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The SEO services are already known to people. SEO Services are the search engine optimization services which help your website to get the highest ranking in the search engines. Getting the highest ranking in the search engines is very important for each and every websites. Otherwise, the business involved in the websites are sure to suffer. Without having the right visibility and publicity in the search engines your website would not catch the attention of customers. So, in order to get success in this field, you must seek the best SEO services from SEO companies.

There are many SEO services providing companies which can solve the problems related your search engine optimizing problems. Most of these companies write contents about the description of your products, services and links to your websites. They try to write better keywords and phrases which would enhance the ranking of your websites in the search engines. To rank in the search engines, it is necessary to have excellent contents. Without such potential contents, the ranking would not be successful. Thus, there would be no success for your online businesses.

Just taking one time SEO services would not be sufficient as you would require such services on a timely basis. That is why select a well-known SEO company and continue to get in touch with this company forever. On the way, if you find your website is getting good ranking in the search engines that it is good to have relationship with this SEO company. On the other hand, if your website is not catching the eyes of the customers in the search engines then immediately give up the services of this poor company. Do not waste your valuable money on this weaker SEO company.

Apart from the above mentioned factors, you should also check out the various contents written about your websites. Mind their qualities and potentiality. On finding SEO Services pass proper feedback to the SEO company and tell them to improve the weaker segments. It is good to have right observations on the different works done by your contracted SEO company. Both of you should work mutually so that you can achieve the goals of your companies.

Naman Jain is an Internet Marketing professional, presently working with Rupiz Media, one of the leading online marketing company offering expert SEO services, pay per click, affiliate marketing services, UK web development services and website designing solutions over the globe.

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Putting one website on Internet is not that easy. Specially, if you are into serious business, then promoting it is tough task. For a good SEO provider it can be a daunting task and those who are new or bit less experience, the task could get tougher. Due to this one should opt for a company that provides professional Search Engine optimization services.
A professional SEO services provider would have worked for different sites. Due to this he has the experience of marketing different sites. This will help your site in getting higher ranking in less time. Secondly, if you hire professional Search engine optimization services company, they start working for your site from day one.

Their work starts from the preliminary stages of designing. The site is designed keeping in mind how the web crawlers work and how user friendly will it is. Further they write SEO content which will promote the site and is useful in selling your products and services. They connect each and every page on the site by building appropriate links. Meanwhile, they do the industry analysis and find a set of key phrases that will help in improving the sites ranking. They will make the Meta titles, so that the crawlers know how the site is working.

As we know that the aim of a SEO is to promote your site, so it will be their responsibility to get the positive outcome for the site. Don’t worry if you cannot see your site in the top positions. A professional SEO service provider using his experience will prepare a strategy for a long term. So from time to time he will be implementing the required changes to anticipate and react accordingly.

Like any other customer, you would be thinking like me others would be there in the industry then how the professional SEO services for each client differ. It’s a difficult situation for the service provider but still they make every effort to improve search results for every customer.

To select a good Professional SEO Services provider pay careful attention to their process and dealings. Ask them for list of sample work for and check if they are selling the things for another client, then think twice before hiring them. At any point of time kind of question related to web promotion comes to your mind ask about it. Your only concern is to improve business activity and earn more profits. A good search engine optimizer will pay close attention to your needs and help in achieving you the business goals. Wish you success and good luck for great business ahead.

Mohita, is a SEO Copywriter at a SEO company India, Icreon Communications, software outsourcing India offers - search engine optimization india, sem companies india, Seo Services India.

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It was in the local rag. China is Idaho’s largest trade partner. Canada is second and Great Britain is currently running third.

Now I know what you are thinking: potatoes. You are wrong. Try integrated circuits.

Hey, we are not a bunch of country pumpkins out here.

Well, we are a bunch of country pumpkins but we make integrated circuits anyway.

You have a number of integrated circuits hanging around your place. The most obvious is the one that is monitoring your mouse movements while you search the web. It keeps track of the keys you hit on the computer, does mathematical operations and in general keeps your computer humming. That of course is the microprocessor in your computer.

There are microprocessors or other integrated circuits in you car (if it’s not a zillion years old), your television (if it doesn’t have tubes), your CD player, and your cell telephone. The darned things are just everywhere. A huge solar storm and we’ll all be back to the Stone Age (just kidding).

The first integrated circuit was invented by Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments. He received the Nobel Prize in 2000. Read about the components of integrated circuits and how they function at http://nobelprize.org/physics/educational/integrated_circuit/history/. You will find an adequate history there about the integrated circuit.

Over two-thirds of Idaho’s exports are technology products. Ninety percent of the products sent to China from Idaho are technology products. The combined annual export total to China of technology and agricultural products is $550,000,000.

We are going to give our teachers a raise.

Let’s see you beat that, Nevada!

The End

John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com), a retired college professor and business executive, Former editor of an international engineering magazine. To learn more about Wealthy Affiliate University go to his info site. If you desire a flagpole to Fly Old Glory, go to the business site.

More info: http://www.InternetBusinessToolCenter.com

Business web site: http://www.AAAFlagpoles.com

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As a criminal defense attorney, I regularly encounter women, mostly, and sometimes men that have been arrested in a police “sting operation” that focused on targeting prostitutes and/or johns. In case someone reading this article does not know, a prostitute is one who exchanges sexual favors for some form of compensation, usually money. Johns are those who pay for the sexual favor-usually men, but as you can imagine, the roles could reverse. I believe that conducting these police sting operations reduces the quality of life in our society and that the only persons “harmed” by prostitution are potentially the actors. Not to mention, it is a waste of police time and resources to prosecute these “victimless” crimes.

Legalization improves neighborhoods and promotes safety

Consider this: if places where prostitution would naturally occur are forced out of business, like brothels, some motels, or apartments, police action drives the activity into the streets of neighborhoods where it otherwise may not exist. Thus, residents of the neighborhoods are exposed to the activity against their will.

Also because of prostitution being forced into the streets, the dangers to many prostitutes greatly increase. Prostitutes whose jobs involve working at night and getting into cars with strangers can be, and often have been, easy pickings for serial killers and other sociopaths. Some criminal justice studies have shown that prostitutes are the most frequent targets for serial killers.

A sensible solution to these problems would be to follow the example of some European cities, where prostitution is allowed in certain designated areas. People who are interested in the activity go to places where it’s permitted, and they leave alone the neighborhoods that don’t wish to be associated with it. Not only are the prostitutes working in a safer environment, but the residents of neighborhoods are not bothered with the traffic, cat-calls, or other related behaviors that they may find reprehensible.

