Things to Do in Philadelphia

Posted by admin | Posted on 16-06-2011

Category : Region III

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Things to Do in Philadelphia

One of the great things about  travelling for extended periods of time is experiencing the perks in the place where you’re visiting. In Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love”, these perks include a variety in apartments for rent in Philly, visiting historic sites and museums, appreciating public art and getting to taste the city’s famous food.

As a “City of Neighborhoods”, Philadelphia is known for having numerous apartments that provide homes to people coming from different walks of life and different cultural backgrounds.  This doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering that the city is the fourth largest in the country with over 5 million residents.  It’s big enough and diverse enough to accommodate many people of different cultures making it easier to look for apartments for rent in Philly.

As the “Birthplace of America,” the city is famous for its Independence National Historic Park which houses two of the most important elements in the city’s history.  These include the Liberty Bell which symbolizes liberty for the American Independence and the Independence Hall where the Second Continental Congress and Constitution Convention took place.  Also, the museums in the city add a great deal of information regarding the place as they contain relics from the city’s past as well as those in ancient times.  Two of these famous museums are the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and the Philadelphia Free Library.  All of which are important to the country’s history making them the main tourist attractions in the city.

Additionally, public art has increased in popularity and has become one of the significant reasons for the tourists visiting the city.  What has started as an ordinary form of free expression has spread throughout the city promoting a stop to unwanted graffiti while reviving the city’s buildings.  Most of these arts are made from glass mosaics and have been credited to the Department of Recreation’s Mural Arts Program.

Moreover, the city is proud of its unique style of sandwiches known as cheesesteaks which are made from a roll of fresh bread topped with grilled shaved beef and cheese.  Although other ingredients may be added, this classic style is renowned for with its original maker Pat’s King of Steak.  Another well known cheesesteak maker is Geno’s Steak which asserts that the improved version is of their doing.  Both cheesesteak joint are found next to each other in Philly’s South end.

There are indeed a lot of perks to enjoy in Philadelphia.  You get to experience variety in apartments for rent in Philly, visit historic sites and museums, appreciate public art and enjoy great tasting food.   It’s definitely one of the must see places in the United States.

To know more about apartments for rent in Philly and Philadelphia apartment, visit vacancy.com.


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6 Things to Know About Prescription Drug Abuse in the UK

Posted by admin | Posted on 20-03-2011

Category : Region III

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6 Things to Know About Prescription Drug Abuse in the UK

Michael Jackson. Heath Ledger. Brittany Murphy. Ana Nicole Smith. All of them are popular celebrities—people who thousands all over the world look up to. Their fame and star qualities aren’t the only things that they have in common, though. All three—Jackson, Ledger, Smith and Murphy have died supposedly because of prescription drug abuse. With the abuse of prescription drugs rising all over the world, illegal drug abuse has taken a back seat to the misuse of legal drugs. Now, the number one killer drugs in the world aren’t heroin or cocaine, but drugs that are legal and prescribed by doctors.

In the United Kingdom, prescription drug abuse has become a threat to the health and lives of many people both young and old alike. A recent study by Professor Joan Busfield, titled A Pill for Every Ill, reveals that the number of prescriptions dispensed in the UK per person doubled from 8 to more than 16. Although the problem is not as prevalent as it is in the US, the issue still exists, with teens becoming hooked on anti-depressants and young adults developing prescription drug dependency to painkillers. To help you become aware of the problems brought about by prescription drug abuse, read the following important facts below. With this information, you might even be able to save someone from drug abuse.

1. There are two main types that people may refer to when it comes to addiction. As with illegal drug abuse, abusers of prescription drugs also experience two types of addiction: physical and psychological. The former includes such withdrawal symptoms as nausea, vomiting or even cramping, while the latter may cause depression, anxiety and irritability.

2. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are those that fall under the opioids category. These are painkillers, including Codein, oxycodone, Oxycontin and Percocet, as well as morphine products. Next on the list are central nervous depressants (commonly known as sleeping aids) such as Mebaral, Valium and Xanax. Many people also develop prescription drug dependency to stimulants, such as Adderall, Dexedrine, Concerta and Ritalin.

3. Reports show that about 10 to 20% of the entire population of the world use sleeping pills and that some people develop prescription drug dependency on these accidentally or involuntarily.

4. Prescription drug abuse and addiction is characterized by the inability of the person to stop using these drugs. They also develop a tolerance for the prescription drug, thus responding less and less to the same amount or dosage. When tolerance is developed, people start to experience withdrawal symptoms. Because of this, doctors sometimes prescribe a higher dosage of the drug or give other prescription drugs to patients.

5. A study done at the Stockholm University in Sweden revealed that more than half of patient who have become dependent on sedatives or tranquilizers showed signs of brain or intellectual deterioration.

6. A study done by Professor Alan DeSantis of the University of Kentucky showed that 34 % of the total number of UK students surveyed admitted that they took ADHD medication, such as Adderall, without prescriptions. He also found out that most of the suppliers of these prescription medications were also students themselves.

With the statistics and rising numbers of prescription drug abuse, stricter measures have to be implemented, especially in countries like the UK. Everyone, parents, especially, have to keep their eyes out, not only for illegal drug abuse, but for prescription drug dependency as well.

Lena Butler, the author of Home Testing Kits a longer version of this article is located at Caffeine Testing: How Much Caffeine is in My Drink?, and resources from other home health and wellness testing articles are used such as Instant Caffeine Test Strips.


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Over 15 Great Things about Detroit Metro Area

Posted by admin | Posted on 16-03-2011

Category : Region III

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Over 15 Great Things about Detroit Metro Area

The Detroit Metro Area has a lot of really neat things for people to do and see.

I grew up in the Chicago Area.  I lived in the Cleveland-Akron Area, the Winston-Salem-Greensboro Area, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids, Michigan.  So I have not lived everywhere, but I have seen enough places to speak intelligently, and I know that Detroit has things to offer.  Detroit has some things to offer, despite what you hear in the news and from people with negative attitudes.

These are the things I would miss the most if I no longer lived here:

1. Professional Sports Teams: You have the Red Wings (Hockey), the Tigers (Major League Baseball), the Lions who are now winners in football once again, the Pistons (Men’s Basketball), and the Shock (Women’s Basketball).  There are also several Minor League Baseball teams within a short drive, too.

2. Proximity to Universities (within 2 hours): University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan State University in Lansing, Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Wayne State University in Detroit, University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, Adrian College in Adrian, Albion College in Albion, Alma College in Alma, Olivet College in Olivet, and the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio.  Plus, there are several other smaller colleges throughout the city and the surrounding area.

