Archive for the ‘UK Bed and Breakfasts’ Category

Italians have been coming to live in London for hundreds of years, including Canaletto, the famous Renaissance Artist whose works can be seen in the National Gallery and Buckingham Palace. In the first half of the 19th century, there was an influx of political refugees into London. By 1854 London’s first Italian community of about 2000 was formed in Clerkenwell. Many opened businesses in the catering industry, or worked as artisans, street vendors or street musicians.There is still a large Italian community in Clerkenwell, and this area is also home to the Italian Church, St.Peters, which holds Italian events and youth clubs for the Italian community. It is also the area of London that has most of the original Italian businesses, shops and cafes.

When Italian immigrants formed the first Italian community in London over 150 years ago, they had no official church of their own, and used to attend prayer at the Royal Sardinian Chapel at Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The 1st Archbishop of westminster, Cardinal Wiseman, invited St.Vincent Pallotti to establish an Italian Church in London. Helping in the task, were Fr.Raffaele Melia, the Italian chaplin to the Sardinian Church, and Fr.Giuseppe Faa’ di Bruno, a priest from Turin.By 1853, enough funds had been raised to buy a site for the Italian Church of St.Peter’s in London’s ‘Little Italy’.St.Peter’s opened in 1863, and at that time, was the only church in Roman Basilican style.It remains an important focal point for the Italian community in London, and many regularly attend prayers and mass, as well as celebrating important events in the church’s calendar.

Other ‘Italian areas’ of London now include Islington,Battersea, and in particular Kensington and Chelsea.

New York State

It took a mere nine months to build the impressive New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua. The $7.6 million, 19,000-square-foot center on South Main Street, flanked by gardens and overlooking Canandaigua Lake, offers culinary classes, wine tasting and educational tours. There is a concierge desk; a Taste of NY Lounge for light meals and wine-and-food pairings; and an exhibit hall showcasing New York agriculture.

There is a fee to register and attend any of the several demonstrations presented by guest chefs and for the hands-on cooking classes; however, admission is free.

Speaking of wine, the trail is growing ever stronger and longer in Western New Yorks grape growing region along Lake Erie. Word is three new wineries are joining the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail. Specializing in sparkling and ice wines, the Sparkling Pond Winery in Ripley is now open for tasting and tours. Sparkling Pond joins 13 other wineries in time for the trails annual Holiday Weekends event, taking place during two consecutive weekends in November.

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor opens in November in New Yorks Hudson Valley, about 10 miles from West Point. It occupies the site where George Washingtons army camped toward the end of the Revolutionary War, where in 1782 Washington created the award, decreeing it be designed as the figure of a heart in purple cloth. The Hall of Honor pays tribute to those killed or injured defending the nation. Visitors can search out facts and stories about Purple Heart recipients. Officials estimate 1.7 million soldiers are eligible for inclusion in the memorial.

The Farmers Museum near Cooperstown celebrated its new acquisition earlier this season-the Empire State Carousel. The whimsical contemporary folk art was created by more than 1,000 volunteer artisans from across the state, featuring original carvings, paintings and quilts, each specially designed for the ride. The carousel depicts a colorful cultural history of the state. It includes 25 hand-carved riding animals indigenous to New York and 23 portrait panels of famous New Yorkers, including Susan B. Anthony, Jackie Robinson, Grandma Moses and Theodore Roosevelt.

The Farmers Museum offers visitors a first-hand look at rural and village life in New York circa 1845 through authentic demonstrations and interpretive exhibits.

Madame Tussauds, the famous wax attraction, in the heart of Times Square in NYC, announces new additions to its strange and fascinating exhibits. Over the years the museum has found novel ways for visitors to interact with the life-like figures carved from wax. The latest? Visitors can now check out Lindsay Lohans latest bling, practice movie lines with Will Smith, decide whether or not to vote for Hillary Clinton for President, and audition for American Idol Judge Simon Cowell.

Heading to the Big Apple? Companies like NYC Group Tours and NYC Vacation Packages offer groups amenity-loaded packages to see this years Macys Thanksgiving parade Groups can watch the annual event in style at a parade party and enjoy all the city has to offer!

Pennsylvania

Starting in November, Christmas blooms at Longwood Gardens near Kennett Square. Thousands of red poinsettias, snapdragons and paperwhite narcissus signal the holiday season. After dark, the night blooms bright with 400,000 lights strung on nearly 40 miles of wire throughout the gardens. Groups are welcome to make reservations for the Yuletide Buffet, a bountiful spread amid the festive gardens.

The Quality Inn Gettysburg Motor Lodge now offers groups of 20 or more Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. Overnight in Gettysburg amid the attractions and day trip to the nations capitol, just 90 minutes away. Soak in Gettysburg history with a visit to the American Civil War Museum and the Gettysburg Diorama. Visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site and dine with President Lincoln at the historic Dobbin House. Spend time shopping and dining at Boyds Bear Country. The day trip into Washington, D.C., includes stops at the World War II, Korean War Veterans, Vietnam Veterans memorials, and more.

Over in Lancaster, the curtain is lifting for the 07 Theatre season, with the Dutch Apple Theatre presenting the regional premieres of two just-released contemporary shows, The Full Monty, February through April, and Swing, July through September. While the theatre will continue to offer their most popular performances like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Cabaret, show organizers also say future schedules will show, This is not your grandparents dinner theatre experience!

This article is sponsored by: www.leisuregrouptravel.com , www.grouptravelblog.com , www.grouptraveldirectory.com

The state of New York is diverse in many ways including its landscapes, cultures and cities. In the north there is the Adirondack Mountains with a number of excellent outdoor activities to choose from. In the western half of the state there are unique and charming cities such as Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Rochester. The south part of the city features the excellent museums and nightclubs of New York City along with an almost limitless supply of entertainment, accommodations and attractions to choose from. Including world renowned sights such as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. For boating and fishing visitors should go to Long Island for their vacation.

When it comes to the state of New York everyone thinks of New York City. It has an wide diversity of architecture, galleries, museums, neighborhoods, restaurants and cultural events along with a great theatre district. New York City has everything you need all in one place. Broadway features a number of shows to choose from for those who enjoy the theatre. Central Park is an excellent place to go to experience the outdoors in the middle of New York City. In order to experience everything there is in New York City it would take a lifetime. However, some of the main sites you should visit for your first time to get a good introduction including the Empire State Building, the Lincoln Center, the Guggenheim Museum, the United Nations Buildings, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

For a vacation outside of the bustling city consider going to the state capital in Albany. This city is also located on the Hudson River. When visiting you can either walk around the town on foot or choose to take a tour by trolley. Albany has the New York State Museum which features all the information you needed to know about the history of the state of New York. A number of local events can be found at the Altamont Fairground. You can also visit the Erie Canal which extends between Albany and Lake Erie.

Two top hotels to stay at in New York City include the Le Parker Meridien which offers all around good accommodations. This includes an excellent blend of style, service and amenities. This hotels offers visitors a little bit of everything including luxury, high tech services, family friendly amenity options, comfort and a excellent location within the city. The second option is the Hotel Metro which is located in midtown and has an excellent value for what you get in terms of accommodations.

In Albany an excellent place to stay is the Morgan State House. This is a small inn that offers elegance and luxury. The rooms are spacious and it is up there with five star hotels. The details come from the nineteenth century and there are many antiques in each room. It also comes with an interior garden courtyard for guests relaxation.

Discover the enchanted lands of Disney’s Magic Kingdom . . . Hike along solitary trails through the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains . . . Stroll through the restored capital of colonial Virginia . . . . Tee off on any of the more than 120 championship golf courses along the Grand Strand . . . Relax on the white-sand beaches of Miami Beach . . . Choose from one of these premiere vacation destinations and experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for your whole family this summer!

Orlando, Florida: Experience Big Thrills at the “Theme Park Capital of the World” – Enjoy a magical vacation with the entire family in beautiful Orlando, “The Theme Park Capital of the World,” which boasts warm weather year round, world-class theme parks, water parks, unique attractions, outdoor recreation, first-class accommodations, fine dining, lively nightlife, great shopping opportunities and championship golf courses. Experience the magic of Walt Disney World Resort – Discover the enchanted lands of Disney’s Magic Kingdom, blast off into the future at Epcot, journey through the fascinating history of Hollywood movies at Disney-MGM Studios and take a fun-filled safari expedition at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Don’t miss the thrilling rides of Universal Orlando’s two amazing theme parks – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, as well as the up-close animal encounters of SeaWorld Orlando.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee: Explore the Scenic Great Smoky Mountains – A picturesque mountain town full of fun-filled adventures, Gatlinburg also boasts fine art and antiques, mountain crafts, family-friendly dining establishments, live entertainment, whitewater rafting and excellent lodging choices. One of the premiere year-round vacation destinations in the United States, Gatlinburg provides spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and serves as the principal gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the largest national park East of the Rocky Mountains. Established in 1934, the park boasts more than 800 miles of scenic hiking trails, as well as historic sites, scenic waterfalls, museums and picnic areas. Must-see Gatlinburg attractions include Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, as well as Dollywood theme park in neighboring Pigeon Forge.

Williamsburg, Virginia: Step Back in Time at Colonial Williamsburg – A multitude of attractions await the entire family in Williamsburg, Virginia, which is home to Colonial Williamsburg, the restored 18th-century capital of colonial Virginia and the largest living history museum in the United States. Colonial Williamsburg lies within Virginia’s Historic Triangle, which includes Jamestown Settlement, site of the first permanent English-speaking colony in North America, and Historic Yorktown, site of the last major battle of the American Revolution. The Williamsburg area also boasts fun-filled theme parks such as Busch Gardens Europe and Water Country USA, championship golf, fine dining and more than 150 factory and designer outlet stores, as well as abundant accommodation choices that range from luxurious resorts and full-service hotels to budget motels and charming bed & breakfast inns. Don’t miss the opportunity to tour the beautiful campus of The College of William and Mary (founded in 1693), which is considered one of the best small public universities in the United States.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Tee Off at the “Seaside Golf Capital of the World” – From its humble beginnings, Myrtle Beach has evolved into one of the top vacation destinations on the East Coast – with more than 50,000 guestrooms available, from modest cottages to all-inclusive oceanfront resorts, and approximately 1,800 restaurants, many of which specialize in fresh seafood and Lowcountry specialties. A golfer’s paradise, the Myrtle Beach area offers more than 120 championship courses designed on former rice plantations by some of the world’s top course designers, including Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer. Myrtle Beach also features miles of white sandy beaches, lively amusement parks, race tracks, water parks, fishing piers, boat charters, nightclubs, miniature golf courses, old plantation gardens, historic homes, outdoor recreation and massive shopping, dining and entertainment complexes such as Barefoot Landing and Broadway at the Beach.

Miami Beach, Florida: Relax on White-Sand Beaches in a Tropical Paradise – A world-class vacation destination, Miami Beach encompasses 12 miles of endless recreational and entertainment opportunities that include sunbathing, swimming, sightseeing, boating, fishing, golfing, tennis, world-class dining, shopping and nonstop nightlife. If you’re seeking excitement, head to South Beach, the Southernmost 3-mile stretch of Miami Beach, which offers a wealth of specialty shops, trendy restaurants and cafes, many of which can be found along bustling Ocean Drive. Tour the Art Deco Historic District with its vibrant colors and uniquely stylized architecture. Other Miami Beach attractions include the pedestrian-friendly Lincoln Road Mall, Art Center of South Florida, Jackie Gleason Theater of Performing Arts, Holocaust Memorial, Bass Museum of Art, Bal Harbour Shops and Espanola Way shopping district.

“Each of the popular vacation destinations above makes for the perfect summer vacation destination,” said Kyle Collins, Director of Interactive Marketing for HotelsCorp.com. “And by purchasing discount vacation packages, hotels and attraction tickets online, you and you family can enjoy substantial savings on your summer getaway.”

