1. Do not turn off your computer using the switch on the power bar. Use the proper procedure, i.e. click Start, Turn Off Computer, Turn Off. If your computer freezes or you get the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (especially if you still have Windows Me), try the good ol’ CTRL + Alt + Del before hitting the Reset button, or doing anything else. 

2. Never turn off your PC while you are in a program, or have multiple windows open. Close all the windows and applications first. 

3. If you turn your computer off for any reason, wait a minute or so before turning it back on again. This allows the machine to clear memory and get ready for bootup. 

4. Never connect new hardware while the computer is on. Turn everything off, connect your hardware, then boot up again. 

5. Never push the release button on that CD or floppy drive until the drive light goes out. Never force a disk into the drive. If it will not go in easily, check for pilot error (you may have it backwards or upside down!) 

6. Here is an old one, but still necessary: Keep magnets away from those floppies, and far from your computer as well. 

7. Never bring food or especially liquids near your PC. If you do spill something on the keyboard, clean it up immediately. If the keys stick or you have other problems, as a last resort you can run the keyboard through the dishwasher, top rack, face down, with no soap. Let it dry for a couple of days, then try it. 

8. Do not fall for phishing scams on the Internet. Follow this one simple rule: If you want to go to the Web site of your bank, broker, eBay, etc. click your Desktop icon or Favorites link, or TYPE the address into the browser address bar. Never click links to such sites in an email or on a Web site. Never copy and paste your username or password. The contents of your Clipboard can be seen. 

9. Do not download anything unless it is from a trusted and reliable source, and you really need it and will use it. Screensavers are a favorite hiding place for malware. If you want a new background or screensaver, check your Windows first. Right-click a blank area on your Desktop, and click Properties, Desktop (or Screen Saver). 

10. Do not accept offers you may see online to scan your computer or Registry for viruses or spyware. Some of these programs will report an infection where none exists (false positive) to scare you into buying their software. Even worse, other programs may actually infect your machine with malware. Besides, you do have a full set of security programs already, right? If not, get them! 

You may want to print out this list and keep it handy. Or better yet, why not send it to your friends? Happy (and safe!) surfing.

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You can easily understand what is the definition of web hosting. This is through its analogous role in a personal computer’s CPU. In a personal computer, you store your files in the CPU’s hard disk drive. If you want to access your files—images, videos, music, documents, etc—you just have to click their icons and the files will be shown. Inside the World Wide Web, web hosting serves as your website’s CPU.

The sentences and paragraphs written in your website, the pictures, videos, and banners posted on them and all other documents located in it are stored in the servers of web hosting providers. Therefore if you type in your domain name or address in your web browser, the web hosting provider will detect and locate your files and show them as an organized collection of web pages. Other readers who visit your site will also see the same pages anywhere in the world. Everything seen on the Internet even as little as period is stored as files inside the computers of web hosting providers.

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The general public is also interested in finding out the dieting secrets of movie stars and singers. They think that actors might have some tricks up their sleeves if they manage to stay so slim and good-looking through the years. Actually it’s not quite like that. Actors and singers are normal human beings. They have their unique genetic make-ups which means that no single diet works for everybody. So each one of them tries a couple of diets in order to find out which one suits him or her. Moreover, not all Hollywood stars stick to their diets. The crave for a treat does not discriminate.

Celebrities don’t have some sort of secret knowledge that opens the path to a beautiful body. Most of them get their tips just as the rest of the people do. They hear them from hairdressers and make-up girls. They get them from agents and publicists. Or they follow the latest fashionable trainer or dietician, just as they pick up on the latest philosophies or mystical experiences. Moving from Atkins to cabbage soup is not more complicated than dropping Buddhism in favor of Kabbalah. Some stars hire people who know a lot about diets to make these decisions for them.

All these famous people have to deal with the same kind of issues we all do. Sticking to a diet is hard on them, too, so they eat things they shouldn’t and resent the fact that they can’t do it all the time. They worry about the effects of such and such diets on their skin and they don’t look all that great all the time. But for every star there’s a small army of lighting experts, make-up artists, beauticians, image editing and visual effects people who work hard to make sure that the faces we see on screens and in magazines look perfect. No blemishes, no unsightly skin, no sagging anywhere. Just perfection.

One thing that could be said for Hollywood stars is that they work harder at their diets than most people. It’s very important for their jobs and popularity and so they try really hard to stay in shape and look good everyday. They’re not dieting experts and it’s unrealistic to expect them to be so. They’re good at other things and we’re content with them being that way. So, the bottom line is that there really is not secret to Hollywood dieting. Just the will to carry on and the struggle to stay fit.

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Getting there: From within Australia you can easily reach Brisbane by air or road. Brisbane airport is well served by all the major domestic airlines such as Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jetstar. It’s about a ninety minute flight from Sydney to Brisbane and around two hours from Melbourne. Travelling by road is possible by car or coach but it’s at least ten hours driving so it’s a good idea to split the trip up if you can. A couple of great places to stay on that strecth of coast include Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay. If you’re coming to Brisbane from overseas then the airport is well served with direct flights from Asia and connections from other parts of the world such as Europe and the US. Airlines that fly into Brisbane include Singapore airlines, Emirates, Qantas and Cathay Pacific. Once you land you can either get the Air train into the city or catch a taxi which will take around 20-25 minutes to get into the city.

Getting Around: Once your in Brisbane then it’s easy to get around the central areas by foot or public transport. The public transport is operated under the name of TransLink and allows the use of a single ticket for bus, rail and ferry. Make sure you explore the river using the fast and smooth City Cat catamaran ferries. If your Brisbane accommodation is located in the city centre or inner city areas such as South bank or Fortitude Valley then you should be able to get round the city centre areas on foot. The CBD area of the city is fairly compact. However, if you need to get further away from the centre then Brisbane sprawls out a long way and you may find car rental a good option. There are many Brisbane car rental companies to choose from including all the big names and a number of local low cost operators. A word of warning. If you choose a low cost car rental firm then read the small print in detail. A couple of the firms charge admin and other fees in the event you cause damage to the car and hide this in reams of small print on the contract.

