Veracruz takes on luxury crossovers Complacency is a quality best left at the factory door when it comes to cars. Back in the '80s, when Volvo was famous for making safe cars, the brand's vanguard was an ugly, slow, heavy machine called the 240. Natural selection took us from soup to trees, trees to cars. The Aura, Sky and Outlook are fine machines, but even better examples of "80%" cars: GM vehicles that are an interior, gearbox, suspension and/or trunk space away from greatness.
Com
Auto engineers are getting more and more sophisticated, but buying a fuel-efficient car doesn't have to be rocket science--if you follow a few common-sense shopping tips. Honda's Insight-full hybrid combines a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Hybrids combine the best of electricity and gasoline. GM says the vehicle will change the way people commute, reducing emissions and America's dependence of foreign oil. The technology combines radar sensors and a computer system to assess a car's speed and the distance to a vehicle in front, Nissan Motor Co.
Hybrid
Hybrid technology also works on a larger scale. Hybrids combine the best of electricity and gasoline. Hybrids sound good -- they are, for example, exempt from the range limitations of battery-powered cars. In 1999, five hybrid busses ran up to 18 hours a day in New York City. Battery concerns will slow the launch of a planned super-efficient Toyota Prius, also delaying the automaker's hybrid options for full-size trucks and SUVs like Tundra and Sequoia. Toyota first demonstrated a futuristic hybrid concept vehicle at the Tokyo Auto Show in 1995. In 2000, Honda and Toyota both started selling "hybrid" electric cars that evade those bothersome range limits. But even hybrids could seem passed by 2004, when major auto makers promise to start selling cars powered by fuel cells. Starting in 2008, they can get a hybrid Peterbilt when their time comes. The flagship hybrid's redesign will still debut in 2009, but with updated nickel-metal hydride batteries. Nearly every automobile manufacturer saw sales declines in July, but while the overall car market is down 3% this year, hybrid sales are up more than 50%. Manufacturers looking for share gains would be smart to invest in a growth segment: hybrids. In addition to the gasoline and diesel power trains now available, Mercedes will soon introduce electric and micro-hybrid versions of the diminutive auto. Toyota's unveiling of its road-ready plug-in hybrid project last week has spurred a publicity contest. The auto industry has responded to the new desire for fuel economy by offering a growing number of fuel-efficient models--not just hybrids. Honda's Insight-full hybrid combines a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The Toyota Prius, a five passenger hybrid about the size of a Corolla, gets 52 miles per gallon around town and 45 on the highway.
A few years back, concerns about pollution -- and nagging worries about global warming and oil shortages -- led to a trickle of electric cars powered by batteries. Because the batteries were heavy and expensive, the cars didn't drive far enough between recharges. You never plug in these cars to recharge the battery -- you simply fill the gas tank. Because the battery is not the cars sole source of support, so to speak, it can be much smaller than the weighty, costly monsters used for battery-operated cars.
About the Author
John Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.WeKnowCars.com. He provides more information on all types of car and car issues that you can research in your pajamas on his website.
วันศุกร์ที่ 31 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2550
Shopping For Used Cars Online by John Gorman
Shopping used cars online offers you variety of choices where maybe one of your favorite cars is being offered for sale. You may head for other choices like buying from a private dealer or a second hand dealer. However, internet has loads of websites primarily dealing with selling used cars. These give you more choices to buy the automobile you dreamed of but could not afford to buy a new one. When shopping used cars online, your search preferences maybe local or nationwide. Whichever you prefer, these websites provide you pictures of the cars they are selling and the information about the car you are about to purchase. These pictures give you the idea on how the car looks like, its color and condition. Others may offer variety of colors for a specific car type. Information about prices is also available which gives you knowledge on the price range of the car you wanted. In addition, websites also give you tips about purchasing used cars. This is important for the first timers purchasing used cars online and even to those who have tried more than once. You should know the cars model and its mileage. These are important in determining the cars value. Other features are also available and should not be taken for granted. Trawling the websites will definitely help you encounter great deals regarding used cars. All your gathered information is necessary to narrow your choices in selecting which car is perfect for your taste and budget. Buying used cars saves more money than buying a new one. Considering the fact that buying a new car is more expensive than used cars, resorting to buying a used car is an excellent option. Purchasing new cars doesn't mean that you will a have a smooth ride and guarantees trouble free ride at all. For it is known to everybody that in some point in time, cars will experience troubles. Buying used car involves a lot of money. Extra care is needed and error in judgment must be avoided. It is just important to review the cars documents and history before you finally decide to purchase it. In the absence of knowledge, better seek someone who has know how regarding legalities of acquiring used cars. A test drive is also needed to really know the cars running condition. For better evaluation, have a mechanic with you to get good advice about the cars performance. Shopping used cars online is simply getting an internet access and clicking on to websites dealing with used cars. Its fun and at the same time, makes you find the used car you have always wanted.
About the Author
John Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.WeKnowCars.com. He provides more information on all types of car and car issues that you can research in your pajamas on his website.
About the Author
John Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.WeKnowCars.com. He provides more information on all types of car and car issues that you can research in your pajamas on his website.
Cheap Loan: A loan that lessens the cost of your need by Eunice Scott
Shopping for a Cheap Loan has become an easier task then never before, especially if you know about your loan requirement. Cheap loan is a loan which offers borrower to avail their needs at cheaper rates.
Cheap loan are easily accessed from the financial market as they are everywhere. In this widespread competition, borrowers with bad credit or no collateral in their credentials can too avail the cheap loan. Well, while talking about cheap loan, borrower can avail the needs at easy terms and conditions.
While availing the cheap loan, borrower must search and research the cheap loan quote so that they are in the safer hands. The best and recommended place for searching cheap loan is online mode. Online mode offers borrower to go a long way in his search and with that it satisfy the borrower with interest rate, repayment option and loan amount.
