What is the best course of action when faced with foreclosures?  Brooklyn residents have found that the best way do deal with the messages and letters from the mortgage lenders, is to contact them, to not continue to ignore the phone calls or the letters.  When people are faced with not being able to afford to make their payments, the tendency is to hide, to ignore the problem.  The thing is that there are counseling agencies out there to help, such as any of the organizations that are approved by HUD.

Many lenders will work with homeowners, and take every step possible to ensure that one does not loose their house.  Lenders would prefer to see people in their homes, and there are a variety of options that are set in place to help people through difficult and precarious financial moments.  Answer all phone calls, and open every letter.  The early letters will often times include the information that will detail the prevention of your house being lost to foreclosure.  The later letters may give significant details of legal actions that may be pending. 

It is best to find the loan papers and documents from the time the house was purchased, and to go over them thoroughly so as to have a total grasp on one’s rights, and in each state the foreclosure laws differ, so learning about the laws in one’s own state is most beneficial.  There are many sites on the Internet were one can go to learn about the prevention of foreclosure,  as well as to find a counselor located within one’s neighbor, as suggested by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.  They are there to offer assistance to people in this current situation, and will help one to understand the laws, to organize personal spending and to find representation for one should it come down to a court case.  There are many options out there to help ensure that one does not lose their house and home.

If you are one of the rich and famous, if you drive a Rolls Royce or Ferrari, if you own an obscenely decked out yacht, if you have the paparazzi following you or if you just wish that were your life, then you know where Marbella, Spain is. If on the other hand, you are none of the above, then let me tell you. Marbella is part of the Spanish region, Andalusia on the Costa del Sol by the Mediterranean Sea and has less than 100,000 residents. However, it has the highest per capita income in Europe. Back in the 1940’s it was just another small fishing village with a very ancient and documented past dating back to the 7th century BC.

Something happened and it became the in place for the in crowd and everyone that was anyone wanted to live or vacation in Marbella and the surrounding area. Antonio Banderas and wife Melanie Griffith have homes there, as does Joan Collins. Sean Connery was at one time a Marbella property owner. The Golden Mile is a stretch of beach for the very wealthy and their expensive toys and tastes. Bling is everywhere…money is here and it is spent here. The luxury hotels Marbella offers has the same amount of bling, the same richness, the same lavish display of wealth with the staff and service to match. Talk about paradise, you find it when you walk through the doors of one of these fabulous hotels. And of course there is the average population that is hoping to spot a favorite movie star or sports celebrity, maybe shake their hand or get an autograph.

There is a very popular, less expensive area in Marbella, which is delightful, and that is Orange Square in Old Town. With the superb restaurants offering mouthwatering local cuisine and quaint shops nestled among lush foliage and lots of trees, you can have a tremendous experience without the hefty price tag. Whatever the depth of your pockets, Marbella is a definite experience.

This morning I took a walk outside of one of the 5 Star Singapore Hotels where I stay when visiting the city and I noticed that the  Saga Tree was in bloom. I remember as a child, I loved the Saga trees when in bloom because of their bright red seeds.

Now as a biologist, I have a better appreciation and a best understanding of the Saga Tree. The leaves have 2 to 6 pairs of side stalks, each with 9 to 15 pairs of leaflets. ‘Pavo’ I’ve found means peacock and I think the leaves are rather pretty. The tree sheds its leaves seasonally. In Singapore, they shed their leaves every 6 to 8 months, so it’s leafless period is very short. After the leaves fall a flower will appear on the long stalks shooting out the end tips. These are the faintly scented blossoms which reminds me of the scent of orange blossoms back home. The flowers will open gradually from the base upwards and the petals are a nice creamy yellow and then they turn to a dull orange.

The pods of the Saga tree are curved and green, but don’t coil until they begin to split whereupon they also turn blackish.  The seeds are bright red, hard and heart-shaped. The word ‘Saga’ has been traced to the Arabic for goldsmith.  In India and Sri Lanka, the seeds of this tree have been used as units of weight for fine measures, of gold for instance. It’s been suggested that the seeds of the tree were the basis of the very earliest of such systems. What more delightful counters for the primitive and bloody mind than these hard, red, heart-shaped seeds.

The red seeds are considered intoxicants. I found records that in Java, the seeds are roasted, shelled and eaten with rice and said to taste like soybeans. In India, the seeds are also used in medicine. And everywhere, the seed are also used to make necklaces. As I walked back from my nostalgic leisure stroll and noticed I had a smile on my face.

