Your Art class back in your school days may not evoke memories of luxury and grandeur but that doesn’t mean art classes can’t be classy. In fact luxury painting holidays are becoming some of the most poplar vacations and where better to brush up on your skills than the beautiful landscapes of Morocco.

Painting vacations give holiday makers the opportunity to explore the beauty of a country through visiting the cultural highlights and painting on location.

The holidays are led by experienced artists who give tutorials throughout. The painting sessions are informal and tailored to the individual, group and method of the tutor.

Painting holidays are available through a number of providers. One such provider is Art Holidays (www.art-holidays.com) who offer a luxury painting holiday in Morocco with artist Bettina Schroeder.

The accommodation for the holiday is the Nomad Palace which is situated right on the edge of the Sahara desert, east of the High Atlas mountains. It offers rooms with private toilets and showers, and home-cooked Moroccan cuisine which is served in the Salon and its exotic lounge area.

Holiday makers are given tuition from Bettina in some of the most beautiful areas of Morocco including the village of Merzouga and the Dades gorge.

Tuition is provided from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., so there is time for you to relax before dinner and explore.

The price of the holiday includes bed and full-board at Nomad Palace, all accommodation and meals en route, all local transportation, painting tuition, excursions by Land Rover, local guides and camel hire.

It’s not hard to see why a Painting Holiday is a million miles away from your usual art class.

Russ Pooley writes for Drake & Cavendish who provide a luxury hotel research directory featuring over 5,000 luxury hotels in over 700 resort locations around the world. As a content provider we are committed to developing entertaining and informative travel related information. You can read further articles and details at http://www.drakeandcavendish.com

Sometimes the best things that we can do are right in our own backyard and we never take advantage of them. I know that when I was younger my family and I would travel 200 miles to get away from it all, the funny thing was that a lot of the people that lived in the area that we stayed would leave and drive 200 miles down to our area in order to get away from it all. They were both very similar in the way that they looked but for some reason we never vacationed where we lived, we always made a long trip away. I suppose that a lot of it is really mental. It’s a matter of wanting to be far away from your usual surroundings, perhaps because you want to feel like you were away, but how much more could you enjoy a local vacation.

It wasn’t until several years ago that I enjoyed my first local vacation. My wife and I live in a very nice area of South Florida and we go away a lot on vacation but one of the things that I never really enjoyed about being away was that you needed to travel so far to get there. Then one day my wife surprised me by booking a room at the beach in a hotel that was less than 10 miles from our home. She packed a small bag and snuck it into the trunk of the car when I wasn’t looking and then we ended up going for a drive. While we were passing by the hotel she suggested that we stop and visit the pub and while we were there she told me that she had actually rented a room, it was one of my favorite vacations ever.

Since that time we have stayed locally many nights. It takes the pressure and worry of being so far away from home, even though you are relaxing on vacation, and puts it all behind you. It also gives you a chance to experience your area and some of the tourist attractions that you drive by every day but never took the time to actually visit. So the next time you want to get away and only have a limited amount of time consider taking a local vacation, they are great fun and very relaxing.

For jobs in Florida or California employment information visit our employment help website.

Traveling around Asia for more than 10 years and living in Indonesia for almost 7 years now. I often have been in situations where I was looking for a cheap airfare. From my first experiences I had the feeling it was quite different to deal with domestic or international flight. For sample, in most countries when you purchase domestic flight ticket you won’t get any differences price between two “one way” tickets OR one “return” ticket. Except of course a slightly discount for the return ticket.

Now, when is coming to international air travel it is harder to find Cheap Asia Travel tickets. Sometimes, you can even get cheaper return ticket. So if you plan to travel in many different cities (round trip with many transit stop) it can be hard to find good deals. However the following advice should helps you find the Asia Cheapest Flight available online.

I separate this article in two parts, international and domestic flight.

First, let’s talk about international flight. There is a lot of good web site around there, but you will need to do a lot of searches before you find what you really want. I suggest you to start by looking for the available airplane companies which deserve the concerned country you are flying to or from.

For sample, if you are in Indonesia and want to flight to Australia, you will most likely have to choose between Garuda and Quantas. There are possibilities to use other flights companies such as Malaysia Airlines or Singapore Airlines. But you will loose a lot of time during your trip as you will have to transit to this cities.

As you will see in the following article about domestic flight, Air Asia is one of my favorite when is about to flight in Indonesia. And this is also true when is to find the Asia Cheapest Flight as they deserve more than fifty cities in the region.

