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Wednesday, February 3, 2010
By William Bell The bride is the centre of attention in a marriage ceremony, therefore how she appears and how she has dressed up becomes very important. To make you look photogenic and elicit the admiration of the invitees, the correct bridal wear has to be selected, and this must be done keeping some factors in mind.
The whole ceremony can be ruined if the bridal wear is poorly made or is delayed in arrival from the shop, so a reliable store has to be chosen for ordering the dress. The location of the shop is essential too as you don't want to travel long distances for the numerous fitting sessions that a dress requires.
A striking colour must be selected for a wedding dress that will make you appear even more attractive. Sampling a few dresses of different colours is always a good idea. Although fashion and appearance are very important, you must also keep comfort in mind. A comfortable and attractive dress will ensure that you can enjoy the event while appearing beautiful at the same time.
When picking the wedding gown, you must always remember how it will appear in the photographs. If you are settled in Singapore, you can easily contact a photographer who can suggest you the colours and textures that appear good in pictures.
Almost all the major markets have good Singapore wedding photographers waiting to help you out. It must not be tough to look for them via the internet either. Many wedding photography Singapore based companies are reputed in the field, but do take suggestions from your wedded friends and relatives before picking one. Remember that the expertise and experience of the photographer can play a huge role in how the pictures will look, and if you select the wrong company, you may have to repent later.
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By Dr. Jay Polmar I am sure you know how to read, after all you are reading this article. But just how long will it take you to read this short article. 2 minutes, 5 minutes, longer. Twenty bucks, and 11 minutes of your time will change your life in ways you never imagined, just by reading. You read this right. In just 11 minutes, you will hear about Dr. Polmar's story, and learn 3 secrets to improving your life through .... Reading.
Wise people already know what I am talking about - learning how to use your brain properly so that what you read becomes usable data, and knowledge to help you create greater success in life.
In truth, the more you read of a similar subject, the faster you read that subject. The faster you read the subject that you are familiar with, the more that it becomes a part of your long-term memory. That's why when you first study basic primary school math, and you follow it and study smart, and go all the way through college - math is a thing that you become accustomed to. If you've studied really smart, it's really easy, and you can do some of it in your head without calculator or paper and pen.
It's also the same with reading, yet different. Imagine it this way - you'll learn in 11 minutes how to read all kinds of materials more rapidly with greater comprehension than before, and get what you need out of it. Of course, it a beginners course, but in 11 minutes your increased your reading speed say 60-80% and as you use the techniques over the next few days the speed increase, and so does your understanding and comprehension.
You've spent $20 and studied for 11 minutes and accomplished a great deal. But, what if you learned also, how to read a book for best understanding and comprehension for test-taking or pleasure, and what if you also learn to write a paper for school, or grad school - without stress in 10 days or less, would that make your life easier.
In 11 minutes flat, you will improve the quality of your life for 20 bucks, you really can't lose. Remember also, the more you read, the better you read, the more you remember - that's how the brain works. So work your brain.
About the Author:
Read Faster in 11 minutes. Guaranteed! Read Faster in 11 minutes33 years experience teaching housewives and students worldwide to up to TRIPLE READING SPEED! World Master authority offers you his secrets to Read Faster in 11 minutes. Read Faster in 11 minutesYou'll know the difference when you use it!
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By Allan Keithly Cockroaches are small but nasty creatures that are found in almost all regions and climes. They generally live in the dark and wet corners of a house and survive on all types of organic waste. They not just spoil food and other products but also carry germs of contagious diseases. Therefore, there is a need for eliminating the cockroach problem permanently, so that they dare not come back.
Most people searching for an effective remedy for the cockroach menace start to use chemicals and sprays that eventually turn out to be very dangerous for human beings as well. Hence, it is better to use natural methods of removing cockroaches than resorting to dangerous chemicals for doing so.
You can start by making changes in your kitchen habits and ensuring that not just your kitchen but your sink and the area below it are also kept clean. You must also make sure that all utensils are washed in time and are not left unclean for long. As cockroaches thrive in dark and damp places, the areas in and around a sink provide them the perfect habitat. You must try keeping all your food stuff covered in order to stop attracting the cockroaches to attack your food.