Cheaper rates, larger repayment options and larger amount are the factors that are ruling the cheap loans which make them less burdensome loan compared to other loans. Cheap loan helps the borrower to meet their needs. So depending upon their need borrower can avail secured and unsecured loan.
In secured cheap loans, borrowers have to pledge some collateral to the lender though, on behalf of that he offers cheap loan. The loan amount in cheap loan varies from £5000- £75 000 for the easy and comfortable time period of 5-30 years.
Oppositely, in unsecured option of cheap loan, borrowers don't have to pledge collateral for the same. So, borrowers who are looking fro collateral free option finds easy to deal with the unsecured cheap loan. In unsecured cheap loan, borrower can avail the loan amount that ranges from £1000-£25 000 for the easy repayment option of 6 months to 10 years.
Apart from that if borrower possess good credit score, good links with the lenders or good present financial status then this will definitely help the borrower in availing and bargaining with the lender for cheap loan.
With cheap loan, borrower can meet his various needs in single down payment moreover that also at cheaper rates.
About the Author
Eunice Scott is a financial advisor at Cheap Loan Online and provides advices on finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independant financial advice through his informative articles. To know more about cheap loans, cheap loans UK, cheap secured loans, cheap personal loans visit http://www.cheaploanonline.net/
Cheap loan are easily accessed from the financial market as they are everywhere. In this widespread competition, borrowers with bad credit or no collateral in their credentials can too avail the cheap loan. Well, while talking about cheap loan, borrower can avail the needs at easy terms and conditions.
While availing the cheap loan, borrower must search and research the cheap loan quote so that they are in the safer hands. The best and recommended place for searching cheap loan is online mode. Online mode offers borrower to go a long way in his search and with that it satisfy the borrower with interest rate, repayment option and loan amount.
Cheaper rates, larger repayment options and larger amount are the factors that are ruling the cheap loans which make them less burdensome loan compared to other loans. Cheap loan helps the borrower to meet their needs. So depending upon their need borrower can avail secured and unsecured loan.
In secured cheap loans, borrowers have to pledge some collateral to the lender though, on behalf of that he offers cheap loan. The loan amount in cheap loan varies from £5000- £75 000 for the easy and comfortable time period of 5-30 years.
Oppositely, in unsecured option of cheap loan, borrowers don't have to pledge collateral for the same. So, borrowers who are looking fro collateral free option finds easy to deal with the unsecured cheap loan. In unsecured cheap loan, borrower can avail the loan amount that ranges from £1000-£25 000 for the easy repayment option of 6 months to 10 years.
Apart from that if borrower possess good credit score, good links with the lenders or good present financial status then this will definitely help the borrower in availing and bargaining with the lender for cheap loan.
With cheap loan, borrower can meet his various needs in single down payment moreover that also at cheaper rates.
About the Author
Eunice Scott is a financial advisor at Cheap Loan Online and provides advices on finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independant financial advice through his informative articles. To know more about cheap loans, cheap loans UK, cheap secured loans, cheap personal loans visit http://www.cheaploanonline.net/
Instant Payday Loans - meant especially for urgency by Angela Alderton
If you are in need of urgent loan then go no where other than applying for instant payday loans. You do not have to knock at friends' or relatives' door, where from the help may take lots of time to come. Instead, the very pay you draw every month becomes a means of borrowing required urgent money. All you do is to apply for instant payday loan and the lender approves it usually within an hour. The lender electronically transfers the loan amount in the borrower's bank account within 24 hours. Clearly the loan is meant to serve urgent needs of the borrowers.
Instant Payday Loans are unsecured loans that are provided against your next paycheqe. So these loans are given for two weeks only, so that you can repay it through next paycheque, though you can extend the loan for some more weeks if need be so. You are not at all required to place any security with the lender. Instead the lender may take a post dated cheque of the borrowed amount and lender's fee as security. The sole base of instant payday loans approval remains that the borrower should be a regular employee. The borrower should be getting a fixed monthly salary.
The loan amount approved as instant payday loans ranges from ₤100 to ₤1500. only disadvantage is that instant payday loans carry very high fees of the lender. But you can locate a suitable lender having lower fees on extensively shopping for the loan on internet.
Bad credit does not come in the way as lenders do not at all check credit in approving instant payday loans. So even if you have late payments, payment defaults, arrear or CCJs, you will get instant payday loans instantly. But make sure to compare lenders for a suitable deal. And, avoid extending the loan as it involves lender's enhanced fees, making the loan highly costly for the borrower.
About the Author
Angela Alderton is a specialist advisor of Instant Payday Loans and is curently working with Instant Payday Loans Online... She holds a masters degree in economics from University of Warwick. To find instant payday loans, payday loans, bad credit online payday loans, no fax payday loans visit
Instant Payday Loans are unsecured loans that are provided against your next paycheqe. So these loans are given for two weeks only, so that you can repay it through next paycheque, though you can extend the loan for some more weeks if need be so. You are not at all required to place any security with the lender. Instead the lender may take a post dated cheque of the borrowed amount and lender's fee as security. The sole base of instant payday loans approval remains that the borrower should be a regular employee. The borrower should be getting a fixed monthly salary.
The loan amount approved as instant payday loans ranges from ₤100 to ₤1500. only disadvantage is that instant payday loans carry very high fees of the lender. But you can locate a suitable lender having lower fees on extensively shopping for the loan on internet.
Bad credit does not come in the way as lenders do not at all check credit in approving instant payday loans. So even if you have late payments, payment defaults, arrear or CCJs, you will get instant payday loans instantly. But make sure to compare lenders for a suitable deal. And, avoid extending the loan as it involves lender's enhanced fees, making the loan highly costly for the borrower.
About the Author
Angela Alderton is a specialist advisor of Instant Payday Loans and is curently working with Instant Payday Loans Online... She holds a masters degree in economics from University of Warwick. To find instant payday loans, payday loans, bad credit online payday loans, no fax payday loans visit
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 30 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2550
Accepting Responsibility is Powerful! by Ainsley Laing
Food for Thought: We are powerless to change behaviors we don't take responsibility for. When we shift blame or make excuses we give away our personal power - the power to make a difference.
