Monthly Archives: March 2010

Police Snare Miss Puerto Rico Final Saboteurs

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Miss Puerto Rico, Ingrid Marie Rivera, is at last feeling vindicated following the recent arrest of two beauty pageant employees, who police say pepper-sprayed her clothes prior to her crowning appearance last November.

The police have identified the joint culprits as the pageant’s security director and a catwalk co-ordinator in a case that has suffered more plot twists than your average Agatha Christie murder mystery thriller.

During the pageant Rivera said she suffered hives as a result of having her garments covered with pepper spray. The swimsuit and black evening gown also brought the 24 year-old to tears, which she bravely fought back each time she took the stage. However, despite her discomfort the steely contestant still won the pageant and will now represent Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe contest to be held in Vietnam later in the year.

Once the story of the attempted sabotage emerged Miss Puerto Rico became an instant celebrity in the USA appearing first on Good Morning America, then on countless other high-profile shows. However, despite her clothes being forensically identified as containing pepper spray some gossips suggested that she had made the entire story up in order to get more publicity.

During the show which took place in the theater of a top hotel in Puerto Rico, Miss Rivera competed against 29 other contestants, some of whom have openly questioned how she managed to retain her composure when on stage if she was in as much discomfort as she alleged. At first, police were also suspicious of Miss Rivera’s claims until forensics backed up her story, but that didn’t stop the whispering campaign from jealous rivals.

As well as the interference with her gowns Miss Rivera also suffered the theft of her bag which contained all her gowns, make up and credit cards prior to the competition. However, none of the dirty tricks came as a surprise to fellow contestant Bianco Morales who acknowledged that Rivera’s success in previous competitions caused resentment amongst the girls.

“We know girls who were very mad with the situation, but I’m not mentioning any names. Sooner or later we’ll know, the investigation will uncover them and then everyone will know.”

Puerto Rico has produced five Miss Universe winners and Ingrid Marie Rivera is likely to be installed as one of the favourites, as she attempts to become the island’s sixth winner. Hopefully, in the Miss Universe final she won’t have to suffer the indignity of pepper spray sabotage!

Fishing Charter – Puerto Rico

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If you are into fishing, one of the best places to visit is Puerto Rico, and there is nothing better than fishing deep sea for the native billfish. The fishing in Puerto Rico is great and for the active fishermen you can charter a boat and get right out there and fish. You will find many companies that have a few great benefits as well as low prices. Most fishing charter in Puerto Rico are easy to find all year around.

Fishing is big business all year long and there are always some charter companies available. You will find that there are many different types of boats as well, the sizes usually rang from 32′ to about 50′ and the fish vary as the seasons change. You will find that during December into the month of April that you will be fishing for mahi-mahi, white marlin, yellowfin tuna and wahoo. From October to the very early days of March is the time for great dorado, sailfish and the white marlins.

The deep see fishing charter in Puerto Rico usually are rented for a full day or a half day. Many companies will add in the captain and his first mate to get you off to a great start. Amenities include all of the equipments you may need, ice and some kinds of refreshments. Most boats will allow as many as 6 passengers and fishing starts almost immediately. It is important to reserve the boat as early as possible with the charter you are going to use.

If you are not into the deep sea fishing part, then you may want to enjoy a great afternoon of snook or tarpon fishing. For this you may find some big fish in Puerto Rico, there have been reports of people catching those 300 pound tarpon. For these charters you may find that the charter companies will offer half day or full day trips with boats that are about 16′ and 18′ and usually have brand names such as Hewes and Maverick boats.

Many people are interested in lighter fishing trips where they are trying to catch light tackle fish, usually tarpon, jacks, mangrove snapper, snook and barracuda. Many of these companies also offer skin diving, birdwatching, hiking and kayaking. Many times the trip will include the bait, tackle, and sometimes soda and water, there are even some that have food. The average price for this service is approximately $250 for half day, and about $375 for a full day. However a lot of places will allow its clients a chance to customize the day with their fishing charter Puerto Rico.

Learning Spanish Through An Immersion Course

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Think back to when you were learning English. You started learning to speak it by hearing your parents speak to you and repeating back to them what you could hear, it wasn’t until much later that you were actually expected to learn to read and then study grammar!

You were in an environment where you heard English being spoken all the time (assuming you weren’t brought up in a multi-lingual family anyway) and bit-by-bit you just assimilated what was being said around you. Of course it takes time for it to happen and you made lot of mistakes along the way, but the end result was the ability to communicate clearly and easily in English.

The idea behind Spanish immersion courses is similar to the way you first learned to speak English. By spending time in a Spanish speaking country and being surrounded by it both linguistically and culturally you absorb a bit about what that country is about.

And when you add daily classes with specific tasks based on putting yourself in a situation, whether shopping or finding some other information, you have to quickly learn how to cope.

