chicago Transit Authority fielded its seven car Holiday Train featuring Santa's Express and scheduled the decorated train on all "L" transit lines in the city. The rolling celebration features bright decorations, Holiday music, costumed elves and Santa helpers and the jolly fat man, himself, Santa Claus in a sleigh pulled by reindeer perched on a decorated flat car that rides in the middle of the train. The schedules are widely posted and at station after station, the train is greeted with proud parents and excited children in tow.

Whether You Are The Sender Or Receiver, It's All About The Information

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When asked a question, it is very important that the sender of the message and the receiver of the message understand each other. This is the basic model of communication.

In addition to that, the receiver of the information must trust that all of the information necessary and requested has been provided by the sender.

Now, you ask, what the heck has this got to do with anything?

On a very recent trip I was the receiver and did not receive all of the information necessary.

Because of that, I ended up having a vehicle impounded by the transit authority. (a very fun experience I can assure you)

The story goes like this. I had called ahead to the front desk of the hotel I was staying in, and because I knew that parking was very difficult, during this pre-trip prep call I specifically asked about the parking. I was assured that I would be able to park.

Flash ahead one week, I arrive at my hotel, ask about the parking again and was told "you can park anywhere you like on that street."

Cool. No problem. I park, check in, and because I had a long day previously, decide to crank the ac and take a quick nap.

2 hours later, I walk out of the hotel, and much to my surprise, my car is gone. I immediately go back to the front desk. Same two guys.

Me "My car is gone."

Front desk guy. "Where did you park it?"

Me "Right along the street where you told me it was ok to park."

Fdg "Was there a sign, you know, way up the lamp pole or anything like that?"

Me "I didn't look. You guys said I could park anywhere along that street."

Fdg "Yeah, except for the sign."

Yep. There was a sign. Funny how the front desk guys knew exactly where the sign was. And they knew where I had to go to get my car. They were even kind enough to print out a piece of paper with a map and directions. Even told me where to go to get a taxi.

Here is the moral of the story.

If you are providing information to your Customers, provide ALL the information. Don't assume. Don't think for them. Your job is to give them everything they need to MAKE A DECISION! Give them more information than they need.

As I was checking out of the hotel, and talking with the same two guys from the previous day, I reminded them that some people were not from "around here." And that they need to tell everyone checking in with a car that parking "anywhere along that street" was not really a good answer. They needed to be more specific.

One guy got up and walked away as I was talking, the other guy blamed me.

I don't think that I will be staying there again anytime soon.

Leonard Buchholz is a Certified Trainer, Speaker and Author. If you are looking for a seminar leader that is "High Touch and Low Tech," look no further. Leonard is known for energetic seminars that involve the participants. Seminar subjects include Customer Service, Difficult People and Difficult Situations, Management and Communications. Reach him at leonard@bizprotraining.com or call 760-529-5635.

Building Greener Roads

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New roads are continually needed to reduce the travel time and distance for transporting people and products and other material from place to place. However, for each mile of these new but traditionally constructed roads, thousands of tons of materials such as aggregate stone, concrete, asphalt and steel are needed, let alone all of the diesel fuel required to power the construction equipment and to transport materials to and from the project site. One mile of two-lane asphalt road with aggregate base can require up to 25,000 tons of aggregate. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, between the pavement and sub-base the mining of the aggregate, transporting, heating, earthwork and paving work will emit enough pollution to equal up to 2,200 tons of CO2. That's about the same as the total annual emissions of 400 passenger cars.

The environmental effects of a road do not stop when construction is complete. The new road affects local plant and animal life as well as the region's water and soils. The road acts as a barrier that cuts through animal ranges and creates a crossing hazard, further diminishing wildlife habitats, especially if trees were cleared to make way for the road.

While it is highly encouraging to see new efforts to green the transportation infrastructure (cleaner cars, light rail, urban mass transit), most of the world still goes to work each day on a road designed and built with yesterday's thinking.

So how can we reconcile the need for an improved and more extensive road infrastructure with the need to do so in a less damaging way? The answer lies in recovering and recycling existing in situ materials and utilising specially engineered binders to produce effective stabilised building materials that enable existing waste streams like pulverised fuel ash to be incorporated into the road sub strata.

