Mexican Mayans Descendants Make Debut in Apocalypto

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Mar 192024
 

Hollywood Geared up to Release Film on Mayan Civilization

The height of Mayan civilization may have ended some 1600 years ago, but this enigmatic empire seems to be making a come-back. This past Friday, December 8th, movie theaters across North America released Mel Gibson’s much-anticipated feature, Apocalypto, filmed in Mexico, bringing the late, great Mayan civilization to life on the big screen.

For centuries, the world has been mystified and intrigued by this unique culture. Considered one of the greatest civilizations of all time, and regarded as the most outstanding intellects of ancient Mexico, the Mayans were a cutting edge society, incredibly enlightened for their time. Not only were the Mayans an incredibly advanced civilization much like the Greeks, but their legacy also remains today in areas that spread from Central Mexico to Honduras, similarly to the Greeks legacy which has transgressed the tests of time.

Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto is entirely in the Yucatec Maya language and the cast consists of local indigenous Mayan actors. Filmed in Veracruz, Mexico, the movie depicts ancient Mayan life and also connotes to the Mayan prophecy, “Fin de los Tiempos”, in which they prophesized that the world would end its 5,200-year fourth and current cycle on the winter solstice of December 21, 2012. Cycles play a huge role in the Mayan culture and a great amount of their time was spent studying astronomical rotations and synchronicity to human events.

While the major Mayan cities portrayed in the movie are gone, the ruins still remain offering visitors to Mexico a unique piece of history and culture to absorb.

Mayan Culture
The Mayans cultivated the most advanced written language of the hemisphere, excelled as astronomers and were highly-skilled mathematicians, being the first in the world to arrive at the concept of zero, and use complex calculations. They were also admirable urban planners and their grand cities were filled with monumental temples which were built without the use of tools as we know them today.

Mayan cities were carefully designed with temples and places in the center and a nearby ball court, which enabled the Mayans to play a game considered to be the precursor to soccer. The ruins of these amazing cities are found throughout Mexico, specifically in the Yucatan states. Exciting new finds in the field of archaeology are revealing countless treasures from their temples and pyramids as scientists work to unravel mysteries of the past.

The area of the Mayan civilization extended throughout the northern Central American region which includes the present-day nations of Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras and El Salvador, as well as the southern Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatan. Their history can be traced through three major periods: the pre-Classic from 2000 B.C. to 200 A.D.; the Classic from 200 A.D. to 900 A.D.; and the post-Classic era from 900 A.D. to 1521 A.D. As people worldwide are in awe of these advanced people, it is becoming increasingly popular to study them and learn more about the Mayans via travel, literature and now, film.

Chichen-Itza
Of their most notable constructions, Chichen-Itza remains one of the most famous Mayan sites, and is currently a finalist to become a new Seven World Wonder. Located in Yucatan State, Chichen-Itza is one of Mexico’s most archaeologically impressive creations, and one of the country’s most visited landmarks. When built by the Mayans, these magnificent pyramids were perfectly aligned to the sun and Chichen-Itza was constructed in such a way that during the equinoxes, the setting sun casts a shadow of a serpent descending on the northern steps of the pyramid. This effect was a result of the Mayan’s incredibly precise astronomical and architectural measurements and Chichen-Itza was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

Chichen-Itza, which reached its peak between 700 and 1200 AD, was the political, economic and military power in the area. It is surrounded by lush green vegetation, underground rivers, natural wells and limestone that the Mayans used to construct their magnificent buildings. There are scenes in Apocalypto where the Mayans are completely covered in white limestone dust, showing the intensity of labor that was exhibited while creating their massive pyramids and temples.

Tulum
If Chichen-Itza awes the observer with its size and complexity, Tulum charms with its location on a limestone cliff above the turquoise splendor of the Caribbean. Located about 75 miles south of Cancun in the state of Quintana Roo, Tulum is the only completely walled Mayan settlement known and is so popular that it attracts about 2 million visitors annually.

