Maritime Admiralty Law: A Short History

Maritime law is a legal body that regulates ships and shipping. As sea-borne transportation is one of the most ancient channels of commerce, rules for maritime and trade disputes developed very early in recorded history. Modern admiralty law, often called simply admiralty or maritime law, has its origins in the classical Rhodian law. No primary written specimen of the Rhodian law has survived, but it is alluded to in Roman and Byzantine legal codes as well as the customs of the Hanseatic League, the dominant trading power of the Middle Ages and Early Modern eras.

While traveling the eastern Mediterranean on the Crusades with her first husband, King Louis VII of France, Eleanor of Aquitaine discovered a complicated and advanced system of admiralty law. She brought back this admiralty law and administered it upon her people on the island of Oleron. Later, while acting as regent for her son King Richard the Lionheart in England she founded the British system of admiralty law. In England, special admiralty courts handle all admiralty cases. The courts do not use the common law of England.

In this same way, admiralty or maritime law is distinct from standard land-based laws even today. Even within another country's claimed waters, admiralty law states that a ship's flag dictates the law. This means that a Canadian ship in American waters would be subject to Canadian law and crimes committed on board that ship would stand trial in Canada. In the United States the Supreme Court is the highest court of appeals for admiralty cases, though they rarely progress beyond the state level. United States, admiralty law is of limited jurisdiction, so it is up to the judges to assign verdicts based on a combination of admiralty and specific state law.

Because admiralty law is such a complicated set of laws, with a rich history and specific cases and implementation, many lawyers focus specifically on the field of admiralty law. If you have a case that falls into this category, your regular personal attorney may not be able to help. The specific circumstances of admiralty jurisdiction make it prudent, and perhaps necessary, that you hire a specific admiralty lawyer.

The Most Luxurious Boats You (Probably) Can't Afford

Descriptions of the five most luxurious yachts in the world

1. The Eclipse Yacht - The owner of the Eclipse Yacht is Roman Abramovich, a Russian aristocrat. The yacht is approximately 558 feet long and is considered to be the most expensive yacht in the world. It has been reported to cost anywhere between $540 million to $1.1 billion dollars and has exquisite features, including 24 cabins for overnight guests. Additionally, the Eclipse has two separate swimming pools and even a mini-submarine, for the very adventurous. The master suite itself measures 5000 square feet and is located on the highest point of the deck. Boredom is never an issue with the cinema, private garden and library. To keep the family safe while sailing the open seas, the Eclipse is designed to be completely bullet proof.

2. 'A' Superyacht - This yacht is also owned by a Russian aristocrat, Andrey Melnichenko. The cost is rumored to be approximately $323 billion dollars and it measures approximately 390 feet in length. One of the most impressive features of this yacht is the private deck, which measures 80 feet long; designed for the owner's wife who adores sunbathing. The yacht also has a helipad for guests who wish to arrive in style. Inside the master suite and bathroom are pure marble floors. The finishing touches to the A Superyacht include a private lift and staircase.

3. Platinum 525 or The Golden Star - Owned by the Sheikh Mohammed bin-Rashid Al Makhtoum of Dubai, the cost of this yacht is $300 million dollars. Measuring 531 feet, this mega yacht was originally designed in 1996; in 2001, it was purchased by the Sheikh and renamed, the Golden Star. As the name states, the yacht measures approximately 525 feet and has luxury suites for guests. It also features a squash court, health spa and swimming pool. In addition to the excellent amenities, this yacht also has a special suite for the owner and a total of five suites designated for VIPs. The additional guest rooms can accommodate up to 12 comfortably.

4. Pelorus Yacht - Also owned by Roman Abramovich, this $300 million dollar yacht is considered to be a casual luxury, compared to the Eclipse. However, it is still quite outstanding, measuring 377 feet in length. Included in the superb features are the jet skis, swimming pools, conference rooms and 18 suites for overnight guests. The yacht can accommodate a total of 58 people comfortably. As a security measure, the Pelorus comes equipped with a very unique feature, a missile-detecting system and a mini-submarine for speedy escapes.

5. Dilbari Yacht - The Dilbari is owned by Alisher Usmanov, a Russian businessman. Measuring 361 feet in length, the cost is approximately $256 million dollars. Luxuries include swimming pools and a helipad. The 12 guest rooms are filled with spectacular amenities and extraordinary decor. In total, there are five decks so everyone on board can experience a level of privacy if they want to step away from the entertainment and seek a little peace and quiet.

