Dubai Lifestyle - The History of the City and Day to Day Life in Dubai

Background Information to the United Arab Emirates and Dubai: -

Dubai is one of the seven states that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE); it is located in the Middle East. The UAE borders the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf and is situated between Oman and Saudi Arabia. The United Arab Emirates was formed in 1971 by the then 'Trucial States' after their independence from Britain.

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The UAE is governed by a Supreme Council of Rulers, the council is made up of the seven emirs and they appoint the prime minister and the cabinet for the country. Despite being ultimately ruled by the Supreme Council, as with the other six states, Dubai maintains a large degree of autonomy from the UAE when it comes to general decision making for the city's development.

Oil was first discovered in the United Arab Emirates in the 1950s, before that the country's economy was built on fishing and pearling, since 1962, when Abu Dhabi became the first of the emirates to begin exporting the oil, the country's economy has been completely transformed.

Sheikh Zayed, who has been the president of the UAE since its inception, quickly understood the economic potential for the country from the oil industry. He has continued to ensure that each of the emirates benefits from the oil generated wealth, he has insisted on the reinvestment of oil revenues into the healthcare system, the education system and the general national infrastructure.

The development of the oil industry has led to a large influx of foreign workers to the UAE, in fact Dubai's population is the fastest growing in the world and the foreign population makes up about three quarters of the entire UAE population! As a direct result of this fact the UAE is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf, with other cultures and beliefs tolerated. Dubai has also been quick to understand the need for diversification. Oil in the region is only projected to last for about 30 years and so Dubai has successfully embarked upon a major diversification program aimed to at developing industries and commercial enterprises to take the place of oil as the predominate commodity of the state's economy.

The climate in Dubai is sub-tropical and arid or desert like. The city enjoys almost year round sunny blue skies. Rain is infrequent and if it does fall, it falls in the winter.

Temperatures range from lows of 10°C to extreme summer highs of 48°C. The average maximum daily temperature in January is 24°C and the average maximum daily temperature in July is 41°C when humidity is very high.

About the city of Dubai

Dubai is recognised as the commercial and tourism capital of the UAE and is globally regarded as one of the most sophisticated, futuristic and cosmopolitan cities in the world, in fact Dubai is something of a phenomenon! It is an Arab Muslim society with the fastest growing foreign population in the world, and it has successfully developed harmony through ethnic diversity. It is a city with unrivalled levels of economic energy and architectural ambition, a unique city of contrasts where the most modern and architecturally stunning skyscrapers stand alongside traditional beautiful Arabic structures.

The experiences and attractions available in Dubai are many and varied. From the miles of immaculate beautiful white sandy beaches to the richly exotic Arabian heritage, from the awe inspiring majesty of the desert to the lively international bars, restaurants and nightclubs - a visitor to Dubai is guaranteed an incredible, never to be forgotten experience.
In 2003 Dubai was voted safest holiday destination in the world by Conde Nast Traveller magazine, and in fact Dubai is recognised globally as one of the safest cities in the world. Living in Dubai you will find that it is virtually crime-free with the Dubai police ensuring personal safety and security. Anyone found guilty of committing a serious crime will be severely punished. Alcohol and drug related offences are considered serious.

The economy of the city of Dubai is a mainly service-driven economy, with every business amenity from banking to telecommunications offered. International trading and industrialisation are actively encouraged through the provision of favourable taxation advantages, offshore status, specialist free trade zones etc. Recent innovative projects in the city include the foundation of Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City, bringing 21st century technology to Dubai in the world's very first 'Free Zone' wholly dedicated to e-business.

Day to Day Life in Dubai

Accommodation

If you are considering moving to Dubai one of your first thoughts will no doubt be finding somewhere to live. This is not something you'll find too tricky, there are many companies advertising rental accommodation in the classified sections of local newspapers and they offer everything from private villas to luxury apartments or even shared accommodation. Whatever your budgetary and lifestyle requirements are, the specialist relocation and housing companies will be sure to have something to assist you. If you prefer to find your accommodation privately and avoid any agency costs, many people use supermarkets notice boards to advertise or request accommodation.

In terms of which areas of the city offer the type of accommodation you are after, Jumeirah, Umm Sequiem and the Safa Park area are upmarket and offer villa-type accommodation. Satwa and Garhoud also offer villas but are slightly cheaper. Rashidiya, Mirdif and Al Quoz are mainly Arabic areas and they actually attract a lot of expats.

If you are after an apartment the most popular areas are around Bur Dubai, the Sheikh Zayed Road with cheaper flats are available in Deira, Satwa and Karama. Some of the more exclusive apartment developments offer shared gym and pool facilities together with garaged car parking and the like.

Education

If you are considering moving to Dubai with family and are interested in finding out about the education system and the availability and quality of schools, one of the best ways is to ask around! Because of the numbers of expats in Dubai there is actually a large number of primary and secondary schools from which you can to choose. Most schools are private fee paying schools and really the best way to get an idea of the reputation of a school is to ask friends, colleagues and other expats who live in Dubai. Many of the schools also have their own websites where you can learn about the curriculum they follow, after school programs etc.

When it comes to enrolling your child in the UAE there are a few restrictions you should be aware of. For example you are not allowed to change your child's school during the academic year...unless approval is given by the Ministry of Education and the circumstances are 'special'. This means that you have to make sure the school you choose for your child will definitely suit them. Another restriction you should be aware of is that is you move to Dubai on or after the 1st May each year you can't enrol your child into the schooling system for that year. Instead you'll have to enrol for the beginning of the new school year which is usually the beginning of September.

