1000 Islands Cottages

Brockville, Ontario – Thousand Islands “Cottages”

Image taken on 2009-07-21 18:27:38 by Reiver.

FAQs For Visiting Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Where is the city of Saint-Petersburg?

- Saint-Petersburg is located in Russia’s Northwestern Federal District. The city rests on the delta of the Neva River, which is on the east end of the Gulf of Finland.

Wasn’t Saint-Petersburg called something else before?

- Yes. The city of Saint-Petersburg was previously called Leningrad. Before that, the city was known as Petrograd.

I am visiting Saint-Petersburg in the autumn, how should I dress?

- The season of autumn in Saint-Petersburg is rainy and cool. It is not advisable to wear light cotton pants and short sleeve shirts, consider bringing a light jacket and a coat for the evening hours. The autumn tends to bring rain showers, so be sure to bring an umbrella as well. Autumn lasts from September to December.

I am visiting Saint-Petersburg in the winter, how should I dress?

- Late December brings winter to Saint-Petersburg and lasts through the month of March. The winter is extremely cold, usually around freezing temperatures with lots of snow and wind. Be sure to bring warm winter clothes, gloves, hats, scarves, and a coat. It is also important to make sure that your feet stay warm, so don’t forget the wool socks and boots.

I am visiting Saint-Petersburg in the spring, how should I dress?

- Saint-Petersburg in the spring is a beautiful time to visit. From late March to late May, the spring can be quite chilly and even bring light snow. Be prepared for fair weather as well as cold nights. It is advisable to bring both a light jacket and a winter coat.

I am visiting Saint-Petersburg in the summer, how should I dress?

- Summertime in Saint-Petersburg lasts from the beginning of June to the end of August. The weather is mild making shorts and short-sleeves acceptable for daywear. Always remember pants and a light jacket for the evenings.

What airports are in or near Saint-Petersburg?

- There are two airports in the area of Saint-Petersburg. Pulkovo II International and Pulkovo I Domestic are commonly used airports.

Is there a seaport in or near Saint-Petersburg?

- Yes, the seaport features a passenger terminal on Vasilievsky Island.

What is there to do in Saint-Petersburg?

- There is plenty of history and culture to take in when visiting Saint-Petersburg including, but certainly not limited to the Hermitage Museum, the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theater, the Imperial palace, and many beautiful cathedrals including Trinity Cathedral and Smolny Cathedral. If you are visiting Saint-Petersburg in May, June or July, chances are high you’ll experience the so-called “white nights” phenomenon, when twilight lasts all night long.

Are there any monuments to see while in Saint-Petersburg?

- Absolutely! In fact, Saint-Petersburg is home to many famous monuments. There is the monument to Catherine the Great, located in Ostrovsky Square. For the literature lover, the monument to Fiodor Dostoyevsky is located just off Vladimirskaya Square (and just a block away from the Dostoyevsky Museum). The city is also home to the famous Moscow Gate and monuments to Peter the Great, Nicholas I, Goethe, and Gogol. Make sure you visit the Rostral Columns, the Bronze Horseman and the Alexander Column, which join the list of the most famous Saint-Petersburg monuments.

I’ve heard about Saint-Petersburg’s famous bridges? Are they worth seeing?

- The bridges in the city are architecturally stunning. The longest bridge in Saint-Petersburg is the Nevsky Bridge, measuring in at almost 906 meters. Other notable bridges include the Anichkov Bridge, the Bank Bridge, the Blue Bridge, and the Palace Bridge, to name a few.

How are the parks and gardens in Saint-Petersburg?

- The city is home to many gorgeous gardens and parks in which both locals and tourists enjoy spending their time. The Alexander Garden, named for Czar Alexander II, is the centrally located and features a musical fountain. The Botanical Garden features more than 12,000 species and varieties of plants, including the Queen of the Night, which blooms only once a year. Be sure to check out the Leningrad Zoo and Catherine Gardens as well. Summer Garden is the oldest and still the most attractive park in Saint-Petersburg, the plan of which was drawn by Peter the Great.

I’d like to go to a museum in Saint-Petersburg. Are there any?

