In 1492, on San Salvador island in the eastern part of the Bahamas, Christopher Columbus hit land. Upon seeing his surroundings, it is believed that Columbus uttered the words “baja mar”, which means shallow water or sea. This island, surrounded by shallow water basically took as it’s name, the words that Columbus uttered, but more commonly spoken as the Bahamas.

The Bahamas caught the attention of traders, settlers, etc. because of its proximity to Florida and because of the shipping channels. It is believed that people lived in the Bahamas as early as 300 to 400 A D. and it is suspected these early settlers were Cuban and lived off the ocean food.

As the 10th century came, so did the Lucayan Indians and they settled in the Bahamas to get away from their enemies, the Carib Indians, who were known to be cannibals and warriors. There were estimated to be about 40,000 Lucayans living in the Bahamas in 1492 when Columbus arrived, but Columbus arriving was a bad omen because within 3 years of arriving, Columbus enslaved the Lucayans and shipped them to Hispaniola to work in his mines. Due to disease, slavery and other hardships the Lucayan tribe was completely wiped out within 25 years of the arrival of Columbus.

The hay day for pirates and privateers was between the late 1600s and early 1700s. The landscape of the Bahamas made a perfect hiding place for pirates to lay in wait for unsuspecting and unprepared ships to try to pass through.

There have been a few famous pirates that at one time made the Bahamas home. Blackbeard once lived in Nassau and fellow pirates thought so much of Blackbeard (or maybe it was fear), that they elected him magistrate of their privateer republic. Blackbeard ruled with his own style of justice until 1718 when Royal Governor Woodes Roger arrived and kicked all the pirates off Nassau.

Another famous pirate that spent time in the Bahamas is Calico Jack. Calico is less known for his pirating skills and more renowned for having two women as part of his crew. Calico was such a non-fighter that in 1720 when the Royal Governor ordered an attack on his ship, he and his crewmen hid below; while his two women pirates tried to fight off the attackers. Of course, this wasn’t a fight that two women could win.

More than a century later saw the arrival of new settlers to the Bahamas. These were colonists that were still loyal to the British flag. They left the new America for the Bahamas but they brought their slaves with them. In 1783;with the purpose of gaining independence, these ex-American colonists, with the help of the South Carolina Militia, forced the retreat of Spanish forces from the entire region.

The Bahamas economy was closely tied into the civil war. Britain needed cotton from the south to keep its textile industry running, but because of union blockades, no ships were allowed to reach port. Thus, blockade-runners were born. These runners, in fast boats, would travel from Charleston to Nassau with loads of cotton. Once in Nassau the runners would trade their cotton for goods that the British ships carried. After returning to Charleston the runners would sell their goods for profit. The end of the civil war put a serious dent in the Bahamas’ economy; until 1919 when prohibition came into play. Whisky was a great British import for the Bahamas, so much so that the government expanded Prince George’s Wharf in Nassau to make room for the shipments. Unfortunately, this boom was short-lived because in 1934 prohibition ended and so did the profits that flowed through the Bahamas because of it.

The mid-19th century saw the beginning of the tourist industry. With the help of the government, there was more construction and subsidized services to attract more tourists but the biggest help to the Bahamas tourist industry came in 1961 when Cuba was closed to American tourists. With Cuba gone, the Bahamas became a major island destination for Americans. The Bahamas was granted limited self-government in 1964 by Great Britain and 1969 it became part of the Commonwealth. On July 10,1973 the Bahamas legally became a nation.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to The Bahamas

If you have never traveled to Mexico City before, getting around can be a bit overwhelming. There are many ways to travel within Mexico City, and the methods, rules and day-to-day getting from Point A to Point B can be frustrating.

This article will give you the necessary information you require to get around in Mexico City, while ensuring your travel plans are still pleasant, exciting and fruitful. So let’s get started! It’s an exciting journey you are about to embark upon.

Traveling in Mexico City, a General Overview

The naming conventions used for Mexico City’s streets and neighborhoods can be very exasperating to the out of town traveler if you aren’t sure what everything means. The most important thing to remember when trying to find a certain location is: Patience. Many times, streets that ’should’ be in a certain place, just aren’t.

Numbered streets are usually (but not always) designated as North/South (norte/sur) or East/West (oriente/poneinte). A block can be numbered, depending on how far it is from an arbitrary starting point. However, you’ll notice during your travels that many Mexican addresses have only “s/n” (sin nmero) listed after the street name, which means, literally, “no number”. And yet other addresses have a kilometer designation in the address, indicating that they are located a certain number of kilometers down a major street, such as a highway.

