In 1958 Kitt Peak was selected as the site for the national observatory and was built through a grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The land was leased on a perpetual agreement from the Tohono O’odham tribe. The observatory with 23 telescopes is the largest, most diverse gathering of astronomical instruments in the world. The most famous telescope at Kitt Peak is the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope, the largest solar telescope in the world. Kitt Peak is also famous for having the first telescope, an old 91 cm reflector, which was originally used to search for near-Earth asteroids.

The Kitt Peak National Observatory Visitor Center is open daily to visitors from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Guided tours are offered daily at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. and group tours are available by appointment.

The center offers three, one-hour guided tours that begin in the visitor center with a brief introductory orientation:

- The first tour begins at 10 a.m. and visits the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope.

- The second tour begins at 11:30 a.m. and visits the 2.1-m Telescope, one of the early workhorses of Kitt Peak. Built in 1964, the telescope is still in high demand each night.

- The third tour begins at 1:30 p.m. and visits the Mayall 4-m Telescope, a Tucson landmark since 1973. Visible from many points in Tucson, the 4-m is the largest optical telescope on Kitt Peak, and receives four times more requests for use than there are clear nights each year. From the Visitor Gallery in the telescope, students have a 360-degree view of Kitt Peak and the surrounding landscape.

Students who participate in the Nightly Observing Program have the opportunity to view some of the finest night skies on earth. This 3-hour program is available from July through mid-October and begins at approximately 9 p.m. Students arrive prior to sunset so they can observe the sun setting over the Tohono O-odham Reservation. Their evening begins with a tour of the exhibits, interactive displays, and a light meal. Then, the observatory staff review recent advances in the field of astronomy to provide an understandable perspective of the earth’s place in the universe.

Following the orientation, students then take a visual journey through the cosmos with the aid of the observatory’s three telescopes. Gathering in one of the Visitor Center’s domes, students observe the heavens through a reflecting telescope. Observers see highlights of the particular time of year, such as planets, multiple star systems, planetary nebulae, and galaxies.

Observers also become acquainted with the Summer Triangle, which involves three special stars, each located in a separate celestial constellation. Taken together, these three stars, Altair, Deneb, and Vega, form a large triangle, easily discernable in the Tucson sky with the naked eye,

The observatory’s Weather Program was created to allow visitors access to the site, even when conditions are not conducive to watching the skies. The program includes many portions of the regular Nightly Observing Program such as a light meal, followed by an introduction to the National Observatory and a look at the hands-on display of telescopes.

The program also teaches students how to use star charts and allows them to participate in activities using binoculars and scaled models. It concludes, if the weather permits, with a view of the universe through a telescope.

travel adventures Travel Adventures is a student tour provider staffed by educators who understand the needs of teachers. It has served over one half million students since 1987 and its mission is to

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Renegade Water Secrets with Dr. J.E. Williams, a pioneer in integrative medicine, an educational leader in “green medicines” and an internationally known speaker and published author, including his latest book, “Viral Immunity”.

Kevin: Dr. Williams, welcome to the show.

Dr. Williams: Thank you so much for having me. I really look forward to the discussion, Kevin.

Kevin: Well, this is great. We got over 300 questions. I think that I’ve kind of filtered them out into specific categories, so we’ll be able to address some of them.

But first, why don’t you tell everyone just a little bit about yourself? Just tell us a little about how you got into this and why you’re really just speaking very highly of all this sort of natural medicine in terms of viral and bacterial and just immunity in any sort of way.

Dr. Williams: Kevin, I’m going to just give you a quick update on what I’m doing right now, and then I’m going to jump back about thirty-some years, because your question’s highly important.

I am currently working with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, in their department of integrative medicine, and upgrading and working with them and bringing in other universities from around the world into the same areas that I work in to drive, really a scientific model. There’s both intuitive and scientific model in this work.

And I think, as you know, my books are both current, up-do-date, they’re science-based, but they really touch that soul of natural medicine. Now, jump back 30 plus, plus, plus years. I recognized very early on, because of my patients that were coming in, now, in the late 70s, early 80s, that was just when the tip of the iceberg of AIDS was, we didn’t even have it diagnosed then, and Hepatitis C, we didn’t have it diagnosed, not until ’89, if you can believe that or not.

And then we were looking at chronic fatigue and environmental syndromes, increasing incidences of cancer, all types of allergies, very strange things that didn’t show up. We were seeing diseases that occurred typically only in older people, some of them very rare diseases or very uncommon like MS, for example, and other autoimmune diseases, and I started to look at this.

You know, what could be the cause? And at the time, everybody was blaming viruses, and so I said, well, let me take a closer look. It turned out that it really wasn’t viruses that were causing all of these problems whatsoever. It was environmental reasons, but when I looked at the viral issue more closely, and then AIDS came up, and then Hepatitis C and then SARS, and many, many, many, many, many others, I realized, and then with my latest book “Beating the Flu,” about pandemic influenza, that probably our number one weakest link was our immune system.

