Pony Of Prey Blog

What would you do if city authorities ordered you to evacuate ?

There are only two choices - comply or refuse, and neither is going to be much fun. For many it means loading up the car with their family, pets and anything else that fits, then joining heavy traffic to shuffle towards an uncertain future. While the upheaval is inconvenient at best, choosing to stay could be the biggest gamble of your life.

Some types of disasters allow for warnings and time to evacuate. Bushfires frequently reach the edges of the suburban sprawl, initiating rushed evacuations, sometimes with only minutes to spare. In the case of hurricanes, sophisticated weather analysis and satellite images can give those in danger up to 3 days warning.

In the case of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the city government of New Orleans issued a mandatory evacuation of the entire city two days before disaster struck. While there were a large number of people who did not have the means to leave, others remained in the city by choice to face the fury of nature.

One factor in this seemingly crazy decision was the regularity of hurricane warnings over the years. Most hurricanes had amounted to nothing worse than a heavy downpour, so many residents calculated the inconvenience of leaving against the amount of actual danger they would face, and figured there was no good reason to walk away, not when so many storms billed as the Big One had ended up heavy rain and hot air. People have jobs, people have commitments, organising to uproot your life at short notice would surely test the preparedness of anyone. And of course, many folk would simply have no money, no transport and no contacts out of town.

A tourist performed her own calculations shortly before the city was ruined - “They say it’s mandatory evacuations except for the hospitals and hotels. So it can’t be that bad.”

Tourists who couldn’t organise transport out of the city did what they called vertical evacuation - getting rooms high enough in buildings that were known to have survived earlier major storms.

Despite the huge inconvenience of evacuating, it should be remembered that authorities do not like to shut down their cities unless there is a compelling reason. Almost everyone who stayed to face Hurricane Katrina regretted their decision.

*******************************************************************
Written by Darren Robinson, author of “Hurricane Katrina - The Destruction of New Orleans”, available from Amazon.com
This article may be freely reprinted provided this resource box is included. Copyright Darren Robinson 2005 . book.moviesearch.com.au
*******************************************************************

As we all know Christmas will soon be here and we’ll all take some time to study our lists of names of the special people in our lives to whom we want to give a meaningful present to celebrate the holidays.

It seems there is always someone on the list who already “has everything.” This fact
presents quite a problem for most of us We feel we want the gift to be something
different, something he or she will cherish as being very special. Perhaps it will be a
sentimental gift, or one that can be used daily in a very practical way. Generally, we
may simply have no idea, no clue, as to what would be the appropriate gift.

So, the search begins. It could involve several hours of time-consuming shopping
in many different kinds of stores, in the malls, or perhaps a few hours spent
browsing through the pages of a number of mail order catalogs - all with the
objective of finding that very elusive - one right gift.

However, I’d like to suggest, the first place you should look is on that marvelous
new piece of technology that you probably already have right there in your own
home - your computer!

By the way, if you feel you are not “computer-literate” enough to do your Christmas
shopping on your computer, all you have to do is ask a nearby teenager for some
help. Teenage kids these days have literally grown up with computers. You’ll find
they love to demonstrate their computer know-how to anyone and everyone. Just
ask a teenager to show you how to shop on your computer and then step back and
watch and learn. It can be both fun and a life changing experience for you.

In addition, I’d like to tell you about a craft website (Crafty-Ones.com) that I found.
One that seems to be a made to order place where you can find unique gifts of
many kinds. Most of the items there are handmade. Included are such items as:
clothing for children and adults, wood carvings, jewelry, oil paintings, and
collectibles of many kinds. Fact is, there are many internet websites around beside
this one where you can find literally hundreds of craft items just made to help you
choose the one right “one-of-a-kind gift” for that special person on your Christmas
list.

While your are looking around the internet on your computer, I’m sure you will
discover one or more of those special, unique handmade or one-of-a kind craft
gifts you may belooking for. Perhaps, you’ll find so many gifts as you browse that
you’ll be able to complete ALL of your Christmas shopping without ever driving your
car or fighting holiday traffic to and from the malls and spending more and more
and more money for today’s very expensive gasoline. So, perhaps you can let this
be the year when just sit in front of your computer and - do your Christmas
shopping for crafty-type gifts right where you are, in the comfort or your own
home.