Spanish immersion courses often lodge you with a local family, which also gives a tremendous learning advantage. Once again, just like when you were learning English, you’ll be in an environment where Spanish is spoken all the time and by sharing meals you’ll be exposed to repeated situations; day by day words and phrases will stick, language will improve and your confidence will soar.

As I mentioned before it’s not just your Spanish language skills that will improve; what about your cultural appreciation for the country you’re staying in as well as making friends with the host family you stay with. Sports mad? Study Spanish in Barcelona where you can see FC Barcelona play in their famous stadium; or visit the marvellous old town of San Juan in Puerto Rico while improving your language skills.

As you can see there are some great advantages to learning Spanish through an immersion course, so why not take the opportunity while you can?
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Classy Woman – Differentiate Yourself Ladies, Cultivate the Woman Within, and Attract Men of Worth

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As somebody who has traveled to over 50 countries throughout the world and dated countless women, it is worth noting that all women are not classy.

Over the years experience has taught me that looks are not everything, although most women will spend a good portion of their life attending to and complaining about their appearance. The classy woman however transcends her outward appearance and cultivates the woman within.

The best way to test a woman’s character is to watch how she handles money and people. The frivolous woman will spend carelessly and not consider where the money is coming from, neither how hard it was to earn. The lofty and egotistically self-absorbed woman will treat people of low estate poorly, considering them merely servants to attend to her every beck and call. Such behavior smacks of pride and arrogance, which a woman who merely lives for herself manifests often.

In regard to finances of all the women I have dated, one in particular proved exceptional in her ability to surprise me in her financial dealings. She was visiting friends in New York, during which we spent a few days skiing at Lake Placid. I made and cared for all of the arrangements, but to my surprise before she said her goodbyes she gave me an envelope full of hundred dollar bills to cover her share of the trip.

Such is a genuine woman of class and nobility. Sadly such a mentality is long gone and hard to find in North American and Western women who feel for some strange reason because of their looks and charm they are entitled to take advantage of men.

The few women who act otherwise will always stand head and shoulders above the rest regardless of their looks. My wife has endured many hardships our first two years of marriage, as I by no means am a money man. Nevertheless we have lived well and traveled to many wonderful parts of the world – Australia, Fiji, Holland, France, Monaco, Puerto Rico, Aruba, St. Thomas, Curacao, and St. Martin.

Yet in our day to day lives both of us have struggled as entrepreneurial business owners. That being said financial struggles necessitate that we share a car. I’m always thankful and appreciative whenever my wife takes the initiative to put gas in it. Such is unthinkable for many women who merely use hubby’s credit card. Thank God I’m not saddled to such a woman.

My beloved wife is thrifty and sells items around the house we don’t use on Craigslist to help us out financially. She clips and saves coupons to save money when we grocery shop. Plus she’s paying her own way back to Canada to be in her friend’s wedding. Our first year of marriage she willingly shared a mobile phone with me to save money.

Guys you want to see your woman under pressure before you marry her. While dating I often took women overseas, out of their comfort zone, to see how they would react. Women and men put on a false face when they are dating to show their very best. Only over time as people let down their guard, does their true self appear and show itself.

Listen to the words of choice, the way people express themself, and their feelings. Are they positive or negative? Encouraging or destroying? Uplifting or draining? Do they bad mouth and belittle people? All of these are red flags to warn you of who you are dealing with.

Little things are everything. The devil is hidden in the details. If you date a woman who is all about herself and never offers to pay her way, watch out. Sometimes when my wife wants to go out, she pays for us.

Remember before marriage men want a cute face and nice figure. After marriage, men want a responsible woman who will help pay the bills.

Life is not all about her hair, dress, and shoes. She may think otherwise and if you allow it, you my friend are not wise and in store for a long arduous ride.

Do yourself a favor men. If she’s high maintenance while you are dating her, move on while you can before you take her hand in marriage and have to endure a life of misery.

Romance without finance is foolishness and to think you can change someone is fatally presumptuous.
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Cuba – A Nation Of Olympic Slaves

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Dieudonn? Lamothe, who was a sports person from Haiti, finished lost in the 5000-meter race at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984.He lose the Olympic competition, but Lamothe was not assassinated by president Jean-Claude Duvalier, the dictator who became known throughout the world as “Baby Doc Duvalier”. Over the next years, Lamothe revealed that Jean-Claude Duvalier had threatened to kill him if he failed to finish the race…Amnesty International reports secret police,known as Tonton Macoutes, practice torture, assassinations and disappearances including killings of prominent opposition leaders.