3. Coney Island Restaurants: These are your basic greasy spoon Greek restaurants, but you can always find Chicken Lemon Soup and mouth watering, heart-killing Coney Dogs waiting for you to devour.  For those who do not know what a Coney Dog is, it is a hot dog in a bun topped with a special Coney Chili, onions, and mustard.  It sounds disgusting and is, but it sure tastes good!

4. Arabic/Middle Eastern Restaurants & Culture: Detroit Metro Area has the largest Arabic population outside of Middle East.  This is a pretty amazing fact.  It is nothing more than a mere fact, unless you count all of the places that serve wonderful baklava, an intensely sweet bakery desert that is almost like candy.  There is good humus and bad humus.  When you go to the right places, there are few things as tasty as a piece of warm, soft pita bread dipped into property flavored humus.  Then you have your supremely spiced meats: gyros, kababs, schawarmas, and more.  You will not find a dollar menu at these places, but you can eat a wonderful meal without spending a truckload of money.

5. Pizza Papalis: Buddy’s and Shield’s pizza are Detroit’s cornerstones for pizza.  They both have a good pan pizza.  However, as a non-native Detroiter, these do not compare with Pizza Papalis.  Chicago is known for their pizza.  There are many places outside of the Chicago Area that will claim to have Chicago-style pizza only to disappoint.  Pizza Papalis bakes a Chicago Style Pizza that favorably compares to Giordono’s in Chicago.  Amongst my personal favorites, their spinach and three cheese pizza with sausage and mushroom pizza is a thick, cheesy pizza that melts in your mouth and makes a tremendous mess on your plate.

6. Cooke’s Dairy Farm: There are other dairy farms, but there are two (2) things that separate this from the pack.  Their ice cream is the creamiest ice cream ever.  It’s expensive and tremendously fattening but wonderfully worthwhile.  Also, they let people approach many of their animals, which are caged but are still extremely accessible.  This makes a fun date or a family outing.  The ice cream is really wonderful, though.

7. Casinos: There are three (3) casinos within Detroit city limits: Greektown, MGM Grand, and MotorCity.  You can stay at their hotels (which I have not done), but they all offer some adult fun.  Plus, there are many others throughout Michigan.  Often, there is entertainment playing in the background.  Winning is so fun, too.  We will not mention those other visits when we are not winning.

8. Greektown:  Besides the casino, this is a section of Detroit that offers a taste of city living in older days.  It also has several Greek restaurants.  There is a Pizza Papalis restaurant there.  After you eat and gamble, there are a couple of bakeries.  My favorite is Astoria, which has gigantic portions.  The only thing larger than the portions is the goodie selection.  When you are all done, you can take a quick tour of Detroit by paying fifty cents per person to ride the People Mover, a train that circles downtown Detroit and surrounding mini-neighborhoods.  The neatest part of this trip is when you look across the river to see Canada and its Windsor, Ontario skyline.  It looks really neat at night. Oh!  Did I mention the free parking if you park in the casino parking lot?

9. Mexicantown: This is a part of Detroit that does not really pass the “looks test,” and the surrounding neighborhoods are uninviting, to say the least.  Once you get to Mexicantown, you will see a cluster of Mexican restaurants plus some shops.  The food is big-time good, and it’s fantastically economical.  It’s different than any other area I have ever seen.

10. Close Proximity to Canada:  Before the days of 9/11, this really was a benefit. Just on the other side of the river, the city of Windsor awaits.  You can go there by an underground tunnel or a bridge.  It is neat to see a culture that is not very different from the United States, yet you know that you are in a different country.  The shops look different.  They post speed limits in kilometers, not miles, per hour.  They use different currency; so their money looks different.  They have different candies.  Windsor is not nearly as large as Detroit, but it is every bit a city.  From my perspective, I feel like I am making a time warp to a simpler time when I cross the river.

11. Greenfield Village: This is an outdoor museum.  While that is unique, the real flavor comes from the setup. It is created as a historical village, waiting for you to discover it and learn history within it.  There was even someone who kept riding around the village on a unicycle.  Bands roam the village, playing old-time tunes.  You will get your exercise walking around it.  It is a large facility.

12. Specialty Fruit Markets:  There are many fruit markets, specializing in carefully picked fruits and vegetables.  Oddly, in my part of town in Waterford, there are not any, but in most other areas within the Detroit Area, there are.  Some of my favorites include Westborn Market, Papa Joe’s, and Nino Salvagio’s.  Bring your money, because these places are not cheap, but you will get the best.

13. Eastern Market:  I lived in the Detroit Area for years before I knew about this.  It is an outdoor farmer’s market that is open every Saturday.  In the summertime, during the mid-morning, you will hear music playing throughout.  Eastern Market is a huge market, and I mean huge.  Not only do you have the market, you have actual storefronts that border outside the covered market area.  There are meat, fruit, and other warehouses.  If you go late enough (say one or two o’clock), you can get really good deals, as the vendors are looking to leave with as many sales as they can.  Plus, there is a grill station (actually several beside each other) that cannot be any shorter than fifty feet.  Oh, does it smell good, too.

14. Woodward Dream Cruise:  For those non-Detroiters, Woodward Avenue is a main throughway that runs from Downtown Detroit to Pontiac, an urban-suburb north of Detroit, about 30 to 40 miles.  This route runs through some charming suburban towns, anyway, but each year on one August Saturday, this road becomes a automotive showcase.  Drivers will cruise down Woodward for miles at a slow speed.  People are situated on the side of the road for miles and miles to see these old cars.  Plus, there are many side Old Car Shows on the side.  Here is where you can talk to the car owners, and so many of them are all too happy to tell you about their pride and joy.  It is really a silly thing, but it is also really neat and a whole lot of fun.

15. Close Proximity to Beautiful Parts of Michigan:  This includes beaches and parks.  Michigan is surrounded by the Great Lakes, and so many other rivers go through it.  Smaller lakes make their home inside the state.  Finding beaches requires no skill here.  You want to fish, swim, camp, or just walk around really scenic areas, you are never far from it here.  People mention “going north,” and they mean that scenic areas with a simple lifestyle is found by driving north on I-75.  You can say this about many places, but it is true in Michigan more than most.

16. Near Many Orchards:  Depending upon what is “in season,” you can pick strawberries, apples, peaches, blueberries, and more with only a short drive from Detroit.  Plus, many orchards offer hayrides and places for your kids to play.  It really becomes an event.