Legalization reduces crime

Another problem with prostitution arrests is that they cause long-term increases in crime and drug abuse in society. Margo St. James, a former social worker and a leading advocate of legalizing prostitution, believes that when a woman is convicted of prostitution that it acts much like a brand or negative stigma, like the “A” in The Scarlet Letter. This could make it much harder for the female to find gainful employment, which then begins a cycle of arrests for more prostitution or other criminal offenses.

Keeping prostitution illegal also contributes to crime because many criminals view prostitutes and their customers as attractive targets for robbery, fraud, rape, or other criminal acts. The criminals realize that such people are unlikely to report the crimes to police, because the victims would have to admit they were involved in the illegal activity of prostitution when the attacks took place. Also, there is a belief that prostitutes may have large sums of cash on them, which makes them an attractive target for other criminals.

If prostitution were legal, these victims would be less reluctant to report to police any criminal acts that occurred while they were involved in it. This would significantly improve the probability of catching the criminals and preventing them from victimizing others. In many cases, it could deter them from committing the crimes in the first place. That view is consistent with the experience of the European countries where prostitution is legal. They have far lower crime rates than the U.S. overall.

Studies have been conducted in the Nevada counties where prostitution is legal and the results were similar: those counties that provide legalized methods for prostitution to exist are quite peaceable and have lower crime rates. Interestingly, in November, 2004, in Churchill County, Nevada, a ballot proposal to outlaw prostitution was rejected by a 2-to-1 margin, even though the county is primarily Republican and supported George W. Bush for president.

Legalization promotes liberty and privacy

Laws against prostitution violate Americans’ fundamental rights of individual liberty and personal privacy. Thomas Jefferson and other founders of the U.S. envisioned a society where people can live without interference from government, provided they don’t harm others. Lest we all forget, when the founders of the United States fled Europe, they were fleeing the very intrusions and governmental oversight that has developed in this country over the past thirty to fifty years, but especially in the the post 9/11 era under the watch of the Homeland Security Act.

As Jefferson said in his First Inaugural Address: “A wise and frugal Government,which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement.” Or as Arthur Hoppe wrote about consensual acts in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1992: “The function of government is to protect me from others. It’s up to me, thank you, to protect me from me.” Combined, these two statements demonstrate the very principle that I described above-that government should protect its citizens and not try to dictate their very lives.

Similar to issues such as birth control, abortion, and the right to death with dignity, this issue involves people’s fundamental rights to control their own bodies and decide the best way to conduct their lives.

In a free society, it makes no sense for the government to be telling persons - particularly the poor - they cannot charge a fee for harmless services they otherwise are at liberty to give away. To paraphrase George Carlin: Selling is legal, and sex is legal, so why isn’t selling sex legal? The simple answer is that some people are offended by this act and want to impose their “moral authority” on others.

Sex isn’t just for the handsome: some side benefits of legalization

Likewise for the customers, there’s no reason their freedom should not include the right to purchase the companionship and affection they may want but do not find in other aspects of their lives.

For example, one disabled man told researchers he was lonely and visited prostitutes because “I’m ugly, no women will go out with me. . . . It’s because of my disability. So prostitutes are a sexual outlet for me.” Another man reported that he did the same for a number of years due to being “anorexic and very reclusive. There was no chance of forming a relationship.” A physically unattractive man added, “I pay for sex because that is the only way I can get sex.” Another person said his experiences with prostitutes and other sex workers helped him overcome an extreme aversion to physical intimacy, which had resulted from years of physical and emotional abuse while growing up. He explained: “I very likely would have died a virgin if I hadn’t somehow gotten comfortable with physical intimacy, and sex workers enabled me to do that. At least for me, it’s been a healing experience.”

Consider this: in some ways alleviating the sexual need that we all have could be a form of therapy with a paid professional. It’s perfectly legal to meet with a psychologist to discuss sexual concerns, but it is not legal, in most places, to meet with a prostitute to work out that tension on your own… if you pay for it. Through prostitution, someone may be able to meet a need that would otherwise be unfulfilled, which could result in more violent criminal behavior, like sexual assault (aka “rape). In other words, I believe that the sexual drive becomes so strong at times, that some people are unable to control it and will obtain that release they desire, even against the will of the other participant. This behavior should not be condoned and must remain illegal, but consensual sex between adults, even for money, hurts no one but the “moral police”.

What about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)?

Many who oppose the legalization of prostitution argue that STDs would spread and that some unsuspecting person may contract a STD if prostitution were legal. However, it is my contention that just like alcohol sales, which are regulated as to time, place, and quantity in some instances, that if prostitution were legalized, and monitored by the government, much like in some European cities, the government could require registration and testing for the prostitutes. Granted, this would be more governmental oversight, and while I am not a fan of “Big Brother”, I think this would be far less intrusive and more logical than the current system in place with criminalizing two already legal behaviors: sex and sales.

Consider this: the government could collect a registration fee from anyone seeking a license for prostitution, it could require testing every six months or whatever period of time was prescribed, and it could contain the behavior to registered facilities. All in all, it appears that the government would benefit by having an increase in its revenue stream, and the public would benefit because they who choose to participate in sexual encounters with prostitutes would be better protected by the registration and testing. Communities would benefit by the containment to a given area. And under this system, criminalization would occur for those not following the system put in place.

Legalization puts law-enforcement resources to better uses

Numerous legal commentators point out that using law enforcement resources against prostitution substantially diminishes the resources available to fight other crimes committed against persons or property. This nation desperately needs more efforts applied to solving those crimes, because arrests are being made in connection with only about 20% of them. And, if you look around to your local law enforcement agencies across the United States, most of them are desperate to find new recruits to fill in the already thinned lines of officers. By removing officers assigned to “sting operations” and special divisions like “Street Response Teams” more officers could be available to answer calls or follow-up on more serious reports currently on file.

While I do not have statistics to support this, though I am confident they exist, I believe that the damage inflicted on society by corporate crime and white-collar crime far exceeds the harm caused by all the street crime combined. Just ask the victims of the Enron and WorldCom scandals - many of whom lost their life savings….

As for white-collar crime, the police undoubtedly know that their jobs and careers are safer by making prostitution arrests than by investigating criminals who cause serious harm but either wield political power or have strong connections to those who do. And when the corruption involves others in the police force, the notorious “Blue Wall of Silence” leads all too many officers to ignore and protect the wrong-doing of badge-wearing criminals too.

Conclusion

Our society would be better served if the police directed their efforts away from the activities of consenting adults and toward preventing and solving real crimes involving clear victims and injustices.

Dax Garvin, Attorney and Counselor At law is an experienced Austin DWI Attorney.

I graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law in May, 2002, and was licensed to practice law in Texas that November, following the July, 2002, Texas Bar Exam. Prior to that, I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Tyler and my first years of undergraduate work were spent at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where I learned the true passion of humanity-recognizing we are all part of one great society.

I worked in the Travis County Attorney’s Office from August, 2002, until October, 2003, when I entered into private practice with a mid-size Austin civil litigation firm, where I enhanced my skills for legal research, writing, motion practice, and working with insurance companies from the defense perspective.

http://www.daxlegal.com

SEO, search engine optimization

The heart of the continuing project to promote non school learning is the Internet. The Coalition’s own web page is only a piece of the growing interest in using the Internet for learning. Brain research has shown that learning is not only different for each individual but also it is a continual non-linear process. That is, that we do not learn and store one set of facts or a discipline in one part of the brain. But that new knowledge if being taken in all the time and being harmonized within the existing single holistic neural network of each person’s brain. This individualized non-linear learning cannot be efficiently forced on a group of students at the same time in the same place by the same technique. Learning is a unique experience for each person.

The Internet provides a radically different mode of learning. One can transfer quickly among areas of knowledge as needed and desired by the individual. To emphasize non-linear learning the Coalition’s web page is designed as a mandala. That is, its cover page presents a number of options for the reader, not a linear index. A reader may start with the philosophy, practical examples, resources, general discussion, or other entry points. Internal links will lead the reader to other areas inside the Coalition’s web site or to other websites without a break in continuity. Claudia L’Amoreux and Ib Bang are coordinating the efforts to make the web site a model of what the Internet may become in providing learning experiences.

^
Communal Learning

But we recognize that the Internet can not be a substitute for parents, family, friends, teachers, community or other means of learning and of social intercourse. So a strong emphasis of the web site is on collaborative learning and the development of local learning communities. A special section is devoted to “New Chapters” that provide how to guidance to self-learners and their families. Subsections will be on How to form local communities, How to organize cooperatives, How to become a Self-Learner, Social Transformation, Learning Libraries, and other topics required for collaborative learning programs. Merrill Tew, a PhD student in education, and Laddie Lushin, a lawyer with 25 years experience with food cooperatives have provided “New Chapters” and are leading the development of these concepts.

^
From Teachers to Mentors

Equally important, we feel, is the role of mentors, learning coaches, counselors, and learning guides. “Morphing ’school teachers’ into ‘community mentors’” is a topic of particular interest we are discussing on the listserv We plan to develop “New Chapters” on the future learning profession for the web site. As the efficiency of self-learning or child-centered-learning becomes better recognized a new profession for teachers may emerge. Mentors will be called on to help individuals of all ages to plan their own learning programs. This will require not only a professional understanding of how an individual learns, but also an understanding of how to provide learning opportunities within the community. Libraries and museums will play an increasingly important role in future learning. But so will factories, farms, businesses, the streets, and nature.

The future community learning professionals cannot remain isolated in schools any more than the future citizens can be so isolated. As learning become more lifelong and centered in the individual and experienced in the community the learning professionals will have an increasingly important role to play in the life of the community. Libraries may be a better model for future learning centers than are today’s schools. Member, Charles Willets, editor of Counterpoise, is facilitating cooperation between this Coalition and progressive librarians.

^
Cultural Transition

Community, not education, is the central interest of many members of this Coalition. We see the global and local social problems facing humanity as inherent in the social structure, and in the educational system that forms the citizen of the future. The diminishing concern for family values and community solidarity leaves citizens old and young with no sense of belonging. “Belonging” is a most, if not the most, fundamental need of humans. If healthy outlets for this need are not provided by the family, neighborhood, and community, individuals will satisfy that need by joining cults, gangs, secret societies and other forms of antisocial organizations. Violence, such as that at Columbine, as well as the general alienation of youth is a clear indication that schools do not meet that social need.

Many members of ‘A Coalition for Self-Learning’ see the strengthening of communities as the the Coalition’s purpose for being. One of our core members, Bill Wetzel, on graduation from high school two years ago took a year off to bike the country visiting other schools to talk to other young people. He found that like himself youth was generally bored and alienated by schools. He has now organized “Power to Youth” to help highschool students and others young people to organize and to take control of their own learning.

Another member of the Coalition, Rick Smyre, consultant and President of CCOF (Center of Communities of the Future) recognizes the crucial impact that the education system has in community development. His programs to develop the capacity of local citizens to prepare for the future emphasizes the need to involve young people throughout their lives in community activities and community governance.

The sense of community and belonging is also the topic by Michael Cohen in his “New Chapter” in the online book, “Educating and Counseling with Nature: A Natural Systems Thinking Process produces ecopsychology courses and degrees that enable students to increase academic skills, resiliency and responsible relationships.” Cohen has been leading non-school wilderness learning sessions for a number of decades. His Natural Systems Thinking Process is based on developing a practical understanding of the critical place cooperation has in nature. Nothing can exist without a extensive system of others to maintian it. Communities are a crucial part of the life support systems required by humanity.

This same theme is echoed by the theoretical studies of Kathia and Alexander Laszlo in the field of The Theory of General Evolution. Their Evolutionary Learning Centers (ELCs) are based on ideas similar of Paulo Friere’s that learning should be a preparation and participation in the continuality of change. The new theories of chaos, complexity and gaia show the interconnectedness of all life. They imply that learning communities must become the basis for a sustainable future. Kathia and Alexander are now leading a task force to coordinate an internet conference, with other leaders of community development, on the internet and plan for a broader future international conference on creating learning communities.

^
Collaborative Homeschooling

The proof that schools are unnecessary is perhaps best witnessed by the success of homeschooling. Average SAT scores, the success of homeschoolers in the best of our universities, the long history of leaders like Margaret Mead, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln and other self-learners, as well as the learning systems of many other cultures is proof being touted in a growing number of publications. Many homeschool advocates including Ann Lahrson Fisher, Patrick Farenga, Jerry Mintz, Katharine Houk, Linda Dobson, Mary Leue, and others are active participants in the Coalition. Long before the Coalition formed they were recognizing the emergence of “homeschool support groups” and other forms of collaborative learning.

The concern that the abandonment of schools by homeschoolers will be a detriment to public education is a legitimate concern of many educators. Others critics have suggested that homeschooling is an element of the “bowling alone” trend of individuals abandoning community in their own individual self-interest. Some see the charter school movement as a solution to providing more popular input and flexibility to the current educational system.

