Travel Blog

Tesla Roadster seen in Palm Springs , owned by a Canadian who plans to drive it back to Vancouver. It requires a charge every 245 miles and does 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds! This is one of the hottest most talked about cars available and Tesla stock is also skyrocketing. I was able to see this car and talk to the owner. Who needless to say was very proud of his car. It is a very hot looking car. This car has all of the luxuries and form fit that you would expect of a car costing $245,000!

Tesla Roadster – Charging

The owner admitted that it is a great car for commuting every day and has more than enough battery power to handle almost all commuting needs. He has some concern about driving it to Vancouver from California and is planning his trip around recharging stations and locations where he can plug-in and top up his batteries.

More and more charging stations are being added every month so this problem will gradually be eliminated. In addition instead of sitting around for a couple of hours while the battery is charged, there is another solution. Tesla batteries can be swapped out in a matter of minutes. You can be on your way in much the same time as it would take to fill up a normal car with gas.

We sincerely hope that this is the way of the future and that these cars eventually come in a cheaper version that the average consumer can afford.

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We were out hiking not too long ago and had the fortunate experience to meet a man who used to be a white water river rafting guide on the Colorado river. He is now retired. However he used to take tourists rafting in Colorado on the Colorado river. This was in the Grand Canyon area of Arizona and Nevada.

They would go on one week as well as two week excursions. Camping every night and navigating the river during the day. They would stop along various scenic places for picture taking. He would explain the many natural formations that you see along the river. This guy was still really fit. He could hike the trails with no problem at all and he was approaching 70 years old!

There were some pretty strong rapids to navigate as well providing thrills for the guide and his guests. He thoroughly enjoyed most of the time that he spent on the river and guiding  people while rafting on the Colorado river. Apparently there were some not so good times as well.

Rafting in Colorado – Accidents

Once of the things we asked him was whether he ever had any accidents. Or if anyone ever dies while on some of these trips. His surprising answer was yes, several times which really surprised us. We asked him to explain how some of these accidents happened. What he would have to do when this happened.

One of the problems is that some people would ignore the guides rules and common sense. They might have too much to drink. They would take chances that they might not have taken if they had not been drinking around camp at night. The river runs very cold due to the fact that the water comes from snow melt far up in the Colorado mountains. Anyone in the water for more than three or four minutes can end up with hypothermia. It also runs very fast. If you lose your footing, you are quickly swept away down river to either be dashed on rocks or suffer from hypothermia. Not a fun way to die.

Even though these people were told what would happen, they would go swimming at night. They would experience hypothermia. Before they knew what was happening would be swept away by the very strong current to their death. Their bodies would be found some time later further along the river. Pay attention to what your guide is telling you when you go rafting on the Colorado river or any other river for that matter.

You probably have heard the term couch potato, but not sitting disease. It strikes most people who have desk jobs or spend a lot of time in front of the computer, sometimes many hours. If you kept track of the number of hours you spend sitting vs. being active, even if it is just a walk around the block, you would find that a higher percentage of your time is spent in front of the computer or just sitting down watching TV. Then there is the time spent in the car while you commute to work. prior to computers you would have to run errands and actually leave the house instead of paying bills online etc.

If this describes you and your current activity level, then you have the new disease called sitting disease.

Researchers all over the world including Australia and England have completed studies which suggests that if this describes you, not only do you have sitting disease, you also have a far greater likely hood of developing other diseases related to inactivity and weight gain. In fact you have an 18% higher chance of dying from cardio vascular disease as a result.

Doctors are recommending that you get up and move around, stretch every 30 minutes and actually walk around the office , your home whatever, but get moving on a regular basis.

From Couch Potato – Get Moving

Here are some simple ideas for getting moving during the day which can help you avoid the effects of sitting disease.

• Stretching, turning, and bending.
• Exercise in addition to  your workout.
• Mix standing and sitting while working.
• Take regular breaks from the desk.
• Pretend it’s 1985, walk instead of sending an email.
• Learn new habits.
• Stand up at the office.
• Take Advantage of new technology.
• Walk at the end of your work day
• Walk instead of  commuting by car
• Stand up while watching television.

More Detail

Stretching, turning, and bending – whenever you have the opportunity and a few minutes of time, try  this simple workout even if it is only for five minutes to stretch the muscles and increase your heart rate.

Exercise in addition to  your workout – don’t just exercise during your workout. Use opportunities to walk up the stairs instead of using the elevator, walk further to the car and go for walks on a daily basis to add to your main exercise workout routine.

Mix standing and sitting while working – if you sit a lot on the job, stand up whenever you can. For example if you are on the phone stand up while you are listening or talking to stretch your legs and move about.

Take regular breaks from the desk – walk down the hallway and back, walk to a colleagues desk instead of calling, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and just get up and stretch at least once every hour.

Walk more Often

Pretend it’s 1985, walk instead of sending an email – walk to a colleagues desk instead of sending an email or calling. Meet somewhere for a coffee and walk to the location, avoid the elevator.

Learn new habits – look for different ways to exercise and build it into your regular routine. Stand up at the office, stand up while watching TV, walk to the corner store, walk at night, walk to work, walk from the back of the parking lot and so on.

Stand up at the office – whenever you can to stretch your legs and move about. Have your computer terminal elevated so that you can stand instead of sitting, stand up when talking on the phone, or use hands free and walk around the office while on the phone.

Take Advantage of new technology – use hands free technology to allow you to walk while talking, monitor your steps every day and use counters to keep a consistent distance every day.

Walk at the end of your work day – walk an extra bus stop, walk home, take the stairs, etc to increase the distance you walk every day to increase circulation.

Walk instead of  commuting by car – if you can walk to work, other wise take the bus or rapid transit and walk an extra bus stop

Stand up while watching television – stand while watching TV, iron your clothes, do your exercise while watching, arrange for your computer to be elevated while working at home etc.

These are all excellent methods of increasing your activity level without placing unreasonable demands on your time or your system. You will be amazed at how many calories you will burn off every day by doing these extra activities and avoid sitting disease. For more information about exercise, click here.

