Pets

Belize Cays: a world far from reality

When the roar of the engine turned to a kitty purr and our boat drew closer to the Caye Caulker pier, we did a quick inventory check. Palms dancing, tic. Beach bleached by the sun, tick. The island’s motto, “Go Slow,” lazily painted on a sign stuck in the sand, marks. I gave my partner in crime a private smile. This was the place. We had escaped … for now.

Going up and down against a small island of Belize in the Caribbean Sea was not in the original script. The plan had been to fly to Belize to try a quick eco-adventure before crossing the border into Guatemala. But we had gotten greedy, and four days later, we were still there with our hands trapped in the action flask. Jungle walks, eco-tours, jaguar watching, cave tubing, Mayan ruins, and mountain bike treks. Where would it end? The equatorial heat was on. We needed a place to hide for a couple of days. Somewhere a man might find a secluded beach and lie back and think of England, or any other place he would rather not be. After doing some discreet inquiries, we learned that there was only one place to hide, and only one man powerful enough to help us get there. The man known only as “The boy at the ticket office at the maritime terminal.”

So we paid for our ship’s passes with small, unmarked bills, climbed aboard the first island-bound ship, and left the spoils of our onshore adventure in our wake. Not that the warm blue waters off the coast were fooling us. Home to more than one hundred and seventy islands, or cays, and the world’s second-largest barrier reef, it wouldn’t be easy to keep our hands off the vast amount of water fun that has tantalized travelers since Blackbeard and his gang of Buccaneers they crossed these waters. In XVII century. However, as we stood on this modest dock and watched our getaway ship leave the dock, the captain turned to us and gave us reassuring advice: “Relax, mon. You are now in Caye Caulker.”

If Gilligan had ever been in real estate development, the city of Caye Caulker would have been his Big Apple. Sleep peacefully on this slip of an island, the cluster of brightly painted ramshackle beach hideaways, deserted beach lots, scattered fishing boats, palm trees, sand-floor restaurants, dive huts, and salty old sailors holding bars to 11am in the morning, makes for the perfect getaway retreat.

Caye Caulker’s crown jewels are minimalist pleasures. There are no international resorts, flashy nightclubs, or rush hour traffic. Do you remember the motto? Go slow Our mission – and yes, we decided to accept it – was to find a bungalow for as little as $ 40 a night on a quiet stretch of squeaky white sand, delight our palate with a variety of seafood delicacies, and then talk over a drink. in a beach bar watching the sun slide under a layer of Caribbean blue sea This message will be pleased in five seconds.

Before long, we put on the “no shoes, no shirt, no fuss” dress code and “sarong, bathing suit, smile”, and we were immersed in the welcoming band of eclectic castaways. It soon became clear that local beer from Creoles, Central Americans, and Europeans posed little threat to our relaxation plans. However, we would have to keep an eye on American retirees wandering the streets in old, rickety golf carts, sending dogs, children, and tourists prowling for shelter.

For three perfect days we hid behind sunglasses, cocktail umbrellas, and lobster menus, wondering if maybe, just maybe, there would be no more calls to action, and life really was a beach after all. Then one night, while we were minding our own business with a pair of tall Panty Rippers at Popeye’s Bar and Restaurant, the waiter told us that a man had been asking questions. “Did you know someone who would like to explore the reef?” “Have you ever seen a tourist dance so badly to the rhythm of the reggae band that they couldn’t show their faces around the island?” The next morning, we went to see a man on a snorkeling tour.

While seasoned divers prefer the more exciting spots in the waters of Ambergris Caye, the beautiful and calm reefs of Caye Caulker provided the ideal setting for beginning divers like my nervous partner, a Canadian mountaineer, much more at ease in a game of skiing. than a pair of fins.

After the initial disappointment of knowing that this was not my chance to wear a tight-fitting rubber suit in public, the reef snorkeling trip turned out to be a fantastic experience. We were in awe of the incredible variety of fish, eels, and spectacular coral formations. The highlight of the three-hour tour was Shark Ray Alley, where nurse sharks circled our wary group from a distance before weaving for a closer look, and southern stingrays glided their expansive wings over our bodies. They both turned out to be fairly harmless, though perhaps a bit cool for a first date.

For the rest of the day hardly a word was spoken. The mountain girl and I moved to our secluded spot in oceanfront paradise, soaked up the afternoon sun, and flipped through the back issues of discarded Mexican celebrity gossip magazines in our room, anything to go. stay away from the fact that our lazy days were numbered. . Back in the bungalow we hatched our plan. We weren’t giving up our life of leisure so easily. We would go down to party. Ambergris Caye was waiting for me and I had a birthday to celebrate.

Ambergris Caye, the largest, most developed, and expensive of the Belizean islands, is well suited to the first-class vacation seeker, with a variety of villas, luxury home stays, and resorts to choose from. To prepare for our last stop, we checked into the mysteriously named Sun Breeze Beach Hotel, near the main town of San Pedro, to enjoy some amenities and pampering. The spacious rooms, resort-style pool, hot tub, massage studio, chic outdoor bar, and world-flavored restaurant were a world away from Caye Caulker’s gilliganism, but for just $ 125 a night, my intern Thurston Howell, the third, was calling.

Pampered, indulged, and fed in ways only money can buy, we climbed to the gazebo above the hotel bar. Sliding into the hammock, we witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets the Caribbean has to offer. Swinging back and forth with a birthday cocktail in hand, I could really appreciate how delightfully removed we were from anything that resembled an office cubicle. The contemplation over, I made my final charge in the evening. Crazy Canucks Bar, crazy Canadian in tow, we drank, laughed and shamefully danced to reggae music until dawn.

The following days we gorged on water sports as fast as Ambergris Caye could deliver. There was scuba diving among some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world, sailing tours of the island, deep sea fishing for sailfish and barracudas, water skiing and paragliding on the sun-drenched beaches. Oh how we party!

