Is the daily work grind or the continual schoolwork bringing you down? Is your wanderlust inner voice telling you you’re ready for a travel vacation? Yet this year you want a different travel objective, not the typical vacation, designed around personal pleasure and leisure. This year you also feel a desire to get involved with some worthy cause, to challenge the power elite status quo and make the world a better place to live. Well, if travel AND social activism are your interests, I have the 2012 travel tip solutions that will please both your traveling and social activist desires.1. My first recommended travel destination for 2012 is Chantilly, Virginia, USA host to this year’s annual Bilderberg meeting May 31st – June 3rd. Chantilly, Virginia, at the Westfield Marriot Hotel, was the host for the 2008 Bilderberg meeting.Chantilly, Virginia is within close proximity to Washington, D.C.; the nation’s capitol offers a unique historical, cultural experience as well as a great place to voice dissent! Fortunately too, for the budget traveler, Chantilly has a youth hostel on the outskirts of the Washington, D.C. area. Why not book your reservations now, and enjoy the beautiful Virginia countryside and Washington, D.C. cultural activities while also vocalizing your displeasure to a passing banker, politician, or corporate CEO? Your opinions and discussions may plant the inception seed activating a pang of conscience that will eventually lead to less harmful world policies. If you discover the overt sidewalk protests are less successful, may I suggest an alternative, stealth approach: position yourself as a well-dressed hotel patron in the lobby where the Bilderberg members are staying. Act as an unassuming gadfly, listening for telling conversations from Bilderberg meeting attendees.Granted, such intimate access may prove to be difficult; however, for the determined spirited social activist, the challenge enhances the adventure and the success sweetens the reward.Are you ready for summer outdoor fun, a freelance journalist’s dream, and a proud sense of moral accomplishment? That’s what I experienced when I planned my fall 2000 vacation in Europe to coincide with the scheduled IMF / World Bank meeting in Prague. A well-organized anti-globalization protest was waiting for the banking attendees, similar to the successful anti-WTO protest in Seattle, November ’99, which I attended. I wanted to continue being a part of this proud movement.I’m certain at the Washington, D.C. youth hostel, and around town, you will meet kindred spirits who are also knowledgeable of this Bilderberg meeting event (global citizen individuals and various NGO members). As I had experienced during the Seattle ’99 and Prague 2000 protests, you will form lasting friendships with these fellow travelers / activists.2. To start your summer season, I recommend planning a visit to Los Cabos, Baja California, Mexico for the annual G-20 meeting, June 18-19. What fun you will have mixing summer outdoor fun with social activism. Cabo San Lucas offers scuba diving, fishing, nightlife, and so much more. Even though the rich elite will be staying at expensive resorts, there are ample inexpensive lodging options at Los Cabos, including youth hostels. You can even pitch your tent near the beach!3. To start your fall season, I recommend a trip to Switzerland for the WTO public forum meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, September 24 – 26. A good central location for fine nearby skiing, autumn color hiking, and a piping hot cappuccino next to a roaring fireplace as you listen in to some powerful banker’s insidious plan.4. Continuing your fall season travels, I recommend visiting Tokyo, Japan for the IMF / World Bank meeting, Oct. 12-14. Enjoy social activism by day and exotic bustling Tokyo nightlife by night.For budget accommodations, Los Cabos, Geneva, and Tokyo, all have several hostels in the city and nearby vicinities.Last, for those planning on traveling through California, I recommend an outdoor excursion north of San Francisco. Besides marvelous vineyards, inspiring redwoods and dramatic coastline, there’s also an elite power broker retreat called Bohemian Grove nestled in the redwoods near the town of Guerneville and the Russian River.
The retreat of course has security ( as I discovered many years ago) so an undercover role as a naive hiker is a good start. While peering through the redwoods, you may find an influential politician or CEO performing some decadent, hedonistic ritual in a yellow chiffon dress! Don’t forget to bring your camera!I hope you find these travel tips useful for your future 2012 travel plans. You may even come across yours truly, the author. Happy travels!
