The Town of Spartanburg

The Town of Spartanburg Spartanburg is a community that has something for everyone. It is located 98 miles northwest of Columbia, 80 miles west of Charlotte, and about 190 miles northeast of Atlanta. Spartanburg is serviced by two airports. The Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport, a small, mostly private airport, and the larger Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) that services most major airlines. Spartanburg was rated the top city in South Carolina to live.

Spartanburg is also holds the Spartanburg Day School, a K-12 private school with multiple recent state championships in several sports. Spartanburg is also home to the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. Spartanburg has been called a "College town". It has six institutions of higher learning including the University of South Carolina Upstate which was formerly known as University of South Carolina Spartanburg, or USC. Spartanburg is also located an hour away from the Clemson Tigers and about an hour and a half away from the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Spartanburg's cultural anchor for history, art, theatre, dance, music, and science, is located in a three building complex on the northern edge of the downtown area. Spartanburg is one of the five best real estate buys in the country, and was also rated by Relocate America as one of the "Top 25 Places to Live and Go to School" in 2007. Spartanburg has wide selection of affordable housing with many planned community developments some of which located on Lake Bowen area. Spartanburg is home to many of the southern musicians such as the Marshal Tucker band Despite its size as a small city, Spartanburg has, throughout its history, been a fruitful home to a creative community. Within the past decade, developers and community leaders have spearheaded an effort to revitalize Spartanburg's downtown district. The downtown area has gone through a drastic revitalization adding in many commercial stores and franchise restaurants while keeping its historic appeal. Within the past decade, developers and community leaders have spearheaded an effort to revitalize Spartanburg's downtown district. I always think of this area of South Carolina as Gods Country with all of the scenic views of the mountains in the distance and the rolling hills everywhere - what a great place to settle down and raise a family! Spartanburg County has some of the best schools in the state with many winning awards every year and there are over 5 local colleges with many choices in academics. Spartanburg even received an award last year for Best Quality Of Life. The Town of Spartanburg

Importance of Culture and Leadership: Case Study: Southwest Airlines

Importance of Culture and Leadership: Case Study: Southwest Airlines Organizational Success in a Weak Industry

Southwest Airlines is the owner of the fewest customer complaints of any major airlines for more than 18 years in a row and has been profitable for more than 31 consecutive years in comparison to other airlines that operate in the red zone year after year (D'Aurizio, 2008). Southwest Airlines is the model of excellence when evaluating an airline organization. The leadership from founder and former CEO Herb Kelleher implemented unbeatable organizational culture that placed Southwest airlines as the finest airline in the industry. Their niche is predicated on superior customer service and employee commitment to organizational success. How did they do it? Southwest focuses on nine loyalty lessons: 1. Hire attitude - train skill 2. Immerse everyone in the culture immediately 3. Keep them learning 4. People give as good as they get 5. Find the kid in everyone 6. Do more with less 7. Love them in tough times 8. Do what is right 9. Nurture the corporate family Nine Strategies Explained Hire attitude-train skill: People cannot be trained to be nice - the organization needs to assess attitude first because skill can be taught and learned. Immerse everyone in the culture immediately: Southwest executes this concept by pairing new employees with mentors which transfers knowledge to first hand to new employees bringing them up to speed within the organization. Keep them learning: This involves implementing different information specific programs that support integrated learning about key concepts that improve overall performance. People give as good as they get: This concept is based on the law of reciprocity. Southwest airlines culture focused on improving the fun-loving spirit of the organization by incorporating all employees in team building activities that solidified a family mentality. Find the kid in everyone: This is identified as the most difficult concept to implement because it involves getting employees to not take themselves too seriously and business is serious so finding the thin line in between can be complicated. Do more with less: A concept that encourages employees to provide superior support and use resources appropriately which in return reduces organizational expenses. Love them in tough times: Is based on the premise that all employees receive organizational and personal support during all difficult times which quite possibly could be the most important loyalty lesson of all. Do what is right: Focuses on educating leaders to admit fault and adhere to feedback that holds them accountable which increase subordinate moral and creates a more unified workforce through trust. Nurture the corporate family: Encompasses all interactive participants with the organization and considers them as family. Organizational Outcome Southwest Airlines operates effectively in the employee engagement zone which positively effects customer satisfaction thus providing positive yearly revenue. This successful business model is the exact opposite of airline industry competition. Southwest values their employees first and is consistently rated as one of the best companies to work for by the highly acclaimed Forbes magazine. The approach to the aviation business taken by Southwest is appropriate for success in a service oriented sector. The message we acquire from the nine loyalty lessons of Southwest implemented by Herb Kelleher is - we need to treat our employees with ultimate respect, and in return, will treat our customers equally, which will create an organizational culture that will tip the balance in our organizations favor, and develop us as the front-runner among our industries' competition. D'Aurizio, P. (2008). Southwest airlines: lessons in loyalty. Nursing Economic$, 26, 389-392. Grubbs-West, L. (2005). Lessons in loyalty. Dallas, TX: Cornerstone Leadership Institute. Importance of Culture and Leadership: Case Study: Southwest Airlines

Flights To Beaver Creek, CO - Read About Flying Into Vail Eagle

Flights To Beaver Creek, CO - Read About Flying Into Vail Eagle Beaver Creek, Colorado is nestled in the Vail Valley of the Colorado Rockies. With superb access from Vail / Eagle Airport and Denver International Airport, flights to Beaver Creek are affordable and convenient. Read about tips for flying into Colorado for you winter or summer vacation.

Flights to Vail / Eagle Airport Flying into the Vail Valley is a popular option for those wanting direct access to the slopes of Beaver Creek and Vail Ski Resorts. The airport is an easy 20 to 30 minute drive on Interstate 70. Flying To Beaver Creek In The Winter In the winter, American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, United Express, and US Airways provide non-stop jet service between EGE and thirteen major U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Newark, and Philadelphia. Flights To Beaver Creek In The Summer Summer options include daily non-stop B-757 flights between Vail / Eagle and Dallas / Ft. Worth (DFW), on American Airlines, and Chicago (ORD) and Denver (DEN), on United. Competitively priced American and United services link up Eagle County Airport with their DFW and Denver hubs, and hundreds of domestic and international cities. The Vail / Eagle County Airport has grown with the opening of their award-winning passenger terminal in 1996. In 2004, they served their millionth passenger and set a new record for commercial passengers. New at the Vail / Eagle Airport is the addition of customs services for private aircraft and free wireless internet service in the terminal. Just bring your laptop! Airfare to Denver International Airport With it's spectacular resemblance to the Colorado Rockies, the Denver International Airport is almost worthy of flying into just for a glimpse at this state-of-the-art airport. A pleasant drive from Denver to Beaver Creek will have you relaxing in the comfort of your own Beaver Creek condo rental. Transportation to and from Beaver Creek comes in two forms. You can either choose to rent your own Beaver Creek Car Rental or book a shuttle from Denver to Beaver Creek. Car Rentals in Beaver Creek Whether you fly into the Vail / Eagle Airport or Denver International Airport, you will have many options for Beaver Creek private transportation. Both airports offer economy car rentals, 4wheel drive SUVs and even 12 passenger vans. Having your own car rental allows you the flexibility to explore nearby communities such as Avon, Eagle, Vail and Minturn. Shuttles and Transportation A unique attribute of the villages of Beaver Creek, Colorado is their guest transportation. Simply hop on the intown shuttles and let the FREE transportation system carry you and your ski gear between the three villages. The free transportation system allows visitors who book shuttles from Denver to Beaver Creek freedom to not need their own car rental. No matter where you fly in, Beaver Creek will cater to your every need. Coming for the winter, spring, summer and fall, you are sure to have great memories of your vacation to Colorado. Flights To Beaver Creek, CO - Read About Flying Into Vail Eagle

Discount Airlines for Mexico

Discount Airlines for Mexico Low cost and budget airlines are finding their way to Mexico. There are many airlines that offer discount domestic flights between Mexican cities as well as international flights to and from the USA, previously only accessible through bus lines or at much higher rates via traditional airlines.

