Category: Government & Politics
Posted by
admin on January 22, 2010 |
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When I am looking to visit a new country, state, city or town, I like to have a good idea of what events took place in the history and who lived there. To me finding a room at one of the modern hotels around Georgia,
click here, is like putting myself into such an historical state. The history of the area and the famous people who came from there is truly amazing. There is so much about the early American Wars, so much to fill the museums all over the state. The people like Martin Luther King Jr. and
Jimmy Carter are amazing figures that contributed so much to our country. There are endless entertainers and athletes that come from the state of Georgia it is so incredible.
One of those most incredible musicians is Ray Charles. He is a true legend of American music history. He was considered a music genius and his career started in the 1950s. His learning of himself and the music he created was endless. The soul he put into his music was undeniable ignited by his early life living in the south with country, blues, gospel, big band and jazz music all around him. He was born during the depression and that was a heavy line that ran through his family as they struggled to put food on the table. He was fairly happy until the age of five.
Age five is when he witnessed his brother drown in the portable laundry tub. Soon after he went blind by the age of seven. His mother, however, wouldn’t let him loose himself in pity and worked with him to be independent even though he could not see. He was always interested in playing the piano and so he became a charity student at the St. Augustine school for the deaf and blind. That is where he received his musical training. He learned to score music in braille.
He liked all the greats of major music categories and he studied them well. He went on to have quite the up and down hill ride in life but also inspired generations of people both now gone and not yet born.
Tags: Jimmy Carter, Ray Charles
Posted by
admin on September 27, 2009 |
No commentsAfter the attacks of September 11, 2001, financial and banking institutions have been inundated with increased regulatory oversight for the increase potential of money laundering activities . A good example of this is the identification of terrorist activities concerning any funding or finances has been added to the list of anti-money laundering (AML) issues . These previously only focused on stopping other forms of illegal activities, such as drug cartels or organized crime.
The US Congress, as an effort to first detect and then combat terrorist funding, has ratified the USA Patriot Act that provides a stringent AML regulations and will impose harsher penalties for financial institutions and banks if found they are non-compliant. These regulations will extend beyond the United States federal legislation to groups like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which was created by the Group of 7 Finance Ministers that are requiring banks who do business globally, to comply to the ever increasing onerous international AML regulations.
The potential loss of a bank’s reputation is only secondary to AML’s primary concerns of compliance with the regulatory requirements. But, any bank can reach beyond basic regulatory compliance if they think strategically, which will give them solutions to help benefit and not exploit business.
There will be issues with financial organizations and banks to achieve regulatory compliance, they are expected to improve AML capabilities into practice immediately and are to deter, detect and report any suspicious activity. The issue banks and financial organizations will run into will be establishing a AML policy and procedures across all aspects of their organization, appoint a corporate AML officer, implement a AML training program for all directors and employees, improve upon due-diligence for new and existing customers and proactively monitor and detect any suspicious activities.
The AML offers little specific directions regarding their fundamental mandate, so many companies have come to the aid and offering solutions to any company, financial institution and banks who deal globally around the world.
Tags: anti-money laundering, Finance Ministers, money laundering activities, regulatory requirements
Posted by
admin on July 21, 2009 |
No commentsDubai UAE is a thriving metropolis and its citizens are representative from societies and cultures from around the world. This is one of the features that the legal structure and social service oriented institutions supports. Various monuments and activity centers testify to this and celebrate the diverse nature of Dubai and its citizens as well as the many tourists that visit the region every year. The four star Dubai hotels also reflect the progressive and diverse nature of the city and population.
Irish pubs are not the first thing one thinks of one imagining pictures and the various elements of Dubai. However, the Irish population and as well as various venues reflect the population and its popularity in the region. The Irish Village in the Aviation Club is one of the more prominent Irish institutions in the city and offers everything from festivals, events, Irish food and of course drink from this little green country. The pub is a wooden building that reflects the comfort and quiet associated with some of the small Irish villages. It is certainly the best way to experience Ireland while visiting Dubai. It is sponsored by the Irish Society of Dubai, which also promotes the culture and various programs associated with Irish society.
