Archive for April2009

Sunterra Points GVC Points? Sunterra Members? How to Buy, How to Sell

Advice for buyers

If you are a Sunterra Member that would like to buy more points their are a few options open to you. You can either go back to Sunterra and buy more, or you can buy on the open market from another Sunterra member, or a resale company.

Sunterra will of course tell you that this is not the case. They will tell you that you can only buy points from Sunterra themselves. This makes perfect sense, they are selling points at five times the price that you can buy them for on the open market, so its in their interests to keep you in the dark about the second hand market. Who would buy points from Sunterra if they knew you could buy them for a fifth of the price second hand?

Second hand points by the way are exactly the same as the points you buy direct from Sunterra, the only difference is that you are the second owner, you have exactly the same benefits as if you bought the points new.

So where do you go to buy points second hand and what do you have to do? The easiest way to buy more points is to go through a resale company. They will usually have a list of points owners wishing to sell. The going rate seems to be around 40p per point, or £40 per old point GVC, but you can pay more, or less depending on how much you haggle.

The good thing about buying from a resale company against dealing direct with the owners is that they will act as a middle man and give you advice regarding the transfer proceedure which can be daunting if you have never done it before. The only thing you have to make sure of is that you are dealing with a reputable company who will not run off with your money. Dont be fooled by companies that are members of various organisations, as that is a sure fire way to recognise a dubious company, they will join these organisations for a small fee to make clients think they have more credibility, when in fact the opposite is true. You are better of dealing with a small company, as they will often be more hands on and give you a better service, and if there is ever a problem you can get to speak to the person in charge. With the larger companies all you get is telesales girls fobbing you off.

Advice for sellers

If you are selling your points then you really need to be careful, as there are plenty of companies who will say they can sell your points for you for a very handsome price but they require a registration fee, or a security deposit, or a fee of some sort. Dont be fooled, these companies are merely out to take your money, they will not sell your points and you will not get your fee back.

My advice again is to deal with a company that does not charge upfront fees. They will probably charge you commission if they find you a buyer, but only after the sale has been made.

Do not pay upfront fees no matter how good it sounds, you will definately lose your money.

So who can I recommend? There is only one company I have had dealings with and I would be happy to recommend them for buying or selling Sunterra points. If you click on the link at the bottom of this article it will take you to their website.

Please click on this link for Sunterra Points Information

This article is written by Kerry Bailey. Kerry is a small business owner and advisor. She takes a keen interest in online businesses and is a partner in Holiday Rentals 365 A New Holiday Rentals company who offer free listings to new customers.

Stuck with Tardive Dyskinesia – What next?

It’s a frightful feeling any time a doctor tells you that you’ve got any type of chronic illness. At first your mind wants to deny it, and then you continuously give into the shock of realizing that you actually do have something wrong with you. Even if you have been exhibiting symptoms for ages, your problem just isn’t set in stone until the doctor tells you those fateful words : I am sorry to tell you, but the tests came back positive.

When the diagnosis is Tardive Dyskinesia [ TD ], it actually should not come as any surprise. In truth, it may even be a relief, because when you know what the issue is, there are steps you can take to turn the condition, and you definitely wish to do that. Maybe you’ve been afflicted by the embarrassment of your tongue popping out of your mouth every couple of seconds or of making hideous scowls that are out of your control. You may have had a lot of distressing physical symptoms, like neck cramps or involuntary twisting of joints. Don’t believe anyone when they tell you that you may just have to live with the problems, because they would not wish to if they were in your place. Instead, here’s what you can do.

For starters you can learn everything there is to know about TD class action lawsuit. Sometimes it’s just good to have someone you can talk to about your condition who will understand and offer recommendations for what you must do next. Contacting the Foundation will put you in contact with caring people who can help. You can also visit their site at www.dystonia-foundation.org.