And our number one greatest problem was viral illnesses. We had no medications. It was an undefeatable enemy. It was the smallest thing known. Viruses can even infect bacteria. That’s how small they are.

Kevin: Um-hmm.

Dr. Williams: So I got on the viral trail, and I tried to educate lay people, the public, as well as physicians, because medical doctors had absolutely no idea, had zero training on viruses at the time. They have very little today.

Kevin: Right. And how has that changed over the last 30 years?

Dr. Williams: Well, unfortunately it’s changed in kind of skewed way. We have kind of a limping drunk, you know, the son of a rich man, or something like that, who’s gone out for the evening and has gained a lot of experience, but in the wrong things.

Kevin: Gotcha.

Dr. Williams: And immunology itself, the science of immunology, has just become revived, and we’ve looked at it in a much, much deeper way. We now understand that what we used to think, and the old paradigm is still in place, that what we used to think is completely not only outdated but mostly wrong. It’s a much more highly complex system. It’s an intercommunicative system, and it works within all areas of the body. It’s dependent on hormones, nutrients, and immunity, as well as environmental pressures.

We slanted our interest in viral research onto AIDS and what we thought were the more serious diseases because that’s where a lot of the research money was in, but not where the real problem was. And, for example, some of the highest incidences of viral infections is in Denge fever, but that hardly ever touches the United States, so if the poor people of the Philippines and the Brazilian Amazon are dying from Denge, we don’t really fund that type of research.

But, you know, if a senator’s son or something has AIDS, then we’re going to fund that. So it became a little bit too political, and now thankfully, it’s slanting away from that. Because what we’re seeing is this idea that four or five years from now, we’re going to have a vaccine. We’ll have a cure. Never, ever happened.

It’s now been, let’s take ’84 as kind of a lynchpin year, when we started to realize that viruses were becoming a more serious problem than we ever could have imagined. That’s more than 20 years ago. And they were saying at the time, every four or five years, that we’d have a cure. And so that’s about eight times that’s been said, and we’re no closer than we were 24 years ago.

So, I think we’re starting to take that more seriously. Clinicians are starting to take it more seriously. And we have to upgrade our education, reeducate ourselves, and then help the public to understand that if there’s any one thing that is truly a serious issue, and this is my most significant point, is that the environmental changes that we’re experiencing, you know, we’re looking at global warming as kind of the big umbrella aspect of it, but there’s so many insidious changes that are dampening and weakening or disrupting our immune system, and that are at the same time allowing for viruses to be spread easier and to mutate easier. So we’re having strengthening viruses and weakening humanity without any medications to deal with it.

Kevin: Wow. Now, the conventional approach, or the conventional thought, is that once you have a virus, you can’t do anything about it. It’s just there. Why don’t you just go through the basics of, and very, very quickly because I want to get into a little more detail, but the basics of viruses? And what are some of the implications of having a virus? I mean, a lot of us have viruses. It’s definitely more the norm. And how do they affect us generally? And then we’ll kind of delve into the specifics of it.

Dr. Williams: The word ‘virus’ comes from Latin. It means ‘poisonous fluid’ and it’s a beautiful word in a strange sort of way. And we use this old word because it still fits, but they have technical names to them. But they’re very, very small. As I said, they’re so small they can infect bacteria, which everyone knows we can’t see with the naked eye. We only started to be able to see viruses with electron microscopes in the middle of the last century, and only up until recently. Still we can’t see them all. We kind of guess what they look like.

They’re intracellular molecular parasites, so they enter the body silently as a rule. And then the immune system, the fever and so forth, it’s not the virus causing that, that’s our own immune system. But many of them are stealth-like, and they enter completely silently. They don’t arouse the immune system. It’s like a burglar who knows how to tiptoe around your sleeping watchdogs in a way, or circumvent your alarm, and in the morning everything’s gone. Some of them do cause the alarm to go off, but many of them don’t.

They have no metabolic life of their own. We don’t know how to classify viruses. Are they living organisms, or are they dead? Well, they’re not dead, because they can come back to life. We don’t know how long they can exist. Some scientists believe that viruses could exist in intracellular space. They don’t need oxygen to survive, and they go into a type of dormancy where they act completely shut down, as if they were dead, as if they were stone on your driveway. They can live in ice, they can live in different extremes of temperature with or without moisture, or even suggesting an intracellular space. And then at the right moment when they connect with the living organism— it has to be the right organism, it can’t just be any, it has to have an affinity to it –then they wake up, they come alive, they rise up. And they have a remarkable intelligence and this superb ability to survive and adapt to the new environment.

