Travel Ideas

by: Sparb Aeneuer

Adventure is a State of Mind
What is adventure? Some people believe that adventure is not just that extreme and dangerous experience that one could find existing. On the contrary, they believe that it is an attitude that helps us face the obstacles present in our daily routine. For example, the challenges we have to deal with, the new and different options that life offers, the unknown that is at all time waiting for us, represent an adventure in itself. And it is in this adventure that the human beings discover themselves.
The word adventure has different meanings for different people. Generally, adventure implies thrill and excitement, risks and dangers, and the unexpected and extraordinary experiences. The adventurous people are always on the look out for things that will evoke new feelings and sensations. This is the definition of adventure commonly accepted. However, there are others for whom adventure means much more than this. They associate adventure with a certain bent of mind that helps them enjoy life to the fullest, by accepting it as it unfolds before them. They see opportunities in difficulties and treat hurdles as stepping-stones. They accept everything knowing very well that there is nothing without its pluses and minuses.
Therefore, life is seen as an adventure in itself. It is the manner in which you decide to view and live your own life. And the approach you have to life will certainly affect the way you experience this mysterious journey which we are part of. Some people believe that traveling, sightseeing or hanging on a rope is what an adventure stands for. But the problem may be that they are not experiencing their life as an exploration and their boring life leads them to lookfor excitement outside themselves.
This hidden and deeper meaning of adventure can only be understood by changing one’s point of view towards life. This will not only enable you to identify the raison d’etre of your life, but will also help you recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and accept yourself as a person. However, one needs to realize that one just doesn’t stumble upon adventures just like that. It is only through discovering our own strengths that we can uncover these adventures, and derive wisdom from them. As human beings, we are posed in the world in such a manner that we are compulsive adventurers. And, being so, we are capable of shaping our own lives and destinies, through a positive and constructive approach.
Life is a rare opportunity. With a little faith we can change the very meaning of life. Hurdles and obstacles can be used as openings and opportunities to discover the extent of our strength and courage. The secret lies in living life as an ever-new, ever-fresh adventure and being open to accepting whatever comes our way.

About The Author

Sparb Aeneuer is the producer of Fort Adventure which is a leading resource for all your adventure needs. For any questions or comments, visit: http://www.fortadventure.com.

Business or Leisure ? Make Sure You Get the Best Stay

by: Erica Johnson

?Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belt. We are about to land in a moment…? Well, you might think that you have reached your destination. But not necessarily the end of the journey. In fact, when you hop around places for business or leisure, there are plenty of reasons to worry about. Your stay being one of the main reasons. The moment you step out from an airport, the same reason always bothers you with never-ending questions. Where to stay? Where is it located? What is the price? After all, the entire experience of your trip counts on how good or bad your stay was. However, it doesn?t mean that you have no clue of what you are up to or where you are heading. But it?s about how precise you are in planning.
As this world is an amalgamation of various caste, culture, and creed? leading to many ways of life, you are bound to see different things the moment you land in a different territory. Of course, it is the reason that makes your journey always interesting ? meeting new people, seeing new places, learning new culture, experiencing new cuisine, etc? Interesting, but definitely not at the cost of your comfort. Because you too have your own definition of life. And, what can be better than seeing the different colours of life, at your own comfort.
Leisure Travel
Nothing is as relaxing as going for a vacation. After all that hard work, you need to unwind yourself at least once in a year. Taking some time out from a boring monotonous chore is truly worth all the hard work. Or what is life without some special moments with friends, family or loved ones. About the backdrop, you can choose from what the world has in store for you. Come back to where you belong, awaken your senses with the magical touch of nature. Pump up your adrenaline with some wild adventures. Stay at the top amidst skyscrapers touching the sky. Indulge yourself with some non-stop entertainment, shopping, or just wonder around places?
Business Travel
Business travel is not like a vacation. Though, it might involve exotic locales, a variety of cultures and customs? travelling on business can be tiring and stressful, whether you go abroad for a meeting with a client or supplier. And you might be happier staying home until you get a stay no less than the comfort of your home.
So next time when you are heading for another business trip or leisure travel; follow these few tips to make sure that you have the best of time.
Study about the place
Before starting your journey, it always helps to have a good knowledge about the place you are going. A little research will definitely make a big difference. And of course, it surely will impress your client if at business trip.
Decide on your stay
Perhaps, it is the most important part of any travel. If you don?t decide well in advance, you might end up not wanting to remember about the trip ever again in life. In most part of the world, you will find plenty of crooks waiting to take you for a ride. To avoid all these annoying experience, plan your stay very precisely and most important of all use a large company with a good reputation for you booking needs. There are websites that may assist you in your quest of finding such companies by means of extensive visitor reviews who have rated companies on the basis of their own experience with them (e.g. www.reviewcentre.com, www.kelkoo.com or www.discount-search.com). Always book your hotel in advance. Make sure the hotel is strategically located. Check if the hotel fits your budget, without compromising on your comfort. Check where you will get the cuisine of your choice. But always try new cuisine (local), it might turn out to be quite an experience for your taste buds.
Shopping and entertainment
Business travel not necessarily has to be always boring. It all depends on how you manage your time. Once you sort out your busy schedules, you?ll definitely find some time out. But since you?ll have very less time, it?s always better to know where to shop or to go for some entertainment. And if you are on vacation, just stretch yourself and don?t rush, take your own time. But you should be aware of what is special or unique that you can take home. Don?t make the mistake of buying something that has been exported from your own country.