- There is a reason that the city is often called the “Gorod Muzei”, or “the city museum”. Saint-Petersburg is filled with museums showcasing art and history. When in town, be sure to visit the Academy of Fine Arts Museum, the Hermitage Museum, the Dostoyevsky Memorial Museum, and the Cottage Palace before you go! The Russian Museum, Russian Ethnography Museum and the Kunstkammer also attract thousands of tourists all year round.

Why Leading Health Practitioners Are Recommending High Tech, Ionic Detox Footbaths For Health

In our long history on this planet, only Man seems to have the desire to constantly change things. We convert our natural resources such as sand to glass, wood to paper and we grow food, combine seeds or grafts to create new and better types of food, we build structures and find new ways to make our lives better, faster, easier. Our never ending quest for the next best thing is unquenchable. While this can be a blessing it can also be a curse.

Before man reached the industrial age, except for some major cities, most of the earth was still clean and natural. The air was pure, the fresh water was clean and drinkable and our oceans were relatively untouched. In this state, our earth had an abundance of negative and positive ions.

Ions are atoms that have acquired an electrical charge by gaining or losing an electron. Positive ions make us feel tired, irritable and cranky. Negative ions make you feel refreshed and can dramatically improve your mood and sense of well being. What does this have to do with our health? Plenty!

Storms, water falls, rushing rivers or ocean waves all produce tens to hundreds of thousands of negative ions. Many people make vacation plans that somehow revolve around water. It could be the cottage at the beach, an island getaway, a water park or cruise. We unwittingly are drawn to places that produce negative ions. Water is not the only place these ions are produced. Forests, especially pine forests also produce these ions and promote a sense of well being.

Our ancestors walked along the beaches or crossed rushing rivers and explored the forests and lived and worked in more of a natural environment. Some of the health issues we see today were not present in our history. Chances are that if you live in a big city and spend your day in front of a computer you may be over exposed to positive ions and are in sore need of negative ions. This is where technology comes in. Ionic foot baths!

An ionic foot bath works by immersing your feet in the slightly salted water (sea salt) whereby positive and negative ions are emitted by the machine, which re-energize the body.

It is similar to walking in the sand along the beach only more powerful because your feet are in direct contact with the ions being made in the water. Water has an almost perfect balance of positive & negative ions. Since the body is composed of 70% water, its ability to interact with the water is very high. When you immerse a body mass into water, the vibration frequency of the water will affect the vibration frequency of the body due to the interaction of the magnetic & electrical field. It’s an exceptionally wonderful and natural healing tool. It is a painless, actually relaxing, process and unlike prescription drugs, there are no harmful side effects.

An overall balancing effect occurs, along with a significant increase in the number of negative ions. Ions are atoms or molecules that have lost or gained electrons [Free radicals are unpaired electrons]. If the atoms or molecules lose electrons, they become positively charged ions. If they gain electrons, they become negatively charged ions.

Health practitioners all over the country are seeing results day after day. Many customers have stated positive results in reduced menopause symptoms, menstrual cramps, sexual health problems, skin problems, acne, sleep problems, restlessness, stress, toothaches, wrinkles, aches and pains and yeast infections, as well as faster disease healing and injury recovery. For some it is a sense of well being after such a session.

Bottom line, technology can recreate what we have lost as far as a foot bath goes. When you can’t get away, restore your sense of well being with an ionic foot bath!

Why a Killer Video Game is the U.s. Army’s Best Recruitment Tool

By David Verklin and Bernice Kanner

Authors of Watch This, Listen up, Click Here

Since the last draftee reported for duty in December 1972, Uncle Sam has had to hustle to staff an all-volunteer armed force. In the case of the U.S. Army, that meant recruiting 80,000 new soldiers every year — essentially replacing more than the entire workforce of BellSouth every 12 months.

Advertising did the trick initially. After “Today’s Army Wants to Join You” fizzled, in January 1981, “Be All You Can Be” became the battle cry. For two decades, wrapped around ads that made this branch look as adventurous as an Outward Bound course, it resonated with 17-to-24-year-olds (of whom the Army is the nation’s largest employer). Then, in 2001, that was scuttled for an “Army of One.” (“Even though there are 1,045,690 soldiers just like me, I am my own force . . .”) Critics scoffed that the new tin slogan was misguided (isn’t conformity more valued than individuality in the barracks?); the Army countered that it was effective.