Health

Another consideration you may have if thinking about relocation to Dubai may be the state of the health care system available there. It is fair to say that Dubai has many very well equipped hospitals and surgeries. Dubai's Department of Health and Medical Services runs Dubai, Rashid, Maktoum and Al Wasl hospitals, with Dubai Hospital one of the best medical centres in the entire Middle East. Al Wasl is a maternity and gynaecology hospital.

The Department of Health also run out patient clinics or surgeries and in addition there are a number of quality private hospitals in Dubai offering in and out patient facilities - e.g., The American and Welcare Hospitals. Overall both the private and publicly offered health care services in Dubai are first class.

Working

Working in Dubai you will enjoy a tax free salary and all shop goods can be bought at tax free prices, making it an incredibly attractive city to international workers and international companies. Job opportunities in Dubai and diverse and plentiful, particularly since the additions of the Media and Internet cities...Dubai is a city expanding its horizons at an unrivalled rate.

It is important to mention that some countries worldwide have tax laws enabling them to tax their nationals on their worldwide income. It is important to check your status with an international accountant before taking up employment in the city.

Lifestyle

Dubai has a thriving expat population who make the most of their tax free lifestyle in this amazing city of opportunity. The nightlife in the city is excellent, with cocktail bars, wine bars, themed bars and typical British or Irish pubs available, many of which offer food and entertainment as well.

High standard international cuisine is available in the city's many restaurants and if you are looking for lively evening entertainment there are numerous night clubs around the city. Some of the clubs attract international DJs; there are also Middle Eastern, Indian and Asian nightclubs offering entertainment with singers and dancers. Dubai also welcomes international touring singing and entertainment acts which cater to all tastes and ages...from traditional theatre groups to ballet, from opera to international rock and pop bands - all are regular visitors to the United Arab Emirates.

You can be assured of an exciting pace of life in Dubai and a high standard of living.

Dubai Lifestyle - The History of the City and Day to Day Life in Dubai

Rhiannon Williamson is an experienced publisher who has produced articles for leading travel and tourism guides and financial magazines. Her specialist knowledge about both travel and finance gives her site Shelter Offshore the unique ability to literally cover every single aspect of moving & living abroad - including the often less discussed offshore tax advantages that can be available when leaving our homeland.

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Famous Villains In History

When we talk about famous villains in this article, we are not talking about the fictitious villains who ruled "the silver screen" movies. We are referring to those dangerous people who really ruled the world with their gruesome acts and created a permanent infamous place for themselves in history.

• Adolf Hitler: One of the most dreaded personalities who became popular worldwide for his cruel acts against his enemies, particularly the Jews.
• Benito Mussolini: A man who dreamt of creating an imperial Italian empire but got so lost in his world of power which ultimately destroyed his life.
• Reginald Edward Harry Dyer: Popularly called "General Dyer", he is responsible for the infamous Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in the history of Indian Independence. He gave shooting orders during a gathering at Amritsar that resulted in killing more than 1000 innocent civilians.
• Genghiz Khan: He was the most feared personality during his rule. He was quite popular in Asia for his barbaric army which destroyed, burnt or killed anybody and anything that came their way. Rumors state that his army used to consume human flesh in order to keep themselves energetic and young. He also built one of the biggest empires in Asia when he was in power.
• Joseph Stalin: Known for his dictatorship in USSR, this infamous personality crushed people under his rule with his communism principles. He was so unpopular among his people that "Stalinism" became synonymous for cruel acts. He was responsible for the death of more than 20 million soldiers who were forcefully sent to labor camps.

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Famous Villains In History

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in the history and education. He also offers top quality articles like:
Abraham Lincoln Characteristics, Ronald Reagan Quotes

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History of Disney's Princess Fairy Tales

Disney is well known for their beautifully animated fairy tales and the characters from them that have captivated us, just as much as its icon mouse since 1928. Something that many people do not know about our treasured Disney Princess stories from the Walt Disney Company is that many of them were based on already existing works.

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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first animated feature film produced by Walt Disney in 1937. The film was originally based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm titled 'Snow White'. The Brothers Grimm, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm were German academics and were responsible for many popular fairy tales that include 'Rumpelstiltskin', 'Rapunzel', 'Hansel and Gretel' and 'The Frog Prince'.

Cinderella

Cinderella was released in 1950 and produced by Walt Disney. The story of Cinderella has been recorded in many works throughout history with versions included from Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm. Disney's animated film was most likened to Charles Perrault's fairy tale. Charles Perrault was a French author and published many fairy tales and his works include 'Puss in Boots' and 'Little Red Riding Hood'.

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty was produced by Walt Disney and released to theaters in 1959. The Disney story of Sleeping Beauty was also based on the Charles Perrault works from his fairy tale titled 'Sleeping Beauty'.

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid was released in 1989. The Disney story of The Little Mermaid was originally based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale titled 'The Little Mermaid'. Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author and poet and his works consisted of many well known fairy tales that include 'The Ugly Duckling', 'Thumbelina', 'The Princess and the Pea', 'The Emperor's New Clothes' (of which Disney based their animated feature film 'The Emperor's New Groove') and many more famous stories.

