June 11-They Will Eat Your Soul. Saturday, December 25, 2010

Almost used the title "Misquitos are Mating on my Legs" but thought better of it. Includes footage from Busch Gardens, Williamsburg and my backyard. Note to self: Do not exit the house without bug spray. Ever. Oh, and I forgot to mention- this summer I am volunteering at a nature center and possibly a nature camp. The Candy Striper thing was something I wanted to do but never did. Thought I'd clear that up =P



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAq_GcYtEGc&hl=en

The 1985 Chicago Bears Were Truly Amazing Thursday, December 23, 2010

The 1985 Super Bowl winning Chicago Bears were an amazing group of players that performed at a very high level of excellence. Some of the key players on the team are well known names, even today: Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Jim McMahon, Willie Gault, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, William "Refrigerator" Perry, and more. But, this team was more than the star players on the roster, coached by Mike Ditka, the Bears also featured quality role players like Dennis McKinnon, Gary Fencik, Matt Suhey, Dennis Gentry, Kevin Butler, Jay Hilgenberg, Steve McMichael, Otis Wilson, Wilber Marshall, and more.

Some interesting facts about the Super Bowl Champion 1985 Chicago Bears:

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  Regular season record: 15-1
  
  
  

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  Combined score of all three playoff games: 91-10
  
  
  

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  Individual Awards: Walter Payton (Offensive Player of the Year), Mike Singletary (Defensive Player of the Year), Mike Ditka (Coach of the Year)
  
  
  

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  The defense allowed a paltry 11.5 points per game throughout the regular season, then 3.3 points per game in the postseason.
  
  
  

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  In the Super Bowl, the Bears defense allowed the Patriots offense to only gain positive yardage on 4 of the 21 plays they ran during the first half, in fact the Patriots total yardage gained in the first half was negative 19 yards.
  
  
  

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  During the Super Bowl, the Bears held the Patriots starting running backs Craig James and Tony Franklin to minimal yards. James rushed the ball 5 times for 1 yard with 1 fumble, while Franklin gained 4 yards on 3 carries.
  
  
  

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  The Bears scored every way possible during their Super Bowl victory: Touchdown, Extra Point, Field Goal, and Safety (there was no two point conversion at this time).
  
  
  

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  In the 15 wins by the 1985 Bears, only four games were decided by less than ten points.
  
  
  

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  The 1985 Bears defense was the third highest rated defense against the pass and the #1 defense against the run.
  
  
  

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  The 1985 Bears sent nine players to the Pro Bowl, including five defensive players.
  
  
  

The 1985 Chicago Bears were an amazing team that performed at an amazing level for one season. The Bears would not return to this level of dominance, but the 1985 team will go down in history as one of the best - if not, the best - ever.

http://iqfb.com combines its passion for football with its love of trivia to bring you tons of "Hey, I didn't know that" type of information. IQFB.com - Get Football Smart!

LLC Registration - Forming an LLC Yourself Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The LLC (short for limited liability company) is a legal entity that is now the most common choice for small business operations. The reason for this is that it gives LLC owners limited liability protection and other benefits and advantages such as tax ones.

You can get overwhelmed with this topic because it is a creature of legal laws and the legalese and sometimes long Limited Liability Company Acts can get daunting. While structuring an LLC business, especially if you will have multiple owners, can be complex and should ideally required the services of a lawyer, the formation itself is not as complicated.

However, a proper LLC formation is essential to ensuring that you get the liability protection and other benefits. So, do not take this step lightly and get all the information you need to make sure you do it right. The most important thing you need to do is to get all the information, instructions, forms, documents and requirements needed. Here are the three places you need to go to in order to make sure you cover all your bases:

1. State Agency Website. Visit the website of the state agency in your state that will process your LLC registration. Find the section on limited liability companies and print out all the booklets and forms applicable to this process. Each state differs in how many forms and schedules are applicable so just research your state's site thoroughly.