Terry Weber
http://craftyones.net/originalsbyweber
For some truly unique crafts look at: http://crafty-ones.com

Terrance L. Weber is a retired, award winning advertising (sales letter) copywriter,
inventor and avid catamaran sailor. In addition Terry and his wife Doris are active
volunteers as RV-Care-A-Vanners with Habitat For Humanity. Over past 8 years
they have led or participated in more than 30 volunteers builds (most are 2-weeks
long) in many states around the USA. They travel to the builds in their RV and live in
it during the builds. Terry makes and sells a variety of “Originals by Weber” at
Crafty-Ones.com to help pay for gasoline and food to and from these volunteer
builds with Habitat.

What can you expect when you travel to Cuba? Sun, white sand beaches, salsa music all around? Well, yes, but fortunately, there is much more than that. Cuba is a paradox of experiences, where your senses collide with one another in an explosion of significant magnitude. Here is a place where you can truly find everything and anything, from the most demanding to the most basic and raw. It is up to the individual to discover what he seeks, but in the meantime, we can try to give you some insight and maybe make your decision a little bit easier.

For the Canadian traveler, Cuba must seem like another planet altogether. Things that you have taken for granted all your life will be nowhere in sight, and situations that you can’t even imagine appear as if by magic. Whether you are a single traveler or a family of 10, a young child or a elderly person, the wonders of this country will seduce you and will make want to come back again and again.

Here in Cuba, you will find all types of hotel accommodation, from the most luxurious 5 star resorts to the basic yet adequate “casa particular”, private houses whose owners pay monthly fees to be able to rent rooms for tourists. These are better suited for single travelers spending a longer time since it will be much cheaper. On the other hand, for a nice family vacation, you have all types of hotels and fancy resorts, from the most luxurious city places to the very comfortable and family-oriented all inclusive beach resorts. These cater to the entire family, where children will be looked after and will be absolutely safe, with activities ranging anywhere from all types of water sports to dancing lessons. Here you find different restaurants, from traditional Cuban fare to the most demanding of international cuisine. Everyone will have something that they enjoy, so there will be no need to worry about what to eat. Cuba is a very senior friendly society, and this transcends into its tourism industry. There will be activities for everyone in the family, like walks along beautiful paths with breathtaking views, leisurely strolls on the beach, in short, something for everyone to do, even for the most elderly of visitors. Also everything has been organized so that handicapped people can enjoy their holiday to the most of their capabilities, and every effort is being made to improve on this most important part of our industry. Our country should be enjoyed equally by everyone, no matter how young or old they are, or no matter the handicap. We are truly doing our best in this respect.

Now let’s talk a bit about city tourism. Havana is a bustling city of around 2 million people, with blacks and whites and every race in between. Whether is music you are looking for, museums of every sorts, any other type of cultural manifestation or just simply relax watching the sunset on the Malecon ( the seaside avenue that goes from Old Havana to Miramar), here you will find it. From Jazz music to live Salsa bands, from Ballet performances to the most typical street conga, culture as a whole will leap at you from every corner. If you are an antiques enthusiast, you will fall in love with the fleet of old cars that line Havana streets, some being used as regular taxi cabs, a testament to Cuban ingenuity, because it’s truly a miracle to keep these cars rolling after more than fifty years on the road.

If you like the beach, there’s a beautiful white sand beach 30 minutes from downtown Havana, so you could actually have the best of two worlds, sun and sand one day, museums and tobacco factories the next. Havana is truly an amazing experience, and you will need at least a week to appreciate all it has to offer, and you will still be short on time.

But the best thing about Cuba is its people. Whether its the staff that will look after you at the resorts, or the people you will meet on the streets if you come to the city, the people is Cuba’s greatest jewel. Fun loving, open hearted, they will make you feel right at home, often inviting you into their own houses for a traditional dish of rice, beans and pork, and of course, the ever present Cuban rum. Experiences like these is what makes a trip to Cuba unforgettable, a trip to be remembered for a long time.