Our hunger for aquatic adventure was finally satiated, we hiked around town, put our butt on the nearest bikes for rent, and headed to the far reaches of the island. Crossing a small river on a very hard-powered ferry pulling a rope to the less populated north island, we pedaled along remote dirt roads lined with wide palm trees. Stepping out of the brush to the beach at the edge of the blue Caribbean, it was a leisurely stroll along long stretches of squeaky white sand to the “monetary” end of town.

The north beach is home to luxurious bungalows and private beach villas. I reflected ambitiously on the For Sale sign outside a particularly hedonistic abode. Apparently the former owner wasn’t happy about driving his 80-foot cruise around all that coral nonsense to moor in front of his beach palace. Being the enterprising type, he had used some sticks of dynamite to blast a neat little driveway straight through the reef. Unfortunately, the government did not see him that way and sent him a fine large enough to pay off Belize’s national debt. He was last seen paddling a canoe in the direction of Cuba.

A little further on we come across Captain Morgan’s Retreat, the scene of the original Temptation Island show. While we were out of the Mecca of televised drama, many poignant memories came pouring in. Amber and Troy whispering under a palm tree, probably discussing the effects of global warming. Shawana got rid of Gary and confessed to Chad ‘that you had me in’ are those things real? ” At that moment, I couldn’t help but appreciate the truly important things in life. I turned to the ski bunny and told her she had such a beautiful smile that it could almost pass as cosmetically enhanced.

Pedaling down the beach into town one last time before heading back to the mainland, we said goodbye to all the things we love about the keys. The lazy palm trees, the ivory white sands, the aqua blue waters, the hammocks swaying in the breeze, the friendly faces, the plastic fountain of whales and dolphins splashing water on Jesus outside the pink mansion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. . the fact that? Regardless, for a couple of repeat offenders on adventure travel, it sure was a good place for a day or two pass.

Some have said that I spend too much time living in a fantasy world, that I need to control reality. Sometimes I think they are right. But then again, they have probably never been to the Belize Keys.

Real Estate

Sewer Odor Experts for Rooftop Sewer Vent Chimney Filters

Every state, city and village has odor ordinances or treats perceptible unpleasant odors beyond the property lines as public nuisance or nuisance. All plumbing vents produce odors unless they are equipped with a filter. OSHA cautions that levels of 300 ppm (H2S) cause the olfactory nerve to lose sensitivity. At first a “rotten egg” smell is detected but by the second or third breath the smell is no longer noticeable. All major odor problems have associated fines or other penalties.

When you experience sewer or septic odors inside a home or business that is not near a plumbing fixture, these odors are most likely coming from your sewer vents on your roof. All plumbing vents produce odors, including the “rotten egg” smell caused by hydrogen sulfide gas, unless they are fitted with a filter. One of the most common problems is that sewer gas (H2S) gets into the fresh air intakes on the roof from air conditioning systems. On roofs, the code of industrial buildings also requires the intake of fresh air to achieve an air balance against all stale air that escapes through the roof vents. The potential problem can be identified through the basic odor when it is on the roof or around the perimeter of the building, since hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) is heavier than air and therefore falls into the ” nose level “quickly when the wind blows just right. A professional can use an H2S measuring device to detect and measure the sewer gas concentration that is missed in specific roof vents. Gas-omitting vents are a natural phenomenon in most homes and buildings because that is the way they are designed.

Raising the roof vents does not solve the problem, it just displaces it on a windy day to fly over the exterior wall and open windows, patio, fireplace, garden, pool area, sidewalk, front door driveway, driveway or parking lot. On a windless day, sewer gas is heavier than air and settles on the roof and causes intermittent sewer odors in the home or building.

Installing a one-way valve on sewer stacks will reduce the sewer gas that is vented to the roof through the valve opening and closing. Mechanical engineers design the sewer ventilation system to be a sealed system in the home or business, but with unrestricted ventilation to the atmosphere. This type of system overrides the original design intent for all building designs. The system operates on demand for actions in the home or business such as flushing a toilet or opening a sink. Since this type of system is plugging the vents, it is pressurizing the sewer system in the home or business. You are creating greater potential for sewer gas odor problems. Any kind of faulty plumbing seals or gaskets that may have a small leak will escalate the problem. The breather is now mechanically opened and closed by a valve. It can also fail in the open position. This introduces sewer gas into the roof, when it fails.

Carbon vent filters in sewer stacks are one of the odor filters on the market, but they are less effective when introduced into moisture, causing it to solidify or cake. The sewer gas from the vent stacks has a high moisture content, as the main function of the system is to drain the water into a sealed underground system away from the building. In my opinion, this product is not suitable for this application.

I recommend odor removal vent filters that use Zeocarbon for homes. Zeocarbon is a mixture of carbon and zeolite, which has been independently shown to work up to 7 times longer than normal carbon alone. The chimney filters that use this technology are unique in that they actually regenerate themselves for up to 5 years. These systems use sunlight. The outer, inner and replaceable zeocarbon pouches are impregnated with titanium dioxide (approximately the same amount and type in the most popular toothpastes on the market). When exposed to direct sunlight, titanium dioxide produces ozone, which directly destroys odors and regenerates zeocarbon. When combined with “no-flow periods” common to most homes, this design allows us to operate for up to 5 years without recharging the units. Many units completely block regenerative UV sunlight through the use of opaque rain caps and shields that promote the growth of odor-producing bacteria. However, because zeocarbon can only absorb a limited amount of gas, this type of filter is designed with low-cost, easy-to-replace insert bags. Another good thing about this type of filter is that the restriction in airflow is so slight (it has a pressure differential measured at just 1.5 “wg / ft @ 50 fpm) that it does not interfere with normal ventilation of the plumbing system. Self-cleaning, animal-resistant screens, along with frost-proof insulating solar heat absorption design features, protect the vent chimney from plugging in all seasons.