2. State Limited Liability Company Act. Every state has an official LLC law which is generally called the Limited Liability Company Act in each state (for example, the Virginia Limited Liability Company Act). Some states like California have gotten fancy by using another name. Just Google the name of your state plus "limited liability company act" and you should be able to easily find the law for your state. Find the provisions relevant to LLC formation, name requirements, registered agent and articles of organization and review them to determine LLC registration requirements.

3. Call Your State Agency. Each state has its own set of processes that it follows when accepting filings and processing them. It is always recommended you call and speak to your state to find out their official message of what is required of you. You may be surprised to find additional intricacies or requirements that are not found in the form documents or the laws. Also, when you are speaking with them, get them to check if your desired LLC name is available. Name issues are one of the biggest reasons for rejected filings.

These three sources should provide all the information and requirements needed for you to prepare your own LLC registration.

For a step by step guide on what information you need to find, you can review an article which outlines the steps for LLC Registration. Expect to spend at least 2 to 4 hours doing the research to ensure you do everything properly. Or, if you prefer to save your time, you can use a reputable LLC formation service like The LLC Expert. It will only take 5 minutes of your time and more importantly, you get peace of mind knowing it is done correct so you can move on with the growing of your business. Click here for details: http://www.TheLLCExpert.com/formanllc.htm

2002 AirPower Over Hampton Roads - Shockwave Jet Truck Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Shockwave Jet Truck 2002AirPower Over Hampton Roads Langley AFB, Virginia Saturday June 22, 2002 IN THIS VIDEO, watch as Kent Shockley takes the Shockwave Jet Truck for a dry run on Langley AFB's Runway 26. If you are interested in purchasing DVDs of specific aircraft or of airshows, interested in everything related to airshows (where the jet teams will be, all airshow performers, airshow reports from airshows I have attended, previews of airshows I will be attending, etc.), and/or everything related to aviation - including spotting guides to my favorite airports and military bases and aircraft factfiles, please check out Steve's Airshow World at www.stevesairshow.com .



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPfAArKdUoE&hl=en

Cheap Beach Vacations Sunday, December 19, 2010

How to have a great family beach adventure on a small vacation budget!

For many families the current economical climate means sacrifices when it comes to holidays and family vacations. However there are a few things you can do to save money and travel with your family. A great vacation alternative is to plan an inexpensive beach vacation. By staying closer to home your family can spend more time together without spending more money. The US has many ideal locations for cheap beach vacations such as Virginia, Myrtle and Huntington Beach. If you and your family are planning a beach get-away and are trying to explore on a budget here are a few tips to use;

Surf the Web before surfing the waves!

By having a look online you and your family could save big bucks while on vacation. From discounted airfare to children's meal vouchers, the web contains endless coupons and saving sites you can use. By simply searching the main website for your vacation location you could discover great discount deals and you will also be able to shop around, compare costs and ensure that you receive the lowest prices available for lodging, attractions and entertainment.

Book a kitchen!

Many beach vacation resorts offer fully furnished suites which include a completely functional kitchen. These lodging establishments may seem pricey compared to a regular hotel but they offer you the option to cook rather than eat out. By avoiding high restaurant prices and returning to your suite for major meals, your family can save money and possibly afford admissions to more amusement parks or you may want to purchase a few more sentimental souvenirs!

Bike or Hike!

One of the greatest ways to save money while on vacation is to pass on public transit and taxi services. Make sure when booking your hotel or resort to choose an establishment that is within walking distance to most of the attractions you want to see. Another great way to get around is to contact a local bicycle rental and tour company! Your family will love to explore and discover while on a two-wheeled tour!

Sand and Surf are Free!

Remember, you chose a beach vacation for a reason. To save money consider all of the advantage that a beach has to offer for free. For example, organize your own sandcastle competition, collect shells to bring home, watch the water for signs of whales and dolphins or go snorkeling.  There are countless things to do while on the beach and you and your family can make the memories of a lifetime without spending a dime!