Another group that may be able to offer you the information and help you want is We Move which is a support group for people with movement disorders. This organization has groups throughout the world. You can find the nearest group by going to their web site at www.wemove.org. Folks who have developed Tardive Dyskinesia have filed successful suits, and plenty of other lawsuits are in process. If you are diagnosed as having TD after taking Zyprexa [ Olanzapine ], Risperdal [ Risperidone ], Seroquel [ Quetiapine ] or plenty of other neuroleptic drugs, you may be in a position to file a lawsuit seeking compensation to help you sustain due to the losses you incur because of the condition. Lawsuits are often filed successfully against doctors prescribing medications known for causing TD. However, it’s yet to be seen if lawsuits against the giant pharmaceutical firms who produce the drugs will be settled in favor of patients.

There are several doctors who have investigated TD and know the right kinds of treatments that may reverse the indicators of the disorder and bring relief to patients. If your family physician isn’t able to provide you with this type of assistance, you can contact a psychiatrist instead who has experience dealing with the side effects of anti-psychotic drugs. Additionally, you may find a neurologist can efficiently treat your Tardive Dyskinesia Sickness.

Scented Candles Floating Candles Everywhere, Any Time

With spring in the air or maybe winter soon disappearing currently is the time to pack away the winter cloth & take away the recent flip flops! It is furthermore the moment to revamp or recondition even if it be your self or perhaps some condo. Sweet-smelling candles are a great approach to usher on a regenerated season. Its time to come to put away those pumpkin spice and pine perfumed Scented Candles and welcome the bouquets of its season. Flowery or perhaps fruity fragrance are what people will often experiencing right now. Since there is a zephyr coming through one’s home, the new Smelling candle smell will often move gently in & around the condo. They can be found very charming when the person is mingling during the hotter times. When your celebration is beginning to shifts open-air, adding floating Scented Candles to the current embellishment is a sure fire tactic to tag further mood. Floating candles come in so more forms and it measurements in spite of this my most popular are also the new floral figured ones. Planting various larger candles through out a swimming pool & duck pond take home memoirs of cotillions or nice gatherings of seasons gone by. Votivo candles should from time to time be used in the spot of Arranging candles. Make certain to put to use the votive candles out of their hardware box so that it could float accordingly

By the spring months allowing people to delight outdoor and reside garden candles care can shift. Of course Placing candles played with outside is awesome however what occurs As there is dash or better yet what occurs when there is a substantial gust? One’s Scented Candles blow out & out & out. It could get very disturbing, therefore for those blowy patio nights candle holders are also optimal. candles holder turn out in legions of appearances and sizes just such as all alternative candle. You rejoice in the pieces that include a few translucent patterns as these give just off exceptional radiance. The candles holder creates a barrier for your candles protecting them afire and happy. One message of advice then again, when buying candles holder for utilization in the outdoors make certain that these are no cutouts, alternatively people can be found back to square one with some 1 going out faster than birthday candles at a 1 year olds b-day party! Those may work for the indoors or quiet after hours yet not if these is a little whiff? Some other option on all these nights is to use electronic candles. Click here for more information on scented candles

Oahu Vacations

If you’ve decided that you want your next vacation to transport you somewhere exotic yet friendly, warm rather than sweltering, and bustling with activity but not crowded, Oahu would be an excellent choice. Even picky travelers will find what they are looking for on Hawaii’s most versatile island. From rich culture to beautiful weather, all the ingredients are here for a wonderful escape from the predictable drone of your everyday schedule.

As you might expect, finding a spot on the beach to unroll your towel or picking out the perfect wave to show off your boogie-boarding skills will not be a problem here. Oahu has 112 miles of coastline, so whether you seek scenery (try Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve) or serious surfing conditions (follow the professionals to the North Shore), you’ll be happy with your sand and sun experience.

But Oahu is not just a string of distractingly beautiful beaches. If you enjoy balancing out your vacation by also nourishing your brain, you’ll find plenty of historical sites and museums on the island. The Capital District in downtown Honolulu will allow you to learn about Hawaii’s transition from a monarchy to the 50th United State. The Bishop Museum chronicles the seafaring adventures of early Hawaiians, and the Hawaii Plantation Village illustrates the impact that immigration and sugar cane production have had on the state.

Of course, Pearl Harbor is a sobering yet important landmark in America’s past, and a visit to the Arizona Memorial will make an impression on visitors of all ages. Tours of the USS Bowfin Submarine and the Battleship Missouri will interest history buffs, and by the time you have completed your journey from Hawaii’s earliest days to the present, you’ll appreciate your surroundings even more.