What to do: Brisbane has plenty to do but here are a few suggestions to get you started. * Explore the river via the Citycat ferries. Stand on the front or rear outside sections to get the best views of the multi-million dollar riverfront homes and apartments along the river. Places to stop include New Farm Park where you can enjoy the large park, go for a game of ‘bare foot bowls’ at the local club or visit the famous farmers markets (2nd & 4th Saturdays each month). Towards the end of the trip down river hop off at the Bretts Wharf stop and take the ten minute riverside walk to Portside Wharf the new cruise ship terminal which also has some excellent riverside restaurants and a Dendy cinema. * Visit Southbank Parklands on the other side of the river to the city. Stretching along the river for over a kilometre this area is home to great cafes and restaurants, Streets beach which is an artificial beach and lagoon which is free all year round and is home to the cultural heart of Brisbane with the performing arts centre, galleries and museums. * Visit the eat street areas of the inner city suburbs of West End, Paddington and Oxford Street in Bulimba. * Shop on the Queen Street Mall in the CBD which features a great range of stores including department stores Myer and David Jones. * Play a game of bare foot bowls at Merthyr Bowls Club on Oxlade Drive in New Farm. Access is easy via the Citycat ferry using the New Farm Parklands stop. * Head east to Moreton Bay and take a ferry over to North Stradbroke Island, one of the largest sand islands in the world and home to some great beaches. * Use Brisbane as a base for nearby destinations such as the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Australia Zoo which is one hour north of Brisbane by road.

Where to stay: There is a wide range of Brisbane accommodation on offer. The good news is that much of the Brisbane accommodation on offer is of a very good standard and good value.

At the top end of the price scale you have the usual big chain hotels such as the Sofitel, Hilton and Marriot. These have the advantages of good location and facilities though value for money is sometimes not as good as the alternatives.

Using self contained accommodation is an excellent option for Brisbane accommodation and the city offers a good number of quality apartments for holiday rentals. There are a good number of serviced apartments available in the city centre and nearby areas such as South bank parklands. If your a family and might need more than one hotel room then serviced apartments with 2 or 3 bedrooms tend to offer excellent value. The apartments offer bedrooms, separate living areas with a full kitchen. As well as getting much more space than a hotel room you can also save money by cooking some of your meals in the kitchen rather than having to east every meal out.

When to go: Almost any time of the year is good for a visit to Brisbane as it has a warm sub-tropical climate and over three hundred days of sunshine per year. If you are used to colder climates then you may find the summer months of December to February a little hot. The temperatures during these months often range between 28c and 34c as well as being humid. These summer months are also the wettest. You don’t tend to get many dull and dreary days with rain though. Typically they come in the form of thunderstorms that build up during the day and are short but sharp!

The time of year I enjoy the month are Spring and Autumn as it’s still nice and warm but with less of the humidity and storms that come with summer. Winter in Brisbane is not exactly cold either. Winter is the driest time in Brisbane so expect a good number of sunny days. In the winter then it does get cooler at night with temperatures often hitting single digits but the average maximum temperature in the day is still in the low twenties.

Brisbane is increaslingly a popular destination for Australian and international travellers so make sure you make it part of your trip.

Article of Brisbane Accommodation by Richard Greenwood of holiday accommodation website MakeMyStay.com.au. The site features vacation rentals by owner throughout Australia.

The cost of oil and natural gas continues to rise. CO2 emissions and the release of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) are changing the climate. The support and management issue related to an old energy grid erodes security.

The need to adopt and upgrade the American home to solar energy has never been more apparent. Emerging U.S. companies are ensuring that residential customers are afforded the opportunity to take advantage of renewable technologies through innovative solar system rental services. Companies are positioning the rental of solar panels and entire residential systems as a means to modernize the U.S. energy infrastructure, to increase global energy supplies, and to provide methods for entrepreneurs to create home-based, solar energy businesses.

Photovoltaic (PV) technology is evolving rapidly to address today´s global climate and energy challenges. With the solar revolution comes unequaled opportunity. It offers excellent business growth for work from home, solar energy consultants who want to create a way forward. The following outlines the requirements to starting your own home-based solar energy business.

* Step 1 – Understanding the Solar Energy Business Offering

* Step 2 – Creating a Structure for Your Home-Based Business

* Step 3 – Registering and Completing the Associate Training

* Step 4 – Receiving Ongoing Small Business Development and Support

Home-based businesses, particularly in rural or small town settings, are helping many people achieve the balance between economic prosperity and personal well being. Home-based businesses are now recognized as a viable source of new jobs and economic growth. Entrepreneurs are creating their own alternative jobs from home rather than seek corporate employment.

The home-based, solar energy business explained here has a great mission. Its grassroots goal is to spread the use of clean, renewable power as simply and as rapidly as possible. This solar rental service has removed many of the challenges associated with both the use of residential solar energy as well as the entrepreneurs wishing to start a work-from-home business.

The solar industry´s dramatic expansion is both exciting and a movement worth of crafting a new small business around. A solar powered home is becoming more and more popular and finally more affordable. Many home owners are opting alternative powered water and pool heaters that can be run off of rented solar energy systems. Solar plants consume little or no fuel, saving billions of dollars year after year. The infrastructure would displace 300 large coal-fired power plants and 300 more large natural gas plants and all the fuels they consume.

Solar does seem about to become a major player in the energy market. Solar energy systems are now rentable. Solar module brackets, solar module frames and profile channels according to the present invention can be formed of any suitable material with the entire solar energy system packaged up for one day installations and rental options that lock in the cost of energy for up to 25 years.

Starting a home based solar energy business has many rewards and challenges. Starting a business is a big responsibility that includes commitment, professionalism, training, and self-discipline. It involves careful consideration, such as what type of competition you’ll encounter and the demand for the solar rental service you can expect. Start searching for your next dream job by investigating the options exploding in the renewable energy industry.