It is essential that you block all the gaps and fissures, especially around your water pipes to make sure that the cockroaches don't enter easily. You must also take care of the areas close to the sewers and keep them spotlessly clean and dry, so as to stop the cockroaches from breeding there. If there are public litter bins or dumping places close to your residence then you need to find a way to remove them, as in their presence your house is highly likely to be invaded by cockroaches.
Lastly, if you are unable to drive away the cockroaches by natural ways, you must opt for chemicals such as boric acid that are milder and less harmful for human beings than other stronger sprays and pesticides.
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Monday, February 1, 2010
By Henry Robinson Finding the right dentist for you is very essential . A dentist should be able to listen to you and present you the best recommendation for your concerns. Getting a dentist with the same philosophy as yours is very important.
Choose a dentist that understands your trouble and renders you available alternatives. Great communication is very important between you and your dentist. The dentist should establish all the advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives he is presenting to you. He should also talk about other alternative treatments if the best option for you has a problem.
Find a dentist that has knowledge to new developments in dental field. The dentist should attend seminars and group discussions about new techniques and technologies in his field in order for him to become aware on the drawbacks and benefits of the changes in the dental world.
Equipment, techniques, and materials used by the dentist should also be considered. Check if the dentist utilises modern equipments and most updated techniques in his dental services. Have a keen eye in observing his clinic. A good dentist should maintain a clean environment and uses safe materials such as mask, gloves, and sterilized tools.
Choose a dentist that maintains a complete dental and medical history of his patients. The dentist should demand you whether you are taking any prescriptions and what it is for. Dental works can trigger certain health conditions, hence, a dentist should be aware of his patient's overall health condition.
Ask the dentist about his expertise. Most dentists do not perform specialty processes such as root canal or oral surgery. They only practice primary oral cleaning, dental restoration, and some crown works. If you think you need specialisation dental services, look for a dentist that can execute the work.
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By Robert Holdsworth Many businesses have implemented energy efficiency measures in their facilities over the past several years to help decrease operating expenses and aid the local and global environment. What a lot of these companies do not know is that sizeable federal tax deductions are available to them and also that time may be running out.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) provides generous, immediate tax deductions to businesses for making energy efficiency improvements to their buildings. The federal tax incentives center mainly on efficiency improvements to lighting, HVAC and building envelopes and can be as large as $1.80 per square foot.
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 extended Section 179D and EPAct 2005 so the act will not expire until December 31, 2013. However, that does not mean that time may not be running out for some companies.
For businesses that implemented energy efficiency projects in 2006 it is probable they filed their tax returns before April 15, 2007. If they were unaware of the deductions at that time, they are now at risk of losing those tax deductions forever since the IRS only allows a three year period to amend tax returns.
That means if you have not yet amended your 2006 tax return you have only a few months left to do so!
As an electrical contractor working with commercial and industrial customers you certainly have been thinking about ways to increase your sales and likely how to better utilize your current book of business to that end. You have also most likely been approached by your current customers asking what they can do to reduce their energy costs.
Have you thought about a strategic partnership with an experienced engineering firm that specializes solely in turnkey, energy cost reduction projects on a national level? One that can bring whole facility energy solutions to the table for you and your customers? A company that can provide a fast payback and increase cash flow for your customer?
Bringing in such a company will grow your business as you will be the one who is sub-contracted by the engineering firm to provide the installation services under their management and direction. You can use this approach over and over again with all of your customers and doing so will not only increase your revenues exponentially, it will also transform your customers' impression of you from simply another vendor to that of a valued consultant.
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By Carlo Hui Fine quality paper bags with the organization's name and logo visible on them can have a lasting influence on consumers. They are great for advertising, and placing a large volume order for these bags cuts down the manufacturing cost drastically, which makes this technique economical too.
Consumers have a natural inclination towards noticing and grasping text and images on paper bags when they are out in the market. Companies can take advantage of this fact and for that they should give away paper bags bearing the organization's logo.
There are a host of other reasons why paper bag printing can be a wise investment for a company. Easy mobility is one of the most important aspects of a paper bag. This means that your brand travels with the bag and grabs attention of a large number of people who come across the person carrying the bag.