About The Author

Both Erica Johnson & her husband David love to travel, ski and meet people from different cultures. They have traveled all continents to experience hospitality, adventure, sports, exotic foods, learn new languages and understand history.
erica_david_johnson@yahoo.com.au

by: Gregory Hudson

Isn’t it time you stepped out of the concrete jungle and into a wilder world, the world of the African bushveld?
This may be a major step for most metro dwellers, as the city life offers a certain sense of security, a place to dwell, free from insects and the dangers spawned from mother nature’s indifference to man.
What happens when the Landrover finally stops and your feet meet with the Savannah floor? Do your preconceptions of an African Safari drop away? Find out what Sabi Sabi’s ultimate bush experience is all about!
Ambient Sounds of the Bushveld Come Alive
On foot the intricacies of the African bushveld become apparent, the soft textures of yellowed grasslands, the smell of the earth and the ambient sounds of the bushveld come alive. Things that would never be noticed above the slow, dull hum of a 4×4’s engine.
Guided by a tracker holding a gun, you feel a sense of nakedness as the primeval instincts your ancestors depended on for survival slowly seep back into your awareness.
Large Trees Suddenly Take on a Supreme Importance
You are reassured by your guide that the roar of a lion can literally be heard from up to five miles away. Large trees suddenly take on an importance that had in the past seemed rather arbitrary, they seem filled with a sense of reliability that was never quite appreciated while living in the city. The acacias of Africa are a wonderful sight to behold. Their umbrella-like canopies imprint the bushveld floor with intricate patterns matching the most ornate Persian carpet.
The tracker looks the part, years of experience are demonstrated in every move that he makes. You may be requested to abruptly duck, keep silent or place your attention on a part of the bush that previously appeared insignificant, but that upon closer inspection reveals an anomaly, something foreign, a surprise that makes the bushveld come alive.
Be Amazed at the Artful Eye of the Tracker
The artful eye of the tracker hones in on the smallest details, a track or spoor for instance. Once his cunning eyes have followed this sandy lead to its conclusion, the reward of his stealth and tenacity can be found at its end. His extended finger directs your eye to the dark gnarled skin of a rhino or the golden main of a sleeping lion.
Occasionally, a bushwalk will yield the grizzly remains of a recent kill. Vultures hop around in a frenzied and anxious fashion, with one eye focused on the corpse and the other on the uncertain and precarious surroundings. The hot air, from time to time, carries the faint aroma of death.
The Guide Nudges Your Shoulder and There It Is!
Following in the footsteps of your guide, the bush parts and you suddenly come upon a half dry drinking hole. You wait. Faint rustles stir from the surrounding bush. The guide nudges your shoulder and there it is. Ever so slowly, making their way to the waters edge, timidly following, one behind the other, a herd of impala come to test life and death by the edge of this crocodile infested bush puddle.
During the winter months game are known to congregate around these dwindling supplies of water, as the winter months are usually a time of drought.
Observing from a quite hide, together with your guide, an afternoon or a whole day can come and go as you take in the sights and sounds at the water’s edge. The attraction water exerts on the dry pallets of animals is irresistible. No matter what, every living being needs water and, for this reason, the best time and place to see game is in winter at a watering hole.
What becomes apparent over time is that the land and the life found there is continually revolving in a cycle. Soon a pattern is noticed in the behaviour of the animals. Patterns can be discerned in how they react, whether it be by day or by night. How they behave, at rest or when at their most active. Even the paths they etch into the land, disclose their various migration routes in a characteristic pattern, identified with an uncanny knack by the tracker.
Find Yourself in the Midst of an Untamed Land
So much can be revealed when one understands the various behavior patterns and intricacies displayed by wild animals. Much can be learned from the diversity of plant life and so much more about being human, if you find yourself in the midst of an untamed land.
After many years of experience, Sabi Sabi’s trackers take pride in the fact that no guest has ever been injured by any wild animal during a walking safari at Sabi Sabi.
The question is, when are you going to step out of the concrete jungle and into the African bushveld?