Another popular activity in Oahu might seem a little self-centered, but if you’ve come all this way, you probably deserve to be truly pampered. Check out the extensive array of spas and wellness services while you’re here to achieve the highest levels of relaxation and rejuvenation.

Individuals seeking health and peace should head to Gray’s Beach in Waikiki, once known as Kawehewehe, an ancient bathing site that translates to “healing waters.” Or, schedule a Pohaku, a heated-stone massage, to erase all memory of aches, pains, and strains. A coconut body wrap will leave your skin soft and sweet-smelling, and a yoga session on the beach will truly bring out your inner light.

The spas of Oahu are equipped with all the latest technologies and techniques when it comes to caring for tired bodies, and the incorporation of the natural surroundings make treatments unforgettable. Side-by-side couple’s massages are even available for fostering true togetherness, or perhaps just to ease the hesitations of a first time spa visitor.

If Oahu sounds like the ideal place to spend a few days (or weeks), then it’s time to check into lodging options. For the true Hawaiian experience, entertain the possibility of a vacation rental to ensure that you’ll have all the privacy and amenities you need to enjoy a tension-free vacation.

Families with diverse interests will appreciate the chance to have a conveniently located home-base from which to depart during the day. And when the sun has set, having enough space for everyone to move about is a priceless feature when it comes to keeping the kids happy. There are restaurants down the road, but feel free to stock the pantry with groceries to save a few dollars on meals.

For more romantic accommodations, couples should consider renting a cute, fully-furnished condo. With a hammock under the stars and a fridge for the champagne, contact with the outside world can be kept at a minimum. Choose a beachfront property if you like, but for even more seclusion, head to the rolling tropical hills.

All the elements are there for a fabulous Oahu vacation. Now it’s up to you to get things started.

Vacation rentals make a great choice when traveling. HomeAway.com has a wide selection of properties all over the world.

Look to HomeAway.com to sort through a great variety of Oahu Vacation Rentals, and get ready to discover a more relaxed version of yourself.

Visit Peoria, Arizona

Peoria has the singular distinction of being the largest city in the Northwest Valley. This is no ordinary accomplishment, as the Northwest Valley is a very expansive area to begin with! The developed areas that are nearby include the city of Glendale to the south. Both El Mirage and Surprise are slightly to the north and west.

Due north is barren desert that awaits the arrival of some imaginative developer who can wrestle living space fit for humans from this almost lunar landscape. But you don’t have to be any kind of rocket-man to enjoy the happy living in Peoria- one of the most All-American cities you’ll be able to find in this rapidly changing state.

Peoria Northern Avenue to the south; Lake Pleasant to the west and 67th and 75thAvenues along the shifting eastern grounds. This oddly shaped city of over 115 square miles continues to grow at unpredictable times and in unexpected manners making living in Peoria an exciting thing to do.

Great access to the entire Valley of the Sun has made the city of Peoria a perfect choice for the majority of residents. The Loop gets you to Interstate 17 to the north and Interstate 10 in the south so that you can get into and out of Peoria when you have to. Close proximity to the freeway allows drivers choices of routes to various parts of the metropolitan Phoenix area and beyond.

Climate

The climate is typical of the southwest. There is a mild winter that is balanced by a long hot, dry summer. Many have claimed that the dry, hot summer conditions have helped to relive many of their allergy symptoms.

Summer days are clear and spectacular and the temperatures are truly remarkable. Spring and autumn are mild transitions into the other seasons. There is a brief monsoon season that is truly extraordinary.

Peoria History

So how do you think this all happened? The one thing that everybody has always believed is that something was going to happen in Peoria- and id finally has.

It all began in the 1880’s, when William J. Murphy quit his journey west and decided to settle in right here in Peoria with a vision. Murphy was hard-pressed for sustenance- he was desperate and realized that his only hope for life was in the development of agriculture through irrigation. In his race against time and the cruel climate Murphy sought to use into a livable situation. Then he got the idea to try to profit off his experience and sent glowing reports to the east about how happy he was in the middle of the desert. Nobody know anything, as there were neither pictures or phone- so he convinced some people to make this long, treacherous trip just to settle out here.