The Irish Village also celebrates traditions from other parts of the world. Its annual hop fest is one of the ways it does this. The 2009 celebration is marks the fifth year in a row that this event has taken place. It takes place in August of every year, and this year it is August 13, 14, and 15. It is an incredible taste adventure and features over 120 beers from around the world. Of course the traditional Guinness Stout will remain one of the most popular offerings at the festival, though many people come to try new and exotic beers that they don’t normally have access to. There will also be live entertainment offered in the outdoor, air-conditioned marquee.
Tags: dubai, four star hotels, genius, Irish food, Irish Village
Posted by
admin on July 13, 2009 |
No commentsOne of the best times to visit Barcelona is just around the corner. When the temperatures in the city heat, the prices decrease. The city is filled with many beautiful options to choose from as far as the five star Barcelona hotels, the various museums and plazas, and the plethora of seafood restaurants and charming bars and cafes. The people of the city have a spirit and and exuberance towards the joy of living. When the sun sets, the tourists will find many of the outdoor cafes a buzz with activity, with street performers and vendors lining the street. Many people in the city begin their evenings later than many travelers are accustomed to back at home. Dinner is served beginning at nine o’clock and often times right up until Midnight. Now bear in mind that the way people eat in Spain is different from say those in the United States. A typical late night dinner in Spain consists of smaller portions of healthy food, olives and tomatoes and such, bread and wine. Many soups and seafood dishes are on the menus as well as salads and rice.
Once dinner is over, the locals will then head to the bars and cafes. There are literally hundreds to choose from in the city, ranging from quiet and romantic to the discos and clubs with DJs pumping music until the wee hours of the morning. Many of the bars serve tapas throughout the night, small plates of ‘tastes’ of food to nibble on. Of the many locations around the city, a few of the hot spots are the Barri Gotic and Mercat del Born. Both of these areas are well known for their selection of taverns. And once the fun is over for the evening, many pastry shops and located throughout these same areas offering espressos and cappuccinos, as well as an array of delicious morning sweets. The markets open up, with fresh fruit and vegetables available at the hawker stands. In the markets on can also find fresh flowers, cheeses and art galleries. Barcelona is one of the best spots in the world for those who enjoy walking and becoming totally immersed in the culture and the people.
Tags: Barcelona, five star hotels, Markets, Morning, Night, seafood
Posted by
admin on July 7, 2009 |
No commentsJaipur is one of India’s most colorful cities, just walking through the markets and bazaars is treat for the eyes. The colors and the textures along the markets streets, have been a favorite spot for inspiration for international painters and photographers for decades. Some come here just for that inspiration, while others travel to the region, find one of the best Jaipur hotels to set up camp, and then hit the streets ready to shop. For many, this is one of the most important segments of their itinerary, and it is no wonder, for as well as the many options of some of the finest handcrafts and artistry in the world, this is one of the places where the culture and the heritage is the most vibrant, the market stalls and the food vendors, the locals and the tourists all combine to make this one of the most vibrant aspects of any vacation to this country.
The bazaars are filled with everything from antiques, carpets and rugs, gems and jewelery crafts, and the finest of leather and metal work in the world. While there are market throughout the city, some of the main ones include, Bapu Bazaar, Nehru Bazaar, Kishanpol Bazaar and the Mahiharon Ka Rasta. There are really no words to describe the abundance and the variety of items up for sale throughout these markets. The best way to understand, is to just visit in person, and wonder through the incredible energy and activity that takes place on a day to day basis in this area. No trip is complete in Jaipur without spending some in this hustle and bustle.