All of these concerns and happenings are being taken into account in the Coalition’s programs. We recognize that not all parents are capable, willing or want to homeschool. We see homeschooling as a most successful experiment on the way toward a more open, progressive, flexible. life long learning system. Our experiments aim at using the best of these practices, and overcoming the worst of the faults of the current system. Our goal is to move beyond schooling and beyond homeschooling to a learning system and a society that values the individual, the community, society, and nature in new ways.

* * * * *

^
Table of Content

© Copyright 2000. William N. Ellis - All Rights Reserved.
tranet@rangeley.org

http://www.CreatingLearningCommunities.org

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When it comes to popular vacation destinations, few places have what it takes to compete with South Lake Tahoe. In the summer, there is boating, swimming, golfing, and hiking, and in the winter, the skiing conditions are top-notch thanks to 360 inches of annual snowfall. There are 182 ski trails amidst 8,800 total ski resort acres, which means there should be plenty of room for the flocks of snow-lovers that make their way to this region every year.

Even travelers looking for less active pursuits will be pleased with South Lake Tahoe; nearby Nevada hosts a number of casinos, there are restaurants galore, and the 274 days of sunshine encourage plenty of relaxation outdoors.

The perfect way to enjoy such a vacationer’s heaven is to sit back and take it all in while benefiting from the ample space and amenities of home. A South Lake Tahoe vacation rental allows for the best parts of being home and being away to exist as one. Traveling to a new location is fun and exciting, but having a place to retreat from the crowd at the day’s end makes for a truly memorable experience.

A popular area for finding refuge from the bustle of South Lake Tahoe is Heavenly Valley. This quiet, forested area is close to such landmarks as the Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort and the Stateline casinos, yet cottages and lodges are sheltered beneath a canopy of pine trees in order to provide a bit of seclusion. Imagine being able to come home from a long day of skiing to your private cabin-style chalet. A few minutes in the hot tub, which sits outside on the wrap-around deck, will certainly ease tender muscles, and a quiet evening spent watching movies and drinking hot cocoa in front of the fireplace will rejuvenate you for whatever tomorrow may hold.

Or, picture a summer vacation with the family. A four bedroom home located near the marina, hiking trails, and a grocery store will ensure that everyone’s diverse needs are met. Instead of being crowded into a hotel room and searching the phone book for a restaurant, you’ll feel free to spread out and cook a leisurely meal in your own, borrowed, kitchen. Parents and kids will be more relaxed with a set-up like this, and you’ll probably wonder why you ever did it another way.

For true water-lovers, the Tahoe Keys is the perfect place to secure a vacation rental. Sweeping views of the lake and the mountains, as well as private docks and outdoor spas make the homes in this area of South Lake Tahoe extra inviting. Proximity to the water is very useful when it comes to filling your days with boating, tubing, and fishing. And, having access to a microwave, television, whirlpool tub, and game room provide all the remaining ingredients to make your evenings a success as well. From this point of view, South Lake Tahoe is an irresistible sight to behold.

Whether you seek a rustic one-bedroom cabin or a modern, spacious condo that will fit all the cousins and grandparents, there is a good chance you’ll find it tucked away somewhere in South Lake Tahoe. After finding the best place to fit your needs, everyone will be able to focus on what really matters, the scenery, the limitless activities, and the feeling of being far away with the people you care about.

HomeAway.com will help you locate the place of your future greatest vacation ever, so visit South Lake Tahoe vacation rentals to get started on your way.

HomeAway.com is a great place to find all the information you need for vacation rentals around the world.

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Dubai’s Dramatic Transformation: A Front Row Seat

In 2000, I arrived in Dubai the morning after Ramadan had started. There were giant photos welcoming their much beloved leader H. H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan back to the United Arab Emirates. (He was returning from having a kidney transplant in the USA.) Dubai was beautifully decorated with the same lights we use for Christmas trees in the west, however this was for Ramadan. This created a dreamlike quality and I remember thinking “A futuristic Arabian Nights fantasy.”

My first trip to Dubai was short. It was just a few glorious days of truly memorable experiences including my first desert safari and an enchanting Dhow dinner cruise on the Dubai Creek. I was mesmerized by the view as I floated past the Dubai Heritage Village while nibbling on chocolate delicacies. I was certain it was so certain that this was a dream that I kept pinching myself. After I returned to Canada, I never stopped talking about my incredible journey.

One incident that stands out in my mind happened after a riding lesson at the Dubai Polo Club. I relaxed and watched some polo. When I was ready to leave, I went to call taxi. A handsome polo player from Rajasthan offered me a lift back to the hotel. My father’s words “Never take a ride from a stranger echoed in my mind”. I politely declined with my usual “Oh I wouldn’t want to take you out of your way.” His response was “Out of my way? The whole place is about 5 miles wide.” I laughed accepted his offer and he safely took me to my destination in no time flat. At the time, I had no idea how dramatically Dubai was about to change.

On that trip, I met an elderly couple from the UK. The husband told me that when he had been in Dubai to help put in the infrastructure for electricity, the area around the clock was desert. At that time, the clock tower was a prominent landmark. When I went to Dubai in 2007 and 2008, I couldn’t even find the clock. It had been dwarfed by all of the new developments. In January, 2007, as I travelled downtown from the beach where I was staying, I counted 100 mega high rises under construction before I gave up and stopped counting. This was an area that, at the time of my first trip was just desert and beach. On that same trip, as the taxi took me out to Bab Al Shams to go riding, I noticed huge displays in the desert showcasing the shape of things to come. That part of the desert is slated for development and 40 upscale luxury resorts will soon be springing from the desert sands.

Dubai: An Incredible Incentive Travel Destination

They say that the Dubai skyline changes every 6 months. I had a chance to actually put this to the test in 2007 and 2008 by visiting every few months and it’s true. I like to think of Dubai as not one but 3 dramatically different incentive travel destinations, the Dubai of the past, present and future.

Dubai of the past includes Deira and the area around the Dubai Creek.

In Dubai of the present, an area of explosive growth, you’ll see glistening skyscrapers under construction and modern shopping centres. It can best be seen from the upper floors of any of the beach hotels.

Dubai of the future includes the Palm Island trilogy and The Map. It also takes in the part of the desert slated for development that I described earlier. You’ll pass this area on your way to the Bab Al Shams resort.

It has been a pleasure to watch the new Dubai take shape and each time I return, I look forward to seeing the dramatic transformation that has taken place.

Surefire Tips for Amazing Incentive Travel in Dubai

If you’re considering Dubai as the destination for your next incentive trip, I hope that you will find some of these suggestions based on what I have observed during the last 8 1/2 years to be of value. Keeping these guidelines in mind will ensure your comfort and help you spend an enjoyable and memorable time in Dubai. It will be a unique incentive trip that your group will talk about for years.