They link up then, they enter the body, if it’s in a human, and enter the cell itself and then penetrate the cell and enter into the nucleus of the cell and then link up with the genetic material. In other words, they access the computer program or they access the library, learn everything that there is to know about you, particularly your immune system, and then, in a way, hijack it. So that’s in a brief way what a virus is. And they’re essentially proteins wrapped in a kind of a slippery, fatty envelope.

Now, they’re not all bad, which is important. Viruses pass from generation to generation in the embryo genetically. And as I said, they read the material, they transcript or recode or they kind of rewrite history. In some ways, which we really don’t know hardly anything about how this might take place, but they may be involved in human evolution or the evolution of animals and plants. Everything, as I said, even bacteria, can be infected by viruses. So they may play a very important role. We suspect that they play a role in how the body manages disease. For example, when we eradicated smallpox, I think everyone knows that was in Africa in the 70s when the last case was discovered, through a massive vaccination campaign, but at the same time, it’s not completely eradicated because we have stockpiles of smallpox live virus in several storage vaults around the world.

But at the same time, the incidence of asthma went up. So smallpox was going down, asthma was going up. And we first thought it was this pollution in the air and other things like allergies and so forth that may have caused that. But now we suspect that there’s an inter-linking of even deadly viruses like smallpox that somehow retool or program our own immune system to help handle the environment in which we live, in this example, asthma. So that as we breathe the air, there’s all kinds of things that come in the air, microscopic, typically, but smoke, that’s something that might be visible. Also infectious elements and pollutants, and so forth. And another part of our immune system has to deal with that. If they can’t, then it causes respiratory distress and closing down of the airways and irritation and inflammation. Some viruses may participate in helping our mucouso-immunity, that immune system that is highly active and that lines all of our inner membranes, to adapt to the environment in which we live.

To read the rest of this transcript as well as access The Renegade Roundtable experts just like Dr. J.E. Williams please click here! Kevin Gianni is an internationally recognized health advocate, author & film consultant. He has helped thousands of people take control of their own health naturally. For more information visit raw food diets and holistic nutrition.

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In the southeast, the All American Music Festival has been offering middle and high school bands, orchestras, and ensembles some of the finest musical competition for the last 27 years. The first music festival ever held in Orlando is host to hundreds of young musicians each season. Visiting troupes get to perform on a professional stage before an audience of their peers, and before a panel of experienced, professional adjudicators.

In 2008, the All American Music Festival will be expanded to include two Orlando performance venues: Hard Rock LIVE at Universal Orlando Resort and the new Arabian Nights Theater. Hard Rock Live is a 3,000-seat professional concert hall, which showcases music from national acts to emerging artists. Designed as a retro interpretation of the Roman Coliseum, the venue opened in 1999 and allows performance groups an authentic concert experience.

Following the performance, student group travelers can enjoy one of Universal Studio’s exciting parks including: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Busch Gardens, and the Kennedy Space Center. In the evening, students return for the All American Music Festival Awards Ceremony held inside Universal Studios.

The festival’s newest venue, Arabian Nights Theater, is designed as a Medieval, fairytale palace equipped with the latest in modern sound and technology. Following their performance, students are invited to enjoy a private awards banquet and the equestrian show.

Another popular Southeastern USA music festival is the Disney Youth Group Program, which provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience for instrumental, choral, and dance groups. Students can perform for international audiences in a park, compete in Festival Disney, or participate in the invitation-only Disney Honors.

Groups interested in travel to this region of the country can also head to New Orleans for the Festival of Music, or to Myrtle Beach, S.C. where there are amusement parks and theme restaurants available for a quality performance. Student group travelers to South Carolina can also see how stars learn to shine at the Carolina Opry, which offers Broadway-quality variety shows.

Out West, marching bands are always eager to visit Pasadena, Calif. for the annual Tournament of Roses Parade held on New Year’s Day. This elite parade showcases high school marching bands from throughout our nation.

A trip to California wouldn’t be complete without a stop at nearby Disneyland, for a performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Those interested in international travel might want to consider the Montreal Heritage Festival which brings groups to one of the oldest cities on the continent. In addition to gaining beneficial performance experience, student group travelers also enjoy the city’s rich history and multicultural life. Old Montreal features beautiful churches and squares, while new Montreal is a modern mecca and home to the famous “underground.” Groups participating in the Montreal Heritage Festival can also take a guided city tour or walking tour of Old Montreal.

Travel to London, England for a performance at the Royal Academy of Music would be the pinnacle for any student performer. Located in the heart of London, the Royal Academy of Music has produced some of the world’s finest musicians. Performing on this prestigious stage is an unforgettable experience for any ensemble. Groups can also soak up the excitement and culture of London with tours of Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Big Ben. Tours can also be arranged to include a trip to the West End for a theater performance and a spectacular awards ceremony.

