Politics News

Eric Castro asked:


NEW OTAVALO CULTURAL EXPERIENCE” EXCURSION IN ECUADOR COMBINES

RENOWNED OTAVALO INDIAN MARKET AND TRADITIONAL CRAFTS VILLAGE LIFE

Metropolitan Touring of Ecuador has introduced a new full-day excursion ” Otavalo Cultural Experience”, combining the renowned Otavalo Indian market with experiencing the traditional way of life in Peguche, a crafts village known for fine weavings and music, and a lunch of Andean specialties. There are daily departures from Quito the Ecuadorian capital and World Heritage Site. The two-hour drive north is through spectacular scenery in the Andes Mountains with views of Cayambe, a snow-capped volcano on the Equator, and San Pablo Lake at the foot of Imbabura volcano.

The centuries-old Indian market, Otavalo is famous for handwoven woolen goods. The quality is high, prices are low and bargaining simpler since Ecuador converted to the U.S. dollar. Then, on the way to Peguche, visit the Sacred Waterfall of Peguche.

Peguche is a small village of tile-roofed adobe houses where top-quality weavings are made on pedal shuttle and back-strap looms. Visitors have time to experience, observe and photograph an indigenous way of life little changed in centuries; stroll the streets, go into houses and see women do chores, men weave, children play and guinea pigs run; browse or buy wall hangings and baby alpaca sweaters. There are also shops where local musicians make and play Andean instruments like large panflutes, drums and guitars.

Lunch is served in the local style at Sumac Micuy, where the local delicacies are prepared over firewood and in a bread oven to preserve their original flavor. Lunch includes quinua soup, freshly picked corn-on-the-cob, lima beans with cheese, roasted chicken and guinea pig, steamed potatoes and vegetables. For groups, they offer live Andean music and dances during lunch.

Metropolitan Touring also operates two- and three-day excursions to the Otavalo area, with more time to visit crafts villages specialized in wood carvings and leather goods. Stays are at Otavalo Hotels, Puerto Lago, Hacienda Cusín, Hacienda Pinsaquí or La Mirage

For more information about Ecuador tours & Galapagos Cruises visit:

Galapagos Islands Cruises

Galapagos Cruises

Susan L Reid asked:


On June 7, 2008, Senator Hillary Clinton made history. I knew it as I watched her deliver her exit speech before 2,000 supporters at Washington’s National Building Museum. She wasn’t just endorsing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama; she was leading by example.

In her speech, she exemplified how to be gracious in the face of defeat. She did not take “no” for failure. She remained ambitious, confident, and strong. There is much the entrepreneurial woman can learn from Senator Clinton, including the following 10 lessons about facing so-called defeat:

1. If there’s an elephant in the room, talk about it right from the start.

“Well, this isn’t exactly the party I’d planned, but I sure like the company.”

2. Be generous with your gratitude and appreciation.

“I want to start today by saying how grateful I am to all of you - to everyone who poured your hearts and your hopes into this campaign, who drove for miles and lined the streets waving homemade signs, who scrimped and saved to raise money, who knocked on doors and made calls, who talked and sometimes argued with your friends and neighbors, who emailed and contributed online, who invested so much in our common enterprise, to the moms and dads who came to our events, who lifted their little girls and little boys on their shoulders and whispered in their ears, ‘See, you can be anything you want to be.’”

3. Reaffirm your commitment.

“To all those who voted for me, and to whom I pledged my utmost, my commitment to you and to the progress we seek is unyielding . . . I will continue to stand strong with you, every time, every place, and every way that I can. The dreams we share are worth fighting for.”

4. Remind people of why you do what you do.

“I entered this race because I have an old-fashioned conviction: that public service is about helping people solve their problems and live their dreams. I’ve had every opportunity and blessing in my own life - and I want the same for all Americans. Until that day comes, you will always find me on the front lines of democracy - fighting for the future.”

