Travel and Leisure

By: Matt Bell (2008)

ISBN 978-1-60006-279-7

Book Price: $14.99

Financial success

Matt Bell is a personal-finance writer and speaker, director of the Willow Creek Association's Good $ense financial ministry, and author of Money, Purpose, Joy: The Proven Path to Uncommon Financial Success. He has been quoted in major media such as U.S. News and World Report and Chicago Tribune.

The joyful purpose of money

Matt Bell presents his formula for the joyful purpose of money. In four parts he relays twelve chapters, including topics as, why we've settled for so little (Ch. 3), what matters most (Ch. 5), finding joy, expressing hope, & experiencing freedom (Ch. 6, 7, 8), a financial GPS system (Ch. 9), & traveling in financial community (Ch. 12).

Financial success ideas

Matt Bell writes with a pleasant, personable tone. He relates to his readers in order to educate, initiating with "It took me four and a half years to pay off my credit card debts and another three years to pay off my car."

While addressing truth, Matt employs questions, avoiding a confrontational approach. He asks readers, "Why do we allow the misguided money-related massages of our culture to sway us so easily? Why do we find it difficult to avoid making financial choices that are not in our best interests?" Questions prepare us for new financial ideas.

Bell uses relevant illustrations to introduce wealth principles; he shares "Forbes magazine may seem an unlikely place for an article about charitable giving. After all, Forbes is all about business and making money. But there it was. Under the headline "Irrational Act," publisher Rich Karlgaard wrote not just about giving but about tithing... "

Matt shares as an advisor with financial advice. Speaking about an emergency account he says, "In order to minimize financial stress and build a solid financial foundation, keep three to six months' worth of living expenses... "

Readers are encouraged to embrace Matt's ideas through his focus on benefits. Speaking on debt he points out that "Living without consumer debt... provides tremendous freedom, flexibility, and peace of mind." He explains ideas appropriately, as "Using a budget is not about spending less. It's about spending more effectively... " Great!

Proven path to uncommon financial success

Matt Bell shows readers a proven path to uncommon financial success.

Statistics show that we are now living in a world where at least 30% of wives earn more than their husbands in dual earner households. Add to this the number of women breadwinners who are breadwinners due to widowhood, divorce and/or single motherhood and you have a growing trend that will continue to increase. Although the number of women making more than their spouses is on the rise, so too is the level of job dissatisfaction that many women breadwinners feel as a result of being stuck in unfulfilling jobs that pay the bills but don't do much else. Many women breadwinners are now finding themselves unable to fulfill professional dreams even as they provide a great quality of life for their families.

What is a woman breadwinner to do when her salary is a requirement but her job dissatisfaction is a detriment? How does a breadwinner wife transition to work that she loves when the work that she's doing is the only thing keeping the family in the state of financial stability required to go from one month to the next? These are questions that many women breadwinners are asking themselves as they cringe at the idea of being stuck in jobs that provide in one way and erode in another.

Here are 7 ways to get unstuck when in a lucrative but unfulfilling career:

1) Write a new story. In order to get from where you are to where you want to be, you need to know what that looks, feels and would be like. The best way to do that would be to write out (in your own handwriting, preferably in a journal dedicated to this upcoming career transition) what your ideal career would look like. Writing will make it real. In other words, ask yourself questions like:
1) What field am I in?
2) What hours do I work?
3) What time do I start my day?
4) Who do I talk to on a daily basis?
5) What kinds of things do I do?
6) What kind of training would I need to fulfill this role?
7) How much travel would this position involve?
8) How would I feel doing this role?
9) Where would this role take me in 1, 2, 3 and 5 years?
10) Who would I have to become to fully embody and own that role? Write your new career story and make it as detailed as you can.

2) Find at least 3 women who've made a similar transition and interview them about the hows, whens and whys of their transition. Oftentimes, we surround ourselves with women breadwinners who are very much like us: stuck. In order to truly believe that your career freedom is possible, you need to surround yourself with role models who've been where you are and who got to where you want to go. Even if they are people whose books you've read, contact them via email. Ask to speak to them for 10 minutes on the phone and then ask them how they did it. Take notes, take their advice, and immediately take action.

3) Review your budget, find areas to cut and simplify your living so you can magnify your career. That doesn't mean skimming down to a level below your comfort lifestyle. It simply means looking at your financial picture and assessing how you could save more, spend less, and live simpler to such an extent that you would have more options to make a career transition in 2 years or less.

4) Create 10 hours of education space each week that you can use to build the skillset necessary to make a professional transition with a lateral move in pay. In other words, if you're an IT consultant but your dream is to become a clinical psychologist, create 10 hours of education time each week where you can work on applying for a PhD program in psychology, attend classes to complete a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or obtain your life coaching certification. Will it happen overnight? No but nothing worth having does. Begin with 10 hours a week and see how quickly you accumulate experience and expertise.

5) Talk to your manager about other career options within your company. Before you assume that your current job is the ONLY job you can do in your firm at the same pay, ask questions. Inquire about other opportunities. Create a new position for yourself. Find ways to explore and fully utilize the skills you love to use within your current position and your gifts will make room for you.

6) Start your own business part time and devote 2 years to building it to the point where it replaces your current income. If you're willing to invest the energy and the time, you'll reap the rewards. You bring to the table a myriad of skills that could easily be translated into a part time business. There are people who need and are more than willing to pay for your skills. Start a part time business, see what happens, and learn the truth about making money: life will pay you ANY price you ask.

7) If staying at home is your heart's true desire, have a talk with your spouse. Re-arrange your finances. Find a job that allows you to work at home. Work a flex schedule where you have one to two days a week off so you can spend that time with your children. Children are young once and while not all women are created with that stay-at-home desire, many women breadwinners feel some level of resentment because they are missing out on key milestones for their kids that they won't ever get back again. If you have a deep desire to be at home, explore your options for doing so and create a 12 month plan for how you'll get there. Start today!

Overall, keep in mind one thing: it CAN be done. You are not trapped by your job, your pay, your boss, or your quality of life. In any moment, you can decide that this is not how the story is going to go. It will take time to develop an exit strategy to get to the next level but you can do it. Don't give up. Don't look back. Simply decide and do...

Planning for your wedding cake is not an easy task since the cake needs to look fabulous and taste heavenly at the same time. The following tips can help you a lot when choosing your wedding cake.

Do a Research

Browse through thousands of pictures so you have an idea on the various styles available. If you are thinking of customizing your cake, you need to spend more time researching on the various details to come up with the perfect customized cake. It is also important to learn some of the basic terms that you will encounter when you start researching about wedding cakes.

Book the Baker Early

Make sure to book your baker at least four months before the wedding. If there is someone you want as your baker, contact the person and provide him with the details and specifics of your wedding. When meeting a prospective baker, ask the necessary questions that you would like to ask so you will have an idea if the baker is the right one for you.

Schedule the Cake Cutting

Traditionally, cake cutting is done an hour before the party ends. However it can also be done at the start of the wedding reception if you do not want to interrupt the dance party later on.

Ask References for the Cake Baker

Find a baker who will be able to deliver what you want without having to stretch the budget you have provided for the cake. You can ask newlyweds about their cake bakers or you can check the various bakers' websites to see if there is someone who can bake the cake you want for your wedding. After finding a few prospective bakers, you can call them for appointments.

Do Not Overdo the Cake Decorations

Refrain from putting too much add-ons on your wedding cake. Simplicity in the design is still the best instead of stuffing the cake with over-the-top decorations.

Choose an Edible Color for the Wedding Cake

You can coordinate the color of your cake with your wedding color but make sure to choose a color that is edible since your guests will be eating the cake. Always remember that your wedding cake is not only created for display but also for eating.

Do Not Create Your Own Wedding Cake

Never make a cake by yourself unless you are an excellent pastry chef. There are a lot of things that you have to attend to when preparing for your wedding and handling the wedding cake preparation will only stress you out. Hiring an experienced baker to take care of it will give you peace of mind.

Consider the Transportation

Make sure to consider the travel and transportation details in the contract before you let the baker sign it. You don't want any mishaps to occur when transporting your wedding cake to the location of the reception.

It goes without saying that a baby is a bundle of joy. The babies are harbingers of happiness. But they are also expensive. As parents you would have to compromise on many things and expenses to make your baby comfortable and happy. There times when you will have to live in a shoestring budget because the expenditure on diapers and baby food will be high. Whether it is your first baby or the fourth one, there are many programs and companies that offer many free baby products. Let's take a look at the tips on how to get free baby products.

Tips to Get Free Baby Products

Get a new email account - There are many online sites that offer free coupons for new mothers and their babies. They would also send their promotional letters and brochures to your email address. To avoid the clutter and spam in your regular email id, its better to create another email account. Use this account for all the online programs.

Your doctor's place- You can ask your gynaecologist/obstrecian about the freebies. The manufacturers of baby products leave a lot of stuff with the doctors such as baby cream samples, free subscription coupons to parenting magazines, diapers and many more.

Enrol for various programs - There are many programs in which the pregnant women can enroll. Some of the programs give away free diaper bags filled with freebies, a travel bag for your hospital stay, pregnancy journals and many more. There are a few programs which give away products at a very minimal cost.

Signup in various websites that sell baby-products - Many baby products manufacturing companies are throwing freebies as samples to attract potential customers. You should take advantage of the schemes provided by these companies. It is just not about free baby products. There are offers and freebies for mom-to-be.

Check your email account and mailbox regularly - If you have subscribed with many programs, when your due dates gets closer, there are companies that will offer baby care books, diapers and creams at discounted rates. You might even get offers from reputed portrait studios for you and the newborn.

