I have traveled all throughout the United States. I have visited little towns and huge cities. I have stayed in the cheapest motels and some of the nicest luxury hotels there are. What I've discovered from my travels is it's the places that you don't think about much that end up leaving an impression on you.
For example, the state that I most want to visit again is North Carolina. I hadn't even planned on spending much time there. I was driving through on my way to somewhere that sounded more exciting. But I fell in love with the state. I loved the hippies in Asheville and the cool barbershop in Fayetteville and the way people were fishing in the ocean.
Sometimes it's not just a place that sticks with you but a feature of that place. That's how I feel about hotels in Atlanta. I went there after a long stay in San Diego. I roomed in a lot of really cool San Diego CA hotels. But the Atlanta hotels were so much more interesting. They were designed with neat Southern architecture and they offer service with Southern charm attached.
What I've learned about travel is that you can't plan for what will impress you. You can plan the details of the trip. You can plan the places that you want to see. But you just never know what's going to stick in your mind after you leave.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The World's Oldest National Parks
National parks are important. They offer sanctuaries where people can retreat into nature even though buildings are going up all around them. You would think that this is something that we only recently started worrying about. However, it's been a concern for a long time. In fact, some of the oldest national parks in the world were established in the nineteenth century, long before a lot of people started worrying about the problems of urbanization.
The oldest established National Park is Yellowstone National Park located here in the United States. It was established back in 1872 right after the National Park Service was created. This was when people started to worry about the importance of protecting the nature that was starting to be destroyed by urban development.
Canada soon followed suit with its first National Park. Banff National Park was established in 1885. It was established because of a controversy over the land here. Hot Springs were discovered in the area and some people wanted to commercialize them whereas others wanted to keep them free for the public. Keeping beautiful land available for all people at low cost or no cost is a key reason that we have national parks.
The oldest established National Park is Yellowstone National Park located here in the United States. It was established back in 1872 right after the National Park Service was created. This was when people started to worry about the importance of protecting the nature that was starting to be destroyed by urban development.
Canada soon followed suit with its first National Park. Banff National Park was established in 1885. It was established because of a controversy over the land here. Hot Springs were discovered in the area and some people wanted to commercialize them whereas others wanted to keep them free for the public. Keeping beautiful land available for all people at low cost or no cost is a key reason that we have national parks.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Being prepared for the best disability insurance quote
Before you get your first disability insurance quote, make sure you have gathered all of the pertinent information that is required for the potential insurer to give your premium amounts. You will be quoted based upon where your practice is located, the number of patients your doctor sees annually, the average income produced by the practice and a host of other factors.
If, for instance, you are located in Manhattan, KS and only generate $3.5 Million dollars gross, annually, you can be assured that the rates charged by most disability insurance companies will be less than if your practice was in Manhattan, NY.
Other important factors might include the actual number of patients which come through your doors. The reasoning behind this is sound. If it takes your practice 1200 patients to make that $3.5 Million in income, and it takes a similar practice only 600 patients to generate the same amount, that is half the chances that something could go wrong. With less chances for you and your practice to be sued, you can reasonably expect to have lower premiums.
Another factor is how long you have been with your current insurer. Many of the leading disability insurance companies will take long term customers loyalty into consideration and lower premiums as a way of thanking them for their continued business.
If, for instance, you are located in Manhattan, KS and only generate $3.5 Million dollars gross, annually, you can be assured that the rates charged by most disability insurance companies will be less than if your practice was in Manhattan, NY.
Other important factors might include the actual number of patients which come through your doors. The reasoning behind this is sound. If it takes your practice 1200 patients to make that $3.5 Million in income, and it takes a similar practice only 600 patients to generate the same amount, that is half the chances that something could go wrong. With less chances for you and your practice to be sued, you can reasonably expect to have lower premiums.
Another factor is how long you have been with your current insurer. Many of the leading disability insurance companies will take long term customers loyalty into consideration and lower premiums as a way of thanking them for their continued business.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Always wanted to take a train trip in Canada
Some of my earliest memories were watching old black and white films on TV. Now, I'm not so old that color television had yet to be created, so watch it! Seriously, though, I can remember marveling at the majestic mountains, streams, tunnels through the hillsides and all that went along with the trains steaming through the countrysides.
Since I've never taken a train ride for pleasure I decided that I would start researching what would be involved in taking a train trip in Canada. I was actually somewhat shocked to learn that for surprisingly little money I could plan out a masterful vacation that would take me from end to end and back again.
And what was even more attractive was the fact that some of the more exceptional touring companies in Canada offered combination packages as well. Not only could I take the train, but I could also add Canada coach tours to supplement certain parts of my overall vacation plans.
When you combine the infinite options that come along with train and motor coach touring, you'll be hooked into it like I was. Nothing is in my way now of getting to experience in real life those hours and hours of television watching as a kid. I can hardly wait to see all that Canada has to offer.