This small collection of temples on a bluff overlooking the blue-green sea served as a major trading center and port for the 4,000 or so Mayan canoes that plied the seas from Mexico’s northern coast to South America. Laden with feathers, furs, jade, medicinal herbs, salt, and honey, these canoes navigated a network of inland canals dug by the

Uxmal
Another important ruin in the Yucatan Peninsula is Uxmal, located 50 miles south of Merida. Uxmal is the peerless example of classic Pu’uc architecture named for the hilly Pu’uc region of northwestern Yucatan where this style attained its ultimate refinement. It’s also the largest site, known for its exquisite sense of proportion. The invention of a local type of cement made from seashells allowed for the construction of wide arches, huge gateways and impressive rooms which add to the beautiful proportions.

Yucatan Peninsula
In addition to fascinating ruins and colonial treasures, Mexico’s Yucatan State also offers much for ecotourism and the adventure tourist enthusiast. Its climates have produced forest surroundings that support a wide range of fauna. Visitors can enjoy sports in the open sea in Yucalpeten, while birdwatchers can admire the wide range of species found in El Palmar as well as the impressive flamingo population of Celestun. The lack of surface rivers means that the state obtains water from a complex system of underground rivers, which attract scuba divers and snorkelers. Limestone sinkholes, or cenotes, are also great for exploring.

While the Yucatan State may offer a wide range of Mayan culture and fantastic tourism options, Veracruz State is the site where Apocalypto was filmed. The footage floats from the jungles of Catemaco to the City of Veracruz, offering an excellent look at the southeastern state which invested 1.8 million dollars into tourism in 2005.

After seeing Apocalypto, one will surely be inspired to travel to Mexico and learn more about the country’s vast indigenous cultures. From the cinematography to the amazing landscape, Apocalypto offers a unique look at prehispanic Mexico, and the influences which remain today.

For more information, please visit www.apocalypto.com and www.visitmexicopress.com.

About the Mexico Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTB’s North American Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com, or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com. To access an online warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visitmexicopress.

# # #

Erick Laseca
Mexico Tourism Board
312-228-0517
erick.laseca@bm.com

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Monarch Butterflies Head South for the Winter

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Mar 182024
 

A blanket of orange and black coats the volcanic highlands of central Mexico

Each year, some 250 million monarch butterflies arrive to the luscious volcanic highlands of central Mexico. Guided to the area by an inexplicable internal clock known scientifically as circadian, the monarch butterflies travel up to 3,000 miles to the state of Michoacan, which becomes the butterflies’ winter getaway. Nature-goers can visit the butterflies anytime between November and March, although the best time to see them is in February and early March, right before they head north again.

Originally from southern Canada and the northern United States, the orange and black monarchs hibernate during winter and mate in spring before returning back north. Each year from late October to early November, the delicate creatures flee the north’s freezing temperatures and embark on a month-long trip south, flying some 70 miles per day to reach the Oyamel mountaintop fir forests of the Mexican state of Michoacan. Those fortunate enough to live along the monarchs’ route south are frequently exposed to the site of large groups of butterflies flying overhead on route to their winter sanctuary.

Once reaching the Oyamel forests, the monarchs cluster together by the thousands in pine trees, weighing down branches with their sheer mass and making the forests glow the like the bright orange of their wings. These butterflies spend the entire winter in Michoacan, finally mating in the spring and then returning north, laying eggs along the way.

The beautiful butterflies leave Mexico in late February and early March in a mass migration and the monarchs should reach the central United States by mid-April. By that time, the females will have laid their eggs for 1,000 miles as they make their one-time trip. They return home exhausted and with tattered wings after the 3,000 mile trip. A typical butterfly will make just one round trip during its lifetime. Witnessing this incredible migration is reason enough to follow the Monarchs down to Mexico.

In the easternmost part of Michoacan is an immense monarch butterfly reserve spanning nearly 100 square-miles. In 1986, the Mexican government declared the region a special biosphere reserve where thousands of butterflies cluster together in the early morning and nights, covering whole trees and branches.

Several of the monarch butterfly sanctuaries are open to the public, including Sierra Chincua and El Campanario. Sierra Chincua is about a 30-minute drive north of Angangueo, once an important mining town. El Campanario, also known as El Rosario sanctuary is much more frequently visited. It lies above the small village of El Rosario, almost an hour’s drive up some rough terrain from the village of Ocampo. Common departure points to the sanctuaries are Ocampo, Zitacuaro and Morelia.