1. Plan well ahead for lowest airfares and best accommodation in Dubai.

The most important thing to remember is that it is important to plane WELL ahead, especially if your group is large. As hotel space becomes scarcer, prices do go up for accommodation and airline flights. Popular hotels like the One and Only Royal Mirage and Madinat Jumeriah’s Al Qasr sell out really fast. To avoid disappointment, some of the most popular attractions must also be reserved well ahead of time to ensure availability for groups.

2. Schedule your trip between October and April.

The best time to travel is between mid October and the end of April. At that time the temperatures are more comfortable and you can spend more time outdoors. Be flexible with your dates and don’t lock them in until you have given your incentive travel planner an opportunity to confirm availability of hotels and attractions. It would be a shame to lose out on an incredible location that could have been available if your dates had been more flexible.

3. Build in enough time for your group to experience the local culture.

Add an extra day to your group’s itinerary so that you can have a chance to explore the heritage section and get a sense of Dubai’s rich history and culture. Why go to Dubai and not see it? Why travel to a foreign destination and learn nothing about the people and their culture? If you just plan to sit in meeting rooms, lie on the beach, and get drunk, you may as well stay home and save yourself some money.

4. Double check visa requirements.

Visa requirements changed dramatically as of August 1, 2008 so make certain that you carefully verify what is required. Upon arrival, you will fill in an immigration and customs form. A portion of the card will be retained and you will be required to surrender it upon departure so don’t lose it.

5. Stay out of trouble.

Remember:

• Illegal drugs are a definite no-no and penalties are STIFF. Remember that American TV commercial from a number of years ago? “When you’re busted for drug over there, you’re in for the hassle of your life.” My advice is don’t even think about it.
  
• Even some prescription medication that is perfectly legal in North America and Europe is prohibited (e.g. codeine).
  
• Some drugs that are over the counter in other countries are controlled substances in UAE. It is always best to check ahead of time and to carry your prescription and the original container.
  (Check with your nearest United Arab Emirates consulate for updates before departure)
  
• Pornography is prohibited and possession carries stiff penalties.

6. Take precautions for the climate.

Dubai is ultra modern. It’s easy to forget that you are in what was up until recently a desert:

• Wear a scarf or hat to protect your head from the sun and avoid sunstroke.
• To avoid dehydration, ALWAYS carry a bottle of water with you and drink plenty of it.
• Apply sunscreen liberally and often.
• Be sure to pack cotton shirts, dresses, and blouses to ensure comfort.

7. Plan around the traffic.

Until the LRT is ready in September 2009, traffic congestion will continue to be a problem. Plan your itinerary and then book your accommodation so that you are close to the attractions you want to see on certain days. For example, if you want to explore the heritage area, stay in Deira for a night or two. Arrange a late check-in at your beach hotel and travel at night after at night after your Dhow cruise. This will be much more comfortable than sitting in gridlock for hours at time during the day.

8. Respect traditions.

The lifestyle in Dubai is opulent. I’ve never seen so many Ferraris and custom made Mercedes Benz’s in my life. You will find that the architecture and technology is even more advanced than what you’re used to back home. It’s easy to forget that you’re in a Muslim country with a vastly different culture from North America or Europe. Remember that the United Arab Emirates is rooted in tradition and a proud history.

Make sure that your group is aware of local customs and that you respect them. Here are some examples:

• Show respect for your hosts and keep noise level to a minimum during prayer time.
• When eating, be sure to remember to avoid using the left hand as this is reserved sanitary functions and it is considered to be unclean to use the left hand at the dining table.
• Consumption of alcohol is permitted at some hotels, restaurants, night spots, and tourist attractions. Other than these venues, alcohol should never be consumed in public. You can actually be charged for being drunk in public.
• Neighbouring Sharjah is a dry Emirate and penalties for possession or consumption of alcohol are STIFF. Don’t even think of taking it there.
• Kissing, holding hands or making out in public are not considered to be appropriate in public.
• Don’t even think of having sex in public. (Michelle Palmer and Vince Acors recently learned this the hard way after their arrest on Jumeirah Beach.)
• Sex between unmarried couples is illegal and you are unlikely to be permitted to check into a hotel with someone who is not your spouse.
• Women should not even think of topless sunbathing.
• Nude sunbathing and changing of clothes in public is to be avoided by both sexes. (Authorities have recently cracked down on this and there have been numerous arrests.)

9. Dress modestly.

While Dubai is more tolerant than some other Muslim countries and you will see some tourists wearing bikinis on public beaches, out of respect for your hosts, it is best to opt for a modest swimsuit.

• Long walking shorts are fine for the beach, resorts and desert safari but, other than that, they should be avoided.
• Women should be sure to wear blouses and dresses with sleeves that come to just above the elbows or longer.
• Sleeveless tops are frowned upon for men and women but especially for women.
• Skirts and dresses should be to the knees or longer.
• Showing cleavage is a definite no-no.

10. Include attractions that are unique to Dubai in your group’s itinerary

• A MUST: A tour of the heritage section including Dubai Heritage Village, the Dubai Museum, the gold and spice souks, lunch at Al Dawaar Revolving Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency, and a Dhow Dinner Cruise
• A desert safari (overnight for a special treat)
• Jumana Desert Show
• A day trip to Al Ain
• A Day trip to Abu Dhabi

12. Don’t Pack Your Itinerary. Give your group some free time.

It is important to give your group some time to relax, unwind and see Dubai their way. Some members of your party may want to play golf. Others may prefer to go horse riding in the desert or skiing at Ski Dubai. Others may want to relax on the beach or book some treatments at the spa. Provide your group with a list of options and give them an opportunity to customize their experience.

Shopping is an important par of any trip to Dubai. People look forward to it.

Best Shopping: Souk at Madinat Jumeirah, Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta (named after the great Arabian explorer), Gold Souk, Spice Souk.

13. Build at least one luxury excursion into your budget.

There will be no shortage of options but here are a few ideas:

• Upgrade your Desert Safari to 5 star
• Dinner in the Sky
• Afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab
• A helicopter tour of Dubai
• Hot air ballooning over the Desert

Anne Thornley-Brown is the President of Executive Oasis International, a Toronto based firm that regularly organizes incentive travel, executive retreats and team building in Dubai, Oman, Jamaica and Canada. Their clients have included a number of Middle Eastern and gulf companies. Executive Oasis Internatinal provides a one stop shopping service with a personalized approach to incentive travel for corporate groups of up to 25. Customized itineraries include travel, transfers, hotel, tours, team building activities, business facilitation, and event planning.

