Corruption cases surrounding some of the top military leaders in Indonesia had broken the news, a lot of the news in the past.  Media coverage had created a stir as well as the discussions between President Suharto, during his term, and many different international corporations.  The CEO’s of corporations that had been doing business in the country for many years, finally went to the President and let him know that various military personnel over the years had made the pay fees in order to secure their doing business in Indonesia.

This form of extortion, as well as the other forms of corruption such as money laundering are issues that the United States has been dealing with.  The U.S.Patriot Act was created following 9/11 and is a list of the definitions of corruption as well as the laws surrounding that corruption.  This was mainly created to end terrorist financing, and what has been shown in the last years of investigations is that when there is one iron in the fire, there is usually many more.

This means that money laundering is evidence of a another crime being covered up, so in the case with the Indonesian military, the bribery and the extortion leads one to consider just what else may have been going on.  The economic status of the country was not good, and is got worse as more and more countries refused to engage in any kind of business relationships.  That servd to create more poverty, and the degradation of the reputation of the country, and of the honest and moral President Suharto.

The organization of Transparency International has settled on a definition of corruption that is simple, focused and clear.  Corruption is any act taken for one’s private or personal gain, in which one has misused power to the detriment of others.  There are two aspects to the definition.  One is corruption that is according to the rule.  In this case it applies to such actions as paying a bribe to another party in order to facilitate treatment that is preferential, for actions that are required by the law.

The other aspect is called corruption that goes against the rule.  This would involve a bribe that would result in services that are not legal according to the law.  The policy of transparency and the way in which it relates to anti-corruption endeavors is that everyone whom is affected by the actions of the government, be it in business transactions, decisions made on the administrative level or any work regarding to charitable foundations, must be aware of the figures, the facts and the processes.

This holds those in civil service positions to act predictably, in clear vision of the public for which they serve and those with whom they do business.  Transparency International,  founded in 1993, acknowledges the fact that during the last decade they, and other agencies have been quite successful in the fight against corruption, but that there are still many challenges to overcome.  The founding principles of TI have been that they are a non-confrontational organization that works towards the building of coalitions, and proceeding with their actions one step at a time.

These principles remain to be the backbone of the work in which they take part.  The only way to combat corruption is through the combined efforts of the civilians, the businesses and the government.  All aspects of a society must come together and work with an agreed upon set of procedures and standards.  The one step at a time concept deals with the idea that one massive sweep can not knock it out, but that it takes the concerted and patient effort of a process that is taking step by step.

The Seattle Mariners announced that they will celebrate Earth Day. I didn’t know what that exactly meant, so I went on-line to their home page found out what they have planned for the day. I was completely impressed. So, while I was on their official site, I purchased Sports Tickets, which I’ve never done, but just for the Earth Day event.

Before the game even starts the Major League Baseball is sponsoring the first carbon-neutral game. This includes implementing a recycling program for plastic, paper, if necessary, glass and food scraps. The Mariners have reportedly bought ‘green’ power credits which will off-set a sizable carbon footprint when a game is played. The money is supposed to fund a renewable energy facility. There will be wind farms popping up throughout the entire Northwest. Apparently, on ballgame produces over 230 tons of carbon dioxide! I would’ve never guest that, at all. The reason why is one must consider all the flight travel for both teams. All the ground transportation for fans, all the electricity, especially if a game is at night. The energy it takes to dispose and recycle the waste generated for one game.

At the pre-game Earth Day celebration, the CEO of the Mariners admits buying the carbon offsets isn’t enough, but that it is a beginning. Then the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox was recognized for their environmental installation of solar powered trash compactors at Fenway Park. Plus, the solar panels which will be used for all the hot water used at the park. It was really awe-inspiring to actually see the sports industry take on global issues such as taking measures to help with our environment. I would’ve never in a million years would’ve thought that any sports enthusiast even new we were in an environmental crisis. But, I was wrong and happily so.