Like Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (Cuban dictator) and Idi Amin Dada (Ugandan dictador), Jean-Claude Duvalier loves sports.Certainly, he popularized the sport of soccer, or football, in Haiti, an ex-French colony in the Caribbean. Under his leadership,Haiti qualified for the 1974 FIFA World Cup tournament in Munich (West Germany). It also won the Junior World Soccer Championships in 1975 in Mexico City, Mexico.Soccer is now the national sport of the country.
Between October 12 and October 26, 1975, the Haitian delegation participated in the Seventh Pan American Games held in Mexico City. The national delegation had 12 athletes competing in three sports: track and field (7), boxing (2) and tennis(3).Furthermore, Haiti sent a national team to the 1976 Olympic Games, which were held in Montreal (Canada).Haitian athletes also competed in several events sponsored by international sports organizations, including basketball, golf, judo, volleyball and boxing.

Indisputably one of the worst dictatorships of all time, Fidel Castro Ruz enjoys all types of Olympic sports, including basketball and baseball, and his proudest moment was when his country hosted the Pan American Games in 1991. The people that don?t know Cuba very much think that Cuba is an olympic paradise.

Like Iran, Sudan, Syria and the Democratic People?s Republic of Korea (or North Korea), Cuba is a terrorist state in the 21st century. Fidel Castro Ruz is not Pol Pot (Maoist dictator) and Enver Hoxha (anti-Soviet dictator), but he is a dictator in the Third World. The country has never known a period free of tyranny, repression and political conflict.

A revolution in 1959 transformed Cuba into Latin America?s first socialist republic. From 1962 to 1989, Cuba was a Soviet colony. In 1962, Cuba looked to the USSR (currently Russia,Ukraine, Belarus,etc) to help it consolidate its sport.Sporting projects were strongly emphasized during this decade. The Soviet Union sent Olympic advisers to La Havana and agreed to provide sporting aid to Cuban dictatorship. Recognized the importance of sport to Cuba?s dictatorship, the Soviets construted several sports schools, best known as Escuelas de Iniciaci?n Deportiva Escolar (EIDE, Schools for the Initiation into Scholastic Sport), modernized gymnasiums, and built stadiums. This invaluable sporting support continued through the 1970s and 1980s.

Sport in Cuba continues to be strictly centered in the hands of Fidel Castro Ruz. Castro has instilled a mental toughness in the Cuban athletes. The athletes are forced to deny to the United States, Czech Republic, Hungary, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, South Korea and other countries.

Ongoing violence has forced more than 300 athletes to flee to neighboring countries including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, and the United States.

From the outside, the “Lenin Sport School” is certainly impressive. No all the dictatorships have the same situation. Under the dictatorship of Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Zimbabwe?s sport is a disaster. Yoel L?pez always arrives at “Lenin Sport School” early.He says: “I usually go to sport school by car but sometimes I walk”. In Cuba the sports schools usually open 7.30 in the morning. Yoel never watches television. He sleeps seven hours a night. He works very hard. Like many Cuban children, he is a new slave of the Cuban Revolution.Certainly, Yoel L?pez is a volleyball player.

Cuba won the baseball Pan American gold medal in Santo Domingo 2003. Hundreds of Cubans watched TV coverage of the Pan American Games. During the final baseball game, soldiers in camouflage stood around the Cuban dugout and guarded much of the section where Cuba?s delegation was seated. Even credentialed media were kept off the field and guards with loaded assault rifles protected the Cuban national bus. One soldier told a journalist he estimated there were around 400 security workers at the stadium and said if any Cuban got away it would mean jail time for the Dominican patrol. “Our mission tonight is to ensure that no Cuban defects,” he said on condition of anonymity.” If one defects, they?ve threatened us with jail, and said they would dismiss us from the army”.
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Yacht Charter in the Caribbean

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The Caribbean is a region of the Americas consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands and the surrounding coasts. It is located southeast of Northern America, east of Central America and to the north and west of South America. The Caribbean comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs and cays. The name “Caribbean” is named after the Caribs, one of the one of the dominant Amerindian groups in the region at the time of European contact during the late 15th century.

There are plentiful flights to various island throughout the Caribbean. But some of the islands have several connections in order to get there. Consider a private plane charters to cut out some of the many connections and they are not very expensive. Many private air charters will pick up in San Juan Puerto Rico or St. Thomas and fly to places like Martinique or St. Vincent.

Many parts of the Caribbean have mooring systems in place and anchoring a yacht is prohibited. This measure prevents anchors damaging the coral reefs. Cynics will argue that the measures are more about revenue generation that protecting the environment and at $30 per night for a yacht mooring it is hard not to have some sympathy with this point of view. Yacht charter boats should aim to arrive at an anchorage in order to get a mooring or spot before the crowds arrive.