New England’s vivid autumn colours, dramatic rocky coastline, majestic mountains, delicious seafood, and friendly people attract millions of visitors to the region every year. These six New England states, nestled in the scenic northeast of the US, are perfect for touring, especially from May to October. Since winters are very cold and snowy, plan your drive in the warmer months, when the roads are safe and the scenery is at its best. Many travellers plan their drives in October, when the autumn foliage is spectacular.

This driving tour of New England takes in many of the regional highlights. It will take you about two weeks and the total distance is around 800 miles.

Boston Before you start your drive, give yourself a day or two to have a look around Boston. If you enjoy walking, you can follow the ‘Freedom Trail’ for a look at some of the city’s historical sights, have a coffee at Quincy Market, then finish up with a stroll on Boston Common. Keen shoppers can head for the upmarket shops on Newbury Street and the rest can take a ‘Duck Tour’ of the city, on land and river. Consider staying at the friendly Copley Square Hotel, located near Boston’s top attractions.

Coastal New England Get up early and head north along the North Shore, through coastal New Hampshire and on up to Kennebunkport, Maine (85 miles). Just before Kennebunkport, in the town of Kittery, there are 120 outlet shops, filled with great bargains over a one-mile stretch. Plan to stay for one or two nights in Kennebunkport, where you can go whale watching, deep-sea fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and take a lobster boat tour. The Nonantum Resort, right on the river, is a great place to stay. The dining room menu includes delicious steamed lobster and fresh fried oysters and clams.

The White Mountains The next day’s drive takes you to the picturesque White Mountains, in the state of New Hampshire (116 miles). Along the way, you’ll go through North Conway, where you can take an 11-mile trip through the mountains on the Conway Scenic Railroad or you can head for Mount Washington, for a strenuous hike to the top of the state’s highest peak. Plan to stay for a couple of nights. The Rivergreen Resort, on the banks of the Pemigewassett River, in nearby Lincoln has plenty of family activities year round.

The Green Mountains On or about day five, your 145-mile journey takes you to the Green Mountains, in the state of Vermont. Consider staying at Stowe for two nights, and do the half-day canoe trip on the Mad River or you can explore the scenic Stowe Recreation Path by bike. Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Plant, in nearby Waterbury, offers tours and free samples of ice cream. ‘Sound of Music’ fans should stay at the Austria-themed Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe.

The Berkshires Now head south toward the Berkshire Hills, where you’ll find many art museums and galleries, and in summer, several summer theatre festivals. Stop to have a coffee in the classic New England village of Woodstock and, further down the road, visit the Quechee Gorge, a spectacular river gorge a mile long and 165 feet deep. Plan to stay for a night or two at Williamstown, just over the border in Massachusetts. A perfect place to stay is the Williams Inn.

Newport Your classic New England drive now takes you south through the Berkshires and on to Newport, Rhode Island (186 miles). Plan to stay a couple of days, to browse through the city’s trendy boutiques, art and antique galleries, and to marvel at the luxurious yachts moored in the Newport marina. The Best Western Mainstay, situated right in the heart of Newport, is comfortable and affordable.

Cape Cod The last stop on your journey is beautiful Cape Cod, just 82 miles east of Newport. Here you can cycle, walk, browse the shops and galleries, and relax on the beautiful beaches. Excursions to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket, inhabited islands to the south, are very popular. Consider staying for a couple of nights at the Cape Codder Resort and Spa. Leave plenty of time for the last 72 miles back to Boston – indulge yourself in one last delicious seafood lunch along the way, to top off a fantastic trip.

Jefferson City was chosen as Missouris state capital in 1821 and was named after Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States of America. Jefferson City is nestled in the Ozarks on the banks of the Missouri River and is near the geographical center of the state. The city is located along Hwy 54, Hwy 50 and Hwy 63, is 30 miles south of Columbia, Missouri and almost centered between Missouris major cities of St. Louis and Kansas City. The City of Jefferson had a total of 39,636 residents, as of 2000 and the median age was 36 years.

Jefferson City has a deep historical background and illustrates a romantic atmosphere with many buildings dating back to the 1800s. The Lohman building was built in the late 1830s and is believed to be the oldest structure in the city. This three-story limestone treasure now exhibits transportation of the nineteenth century. Other historical attractions include the Missouri State Governors Mansion, the Carnahan Memorial Garden which was renamed in 2001 after the death of Governor Mel Carnahan, the Cole County Historical Museum and the Missouri Supreme Court Building. The city also embraces a long list of historical homes such as the Schmidt Apartments, Ivy Terrace, Towles-Buckner House, Oscar Birch House, Villa Panorama, Cole County Historical Society, Wendielin Buehrle House, Dix House, Upshulte House, Hugh Stevens House, Orchard Acres, Jefferson Female Seminary, Schroeder House, Oberman House, Parsons House and Sinclair-Hagner House that each add to the richness and ambiance found there.

Perhaps the most sought after attraction in Missouri is the Missouri State Capitol Building. The Capitols dome rises 238 feet about ground level and is perched on the bluffs of the Missouri River. The building creates a picturesque view of the city for travelers arriving from the north. Completed in 1918, the Capitol offers exhibits and tours that give a superb historical education of the State of Missouri as well as the building itself. Other museums and attractions in the city include the Missouri Veterans Memorial, Cole County Historical Museum, Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial, Missouri Veterinary Museum, Museum of Missouri Military History and Missouri River Regional Library.

Jefferson City sits on some of Missouris most beautiful terrain and offers an outdoor retreat with various parks and golf courses. Eagle Knoll golf course is ranked as the third best value in the nation and challenges all levels of play. Oak Hills Golf Center, Railwood Golf Course, Turkey Creek Golf Center and Redfield Golf Course are favorite places for visitors and residents alike. The City of Jefferson has numerous parks including Binder Park, Joseph C. Miller Park, Ellis Porter/ Riverside Park, McClung Park, McKay Park, Memorial Park and Family Aquatic Center, Miller Street Park, Washington Park and Cole County Park. Most notable is the citys portion of the famous Katy Trail.

Classic entertainment for the whole family can be found at the Marvic Skate Center, The Washington Park Skate Park, Washington Park Ice Arena, West Gate Lanes, Capital 4 Theatres and Capital 8 Theatres. The city also has a shooting range at the United Sportsman Club. City night life can be enjoyed at several night clubs such as Mikes Corner Pocket, Bones, Pitchers, College Club, Spectators and the Budweiser Inn Bar & Lounge.

The City of Jefferson appreciates fine art and is home to the Miller Performing Arts Center, Jefferson City Community Concert Association, Jefferson City Symphony, Little Theatre, Capital City Players and Stained Glass Theatre.

The Jefferson City Public School District operates Jefferson City High School. There is also a private school, Helias. Lincoln University is also a landmark institution and in 2004 was ranked fifth in diversity for graduates and seventh for having the most international students.

The shopping experience in Jefferson City ranges from quaint Mom and Pop specialty shops to chain stores as well as the Capital Mall. Downtown Jefferson City, on High Street, has been a focal point of the city for over 150 years and yet the city is continuously expanding to offer more to its residents and visitors.

Wildwood Crossing offers familiar stores such as Pier 1 Imports, Old Navy, MC Sports, Goodys, Petco, TJ Maxx, Shoe Carnival, Barnes and Noble, Cingular Wireless and more. Chain stores such as Best Buy , Lowes and Wal-Mart are also along Missouri Boulevard. The Capital Mall holds major department stores such as JCPenney, Sears and Dillards as well as stores like Victorias Secret, Bath & Body Works, Buckle, Tuesday Morning, Payless Shoe Source, American Eagle Outfitters, Christopher & Banks, Claires Boutique, Deb, Dollar Tree, EB Games, Foot Locker, Hot Topic, JoAnn Fabrics, Kay Jewelers, KB Toys, Maurices, Radio Shack, Rex TV & Appliance Center, Shoe Department, Things Remembered, Trade Secret, Zales and more.

Dining in Jefferson City ranges from fast food to fine dining and caters to every occasion. With restaurants like Madisons Caf?Arris Pizza Palace, Michaels Unforgetable BBQ, McDonalds, Roly Poly, Paddy Malones Pub, Capital City Steak House, Pizza Hut, Sonic, Subway, ODonoghues, Coltons Steakhouse, Applebees, Ruby Tuesdays, Dairy Queen, Fazolis, Taco Bell, El Jimador, China Garden, High Street Pub, Zesto Drive-In, Kate & Allys, Old Brick House Deli, Lees Famous Recipe Chicken, Alexandros and more, choosing just one place at a time will be the hardest part.

The City of Jefferson is a gracious host to travelers looking for the charm of a small town with the amenities of a city. It honors a rich past and embraces a prosperous future.

Malik Tariq Mahmood
MPhil Mass Communication
PGD (English Language)
Allama Iqbal Open University
Islamabad

ABSTRACT

It has to be remembered that it was not only Jinnah’s superb political strategy that eclipsed his Muslim opponents but, thirteen years before the birth of Pakistan, the realization dawned on the Muslim masses that Jinnah and Jinnah alone could lead them. The voice of one hundred million Muslims, fought for their religious, social and economic freedom. Throughout history no single man yielded as much power as the Jinnah, and yet remained uncorrupted by that power. Not many men in history can boast of creating a nation single handley and altering the map of the world but Jinnah did so and thus become a legend. Every person in this world has a hero. People have heroes because they really admire that person and they really look up to that person. They want to do what they have done and they have achieved in their life. Like every person, I also have a hero, and that is Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Leadership is a comprehensive term. It denotes the character, the capacity and the will of the person chosen to lead others. Generally speaking an ideal leader is one who, throughout his life, practices what he preaches. There is no incompatibility between his words and deeds.

Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s achievement as the founder of Pakistan, dominates everything else he did in his long and crowded public life spanning some 42 years. Yet, by any standard, his was an eventful life, his personality multidimensional and his achievements in other fields were many, if not equally great. Indeed, several were the roles he had played with distinction: at one time or another, he was one of the greatest legal luminaries India had produced during the first half of the century, an `ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity, a great constitutionalist, a distinguished parliamentarian, a top-notch politician, an indefatigable freedom-fighter, a dynamic Muslim leader, a political strategist and, above all one of the great nation-builders of modern times. What, however, makes him so remarkable is the fact that while similar other leaders assumed the leadership of traditionally well-defined nations and espoused their cause, or led them to freedom, he created a nation out of an inchoate and down-trodden minority and established a cultural and national home for it, and all that within a decease. For over three decades before the successful culmination in 1947, of the Muslim struggle for freedom in the South-Asian subcontinent, Jinnah had provided political leadership to the Indian Muslims: initially as one of the leaders, but later, since 1947, as the only prominent leader- the Quaid-i-Azam.

But by far the greatest contributor in his heroic war of creating moon land for the Indian Muslim was the Quaid-i-Azam. Professor Stanley Waldport, evaluating his idealistic personality and the phonemically contribution of the Quaid in this context says;

“Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation state. Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three”.

He set a standard of character and moral conduct which is different from the one which, in popular view, usually goes to constitute greatness. He battled against the proud and the haughty, against those who sought to tyrannise over the weak and the oppressed and he humbled their pride. But to the common man who sought light and guidance, to the silent un-assuming workers he was the soul of courtesy and kindness. He is the father of our nation, the founder of our beloved land, demonstrated practically the true philosophy of practical politics, which only a few have done in history. His words and work go hand in hand. His golden words1 are:

“We are a nation with our own distinctive culture and civilization, language and literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of values and proportion, legal laws and moral codes, customs and calendar, history and traditions, aptitudes and ambitions, in short, we have our own distinctive outlook on life and of life. By all canons of International law we are a nation”.

