Budget Travel Tips

By : Lee Dobbins

Do you love to take vacations but don't have a lot of money? Then learning how to budget your traveling can get you more vacations every year!

Today with the economy the way it is, budget travel is becoming more and more of a necessity and more merchants are offering great deals to those that can accommodate the restrictions. Aside from travel deals, you can also do some things to keep your costs low and save on the overall trip.

First off, you need to prepare a travel budget. This means deciding what is important to you and where you can cut back a bit. For instance, some travelers are comfortable spending a bit more for a better class of hotel, while others prefer to save money by using budget accommodations and spend the money they saved on sightseeing or a special meal for the family.

Next, figure out a budget for the various aspects of your vacation, such as hotel, airfare, rental cars, sightseeing, gasoline, etc. Once you have a good idea of what each element of the vacation should cost, it is time to start shopping around for the best deals.

Once you have figured out what is most important to you, it is time to start finding out how to get the best deals. Often, admission deals on area attractions are the easiest to come by, since many theme parks, museums and other destinations run specials to attract out of town guests.

To get big discounts on area attractions, the best place to start is the web site of the attraction itself. Be sure to check the web site for any specials, such as two for one deals, free admission for children, special reduced admission days, etc.

Certain orgainzations such as the military, AAA and senior citizens groups offer discounts on lodging, attractions and travel. Most AAA offices sell discount admission tickets to theme parks, museums and other popular attractions within driving distance, and most AAA offices sell discounted admissions to popular attractions like Walt Disney World as well. The key to making your travel budget stretch farther is to ask about, and take advantage of, all discounts that may be available.

If you are driving on your vacation, make sure you get your car serviced and that it is in peak condition. This can really save you some money as things like under inflated tires and worn spark plugs can cause your gas mileage to go down thus costing you more in gas money.

A good map can also be a money saver, since it will keep you from driving around in circles and wasting gas. Finding your way easily to and from the hotel and the surrounding area will make your vacation more pleasant and less costly.

Finding good deals on your vacation travel and destinations can be a bit of work but it will be worth it in the long run with more enjoyable and more frequent vacations.

Hawaii Honeymoon

By : Bob Freer

Your Hawaiian honeymoon is about to begin. Holding your beloved's hand, you sit back and close your eyes as the airplane lifts into the sky. In a few hours your honeymoon begins--for real--in Hawaii.

Perhaps it is tranquility you seek, wandering along trails or gardens amidst the fragrant smells of tropical flowers. Or perhaps it is exquisite food in a romantic restaurant that excites you.

With its warm weather and the beauty of its tropical scenery and pristine beaches, Hawaii is the most popular honeymoon destination in the United States. The four main islands are Oahu, the Big Island (Hawaii), Kauai and Maui.

For those who desire a more active time together in Hawaii, you can swim, snorkel, surf, sail or scuba dive. You can golf at some of the world's top golf courses. There are many tourist activities to be seen, including Polynesian cultural events, dinner cruises, helicopter
sightseeing tours and submarine rides. You can also sea kayak and mountain bike and hike through lush vegetation or volcanic hillsides.

The diversity of Hawaii is so great, that you could spend weeks on these islands and still not see all of its wonders. Knowing that your time will be limited, I have included a brief summary of each island along with two of the most highly rated honeymoon hotels or resorts on each island.

Oahu
Honolulu's Waikiki beach is perhaps the best-known beach in the U.S. Honolulu has many excellent restaurants, cultural and historic sites, fine hotels, nature trails and beaches. This is an exciting place if you want to be active during your stay.

Many people who visit Hawaii for the first time choose to arrive via Honolulu. By Hawaiian standards, Honolulu has reasonably priced accomodations and many opportunities for inexpensive flights or all-inclusive packages. Also, on Oahu's North Shore, some of the best surfing in the world can be found.

Two of the best honeymoon hotels on Oahu are in Honolulu.

The Halekulani, is a modern, airy hotel--a refuge, really. It has been operating since 1917, and is the only hotel in the state that has received a five-star rating from AAA. Outstanding service and excellent dining are the hallmark of the Halekulani.

The Hyatt Regency Waikiki across from Waikiki beach has excellent views of the beach, the surfers riding the waves, along with views of Diamond Head. You will be in the center of the action.

Big Island (Hawaii)

The Big Island has the most diverse ecology of all the islands. In the Waipio Valley, you can ride horseback, viewing huge waterfalls, thousand foot cliffs and black sand beaches. At Volcanoes National Park you can see the world's most active volcano, Kilauea.

The Kona coast (west side) is a seventy mile stretch of black lava-covered coastline, noted for its coffee and world-class deep sea fishing.

The summit of Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in Hawaii, offers stargazing opportunities unlike any other place in the world.

As for honeymoon hotels, here are two of the best:

The Kona Village Resort on the island's west side is a nearly perfect honeymoon destination. Located on the beachfront, this hotel offers thatched-roof bungalows. You can swim, snorkel, explore marine life, attend a traditional luau or get a massage, all within this resort. Travel and Leisure Magazine has rated this as one of the world's top 50 romantic getaways.

Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows in Kohala offers many unique features. Palm trees and flowing pools greet you as you enter the atrium around which the hotel is centered.

Oceanfront rooms have dazzling views. With its accomodating staff and many services, this resort is exquisite. It features two of the island's best golf courses. The South course, built on a lava flow, has spectacular views.

Maui

Maui has both world-class resorts and rental condominiums to choose from amidst natural wonders.

Here you will find Haleakala National Park, Maui's main natural attraction. Hawaiians recognize the mountain as a sacred site. Many people drive from sea level to the 10,000 foot summit of the crater to watch the sunrise.

Along with the natural beauty on the road to Hana, Maui boasts some of the best beaches on the islands. It also has several top-rated (PGA Tour) golf courses. Snorkeling and scuba adventures abound on the west and south shores of the island.

If your vision of the perfect Hawaii honeymoon is to get away from it all and still have many comforts and conveniences, Maui is the place for you.

Hotel Hana-Maui, on the east coast of the island, is noted for its seclusion and luxury service, so if you want to slow-down and relax, this hotel is sure to please you.

Hotel Hana-Maui is a long drive from Kahului airport over twisting roads. If you wish to forego this adventure, flying into Hana airport from Honolulu is your best bet.

The Four Seasons Maui at Wailea is an exquisite property with an open courtyard of reflecting ponds, fountains and gardens. Nearly all the rooms have ocean views and lanais where you can watch the sunset and see whales in winter.

You can have a massage in the privacy of your own cabana, listening to the waves rolling in on Wailea Beach. Also, surrounding the hotel are great restaurants and shopping, in addition to the beach.

Kauai

Kauai, the Garden Isle, is covered with flowers and tropical vegitation unlike anywhere else.

There is no nightlife on this island, simply the magic and beauty of tropical paradise with emerald valleys and golden beaches.

The natural beauty of the island can be found along the NaPali coast or in Waimea Canyon. Called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon, with its reddish lava beds bursts with ever-changing color throughout the year.

This island offers miles of trails through tropical forests and along ocean cliffs, and has many opportunities for watersports and outdoor adventures.

Priceville Hotel on the North Shore's NaPali coast is richly furnished in a casually elegant style. It sits on a cliff between the crystal-blue waters of Hanalei Bay and the volcanic mountains. Most rooms have ocean views. With access to Puu Poa Beach, spas, tennis, river and
ocean kayaking, you can do as much or as little as you like. Private dinners on the beach are available if you desire a romantic evening together, and money is not a concern.

The Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort and Spa is on the South Shore. The grounds are exotic, and the multiple pools are incredible, meandering through diverse vegetation and terrain. With a golf course, multiple spas and five restaurants, you will never have to leave this resort if you don't want to. Of course this all comes with a high price tag, but if you are looking for luxury on your Hawaiian honeymoon, this is the place.

Los Angeles, California Highlights

By : Stephanie Gibbs

Los Angeles is a very fascinating city and a great place for anybody to take a vacation. Visiting Los Angeles and the surrounding areas could be one of the best and most memorable experiences that you will ever have. Tourists seem to get excited about everything from the simplest things to the bigger things. For some reason, tourists always like to see the famous Hollywood sign and especially visitors from non-coastal states like to go to the beach and see the Pacific Ocean for the first time.

If you like more of an adrenalin rush of fun and are planning to come to the city of Los Angeles, you will be in reasonable driving distance from several amusement and water parks including Six Flags Magic Mountain, Hurricane Harbor, Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Raging Waters and other places like the Los Angeles Zoo and Griffith Park.

If you are really interested in the Film Industry, you can go to the tapings of numerous television shows where you can see your favorite stars live and in person. Or if you prefer to be in front of the camera instead of in the audience, there are several advertisements in newspapers, magazines and posted on telephone poles looking for all kinds of people who want to be background Extras in movies, television shows and commercials. No experience is necessary. Be sure to go down Hollywood Boulevard and look on the ground for the stars of your favorite entertainers on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

You can go to Staples Center, home of the 9 time NBA (National Basketball
Association) World Champions Los Angeles Lakers. Magic Johnson has moved on from playing professional basketball, but you will still see his name all over Los Angeles. He is involved with a few businesses around town including some 24 Hour Fitness locations, the Magic Johnson Theatres located in the Crenshaw Shopping Center, Starbucks Coffee and Magic Johnson's TGI Friday's Restaurant.