About domestic flight, I experienced two totally different experiences in Indonesia and Australia.

In Indonesia, if you want to buy a domestic flight ticket you will have plenty of choices. Indonesia is a vast Archipelago of tropical and Virgin Islands constitute of more than twelve’s thousand islands. More than three thousands of these Islands are inhabited and I believe that more than hundreds of them get an airport. So, you can imagine the number of possibilities and market available in Indonesia. The main company airlines in Indonesia are Garuda (also provide international flight), Merpati, Mandala, Lion Air, Adam Air, Star Air, Batavia, etc..

Find the cheapest airline ticket is one thing, but don’t forget about safety. I don’t have any statistics about safety right now so I prefer not mention specifically any of them. But if you had read the newspaper these last few months, you probably know what I’m talking about. Some of the above names are probably famous around the world right now, but probably not for the cheapest airfare…. But don’t worries too much as airplane remind one of the safest transportation systems in the world.

After you had eliminated the worst flight company from your newspaper research, you can start compare price between few of the companies. Just go to Google, type the company name and you should find their web site in manner of seconds. If you looking for ticket long in advance (let’s say more than three weeks), you will find that most of ticket have similar quotes with the international and most reputed national company…..Garuda Indonesia. And that’s the problem in Indonesia if you want to order domestic flight more than three weeks in advance…No cheap airfare ticket available. You will have to wait the “perfect” time to order your ticket (between three weeks and two weeks in advance…. be careful after that it could be too late) and you should be able to get 20% to 70% discount.

Obviously there is another way to find cheap domestic ticket plane if you want to order you ticket long time in advance. You can use Air Asia. They have very cheap airfare and good website. This is a service from Malaysia, and they provide many other cities and countries around Asia. A really good solution for Cheap Asia Travel.

In Indonesia, AirAsia only deserve the main cities such as Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali), Medan, Surabaya, etc… Globally, they fly over fifty cities around Asia. The service is limited (no seat pre-reserved in check-in), but it is safe and their fees really defy all concurrences for this range and types of services. They really get the Cheapest Flight in Asia I have seen so far. So, have a look….

In Australia, it seems to works mostly like in the others western countries. More you booked in advance more chances you have to get a cheap airfare. I heard Quantas have some interesting packages available, like you buy a kind of atonement and can get great discount for a certain number of flight. If you need a lot of flights it could be advantageous. But the cheapest way to buy airline ticket is probably to book online with Blue Virgin or Jet Star. Both of them deserve many different cities in Australia, but not necessary the same one. So, it really depends where you want to go. Sometimes, its worse make some deep research to get better fee. For sample, once I was looking for a cheap airfare between Sydney and Darwin. Blue Virgin offered 450 AUD (via Brisbanne) and Jet Star doesn’t have this possibility. But when I check more deeply some others cities, I found out that I can get Sydney-Adelaide for 99AUD and Adelaide-Darwin for 167 AUD with Jet Star. Total 266 AUD. I just saved 184 AUD. Sometimes you will find better price with Blue Virgin. It all depends of the availability. So good search and good luck.

By the way, JetStar also provide some of the Asia Cheapest Flight as they deserve many others country such as Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc…

For more information, you can visit the author Blog : Cheap Asia Travel

The writer is an expatriate living in Indonesia for many years. You can find more article and tips about travel in asia and advice about purchasing cheap flight tickets at:
http://www.cheap-minute-airline-tickets.com

As our population’s life expectancy increases, more and more of us are burdened with the task of caring for our aging parents. This task can be especially difficult if you are an only child, or have your own children at home to take care of.

Being responsible for both your kids and your parents at the same time can be a daunting task, but the following tips can help make it easier.

One rule of thumb is to relax. Don’t panic, or get overly stressed about the situation. If your home is conducive to having your parents stay with you, do so. If they are in good health, having them in your home could be an advantage. Older parents can make great baby-sitters.

Moving your parents into your home is not a decision you should make lightly, or on your own. Make sure that you discuss the possibility with your spouse and children. Having your spouse comfortable with your parents under the same roof is vital to keeping the situation positive. Your children should also realize that they may need to make sacrifices of space to accommodate the new house members as well.

Your parents may, however, be of the mindset that they do not wish to leave their house or apartment. This will require an alternate plan. What this plan entails will depend in part on the age of your children. If your children are small, you may not have the time to devote to caring for your parents outside of your home. In this case, you can contact Meals-On-Wheels, or another social service in order to ensure your parents are cared for properly.