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast was released by Disney in 1991. The story of Beauty and the Beast was originally based on the traditional fairy tale titled 'Beauty and the Beast' by French author Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and abridged and republished by French author Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.

The Disney adaptations of these earlier recognized stories have enabled children to experience the stories through the latest developments and technologies of visual media. Throughout history these stories in their original written and subsequent adapted visual forms have given great enjoyment to children and adults alike.

History of Disney's Princess Fairy Tales

Leanne Ronalds is the founder and owner of Characters 'n' Toons online toy store and is a leading authority on children's character toys and entertainment. Characters 'n' Toons has a large selection of character toys, bedding, games, gifts, party supplies, merchandise and collectibles including Disney Princess toys and Disney Princess bedding and many much loved characters from children's television series, cartoons and movies that include Barbie, Shrek, Finding Nemo, Care Bears, Disney Fairies, Bob the Builder, Batman, Dora the Explorer, Fifi and the Flowertots, Hannah Montana, Scooby Doo, Madagascar, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, High School Musical, Mickey Mouse, Scooby Doo, the Incredibles, Sesame Street, Disney Cars, the Simpsons, Thomas the Tank Engine, the Wiggles, Toy Story and Winnie the Pooh.

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A History Of The Disney Channel

For several decades, the name Disney has been paramount in American family entertainment. From the beginning, it started as a cartoon studio in the 1920's to eventually become the global conglomerate that it is today. Disney has not only found it's way into the heart's of children, but has managed to expand into a global television network phenomenon. As we are aware, The Disney Channel is an original American cable and satellite television network that has nevertheless, expanded worldwide. It consists of more than 90 kid friendly channels available in 30 different languages and 160 countries around the world.

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The network is owned by Disney-ABC Television Group, directly associated with The Walt Disney Company. Disney applies the combination of its competencies and principles to constantly produce distinguishing value for its customers with different platform brands. Those consist of: Playhouse Disney, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Cinemagic, Radio Disney, and Hungama TV. The Disney Channel is typically categorized as a kid-friendly network. Although this is true, Disney Original Movies and series are amusing enough for parents at the same time, making The Disney Channel a wonderful fit for quality time with the family. For many of us, watching The Wonderful World of Disney in it's earlier years after dinner with a big bowl of popcorn was a cherished event. Over the years, Disney has premiered and produced many movies of which have been branded as Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOM) as opposed to Disney Channel Premier Films in it's early years. Several Disney Channel Original Movies were chosen as top movies for all ages including: Heidi, Snow White, The Parent Trap, and High School Musical, bringing back memories of our childhoods when Disney was a time shared with family and friends.

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Not only is The Disney Channel recognized for their Classic and entertaining Original Movies, but for their original sitcoms and series that have become extremely popular within the Disney realm and modern TV entertainment. Disney Channel sitcoms are mostly geared toward teenagers and elementary students with shows like Hannah Montana, Aaron Stone, and Good Luck Charlie. Playhouse Disney features classic Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse and shows such as Jungle Junction, Handy Manny, Imagination Movers, and Little Einsteins for Pre-school aged children. By January 2010 Playhouse Disney will have accommodated a new name as "Disney Junior" and will have it's own digital cable and satellite channel replacing the SOAP net channel. This will inevitably place Disney Junior in direct competition with Nickelodeon and Nick Junior along with Comcast's PBS Kid's Sprout.

Disney will always be esteemed by children of all ages as it was ranked number one for 63 consecutive months amongst children ages 6-11 and for the 62nd consecutive month for teenagers aged 9-14. The DC not only is ranked number one amongst these demographics, but also is the second most watched cable channel during primetime airing. The Disney Channel offers many distinctive varieties for every age group and its shows and Original Movies are entertaining enough for adults. The opportunity for people of all ages to obtain valuable lessons enables quality discussion and allocation with an entertaining atmosphere that lives up to that family nature that Disney originally intended to do.

A History Of The Disney Channel

Jason Forthofer is the owner of a Disney Movies Guide where you can learn more about the Disney Channel and all Disney movies.

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History of the James River

On May 17, 1607 an expedition of English explorers landed on the shores of Virginia after a charter was granted to the "Virginia Company" by King James the First. In keeping with the principals established under Queen Elizabeth the First, the English immediately "claimed" the land and set about renaming everything in sight, much to the considerable annoyance of the local Algonquin native Americans, who duly commenced a sporadic form of guerrilla warfare with the adventurous English settlers.

"Ye large rivere", used by the English because it had such a deep and steep draught which allowed their ship to be moored close to shore, so close they could tie mooring lines to trees, provided an ideal and secluded base. Seclusion was necessary as the rival Spaniards sought to exercise control over the entire New World despite the best efforts of the competing French and British. If discovered, the embryonic settlement, named Jamestown on the James River, both named after the English king, would be assaulted and destroyed.

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The James River provided an excellent location for the settlers, and Jamestown was founded approximately 35 miles upriver from the Chesapeake Bay. With "palisadoe" fortifications, the English achieved a degree of protection from both the marauding Algonquin Indians, who referred to the river as the Powhatan River after their own chief of the Powhattan Confederacy, and the searching Spanish.

The portion of the James River which is navigable provided an essential lifeline for the embryonic colony - the first successful colony from which sprang the modern America. For the initial fifteen years, the James River provided the major route for supplies and new blood in the shape of new colonists from England. Despite significant investment and personal risks, the colony did not look like it would succeed - the first five years proved that the financial traffic was simply one-way - there was nothing of significance exported from the colony until the introduction of tobacco which was imported by John Rolfe in 1612.