17. Frankenmuth:  This town is less than two (2) hours from most parts of the Detroit Metro Area.  This is a town that is an obvious tourist trap, but it is still worth seeing.  It is an old-time German town, placing a large emphasis on Christmas.  In fact, on the town’s outskirt, there is a store called Bronner’s, which sells Christmas themed things nearly every day, except, well Christmas.  The town’s most celebrated restaurants are Zehnders and Bavarian Inn.  You can order many things, but I recommend the Family Style Chicken Dinner.  There are small shops within the downtown area, and it sits beside a scenic river.

I might have missed some other things, which is good.  That means that the Detroit Area offers even more than I am promising.  Enjoy Detroit!

Chris Wechner is a beginning investor who succeeded as a stock trader but is learning the ropes as a real estate investor. He is a teacher by nature and targets making seemingly complicated things simple. For more information, you can visit his website at http://detroit-area.blogspot.com.


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Fifty things of Miss Universe 2009

Posted by admin | Posted on 11-01-2011

Category : Region I

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Fifty things of Miss Universe 2009

The final will take place a few hours a month, eight, four beautiful girls from different countries around the world work hard for this moment. The world is the emergence of another beauty queen. Yes, I am referring to the grand final of Miss Universe. This is one of the top beauty pageants in the world and will be followed by thousands of people around the world. Here are some interesting facts that I collected on Miss Universe

1. Miss Universe began as a local bathing in Long Beach, California. E ‘was organized by Catalina Swimwear. As time has turned into one of the most prestigious beauty contests in the world.
2. Since 2002, the Miss Universe Organization jointly by NBC and Donald Trump has been consulted. Paula Shugart is the current president of the Miss Universe Organization. He sells the television rights for the show in other countries. It also produces Miss Italy and Miss Teen USA. The winner of Miss Italy has participated in Miss Universe.
invalid result data4. Venezuela, United States, Puerto Rico, are just some of the most prosperous countries of the Miss Universe contest.
5. In the past, Finland, Germany, the most prosperous countries of Sweden to Miss Universe.
6. England is the most successful non-win with the nine countries, five seats.
7. Many countries have expressed interest in participating in the competition, but some might not for religious and cultural reasons, while others were due to cost. Countries like Algeria did not participate in Miss Universe, because of the swimsuit competition. Countries such as Mozambique, Armenia and Nepal have expressed interest to participate in Miss Universe, but not because of the high proportion of franchising in the amount of Miss Universe.
8. Last countries, delegates to the Miss Universe China (2002), Albania (2002), Vietnam (2004), Georgia (2004), Ethiopia (2004), Latvia (2005), Kazakhstan (2006), Tanzania (2007) Kosovo (2008).
9. Since 2007, only four countries participated in Miss Universe since its inception in 1952. They are: Canada, France, Germany and the United States.
10. Yolande Betbèze, Miss America 1951, refused to pose in a swimsuit to swimsuit Catalina. Following the brand manufacturer Pacific Mills withdrew from Miss America and introduced to Miss Italy and Miss Universe beauty pageant.
11. Armi Kuusela of Finland won the first beauty contest in 1952, but she gave him the title of Virgilio Hilario, marrying a Filipino businessman.
12. Until 1958 the title of Miss Universe was post-dated. Sun was declared Miss Universe 1953 Miss Kuusela
13. Miss Universe was conferred in 1955 on television. From 1960 – 1965, CBS’s nationally televised Miss Universe and Miss USA. In 2003, NBC took over the TV rights.
14. In the early years of the candidates for Miss Universe were announced after the qualifying round. From 1965 until today, the semi-finalists were not announced until the night of the Main Event. The semi-finalists then compete in evening wear, swimwear segment and one of the top five were announced.
15. The interview section was introduced in 1960 to determine the finalists and winners.
16. From 1959 to 1963, there was no system of selection of the five finalists. The finalists and winners have been named finalists for fifteen half. In 1964, he was fifteen top ten. After a series of interviews, the winners and runners-up were called by the 10 finalists.
17. It is interesting to note that from 1965-1989, took the Miss Universe to its old form of election of five.
18. A Miss Universe 1969, a final question was the five best candidates. Then the last question was sometimes included and excluded from the parade. Finally, in 1990, has become mainstream.
19. Since 1990, the trend was reversed in the selection of five finalists, and there were six finalists. Each participant was randomly by a judge, who later said he chose a question. This was further reduced to three finalists.
20. In 1998, the number of finalists was reduced to five, but was reduced in the first three. Which lasted until 2001, when the final 5 format was restored.
21. The interview was completed in 2000 and competitors in the segment of the Miss Universe swimsuit competition and dress.
22. Miss Universe 2003 was used, the first fifteen times, instead of the top ten. Then it was reduced to five above.
23. In 2006, hours, eight semi-finalists in the competition, while in segment announced a bathing suit. The data was then reduced to ten, and these delegates competing in evening gown section. After the five finalists have been announced. Then they compete in the round of the interview. Then the finalists are announced and the winner was.
24. The format has changed once again in Miss Universe 2007, where fifteen semi-finalists in the competition in this segment of swimwear. Then, ten candidates competing in evening gown segment. From there, five were selected. Then the five participants attended the question “final” segment.
25. They were in Miss Universe 2009, for the first time, the first races streamed online. The reign of Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza and Ed Fields, a local personality adio Bahamas hosted the qualifying round.
26. For the first time, the Bahamas to host the Miss Universe contest. Moreover, the country was also a semifinalist for the first time
27. In Miss Universe 2009 Jewel Selver was to represent the Turkish and Caicos islands, but withdrew from the competition, August 22, 2009. He said he was suffering from dehydration. Selver is transferred from one side, beyond the preparation for the event.
28. Croatia was interested could participate in Miss Universe 2009, but not because of economic problems and economic recession.
29. Investor Jonathan Westbrook did everything to bring the Miss Universe 2009 for Australia, but show no interest at all sites as possible.
30. Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe organization was very interested in keeping the exhibition in Dubai, but he could not do because of bad relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
31. The grand final of Miss Universe 2009 will be held at the Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis Paradise Island.
32. Atlantis Paradise Island is a tourist resort. E ‘was created in South Africa from the businessman Sol Kerzner and Kerzner International Hotels Limited. Has adapted to the station of the best and most beautiful in the world.
33. Before Atlantis was named Trump Plaza has been changed after the construction of Atlantis Royal Towers.
34. Travel + Leisure named the Atlantic pinnacles remain inside best offer
35. Atlantis Paradise Island has seen a new edition has been added to call the Cove and Reef Atlantis
36. Dean Cain is a popular television actor and producer Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.will Judge of Miss Universe 2009
37. Colin Andrew Wilkie Cowie, is a lifestyle guru and party planner to the stars are great judges of Miss Universe 2009
38. Award-songwriter, producer, style guru Gerry DeVeaux will be the judges of Miss Universe 2009
39. Farouk Shami, a Palestinian-American businessman who is the judge of Miss Universe 2009
40. Be Heather Kerzner, a philanthropist and ambassador Kerze is the judge of Miss Universe 2009
41. Richard Lefrak, Chairman, President and CEO, will be the judges of Miss Universe 2009 Lefrak Organization
42. George J. Maloof Jr. owns the Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento Monarchs, and The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, go to the judges of Miss Universe 2009
43. Raquel Valeria Mazza, Argentinian model will be one of the judges of Miss Universe 2009
44. Matthew Rolston Russell, a fashion photographer and music video director in the U.S. is the same judge Miss Universe 2009
45. Andre Leon Talley, editor of American Vogue will be the judges of Miss Universe 2009
46. Actress Tamara Tunie Lou, best known for her role as medical examiner Melinda Warner on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will be the judge at Miss Universe 2009
47. Keisha Whitaker, fashion maven and founder of the Kissable Couture lip gloss line is part of the jury of Miss Universe 2009
48. South Asia, India has been very successful in a beauty contest. This year, Ekta Choudhary participate in India. Ekta Delhi. She is 5 \ ’9 .5, and vital statistics are 32-24-36.
49. Ekta Choudhary parents wanted to come to the Bahamas to support his daughter, but she could not come because they were threatened by local thugs. They fear that their house was attacked in his absence.
50. Miss Universe officials have decided to release part of the high without the photos out of Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza. Previously, these photos were the beauty queen in the title, they forced her to give up his title, but this time the Miss Universe officials made an exception. The photos were published in the September issue of Maxim magazine.