Spending a night in Angangueo is ideal because from there visitors can secure transport to the reserve early in the morning, when the butterflies are still in the trees. A comfortable hotel is the Albergue Don Bruno (tel. 011-52-715-156-0026). Maruata (tel. 011-52-443-324-2120) runs 10-hour tours to the sanctuary including transportation, food and bilingual guide for US$60. For those spending the weekend, the 62-room Villa Monarca Inn (tel. 011-52-715-153-5362), located in the outskirts of Zitacuaro, is an ideal place to go.

Angangueo, Zitacuaro and the nearby towns of Maravatio and Ocampo hold a monarch Butterfly Festival each February, featuring traditional dance, music and craft markets, in celebration of their annual winter visitors.
Local tourist areas include the beautiful colonial town of Morelia, Michoacan’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, giving travelers yet another reason to visit. Other popular tourist stops, including Lake Patzcuaro, the quaint town of Patzcuaro, Janitzio Island and the Tarascan Indian ruins of Tzintzuntzan, are also nearby.

The beautiful butterflies leave Mexico in late February and early March in a mass migration and the monarchs should reach the central United States by mid-April. By that time, the females will have laid their eggs for 1,000 miles as they make their one-time trip. They return home exhausted and with tattered wings after the 3,000 mile trip. A typical butterfly will make just one round trip during its lifetime.

About the Mexico Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Latin America.

FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTB’s North American Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com, or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com. To access an online warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visitmexicopress.

# # #

Erick Laseca
Mexico Tourism Board
312-228-0517
erick.laseca@bm.com

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Start To Earn Residual Income While Working From Home With Your Eniva Vibe Business!

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Mar 172024
 

With the Eniva Vibe Opportunity, the chance to earn residual income while working from home is a far better option than commuting to a job to earn linear income. With residual income a person earns money over and over again for a job they do once. With linear income a person only earns money each time they do a task.

The choice is obviously clear about which is more desirable. Who wouldn’t love a chance to work from home instead of having to go to a job everyday? Besides being able to work form home and earn a residual income, the Eniva Vibe business allows a person to do so with little time or money investment.

Many people are afraid to jump into working at home. It is a scary idea to leave the comfort of the corporate world to work at home for an opportunity that may be far away in an office that might never be seen.

With Eniva, a person does not have to leave their full time job to earn a residual income. A residual opportunity like Eniva does not require a person to be present for it to keep generating money. Getting started is the most time consuming. It may take a few weeks or even months to get started, but once started it will generate a residual income. Eventually, a person may even find they are making enough to finally be able to quit their job and start working from home.

One reason many people choose to work from home is that they want more time and freedom. Working a job leaves little time for household chores and even less time to spend with friends and family. When a person builds a residual income they end up with a lot of time – free time. They can begin to enjoy life and forget about spending hours at work.

Earning a residual income by working at home with the Eniva Vibe opportunity is something that is very possible. It is a great option for someone who is a bit skeptical about being able to earn a living working at home because they can stay in their current job while they build their business. Then when they start seeing great results they can finally say goodbye to that old job and start working from home and enjoying the freedom that comes with it.

Sources:
ezinearticles.com

Tim Stephens is a member of Team King, one of the fastest growing lines of sponsorship in the Eniva Business. Tim has 15 years experience in Network Marketing. You can reach Tim via his website: www.timstephensonline.com

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Misunderstanding Will Double Your Tax

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Mar 162024
 

If you have been overwhelmed by articles, advertising and friendly advice about the various schemes to legally avoid California Sales and Use Tax, let me set you straight about how to protect yourself. Aero Marine Tax Professionals (http://www.aeromarinetaxpros.com) handles this type of situation routinely.

First, you must know that your purchase of an aircraft or vessel is not exempt from tax until the California State Board of Equalization (Board) sends you a letter which affirms in writing your transaction is exempt. This may seem a little simplistic, but every month I encounter another taxpayer (the Board’s term for you) who has never filed a tax return, yet firmly believes he/she does not owe tax.

In this case NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS.

The key to this warning is the fact that the burden of proof in supporting a claim for an exemption rests squarely on your shoulders. The Board does not have to prove anything. The taxpayer has to support the claim for an exemption and must file a tax return. Just because you know that your property was used in an exempt manner does not mean that it is exempt. You must have in your possession a document from the Board which affirms they agree you have supported your claim.

