2008 Saturn VUE: Inspired by Opel

2008 Saturn VUE - Photo: Wikipedia

General Motors’ Saturn division is hard at work on building a replacement for its small SUV, the Saturn VUE. Currently based strictly on U.S. technology, the 2008 VUE is expected to be heavily based on Opel technology: Opel is General Motors’ principal European brand. This is good news for those who were concerned that GM would ditch the Saturn VUE. Instead, the SUV will get a new life and additional support via its new relationship with Opel. While it is too early to know all the details about the upcoming Saturn VUE makeover, there are some things we do know about this revamped model.

Ever since Saturn released the first “S Series” models back in 1990, the company has struggled to maintain a unique identity. Neglected by parent GM, the upstart Saturn brand had to wait nearly a decade before additional vehicles were added to its line including the Saturn VUE SUV. Along with the “L Series” midsize cars, the three vehicle lines [ION having replaced the S Series] fully comprised the Saturn line for several years. Unfortunately, none of the three models were stand out performers, so the brand suffered accordingly.

With the demise of Oldsmobile has come new life for Saturn. Now a fully integrated GM division, Saturn is getting additional vehicles to help beef up its line up. Drawing upon its highly regarded dealer network and high consumer satisfaction scores, Saturn is being quickly remade into a European style division. Saturn has Opel to thank for that.

Along with the coming Aura midsize sedan which is heavily based on an Opel design, the Saturn VUE will be based upon the Opel Antera GTC. An Antera concept has been making the rounds of auto shows across Europe and what we know about the Antera points to what we can expect to see with the VUE.

The Antera is slightly smaller in size than the current Saturn VUE; although the Antera reportedly will have only two doors, the Saturn VUE model will get four doors. Both vehicles are closer in size to the current Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V models, their chief competitors. This smaller size also permits Saturn to introduce a slightly larger 7 passenger SUV next year, the Outlook.

The 2008 Saturn VUE will feature both four and six-cylinder gas powered engines. Expect both AWD and RWD to be offered. The Antera’s front end will be redone to mesh with the current Saturn look. Beyond that, the VUE will likely incorporate current GM technology with upgraded safety and performance features included. A base price of around $20,000 for the FWD model is likely with fully loaded AWD versions retailing for as high as $30K.

The 2008 Saturn VUE will be built in Spring Hill, TN home of the original Saturn plant. Along with the Outlook, the Aura, the SKY roadster, the RELAY crossover, and the ION compact, new life is being breathed into Saturn thanks to Opel. This is good news for Saturn fans that have loyally supported the automaker since its inception more than 15 years ago. 

(The article was written in 2007)

Author: Matthew C. Keegan

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Alaska’s Fly Fishing Paradise

Photo: Pixabay

Have you dreamed of exploring the wilds of Alaska? Go fly fishing on the country’s vibrant waters? Searching for large rainbow tract? 

Well, join the Alaska Fly Fishing Float trips alongside Bristol Bay coastline of Alaska. Fly fishing float trips provided an exciting way to discover and go fly fishing in this immense wilderness. Fantasize camping on the bank of a distant stream, east strokes until midnight. 

Wake up to the soothing sound of salmons gushing and splashing their way up the stream. These float trip are intended for fishing only and most float trip adventures that focus on fly fish expeditions and a lot easier to fool fishes. 

Alaska float trips utilize numerous rivers in the region of Katmai Nation Park which includes the Grizzly Creek, Moraine Creek and the Alagnak River. Floating trips adventures like Ed Blank’s Adventures on the Fly have been floating these three rivers for almost 15 years now and they have huge confidence in the grade of their trips. These adventures, however, emphasize that fly fishing is all they do and thus, no spins fish is allowed.

A favorite way to fly fish is on Alaska float trip you can try any of the three distant float trips that the adventure package offers to the rivers in Katmai National Park. The adventure has the biggest run of salmon; the rainbow trout are hilariously wild and fight like it. The adventure can put you on three various rivers in Katmai. The Alagnak river features spring dry fly fishing for great salmon runs, rainbow trout, few of the huge trout in the world like those the moraine or the Grizzly Creek. The latter creek is the adventure’s secret tiny river that can perhaps challenge your endurance ability. The fly fishing float trips offer an exciting and fascinating way to discover this great fishing scenery.

As you know, a float trip includes camping. You will be boarding float plans fly to a lake located at the upfront of the river you have selected: it is comfortable camping considering that you can bring lots of gear. You can carry lots of sleep on, tents for easy stand-up shelter, a dining tent with weatherproof screen and much of tasty fresh food and a couple of wine that will confect any lodge on the land, for some, the camping may seen to be a little price to pay to experience a life around a river including the extra fun fishing sport and wildlife surfing time that really pays off.