About The Author

Gregory Hudson
Sabi Sabi (http://www.sabisabi.com/) specialises in 5 star luxury accommodation and the ultimate bush experience. Situated within the Sabi Sand Reserve and located on the southern part of the Kruger National Park, each lodge is surrounded by hundreds of species of plants, birds and of course, the Big 5.

by: Gregory Hudson

What is your ideal image of a guide? Do safari guides need more than just a dark tan, a khaki shirt and a hat like Crocodile Dundee? Could there be more to being a guide than telling gripping fireside tales and downing hearty swigs of Jack Daniels?
There is, and you can bet your life on it. Serious safaris demand guides with a bold character and the following rugged profile:
Firstly, where has he lived his life?
Has he actually had first hand experience on the ground in Africa? Was his grandfather a warden? The best guide I ever had was a third generation professional guide operating throughout Botswana. He was born in Tanzania and, together with his grandfather - who was a warden - they migrated to the Kalahari Desert and started their own safari operation. This is how he lived his life; he grew up in the bush.
What is his area of expertise?
A knowledgeable guide should possess a wealth of knowledge including the cultures and traditions of the area. Can your guide take you to very remote villages that are rarely visited by travellers?
To ensure your guide has knowledge on a broad range of diverse subjects, it pays to ask specific questions about his or her credentials. Questions like:
How would you track the elusive desert lion of the Kalahari?
How much do you know about Ornithology?
Can you ride a donkey, operate a boat, fly microlight aircraft, transport tag and track lions and conduct tours via bicycle, canoe and 4X4?
Your guide must have ? The Instinct?
A first-class guide, when on a walking safari, goes out in front of the group in search of big game. The guide must have a combination of well honed instincts that include cunning, stealth, and a good sense of smell, coupled with pinpoint-accurate eyesight. Not to mention being quiet and unassuming.
His instincts should be as close to an animal’s as a human can get, while at the same time being very professional.
A relaxed nature
More specifically, can he or she relax in nature? A nervous guide cannot focus on the task at hand. Your guide should have a friendly, relaxed demeanor and enjoy taking guests walking in the bush.
Also, an excellent relationship with a local Bushmen tribe and the ability to act as an interpreter are all signs that your guide is regarded as being charming and cordial.
Lastly, is your guide a real leader?
A safari guide should be a born leader with a tour leader qualification, combining experience in leading expeditions with a wealth of knowledge and excellent organisational skills.
These are the prerequisites for leading varied itineraries in Southern Africa and surrounding countries. Make sure your guides fits the rugged profile.

About The Author

African Outposts (http://www.africanoutposts.co.za/index.q) provide Southern African Safari Package Tours for the discerning traveller.
From the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro to the riverbanks of the Zambezi River, the Okavango Delta and Namibian deserts, our safari package tours offer it all. Our senior guide has been the winner of the Southern African guide of the year award for the last two years.