Let us make an appraisal of Quaid-i-Azam as an ideal leader. In his own words the concept of an ideal person is illustrated as “character, courage, industry, and perseverance are the four pillars on which edifice of life is built; failure is a word unknown to me”. He translated each word of his own into a reality in the form of his practical life, both private and public. Here we shall look at his public life or at him as a political leader.

The leader addressed to lower the final curtain on any prospects for a single united independent India. Those who understood him enough know that once his mind was made up he never reverted to any earlier position realized how momentous a pronouncement their Quaid-i-Azam had just made. The rest of the world would take at least seven years to appreciate that he literally meant every word that he had uttered that important afternoon in March. There was no turning back. The ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity had totally transformed himself into Pakistan’s great leader. All that remained was for his party first, then his inchoate nation, and then his British allies to agree to the formula he had resolved upon. He maintained Democratic systems based on the concept of a homogeneous nation such as England are very definitely not applicable to heterogeneous countries such as India. He called the Hindus and the Muslims are “two different nations” with different religions and different social codes. It is obvious that by calling the Hindus and the Muslims two nations, Jinnah had reached the threshold of partition, but he was still reluctant to abandon his lifelong dream that Hindus and the Muslims would come to an understanding and in unison make “their common motherland” one of the great countries of the world.

Mr. Jinnah always had his hand on the pulse of his people and could feel the vibrations of their hearts. He knew how to express the stirrings of their minds in the form of concrete propositions. His faith in his people was unflagging and it was proved true. Mr. Montagu (1879 – 1924), Secretary of State for India, at the close of the First World War, says:

“Mr. Jinnah “perfect mannered, impressive-looking, armed to the teeth with dialectics ….. “Jinnah, he felt, “is a very clever men, and it is, of course, an outrage that such a man should have not change of running the affairs of his own country”.

For about three decades since his entry into politics in 1906, Jinnah passionately believed in and assiduously worked for Hindu-Muslim unity. Gokhale, the foremost Hindu leader before Gandhi, had once said of him, “He has the true stuff in him and that freedom from all sectarian prejudice which will make him the best ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity: And, to be sure, he did become the architect of Hindu-Muslim Unity: he was responsible for the Congress-League Pact of 1916, known popularly as Lucknow Pact- the only pact ever signed between the two political organisations, the Congress and the All-India Muslim League, representing, as they did, the two major communities in the subcontinent.”

To him, character is the first pillar of the edifice of life. The soul and substance of a character is honesty. To form an idea of the character of a person is types: moral and intellectual. Moral honesty is concerned with avoidance of material gains by unfair means. Intellectual honesty pertains to such devotion to an impersonal cause as to completely transcend self. Mr. Jinnah was an embodiment of honesty both morally and intellectually. His moral honesty is to much establish that even his most staunch opponents admitted him as an upright and incorruptible person. Throughout his life he remained hones to his nation and sincere to his cause. On various occasions he was tempted to accept the most prestigious posts but he, looking through the evil designs of the offer-makers.

Intellectually he was so exclusively committed to his cause that he sacrificed all his private and personal interests. His mind was always occupied with the idea of Pakistan. His thoughts were lucid and clear about it. Whatever he said was supplemented by a comprehensive rational argument. Indeed, he always stood on high pedestal of moral and intellectual honesty. Mr. Jinnah devoted himself with singleness of purpose of organizing the Muslims on one platform. He embarked upon country-wide tours. He pleaded with provincial Muslim leaders to sink their differences and make common cause with the League. He exhorted the Muslim masses to organize themselves and join the League. He gave coherence and direction to Muslim sentiments on the Government of India Act, 1935.

As a result of Jinnah’s ceaseless efforts, the Muslims awakened from what Professor Baker calls (their) “unreflective silence” (in which they had so complacently basked for long decades), and to “the spiritual essence of nationality” that had existed among them for a pretty long time. Roused by the impact of successive Congress hammerings, the Muslims, as Ambedkar (principal author of independent India’s Constitution) says, “searched their social consciousness in a desperate attempt to find coherent and meaningful articulation to their cherished yearnings. To their great relief, they discovered that their sentiments of nationality had flamed into nationalism”. In addition, not only had they developed” the will to live as a “nation”, had also endowed them with a territory which they could occupy and make a State as well as a cultural home for the newly discovered nation.

The Leader was an embodiment of courage. We are greatly accustomed to praise physical courage. “But Courage”, says great philosopher, “in fighting is by no means the only form, nor perhaps even the most important. There is courage in facing poverty, courage in facing decision, courage in facing the hostility. And above all there is courage to think calmly and rationally in the face of danger and to control the impulse of panic fear or panic rage.” The Leader had utmost courage of conviction. He displayed fearless courage as a lawyer as well as a leader. His life, in this respect, is exemplary. He was mocked and ridiculed by some of his contemporaries. He bore it patiently. He faced fierce hostility from the Congress and the British Government. He showed matchless courage while talking to the last viceroy of British India, during the days when establishment of Pakistan was being finalised.

He was never ruffled. At every moment he remained calm and composed because he had courage of conviction and firm faith in the truthfulness of his stand. We maintain and hold that Muslims and Hindus are two major nations by any definition or test of a nation. We are a nation of a hundred million, and, what is more, we are a nation with our own distinctive culture and civilization, language and literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of value and proportion, legal laws and moral codes, customs and calendar, history and traditions, aptitudes and ambitions. In short, we have our own distinctive outlook on life. By all canons of international law we are a nation, he said:

“We are a nation”, they claimed in the ever eloquent words of the Quaid-i-Azam- “We are a nation with our own distinctive culture and civilization, language and literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of values and proportion, legal laws and moral code, customs and calendar, history and tradition, aptitudes and ambitions; in short, we have our own distinctive outlook on life and of life. By all canons of international law, we are a nation”.

The Leader: As Lawyer
The Leader having qualified as a barrister in England and having made his mark in India, Jinnah’s name could be justly added to the ‘list of great lawyers’ academically linked to Lincoln’s Inn. Jinnah practiced both law and politics for half a century; he made a fortune as an advocate and earned glory and gratitude of prosperity as leader of the Indian Muslims. When Jinnah left the shores of free England and voyaged to subject India in 1896, he had perhaps no idea that, one day, he would be obliged by the erstwhile Hindu leaders to make history and his biggest brief would be to win the case of the Indian Muslims for a separate homeland.

The Leader was an extremely industrious person. He worked hard day and night as a student, as a lawyer and as a leader. He did not waste even a single moment. His punctuality was proverbial. To him time seemed a stuff life is made of. It is well known that he worked still very late at night when leaders of other political parties enjoyed sound sleep. “Work, work and work” was his motto. Even in old age he continued working for more than sixteen hours a day. This diligent labour was sure to affect his health. But he did not give up working even though his health was failing. During the last days of his life, his doctors advised him to take rest but he responded that he could not accept that piece f advice as he had still to do a lot of work. He worked to the final breath of his life.

Perseverance is a quality by which a person become resolute, inspite of hardships Quaid-i-Azam possessed this quality. Throughout his life he pursued his object persistently. He faced various difficulties in his life. He suffered family problems as a student. He faced hurdles as a lawyer. He endured the sufferings of ailment and subsequently, the death of his beloved wife. He faces blames hurled upon him by his opponents. But he stood fast like a rock in the face of raging and furious waves of dangers and difficulties in the ocean of the world. It is by his perseverance that he emerged safe and sound and ultimately carried his boat to the shore of success.

Quaid-i-Azam had no such word as failure in his dictionary. He won Pakistan by virtue of his great, moral and intellectual qualities. He was really a great man. The title of the Quaid-i-Azam conferred upon him by his nation was in fact won by him. He deserved it justifiably. He was such an ideal political leader that no match of his can be found in the history of the Muslims of India in the twentieth century.

The Delhi Station of All India Radio was agog with excitement. Mountbatten was there to announce, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, what Churchill in his inimitable style had termed, a few years back as the impending liquidation of the British Empire in India. Mountbatten spoke with poise and dignity, and millions that heard him all over India, realized that the end of a long drawn-out struggle for independence was in sight, as he declared in unequivocal terms that power would be definitely transferred by the British to two successive sovereign States. The Viceroy concluded his broadcast with the words:

“I have faith in the future of India and I am proud to be with you all at this momentous time. May your decisions be wisely guided and may they be carried out in the peaceful and friendly spirit of the Gandhi-Jinnah appeal.”

Quaid-i-Azam announcing on the All-India Radio Delhi
At Pakistan would come into being August, 1947

The great Leader addressed the Muslim Nation, and then he was the Quaid-i-Azam. His first sentence on that historic occasion was:

“I am glad that I am offered an opportunity to speak to you directly through this Radio from Delhi.”

A man such as Jinnah, who had fought for the inherent rights of his people all through his life and who had taken up the somewhat unconventional and the largely misinterpreted cause of Pakistan, was bound to generate violent opposition and excite implacable hostility and was likely to be largely misunderstood. But what is most remarkable about Jinnah is that he was the recipient of some of the greatest tributes paid to any one in modern times, some of them even from those who held a diametrically opposed viewpoint.

The Aga Khan considered him “the greatest man he ever met”, he said on his death in 1948, “was great as a lawyer, once great as a Congressman, great as a leader of Muslims, great as a world politician and diplomat, and greatest of all as a man of action, By Mr. Jinnah’s passing away, the world has lost one of the greatest statesmen and Pakistan its life-giver, philosopher and guide”. Such was Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the man and his mission, such the range of his accomplishments and achievements.

Regarding the Plan for the transfer of power to the peoples of India, he said: had to take momentous decisions and handle grave issues. Therefore we must galvanize and concentrate all our energy to see that the transfer of power is affected in a peaceful and orderly manner. In this, his finest hour, he was meek and humble, “I pray to God that at this critical moment that He may guide us and enable us to discharge our responsibilities in a wise and statesmanlike manner. He did not forget to pay his tribute to those that had suffered and sacrificed in the struggle for Pakistan. “I cannot help but express my appreciation of the sufferings and sacrifices made by all classes of Muslims”. He gave wholehearted credit for “the great part the women of the Frontier played in the fight for our civil liberties.” He did not forget those who had died or suffered in the struggle for Pakistan, “I deeply sympathize with all those who have suffered and those who died or whose properties were subjected to destruction”.

Quaid-i-Azam ended his memorable speech by saying, extemporaneously, “Pakistan Zindabad”

The Leader addressed to the Assembly on 11th August, 1947 then he was the Governor General of Pakistan and also called “Quaid-i-Azam”. He said that the first duty of a government was to maintain law and order so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected. If Pakistanis wanted to make their country happy and prosperous they should “wholly and solely concentrate on the well being of the people, and especially of the masses and the poor.” In that historical address he remarked further: “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the State. We are starting in the days when there is no discrimination between one caste or creed or another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State. My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to Pakistan becoming one of the greatest Nations of the world.”

The lessons he taught his countrymen were worth remembering for the life time, especially the lesson of equality. Always a worker for Hindu Muslim unity, he served a political apprenticeship in the Congress. He said: “Whatever you may be, and whatever you are, you are a Muslim, you have carved out a territory, a vast territory, and it is all yours. It does not belong to a Punjabi or a Sindhi or a Pathan. There is white too in the lovely flag of Pakistan. The white signifies the non- Muslim minorities.” An upright man who always kept his word, he thought well before he spoke. If he made a promise he made sure he kept his word. In his last days when he was suffering from extreme illness, he went to the meetings and dinners he was invited to and made it to the inauguration of the State Bank of Pakistan because he had promised he would be there. He advised, “if ever you make a promise, think a hundred times, but once you make a promise, honor your promise.”