Di has been writing articles for more than 2 years. Her latest interest is camping. So come visit her latest website Stainless Steel Gas Grill which helps people find the very best Portable Gas Grills.

The DARPA Challenge for Driverless Cars Saturday, December 18, 2010

Why Driverless Cars?

A machine is anything that helps us simplify work. By that definition, a car is a machine that helps us simplify the work of locomotion. However, we do need to do some work when using a car - we need to drive it. Wouldn't life be easier if we could just get into the car, say where we want to go and doze off until the destination is reached? Fantastical as it may seem, it may be possible in near future if the innovations showcases in the DARPA Urban Challenge in 2007 are developed to their full potentials.

If you are a science-fiction fan, you must remember the taxi with the robot driver in "Total Recall" that Arnold Schwarzenegger dismantles violently when it refuses his order to "just drive" and insists on knowing the name of his destination. Although you may not see such autonomous cars on the roads anytime soon, the participants at the DARPA Urban Challenge give us cause for hope.

What is DARPA and how is it involved?

For those who don't know it yet, DARPA or the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, is the premier research body of the United States Department of Defense. With a total personnel strength of only 240, DARPA manages a $3.4 billion budget, aiming to develop new technology for use by the military. In this capacity, it has made significant contributions to several technologies we take for granted today, like the Internet and GPS.

DARPA is authorized by Congress to award cash prizes to encourage research with possible national security uses. In this regard, DARPA started an annual competition, called the Grand Challenge, for driverless or autonomous vehicles in 2004 that ran for three years (with a gap in 2006), with the final one in 2007 being designated the Urban Challenge. DARPA defines an autonomous vehicle as "a vehicle that navigates and drives entirely on its own with no human driver and no remote control. Through the use of various sensors and positioning systems, the vehicle determines all the characteristics of its environment required to enable it to carry out the task it has been assigned."

While the first two required driverless cars to negotiate roads, turns and tunnels in the desert without human intervention, the last one required the cars to follow traffic laws in a simulated urban environment. Therefore, while the first two challenges were more physically demanding but had little interaction between the vehicles, the Urban Challenge required the individual participants to make "intelligent" decisions in real time based on the actions of other vehicles.

Although the competitions were open to teams across the world, each team had to have at least one American citizen as a member. The reason behind these competitions was the ultimate goal of making one-third of US ground military forces autonomous by 2015.

DARPA Grand Challenge 2004 and 2005

The DARPA Grand Challenge 2004 was held in the Mojave Desert, where 25 teams fought it out for the grand prize of $1 million. Although none of the teams completed the 150-mile route, the car from Carnegie Mellon University traveled the furthest - 7.36 miles - and was declared the winner.

The next competition near the Lucy Gray Mountains, Nevada, in 2005 produced significantly better results. All but one of the 23 finalists surpassed the last year's best mark and five finished the 135-mile course. The team from Stanford University finished first, closely followed by two cars from Carnegie Mellon. The prize money was double that of the previous year.

DARPA Urban Challenge 2007

The third competition was the toughest of all and required "teams to build an autonomous vehicle capable of driving in traffic, performing complex maneuvers such as merging, passing, parking, and negotiating intersections." Development of such technology has potentially immense benefits not only for military purposes, but civilian uses as well. Besides the obvious advantage of ease of travel, this technology, when revised and popularized, can ease traffic congestion and prevent accidents, saving thousands of lives and billions of dollars every year in addition to reducing pollution and unproductive time.

In a nutshell, the participants were required to comply with the following rules:

• Vehicle must be stock or have a documented safety record.
• Vehicle must obey the California state driving laws.
• Vehicle must be entirely autonomous, using only the information it detects with its sensors and public signals such as GPS.
• DARPA will provide the route network 24 hours before the race starts.
• Vehicles must traverse the route by driving between specified checkpoints.
• DARPA will provide a file detailing the order the checkpoints must be driven to 5 minutes before the race start.
• Vehicles may "stop and stare" for 10 seconds maximum.
• Vehicles must operate in rain and fog, with GPS blocked.
• Vehicles must avoid collision with vehicles and other objects such as carts, bicycles, traffic barrels, and objects in the environment such as utility poles.
• Vehicles must be able to operate in parking areas and perform U-turns as required by the situation.