Then Iraq exploded.

Despite adding thousands of additional recruiters, upping the enlistment bonus and funding for college, fattening the ad budget, and ratcheting up the patriotic appeal, the Army could not fill its boots.

So the Army added more marketing weaponry. It hosted town hall meetings where civilians could meet soldiers and hear about their accomplishments. It tried product placement: Army mechanics on the Discovery Channel’s Monster Garage tricked out a Jeep. And it launched a thoroughly engaging computer video game that quickly became a gold standard of “advergames” for its effectiveness and realism. Gamers take such real military roles as Intelligence (18F), Engineer (18C), Communications (18E), and Combat Medic (18D), and fire the same weapons the Army has. And when they fire on the run, their aim is less accurate.

Before it was released on July 4, 2002, many expected the $7.3 million game would join the ranks of the $436 hammer and $640 toilet seat as a study of excess. Few predicted “America’s Army” would become the artillery’s most effective marketing tool, conveying the authentic military experience in a voice that prospective recruits want to hear.

More than seven million users have registered (anonymously so as to squelch any fear of recruiter harangues) with 10,000 to 50,000 new ones downloading the shoot-em-up daily. In a dozen running and gunning missions, players advance through the stages of soldierhood — drilling in basic training, target practicing with an M-16, learning about basic emergency medicine, and, finally, diving into combat. The game has been downloaded more than 16 million times, 20 percent of entering cadets at West Point have played it, and between 20 and 40 percent of new Army recruits have played it as well.

“They seek it out rather than the other way around,” noted Chris Chambers, deputy director of the Army Game Project within the Army’s Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis. At an average cost of 10 cents per hour versus $5 to $10 per hour for a TV commercial, it delivers immersion rather than mere impression.

“America’s Army” has proven to be such powerful weaponry that an official game store does brisk business selling collectible action figures, clothes, coffee mugs, and other doodads emblazoned with the logo. The Army builds parties and tournaments across the country around it. A wireless version and sequels including “America’s Army: Special Forces,” where players try to earn a Green Beret by completing Special Forces missions, have been released. Apple created a knockoff: Boot Camp. And the Army now even uses it extensively in training.

Uncle Sam Wants You . . . to play . . . and he’s not the only one. Everyone is getting in on the virtual action. Some, like the Army, create a whole game that functions as a sales brochure. Just as the Army promoted its pro-military message through gameplay, the United Nations World Food Program aims to educate about its mission to combat hunger worldwide. In “Food Force,” players steer a helicopter over the war-torn island of Sheylan, (a fictional cross between Sri Lanka and Somalia) and drop relief supplies to a population with little shelter and less food. Or they create food rations, schedule shipments, or take a supply truck through hostile terrain.

In the racing game, “Volvo Drive for Life” (playable on Microsoft’s Xbox), players are rewarded not for finishing first, but for avoiding accidents. Wander in for a test drive at a Volvo dealer and you can try it in the showroom. Dealers can bestow game cartridges on select prospects and customers. After its royal mascot tromped through “Fight Night Round 3″ (on Xbox 360), Burger King created action games around its bizarre king and made them available for just $3.99 to customers who bought a value meal. (Most games sell for at least 12 times that). Nike went beyond athletes wearing its shoes in the video game NBA 2K6: Tournament players are given different pairs of virtual footwear and choose which to put on from their Nike shoe locker depending on the task. They can also personalize the shoes with the same customization feature that’s on Nike’s iD web site.

In other advergames, marketers hitch a ride. In “CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder,” Visa’s fraud-monitoring capabilities shine when a suspicious charge on a victim’s credit card triggers investigation by a forensic-sciences team. In Tom Clancy’s “Splinter Cell Chaos Theory,” the protagonist, secret agent Sam Fisher, scales a bright neon sign for Axe deodorant and quietly enters a lunchroom inhabited by a Diet Sprite Zero vending machine. (Axe also created Mojo Master, an online game about picking up women.) In “Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow,” Fisher retrieves a message from a Sony Ericsson smart phone to learn who the villain is. In “Burnout Revenge,” players drive and crash a Carl’s Jr. delivery-truck. And players in Activision’s ‘True Crime” titles take a break from fighting gangs to recover stolen Puma sneakers.