Available rental options

Each of these tremendous works of art can be rented for day excursions or longer periods. But, be prepared to spend a pretty penny for the privilege. For example, the Eclipse can cost approximately $2 million dollars to rent for a week.

Other yachts, like the Platinum 525 or the Pelorus are a bit less expensive, averaging approximately $500,000 to $1 million per week.

The majority of the people who exercise these options consist of celebrities. In fact, when they vacation in places like the Caribbean or the South of France, they often rent super yachts like these to ensure their privacy and to keep the Paparazzi away.

Over the past few years, renting super yachts has become much more popular with celebrities because of the intimate settings and extreme luxury. They also provide the same accommodations as most 5-star hotels, without the intrusions.

For 'Barter' or for Worse, this Trade is Here to Stay!

Mention barter and many people think it was something those ancients did by swapping things for food and vice versa when money wasn't around. Its time to wake up dude! You have been there, done that. You have bartered as kids. Remember those super hero comics you got for the baseball cards your pal didn't have? Well, the news is, barter as a form of business is alive and kicking, and making fast inroads into modern trade.

A standard dictionary defines barter as trading goods or services without the exchange of money. It is conducted between two parties who have products or services that each other need. The key word here is 'need'. In ancient times, if a toolmaker wanted eggs, he could only get them if the egg dealer wanted tools. And if he didn't, the toolmaker very well went without eggs. Or he went right back and clobbered the egg dealer silly with his tools to get those eggs! Err... this latter exchange may not qualify as bartering!

Since antiquity all societies successfully practiced barter as an accepted medium of exchange. In the not so distant past, doctors were being paid in chickens, apples or other farm produce! Then money made its appearance and became the lifeblood of business. And bartering was thought to have died a natural death.

Nothing could have been further from the truth. Bartering thrived all along, albeit on a low key. Take the case of the communist countries during the cold war. Barter often played an important role in trade for them, as their currencies were not readily convertible. Or take the case of Germany after the two world wars. Bartering became their prime means of exchange at the retail level, as currencies collapsed due to hyperinflation. So, barter saved the day for these countries.

Glyn Davies very rightly observes in A History of Money from Ancient Times to the Present Day that "barter has, undeservedly, been given a bad name in conventional economic writing, and its alleged crudities have been much exaggerated". Barter has survived to this day. Why? Simply because people needed it then, as they need it now, only the methods have changed.

In the modern day, the advent of computers not only revolutionized the world, it also facilitated a sudden resurgence of bartering. The tremendous capabilities of this new technology of tracking barter transactions and maintaining huge inventories made bartering an easy and inexpensive form of trading. The spread of barter exchanges, which create markets for traders, has also fueled its spread. Bartering has become serious business and comes under the purview of the income tax and the sales tax departments.

Today, it is amazing to see what all can be obtained through barter... computer hardware and software, household items, jewelry, books, CDs, movies, hotel accommodations, real estate, etc. The list may well be endless! Barter is big business and getting bigger with every passing day.

Bartering is becoming popular because it offers some excellent benefits. It saves cash and increases profits by boosting the bottom line. It strengthens relationships because of closer interaction with barter customers. It generates new business, as barter customers often end up becoming cash customers or rope in others. It helps market business in ways not otherwise possible by attracting certain customers that are otherwise difficult to obtain. It helps to move surplus stock that will otherwise lie unsold. And it has the potential to expand the market area dramatically.

No wonder when considering funding applications, venture capitalists are increasingly evaluating the ability of applicants to barter. That barter is gaining legitimacy as a corporate asset is demonstrated by the many seminars targeting Corporate Finance Officers.

Businesses generally use two types of barter. The one-on-one bartering, which is the true form of bartering involving two parties, and third party bartering that uses some form of currency to allow more dynamic exchange between the parties involved.

If statistics provided by the International Reciprocal Trade Association are anything to go by, barter today is a huge six-billion-dollar business-to-business hit worldwide. And this figure is expected to grow by more than ten percent annually.

If you are not already bartering, you should probably consider it. There are numerous ways to find barter deals online. You can search for online barter websites, join online barter clubs or contribute to bartering newsgroups. If you have your own website, you can set up barter message boards or chat rooms to get barter offers.

For better or for worse, barter is here to stay, making business lucrative to the cash-rich and the cash-strapped alike. Edmund Burke has rightly noted in his speech on the occasion of Conciliation of America in the 1700s that, "All government - indeed, every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act - is founded on compromise and barter".

