Company Affair

Five-star Dubai hotels are featured in every daydream of travelers who have set foot here and had the pleasure of enjoying the luxurious accommodations and world-class service that are provided. The food and atmosphere are beyond compare as the finest chefs in the world compete with some of the most gracious taste-makers who work behind the scenes to design a perfect travel experience. The same taste-makers and trend-setters are at work in the urban landscape, and there are pockets of culture that are turning up here. It’s become a hot spot for world culture and the locals are treated to some of the most interesting performers in the region, competing for a moment to make their art public.

The music scene has been fascinating to watch recently. There is an influx of musicians, new transplants, expat kids who are suddenly grown up, and die-hard locals who love the city because it’s home, and want to make something audible happen in the streets. Recently too there has been a rise in the number of music festivals, and as expected, a rise in music venues. One such venue that has its fingers on the musical pulse here is The Warehouse Club, Le Meridien Dubai. In its infancy still, this club is participating in some very tasty music festivals, and it would appear that the owners are very hip on what’s happening locally. Musicians are always lamenting the dearth of places to play, and Dubai city is perhaps even more difficult to find an artistic home, but this is exactly what The Warehouse is offering. Taking part in both Global Sound Stage and Slob Fest, and also mixing up the musical menu with live jazz on Tuesday nights, there is something for a number of musical tastes here, and this is a gift to both audiences and musicians.

The Warehouse is also a top shelf restaurant. The setting is beautiful, extremely classy and architecturally fascinating, a real designer’s heaven. There is also a sophisticated and delicious menu that features Euro-style fusion cuisines, in a European café setting. All this in a desert landscape, and the easy blend of culture and creature comfort make this life a very pleasant dream.

Many surfers have commented throughout the years, that the Peninsula of Cape Town has some of the best surf beaches.  That in the waters of the Atlantic off the coast, the waves are always easy to find.  There are so many fine surfing spots, that it does matter the direction the wind may be blowing, somewhere it will be blowing in the right direction off the shore.  Many of the best Capetown restaurants are located along the surf beaches, and there is nothing better than some nice food and relaxation after a day on the waves.  In these well known surf spots though, as in any surf towns be it Bondi Beach in Australia or Malibu Beach in California, USA, local surf spots mean that one must show respect and gain respect of the local surfers.  And as far as shark attacks go, this has not been a factor off the Peninsula.  There have been reports of great whites, but at this time, there have been no attacks.

That being said, the best spots for surfing are all located to the north and to the south of the city.  There are a few spots located in the area of Muizenberg.  The best spots to the north are Table View, Blouberg, and Big Bay.  Derde Steen is a spot however, the waves do come in very big and are more suited for beginners.  Blouberg is really the hot spot, if Blouberg is crowed then Table View is the next best place.  Most all of the spots at Blouberg are surf-able, but wet suits are necessary as the temperature of the water is fairly cold year round.  The waves here tend to be much more intense than they look, breaking often times close to the shore.  Big Bay, just next door is one of the best spots, always with big waves and relatively mild water temperatures.  Surfing in South Africa will provide one with a love of the sport, many memories and just incredible amounts of good times.

Dubai is a vibrant city and full of cultural landmarks and historic buildings. There is a thriving arts scene and a progressive cosmopolitan feel to this major UAE city. Visiting the city as a tourist can be an extremely enlightening and exciting event as the food, entertainment, and general scenic views are unique and inviting to Westerners. Two the major landmarks that most tourists will not want to miss are the Dubai Marina and also the Deira Clocktower. Guests staying in five star hotels in Dubai should have no difficulty in finding information on these and other major landmarks of the city.

The Deira Clocktower is also commonly referred to as the Dubai Clocktower. It is a roundabout located in the Al Rigga area of Deira at the intersection of Umm Hurair Road and Route D 89. It is the major landmark of Deira and also provides access to the Al Maktoum Bridge, which was the first land crossing to be constructed between Bur Dubai and Deira. The Clocktower was built in 1964 and throughout the years suffered from corrosion and the steal reinforcements began to crack and deteriorate. It was refurbished in 1972 and stands a major landmark of Dubai.

The Dubai Marina is a residential district and is commonly considered to be the heart of the new Dubai. It was designed and developed to be a model of the Concord Pacific Place along False Creek in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It has been developed by the UAE real estate firm Emaar Properties and is entirely man made. When completed, the marina will include some 200 high rise buildings and sky scrapers. Among them are the Infinity Tower, The Princess Tower, Marina Terrace, and the Torch Dubai Marina. Also included are the residential towers. When it is completed, it will be the largest man made marina in the world. Marina del Ray in California, USA is currently the largest man made marina.