When one takes off for a Berwick holiday in Great Britain, and if one is fond of the out doors, of picnics and mountain bike riding, and long leisurely walks or serious hikes, one must find their way to theNorthumberland National Park.  The park and the surrounding villages are set amongst the beautiful Cheviot Hills, which offer not only picturesque landscapes that will capture the attention of those interested in photography orplein air painting, but many opportunities for biking paths of various levels of difficulty.  Many visitors choose to start out their adventures in the village of Wooler.

This is known as the gateway to the park and to the hills.  There is a main thoroughfare through the city with many boutiques and shops, working artists’ studios and market places.  This is one the best starting points for hikes and biking, one of the longer courses runs right through the center of town.  Many find the archaeological remains of College Valley and Yeavering Bell to be extremely interesting stops on any walking trip through the Cheviot Hills.  Another great location for hikes, one of the most visually dramatic and peaceful spots in the National Park is College Valley.  Located close by is the trail that leads to the top of the mountains.  One may take the trek on their own, however there are many guided tours for those not familiar with the area.  The four trails are the Ring Chesters Round, the River and Ramparts Ramble, the Hethas Hike and the Four Forts Foray.  Each of the trails begins and finishes as the car lot, which is convenient.  There are maps available as well, for each of the hikes.

Another interesting location to visit, located in the country just outside of Wooler is the The Fenton Center.  This is part museum and part educational facility that was opened during 2005 and has become a resource for those interesting in further exploring the cultural history and heritage of the region, as well as the diverse array of wildlife that lives within the parks and the hillsides.  This center is located on the grounds of a farm, which adheres to a policy of diversity and environmental ideas.  There is an art gallery that exhibits the world of artists’ of the region as well as a cafe and a restaurant.  This area has a wide range of activities, with a little bit of something to offer to everyone.

The United Nations has ten principles in regards to the terms of anti-corruption.  The tenth principle was added in 2004, when following a UN Summit of global leaders, it was decided that the realm of fighting corruption is one in which the private sector and private companies of the world must be involved.  This addresses the fact that their are many challenges in this fight, and the cooperation of as many organizations is necessary.  This also speaks volumes to the willingness that international companies have shown regarding this global issue.  This tenth principle states that businesses are now required to report on all forms of corruption, including bribery and extortion.

Even as many advances have been made over the last ten years in the fight against extortion, money laundering and the financing of terrorist activities, there is an even greater need to continue diligence, as corruption remains to be one of the greatest challenges in the countries of the wold.  The impact corrupt practices has on the poor societies is immense, and the very fabric and knit of a community is threaten when these types of criminal activities are occurring.  The development of sustainable societies and cultures is hindered when the risks are not taken seriously and handle with rapid efficiency.

And when a community is affected, so too are the local businesses.  Competition gets skewed, financial growth diminishes, and the reputation of a region as seen throughout the eyes of the world will falter.  Not only do all these aspects destroy businesses, but the very act of crimes of bribery and extortion are an expensive monthly expense.  Bribery alone, is now a one trillion dollar industry in and of itself.  Companies throughout the world are realizing that in order to protect their shareholder’s interests and protect their personal reputations, they must join in this effort.  Many internal operations are now including the concepts of integrity and ethics, as part of the business day.

I hate the outdoors, but it happened to me one day during an adventure outdoors. I was about 11 years old and school had given us a map. We were supposed to check it out all during school time. This was for my outdoor education class. After studying the map for a bit inside a stairwell in-between classes and I began to panic. An upper classmate walked by and seemed to understand my panic. He said ‘Outdoor Ed?’ I nodded and and indicated for me to follow him. We went out the exit and walked down a sidewalk and turned left. He pointed saying ‘It’s at the bottom of those stairs.’

The ’stairs’ turned out to be indentations in the graveled dirt. It went along the back side of the school which is kind of tricky footing after a good rain. My upper classmate patted me on the back and  left me. I traveled carefully along the dirt stairs. It lead to a big storage area, there were folding chairs set up at a few long tables. There were even what seemed like outdoor kitchen cabinets surrounding the area and a large blackboard secured to one of the cabinets. As I sat down, I noticed a bulletin board, secured to another cabinet, which had a colorful topographical map of Colorado on it. This didn’t appear to be an outdoor adventure, per se, but it was an adventure as a teacher, one I’ve never seen before, proceeded tell us all about Colorado. He started with the counties and gave us detailed descriptions of what was to be found or what was different about the county compared to the previous county he discussed.

