There’s always a first for everything and the Wimbledon 2010 Championship has also come up to the net with The All England Club’s announcement of the Championships’ first official poet. Poet Matt Harvey is officially poet-in-residence at Wimbledon . If you thought Wimbledon was already too highbrow, don’t worry, because Matt Harvey’s musings will entertain and bring The Wimbledon Championships into a completely different light. Harvey will be producing a poem a day from now until the opening day of the Wimbledon Championship, June 21st till closing, July 4th, 2010. This appointment was the result of Wimbledon’s venture to connect up with The Poetry Trust.

Matt Harvey, who is a regular guest on Radio 4′s Saturday Live with his own mini-series ‘Very funny, very satirical’, and in the past couple of years, has written the Desktop Poetry section in the Guardian. According to the Guardian, Harvey is a great stand-up comedic poet who got his start at the New Writers Festival at Plymouth Theatre Royal back in 1992, and how it was about time, after 15 years on the circuit, that he finally published his first ‘proper’ poetry book – ‘The Hole In The Sum OF My Parts’. Harvey will create poems that will, naturally, be about the upcoming tennis Championship and his verses will be published online at The Poetry Trust’s website. He first Wimbledon poem is titled ‘Grandest of Slams’. His verse will cover the gambit about anything from the grass, the roof and the rain. Check with the Wimbledon schedule or look for Harvey’s Tweets to catch his latest poem.

If you’re planning to attend the Championships, Harvey will be reciting his poems to the people waiting in the queues to enter the club. The new Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum , which was the original instigator for appointing an official Wimbledon poet, believes this will provide an interesting and novel way to bring to the millions of tennis-loving public, a unique interpretation of the Championships.

Perhaps the best part of the open will be the grand slam events where people get really fun and funky with their fashions, with everything from sequins to the tiniest skirts imaginable that might have caused some scandal back in the heyday of tennis when things were pretty proper. The colors are vibrant and just about everyone shows up at the courts where players are hoping to take the title during their last matches. Perhaps the coolest of them is Rafael Nadal and his bandanas that he has such a passion for, seen currently at the Australian Open. However, so far during the matches, things have toned down considerably in comparison to other years where the stakes were high both for a good tennis scores and a cute skirt.
Other ways in which tennis players try to mix it up on the tennis courts are seen in the likes of Roland Garros who loves to wear bright orange tops with plaid shorts during his games filled with fantastic Tennis Scores. Such combination in real life might not work, but on the tennis courts anything goes as you will be able to see during the Australian Open Tennis games.
Pehaps the look that caused the most scandal in the tennis world when it first arrived on the scene was the sleeveless look. Tennis was once an uptight sport full of rules and regulations, which though they still exist, are countered by the clothes its players can be seen in. Both men and women favor this look, and frankly, it is often a practical decision, especially when the weather is extremely hot. Though people show up for the games at the and other opens in the past, it is the fashion that is the cherry on top.

It is estimated that almost three million tourists will descend on the cities and the towns surrounding Johannesburg next June, for the sixty four soccer matches that make up the whole of the 2010 World Cup.  The television audience for the final games alone is expected to reach upwards of twenty eight billion people from around the world.  All with their eyes not only glued to the games, but on the country of South Africa as well.  This is going to provide opportunities for the large businesses, the entrepreneurs, and the small businesses and boutique hotels.  South Africa has been developing and growing since the end of apartheid, but this will speed up that process tremendously and provide new opportunities for new ideas and local companies.

Some of the commercialism has been regulated, that having anything to do with the Cup itself, with restrictions being placed on the advertising, and the sales and marketing, however there are still many openings for the local companies and businesses to boost the sales of their goods and/or services.  The government is not getting too involved in the sector of the larger financial systems and companies,  as they will perhaps understand better how to take advantage of the opportunities for economic growth, aside from ensuring that the larger companies will support the small ones.

They do plan to intervene in the smaller companies run by people with less experience or those who have been marginalized.  One way in which they will help the smaller informal businesses is by providing them with the means to electronically process transactions, ensuring that the tourists will be able to use their credit cards.  The ripples that will be caused throughout the country when the tourists start arriving will serve to boost all, from the entertainment industry, to the arts and crafts markets, and even the health service industry.  And the hope is that this sort of growth will continue even after the games have ended, as the international audience will see that South Africa truly is a great place to visit.

According to a 2006 study American workers give back 1.6 million years of vacation time to their employer each year.  And also per 2006 findings, about a quarter of workers in America do not receive paid vacation time.

