The Thai New Year known as Songkran takes place between 13th and 15th April and this year residents will again be following tradition and pouring water over each other as a means of bringing good luck. The customs are drawn from the traditions of pouring water over a statue of the Buddha to clean it for the beginning of the year. The run off would then have been collected as this is seen as holy water and today it's still poured over people to bestow blessings on the recipient. Nowadays these traditions have developed into something altogether more boisterous with people ...

MIG Real Estate, a Newport Beach, Calif.-based real estate investment company formerly known as Stoneridge Capital Partners, has completed the acquisition of the 177-room Courtyard Marriott Downtown Edmonton in Alberta. This transaction marks the firm's fourth hotel acquisition within the past 12 months and its first outside of its primary target markets in the Western U.S. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. "This acquisition expands our direct holdings beyond the U.S. border and lays the foundation for MIG to enter new markets as we grow and diversify our portfolio." ...

Redtail Telematics enhances an already feature rich Fleet Management System (FMS) with the ability to capture rapid acceleration, harsh braking and excessive rotation data from vehicles without connecting to the vehicle's On Board Diagnostics (OBDII) port. Identifying harsh braking and rapid acceleration habits provides fleet managers with the data to improve driving behavior and reduce fuel consumption. Minimizing excessive rotation and harsh braking maximizes the overall life of a vehicle due to less wear and tear on your fleet, as well as reducing the costs of damaged ...

It's certainly not a new concept to treat others as you would expect to be treated. But it's a core value on which Ian Harris, Search Laboratory Ltd CEO has built his company, and so far, it's been rather successful. Recently winning Best Employer, awarded by the Best Business Awards, Search Laboratory is thrilled that its simple approach - honesty and respect - has won the hearts and minds of its employees. Search Laboratory's commitment to the well being of its employees has undoubtedly facilitated its growth and success. From 2008 - 2010 the company has more than ...

Criminal defense law firm Naderi & Weinrieb, a team of highly skilled and experienced criminal defense attorneys, is providing legal representation for individuals charged with domestic violence crimes in Van Nuys, CA and throughout the San Fernando Valley. Properly defending against domestic violence charges requires experienced criminal defense counsel to achieve the best results for a client. Naderi & Weinrieb have gained wide recognition for providing the highest caliber of criminal defense representation. Domestic violence allegations are serious matters and ...

Chicago based Insurance Navy President, Fadi Sneineh, revealed yesterday that 'the continuing erratic behavior in the auto insurance rates is creating some confusion to Chicago car insurance customers. In some instances, there is a different auto insurance rates on each corner of some streets of Chicago.' Competition is the leading cause. This phenomenon can hurt some consumers, but those who sometimes and do their shopping homework can benefit significantly from the fluctuations in the auto insurance rates in Chicago. The insurance business in the Chicagoland area is ...

The PC-60D2 Pediatric Pulse Oximeter (available from www.PulseOximetersPlus.com) measures SpO2 (percentage of oxygen saturation in the blood) and pulse rate of children with accuracy and ease. The PC-60D2 offers a special design and chipset technology specifically manufactured for a kid's finger. It uses a customized pediatric oximetry sensor adjusted for children's skin to ensure accurate readings. Small and compact, it provides complete oximetry solutions while still able to fit in your pocket. "It is of the greatest importance to parents to be able to monitor their ...

American Brick Company (Ambrico), recently presented on the increasing popularity of brick veneer in both homes and commercial construction projects at its newly opened showroom in Warren. According to the company, brick veneer installations are being requested by more and more contractors who are looking for both durable and "green" alternatives to traditional bricks. Brick veneer is made up of anywhere from 40%-100% of recycled materials, making it both environmentally friendly and more affordable when compared with traditional clay bricks. Ambrico reported that brick ...

Sylvan Lake, MI: Niche Retail, a Magento Enterprise solutions partner, has announced the launch of several successful Magento sites, thanks to the company's utilization of the Magento ecommerce platform. The Magento platform, an open source ecommerce platform currently powering more than 90,000 online merchants, makes its applications available to both individuals and Enterprise Partners like Niche Retail, giving them full access and support. This allows companies like Niche Retail to develop fully customizable themes and solutions and Magento specialty sites. The company ...

1. Chef Michael Bennett - where do you get your culinary inspiration? Life around me..... Remembering the times when I was fortunate enough to live and work in the Caribbean. I always build new recipes upon what I have learn in the past. It is my grounding. Always looking for some new twist on reliable favorites is my passion. Especially when we are talking about seafood. It is so clean tasting, healthy and everyone loves it cooked in a Caribb-ican way. Caribb-ican= is restructuring or developing a new twist on recipes that have a basis of ingredients that are ...

Getting into a car accident can be a stressful and emotional experience. Not only do you have to deal with physical injuries that may result in permanent disability, but you also have to go through the messy process of submitting an insurance claim. While this process is important in order to provide you with appropriate compensation, it can be a long and laborious experience to determine who was at fault for your accident. If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, even if you think it may be your fault, do not admit that at the scene. Investigation may reveal ...

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time for a general dentistry checkup. Starting the year off with a great oral hygiene plan will help you continue to keep your smile healthy and beautiful. Routine visits to your general dentist will prevent many dental problems such as: - Cavities - Gum disease - Tooth decay - Misaligned teeth - Missing teeth - Discolored teeth Buildup of bacteria, plaque, and tartar on your teeth and gums can wreak havoc on your beautiful smile. Bacteria can buildup under your gum line and start the beginning phases of gum disease. ...