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Florida Investment Real Estate, First Things First

Posted by admin | Posted on 22-10-2010

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Florida Investment Real Estate, First Things First

Considering investing in property? What are some pertinent things to consider before taking this leap? Of all the investment possibilities, investment in land generally produces the most positive results. It is vital, however, to carefully investigate the pros and cons, benefits and deficits of real estate investment. Most people look at investment real estate as risky and feel woefully inadequate to tackle this form of investing. They feel lost, not knowing where to even begin! A multitude of information is available and knowing how to search can seem daunting. A web site search will produce boatloads of information, some valuable and some not. Some key words to search are real estate investment, investment property, and investing in real estate. This will begin the process for you. Not all available information is worth your time, however. Beware when the site promises high return for little down. Also beware of sites whose main goal is to solicit your money. Web searching is one form of research. Another is talking to a reputable real estate broker or real estate lawyer. One of the best sources of information is a friend you trust who has done real estate investing. A trustworthy friend who started as a novice and progressed to real investing is probably your best source of reliable information. Their voice of experience rings the loudest since they are a layman like you who had to discover for themselves each step of the way how to make successful investments.

Investment Real Estate, Rental Units

Let’s look at some sound reasons for investing in real estate. Real estate generally appreciates at a greater rate than the rate of inflation and offers great tax benefits. Selecting real estate in a desirable location will prove to be profitable especially in burgeoning areas, usually in suburbs which are a reasonable commute to city jobs. Of course the old adage, location, location, location is a very pertinent piece of advice to take to heart. Think of the most expensive housing markets today. If you have lived in an expensive housing market, or have visited there, you will notice that along with exquisite homes offered for sale at exorbitant rates, small, older homes you would never consider buying in another market are being offered for huge dollars. Why? Location, of course. When a housing area becomes desirable, even those small dumpy homes will sell for a considerable amount of money. Let’s stop for a moment and look at the advantages of investing in rental units as opposed to purchasing property for resale. One of the largest factors to consider in purchasing property for resale is finding properties that will resell at a higher rate than purchase, of course. Finding these properties is not as easy today as it may have been in the past. It used to be that fixer-uppers and foreclosures were avoided by homeowners and investors alike. Not so today, those same homes are being feverishly snatched up in the current booming housing markets.

Florida Investment Real Estate – Why Florida Is a Good Choice

Finding homes to purchase and turn over quickly for cash is becoming more and more difficult, leading many to consider purchasing property for the purpose of renting. What are some advantages to renting and what locations would be most desirable for purchase with a rental goal in mind? Owning rental property provides some unique advantages. If you have the time as well as the finances to invest, rental property could end up paying for itself in the long term. In order for this to be true, the most important thing to search for is property in a great location for renters. You don’t want to be searching for renters for months on end while you are being drained of capital. Those mortgage payments never stop, even when the list of renters has been exhausted. Buying rental investment property in a college town is a good bet for the possibility of continual renters and also buying in transient areas and tourist areas. Of all the above, tourist areas tend to be your surest source of consistent renters. Numerous high density tourist areas exist across the nation, but one of your best bets for purchase and consistent renters would be a sun-drenched spot with a year-round temperate climate. California and Texas would fit the bill, but as we all know, the most desirable locations in California may be out of reach due to the high cost. Texas may be considered a good choice, but only one state ranks as the premier tourist destination in the world and that would be Florida, the sunshine state.

Florida Investment Real Estate – The Orlando Area

With Florida’s burgeoning population, Florida investment real estate is a great option. Florida ranks 4th in population behind California, Texas and New York. Florida has one of the fastest rates of growth in the nation, making Florida investment real estate a very attractive option for investors. In the 1990’s, Florida grew by 23.5 percent with five counties increasing by more than 60 percent. Projected state growth would bring the population to over 19 million by 2010. An increasingly higher population obviously increases the need for housing. The increasing resident population being a great reason to pursue Florida investment real estate; let’s not neglect another face of increasing housing need. Florida has a tourism rate of almost 77 million visitors in 2004, making it the top travel destination in the world and producing billion of income. Tourists flock to all parts of Florida, the beaches being one of the most attractive destinations. However, Orlando pulls in the most visitors, with 2.6 million international travelers, not including the steady stream of domestic tourists. This alone would offer sufficient reason to purchase rental property. But considering that the grand total of tourists visiting Orlando in 2004 was 48 million people, what great housing investment potential for investors! The biggest drawing card in the Orlando area is, of course, Walt Disney World. The area surrounding Disney has a hotel rate occupancy of about 80 percent. It’s obvious why the Orlando area is considered one of the most desirable tourist destinations in the world.