The Wind Catchers in Dubai represent the traditional Persian architectural design device that created natural ventilation in buildings throughout previous centuries. The original design and idea is not accredited to a single individual, though they have been paramount to the culture’s architectural history. They are not only found in Dubai, but also in Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as throughout the Middle East. Tourists visiting the city, whether they’re there for business or pleasure will have ample opportunity to view this unique building aspect. It’s even possible they are part of the design of some business hotels Dubai.

While the climate is consistently dry, temperatures vary throughout the day and also throughout the seasons. Even a single day’s temperature can range from extremely hot to extremely cold. For this reason, most of the buildings are made from very dense ceramics and have strong insulation. This protects the interior from all of the extremes. They also include small windows that do not face the sun, which restricts the heat penetration from the desert sky.

By design, the wind catcher has at its top several directional ports. The purpose of this is that all but one can be closed, leaving open the one that is facing directly away from the incoming wind. By doing this, the air will be drawn upwards, creating the Coanda effect. This creates a significant ventilation effect, and helps to maintain temperature control. This design is so effective that it has been used throughout the centuries and the culture has consistently relied on it. They can be built to create such frigid temperatures that they have also been used to store water supplies at a near freezing level to last through the hot summer months. A small wind catcher is called a shish-khan and is also a main aspect of Persian architecture. These serve for simple ventilation devices and are seen on the tops of many urban buildings.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre is aimed toward the recognition of young talent and supporting the development and education of young people who are involved in the performing arts. Last year’s festival took place under the patronage of Sheikh Majed and included a final evening gala celebrating the exceptional performers, directors and playwrights. Tourists who visit the UAE and stay in one of the five star hotels Dubai often seek out these fabulous cultural activities. Festivals such as this provide an excellent opportunity to experience the contemporary social and cultural lifestyle of the UAE.

The ten day festival had the dual purpose of launching the UAE’s young talent pool and also serving as an exceptional summer entertainment event for audiences. It is recognized as one of the premiere platforms for young practitioners to hone their skills and receive acknowledgment for their efforts at the regional and national level. This also prepares them for the highly competitive aspect of the professional theatre industry, in which they will be working. The performing arts plays an essential role in the lifestyle and cultural basis of the AUE and celebrating the up and comers in the field is paramount. The festival has become a central component of raising the profile of performing arts in the country.

Last year’s awards were presented by Mohammed Al Murr, the Vice Chairman of the DCAA. The festival was held at the Cultural and Scientific Association located in DubaiCs Al Mamzar area. Every night of the festival a new play was presented which led to the final evening’s award celebration. There was a tie for the award for Best Director between Marwan Abulla, who directed Anambar at the Dubai Al Ahil Theater, and Hamad Abdulrazaq, who directed Al Sitarah at the Sharjah National Theater. Jasim Al Kharraz won the award for Best Playwright for his play Zaman Al Youm, Dubai Folklore. The award for Best Actress went to Bedour and the award for Best Actor went to Hussain Yousef.

A Dubai beach resort can really be all things to all people, and the guests here will know the taste of first-class luxury in a first-class setting.  Dubai city, with its stunning natural surroundings and fascinating urban energy, is growing into a city that has a special place in the heart of locals, and also among the growing community of internationals here.  There is a wealth of culinary delights, glorious shopping malls, and cultural events to keep the whole family fascinated and entertained.  There is a strong multi-cultural character to the city, with pockets of communities that are becoming a rich part of the local scene.

The Filipino community has long held a presence here, and so it should be no surprise that a world-class magazine like Illustrado would make a home here.  Founded with the intention of uplifting the morale and public image of Filipino women in the gulf, this glossy combines high production values with a grass roots sensibility that appeals to its reader base.  The result is a magazine that is not only empowering but also refreshingly free of the usual gossip and materialism that define similar enterprises.  The editorial staff here is uncompromising in its vision to presenting real issues to real women.  Its staff is composed of writers and visual artists based in the UAE, the Phillipines, Southeast Asia, ant the United States.

Every year Illustrado holds an event to honor some of the most accomplished women in the Filipino community in the UAE.  Called the Illustrado Women of Substance Awards, this event typicially honors a half-dozen women who have achieved prominence in their fields over the past year.  Last year’s event was stunning, and attracted local and international press.  Lalaine Chu-Benitez, Illustrado’s Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, is quick to point out that this is an award that goes to real women who have made real contributions to society, and is not simply an award for popularity.  Awards went to Filipina chemist Engr. Mary Jane Alvero Al Mahdi, Lilian Vargas, senior manager of Dubai City Duty-Free, Gulf Today Senior Reporter and UAE Filipino Pres Club President Mariecar Jara-Puyod, entrepreneur and creator of Filipino snack company Nanay Tuneng, Isabelita Sabado-Warren, nurse Juliet Solas, and the pianist-singer-writer and model Clarita de Quiroz Craig.  All of these women were honored for their exceptional contributions and on-going commitment to raising the profile of Flilipino women here.

