Archive for January, 2010
Aviation News Worldwide ,Bussiness ,Airline News,Aviation Sport
Anthony A Juma asked:
Aviation industry is playing avital role in the economic,social and political world as it makes travel easier and quicker through air transport, thus the need for the update on the new develpoments.Many bussiness depend on aviation industry for both imports and exports and it needs new technology to make the air transport cheaper and convinient to enable transactions to be quicker.
Every Month or after two weeks there news on new technology like introduction of new model of aircrafts for example the Citation X fitted with the Elliptical Winglets to give it more range,less fuel consumption which will make the Private Jet Flights even more cheaper. The introdduction of the Dreamliner 787 Boeing which will have more seating capacity thus reduction in cost per seat and saving of 20% on fuel consumption.
WORLD AIR NEWS ROUND UP
Big Contract
Stratford,conn.Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) in Wichita has been awarded a contract to provide the T-6A trainer aircraft- claimed to be the worlds most proven military training programme-to the Israel Air Force.
This is the first foreign military sales case contract also includes ground-based training systems and publications.
Active Rotor System Begins
As part of an effort to improve helicopter perfomance,Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, has begun whirl testing a demonstration rotor system with active flaps. The effort is jointly funded by Sikorsky and the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate.
Testing is expected to be completed soon and wind tunnel testing at NASAs facilities is planned in 2010.
Three Million Passengers
Arik Air Lagos,Nigerias leading domestic commercial airline ,has carried its three millionth passengers-a particularly impressive tally considering it has been operating for less than three years.In addition to this milestone ,July was a record breaking month for the airline,as it carried the most passengers in a month since it started operations-182075-and operated the greatest number of scheduled flights in a calendar month,namely 3203. To supplement on the domestic flights ,it now operates long-haul flights from Lagos to London and Johannesburg.
Euro-Russian Agreement
Tyumen,Russia-Eurocopter and UTair Aviation have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to establish a certified Eurocopter flight training centre in Tyumen.
This centre will begin operations early next year and will allow flight crews and technicians to be trained locally in Russia to operate Eurocopter helicopters.
This Eurocopter -certified maintenance centre will open its doors towards the end of 2009.
UTair has been operating Eurocopter helicopters since 2006 .The carriers fleet compromises light multi-purpose helicopters such as AS350 B3s,AS-355N and BO-105S. Starting from 2012 ,Eurocopters new product ,the EC175 will also join UTairs fleet of helicopters.In 2008 ,UTair became a launching partner of the EC175 with an order of 15 helicopters ,and an option for 15 more.
Delivery of 4000th A320 TAM Flag Carrier Brazil
Airbus recently delivered its 4000 th A320 Family aircraft to Brazilian flag carrier TAM from its final assemly line in Hamburg,Germany.
The aircraft ,an A 319, was handed over to TAM in the presence of the president of the Board of TAM, Maria Claudia Oliveira Amaro, as well as the Airbus president and CEO, Tom Enders.
On the 319s ferry flight from Hamburg to Brazil, TAM transported goods for schools for handicapped children in the region. The equipment was donated by Aviation Without Borders Germany (LOG) and facilitated by the Airbus Foundation.
New Schedule For the First Flight And DeliveryFor Dreamliner 787 By Boeing.
Boeing has announced that the first flight of the 787 Deamliner is expected by end of 2009 and first delivery is due to occur in the fourth quarter of 2010.
The new schedule reflects the previous announced need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft,along with the addition of several weeks of schedule margin to reduce flight test and certification risk.The projects achieving a production rate of 10 aircrafts per month in late 2013 this was announced by Boeing Chairman,President and CEO Jim Mcnerney.The design details and implementation plan are nearly complete , and the team is preparing airplanes for modification and testing.
African Airline News
A new airline has started services inbetween Nairobi,Kenya and Dubai with a single Boeing 737-200. The airline is called JUBBA AIR and it is not associated with JUBBA AIR SUDAN and its slogan is “The happy way to fly”
AIR ZIM PRIVATISATION HARARE. Zimbambwes state-owned airline,Air Zimbambwe ,is considering opening up to prfivate shareholders in exchange for a huge cash injection needed to avert its collapse.
Air Zimbambwe ,which plans to cut up to 500 jobs and which government officials say currently receives $ 2-million a week from state coffers, is a perennial loss-maker weighed down by an ageing fleet,debt and a severe economic crisis in the Southern African country.
Maputo. Lam has taken its second delivery of ERJ190 from Brazilian aircraft manufacturer,embraer
Africa Express Airways Nairobi, has leased two MD-182S for sceduled services.The aircraft were sourced from 20 aircraft Safair has placed in storage at Upington Airport, in Northern Cape.
Air Uganda has taken delivery of a single Canadair regional jet to be operated on scheduled services out of Entebbe International Airport Uganda.
Air Burkina has taken delivery of asn additional MD-83 as part of a continued fleet expansion programme at Ouagadougou .
An aircraft brokerage company,believed to be Tigris International ,is to base at least three airbus A300-600S at Lanseria Airport in South Africa
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA STARTS COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS FROM MELBOURNE TO JOHANNESBURG.
Sydney-V Australia, the Australian long-haul carrier owned by Sir Richard Branson,has announced that it will start sheduled flights twice per week between Melbourne and Johannesburg.
The services will begin in May 2010 andd be operated using Boeing 777-300ER equipment.
With the above information especially for bussiness community they can put their strategic plaln in place as they have a clue of the happenings in the industry all over the world.
Aviation industry is playing avital role in the economic,social and political world as it makes travel easier and quicker through air transport, thus the need for the update on the new develpoments.Many bussiness depend on aviation industry for both imports and exports and it needs new technology to make the air transport cheaper and convinient to enable transactions to be quicker.
Every Month or after two weeks there news on new technology like introduction of new model of aircrafts for example the Citation X fitted with the Elliptical Winglets to give it more range,less fuel consumption which will make the Private Jet Flights even more cheaper. The introdduction of the Dreamliner 787 Boeing which will have more seating capacity thus reduction in cost per seat and saving of 20% on fuel consumption.
WORLD AIR NEWS ROUND UP
Big Contract
Stratford,conn.Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) in Wichita has been awarded a contract to provide the T-6A trainer aircraft- claimed to be the worlds most proven military training programme-to the Israel Air Force.
This is the first foreign military sales case contract also includes ground-based training systems and publications.
Active Rotor System Begins
As part of an effort to improve helicopter perfomance,Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, has begun whirl testing a demonstration rotor system with active flaps. The effort is jointly funded by Sikorsky and the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate.
Testing is expected to be completed soon and wind tunnel testing at NASAs facilities is planned in 2010.
Three Million Passengers
Arik Air Lagos,Nigerias leading domestic commercial airline ,has carried its three millionth passengers-a particularly impressive tally considering it has been operating for less than three years.In addition to this milestone ,July was a record breaking month for the airline,as it carried the most passengers in a month since it started operations-182075-and operated the greatest number of scheduled flights in a calendar month,namely 3203. To supplement on the domestic flights ,it now operates long-haul flights from Lagos to London and Johannesburg.
Euro-Russian Agreement
Tyumen,Russia-Eurocopter and UTair Aviation have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to establish a certified Eurocopter flight training centre in Tyumen.
This centre will begin operations early next year and will allow flight crews and technicians to be trained locally in Russia to operate Eurocopter helicopters.
This Eurocopter -certified maintenance centre will open its doors towards the end of 2009.
UTair has been operating Eurocopter helicopters since 2006 .The carriers fleet compromises light multi-purpose helicopters such as AS350 B3s,AS-355N and BO-105S. Starting from 2012 ,Eurocopters new product ,the EC175 will also join UTairs fleet of helicopters.In 2008 ,UTair became a launching partner of the EC175 with an order of 15 helicopters ,and an option for 15 more.
Delivery of 4000th A320 TAM Flag Carrier Brazil
Airbus recently delivered its 4000 th A320 Family aircraft to Brazilian flag carrier TAM from its final assemly line in Hamburg,Germany.
The aircraft ,an A 319, was handed over to TAM in the presence of the president of the Board of TAM, Maria Claudia Oliveira Amaro, as well as the Airbus president and CEO, Tom Enders.
On the 319s ferry flight from Hamburg to Brazil, TAM transported goods for schools for handicapped children in the region. The equipment was donated by Aviation Without Borders Germany (LOG) and facilitated by the Airbus Foundation.
New Schedule For the First Flight And DeliveryFor Dreamliner 787 By Boeing.
