Archive for January, 2010

Send your Corporate Team on a Treasure Hunt

Sunday, January 31st, 2010
John Tarr asked:

Chances are your corporate executive staff works well together. However, they may benefit from experiencing a little fun while fine-tuning their interpersonal skills.

Sending your corporate team on a treasure hunt has quite a few advantages. For starters, it helps provide a fun event for your team that has a special purpose-to strengthen its cohesiveness.

A treasure hunt usually involves quite a few problems to solve and tasks to complete, which are two of the most important elements in the executive world. It also helps your team still stick together despite a little healthy competition-between each other and other teams.

One task that usually takes place during a treasure hunt is to find specific locations and/or objects with the use of clues. This is very difficult to do if only one person is doing it. However, when a team puts ideas together a strong new collaborative idea is born, and this is what is supposed to get the job done.

Other tasks may involve activities that improve creativity, such as arranging a photo layout design. Another assignment may involve organizational skills, such as arranging a simple corporate expense list.

While taking part in a corporate treasure hunt there may be one or more resources made available to each team. Besides the clues that are given, a survey map of the treasure hunt area may be handed out to view, and a Trivia Quiz (most likely work and office-related) may need to be taken.

Along with the resources that are given there will also be a proposed agenda, which is similar to what is given in the real corporate world. There always has to be a plan, and that plan usually starts with this proposal-which can be subject to change according to the needs of the group.

There are several ways that winners of these treasure hunt events could be determined. Numbers of points could be given out for completed quests, or a point could be given out for every successful answer given for each individual task to be done. For example, if your group reaches a particular location before others your group may get a point for that, or your group may get a point for each individual clue you correctly solve.

After the treasure hunt is completed prized may be given out to the winner. For instance, one team may possibly receive a bottle of wine, or perhaps a gift card, or even some cash.

The goal of the treasure hunt is to learn how to manage time wisely, delegate tasks effectively, or to communicate successfully. Even if only one team gets a prize everyone is a winner at these events because everyone is sure to learn something from them.

Your corporate team can design your own specialized treasure hunt game to meet your overall company needs. You can also find itineraries put together for you and all you need to do is sign up for that event.

Treasure hunts can least all day, half a day, or even for just one hour. It depends upon how much time you have and what your company hopes to accomplish. There are treasure hunt packages available that fit any company budget.

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WoW Buy Gold – Read This Before You Buy WoW Gold

Sunday, January 31st, 2010
gold-shop-test asked:

World of warcraft has got much popularity from couple of years where people obtain the chance to buy gold and get the chance to become richest person of the world. Every person, who plays the game, wants to increase his/her gaming experience so that more chances can be availed and more gold can be bought. Daily several people seek out the internet in order to find those online games through which they can obtain gold. But there are some real facts which you should keep in mind before going to enter into any gold place so that you would be able to save chunks of money.

When people do search in order to find out the sellers of wow gold, they don’t consider that there are some sellers who don’t belong to the big companies and sell their gold in low price. Why not to avail this chance which is as good as you dream off. You also should know about the various effective tactics which can be helpful for you to earn more and more and for this, you don’t have to pay any extra money as well. When you will get to know that how to access the unknown companies of wow gold and how to get them by using some strategies, you can be able to avail a golden chance.

Several books and digital guides are available in the internet in which authors have shared some of their precious tips of earning money without spending a single penny. You can be able to earn high through these guidebooks and you will love to play game time and again. You should always purchase those guide books in which you find gold is free or earn the wow gold without paying any money. These guide books are the best support for you to fulfill your dreams and desires.

Make sure that these guidebooks are providing you opportunity to earn high within few hours. You can make yourself lucky enough when you have golden chance to earn the gold. Try to think something unique and different in order to buy more wow gold which will change your whole world in a beautiful manner. You can obtain the opportunity to be number1 richest person who can earn anything of this world freely. If you are one of those persons who want to buy wow gold within few hours then make your mind sharp and get ready for playing high.

You have the chance to buy more wow gold when you have good mind and when you have effective strategies to handle the game plan. Make the best game plan and wait for the higher results, you will see how rapidly you will enter into the world of gold, through which you are able to buy favorite thing of your own choice. If you have potential to buy the gold then immediately seek out the sellers of wow gold through which you have the option to earn high and to buy gold more in a superb manner.

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Adventure Travel Guide to Africa

Sunday, January 31st, 2010
Bruce Haxton asked:

Africa is home to some of the best adventure travel destinations in the world. So whether you’re after a full-on adventure holiday, or just want to chuck some adrenaline-inducing activities in with your volunteering, Africa is the perfect place to do it.

