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• 07Feb

  America’s Wounded Warrior Veterans March on the Congress

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  SPRINGFIELD, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Military Order of the Purple Heart is stepping up to the call from Congress for input on how best to resolve the issues most important to the nation’s veterans. America’s wounded warriors from across the country will converge on Washington, D.C. during 8-12 February, 2010 to meet with their state’s Senators and Representatives to educate them on these important issues.

  Coming by twos and threes from almost every State and Territory, Capitol Hill will be awash in a sea of color as some 100 members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart travel the halls of Congress, their distinctive blue blazers adorned with America’s oldest military decoration, the Purple Heart Medal, established by General George Washington in 1782 in Newburgh, New York. This medal symbolizes the dedicated and selfless service and sacrifice made by military servicemen and women who were wounded in combat against the enemies of the United States of America.

  This annual “March on the Hill” by MOPH produces real results for the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Veterans it serves. In 2009, in reaction to a major campaign by all the VSO’s, Congress passed legislation that allows advance funding to ensure that the VA will be able to provide all the health care, hire new medical personnel, and fully operate the clinics and hospitals needed for our Veterans.

  According to Hershel Gober, National Legislative Director for the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), “It is important that Members of Congress hear directly from their own MOPH constituents about issues of importance to Veterans in their respective states and nationally.“

  This year, MOPH National Commander Jim Sims has asked the Order’s Members to address five top priority issues with their Representatives in the Congress.

  1) Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) claims system.

  2) Concurrent receipt of military retired pay and va disability compensation.

  3) Traumatic brain injury/post traumatic stress disorder (TBI/PTSD).

  4) Elimination of the survivor benefit program (SBP) and the dependent indemnity compensation (DIC) offset.

  5) Purple Heart forever stamp.

  In addition to personal meetings on Capitol Hill, MOPH Members not able to travel to Washington, DC will call or write their Representatives in their District offices to press their case for Veterans’ issues.

  The organization now known as the “Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc.,” (MOPH) was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the decoration. Chartered by the Congress, The MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Ladies Auxiliary promote Patriotism, Fraternalism, and the Preservation of America’s military history. Most importantly, they provide comfort and assistance to all Veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA, those who are homeless, and those requiring employment assistance. Through the VAVS program, MOPH volunteers provide assistance to hospitalized veterans at VA sites and State Veterans Homes.

  
  

  
  

• 07Feb

  Top 10 Quirkiest Vacation Rentals Around the World

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  NEWTON, Mass. — February 5, 2010 —/PRNewswire/ — TripAdvisor®, the world’s most popular and largest travel community, today announced its list of the ten quirkiest vacation rentals around the world according to TripAdvisor editors. In addition, the site released the results of its 2010 vacation rentals survey of more than 1,000 U.S. respondents. Sixty-eight percent of travelers are either planning or considering a stay at a vacation rental in 2010, indicating an increase in interest from the 52 percent of past renters who said they stayed at a rental home in 2009. Eighty-eight percent of travelers said they would choose a vacation rental over a hotel if it was a better value.

  Opening the Door to Vacation Rental Deals
  Travelers have been taking to their keyboards over the month of January to begin planning their 2010 vacation rental stays. Search volume on TripAdvisor’s vacation rentals listings is up 123 percent month-over-month from December 2009 to January 2010, indicating an increased interest in rentals for the new year.

  Bring on the Sunshine
  Of the travelers planning to stay at a vacation rental this year, 53 percent said they are planning their trips for the summer months, followed by 34 percent for the winter, 29 percent for the spring, and 26 percent for the fall. More travelers are planning to stay at a vacation rental in the Southeast than any other region, according to the survey. The Northeast and Southwest were next in popularity, coming in second and third place, respectively.
  Continue reading »

• 06Feb

  AAA Inspectors Pick 14 Favorite Romantic Hotels and Intimate Restaurants

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  Here are some romantic getaways listed by AAA but even better would be a list of GleeStreet readers’ own favorite romantic getaways and intimate restaurants. For my bride and I, we love Trevi’s inside the Omni Mandalay Hotel in Irving, Texas (Las Colinas). It doesn’t get much better than Trevi’s. Leave your favorite romantic getaway or intimate restaurant suggestions below this post or comment on those listed by AAA. Thanks – Brian

  Cozy up to your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day at places selected by AAA experts.

  ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Love is in the air! As Valentine’s Day approaches, many Americans are planning romantic getaways and exceptional dinners with their special someone. Opportunities to be hit by Cupid’s arrow abound at hotels and restaurants across the U.S. and Canada. These properties romance travelers all year with intimate settings, personalized amenities and exceptional touches, according to the travel experts at AAA.

  AAA polled its professional inspectors for their favorite places to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Discover their top 14 picks below, also highlighted on AAA’s travel blog at AAATravelViews.com.

