Pirates Plank

Archive for March, 2010

There are some who think that the idea of ghosts is one that is more likely to occur in places with old buildings, in old urban centers that have a long and complicated history. But these things can also be quite common in places that have more natural areas, as well, and that this might suggest that ghosts are not partial to buildings at all, but do depend on complicated histories.

There are complicated histories everywhere, in truth, but it might take longer to discover why some places are this way, because the history is not necessarily seen from the tourist’s map. It’s certainly the case in Hawaii, where there are plenty of stories of strange phenomena. It’s something that is a very curious attraction for some, who might book some time in a hotel in Honolulu just to take part in the ghost tours here.

Why there are ghosts here is an interesting question that is open to a great deal of speculation. It could be that the particular histories of the cultures here bring with them a tradition of spooky stories, or their traditions of ancestor reverence simply make it more amenable to ghosts. In the case of the Night Marchers , however, it seems to be directly connected to the history.

The Night Marchers appear as warriors from another time, and move without feet to touch the ground. The sensational aspects of their appearances sometimes overshadow their historical importance, where they seem to be intimately connected to the place. The reasons for their appearances likely come from the idea that this is their place, and it was taken from them at one time, and they are simply defending what is already theirs. It is really quite common to see spirits of place, who are firmly devoted to it, in places where cultures have pantheons of spirits of nature. To fully understand the lessons from these apparitions would take a long lesson in local history, as well as a general knowledge of how the social and spiritual systems are structured.

Virginia is a state that is recognized for its aesthetic beauty and rich history. Virginia’s history is actually very interesting and reaches back many years.
1. The first documented European explorer to set foot on Virginia Beach was Captain John Smith, who arrived on April 26, 1607.
2. The Cape Henry Memorial and Lighthouse commemorates the site where the first Europeans arrived in 1607. The settlers named the spot after Henry, the Prince of Wales, and erected a huge cross in his honor. The Cape Henry Lighthouse was built in 1791 by the first US Congress, which makes it the first federally commissioned public building in the nation.
3. The old Cavalier Hotel, is often referred to as “the hotel that made Virginia famous,” was once a retreat for the rich and famous former Presidents, celebrities, and a host of dignitaries have stayed here. Originally spread out over some 250 acres, the hotel is now confined to roughly 20 acres, yet still displays the splendor and charm of its heyday.
4. Although most people go to Virginia Beach during the summer months, January and early February are a good time to go as well especially if you’re into whale watching. The Virginia Marine Science Museum sponsors tours enabling visitors to witness the humpback whales that gather just off shore each winter.
5. Virginia Beach is the 34th largest US city by population. It makes up about 258 square miles, and averages just 12 feet above sea level.
6. To escape the crowds flooding the boardwalk, head out to the nearby Seashore State Park. Located on some 3,000 acres, this popular destination offers hiking, biking, boating, water skiing, and a host of other water sport activities. Cabins are also available for visitors who want to spend the night.
7. The Virginia Marine Science Museum is one of Virginia Beach’s top attractions. Adults and children will be treated to a number of high-tech interactive exhibits, a 700,000-gallon aquarium, as well as an IMAX theater. The museum frequently sponsors oceangoing sightseeing tours as well
8. Virginia Beach hotels are among the best and they are cozy and affordable.
9. There is much to learn about Virginia, visit this site for more facts on Virginia Beach.
Be sure to come to Virginia and check out these historic spots for yourself.

A few years back America was shocked and deeply saddened by the actions of one young man on a college campus. The man brought guns to the school and went on a killing spree. He killed many innocent people and wounded many others. These were all students who were going at class on what seemed like a regular day and who were trying to fulfill the requirements they needed to reach in order to graduate and earn their degrees. Then this troubled student brought his anger and rage to Virginia Tech and decided to let off on innocent young people instead of getting help for himself or taking it out on himself and leaving others to live out their lives in peace. At the end of the ordeal, instead of the police arresting this man and bringing him to justice where he would most definitely have had to serve time in prison before ultimately facing the death penalty, he killed himself.
This terrible event took place on the campus of Virginia Tech. Following that incident, understandably, a large number of students transferred out of the school. Each of the young people that were killed that day had families and friends that were and still are affected by the shooters actions. The school was in shock and was suffering but they knew that they must go on and that the semester would have to continue. The sports teams got back into action a few days later with commemorative pins for their fellow fallen students. The professors and staff all did their best to make things seem as normal as possible throughout the following weeks. The student body and faculty should be applauded for the way they handled themselves in the wake of such a huge tragedy. Virginia Tech has seen its number of applicants steadily rise after that incident as well. Virginia Tech continues to help students prepare themselves for the future and to help them be successful in their fields. High school seniors and juniors should give Virginia Tech a look and while in the area check out these hotels to stay at.

The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra is one of the city’s prestigious cultural institutions and it also provides the city some of its best musical performances and fabulous evening out engagements. That’s a lot for one organization, and the CCO has been up to this task for many years. It was originally established by Paul Nadler as an all-volunteer organization in 1974. Since that time it has grown and established itself as a union paid musician’s organization. There are currently 32 musicians on the union pay scale. This is also one of the popular performance attractions for many tourist and other city visitors. Guests who are enjoying a comfortable stay in one of the area hotels can get information from the lobby or front desk on this and other cultural establishments of Cincinnati.

The company is unique among orchestras in that it strives, and succeeds in providing audiences with music that is not typical to major orchestral performances that are presented by the larger symphonies. This is part of their main intention, which is to provide a unique audience listener experience and to expose patrons to a wider variety of compositions. The company is relatively large for a chamber music group and this size allows them a bit more freedom to be creative with arrangements and flexibility with programming schedules.