To enable a number of innovative and eco-friendly engineered binders are being designed and tested. Among the most promising SMR a soil stabiliser and binder that provides the equivalent strength of aggregate base stone at less cost and environmental impact. Proving that green road innovations can provide benefits across the sustainability value chain and enabling greener construction, residential developments, schools and the rest of the built environment.

Innovations like SMR will have to contend with agencies and individuals wedded to the old way of doing things. The task is no easy matter, as these agencies can be burdened with bureaucratic inertia and bias toward existing industries and technologies. That said, HAUC the UK Highways Authority and numerous local authorities are starting to recognise that the industry and overall approach to road building is due for a change, especially given the current economic climate that is forcing local authorities do more with less.

While there is still a long way to go, the long term target is to build a road that reduces toxic and greenhouse gas emissions, reduces landfill use, reduces mining non renewable resources and protects ecosystems.

There remains one other reason why green roads are so important requiring a solution now and not tomorrow. In order compete the developing world has to build road networks, millions of kilometres will have to be constructed over the next 10 to 20 years. in Africa, India, China, Russia, the Far East and Latin America.

To use the same old construction methods would lead to unprecedented environmental impact and a further unnecessary contribution to global warming, all while incurring great economic costs to their fragile budgets. Now is the time to embrace a new way to design, plan, build and maintain road infrastructure, consistent with green road building practices.

In the developing world, every single mile of road built is associated with a significant economic return, as reduction in travel times and costs improve all factors of life.

Whilst road construction has the most impact on people in the rural countryside by 2050 the world's cities will see their populations expand by over 3 billion. All that growth will bring with it a massive new demand for infrastructure. Green roads in conjunction with modern power grids, cleaner cars, large and dependable public transportation systems will help to greatly reduce the per capita carbon footprint of these thriving mega-urban regions.

Old ways of road construction need to be reviewed and new approaches to road construction tried. Just as the green building movement has finally reached the spotlight and gone mainstream, the green roads movement should not be is not far behind.

For more information on recycling aggregates and turning waste in to an engineered for purpose material have a look at: http://www.soilstabilisationsolutions.com

Doing Business in South Africa

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The recent years have highlighted a growth trend in the number of businesses and entrepreneurs that are looking to set up business in South Africa. Ever since the country's economy stabilised, there is a good amount of trade and business happening in South Africa, and the country is fast emerging as one of the best business markets in the world.

Whether you are trying to set up a small scale business in the country, or are looking to conduct trade with a large corporation based in South Africa, there are a number of factors to be considered before doing business with South Africa. This guide outlines some of the important things one must keep in mind when looking to do business in South Africa.

Before beginning business with South Africa, it is important to understand the various factors affecting foreigners who wish to conduct business in the country. When a company from outside the country wishes to set up a branch in the country, they are required to first register with the country's authorities. The concerned authority for external companies is the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office or CIPRO and this registration must take place within 21 days of the establishment of the office. There are a number of legal guidelines that must be followed in ordered to register with CIPRO, and it is important to understand these before setting up a branch.

If you are setting up a private business in the country, then the guidelines to be followed are slightly different. The first step is to procure a business permit. There are a number of different kinds of private businesses that one can start in South Africa. These include Limited companies, either Public or Private. While these two are the most common, one can also start a Close Corporation. Foreign investors usually choose to start a Private Limited Company since they require fewer formalities. Once the kind of business has been settled on, the business permit can be acquired from the Department of Home Affairs located in the closest city.

If you wish to set up a Private Limited company, there are many factors that you must consider. The first thing to note about these businesses is that they will have to have at least one shareholder and one director. People over the age of 50 are not allowed to be directors. If you are looking to start a public limited company, then the procedure is slightly different and shares from the company will have to be made available to the public.

Bob writes about Bristol freight company and Bristol Freight Forwarding.

American Racing Casino Custom Wheels - Assure Wins on the Racing Circuit

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American Racing Casino Wheels and Rims are the fulcrum of upgrading your car and giving yourself a leg-up in the world of urban trends and status. Becoming an icon of definitive authority and defined style can be tough but adding rims to your car can go a long way in acquiring the eyes to your car and you.

Considered not only aggressive and snazzy but to be an everlasting image of finesse and renown, Custom Wheels define their owner. The smooth, luxurious finesse and striking bold look of renown Wheels indicates an guaranteed level of both finesse and power among drivers.