With teenagers, or grown children, they can help share the burden, by making frequent visits to ensure that your parents are eating properly, and have everything they need to remain healthy and independent.

In certain cultures, it is usual for parents to live in their children’s home through the end of their life. Unfortunately, in Western cultures it is more typical to remand aging parents to senior citizens or nursing homes. It can be difficult to make this choice, but for some, there are few options. If your parents are unable to remain in their own home, and their children do not have the space to accommodate them, an institution may be the only option. You can do your part by thoroughly investigating the opportunities available, and making a wise and confident choice.

It is possible to care for both your kids and your parents at the same time, with preparation, discussion and planning. Having siblings that can participate in the decisions can be a great help, but this is often not possible, either because of distance, or disinterest.

Whatever your situation, you can be assured that there are many resources available to help you find the best care for your parents, no matter their health or status.

For more information about family and parenting related topics, visit http://www.BetterParent.org

Your credit card bill is twice what you thought it would be, you’re over your overdraft limit and your bank manager is not best pleased with you for listing an I-pod and a pair of Jimmy Choos as ‘essentials’. It may look like your summer holiday is going to have to be a weekend in Scarborough with the parents again but there’s no harm in checking out the alternatives! For the Richard Branson’s and Donald Trump’s of the world nothing but the best will do and when you’re looking for the best look no further than The Atlantis bridge Suite.

The Atlantis Bridge Suite at The Atlantis hotel in the Bahamas is the epitome of luxury and at a cool $25,000 per night you would expect no less. The ten room suite is located on top of a bridge which connects the Royal Towers of the hotel and has a view over the entire marina.

The Suite comes with its own butler, bar lounge and entertainment centre. The furniture is as plush as one might expect - chaise lounges, marble baths, murals, sculptures and plenty of gold.

The resort itself boasts a casino, the Mayan Temple entertainment attraction which includes water slides and a ride which passes through a clear tunnel in a shark-filled lagoon and a 63 acre waterscape. But then when you’re paying $25,000 for the suite you might not want to step outside!

And you’ll not be in bad company. Past guests at the suite include Oprah Winfrey, and Michael Jackson.

So when you’ve finished balancing you cheque book and you’ve worked out you’re already in negative figures and it’s ten days until pay day, put away the calculator and allow yourself to daydream. How the other half live!

Russ Pooley writes for Drake & Cavendish who provide a luxury hotel research directory featuring over 5,000 luxury hotels in over 700 resort locations around the world. As a content provider we are committed to developing entertaining and informative travel related information. You can read further articles and details at http://www.drakeandcavendish.com

Everyone suffers from some form of fear, most everyday. Some fear is helpful while other types of fear are hurtful to the body, soul and mind.

First off, what is fear? From Najemy (2007) comes an answer: “The prime and basic cause of all fear is the ignorance of our true nature. If we experienced or were convinced of our invulnerable eternal soul-nature, we would never feel any fear whatsoever. Because we do not, or cannot, believe this truth, we feel vulnerable, separate, isolated and susceptible to extinction or insignificance.”

Najemy (2007) goes on to write about other subordinate factors that contribute to fear. Such factors presented are: a feeling of separateness from others, unfamiliarity with people and things, attachment to people and objects related to our security can often cause us to fear and then play power games in order to protect our possessions, or self-image when we fear losing them, imagining frightful images such as loss, and the unknown and reliving negative experiences.

But, it is important to remember that fear can be helpful when one faces a situation that threatens one’s life or safety.

A form of fear for some is social anxiety. Social anxiety, according to Freedom from Fear (2007) is: “a disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations.” In this situation people with this affliction have a persistent, intense and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others.

Some researchers think that a structure in the brain-the amygdale-brings about this disorder while others think that social anxiety is inherited. In addition, some researchers think that social anxiety is brought about from an imbalance of hormones. Still others think that social anxiety is learned by observing others-observational learning or social modeling. Perhaps it depends on the person and what fear factors are in his or her life.

As with many fears and anxieties, treatments that seem to work best are medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Social skills training also seems to help. And, as many know the best way to overcome a fear, is to face it and then deal with it. Once the fear is faced-either with or without medication or therapy-the fear will cease to exist.

