This year Christmas Eve is falling on Tuesday what means people will take advantage of that as well as take days off during the Christmas week. The reports are indicating 63 percent of employees will be out of their work on Monday and a half of it usually plans to use the holiday for a whole week off. However, only 18 percent of employers are willing to do so by themselves. No matter what branch it is, everybody is going to celebrate. And what is even better, holidays are nation-widely accepted, because it is a part of the year that is known as a time of family meetings. This "work exception" does not avoid even the White House. The U.S. president Bush has signed an order allowing federal employees from duty on the day before Christmas. As a result, all the executive branch departments and agencies will be closed on Monday, December 24th. But, don' t worry. Americans can feel save though as certain employees must be on duty for reasons of national security or public need. Historically, presidents have granted an extra day or half-day of vacation when Christmas falls on a Tuesday or Thursday. Last year, when Christmas fell on a Monday, no extra time off was given to state employees. Another fact related to the vacations during Christmas is traveling. Families and friends spread all over the world want to celebrate the most important feast surrounded by their beloved ones. And as a result, both national and international traveling is growing steadily. The second and also wide-spread occasion for Christmas tourism is the fact that people feel tired of the entire Christmas-mania. They just want to relax and enjoy this time and that is why they escape. It can be easily seen, for example, in Britain. With the constantly increasing number of 2.5 million Britons looking for a holiday away from home during the Christmas period, this December holiday is becoming one of the most popular seasons to travel, according to new research. Another surprising discovery shows that spending Christmas abroad can be cheaper than staying in your own home. There is no wonder for such action. Christmas spent abroad can be maybe even more memorable. And that is the thing we all are looking for.
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Betlehem turns into a showplace by Zuzana Moravcova
Since Israeli-Palestinian fighting broke out seven years ago, there is the largest mass of tourists going to visit this the little town of Bethlehem. It is more associated with Christianity than any other place in the world, but nowadays it looks more like a border crossing. It's expected to be decorated by next week, said Mayor Victor Bataresh at a traditional pre-Christmas news conference. Batarseh revealed his approximate expectations of a number of visitors. Based on last months visit rate, there is about 65,000 tourists expected to visit this "Church of the Nativity". The tourist urge congregations of the churches abroad to visit Bethlehem, and word-of-mouth by those who had already visited the city. "We are all set to move ahead," Batarseh said. Israel says it built the barrier to prevent Palestinian suicide bombers from reaching Israeli population centers. Palestinians view the structure, which dips into parts of the West Bank, as a land grab. The tourists are helping the town, he said, by breaking "the wall of the separation barrier â" not physically, but psychologically." The wall now separates Bethlehem and Jerusalem - two towns that have been linked for centuries. Today the town of Bethlehem has 22,000 inhabitants half of whom are Moslems and half are Christians, and is controlled by the Palestinian Authority . Apparent calm between Israelis and Palestinians has obviously helped persuade Christians that Betlehem is safe to visit, after years of violence frightened many away. In the past, many Palestinians fled their homes and villages in Palestine. Some of them became refugees in Bethlehem and settled in three refugee camps. "Christianity started here and should continue to remain here," says George Ghattas, at the Latin Patriarchate. "You would worry if the origin of that religion is basically monuments and shrines and stones, but you don't have faith believers."
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Snow, white blanket everywhere you look, quiet piece, typical for the Christmas Eve, just the sound of the bell comes from the tower of the village church at the midnight. Nothing disturb slowly falling snow flakes, lonely snowmen stare to the dark but smile anyway. Nobody should be alone for Christmas. Christmas are holidays when the whole family meets in one room. Sometimes the only day per year, when people forget about their problems and arguments. In my family we use to quarrel quiet lot during the day of Christmas Eve. Everybody is nervous about how the evening will look like, if everything is prepared properly,... but in the evening we just stop and forget about it. Don't even think about it. It is like a long journey. Whole year everybody goes his own way and on December 24th we come back to the starting point again to share our experiences, joy of seeing each other, worries, delights, and, not on the last place, gifts. For my grandfather the biggest gift is our presence. He lives alone and each year he welcomes us at his place with supper he prepared by himself without helping hand of anybody else. I am proud of him and can't imagine to spend Christmas without him. I love to travel to see my family. Especially in Christmas time. Around my city, around my country and around Europe as well. At least this year it would be this way. Till the New Years Eve, which I am going to spend abroad. And then, another year will come, another time of exploring the world and looking forward for Christmas to meet my dears.