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In the past, contributions from the very rich to the poor were most often made anonymously. Many of the direct recipients of charity did not even know the identity of their benefactors. Today all this has changed.

However, there is no doubt that endorsement of various charities by well-known film stars, musicians and sports personalities, coupled with the celebrities’ own actual high-profile donations, can vastly increase public awareness of some indisputably worthy causes.

Underprivileged children, homeless refugees, victims of natural disasters and sufferers from diseases such as AIDS are among the unfortunate people who have been hugely helped ” not only by generous donations from wealthy personalities, but also thanks to contributions made by ordinary donors who have been deeply moved by the charitable activities of public figures they admire.

Caring Stars

One well-known celebrity philanthropist is actress Angelina Jolie, who uses her fame and fortune to raise awareness of the plight some 20 million refugees in 120 countries around the world. Her work on behalf of refugees began in 2001 when she was filming in Cambodia, where she decided to adopt a refugee child. By adopting orphaned children ” her son Maddox from Cambodia, and a daughter Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005 ” Jolie has also sparked interest among other prospective parents to help or adopt other needy children around the world.

Named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Commission for Refugees in 2001, Jolie has toured many other refugee locations including Thailand, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, the Balkans and Ecuador. Besides pledging and donating several million dollars to different charitable causes, she also champions the cause of banning land mines.

Film actor and producer George Clooney is another fervent supporter of significant causes. These include the ‘ONE Campaign’ to eliminate AIDS; and ‘Make Poverty History’, part of an 84-nation coalition calling for a breakthrough against poverty throughout the world. He is also involved in the Global Campaign Against Poverty (GCAP), which aims to narrow the gap between rich and poor by addressing man-made factors such as unjust global trade systems, debt burdens that suffocate any chance of a country’s economic recovery and ineffective aid in impoverished areas of the world.

Together with Samuel L Jackson, Clooney co-sponsors ‘Rock for Darfur’, a series of charity concerts organised by MySpace.com and Oxfam. The funds go to support Oxfam’s disaster relief work and to aid refugees in Sudan and neighbouring Chad. Finally, there is ‘United Way’ ” Clooney’s own self-supported programme which collects money and goods from various donors and distributes the proceeds to local charities.

Jackie Chan is Hong Kong’s most famous film star. In 1988, he founded the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation to offer scholarships and active assistance to young people in Hong Kong. The foundation’s motto is: ‘To help, to heal and to excel.’ As Jackie explains: “Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life. Long ago, when I was a child in need of assistance, someone was kind to me. My charitable foundation is my way of passing on that kindness. By providing scholarships, grants and funding … I am helping to make the world a better place.”

Chan’s charitable donations cover a wide spectrum that includes home care for youngsters at risk; help for unemployed youngsters; professional self-empowerment counselling; training camps for students; and anti-suicide campaigns. Over the years, the foundation’s activities have grown substantially, broadening their scope to include medical services and help for victims of natural disasters or people suffering from serious illnesses.

Environmental Warrior

Popularly described as a ‘Hollywood heartthrob’, youthful movie star Leonardo DiCaprio is a passionate defender of the environment. To foster greater awareness of environmental issues, he actively cooperates with organisations such as Global Green USA, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and National Geographic Kids.

His own Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation focusses particularly on global warming, which can be combated by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adopting alternative and renewable energy sources. “I urge individuals around the globe to stand up,” he declares, “and ask local leaders, if they haven’t already, to pledge to purchase cleaner cars, build green facilities, and buy green power like wind or solar energy. Our actions may determine if we become a casualty in the war for a habitable planet for generations to come.” His concerns also extend to maintaining clean water supplies throughout the world (DiCaprio estimates that 1.2 billion of the world’s people do not have access to safe drinking water) ” and he is a fervent advocate of preserving the earth’s biodiversity.

Philanthropic Sportsmen

In 1994, at the height of his sporting career, tennis champion Andre Agassi set up the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (AACF) to provide recreational facilities and educational opportunities for children in southern Nevada, USA, especially in the Las Vegas area. It has supported more than 20 organisations and raised more than US$60 million since it was launched. Its special mission is to help abused or abandoned children who are considered ‘at risk’ or deprived of basic opportunities in life. In order to foster character and self-esteem in these children and enhance their career possibilities, the Foundation funds a combination of emotional, physical and academic programmes.

The Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club, opened in 1997, features a basketball court, tennis courts, a computer lab, a library and a teen centre offering a variety of activities. Through the tennis Team Agassi and the basketball programme Agassi Stars, children learn the values of good sportsmanship. They also attend study sessions. By balancing athletics and education, the Agassi Club provides not only a safe place for youngsters to go after school, but a positive learning environment. In 2001, the Foundation donated an additional US$720,000 towards building an Andre Agassi Cottage for Medically Fragile Children.

Also committed to children’s welfare is seven-time Grand Slam tennis champion Roger Federer. In 2003 he launched the Roger Federer Foundation in Basel, Switzerland to fund projects for disadvantaged children, especially in South Africa. Following the devastating 2004 tsunami, he instigated several other fund-raising initiatives, including the ATP All-Star Rally for Relief. This led to a global partnership with UNICEF, and in April 2006, Federer was appointed a UNICEF ‘Goodwill Ambassador.’ UNICEF Executive Director Ann M Veneman voiced her confidence in his ability to make a difference when she said: “Roger Federer will bring extraordinary energy and talent to working with UNICEF to improve the lives of children throughout the world.”

Federer believes sport can help overcome injustice and build bridges between cultures. “As tennis players, we have a unique opportunity,” he says. “We are given a chance to visit so many different countries and cultures and interact with people from all walks of life. It is our responsibility to…use our fortune to make a difference in the lives of those who most need it. If I can make a contribution to this, I am more than happy to do so.”

Fulfilling Dreams

As a child, Tiger Woods dreamed about becoming the world’s best golfer. “I worked hard,” he says, “and applied my family’s values to everything I did. Integrity, honesty, discipline, responsibility and fun ” I learned these values at home and in school, each one pushing me further toward my dream.” Knowing that thousands of other children dream about their futures too, Tiger and his father set up the Tiger Woods Foundation in 1996. “Through personal enrichment programmes, scholarships, direct grants, junior golf teams, and the new Tiger Woods Learning Center completed in 2005,” explains Tiger, “the foundation is helping millions of children reach their dreams.”