Some marketers install games on corporate web sites or designated URLs, like “Life Saver Candy Stand,” or FiletoFish.com, the web site where a division of McDonald’s posted “Shark Bait” (in English and Spanish). Players must protect the filet-of-fish sandwich from attacking sharks. For Wachovia, Carat’s Fusion recreated the tricky 17th-hole par 3 at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Players evaluate distance and wind conditions on this 217-yard hole to pick a club: Crowd noise lets them know if they’ve made a good virtual swing. Wachovia has sponsored the annual PGA championship since 2002: The game was fashioned to promote that, sell tickets, and create viral buzz. H&R Block’s “Deduct-A-Buck” game at the deductabuck.com web site is tax-time seasonal. Players who correctly answer questions about what they can legally write off in this Seventies-TV-quiz-show-style game win prizes.

Hollywood and Nashville hardly launch a movie or song anymore without serving up a side of game. And despite hefty royalty rates for movie titles, an action hit will almost certainly be reincarnated on a console. Turner’s “Witchblade” promoted the TV series, and games built around Men in Black II, Spider-Man, and Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course were meant to promote the new releases. Along with ads for Sprite, the sci-fi game “Planetside” featured ads for the movie Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, and in the free version of “Anarchy Online” a 15-second trailer for V For Vendetta played in a continual loop. Ads for Batman Begins in “Splinter Cell” were timed to its release in local markets.

The Da Vinci Code got its own PS2 game. Paramount Pictures crafted a Mission: Impossible III game for cell phones while Miami Vice had an accompanying game to play on Sony’s handheld PSP.

This is about more than fun and games. Yankee Group estimates that by 2007 a serious gamer will lurk in every fourth home in America. Nielsen says three out of four residences with guys under age 34 have a game system. More people slay orcs in the medieval-style quest for virtual gold and power, “World of Warcraft,” than live in Denmark. In 2006, gamers across the globe owned more than 100 million PlayStation2s and 40 million Xboxes. In the United States, video games already raked in more money than the movie box offices, and Yankee Group says the industry will top $8.3 billion by 2008. PricewaterhouseCoopers says globally it will reach $55 billion by 2009. That explains why a cottage industry in Los Angeles builds game consoles into the backs of Lincoln Navigators.

Collectively, interactive ads embedded in quizzes and games made up more than $1 billion of the $12.5 billion in online ad revenue in 2005, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Nielsen (which now measures the industry) expects advertising spending within games will jump from $75 million in 2006 to $1 billon by 2010. Mitch Davis, CEO of Massive, thinks it could be almost twice that — and account for about 3 percent of all media spending, just shy of what advertisers spend on the Internet.

Copyright © 2007 Carat North America, Inc. from the book Watch This, Listen Up, Click Here by David Verklin and Bernice Kanner Published by John Wiley & Sons Inc.; April 2007;$24.95US/$29.99CAN; 978-0-470-05643-1

Admire the Beauty of Beaches at Outer Banks Nc Vacation Rental

Outer banks of northern Carolina are famous for its beachfront and its temperate climate. An outer bank, North Carolina is not just place with sandy roads or sandy barrier island rather; it is the place much more than this, which is very difficult to describe in words. While moving on the beach front it seems like if these beaches are only waiting for us to come. Every year thousand of tourist visit outer bank’s for spending their moments while lying in the sun and enjoying various activities. And, the best and affordable way to sense the nature and beauty of outer banks is through outer bank’s NC vacation rental.

The reason as to why an outer bank NC vacation rental is popular and preferred way to accommodate is that it provides freedom of using the rental home as they feel convenient. It serves all the amenities of home which a hotel, motel or any other accommodation doesn’t serve. Outer banks NC vacation rental is spacious and is multi roomed. On the other hand it is seen that any other accommodation often have a single room, in which the person can feel bit restricted and uncomfortable.

Outer banks NC vacation rental are designed in such a manner that the person can relax and can feel his home. In other words, he can either relax in the living room or bed room or can even spend his time by taking view of the beach from his terrace.