There are many local mom and pop shops that offers freebies on baby products to their regular customers. You should not shy away from such offers. Remember, if you are planning to use disposable diapers they would actually leave a big hole in your monthly expense. However, use the disposable diapers and baby creams and lotions that would suit the skin of your child.

Auto title lending has become quite popular lately with the rise in consumers turning to lenders offering fast, convenient, and simple loans. With the economy calling for consumers to "reach out" in an effort to supplement their paychecks, take care of past-due bills, or deal with financial emergencies that aren't covered by some sort of savings account, auto tile loans have become more common than ever.

But if these types of loans have only recently (1990′s) become a widely traveled avenue for those looking to put themselves back in the "financial driver's seat", where were people turning to before to close the gap between financial freedom and budget bedlam. Those lenders who use to gain the business of harried borrowers have now become competition for the title lenders giving consumers more options but less room to breathe in the approval process.

U.S. banks such as Wells Fargo & Co. and U.S. Bancorp still offer conventional loans like they always have but they have also jumped in on the short-term, high-risk lending game in an effort to recoup revenue lost from debit-card and overdraft fees. Banks, along with auto title loan and payday lenders are being scrutinized for the use of these short-term loans that offer high interest rates but may not be held accountable to state laws that are subject to interest-rate caps. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. along with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have taken moves to investigate these bank loans that don't use the word "payday" but instead titles like Ready Advance and Direct Deposit Advance.

While auto title lenders base the amount of your loan on the value and equity of your car, short-term bank loans are based solely on the borrower's income and job history. Auto title lenders use the equity in the consumer's car or truck to make a decision on loan eligibility and amount which means no credit check is needed when a person applies for these types of loans. Most auto title lenders will not report to credit bureaus in the event the consumer is late on payments or doesn't pay back the loan at all. Banks, on the other hand, may choose to let credit agencies know that the consumer has defaulted on the loan as well as having the option to close the borrower's account should the loan not be paid back. This alone makes auto title loans attractive to people who have bad credit or little to no credit at all.

On the other hand, borrowers of auto title loans will not gain credit worthiness when they make good on their loan payments while payday loans from traditional lending institutions will allow consumers to "create a credit record that will enable them to graduate to more mainstream credit products, whether with us or with another reputable institution." says Jeffrey Lee, executive vice president of Regions Bank.

The big draw to auto title loans may be the big amount borrowers can actually take out against the equity of their vehicle. While the average payday loan amount anywhere from $250-$1000 based on state lending caps, auto title loans can put up to $5000 in the borrower's bank account because they are based on the value of the consumer's car or truck. Keep in mind the lender requires the title or "pink slip" to the vehicle before they hand over the cash and in the event that the borrower does not repay the loan? The lender can repossess the vehicle.

Located in the state of Georgia, Atlanta promises a unique and enjoyable vacation. It is a city that is known for its cultural diversity and historical landmarks. Adults, families and children will surely find a lot to keep themselves busy during a vacation here. In fact, the city is such a popular destination that many leading airlines, such as US Airways and British Airways, offer airline discount. This makes it affordable for people traveling on a budget to get cheap flights to Atlanta.

The zoo in the city is pretty popular with families spending their vacations here. It is said to be one of the oldest zoos in the US and has more than 200 resident animals. The giant pandas living in the zoo are very popular with visitors. Not only can they get to taste a range of sodas manufactured by coke, they can also get a guided tour of the bottling plant. It can be pretty exciting for kids to see their favorite beverage being made and then bottled.

Cheap tickets to Atlanta can come pretty handy when you are vacationing with children. Kids want fun and excitement throughout the day and this means spending money. So if you manage to get affordable plane tickets to the city, grab the opportunity. This way you will have more money to make sure you your kids have a lot of fun. Speaking of fun; be sure to visit the Georgia Aquarium. It is a place that both adults and kids will adore. You can spend time watching beluga whales, African penguins and whale sharks. In addition, if you are up for a little bit of fun and adventure, you can also take advantage of the group sleepovers that the aquarium organizes regularly. It can be exciting, entertaining and pretty educative.

Flights to Atlanta will also give you an opportunity to visit Stone Mountain, which is a recreation park. With laser light shows, sky rides, pedal boat rides, golfing, camping and hiking, there is plenty to keep adults and kids busy the entire day. You won't get the opportunity to think about the word 'boredom' here!

You can increase your children's knowledge by taking time to explore the Fernbank Museum in the city. In fact, kids will adore the visit, as they will be able to see dinosaurs and have interactive sessions to find out more about the human body, especially the sensory organs. In addition, the museum is home to a 5-story IMAX theater. This could end up being your children's favorite hangout in the city. Possibly, you could leave them here if they are old enough and you could head out to Virginia Highland in the Midtown of the city to browse through the stores and shops or relaxing in one of the European themed pubs and restaurants. With its pre-Colonial ambiance, you are sure to enjoy yourself. If you want a more high-end shopping experience, head to Buckhead where you will be able to visit the Lenox Square Shopping Center, which is home to big brand names like Macy's and Adidas.

Spies of Warsaw is based on the novel by Alan Furst and stars David Tennant as Colonel Jean-Francois Mercier, Janet Montgomery as Anna Skarbek and Marcin Dorocinski as Antoni Pakulski. It's a BBC, TVP1 (Poland), ARTE (France) coproduction.

Warning: my review includes spoilers

The Story

Spies of Warsaw is set in 1938/39 in Poland, although the main characters make frequent trips to Paris and Germany. David Tennant plays Mercier, a French spy working closely with the Polish to discover German invasion plans for both Poland and his own country. Janet Montgomery plays Anna, a League of Nations worker who meets Mercier when he needs someone to take to a diplomatic reception. They fall in love, but Anna is already living with a Russian emigre writer and the French embassy regard her as a security threat.

After observing German tank manoeuvres, Mercier becomes convinced that they are capable of manoeuvring their forces through the forests of the Ardennes (which they of course did during Fall Gelb, the Nazi invasion of France), but will anyone listen? The only people who seem to want to help are the desperate Poles (personified by Polish intelligence officer Antoni Pakulski), one semi-retired French general, and a couple of British diplomats in Paris who pass Mercier's warnings on to Winston Churchill. Frustrating Mercier's plans are German intelligence, Soviet Intelligence, multiple assassins and double agents and even his own superiors.

Anna's writer boyfriend is deported back to the USSR (and presumably to his death) at the instigation of the French embassy. She blames Mercier and cuts him off. He tries to keep going, but finds it difficult to live without her. It becomes clear that the Nazis and Soviets are running rings around him. Eventually as the Germans overrun Poland he has one last mission to help the doomed Poles and a chance to redeem himself with Anna arises.

It's a slow-burner, character driven, with little in the way of driving plot; how will Mercier and Anna develop their affair and will anyone listen to Mercier's warnings being the main ongoing themes.

My Analysis

With three hours to play with (two 90 minute episodes) the screeen-writers maintain a calm pace, building the atmosphere of Warsaw and Paris and the frustrations of Mercier as he tries to warn his country of the danger. There are really only two types of spy drama, the unrealistic and the semi-realistic. This is the semi-realistic type. There are very few explosions (only one really and even that a bit half-hearted) and not many shootouts. What there is is a lot of moody atmosphere.

To be fair there's some great evocative period detail, better I'd say than the recent, high-budget adaptation of Restless. Alan Furst's books are strong on pre-war atmosphere, so the series has captured that style well.

It's not a simple or heroic story. Instead it comes across almost like a dramatisation of real events. There are lots of minor characters who appear and disappear in the story as their paths cross Mercier's. The adaptation could have taken the course of trimming the story back drastically and potentially it would have worked if it had, but I found the sub-plots and semi-realism interesting and eventually engrossing. If you liked Smiley's People you'll be at home in the world of the story.

Which bits were true?

Although most of Spies of Warsaw is fictional, Mercier's final mission is based on the true story of Poland smuggling its gold reserves to France (via Romania) to avoid them being stolen by the Nazis.

The story as told in Hitler's Gold: the Story of the Nazi War Loot, by Arthur L. Smith, Jr.:

The German occupiers found the Bank of Poland almost empty. As the German military forces threatened Warsaw, the chief personnel of the Bank of Poland (Bank Polski) had abandoned the city taking with them some $64 million worth of the Polish gold reserve. Traveling by train and truck south and east through Rumania, Turkey and Lebanon, the Polish bank staff finally arrived in France in late October 1939, where they were granted office space and storage vaults in the Bank of France in Paris and there continued to conduct businees.

I was disappointed with the low key ending. In keeping with the realistic feeling of the whole series, the train journey to Romania involved a limited amount of action, some tension and a lot of looking sad as Poland was dismembered between the voracious war machines of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

And well they might be sad, the epilogue informs us 90% of Warsaw was destroyed during the Second World War.

Spies of Warsaw: my Verdict

If you like slow-paced, atmospheric spy stories then you'll like this.

With the rise and abundance of large corporations whose every move affect the economy, what interest can cyber criminals have on your humble business?

It is exactly that kind of thinking that captures their attention, and because you are small, they will have an easier time damaging your networks. Worse, some will even cost you big bucks.

A recent study revealed that hackers, hacktivists, and crackers do not really possess a strong motive for breaking into other people's computers and stealing their date. Some simply want to practice their skills, improve them, or see how far they can go without getting caught.

Of course, for them, it may be fun, but for us, their entertainment is an additional burden to carry.

Business people have it worse; aside from possible hardware and software malfunction, there is also the risk of confidential data at risk of theft.

Your first line of defense

Before you start worrying about who can steal from you through the internet, be practical and view your workplace as the foremost participant at risk and to pose risks.