I remember that day clearly, he took us on a virtual tour of Colorado, he told stories of pioneers of gold digging and of sheer adventure. It was like I was there in every aspect. Now that’s an outdoor adventure I’ll do any day.

Summer time is upon us and the time is to chill out in the sun, start firing up the built in grills or relax at the beaches. Summer time also means it’s time to get your body into shape. That’s if you want to be noticed as you chill out in the sun, flipping burgers at the grill or walking along the beach. And do you want people will notice all the hard work you put into building your body and ask how you got ripped to shreds? Well, hang on to your hat’s because it’s rip time.

If you ask any body trainer, they will tell you using heavy weights will build up bulk and that using lighter weights will define and bring out that sought after ripped look in the muscles. But, I found a way on how to get ripped without wasting precious time and energy on useless exercises. I found out the truth about weight versus lightweight ways of building muscle mass, a way of getting cut and ripped. What everyone knows about getting shredded is complete wrong. There is no scientific basis to support this type of weight training at all.

The fact is, it’s not possible to spot reduce our body. It’s not possible to target any one specific area of the body for fat loss. Such as performing squats with light weights will not burn fat off your legs and make them look hard and cut. Every time you workout and lift a dumbbell, a barbell or cable it, think about stimulating as much muscle fiber to grow as humanly possible without steroids. The mindset needs to be changed and you need to forget about all of that illogical advice claiming to get a certain area of the body hard and ripped. So, if you want to know what it’s like to get ripped to shreds, one solution is to train as hard as you can and start combining exercises to your workout to target your entire body and not just specific parts of your body.

Identity theft has become an epidemic in the United States. With the advent of the debit card and people only using credit, credit, credit, it has become increasingly easier for identity thieves to get a hold of your information.

There used to be a time where identity thieves were required to be quite crafty to get your information, now with more people choosing to buy online, they can do it in the comfort of their own home.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that about 9 million Americans have their identity stolen each year. And sometimes the aftermath is a grim one.  Here are some of the ways that thieves get your information: dumpster diving, skimming, phishing, changing your address, stealing and pretexting.

Okay sure, dumpster diving and stealing, but what do the rest of them mean? Skimming is when thieves steal your credit card number by using a fancy storage device, like after you card is swiped. Phishing is when they pretend to be a financial or other type of collection agency and they get you to give up your information. Pretexting is when they bait financial institutions or phone companies to give up your personal information.

Most people do not find out about identity theft until it happens and the damage has been done. Most banks will not force you to pay any amount that was incurred on your credit or debit card if your identity was stolen, but other people are not so lucky.

The internet has become a hot bed of identity theft because there are less than stellar companies out there that will take advantage of you. This is one of the reasons Steve Barbarich started his own company after attempting to buy a Jacuzzi online. He found that the retailers had almost zero customer service and did not care about their customers.

Be wary of where you spend your money online. Go for reputable businesses.

For the savvy world traveler looking for a perfect luxury hotel, Dubai holds the answer.  Located in an international hotspot for culture and commerce, Dubai city offers wonderful accommodations in a desert paradise.  There are beaches and mouth-watering restaurants, and a rich urban culture that is on the brink of some fantastic new identities.  A place already rich in multicultural expressions, Dubai is a study in fascinating shifts, where cultures come in contact with one another to form new combinations.

Gurukul Dubai is one of these combinations, started by renowned Kathak dancer Pali Chandra.  Now the artistic director of Gurukul Dubai, her life mission is to promote South Asian Art and Culture the whole world over.  Bringing Indian dance forms to the UAE is an interesting prospect, and Gurukul is certainly capable of fulfilling its mission.  It began in 1990 Lucknow, India, and then took root in England over the next 15 years.  Now centered in Dubai, and busy offering workshops and performances in Kathak dance, Gurukul has plans to participate in global dance festivals in the coming years.