The zeocarbon filter not only traps the sewer gases in the roof vent so they can’t escape into the air at all, it also means less GREENHOUSE GAS air pollution. It particularly traps ammonia, carbon dioxide (global warming) and hydrogen sulfide (the gas that smells like rotten eggs), which the filter traps at a 18-24% w / w base, and the used zeocarbon acts as an excellent source of nitrogen when mixed with soil. Although the filter is installed directly on the vent pipe, its frost-proof design is such that not only does it not prevent air from entering the vent, but it also prevents frost clogging and keeps out the frost. insects and creatures. This filter is also for vents that are directly connected to aerated or non-aerated septic tanks, septic mounds, drain fields, landfill vents, compost vents, etc. In many cases, city sewer connections carry gas to the house’s plumbing vents, which vent the gases through the roof vents and often into the backyard, where they can be carried to the home. This type of filter has proven beneficial in those cases too!

I recommend for mobile homes, restaurants, nurseries, nursing homes and schools, odor eliminating wind jet filters that filter harmful odors from the sewers by oxidation. The oxidation is achieved with chlorine dioxide technology. Because chlorine dioxide reacts selectively and primarily only with the most unpleasant odor-producing compounds (hydrogen sulfide, organic sulfur, organic amines), odor eliminators will typically provide a much longer shelf life than products like activated carbon. With a properly designed filter that allows the original system design to work, the plumbing system does not pressurize the lines like some of the other products on the market. Moisture does not have a negative effect on the scavenger, therefore no unwanted reactions occur and energy is not wasted unnecessarily, allowing chlorine dioxide to be available and ready-to-order. The result is safe, extremely effective and broad spectrum odor control. Chlorine dioxide remains available and ready to order.

Polishing is achieved with technology that protects against the escape of bad odors that cannot be oxidized. It incorporates polymeric adsorption and electrostatic bonding technologies. Polishing and oxidation are carried out simultaneously. The result is safe (using the same USDA approved food storage material), extremely effective broad spectrum malodor control. (Request USDA Form No. 502 for more detailed information.)

Once you’ve installed the roof chimney vent filters, the internal odors are most likely coming from leaking wax seals or gaskets in your plumbing fixtures. In this case, the odor is typically concentrated in a secluded area, the bathrooms. May be intermittent due to various mechanical building system designs. Bathroom fixtures have a P-trap built into the fixture, so if the fixture comes loose from the floor or wall, the wax seal or gasket may leak. This type of leak will allow the sewer gas to leak directly into the room. Most bathrooms have an exhaust fan that intensifies the introduction of gas into the room by drawing the gas from the source, the leaking floor seal moves it into the ceiling exhaust vent before expelling the gas from the space. This condition is detected through smell or a professional can use an H2S measuring device to detect and measure the sewer gas concentration. The remedy for this problem is to replace the faulty fitting seals. Contact your preventative maintenance group or enlist the help of a local technician with this problem.

Bathroom odors can also be attributed to urine absorption into the tile or tile grout.

Many companies attempt to mask the odor by installing a bathroom deodorant to spray a scented product to mask odors in bathrooms. With proper maintenance of bathroom fixtures and the correct initially designed systems that function properly, this problem should be eliminated. If this condition is corrected over time, it can get worse and affect other parts of the business.

The constant odor and odor may be due to the accumulation of tile grout that saturates the urine around the urinals and the tile grout. There are aerosol products that eliminate this problem by using it in a regular maintenance program.

When you have floor sinks, drains, and waterless floor / wall cleaning, especially in home and business basements in production or mechanical areas, you will often detect an unpleasant odor. A dry P trap allows the sewer system to vent freely into the space. In the case of a restaurant or any building with an exhaust system that may have a negative air balance, the problem is intensified. The exhaust system can carry the sewer gas into the facility. The effect in an isolated area is not uncommon or if you are near a return in the HVAC system, circulate throughout the building. The most efficient way to identify if you have this problem is to do a sewer system smoke test. Before conducting the smoke test, we recommend first checking that all sinks and floor drains have water in the traps p. This would include units in isolated rooms such as mechanical areas and units installed behind or under equipment. Clean walls can be visually inspected, but it is difficult to detect leaks without an H2S meter or smoke test. The dry p-trap when identified can be fixed by adding water to fill the p-trap. Contact your preventive maintenance group for help with this problem.

To fix floor drains and floor sinks, add water to the traps on a regular basis or add a trap primer to the system.

To fix the floor and wall cleanings, randomly check for bad seals. Replace where worn.

Shopping Product Reviews

5 Galaxy Tab 10.1 Tablet Cases

One of the most popular tablets on the market is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. It is quite portable, with many amazing features. You can browse the following, watch movies, read e-books, listen to music, and play games with this wonderful gadget. Because it has many uses, parts can wear out at a faster rate. Unfortunately, everything comes to an end. However, you can always delay it. You can keep your Galaxy Tab for the next 10 years, since you know what to do.

Tablet cases, of course, are your device’s top-of-the-line protectors. They protect the metal sides of the screen from unwanted scratches and reduce the risk of the device being destroyed by mishandling. There are hundreds of tablet cases available at gadget stores, online stores, and second-hand markets. To give you an idea, here are 5 common cases for your Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1:

1. Luxmo Gel Skin Protective Case

If you choose to stay away from leather cases and monochrome covers, this nice protective case from Luxmo could catch your eye. It is created with very good quality silicone, which makes it more durable and functional. It is true that your tablet will be protected from nasty scratches and nicks. If you choose to carry your tablet while driving, you can comfortably place it along your dash without worrying about it slipping as the silicone adheres well to the surface. The Luxmo case is available for $ 13 at most stores.

two. ZooGue Case Genius

According to the manufacturer, this is the most functional case you can find for your tablet. It is made with genuine leather and equipped with adjustable straps so that you can hang your device comfortably anywhere. By using this case, you can still access the main points of your tablet such as cameras, speakers, ports and important buttons. It may be a bit pricey at a price of $ 49.99, but you can guarantee that your tablet will be safe and secure.