2012 Travel Tips for the Social Activist
Real Estate Market Trends in Asheville
What do you need to know about Asheville real estate? Buying a house in this North Carolina city requires knowing a little bit about many parts of life.What Are House Values Like?Homes tend to retain their value better in this city than in the state as a whole. During the latest housing crash, for example, home prices actually stayed fairly consistent instead of plunging dramatically like many cities around the state and country. What’s more, home prices tend to be tens of thousands of dollars higher than the state median.What Are the Homes Like?And according to one real estate website, the median age of homes is about 15 years older than the national median age of 1974. Similarly, the median square footage for homes there is just over 1,300, roughly 200 square feet less than the U.S. median.That is not to say there isn’t a good selection of newer and larger homes available. Approximately 10 percent of the city’s real estate has been built since the year 2000, so there are still plenty of newer houses within the market.How are the Schools?If you are moving a young family, you will undoubtedly want to know about the school system in town. There are plenty of well-ranked elementary through high schools in Asheville, with many of the private schools receiving the best reviews.What is it Like to Live?The cost of living is less in Asheville than on average in the United States. According to the 2008 cost of living index, Asheville carries a 91.3 reading, while the U.S. average is 100. If you are making a decent income while living there, that can mean life is a little easier to pay for than elsewhere. Be aware though, that as of the 2000 census, the median income was almost $8000 less than the state’s median.One thing to consider is that crime rates tend to be slightly higher than the state average.Outside the crime data, it may be comforting to know that the temperatures in the city stay in a fairly mild range all year long, although it is more humid than the national average. And Asheville’s risk of being hit by a tornado is slightly lower than the state average and 16 percent lower than the U.S. average.Once you have decided that this is the city for you, local real estate agents can be some of your best resources in determining where and when to buy.
Video Production: A Revelation
Video production has changed the way we view the world. It allows us to see and understand what is being presented without the tediousness of reading small print text. Without the presence of a video, it is much more difficult to grasp what is at hand and what is meant to be conveyed through the piece. It was reported that over 700 billion videos have been viewed on YouTube this year alone proving that video production has such a phenomenal impact on the public.
YouTube receives over 3 billion hits per day whether it is through “how to” videos, gag videos, or through music videos, the information is streaming right to the consumer without any buffering or implications. The consumer is able to see the product in a more creative way that enhances its sales and recognition. With its availability and consistency, videos produce the ability to generate opinions, brand recognition, and instill a working relationship with the customer.
Video production companies connect the customers with what they want to see without the fluff and clutter of the words. Web videos are directing them right to the purpose of the article which is ultimately what they want. The viewers’ needs the information now just like every other consumer. Websites that implement web videos immediately draw in the crowd enhancing their experience with the page which improves the site’s search engine ranking. It keeps their interest sparked and juices flowing.
Through the web videos the information is conveyed quickly and effectively, the site is navigated more efficient, knowledge about the company is provided, and it generates popularity among the cohorts. In such cases with video production companies, they are presenting numerous videos displaying their talent and knowledge about the topic. It gives the viewer a chance to see the skills of a video production company and what they have to offer. That is what the viewer wants to see. Knowledge about the company is immediately presented along with a myriad of videos that showcase the company’s expertise in video production.
Video production has the ability to link to other social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn among many other social media platforms. This feature that creates a connection to a greater base of people in due course creating a snowball effect that will increase the companies search engine optimization (SEO). The association of the video with the company will create a remembrance and a better feel of the company because of the video. It allows the viewer to also engage in what the company is presenting through their video. The viewers can post comments about the video, can share the video with their friends and family, and can rank whether they like the video or not. They can be a part of what is going on and what kind of traffic is being generated. This kind of interaction establishes a base between the company and potential client. Regardless of these features, the video is still be viewed by those who visit the site.
The internet has become a necessity to the consumer population. The public spends hours upon hours surfing and searching the internet for medical advice, humor, friends, news, or whatever they please. It has become the main source of consumption. Without the internet, products would not be consumed, companies would not be known, and the consumers would be at a loss. There would not be a channel to produce information.
According to a study conducted by CNN Money Report, it is predicted that online consumer traffic will increase more than 75% in just three years. This increase proves how important video production is to the consumer market and how it has become an absolute necessity. The immediate stream of web video production upon entering a site will not only draw the consumer in, but will also navigate their perception of the product and the company creating a lasting impression.