I sought and found a clear definition of anxiety: “In MSN Encarta (2004) I found: “anxiety is a feeling of worry: nervousness or agitation, often about something that is going to happen or something that worries somebody.”

I might also add that in my opinion, anxiety is worrying about something that will probably never happen. How many times have you worried about something you thought would happen but didn’t? Yet, even though you knew that in most cases such an event wouldn’t happen, you find yourself, time and again, worrying once again about what will happen, if….

The online American Psychological Association (2004) offers additional information on anxiety disorders by providing a checklist to see if you need help. This checklist includes: “endless checking or rechecking actions, a constant and unrealistic worry about everyday occurrences and activities and fear and anxiety that appear for now apparent reason.” If any of these symptoms sound like you, check out this site for help: (Psychology in Daily Life-the article, “Do You Know the Signs of an Anxiety Disorder?” Retrieved May 2004

Ponder these words from famous people found in Non Stop English site (2007):

From Napoleon Bonaparte: “There are two levers for moving men-interest and FEAR.” From the Bible: “The FEAR of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. {King Solomon}.

Check out these wise words from Albert Einstein: “If men as individuals surrender to the call of their elementary instincts, avoiding pain and seeking satisfaction only for their own selves, the result for them all taken together must be a state of insecurity, of FEAR, and of promiscuous misery.” (Like this one the best because I see so much of this in today’s society.)

The one that fits the bill for me, besides the one above comes from Alexander Pope, British Poet, Critic and Translator, “Only he who can say, “The Lord is my strength,” can say “Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Other famous people who suffer from some kind of anxiety disorder are: Anthony Hopkins, Barbara Bush, Dick Clark, Howard Stern, the late John Candy, Kim Basinger, Roseanne Barr and Sally Field.

So if you have a fear or anxiety, you’re not alone! Many suffer from some kind of fear or anxiety. Just knowing that many-including famous people-suffer from such anxiety and fear, helps me to better understand myself and look into ways to make my life better. We-you and I-we only have one life to live; so let’s make it good!

One very effective way to lessen one’s fears and anxieties is to talk with a trusted friend or family member. Just talking with someone and sharing how you feel, helps to lighten the loud and helps to put the concern in perspective. Sharing with another takes the “worry load” off and offers a ray of hope and sunshine.

Along with most fears is the obsessive need to think about them. If you will think back on the times when you were fearing something, and then find to your surprise that it was all in vain, you will know deep in your heart that worrying and anxiety do nothing to make the fear go away. In fact, worrying just makes it worse and is totally unnecessary…You say, it’s easy to say; yes that’s true. But, bad habits can be broken; they just take time.
Something you might try to help deal with fears, is to write down exactly what is worrying you and list the reasons why. Once you see the fear on paper and descriptive words, you may see that the fear is not that large-not too big to handle. And, remember, everyone has fears: we either find a way to deal with them or the fears overcome us.

Don’t know about you, but I don’t like anything having a hold or control over me. I like driving the train-not the train driving me!

I find that if I have something fearful coming up-for example I have a colonospy coming up next week–I do what I can to prepare myself for this even. I purchase necessary items that I will need, make notes for the event that will help guide me through and most importantly, take the matter to God. I can’t stress it enough-the belief and trust in a higher power to help get one through. Releasing one’s faith to that higher power, does more good than anything on earth!

So, when the next fear comes knocking at your door, don’t panic-get prepared, seek professional help or medication if needed and above all, seek Heavenly support! You will not only face the fear with confidence and calm, but will come through the dreaded event, better than ever!

References:

Freedom from Fear (2007) Causes of Anxiety Disorders: Nature or Nurture? Retrieved March 15, 2007 from: http://www.freedomfromfear.org/causes.asp

MSN Encarta (2004) Description of anxiety.

Najemy, R. (2007). The Causes of Fear. Overcoming Fear-Part 3. Retrieved March 15, 2007 from: http://choosetoprosper.com/najemy-causes-fear.html.

NonStopEnglish (2007). Quotations Database. Retrieved March 15, 2007 from: http://www.nonstopenglish.com/reading/quotations/k_Fear.asp

The American Psychological Association (2004) Anxiety Disorders information.

Toni is a freelance writer/author and master’s student at Capella University. She hopes to do some online teaching upon graduation in June. You can see more of her work and books in the links below:

Dreams and Goals: http://tonisworld.blogspot.com

Lulu Bookstore: http://www.lulu.com/tstar

Have you ever wondered how our forefathers and their ancestors all managed to survive without modern medicines, supplements, specialized therapies and health insurance?