People do not throw these bags away quickly because they are quite durable, have a good load capacity, and are great in terms of utility. If you go for bags made from recycled paper, you can even contribute towards ecological preservation, which can improve the reputation of your company in the market and make it popular with environment aware customers.
Distribution of paper bags in high-profile seminars and workshops to carry home any gifts, is a wise promotion strategy as these events might be attended by your likely clients. The bag has the power to keep reminding these people and others around them of the organization for a long time.
But never go for poor quality bags, as that will adversely affect the faith and goodwill of the organization in the market. There are numerous paper bag printing companies in the market, which can produce top quality bags, managing all aspects, and they are not very expensive either.
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Sunday, January 31, 2010
By Dr. Jay Polmar ACCELERATION THROUGH PACING:
Various hand movements can cause acceleration of reading speed. We are about to introduce you to several hand movements that will accelerate your reading ability. Try each one and see which suits you best.
It's simple. Just replace all your bad reading habits with one easily learned one: You'll use your pacing hand. It breaks each of these habits automatically while it increases your reading speed.
Pace your eyes so swiftly over a line that you don't have time to form the sounds of the words or syllables in your throat.
The method is easy. You'll replace all your bad habits with one easily learned one: You'll use your pacing hand. Here's how to break each of these habits automatically while increasing your reading speed.
You'll read without sub-vocalizing. You already know the basics: Pace your eyes so swiftly over a line that you don't have time to form the sounds of the words or syllables in your throat.
To understand this concept, you must understand that you've got this nemesis, an inner voice who is reading to you in silent speech and then it goes into your brain. We did experiments in Hawaii, Texas, New Mexico, Florida, and elsewhere. It appears that those with the slowest speaking rates have naturally slow reading rates. With this method, your rate of speech won't limit your reading speed. You can read as fast as you can think. What I am saying is you can read as fast as your mind can work.
Extend your index finger, close all others. Use you index finger as a beginner Speed reading student and run it under the line of type you are reading..
Extend your index finger, close all others. As you notice I've indicated a hand holding a pencil earlier to use for pacing. That can come later. Use you index finger as a beginner Speed reading student.
DYNAMIC SPEED READING program will teach you how to develop these skills to enhance your reading ability and speed through practice and exercises. Soon, you could soon be reading twice as fast as you ever have and retaining valuable information to increase your comprehension and improve your grades.
Dr. Jay Polmar is the founder of www.speedread.org, and has developed speed reading courses for people worldwide and has taught over 100,000 students throughout the world.
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By Neil Maxwell Keys Upon making the decision to seek a career working on a cruise ship it is imperative to check into all the opportunities that will result in this venture. One of the biggest expectations that many individuals do not place enough importance on relates to the amount of time required with cruise ship jobs. Cruise ships frequently are the perfect chance for a person who is seeking to accumulate a lot of money without having the confinements of a home life. The contracts with cruise lines commonly vary between six to twelve months. This means that a cruise ship associate is likely to spend the majority of their time both working and living at sea.
This opportunity can be a change from land life and afford new experiences a small number of people get the chance to encounter, perfect for the person who has no ties. For the family oriented individual this time can be more difficult considering the amount of time that they will be spending away from home. The cruise ship industry is a great employment opportunity for any individual but it is important to understand what will be expected from you regarding your time at sea.
An advantage that many individuals find when working on a cruise ship is that they have an opportunity to build new relationships. A cruise ship associate would have the chance to encounter hundreds of new and engaging people on a weekly basis as the normal cruise lasts from five to seven days. Along with building relationships with your guests you also have the opportunity to build long and healthy relationships with the individuals you will be working and living with during the length of your cruise ship jobs. Careers on cruise ships can provide the networking and friendship avenues from individuals all over the world that you would be unable to make in the typical working environment. The opportunity to develop new relationships with your cruise ship jobs is a large incentive to pursue careers on cruise ships.
The chance to make money is an additional advantage when seeking careers on cruise ships. The mistake that many individuals make when interpreting the money they are able to make is that they often only incorporate the salary they are being paid. This is the major portion of your income when employed on a cruise ship but there are more sources of income that many people ignore. An example of additional income is represented by the number of tips you may be able to accumulate during your trips.