After the creation of Pakistan the leader said, “Our destination was not only the formation of Pakistan, our real target is a strong prosperous and stable Pakistan”. Quaid-i-Azam accepted the challenge and led the nation successfully out of despair and put them on the path of prosperity and progress. He kept up the morale of the masses high until the last moment of his life. His message, “Unity, Faith and Discipline” can play a key role in the prosperity of Pakistan. During his short period he fully devoted himself to the momentous task of consolidating and strengthening the newly born Pakistan. He was not a cold or dry man as some people mistakenly call him. In fact he was a composed man. He had calm of mind and warmth of heart. He was a man of well dressed man of Asia became the most well respected leader – the Quaid-i-Azam of the sub-continent. Yet Jinnah was more than Quaid-i-Azam for the people who followed him and more than the architect of the Islamic nation he called into being. He commanded their imagination and their confidence.

He was not bogged down by the daunting task of creating a home for Muslims in which they would be able to live in the glory of Islam. Most people also admired him and one even said, “Gandhi died by the hands of an assassin; Jinnah died by his devotion to Pakistan”. That’s why I really admire him. He is like a hero to everyone in my country. His vision is high and untrammeled by momentary vicissitudes, his speech charming and invigorating, his soul saturated with the deepest pathos. Verily it was of such a leader that the great poet said:

This is because of what he did for our country and for the Muslims. He fought so much for us and he did so much for us that no one can ever forget. You always hear about Gandhi and how he did so much for India, but you never hear about Quaid-i-Azam who did everything to get us at the point that we are right now. He is a great freedom hero for me. So, the author called without any habituation that he was really “a great and an ideal leader”. May Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in peace. (Amen)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Ahmed, Riaz Dr. (1989): “Quaid-i-Azam’s Role in South Asia”, Alvi Publisher, M – 1855, Murree Road, Rawalpindi
2. Ahmed Jamil-ud-Din (1960): “Glimpses of Quaid-i-Azam”, Royal Book Company, Rehman Centre, Zaibunisa Street, P.O. Box 7733, Saddar, Karachi-3.
3. Ahmad Riaz Dr. (1999): “Pakistani Scholars on Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah”, Published by Chair on Quaid-i-Azam & Freedom Movement National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
4. A news journal of “Postgraduate College for Women”, (2000-01)
5. Dani, Ahmad Hasan (1981): “Quaid-i-Azam and Pakistan”, Barq Sons Printers, Islamabad
6. Ispahani, M. A. H. (1976): “Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah, As I Knew Him” 3rd edition, Elite Publishers (Private) Ltd., Karachi.
7. Internet
8. Khairi, Saad R. (1990): “Jinnah Reinterpreted”, Oxford University Press, Walton Street, Oxford OX2 6DP Oxford New York
9. Kazi Shahida (2001): “Pakistan Studies in Focus”, FEP International Pakistan Ltd
10. Newspapers (The Dawn, and The Nation)
11. Stanley Wolpert gives an interview to the American Press on 1942
12. Suleri, Z. A. (1982): “My Leader” (New Edition), The Pakistan Times Press, Lahore
13. Ibid

Overview

The Journal “Travel + Leisure” and the CNN TV group have published a list of the USA cities that are recommended for tourist visiting. The ratings based on the analysis were conducted amongst more than 60 thousands of people who could opt among 25 biggest nationwide mega polices. Cities were estimated according to five major categories: “People”, “Culture”, “Shopping”, “Meals”, and “City Scenery”.

According to the analysis, the most well liked tourist cities are New Orleans, New York, Portland (the state of Oregon) and Charleston (South Carolina). New Orleans is appreciated for its nightlife and music, New York for its theatres, classical music, restaurants, boutiques, and stylish local citizens. Portland is considered the ecological city, besides; the class of its public transport, parks, etc attracts tourists. The most harmonious people live in Charleston. Besides, it is famous by its interesting architecture, remarkable curiosity shops, ‘flea markets”, etc.

In the category of “people”, the cities are arranged to the subsequent ways. The most athletic people live in Denver, San-Diego, and Portland. The most attractive – in Miami, San-Diego, and Charleston. The major diverse populace lives in New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans.

Charleston, New Orleans, and Minneapolis have the most cheerful citizens. The most joyful lives are lead by New Orleans, Austin, and Honolulu. The most intellectual people live in Seattle, Minneapolis, and Boston. The citizens of New York, Miami, and San Francisco are considered trendsetters. The citizens of Washington, San Francisco, and New York lead the fullest lives.

Russian Tea Room, New York

Expect excessive extravagance when you visit this famed Midtown hot spot. The four-level Russian restaurant has become more glamorous since a magnificent makeover. Originally opened in 1927, it has always attracted a loyal following …

• Beppe, New York

• B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, New York

• Pebbles Restaurant, Orlando

Waldorf Towers, a Conrad Hotel, New York

As elegant as the Waldorf-Astoria hotel is the separate tower that rises above it is arguably even more impressive like Waldorf Towers….

• The Waldorf=Astoria, New York

• Embassy Suites, Fort Lauderdale

• Three Chimneys Inn, New Haven

• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Orlando

AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX, New York

A posh, eight-story IMAX theatre is the centerpiece of this Upper West Side multiplex cinema. The IMAX theatre offers several different films, both 3D and not. IMAX movies are usually around 40 minutes long. Some more New York Attractions are …

• Greenwich Village, New York

• Flagstaff Mountain, Boulder

• Celestial Seasonings, Boulder

• Grand Palace Theater, Branson

I give you information about some famous places for visiting in New York for Holidays in this summer and promise that if your try it out you will make your vacation memorable. I will suggest you few cheap and best travel fare deals websites, which I found while searching on Google. These are Airtkt.com, Cheapfareguru.com, Erostours.com, and Latinfare.com, for providing you cheap and best fare.

Happy Traveling

THE GOLDEN AGE OF LONDON

The Tudor and Stuart monarchs presided over a cultural renaissance, but it was fire that changed the face of London forever.

The much married and celebrated divorce of Henry VIII (1491-1547) almost qualifies as the “father” of modern London, though the changes he brought about were the accidental outcome of a bid for personal freedom from the power of the Church.

In 1536, after the Pope had refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so that he could marry Anne Boleyn, Henry decided to cut all ties with Roman Catholicism. He pronounced himself head of the Church of England, persuading Parliament to authorize the dissolution of the monasteries.

Their property and revenues were granted to the Crown, and Henry either gave them to close supporters or sold them. Cardinal Wolsey’s house was added to an expanding palace in Whitehall. Hyde Park and St James’s were enclosed as deer parks.

When foreign visitors commented on the depressing ruins of the churches and monasteries, the areas were redeveloped. The City took on the church’s humanitarian work, buying St Thomas’s to care for the sick and elderly, Greyfriars for orphans, Bridewell for criminals and beggars, and Bethlehem (which later became corrupted to “Bedlam”) to house lunatics.

Convent (now Covent) Garden and Clerkenwell, Stepney and Shoreditch, Kennington and Lambeth all expanded, taking London’s population from 50,000 in 1500 to 200,000 by the end of the century. Today, little survives of Tudor London’s typically wood-framed houses with their oversailing upper storeys. A fair idea of the character of the old street scene however, was preserved in the Old Curiosity Shop at 13 Portsmouth Street, near Lincoln’s Inn. A lasting monument to the era is Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace, southwest of London.

Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth I, whose mother, Anne Boleyn, had been beheaded for supposed adultery, came to the throne in 1558. She was truly London’s queen and the “Golden Age” began, not only in a commercial sense, but also in education and the arts. She presided over the English Renaissance and her court was enlivened by music and dance.

William Shakespeare, a Londoner by adoption, was far from adulated by the authorities. When the Lord Mayor banned theatrical performances from London, Shakespeare and his fellow playwright Ben Jonson moved outside his jurisdiction to new sites on the south bank of the Thames, an area notorious for bear pits, brothels and prisons.

Being childless, the “Virgin Queen” Elizabeth chose James VI of Scotland to succeed her as James I of England, thus launching the Stuart dynasty. Religious conflict continued, and a Catholic faction attempted to blow up Parliament in the infamous “Gunpowder Plot”. On 5 November 1605, Guy (Guido) Fawkes was caught about to ignite barrels of gunpowder in the cellars beneath the House. Fawkes was executed, but 5 November, Guy Fawkes Day, is still marked with fireworks, and his effigy is burned.

Against a background of conflict between King James and Parliament, London responded to a new influence: the Italian architecture of Palladio as seen through the work of Inigo Jones. The purity of Jones’s style is best seen in the Queen’s House at Greenwich, begun in 1613. Six years later came the Banqueting House in Whitehall, the first time Portland stone was used in London. Throwing gothic to the winds, he designed the little-known Queen’s Chapel at St James’s Palace.

His most significant contribution to the new city was his work on the old Convent Garden for the Duke of Bedford. The great Piazza he created there was the prototype for the most loved and typical feature of the city, the London square. On the east side, behind a massive portico is “the handsomest barn in England”: his St Paul’s church.

At the beginning of the 17th century, London’s rapidly expanding population began to make demands on water supplies that the city could no longer satisfy. Private, though necessarily self-interested, benefactors set up conduits in various streets and restrictions were put on brewers and fishmongers to prevent waste.

By 1600 a source of pure water was vital, and for one man, Hugh Myddleton, an obsession. A Welshman, goldsmith and banker, he conceived the idea of bringing a “New River” to London from springs near Hertford. At his own expense he started work on the man-made river in 1609 and brought it as far as Enfield before his money ran out. He turned to a former customer, James I, who became his partner with a half-share in the profits. By 1613 the New River Head in Finsbury, just north of the City, was reached.

Great tragedies lay ahead for London. In 1665 the still inadequate water supply and lack of sanitation brought the dreaded plague to the overcrowded city, and before it ran its course 100,000 inhabitants died. The Great Fire, less than a year later, came as if to cleanse the stricken city. From a baker’s shop on Pudding Lane, Eastcheap, the flames raged for five days, reaching as far west as the Temple.

Miraculously, only half a dozen people died. The disaster was chronicled by Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), an Admiralty official and the most famous diarist of his time. He watched from the attic of his house in Seething Lane near the Tower as, under the Lord Mayor’s direction, houses were pulled down to stop the fire spreading. Most people busied themselves removing their belongings to the stone churches or to boats on the river.

Pepys dug a pit in his garden to save his wine and “parmazan” cheese. He saw “St Paul’s church with all the roof fallen”, and watched the fire crossing the Bridge to Southwark. After the fire, 13,000 houses and 87 parish churches lay in ruins, but rebuilding was immediately planned.

Christopher Wren, Surveyor General to the Crown, returned from Paris, his mind filled with new ideas. London, too, he thought, should have rond-points, vistas and streets laid out in a grid pattern. But people wanted homes quickly and traders wanted to carry on their businesses, so Wren’s best ideas were never realised. Expediency dictated that the new should rise on the sites of the old, with one prudent difference: new buildings were made of brick, not wood. Wren turned his inventive powers to rebuilding 50 of the City’s damaged churches. His achievements lie in the individuality of their soaring towers and steeples which rise above the rooftops.

In 1675 work began on his masterpiece, a new St. Paul’s Cathedral. People sensed that St Paul’s had a symbolic importance to the City which Samuel Pepys movingly described in his diary. There is a story that, when Wren asked a workman to fetch him a stone in order to mark the precise centre of the cleared site, the man brought a fragment of an old tombstone. On it was inscribed the single word Resurgam, “I will arise again”.