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Rideau Carleton Raceway has introduced new software into their technology to help deal with problem gamblers. In addition, those people voluntarily want to be banned from the casino. Rideau Carleton Raceway’s slot machines are now equipped with facial recognition software at casinos they operate. As a result, this is part of a bid to help addicts bar themselves from gaming facilities. Although this is portrayed with a positive spin.  I guess it is for those who want to be banned from the casino. What about the rest of us who are on camera? Also, Hardrock casino group purchased this casino. Subsequently, there should be many improvements at this venue.

Facial Recognition Software at Casinos – Rideau Carleton

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation installed the technology at the complex. They have also installed the same technology at about two-thirds of the slots and casinos across the province of Ontario.

The Rideau Carleton Raceway technology relies on a method of “self-exclusion”. Whereby compulsive gamblers volunteer in advance to have their photos banked in the system’s database. This is in case they ever get the urge to try their luck at a casino again.

If that person returns in the future and the facial-recognition software detects them.

Over 15,000 gamblers signed up

Already, about 15,000 gamblers across Ontario have signed up. They want to restrict themselves from playing at slots or casinos, according to the OLG. Roughly 100 had signed up at Rideau Carleton Raceway to restrict their gambling before the introduction of the new software.

Can this information be misused? What about divorce situations? What about situations involving the misappropriation of funds?  As a result, the temptation by the government to use it is just too great.

We have to remember that it is the government that runs OLG. They already have a bad rap of not representing their customers very well with recent scandals of ticket-selling crooks pocketing millions by taking winning tickets from unsuspecting customers.

Can we trust them? Well, it turns out that we really do not have any choice. If you visit one of the casinos you are on their property. You are on camera. In fact, most if not all casinos have sophisticated video systems geared to catch cheaters at tables and also the slots. As a result, this should be no surprise to clients of the casinos.

Your comments about this controversial subject are welcome. Have you had yourself banned from the casino?

For more posts about casinos in Ontario, click here.

Vacation Rentals Puerto Vallarta are a huge business in this tropical Mexican city. There are many condos, hotels and homes built as vacation spots for the snow birds who want to get away from the snow and ice of the north or just people who want to spend some time by the sea. Having spent 2 month in a vacation rental in Puerto Vallarta, the writer can tell readers that this is a wonderful Mexican city to visit. It is relatively inexpensive to visit and spend time there and it is also quite safe contrary to the many news reports about Mexico.

Vacation Rentals Puerto Vallarta Along the Coast

There are vacation rentals in the city itself as well as along the coast in both directions. There are several smaller cities as well that are being developed and expanded with small apartment style condo’s as well private homes. Two such places are the Marina in Puerto Vallarta and also Nuevo Vallarta.  Both places have shopping centers, golf courses, private homes and condos as well as luxury hotels for tourists.

Staying in one of these vacation rentals in Puerto Vallarta, tourists can usually find all of the utensils and bedding that they need. Some are excellent and very clean, while others may need some work when you arrive. Most will need the basics such as spices etc and of course food that you plan to prepare and cook for yourself.

Marina in Puerto Vallarta

If you are near the marina, there are several restaurants which are quite reasonable to eat at. In addition you can enjoy the scenery on the marina or look out over the ocean. Check out the bars as well when you are staying in your vacation rental in Puerto Vallarta. Many will serve a tequila chaser with your beer or wine. One restaurant we went to placed a bottle partially filled with tequila on the table. Which was included with the meal and whatever other drinks that we purchased.

Another restaurant owner would share a shot of tequila with each of the tables  through the night. I really think that it had to be watered down tequila. There were about ten tables. How could you really drink that much tequila and still be walking around or do that night after night?

As with any city, visitors should be alert and careful. But no more so than any other city across North American. The main danger areas are in northern Mexico close to the US border which is a long ways from this seaside tropical city.

Tipping Valet Parking attendants has always been problematic for me. How much to charge and whether I should even use them. We have had some less than satisfactory service over the years. Now unless I have no choice I refuse to give my car up to the valet attendant.  We will discuss some of these issues in a moment. But back to the main topic, tipping valet parking attendants and how much you should give them. I have been typically tipping $5 each time I use valet parking. Some people may offer more and the attendants will certainly take it. But why should you tip these guys at all and will you get good service.

Some people feel that you should tip up front to make sure that you get good service and they take care of your car when they park your car. Others feel that since they pool the tips you are better off to tip when the car comes back in one piece and they open the doors and help you with your suitcases. Still other groups feel that since they are on a minimum wage and make all of their income from tips that you should feel sorry for them and tip them more than you might otherwise.

Tipping Valet Parking – Poor Service

I have had valet parking attendants roar up to the drop off point gunning the engine and while helping with the bags having their hands out for the tip. It is almost as if they don’t want to give you your keys back until they get their tip. Now I have never had any obvious damage done to my car and it is usually delivered in a reasonable amount of time. But I am totally turned off when they drive my car too fast in an almost out of control situation. Take care of my car and treat it with respect!

Based on this sort of activity I am very reluctant to ever give up my car to an attendant. I have an average car, but it is my car and I bought and paid for it. I do not want anyone to damage it. Can you imagine what they would do if it was a hot expensive car. Some of these guys would take it for a joy ride for sure.

The other thing that bugs me is taking a really long time to deliver my car. Sure it depends on how busy they are, but I could have probably gone and got it myself in less time that what some of these guys can get it for. I also want the parking lot to be covered and my car protected from the elements. It should be secure and regular security patrols should be in place. One time my car was parked in an open parking lot along with everyone else’s cars. What am I paying for? I can do that myself for free and I will get some exercise walking into the hotel.

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Joshua Tree National Park offers stupendous views of the Coachella valley as seen in this picture overlooking Palm Springs and the other valley cities. The Joshua trees, the rocks, the mountains and the desert provide scenes that you find amazing. The height of these mountains on the eastern side of the valley are between 6000 and 8000 feet. They  provide stupendous views of the valley.

