Up in the North Georgia Mountains near Chatsworth, Georgia you will find a state park called Fort Mountain State Park. For a long time now there has been a mystery surrounding the mysterious wall on the top of the large Georgia mountain. The mystery actually got solved a long time ago, as for who built it and why. The officials running the state park don’t want to give up the secrets and make this public information. They rely heavily on visitors coming in through their gates each year and the wall’s mysterious past keeps a lot of them flowing in each year. If they told why the wall was built and who built it; they would probably lose 30% or more from park and camping fees. So officials will be keeping the Fort Mountain State Park secret under their hat for at least a few more years, if not forever.

I can help to clear up one thing about the “moon-eyed people” the Cherokee Indians use to refer to in the 1700′s. These people may have been in the area before the Indian civilizations set up shop in Georgia. However, for anyone who thought these moon-eyed people might be aliens, I can tell you otherwise. Through an extensive research and trying to discover as much information as possible on the moon-eyed people of Fort Mountain state park, I have come to learn why the Indians in North Georgia call these people  moon eyed. The MoonEyed folks living around Fort Mountain in Chatsworth, Georgia was actually a group of folks who had excellent night vision. Not sure if we could consider it better than average or to what extent their night vision powers could reach. They did have better eye-sight than the Cherokees at night and it was the Indians in Georgia who noticed and caught on to their excellent night vision. The Moon-Eyed people in Georgia were simply given their name, because they could see better at night than the Georgia Indians could. I know this might not be an exciting final answer to the mysterious moon eyed people of North Georgia, but this is the factual conclusion.

As for the mysterious wall, I can tell you the story here is pretty boring too. Some did think the wall was a defensive wall and there were a number of groups who could have built it, to defend their self from rival groups over the last 2,000 years. After taking a closer look, you could see the wall wouldn’t be much help for a defensive battle. The wall does offer an interesting design; which pertains to the Sun. It is built in a way, so the rising sun from the East can light up one side of the wall. While the Sun setting in the western sky, the other side of the wall becomes lit up. So, I can tell you the Sun was a big influence in the creation and design of the mysterious Fort Mountain Wall in Georgia.

I will let the park keep some of the secrets associated with the wall in Murray County.  Like who built it and when exactly did they build it? Both of these things are known, but the officials at Fort Mountain State park is not planning to make this public knowledge anytime soon. I would guess a little over 100 people currently know the full story about the wall at Fort Mountain state park in Northern Georgia. Normally 2 people can’t keep a secret for very long, so I would imagine in time, the truth will slip out and everyone can know the full and complete story about this 800+ feet wall in length and never going above 7 feet in height. Now on to more unsolved Georgia mysteries…

If you live in Georgia or plan to travel to Georgia soon, I have a great place you can eat some good seafood. The Marietta Fish Market is a super place with great-tasting seafood and a excellent variety of seafood choices to choose between.

I really enjoy eating here during their lunch hours. You can save a lot of money by eating here during the daytime hours. They don’t give small samples either during their lunch specials. I get more than I can eat at the restaurant and always end up getting a to-go box to take home, so I can enjoy this great seafood later. I love to eat fresh fish and these guys have a big selection to choose from on their fish menu. You will also have a choice of how you want them to cook your piece of fresh fish. I usually will get mine grilled, but their fried fish is good too. The shrimp can be ordered grilled or fried and I recommend a combination platter. Order your favorite kind of fish, you see on the menu and then get a order of fried shrimp or the grilled shrimp to go with it.

I don’t know of anyone who didn’t like eating at this restaurant in Cobb County, Georgia. I live in Cherokee County and don’t mind one bit driving south on Old Highway 5, to get down to the Marietta Fish Market for some good seafood. Have you already ate here before? Please leave your comments and what you thought about this little taste of fresh seafood from the Ocean; that’s located right here in North Georgia. You will have a hard time finding a restaurant that serves bigger portions, better taste, and for such a good price; than this tasty little seafood restaurant in northern Cobb County.