Boeing has announced that the first flight of the 787 Deamliner is expected by end of 2009 and first delivery is due to occur in the fourth quarter of 2010.
The new schedule reflects the previous announced need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft,along with the addition of several weeks of schedule margin to reduce flight test and certification risk.The projects achieving a production rate of 10 aircrafts per month in late 2013 this was announced by Boeing Chairman,President and CEO Jim Mcnerney.The design details and implementation plan are nearly complete , and the team is preparing airplanes for modification and testing.
African Airline News
A new airline has started services inbetween Nairobi,Kenya and Dubai with a single Boeing 737-200. The airline is called JUBBA AIR and it is not associated with JUBBA AIR SUDAN and its slogan is “The happy way to fly”
AIR ZIM PRIVATISATION HARARE. Zimbambwes state-owned airline,Air Zimbambwe ,is considering opening up to prfivate shareholders in exchange for a huge cash injection needed to avert its collapse.
Air Zimbambwe ,which plans to cut up to 500 jobs and which government officials say currently receives $ 2-million a week from state coffers, is a perennial loss-maker weighed down by an ageing fleet,debt and a severe economic crisis in the Southern African country.
Maputo. Lam has taken its second delivery of ERJ190 from Brazilian aircraft manufacturer,embraer
Africa Express Airways Nairobi, has leased two MD-182S for sceduled services.The aircraft were sourced from 20 aircraft Safair has placed in storage at Upington Airport, in Northern Cape.
Air Uganda has taken delivery of a single Canadair regional jet to be operated on scheduled services out of Entebbe International Airport Uganda.
Air Burkina has taken delivery of asn additional MD-83 as part of a continued fleet expansion programme at Ouagadougou .
An aircraft brokerage company,believed to be Tigris International ,is to base at least three airbus A300-600S at Lanseria Airport in South Africa
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA STARTS COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS FROM MELBOURNE TO JOHANNESBURG.
Sydney-V Australia, the Australian long-haul carrier owned by Sir Richard Branson,has announced that it will start sheduled flights twice per week between Melbourne and Johannesburg.
The services will begin in May 2010 andd be operated using Boeing 777-300ER equipment.
With the above information especially for bussiness community they can put their strategic plaln in place as they have a clue of the happenings in the industry all over the world.
How to Book Air Tickets Online
Andrew asked:
Booking your flight tickets online is a very simple and affordable process. You can save a lot of money by booking your tickets online. When you book your tickets online you don’t have to pay any commission to the travel agents.
Searching flight route – Usually the airlines website will provide the airline flight routes available. The first step is to choose a route to get to the location you wish, if necessary this can include stop over at other destinations on the way to your final location. Once you have decided on a route you must also fill in the number of passengers you plan to travel with. Children under the age of 23 months can sit on their parent lap so there is no need to book for them.
Selecting flight number- After you decide the route, then there will be many different times during the day that you can travel, you should look over the different options available to you and ensure that you select the flight with the best characteristics to suit your schedule and budget.
Entering your data- After you choose ticket(s) and prices, then the next thing you will need to do is fill in your details for the passenger manifest. The details you will need to give are your name, sex, address and telephone that could be reached. If you are traveling with multiple people you will need to fill in the details of everyone.
Payment- After filling in your personal data you will be shown your ticket booking code amount to be paid. The most common form of payment accepted by airlines is credit card. If you don’t have a credit card you can record/print the results of the booking and then pay the fare at the airline ticket counter when you get there.
Printing tickets- The process of finding or buying plane tickets online is finished, now you can simply print your ticket or record your booking code which can be presented upon check in.
All the airlines in India like Indian Airlines booking, Paramount Airways etc. offer booking of flight tickets online through their official website and online travel agencies.
Booking your flight tickets online is a very simple and affordable process. You can save a lot of money by booking your tickets online. When you book your tickets online you don’t have to pay any commission to the travel agents.
Searching flight route – Usually the airlines website will provide the airline flight routes available. The first step is to choose a route to get to the location you wish, if necessary this can include stop over at other destinations on the way to your final location. Once you have decided on a route you must also fill in the number of passengers you plan to travel with. Children under the age of 23 months can sit on their parent lap so there is no need to book for them.
Selecting flight number- After you decide the route, then there will be many different times during the day that you can travel, you should look over the different options available to you and ensure that you select the flight with the best characteristics to suit your schedule and budget.
Entering your data- After you choose ticket(s) and prices, then the next thing you will need to do is fill in your details for the passenger manifest. The details you will need to give are your name, sex, address and telephone that could be reached. If you are traveling with multiple people you will need to fill in the details of everyone.
Payment- After filling in your personal data you will be shown your ticket booking code amount to be paid. The most common form of payment accepted by airlines is credit card. If you don’t have a credit card you can record/print the results of the booking and then pay the fare at the airline ticket counter when you get there.
Printing tickets- The process of finding or buying plane tickets online is finished, now you can simply print your ticket or record your booking code which can be presented upon check in.
All the airlines in India like Indian Airlines booking, Paramount Airways etc. offer booking of flight tickets online through their official website and online travel agencies.
Terrorist Attacking Wall Street
michael Webster asked:
BY MICHAEL WEBSTER: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER Sept 18, 2008 1201 PM PDT
U.S. government law enforcement agencies including the SEC, FBI and DOJ are on alert and are believed investigating terror and other related short selling illegal manipulation of the market place.
It was reported that between August 26 and September 11, 2001, groups of speculators, including Middle Eastern country investors, some reported connected to terrorist such as Al Qaeda and the Ben Laden family, these groups were believed connected to predicting the demise of certain airline and buildings including the New York Trade Center. Still others were identified by the American Securities and Exchange Commission as Israeli citizens, who sold “short” a list of 38 stocks that could reasonably be expected to fall in value as a result of the pending 911 attacks. According to the reports these speculators operated out of the Toronto, Canada and Frankfurt, Germany, stock exchanges and their profits were specifically stated to be huge. Apparently none of the suspicious transactions could be traced to bin Laden because this news item quietly dropped from sight, leaving many people wondering if it tracked back to American firms or intelligence agencies
The feds have seen a possible similar trends operating on Wall Street recently and no end to the panic selling on Wall Street. US corporate regulator, the SEC, is seeking to ease the terror by implementing emergency rules relating to short selling.
This possible action will be stronger than the recent use of the emergency powers that the SEC invoked in July to slap a temporary ban on “naked” shorting of 19 companies, including the mortgage insurers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and a number of major investment banks and commercial banks. The new aim will be to stop “unlawful manipulation” of American companies and their stock and to hopefully help to maintain orderly markets. Just how much damage has been done is not known but is believe catustrafic.
Short selling of stocks involves the opportunity to gain large profits by passing shares to a friendly third party, then buying them back when the price falls. Historically, if this precedes a traumatic event, it is an indication of foreknowledge. It is widely known that the CIA uses the Promis and other cutting edge software to routinely monitor stock trades as a possible warning sign of a terrorist attack or suspicious economic behavior. A week after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the London Times reported that the CIA had asked regulators for the Financial Services Authority in London to investigate the suspicious sales of millions of shares of stock just prior to the terrorist acts. It was hoped the business paper trail might lead to the terrorists.
The US Government as a result of the recent falling market has now nationalized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, by investing American tax payer’s money to hopefully bail them out. US Government has also nationalized the world’s largest insurer, American International Group, (AIG) which was not on the SEC’s list. That so far has cost the American tax payer an additional 80 million for an 80% ownership of the shares. This nationalization of Massive American institutions is a socialization of America. The government claims by placing them in what it dubs as “conservatorship” will give the American people the opportunity to make money should the government be able to turn it around. However even should they make money on the deal it is hard to see how the American people could benefit from it, according to Wall Street insiders? All this while two of the major investment banks on the SEC list have now disappeared — Lehman Bros and Merrill Lynch.
Naked” short selling practice is technically not illegal, but dealer-brokers are required to have “reasonable grounds” to believe the securities can be borrowed to enable settlement.
The SEC has long held the power to make emergency orders, but it is only now that they are invoking orders that will be unprecedented. Such orders may become permiant.
The SEC has also adopted a rule that makes it fraudulent, and a violation of the law, if short sellers deceive broker-dealers or any other participants as to their ability to delivery securities within time for settlement.
The new rules apply until October 1 unless further extended. Their introduction follows strong lobbying by the American Bankers Association to clamp down on short selling amid concerns that the price of their stock was being manipulated.
“We are concerned about the possible unnecessary or artificial price movements based on unfounded rumors regarding the stability of financial institutions and other issuers, exacerbated by naked short selling. Our concerns, however, are no longer limited to just financial institutions,” the SEC said.