VIVA AEROBUS The low-cost airline connects General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (MTY) in Monterrey, Mexico to a handful of Mexican domestic locations and later this year Austin, Texas. Viva Aerobus, which is part-owned by Ryanair, started operations in November, 2006. AVIACSA Aviacsa operates flights from Monterrey and Mexico City to four U.S. cities - Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami, as well as extensive domestic services from its major hubs at Monterrey, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Leon. AERO CALIFORNIA Aero California is a Mexican airline based in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico with a main hub at Manuel Márquez de León International Airport. The no-frills carrier serves 19 destinations in Mexico, including Chihuahua, Guadalajara, La Paz, Los Mochis, Mazatlan, Mexico City, Monterrey, Puebla, Tijuana, and more. ALMA DE MEXICO Aerolíneas Mesoamericanas (or ALMA de Mexico) is one of the fastest growing regional airlines in Mexico. It is based in Guadalajara and operates services to more than 18 domestic destinations, with future plans for international services to the USA. VOLARIS Volaris is a low-fare airline based in the city of Toluca, Mexico. Its fleet includes 13 Airbus A319-100 aircraft and serves a number of domestic destinations, including Aguascalientes, Ciudad Juarez, Culiacan, Merida, Mexicali, Toluca, Villahermosa. SPIRIT Spirit Airlines currently flies to 37 destinations throughout Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States. The low-cost airline, which is headquartered in Miramar, Florida, connects Detroit and Fort Lauderdale with Cancun, Mexico. FRONTIER The Denver-based low-cost carrier offers extensive service to Mexican resort cities. From Denver International, Frontier flies to Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. Frontier offers point-to-point non-stop service to and from Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, St Louis, Kansas City, San Diego, and Salt Lake City. Discount Airlines for Mexico

The Commercial Airlines Are Going With Smaller Seats?

The Commercial Airlines Are Going With Smaller Seats? Yes, that is right the new wave in commercial airline comfort is a smaller seat that will have you sitting while standing so to speak. A way of creating more seating room and supposedly lower fares to make flying more affordable for everyone. That is if we believe them.

What is the reason they are looking at this? One of the common thoughts is that is is a way to increase the passenger load which would mean the number of flights could be decreased. Another thought is that they will make it more affordable and reduce the cost of flying at first and then start to raise the prices again. This would then have seats again at a higher price making it not affordable again, or possibly all of the coach seats could be replaced with these so that everyone wants to fly first class. When dealing with a commercial carrier one thing is for sure, they are in the process of trying to figure out how this will be helpful for them as time goes by. Their motives generally have their priorities first, they are investigating what benefit it will be. Now about the seats themselves, they have been equated to riding on a saddle. They are said to be one of the most uncomfortable ways to travel that testers have ever experienced. Right now they are being promoted for use on shorter flights that are less than 2 hours in duration but it has been stated that these seats can actually be used for those flights that run for as long as four hours. One major concern about this time frame is that there are many issues that can keep you on a plane well longer than your actual flight time and one actually wonders how long you could remain in your seat if it is truly that uncomfortable. The commercial airline companies seem intent on taking out all the comfort for their passengers. It's pretty amazing they are going to try to take away your leg space, so it is no surprise that lots of people are looking at different types of travel like car rentals or private jets. Even if you choose to drive you will at least be able to move your legs somewhat. The Commercial Airlines Are Going With Smaller Seats?

Budget Airlines in South Africa - Travel Across SA For Cheaper That You Think

Budget Airlines in South Africa - Travel Across SA For Cheaper That You Think Local tourism has been on the up with the introduction of more budget airlines over the past few years, and these days it is easier than ever to work national flights into your holiday budget. So, while airfare to South Africa may have been on the rise recently, budget airlines in South Africa are making sure that travel in South Africa is affordable to airline users.

There are a couple of airlines competing to offer the cheapest flights to Johannesburg, and it is now possible to find cheap flights to Durban, cheap flights to JHB and cheap flights to Cape Town from one of the budget airlines in South Africa. Mango Airways, Kulula Airline and Nationwide are probably the three cheapest options when flying in South Africa, although it may be worthwhile checking 1Time, SAA and British Airways to see if there are specials available. Each airline has its own quirks and benefits, so make sure of the services provided and what is included in your ticket price. You may need to buy lunch on the flight, or it may be included. If you think you will need to eat on the flight you may want to make sure of this detail. Whichever airline you choose to fly with when traveling in South Africa, make sure to get to the airport in time, double check your boarding time and when you should check in your luggage. There are a variety of car rental agents available at each of the major South African airports, but you may find it easier to call the rental agency in advance if you are planning to rent a car in your destination city. Budget Airlines in South Africa - Travel Across SA For Cheaper That You Think

The Difference Between Finding a Cheap Domestic versus a Cheap International Airfare

The Difference Between Finding a Cheap Domestic versus a Cheap International Airfare While US domestic airfare is a lot more volatile (i.e. prices change a lot more frequently) the price difference between major travel sites such as Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia, and the airlines sites is often no more than 10-20%. There are exceptions where going with a lesser known carrier such as Allegiant Air or US3000 Airlines can save you substantially more but by and large for most of US domestic travel this remains the case. Sellers of domestic airfare pretty much fall into 2 categories: (1) the airlines and (2) online travel agencies. There are a few niche players but they service a very small market. Therefore, when shopping for domestic airfare deals the "when to buy" is commonly more important than the "where to buy."

The opposite is true when securing an international airfare bargain. The "when to buy" is still important (as in don't wait until the last minute) but the "where to buy" is a lot more important. This is because airfare to Europe, Asia, Africa, and South & Central America are somewhat less volatile (may not change as frequently) but the price difference between different vendors can sometimes be as much as 50% or more. There are several reasons why that is but the two major reasons are (1) the type of fares that are offered and (2) the number of players in the field. The Type of Fares Without getting very technical there are basically 2 types of international airfare; published and unpublished. In the domestic market 97% of leisure fares are published (give or take). A published fare you can refer to as a retail fare. The airline creates the fare and the rules associated with that fare and then publishes the information through a clearing house called ATPCo (Airline Tariff Publishing Company). ATPCo then distributes the fare to the global distribution systems. Online and offline travel agencies in turn retrieve these published fares via one or more of these systems. Everybody has access to the fare. An unpublished fare (also referred to as a negotiated fare) is still being released via ATPCo but part of the "fare rules" is an indicator of what seller is allowed to access and sell the fare. It is essentially a private fare. One other difference is that published fares have to be sold at the price determined by the airline (no mark-ups or mark downs) while a private fare can be marked up. That is why you see online and offline agencies add a service charge of anywhere between and to a published fare ticket. With a negotiated fare the airline will receive a set amount and the seller is allowed to mark up (add his/her margin) to that fare. So, a seller may negotiate a 0 fare from New York to London with airline X and then mark it up and sell it for 5. Another visible difference between a negotiated and a published fare is the fact that on many (almost all) negotiated airline tickets you will not see the actual price you paid for the ticket. Instead you will either see a much higher fare or only tax information. A published fare tickets will show exactly what you paid for the ticket (excluding any service charges). As a general rule, negotiated fare tickets are frequently cheaper than published fare tickets (There are instances when an airline may have a "fire sale" that undercuts the fare levels of negotiated fares) and that is why "the where" is more important than "the when" when it comes to buying international airfare. Sellers of Travel Sellers of international airfare fall into the following major categories: (1) Major Airlines (2) Charter Airlines (3) Online Travel Agencies (4) Offline Travel Agencies (5) Global Consolidators that sell to the Public (6) Global Consolidators that do not sell to Public (7) Ethnic Consolidators or Destination Specialists (8) Student Travel Consolidators (9) Tour Operators Major Airlines These are the carriers we are all familiar with such as American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM and many more. They offer airfare via their own website and many of the other sellers listed above. They may offer web specials on their own site. They do not charge a service fee. Charter Airlines In Europe this type of airline is a lot more common than in the US. A charter is basically when a tour operator "rents" or "charters" an airplane to fly vacationers from their departure gateway airport to the destination airport. There are a few airline companies that offer service from/to the US that have their roots in the charter business. They regularly offer year round or seasonal service to/from a few select US airports to a single country. They are FAA approved and must meet all airline safety rules & regulations. What sets them apart is their business model that allows them to commonly sell seats cheaper than the majors. Some of these alternative airlines are LTU, Condor, FlyGlobespan, or Martinair to name a few. They usually also do not charge a service fee. Online Travel Agencies Players in this category are Travelocity, Orbitz, Cheaptickets, Expedia, Priceline, Hotwire and so on. They sell published and unpublished airfare. They charge a service fee. They also habitually try to sell you other travel components such as hotel accommodation, car rentals, attraction tickets and/or travel insurance. If you are going overseas for a vacation buying a package (where the seller will bundle an air component with one or more land components) can be an option and may save you money. In a future article I will cover the advantages and disadvantages of packages. Offline Travel Agencies Also referred to as brick and mortar travel agencies, these are the traditional agencies that you would walk into, sit down and book your travel. Depending on size and target market they may also double as an ethnic consolidator or destination specialist. They also have access to consolidator fares not offered directly to the general public. Brick and mortar agencies almost always charge a service fee. Global Consolidators that Sell Directly to the Public Many times these are travel agencies that have decided to "cut out the middleman" and go directly to the airlines to negotiate their own private fares. This allows them to then re-sell them at a lower price without loosing their margin. In order to get decent private fares a global consolidator would have to offer 0 Million+ in annual agency sales. Most of the negotiated tickets are sold without a service fee. If a consolidator sells a published fare they regularly add a service fee. Global Consolidators that do not Sell Directly to the Public In the days prior to online internet travel very few agencies would act as their own consolidator. Instead they worked through middlemen (consolidators) that negotiated deals with the airlines. A consolidator would negotiate that same 0 deal mentioned above, add his margin and then sell it to a retail agency. The retail agent would then add her margin and sell it to the public. As the Internet took shape, agencies could reach a much larger audience and therefore gained the clout to negotiate directly with the airlines. Nevertheless, there are still many agencies, offline and online that offer middlemen consolidator airfares. Due to the sheer volume consolidators can offer to an airline these fares could still be a bargain even after several mark-ups. Ethnic Consolidators or Destination Specialists These are probably one of the least known (by the general public that is) sources for inexpensive airline tickets. They are also some of the hardest to find. The US is a nation of immigrants and ethnic consolidators have traditionally serviced their ex-patriot or immigrant community. They were and still are the cheap sources for airfare back to the home country. Unlike global consolidators that can turn over 0 Million+ in sales a year these ethnic outlets may only turn over -5 Million a year but most of that can go to 1 or 2 carriers. They are highly specialized and have long-standing relationships to their preferred carriers. These long-term, reliable relationships are the reason why some ethnic mom and pop operations are able to secure airfare rates that are 20-30% lower than any of the online mega agencies. Destination specialists are similar to ethnic consolidators in terms of size and style. They have become true experts in a country or region and have built relationships. The difference is that often they are targeting the foreign independent traveler (FIT). Like I mentioned, the airfare bargains some of these outlets can offer are often hard to beat but the challenge is finding them. Google and Yahoo and any of the other search engines often do not find them. Student Travel Consolidators As the name suggests these are agencies that target students (and in some cases faculty). Just like a global consolidator, they approach the airlines and negotiate special discounts or private fares. The difference is that according to the agreement with the airlines they are only allowed to sell to bona fide students (and faculty) only. Frequently, the students have to be enrolled in an accredited college or university and high school students are not eligible. The same is true for faculty. Some agencies are better than others in ensuring that the person buying the ticket actually is a student. Tour Operators Tour Operators are entities that sell vacation packages such as all-inclusive, etc. They negotiate deals with airlines, hotels, ground operators and so forth, package them together, mark them up and then sell them as one product to the public. On occasion they will sell just the airfare (at rock bottom prices) in order to fill empty seats on the plane. Since they have a fixed price that they have to pay the aircraft operator, any empty seat is a missed opportunity. The best chance to get one of these cheap seats is usually to the Caribbean or Mexico. Sources for international airfare bargains are plentiful. Finding the right one at the right time may make all the difference in whether you get a good fare or a great deal. While getting a domestic airfare deal is often the result of (lucky) timing getting a great international deal is frequently the result of knowing where to look. The Difference Between Finding a Cheap Domestic versus a Cheap International Airfare