How to Begin Studying Magic

The art and study of magic is a vast study that can take years, and I get many questions about how people should go about studying this topic. It can be daunting and I understand why people ask this question. In my observation and experience, the best place to begin studying is with the four elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

Because everything in the Universe is composed of the four elements, this study is literally part of everything else you will study in magic. Thus, to start at the beginning, start with the element Air. Air is a safe element to start studying because you can do very little to yourself or others with air. The most you may do is make yourself "spacy" or silly for a while, but Air dissipates quickly so you'll soon recover. For instance, we often start beginner magical practitioners with cloud-moving and weather work. Clouds, being of the Air element, are easy to move with intention and not likely to get anyone in trouble.

Learning how to handle the Air element also helps you develop the skills you will need to handle the more advanced elements of Fire, Water, and Earth. Here is a brief summary of what each of the elements corresponds to:

Air Seeing, breathing, speaking, hearing, planning, thinking, believing, memorizing, communicating, learning, teaching, information, ideas, wisdom, understanding, worry, sensation, awareness, opinions, data, memory, mind.

Fire Energy, power, will, desire, anger, pain, motivation, radiance, passion, initiative, aggression, limitation, endeavor, activity, creative, willingness, urge, inspired, excitable, courage, bravado, compulsion, fanaticism, frustration, resentment, rage, freedom.

Water Emotions, feelings, intuition, compassion, empathy, sympathy, knowing, devotion, quest, aspiration, intention, appreciation, integrity, harmony, beauty, balance, serenity, fluidity, grief, apathy, joy, love.

Earth Strength, money, foundation, endurance, structure, mundane world, serenity of beingness, solidity, boundaries, permanence, land, commerce, products, confidence, loyalty, persistence, stubbornness, fortress, security, anchor, barter, substance, body, base, possessions.

At first, you will want to learn to handle each of these elements with your bare hands, in what we call direct handling. For instance, if you wanted to handle the Air element directly, you could increase or decrease the balance of Air in your body. The simplest way to do that would be to wear white clothing. White is one of the Air element colors, and tends to increase your mental capacity. Other ways of handling Air include pulling in white energy through your hands or "breathing" in white energy.

Once you have become proficient at handling the four elements directly you can move on to using magical tools. Since magical tools, such as the wand, athame, chalice and plate, are extensions of the basic four elements and your own energies, they should be studied and handled only after you develop a working knowledge and understanding of the four elements themselves. The same is true of the more advanced topics of divination, tarot and spellwork, which are directly related to your understanding of the elements.

Nike Snowboarding - Who To Look Out For In 2012

After another exhilarating year in action sports that has seen the emergence of a new set of talent on and off the slopes, we look at the future of snowboarding and who to look out for in 2012. New brands and new talent keep emerging from the powder to provide us with new technology and breath-taking moves to push the sport to the next level.

Many of these riders have come from humble backgrounds and begun to form their careers because of a love for snowboarding, not to win competitions. Many Nike Snowboarding sponsored riders have built up their reputation by living the lifestyle and building upon their undoubted talent by innovating ideas and concepts to produce spectacular videos and iconic moments. These moments capture the viewer's attention and raise the bar for other riders to push the limits of what is possible in snowboarding. Not only are the riders pushed to the limit, the brands are continuously updating equipment to realise the potential of snowboarding. The latest Nike Snowboard is the brainchild of many riders looking for the perfect feel on the slopes, as riders push the limits, brands and technology is also pushed to new extremes.

One of the stand-out stars on the slopes this year was Jess Kimura, who started out producing crazy tricks that no women had ever performed, this risk taking came with a lot of big slams and these were probably more famous that her riding. This all changed when she was featured in Think Thanks 2010 Video, after this she was then renowned for landing these tricks. The accolades then came in abundance and Jess was named Ms Snowboarder Magazines Superpark Standout 2010 and appeared on the cover of Snowboard Canadas annual. These accolades didn't distract from her foundations of producing innovative ideas and lighting up the slopes. Her distinct style of charging riding and personal flamboyance earned her a sponsorship deal with Nike Snowboarding. This deal changed her life as she was previously working in construction and living out the back of her truck, taking snowboarding adventures as often as possible.