3.rooCASE Multi-angle Leather Folio Case

This case features a multi-angle leather flap, which keeps the screen highly protected when not in use. Also included is a magnetic flap closure for added convenience, with easy access to all buttons, controls and ports. The case is created with genuine leather, lined with a microfiber touch on the inner side. It also comes with an adjustable stand that allows you to watch movies and read e-books at a 45 to 90 degree angle. This case is definitely a must buy as it can do a lot to keep your tablet protected. It is available for $ 28 and in various colors such as black, brown, red, and magenta.

4. Kiwi Cases Black Leather Executive Folio Cover

This is perfect for businessmen, executives, and professionals on the go. In fact, this cover effectively protects your tablet from all the scratches and scrapes of daily use. It’s made from premium materials, along with a unique snap-on magnetic closure system to keep things super comfortable. When you open the lid, there are also several slots for documents and business cards. This costs $ 20 at most online stores.

5. HouseofJAM padded cover

If you don’t like formal-looking slipcovers and jelly slipcovers, you might like this unique find. The sleeve of this product is made of soft cotton, padded with a nice fleece surface to keep your tablet scratch-free. There is also an inlaid wooden button to finish off the extra-chic cover. This is perfect for those who want to spice up the monochrome look of the Galaxy Tab. This adorable tablet sleeve is available on Etsy for $ 24.99.

Sports

The favorite receivers of the great Troy Aikman of the Dallas Cowboys

Troy Aikman is a member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame and is also one of the most popular quarterbacks to play the job for the Dallas Cowboys, and that’s saying something. During his 12-year career in the National Football League, he all spent with the Cowboys, played in several big games and put on great performances. Who were this great quarterback’s favorite receivers during that time?

The player who caught the most touchdown passes from Troy Aikman was Michael Irvin, who had 49 touchdown receptions from him during his career.

Second on the list is popular tight end Jay Novacek, who caught 20 of Troy Aikman’s touchdown passes.

Alvin Harper joined the Dallas Cowboys two seasons after Aikman joined the team and ranks third on this list of favorite receivers for the quarterback with 16 touchdown receptions.

Fullback Daryl “Moose” Johnston is in fourth place with 13 career touchdown receptions thrown by Troy Aikman.

The fifth-most touchdown passes thrown by Aikman went to legendary running back Emmitt Smith, who caught 11 of them during their time as teammates.

Needless to say, Troy Aikman had a great career. You cannot enter the Professional Football Hall of Fame without building a career that is among the best of all time. However, it’s interesting that of the top five touchdown receivers he pitched to, only two of them were wide receivers. He played in some memorable games, including Super Bowls, and was a great quarterback. Anyone who doesn’t believe it just has to ask Michael Irvin, Jay Novacek, Alvin Harper, Daryl Johnston and Emmitt Smith.

Tours Travel

Highlights of Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles is a fascinating city and a great place for anyone to take a vacation. Visiting Los Angeles and the surrounding areas could be one of the best and most memorable experiences you will ever have. Tourists seem to get excited about everything from the simplest to the biggest. For whatever reason, tourists always like to see the famous Hollywood sign and especially visitors from non-coastal states like to hit the beach and see the Pacific Ocean for the first time.

If you are more into the adrenaline rush of fun and planning to come to the city of Los Angeles, you will be within a reasonable drive of several water and amusement parks, including Six Flags Magic Mountain, Hurricane Harbor, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Raging Waters, and other places like the Los Angeles Zoo and Griffith Park.

If you are really interested in the Film Industry, you can go to the recordings of numerous television programs where you can see your favorite stars live and in person. Or if you prefer to be in front of the camera rather than in the audience, there are various advertisements in newspapers, magazines, and posted on telephone poles looking for all kinds of people who want to be background extras in movies, TV shows, and commercials. No experience is needed. Be sure to head down Hollywood Boulevard and search the ground for the stars of your favorite artists on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

You can go to the Staples Center, home of the ninth time NBA (National Basketball

Association) World Champions Los Angeles Lakers. Magic Johnson has stopped playing professional basketball, but he will still see his name all over Los Angeles. He’s involved with a few businesses in town, including some 24-hour fitness venues, Magic Johnson theaters located at Crenshaw Mall, Starbucks Coffee, and Magic Johnson’s TGI Friday’s restaurant.

Right across the street from the Forum in Inglewood, where the Lakers used to play for about 30 years until a few years ago, is the Hollywood Park Race Track and Casino. They only have horse races a few months out of the year. But you’re in “luck” because the Casino is in full swing 24/7 to meet your gaming needs. It’s one of the few places around here that, at least so far, still has FREE parking.

Baseball fans can head to Dodger Stadium, home of former World Series champions Los Angeles Dodgers. You don’t want to go to Dodger Stadium without eating one of their famous Dodger Dogs.

Not only do we have professional sports champions, we also have our very famous city college rivals, the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans, who have brought team championships to the city of Los Angeles and both have brought their students and alumni. Return gold medals when they represented the United States throughout the years at the Olympics.

If you want to see another historic sports site, go to the Los Angeles Coliseum. Not only was it the home of the Rams, and then the Raiders, when Los Angeles used to have an NFL football team, but it was an important location for the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics. If you watched the Olympics , then he saw the Los Angeles Coliseum during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Athletics events. The Olympic Torch is still there.

While you’re at the Colosseum, it would be worth the walk to the California Science Center in Exposition Park. It is a great educational learning experience for both adults and children. The Sports Arena is in that general area. Also, within walking distance in that area are several museums that you might be interested in touring.

You don’t want to miss out on the 405 San Diego Freeway that runs along the west side of Los Angeles County so you can enjoy the bumper-to-bumper traffic we all experience so often. Most people in the area call it the largest parking lot in the world. Your foot uses the brake of your car while burning that expensive gasoline. Usually you are at a full stop or traveling at a snail’s pace. Just hope they don’t have a car accident on the freeway in front of you because the snail would really win it in a race.

If you are leaving from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is right next to Playa del Rey on the west end of the city, you can take Highway 405 and head north. When you can finally get through the traffic, you can visit the J. Paul Getty Museum, which is just before you hit the valley.

