Infrastructure Development in Faridabad Takes Charge

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Real estate to reap dividends...

With the recent opening of the six-lane Faridabad Bridge constructed over Agra and Gurgaon canals, a spurt in property prices in is expected. A number of private developers such as Ansals BPTP, ERA and Omaxe are coming up with projects near the bridge in sectors 75 to 89. Moreover, the facility would connect the old city to the upcoming townships in the suburbs, spread in some 2,000 acre of land.

Infrastructure development in Faridabad traditionally has been neglected, as far as the core developmental work is concerned. W ith the development in economic, industrial and commercial activities, there has also been an increase in traffic plying on the roads. Also, due to lack of the bypass road, the National Highway serves to both local and regional traffic, and this is why the traffic situation in the city is quite under pressure.

But now, civic agencies like Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) have set themselves up to improve the scenario. And once these projects take shape, real estate would get a push, experts say.

State of infrastructure in Faridabad

Faridabad has strong linkages with Delhi with the National Highway No. 2 (NH2) from Delhi-Mathura passing through the city acts as the central axis. The main arterial roads either start or end on the NH-2. This is also due to the fact that does not have any dedicated CBD and all the major commercial and institutional areas lie along the highway.

The District Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has issued several residential and commercial licenses to private real estate developers in Faridabad. This has initiated the need for a strong infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Transport Plan 2021 for NCR has the following proposals involving Faridabad-Bhallabgarh, to be implemented in the first phase:

o Proposal to develop NH2 from Delhi to Ballabgarh to expressway standards.

o Proposal to connect peripheral expressways, of which the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) western peripheral expressway and the Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal (KGP) eastern expressway are located closest to Faridabad-Ballabgarh.

o Metro Rail to be extended and further to have feeder and connect services with the Regional Rail Transit System to cater to increasing intra-city urban transport needs.

o Flyover at Badarpur; once the congestion at Badarpur border is removed many corporate will take up office space in Faridabad, given the high rates in Jasola.

o The Taj Expressway will touch it at Lalpur and go on to meet NH-2 at Shahpur. The completion of this stretch will improve Faridabad's connectivity with NOIDA.

o Another highway is planned which will begin from Kalindi Kunj, run parallel to Mathura Road, and bypass the city. This highway will contain all the new sectors, and will merge with Mathura Road on the other side of Faridabad, again acting as a catalyst to Property.

o Furthermore, three-laning of Faridabad-Gurgaon road, widening of the Surajkund road and repairs of all main and internal roads in the sectors will provide impetus to the realty growth.

George Gonigal provides you the best and latest info on Chandigarh Property Rates.

Kentucky Derby Party with some Mardi Gras Flair!

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The Kentucky Derby is a pretty big deal, so much so that lots of people host their own Kentucky derby party. You can work to make your party a little original this year with some Mardi Gras flair to it. Guest will love the great food, loud music, colorful decorations and if you have the room and inclination the parade! Of course this is still a Kentucky Derby party so you'll have plenty of horse and racing related decorations and you can't forget to give the guests their classic mint juleps for the party.

Make sure the guests know that the party is going to have a Mardi Gras theme to it in the invitations you send. You can pick up some invitations with a Kentucky derby or horseracing theme and punch them up a bit by adding some colorful glitter. Carefully outline the picture with a thin bead of glue and sprinkle the glitter on it. Wait for it to dry, shake off the excess glitter and send in the mail.

You can pick up some fun masks to hand out to the guests when they arrive to the Kentucky derby party. There are some fun horseracing wall hangings you can plaster to the walls and get lots of balloons in the Mardi Gras colors with an emphasis on green since it matches the grass of the racing grounds.

Take advantage of some excellent Creole recipes when thinking up appetizers for this party. Bourbon Chicken is a tasty dish that can be made for easy pick up by the guests with the addition of toothpicks. Red rice and beans is another traditional dish and its ingredients are cheap so you save a little money to get goodies for a big ole' pot of jambalaya. The guests can dance to some music, share beads, eat good food and finally sit back to watch the races.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for birthday party supplies and fun free educational party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

The New Age Business Agenda

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A new terminology is sweeping the globe at the moment and it is called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Other terms that you may find yourself reading about are Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Criteria. The highly admirable (and long overdue) principle that lies behind these acronyms is 'corporate speak' for a subject that lies close to my heart - that of authenticity.

Leading companies across the globe are discovering something that the metaphysician has known all along. If you incorporate transparency, responsibility and ethicality into the core values of a business practice, profits will automatically follow.

CSR is set to change the face of business practice and the ramifications will be global. I also mean that in the literal sense, as the main conscious catalyst for this emerging revolution is the realisation that our planet cannot sustain our technological and industrial advancements in its present form. Climate change, dwindling energy reserves and waste management are all issues that have to be urgently addressed.

On the personal level people are increasingly turning away from companies offering genetically modified comestibles, synthetic products and nutritionally deficient foods in favour of healthier options. This may be due to a subconscious awareness of a lack of authenticity in corporate culture. Obesity is just one major issue that has highlighted the yawning gap between the capitalist societies and the conditions endured in the third world countries Companies such as McDonalds, Coca Cola and PepsiCo are rapidly having to embrace CSR as ethical consumerism takes hold.

Ultimately, the phenomenon of globalisation can only effect positive change by bridging the gap between cultures and connecting us digitally and spiritually to our fellow man.

A new world order is slowly being birthed. One which is based on social awareness and responsibility and which focuses on the collective. Those companies which do not recognise the importance of CSR will simply not survive. The new strap line for 2006 and indeed the entire 'noughties' is going to be 'Good Business Is Big Business'. Companies that act in an open and responsible way with their consumers, suppliers and employees will foster loyalty, greater productivity and turnover. By taking the 'whole' (holistic practice) into account, businesses can gain trust and a solid reputation, whilst positively impacting social and environmental conditions.

The reason I can write about CSR with some authority is due to the prescience that planetary configurations can provide. My work as a futurologist aims to highlight the indivisibility between the celestial and terrestrial. CSR is the first wave of change associated with the move of Pluto into the sign of Capricorn at the start of 2008. Capricorn is associated with business, companies and the governance within them. As Pluto transits through the sign, a passage of approximately 10 years, we will witness the transformation of business practice as we know it today.

Hierarchical structures will gradually disappear making way for much greater personal responsibility and accountability of the individual. The health and well-being of all whom a product impacts; supplier, employee, consumer and planet will be of the utmost importance. In fact the new acronym to emerge during the transit could well be PPA - Personal and Professional Authenticity. Companies won't profit by simple compliance with CSR. The directors will need to be personally convinced of its merits and embed it into the heart of their company culture. Additionally, employees won't suddenly love a job just because the company ethos has changed, but they can take responsibility for ensuring they love what they do.

The reason you are reading this now is due to the -120 - phase of the Jupiter/Uranus cycle - a cycle long associated with political change and rebellion against the status quo.This cycle is when innovative activities come to conscious awareness, especially those involved with moving the collective forward in some way.

No change is implemented without tension and opposition and it is undoubtedly a fairly utopian idea that all businesses can or will suddenly integrate social, environmental and economic ideals. However, once the concept starts gathering pace globally over the next few years the CSR (or PPA) agenda will become part of public consciousness. Once that shift occurs consumers will be looking to spend their money on products which deliver not only value for money, but ones which have been produced by companies seen to be delivering authentic and ethical values. CSR originated in the 1990's by 2008 it will quite literally have made a world of difference.

Kathryn Cassidy hosts a blog concerned with the impact of planetary cycles on terrestrial events. By studying the effect of previous cycles one is given access to future trends. Kathryn considers that over the next ten years it will become commonplace for large corporations to employ futurists who study planetary periodicity for use in product development. Kathryn has a special interest in Branding and Strategic Planning using these methods.

http://collaboratingwithfate.blogspot.com

Chicago- Colour My World- LIVE 1977

This was filmed in Amsterdam February of 1977. "Colour My World" was written by Chicago trombone player, Jimmy Pankow. This is the original band and includes the vocals of Terry Kath. The flute solo is performed by Walt Parazaider. Robert Lamm is playing piano. Very nice. Enjoy!

Chicago - Introduction - Drum Cover

I'm testing the "Webcam Record" feature that YouTube has implemented with my newest drum cover, a great Chicago tune, from their first album- "Introduction". Great, swinging, funky track.

Chicago Beginnings (Remastered) Japan 1972

Chicago Beginnings (Remastered) Japan 1972

Security Training and Licensing for the Leisure Industry

Here in the UK all training courses related to private security be it individually or for a company, must be regulated by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and approved by the BIIAB.

SIA main duty is the compulsory licensing of individuals working in specific sectors of the private security industry. On the other hand BIIAB is the wholly-owned awarding body of BII, the professional body for the licensed retail industry.

According to the Private Security Industry Act 2001, section 3, schedule 2. Anyone looking to work as a private security guard, door supervisor or as a bouncer must have a valid SIA licence.

Other activities defined as licensable by the Act are: Cash and Valuables in Transit, Close Protection, Public Space Surveillance (CCTV), Key Holding and Vehicle Immobilisation (Wheel Clamping).