Paying the Taxman – Estimated Tax Payments For the Self Employed
If you’re self-employed or earn income that is not subject to tax withholding such as rents, prizes, awards, interest, or alimony, or if you don’t have enough tax withheld from your salary or pension, you will need to make estimated tax payments throughout the year or face a hefty penalty at tax time.Self-employed individuals will also need to pay an extra self-employment tax on top of their regular income taxes. Estimating your tax payments isn’t too complicated. The IRS has worksheets you can use to calculate your quarterly payments. In general, if you anticipate owing over $1000 after subtracting your credits and current withholding, you should pay estimated tax payments. This number is adjusted by the IRS periodically.Estimated tax payment requirements vary for individuals, sole proprietors, corporations, and farmers and fishermen. Check with the IRS for guidance.For the self-employed, use Form 1040-ES from the IRS to make your calculations. Use your previous year’s tax return as a guide. This will come in handy when doing rough calculations as far as your deductions, expected income, and so forth. Take into account any expected changes both in your own situation as well as tax laws.The worksheet includes a tax rate schedule that you will need to refer to once you’ve come up with a figure of taxable income. In addition, you will need to pay self-employment tax on top of the regular income tax. Pay attention to the instructions for calculating this tax as there are different rates once you pass a certain self-employment income threshold.In addition, only 92.35% of your self-employment income is currently subject to the tax so you will first need to multiply you self-employment income times.9235 to get the amount that is subject to the extra self-employment tax. For example, if you expect to earn $30,000 as a self-employed individual, $27,705 will be subject to the additional self-employment tax. At the current rate of 15.3%, the self-employment tax would be $4239. It’s important to realize that this is in addition to regular income tax.As you work through the worksheet, you will have your final figure representing your estimated taxes for the year. If you will owe over $1000, you will then divide that number by four. You will then be responsible for making four quarterly estimated tax payments for that amount according to a schedule set up by the IRS. Depending on the calendar, the payment due dates vary from year to year. However in general, the first payment is due in mid-April, the second is due in mid-June, the third is due in mid-September, and the final payment in due in mid-January of the following year. Payment vouchers are included on the 1040-ES worksheet.As the year progresses, your estimated income may fluctuate. You can use the worksheet to recalculate your estimated taxes and amend your remaining estimated payments. Doing this will ensure that you won’t be left owing more than you anticipated should you earn more money than you thought. It also ensures that you aren’t overpaying the taxes either.Because you will need to pay these taxes one way or the other, it makes sense to be aware of the taxes with every check you cash. Figure out what percentage of every dollar you earn needs to be put aside for taxes and sock that money away immediately into an account specifically designated for your taxes.
Different Health and Fitness Tips to Help You Lose Weight
There are many different health and fitness tips that you can find if you just spend the time looking. You can find these tips in books, online, or by talking to your doctor or nutritionist. One of the first things you will need to do is to determine if are you looking to maintain your health and weight or are you looking to improve on your health and lose weight?If you are looking to lose weight then you need to look at diet and exercise. One of the exercises that you can start off doing is walking. Walking will help you to lose weight. You will need to walk as often as you can and for around thirty minutes to one hour at each session. If you are looking to lose weight, you should be walking in the morning and then going for a walk again in the evenings. You could also power walk or jog. However, if you have not done much exercising before,you should not start out by running. You will tire quickly and will find that you are likely to burn out quite quickly and perhaps even injure yourself.If you are looking for diet plans to help you with weight loss then you will want to find a plan that you are likely to stick to. Some people recommend reducing calories and eating a small snack every two to three hours. Snacks could be something like a banana or yoghurt. You could also try a high protein diet, but there are some health risks associated with these types of diets, so it is advisable to speak to your doctor. You will also need to work at still eating small meals every few hours. This helps to keep your metabolism going because you will constantly be digesting the food that you eat.If you are able to follows these health and fitness tips you will find that you will start to lose weight pretty quickly. You also need to know that maintaining a healthy weight is extremely important in ensuring that you are in the best physical shape to help reduce the problems that you may have for being overweight. These problems might consist of diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure. You also need to be sure that even if you are dieting that you do still exercise. This should be exercise outside of your typical daily activities.