You can go to Marina del Rey, north of the airport, where you can enjoy a dinner cruise on the ocean or bring your fishing pole and go out on one of the fishing boats all day or just hang out in Fisherman’s Village overlooking the Pacific. Ocean and has food, drink and gift shops. There are places near most of the beaches where you can rent bicycles. There is a Bike Path that runs along the side of the Pacific Ocean right on the beach. If you like to skate, skate and / or skateboard, then you will really like Venice Beach.

Normally from the west side of Los Angeles, if you are on or near Playa del Rey and you look up, you can see planes taking off over the ocean. If you are somewhere east of the airport, you can see the planes coming in for a landing. But if you look up and see a helicopter, don’t be confused. This is probably not a guided helicopter tour. Most likely it is the Los Angeles Police Department helicopter chasing a suspect with media helicopters trying to fire and trying their best to stay out of the way. Police car chases are very common around here. You hear emergency vehicle sirens coming from all directions. But that’s the best thing about Los Angeles for keeping our city nice and safe.

To be fair, as a traveler, you really need to make the safety of yourself and your family a top priority, no matter what city in the world you visit.

If you want to do another cruise, you can go to Catalina Island. You can go there, have a little fun and come back the same day if you want or you can stay several days if you really like it. There are numerous activities out there.

Another historic site you don’t want to miss is the corner of Florence and Normandie avenues, which was where the 1992 Los Angeles riots began. Most of the businesses that caught fire during that time have since been rebuilt, so, of course, they look much better and more modern. Others may never be rebuilt.

At the southern tip of Los Angeles County is Long Beach, where you can see the Queen Mary ship that is docked. You can tour the ship. Also, while in Long Beach, you can visit the Aquarium of the Pacific for an underwater adventure. Like the California Science Center, it is another great educational learning opportunity for both adults and children.

To go shopping, it depends on what interests you. You can get just about anything you can think of in the malls that are everywhere. The Del Amo Mall in Torrance (the southern part of Los Angeles County) is one of the largest shopping malls in the United States. If you’re looking for discounted clothing and other products, head to the downtown Los Angeles garment district. If you want the expensive stuff, go down Rodeo Drive and the Wilshire Boulevard area in Beverly Hills. Just east of Beverly Hills is the Grove, where you can visit the Farmers Market that has been serving Los Angeles since 1934. The area has changed, expanded, and built in recent years.

Wilshire Boulevard is one of the main shopping streets in Los Angeles that runs from the beach to downtown Los Angeles. So if you want to drive down Wilshire Boulevard just for fun, you can start at the Santa Monica Pier overlooking the Pacific Ocean and take you through the cities of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles. When you arrive downtown, be sure to check out the Los Angeles Civic Center area.

Another interesting street to drive for fun is Crenshaw Boulevard. You can start at Wilshire Blvd and head south on Crenshaw Boulevard. It will take you through downtown Los Angeles. Your journey will take you through Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall, Leimert Park in the Crenshaw District, then through Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Torrance, Rolling Hills Estates, and all the way down until you end at Rancho Palos Verdes in South. Bay. Los Angeles County area.

Check the Los Angeles Convention Center hours. They always have some kind of entertainment, business or informational seminars, exhibitions or workshops. You may find something going on that you might want to attend.

There are countless food and beverage locations throughout the Los Angeles area, from fine dining restaurants to fast food places and every shade of gray in between that will satisfy any appetite. You just have to find the ones that suit your taste. There are all kinds of entertainment, dancing, activities and shows, even in addition to all the things mentioned above.

If you are not visiting someone who has a car they can use, you should probably rent a car because waiting for public transportation in Los Angeles will consume most of your vacation time. Have fun.

Arts Entertainments

"The good, the bad and the ugly" Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti Western trilogy ends

The good, the ugly and the bad (Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo in Italian) – 4 stars (Excellent)

After enjoying unexpected commercial success with “A Handful of Dollars” and “For a Few Dollars More,” Italian director Sergio Leone ends his “Spaghetti Westerns” trilogy with “The Good, the Ugly, and the Bad.”

Surprisingly, even at this point in his masterful directing of Western films made in Spain, Leone would not enjoy a penny of the adulation of critics, as only the Laurel Awards would award a single award to Clint Eastwood for Action Performance, and that was as runner-up.

Hollywood and its stars ignored Sergio Leone as well as Johnny Depp. They refuse to acknowledge that even westerns or pirate movies can be cleverly made and have unique acting performances. Clint Eastwood is The Man with No Name, and Johnny Depp is the perfect pirate as Captain Jack Sparrow. There will never be another like it in these roles.

At least one film director, screenwriter and actor – Quentin Tarantino – has identified Leone’s The Good, The Bad and The Ugly as “the best directed film of all time.” It was Tarantino who gave the viewers “Reservoir Dogs.” “Pulp Fiction” and “Kill Bill (Vol. 1 and Vol.2)” among others.

But let’s go back to Leone, who helped write the script with Luciano Vincenzoni mainly. It was Vincenzoni who came up with the premise of the film (Three Rogues in Search of Treasure in the American Civil War era) and its title.

The triangle of rogues included The Good (Clint Eastwood, a professional gunman referred to as “Blondie” in this film who would become The Man With No Name in later Western films derived from his character), The Bad (Lee Van Cleef, a self-centered hit man known as “Angel Eyes”) and El Feo (Eli Wallach, a self-centered outlaw known as “Tuco”).

Simply put, the plot is to first establish the three rogues as genuine killers. Blondie then becomes a pseudo bounty hunter in association with Tuco, handing him over for the bounty, rescuing him before he is hanged, and repeating the process until Blondie leaves Tuco in the desert to die. Tuco survives and lives to find Blondie and return the favor.

When the blonde is about to die as Tuco forces her to walk through the desert, they are interrupted by a runaway, driverless carriage laden with corpses. Except one body, Bill Carson, lives long enough to tell Tuco where $ 200,000 worth of gold in exchange for water is buried. As Tuco goes for water, Carson tells Blondie the exact grave in a cemetery where the gold can be found. Suddenly, they have a compelling reason to become partners again.