Part of a wave of international dance forms being taught and studied in Dubai, Pali Chandra sees this as part of a cultural evolution that is part of the heart of Kathak.  A traditional style that is developed to unite the body with the mind and spirit, Kathak is a unique form of storytelling, that has peculiarly stunning appeal in live performance.  Although many of the local dance trends see it as another form of exercise, the practice is very serious, and honors a long tradition of Indian dance.  Gurukul is very focused in its mission while maintaining many simultaneous and very ambitious projects.  They have an environmental project, a Green Orchestra, which had an audience of 2,000 at Global Village in February, 2008, and a project devoted to various aspects of Kathak dance called Rhythm Shift, which was performed at the World Theatre in Global Village.

It might be commonplace among savvy travelers that for excellence in hotels, Dubai, UAE is a breed apart.  The gorgeous beaches and rich urban environment speak to a city built for international guests looking for an experience deep in luxury and culture.  Expectations run high, and it is no small fete that the same guests return year after year.  Recently, Dubai has been experiencing a surge in international residents, as economic opportunity grows along with a fascinating artistic identity.

This artistic identity is a key piece to the puzzle that is Dubai, a port city that has always been in touch with the world at large, but suddenly connecting to global artistic themes, and even setting trends, as never before.  With extremely knowledgeable scholars and critics, and a very smart and sophisticated artist base, there is a dialogue in the city that every traveler picks up on.  Bidoun Magazine is one beautiful example of this savvy in print.  Begun in 2003 as a forum for writing about art, culture, and contemporary life, this quarterly is achieving a Harper’s level of status, and the organization that puts out the magazine is also sponsoring highly-visible public events.  There is no doubt that culture is being reflected in the pages, and possibly, and even likely, is also being shaped here.

Antonia Carver, one of Bidoun’s more visible editors, speaks to the surge in art activity in the past few years as stemming from a few key high-ticket auction items that brought the art world’s attention to the city.  There is also, she suggests, a number of other factors at work here.  The other factor is one of the larger art fairs, Art Dubai, which has grown exponentially, due in large part to the visionary efforts of the organizers, as well as the city’s ability to respond to such efforts.  Whatever the cause, it is certainly a fascinating and complex theme, and many variations on the theme, and many more, are played on with intellectual deftness, and a wicked sense of humor, in Bidoun.

When I first saw a report about how Dubai, apparently running out of shoreline, started to build it’s own artificial man-made island in the shape of a palm tree called The Palm Islands. An artificial island to accommodate the best Hotels and Restaurants Dubai has to offer. It was built with dredgers loaded with sand and tons of intricate and complicated engineering so amazing and spectacular. But, all that complication seems not to be necessary. In Mexico, a person found some broken discarded fishnets and combined them with empty water bottles and some dirt to create was in called Spiral Island. Mexico attempted to annex this island and turn it into a tourist attraction.

It amazes me that if we have the technology to create land, then why do we, the human race, go to war over land?  Instead of waiting for mother nature to slowly create more land via a volcanic activity, which can take hundreds or thousands of years, let just keep adding on to our coast lines. I know, according to Global Warming, that currently we are losing coast line. But, we are an innovative society, we like to build wonderful amazing things. Even the earlier tribes in Peru, a pre-Incan people, got creative and build The Uros, a group of man-made islands that have been in exsistance for hundreds of years. Now, that didn’t take a something like the massive and extremely expensive undertaking of creating the man-made Islands of Dubai.

Tokyo, an island in itself, back in the 1800s built an artificial island called Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. It was built in defense to treats from other countries, but now has developed into a major commercial, residential and leisure site. Why fight over land when we can create Islands in the oceans of the deserts.

When I hear someone tell me they are ‘Falling in Love’, I laugh. For me that term doesn’t make sense if one really analyzes it. I remember the first time one of my boyfriends said that to me, ‘I think I’m falling in Love’ with you. We were staying at one of Phuket Best Hotels having a very romantic dinner and really enjoying each others company when he said that to me. I asked him, ‘What do you mean ‘Falling’?, I said, ‘Either you love me or you don’t. I don’t think there’s any ‘falling’ about it.’  I know, that completely ruined the moment, right? But, really, I mean ‘Falling’, what is that?