Making an impression on the streets is the dream of a lot of car owners and the one way to accomplish that goal is establishing yourself apart from the rest. A sharp set of Custom Rims placed on a classy vehicle is the undisputed mark of decadence and class. Scoring your car some instant fame and street cred these Custom Wheels and Rims will help achieve the appearance any driver wants.

Engineered and constructed to give an unmatched capacity for performance and capability, American Racing Casino Wheels and Rims is the beacon of power and compatibility when it comes to top-end performance. Maintaining peak performance and maneuvering in any weather or road condition while looking amazing is the top goal of Rims and for many years they've been beating the competitors.

When purchasing a set of Wheels and Rims the decision shouldn't weigh on you. Putting your confidence in a high end distributor like American Racing Casino Custom Wheels and Rims is a sure-fire method to make sure you get Custom Wheels and Rims with longevity that will last you for miles. Building a quality Custom Wheel that can hold the best of performance and ability a while after the purchase is the type of reliable product you need.

Providing a plethora of comparable Custom Wheels and Rims and models to meet the wishes and specifications of any vehicle model is just one of the multiple unique abilities that Custom Wheels and Rims can give a prospective driver. With a unique and classy design that integrates seamlessly into any vehicle model or brand these Custom Wheels and Rims are the absolute addition for any stylish car.

Reforming your elegance and supplementing a versatile dignity to your ride is easy. These Custom Wheels come with a upgradable and highly uncommon catalog of options and variations providing you the option to remodel your own dignity.

American Racing Casino wheels and Rims, the top king of Custom Wheels and Rims has been making beautiful and personalized American Racing wheels and Rims for all kinds of makes and models for decades. Producing top-tier performance in an elegant and intimidating style that defines not only the car but the owner too.

Flexible Spending Accounts - Often Forgotten and Misunderstood Eligible and Ineligible Items

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IRS regulations govern the eligibility of reimbursable flexible spending account items and we realize these rules can be confusing at times. As Flex Administrators, BASIC helps ensure that your FSA plan stays within these regulations. This is even more important now that President Obama has increased the budget for fraud and abuse investigations by 50% in 2010. To try to make Flex plan compliance simple, we compiled a list of the most surprising eligible items and also the ineligible items that are most commonly mistaken as eligible.

Often Forgotten Eligible Items

Mileage or Mass Transit Expenses To and From Office Visits
Most Flex plan participants are surprised that the mileage or transportation costs to visit a doctor or dentist are eligible expenses. The mileage on the plan participant's car and subway or bus passes to and from the visit are eligible for reimbursement.

Orthodontia Procedures
Orthodontia procedures can also be confusing. The best practice for claiming orthodontia expenses is to send in a copy of your paperwork from the orthodontist along with a copy of your contract for quick reference.

Over-The-Counter Medication
As a general rule, over-the-counter medications are eligible expenses. There are some that are not eligible. The rule for over-the-counter items is that it must treat a medical condition. Examples are Tylenol, Sudafed, etc.

Chiropractic Services
Chiropractic services are eligible expenses, though the claim and reimbursement process can be somewhat complicated. Many chiropractic services are prepaid and can only be reimbursed as the services are received rather than when they are prepaid. If you have prepaid for chiropractic services, the reimbursement is equal to a fair value of the service provided on a specific visit to the chiropractor. Make sure you ask for your bill to show the value of the service provided on that visit so you can receive the correct amount of reimbursement. While a massage from the chiropractor is eligible for reimbursement, it requires a letter of medical necessity.

Often Misunderstood Ineligible Items

Toiletries
Some Flex plan participants are also surprised to find that toiletries such as soap, shampoo, tooth paste, face wash, deodorant, etc are not eligible expenses. Toiletries are the most commonly claimed items that are ineligible for reimbursement.

Dental Procedures
While almost all procedures performed by a dentist are eligible expenses, teeth bleaching is one of the few that are ineligible.

Vitamins
Vitamins and similar supplements for general health are typically ineligible. For vitamins to be claimed as an eligible expense, a doctor must state in a letter what the patient's medical condition is and what specific vitamins are used to treat it. The doctor can then prescribe those vitamins which can be claimed as an eligible expense. Multi-vitamins are never available for reimbursement because they only promote general health, they do not treat a specific condition.