Thereafter, the James River provided the means for the colony to export "hogsheads" of tobacco which was in great demand in England, and this proved the financial savior of the colony which would otherwise have collapsed. The tobacco plantations were established below the "fall line", the point up to which the James River ceases to be navigable and the site of Virginia's capitol, Richmond. Many of them established their own wharfs and landing jetties which in turn became focal points for local development with the development of trading posts, railheads and full-scale ports in their own right. Modern townships such as Bermuda Hundred, Claremont, Scotland and Smithfield, owe their existence to these early trading outposts which were established at this time.

The financial success of tobacco as a cash crop led to wider exploitation of the local environment which included wider forms of agriculture. Today, some parts of the James River flood plain claim, with truth, that they have been cultivated for over 400 years and many modern, ecologically sound farming methods have their roots in the continued use of the James River and its fertile valley plain.

The falls, which occur at Richmond, prevented effective development and exploitation of the interior by the agricultural and tobacco-orientated colonists until the late 17th Century. Abraham Woods financed fur trading expeditions up river from Richmond and the success of this enterprise led to the creation of supply routes to transport goods and supplies up and down the James River using Richmond as the fulcrum which was used to connect up-river to the ocean outlet at the mouth of the Chesapeake and which incidentally acted to create the distinct characteristics of up river and down river economies reflected today.

History of the James River

By Lawrence Reaves - Writing on the history of the James River located in Richmond, Virginia can be a nice walk through the state's humble beginnings. Find more fun facts and places to visit while living the Richmond Life at richmondvapresents.com and richmondlife.net.

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Financial History of eBay

An online auction company that started by first facilitating a broken laser printer and thereafter travel tickets on a plane gradually turned into a phenomenon all over the web world. More and more people started taking to eBay, the new sensation in the online shopping market. A look at the history of eBay will reveal the amazing story of a small online auction platform flowering into the largest platform for such online auction.

Financial evolution of eBay took a jump start when it received .7 million in terms of funding in from one of the venture capital firm named the Benchmark Capital. In 1998 the company had only 30 employees when Meg Whitman was hired as its President and CEO. Yet by that time the Company already had half a million users and earning revenues to the extent of .7 million already in United States alone.

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The online shopping company went public on September 21st, 1998. Instantly the company turned into billion dollar enterprise instead of the earlier million dollar base. An amazing feat achieved by the Company as seen from the history of eBay is that the initial price of per share was ignored as the price went up to .50 on the very first day the platform started its business enterprise.

Gradually the arena covered by the company expanded beyond the initial collectibles. It now covered any salable item. IBazar was purchased by eBay in 2002. The purchased one was also an auction web site that was founded way back in 1995. As the business of the company expanded further, they also bought the money transfer company; Pay Pal.

An important part of the history of eBay is also that the business of the company expanded worldwide by 2008. Its financial business now counted over hundred millions or registered users. Not only this, the company by now had over 15,000 employees. Revenue earnings had reached a staggering .7 billion by that time. The same year, its most successful CEO, Whitman stepped down and John Donahoe was the new President and CEO, though Whitman continued in the Board of Directors till the end of 2009.

Continuing the process the online shopping company also sold out the Skype at the price of .75 billion. It still retained 30% equity in the Company.

Financial history of eBay in recent years has not been all smooth. In July 2010, XPRT Ventures sued eBay for .8 billion accusing it of stealing the information that was shared by XPRT with its patents. They accused eBay of incorporating their patented system into the PayPal Buyer credit system.

Despite such occasional jolts, history of eBay has been that of one of the most successful online shopping sites that exists in the market today.

Financial History of eBay

R. Rekha

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The History of BEE in South Africa

What is BEE?

BEE refers to measures, actions or programmatic steps geared to enable meaningful participation of black people in the economic mainstream. It is a response to our particular reality born of racial capitalism, the fusion of apartheid with the capitalist system.

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Rationale for BEE

The BEE commission, chaired by Cyril Ramaphosa, and assisted by Saki Macozoma, Derek Cooper, Patrice Motsepe, Gloria Serobe, Danisa Baloyi, Buhle Mthethwa, Vuyo Jack, Ronnie Ntuli, Loyiso Mbabane, Imogen Mkhize, Alan Hirsch, Philisiwe Buthelezi and Lionel October, broadly outlined BEE in a 2000 report, which led to the government's implementation of BEE.

Many companies see it not only as a moral obligation, but also as a business reality. Its aim is to incorporate a substantial amount of skilled black workers (African, Coloured and Indian) into the workforce.

Black Economic Empowerment led to the creation of Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment, as many groups felt BEE did not live up to its objectives. The government introduced the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003.

With BBBEE, ownership is only one of seven criteria upon which a company's empowerment score is calculated.The purpose of BBBEE is to create economic empowerment for the many groups who were not on an equal footing: all black people, women, youth, the disabled, and those in rural areas.

A company's Employment Equity policy is just one way in which to measure its transformation. Affirmative Action exclusively led to more positions being filled by black candidates; BBBEE, however, strives toward the implementation of the following seven pillars:

Equity Ownership Management Employment Equity Skills Development Preferential Procurement Enterprise Development Residual Element/Corporate Social Investment

Of these, Employment Equity account for only 10 percent.