“In addition, we have become concerned that some persons may take advantage of issuers that have become temporarily weakened by current market conditions to engage in inappropriate short selling in the securities of such issues,” it added.
In regard to the few remaining Wall Street financial institutions lift, like Mogen Stanley, Goldman sacks may have fallen victim to such practices. The feds are worried and have become concerned about “sudden and unexplained” declines in the prices of securities, which could create questions about the underlying financial condition of an issuer, which in turn could create a crisis of confidence without a fundamental underlying basis. This crisis of confidence could impair the liquidity and viability of an issuer “with potentially broad market consequences”.
Washington Mutual and other deposit banks are in jeopardy. Other sectors still American car makers and other and related industries are all venerable to short selling techniques and the SEC is committed to stop this dangerous type of maneuvering.
The real controversy over naked short selling, however, concerns price manipulation. Here the fear is that a maverick trader could spread false rumors about a company while massively shorting its stock. Such aggressive actions would allegedly push the price down, allowing the trader to reap a guaranteed profit from his self-fulfilling prophecy.
The matter of 911 is still under investigation and none of the government investigating bodies -including the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and DOJ -are speaking to reporters about insider trading. Even so, suspicion of insider trading to profit from the September 11 attacks is not limited to U.S. regulators. Investigations were initiated in a number of places including Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Spain. As in the United States, all are treating these inquiries as if they were state secrets.
Given all of this, at a minimum the government regulators who are conducting the secret investigations have known for some time who made the options puts on a total of 38 stocks that might reasonably be anticipated to have a sharp drop in value because of an attack similar to the 9/11 episode.
The silence from the investigating camps could mean several things: Either terrorists are responsible for the puts on the listed stocks or others besides terrorists had foreknowledge of the trouble that was about to strike Wall Street or may have even contributed and used that knowledge to reap a nice financial harvest from the instability of the market place.
Federal investigators are continuing to be so closed-mouthed about these stock trades, and it is clear that a much wider net has been cast, apparently looking for bigger international fish involved in dubious financial activity relating to the world stock markets.
There was unusually heavy trading in airline and insurance stocks several days before September 11, 2001, which essentially bet on a drop in the worth of the stocks. The same is suspected being done on some recent failures and weakness like Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., Morgan Stanley and others.
In reference to 911 just a month after the attacks the SEC sent out a list of stocks to various securities firms around the world looking for information. Many of the same firms who failed this go round were also on that list. At that time the list included stocks of American, United, Continental, Northwest, Southwest and U.S. Airways airlines, as well as Martin, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corp., AIG, American Express Corp, American International Group, AMR Corporation, Axe SA, Bank of America Corp, Bank of New York Corp, Bank One Corp, Cigna Group, CNA Financial, Carnival Corp, Chubb Group, John Han*** Financial Services, Hercules Inc, L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., LTV Corporation, Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc., MetLife, Progressive Corp., General Motors, Raytheon, W.R. Grace, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., Lone Star Technologies, American Express, the Citigroup Inc. ,Royal & Sun Alliance, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., Tornado Reality Trust, Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter & Co., XL Capital Ltd., and Bear Stearns.
For related articles Google or go to: www.lagunajournal.com
BY MICHAEL WEBSTER: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER Sept 18, 2008 1201 PM PDT
U.S. government law enforcement agencies including the SEC, FBI and DOJ are on alert and are believed investigating terror and other related short selling illegal manipulation of the market place.
It was reported that between August 26 and September 11, 2001, groups of speculators, including Middle Eastern country investors, some reported connected to terrorist such as Al Qaeda and the Ben Laden family, these groups were believed connected to predicting the demise of certain airline and buildings including the New York Trade Center. Still others were identified by the American Securities and Exchange Commission as Israeli citizens, who sold “short” a list of 38 stocks that could reasonably be expected to fall in value as a result of the pending 911 attacks. According to the reports these speculators operated out of the Toronto, Canada and Frankfurt, Germany, stock exchanges and their profits were specifically stated to be huge. Apparently none of the suspicious transactions could be traced to bin Laden because this news item quietly dropped from sight, leaving many people wondering if it tracked back to American firms or intelligence agencies
The feds have seen a possible similar trends operating on Wall Street recently and no end to the panic selling on Wall Street. US corporate regulator, the SEC, is seeking to ease the terror by implementing emergency rules relating to short selling.
This possible action will be stronger than the recent use of the emergency powers that the SEC invoked in July to slap a temporary ban on “naked” shorting of 19 companies, including the mortgage insurers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and a number of major investment banks and commercial banks. The new aim will be to stop “unlawful manipulation” of American companies and their stock and to hopefully help to maintain orderly markets. Just how much damage has been done is not known but is believe catustrafic.
Short selling of stocks involves the opportunity to gain large profits by passing shares to a friendly third party, then buying them back when the price falls. Historically, if this precedes a traumatic event, it is an indication of foreknowledge. It is widely known that the CIA uses the Promis and other cutting edge software to routinely monitor stock trades as a possible warning sign of a terrorist attack or suspicious economic behavior. A week after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the London Times reported that the CIA had asked regulators for the Financial Services Authority in London to investigate the suspicious sales of millions of shares of stock just prior to the terrorist acts. It was hoped the business paper trail might lead to the terrorists.
The US Government as a result of the recent falling market has now nationalized Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, by investing American tax payer’s money to hopefully bail them out. US Government has also nationalized the world’s largest insurer, American International Group, (AIG) which was not on the SEC’s list. That so far has cost the American tax payer an additional 80 million for an 80% ownership of the shares. This nationalization of Massive American institutions is a socialization of America. The government claims by placing them in what it dubs as “conservatorship” will give the American people the opportunity to make money should the government be able to turn it around. However even should they make money on the deal it is hard to see how the American people could benefit from it, according to Wall Street insiders? All this while two of the major investment banks on the SEC list have now disappeared — Lehman Bros and Merrill Lynch.
Naked” short selling practice is technically not illegal, but dealer-brokers are required to have “reasonable grounds” to believe the securities can be borrowed to enable settlement.
The SEC has long held the power to make emergency orders, but it is only now that they are invoking orders that will be unprecedented. Such orders may become permiant.
The SEC has also adopted a rule that makes it fraudulent, and a violation of the law, if short sellers deceive broker-dealers or any other participants as to their ability to delivery securities within time for settlement.
The new rules apply until October 1 unless further extended. Their introduction follows strong lobbying by the American Bankers Association to clamp down on short selling amid concerns that the price of their stock was being manipulated.
“We are concerned about the possible unnecessary or artificial price movements based on unfounded rumors regarding the stability of financial institutions and other issuers, exacerbated by naked short selling. Our concerns, however, are no longer limited to just financial institutions,” the SEC said.
“In addition, we have become concerned that some persons may take advantage of issuers that have become temporarily weakened by current market conditions to engage in inappropriate short selling in the securities of such issues,” it added.
In regard to the few remaining Wall Street financial institutions lift, like Mogen Stanley, Goldman sacks may have fallen victim to such practices. The feds are worried and have become concerned about “sudden and unexplained” declines in the prices of securities, which could create questions about the underlying financial condition of an issuer, which in turn could create a crisis of confidence without a fundamental underlying basis. This crisis of confidence could impair the liquidity and viability of an issuer “with potentially broad market consequences”.
Washington Mutual and other deposit banks are in jeopardy. Other sectors still American car makers and other and related industries are all venerable to short selling techniques and the SEC is committed to stop this dangerous type of maneuvering.
The real controversy over naked short selling, however, concerns price manipulation. Here the fear is that a maverick trader could spread false rumors about a company while massively shorting its stock. Such aggressive actions would allegedly push the price down, allowing the trader to reap a guaranteed profit from his self-fulfilling prophecy.
The matter of 911 is still under investigation and none of the government investigating bodies -including the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and DOJ -are speaking to reporters about insider trading. Even so, suspicion of insider trading to profit from the September 11 attacks is not limited to U.S. regulators. Investigations were initiated in a number of places including Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Spain. As in the United States, all are treating these inquiries as if they were state secrets.
Given all of this, at a minimum the government regulators who are conducting the secret investigations have known for some time who made the options puts on a total of 38 stocks that might reasonably be anticipated to have a sharp drop in value because of an attack similar to the 9/11 episode.
The silence from the investigating camps could mean several things: Either terrorists are responsible for the puts on the listed stocks or others besides terrorists had foreknowledge of the trouble that was about to strike Wall Street or may have even contributed and used that knowledge to reap a nice financial harvest from the instability of the market place.