But Cuba its not only Havana and the beaches. There are several in country places worth very much seeing. There is the beautiful Viales Valley, a place with hills called “mogotes” found nowhere else in the world, with captivating caves and underwater rivers which can be visited and enjoyed. There is also Trinidad, a quaint little village preserved much as it was 300 years ago, with its sugarcane mills and history all around it. Further east you have Santiago de Cuba, cradle of the Cuban revolution, but also filled with every conceivable luxury expected by a foreign traveler.

If you decide to choose Cuba as the place you want to spend your holiday in, you should take into account the time of the year you want to travel. In the slow season, that is, from April to November, its absolutely too hot, so unless you want to bake in 30 degree weather and 90 percent humidity, you should choose the other season, that is, from November to March, when its still warm enough without the smoldering heat and stifling humidity. In this case, you have to book well in advance, because people from all over the world choose Cuba as its winter paradise, especially Canadians. Everything from all-inclusive to city hotels, car rentals, anything that you want to have secured, should be reserved weeks in advance. This will ensure a happy and carefree holiday, without any problems related to shortages of anything. Reservation is the name of the game when you travel to Cuba, thus making it possible to enjoy your stay without any worries.

If you are a person who likes to drive through the countryside, there are several car rental agencies with many price ranges, from the smallest compact car to the biggest Mercedes or Audi. Roads are quite safe, something you will rapidly discover by the amount of people hitchhiking at the side of the road. That’s another of Cuba’s greatest assets, its safety. Like everywhere, you have your petty thieves, pickpockets and what not, and even these are rare. Serious crimes are almost unheard-of in the island, which makes it a haven for people who like to mingle with the locals. Of course, you have to be prudent, but as a rule, you can drive or walk through any Havana street at anytime of day or night and you will be absolutely safe.

In the Caribbean there might be more luxurious places To go, but as far as friendliness and safety are concerned, none can compare to Cuba, and all of this with rapidly increasing levels of service all around. As of now, we have one of the major hotel chains in the world with approximately 15 resorts in Cuba, with plans to keep increasing its capacities in the future. This is mostly due to the reasons stated before, which makes Cuba a unique vacation destination, combining state of the art facilities with down to earth homeliness and safety, and every effort made to make this vacation the best time of your life, without distinction of age or physical ability. If you give it a chance, you will not be disappointed. This can truly be called an earthly paradise, but not only because of the beauty of the land, but also and probably more important, the beauty of its people. We hope you come and share all of this with us. You will not forget it.

They flexed their muscles this year all the in name of the Olympic spirit, but it was hardly spirited at all.”

“Chomolungma or Mount Everest this year became a political pawn,” he said with some frustration.

Hall was frostbitten and severely disoriented due to altitude sickness. Andrew Brash returned a hero to Calgarians. They basically coerced the Nepali government to not allow any climbers past camp two on the Nepali side. He was reported in good health as he began making his descent. Now that Min Bahadur Sherchan has successfully scaled the tallest mountain in the world, he is once again ready to focus on his family. His first found him within 176 metres of the peak when his team stopped to help a fellow mountaineer who was left for dead. Two years later, Bahadur Sherchan, a University of Calgary alumni, returned to Everest to finish what he had started.

As he planned for the climb, Sherchan told reporters he wanted to inspire fellow senior citizens. He also said many Nepalese have established records on Mt Everest, so it was only fitting that the record for the oldest climber to reach the summit should also belong to a Nepali. Sherchan just 9 days away from his 77th birthday beat the age record set last year by 71-year-old Japanese teacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa.