Right across the street from the Forum in Inglewood where the Lakers used to play for about 30 years until a few years ago, is the Hollywood Park Race Track and Casino. They only have horse racing a few months out of the year. But you are in "Luck" because the Casino is in full swing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to satisfy your gambling needs. It is one of the few places around here that at least so far, they still have FREE parking.

For Baseball fans you can go to Dodger Stadium, home of the former World Series Champions Los Angeles Dodgers. You would not want to go to Dodger Stadium without eating one of their famous Dodger Dogs.

Not only do we have professional sports champions, we also have our very famous cross town college rivals, the U.C.L.A Bruins and the U.S.C Trojans who have both brought back team championships to the city of Los Angeles and they both have had their students and alumni bring back Gold Medals when they were representing the United States over the years in the Olympics.

If you want to see another historic Sports site, then go to the Los Angeles Coliseum. Not only was it the home of the Rams and then the Raiders, way back when Los Angeles used to have a NFL Football team, but it was a major venue for both the 1932 and the 1984 Summer Olympics. If you watched the Olympics then you saw the Los Angeles Coliseum during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the Track and Field events. The Olympic Torch is still there.

While you are at the Coliseum, it would be well worth your while to walk over to the California Science Center in Exposition Park. It is a great educational learning experience for both adults and children. The Sports Arena is in that general area. Also, within walking distance in that area are several museums that you might be interested in going through.

You would not want to miss out on spending time on the 405 San Diego Freeway which runs along the west side of Los Angeles County so you can enjoy the bumper to bumper traffic that we all get to experience so frequently. Most people in the area call it the world's largest parking lot. Your foot rides the brake of your car while burning that expensive gasoline. Usually you are either at a full stop or traveling at a snails pace. Just hope that they do not have a vehicle accident on the freeway ahead of you because the snail would actually beat you in a race.

If you leave the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) which is right next to the Playa del Rey Beach on the far west side of the city, you can get on the 405 freeway and head northbound. When you are finally able to get through the traffic, you can visit the J. Paul Getty Museum which is just before you get to the valley.

You can go to Marina del Rey just north of the airport where you can enjoy a dinner cruise on the ocean or bring your fishing pole and go out on one of the all day fishing boats or just hang out in the Fisherman's Village that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and has food, drinks and gift shops. There are places near most of the beaches where you can rent bicycles. There is Bike Path the runs along the side of the Pacific Ocean right on the beach. If you like rollerblading, rollerskating and / or skateboarding, then you will really like Venice Beach.

Normally from the west side of Los Angeles if you are at or near the Playa del Rey Beach and look up, you can see the planes taking off over the ocean. If you are somewhere east of the airport you can see the planes coming in for a landing. But if you look up and see a helicopter, don't get confused. It is probably not a guided helicopter tour. More than likely it is the Los Angeles Police Department Helicopter chasing down a suspect with the news media helicopters trying to get their shots and doing their best to stay out of the way. Police car chases are very common around here. You hear sirens from emergency vehicles coming from all directions. But that is Los Angeles' finest keeping our city nice and safe.

In all fairness, as a traveler you really need to make the safety of both yourself and your family a top priority no matter what city in the world you visit.

If you want to go on another cruise, you can go to Catalina Island. You can go over there, have some fun and come back the same day if you want or you can stay for several days if you really like it. There are numerous activities out there.

Another historic site that you would not want to miss is the street corner of Florence and Normandie Avenues which was where the 1992 Los Angeles Riots all began. Most of the businesses that were burned to the ground during that time have been rebuilt since then, so of course they look much better and more modern. Others may never be rebuilt.

On the far south side of Los Angeles County is Long Beach where you can see the Queen Mary Ship that is docked. You can tour the ship. Also, while you are in Long Beach you can visit the Aquarium of the Pacific for underwater adventure. Just like the California Science Center, it is another great educational learning opportunity for both adults and children.

For shopping, it depends what you are interested in. You can get just about anything you can think of at the malls which are located all over the place. The Del Amo Mall in Torrance (the southern part of Los Angeles County) is one of the largest malls in the United States. If you are looking for discount clothing and other merchandise, then go to the garment district in downtown Los Angeles. If you want the expensive stuff, then go down Rodeo Drive and the Wilshire Boulevard area in Beverly Hills. Just east of Beverly Hills is the Grove where you can check out the Farmers Market that has been serving Los Angeles since 1934. The area has been changed, expanded and built up over the past few years.

Wilshire Boulevard is one of the main business streets in Los Angeles that runs from the beach to downtown Los Angeles. So if you want to drive down Wilshire Boulevard just for fun, you can start by the Santa Monica Pier overlooking the Pacific Ocean and it will take you through the cities of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. When you get to downtown, be sure to take a look at the Los Angeles Civic Center area.

Another interesting street to drive down for fun is Crenshaw Boulevard. You can start at Wilshire Blvd and go southbound on Crenshaw Boulevard. It will take you through the inner city of Los Angeles. Your trip will take you by the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Shopping Center, Leimert Park in the Crenshaw District, then through Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Torrance, Rolling Hills Estates and all the way down until you end up in Rancho Palos Verdes in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County.

Check the schedule of the Los Angeles Convention Center. They always have some type of entertainment, business or informational seminars, expos or workshops going on over there. You might find something going on that you may want to attend.

There are countless food and beverage locations all over the Los Angeles area from fine dining restaurants to fast food places and every shade of grey in between that will satisfy any appetite. You just have to find the ones that match your taste. There are all kinds of entertainment, dancing, activities and shows even in addition to all of the things that are mentioned above.

If you are not visiting someone who has a car that you can use, then you should probably rent a car because waiting around for public transportation in Los Angeles will use up most of your vacation time. Have fun.

The Most Popular Places for Tourists

By : Douglas Scott

Hue is located in Thua Thien prefecture and is in the central part of Vietnam. The city is located in central Vietnam on the banks of the Song Huong. The city is one of the most popular places for tourists in Vietnam. Hue was the capitol of Vietnam, from 1744 when the Nguyen dynasty controlled southern Vietnam. In 1802 Nguyen Anh, the last of the Nguyen Lords, defeated his northern rivals and proclaimed the city capital of a reunited Vietnam, changing its name to Hue. The dynasty lasted until 1945, when the last emperor abdicated.

Hue's complex of monuments is listed among the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, The city is the wettest place in all Vietnam.

Dong Ba market is on the north bank of the Perfume River, just over the Truong Tien bridge. It has hundreds of stalls selling almost everything. Dong Ba Market provided the platform for the conventional crafts in the city. All along Le Loi Street, you will find souvenir stall.

Hue is also an important centre for Buddhism and hundreds of temples and pagodas exist around the city.

Hue is one of the best places to enjoy the Vietnamese New Year celebrations of Tet. One of the high lights is a midnight firework display. The fireworks are set off in front of the citadel on the north bank of the Perfume rive.

The Perfume River is a river which divides Hue in to two parts, and although it does not have a particular perfume, it is a beautiful river to navigate. It is also a scenic way to reach the famous royal tombs. It starts in the Truong Son mountain range and once it reaches the outskirts of Hue it is quite a placid river with clear blue waters with only one dark stretch along the foot of Ngoc Tran Mountain.

Experience the Perfume River on an evening boat trip hosting a traditional folksong performance, a tradition that goes back to the rule of the emperors.

The Citadel was the imperial palace from the early nineteenth century until the mid twentieth century. Emperor Gia Long, who ruled Vietnam form 1802 to 1819, based it on the Forbidden City in Beijing. It consists of three walled enclosures. The outermost enclosure contains an area of 6 square kilometres, which was once filled with hundreds of buildings. Many of the palace buildings were destroyed during the Tet offensive of 1968. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and restoration work is taking place.

Affordable Disney Vacation - How To Plan A Vacation For the Whole Family

By : Ian Wilkie

Are you the kind of person who dreads holidays? Is this because you find it a hassle to plan and book a holiday? Well, worry no more. There are agencies available who will do all the booking, and planning for you and make sure you have a wonderful time at your chosen destination.

Families with children will love visiting the Disney World in Florida, as these are not only fun but there is so much to see and explore keeping them occupied for a week or even longer. If you are planning to go on the Cheapest Disney World Vacation in 2008, you must start planning right now.

You can touch base on any of the websites available to sort out details for you and simply pack your bags and be ready to board the bus or car. If you intend on going in February or March, you can book your trip now and save upto $300 - $400 with advance booking and package deals. At times there might be special offers for Visa card holders or for annual pass holders. By saving on this, you can book yourself into a luxurious private villa in Orlando area overlooking the beach and relax. This will again help save more money, but if you stay within the campus, the only advantage is your travel to the park will be shorter and easier.