Planning a vacation to Hawaii?  You can find custom Hawaiian cruises and amazing Hawaii vacation deals by going online or discussing your needs with your local travel agent.  A good package will include a discounted airfare from your city, inter-island flights, car rentals and taxi referrals, as well as booking your hotel, condo, or villa accommodations.  Look for companies that have well-informed and trained agents who know all about Hawaii.  The recommendations you will get from a pro will help you to save time while booking your trip and will also help you to find exactly what you are looking for once you have arrived.

Traveling with the family?  A good vacation package will enable you to enjoy just the right activities for everyone.  Going on your honeymoon?  A personalized package will help you to create even more romance on your visit to the Hawaiian islands.  Perhaps you have special needs.  A wise and seasoned agent will know how to construct just the right package for you so that your stay in Hawaii is comfortable and easy.

The competition is stiff. Ask your friends for recommendations of agents and sites that they have used before.  Shop around online and in the yellow pages.  Once you find the company you like, stick with it for all of your vacation needs.  Developing relationships is the best way to ensure that all your travels will be of the highest quality.

Carbonite , the data backup client offering data protection with a 15 Petabyte storage capacity, provides an indispensable service, at a winning rate of only pennies a day.

It’s a fact that 43% of computer users and 66% of internet users interesting and important distinction I think) lose irreplaceable data, such as photos, crucial documents, emails and other files.

In 1996, during a fire at the headquarters of Credit Lyonnais, a major bank in Paris, system administrators ran into the burning building to rescue backup tapes because they didn’t have offsite copies. Crucial bank archives and computer data were lost.

Also, on January 3, 2008, an email server crashed at TeliaSonera, a major Nordic telecom company and internet service provider. It was subsequently discovered that the last serviceable backup set was from December 15, 2007. 300,000 customer email accounts were affected.

If they’d only had Carbonite backing them up.

Have you really considered just how much of your life is stored on your computer? Treasured photos, emails, music, financial records, documents, and much more. How devastating would that be if you woke up tomorrow and these irreplaceable files were just…gone?

Recognize a very real danger

The statistics are sobering: each year 43% of computer users lose invaluable files. Hazards lurk around every corner – hard drive crashes, theft, power surges, natural disasters, or accidental deletion of your own files. Being prepared for the possibility that you could lose your most valuable files is the beginning of smart computer usage.

Carbonite’s patented data backup solution works by placing colored dots on your files and folders. Different colors represent different “file states”:  If the file has been backed up, will be backed up or will not be backed up. Once Carbonite is setup, it requires little ongoing work on behalf of the user.

Don’t become a data loss casualty. Backup your irreplaceable files with secure, offsite protection, with Carbonite.

There are too, too many data backup horror stories. Too many who had precious information which may have included such irreplaceable data such as financial spreadsheets, payment records, photo files and much more. The following is a story about one Harald Anderson:

The “worst case scenario” happened to Harald a few years ago. He’d received a call from a friend informing him that his home had been broken into and the burglars had not only stolen the electronics in the living room but had also taken all the PCs in the house. Harald learned the hard way that data backup is something that every computer user who has important data on their hard drive cannot live without. Whether you simply purchase an external drive that you can connect via USB or ****wire, or sign up for offsite secure data backup, make sure you take steps to guarantee that your data is safe and sound, even if the worst happens to your computer hardware.

It doesn’t quite hit you right away when you no longer have access to your files. The first things that come to mind are the expensive hardware that went into building your machine. Maybe you had a nice flat panel monitor or a state of the art video card for playing the latest games.

While it can be very disappointing to lose expensive tech goodies like these it is still no comparison to losing those zeros and ones etched into every user’s hard drive. Hardware can nearly always be replaced, even at no cost to you if you have insurance, but lost data is gone forever. There is no way to recover data that you have not backed up – should you lose the original media it was stored on.

In Harald’s case, he was not using offsite secure data backup, or any kind of backup for that matter. His backup was about six months old and sitting on a tape drive in his closet. When  thieves walked off with his machine they left with not only an excellent gaming platform but also his entire web design portfolio, numerous customized versions of my resume, thousands of MP3 files that he had ripped from CDs (many of which he’d lost the original CD for), Microsoft Money files, and thousands of digital photographs that were impossible to replace.