The climate of the Caribbean mainly ranges between sub-tropical to tropical and depends a great deal upon location in proximity to the tradewinds that blow towards the Eastern Caribbean islands heading northwest up the chain of Windward islands. When these tradewinds arrive close to the island of Cuba they tend to be overcome by other minor jet streams across the Caribbean region. Normally hurricanes which at times effect the region usually strike northwards of Grenada and to the west of Barbados. The principal hurricane belt arcs to northwest of the island of Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean. September and October are considered the height of hurricane season, although the nominal season is June through November. Check yacht charter company policies in regards to hurricanes. During the November through January winter months; the prevailing wind is 15 – 20 knots from the northeast. On and off all winter, the famous “Christmas Winds” blow at 25 – 30 knots for several day periods. Beginning in February and finishing in June, the winds move from a northeast direction to southeast when 10 – 15 knots can be expected. Late summer through autumn is the Caribbean’s rainy season. However, rain squalls can occur at any time but are usually short lived. Average high temperatures range from 85? to 90? with the highest in July through October; average low temperatures are about 10? less.

The geography in the Caribbean region varies from one place to another. Some islands in the region have relatively flat terrain of non-volcanic origin. Such islands include Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands or Anguilla. Others possess rugged towering mountain-ranges like the islands of Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. The waters of the Caribbean Sea are home to large schools of fish, turtles and coral reef formations.

Antigua and Barbuda are located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, roughly 17 degrees north of the equator. The two islands are part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago. Reliable trade winds throughout the season, which runs from December to May, make Antigua and Barbuda a great yacht charter destination. Coral reefs and abundant marine life make for great snorkelling and scuba diving. Antigua has an international airport, with daily flights from many cities throughout the world. The East Caribbean dollar is the official currency but both US Dollars and Euros are used and major credit cards may be accepted in hotels, restaurants and some shops. Creole cusine predominates on the islands. The national dish of Antigua is fungie and pepper pot. Fungie is a dish almost entirely made from cornmeal and very similar to the Italian polenta. Other local dishes include ducana, seasoned rice, saltfish and lobster from Barbuda. There are also local confectionaries which include: fudge, peanut brittle, raspberry and tamarind stew and sugarcake. Good international cusine is also widely available.

The Bahamas lie just 100 miles of the coast of Florida. Bimini is the closest island to the USA and is also known as the gateway to the Bahamas. The island of Abaco lies to the east of Grand Bahama. Great Inagua is the most southeastern. Other notable islands include Andros Island, the largest island in the Bahamas, Acklins, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Long Island, Mayaguana and San Salvador Island. Nassau, the Bahamas capital city, lies on island of New Providence. In all there are over 700 islands in the Bahamas.

Yacht charter in the Bahamas offers turquoise waters and sparkling white sandy beaches. There are many attractive, interesting yacht anchorages. The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical. The Gulf Stream significantly moderates the climate particularly in the winter. Summer temperatures in the Bahamas average 30 degrees Celsius and are just 5 degrees Celsius cooler in the winter. Summer and autumn can bring very severe weather in the form of hurricanes. The culture of the Bahamas is a mix of African and European influences. This can be seen in the islands music and different styles include; junkanoo, rake and scrape, calypso and a unique form of hymnal. Marching bands are also an important part of life and are heard playing at funerals, weddings and other ceremonial events. In the less developed outer islands of the Bahamas, known as the “Out Islands” or “Family Islands”, regattas are important social events. They usually comprise one or more days of racing by old-fashioned workboats and combine an onshore festival. The Bahamas also have festivals associated with the local traditional crop or food, such as the “Pineapple Fest” in Gregory Town, Eleuthera or the “Crab Fest” on Andros.

Abaco is a major centre for yacht charter in the Bahamas. Here a full service marina is home to many charter yachts. Fuel, water, ice, laundry and shower facilities are all available. You can also provision the yacht here. Fly to Abaco from Florida’s Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports. Your charter yacht is just five minutes from airport. The main cruising area for yacht charters comprises Great Abaco and Little Abaco, along with a delightful string of sandy cays just to the east. Begin in the centre at quaint Man-O-War Cay.

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a British overseas territory, located in the north of the Caribbean Sea to the east of both Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. They are part of the Leeward Island chain. The approximate co-ordinates are 18? 20′ N 64? 40′ W. The archipelago of the Virgin Islands archipelago is made up of the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands enjoy a sub-tropical climate, moderated by the trade winds. Temperatures remain fairly steady year round with a daily maximum of around 29?C in the summer and 25?C in the winter. The BVI averages about 115 cm of rain per year, although this is higher in the hills and coast is drier. The wettest months are September through to December. The British Virgin Islands are in an area that can see hurricanes from June to October and this effectively limits the sailing season to November – May.