Your first line of defense is called physical security. This refers to the ways you ensure that your hardwares are protected.

Begin by orienting your employees on the do's and don'ts in the office. Warn them not to insert just any flash drive into your computers, as the downloaded files in them may carry viruses that will jump into your system. The same goes for hard drives and burned CDs.

A big part of this is entering into agreement about the internet etiquettes you must all follow. Minimizing or banning the use of social networking sites are big leaps towards safety, especially because most viruses, worms, and Trojans travel through email attachments.

Scams still happen away from the internet. Beware of phone calls that request your personal information or inquire about the status of your company. Without validation on the identity of the caller, hang up. Do not give them the chance to persuade you, because you will be in big trouble once they do.

Your computer's shield

Acquiring antivirus software is a good way of defending your employees and your business from experiencing malware. Computers rely on this to maintain the cleanliness of your downloaded items. They help you identify the threats you are not aware of. An antivirus program is usually equipped with the ability to get rid of the threat itself.

Make sure your employees keep the antivirus software turned on, especially when accessing the internet. As malwares are continuously undergoing evolution, so are software companies keeping pace with methods on how to counter them.

Upgrade your antivirus regularly to keep its virus directory up to date. If it recognizes a threat but cannot identify exactly what it is, chances are that it will not be capable of dealing with it accordingly.

This way, you have less to worry about while remaining confident that your files are safe.

Let us say you do want to hire the assistance of a professional but do not have the budget for it; your next best option is the latest antivirus software.

A cloud antivirus is clearly defined as an anti-malware technology that uses light-weight agent software on the protected endpoint while offloading the majority of data analysis to the provider's infrastructure.

This is the perfect solution for those of us who do not have the time nor the skills (no matter how hard you try) to utilize antivirus software to their maximum capacity.

Acquiring Cloud anti-virus protection will reduce your frustration, as it was designed to be less user reliant. Sustain good internet connection, and it will be the one to update its virus signature directory in order to know what new threats have arisen since you installed it.

You can keep track of the infections detected and other reports through your preferred web browser. The other benefits a Cloud anti-virus has are centralized management and PC deployments made easier.

Constantly read articles about the newest internet fishing techniques and the viruses released into the world wide web. Whether or not you think cyber criminals will target your small business matters very little. What was designed to harm another can always reach you.

Small and medium enterprises differ from multinational corporations in many ways, in terms of finances, liability, expertise, fund availability and generation, and much more. Marketing strategies, for a small business may vary as well, a number of things are considered before drafting a strategy for a small or medium business. The capacity of a business to produce, the willingness or the ability of the entrepreneur, his financial strengths, the current potential for the product or service to sell in the market and the future prospects of the business in the market, determine the strategy to start a trade or promote an existing business.

Businessmen operate with limited finances, but have to deal with unlimited liabilities, the channel from where the revenue is generated could be single, while expenditures could streams in from everywhere, examples of a few monthly fixed expenditures could be, the cost of insurance, utility bills, rent or lease for property, license fees, and taxes.

Capitalist operating on small scales therefore prefer to work on a stringent budget, the promotion strategy therefore must not absorb too many finances, and nor should it require enormous expertise, this leaves a question, on how to market a business?

The bounteous technology has liberated the business world to gain visibility and accessibility without much of a financial cost. The Internet is by far the most economical and effective means of reaching out across the globe, for advertising business and inviting clientele. Virtual social media platforms help create awareness and only require time and effort, anything on twitter or Facebook that hits the red hot nail aright on its heads seems to go viral within minutes; in many cases web traffic increases hundred folds or even more.

Entrepreneurs could either opt for hiring technology geeks or use the free coaching sites to learn about creating their websites. The right strategy for search engine optimization, and an informative and attractive site, has enabled many to mint millions without even having a proper office to work in.

Another blessing is reduced operating expenses and system dependent procedures that have almost eradicated the probability of human error. Microsoft office, web based emails, virtual data clouds, online banking, web based fund transfer has eliminated reoccurring, daily cash outflows, time and effort required on purchasing stationery, maintaining inventory, and cost incurred on travel, postal and courier service.

Marketing a business locally would depend on how tech savvy the surrounding community is, if the target market or local community scarcely makes use of computers, then sticking to conventional ways could be a viable strategy, an adventurous entrepreneur may also choose to explore new avenues, where modern day technology can be applied to make a few pennies.

Technology has only reinforced energy to human intellect to deliver better every time it's put into good use, there is no way a business can fail to market itself on the world wide web, if maneuvered by the willpower and a perspective for a bright future.

Grab your Mouse Ears, sunscreen, and a pair of comfy shoes-you're headed for Orlando!

Orlando is the most popular vacation destination in the world. Every year, tens of millions of people arrive by plane, car, and train to hit the theme parks, restaurants, and many other attractions of this once-rural Florida city. With so much to do and so many ways to do it, it can be easy for you-and your wallet-to get overwhelmed. But don't worry! We are here to help.

This Disney World Savings article is the perfect way to minimize problems and maximize fun. Inside, you'll find great tips on many of the top destinations, plus helpful information about the Orlando area. From theme parks to shopping, this is your source for vacation information for the whole family.

Disclaimer: Orlando is a constantly-changing, dynamic destination. Attractions, restaurants, rides, and more close and open throughout the year, sometimes with little to no notice. This travel guide was accurate at the time of publication and may be subject to updates throughout the year. If you have any questions or concerns about any information in this guide, please feel free to email us or call the theme parks directly.

The Walt Disney World® Resort

It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, visited by millions every year. What was once a swampy patch of Florida soil is now the Walt Disney World Resort (WDW)-a massive vacation and entertainment wonderland with four main theme parks, two water parks, 23 hotels, seven golf courses (five championship and two mini), a racetrack, sports complex, ten marinas, more than 140 places to eat, and more.

It's easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff that WDW offers. Let's take the resort one world at a time so you can plan your trip, your way.

The Magic Kingdom®

You walk through the gates and there it is, like the opening scene of your very own fairy tale-a beautiful castle at the end of a picturesque village street. Welcome to Main Street USA, the beginning of your Magic Kingdom (MK) experience.

Main Street USA is where it all begins, a perfect shop- and restaurant-lined thoroughfare that leads you to the five worlds beyond. Along the Street, you will find delightful shops featuring all the Disney merchandise you can handle, plus some specialty items like hand-blown glass ornaments (with working artisans who you can watch). Guest Services is also on Main Street; remember to stop there for dining reservations (always a good idea) and information on attractions that may be down for maintenance, parade times, special events, and anything else you might need. This is also the place for stroller and wheelchair rental.

While Main Street USA is primarily thought of as the gateway to the "real" attractions, there are some great things to do here as well, especially for those times when you need a break from the crowds and the heat. Here are our Main Picks for Main Street:

Get a haircut! No, seriously-for just under $20, you can say you got your haircut at a real, old-fashioned Barber Shop. You can even include some "magical" touches, like highlights.

Send a postcard! Stop by City Hall and mail a postcard to the folks back home. It will be stamped as coming from The Magic Kingdom; mail it to yourself for an inexpensive souvenir.

Grab your ears! The Le Chapeau shop is the best place to get those iconic ears. Now you can customize the design and build your own hat, so everyone can have their own personal set.

Ride the rails! This is a great way to relax. Use the Walt Disney World Railroad to wind your way around the park or take a trip to Frontierland. It's a particularly great way to end the day, especially if you can time it for sunset.

Main Street USA is also the place for parades. Check with guest services for parade times and types; they can change throughout the year and for special events. Remember that the best viewing spots get taken early, so stake your concrete claim and use the time to relax.

Beyond Main Street USA, five additional worlds await: Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Tomorrowland. Each world has its own attractions, restaurants, and shops; let's take them one at a time so you can plan your stops.

Adventureland: Pirates and jungle adventures are the order of the day! Explorers and swashbucklers of all ages come here for exotic entertainment, including street performers and the pirate training camp (ask a cast member where the next "class" will be). Here's what you shouldn't miss:

Pirates of the Caribbean

The Enchanted Tiki Room

Jungle Cruise

Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Frontierland: This Old West land is where you will want to grab your first FASTPASS tickets-send one member of your party over as soon as you arrive and get your reservation for either Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Splash Mountain. If it's getting near lunchtime, hit Peco Bill's for reasonably-priced (for a theme park) burgers. Then saddle up for these must-do's:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Splash Mountain

Country Bear Jamboree

Liberty Square: This is one of the smaller lands but it's also one of the most loved. There are only three attractions here, and every one of them is a definite do:

Haunted Mansion

The Hall of Presidents

Liberty Square Riverboat

Fantasyland: Currently undergoing a massive expansion that will double its size, plenty of Fantasyland is still open for fun and more will debut throughout the year. The entire place is due to be ready by 2014, so don't be surprised by all the walls and scaffolding you may see until then.

Families with younger kids will find themselves spending a lot of time here, but older visitors can still find plenty to love. For many visitors, this land is the very essence of the Magic Kingdom; here are a few reasons why.

Mad Tea Party

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

It's A Small World

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Under The Sea:Journey of the Little Mermaid

Ariel's Grotto

Enchanted Tales with Belle

Tomorrowland: This is a nostalgic look at what we once thought the future would look like, with great rides and a very fun atmosphere.

Stitch's Great Escape!

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin

Space Mountain

What a Character!

Throughout the entire WDW Resort are plenty of chances to meet and greet your favorite

Disney characters. While there are reservations-only places for guaranteed

meetings - such as character meals - there are also locations throughout

the resort where you can stand on line to shake hands or get a photo. For example, MK has

several specific areas set up for character greetings, including City Hall at

Town Square, the Adventureland Congoasis, and Ariel's Grotto.