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Get a car as a Christmas present by Daniela Simkova
How would you like to get the most wanted Christmas present? Imagine you find keys from a precious car underneath a Christmas tree. Wouldn't it be great? A lot of people think what to get for a wife or any special relative at Christmas. Here is a special hint, that could make your relative cry. There are people who already bought a car as a Christmas present and they could tell, that the feeling when your wife starts to scream, cry, or she completely runs out of words is unplayable. Buying a car as a Christmas gift is different and special. You have to do everything in secret and be very careful about your behavior so your relative can't notice any change. There unfortunately have been a little misunderstanding when a wife of one buyer noticed that he goes somewhere at night, but he went to the meeting with the salesperson to agree the options of the buy. There has to be a special collaboration between a buyer and the salesperson, Mr. Jason Leibel at Dilawri Nissan/Infiniti said about one couple: "they came down to the dealership on Christmas Eve and we had it in the back with a big bow on it. I've also dropped one off at a client's house, without the wife knowing. I set it up with the husband, and I put a big bow on it, and then it was sitting outside on Christmas morning." There aren't many cases when people buy a car as a Christmas gift. But at each dealership there is one or two cases during the Christmas that someone buys a car as a gift.
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People consider Christmas time as the best in the year, mark this feast as their favorite. For ages people were giving and receiving gifts, enjoying this peaceful time. It is a celebration of the Jesus Christ birth and who is not a believer, still have the commercial variety. Peaceful smiling in the family circle and humble preparation during Advent time changed into the "hunt for gifts" and crazy decorating of the home place with colorful lights. It is 11 days to Christmas and as usual you don't have any gifts for your friends and relatives? Don't scream in panic, you still have enough time to buy or make them by ourself. If you don't belong to 80 percent of population which intend to give presents at Christmas, you can keep relax twice more. At least you can think about what do you want Santa to bring you? Socks, underwear and kitchen stuff seems to be the worst gift according to the research. If you don't have any idea what to give to your dears, don't hesitate to ask them. May be they won't find any surprise under the Christmas tree but at least you can be sure that your gift won't end up in the trash bin. Markets offers variety of products and thanks God also comfortable shopping. Internet is that magic invention letting you shopping while you are lying on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate. You don't need to care about the opening hours, on-line shopping is available 24 hours a day and you won't scramble with other customers, neither wait in the line for the cash desk. It also gives you enough time to think twice about each gift, so you avoid of buying unnecesities and screwing your credit card. Very Merry Christmas everybody!
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Although the prohibition ended 75 years ago, most of the legal grounds on the matter remained until this summer. One of the things that were also forbidden is the auctioning of spirits in some states and New York kept the interdiction until this summer when it was lifted creating the opportunity for auction houses to sell items like whiskey and cognac. This weekend in New York Christie organized an auction that, according to the interview given by its vice president Richard Brierly on December 5 to CNBC, should bring up to $30,000 a bottle. Such prices are usually due to the fact that these spirits were kept in time and require patience and everyone knows that time/patience means money. The auction attraction was expected to be a bottle of what's called "George Washington's whisky". In fact the auction evolved unexpectedly well and a total of $304,800 worth of rare wine and liquor was sold, with a top lot of 729 bottles of whisky, which left the auction for $102,000. The peak of the auction was the sale of a bottle of 81 year-old scotch for $54,000. The scotch was distilled at Macallan in Scotland in 1926, bottled in 1986 and rebottled in 2002 and from its sale Christie will receive 20 percent commission. Some would say that the anonymous collector has made himself a beautiful present, others, including myself would just think that a beautiful car could have been just as well acquired and with a higher utility and durability. Anyway: Cheers mate!