Joshua Tree National Park – Scenery

Tourists can drive through the park and in particular up to a lookout point that is within a few hundred feet of the look out point.

Try to go up to the lookout point on a sunny day and when it is not too windy.  Even on days when there is little wind in the valley there is always wind at this elevation. the mountains to the North and to the West are above 11,000 feet. In fact you can take the Tram up to the western mountains which takes you to 8500 feet . There are many hiking trails in this area, up to 54 miles at last count of hiking trails.

Of course there are many hiking trails as well as camping trails in the Joshua park as well, with numerous places to hike as well as camp or park an RV. Campers should note that everything they take in with them must also come out with them. Please keep the park pristine and enjoyable for other campers.

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The Aquarius hotel has leased space to McDonald’s and Subway to serve people staying at the Aquarius Hotel or just visiting the casino.  Both have installed signs that say they do not share eating space and yet they are part of the hotel! Unfriendly notes tell you where you can sit to eat your food. How unprofessional is that? We ignored the signs and sat where we wanted to and no one really bothered us.

Aquarius McDonald’s Subway – Hotel Management

We spoke to the hotel management. They blame it on headquarters negotiating a lease that focuses on maximizing the lease income per square foot. As a result, the comfort and enjoyment of their guests are jeopardized. Seems to me local management should have more control and establish a common area where anyone can sit down and enjoy the food they have purchased at either fast food outlet. This is just an irritant to guests and visitors of the hotel.

In addition, the space for patrons of Subway to eat their sandwiches, and subs, is a long table that faces a wall. How unattractive is that? This is very bad customer treatment by the hotel and also by the fast food outlets.

WiFi

Also at the time of writing this post, the WiFi did not work well in Mcdonald’s which is known for providing free WiFi. The hotel still provided free WiFi but this was the service provided by Starbucks which is no longer there. They are turning that space into a restaurant or deli or something like that. We are not sure if the WiFi will continue to operate or not. Next time we visit the Aquarius in Laughlin, we will see what the service is like and update this post for our readers.

Willie Boys Saloon Morongo Valley is a really neat bar located on highway 62 in the Morongo valley. With a history dating back to the 1900’s this saloon is worth a stop on your way back to palm springs
It appears that Willie was gangster , or rather instead what he did was he killed his wife’s father’s and took off with the girl. There was a posse after him but after chasing him into the mountains above Palm Springs, he killed himself. The saloon is named after him.

Willie Boys Saloon Morongo Valley

We included a couple of pictures of the outside and the interior of Willie Boy’s Saloon Morongo Valley. We were there in the middle of the afternoon, so it was pretty deserted. At night apparently it is very busy and appears to be one of the best saloons in the area. It is a bi of a drive from Palm Springs and you need to give some thought about drinking and driving especially with the hair pin turns coming up from the valley. Still it is worth stopping for a cool one on a hot summers day.

You can see from the pictures the inside is decorated much more than any saloon normally would be. There are lots of antiques and nick nacks all over the place. There is lots to look at. They have music in the evenings and weekends. We had a snack while there along with a couple of beers. The food was really good and the beer was cold. It is definitely a place we will go back to, closer to lunch or dinner when there are more people around and we can enjoy the atmosphere better with a little music.

Be carful getting on and off the highway. It is a four lane road and drivers are going very fast in this area.

Governments are changing retirement plans all around the world or cash strapped and are looking for ways to reduce the cost of all of their expenses. This includes the cost of labor which has a payroll component as well as a benefits component. Benefits includes the amount of money they need to set aside to pay pensions in the future.

The private industry has already gone in this direction and governments will follow over the next 10 years. If you are already retired or planning to retire in the next 5 years, you are probably ok. However anyone with a longer retirement horizon, should take control of their future. Plan for a retirement with a reduced government pension.

They are reducing government pensions they are reducing benefits in terms of vision health and prescription coverage and people around the world should be ready for this when it comes time for the retirement. We all know people with great pensions and benefits packages after retirement. Over the next 20 years this is going to change drastically. Once the baby boomers are gone, rich pensions will no longer be the norm.

Changing Retirement Plans – Take Control of Your Future

Government employees who may be retiring 10, 15 or 20 years they find themselves without a retirement pension. We should be setting aside money now just in case so that they have the kind of retirement quality of life looking for.

This is something that all governments are looking at and to be better prepared everyone should be taking things into their own hands to avoid not having the quality of life that they would like to have When they retire.

We will have more on this subject in future posts.

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There are is great Hiking in San Jacinto Mountains. There are 54 miles of hiking trails at the top of the tram in Palm Springs. Which is located in the San Jacinto mountains. The highest mountain is over 10,000 feet in elevation in this area. Hikers can observe stunning views of the mountains and valleys just minutes away from the desert valley.

There can be a twenty degree drop in temperature from the valley floor during a trip up the tram in the summer time. It can provide a welcome relief to the searing temperatures in the valley. In addition it provides a healthy alternative as well. All of the trails are well groomed and marked for most trails.

Hiking in San Jacinto Mountains

Hikers should remember to always tell someone where they are going. Always bring extra clothes and especially lots of water with you. Especially in dry conditions hikers can become dehydrated very easily. It actually can get quite cool at night if you happened to be stranded over night int he forest.

This area is truly a hikers paradise. Thousands of people go up the tram every week to take advantage of the scenery, the solitude and the healthy mountain air. There are over 54 miles of trails that take you into the back country and wilderness areas. Several people are rescued every year because they got lost. In addition they also were not well equipped with water, food and warm clothing to deal with night time temperatures.

If you plan to hike in these areas take the time to be well prepared. Make sure you have the above mentioned item as well as a compass and a light warm blanket. It can be quite surprising to find out that you are suddenly lost with no idea of how to get back to the trail head. If no one knows that you have gone hiking they will not be looking for you. In addition always tell someone where you are going and when you will be expected to return.

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The Jodi Arias Trial has gone on far too long. She is guilty of pre meditated manslaughter and deserved the death penalty! However we think she may even get away with time served because one juror and it only takes one is going to find her not guilty!