Characters are also know to make appearances near the rides associated with

them, as well as other places throughout the park. Check with Guest Services to

find out when and where your favorites will be meeting and greeting.

EPCOT®

Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow-it was Walt's dream city, but it opened instead as the theme park known as EPCOT. If you want your vacation to include rides, technology, world cultures, and street performers, you've come to the right place.

While MK is heaven for little ones, EPCOT is ideal for older kids and adults, especially tech-savvy teens and 'tweens. This park is also known for having some of the best food on Disney property, along with some of the hardest reservations to nab-if you're heading over during a high-capacity time of year, plan accordingly by calling 1-407-WDW-DINE

EPCOT is split into two areas: Future World and the World Showcase.

Future World: This is the place for most of the rides, interactive exhibits, and constantly-changing technology. Things are nice and organized here, so it's easy to see everything in one day. But if you want to know just the must-do's, we've got the list for you.

Spaceship Earth

Soarin'

Test Track

Mission: SPACE

Journey Into Imagination with Figment

Living with the Land

World Showcase: This is the place for culture, shows, food, and a few rides. The World Showcase is a way to see some of the most famous destinations in the world without a passport.

Each country - or pavilion - features food, goods, and cast members from the country itself. Shows and movies round out the experience. The permanent World Showcase Pavilions are Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada. Mexico and Norway both feature boat rides - Gran Fiesta Tour featuring The Three Cabelleros and Maelstrom.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

It's time for the magic of the movies, Mouse-style. Disney's Hollywood Studios (DHS) is the WDW tribute to "the Hollywood that never was, and always will be." this is the place for movie faves, tv greats, and three of the best thrill rides anywhere. DHS is also where you will find most of the newer Disney characters, including monsters inc and both new and classic muppets.

DHS is a well-organized, compact park, which makes it easy to do in one great day. If you find yourself with time to spare, though, be sure to see as many shows as possible; DHS is known for some of the best. and be sure to stay late for Fantasmic! It's considered the best of the nighttime shows, and it's the only regular park event that features the disney villains. Grab seats early, no matter what time of year, or enjoy dinners and a show by making reservations for the Fantasmic! Package at either The Hollywood Brown Derby, Mama Mellrose's Ristorante Italiano, or Hollywood & Vine.

Here is your list of absolute musts for DHS:

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Aerosmith Rock n roller coaster

The Great movie ride

Toy story mania

Indiana jones stunt spectacular show

Muppet vision 3D

Star tours

Disney's Animal Kingdom Park

Animal Kingdom (AK) may be the youngest of the WDW parks, but it's popularity is right up there with its sibling amusements. This "Natazu" (say it out loud and you'll get it) features live animals, good food, great rides, and some truly stunning architectural touches, even by Disney standards.

AK is divided into lands (like MK). Some are based on world regions, with theming and animals native to the region, and others are more imaginative. Here's the rundown of what's where

Oasis: Many people make the mistake of rushing through this entry point; don't be one of them. Take your time and see miniature deer, sloths, macaws, iguanas, and more.

Discovery Island: the park's center is dominated by artistic wonder The Tree of Life. The Tree stands 14 stories tall, is 50 feet wide, and has a carved "bark" tapestry featuring 325 different animal likenesses. Wildlife trails surround the tree as well, with viewing areas for lemurs, flamingos, red kangaroos, and massive Galapagos tortoises. Inside the tree is a theatre where you can experience It's Tough To Be A Bug, a creepy crawly interactive movie show-it's a park fave!

Camp Minnie Mickey: take the little ones here for small-size fun and most of AK's character meet and greets. This is also the home for The Festival of the Lion King show, which inspired the award-winning Broadway musical.

Africa: welcome to Harambe, a beautiful African village that is your path to Kilimanjaro Safari and a ride through African animal territory. Once you descend from your safari vehicle, you exit to the Paganini Forest Exploration Trail for a look at lowland gorillas, including a magnificent 500-lb silverback male and his family. Take your time through these trails-this is one of the few places in the world where you can observe these amazing primates. After, take the little ones to Rafiki's Planet Watch after, as a reward for their patience-they'll love the Affection Section petting zoo.

Asia: You've discovered the kingdom of Anandapur, which means "place of delight." The Imagineers did an amazing job of creating the feeling of a crumbling, archeological wonder, so be sure to keep an eye open for intricate details. Of course, that might be hard to do since your whole party will be running to get to Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Disney's newest thrill ride. FASTPASS it for sure-this coaster is worth your entire visit. On a hot day, head next to Kali River Rapids, where the churning waters guarantee a soaking good time for all. More up-close animal viewing can be had at Maharajah Jungle Trek, including Bengal Tigers.

Dinoland U.S.A.: It might not be the best dinosaur attraction in the world, but it's still good Disney fun. The Boneyard is a place for kids to dig, climb and slide while parents get some time to sit and watch. Then take the whole family to Dinosaur, a fun, fast-paced race against time. Finally, grab a seat for Finding Nemo-The Musical. This gorgeous, visually-stunning reimagining of the popular film is considered THE must-see show of the entire Walt Disney World Resort.

Our Tips for the WDW Parks

FASTPASS: It's like making a reservation for your favorite WDW attraction. Just insert your admission ticket, annual pass, or resort ID, and the machine prints out a pass with the time you should return to the ride. You can't choose your time, and you can only have one active FASTPASS at a time, but that doesn't matter -- on a busy day, it can save you hours of waiting on lines.

A FASTPASS Tip: If you miss your scheduled time, don't worry. Your FASTPASS is good for any time after the time on your ticket.

Ride while other guests are busy: Mealtimes, parades, and fireworks often take people away from the major attractions. Ride while everyone else is distracted and you may experience far shorter wait times.

Don't rebuy-refill! WDW has water fountains throughout the park. Bring your own water bottles (the park allows them) and refill throughout the day.

Snack to save time: Snack stands offer quick, light options for meals on the go-remember that a heavy meal is likely to slow you down, especially in hot weather.

The WDW Water Parks

Blizzard Beach

Welcome to the 66-acre ski resort of Mount Gushmore! Blizzard Beach features a white sand beach and a tropical lagoon. This is the youngest of the Disney water parks, but it's also the most popular; in fact, it's the most popular water park in the country. It's got great rides for all ages, from thrills and speed to lazy and relaxing. Here are a few highlights:

Cross Country Creek

Melt Away Bay

Tike's Peak

Teamboat Springs

Summit Plummet

Typhoon Lagoon

Slightly smaller and a bit more relaxed in both theme and thrills than Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon is WDW's second water park. Crowds tend to be a bit smaller here, since it is the older of the two parks, but you can still expect long waits and crowded pools during high attendance times of year. Typhoon Lagoon's waters are kept at a warm - but still refreshing - 75-80º F all year round, making this a water park of choice even in Orlando's short winter.

The story of Typhoon Lagoon centers around Miss Tilly, a shrimp boat that ended up stuck atop volcano Mount Mayday after "the storm of storms." On the half hour, Miss Tilly still blows her whistle, as Mount Mayday tries to dislodge the ship by sending a geyser of water straight through her and up into the air.

The most well-known attraction at Typhoon Lagoon is probably the Shark Reef. Here, you can snorkel and even scuba with live sharks (leopards and bonnetheads), as well as stingrays and assorted tropical fish. Those visitors not quite brave enough to get in the water (the sharks are not dangerous!) can view the fish via the portholes of a "sunken tanker."

There are nine waterslides as well, running the gamut from thrills to pure laziness. Here's the rundown on some of the favorites:

Castaway Creek

Crush 'n' Gusher

Gang Plank Falls

Humunga Kowabunga

Surf Pool

Sports, Shopping, and More

Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex

This is Disney's homage to sports and the people who both play and love them. It's a 220-acre megacomplex with a baseball stadium, ten baseball and softball fields, six basketball courts, 12 tennis courts (fully lighted), six volleyball courts (sand, of course), a track and field complex, driving range for golfers, and even two indoor roller hockey rinks. The multisport auxiliary Josten Center offers another six basketball courts, 12 more volleyball courts, and two more roller hockey rinks.

Sports fans should know that big names often make appearances here, too. The Atlanta Braves come for Spring Training every March, and the NBA, PGA, NCAA, and Harlem Globetrotters all host events and games here. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also use the Sports Complex as their training camp in July and August.

Call 407-WDW-GAME for more information, including a calendar of events and also ticket information.

DisneyQuest

This interactive, indoor theme park is the perfect choice for the tech- heads in your group or for the whole family on a rainy day. It features five levels of cutting-edge games, where virtual reality meets adventure, all with a touch of that special Disney pixie dust. Teens will LOVE it, but there is something for everyone. Don't miss virtual versions of popular MK rides, including Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold, Virtual Jungle Cruise, CyberSpace Mountain, and Aladdin's Magic Carpets.

CyberSpace Mountain is a particular fave, where Bill Nye the Science Guy helps you create the coaster and then lets you ride it-it's truly a customized ride experience. Artistically-inclined guests should check out Animation Station for a crash-course in Disney-style animation. Get here at opening for the most action with least wait-afternoons and evenings here can become unbearably crowded.

Golf Disney

WDW features 99 total holes of golf, spread over six courses. There are also two mini-golf complexes, competing with similar sites all over Orlando. While big golfers in your party might want to plan big outings with their buddies (tee times can be booked 60-90 days in advance), Oak Trail is the best place to get in a quick nine holes. It's a lovely and quiet walking course suitable for beginners, expert linksmen, or even families. There are some great challenges, notably at holes 5, 6, and 7. Other courses and mini-golf include:

Magnolia

Palm

Osprey Ridge

Lake Buena Vista

Fantasia Gardens (mini)

Fantasia Fairways (mini)

Winter Summerland (two mini courses: Winter and Summer)

And remember, spikeless golf shoes only! Sneakers or similar athletic shoes are also permitted.