Going to work Monday through Friday. Eight-o-clock to Five-o-Clock. Walking the dog. Kicking it at the Dance Clubs Friday Evening. Drinking too much and needing a ride home. Sleeping in on Saturday morning. Cleaning the living room, bathroom and bedrooms. Doing the laundry. Grocery shopping for food to make next weeks lunch. Watching the Netflix DVD that just came in the mail. Walking the dog. Meeting with friends at the New York USA Hotel for drinks before heading next door to the movie theater and watch the latest hit. Eat too much popcorn. Saying goodnight to friends and head on home. Flopping down on the sofa and turning on the CD player and listen to some chillaxing tunes. Falling asleep on the sofa.

Waking up early Sunday morning with a crick in the neck. Go Jogging for a mile or so. Reading the New York Times out on the patio after taking a shower. Cooking up breakfast consisting of an Omelet, bacon, wheat toast and fresh orange juice. Calling up a few friends to see what they’re doing. Catching up on Emails. Watching some television. Walking the dog. Checking the personals for anyone interesting to date. Playing World of WarCraft online. Looking up a clock to see it’s 1:37am Monday morning. Regretting playing WoW too long. Making a ham sandwich for lunch tomorrow and going to bed only to wake up at 6am in the morning to go to work. Going to work Monday through Friday.

These are the dreams Michael has as he lays in his hospital bed on able to move, except for him pinkie finger, at the long-term care facility which he as lived in ever since he has a major Stroke. Rehabilitation helps very little. Basically, the physical therapists visits everyday do lift up his mood, but other than that, all Michael does with his idle time is imagine doing something different.

Every year my Twin Sister and I attend an International Twins Convention held this year in New York. I has already booked our room with New York Hotel Suites when my twin, Cindy, told me she didn’t want to go. She gave me reasons like, her husband got laid-off at the beginning of the year, his diabetes hasn’t improved, her angina is still steadily getting worse and the list went on and on. I told her that I will pay for the trip and to not worry about it and besides I already booked our rooms, separate rooms, since she still smokes. She apologised, but said there’s still no way she can’t go.

We are twins, we are identical technically, but we don’t look alike. I am tall, 5′8″ and she is short, 5′2″. She wears a size double-D bra cup and I wear a size B bra cup. She is a meat eater and only likes meals that are consider standard American, such as, Macaroni and Cheese, Steak and Baked potato, iceberg lettuce salads, she drinks a liter of coca-cola a day and makes the classic tuna casserole. Where as I am a gluten free vegetarian and like to eat tofu, mixed greens salads, Ethiopian foods, hummus, I drink mostly water and make the ever classic vegetable casserole. Her Health is bad, she has had open-heart surgery, has a circulatory system of an 80 year old and she only 40 and suffers from migraines. My health is perfect and I practice meditation. She’s non-religious and I very spiritual.

We are the very opposite of each and we are closer than any could be to another person. After all we did share the same womb. So, her not wanting to go to the convention and fight are way all the way through stating that yes, we are indeed Identical Twins, I found disappointing. I know the economy sucks right now and her health is failing, but it’s because of those vary reasons I want her to go. She’s my reason for living and I need to see her happy before she’s no longer around.

Beijing is one city in China with the reputation of being one that never sleeps.  This is true when it comes to festivals, as each month some significant event or person is being celebrated.  Next month, June 2009 it is the Dragon Boat Festival.  This is an exciting event for anyone wishing to venture out of their room at one of the many five star Beijing hotels.  This event celebrates the famous Chinese scholar and poet, Qu Yuan. He lived during the years of 340 BC and 278 BC.  He is the first poet known to be given credit for his work, as before the authors of poetry and literature were never identified.  He created his own verse style, known as Sao.  He lengthened his poems and created more rhythmic verses and a wider range for expression.  He is regarded as one of the most significant figures in Chinese Romanticism and literature and his work continues to influence writers in China to this day.  He committed suicide by wading into a lake and holding on to a large rock.  He did this in protest of the corruption he was seeing in the government at that time.

The Dragon Boat Festival celebrates Qu Yuan’s artistic spirit and genius, and his involvement in politics.  This festival occurs on the fifth of June, as according to the Chinese Calender, this would be the fifth day of the fifth month.  It is sometimes referred to as the Double Five Festival.  Symbolic acknowledgements are made in reference to Qu’s drowning such as throwing packets of rice wrapped in leaves into the waters of the ponds and lakes.  Many wear talismans and charms to ward off the spirits that strike those with summer disease during this time of the year.  The residents hang photos in doorways, drink wine, and give their children small pouches that carry fragrant incense to protect themselves from the evil.