Before you pack your bags, make sure to check out some of the Walt Disney forums or news groups to get an idea about the place. This comes in handy for first timers as they get overwhelmed upon entering the place and lose track of time and money, ending up with a big hole in their pockets.

Talk to your friends and family about what they did or did not do to fine tune your plan to make the most of the Vacation. If you decide to opt for the Cheap Disney Vacation Club, you can use the resorts located in and around Orlando area and within the park for a fixed duration. Everything from a one bedroom bathroom studio apartment to a three bedroom villa is available for rent. If you are a member of the Disney Vacation Club you get a few extra perks like valet parking at a few locations inside Disney World and discounts at certain restaurants. These are where you have already bought the rights to use the resorts by paying a lump some payment, but make sure to understand the terms and conditions mentioned therein.

For those who are not comfortable carrying around cash when exploring the Magic Kingdom or the MGM Studios, you can pick up enough Disney dollars to use while staying here. If you plan on eating in the restaurants, make sure to be a member of Disney's Dining Experience Club, through which you can claim upto 20% off and enjoy other benefits. By planning wisely and thinking your trip through, you can save a lot of money and yet not compromise on the fun factor.

Installing a GPS Tracking System on Your Teenagers Car

By : Corbin Newlyn

Learning to drive in American society for a teenager is like a rite of passage. While it is an exciting event for the teenager, it is typically either a stressful or horrible event for the teenager's parents.

Because teenagers are young and have the least experience in terms of driving an automobile it makes them more prone to mistakes. Piece of the mistakes that their parents are hoping they can stop from happening.

Going beyond the safety issue, parents also have concerns about the destinations that there kids are really going when driving their car. Parents have heard many stories from other parents or they still can recall their own days as a teenager and make the decision to keep close watch on their teenagers locations. One method to get an accurate location on where your teenager is driving is to have a GPS tracking system installed on his or her vehicle.

Addressing Safety

It is likely that younger drivers take more driving risks than drivers who are more experienced. Monitoring the vehicles speed is one feature among many of GPS tracking systems. With that supplied information, parents can make a decision whether to deny driving privileges or take any other corrective measure.

Additionally, in the event of a breakdown or an accident, the parents can be notified immediately through the GPS tracking system. This is especially helpful due to the fact that younger drivers may not have much of an idea of their street locations or any other geography they may be on. However, the GPS system pinpoints the location on a map very accurately.

Tracking Features

However, the majority of parents that have a GPS tracking system installed in their teenagers automobile is doing it to ensure their child follows the rules set down by their parents in regards to where they can go and where they cannot go. For instance, some parents deny their teenagers from driving on the freeway. Some other parents may not want their teens going to a certain house.

Some may be just concerned that the teenager may not really be going to soccer practice or the library, but to somewhere else that may be undesirable. In short, some parents utilize GPS tracking systems to try and keep their kids honest.

Some manufacturers of these GPS system tracking units advertise that they are very simple and easy to install, that your teenager does not need to know where it is located on the car. Simply put, parents have the options to do this in secret, and have the location data sent to their phone or computer. This is very effective for teenagers that have a tendency to drive recklessly or break the rules. However it may be best utilized as a last resort, and always with the driver's knowledge.

If your child learns that he or she has been tracked without their knowledge, it will only cause greater hostility and distrust in the household. To confront your child with any type of wrongdoing, it would be necessary to admit that they had a installed a GPS tracking system in the vehicle.

Art of Positive Thinking: How to Overcome Our Thought Pollutions

Thought pollutions results from the unskillful use of emotions, the most basic element of thought energy. Often when we feel down or sick, it is because we are picking up these thought pollutions, which we can absorb very easily. But we can also learn quite simply how to remove them from our minds and bodies and to extract the positive thought energies. Learning how to overcome our thought pollutions is one of the ways towards mastering the art of positive thinking.

Art of Positive Thinking #1: Overcoming Greed

Greed is an unskillful emotion that seeks to accumulate anything in order to feel safe and secure. Greed creates ill health and problems with insecurity, money and relationships. Whenever greed creeps into you, start running the images of the wind or sea and focus on one of these sounds and direct these sounds towards eroding your greed and developing an understanding that all things come to fruition in their own time.

Art of Positive Thinking #2: Overcoming Anger

Anger comes into being when a person is overwhelmed by the world and feels powerless to change it. People influenced by anger seek perfection in all things and see themselves as leaders and inspirers of other people. To transform anger, first think of how you can be of service to your fellow human beings. Focus upon your thought energy to bring you a greater experience of love and spirituality in your daily life.

Art of Positive Thinking #3: Overcoming Arrogance

Arrogance is a lack of confidence. Arrogance is being unsure of what to do, so it creates a defense system of emotions. People influenced by arrogance believe that things don't last and that they can rely only upon themselves. Whenever you experience an emotion of arrogance, sit quietly and ask yourself what's the real value of your achievements. As you gain insights, cultivate them with self-love so that you will be able to recognize opportunities for positive change.

Art of Positive Thinking #4: Overcoming Selfishness

Selfishness comes about when an individual has no self-awareness, either physically or emotionally. This lack of self-awareness leads to loneliness, which in turn affects the chemistry of the brain and the body's limbic system, both of which are intimately connected to our emotions. The next time you experience the emotion of selfishness, close your eyes and visualize what's it is like to be free from selfishness and how others will be able to benefit from your kind generosity instead.

So now that you've understood the role and importance of your emotions and the thought pollutions that can impede your development of skilful thought, it is time to start mastering the art of positive thinking by overcoming your thought pollutions.

What is Positive Thinking?

What is positive thinking exactly? When you talk about someone with a positive mindset, you probably imagine this person to live a life of denial, covering up their true feelings and pretending that everything is fine even when everything appears to be doomed.

The truth is, positive thinking has nothing to do with denying your emotions or pretending that everything is great. It's about learning to adjust the way you think and feel about the events and experiences of your life, rather than letting the events which happen to you determine your mood.

Undoubtedly, it is crucial for you to understand what is positive thinking exactly if you wish to be in control of your emotions and success.

I believe many people would argue that it is difficult to stay positive always. As we encounter various setbacks in life, it's totally understandable that it's normal to feel down and even self-pitying. However, by being negative to all that happens to you is definitely not going to help things at all.

As Zig Ziglar said, 'It's not what happens to you that determine how far you will go in life; it is how you handle what happens to you.'

Hence, if you want positive things to happen to you, you've simply got to adopt a positive mindset all the time.

There is a simple rule that you should apply to your thinking in everything you do.

Think Positively and you will get positive results.

Think Negatively and you will get negative results.

There are bound to be many negative people whom you will meet in life. These people will forever be worrying about almost every single thing they can think of. Before a test, they will worry that it's going to be hard. When doing projects, they will worry about the deadline. They spend a huge amount of time worrying instead of sitting down and think of solutions to their problems.

Chances are, these people will fail to accomplish big things in life. This is because they spend their whole life worrying instead of working towards their goals. Whenever they face a little setback, they are extremely pessimistic and get discourage and end up quitting.

On the other hand, people who understand what is positive thinking remains optimistic even when faced with huge obstacles. This does not mean that they choose to ignore the problems. Rather, they face it with optimism and they understand that worrying is not going to help. Instead, they choose to focus their time on generating ideas to overcome any obstacles they face and work extremely hard towards their goals.

Such positive thinking individuals are also often well-liked by their peers. Ask yourself honestly, would you rather hang out with people who are perpetually complaining and worrying or would you want to hang out with people who are full of energy and optimism. Positive people are charismatic and people love to be friends with the. So be that person with the positive mindset too!

In conclusion, it's without a doubt that most, if not all successful people are extremely positive in their mindset. So now that you've understood what is positive thinking exactly, be sure to change your mindset and make a positive difference in both your own and others lives.

Vacation Values

The family vacation is a tradition intended to bring families closer together and one that many of us would just not think of giving up. Quality time for the family reinforces the importance of family values. It's sort of a "time out" from the day to day routine of living and growing. A chance to focus on getting to know better those that are most important to us, our family. Of course, how much importance you place on this event depends on your past experiences.

In today's fast paced society a vacation just isn't a vacation unless its costing you a small fortune to get to, and stay at, some exotic venue that usually offers no excitement without dishing out more money. I suggest we put on the brakes and get back to basics. You surely won't have a better opportunity to do so than on the family vacation.

Let's not forget that the "family" extends beyond our home life. Most of us have family that we rarely get to spend time with either because of distance or time issues. But, one should always make time for family. Right? I knew you would agree! Not trying to make you feel guilty here but, we do have a way of letting life rush us through the years. I call it "non-intentional neglect" and most of us are guilty of it at some point in our lives. So, let's re-invent the family vacation to include some real quality time that reinforces the value of our families.

Would you consider a visit to grandparents, distant uncles, or a friend's home a vacation? When I was growing up, the family vacation usually meant visiting family members who lived some distance away. Coming from a family of limited finances, this tradition was budget friendly yet, was sufficient to satisfy our need to escape the norms of home life.