At Solargies, we plan to make the right Eco-friendly, green solutions available to the American homeowners. My role involves the leadership, communication, and the education related to the adoption renewable energies. We help provide homeowners the option to rent a solar electric system and avoid the huge, upfront investment in solar technology. Learn more at http://www.Solargies.com

The Moon orbits the Earth with a synchronous rotation. This means that almost the same face of the Moon is faced towards the Earth always. In truth, only 59% of the face of the Moon can ever be practical from Earth. As the moon rotates, it also completes its orbit.

The Moon completes one orbit of the Earth in 27.3 years, but because during this time, the Earth is also affecting, an inclusive astral sequence is 29.5 living. These planetary cycles are responsible for the phases of the moon. The planetary rotation begins with the new moon. The new moon is when the moon first appears as a small sliver. Some cultures and even some calendars will use this new moon as the source for the opening of a new month.

Over the course of the next 14 or so living, the lighted face of the moon will persist to become bigger and larger. During this procedure, the moon rotation is called waxing gibbous. After 1 week, it will resemble a half moon and after the about 14 time, it will resemble a full Moon. Over the course of the next 14 or so existence, the lighted face of the moon will decrease. This is the vanishing gibbous rotation. At the end of 7 days, it will be half a moon and by the end of 14 days, the lighted vicinity will flee and the round will arise again.

This series brings up the first of the orbital property of the moon on society and taste. The 29.5 day moon sequence corresponds with 1 month. The 12 cycles per year corresponds with the 12 months of the year. The about 7 days from each half of the moon corresponds with 1 week. Farther more, this cycle of the Moon also corresponds with the menstrual cycle of many women.

The moon’s synchronous rotation as it orbits the Earth also causes the tides. As the moon orbits the Earth, the gravitational haul of the Moon is causing water to hump towards it, causes a deluge. This related weight will exist on the far side of the Earth as well, hence there are two rush cycles every day.

The Moon’s orbit causes eclipses to happen as well. There are two kinds of eclipses, the solar cover and the stellar cover. The lunar overpower occurs when the Earth is between the sun and the moon. The lunar conceal is exclusive in that we are able to behold the shadow of the Earth being cast on the moon. When the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth, we see a solar eclipse. The Moon is momentary over the shallow of the Sun.

There are so many things of the Moon’s orbit. It has a very single relationship with us. It has unnatural our ethnicity, our corporal being and even the forces of quality that affect our world. The Moon shows us how interconnected we are to the universe around us.

For info on facts about Mars and Moon facts, visit the Planet Facts website.

What points are to be kept in mind while buying wedding jewellery?

When you are set out to buy your ornaments keep these points in mind. They will make your task eas

Budget

Monetary issues are very important while buying ornaments. Weddings are expensive affairs. Jewellery should be properly selected within the decided budget. This is an area where people tend to overspend. It is very helpful if you have a budget set up in your mind before going out.

Suitability

The jewellery should be matched with the outfit that you will be wearing. They must go with your body structure. You must wear the designs that will highlight your beauty.

Future usability

Try to buy products which are not too flashy, otherwise you will not be able to use them later. Buy ornaments which can be worn with simpler clothes too.

Investment

Treat ornaments as assets whose value increases with time. Make sure to keep the documents of your purchases. These assets need to be insured like other the assets that you own

Where can we find them?

Most jewellery shops deal in wedding ornaments. Always buy ornaments from a reputed dealer. Buying from them is may seem expensive, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You may buy readymade ones or have them designed according to your wishes.

There are conveniently modes of buying these on the Internet. You can go through the collections in the websites and choose the ones that suit you best. Online dealers display their products on the net. You can view the several designs and choose the best ones. By making online purchases you will save time and money. These days, purchases on the net are quite secure if you buy from certified sites

These ornaments add colour and grandeur to your special day. It is advisable that you stick to one kind of metal as wearing pieces of different metals may spoil your look. This day will not come again and again in your life, so you must look your best!

Just visit the websites of the dealers of wedding jewelleryand buy the best one for you.

Faith Jewellery is the perfect source for all your religious jewelleryincluding rosaries, crosses, crucifixes, bracelets, chains and pendants. Buy christian religious jade, masonic & garnet jewellery online at competitive rates!

Belize was a British colony for more than a century and was known as British Honduras until 1973. It became an independent nation in 1981. The Maya civilization spread over Belize between 1500 BC and AD 300 and flourished until about AD 900. European settlement began with British Jews, privateers and shipwrecked English seamen as early as 1638. The early settlement of Belize in the Bay of Honduras grew from Belize Town and St George’s Caye into a colony of the United Kingdom during the late eighteenth century. In the early nineteenth century the settlement was called British Honduras, and in 1871 it became a Crown Colony. British Honduras became a self-governing colony in January 1964 and was renamed Belize on June 1, 1973. Full independence came on 21st September 1981 after delays caused by territorial disputes with neighbouring Guatemala, which did not formally recognize the country.

A yacht charter in Belize enables you discover some of the most unspoiled islands of the Caribbean. The luminous turquoise waters of the Belize archipelago are made up of over 200 deserted tropical islands and coral atolls and boast some of the most pristine beaches in the Caribbean. Belize has become a popular spot for yacht charters and diving vacations. Most yacht charter companies have catamaran fleets because the shallow draft will assure easy navigation.

The coast of Belize encompasses has an unlimited abundance of wildlife and sea life waiting to be discovered. Schools of tropical fish, Manatees, and coral gardens abound here making snorkelling and diving expeditions an exciting adventure. There are many archaeological and national parks along with marine reserves in Belize. Check with your yacht charter company for help in making plans for land expeditions to the Mayan ruins or the rainforest.

Belize International is the main airport and is only little more than two hours from 3 gateways in the United States. San Pedro, Ambergris Caye or Placencia are reachable by a 15 minute commuter plane with several connections a day. English is the official language and is widely spoken, as is Spanish. Other languages include Creole, German, Mayan and Garifuna. US Dollars are used and major credit cards may be accepted in hotels, restaurants and some shops.

The yacht charter season in Belize is restricted by the hurricane season to the months of November through to May. From mid-December to May the trade winds blow. Temperatures are always around 25º – 30º C.