Any golfers planning a trip to Myrtle Beach to hit a few golf balls around; might want to listen to this. There is a website online called 48 hour tee times and they can save you money on your next round of golf. They are currently working with a lot of the area golf courses in and around the Myrtle Beach area in South Carolina. For the golfers who come online and book their tee times in advance by 48 hours or so, can get nice discounts at the golf courses. I don’t live too far away from Myrtle Beach and I do love to play golf. If I see an opportunity in the near future to go play some golf on a weekend getaway to beautiful Myrtle Beach, you can sure bet I will book my tee times in advance. Who wants to pay full prices; when you can save money on golf games by putting your computer to use?

Mini Golf Prices at Full Length Golf Courses

Playing putt putt golf can be a lot of fun, but it is still no comparison to the big boy golf courses. If Myrtle Beach golfers will take the time to book their tee times on the computer, they can play some real 18 hole golf at cheap prices. It may not be quiet mini golf prices, but the bottom line is all golfers can save money by booking 48 hours in advance. If some golf in Myrtle Beach sounds like fun to you, just be sure to check out this website first: www.48hourteetimes.com/  48 Hour Tee Times is ready to get you and your golf clubs on the course, so you can have a reservation to some of the nices places in Myrtle Beach.

The Heather Glen Golf Course, Pine Lakes, Sandpiper Bay, and Azalea Sands are just a few of the golf courses you will see available for reservations and golf discounts. Just by booking your golf times in advance, you can save money off the regular costs, these Myrtle Beach golf courses are normally charging to their golf players. Now you know who to get in touch with, before you visit the next Myrtle Beach golf company.

Miss Universe – Jimena Navarrete

The 2010 Miss Universe is Jimena Navarrete and she calls Mexico home. A lot of things going on in Mexico these days. From a struggling economy to a rising crime rate, that continues to overwhelm the Mexican Authorities working South of the Border.  Hopefully a new ray of sunlight will now be casted down on this Western Nation as their young lady took top honors in the most recent Miss Universe Pageant; which just about every nation on the Planet had a representative.

The new Miss Universe plans to keep Mexico on her mind. She wants to use her new-found fame to help solve the problems of this struggling nation. If anyone can make a difference in Mexico; then I certainly believe Jimena Navarrete can be that person. She will be a great role model for everyone in Mexico. She will also pave the road for the future teens and young ladies of Mexico; who hope to one day wear the crown, as their very own Miss Mexico and now Miss Universe is doing right now. Some may believe beauty pageants are out-of-date and just plain wrong to do. I think when you choose the best woman to sport the crown, like in this case with Miss Mexico, I believe so many positive and good things can come from it. At least a lot more positive possibilities exist; which can easily out number all of the bad things that get associated with the outside beauty of these women, who participate in pageants annually. Congratulations to Jimena Navarrete for being the World’s Miss Universe for 2010!

Are you or someone you know Moving To New York? I’m sure a lot of Americans would like to live in New York, so they could experience life in one of the most popular U.S. states. People who are moving to America from another country, would probably list N.Y. as their first choice to live and work. It wouldn’t seem like there is any more New York real estate to go around and would be tough for a new home owner. I guess this is just the views of an outsider and one that views everyone calling New York City their choice for home. I’m sure in up state New York there is plenty of land to go around and a lot of people would find living space there for them and their family.

For most Americans, going to see the Statue of Liberty is a tradition or something every American needs to do at least once in their life. I haven’t seen Lady Liberty up close and in person, so I would certainly have that on my list of “to do things” before I die or the bucket list. People who are coming from other countries and especially the 3rd world countries, would be in for a big surprise, when they decide to become New York Movers. For them, they would view the Statue of Liberty in a whole new way. Both ways would be in the honor of freedom, but probably more special to a non-American, who may be living in conditions right now, where there freedom is limited.

The New York International Movers would be there for foreign citizens who are planning to make a move to the Big Apple state. Just like all of the other local New York Moving Companies that are ready to assist and help Americans make the move to NY. For anyone who was going to move close to the City, would really need a professional moving company, so they could trust their precious travel items would arrive at the right location. Trying to move everything you own and treasure in life to your new home in N.Y., would be too much stress for any traveler to handle. So do you still want to call New York home? Be sure to get one of their moving companies to help you and your family arrive safely and intact; to the most well-known state out of the 50 America has to offer.