In California, when you purchase an aircraft or vessel from someone other than a retailer who collects sales tax from you at the time of the transaction, it is the legal obligation of the purchaser (you) to timely file (self report) a tax return. In general the return is due within twelve months from the date of the transaction.

If you received an inquiry letter from the Board, the due date is located in the top right hand section of the cover letter. The due date on the letter becomes the date the return must be filed and many times is less than twelve months from the date of the transaction.

If you took possession outside the state using an offshore delivery for a vessel, or an out-of-state delivery for an aircraft, it is your legal obligation to timely file a tax return. If you believe your aircraft is exempt because it has been used in a manner that you were told made it non-taxable, your purchase is NOT EXEMPT FROM TAX until you have filed a tax return and received written notification from the Board that you have supported a claim for exemption.

Even if you made your purchase 5-6 years ago, your transaction is not exempt if you do not possess a letter from the Board which affirms you have supported your claim for exemption. Do not be lulled to sleep by the fact that you have not been contacted by the Board. They know they have approximately 9 years after your transaction to legally notify you that you have been assessed tax.

The Board will find you through property tax assessments or during a routine audit of a California retailer who sells you fuel. They do not have to be in a hurry to notify you they are aware of your property. As long as they notify you before the statute runs out they can collect the tax. Imagine getting a notice seven years and eleven months after the tax return due date. You will not only be assessed tax but penalties and interest as well. This will easily double the amount you originally owed.

The Board is in control if you fail to file a tax return. The following example is intended to point out the danger:

John Smith purchases an aircraft for $1,000,000.00 on March 12, 1995. The tax rate in his county is 8%. Therefore, the potential tax is $80,000.00. Mr. Smith registers his aircraft in the name of an out-of-state corporation called Smith Investing, Inc. The corporation was advised that if the aircraft was used in charter operations more than fifty percent of the time it would be exempt from tax. Because the aircraft is registered to an out-of-state address, Mr. Smith believes he has no obligation to file a tax return. During the period of March 1995 through March 1996 the aircraft is in fact used in an exempt manner by being flown on bonafide charter flights more that 50% of the time.

In June 1997 the aircraft is picked up by the county property tax personnel on a random unannounced visit to an airport. The Board runs the tail number through the FAA registration database and discovers the name of Smith Investing, Inc. A further check of the public records reveals a link to John Smith of California. Mr. Smith is now on the radar screen of the Board auditors.

It is the opinion of the Board auditor that a tax return was due by the end of February 1996. He operates from the viewpoint that the statute of limitations will expire in March 2004. (During the late 90’s there was little pressure to assess tax in this type of case. There was no budget crisis. Therefore, Mr. Smith is not contacted.) A reminder flag is set in his file to make sure a notification form is sent to Smith Investing, Inc. before the statute runs out in 2004.

In early 2000, Smith Investing, Inc. sells the aircraft and purchases another.

In December 2002, because of the budget crisis, an inquiry letter is sent to Smith Investing, Inc. at John Smith’s address in California. Mr. Smith ignores the inquiry because he still operates from the belief the out-of-state registration, plus the charter use exempts the aircraft from tax in California.

On November 7, 2003, the Board issues a Notice of Determination for the original $80,000.00 in tax, an $8,000.00 penalty for failure to file plus $65,600.00 in interest. Mr. Smith does not respond. Therefore, on December 8, 2003, the bill goes final.

The collections section at the Board make several attempts to contact Mr. Smith and he continues to ignore them. The Board subsequently files a lien against Smith Investing, Inc. Finally, Mr. Smith hires an attorney to deal with the Board. The attorney discovers that once the bill has gone final, the only way Mr. Smith can get the opportunity to support his claim for an exemption is to pay the $153,000.00 and file a claim for refund.

During the research process to gather the documents which support the exemption, Mr. Smith discovers that the documents were destroyed or lost because no one in the organization thought there was any exposure. Therefore, the assessment will stand. Mr. Smith’s misunderstanding of the laws and regulations have converted a tax exempt purchase into a taxable transaction and doubled the price!

This story is a compilation of several stories I come across every day.

DON’T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU. If you have the slightest discomfort about your tax status for purchases you have made any time in the last ten years, I will offer a free analysis of your situation.

Don’t hesitate to protect yourself.

CA.TLSSLIM.COM homepage

The Death Of Affiliate Commissions?