She planned this murder. From stealing the gun from her grandfather to finding a knife. She used  the same knife to murder him.  She used this knife to slash the tires. Hence this girl should never see the light of day. The Jodi Arias trial should end now and she should be locked up for ever.

Jodi Arias Trial – Guilty

If she gets out she will stalk someone else and probably murder them as well. Fortunately she was found guilty and will go to jail for a very long time. She will do well in jail, since she has the ability to connect with people and turn them in her favor. In addition she is actually quite intelligent. Hence it is a shame she could not turn her ability to more positive things.

Even after being found guilty, she was giving interviews and obtaining privileges that many other inmates dream about while in jail. She just seems to have a way of getting what she wants. I have no doubt there will be lots of men who will write to her or even visit her at her jail location. She does not have many friends or family who will visit. She will die a very lonely person in jail. In addition she will only have the other inmates to chum with and spend time with.

Many people hope she never sees the light of day outside jail. If she does she will find another gullible guy who will succumb to her. If he does not and she likes him, he could end up dead just like her former boyfriend.

What is your opinion?

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Will there be a stock market correction any time soon? As of May 2017, the market has dropped a bit over 400 points. It is still doing very well if you are in blue chip stocks that pay excellent dividends. The market  is still much higher than it was in 2008 and it does not seem to be in any danger of a serious Stock Market Correction at this time. We are in the middle of a continuing bull market which is driving the markets to new highs. UPDATE – it is now 2019. there has been a lot of volatility over the past two years. As long as you can stomach the roller coaster, the market is above where it was in 2017 and investors are making money.

Stock Market Correction

But even these types of companies can be impacted if there is a stock market correction. So lets assume there will be a correction sometime in the next few months. Conventional wisdom says sell high and buy low , but do not try to time the market!

But what if you are invested for the long term and focused on dividend income. Should you sell or stick it out and enjoy the dividend payments? Thus investor thinks that this would be the best strategy, since the income is maintained and as long as the companies you are invested in are high quality, the stocks will rebound! This is exactly what occurred in 2008. first the market dropped like a stone and then rebounded to even higher levels than it was pre 2008.

What do you think will happen? Should you stick with your investments as they are now?

Take the Tram to San Jacinto Palm Springs. Palm Springs is in a valley surrounded by mountains over 10,000 feet high.  The views from the valley are spectacular. There is something really great about walking in your shorts in 85 degree weather while looking at the snow on the mountains.  The view from the top of one of these mountains is equally spectacular. Although the pictures are really great , they just do not capture the grandeur of the mountains and the valley below. If your planning to head up the tram for some hiking or just to see the views, take a lunch with you, lots of water and hiking clothes.

Tram to San Jacinto Palm Springs

Visitors can take the tram into the San Jacinto mountains up to 8500 feet and hike on any of the 54 miles of hiking trails. While going up the tram, the views of the valley, the side of the mountain and even the construction of the towers supporting the tram are amazing. This tour up the mountains is one of the must see things to do while in Palm Springs.

If you are a hiker, there are over 54 miles of trails to hike on in the mountains. We suggest that you always tell someone where you plan to go. Take a lunch and always take lots of water as well with you just in case you get delayed or lost on the trail. Taking extra clothes with you as well is also a good idea. It is usually about 20 degrees cooler on the mountain and can go down to freezing temperatures at night.

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For as long as we have recorded history, man has been fighting over religion, land, food, water and power. It seems nothing has changed and we have the temerity to call ourselves civilized! Somehow we all get along, but so far we have been lucky. If a visitor from another planet arrived what conclusion would they come to after they ignored the politicians and looked at the facts?

In today’s world we still fight, blow up people and start wars over religion and energy, oil. You would think that we would have figured out by now that the majority of people just want to feed their families and have a safe, prosperous life! We all get along one way or another, but many people suffer as a result.

Why Can’t We All Get Along

Unfortunately there are those among us that just do not seem to understand. For some reason they  have so much hate that they have to do things such as what happened in Boston, California. Also in other places around the world. Everyone, we must be vigilant if we are to protect our way of life in North America!

Eventually the current fanatics will be defeated. Then another group will come along. It seems that there is always a group of people who are lusting after power. Or they feel that their group of people have been taken advantage of and they need to take revenge. There will always be some form of conflict as one group or perhaps a dictator tries to take over the world. Or make life difficult for neighboring countries.

The answer to the question, “why can’t we all get along” is that there will always be some country or group that does not want to get along or takes advantage of the people who are in their country or living near them.

The tram in Palm Springs takes you up to 8500 feet elevation into the San Jacinto mountains. This is rugged mountainous territory. Palm Springs is at an elevation of 485 feet. While the Salton Sea to the south about 30 miles is actually at sea level. Driving from Palm Springs to the Tram Station at the bottom of the mountain takes you up to 2000 feet above sea level. Then the tram itself takes you up another 6500 feet. It is apparently the 2nd steepest tram in the world.

Tram Palm Springs

There are five towers like the one shown in the picture and each one has a helicopter landing pad at the top of it. This pad was used during construction and is now used when they need to get someone up to the tower to complete maintenance activities on the towers. I think it would be pretty scary having to land on that tower and then disembark to get off the helicopter and climb down onto the tower to do whatever maintenance is required. Quite and exciting job I would say.

There is often high winds which interfere with the operation of the tram. There are a few days every year where they must stop operations because the wind is just too strong.

The scenery is absolutely beautiful as you head up the mountain and are quite close to the rock faces. There are landing pads at various points on the mountain as well. We are not sure what they are for. The tram operates year round except in windy conditions. It is not safe to be on the tram due to the high winds.

There are several restaurants to enjoy at the top and the scenery is truly fantastic. There are actually over 85 miles of hiking trails. Also people enjoy the high elevation and the crystal clear skies on most days.