One of the more celebratory events of the festival are the boat races themselves.  Many travel to Beijing from the neighboring cities to witness these exciting races.  The boats are large canoes and are brightly decorated and painted, and of course, have the heads of dragons at the front of the boat, with the stern being shaped as the tail.  Boats are usually forty to one hundred feet long and sometimes require up to eighty rowers.  Each boat has their drummer to help inspire them as well as to give them the rhythm necessary for keeping time with each other.  Dragon Boats are sacred, as are the rituals surrounding the races.  These races occur throughout Asia, in Taiwan, and Hong Kong as well as in cities where Chinese Immigrants have relocated.

One of the exhibitions occurring throughout the summer at New York’s Museum of Natural History, is the “Full Moon”.  This is a visual experience like no other.  Exhibited are photographs taken from space over the years by the astronauts of NASA.  Many of these photos have been just seen occasionally over the years, and it is rare for them to be on display.  The photos were gathered together by a guest curator.  Michael Light is a well known photographer, whose work focuses mainly on landscape shots.  More than seventy-five pieces are on display, and allow the viewer to view some of the most extraordinary events and explorations in NASA’s history on a grand scale.  The photos are of extremely high quality, and illustrate not only the vastness of outer space and the moon, but of the impressive natures of the various missions and journeys taken by the Apollo.  Many have been traveling to the city for the show and staying at the five star hotel. New York City has been home to this exhibit since 2000.

The timing of the opening of the show, was concurrent with opening of the educational and research facilities located at the museum.  The show has traveled the world and has received acclaim in cities such as Madrid, London, San Francisco and London.  A beautiful book has been published which is currently translated into 7 different languages throughout the world.  The curator mentioned before, Michael Light, had been previously shooting photos of deserts through the Southwestern United States.  He currently resides in California and turned is focus towards the moon in 1996.  Due to his reputation as an artist, he was able to gain access to masters of the films that were in the archives of NASA, from missions the Apollo Spacecraft had taken between the years of 1967 and 1972.  For four years he dedicated his time and artistry to selecting images that he thought most reflected the incredible nature of the journeys, and of the photos themselves.  This is an incredible exhibit that should be part of any world travelers schedule.

Nella Larson was a prominent novelist who contributed greatly to the Harlem Renaissance. While she only wrote two novels and short stories, the impact of her work has been strong and she gave a greater insight into the issues faced by many black Americans during this time. She is most known for her book Passing, which dealt with issues of identity development in the black community. Many light skinned black people lived their social lives “passing” as white. This was a dangerous endeavor due to the consequences one would face if found out, and also for the rejection and disapproval of blacks that did not try to pass for white. Tourists staying in hotels New York USA can still experience the influence of the Harlem Renaissance today.
She was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1891, the daughter of a Danish immigrant and a West Indian. Her parents disappeared from her life at an early age and she went to live with her mother’s relations in Denmark. She returned to the States and attended Fisk University in Tennessee for a short period of time. It has been speculated that she left the university due to her refusal to follow the strict dress codes that were in effect. She returned to Denmark and lived there for four years before returning once again to the US. Due to her parents’ mixed heritage, Larson was considered to be black and she attended New York’s all black nursing school at Lincoln Hospital. She would later become a librarian and in 1919 she married Elmer Samuel Imes, who was the second black American to receive his PhD in physics.

She and her husband moved to Harlem where Larson began working at the New York public library. She developed friendships with prominent figures in the Harlem Renaissance and began to get involved in the movement. She also began writing and had her first works published in the early 20s. She would soon decide to give up her work as a librarian and focus fulltime on her writing. She published her first novel Quicksand in 1928. This was largely autobiographical and received substantial acclaim, though it was not commercially successful. In 1929 she published her second novel, Passing, and it too received critical acclaim.

Sales is usually a profession people go into after their English degree does them no good, or they can’t seem to find a job with a Renaissance Studies certificate. Sales is seen as a career path for those outgoing people who never seemed to be able to turn their homework in on time. A career path for the hungry and very motivated. A career for those with “street smarts.”

Now there are 30 college level sales programs in the United States. One is in New Jersey called, the William Paterson University’s Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales. There students learn everything from sales training , to public speaking.

Students think programs of this kind are giving them the upper hand in interviews for sales jobs. The students feel they already have the business training and customer service training they need to excel in the sales field.

Employers then do not need to teach and train these individuals like they would someone off the street.  But are these programs really worth it? Can sales really be taught?