All addresses in Mexico City are written with the street name at the start, then the street number. The postal code (cdigo postal) is listed before the name of the city, not after. Apdo., or apartado, means box, and Postal, or A.P. means post-office box number. And finally, most addresses include the neighborhood (colonia, or col.) that the residence is in.

Traveling in Mexico City, By Bus

The bus system in Mexico City is used extensively by locals and travelers to the area. It is often crowded, and pickpockets are an issue. Never show a wallet on the bus, and make sure to carry change with you if you plan on using this method of transportation.

When boarding the bus, tell the driver where you plan on going, and the driver will tell you the fare. Sometimes bus stops will have signs above them, telling you where you are; many times, you’ll know it’s a stop only because there are people waiting by the side of the road. Buses are rarely on time in Mexico City; if you plan on traveling later in the day or at night, alternate methods of transportation are recommended.

Traveling in Mexico City, By Car

Driving through Mexico City’s streets, especially for the traveler, can be a harrowing experience. One way streets abound, and rush hour is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Millions of people, literally, are sharing the road with you.

Renting a car is possible in Mexico City, but poses different risks for the out of town traveler. Driving on Mexico City roads is not only dangerous because of the lack of skill used for travelers (many get their license not by taking a test, but by paying someone off), but treacherous because of the unusual and poorly maintained roads.

Another option is to hire a taxi, or limousine, to chauffeur you around. Ask the travel hotel you are staying at in Mexico City for recommendations, or for the closest cab stand (sitio).

Jean Sutherland is the owner of the informative website http://www.spasoftheworld.com/spas/ She has worked in the travel industry for over 10 years and lived for 3 years in Mexico.

Internet connectivity seems to be as important as breathing air nowadays. In areas where a cable TV and a DSL connection are nowhere to be found, satellite Internet takes the lead. Satellite Internet is often preferred by rural Internet users who want broadband access when cable Internet is not available.

Satellite Internet is worth considering mainly because of its speedy Internet connection. Unlike cable Internet, it does not use telephone lines but rather uses a satellite dish. The satellite systems used can provide users connectivity 10 times faster than a usual modem used in cable Internet and DSL connections.

Internet firms have started offering satellite Internet to rural cities in Ohio. Most of these services are two-way satellite Internet that includes two modems for uplink and downlink, coaxial cables between dish and modem and a two-foot by three-foot dish.

Companies such as Hughes Net offer high-speed satellite Internet connections even in rural areas in and around San Diego, California. You can start your subscription by calling 1-866-815-4666 and learn what package plans are available in rural areas of California, where cable Internet and DSL connections are not available.

Hughes Net uses Satellite Star Internet for its San Diego packages and products. It’s best for moderate Internet usage and moderate downloading and can also provide the Internet connection needed by small businesses. For heavy Internet users, you can call the Hughes Net hotline to enjoy surfing the Internet at higher speeds. To date, users in San Diego are satisfied with the Internet services they’ve received from Hughes Net, which offers various Internet packages for differing customer needs.

The chances of scooping up the Euromillions jackpot is a far-off one in seventy six million but the odds of acquiring a cash prize is a somewhat decent one : twenty four. When the jackpot is not won on a given lotto draw, it is carried over to the following week which results in an ever increasing jackpot prize. Recent rules brought in on the 9th of February 2007 restrict the amount of consecutive rollovers to eleven, with the jackpot rolled down to smaller value levels succeeding the eleventh draw when the prize is not collected.

The Euromillions lottery or the Euro Lottery, as it’s normally recognized, gathers the ticket revenues of the nine partaking Euro countries awarding a gigantic Euro Lotto jackpot. With the sum of countries joining the Euro on the increase, this will without a doubt lead to even more states partaking in the European lottery. An increase in the amount of people partaking in the Euro Lotto will lead to a prolonged growth of the already whopping euro millions jackpots.

The new regulations likewise initiated European Lottery Super Draw which go on twice yearly plus they offer jackpots in the region of 100 million pounds. The difference with Super Draws is that the jackpot must be won during the week of the draw; this means, when there is no lottery ticket corresponding, all the numbers drawn and top prize will then be distributed to the lotto ticket bearer(s) on the next winning prize level.

Each player must pick out 5 main numbers from 1 to 50 plus two Lucky-star numbers from one to nine. During the Euromillions draw 5 main and 2 lucky star numbers are then chosen at random from 2 lottery draw machines containing numbered balls.

GHD leads the pack in hair straightening irons and has some models of hair straighteners that are quickly surpassing the competition because of their extra features and great results.