Photography Tips: Planning For A Photography Trip
Oh my God! It happened. Again. I went for a photography trip to one of the most beautiful cities in the US, Saint Louis, Missouri. I had my camera in my hand, food and drink in place, and GPS fully charged. The 5 hours driving from Fairfield, Iowa, was really fun. Until I realized that I left my camera battery being charged at home. The photography trip was now just a trip.I’m pretty sure at some point in your career as a photographer, you will be in a situation like this. For this reason, I would like to share some tips with you for when you plan photography trips.1. Months before leavingPlanning for a photography trip starts at this time. As soon as the trip is confirmed, try to look for the highlights of the places you will be visiting. I would do a little bit of research about where to take photos from and what to take photos of. For example, if you are coming to Indonesia in the middle of August, you may encounter independence day events there.Early bird bookings for hotels and flights will cost you less. Book a hotel which gives you easy access to your photography spots. I would write down a list of locations where I will be taking pictures from, and then decide the best location of my hotel.2. Weeks before the dayI would spend more time on planning what photos I want to capture at this stage of planning my photography trip. For instance, if I were to travel to Indonesia in the middle of August, I would be taking photos of the independence day ceremony in the morning, fun events in the afternoon. Then in the evening I would take photos of the local sunset.By properly planning your photography trips, you will be able to dig deeper for more thoughts and ideas. Look at pictures available on the internet and get inspired by them. But not only from the internet, you can also search local photographs from libraries, image directories, photo books, local websites, and tourism guidebooks.This is a process which may take some time because you never know when inspirations hit.At this point of the photography trip planning, I would also check my equipment. I would check if any of my gear is not working well and have them repaired right away if necessary. Servicing them now is the best because they must be ready by the time you depart.3. Few days before the tripKeep in mind that some places don’t provide internet access. Therefore it is much better if you write down, or print, every note you would need, such as local shops, tourist office, and local sunrise and sunset time. Weather forecast is also an important information to be noted.It would be better if you start making a list of what to bring for the photography trip. Sometimes you might forget some items if you think of them 1-2 days before the trip.4. 1 day before the tripI would pack the camera and its equipment first. The last thing you want to discover is missing your spare battery or camera lenses at home. Have a last check on the weather forecast. Print all documents you will need for the photography trip. Make sure you have the memory card(s) ready.5. D-dayCheck and recheck for the last time before you leave. It doesn’t hurt you to have an extra checking, rather than regretting that you left an important piece of gear at home. Camera lenses, formatted memory cards, spare battery, and your travel documents should be rechecked.Insurance, cash money, taxi reservation, flight ticket, and passport are usually the most important travel documents which you should not forget to bring. Other than that you are set and ready to go.I hope these tips will make your photography trip be more fun and memorable. Have fun and enjoy your trip!
Insurance Agent Vs Insurance Company: Which Is Right For Your Business?
When it comes to buying insurance, the first step is to figure out whether you want to purchase through an insurance agent or direct from a company. While the two may seem one-and-the-same, the differences between the two can majorly impact your trucking business. This article aims to help you decide which option will work best for you and your trucking company.Coverage.When you choose to buy trucking insurance direct from a company, you are also choosing to buy one of the standard insurance packages. These packages were designed with a “one size fits all” mentality, so you might have to buy a package with coverage you don’t need in order to receive coverage you do need.Contrary to popular belief, insurance agents do not have the ability to negotiate a policy rate. However, the agent will be able to provide you a list of options at different price points. By being independent, agents also have access to other carrier policies and are able to tailor the policy to best suit your needs. Additionally, the agents may reach out to insurance companies most people have never even heard of, or don’t know provide commercial trucking insurance, which allows them to find even more coverage options for the insured (you) to review.Pricing.As mentioned previously, when you choose to buy a standard insurance package direct from an insurance company, there’s a chance you’re overpaying. Since the package is not tailored to your needs, there may be coverages within it that you don’t necessarily want or need. Additionally, when it comes time for renewal these agencies will only show you rates from their employer since it’s their job to keep you insured with that company.Agents own their own business, thus must generate income by