The first set of Codes of Good Practice, released on 1 November 2005, dealt mostly with Ownership and Management. The second set was released on 20 December 2005 and these dealt with special codes for SMMEs (small, medium and micro enterprises).

The final Codes of Good Practice, which deals with Scorecards, Small Enterprises and Skills Development, amongst others, were released on 9 February 2007.

Definitions

A black company is one that is at least 50.1 percent owned by black people.

A black empowered company is at least 25.1 percent owned by black groups.

A black woman-owned enterprise is represented by at least 21.5 percent of black women at equity and management level.

Moneybiz, a leading African Financial Information portal, brings you all the insider news and information on BEE procedures.

The History of BEE in South Africa

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History of Disney World - How Walt Disney World Came About

Although Walt Disney never saw the fruition of Disney World while he was still alive, it was really his concept to make it. That's why relating the history of Disney World would naturally begin with him. His concept lived on even after he died through his brother, Roy Disney.

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Walt Disney's Idea

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Walt Disney didn't just want another Disneyland. He dreamed of something much more than Disneyland and yet similar to it. He still wanted to bring entertainment in his theme parks. But he wanted to have a place where he could constantly add or develop something new to his original park and structures. Not only that, he wanted to test his concepts of urban planning through this project. True enough, what now emerged as the EPCOT or the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow was actually sprung out of his ideas.

From Opening Up to Now

Walt Disney World opened in October 1, 1971, five years later after the death of Walt Disney. It opened up with Disney's Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Resort and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.

In the following year, Disney's Village Resort with the tree house and the vacation villas was added. Then Disney's Golf Resort and Discovery Island were next opened in the next two years. In 1975, the Fairway Villas and the Walt Disney Village Marketplace were built up.

Come June 1976, Disney's River Country Water Park was added. In 1980, the Walt Disney World Conference Center and another village resort, the Club Lake villas, were put up. Then in 1982, EPCOT came about.

In 1988, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Caribbean Beach Resort became available. And then 1989, more parks were added. The MGM Studios, the Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Pleasure Island were opened.

In the years 1990 to 1992, more resorts were made for the guests. These were Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort, Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Resort, Port Orleans Resort, Old Key West Resort and Disney's Dixie Landings Resort. Disney Vacation Club and Bonnet Creek Golf Club were also added to the growing Walt Disney World.

In 1994, Disney's All-Star Sports Resort and Disney's Wilderness Lodge were made available. Then in 1995, Disney's All-Star Music Resort, Blizzard Beach Water Park and Fairytale Wedding Pavilion were installed.

The following year, the Disney Institute and Disney's Boardwalk Resort became ready. The Coronado Springs Resort followed in 1997. Disney's Wide World of Sports and Downtown Disney West Side came that same year too; while Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney Quest just came in 1998. In 1999, it was Disney's All-Star Movies Resort that was added. In 2001 and 2003, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Pop Century Resort were added respectively. Finally, Disney's Saratoga's Springs Resort and Spa came about in 2004.

This completes the list of facilities made available through the years. The history of Disney World has really come a long way and it still continues each day as it touches the lives of many of its guests.

History of Disney World - How Walt Disney World Came About

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The Outsourcing History of India

The outsourcing history of India is one of phenomenal growth in a very short span of time. The idea of outsourcing has its roots in the 'competitive advantage' theory propagated by Adam Smith in his book 'The Wealth of Nations' which was published in 1776. Over the years, the meaning of the term 'outsourcing' has undergone a sea-change. What started off as the shifting of manufacturing to countries providing cheap labour during the Industrial Revolution, has taken on a new connotation in today's scenario. In a world where IT has become the backbone of businesses worldwide, 'outsourcing' is the process through which one company hands over part of its work to another company, making it responsible for the design and implementation of the business process under strict guidelines regarding requirements and specifications from the outsourcing company. This process is beneficial to both the outsourcing company and the service provider, as enables the outsourcer to reduce costs and increase quality in non core areas of business and utilize his expertise and competencies to the maximum. And now we can see the benefit to the service companies in India as they mature, prosper and build core capabilities beyond what would generally be possible by the outsourcing company.

Since the onset of globalization in India during the early 1990s, successive Indian governments have pursued programs of economic reform committed to liberalization and privatization. Till 1994, the Indian telecom sector was under direct governmental control and the state owned units enjoyed a monopoly in the market. In 1994, the government announced a policy under which the sector was liberalized and private participation was encouraged. The New Telecom Policy of 1999 brought in further changes with the introduction of IP telephony and ended the state monopoly on international calling facilities. This brought about a drastic reduction and this heralded the golden era for the ITES/BPO industry and ushered in a slew of inbound/outbound call centres and data processing centres. Although the IT industry in India has existed since the early 1980s, it was the early and mid 1990s that saw the emergence of outsourcing. One of the first outsourced services was medical transcription, but outsourcing of business processes like data processing, billing, and customer support began towards the end of the 1990s when MNCs established wholly owned subsidiaries which catered to the process off-shoring requirements of their parent companies. Some of the earliest players in the Indian market were American Express, GE Capital and British Airways.