The Tiger Woods Foundation makes direct community investments through its grant and scholarship programmes. In 2005 it awarded nearly US$2 million in grants to youth-related programmes, and gave the Baton Rouge Area Foundation $200,000 to set up a Hurricane Katrina educational fund. The Foundation also donated $100,000 to Give2Asia to aid children displaced by the 2004 tsunami. The Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) Tour contributed a matching amount of $100,000. Another well-known PGA champion golfer, Phil Mickelson, was the catalyst behind a charity designed to benefit America’s military men and women. Called ‘Birdies for the Brave’, it is sponsored by the Phil and Amy Mickelson Charitable Gift Fund. Amounts of US$100 for each ‘birdie’ and $500 for every ‘eagle’ that Phil makes are donated to help military families by financing education for the children of deceased military personnel, or support handicap-accessible homes for severely-injured or disabled American veterans. In partnership with Exxon Mobil, the Mickelsons also co-sponsor a five-day ‘academy’ for mid-primary level teachers to improve their skills in motivating children and teaching mathematics and science.

Scoring for Families

Basketball superstar Michael Jordan’s record-breaking achievements on the basketball court may have ended with his retirement in 1999, but his charitable work continues to benefit organisations he helped establish. In 1996, at the height of his athletic career, his US$2 million contribution helped finance the opening in Chicago of the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club and Family Life Centre (named after Michael’s father). The club offers children’s recreational and learning facilities, infant day care and a family healthcare centre.

In the same year, he committed $1million to the University of North Carolina to set up its Jordan Institute for Families. At its dedication ceremony, he explained, “I feel very blessed and fortunate to have had a family structure which nurtured and provided a positive influence for myself and my siblings. Many young people today are overwhelmed by the pressures of life, struggling and trying to survive. I am supporting the Jordan Institute for Families because I believe that everything that can be done should be done to preserve the family and to improve the quality of life for all individuals, especially children and the elderly.” Jordan remains involved with the Boys & Girls Club of America, UNCF/College Fund, Special Olympics and a variety of other organisations supporting children and families. British football icon David Beckham and his popstar wife Victoria established their own charitable trust in 2002, and more recently joined forces with UNICEF to raise funds for children worldwide. In January 2005, Beckham was appointed a UNICEF ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ with a particular focus on the UNICEF’s ‘Sports for Development’ programme. Sport is seen as a positive force to improve the lives of children throughout the world, particularly those who have been affected by disease, poverty or conflict.

Beckham’s first activity as a UNICEF ambassador was to launch a global appeal on behalf of the 1.5 million children who were victims of the 2004 tsunami, supporting the organisation’s humanitarian work in the region. He’s appeared in a series of films to raise awareness of those children who are being forgotten in the fight against AIDS. Through UNICEF’s ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ campaign, contributions go towards helping millions of children. Proceeds of a World Cup Party hosted by the Beckhams in May this year generated funds that will enable UNICEF to reach many more children around the world. David and Victoria have also contributed to Children Today, a London-based charity for disabled children.

Fighting Poverty and Malaria

Irish pop star Bono (real name, Paul Hewson) has been deeply involved with social and political causes since the 1980s. The U2 star’s involvement with the Bob Geldof’s Band Aid and Live Aid charity projects secured his place as a worldwide legend. From 1999, he has increasingly dedicated himself to relieving third-world debt and raising awareness of the plight of Africa.

Since the end of his ‘Elevation’ tour in 2001, Bono has been actively campaigning for debt-relief in Africa and has visited many African countries. In 2002, he set up an organisation called ‘DATA’, to raise awareness of Debt, Aids and Trade problems in Africa. At present, he is particularly concerned about the problem of eradicating of malaria, which is the biggest killer on the African continent. Bono has been quoted as saying that the idea of defeating malaria in Africa would be as exciting as having witnessed Neil Armstrong’s first walk on the moon. In 2003, 2005 and 2006, Bono was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1984, Bob Geldof organised Band Aid to benefit children dying of starvation in Africa. He assembled Britain’s top group of singers and musicians to record the single, ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’, which became the fastest-selling single record in UK music history, raising over 8 million pound worldwide for aid in Ethiopia. In 1985, Geldof went on to organise two Live Aid concerts, one in London and the other in Philadelphia, featuring more than 60 of rock music’s biggest stars performing ‘live’. Over 100 million pound was raised for African famine relief.

In January 2004, Geldof visited friends in Ethiopia, where he discovered that more people were at risk of starvation then than during the famines of the 1980’s which inspired Live Aid. Geldof communicated his concern vociferously to British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The result was the establishment of a Commission for Africa, comprised of 16 African political leaders and others. Relief measures proposed included the doubling of aid, cancelling debt and reforming trade rules. Following the Commission’s 2005 report, Gelfdof decided to stage eight simultaneous concerts around the world to exert pressure on the so-called rich nations’ club: the G8. The event was entitled Live 8.

Combating AIDS

British singer, composer and pianist, Sir Elton John, is well-known for his support for AIDS charities. As long ago as 1986, he was contributing profits from his recordings to the American Foundation for AIDS Research and encouraging his fans to do the same. Since then, he has worked diligently to foster greater awareness of the disease among the general public.

In 1992 he set up the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) as a charity to fund specific programmes for HIV/AIDS prevention and to support AIDS victims. This non-profit foundation is dedicated to the elimination of discrimination and prejudice against people affected by HIV/AIDS; it also provides specialised services to AIDS victims, and preventive education programmes to people at risk of contracting the disease. Since its founding, EJAF has raised over US$100 million to support AIDS-related programmes in 55 countries around the world.

The foundation’s work is supported not only by John’s own contributions, but through numerous fund-raising events, sports programmes, art and photographic exhibitions, Oscar parties and gala dinners organised or co-sponsored by John, sometimes with auctions of his own and other stars’ personal items. Last year, EJAF introduced new initiatives aimed at HIV prevention among residents of the southern United States and the Caribbean, young people and drug users and people recently released from prison.

In Tune With Children

In the 1980s, pop idol Madonna became a supporter of the charity called amFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Since then, she has also turned her attention to Children in Need ” a charity that provides practical and lasting support to thousands of youngsters 18 years old or younger who may have experienced neglect, abuse, homelessness or poverty, and may be suffering from serious illnesses, disabilities, psychological disorders or addictions. The Make-a-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children suffering from life-threatening medical conditions, is another of Madonna’s favoured causes.

Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, is suffering from famine, drought, poverty and diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and hepatitis. Most recently, Madonna has contributed generously to Raising Malawi, a charity whose Orphan Care Initiative provides food, medical care, clothing, clean drinking water and schooling to 32,000 orphaned children in the impoverished African nation. Madonna recently demonstrated the extent of her dedication to this charitable cause by adopting a Malawian child.

