Joe Goertz asked:


Travelling feeds the wandering soul, but it also feeds the corporate soul. Even the most top executives no longer travel solely for business purposes anymore. Leisure travel has become a preferred method for stressed-out businesspeople to unwind in their downtime. In today’s modern world, active executives take advantage of their vacation time by treating themselves to some well-deserved leisure travel. With this evolution of travel, the idea of what travel entails has changed as well. People are no longer satisfied to visit the same tourist traps, but instead want to explore their world through adventure travel. In the field of adventure travel, bigger is definitely better.

The concept of adventure travel is not entirely new. For as long as standard tourist spots have existed, there have been travelers that have gone out of their way to avoid them. Those travelers became the first adventure travelers. As the world of adventure travel progressed, more people became interested in traveling the road less taken. More travelers are curious about the world beyond the glossy travel brochures, and adventure travel has risen in popularity to become a world premier method of travel.

To learn how to define adventure travel and how to become an adventure traveler, you have to learn more about extreme sports. Some people, no longer satisfied with the typical sports like football, baseball or soccer, decided to look for excitement in more extreme activities such as base jumping and wakeboarding, thereby creating the field of extreme sports. As more people got involved in extreme sports, they would travel to meet up with one another and adventure travel got associated with their extreme lifestyle. These extreme sports enthusiasts incorporated their love of their sports into their traveling, and created a type of travel full of thrill and adventure.

Adventure travel certainly does afford adventure enthusiasts the opportunity to intertwine their sports with their traveling. This type of travel gives travelers the same burst of adrenaline that extreme sports can offer, and also gives travelers to see the world from a new perspective. Unfortunately, as with anything that relies on its obscurity to stay fresh and exciting, a rise in popularity spells out the beginning of the end for adventure travel. As adventure travel becomes more popular, the destinations that were once off the beaten path have become tourist attractions. This rise in popularity is best illustrated by the travel agencies that specialize in adventure travel packages for those interested in adventure but not interested in planning the trip themselves.

In addition to the standard travel options that cater to conventional tourists, most travel agencies also offer adventure travel packages for anyone who wants more excitement in their vacation. If you’re looking for a vacation that you’ll never forget, filled with stories you’ll retell for years to come, consider booking your own traveling adventure.

Ying Edwards asked:

Why are Chinese women looking for Western men? What’s the attraction? A typical shallow answer could be : money and a non Chinese passport.  I have to admit that there are some Chinese women with this in their mind. However, they do not present the majority of Chinese women nowadays.

First, let’s take a look at the reality in China. If you ask a Chinese man ‘what is your first requirement of  a future girlfriend or wife?’ I can assure you that 90% of them will say ‘a beautiful woman’.  It seems a tradition in China that men must have a beautiful woman so that they can impress their friends/colleagues/acquaintances etc. Even walking down the street with a beautiful woman on his arm is something to be proud of. A man who has an ‘ugly’ girlfriend or wife might reluctantly go to public places with the woman and feel embarrassed to introduce her to his friends. Why is their vanity so strong?  This definitely has something to do with the so called ‘Face’ . According to one Asian scholar, Ting-Toomey (1988), ‘face’ is a ‘strategy that protects self-respect and individual identity.’ Losing face could mean losing respect from other people. Other people’s opinions are so important to Chinese people that they can not be ignored. Having an ‘ugly’ girlfriend or wife shows that the man is incompetent in some way. Gaining a beautiful woman’s heart is regarded as a challenge which is to be encouraged by men. Whoever wins a beautiful woman is a hero, or so he thinks. It is not uncommon to see Chinese guys who have pretty girlfriends or wives showing off their ladies’ pictures in public forums on the internet . The title would normally be ‘ Check out my beautiful girlfriend(wife)’ etc. The man who posts his woman’s pictures would be highly satisfied from compliments by the public. Most Chinese men would deny that they regard their women as accessories. However, they do to a certain extent.

