Did you know that the Sunny State of Florida is using some of that Sun to help them increase their energy efficiency? It is true, in fact the University of Central Florida has a program called the “Florida Solar Energy Center” which is encouraging Flordians to get rooftop installed solar panels. They are careful help residence in finding certified installers. This is wonderful news.

Now then, I propose that these solar panels are recessed or set up in a way to prevent them from blowing away in the next big Category III or Higher Hurricane. Perhaps the solar panels can be shaped like spoilers on Indy Cars that actually help keep the roof on the home and press down as the wind blows instead of coming apart and flying away? That would be a great idea indeed. The more people who are on solar energy the better the chances of having energy in the aftermath of a large Category Hurricane you see?

Solar Energy in Florida makes a lot of sense, just like it does in Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico where it is always sunny. The Great State of Florida is on the leading edge of solar research and market driven solutions bringing power and energy efficiency to the people. Not only does Sunny Florida bring us great citrus thanks to the Sun it may soon be able to power its self into the future of Solar Energy. Consider this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

When visiting Italy, it seems every destination has enough historical sites to keep you busy for a month. Oddly, Milan and Pisa don’t fall into this category.

Milan

Milan is a thoroughly modern city and I would hazard to guess a wealthy one. This is not really the place for a budget traveler, but then again budget travelers seem to survive anywhere.

Milan is a good city to stroll around in. One can see a lot of interesting little shops and neighborhoods, but there isn’t the “monument to…” you find in most Italian cities. Don’t worry, the Cathedral makes up for it all.

In a city with a very modern feel, an old structure dominates. If you have interest in churches, you must visit Milan. The “Duomo” is simply staggering in appearance. From the outside, it is all gothic spires and frescos. I don’t know why, but the place is just radiates intensity and power. The inside of the structure is world unto itself. Marble is everywhere and you can’t help but stand around with your mouth open.

I hate to say it, but Milan can be a bit boring once you’ve had your fill of the Cathedral. The nightlife can be vibrant, but there is a definite dress to be seen feel to the place.

Pisa

Who hasn’t heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. When you visit, you will indeed find the tower is leaning. Unfortunately, you will not find much else. The tower is impressive as are the buildings immediately surrounding it. Nonetheless, the rest of Pisa is more interested in getting on with things. A nice place to visit, but don’t plan on spending more than a day or two.

There is nothing inherently wrong with Milan or Pisa if you know what to expect. If you’re expecting destinations similar to Rome, you’ll be disappointed.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com – makers of travel journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more articles about Italy Travel and Adventure Travel.

The next time your family gets together for the next big holiday think about doing these five fun holiday ideas. Obtain one quilting square for each guest. Supply fabric markers, ribbon, thread, needles, buttons and whatever else you can think of to decorate the square with. Each person decorates their own square and writes their name on it. Sew the squares together and make them into a quilt. The next time the family comes over to your house, they can get a chance to see what it looks like and you’ll have an heirloom to last for a long time.

Another fun idea would be to make a scrapbook of that holiday. Make sure someone is going to bring a Polaroid camera. Each person gets one page of the book. Use different colored paper, makers, stickers and anything else for scrap booking so guests can decorate their page. The photos are placed on the page along with the person’s name and a brief synopsis of what they’re doing.

Now here is an interesting idea to get together and burn away old disappointments, regrets or grudges by writing them down on a piece of paper and throwing them into a fire. This helps guests to put old problems behind them and continue with a fresh and renewed spirit.

This fun holiday idea is to get friends and family together for a holiday decorating party. Instead of dragging out boxes from the attic and decorating your home in holiday spirit all by yourself, recruit helpers. Serve appetizers play holiday, music and start this year’s holiday with a little extra help.

Or you can have a holiday cooking party. Get a few people together to bake cookies, holiday pies or cute appetizers or finger foods. Invite everyone else over afterwards to enjoy your tasty treats. To find holiday decorations and party supplies www.holiday-party-decorations.com.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games to help complete your event.

Hotel Palmyra is a 3 star hotel in Isle of Zakynthos, Argassi, located in

The fully renovated for 2004 B+ class hotel Palmyra is locate close to the canter of Argassi, one of the most famous resorts of zakynthos. Hotel Palmyra is situated approximately 100m from the beach and approximately 50m from bars, restaurants and shops but its location ensure your tranquility.