The first eastern families to arrive were from Peoria, Illinois. TO reward them for their uncommon bravery Murphy made them happy by naming the place after that town. In that way they were not homesick and were more inclined to stay put. From that moment on, the area has turned a profit.

In 1889 the post office and a small and barely adequate one classroom school were established. Peoria remained an agricultural community up until 1954, when it was incorporated.

My how things have changed! Today Peoria is a city swelling at the seams with appears to be limitless numbers of highly educated and diverse individuals who are all ready to work together in this alabaster community thereby virtually assuring Peoria’s future.

Once the city of Peoria was a rural agricultural small town, but today it is a growing suburban community. It is a dynamic desert city. So come and be a part of this sensation. The feeling is infectious! Get into it and let it get into you

Outdoor Recreation

Peoria’s claim to fame is that it is the “Gateway to Lake Pleasant.” Lake Pleasant Regional Park is known as one of the finest water recreation areas in Arizona. The lake is the second largest lake in the state. It was built to store water from the Agua Fria River and the Central Arizona Project. Most of the lake is encompassed by untouched desert land. This oasis in the Arizona desert is a sight to see. Just think about it, in a place that is in the middle of a desert to be on the way to water is really noteworthy. Take the route so you can find out. Lake Pleasant offers a full service marina in Pleasant Harbor.

Peoria residents flock like seagulls to Lake Pleasant year round for boating, sailing, swimming, and more water fun. There is also hiking trails, camping, and picnicking. Lake Pleasant Regional Park is one of the many perks to living in the city of Peoria.

Peoria Entertainment

Downtown Peoria has revealed a new face so that everybody can know. The area has been restored, renovated and renewed. “Out with the old and in with the new” is the unofficial motto of this place that provides those coming here from other places their very own piece of the pie.

A new city hall, public library, and public safety complex have energized the area. Pioneer Days and Fall Fest are two of the community’s activities that are hosted in downtown Peoria. The community is working hard to continue its small town feeling while expanding its entertainment calendar to include the ever increasing number of strange and diverse events.

The conveniently located Peoria Sports Complex is home of the baseball spring training games for the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners. There are 10,000 seats and 12 lighted practice fields. The complex also has concerts, festivals, car shows, an Annual Fourth of July Extravaganza, and other events which create a friendly hometown feeling that Peoria residents enjoy every day.

R. Steven Thomas Yacono is a legal scholar, educator and writer who has traveled extensively over the course past decade. From Beijing to Barstow and Xiamen to Sedona, his journeys have provided a wealth of experiences about fascinating people and places to share with interested readers. You can find out more about Arizona at http://www.arizonan.com; and to plan your next trip visit http://www.on-holiday.com

Your comments are welcomed. Please direct correspondence to R. Steven Thomas Yacono at aztreking@hotmail.com

The Map That Shouldn’t Be

Those of you who are avid treasure hunters are probably all well familiar with maps which are completely undecipherable. Even older maps which were intended to be accurate portrayals of topography can be almost humorously inaccurate. The existence of a map dating from the middle ages, then, that could be used to correct errors in modern maps created as late as the 1950s would be nothing less than astonishing. But it does exist.

The map was drawn by Piri Reis in 1513. It shows detailed and pointedly accurate outlines of Eastern North and South America, and Western Africa, an absolutely amazing accomplishment in that era, but that is not the real show stopper about this map. It also shows a completely accurate detailed outline of the Northern Antarctic Coast as it exists without the ice cap. This is not just amazing, it is impossible by any technique we know of to have existed in the known technology of civilization until our present abilities. There are two issues that even further complicate this mystery.

The first complication is that Antarctica had not been discovered yet in 1513. The fact that Piri Reis had stated himself that he had used other maps from other resources available to sailors in his era, some dating back to the days of Alexander the Great, does nothing but compound the mystery. That only means that this information was compiled at an even earlier date. Where could this information have come from? While completely baffling, it is only the “tip of the iceberg” so to speak.