Keep in mind that you will be assisting hundreds of individuals in a week's time and with the expectation of receiving a dollar from each guest the money accumulates quickly. Located in the living accommodations of a person is a great illustration as to how money can be saved. When you work on a cruise ship for twelve months you are provided lodging, food and entertainment. This represents hundreds or even thousands of dollars that the average individual would end up spending on a monthly basis.
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By John Hardy The economy has made if difficult for me to keep up with the needs of my home. Repairs here and there have been neglected because I have not had the money. I finally had to find a Phoenix Handyman who would be willing to work with me to get some of my chores done. Even in these difficult economic times, work still needs to be done. You can not get away from it. My home is all I have and the upkeep is getting to be a bit hard on me. I am not good with tools neither can I restore anything which needs restoring. There were many listings in our neighborhood newspaper. This helped a lot in that I could call the men and find out what they excelled in. I did not want to hire someone without experience. I was also directed to the World Wide Web which has sites where people can "voice" their likes and dislikes about the work of an individual or business. This allows me help in my decision. I compared work he has done to some of the other advertisements I found in my local newspaper. I compared experience, prices charged, the length of time it took to do a job and whether or not the man would bring his own tools or not. I did some searching on the Internet to find other people in the general area who might have utilized his work. Doing this gave me the opportunity to figure out who I wanted to do the job. I finally settled for a Phoenix Handyman who, apparently, has about twenty years of experience in the field. He removed some cabinetry I needed to take out. He also removed a hot water heater and replaced the new one. He also gave his services to help with mowing and removing tree limbs. I could not have asked for better help. This Phoenix Handyman had his own equipment and did not leave garbage for me to clean up. I recommend his services to anyone who needs quality work for a great price.
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Saturday, January 30, 2010
By Betty Wong Have you ever considered that a booklet can be one of the most potent of all your marketing materials?
It is a simple piece of paper but the initial impact that your pamphlet produces is profound. If it's shabby and off-putting your candidate is left with the same feeling. This will weaken your business development.
Having a leaflet professionally designed and printed is a key to success in a jam-packed marketplace. Taking the time to make sure that your leaflet delivers all the key information in a way that is easily figured is something that only a professional can do.
If you are just starting out in business you may be tempted to do your leaflet yourself. When I first started in business I did everything myself - not a good choice. That is why it took me 12 years before I was even comparatively prosperous. Heed my warning - go professional from day one on your merchandising materials. They are an investment and not an expense. Professionally designed materials will deliver you customers and the cash flow to follow - the reason why you are in business.
A booklet has to use eye-catching design. It has to be succinct in terms of the message and last but not the least, it must be successful in tempting people to make that call of action.
Here are three key design rules to follow when making a booklet. Use them and you will see your results flow.
1. The cover:
The cover is your salesperson. Booklets are quite inactive creatures and you are not often able to 'walk' individuals through your booklet. So you need to energize people to read further. The cover is the starting point so must be tantalizing and sharing the KEY values of WHY someone should read further. It should answer the WIFM question - What's in it for me.
A great design company will show you at least three to four cover designs for your booklet. Examine these designs to see which excites you the most. Ask your supporters their opinion. Does the cover answer the question WIFM? If it doesn't energize and answer the WIFM question, then skip to another design that works or get it redesigned. Taking the time here to get it right will pay premiums later.
2. The Content:
Once they are past the front over then the content has to become the sales representative. So once again, the pressure is on to be good. Do not opt for cheap inept content writers or ask the designer to write the content or worst still do it yourself. Instead make sure that a professional copywriter is doing the work. If your design company does not have a copywriter then employ one yourself.
Ensure that all the important questions that a potential client will have about your product are answered in a way that gets them to call you for more information. Do not go into 'overkill mode' and swamp them with too much information at this point in time. Remember the brochure's job is to energize and get people to call you.
3. The call for action:
If your future customer has read the leaflet then you have done a great job. All you need to do now is give them a compelling reason to contact you NOW.