It's very important for self growth to be open to suggestion, criticism and change. This is a given. Getting to the point of seeking change requires that we first accept that we and we alone are responsible for our own situation. We are where we are now in our lives because of our past and present behavior.
Psychologists tell us that people who don't take personal responsibility for their behavior run the risk of being:
1. Overly dependent on others for recognition, approval, affirmation, and acceptance. 2. Chronically hostile, angry, or depressed over how unfairly you have been or are being treated. 3. Fearful about ever taking a risk or making a decision. Overwhelmed by disabling fears. 4. Unsuccessful at the enterprises you take on in life. Unsuccessful in personal relationships. 5. Emotionally or physically unhealthy. 6. Addicted to unhealthy substances, such as the abuse of alcohol, drugs, food, or unhealthy behavior such as excessive gambling, shopping, sex, smoking, work, etc. 7. Over responsible and guilt ridden in your need to rescue and enable others in your life. 8. Unable to develop trust or to feel secure with others. 9. Resistant to vulnerability. (www.coping.org/growth/accept.htm)
In other words, blaming others or our personal situation for our choices and behaviors leads to all kinds of problems!
Have you heard marriage and relationship counselors say to "behave like you are in love with your spouse and you will be"? Sounds crazy doesn't it? But, think about the opposite. When someone behaves as if they don't like you, it's pretty easy to associate negative feelings with this person. What do you do? Decide you don't like them? Avoid them? Positive behaviors generate positive feelings. Negative generates negative.
For example: John and Jane Anyman have been married for 15 years and have a small child. They are both 40 years old and have good careers. Their relationship is good, but having a child adds some conflict. John, however, decides that he isn't happy in his life and begins to behave like he doesn't have a family. He has an affair.
What happens next is predictable. He decides that his marriage was never good and that he is in love with his affair partner. He blames his marriage and Jane for his choices and behaviors. If his happiness means lying, cheating and neglecting his loved ones... he feels entitled to do this. Although Jane doesn't know about the affair, she does feel John's behavior is resentful, angry, selfish and overly critical towards her and their child.
Eventually, John tells Jane about the affair and apologizes. He says that he still wants to be with her BUT doesn't change his behavior. He continues to stay away from home and lie to Jane.
What do you think Jane does? What would you do if you were Jane? Tough question! Jane eventually divorces John. Why? By shifting the blame to "a bad marriage" and "Jane" as the reason for his behavior; John let Jane know that he felt entitled rather than responsible. Worse, John's hurtful BEHAVIOR shows her his true feelings much more than his words. In modern society, behavior is more important than motive or feelings. For example, does it really matter that the businessman who gives large amounts of money to charity is motivated by publicity rather than just doing a good deed? Is it important that a Nobel Prize is the true motive for the scientist who discovers a vaccine for malaria? The end result is the same. People have been helped. The world is better off. The scientist and businessman feel good about their success and contribution.
Now let's apply this idea to smaller issues. Do you know someone who cannot be depended on to help when needed? Whenever asked, there's a series of boring excuses about why they "can't" do the favor. It's easy to see that they are CHOOSING not to do it for you, isn't it? How does it make you feel? Their behavior, not their words, is showing their true intentions towards you.
As a fitness instructor, I use this idea a lot to get a feel for how serious a client is. Someone who has decided to take responsibility for identifying and changing habits that are deleterious to their health and well-being don't make excessive excuses. They accept that past behavior hasn't worked and are willing to learn new behaviors that will lead to success.
Even though we teach our kids these lessons, true growth and success at any age requires a person to:
Take responsibility for their behavior. Admit mistakes, without blaming other people or situations. Change the behavior until they are successful.
This success brings positive feelings, self esteem, self respect ... and PERSONAL POWER!
About the Author
About the Author: Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and Personal Fitness Training. To see more articles by Ainsley visit http://www.bodyformind.com or the blog at http://www.bodyformind.blogspot.com
It's very important for self growth to be open to suggestion, criticism and change. This is a given. Getting to the point of seeking change requires that we first accept that we and we alone are responsible for our own situation. We are where we are now in our lives because of our past and present behavior.
Psychologists tell us that people who don't take personal responsibility for their behavior run the risk of being:
1. Overly dependent on others for recognition, approval, affirmation, and acceptance. 2. Chronically hostile, angry, or depressed over how unfairly you have been or are being treated. 3. Fearful about ever taking a risk or making a decision. Overwhelmed by disabling fears. 4. Unsuccessful at the enterprises you take on in life. Unsuccessful in personal relationships. 5. Emotionally or physically unhealthy. 6. Addicted to unhealthy substances, such as the abuse of alcohol, drugs, food, or unhealthy behavior such as excessive gambling, shopping, sex, smoking, work, etc. 7. Over responsible and guilt ridden in your need to rescue and enable others in your life. 8. Unable to develop trust or to feel secure with others. 9. Resistant to vulnerability. (www.coping.org/growth/accept.htm)
In other words, blaming others or our personal situation for our choices and behaviors leads to all kinds of problems!
Have you heard marriage and relationship counselors say to "behave like you are in love with your spouse and you will be"? Sounds crazy doesn't it? But, think about the opposite. When someone behaves as if they don't like you, it's pretty easy to associate negative feelings with this person. What do you do? Decide you don't like them? Avoid them? Positive behaviors generate positive feelings. Negative generates negative.
For example: John and Jane Anyman have been married for 15 years and have a small child. They are both 40 years old and have good careers. Their relationship is good, but having a child adds some conflict. John, however, decides that he isn't happy in his life and begins to behave like he doesn't have a family. He has an affair.