Of the 89 teams that applied, 53 were notified they had qualified for DARPA site visits based on their technical papers and videos. After actual testing of the vehicles, the list was whittled down to 35 who were invited to the National Qualification Event (NQE), a rigorous eight-day vehicle testing period. The NQE was held across three different test areas in the remodeled George Air Force Base (currently used as Southern California Logistics Airport), in Victorville, California. This was also the venue for the finals three months later to which 11 of the 35 at the NQE qualified.

These 11 finalists included a lot of collaborations between universities and their corporate partners - Carnegie Mellon with GM, Stanford with Volkswagen, Virginia Tech with TORC Technologies, etc. The final event consisted of three missions totaling around 55 miles, to be completed in six hours. Besides the competitors themselves, 30 Ford Tauruses driven by professional drivers were introduced into the course to increase complexity of traffic maneuvers.

While time to finish was a major factor in allocation of points, participants were penalized for violations, dangerous behavior, delays, etc. Thus, although the team from Stanford finished earliest with their vehicle "Junior," a Volkswagen Passat, the team from Tartan Racing, a collaboration between Carnegie Mellon and GM, with their Chevrolet Tahoe "Boss," were declared the winners after tabulating points. Of the 11 finalists, six finished the course within 6 hours, testimony to the tremendous improvements since the first Grand Challenge 3 years before where not a single vehicle finished the course.

In conclusion, all 11 finalists received DARPA funding for additional research and it is hoped that the lessons from these competitions have brought us nearer to a future of driverless cars.

Dale Milton writes articles for carbuyhelp.com, an online car buying and selling service. If you need help buying a new or used car or selling your vehicle, this site is the perfect tool!

Budapest, Hungary - The Castle District Monday, December 13, 2010

Towering a couple hundred feet above the Danube River, the Castle District in Budapest is a special place. Surrounded by gothic churches with stain glass, a visit to the Castle District is like stepping back into the renaissance.

Castle District

Situated in the Buda section of Budapest, the Castle District sits on the eastern side of the Danube. Positioned a couple hundred feet above the Danube, the entire city of Budapest can be seen from the numerous vantage points. The view is so amazing, the Italians coined a saying, "Europe has three gems - Venice on the water, Florence in the plains and Buda in the hills." The Italians definitely got it right.

Buda Castle

Visiting Buda Castle is like stepping back into the heights of the renaissance. The Castle is adorned with red marble stairways, gothic facades, bastions and epic statutes overlooking the Danube. The fountains around the Castle simply can't be described with words.

Holy Trinity Square

Just to the south of Buda Castle lies holy trinity square. The Church of the Holy Lady, which is also known as Matthias Church, dominates the square. The church has served as the location where Hungarian Kings undertook their rule and many famous figures are interred on the grounds.

Behind Matthias Church is the rather interesting Fishermen's Bastion. This Roman bastion has the appearance of a mini-castle at Disneyland. The views from the parapets are amazing as you take in the Danube River as it cuts through Budapest. Just outside of Bastion, however, you have to keep your eye out for something amazing.

Hungarians historically have been some of the best horsemen in the world. As part of the tradition, the horseman carried bullwhips instead of ropes. Big bull whips. And they like to crack them just outside of the bastion. If you aren't paying attention when this occurs, the world's loudest snap will send scare the "you know what" out of you. The only thing I can equate it to is the sound of rolling thunder, but without the rolling. When it happens, drinks, food and cameras go flying.

If you're visiting Budapest, the Castle District is definitely worth a visit. In fact, the District is a good reason to go to Budapest.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more articles about Hungary travel and Adventure Travel.