Tanzania

Ever since Chris Moyles, Cheryl Cole and a bunch of other celebrities climbed Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro for Red Nose Day 2009, the mountain’s been getting a lot of coverage. But you don’t have to be a celebrity to take on the tallest mountain in Africa. And getting to the summit of this awe-inspiring mountain is a real challenge, so this is one trip that will be big on satisfaction.

Of course, there’s no need to push yourself that hard though! Slightly more laid-back travellers can opt for a little hiking instead. The views are almost as stunning, but you don’t have to put quite so much effort in. The Ngorongoro Crater is certainly a good place to start, offering fantastic trekking and unforgettable wildlife.

South Africa

South Africa is undoubtedly one of the best adventure travel destinations in the entire world. The coast is ideal for all kinds of water sports, so whether you’re a surfer or a scuba diver, a sailor or a water skier, this is the perfect place for you.

This incredible country certainly caters for the adrenaline junkies too. South Africa boasts both the highest commercial bungee jump and the highest commercial abseil in the world. At Bloukrans Bridge those with a seriously adventurous side can bungee jump off the bridge, plummeting a massive 216 metres towards the Bloukrans River below. While at Table Mountain, travellers can take in spectacular views as they abseil 112 metres off one of South Africa’s most iconic landmarks.

Uganda

It’s odd, you wouldn’t really think of Uganda as a top adventure travel destination – but it is. You should head to Jinja, a city that has become known as the adventure capital of East Africa, offering bungee jumping and even the chance to zip wire across the Nile.

Or for something that will really get the adrenaline pumping, why not try white water rafting? This is one the best places to do it in the entire world and you can take a short half-day trip or a full on three-day one, depending on how much time you’ve got. There’s something for every level too – so whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s something to suit.

Finally, it’s worth taking time to try the local quad biking. It’s not one of those activities that travellers tend to plan for, but it’s more than worth a go. And aside for getting your pulse racing, it’ll also show you the spectacular countryside.

Zambia

Victoria Falls isn’t just famous for Sherlock Holmes-related reasons – it’s also the perfect place for a spot of adventure. You can try your hand at bungee jumping, river boarding, canoeing, abseiling and speed boating – and that’s only the beginning. So if you’re travels are taking you through Zambia, make sure the Victoria Falls are high on your to-do list!

Kenya

For something even more vertigo-inducing, Kenya offers fantastic climbing. And as challenging climbs go, Mount Kenya is a pretty impressive adversary! It’s the biggest mountain in the country, offering magnificent views from its three main summits and loads of exotic wildlife on the way up. Just be sure not to rush – while any strong walker can take on Mount Kenya, going up too quickly can cause altitude sickness.

Or, for something that will allow you to cool off and set your pulse racing all at the same time, travellers should head for Mombasa and the coast. Its miles of white sandy beaches offer everything from surfing to jet skiing and scuba diving to snorkelling, making Mombasa a great place to unwind, with a dash of adventure thrown in for good measure.

Ghana

Thrill seekers in Ghana are advised to head for the Kakum Canopy Walkway – a set of seven bridges that look down on the lush rainforest canopy of the Kakum National Park. The dramatic walkway starts off at ground level, but the rainforest below gradually drops away to leave you suspended 100 metres above the ground, swaying precariously in the wind as you walk. The Kakum National Park is home to hundreds of species of butterflies and tropical birds, which are difficult to spot from the forest floor, but from the walkway you can clearly see them dotting the forest canopy with vivid splashes of colour.

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Parthenon Marbles or Elgin Marbles? New Museum Sparks Debate

Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Rob Mabry asked:

The opening of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens has raised thought-provoking questions about museum artifact ownership. This particular debate centers on the Parthenon Marbles (Elgin Marbles), a stunning façade or wall relief that was transported from Greece to the British Museum of Natural History between 1801 and 1805 by Thomas Bruce, 7th Lord of Elgin. So nefarious was his deed, the act of relocating precious artifacts from their natural or national context is now known as elginism and is specifically defined as “an act of cultural vandalism.”

History is ripe with instances of elginism and few nations are innocent of the practice, though it’s clear that the richer the nation, the more common the practice. Museums in Britain, the United States and Germany display a vast tapestry of ancient history with ties that are born of colonization and war. At least these artifacts that were illicitly gained are on display to be appreciated by the masses, even if those masses seldom have any direction lineage to the history they represent. Oftentimes, elginism is even more villainous and criminal. Much of the natural history that’s been stolen from poorer nations resides in private collections, appreciated by individual owners and no one else.