Most people are very comfortable sailing the waters of Belize but it does come with some challenges. Navigation is relatively easy and by line of site. The most difficult part is learning how to read the shallow waters and recognize coral. It is imperative to keep a proper watch at all times. Bare boating outside the reef is prohibited. The outer reefs are not well charted or marked making for the danger of running aground. Once inside the atolls the shoal waters are full of coral rock formations that lie in so many areas and in such numbers that the charts simply do not give clear insight to their locations. Communication on VHF is also non-existent, with mobile phones the most reliable means of communication, search and rescue is not very reliable and all this combined makes bare boating outside the reef untenable. However with so much to see within the barrier reef venturing beyond is not necessary.

Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize and the most commercially developed. Ambergris Caye has been the hub of maritime trade in Belize for hundreds of years. In the last twenty to thirty years the incredible surroundings of Ambergris Caye has led to a large growth in both the Belize dive and scuba trade, yacht charters and ecotourism.

The main town of San Pedro still maintains itself as a quaint fishing village although here one will find a lively nightlife. San Pedro only has a few streets with interesting shops, a few homes, and several restaurants and bars. The airstrip is also located here, so getting to your charter yacht is literally a stone’s throw away. The island is home to tropical savannahs, sparkling white beaches and mangrove forests. It has become the most popular tourist destination in Belize.

The amazing coral reef system lies half a mile east of the shoreline and runs the entire length of the island. It is the second largest barrier reef in the world and has made the town of San Pedro the dive and water sports capital of Belize and Central America. It is easy for snorkellers to discover hundreds of species of fish right off the beach. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens, the transparent waters of Ambergris Caye are a paradise for divers, snorkellers, bird watchers and fisherman alike.

Begin your yacht charter in Placencia and you can explore the southern half of Belize. Placencia is known for its lovely white sandy beaches and beautiful mangroves. The main street is a three-mile stretch of sidewalk in which there are a few local services, including a laundry service and small grocery. However if you are planning to leave on your yacht charter from Placencia, it is a wise idea to have provisions planned in advance with your yacht charter company. The grocery store is not equipped to handle the needs of a charter boat. In most cases the provisions that you order are flown in from Belize City. This is not an active spot for nightlife and restaurant dinners. This is paradise on earth, very tranquil and serene. Many sailing connoisseurs have compared their experience of Placencia to memories reminiscent of the BVI 30 years ago before it was developed. Placencia is also the gateway for a land-based tour of the many cascading waterfalls and the archaeological ruins of the Mayan culture.

If sailing south from San Pedro or north from Placencia there are numerous beaches that provide great yacht anchorages. There are hundreds of cayes to explore with clear waters and white sandy beaches. Some are deserted while others have amenities for tourists. Those places that are undeveloped will offer complete solitude to those looking to get away from civilization on their yacht charter. Whilst there are too many to mention them all individually here are a few highlights to give you an idea of what awaits you on your yacht charter in Belize.

Caye Caulker is a four mile long island is divided in two and lies just about a mile east of Belize’s Barrier Reef. This is a quiet town with friendly people and some nice restaurants. The most popular dive destination is Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. A boat must be hired to visit and it is approximately 30 minutes north of Caye Caulker. With so much to see at various depths, all levels of snorkellers and divers can be accommodated here.

Caye Chapel is the island that is home to the rich and famous and boasts a new state of the art marina and championship golf course. It was developed for those searching seclusion. This is the most exclusive island in Belize where every amenity is available. The marina welcomes yachts up to 45 metres in length. Once here there are many picturesque beaches and exotic wildlife to discover as well as the natural beauty the island views has to offer.

St George’s Caye is located south of Caye Caulker, this island is one half mile from the barrier reef. St. George’s Caye is quiet and serene and a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Very few services are offered here with just a restaurant, hotel and a bar. The diving is incredible with visitors sighting many dolphins just before descending down the caye’s wall.

Goff’s Caye is a tiny island on the reef just north of the main channel, English Channel. It has good snorkelling and a beautiful beach.

English Caye has a lighthouse that marks the south side of English Channel. This island offers superb snorkelling 1000 feet south on a huge coral patch.

Rendezvous Caye is a jewel of an island also located right on the reef. Another beautiful beach with excellent snorkelling all around, this is also a good location for scuba diving on the 60 foot outside wall. It is not however a safe overnight yacht anchorage with its coral all around but a ‘must see’ day stop.

Bluefield Range provides a safe yacht anchorage and the two fish camps usually offer a choice of fresh seafood for dinner.

Colson Cayes is another safe anchorage with several fish camps. The Cayes offer a shallow lagoon to explore by dinghy with plenty of coral nearby for snorkelling.

Tobacco Caye is a fine overnight anchorage, unless in a northerly wind. There are several choices for basic meals and a few bars on the island. There’s a dive shop for those who enjoy scuba diving and plenty of good snorkelling.

Laughing Bird Caye is just 11 miles from the coast of Placencia; the caye is located within a “faro”, an atoll on a continental shelf. It is steep sided and encloses a central lagoon. The attraction is the diverse variety of coral reefs. Because of the large amount of visitors steps have been taken to ensure the reefs and lagoon will be protected. There are mooring buoys and channel markers in place to protect the fragile ecosystem.

South Water Caye is about 25 miles from Placencia. South Water Caye is a reserve protected by the World Heritage Organization. Like the other marine reserves in Belize it has an amazing array of underwater life and palm trees that line the waters edge. The clear blue waters of South Water Caye give way to white sandy beaches.

Sapodilla Cayes is another marine reserve that sits in the most southern portion of Belize’s barrier reef. It is comprised of 14 mangrove and coral islands with unspoiled white sandy beaches. The waters are very shallow with some areas being less then 5 metres. On Huntington Caye you will discover the lighthouse and a Belize Guard Station. The beaches here are the nesting grounds for turtles. Lime Caye is often the most crowded with tourist boats arriving from Punta Gorda. The best place to anchor the yacht and spend the night is either Nicholas or Frank’s Caye. The incredible reef system with an abundance of colourful fish species will provide for a great snorkelling experience, even for beginners. Because Sapodilla is off the beaten path it is not over run by tourists and remains a magnificent and pristine group of islands that have very little in the way of amenities.