charging the insured for the service provided. However, even with the additional fee, going through an agent usually results in a cheaper premium-sometimes up to 25%-due to their ability to price shop. Furthermore, when it comes to renewal, independent agents are able to reevaluate your premium based on new rates from multiple insurance companies. Therefore, the chance for cost savings increases.Experience.One of the biggest differences between buying direct and buying through an agent is the experience. On one hand, when you call an insurance company to talk to someone about your coverage, odds are you’re going to get transferred to someone in a call center. Yes, you will be speaking with an individual who has passed the same exams as personal agents, and therefore can address all of your needs. However, the biggest difference is that the next time you call you most likely will not be speaking to the same individual you spoke to previously.On the other hand, working with an agent allows you to form a personal relationship since you know that when you call you’ll be talking to either the agent or someone on their small team. These individuals will be familiar with your policy, instead of simply reading general information off a database. More importantly, insurance agents will be there to advocate for you during a claim.Time.We’ve all seen the commercials guaranteeing an insurance quote in 15 minutes or less, so for some it seems logical to go online and purchase insurance. If you are shopping for your best price though, it means you are spending 15 minutes on EACH insurance companies’ websites. Not only is this time consuming, but it results in multiple companies gaining your personal information (phone number, email address, etc.).When you work with an independent insurance agent, the agent does the searching for you. So while it may take some time, it’s the agent who puts time into reaching out to all the insurance companies, not you. Agents also realize time plays a significant role in a trucker’s career, which is why they’re oftentimes quicker when it comes to certificate processing and binding.When you’re shopping for trucking insurance, maybe you don’t necessarily care what’s in the package as long as you’re covered. In that case, shopping direct from an insurance company may work for you. However, if you want more insight into your policy and a more personalized experience, then finding an agent to create your optimal insurance coverage plan is your best option.
Automotive Insurance Providers – Which Should You Pick?
Automotive insurance providers will help you find the best insurance company. But, it is up to you if what company you will choose which best provide your needs for your auto insurance. It is your decision which you think of the automotive insurance can give you the best deal of your needs.Planning to purchase an automotive insurance, you need to know the company you have chosen if it is a good auto insurance provider. One of the best ways to know is through the staff of local car body work shop since they deal most of the time with the automotive insurance.When choosing an automotive insurance, some people will not go for cheapest quotes but to some, it is natural to choose for cheapest auto insurance quotes. What is important is that, the insurance companies you choose have reputable records so that your money will not be wasted when in time for claims.Wherever state you belong in the U.S. you can ask your state’s department of insurance website if ever you don’t know. They provide you some information’s with regards to insurance companies. Since there are some people who reported that they are not satisfied with the insurance company they had especially to those people who already considering availing of an insurance coverage. Also, they provide you the statistic complaints ratio of the customer or consumers.You can also check to automotive insurance providers that have been working around for a long time to avoid lesser risk. If not, you can ask around with your friends or family or colleagues which auto insurance they know that has cheaper cost or rate they had experience and which is good. You can also go online to insurance websites you choose and check, make a comparison to other insurance websites.There are many ways on how to check good automotive insurance providers. What you have to do is to shop, be patient and have determination to find that automotive insurance company. There are lots of auto insurance providers and for sure you can find one, do always have hoped to find that insurance company who can give you the best deal of your needs.When you go online to ask for your auto insurance quotes, be sure you are honest to answer their online questionnaire. When you got the quote, try to keep it don’t throw it because you can used that in the future reference. Read their questionnaire carefully and always confirm that there is no obligation to purchase insurance company when you ask for a quote.Since there are many providers in every state, then for sure you can find one for your automotive. Always have faith that you can find one, slowly but surely. Remember that only fool rush in and every time you go rushing, you always stumble.Insurance companies offer a different strategy in order to gain more customers or consumer and one of their strategies is their services. Before deciding to which insurance company you will purchase your insurance policy, think twice or thrice.