Dressed in the Confederate uniforms of the dead, Tuco takes Blondie, who is on the verge of death, on a local Catholic mission led by Tuco’s brother, a priest. Blondie’s recovery is going well, but Tuco’s reconciliation with his brother is not.

Blondie and Tuco abandon the mission and end up being captured by Union soldiers and taken to a prison camp where Angel Eyes (now Union sergeant) is personally charged with torturing the captives. Angle Eyes notices the gold, makes his enforcer beat Tuco senseless, and learns the name of the cemetery. He then hands over Tuco for the reward, frees Blondie (who knows the exact location) and he and his gang of 5 thugs head to the graveyard with Blondie.

Tuco manages to escape on his way to being hanged, appears in a city that the Union forces have foolishly bombed and collides with Blondie, Angel Eyes and their gang of 5. Blondie and Tuco manage to kill the 5 thugs while Angel Eyes escapes. , and now the three are heading to the cemetery.

On the way to the cemetery, Blondie and Tuco encounter a full-blown Civil War battle on a bridge that crosses a river into the cemetery. They witness the continued carnage, blow up the bridge, and then the soldiers on both sides, as well as Blondie and Tuco, continue on their way.

Once in the cemetery, it is inevitable that the three rogues will face off in one of the largest Western confrontations ever filmed. The confrontation is filled with masterful panoramic shots of Leone, extreme close-ups, and a clever sequence of final events. If you haven’t seen this movie then you must, it might just be the best western movie ever made. If you’ve seen it, you should watch it again to better appreciate Sergio Leone’s masterful direction.

There are many great moments in this movie. Two of my favorites involved Tuco. In the first, while Tuco is in the bombed town, he manages to find a bathtub and take a bath. As he does so, a bounty hunter (remember Tuco still has a price on his head) confronts him naked in the bathtub.

At the beginning of the movie, the bounty hunter is one of three gunmen who confront Tuco and Tuco shoots all three. The one facing Tuco lost his right arm but lived and now shoots with his left arm. It reminds Tuco of his anguish and, as he does so, Tuco kills him with his weapon that is hidden under the water in the bubble bath. Tuco then utters this memorable phrase: “When you have to shoot, shoot, don’t talk.”

The other scene that I love is when Tuco walks miles and miles out of the desert and enters a town with a gun shop in front of him. After getting wet at a waterhole, he confronts the owner, remakes a pistol with parts from three other pistols, and then goes out to test the weapon.

Hit three standing figures down, turning them sideways, and then fire three shots to cut each one in half. Two figures fall immediately and the third remains standing. Tuco takes a shot of whiskey, then jumps up and when he lands, the third target falls. This is a boy’s movie, and you really need to be a boy to fully appreciate what I’m sharing here. Tuco’s role in this scene helped invent the word cool.

Viewers watching this movie at the time were unaware that Eli Wallach (Tuco) nearly died three times while playing his role.

He was nearly poisoned on set after drinking acid used to burn the bags filled with gold coins so that they would tear more easily when struck with a shovel. A movie technician had poured the acid into a lemon soda bottle and Wallach didn’t know it. He drank a lot of milk and ended the scene with a mouth full of sores.

In another scene where Wallach was about to be hanged while on a horse, the rope was severed by a pistol shot, but the frightened horse galloped for nearly a mile with Wallach’s hands tied behind him and the rope. still taut around his neck.

In a third scene, to cut off his captor’s handcuffs, Wallach places his captor on the train tracks and waits for a train to pass and break the chain attached to the handcuffs. He was one foot from the track and lowers his head to the ground as the train passes. The entire film crew and Wallach were unaware that the heavy iron steps protruded from each car and that any of the numerous iron step cars would have beheaded Wallach if he had raised his head.

Wallach would later acknowledge and complain in his autobiography that on-set safety was not one of Leone’s main concerns when directing the film.

For the record, Tuco’s full name in the film’s script was Tuco Benedito Pacífico Juan María Ramírez.

Since Sergio Leone barely spoke English and Eli Wallach barely spoke Italian, the two communicated in French. Because an international cast was employed, only Eastwood, Van Cleef and Wallach spoke in English and they were dubbed into Italian for the premiere in Rome. All the other members of the international cast spoke primarily French or Spanish and were later dubbed. This explains the fact that none of the dialogue in the film was completely in sync.

Here are three cool facts from the boys movie:

1) The stash of gold in the movie was $ 200,000, which doesn’t seem like a lot of money today. However, gold was $ 20 + an ounce in 1862 and $ 628 an ounce in 2006, so gold was actually worth more than $ 6 million in today’s money.

2) In the movie, Blondie (Clint Eastwood) used a Colt 1851 cartridge conversion revolver with silver snake grips, and an 1866 Winchester “yellow boy” with raised sights with ladder. Angle Eyes (Lee Van Cleef) used a Remington 1858 Army percussion revolver. Tuco (Eli Wallach) used a Colt 1851 Navy percussion revolver with a lanyard. The soldiers used Gatling pistols with drum magazines and Howitzer cannons.

3) Clint Eastwood wore the same poncho without replacement or cleaning during Leone’s three spaghetti westerns. In the second movie (For a few dollars more) you can visibly see that his poncho was mended after being punctured by 7 bullet holes from Ramon’s Winchester in A Fistful of Dollars. The patched area, originally on the left chest, is worn over Eastwood’s right shoulder blade in For a Few Dollars More.

With virtually no praise at the time, Sergio Leone’s “The Good, the Ugly and the Bad” is now considered a classic by many critics. It was part of Times “The 100 Best Movies” of the last century, and it’s one of the few movies to enjoy a 100% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes (rottentomatoes.com). The good, the bad, and the ugly are currently ranked fifth in the top 250 in the internet movie database, all of which is not bad at all for an Italian guy directing an American western.