With a traditional style exterior but luxurious interior the hotel Palmyra is perfect for a relaxing break. The welcoming and calming atmosphere is ideal for all families &couples alike. The hotel offers swimming pool with separate children’s pool

The hotel has a total of 70 rooms, all renovated in modern style comfort, which accommodate up to 3 people. The rooms are tastefully decorate to help you to relax ant enjoy your stay with us. Each rooms is equipped with air-conditioning, fridge, kettle, safety deposit box, telephone, TV, hair dryer and private balcony with either garden or pool view. Daily maid service.

Start your day in our welcoming breakfast area where breakfast is served buffet, continental style with lots of added extras to make you feel more at home. The Palmyra restaurant offers poolside drinks and snacks also a full evening menu. Enjoy our excellent service either in the air-conditioned bar area or outside on the rooftop dining area. Both hotel and restaurants bars offer friendly service providing a wide range of soft drinks, beers and exotic cocktails, just ask if you would like something different ant will be most happy to oblige.

24 receptions offer safety deposit boxes, currency exchange, early morning call and also any other information you may require, just ask our friendly, helpful staff. When the sun gets too hot relax in our sumptuous lounge area, sit back and watch satellite TV or entertain the kids on the pool table or outdoor table tennis and children’s play area. Laundry facilities include tumble dryer and iron. Souvenir/gift shop and car hire service.

Other than AccommodationZ.com, our network also includes Reserver.it (where we list more than 2500 Hotels in Italy with secure online reservation) and Siteseeings.com, where you can make reservations for sightseeings in Italy, tours in Rome and also in the Amalfi Coast.

One of the biggest problems any manager has to deal with is getting his people to work as a single unit. Although working together usually helps in and of itself, so does finding ways to get the crowd together in non-work situations, such as parties or sporting events. However, there is probably no better to get your workers together than a common holiday.

Christmas represents a great way to build bonds between the people in an office. Even those that follow no particular path find some solace in Christmas, as edges seem to dull around the holiday season a bit. Since there is an underlying feeling of family that always seems to spread around this time of year, people are more likely to try and get along rather than fight. This is just one of the things that is an intrinsic part of the holiday that can help build your team’s ability to support one another.

Giving gifts may sound trivial, but knowing that someone else spent time on them outside of work, and put at least a moment’s thought into what they liked, boosts self-esteem. Even if it’s just a few dollars, that gift, especially from an anonymous person, enforces that the person is part of a team, and that the person does count. As everyone is theoretically giving to others, and it’s one of the few things that even the crossest workers, those that mock everything, allow to pass without comment, it’s something that builds community.

Strangely, the random gift-giving that goes on around that time of year also helps build the family bond between workers. By allowing people to demonstrate that they have interests beyond the workplace. In a way, by establishing that they brought something in not-from-work, they establish that work isn’t all there is and that’s a comforting thought to most. After all, it means that there is an escape from the drudgery, and that it’s just a matter of time before everyone escapes from the salt mines.

Even the “mandatory” Christmas Party isn’t that bad of an idea, as it shows what others are like when they let their guard down. By making them more human, it becomes difficult to see them as drones, and easier to see them as other people, just like the person himself. As each worker sees each other’s guards down, and that gives them an insight into each other, and they see the humanity within the other workers, even those that are normally cold, they tend to work together better afterwards. The Christmas party is worth it just for that.

That the holiday season is set up well for forging new links should be taken advantage of, regardless of the holiday of choice of your workers. Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas all happen at the same time of the year as New Year’s Day; wouldn’t it be great to start your New Year with a more-connected staff?

Martin Lucchi is a Web Developer for Eclipse Leisure, a British company that organizes hen weekends, stag nights, Corporate Events and corporate Christmas parties for the UK and Europe.

The following article covers a topic that has recently moved to center stage–at least it seems that way. If you’ve been thinking you need to know more about it, here’s your opportunity.

What do you do after a few days in Bangkok to get away from the traffic, pollution, noise and crowds of people? Head for one of the many resorts of Thailand. They provide a haven for you to completely relax in and forget the troubles of the outside world.

In Pattaya, there are a number of resorts that probably do that, but one that we’re sure about is the hotel Resort on Dongtan Beach, Jomtien Pattaya . Its large grounds provide wooded areas, a private beach and various recreational facilities so that there are plenty of options available for any visitor to relax and enjoy themselves. The site is large enough so that sounds from the outside world never make it inside the resort to distract one from the pursuit of peace and relaxation.