by: Ieuan Dolby

Fast, easy and efficient could describe life in Singapore. You don?t stroll along the streets in a world of your own with time to spare and you definitely do not walk when a taxi is waiting nearby. Life in Singapore is geared towards the making of money and any spare moment given is put to that task. So if one should need to get to work or get to the office, go shopping or attend the cinema (because the children insist on it) then transport is essential.
Private cars are good and super efficient. The MRT or underground system is also a perfect feat of Engineering: fast, clean and cheap for the average punter, but life also seems to include an inordinate number of taxis. They seem to be required and used whether one owns a car not and even when one is standing right next to the entrance to an MRT station. In an average week one can use a taxi about seven times and that in anybody?s books is a lot.
Three companies tend to run the Cab business and all are large and modern, consisting of the latest cars with satellite navigation and instant booking services by a frightening voice box and pushbutton accept system that flashes possible messages at the driver: as if he is not confused enough with the fast flowing and interchanging traffic that is going on around him. Singapore is not a place where once you get into lane you are okay for half an hour so. This is a place where once you have settled into your lane ? it is time to change to another, time to enter the tunnel or cross a bridge, go round a roundabout or exit up the ramp. A plate of Spaghetti has nothing on the road system here but it does flow smoothly, it is extremely well designed and it is safe ? if drivers do not talk too much and check their flashing job screen every other minute!
To catch a cab one can do a variety of things. The usual one of going outside and flagging one down, another of calling one up on the booking service or joining a long queue at a taxi rank. The first one is the most amazing and also one of the most frustrating methods of trying to catch one: not that there are none available but the drivers have a strange way of picking up punters. There you are outside your apartment and this blue cab with its light on comes floating towards you. Stopping beside the pavement the driver will lower his window and ask you where you are going.
And the strangest thing is that if you are not going in his direction or to where he wants to go, then he will not pick you up. Amazing but true! Taxi drivers are very obstinate and although Singaporeans like to make money above all else the taxis do not follow that rule. For them food and sleep is more important and so if they are coming towards the end of their shift or feel like dinner then they will not pick you up unless you want to go where they are going. It is quite possible to stop five or more cabs in a run only for the drivers to shake their heads and zoom off leaving you stranded and confused. A very frustrating time indeed!
The other method of calling a taxi is probably the most efficient and stable one. Simply by calling up the company a taxi can be on its way to you in a matter of minutes and mostly all works well. The third method can also be extremely annoying and frustrating as one usually has to stand for about twenty minutes in a long queue whilst suffering from the heat of the day. But by using a taxi rank you are assured of being picked up ? by law the driver cannot refuse to take you wherever you want to go if the pick-up point is at a taxi rank.
Life though is more interesting than trying to catch a taxi. Life gets more active when one is inside and on the way to their destination. The average driver in Singapore is good. The average taxi driver in Singapore is definitely in need of help. Psychological help in some cases and others just need some basic lessons in driving. The roads in Singapore can be awkward as the forward momentum of the vehicle is constantly disrupted as another stop sign looms up, as another intersection needs to be navigated or another accident causes the whole system to falter. But the taxi drivers even with a smooth road ahead of them constantly apply the break and then the gas causing the passengers heads to hit the seat in front of them and then to be thrown backwards against the rear window.
This action on the part of seventy percent of the drivers may not be totally due to bad driving. An unusually high proportion of drivers suffer from sleep deprivation! They will tell you that this is because of the extra long hours that they have to work (to get a tip from you) but many do certainly nod off whilst you are sitting behind them. In one taxi I was sort of trying to read my newspaper with my head waggling backwards and forwards when all of a sudden I noticed that I could read my newspaper. I mean that all of a sudden I was not being thrown around as the driver applied the gas and break in rapid succession. This was weird and unusual but I accepted it as another quirk of the industry.
It was when we where zooming along at way past the speed limit, that I looked closer at my driver. He was asleep and soundly so and we where heading straight for the oncoming lane. I acted instinctively and jumped across my prospective killer and adjusted the wheel and thus the cars? direction to suit an accident free journey. Whilst doing that I jabbed my elbow into his shoulder (well, it turned out to be his face) to wake him up. A lucky save and if I had not been aware or had fallen asleep ?? pancake time. I never fall asleep in a taxi after that experience.
Signs of the driver falling asleep are quite noticeable should one look for them. The constant opening and shutting of the window and the drivers? constant changing of the air conditioning settings is a good one. Another is the drivers? desperate scramble for the plastic bottles that he has stashed under his seat. I would question the manufacturers of these drugs as however many a driver takes they never seem to aid him in keeping awake. Oh and the most important thing to watch out for is when your head no longer jerks back and forth ? this means that the driver has fallen asleep and his foot is still.
I normally hate making small talk. I would rather read a newspaper or stare out of the window. But in Singapore Taxis I prefer to keep the driver in conversation as this undoubtedly and without fail will keep him wide-awake. To start off the conversation just say something stupid like, ?hot day today? as if Singapore is any different from one day to the next. He will invariably turn the conversation around to asking where you are from and then talking about football and Liverpool or he will turn to the state of the economy. ?No profit in taxi driving anymore, no customers and cars cost more to buy than ever before?. This should keep him going for a half an hour or so, more than enough for the trip.
I think these drugs may have alternative side effects. I have noticed on some occasions that drivers are a bit high spirited. Now whether this an effect of the drugs that kicks in a couple of hours later or due to something that is completely removed I know not. I am just trying to make a connection as when the drivers take their ?keep awake pills? nothing happens. Anyway, I have often climbed into a taxi and been surprised at the activity of my driver. One memorable trip started off okay until he found out that I was from Scotland. I spent the next twenty minutes of the journey listening to bagpipes and a donkey heehawing whilst being thrown violently against the drivers seat and the rear window in turn. No, it was not music or anything like that but the driver whilst jumping up and down in his seat, imitated the bagpipes and in between breaths became a horse. He used to say ?Scotland? at frequent intervals as if to reassure me that he knew where I came from.
Weird! I had another bad occurrence in a taxi when he started to get aggressive against a football team and he spent more time trying to clamber over the rear of his seat, to reinforce his opinion than looking where he was going. I got extremely worried about him and decided that I should leave his taxi as quickly as possible. I jumped out at an intersection and decided that I would not pay for such a ride. I could hear him shouting as I ran away down the hard shoulder ? but I don?t want to pay to be harassed!
Apart from all of the above the typical taxi journey passes without note. Some of the drivers will seriously annoy you or make you feel sick when they open their door and spit a big gob of mucus onto the road side. But this is the way that they do it. I have asked one driver not to do that again ? and he didn?t. But generally just try and ignore that. They also tend to get a bit vocal inside of the car if involved in a near miss with another car or have to sit for any length of time due to an accident up ahead. This is due to the fact that if a driver gets out of his car and shouts at another driver then he can quickly and without question be hauled off to jail. The government does not tolerate drivers making a scene in public and so drivers just do not do it, ever. This is all-and-well, unless you happen to be the poor passenger that has to take the brunt of his ?road rage? whilst pretending that you are not sitting in the back seat of that particular cab.
Sorry, I seem to be putting them down. The taxi system and the drivers are quite excellent and safe in Singapore and no less than any other town or city the world over. When hiring a taxi in Singapore you are ensured of a rapid and free journey to your destination and the cost is not prohibitive, you are safe and looked after at all times. One thing does puzzle me though, that of why the drivers constantly ask the passengers which way they would like to go. Having just arrived in Singapore I pick up a taxi at the rank just outside the airport. I give him the name of the hotel and off he sets. After five-minutes this driver will invariably turn around and ask me whether I would like to go by the PIE or by the East Coast Road. Stupid question really as the average person arriving at Singapore Airport and especially one who is going to a hotel would not have a clue about the transport system in Singapore.
I used to think that the drivers where testing their passengers as to their knowledge of Singapore and that if they showed ignorance then they would be carted off on a tour of the city without knowing any difference. But this has not been the case as I have often put it to the test. The driver has asked me and I have given him no inkling as to my knowledge of the city ? and he has taken me the quickest route! Such is life!
Listen everybody: the Taxi Drivers in Singapore are of excellent quality and any prospective passenger is assured of an easy, safe and smooth-drive to their destination ? don?t listen to me.
Just keep your eyes open and the drivers as well if you can!