Some believe those in sales were born to do it, they are naturally proactive and social people who know how to make a customer feel at ease.

Or perhaps these programs offer the leadership training that entry level candidates rarely have. Perhaps these students are rushed into the upper echelons of a company faster than somebody trained on the job.

Sales will always be an incredibly aggressive field, but there used to be something nice about the fact that anyone with a backbone and some time to learn a product on their hands could do it. Or perhaps sales programs are just a way for students to get the experience of an MBA without the price tag?

Either way sales is a viable career path for anyone now, and will always be a way for people to switch their career path.

Despite countless reports of escalating violence due to the war on drugs in Mexico, the tourism board is reporting a two percent growth in International tourism in the first quarter of 2009. This news comes as the U.S. is taking steps to help quell the violence and assist in bringing an end to the turmoil. Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano is visiting the San Diego-Mexico border today and is scheduled to go to Mexico and speak with Mexican President Felipe Calderón. She has gone on record saying that the Department of Homeland Security will be adding additional resources to the border to tackle the problems with arms trafficking.

The continued rise in tourism comes as a surprise amidst travel warnings and the economic downturn. However, the state of the U.S. economy may be what is helping to drive tourists to the area. Vacationers may be selecting Mexico over other locations, because it is a cheaper alternative to other destinations. Instead of staying away from the entire country, tourists can pick up their map to Mexico and vacation with care to the areas that have been spared from the majority of the violence. Popular vacation spots, such as Cancun and Los Cabos, are hundreds of miles away from the hotspots where violence has been most prevalent, like Tijuana or Ciudad Juarez.

However, even though the violence has been less prevalent in hotel and resort areas that cater to tourists, the drug cartels have pervaded the entire country. For anyone going to the area, whether for a spring break excursion or a business trip, caution should be exercised. Acts of violence can erupt anywhere in the country, and just being aware of that reality can make a difference in how to plan and prepare for a trip into Mexico. 

For the last decade or so Dubai became a true boomtown. With unparalleled growth in both real estate and tourism, the city became one of the most popular destinations in the Middle East and was developing a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous on the Persian Gulf. As the global economic slowdown hits the region, all that is changing.

In recent years, development was constantly increasing. Resorts, luxury Dubai hotels, sports and entertainment venues, high rise apartments, and countless restaurants and shops were built or under construction to support the influx of both residents and tourists. The UAE’s support of foreign business saw an increase in business travelers as well.

A large number of those employed to build these projects were foreign workers. Construction workers from all over the Middle East and Southeast Asia flocked to the area’s booming job market. A majority of the now unemployed workers come from Pakistan and India and they don’t have the money or the ability to return home. Many companies are holding workers passports hostage in order to ensure that they have a ready-made workforce once the economy swings back up.

Over half of the UAE’s development projects are on hold. This represents $582USD billion of investment. While a handful of the projects are moving forward with help from the recent $10 billion Abu Dhabi bailout, most projects are at a standstil, leaving all those foreign workers stranded.

Groups such as the UN International Labor Organization estimate that hundreds of thousands of unskilled foreign workers are now unemployed in the Gulf region. Lured by the promise of the building heydey, they are now forced to cram into tiny apartments with dozens of other men and hope for the best. The corporate practice of keeping worker passports prevents them from finding work with other companies in the area as well as from returning to their homelands to look for work.

Some experts are hopeful that the economy can stabilize following the bailout as well as an influx of $20 billion to the sovereign bond program. There is also the chance that oil prices will rebound. However, the effects of these changes will take time to trickle down and whether some foreign workers will ever be rehired remains a big question.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sport in Thailand recently announced that six of Thailand’s airports will lower their landing fees effective March 1st. The new, significantly lower fees should help boast the stalled tourist trade through the busy summer season.

The failing global economy has resulted in decreased tourism throughout the world. This has hurt popular destinations such as Phuket and Bangkok. The six airports affected operate under Airports of Thailand and include Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai’s airports. Fees at Phuket and three other airports will drop between fifty and ninety percent while Bangkok’s two airports will lower landing fees by twenty percent.

The Director of the Phuket International Airport was excited by the announcement. The island saw air traffic fall over sixteen percent in January 2009. It is hoped that the airlines will pass on their savings to passengers, resulting in lower fares to Phuket and other tourist hot spots. Much of the island’s economy, such as Phuket best hotels, restaurants, and other tourist-dependent businesses have been struggling.

The lower fees will be in affect through the end of September.