How to apply for a SIA licence?

Before applying for SIA licence to work within security industry, individuals must undergo a structured training course that results in a recognised qualification.

Once the training course is completed individuals are submitted to a test. This test is then sent to the entity responsible for marking, in this case BIIAB. BIIAB will return examination results on the same day which means that individuals will receive their test results in about 2 working days.

Having approved the test individuals can then apply for their SIA licence by filling out the SIA Licence applications. Once the application is received and an examination pass has been confirmed it will take between 7-10 days for the SIA licence to be issued.

Licence in hand you are then qualified to work within the security industry.

One of the most common questions that we hear from our students is: Does my SIA Licence for Door supervisor allows me to work as a private security guard as well?

The answer to this question is yes. The door supervisor licence is valid for both door supervision and security guarding.

Before enrolling on any training course keep this in mind:

1 - Check the training provider backgrounds. You don't want to end up with a fake licence in your hands.
2 - Ask for their accreditations (SIA, BIIAB, Edexcel, etc...)
3 - Look for ex-students testimonials and feedback. The easiest way to do this is by Googling the company's name.

By following these 3 simple steps this will assure that you are enrolled onto a qualified training programme to work within the UK's security industry.

In this article I described the "ins and outs" to work as a qualified employee in the security industry here in the UK. I would like to hear what is needed to work as a door supervisor or as a security guard in your country. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

SIA Security training expert specialised in door supervisor training courses, physical intervention training and security guarding training.

Green Line Pink Line

The trains outside the window... this goes on all fucking day.

The Communities That Comprise of Vaughan Are Benefiting From Higher Real Estate Values

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In contrast to many areas looking at a downturn in residential sales due to a lack of consumer confidence, hotspots like Vaughan, Ontario, the "City above Toronto" are actually seeing a 'seller's market' due to fast paced expansion. The city of Vaughan has reshaped itself over the previous 20 years from an agricultural township to a fast paced urban hub of a number of communities with a rustic feel. The population of Vaughan grew 276 percent in the ten year timeframe from 1986 to 2006, and by 2031 there may very be well over 1.5 million residents in the region.

The census numbers from 2006 reveal that Vaughan is bringing in a lot of young residents, with 81 percent of the city under 55 years old with a median age of 35.9 years, which is significantly smaller than the 39 year-old average for Ontario. Even though up to 65% of the houses in Vaughan are single-family detached buildings, high end multiple-row houses and apartment condominium are increasingly more popular, based on research by the York Region Planning Department.

The median household income is 31 percent above the national average, as a result Vaughan real estate ranges more than the average price of residences in Toronto.The spin-off of this can also be felt in Markham homes for sale as well which has also seen a rise in demand from home buyers and is welcome news for sellers.

One of the more popular attractions of Vaughan real estate is how close it is to Toronto's services, however without the hustle and bustle of an urban center. Purchasers are also attracted by the emphasis on public green areas set amid As opposed to many 'bedroom communities,' Vaughan has plenty daycare and health care services -- including a new regional hospital -- and high end shopping centers, restaurants and well-maintained public recreational facilities.

As the population in Vaughan has increased, the infrastructure has kept up with the demand for access to Toronto for the daily traveler, and there is an impressive grid of four lane streets that connect the highways and toll roads to city streets and thoroughfares. The local Viva bus system has a fleet of stylish Van Hool buses that connect transportation providers at the 'Vivastation' which features new ticket machines and 'smart' monitor to inform passengers of all departures. The Greater Toronto Transit Authority, known as as GOT, supplies rush hour commuter trains for stops in Vaughan and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has bus routes that connect to subways and RT stations in Toronto.

Another rationale for the Vaughan real estate rise is the amount of land still procurable for development. Because Toronto has such a tightly packed population, there are less occasions to custom build houses and estates in the immediate area. The wide open areas also demonstrate there is potential to develop new attractions like the Canada's Wonderland theme park located in Maple, one of Vaughan's districts, that brings in a wide range of visitors to boost the local economy.

A few of these open spaces are zoned as agricultural land and there is some worry that soon it will all be developed The additional communities that make up the city of Vaughan are Woodbridge, Klienburg, Markham, Concord and a part of Thornhill. The extraordinary flavor of each area is a result of the blending of older family properties, upscale master-planned areas and multi-family homes that are combined with industrial sections and retail centers.

The market is always in flux and Stefan Hyross is a writer for both Vaughan real estate in addition to keeping track of the property market in general. If you are intent on finding out more or would like to explore Markham homes for sale please visit the website.

What Is Chicago Famous For?

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Move over Disneyland because Chicagoland is about to take you on! Unlike the former which is an adventure park, the latter has a lot to offer than just rides, candies or prizes; it has something even more meaningful. For one, it's real and it has a lot of things in store for those who are willing to make the journey. These things include entertainment, transportation and education.

In the entertainment industry, Chicago is perhaps best known for its theatre. This is especially true since it is known to have started the modern improvisational theatre which makes use of improvisational techniques in acting for spontaneous performance. Two of the city's famous comedy groups for this kind of performance are The Second City and Improv Olympic (I.O.) who perform for well-known theatre companies within the area such as the Goodman Theatre and the Victory Gardens Theatre to name a few examples. Also, the city offers Broadway-style entertainment with performances in Ford Center for the Performing Arts Theatre, Bank of America Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and several others. It's a definitely the place to go for theatre entertainment.

Regarding the transportation sector, the "city of shoulders" has come to be recognized as a major transportation hub in the US. In fact, all six of its railroads meet in the city with mostly freight trains which have caused congestion in earlier years. However, with initiative from Chicago Region Environment and Transportation Efficiency's (CREATE) private railroads have been built and has reduced rail congestion by about one third. There are also nine interstate highways coordinated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace which through Chicago and its suburban areas that include the Kennedy Expressway and the Dan Ryan Expressway. All of these create an extensive network of transportation making the city the most accessible for people.

With its education sector, the city is well-recognized for its contributions to higher education and research espoused by Catholic and Lutheran thinking separately. Some Catholic schools within the city are the De La Salle Institute, Gordon Technical High School, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Brother Rice High School and many more. Other Lutheran schools include the Ida Crown Jewish Academy, the Latin School of Chicago, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Francis W. Parker School and several others. Other than their school of thought, these schools also differ in their field of specialization like arts, science, engineering, etc. It's the place to go for a great education.

So if you want to be in a place that has a lot of meaningful things to offer you, Chicago is the place to go. It's the place to get the best of theatre entertainment, land transportation and higher education and research. Chicago is indeed Chicagoland- a wonderland like no other.

Author Henry Drake can help you in your search for apartments in Chicago. If you're trying to look for Chicago apartments, make it easy on yourself. Browse apartments instantly using an apartment finder.

New York - The Gateway to America

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New York City is a popular place, receiving nearly 50 million tourists annually. People travel from around the world to visit the unofficial capital of North America, resplendent in cosmopolitan lifestyle and a culture as equally diverse as its rich social and political history.

Whether for world renowned cuisine, hip counter culture or iconic sightseeing, tourists flock to New York year after year. Two million of whom go on to visit one of New York Harbour's most recognisable sites - Ellis Island.

Ellis Island, situated on the Hudson River, operated as an immigration station from 1892 until 1954. Its first immigrant was Annie Moore - a 15-year-old from Cork - who first walked through its gates on January 1; its last was Arne Peterssen, a Norwegian mariner, in 1954.

Now owned by the Federal Government, Ellis Island was first privately owned by Samuel Ellis in the 1770s. Prior to becoming a federal immigration station, for which it is more commonly known, Ellis Island had a number of titles and served a number of different purposes. It was previously called Oyster Island for its rich oyster beds, Kioshk by native Indian tribes meaning 'Gull Island', Anderson's Island and Dyre. The island served as a colonial outpost, a wartime stronghold and an ammunition depot until, in 1892, it was converted into a receiving station for the country's immigrant population.

Immigrants who were typically processed by Castle Garden Immigration Department, which operated from 1855 until 1890, in Manhattan, were now to be transitioned through Ellis, which was a larger compound.

Ellis was created predominantly by means of artificial landfill, which constitutes nine tenths of the modern island. As the island grew over the years from 3.3 acres to 27.5 acres, contention arose over its jurisdiction. As more than 83 per cent of the island falls within the New Jersey City district, and the remaining portion within that of New York City, numerous legal wranglings ensued to identify direct ownership. Although an 1834 edict declared that the two states would share ownership of the island, a 1998 Supreme Court resolution declared that New Jersey held responsibility for all parts of the island created after the 1834 conclusion. Today, New Jersey and New York share ownership of the Island, which, following a declaration by Lyndon Johnson in 1965, was handed over to the US National Park Service, who tends to it along with the New York Harbour's other famous landmark as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.

The Immigration Station itself was designed by Edward Lippincott Tilton and William Alciphron Boring, both of whom received recognition for their design at the Paris Exposition in 1900. Over the years its iconic Grand Hall and cramped immigrant sleeping quarters held 12 million men, women and children. During the peak of immigration into North America in 1907, nearly 1.5 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island.