One of the most scenic places to take a nice and relaxing vacation for the whole family; is located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The employees of Carolina Designs are the ones you need to contact to make this vacation become a reality. Get in touch with them and your next travel destination, could have you and your whole family staying at one of these luxurious Outer Banks vacation rentals.

In the Northern Outer Banks and in the county of Dare; is where visitors can find the quiet southern town of Duck, North Carolina. While it may be a hidden treasure from most of the country, the residents who live in Duck year-round, wouldn’t want to live in other part of the world and why would they? Duck, NC offers everything and more to their residents. A booming economy from all the tourists they attract each year, keeps Duck financially going just like any of the bigger cities in North Carolina. However, after all the travelers and visitors leave, Duck once again becomes a quiet little town, for the citizens who call this home.

The SEAHAWK

One of the highlights on your trip, could be choosing to stay at the Seahawk; which is located near the salty waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Finding a place like this for your family on vacation is simple; when you get in touch with the friendly folks from Carolina Designs. They can provide your family with all of the details for this rental property known as the Seahawk in Duck, North Carolina.

Can the Adults and Elderly Enjoy Their Stay at the Seahawk?

Well the kitchen area alone offers a dishwasher, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, electric mixer, blender, and a ice-maker just for starters. The Seahawk includes 5 bedrooms and 2 of these are master bedrooms, so no shortage of places to sleep at night or taking a nap during the daytime hours. If you need to do any ironing, washing, or drying while spending time on the Outer Banks, your stay at the Sea Hawk will include all of these things, to help your clothes stay neat and ready to wear again if needed.  Carolina Designs has thought of everything to insure the adults have all they need to make them feel at home. There is also deck furniture available for those who want to sit or lay around outside of the Seahawk. A grill is also provided for those who want to cookout on the scenic balcony area.

Will the Seahawk Offer Anything for the Kids?

Well there is a 15 x 30 pool, do I need to say anything more? The outdoor pool is only the beginning for your kids and teenagers to enjoy; while staying at the Seahawk. The younger folks will have access to free high-speed Internet, cable TV, an XBOX video game, stereo system, and a game room too! Oh, did I mention the pool table?

The Pool Table at the Seahawk

I believe the pool table would be a highlight for the kids and the adults both. I know I would certainly be spending a little time knocking the balls around on this beautiful pool table; which Carolina Designs is providing for each family that chooses to stay at the Seahawk rental property.

If I haven’t convinced you yet; on why your family should choose the Seahawk on the Outer Banks in North Carolina, let me tell you about a few more things you can expect to find here. Some of the other features will include a hot tub, 10 television sets, 3 VCR’s, 2 DVD players, a video library, and access to a place to play volleyball! You will get all of these things, plus you will have easy access to Duck Village. No matter what age you are or how big your family is; you will have everything you need, if your next vacation includes a trip to the Sea Hawk in North Carolina!

We still have some hot days left in 2010; which has already been one of the hottest summer seasons on record. The current heat wave is a sad reminder that summer doesn’t ever last for long. At least it doesn’t seem to ever last as long as we would like it to. I have many things I wanted to accomplish this summer and have only scratched the surface so far. I plan to get out of the house on Friday and start making a dent into some of these summer time goals I had planned for this year.

Most families have taken their summer vacations already or are currently staying in a Myrtle Beach hotel this week or some other exotic beach hotel next to the ocean. I wished my family would have went to the beach this year for a vacation. I love the ocean and going to the beaches in Florida or around the Carolina coast, to a place like Myrtle Beach, is an easy travel from my North Georgia home. I have been to Myrtle Beach a few times and it never gets old. I haven’t been recently, so I need to find out about the new things in and around Myrtle Beach this year. I found one website online; which offered some great information about this vacation destination and you can go to: http://www.horizonmyrtlebeach.com and get some solid information, if you’re thinking about this part in the Southeastern USA.

Did you and your family already make a trip this year? Where did you travel to in 2010; for the place you thought would be the best place for a family vacation this summer? I would love to hear the highlights of your trip and if everything went as planned.