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The ITES or BPO industry is a young and nascent sector in India and has been in existence for a little more than five years. Despite its recent arrival on the Indian scene, the industry has grown phenomenally and has now become a very important part of the export-oriented IT software and services environment. It initially began as an activity confined to multinational companies, but today it has developed into a broad based business platform backed by leading Indian IT software and services organizations and other third party service providers. The ITES/BPO market expanded its base with the entry of Indian IT companies and the ITES market of the present day is characterized by the existence of these IT giants who are able to leverage their broad skill-sets and global clientele to offer a wide spectrum of services. The spectrum of services offered by Indian companies has evolved substantially from its humble beginnings. Today, Indian companies are offering a variety of outsourced services ranging from customer care, transcription, billing services and database marketing, to Web sales/marketing, accounting, tax processing, transaction document management, telesales/telemarketing, HR hiring and biotech research.

Looking at the success of India's IT/software industry, the central government identified ITES/BPO as a key contributor to economic growth prioritized the attraction of FDI in this segment by establishing 'Software Technology Parks' and 'Export Enterprise Zones'. Benefits like tax-holidays generally enjoyed by the software industry were also made available to the ITES/BPO sector. The National Telecom Policy (NTP) introduced in 1999 and the deregulation of the telecom industry opened up national, long distance, and international connectivity to competition. The governments of various states also provide assistance to companies to overcome the recruitment, retention, and training challenges in order to attract investments to their region. The National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) has created platforms for the dissemination of knowledge and research in the industry through its survey and conferences. NASSCOM acts as an 'advisor, consultant and coordinating body' for the ITES/BPO industry and liaisons between the central and state government committees and the industry. The ardent advocacy of the ITES/BPO industry has led to the inclusion of call centers in the 'Business Auxiliary Services' segment, thereby ensuring exemption from service tax under the Finance Bill of 2003.

These measures have led to a steady inflow of investments by large foreign companies such as Reuters, for establishing large captive ITES/BPO facilities across India. Moreover, the existing ITES/BPO operations of major multi-nationals are also being ramped up to cater to the ever increasing demand for better and speedier service. Almost all of India's top ITES/BPO giants have announced some form of expansion and are in the process of hiring manpower to fill the additional seats. India's competitive advantage lies in its ability to provide huge cost savings thereby enabling productivity gains and this has given India an edge in the global ITES/BPO marketplace. NASSCOM studies pinpoint the following factors as the major reasons behind India's success in this industry (Source: http://www.nasscom.org):

o Abundant, skilled, English-speaking manpower, which is being harnessed even by ITES hubs such as Singapore and Ireland.

o Improving telecom and other infrastructure which is at par with global standards.

o Strong quality orientation among players and their focus on measuring and monitoring quality targets.

o Fast turnaround times and the ability to offer 24x7 services based on the country's unique geographic location that allows for leveraging time zone differences.

o Proactive and positive policy environment which encourages ITES/BPO investments and simplifies rules and procedures.

o A friendly tax structure, which places the ITES/BPO industry on par with IT services companies.

Outsourcing to India offers significant improvements in quality and productivity for overseas companies on crucial parameters such as number of correct transactions/number of total transactions; total satisfaction factor; number of transactions/hour and average speed of answer. Surveys by NASSCOM also revealed that Indian companies are better focussed on maintaining quality and performance standards. Indian ITES/BPO companies are on an ascending curve as far as the quality standards are concerned. Organizations that have achieved ISO 9000 certification are migrating to the ISO 9000:2000 standards and companies on the CMM framework are realigning themselves to the CMMI model. Apart from investing in upgrading their CRM and ERP initiatives, many Indian ITES companies are beginning to acknowledge the COPC certifications for quality and are working towards achieving COPC licences.

Despite being a fledgling in the global ITES/BPO industry, the Indian ITES industry recorded a growth rate in excess of 50% in 2002-03. Industry experts consider this a positive indication of the times to come and a look at the ranking and the revenue and headcount statistics show the potential of the industry.The global ITES/BPO industry was valued at around US$ 773 billion during 2002 and according to estimates by the International Data Corporation worldwide, it is expected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9% during the period 2002-2006. NASSCOM lists the major indicators of the high growth potential of the ITES/BPO industry in India as the following (Source http://www.nasscom.org)

o During 2003-04, the ITES-BPO segment is estimated to have achieved a 54 percent growth in revenues as compared to the previous year.

o ITES exports accounted for US$ 3.6 billion in revenues, up from US$ 2.5 billion in 2002-03.

o The ITES-BPO segment also proved to be a major opportunity for job seekers, creating employment for around 74,400 additional personnel in India during 2003-04.

o The number of Indians working for this sector jumped to 245,500 by March, 2004.

o By the year 2008, the segment is expected to employ over 1.1 million Indians, according to studies conducted by NASSCOM and leading business Intelligence Company, McKinsey & Co. Market research shows that in terms of job creation, the ITES-BPO industry is growing at over 50 percent.
Surveys of the Indian ITES/BPO industry in 2004 expected it to follow the trends given below:

Customer care: Customer care and support services will continue to lead in terms of revenue generation, with a turnover of around US$ 1200 million in 2003-04., up from last year's turnover of US0 million.

Finance: With the financial services segment moving into value added domains like insurance claims processing, financial management services and equity research, this segment is expected to clock the highest growth, with estimates of US0 million in revenue in 2003-04, up from US0 million in 2002-03.

HR services: HR services are also expected to grow and revenues are expected to touch US million during 2003-04, thereby providing latent opportunities to the industry's dominant players.