Of course, as the teen age years approached, it became harder and harder for my mom to convince us that "we would have a good time" visiting the relatives. Some of which we had already spent several vacations visiting and had, I guess, lost their uniqueness to us as teenagers. That said, if any of you can figure out what makes a teenager happy, except socializing with their own peers, then congrats! Let me know your secret. All kidding aside, I believe that they still enjoy the family outings but have a strong resistance to acknowledging that they are actually having fun. In other words, they are having fun and just refuse to admit it!

I was a single parent for many years and just didn't have the money for family vacations requiring hotel stays and admission fees. I guess I followed in my mother's footsteps in hoping that a visit out of town would suffice. And it did. For many years, the family vacation consisted of a visit to a dear friend or family member's home who was willing to put up with four kids for a week. These are truly "beloved friends and family!"

I am fortunate to have a good friend for life who has two children within the same age group as my kids. Since we didn't get to visit often throughout the year, these visits were exciting for both my kids and hers who had become good friends.

So, by all means plan to visit a family member's, or friend's, home for a week. Young children especially enjoy these trips. They make new friends and the family ties are strengthened. This is an excellent way to reinforce family values and the importance of keeping in touch with family members that may live some distance from your home.

Do a little research before you go. Find out if there are any museums, historical sites, low cost attractions, or state parks within driving distance from where you'll be staying and plan to visit. Remember to ask the family member or friend you are visiting if they have any suggestions. Since they live in the area, they will most likely be aware of popular spots. Ask about bowling, roller skating, or special movie nights in the area and plan accordingly. You can even plan some game or craft activities to keep everyone busy and having fun.

For those of you who have worn out your welcome or simply don't have family within a reasonable distance, finding vacation spots that will provide a memorable experience for everyone in the family can be a challenge. Especially on a tight budget. Don't be discouraged, it is not impossible. Plan for your vacation and include it in your budget. This is the easiest way to prepare for a vacation expense and take the stress out of planning.

Since the goal here is to get the most fun for your money, let's talk about some low cost vacation ideas that could be right for your family.

Camping is a great low cost option for families that enjoy the outdoors. Don't worry, you don't have to sleep in a tent. There are lots of state parks that rent cabins for a very reasonable fee. As an added bonus, when you are registered at a state park, you gain free entrance into all state parks.

I can highly recommend the Finger Lakes area of New York if it's a convenient distance for you. About a five hour drive for us, it turned out to be one of our most memorable vacations. The park sports an amazing gorge trail with thundering waterfalls, scheduled nature learning activities, and a large play ground. The activity I think the kids enjoyed the most was the natural swimming area, with diving boards, at the bottom of a beautiful waterfall.


If you want to beach it, be sure to check out all your options for lodging. Sometimes a large family can do better by renting a condo or home for the week rather than staying at a hotel. Remember, you can save a tremendous amount of money if you can prepare your own meals while on vacation. A good portion of a families vacation budget can be literally "eaten up"! Even a little kitchenette in a suite can save you big bucks. If you're campers, you can almost always find a campground near popular beach areas and get maximum savings on lodging.

Don't forget your best resources, friends and family. Ask around to see if anyone has visited an area you plan to go. You may get lucky and have a "friend that has a friend" who maybe has a vacation spot they wouldn't mind renting to you for a lesser fee. Sometimes people won't rent out their vacation spots for various reasons, but don't mind doing so if the tenant is a trusted acquaintance of a friend or family member.

When travel and lodging are cost prohibitive, you can still have a vacation right at home. Yes, in your own backyard. Many of us live within reasonable distance to museums, campgrounds, historic sites, and beautiful state parks. You might be surprised at what you find in your own local area.

Do some research in your area to find free or low cost activities and sites to visit. Schedule something for each day of the week, even if it's just a park visit for a picnic. Some areas have local public beaches. Plan an outing at a local public beach. Visit historical sites. Many of these are free, educational, and fun for parents and kids.

You can even plan activities at home just as if you were at an exotic vacation spot. Have a different theme for each day. For example:

A beach day (sun tanning, volley ball, make some fancy icy drinks to sip on in the sun, have a picnic)

A camp day (stay in a tent or sleeping bags under the stars, build a little fire if allowed in your area, roast marshmallows, make smores, sing campfire songs)

Have a backyard fair (create booths with games like ring toss or balloon popping to win little prizes)

A colonial day (dress, and live in another era!). This is great fun. I thought of this one purely by accident when the electricity went out one day. The kids expressed how "neat' it was to live like they did in the "old days." No lighting except candles and lanterns, no T.V. or radio, no video games or computer. Sounds boring, but believe it or not, they had fun coming up with ideas to keep occupied. A good teaching tool too! Shhhhhhhh….. don't tell the kids.


These "theme days" at home will take some imagination and a little work, but will be loads of fun for everyone. Half the fun will be in the creation, so let everyone pitch in. You may even have more fun than actually being there!

Whatever you decide to do, if you're traveling a great distance be sure to check all your travel options. With today's soaring gas prices it's not unlikely that you may be able to get there faster, and cheaper, in the air. Hey, maybe there's a conspiracy here?

If all this just doesn't fall into your category of "fun", and you just have to have that exotic resort vacation, then at least be sensible about it. There are many great deals on vacation packages and off season rentals. And oodles of travel agencies just waiting to tell you about them. This is one area where do-it-yourself isn't the most practical advice. Travel agencies are privy to a lot of travel information, especially seasonal discounts, that you and I don't have knowledge of. Do Your Research at least for goodness sake. You won't be kicking yourself later when you come across that great deal you missed out on!

Check out your local travel agencies, as well as some of the many online agencies. Don't forget, if you're an AAA member you’re eligible for travel discounts. Before finalizing any plans, be sure to know your rights. What happens if you have to cancel? What is the deadline to cancel? Will you loose your deposit or is it refundable? Know your options.

Island Holidays: Salt Spray Getaways

There is just something about the ocean breeze and salt spray that makes a holiday on an island something you won't soon forget. Because islands can be found in every ocean and near every continent, island holidays can vary widely. You can lay on a beach or watch whales, study botany or shop native craft stalls. It's all up to you when you plan your island holidays.

North American islands include the Canadian east coast islands of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Island holidays to these areas will be filled with unspoiled natural beauty, cool, comfortable temperatures, and whale watching expeditions.

South of these regions is the little island of Bermuda off the eastern U.S. coast. Bermuda is surrounded with hundreds of square miles of reef formations, making snorkeling an interesting activity there. For the less adventurous, you can ride around in a glass bottom boat and view the beautiful undersea world.

Heading on south, we find the Carribean islands. These have long been popular spots for tourists. Here the beaches are white and sandy and the weather is very warm. Up in the interior of these islands, you can find a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, the Virgin Islands, and many other spots make lovely island holidays. Each island has it's own unique flavor and feel.

Europe has islands of all types nearby which make great spots for island holidays. Visit the isles of Greece and you will see clear seas, quiet beaches, olive groves, and the simple life. Corfu is the choice of those who like up-to-date restaurants and shopping, while Lefkas is popular with wind-surfers and sailors. The Portuguese island of Madeira boasts beautiful weather and one of the lowest crime rates in the world. The Canary Islands, off the coast of Spain, are a popular tourist spot for Europeans.

A new trend in island holidays is eco-tourism. This is traveling in such a way that neither the earth nor the local people you are visiting is harmed in any way. People who are drawn to eco-tourism may enjoy bird-watching, hiking, and other island activities that do not leave an impact on the area.

Everybody dreams of taking island holidays. There are islands all over the world, each offering it's own cultural experience and natural wonders. Many spots for island holidays are still unspoiled and secluded, while others are lively and exciting. Island holidays offer a real diversion from your everyday life.

Golf Holidays To Get Away From It All

If you have been working too hard for too long and just need to get away and play some golf, you will want to check out golf holidays package vacations from your travel agent. These travel arrangements are often referred to as "stay and play" plans because you stay at a certain hotel and receive rights to play at a certain golf course while you are there. When making these arrangements, make sure there are not special requirements that will make playing inconvenient or impossible for you. Some of these plans require you to limit your arrival dates and departure dates or have other unacceptable limits so read the fine print.

You can take golf holidays to all sorts of locations depending on your personality and desires. For instance, you can choose to golf in a course located near or in a major city, taking in museums or theatres when not golfing. Or you might choose to visit a golf course in an area of rugged natural beauty such as the mountains. While there, you might take a day to fish instead of golf. Whatever your needs, you can find golf holidays packages to meet your needs.

Are you going to take your own golf clubs with you when you travel on golf holidays? You probably would prefer to use them rather than the clubs that can be rented at the course to which you are travelling. If you choose to take them with you, you will need to think about the arrangements a bit. For instance, do you have a really high quality golf club bag which will protect those expensive golf clubs. If not, you'd better get one. You won't be able to carry your clubs on if you are flying, so you'll need a bag that can take airport luggage handling and still protect your clubs. So get a good one.