I will say this about the families who wait until the last minute to go on their summer vacations. You can save a lot of money, by choosing a vacation week later in the season. Most families still try to go before school starts back, so usually the prices are still the same. For older adults, who don’t have or bring children with them on their summer vacations, they can wait until the school bells ring again in the fall, for them to head out on an affordable trip. Most hotels, restaurants, and other tourist spots on the itinerary will lower their prices after the school year begins. Even the Myrtle Beach best hotels will cut room prices for their guests; who make reservations for the last days of summer or during the fall season.

So some of us may have frowns now and hate to see summer coming to an end, but for those who haven’t taken their yearly vacations yet. They continue to count down the days; until they can say good bye to their bosses and leave their jobs for a week. Summer hasn’t ended yet. Now is the time to enjoy these long daylight hours and make the best of what we have left in the summer of twenty ten!

Judging by the picture of Wildcat Creek in North Georgia, this would seem like a good place to go swimming. A big rock that has water constantly flowing over it, would make a great natural water slide. I’m sure a lot of people go swimming here in the hot Georgia summers.

Have you ever been to Wildcat Creek in North Georgia? Please let me know your thoughts on this area and if it is still open to the public. I wouldn’t mind taking a crack at this water slide; which Mother Nature has provided for us. This area in Georgia looks like a good place for picnics or a weekend camping trip. I’m not sure if anyone is looking over this area or if its monitored in any way. It’s not often you find a waterfall that you can actually slide down. This looks to be like one of those great natural water slides. I am also curious to know how many deep pockets of water are located on this Georgia creek. I might just have to bring the fishing rod and the swimming trunks to this beautiful creek in North Georgia. Please help with any information you have heard about or know about Wildcat Creek in Georgia.

The extreme heat conditions most of the United States is currently suffering from, is leading more families to the beaches. The ocean vacations have always been a top destination for travelers, but perhaps they are even more popular this year.

You can’t beat all of the fun you and the kids can have at an ocean beach. Not to mention the beach is free to use anytime and it makes an ocean vacation even more affordable. I like all of the past ocean vacations I have been on. There is just something about the sound of the ocean and the non-stop breezes that make a ocean vacation seem like the best spot in the world.

Man’s natural history is strongly connected to the ocean. You get a sense of nature and being some where you belong; when you walk along the beach front. At least I get the sense nature is talking to me; when I have spent time around the crashing waves and sandy beaches.

It really just isn’t a vacation, if you don’t have the presence of an ocean near by. The ocean makes the vacation and so much beauty around it. There has to be some reason that forces people to drive hundreds of miles each year, just so they can experience the powers of the ocean. If you have never seen or been to the ocean in person, you must find a way to go; while you’re still young enough to enjoy it. People who can’t swim will be a little terrified being so close to such a big body of water. I understand these concerns, but even these folks need to see the ocean at least once in their life.

You will never forget your first time seeing the ocean. Unless you live near one or grew up with the ocean in your life. For those who don’t live near the beautiful blue waters, you will be amazed the first time you see it. It’s even hard to drive the car, if you’re forced to drive when you first get a glimpse of the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans. As far as the eye can see, you will be able to see water. You will understand why so many people in the early history of man, thought the world ended, where the ocean line touches the sky. It does seem like you could fall off of the Earth, if you traveled out as far as your eyes are allowing you to see. I can’t even imagine the first groups of people who made this origianl journey to the ocean’s edge. Obviously now we know the ocean doesn’t end and it just keeps going for miles and miles.

Your first trip to the ocean will probably not be your last. Once you see the ocean, you will want to see it again one day. I have seen the ocean about a dozen times in my life and would still like to see it again one day. I just love that first feeling of seeing it. Especially when you have drove a long distance to get there. Your first experience with the ocean is like none other. I can’t even think of anything to compare it to, since the ocean is one of the greatest, natural beauties our world has to offer. Seeing the ocean up close and personal is nothing like seeing it on television. The TV doesn’t give the ocean it’s full justice of scenic amazement and everyone should visit the ocean just once in their lifetime. You can make 2010 the year and plan out a ocean vacation, before the warm days of summer are over.