Federal investigators are continuing to be so closed-mouthed about these stock trades, and it is clear that a much wider net has been cast, apparently looking for bigger international fish involved in dubious financial activity relating to the world stock markets.
There was unusually heavy trading in airline and insurance stocks several days before September 11, 2001, which essentially bet on a drop in the worth of the stocks. The same is suspected being done on some recent failures and weakness like Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., Morgan Stanley and others.
In reference to 911 just a month after the attacks the SEC sent out a list of stocks to various securities firms around the world looking for information. Many of the same firms who failed this go round were also on that list. At that time the list included stocks of American, United, Continental, Northwest, Southwest and U.S. Airways airlines, as well as Martin, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corp., AIG, American Express Corp, American International Group, AMR Corporation, Axe SA, Bank of America Corp, Bank of New York Corp, Bank One Corp, Cigna Group, CNA Financial, Carnival Corp, Chubb Group, John Han*** Financial Services, Hercules Inc, L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., LTV Corporation, Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc., MetLife, Progressive Corp., General Motors, Raytheon, W.R. Grace, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., Lone Star Technologies, American Express, the Citigroup Inc. ,Royal & Sun Alliance, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., Tornado Reality Trust, Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter & Co., XL Capital Ltd., and Bear Stearns.
For related articles Google or go to: www.lagunajournal.com
Dream Vacation at the Treasure Island Resort in Wisconsin Dells
David H. Urmann asked:
The Treasure Island Resort has many exciting features. It guarantees a fulfilling adventure for the whole family.
The Treasure Island Resort is one of the most prominent hotels found in the town of Wisconsin Dells. It is considered the water park capital of the world. It was built in 1972 and has served many satisfied tourists for many years.
It is all-praises for this resort’s excellent accommodation.
The hotel has fully-furnished rooms and suites equipped with modern amenities for enjoyment and relaxation. Amenities include:
Refrigerators
Microwave oven
Telephone
Cable TV
Comfortable couches
Hair dryer
Coffee maker
Fully air- conditioned
Iron and full- sized ironing board
Along the water park are many meal concessions to enjoy a wide array of snacks while experiencing the water rides. Video arcades and game rooms are available where children can enjoy playing the games of their choice with their friends. At the upper deck of the water park is a large screen TV where people can watch while their kids enjoy splashing into the water.
Guests can also have a delicious meal of their choice at the on-site restaurants serving the tastiest meals. Enjoy your favorite food along with the romantic music being played. You can also have a treat of the finest wine at the bar.
Social events such as business meetings, retreats, weddings or parties can be arranged at the different conference halls. The halls have a very spacious room ideal for large group of guests. It also comes with modern audio-visual equipments.
Hotel Facilities include:
Baby sitting service
Beauty salon
Concierge
Facilities for the disabled
Gymnasium
Laundry facilities
Outdoor swimming pool
Shopping arcade
Tennis court
The hotel has water rides called the Treasure Island Hotel’s Bay of Dreams. It has four gigantic indoor slides, swimming and slide area for the kids, hot tubs, tube rides, and a bountiful of swimming pools.
You can also enjoy different rides at the Big Chief Karts and Coasters. Also tour the Wisconsin Dells with the legendary amphibious vehicle called Dells Army Ducks. These vehicles can travel both on land and water.
In the evening, catch the magical shows at the Rick Wilcox Theater. Rick and Susan Wilcox are masters in illusion.
There are plenty of other attractions to visit. Don’t forget to also see:
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum
Tommy Bartlett’s Robot World & Exploratory
Tommy Bartlett Thrill Show
Wisconsin Deer Park
E-Z Roll Riding Stable
Canyon Creek Riding Stable
H.H. Bennett Studio & History Center
Beaver Springs Public Aquarium
Alligator Alley
When you just want to enjoy the outdoors peacefully, you can go to the picnic area. Barbeque grills in the area are compliments of the hotel.
You can also settle for game at the mini golf course within the area of the hotel.
Room rates start at $89 per night. Prices go up to as high as $300 per night during peak seasons.
There’s never a dull moment during your stay at the Treasure Island Resort. It’s a one-stop destination to many exciting activities and wonderful spots. It is truly a worthy vacation spot for the whole family.
The Treasure Island Resort has many exciting features. It guarantees a fulfilling adventure for the whole family.
The Treasure Island Resort is one of the most prominent hotels found in the town of Wisconsin Dells. It is considered the water park capital of the world. It was built in 1972 and has served many satisfied tourists for many years.
It is all-praises for this resort’s excellent accommodation.
The hotel has fully-furnished rooms and suites equipped with modern amenities for enjoyment and relaxation. Amenities include:
Refrigerators
Microwave oven
Telephone
Cable TV
Comfortable couches
Hair dryer
Coffee maker
Fully air- conditioned
Iron and full- sized ironing board
Along the water park are many meal concessions to enjoy a wide array of snacks while experiencing the water rides. Video arcades and game rooms are available where children can enjoy playing the games of their choice with their friends. At the upper deck of the water park is a large screen TV where people can watch while their kids enjoy splashing into the water.
Guests can also have a delicious meal of their choice at the on-site restaurants serving the tastiest meals. Enjoy your favorite food along with the romantic music being played. You can also have a treat of the finest wine at the bar.
Social events such as business meetings, retreats, weddings or parties can be arranged at the different conference halls. The halls have a very spacious room ideal for large group of guests. It also comes with modern audio-visual equipments.
Hotel Facilities include:
Baby sitting service
Beauty salon
Concierge
Facilities for the disabled
Gymnasium
Laundry facilities
Outdoor swimming pool
Shopping arcade
Tennis court
The hotel has water rides called the Treasure Island Hotel’s Bay of Dreams. It has four gigantic indoor slides, swimming and slide area for the kids, hot tubs, tube rides, and a bountiful of swimming pools.
You can also enjoy different rides at the Big Chief Karts and Coasters. Also tour the Wisconsin Dells with the legendary amphibious vehicle called Dells Army Ducks. These vehicles can travel both on land and water.
In the evening, catch the magical shows at the Rick Wilcox Theater. Rick and Susan Wilcox are masters in illusion.
There are plenty of other attractions to visit. Don’t forget to also see:
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum
Tommy Bartlett’s Robot World & Exploratory
Tommy Bartlett Thrill Show
Wisconsin Deer Park
E-Z Roll Riding Stable
Canyon Creek Riding Stable
H.H. Bennett Studio & History Center
Beaver Springs Public Aquarium
Alligator Alley
When you just want to enjoy the outdoors peacefully, you can go to the picnic area. Barbeque grills in the area are compliments of the hotel.
You can also settle for game at the mini golf course within the area of the hotel.
Room rates start at $89 per night. Prices go up to as high as $300 per night during peak seasons.
There’s never a dull moment during your stay at the Treasure Island Resort. It’s a one-stop destination to many exciting activities and wonderful spots. It is truly a worthy vacation spot for the whole family.
A True Tropical Escape in Fiji
Wolfgang Jaegel asked:
Situated in the South-West Pacific Ocean in the Australia Continent, Fiji is one of the most beautiful archipelagic destinations in the world. Officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands, Fiji is located to the north of the Tropic of Cancer, and is about 1850 miles east of Australia and about 1200 miles south of the Equator.
Further, via air, Fiji is about three hours from Brisbane and Auckland, about four hours from Sydney, and about ten hours from Los Angeles. Sprawling over an area of about 240000 square kilometers, Fiji is made up of more than 300 islands and more than 500 smaller islets, of which about only 100 is inhabited. Fiji’s two largest islands are Vitu Levu and northern Vanua Levu, both of which together occupies about 85% of the overall land mass.
Once served as a British colony for more than 100 years, Fiji has now become the hub of trade in the South Pacific as well as the prominent stopover for flights between the USA and New Zealand. With its incomparable sheer natural splendor and unspoiled serene environment comprising a variety of unique flora and fauna, glorious beaches, lush rain forests, coral islands, salubrious tropical climate, and sparkling waters, Fiji is truly a paradise for nature lovers. Above all, Fiji is much favored for its rich culture as well as the presence of amicable Fijian people.
Fiji Islands are highly famed as a romantic destination. Let it be for an enjoyable vacation or to celebrate honeymoon or wedding anniversary, or to indulge in an array of fun filled activities, Fiji is an ideal destination. The archipelago of Fiji has been categorized into three island groups such as the Central Islands covering the two major islands: Viti Levu and Vanua Levu; the Ra Islands, with islands such as the Yasawas and Mamanucas; and the Lau Islands.
