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It was a hot day, so when the couple finished a morning stint at the beach, they opted for a little shopping – in their swim wear. Wrapping a see-through, flimsy scarf around her bikini bottom, and he in his flip flops and sloganed t-shirt, they sallied into a sheik little shop on the main thoroughfare. Onlookers gasped and stared. Mothers covered the eyes of their gawking children. Mature men and women snickered or shook their heads. “They must be Americans”, one salesclerk whispered knowingly to another. Unfortunately, she was right.

When traveling, whether for business, pleasure or vacation, it pays to mind your manners. Americans especially are becoming increasingly known for their disrespectful behavior while abroad. Did I say becoming? The image of the “Ugly American” is already far too widespread. The stereotype of the loud talking, wise-cracking, inappropriately dressed, wealth-flaunting American foreigners who flaunt their lifestyle while traveling is unfortunately, all too real in some aspects in far too many cases. With anti-American sentiments growing worldwide, international corporations from Microsoft to McDonald’s and business publications like the Wall Street Journal have addressed the theme time and again. Here is some advice on how to foster a better, more intelligent, educated and respectful image when you travel abroad.

Know the local geography

Planning a trip abroad? First order of business – get a map and study it. Have an idea of how the city and its environs are laid out. Know important sites and landmarks. Many good travel guides provide essential information on getting around. This can be especially important if the local language uses a non-western alphabet writing system. On a recent trip in Colombia my wife and I listened in amusement as a foreigner explained to his family the compass directions – incorrectly. He had the directions of north and south reversed despite having the Pacific Ocean sunset in plain view.

Dress moderately

Not enough can be said about paying attention to local dress code and customs. In many countries it is disrespectful for women to dress casually, showing bare skin or body parts, in public. Bare hairy chests or legs on display, even for men, can be considered offensive in many cultures. If you’re not sure what’s appropriate, ask discretely or check informative websites for information on local customs. A useable rule of thumb is no bare legs, torso, back or arms when in public places. Emulate the dress of the locals to be sure you’re being respectful of their cultural norms. Embera Indian women, normally topless in their culture, cover up with a colorful wrap when they visit non-Indian towns and villages along South America’s Pacific Coast so that they are respectful of the social norms of their neighbors. Embera men, with their normal thong loin cloths, wear T-shirts and pants outside their villages for the same reasons.

Watch what and how you speak

Your speech is reflective of who and what you are. It can be a useful tool for the melding of cultures or a battering ram of discontent. Don’t create resentment by continuous babbling about your “affluence”, power, business or social status. People don’t care to hear how “inferior” their way of life may appear to be to you.

In part 2 of this three-part series, we’ll look at what to say and how to say it when traveling abroad in: “Mind Your Manners When Traveling: Religion is Taboo, Politics are Out”.

Please feel free to e-mail me with comments or questions at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an expert author and photographer offering Web Content Writing Services for top-quality articles on: Education, Language learning, Salt and Fresh water fishing, exotic foods, South American travel and culture, Ethnic issues – Blacks, Latinos, Indian native tribes, Health, Internet business resources and more … His work has appeared in Transitions Abroad, South American Explorer, Escape From America, Mexico News, Brazil magazine and hundreds of sites online. For fr*e*e sample articles and available web content e-mail: lynchlarrym@gmail.com

These days, just about every town or hamlet in the United States boasts of an “authentic” renaissance festival. Invariably, these festivals feature such attractions as “authentic” renaissance maidens sporting authentic renaissance-era, biker chick tattoos and renaissance cuisine like Ye Olde hotdogs or Ye Olde pizza slices.

So most Americans know all about Renaissance festivals from their experiences stateside. However, just for fun, let’s consider the counterpart festivals in European countries where the Renaissance actually took place.

Denmark, for example, the country that brought us those ubiquitous plastic toys, Legos; has designated the entire year of 2006 to be “The Year of the Renaissance.”

Imagine my surprise, a father who has stepped on many a Lego in the dark with bare feet, to learn that Legos have nothing to do with the Renaissance, and were not in fact invented until much later. All along, I had assumed that I was enduring those pesky little toys because it was good for my children’s education. Shows what I know.