One of the adventure’s favorite quarries is the trout especially the rainbow trout and the adventures love fly fishing for them. Few of the rivers are for fly fishing alone, however regardless of the river regulations. Alaska fly fishing policies need one hook, and strictly no barb for all rainbows, and release for these rainbows are required as well. 

The large rainbows weight range from 5 to 12 pounds and some fly fishes landed on fishes within the 15 pounds weight range. Various species of char, brayling and salmon adds to the exhilaration each day of the journey. Anything you want to do, whether you like to fly fish dry flies for rainbow trout or cast a ten weight for a king salmon weighing 60 pounds.

To enjoy this cool fly fishing escapade, you can simply join some adventure offerings for memories of a lifetime and the best rainbow trout, salmon, char and brayling fly fishing in Alaska. The adventure package offers the finest float trips in the whole of the country. Experience Alaska’s wild far away from the crowds, the place you desire to be.

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Travel To Rome, Italy

Colosseum - Photo: Pixabay

For new travelers who never been to Rome before could find out that it is very hard to imagine how Rome looks like and how to prepare themselves before visiting Rome. There is already plenty of this kind of information but this one probably the in-depth one that you are looking for. There are some good tips about what kind of attractions that you should visit when you are in Rome as they are particularly interesting even some of them may not be the highlighted attractions.

Rome is very well known among travelers of its attractive building, environment and fascinating culture. One you have a chance to visit Rome, you will be able to find out that Rome is not just a place for vacation and relax but it is also for anyone who wants to learn history and culture because Rome is the city that has very interesting history and diversity of culture. By visiting Rome, there are some tourist attractions that could not be missed.

General description of Rome

Rome is classified by tourists as one of the top destinations of the world. This is because the weather in Rome, which climate mild and rainy in winter rather than full of snow, usually accommodates all kind of vacation and activities, so these reasons make Rome can be visited throughout the year. Moreover, it is very easy to access in terms of immigration as you do not need a visa to visit Rome unless you will stay for longer than 90 days period. The best time to visit Rome is anytime that you want but you should be aware of time during between October and March when Rome in the off-peak months. When you decide to visit Rome, it is strongly suggested that you should find accommodation around the historic district.

However, before you go to Rome, it is also a good idea to make a forward planning of where you are going to visit and a checklist of what you have to do during the trip as this can help you to save time and money. Planning about transportation is also required, as there are many kinds of transport that you can choose, you may be taking Tram system, that goes around the city and it is strongly recommended for people who want to enjoy a sightseeing tour.

There are some highlighted attractions that you just could not miss. They are kind of “symbol” of Rome and people who visited Rome but missed this attraction is considered as they have never visited Rome. These attractions are Coliseum and the Roman Forum. Coliseum is the ancient stadium and it is the film shooting site of the movie Gladiator. However, the opening times of the Coliseum is not certain, depends on the time of the year, so you may have to check the information before you visit. The Roman Forum is the civic center of Ancient Rome where citizen joined and discussed economic, religious and political activities. You may hire a tour guide to provide more information about this attraction by pay just a little more money to get more knowledge.

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California Sports Fishing: The Big Catch

Sports Fishing - Photo: Pixabay

The State of California is known for its gigantic redwood forest, Hollywood, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Also, California is known for its vast stretches of white sand beaches and its sunny weather. Located on the western part of the United States, California is one paradise that you will definitely want to go to.

The next question would be how's the fishing? Today, sports fishing is becoming more and more popular in the State of California. No matter what your experience level is, you can be sure that you will find the right kind of fishing in the Golden State.

Aside from its beautiful scenery, California will be able to offer you abundant and diverse marine life that you will definitely want to get your tackle in to.

There are quite a lot of major fishing grounds in California that you can expect to provide you with big game fishes.

The fact that California has about 1,100 miles of ocean coastline and 220 thousand square miles of ocean waters as well as more than 4 thousand lakes and reservoirs and more than 30 thousand miles of streams, rivers, etc., you can be sure that you will be able to find the types of fishing you want.

Deep sea fishing is even becoming popular in California. From blue marlins to sailfish, you will be able to catch it in California. Whatever fish that you want to catch, California will be able to deliver. In fact, if you are lucky enough, you can even snag some great white sharks along the coastline of this state.

If you are into fly fishing, then California will be able to offer you hundreds of fly fishing sites. In Northern California, you will be able to enjoy one of the best fly fishing destinations in the world. You can try the Sierra Nevada for this kind of fishing. Aside from the lush unspoiled natural scenery, you will also be able to enjoy hundreds of fishing opportunities.

The Owens River is also a great place to fish for trout in California. Compared to anywhere else in the country, you will not be able to find a river like this one as it will offer one of the best fishing in the country.

You will also be able to get rainbow trout, particularly in the Lake Shasta. Also, the large big brown trout are abundant in this state.