When picking a destination for golf holidays, pick the course you wish to play on first, and then find out about lodging at hotels, resorts, or stay and play package plans. Make sure the tee times that are set for you when choosing a stay and play package are going to work for you. People who are staying at a golf course's own resort generally get first serve when choosing tee times. If it's really important to you to get the tee time you desire, it may be worth it to you to stay at the resort instead of a less expensive hotel. Either way, you are sure to find refreshment and restoration when taking golf holidays.

xBox360 Game Review: Lego Star Wars II

xBox360 Game Review: Lego Star Wars II - Some heinous things have been done to the Star Wars franchise in the last decade or so. The Phantom Menace, for instance. The original Lego Star Wars game from Traveller's Tales was a huge surprise. They'd remembered what it had seemed so easy to forget: Star Wars was supposed to be about fun. With Lego Star Wars II being based on the 'second' three movies, there's even more potential for laughs, especially for thirty-something nostalgia junkies.

The combination of Star Wars and Lego is inherently funny anyway. Hitting things with your lightsaber and watching them disintegrate into their component Lego bricks should make anyone smile. This time you get what we wanted since we saw the first game. Lego Han Solo Lego-swaggering about with a cocky smirk on his little yellow face. Lego Princess Leia in the gold bikini.

The basic game-play is much the same as the first game. Fighting, running, a little puzzle-solving, some platform work. There's really no learning curve: this is a game that's ostensibly for kids, after all. Traveller's Tales have made a few minor tweaks, though, and they're all for the better. Combat is still ridiculously easy, but the game isn't so dominated by the Jedi characters. Leia and Han's long-range blaster attack is really useful, and they'll also auto-dodge incoming fire. Several characters have unique special attacks, and they're hilarious. Leia has what appears to be the Bitch-Slap of Doom, and Chewie does what Wookies do best: ripping the arms off Stormtroopers.

Building isn't just restricted to Jedi characters in the sequel either: it's for everyone but droids, who lack the necessary thumbs. Smashing some things up and building other things out of debris is an essential part of the puzzle-solving, and you can pretty much see fiendish game designers giggling as they decided what completely stupid thing to do with it next. That sense of fun pervades the game and effectively disguises the slightly repetitive nature of the gameplay.

The source material provides several vehicle sequences (most notably blowing up Death Stars and the speeders in the forest sequence from Return of the Jedi). These have been opened up from the first game and taken off the rails. They're a bunch of fun, but do occasionally highlight problems with the game's unresponsive camera.

You start off in the Cantina, of course, from which you can access Episode IV. Once you've finished that, you unlock both Empire and Jedi. When you've finished a level in story mode, you can go back and do it again in free play, which is your opportunity to find the enormous amount of secret content. The game itself is relatively short, but it's full of extras and unlockable levels. You can create your own characters, too, by swapping body parts about. There is no head that isn't funny on Princess Leia in the gold bikini's body.

The drop-in style of the co-operative play in the Lego Star Wars games is brilliant, ideal for families and casual gamers. You're swapping back and forth between a cast of characters anyway: the second player just takes over one of them, for as long as they feel like. Still, it seems odd that the multiplayer is limited to both two players, and local play: there's no online component at all.

This is a cross-platform game that's available for the original Xbox, so it doesn't stretch the 360's capabilities, or even make much use of them. There's a slightly better quality to explosions and reflections, but even the 360 version occasionally suffers from stutters in the frame-rate. It's odd considering the game's style makes it not exactly demanding.

Lego Star Wars II is a brilliantly fun game with a wicked sense of humor, full of amusement value for both adults who grew up with the movies, and their kids. It's not a deep experience and the gameplay is maybe overly simple, but it is deceptively addictive.

xBox 360 Game Review: War in the Pacific - Battlestations: Midway

You are Henry Walker, a young Navy man stationed in Hawaii, when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. The nation mobilizes for war, and you take charge of a small vessel. You gradually rise in the ranks to become an officer, and as you do, your fleet gets bigger.

There haven't been too many good naval strategy games made for any game system. Eidos' Battlestations: Midway combines naval strategy with combat action to make a game that makes you feel like you were there.

This game has a heavy story, but it's really not important to enjoy the game. The story parts are made to look like old footage of the war. It's a cool effect, but the most important part of the game is strategy. If you're into that, you'll really like Battlestations: Midway.

The game has 11 major battles in the Pacific, from Pearl Harbor the Midway. You fight your way through the battles, at first in charge a small vessel. Eventually you get to command a whole fleet. It actually gets tougher at that point, because you have to coordinate all of them. You sometimes have to switch back and forth between different vessels, and the movement can be a little slow.

One thing about Battlestations: Midway, is that you have to watch the tutorial. Of course, you don't have to, but if you just go in with guns a-blazin', you're not going to know what you're doing! Sit through the tutorial and you'll learn how to fly, maneuver, fight and repair stuff. It's a snoozer, but it's all worth it.

You can play through the game in the regular mode, or you can choose online mode. Online you can play with up to 7 other players, who can choose Japanese or American ships. The online play mode has lots of options, so you can set virtually every parameter of your battle.

There's also a "challenge" mode, and they aren't kidding when they call it that. Basically, if you want to get massacred and go out in a blaze of glory, you can use the challenge mode. You can pick either the American or Japanese side, where the cards are stacked against you, and withstand a full frontal assault by your enemy. Experienced players may not get creamed immediately.

The pace of the game is also great. A game like this could get boring and repetitive, but there's enough variety thrown in that it doesn't. After you've been on the water for a while, there'll be an air battle to shake things up. The variety of battles keeps it moving.

One of the only drawbacks of the game is the graphics. The game is nothing much to look at. The colors are all grey, blue and green, and there isn't much detail. Still, it's a strategy game, and it more than makes up for its visual dullness with strategy and action.

Battlestations: Midway is a game that will only appeal to a set group of gamers; those who are into strategy and naval history. But, if that's your thing, Battlestations: Midway is a great gaming experience.

4 Signs That You May Have An Anger Problem

You may not want to admit it, but many of you already know that at least one point of your life, you have had a problem with anger. But there are many people out there who are not quite sure if they have an issue with anger. To help you find out, below are some indicators:

1. When you do get angry, you do not get over it for a long time. It may last until you explode sometimes, or the anger may even stay inside of you, to fuel the fires of your rage. If you have heard of people who “hold a grudge” then those are the ones that I am referring to here.

Do you have a tendency to hold grudges? Can you think of more than one person right now, whom you have not talked to in a long time that you are still angry with?

2. You spend most of the time feeling frustrated and irritable. You get disappointed as well as unsatisfied about almost anything in life. But with all of these negative feelings you have, you do not in fact get very angry.

Anger may be an unacceptable emotion to you, whereas frustration and irritability seem more acceptable, thus keeping you in a constant state of unfulfilled in life.

3. Another sign of anger problem is if you never get angry. You just seem to be void of experiencing that emotion. There are times when you know you should be getting angry, but the feeling just doesn't seem to come. Your anger seems very mild or watered down, and you never are able to release it.

4. Last but not least, you may have an anger problem if you tend to be very sarcastic or cynical not only about yourself, but everyone and the world around you. Your time around people is spent on judging other people and making constant “jokes” that have very negative connotations around them.

Although you try to make yourself believe that these jokes are harmless, deep inside you know that constantly putting everything down and disguising it as a joke is just a way to cover up your anger issues. For some reason you are not able to express your anger and it becomes apparent when it is “leaking” from your conversations.

What Is Anger Management?

If you are wandering where you can get help for your anger, you do not have to wander anymore. You can find help with expressing your anger and releasing it naturally when you decide to use anger management. You can find many workshops in your area that deal with this type of problem. It is normal to have these feelings of anger and that is why there are these workshops to help you with your problem.

The natural way to express your anger is to respond aggressively. This is a very natural usual way to respond to threats. It is a powerful emotion and one that you will usually have control of to some point. However there are people that cannot control their anger and that is where the anger management comes into play.

People will use their feelings of emotions to determine how they are feeling. They will naturally express their feelings and this will defiantly include anger. However, some people take their anger too far. When this happens they will hurt people around them without even knowing it. There are words that hurt people just as much as hitting them can. Sometimes when people that have too much anger in them will say nasty and hurtful things to those that they love.

There are also people that will physically hurt the people around them when they are angry. These people must seek anger management help so that they can control the way that they feel and not hurt anyone anymore. It is very important to get his help fast and effectively so that they can live happy lives. The anger management courses are there to help those that are in need and they will take the necessary procedures to make sure that they are helped.

The first step is for the person that is angry to realize they have a problem. They must want to get help for their anger so that it can be addressed in the proper way. When the person with the anger is ready, they can get help for their anger issues so that they are not hurting inside and they are not hurting the people around them. No one wants to be angry all the time and the sooner they realize this, the sooner they can get the help that is so important.

Anger management courses are usually a public service that is free. However sometimes you will see that you may have to pay for the classes. When this is the case, it is important for the person that is angry to find a way to get the help they need. There are certain instances that anger management classes can be free to those that are in desperate need of help.

There is no shame in getting anger management classes. You should not feel conscious about getting help. There is nothing wrong as along as you are willing to admit that you are having a problem and that you need to have the anger management classes to get your life under control.