Much has been done in the last 60 years to preserve the natural history of vulnerable nations. The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has put international law in place to discourage the artifact trafficking and protect monuments, statues and sculptures in their native land. The primary protocol established in 1954 defined specific regulations around the protection of cultural property in the event of war. A second protocol was added in 1999, extending the intention of the law to not only prevent the treatment of cultural artifacts as “spoils of war,” but also to prevent their destruction during armed conflict. An international fund was also established to facilitate the return of cultural property to its rightful nation.

Despite these international laws, recovery of stolen artifacts is often a lengthy process even when nations demonstrate some level of cooperation. In 1990, antiques restorer Jonathan Tokeley-Parry, a shady fixture of the British art collector scene, smuggled a bust of Amenhotep III by coating it in liquid plastic and painting it black and gold. The makeover gave the artifact the look of a tacky souvenir that fooled they eyes of customs officials. Tokeley-Parry was charged four years later in Britain for attempting to sell another ill-gotten archaeological find. Police recovered the Amenhotep III bust five years later, but it would take almost twenty years of legal wrangling by Egypt before the Pharaoh’s bust was returned to its rightful home.

The fate of the Parthenon Marbles remains undecided. The Greek government and populace cry out for their return and state with pride that the Acropolis Museum has been constructed as a worthy and rightful home. Some voices in the British government sing the same chorus, introducing legislation before the Parliament to return the “Elgin Marbles” to Greece. Others worry that the return of the marbles will set an unsettling precedent that will begin a wave of demand for the return of cultural artifacts. They argue that if this flood gate is opened, some of the world’s most beloved museums will soon be barren.

The questions surrounding cultural ownership are complex. There is truth that the stewardship of cultural property by other nations has actually preserved many cultural artifacts that would have fallen into disrepair or been destroyed had they remained in their cultural context. Some argue that when artifacts are gained in conquest or conflict their ownership becomes part of the conquering nation’s history. Ultimately the solution is not likely an all-or-nothing proposition, but lies somewhere in the middle ground of shared ownership.

One wonders what viewpoint Indiana Jones has on this topic. Does this fictitious collector of rare antiquities have an opinion about where the Ark of the Covenant truly belongs? Certainly not with the Nazis. The US government, unlikely. If Dr. Jones had it all to do again, he might just leave it in Tanis satisfied knowing that the Nazis were digging in the wrong place.

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Unbiased View on the New James Bond

Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Joel Owens asked:

James Bond is one of the most recognizable names in literature. According to his creator, Ian Fleming, “James Bond is a highly romanticized version of a true spy.” He is articulate as he is cocky. Throughout the years, James Bond has changed faces.

For every generation, there was a version of James Bond. And for this period of time, Daniel Craig portrays the most famous spy in literature and film. He brings a rougher version of the British agent who has captured the imaginations of both young and old.

Daniel Craig shows a more rugged interpretation of the James Bond that we have come to know and love. With the physique that Daniel has, he’s certainly brings a whole new perspective to the role. With his performance in the re-make of Casino Royale, he brought out the more violent nature of being a spy. This was the only Bond movie that didn’t have the arsenal of gadgets surreal that the Sean Connery and Roger Moore movies had.

Casino Royale made over 500 million dollars at the box office and Daniel Craig had the blessing of the roster of actors that, at one time, played Bond on the big screen. When consulting the novel, it characterizes Bond as ironic, brutal, and cold, which makes this Bond an antihero; a protagonist whose character and goals are antithetical to classical heroism. What does this mean? That Bond was an efficient killer, which justifies his having a license to kill, therefore making him more of a real spy than he was as charming as the Mad Hatter. You couldn’t have a Bond film without the women. And women have swallowed this version hook, line, and sinker. Tight abdomens really hit it off with the female population, rather than the sly, cool, ladies man of old. With the immergence of a new image so do the weapons at Bond’s disposal.

One would usually see a Walter PPK on the posters on every Bond film made. In the Quantum of Solace poster, you see Bond in the traditional tuxedo wielding a sub machine gun which only seems logical. A lone spy going up against more than just a handful army of henchmen is just like the old school James Bond we use to know. The sheer number of villains would scare anyone in his right mind; it’s not simply possible for one man to go up against so many people with just a pistol.

Years ago, the old Bond didn’t have much of a body to begin with. He was not as massive as Daniel Craig, simply because they didn’t have knowledge or the technology to achieve such mass in those days. With the image that Craig presents to us, the audience, we see a physique that can actually perform the feats that James Bond is known to make throughout his illustrious career.

This variation of the Bond character is being given credibility to actually exist. Daniel Craig has given us the most versatile James Bond so far. Of course, we can not simply dismiss those who have come before, we can only separate and take them as individuals. Daniel Craig isn’t just James Bond on steroids.