How To Start A Club, Group Or Organization Friday, December 10, 2010

Starting a Club

There are tens of millions of active clubs in the United States alone. There are as many club types are as there are mutual interests among people. There are clubs for socializing, advocacy, raising awareness, school activities, volunteering, information sharing, sports, professional development, religion, cultural, financial, etc. While the variety of clubs is nearly infinite, there is some commonality among clubs as to how to best create them and run them. Many clubs ideas never get started or never truly get off the ground because some common mistakes are made - mistakes made literally millions of times. While no two clubs are the same, we encapsulate many of the best tips and tricks in starting a club in this posting - so you can learn from the backs of others in forming your own successful club.

Realize the time commitment is always more than you think The excitement and fun of the idea of starting a club is always closely followed by the reality of the effort it will take to make it succeed. Just as in business or in any other venture, a great idea works as long as it can be executed well. Who wants to create a failed club no matter how great the idea? In nearly every club, the leaders, organizers and key participants need to "donate" their own spare time and effort to make the club carry out its mission. Limited time, limited resources, the overwhelming drag of inertia of making people take action are just some of the big reasons why clubs end up failing. Of course, clubs are often started because of a strong interest, and so you need to leverage the strong interest level into successful action for the group.

Define the mission and goal for the club

Most eyes roll when they hear they need to create a mission statement. Many have been involved in a corporate exercise in creating a mission statement where you often end up with a bunch of vacuous words that have no real meaning and everyone forgets about. Often people "feel" they know what the mission is but when they try to articulate it, they can't. That's not to say a group can't be successful without a mission statement - however, in coming up with the goals you can help clarify in your mind what the long term goal is and help communicate that to others. Your mission may be to advance a political agenda, or to raise environmental awareness, or it might simply be to socialize and find future dates - it may be all of those things -- whatever it is, the more clearly articulated the vision, the more that you direct your efforts towards reaching that vision.

Create the structure you need

Some groups are so well organized that they institute officers, create a constitution, even create processes for amending the constitution and nominating, electing and removing officers. These types of processes are useful, even critical when a group scales - otherwise anarchy ensues. However, most groups starting out don't necessarily need a mini-government in place. Many groups just start with a few lighter weight processes:

Officers: usually there's a president (the leader), vice president (2nd in command and often leader of several important initiatives), treasurer (who handles the funds), secretary (who takes care of meeting minutes, next steps, etc.). Depending upon your group's need, you may also institute a publicity officer, webmaster, historian, etc. It is very helpful to define the roles as well, especially who has the right to decide what. For instance, some groups will require the treasurer to co-sign any checks with the president. In this way there is a check and balance within the group on the money.

If you are fairly serious, you may consider incorporating oftentimes as a nonprofit. Incorporating has many benefits such as limiting liability of members from debts and responsibilities. Incorporation also provides increased levels of "permanency", and it may help you with funding.

Meetings: usually a periodic meeting or event helps to keep things going in the group and to increase activity. It's also a great way for group members to help participate in events and to get to know each other better and share information. If you are holding meetings, pay particular attention to how meetings are run which leads to the next section.

Run Effective Meetings

Poorly run meetings reflect poorly on the leaders and are a big waste of time for the participants. While there are whole books written on having successful meetings, here are a couple of tips to make sure you are getting the most out of any meeting you host. First, define and publish an agenda. The meeting needs to have a purpose and participants may need to prepare in advance. Very few meetings require a surprise to be effective. An agenda also helps prevent you from straying off course. Many groups have individuals who want to express their opinions - leading everyone down the proverbial "rathole". An agenda helps you enforce whether that meeting is the appropriate place to address those issues or if you need to "table it" to another meeting. Always have a desired outcome for the meeting (e.g. get agreement on a particular initiative, or brainstorm and come up with 3 ideas for next year's events). You'll be often surprised at how better prepared you make a meeting by simply thinking through what type of decision or outcome you want from the meeting. Understand who needs to be there and what the roles are for the participants. Start the meeting on-time.