If your pattaya facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important pattaya information slip by you.

Our own stay, on a recent weekend, left us rejuvenated and ready to face the world again after indulging in as many of the resort’s facilities as we could. After settling into our luxurious room on the main level of the hotel (which included a beautiful ocean view looking south down the beach) we first started with a workout in the fitness club.

This well-equipped club had everything we needed, including treadmills, exercise bikes, free weights and machines to get a good workout. This was followed by a visit to the steam room for some further cleansing of the body before we left the club. This is a great way to relieve tension and get in the frame of mind to enjoy the weekend and we heartily recommend it. We visited the health club each day we were at the resort so that our regular weekly exercise schedule didn’t suffer a bit even though we weren’t in the city. And, if you’d like to learn something new during your stay you can try one of the classes that are offered on a regular basis.

Of course, after a day of working out and swimming next to the clean ocean air of Pattaya, you’ll develop a healthy appetite and you’re in the right place for being hungry. There are three different dining outlets in the resort that offer three distinct dining experiences. For a more relaxed, casual type of meal try the Cascade Cafe which has recently been remodeled along with the main lobby. Here you’ll find a great buffet breakfast along with an international, Thai and Chinese ala carte menu.

There’s a lot to understand about pattaya. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles. http://www.rabbitresort.com/

Wirat Muenpan is the webmaster of Pattaya Hotel Pattaya Hotel Thailand Hotels Rabbit Resort Your Beach Resort Home in Pattaya, Thailand www.rabbitresort.com/

Thank you photo cards are beautiful photo cards that serve as a means to convey gratefulness. Photo cards are one of the popular means available to the contemporary busy generation to express gratitude and sincere wishes to loved ones.

Photo cards are created by printing original photos directly on the cards. Photos can be of a recent trip with friends, an unforgettable day, beautiful scenery, buildings, or even memorable personal photos.

If digital images are stored in one’s personal computer, then it is easy to create cards, in a few steps. The cards can be prepared in varying styles and designs. Horizontal or vertical prints of photos are taken, depending on the choice. It is possible to create cards online as well. Once created and ordered, the corresponding dealers send the cards through email at the earliest.

Thank you photo cards are excellent for almost all occasions including weddings, showers, birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. Wedding Thank you photo cards are means to express sincere wishes and gratitude to the guests for making the function an auspicious occasion, and for their good wishes and gifts. These cards are unique gifts sent by the bride and groom and include memorable wedding images that imprint the function in the memory of the guests.

Thank you photo cards are becoming more and more popular in recent times. Thank you photo cards are sufficient compensation when one is unable to visit distant relatives and friends. Good cards breathe affection and show the deep concern of the sender to his near and dear ones. Further, the cards with photos are memorable and valuable gifts to the loved persons.

At the present time lots of people prefer getting their swimwear online; purchasing online is a very easy & proper way to shop in the freedom of your own living room.

It’s imperative to check while procuring swimwear on the World Wide Web that it defiantly fits you When you procure swimwear on the World Wide Web always make sure that the store offers a useful quality sizing chart that presents all of the sizes you may need. With the use of a sizing chart one can guarantee to buy a swimsuit or bikini that fits exactly, so reducing the demand to switch for an alternative size. By and large most of the online swimwear stores don’t allow an exchange of goods with this in mind it is generally always better to pick an online shop where exchanges are permitted. Some retail stores will allow the returns of swimwear if the tags & the original packaging are also returned along with it.

Swimwear is a usual aspect of the summer; however a significant majority of full-figured females feel intimidated at the ideas of shopping for swimsuits & bikinis that fit correctly. These women even ponder over wearing caftans by the swimming pool or at the beach rather than looking unpleasant. Designers & shopkeepers are familiar with the fashion problems of the overweight woman, & are at last featuring a wide assortment of stylish bathing suit designs in bigger sizes, & the best place to locate such swimwear is to get swimwear online. Find eye-catching and sexy lucia cami tops, ebony long trousers, imogen silk camisoles and imogen silk Wraps from Lepel.