Payment services: This segment has also been identified as a high growth area within the industry, and is expected to generate revenues of around US0 million for 2003-04, up from US0 million in 2002-03.

Administration: Revenues from the administration services segment are expected to increase from US$ 310 million in 2002-03, to US0 million during 2003-04.

Content development: The content development services segment which includes engineering and design services, digitization (GIS), animation, network management and biotech research, is expected clock a turnover of around US0 million in 2003-04.

The availability of technically trained and skilled manpower in India is making companies across the world look at the country as a profitable base to shift their high-end support services. Companies like COLT Technology Services are considering outsourcing their technical back-office support work to India. Other areas are high-end network engineering/management support. Another field which is showing immense potential is that of digital content creation and animation. Animation studios like Walt Disney, MGM and Warner Brothers are already outsourcing low-end work like clean-ups, tweening and modelling to India. The availability of skilled and trained manpower and India's ability to keep in step with the latest technological advances in the industry is prompting foreign studios to consider India as a base to shift other high-end animation work like storyboarding and developing original content for animated films ad TV series. Tele-radiology is the next segment that holds great promise, mainly due to the time zone differences and the availability of highly skilled radiologists and companies like Teleradiology Solutions have been offering their services to US and South-East Asian hospitals for the past two years. Engineering services like CAD/CAM 2D, 3D and CAE modelling and design automation are the latest additions to the ever increasing list of processes being outsourced to India.

The Outsourcing History of India

For more reading on outsourcing, log on to outsource2india.com

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The History of Walt Disney

A trail blazer in the field of animation, Walt Disney was an animator, film director, screenwriter and film producer. Walt Disney's hometown from 1906 to 1911 is a little town in north central Missouri, 6 miles south of US Highway 36 on Missouri Highway 5. In no longer than 10 years of his emergence in Hollywood in 1923, Walt Disney was renowned around the world as the creator of Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies like Three Little Pigs. The initial cartoon starring Mickey Mouse was Plane Crazy in 1928, it was the third Disney cartoon published and Mickey Mouse still remains a firm favorite of children all over the world today.

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From its beginning in 1939 and continuing today, the Walt Disney Studios has come to epitomize its founders dedication to creating dreams of lasting beauty and significance. Extremely private yet always on the leading edge of the very public entertainment industry, Walt Disney was a man of immense achievements and had a paradoxical nature destined to be the stuff of legends.

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Disney characters and logos are trademarks of The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures, the film banner, was founded as a designation in 1983, prior to which Disney films since the death of Walt Disney were released under the name of the parent company, and then named Walt Disney Productions.

The Walt Disney Hollywood Studio will always offer the best in music, TV, and movies that Hollywood has to offer with the thrills and attractions. From its outset in 1939 and continuing today, the Walt Disney Studios has come to exemplify its founders dedication to creating dreams of lasting beauty and significance.

The History of Walt Disney

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How Walt Disney Made History by Creating Disney World

From the very beginning, Disney World's founder Walter Elias Disney, fostered the spirit of creativity, innovation and excellence that continues to underlie all of the company's success today, History has been made over and over again when we watch his World famous characters such as Mickey Mouse, and Donald Duck, emerge from drawings on a sheet of paper, to real life characters who are a constant source of enjoyment and laughter as we meet them on our journey through Disney World.

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The original Mickey Mouse cartoon, was the first to be fully synchronized with sound, and called the Jazz Singer which you can see glimpses of in the Epcot Space Ship Earth attraction, this innovative cartoon design, propelled Walt Disney into History, History that we see all around us in the theme parks in Orlando. Steamboat Willie opened to rave reviews at the Colony Theater in New York November 18, 1928. Mickey Mouse was an immediate sensation around the world, and a series of Mickey Mouse cartoons followed, this magic and unique entertainment is all on offer at Disney World today.

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Walt Disney also made history when the Disney world theme park opened in 1971, sadly Walt Disney did not live to realize his dream, but his brother Roy was determined to leave a lasting legacy by naming the attraction after his brother. The park in Orlando was a 28000 acre site which dwarfed the 400 acre site at Disney Land in California, today the park lives up to Walt's intention, he wanted Orlando to be a destination resort with golf courses, Hotels, Camping ground facilities and shopping area's, all connected together with a monorail transport system.

Roy Disney died only two months after the opening of Disney World, however Disney World continued to make History in the form of a grand opening, of the, Grand Floridan Holiday resort together with Caribbean resorts in 1988 and 1999 respectively. Making Disney World the biggest theme park in the World, entertaining millions of visitors from across the globe each year.

Disney MGM Studios theme Park, Pleasure Island, and Typhoon Lagoon followed in the creative footsteps of Walt Disney, the magic continues today with Blizzard beach joining as another gated attraction together with Animal Kingdom. Mickey's Toontown in the heart of Magic Kingdom, the Indiana Jones live theatre attraction at the Disney Hollywood Studios, continue to cement the name of Walt Disney in the annals of History for their innovative design, not seen in other theme parks, these unique themed parks will provide unique entertainment for fun people families for many generations to come.

Even today Walt Disney is synonymous with creativity, the Disney resort in Europe opened on April 12th 1992, and called Disney Land resort Paris, has six uniquely constructed Hotels and campground area's, it received over 11 million visitors in it's first year and continues today to be the most visited attraction throughout Europe.