OK, back to Denmark. The entire country is open for business to celebrate the Renaissance. Check out these excerpts from Europe Travel News (http://europetravelnews.com/2005_12/394_copenhagen-renaissance/#more-394“)on some of the exciting things you can do and see when you travel to Denmark during the year 2006:

–”2006 has been designated the year of the Renaissance in Denmark. To mark the occasion, an exciting array of cultural events is scheduled to take place throughout the year in the capital region. Exhibitions, concerts, walking tours and many other special activities, both indoors and out, have been planned to spotlight this extraordinary period in Copenhagen?s history.”

–”History lovers, among others, will have all the more reason to visit Copenhagen in 2006, when the city pays tribute to the great achievements of the Renaissance. A wide variety of special events, celebrating that remarkable period of its history, will be held throughout the capital region.”

–”Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, at the seaward approach to the resund Sound, is one of Northern Europe’s most important Renaissance castles. It is also the most famous castle in Denmark, known all over the world as the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet.”

–”In 2006, Hillerd will host a large Renaissance Festival with participants from home and abroad. There will be stands with food, beverages, handicrafts and entertainment – just as there were during the time of Christian IV. In September a parade through town to Frederiksborg Castle will cap the event followed by dancing, concerts and displays of knightly swordsmanship and horsemanship”.

So enjoy your travels to Denmark and take in all these wonderful experiences. I’m not sure if they will offer hotdogs and pizza slices at these festivals; but if they do, I’m certain they’ll have some Ye Olde Alka Seltzer available.

Oh, and watch your step. Especially when you are barefoot…in the dark.

COPYRIGHT © 2005, Charles Brown. All rights reserved.

Think budget travel equals boring travel? Think again! Learn the Guerrilla Traveler’s insider secrets to budget adventure travel to the world’s most exciting places
and experience the coolest travel adventures without spending a bundle. Charles Brown is a former attorney who now spends his time indulging his passion
for travel and shares the unique travel destinations and adventure travel bargains he uncovers on his blog, Guerrilla Traveler – Adventure on a Budget, http://www.guerrillatraveler.blogspot.com

There are so many companies out there that offer hosting that finding an Arizona web hosting company may be difficult to find. Some claim to be an Arizona web hosting company but may actually be located in Europe or Canada. It may be hard to find out which Arizona web hosting company out there really is from Arizona.

While you can certainly choose to work with any web hosting company around the globe, some people choose to work with a company closer to home. People in Arizona may prefer to find an Arizona web hosting company so they can easily get a hold of customer service when they have a question. The ability to be able to contact customer service is very important when trying to find an Arizona web hosting company.

To begin your search, try looking for Arizona web hosting company online through search engines. You may have to put quotation marks around the search term in order to find the right companies. There should be a good selection of Arizona web hosting companies out there. Just be sure to check for a phone number and address for the company. The phone number may actually be an 800 number but it is still important to have. You may need to call them directly to find out where the company is located.

Once you find an Arizona web hosting company, just take some time to get to know the company. Many have different web hosting packages available and you should find the right one for you with just a little bit of research.

Rory Wood is a tobacco farmer hailing from Maury, NC. On his off time, he finds time to write essays and articles on entrepreneurship and self-improvement issues.

A barrister bookcase is a unreformed bookcase that is believed to have originated in Britain. Its discerning feature is a transparent glass front end. This glass face is hinged at the side allowing a person to easily admittance books and other collectibles plainly by raising the glass door. The barrister bookcase is ideal for many things. Barrister bookcases were frequently used by lawyers since it was necessary for them to keep on moving. Now, they are really favorable, especially if one is always on the move. This is because the bookcase is closed by use of doors.. This forbids them from having to be emptied on moving

These oak book shelves

Good Barrister’s Bookcases quash the use of the normal sidelong opening doors and use doors that have the up and over opening mechanism. A metal scissor mechanism used inside the barrister shelves control the moving doors do it in a parallel way without having the doors jam or tipped in the process. One favored position of utilizing the barrister bookcase is the ability to have several of these units stacked together and have them secured to a wall. These bookcases give the impression of an appealing cabinet. Depending on the preference of the owner, barrister bookcases can have a of material choices. Whether it is constructed employing wood or glass, barristers give a clean elgant appearance to a room.