Florida Investment Real Estate – What are Reasons Tourists Come to the Orlando Area

Owning Florida investment real estate will give vacationers who visit the Orlando area a place to stay while you collect the rent. Theme park attractions are one of the biggest reasons Orlando has become a #1 tourist destination. The three most popular are Disney, which includes Disney World, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios, Sea World and Universal. Each attraction holds an appeal for people of all ages with families and singles alike enjoying each. Kissimmee is the town closest to Disney where families especially enjoy a few of the more laid back sights including Green Meadows Farm. Green Meadows is in an idyllic country setting with tours of the farm and more than 300 farm animals to touch and see. Also in the Kissimmee area is Horse World Riding Stables. The 750 acres of open pasture beckons horse lovers to enjoy a ride beneath the open sky. The Orlando Science Center beckons science buffs both young and old. Learning happens as a by-product here through the realistic, interactive and just plain fun exhibits. Fabulous night life is to be found both in Kissimmee which boasts two very popular dinner attractions, Medieval Times and Arabian Nights. Both serve delectable large portions of food with fabulous jousting and medieval type entertainment. For the shopper, Shopping and dining abound in the Orlando area also as do all sorts of natural environmental experiences.

Real Estate Investment in Florida – Bimini Bay Resort Florida

A well-kept secret but one located just 5 miles from Disney, in the center of Florida is Davenport, a treasure of a town close to the major attractions, yet a world away. On 80 acres of land in the Davenport area, you will find Bimini Bay Resort, Florida. A grand investment opportunity awaits you at Bimini Bay Resort, Florida where the investor participates in property appreciation but is not affected by negative cash flow during the off season. At Bimini Bay Resort, Florida you will find a planned community of luxurious town homes, offering 3 bedroom two baths that are fully furnished and equipped. Bimini Bay Resort, Florida is unique in that the investor can stay in the purchased unit while on vacation for a minimum fee while renting the unit the rest of the year. Management staff at Bimini Bay Resort finds the renters while you enjoy a guaranteed rental income each month. Planned amenities at Bimini Bay Resort include two major restaurants, a grocery, deli and food court and a sports bar restaurant. Bimini Bay Resort will also include a spa and exercise facility. A large business conference center and twin theaters are also planned at Bimini Bay Resort. Peace of mind will be yours at Bimini Bay Resort with its gated access with security cards. A fantastic real estate investment in Florida at Bimini Bay Resort awaits the investor who desires a consistent income without the headaches of day-to-day management. Bimini Bay Resort is worth investigating.

Our Featured Orlando Properties: You have an opportunity to join one of the fastest growing trends in the United States and the world. Orlando is one of the most explosive markets in the country and the Disney resort area has an average hotel occupancy of around 80%. Orlando is known as the vacation capital of the world and the top rated short term rental market, one that shows tremendous potential for real investors.
Tourism – with 76.8 million visitors in 2004 (a record number), Florida is the top travel destination in the world. The tourism industry has an economic impact of billion on Florida’s economy. Click here for additional tourism facts and statistics.

City Population Rank (2000):
(Rounded to the Nearest Thousand)
1.Jacksonville – 736,000
2.Miami – 362,000
3.Tampa – 303,000
4.St. Petersburg – 248,000
5.Hialeah – 226,000
6.Orlando – 186,000
7.Ft. Lauderdale – 152,000
8.Tallahassee – 151,000
9.Hollywood – 139,000
10.Pembroke Pines – 137,000
11.Coral Springs – 118,000
12.Clearwater – 109,000
13.Cape Coral – 102,000
14.Gainesville – 95,000
15.Port St. Lucie – 89,000
16.Miami Beach – 88,000
17.Sunrise – 86,000
18.Plantation – 83,000
19.West Palm Beach – 82,000
20.Palm Bay – 79,000
21.Lakeland – 78,000

Most Populous Metro Areas (2000):
(Rounded to the Nearest Thousand)
1.Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater – 2,396,000
2.Miami – 2,253,000
3.Orlando – 1,645,000
4.Ft. Lauderdale – 1,623,000
5.Jacksonville – 1,100,000
6.West Palm Beach/Boca Raton – 1,131,000
7.Sarasota/Bradenton – 590,000
8.Daytona Beach – 493,000
9.Lakeland/Winter Haven – 484,000
10.Melbourne/Titusville/Palm Bay – 476,000
11.Fort Myers/Cape Coral – 441,000

Home to 11 of the country’s 100 fastest-growing counties, a Florida investment property has high potential as a profit-maker, unlike most other areas. Port St. Lucie, Miramar and Cape Coral are the fastest growing cities in Florida. It’s unlikely you will make a mistake investing in Florida real estate considering the vast number of tourists and new residents flocking to the land of sun and surf. The most difficult decision to make will be which location in Florida to to the bureau’s figures, the number of South American visitors have dropped substantially in recent years, from 659,000 in 2000 to fewer than 300,000 last year.

Other signs point to a recent upswing in international traffic, however. Orlando International Airport officials said in June that the airport recorded a 20 percent increase in international passengers compared with the same month last year.

On International Drive, a tourism corridor that benefits heavily from overseas travelers, merchants are noticing the difference.

“It’s maybe picked up,” said Zach Marino, manager of Texas de Brazil restaurant on International Drive. “In this area it’s hard to tell because this is the spot to be. We have a strong international clientele.”

Asian visitors increased by nearly 40,000 in 2004, and about 100,000 more Canadians traveled to Orlando last year than in 2003.

The visitors bureau noted that it has stepped up its national and international marketing of Orlando, having pulled back on such advertisements after 9-11.

“Our plan is more back-to-normal in terms of marketing thrust,” Peeper said.

New York remained the No. 1 source of domestic out-of-state vacationers to Orlando last year. Experts are predicting that 2005 will exceed last year in terms of both international and domestic visitors.

Earlier this month, Walt Disney World reported percentage growth in the low double digits among international tourists, while the number of domestic customers remained relatively flat during one of the rainiest Junes on record.

The best things to see in California

Posted by admin | Posted on 30-07-2010

Category : Region V

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The best things to see in California

There is certainly plenty to see in California. If you only have a bit of time in the area then you might want to narrow your list down and decide on what are the best things to see in the state. Here are just some suggestions.