Another recent blog poster recounted her data loss horror story, and it’s paraphrased as follows:

When she and her husband finally met after a long distance love affair, they were together for seven days. They went to every tourist attraction they could possibly see. They took a lot of pictures with them of the places they went. Then, loaded them to computer and saved. They did the same thing with their wedding photos. One day, their computer got infected by a virus and they couldn’t fix it. They lost all the pictures and felt very bad, realizing — it’s all gone! They learned a hard lesson that day and promised themselves that they will make sure to make Online Backups in all their important stuff.

Don’t end up like these people. Carbonite’s online data backup will be sure to keep your invaluable information safe and secure. Check out our profile and free trial offer.

Carbonite, the data backup company with the incredible 1.5 Petabyte storage capacity, is on several social networking sites, in hopes of reaching out to more potential clients. This makes perfect sense, since most of their potential clientele are web-savvy internet users with more sensitive data to protect than ever. That’s not to say, however, that a less web savvy person wouldn’t benefit from their services. Quite the contrary. It’s just that social networking media allows a business entity to reach out with much more web presence to those who utilize the web most.

The truth is, anyone with a  PC can benefit from Carbonite’s data backup system.Though it’s especially true for businesses, data loss prevention affects 43% of PC users, and can be just as devastating. Backing up your personal or business files and database is of paramount importance. These days, all it takes is one strong worm or virus and your data could be forever lost.

Carbonite offers data protection with a 1.5 Petabyte, or 1,572,864 Gigabytes storage capacity, providing internet and computer users an indispensable service, at the bargain rate of only mere pennies a day. They also offer a 15-day free trial, which will give you a nice introduction to their services.

Once Carbonite data backup is setup on your computer, it requires little ongoing work on behalf of the user. It reads and stores your data as long as you’re on the internet, and users can also log on to the Carbonite site and access their files.

This is especially welcome news for time-strapped web users who can utilize Carbonite as a kind of offsite server AND file backup system.

You can follow Carbonite on Twitter to get updates and communiques on important data storage issues.

Using a combination of encryption techniques, similar to those used by banks, to safeguard your data. Files are encrypted twice before they leave your computer and remain encrypted on our servers, making it virtually impossible for anyone to access your files without your secret password. Users are also given the option to manage their own encryption key.

Should your computer get stolen or crash, you can recover lost files to another computer by visiting Carbonite’s website. Recovering small amounts of data – a few files here or there – will probably take only seconds or minutes. Restoring all of your data will take longer and depends not only on how much data you have, but also the speed of your Internet connection. Most DSL services will allow you to download about 600-800 MB per hour, or roughly 14-18GB per day. For the average user, complete data restoration is likely to take at most a day or two.

The Carbonite client always looks for new data on your PC once you’re online. When you add or modify files, Carbonite starts backing them up immediately. It backs up about 2GB per day over broadband. Carbonite’s backup solution works by placing colored dots on your files and folders. Different colors represent different “file states”:  1) If the file has been backed up, 2) will be backed up, or 3) will not be backed up.

Drug Rehab addresses the two-fold nature of drug addiction. The two-fold nature is physical dependency and psychological dependency.

Physical Dependency:  This involves a detox process to cope with withdrawal symptoms from regular use of the drug. With regular use of drugs, the brain gradually adapts to the prescence of the drug and then overtime will require more of the drug for the desired effect. The body builds up a tolerance for the drug and increased dosages will be required to get the desired “high” that was once attained at a lower dose.  This is the reason why the drug will eventually become a full blown addiction, when usually use follows a slow pattern from occasional social use to requiring daily doses.

At that point to stop taking a drug or to try and quit the drug can lead to withdrawal symptoms where the body may take weeks or months (depending on the drug involved) to return to normal.

Psychological Dependency:  Psychological dependency is addressed in many drug rehab programs by attempting to teach the patient new methods of interacting in a drug-free environment. In particular, patients are generally encouraged or required not to associate with friends who still use the addictive substances. Usually these programs encourage addicts not only to stop using alcohol or other drugs, but to examine and change habits related to their addictions.

Many programs emphasize recovery is a permanent process or as a new lifestyle. For legal drugs such as alcohol, complete abstention—rather than attempts at moderation, which may lead to relapse—is also emphasized (“One drink is too many; one hundred drinks is not enough.”)

It’s important that a alcohol and drug rehab treatment concentrate on both sides to the same coin of addiction; physical and psychological effects of their dependency.

No longer do North Americans feel worried about subjecting themselves to surgeries in countries other their own.  The reputation that many foreign hospitals and doctors are meriting are as good as those in the United States, with many surgeons receiving their post graduate degrees in such hospitals as Harvard Med and the like.  With their attention to detail, their personalized staff, and their cutting edge equipment, Mexican hospitals are attracting more and more patients-to-be.  Not only will you receive excellent care, but you will also be able to enjoy incredible savings.