About The Author

Ieuan Dolby, from Scotland is an Engineering Officer in the Merchant Navy. He has been travelling the world for 15yrs on an endless tour of cultural diversification. Currently based in Singapore he writes various articles for magazines and newspapers and is working on a marine glossary.

ieuandolby@lycos.com

by: Loreal Oliver

Adventure. Do you actually remember the word? When was the last time you went out for some real adventures? Well, you might be having some wrong perceptions about ?adventure?, considering your everyday life in this concrete jungle as one big adventure (in a way, you may call it an adventure). Well if that is the case, you need to think twice over it.
Let?s get back to the adventures that we define here and see the difference from the real adventures ? that requires high adrenaline.
Climbing staircase (that too, once in a while, when your elevator is not working) doesn?t count as an adventure. Your computer mouse doesn?t come under wildlife. Standing under the shower is not same as standing under the waterfall. Wondering in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city is miles of freshness away from getting lost in the thick lush green jungle.
Mountaineering
Which floor do you live in? Well, you might enjoy the height that you live in but never ever compare that with the heavenly mountains ? standing tall and proud. So just pump up your adrenaline, head for a real adventure, feel the nature, defy the law of gravity?
When you are heading for a mountaineering trip, follow the instructions of the guide properly to avoid any mishap. Wear comfortable and convenient clothes ? for e.g. Cargo pants, multi-pocketed jackets, good hiking shoes. Carry all the basic accessories but make sure it?s not overweighed. But before starting off, get medically examined. Also ensure that at least one or two members of the team have experience of high altitude climbing.
Rock Climbing
It?s always fun to try something new in life. And what can be more exciting than climbing the steep rocky mountain. It might look quite scary, but then what is life without some challenges? Of course, you?ve seen Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible with all those actions. Well he had a mission. And here, your mission is to feel the thrill.
For such adventure, it?s definitely not a cakewalk. First you need to sign up for basics with an experienced instructor. Climbing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury, so proper training and equipment before attempting this activity is seriously recommended.
Jungle Safari
No matter how colourful or fast your life gets in the city, you surely need to escape from it at least once in a year. It?s time to feel the nature. It?s time you realise that it?s not just humans that the world belongs to. Indeed, there?s nothing like exploring? making your vision broader.
However, few things are needed to know before taking the wild side. Learn about the place ? the culture, the habitat, various types of species found and their behaviour. Make sure you are under an experienced guide. Never take chances with wildlife, even the cutest looking species might turn out to be dangerous.
Rafting
High speed, high energy, high life… just what rafting is all about. Racing with the current. Waters splashing all over you. Not a single word but the sound of water hitting the rocks. Isn?t it amazing when your mind is free for once and you feel nothing but yourself, accompanied by the force of nature. But before you head for this mind-boggling activity, enrol with an experienced group that organises rafting. Make sure that you don?t have any physical ailment. Don?t take chances if don?t know how to swim. And most importantly, the high-powered spirit is all it takes.
For more information and details about adventure travel accommodation directory please visit www.adventuretraveltips.com/Lodging/index.html

About The Author

Loreal Oliver is an advanturous traveller and preety crazy too. He travels extensively around the world since the age of 17 years and never gets tired. There is few places unexplored by him and he is always ready for another venture. He loves Photography and reading.
www.adventuretraveltips.com
adventure_ratedx@yahoo.com