Has traveling along the ‘path of least resistance’ been the direct cause of our forgetting about all of the ways that ‘mother nature’ can provide for our health and well-being?

Certainly, it would be difficult to imagine life without the available technologies and breakthroughs of 21st century medicine, but some would argue that modern medicine has as much to do with contributing to disease as it does curing it. But, as self-serving as they may seem, physicians and practitioners are not alone in this cycle of ‘catch 22’s’. The pharmaceutical manufacturers bombard us with commercials, articles, and studies, not only identifying a plethora of disease, but even more alarming, they help manifest elements of fear and anxiety, creating a psychological need for their highly profitable products.

So, what are the alternatives to this medical madness?

To be sure, modern medicine is such a convenient means of coping with our stressful and demanding lifestyle that we’re not about to abandon that measure of security to go about digging up roots, shaving tree bark and cultivating exotic herbs. Who has the time or the expertise?

What I hope to achieve through this article is a stimulation of curiosity within the reader. A tease, if you will, to recall long forgotten memories of a more natural side of human existence. At the same time, I want to be clear that none of this should be considered a substitute for required medical treatment, however, various alternatives can be successfully employed for many minor complaints and therapies.

Let’s take a look a few:

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - used for thousands of years to treat a multitude of diseases and conditions. Referenced in the Bible, this natural substance contains a perfect balance of 19 vital minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, chlorine, sodium, iron, fluorine and silicon, just to name a few. Additionally, more than 90 other components can even help your body regulate blood pressure, while supporting your immune system. Studies have shown that the nutrients, enzymes, and organic acids found in ACV act as a weight loss component, by safely suppressing the appetite while increasing the body’s metabolic rate. External benefits include:

• A natural germ fighter, as well as a powerful cleansing agent.
• Maintenance of healthy skin.
• Soothes sunburn.
• Helps prevent dandruff.
• Used as a topical solution, research shows it can even prevent baldness.

Essential Oils - a natural-medicine alternative to many common ailments with benefits ranging from topical antiseptics, anti-inflammatories, analgesics, digestive system tonics, and anti-depressants. Here’s a brief look at just a few:

Lavender - (medicine chest in a bottle) - anti-inflammatory; very effective on burns; speeds wound healing; reduces scarring; reduces stress.

Peppermint - An excellent digestive tonic, calming motion sickness and reducing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. And, did you know it’s considered by some to be a more effective insect repellent than citronella, when used on the body (rather than in the surrounding air).

Chamomile - The great tension reliever. Useful for a wide variety of nervous conditions, and is often indicated for cases of stress in children, including teething and general crankiness.

Eucalyptus - most often used for respiratory conditions, clearing congestion with coughs and colds. Diffusing Eucalyptus oil can kill most staphylococcus bacteria, present in many bronchial infections. And, did I mention, an effective insect repellent?

Herbs
Medicinal plants have a long history in treating disease. In fact, the written history of herbal medicine goes back over 2,000 years. Many so-called ‘weeds’ were considered treasures, worth their weight in gold, to ancient cultures. Dandelion, Comfrey, Digitalis (Foxglove), the Poppy, Milk Thistle, Stinging Nettle, as well as many others, have well-established medicinal qualities that have few, if any rivals in the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, many are the basic ingredient of some of the most important pharmaceutical drugs.

One notable example is the Dandelion. Research is currently being conducted by scientists at the Royal Botanical Gardens, in London, who consider the plant a potential source for a life-saving drug to be used in warding off cancer, which presently kills tens of thousands of people every year.

Balance is the best alternative.

While the advanced cultures of the world’s industrialized nations enjoy the absolute best that modern medical technology has to offer, many of the ‘third world’ societies and certainly the world’s remaining primitive cultures, utilize the ancient methods and natural medicines developed by their ancestors. But, rather than being mutually exclusive, a more practical approach would be to bring both ends of the spectrum together, blending both the old and the new into what is more commonly referred to as ‘Complementary Medicine’, where consideration is given to the mind, body and spirit regarding the health and well-being of the individual.

Harry Monell maintains a content website http://www.thresholdthree.com/alternative/index.html featuring a collection of over 50 articles, from other writers, on a wide variety of topics ranging from ancient to modern medicine, including benefits, precautions and general information of interest to all.