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Industrialized nations overcoming a change by Martina Harvanova
It was not a long while ago. I can remember what a high level the U.S. currency occurred on. North American continent represented for Europeans and Asians & not even talking about other world´s inhabitants & inaccessible Earth´s spot. The reason was mainly the strength of the American dollar. Nowadays especially Japanese may celebrate and rejoice. The latest notice from London indicates the dollar is being traded for 111,68 yen, the news which show the decreasing value of the world leader at the market. However, perhaps not anymore. The future looks it is going to be tough for Americans. Or nevertheless? The Asian currency dealer claims the dollar is likely to strengthen. Anyways, how does it effect the current generation. According to the most views, it makes people satisfied with the situation. It does only Not-Americans, of course. Asians buy more foreign goods, while they are traveling in extending rate. Moreover, the bad situation with the dollar opens them even wider opportunities. It encourages businesses to buy American assets. Not bad thought, one may think. And it is actually true. As a result, agencies affirm, twenty Japanese insurers were granted licenses to invest overseas. It looks like the whole world & or its nations - is expanding, but America. The example is here: also the level of Swiss franc is going to be the highest in 15 years, the dollar against euro has little changed as well at 1,47. Good news, bad news? Hard to say. However, one concern is sure. These mentioned nations are changing. The future will show us, whether it will effect us in a successful way, or it will contribute to decaying position of the world´s trade. Let´s see the transformation.
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Monday in New York started with sharply rose oil futures, and the streak of inconsistency continued. Weaker dollar and premonition, that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates took buyers through into the market. While the dollar is falling in U.S., the oil futures rose and many analyst have blamed the weakening dollar. Last month, oil's run up to nearly $100 a barrel, which meant, that it was more attractive to foreign investors. Interest rate cuts tend to weaken the dollar even more, exasperating the effect. "I think everyone's anticipating a quarter-point cut right now," said James Cordier, president of Liberty Trading Group, in Tampa, Fla. Although the anticipation helped crude to regain some ground, after futures nearly fell $2 on Friday, Light crude rose from $1.20 to $89.48 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. At the pump, gas prices fell 2 cents during the weekend to an average of $3.003 a gallon, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. The prices are almost 11 cents lower than in November, when oil hit $100 a barrel. While oil prices has been mostly down, trading has been erratic. January futures fell $1.95 on Friday after rising $2.74 on Thursday. "We're covering the same ground and not getting anywhere," said Steve Bellino, senior vice president of energy at MF Global LLC. Other Nymex petroleum futures rose Monday. Heating oil for January rose 2.57 cents to $2.5304 a gallon, while January gasoline rose 3 cents to $2.299 a gallon. January natural gas futures fell 8.1 cets to $7.074 per 1.000 cubic feet on the Nymex. January Brent crude rose $1.01 to $89.65 a barrel on the ICE futures exchange in London.
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Weaker US Economy, Weaker Dollar by Petra Calovkova
United States and their economy situation is being shaken. But that does not bring along only problems for the country itself, but also the currency is different, which influence also many other people throughout the whole world. Reasons for weakening US economy are numerous. Just to name a few of them, US government is running a budget deficit of $158 billion, they National Debt is around $9.13 trillion, and that will probably lead to increasing of taxes. Furthermore, the global warming is turning their Wheat Belt into desert and so their wheat production is still lower. Universities in United States are expensive and also skilled professors are sometimes a problem, causing less and less graduates, who would be able to succeed on the global market. Generation of babyboomers is retiring recently, so there are less skilled workers. Furthermore, China's economy is growing faster and became a center of a global economy. It is no longer a position of US. The business language is becoming to be rather Mandarin Chinese than English. That is also connected with less investors from foreign countries who are now moving to China. Also wars lead by US are costing them incredible amount of money. It will be soon $1.6 trillion. But that also means care about the soldiers who are injured, governments pays the treatments, those who die there but also those who survive and have benefits for their future. Weaker economy is tightly connected to a weaker dollar. American motorists have to pay more because nations producing oil are setting the prices higher in order to compensate the dollars lower value. US citizens have to spend more money on foreign products, that is followed by higher living costs, and they cannot afford to travel as they could in the past. In addition, US companies have more troubles to enter the foreign market. On the other hand, they find less competitive pressure when keeping prices low in a foreign countries. It is advantageous for tourists to visit US and also do their shopping there. That means that there always will be people who would suffer from the lower value of a dollar and a weaker US economy, but also some, who will take advantage of it. Therefore if you still have some dollars at home, you would be better off when traveling there then trying to exchange them for a different currency.