It’s A Wonderful Movie

by: Stephen Schochet

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) began as a short story called “The Greatest Gift”. Writer Philip Van Doren Stern was unable to sell it to a publisher, so he sent the tale out as a long Christmas card to friends. His agent subsequently sold the fable to RKO pictures, where it went through several transformations. In one version a losing political candidate contemplated suicide, only to have an angel convince him to stick around and do good works. Finally it fell into the hands of Director Frank Capra who cried when he read it, said it was the story he had been looking for all his life, and purchased it to be the first project for his new production company, Liberty Films.
To play the unassuming savings and loan clerk, Capra wanted Jimmy Stewart who he had previously worked with in You Can’t Take It With You (1938) and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939). But coming back from World War II, the thirty-seven year old Stewart was no longer the easy going man about town he had been in the thirties. The former Academy Award winner for The Philadelphia Story (1940) had led a thousand men in bombing missions in the European theater in hard to maneuver B-24s. The loud engines damaged his hearing, in later years people when people would greet him and he would fail to respond, some would mistake his deafness for a cold personality. He was uncertain after five years away from the screen if he still wanted to be in the movies. Sometimes the profession seemed so humiliating. In 1943 when Stewart had tried to stay in the best hotel in Madrid, he was turned away because he was an actor. He went back to the air force base, got his Lieutenant Colonel’s uniform and then they let him in.
When he returned to Southern California in 1945 Stewart took things easy. He refused to re-sign with his old studio MGM, despite tearful requests to do so from the hammy Louis B. Mayer. He was content to spend time flying kites and building model planes with Henry Fonda. When Capra came to make his pitch Stewart looked bored, out of it, causing the Director to lose confidence. “Well Jim, it’s about a savings and loan clerk who wants to commit suicide. There’s an angel named Clarence who shows him what life would have been like without him. . . aw forget it, it’s a stupid idea.” Capra was turning to leave when Stewart put his hand on his shoulder. “Frank, if you want me, I’m your man.” At least that’s how the film’s publicists told it.
Stewart was morose and insecure as filming began. Since he went off to serve, Hollywood had found new leading men like Kirk Douglas and Gregory Peck who were seven years younger than he was. Some scenes called for the now graying actor to still be in high school. He felt ridiculous and considered plastic surgery. But he was helped greatly by his co-star Donna Reed who encouraged him throughout. In the romantic scene where George (Stewart) and Mary (Reed) declared their love for each other, Capra joked that Stewart was so nervous he wrapped a phone chord around them so he wouldn’t run away. James was also helped by the film’s villain Lionel Barrymore who was confined to wheelchair because of crippling arthritis. “Son, I want you to cheer up. Don’t you know you make people happier being a movie star than you ever did shooting at them in a plane.”
In the 1930’s Capra had toiled at Columbia Pictures which was ruled by the autocratic Harry Cohn, long considered the meanest man in Hollywood. The Mogul kept the entire studio electronically bugged, displayed a huge portrait of Mussolini in his office, and used an electrified chair to give unsuspecting victims sudden jolts. Capra had sat in it once, received a shock and angrily smashed the chair to bits. When filming began on It’s A Wonderful Life, Capra was happy to be free of Cohn, but nervous. Now his own money was part of the investment. Known for making movie sets fun places to work, he was at first crabby and irritable with his cast and crew. Filming a snowy, Christmas movie in over one hundred degree heat in Encino did not help morale. Many of the heavily dressed actors fainted. But there were nice moments. One scene required Mary to throw a rock through an old mansion window and make a wish. Capra had a marksman ready off camera but to his delight Reed shattered the glass on her own. She turned to him and said,” Why so surprised? Don’t you think an Iowa farm girl would know how to play baseball?”
As the shoot progressed Capra regained his confidence. He disdained special effects when Clarence Oddbody the angel (Henry Travers) did his magic, preferring to tell the story through his actor’s faces. The Director started to believe he was making the greatest movie ever. As his mood lightened the Company enjoyed picnics and singing on the set which were hallmarks of Capra’s earlier films.
Too dark, the Country wanted comedy like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Too dated, Wonderful Life came off like a depression film rather than a post war movie. For whatever reason the three million dollar production failed to make its money back. Capra chose to fold his tent shortly after the movie’s release calling Liberty Films,” The quickest way to go broke a man ever devised.” Stewart panicked. The ex-war hero received a phone call from his agent. “Donna Reed loved working with you. She wants to do it again.” “No way. That girl is jinxed.” June Allyson became his leading lady of choice playing his wife five times. Decades later he would praise the performance of a bemused Donna Reed for making Wonderful Life great. “My God,” she told her friends. “He sure didn’t say that when it came out.”
Years passed. From that point on Capra, unwilling to either risk his own money or work for somebody else directed very few movies . Stewart decided to portray a stronger image on screen. He refused to play in war movies saying they were unrealistic, choosing instead hard, gritty Westerns like The Man From Laramie (1954) which helped to make him rich and surpass John Wayne as the nation’s number one box office star. Reed restored her career by winning an Academy Award for playing a prostitute in From Here To Eternity (1953) and then became one of television’s most wholesome mothers. And It’s A Wonderful Life fell into the public domain in 1973 because no one renewed it’s copyright. The forgotten film was shown repeatedly on almost every cable television station, finally got a huge viewership, and became a perennial Christmas Classic.

About The Author

Stephen Schochet is the author and narrator of the audiobooks Fascinating Walt Disney and Tales Of Hollywood. The Saint Louis Post Dispatch says,” these two elaborate productions are exceptionally entertaining.” Hear realaudio samples of these great, unique gifts at http://www.hollywoodstories.com.

