Lady Diana’s Death Put World Focus on Drunk Driving

January 27, 2012 by Zoe

The death of Diana, Princess of Wales put the world’s focus on drunk driving.  After the crash that took her life it was discovered that her driver Henri Paul had three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood.  It put drunk driving and DUI under the microscope and showed the tragic effects that it can have on people.  In some cases it resulted in more severe DUI penalties.

The crash which took Diana’s life occurred on 31 August 1997.  It happened in the Pont de l’Alma road tunnel in Paris as her car sped away from paparazzi.  Also killed at the scene were Dodi Fayed and the car’s driver, Henri Paul, who was the security manager at the Ritz in Paris.

At the investigation in France it was concluded that the crash was a result of the drunk drivers loss of control while driving through the tunnel.  It stated that the crash was caused by Henri Paul who was driving at high speeds while drunk.  He was also found to have traces of an anti-depressant and anti-psychotic in his body.

An 18-month French judicial investigation concluded in 1999 that the crash was caused by Paul, who lost control of the car at high speed while drunk. His inebriation may have been made worse by the simultaneous presence of an anti-depressant and traces of a tranquilizing anti-psychotic in his body.

Fayed’s father strongly put forth that the crash was a conspiracy and had been organized and carried out by M16 and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh – the Queens husband.  An inquest was held in London during 2004 which did not conclude until 2008.  The result put the blame on the driver, alcohol, the pursuing paparazzi, and the fact that Diana was not wearing a seat belt while in the vehicle.

Article provided by Vermont DUI Attorney helping drivers with legal services.

 

1 Comment / Posted in Legal

Shakespeares Greatest Tragedies and College Prep

December 14, 2011 by Zoe

William Shakespeare is frequently credited with being the greatest writer of the English language. And while many people take this for granted, including those who have never even read a single one of his plays, the fact is that it is a substantial claim. And while many people acknowledge this, very few can actually justify or argue its validity. And then when conspiracy theories related to the actual authorship of his plays are touted around as the latest intellectual fad, it further enhances the bloated legendary aspect of the title. And really, is it so much that he’s put on such an acclaimed pedestal, or the fact that he continues to be the most popularly produced playwright around the world that continues to draw audiences, academics and critics alike? Or is there something more to his work than what any playwright has created since his time? And can it be a testament to greatest to appear on a GRE practice test
? All of these are interesting dynamics of various associations to Shakespeare’s plays as well as his biography. But once it’s accepted that he is the greatest playwright, there still remains conflicting ideas about which of his plays are the best.

Typically his tragedies are considered to be his most compelling work, and among them are some diverse topics and themes. Hamlet is hands down agreed upon as his overall masterpiece. It incorporates various psychological aspects into the characters and these are incorporated into the plot. And the title character, Hamlet, himself remains one of the most intriguing figures in all literature. After this play, other tragedies remain at the top of many academic’s and critic’s choices.

Macbeth, properly referred to as the Scottish play, when being mentioned in a theatre, another one of his popular tragedies. This is also one of his more controversial works as it deals with regicide, a very threatening subject during Elizabethan times . It also address themes such as ambition and paranoia. Another play that deals with controversial royal themes, is King Lear. In this play Shakespeare deals with themes of pride, loyalty and the nature of love, which is one of his frequent topics of exploration and is common to his comedies as well as tragedies. Of course this is also one of the themes in Romeo and Juliet as well as is the nature of prejudice and family loyalty. Loyalty and betrayal are also major themes in Othello, one of Shakespeare’s more ironically tragic plays. Whichever of his tragedies you’re dealing with, Shakespeare explores the depth and layers of human psychology in such a manner as had never been seen before and has not yet been matched. And don’t forget that in addition to their great production and entertainment value, his work can be an excellent resource for ESL games and other educational elements.

No Comments / Tags: / Posted in Education

Financing a Palace or a Home

November 14, 2011 by Zoe

When you get a loan to finance purchasing a new home you will provide a down payment, usually 20% and then make loans for a set period of time – usually 15 or 30 years.  During the term of your mortgage the loan is usually amortized.  This is carried out via an amortization schedule.  Many homeowners do not understand what an amortization schedule is.

The amortization schedule shows the payment details for every month that a payment will be made.  This is figured out by a amortization calculator.  The mortgage loan is paid off every month with some of the money paying off the interest on the loan, and the remaining paying off the principal.  The amount for each of these items comes from the amortization schedule.