 

LORD WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE

Scientific advancement has brought many benefits for the mankind but along with it also brought us to the edge of doom. Despite the premium which man places upon his discoveries and inventions, ideas and ideals, rationale and skill, he has not been able to touch even the fringe of wisdom. his inventions and discoveries have landed him in such a situation as has endangered his existence, shaken the foundations of the citadel of knowledge which he has been beautifying since ages. some ideals are worshipped for a decade or so and then they either pass into oblivion are defaced beyond recognition. his rational approach has made him a cold calculating machine, with a human touch about it. his skill has perverted his ends; it is used in destroying and gaining mastery over others. can we still say that man is wise? wisdom does not lie in knowing all or in knowing all or in knowing well, it lies in using knowledge well. A scientist who makes weapons of destruction, a writer who instigates people to revolt, a politician who pushes the world to pre decided recipies and a scholar who corrupts thinking can’t be wise. Like fools they mostly consider their predecessors unwise, they pride over their achievements and triumphs though they profess to be better equipped, in terms of knowledge and experience, yet find themselves like rats in a blind alley. Their vision is not limited only by space and time but also by their incapacity to extend it extend it into the misty future.

So his wisest thoughts loose their relevance as the value of life undergoes a change. Follies of the past seem to make man wiser but the wisdom of today may prove to be a folly of tomorrow. Modern man thinks that he is much advanced politically also; rights of the common man has been upheld against the rights of the administrators and the man is considered to be his own ruler. They say that they have the right to speak, right to think and right to live and the governments are convenient devices to administer themselves.

Democracy has taken us a long way from kingship and dictatorship-it is the history of an arduous struggle of man to enjoy freedom. Modern democratic government is of the people, for the people and by the people as A. Lincoln has said-it stays till the people want and act as the people wish to act. This is ,some may say, the sweetest fruit of wisdom, the best product of accumulated wisdom of ages. Pope, the poet of the 18th century, brings out the foolishness of this wisdom when he says : ‘”For forms of government let fools contest, whichever administered best is best”. Thus the transition from kingship to democracy and then from democracy to kingship is natural. The son of a king, who is enthroned after his death, often proves to be unworthy of his office. It gives an opportunity to the courtiers to capture power. They lead a luxurious life and go on imposing taxes to raise funds. The process brings a breaking point and the people revolt and install a popular leader as the head of the government. This is the birth of the democracy. It is a government by the inexperienced and incompetent persons. Consequently in efficiency, corruption, favoritism and nepotism are rampant. An extremely clever and competent person takes advantage of the situation and gives an efficient administration with one man at the helm of all affairs. Dictatorship is born. If the dictator happens to be efficient. people would like his son to take the office. Thus it is the cycle of different governments, which completes its round. How can we say that democracy is the product of the saner self of man? Moreover in democracy people enjoy freedom in name only ; freedom of thought is snatched by stuffing the mind with ready made opinions through press and propaganda. People are fed with distorted information and an attempt is made to blur their vision. Can such people enjoy any freedom of speech? The democratic government moulds their opinions to suit its purpose till they believe that government is responding to public opinion. People in power buy votes, intimidate the electorate, make false promises and get elected. Still a man in the street believes that he has elected their representative and that too with his or likeminded peoples support. Is it not ignorance? Is it not folly? Lord what fools these mortals be!

Scientific advancement is another feather in the cap of man. He has harnessed nature to his advantage, probed the mysteries of space and planets and has made tremendous progress in medical science. With technological progress we hoped to abolish and end hunger, poverty, disease, violence and injustice. But in our effort to do so we have created a perpetual war of nerves more poverty and hunger by reducing the purchasing power of money, more diseases by polluting the atmosphere and creating a strain, more violence by equipping us with powerful weapons of destruction, more injustice by justifying it thro’ racial and national superiority. Apart from this weapons technology has brought us to the brink of disaster : hydrogen and cobalt bombs can and perhaps will destroy the life on earth. They will wipe the world out of its existence. Can we call it wisdom? If a creature prepares for its own destruction and claims to have unparalleled triumphs should we call him wise? Similarly science claims to have made the man rational, objective and detached. But humanitarianism has gone dry, aesthetic sense come to an end; affection and love has vanished. Is it wisdom? Mad man leads the blind and we are not coming to any specific stage of progress. Wisdom do not lies in knowing the veins in the wings of a fly but in making the human veins stronger. If we reel back to the primitive ages we are fools sans reason. Since long man has been trying to unravel the mystery that surrounds God, death and soul. We are bandied like a shuttle cock from one idea to another and ultimately are led in the same wilderness from which they promise to lift us up. Many religious prescriptions has been tried but even the best stood baffled. Despite century old investigations man’s knowledge about the existence of supernatural powers is as insufficient and inaccurate as it was centuries before. Death defies logic and what happens after death is still a mystery. Man knows that he is to die as others have died and the useless parade of passions, baseless desire for fame and limitless urge for power are to be rounded up with death. Despite this realization man ignores the inevitable death. Is it wisdom? Not at all.

“Life is a tail told by an idiot full of sound and fury signifying nothing.” says Shakespeare. If there is no significance in this sound and fury, why should we indulge in it so seriously? We take pride in our success, build castles in air and on earth, subdue the enemy, accumulate money; but this pageant of life is unsubstantial and melts away soon. Still we never realize its labyrinth and happily do we demonstrate our involvement. We are so engrossed in its activities that we deliberately delude ourselves into the belief that life is not a vision or a dream. Self-delusion is perhaps the most worst form of foolishness. Earthly life may not be the terminus, it may merely an inn, a mile stone in our journey but we never take it to be so. Foolishness of the mortals has done harm to themselves and not to anyone else. Perhaps it dates back to the Adam’s folly of tasting the forbidden fruit or it originates in Satan’s resolve to challenge the authority of God by fair or foul means. Whatever may be the genesis of the foolery of man it is certain that experience has not made him wiser, otherwise history would have never repeated itself. The adage “to err is human” clearly spells out the futility of the claims of wisdom; if the steps to progress are still ‘hit and trial’ method, it is difficult to distinguish man from animals. But man, all his life strives for serenity that “sad lucidity of soul” in which he can catch up the beauty of human spirit.

 

 

                        Ethical Conduct: The Importance of High Moral Standards

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ABSTRACT

Ethical conduct should inspire a quality of behavior that exemplifies honor and dignity for oneself.  In a school district, teachers, administrators, staff, and school board members should understand the importance of ethical conduct in the educational arena.  An effective educational organization entails the need of individuals maintaining integrity and high morals.  The Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of Meaning (2007) by William Allan Kritsonis, PhD provides insight in improving ethical conduct in the educational environment.

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Introduction

     Employees of a school district should serve with honor.  Individuals should strive to help students reach their potential to be socially and responsible citizens.  School district employees should understand the importance of upholding ethical values.  The following statement by Harry Wong emphasize the significance of educators valued principles:  “Teachers are not in private practice.  We are in the helping and caring profession, a service profession to help people enhance the quality of their lives.”  The supportiveness, safety, and security of all areas are crucial in the learning environment.

 

Purpose of the Article

     The purpose of this article is to discuss ten recommendations that are important in the improvement of ethical conduct.  The Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of Meaning (2007) provides insight in improving ethical conduct in the educational environment.  Dr. William Allan Kristonis is a noted author, professor, lecturer, consultant, editor-in-chief, and publisher.  Using his expertise, he has detailed concepts in the realms of ethics.  The focus of this essay is regarding the improvement of ethical conduct for school administrators.  The administrator is responsible for providing leadership to the school community.  The recommendations that are given will enhance the character development of principals and leaders as they model behavior for the students and staff.

 

Ethical Theory

 

     The development of ethical theory dates back to Plato and Aristotle.  The word ethic has its roots in the Greek word ethos.  Ethos is the perceived degree of character or credibility that a person believes exists in another person or object (Haskins, 2000).  The amount of trust and belief one has in another will have an important impact in how persuasive one will be. 

     According to Kritsonis (2007), the value of ethical theory is in guiding teaching and learning.  In the ethical realm, emphasis should be on ethical understanding and how it may be improved.  A person who has knowledge of ethical theory is as moral as a person who lacks such knowledge.  Moral conduct pertains to one’s actions in certain situations.  To solve a problem, one should be clear of the choices for the given situation.  Kritsonis (2007) precisely states, “Before a person can know where to go, he needs to understand where he is starting from.” There must be a mission in order to fulfill a vision.  Moral decisions require a set of values to serve as a form of reference inn evaluating the consequences.

     The values and morals an individual finds appropriate are called ethics.  Ethical theory supplies rules.  These rules are guidelines used in making decisions about a particular situation.  Ethics in leadership deal with what leaders do and who they are.  How leaders respond to a given situation and the choices they make are led by ethics.  The concerns of ethical leaders are issues of justice and fairness.  One cannot be a leader without involving values.  One must be sensitive to the needs of others, care for others, and treat them in ways that are just in order to be an ethical leader.

Character Development

 

     Character education programs teach students how to be good citizens and develop aspects of decision making.  Effective character education programs affect the student’s ability to be socially and personally responsible.  Holloway (2006) identifies the fact that character education promotes core ethical values, creates a caring school community, and engages the staff as a learning community that instills morals. 

     In order for a school community to work well, the members must be aware of expectations.  The principal is significant in building trust among the community.  Principals lay the foundation for respect and personal regard.  The actions of the administrator contribute to a positive learning environment in the school.  There must be equal treatment among the different student groups.  There should be a common link for success among all groups.

     Principals must understand the importance of creating an effective learning community.  There must be an open line of communication between the principal and stakeholders.  Administrators must be available to students, teachers, and staff members throughout the day.  They must also attend school and community events.  The use of surveys is important in the correspondence to stakeholders.  Kritsonis (2007) states that in all realms, the ability to communicate intelligibly and forcefully can be coordinated with other aspects into an integrated vision and commitment.  The display of a principal’s character can inspire character development in faculty and students.

 

Integrity

 

     Integrity means that the behaviors of leaders are consistent with their stated values and that they are honest, ethical, responsible and trustworthy (Hoy and Miskel, 2005).  Integrity is to say what one means.  One must deliver what is promised, and stand for what is right.  To be ethical means to be fair.  Leaders should treat stakeholders fairly, equitably, and with dignity.  Administrators an inspire integrity by recognizing positive behaviors in teachers and students.  A principal must concur to be liable to a high standard of ethical behavior.  Leaders should lead by being an example. 

     The language of morals should be ordinary language (Kritsonis, 2007).  No special concepts are needed in expressing intended meanings.  When one states, “This action is right,” he is not meaning that it is enjoyable.  There are some leaders whom have inspired us by their sense of integrity and moral values such as Jesus, Isaiah, Confucius, and Moses.  National heroes were exemplified moral courage were Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, and Joan of Arc.  Moral philosophers that contributed to moral leadership were Socrates, St. Augustine, Immanuel Kant, and John Dewey.

             In the educational field, there have been investigations reporting negative academic integrity and faculty wrongdoing.  Faculty and student misconduct has been widespread.  There has been wrongdoing ranging from plagiarism to falsification of data.  There have also been violations of teaching norms to sexual or other harassment.  Some campuses have been investigated for breaches of regulations.  Academic integrity cannot be coerced, neither can it be taught.  For an organization to function using high moral standards there must be a leader that inspires a sense of integrity.

     Displaying a high level of integrity can also relay the message that the leader is fair and just.  The leaders treat all individuals in an equal manner.  In some cases individuals might be treated differently due to specific circumstances.  Leaders must be fair when dealing with awards and punishments. 

 

Responsibility

        The realms of esthetics are concerned with active personal commitment (Kritsonis, 2007).  Morally, one is obliged to do right, and if one fails, he feels guilty. An effective leader should be responsible.  Responsibility entails dependability, initiative, persistence, aggressiveness, self-confidence, and the desire to excel.  One must be liable for one’s own actions.  Individuals must report concerns and rule violations.