Many groups have a designated secretary who is tracking the "minutes" of the meeting - what was discussed and in particular, any conclusions that were made and any items to be tabled for a future discussion. This can be published so that there is a historical archive so that members can always go back and track what happened.

When you finish the meeting make sure you capture what the "action items" are. What is the next step - who does what, and by when and who is responsible for following up. Oftentimes, spending a few minutes to plan the next meeting is useful to do.

Many groups start off with a kick-off meeting to discuss the club and how it will operate. This should be your first meeting.

Funding and Budget

Most clubs need to spend money in order to perform activities, print flyers, host a lecture, etc. In order to spend money the club needs to get money and there are a variety of ways to fund the club's activities. Funding can be accomplished from the members themselves through membership dues, activity fees, donations. Funding can be also obtained through a variety of fundraising activities such as a bake sale, garage sale, car wash.

Many corporations and government institutions also fund and sponsor groups. Grant applications can be filled out to see if you qualify for this type of funding. Not all funding needs to be cash. Some companies for instance might provide equipment, or a place to hold an event or practice. They may ask for some form of sponsorship, for instance, a banner displayed at an event.

In addition, you may wish to connect with national, state and regional chapters of similar interest groups. They can be good sources of funding themselves or provide you with valuable insights on how to improving the effectiveness of your club.

Get the nuts and bolts down

Every club has a basic set of operations that help it operate more efficiently. There's nothing more frustrating for leaders and members to be in a poorly run group. Membership, and more importantly, participation will begin to sag as a result. Here are a couple of basics:

• Get an updated roster. It's important for you to know who is in the group, how you reach them and what roles they play, what their membership status is, etc.. There are several electronic and web tools to help you, such as spreadsheets, word processing documents etc.


• Get an email list group created. Communicating with the group is important and doing so easily without having to type in 50 emails each time will save you a lot of time. Getting a self-managed email group list will save you countless hours.


• Create a website. A website is important for messaging not only to the group but also to the broader community. It's a great way to let people know what's going on (future events, how to get involved, etc.), what the accomplishments are of the group so that you can strengthen the binds within the group and also to recruit more members. Again, try to stay away from solutions that require a webmaster to make any change. You may not have a webmaster in the group and plus, you don't want to bottleneck all of your activities through one person. Was it Worth It? Being a part of clubs is an important part of everyday life. Forming clubs does take effort but the payoff is clear. As an organizer, you might think it is a thankless job, but keep in mind, people wouldn't join and participate if they didn't see value in it.

I hope these tips help you to create the best clubs possible. In the next part, we'll examine how to manage clubs - a different 'beast' altogether to manage.

There are a lot of other best practices out there. If you have ideas and suggestions about starting clubs, please post your comments - we'd love to hear them and help make them available to all the other club organizers who are taking the time to follow their passions.

Andy Yang is an avid club organizer. He works at Qlubb http://www.qlubb.com a site specifically geared to help clubs and organizations get online and organized.

The Different Types of Treatment Centers Available For Your Addiction Monday, December 6, 2010

When it comes to treating your addiction, whether it is for alcohol addiction or drug addiction, one of the first steps is choosing an effective treatment center. There are various rehab clinics and treatment centers available that provide a variety of services. Here is a synopsis of the available treatment centers for your particular addiction.

Residential treatment centers allow for around the clock drug addiction treatment. The program provided by a residential treatment rehab center is typically more rigorous and intensive than outpatient treatment. The patient is required to stay on the grounds of the treatment facility anywhere from 30 days to several months until the addiction is healed.

Outpatient treatment centers offer limited, but thorough care for individuals who are not completely crippled by their addiction. They are required to seek group therapies and physicians care on a regular basis, but they are not required to remain on the grounds. These people have more control of their addiction and have the drive to treat it, but they may not have the resources to do so. Outpatient treatment centers provide the means to treat several addictions.

Rehab clinics are a great tool to help cure an addiction. Choosing the best clinic based on the care needed is the first step on the road to recovery.