Vocational Educational Training Enhances Skills And Knowledge
Vocational educational training has earned increased renaissance of enthusiasm in today’s world of high demand for skilled workers for businesses. Vocational education in details is an exceptionally various and featured topic which involves analysis from a wide range of references and sources to several specified topics on training, occupational programs and career paths. You will find numerous sources online that may help in offering detailed data about such educational training. Due to the desperate need rising on a large scale amongst company houses for skilled workers, nowadays, all over the world people believe that trading schools are rebuilding their stable foundation.There are numerous high school and graduated students who are tempted to learn new things and become chefs, computer science expert, mechanics, graphic artists, nurses, technical engineers and a lot more. The present generation of students enters the labor force for getting vocational training with a degree on hand but mostly lack the technical skills that are needed to stay one step ahead of other people without having any kind of on the job training. Those who are extremely educated in their own field of expertise may have obtained immense good quality education from courses and books but many of them have not even received a chance to work for the job which they had learned in a work environment. Such a batch of highly educated employees are often of no use to the companies out of the gate since they may be highly talented with long term promises but aren’t able to offer all that is wanted by the companies.It’s because of this reason that nowadays, companies’ hire new employees who’ve successfully completed their vocational educational training and learned how to apply the newly observed knowledge on the job. In this way the companies can now realize their gains significantly quickly. It’s also seen in this matter that not many business houses wish to adopt this strategy since it may involve a set back for several months or even years before they are able to realize some return on their investments.The vocational educators are specialized to teach both generic and specialized skills by employing various strategies and tactics. The business demands are also rising to employ the highly specialized workforce with the help of technical and profession educators. The expertise that are taught through vocational training can not be observed from any traditional books or learning and instruction methods.The vocational educational training has basically started focusing much more on training for employability in opposition with the typical bookish knowledge based degree or education. With the boost in such demands, students are today not merely obtaining the normal bookish knowledge but are also grabbing the opportunities of the best way to apply that gained expertise in the workplace together with how to interact and stay productive on the job and get trained within the working environment. Within the current scenario, more and more vocational schools and colleges or universities have started adopting such methods of expanded vocational education and training programs to ensure that every person can take the advantage and win in life.
Get Your Local Business Found Online With SoLoMo
I always enjoy the looks that I receive from clients when I mention “SoLoMo”. I can only imagine what they are thinking (“has he finally lost his mind?” Comes to mind a lot). In fact, I’ve memorized the explanation and have learned to quickly throw it out as soon as I bring it up. Still, SoLoMo is my favorite marketing method for local businesses, mainly because of the success that it has brought our clients, so it’s a conversation that must be had with each and every local business owner that comes through our doors.So, what the heck is SoLoMo? SoLoMo is an acronym that stands for Social, Local, Mobile, and it taps into the buying patterns of more that 80% of consumers in today’s connected world. Here’s how it works:SocialHow many times have you scrolled your Facebook or Twitter feed and saw one of your contacts (or maybe you’ve even done it as well?) asking others about the best “insert cuisine here” restaurants in the area? Or how many times have you checked online reviews on Facebook, Google, Yelp etc. before going to a local business? I’ll bet you’re just as guilty as the other 62% of all online shoppers who do the exact same thing. And of that 62%, 75% of them end up clicking through to the business’s website in the process.Having a social presence online is no longer a choice for local businesses. Nearly EVERYONE has a smartphone these days and has near-instant access to information on any business in their local area. If your business isn’t in that mix, you’re going to lose customers to the ones that are… lots of customers.LocalWhen someone who is close to your widget business searches for “widget sellers near me”, you have the opportunity to be right in front of their face at the very moment they are in the vicinity. Compare this to traditional advertising methods such as Yellow Pages, Billboards and Newspaper advertising – which are all super-expensive and not nearly as effective – and Mobile marketing is a no-brainer. Plus, with the technological advances being made with GPS tracking, it’s now possible to hit consumers with special offers when they are near your business location, making it 100 times more likely that they will stop in, even if they weren’t necessarily looking for what you’re selling at the moment.MobileAs mentioned above, pretty much everyone (even my 82-year-old grandmother) has a smartphone these days, giving them instant access to the internet and everything on it. When you combine the above two marketing methods with the power of smartphone technology (such as Apps for your company, email marketing, location-based coupon services, etc.) you end up with an ultra-powerful marketing campaign that is guaranteed to not only get your business in front of consumers, but to really grow your bottom line as well. There is simply no better method of targeted advertising for local businesses. Period.The problem with this approach for most business owners is that it does require a bit of technical know-how to set it all up, and a little TLC to keep it running smoothly. It can also lead to negative consequences such as receiving bad reviews for your company. My advice to businesses who share these concerns is to first weigh the pros and cons of using the SoLoMo approach to marketing. I’ve yet to find a single person who has found enough cons to justify not doing it. Even if you’re way too busy running your business to do it yourself, the gains you will no doubt experience from it would justify hiring a search marketing agency to handle it for you!