Disneyland Travel Planning - What's the Closest Airport to Disneyland?

Disneyland Travel Planning - What's the Closest Airport to Disneyland? When planning your trip to Disneyland in California, you have a wealth of options when it comes to airports. So you first question likely is, what's the closest airport to Disneyland? So here are the Disneyland airports by distance.

John Wayne Airport - 12 Miles The John Wayne Airport is located in Irvine, CA. It is the closest airport to Disneyland and it's a decent-sized regional airport serviced by many airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American, Continental, Delta (and now Northwest), Southwest, United and US AIrways. Virgin America also flies into John Wayne Airport. Long Beach Airport - 18 miles away Eighteen miles away in the city of Long Beach is the small Long Beach Airport. JetBlue Airways flies into Long Beach instead of LAX, so if JetBlue serves your local airport, you may just find a direct flight coming here. Other airlines flying into Long Beach include Alaska, Delta and US Airways. Los Angeles International Airport - 35 miles LAX is the largest airport servicing the region so you might find that while it is the furthest away from Disneyland, it is also the cheapest to fly into. It is definitely the cheapest airport when it comes to renting a car. You'll find the best on-airport prices at LAX, rather than the two regional airports. If you have a preference for non-stop flights, in all likelihood, LAX will prove to be your only option anyway. But I would strongly recommend avoiding arrival during the evening rush hour in Los Angeles. Allow up to two hours for the drive to Disneyland if you are making any dinner reservations or other plans. Also, keep in mind that the closest airport might not be the most economical or the best time-saver. You'll want to make your decision on where to fly based on price, flight time (connecting flights add more time) and car rental prices or airport shuttle options available at that airport. Disneyland Travel Planning - What's the Closest Airport to Disneyland?

Great Lakes Mysteries - Monsters, Ghost Ships, UFOs and Vortexes of Doom

Great Lakes Mysteries - Monsters, Ghost Ships, UFOs and Vortexes of Doom Monsters...

Charles Cassady Jr relates many native American Legends in his Paranormal Great Lakes an Illustrated Encyclopedia. Chippewa and Canadian Indians told of Naitaka, a long necked monster that ate men and deer alike. The Chippewa also told of a nameless beast, the Giant Sturgeon of Lake Superior that ate whole ships. Ojibway Indians said Mishipishu was another monster of Lake Superior. It was a giant, cat-like creature, with something like spines down its back, who protected its copper at Isle Royale & Michipicoten Island, like a dragon protecting its gold. It's tail could level one whole village. And then there was the snake-like Mishi Ginabig, a great Horned Serpent who battled the equally massive Thunderbird. The Thunderbird won the battle, taking the giant serpent form the water and carrying it away, as lightning flashed and thunder shook the skies. There were spirits along the lakes too; the Wendigo drove men to madness and cannibalism. More modern reports are of a creature with the non-threatening name of South Bay Bessie in Lake Erie, sometimes called Lem or Lemmy as a shortening of Lake Erie Monster or the Great Snake of Lake Erie. In 1793 the captain of the sloop facility startled a large creature more that 16 and a half feet long. From then on, sightings of the elusive creature were reported from the 1800's into modern times. Was this a cousin of Mishi Ginabig in a bordering lake? Vortexes of Doom... The great lakes are some of the most treacherous waters know to sailors and they have claimed many ships and lives over the centuries. Some of these wrecks have strange legends attached to them. There are over 1000 ships claimed by the lakes. It is no wonder that there are two mystery triangles or areas of doom given to these lakes. There is a Great Lakes Triangle, because the lakes are formed in a kind of triangle, and the Michigan Triangle. Like the Bermuda Triangle off the coast of Florida, these triangles are said to cause strange disappearances, vortexes, instrument anomalies and the like. More on the curse of the Michigan triangle to follow. Ghost Ships... The first Ghost Ship of the lakes is the Griffon. In 1678, after setting sail from Green Bay, the ship had made it to its destination in Wisconsin, but once setting sail again, its believed to have entered a storm. The Griffon was never seen again. That is until Indian tribes reported seeing the ship along Lake Erie, Huron & Michigan. It was sighted by sailors in northern Michigan. They sailed to the ship, but the closer they got, the Griffon vanished. Some accounts say that the Iroquois prophet, Metiomek thought the Griffon was made to destroy the Great Spirit, Gitchee Manitou and put a curse on the Griffon. It is said you can still see the the ship glowing at night. The best ghost ship sighting is from Rowley Murphy who was on Lake Ontario in 1910. While sleeping, he was awakened in the middle of the night by a steamers whistle-alarm blasts. In the moonlight, Rowley could see a small older design of steamer ship. The alarm blasts continued. Several men boarded a dingy and went out to offer aid. As the men reached the area where there should have been a ship, they were greeted with nothing but open water. The phantom ship had vanished. UFOs... The Michigan Triangle is attributed with the mysterious disappearance of Northwest Orient Airlines, Flight 2501. On June 23rd, 1950, in the late evening hours, radio contact with the DC-4 was lost. The plane was over what some call the center of the Michigan Triangle. Two hours after the last call from the flight to traffic control, a UFO was spotted in the area. Though debris and bodies were recovered, the plane was never found. There are theories that an Alien base exists under one or several of the lakes. Reports of USO's or Under Submarine Objects from the Great Lakes dated back to the 1940's and into our current era. In 1951 a steamship captain and his crew saw an orange craft over Lake Superior with two glowing portholes. And in August of 1952 a TWA pilot reported being 'buzzed' by a flying saucer. That same month the Air Force Radar base on Keweenaw Peninsula reported a 'formation' of UFO's over Lake Superior. In the last few years, video of UFOs over the lakes have made the rounds. Some do give me reason to pause and wonder what power lurks beneath the dangerous waters of the Great Lakes. - Mark To see the videos, visit my blog Mark Turner's Mysterious World Great Lakes Mysteries - Monsters, Ghost Ships, UFOs and Vortexes of Doom

Shop And Compare For The Best Frequent Flyer Cards

Shop And Compare For The Best Frequent Flyer Cards There are many different frequent flyer cards available. It is an especially smart idea to shop around for the best frequent flyer cards to suit your taste in travel. Perhaps, you want a variety of carriers to choose from. You will do best to take your time and compare. I will enlighten you on a few of the offers out there.