The cost of knee surgery abroad (http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/node/295) , for example, can be up to 60% less than in the States.  Shoulder surgery costs are also low, as are most surgical procedures such as cosmetic, lap band, heart, and more.  With Medical Tourism on the rise as a multi-million dollar business, people are turning to these agencies to arrange the best care in not only Mexico, but in India, Thailand, Hungary, Costa Rica, Argentina, and elsewhere.  Combining a surgery with a vacation is another way that people are taking advantage of the low costs.  Why not take advantage of being in another country if you are having a surgery there?  With so many beautiful places to visit, this has become a popular choice.

Six bridges cross the River Tyne.  These bridges each offer the most spectacular views of the city.  Three of the six bridges have set the standards for design in all the cities of the world.  Built in the early 1,900′s, the Tyne Bridge is the most well known and the most recognizable.  King George V, opened the bridge on October 10, 1928.  The speech he gave at the ceremony was recorded, one of the first recorded film clips ever.  Schools and businesses such as the Newcastle hotel, were shut down as everyone in town was invited to the celebration.  Beginning that day, were the traffic jams of the people wanting to utilize the toll bridge, and it is said that those traffic jams continue to this day.

The construction plans began five years earlier, under the direction of civil engineer, T. Webster.  The plans were approved by the Chamber of Commerce of Newcastle and Gateshead, and the bridge was built starting in April of 1924.  The incredible design was the work of a collaborative effort between Anderson and Mott Hay.  The contractor was a company out of  Middlesbrough.  Ships traveling on the river at that time, often had their routes postponed, as the massive materials used to build the bridge were lifted over the water using large cables.  Once the arch was in place, construction on the road running atop the bridge began.  This was a massive undertaking that required in depth planning, as the gas lines, the water pipes, and the electrical cables were designed at the same time.  Upon opening, one of the towers had not yet been completed.  Today, many visitors walk across the bridge, and the two cameras fixed along the railings, provide even more incredible and breath-taking views of the river Tyne and the city of Newcastle.

Goa, India has much to offer locals and tourists, including beautiful beaches with plenty of coastal activities and accommodations. There are over 105 kilometers of coastline, and a variety of scenic aspects and attractions along it. Some of the beach areas are pure and unpopulated, this makes for great afternoons of quiet solitude in a beautiful environment. Other areas are packed with activities, shops, restaurants and busy water sports enthusiasts. Some of the common water sports include surfing, water-skiing, sailing, snorkeling and fishing. Guest staying in a luxurious Goa beach hotel will have a great view of the coastal waters and plenty of information on whatever activities they would like to pursue.

Club Mahindra Holiday Resort offers a unique and wondrous holiday for the active vacationer. It is designed and constructed in traditional Goan architecture and Mediterranean décor. It provides guests the best in luxury accommodations complete with great beach views. Nestled in among tall palm trees, it is located very near to the heart of Margoa. There are several beaches very close to this resort that has studio, single and double bedroom apartments. One of the more popular activities the resort offers is a guided dolphin cruise.  These beautiful water mammals can be seen playing in the azure waters just off the coast.

The Leela Goa Beach Resort is specifically designed and accommodated to suite the most romantic tourists. It is a common choice for honeymoons and wedding receptions. This 5 star hotel was constructed in the fashion of South India’s Vijayanagar Empire temple and palace. It offers its guests this great royal heritage and lends a special invitation atmosphere to its interior. It has some of the best resort food and also offers many spa services. The Mobar beach is within walking distance from the resort and offers the chance for quiet and secluded afternoons in the silvery Goan sand.

For luxury hotels, Mallorca offers some of the most superb lodgings in this most superb location. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea, Mallorca is one of the world’s great vacation treasures. With sumptuous mountains on one side and mountains on the other, guests will find themselves as spellbound as world travelers have for centuries upon centuries. The history of trade in Mallorca also makes for an extremely warm local population, well-versed in all the manners of hospitable people  in a climate that is also hospitable year-round. Travelers here will find themselves engaged in rich and rewarding conversations with the locals as they discover the secrets of the area.

While the stunning natural sites hold immediate interest, there is also a rich treasure of intellectuals and artists who come from Mallorca. Three fascinating upcoming artists are Astrid Colomar, Jose Maria Sicilia, and Miquel Barcelo.

Astrid Colomar is known for her fascination and fixation on water, which is no surprise given her daily surroundings. Her works are almost singularly obsessed with the color blue, and many of her works are variations on the theme of shades of blue, washing over the canvas like water over the sand. In her aptly titled “Universal Blood Series,” there are complex geometries of gravity of water expressed through her paint.

Jose Maria Sicilia is another artist from Mallorca, now living in Paris, whose works are evocations of intoxicating beauty. He claims that his paintings existed before he worked on them, echoing an artistic philosophy of the creator as channel for inspiration. His works are fantastically mysterious and simple, where abstract images take form when the viewer stares at them. To seal the impressions as if created by nature, he coats some of his work in beeswax to preserve the image in time.