The amount of your payment applied to interest and the amount applied to principal varies over time.  Principal is the amount of the loan you have taken out, and interest is the amount you pay to take out the loan.  The interest is the amount that the lender makes for supplying you with the loan.  So the amortization schedule will show the amount you are paying to the lender, and the amount of your property that you are paying off.  So when you initially take out the loan a higher amount of your payment will go towards playing interest with less going towards the principal.  Over time this will change with increasing amounts going towards the principal.

For additional help on financing a home loan make use of a mortgage calculator which will give you information so that you can decide which option is best for your needs.

No Comments / Posted in Financial

British Influenced Architecture in Kingston, Canada

October 25, 2011 by Zoe

Cities around the world have been influenced by the countries in which they were once occupied. This influence ranges from style of dress, to agricultural techniques, to culinary practices, to art and music…and of course in architecture. Throughout history, there have been other countries which have occupied the cities of Canada. Depending on where one visits, they will encounter the influence of the French and of the British. After the Seven Years War between France and Britain, the French colonies in North American became the properties of the British Monarchy. Just one of the British architectural styles that one will find in this North American country is the Baroque style. It is extremely common for people on vacation to spend a great deal of time exploring the beautiful architecture of the city. And the greatest cities in the world are known for their historic importance the architecture is typically testimony to it. This is most definitely the case with many cities in Canada, and Kingston is one of the prime examples.

In the city of Kingston apartments at rentstarlight.com will be numerous and varied in style. If one is looking to live in an apartment or home of this Baroque style they will find it here. At one time, the term Baroque indicated a negative feeling or attitude. Baroque buildings, art and clothing was considered to be lavish and ostentatious. Too highly stylized and decorative. However, proponents of this style viewed it as an invigorating way to break from tradition and to express a new found freedom. This freedom from government and church rule meant that the people, the artists and the musicians were free to create work that symbolized that idea.

In looking through rentstarlight.com one will see examples of the various elements of the design known as Baroque, however when used to define and describe this style in architecture, the more correct term would be Rococo. Elements of this beautiful style include many organic forms such as seashells, curved leaf and floral designs and of course, lavish embellishments. Embellishments fit for a King and Queen. Look for flowers carved around pediments, scrolls, columns and figures. Often times, in keeping with the atmosphere these buildings create, wonderful gardens will surround such buildings and walking through the streets of Kingston, one will understand and feel, that at one time…another culture existed here and through the artwork, continues to do so.

1 Comment / Tags: / Posted in Culture

American Fascination with British Royalty

September 27, 2011 by Zoe

It seems as though most people have a life long fascination with royalty. And for most people in the United States, this means a fascination with British royalty. In fact, the recent wedding between Prince William and Katherine Middleton was described by some of the Londoners as being more intriguing to Americans than it was to Brits. With that being said, there can be no doubt that the entire British continent, even Ireland, had their eyes glued to the televised coverage. And yes, the reference stressing Ireland’s interest was made in jest. The historic animosity between the two countries, and their royal leaders, has evolved into an amicable relationship between them. And while the Americans once waged war against England, in our battle for autonomy, we too, consider them to be one of our strongest allies, and we absolutely adore English culture, which of course includes the Royal Family.

In addition to the Royal Family itself that we’re captivated by, it’s the castles, administrative buildings and other residences that keep our interests and imaginations engaged. Royalty is as well known for their lavish lifestyles and accommodations as they are for their historic importance and personality characteristics. And one of the favorite aspects of many tourists visits to England, as well as through out Britain, is to tour some of the old castles and famous landmarks like Westminster Abbey, the Towers and Buckingham Palace.

One of the standard follow up aspects after having visited these locations is to set out our favorite souvenirs from the trip and then make something of a shrine. Well, that might sound a little over the top, though many people do try and emulate the looks of some of these castles, palaces and other royal buildings in their own homes. Take one look at a Next Day Blinds showroom , and you’ll see people trying to fit their window trimmings to Buckingham Palace. Sound like a stretch? Well, that’s nothing, wait until you see what they do with the chandeliers. Regardless of how close to or far from we’re able to emulate our zeal for royalty, it’s very likely that we Americans will always maintain a fascination with British Royalty. And with such a dynamic history, how could we, or anyone else, ever lose interest? And of course if you’re one of those tourists who come home and are absolutely set on recreating one of the great buildings you’ve recently experienced, there are some great Next Day Blinds builders program to help you achieve your goals. We’d all love to turn our homes into castles, and with the perfect windows, you might just succeed.

1 Comment / Tags: / Posted in Culture

French Open Facts

May 17, 2011 by Zoe

It’s that time of year again. Late spring is when tennis lovers start dreaming of clay courts and Paris scenery. The French Open is the second of the Grand Slam events that mark the high points of the tennis season. While some consider it to be a warm up for the more popular Wimbledon championships, the truth is that the French Open has it’s own history and traditions and is stands as a premiere event all on its own.