Of the hopeful millions, two per cent were denied immigrant status, their rejection earning Ellis its nickname, The Island of Tears. Rejections were made predominantly on health bounds, whether for obvious reasons of disease or insanity or if they had held a criminal past. Of those who were successful, however, 3,000 died on Ellis Island in hospital detention.

Immigration procedures enabled health officials to determine who was suitable to enter the United States and a 20-second medical examination was deemed sufficient to raise queries over the health of individuals, whether for reasons of the heart, hernia or conjunctivitis, which was then chalked on their blazer or jacket, sending them on for isolation, detention or dismissal. All in all, the process only took some two to five hours, leaving many free to enter America in relatively little time compared to that of their arduous journey from the corners of the globe.

Immigrants came from Asia, Europe and Russia, mixing faiths, religions and cultures interminably. As a result, almost half of all Americans can trace their family back to a relative who entered via the Port of New York Authority on Ellis Island. Famous names that passed through the Grand Hall include opera tenor Enrico Caruso, entertainer Bob Hope, film maker Frank Capra, actress Claudette Colbert, cosmetologist Max Factor and physicist Albert Einstein.

While millions of immigrants were shipped to the States through Ellis every year, nowadays, millions of tourists choose to take flights to New York and continue to visit Ellis Island, every year.

The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Road Transportation of a Singaporean - Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

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Singapore has the best transport system among all countries in Southeast Asia. Mass Rapid Transit is the popular metro railway system. MRT is the 2nd oldest metro system in Southeast Asia. Traveling in Singapore provides wonderful experience with MRT. There won't be any trouble with transport system in Singapore. All areas in this Island are accessible with wonderful road ways.

The roads are hassle free and well connected. MRT merges all city-states of Singapore. It is the expedition service of public transport. It has introduced to compete for road areas in this small country. Parliament has approved this system to provide the adequate transport facilities in and around the Singapore. It consumes very little road space and two lines are operating under ground. New plans are also established to extend this railway system. It is successful among travelers in Singapore.

MRT is created by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and inducted in 1987. The SMRT (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit) corporation monitors the duties and operations of MRT. It is the second oldest metro system in Southeast Asia. It has around 79 stations and 78 stations are under operation. It operates from early morning 5:30 until the midnight 1 every day. Here we can see more details on the MRT.

The MRT fares:

The ticketing means is well prepared with 2 areas. They are paid and unpaid. There are many General Ticketing Machines sell the tickets for one trip. Also it assists the consumer to receive extra values of stored value tickets. It can be treated as Paid. one way trip tickets ranges from $1.10 to $1.90.

There is an extra system of ticketing. The rail workers would get the amount at the entry gate. There are access control gates. These gates are attached to a computer network. The gates are capable of reading and updating the electronic data. They are as same as the access control gates. It comes under "unpaid".
The MRT fares in Singapore are evaluated with respect to the distance between the start and the destination station.

Ticketing system uses e-payment methods such as EZ-link, NETS flash pay and CEPAS.

The EZ-link card:

Many people preferred to buy EZ-link card. Here we can see how it functions and the money. It is a smart card and contact less. It is used to pay the public transport charges. It is accepted in MRT, LRT and public bus services. It can be also used to make the payment in Singapore branches of McDonald's. An adult EZ-link card costs S$15 which includes the S$5 non refundable card cost and a card credit of S$10. You can top up the account whenever you want.

This card can be used in all the public transports, stalls and libraries. It is the great benefit of this card. MRT nullified all the troubles on insufficient transporting facility. It is the high value project provides utmost comfort to the people in Singapore. The time schedule and the costs are flexible for the customers. It is an added advantage that the train timing will be extended on the festival seasons. You can have swift access to all places in Singapore with the help of MRT.

Contact less and smart card system is comfortable. They don't have to waste time on standing in front of the ticketing machine. Also it provides many benefits other than traveling. You can use these cards in library and McDonald's. MRT made the journey to become simple. All places are accessible with the help of MRT system. MRT is the fastest mode of transportation brings more ridership every day.

MRT gets around 1.952 million ridership regularly. It has become well known among foreigners as well. It is the world class traveling system.

Tracy Barb is traveling around South East Asia since her earliest childhood. She loves Singapore and likes to write about it. Therefore she became an expert in this topic and is working for Guidegecko.com, an online travel book store. If you are looking for a Singapore travel guide or a travel guide for other destinations, she recommends you to visit http://www.guidegecko.com.

Top Tips For Family Motor Fleet Insurance

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As more and more people have longer distances to travel to work and many businesses have fleets of vehicles of varying sizes, there is an increased need for motor fleet insurance. Traditionally this has been associated with entities which have vehicles as an integral part of their business such as bus companies, taxi companies and corporate businesses with travelling sales people. However as we are living in the information age there is an increasing awareness with those who have a smaller group of vehicles such as families who may have at least young grown up still living at home with his parents.

A fleet insurance policy is taken when you have more than 3 to over 100 vehicles for both private to commercial use with cover under a single policy, rather than getting each vehicle insured under different individual policies. It is a specialised product that covers multiple vehicles whether they are owned by a company or an individual or family whom have the required number of vehicles. There are a host of providers who are authorised by the Financial Services Authority to offer a complete and competitive range of insurance products to ensure that you can plan for the future with confidence.

Many families have been pleasantly surprised to discover that they can avail of this with as little as three cars. In these challenging times this approach to insuring the family cars or vans reduces stress by offering a solution which saves money, has less boring paperwork to do and on top of that can be surprisingly flexible. So it is no wonder that family motor fleet insurance specialists are enjoying more business than ever.

Choosing the right fleet insurance policy is essential, to save on your expenses and hence making a big difference to your costs. No two families are the same and each one requires a different cover and hence there are a wide variety of cover options. There are also insurance providers who cater to small businesses to relieve their time and cost pressure thus providing a tailor made policy to suit the customers' needs.

Once you find specialist brokers you can be assured of the best motor fleet insurance for your family with interest-free monthly instalments and a 24-hour claims helpline. They are specialists in the field and are highly trained individuals who can guide you and discuss the benefits of each policy with you to make you choose the right product for your needs. You can get a quote for vans, business cars, private cars, commercial vehicles, skip lorries, coaches/minibuses, agricultural vehicles and much more.

There are various professional intermediaries who provide these tailor made solutions for a range of requirements and ensure that both insurers and clients benefit from their services. They also provide goods in transit and office/warehouse insurances. You can benefit by making savings on your premium as well as eliminating some of the paperwork.

You may also find that you can make improvements in your existing policy in terms of quality of cover and long term protection. Some of these intermediaries have excellent relationships with prestigious insurance companies and hence are in a good position to provide you with the best motor fleet insurance.

Jackie de Burca loves living in the information age and sharing useful information with others. This is her top tips for family fleet insurance which shows how many families could save money by having a motor fleet insurance as opposed to separate policies.

family fleet insurance

Groovethang playing "Beginnings" by Chicago

Groovethang playing th Chicago hit "Beginnings" at The Pageant, Jan 2007.

Ride of the Subway - 2010 IRM Snowflake Special

Video shot out of the Illinois Railway Museum's 2010 "Snowflake Special" charter train while it was traveling through the CTA's Blue Line subway, with music to liven things up.

Merger and Acquisitions Series - Due Diligence Questions For the CFO

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Introduction:

Due Diligence is the verification process of information and its associated documentation to ensure a reasonable individual "that they get what they are paying for". When buying, selling or forming a joint venture it is very important that the books and records are verified and tested to ensure the historical financial results are validated. If your company has a team of professionals who have experience in multiple transactions and a detailed checklist to follow that is probably an exception to the rule, most companies due these type of transaction infrequently. Therefore, it is recommended that due diligence be a coordinated effort with members of the company and an outside firm who has experience with the due diligence process.

The following are examples of questions to ask during the interview of key management staff when following the due diligence checklist.

QUESTIONS FOR CFO

Organizational Structure
o Who owns the company in what percentages?
- Are there any outstanding warrants, options, convertible debt or any other plans that allow for the issuance of shares?
o How is the company organized (S Corp., C Corp., LLC, partnership, etc.)?
o Who are the officers of the company?
o Does the company have divisions or subsidiaries?
- Where are they located?
- What % is owned?
- If not 100% owned, who else is an owner and what is their relationship to the company?
o Under what names does the company do business?
o Is the company part of any joint ventures?
o Are there any inter-company loans?
o Any recently discontinued operations?
o Who is the company's accountant (what type of statement)?
- How long has the company used the accounting firm?