Just 25 short miles south of the Sapodilla Cayes lies the port of Livingston on the Rio Dulce of Guatemala where you are required to check in and out of Guatemala. A local restaurant provides a great stop along the way where they’ll pull your choice of fresh fish out of the live trap at the dock.

Outside the Barrier Reef there are some well-known dive sites that are popular. Since bareboat yacht charters are not permitted to venture outside the reef, it is in your best interest to hire a local dive company if you wish to go there. If your yacht charter is crewed, then have the skipper contact the local dive company to make arrangements for a meeting place in order to explore with an experienced dive master.

Glover’s Reef Marine is located 36 miles off the shore of Belize. It is a group of islands encircled within a turquoise lagoon and surrounded by a coral reef that has one of the richest tropical marine environments called Glover’s Reef Atoll. All six sand cayes within the atoll are privately owned. The diving is legendary and cannot compare with any other place in the world. There are over 80 square miles for snorkellers and divers to explore with an incredible variety of fish. The southern part of the atoll is a conservation area that is used for research and recreational activities. Visitors are forbidden from taking anything from the area. Dive boats require a license to be there and divers must register with the reserve manager. There is a resort located here as well but amenities for boaters are limited.

Lighthouse Reef Atoll is the farthest atoll from the coast of Belize. There is one charming colonial style beachfront resort located on the island and the primary focus of activities is diving and relaxing on the beach. The famous “Blue Hole” is actually located in the centre of the Lighthouse reef lagoon. The 400 foot deep hole is perhaps one of the most amazing underwater experiences in the western hemisphere. Some of the best wall diving exists here and many consider it the greatest dive site in Belize. Coral surrounds the entire 75 square miles of Blue Hole. Visibility is an amazing 100 feet in clear turquoise waters that are calm with no currents running. If considering a dive here hire a local dive master to meet your boat and take you there. He will have the expertise necessary for a safe diving experience.

Ken Jones runs a Crewed Yacht Charter Guide.
Follow this link for info on Yacht Charter in Belize.
And this link for Caribbean Yacht Charter

Though the forecast for the economy is starting to improve, the plight of recession-weary businesses is still difficult. If you’re struggling to find a way to motivate your employees when offering money isn’t an option, here’s some advice for you: Focus on becoming a great leader. There are few things your employees will appreciate more. 

By Charles Garcia 

After months of economic tough times, a glimmer of light is starting to appear at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Rather than being harbingers of doom, economic news stories are now starting to look ever so slightly brighter. This improved economic forecast will likely have many company leaders looking for ways to motivate their employees to keep up the hard work necessary for navigating their companies into calmer waters. Unfortunately, despite the recent economic uptick, most company leaders still can’t offer what they view as their greatest motivational bargaining chip with their employees—the almighty dollar.

Fear not. Money isn’t the only way to rally your troops and boost morale during this crucial time. In fact, positive, strong leadership can often garner far greater results than offering money or other perks ever could.

Too often businesses assume that offering more money is the only way to motivate employees. The reality is that employees value having strong leaders, who motivate them to do their best, just as much if not more. And there’s no greater defense against a tough economy than a workforce motivated to do their absolute best.

As an alum of the White House Fellowship program, one of the most prestigious leadership programs in the country, I know the value of quality leadership.

There’s never been a more appropriate time for the rest of us to look to great leaders for inspiration. The lessons that can be learned from the White House Fellows mentors are universal and absolutely invaluable to any business leader smart enough to heed them.

Remember, all the money in the world won’t keep a hardworking but unhappy employee with your company. But follow the leadership principles that help you better motivate and encourage that employee and she will be just as invested in making your company a success as you are.

Using insightful, firsthand accounts from past program participants, my new book, Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows: Learn How to Inspire Others, Achieve Greatness, and Find Success in Any Organization (McGraw-Hill, 2009, ISBN: 978-0-07-159848-4, $24.95), explores the leadership lessons that former White House Fellows said they took away from their year working under some of the best of the best in Washington, D.C.

Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows includes twenty timeless tenets of successful leadership, each illustrated by multiple inspiring anecdotes. Here are eight lessons from some of the nation’s greatest leaders:

LEADERSHIP LESSON #1: Energize your people. Your employees have just helped you pull your company through one of the nation’s worst economic periods. They’ve been constantly bombarded with bad news in their own lives and in their work lives. It’s time they had a source of positive energy. Who better for them to turn to for that kind of encouragement than you, their leader? Instead of being the type of leader who sucks the energy away from others, resolve to be the kind of leader who strives to bring passion and positive energy to the workplace every day.

THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: John Patrick Gallagher

U.S. Major John Patrick Gallagher (WHF 07-08) learned about leadership from General David Petraeus. General Petraeus was a colonel in the 82nd Airborne Division at the same time Gallagher was assigned to the division as a second lieutenant. One day Petraeus called his brigade together and asked them who could tell him the number one leadership priority of the brigade. The answers ranged from integrity to professional and tactical competence to marksmanship until finally someone hit the nail on the head. The answer? Physical fitness.

“We all thought he was kidding, and we couldn’t for the life of us figure out how that could be the number one priority in the brigade,” recalled Gallagher. “But we learned later that he was right. Self-discipline and being able to perform under pressure and exist outside our comfort zone would be the key that unlocked our success.”

Petraeus began leading his troops through seventy-five minutes of intense exercise every morning. And with every pull-up, push-up, and sprint, the brigade became more alert, had more physical and mental energy, and more individual and team pride.

“All those other things we wanted to do well got better, whether it was marksmanship or vehicle maintenance or soldiers going on leave and not getting arrested for DUI,” Gallagher said. “All these other indicators went up when Petraeus created this climate of self-discipline. He boiled down his leadership approach to this: Am I giving my subordinates energy or am I taking it away? Put another way, am I leading in a way that causes my subordinates to be more enthusiastic and creative about doing their jobs—to believe more deeply in what they are doing and why they are doing it—or am I leading in such a way that it is stifling growth and enthusiasm? If the latter is true, the job may still get done by the sheer force of your legitimacy or presence, but it doesn’t get done as well and it doesn’t last after you’re gone. Petraeus knows how to lead in such a way that it gives his subordinates energy. That’s an incredibly powerful leadership tool.”