Miquel Barcelo is perhaps the most image-conscious contemporary artist of note here, whose famous panorama on the gothic cathedral in the Palma de Mallorca is a dazzling and overwhelming work of natural beauty itself. It took him seven years to complete. One of his more recent projects, the Human Rights Hall in the United Nations in Geneva, uses over 77,000 pounds of paint. The drippings, which are substantial, are meant to create stalactites in this artist’s natural cave. The mix of nature’s gravity on the paint confirms his position as a Mallorcan artist of note.

Phobias are what people are afraid. There are common ones like spiders, snakes, death. And one of the most common phobias is the fear of public speaking . Why is our society so afraid of being tongue-tied in public?

Phobias grow from a normal fear based on reality and logic to an overwhelmingly irrational avoidance of a harmless situation.

Perhaps you are now afraid of public speaking because in 7th grade you flubbed on a speech you were giving to the class about Animal Farm. And that experience or something like it could very well be the reason a person fears public speaking as an adult. Perhaps they just require more leadership training.

People generally fear they will be judged when they step out into the public eye, and if a person fumbles over their words they may be seen as uneducated on the topic they are presenting on. This in turn, causes anxiety and then a fear of public speaking.

Public speaking is one of the nine most common phobias. Others include: bugs, mice, snakes , rats, bats, heights, water, public transportation, storms, closed spaces, tunnels, bridges and death.

Looking at the list, that’s some pretty scary stuff, it’s interesting that public speaking is also one of them. It seems relatively harmless compared to heights and snakes.

Unfortunately the only way to get rid of a phobia for good is to confront it, because public speaking really is an irrational fear. Practicing speaking in public may be easier said than done. For those who are in occupations where public speaking is a daily task, it most likely comes more natural to them. Start by speaking in front of groups of friends and neighbors, you will gradually work up to strangers. Practice will make perfect if public speaking haunts you. All it takes is a little preparation and a lot of bravery! And perhaps even some born with it leadership skills.

The Next Day Blinds web site offers those looking to do some window treatment online shopping some exciting alternatives to run-of-the-mill home decor products. They offer the full range of blinds and blinds accessories for your home design. They carry wood blinds, aluminum blinds, vertical blinds, as well as shades of all types. Also available are honeycomb shades, pleated shades, roller shades, Roman shades, wood blinds, aluminum blinds, vertical blinds, vinyl shutters, wood shutters and much more.

The company takes interior decorating into exciting new places with their attractive lines of shades, blinds, shutters and cornices.  Their web site offers users/shoppers an idea gallery, which helps give home decorators appealing design options. Their “tips and tricks” page is similarly enlightening for the interior designer of any level of expertise, giving one much to work with in the way of home decorating.

Next Day Blinds also offers low-price guarantees on most all their products, including premium wood blinds, premium plantation shutters and more. Aiming for absolute customer satisfaction in every aspect of their business, Next Day Blinds offers 100% satisfaction guaranteed, low pricing, and a comprehensive web site with shopping cart. Shop Next Day Blinds online and discover a stylish, classy line of blinds, shades, top-notch service and more!

Medical Tourism is one of the best ways to beat the high costs of surgery today.  This growing industry has attracted millions of people who are looking to reduce their surgical costs while at the same time never compromising quality and expertise.  Going abroad to obtain cheap shoulder surgery, cosmetic surgery, gastric bypass,and the like is no longer risky or questionable.

Some of the best surgeons in the world are practicing in countries such as Mexico, India, Thailand, Hungary, and elsewhere.  Hospitals in these countries are up to the highest standards, with state-of-the-art techniques along with personalized care.

Staff members generally speak fluent English in the major hospitals, and often you are allowed a loved one in the room with you to ease your time in hospital.  With incredible savings, sometimes up to 60%, patients find that spending extra time in the country after, for example, affordable knee surgery, offers its benefits.

A post-op vacation becomes very desirable if you have saved a large chunk of money on your procedure.  Why travel all that way without seeing some of what the country

Michelin has come up with an airless see through tire that they hope will be out for consumers in the next year or two. What does this mean?

* no more air valves…
* no more air compressors at gas stations…
* no more repair kits…
* no more flats…

Michelin’s revolutionary new “Tweel” is a combination of tire and wheel that rides on rubber permanently attached to flexible spokes fused with a flexible wheel that deforms to absorb shock.