What happens next is predictable. He decides that his marriage was never good and that he is in love with his affair partner. He blames his marriage and Jane for his choices and behaviors. If his happiness means lying, cheating and neglecting his loved ones... he feels entitled to do this. Although Jane doesn't know about the affair, she does feel John's behavior is resentful, angry, selfish and overly critical towards her and their child.
Eventually, John tells Jane about the affair and apologizes. He says that he still wants to be with her BUT doesn't change his behavior. He continues to stay away from home and lie to Jane.
What do you think Jane does? What would you do if you were Jane? Tough question! Jane eventually divorces John. Why? By shifting the blame to "a bad marriage" and "Jane" as the reason for his behavior; John let Jane know that he felt entitled rather than responsible. Worse, John's hurtful BEHAVIOR shows her his true feelings much more than his words. In modern society, behavior is more important than motive or feelings. For example, does it really matter that the businessman who gives large amounts of money to charity is motivated by publicity rather than just doing a good deed? Is it important that a Nobel Prize is the true motive for the scientist who discovers a vaccine for malaria? The end result is the same. People have been helped. The world is better off. The scientist and businessman feel good about their success and contribution.
Now let's apply this idea to smaller issues. Do you know someone who cannot be depended on to help when needed? Whenever asked, there's a series of boring excuses about why they "can't" do the favor. It's easy to see that they are CHOOSING not to do it for you, isn't it? How does it make you feel? Their behavior, not their words, is showing their true intentions towards you.
As a fitness instructor, I use this idea a lot to get a feel for how serious a client is. Someone who has decided to take responsibility for identifying and changing habits that are deleterious to their health and well-being don't make excessive excuses. They accept that past behavior hasn't worked and are willing to learn new behaviors that will lead to success.
Even though we teach our kids these lessons, true growth and success at any age requires a person to:
Take responsibility for their behavior. Admit mistakes, without blaming other people or situations. Change the behavior until they are successful.
This success brings positive feelings, self esteem, self respect ... and PERSONAL POWER!
About the Author
About the Author: Ainsley Laing, MSc. has been a Fitness Trainer for 25 years and writes exclusively Body for Mind eZine. She holds certifications in Group Exercise, Sports Nutrition and Personal Fitness Training. To see more articles by Ainsley visit http://www.bodyformind.com or the blog at http://www.bodyformind.blogspot.com
Business Insurance Tips To Make You Feel More Comfortable by Craig Thornburrow
Insurance is on of those necessary evils. You do not think about it until you need it or it is time to buy or renew it. So it is with business insurance. Let's take a look at a few tips on things to consider when shopping for insurance for your business.
When you are looking at getting business insurance the first step is to shop around for the best deal. There are many brokers, or agents, around that offer insurance for your type of business. Many even represent the same company yet pricing is completely different. Know what you getting and if you are comparing apples to apples.
Question the broker on his knowledge in your type of business or the industry your business is in to be sure you will getting adequate coverage for your needs.
When you find the business insurer for you make sure the are financially in good shape before getting started. You can check on consumer reports, or the better business bureau, to see how good they do in taking care of the clients they have now.
The higher the deductible you choose the less you will pay for a policy. If you need to file a claim make sure you have sufficient funds.
A package policy is very good for small businesses, such as a business owner policy, not just for you your self. It will help with liability for small business insurance.
When speaking to your broker make sure you go over everything from fire protection, changes in your business like expansion, or if one of your employees get hurt on the job. If you are in a place that has natural disasters ask about how you would be covered.
Always make sure you feel comfortable talking to your broker.
A deductible budget is good rather than going uninsured and exposing your business on being uninsured.
Before you sign on the dotted line make sure you have the right business liability insurance.
A conscientious business insurance broker will shop around for risks among carriers in the market place for you. You have to make sure that the broker is there to take care of you and your employees, and make sure that if any thing should happen you know that you are covered.
Most of this is common sense. You have a business to run and are an expert in what you do. You should expect the same from the agent or broker when it comes to the business insurance they offer you.
About the Author
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on business insurance and business health insurance at http://www.findbusinessinsurance.com
When you are looking at getting business insurance the first step is to shop around for the best deal. There are many brokers, or agents, around that offer insurance for your type of business. Many even represent the same company yet pricing is completely different. Know what you getting and if you are comparing apples to apples.
Question the broker on his knowledge in your type of business or the industry your business is in to be sure you will getting adequate coverage for your needs.
When you find the business insurer for you make sure the are financially in good shape before getting started. You can check on consumer reports, or the better business bureau, to see how good they do in taking care of the clients they have now.
The higher the deductible you choose the less you will pay for a policy. If you need to file a claim make sure you have sufficient funds.
A package policy is very good for small businesses, such as a business owner policy, not just for you your self. It will help with liability for small business insurance.
When speaking to your broker make sure you go over everything from fire protection, changes in your business like expansion, or if one of your employees get hurt on the job. If you are in a place that has natural disasters ask about how you would be covered.
Always make sure you feel comfortable talking to your broker.
A deductible budget is good rather than going uninsured and exposing your business on being uninsured.
Before you sign on the dotted line make sure you have the right business liability insurance.
A conscientious business insurance broker will shop around for risks among carriers in the market place for you. You have to make sure that the broker is there to take care of you and your employees, and make sure that if any thing should happen you know that you are covered.
Most of this is common sense. You have a business to run and are an expert in what you do. You should expect the same from the agent or broker when it comes to the business insurance they offer you.
About the Author
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on business insurance and business health insurance at http://www.findbusinessinsurance.com
20 Year Low For Andorra Ski Holidays In 2007 by Roger Munns
Shortly after investing millions of Euros in their ski facilities, popular ski country Andorra has been left reeling from her worst season for twenty years, with initial official suggestions of a ten per cent drop in tourists this year, and private ones of closer to 40 per cent.
The season was so bad that it was decided to close the facilities at the end of the long Easter weekend, in previous years the slopes have been open until the end of April, and this effectively cut the 2006/7 season by two weeks.