The orchestra made its New York debut thirteen years ago with its performance under the direction of conductor Keith Lockhart at Town Hall. Two years ago this month the orchestra was appointed the orchestra in residence at the Anderson Center, which is located in Anderson Township, and is performing a four concert performance series their throughout the 2009/2010 season. Coming up next on the schedule for this series is a performance of various pieces from Verdi and Puccini . This concert will take place on March 21. The next concert in the series will take place on June 6th and will be a collection of pieces from Schoenberg and Gershwin.

Have you seen the movie 50 First Dates with Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler? It is so hilarious, and sweet and cutsie all at the same time! It must have been hard to think of new things to do every day! I love Drew, but I don’t know if I could stand under all the pressure, even for her! First dates can be extremely tricky. If you are on the island of Hawaii, like Adam Sandler was, then you are in luck! Honolulu magazine has put together a best of list for you. Scour the articles and find the perfect restaurant and activities that will impress your date. If you are not the one choosing, look anyway! This may give you an idea of what to expect, or if he plan wasn’t so great, you can come up with a quick suggestion! Top picks include the Contemporary Museum with its beautiful gardens and lunch at a local resort. It is easy to make a first date in Honolulu seem like a mini vacation .

The Contemporary Museum of Honolulu holds art from the 1940’s to the present. Its dedication to modern and contemporary art is the only of its kind. Inside there is a small cafe with delicious food that can be packaged up nicely into a picnic basket and taken out to the garden.

If Contemporary Art is not your cup of tea, try snorkeling. This is a great way to show off your outdoorsy side and since you are wearing a mask, you don’t have to worry about stale conversation! Be sure to warn your date in advance so she can switch to waterproof mascara. After snorkeling you may want to skip the sushi. Many people have trouble dipping those beautiful fish in soy sauce five minutes later! The adventures on the island are endless and are sure to make a lasting impression on both you and your date.

We considered stopping for the night in Laramie, Wyoming, but when we drove through the town, Laramie turned out to be one of those no-nothing places that charges and arm-and-a-leg for a hotel room, because they are exactly a no-nothing place. So, instead, we headed onward to Colorado. Colorful Colorado to be exact. When we crossed the border from Wyoming into Colorado, within minutes the land seemed to change, rich greens, yellows and deep reds of the earth sprung up under the azure blue of the sky. It almost felt like we entered a different country. We’ve been to Colorado before, but didn’t notice the lush, rich colors before. It’s probably because we just left an all white, snowy Wyoming.

We pulled into Fort Collins and we were instantly charmed by the town. Colorado State University is located here, so that probably has something to do with the charm. We asked around for a nice place to stay at a reasonable price, and most everyone recommended the place I linked to. The hotel was reasonable and very accommodating. After getting a good nights rest, the next morning we had a bit of time, so we went walking around.

Fort Collins seems to have figured out how to be apart of the great American dream. We could tell that the quality of life here is exceptional and laid-back. Fort Collins, due to the University scene, has a youthful and energetic vibe. People passed us by on bike, or with small tandems attached to bikes with their offspring. They all smiled at us and waved. Everyone seemed so happy here, so content. There were plenty of students studying in coffee shops and plenty of eateries bustling with the morning crowds. Too bad we had no time to really explore this wonder town, we had to make it into Denver for a business opportunity, but, we decided we’ll drive back up here afterwards and spend a few more days here. Fort Collins is a true find.

Some cities are known for film, such as Hollywood, California, and Austin, Texas, while others are known for skiing, such as Vail and Aspen, Colorado — while a few places in the world are known for both, such as Telluride, Colorado. Many of the films you might see at movie theaters nationwide received their start at film festivals. Last year (2009) at Telluride, the following films were exhibited: Bright Star, Coco Before Chanel, The Door, An Education, The Last Station, The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant, Up in the Air, and The White Ribbon. All of these films have been nominated for Academy Awards.

The Telluride Film Festival began in 1974, thirty-six years ago, and is run by the National Film Preserve. It’s held each year on Labor Day weekend, and is composed of forgotten classics and films that making their North American and or world-wide premiere. The festival honors directors and actors who have altered the film world in some fashion. During the festival, six specific events occur: For passholders and celebrities, there is a free buffet dinner and drinks on Telluride’s main street, known as the Opening Night Feed. There is a Filmmaker Dinner, held in a private home on the eve of the festivities in order to welcome the filmmakers and actors in attendance. There’s the Patron’s Brunch, a party for the four to five hundred patron passholders at Skyline Ranch, where the patrons may mix with the directors other celebrities. Next, we have the Filmmaker Reception, also a private mixer in the middle of the festival in order for the sponsors of the event and the filmmakers to talk. There’s a Mid-Festival Gathering, too, of VIPS and celebrities, also held in a private home. Finally, there’s as Labor Day Picnic, held in the town park, which offers amazing sights of the San Juan Mountains .

The 37th Telluride Film Festival is scheduled for September 4th through the 7th, 2010. If you’re planning a trip to Colorado around those dates be sure to book a room early , and enjoy a number of films before anyone else has a chance to see them. In the past, you could have had a chance to see these films before anyone else: Sling Blade, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Juno, Into the Wild, The Last King of Scotland, The Crying Game, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Swingers, Rushmore, Lost in Translation, Brokeback Mountain, Capote, and Slumdog Millionaire. You would also have had the chance to see such film notables as Gloria Swanson, JackNicholson, Clint Eastwood, Laura Linney, Jodie Foster, Werner Herzog, Francis Ford Cooppola, Pedro Almodovar, Ken Burns, and Robert Altman.