Most of all, outer bank NC vacation rental also provides the person with fully furnished kitchen where he can cook his favorite food and cuisines for his friends, family and partner. Usually, the vacation rental is also furnished with outdoor grills so that the person can enjoy his food while taking view of beautiful sunset. Due to the presence of kitchen at the rental home, the person is not required to stand in the long queues of restaurant.

Outer bank NC vacation rental is available in different size, cost and at different location. So, the person can choose as per his convenience and budget. There are varieties of outer bank NC vacation rental that is condos, villas, apartments, bungalow, and small cottages.

So, which form of outer banks NC vacation rental are you booking for your next vacation at Outer Banks, North Carolina.

How to Design Your Dream Kitchen

You’ve got your eye on that luxury wooden kitchen and you’ve got savings set aside, but you don’t know where to start with planning your new kitchen. You hate your present kitchen and know that you need a different layout but what? It is important to plan a kitchen carefully – you don’t want to spend thousands of pounds on something that looks great but just isn’t functional.

Some kitchen companies will come round to your home, draw a floor plan and advise you on the best layout for both the room size and shape, and your needs. If you are going to have a handmade wooden kitchen, the company will be able to accommodate any needs and room size, and will even be able to make custom cabinets for odd shaped alcoves. It’s good though if you have thought things through before they come to the house. Think about how you use your kitchen and what function it needs to fulfil. Here are some considerations to help you with your planning:-

1.Style – When choosing a style of kitchen, think about your house. A modern kitchen with brightly coloured cabinets and lots of stainless steel may not suit a thatched cottage or period home. Think about your style too. There are so many styles of units, appliances,work tops, sinks and handles to choose from that you are bound to find the perfect match. Companies that offer custom handmade kitchens will easily be able to find something that matches your style and the style of your house.

2.Entertaining – How is your kitchen used? Just for you and your family or do you entertain frequently. Think about your lifestyle. If you hold frequent dinner parties, you will need lots of work top space, a good size oven and hob, a dishwasher, a decent sized fridge/freezer or a large fridge with a freezer in a utility room or garage. Some people even have a second dishwasher! If you have a large kitchen and parties always end up in the kitchen, you may want to incorporate a central island for a bar area or seating area which can be used as a breakfast bar when you’re not partying.

3.Storage – How much storage you need will depend on your individual habits. If you have a large dishwasher, you will have extra crockery, glasses and cutlery to use when the rest is in the dishwasher. If you love cooking and baking, you will probably have an extensive collection of bakeware, cookware, utensils and gadgets, all requiring storage space. There are many storage solutions – pull out larders, corner carousels, deep drawers for pans, crockery display units, ceiling mounted pan hanger/herb drier, racks on the inside of cupboard doors etc. Think about how storage solutions can be incorporated into your kitchen design.

4.Cooking habits – If you love cooking, you will want a kitchen which allows you to pursue this hobby. You will want a good sized sink, plenty of work top space for preparation, a large hob and oven and you may want a large American style fridge to house all your fresh ingredients and a freezer if you cook in large batches. You may also want to think about incorporating items like spice racks into your kitchen.

5.Shopping – Are you the kind of person who does a big shop once or twice a month or do you shop a few times a week? Thinking about your shopping habits will enable you to plan the right kind of kitchen. If you do big shops, you will require a freezer and a large fridge and lots of storage space for cans and jars. If you do small, frequent shops, then you may not require as much storage space.

Thinking about all of these considerations will help you to plan a kitchen that will not only look great, but will also be functional and practical for your lifestyle.

Tourism Guide to Travel India

India â?? a mysterious country rejects rules and has an aversion to change; India that is a subcontinent with a 5000-year old history. A civilization united by its diversity which has made it a land of great liberties. But donâ??t be disorientated but the big number of temples that remind you of the spirituality of Indians. The new India they are usually referring to the shiny new offices and businesses parks on the outskirts of the cities. For the tourist India can be overwhelming, and it has certainly become a more stressful place to visit.

The best travel place and things to do in India

Delhi, India
Delhi is the symbol of old India and new . . . even the stones here whisper to our ears of the ages of long ago and the air we breathe is full of the dust and fragrances of the past, as also of the fresh and piercing winds of the present.