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The Palm Springs Tram takes you from 2100 feet in elevation to 8500 feet in elevation and the temperature drops 20 degrees in temperature. This is really a fantastic excursion that can be taken in a day. It is within 20 minutes of downtown Palm Springs, California. The trip up is spectacular as is the area at the top of the mountain itself. There are over 85miles of hiking trails for people to enjoy. Many people living in the desert will purchase season tickets. They go up the Palm Springs Trams several times a week. It is a great way to escape the heat. Also experience nature in a totally different environment and eco system.

During the summer time, the temperatures in Palm Springs can be as hot as 120 F degrees during the day. It will barely cool down into the low 90’s at night. Many people will escape into the mountains to cool off. The Palm Springs Tram up the mountain is a perfect way to get away from the heat of the summer time. We have included a few pictures of this tram that takes you from the desert floor into the mountains. There are five towers that support the cables that carry the tram up and down the mountain. There are actually two cars that act as counterweights to each other.

Palm Springs Tram – Maintenance

Helicopters would land on top of the towers to take maintenance people to the towers. These are small platforms that sit on top of the towers surrounded by mountains that would be very difficult to traverse on foot. The tram rotates as it climbs the mountain so that every person gets a 360 degree view of the mountains and the valley below. This picture shows part of this view and although they say a picture is worth a thousand words, they really do not do justice to the beautiful scenery that is seen on the way up the mountain.

If you have an opportunity to visit Palm Springs, take a day and spend it up the mountain hiking among the tall fir trees. It is a day well spent. Check the weather before you go and dress appropriately to avoid any discomfort and also wear lots of sun screen.

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Cyprus has faded from the news after they took a large haircut on the savings of all accounts in the banks. This represented a large contribution by anyone with an account in the bank including residents and foreigners as well. It was particularly significant since it set a precedent and there is a lot of foreign money in Cypriot banks! Who is next? Some say that Spain is the next EU problem for politicians to deal with.

Spain is rumored to be the next country to cry for help. With Germany in the driver’s seat will they make the same demands of Spain? With the precedent set, you can be sure Germany will demand a great deal and the Spanish know that. They will work hard to avoid further bailouts to be sure. Germany is very powerful in the EU today because its economy is strong and resilient. Right now they get to make the rules.

World stock markets will be affected since Spain is larger than any of the other countries. We will have to wait to see what happens, but to be sure there will be lots of volatility in the markets in the coming year! so far as of the end of 2015, Spain is really not the issue for the markets and for the EU economy.

Next EU Problem – Migrants

The real issue now is all of the migrants from Syria, over 1 million people at last count. They keep pouring into Spain as well as the rest of the EU. This is the Next EU Problem and it is a big one.

Not that I am against the Syrian refugees, but what about all of the other areas in the world. There over 300,000 people living in tents in Kenya for the past couple of years and no one is talking about them. Why the Syrians and not the Kenyans?

Another month and the Jodi Arias trial continues on! Can you believe that this obviously guilty women has not been already convicted of premeditated man slaughter? It is so ridiculous that she is even trying to mount a defense and making the person she killed out to be a bad person.

The expert has lied on the stand, Samuels gave her a book to study so he could diagnose her accordingly! And of course Laviolet has lied repeatedly and hates men. She does not even have the skill level to do the job. For that they both get $250 an hour! This is atrocious and shows just how bad the justice system and the defense lawyers can be.

More and more witnesses are being called to refute the experts and also Jodie’s testimony. This is looking bad for Jodi Arias.

Jodi Arias Trial

We wrote this particular piece during the trial and it was really to express our frustration at how this trial was being handled. It is unfortunate that so much time and money was actually spent on Jodi Arias, but that is how our court system works. Hire a good lawyer and you can be assured of a long drawn out process as long as you have the money to pay for it.

Which brings us to the next questions. Were does she get the money to pay for a lawyer for this length of trial along with the expert witnesses. At best she was a cocktail waitress making minimal amounts of money. She was essentially broke until she hooked up with her victim.

Jodi is attractive and she knows how to manipulate people. She also has the sympathy vote. After all how could a cute petite thing like her commit such a crime? Fortunately the jury did see through it all and convicted her. But it cost the state and tax payers a great deal of money to do so.

Dancing With the Stars 2013: Zendaya Coleman, Kellie Pickler and Aly Raisman are top contenders for the mirrorball trophy with Kelly Pickler at the top of the leader board. She is a sweet country girl that is also extremely good looking as well. We hope she does well. In fact all of the contenders at the top of the list have great personalities and are also very attractive which helps when it comes to popularity votes on a show like dancing with the stars.

This show is by far the best show on TV for TV viewers. Lots of entertainment, family oriented and humorous. Last night they also had Stevie Wonder and all dancers danced to one of his musical hits. What a night!

The dancers find it very challenging with the long days of practice and all of the physical work that goes into it. They find it hard and challenging, but they love it, especially to hear the audience appreciation for their efforts.

Dancing With the Stars

This is one of the best entertainment shows, reality shows, whatever you want to call it on TV right now. It is interesting to watch how the various contestants improve over the season. Even Nancy Grace was on Dancing With the Stars on one of the seasons. She did moderately well compared to some of the younger people who are more flexible and agile.

We have to give her a lot of credit for just getting out there and being on the dance floor. Personally this writer would find it very intimidating to be on the dance floor with millions of people watching. My two left feet would trip myself or my partner for sure. So we applaud Nancy Grace and all of the other participants for being out on the dance floor taking on some of the more challenging numbers.

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The Corridor in Palm Springs is actually a backyard for several restaurants including a coffee shop. Patrons love to sit in the shade and enjoy a coffee and pastry. Or even consume their meal at one of the tables. It is a very pretty setting. There are stores that can be visited surrounding the outdoor area. I find it particularly nice in that I can relax in the shade and enjoy my coffee. As a result my partner can go window shopping at one of the stores. As you can imagine I am not a shopper and not interested in just looking for things that I really do not need.

The Corridor – Relax in the Sun

Anyone who makes a purchase of a coffee or food can use the tables and chairs to enjoy their purchase. Or visit with other people who have joined them. In the mornings it is not uncommon to see customers reading their morning paper while enjoying their coffee in the patio area.