Anger Management Techniques

Anger is one of the most common and destructive emotions and it afflicts our mind almost every day. We need to empower ourselves with anger management techniques so as to solve our problem of anger. Anger management techniques are easy to apply especially when anger gets over us and our physical wellbeing. It is important to know anger management techniques to help us cope with situations everyday.

What is anger? Anger is a natural human emotion and it is an adaptive nature which empowers us to "ward off" any attacks or threats to our well being.

However, it sometimes can cause us to focus on the bad qualities of an animate or inanimate object, make it unattractive and increase our desires to perform negative actions on it. But the truth is, anger is not a problem but the mismanagement of anger. Mismanaged anger and rage cause us to face conflicts and difficulties in our personal and professional relationships. Thus, we must know anger management techniques in order to cope better with it.

Anger management techniques are simple to apply but we must first recognize the anger within our mind and acknowledge that it is harmful to both our selves and others. The idea of being tolerant and patient is central in anger management techniques because it is when we lose our tolerance and patience that we begin to feel angry.

In addition, anger management techniques are really just practical methods that can be applied in our daily lives to help us reduce our anger and finally to prevent it from arising at all. They can help us because excessive anger can cause health problems, family issues, drug or alcohol abuse, financial despair, extreme fear or stress, and spiritual void. Domestic abuse, road rage, workplace violence, divorce, and addiction are just a few examples of what happens when anger is mismanaged.

To get started with applying anger management techniques, you need to admit that your anger is out-of-control is essential to tackling the problem of anger. This requires honesty, courage, and tremendous inner strength. And also requires help from others.

When in a situation that needs you to apply anger management techniques, be consciously determined to be calm and communicate and express slowly what you are feeling. Look at the positive side and try to look at the situation from another point of view. Try to relax at the same time and just think about something good to distract yourself from the overwhelming feeling of anger. In addition, you can regulate your breathing to become slow and relaxed to allow you to think and react better in the situation.

Remember that anger management techniques help you to control your anger to the best of your physical well being, social functioning and relationships! Uncontrolled anger only results in added troubles to your life and controlling your anger is a choice you can make! It is no disgrace to admit we have a problem and seek outside help.

Writing For A Living Online

If you have the skills to sell, then there are some jobs waiting for you on the internet… jobs that you can earn from, and at times, can even rival any day job you can have. The World Wide Web is indeed a haven for many skills, and if you possess any of these skills, you can establish your own online service business.

The correct term for such a task is freelancing. There are many freelancing opportunities that you can choose from, depending on the skill set you have.

The most lucrative of these freelancing opportunities is writing. Now, there are many kinds of writing assignments you can choose to accept. These are:

1. Content writing. Content is what fuels the internet. And webmasters from all over the world are constantly pressured to provide content for their visitors. We’re talking about a demand that will not cease. And you can charge for your services on a per word basis. The average going rate is $0.02 per word, but of course, you can charge more if your talent deserves such disctinction.

2. Ghostwriting for eBooks/special reports. There are a number of internet marketers who are looking for fresh information products to sell. These requests vary, depending on the niche they are focusing on. If you have great research skills and again, the writing flair to present it in a readable way, then you can try ghostwriting. Average going rate is $7 per page, or $500 per 10,000 words.

3. Copywriting. If you want to go for the big time bucks, then copywriting is the opportunity for you. Copywriting involves the creation of sales letters, or sales copies, that will help your clients sell a product or a package. These sales letters or sales copies are often 3,000 to 7,000 pages long. Bear in mind, however, the copywriting is more than just hype writing. It’s a science that you have to study and master. Also, you must familiarize yourself with the product or products you will be writing about, as well as the needs of the market they will be catering to. Expect to be paid $1,000 per project, at the average.

If you’re going to pursue writing on the internet, there are 3 cardinal rules which you should remember:

- By no means should you plagiarize existing works, more so, works that are already published in the World Wide Web. Remember that your clients will hire you to write unique, original works. This means that you should not copy ideas nor the ways by which they are presented. Also (and this is asked quite often), you cannot plagiarize yourself. You cannot sell to others what you have already sold to another.

- Upon completion of the project, you are to transfer all the rights to the works to your client. This means that you will no longer own the assignments. The client will have all the rights to them, including naming himself as the author thereof.

- Respect deadlines. Always remember that your clients’ businesses are dependent on the submission of your assignments.

There are many places where you can look for clients. You can try viewing the project requests from freelancing websites such as www.rentacoder.com , www.guru.com, www.elance.com and www.scriptlance.com .

Also, you can try out forums devoted for webmasters. The online communities at www.digitalpoint.com and www.webmasterworld.com have their own categories for writers seeking work.

In the writing business, your name is your worth. If you’ll build a name for yourself as an excellent writer who respects deadlines and churns out quality work after quality work, then rest assured that there are many, many jobs waiting for you in cyberspace.

Get More Done By Doing Less

Have you ever been so busy trying to keep up with the pace of modern life that you just can't get anything done? Do you find yourself constantly putting things off because you just don't have enough time to handle them? And what about the lack of progress that comes about as a result of never getting to the things that would make a real difference in your life?

Just from those 3 questions you have an idea of what I'm about to talk about. Or do you?

There is a general principle that most business people know about. This principle seems to apply to every area of life, not just business, and has been the cause of most successes or failures in life. The principle is called the 80/20 rule, and basically says that you will get 80% of your results from 20% of your activities.

In sales, it's the best 20% of your customers that create 80% of your wealth. In relationships, it's the first 20% of the time you know a person that reveals 80% of their personality. And in personal development, it's the final 20% of your progress that will take 80% of your time to acheive.

Huh?

Took you by surprise, did I? Yes, when you're working on developing yourself, you will get the biggest gains in the beginning - 80% of your results will come from 20% of your activities, and the final 20% of your results will come from 80% of your activities.

What's the real difference between those who are average and those who excel? Aren't the ones who excel those who spent more time developing their abilities? Aren't professionals expected to be better than average people?

There's another side to the 80/20 rule. It's that 80% of business is done by the best 20% of those in that business.

The best 20% of all drycleaners will get 80% of the drycleaning business. The best 20% of all doctors will get 80% of all money paid to doctors. The best 20% of all books account for 80% of all book sales. The best 20% of all musicians get 80% of the money spent on concert tickets and CD sales.

What's the lesson in this? Simple. If you want to get the best results from your activities, be the best in what you're doing.

But that takes work. Time. Committment to personal development. The hard stuff that no-one wants to do.

Yep, that's right. And that's why it works. Because no-one else will take the time to be the best, you will have a greater chance of succeeding because you are willing to stick to it until it pays off. You will be the one that everyone wants to go to, simply because you can do things that no-one else in your field can do, and in a way that no-one else can duplicate.

Clearly, even those with less skill than the top 20% will get results from what they do. The top 20% only get 80% of the pie, which leaves another 20% of the pie to be shared by the lower 80%.

In business, those with less ability will still make sales and get customers. But for every customer a business in the lower 80% gets, a business in the top 20% will get 16.

Some people will argue that the top 20% of businesses got that way because they had money behind them, investors who were willing to pay for the businesses advertising, payroll, and inventory. Let's think about this for a moment. What did those investors see in this particular business that they didn't see in another business that they chose NOT to invest in?

Let's say you have $10,000,000 to invest, and 2 potential business partners come to you asking for your help in getting their business off the ground. Which business are you most likely to invest in? The one that looks like it will be the most successful, right? And how would you determine that? Most likely by the level of skills of the person involved in that business.

The best 20% of business partners get 80% of the investment capital out there.

Let's move away from business examples for a moment and take a look at a personal example. Relationships.

Why are some couples happier than others? Although there are a wide variety of factors that come into play here; things like common interests, compatible personalities, and degrees of attractiveness; the bottom line in most happy relationships is that the people involved have developed their skills in communicating and cooperation.

Those with the best relationship skills tend to have the best relationships. And I'm sure that if we were to calculate the percentages, the familiar 80/20 rule would show itself again.

For the most part, everyone knows this: the better you are in what you do, the better the results you will get from your activities. But here's the thing that most people miss: when you're that good at what you do, you can do less and still get the same results as before.

Why spend 40 hours a week earning a living when you can spend 5 hours and earn the same amount of money?

Why spend months working out a problem in a relationship when you can have the problem worked out in a day and be back to enjoying your partner's company again?

Why spend your whole life trying to get noticed by the people who matter in your life, when you can spend a few months developing the right skills and have the recognition you deserve within the year?

Yes, personal development takes time, energy, and committment. But the rewards are more than worth the effort.

3 Important Areas Of Your Life To Get Organized Immediately

Do you start and finish every day as if you had no control of your time? Does everything in life seem to run together like a big blur? If you answered yes to these questions then you may want to start investing time management techniques into your schedule. It has been said that time management, properly set up as daily goals, can dramatically improve the quality of life and increase the amount of work that gets done.

One of the key components of time management is organizing all of the compartments that exist in your life. By taking on the task of one component at a time, you can start today to get your life in an orderly fashion and take back control of both your time and your schedule.