Bangalore, India
Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka. With its salubrious climate, tree-lined avenues, trendy, yuppy downtown, and the software flood, Bangalore truly offers one a picture of striking contrasts. There are old beautiful bungalows, parks, hallowed places of worship and traditional market-places on the one hand, balancing with fashionable shopping malls, pubs, new architectural wonders and modern looking religious centers on the other. Check out what you like here and just get going!

Goa, India
The churches and convents of Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese Indies â?? particularly the Church of Bom Jesus, which contains the tomb of St Francis-Xavier â?? illustrate the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia where missions were established.

Mumbai, India
Ever since the opening of the Suez Canal in the 1860s, the principal gateway to the Indian subcontinent has been MUMBAI (Bombay), the city Aldous Huxley famously described as “the most appalling . . . of either hemisphere”. Travelers tend to regard time spent here as a rite of passage to be survived rather than savored.

Chennai, India
Chennai is a seaside (and a major port) city where the sea is a rhapsodist blue, hugging the second largest beach in the world. It has many monuments and temples exemplifying the contributions of the Chola and Pallava Dynasties to the ancient Dravidian civilization. Chennai also has the ancient churches and Cathedrals pointing to British heritage of 150 years.

Jaipur, India
A flamboyant showcase of Rajasthani architecture, the Pink City of JAIPUR has long been established on tourist itineraries as the third corner of India’s “Golden Triangle”, just 300km southwest of Delhi and 200km west of Agra. Though the “Pink City” label applies specifically to the old walled quarter of the state capital, in the northeast of town, exuberant eighteenth- and nineteenth-century palaces are scattered throughout the whole urban area.

North Bengal
If we have to be poor, we prefer being poor in a place like this. Poverty here is poetic and picturesque, not heart-breaking, nor revolting as in the slums of Bombay or Calcutta. This is about the villages in the Himalayans. And indeed, what can be more romantic than meet the New Year in a cottage in Himalaya Mountains? 

Kolkata, India
One of the four great urban centres of India, KOLKATA (CALCUTTA) is to its proud citizens the equal of any city in the country in charm, variety and interest. Like Mumbai and Chennai, it is not ancient, its roots lying in the European expansion of the seventeenth century. The showpiece capital of the British Raj, this was the greatest colonial city of the Orient.

Agra, India
The splendour of AGRA â?? capital of all India under the Moghuls â?? remains undiminished, from the massive fort to the magnificent Taj Mahal. Along with Delhi, 204km northwest, and Jaipur in Rajasthan, Agra is the third apex of the “Golden Triangle”, India’s most popular tourist itinerary. It fully merits that status; the Taj effortlessly transcends all the frippery and commercialism that surrounds it, and continues to have a fresh and immediate impact on all who see it.

Varanasi, India
The great Hindu city of VARANASI, also known as Banaras or Benares, stretches along the crescent of the River Ganges, its waterfront dominated by long flights of stone ghats, where thousands of pilgrims and residents come for their daily ritual ablutions. Known to the devout as Kashi, the Luminous â?? the City of Light, founded by Shiva â?? Varanasi is one of the oldest living cities in the world. It has maintained its religious life since the sixth century BC in one continuous tradition, in part by remaining outside the mainstream of political activity and historical development of the subcontinent, and stands at the centre of the Hindu universe, the focus of a religious geography that reaches from the Himalayan cave of Amarnath in Kashmir, to India’s southern tip at Kanyakumari, Puri to the east, and Dwarka to the west.

Sikkim, India
A place with astounding valleys and spectacular mountains, where you lose mobile connection along with the sense of time. In authorâ??s opinion, if Elves and Hobbits can exist anywhere, it has to be in North Sikkim. Now I know where to look for them 

Kerala Zone
Call the GODâ??s gift place; remember Columbus and the Spice Islands? – Thatâ??s in Kerala! Itâ??s one of the most beautiful smelling cities in India. The language is Malayaam, which sounds like if you rolled your tongue indiscriminately and said “blublub”. The writing constitutes of what looks like a lot of curly ‘m’s and ‘w’s. So nice. Coconuts? Everywhere! Overall? Very fine!