This is a popular spot in Palm Springs and is often crowded. Patrons can choose to sit on the lawn or on the patio stones that are distributed around the areas. There is lots of seating however even that fills up. Hence you need to be patient, someone will move and you will get a seat. Patrons tend to stay longer and enjoy the environment. Of course during the summer, it can also become quite warm sitting in the sun.

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Casino roulette is a very popular game found in all casinos with table games and also on online casino as well. In addition many casinos have added slot machine style casino games that are either automated or are slaved off a main table in the casino. These slaved machines have cameras and TV screens showing the main table that is being managed by casino employees. They also can handle almost any denomination, although the higher denomination tables are usually run by casino employees to provide a more personal relationship with players on the casino floor. They provide roulette players with more opportunities to play roulette.

Types of Casino Roulette Tables

There are two main types of roulette tables in the casinos. Not all casinos will have both types and some casinos will only run one type of casino roulette, usually the American style of roulette. European roulette, which is the table shown on the picture looks like any other roulette table with one exception. This table only has one zero on the board while American roulette tables will have both a Zero and a double Zero spot on the table which decreases the odds for the players essentially increasing the take for the house.

What is the Difference to the Average Player

The difference to the average player is really only one of odds. The zero spot is known as the house number. Players can bet on this number the same as any other number, however because there is one more number that is not part of any grouping, it increases the odds slightly in favor of the house. There are 36 numbers on the table, plus one more for the zero on an European style roulette table for a total of 37 numbers and players have a 1 in 37 chance to win when betting on single numbers.

American Tables

On the American table there is the single zero and the double zero spots making 38 spots to bet on and players have a 1 in 38 chance of winning when betting on a single number. Players have a slightly worse chance of winning when playing on an American style table. Most serious players prefer to play on the European tables since they have a better chance of winning something.

This same odds difference carries through to the other best when you are betting groups of numbers. For example if you are betting colors, either black or red, you have a 1 in 3 chance of winning on a European style roulette table and a 1 in 4 chance of winning on the American table. Most North American casinos prefer the American style roulette tables for obvious reasons, although some also have the other type of table as well.

The European tables are typically only offered in gambling markets where there is a lot of competition. In markets where there is little competition, you will not find these tables since they really are not competing with anyone. I have never seen an European style roulette table in any government run casino. After all why would you improve the odds for players when you have no competition. Tthe government is trying maximize the take from their players?

Can You Beat the Casino Roulette Table

Occasionally someone will get lucky. They have a run of numbers that they have picked. They may make a lot of money with a system they have. I have seen a friend run up $300 into $16,000.  However he has only done that once in his lifetime so it is a rare event. His system was to start with $5 on 6 numbers for a total of $30 on the table. If he wins, he would double his bet. When they paid him with $1000 chips, he would hand them to his wife and keep playing. This way he would be playing with the casino’s money and take some winnings home with him. This one day he handed 16 $1000 chips to his wife and he was pretty excited to have done that. Unfortunately he has never had such a run of luck again.

Betting on single numbers pays 35 to one odds. While playing on groups of numbers pays lesser amounts depending on the quantity of numbers selected. This can be a lot of fun with players winning huge sums of money and losing huge sums of money!

As always bet with your head and not with your emotion! Play to have fun  and if you win, consider it a bonus. For more general posts about casino games, click here.

CPAP equipment and supplies purchases can be a little confusing to consumers who have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea. I know I was confused and wondering if I would be able to tolerate wearing a mask every night. Also weather I would sleep or not with this thing on my head. Well the short answer is that I slept very well the first night and almost every night since them. I guess I was so tired that just being able to breathe properly made the difference.  I had my first good night in many years.

You can purchase the CPAP equipment online and pretty much find everything you need. The big difference for me when I purchased my CPAP machine was the support that I received from the nurse practitioner who worked at the medical supply store. She was able to answer all of my questions and fitted a mask for me that I was comfortable with. She adjusted the straps to ensure that the mask was being held properly in the correct place all night long. It is also important to purchase a mask that is the right size for your face and nose. She helped with this also.

CPAP Equipment – Adjusting the Air Pressure

Based on the initial sleep apnea testing that took place in a sleep lab, the doctor prescribed a CPAP machine for me. He recommended the appropriate air pressure for the severity of sleep apnea that I apparently have. The medical store set me up with everything I needed. They set the air pressure according to the prescription given by the doctor.

All of the modern machines come with memory cards that record a tremendous amount of information about you as you are sleeping. If the air pressure is set properly, the body will respond to this air pressure and the brain will adjust the bodies breathing system to breath with a pressurized machine. Prior to being diagnosed, the brain is also dealing with sleep apnea and adjusting your breathing accordingly. I was waking up or having a sleep interruption 37 times on average every hour. It takes a while to recover from this. Your machines memory chip will record how you are breathing with the machine and improving night after night.

After one month the medical store personnel review all of this information and based on the data suggested making one adjustment to lower the air pressure by one point. I have been using the CPAP machine for the past four months and I am totally satisfied with it, so much so that I would never be without it.

Why Purchase from a Medical Store vs. Online

The reason for the comments in the last several paragraphs was to illustrate just how important it is to have some kind of service and support for the purchase of a medical device like the CPAP machine. I could have purchased it online; however it would be impossible to have the kind of medical support that I received from an online store.

Now that I have my CPAP equipment, I may purchase my supplies i.e. my CPAP accessories online. If they are cheaper taking into account taxes and shipping costs. This is important in my mind since saving or reducing my cost is a priority for us. On the other hand if it is only a few dollars difference, I will stick with the medical equipment store that I purchased the equipment from in the first place.

How Often Does the CPAP equipment and Supplies Need to be Replaced

We were told by the personnel at the medical store that the equipment should last at least 5 years if not longer. The hoses, the mask and the straps should last approximately one year if they are properly cleaned each week. The mask may not last quite as long depending on cleaning every day. The amount of body oils it comes in contact with from your skin. It should be cleaned with mild soap every day. Since all of these items are relatively expensive, most consumers who use a CPAP machine will take good care of them.