An interesting social phenomenon in China is, if a woman is divorced or a single parent, no matter how beautiful her appearance is, she would be what people called ‘second-hand goods’ which are mostly unwanted. Even the man himself does not mind the woman’s past, however his family would mind. The pressure from his family will often force the man giving up on the woman.

What about a girl who has never married? Well, she has to be careful if she is over the age 28 as she is considered a bit old for most Chinese men of the same age.

It is shameful that most Chinese men haven’t realised that this is very unfair for those called ‘second hand’ or ‘old’ women. They are actually the most beautiful women in my eye. They are more mature; They have experienced some ups and downs in their life; They have probably made some mistakes in their love life before so they know what to do to make a relationship work better. They are just like a good wine, They mature and become gracious with age.

For women who are married to Chinese men, they usually have a common fear that the husband will find someone younger and prettier outside of the marriage. Nowadays it seems popular for married men to have one or more mistresses in China .

In 2008 an online questionnaire of love and marriage was completed by 9021 Chinese men and 5002 Chinese woman. Most men and women chose ‘No’ to the question of ‘Do you believe in eternal love’; Most men chose ‘No’ to the question of ‘will you be loyal to your marriage?’ and most women chose ‘yes’ to the same question; Most men chose ‘ I can somehow find the balance between my wife and the mistress(es)’ to the question of ‘what will you do when there is a possible affair’ and most women chose ‘ I will be stick with my husband and family’.

The divorce rate in China is rising rapidly. There have been more than 1 million Chinese couples divorced every year since 1995. Almost 50% of the divorce cases are due to affairs. Chinese women are famous for their strong family values and loyalty. Unfortunately, more and more Chinese men don’t appreciate those qualities anymore.

So now, what’s the attraction of Western men to Chinese women? Chinese women appreciate honesty in a relationship, a virtue which many Chinese men are lacking. Western open-mindedness makes Chinese women feel more secure in the relationship. The inbuilt competitiveness of Chinese culture especially in the workplace places an unnecessary amount of stress in a relationship. The shallowness of male Chinese thinking regarding their lifestyle is more pronounced.

Most Chinese women are looking for a loving caring relationship and to have those feelings reciprocated. Normal human emotions between 2 people need not be judged by nationality.

Melanie Rockett asked:


Are You:

* A professional photographer?

* An amateur photography enthusiast?

* Someone with a camera and a creative mind?

Yes, photo contests are for just about anyone. Unlike poetry or cooking contests (where there’s a definite level of skill involved) almost anyone can start taking pictures with a camera. Digital cameras are getting better and better and many people can take great photographs with little training.

Why Enter Photo Contests?

The prizes range from small cash prizes to major prizes that include professional photography equipment, photo software (PhotoShop sells for over $600) and several of the larger photo contests give away HUGE travel prizes. Apart from winning prizes, you also get a chance to develop your own real-world portfolio and depending on the contest, a win (or even a good finish!) can help launch your photo career.

You will:

* Showcase your photography skills

* Be judged by experts and critics (even peers) in your field

* Win amazing prize packages

* Get published on-line or in some of the most prestigious photo magazines in the world.

How To Get Started:

There are three basic divisions of photo contests. The first level is appropriate for amateurs who just want to have fun. They are judged on the content of the photo vs. the skill of the photographer. The second level is appropriate to amateur photographers at the begging and intermediate skill levels who are learning to take good photos. The third level is for intermediate to advanced amateurs and professional photographers who want to build a portfolio and maybe win equipment or prizes to advance their careers.

If you are a rank amateur who just wants to have fun, there are loads of what I call “anything goes” contests. Baby photo contests, cute pet contests and many contests run by product companies or websites. The photos are judged based on the content rather than the content plus skill level.