These new deals have led to the freedom to explore the possibilities of what women are capable of doing on a snowboard. This has led to the womens snowboarding market becoming a huge success, as technology and innovations continue to push snowboarding to new levels. Jess Kimura is definitely the stand out name to watch in 2012 as not only has she pushed the boundaries but now influences other women and what can be achieved on the slopes. She is quickly becoming the sponsors' go-to woman, as her tricks and style reflect the snowboarding culture of pushing the limits.

Teaching Online - Home Schooling Book Review

If you are considering teaching online, or if you are a homeschooling parent and would like to have your kids learn online while at home then maybe you need to do a little bit of research. Maybe you need to consider what's out there, and the various hybrid courses and technology issues which surround the world of Internet courses and online teaching.

The other day, there was a very interesting article in the Wall Street Journal that discussed why there never needed to be any poor weather days that prevented school. If the inclement weather was so bad that the school buses couldn't run, or the blizzard made it impossible to get to school, then each student could learn at home on their own computer. The article made some compelling arguments, and I found similar points of contention in a book on the subject.

In fact, I'd like to go out of my way right now to recommend this book to you, and it is a book that I do own of my personal library. The name of this book is; "Teaching Online - A Practical Guide" (College Teaching Series - Second Edition) by Susan Ho and Steve Rossen, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA, (2004), 339 pages, ISBN: 0-618-29848-7.

There is a great overview of online teaching and what it's about, and although it is written from the perspective of the institutional educator, it surely helps parents understand what they are dealing with when they choose which courses, online syllabuses, and information they wish their children to read and learn. Teaching in an online classroom is not easy, but those that have the skill and talent to pull it off, are the most desired and sought after instructors.

Why not pick up a copy of this book so you can familiarize yourself with low-tech and high-tech solutions used in Internet education. You can also find discussion forums where you can interact with teachers, and how they use whiteboards, chatting features, and instant messaging to make the online classroom feel at home. Why not learn what the teachers go through when they put together their training programs, and how they prepare themselves for their students.

It seems to me as a parent I want to know how the online teaching system works, what type of software and hardware works the best, and how the teachers are going to interact with my kids. You need to know these things up front, it's very important, and that's why a recommend this book to you. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

How to Make Pumpkin Soup in a Crockpot

If you love the flavor of homemade pumpkin recipes, you can make crockpot soup to save yourself a lot of time. Crockpot cooking means you can leave your meal to cook itself while you are busy doing other things and crockpot recipes always taste smoother and more richly flavored than other dishes.

Pumpkin is a great ingredient to cook in a crockpot because it is naturally sweet and juicy, and crockpot cooking makes it even more so.

Types of Slow Cooked Pumpkin Soup Recipes

You can make spicy crockpot pumpkin soup, sweet crockpot pumpkin soup or another type. Pumpkin is so versatile that you can use it equally well in sweet or savory recipes. There are not many other vegetables you could say that about.

This soup does not have to be defined as sweet or savory and you can have sweet-flavored, savory pumpkin soup, combining ingredients like potato, onion, sugar, cream, and cinnamon. That combination would not work in many other recipes but pumpkin binds the savory ingredients with the sweet ones perfectly.

Recipe for Crockpot Curried Pumpkin Soup

This delicious pumpkin soup recipe can be served as it is, or used as a sauce for chicken, pork or another type of meat. There are spices in this pumpkin soup but the soup comes out very mild flavored, rather than fiery hot.

Garnish the soup with grated cheddar cheese and toasted cashew nuts for a really delicious taste and texture. This canned pumpkin soup recipe is suitable for beginner cooks, because it is so simple, and it makes a great lunch, dinner, or appetizer. This recipe makes enough for six servings.

Slow Cooked Pumpkin Soup with Mild Spices

What you will need:

4 cups vegetable broth 8 fl oz can evaporated milk 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup half and half 1/2 cup Maple syrup (not imitation maple syrup) 1 teaspoon garlic powder 29 oz can pumpkin puree 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon chili powder 2 teaspoons coriander seeds 1/4 teaspoon whole cloves 1/2 teaspoon green peppercorns How to make it:

Toast the coriander seeds, peppercorns, and cloves in a hot, dry skillet. Add the ground spices and toast everything over a high heat for a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the spices start smoking. Remove them from the heat, let them cool down, and grind to a powder using an electric coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle.

Pour the half and half, broth and evaporated milk into the crockpot. Stir the mixture well, cover the crockpot and turn it to high. Put the pureed pumpkin in a bowl with the salt, maple syrup, and powdered spice mixture and whisk to blend everything together.