The easiest way to start organizing your life is by merging items that can be merged and trashing the things that are simply taking up space. Remember that another habit of people with good time management skills is to take on one task at a time, with focus, until that task is finished and before moving on with the next one. The same holds true when it comes to merging and purging your life's “compartments”. So where should you start first?

Below are a few tips that can help you with organizing for better time management:

1. Organizing your travel information: Create a file holder that is designated to hold all material that is related to travel. This material may include hotel information and air fares, a list of your frequent flier miles, personal and family passports, contact numbers for local taxi services, and all previous vacation traveling files. You can also keep such information on your computer hard drive so that you can print out travel details for upcoming business or personal trips.

2. Organizing important service-type information: You can do the same type of file storage for your key service providers such as your vehicle records, personal banking records, business banking records, insurance receipts, credit card information, etc. In most cases it does not take much time at all to purge this paperwork. And if it all sounds like a lot of work to do, then fear not, because once you are finished, your time efficiency will rise to new heights for all future file organizing.

3. Organizing your car: One very important area in our life that is often overlooked when it comes to time management and organization is our car. The inside of our vehicles, especially if we are always on the go, can literally become a black hole of important papers, files, and notes. We tend to store our most important items in the glove compartment and while this is ok, what is not ok is all of the other junk that goes in there with it. Clear out the clutter, merge existing paperwork, and purge anything that does not need to be there.

Return To Center

Everywhere we see the speed of life increasing, almost daily it seems.

The age of instant gratification has done a number on our schedules. It started with business people wanting to provide better service by being more available for customer requests. Longer hours, faxes, pagers, cell phones, mobile computers, and more have become commonplace in the push to be better than the next guy.

Of course, everyone feels the effects of this, as family members are no longer as available to our families as they are to their jobs. Now virtually everyone carries a cell phone in order to maintain contact with the important people in their lives. One more thing that has to be taken care of right now.

And then there are the expectations we have about our place within society. It looks like everyone else is succeeding except us. We have to keep up, buy the new toys, wear 'better' clothes, drive a 'hot' car, and so on. We just wouldn't feel right not being a part of the 'in crowd'. Take out a loan if you don't have the cash. Put it on plastic and work harder.

But look at where that is taking us. Spending more money just creates the need to work longer hours. Which in turn creates the feeling of being more stressed and less capable of handling the tasks that are before us.

There comes a time when you just have to realize that you can't do everything you want to do. There just isn't enough time to do all of it, so you have to choose. What do you let go of to make room in your day for the rest?

Do you really have to give up something? Couldn't you just figure out a way to work 'smarter'?

Working smarter is great, but is based on one basic idea. You don't have to do everything. You only have to do the more important tasks and let the rest go. It's the old 80-20 rule. 80% of the results you want can be obtained with only 20% of the effort. And the last 20% of the results you want will take 80% of the effort.

Eventually it boils down to what are the most important things in life.

Is it really important to be popular with the in crowd? Is it important to outperform everyone else in the department? Do your customers really need you 24/7? Or is it important to spend time with your family, your friends, and your self?

Some of the happiest people I've ever known were those with very simple lives. Yes, some of us would be extremely bored living simple lives, but that is only until we learn just where the satisfaction these people are getting is coming from.

When life is simple, you have time to do all sorts of things you don't have time for now. And one of those things that we don't have time for now is to return to our spiritual center.

For many of us, returning to our spiritual center sounds like one of those things that should mean a lot, but we don't really understand the significance of it. It's like sex, or love. Until you experience it, no-one can explain it to you.

And it really is like sex, and also like love. There is an experience of being enfolded within something greater than anything else you've ever experienced. Returning to your spiritual center is like receiving a big hug from God, which sparks an emotional reaction that completely overwhelms your senses. It is the ultimate 'high'. One good hit and you're flying for hours. But unlike drugs, returning to your spiritual center doesn't have any physical side-effects.

How often should you return to your spiritual center? The simple answer is "Every day". At least once a day, you would benefit tremendously from contact with your spiritual source. Your health would improve, your outlook on life would improve, and your ability to reach your goals would improve.

A more complex answer would be "Once". In all sincerity, if you were able to stay spiritually centered, you would be able to do much more with less effort. This is difficult to do, and requires much training.

But whether you are able to stay spiritually centered or not, returning to center will improve every aspect of your life. And the more you return to center, the more you will benefit in many, many ways.

How To Structure The Homeschooling Year

Now that you have begun your homeschooling schedule, there are various questions that trouble you. Should you study continuously, take a number of short breaks or a long vacation? What about public holidays? When should you take a break?

The answer to these questions and many more like these are actually quite simple: Do whatever suits you best. This is one of the appealing benefits of homeschooling. You do not have a set pattern to follow. You do not HAVE to take that autumn break, or close shop for a prolonged summer vacation. Flexibility is the key here. For some practiced unschoolers, even a definite curriculum is not necessary because lessons are a part of their day- to-day life. But this may not be the case with beginners. Beginners may need to chart out their activities to fall into a pattern.

Before you plan the structure of your classes, consider some of the most important issues. What method of homeschooling will you be following, what is your teaching style and your child's learning style, what are the work and play schedules, what are your vacation plans. Some families plan small 1-week vacations at different times of the year. Other families prefer to go away for a month or more. Consult with the members of your family, and chart out a holiday schedule that most suits you.

There are some positive benefits in following the traditional summer vacation schedule. Firstly, your children can benefit from the various summer activities, camps and classes. Your child's schedule will coincide with that of his school-going friends. A summer job may be possible. A longish summer break also means that both parents as well as children get a break from their daily lessons. This could also be a major drawback, as it is sometimes difficult to get back on track once the classes resume.

On the other hand, there are some advantages to taking numerous small breaks in the course of a year. Firstly, children do not get bored since they get time to explore other interests. You can cover more topics in the extra time that you save. You can also take family trips and vacations during the less popular periods of travel. This means lesser crowd and better prices. But beware if your child becomes restless when other children are enjoying their long summer vacations.

As far as homeschooling is concerned, you and your family are the people in charge. Taking care of the individual needs of the child is the primary focus of this system. So, tailor the school year to suit your child's needs. Periodic evaluation is a must. Set some realistic goals and see if you are able to achieve these goals. Most importantly, avoid burnout - both in yourself and your children.

How To Choose Homeschooling Hours

How many, how often and when? These are some oft-repeated questions when it comes to homeschooling hours. Flexibility is of course one of the key underlying principles behind homeschooling. This flexibility applies not only to the curriculum but also to the number of hours. It is only natural that parents, especially if they have just started out on homeschooling should feel that their children should be at their books all the time when regular school-goers are at school. This is not only fallacious but can also be damaging and counter-productive.

One of the most ignored but glaring drawbacks of the public schooling system is the sheer waste of time and energy that it causes. Many periods are simply wasted away and the child effectively derives only 1-3 hours of study everyday. Then, there are days when the studies become too intensive and other days when it's only games and no work at all. There is a lot of 'invisible wastage' involved here.

Early on in your homeschooling practice, work out a schedule. It is advisable to stick to the same hours everyday. A routine makes it easier to learn and gives structure to the learning experience. It also tells the students that parents are strict about their learning. A routine also allows your child to free his mind from other activities and concentrate on studies. He knows that a particular time is strictly set aside for learning.

The actual number of hours that you need depends on the curriculum you have chosen and the learning style that suits your child. If you are dealing with a subject that seems to be more complex, you may need to sit with the child for a longer period. Using various techniques, it may be necessary to demonstrate what you are trying to teach. For instance, a lesson in Algebra may take more time than a lesson in English.

Homeschooling does not refer to the practice of sitting in front of the books and learning the printed matter. Field trips, watching documentaries, visiting factories and libraries also make up an important slice of the homeschooling process. It makes sense to intersperse these activities so that learning becomes fun. You may want to finish off the few hours of textbook learning in the morning and dedicate the afternoons to these kinds of activities.

Given the fact that too many public school hours are wasted in meaningless activities ranging from talking to extra-curricular activities, do not allow public school hours to dictate the time you should spend teaching your child at home. Remember that at home, he is getting a high-quality one-to-one time that is highly productive. About 1-3 hours of study is enough in the primary level. It is of course true that the more number of hours you put in, the more learning takes place. This is also the reason why homeschooling children are much smarter and more balanced than regular school going children.

Financing Homeschooling

When people talk about teaching their children from home in the absence of any definite or structured curriculum, it is perhaps natural to think that homeschooling is cheap. But this is far from the truth. Although homeschooling does not stick to any particular text, this is perhaps more of a bane than a boon, when it comes to finance.

When you need to make sure that your children receives state-of-the-art education so that they can compete with regular school goers, expenses will naturally mount. The actual cost of educating a child at home is surprisingly high. Up-to-date textbooks, course materials, a library, computing equipment, lighting, specially designed furniture all cost money. In this case, the cost may be slightly lesser when it comes to homeschooling the second child. Add to this any additional tuition cost for tutors who come to teach subjects that cannot be handled by parents, like higher-level math or science. The total cost can be a bit mind boggling.