Wikipedia has this to say about the Tweel:
“Potential benefits of the Tweel include the obvious safety and convenience of never having flats. Also, the concept has the potential for true performance gains. Eventually it may be able to outperform conventional tires and wheel packages since it can be designed to have high lateral strength (for better handling) without a loss in comfort since the design of the spokes allows the vertical and lateral stiffness to be tuned independently. Because the tread around the circumference would be disposed of when worn as opposed to a whole tire, the environmental impact should be less.

The Tweel prototype, demonstrated on an Audi A4, is within five percent of both the rolling resistance and mass levels of current pneumatic tires which means the fuel economy should be within one percent of the OE fitment. Additionally, the test tire on the demonstration Audi has lateral stiffness five times that of the OE tire, providing exceptionally responsive handling.

The Tweel does have several flaws, however, the worst being vibration. Above 50 mph, the Tweel vibrates considerably. That in itself is a big problem, but it also causes two other things: noise and heat. A fast moving Tweel is unpleasantly loud [Source: CBS News]. Also, long-distance driving at high speeds generates more heat than Michelin engineers would like, which might lead to premature failure. Additionally, the Tweel can also withstand a police spike strip, making it hard for law enforcement to catch a suspect with Tweels.”

Pandit Ravi Shankar is one of the most famous Indian musicians. He was born in April of 1920 and his family is Bengali, originating from what is now Bangladesh. He realized his love for music early in life and began performing on stage at the age of 10. He has won numerous awards throughout his career including 3 Grammy Awards and in 1999 he was given the Bharat Ratna Award, which is India’s highest honor for civilians. Shankar’s career has been impressive around the world and he has worked with some of the most famous musicians known, including George Harrison. In addition he has composed music for film scores and is the father of American musician Norah Jones and sitar player Anoushka Shankar. Tourists staying in 5 star hotels Bangalore may hear some of his music piped through the lobby.

Shankar is known and respected around the world for both his sitar playing and also for his composing. He was nominated for the Academy Award for his musical score for Ghandi. Other films he has composed for include Charly and Chappaqua. He has also composed solo violin pieces and works for the flute. Generally when writing for a specific instrument, he is also writing for a specific musician. Violinist Yehudi Menuhin and the virtuoso flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal are two among many for whom he has composed.

His daughter Anoushka Shankar will be performing the debut of his concerto for sitar and symphony. She will be performing with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. This is Shankar’s third sitar concerto. He has worked with, influenced and taught some of the world’s top musicians. Philip Glass recognizes him as a major influence and inspiration. The two collaborated together to create Passages, for which they arranged and reworked each other’s music. Also, Shankar wrote the sitar part for Glass’s 2004 Orion. He has homes in California and New Delhi, India.

As the most flexible joint in the body, the shoulder undergoes an enormous amount of motion all the time.  Composed of a ball and socket joint, the area is susceptible to injury through wear and tear of the cartilage.  Additionally, the muscles and tendons that attach the upper arm to the shoulder and stabilize the area can also be damaged due to overuse, especially through sports-related activities.  This is called the rotator cuff, responsible for holding the entire area in place. When not properly attended to, the area becomes increasingly difficult to treat as the surface of the bone wears down, and shoulder surgery may be needed. 

Many people suffering from shoulder injuries opt for shoulder replacement procedures or shoulder resurfacing.  As health care costs are so expensive, many turn to surgeons abroad where shoulder surgery costs are up to 60% less, with the same high quality as procedures done in the United States.  As such, Mexico has become one of the most sought after destinations for medical tourism as patients discover expert doctors along with cutting edge diagnostics and procedures.  Often trained in the United States or Europe, Mexican physicians are an excellent choice when entrusting your precious body to health care professionals.

When other therapies are no longer effective and surgery becomes the option, having the procedure done in a Mexican hospital provides not only excellent care, but attention to your pocket book.

There was a car chase scene in the beginning of the Bourne Supremacy, which started at Palolem Beach, cut straight to Panjim and then to Nerul Bridge where Jason Bourne’s love interest lost control of the jeep, crashed and drowned.  The business in the town of Panjim was taken over by Hollywood for three days as the film was shot. It was a bit of an inconvenience, but was also a novelty.   The following year, the thirty fifth international film festival of India was held in Goa. Prior to the festival, Goa experienced a facelift. The main streets and buildings around the city were fixed up. The riverbank gained a promenade.  New and expensive decorative street lighting was added. At the arrival gate of the festival’s man venue, temporary lighting was installed at great expense to the town. International stars were set to grace the town and its residents with their presence for the Indian version of Cannes.   Over 150 films from 55 countries were shown during the festival. While it was a smashing success for the IFFI, the population of Goa may have seen it differently. Some thought it was a total waste of money, yet were flattered by the report it gave the town.