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Mar 152024
 

I’ve noticed an interesting trend that I wanted to comment on and hopefully give you an idea of a new unique way that you could generate leads, affiliates, and customers.

For the past 4 years, one of the things that I’ve done to build my business is to run my own affiliate program. I’ve built my affiliate program to over 30,000 affiliates who drive traffic to my sites.

Now, what’s powerful about this is that I don’t pay them anything until AFTER they make a sale…

So they make a $97 sale – I give them $50. Something like this usually happens.

But just recently I’ve seen a unique trend…

Instead of paying commissions on product sales (pay per sale), some people (and lots of large companies) are paying commission on leads sent to a website (pay per lead or PPL).

That person doesn’t have to buy ANYTHING… They just fill out a form and become a lead – and you get paid!

Now, before we get deep into the logic behind this, I want to show one example that I saw last week in the internet marketing niche – that was brilliant.

Mike Filsaime put out his now famous “Death of internet marketing” report. In it he talked about how everyone and their dog is launching products, and how it’s killing this niche, and what to do to overcome it.

It was a great report – I printed it out and read the whole thing and recommend that you do too.

BUT….

What was most interesting to me was the fact that he wasn’t selling the report, he was giving it away free!

You can check it out here:

http://www.dotcomsecrets.com/reviews/deathof
Now, a few important things I wanted to point out here are:

1st – if you downloaded that report from the link above – Mike sent me $1

2nd – if you get anyone else to download that report – Mike sends me $1 AND he sends you $2

… And he’s not charging a cent for it!

Crazy? At first you may say yes – until you realize a few things.

1st – Mike understands the lifetime value of a customer. Mike and I have had this conversation a few times, and we both know and understand that we can and should be making $1 per name per month from everyone on our email lists.

(with an offline direct mail list, it’s usually 4-5 times that much – so be sure to gather offline info!!! – notice that Mike did?)

So – if we have a list of 20,000 names, we normally can make $20k a month from that email list.

2nd – From this campaign, Mike generated a fresh, double optin list of over 30,000 new names during the first 48 hours that this report was available… and probably closer to 60k+ now.

So – it’s going to cost Mike probably somewhere in the neighborhood of $100k for letting people download this report.

Seems crazy until you know the lifetime value of a customer. Mike’s new list will pretty easily generate him $30k X 12 months = $360,000+ this year. (and just think if he sends some direct mail to them also)

Would you trade 100k for $360k? I sure hope so.

So, seeing this made me really think more about PPL.

One of my close friends Keith Baxter owns a fast growing PPL company called ModernClick. You can get yourself an account to sell products OR to promote other PPL programs here:

http://www.dotcomsecrets.com/reviews/modernclickPPL

I went in there, and started to look to see what type of things I could get paid for telling others about.

Here are just a few things that I found:

1st – some ebay course that you can get shipped to you for like $2.95. When I get someone to fill out the form, and pay the shipping costs, I get paid $12.80. Check out the course here:

http://www.dotcomsecrets.com/reviews/ebayPPL
2nd – Here’s eBay ANOTHER course that I get paid $18 everytime someone becomes a lead (NOTE: they don’t have to buy ANYTHING!!!)

http://www.dotcomsecrets.com/reviews/ebaymillionsPPL

3rd – Bargin Auto’s pays me $20.80 when someone fills out the membership trial!!!

http://www.dotcomsecrets.com/reviews/barginautosPPL


Ok – those are just 3 examples out of hundreds in tons of different niches that are in modernclick! … now, if that doesn’t get you excited… the I’m not sure what will.

So – there are a few things I want you to think about with PPL

1st – Should I be using this instead of Adsense? (the answer is almost ALWAYS YES!!!)

2nd – Should I be offering PPL for my affiliates? (Some affiliates would rather get paid a $ for each referral then for each sale… and if you know how to work a list – it could cost you a lot less to make a lot more)

3rd – (and this one is especially for those who took Stu McLaren and my affiliate inferno course) Should you offer PPL when people get others to signup for your affiliate program? What if it cost you $20k to get 20,000 affiliates? Would that be worth it if each affiliate averaged you $1 or $2 in sales per month?

So – with that said… think about PPL. Will this be the end of affiliate commissions? Probably not, but those who capitalize on PPL now are going to have a huge advantage over those who don’t.