This special brand of furniture, despite many benifits,often are rather costly. Fortuitously, their many rewards have moved some makers to start creating replica editions and some in modern versions at very small prices. Some versions have simple looks. These can fit any decor.They can also be trimmed and made into customized storage units.They can be stacked allowing them to be easily used to create very interesting unit placements. Some can be used to create end tables, kitchen tables or even dining areas.

Check out twitter bookshelves on twitter

One of the great advantage of Chamonix Haute Savoie France is its short distance to the airport in Geneva. You can easily depart from the United Kingdom in the early morning and be snowboarding during the afternoon. The success of Flybe and budget carriers has led to much lower tickets moreover with only an hour trip time between Geneva airport and Chamonix a weekend’s skiing is now within the range of everyone; and all our luxury ski chalets are available from Wednesday/Thursday until Sunday to allow you to take advantage of low priced travel costs and quiet pistes. From your greeting at the airport unitl receiving the snowboarding tickets waiting for you when you arrive in resort; weekend is booked to make sure you spends the least amount of time traveling and the max. of the trip on the slopes.

A short break in Chamonix can be a brilliant vacation only if one organise the finer details correct so you can revel in your valuable break. This entails organising the travel airport transfer and luxury catered ski chalet just right and transferring you to the slopes as painlessly as humanly possible. The aim is to provide the largest amount of time skiing with the least amount of hassle as well as our usual high levels of relaxation cuisine and concierge service. With this in mind we supply swift transfers superior lodging superior meals and we will recommend and arrange mountain guides and ski instructors.

A hot topic of discussion nowadays is the standing of the UK in terms of its broadband infrastructure, and the steps the government is taking to improve that. However, there are many parts of the country, which are lagging even further behind with even basic connectivity difficult to get. Identifying such areas has long been a problem due to the presence of a large number of players in the industry with different reach.

However, the identification of the worst performing areas has now become much easier, thanks to a new site that provides a mapped service showing the broadband take-up and Internet speeds of all the areas in the UK.

The project is the result of collaboration between two UK based companies, Gavurin and Point Topic. The access to the website has been kept free, with only the user’s email id required.

One of the more interesting piece of information made available by the service is the regionally arranged 2009 UK broadband speeds map. Regions in the UK have been split into the three categories – “Average Access” for those between 2Mbps and 8Mbps, “Slowband Land” for those under 2Mbps and “High Speed Heaven” for those over 8Mbps. As expected, London does extremely well with about 90% of all its connections falling under the “High Speed Heaven” category. However, Northern Ireland and Wales perform poorly and have among the lowest speeds in the country. For a quick comparison of what’s available in your area, click for more info at Broadband Genie.

Point Topic says that its clients will now be able to access all the data that the analysts have published in the last few years through the new simple and intuitive interface.

A busy schedule often makes it troublesome to get around to reading all the titles you would like to. Sometimes we do not see how long journeys to work and various different chores take up massive portions of our time. Favorite pursuits take a back seat to earning a living, getting the kids, or even household chores. If you really love learning and are finding it difficult to find any time, journeys to work might provide an opportunity for catching up. Thanks to download technology, it’s simple to enjoy A Guide To Improving Your Personal Life by Andy Guides for sale from Download Audio Book Online, or audible books narrated by Gloria White when you are driving. Today multi-tasking is important. Audio books such as Drama City by George Pelecanos for sale from Download Audio Book Online take advantage of the dead time in our life, whether it’s waiting at the physician’s surgery or buying groceries. A huge variety of audible books are available for download as audio files these include Chain Gang by Richard McCord, so pick up your mp3 player and earphones you have the opportunity to discover a bestseller or a fantastic novel, like audio books written by Thomas Sowell without dragging a cumbersome book with you.

The numerous benefits of audio-books include the chance to rent or purchase many titles and listen to them at your leisure. How about studying Cantonese? Try an audio-book! It’s easy to review progressive business trends, or you can enjoy contemplating the most original notions in religious belief.