Let us look at a couple of Visa Cards. The WorldPerks Visa Signature Card is one good offer. With this card, you can fly at a very low cost with Northwest Airlines and anyone who has a partnership with them. WorldPerks Signature Card offers one mile for each dollar spent until you reach 80,000 in one year. If you purchase over 80,000 then you receive one mile for two dollars spent. This card also includes Bonus Enrollment miles of 7,500. Compare this to the WorldPerks Visa Platinum Card. The bonus miles differ--Visa Platinum offers 5,000 miles of bonus. You receive one mile of travel for each dollar spent under ,000 monthly. If the purchase is more than ,000, you must spend two dollars for one mile. So which one of these Visa Cards is the best frequent flyer card for you. Now, there are at least three Citi Cards with which you can earn free flyer miles. With the Citi Gold/ A Advantage World Master Card, you are provided with flexible, low cost rewards. Also it is your choice when and where you fly as there are no expiration dates and no black out dates. With this Citi card, your miles are redeemable with high class hotels, car rental places, and the best airlines. Let's look at the Citi PremierPass Card. There is a great deal of savings with this special card. You get one point for flying 3 miles on whatever airline you choose. You will obtain one point per dollar spent and 0% annual percentage rate per year on balances transfers. For many, this could be one of the best frequent flyer cards. Now, how about the Citi Platinum Select A Advantage World Master Card? You can earn American Airlines miles to purchase care rentals, hotels, and airline tickets. There is no limit set on spending and you can accumulate 100,000 miles in one year. There are many more that are considered among the best frequent flyer cards such as Gold Delta Skymiles and Blue Sky Card by American Express and the No Hassle Miles Reward Card from Capitol One. You just have to check them all out for yourself--only you know the best frequent flyer cards for you. Believe me, you will be glad that you took the time to shop and compare. Shop And Compare For The Best Frequent Flyer Cards

I Love Touring Italy - Northern Veneto

I Love Touring Italy - Northern Veneto If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Veneto region of northern Italy on the Gulf of Venice. Venice is of course its best-known city and one of the most popular tourist destinations on earth. But the Veneto region has a lot more to offer. You'll find many, many excellent tourist attractions and you won't have to fight huge crowds. With a little luck you'll avoid tourist traps and come back home feeling that you have truly visited Italy. This article examines tourist attractions in northern Veneto. Be sure to read our companion articles on southern Veneto, on that Shakespearean city of Verona, and on the university city of Padua.

We start our tour of northern Veneto in Marostica, northeast of Vicenza and northwest of Venice. Then we head basically east, first to Bassano del Grappa, on to Asolo, and finally southeast to Treviso. Marostica, population about thirteen thousand, is known for two castles: the Castello Inferiore (Lower Castle) a rather unique setting for Town Council meetings and the Castello Superiore (Upper Castle) up the hill. But on the second weekend of September in even years such as 2008 these attractions take a back seat to the Partita a Scacchi (Chess Game) with human players dressed in medieval costumes. This practice first started in 1454. It seems that two local noblemen Renaldo D. and Vieri da V. fell in love with the beautiful Lionora P., the daughter of the Lord of Marostica. They were set to fight a duel to for the hand of that fair lady. The future father in law, good for him, said no dueling in these parts; if you want to win my daughter you must first win a chess game to be played in the square near the lower castle. The winner will marry Lionora and the loser will marry her younger sister, Oldrada. The whole town showed up to watch the match. History does not record whether Lionora was rooting for the eventual winner or not. The not quite instant replay lasts from Friday night to Sunday and the moves are announced in the local dialect. Marostica is also famous for its cherries and holds a cherry festival every May and June. Bassano del Grappa, population about forty thousand, was founded as a Roman agricultural estate more than two thousand years ago. It's a pretty town with old houses and squares at the base of Mt. Grappa. This mountain provided cover to Italian partisans during World War II. In 1946 the Prime Minister of Italy awarded the city a gold medal for its military valor. This is commemorated every September. The city boasts several unusual museums. The Poli Grappa Museum presents the ins and outs of Grappa, an internationally known distilled liquor. Tastings are free but you had better remember grappa is a lot stronger than wine. The Museo della Cermica's (Ceramics Museum) interesting collection includes many pieces from the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century. You can purchase local ceramics in many shops in the area. The Museo degli Alpini (Alpine Museum) honors Italian Alpine Troops. The Town Museum displays archaeological remains, several paintings by well-known historical local artists, and drawings by Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt. Bassano del Grappa is home to several historic churches including the Eleventh Century Duomo (Cathedral) renovated several hundred years later, the Thirteenth Century Church of San Donato said to be visited by both St Francis of Assisi and St Anthony of Padua, the Twelfth Century Church of St. Francis, and the Fourteenth Century Church of St. John the Baptist restored in the Eighteenth Century. The city's best-known monument is the Ponte degli Alpini (Alpine Bridge) over the Brenta River. This lovely bridge was designed in the Sixteenth Century by the architect Andrea Palladio to replace one constructed in the Thirteenth Century. You may know that Palladio was said to be the most influential person in the history of Western architecture. Read more about him and his work in the companion article I Love Touring Italy - Southern Veneto. Palladio's bridge was destroyed in 1748 and rebuilt three years later. What you see today was reconstructed after World War II from his own design. Asolo, population about seventy five hundred, is known as "The Pearl of the Province of Treviso", and as "The City of a Hundred Horizons". Asolo is associated with the Italian verb "Asolare" meaning to pass time in a delightful but meaningless way. The famous British poet Robert Browning surely agreed with delightful, but not with meaningless; here in the Nineteenth Century he wrote Asolando, his last volume of poetry. Other famous writers including Elizabeth Barret Browning, Ernest Hemingway, and Henry James visited or lived this town. A very different type of resident was Catherina Cornaro, the daughter of a Venetian noble family and the Queen of Cyprus from 1474 to 1489. She was exiled to Asolo so that Venice could claim Cyprus after the death of her husband James II, nicknamed James the Bastard. He died soon after their wedding and their son died before his first birthday, would you believe under suspicious circumstances? Some say when she left Nicosia the whole population was bewailing. During Cornaro's exile in Asolo she was considered quite a patron of the arts. You can see some of the remains of the Castle that she inhabited. Other castle remains were purchased in 1930 by a certain Mr. Ringling of circus fame; he rebuilt it as the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. Atop the town sits a converted monastery that now houses a university: CIMBA (The International Consortium for Management and Business Analysis). Students from all over the world live, work, and study in Asolo while earning their MBA. CIMBA has a sister campus for undergraduates in Paderno. Treviso, population about eighty thousand, has had a long and bloody history. It was close to the site of an important battle in World War I and the site of a concentration camp in World War II. During that war the medieval city was heavily damaged with quite a loss of life. In spite of the massive destruction its center is still something to see. Treviso is home to the famous designer Benetton and has enough canals to merit the nickname "Little Venice". Start your visit at the Piazza dei Signori (Square of the Gentlemen), the center of the medieval town, with several buildings of interest including the Twelfth Century Palazzo dei Trecento (Town Hall). Close by you'll find the Pescheria (Fish Market) on an island in the canal. Among the churches to see is the Late Romanesque-Early Gothic Twelfth Century Church of San Francesco (Saint Francis), used by Napoleonic troops as a stable. It contains several paintings and frescoes of interest and the tombs of Pietro Alighieri, son of Dante, and Francesca Petrarca, daughter of the poet Francesco. The Church of San Nicolò is a mixture of Thirteenth Century Venetian Romanesque and French Gothic elements. It is also loaded with historic frescoes. The Duomo di San Pietro (Saint Peter's Cathedral) was built in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries on the site of a Romanesque church. Among its artwork is Titian's The Annunciation. What about food? Treviso is known for many specialties including various pasta and rice dishes with wild herbs and vegetables, such as risotto with wild asparagus (bruscandoi). When gourmets think of Treviso it's often for the local radicchio, perhaps served in risotto. Other popular local dishes include bigoli, thick homemade spaghetti served with duck or sausage sauce, risi e bisi (rice with peas), and pasta e fagioli (pasta with beans). Meat and cold cuts are often served with peverada, a strong sauce made with liver and spices. Like several other areas, Treviso claims the famous Italian dessert, tiramisu. Let's suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Sopa Coada (Pigeon and Bread Soup). Then try Ravioli ai Porcini e Ricotta Affumicata (Ravioli with Porcini Mushrooms and Smoked Ricotta Cheese). For dessert indulge yourself with Focaccia alla Ceccobeppe (Flat Bread with Dried Fruit). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal. We'll conclude with a quick look at Veneto wine. Veneto ranks 3rd among the 20 Italian regions both for the area planted in grape vines and for its total annual wine production. About 45% of Veneto wine is red or rosé, leaving 55% for white. The region produces 24 DOC wines and 3 DOCG wines, Recioto di Soave, Soave Superiore, and Bardolino Superiore. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Almost 30% of Venetian wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. Montello e Colli Asolani DOC is produced on the right bank of the Piave River north of Treviso. There are many styles made from a variety of local and international grapes. The best known is Prosecco, made from the white Prosecco grape with up to 15% of other white grapes, mostly local, but including Chardonnay. While Prosecco wine may be still or fizzy, it is usually sparkling. And it is usually not very special. I Love Touring Italy - Northern Veneto

People Expect A Travel Deal From Northwest Airlines

People Expect A Travel Deal From Northwest Airlines Convenient flights, competitive airfares, and great vacation packages are some of the reasons why most travelers choose to fly Northwest airlines. Managing your reservations is just a click away with Northwest and all you have to do is visit their website for total assistance and guidance to plan your trip.