If you’re looking for a company to earn PPL or to set up your program to be PPL – I recommend Modern Click – again the URL is here:

http://www.dotcomsecrets.com/reviews/modernclickPPL

ALSO – A close friend just launched a new service that will help you to jumpstart your PPL on your own sites. You can use this service to quickly replace your adsense with something that will make you real moolah.

Here’s some info on his new service (this site will become one of my secret weapons. I’m already working quickly now with my adsense/SEO team to implement this service ASAP):

http://www.dotcomsecrets.com/reviews/PPL-Power-Ads

To add your comments to this article please go to:
http://www.dotcomsecrets.com/blog/2006/11/the_death_of_affiliate_commiss.html#more

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Fall Camping Reverie

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Mar 142024
 

Time for one of those columns journalists pull out of their hat when no single thread wants to develop into an article…

• Our family camped and toured through the Rocky Mountain House/Nordegg area of western Alberta this summer. Base-camp for a week was at David Thompson Resort located just off Highway 11 and backing onto Abraham Lake. For raw beauty, there are few areas in North America that compare to it. One afternoon, as we stood overlooking the lake, a couple from Washington exclaimed they had never seen anything like it. The pristine shade of blue waters combined with the snow-covered, jagged peaks of the Rockies made for postcard material. Facilities at the campground were comfortable with most amenities available right on the grounds, including gas. A half-mile down the road helicopter tours were available, as well as horseback riding on the opposite side of the highway. The surrounding area is also a hiker’s haven.

We took an afternoon to drive the Ram River Falls Loop which goes south from Nordegg and returns at Rocky Mountain House. The falls are impressive, and there are a number of primitive camping spots located along the loop, many of which are free. Though the main road is good (gravel), you should have the right vehicle to access the remote camping areas. (Your Honda Accord with a tent trailer behind may not cut it.) Again, the scenery is splendid. Friends of ours have even observed one of the few remaining herds of North American wild horses that roam the area. We hoped to see them ourselves but were disappointed.

We also made it to another of my favorite spots this summer: Marten River Provincial Campground on Lesser Slave Lake. The lake is very large, like being on the ocean, except that the water is shallow for quite a distance from shore. This, along with the beautiful sandy beaches, makes for lots of fun for the kids. The campsites are spacious, level and private (surrounded by large evergreens and lush foliage). This campground is reasonably priced and well maintained, has showers and free firewood. The amenities are basic, but clean. Excellent summer getaway spot.

• Rising oil prices are becoming an issue for the camping/RV industry. We spoke with Carston Urban of the RVDA to see if the Association has noticed any trends. Are people venturing out less, making vehicle changes, etc.? The only significant thing he has noticed is a swing from fifth wheels to travel trailers. They are lighter and allow more options for pulling. Certainly manufacturers have made some excellent advancements in the variety and quality of ultralights and hybrids (travel trailers with tent trailer extensions). Look for this trend to continue.

• There is a strange policy among many campground owners regarding reservations/refunds that the industry needs to re-evaluate. One resort we stayed at this summer (booked by phone well in advance) required the full week’s payment by credit card with no cancellations within 14 days and no leaving early (if you wanted a refund, that is). Apparently this is quite common.

The hotel industry is much more reasonable. Many hotels require only a partial deposit and allow refunds up to 24 hours before arrival. In chatting with the owner about this he cited the need to recover costs from vandals and deadbeats, and the difficulty of re-booking a site if vacated early. The logic doesn’t add up though. If the campground is busy (and the customer wants to leave early), there certainly will be no trouble in re-issuing the site. And if the resort isn’t busy, well, what’s the problem? There are plenty of sites to choose from for any new customers.

Owners need to remember the best way to recover costs from vandals and deadbeats is to keep your good customers happy and coming back. And making them swallow half a week’s deposit or forcing them to endure three more days of rain-soaked camping is not the way to do it…

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“Gold, a Hedge against the Perils of Interesting Times”

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Mar 132024
 

Timothy Malone – While paper-based investments and real estate are vulnerable to effects of changing times, gold soars. A precious metals investment may save a portfolio when all else fails.