Your normal weekend trip with the fellas to the woods or a campground is not the same for someone who goes camping to look for gold. I have recently got gold fever and I am now searching everywhere for the shinny metal. I can’t wait to plan out a camping trip, so I can spend a lot of time looking for some gold nuggets, gold flakes, and the gold dust; which is scattered all over North Georgia. A gold miner’s camping trip is a little different, since we know we will be getting wet. A normal camper brings a waterproof clear tarp  or one of those blue tarps, so they can be protected from the rains Mother Nature might decide to drop down from the skies. A gold miner stays wet with all of the panning and prospecting; that takes place near the rivers and creeks on their camping trips. We expect to get wet; while other campers try to prevent it with rain gear and canvas tarps.

Water is one of the attractions to any good campsite. Any camper wants to find a good spot near a lake, mountain stream, or a nice raging river winding through the forest, in some remote part of your state. Water is an important part to any camping trip that is planned to take place over an extended amount of time. You want the wet stuff to cook with and to keep things around the campsite clean. So the regular weekend campers and those campers who gold on gold-finding missions, do want to be as close as they can to a water source.

Camping is more than just spending time with nature. Campers often like to hunt and fish while they’re taking a break from the hectic and everyday world we live in today. A hunter will need water to clean a fresh kill and obviously a camper who fishes will need some deep water areas to satisfy their desire to land the big one. Keeping the water away from dry clothing, our sleeping areas, and other places is the goal of every camper. The gold miners don’t use their custom made tarps as well as the typical group of campers, who place their tarps in key areas to prevent things from getting wet. I guess because we walk around a lot in wet clothes and even our boots and socks get soaked and we just keep going. As long as there is gold to find in “them thar hills“, we don’t mind getting wet to find it. Did you get wet on your last camping trip?

On Sunday afternoon, many of us gathered around the TV to watch the MLB All Star Selection Show on our 4th of July afternoons. The sports special on TV showed us all of the American League and National League starters and reserves that will be playing in California on July 13th; in the Major League Baseball game we know as the All Star Game. Baseball is one of the best all star events in sports. I still prefer the NBA All Star Weekend over them all, but baseball ranks right up there.

I love the Futures Game; which will be held next Sunday and will be on TV for us baseball fans to watch. We get treated to the Century 21 Home Run Derby on Monday; which will be July 12th. I really wanted to see the Braves Jason Heyward in this year’s home run derby, but it doesn’t look like that will happen now. Since the Braves rookie outfielder is recovering from a slight strain to his thumb; which has placed him on the DL or disabled list. His injury is not as severe as the Phillies second basemen Chase Utley is and I am hearing surgery for his thumb.

Finally on Tuesday, baseball fans all over the world get treated to the Mid Summer Classic. Since this year’s All Star Game will take place in Anaheim; where the Angels baseball team plays their home games, we will see a daylight baseball game. The baseball game will be filled with stars, but it just won’t take place under the stars. I’m sure the sun will set in the later innings and the end of the game will be played in the beautiful night air out in Anaheim, California.

Votes are still coming in for the final roster spots to each team’s all star squads. MLB fans can still vote on a few selected players and two will get voted in as the last man to make the All Star Game for each team. So you can still make a difference, if you will exercise your right to vote. Let’s check out the candidates for each side and tell me which player you would like to see the most in the 2010 All Star Game in Anaheim.

National League Choices for Last Player

1. Billy Wagner – Atlanta Braves

2. Carlos Gonzales – Colorado Rockies

3. Heath Bell – San Diego Padres

4. Joey Votto – Cincinnati Reds

5. Ryan Zimmerman – Washington Nationals

American League Choices for Last Player

1. Paul Konerko – Chicago White Sox

2. Delmon Young – Minnesota Twins

3. Michael Young – Texas Rangers

4. Kevin Youkilis – Boston Red Sox

5. Nick Swisher – New York Yankees

These are the MLB players on the ballots for the last All Star roster spots to be added to the American and National League teams in the 81st All Star Game. You can vote now for which player you would like to see for each side. Since the All Star Game does count now, you may won’t to vote on the worse choice for each side. If I was an American League baseball fan, I would vote for Billy Wagner of the Atlanta Braves. He would have the least amount of chance of causing harm to your American League team. If the American League wants to keep their winning streak alive, the A.L. fans should vote for Billy Wagner of the Braves for that last N.L. roster spot.