Even the master film critic Roger Exert gives Leone his fair share as an excellent director and recognizes two other Sergio Leone films as unquestionable masterpieces: “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968) and “Once Upon a Time. In America”. (1984)).

Sergio Leone was born in the cinema. His father was Roberto Roberti (aka Vincenzo Leone), one of the pioneers of Italian cinema, and his mother was actress Bice Valerian. Sergio Leone was born in Rome in 1929 and died in Rome in 1989 of a heart attack. He remains one of the great directors in the history of cinema.

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

Technology

Role Playing Games for Android

Mobile phones have gotten more stylish over the years. First, the developers added cameras, the Internet, and now most smartphones can now play video games. They are not cheap games like Snake or Tetris either. Smartphones can play video games that are of the same quality as portable gaming devices.

One of the most recent smartphones released is Sony’s Xperia Play. Xperia Play has been rated the world’s first PlayStation certified phone. It is not only a phone, but it can also function as a portable gaming device. The controls are very similar to other Sony products, such as the PSP and the PS3 controller, just to name a few.

This means that you can finally play PlayStation-style video games with the convenience of a real control scheme. There is nothing more uncomfortable than playing games on your phone using the horrible number pad. The nice thing about Xperia Play is that some PlayStation Classic games will be making their way onto the system very soon.

Although there haven’t been any PlayStation RPG games available yet, it’s more than likely that Square Enix will release some of their Final Fantasy games on the platform. Final Fantasy VII, VIII and IX have been adapted for Sony’s PlayStation Network. The idea of ​​putting Final Fantasy VII (the most popular RPG ever made) on the Xperia Play could help Sony take over the market dominated primarily by Apple.

Zenonia 2 is an old school 16 Japanese RPG much like the old Final Fantasy games from the early 90’s. The 2D graphics are cute and the game itself is one of the best RPGs available on phones. Android. Although the game is heavily inspired by Japanese RPGs, it is actually made in Korea. However, I am sure it is a game that RPG fans will love to play.

Gurk is a game that players who grew up in the 80s will like. It’s an old-school-style video game that only costs 100KB to download. Despite Gurk’s very old graphics style, it is still in color and fun to play. There are 24 levels in total and a total of 23 monsters for you to find and kill. Gurk won’t be a game for modern gamers, but if you grew up playing Nintendo’s original game system, you will fall in love with its old-school style of play.

Another RPG available on Android phones is Dungeon Defenders: First Wave. The game is an online cooperative action RPG much like Torchlight and Baldur’s Gate. The game is free to download for most phones. The graphics are in 3D and look impressive for a game that costs nothing to download. Up to four players can play together online. It may be cliché and borrows elements from most other RPGs, however its visuals and multiplayer is what makes it quite fun.

Whether you have an Xperia Play or not, there are tons of RPGs to explore on Android phones. Many of them are free to download, so there is no excuse for you not to play any of the games offered here. Hopefully Square Enix will bring more Final Fantasy games to the Android market, as that will undoubtedly increase the popularity of the genre.

Business

Tips for choosing "Sleeping" Real estate ownership

Real estate investing is all about perception. Your perception of where the market is going, along with where it is actually going. The goal, as always, is to buy low and sell high.

You want to buy a cheap piece of land and sell it as a high-priced developed real estate property, after it appreciates enough to make a sizeable profit. Selling property is an art in itself.

Buying an initial piece of land lends itself to some solid and rational guidelines:

First, look at the trend lines for home prices in your area. While most housing markets are in decline (and housing markets in Florida and California are adjusting after more than a decade of overvaluation), there are markets where house prices are rising. This is a decent leading indicator that there is a market for expansion.

Second, look for work-related news. Buying a home requires a steady source of income. New employers moving to a city or opening a government branch are a strong indicator that good, well-paying jobs are likely to emerge. Where high-paying jobs rest, home purchases follow.

In relation to this, speak with your local city planning office. Are there recent purchases of “rights of way” to install sewer lines? Is the local phone cable making plans to deplete fiber optic lines, a “must have” trend in new home construction? These things point to areas where home growth is immanent. Other big signs are the issuance of school bonds (found in the local newspaper) and the opening of new parks.

Before looking at the land, check the use of adjacent commercial real estate. Look for “family friendly” or “home friendly” commercial properties – Homes that are close to grocery stores and clothing stores tend to command a higher price than those that are further away. If there is a movie theater nearby, or plans for an elementary or high school, consider the size of the houses you will build and what your amenities will be; buyers looking for those features are looking for “superior” homes, with a little more floor space and two (or three) bedrooms for the kids. Other places to look are anchor stores such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy. These companies spend millions on surveys of shopping patterns before buying a store location; If you are buying a parcel of land, you have about a year to a year and a half period to search for single-family residential and rental properties in nearby real estate.

You can even turn this around – if you can talk to a group of commercial real estate investors, building a mall as a hub for home development is also a viable combined strategy. This also applies to very urban areas. Many downtown areas that have been abandoned by businesses may be converted to apartment buildings, and some of the older housing projects are being torn down for mixed-use spaces with combined commercial and residential areas. In particular, you can often get block grants to help finance projects like this, and there are HUD programs that can help a lot with “urban renovations.”

Another source to research is the demographics in your area. Look at the US Census figures (and local county figures) to see the median age and per capita birth rate. You want to invest in areas where the population is already growing. The high biases in the 1940s and 1950s indicate that there is a group of people who will be retiring soon, and retirees are very likely to sell property. Places to look closely are most urban parts of California and large swaths of the rural Midwest, where demographic trends have been shifting entire towns since the 1950s as the country’s population has moved into the areas. urban.

If there is a local planning council or urban development council, be sure to get the minutes of all meetings from the past year. The city council offices will have them on file as a matter of public record. Also try to participate in the next series of meetings as an observer. Discuss with city and county managers where they see housing and construction trends moving. What you are looking for is real estate that will be desirable in two or three years; look at road planning atlases and find all the data you can find. Also look for real estate that is picturesque – lakefront property is the closest to a guaranteed bet you can get in real estate investments, particularly if there is a lake that is at the “far end” of a development hub. Likewise, if there is land the city is looking to acquire for parks, buying the adjacent lots now means you can sell it later.