So, if you are planning to go on a fishing holiday with your friends or your family, you can be sure that California is the place to go to. With its countless fishing grounds, you can be sure that you will be able to take advantage of the countless fishing opportunities that this state has to offer.

Just remember that you should try booking early for your fishing charters or reservations on lodges as fishing is becoming very popular in California that it is not uncommon for it to get fully booked.

Also, you might want to bring your camera with you and know about the local laws about fishing and the requirements, such as a fishing license. By preparing in advance, you can be sure that your fishing holiday in California will go without a hitch.

Remember these tips, and you can be sure that you will have a memorable and pleasurable trip during your fishing holiday in California.

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History of Olmec Civilisation

Olmec Head - Photo: Pixabay

The first relatively modern awakening to the existence of the Olmecs was when plantation workers in 1862 came upon what they thought was a large, buried, iron kettle. Upon further excavation, and driven by thoughts of buried treasure, they finally excavated a huge stone carved head, which turned out to be the first Olmec sculpture to be discovered in Mexico. 

OLMEC ORIGINS.

Who were the Olmecs? What is known about them is that they preceded the Mayans in Mesoamerica, and are thought to be the foundation of all subsequent cultures in that part of the Americas, though there is evidence of humans going back to 20,000 B.C. There will always be differing opinions when it comes to dates, but the Olmes is believed to have originated in around 1250 B.C. and disappeared around 400 B.C. A common feature with theirs and later civilisations were that they:-

Followed a 365 day year.

Built pyramids.

Cultivated corn.

All had similar religious rituals and the same Gods of fertility, war, sky & nature.

Regarding the thick-lipped Negroid features of their carvings, some researchers postulate that the Olmecs originally came from Africa, and indeed their language is very similar to that spoken today in Mali. Details of facial scaring & lines on Olmec statues also bear similarities to tribal marks found among the Yoruba peoples of West Africa.

OLMEC LANDS.

Their range of influence extended from the Tuxtlas mountains in the west, to Catalpa in the eastern Mexican lowlands, around the Gulf of Mexico area. The three largest Olmec cities were:-

La Venta in Tabasco (the eastern sector), dominated the rich coastal estuaries, including the cocoa, rubber & salt trade.

San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan in Veracruz was at the centre of the Olmec civilization, and an important political/religious centre, which controlled the vast floodplains of the Coatzacoalcos basin and river trade routes. The first drainage system in Mesoamerica was discovered there, consisting of channelled blocks of stone set into the earth, covered with slabs. Their region is also famous for the colossal basalt carved heads, weighing 20-40 tons each.

Laguna de Los Cerros, also in Veracruz, to the West, controlled the important basalt mines/mountains, important for the manufacture of Metates (stones for grinding food), & monuments.

OLMEC ART.

The Olmecs must have had a high regard for art as many cave paintings & huge stone sculptures have been found, along with jade artefacts & statues. Typical Olmec art featured jaguars, thick-lipped soldiers and goatee-bearded men and often a combination of Jaguar and children. As they believed themselves to be descendants of the Jaguar, the animal was held in very high esteem, often featuring in religious ceremonies. Some of these huge carved stone heads have been found up to 100km away from the source of stone, leaving researchers still wondering exactly how they managed to transport such massive pieces those distances, though the likeliest explanation must be that they floated them on barges down the extensive network of rivers.

WORK & PLAY.

Rubber was first exploited by the Olmecs and various carvings show ball games where the ball could be deflected off elbows, hips, knees and head, though using the hands was considered an illegal move. Initially, the Olmecs in the swampy tropical heartland lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, later spreading to outlying areas and developing agriculture and distinct political & economic hierarchies as wealth and commerce with outside people grew. 

RELIGION 

Olmec religion featured mainly worship of the Jaguar and Werejaguars (children with Jaguar features), though snake worship was popular too. They believed that the Jaguar was very closely associated with a person's spirit and that should the Jaguar die, the person would also die. In common with all religions, to maintain their position in society the Olmec ruling elite needed to make the people believe either that they were Gods or that they were associated with The Gods (Gods of Fire, Water, Earth & Sun were the popular deities).

Their religion, symbolic language and archtictural systems seemed strong & popular enough to have lasted through to the Zapotecs, Teotihuacans and Mayan peoples, until everything changed with the Spanish conquests of Hernandez Cortez and Spanish influence. That of the Catholic Church being especially instrumental in destroying the old Gods and bringing a new one that eventually spread throughout the whole of South America.

Some might argue that Catholicism brought about changes for good and others point to the great poverty of the majority of predominantly Catholic South America.

Whatever your opinions, I will just leave you with this thought:-

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true,

by the wise as false, and by rulers as convenient."