Capital Structure
o Senior Debt
- Who is the company's bank/bank group?
- How much and what types of senior loans does the company have?
- What are the terms of those loans?
- When do they mature?
- What is the collateral?
- Does the company have any other senior debt?
- Are there any letters of credit outstanding?
- Are all facilities fully drawn?
- How are decisions made within the bank group?
- What are the voting requirements?
o Leases
- Does the company have any leases?
- How are the leases broken down by operating and capitalized?
- What are the monthly/quarterly payments associated with the leases?
- What is the liability amount associated with the capitalized leases?
- What is the collateral for those leases?
o Junior Debt
- Does the company have any junior financing?
- How much and what types (Mezzanine/Preferred Stock)?
- What are the terms of those investments?
- When do they mature?
- Are those investments secured?
o Contingent Liabilities/Other Debt
- Does the company guarantee any debt?
- Any other significant off balance sheet financing?
- Are there any liabilities we haven't discussed outside of trade debt and other liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business?
- Does the company accrue for any contingent liabilities?
a. Should accrue if loss is likely and loss can be reasonably estimated.

Management
o What is the background of the management team?
o Have any been replaced or hired recently?
o What are the shortcomings and strengths of the current management team?
o Do you recommend any changes?
o Are there employment agreements in place for the current management team?
o Who comprises the board of directors?
o What are officers' salaries?
o Do the owners take out any dividends?
o Have the officers lent money to the company?
o Have the officers borrowed money from the company?
o Are there any family members involved in the business?

Revenue Recognition
o Revenue should be recorded after the earnings process has been completed and an exchange has occurred.
o Questionable revenue recognition procedures include:
- Recording revenue when future services remain to be provided.
- Recording revenue before shipment or before the customer's unconditional acceptance.
- Recording revenues even though the customer is not obligated to pay.
- Selling to an affiliated party.
- Giving the customer something of value as a quid pro quo.
- Grossing up revenue.
- Recording sales that lack economic substance.
- Recording cash received in lending transactions as revenue.
- Recording investment income as revenue.
- Recording as revenue supplier rebates tied to future required purchases.
- Releasing revenue that was improperly held back before a merger.
- Barter sales.
o Has the company been stuffing the channel? Do you have visibility into the inventory and sales of your customers?

Gross Margin

o What is the break-down among the different categories of COGS?
- Material

a. Which materials

b. Which vendors
- Direct Labor
a.Seasonal
b. Full Time
- Overhead
a. Indirect Labor
b.Indirect Material
c. Other

Other Assets

o What deposits, prepayments refunds, and credit balances exist in favor of the company?
o Can funds be freed and become available to the company?
o Are any of these funds subject to setoff, attachment or execution?
o Are there assets of value not on the balance sheet?
o Is balance sheet value for any assets substantially lower than market value?

Other Contract - Executory Contracts

o Other than those contracts with customers, vendors, equipment lessors or real estate lessors already mentioned, does the company have any executory contracts?
o These contracts may include lease, franchise or license agreements.
o Are they beneficial or burdensome?
o Are there defaults?
o Can the defaults be cured?
o Is there danger of termination of important contractual arrangements?
o What is the nature of the debtor's obligation under each contract?

Other Insurance

o What coverage does the company have for property insurance?
o What coverage does the company have for general liability?
o Does the company have business interruption insurance?
o Does the company have an umbrella policy?
o Does the company have product liability insurance?
o Are coverage levels adequate (at lease loan size)?
o Is lender loss payee?
o Are premiums current?
o Has the company discontinued/cancelled/non-renewed any policy recently?
o Any significant claims recently?
o Does the company have any insurance with respect to warranty obligations or product liability?

Taxes

o Are all taxes current?
- Federal taxes
- State taxes
- Local taxes
- Payroll taxes
- Sales taxes
- Real estate taxes
- Personal property taxes
- Franchise taxes
o Is the company scheduled to receive any tax refunds?

Government Licenses, Permits and Certificates of Authority

o What licenses, permits or certificates of authority are necessary for operations?
o Is there danger of revocation or sanction from any regulatory authority?
o What effect would the filing of a bankruptcy have with respect to the license, permit or certificate of authority?
o Is the license, permit or certificate of authority transferable?
o What are the conditions of transfer?
o Is the license, permit or certificate of authority valuable?
o Does it create a competitive advantage?
o What food safety audits has the company undergone over the past 5 years?

Financial/General

o What are company's break-even sales (operating and with debt service)?
o What are primary cost and revenue drivers or the company?
o Explain any significant extraordinary adjustments to P&L?
o Is the acquisition a part of a larger company?
- If so, have all expenses necessary to run the company been allocated to the financial statements provided? If they haven't been allocated, how much would the accounting, IT, etc. functions cost on an annual basis?
o Is the company under accrued in any expense categories?
o Any significant expenditures in the near-term?
o How long after month-end are the books kept open?
o Is the company's cost structure relatively fixed or variable?
o Does the company pay dividends of any kind?
o What is the company's operating account structure?
o Any significant recently capitalized expenses that weren't capitalized in the past?
o What is the company's accounting period (FYE, 4,4,3)?
o Any outstanding litigation? If so, does the company have any judgments against it?
o Does the company have any patents/trademarks (important for branded products)/other intangibles? When do they expire?
o Does the company have any other valuable intangible assets?
o Are there any fixed assets that may have appreciated in value?
o Is the company over or under funded on its pension?
o Does the company have any foreign currency risk?
o What's the company's SIC or NAICS code?
o Does the company receive any income from equity in earnings? If so, how does it compare to dividends from that investment?
o Has the company has any significant one-time gains in the past several years? Where were these gains reported?
- Gains from over-funded pension.
- Sale of assets.
o Were any of these gains used to offset operating expenses or to increase revenue?
o What is the detail of "other income?" Is it mixing income and expenses?
o Has the company made any acquisitions recently?
- Was a reserve created when the acquisition was made (has income been released post-acquisition from the reserve)?
o Are there any "non-recurring" recurring expenses?
o Has the company created a large reserve recently? Is it releasing it into income on a periodic basis?
o Has the company capitalized any marketing, R&D or start-up costs?

QUESTIONS FOR CFO OR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE MANAGER

Supply Chain/Accounts Payable

o Explain the supply chain in which the company operates?
o What is the company's level of horizontal and vertical integration relative to its competitors?
o How is the margin in the supply chain distributed?
o Does the company have any licensing arrangements?
o What terms do your vendors grant you?
o Have there been any recent changes in the vendor terms?
o What is the overall DPO?
o What is total AP?
o How much is over 90 days?
o How stretched is the trade?
o Is the company receiving the product it needs on a timely basis?
- Are you COD with any vendors?
- Are calls being returned to vendors?
- Do you have open terms with your large suppliers?
- Are you bumping up against any credit limits with suppliers?
o What has been the trend in AP (over 90 days now vs. one month, three months, one year, etc.)?
o How many vendors in total?
o Do you have commitments in place to pay down vendors' past due balances?
o Are there significant held checks?
o Are there significant checks in the float?
- Is the company playing the float?
o Have all invoices been put into system?
o Do you have any supply agreements? Are any long-term?
o Are there any future purchase commitments?
o Who are the company's most important/largest/most powerful vendors?
o What does the company purchase from those suppliers?
o Have there been any recent changes in the vendor base?
o How many sole source suppliers does the company have?
o How concentrated in the AP base?
o What are disbursements that do not run through AP (payroll, commission, etc.)?
o What are the major raw materials purchased from outside vendors?
o Does the company have seasonal periods of high utility costs?
o Are volume discounts taken from suppliers?
o Are there any commodity supplies with significant price fluctuations?
o Can you hedge commodity risk?
o Are there any non-arms length transactions with suppliers?
o Are all invoices sent directly to the AP Manager or do various people in company receive invoices?
o Are all invoices supported by purchase orders?
o Who approves purchase orders?
- What are that person's approval limits?
- Who else must sign off?
o Are bids typically received before a purchase order is approved?
o With respect to fringe benefits, union dues, or any times for which it is the responsibility of the debtor company to withholding amounts from wages or to make payment for the benefit of employees or retirees, has the company defaulted in its obligations? Items include:
- Life insurance
- Health and accident insurance
- Pension fund
- Charitable contributions
- Vacation pay
- Withholding taxes