There was hope in the middle of March when the snow finally arrived that it could increase substantially the number of visitors for the last six weeks, but despite Easter week seeing normal levels of hotel occupancy, it failed to trasllate into bookings for the few weeks after.
For a small country with a population of 70,000 reliant on the ski industry, the economy has been hit not only direct in the travel trade, but others sectors feeling the pinch include Andorra's shops and departments stores which offer some of the cheapest quality shopping in Europe, but also restaurants, petrol stations and real estate.
A nervous wait is in store for Andorra for the 2007 to 2008 season, with the hope that snow levels, which were poor throughout the European ski resorts this year, will return to normal.
Andorra has invested heavily in recent years to bring the standard of ski facilities and other infrastructure up to the quality of competitor European ski resorts, with a resulting ten million tourists a year prrior to this year.
Included in the investment has been a new ski park in the village of Arinsal designed with children in mind, with the aim of encouraging their ski ability before being let loose on the slopes, and new hotels in Andorra's prime ski resort of Soldeu and improvements in the road system.
Fortunately for Andorra, as well as skiing, the country enjoys a tax haven status, with subsequent high employment in banking and an active real estate industry for those looking to gain residency.
Surprisingly perhaps for a tax haven, mortgages for a property are as available as many European countries, with rates around the same level. Up to eighty per cent of a property's value is often agreed by the banks in Andorra.
Buying a property in Andorra is often seen as a route to residency, which entitles people to live in Andorra and benefit from her tax haven status.
To obtain residency in Andorra, applications need to be submitted in Catalan. A notarised copy of the applicants passport, birth certificate and a certificate of good conduct from the home country are submitted at the same time. Residency normally takes between three and six months to be approved.
Once residency is granted, residents are supposed to spend six months a year in Andorra, but this isn't policed.
One of the drawbacks for those looking to become a resident in a tax haven when considering Andorra has been that the country has no airport of its own, and is unlikely to have ine future given that it is located in the Pyrenees. The nearest airports are Barcelona and Toulouse.
Recent improvements in the road from Barcelona to Andorra though have cut the travelling time by some thirty minutes to two hours fifteen minutes.
'Given the tax advantages Andorra has', an Andorra travel guide, 'A two and a quarter hour trip to the nearest international airport could be viewed as a small price to pay for those who will be saving substantial amounts of money in tax. Especially when you consider that their properties could be rising in value quite significantly in the years to come.'
It's hoped that it won't take years for the ski industry to bounce back with a second poor ski season in a row for Andorra.
About the Author
For holiday information about Andorra and the tax free shops in her capital Andorra la Vella visit YourAndorra.com
As well as Andorra hotels and ski information, YourAndorra.com also has today's Andorra weather and for those flying via Barcelona, reviews for Barcelona hotels
The season was so bad that it was decided to close the facilities at the end of the long Easter weekend, in previous years the slopes have been open until the end of April, and this effectively cut the 2006/7 season by two weeks.
There was hope in the middle of March when the snow finally arrived that it could increase substantially the number of visitors for the last six weeks, but despite Easter week seeing normal levels of hotel occupancy, it failed to trasllate into bookings for the few weeks after.
For a small country with a population of 70,000 reliant on the ski industry, the economy has been hit not only direct in the travel trade, but others sectors feeling the pinch include Andorra's shops and departments stores which offer some of the cheapest quality shopping in Europe, but also restaurants, petrol stations and real estate.
A nervous wait is in store for Andorra for the 2007 to 2008 season, with the hope that snow levels, which were poor throughout the European ski resorts this year, will return to normal.
Andorra has invested heavily in recent years to bring the standard of ski facilities and other infrastructure up to the quality of competitor European ski resorts, with a resulting ten million tourists a year prrior to this year.
Included in the investment has been a new ski park in the village of Arinsal designed with children in mind, with the aim of encouraging their ski ability before being let loose on the slopes, and new hotels in Andorra's prime ski resort of Soldeu and improvements in the road system.
Fortunately for Andorra, as well as skiing, the country enjoys a tax haven status, with subsequent high employment in banking and an active real estate industry for those looking to gain residency.
Surprisingly perhaps for a tax haven, mortgages for a property are as available as many European countries, with rates around the same level. Up to eighty per cent of a property's value is often agreed by the banks in Andorra.
Buying a property in Andorra is often seen as a route to residency, which entitles people to live in Andorra and benefit from her tax haven status.
To obtain residency in Andorra, applications need to be submitted in Catalan. A notarised copy of the applicants passport, birth certificate and a certificate of good conduct from the home country are submitted at the same time. Residency normally takes between three and six months to be approved.
Once residency is granted, residents are supposed to spend six months a year in Andorra, but this isn't policed.
One of the drawbacks for those looking to become a resident in a tax haven when considering Andorra has been that the country has no airport of its own, and is unlikely to have ine future given that it is located in the Pyrenees. The nearest airports are Barcelona and Toulouse.
Recent improvements in the road from Barcelona to Andorra though have cut the travelling time by some thirty minutes to two hours fifteen minutes.
'Given the tax advantages Andorra has', an Andorra travel guide, 'A two and a quarter hour trip to the nearest international airport could be viewed as a small price to pay for those who will be saving substantial amounts of money in tax. Especially when you consider that their properties could be rising in value quite significantly in the years to come.'
It's hoped that it won't take years for the ski industry to bounce back with a second poor ski season in a row for Andorra.
About the Author
For holiday information about Andorra and the tax free shops in her capital Andorra la Vella visit YourAndorra.com
As well as Andorra hotels and ski information, YourAndorra.com also has today's Andorra weather and for those flying via Barcelona, reviews for Barcelona hotels
The Pitfalls of Comparison Shopping by Adam Jaylin
There has been a lot of hullabaloo about the article that was published by Reuters, that took the price comparison market by storm. It questioned the seemingly impartial nature of the comparison shopping websites and that the concept of comparison shopping is a big hoax and it has nothing to do with comparison, it is more concerned with minting money for its own profit. Well, there have been many justifications and counter attacks that have come from these online comparison shopping websites and the consumers are pretty confused with the state of affairs and they cannot decide upon what is the best bet, out of all.