Downtown Disney

If shopping, dining, and a state-of-the-art multiplex are part of your dream vacation, this is where you'll want to spend some time. It's split into three areas: West Side, Pleasure Island (soon to be Hyperion Wharf), and The Marketplace.

West Side has DisneyQuest and amazing dining experiences, such as Bongos Cuban Café, the House of Blues, Wolfgang Puck's, and Planet Hollywood. There is a 24-screen AMC movie theater, featuring all your first-run needs in a beautiful art deco setting. West Side also features Cirque du Solei La Nouba, a Disney-exclusive show by the world-famous avant-garde troupe. Buy tickets early if you want to see the show - its popularity is nearly unrivaled. And new for 2013 is Splitsville, a two-floor, 30 lane bowling and entertainment complex featuring live music and great dining.

Pleasure Island was once the over-18 center of Downtown Disney, with clubs and restaurants catering to an all-adult crowd. That ended in 2008, and the area has been partially unused since. But things are changing! Disney announced plans in late 2010 to transform Pleasure Island into a brand-new shopping and dining area, Hyperion Wharf. Construction is expected to take three years; some shops and restaurants will remain open during the long renovation, including Raglan Road Irish Pub & Bar, Fuego by Sosa Cigars, Paradiso 37, and Orlando Harley-Davidson.

Disney Marketplace has great restaurants, too, notably Fulton's Crab House for succulent seafood on a beautiful riverboat. Captain Jack's (no connection to the Johnny Depp character) is the place for oysters and cold beer, in a casual waterfront restaurant that also has a great childrens menu. Kids will also love the Rainforest Café, where there are often live animals (mostly parrots) on display outside. Marketplace is also home to the World of Disney. No trip is complete without a visit here, though parents trying to stick to a budget might want to corral the kids once they get through the door!

Getting Around The Mouse: Transportation at the Walt Disney World® Resort

Monorail: The Walt Disney Monorail system has been in place since the park opened in 1971. It originally ran around the circumference of the Seven Seas Lagoon but was expanded in 1982 to offer monorail transport to EPCOT. If you are staying in one of the Magic Kingdom hotels

- The Contemporary, The Polynesian, or The Grand Floridian - the monorail goes right through your hotel. Everyone else picks up the monorail at either the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, or the Transportation and Ticket Center, known as the TTC.

The TTC is the central point for Disney transportation. In addition to monorails, the TTC is also where you can find Disney (and other area hotel) resort buses, ferry boats, water taxis, and a massive parking lot for cars, taxis, and buses.

Buses: Disney resort buses run to all the Disney hotels, the main parks, water parks, Downtown Disney, and the Wide World of Sports. There are dozens of buses for each location, but the routes are not always the most direct. Also, the buses can be extremely crowded at peak periods, such as opening, closing, and meal times. Be aware of time - if you are in a hurry to get somewhere, the buses may not be your best option.

Parking: While the monorails, ferry boats, water taxis, and Disney buses are complimentary, if you prefer to use your own car, the daily parking fee is $14 for cars and motorcycles, and $15 for trailers and campers. Your parking pass is good for the entire day, no matter how often you move your car. Disney Resort Hotel Guests and Annual Pass Holders do not have to pay for parking anywhere in the Walt Disney complex. It is always complimentary.

Fun for all ages

WDW attracts guests of very ages, from families with young children to retirees and spring breakers. Everyone has their own favorites, but if you're looking for some planning help, here are our picks for the best options for the most common age groups: Kids, Teens and Adults.

Please note the following abbreviations for each park:

MK = Magic Kingdom® Park

EP = Epcot®

DHS = Disney's Hollywood Studios™

AP = Disney's Animal Kingdom® Park

Best for Younger Kids

Attractions: Voyage of the Little Mermaid (DHS), Monsters Inc Laugh Floor (MK), Finding Nemo: The Musical (AK), Buzz Lightyear (MK)

Eats: 50 Prime Time Café (DHS), Cosmic Ray's (MK), Coral Reef Restaurant (EP), Toy Story Pizza Planet (DHS)

Best for Teens

Attractions: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (DHS), Philharmagic (MK), Phantasmic (DHS), Rock n Roller Coaster (DHS), Haunted Mansion (MK), Space Mountain (MK), Splash Mountain (MK), Mission: Space (EP), Expedition Everest (AK)

Restaurants: Pecos Bills (MK), Via Napoli (EP), Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (DHS)

Best for Adults

Attractions: Muppet Vision 3-D (DHS), Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (DHS), Test Track (EP), Soarin' (EP)

Restaurants: Victoria and Albert's (Grand Floridian Resort), California Grill (Contemporary Resort), Narcoosees (Grand Floridian Resort), Chefs du France (EP), Jiko (AK Lodge), Rose and Crown (EP), Le Cellier (EP)

We sincerely hoped you enjoyed reading our guide to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Have a great trip!

College degree? Trade certificate? Or online marketer? All of these can help you earn money. Which one will help you earn the most? Which one will cost the least in training? Which will you need if you don't want to work 40 hours or more to earn a decent income?

Now if you earn a degree in Medicine or Law, maybe you won't have to work 40 hours a week to earn a pretty decent income, but what will it cost you to earn that degree in order to make your money. What will it cost you in years of training? Most likely a ton of money and a load of your time!

If being a doctor or lawyer is your plan, then it is well worth your time money and effort as they are very noble professions. You might spend less time in years and a little less money to get a trade certificate, but it will cost you no doubt. And depending on the trade it may cost you a little, or it may cost you a lot but it will definitely cost you.

The average person was taught in the early years, to make money you need to get an education. Get your high school diploma then go off to college. That's what you will need to do to make the big bucks and secure your future. But look at the unemployment rate. Most often there are not enough jobs for every person who graduates, in their field of study. Of course there are even fewer opportunities for those who are less educated.

Many people spend years in school and wind up earning bachelors, masters and even doctorate degrees and do not make much more than 45,000 dollars a year. Often times they end up as teachers, rather than earning a living at their certified field. Although becoming a teacher is a great and respectable position, for many, it was not the plan.

We all know that once upon a time it was, "you need to get your high school diploma". Once you have that you could get a job anywhere. Then it became "you need to get your college education". A high school diploma is no longer enough. Now there are not enough jobs in the field you got your college degree in. So, many people end up teaching because it's easier to get a job at almost any high school or community college in the field they earned their degree in.

Have you ever seen the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus"? It's a story about a guy who is a musician played by Richard Dreyfuss, who's only plan was to be a musician, and someday, compose his great opus. He got married and when his wife became unexpectedly pregnant, he needed to find a job that would enable him to take care of his new family. That of course meant they had to move out of their small apartment. He felt he needed a more stable job and income besides the music gigs he played. He needed to buy a house so that could have more room. So he reluctantly got a job teaching music at a high school. He ended up not only being locked into the job but he had no time to work on his opus because of all the time he had to dedicate to grading papers and planning lessons and all the other extra- curricular activities that teachers had to commit to.

Well eventually Mr. Holland did write his opus. But it was only after he was about 60 years of age and after his music program was cut from the school's budget. By that time, he was at the age of retirement. So much for the life he had planned to just make music.

Now just imagine if Mr. Holland had been an Internet Marketer. He might have had money to buy a house, raise his family and time to write his opus while he was still young. How many people dream of spending time doing the very things they love? Many want to spend more time with family rather than spending time working to provide for family they rarely see. Mr. Holland also sacrificed his relationship with his deaf son who held much resentment toward him, for spending his too little time on his opus rather than with him.

Many people love their jobs and so for them spending time at work day after day is very rewarding. But what about those who have dreams of spending time doing what they love? What if they would rather spend time painting their masterpiece, or writing a great novel, or perhaps composing their very own opus. What if there was the time to do all of these things and still earn a good income and still have time to spend with family at home or traveling? That would be grand wouldn't it?

There are thousands of people who are living their lives just the way they want because they have lots of money and free time. They are the successful internet marketers who have learned to use the World Wide Web as their source of income while working at home only a few hours a week. There are many opportunities online that one could tap into to make money. If you are interested in a freedom lifestyle, you would do well to explore the many aspects of internet marketing.

Earning a college degree or learning a trade is fine for those who wish to learn to earn by working 40 hours a week. Just keep in mind there is the option of working less and earning more money and time. Making money online is a great option to consider.

Some of the ways to make money online include: E bay auctioning, niche marketing, affiliate programs, and even paid surveys just to name a few. But remember to always know who you are dealing with and look out for the shady deals. Do your research and always know who to trust and who not to.

Knowing the right programs and finding the best resources is important. Once you have done your research and decide upon a method that suits your personality, you could be on your way to living your dreams while earning rewarding income. And the best part is it does not have to cost you a lot of money to get started. Initially it may cost you some time to learn a few skills but it all depends on the type of money- maker you decide to go with. For example if you decide to build a website of course you will need some web building skills. But many who make money, online, do not even have or need a website.

If you do choose an online money- making method that requires a website, you could easily set up a website with Wordpress, a very simple solution that is used by many website owners nowadays. There are tons of ideas and solutions that can be found on the web. You just have to search and explore and before you know it you could be making money online.