5. Let people know what’s next.

“The way to continue our fight now - to accomplish the goals for which we stand - is to take our energy, our passion, our strength and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States.”

6. Unify rather than divide.

“The Democratic Party is a family, and it’s now time to restore the ties that bind us together and to come together around the ideals we share, the values we cherish, and the country we love.”

7. Know what motivates and inspires you.

“I ran as a daughter who benefited from opportunities my mother never dreamed of. I ran as a mother who worries about my daughter’s future and a mother who wants to lead all children to brighter tomorrows.”

8. Dare to be you.

“Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. When you stumble, keep faith. When you’re knocked down, get right back up. And never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on.”

9. Keep things in perspective.

“Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it. And the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time. That has always been the history of progress in America.”

10. Keep moving forward.

“So I want to say to my supporters, when you hear people saying - or think to yourself - ‘if only’ or ‘what if,’ I say, ‘Please don’t go there.’ Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward. Life is too short, time is too precious, and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been.”

Love her or hate her, Senator Clinton holds a vision for the future and keeps her eye on the mark. No moss will ever grow under her feet. Instead, she counts her blessings and moves on. She considers failure as nothing more than a stepping-stone toward success. She is resilient and determined, she never gives up, and she knows who she is. She is a woman getting it done. No agony of defeat for Senator Hillary Clinton!

David Castro asked:


Merchant cash advances are a great way for small business owners get the funding they need, with a fast and simple process, merchants can be funded with up to $500,000 dollars in as little as 10 days.

How merchant cash advances work?

A lender will purchase a small percentage of your future credit card sales, until the payback is completed and will give you upfront the money your business needs. Often times the business owner will be approved even with a less than great credit history record, making a merchant cash advance a top funding choice.

How do the lenders make money?

Funding charges can widely vary, and that’s not just from one lender to another, but from one cash advance to another. For example, the payback on a $10,000 cash advance could be as low as $11500 or as high as $14,000 dollars.

Even though there is a fixed payback daily percentage, and because of that, theirs is no fixed monthly payment, you pay as you sell; the payback factor varies depending on your business sales and the amount of money asked for.

If your business is doing well and sales are good, the advance lender collects the money sooner making the payback amount rather high. Since there is no time limit on paying back the loan, the annual rate will decrease as the payments will be extended over time, although the lender typically forecasts a rather short term for payback, it could usually take less than a year.

There are no questions that the merchant cash advance cost for this kind of unsecured funding is going to more expensive than the cost of a traditional loan, but if you understand the advantages of a cash advance and know how hard it would be to qualify for a bank loan, you will find that a merchant cash advance is a great option.

Often, business owners interested in funding programs like this may have a less than perfect or even bad personal credit history. They may have credit history records like past tax issues, a list of delinquencies, collections, liens or even judgments that would be an automatic red flag for a traditional bank loan. Instead, the merchant cash advance industry is here to help businesses that can’t qualify for traditional funding methods.

The lender risk:

There is a rather high risk when providing these types of unsecured funding options (hence the higher cost to the business owner for the money), but they use advanced funding models to determine the possible future credit card sales. They also offer the cash advance with fairly short payback terms to help counter the risk.

Although the approval is much easier than it is with most bank loans, few cash advance lenders will lend to new merchants or start-ups without a history of credit card statements. Even less lenders will approve amounts larger than what the business can predict to earn from credit card sales in a year.

The merchant cash advance lender takes all of the risk, but since it is paid out of projected future sales, it is typically a risk worth taking. Seasonal businesses that need cash flow to move them through slow seasons or merchants, who have an unexpected low season, may find a need for a cash advance until business picks up.
Merchant cash advance lenders say that slow businesses are not the only merchants interested in this funding method. Most types of businesses are often ignored by traditional banking institutions.