How Walt Disney Made History by Creating Disney World

By John Allsopp

http://www.orlando-florida-holidays.com/

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Las Vegas History - Fact and Myth

Ever wondered how the Sin City came about through the years? In this article, I'll give a brief overview of the history of Las Vegas.

The city of Las Vegas was incorporated in 1911 -- those who moved there because of the railroads found it to be a barren place, hot and dusty and totally lacking in appeal. Nevertheless, in 1920, the first casino was opened on Fremont Street and a new industry was born in the Nevada desert.

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Since that time, the city has been the center of real and alleged mob activity, illegal fun and games, and more speculation about what goes on there than any other city in the world.

The decade of the 1930's was pivotal in Las Vegas' development. During those Depression years, the government underwrote the building of Hoover Dam to the tune of million. Las Vegas became a boomtown as a result, but it was a boomtown that wasn't expected to thrive after the dam's completion.

But, since gambling was legal in Las Vegas - and not in nearby Boulder City, where the dam workers lived - Vegas became the hot spot for workers looking for entertainment. The first real resort in Vegas, El Rancho Vegas, would look very humble by today's standards - it was a getaway that specialized in banquets and weddings, and it did not have gambling on the property.

The beginning of casinos as we know them today can be attributed to Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, a couple of mobsters who had worked a protection racket in New York City. Siegel was a would-be actor who hung out with the likes of Clark Gable and George Raft when he wasn't handling the Mob's gambling enterprises. Among other rackets, he imported narcotics from Mexico and built up a huge prostitution business in Las Vegas.

During the '40's and '50's, the downtown area grew rapidly, with gaming establishments such as Binion's and The Golden Nugget making Las Vegas a true destination city. Benny Binion, of Binion's Horseshoe fame, made great strides in creating the Las Vegas that we know today. Among other guest perks, he started serving free drinks to gamers and slot machine players, he had limousine service to and from the airport, and he often professed his belief in making ordinary vacationers feel like high rollers.

Meanwhile, the federal government began to express concern about the Mob's links with gaming in the Nevada desert. Sen. Estes Kefauver held hearings in 1950 and 1951 to investigate those alleged connections. When the hearings were completed, a Gaming Control Board was set up to regulate (and legitimize) gaming.

Investors and developers in Las Vegas often had somewhat shady connections - they managed to gain a measure of respectability by donating to political and charitable causes. Eventually, they came to be considered good capitalists and community pillars, at least by Las Vegas' freewheeling standards.

Topless showgirl revues started at the Stardust and the Dunes, and lounge shows soon followed.  By 1955, casinos were being built as fast as plans could be drawn up and financing secured.

But the real appeal of Las Vegas can be attributed to three men: Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Howard Hughes. Sinatra and his Rat Pack played the Sands, Presley wowed crowds at the International (now the Las Vegas Hilton), and Hughes spent 0 million developing properties in Las Vegas until his death there as a recluse in the Desert Inn.

The Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard) became the place to build in the 1960's; by the 1980's, it was the only place. Millionaire businessmen like Steve Wynn replaced mobsters as the movers and shakers behind the scenes.

Las Vegas today has gained respectability - it's a brand, a destination, and a favorite vacation spot for travelers from all over the world.

Las Vegas History - Fact and Myth

Nancy is a writer for Vegas Chill, and travels to Las Vegas frequently. She loves visiting Las Vegas, and is particularly fond of the many Las Vegas boutique hotels.

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Disney Princess History and Fun Facts for Party Trivia Games

Just ask any little girl who their favorite Disney Princess is and they can answer with little or no hesitation. Some will answer Snow White, the first official Disney Princess. Making her debut in Disney's first full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was first shown in theaters in 1937. Snow White's kind heart and survivor spirit has endeared her to young children, and in particular future, Disney Princesses ever since.

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Cinderella is another Disney Princess that is instantly recognizable to young children. Cinderella was a kind, gentle girl who was ordered around by her cruel stepmother and her awful stepsisters and yet, she just keeps dreaming that someday, she will be happiness and fall in love with a handsome, caring prince. When a royal invitation arrives announcing a ball for all eligible maidens in the land, Cinderella thinks this might be her big break. Unfortunately, her stepmother worries that Cinderella will take the attention of the prince from her daughters and prevents her from attending. Or so she thinks, until a Fairy Godmother "bibbity bobbity boo[s]" a carriage complete with footmen, and a ball room gown and glass slippers that are nothing short of amazing. Cinderella, of course, with her dreams coming true and her ability to get out of her miserable life with her stepmothers, makes her the classic Disney Princess and a favority of little girls everywhere.

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Sleeping Beauty introduced Princess Aurora, also known as Briar Rose, to little girls everywhere. Starring in a wonderful story of true love conquers all, Princess Aurora is a Disney Princess who falls in love with a young peasant boy she meets in the woods even though she knows she is to marry a prince. How lucky for Princess Aurora to find out that her true love and Prince Phillip are really the same person. Because, based upon the curse of Maleficent, only true love's kiss can wake the sleeping beauty from her slumber and Prince Phillip is only happy to comply.

Belle, Jasmine, and Ariel are the newest young ladies to be join the ranks of being called a Disney Princess. Their stories, although newer, than those of Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, are just as sentimental and enticing to young girls everywhere. Such a super group of characters make having a Disney Princess party a great idea for girls of all ages.

Disney Princess History and Fun Facts for Party Trivia Games

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