Amongst the many attractions on the British Virgin Islands are the; numerous white sandy beaches; the baths on Virgin Gorda, snorkelling on the coral reefs near Anegada; the well-known bars of Jost Van Dyke Island. The British Virgin Islands include the main islands of Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola and Virgin Gorda together with over fifty other smaller islands and cays. The smaller islands include; Beef Island, Cooper Island, Ginger Island, Great Camanoe, Great Thatch, Guana Island, Mosquito Island, Necker Island, Norman Island, Peter Island, Salt Island. Only some fifteen of the islands are inhabited. The BVI are mostly volcanic in origin and have a rugged, hilly terrain. Anegada is the exception and is a flat island composed of limestone and coral. Tortola is the largest island, approximately twelve miles long and three miles wide. Road Town, on Tortola, is the capital of the islands. The British Virgin Islands have a total population of around 22,000 people.

The Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, also known as Beef Island Airport, has regular connections to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Saint Thomas, USVI. There are also flights from most of the major islands in the Caribbean, Antigua and Saint Martin. It is located on Beef Island, just off the eastern tip of Tortola. Virgin Gorda and Anegada have smaller airports. The islands are a popular destination for cruise ships in the Caribbean and they use the British Virgin Islands main harbour in Road Town on Tortola. The official currency of the British Virgin Islands is the US dollar. Major credit cards are honoured at the larger BVI establishments but do not expect to use them at small restaurants.

The British Virgin Islands are one of the Caribbean’s most popular yacht charter destinations and Tortola is home to the world’s largest fleet of charter yachts. Prospective charters can choose between Skippered or bareboat charter. Motor or sailing vessels. Monohulls or catamarans. The short distances between the islands, often only 2 to 3 hours, make the BVI perfect for the first time yacht charterer and for families with young children. There are many flights to the BVI making access easy. On the downside the BVI can become crowded at peak periods; Christmas; Presidents Week and the Easter holidays. The first two weeks of July are also extremely busy due to Puerto Ricoxs holiday schedule. Charter Yachts require a National Park Permit; ask your charter company for more details.

Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at 16?15′N, 61?35′W. It comprises five islands; Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, La D?sirade, Les Saintes and Marie-Galante. Guadeloupe is an overseas department of France and one of the twenty-six regions of France, an integral part of the Republic. Being part of France, Guadeloupe is also part of the European Union and its currency is the Euro.

Guadeloupe is a mix of modern cities, rainforests, stunning landscapes, sun-drenched beaches, attractive architecture and friendly people make this a popular yacht charter destination. In addition the area benefits from reliable trade winds during the season that rune from December to May. Most sailing can be done by line of sight so the navigator gets a holiday as well.

The Euro is the official currency. Major credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops. There are ATM in all the cities of Guadeloupe and in the marinas.

St Barts, officially the Collectivit? de Saint-Barth?lemy, is an overseas collectivity of France that came into being on 22 Feb 2007, encompassing the island of St Barts proper plus several offshore islets. Also known as Saint-Barth?lemy, Saint Barths, or Saint Barth, the collectivity is one of the four territories among the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean that comprise the French West Indies. St Barts lies close to the islands of St Martin, Saba and Anguilla.

The weather of St Barts is tropical, meaning it’s hot and sunny year-round with very little temperature variation between seasons. Expect an average of 30?C during the summer, with a drop of only a few degrees for the winter season. S Barts weather turns wetter in the autumn but the showers are generally brief if. St Barts catches the trade winds off the Atlantic Ocean all year round but especially in the winter. Winter sees winds in excess of 20 knots making for a great yacht charter. Summer months see winds anywhere from 10 to 20 knots. Summer is the least expensive time to charter with many yacht charter companies offering significant discounts.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is located in the southeast Caribbean about 90 miles west of Barbados. The island group lie south of St Lucia and north of Grenada. The Grenadines are comprised of 32 islands and cays stretching south from St Vincent. Only 8 of the Grenadines are populated and the remaining are bird sanctuaries and very popular for both hiking and snorkelling. All are volcanic in origin and deeply embellished with inlets where the sea washes up on fine white sandy beaches. St Vincent has lush green mountains. A yacht charter in St Vincent and the Grenadines also offers the opportunity to visit some of the sites used in the making of the film xPirates of the Caribbeanx. St Vincent and the Grenadines is a yacht charter destination for those looking for peace and seclusion.

Year round winds in St Vincent and the Grenadines make for the perfect yacht charter holiday. During the summer months a prevailing 10 – 20 knot wind from the southeast blows. The winter months will see more challenging winds of 20 ? 25 knots generally from the northeast. Although St Vincent is below the hurricane belt there is always a possibility during the months of July to October. Check this with your yacht charter company. Average high temperatures range from 25?C to 30?C with the highest in July through October.