There have been talks that the International Film Festival of India would make Goa a permanent location for the event.  This created uproar in the general tourist population, given that the five star hotels Goa would now cost a small fortune. With the threat of Bollywood and other international stars giving the town an unwelcome sheen, many have considered traveling elsewhere for vacation.  Fortunately, if you travel either far north or far south of Panjim, you will find many reasonable accommodations and more importantly, a respite from the hustle & bustle of city life. Goa, which has always been known by its carefree, unpretentious attitude, would like to remain that way.

Zubin Mehta is a highly acclaimed India Conductor. He was born in April of 1936 in Bombay. Mehta had many interests in his childhood, and was originally going to study medicine. However, by the time he was 18, he realized his passion for music was essential to his life pursuits and made the decision to study under the highly honored instructor Hans Swarowsky in Vienna. At the same time prominent world personalities in the music business, Claudio Abbado and Daniel Barenboim were studying at the academy. Many tourists who were staying in Bombay India Hotels in 2008 had the privilege of watching him conduct the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mehta made his conduction premiere while in Vienna in 1958. This was a profound personal and professional year for him as he also won the International Conducting Competition in Liverpool and was appointed to the position of Assistant Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. His work as a conductor has taken him around the world and in 1960 he was awarded the position of Music Director for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. He was also the Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1962 to 1978. Mehta has worked with internationally recognized musicians and orchestras throughout his career.

In 1969 the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra appointed him as its Music Advisor, and in 1977 he became their Music Director. In 1981 they made the decision to appoint him as Music Director for life. Mehta’s father was the internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor. He was the original founder of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra and had a tremendous impact on his son’s musical development and appreciation. In 2002 he died at the age of 94 in Santa Monica, California. Zubin Mehta’s 2008 concert with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Bombay was conducted in honor of his father.

Singapore has spent millions of dollars in the last 10 years on its arts infrastructure. Poised to become the art center of Southeast Asia, a group of entrepreneurs and investors partnered with the National Arts Council to develop a state of the art storage facility.  The Singapore FreePort is a building that has been designed specifically for the storage, display and transfer of various art collections and valuable objects.  It has been engineered to manage the security of the storage areas and to allow viewing of the objects. The Singapore FreePort facility is located adjacent to the Changi International Airport which will facilitate easy and safe transfer of collections and items of value. When this facility opens in 2010, it will solidify Singapore’s position as the art center of Southeast Asia. Singapore will reap both the financial gains and the status it has long been seeking.

In addition to this state of the art facility, Singapore is investing heavily in the development and improvement of its’ museums.  The National Art Gallery of Singapore will join an elite group of recently opened or renovated museums in Singapore. Included in this group are the overhauled National Museum of Singapore; 8Q sam, a new contemporary branch of the Singapore Art Museum; and the Peranakan Museum, a redesigned sister institution to the Asian Civilizations Museum. The National Art Gallery will serve as a center for research and exhibitions for Singaporean and Southeast Asian art.  Items will be collected from various local masters as well as from private collectors. Some items will be on loan from local museums. The new museum will encompass over 500,000 square feet of space and will be located in the former City Hall of Singapore, close to one of the Singapore luxury hotels, Raffles.  Chief among the goals of the museum, is to promote art education and appreciation, therefore they will devote a significant amount of space to an art gallery for children.  The National Art Gallery projected to be completed in 2013.

Bangkok’s 10^th Annual International Festival of Dance and Music is one of the city’s major cultural celebrations. It bills itself as a dedication to the memory of Princess Galyani Vadhana, and stresses the importance of her support through the festival’s inception and growth. This all-encompassing festival brings together major talents from across the country and beyond. It includes performances from the greatest dancers and musicians from around the world. One of the original intentions was to place Bangkok on the international map of culture, a goal that it has certainly met and exceeded. Not only will performers come from around the world, but audiences are flocking in from out of the country as well. Tourists have the opportunity to experience this diverse collection of artists and explore the city while enjoying luxury accommodations at the best hotels Bangkok.

Through the years, the festival has developed a faithful following in Bangkok and the surrounding region, and it continues to attract greater interest from the world. It includes major performances from operas, ballets, and symphonies. Its jazz performances are also gaining in prestige and popularity. The festival will take place from September 6, through October 17, of 2009. Although, these dates may change slightly as the entire program has not yet been confirmed. Previous festivals have included productions of famous operas such as a grand staging of Verdi’s Aida. The Nutcracker Ballet has also been staged, as well as a performance from the Paul Taylor Contemporary Dance Company in New York City. There was a special presentation of Requiem, which was composed in honor and recognition of the patronage of Princess Vadhana. Other popular previous performances include a Korean Fantasy and Sanskriti Classical Dances of India, as well as a spectacular performance from the Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras from Spain. This years line up will prove to be just as or even more amazing than those from the past.