Audio-books are for sale in a multitude of titles and genres. It doesn’t matter if you’re a natural history buff, nuts about science fiction and fantasy or even if your interested in health and physical fitness, you can download many titles now. Choices are wide open; it’s easy to take a subscription to a rental plan or else purchase the title outright. Fervent readers will always seek out a time to read, nevertheless audio-books offer a convenient alternative. Some narratives, such as audio-books performed by Jonathan Kellerman and Faye Kellerman, are even better when recounted by the writer or an illustrious actor. Reading a title isn’t the same as listening to audio titles recounted by Benson Smith and Tony Rutigliano, with subtleties established during a performance. Your reading experience can be elevated when you listen to audio titles like Learners by Chip Kidd and mean more than written word.

Don’t forget about audiobooks when you next want to purchase a novel, they are a fantastic way to fit all the reading you need to do into a busy routine.

Men reported spending much more in 2004 than women on December holiday (Christmas and Hanukah) gifts in a recent survey of the wealthiest 10% of U.S. households. The differences in 2005 gift expenditures will be about the same or a little greater, as men plan to reduce their spending less than women in 2005.

Men reported spending an average of $1,212 on holiday gifts for their spouse, more than double the average $568 spent by women on their spouse. Spending by men (and women) for holiday gifts was $948 ($604) for children under 18, $1,896 ($1,044) for children 18 and over, $734 ($549) for other relatives, and $523 ($395) for friends.

Average gift expenditures for a spouse were highest among those 60 and over ($1,575 versus $740 for those under 60) and those with a net worth of $6 million or more ($2,617 versus $744 for those with a net worth of $1 to $6 million). Those with an income above $200,000 averaged $1,188 versus $601 for those under $200,000 in income.

Average gift expenditures for children under 18 were highest among those 60 and over ($3,835 versus $760 for those under 50), those with a net worth of over $6 million ($1,395 versus $759 for those with a net worth of $1 to $6 million), and those with the higher income ($897 versus $607 for those with incomes above and below $200,000 respectively).

Average gift expenditures for children 18 and over were highest among those over 60 ($2,226 versus $1,191 for those 50 to 59), those with a net worth over $6 million ($4,097 versus $1,219 for those with a net worth of $1 to $6 million), and those with the higher income ($2,075 versus $1,092 for those with incomes above and below $200,000 respectively).

Average expenditures for other relatives and for friends showed a pattern similar to that of children, but the differences were somewhat smaller.

The average expenditure of spenders, weighted by the percent buying for that type of person, totaled $2,807 for the people represented by this survey. That is about five times the average of $565 for all adults, based on a recent survey for The National Retail Federation.

These results were obtained from the recently completed Fall 2005 “Affluent Market Tracking Study #8″ by The American Affluence Research Center. A continuing series of twice-yearly surveys, these studies track the 12- month economic outlook and spending plans of the wealthiest 10% of Americans, the 11 million households representing about half of all consumer income and spending and a third of the total US economy. These are the consumers who have helped the more upscale retailers to out perform others in recent years.

The survey participants were asked to identify the people to whom they would give holiday gifts this year. They were then asked how much they had spent on those people in 2004 and by how much their expenditure would change in 2005.

Highlights of the national survey of 448 men and women in the wealthiest 10% of U.S. households can be found on the AARC website, www.affluenceresearch.org. The survey participants have an average income of $308,000 and an average net worth of $2.7 million. The survey has a 5% margin of error at the 95% confidence level.

Ron Kurtz is a principal of The American Affluence Research Center and The Management Resource Group. Both companies provide marketing research and strategic planning services to prominent clients in the travel and hospitality industries, especially those targeting the affluent market.

Prior to founding MRG in 1989, Ron’s experience included over 20 years in senior management positions in the airline, hotel, and tour business. As the founding President of Sea Goddess Cruises, he created the product category of small deluxe ships for the very affluent. He also served as the chief marketing officer of four cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line and Windstar Cruises.

Ron has been a key contributor to 6 start ups and 11 turnarounds of substantial businesses. He earned his MBA at Harvard Business School.