Seneca the Younger. (3 B.C.-65 A.D.)

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BALI – Paradise of Indonesia

Balinese Dancers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Glorious Bali Island” – that’s the official motto of this paradise island, well known to the entire world since World War II. Bali is the most famous tourist destination of Indonesia and preferred location for sun lovers from the west, so undoubtedly the next choice of www.travelonguide.com had to be Bali.

Beach lovers can have a wonderful time in Bali, since daytime, they could enjoy the sun and at night enjoy the dances and cultural shows on the beach. On a full moon day, the Balinese people organize special beach games…. and guess what even a funeral is a procession and an event where people enjoy themselves.  Opt for a candlelight beach dinner and we guarantee you that the experience will be something that you will cherish throughout your life, the Balinese dancers and singers will add icing to this special moment.

If you are planning your trip to Bali, then it is best to have some information about its climatic conditions. Since Bali has a tropical climate, the temperature throughout the year is not more than 26 degrees Celsius. The dry season starts from April till September and the wet season from October till March, and the best time to be there is from May to August when the sun shines bright and the uninvited drizzle keeps the climate cool.

Watersports lovers just should miss this place. Bali offers world-class scuba diving experience, there are special schools where one could learn scuba diving. The coral reefs are purely untouched and display a wide range of sea life, never seen before even on Discovery Channel. If you like to see the corals, then make sure that you take a trip to Nusa Penida. This beach also offers various other water sports options. For people who are more adventurous, can go rafting in the Ayung river or try some mountain cycling. Walking in rice paddies is also a wonderful experience.

Bali is one of the very few places of Indonesia dominated by the Hindus, who celebrate all Hindu festivals and have retained all Hindu traditions.  Coming to the food options, Bali offers all cuisine right from Indian, Chinese, Malaysian, Moroccan and even Mexican. One should not forget to try the sumptuous Grilled Lobsters especially served with a typical Balinese sauce.

For those who are not so adventurous type and like being spoilt and pampered, then Bali is where you should head to. Apart from the beautiful resorts like any other beach destination, you will also find beach villas. These villas are well equipped, some with private pool, trained cooks, maids and houseboys, who just don’t leave any effort to pamper you. Hiring a private villa could be a much cheaper and cozier experience for those who are on a honeymoon and need some intimacy. Just like Mauritius and Maldives, getting married in Bali is also possible.

 We hope that we have truly tried to inspire our readers to pack their bags and head to Bali, and if you indeed enjoyed reading about Bali, then make sure to log on to www.travelonguide.com for more exotic locations.

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The History of the Beer Glass

Beer Glasses Collection - Photo: Wikipedia

It is well known that beer has been with mankind for a long time. As beer itself changed, expanded, and improved, so did the way in which we actually got the beer to our mouths. The earlier vessels man used for drinking included earthenware, pottery, carved out wood, and even sewn-together pieces of leather. As time went on, a man saw small improvements in the quality of their beer glasses. Early Europeans living during the time of the Bubonic plague saw the creation of beer steins, which had an enclosed top on the steins to keep flies from landing in the brew and getting the person sick. 

The development of glass may have been the most important aspect of the way beer glasses are made today. As beer glasses became more and more popular, consumers could actually see what they were drinking and demanded a lighter and more appealing look as well as taste. This led to the filtration of beers; people no longer wanted the coarse chunks that were often found in the earlier beers of the breweries. With this new, more aesthetically pleasing wave of beer glasses, it seemed like beer steins were on the way out.

The development of glassware continued and produced a variety of beer glasses for all kinds of different beers. The most popular in the United States is the 16-ounce pint glass. It was originally used to fit the top of a Martini shaker, but bartenders soon found that as the brew flowed out of the beer taps the pint glass was the perfect vessel because it allowed for some of the carbonation to be released and allowed the aroma of the beer to be more pronounced. It is also favored for its storage capabilities; pint glasses can be stacked on top of each other and stored easily upright on shelves, quickly making them a favorite with the bartenders who ended up having to wash out each glass.

A drive to get people to buy their brand of beer by earlier breweries led to some unique and groundbreaking moves on the marketing and promotional front. Early breweries were often prohibited to give away beer or other rewards to their customers but found that giving away beer glasses was a great way to reward customers and also to advertise for themselves. This led to the breweries producing beer glasses that were works of art unto themselves. The first were ornate and expensive; they would often have gold or silver embossed on the sides. Eventually, artists for the breweries began doing detailed etchings on the sides of the glasses or steins and even developed a method of firing enamel paint onto the beer glasses. These enameled glasses remain some of the rarest beer collectibles, even though they were made more recently than the others. Today, some of the beer collectibles and signs are worth thousands of dollars and sought out worldwide by eager collectors. Have you looked up at the top of Grandpa’s old drawer lately?

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