Having things like a free call 0800 or'00 number clearly presented (in big letters) can make a fundamental difference. Having an email address is a clear bonus. Make sure these two are distinctly placed in large clear type.
Even give your clients a special coupon on the booklet or reference code can help. But above all, make sure that you add a clear call to action. One way to do this is to readdress the KEY value of your service to your prospect in a way that will get them to take action. Remember value is everything. Individuals only buy something that is of value to THEM.
4. The part that got missed:
I did this on purpose and only said there were 3 points. Well the last point is the one that can get omitted. It is the 'dummy' one. Have you checked that you have these on your leaflet:
Phone number | Fax number | Email address | Web address | Country of operation | City / area of operation | Company name | And have you proof read for typo and grammar errors?
About the Author:
Discover how creative catalog designs can accelerate your business growth using qualified graphic design professionals. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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By Alice Sy Finding a good domestic helper is not always easy, which is why retaining one is very important. These home helpers are also known as nannies, house help, and house maids. While there can be an abundance of helpers looking for work, locating the one who is trustworthy enough to be left at home or with the children 24 hours per day, six or seven days a week is not always a simple task to accomplish.
If you are looking for means to keep your domestic helper motivated and happy, you have to begin by instigating a warm reception. Your household help will notice early on if he or she is in fact being welcomed to the home or not.
Firstly, as the employer, you have to be clear about the wages and the benefits that your helper is entitled to during her entire stay with your household. Most disputes and disagreements typically arise from the lack of clarity and initial agreement on the wages, other benefits, and days-off for the house help. If you want your helper to be continually loyal, you have to provide her with just compensation.
Furthermore, you have to provide your domestic helper with a decent place to stay inside your household. A spacious enough sleeping quarters with a comfortable bed, a bathroom, and a few essentials will make your helper feel at home and be inclined to serve your household better.
In order to avoid any false assumptions and strained relationships, it is essential for you and your house help to maintain excellent communication with each other. This will allow you to anticipate any problems and to seek solutions to any concerns the earliest possible time. It is also ideal if you request the rest of your family to communicate with your domestic help more often.
Giving holiday bonuses to your household help will allow her to feel more appreciated and more accepted. This will also serve as a motivational tool for your helper to accomplish the family duties more faithfully and steadfastly.
You should also set aside a day-off from work each week, and give your faithful helper a few surprises and perks every now and then. Giving her free movie tickets, gift certificates to the salon or an entire weekend off occasionally will certainly help cement her loyalty and genuine concern for the entire family.
Keeping your helper means you and your family must treat her with respect, camaraderie, and appreciation. If you do so, keeping hold of your loyal domestic helper won't be a problem at all.
About the Author:
Visit the top domestic helper agency Hong Kong to see free profiles & photos of applicants and contact us for the fastest way to hire your live-in maid, nanny, domestic helper, caregiver, housekeeper, driver, gardener and much more.
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By Alice Sy How does one promise eternity? To whom should you promise this? After a long wait for that right woman to come along and for a long time you have spent time with her, you have finally come to realize that you dont want to let her go. So a promise needs to be sealed.
A 4 carat diamond engagement ring will be a perfect ring for your woman you want to marry and it will be the most valuable gift that you can give her. This can be a promise of what you can endure for her and the things you have in store for her.
Not only that, the 4 carat stone in the ring that you are about to give will hold the promise that she will hold dearly to her heart. And the expensive value of the engagement ring will make it her value the vow that you have.
Now when you choose the right 4 carat diamond engagement ring, you can think of her and try to associate the ring with her as you look at the different styles one by one. Knowing what she likes should not be hard for you anymore anyway.
Also the 4 carat diamond engagement ring will be a very big ring because of the size and the weight but then the band so a simple band will do. But there are 4 carat rings there that are cut in a shape that will make it appear smaller to make it simple,
Although you can still add more elegance to the 4 carat diamond engagement ring. Platinum bands will make the stone very nice to look at with a few stones at the band, like that of Jessica Simpson's engagement ring. Simple but elegant.
The 4 carat diamond engagement ring is made more interesting when it has color or when it is cut in a different shape. But then again the most ideal would be the colorless type of the ring because it will project the elegance of the 4 carat diamond so also consider that.