Since leaving his Fellowship, Gallagher has been using that tool daily in his role as Director for the War of Ideas and Strategic Communications at the National Security Council’s Office of Iraq and Afghanistan Affairs. 

LEADERSHIP LESSON #2: There’s more to life than work. Great leaders have deep reserves of physical, spiritual, and emotional energy, and that energy is usually fueled by a strong and supportive relationship with the people they love, regular exercise, a healthy lifestyle, and setting aside time for reflection. 

Sure, you want your employees to stay focused on moving your company forward, and you might feel like it’s important to keep everyone’s noses (including your own!) to the grindstone right now, but it’s also summer time. There are barbecues and baseball games to attend, warm days to be spent at the park or by the pool, and much-earned vacation time waiting to be used! Encourage your employees to spend time with their families, whether it results from taking an afternoon off or going on a week-long vacation. Doing so will help them power up for the difficult work to come. And remember to give yourself the same respect! 

THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Doris Kearns Goodwin

At 6:00 a.m. on a cold January morning in 1973, presidential historian, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and NBC news analyst Doris Kearns Goodwin (WHF 67-68) received a call from former President Lyndon B. Johnson, with whom she had become a trusted confidante while working on his memoirs.

“He told me to get married, have children, and spend time with them,” Goodwin said. “He talked about how he should have spent more time with his family, because that’s a different and more worthy kind of posterity than the public one that he had been seeking throughout his entire political career. That would be our last conversation, because he died of a heart attack two days later—but what a wonderful thing to leave me with.”

Goodwin heeded Johnson’s words. For example, she turned down the chance to be considered for the position of head of the Peace Corps during the Carter administration because she knew it would require her to travel often and be away from her young children. Over the years she’s concluded that those who live the richest lives manage to achieve a healthy balance of work, love, and play.

“To commit yourself to just one of those spheres without the others is to leave open an older age filled with sadness, because once the work is gone, you have nothing left—no hobbies, no sports,” Goodwin said. “Your family may love you, but they are not in the center of your life as they might have been had you paid attention to them all the way through. And I always argue that the ability to relax and replenish your energy is absolutely essential.”

LEADERSHIP LESSON #3: Put your people first. No organization is better than the people who run it. The fact is that you are in the people business—the business of hiring, training, and managing people to deliver the product or service you provide. If the people are the engine of your success, to be a great leader you need to attend to your people with a laserlike focus.

THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Mitchell Reiss

Mitchell Reiss (WHF 88-89) has seen firsthand that a leader’s focus on his or her people is an incredibly powerful tool. He learned that valuable lesson during his White House Fellowship from his principal, the National Security Advisor and former Secretary of State and former White House Fellow Colin Powell.

“Two weeks after I started my Fellowship, there was a picnic over the weekend for the National Security Council staff and their families,” Reiss recalled. “We got there promptly, but General Powell was already there helping set up, helping cook the burgers and hot dogs, and personally greeting every single person, not just on the staff but their families. He came over to me and knew not only my name but introduced himself to my wife, Elisabeth, and thanked her for allowing me to work the hours that I worked at the NSC. He told her she should feel that she is part of the NSC family as well.

“That very brief but very personal interaction with Powell had an extraordinary impact on her. After he left, she turned to me and said, ‘You better do a good job for that man. If you need to stay late at work, I will never complain.’ That’s the sort of transformative impact that leadership can have, and I was able to see it up close and personal with Colin Powell. This lesson was invaluable when I later worked at the State Department, where I tried to replicate this sense of teamwork and compassion.”

LEADERSHIP LESSON #4: Act with integrity. In a time when news reports are filled with the stories of private and public leaders who’ve acted inappropriately and have gone against the best interests of their employees or constituents, showing your employees that you value integrity can help motivate them and create a sense of pride for your organization.

Remember, the actions of great leaders are consistent with their words. Saying the right thing doesn’t mean much. Doing the right thing means everything when you want people to follow you passionately. By acting with honor and integrity, you build trust with your followers.

THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Dennis Blair

During his Fellowship, Dennis Blair (WHF 75-76)—current Director of National Intelligence, former Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, retired four-star navy admiral, and former Rhodes Scholar—was one of a group of special assistants to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carla Hills. He witnessed how Secretary Hills fought to maintain an honest, aboveboard environment despite ample opportunities for duplicity.

“The Department of Housing and Urban Development has been rocked by one scandal after another over the years,” Blair explained. “It moves a lot of money around and sends it down to the local level, where things can get pretty raw…There’s just a lot of potential for corruption, but one of the leadership lessons I took away from that assignment was from the tone that Carla Hills set. She was fiercely, unflinchingly determined to do the right thing and never batted an eye about it. Whenever misconduct came to light, she dealt with it quickly and effectively, firing people if necessary and then moving on.”

During Blair’s year in Washington, President Ford was up for reelection. The president and his cabinet, including Hills, were under intense pressure to run a winning campaign. Although everyone’s job was at stake, Blair saw no one abuse his or her power or resort to cheap tactics to influence the election.

“Carla Hills never came in and said, ‘We’re in trouble in Ohio. I want to push some Section 8 money toward Ohio, and I want a big publicity drive so we can turn out a lot of votes there.’” Blair said. “There was none of that. They played by the rules and fought fair and always tried to do the right thing.”

During his own career, Blair had several opportunities to “shade his principles” for his own benefit, but chose not to. On at least one occasion, doing the right thing cost him dearly. Although he couldn’t provide details, he did reveal that because of his leadership role he had a shot at becoming vice chairman or even chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. To be considered for one of those jobs, he would have had to modify his philosophy and change his leadership style to please a new administration. He chose to stick with the methods and values he had developed throughout his career.

“It wasn’t that difficult a decision,” he said. “Certainly I would have relished the chance to make more of a difference in that higher position, but I was not willing to change my philosophy or my style. I had too much confidence in my approach to change it even though I knew that meant I wasn’t going to move up further in the organization.”