Backpacking across the hills is an extremely rewarding activity. You get to spend valuable time with nature and replenish yourself. However, you will need some essential camping gear before you depart on a trip to the mountains. We will look at the most essential items that you will need on the trip. A word of caution - ensure that you know a little bit about the place you will be camping out in so that you carry the appropriate clothes. Don't get caught in heavy rains without waterproof jackets!

1. Tents - Undoubtedly the first item that you should buy for your camping needs is a strong, durable tent. There are varieties of tents in the market so you might have to do some research and also know what your needs are. If you are travelling with your family, then buy a midsized tent which can fit in all the people. You might be surprised to know that large family tents with capacities of 10-12 people are also available in the market.

2. Sleeping material - this will be a crucial part of your outdoor gear because after all those hours exploring the place, you will definitely be tired and a good night's sleep will be important to ensure you can keep your batteries charged on the trip. So ensure that you buy good, cozy sleeping bags, pillows and mats.

3. Cookware - without food, you cannot survive so you will need some basic camping cookware to ensure that you never go hungry. It's definitely not a good idea to be stranded on a hill without food. Ensure you have a pot, pans, plates, portable stoves and a kettle for boiling water.

4. Food and water - even though a lot of people prefer to hunt their own food and drink water from rivers and streams, you should carry some food and water of your own in case you are paranoid of germs and diseases. Carry tinned food and plenty of water for your trip.

5. Other gear - if you are in the habit of using a lot of things in your day to day life, then it would be a good idea to carry additional camping gear. You want to "rough it" in the wilderness but you also want to ensure that you are comfortable enough. So you can carry some folding chairs, flashlights, first aid kit, knives and lanterns. These are essential items which will be extremely useful in all kinds of situations.

These are roughly all the items that you will probably need on any camping expedition. However, ask people around to know more about the place so that you can better equip yourself. Additional discounts can be secured if you go shopping during the off season. The choices might be few but if you can find a good discount store or flea market, then you stand a chance of saving a lot of money. Maintaining a budget also helps in trimming unnecessary expenses.

One of most important and thrilling times of your life is when you are buying a home of your own. It may also probably be the most important investment that you will ever make in your life. Besides, it will be your very own space to live and raise your family.

When looking to buy a home, one generally looks for it to be conveniently located in a decent locality, where the crime rate is less and also where it is in close proximity to a school or university, shopping area, park, recreation area, bus stop or subway station.

Buying a home in North York area
One area to look at when considering purchasing a home is in the North York district. With a population of over 600,000 people, this former municipality within the city of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, has developed considerably over the past years. It contains some of the most opulent areas in Toronto city but sadly some of its poorest as well. It is also one of the most diverse and multicultural areas of Toronto city. There are several fine localities that have quality homes for sale in North York. Real estate value has always increased in this area in the past and is continuously increasing every day.

Whether you are a first time buyer looking for your dream home or someone who has purchased a house before, you can probably find one that suits your needs and budget from the homes for sale in North York.

Facts about Vaughan, Ontario
Another area to consider, when looking to invest in a home, is the city of Vaughan. Located in Southern Ontario, this city comes under the Greater Toronto Area. The city has a population of over 288,000 people and is one of the fastest growing cities in Southern Ontario. Being situated north of Toronto, has given this city its official slogan "the City above Toronto".

With real estate being so expensive in Toronto, people are turning to suburban places like Vaughan to settle in. Here actual houses are affordable instead of living in small apartments and it is still close enough to travel to their jobs in Toronto. Vaughan has numerous small businesses and several companies have their corporate headquarters located here. It is also a renowned entertainment destination and is home to Canada's famous Wonderland theme park, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and the Vaughan Mills shopping center.

Buying a home in Vaughan
There is a wide choice of both modern as well as traditional style homes for sale in Vaughan. The most common are single detached homes. Recently however, there has been an increase in the construction of new condominiums and townhouses. So you are bound to find the type of home you are searching for.

If you are looking for a home in the Greater Toronto Area, you will find plenty of homes for sale in Vaughan that are not only attractive but within your means.

Most MLM compensation plan from MLM companies pay out once a month! This means that you need to design a budget for the money! Life gets in the way and there are times when you may want to blow off some steam. Running a business is hard work and it takes serious commitment from you. There are sacrifices that you have to make in order to get ahead. You may be at the point in your business that you are making the big bucks. Do you think it will last forever? No matter the age, you should consider investing some of the profits!

Not every MLM compensation plan is created the same, some folks get paid on the 1st, 15th or perhaps some other odd ball number. The right time to pull money out your commission checks and save is now! Build up a nest egg in case of a rainy day. You can take $50 and put into a savings account every month and build up a good fund. You can double your money and put $100 away into the nest egg and leave it alone. It all depends on your financial situation and the bills that you have to pay now. Are there ways to cut back on the bills?

Some folks may try to put money into the stock market, bonds, CD's and other investments. If your MLM compensation plan allows you to invest into the company or use a broker to invest into the market; it may be worth spending some time looking into the program. There may not be an option for the investment opportunity; you may have to handle it by yourself. Putting away a little money out of each check and growing in a stable account is recommended. This way, if something happens and you need fast cash, you can pull it out and use it to cover the expense.

Your MLM compensation plan will provide you all of the necessary details on when checks are sent out and other fine financial areas. So, if you do get a nice turkey of a bonus, you can put that into your Christmas fund or away for retirement. Ah, retirement, you may always get a residual income from your business but it's nice to have extra cash around for fun things to do. Some folks like to travel; others may want to revamp their home. So start thinking about a savings plan for the future!

You have our support and look forward to meeting you in the future. Thanks for reading, please share us.

When one starts to plan a holiday and zeroes in on Bangkok as their holiday destination, finding themselves a holiday package most suited to their requirements would be a piece of cake. One can find an abundance of holiday packages to the extremely popular tourist destination that Bangkok has become over the years. Bangkok is the capital city of the exotic and vibrant country Thailand. And, like all capital cities of various hubs of tourism, Bangkok is easily accessible by air from almost all major cities.

The travel arrangements are crucial to any holiday package and the lack of difficulty in reaching this beautiful destination makes the entire package more appealing and a little more feasible as well. Finding accommodation is the second step to ensure that the holiday package is worth investing in. But, in a city that boasts over 86,000 hotel rooms, one can rest assured that they will get a chic and comfortable bed to sleep in on their visit. Next on the list is the arrangement of seeing the sights and visiting the places that one must not miss at any cost.

Most good holiday packages to the city of Bangkok are sure to include the three finest temples of Bangkok. They are Wat Traimit, Wat Pho and Wat Benjabophit, the foremost of which has a 3 meter high Golden Buddha figure which is made of solid gold and weighs an astronomical 5 tons. Then there is also the visit to the very famous Floating Markets of Bangkok, the most eminent of which is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. A tour to this market on a boat could cost one anything between 500 to 800 THB (the local currency).

When looking up Holiday packages on a budget, then Bangkok is easily the most feasible exotic locale that one could hope for. Holiday packages start at a very low 15,000 INR. Such packages are inclusive of Return Airfares (Economy Class, excluding taxes), Hotel accommodation for the number of days advertised with breakfast as specified, Single Entry Thailand Visa for tourists and Airport Transfers within Bangkok. The abovementioned base minimum packages are generally offer hotel accommodation at classy and efficient 3-star hotels and resorts. For a few extra thousand rupees, one can upgrade to a 5-star hotel room accommodation and get a few additional perks like trips to the famous temples and other tourist attractions like the Bangkok National Museum, The Grand Palace, Erawan Shrine and the Butterfly Garden.

Packages are designed in ways that leave some time for people to enjoy the city at leisure without a schedule or time constraint. During the free time allotted one can indulge in shopping at the various markets and even buy themselves beautifully crafted souvenirs. An important thing to remember while booking the holiday package is to look for hidden charges. For instance there are service taxes which are not mentioned along with the prices of meals apart from the breakfast. Usually these prices are mentioned in the 'fine print' of the contract.

If you are looking for a place to go for a vacation then Tulum Mexico is a very good choice. This place is extremely popular with vacationers because it offers stunning natural beauty and many entertainment options at a very reasonable price. You can easily find a whole lot of vacation rentals here at a very good price, enabling you to easily fit a vacation (or two) into your annual budget. In fact, beachfront rentals in Tulum Mexico come in so many price ranges that you will easily be able to find something to suit your needs exactly.

Tulum Mexico is a very small town that is just the right distance from Cancún; it is far enough to be completely unspoilt while being close enough to offer interesting entertainment options. People who want to live in close proximity to the sea and enjoy natural beauty to the maximum extent possible will definitely enjoy this place. It is fast becoming a hub for eco-travellers and sporting enthusiasts. The waters here are crystal clear and the second largest coral reef in the world is located nearby. People who like to practice Yoga also come to this place because there are world class Yoga facilities and teachers based here on account of the serene surroundings.

You can choose between different types of beachfront rentals here. The cabanas in Tulum Mexico range from the simple to the opulent and you won't have any problem selecting one that suits your requirements. What is common to all of them is that they permit you to wake up to the sound of the waves and to scenes of great beauty.

The tourism industry here is geared for business and you will easily be able to get the support services that make a vacation wonderful. For instance, there are many marvelous restaurants here that offer dining options ranging from casual to gourmet food. Even so, you need to do a bit of research in order to locate the right place offering rental cabanas in Tulum Mexico. Be sure to check that it has the facilities that you require and that it has a reputation for cleanliness and security. Further, find out the price for the rental accommodation (and any other facilities that you plan to use) before you turn up for your vacation.

You'll have a great vacation if you select the best beachfront rentals Tulum Mexico offers. In fact, you might just keep coming back year after year because this place is so fantastically affordable.