Visit Hollywood. This is one of the most famous places on the planet and a must see for anyone visiting the area. You might even get discovered by a big Hollywood producer who notices something in you straight away and wants to have you staring in films within a week; you never know. Hollywood is the place where dreams come true and more dreams get shattered. If you have any pretentions of being a star then you will find plenty of company in this city. If you just want to shop or sit in a restaurant and people watch then there is no better place to do it. A trip to Hollywood is something that you are unlikely to ever forget.

Big Sur California is a great place to go just to relax. Here you will have the stunning mix of mountain and ocean. Few people live in this area, but there are plenty of visitors attracted by its beauty. If you want to experience a bit of peace then Big Sur is the place to go in the state. This is a location that has been attracting writers and artists for over a century and they come here for inspiration.

Santa Cruz is the place to go if you want some of the nicest beaches in the United States. The city itself if a great location for dining and there is a really vibrant music scene. Most people come for the beaches though, and you won’t be disappointed by what is on offer. Monterey Bay is a great area to go sailing if this is the type of thing you enjoy.

San Francisco has been viewed by many as the nicest city in the world. It was the home of sixties flower power and there is still a relaxed attitude to be found there today. The people of this city are among the nicest in California and they are sure to offer you a really warm welcome. Just be careful that you don’t leave your heart in the city.

Catalina Island is off the coast of California and this rocky island is well worth a visit. If you enjoy water sports then you will have a great time here; surfing is particularly popular. This is also the home of a large casino and if gambling is your thing then you will want to spend some time here. The use of motorized transport is restricted on the Catalina so this gives it a really relaxed feel. If you believe that there is other life out there in the universe then you should definitely visit because the island is considered a UFO hotspot. There are also quite a few ship wrecks around the island.

California Vacation – Things To Do And Places To Visit

Posted by admin | Posted on 25-07-2010

Category : Region V

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California Vacation – Things To Do And Places To Visit

Diverse cultural heritage, high end facilities and the star magnitude of California are the main attractions here. How can one forget that the state is home to Hollywood, the entertainment hub of the world! Top of that, the warm climate and plenty of opportunities for the travelers make the state one of the popular vacation destinations in the world.

It is said that the state has something to offer for everyone. No matter what are your likings and which age group you belong to – plenty of entertainment packages await you in California! Do you need any other reason to visit California?

West Coast is one of the main attractions and fetches thousands of travelers to this Golden State. And there is Los Angeles! You will hardly find a person who does not get thrilled with a mention of Los Angeles; the city is home to Hollywood – entire world keeps watching the city day and night for latest entertainment news and celebrity gossips. You never know whether you will get a chance to see your heartthrob in the city or not!

If you want to stay in Los Angeles and explore the city, find California vacation rentals in Los Angeles. Visit the directories of vacation rental properties by owners and book your accommodation online.

The Bay area is home to the world-known Silicon Valley and the Stanford University. The famous Golden Gate Bridge is located in San Francisco Bay. Golden Gate Bridge is often mentioned as an architectural miracle – it is really an experience to see this bridge. California Bay area is also home to Alcatraz, the prison. Bay area is known for its diverse culture and liberal views.

Next comes the wine country in the Napa Valley; various wine shops of this region are the main attractions for wine lovers. Take a sip and learn how colorful life can be!

Apart from these cities, there are many other attractions such the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Disney World etc. It takes no time for a traveler to realize that the state offers enormous entertainment opportunities for all. From wine to roller coaster, a trip to California offers all kind of experience.

Make sure you come to California with enough time in hand; at the same time you have to plan your trip in such a way so that you can make the best use of your time. Also, book California vacation renal homes in advance to avoid any kind of accommodation hassles.

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Things You Didn’t Know About Knoxville, Tennessee

Posted by admin | Posted on 15-07-2010

Category : Region II

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Things You Didn’t Know About Knoxville, Tennessee

Many people know that Knoxville Tennessee is a talked about place but many people do not know many specifics about the actual city and general interest points.  The City of Knoxville is the third largest city in the State of Tennessee and houses a population greater than 183,000 people.  The statistical population is really more than a million people but that is determined by several different factors.  The Marble City was a nickname for Knoxville in the early 20th century because it provided large amounts of Tennessee Pink Marble to the area and was exported to other areas as well.

Knoxville was founded in 1786, making it the second oldest city in Tennessee.  When the state was admitted into the Union, Knoxville was the first capital from the years 1796 until 1819.  The history for the Knoxville area also runs very deep and it had an important role during the Civil War.  Slavery was a big issue and the State of Tennessee had joined the Confederacy but the confederate forces that were in Knoxville retreated allowing the Union to come in and fortify the city.  Many unsuccessful attempts were made to attempt to take the city back but the confederacy eventually gave up.

After the war, many investors wanted to rebuild the city and take it to a new level of production through the industrial revolution.  This allowed Knoxville to grow larger and become more advanced than it has ever been before.  This all goes through the progressive era as well as the Great Depression as well.  Up until the Modern times, Knoxville has done pretty well in terms of city growth as well as productivity. The town has thrived and in more recent times, population booms are expected to occur as well as businesses beginning to flourish after the most recent economic crash.

There are plenty of attractions and points of interest in Knoxville that are sure to catch your eye as well.  Plenty of these attractions have also been around for many years.  At the University of Tennessee, you will also be able to see one of the earliest known structures in Tennessee being an ancient burial mound of Native American design.  Of course there are plenty of fun things to do in Knoxville as well as plenty of educational options to treat children to as well.  It is important to allow children the chance to expand their minds and Knoxville Tennessee is the perfect general interest place to do so.

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When Things Get Back to Normal / What Will Normal Look Like

Posted by admin | Posted on 21-02-2009

Category : Region V

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When Things Get Back to Normal / What Will Normal Look Like

“Boy, I’ll be glad when things get back to normal!”

“When will we get back to normal?”

“When things get back to normal, I’ll

How often are you hearing these comments?  Whether it’s in everyday conversation or the news media, everyone is talking, wondering & speculating “When will we hit bottom?” and when we do hit bottom,  “How long will it take to get back to normal?”  It’s funny that no one seems to be asking, “When we get back to Normal what will Normal look like?”

Lylene & I attended a business meeting a few weeks ago. The subject was the economy on both the local & national levels.  The program was put on by a highly respected educator from Western Washington University.  He opened the session asking for the audience to put aside ideology completely & instead provide dialogue regarding the “State of the Economy” in Whatcom County.  There was no such thing as a right or wrong answer, no pre-judgments, no-judgmental comments – just dialogue, just ideas.  Just open it up and let it all pour out.