orgofhlly@aol.com

by: Laurie Hayes

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world. ? Unknown
This week I had a coaching session that caused me stop, sit back and reflect on why we’re really here.
My client, M, and I have been working together with a focus on building her business, however, for this particular session, M advised she had learned of a dear friend’s death earlier that morning, and wanted to honor her by reflecting on the powerful impact she made on her life.
M had married young and moved far away from her family. Still a teenager, she and her husband settled in a small community in a beautiful mountain region.
Because she was so young and had little in common with members of the community, she felt as an outsider.
One day, she visited her local post office where she met the Post Mistress, Edna. Edna immediately made M feel welcome and opened her home and heart to her.
Through the many years that followed, Edna supported M through the births of her children, the heartbreaks that life inevitably brings, the trials and tribulations of raising a family, and the joys and celebrations that follow each victory.
Edna was there when M lost her parents and M was there when Edna lost her husband and several of her children. Edna would listen and support M without judgment. She showed love and acceptance to M and everyone else she encountered.
As M and I spoke about Edna, we reminded ourselves that in the end, it never matters how much wealth or material possessions you accumulate, how successful your business is or how many notches you have under your belt.
What matters is that you made this world a better place, just by being a part of it.
M is a wonderful, caring and generous woman who recognizes the greatness in everyone, and extends support and strength to others instinctively.
I believe that M is someone else’s Edna, although she may not be aware of it right now and may never know who she has touched the way Edna has touched her.
If I can have an impact on someone’s life the way Edna had on M’s, I will have achieved my purpose.
I hope some day I too will be given wings as Edna has so I may move on to the next level of my being.
Take some time today to think about how you are impacting others’ lives.
Do you encourage, support and accept others as they are?
What can you do today to make someone feel as though they are accepted and not judged?
Acknowledge the greatness in others and encourage them to be proud of who they are. Listen to their ideas and praise them for the things they do well.
All we can do is help each other to be the best we can be. Love each other no matter what and support each other when the times get tough.
Edna has passed the torch. Hold it tight and carry on.

About The Author

Laurie Hayes is a Life Strategy Coach and founder of Where the Heart Is Life Coaching. She works with men and women who want to create significant change in their personal and professional lives. To subscribe to her bi-weekly newsletter and secure a free copy of her e-book, “10 Guidelines for Attraction,” visit http://www.wheretheheartis-lifecoaching.com.
coachhayes@wheretheheartis-lifecoaching.com

by: Elvis Preston King

Whoops someone already has this title his name is William Jefferson Clinton, Bill Clinton. Also a man to be admired! Obviously a man driven by women, although misguided.
1000 One Night Stands!
My life is a candid look at the life of Elvis Preston King the man who has more girlfriends than any man on the planet.
Well it?s true I always wanted to be a Rock Star and the truth is I am one hell of a drummer. Why did I want to be a rock star, I love rock and I love girls! Money for nothing and chicks for free! That?s why! I just didn?t follow through. I never even put a band together. How sad? I went into business and made a few million dollars in a couple of years and retired at a young age. I just don?t like working all the time. What? Are the Billionaires going to take it with them? They think so. I work very hard and then kick back. I like the Margaritaville lifestyle, beaches and girls.
Why do you want to know about my life anyway? If you are a man who does not love women don?t read another word.
I also I have a talent for acting and I wanted to be a movie star. Why? To pick up girls, of course. However, after I saw that Charlie Sheen had to pay prostitutes and I realized that I get more girls than any actor living or dead. I decided for what do I want to be an actor!
Am I immature, insecure and do I have low self-esteem? Probably. This low esteem helped me make my money. I had to show the world I was great. I got paid 15,000 dollars a day as a sales trainer. I hate sales. But I was great at it. What I like is girls, and nothing more. You would think I would grow up. I am 55 years old already.
Unlike the other gurus of girls who discovered their talent late in life I have always had girls, girls, girls! I remember when I was 15 I went to a future farmers event out of town and I came back holding hands with a little Filipino doll with long black hair. My classmates still talk about me today. Mind you I was a poor boy from the other side of the tracks but with the charm and looks of Leonardo DiCaprio.
When I was 18 I use to cruise around in my old 55 Chevy convertible picking up girls form city to city and town to town. You remember Ricky Nelson?s ?I am a traveling Man? I forgot to plate my 55 Chevy and the police through me in jail for illegal plates. I had 15 of my teenage girlfriends send me money to bail the handsome poor boy out of jail!
Luckily I lived in the hippy era. I went to San Francisco and tasted California free love. Oh the life. We had Jimmy Hendrix and we still had Elvis too. Those were the times.
I love cars so when I made my fast Millions I bought a Rolls Royce stretch limo and a Ferrari and a big Mercedes and several other exotic cars. I rented an airline hanger to park them all because I lived in a Penthouse on the beach in a place they called the Millionaire Mile. Proceeded to pick up the girls, but low and behold I began to age and I noticed that 18 year old girls weren?t paying any attention to me any more. Saddened by my aging face I contemplated surgery, but felt the risk of death was too great. So I went to the library and checked out books on the subject of places where girls love the older man. I parked the limo and the Ferrari in storage and went on a global search to find the girls. I found them. I now have more beautiful girls than any man on the planet.
Unfortunately I made a bad investment that dropped me to my knees financially, but I still have the girls. So now what? Well I can write a book, but that doesn?t turn me on. Bill already did that! I can sell my sales training again, I can put on How to Have 1000 One Night Stands Seminars, The King of Seduction Seminars etc. or I can offer my one on one picking up girls services to a rich man who loves girls. I decided on the latter,
Rumor has it that when Bill Clinton gets well he plans on looking me up. I have several other multi-millionaires and one billionaire trying to decide if they want girls and to hang out with Elvis or if they prefer to keep working and be buried with their money. So far no one has taken me up on my offer 100%.
To me my girls are like Forrest Gump?s box of chocolates. And they taste good!!!
So you ask ?Can you teach me to be a great Guru of women? Please! Please! My answer, ?Probably not. You are born with it or you are not. That?s why I refuse to take these poor fools money in trying to teach them how to pick up girls with a worthless book or worthless seminars, but I am taking some poor girl loving soul under my wing, Look for me and my buddy in the French Riviera floating around on his yacht with a boat load of girls!
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. You may make minor editorial corrections only. A copy would be appreciated at seniorplayboy1@yahoo.com