Finally, talk to professionals in your communities. Talk to architects who can tell you if they are busy or not. Maintain professional contacts with engineers, bankers and lawyers. Usually they will know about projects long before the general public. Also get in the habit of reading the business section of the local newspaper. Often times, the first clue that a business may move into your area is buried at the bottom of a column on page 8.

Using the guidelines suggested above will help you find “sleeper” raw earth properties. These “sleeper” properties are perfect for the buy low and sell high strategy used by successful commercial real estate investors.

Home Kitchen

How To Incorporate The Latest Design Trends Into Your Kitchen Cabinet Siding Project

You can update your kitchen incorporating new kitchen design trends by updating your existing kitchen cabinets. You may want to update your kitchen because prospective buyers will be willing to pay more for an attractive and functional modern kitchen. But a complete kitchen redesign can cost tens of thousands of dollars and take months to complete.

There are many kitchen design trends that you can use in your kitchen cabinet renovation project. You can provide new features for your kitchen cabinets, like making them light and clear white, putting in decorative glass doors, or using detailed cabinet hardware.

You can assume that the only way to get a custom look for your kitchen is to go with a total kitchen overhaul. But, with kitchen cabinet siding, you have all the benefits of a great custom remodel, like better storage and improved functionality, but without the more expensive price tag. Renovating doors and siding kitchen cabinets costs less than having a brand new kitchen installed or even installing new cabinets and doors.

Custom kitchen cabinet design isn’t the only way to achieve a custom look. Kitchen cabinet siding offers many design options, including a variety of handle styles and drawer pulls.

While you may be generally satisfied with the basic design of your kitchen, you can still give your kitchen a whole new look by fitting new cabinet doors into existing cabinet frames.

You can also upgrade the drawer pulls and cabinet hardware

It is possible to totally change from a traditional wooden kitchen design to a more modern contemporary look. Kitchen cabinets are highly changeable and easily customizable.

What does the touch-up of kitchen cabinets entail? Fine siding allows you to select custom materials, custom accessories, and custom styles to give your cabinets a like-new appearance. Laminate cladding materials are made from real furniture quality hardwoods such as birch, alder, maple, oak, cherry, and walnut. You can choose to make flat or raised panels, shakers, shaker boards, flange finishes, or high-end miter doors. With lining your existing kitchen cabinets, you can take advantage of the existing cabinet box structure as it is already in place and therefore you don’t need to remove countertops, spoil the flooring, or anything else. During a repair job, it’s also easy to hide the hinges, as well as hide the knob or handle hardware.

Creating a light and open look

Today, everyone wants their kitchen to look bright and open. When selecting a cabinet front, try adding a white cabinet door. The light color will bring a crisp look to your kitchen and make the space more welcoming.

Remove the cabinet doors

If you have old cabinets that are in good condition, you can simply remove the doors entirely. You can turn your existing cabinets into open shelving. Interior shelves can be removed or reconfigured within existing cabinet frames for a completely modern and updated look.

You can remove just a few cabinet doors and use those cabinets to display dishes and glassware.

Digital Marketing

How to write clearly: the ten most important principles

  1. Use short sentences. An average of 10 to 20 words per sentence is acceptable today. Long sentences are tiring and, in most cases, can be shortened by throwing out unnecessary words.
  2. Prefers the simple over the complex. The Englishman, HW Fowler and his brother in their famous book ‘The King’s English’, put it best: “Prefer the familiar word to the unlikely. Prefer the concrete word to the abstract one. Prefer the single word to circumlocution. Prefer the short word over the long term. He prefers the Saxon word to romance. “
  3. Prefer the familiar word. Most people’s conversation is limited to about 3,000 words. Well-educated people probably know between 20,000 and 30,000 words. It all depends on who you write for. Everyone will understand common words and virtually any idea can be expressed with a vocabulary of just 3,000 words. Avoid using unfamiliar words simply to impress or force the reader to go to the dictionary (they won’t).
  4. Avoid unnecessary words. Imagine that there is a tax to pay for the words used. Think of each word, “Can it be cut?” Writing gains clarity when it is concise.
  5. Use action verbs. “He drove very fast on the highway.” Much better it is, sped down the road. “The words ‘very fast’ are adjectives used to strengthen the word ‘drove.’ ‘Accelerated’, or perhaps, ‘ran’, is better because of the psychology of the reader. People prefer facts to “Sped” is a fact, “very fast” is an opinion.
  6. Write while you talk. The written word is a substitute for the spoken word. The habit of writing as if you were speaking almost always leads to clearer writing. Just remove the ‘ums’ and ‘er’s’ and the repetitions that usually appear in the spoken word.
  7. Terms of use that your reader can imagine. However, avoid abstract words whenever possible. Aesop’s fables have been read for thousands of years because he turned abstractions like greed, envy, and anger into stories that could be enacted. Jesus did this also with his parables.
  8. Connect with your reader’s experience. Put yourself in the shoes of your reader, otherwise he or she might understand your words but misinterpret your meaning. The reader may have a different foundation than the writer. A good example is in politics, where people from one nation who speak of aggression may appear hypocritical to the other nation due to preconceptions about who the aggressor is from each side’s point of view.
  9. Use variety. Most prose, even if the subject is serious, may contain some humor, some surprise, perhaps some personal injection. Avoid monotonous flat prose.
  10. Write to express, not to impress. It still happens all too often that people turn to long, unfamiliar words and meandering prose, especially when making formal announcements. The cops say, “the thief was arrested”, no, “we caught the thief.” The signs say, “Please don’t smoke” instead of “Please don’t smoke.” Nobody actually uses the word “chorus” in normal conversation, so why use it in an ad? It is done to sound important, to make the ad sound official, to impress, not to express.