Since I've never taken a train ride for pleasure I decided that I would start researching what would be involved in taking a train trip in Canada. I was actually somewhat shocked to learn that for surprisingly little money I could plan out a masterful vacation that would take me from end to end and back again.
And what was even more attractive was the fact that some of the more exceptional touring companies in Canada offered combination packages as well. Not only could I take the train, but I could also add Canada coach tours to supplement certain parts of my overall vacation plans.
When you combine the infinite options that come along with train and motor coach touring, you'll be hooked into it like I was. Nothing is in my way now of getting to experience in real life those hours and hours of television watching as a kid. I can hardly wait to see all that Canada has to offer.
Differences between loans and payday loans
Many times I've wondered exactly what the difference was between a regular loan one would get at a bank or lending institution and those payday loans you sometimes see advertised in the local penny saver papers. The name does sound pretty self-explanatory, but is it really?
If you are going to apply for a payday loan, do they look at your credit rating? If so, how does that affect you ability to actually receive the money successfully? Or perhaps the rates one would have to pay are based upon ones credit rating.
And how do they actually verify that you have a job which will eventually result in a payday? I know one advertisement I noticed recently indicated that all you had to do was bring in your most recent pay stub and verification would be satisfied.
But what if your most recent check was also your last payday? Would they know this? If so, how? The only way I can think of is they must be calling your human resources office and asking them point blank whether or not you still work there. Many businesses won't give out this information, however.
With all these questions, I can only imagine how hard it is for banks to process the real loans they are handing money out for.
If you are going to apply for a payday loan, do they look at your credit rating? If so, how does that affect you ability to actually receive the money successfully? Or perhaps the rates one would have to pay are based upon ones credit rating.
And how do they actually verify that you have a job which will eventually result in a payday? I know one advertisement I noticed recently indicated that all you had to do was bring in your most recent pay stub and verification would be satisfied.
But what if your most recent check was also your last payday? Would they know this? If so, how? The only way I can think of is they must be calling your human resources office and asking them point blank whether or not you still work there. Many businesses won't give out this information, however.
With all these questions, I can only imagine how hard it is for banks to process the real loans they are handing money out for.
Friday, June 19, 2009
How to Have the Best Fiji Adventure Ever
One of the things that I think everyone should do in this lifetime is to travel to an adventurous destination. I happen to believe that Fiji is the best place to do that.
Follow these steps to have the best Fiji adventure ever:
• Learn about Fiji before you go. There is a lot of rich history there. Knowing it will give you a better understanding of all that you experience there.
• Invite someone that you have fun with. The company that you take on a trip can make a big difference in what a good time you'll have.
• Book a room at a great Fiji resort. There is no point in going on a wild adventure and staying somewhere cheap.
• Stay there for at least a week. This gives you enough time to do everything that you might want to do.
• Try at least one experience that scares you. Go scuba diving or do something else that's a little scary. Fear is how you know that you're alive!
• Take a lot of pictures. You want to be able to treasure those memories of Fiji forever and ever.
Fiji is the best adventure vacation destination for me. If it's not right for you, find some place that is and then make your travel plans.
Upgrading my CPAP machine to BI-PAP
Four years ago I was diagnosed with sleep apnea disorder and finally came to understand where so many of my personal, physical challenges were originating. Prior to my doctor telling me about my sleep challenges, I just though my lifestyle was contributing to my general malaise and overall discomfort.
The reality, however was that regardless of the amount of sleep I received at night, I was not truly resting. As a consequence, I would awake more tired than when I went to sleep. My first CPAP machine made a monumental difference in my life, and I still don't understand how I was able to get along without it.
Within the first 6 months or so after beginning to sleep with it, I felt more energized in the morning and that energy lasted deeper into the day. I was finally able to focus on other aspects of my health: things like diet, exercise and just plain fun!
The next 6 months, however I felt like I had hit a ceiling and wondered if this was just the best I could expect. With a referral to a sleep specialist, I was able to upgrade to using a special bipap device that has added new height to that ceiling I thought I had hit. Now, I feel more rested and rejuvenated than ever before.
The reality, however was that regardless of the amount of sleep I received at night, I was not truly resting. As a consequence, I would awake more tired than when I went to sleep. My first CPAP machine made a monumental difference in my life, and I still don't understand how I was able to get along without it.
Within the first 6 months or so after beginning to sleep with it, I felt more energized in the morning and that energy lasted deeper into the day. I was finally able to focus on other aspects of my health: things like diet, exercise and just plain fun!
The next 6 months, however I felt like I had hit a ceiling and wondered if this was just the best I could expect. With a referral to a sleep specialist, I was able to upgrade to using a special bipap device that has added new height to that ceiling I thought I had hit. Now, I feel more rested and rejuvenated than ever before.
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