Comparatively, American workers work two weeks longer than those in Japan and two months longer than Germans, who are reported to sometimes get up to 15 weeks of paid vacation a year.

On average, Europeans get about four weeks of vacation each year.  Only workers in Mexico receive less vacation time than Americans. The country with the most vacation time is Denmark, with 31 days of vacation time.

What is it about Americans and the American worker? Well in corporate environments it’s all a matter of competitiveness. If the top companies only offer one to two weeks of paid vacation time, then certainly companies in that same field will offer the same amount for a similar job or position in that field.

Here’s the thing, Americans are complete workaholics and it’s only getting worse. Most Americans simply can’t relax because they are always tied to their work via their cell phone, blackberry, or I phone. Most people can’t let work lie while they are on vacation and especially with technology these days.

It’s about time that Americans reclaimed their vacation time. Take a trip to Hawaii for goodness sake. But studies show that most Americans feel guilty asking for vacation time so they use their sick time to take personal days or if they have personal obligations.

The American mentality is work hard and play hard. And the output of America compared to Europe is staggering. The Gross Domestic Product of Europe has been grown 2.4 percent in the past five years compared with 5 percent in the United States, and European nations have been looking into changing its vacation policies.

But there is no doubt the American worker needs to chill out too every once in awhile. So take that vacation time, book Lanai vacation packages, and rest and relax people!

There are many activities that take place on the beaches of New South Wales,  Australia.  From the popular venues of the famous surfing hot spots, to the calmer waters of the more secluded and out of the way locations.  Two of the most spectacular ways to experience the city of Sydney and the Beach of Cronulla are by sea and by air.  These are two views that are experienced by only the most fearless and adventurous of people, that of scuba diving–with the sharks, and hang-gliding off the cliffs and over the waters and the beaches.  And then of course taking breaks from the adventures in the restaurants Sydney offers is a great way to rest up for the next trek in the sky, the waters or the wilderness.

Cronulla beach has long been a favorite spot for the locals, and now for the tourists, as one of the best places in the world for scuba diving.  Located close to the dive spots are many differ shops offering gear, and schools offering knowledge and techniques offered at relatively low and affordable prices.  One can not only learn, but become certified as well.  There are many deals offered in Cronulla in terms of accommodation and diving packages, which make the experiences all that more affordable.  And many of the dive spots are the premiere locations for catching glimpses off–and swimming with the grey nurse sharks.  There is a colony of permanent residents here, and although sharks are scary, they are harmless and quite friendly.  However, steps must be taken as this species is on the verge of extinction.  For those just still too timid, the locations off of the National Park and the beach at Jibbon are more serene and are sans the shark accompaniment.

Hang-gliding is also an adventurous way to find new ways of seeing all that the country has to offer.  Between the cities of Wollongong and Sydney there are several famous spots for taking to the skies.  Bald Hill and Stanwell Park attract pilots of this small aircraft from around the world.  The site has actually come to international significance in the history of the sport.  When one takes off from Bald Hill, the surrounding mountain ranges provide a lift in the current of the air stream, and if this sounds frightening, many tandem rides are offered for those wishing the company of a trained and well seasoned pilot.  For both of these adventures, cameras are definitely recommended, for what better way to show to the friends back home that you are after all an adventurous spirit, having portraits taken with sharks and flying high above the country of Australia.

The oldest range of mountains in India is the Aravalli Mountain Range.  Many of those traveling in the country spend some time in the Palace hotel India offers, in order to take full advantage of the trails and the hikes throughout mountains.  This is a section of the outdoors that is a paradise, filled with the beauty that has been attracting travelers and hikers from around the world for many years.  All in this one range one will hike through jungles that are dense and rich with wildlife, lakes, and areas of open meadows.  The range is three hundred miles, stretching from the North to the Sought, in the Western region of the state of Rajasthan.

When one progresses North along the trails the terrain becomes rocky and more isolated.  Ancient folds in the mountains were created during years of erosion.  One while find action and adventure in these mountains, and is well known for the variety of the topography adding to the experience, much in the same way as the diversity of the terrain found in the Grand Canyon of the United States.  As one hikes down through the desert, one experiences the changes and how in one turn of a corner, the scenery will go from brown rocks and gravel to crystal blue water and vines climbing up the Canyon walls.

Mount Abu is located within the range, as well as the temples of the Jain religious sect in Ranakpuri.  There is also a sanctuary for wild life, and the dense jungle trees and plants provide a habitat that supports many species of animals and birds.  There are some areas that have been affected by deforestation, but for the most part the range has been well protected and preserved.  The erosion continues and has resulted in the levels being disturbed enough to affect the rivers, sending them in different directions over time.  Many of the groves or forest located throughout are now protected areas such as Dev Bani, Dev Ouranya, and Askankar Bani.  These are sacred locations, and the mountains themselves are respected by the humans, for the history and the influence they have added to that history of the relationship between the human world and the world of nature.