Choosing the style of the engagement ring for your bride to be is one thing that you need to think about and the use of best judgment will make it really special and makes the upcoming wedding really more exciting. After all, the fact that you want to give a 4 carat diamond engagement ring to the one you love is already a proof that the wedding you have in store for her and the lifetime you promise her is something far more than what she expects it to be.
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Friday, January 29, 2010
By Melody Carter As the world tries to deal with the grave threats posed by air pollutants and greenhouse gases, carbon offset is providing an incentive to motivate governments and organizations to keep carbon emissions within reasonable limits.
The release of deadly greenhouse gases into the air is counter balanced by the carbon offset system through the use of renewable and cleaner energy resources, reforestation schemes and various other eco-friendly initiatives. The carbon credits scheme of the 2005 Kyoto Protocol, an international environmental treaty ratified by 170 countries in 2005 decides the emission limits for countries, which further determines permissible emissions by industrial entities.
The Protocol makes it mandatory for industries emitting above the permitted limit of carbon dioxide to bring down their emissions to prescribed levels, or they should purchase carbon credits certificates which can be transacted in the market, or alternatively pay a penalty for the emissions, which is referred to as carbon tax. One carbon credit, which is an older instrument than carbon offset, permits the credit's buyer to discharge 1000 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and this technique is the most cost effective way of buying an allowance to release excessive greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Both multinational and local firms, to make their activities carbon neutral and enhance their image in front of clients and investors, are increasingly purchasing carbon credits.
Another excellent method is using carbon offset, which aids in funding ambitious environmental schemes, particularly in third world countries that are constantly struggling to fund such projects to reduce the impact of the total greenhouse gas emissions. It immensely aids in popularizing renewable and green energy alternatives like tidal energy and wind energy, and in financing projects on nature conservation and reforestation.
Even common people are increasingly making use of the carbon offset scheme to decrease their carbon footprint and are advocating this innovative way to others as well. Buying carbon offset is simple and can be conveniently implemented on the internet through one of the various carbon offset provider websites; but it should be ensured that your investment is making real impact through proper projects.
However, we should not forget that buying carbon offset does not take away our responsibilities, and that all of us can perform a significant part in reducing our carbon footprints by making small modifications to our daily lives. What we can do additionally on our part to protect the environment is to take up small steps like making use of renewable fuels such as biodiesel, and installing LED lights instead of high-energy bulbs, and use only as much energy as we need.
Carbon offset is still not a familiar word for an average person. Mass awareness on the issue through extensive education is required to bring us a few steps closer to a pollution free and healthy environment.
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By Ross Everett On January 31, 2000, the historic Mapes Hotel in Reno was imploded by 75 pounds of explosives tucked into the art-deco structures support columns. The destruction of the Mapes put an end to years of efforts to preserve the building via lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots action. The National Trust for Historic Preservation took up the cause of the Mapes, and challenged the destruction in a suit that eventually reached the Nevada Supreme Court.
While the logic and necessity of demolishing the Mapes is very questionable, one thing that is certain is that the hotel was an important part of Northern Nevada history. The Mapes opened in'47 and with it ushered in a new era for casino gambling and the state of Nevada. Despite some historical revisionism that suggests that the modern era began in Las Vegas with Bugsy Siegel's famed Flamingo, the Mapes was actually the first building in America to have a hotel, casino and live entertainment under the same roof. The Mapes attracted countless celebrities who'd make it their home when business brought them to Northern Nevada--this included movie stars like Clark Gable, TV stars like the cast of 'Bonanza' and political power brokers like infamous anti-Communist crusader Joseph McCarthy.
In the 50s and 60s it became, along with Lake Tahoes Cal-Neva Lodge the place to be seen in Northern Nevada. The top floor, window-walled Sky Room showcased performances by the legends: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jackie Gleason, Louis Prima, Mae West, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis, Jr., and the Marx Brothers among others. Subsequent years were not kind to downtown Reno but the Mapes continued to do well during the 60's and 70's. The hotel finally closed in'82, due more to financial difficulties experienced by the Mapes family caused by one of their other Northern Nevada gaming properties than anything else.