Established as a French national tournament in 1891, the Les internationeux de France de Roland-Garros also known as the Tournoi de Roland-Garros was originally limited to members of French tennis clubs. In 1925 the tournament was opened to international players, but limited to amateurs. It wasn’t until 1968 that the tournament became the first of the tennis Grand Slam events to allow both amateurs and professionals to compete, becoming a true Open tournament.

The french open is actually more popular than the other Grand Slams in terms of worldwide television audience. It is also considered by many tennis experts and fans to be the most physically demanding tennis tournament, due in a large part to the fact that clay courts are a much slower playing surface than grass or artificial surfaces.

This year’s event runs from May 17 thru May 25th. The reigning champions from 2010 are Francesca Schiavone and Rafael Nadal . Both are considered among the top contenders to win the 2011 French Open.

No Comments / Tags: / Posted in Sports

The First Kiss!!

May 5, 2011 by Zoe

1 Comment / Posted in Royal Wedding

Tire Safety Tips

April 27, 2011 by Zoe

Car safety extends beyond seat belts, airbags, and defensive driving. Good drivers will know that the condition of their tires is an important part of having a safe driving experience. Even cheap truck tires can be safe to drive, provided drivers keep the following tips in mind.

Prevention is crucial when it comes to tire safety. This translates to doing routine checks and inspections of the tires. Air pressure should be checked and adjusted every week. At the same time, the tires should be inspected for damage or tread wear. The tires need to be regularly rotated (usually every 6000 miles or so) and kept in proper balance. It is also important to keep the car’s steering and suspension in alignment, otherwise the tires will wear unevenly, which is dangerous.

Buying the right tires for a vehicle is also important. When drivers are looking at tire and wheel deals they need to make sure they purchase tires that can handle any loads that will be carried by the vehicle. Driving with too heavy a load can overheat the tires or cause the tires to fail completely. Aggressive driving can overheat and damage tires as well and should also be avoided.

Most importantly, drivers need to replace the tires if the tread falls below safe levels or the tire shows irreplaceable damage, such as cracked sidewall, tread separation, or deep punctures or gashes. Driving on tires with any of those problems is simply not safe.

No Comments / Tags: / Posted in Automotive

Free Fun in LA

April 20, 2011 by Zoe

The economy is still pretty tough for a lot of people. Scrimping together enough money for a vacation can be a major chore, especially with rising gas prices affecting the costs of everything else. People are looking for cheap or free things to do to make their vacation both affordable and worthwhile. Those heading to Los Angeles will find a plethora of activities that fall into the latter category.

The two big tricks to remember about free vacation fun are museums and parks . Most museums will have one day a week that they offer free admission. Sometimes it’s just for a morning or an afternoon, but other times its for the entire day. There are even some museums in LA that are free all the time. Public parks are going to be free to enjoy, offering plenty of opportunities for picnics, light recreation, and just enjoying the quiet beauty of nature.

While those two tips apply to pretty much every city in America, there are some attractions that are uniquely LA and still fall into the free category. After plunking down their hard earned cash for air fare, an airport shuttle , and hotel room, visitors can head to the La Brea Tar Pits, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grauman’s Chinese Theater — all for free. Other free attractions include biking or walking along the Venice Canals, enjoying a day at the beach, or getting close to the Hollywood sign. In the summer there are a number of free concert series and certain areas of the city offer street performers, so even entertainment can be enjoyed without breaking the bank.

No Comments / Tags: / Posted in Travel

Personalize Map Gifts

March 31, 2011 by Zoe

Unless you are buying a present for a child and pick the first map puzzle or geography game that catches your eye in a toy store , deciding to purchase a map as a gift is not a last minute decision. Selecting any meaningful present for another human being requires a certain amount of thought and truly memorable gifts usually demand a bit of planning, research, and time to obtain them.

The easiest way to personalize a map as a gift is to order a customized Hawaii Wall Map from an established dealer. They will likely offer the opportunity to have the map framed with an engraved plate. With digital printing options they may be able to customize the map to represent an area that was of significance to the recipient. They may even change the names of places or the title of the map to further personalize it.

Some people prefer to find maps that are meaningful to their friend or loved one. They rack their brains for an interest that can be translated into a map. This may mean that a American History buff receives an antique Ohio Wall Map depicting the territory before it became a state. Anglophiles may appreciate a map of the British Empire when it reached around the globe. A little creativity and some time to track down the appropriate map are all that are needed.

No Comments / Tags: / Posted in Shopping

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