Braves Closer Billy Wagner

On the flip side, if I was a National League fan, I need to vote for the worse player on the American League ballot for the last player. I would be glad to do that, but I really don’t know which player is the worse. I really like Nick Swisher, but really don’t want to see another Yankee in the All Star Game. So no votes for Swisher, even though I like him best as a baseball fan. No need to help the Red Sox nation with another vote for one of their players, so I won’t vote for Kevin Youkilis. I guess Delmon Young of the Twins; who is a great player, would be the best choice for National League voters to choose, so they could help the N.L. All Stars win this year.

Vote Delmon Young for the worse player possible. American League voters will want to vote for the pitcher Billy Wagner of the Atlanta Braves, because the odds are in the A.L. favor, that Wagner will have no impact to the 81st All Star game in Anaheim, California.

Why was Billy Wagner of the Atlanta Braves, the only pitcher in the final vote for last player in baseball? I know they selected players from the top divisional leading teams, but the Braves do have some better choices for a All Star player. Not sure if it’s still true, but Troy Glaus was leading the National League in RBI’s or runs batted in. The committee could have made a better roster choice for the N.L. side by putting Troy Glaus in the mix. The A.L. votes will love to vote for Wagner and he would be their guy for the last spot in.

MLB fans have until Thursday at 4PM EST to get their votes in. The last roster spot will be determined by the online votes, so your vote does count! Go get your votes in now and be sure to vote early and often! I hope your favorite group of 2010 All Star Players wins next Tuesday. It should be a good All Star Game; which I’m sure they will still be talking about Stephen Strasburg not making the National League squad. The Nationals rookie pitcher is the talk of baseball right now and his presence will be felt in Anaheim as Charlie Manual of the Phillies left him off of the 2010 All Star Game for the National League team. Now go get those votes in for the final MLB player for the 2010 All Star Game.

This year has flown by. I can’t believe half of 2010 is already gone. I had a conversation with a person earlier today and they ask me about a specific thing I had done not too long ago. I told them it was about 6 or 7 months ago; when this happened. It turned out I was a little off and it was actually over 1 year ago. I was surprised at just how far my guess was off and then it got me to thinking about the 2010 year. Today is the last day of the first half of this year. We start July tomorrow and this Sunday will be the 4th of July for those that live in the United States and celebrate Independence Day.

I don’t have any 4th of July plans yet. A nice cookout on the grill would be a nice treat. I’m not sure how wise it would be to have a cookout at my house on the 4th. There is so many wasps, yellow jackets, bumble bees, and other buzzing pests at my house right now. Going to a park that has a bunch of big shade trees would be a better place for my 4th of July cookout.

I don’t think anyone can talk about celebrating the Fourth of July without mentioning fireworks. I guess if my family wants to travel to an area to have an early evening cookout, we better choose a place we can see the fireworks going off. I have always loved the fireworks on the 4th of July. It just wouldn’t be the Fourth without a few bright colors and loud bangs filling the night time skies.

I’m not sure if the work force in America is too happy with the 4th of July being on a weekend day this year. Most people work Monday through Friday jobs and have the weekends off. The 4th of July is a paid holiday for most people. A few companies could avoid the holiday pay this year, since it does fall on a Sunday. I use to like working on the 4th of July and getting paid double time.

For some reason, it seems summer goes down hill after the 4th of July. I guess in a way its the midway point of the summer season. It won’t be long until school starts back up, the fair comes to town, and the wind begins to blow all of the leaves off of the trees. We then get to celebrate Halloween on the last day in October. After that, we do a little voting in early November for some political turkeys and at the end of November we eat turkeys. With our stomachs still full from our Turkey Day on Thursday, we all wake up early to go shopping on Black Friday. The official first shopping day of the holiday season is that Friday after Thanksgiving. Our TV programs change to all Christmas stories and the radio stations play mostly holiday and Christmas songs. We greet good ol St. Nick on the 25th of December and eat another huge meal for our Christmas dinner. One week later we gather up the fireworks for the last time and get ready to set them off on New Year’s Eve; when the clock strikes midnight. Finally New Year’s Day is here and we welcome 2011 in with a bang; while saying good bye to 2010.