If you take another important factor into consideration, homeschooling costs may effective triple. The need for having one of the parents tied to the house and fully dedicated to providing education deprives the family of a second earning member. The average homeschooling teacher is usually a lady with a college degree. This means that she can easily bring home a pay of $35,000 or more. It is also interesting to note that most families that have more than 2 children do not opt for homeschooling at all.

But, there are those who have been successful in carrying out homeschooling at low rates. This is dependent on the size of the family, the support group, the type of materials used and the availability of the material. When successive children can reuse the materials, cost goes down. Much of the course material can be got from vendors of homeschooling materials.

A membership in a public library, theatre, concerts, ballets and other cultural events also help in cutting costs. Sometimes, it is even possible to barter expertise. For instance, the mother of an 8-year old gives dancing classes, and her daughter receives drawing classes for free. Support groups allow you to divide the cost of field trips, science projects and fairs.

Whatever the cost, advocates of homeschooling say that the benefits far outweigh these considerations. When you are able to decide what knowledge your child receives and when he or she should be taught and to what extent, it gives you a lot of freedom and a lot of power. Both the children as well as the parents benefit from this mutually enriching experience.

Record Keeping In Homeschooling

A topic that frequently comes up in meetings and forums that deal with homeschooling is record keeping. The importance of record keeping cannot be ignored. It is not only legally required in various States, but also provides important milestones in your child's learning experience. An interest-initiated homeschooling approach means that the topic of studies is far ranging and multifarious. Thus, it can be something of a challenge to write quarterly reports for the school district, when it is difficult to classify learning into neatly pigeonholed areas.

Record keeping is important not only for the sake of regulations. It is also an exciting way to record and document the learning process of the child. When most of the learning is done through play and there is no clear cut index of topics that have to be covered, it is necessary for the parent to keep some sort of a log which records the child's progress.

The records you keep can be as simple as a daily journal, or as elaborate as a software program. If you participate in a support group, you probably have set forms and requirements. But even so, keeping track of daily work makes reporting easy and efficient.


There are various record keeping methods used by various homeschools. Some of the more popular ones are:

Journal:

This can be maintained by the teacher or the student. This basically aims to keep a log of what was learned and what was done. Recording memorable events that happened in the course of the year is a great way to reminisce later on.


Daily planner:

Lay out the plans and the assignments for the week in a teacher's planning notebook. Check each item as it is covered. Maintain a separate area where any additional things can be recorded. This includes educational trips, visits and videos etc. Any extra topics that were covered are also recorded in this area. Make a summary every quarter.

Portfolios:

This consists of a collection of varied materials that show what the child has achieved and done during the course of study. Portfolio assessment is a very effective way to chart the child's progress. It gives structure to the otherwise loose and flexible form of schooling called homeschooling. A drawing portfolio will consist of some paintings or sketches that are considered the best in that quarter. A language portfolio may consist of essays, stories, reading-logs, spelling samples or letters. Progress in mathematics, fine arts, history, science and social studies can all be recorded this way. The biggest advantage is that portfolio assessment places control in the hands of the children. Having a tangible record of what they have established eggs them on to greater heights.

Other than the above-mentioned systems, there are also purchased record-keeping systems that lay out a good checklist. Some of these allow one to personalize the organizer. Irrespective of the methods used, record keeping in one form or the other is essential. Your child's future may well depend on the well-maintained record that you have meticulously kept over the years.

10 Ways Your Child's School Can Monitor & Prevent Bullying

Bullying in schools is not just a problem for its victims, it makes all students feel unsafe. Schools must make it clear that student safety is an essential part of their mission by sending a strong message that bullying will not be tolerated and enlisting the support of the students. To accomplish this schools can do the following:

1. Promote a climate of cooperation and caring. Schools can help deter bullying by encouraging acts of kindness and communicating values of cooperation and tolerance. Of course, the most effective way to foster a caring attitude in school is for school staff to model this behavior.

2. Survey the school about bullying. A survey of students, teachers, and parents may reveal how pervasive bullying is in the school. It may also indicate when and where students are being harassed.

3. Establish a clear anti-bullying policy. Make sure this policy is clearly communicated to staff, students, and parents.

4. Empower the silent majority to take action. Because the staff is not always present when bullying takes place, schools need to encourage students to report any incidents. This might be done at a school assembly. Tell students that reporting bullying is not the same as tattling on a student. Help them understand what it feels like to be teased and taunted, and make it clear that they are not to join in when they observe a child being bullied.

5. Make it safe for students to report bullying. School personnel must keep the names of students who report bullying anonymous. Until students feel confident that this will happen, bullying will go unreported and bullies will continue to thrive. The school might set up a box in classrooms or the main office where children can leave notes about incidents of bullying.

6. Be alert for signs that a student is being bullied. Possible indicators of bullying include a student's reluctance to come to school, his avoidance of school areas such as the playground, withdrawal from peers, unusual tearfulness or anxiety, difficulty focusing in class, and a decline in grades.

7. Take reports about bullying seriously and act quickly. Schools should follow up on all reports of bullying. Putting an immediate end to one child's hurting another is vital not only to protect the student but also to send a message to other students that bullying will not be tolerated.

8. Coach students being teased on how to respond. Teachers and guidance counselors may want to help a student being teased learn how to be assertive without being aggressive. A student being victimized by a bully needs to learn how to deflect the bully's taunting without provoking him or appearing upset.

9. Discipline students who bully. The purpose should be to deter the bully's aggressive behavior rather than to humiliate or embarrass him. In addition to insisting that the bully return any items taken from the victim, the principal might exclude him from places or activities where he has harassed other students.

10. Contact the parents of the bully. The school should consider meeting with the bully's parents to inform them of his actions and gain their support for changing his behavior. The student should be apprised of the school's course of action and be informed that his parents support the plan.

To GPS Or Not To GPS

Since the launch of the first Global Position System (GPS) device for automobiles some years back, more and more car manufacturers have been integrating the system into the vehicles they build. The system is still quite pricey given that its production hasn't quite reached mass market numbers. This is why the GPS systems have only been built in to higher end car models. However, if your car doesn't come equipped with a GPS device, you can opt to buy and have one installed.

However, you may ask whether having a GPS device in your car really makes a difference and if its benefits really make it worth having. Well, if you take your car for long drives and you are often away to some new destination either for your work or jusy for fun then having a GPS device installed in your car can be quite helpful.

The GPS device acts like an interactive map and most models are now voice activated so that you won't have to stop and type instructions in. Just say your command and you can interact with your GPS device. It's like having a personal navigation guide with you and this can prove handy when you are lost or just about to be. It will even inform you if you make a wrong turn or missed your destination and will guide you back to where you should be.

Having a GPS device for your car eliminates the hassle of having to pull over and consult a map. Especially when it's just not possible to stop, pullover and consult a map, a GPS device comes in handy to help you navigate your way to your destination. You can also subscribe your device to special features that alert you of important destinations like gas stations, ATM machines and the like so that you can be truly equipped to navigate your way around.

Even if you don't travel to new and faraway places, a GPS device in your car can still be very handy. With a GPS device you can subscribe to special features that allow for real time feeds to warn you of unexpected traffic and which alternate route to take in case of such events. So even if you're not traveling to a new destination you have good use for a GPS device in your car.

How Good Is GPS In Mobile Phones

By : George Wood

GPS technology has been used to keep track of mobile phones. The use of GPS technology in cell phones is not new however the latest mobile phones have GPS devices loaded in them which has made it extremely easy to keep track of someones location all the time and that too with great accuracy.

The use of GPS in mobile phones has so many advantages. Any person who is caught in an emergency situation can use their mobile phones to find their way out. It can be used to provide information about your ETA to your family members. It is also of great help in finding elderly or children when they are lost.

The movement of vehicles can be accurately tracked by the fleet managers and business owners using GPS, thus helping in their business. GPS technology has also been used by hospitals and police when they need to reach a place in an emergency situation.

The use of GPS technology in mobile phones was not common earlier. The technology was not perfect as the broadcasting of the radio signal would continue even when they were not in use, and hence it was not used. Triangulation method was used by mobile companies to keep a track of users location. But it was of no use to the companies and it was also a very tedious process.

But with the development of an excellent technology, GPS in mobile phones became common. Along with the many advantages, its use in mobile phones has several drawbacks.

Its biggest disadvantage is that it interferes with ones privacy. Anyone who carries a GPS mobile phone is always tracked even without his knowledge. No one likes to be tracked down like this all the time. The government and the courts have taken certain measures to make sure that everyones privacy is safeguarded. The courts have ordered law enforcement agencies not to obtain any GPS tracking information. Such information can only be obtained when the cell phone company claims the information to be extremely important or in the benefit of the country. The government has allowed GPS tracking information for e911 emergency calls only. For all other things, the consent of the cell owner is a must.

The benefits of GPS technology in mobile phones can be utilized in a proper way only if the rules and regulations made by the courts and the government are followed. The technology can then be used for all the right reasons without interfering with ones privacy.