The major airport in St Vincent and the Grenadines is Joshua Airport on St Vincent. There are flights from Barbados, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Martinique and Grenada. Both US Dollars and x Euro are used. Major credit cards may be accepted in hotels, restaurants and some shops. There are many places throughout the yacht charter area to change money. English is spoken throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines

Many yacht charters start at the Lagoon Hotel and Marina on the southern tip of St Vincent. There is a swimming pool for a refreshing dip on shore before or after your yacht charter and good supermarket for provisioning. This is a well protected yacht anchorage nicely positioned to sail south to the Grenadines and for land trips around the island of St Vincent. Take a day ashore and follow the foot trail along the windward coast, through banana and coconut plantations to La Soufri?re volcano. On the leeward side Trinity Falls can be reached by following the trail from Richmond.

Bequia lies just nine miles south of St Vincent and it the gateway to some of the best sailing in the Caribbean. The history of Bequia Island runs deep with age-old seafaring traditions of boat building, fishing and whaling. The main port of entry is Port Elizabeth in Admiralty Bay. The quaint waterfront of Port Elizabeth is lined with bars, restaurants and shops selling local crafts. This yacht anchorage is extremely popular with mariners from all over the world because of its ample and clear waters that allow deep-keeled boats to arrive for repairs and services. Bequia has an excellent selection of marine services with amenities that include showers, laundry services and internet access. Bequia offers great beaches, spectacular snorkelling and diving and great food. Princess Margaret Beach is the best yacht anchorage in all of Bequia. It boasts calm clear waters and a beautiful golden sand beach. The beach has no road access and as a consequence is virtually deserted. A short dinghy ride around the bayxs northern headland and you will come find Frangipani bar, a popular meeting place for a cruisers Happy Hour.

One way yacht charter options are available from St Vincent to Union, Saint Lucia, Grenada and Martinique. Consult with the yacht charter company for more details.

Diving: St Vincent and the Grenadines have a large number of recognized and enthusiastic diving schools on St Vincent, Bequia, Mustique and of course the Tobago Cays. Spectacular underwater seascapes include the wreck of Jonas on the eastern side of the Montezuma shoal near Mustique and there are many drift dives offering a changing panorama of soft corals, turtles, Creole wrasses and the occasional sighting of an eagle ray.
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What Do Democrats Believe in Anyway?

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According to dictionary.com, the technical definition of Democrat is “a member of the Democratic party.” This is not exactly helpful, especially if you are new to politics and trying to figure out where you fit in the political spectrum. At the risk of sounding partisan and getting the political bloggers on my back, the basic difference between Democrats and Republicans is that Democrats want bigger government while Republicans want smaller government. Obviously there are plenty of ways to incorporate both philosophies into a political belief system, so don’t think that this article is going to favor the Democrats over the Republicans. We only want to explore what makes Democrats…well, Democrats!

It might be hard to believe with all of the partisan bickering happening in Congress, but Democrats were, once upon a time, members of a party called the Democratic – Republican Party, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The Democratic Party officially separated from the Republican Party when Andrew Jackson was elected.

That’s all fine and good, but what do Democrats really believe? We can’t speak for individuals within the Democratic Party, but the party defines itself as believing in the following:

Raising the minimum wage
Investing in and favoring renewable energy over oil
Lower taxes for the middle class
Higher taxes for the wealthy (currently defined as those who make more than $250,000 per year)
Public funding for Welfare, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security
National/Universal health care
Lower pharmaceutical costs
Protection of the environment
Lower costs for Higher Education
North American Free Trade Agreement
Central American Free Trade Agreement
Adjusting the Alternative Minimum Tax
Equal Opportunity regardless of gender, age, race, orientation, nationality or religion
Making gay marriage legal
Pro-Choice legislation
Stem cell research
Ending the war in Iraq
Reversing Unilateralism
Decolonization of Puerto Rico (if Puerto Rican citizens want that)
This is simply a quick laundry list of what Democrats believe in as a party. All of these points have paragraphs of complicated policy behind their headlines (which we do not have time to explore in this article). Within both political parties there are members who do not agree with every facet of a party’s political platform.

The 2008 election has caused the balance in Washington to tip toward the Democrats’ side of the aisle. Americans have elected a Democratic President and both the House of Representatives and the Senate will have Democratic majorities when everyone has been sworn in to session. Many Republicans worry about how this will shift the balance for laws and policy in the United States. It is important to remember that you cannot paint all Democrats (or all Republicans) with the same brush. It is also important to remember that being “liberal” and being “a democrat” do not always mean the same thing. In the last few decades the “liberal” brush has been used against Democrats and it is important to remember that liberals can be found in the Republican, Constitution, Green and Libertarian parties as well!
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Hello From Niagara Falls – Experiencing the 7th Wonder of the World – Skylon Tower, IMAX Theatre

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After a long and exciting day yesterday that included a helicopter sightseeing tour, some butterflies, and an amazing magic show, I woke up to a grey, cold and drizzly day. But that was not going to deter me from exploring the City of Niagara Falls in more detail. I got up, took a nice long shower and went downstairs for breakfast to the Windows on the Lane Restaurant which is a casual dining restaurant on the main floor of the Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel.