As mentioned earlier, Viti Levu is the most prominent island in the country, and is home to the capital city, Suva. Boasting of highly sophisticated cities, verdant areas, dazzling waterfalls, and magnificent as well as secluded beaches, Viti Levu indeed has everything to make your vacation in Fiji memorable as well as fun filled.
Situated about 65 kilometers north of the Viti Levu, Vanua Levu is the most popular island in Fiji, after the Viti Levu. With such well maintained town as Savusavu and Labasa, Vanua Levu is a perfect destination for those interested in exploring the country’s indigenous life. If you are a nature lover or a traveler seeking peace and tranquility, then one of the most suitable options would be to take a tour to Taveuni, which is sometimes acknowledged as the Garden Island, due to its plentiful of magnificent, exotic flowers. Most popular among the attractions in this region are Lake Tagimaucia with a volcanic crater and Bouma Falls. Apart from these, Taveuni has to its credit some of the best diving spots in the world, such as, the Rainbow Reef and the Vuna Reef.
Popular island destinations in the country also include Kadavu, which is situated to the south of Viti Levu. Majority of its land mass is covered with rainforest, apart from several soaring mountains, beautiful waterfalls, and gorgeous beaches. It is also an area to spot some rare species of birds. Apart from these, Kadavu is home to one of the scuba diving resorts in the country, Great Astrolabe Reef.
Attractions in Fiji are not just confined to majestic volcanic mountains, secluded mountains, scintillating waterfalls, and stupendous beaches. But, it is beyond all these things. People touring Fiji can also come through a range of museums, art galleries, historic shrines and monuments, and cultural centers. For instance, the Fiji Museum in Suva is one of the not to miss attractions in Fiji.
On display here is an amazing collection of artifacts hat throw light on the interesting past of the region. A gallery housing prehistory-related items can also be found within the museum. Aside this, the museum provides opportunities for the visitors to take a ride in Vitian drua, a traditional type double hulled canoe.
Likewise, for devotees, Fiji has some superb options in the form of Sri Siva-Subramaniya Temple, which is in Nadi. The shrine is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Dedicated to the Lord Muruga, the temple is much famed for its exquisite architectural styles. Attractions in Fiji also include Orchid Island Fijian Cultural Centre in Suva and Suva Municipal Market, the South Pacific’s largest as well as liveliest market.
Additionally, Fiji is a mecca for water sport lovers, and provides opportunities to enjoy a range of attractions from scuba diving, swimming, and snorkeling to fishing, surfing, and sailing.
When comes to accommodation, Fiji boasts of some of the best choices in the world. Some of the most sophisticated hotels in the area come with excellent rooms replete with high end amenities such as air conditioning, comfortable beds, and superb bath area. There are also some resorts that provide services via packages covering accommodation, dining, and facilities to enjoy a myriad of water based as well as land based activities.
Situated in the South-West Pacific Ocean in the Australia Continent, Fiji is one of the most beautiful archipelagic destinations in the world. Officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands, Fiji is located to the north of the Tropic of Cancer, and is about 1850 miles east of Australia and about 1200 miles south of the Equator.
Further, via air, Fiji is about three hours from Brisbane and Auckland, about four hours from Sydney, and about ten hours from Los Angeles. Sprawling over an area of about 240000 square kilometers, Fiji is made up of more than 300 islands and more than 500 smaller islets, of which about only 100 is inhabited. Fiji’s two largest islands are Vitu Levu and northern Vanua Levu, both of which together occupies about 85% of the overall land mass.
Once served as a British colony for more than 100 years, Fiji has now become the hub of trade in the South Pacific as well as the prominent stopover for flights between the USA and New Zealand. With its incomparable sheer natural splendor and unspoiled serene environment comprising a variety of unique flora and fauna, glorious beaches, lush rain forests, coral islands, salubrious tropical climate, and sparkling waters, Fiji is truly a paradise for nature lovers. Above all, Fiji is much favored for its rich culture as well as the presence of amicable Fijian people.
Fiji Islands are highly famed as a romantic destination. Let it be for an enjoyable vacation or to celebrate honeymoon or wedding anniversary, or to indulge in an array of fun filled activities, Fiji is an ideal destination. The archipelago of Fiji has been categorized into three island groups such as the Central Islands covering the two major islands: Viti Levu and Vanua Levu; the Ra Islands, with islands such as the Yasawas and Mamanucas; and the Lau Islands.
As mentioned earlier, Viti Levu is the most prominent island in the country, and is home to the capital city, Suva. Boasting of highly sophisticated cities, verdant areas, dazzling waterfalls, and magnificent as well as secluded beaches, Viti Levu indeed has everything to make your vacation in Fiji memorable as well as fun filled.
Situated about 65 kilometers north of the Viti Levu, Vanua Levu is the most popular island in Fiji, after the Viti Levu. With such well maintained town as Savusavu and Labasa, Vanua Levu is a perfect destination for those interested in exploring the country’s indigenous life. If you are a nature lover or a traveler seeking peace and tranquility, then one of the most suitable options would be to take a tour to Taveuni, which is sometimes acknowledged as the Garden Island, due to its plentiful of magnificent, exotic flowers. Most popular among the attractions in this region are Lake Tagimaucia with a volcanic crater and Bouma Falls. Apart from these, Taveuni has to its credit some of the best diving spots in the world, such as, the Rainbow Reef and the Vuna Reef.
Popular island destinations in the country also include Kadavu, which is situated to the south of Viti Levu. Majority of its land mass is covered with rainforest, apart from several soaring mountains, beautiful waterfalls, and gorgeous beaches. It is also an area to spot some rare species of birds. Apart from these, Kadavu is home to one of the scuba diving resorts in the country, Great Astrolabe Reef.
Attractions in Fiji are not just confined to majestic volcanic mountains, secluded mountains, scintillating waterfalls, and stupendous beaches. But, it is beyond all these things. People touring Fiji can also come through a range of museums, art galleries, historic shrines and monuments, and cultural centers. For instance, the Fiji Museum in Suva is one of the not to miss attractions in Fiji.
On display here is an amazing collection of artifacts hat throw light on the interesting past of the region. A gallery housing prehistory-related items can also be found within the museum. Aside this, the museum provides opportunities for the visitors to take a ride in Vitian drua, a traditional type double hulled canoe.
Likewise, for devotees, Fiji has some superb options in the form of Sri Siva-Subramaniya Temple, which is in Nadi. The shrine is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Dedicated to the Lord Muruga, the temple is much famed for its exquisite architectural styles. Attractions in Fiji also include Orchid Island Fijian Cultural Centre in Suva and Suva Municipal Market, the South Pacific’s largest as well as liveliest market.
Additionally, Fiji is a mecca for water sport lovers, and provides opportunities to enjoy a range of attractions from scuba diving, swimming, and snorkeling to fishing, surfing, and sailing.
When comes to accommodation, Fiji boasts of some of the best choices in the world. Some of the most sophisticated hotels in the area come with excellent rooms replete with high end amenities such as air conditioning, comfortable beds, and superb bath area. There are also some resorts that provide services via packages covering accommodation, dining, and facilities to enjoy a myriad of water based as well as land based activities.
Roaming Sim Cards – Make Cheap Calls When Abroad
Caroline Telford asked:
Presenting… the Roaming Sim Card that Offer Cheap International Calls
Whenever you go to a certain country abroad, the more you have to get access in any form of communication. If you are far from your loved ones, you have to still keep in touch with them by communicating and calling them.
This is true whenever you are going in other countries. And if you are in the UK where calling internationally can be really expensive, roaming sim card that promises cheap international calls is what you really need. And this wouldn’t be hard at all. With a lot of international call providers, cheap international calls can be knocking at your own door since this is how telecommunicating companies bridge the gap between them and their customers.
So if you are visiting a country or perhaps you are working in UK for instance you have to purchase a roaming sim card that will allow you to make cheap international calls.
The Cheap International Calls and Your Roaming Sim Card
To be able to make cheap international calls through your roaming sim card you have to know first where you are calling from. Is the call intended for a landline or a mobile phone? This is necessary, because the roaming sim card you have purchased can either allow cheap international calls to a mobile phone or landline.
Also, be aware that cheap international calls through your roaming sim card can be either made with high quality or low quality. This depends on your chosen international calls provider.
The roaming sim card you have to purchase so that you can make cheap international calls must be supported by the country you will be calling. This will allow you to take advantage of flat rate charges. Also, with this kind of condition, cheap international calls and cheap international text messaging can even become discounted on certain occasions like holidays or every Saturday and Sunday.