Over the years, cruises have proven to be phenomenally holiday choice. Cruises boast many benefits you can't experience on any other vacation. Many people choose to spend time far from home, especially during holidays, on a cruise ship. There are a lot of reasons why people find it more desirable to consider a cruise than any other vacation.

One reason is that cruises are more all inclusive. Besides comfortable accommodations, a cruise vacation typically includes all you can eat dining and plenty of entertainment. People enjoy this aspect of cruising because there are no surprise cost for their trip, making budgeting ahead of time much easier and limiting the need for extra money to such activities as casino gambling, shore excursions and shopping.

Another reason is that cruising can offer you a great hassle free way of getting from one destination to the next. On a cruise, you never have to be concerned about the logistics of arriving at your next destination. You can simply enjoy all of your time on board while your staff takes care of each and every detail.

People also love the wide variety of activities and entertainment available on board.

You can enjoy sports, live music, classes, dancing,shows, competitions, demonstrations and swimming to name just a few. There are even some cruise lines that offer unusual activities such as on board rock climbing, ice skating and zip lining.

Many people prefer cruising because traveling on a cruise ship is one way for them to strengthen relationships and bond with family and friends. There is also the chance to meet new people and make new friends. Even if you are going on a cruise vacation by yourself, you won't feel like your alone because there are so many people to meet.

Spending quality time with the family and friends helps you in strengthening your bonds without the need to worry about the typical stress that may come with a vacation. You never have to worry about ensuring that everyone is entertained and trying to organize accommodations, food and activities for all people going on the vacation with you.

The best part about going on a cruise vacation is that you are able to RELAX as everything is taken care of for you. Just imagine yourself being pampered with World Class Service. No need to worry about the typical stress factors that may come with a vacation. No need to organize everything; it's all taken care for you. It's all about relaxation and recreation and the thrill of visiting a variety of exciting tourist destinations.

Once you have decided where in the country you wish to be married, it is then important to consider which wedding venues are available locally. To help you narrow down your search for the ideal venue to hold your ceremony and reception, there are a number of key features to look for, which we review here:

Wedding Venues Vary in Size and Style

The number of guests you plan to invite to your ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening function will dictate which venues are appropriate in terms of their size. However, a smaller venue may not be out of the question owing to the fact that marquees are often available to increase the capacity that can be catered for. A range of hotels have a license to hold a civil ceremony, but these can vary greatly in their style, so you need to decide whether you wish to have a grand and more formal setting; if so, country house hotels make a great choice with their fine architecture if your budget can cover this.

Check the Facilities Available

Wedding venues with multiple rooms may allow you to use a different room for each aspect of your big day; if not, your guests will have to move to a lounge, bar or gardens while staff re-organise a single room. Most couples consider photo opportunities when selecting the location for their wedding; no matter what the season, gardens can provide a beautiful setting for memorable photographs to be taken. Guests travelling a distance will be grateful to stay at the venue, so the availability of hotel rooms will be a bonus.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

The food and drink will be a big part of your wedding reception, so be sure to check the details regarding this when you consider possible wedding venues. It is certainly easier if the setting for your wedding can provide your food rather than having to arrange for an outside caterer to supply the meals. A lot of places that hold weddings will provide packages for food and drink, but be sure to find out exactly what is covered by this. It pays to confirm that they can provide a choice of food and cater for specific dietary requirements, allowing all guests to enjoy the experience. Additionally check whether your guests will have exclusive use of a bar or whether it will be shared with the public on the day; some wedding venues also offer the option to provide your own alcohol and request you pay a corkage fee.

Nowadays, many event organizers are transferring their event registration processes on the Cloud. On enquiring the reason behind this steady change they said that it is because they find such a Cloud-based event registration solution quite beneficial and inexpensive compared to manually executing the same set of tasks. Supervising a job in person requires your constant presence plus also leads to higher expenditure in terms of hiring men to work in specific key areas. The excess spending may be conveniently avoided if and when an event organizer decides to use an online event registration solution.

Being on a cloud platform, such a solution doesn't require you to hire additional staff to manage many of the administrative tasks; you can do it yourself using a web-enabled device. Any standard registration solution comes with a set of applications specifically built to control events related tasks within a constrained budget. From creating the event sign-up forms to collecting payments quickly, an online solution can do a number of things on behalf of men.

Chances of Getting Higher Attendance Easily

While moving your event registration process online, you can actually make the task of accessing forms from anywhere and at any time possible. Online registration forms can be viewed and filled up from any location on the planet provided the concerned individual has a portable device (laptop or smartphone) or fixed (desktop computer) device with internet connection. People who are otherwise unable to travel to your office to collect a form can now easily sit in front of their PC to complete the formalities.

Cost Saving Solution

A person can easily save mounting infrastructural expenditures and hiring costs by planning to utilize an online event registration solution. It lets you create and publish multiple, customized registration forms over the internet without the usage of piles of paper and paying for the hard copy forms.

Automating Payment Collection

Event organizers can easily manage the collection of payments from registrants without additional helping hands. It can be made possible by the utilization of an online payment solution that lets anyone pay you via a credit card, through wire transfers or using a reputed payment gateway like PayPal. You can even pay back (refund) registration fees to a registered attendee using such a payment solution in case he or she decides not to participate in your event.

Streamlined Communication

An emailing service that comes built-in with the event registration software lets you send out any number of invitations, reminders, and RSVPs to your attendees. You can type in the messages and on successful delivery of each email you will automatically receive a confirmation thereby eliminating chances of non-delivery of mails.

Secured Storage of Registrant and Payments Data

While manually keeping all registration information includes extensive paperwork, online event registration and payment solutions enables instant storage of all registrant details in a centralized database that may be accessed anytime. You can easily view and use such information to generate reports at your convenience.

The Birth of the United States Post Office

In early colonial times most correspondence took place between the colonists and England. The King's authorities would read and scour all of the information and mail that was being sent. Correspondence between the colonies depended on trusted friends, merchants, or friendly Native Americans.

Around 1639 Richard Fairbanks' Tavern in Boston, Massachusetts was designated as the official repository of mail by The General Court of Massachusetts (appointed by the King). Using taverns as mail drops was common practice in England, and the colonists adopted this practice as well. Local authorities designated by town representatives and England operated post routes within the colonies, some of which are still around today.

In 1673, Governor Francis Lovelace of New York set up a monthly mailing post between New York and Boston. The post rider's trail became known as Old Boston Post Road, which is part of today's U.S. Route 1. Old Post Road in North Attleborough, Massachusetts was part of this rider's trail and is considered one of the oldest roads in America.

In 1683, William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania and a leader in the Quaker community, established its' first post office. Slaves or private messengers delivered communications from one plantation to another.

Most importantly, Thomas Neale received a twenty-one year grant in 1691 from the British Crown to begin a North American postal service. Neale had never laid foot on North American soil, so he appointed then Governor Andrew Hamilton of New Jersey as his Deputy Postmaster General. Neale's franchise cost him only 80 cents a year. In 1699, he assigned his interests in America over to Andrew Hamilton and R. West. Neale died heavily in debt as a result of this endeavor.

By 1707, the British Government had purchased the rights to the North American postal service from the widow of Andrew Hamilton and R. West. The government then appointed Andrew Hamilton's son, Andrew, as Deputy Postmaster General of America. He served until 1721 when he was succeeded by John Lloyd of Charleston, South Carolina.

In 1730, Alexander Spotswood, a former lieutenant governor of Virginia, became Deputy Postmaster General for America. Seven years later, Spotswood appointed Benjamin Franklin as postmaster of Philadelphia. In 1753, Bejamin Franklin and William Hunter who was postmaster of Williamsburg, Virginia, were appointed by the British Crown as Joint Postmasters for the colonies. Upon Hunter's death in 1761, a man by the name of John Foxcroft of New York succeeded him, serving until the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

During his time as a Joint Postmaster General for the Crown, Benjamin Franklin influenced many important and lasting improvements in the colonial posts. He immediately began to reorganize the service; he inspected post offices in the North and as far south as Virginia. New surveys were made, milestones were placed on principal roads, and new and shorter routes were laid out. For the first time, post riders carried mail at night between Philadelphia and New York, and the travel time had been shortened in half.

William Goddard, a publisher, set up a post for colonial only mail service. This was separate from the British crown and was funded by purchasing subscriptions. Net revenues were to be used to improve his postal service. In 1774 Goddard suggested to Congress that the colonies come together to form a United Postal Service. He believed that this would be a way to separate the colonies' mail from the British postal inspectors. This way they could communicate colonial news only to the colonies. Goddard proposed his idea of a postal service to Congress two years before the Declaration of Independence was signed

By 1774 colonists did not trust the British crown and viewed the royal post office with suspicion. Benjamin Franklin had been dismissed of his post duties by the Crown for his actions. The crown believed that Franklin was displaying sympathy to the cause of the colonies. In September 1774, shortly after the Boston riots, known today as the Boston Massacre, the colonies began to separate from England. A Continental Congress was organized at Philadelphia in May 1775 to establish an independent government. One of the first questions before the delegates was how to convey and deliver the mail.

With the Revolutionary War imminent, the Continental Congress assembled and enacted the "Constitutional Post." This act ensured that communications between the public and patriots, or those fighting for America's independence, continued. On July 26, 1775, the Second Continental Congress chose Benjamin Franklin as the nation's first Postmaster General. The establishment of the organization that became the United States Postal Service nearly two centuries later traces back to this date and Ben Franklin. In 1760, Franklin reported a surplus to the British Postmaster General.