As time goes on we will learn more about the use of this equipment. We will write about it on our posts. If you have just been diagnosed to need one of these, do not hesitate. Once you are set up and sleeping with your CPAP, you will have the best sleep you probably have had in years. For more information about CPAP supplies, click here.

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All inclusive vacations Puerto Vallarta are available for people who really want to be pampered and not need to lift a finger while they are on vacation. Most rental units available in Puerto Vallarta are one step down from this level of all inclusivity. They typically come equipped with everything you will need to set up home while you are in Puerto Vallarta. All furniture, dishes, cutlery, and linens are usually provided. You just need to  purchase the food that they wish to prepare.

All Inclusive Vacations Puerto Vallarta

Inexpensive Alcohol

Alcohol is very inexpensive in Puerto Vallarta, regardless of how and where you purchase it. Compared to the US and Canada, alcohol will be a fifth or a seventh of the price that you might be used to paying. Restaurant meals are also inexpensive as well. Most people will eat out most nights instead of preparing their own meals. Of course there are places which are very expensive. But if you eat at a traditional Mexican restaurant, the food was excellent and very inexpensive along with the alcohol that comes with the meal. Beer will cost you a dollar, and the tequila will be included in the price of beer.

All Inclusive Hotels

All inclusive vacations in Puerto Vallarta include all meals and alcohol as well, but if you stay longer than a week, most people want to get out and see the city and the beaches in the area rather than stay at their hotel. It is perfectly safe to roam the city during the day time and in the tourist areas as well in the evenings.

Also for those people who stay in the city for periods ranging up to a month or longer, there are less expensive ways to arrange accommodations. All inclusive hotels are excellent for a wee or maybe two weeks at the most.

Safety in Puerto Vallarta

As with all cities anywhere it makes no sense to be out in the wrong area of town late at night. Check with your concierge at you hotel to confirm those areas that is safe to go to. Better to be safe than sorry and the price of a taxi ride is certainly a lot cheaper than trying to walk in areas that might not be safe at night.

There are lots of taxis and taxi stands throughout the city. They are safe and dependable. The buses stop running around 10 or 10:30 pm, so you may want to time your events around this schedule.

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We went to Perkins Restaurant in  Ottawa for breakfast this morning. Perkins restaurants are very good and although among the more pricey in terms of breakfast, you do get excellent value for your dollar. You can go to less expensive places. But Perkins Restaurant Ottawa provides you with a bottomless cup of coffee. They place a coffee urn right on your table, so you do not need to wait for the waitress to refill your cup. We were there for a while. The waitress even brought us a second urn of coffee to us at no extra charge.

The other thing I like about Perkins Restaurant Ottawa is the  home fries that come with the eggs. You can have the frozen type or the home fries that are shredded. I prefer the shredded type. Since they are more natural and taste better as well compared to the frozen type.  All it was an excellent breakfast and we have never been disappointed with any meals that we have had at this restaurant. The location of this Perkins Restaurant is at the corner of Ogilvy and St Laurent roads. There is lots of parking, in front and also at the back of the restaurant.

Perkins Restaurant Ottawa – Menu

Perkins Restaurant has a full menu for lunch and dinner and they also offer meals to large groups as well, so if you have an office group or a small party, they can also accommodate these groups as well. There are lots of deserts on the menu as well.

They are very busy on the weekends and if you go in the morning for breakfast, make sure that you are there early, since you will probably need to wait in line for a table.  Just provide your name to the clerk at the front and they will call you when a table is available.

There are tables that can be configured for 2, 4 or 6 people as well as booths that will seat 4 people. You can seat 6 people in a booth, but it would be very cozy for 6 people in a booth. They have lots of room and lots of combinations to accommodate just about any needs.

This is a great family restaurant to take your family to or to just grab a quick meal. Either way you will not be disappointed unless you are looking for a gourmet restaurant which this is not.

If you have been to Perkins Restaurant Ottawa and would like to leave a comment, please do. Constructive and helpful comments are always welcome and we will even include a link to your site for a well written comment. Click here for more details about Ottawa.

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Rafting in the Grand Canyon has to be one of the premier trips to take in the world. Every trip has a variety of things that make it worthwhile. For some it will be the speed of the river. For others it will be roiling of the water as you shoot the rapids, holding on for dear life. Many will enjoy the tranquility between rapids as you rest and enjoy the scenery and the beauty around you. But the Grand Canyon trip is for the sheer size and beauty of the canyon itself.

Imagine rafting down a river with cliffs on either side that reach up over a mile. That’s right, the grand canyon is over a mile deep in some places. You will feel dwarfed by the sheer size of everything. Stand on the south rim and look across to the north rim which is over 10 miles away. If you are lucky you may observe several thunderstorms on the north side that are separated by blue sky. That is how immense everything is.

Rafting in the Grand Canyon –  Fantastic Scenery

A rafting trip in the Grand Canyon is so exciting. It has to be the sheer size of the canyon, the height of the walls and the literally fantastic scenery. For example have ever gone to the south side of the Grand Canyon and gazed across to the other side. You will have some idea of the size of this natural landmark. Fully 10 miles across and over a mile deep the Grand Canyon is truly spectacular. If you have never been there you will not get an appreciation even from a picture. Consequently they just cannot portray the sheer size of the place!

Imagine being at the bottom of this huge gorge floating along the Colorado river which runs through the canyon. Imagine looking up a mile in height to try to find the rim at the top. In fact in some locations were the canyon narrows all you will see is sheer walls that seem to go up to reach infinity. Hence this really has to be one of the most spectacular trips to take.

Getting to the Grand Canyon

You cannot reach some of these locations by car, by plane, by helicopter or even on foot. The only way to see some of this beautiful scenery is to take a rafting trip down the river to enjoy the beauty that is simply breathtaking. There are a variety of trips offered by various excursion tour companies that last from 3 days up to as long as 16 days. If this is a first time rafting you may only want to take the 3 day trip to test your enjoyment and experience.