Telecommunication companies that sell roaming sim card and offer cheap international calls are actually cutting the costs of your calls but looking at a larger extent they are still earning large profits from their customers. This is true because some providers even offer free service just so you can receive texts when abroad.
More Benefits From Your Roaming Sim Card
Cheaper international calls through your sim card can also be attained by signing up for a special call package from your network that is also discounted in some cases. In this case you have to buy a different sim card so that your international calls will be cheaper.
In UK for instance, all major networks and providers provide their consumers means in reducing the cost of their international calls when the consumers are roaming abroad. Such packages which offer you with cheaper deals can be either free or subject to monthly payment.
Switching your sim to other network’s roaming sim card can also be an alternative to make cheap international calls since the international roaming sim card is more convenient since you don’t have to change or use a different number at all. In this condition, calls are routed via a landline and this makes cheap international calls as well.
Presenting… the Roaming Sim Card that Offer Cheap International Calls
Whenever you go to a certain country abroad, the more you have to get access in any form of communication. If you are far from your loved ones, you have to still keep in touch with them by communicating and calling them.
This is true whenever you are going in other countries. And if you are in the UK where calling internationally can be really expensive, roaming sim card that promises cheap international calls is what you really need. And this wouldn’t be hard at all. With a lot of international call providers, cheap international calls can be knocking at your own door since this is how telecommunicating companies bridge the gap between them and their customers.
So if you are visiting a country or perhaps you are working in UK for instance you have to purchase a roaming sim card that will allow you to make cheap international calls.
The Cheap International Calls and Your Roaming Sim Card
To be able to make cheap international calls through your roaming sim card you have to know first where you are calling from. Is the call intended for a landline or a mobile phone? This is necessary, because the roaming sim card you have purchased can either allow cheap international calls to a mobile phone or landline.
Also, be aware that cheap international calls through your roaming sim card can be either made with high quality or low quality. This depends on your chosen international calls provider.
The roaming sim card you have to purchase so that you can make cheap international calls must be supported by the country you will be calling. This will allow you to take advantage of flat rate charges. Also, with this kind of condition, cheap international calls and cheap international text messaging can even become discounted on certain occasions like holidays or every Saturday and Sunday.
Telecommunication companies that sell roaming sim card and offer cheap international calls are actually cutting the costs of your calls but looking at a larger extent they are still earning large profits from their customers. This is true because some providers even offer free service just so you can receive texts when abroad.
More Benefits From Your Roaming Sim Card
Cheaper international calls through your sim card can also be attained by signing up for a special call package from your network that is also discounted in some cases. In this case you have to buy a different sim card so that your international calls will be cheaper.
In UK for instance, all major networks and providers provide their consumers means in reducing the cost of their international calls when the consumers are roaming abroad. Such packages which offer you with cheaper deals can be either free or subject to monthly payment.
Switching your sim to other network’s roaming sim card can also be an alternative to make cheap international calls since the international roaming sim card is more convenient since you don’t have to change or use a different number at all. In this condition, calls are routed via a landline and this makes cheap international calls as well.
Riding a Taxi in Panama City, Panama
Mona Sutherland asked:
Riding a taxi in Panama City can provoke just as many emotions as a free fall roller coaster ride, but at only a dollar a pop. Similar to the roller coaster, you can expect to jerk from left to right, feel your stomach drop, tense your muscles and squeal with excitement and/or fear in a Panama City cab. Like most taxis, especially in third world countries, the ride can make you fear for your life. But, there are some unique characteristics about a Panama City taxi ride that make each one out of the ordinary.
Exterior and Interior of Taxi
Though rumor has it that all taxis will eventually be yellow (like New York City), it is still possible to observe the vast array of shapes, styles and sizes managing the streets of Panama City. Some are new and air conditioned, while others look as though they are from circa 1970 and have survived a serious fire and numerous robberies.
The exterior of taxis have a substantially higher amount of dents and dings than other cars in Panama City. Taxis drivers have one objective when working, to get the passenger to their destination so that they can pick up another passenger, thus increasing their cash flow. Therefore, taxi drivers do not seem to have the same reservations about making incredibly risky moves, and consequently getting in more accidents. The speed in Panama City is never so fast that there is any serious damage, but the remnants of these failed attempts are blatantly obvious. And, once the initial damage has been incurred, what’s another dent?!
The interiors of taxis can bring a smile to almost anyone’s face. The interior decoration of Panama City taxis almost always includes a flag or football (not the American kind) dangling from the rear view mirror, or the space where a rear view mirror should be, just obstructing the line of vision enough to make things interesting. In the United States and other like countries, our idea of what a car needs in order to function is relatively superfluous compared to Panama. I mean, is an interior really necessary for driving? Absolutely not!
Array of Honks
Many people complain about the noise population on the streets of Panama City. However, if we listen carefully, it is more like an urban symphony. Some honks are the typical “beep beep,” while others are analogous to the whoops and whistles of men trying desperately to get the attention of a pretty girl, or the whistle you teach your Cockatiel Pretty Bird. Either way, it is obvious that taxi drivers go to a lot of trouble to personalize their horns and feel a certain sense of pride, given they exercise the right to honk at every available chance.
Conversations with Drivers
One of my favorite pastimes in Panama, and in any foreign environment, is chatting with the locals. It is undeniable that one of the best ways to become acquainted with a culture is by interacting with the natives, in their mother tongue. In Panama, taxi drivers provide an interesting and entertaining interpretation of life in the city. My conversations with them generally start off, “Are you Swiss? You look like the girl from the hot chocolate!” Then, after clarifying that I am not from 19th century Switzerland, we embark upon an undoubtedly colorful conversion, sure to be the subject of dinnertime conversion (if appropriate).
A particularly exciting day was when I took a taxi driver on a goose chase with me to fix my car battery. As is a normal daily occurrence in Panama City, a passenger was already in the cab when I was picked up. So, I hopped in the front seat and we were on our way. This particular passenger, a woman about 60 years old, was undoubtedly a foreigner, most likely American, Canadian or European. Shortly after I got on board, we arrived at her destination. She handed the driver seventy five cents, and all fares in Panama City are at least one dollar. The driver said in heavily accented English, “One dolla’!” I turned around and translated, “One dollar.” She spat back, like him, in heavily accented English, “He took me around the entire city!” Apparently, she felt as though the driver had taken her on a while goose chase with the hopes of pulling a fast one. After listening to her short, heated explanation, she leaped out of the taxi and soon disappeared from our sight. So, the driver gave up and we left for my destination. On the way, he muttered to himself about the “whats and whys” of the recent situation. After five minutes of being stuck in traffic and the driver leaning over me to throw his eaten meal out the window into a garbage can, our rapport had obviously gone through the roof, and he began to inquire about why my “paisana” (countrywoman) did such an awful thing. “Doesn’t she know I have to eat?!” So, I explained to him that, although she wasn’t my “paisana,” foreigners generally implement the taxi protocol born from the etiquette of their mother land. Another day, another dollar for him, and a mini lecture about the cultural differences between one country and another.
It is never a dull day in a Panama City taxi.
Watch Internet TV about Panama and Panama Real Estate!
Quality Investment possesses 300+ listings of Panama Real Estate!
Riding a taxi in Panama City can provoke just as many emotions as a free fall roller coaster ride, but at only a dollar a pop. Similar to the roller coaster, you can expect to jerk from left to right, feel your stomach drop, tense your muscles and squeal with excitement and/or fear in a Panama City cab. Like most taxis, especially in third world countries, the ride can make you fear for your life. But, there are some unique characteristics about a Panama City taxi ride that make each one out of the ordinary.
Exterior and Interior of Taxi
Though rumor has it that all taxis will eventually be yellow (like New York City), it is still possible to observe the vast array of shapes, styles and sizes managing the streets of Panama City. Some are new and air conditioned, while others look as though they are from circa 1970 and have survived a serious fire and numerous robberies.
The exterior of taxis have a substantially higher amount of dents and dings than other cars in Panama City. Taxis drivers have one objective when working, to get the passenger to their destination so that they can pick up another passenger, thus increasing their cash flow. Therefore, taxi drivers do not seem to have the same reservations about making incredibly risky moves, and consequently getting in more accidents. The speed in Panama City is never so fast that there is any serious damage, but the remnants of these failed attempts are blatantly obvious. And, once the initial damage has been incurred, what’s another dent?!