If you are a beginning or intermediate level amateur photographer you will probably want to start with the smaller, on-going contests. On-going contests normally have regular weekly or monthly themes and deadlines. These contests are free or cheap to enter and their prizes are small or involve “just the glory of being a winner.” What you will get is good feedback from fellow photographers, allowing you to grow your skill levels in a friendly environment. Your peers often judge your photos, so you can see what kind of impact your photos make on your viewers.

As your skill levels increase, start looking for contests sponsored by the camera and software companies and by the photography magazines. Some of these are very inexpensive to enter, such as PhotoLife Magazine’s bi-monthly reader contest. Others are huge, international contests, with hefty fees and giant prize packages. These are the contests that can create a very solid photography career for you!

Here are a few things to watch for:

* Make sure that you read the terms & conditions of participating in each contest. There are some contests in which you forfeit your copyright to your photo / work just by registering in the contest. What’s the point of showcasing your work if you legally sign it over to someone else? So make sure you read the terms.

* Follow the instructions. This cannot be over-emphasized.

* Enter in the best category for your photos. (scenic beauty, human form, travel photos, etc.)

* Read the fine print. Many contest organizations won’t return your entry, so don’t send them original material.

* Many contests place a limit to the number of entries you can submit, you will get disqualified if you send more.

* Read the definition of amateur or professional to be sure you qualify.

Entering photography contests can be a very rewarding hobby that can pay off big time. Challenge yourself to get out every week and learn something new about using your camera and some new concept or technique to improve your work. Then enter, enter, enter … until you WIN!

gh0sthunter asked:

This is video footage from PRISM’s 2005 paranormal investigations of the Villisca Axe Murder House, where eight people were bludgeoned to death in 1912. In this video a closet door in the children’s bedroom can be seen opening and closing on its own. Absolutely nothing was faked. More information about this investigation can be found here: www.doyouseedeadpeople.org

Ghost Hunting Equipment

Sarrah Beaumont asked:

Whether you like it or not, for the respective moms of the couple, especially the mother of the bride, weddings of their children will always cause a pinch in their hearts. And even if she’s made to wear the most elegant of the mother of the bride dresses, she cannot help but cry during this momentous occasion.

So what can you do from your end to take care of your mom in a time when you yourself are busy and pressured enough with all the preparations? How do you tell her you love her despite the unbelievable amount of wedding jitters that seem to consume you? Is it enough to let her choose from among the many mother of the bride dresses sold in the bridal stores?

Keep Her Relevant

Make sure that even if you are already very busy, you don’t let your mom feel out-of-place. And the best way for you to do this is to keep her in the planning sessions. Yes, sometimes, you’d rather want to do things on your own but keeping her in would actually make your life easier. Who knows, because your mom got very elated because you are making her opinion count, she’ll say you don’t have to worry about mother of the bride dresses because she’ll take care of her own gown! Savings right in your face, right?

Remember that in making your mom a part of the plan, you are not only keeping her in. You are also starting to “polish” relationships, this time between your mom and you as a wife of your husband. Remember, not everyone remains to a have a great relationship with their families, especially her mom after getting married. So the sooner you start trying, the better results you’ll get.

Treat Her

Treating your mom primarily means letting her choose from the best mother of the bride dresses. Then, it means giving her the chance to take care of the things for the wedding. This may include finalizing the guest list, contacting some suppliers and visiting the venue for an ocular inspection.

Get Her Ready

Regardless of how much effort you put into preparing your mom that you will no longer be her baby, the task would never be a success if your mom is not yet open for it. Therefore, as early as during the planning stage, inform her, as tactfully and politely as possible, that you will already have a life of your own. Thank her for the love and care and for preparing her for your married life.

The level of acceptance would vary from one mom to another and would also depend on the extent of your closeness. But with time, she’ll get by.

Moms will always be moms. So when she cries during your wedding day, let her be. It won’t do you and your wedding any harm. It is a right that she has gained for being in one of the most fabulous and stunning mother of the bride dresses. After all, she is the second most important woman in the wedding!

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