Franklin dedicated himself in this position, as well as many others, to fulfill George Washington's dream of an information highway between the citizens and government. Like Goddard, whose idea was to become united, Washington believed, that as a nation, we could forever be bound together by a communication system of roads. When Franklin left office in November of 1776, post roads operated from Florida to Canada and mail between the colonies and England was operating on a regular schedule.

America's present day postal service descends from an unbroken line of the system Franklin created, planned, and placed in operation. History rightfully affords him major credit for establishing the basis of the postal service that has performed magnificently for the American people.

The Post Office and the Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation (our countries first written form of government) gave Congress the right and power to establish and regulate post offices from one state to another, and to exact postage on papers passing through the same as may be required to so to defray expenses of the post office.

The Postal Act of 1792 further defined the role of the Postal Service. Under the act, newspapers were allowed in the mails at low rates to promote the spread of information across the states. To ensure the sanctity and privacy of the mails, postal officials were forbidden to open any letters in their charge unless they were undeliverable. These provisions enlarged and strengthened the duties of the Post Office and unified the organization by providing rules and regulations for its development. One of which was the transportation of mail. Other than by railroad or steamboat, the delivery of mail would only be given to bidders who offered stagecoach services.

Postal headquarters were located in Philadelphia until 1800, and then later moved to Washington, D.C... Officials carried all postal records, furniture, and supplies from Philadelphia to D.C. in in two horse drawn wagons.

The Post Office and the President's Cabinet

In 1829, then President Andrew Jackson appointed William T. Barry of Kentucky to become the first Postmaster General within a President's Cabinet. However, the Department of the Post Office was not formally established as an executive department by Congress until June of 1872.

In 1830, an investigative and inspection branch of the Post Office was established and was led by P.S. Loughborough. Loughborough is known as first Chief Postal Inspector.

Up to 1845, mail was delivered by coach, railroad, or steamboat. This was abolished by Congress on March 3, 1845. This act provided that the Postmaster General will lease all contracts to the lowest bidder who gave sufficient guarantee of providing a faithful performance, without conditions, except to provide for the "celerity, certainty and security" of the transportation of mail. These bids became known as "celerity, certainty, and security bids" and were represented by three stars known as star routes.

Scandals

The Star Routescandals involved United States Post Office officials receiving bribes in exchange for awarding postal delivery contracts in the southern and western areas of the states. In 1872 and 1876, during President Grant's administration, an investigation into what is called the Star Route Frauds had been made. However, evidence in the investigation had been tainted by bribery and the investigation was temporarily shut down in 1876. A resurgence of the Star Route Frauds took place in 1878 under the Hayes Administration and continued into the Garfield Administration. Many of the major players involved were large contractors, US Representatives, and past Postmaster Generals.

Then in 1881, then President James A. Garfield led an investigation into the corruption of the Star Route Frauds. After Garfield's death by assassination, then Vice-President, turned President Chester A. Arthur continued the investigation. A trial then prosecution took place in 1882 finally shutting down the Star Route Frauds and its postal ring.

Although the Star Route Frauds were widespread, there were few that were convicted. As a result of public distrust over the frauds and death of President Garfield, the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 was implemented. This act is a federal law that stipulates that federal government jobs will be awarded on merit. The act provides for the selection of government employees by means of competitive exams. It also made it made it illegal to fire or demote government employees for political reasons.

Under President Theodore Roosevelt, allegations of widespread corruption in the U.S. Postal Service were made. An internal investigation in 1902 revealed many cases of bribery, blackmail, overcharging, and extortion. The press publicized the findings in 1903. This forced the President to appoint two special prosecutors who subsequently indicted 30 Post Office officials and private contractors.

In 1994 Congressional Post Office scandal referred to the discovery of corruption among various Post Office employees and members of the United States House of Representatives. Investigations took place from 1991 through 1995, and ended in the conviction of House Ways and Means Committee chairman, democrat Dan Rostenkowski.

Initially, embezzlement charges against a post office employee were investigated, but evidence led to several other employees before democrats in the House of Representatives moved to close the inquiry. A new investigation was started by the postal service resulting in embezzlement and money laundering charges. The Committee on House Administration began its own investigation, breaking through party lines. Democrats issued a report stating that the matter was closed, while republicans issued their report including a number of unanswered questions and problems with the investigation.

In July of 1993, Postmaster Robert Rota pleaded guilty and implicated democratic Representative Dan Rostenkowski of Illinois and democrat Joe Kolter from Pennsylvania. Both were accused of conspiracy to launder post office money through stamps and postal vouchers. Finally, in 1995, Rostenkowski was convicted and sentenced to eighteen months in prison until President Bill Clinton pardoned him in 2000.

The True Role of the United States Post Office

The role of the United States Postal Service is to operate as a basic and fundamental service provided by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service basic function is to provide postal services to link the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to the citizens and shall render postal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people.

Until the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, the U.S. Postal Service functioned as a regular, tax-supported, agency of the federal government. In 1982, U.S. postage stamps became sold as products rather than a form of taxation. Since then, the bulk of operating cost has been paid by customers through the sale of products and services rather than taxes.

The United States Post Office does get some taxpayer support. Around $96 million is budgeted annually by Congress for the "Postal Service Fund." These funds are used to compensate the post office for postage-free mailing for legally blind persons and for mail-in election ballots sent from US citizens living overseas. A portion of the funds also pays for providing address information to state and local child support enforcement agencies.

Each class of mail is expected to cover its share of the costs. This is a requirement that causes the costs of different classes of mail to vary. Postal rates are established and proportioned on a fair and equitable basis. Under federal law, only the Postal Service can handle or charge postage for handling letters. Despite this monopoly worth some $45 billion a year, the law requires that the Postal Service remains neither makes a profit or suffers a loss.It is supposed to break even.

Today's Postal Woes

The Postal Service, by law, is an independent establishment of the Executive Branch or government. The service doesn't normally use tax dollars for operations, but it has exhausted a $15 billion loan from Treasury. The Postal Service defaulted twice last year on required payments to the federal government. The Postal Service's financial woes continue as the agency waits on Congressional action to address its debt.

A key culprit in its current decline is the 2006 congressional mandate. This states that the post office has to prefund healthcare benefits for future retirees. This mandate has forced the United States Postal Service to borrow billions of dollars from taxpayers. Much of the $11.1 billion loss is due to the costs of future retiree health benefits. Included with this is an operating loss of $2.4 billion, lower than the previous year.

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe has said that the post office reduced costs by boosting worker productivity, but that mail agency has been hampered by congressional inaction. The Postal Board of Governors, which oversees the United States Post Office, tells us that mail volume fell to 43.5 billion pieces from 43.6 billion earlier this year. The board, which asked for measures to cut costs, endorsed the post office's recent move toward suspending mail delivery on Saturday.

The data presented by the post office did show an increase in advertising mail from the 2012 election. The agency's packaging and shipping services continue to grow, increasing by 4% in the first quarter. This year, extra mail tied to the November elections and stronger revenue from holiday-related packages contributed to a better quarter.

Donahoe has made it clear that the Postal Service could have been profitable had Congress acted. "It's critical that Congress do its part and pass comprehensive legislation before they adjourn this year to move the Postal Service further down the path toward financial health."

The Senate did pass a postal bill in April that would have provided financial relief by reducing the health payments and by providing an $11 billion cash infusion. This cash infusion would have been considered a refund on overpayments the Postal Service made to a federal pension fund. The House, unfortunately, stalled over a separate bill that would allow for aggressive cuts, including an immediate end to Saturday delivery.

The post office had an operating revenue of $65.2 billion in fiscal 2012. This amount was down $500 million from the previous year. Expenses for 2012 climbed to $81 billion, up $10. billion. This was largely due to the health prepayments. The annual payment of roughly $5.6 billion was deferred for a year in 2011, resulting in a double payment totaling $11.1 billion that became due this year. The Postal Service is the only government agency required to make such payments.

The post office also has also witnessed declining mail volume. As more people and businesses continue switch to the Internet to pay bills or to communicate, less volume is being produced for the post office. The number of items mailed in the last year was 159.9 billion pieces, a 5% decrease, much of it in first-class mail.

The post office is reporting some growth. Its shipping services, which include express and priority mail, grew by 9 percent. This helped offset much of the declining revenue from first-class mail.

Without legislative intervention annual losses might exceed $21 billion by 2016. If Congress fails to intervene, there could be postal shutdowns that would have undeniable consequences for workers whose jobs depend on postal services.

The Future

Our nation's post office developed and survived in colonial America. It is one of the original freedoms our forefathers paved for us. They gave us the right to communicate with one another in a trusted and private manner. The United States Post Office has gone through loss and scandals, but it has survived.

Our nation's post office does have a role to play in present day. It will be important for government officials to keep in mind the changing role the post office needs to take.

The Post Office needs to continue to market their strengths, which is the handling and shipping of products. With more and more people shopping over the Internet and paying their bills as well, there is less need for stamps and mailing envelopes. The Post Office would do well to think about expanding their mailing concepts to complement their customers' needs.

It is proven that more and more people use the Internet to buy and sell products or services. Given this the Post Office must consider changing their operating schedule to include on line customer scheduling. They should have a web site where customers must use prescheduled times and dates for packages to be delivered, picked up, or shipped. They should also consider mail delivery based on neighborhoods and computer scheduled input from customers. Further, post offices day to day operations and hours should be reevaluated to align with today's ever changing customer.

The Internet is a huge connector for communication, and yet so was the Post Office. By today's standard, the post office is obsolete, but needlessly. We still need their services to get our products to and from, and, like the Internet, to have our voice heard across the world. Remember, the post office was not meant to make a profit, nor was it meant to report a loss, the post office was developed in such a way as to break even.