The biggest allegations that is pitted against these comparison shopping portals is that they don't help the consumer to find the best deal, rather, they prefer to put that merchant on the top, who gives them the maximum commission. So, the whole comparison thing goes in the drains. The perfect deal is rather a preposterous proposition, because in a world that thrives on the fundamental of the profit making, one cannot find the a deal that is perfect. But, the critics say that price comparison websites act as a third party or like a middle man that promises to take you to the the best deal through their impartial comparison shopping portals.
There are many online finance websites which have blocked themselves from being shown at any of the comparison shopping websites fearing that their low ranking on such websites might discourage consumers to come to their websites, which ultimately would spoil the public reputation of such websites. Thus, automatically, the comparison shopping portals are not able to bring in the most comprehensive search to the users, as some players voluntarily choose to opt out of the comparison shopping.
Thus , comparison shopping is not that magical as it seems to be. There are some pitfalls in this concept as well that doesn't allow it to find the best deal.
About the Author
Adam Jaylin is a Price Comparison expert at Ukonlinemarket.co.uk and tells you about wide range of mobile phones, travel agent, insurance and many more.
The biggest allegations that is pitted against these comparison shopping portals is that they don't help the consumer to find the best deal, rather, they prefer to put that merchant on the top, who gives them the maximum commission. So, the whole comparison thing goes in the drains. The perfect deal is rather a preposterous proposition, because in a world that thrives on the fundamental of the profit making, one cannot find the a deal that is perfect. But, the critics say that price comparison websites act as a third party or like a middle man that promises to take you to the the best deal through their impartial comparison shopping portals.
There are many online finance websites which have blocked themselves from being shown at any of the comparison shopping websites fearing that their low ranking on such websites might discourage consumers to come to their websites, which ultimately would spoil the public reputation of such websites. Thus, automatically, the comparison shopping portals are not able to bring in the most comprehensive search to the users, as some players voluntarily choose to opt out of the comparison shopping.
Thus , comparison shopping is not that magical as it seems to be. There are some pitfalls in this concept as well that doesn't allow it to find the best deal.
About the Author
Adam Jaylin is a Price Comparison expert at Ukonlinemarket.co.uk and tells you about wide range of mobile phones, travel agent, insurance and many more.
Latest mobile phones: Add a sophisticated touch to your personality by Martin Dev
Latest mobile phones incorporate superior and cutting-edge features making and are a perfect blend of communication and entertainment. Amazing features like high quality camera, FM radio, email, Push to talk, infrared and Bluetooth connectivity have transformed the way you communicate.
Earlier, new models used to be much expensive and so it was difficult to afford them. But these days, you can quite easily get a latest mobile phone at the most reasonable price. So if you are shopping for the most recently launched mobile phone, you might get it along with an attractive offer. The latest mobile phones combine all the new features into one single device. The latest technology phones like Nokia N-series are multi-purpose devices that come with advanced capabilities.
The Nokia N-Series are powerful gadgets that boast all the entertainment, connectivity and gaming features. If we take an example of Nokia N95, it is a high resolution camera, dedicated music player and a cool gaming device and above all, a communication device. All the Nokia N-series mobile phones are endowed with advanced 3G connectivity, so you can easily make face-to-face video calls.
If you are in the market to acquire your favourite handset, then login to the various online mobile shops and get amazing offers on the most recent handsets. One such way to avail your handset is through contract mobile deal which is immensely popular in UK. Lucrative gifts like free handset, cash back offers, free accessories, free line rentals are available with attractive contract deals. With sim free phones, buy the handset and network provider of your choice. Find a range of latest mobile phones to choose from and choose the one that meets your communication needs. Take benefit of these offers and get the best handsets with best offers.
About the Author
Mobile Phone Deals a complete stand of offers you 12 Months free line rental mobile phones with best networks on Pay as You Go Mobile Phones with 3 to 12 months deals.
Earlier, new models used to be much expensive and so it was difficult to afford them. But these days, you can quite easily get a latest mobile phone at the most reasonable price. So if you are shopping for the most recently launched mobile phone, you might get it along with an attractive offer. The latest mobile phones combine all the new features into one single device. The latest technology phones like Nokia N-series are multi-purpose devices that come with advanced capabilities.
The Nokia N-Series are powerful gadgets that boast all the entertainment, connectivity and gaming features. If we take an example of Nokia N95, it is a high resolution camera, dedicated music player and a cool gaming device and above all, a communication device. All the Nokia N-series mobile phones are endowed with advanced 3G connectivity, so you can easily make face-to-face video calls.
If you are in the market to acquire your favourite handset, then login to the various online mobile shops and get amazing offers on the most recent handsets. One such way to avail your handset is through contract mobile deal which is immensely popular in UK. Lucrative gifts like free handset, cash back offers, free accessories, free line rentals are available with attractive contract deals. With sim free phones, buy the handset and network provider of your choice. Find a range of latest mobile phones to choose from and choose the one that meets your communication needs. Take benefit of these offers and get the best handsets with best offers.
About the Author
Mobile Phone Deals a complete stand of offers you 12 Months free line rental mobile phones with best networks on Pay as You Go Mobile Phones with 3 to 12 months deals.
Hello From Toronto: Exploring Chinatown And Kensington (Part I)
In all my explorations of Toronto over the last few years I have learned that in addition to numerous world-class sights and attractions, Toronto has many lesser known nooks and crannies that are full of history, interesting stories and anecdotes. One of the best people to learn from about the twists and turns of Toronto's history is Bruce Bell, a well-known author, playwright, actor, standup comedian who is also a passionate historian and has become one of Toronto's most well-recognized history experts.