Whether your group travels to perform in the US or abroad, there is no better educational opportunity for student musicians than attending one of the world’s top musical festivals.

travel adventures Travel Adventures is a student tour provider staffed by educators who understand the needs of teachers. It has served over one half million students since 1987 and its mission is to

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Renegade Water Secrets with Dr. J.E. Williams, a pioneer in integrative medicine, an educational leader in “green medicines” and an internationally known speaker and published author, including his latest book, “Viral Immunity.”

Kevin: So let’s talk about the most common viruses that most people would have. What are the numbers? I’ve read that up to 90% of people have viruses.

Dr. Williams: [laughs] Well, I’d probably say 90 to 100, closer to 100. One time a very well known bacteriologist, a specialist in bacteria, was giving a lecture by my invitation at one of the medical schools that I worked with. I was in the audience and he was pointing out the number of cells in the body. It is fascinating that we have more bacteria by number, so many trillions of bacteria compared to so many hundreds of billions of living tissue cells. There’s four times more bacteria that actually compose who we are. Can you believe that? And all of those, except when we’re affected, are supposed to be there. That’s our robiotics. It’s not just in the gut, they’re through all our other tissues. And then he said, “Where viruses are not supposed to be there.” And then he looked up at me and said, “Well, Dr. Williams might have a different view because he’s kind of the pro-viral immunity doc!”

We kind of had a little eye to eye and smiled. Afterwards we chatted a little bit and realized that his information was from a different paradigm, more than 20 years ago. And mine was a little more current in that we get infected by viruses, and we used to think that the body cleared everything out, but now we realize that it doesn’t.

Anywhere between 90 and 95%, maybe higher, carry antibodies to a very common herpes virus called Epstein-Barr. And you can go, and this has been tested, into Brazilian Amazon natives along the river to the Northern Artic Eskimos to urban people in pretty much every country and every continent. So how did the virus become so global and so ubiquitous that it infects almost everybody? During childhood, it remains there. Another is roseola. The list goes on and on. Those are all herpes virus family microorganisms. So the number may be anywhere from 90 to 100% for carrying some type of virus around with us.

Kevin: So Epstein-Barr, for those people who don’t know, that’s what causes mononucleosis.

Dr. Williams: Yes, exactly. The kissing disease. It can be very severe. When I’m talking to people, for example, with chronic fatigue, one of the first things I want to track down is, is the fatigue caused by an infection, and what type of infection could that be? Could it be spyro-acute lyme disease, a type of bacteria, or another bacteria or parasites or yeast organisms or virus? Those are the main infectious microorganisms. And if it is, then I try to narrow it down further. Which type of infectious agent is it? If it’s viruses, well, then you’re in my domain!

Kevin: Mm-hmm.

Dr. Williams: But interestingly, probably the smallest percentage of chronic fatigue are really caused by infectious organisms, and only a part of those that are caused by infectious are by Epstein Barr. But in the history taking, what I’ll do is I’ll try to ask the patients, did they ever have mono, will be one of the main questions, and then to what degree did it make them sick. They could have been in bed for two months with an enlarged spleen; I mean, very, very sick. Or, they could have had almost nothing. Maybe it was just like a passing cold or they thought they had a flu but actually they had mono. And it may or may not, the degree that they’re infected originally, may or may not have a bearing on how their immune system and how their body is now responding to a reactivation to this latent viral form of Epstein Barr.

Every modern disease or most of them, but certainly cancer, diabetes, even all the auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and MS and not to mention chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia and the list goes on and on, the most common modern degenerative chronic ailments are linked by one thing, and that’s the immune system. And so, in researching viruses and in treating viruses what I found was that since there’s no drugs or even effective herbs or things that we have to come up with a strategy which I call the viral immunity or the viral immunity program or strategy, to strengthen and to modulate or to boost our immune systems, and what are the most important elements. And finally, by the way, I’m working, I’m just on the edges of working, concept only, right now, but with a very large international company with research in Canada and Korea and other places to develop a really world class immune-strengthening supportive formula that’s kind of broad based and would help the immune system in general, but particularly against viruses.

Kevin: What are the signs obviously that…people kind of know the signs of a weakening immune system, but what is the strategy, like what, how do you start, when do you decide to go on some sort of program that will help boost your immune system? Do you do it all the time? Is it something you go on and off of? I think this kind of encompasses a lot of questions that the audience is after.

Dr. Williams: Because there’s such a problem with dampening, weakening, or imbalancing immune system, and it tends to show up more under people with a lot of stress, and as you get older. But don’t just use those two as the only marker; it can happen to anybody at any time under many, a variety of circumstances, but the. And because all of these diseases I talked about are so linked to immunity, if there’s one thing that kind of linked them all together it would be an imbalanced or weakened or damaged immune system, that it’s important for everyone to start to take corrective action in their lifestyle, in their diet, their, the way they move, their exercise, to strengthen their immunity and to protect their immunity and to enforce it and maintain it lifelong.