Add the pumpkin mixture to the crockpot, whisking well so you do not get lumps. Cover the crockpot and simmer the soup for 2 or 3 hours. The soup is now ready to serve.

Is Student Property Insurance Necessary?

Teenagers are living in a brand new world. A world where personal computers, cell phones and other valuable items are attained at a very early age. And all of these pricey valuables are heading off to college with them. In this new digital world where theft has become one of the largest crimes on college campuses, you have to be proactive in protecting yourself and your stuff. That means getting your hands on some quality college property insurance.

Unfortunately, many parents are misled to think their homeowners insurance will cover the losses of their college-bound children. While it's imperative that you do your homework and check the provisions of your policy, chances are your child won't be adequately protected unless you have coverage for personal possessions. That means any personal belongings in a dorm, fraternity/sorority house or apartment are at risk.

College Property Insurance Minimizes the Risk

There are far too many broke and needy college students who will find themselves tempted to get their hands on your shiny new Wii gaming system. And when a party's hopping and the lights are low, they'll have their chance to snag it. Studies show students in dorms, fraternity/sorority houses, and college apartments are at high risk, especially with those expensive electronics and sporting goods. But when you have student property insurance, you may be able to have it replaced without using a cent of your own money.

Where Do You Fit In?

If you're living in a dorm or in on-campus housing, personal property is likely covered through your parents' homeowner insurance policy (typically for up to 10% of your personal property coverage). But before you go putting in that claim, think about this:

• Big or small, a claim is a claim when it comes to property insurance. If you lose your laptop, it can count against you just as much as if your house burns down. Either one can place surcharges on your policy, which leads to an increased premium. Even worse, the more claims you make, the more likely your policy won't be renewed.

• Your deductible will be higher... up to $750 or $1000.

• See if the school carries plans to insure student property. With lower deductibles and a streamlined claims process, your rates and eligibility won't be at risk.

When it comes to off-campus living, property insurance policies may not cover personal property. While many people assume the landlord's policy covers any losses, that's not the case. Only the physical building is covered. And since burglary, theft and vandalism can occur at any moment in your rented home, you'll want to consider some form of personal property protection. And that protection is renters insurance.

What is Renters Insurance?

• If your personal property is lost, stolen or destroyed, Instead of losing thousands of dollars to replace them on your own, renters insurance can pick up the cost of these items. Depending on where you live, off-campus housing renters insurance rates can be obtained for around 50 cents a day or less.

How To Make Money With Antique Maps and Where To Find Old Maps

You may have dreamed as a child in finding a "Treasure Map", such as the one from Treasure Island. Such dreams can come true when hunting for an antique map. With a basic knowledge of history and an interest in finding a deal, one can discover some real "treasures" in old antique maps. There have been maps purchased for a few dollars that were actually worth the price of a house.

Even if you have been on the look out for the Treasure Map for as many years as I, you may not find it. However you may easily double or triple your money when you know what to look for in an antique map.

Finding the right map can sometimes feel like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. You should start your hunt by determining a selection of maps that have sold in the last two years between $500 and $3000. Start to learn about the cartographers and editions of these maps. You will find estimates of the sales of old maps on major auction sites or even on eBay.

The key is knowledge, so you will need to learn as much as you can about the individual maps you are hunting for. I suggest you choose a subject of cartography or a historical period you may interested in learning about. Consider maps made during the American civil war, maps of the Republic of Texas, maps of Scotland if you are of Scottish ancestry or maps of Rome if you went there on honeymoon. For example, your adoptive child is from China then you can concentrate on maps of China. The options are limitless. The idea is that within each field there will be a few fairly rare and desirable maps that can fetch some good money when sold at auction.

When you have become acquainted with the current sale price of your selection of maps you will need to consider condition and editions. By this I mean a specific edition, of a specific year for a map in good condition with no tears, water stains, major repairs and has good color.

By the time you have done the things described above you will have a fair amount of knowledge about the world of antique maps. You will now be starting your hunt. In your hunt you should go to all the consignment shops and thrift stores in your area. Visit antique stores and old book stores and ask to see if they have old maps. By doing this you will get to handle antique maps and get a feel for them.

Afterwards I invite you to go online and start looking for you specific maps on the major search engines and try to find your maps. You should ask your questions about condition and editions before purchasing your maps. Try to buy them at half to a third of the price you saw them for at auction. When you put your maps up for sale at auction you will then be reaping the rewards and your Treasure!