Harry Monell maintains several affiliate and content websites. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Old Dominion University. Following formal retirement in 2000, he spent five years working as a special projects consultant and now spends time with what he considers his most challenging, yet most rewarding endeavor - developing his writing skills.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 1 - WHAT IS INCLUDED AND WHAT IS NOT!

You can come across some amazing looking prices for hiring a car in Florida but when you look at the detail you find that the Florida car hire companies do not include unlimited mileage, local taxes or car hire insurances.

When you hire a car in Florida you may not be doing much driving in which case unlimited mileage may be unnecessary but insurances are essential and do increase the car hire cost in Florida markedly. We usually found these cheap looking car hire prices were really not so cheap after all and could be regarded as a pretty underhand and misleading tactic.

When searching for car hire in Florida make sure all of these potential extras are included in the car rental price you have been quoted:

Third party insurance.
Airport fees.
Breakdown cover.
All local surcharges.
Loss/collision damage waiver.
Unlimited mileage.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 2 - AIR CONDITIONING.

It may sound obvious but DO check that the cheap price you have found for your car hire in Florida applies to car hire with air-conditioning. Temperatures in the summer in Florida will mostly be above 30 degrees Celsius, sometimes over 40 degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit).

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 3 - BOOK AHEAD.

Do not just arrive at the airport in Florida without a car hire reservation. When you find the car hire desks they are invariably busy and chaotic with long queues and stressed staff. It is far better to already have reserved your car hire in Florida so you have a car hire reservation with a reference number so at least you know they will have a car ready and waiting.

At least if the Florida car hire company does not have your requested car hire they will have to upgrade you to a better model of car hire for free. You also tend to get cheaper car hire in Florida if you have booked your car hire in advance - not if you just turn up at the last minute.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 4 - DON’T PENNY PINCH.

Do consider the large amounts of luggage you will have in Florida and maybe go for the next size of car hire up and just treat yourself rather than traveling round on your holiday in Florida like a sardine. The price difference between different models of car hire in Florida is usually surprisingly small.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 5 - CHILD SEATS.

When you hire a car in Florida you can usually hire a car seat for children for about an extra $5 a day. Not only can this add-up, it can often happen that the message doesn’t reach the local car hire office in Florida. It can often be a no-hassle option to take your own car seat rather than getting angry when all after a stressful flight all you want is to get your car hire and go. You simply check-it in at the airport with your luggage so it is not really much trouble to do this.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 6 - CHECK EVERYTHING!

When you get to your car hire pick-up point in Florida you must check that everything matches your voucher. When you booked car hire in Florida over over the internet or at a travel agent, you may have requested certain car hire extras such as adding extra drivers and maybe the message didn’t get through. Even check you are getting the right sort of car hire you asked for!

Do all of this before you sign all the car hire paperwork. Make sure you take any print-outs you have so if there are any problems in Florida at the car hire office you have it all in writing.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 7 - DAMAGE.

When you have got your car hire in Florida you naturally just want to get going but make sure the car hire company in Florida acknowledge any bumps and scrapes already on the car. If you don’t you may find that when you return your car hire the car hire company may hold you responsible (and charge) you.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 8 - PETROL.

When booking car hire in Florida make sure your car hire is a diesel car as it will be much cheaper to run.

CAR HIRE IN FLORIDA TIP 9 - EXCESSES.

Most Florida car hire insurance policies have an excess which means you promise to pay a set amount (say it is $500) if you have an accident and the car hire company cover the rest of the cost of repair. Be aware of how much the car hire excess is because sometimes they can be very high in Florida.

When you are at the car hire office in Florida you may want to consider paying a small bit extra to make sure you are not liable for anything or at least lower the excess, especially as when you are driving in Florida you may not always fully understand the local road rules.

Copyright Mark Eastwood. Feel free to use this article online and in your email newsletters as long as you leave it intact and do not alter it in anyway. The byline and biography must remain in the article.

Mark Eastwood is a regular visitor to Florida and is publisher of a guide to Florida if you are going on vacation or holiday to Florida. You can find the guide at http://www.LakeTarponVillas.com/Florida-Guide.html

With name brand golf clubs costing a good part of your paycheck, clone golf clubs have gained favor with many weekend golfers that are looking for an edge. With new technology advancements, the clone golf club has been able to compete with the likes of Callaway, Nike, Taylor Made, and other top brand clubs. The clone golf club is the most popular way that golfers are improving their game.