Based in Michigan with representation across the US, along with Payroll Outsourcing, BASIC also provides Benefit Administration, and HR Outsource services. Currently, over 9,000 employers nationally trust BASIC with a wide range of HR responsibilities as a way to manage risk, control cost and improve staff focus and effectiveness. BASIC is a privately held company that has developed a suite of solutions that can be offered independently or as part of a platform of outsource service including, Payroll, FMLA Administration, COBRA, Flexible Spending Account, HRA, single source billing and Dependent Audit Administration.

Chicago - Beginnings - Live in Denver 6/23/10

Chicago perform "Beginningss" live at Fiddler's Green on June 23, 2010. This song is owned and copyrighted by Chicago.

Complex Matters Involved in Bus Accident Cases

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Is traveling via mass transit more convenient for you? Do you much prefer regularly riding in buses when going to your place of destination instead of taking your own vehicle?

Then you should know the risks involved and the matters that you may become involved with if ever the public transportation vehicle you are riding on encounters an accident.

While mass transit may be a tad safer than driving in your own vehicle, especially if you are still an inexperienced and unfamiliar of the roads accidents may occur that could bring complicated matters.

Low speed accidents do not have such a big impact on the bus and its passengers due to its typical size and weight. However, if a high speed collision occurs then it may have a great impact on the passengers of the bus since their seats are usually unrestrained. Often, severe multiple injuries may even be sustained especially if the impact of crash or collision causes the bus to roll, go off the road, or catch fire.

If you become involved in a bus accident and file a claim for damages against those who may be liable for the incident, here are several of the complicated matters you may have to face up with.

o Governmental Immunity - often, buses are being operated behind a governmental authority, such as a public school or municipality.

Given this, even if it was identified that the bus driver was the one at fault, an attempt may be made in order to avoid you and the other injured persons during the accident from being compensated. Governmental immunity laws are protecting the liable person. These laws have considerable variations in every state and they can be difficult to understand.

If your case involves governmental immunity, make sure to consult with a vehicle accident lawyer with specialized knowledge in this matter and practicing on the jurisdiction where your accident happened.

o Accidents on School Buses

Serious injuries on school bus accidents may occur on situations such as:

- boarding and disembarking of passengers -passing motorists sometimes disregard the signals indicated in the school bus, unsafe way of crossing by the children from the bus, driver of the bus lost track of a child passenger and then prematurely turns off the vehicle's signals or accidentally hits the child with the bus itself.

- Collision accidents involving the school bus with other motor vehicles

- Highway and traffic accidents

Nowadays, the more modern designed school buses have a noteworthy element providing passive restraint on its seat design. The seats are made in such a way that injury will be minimized and avoid a child from being thrown out from the seat during a collision or be struck into the other seat in front of them.

If your child happens to become involved in such accidents on his / her school bus, make sure to talk with an attorney regarding the governmental immunity policy.

o Fifteen passenger vans - although, cannot really be considered a bus, since it is usually used as a public transportation vehicle, then if an accident happened, make sure that your vehicle accident lawyer investigate well on its causes. You may have a potential product liability case against the vans' manufacturer because of a rollover accident.

o Fraud concerns - pre-conditioned or scam accidents staged by con - artists. If this case is suspected, the accident is usually investigated of pre-existing elements. It would be difficult to establish claims in these cases.

Be more informed about the other matters involved in bus accidents with the help of California Vehicle Accident Attorneys and Los Angeles Lawyers.

Access Control Systems to Protect Your Business

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Are your assets secure? Has your business or home ever been broken into, or have you ever had people get into places they shouldn't be in? While a lock and key used to be the answer, advancements in technology have granted us several alternatives to carrying around giant, cumbersome key rings. Now automatic doors and security gates make entrances and exits much easier to use and more secure, and automating control of these systems has brought forth a plethora of access control technologies.

Keys themselves have changed quite a bit since their inception as the premiere method of access control. These days, hotels, businesses and even gated communities use key cards instead of metal keys to grant access to visitors, employees and residents respectively. But even the term key card is a little vague considering the different styles of key cards out there.

Magnetic stripe cards utilize a magnetic stripe (like that found on the back of a credit card) that is swiped through a reader to convey the information necessary to grant access to an area. This is typically done by having the reader release an electric or magnetic lock allowing the door to be opened, or having the "magstripe" reader activate an electric gate operator that will open a security gate granting vehicle access. These cards allow for more specific programming creating different levels of access and eliminating the need to worry about collecting keys from ex-employees or residents by giving you the ability to deactivate them from a central location.