QUESTIONS FOR CFO OR PURCHASING MANAGER

Inventory

o What is the company's inventory?
o How is it broken down among RM, WIP and FG?
o What is the company's DIO?
o Does the company have a perpetual inventory system?
o What are the bank's advance rates against inventory?
o Have you had a recent appraisal done on the inventory?
o Does the inventory have intrinsic value (can is be sold outside of a going concern)?
o Does the company build-to-order or build-for-inventory?
o Is the RM commodity in nature?
o Is it stored in such a way that it could be easily sold (for example a half full paint can couldn't be sold)?
o How quickly and how expensive would it be to convert WIP into FG?
o Are FG specialized for a specific customer?
o Would other customers purchase the FG?
o Would current customers purchase FG at discount?
o Does the company have any consigned inventory?
o Do any customers provide tooling or other materials?
o Where is the inventory located?
o Does the company own those facilities?
o If not, did the bank receive landlord waivers?
- If no waiver, need to come up with plan to control the RE post-closing to sell assets.
o Is there any excess/obsolete inventory? If so, who could it be sold to?
o Is the company appropriately reserved for slow moving inventory?
o What is the company's reserve against obsolete/slow moving inventory?
o When is the last time the company took a reserve for slow-moving inventory or any other adjustment?
o What category is slowest turning?
o Do you have the right inventory for what you're current selling (are you out of "white bread")?
o What is high and low point of inventory during season?
o From where is product distributed?
o How often is a physical inventory taken?
o Does the company typically have significant variances resulting from the physical inventory?
o Can the company return inventory to its vendors?
o Are there particular problems with respect to the disposition of excess inventory having to do with brand names of customers, market conditions or distribution problems?
o Is the company's space adequate for its inventory?
o Does the company have any private label inventory?
o Any vendors with a purchase money lien on the inventory?
o Any other creditors with liens on any of the inventory?
- Grower's Lien
- Lien for Grower's Lender
- Producer's Lien
- Livestock Seller's Lien
- Lien for Warehouseman of Alcoholic Beverages
- Depository Lien
- Logger's and Lumberman's Lien
- Mechanic's Lien
- Warehouseman's Lien
- Lien of Carrier
- Landlord's Lien
o Does the company account for the inventory using LIFO or FIFO or some other method? If FIFO, what it the LIFO reserve?
o Has the inventory costing method changed recently?
o Has the company been liquidating LIFO layers over the past two years?
o Is the inventory of a stylistic nature or subject to technological obsolescence?
o Do you have a build plan? Is it based on purchase orders?
o How much of a reserve does the company have against inventory?
- Has the reserve changed in dollar or % terms?
o Inventory items most banks consider ineligible
- WIP
- Obsolete goods
- Damaged goods
- Slow-moving goods
- Custom goods
- Private label goods
- Packaging material
- Perishable goods
- Samples, demos, prototypes
- Costs capitalized for tax purposes
- Consigned goods
- Goods not on company's property - landlord's waiver or bonded warehouse is OK.
- In-transit goods (may be considered OK)
- Foreign inventory
- Samples
- Inventory at job sites
- Inventory at locations where less than 10% of total goods are located
- Goods located in US foreign territories
- Bill and hold inventory
- Goods encumbered by other liens
- Goods where there is questionable title

Conclusion:

The due diligence process is very financially oriented, but professionals in legal, tax, human resources, insurance & risk, sales and operations are typically involved in the process and responsible for difference areas of the validation process. Do not take the process lightly and do not assume the information being provided is correct without a through vetting and analysis to validate the accuracy.

It takes an experienced, cross functional team to perform due diligence, remember this is also part of the negotiation process as the final purchase price usually is adjusted based on the information from due diligence. Be sure to ask the right questions, then validate!

Keith McAslan is a Partner with CxO To Go a national professional services company headquartered in Denver, Colorado that provides on-demand C-Level expertise and best practices to client companies on a part time, flexible, and affordable basis. Keith is sought after to provide advisory services as the Trusted Advisor to Owners and CEO's. By utilizing his extensive experience as a successful financial and operational C-level executive, Keith brings a results driven leadership style to complex situations.

McAslan's expertise includes: financial advisory; management consulting; part time, interim & virtual CFO, COO and CEO; debt and equity financing; turnaround management; acquisition and divestiture advisory. Most recently Keith, was instrumental in the successful sale of Western Forge to Ideal Industries. As the interim CFO with finance and private investment transaction experience, he guided the management team through the complex sale and due diligence process completing the sale from prospective buyer presentation to close within 60 days. Please contact Keith at 303-520-2493, http://www.cxotogo.com, or kmcaslan@CxOToGo.com to discuss your business needs.

Disney's Magic Kingdom Vacation, 2007

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The only thing my daughter wanted for her 7th birthday was to go to the Magic Kingdom. I booked a 2 night stay in newly renovated Royal Plaza, a Downtown Disney Resort Area Hotel in Lake Buena Vista. The hotel is within walking distance to Downtown Disney and it right off interstate 4 which is very convenient.

The hotel was $130.00 per night and the hotel was worth every penny. The Royal Plaza is a beautiful hotel with spacious rooms and a nice restaraunt. There was a Disney owned gift shop on the 1st floor where we were able to get information and purchase tickets.

The Royal Plaza Hotel has bus services to all the Disney theme parks and they pick up and drop off in front of the hotel. The 1st bus picks up at 8:30am which was nice because we arrived at the Magic Kingdom at 9am when it opened.

We had two 7-year olds with us so we wanted to make sure we got there at 9am so we could beat the crowds and hit all of the kiddie rides in fantasyland and Splash Mountain. My daughter is only 7 but she is shockingly addicted to splash mountain. Once we arrived at the Magic Kingdom I was suprised at the large number of people who were already waiting to get on the monorails. We rode the monorail to the main gate and quickly obtained 2 double wide strollers for the kids.

We made a dash for Splash Mountain where there was no wait. It had been some time since I had been on that ride and I was amazed at how long the ride was. It is not like most flume rides that immediately take you up to a high point and drop you down the flume. Splash Mountain takes you on slow and relxing ride through the mountain with many well done scenes to marvel at. Splash Mountain is based on the brear rabbit story and the kids really love it. I am not a big thrill ride enthusiast but the flume drop at the end of the ride was pretty wild.

Here is a list of the other rides and attractions in Frontierland

Splash Mountain®

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Tom Sawyer Island

Country Bear Jamboree

Frontierland® Shootin' Arcade

Pecos Bill Café

We then headed to the place that should be familiar to kids all over the world, Fantasyland. I am 38 years old and I have many memories of time spent in Fantasyland as a small child with my brothers during summer vacations. It's nice being a parent and being able to watch your children enjoying something that you also enjoyed as a child. We hit the Peter Pan ride first which is our favorite ride in Fantasyland. The ride really does give you the feeling that you are flying through the night.

It was off to It's A Small World next where there was no wait. This ride is probably the most famous and well known ride in the Magic Kingdom. Kids enjoy this ride because it depicts children doing many fun activities with music and singing. The fact that it is also a slow moving boat ride is a plus for the kids. I have been back home from Disney for a week and I still have small world theme song in my head.

Next we rode Cinderella's Golden Carousel which is where we found the Mary Poppins character signing autographs and posing for pictures. The kids were excited to get their first autograph of the day at this time. We then rode the carousel which is fun for adults as well as kids.

Our next stop was at a ride that I have only ridden once in my life and that was a long time ago when I was a child. The Mad Tea Party ride is where you sit in a tea cup and you and your friend's or family can spin the cup as fast as you want by turning a wheel in the center of the tea cup. I get motion sickness and when I rode this ride as a child I became ill and have never gotten the courage to try it again.

Surprisingly this was our final stop in Fantasyland because the kids wanted to head to Mickey's Toontown Fair to get autographs from the princesses and see Mickey's house. A good portion of one's day could very easily be spent in Fantasyland. There is so much to do and see there and the only bad thing is that area tends to get really crowded and congested. Here is a list of some of the other rides and attractions in Fantasyland.

Cinderella Castle

"it's a small world"

Peter Pan's Flight

Mickey's PhilharMagic

Storytime with Belle

Snow White's Scary Adventures

Cinderella's Golden Carousel

Dumbo The Flying Elephant

Ariel's Grotto

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Pooh's Playful Spot

Mad Tea Party

Cinderella's Royal Table - Dream Dining

Cinderella's Royal Table - Dreams Come True

The Pinocchio Village Haus

We then walked the short distance to Mickey's Toontown Fair which is home to these attractions.

Minnie's Country House

Toontown Hall Of Fame

Judge's Tent

Mickey's Country House

Donald's Boat

The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm

This area is ideal for the younger kids and all the rides are geared towards them. This a decent sized area with plenty of things to do and see. The most popular attractions here are Mickey's Country House and the Princess autograph and photo opportunity. The lines for the princess autographs is inside the huge gift shop next to Mickey's Country House and be prepared for a long wait if you did not get there early in the day. Mickey Mouse's autograph can also be had here but the big draw is the princesses!

The Walt Disney World Railroad has a stop in this area which is nice because you can take a break and relax on the train after standing in line for princess autographs. Mickey's Toontown Fair is a special place that will leave you and your children with wonderful memories.

Right around the corner is the ever so popular Tomorrowland with all of it's high tech rides and
futuristic architecture. This are seemed larger than life to me as a child and it left me awe struck. My favorite ride as a child was the Indy Speedway where you can race in a pint sized Indy car around a good sized track. I have a daughter and she has never really had an interest in this ride so we skipped it on this trip.

We headed straight to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority which is a slow moving ride that taked you around Tomorrowland and inside Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear. Next, we ate an early lunch at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café. This cafe is huge with quick meals such as burgers and chicken plates. An alien musician plays the organ and speaks at the stage near the front door. This is a nice place to take a break and grab a bite to eat before you throw yourselves back into the crowds.

We rode Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin which I have to say was a blast! This was my first time on the ride and my daughter and I had fun trying to shoot the targets with our laser blasters. This is a fantastic ride for the kids with all of it's lights, sounds, and laser blasters. We exited this ride and found Stitch signing autographs so we waited in line and took some pictures with Stitch.

Here is a list of the other rides and attractions in Tomorrowland.