The carpet and fabrics found in these shops are of the finest quality in India, and are hand-crafted with the traditional techniques of the ancestors of the artists creating those same items today. The colors are out of the world, and many throughout the other cities of the country come to Jaipur for their own rugs and floor coverings or for the fabrics in which to make their own clothing. The leather crafted items and the handicrafts are also highly sought after for their aesthetic beauty and their artistic precision and quality. This is the capital of crafts in India, of which is often patronized by the Jaipur’s Royal Family. These artists and artisans are top notch and any art lover must stop in the markets of Jaipur, on each and every trip to the country.
Tags: Bazaars, india, Jaipur, Markets
Posted by
admin on June 11, 2009 |
No commentsDuring the 20th Century, the United States was shifting ideas on cultural and moral issues,and this is exemplified by the city of New York USA, hotel and tourism businesses, the arts, the community and the Mayor of NYC in the 1920′s. James J. Walker. Walker was elected mayor in 1925, after spending the first half of the decade as a Democratic senator. This was a time in American History of easy ideas of virtue, money and vice. Walker was the personification of attitudes of rebellion during the era, attitudes that went against the restrictions placed upon society and culture. The ban on the sale of alcohol had begun with the Volstead Act of 1919, and although it was illegal to sell it, it was not illegal to consume it. The nightclubs had been providing release and social interaction, and the US government professed that this was immoral and was looking to discourage the newest craze, nightclubbing, in New York City. For at no other time in US history had there been such a concentration of clubs, than on 42nd Street, in New York City.
Walker, like other city mayors such as the Daley’s of Chicago today,tended to look the other way when their cities are thriving, even if it be through means not necessarily legal. When Walker became the mayor of the city, more than thirty-two thousand ‘speakeasies’ were in operation. This was a booming industry in the city, and Walker looked the other way, at the same time pushing legislation through which made him the endearment of the working class, the legalization of baseball, movies, boxing and post-service entertainment on Sundays. He understood the need for entertainment and relief from the work week and was in turn, elected mayor. For the people of New York at this time, he was their mayor. A man with the charisma that rivaled even the most celebrated stars of Broadway. And for a very long time, in the history of the city, he was well loved, and he provided an abundance of opportunity to the citizens of his city.
Tags: hotels new york, Jimmy Walker, new york, new york usa hotel
Posted by
admin on March 28, 2009 |
No commentsIt is said, that in the United States, according to an out-dated, but never up-dated book of laws, that it is still legal for a husband to use a whip on his wife provided the welts left by the whip do not exceed the width of his own thumb. Hence the saying, “Rule of Thumb”. No doubt this is an urban myth, but in the city-state of Singapore whipping with a cane is legal, in the judiciary system as well as domestically. It is outlawed by the United Nations Convention Against Torture, however, Singapore has never signed to the Convention. And although much press has been given to cases in the past, and Amnesty International has condemned the legalized practice cruel and inhuman, it is still a widely used form of corporeal punishment.
Caning is legal in the home, in schools-private, reform, public and military. However the most severe forms, and one of the sad things that Singapore is widely known for around the world, is the practice of caning in the judicial and prison systems. Caning is a punishment reserved for the male population. Domestic and scholastic canings are carried out on younger children of either sex, but for the corporeal punishment sentenced by the courts, the requirement is that the subject be a male between the ages of 18 and 50, and must be proven to be in good physical health. Far from the Singapore luxury hotels, in a court room a judge will sentence caning, concurrent with a jail term, as no caning is sentenced to those that in the end to not go to jail. Sentences of caning are handed out to those who are convicted of robbery, rape, assault and prostitution. The famous case of the American student, Michael Fay, created outrage as he was struck with the cane four times, for spray painting cars. Vandalism yes, but he received the same kind of punishment as one who is convicted of rape.
There are precautions taken, padding to protect vital organs and specified areas on the body where one is allowed to cane another. Most often times the punished are caned across the buttocks. Medical attention is provided afterward, but this practice often mutilates the area and leaves permanent and sometimes horrific scars. All canings take place in one session, unless the one receiving the blows is deemed medically unfit to continue. In that case, the remaining strokes are delivered at a later date.
Tags: hotels, luxury, singapore