LEADERSHIP LESSON #5: Be a great communicator. If your employees aren’t heeding your advice or company protocols, the problem likely lies with you, not them. Are you using the methods of communication they prefer? Are your messages clear and easy to understand? Leadership is about influencing others, and this cannot be achieved without the ability to communicate. If you’re struggling with communicating to your employees, first work on your ability to influence individuals by choosing words that are impactful to carry your message. Then you need to figure out how to communicate to a larger audience.

Remember to be open and honest with your employees. Communicate to them how the economy is affecting the company and where you would like to take it in the future. And always keep in mind that your actions truly speak louder than your words.

THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Marsha “Marty” Evans

After learning the value of quality communication from her Fellowship principal, U.S. Treasury Secretary William “Bill” Miller, Marsha “Marty” Evans (WHF 79-80) carried on the tradition in her work with the Navy.

In 1986, former Fellow and Naval Academy Superintendent Chuck Larson (WHF 68-69) tapped Evans to be one of six battalion officers at the Naval Academy—the first female battalion officer in Navy history—placing her in charge of the training and well-being of hundreds of midshipmen. The academy was meant to be a place of discipline and decorum, but occasionally a lower classman would slip up by wearing nonregulation clothing. When Evans saw a third classman in a Budweiser t-shirt one day, she assumed there had been a breakdown in communication.

“I remember the lecture so well,” Evans recalled. “I said, ‘You know, my own basic leadership belief is that people generally want to do the right thing, and if they’re not doing the right thing it’s because they haven’t been trained properly. They haven’t somehow had the benefit of the teaching and the leadership of their seniors. So, I can only come to the conclusion that this youngster is wearing this t-shirt because he has suffered from faulty communication by his midshipman chain of command.’ Each person in the third classman’s chain of command was held accountable and punished.”

Evans’s commonsense approach to encouraging better communication in her organization helped her create a more cohesive team and also garnered the Navy’s attention. She was promoted steadily throughout her thirty-year career and retired as a two-star rear admiral, one of only a few women to attain the rank. Since leaving the military, Evans has used her outstanding communication skills in her roles as director of the Girl Scouts of the USA and president and CEO of the American Red Cross.

LEADERSHIP LESSON #6: Be a great listener. The most effective leaders are the ones who take the time to listen not just to their team members’ words but to the priceless hidden meaning beneath them. Remember that during good times and bad, sometimes your employees just need someone to talk to. Communicate to them that you are always waiting with open ears.

THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Cesar Aristeiguieta

Cesar Aristeiguieta (WHF 02-03) was assigned to work with Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson during his Fellowship. It wasn’t long before the young White House Fellow noticed an important leadership trait in his principal that he hoped to nurture in himself: Secretary Thompson was an outstanding listener.

One example of this came during a meeting with food industry executives who were brought in by Secretary Thompson to discuss their role in the rise in childhood obesity. The executives essentially told Thompson that the government should stay out of their business.

After listening to them for almost an hour, Aristeiguieta recalls that Thompson responded with the following: “‘I’ve heard you. I understand your concerns. Now I need you to tell me how you, as an industry, can help address this public health issue.’ Then he just sat back and listened again. Pretty soon they were talking about how they could step up and participate without being forced into it—how they could begin putting more healthy food choices on their menus and those kinds of things—and by the end of the meeting the tone had changed dramatically. They weren’t attacking the secretary anymore. They were actually pleased, and they felt that they were part of the dialogue, and in fact, they probably went further than the secretary really expected them to go at that point.

“From that meeting I learned the value of listening. I’ve tried to incorporate that into my own leadership style in my work as director of emergency medical services and disaster preparedness for Emergent Medical Associates and also in my role as an assistant professor in emergency medicine at the University of California-Davis.”

LEADERSHIP LESSON #7: Be a problem solver. Several years ago I returned from a business trip to find that my assistant had hung a gigantic fifteen-foot-long wooden sign above his office door. The sign reads, “Don’t Bring Me Problems. Bring Me Solutions.”

I suggest that you post a similar sign and then set about the task of guiding each person on your team toward the goal of becoming a top-notch problem solver during this crucial period. Sure, it takes time and effort to teach problem-solving strategies to your people, but when you experience the payoff, you’ll know it was an investment worth making.

THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Julia Vadala Taft

In 1975, President Gerald Ford chose former White House Fellow Julia Vadala Taft (WHF 70-71) to direct the resettlement of refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos after the collapse of Saigon. The resettlement program brought 131,000 refugees to the U.S. in six months. There was no template and no time plan. The work just had to get done, and Taft directed it all with humor, grace, and a backbone of steel.

During her career as a public servant, Taft helped reshape the Refugee Act of 1980, and helped organize relief for the people of war-torn and disaster-ridden countries throughout the world, including 25 million flood victims left homeless in Bangladesh, displaced people in Burundi, victims of a poison gas incident in Cameroon, the people of the Sahel and Ethiopia who were suffering from a widespread famine after a locust plague, and 800,000 refugees driven from Kosovo.

When she died from colon cancer in 2008, former White House Fellow and longtime friend Colin Powell was quoted in the New York Times obituary section as saying that Julia Taft “was an image of American openness and generosity. Her professional life was committed to people trying to get by on a dollar a day, those who are hungry, without clean water, without medicine, without homes.”

Taft’s obituary in the Washington Post on March 19 stated, “It was her ability to bring order to chaos—plus her willingness to get on a plane, helicopter, jeep, or riverboat to go almost anywhere that enabled her to make a difference. Whether in the White House, a refugee camp, or meeting with government and [nongovernmental organization] officials, she knew how to get people moving.”

LEADERSHIP LESSON #8: Lead through experience and competence, not through title or position. For more than four decades, by pairing young people with established leaders, the White House Fellows program has given hundreds of young Americans the tools, experiences, and mentors necessary for them to become confident, well-prepared problem solvers and leaders.