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

Tomorrowland Indy Speedway

Space Mountain

Astro Orbiter

Tomorrowland Transit Authority

Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress

Galaxy Palace Theater

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin

Stitch's Great Escape!

Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café

Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station

Space Mountain is the big draw in Tomorrowland. It is a roller coaster that resembles a space ship and the entire ride is in the dark which makes it quite thrilling. I remember as a teenager waiting in line for several hours to ride Space Mountain. Tomorrowland is a great area for teenagers and young adults and you could spend hours there.

Author writes for the Florida travel and vacation blog [http://www.BestofFloridaOnline.com] Best of Florida reviews attractions and events all over Florida so that prospective Florida visitors will have a better idea of where to go and what to see while visiting Florida. Any Florida business, attraction, theme park, concert, or event can get a free review by emailing sunnygator@bestoffloridaonline.com

Moving to West New York - New Jersey

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It's a Great Relocation

So you are thinking of moving and you are looking for a great point of relocation and even better real estate market, then you might consider the real estate in West New York, New Jersey. It is close to Union City, New Jersey, and only three miles northwest of New York, New York. This is great real estate to be sure, and it is in Hudson County.

Population

West New York has a population of 45,768 residents. Ethnically the city breaks down along the following lines: 60 are White, almost 4 percent are African American, 0.67 percent are Native American, nearly 3 percent are Asian, 28 percent are from other races, and 7.57 percent are from two or more races. And, Hispanic or Latino of any race was nearly 79 percent of the population. So you see, many people have been moving to or finding relocation in this great real estate.

This is a very ethically diverse city, and if you are moving to or finding relocation in this real estate market, it is a good bet because in 2000, West New York had a median family income of $34,083. This makes the area a great place for relocation and worth considering moving to..

West New York Housing

According to the 2000 Unites States census, 20 percent of the housing and real estate in West New York was owner-occupied. If you are looking for relocation and great real estate, you can choose from a variety of real estate from historic buildings to average houses. In addition, if you are moving here you will find many apartments in this real estate market for your relocation.

Commuting

In West New York, 52 percent of people commuting to work drive. However, in this small piece of real estate, it is possible for many people to ride their bikes to work and some even walk. In West New York, they find many ways of moving from one place to another. If you are moving or finding relocation in West New York, you will have a big choice in public transportation, so you may not have to drive. That means saving on gas and becoming more globally conscious.

With the addition of light rail services, many commuters can travel within Hudson County real estate with the many connections to PATH train services to New York City. Also, New Jersey Transit bus service is available to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and to other New Jersey communities. Moving this way can be less stressful than driving a car. The nearest airport in New Jersey, with scheduled passenger service, is Newark Liberty International Airport. It is located 13.6 miles away in Newark /Elizabeth. New York City's LaGuardia Airport is 13.5 miles away.

Commerce

West New York is in a state-established real estate known as an, "Urban Enterprise Zone," This is a program designed to assist businesses in economically distressed communities across New Jersey's real estate. Businesses within the real estate zone can apply for a variety of incentives. Sometime this is a good reason for moving your business to this relocation. The incentives include a sales tax reduction to customers of 3 percent from the statewide mandated 7 percent statewide sales tax. That savings could sure help many businesses.

In addition, there is no tax on clothing or on purchases made by merchants related to the operation of their businesses. These are great reasons for relocation. The revenue generated from this is kept in a special fund dedicated for use within the real estate zone for specific economic development and physical improvement projects. These means it will become an even better relocation. The real estate zone was established in the winter of 1995 through the efforts of assembly member Rudy Garcia, who later became the mayor of Union City.

History

West New York is located in Hudson County. West New York was incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature in the summer of 1898. It replaced Union Township as relocation. Until the 1880s, the main commercial area of West New York was located on Palisade Avenue. Henry Kohlmeier, an influential resident, who lived in West New York, objected to the noise created by the earsplitting horse-drawn carriages. Instead of moving or finding relocation and different real estate, he made a fuss. His objections led to a route being transferred two blocks west to what is known now as Bergenline Avenue. It runs parallel to Palisade Avenue and is the city's main commercial route. It is currently the longest commercial avenue in the state. This real estate has more than 300 retail stores and restaurants. Your business would do well if it were moving here as part of a relocation.

Bergenline Avenue runs through the entire length of West New York from north to south, and through Union City, Guttenberg and North Bergen. This makes it the main commercial strip for North Hudson. Like Chicago, this real estate is known as the "Miracle Mile," Most of Bergenline's retail and chains are located at the intersection of 32nd Street in Union City, and continues north to 92nd Street in North Bergen.

Some of the businesses you can find in West New York, New Jersey include Anthony Bracco Art Studio, it is an in-house graphic art and design studio; Met Mortgage Commercial, it offers commercial and hard money private bridge loans for real estate nationwide; and Bambi's Baby Center.

Education

The West New York School District serves West New York. And if you are considering moving to or finding relocation in West New York your adolescent children would most likely attend one of the following educational facilities: Memorial High School or West New York Middle School. The elementary schools are Harry L. Bain Elementary School, Public School No. 1, Public School No. 2, Public School No. 3, Public School No. 4 and Public School No. 5.

Not only great real estate but also great schools are one of the reasons to consider moving to or finding relocation in West New York, New Jersey.

Also in Hudson County, you will find Hudson Community College. It is a comprehensive community college. Its mission is to offer high quality programs and services that are affordable, accessible, and community-centered. Many students are moving here as relocation to gain further education.

Interesting Facts If you are moving to or finding relocation in West New York, you can brag to your friends that you are living in the location where two popular movies were filmed. Director Luc Besson directed the first one. It is the 133- minute-Léon, which is also known as The Professional in its United States' release. The very moving movie stars Jean Reno as Leon. He is an assassin and works for the Mafia. He lives in a run-down apartment building. A drug dealer kills everybody in Leon's next down apartment - except Matilda, who is played by a young Natalie Portman. She seeks solace and relocation in Leon's apartment. Twelve-year-old Matilda has experienced a tough life and she wants revenge, so when she discovers that Leon is a killer, she offers to pay him for the assassination of all the men involved in her family's death. She also asks to become Leon's apprentice.

Another moving movie filmed in West New York is Independence Day. This is an Academy Award winning 1996 science fiction film directed by Roland Emmerich. The film's plot is about an attempted alien takeover of Earth and features several scenes where landmarks such as the White House, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and the US Bank Tower in Los Angeles are being destroyed by Aliens. I guess the Aliens were thinking about relocation to this world.

There's even a film entitled West New York. It wasn't filmed in West New York real estate but it deals with some of its fictional residents. Alcoholism cost ex-cop Tom Coletti, played by Frank Vincent, his marriage and job. But he begins working for a New Jersey bank, and watching over the disposal of corporate bonds. Because he is desperate for cash, he pockets some of the bonds before they can be destroyed. And begins thinking about relocation. However, a West New York mobster, Carmine Ferraro, played by Vincent Pastore, is upset when he doesn't get any action from this theft. So, Coletti is on the run and seeks relocation from the cops and the mob in this action thriller that takes place in West New York.

Cultural and Heritage

The Hudson County Office of Affairs Cultural and Heritage strives to create an environment where the local arts can thrive. The office also sponsors tours and lectures on local heritage, promotes historic preservation, and presents culturally diverse celebrations. Hudson County is great place for relocation.

Moving to West New York New Jersey or visit our Self Storage Article Directory

Visit China on a Business Visa

To obtain entry into any foreign country, a valid visa is required. A visa authorizes you to gain entry into or travel through a foreign country for a specific period of time. The requirements for visas may vary from country to country and the prevailing political conditions.

For foreigners traveling to China on various purposes, permission for entry into, exit from and transit through China is granted by the Chinese visa-issuing authorities. Of the eight categories of Chinese visas available, the F visa or the business visa is the mandatory visa required for business visitors. The business visa is issued to individuals invited to deliver trainings, investigations, research, lectures, business meets, scientific/technological and cultural exchanges, and intern practice for a short period of only six months.

Owing to the upcoming Olympic Games and security concerns, security has been tightened for China and those requiring an entry into the province have to deal with extra visa procedures.
To apply for a Chinese visa, ensure that your passport has a minimum of six months validity and a blank visa page for the stamp. A visa notification form issued by Chinese authority has to be submitted along with the visa application and passport. Remember to fill in the relevant forms correctly and in a legible manner without any incomplete or missing information. Accurately mention the duration of stay planned, date of entry, and number of entries required. While the fees for single, double, and multiple entries for various periods are the same for American citizens ($ 130), it may vary for citizens of other countries (from $ 30 to $ 90).

The validity for a single entry Chinese visa is three months from the date of issue and six months for a double entry. The validity for multiple entries could be 6, 12, or 24 months. Visitors are expected to leave the country before the expiry date of the visa. A single entry visa requires an official invitation letter from the immigration office in China.