The outline of Antarctica on this map shows the coastline as it is under the one mile thick snow cap of the region — with an accuracy we can verify now by using only recently developed technology via aerial surveying. It has been calculated that the last time the Antarctic coast was clear of this ice cap was 6,000 years ago at the most recent, with a possible inaccuracy of this figure pushing the date back to possibly as long as 13,000 years ago. At present, we have no knowledge of any civilization in existence during those dates.

In 1953 the Hydrographic Bureau of the U.S. Navy acquired this map and actually used it to correct errors in their own present day maps. Apparently whoever drew these charts had the knowledge of the fact that the world is round, the circumference, within 50 miles, and an extremely advanced knowledge of spherical trigonometry.

The Piri Reis is only one of several maps drawn during the middle ages by sailors using mapping from ancient sources completely unknown to us in present times. While we can now map the world with the same accuracy as these ancients were able to do, it still remains for us to find out who these people were and when they lived.

If you would like to know more about the Piri Reis and other impossible yet existent maps, treat yourself to a visit to: http://www.world-mysteries.com/sar_1.htm

©2005 Sally Taylor: Sal is an avid gem and treasure hunter, explorer, writer, and is the owner of http://www.rockhoundstation1.com

New Findings Show that Promotions Negatively Affect Workers’ Health

Researchers at the University of Warwick say that getting a promotion is not as great as people usually think. An increase in stress level and a fall in physical fitness have been found to be at least two negative effects of a promotion.

After questioning about 1,000 workers on their physical health, mental well being and health service usage, the researchers have found proof to back their theory. All of these individuals were promoted in the last five years to managerial or supervisory posts. The data collected from them indicates a 20 % fall in their visits to doctors and 10% deterioration in mental health.

Researchers say that the reduction in visits to the doctor after a promotion is a sign of negligence rather than one of improved health. The workers, once promoted, feel pressure in their new positions and their stress level rises. Their tension and anxiety leads them to disregard health concerns and avoid regular visits to doctors. According to Chris Boyce, one of the researchers, the reduction in visits to doctors is not a sign of wellness, but a reflection of an increased mental strain.

Mr. Boyce also says that the study found a marked decline in the mental health of the managers after their promotion, and the effect most likely was permanent in nature. The results of the research show no improvement in the physical or mental conditions of the newly elevated workers.

Keep up-to-date with health and safety regulations that can save employees from serious injury and avoid court procedures that can cost companies many thousands of pounds. Visit the Workplace Law website and and find out more about a range of training, including fire risk assessment training which can help your company can avoid falling foul of health and safety legalities.

What Does the Term Pupillary Distance Mean with Regards to Eyeglasses

Yoυr pupilarү distance (PD) іs tһe length in between the centres (pupils) οf each οf yοur eyөs, meaѕured in mm. Your pupillary distance mөasurement is utilised if wө use a lenѕ ωith your prescгiption and сustomise іt so that it Ьoth fits youг fraмe in addition to yοu. To bө effective, а lөns will be required to Ьe cut so the centгe іs directΙy in front of your рupil. Without yοur PD we hаve no thought wherө that point іs foг yoυ and as the diagram below shoωs, everүbody іs different. Your pupilarү distance should be provіded in minutes Ьy your optіcian or ophthalmologist, and so ωe highly recommend that yοu ask for your pupillary distance ωhen yοu have your eyes tested. Alternatively, үou maү also cһoose to usө an аverage pupillary distance , which is offered fοr you as а dөfault when ordering.

Go to this website to find out more details about how to order your glasses online
While your contact lenѕ and eyeglasses prescriptions maү seem the same, they usually һave differences. Yoυ must һave үour eyөs tested аnd а prescriрtion issued for uѕe with spectacles, which іs Ιess thаn 2 yөars old, bөfore ordөring your specs online with us either now or in the near future

I Love RangerRob – A Central Oregon Legend

I have decided I should start a bumper sticker company for Central Oregon. People could really use the help from my designs, to get Central Oregon.

Starting with Crooked River Ranch for an example. Since they seem to have such a Deer population problem. I suggest two bumper stickers. One for small cars; “I Brake For Deer”. And one for trucks with brush guards, “I Kill Deer”. I also think Crooked River Ranch would like this one, “I Only Drive 35 On The Ranch”. Since everytime I drive on or off the Ranch, I always get stuck behind a slow car.