Wiegland cards and proximity are similar except that the information is stored inside the card reducing the cards susceptibility to wear. These cards are placed next to a reader and the information is transmitted through airwaves.

Smart cards allow extra data to be stored on the card itself such as biometric information or key codes. These cards can be contact cards the require contact with the reading device or non-contact cards that don't even need to be removed from the wallet or purse to activate the reader. A bar code reader uses one or more lasers to read bar codes on plates or stickers allowing vehicles to pass freely through an entrance without even requiring the vehicle to stop.

Biometrics are the latest advancement in access control technologies, requiring person specific information from the person requesting entrance. Fingerprint readers read your fingerprints, iris readers scan your eye to find a match, and even facial recognition systems scan your entire face to make sure you have authority to proceed. Biometrics can be used in conjunction with other access control methods for maximum protection.

But let's say you just want something simple for your home residence. Automatic doors or electric gate operators can be activated through various methods, such as key pads, telephone entry systems, even remote control. Keypads can just require a certain sequence to be entered, while telephone entry systems dial into a network to contact someone with the power to grant you access. Remote control gate transmitters allow you to open a gate with the click of a button, and are available in various sizes from small key chain sized transmitters to clickers you can clip to the sun visor in your vehicle.

More basic methods of access control include pneumatic pads, motion detectors, and buttons. These methods are very low security and are more for convenience, air conditioning retention or one-way access control. Pneumatic pads are pressure sensitive and activate a door when weight forces air out of them. These are commonly found at grocery store entrances. Motion detectors activate when someone walks through a specified area. Buttons can be used to release a lock or activate a door opening sequence, based on the situation. Exit buttons are located inside a secure area and allow pedestrians to exit, but there is no way to reenter from the other side.

A final method of access control is the good old turnstile. Turnstiles are available for either access control or traffic control. Traffic control turnstiles would be waist high turnstiles or pedestrian barriers. They restrict access but don't necessarily prevent it. These would be the turnstiles you see at theme parks or mass transit stations. Full height turnstiles on the other hand are usually part of a fence or wall and allow access to only one person at a time. These are usually paired with an access control device of some sort to restrict access to government properties or corporate facilities. Another form of turnstile is an E-gate. These devices verify credentials (such as ID or passports) before granting access to pedestrians.

By securing your home or business with an access control system, you'll rest easier knowing that your property is safe and secure.

Glenn Harpold
Access Control Specialist & VP of FDC
http://fdc.com

Five Easy Steps to Repairing Your Credit

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Have you damaged your credit rating, and now need to repair it? It can be a long, tedious process, if you aren't sure of exactly what to do. And if you decide to work with an agency that specializes in this type of work, you're paying someone to do work that you can do yourself, for free. This article will discuss what options you can take to repair your credit, yourself, without having to pay a penny to do it.

If after the walk through in this article, you are still having problems with your credit repair, it is well advised that you talk to an experienced lawyer in this area. There may be no other way to get some unauthorized information off your report - but let's try these simple steps, first!

1. Credit Repair: Get Copies of Your Credit Reports

Send a letter to each of the major credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Equifax, CSC, Innovax, and Experian), asking them for a copy of your credit records. Some states require that you send along a copy of a credit denial letter with this letter, or else they will levy a charge (somewhere between $3-10). If you are serious about trying to repair your credit, you'll need to do this manually, instead of online, for several reasons. First of all, many online credit repair companies are hit or miss; you may or may not get the information you require. Secondly, the printouts may be difficult to read (after having been scanned several times), and last of all, it is difficult to go back and find exactly where the information was located, if need be, again.

2. Credit Repair: Take a Good Look

Make a copy of all of the credit reports you receive, and highlight each and every person and company who has reviewed your credit history. Do you know who all of these people, and companies are? You should. Do some sleuthing, and try and figure out if every company listed is one that you have given access to. Don't forget that many agencies are allowed to access your credit rating reports, such as collection agencies, people trying to grant you credit, insurance underwriters, etc. Any entries that say "PRM" next to them are for promotional reasons, and are entirely legal. And finally, review all of your payment history with each credit agency to ensure it is all correct. If there is a discrepancy somewhere, write down the particulars. You'll need to go hunting for information confirming your case.