The 77-year-old man from Nepal is now the oldest person to have reached the top of Mount Everest. The Chinese were flying their airplanes over the mountain and had Chinese officials in Kathmandu. Andrew Brash and four climbing guides reached the 29,035-foot (8,850-meters) summit of the world’s highest mountain early Sunday, said Ramesh Chretri, an official with Nepal’s ministry of tourism. “The Chinese weren’t allowing anybody on the mountain. They ended up commandeering it for themselves, even though the mountain is shared by two countries. Nevertheless, the decision to actualize a long-time personal goal left Min Bahadur Sherchan with some internal uncertainties, he cited the political actions of China and Nepal as providing the greatest adversity he faced on his journey. Indeed, he was all too aware of the potential dangers the mountain could bring. Certain parts of the climb are more dangerous than others and it is important for climbers to remain focused With the Chinese preparing for the impending summer Olympic Games, Andrew Brash noted that the government’s actions hardly reflected the Olympic spirit. More than 3084 people have climbed to the summit since it was first conquered in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary, who died in January, and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay.

Bahadur Sherchan returned this week from Nepal after successfully climbing to the summit of the Mount Everest. Bahadur Sherchan last attempt resulted in the rescue of Lincoln Hall, an Australian climber who was left by his team in the “death zone.”

This year Anthony Loeff the French alpinist is reporting the scales for Chomolungma after he reached the summit of Mont Blanc earlier this season.

For people who love to travel a lot, going to places that they have not been before will seem like a dream come true for most of them. This is because they get to places where everything will look new, the adventures are definitely fresh and the surrounding all too vague and strange that makes the travel more exciting.

However, not all places are created equal. This goes to show that not all rules and regulations are applicable to every place or location. That is why it is extremely important to know some information about the place itself and identify the governing laws.

For example take Cancun. It is, indeed, a great and enjoyable country to visit. Yet, visiting Cancun can do more harm than good if things are not done properly or when people bring with them unnecessary things.

So, for those who want some travel tips in the event that they plan to visit Cancun, here’s a list that will help them through.

1. Do some homework.

For people who are first timers in Cancun, it is best that they do their homework first. That is, research more about the country, its government, some special laws that needs to be kept in mind while there, or the kind of people present so as to have an idea about how to deal with them good-naturedly.

2. Valid passports.

It is best to travel, especially going to Cancun, with valid travel documents and passports. This is to avoid inconvenience and further problems. This is because there are countries that might not give some leeway on the travelers that is why it is important to get ready with authentic ones in case some questions arise.

3. Pets rule.

There are instances wherein people who have pets just don’t have anyone who will take care of their pets while they are away. That is why they opt to bring their pets while on travel.

However, it is more easily said than done because carrying pets along is more tedious that what travelers tend to believe.

First, the pet owner must first secure “custom certificates” that indicates the origin of the pet and certifies that the pet is in good condition and can easily conform to the norms and standards set by the country like Cancun. It should also indicate the kind and nature of vaccines taken by the pet, if any.

The bottom line: It’s still best to be prepared whenever somebody wants to travel to places like Cancun. This simply means that the more prepared a traveler is, the lesser he or she will encounter some problems.

Please visit my website at: http://www.cancunvacationoil.com For more tips visit cancun vacation today and relax in the sun!

Hampton Court Palace is placed to the south-west of the Capital, on the edge of the River Thames, enclosed by land and stunning grounds. Hampton Court Palace, Henry eight’s remarkable riverbank house is positioned in over 500 acres of woodland and grounds.

Bringing the tone of over four-hundred & fifty years of rituals, costumed interpreters can be found in Henry 8th’s and King William 3’s astounding personal homes. The scenes, noise and aromas of the lovely Tudor kitchens where dinners were set-up for Henry?s court of over one-thousand folks can also be viewed. Visit Hampton Court Palace and enjoy the most famous hedge maze in the world.

Hampton Court Palace has been divided into six different routes or journeys. The Maze at Hampton Court Palace which is located on the Thames to the west of London City is possibly the most greatest hedge maze on this earth.

Hampton Court palace has a repulsive heritage & is supposed to be inhabited by some spirits, including 2 of Henry’s departed wives & a nursemaid to his children. Hampton Court Palace custodians & hostesses will be close by to aid guests to their selected state estate for a wine & canap?s greeting. Uniformed workers will announce dinner & visitors will be encouraged to locate their places for a fantastic 2 course dinner with selected fine red wines.