Reservations Like most other airlines, Northwest airlines also offers you the convenience of booking your flights online. You can also request for online e-ticket refund on the airline' website, nwa.com. However, you should be aware that only E-Tickets beginning with 012 can be refunded on the website. You should check up with the guidelines governing refund of Northwest tickets to know if you are eligible for a refund. Fares Northwest offers great travel deals through its "fare promotions" link on the website. Currently (April, 2007) on the platter are low airfares on nonstop one-way flights from Detroit to Düsseldorf, and Brussels. Fares are as low as 3* each-way, however, you need to plan your trip within a specific period to avail them. While a one-way airfare from Los Angeles to Düsseldorf will cost you about 3, your one-way ticket from Los Angeles to Brussels will be priced at 8. You can also find exciting last minute packages to enjoy a great weekend at exotic destinations. You will find great deals that combine low airfares with discounted hotel rooms and rental cars offers to have the most refreshing vacation at your favorite destination. Other low fare options include Northwest airlines World Vacations Package Specials' to enjoy a vacation in some of the best travel destinations around the world. Schedules Northwest understands how important it is to have an access to the Northwest schedule in order to plan your trip in advance. You have the option of viewing electronic timetables online. If you download a Northwest/KLM Timetable on your computer, you can view it even when you are you don't have an Internet access. These efficient interactive travel-planning tools enable you to check out the departures and plan your itinerary effectively. Flights In order to provide complete travel experience to their customers, Northwest provides you some of the best travel deals through its tie up with Frommers.com. Whether you are flying to Mexico, Caribbean, Europe, Asia, or within the United States, you can depend on Frommers.com to guide you through your journey and help you plan a great holiday. Northwest offers convenient flights to business and tourist destinations across the globe that include Las Vegas, Chicago, Toronto, Hong Kong, Athens, Brussels, Shanghai, Costa Rica, Cozumel, Jamaica, San Juan, Paris, Rome, and London. On the Northwest website, you will also find useful travel tips to enable you to have a memorable trip with Northwest. People Expect A Travel Deal From Northwest Airlines

Top Ten Reasons Why Private Jet Charter Flights Are Better Than Commercial Airlines

Top Ten Reasons Why Private Jet Charter Flights Are Better Than Commercial Airlines In recent years there has been much media coverage of the worsening performance and service of commercial airlines. Even more recently there has been a negative public reaction to the increase in TSA screening and security procedures such as full body x-ray scans. To most, these ever deteriorating airport conditions mean more headaches and less vacation time, but for those who can afford to do so, it becomes just another reason/excuse/justification to spend extra on private jet charter flights. So why do people spend so much money on private jets? Is a charter flight really that much different than flying commercial? In hopes of answering these questions and clearly illustrating the differences between traveling on a commercial airline and a private jet; we have compiled a list of the top ten reasons why private jet charter flights are better than commercial.

*Please note that the below reason are not listed in any specific order. Time - It's one of the oldest sayings in every book, "time is money" and weather you have a work deadline or you're on vacation, most people want more of it. When you travel by private jet time is on your side. The aircraft leaves when you are ready to go and will never depart without you. In most cases you will be provided with one of the pilot's cell phone numbers that you can call if you are going to be early or late. Although every airport is different, at most executive or smaller ones you can literally have your ground transportation drive into the hangar or adjacent to the aircraft, unload/load your luggage and be on your way. There are several other advantages of using smaller airports. Depending on the trip, most often one can find a local or county airport that is nearer to your end destination. In addition, airports that cater to private jets typically have a lot less traffic both on the ground and in the air. Comfort - Anyone who travels frequently for work knows the value of a window seat or even an upgrade to first class. Being even a little bit more comfortable can make a huge difference over hours and hours of sitting still. When you charter a private jet you are renting the whole aircraft, many of which have couches and even optional bedding. Although every aircraft is configured different, it is safe to say a majority of private jets available for charter have seating far more comfortable than commercial airlines. Not to mention you are in complete control of the cabin temperature. If you charter a heavy jet, such as a Gulfstream V, you will most often have a complimentary cabin attendant. Flexibility - Most top C level executives lead busy lives. Things come up, schedules change, meetings get pushed back. For the CEO who is always on the go a private jet can be a godsend. As long as you are paying for it you are free to make last minute changes to your itinerary. You are not subject to the airline schedules, delays and cancellations. Bad weather coming in? No problem, leave a day early or change the flight route. When you charter a private jet you make the schedule and you are free to break the schedule. Privacy - Although this applies more to celebrities and public figures than to the everyday business man, chartering a private jet offers you the ability to fly without being noticed. These days everyone from little kids to seniors is equipped with at least one digital camera. Using a private aircraft is the only way to travel incognito. The FBOs at executive airports are VIP only and they defiantly do not let the guys from TMZ hang out and loiter. Prestige - Need to impress someone? Maybe you have a potential client or love interest that you want to make feel special. What better way to do it than to rent them a private jet? Remember your friend from high school who has the really nice car? Remember how cool you felt sitting shotgun driving around in laps? Now imagine how important you could make someone (or yourself) feel flying them on a private jet. Pets -- Dogs are known as man's best friend so why not treat them like it? Most times, when you bring a dog with you on a commercial airline, they are treated the same as luggage. Some airlines even transport them in the storage compartment underneath the aircraft which, at high altitudes, can get extremely cold. When you rent a private jet, as long as you get prior approval your beloved pets can relax in the cabin with you. You may be asked for an additional deposit or cleaning fee, but knowing that the four legged family members will be safe and sound is well worth it. Extra Luggage Room - Taking the family on a ski vacation? Maybe you and some friends are going on a golf vacation. Imagine the hassle of lugging all that equipment around an airport, praying that your brand new skis or carbon-fiber big Bertha isn't damaged in the process. When you fly private the only restrictions you have with luggage are based on the payload and baggage capacity of the aircraft. You can even have your prized possessions ride safely with you in the cabin, no wondering if they will get left behind and you will be stuck with a rental. Commercial Aircraft are Old - The average age of a commercial aircraft is 25 years old. They are run like taxi cabs and just the same, often break down. When chartering a private aircraft you can request only later models can request to be presented with all the details of the aircraft including year of manufacture (YOM), date of the most recent refurbishment, amount of insurance, and any other important information. Safety - Although all aircraft, private and commercial, are subject to FAA regulations they are not all equally safe. Private aircraft operators are audited by several third parties and rated according to a variety of factors including history of incidents, aircraft maintenance and upkeep, crew experience/certifications and more depending on the auditing agency. ARG/US and Wyvern are two of the most recognized third party private aircraft operator auditing agencies. Food - Although it may not be your number one concern when traveling, nobody like bad food. Over the years the quality of the food served on commercial airlines has been increasingly worse. If you are lucky enough to get a meal these days, it is most likely a dry sandwich with a mini bag of chips. When you charter a private jet, you can request food from your favorite restaurant or even bring your own personal chef along with you. Even the smallest business jets usually have a small oven for heating food. You can choose to eat right away or wait till later and the crew will warm and serve you whatever has been arranged. From your favorite bottle of champagne to pastrami sandwiches from the Carnagie Deli, you can have whatever you desire provided you are willing you pay for it. As we have illustrated, there are many advantages to using a private jet for both business and personal travel. If you have never chartered a flight on a private jet before and are unsure of the cost, you can visit www.jetpartners.aero and input your itinerary and information to receive pricing for your trip instantly. This is a very helpful tool for building a trip. The advantages of using a private jet are obvious but each and every trip is priced so differently. The aircraft type, routing of the trip, travel dates and several other factors are what ultimately determine the final price and most often this is what will lead you to your final decision. Top Ten Reasons Why Private Jet Charter Flights Are Better Than Commercial Airlines

How to File Complaints Against Airlines

How to File Complaints Against Airlines Most definitely, flying is one of the most wonderful sprees that you can treasure. But the fun stops the moment you experience travel complaints. When you have complaints against airlines before, during and after your travel, you surely want to be compensated because you have been disturbed and worse you have been mistreated.