In 2000 the original GHD straightener came into the market with its revolutionary ceramic plates and other unique features. Before the advent of GHD straighteners, many of the models used either aluminum plates or steam for straightening their hair. Surprisingly, the GHD straightener functioned in an unexpected and more effective fashion.

GHD had taken initiative and became the first company to innovate and make use of ceramic plates in their straighteners. Ceramic is the best choice for hair straighteners as it conducts the heat most effectively and also it allows the iron to slide through the hair without any problem. Ceramic, being the best substance for styling, was an innovation introduced by GHD and has since been utilized by many manufacturers.

GHD hair straightener also allowed the iron to heat up quickly and maintain its optimum temperature in about 10 seconds which was much faster than its competition. The original straightener reached its optimal temperature in approximately ten seconds which was considerably quicker than its competitors. Most other irons lose heat as it absorbs into the hair, but this one maintains temperature better.

The first GHD hair straightener did not have hot spots like other irons sometimes have. The other curling irons have hot spots that will burn your hair. The original GHD straightener had a complex heating element that makes sure that there is an even distribution of heat throughout the plate thereby eliminating hot spots and damaged hair.

Currently, GHD offers a little styler for meticulous styling of short hair, a wider salon styler for long full hair and GHD thermodynamics, their prize-winning group of hair products to supplement the use of GHD’s hair straighteners. The current GHD iv styler is a hot product with old and young alike.

Need more information? Check out GDH hair straighteners for comprehensive hair straightener product reviews and information.

Cleanse Your Body from the Inside Out with Purity 12

The Purity12 system is a gentle colon cleansing formula, one of which takes the shape of an oral dietary supplement. You will feel lively and full of energy once your body begins to rid itself of the toxic build up in your colon. It also makes you feel much less tired and fatigued. A colon clean will not remove all your body’s poisons but it’ll flush out the bulk of the poisons.With this colon cleaser, you can reverse these toxin side effects by making sure that you cleanse your colon on a regular schedule.

A very poisonous colon works inefficiently as the residing chemicals meddle with its classifying activity. Having a toxic colon means that there is toxic waste build up accumulating in your intestines, leaving your colon in a toxic state. When your colon is full of toxic waste build up, your body produces excess gas.Human excrement has additionally been dubbed as waste for a reason, because we are meant to rid ourselves of it. As well as being swollen and rather poisonous, you may also keep weight by having a back up colon. With the use of Purity12, you’ll be fitter and will also lose pounds from using this colon cleaning system.

Colon cleansing is a practice that has been going on since the beginning of time, or at least since the beginning of recorded history. In fact, the practice of colon cleansing has even been documented as having been going on as early as 1500 B.C. in Egypt. Many past medical practices are drastically altered or merely forgotten as time moves on, but that is simply not the cases for colon cleansing. In fact, the act of colon cleansing has even been documented as having been done as early as 1500 B.C. in Egypt. Colon cleansing is highly recommended by natural health practitioners. With a colon cleansing system like Purity12, the benefits are just too significant to ignore.It is merely because colon cleansing is so important to your health, for the benefits of colon cleansing are simply too hard to ignore.

The British credit crunch could be a scary situation for any local company, especially with the rate of firms having to cut jobs in the last 8 months. With the credit crunch it truly makes the majority of firm finance directors to decide to cut company budgets for just about anything like workplace furniture. With this in mind, the majority of company owners are now looking at used furniture or low cost office furniture.

Long gone are the days when companies would kit the office in oak and pine antique flooring and desks from the Victorian era and own marble flooring at reception. Various now use affordable office furniture. The fantastic thing about affordable office furniture is that accountants may actually get much more for your cash than accountants would expect. For the similar price of an antique pine computer desk, business owners may probably afford to get a woodchip reception desk, office chair, filing cabinet and office plant.

With the UK credit crunch, various firms will be looking for ways to cut outgoings. Assessing the expenditure that is not necessary might well help loads of organisations free up money to help with their financial situation. So next time you are seeking to acquire office furniture be fully aware that there is a less costly option out there if organisation owners look for it. Buy the latest Monitor Arm and get it delivered to your office from CFW.

Whether you are thinking about building your first home, or your fifth, creating a unique house design is difficult. Working with an experienced architect will help you think about what you want and need in a floor plan, choose materials to fit your location, and design a house plan that fulfills all of your dreams. Consider these areas before talking to your architect:

Lot – Walk around your lot during different times of the day to appreciate different views. Can you take advantage of passive heating with a southern exposure? Make sure you know about any buildings such as houses or even businesses that may be built near you in the future. Are there eco features you can implement on your lot to lower your energy costs such as geothermal heating, solar panels, or building part of your home in the earth? Can you design the home to minimize how much land you disturb during building?