     Leaders in education have an ethical responsibility.  They must have a moral vision of what is expected of them.  Starratt (2005) identifies five domains of responsibility that are central to educational leadership.  They are as follows:

 

·        Responsibility as a human being

·        Responsibility as a citizen and public servant

·        Responsibility as an educator

·        Responsibility as an educational administrator

·        Responsibility as an educational leader

·        Responsibility as a human being

 

Trust

 

     Trust is building confidence through teamwork and open communication.  In an effective school environment there is a culture of trust.  There is mutual trust between the principal and staff, there is mutual trust between the colleagues, and there is faculty commitment to the school.

Hoy and Miskel (2005) states, “Trust is like air; no one thinks much about it until it is needed and it is not there.”  It is important to have trust in schools.  It facilitates cooperation ad promotes cohesiveness.  Trust has also been shown to improve student achievement. 

     Leaders should build a sense of trust within the environment.  Their trust is built by behavior that is considerate, supportive, and collegial.  When there is a high level of trust toward the principal, it is believed that the principal is benevolent, reliable, knowledgeable, honest, and open with the staff.  Trust can be a powerful aspect of successful leadership.

     Haskins (2000) suggests the following for improving trust through communication:

 

·        Adapt messages to listeners by being sincere and honest in presenting the information.

·        Identify strengths and weaknesses in information to demonstrate the speaker’s honesty in presenting messages.

·        Introduce sources that were used in developing the presentation.

·        Explain the soundness of analysis, arguments, and evidence that can help reinforce trust.

·        Earn trust by showing trust towards others in the educational process.  

 

     Confidentiality falls in the category of trust.  Leaders should stress the importance of confidentiality of student information.  The school must maintain accurate and comprehensive student records.  Records cannot be released without the consent of parents or guardians.  Staff members are forbidden to discuss a student’s private information.  Leaders should not only value the confidentiality of students but the importance of confidentiality of staff members as well.

     Kritsonis (2007) believes that there are certain principles, such as the duty to keep promises and to tell the truth.  Obvious differences in principle may really be the difference in application due to different circumstances.  Leaders must prove to be trustworthy to achieve a cohesive working environment. 

 

Honesty

     In the empirical realm, meanings are factual (Kritsonis, 2007).  There is a distinction between empirical meaning and ethical meanings.  If one was more clearly understood, then there would be less confusion about ethical questions.  Ethical statements are neither true nor false, but they are expressions of personal preferences.  Ethical language is used to alter feelings and behaviors.

     In the education arena, one should be truthful and honest with one another.  This includes teachers, administrators, parents, and community members.  To be a good leader, one must be honest.  When one thinks of dishonesty, one sees the significance of being honest.  Dishonesty is lying, being deceitful, and not trusted by ones peers.  When a leader is not trusted, there is no respect.  Dishonesty weakens relationships, and there is also a negative impact on the organization.  Being honest not only means being truthful, but it also means being open.  

 

Respect

     Respect means a leader listens, is empathic, and has concern for employees.  Respect from a leader show employees that they are treated as worthy individuals.  One feels respected when there beliefs, attitudes, and values are acknowledged.  The relation of one person to another is the awareness of a presence, the I-Thou meeting (Kritsonis, 2007).  Personal relationships are achieved in what presently is.  Obligation pertains to the result of what is on the basis of an ideal.

     We have a duty to treat others with respect.  Leaders who respect others are usually respected in return.  Respect is important and it should be valued.  Seldom does one think about what it means to respect an individual or what it means to be respected.  To respect someone means looking at the individual in a distinguished manner.  Self-respect leads to respecting others.  If one does not respect himself or herself, then one is likely not to respect other individuals.  Typically if there is no respect for an individual, then their views and opinions are disregarded. 

Respect cannot be learned, purchased, or acquired.  It can only be earned. 

 

 

Knowledge of Sexual Harassment

 

     Sex and family relations is an area of primary ethical interest.  Kritsonis (2007) believes that the family is the elemental social institution in which persons are born and nurtured, and it is essential that the relation between the sexes and among the members of the family be considered carefully and ordered wisely.  It is necessary to have moral codes dealing with this issue.  Leaders should not only know the policies for their particular district, but they should be strictly enforced.  The following are examples regarding sexual harassment policies in an educational organization.  

 

Sexual Harassment and Abuse

·        Students and employees should be treated honorably.

·        Sexual advances, remarks, or conduct at not permissible.

·        Employees who sexually abuse or harass students or employees will face disciplinary action.

·        Students who sexually abuse or harass employees will face disciplinary action.

 

Sexual Harassment by Employees

·        Employees who engage in any sexually oriented conversation, activities, or other sexual conduct with students or employees is considered to be committing sexual harassment of the student or employee.

·        Employees are prohibited from dating students.

 

Sexual Harassment by Students

·        Student should not engage in conduct that sexually harasses employees or other students.

·        Romantic relationships between student and employees with parental consent are discouraged.

 

 

 

Sexual Abuse of Students

·        Sexual abuse includes fondling, sexual assault, and sexual intercourse.

·        Sexual abuse by employees will result in termination and legal action.

 

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Awareness

     Leaders are not the principle source of moral guidance.  According to Kritsonis (2007), the most significant source of such influences are the laws and customs of society.  There are some standards of conduct that are taken for granted.  It is not always right to be obedient to laws or customs.  Social standards that are accepted are meant to provide guidance for conduct.

     School activities should promote healthy ideals for the students.  Employees should serve as role models for their colleagues and the students.  Drug and alcohol abusers are frequently absent, less productive, and can cause possible harm to themselves or others.  Substance abusers have a negative influence on others.

Social Relationships

 

     Kritsonis (2007) believes that every culture has its distinctive expectations and regulations about what is right and wrong in these relationships.  Matters in relationships within class, ethnic, racial, religious, and vocational groups should be valued by leaders.  Leaders should

focus on the improvement of religious concerns as well as race related issues in public school. Displaying knowledge and sensitivity to these issues will impact individuals in the educational organization.

     Principals should know the state laws regarding prayer and other religious activities in public schools.  If the laws are not implemented, there could possibly be lawsuits that would affect the school district.  Leaders should acknowledge and respect the religious beliefs of others in planning school activities.  Students and staff should not feel pressured in taking part in holiday events or programs that are not a part of their religious beliefs. 

      Leaders should also acknowledge race related issues as they arise.  Culture diversity training should be planned for staff members each year.  It is important for everyone in the organization to have knowledge of the diverse ethnic population that is a part of their environment.  Race, ethnicity, and cultural background have played a role in ethical theory. 

     Ethical leaders take into consideration the purpose of individuals involved.  There should be a common goal for the organization.  Leaders should focus on their specific individual goals as well as the goals for the organization. 

 

 

Concluding Remarks

 

     In conclusion, in a school district, teachers, administrators, staff, and school board members should understand the importance of ethical conduct in the educational arena.  An effective educational environment entails the need of individuals maintaining integrity and high morals.  Employees of a school district should serve with honor.  Individuals should strive to help students reach their potential to be socially and responsible citizens.  School district employees should understand the importance of upholding ethical values.  The supportiveness, safety, and security of all environments are crucial in the learning environment.  Leaders are the key players in improving ethical conduct in the educational organization.    Using the ten recommendations that were given in the essay:   knowledge of ethical theory, character development, integrity, responsibility, trust, honesty, respect, knowledge of sexual harassment, drug and alcohol abuse awareness, and social relationships will not only strengthen the leader, but it will create an effective learning environment.  

    

References

Estrada, A. (2006).  The crossroads:  confronting ethical dilemmas within the school setting.

     Journal of Education Policy. Retrieved October 1, 2006, from

     http://jep.csus.edu/journal2006/paper1.htm

  

Haskins, W. A.  (2000).  Ethos and pedagogical communication:  suggestions for enhancing

     credibility in the classroom.  Current Issues in Education, Retrieved October 1, 2006, from

     http://cie.ed.asu.edu/volume3/number4/index.html

Holloway, J. (2006).  Model behavior.  Principal Leadership, 6(5), 44-48.

Hoy, W. K. and Miskel, C. G. (2005).  Educational administration.   New York: 

     McGraw Hill. 

Kritsonis, W.A. (2007).  Ways of knowing through the realms of meaning.  Houston, TX:  National Forum Press.

Sherman, A.J.  (2005).  Schools for scandal.  New England Review, 26(3), 82-91.

Hotel Washington D.C. stays allows visitors to access all of the free museums, historic neighborhoods and multiple attractions. Considering that this is the city in which you will find the White House, it would hardly be worth a Hotel Washington D.C. stay without visiting The White House Visitors Center, Vietnam War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. This city is well known for its museums and a Hotel Washington D.C. stay will mean that the traveler is able to visit a museum for virtually all areas of interest, from the Holocaust museum to the Space Exploration museum.

The Jefferson Hotel Washington D.C.

This Washington D.C. Hotel houses the original documents signed by Thomas Jefferson in their lounge. It is one of the more intimate hotels in Washington D.C., and has a more residential feel to it than many of the other top hotels in this city. The building was built in 1923 and is filled with many antiques. The Washington Monument can been seen from rooms 709, 710, 809 and 810. Admittedly this is one of the more expensive hotels in Washington D.C. and a double occupancy costs from $550.

Hotel Washington D.C. On a Budget

In complete contrast to the historical Jefferson Hotel, there are many other hotels in Washington D.C. that the traveler is able to stay in that will not cost an arm and a leg. For example the Days Inn Hotel Washington DC, only costs from $53 per person, and is one of the most popular hotels in Washington D.C. The Henley Park Hotel on Massachusetts Avenue, boast Tudor architecture and is considered to be an elegant and upscale destination for travelers visiting Washington D.C.; this hotel costs as little as $67 per person per night. The Howard Johnson hotel Washington D.C. costs $57, and the list is virtually endless.

If your budget tells you that you can’t afford the $550 per night bill that you might ring up staying in the Jefferson and this puts you off from staying in hotels in Washington D.C., you still have the choice to visit the many attractions of this wonderful city.

There are so many fantastic hotels in Washington D.C. These are not even specifically considered to be budget hotels; most hotels in Washington D.C. are far smarter than their other city counterparts. However just the examples above indicates that there is great value to be found. Leisure visitors benefit from the fact that hotels in Washington D.C. do drop their rates during slow times.

Most Washington D.C. hotels are in the vicinity of important attractions, as Washington is not the huge sprawling metropolis that many other US cities are. It is not necessary to have a car in order to get around, and the nation’s capital taxi drivers are friendly and charge reasonable rates. As most hotels in Washington D.C. are close to museums and other attractions, it is important to wear comfortable walking shoes if you are planning to commute by foot.

Introduction

For a large quantity of businesses around the south of England, using and renting a serviced office is a regular occurrence and the option most applicable to their business model. Often small or new businesses choose serviced office facilities cutting down on some of the initial business start-up costs and large companies also use serviced offices as regional spaces for their larger corporations, cutting down on the organisational effort needed to set up fully functional area specific offices. The average serviced office for example will come fully furnished, with a reception area to meet and greet clients and answer telephone calls, conference rooms, canteen or break areas and guest lounges also often come as standard. Serviced offices are a fully managed work space so all cleaning and security arrangements will be included in the price ensuring the cleanliness and safety of the workplace is to a high standard.

Serviced Office Options in London

If you are looking into getting a serviced office then you will find them available from around £150 per week, available on long or short term leases. These offices will provide you with everything you will need including secretarial and typing services, mail handling facilities and phone and internet access. Some of the large companies that deal in serviced offices include Regis and Servcorp as well as some of the bigger providers in London including Flexi Offices and Avanta. It is important to decide which area would be most suitable for you to rent offices, this will depend heavily on the type of business you run but you will find most areas have ample opportunities for renting.