Terrebonne could use one too. It would say “Was That Terrebonne?”
I think I have a pretty good idea what would be good for Redmond, how about “What’s Up With All The Trucks?”. Another one for them could be “I Park In Fear.”

Now looking at Bend, it is very clear to me that this one works. “Our ByPass Goes Thru The Middle” Or “Guess Which Exit Will Get You There.”
Well, maybe I should just stay out of the bumper sticker business, since I probably would get in big trouble, but I still think the best one out there should say, “I Love Ranger Rob.”

Read more at http://www.rangerrob.com

Robert Scribner - EzineArticles Expert Author

Rangerrob

Rangerrob can be viewed 24/7 at http://www.rangerrob.com Your Redneck Northwest Kind of Guy. Visit Him anytime.

Cambodian Taxi Chaos – a Leaf, a Radiator and a MacGyver Moment

The roads in Cambodia are vicious, angry slabs of asphalt filled with potholes that would qualify as valleys in some countries. Fortunately, I had it made traveling from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh. Or so I thought.

Cambodian Taxis

Having spent two weeks in the relaxing beach town of Sihanoukville, I was getting bored and so were the three chaps traveling with me. It was time to head to the supposed chaos of Phnom Penh and eventually Angkor Wat. Despite the legendary reputation of Cambodian roads, the owner of our accommodations told us the road to Phnom Penh was smooth as glass. For twenty U.S. dollars, a local taxi would get all four of us to the city without incident.

Around noon, two Australians, an Englishman and myself crammed into a Toyota Camry with our backpacks and miscellaneous junk. Our driver was a good guy, smiling constantly. We did have a communication problem since he spoke about two words of English and we only spoke English. The road, however, was as smooth as promised and we congratulated ourselves on our stroke of luck.

For about an hour, we cruised through the placid Cambodian countryside. It was difficult to imagine the chaos that must have occurred when the Khmer Rouge was in power. There really wasn’t much to see beyond the occasional village. About half way through the trip, the lack of any sizeable towns became a concern.

In the proverbial middle of nowhere, our driver pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the car. Since we couldn’t verbally communicate, much finger pointing was undertaken. Were we lost? Did he want more money? Was he going on strike? What the heck was going on?

Eventually, we foreign idiots were able to decipher that the car was overheating. Lest you think us complete idiots, I must mention that the temperature gauge wasn’t working.
Regardless, our driver popped the hood and our smooth trip came to a cracked end. Steam poured from a half-inch crack next to the radiator crap.

Road site assistance seemed an iffy prospect in the middle of Cambodia. I mean, you couldn’t really call your car insurance company.

Me: “Hi. My car is broken.”

Operator: “Okay, we will send someone out. Where are you?”

Me: “Um, somewhere in the middle of Cambodia.”

Operator: “…[hysterical laughter]… Click.”

The driver looked at us. We looked at him. Simultaneously, we all started laughing. What else could you do? We were in the middle of nowhere, the radiator was shot and it was 60 miles or so to Phnom Penh.

Looking back, I can tell you that Cambodian taxi drivers are a committed and creative group. We sat on the side of the road, contemplating the fact that we were about to have a much more authentic Cambodian experience then any of us had planned. Mysteriously, our driver had gone off into the brush on the side of the road. After a few minutes, he returned with a dark green leaf and a big smile.

Putting MacGyver to shame, he proceeded to patch the crack in the radiator using only the leaf and tube of superglue. We all moved back as he applied the superglue to the boiling hot radiator, but nothing went up in flames. After allowing for a suitable amount of time for drying/praying, all we needed was water.

Although admittedly not a car expert, I do know pouring cold water into the radiator of an overheating engine is a bad idea. MacGyver, err… our driver, didn’t bat an eye despite our extensive arm waving. With a big smile, the water went into the radiator as we watched in horror. The only question was what would happen first, the leaf patch bursting or the engine seizing up?

Well, you can guess how it turned out. Not only did we make it to Phnom Penh, we later learned the radiator had two other leaf patches on the bottom. The road had been smooth, but my nerves were still shot. One way or another, the roads of Cambodia will get you.

At least I have ample ammunition to mock MacGyver fans.

Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com – makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more travel articles and travelogues.