There are many times when owners of healthy small businesses could use cash flow or working capital to help build their businesses but don’t qualify for the traditional bank loans. These include franchise owners who have exhausted their personal savings to purchase their franchise and would like to open another one; merchants who can buy bulk inventory at discount rates or move into a new, more efficient location; expansions; new equipment; or simply the desire to move forward on a great new opportunity.

Stephanie asked:


What are the two largest climate zones in Latin America?
humid subtropical and humid continental

tropical wet and tropical dry

marine west coast and Mediterranean

dry desert and semiarid steppe

Which of the following is not a major natural resource in Latin America?
gold

copper

iron ore

diamonds

The Sierra Madre Occidental is located in
Chile
Mexico
Argentina
Brazil

Which of the following individuals incorrectly matches his description?
Alexander Solzhenitsyn: Russian novelist and dissident who was exiled for writing about oppression in the Soviet Union

Andrei Sakharov: Soviet dissident who campaigned for disarmament, human rights, and reform in communist countries

Karol Jozef Wojtyla: Polish pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005 who was instrumental in ending the Cold War; also known as Pope John Paul II

Lech Walesa: Czechoslovakian leader who tried to establish “socialism with a human face” through the Prague Spring reforms

lost in degrees asked:


The flowers start off cream colored, but as they age, they get almost deep ruby red to pink streaks and pink coloring in the petals. New growth is a deep ruby red, and it is definitely nearly 99% thornless. My bush is over five feet tall, and almost as wide. If anyone wants more details, and thinks they have an answer, I can also email them a picture of both the shrub and the flowers at their different stages.

Eric Castro asked:


It is one of the most amazing National Parks and Marine Reserve, where the best wildlife encounters happen. Galapagos islands so special in these months? Here are some expedition highlights for you to consider, and remember, they only happen at this time of the year

But, really what makes Galapagos islands so special in these months? Here are some expedition highlights for you to consider, and remember, they only happen at this time of the year:

December and January are some of the best transition months in Galapagos islands. The weather has changed, and the islands’ waters have warmed up, vegetation has started to become green, and wildlife is adapting to such changes. Land-depending species become quite active as their breeding starts, while that of the sea-depending species starts to slow down. Galapagos islands land birds, including Darwin’s finches, have started to reproduce. Watch how their courtship and nesting happens.

There are only four months of the year that can be called transitional months: December, January, April and May. These months are worth calling “Satisfaction guaranteed”.

Our rewarding itineraries include outstanding sites like Bartolomé, Genovesa, Santa Cruz, Española, Isabela, and Fernandina. Right here, and more so at this time of the year, snorkel next to the only tropical penguin on Earth, witness the amazing courtship of the great frigatebirds, see giant tortoises roaming the volcanic landscape of Galapagos islands, walk among blue-footed boobies, plunge next to young sea lions which are just learning to swim, and explore the shores where the most numerous colony of marine iguanas are found.

Enjoy the arrival of the warm waters from the north. Snorkel and swim next to penguins and sea lions with no need to freeze in the water. Tropical fishes abound too. December and January’s weather is quite remarkable, as most days are sunny, but not overwhelmingly hot. Breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. It is all picture perfect.

Marine iguanas have just developed the most colorful mix of colors for a reptile: emerald green, red and black. Best sightings happen at Española, Santa Cruz, and Fernandina Islands. Observe how males establish ownership by acting territorial to other individuals. Land iguanas on Isabela Island have developed bright yellow colors, which next to light brown and reddish blotches, make these reptiles the most attractive of the arid zone. Their mating season has just started

Green sea turtles show the highest curiosity of the year to snorkelers. Best locations to look for this unique behavior includes Bartolomé and Fernandina Islands.

For more information about Ecuador tours & Galapagos Cruises visit:

Galapagos Islands Cruises

Galapagos Cruises

Bush Invented the Google asked:


Are we seriously looking to communist dictators to determine our own personal voting policies now?

If not, why does his prediction of who might win the U.S. Presidential race mean squat to anyone - Republican OR Democrat?