I then linked up with Lisa Smith, who works at the hotel, to get a tour of the facility. Lisa took me into the tropical courtyard that is the signature feature of the Cairn Croft Hotel and explained that the name of the hotel was derived from its original owners whose last name was Cairn, and from the word “croft”, which is Scottish for “inn”. Even today the hotel is still family owned and a friend of the owners hand-painted the faux-stone pattern on the walkways surrounding the tropical courtyward. Lisa pointed out that this property was the first Best Western hotel in Canada and has been extensively updated in recent years. The company Best Western Motels was founded back in 1946 which originally was an informal link between properties, where each hotel recommended other lodging establishments to travelers. As far back as 1962 the Best Western Hotel Chain had the only hospitality reservations system that covered all of the United States and Canada.

After a long history of company growth, Best Western today is the world’s largest hotel chain in the world and comprises more than 4,000 hotels in nearly 80 countries. One of Best Western’s unique marketing propositions is its free high-speed Wi-Fi access in all its hotels, a service that was rolled out across the entire chain in just eight months in 2004. From an organizational point of view, Best Western is also unique since it is not a traditional franchise operation. Best Western actually operates as a non-profit membership association, each property is individually owned and each franchisee acts and votes as a member of this association. Interestingly, hotels are allowed to retain their own identity and can keep their own independent name as part of this identity, as evidenced by the Best Western Cairn Croft name.

Lisa started giving me a tour through the tropical courtyard and explained that originally the building was a U-shaped motel with an outdoor courtyard. One of the improvements made to the property was the installation of a roof over the courtyard and the creation of a tropical environment, complete with a large heated indoor swimming pool, exotic trees and plants as well as a playground that makes the Cairn Croft a favourite destination for families with young children. The Bourbon Street Bistro overlooks the pool, serves cocktails, snacks and pizza and provides live entertainment on some weekends and holidays.

The family-feel of this property is also evidenced by the fact that many of the employees have been working here for a long time. Lisa mentioned that many of the staff have been here for 15 or even 20 years, somewhat of a rarity in the hospitality industry. Clients often become repeat customers and come back time and time again for a special weekend in Niagara Falls. The Croft Lounge is also a popular hangout on weekends and features karaoke, theme nights and dance music on the weekends.

The Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel has also become a popular destination for weddings, especially due to the tropical courtyard and the gazebo in the garden-like bistro that adjoin the pool. Lisa added that this property is particularly popular with same-sex couples who travel from the United States to Canada to get married. Most of her customers come from within a three hour radius and many of them are avid golfers who like to take advantage of the Niagara Peninsula’s plentiful and affordable selection of golf courses.

After this overview it was now time for me to hit the road and start my busy schedule of discoveries in Niagara Falls, Ontario. I started my day with a visit to the Skylon Tower, Niagara Fall’s most famous landmarks. Construction of the tower started in May of 1964 and 17 months later the tower was officially opened jointly by the then Governor of New York and the Premier of Ontario. I walked in on the main floor which houses some retail outlets and an arcade and took one of the “yellow bug” elevators to the top. As we moved up from the main level, the falls on both the American and the Canadian side came into view.

I went straight up to the top level which houses the observation deck. This indoor/outdoor observatory is the highest vantage point in Niagara Falls, and close to 8,000 square miles in Canada and the United States can be seen. Sights such as the skyline of Toronto and Buffalo are visible from the top and a circular walkway provides a 360 degree panoramic view. Signs at regular intervals identify the various sights surrounding the tower.

A souvenir shop is located in the central portion of this observation deck and through the glass doors you can reach the outside observation deck. I ventured outside where the wind was howling on this rather grey and chilly day. The view of the American and Canadian Falls as well as of Goat’s Island and Niagara Falls, NY, was nevertheless breathtaking. Seeing the Falls from the air just provides a much better idea of the imposing size and beauty of this natural wonder.

When it got too chilly I hurried back inside and went a couple of stairs down to check out the Revolving Dining Room, which must be a wonderful restaurant in the evening, when the colourful lights and the illuminated cascades of Niagara Falls come to life.

I was to get much more intimate knowledge of Niagara Falls through my next visit: just minutes across the street from the Skylon Tower is the Niagara Falls Imax Theatre, a modern facility that features a truly spectacular IMAX presentation: “Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic”. I always love IMAX presentations and was really looking forward to learning more about the unique historical background of Niagara Falls.

The movie started with the native legend of the Maid of the Mist, and featured a dramatization of the first sighting of Niagara Falls by European explorers in the 17th century. It also covered all sorts of stories of daredevils and high-wire performance artists that started to make Niagara Falls a tourism attraction from the early 19th century onwards. Even the story of Roger Woodward, the seven year old American boy who was swept over the Horseshoe Falls in a life jacket (the only survivor who went over the Falls without a protective vessel) was told in moving images.