It is a gauge. It a safety net. Just in case the person you are completely ‘in love with’, (another term I will analyze later), does not feel the same way. Come on, don’t you think you would know if the person you are supposedly in ‘love’ with is also in love with you. For me, if you don’t know then you really should figure out what or why you are ignoring the signs or why you aren’t accepting the tell tale signs that someone does or does not love you. So, start truly and really paying attention to the person you love. The signs are there.

So, next time you are in the company of someone you do love, but haven’t expressed it yet, step back a moment and question as to why you want to say ‘I’m falling in love with you,’ or even worse, ‘I think I’m falling in love with you,’ because this means, for some reason, if the person you ‘do’ love does not respond in kind, you will feel embarrassed or silly about loving that person. That love is a wrong feeling. I know, for myself, when I find I do love my boyfriend it doesn’t matter if he’s not in love with me. But, I pay attention to those tell-tell signs that he too loves me back. Celebrate that you love and don’t worry about it if it’s not reciprocated. A you will then experience true love, unconditional love.

I decided to stop watching the news on television, they seems to only have leading report stories that have the qualities of ‘fear-mongering.’ And the reason for this is, apparently, we like it. Every now and then they have a ‘feel-good’ story, but it’s usually at the end of the newscast. Fear is an emotion that has two sides. There is Good fear and Bad fear. What the news usually reports and preys on is our irrational destructive fears. Like when my friend called me while she was staying at a Palace Hotel India,  right after she arrived and unpacked, she turned on television to watch the India news and saw that there were terrorist blowing up and killing people around Mumbai,  and how she won’t dare leave her room. It was her first time in India and she wouldn’t leave her room.

Normally, a good fear comes from an actual physical threat. There is the element of physical fear, like for our personal safety and the safety of our family and friends. A healthy fear. A type of fear as old as the world and is instinctual. We are born with it. Research shows that a babies only instinctual fear is that of falling. As we grow older the fear develops into the more familiar ‘fight or flight‘  reaction fear that our mind will send chemicals into our body to give us energy to think and act quickly to a perceived threat.

As humans, we have evolved to a different type of fear that has become common since we adopted a less strenuous, less dangerous lifestyle. So, we are pre-occupied with the distractions of the news media and the entertainment industry. I truly believe that the new media are in the business of franchising fear, they want to paralyzes us with fear. Wants to make us want to give up and quit. To not even try. They make the world seem like a truly fearful place to be. The only place we have to live, they want us to fear it. So, I stopped watching the news, stopped reading the paper. And found that my stress levels have reduced immensely and my views of the world I live in is a less scary place then I thought.

I was with a friend at a coffee shop drinking a Chai Latte and he was drinking a Mocha and discussing Chaos Theory wondering if the postulate of its basic assumption that complex and unpredictable results can and will occur in systems that are sensitive to their initial conditions. And that a common example of this is known as the Butterfly Effect stating that, in theory, the flutter of a butterfly’s wings in China could, in fact, actually effect the weather patterns in New York City. In other words, it is possible that a very small occurrence can produce unpredictable and sometimes drastic results by triggering a series of increasingly significant events, could also be applied in our room at one of the New York Business Hotels.

Would something I did on the twin bed situated on one side of the room cause a totally unexpected effect on the other side of the room where his single bed is located. I know, my friend and I are geeky, and yes we don’t have girlfriends, but at the same time, what a fascinating experiment that would be. We only had one more day in the New York Hotel room and we wondered if that would be enough time. Also enough time to come up with what the initial event could be that would be worthy and give a drastic result. We could throw in maybe an Attractor, a set to which a dynamic system evolves after a long enough time. We didn’t have the time. We then thought about using something from The String Theory, but, not being scientist, only scientist Wanna-Be’s, we didn’t know if we could mix the two, or could we? After all Chaos Theory emerged as a trans-disciplinary and institutional discipline under the name of nonlinear systems. And Alluded to a concept of paradigm shifts.