I arrived in Bankok in April, knowing it would be hot, but was knocked out by the average 106 weather. After a chaotic trip to my guesthouse, through the most amazing traffic, I collapsed on the bed in nothing but my birthday suit. Prior to arriving in Thailand, I had researched what to pack. I wanted to bring comfortable clothing, but also pieces that would be appropriate for the various wats or temples I planned to visit.

To Thais, being sabai jai means having a contented heart, referring to a calm disposition. Foreigners or farang are thought to behave in a contradictory manner, being easily frustrated and exhibiting a quick temper or jai rawn.
I promised myself that I would blend in to my new surroundings and maintain an inward tranquility so prized in the Land of Smiles.

On my second day in Bankok I was headed to the former Thai capital Ayutthaya and the Royal summer palace, Bang Pa-In. Forgetting all of my carefully selected couture, I threw on the coolest pieces I had. Dressed in a sleeveless tank and black cotton skirt that hit above my knee, off I went. That was the end of my inner and outer tranquility.

As soon as I stepped on the bus, I became acutely aware that I had forgotten the dress code, but it was too late. My seatmate was an impeccably dressed British woman who looked appalled by my very presence. She avoided conversation and eye contact with me, and we rode to Ayutthaya in silence.

Unable to fully enjoy the Buddha statues and architecture that spanned centuries, I was consumed by the thought that I was offending past and present Thais. I was especially distracted when all my bare bits were in the company of monks. Overheated, sweaty and blotchy red, we headed to our next stop, Bang Pa-In the colonial-style summer digs for the Royal Family. We were told that clothing would be provided to cover knees and shoulders if we weren’t dressed appropriately. I should have taken the offer. Instead I looked in my bag and grabbed a black sundress that I had stashed at the last minute. A frilly flamenco looking number, I looked ready for the stage than a stroll through a revered Thai attraction.

I was pleased with my find, and our Thai guide, always polite, said I looked fine. Off I went, and perhaps overly confident due to my modest attire, instead of opting for the covered golf carts, I joined the rest of the walking tour. I now understood how asphalt feels in the blistering sun. Trying to stay conscious, every so often I would sneak into a stream of water coming out of the sprinklers to keep the expertly manicure lawn looking green. How I envied that lawn.

Eventually I had to retreat from the walking tour and seek some shade. I looked up and saw two chic young Thai women in jeans and cardigans under a lovely umbrella. They were pointing and giggling. I must have looked a site, a large overheated, beet red woman in a formal black dress. I found out later that like Western culture, black is worn for funerals and can be considered bad luck. It was certainly bad luck for me.

I had become the traveler I vowed not to be, but now I knew better. The next day, wearing modest attire, I smugly hopped off the water taxi and headed for the gates of the Grand Palace complex. Unexpectedly, the clothing police directed me to a long line up of farang waiting to enter a small white building. On my turn a woman handed me a pair of socks. I put on the socks, slipped my sandals on and away I went. I walked toward the inner entrance of the Grand Palace but guards stopped me again, pointed at my feet, and gestured back the way I came. I wheeled around and was starting to get impatient, hot and frustrated. My jai rawn was showing up already, my second day in Thailand! As I trundled back in the hot sun, I watched smiling, perfectly poised Thai women dressed head to toe in warm looking clothing. I was so envious of their composure!

Back at the trailer, the attendants looked apologetic and handed me a pair of sport sandals. By the time I made it back to the entrance, I was sweating in the socks, long pants and modest shirt. After a few minutes I was again starting to overheat. I clicked a few photos and rushed towards the wrong exit. At first I thought I wouldn’t be let out, but when I kept exclaiming “mai sabai” the guards knew I wasn’t well and quickly let me pass. Embarrassed, I revived myself with ice cream and water.

Eventually, I began to adapt. Once I simply stopped to watch how Thais dealt with the heat, instead of trying to recall what I had read, I caught on to loose cotton clothing, and was much more savvy about sun exposure. In Thailand, the state of tranquility or sabai jai transcends physical appearances. It is intertwined with religion and philosophy, and to think I could attain something so intangible overnight was ridiculous. I needed to release the hold on what I thought I knew, in order to find my contented heart.

10 Ways to Beat the Heat in Thailand:

It’s hot in Thailand all year round, but if you’re affected by extreme heat here are some things to consider when visiting the Land of Smiles:

1. Although Songkran or Thai New Year is fun to experience, you may want to avoid Thailand in April. It’s the warmest time of year, with little escape from the blistering sun. I had to miss certain attractions in Bangkok because I simply couldn’t function in the extreme heat.