Just outside the Imax Theatre’s screening room is the Daredevil Gallery that features a number of the interesting and diverse vessels that were used by various daredevils to go over the Falls. One of the most famous was a 63-year old school Teacher named Annie Edson Tayler whose story was also told in the Imax movie. Joined by with her cat, she was the first person to go over the Falls for a publicity stunt, in a wooden barrel, cushioned by a big mattress. Unfortunately, her much hoped-for public speaking career never materialized and she died as a pauper.

Other daredevils went over the falls in metal barrels of all shapes and sizes, with varying results. Some arrived on the other side of the big cascade virtually unharmed, while others suffocated or died of internal injuries. It was indeed rather eerie to see some of the actual vessels that were used in unsuccessful attempts to go over the Falls. One of the most gruesome exhibits is the “George Stathakis Death Barrel” that was used in an unsuccessful attempt in 1930 when its passenger suffocated after being trapped in turbulent water behind the Falls for 22 hours. Today such daredevil stunts are actually outlawed and anyone ever attempting to go over the Niagara Falls would surely face hefty fines.

To continue with the Niagara Falls historic theme my next visit was to the “Skylon The Falls 3D/4D Movie”, a movie theatre located at the base of the Skylon Tower that recounts the Niagara Falls story from a more fantasy-based angle. Special effects include gusts of air, sprays of water and moving seats that are intended to create a multi-sensory experience of the film.

It was time to continue my exploration of Niagara Falls, but I had to get closer. So I walked down Murray Street and turned right onto the Niagara Parkway, walking right next to the mighty Niagara River. The weather at this time was grey and chilly, and wet snow was falling. I was glad to take refuge in the Table Rock Centre, the shopping and restaurant complex right next to the edge of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls which was currently under renovation. Most of the souvenir shops and fast food outlets were open and I had a quick pizza and a charming conversation with five British ladies that were in Niagara Falls for a quick pre-Christmas getaway, their first time in Canada. They seemed to have a pretty jolly old time in Canada and took the clammy weather in strides – they were probably used to it.

Having satisfied my hunger I was ready to get truly up close and personal with the Falls: the “Journey behind the Falls” is one of the best ways to experience the true power of the Niagara Falls first-hand. I took the elevator down to the lower level at the Table Rock Centre and started my own journey behind the mighty Falls. Known until the early 1990s as the “Scenic Tunnels”, this attraction consists of two tunnels and an outside viewing platform. The tunnels date back to early 20th century and extend about 46 m behind the waterfall. I walked down the long underground corridors with their orange lighting and stopped intermittently to read the informational posters on the wall. These displays provide a description of the history of Niagara Falls, its geology and some of the famous visitors who include President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, who were both here on separate occasions.

Towards the end of the tunnel there are two smaller side tunnels, each leading to an opening, or a portal, that provides a view from behind the waterfalls. One of these portals was partially covered by icicles and presented a perfect motif for any passionate photographer. Access to the portals was blocked by a metal barrier for safety reasons, although in the past visitors could get much closer to the edge and admire the tumbling masses of water from just a few meters away. The dull roar of the falling water pervaded the entire underground space and provided an idea of the power of the millions of litres of water that fall down the Horseshoe Falls every second.

The statistics illustrate why Niagara Falls is considered one of the natural Wonders of the World: the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, the most impressive of the three falls in Niagara Falls, have a length of over 670 metres, and their height is 53 metres which makes Niagara Falls the most powerful waterfall in North America. The depth of the Niagara River below the Horsehoe Falls is estimated to be 56 metres. The straight line crest of the American Falls is 253 metres. About 90% of the water of the Niagara River plunges over the Horseshoe Falls while the other 10% make their way down the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls which are separated from the Canadian Falls by Goat Island, an uninhabited island that provides great vantage points of all the cascades.

I had now reached the outside observation platform that provides an excellent lateral view of the curtain of the Horseshoe Falls as they plunge into the river below. Tourists from all over the world were feverishly taking pictures of this unique sight. Even on this grey day the view was impressive and the thunder of the cascading masses of water filled the air as one fifth of the world’s fresh water was crashing 13 stories down into the river below.

Duly impressed by this natural wonder, I made my way back up and strolled back along the Niagara River’s edge to my vehicle, which I had parked conveniently at the Fallsview Casino Resort. I was pondering what to do next and because I felt thoroughly chilled I was looking for a nice place to warm up in.

I found just such a place just a few minutes drive away from the Horseshoe Falls: Bird Kingdom, one of Niagara Falls’, Ontario, newer attractions. This tropical destination was surely going to revive my chilled bones and it was going to be my next stop on my Niagara Falls discoveries.
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