Unfortunately, that is easier said that done – but not impossi

I was part of such a group 5 ½ years ago when I was treated at Loma Linda University for prostate cancer.  Being treated at the same time were 350 other guys, all with the same ailment.  The thing that was interesting was that whether they drove a Cadillac or Chevy Nova, whether they had a PhD or a high school education or whether they vacationed in the Caribbean or their local camp grounds, when this group was together, the conversation always very open & sincere.  “How long have you been here, How’s it going, Are you feeling okay, Can you pee, or Can you…?”  Believe me, the truth was laid bare with no reservation.  Dialogue?  You bet.  Judgmental?  Not a chance.  Supportive?  I have not seen anything like it since I was in the Marine Corps.  Ideology?  No such thing – just honest dialogue, plain & simple.  It’s amazing what happens when the only common denominator is 350 guys in hospital gowns with their rear ends exposed – pretty hard to be judgmental in that sort of environment.  Things got to the basics real quick.

It’s too bad that the sense of urgency & openness that existed among this diverse group of guys can’t be replicated in meetings such as Lylene and I attended in Bellingham a few weeks ago.  I guess a pre-requisite to attending the meeting could be a dress code requiring only white hospital gowns, but probably no one would show up but the Bellingham Herald reporter – and then only for a photo op.

Anyway, the call of the speaker for dialogue instead produced one liners, hard and fast opinions and accusations, leaving little room for open ended discussion.  Interestingly enough, the overriding theme was how long will this last (the recession), when will we hit bottom & how fast will the recovery be so that things can get back to normal.  The thing that was especially interesting was that in the Q & A session of the meeting, no one talked about what the “New Normal” will look like. That, to me, is the question that would or could result in some interesting discussion and needs to be reckoned with.

The reason for the “New Normal” is that just as the world changed after Sept 11, 2001, I think the financial tsunami that has hit the world economy will change us in ways we can’t yet imagine.

My “Financial Normal” has evolved over time

1)       Early 1950′s:  I opened up a saving account  to save for college

2)       Late 1950′s:  I bought a guitar from Deye’s Music Studio & paid for it .00 at a time until it was paid in full & then was able to take it home.

3)       1940′s through 1965:  Customers charged their merchandise at my Mom & Dad’s drug store.  No interest was paid on past due accounts.  I’m sure that Mom & Dad suffered some loses but at that time a man’s word was pretty much his bond.

4)       1965:  I was discharged from the US Marine Corps & used the GI Bill to help finance my college education

5)       1970:  Lylene & I were turned down when we tried to rent a TV for a few months because we didn’t have a credit card

6)       1960′s through 1970′s:  Major department stores had layaway programs.  If you couldn’t afford to buy things, the merchant simply put it away for you.  You paid them monthly for the item until it was paid for & then you’d take it home.

7)       1972:  I graduated from college and went to work for the largest retailer in the world.  They didn’t have a credit card option but instead had a “layaway program”. 

8)       1972:  Lylene & I bought our 1st house in Tacoma.  We bought it as a veteran with 0 down & a low interest rate.  The price of the home was ,000.00 & the payment was less than 0.00 per month

9)       1975:  My 1st credit card was a Union gas card

10)    1980′s:  I always felt bad when I saw someone using their credit card at the grocery store because in our family it meant that you were on hard times

11)    1991:  Lylene & I re-financed that house in Tacoma to buy some real estate in Bellingham

12)    1990′s:  We started to use a VISA card for the majority of our purchases to include groceries – Wow, had we changed!

So that was our “Normal.”

Obviously, not only did we change but so did lending practices. 

Up through the early 1990’s, if you wanted to buy a house & had only a minimal down payment, the options were usually either FHA or VA financing.  There were limiters on the use of  VA loans which limited the veteran to only 1 active VA loan & thereby eliminated the use of this product for the accumulation of real estate.  FHA had similar restrictions ie: you could have only 1 outstanding FHA loan with a loan to value higher than 75%.  At the same time, a borrower could usually only have a maximum of 4 home loans outstanding that were backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie.  So if you wanted to get creative with financing, you usually had to work with the seller, because there were no programs available though conventional lenders. Throughout the 1980’s & 1990’s Republicans and Democrats agreed that while on the one hand, home ownership was one of the keystones of a solid economy, on the other hand it was getting more difficult for Americans to buy.  From 1980 to 1995 the number of Americans who owned their own homes stayed pretty much at 64%.  The goal of the US government was to increase that percentage and therein lay the seeds to the crisis we are facing today.  

Until 1995, if a bank loaned money for a conventional home loan, the buyer typically had to come up with a down payment of 20%.  It’s not hard to imagine how difficult this was for the average home buyer as prices increased.  The Community Reinvestment Act, passed by the US Congress in 1977 to make it easier for banks to loan to people with low incomes, was revised in 1995 to allow banks to “securitize” these loans.  They could bundle their loans & sell them at a profit to large investment companies, who then sold them to individual investors in the form of stocks & bonds.  This took the loans off the banks’ books, making it possible for them to make more home loans.  This they did repeatedly & effectively.  To make loans more attractive to the consumer, new loan products were developed:  adjustable rates, shorter terms, interest only, 80/20 loans, lower down payments…and so on.  As a result, many people were put in homes that they could afford only if values continued to increase so they could re-finance them at their inflated value. Home prices were rising so quickly in many areas that buyers felt little risk.  Even if they still couldn’t afford the payment after the run up in value, they could sell the house and make a handsome profit.

Running side by side with this investment frenzy was the stock market bubble with “Tech” stocks in the late 1990’s.  As investors in these stocks took their money out of the stock market they invested into the real estate market, which only added to the price run up.

In 1999, Congress repealed the “Glass-Steagull Act” which until then had prevented commercial banks from owning stocks & other securities.  This allowed Banks to actually own mortgage backed securities, which, as real estate pricing continued to heat up, looked like a great investment for the banks.

President Bush wanted to increase the number of home owners, and, in particular, the number of minority home owners.  In June of 2002, he announced “America’s Home Ownership Challenge” which called on the lending industry to increase the number of minority owned homes by 5.5 million units.  Congress then passed the “American Dream Down Payment Act” allowing minorities with poor credit & no savings to get a mortgage with the US government picking up the down payment. About the same time, the government encouraged Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac to increase the number of home loans to minorities.