We finished our perspective drinks and headed on back we decided that experimenting in the hotel room would not be a good idea and it would be hard to, if we were successful, the same effects anywhere else. But, we were happy with the idea all on it’s own. We’ll both have to write about it on the wall of our Facebook accounts.

Thinking about a friend you haven’t seen for a while and they call. Reading about something you didn’t know and then later that night at dinner, you over hear the couple in the booth next to you talk about the exact same thing you just read about. Wearing a t-shirt with a picture of one of your friends on the front and as you leave a New York Airport Hotel the person coming in does a double-take and is in shock that the person on your shirt is their older brother. Synchronicity can take on any number of forms. The meaningful things in life are not left to chance. The most insignificant of events will often lead to a major change in life’s pathway and plans.

Some synchronicities are obvious and immediate. For a brief moment we are granted a glimpse of the miraculous. Others may not become apparent until decades later, or never be obvious in this lifetime. In fact, the reason for synchronicities are not necessarily even for our benefit, but for others perhaps not yet born. It’s all interconnected, inter-related and changing a detail can have vast and far reaching implications.

A relatively new science called Chaos Theory says that out of chaos and seemingly total randomness, comes order. Synchronicity happen all the time, but we are not always aware of their existence. It should be obvious through the very nature of synchronicity itself that there are physical components, as well as psychological components, involved in its creation.  This brings up the question of the nature of the relationship between the two. Between the creativity of the human mind and the hypothesized pre-existence of order. Synchronicity is around us at all times all one needs to do to notice these little notes from the Universe is become aware of ones surroundings. Aware of every bit of information, thought and feeling. A whole new world will open up and reveal itself to you.

Beads can be researched back to the beginning of mankind. Beads were used as amulets to aid with the search for food. It was understood that if one wore something of the animal being pursued, it would bring success for the next hunt. As civilizations grew and developed, the use of beads evolved away from the realm of mysticism to ornamentation and even a combination of the two. Beads furthered evolved as the world’s agrarian and the tribal societies organized. Beads then became functional. The Chinese invented the abacus aiding in counting and doing complex calculations. In theory, the abacus with its concept of stringing beads lead to the now familiar practice of counting prayers or mantras.

Using Prayer Beads, also known as Mala’s, from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘Garden’, or Rosaries, as a tool to aid for a meditation practice. The stringing of beads allow the devotee to keep count of the number of mantras or prayers being recited. Scholars around the world agree the the prayer bead originated with the Hindu Faith. But, this practice of using either the Hindu 108 bead Mala, a Catholics 59 Bead Rosary or the 33 bead of an Anglican, can be seen used, no matter where you are, from South Africa Five Star Hotels lobby to a subway seat in New York or used while sitting in traffic, you will find someone using this way to kept focus in prayer or meditation.

Prayer Beads use the mental, physical and emotional nature of our spiritual mind.  Leading us to the core of our being.  This tactile aid of holding beads in one’s hand allows for our minds to concentrate and begins to become quiet and calm. Prayer beads are a powerful meditation tool in which one will find they are in communion with the Universe.

If you’re a world adventurer looking for luxury travel, Singapore will not disappoint.  Situated between old worlds and new worlds, the place will constantly reveal more and more, and at your leisurely pace.  There are many layers to this city, and it’s very likely that everyone will find what they’re looking for.  No large city should be without its team of scientists of paranormal phenomena, and Singapore is perfectly equipped for any haunting situation.

Called the Singapore Paranormal Investigators, this team of specialists of the spooky formed in 2001, briefly closed its doors, and re-opened them again in 2002.  Made up of former university professors, scientists, and scientifically-minded individuals, the SPI are interested in researching any paranormal activity, without religious or political bias, and they are particularly interested in phenomena in Singapore.