Civil Unions to be Recognized in Illinois On January 31st, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into a law a bill recognizing civil unions. The new law -- which takes effect on June 1, 2011 -- grants partners in civil unions the same benefits and responsibilities that married spouses have under Illinois law in spite of the fact that a civil union is not considered a marriage. Although the bill has been hailed as a victory for gay rights groups, straight couples may also file to have their relationship recognized as a civil union. The process for obtaining a civil union ...

Georgetown County Implements New South Carolina Juvenile Justice Model Two prominent South Carolina criminal justice officials, Bill Byars, the new head of the S.C. Department of Corrections and former Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) director, and State Law Enforcement Division Director Reggie Lloyd, recently called for the state to make better use of the full range of government resources in cases involving young people accused of juvenile crimes. If key players such as DJJ Circuit Solicitors and social workers cooperate and share information, they can better understand ...

Law Enforcement Uses High Profile Tactics Against Drunk Drivers Recently law enforcement agencies across Central Florida have conducted high profile DUI saturation patrols in an attempt to reduce drinking and driving in the region. Last weekend, the Maitland Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Department hosted an operation where suspected drunk drivers could be tested at the scene, instead of at the police station. This is an example of "no refusal" strategies, which are directed at drivers who seek to prevent police from finding them intoxicated at ...

K-1 Visas: Hire an Attorney to Avoid Delay and Denial Gerard Ungerman, a French-born documentary filmmaker who has called the United States his home for more than two decades, is being denied entry back into the country because his K1 fiancee visa application has been denied, reports KHS TV. Ungerman had been working to get a K1 fiancee visa since 2009 and was told in the spring of 2010 that he had been approved; he was reportedly told he needed only to do a final interview and pick up paperwork at the U.S. Consulate in Paris. What began as a three-week visit to his ...

Tragic Death Demonstrates Danger of Unsafe Medical Products The sad death of a 2-year-old who acquired bacterial meningitis from recalled alcohol pads used in a hospital shows the danger of defective medical products. People who have suffered harm from unsafe medical devices or the families of people fatally injured by defective medical devices may have legal claims against the manufacturers and suppliers of the products in products liability lawsuits. Toddler Dies After Meningitis Infection Houston 2-year-old Harrison Kothari was in the hospital recovering from ...

Maryland Workers' Comp Case Helps Clarify When to Measure State Average Weekly Wage After being injured on the job, one worker began a legal odyssey spanning several years. The legal battle, however, was not a matter of whether or not the worker was injured -- the Workers' Compensation Commission determined that the worker was, awarding the worker total disability and permanent partial disability benefits for greater than 75 weeks but less than 250 weeks -- but rather a fight regarding when benefits should be measured. According to the Maryland Labor and Employment ...

Changes Needed to Deal with Truck Driver Fatigue Last fall, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released their official findings for the causes of a devastating trucking accident that occurred outside of Miami, Oklahoma, in June 2008. The truck accident took 10 lives and injured five others. The collision occurred when the truck driver failed to notice that traffic had come to a stop on I-44 and ran into the back of an SUV at 69 miles per hour. The semi-truck then overrode three additional vehicles, causing them to hit other cars. In its findings, the ...

Winter Roads Especially Dangerous for Colorado Drivers A car accident that killed two teenagers and seriously injured two others demonstrates the hazards of driving on snow- and ice-covered roads in Colorado. In a state known for its snowy and mountainous terrain, it is important for Denver residents and other Colorado drivers to be especially cautious when driving during winter. Tragic Auto Accident In Jefferson County, an accident involving two vehicles took the lives of two teens and injured several others. The driver of a car traveling north on Highway 93 ...

Raleigh DWI attorney Patrick Roberts of the Roberts Law Group PLLC secured a DWI dismissal for a client by listening to his client and aggressively advocating for his client's rights. The case presented a unique fact pattern that involved an injury years prior to being pulled over on suspicion of a DWI violation. In the past, the client was involved in a car accident and suffered severe injuries which subsequently required three surgeries. Those surgeries left him with lingering complications, including difficulty walking. On the night that Mr. Roberts' client was ...

Teplis Travel, a leading corporate travel agency, is helping clients save on travel costs despite recent international trends toward increased airfares and other corporate travel related expenses. Some of the factors affecting these increases in corporate travel expense include turmoil in the Middle East, additional travel processing fees, new taxes, accommodation rate hikes, and baggage charges. However, to keep client's costs low, Teplis has developed unique programs with many cost saving benefits such as offering a single global platform solution, higher online adoption ...

Bupa International has announced the launch of its free online health assessment. The assessments are part of the Bupa International's new health section on its website, which has more than 50 factsheets and a series of health theme pages which include articles and videos explaining medical issues. The online health assessment is designed to help users find the answers to any health-related questions they may have. The health assessment will ask the user a series of questions to help understand their medical and lifestyle risk factors. At the end users will receive ...

Tesco Clothing has revealed the official Climate Week (21-27 March) T-shirt, featuring an exclusive, limited edition design by the 'patron saints of print', Eley Kishimoto, in aid of the Environmental Justice Foundation. Organic, ethically made and manufactured by wind and solar power, the low carbon T-shirts will be available for men and women exclusively from Tesco clothing, Climate Week's headline partner, for only GBP10. The women's climate week T-shirt and men's climate week T-shirt will be available in time for Climate Week, in-store and online on the Tesco ...

Burton reveals its new trends for the springs/summer season 2011. The big trend this season is Burton's Army Surplus range, which carries on the military details of autumn/winter 2010 but gives it a softer reworking for the warmer months of the spring and summer season. These pieces are designed to make the transition from winter into spring with minimal effort, creating a laid back look that doesn't veer too far from the fashion rule book. The Army Surplus trend features pieces such as waffle knit and cable knit cardigans, vintage style T-shirts, camouflage prints, ...