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How to make the father proud if he is the best? by Natalia Holvova
James Murdoch is a son of Rupert Murdoch, owner of the News Corporation and now it is his turn to take over in Europe and Asia branch of the family company. Only 34 years old, youngest son of incredible father who has led the company for about 55 years now is the only one of his kids who is still interested in carrying on the dynasty business. There are doubts about his abilities and capabilities to become European-Asian CEO of the News Corp. He has undeniable experience of the running such companies but much smaller than the one he is going to undertake now. Is he strong enough to make his father proud? Does he need to do it? Is this his dream or just the duty older siblings gave up? Rupert Murdoch is very leviathan and family concentrated person. That could be a reason to put his son into the position of number three in the whole company in his young age despite the fact that Rupert does not seem to leave his post soon. Prince is going to get the crown and place on his father right hand! This appears standard procedure to me, the only thing that can invoke discussion is the fact that kingdom is little bit bigger than half century ago. But Rupert was able to take over his father at the age of 21 and was able to build up the empire we can only envy him.
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The study, which concentrates on fishing says that fisherman can make more money by fishing less. An individual fisherman should own a share of a total harvest and not compete between each other. The quarter of the world's reserves of fish is already depleted says The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Fishermen should join a cooperative fishery, which ensure them to own a part of the harvest. The cooperative fishery works in New Zealand while in U.S. fishermen compete in catching more fish. The lead author of the study, Quentin Grafton, a research director at the Crawford School of Economics and Government at Australian National University said that if there was no race to catch fish, it would actually be better for fishermen. They would spend less money on fuel to get far away to the open see and they can better concentrate on the quality of the fish delivered on the market. The study concentrated on all the fishermen individual shares of the total harvest. It was the big eye tuna, yellow fin tuna, and tiger prawn of which the fishermen have the share. Higher fish population comes along with the maximum profit the fishermen can gain. Fishermen could be paid by taking out the loans until the fish stock rebuilt. The fishermen can pay their loans back when the fish stock will be rebuilt and therefore there will be a plenty of fish again. The main idea of this study is to have more fish in the sea again.
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One of the greatest car company and also the most admired and praised has surprised everyone with technical errors that could lead to a series of events negative for drivers with the speed rush in their veins. Ford, the company mentioned above, had a press release on Thursday on an engine sensor that could lead to engine stalling and therefore they will .17 million trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans in need to be fixed. The Web site of The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that the camshaft position sensor located on the engine could function intermittently and lead to an engine stall and potential crash. It is no wonder that Ford having such a reputation has considered the problem and concluded that the 14 accidents caused by the sensor, an electrical component that helps regulate the fuel going into the engine, are enough to recall the cars, inspect them and replace the sensor with a new one free of charge. However, the fact that the recalled vehicles are all from the 1997-2003 model years with 7.3 liter diesel engines, including the Ford E-Series van, Excursion full-size sport utility vehicle, and F-450 Super Duty and F-550 Super Duty trucks, could make the owners claim for a certain compensation for having their life at risk. Ford spokesman Dan Jarvis assured that drivers traveling at speeds greater than 30 miles per hour would have full power steering and power braking, allowing them to pull over to the side of the road. Same thing is available for drivers speeding below 30 mph. The question remains at what speed would the engine stall actually produce? Finally the recall will start somewhere around the 17th of December and owners of vehicles mentioned above can contact the dealers any time until May 18. If you have such a car don't waste anymore time, it takes only a jiffy to get it out of your hair. Good luck!