Ernie Fitzpatrick asked:


Is the Hillary Clinton campaign machine in the last throes of life? There is no mistaking a certain flailing, a lashing-out, as Hillary Clinton has become angry, mocking, and offensive in the last few days leading up to today’s Ohio debate- the 20th such debate and the LAST! Tonight is D-Day for the Hillary express. A kick off or the boot?

One such indicator of a failing campaign is the denial of any sense of reality. Harold Ickes as an example, gave the following description of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s prospects, “We’re on the way to locking this nomination down,” he said of a candidate who appears, if anything, headed in the other direction. Locking it down? Get real!

The Austin Texas debate did not help Hillary. Will Ohio tonight?

Ickes added, while played the good cop role also said, “We think we are on the verge of our next up cycle,” he reported, even suggesting the apparent impossibility that Clinton “may be running even” with Obama when all the contests are over. “This race is very close,” he judged. “This is tight as a tick.”

Someone get that man a cup of coffee and wake him up!

In case the Clinton camp missed something, Obama has won ELEVEN election contests in a row, is ahead in teh pledged delegate count, the total delegate count, and the popular vote. Granted, we have four primaries coming up next week with 400+ delegates at stake, but it’s doubtful those four will change much of the current trend if anything at all.

The Obama tsunami rolls on!

Ernie Fitzpatrick asked:


How is it that Hillary can be “ready on day one” when her campaign is in a shambles now? Since she has been running for president for eight+ years now, why is her campaign so dysfunctional? She has the democratic machine behind her, Bubba, and access to wealth and power beyond limits and yet she now finds herself in the second slot in this horse race for the democratic nomination.

And if anyone thinks she’s going to bow out, you have another think coming. She’d rather sink the party and the nation before losing. Hillary doesn’t lose! So, while Barack Obama’s campaign touts “the math” as pointing to an insurmountable delegate lead for the Illinois senator, Hillary marches on and even has the audacity to say Obama would be a good VP on her ticket!

I’m here to tell you that IF she won the nomination, and IF Obama was amicable to a VP role (and he’s not), she could not stand having him as a VP because of his popularity. Hillary will not have anyone looking good around ehre except here image in the mirror.

Rich Lowry nails it on the head when he wrote, “Hillary isn’t electrifying on the stump, her campaign is dysfunctional, and — truth be told — she’s not particularly experienced. What Hillary has is a shameless will to power, and a near lock on an old-school Democratic coalition built on working-class whites. That is enough for her to try to pry the nomination from Obama’s hands one finger at a time.”

It’s impossible for Hillary to gain enough delegates over the enxt eleven primaries to exceed Obama. So, other behind closed door methods will have to be employed. And she can do that! Obama will most likely continue to lead Clinton by about 100 pledged delegates, but won’t get enough to secure the nomination before the convention in August. Obama, and Hillary for that matter, will need superdelegates — elected officials and party officers who are free to vote for whomever they choose, Lowry notes.

Ahh, those fluid super delegates! Who knows how many each candidate has?

The super delegates won’t necessarily support the candidate with the most pledged delegates. The Washington Post spoke with 80 superdelegates who said they will support the candidate who will run the strongest campaign against Republican John McCain. And just who is going to determine who that might be? The Magnolia state gets to add it’s feelings today!

Obama has downplayed the possibility of taking the vice presidential slot, but hasn’t totally ruled it out, and until he does, doubts will remain about whether he has the stomach for what Hillary will drag him through. Hz Obama got the guts, the will, the moxy to take all that Hillary and Bubba can throw at him? We’re surely going to find out.

The Hillary Clinton campaign may be short of professionalism, but it’s not short on intimidation and pwoer brokering. Stay tuned for……….NEWS! :-)Hillary Clinton Campaign

eclipse asked:


What do you think about it.

I was just curious about any other people’s thoughts.
I don’t know why Y!A put this in this section.