The story of how I met Bruce is also quite intriguing: my brother, who happens to live in Austria, was reading a German travel magazine that was featuring a story about Bruce, so he called me up and said that there is this guy that is doing all these neat walking tours through Toronto and that's how I connected with Bruce - through a European detour. Over the past couple of years I have taken two of his tours, covering the downtown area and featuring a culinary exploration of Toronto's famous St. Lawrence market. I have always enjoyed the experience and wanted to do another tour with Bruce for a while.
Well, I figured it was definitely time for more entertaining and informative explorations of Toronto; this time it was going to be Chinatown-Kensington, one of Toronto's most vibrant and fascinating neighbourhoods. So I called up Bruce and said let's do another tour. To share the experience I brought out six of my friends and we met yesterday at 6:30 pm at one of Toronto's modern architecture icons: the OCAD Building at 100 McCaul Street, just south of the University of Toronto campus. The OCAD Building, I call it the "gift box on stilts", is part of the 2004 redevelopment of the Campus of the Ontario College of Art & Design. The Sharp Centre for Design has a unique "table top" structure which has quickly become one of Toronto's most recognizable landmarks.
The Grange, undergoing renovation, situated next to the AGO We met in the Butterfield Park area, surrounded by the stilts holding up the table top of this extraordinary building. From there we headed west into a green space that features Toronto's oldest house: "The Grange" was built in 1817 for D'Arcy Boulton Jr., a member of one of early Toronto's most prominent families who owned about 2000 acres of land in the area. The classical mansion reflects the British architectural traditions of the 18th century. Today, the Grange is owned by the Art Gallery of Ontario and is in the process of being renovated and integrated into the AGO's Frank Gehry-led redesign.
After leaving this park we walked north on Beverley Street which features several yellow-brick mansions of some of Toronto's most pre-eminent families, the "Family Compact" - the true power brokers of the early 19th century. Families such as the Cawthras and others owned huge tracts of land in what is today's downtown Toronto. The Bolton family even owned a private racetrack near the intersections of Dundas and Beverley and many formal social occasions were celebrated on their enormous estate. We also passed by a former hotel which dates back to 1822, one of the very few hotels left from that era which today is a men's residence.
Our stroll took us westwards on Baldwin Street, a street with a mix of imposing mansions, historic apartment buildings and narrow Victorian homes with attractive architectural details and amazingly intricate woodwork. Bruce stopped at a mansion of one of Toronto's most influential historic figures: George Brown (1818 to 1880) was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, politician and one of the Fathers of Canada's Confederation. He was also the founder and editor of the Toronto Globe newspaper which today is known as the Globe and Mail.
Bruce enlightened us that George Brown was an important figure in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses that allowed African slaves to escape from the United States to Canada in the 19th century. Ironically, as much as George Brown supported the cause of freeing black slaves, he remained a staunch anti-Catholic. Bruce elaborated that while the United States was characterized by an ongoing conflict between Blacks and Whites, early Canada's conflicts mostly unfolded between Protestants and Catholics. Bruce added that in 1880 George Brown was shot by one of his former employees at the Globe newspaper, a certain George Bennet who had been fired from his job for drunkenness. Although George Brown only suffered a leg injury at the time he died about 6 weeks later from the wound.
Just a few steps further west we saw the mansion of Robert Baldwin, a member of the Parliament of Upper Canada and a key public figure around the time of the 1837 uprising of the Toronto population against the entrenched British power structure. The unsuccessful Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837 was an uprising against the British colonial government, particularly about the issue of land allocation. Most of the land in and around the old City of York was owned by the "Family Compact", a group of extremely wealthy Anglican conservative families that represented Canada's elite at the time. Robert Baldwin was instrumental in establishing Responsible Government, which advocated increased independence from Britain and self-government for Upper Canada.
We had finally arrived on Spadina Avenue, the expansive north-south artery that is the centre point of Toronto's Chinatown. This historic neighbourhood, one of three Chinatowns within Toronto's city boundaries, is centered around Spadina and Dundas and is the largest Chinese shopping area in the city. Old Chinatown is actually one of North America's largest, not surprisingly as Toronto features the second largest Chinese population in Canada after Vancouver.
Recent years have seen a migration of Chinese immigrants to the suburbs which has led to the closure of some of the local restaurants. Many former Chinatown residents, originally from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong have moved outside the City's boundaries and the void has been filled by many ethnic Chinese people from Vietnam. As a result an increasing number of store signs are now in Vietnamese, in addition to the well-established Chinese stores.
Goods sold include fruits and vegetables, meat and seafood, low cost clothing and general merchandise, all of which are sold at very reasonable prices. Recently there has been a noticeable local increase in Latin American immigrants, testament to the fact that Toronto's demographics continue to be in flux.
The same story applies even more to Toronto's Kensington area, roughly bounded by Spadina Avenue, College Street, Queen Street and Bellevue Avenue. As Bruce explained, it is one of Toronto's most ethnically diverse and eclectic neighbourhoods and has been attracting immigrants from different countries of origin for the last 130 years or so. Originally the Denison estate, the Kensington area became a residential area for Irish and Scottish immigrant labourers. The small working-class houses in this historically inexpensive area have been inhabited by successive waves of immigrants from different places. From 1910 onwards, Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe as well as some Italians started to stream into the area. The entire Kensington area became known as "the Jewish Market", and about 60,000 Jewish residents lived here in the 1920s and 1930s who worshipped in about 30 local synagogues.
We stopped at the Minsker Synagogue at 10 St. Andrew Street, home of the Congregation Anshei Minsk, Toronto's Downtown Synagogue. Construction of the synagogue commenced in 1922 and was finally completed in 1930. As a result of the out-migration of many of the Jewish residents from Kensington, today it is one of the few synagogues still in active operation in downtown Toronto.
About the Author
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of http://www.travelandtransitions.com, a web portal for unconventional travel & cross-cultural connections. Check out our FREE ebooks about travel.