Drivers can visit the south rim and the north rim of the Grand Canyon by car and they can even hike down to the river. A hike of this sort must be planned and reservations made as well to stay at the bottom. In addition it is not recommended to hike down and back in one day, although people have accomplished this feat. For example you will be really tired and possibly dehydrated at the end of it if you are not carrying enough water. Rafting locations must be traveled to up river and your car left at one of the launching spots.

Palio at Bellagio is a great little cafe overlooking the pool were you can have a quick bite, coffee etc.
We always go here for our breakfast and split one of the gigantic muffins. They are so large that they will
easily satisfy most people. It is a bit expensive, but it is one of the few places you can get free refills of coffee. They also have the best blueberry jam from France! This is truly a great little place to read the paper, keep up with your social networks or write blog posts like this.

The Palio at Bellagio

This little cafe has become one of our traditions. Every time we go to Vegas, whether we are staying at the Bellagio or not we come here for breakfast on one morning. My wife likes the atmosphere and the view of the pool. I like the muffins, particularly the raisin bran muffins with blueberry jam spread across them. We cut them into 3 slices, they are so large and then spread jam across all three slices. This is one of the best tasting muffins around.

Prices are a bit on the high side, but then what isn’t in Las Vegas. A coffee in a Starbucks that is attached to a Casino is going to cost $3.50 a small coffee. Normally you would pay $1.75 for the same thing at a regular Starbucks. You pay for the atmosphere and the surroundings. It is just part of the overall cost of going to Las Vegas.

Although the number of calories is probably really high, once or twice a year is not going to make a huge difference and beside while you are in Vegas you are walking a great deal so that makes up for it. While in Vegas you probably get more exercise than any other time of the year just with the amount of walking that you do while in the city.

We visited Hermosa Beach in California in early April on a rather windy day. There were not too many people on the beach on this particular day. Although there were a couple of couples surfing in the  water with wet suits. This is a huge beach that runs for at least a mile or perhaps longer with beautiful sand and very wide. There is also a wide sidewalk that runs along the length of the beach. People ride their bikes and also stroll along enjoying the sun and the sites.

It can accommodate thousands of people easily. Hermosa beach is actually a suburb of Los Angeles and is about 20 minutes from LAX airport.

There is also a short street closed off to car traffic with many restaurants. Although we were there on a cool day, all of the restaurants were open for business and there seemed to be lots of local people who were out for lunch, having a beer and just relaxing over lunch. We can just imagine how busy this area is in the summer time when the beaches are crowded. There is a large selection of different kinds of foods at these restaurants, something for everyone.

Hermosa Beach California – Biking

The bike path runs along the beach and separates the beach from the houses along the beach from the beach itself. There are lots of really nice beach homes along the beach, some, I am sure well over a million dollars in value. We saw lots of people biking along the bike path as well as many people walking their dogs or just going for a walk. Looks like a great place to spend a week in the summer time.

More details for those people looking for General travel info, click here.

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D.Vino at Montecarlo restaurant at the Montecarlo provided the service fast. We had three of four meals which were not very good, fish smelled fishy bad smell, the pasta was not very tasty, and the pizza very bland. We complained to management, and absolutely nothing was done. It was as if they did not care, so we did not leave a tip. We felt  bad for the waiter, since it was really not his fault, but we would have really sent the wrong message if we had left a tip. We also mentioned how concerned we were about the food to the Matri d, and they did nothing so I guess we will not be back there.

D.Vino at Montecarlo – Las Vegas

On the other hand we did receive the following from the D’Vino at  Montecarlo:

• Two nights comp’d – based on our play at the MGM group of resorts
• One night at casino rate which was less than $100, also a really good deal
• Seventy five dollars in free play to use in almost any slot machine
• Twenty dollar charge- coffee, water, paper, wifi, which many of the hotels now charge and frankly we disagree with this since we do not use the services.
• Room was ok, met all of our needs, but nothing to write home about
• Keurig coffee great
• Service poor – coffee , water missing, we had to order it from room service
• Mlife service poor- one attendant meant we had to wait in line for some time
• Fast food restaurants- McDonald’s, subway and others  makes it very easy to eat inexpensively
• Great pool area for kids, not something we took advantage of

We have stayed at many hotels in the Las Vegas area including the Montecarlo hotel. This was one of the worst from a restaurant perspective. We certainly got good value for the cost, since we were comp’d for the rooms.

We probably will not stay here again. There are much better places to stay at in Las Vegas and will not go to the D.Vino at Montecarlo again.

The Bellagio Water Show – Las Vegas is shown many times a day, however it is especially beautiful at night with the water, lights and music. During the day, the show is scheduled every 30 minutes starting in the afternoon. They play really great music and the fountains perform to the beat of the music. In the mornings the system is not operated and any maintenance is completed at that time. Even the maintenance is interesting since the crew is out on the lake in boats and scuba gear, checking on everything and replacing any equipment that needs repair.

Bellagio Fountains

In the evening they add lights to the show which really makes it spectacular. There will be literally thousands of people strolling along the tree lined street and standing watching the water show at the Bellagio. We took a hundred pictures and only have these two up to show since they were really the best ones that turned out. You have to catch the fountains at just the right moment.

The Bellagio was built by Steve Wynn who then sold it to the MGM group. He built the Wynn hotel down the street. These are by far the two nicest hotels in Las Vegas. Even if you are not staying at the Bellagio, it is definitely worth a walk to see them. The fountains, the indoor gardens and the pool area are truly spectacular and worth the visit. These hotels are by far the best in North America in terms of being spectacular and entertaining.  When you think about how they were created out of the desert, it is truly spectacular to see. The Bellagio on the former Dunes hotel site and the Wynn on another former hotel site that we do not recall.

These two are well worth the time it takes to walk to them and view. It is all free, there is no need to spend any money. Although of course they would like you to visit one of their dining rooms or try the casino. But that is entirely up to the tourist in Las Vegas.