However, when you try to file your passenger complaints to the airline crews, you will just get a minor attention. This is because the personnel can only handle negligible complaints against airline. So, if you have severe travel complaints, try revealing your side of the issue to the customer service representative. Make sure though that you have a copy of all the transactions that you did with the airline. Have a reproduction of your complaint reference number so you can have an easy access when you want to check the status of your case. Now, when you have done everything but the airline company cannot present you a desirable compensation then it's about time that you have to re-examine your situation and be able to weigh things up. If you are really sure that you are on the right side then pursue your complaint. Write a complaint letter to airline heads and detail to them the real score of the airline issue. Always make sure that you have a reference of all the names of those people whom you had transactions with. Also include the date and all information that can relate to your case. These are reliable evidences that you have done your part of asking them to solve your case. Now, when the airline company cannot give you an accurate response, you may resort filing your complaint to the Air Transport Users Council. This agency arranges disputes between airlines. This might help you identify the next step that you should undertake. When everything else fails, then the small claims court is your next resort. In this matter, you have to present a formal letter containing all of the pertinent facts and information about your case. You can effectively do this if you are guided by the Sue the Airline guide which is a book containing all of the practical steps that an airline complainant should and should not do most especially when he reaches the stage of filing the case to the small claims court. This guidebook will let you become confident that you will gain back the compensation you ought to have. How to File Complaints Against Airlines

San Diego Air and Space Museum Thrills Airplane Lovers

With several museums to choose from, Balboa Park is a highlight for any visitor to San Diego. But be sure one of the museums you visit is the San Diego Air and Space Museum, a must-see for airplane lovers.

Currently the museum's headline exhibit is one about Aliens, a special part of the museum that has temporary exhibits set up to take you through a complete examination of why there are likely to be alien life forms existing on other planets and how and why that might be possible based on our own scientific knowledge. The exhibit takes you through the usual stories about unidentified flying objects and how the media has helped create certain images that we have in our minds about what aliens might look like. Then the exhibit explains the reality of life here on earth and how there are many unique creatures that have gradually adapted to harsh environments - miles below the ocean surface, for example. The conclusion: It seems quite likely that there may be other living creatures, maybe as small as bacteria, that have adapted to the harsh environments that we know exist on many planets in our own universe. Elsewhere in the exhibit you can see just how big our own galaxy is when you look at a wall-sized photo of the Milky Way galaxy and how it looks from a distance. There are literally billions of stars and planets out there and, again, the conclusion is that it's highly likely there is life out there someplace. But the Aliens exhibit is just a small part of a museum that has an impressive collection of vintage aircraft on display, all well organized in chronological order taking you through the early days of flight, then through the world wars and post-war period right up to the space program. From jet aircraft to bi-planes, the aircraft at the museum are all in great shape - a few are reproductions - and visitors can imagine just what it must have been like to fly in these old machines. There are many types of aircraft - so many it does appear they're running out of space in the museum. You'll find World War I and II fighters, a plane like the Lindbergh Spirit of St. Louis, a whole slew of bi-planes and even some old World War 1 flying craft such as the famous Red Baron. The museum has spacecraft on display as well, including the Apollo 9 space module and several items that were brought back from the moon. The airlines are also highlighted including an elaborate display featuring memorabilia from the PSA, an airline that serviced the west coast several decades ago. If you want to know what it's like to fly in a jet fighter, try out the motion simulator that, for a passenger, allows you to take the controls of your own jet fighter and fly it around San Diego. The elaborate simulator will turn you and tilt you and re-create the sensations of flying much better than sitting in front of your computer at home. We found the gravitational forces you experience to be amazing. Another fun part of the museum is the 4-D Zable Theater that features various movies that put you right into the action through 3-D glasses and seats that rumble and tilt and spray you with air and water. It's not exactly on a par with amusement rides at Universal Studios or Disneyland, but it's pretty close - and an unexpected treat. For more information on the San Diego Air and Space Museum, phone 619-234-8291

Four Fantastic Small Towns in the United States

In the United States, there are some small towns, which are so cool. The populations of these small towns are less than 10000, but their cuisine, culture and quality of life are so sufficient and even can compare with big cities. At the same time, the tranquility and comfort environment they provided can't be found in big cities. Their simplicity and mystery have attracted thousands of foreign tourists. Here are four famous small towns you can choose to visit.

Manitou Springs, Colo. The total population of this small town is 5,038 and the nearest city is Colorado Springs, which is only 6 miles far away. People love this town because its inhabitants are from various social strata, from scientists to businessmen. At here, you will not find a crowded store and each store has its own unique charm. The place, from live music to a ceramic sculpture, from pop to the delicious gourmet coffee, makes everything visitors feel fantastic. Port Jervis, N.Y. Port Jervis is 93 miles far away from New York City and the population of the town is 9619. As the rents in the New York City rise, many artists and shopkeepers have gotten into town where they can rent affordable shops. Now, tourists can go to town to visit the artist's galleries, fine antique shops, you can also enjoy delicious American dishes such as stuffed pork chops and pumpkin braise. Yellow Springs, Ohio The small town only has a total of 3675 people and the nearest city from here is Dayton which is only 21 miles. Since 1852 when Antioch College had built at here, yellow spa town has become the guiding light of the artists, activists and thinkers. People can freely display their knitting work in the town to show the unique public art, tourists can come here to feel the freedom and self-released smoothly. Mazomanie, Wis. The town's total population of Mazomanie is only 1,485 and 24 miles far away Madison. Small town has attracted many artists with its historic cities and cheap real estate. You wouldn't feel stuffy even you shop around at here for a whole day. Passengers can experience a rare relaxed and pleasant by buying unique souvenirs or renting a bike for a romantic bicycle travel.

Backpack Carry-On Rules For Airplanes

A backpack can be a helpful material for traveling by airplane but it should be noted that there are many different limits that can be used in terms of what type of backpack can be brought onto a plane. There are many backpack carry on rules to watch for when traveling on an airplane with a backpack. These rules deal with the number of bags that are going to be allowed for one user, the size of the bag and the maximum weight that is allowed for one of these bags.

It is important to watch for the size of the backpack when getting into a plane. There may not be enough space for people to store their backpacks into overhead compartments in certain types of airplanes. This is important to know because in some cases people will prefer to put their luggage into one of these compartments instead of having it sent into the luggage compartment of the plane and picking it up later at the luggage claim section of an airport. Also, there is only so much space that can be used underneath one's seat for storing a carry on. Using the smallest possible backpack will be important as a result. Larger backpacks that are used for weekend trips or overnight trips will generally not be able to fit in some cases. A typical area underneath the seat on an airplane will only be able to handle a material that is about five inches in height on average. As a result it will be important to watch for the size of the backpack because it may need to be stored in the luggage claim section of the plane if there is not enough space for it on the plane. It is important to know that when traveling with a backpack that only one backpack can be carried onto a plane at a time by an individual person. Different airliners will consider a backpack to be a personal item that can be carried onto a plane with ease. The weight of the backpack and the materials that are inside of it is also important. The maximum weight that can be used for most carry-ons according to average airplane carry on rules is forty pounds. It can vary for international travel though. For instance, the maximum carry on weight for Air France is only twenty-six pounds. It helps to prepare one's backpack accordingly as a result.

Top Schools in the Northeast - See the Rankings

There are many lists out there that rank colleges and universities. It is important to know the source of this information and what the criteria of the survey. In this article we will list some of the top colleges located in the Northeast region of the US. They are listed alphabetically. We have also listed some of the rankings that they have earned and why they are considered one of the top colleges in the Northeast. This list has been compiled based on information obtained from the Princeton Review.

Top Colleges in the Northeast These are some of top Northeast schools out of a total of 224 that were reviewed by the Princeton Review. 1. Alfred University in Alfred, NY #14 Most Students Happy With Financial Aid #18 Best Radio Station #1 Master Fine Arts program in Ceramics 2. Boston University in Boston, MA #12 Great College Towns 3. Colgate University in Hamilton, NY #13 Lots of Beer #14 Most Beautiful Campus #13 Jock Schools 4. Georgetown University in Washington, DC #15 The Toughest to Get Into #20 Most Politically Active #14 Great College Towns 5. Howard University in Washington, DC #2 Best College Newspaper #14 Best College Radio Station 6. Marlboro College in Marlboro, CT #2 Best Overall Academic Experience #5 Class Discussion Encouraged #2 Professors Get High Marks #13 Professors make Themselves Accessible #8 Their Students Never Stop Studying #14 Gay Community Accepted #19 Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians 7. Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ #12 Tiny Campus 8. Suffolk University in Boston, MA #8 Great College Towns 9. Tufts University in Medford, MA #15 Best Campus Food 10. Yale University in New Haven, CT #19 Best Overall Academic Experience #2 The Toughest to Get Into #4 Best College Newspaper #7 Best College Theatre #18 Happiest Students As you can see there are many different ways to rate and rank colleges. You have to choose the criteria that are most important to you when you are choosing a school. What makes a college or university the best choice for you does not make it the best choice for your friend, cousin, or another student. This is why it is important to research schools that fit into the criteria that you set and demand. Once you are able to narrow down your choices based on your own criteria, you will find yourself with a much shorter list of college options to make a more educated decision on which one is best for you, your personal goals, and your professional goals.