Then the next part of that question is that for those people who do have the signs of a weakening immunity, then they should start to actively treat it in a, maybe we’d call it a soft way, but in a daily basis with nutrients and perhaps some herbal therapies. And then they should have the information and knowledge how to either, how to modulate upward or boost up the activity of some of those medications that they’re taking during like the fall and winter when the flu season is high, and, or if there’s, if they suspect they’re getting a virus or that they have a latent virus that’s reactivating. So, one is lifestyle part of it which everybody should do which includes also awareness of the severity of and the commonality of viral illness. And, two, a general program, sort of, almost kind of a one-sized general program that might fit everyone or close to it. And then some more specific boosting or modulating or up-regulating substances that you would only take when you need them for short periods of time, so a little kind of boost or jets of energy.

Kevin: And is it possible to eat your food so cleanly that you don’t need any of the extra stuff?

Dr. Williams: That’s a great question. I totally anticipated this one, Kevin. [laughter] I hear this so often that people say they live the perfect. . .I mean, in their own mind they, I’m exaggerating, but as if they lived the perfect diet. Nobody lives a perfect lifestyle and the perfect diet in our world, believe me. The foods that we eat in America; you could shop at the health food store and buy organic and everything; and that’s important, that’s a huge plus, and that’s going to help you a lot, but nothing in this country is pure or safe from genetically adaptation, and even trucking the fruits and vegetables, they have to be fumigated, and so forth. So, there’s no such thing as that; that’s like living in a bubble, in a pure world.

And even the places I go high in the Andes, these like Shangri-la type of places, they and other parts of the world, the living is rugged, and yes, the air is pure and clean, and the people have no disease, and etc., but it’s encroaching in on them. And it’s long, long, long ago, generations ago have encroached in on us, so our genetics have already been altered or modified. We can improve our genetic expression. We can help ourselves, in other words. But we can’t often undo the damage that our parents experienced before we were born. And so, the other thing is that if you have no immunity to infection, you’ll get infected, no matter how strong you are. In matter of fact, it will lay low the strongest of the strong, the youngest and the bravest of the brave, no one is spared when nature roars. And when viruses come in, if you don’t have the immunity to it and your immune system reacts aggressively, it’s the immune system that kills you, not the virus.

So the answer is, it’s very helpful, and it will help prevent a lot of immune system related conditions but it won’t make you completely immune or armor you to a point where you’re invincible or completely invulnerable. That’s not how biology works. And then there’s every shade of not only gray but every color of the rainbow in terms of viruses. It’s quite interesting.

To read the rest of this transcript as well as access The Renegade Roundtable experts just like Dr. J.E. Williams please click here! Kevin Gianni is an internationally recognized health advocate, author & film consultant. He has helped thousands of people take control of their own health naturally. For more information visit raw food diets and holistic nutrition.

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At Epcot, students enter the world’s wonders through interactive experiences and dazzling shows. They can explore the world in a day and journey into the future. In 2008, MGM Studios will be become Disney’s Hollywood Studios, celebrating the best Hollywood has to offer. From High School Musical 2: School’s Out to the Rock - Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, visiting students will be immersed in their own adventure. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to the colossal new attraction, Expedition Everest, where visitors face off with the fearsome Yeti. Finally, students can cool down at two water theme parks - Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.

Universal Orlando Resort creates an entire universe of action and thrills for students with two very different theme parks. At Islands of Adventure famous comic book heroes, cartoons, and stories come to life on rides such as the Jurassic Park River Adventure and The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman.

At Universal Studios Florida, students go beyond the screen into a world of movie action in the Revenge of the Mummy, where they are plunged into total darkness on a psychological thrill ride. Or they may join the cast of Shrek for a 4-D experience that includes special effects felt right from their seats. Students can then cool off at Wet n Wild water park, featuring a variety of multi-passenger tube rides.

When the sun sets, student travelers head to Orlando’s hottest spot for entertainment - Universal CityWalk. The 30-acre entertainment complex presents the finest in live music, casual dining, dancing, shopping and movies. Student dining favorites are the NASCAR Sports Grille, Hard Rock Cafe, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and NBA City. For entertainment, students won’t want to miss one of the most popular shows in the country - Blue Man Group, now showing exclusively at Universal CityWalk. Or, they can catch the biggest names in music and comedy at Hard Rock Live Orlando. For the shoppers in the group, CityWalk features an array of memorabilia and souvenirs to the latest teen apparel and trendy gifts. Special dates are available at The Groove to teens to dance in one of the areas hottest dance clubs, equipped with the latest sound system and special effects. CityWalk’s movie complex features 20 theaters with stadium-style seating and digital sound showcasing the newest releases.