The city of Manhattan and the people living there are dedicated to the continued developments and improvements made to the parks located throughout the city, and to the city streets themselves.  Some of those projects span one hundred years, as in the constant updating and renovations made in the park along the East River.  One such project has been happening for fifteen years, and that is the planting of trees throughout the city during April.  Million Trees NYC has teamed up with Adrian Bebepe, the commissioner for the city parks, and Gary Bagley, the Exec. Director of the organization called New York Cares.

The goal is that, within the next decade, one million trees will be planted, putting back twenty percent of the natural forests that were removed throughout the history of the city and creating not only a more pleasant atmosphere, but a more healthy one as well.  Healthy for the souls and healthy for the bodies of all those living and working in the businesses, the city streets, and the small hotels.  New York citizens are well known throughout the world, as those most willing to come together when their city or any of her people are in need of help and this occasion was no different.

More than 5,000 people were out last month, all volunteers, located throughout the city’s parks, tending to the landscaping there, while another 1,300 people planted trees throughout the city.  In one day, twenty thousand trees were planted.  In one day!  That is the number of trees that are in Central Park, an amazing feat and an inspirational one as well.  In the Bronx, citizens planted fifteen hundred trees in Claremont park.  Brooklyn’s Spring Creek Park received two thousand trees.  Staten Island was not left out, as two thousand more were planted there.  On this one day, not only were the trees planted and tended but other areas of the city were as well.  Many volunteers worked fixing up the city’s paths, spreading mulch in the gardens of the parks, and painting fences.

In the beginning of 1999, an organization was launched at the South African National Gallery, just around the corner from many of the five star Cape Town hotels and businesses.  A speaker from Ghana, Dr. Ruth Omabegho, gave the inaugural speech for this anticipated event.  The organization launched that day was the Bead Society of Southern Africa.  Much attention has been given to the group over the years as far as coverage by the local and international media, there are more artists requesting to join the group each and every day, from all over the country.  The Museum has been collecting, exhibiting and researching the indigenous art work of beads beginning in the early 1980′s and continuing now to the current times.  This was a motivating factor in the creation of the society.

The working of beads is the means by which the women of the country express themselves artistically.  They have been doing this for the past three hundred years.  This is significant to the political history and the constant transformation that the societies of South Africa have been going through, as well as for the women and their part in the history, socially culturally and artistically.  This is not the only bead society in the world.  They exist in Hungary, Great Britain, Russia and the United States.  In the States there are more than fifty such organizations.

This is the first one for the country of South Africa however, there is one that is located in Ghana, but it does not focus on the wide variety of traditions and those unique qualities that set the bead-work of South Africa apart from that done elsewhere in the world.  This society also has goals to create a networking system between the workers, and the researchers, students, archaeologists and collectors.  Activities are scheduled throughout the year, and the society publishes a paper that outlines events and provides resources for those not living within the city.  The bead-work can be found throughout the markets of Cape Town and during the festivals, and is one of the truly special characteristics of this beautiful South African city.

We are a month away from the French Open, the 2ndof four annual Grand Slam international tennis tournaments. This competition in Paris is the most challenging to players who rely on a strong serve (think Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, neither of whom has ever won the French Open, due to the clay courts, which slow down the ball and cause a higher bounce than grass courts. Running from May 24th to June 7th, this prestigious event offers many promising performances.  Britain’s top-ranked 21 year-old sensation, Andy Murray, is coming off an impressive showing in Monte Carlo.

Another strong contender, the Serbian Novak Djokovic, has risen quickly since he began playing tennis professionally in 2004, and is powerful and consistent on clay courts. But the drama and excitement of 2009′s tourney will likely belong to the match-up between the world’s number 1, Switzerland’s Roger Federer, and number 2, Rafael Nadal of Majorca, king of the clay court.

The women’s competition is anyone’s game. Some say it is Serbian Ana Ivanovic’s to win, but she has a tendency to lose the game in her head, and she will meet strong competitors in Venus and Serena Williams. In 2008, Serena won the US Open and Venus won Wimbledon. Though expectations for her performance were high, Russian Maria Sharapova’s shoulder problems may eliminate her as a contender.

Whether a newcomer or a veteran comes away with a win, the 2009 French Open promises to be a great battle on the clay.