3. Credit Repair: Send a Letter

If applicable, send a letter to each of the credit agencies, letting them know there has been an error. Be specific; attach proof stating your case (a cancelled check stub, payment history printout, etc.) You may use the form that the credit repair agency sends you instead of writing out your own letter, but don't feel badly if you need more space to state your case. Make sure to keep a copy of everything that you send as well, just in case it gets lost in transit.

4. Credit Repair: Review

About 30 days after you've sent off your letters, you should receive responses from the credit repair agencies you have contacted. The letter will show clearly what has been changed, along with a new copy of your credit report, as well as any omissions, deletions, or additions to your credit repair file. If you still have an issue, you have up to two years to make changes on your file, as per the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

For more more information about repairing your credit please visit [http://www.moneytipsdaily.com/Money-Tips/Credit-Repair-Provider-Cautions-Against-Collection-Agencies.html]

The Opinion Show. (Ep.1-Sea.1)

This is my show, The Opinion Show. A show were You (the viewer) & me (the Host) can express opinion on People, Places and Things of Past & Present origins. You type down your Opinions and/or Commets for the subject on each episode. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Today Subject: "The Chicago CTA crisis". Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is the second largest transit system in the United States and fourth largest in North America. The Chicago Transit Authority offers bus and rapid transit routes throughout the city, as well as to some suburban destinations. The CTA is a municipal corporation that started operations on October 1, 1947 upon the purchase and combination of the transportation assets of the Chicago Rapid Transit Company and the Chicago Surface Lines streetcar system. In 1952, CTA purchased the assets of the Chicago Motor Coach Company, which was under the control of Yellow Cab founder John D. Hertz, resulting in a fully unified system. Today, the CTA is one of the three service boards financially supported by the Regional Transportation Authority.

Hit By A School Bus Or on Public Transit in Ontario? What You Need to Know

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It's a fact that many school age children ride buses every weekday. With 800,000 Ontario students riding school buses every day of the school year – and an added number using public transit to get there – it’s fair to expect some bumps and bruises along the way. There are undoubtedly also a large number of bus riding students in your jurisdiction. Their safety is a priority.

What you might not know about is your child's rights and benefits following a school bus, or city bus, injury. They can be substantial when you factor in all the different parties involved. According to 1990-1995 survey results published at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s School Bus Safety Resource Guide, a typical Ontario school year in the early 1990s saw more than 1000 road collisions involving school buses. Upwards of 100 students were injured, every school year, while inside a school bus.

Of course, injuries can occur on any bus, whether it’s a school bus or part of a public transit system. They can be caused by sudden stops, collisions, or even by unsupervised horseplay.

When a person – child or adult – is injured on a school or transit bus, that individual is unlikely to be entirely responsible for the injury. Many other parties are responsible for the safety of all the bus’s riders, and depending on the accident, they could be legally responsible to provide compensation:

• Government bodies (MTO, Transport Canada, etc.) are responsible for putting appropriate safety guidelines in place, in order to prevent bus accidents.

• School board officials are responsible for implementing and monitoring school transportation, and this includes making safety improvements.

• All bus operators must follow provincial safety regulations as outlined in the Highway Traffic Act and the Public Vehicle Act.

• Auto insurance companies may be required to pay accident benefits to someone injured on a bus.

• School bus drivers are also on the hook to ensure rider safety, and inspect the bus regularly.

• Other motorists must also obey traffic laws, particularly in dealing with school buses. Parents like you are responsible for educating their children about bus safety.

In my city, the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority offers free bus safety materials, and interactive bus safety seminars. Check with your local school board to see if similar materials are available where you live.

One of the best ways you can prevent school bus injuries is to be a smart motorist. When a school bus has stopped, give it 20 meters of space. Never attempt to pass a stopped school bus.

If your child does have an accident on the school bus or the city bus, make sure you notify the school and bus company of the accident right away. This is especially important if your child is injured inside the bus and the driver may not be aware of the injuries.

Getting appropriate and timely medical attention is vital in every personal injury situation. A bus accident is no different.

Finally, if the injuries are serious, consider getting advice from a personal injury lawyer. Most accident lawyers will provide a free consultation, with no obligation to assist you in getting any compensation to which you may be entitled.