7 Self Introduction Strategies For a Successful Interview

Fresh out of college? Recently laid off? Re-entering the work force? You can gain an advantage over those dozens of other qualified people interviewing for the same job by using these 7 Self Introduction Strategies for a Successful Interview.

In any interview you want to present yourself as a skilled and knowledgeable professional who is a great team player and enthusiastic about the company and the position for which you are interviewing. These self introduction strategies will help present you in the best light so that you stand out from other interviewees and make the best possible impression during the interview. 1. Preparation - Preparation is key. This means to research the company; find out what they do and how they do it. Has there been some recent online article? Has there been a story about the company, its products or a member of management in a local magazine or newspaper? Perhaps there has been a feature story on the radio or TV? Digging these up and relating them casually during the course of your interview will make a good impression on the interviewer. Conduct research on the company's products and services. What are they? How do they compare to those of the competition? Who is the competition? How does the company produce or distribute its products or services? What were last year's (or last quarter's) sales figures? Interject these facts into your interview and you will appear knowledgeable, professional and you will definitely stand out from any other interviewee. Research the position you are applying for. Details may not be possible to uncover, but you should understand the broad responsibilities as well as the specific skills and experience you are bringing to the table. Mention these skills and experience and even if you are wrong about the details of the position, you will still appear as enthusiastic. 2. Rehearsal - Now that you have all the facts about the company, you need to memorize them all and present them in a way that doesn't seem wooden or as if you're reading from a teleprompter. This is where rehearsal comes in. You may try a full blown dress rehearsal wearing the same type of attire that you would wear for the interview. While some people swear this helps, others consider it overkill. Only you can tell. Recite the facts about the company and present a few relevant details about yourself stressing how much of a team player you are or other bits of information you have gleaned from the job description. How do you fit in? Explain this. How is your experience helpful to the company? Tell them. How can you use your knowledge and skills to benefit your future employer? Let them know. Present these in short "sound bites". Rehearse them until they feel and sound natural and not rehearsed. 3. Questions - You may have heard about how important relevant questions are and you would be right. From your research you should have uncovered several areas you may feel uncertain about or a few things you would like clarification on. These are good things. Write these down. Memorize them if possible, but don't be afraid to pull out a 3x5 card during the course of the interview if you need to remind yourself what your questions are. You can also buy a book at a copyshop or office supply store that features key questions to ask your interviewer. This is always good. 4. Formality - Now that you are at the interview you need to know what to do. Obviously, you need to arrive on time and this means 10 to 20 minutes early. Not 5 minutes. Not 1 minute. Never late! Be early. This will give you time to mentally rehearse the interview in your mind, review your cheat sheet of questions, powder your nose and otherwise prepare yourself comfortably for the interview. Dress one level up from the position you are applying for. This is a subjective assessment and sometimes I have guessed wrong, but you can rarely go wrong from a neat appearance. If in doubt, dress up. Be professional, courteous and likable with everyone you meet. You never know whom you are greeting or with whom you may be working when you are hired. And keep the cell phone off, the PSP at home, and the earbuds and headphones in the car - but, believe it or not - a Bluetooth is ok, if you do not talk on it. 5. Friendly - It is your time to shine! You want to be courteous and friendly to everyone you meet, especially during the interview. Appear likable, smile and lean forward, don't fidget. A few tricks I learned from the NLP school follow, but don't make them obvious. Try to mirror the position of the interviewer. Match their position with your own. If they cross their legs, wait a minute or two then cross your legs. If they lean forward, count to 30, then lean forward. If they nod their head, nod your head. If you have your resume or notepad in front of you, turn it to mirror any material they may have. Do this with your peripheral vision. Never look directly at something then attempt to mirror it, you will get caught. When answering a question, repeat the question or a few key words of the question or rephrase it before presenting your answer. Be yourself. 6. Interesting - You must capture the interest of your interviewer. You do this by applying the steps above plus you mention a few favorite anecdotes from your experience that demonstrate how you have successfully faced a challenge, resolved a problem, been a good team player, stayed late to complete a project or soothed a disgruntled co-worker or customer. Add a tidbit of your work experience that shows how you have added value to a previous employer. If you get a few of these together - how you have added value - you can use them for that all important question, "why should we consider you for this position?" And this brings us to 7. 7. Unique - Being unique is the key to getting the job. If you stand out from all the other candidates, if you can appear friendly and interesting, if you are on time and dressed appropriately and if you can demonstrate just how much of a positive impact your skills and experience will bring to the company, you will get hired. By following these strategies of self introduction in interviews you will almost certainly be one of, if not the top choice for consideration.

Why Do People Travel?

Can you imagine what is life without traveling? Is it possible? Whatever your reason is, traveling is a part of people's life. We all travel. The reason behind that is up to you.

There are different reasons why people travels:. 1.) Most People Travel because they want to see their families and friends who live far away. Invitations from families and friends are seldom so you will decide to travel just to see them. 2.) People Travel because they want to see their soul mates. Some people believe that there is only one person for them and if they haven't had much luck searching in their area, they figured it out that even though there are millions of people around the world, they can still find it in other place. 3.) People travel to seek for work because they want to experience how to work from another place. We must admit that earning money is hard and some people decide to work abroad because they are looking for greener pasture. Other place pays bigger rates than their own place. We may also say that their expertise is not favorable in their own place. Unfortunately, they have to leave their families for awhile for a job opportunities abroad. 4.) People travel because they want to learn others cultures. They want to see the difference between their culture and other cultures. They want to learn others culture because for them traveling is fun while learning. One particular thing about the culture is the food. They want to know how food is prepared and how it is done. Obviously, we all love to eat. 5.) People travel because they are writers. They want to give the readers relevant article to their readers especially when they are making story in that particular place. 6.) People travel because they want to see all beautiful scenery of different countries. Others would want to take pictures because it serves as souvenirs. 7.) When opportunity arise, it is hard to decide whether to leave your family and open a business far away your place. Some businessmen would rather put up business in other place because they want gain and it is more profitable than staying in their place. Business is nothing without profit. Traveling is not only for rich people. Whether you are poor or in the middle class, you can travel as long as it fits your budget. Some travel for their goals, some travel for fun and relaxation and some travel for experience.