The interiors of taxis can bring a smile to almost anyone’s face. The interior decoration of Panama City taxis almost always includes a flag or football (not the American kind) dangling from the rear view mirror, or the space where a rear view mirror should be, just obstructing the line of vision enough to make things interesting. In the United States and other like countries, our idea of what a car needs in order to function is relatively superfluous compared to Panama. I mean, is an interior really necessary for driving? Absolutely not!
Array of Honks
Many people complain about the noise population on the streets of Panama City. However, if we listen carefully, it is more like an urban symphony. Some honks are the typical “beep beep,” while others are analogous to the whoops and whistles of men trying desperately to get the attention of a pretty girl, or the whistle you teach your Cockatiel Pretty Bird. Either way, it is obvious that taxi drivers go to a lot of trouble to personalize their horns and feel a certain sense of pride, given they exercise the right to honk at every available chance.
Conversations with Drivers
One of my favorite pastimes in Panama, and in any foreign environment, is chatting with the locals. It is undeniable that one of the best ways to become acquainted with a culture is by interacting with the natives, in their mother tongue. In Panama, taxi drivers provide an interesting and entertaining interpretation of life in the city. My conversations with them generally start off, “Are you Swiss? You look like the girl from the hot chocolate!” Then, after clarifying that I am not from 19th century Switzerland, we embark upon an undoubtedly colorful conversion, sure to be the subject of dinnertime conversion (if appropriate).
A particularly exciting day was when I took a taxi driver on a goose chase with me to fix my car battery. As is a normal daily occurrence in Panama City, a passenger was already in the cab when I was picked up. So, I hopped in the front seat and we were on our way. This particular passenger, a woman about 60 years old, was undoubtedly a foreigner, most likely American, Canadian or European. Shortly after I got on board, we arrived at her destination. She handed the driver seventy five cents, and all fares in Panama City are at least one dollar. The driver said in heavily accented English, “One dolla’!” I turned around and translated, “One dollar.” She spat back, like him, in heavily accented English, “He took me around the entire city!” Apparently, she felt as though the driver had taken her on a while goose chase with the hopes of pulling a fast one. After listening to her short, heated explanation, she leaped out of the taxi and soon disappeared from our sight. So, the driver gave up and we left for my destination. On the way, he muttered to himself about the “whats and whys” of the recent situation. After five minutes of being stuck in traffic and the driver leaning over me to throw his eaten meal out the window into a garbage can, our rapport had obviously gone through the roof, and he began to inquire about why my “paisana” (countrywoman) did such an awful thing. “Doesn’t she know I have to eat?!” So, I explained to him that, although she wasn’t my “paisana,” foreigners generally implement the taxi protocol born from the etiquette of their mother land. Another day, another dollar for him, and a mini lecture about the cultural differences between one country and another.
It is never a dull day in a Panama City taxi.
Watch Internet TV about Panama and Panama Real Estate!
Quality Investment possesses 300+ listings of Panama Real Estate!
What To Look For In Big Island Vacation Rentals
Andy Felke asked:
Are you in the process of planning a trip to Big Island? Big Island is a popular Hawaiian vacation destination, as there is so much for you to do and see. When it comes time for you to plan your next Big Island vacation, you will have a number of decisions to make. One of those decisions involves your overnight accommodations.
As you likely already know, you have a number of different options, when it comes to staying on Big Island. Although you may enjoy staying at a hotel or a vacation resort, you are urged to take the time to examine vacation rentals, as they come highly rated and recommended. In terms of vacation rentals, you will find that you have a number of different options. For instance, vacation homes, vacation cottages, vacation apartments, villas, and condos are all considered vacation rentals.
Once you have made the decision to book a stay at a Big Island vacation rental, you will have to choose which rental you want to make reservations at. Unfortunately, for many Hawaii vacationers this decision is a lot harder than it looks. One of the many reasons for that is due to your options; you will find that they are unlimited. As you can likely gather from the name, Big Island is Hawaii’s largest island. This means that you have a number of vacation rentals to choose from. For assistance with choosing your next Big Island vacation rental, you will want to continue reading on.
When examining Big Island vacation rentals, such as Big Island vacation homes or Big Island villas, you will want to look for one that is conveniently located. For this to happen, you first need to examine your intended Big Island destination, as well as the activities you would like to participate in and the attractions you would like to visit. If you plan to spend your Big Island vacation at the beach, a beachfront rental may be your best option or at least one that is within a close distance to a well-known beach. On the other hand, if your vacation is intended to be a sightseeing vacation, an inland vacation rental may be your best option, and so forth.
It is also advised that you look for Big Island vacation rentals that are within your price range. Even if you are not on a budget, you may want to examine rentals that are affordable in price. When you save money on your overnight accommodations, you are able to splurge in other areas, such as entertainment. When considering cost, it is important that you examine the size, location, and features of all Big Island vacation rentals. Generally speaking, beachfront vacation rentals, those large in size, and those stocked with great features are higher in price.
Speaking of features, it is important that you thoroughly examine all Big Island vacation rental features. When examining Big Island vacation rental features, it is important that you examine your wants and your needs. For instance, if you want to have access to a pool or a hot tub, you are urged to find vacation rentals that include them. It is also important that you examine features that you can benefit from, such as fully furnished kitchens, namely those with dishwashers, laundry rooms, and so forth.
It is also advised that you look for Big Island vacation rentals that are appealing. That is why it is important that you examine all pictures. As previously stated, Big Island has a large number of vacation rentals for you to choose from. With that in mind, it is important to remember that not all rentals are the same. Just because a vacation rental looks good from the outside or looks good based on the description, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is Big Island vacation rental pictures are the best way to ensure that your vacation rental is everything that you wanted it to be.
When looking for a Big Island vacation rental, the above mentioned points are just a few of the many points that you will want to take into consideration. As a reminder, you have a number of different options. Taking the time to examine Big Island vacation homes, condos, apartments, villas, and cottages is the best way to find the vacation rental that is perfect for you and your vacation needs.
Are you in the process of planning a trip to Big Island? Big Island is a popular Hawaiian vacation destination, as there is so much for you to do and see. When it comes time for you to plan your next Big Island vacation, you will have a number of decisions to make. One of those decisions involves your overnight accommodations.
As you likely already know, you have a number of different options, when it comes to staying on Big Island. Although you may enjoy staying at a hotel or a vacation resort, you are urged to take the time to examine vacation rentals, as they come highly rated and recommended. In terms of vacation rentals, you will find that you have a number of different options. For instance, vacation homes, vacation cottages, vacation apartments, villas, and condos are all considered vacation rentals.
Once you have made the decision to book a stay at a Big Island vacation rental, you will have to choose which rental you want to make reservations at. Unfortunately, for many Hawaii vacationers this decision is a lot harder than it looks. One of the many reasons for that is due to your options; you will find that they are unlimited. As you can likely gather from the name, Big Island is Hawaii’s largest island. This means that you have a number of vacation rentals to choose from. For assistance with choosing your next Big Island vacation rental, you will want to continue reading on.
When examining Big Island vacation rentals, such as Big Island vacation homes or Big Island villas, you will want to look for one that is conveniently located. For this to happen, you first need to examine your intended Big Island destination, as well as the activities you would like to participate in and the attractions you would like to visit. If you plan to spend your Big Island vacation at the beach, a beachfront rental may be your best option or at least one that is within a close distance to a well-known beach. On the other hand, if your vacation is intended to be a sightseeing vacation, an inland vacation rental may be your best option, and so forth.
It is also advised that you look for Big Island vacation rentals that are within your price range. Even if you are not on a budget, you may want to examine rentals that are affordable in price. When you save money on your overnight accommodations, you are able to splurge in other areas, such as entertainment. When considering cost, it is important that you examine the size, location, and features of all Big Island vacation rentals. Generally speaking, beachfront vacation rentals, those large in size, and those stocked with great features are higher in price.
Speaking of features, it is important that you thoroughly examine all Big Island vacation rental features. When examining Big Island vacation rental features, it is important that you examine your wants and your needs. For instance, if you want to have access to a pool or a hot tub, you are urged to find vacation rentals that include them. It is also important that you examine features that you can benefit from, such as fully furnished kitchens, namely those with dishwashers, laundry rooms, and so forth.
It is also advised that you look for Big Island vacation rentals that are appealing. That is why it is important that you examine all pictures. As previously stated, Big Island has a large number of vacation rentals for you to choose from. With that in mind, it is important to remember that not all rentals are the same. Just because a vacation rental looks good from the outside or looks good based on the description, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is Big Island vacation rental pictures are the best way to ensure that your vacation rental is everything that you wanted it to be.