Hampton Court Palace has 60 acres of official private grounds in addition to the six hundred acres of royal plants. The palace grounds date back to the sixteenth Century, when the first Privy Garden was laid out between fifteen-thirty & fifteen thirty-eight for King Henry the eighth.

November 2, 2005 (Boston, MA) - Travel enthusiasts this holiday
season will unwrap the power to enjoy the best of nine cities
across the U.S., thanks to friends, family and corporate
gift-givers. Smart Destinations’ Go USA Card is the first
product of its kind and is revolutionizing how consumers
maximize their travel experience: a single card offering
unlimited, flexible, fully pre-paid admission to hundreds of
attractions in multiple cities nationwide. Customers can
purchase the Go USA Card in increments of 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days,
to be used any time within a year at any combination of more
than 300 attractions participating in the following markets:
Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Chicago, Orlando,
Miami, Los Angeles and Hawaii. Los Angeles will be available
starting November 15. Go USA Cards can be purchased online at
www.GoUSACard.com.

“This is the only card in any country that allows the holder
unlimited access to dozens of top attractions in multiple
destination cities, and includes the flexibility to be used over
the course of a year,” said Cecilia Dahl, president of Smart
Destinations. “Building on the Go Boston Card and its sister
products, we achieved the critical mass needed to create a card
that works universally among all our markets. As a result, the
Go USA Card is the only card that lets consumers ‘day hop’ and
‘city hop’ across the U.S., with all admissions fully pre-paid.
Plus, with dozens of attractions in each market, travelers
individualize the experience based on personal interests.”

“In theory, someone who travels a great deal could use a
seven-day Card one day in every city in which we operate,” notes
Dahl. The numbers of attractions participating include: more
than 60 in New England; 50 in San Francisco and the region,
including a dozen in Wine Country; 70 in Orlando, Miami and
across central and southern Florida. There are 35 in San Diego,
30 in Seattle, more than 25 in Chicago, and some 30 to start
each in Los Angeles and Hawaii. Card holders are able to pick up
free, full-color Guidebooks for cities they visit at several
locations in each city. Guidebooks include descriptions of
attractions, maps and general information, plus details on
additional savings possible on shopping, dining and services.

A Great Gift Choice - Whether for Corporate or Personal Giving

As a gift item, no other product offers the same choice,
flexibility and value - either as a personal gift to friends and
family or as a corporate gift to employees, customers and
business partners. Smart Destinations received an enthusiastic
reception from HR and marketing professionals, as well from as
wholesalers of incentive merchandise, when it unveiled the Card
last month at the major premium and incentive conference, the
Motivation Show in Chicago. Tangible awards such as travel,
tickets to leisure activities and merchandise have proven to be
the most popular motivators for customers and employees, and the
Go USA Card is an innovative, cost-effective way to give the
gift of time well-spent. Go USA Cards can be purchased online at
www.GoUSACard.com.

You may be too busy during the holiday season to notice if your business is slowing down a bit, but in case you’re not, there are several things you can do to use this time to your advantage as you head into the new year.

1. Review your website

Take some time to review your website and make any necessary updates by removing old information and freshening up the rest of your copy. If you have a photo of yourself on your site, consider putting up a new one if your current one is out of date. And here’s a tip for getting more people to sign up for your Pink Spoon (your free offering): place your opt-in box in the upper right-hand corner - it’s been tested to be the most effective; second most effective place is the upper left-hand corner.

2. Update your Ezine or other Pink Spoon

Review your free offering and decide if it could use some updating as well. I recently did this with my own free ecourse “5 Keys to Wild Abundance in Your Business” and not only am I happier with it, but I’ve been getting really fantastic feedback as well.

3. Have a Holiday Sale

If you want to create some cash, consider holding a sale on one, some or all of your products. Everyone’s looking for a break at the holidays, and there most likely are people on your list who have thought about buying one or more of your products or investing in your services, and a discount might just push them to finally doing so. (Or they might do what I do - ask my husband for it as a Christmas gift!).