Floor Plan – I’m sure you know how many bedrooms and baths you want, but start thinking about how your floor plan will be used so it’s as functional as possible. Some people like laundry to be close to the bedrooms, or you do you want the master bedroom to be away from the other bedrooms? Do you prefer an island or do you like appliances to be next to each other? Write down everything you’ve hated about previous homes and everything you’ve loved. Think about the small things like placement of outlets that are often frustrating, or light switches. As you age, you may use space differently, so think ahead? Storage and clutter can be huge issues, think about how your homes design can help or cause problems.

Materials – Your budget will come into play, so look at alternatives for things like wood flooring, carpeting, granite and your siding choices. Thinking about new products that are sustainable and environmentally friendly from paint and caulk, to the large items like flooring, can have a big impact on the air quality in your home. Discuss building options like SIPs that can lower your energy bills.

Details – The great thing about a custom house plan is that you can start from scratch, so include the small details that really make a house a home to you. Built in bookshelves, cubbies to show off your glass vase collection, a tile back-splash made from the antique tiles you picked up in Mexico, a double shower, these details mark the home as yours.

Write down your ideas, collect photos from magazines, and taking photos of your lot to pinpoint views can help your architect define your home design to capture your feelings more accurately.

Halloween is a BOOtefull excuse for throwing a party, and you don’t have to live in Transylvania to pull it off. All you need is some imagination plus a reasonable food and festivities budget.

Of course, it goes without saying that a Halloween party is a costume party. Anything less wouldn’t be Halloween.

You’ll get your best results if you pick a Halloween costume theme and then ask guests to come in the appropriate type of costume. You can choose famous Grade B movie ghouls, or characters from any of the teenage death movies that are always popular. Or, you can go back to the more traditional Halloween roots and have a Celtic theme. It’s your party so you get do decide.

Be sure to put the word out that that anyone arriving without a costume has to parade around in their underwear all night wearing a dunce cap. THAT ought to get everyone thinking about what they’re going to wear. Be sure to send your invitations out by the first week of October because Halloween is a major party season and you don’t want someone else’s party competing with yours.

Decorating Tips

If you want to go all out, follow the tips in our How to Create Your Own Haunted House article, or just build upon these great ideas:

• Decorate the main party room with artificial spider webs, or let the real ones build up all year long.

• Replace your normal light bulbs with colored ones. You can usually find orange bulbs in the home centers but you’ll almost surely find them in the party stores as Halloween approaches.

• Drape the traditional black and orange crpe paper from the ceilings and door frames and hang up some of those fake spiders and bats for added effect.

• Cover the tables with black shower curtains or pick up some Halloween tablecloths while you’re out getting the light bulbs. Don’t forget to sprinkle the tables with Halloween party confetti and plastic cockroaches.

• If you can find some of those life-like fake rats, grab a few and put them in wonderful places like inside the refrigerator. Put one in your bathroom medicine cabinet and when you hear screams you’ll know that you’ve caught a snooper.

• Carve a big jack-o-lantern as a centerpiece. Black flowers (real or artificial) look great in black cat vases.

• Follow our tips in the our How to Create Your Own Scary Sound Effects
and Halloween Sound Track article, or cheat and just go buy one. Either way, make sure that you’re spinnin’ some gruesome tunes when your guests arrive.

Food Tips

Snack foods go well with Halloween parties. People aren’t expecting a sit-down meal, but you should have more available than chips and dips. Buffalo wings are always a hit and, if you want to be dull and boring, you can always order pizza. But why not make some scary looking Halloween specialties that have the look that screams Halloween? I’m no cook, so I’m going to leave this part to the experts.

Entertainment Ideas

Scary soundtracks will only get you so far, so make sure that you have a good mix of party and dancing music available. Get copies of some of the Halloween classics like Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, which is the classic Halloween organ music. You’ll recognize it as soon as you hear it. Monster Mash, Pumpkin Head Harvey, Somethin’ in the Swamp, In Salem Town, and, of course, Ghostbusters are fun to mix in during the evening.

Have a costume judging event with plenty of prizes. Winning categories can include: Best Costume, Worst Costume, Scariest, Sexiest, and Nicest Underwear (male and female) for those who arrived sans costume.

Remember this one rule when throwing a Halloween Party: There are No Rules, so enjoy!

Halloween Article From:
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