The old Chinese curse, “may you live in interesting times”, has particular relevance to the current epoch of U.S. history. There’s a lot going on right now, much of it scary. Major investors around the world are responding to the events of our perilous age by sinking their dollars, deutschmarks and yen into gold, silver and palladium; Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and billionaire speculator George Soros to name but a few. Big financial institutions like the Central Banks of Russia and China are also leaping onto the metals bandwagon driving the price of these precious commodities ever higher.

This is spurring a gold rush not witnessed since the Misery Index years of the 1970s. Many financial experts now view gold in particular as an island of stability in a paper-based investment market growing stormier all the time, a development that bodes well for everyday folks who want to shore up their retirement accounts with a precious metals hedge.

“People the world over are losing faith in politicians, and currencies,” says Marc Lubaszka, President/CEO, World Financial, a highly successful investment firm specializing in precious metals based in Studio City, Calif. “This has resulted in a flight to gold and other precious metals, a storehouse of value for more than five thousand years. Investors are taking their money out of paper assets, and putting it where it is likely to earn a better return in uncertain times.”

Old Reliables Unreliable
Investments once considered as stable as granite are rapidly losing ground, Lubaszka explains. Real estate is but one example. Long praised as a slam-dunk by money gurus, home-buying is no longer viewed as a hurdle-free path to profit. Stratospheric pricing and higher interest rates are putting intolerable pressure on the current housing bubble, factors bound to bust the suds sooner or later and drive the overheated real estate market into deepfreeze.

“The housing bubble will burst rather than gradually deflate, following the rapid and violent pattern of decline of nearly every financial bubble throughout history,” Lubaszka says. “Higher interest rates negatively impact not only the health of the housing market but other economic segments as well. The stock market takes a hit because higher rates make it more costly for companies to pay for debt. Higher rates hurt corporate profit margins and reduce stock value, bad news given the deep debt situation so many companies are in today.”

Paper is Passé
According to Lubaszka, the U.S. dollar has lost more than 80% of its original value since the early 70’s when we went to a floating currency, a situation not helped very much by the debut of the Euro in the late 1990s. Unlike American dollars, a portion of the Euro is gold-backed, a stability feature that has helped it outperform the dollar over the long haul. It is for this reason that many foreign investors have been taking money out of U.S. dollars and putting it into gold and oil instead, one explanation for why the price of both has continued to rise in recent months.

“Gold prices are climbing right now because the Federal Reserve is printing dollars in flood proportions to keep the real estate market afloat,” adds Richard Russell, editor Dow Theory Letters, a stock market trends and securities report published since 1946. “This is creating inflation, which erodes purchasing power. All the world’s central banks are inflating right now, reducing confidence in paper globally and encouraging gold-buying. India and China are spurring gold prices as well. India is the world’s largest gold-consumer, and the Chinese government is actively encouraging its citizens to buy gold.”

All are extremely encouraging signs for gold investors. Over the course of the past 35 years, gold has climbed in value from a modest $35 an ounce to nearly $600. Contrast that with the battered U.S. dollar, a currency currently worth only 20% of its value in 1970.

“When gold peaked-out in the 1970s, interest rates were at an all-time high,” Lubaszka says. “Right now we’re waiting to feel the effects of the last 9 interest rate increases which generally take 6-9 months to begin impacting the economy. Now’s the time to buy gold because when rates go up, downward pressure is exerted on real estate, stocks and bonds and commodities like gold tend to increase. The opposite occurs when rates travel from a high to a low. That’s the time to reduce gold assets and increase the paper part of a portfolio.”

Buy Without Getting Burned
Michelle Henderson, a talent agency owner in Los Angeles, Calif. understands the stakes when it comes to investing. “As an agent I work in a commission-based world, and have to invest in both people and ideas all the time,” she says. “Though I’d had bad experiences with stock investments in the past, I knew I would eventually find something that would work for me. I invested in a diversified metals portfolio made up of palladium, silver and gold, and earned a profit of 38% with the palladium alone. Staying focused on making money, and following World Financials advice, I was able to earn an above-average return and greatly increase the overall value of my assets safely.”

Lubaszka explain, “It’s probably best for the first time investor to begin conservatively by purchasing physical metals instead of gold stocks, which can be very volatile”. According to Clearwater, Fla.-based talk show host and gold analyst, Tom O’Brien, when metals gain 20%, gold equities jump by fifty or sixty per cent. That’s great when it happens but the reverse can occur as well.