Sarah Reece writes for Ciniva Systems, an award winning Virginia web design company. Ciniva specializes in web design and SEO. Sarah Reece is an SEO Specialist with Ciniva. Ciniva Systems is in charge of SEO for William J. Farley Center

Newport News Virginia Attractions and Recreation Sunday, December 5, 2010

Visitors to Newport News will find an excellent selection of things to do. This Virginia city lies along the banks of the James River and the port of Hampton Roads. Favorite attractions of the city include museums, theatres, parks, fishing piers, charter boats and other recreation.

Museums

The Mariners' Museum - USS Monitor Center

The Mariners' Museum has been designated by Congress as America's National Maritime Museum, The museum features maritime exhibits from around the world. The USS Monitor Center showcases the "Battle of the Ironclads" display and as well as a full-scale Monitor replica.

Virginia Living Museum

This attraction has nature-related exhibits where visitors learn about animals such as wolves, eagles, sea turtle, fish, frogs and more. Special sections encourage enthusiasts to touch live crabs and fossils and other forms of nature. Living exhibits depict Virginia's widely varying environments from the mountains to the coast including representations of the Chesapeake Bay and limestone caves. The museum also houses an observatory, state-of-the-art digital planetarium theater, live animals and native plant gardens. Shops include the Wild Wings Museum Store and the Wild Side Café.

Virginia War Museum

The Virginia War Museum has U.S. military displays including collections of personal artifacts, weapons, vehicles, uniforms, posters and more from 1775 through the present. Galleries include Women at War and Marches Toward Freedom which document the roles of women and African-Americans in the military. The Visions of War exhibit showcases the museum's outstanding propaganda poster collection. Gifts are offered for sale in The Duffle Bag gift shop.

Theatre

Several venues host theatrical events in or near Newport News. The Christopher Newport University's Ferguson Center for the Arts holds performances in its 1,700-seat concert hall, 500-seat music and theater hall, and 200-seat studio/children's theater. The Peninsula Community Theater, located in Newport News, offers several plays throughout the year. Their Children's Theatre also features productions. The Virginia Shakespeare Festival, held annually at the College of William and Mary, presents performances of Shakespeare.

City Parks

Newport News Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the country. This 8,000 acre park is occupied by wildlife including deer, foxes, otter, raccoon, beaver and more. The Newport News Park is a favorite destination for campers who find a natural setting while being so close to the activities and attractions of Hampton Roads. The park is located at 13564 Jefferson Avenue, just off I-64 (Exit 250B). Newport News Park events and festivals include the Newport News Children's Festival of Friends, the Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife and the Celebration in Lights.

Anderson Park, located at 16th Street and Oak Avenue features ball fields, basketball, beach, boat ramp, historical features, saltwater fishing, picnic shelters, playground, restrooms, and tennis.

Huntington Park is located at the intersection of Warwick Boulevard and Mercury Boulevard, near the James River Bridge. This 60-acre park is open sunrise to sunset daily and offers a public beach fronting the James River. A public boat ramp is open all year and accommodates boats with trailers up to 30-feet in length. Fort Fun, a 13,000-square foot playground, is located on a scenic bluff overlooking the James River. Fishing for brook, brown and rainbow trout is popular at Lake Biggins from November to March each year. Also located in Huntington Park is the Virginia War Museum which showcases America's military history from the Revolutionary War to the present day.

Deer Park is located on Jefferson Avenue in the center of the city. The name "Deer Park" originated because white-tailed deer were raised on a game preserve before the land was dedicated as a public park. Deer Park has a playground, ball fields, 13 acres of woodlands and hiking trails. Flowering plants of the park include camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons. The park is equipped with picnic shelters for parties, reunions, or picnics.

Fishing

Fishermen will find a variety of saltwater fishing opportunities in Newport News and the surrounding areas. There are fishing piers, head boats, fishing charter trips and other types of fishing. The time of year is very important when choosing your fishing trip.