As per the recent updates in policies due to the Olympics, multiple entry visas are being issued only to frequent visitors. The round trip itinerary and the hotel reservations have to be submitted to get approval. A visa notification form is essential as also the official invitation letter. Only single entry visas are issued for the non-US passport holders. Among the other regular documents to be submitted for processing, non-US passport holders are being requested to produce photocopies of previous Chinese visas to speed up the procedures. Bank statements, sponsorship letters, or other proofs of financial assurance have to be provided.

These strict rules will be relaxed once the Olympic Games are over.
The visitor traffic to and from China has increased owing to the growing business scenario.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about business visas [http://www.exploringchinatodaysite.info/visit-china-on-business-visa], please visit Exploring China Today Site [http://www.exploringchinatodaysite.info] for current articles and discussions.

Vasyl Popadiuk at Chopin Auditorium, Chicago. Introduction.

Orange Wave concert, Chopin Auditorium, Chicago, April 24, 2010. PapaDuke.Com Orangewave.us

Chicago 1972-Introduction 1/16

Chicago Live from Tokyo, Japan on June 8th, 1972 Introduction Featuring the late great Terry Kath.

Panama Banks, Banking Secrecy and Offshore Bank Accounts

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Panama's banking secrecy laws have been put to the test many times in the past and have always passed the privacy test. Panama is unique, in that corporations can be registered anonymously in bearer share format with these corporations able to hold bank accounts allowing for a high degree of financial privacy.

These corporations are difficult to find out the real owner because when ownership is transfered no records of the sale need to be kept or registered. The person that physically holds the share certificates is the owner of a bearer share corporation and any associated bank accounts which offers a great deal of privacy.

Of course there has to be someone as a signatory on the company bank accounts but within every corporation there can be more than one person with signing authority. Being a signatory on an account is not proof that the corporation funds are your funds.

Technically, the owner of the bank account is the corporation and not the people with signatory privileges. The banking secrecy afforded by law in Panama is what draws foreigners to Panama to set up their corporations and bank accounts.

Lets Take a look at some of those laws:

Article 74 of Decree 238 makes it so the banking commission of Panama can't conduct an investigation on personal banking clients. Additionally, if it uncovers any information during normal operations they aren't allowed to reveal that information to any person or authority. They may only do so if they are subpoenaed by a Panama court. Violators of this law are subject to another law which imposes fines or jail time on the guilty party.

Article 65 of Cabinet Decree 238 regulates the manner in which the National Banking Commission can gain access to banking information and documents. The law states that they may only inspect the banks general books and that they may not single out individual bank accounts. That law covers both deposits and securities at the bank, and this to can only be broken by a court order.

Article 170 states that any person with access to confidential banking information through either occupation or activity, that uses this information without the consent of the involved parties, in a way that causes someone damages, they can be punished and possibly imprisoned. That sentence can be anywhere from ten months to two years, it may include monetary fines and they will also be barred from practicing their profession for a two year period.

Regardless of where you bank today there are three reasons that can lead to your banking secrecy being violated. Those three reasons are severe criminal activity such as terrorist funding, money laundering and drug smuggling.

In Panama tax evasion is not considered a serious crime. There is no court in Panama that will allow your banking secrecy to be violated for tax related violations unless a case is brought that can show this money was also involved in a serious crime.

Panama is a member of the mutual legal assistance treaty. In a post 911 world it is now a requirement that all countries that transit funds in and out of the United States must be a part of this treaty. When you analyze this treaty it does not threaten any of the strict secrecy laws set fourth in Panama.

The following are the basics of the treaty. The investigation can only be conducted if the offense that is to be investigated is a crime in both countries. If a country wants information they have to prove they have no other alternative method of obtaining it and they must also show they can not go fourth with legal action without the information. When information is requested it has to be specific. They can't just be fishing for information.

They must also first file a criminal case in its court system on a national level, which ensures that smaller cases are not covered under the treaty. If another country meets all of the conditions, the request is pushed through diplomatic channels and then Panama must consider the information request.

Panama values its banking secrecy laws and they may ask for more information before they break the laws they hold with such esteem. It is not uncommon for Panama to deny an information request since they need to feel the matter is serious on their end to bring action against a person. They are allowed to deny any request that meets the outlined guidelines.

Panama does not in any way shape or form participate in any tax treaties. They also do not acknowledge tax related investigations as criminal situations. Panama will not divulge a person's personal information to a foreign entity for tax related issues unless formal litigation is brought before a Panama court and the judge approves the request. This is only granted for serious crimes. Tax evasion is considered a civil matter in Panama. In Panama you must commit a serious crime to risk your financial privacy.

Learn more about Panama banking, banking secrecy or other offshore related subjects please visit the author's website: OffshoreLegal.org

CTA 6000's at IRM

Switch move through the Illinois Railway Museum's Yard 8 with Chicago Transit Authority car 30 (St Louis, 1960) leading cars 6655, 6656 (both St Louis, 1958) and 41 (St Louis, 1960.

A Promise Fulfilled - When Transits Echo Natal Aspects

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Each natal aspect contains a host of promises, since even the most difficult of combinations has gifts to bestow once we learn to use the energies of the two planets well. Throughout our lives, transits to a natal aspect represent windows of time when we are challenged to make changes in how we are using that aspect. If we are wise, we gradually learn to let go of self-defeating ways of expressing the energies of those planets and, instead, to capitalize on their strengths.

Never is that more true than during the periods when the natal aspect is echoed by the transit -- that is, when one of the planets involved natally is the transiting planet as well. For instance, suppose that Saturn is square Mars in the birth chart, and now transiting Saturn is opposite natal Mars. The aspect isn't the same, but the pair of planets in the picture (Mars and Saturn) are. Saturn forms hard aspects (such as squares or oppositions) to its natal position about every seven years, during its 29.46-year orbit around the Sun; so, at seven-year intervals, Saturn will echo all of the major difficult aspects it makes in your birth chart. (It also forms trines to its natal position twice during that orbit, providing opportunities when Saturn's better qualities can be developed with somewhat less stress.)

In those recurring intervals, you will be challenged anew to master the lessons of Saturn and to make substantive progress through self-discipline, hard work, and a more mature perspective on your old limitations. You may wish to consider how you've been using your Saturn energies in the seven years or so since the last such aspect. If you have worked hard in the areas of life represented by that natal aspect, the transit may very well be a time when your efforts reach fruition -- provided, of course, that you have been both diligent and wise. Sometimes, we work much harder than we need to, when not only our methods but even our game plans are flawed. If so, it may be time to evaluate your priorities and redirect your efforts toward more appropriate ends, so you won't wear yourself out.

The so-called Midlife Cycle of the late thirties to mid forties is a crucible for much change and growth, because the astrological picture at midlife includes a series of outer-planet aspects by transit to their own natal positions. Transiting Uranus makes an opposition to its natal position in the chart, transiting Neptune squares natal Neptune, and transiting Pluto squares natal Pluto. In the process, the transiting outer planets trigger all the aspects that the outer planets form in the birth chart, giving us the chance to learn how to use those aspects better and to fulfill more of their innate potential. (The exact ages when these aspects occur vary from generation to generation, because the orbits of these three planets around the Sun are not as regular as the orbits of the inner planets.)

The energies of the outer planets are not as accessible to our consciousness, nor are they easy to express; instead, they require a great deal of maturity to handle well. This sort of meandering through life and having a variety of experiences seems to be a necessary part of growth and evolution -- as though the life journey were a long pilgrimage through a wilderness. It's easy to lose our way with the outer planets; where these planets are located in our charts, we often do so repeatedly -- learning much from our mistakes as we stumble and fall on our faces. It is usually at midlife, when all the natal aspects to an outer planet are also set off by transit, that we bottom out on the less-productive uses of these energies and are impelled, if we are blessed with sufficient maturity, to work toward more uplifting expressions.

For example, suppose you have a Venus-Neptune conjunction in your birth chart. The slogan for that combination might be: "Someday my prince will come -- but first I have to kiss a lot of frogs." (Of course, there are many ways to express that particular combination, but this is a fairly common pattern.) During earlier transits to that conjunction, over the years, frogs of countless varieties are likely to have appeared -- looking for all the world like princes. Unfortunately, your heartfelt efforts to turn the current frog into the prince you know he could be are doomed to failure after wrenching failure. Reluctantly, you're forced to conclude that this particular frog will remain a frog until he croaks. Still, you may persist in the notion that, if you could just somehow succeed in morphing yourself into a princess, your prince would surely appear.

A likely window for changing this persistent pattern is during the Midlife Cycle, when transiting Neptune squares natal Neptune, because in the case of this particular conjunction, transiting Neptune will square natal Venus as well. One of the numerous ways that this transit can manifest itself is that the frog of a lifetime arrives -- clad in such elegant, princely attire that you are certain your soul mate has finally come along. If he is not in fact a prince, the experience of trying one last time to kiss someone into princeliness may represent the bottoming-out of an old codependent pattern of relating through rescuing. Under this transit, the romantic haze that has always clouded your ability to see potential partners clearly may lift. Sadder but wiser, you now begin to look more realistically at new prospects. Relationships will never be the same, and that's a good thing! Until now, that same romantic haze has kept you from recognizing the occasional true prince who does come your way (perhaps because you can't get past his frog-like spots and raspy voice). Now you may recognize him -- and learn how to relate to him in a healthy way.