4. Clean out the clutter

One of the “powers of the Universe” principles I believe in is making space for things to come into my life. So every few months, I get a huge urge to purge (I’m in it now, actually). I go through my desk, filing cabinets, and bookshelves and either toss, give away or organize it. I also make new file folders for the clients yet to come… and it’s always fun to watch them fill up over the next few months.

5. Plan your first offering for the new year and start promoting it now

Decide what your first offering for the new year is going to be and start promoting it in your ezine, or discussion lists (when appropriate), and through your other marketing channels. Having something already set up to look forward to will help keep you motivated after the hub-bub of the holidays.

And one more thing - don’t foget to enjoy yourself. As entrepreneurs, sometimes we find it hard to take a break, but do yourself, your loved ones, and you business a favor by taking some time away from your work and truly focusing on the people you love and the blessings in your life.

Copyright 2005 Alicia Forest

Alicia M Forest, MBA, Multiple Streams Queen & Coach, & Founder of http://www.ClientAbundance.com, teaches coaches, consultants, online entrepreneurs and solo professionals to attract more clients, create profit-making products and services, make more sales, and ultimately live the life they desire and deserve.
For FREE tips on how to create abundance in your business, visit http://www.ClientAbundance.com

Christmas is not a happy time for homeowners about to lose their homes.

Statistics show an unprecedented number of homeowners delinquent on their mortgage payments or in foreclosure this holiday season.

On one hand, interest rates have gone up 25-50% since the Fed started raising interest rates. Those adjustable rate mortgages taken out during the refinance extravaganza of 2001-2003, are adjusting with a vengeance, sending mortgage payments zooming.

On the other hand, the sizzling housing market has dramatically cooled off in many areas, including New York and California.

This means that borrowers will not be able to refinance their exploding mortgages to get lower payments, to say nothing of being able to take cash out to pay their credit card or mortgage delinquencies.

Millions of homeowners are being squeezed by their mortgage payments. One hiccough, an unexpected bill, a layoff of one breadwinner and they will be in danger of losing their home.

If you are facing this dilemma, you must act quickly to save your home.

There are government programs as well as programs offered by the banks themselves that can help you.

As quiet as it is kept, your lender and the government stand to lose money if they cannot help you! Taking back your property and selling it at auction, will probably result in their taking a loss, especially with the housing market softening as it is now.

I have seen estimates that banks lose between $30-$50,000 on a foreclosure.

Before you shed any tears for them, know that they have the ability to throw that loss back onto you, as you will see.

To help prevent the loss of your home, banks may give you a payment moratorium to allow you to catch up. Or perhaps restructure your mortgage so that your payments are lower.

In some cases, government agencies will give you money to make your delinquent payments in the form of a grant that you don’t repay!

Unfortunately, these programs are not advertised and the problem is that each lender or government agency has its own maze of rules and requirements making it difficult for homeowners to find and qualify for these programs.

But you must still make the effort, with our without professional help. If your home does not sell at auction for the full amount of the mortgage and all the other legal, administrative, management fees etc. the bank adds to your mortgage, they can get a deficiency judgment against you, in many states.

Armed with this judgment, they can come after you and take anything of value that you own, even garnisheeing your wages!

If they cannot get the money from you; they will write off their loss on their taxes, generating an IRS form 1099-M to you.

The IRS considers the amount of their loss, as shown on the 1099-M, as income to you and will add it to your income for the year. You’re expected to pay the additional taxes owed in cash with your next return.

You cannot let the bank take your house.

If you are delinquent in your mortgage payments this Holiday Season, don’t ignore them. You could be setting yourself up for many Unhappy Returns. Talk to your lender as soon as possible.

Copyright 2005 Bill Young. Bill is a former bank mortgage officer and is a personal financial consultant. He can help you save your home. Contact Bill at 877-291-3642 or at http://SaveMyHomeLLC.Com If you know that you cannot or do not wish to stay in your home and want someone to take over your mortgage payments so that you can move on without facing the dangers of a foreclosure, visit:
http://WeTakeOverYourPayments.Com