SeaWorld Adventure Park in Orlando takes student travelers into wonders that exist beyond the ocean’s door. Here, students experience up-close encounters that immerse them in the mysterious world of sea inhabitants. Shows such as “Mystify” encompass both sea and sky in an underwater adventure, while “Believe” combines advanced killer whale behaviors with an elaborate set and expert trainers in a stunning show. Other highlights include Shamu Underwater Viewing, Dolphin Cove, Shark Encounter, and Manatee Rescue. In Discovery Cove, located across the street from SeaWorld, students may swim with dolphins, snorkel with tropical fish, and hand-feed exotic birds.

In Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens Africa combines some of the world’s best roller coasters with exotic animal encounters and fun shows. Students may start with Gwazi, the Southeast’s largest and fastest double wooden roller coaster, followed by a ride on the stomach-lurching SheiKra. SheiKra features floorless cars that allow riders an unobstructed view of the 70 mph rush.

After these two roller coasters, students can experience a wild encounter at Edge of Africa, where self-guided tours reveal the scenic habitats of hippos, hyenas, meerkats, and a Nile crocodile. In the Serengeti Plain, hundreds of exotic African animals can be seen from the Serengeti Express Railway, Skyride, and Safari, or from the various walkways that twist and turn throughout the rolling landscapes and elevated terrain. In Rhino Valley, student travelers experience a blend of close-up animal encounters and off-road adventure.

travel adventures Travel Adventures is a student tour provider staffed by educators who understand the needs of teachers. It has served over one half million students since 1987 and its mission is to

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A mechanical crank was added to it for driving the same which gave birth to what is popularly known as the bicycle. Originally, Kirkpatrick McMillan was behind the building of bicycle which was later modified and presented by Pierre Michaux and Lallement. However after all amendments to the original design, it was J. K. Starley who introduced the first modern bicycle in the year 1885 which was popularly known as the Rover.

The modern bicycle has a frame in which two big wheels are attached. The front and rear wheel are chained together with the help of a chain which moves on a spindle which has two foot pedals attached to it. It has a seat attached on the top for the rider and few bicycles even have a carrier on the back of the seat. The main parts of the bicycles are the frame which holds the complete set, the drive train which holds the chain rings and brackets, the handle bar which is used as the steering, the saddles, brakes, suspension and of course the wheels.

As time passed, bicycles became so much popular that cycling became the first few things that were taught to a small child. It has become one of the most popular vehicles today due to its health benefits and cost effectiveness. They are also commonly used in military and police applications and also by postal department and courier services. Since there is no fuel cost, it serves as the cheapest mode of transport. Bicycles are also used for recreational activities and as fitness tool.

Research has proved that cycling is one of the most effective types of exercising which has many health benefits attached to it. Those, who are unable to maintain a proper exercise schedule for keeping themselves fit, can make up for their losses by traveling on a bicycle. This not only helps in strengthening your leg muscles but also serves the purpose of cardio aerobic workout. This explains why we find cycling equipments in all the fitness centers across the world.

Using a bicycle in lieu of any other automobile not only has health benefits but brings along many financial gains as well. With the increasing prices of fuel gas everyday, the economical and cheapest alternative to a fuel driven vehicle is the bicycle. There is no fuel cost in the bicycle and for small distances they serve as the most sought after vehicle. Apart from the running cost, the cost of owning a bicycle is also a fraction of the cost of owning any other fuel driven vehicle.

Apart from the financial and health advantages which are beneficial to the individual who is using the bicycle, it also has certain other benefits which are advantageous to the whole society in general. Since there is no fuel used in the bicycles they are most eco friendly type of vehicle. There is no harmful excretion from the bicycles as they do not emit any toxins in the environment. Bicycles can bring about a green revolution in the society and can eradicate health problems to a large extent.

However, the use of bicycles is not feasible when one has to travel longer distances in which cases the use of fuel vehicles become inevitable. Still, looking at the tremendous benefits of cycling, one must make a habit to use it as often as possible.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.polomercantil.com.br

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Student group travelers gain a unique perspective of the Old Port with a cruise aboard the Bateau-Mouche. The vessel can access paths inaccessible to traditional boats on the Saint Lawrence River. Daytime cruises explore the city and its history. Excursions provide views of some of the city’s most recognized sites. Specialized packages can include lunch or dinner aboard the boat. For a fresh take on the St. Lawrence River, the Les Sautes-Moutons offers jet boat excursions of the mighty and historic Lachine Rapids. Powerful jet boats offer thrilling rides, capable of 360-degree turns on the frothy waters.

Having seen Old Montreal from the seaway, students can then take a guided tour of the area. Highlights include the Notre-Dame Basilica, the magnificent Gothic Revival-style church which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Inside, students discover a visual feast of sculpted wood, gold leaf accents, paintings, and spectacular stained glass. Next, student travelers may head to the very site of Montreal’s founding, Pointe-a-Calliere, the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History, which recounts six centuries of history. An underground tour reveals key archaeological sites and artifacts and displays round out this fascinating museum.