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Nobody can lie to us, we all know that air pollution is bad, is big, and it's still increasing. But not only air situation is very bad, because nowadays, everything is polluted. What should we do about this? Should we stop to breathe the air, to make it fresher, should we stop smoking during the lunch breaks, should we stop barbecuing? Or should we start to do something? Answer is yes! There are at least 600 millions of cars all over the world. And this number is still growing. So we should start to use alternative vehicles. What is it? It is a vehicle, which uses special powering methods. Engine doesn't have to use the fuels, which contain petroleum. What are our choices? There is only one type of car commercially produced. It works like hybrid, it means, half gasoline and half electric power. But in the future companies are planning to use many other kinds of power. Compressed air can be used; it has no exhaust, only cold air. Very often, we can hear about electric cars, which are totally safe and totally clean. Other kinds of power are biofuels. Biofuel might contain alcohol, ethanol, or fuel made from vegetable oils. Also, we can use some kind of natural gases, like natural compressed gas or biogas, made from plants. But still we have to wait for the automobile companies, to stat producing this kind of vehicles, and then it is our turn.
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In October orders advanced by 0.5 percent, according to The Commerce Department. Although the figures were a lot higher than it was expected, the adjustment for changes in prices still has to be done. The demand was increased due to higher oil and energy prices that led to orders at oil refineries and chemical plants. The orders for durable goods dropped 0.2 percent, while those for the non-durable goods like petroleum rose by 1.3 percent and the entire amount of factory orders rose 3.4 percent since July. As it is, the worker productivity rose 6.3 percent this summer putting an end to the wage pressure. Furthermore, business payrolls increased by 189,000 in November that was well above the expectation for a modest gain of 50,000 jobs. Enthusiastic about the ADP report, economists exaggerated in their forecasts for job growth in the government's employment report which will be released Friday. Friday's employment report is expected by everyone, especially by the Fed wanting to know if they will have to cut interest rates for a third time to keep the economy out of a recession. Also investors are interested in due to the fact that a rate cut is the most desirable and after the comments of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Vice Chairman Donald Kohn last week it seems most probably to happen. Reinforcing their comments Peter Orszag, director of the Congressional Budget Office, said Wednesday on Capitol Hill that troubles in housing, the credit markets and rising oil prices will lead most definitely to a recession of the economy. The current quarter is not well regarded and GDP is expected to slow to a barely discernible 1.5 percent or even less, meaning that the economy is in continuous danger of recession due to multiple blows of a prolonged housing slump, a severe credit crunch, rising energy costs and faltering consumer confidence. Even if for the time been the economy looks stable because of the increased worker productivity and the ease in wage pressure, there is still the risk of inflation getting out of hand. The good news is that Bush administration introduced a program to freeze rates on some of the 2 million subprime mortgages that are due to reset to higher rates over the next two years. Stay connected more to come!
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It is only 19 days to Christmas, so if you still have not thought about the right presents for your family and friends, it is the high time to start. But before you rush into the shops, read this article to prevent buying the worts Christmas gifts ever. Remember, no one enjoys unwrapping a present for about half an hour and then discovering a pair of stripy socks! I am sure your wife would appreciate an expensive necklace much more than the newest model of a vacuum cleaner. When you think of buying a nice bottle of whiskey for your boss, do not do so, especially if he is a member of the group of anonymous alcoholics. If your teenage kid is crazy about music get him/her a CD. Before buying it check out what kind of music he/she likes. After reaching certain age it is rather inappropriate finding an underwear under the Christmas tree. I mean, try to think of buying something else for your grandma this year. Do not buy silly presents for your mother-in-law. It would be just another reason why to hate you. If you will not get any presents next Christmas, it is because you think I am just kidding.
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