About The Author

Elvis Preston King was born in Mississippi and grew up in Memphis. Not to be confused with the other great King, Elvis Presley. Elvis has always had an eye for girls since he first saw one as a baby. Elvis is a 55 year old senior who doesn?t want to let go of being 18. He has over 1000 sexy girlfriends 18 to 22 years old. He is now looking for just ONE gentleman sidekick to share in his good fortune. His office is based out of Los Angeles, Ca. You can email him at loverboybachelor@yahoo.com or visit bachelortours.blogspot.com/ and http://www.msnusers.com/BachelorDreamTours

How Would YOU Like to Have a Travel Buddy Who Knows How to Pick up Girls!

by: Elvis Preston King

How Would YOU Like to Have a Travel Buddy Who Knows How to Pick up Girls!
Let?s go on a vacation, but this time lets skip, Ft. Lauderdale, Hawaii, Bahamas or Cancun. Let?s go where the girls love Western Men like you and me.
I am Elvis Preston King I have always been the master of how to pick up girls. Back home in the United States and Canada I noticed as I began to grow older the girls would stick up their nose up at me. I claim to be American and Canadian as one of my parents is from Toronto, and the other parent is from Kansas City. Of course I was born in Mississippi and I grew up in Memphis.
Even when I would pull up to the curb in my Rolls Royce Limo and my Ferrari F40 the girls wouldn?t give me the time of day. Enough is enough. Young Western women don?t appreciate the Older Man. That goes for you German, French, Italian, English, Dutch and all of the rest of you.
Will, simply put I got so angry one day when I was trying to pick up a young 18 year old Hollywood, California girl who wouldn?t even give me her phone number let alone talk to me. I said that?s it. I sold my Hillsboro beach Florida penthouse, put my cars in storage and hopped on a plane to the Dominican Republic and I haven?t been home since and that was five years ago. I have many sexual paradises of earth that I like to travel to. I now hold the world record of more girlfriends of any man on earth. I have over 1000 active girlfriends and I am sad to say that I am broken up with over 2000 girls who have left me high but not dry. They caught me fooling around with another girl!
Of course, a wife would be nice, but how can you pick just one wife out of all these beautiful young dream girls. I might accept a harem of wives, but I?d get bored with them too and move on I am sure. I am sorry when you?re Elvis and every young beauty loves you it?s just too big of a temptation to stray. I could never be with just one woman no matter how beautiful she is. I tried it. I had the runner up Miss Universe from one country and I couldn?t be loyal. Good luck Donald Trump! I think you made a big mistake getting married to a young beauty. Same to you Larry Ellison, with your money you don?t need a wife. There are other more suitable arrangements than marriage that can be made! I have girls that I sleep with and girls who take care of my cooking and cleaning. Needless to say if you are the senior playboy king you have to eat right.
I could write a book but I refuse to sell my secrets for five or ten dollars. Never in your life. Elvis can?t be bought cheap. Sorry. However, I am looking for one special travel buddy. All my life I have never had time for buddies. I have spent all my time with beautiful young girls. I am now looking for a sidekick to travel to exotic locations around the world who truly loves girls.
Lets go on a vacation! Come visit me and my girls on the islands of love. The weather will give new warmth to your soul. The walks on the beach with your girls will take away the worries of time and age. Romancing a beautiful girl will relieve your weary heart. A vacation with a new dream girl is an absolute cure for the senior man who feels left out from the pleasures of life. Ah- the islands of the sexual paradises of earth, a breath taking experience, a touch of vigor for the older man and the energy of life you need for the rest of your time here on Earth. You won?t ever want to go home. Such dynamic hideaway retreats that once on one of my islands it will mystically bring romance and joy to your heart. Elvis?s sexual paradises of earth are an extreme love connection for the Western man who truly loves beautiful girls!

About The Author

Elvis Preston King was born in Mississippi and grew up in Memphis. Not to be confused with the other great King, Elvis Presley. Elvis has always had an eye for girls since he first saw one as a baby. Elvis is a 55 year old senior who doesn?t want to let go of being 18. He has over 1000 sexy girlfriends 18 to 22 years old. He is now looking for just ONE gentleman sidekick to share in his good fortune. His office is based out of Miami, Fl. You can email him at seniorplayboy1@yahoo.com or visit http://www.msnusers.com/BachelorDreamTours or http://bachelortours.blogspot.com/ or http://seniorplayboyclub.blogspot.com/
loverboybachelor@yahoo.com