Have you noted that when you go and read the news online, and read through the various stories from the syndicated websites that they usually have a technology section, and that technology section is filled with the latest gadgets, social networking methods, and any of the newest things coming from Silicon Valley? I have, and as a lover of technology, and coordinator for a think tank, I am disturbed by all this. Now then let me explain what I mean.There are plenty of new technologies that are extremely important, technologies that if we didn’t have we wouldn’t be where we are today. Likewise many of the challenges of the future will be solved through technology. And most of the major challenges don’t have to do with the latest social network. For instance, if we want to solve the pollution problem, or have less CO2 in the atmosphere, then maybe we need to work more on clean coal technologies. Incidentally, it’s amazing how far all of that technology has come in the last five years, but you don’t hear much about it much do you?Right and why is that? What about all the new material technology, and carbon nanotubes, and all the things that will make our cars lighter and stronger, and our aircraft more efficient? Technologies that will allow us to go down to the bottom of the ocean, and perhaps mine rare Earth elements from the seafloor without disturbing any aquatic life that is down there? Don’t you want to learn about that sort of technology? Why are we being barraged with the latest sleek displays, e-readers, and smart phones? Isn’t there more to life than that? Don’t get me wrong, they are great little consumer personal tech devices, but.It seems that the marketeers, the press releases, and an abundance of money flowing into those sectors have hijacked the definition of technology. People now read the news and assume that technology comes from Silicon Valley? Yes, I would submit to you that much of the hard-core technology comes from IBM, Intel, and other Silicon Valley companies – but that doesn’t mean that all technology comes from Silicon Valley, or that it’s the only place where major strides are being made and broken.It seems to me that in the syndicated news such as Google, MSN, and some of the other search engines which offer all the news stories around the world, well, they ought to divide the technology section up with new categories such as:Personal Tech Gadgets
Social Technologies
Real TechnologyWhy, because if they did that, then the up-and-coming engineers and scientists would understand that there’s more to life and technology than just the latest cool gadget being designed in Silicon Valley, and made in China or Taiwan. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on.
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How to Locate a Dependable Travel Agent
Whether you are researching a trip on your own or not, here are tips for finding a travel agent to help you plan a trip that is right for you and who can help you with all the confusing information found online. You may be travelling on business, on a family vacation, on a religious commitment, or to host a special event like a marriage, anniversary or a family reunion on a cruise ship or an all-inclusive! Don’t forget fundraisers on a cruise ship.Location is KeyTravel agents are consultants who are around to help people like you accomplish various travel plans. To locate a reliable travel consultant for your trip, try exploring one of these options:1. Visit the local Chamber of Commerce or visit their website to review the accredited list of travel professionals.2. Search through the Yellow Pages to shortlist local travel agents and their contact information.3. Talk to neighbors or friends to accumulate some recommendations, but these are not always reliable.After short-listing a few travel agents in your area through your initial research and local contacts, take a note pad and jot down the start and end dates of your travelling schedule, the departure and arrival locations and the intermediate destinations, transportation preferences if any, available budget, and special requirements like wheelchair accessible entry and exit points. Also determine what type of activities you would like to do on your trip. All this information will help the travel agent help you chose the best product to make your trip memorable and a success. Do some research on your own, but let the travel agent help you decide whether the information you find is really the best for you. There is so much information out there.Have a Vacation without StressWhen you finally meet your travel agent, you can use your list of requirements along with the checklist provided below to avoid disappointments:1. Keep your conversation with your travel agent focused on your list items but keep an open mind to listen to suggestions of the travel agent to enhance your trip.2. When you are discussing your travelling plans, available options, and expense details, avoid falling into the trap of buying services you do not need.3. When making travel plans, always ensure you have a “Plan B” to address mishaps such as seats without reservations, missing connections, lost baggage, absence of travelling date on tickets, and more terrible possibilities.4. You should also discuss in detail the travel agent’s resources to handle last-minute changes like trip cancellations, date modifications, or itinerary changes.5. Discuss with the travel agent products like travel insurance to help protect your travel costs along with medical protection. Travel insurance covers more than just those items listed in numbers 3 and 4 above. Travel insurance also covers you medically should the need arise. Some insurance plans do not cover you when you travel outside of the United States. Make sure you check with your insurance company to see if you are covered.6. If possible, use a credit or debit card to pay for all the expenses, to ensure that all your expenses are accurately tracked, monitored, and auditable in case of a future dispute.If you are fortunate enough to locate a reliable travel agent, then you can easily expect timely and courteous services while planning, preparing, and executing your travel plans on a suitable budget and schedule.
Need Auto Insurance? Find Out How Here
It is mandatory for all new car owners to get auto insurance. The Road Traffic Act stipulates that all motorists should be insured against liability and it declares driving a car without a minimum level of insurance is illegal. The violation can attract severe civil and criminal penalties. This can be easily avoided by securing a proper auto insurance cover for your vehicle as per your state’s demands. It is quite a simple process.Nowadays, there is so much dependence on vehicles that the best thing to do is to follow all stipulated guidelines religiously. Getting the right auto insurance cover is one of them.What Is Auto Insurance All About?Auto Insurance simply means a contract or an agreement between an auto owner and an insurance company. Under this contract, premium is paid to the insurer and in return he pays for any car related losses as detailed in the policy.Key Legal RequirementsIn order to get an insurance cover for your vehicle, you would need to fulfill the following requirements. It’s advisable to find out the requirements in your respective state since these may vary. However, these are the broad requirements for auto insurance.Firstly, you should be in possession of a valid driver’s license before you go in for registration or insuring your car. For your license you would need to approach your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). This is the primary requirement.You will also need to have an auto title. It is a legal certificate of ownership that confirms that you own the car. Most of the paperwork is already done when you purchase a gar from a dealer. Licensed dealers are needed to transfer the title of the car in your name. The title will list the owner’s name, address, make of the car, model and year of the car and the date of sale. This should be retained by you.Next, you need to get your car registered. You can apply for registration at the local DMV. The requirements may vary from state to state. In order to register your vehicle, you will require a valid driving license, signed certificate of title for the car, address of residence and proof of your insurance.The law also stipulates that that a vehicle more than three years old should have a valid MOT certificate. It is not possible to tax a vehicle without MOT and certificate of insurance and driving without them is an offence.It is also vital to keep the insurance company informed in case of any vehicle modifications and fixed penalties. Failing to do so is an offense and may affect any claim that you make.You are also legally obliged to take the basic level of auto insurance that will cover you against third party claims. Since the legal requirements for auto insurance vary from state to state, you will need to clarify the level of cover that you require while taking auto insurance. Only insuring the legal minimum isn’t necessarily the best choice to make.As a proof of your auto insurance, the company issues you the following documents – A Certificate of insurance which will also be required for buying your road tax; A cover note that will act as a temporary policy and certificate until your new insurance policy has been set up; and Policy documents which gives a detail of all that you are covered for. Read the documents carefully to understand your rights and obligations under the policy.Insurance companies have set up claim help lines and accident emergency recovery hotlines for ensuring a smoother process. In case of any ambiguity in terms of insurance or legal requirements, get your doubts cleared by talking to the company.