Buy gold bars or coins, and put them in a safety deposit box. If you chose to purchase coins from a coin shop, make certain you pay the lowest price possible and that they have a buy back policy. If you elect to go with a broker, fees will be inevitable because you are purchasing a tangible commodity.

There are brokers, and then there are brokers. The best of the breed will answer all questions, and make the process of first-time gold buying less nerve-wracking. Great brokers are also accessible when needed, and quick to call with any new information that affects the value of the investment.

Work with established companies, five years in business is good, ten even better. Don’t bother with firms that badger you with telemarketing offers or apply high-pressure sales tactics. Avoid paying high commissions too. Some brokers have layers of fees, through which they earn more money then they do investing on behalf of customers. There are also companies out there that will not buy metal back. Stay away from them as well.

“Check references and Better Business Bureau ratings”, Lubaszka adds. “Deal with a company that takes an active interest in doing business with you. World Financial, for example, offers a five-star customer satisfaction guarantee. If questions are not answered or we fail to respond to a prospect’s call or email within 24 hours, that person receives a one ounce silver American Eagle coin free of charge. A financial advisor’s job is to ease the investment process, and to insure that customers get the most for their money. Good advisers are merely good, but the best are worth their weight in gold.”

To contact World Financial directly call 818.264.4085. World Financial is the premiere provider of precious metals to investors nationwide. Aside from offering numerous incentive programs, World Financial offers clients the right type of precious metal strategy for every investor’s needs. They are located at 12198 Ventura Blvd Ste 200, Studio City CA, 91604. http://www.worldfinancialdaily.com

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Exquisite History of Wines

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Mar 122024
 

To make a white wine, once grapes are brought to the winery they are de-stemmed and crushed before anything else is done. A machine is used to split the grapes to remove stems and stalks from each bunch because they contain astringent tannins, which might be acceptable for red wines, but are rare in whites. To stop the fermentation process from starting and turning the grapes brown and oxidizing a chemical called Sulphur Dioxide is added to the grapes. For those with allergies to Sulphur Dioxide, “sulphur-free” wine is produced as well, however the lifespan on this wine is much shorter and needs to be consumed quickly.


Wine has been called the elixir of happiness “” and not without good reason. It is hard to imagine any party or celebration without any representative from the vine. This is probably why people have always assumed that wine was born right next to man.


But how did wine really originate? Who came up with the idea of fermenting fruits with the purpose of making the alcoholic beverages?


Records of the use of wine go back all the way to ancient Egypt in 2500 BC. But it is not implausible that wine was used earlier than that. Evidence seems to point to the Ancient Middle Eastern civilizations as the originators of wine.


Early man probably stumbled upon the wonders that fermentation did to fruits (especially grapes with its high sugar content). Archaeological excavations have unearthed ancient wineries and fermenting pools. This is a testament to the popularity and early knowledge about wines.
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Wine, for that matter, has been used for a startling variety of purposes. In the early days, aside from being the choice beverage for celebrations, wine was also used symbolically in religious sacraments, and during taking vows. There is even evidence that wine was used as medicine for frail countenances, and as an antiseptic for wounds. That is why wine has maintained an importance beyond that of making one drunk.


The popularity of wine spread from the Old World and its cultures to the newly found lands annexed by their empires. From here the cultivation of grapes needed for winemaking spread to the lands of South America and Australia.


The enology, or the study of wine making, of different cultures has made for a dizzying variety of wine. The main types of wine are Table Wines, Sparkling Wines, and Fortified Wines.


Table Wines are pressed grape juice that is allowed to ferment naturally “” with or without a little addition of sugar and yeast to aid the fermentation. These wines can be sweet or dry, depending on the vinification (or fermentation style), and they typically have a low alcohol content of 7 to 15 percent.


Fortified Wines have additional alcohol content in them and are have typically 14 to 23 percent alcohol in them.


Sparkling Wine was first discovered in the 18th century by a monk named Dom Pierre Perignon. Sparkling Wine is wine witch has a bubbly texture to it lent by the carbon dioxide that forms within it during the fermentation. Technically, it is a doubly fermented wine, with the second fermentation happening in the bottle itself. Extra yeast and sugar is added to the wine to produce carbon dioxide that builds up until the wine is uncorked.

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