  The Boheme, Orlando, Fla., AAA Four Diamond Restaurant

  While downtown movers and shakers can be spotted here during the lunch hour dining on cashew salmon or crab ravioli, an amazing transformation takes place for dinner service. Live background music, dim lights, rich fabrics and wood accents create a warm and tranquil atmosphere perfect for a romantic dinner. Special Valentine’s Day brunch and dinner menus feature exquisite selections including mouthwatering seafood specialties and desserts.

  Casa Madrona Hotel, Sausalito, Calif., AAA Three Diamond Lodging

  A well-known getaway for honeymooners and sweethearts, this intimate hotel is nestled on a lush hillside overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The Casa Madrona blends the amenities of a full-service hotel with the charm of a historic bed and breakfast. Guest rooms are individually decorated with elegant décor and personal touches from canopy beds and claw-foot tubs to artist lofts and private balconies.

  Don CeSar Beach Resort, A Loews Hotel, St. Pete Beach, Fla., AAA Four Diamond Lodging

  Known internationally as “Florida’s Pink Castle” and locally as “The Don,” this property is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Built in 1928, this resort features awe-inspiring Mediterranean architecture and lushly landscaped grounds enhanced by marble fountains. One can view romantic sunsets from the courtyard area, guestroom balconies and during walks on the beach.

  Read more at GleeStreet.com

  
  
  

• 06Feb

  Cedar Point’s Shoot the Rapids Water Ride Begins to Take Shape

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  SANDUSKY, Ohio, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ — Midway through the winter on Lake Erie, construction crews on Shoot the Rapids, the new water ride at Cedar Point amusement park/resort in Sandusky, Ohio, are taking the park’s new river-ride adventure to a higher level.

  Throughout the fall, crews cleared the 2.5-acre site and completed a majority of the groundwork — most of it below the surface. Trenches were dug, footers for support columns were poured and water lines for the ride’s landing areas and special effects such as geysers and water sprays were installed.

  Now the crews’ focus is higher — about 8.5 stories above the ground.

  Earlier this week, crews began erecting portions of the ride’s steel track. Although Shoot the Rapids will be the park’s third water ride, it will still use steel tracks and two lift chains to carry the boats to the top of two hills, one of several exciting features of the ride. The $10.5 million project will be the most expensive water ride ever built at Cedar Point.

  The ride’s first hill, its largest, will be 85 feet tall. It will be three feet taller than the park’s Snake River Falls that opened in Frontiertown in 1993. It will also be one of the tallest water ride hills in the world. After plunging down the first hill, riders will travel through a rustic setting with wooded areas and canyon walls that spray guests with water. The second hill will carry riders up nearly five stories before sending them to the ride’s grand finale – a splash landing through churning rapids and spraying water from all directions.

  Before the track can be erected, several steel support columns, some as tall as 80 feet, must be lifted into position and bolted onto the concrete footers. Overall, 18 steel columns will be required to complete the project. With normal weather conditions, Dangler expects the lift hills to be completed toward the end of the month.

  At the same time the lift hills are being assembled, crews on the ground are framing and pouring the ride’s concrete trough. When completed the trough will be nearly 1,500 feet long and will require more than 5,800 cubic yards of concrete. The slope of the trough and the ride’s pumping system, consisting of 12 pumps, will move the boats along the 2,100-foot-long course.

  In March after the ride’s structure has been completed, the electrical and water-pumping systems will be installed and the ride’s loading station will be built.

  After that, it’s weeks of inspections, testing and training so that Shoot the Rapids will be ready to provide a brand new and exciting ride experience for park guests on Saturday, May 15 when Cedar Point opens for its 141st season.

  SOURCE Cedar Point

  RELATED LINKS
  http://www.cedarpoint.com

• 06Feb

  Car Color Trends Shift with the Economy

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  The government seems to mess up everything, even the color of cars. While I’m not so fond of Viridian Joule, Inferno Orange, Tucson Bronze and other crazy car colors, some people are. But in this bad economy those colors are seen less and less each day. The government and its policies have kept this economy at rock bottom and the color of cars sort of bland.

  Check out the following article and let me know if you agree. Does the economy really affect the color you choose when buying a car?

  Thanks for reading,
  
  Brian

  Silver, White, and Black Dominate the Market

  Viridian Joule, Inferno Orange, Tucson Bronze, and Cocoa Metallic are some of the newest car color names to hit the market. However, the most popular choices are from a more muted palette.

  According to the 2009 DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report, silver is the top vehicle color choice globally. White took the top spot in North American, while black was number one in Europe. Experts say that during an economic downturn, people tend to choose safer colors when purchasing a new car and often avoid getting something too trendy that may not have a high resale value.

  But muted doesn’t always mean dull. In fact, the use of layered paint coats and hue shifting elements is gaining in popularity. These new pigment technologies can make conservative colors like silver and gray seem more exotic and fresh.

  
  
  
  

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