City of London

If you want to be in the financial hub of London and one of the foremost financial districts in the world then an office in the ‘City of London’ area in the centre would suit you. This area provides the base for many of London’s leading financial institutions including the Bank of England and the famous ‘Swiss Re Tower’. If you are looking into getting a serviced office in the City of London area then there are many options available including quite a few options up towards the Barbican including ‘Bunhill Row’ and also many options around Moorgate and Liverpool Street Station which include options on ‘Chiswell Street’ and ‘Basinghall Street’. Prices for these serviced offices will start from around £600 per month, generally offices in the City of London area will be more expensive than other areas of London such as Holborn for example. Some of the local amenities include the Threadneedles and the Andaz London hotels that both provide quality corporate accommodation as well as having central restaurants nearby such as the Paternoster Chop House.

Holborn

Another important area of London is the area of Holborn over towards Tottenham Court Road and the West End, which is the home of London’s law firms. One of the major companies in this area is ‘Peters & Peters’ on Chancery Lane, a leading law firm specialising in fraud and regulatory litigation. Some of the options available to companies looking to rent serviced office space include ‘Southampton Place’ and ‘Russell Square’. These offices will range from £400 per month with flexible contracts available. Some of the local amenities that you will find useful in the Holborn area include The Waldorf Hilton and the Thistle Bloomsbury hotels as well as a collection of quality local restaurants such as the Terrace in the Fields in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, which serves modern British cuisine with a Caribbean flavour.

Victoria

Victoria is also an important area for London offices; this area houses the majority of the government institutions and many large blue chip companies. There are many serviced office options available in Victoria, including offices at ‘Grosvenor Crescent’ and ‘Grosvenor Gardens’ in Belgravia and ‘Stag Place’ which the tallest building in the area and situated in the middle of Victoria which also provides serviced offices. The majority of offices will come with easy to use local parking and good transport links from the local train station and costs will start in the region of £400 per month. Some of the local amenities include the Crowne Plaza and the Grosvenor Hotels as well as the Mango Tree restaurant in Belgravia and the Cinnamon Club restaurant over towards Westminster.

Wherever you are looking for a serviced office, there are many options available throughout London. With flexible premises and leases available, ranging from single person offices to entire floors and with these spaces easily configured to suit you, London will have office space available to satisfy your needs.

Atlanta is a city of millions and still growing. This growth has propelled the city’s borders closer and closer to neighboring cities, until the dividing line is sometimes hard to find. These suburbs of Atlanta offer residents an easy commute, while not having to live in the city itself. They also offer a great place to raise a family.

Alpharetta is one of those cities that have become almost a part of Atlanta. Chartered in 1858, Alpharetta has deep roots in the past. Before it was a city, Alpharetta was a trading post and logging town, allowing white settlers and Indians to meet and trade for needed goods and services. Now, Alpharetta is a thriving city, one of the fastest growing cities in the south, in fact. It has been rated as one of the best places in the nation to raise a family and offers great housing and apartments, close to the hub of Atlanta.

Only recently has the city of Austell, Georgia been considered an actual suburb of Atlanta. Located only 18 miles from the heart of Atlanta and only minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Austell is an ideal location for those looking to live outside the city of Atlanta, yet commute to work with a minimum of time and stress. Austell, Georgia boasts a small town atmosphere with all the amenities of a big city and with cities like Atlanta, Marietta and Smyrna only a stone’s throw away, those amenities are real things. Austell has much to offer those looking for a place to call home.

College Park shares much with the city of Austell. They both have a small town atmosphere and College Park enjoys a similar proximity to the city of Atlanta. College Park has been revitalized, and new residents find the city an excellent place to call home. Voted one of the best places to live by Atlanta Magazine, College Park is dedicated to providing people with a great place to live, a fun, hometown atmosphere and a variety of means of getting to and from places of work.

Founded in 1845, Conyers, Georgia is another of Atlanta’s suburbs that offers a close proximity to international business and vast employment resources, while still maintaining a small town feel. Conyers is home to over 10,000 residents in the city itself, with even more outside the city, but within the city limits. Conyers is located very close to I-20 and i-285.

Decatur is one of Atlanta’s oldest suburbs, predating Atlanta itself by several decades. Before the city of Terminus, later named Atlanta was built, Decatur turned down an offer by the southern railroads to build an important railroad hub in the city. That hub was built in Terminus, and the rest is history. As Atlanta’s big sister, Decatur has tons of history to offer and the closeness of Atlanta is a great asset to city residents. Decatur offers a true southern hometown feeling, with tree lined streets and local festivals held all year round.

Buckhead is known for it’s great shopping, elegant hotels and some of the best restaurants around. If you love shopping you’ll love Buckhead. It has over 1,400 shopping retail units scattered across it’s city borders.

Duluth has experienced phenomenal growth of the past several years. Yet, it still maintains that small home-town character and the friendliness that goes along with it. Duluth is known as a center of financial stability.

Dunwoody is located in DeKalb County, Georgia. It is an affluent suburb of Atlanta. Dunwoody is home to a number of well know celebrities: Ryan Seacrest, host of American Idol; Billy Payne who brought the 1996 Olympic Games to Atlanta and John Rocker-former Major League Baseball player.

Jonesboro is the county seat of Clayton County. It is one of Atlanta’s smaller suburbs. The final battle of Atlanta was fought here and help propel Abraham Lincoln to re-election.

Kennesaw has been nationally recognized for its educational achievements. It has a rich history and has grown into a family-oriented town. Downtown is full of specialty shops and restaurants.

Lawrenceville is a great little town full of historic remembrances. Downtown Lawrenceville is anchored by it’s historic courthouse and has brick-paved sidewalks, cozy benches any many specialty shops to visit.

Lithonia is located in the heart of the Georgia granite district. Thus, it is known as the “City of Granite.” Lithonia is growing popularity as the place to live to get away from the hustle and bustle lifestyle of Atlanta.

Marietta is well known for its turn-of-the-century town square. Marietta is a fun place to live and to visit. Enjoy unique restaurants, quaint bed and breakfast inns, ghost tours and museums.

Midtown is located right in the middle of downtown. If you like to be where the action is then Midtown is the place to live. You’ll enjoy restaurants, specialty shops and a work environment that is within walking distance.

Newnan has the best of both worlds. It’s a city of significant commercial development as well as residential growth. Newnan attracts many families who are looking for a small town atmosphere in which to raise their kids.

Norcross was originally a resort town created as a popular destination for wealthy Atlantans. In spite of significant growth over the years the town has maintained a commitment to the preservation of history and charm.

Roswell was originally inhabited by the Cherokee Indians. Today, Roswell has preserve much of it history in vintage homes, historical sites, museums, monuments and churches. Roswell is located only 20 minutes from Atlanta and nestled on the banks of the Chattahoochee River.

Sandy Springs is the seventh largest city in Georgia. Sandy Springs is another city with southern charm and progressive environment. The Chastain Amphitheatre is unique to Sandy Springs featuring outdoor events year round.

Smyrna is known as the “Jonquil City” because of the abundance of flowers that bloom all over the city. Smyrna has plenty to keep a young family busy.

Stockbridge is conveniently located near Atlanta’s commercial and entertainment centers. Stockbridge has that small time feel and experience. It’s family-oriented with and set in a beautiful and natural setting.

Stone Mountain was chartered is 1839. It if famous for the nearby mountain called “Stone Mountain”. It’s the largest piece of exposed granite in the world. Nearby is Stone Mountain Park featuring hiking, boating and theme park.

What treasures are stashed around Troy? We are about to find out. The Treasure Hunters Roadshow is on an 18 month national treasure hunt and will be digging in town for five days. During this free event, the Treasure Hunters are expecting to see over 1,200 residence bringing in their rare and unusual collectibles! Locals will have a chance to talk to world renowned antique and collectible experts, and it’s all free!

Recent finds include a 1960’s Vintage Guitar purchased for $100,000! Four Gold Coins were purchased from a local resident for over $72,000, Confederate money hidden in the walls of a residence home that was uncovered during a remodel, Abraham Lincoln hand-written thank you letter, expressing gratitude for a night’s stay while traveling to Chicago, and much more.

What kind of treasures will be revealed during our trip? Let’s find out together. You or your next door neighbor just might be the next to find a jackpot in the attic. Start digging now and be ready to have some fun and make some money.

Troy is the next stop on The Treasure Hunters Roadshow nationwide tour. During this event at the Holiday Inn, our treasure hunters are hoping to see items such as coins and paper currency issued prior to 1965, toys, dolls, trains, vintage jewelry, old and modern musical instruments, war memorabilia, gold and silver jewelry, costume jewelry, advertising memorabilia, swords, knives, daggers, and the unusual!

Collectors are very serious about their hobby; so serious that they will pay a lot of money for the items they are looking for. Nearly all coins, vintage jewelry, musical instruments and toys made prior to 1965 are highly sought after by collectors. The Treasure Hunters Roadshow is a place where anyone in your community can connect with collectors from around the globe. Our treasure hunters make offers based on what our collectors are willing to pay. Then when someone decides to sell, they get paid on the spot and our treasure hunters send the item to the collector at their expense.

Have fun with your search. Empty your jewelry box of broken jewelry, dig out your old teeth containing dental gold, find your gold coins, gold bars, etc. Gold is traded on the stock market and prices fluctuate daily. We will buy gold based on the day’s current gold value. Don’t miss out. Make plans now to attend the Treasure Hunters Roadshow.

Let’s face it Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is full of government workers and people that work in the downtown core. Now keeping this in mind : Where should one buy a home in Ottawa if they rely on the Public Transportation (OC Transpo) for their Monday to Friday commute to work?

Here’s how long it would take you to go from your home in Ottawa to your work downtown for 8 o’clock on a Monday morning.

If your home is in Avalon / Notting Gate / Fallingbrook (Corner of Innes Rd. and Tenth Line Rd.) in Orleans it would take you 47 minutes. If your home is in Fallowfield (Corner of Fallowfield Rd. and Richmond Rd) the commute would take you 39 minutes If your home is in Greenboro (Corner of Hunt Club Rd. and Bank St.) it would take you 29 minutes. If your home is in Kanata (Corner of Palladium Dr. and Terry Fox Dr.) the commute by bus would take you 49 minutes. If you home is in Lincoln Fields (Corner of Carling Ave. and Richmond Rd.) the commute would take you 30 minutes by bus.

About Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario is the National Capital of Canada located near the United States border and the St-Lawrence River. The 2006 Census gives Ottawa a population of 812 000 making it the fourth largest in the country and the second largest in the province. Ottawa is a great city offering many attractions for people of all ages.

Looking for a home for sale in Ottawa? Call Roch St-Georges, Ottawa Real Estate Agent. 613-889-7732

Illinois is a destination offering diversity, adventure, excitement and a wealth of activities and attractions to experience. Spend a few days in the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln and explore the world of the American Indiana.

It’s time to stop wasting your time on national singles sites and register with a free local dating website to have a much higher chance of meeting available singles in your area. There are heaps of singles chat rooms where you can meet single men and women in Springfield and Illinois looking for romance, and it won’t cost you anything to answer an email from a potential partner. Meet your match and find interesting and fun people to date.

Springfield is the capital of Illinois State and with over 200,000 residents living in its borders you are sure to find someone you can share experiences with. There’s plenty to do here, make a date with someone from the singles chat rooms and spend an enjoyable few hours, or a day trip, to visit some of the most stunning and beautiful sites the state has to offer.

If you aren’t keen on meeting up in a bar or busy restaurant, then Springfield has more than 100 annual events organized that provide plenty of opportunities for a date with a potential partner. If you enjoy being in the countryside then a day out at a horse show or fine arts fair might be fun, or book tickets for a musical stage production or an exciting motorcycle race or air show.