What is a clone golf club? Take the Nike clone golf club. Many golf club manufacturers that are in the business of making clones will take a brand name club like Nike and reverse engineer the club. This means that the clone golf club is taken apart and analyzed by engineers to find the materials and any special geometry that are being used. Once a base line is established for the clone golf club, the clone golf club manufacturer will very carefully, judiciously avoiding claims made by competing patents, make a “knockoff” or “clone” golf club that is based on the same or similar technology as our Nike. The benefit to the golfer is lower cost for the clone golf club without sacrificing performance.

The looks of clone golf clubs are also improving. Take the Acer XP 905 set of clone golf club irons. They look as good as any brand name Callaway or Nike. A golfer will not feel like a second-rate player with a set of clone golf clubs in his or her bag. The best way to try these clone golf clubs is to demo a clone club at your local golf retailer.

Chad Hoffmann is co-founder of Custom-Golf-Clubs.com; a sight devoted to all things golf. More about this article is found at Custom-Golf-Clubs.com.

Until 1964, Vietnam was not a U.S. war.

Sure, the U.S. had sent 400 special forces to train South Vietnamese troops in 1961. And more troops were sent to police the country in 1963. And every now and again U.S. newspapers printed photos of Buddhist monks setting themselves on fire in public.

But, even the threat of Communism toppling regimes like dominoes wasn’t good enough to sell a full-blown war. Until August 2…

The Rush to War

On August 2, 1964, three North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked a U.S. destroyer, the USS Maddox. The boats reportedly fired torpedoes at the U.S. ship in international waters in the Gulf of Tonkin, about thirty miles off the Vietnam coast.

On August 4, the U.S. Navy reported another unprovoked attack on the USS Maddox and the USS Turner Joy.

Within hours, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered a retaliatory strike. As the bases for North Vietnamese torpedo boats were bombed, Johnson went on TV and told America: “Repeated acts of violence against the armed forces of the United States must be met not only with alert defense, but with a positive reply. That reply is being given as I speak tonight.”

The next day, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara testified. He assured Capital Hill that the Maddox had only been “carrying out a routine mission of the type we carry out all over the world at all times.” McNamara said the two boats were in no way involved with recent South Vietnamese boat raids against North Vietnamese targets.

At Johnson’s request, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. The resolution preapproved any military actions Johnson would take. It gave Johnson a free ticket to wage war in Vietnam as large as the President wanted. And, true to his large Texas roots, Johnson got a big war: by 1969, over half a million U.S. troops were fighting in Indochina.

The Phantom Attack

Despite McNamara’s testimony to the contrary, the USS Maddox had been providing intelligence support to South Vietnamese boats carrying out raids against North Vietnam. McNamara had also testified that there was “unequivocable proof” of an “unprovoked” second attack against the USS Maddox. In fact, the second attack never occurred at all.

At the time of the second incident, the two U.S. destroyers misinterpreted radar and radio signals as attacks by the North Vietnamese navy. It’s now known that no North Vietnamese boats were in the area. So, for two hours, the two U.S. destroyers blasted away at nonexistent radar targets, and vigorously maneuvered to avoid phantom North Vietnamese ships.

Even though the second “attack” only involved two U.S. ships defending themselves against a nonexistent enemy, the President and Secretary of Defense used it to coerce Congress and the American people to start a war they neither wanted or needed.

The War Powers Resolution

After the Vietnam War turned into a quagmire for the U.S., Congress decided to put limits on the President’s authority to unilaterally wage war. Thus, on November 7, 1973, Congress overturned President Nixon’s veto and passed the War Powers Resolution.

The resolution requires the President to consult with Congress before making any decisions that engage the U.S. military in hostilities. It’s still in effect to this day.

“If we quit Vietnam, tomorrow we’ll be fighting in Hawaii and next week we’ll have to fight in San Francisco.” ~Lyndon B. Johnson.

“We are fighting these terrorists with our military in Afghanistan and Iraq and beyond so we do not have to face them in the streets of our own cities.” ~President George W. Bush.

Same tune, different song…

copyright©2007 Joe Crubaugh

Joe Crubaugh is a freelance writer whose psyche is often absorbed with current events, politics, art, culture, society, and the creamy bitterness of a steaming cup of white chocolate mocha. He is the author of numerous personal emails, and on most days he blogs at Hard-boiled Dreams of the World. When he’s not writing, Joe spends weekdays masquerading as a software consultant in an undisclosed Southeastern U.S. state.