One way to evaluate the intervals when natal aspects are echoed is to consider the type of angle (e.g., square, trine, or quincunx) formed by the natal aspect and compare it to the type of transiting angle. The transiting angle does help us to revise how we have worked with the planetary energies in the natal angle. Especially when these energies are used consciously through an in-depth analysis of the meanings of the current and natal planetary placements, the transit represents a fruitful time to upgrade how we express those energies. For instance, suppose someone has natal Pluto square the Sun, involving the career or money houses (the 2nd, 6th, or 10th), and now, transiting Pluto is trine the natal Sun. This is an opportunity to address the problems that this square may have highlighted for much of the individual's life.

Perhaps that individual has always been visited by self-doubt, or even self-loathing, when confronted with those in powerful or wealthy circumstances. This self-esteem problem may have alternated with a sneaking sense of pride at not being as corrupt as "those awful power-mongers with all that filthy money" -- a pride that may have created persistently self-sabotaging financial patterns, such as remaining underpaid. Under the transiting trine, catalytic events, opportunities, healing work, or new self-awareness may well create a major shift, both in self-confidence and in financial dealings. The resulting greater prosperity could give rise to a benign spiral over the two years or longer that the transit is in effect: As the sense of self-worth grows, the workplace may reflect that growth with additional well-deserved raises, which in turn grant new confidence.

In contrast, suppose someone has a natal trine between Pluto and the Sun. Depending on the signs and houses involved, the mantle of authority or power often sits very naturally on the shoulders of such individuals. This may not be worldly power. If the 12th house is involved, it might be spiritual power where the person's mere presence can be healing and comforting to those who suffer, helping the downtrodden to reclaim their own power. Likewise, if the 4th house is involved, this person might be the family matriarch or patriarch around whom the whole family network revolves.

The problem with trines is that we don't always make of them all that we might -- it's so easy just to coast. However, for such individuals, a transiting square of Pluto to natal Sun is highly energizing. It echoes the natal trine between the two planets, yet represents a golden opportunity to make much, much more of the potential of that trine. Circumstances shift, new demands are experienced, and although the resulting challenges may make the person doubt those taken-for-granted gifts, the end result is likely to be a new and more powerful way of expressing innate abilities. Through the pressure of the transiting hard angle, the natal promise can be fulfilled.

When working with clients, I watch very carefully for transits that echo natal aspects, for they are among the most meaningful transits of all. In our session, we then spend considerable time grappling with that natal aspect and the life patterns -- both self-defeating and self-fulfilling -- that they represent. If you yourself are in the process of an echoing transit, analyze that natal aspect thoroughly to see how you are currently using it, for the transit can be a true gift that allows you to bring that natal aspect to a new level. Unlike the often overwhelming transits that represent entirely new influences -- that is, combining planets that do not aspect one another natally -- an echoing transit is like an old favorite song sung in a whole new key. The melody is hauntingly familiar, yet in this brand-new arrangement of the song, you discover exciting possibilities that never existed before.

The previous is an excerpt from Donna Cunningham’s e-book, Astrological Analysis: Selected Topics In Chart Interpretation. Based on Donna’s long-running series in The Mountain Astrologer, it was issued by Moon Maven Publications - http://www.MoonMavenPublications.com - It is reprinted here with permission.

Donna, a long-time favorite astrology author, is the author of 19 hard copy and digital books, many existing in several translations.

Astrology - Fall Equinox 2010, Revelation, Clarity And Right Action

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Fall Equinox is the 'official' start of autumn (fall) marked by the Sun moving into the sign of Libra. Day and night are both of equal length and thus are in perfect balance. This year this happens at 4.10am on Thursday 23rd September (BST) if you're in the UK, or at 11.10pm on Wednesday if you're on the east coast USA (EDT).

I'm always looking for the spiritual significance of Astrological events, and this time noticed that the Sun (self/health) in Libra (harmonizing/balancing) forms an inconjunct to Neptune (spiritualizing pole) in Aquarius (groups/humanity). Taking my home town of Liverpool, UK as the location, this happens in the 6th house of health and healing.

You might ask 'who pays attention to inconjuncts?' Well I do... when the the degree is 3º33' as it is in this case. That's what got my attention. I always sit up and take notice of 333 configurations! According to Doreen Virtue, 333 sequences tell us the Ascended Masters are with us. Seems like Divine guidance to me.

Remember too, that the Angel of Libra is overseeing and balancing the current Pluto in Capricorn transit (2008-2023). Just to recap: during this transit we can expect Pluto, the planet of transformation that transforms by dragging everything up from the dark into the light for healing (revealing the darker side of our psyche and leaving nothing hidden), to transform our political, governing and financial institutions (Capricorn).

We are evolving from the lower Capricorn energy of abusing authority for personal gain, to the highest Capricorn vibration of enlightened governance and distribution of the world's resources for the good of all: including how we acknowledge and use our spiritual resources (Capricorn is the sign of the spiritual disciple).

There is a strong Libra influence during this transit to modify, harmonize and balance ethical decision-making and develop 'right' relationships with one another to ensure we don't go to extremes in our reactions to the Plutonian upheaval

Every year, as we enter the Fall Equinox, the Libra Full Moon cycle brings important balancing and modifying energy. Libra rules ethics, justice, transpersonal love and 'right human relations'. Interesting that here in the UK we hold all our political party conferences at around this time, and this year one of the major parties chose Liverpool as their conference venue. I wonder if they had Astrologers on the organizing team! (The Equinox energy affects everybody, not just people in Liverpool or the UK).

This year the 'inconjunct' offers a potential window of opportunity. Inconjuncts vary in their effects but this one could allow Neptune to offer intermittent waves of spiritualizing energy to raise the vibration of the Libra effect to its' highest spiritual purpose. Its' effect could serve to 'disillusion' people with the current systems, so we turn our attention to creating better systems.

Neptune's conjunct with Chiron in Aquarius (the 'wounded healer') adds another interesting factor. There is a merging and blending of energies, which could be about the balancing effects of Libra, harmonizing and balancing to heal (6th house) our collective (Aquarius) spiritual wounds (Neptune/Chiron) This could create an opening for us to begin identifying with ourselves as spiritual beings, at a collective level, and to start bringing spiritual considerations into account as we make political decisions for our future. At the simplest level it could mean that our political decisions over health and healthcare (6th house) move in a more spiritually (Neptune) healing (Chiron) direction.

According to Melanie Reinhart (Chiron and The Healing Journey) when Chiron is in Aquarius "clarity opens". We seek groups of like-minded people and find our 'soul-tribe'.

On a personal level you will notice these energies affect you to an even greater degree if you have Libra Sun, Moon or Ascendant, and if you have aspects to Neptune and Chiron.

The Full Moon in Pisces ( September 23, 09:17 UTC /GMT o4:17 EDT) offers us another chance to release old patterns by illuminating where we might still be in lower Piscean consciousness. Where are we 'suffering' and allowing ourselves to be a 'victim' of our life situation, when we could move into action and stand in our own power?

After 'peaking' at 09:17 the Moon begins 'waning'. At 09:47:10 the moon leaves Pisces and enters Aries. This is the energy needed to shake of any tendency we might be having to wallow in self-pity (lower Pisces vibration), and take action to change what isn't working in our lives (Aries/spontaneous movement).

At this point the Sun in Libra (balancing), Moon in Aries (spontaneity), and Pluto in Capricorn (revelation) form another 'Cardinal T-square' once again bringing us the powerful cardinal energies of spontaneity and forward movement. It is a window of opportunity when we can use the higher-vibration Aries-type intuition of 'spontaneous knowing' to focus on what is really important and, most importantly, to take appropriate action. Aries is all about action. During this period take some time to meditate, be still, and see where Life is trying to guide you.

It is time to finally shake off any ideas that we might be entertaining, that anybody is 'doing' anything TO us (lower Pisces/victim consciousness), to take the lead (Aries) and take responsibility for ourselves and our own actions. There is also an 'echo' of the Cardinal Cross as the moons nodes in Cancer-Capricorn, remind us of the huge influence of Cancer-Capricorn energy that has been around this year.

It is time now for intuition, clarity, revelation and then action. To stand up and be counted, and to use the ethical energy of Libra, to pay attention to how we distribute the worlds resources (Cancer-Capricorn) for spiritual healing (Neptune/Chiron) and the benefit of humanity (Aquarius). It is also worth remembering that many people have been doing the 'groundwork' for some years now on a personal, spiritual and political level. Fall Equinox is 'harvest time' in the Northern hemisphere: it is now time to 'reap what you sow'.

Ruth Hadikin is a Coach, Author and Soul Astrologer. She writes regularly on Soul Astrology and other topics for http://www.LifeCoachingMagazine.net

Do you know your Soul Sign? Send Ruth an email with your day, date, time and location of birth and she'll be happy to tell you.

FREE mp3 download available: "The Energetics of Soul Astrology" from http://www.SoulAstrologyWithRuth.com