Chicagoland Car Free Day Trailer - Active Transportation Alliance

TAKE THE PLEDGE: www.chicagolandcarfree.org The Active Transportation Alliance - in association with Pace Suburban Bus, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and the Regional Transportation Authority Present: CAR FREE DAY We challenge and encourage all Chicagoland drivers to go Car Free on Wednesday September 22, 2010. TAKE THE PLEDGE: www.activetrans.org

No Accident: CTA shuts down some accident claims

A little-known Illinois law that some say can double the pain of CTA accident victims. At issue here is an old law, written back in 1945 as a way to protect the Chicago Transit Authority from fraudulent lawsuits. Decades later, is that same law now also being used to shield the CTA from paying the claims of legitimate accident victims?

Atlanta Has Puppets, History and Chocolate Pecan Pie

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During the Civil War, Atlanta did indeed burn, but in the years since she has rebuilt, restored and in fact reinvented herself. Down but not out, she rose like the phoenix from the ashes of a bitter conflict to become queen of the American south. Multi-columned antebellum mansions rub shoulders with high rise office buildings and the musings of business are conducted at a slower pace with the pleasing purrs of the local accent. Atlanta, Georgia is the home of southern hospitality.

Traveling to Atlanta, Georgia by air brings you into one of the busiest airport hubs in the nation. An Automated People Mover (APM) System has been in service since 1980, carrying over 200,000 passengers daily between the main terminal and the six airside concourses. The user friendly system displays passenger information in eight languages; English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic and Korean.

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport recently opened a fifth runway to keep up with the demand and will soon open a new 12 gate international terminal. Part of the upgrade includes a new energy efficient car rental facility. In addition to rental cars, transportation options to downtown Atlanta include taxis, limos, shuttles and an extension of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MARTA) which can have you in the city core in twenty minutes. Traveling beyond Atlanta? Greyhound Bus Lines has a pick-up point right at the airport and Amtrak provides a shuttle to its downtown station.

Visitors to Atlanta may choose from spending the night in the historic surroundings of a colonnaded mansion turned B&B, an old fashioned and perhaps themed boutique hotel or the most luxurious of resorts. Many accommodation choices are available within the downtown core and within walking distance of some of the best restaurants and shopping opportunities in the world.

One area in particular, known as Buckhead, is an upscale section of town that sometimes is referred to as the Beverly Hills of the East. Sporting a retail district similar to Rodeo Drive it is home to not only fashion from top designers, but to noted eateries such as Au Pied de Cochon (Intercontinental Hotel), Cassis at the Grand Hyatt and Seasons 52.

Baseball fans can follow the Braves as they chase the World Series Pennant and football lovers can watch the Atlanta Falcons vie for a Super Bowl Championship. Hockey anyone? See some ice action at an Atlanta Thrashers game. Golfers can tee off at a number of challenging courses in the area, some designed by such legends as Jack Nicklaus and Jim Fazio.

While in Atlanta, you'll have the chance to catch a performance of the country's oldest ballet company, the Atlanta Ballet, or the Grammy Award winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Museum lovers will find not only collections dedicated to local and Civil War history, but a unique Center for Puppetry Arts, which is the world's largest museum dedicated to the art of puppetry. After a busy day of exploring find yourself some buttermilk fried chicken and some chocolate pecan pie and relax as you contemplate the many facets of Atlanta, Georgia.

For more information on Atlanta, Georgia, visit http://www.relatedarticles.net/bl-georgia.cfm

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY

RIDE THE CTA

Qatar Hotels

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Qatar as a nation is largely dependent on the revenue of foreign businesses as well as the industry generated by business visitors and tourists coming to see the multitude of attractions and unique features of the nation. As a result, there is a nigh on confusing level of hotels available for people to stay in while visiting, be it in the capital (and largest) city of Doha, or elsewhere in the nation.

Doha, of course, by its nature as the transportation, tourist, and business center of Qatar, is also the center of the vast and profitable hotel industry. There are numerous hotels in Doha, offering a variety of different services and several kinds of levels of amenities. The cheaper, lower end of hotels in Doha offer a full range of customary treatments for the customer, including restaurants in the lobby, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, hair salons, and assistance with booking any sort of event or participatory activity. Many hotels offer discounts for tourist packages, where you can save money with one hotel by pre-purchasing tickets for one activity or another, be it something in the harbor or something fun to do out in the desert.