Public places such as the Place Jacques-Cartier serve as a popular meeting point in Old Montreal and is entirely reserved for pedestrian traffic during the summer. During the warm months, cafes bordering the Place Jacques-Cartier are busy with patrons and musicians. Street performers and painters provide plenty of local color. Horse-drawn carriage rides are also available.

Student visitors should also consider a Lighting Tour of Old Montreal. The city’s historical buildings shine in all their splendor when night falls on the city. Specialized lighting was designed to emphasize the architectural details of the structures. Adding to the atmosphere, 22 gas street lamps have been installed along Sainte-Helene Street, making the area home to many movie sets.

Montreal received its name from the mountain that watches over the city. When Jacque Cartier climbed to the top of Mount Royal in 1535, he was awe-struck by the view. Today the view from Mount Royal is equally spectacular. From there, students can see the tops of skyscrapers, across the St. Lawrence River below, and to the distance beyond. The Mount Royal Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park in New York City, features walking trails, plants, and birds. Guided tours are available. For a taste of “au francais,” Laurier Avenue presents a delightful array of patisseries, bake shops, and fine chocolates in this mainly French-speaking neighborhood.

Built for the 1976 Summer Olympics, the Olympic Stadium is topped by the tallest inclined tower in the world. Visitors have superb views of Montreal from the top three observation floors. The sports center offers six aquatic pools as well as a multi-sports facility. Guided tours are available.

Four Montreal museums engage students in the world of ecosystems, insects, botany, and the stars. Since its opening in 1992, nearly 14 million visitors have traveled through the Biodome, or “house of life.” Here, four ecosystems serve as home to thousands of animals and plants.

Experienced biologists act as guides to this oasis in the city. The Montreal Botanical Garden ranks as one of the world’s largest and most spectacular gardens. A broad range of educational programs and thematic tours are available for student groups. Located at the Botanical Garden, the Montreal Insectarium invites students to discover the fascinating world of insects.

Considered the largest of its kind in North America, the museum houses a collection of several thousand living and preserved insects from every corner of the earth. Students will find themselves immersed under a celestial canopy at the Montreal Planetarium. The museum’s Zeiss projector reproduces the sky as seen by the naked eye. Under the vast hemispherical dome of the Star Theatre, students may explore the splendors of the universe.

One of Canada’s oldest art museums, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is among the most impressive art museums in North America. From Monet to Picasso, Matisse to Dali, the museum features collections from Canada and Europe, and spans the centuries from ancient cultures to modern. The museum also hosts temporary exhibits.

Directly under the heart of the city is the famous underground pedestrian network. Covering more than 20 miles of brightly lit passageways, the underground connects metro stations, boutiques, major hotels, restaurants, businesses, and attractions. To the locals, it’s simply known as the “underground.” To student visitors, it’s a fascinating look at real life in Montreal. A redirected focus on arts and culture in the last several years has resulted in display windows and alcoves presenting the riches of Montreal’s museum collections.

From the heights of Mount Royal to cozy underground corners - from an ancient city center to a modern cityscape - Montreal provides student group travelers with a variety of fascinating worlds just waiting to be explored.

travel adventures Travel Adventures is a student tour provider staffed by educators who understand the needs of teachers. It has served over one half million students since 1987 and its mission is to

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Students touring the WHOI’s Ocean Science Exhibit Center learn about the ocean science research programs and the vessels and tools developed by engineers and scientists for that research. Short videos provide an introduction to WOHI, show a day in the life of the deep submersible Alvin, and highlight the discovery and exploration of the wreck of the Titanic.

Students then step into a full-size model of the inner sphere of Alvin and imagine life at the ocean floor while watching vivid footage taken at deep-sea hydrothermal vent sites. Interactive exhibits feature whale and dolphin research and explore the roles sound and hearing play in the lives of marine mammals. Other exhibits and videos feature the life forms and natural processes of the deep sea. Student groups visiting the WHOI Exhibit Center can enhance their visit with a presentation by a docent. A group presentation provides visitors with an overview of what they will see and learn throughout the center.

During the summer months, WHOI volunteers guide visitors on free walking tours through the WOHI dock area and other restricted village facilities. The one-hour tours provide background on the research conducted at WHOI and on the history of the institution. Tours run from late June through early September, Monday through Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Combined with a visit to WHOI, students may opt to continue their marine world experiences at the New England Aquarium in Boston. The Caribbean Coral Reef Exhibit is a 200,000-gallon tank and the centerpiece of the aquarium. The reef accommodates not only sharks, sea turtles, and barracuda, but also hundreds of smaller exotic tropical fishes, and is one of the most accurate recreations of its kind.

During their visit to the aquarium, students can also explore the world of penguins, sea dragons, seals, freshwater fish, and much more. Whale watching cruises whisk students to whale feeding grounds, just 30 miles east of Boston. The aquarium’s giant IMAX screen takes students on journeys to the bottom of the sea, outer space, and everywhere in between.