When looking for a Big Island vacation rental, the above mentioned points are just a few of the many points that you will want to take into consideration. As a reminder, you have a number of different options. Taking the time to examine Big Island vacation homes, condos, apartments, villas, and cottages is the best way to find the vacation rental that is perfect for you and your vacation needs.
Fly With Kingfisher Red Airlines at Affordable Rates
Rajeev Das asked:
If you are one among those who love to touch the sky experiencing the beautiful affair of clouds and skies, the air journey can be a very relaxing and fun-filled means of commuting for you. If you are looking for a break from your mundane daily working life, then a trip to a dream destination with your family and friends can do magic for you. And what can be the best mode for your journey than air-travel to make fun reaching its max. Booking a cheap Kingfisher Red tickets is the first step towards making your dream of air travel to an exotic land a reality.
In the last couple of years, fares for all the domestic airlines ticket have come down significantly. Due to the emergence of a number of low-cost airliners in the domestic sky, competition has taken a serious turn thus resulting in fall in airfares.More and more people have shown their interest in flying fulfilling their long-brooded dreams. Airliners have also connected new places offering absolute connectivity.
Fly anywhere with your family members to exotic destination with Kingfisher Red for making your travel safe and hassle free. This Low-cost carrier Deccan has recently changed and now being renamed as Kingfisher Red. It will operate as a separate brand from Kingfisher Red Airlines. The leading business tycoon Mr. Vijay Mallya’s UB Group has recently brought up Air Deccan airlines. It now sports the exciting kingfisher logo of UB Groups Kingfisher Airlines and is now known as Kingfisher Red. Air Deccan flights currently operates his flights to fly New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Goa, Jaipur, Hyderabad and many more. Presently, Air Deccan covers 57 destinations in India, which is more than any other airline in India.
Kingfisher and Kingfisher Red Airlines (formerly Air Deccan) collectively have 81 aircrafts in their fleet that service over 60 airports within India. Some of their most popular routes include flights between Delhi and Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, Delhi and Goa, Kolkata and Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai, Agatti and Kochi and Bangalore and Tirupati. Kingfisher also operates charter Flights to all routes in its network.
To add another feather in its illustrious cap, Kingfisher will begin flying international skies, commencing flights from Bangalore city to London early 2009.
If you are one among those who love to touch the sky experiencing the beautiful affair of clouds and skies, the air journey can be a very relaxing and fun-filled means of commuting for you. If you are looking for a break from your mundane daily working life, then a trip to a dream destination with your family and friends can do magic for you. And what can be the best mode for your journey than air-travel to make fun reaching its max. Booking a cheap Kingfisher Red tickets is the first step towards making your dream of air travel to an exotic land a reality.
In the last couple of years, fares for all the domestic airlines ticket have come down significantly. Due to the emergence of a number of low-cost airliners in the domestic sky, competition has taken a serious turn thus resulting in fall in airfares.More and more people have shown their interest in flying fulfilling their long-brooded dreams. Airliners have also connected new places offering absolute connectivity.
Fly anywhere with your family members to exotic destination with Kingfisher Red for making your travel safe and hassle free. This Low-cost carrier Deccan has recently changed and now being renamed as Kingfisher Red. It will operate as a separate brand from Kingfisher Red Airlines. The leading business tycoon Mr. Vijay Mallya’s UB Group has recently brought up Air Deccan airlines. It now sports the exciting kingfisher logo of UB Groups Kingfisher Airlines and is now known as Kingfisher Red. Air Deccan flights currently operates his flights to fly New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Goa, Jaipur, Hyderabad and many more. Presently, Air Deccan covers 57 destinations in India, which is more than any other airline in India.
Kingfisher and Kingfisher Red Airlines (formerly Air Deccan) collectively have 81 aircrafts in their fleet that service over 60 airports within India. Some of their most popular routes include flights between Delhi and Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, Delhi and Goa, Kolkata and Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai, Agatti and Kochi and Bangalore and Tirupati. Kingfisher also operates charter Flights to all routes in its network.
To add another feather in its illustrious cap, Kingfisher will begin flying international skies, commencing flights from Bangalore city to London early 2009.
Musee D’orsay
Vasilisa asked:
Musee d’Orsay is one of the best-known museums in France as well as in the whole world. It houses many French art works of the 19th-20th centuries, including paintings, sculptures, furniture and photography. The collection of the impressionist masterpieces is one of the best in the world.
The museum is situated on the left bank of the Seine River, not far from the Louvre. The building used to be a railway station Gare d’Orsay with the hotel attached to it. But in the 1939 the station was closed, and the hotel ceased to exist in 1973. The Paris government allowed to turn the building into the museum, and in 1973 Musee d’Orsay was opened to general public. The museum is a home for the collection of the 19th century art as well as French avant-garde of the beginning of the 20th century. Its pride and joy are the collections of impressionist and post-impressionist painters, who felt free to create after the French academy lost its total control over the French art in the revolutionary year of 1848.
There is a wonderful selection of works by such revolutionary painters as Manet, Millet and Courbet. Manet, one of the founders of the Impressionism, is represented by his famous and scandalous “Dejeuner sur l’Herbe”(1863) and “Olympia”(1863). Courbet’s two monumental canvases, the Funeral at Ornans (1851) and The Painter’s Studio (1855) hang opposite each other. Millet is also represented by his best works.
Impressionist and Post Impressionist galleries on the top floor have always attracted much attention. Many of the pictures hanging there need no introduction. The names of the artists are famous to everyone: Manet, Renoir, Monet, Renoir, Callebotte, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Degas and Cezanne…more than enough to enrapture an art admirer!
If you get tired of exploring the galleries, go to the cosy café upstairs. After a well-earned rest, it is worth going on to subsequent work by more esoteric artists – the symbolists Redon and Moreau are well represented. There are also marvellous darkened rooms devoted to pastel drawings – Manet and Degas made particularly beautiful examples.
More compact and manageable than the Louvre, the d’Orsay benefits greatly from the huge iron-clad atrium that hangs over it, flooding the paintings with natural light. With the whole building brilliantly remodelled by architect Gae Aulenti in the 1980s, it is a joy to visit.
Musee d’Orsay is situated at Rue de Lille, 62. It is open daily except Monday from 9.30am to 6pm (until 9.45pm Thu). The entrance ticket costs €7.50; concessions €5.50; under 18s free; free first Sun of every month.
Musee d’Orsay is one of the best-known museums in France as well as in the whole world. It houses many French art works of the 19th-20th centuries, including paintings, sculptures, furniture and photography. The collection of the impressionist masterpieces is one of the best in the world.
The museum is situated on the left bank of the Seine River, not far from the Louvre. The building used to be a railway station Gare d’Orsay with the hotel attached to it. But in the 1939 the station was closed, and the hotel ceased to exist in 1973. The Paris government allowed to turn the building into the museum, and in 1973 Musee d’Orsay was opened to general public. The museum is a home for the collection of the 19th century art as well as French avant-garde of the beginning of the 20th century. Its pride and joy are the collections of impressionist and post-impressionist painters, who felt free to create after the French academy lost its total control over the French art in the revolutionary year of 1848.
There is a wonderful selection of works by such revolutionary painters as Manet, Millet and Courbet. Manet, one of the founders of the Impressionism, is represented by his famous and scandalous “Dejeuner sur l’Herbe”(1863) and “Olympia”(1863). Courbet’s two monumental canvases, the Funeral at Ornans (1851) and The Painter’s Studio (1855) hang opposite each other. Millet is also represented by his best works.
Impressionist and Post Impressionist galleries on the top floor have always attracted much attention. Many of the pictures hanging there need no introduction. The names of the artists are famous to everyone: Manet, Renoir, Monet, Renoir, Callebotte, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Degas and Cezanne…more than enough to enrapture an art admirer!
If you get tired of exploring the galleries, go to the cosy café upstairs. After a well-earned rest, it is worth going on to subsequent work by more esoteric artists – the symbolists Redon and Moreau are well represented. There are also marvellous darkened rooms devoted to pastel drawings – Manet and Degas made particularly beautiful examples.
More compact and manageable than the Louvre, the d’Orsay benefits greatly from the huge iron-clad atrium that hangs over it, flooding the paintings with natural light. With the whole building brilliantly remodelled by architect Gae Aulenti in the 1980s, it is a joy to visit.
Musee d’Orsay is situated at Rue de Lille, 62. It is open daily except Monday from 9.30am to 6pm (until 9.45pm Thu). The entrance ticket costs €7.50; concessions €5.50; under 18s free; free first Sun of every month.