The story of how I met Bruce is also quite intriguing: my brother, who happens to live in Austria, was reading a German travel magazine that was featuring a story about Bruce, so he called me up and said that there is this guy that is doing all these neat walking tours through Toronto and that's how I connected with Bruce - through a European detour. Over the past couple of years I have taken two of his tours, covering the downtown area and featuring a culinary exploration of Toronto's famous St. Lawrence market. I have always enjoyed the experience and wanted to do another tour with Bruce for a while.
Well, I figured it was definitely time for more entertaining and informative explorations of Toronto; this time it was going to be Chinatown-Kensington, one of Toronto's most vibrant and fascinating neighbourhoods. So I called up Bruce and said let's do another tour. To share the experience I brought out six of my friends and we met yesterday at 6:30 pm at one of Toronto's modern architecture icons: the OCAD Building at 100 McCaul Street, just south of the University of Toronto campus. The OCAD Building, I call it the "gift box on stilts", is part of the 2004 redevelopment of the Campus of the Ontario College of Art & Design. The Sharp Centre for Design has a unique "table top" structure which has quickly become one of Toronto's most recognizable landmarks.
The Grange, undergoing renovation, situated next to the AGO We met in the Butterfield Park area, surrounded by the stilts holding up the table top of this extraordinary building. From there we headed west into a green space that features Toronto's oldest house: "The Grange" was built in 1817 for D'Arcy Boulton Jr., a member of one of early Toronto's most prominent families who owned about 2000 acres of land in the area. The classical mansion reflects the British architectural traditions of the 18th century. Today, the Grange is owned by the Art Gallery of Ontario and is in the process of being renovated and integrated into the AGO's Frank Gehry-led redesign.
After leaving this park we walked north on Beverley Street which features several yellow-brick mansions of some of Toronto's most pre-eminent families, the "Family Compact" - the true power brokers of the early 19th century. Families such as the Cawthras and others owned huge tracts of land in what is today's downtown Toronto. The Bolton family even owned a private racetrack near the intersections of Dundas and Beverley and many formal social occasions were celebrated on their enormous estate. We also passed by a former hotel which dates back to 1822, one of the very few hotels left from that era which today is a men's residence.
Our stroll took us westwards on Baldwin Street, a street with a mix of imposing mansions, historic apartment buildings and narrow Victorian homes with attractive architectural details and amazingly intricate woodwork. Bruce stopped at a mansion of one of Toronto's most influential historic figures: George Brown (1818 to 1880) was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, politician and one of the Fathers of Canada's Confederation. He was also the founder and editor of the Toronto Globe newspaper which today is known as the Globe and Mail.
Bruce enlightened us that George Brown was an important figure in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses that allowed African slaves to escape from the United States to Canada in the 19th century. Ironically, as much as George Brown supported the cause of freeing black slaves, he remained a staunch anti-Catholic. Bruce elaborated that while the United States was characterized by an ongoing conflict between Blacks and Whites, early Canada's conflicts mostly unfolded between Protestants and Catholics. Bruce added that in 1880 George Brown was shot by one of his former employees at the Globe newspaper, a certain George Bennet who had been fired from his job for drunkenness. Although George Brown only suffered a leg injury at the time he died about 6 weeks later from the wound.
Just a few steps further west we saw the mansion of Robert Baldwin, a member of the Parliament of Upper Canada and a key public figure around the time of the 1837 uprising of the Toronto population against the entrenched British power structure. The unsuccessful Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837 was an uprising against the British colonial government, particularly about the issue of land allocation. Most of the land in and around the old City of York was owned by the "Family Compact", a group of extremely wealthy Anglican conservative families that represented Canada's elite at the time. Robert Baldwin was instrumental in establishing Responsible Government, which advocated increased independence from Britain and self-government for Upper Canada.
We had finally arrived on Spadina Avenue, the expansive north-south artery that is the centre point of Toronto's Chinatown. This historic neighbourhood, one of three Chinatowns within Toronto's city boundaries, is centered around Spadina and Dundas and is the largest Chinese shopping area in the city. Old Chinatown is actually one of North America's largest, not surprisingly as Toronto features the second largest Chinese population in Canada after Vancouver.
Recent years have seen a migration of Chinese immigrants to the suburbs which has led to the closure of some of the local restaurants. Many former Chinatown residents, originally from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong have moved outside the City's boundaries and the void has been filled by many ethnic Chinese people from Vietnam. As a result an increasing number of store signs are now in Vietnamese, in addition to the well-established Chinese stores.
Goods sold include fruits and vegetables, meat and seafood, low cost clothing and general merchandise, all of which are sold at very reasonable prices. Recently there has been a noticeable local increase in Latin American immigrants, testament to the fact that Toronto's demographics continue to be in flux.
The same story applies even more to Toronto's Kensington area, roughly bounded by Spadina Avenue, College Street, Queen Street and Bellevue Avenue. As Bruce explained, it is one of Toronto's most ethnically diverse and eclectic neighbourhoods and has been attracting immigrants from different countries of origin for the last 130 years or so. Originally the Denison estate, the Kensington area became a residential area for Irish and Scottish immigrant labourers. The small working-class houses in this historically inexpensive area have been inhabited by successive waves of immigrants from different places. From 1910 onwards, Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe as well as some Italians started to stream into the area. The entire Kensington area became known as "the Jewish Market", and about 60,000 Jewish residents lived here in the 1920s and 1930s who worshipped in about 30 local synagogues.
We stopped at the Minsker Synagogue at 10 St. Andrew Street, home of the Congregation Anshei Minsk, Toronto's Downtown Synagogue. Construction of the synagogue commenced in 1922 and was finally completed in 1930. As a result of the out-migration of many of the Jewish residents from Kensington, today it is one of the few synagogues still in active operation in downtown Toronto.
About the Author
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of http://www.travelandtransitions.com, a web portal for unconventional travel & cross-cultural connections. Check out our FREE ebooks about travel.
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