The New England Aquarium’s scientists and explorers travel the world’s ocean to uncover mysteries, from sunlit coral reefs to the unexplored depths. The aquarium was one of the first in the world to create a Conservation Department and has been a leader in creating an appropriate conservation plan for aquariums.

travel adventures Travel Adventures is a student tour provider staffed by educators who understand the needs of teachers. It has served over one half million students since 1987 and its mission is to

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Equipped with various facilities, it is available to people of all classes. The affordable price range and the easy application make it a pleasure to use. Besides communication, they also have various other services programmed in them. They have SMS services, camera, blue tooth, MMS, video, voice recorder, internet services and others.

The process of cell phone communication is rather simple. Connected to several base stations, the cell phone can receive and transmit waves through antennas. Installed atop tall buildings, tower or a pole, in populated areas they are further linked to a network of cabled connections.

From the base stations connected to the network, the signals reach the cell phones and the call is received. The reception and transmission is usually within 8 to 13 kms. Each cell phone has a SIM card. The identity of this card is translated numerically. Every SIM card has its own numbers so that is easily identified. There are various handset manufacturers throughout the world. The leading name among them is Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sony, Sony Ericsson, and LG.

There are various features of the mobile phone. Even the simplest of them has the most necessary of services, like the messaging facility, calculators, calendar, call lists, call registers and games. The more advanced ones share internet connection, music downloading facility, infra red, cam cording, video calling, blue tooth facility and a host of other services. High quality games can be played also on line.

The value of the total number of facilities available on some phones, far exceeds the price of the instrument and the charges paid for them. Recent research says that the total worth of the services provided is nearly 40 billion dollars.

In the year 2000, the first ever news service on the cell phone was delivered in Finland. Interestingly, the news service has caught on and demands are increasing for news according to one`s liking. Known as the `on demand` instant information based on personal choice, is fast outdoing the newspaper services. Even television newscast is not as fast as the cell phone availability. The mobility and the far reaching benefits are enjoyed by the journalists` too. Even companies like Monster have started job hunting services through the mobile. Job opportunities and expert advice regarding jobs is also available on the cell phone.

Also called the fourth screen, the mobile phone is part of the media. It is the seventh one besides cinema, newspaper, TV, radio, internet and recordings. Other than news it gives frequent intimations on the various fairs that are held, and the reduction offers made. Horoscopes, latest game scores, lists of restaurants or entertainment spots, hospital, railway and flight information are easily received on the cell phone.

The utility of this device is no longer unknown. The rate of sales growth in India shows that nearly six million people buy cells every month in India. This is the largest growing market in the world. An expected target of 500 million buyers by 2010, does not seem to be impossible.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.polomercantil.com.br

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As a mother of three young children, I want to teach my children to know God in a personal way. I want them to know that God has a better plan for them than they could possible imagine and that they should follow His plan for their life and nothing else.

Children are a gift from God, Psalm 127:3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,children a reward from him. It is such a blessing to be called Mom or Dad. Should we not want to do what God has entrusted us to do? Throughout the Bible we see how God has referenced children and their importance. I point this out to you because being a parent is one of the greatest callings on our life. It is our most important Ministry. Our Ministry does not start with our service or our job, but in our home with our family.

Another scripture that stands out to me when I think of the responsibility and calling that God has place on my life as a mom is Deuteronomy 6:5-7 5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

I believe that Christian parents have to take a stand for what is right according to God’s word. We live in a society where we are busy all the time. It is hard for families to even have a meal together daily. Our schedules are overloaded and our families are the ones that are suffering. We have been trained that success, according to the world’s standards is how much we have or our job title. The world’s standard does not align with God’s standard. It is time that we come back to the faith that our country was founded on.

Over the past few months God has really pressed upon my heart the importance of children and the need for Christian to be set apart. Lets think about what that really means.

Our children have access to the world 24 hours a day through the internet, T.V., video games, magazines and their peers. We are responsible for the adults that our children will some day become. Do you want to look back and say, “I should have done things differently?” “I wish I would have taught them how to have a personal relationship with God?”

Of course we do not want to look back when our children are grown and have any regrets. So, what can we do to help our children live a set apart life?

First and foremost we should teach our children scripture. You will be amazed at how quickly they learn if you spend time with them daily reading a child-friendly Bible. Make up some games to help them memorize simple scriptures that teach them about what is right and wrong.

Help your children compare what they are watching on T.V. and what appears in the video games they are playing to what the Bible encourages them to think about.

By encouraging them to apply the Bible to their daily activities, they’ll grow up knowing what it means to please God and will be able to make the best decisions.

Beverly Dixon is blogging daily at http://BeverlyByGrace.com. Get your free copy of her small report titled,

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