8.33 KHz Channel Spacing - What is This?

The radio spectrum, a scarce resort

One of the most basic activities in a cockpit is tuning the radio to the assigned frequency of whoever we want to talk to. Contacting ground control, the tower or one's own company is done by turning a few knobs until the right numbers show in the radio control panel display and we can talk. Air traffic controllers see the same thing slightly differently. They do not normally have to tune their radios. The proper frequencies for their sector or other working position are pre-set and need no further attention. With the matter being so pedestrian and the actions so routine, few of us realize that the ability of pilots and controllers to talk to each other is in fact dependent on one of the scarcest resources in aviation, namely the radio spectrum allocated to aviation use. Many other disciplines have their own radio spectrum and we all guard jealously what we have been given and for good reason. With so many users wanting to use the radio waves, the incumbents better watch or the use it or lose it principle kicks in. Luckily, the frequencies most widely used by aviation (118 - 137 MHz) are not coveted so strongly by others. Our problem is different but not in the least less serious. VHF fundamentals VHF is a line-of-site system. This means that two stations can talk to each other assuming that they are tuned to the same frequency and they can "see" each other (from a radio point of view). If one of the stations is below the horizon of the other station, communications becomes impossible. Being tuned to the same frequency means that both stations are tuned to the same pre-defined frequency which is within the aviation band. These pre-defined frequencies are separated by agreed "spaces", expressed in kHz. The spaces ensure that communications taking place on adjacent pre-defined frequencies do not interfere with each other. And herein lies the problem! You can only pre-define a limited number of frequencies with the required spacing between them if you are to stay within the aviation band. There are many more sectors, towers and other aeronautical stations that need their own, discrete frequencies than there are frequencies available. So what do we do? The line-of-sight character of VHF radio waves offers a solution of a kind. You can re-use the frequencies if you ensure that the usage areas of each are separated sufficiently so that no interference occurs. Frequencies only used close to the ground can be re-used much more readily than can those used at higher levels. The horizon of these latter is much wider and hence aircraft hundreds of miles away might be heard by a center that has nothing to do with it if the frequency assignment is not done properly. Reuse not enough? Cut the spacing! I am not sure who was the first one to bolt a radio on an aircraft, but the idea caught on quickly and soon enough the problem of frequency shortages was born. Originally the spacing between the frequencies was 200 kHz, providing just 70 channels between 118-132 MHZ as the band was back then (1947). In 1958, he spacing was reduced to 100 KHz, doubling the number of channels to 140. In 1959 the upper limit of the aviation band was expanded to 136 MHz, giving us another 40 channels, bringing the total to 180. In 1964, the channel spacing was halved again to 50 kHz, resulting in 360 channels being available. These dates show not only aviation's ever increasing hunger for frequencies, but also the evolution of aviation radios. In the 1950s no radio set would have been suitable for work with 50 kHz spacing. By 1964, 50 kHz was the standard with more to come... The channel spacing was further cut to 25 kHz in 1972, doubling the available channels to 720. Seven years later, in 1979, the upper limit of the aviation band was once again expanded, this time to 137 MHz and this delivered another 40 channels, bringing the total to 760. In 1995, the proposal was made to reduce the channel spacing to 8.33 kHz. Theoretical number of channels: 2280! This may sound like radio channel nirvana but in real life things are never that simple. The underlying reasons for the channel hunger The need for ever more frequencies was driven mainly by the dramatic increase in the number of control sectors in the en-route ATC environment. As traffic grew, air traffic service providers had to split sectors into ever smaller chunks to enable controllers to cope. Each new sector needed its own frequency and most of the sectors were in the upper airspace, hence the re-use distance between identical frequencies was very big. This translated into a seemingly insatiable hunger for ever more discrete frequencies. By the mid-1990s it became clear that the existing VHF system would not be able to make available the required number of frequencies. This would put an end to the creation of new sectors, severely limiting the ATC system's ability to handle the increasing air traffic demand. Curiously, there seemed to be a mismatch in the magnitude of the problem as seen in the US and in Europe. While traffic density on the Eastern Seaboard of the US was in fact higher than the busiest areas in Europe, the US frequency managers had no problem satisfying the FAA's demand for new frequencies. At the same time, in Europe, with its lower traffic density, the alarm bells were being sounded that frequency doomsday was nigh. So what was happening? To understand this, it is important to remember that frequency managers in European States were part of the communications side of things, often coupled with the old postal monopolies, and they were not really given to international cooperation or worries about aviation's problems outside their own land. That aviation was no longer a purely domestic affair had apparently not really touched them. Although the States never formally admitted this, most of the frequency shortage was due to poor management of the available frequencies. Valuable frequencies were dormant, never used or simply left there in the dust after the organization originally using it had long disappeared. The airspace users did raise the issue, brought several examples but to no avail. The local czars of frequency management did not relent and hence there was no other choice but to look at technology based solutions. The choice between 8.33 kHz channel spacing and VDL Mode 3 While the immediate driver behind the effort to find a solution to the frequency shortage was the fear of skyrocketing delays, experts had been saying since the late 1980s that the complete aviation communications system needed overhaul. The VHF AM voice system and the freshly identified future need for air/ground digital link communications all argued for a common solution that would address the frequency shortage as well as the future communications needs. Keep in mind that in other areas of communications huge advances were taking place at around the same time while aviation was still trying to make up its mind whether or not to replace a voice communications system that had changed little since the 1940s and which was clearly struggling to keep up with demand. In the United States a system called VDL Mode 3 was being proposed. This system would have enabled four digital channels to be used on every existing 25 kHz channel and would have provided non-voice data link capability also. There were not many believers outside the US in the feasibility of this technology though and it has still not been implemented anywhere. In Europe, the splitting of the channel spacing to 8.33 kHz was being put forward as the best solution. Missing a once in a lifetime opportunity, the industry did not examine any long-term alternatives... The 8.33 decision and what followed As mentioned earlier, the airspace users were not at all convinced about the need to spend money on aircraft modifications when in their view the frequency shortage was mainly due to poor management of the aviation spectrum. It was in this ambivalent mood that the industry gathered to attend the ICAO European Regional Air Navigation Meeting (EUR RAN) in 1994 where proposals to address the frequency shortage were also to be discussed and decisions made. For the current generation of ATM decision makers it may be of interest to mention how most decisions were made back then. Seeking a solution to the frequency shortage, 8.33 kHz was picked up without ever considering possible alternatives and without looking at cost-benefit aspects, user impact or the longer term communications requirements. Clearly not something to bring back... ever. The airspace users, with the specter of even more serious delays hanging over their heads and with their protests brushed aside, had no choice but to note the mandate: 8.33 kHz in European upper airspace as of 1st January 1998. The ICAO European Air Navigation Planning Group (EANPG) was charged with organizing the introduction of the new channel spacing. The EANPG in turn requested EUROCONTROL to develop a transition plan and manage its implementation. This is a very important detail that needs to be remembered. To this day, airspace users tend to blame EUROCONTROL for the whole 8.33 issue when in fact EUROCONTROL was only the agent appointed by ICAO (the States you may say) to carry out the implementation. They did an excellent job and it is not EUROCONTROL's fault that they had to orchestrate the realization of a less than optimal solution. If we consider that EUROCONTROL had to deal with all the ICAO member states in Europe (49) and had to manage the creation of a mixed 25 kHz/8.33 kHz environment, the eventual achievement of the goals is even more laudable. Mr. Murphy and the 8.33 implementation plan "If it can go wrong, it will" - states Murphy's first law and this was certainly true of this implementation. EUROCONTROL, quite correctly, had decided early on to establish a project oriented organization to handle the matter and they also had the good sense of requesting the participation of outside experts from organizations like IFATCA and IATA to ensure direct links to the end-users of the new system. Right from the start the project was up against a time problem. With the first project steps being taken only in early 1996, the 1 January 1998 deadline was clearly a big question mark. So, the first delay kicked the deadline back to 1 January 1999 and the second delay to 7 October 1999. Why the delays? The rate of equipage of course was the primary and decisive factor. In many mandated aircraft equipage scenarios you see the equipage curve rising slowly in the beginning, as only a few aircraft are fitted, then as the deadline approaches, the curve becomes very steep but usually does not reach 100 % before the mandate date. What does this mean? Obviously, airspace users do not want to spend money too early and fly around with the new equipment without it bringing any benefits. When the time comes and fitting becomes inevitable, there is a mad rush to equip, which in turn can result in a shortage of equipment and an overloading of the shops performing retrofits. In the end, inevitably, there are aircraft left out in the cold, not being able to meet the mandate! All of this had happened in the case of 8.33 and then more. When the project started, there were no 8.33 kHz capable radios on the market. A few pre-production samples had been produced, but nothing anyone could buy. In spite of the clear mandate, the presence of the competing VDL Mode 3 system and the fact that 8.33 would only be required in Europe somehow led the manufacturers to slow product development and not produce anything until their customers came with definite orders. The customers on the other hand were reluctant to place orders until closer to the mandate deadline which had to be put off as a result of low equipage rates because of a scarcity of radios! A vicious circle if ever there was one... At times meetings of the 8.33 project team had an air of most participants wishing the whole thing would just go away... Then there were the aircraft themselves. No matter how advanced the new radios were 8.33 kHz is a very small distance between channels and trials on various aircraft revealed surprising behaviors. Radios on the Boeing 767 for instance worked well while the doors were open but started to produce interference the moment they were closed... Controllers were fretting about what would happen if pilots regularly mistuned their radios. True, for the first time ever, the numbers seen on the radio control panel do not show the real frequency of an 8.33 spaced channel and this can be confusing. Issues with the new radiotelephony expressions were also on the agenda for while. In the end however, the final deadline came and went and the new system worked pretty well. Apart from a few isolated incidents no problems were reported and 8.33 kHz, like any other part of the ATM system, became part of the European scene. Next steps? In the meantime, EUROCONTROL has continued to manage the implementation of 8.33 kHz, extending its use also into the lower airspace. They have fulfilled and continue to fulfill the role assigned to them by the EANPG and the benefits specific to 8.33 kHz will no doubt continue to accrue. It is even rumored that the FAA also wants to look into 8.33 kHz channel spacing for introduction in the US. Did the benefits materialize? It all depends on how you want to measure the benefits. If the measure is the number of requests for new frequencies that could be accommodated, then the outcome of the exercise is definitely positive. At the very first Frequency Block Planning Meeting held after the introduction of 8.33 kHz channel spacing, 57 of the 59 requests were accommodated, an absolute first. The level of subsequent request satisfactions shows a similar pattern. It is very likely that a comparison with a "do nothing" scenario would show that investing in 8.33 kHz was not a bad idea. On the other hand, 8.33 kHz did create the impression that the problem was solved and the motivation to really address the shortcomings of this obsolete communications system has all but disappeared. Back around the time the 8.33 kHz decision was made, it might have been easier to also initiate the development of a new system that would by now provide services to the pilots on a par with what passengers are getting in the near future. As it is, we are left with a legacy system which will be much more difficult to replace on an industry level now, not least because of the sad shape airlines are in these days. It is a pity that the EUR RAN meeting in 1994 did not have the vision to look beyond the immediate solution to the problem of frequency shortages.