Springfield is exactly in the middle of the Illinois portion of Route 66 and has a number of internationally famous attractions, including Bill Shea’s Gas Station Museum, the Cozy Drive Inn and Joe Rogers’ Chili. A drive down Route 66 from Chicago to St. Louis can be the ideal weekend getaway.

There are all kinds of ways these days to meet other single people, but it can take a little experimentation to find a method that fits in with your lifestyle and suits your personality. For some people the idea of speed dating appeals, very common in cities it can offer you a great way to see a number of people in a short time. If you live in a rural area then it might not be such a good option as you might find you end up meeting the same people over and over again! Speed dating is great for those who have a busy schedule at work and minimal time to be out socializing and thus find it difficult to meet other singles the traditional way.

If speed dating isn’t for you, then how about looking around for a social club? There are clubs now that are very well organized and aimed specifically at young professionals or at people with a particular interest in common, such as cookery or horse-riding. A social club can provide the perfect opportunity to meet others in the area with similar interests and are particularly useful for those who live in the countryside and are feeling isolated.

Many people feel as if they are being left behind, their friends are settling down and starting families and they are still alone. However as you start to infiltrate the world of ‘singledom’ you become aware of just how many other singles are actually out there, and they are all as keen as you are to meet people to socialize with and hopefully have some successful dates with. The number 1 reason that holds most people back to asking someone out on a date is time and a lack of confidence.

Online dating can remove all the pressure of the first initial contact. Not only ideal for those too busy to be out every night looking for a date, it is also great for anyone who isn’t comfortable about asking for a date and prefers to get to know someone first. The number of free dating sites online is increasing all the time, take your time browsing through some to get familiar with how they work.

Want to meet singles in Springfield and Illinois?
There are many Springfield Illinois singles online dating sites for married women looking for affairs, those who are into dating older women and free Jewish dating sites. Check online today for dating websites that can meet your needs.

With the take up in office space in the City expected to rise within the next few months, the clamour to get the proverbial ‘foot in the door’ will be high on the agenda for those businesses seeking the most desirable premises within the Square Mile.

Here we give a guide to the various districts in The City to assist those looking for office space to select the right location for their company:

Holborn and Chancery Lane
Located on the western boundaries of the Square Mile, this area is hugely popular with many solicitors and law firms – including the Law Society of England and Wales which has its headquarters at 113 Chancery Lane. Whilst office space options in the area are abundant and varied, for many there are two business addresses that top everyone’s wish list – Southampton Place and Lincoln’s Inn Fields. These two locations are some of the most prestigious across London and rental prices here do reflect this.

Cheapside, St Paul’s & Moorgate
Home to multi-nationals including BT, Institute of Chartered Accountants and Legal & General, these three areas have seen a number of major redevelopments recently completed to make the area the principal choice for businesses seeking larger office space requirements within the Square Mile. And with projects such as One New Change and British Land’s proposed 90 metre office tower on Ropemaker Place also past the planning stage, the area will undoubtedly receive yet another boost to its already growing reputation. But for those seeking more traditional premises commonly associated with The City, there are plenty of options still available to you – notably around Gresham Street and St Martin’s le Grand.

Bank and Liverpool Street
Famous throughout the world for being the home of the Bank of England, the roads around Liverpool Street and Bank are a magnet for financial institutions and insurance giants looking to portray the very best image to their clients and rivals. Demand for office space here is on the rise once more and rents will undoubtedly climb to reflect the prestige that comes with occupying such a renowned business address. The vast majority of property around the vicinity of the BoE is Grade II listed; providing occupiers with the history and reputations that many come to expect when seeking offices in The City. For those seeking for a more contemporary space requirement in the area however, skyscrapers such as the iconic 30 St Mary Axe (‘The Gherkin’) will more than cater for your desires. The network of passageways and alleys that burrow their way around the area house many historic pubs and bars ensuring you will always have a venue on your doorstep to entertain clients.

Once you have chosen the area that best suits your business needs, the proactive search for office space in the Square Mile begins.

Abbey Business Centres operate two business centres in the City of London that offer a range of serviced office suites that would be ideal for the smallest start up right through to the largest blue chip brand.

Golf in New Mexico, the Splendor of the Land

If you’re heading to Carlsbad Caverns or the chic galleries of Santa Fe, golf in New Mexico, once a word-of-mouth secret among avid golfers, is a secret no longer.

With 4 distinct destinations for golfing in the Land of Enchantment, each one of them boasts about the many course that are located in each area. Not like other parts of the country, golf in New Mexico is at a fair value for high desert golfing. Go to Phoenix in the winter months and see how much you pay for golf there, that is not the case in New Mexico. If you would like to challenge yourself with courses that challenge your shot making ability but are still fair and at the same time see some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, then New Mexico golf is something you have to try.

Golf New Mexico’s Northern areas: Play some of the most exciting golf, while winding through some of the beautiful high desert plateau regions. The modified desert-links style courses of Black Mesa golf club that is near Espanola, then Taos country club are some of the finest and challenging that you will play. But we can’t forget Marty Sanchez Links de Santa fe as another of the fine northern section golf courses.There are many fine golf courses in the northern section of New Mexico. Taos country club located high in the nothern mountains will challenge every aspect of your game. Black Mesa golf club that is located north of Santa Fe near Espanola is one of the best target golf courses in the state. A great public course located in Santa Fe is Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe. This course is not that long but it is tough. All of these courses are a modified desert-links style that winds across the high plateau. There are a couple of course in the Taos area and a nice mountain course that is east of Taos is Angel Fire golf club. South of Santa Fe is Pueblo de Cochiti Golf Course, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design recently updated by his son, Robert Trent Jones III.

Central area for golfing in New Mexico: Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club east of Albuquerque, Twin Warriors Golf Club and Santa Ana Golf Club, as well as Sandia Golf Club, all north of town, offer resort golf, with Paa-Ko being the crown jewel of the bunch. The NCAA has visited Albuquerque in the past and played there championships at the University of New Mexico Championship golf course. Now this is a great test of golf due to the hills that roll across the course and is just a few minutes away from the rental car center at the Albuquerque Sunport airport. Only seven minutes south on Interstate 25 is the 27-hole Isleta Eagle Golf Course, part of the Isleta Casino & Resort.

Southeast section for golfing in New Mexico: Remember Billy the Kid, well Lincoln county N.M. is where he roomed. Ruidoso is in the middle of where Billy did most of his gun slinging. Nearby are the Links at Sierra Blanca, Rainmakers, Cree Meadows and the Inn of the Mountain Gods, a Ted Robinson design. All are mountain courses rising and falling through Ponderosa pines. Most people have heard of Roswell, NM. This is the home of the alien crash in 1947 and also the home of two great courses. They are the New Mexico Military Institute and Spring River. In the town made famous by the caverns, Carlsbad host a great muni course called the Lake Carlsbad golf course.

Southern section for Golfing in New Mexico: Between Las Cruces and Socorro, N.M., lie a handful of true bargains, starting with New Mexico Tech Golf Course, a tight parkland layout in Socorro. Farther south on Interstate 25 in Elephant Butte, N.M., Sierra del Rio Golf Course follows the folds of the Sonorran Desert. Traveling south from Elephant Butte to Las Cruces we have the New Mexico State University golf course and the Sonoma Ranch Golf club.Located south of Las Cruces is the beautiful Butterfield Trail which is located in El Paso, Texas. This is the only tom Fazio design in all directions for hundreds of miles.

Out of the way but worth the drive if you want to explore golf in New Mexico elsewhere: Pinon Hills Golf Course in Farmington, N.M., in the Four Corners area; Silver City Golf Course in the Southwest New Mexico; west from Albuquerque about 40 miles is Grants, New Mexico and the Coyote del Malpais golf course.

Golfing in New Mexico is great. These courses mentioned are some of the best around.

A Career as an Accounts Assistant or Accounting Technician (AAT)

As an accounting technician, it would be your job to keep accurate financial accounts for all types of business, and to assist qualified accountants.

In larger companies, you would usually work as part of an accounts team. In a small business, you may be the only person trained to deal with finance matters like wages and invoices. In either case, your typical duties would include:

processing and paying invoices
recording receipts and payments
preparing and checking ledger balances and other monthly and yearly accounts
completing and submitting tax returns
monitoring company expenses
using computerised accounting systems.

With experience, you might take on management responsibilities and more complex tasks, such as:

drafting financial reports
planning and budget control
assisting qualified accountants with audits.

To be an accounts technician you should have:

confidence working with numbers
good spoken and written communication skills
an interest in business and finance
good organisational skills
the ability to solve problems and analyse figures
a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
the ability to work to strict deadlines
honesty and discretion.

You will find it helpful to have previous experience of office work. Temporary work (‘temping’) can be a good way of getting experience that may lead to a permanent job. Computer experience is also useful, particularly in using spreadsheet and database packages like Microsoft Excel and Access.

Above all, you should feel confident with maths and using computers. Employers may prefer you to have at least four GCSEs (A-C) including maths (or a similar level of qualification), although entry requirements may vary.

You would often start as an accounts clerk doing basic accounting duties in a company. You could then take work-based training or a part-time college course to qualify as a technician with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) scheme.

You may be able to miss out some parts of AAT or CAT training if you already have one of the following:

AS or A Level in Accounting
previous relevant work experience in accounting
an entry-level bookkeeping qualification (see the Accounts Clerk profile).

You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.

Your training is normally a mixture of learning on the job and studying for qualifications from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA).

You can take the AAT Accounting qualification in one of two ways – the NVQ route or the Diploma route.

If you are employed in an accounting role, you can take work-based training and assessments to achieve NVQs in Accounting. This route has three stages:

NVQ Level 2 (Foundation)
Level 3 (Intermediate)
Level 4 (Technician).

If you do not yet work in accounting or if you prefer to take an exam-based route, you can choose the Diploma pathway to the AAT Accounting Qualification. The Diploma also has three stages:

Certificate (Foundation)
Advanced Certificate (Intermediate)
Diploma (Technician).

You will be assessed for the Diploma by exams and simulated skills tests, instead of providing practical evidence from the workplace.

You can study for the AAT Accounting Qualification full- or part-time at colleges or training centres, or in the workplace.

For full membership of the AAT, you must pass all three stages of the qualification, and have at least a year’s approved work experience. You can find more details on the AAT’s website.

Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA)
To become qualified with the ACCA Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) Scheme, you must pass exams at the three levels (Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced) and keep a training record of at least one year’s practical accounting experience.

You can study for CAT full- or part-time at further education colleges and private training centres, or alternatively through home study. See the ACCA’s website for full details.

Once you are fully AAT or CAT qualified, you could study further to become an accountant. Your accounting technician qualifications mean that you can usually bypass the first stage of professional exams. For example, you could start at Part 2 of the ACCA’s Chartered Certified Accountant Scheme, instead of Part 1. See the Private Practice Accountant profile for more information.

Starting salaries at foundation and intermediate levels can be around £14,000 to £18,000 a year.
Once qualified to technician level, salaries can be up to £25,000.

What opportunities are there?

You could work for companies in every business sector, or in the public sector for organisations such as local councils, colleges/universities and the NHS.

Jobs may be advertised in the local press, Jobcentre Plus, and by recruitment agencies.

With experience, you could move into management or become self-employed and work on accounts for a number of small business clients. You could also choose to study further and become a qualified accountant.

AAT and ACCA qualifications are recognised across the world, so work abroad is an option.

Where can I go for more information?

Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)

140 Aldersgate Street
London
EC1A 4HY
Tel: 0845 863 0800

Financial Services Skills Council

51 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7HQ
Tel: 0845 257 3772

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

29 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
London
WC2A 3EE
Tel: 020 7059 5000

To view our complete career library for accounting jobs go here
http://www.justaccountancyjobs.com/content-search_our_accounts_job_career_profiles