The more expensive and better rated hotels in Qatar are where the nation really shines. With the Qatar Tourism Authority overseeing the accommodations nationwide, a five star hotel in Doha (or any other city, for that matter) has to really go above and beyond the call of duty in order to keep that recognition.

Take for examples, "Intercontinental Doha", a hotel on Al Istiglal road in Doha. It is close to any number of activities, and those that are not within walking distance can be reached in no more than ten minutes by taxi or bus. There are over five different restaurants inside of the hotel proper, and that is just the start of the star treatment available there.

Extra services offered by the staff are truly all inclusive, providing a number of amenities unseen and unheard of in most any other country. There are babysitters who will watch the children while you and your love enjoy an evening in Doha, and when you return, you can have alcohol delivered to your room. Travel to anywhere from your hotel is handled by a proprietary shuttle, and all rides in said transport are pre-paid when you make the reservation for your room.

Doha is not the only city to offer amazing places to stay; Al Khor has a number of resorts in its region, including the world famous Al Sultan Beach Resort. It is less than a mile from any of the attractions of the city, and is little more than a half hour outside of the capital city. Providing a number of the aforementioned travel / tourism packages for people staying in the hotel, the Al Sultan Beach Resort also features the largest pool in all of Qatar, as well a style of Jacuzzi that is not seen anywhere else in Qatar, and is certainly worth the experience.

Further outside the borders of the big cities are a number of other resorts and hotels, generally in the more naturally beautiful parts of the country. Many of these more rural hotels have stables on their grounds, providing visitors with the opportunity to ride horses or even camels throughout the sand dunes of the Inland Sea. These accommodations are far enough away from mainstream civilization to offer a fair deal of privacy as well, espoused by the number of private villas for rent and the beach houses scattered along the little coves of the Persian Gulf.

If you're staying in Qatar, there are a vast number of places to choose from when trying to pick where to stay. A good rule of thumb is that pricing is a relatively good indication of quality and features offered by the hotel, thanks to the regulation and oversight of the QTA. Places further outside of the big cities generally offer discounted rates because of lack of access to the mass transit of Doha. However, riding a horse through the desert certainly has its own appeal that is not easily discovered in the back of a bus. No matter your desire or intention, there is a place in Qatar for you and yours.

The author is simply an individual that stayed over in Doha Hotels during a tour and decided to write about his experience. To learn more about Qatar Hotels visit bestqatarhotels.com

Someday- Chicago

Nickelback concert in Chicago! Allstate Arena 3/12/09

The Recovery of Mis-Sold Payment Protection Insurance

Payment Protection Insurance is the latest problem to hit the UK financial services sector. In recent months lenders have been very heavily fined by the Financial Services Authority for mis-selling payment protection insurance.

It has come to light that many of the policies sold to customers who took out credit cards and loans with lenders were not paying out when the customer expected. As a result the process of selling the loans was looked at in greater scrutiny and it was discovered that many people were mis sold policies because:-

They were not told that the policy was available elsewhere from another provider

They were not told that the cover could be cheaper elsewhere

They were not told the details of the Policy

They were not told the exclusions in the policy

It was not investigated whether the cover was applicable to the applicant

It was not disclosed that commission would be earned by the lender

It was said that the loan and insurance came together

It was advised that the insurance was compulsory

In essence the insurance was not being sold as a benefit for the person taking the loan, but instead to earn huge commission for the lender.

Now this mis-selling has come to light and major lenders have been fined huge sums of money it is now possible to reclaim money for a mis-sold policy. Claims companies will professionally help you to recover your claim.

A professional claim company will often be a qualified solicitor, and will take on the case free of charge and only make a fee on recovery.

This is called no win no fee.

A success fee of up to 30% is only payable to the claims manager on recovery of a payment from the lender, so no recovery means no charge.

Money can be recovered in as little as 8 weeks. Imagine you could pay for Christmas this year on a recovered PPI insurance claim.

Information provided by Steve Thatcher of Help With Debt (UK) Limited and total debt solutions company. For all further reading see http://www.helpwithdebtuk.com
For personal contact email sthatcher@helpwithdebtuk.com
For Steve's thoughts see http://steves-debt.blogspot.com

If you have any debt problem whatsover either personal or corporate make Steve your first call all advice is free. Finally if in the UK and you need a friend to speak to call 01162171406.