Reno never experienced the massive growth that occurred in Las Vegas and southern Nevada, and for that reason the destruction of the Mapes is more open to debate than the hotel demolitions to the south. Even the demolition of The Sands--perhaps the most historically significant casino in the state--is hard to argue against given the inability of such a small property to compete in the current Las Vegas marketplace and in light of the value of the mid-strip real estate. The old properties may have historic value to pop culture historians, but their survival doesn't make economic sense. They're simply 'analog players in a digital world'.
That's not the case in Reno, where vacant land and/or buildings ripe for redevelopment are abundant downtown and in the other casino areas of the city. The official reason that the Mapes had to come down was that the city needed the land to expand its vision for downtown redevelopment. While this is certainly a much needed effort, to suggest that the existence of the Mapes was a barrier is absurd. In fact, many of the proposals rejected by the city would have gone a long way to enhance the revitalization of downtown Reno and included artists lofts, office space and other mixed used properties. Despite receiving a number of viable concepts for the Mapes Building, the City Redevelopment Authority rejected all of them and the Mapes was destined for demolition.
The role of the City Redevelopment Authority was questioned throughout the process. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was on a prime location between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. Back in'96, the city of Reno purchased the hotel and began entertaining proposals for renovation and redevelopment. A number of sound financial proposals were presented that would preserve the integrity of the structure including condominiums, office space, and perhaps most viable, upscale senior apartments. Oddly, all of these proposals were turned down by the citys Redevelopment Agency which eventually led to the demolition of the structure.
After the demolition of The Mapes Hotel, the lot remained vacant for almost a year until a temporary ice skating rink was constructed in the winter of 2001. The site now houses a permanent ice skating rink which, while not a bad use for the land, brings into question the insistence by the City Redevelopment Agency that none of the proposals to preserve the building were viable. Clearly, they had no specific plan or even general idea of what to do with the land but for some reason wanted to see the hotel come down. This has led to all manner of speculation, ranging from financial self interest to a rumor that the structure was 'haunted' and needed to be destroyed to forestall future paranormal activity in Washoe County. Whatever the reason, the city of Reno lost a valuable landmark of a more civilized era.
About the Author:
Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
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By Anthony Lee Carbon trading was born out of the need to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, and has become more and more popular across the globe in the last few years. Carbon trading involves the selling and purchase of carbon credits, where each credit permits the emission of one tonne of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the buyer, and is the key component of the cap-and-trade system implemented in many countries which are bound by the Kyoto Protocol.
Global emission allotments have been capped by the Kyoto protocol, and the caps are distributed as carbon credits to each operator, who receives a certain amount of these credits that can be consumed or transacted in the market. Organizations that have extra credits due to their adoption of cleaner alternatives can sell credits to companies that will fall into the high-emission category for exceeding their authorized limits. By having to pay an additional sum to be allowed to make those emissions, a disincentive is made for high-emission operators.
So far carbon trading has been a success, with market responses indicating that several large companies across the globe are supporting this emission-lowering system. This is because such inter-company dealings help in their short-term and medium-term planning.
Figures furnished by the World Bank's Carbon Finance Unit confirm that the carbon trading business is increasing at a very fast rate every year. There was a 41% increase in the market between 2003 and 2004, and a huge 240% rise between 2004 and 2005. Growth in the London centred carbon finance market has also been very remarkable, proving the fact that carbon trading is turning out to be a successful business strategy for many organizations. Even though the US did not participate in the Kyoto Protocol, many of its states and organizations have embraced the carbon trading practice. Additionally, the EU, which has its own carbon trading system, has also been very active in this global trading market.
However, some groups of people have expressed reservation about the effectiveness of carbon trading. Carbon trading is actually aimed at causing high-emission organizations invest in greener technologies and thereby encouraging development of low emission energy alternatives, which is not materializing because defaulting organisations seem to be keener on buying carbon credits rather than opting for eco-friendly technologies. Thus, carbon trading has been a matter of discussion in several parts of the world, and some specialists are of the belief that alternatives like taxation on excessive carbon emissions is the more suited way to regulate the greenhouse gas emissions.
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