You can learn about local fishing seasons by reading area fishing reports, newspaper articles and by calling local captains and talking to them about what fish generally are caught at any given time. If you are set in catching a certain species, the season may be critical. If the types of fish you catch are less important, it might be best to choose a fishing charter or head boat and let the captain choose what to fish for.

When fishing around Newport News its a good idea to carry a small cooler for drinks, and a mid-sized or large cooler iced down for storing the fish at the end of the day. For fishing charters, most boats allow you to bring a fish cooler along, but some will have a fish box on board to keep the fish cool until you return to port.

The crew of charter boats and head boats may offer fish cleaning or arrange for the catch to be cleaned at the marina. If you prefer to clean your own fish, discuss that in advance and be ready with a cooler when you return to port.

Newport News Farmers Market

The Newport News Farmers Market offers farmers, gardeners, seafood retailers and other select vendors the opportunity to market home-grown and crafted products. The open air market includes 10,000 feet of covered vending space. The market features fresh produce from local farmers and gardeners as well as fresh fish, fresh-frozen seafood, cheeses and meats. Other items include bedding plants, cut flowers, baked goods and hand made crafts. The market is open year-round.

The author writes for Virginia websites including Hampton Roads Virginia and Virginia Beach Virginia.

Tahiti Luxury Vacations on a Budget Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Tahiti is growing as one of the top luxury travel vacation destinations. From honeymooners wanting to experience the intimacy of these secluded islands, to active divers awaiting the colorful underwater displays, to families wishing for a unique experience; Tahiti has a lot to offer for travelers of all types. But, the number one drawback is the perceived cost of Tahitian travel. With such hotels as the St. Regis, the Le Méridien, and the Le Taha'a Private Island Resort, travel to Tahiti does not strike the experienced traveler as a "budget-friendly" destination. However, there are several ways to experience Tahiti on a budget.

Tahiti Club Med

The Bora Bora Club Med Resort has one of the most prime locations on the island. Situated on its own lagoon in the midst of coconut groves, this resort sports one of the few all-inclusive experiences in Tahiti. Though it is an older resort, it's well maintained and the price is right. The resort is made up of bungalows, although none of them are over the water. It is recommended that you spend the extra money to get an ocean view bungalow to enhance your experience and beat the Polynesian heat. For travelers who have their hearts set on Tahitian luxury vacations, Club Med Bora Bora is a great option to consider.

Privately Owned and Operated

There are a number of privately owned and operated inns, motels, bed and breakfasts and villas that are open for public business. These properties are usually run by a native family, and offer more modest accommodations. This also means less people and more privacy which is a unique way to experience Polynesian life up close and personal. You can explore on your own or enjoy the lagoon that the family has probably explored for generations. You will also be contributing to the wellbeing of a number of native Tahitian families who will welcome you to their homes with open arms. These privately owned and operated accommodations offer travelers interested in a luxury travel vacation a taste of rustic charm.

Tahitian Cruising

Now, more cruise ships than ever before are exploring the waters of Tahiti. From the most luxurious Paul Gauguin to the Tahitian Princess vessel, there are a number of options. The key is to find a cruise line that offers all the amenities you are interested in on a well-equipped boat for the most minimal price. Princess Cruise Line's Tahitian Princess does just that. Talk about a cheap luxury cruise! This ship, carrying only 700 passengers, offers some of the best and up to date amenities. Prices start at only $1,039.00 per person.

Tahiti has become such a popular destination that it's being added to the itineraries of luxury world cruises. But you do not have to be ultra rich to experience Tahiti. There are so many options for the cost conscious traveler. You could try the Club Med on Bora Bora. You can experience the rustic peace of a privately owned and operated resort. You can even find reasonably priced cruises to the Tahitian islands. Travelers have plenty of options. Imagine the breathtaking wonder and excitement you will feel when you discover that you too can experience the luxury of Tahiti...on a budget!

Virginia Morgan wrote this article for AMT American Express Travel . Virginia has been a travel writer for over five years and enjoys the outdoors. AMT American Express Travel is a popular Internet source for American Express Vacations.