The stage was set for a real “Wild West Show” in lending practices.  Banks were falling over themselves to create the greatest number of loans.  Standards for income levels, credit scores and down payments were all thrown out the window in the enthusiasm of making the deal.  The “Perfect Storm” was set for the greatest financial catastrophe since the Great Depression.  In 2007 it all started to unravel, and the entire economy was impacted.  The hope today is that the Stimulus Package that President Obama will be signing this next week will bring to the economy enough shock & awe to break the back of the recession & get things back to “Normal”.

And what will that look like?

Will normal be easy access to credit card purchasing?

Will normal be easy access to lines of credit?

Will normal be easy access to car loans?

Will normal be home ownership for everyone?

Will normal be a college education for those who choose to go?

Will normal be a standard of living that has been unattainable for the rest of the world, but that we have all become accustomed to?

Or…will normal become more of what Lylene & I experienced through the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s?

I think whatever normal will be and how soon it can be achieved will be determined not by those who wear their opinions & ideology on their sleeves but by those who leave their egos at home & bring dialogue to the table.  Our history suggests that it is possible.  The Colonists did it in the Constitutional Convention in the 1780’s, American citizens did it when they worked their way out of the Great Depression of the 1930’s, those who lived through the 2nd World War did it with the Marshall Plan & those who wondered if all citizens of the US would ever be truly equal proved it with the election of the 1st black American to the White House.

How quickly we can establish the “New Normal” that we want to live in will depend in large part on whether we can mentally approach the problem in hospital gowns with our rear-ends exposed & not get hung up on ideology and positions.  Without true dialogue, where all parties are considering all options and focusing on the needs of the country, the “New Normal” & when we arrive there may be a long ways off..

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10 Things you Didn’t Know About North West Science and Technology

Posted by admin | Posted on 21-02-2009

Category : Student National Pharmaceutical Association

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10 Things you Didn’t Know About North West Science and Technology

North West Science and Technology has led to many cutting edge scientific breakthroughs, such as Britain’s first aeroplane, the birth of the first test tube baby, splitting the atom, and the world’s first computer. Science and Technology is continuing to develop rapidly in this region, and many global brands, ranging from medical research to military aircraft have significant research and design facilities in the North West. Over 25% of the region’s £106 billion economy comes from Science and Technology companies.

1. North West universities play a key role in Science and Technology, and have a combined turnover of over £1.2 billion, almost 1% of the region’s total economy. Leading companies, including those in the Aerospace Business, automotive supply and manufacturing companies, nuclear energy and medical research are closely linked to North West universities. More than 50,000 North West students graduate every year, including 25,000 with life science degrees. Over 69,000 science students are trained every year.

2. The Aerospace Business in the North West has a turnover of £6 billion, and is responsible for producing military and commercial aircraft and components which are used both in the UK and exported worldwide. Extensive R&D programmes ensure that the latest technologies are available to create the most advanced planes in the world. Countries all over the world rely on the North West Aerospace Business for their military and commercial aircraft requirements

3. The Chemistry Industry plays a vital role in the North West, and sales of chemicals contribute over £10 billion to the economy, equating to approximately 20% of the UK chemistry industry. Approximately 220,000 people are employed in this sector. In 2005, the Department of Trade and Industry announced that as part of the Technology Programme, one of the 19 new Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) would be in Chemistry in the North West. KTNs help to share knowledge and research between businesses, academic institutions such as universities, and trade associations.

4. The North West and Cumbria in particular, is widely acknowledged as the centre of the UK Nuclear Energy industry, and is home to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The research and development work done in this region has led the Government to conclude that utilising nuclear energy is part of a viable solution to meeting the energy needs of the UK.

5. There are over 50 research institutes, many of them multi-institutional, as well as traditional R&D departments. The North West is home to the Research and Development departments of several of the worlds leading companies, and business R&D investment in this region is greater than in any other part of the world except Asia. Recent reports show that 4 of the top 10 companies by R&D spending have significant facilities in the North West. Pharmaceutical development, including the largest cancer drug research centre in the UK, Aerospace Businesses, manufacturers of consumer products, as well as the Chemistry Industry and Nuclear Energy are well represented in the North West.

6. The North West’s seven science parks are home to many knowledge-based companies in diverse industries ranging from providing education to Nuclear Energy and decommissioning. Strong links to universities as well as research institutes and centres of knowledge, in the UK and abroad, help to ensure that Science and Technology in the North West is second to none.

7. Dedicated Strategic Science and Technology sites have been set up throughout the North West, and Manchester is aiming to become one of the UK’s first six Science Cities by 2015.

Manchester Science Park is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence, and is one of the most successful of its kind. Tenants include specialists in healthcare, telecoms, and digital media.

The Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, near Warrington in Cheshire, is home to leading companies in diverse industries ranging from healthcare research to business support services. The nearby Daresbury Laboratory is one of the best-resourced science facilities in the UK.

Liverpool Science Park, right in the centre of Liverpool, is the fastest growing science park in the UK, and contains computer games, website design and software companies as well as solicitors specialising in intellectual property and technology law. Speke, also in Liverpool, is home to the National Biomanufacturing Centre, which is set to become the leading biopaharmaceutical design centre in Europe, and helps to create and develop new medicines

West Cumbria Science Park, near Whitehaven, has over 60 companies on site, ranging from ecology to engineering, many of which are involved in the Nuclear Energy Industry.

A Science Park in Lancaster is scheduled for development this year, and will be located close to the top-ten ranked university. This exciting new project will combine the renowned academic knowledge and resources of the University with local businesses know-how and the Lancaster Environment Centre.

8. With Manchester recently voted the most creative city in the UK, and Liverpool’s reputation as one of the leading cities for computer game design, the North West is at the forefront of new technologies as well as traditional Science and Technology. The use of ICT in education, website design and internet technologies, TV and film production, as well as other media industries, is all flourishing in the region, thanks to Science and Technology.

9. As well as looking to the future, the region’s scientific history is preserved through museums such as the World Museum in Liverpool, Quarry Bank Mill in Styal, Cheshire, and Wigan Pier. Visual displays as well as hands-on activities, demonstrations and different media show how Science and Technology has changed our lives, from mechanising everyday tasks to revolutionising manufacturing methods.

10. As well as the outstanding Science and Technology facilities, the North West is a popular business location thanks to its fantastic infrastructure. Within reach of 3 international airports, and a great motorway system, the North West is closer than you may think. In addition, the North West has many Areas of Natural Outstanding Beauty and the standard of living is high.

There has never been a better time to see how North West Science and Technology can help you.

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