In 1999, the American singer Mariah Carey received a Congressional Award for her contributions to youth charities and non-profit organisations. She was recognised for her work with the Administration for Children’s Services in New York City, and she participates in Children’s Services’ programmes to ensure that children are raised in a stable family environment. One Carey contribution of over US$1,000,000 went to the children’s Fresh Air Fund, which enables city children to enjoy summer camping in the countryside.

Camp Mariah is a Career Awareness Camp for New York adolescents operated under the auspices of the Fresh Air Fund that aims to expand their awareness of educational and career options. It offers a unique opportunity for nearly 300 boys and girls aged 12 to 14 to engage in an educational curriculum while enjoying camp adventures. Intensive three-and-a-half-week summer sessions and weekend camping trips are complemented by year-round activities in New York City. Camp Mariah was named after Mariah Carey for her generous support and dedication to Fresh Air children.

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Flowers have been displayed at the time of one’s passing in nearly every culture throughout time, and their importance continues today. At funerals, wakes, memorials, and cremation services, flowers and plants are a sensitive way to commemorate the life of the departed, express heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family, and provide an important element of natural beauty in an otherwise somber environment. Family and friends often comment on the artistry, color, and fragrance of sympathy flowers, helping to aide conversation and soften the sorrow. An outpouring of flowers or a particularly striking floral tribute may be remembered long after the funeral as one of the most uplifting symbols of support. In the weeks that follow, flowers, gift baskets, and other expressions sent to the home are also important, as family members adjust to their grief. If you would like to express your sympathy to someone but are unsure what types of flowers or other gestures may best fit the situation, here are a few suggestions from experts to help.

Showing You Care

The most important consideration is to show you care, for the deceased, the bereaved family, and other loved ones who will be gathered. Flowers are one critical component, because they show tribute and honor to the life of the deceased. When considering what type of sympathy flowers may be most appropriate, consider that life. Bright flowers may be best to describe a fruitful life and convey the joy of fondest memories. Pale pastels are appropriate for a soft, feminine touch, while Autumn tones convey a more masculine theme. Pure white blossoms denote purity, grace, and peace. Roses, especially red ones, express undying love.

Making It Personal

If you’d like to personalize your tribute even more, your local florist can help. You might consider incorporating a favorite flower, personal item, or picture of the family. For someone who loved gardening, you might consider a gathering basket of garden fresh flowers with a just-picked look. For someone of faith, you might prefer a cross, Madonna, or or other icon. Funeral flowers can be designed in all kinds of shapes and sizes, including insignias and sports items, as well as more traditional wreaths and sprays. Of course, flowers aren’t the only way to show you care. Other gestures are important as well. Providing dinner for the family some evening can be so helpful, especially for families including children or elderly. A thoughtful letter, informal outing, or contribution to a favorite charity are excellent options, too. These additional gestures compliment the thoughtfulness of your sympathy flowers, adding an extra personal touch that will be greatly appreciated.

Knowing How Much to Spend

The cost of funerals is steadily increasing. Fortunately, there are flowers for almost every budget. You can express yourself eloquently with something as simple as a single perfect rose, as economical as a modest mixed arrangement, or as striking as a grande standing spray of elegant roses and lilies. For gifts to the funeral home or memorial service, fresh flower arrangements in vases and fan-shaped sympathy designs are usually best, because they provide the most impact for your money. Sympathy flowers come in a broad range of sizes and price ranges. The choice is up to you, but remember there may be other floral tributes displayed in close proximity. So, you don’t want to skimp on size. For a nice table arrangement, plan on spending about $50 to $70, with facier styles running $75 and up. For a larger standing piece, $100 to $150 is common. For gifts to the home, both flowers and plant are popular, with prices typically in the $35 to $60 range.

What about “in lieu of flowers?”

At the suggestion of well-meaning friends or advisors, families sometimes include a phrase in the obituary announcement such as, “In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to…” Of course, most families sincerely appreciate all personal expressions of support and may later regret having too few flowers at the funeral. A more appropriate phrase for many might be, “In addition to flowers…” or simply, “Contributions appreciated to…” Use your best judgement, but keep in mind that the “in lieu of” terminology is usually intended to encourage charitable gifts rather than discourage other expressions. Tasteful sympathy flowers are almost always appropriate in addition to charitable giving.

I didn’t find out until after the funeral!

Even if you didn’t know about the funeral until after it was over, you can still convey your love and respect. Family members need your thoughts, prayers, and personal expressions long after the funeral is over. Flowers and other gestures are a sensitive and appropriate way to let them know that they are not alone. After all, one of the best ways to honor those who have passed is to support those they have left behind.

Are there other ways that I can help?

The best thing you can do is to let family members know that you care. Help with meals, provide child care, drop by with a gift or card, or simply call. Everyone responds to loss differently, but reaching out reminds people they’re not alone. You’re care may help distract them from their grief allowing an easier transition into a normal routine. In other words, just being there is the best thing you can do to help.

From the caring people at 1-800-Florals and the Society of American Florists. For additional information and floral tributes, visit Sympathy Flowers online.

Permission is granted to republish this article in its entirety on the Internet, as long as the credit and link above are included.

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On the 21 November 2006, it was agreed by the EU that Irish would become the 21st official language of the EU. Irish is really an ancient Celtic language called Gaelic. Gaelic is also the official language of Scotland, thus far part of the UK. The two Gaelic languages are somewhat different, quite different in fact. The different languages within our world are part of what makes it colourful and interesting and the debate about how many different languages that we, the people of this planet should use, will go on as long as the world exists.

About 30% of the Irish speak Gaelic, we are told; this is largely in the Southern independent part of Ireland, which gained its freedom from the UK in the early 19th Century, leaving only Northern Ireland as part of the UK.

Southern Ireland is part of the EU and has the Euro as its currency, Northern Ireland is part of the UK and as such also belongs to the EU, the UK (which includes Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) does not use the Euro, so it is not the currency for those countries either.

Confused enough yet? The Welsh and the Scottish also have their own Parliaments (Assemblies) and can make certain laws of their own, so for someone going to work in the British Isles, this mix of currency, laws and language create a nice labyrinth to work out!

No doubt all this multi-partisan status exists all over the World in different countries, with differing interests, loyalties and histories. In that sense it seems that Globalisation is a force for the good as it unites the people of this tiny planet and helps them to acknowledge that we are all in this together and maybe it’s time to time to preserve the past, but not try live in it.

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Jane Merrow, an actress and business woman, who inherited a language recruitment agency from her father, created and designed http://www.languagejobs4u.com a multilingual job board for organisations seeking people with multiple language skills, for their jobs. Also it offers multiple language speakers to register themselves online, in order to find a position using their language skills.

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