And if you want to survive the tough economy, that’s exactly the kind of leadership motif you’ll adopt for your organization. Mentor your employees, encourage them, make partners out of them, and your organization is sure to benefit.

THE STORY BEHIND THE LESSON: Arthur “Gene” Dewey

The ability to help propelled Arthur “Gene” Dewey (WHF 68-69) from his post as assistant to a high-ranking military officer into a White House Fellowship at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Dewey’s principal at USAID, Bill Gaud, put him right to work. He sent Dewey to Nigeria where USAID was spending a great deal of money supporting those caught up in the Nigerian-Biafran war, and Gaud wanted to make sure all of the supplies were getting through.

Dewey found that the Nigerian Air Force was shooting down relief planes during the night airlifts, and so he hatched a plan to get food in by using a combination of sealift and riverboats. He presented the idea to Clyde Ferguson, President Nixon’s special representative for Nigeria-Biafra at the State Department. Ferguson asked him to come work for him for a couple of weeks on what was dubbed the Cross River Scheme.

With no previous experience coordinating large-scale relief efforts, Dewey set about the task of making the project safer and more efficient. As the efforts to bring relief to the people of Biafra—just over 3 million people fell under the plan—continued, Dewey became more involved in the diplomacy required to set up a formal, enduring procedure for getting food and other supplies to the Biafrans. Unfortunately, the Biafran leader, Governor Ojukwu, refused to accept the plan even though it was clearly designed to benefit his people. Ferguson and Dewey were heartbroken.

Then Dewey had a fateful meeting with an initially very negative Catholic bishop on the island. The bishop complained that the U.S. was not doing enough to help the Biafrans. Dewey informed him that Ojukwu was the one holding up the agreement while his people suffered. He then explained the Cross River plan to the bishop, whose attitude gradually softened. The conversation closed with the bishop promising that when Ojukwu came to confession later that week, he would have a talk with him and get him to change his mind.

Dewey was skeptical. But just a couple of days later, after he had arrived back in New York, he received a call telling him that General Ojukwu would accept the proposal.

Dewey says that the greatest leadership lesson he learned from his White House Fellowship was the necessity of being prepared and becoming an expert. His title as a White House Fellow meant virtually nothing as he designed and tried to execute the Cross River plan in Nigeria. What counted were his expertise and his attitude.

Just because the economy has been slow and businesses have experienced set-backs, does not mean the fundamentals of leadership need to change. The leadership qualities espoused by mentors in the White House Fellows program translate perfectly to the workplaces and the government offices of 2009 America. Decide today to start motivating your employees by being the best leader you can be and you’ll all go far, despite the bad economy.

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About the Author:

Charles P. Garcia is a former White House Fellow, graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Columbia Law School graduate, and best-selling author. In 2006, he sold his investment banking firm, which grew from three people to sixty offices in seven countries; Inc. magazine identified it as one of the top ten fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. Garcia was named entrepreneur of the year by three national organizations. He is on the board of Fortune 500 companies and serves as the chairman of the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

For more information about him, please visit www.charlespgarcia.com.

About the Book:

Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows: Learn How to Inspire Others, Achieve Greatness, and Find Success in Any Organization (McGraw-Hill, 2009, ISBN: 978-0-07-159848-4, $24.95) is available at bookstores nationwide and all major online booksellers.

Charles P. Garcia is a former White House Fellow, graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Columbia Law School graduate, and best-selling author. In 2006, he sold his investment banking firm, which grew from three people to sixty offices in seven countries; Inc. magazine identified it as one of the top ten fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. Garcia was named entrepreneur of the year by three national organizations. He is on the board of Fortune 500 companies and serves as the chairman of the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

He first picked up the pursuit of astronomy as a hobby.  It quite possibly would have remained just a hobby but on one night in 1781 he discovered the planet Uranus and this discovery brought him a lot of fame and enough fortune to give up his normal job as musician. He went on to study astronomy and telescope making full time. He became so enamored by it and by the art of telescope making that he rose to the position of Kings Astronomer and during his lifetime he made telescopes and discoveries of celestial objects that shaped much of the modern science and pursuit of astronomy.

He was born in 1738 and he lived until 1822. During this time he and his sister Caroline devoted many hours and many nights to observing celestial objects and making ever larger telescopes.  His largest telescope was larger than a house, and while it was quite a remarkable instrument, it was cumbersome to use so he used a smaller telescope that was only twenty feet long for most of his serious discoveries and observations.

Some of Herschel’s Discoveries and Accomplishments

·         He discovered a new planet (Uranus) in 1781

·         He built the largest telescope of his time

·         He discovered two satellites of Uranus

·         He discovered two moons of Saturn (Mimas and Enceladus)

·         He discovered two new moons of Jupiter (Titania and Oberon

·         He coined the word asteroid from the Greek

·         He created an extensive catalog of nebulae called the Herschel Catalog which has over 2,500 listings

·         He discovered that most double stars were not optical doubles but actual binary stars that revolved around each other. This was significant because it was the first proof that Newton’s law of gravitation applies to objects outside our solar system.

·         By observing the motion of stars he also discovered the fact that our solar system is moving in space.  And he determined in which direction it is moving.

He built most of his telescopes and used them at his home in Bath England and to this day the home still stands and has been turned into a museum that the public can visit. It is called the Herschel Museum of Astronomy.

His sister Caroline spent many years as his assistant and she would take extensive notes while he observed through the telescope. Eventually she began making observations on her own and became quite a famous astronomer in her own right. She is credited with making many discoveries including eight comets and the M 110 Galaxy which is the second companion galaxy to the famed Andromeda Galaxy.

William Herschel lived in a time when it was not possible to simply buy a telescope. He was forced to build his own. Because of this he advanced both the science of astronomy and the art of telescope making. His largest telescope was the largest in the world for almost 50 years.  Eventually technology improved and it allowed other people to make even larger and better telescopes. Nevertheless Herschel holds a special place in the worlds of astronomy and telescope making as the greatest telescope maker of the 18th century and as one of the greatest observers of all time.

The author has been an amateur astronomer for many decades. Learn more about telescopes and astronomy by visiting his website at: The Telescope Nerd