2. Keep hydrated. Buy lots of bottled water and be diligent about replenishing every hour.

3. Bring hydration packets with you. I met a woman from California who gave me this tip for my next trip to Thailand. You can pick up these packets at sports stores or drugstores and are usually used by athletes.

4. Make sure to bring loose, light colored clothing made from natural fibers like linen or cotton. Sport sandals are a must if you plan on visiting the Grand Palace in Bangkok, as well as a few modest pieces to cover shoulders and knees.

5. As soon as you arrive, buy an umbrella to keep the sun off. They’re cheap and work well to keep you shaded. They look pretty too!

6. Stay near or on the water. The Chao Praya River in Bangkok, or escape to an island. It’s much cooler.

7. Avoid too much sun and wear sun block. If you do get a sunburn, try a first aid vitamin E ointment. It worked wonders on my burned shoulders.

8. Wear a hat if you don’t plan on using an umbrella.

9. Get up with the monks and do most of your sightseeing early in the morning.

10. Enjoy the spicy and delicious Thai food! The spice tends to make to salivate and perspire which cools you off and quenches your thirst.

Jane Arnold is a freelance writer and travel buff. She has spent time in Europe and North America, and most recently traveled to South East Asia. You can read more of her travel stories at
http://www.girlyside.com/girlyside.html
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Journaling on Vacation By George Barnett You can take plenty of photographs on your vacation, even digital video is fairly easy, but those things won’t help you record the little incidents that give meaning to your vacation. That is why keeping a travel journal is so helpful. The journal of your vacation is the place to keep notes of the small things that give color to your trip. It is also the place to keep the details of the big things that make a vacation memorable.

If you don’t usually keep a journal, that’s okay. There is just one rule in journaling: it’s your journal and nothing else matters. It isn’t necessary to go into great detail if your don’t want to. You shouldn’t worry about your spelling or grammar. The important thing is to record those things that will trigger the memories of the vacation. For example, what did you feel like when you found out that the gentleman who gave you directions in Washington, DC was the Ambassador from France. You discovered that when you saw him being interviewed on the national news. The photograph of the outdoor food court in Singapore was nice, but what did the place smell like; what kind of food did you try and what was it like; and how did the other patrons react to seeing an American tourist away from the usual tourist places. That is the kind of experience that everyone has at one time or another, but only those people who keep a travel journal will be able to savor the memory long after the trip is over. Keeping a journal can also be a learning experience. The longer you keep the journal the more you will find yourself mentally noting the small things that should be recorded. A young girl’s eyes when she first sees the Grand Canyon can only be properly described by a parent who keeps a journal. The teen age boy, who considers himself too cool to be seen with his parents even on vacation, can’t stop talking to you about his first ride on the Powell Street cable car in San Francisco. There is no way to keep that memory except in your travel journal. It is your journal and that allows you to keep your thoughts on all of the things that are important just to you. Your mother-in-law met your father-in-law in New York City fifty years ago. They always meant to go back, but something always came up. He has since passed away, and now you are taking her back to the Big Apple for the first time in half a century. While you are there you ask her about her memories and what it was like to be young and falling in love in New York City. Those are the things that go into a journal.

Having the proper tools is important, of course. The journal can be just a few scraps of paper, but those are likely to get lost. A book of blank pages designed specifically as a journal is the best way to go. You should look for the kind of book that you feel comfortable carrying and using. And you should look for a journal that can be used for many trips and will last for many years. After all, this is likely to be the book that you go back to to regain the warmth of that trip that meant so much to you. When the children are grown and the grand parents have passed away, it will be your journal, chosen so carefully today, that will be there to remind you of the good times and the not-so-good times. A vacation is a set of shared experiences between friends and family members. You may find that the memories of those experiences are quite different among the people who were there. A travel journal is an excellent pre-vacation gift for everyone who travels. Now that you have a journal be sure to have it with you at all times. Perhaps place the journal with your camera so that, just like the photographs you should be taking, you will have your journal handy to record the memories in a different way. Keeping a journal in a pocket or purse is always a good idea. Once again, just like your camera, a journal is only good as long as you use it. So keep your vacation handy while you are traveling and be sure to record all of the events and activities that make up a vacation.