Also operating under the name Society of Paranormal Investigators, this team is interested in documenting and looking into all manner of strangeness here.  Whether is be a grave without a family to claim it, strange dreams after natural disasters, hearing voices, or all the way to real sightings of ghosts that demand scientific investigation, they will explore it and post their findings online.  Their mission is in the name of science, to bring a rigor to the study of the paranormal, and also to debunk local Singapore superstitions when they can.  Their work is, in fact, a fascinating look into the Singapore cultural landscape, with curiously charming tales of family members reincarnating as moths, and other folk beliefs here.  They are not, they insist, not ghostbusters.  Their work with spirits from the “other side,” is very gentle and compassionate, and any dealings with unsavory spirits from the beyond are cases they leave to the exorcists.  One thing that must be kept in mind, too, for all the skeptics out there: this team is a non-profit organization, and all their work is free of charge.

One of the most interesting aspects of Ibiza, and something most potential vacationers may want to know, is that the island is toning down its party reputation. While it is not trying to eliminate the night clubs or even reduce the amount of tourists that are attracted to it, the government of Ibiza is interested in highlighting the aspects of the island that are more attractive to families. This will also have the effect of drawing greater international interest to and awareness of the island. Regardless of the reason for the visit, all tourists enjoy the delicious food that is served at the fine Ibiza restaurants.

One of the aspects a nature lover will appreciate about Ibiza is the fact that a large portion of the island’s land is classified as UN World Heritage sites. This means that they are protected from market exploitation and commercial developments. God’s Finger may have had a hand in this, however it is also one of the protected sites. God’s Finger is also the name of an area in the Benirras Bay and contains some of the greatest historical and traditional cultural heritage elements to be found. Another protected location is the area of Ibicenco. It is so beautiful that it draws countless artists and photographers that wish to capture some of its glory and portray the natural beauty of the island.

One of the official measures the government is taking to attract a more diverse population of tourists is to implement a legal requirement that all new hotels be of 5 star status. Tourist will enjoy this increased availability of luxury accommodations before heading out to explore the island. One of the more popular outdoor activities is spending the day at the beach at Es Canar. It is one of the local and tourist favorites among all the beaches on the island because it offers some of the most spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea . It also provides plenty of activity options, including kiking, boating, and swimming.

Last month, the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board had good news to announce – the overall teen drug abuse rate in the United States has dropped by 24 percent since 2001. The report also said that in all young adults (defined as between the ages of 18 and 25) the abuse rate fell in all drug categories with the exception of pain relievers.

It’s unfortunate that news of this improvement had to be tempered with the distressing information that teenagers in America do not have enough drug treatment options to serve their needs. A Forbes.com article today reported on the national deficiency in the number of treatment centers that specifically treat adolescents. The article cites a recent study that claims “Only about 10 percent of the 1.4 million American teens with substance abuse problems receive treatment.” It’s humbling to realize that even though drug abuse among teens is going down in numbers, there are still over a million American teenagers out there who are suffering from substance abuse.

The reason why most teens don’t get the help they need is that there are few treatment centers that offer services to teens, and of those facilities only a percentage accepts people with a dual diagnosis or co-disorders. The article mentioned that compared to the number of treatment centers for adults, teens only have about 1/3 of the services that adults have. Without enough centers to service young adults, the problem may begin to grow again.

Quality of service is a major concern, as only 30 percent of over 150 centers that were evaluated managed to score as establishments of “high-quality”. The majority scored as only mediocre facilities. According to the research in the report that appeared in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, high-quality drug rehab centers tend to be those with longer term, residential programs. The reason given is that residential treatment often offers a wider variety of services that meet youthful needs.

Ask any number of tattoo artists and the majority will agree that tribal tattoos are the most sought after of tattoo designs. Polynesian and Maori designs convey an archaic yet subliminally attractive look for both men and women. There are many that choose the native designs of North and South American indigenous cultures as well. While some of these designs are authentically traditional, others are the creation of state of the art graphic design. In either choice, an individual can honor and link to the heritage and memory of cultures past. Though many choose a design for the upper arm, a tribal tattoo can be placed just about anywhere.

If there is one design that is a staple for the tattoo artist, it is skull tattoos. These types of designs can run the gamut of styles and expressions, from the intimidating to the amusing. A skull tattoo can be found as part of a larger design or as a singular piece. While some choose to add shading, coloring and complex detail, others are quite happy with a fairly simple design. Even though a popular skull design can emerge from one generation to the next, it is its classic style that never goes out of date.