For further information: http://www.affluenceresearch.org and http://www.mrgconsultants.com

Guide to GA Insurance Requirements

In the state of Georgia, all motorists are obligatory to have 25/50/25 insurance policy. For Georgia car insurance, 25/50/25 is simple short form meaning $25,000 coverage per individual involved in a collision, $50,000 insurance coverage per accident for two or more persons, and $25,000 coverage for any damaged property during a car accident. Persons that do not keep this nominal amount of car insurance can be fined or worse.

In Georgia, when an accident occurs, one of the drivers is always held at fault – this is how the law works in a tort system. Responsibility for paying damages lies in the hands of the individual found answerable as well as their car insurer. In Georgia, motorists are not called for to extra coverage such as personal injury protection or uninsured/underinsured insurance coverage. Just because the state does not require these insurance policies doesn’t mean that they are not worthwhile alternatives for extra coverage. Many Georgians invest in these nonobligatory insurance products to guarantee adequate coverage in the event of a car accident. These laws were created to protect people and their cars on the Georgia roads. Governing these rules, the Georgia Dept. of Revenue has a statewide database that insurance underwriters are required to keep current with a driver’s insurance information. Concurrently, it is encouraged to keep proof of your car insurance coverage with you every time you are driving your car. Without this proof, if you are stopped by a law enforcement officer or involved in a car accident, you could be fined $200 or even have your license suspended.

Being a no-fault state, all automobile accidents in Georgia must have someone found financially responsible to be at fault and their insurer is also accountable for damages.

Personal Injury Protection – This type of extra coverage covers extra medical damages and other expenses that are not covered under a standard policy.

uninsured or underinsured Coverage – This optional insurance policy covers you in the event you are in a motor vehicle accident with an uninsured/underinsured driver. Since the individual doesn’t have an car insurance firm to pay for damages, this insurance coverage will assist to compensate for them.

To assure compliance with the law, GA insurance companies are called for to provide details of your car insurance coverage to a statewide database kept by the Georgia Department of Revenue. It is also encouraged to carry proof of insurance coverage with you anytime you drive. You may be asked to show this proof if you are involved in an automobile accident or are stopped by the police.

If you are a small business owner, chances are, you will not have a staff available to turn out marketing strategies to make you a household name. Because of this, you need all the help you can get to compete, even on a small level. You may ask yourself, “Is it even possible? How can I make myself known? And how can I do so affordably?”

The answer: Build your brand using your web site.

A brand is what people associate with you; it is your identity–and, of course, you want it to be one that inspires confidence and satisfaction. If you “brand” yourself correctly, customers will be able to remember your company name and want to continue using it. And, we’re not just talking about a catchy slogan. A brand is more than that: it is who you are and what your company represents. So, how do you build the perfect brand through your website.

1. Make your website uniformed and complete. You need to present something professional, easy to read. Stay away from flashy borders and odd fonts. This is a business; this is what people will associate with you.

2. Get yourself a domain name that is the same as your brand. This will only enforce your website to the customers and they will remember where to go when they need you. Do not try to think of something too “cute” or too long. Keep your name to the point and easy to type.

3. Use your website to send out a newsletter. This will continue to reinforce your brand in the minds of your customers. You can include events, offers and more–but, also, keep reminding them of who you are and why they shop with you.

4. Include a “Thank You” page on your website, one that tells visitors that you appreciate their input and purchases. This can help customers associate genuine interest with your brand. You have taken the time to thank them, to show your concern for them. A brand that does that is one people are likely to return to.

5. Provide yours customers with a way to reach you. There are always questions to be asked and suggestions to be made. If your website allows customers to have a say in what happens, then they will be more inclined to return. Your brand needs to say that you care about their questions and concerns. Of course, this means responding to those questions; don’t forget that. Allowing them to ask is wonderful but forgetting to answer the question won’t inspire confidence. It will only make a customer feel ignored. Your brand should be one that takes time for its consumers.

6. Get your logo out there. Sites are available online that allow you to post articles about your company. You can publish information about who you are and what you stand for. This will allow you to bring your brand to a wider clientele.

With these tips, you can use your website to create a brand that customers will be happy to continue using.