It kinda seems sad how everything just flies by. The good news is, we haven’t began the 2nd part of 2010 yet. So to limit the amount of regrets we might have on New Year’s Day 2011, we still have a full 6 months to change our futures. Yes, we have probably wasted some valuable time for the first half of 2010, but we have just as much time left to make up for it. I hope you and your family have a wonderful 2nd half of the year and you will have nothing but smiles in 2011.

Before you and your family head out on a long drive or prepare for the long drive to a summer vacation spot, be sure to have your brakes checked first. A new brake job really isn’t the expensive; when you compare it to the damage and safety risks you’re putting your family in with bad brakes. It doesn’t take long to see if your car, truck, or van needs any brake work done and this will help to insure you and your family have a great summer vacation this year.

Some families may be looking for a camping trip to go on, for this year’s summer vacation. Throwing the tent, a grill, coolers, and your other camping supplies in the back of your Chevrolet Silverado can add a lot of extra weight. This can cause a lot more strain on a set of bad brakes. Even if the drive is not that far and a big portion will be through old dirt roads, you still need to stop when you step on the brakes. It’s just as important to get good brakes for a camping trip with a loaded down truck, as it is for the family that will be traveling through several states to get to their vacation spot. You don’t want to stop at a Dallas auto repair on your trip this summer. It’s no fun sitting at a garage all day; when you could be relaxing at some luxury resort or on the beach. I know all too well, because I have took part in some of these family vacation trips; where the car does break down.

Do you have any horror stories to tell about traveling to or from a vacation destination? Please feel free to share what happened to you and how long it took for you to get the auto repairs fixed. I have a couple of stories I could tell and I hope I never have another breakdown again on a long trip. They do create some lasting memories, but its no fun while you’re living through it.

Every year and especially during the warm summer months, there is a lot of families that decide to have their vacations in the state of Florida. Now with the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico causing problems on the Florida beaches, there may be a sharp decline into the amount of travelers that visit these beautiful Florida beaches. There will likely be an increase into the number of families that plan to visit Orlando and other places in central Florida. More families will probably go with the Disney vacation packages this year and stay away from the white sandy beaches; which Florida is known for. Not sure if Florida and other Gulf coast states will have a legal claim against the British Petroleum company and their problems with the leaking oil in the Gulf waters. It would seem that all of the western beaches in Florida and those located in the panhandle would be likely targets for tar balls washing up on the beaches. The efforts to slow down the oil spill from reaching the U.S. beaches has not gone well and lots of this oil is getting beyond the barriers. This will be a story that won’t be going away anytime soon and Florida residents and business owners will be keeping a close eye on the oil spill, as it moves closer to the coastline in Florida.

The latest news coming out of Afghanistan lately, starts to paint a better picture why so much fighting has took place over the years in this very poor part of the Middle East. Why was the Soviets trying to occupy the lands in Afghanistan during the 1980′s? Why is the United States currently fighting a war inside the borders of Afghanistan? Why did the Taliban take over the central government and tried to run the country on their own? A lot of questions that didn’t make a lot of sense and we were only left trying to guess why each party had a vested interest in the Afghan soil.

It seemed pretty obvious the Soviet Union wanted a bigger territory and more of a land mass in Europe, so they were trying to take control of the country 30 years ago. After the 2001 bombings from the Middle East Terrorists that caused 4 hi-jacked planes to crash in the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon, and in a Pennsylvania field; it was obvious why America went in and invaded the country of Afghanistan. Finally you have the Taliban, who came in after the Soviets left and before America sent troops in, and they had took over and was basically running the country of Afghanistan. All of these parties seeking control of an area in the Middle East that doesn’t seem like a place anyone would want to own. Perhaps the only people who truly love Afghanistan are the people who live there, work there, and have gotten use to life in such a baron and harsh country.

Now a few secrets are starting to emerge and the earliest records we have right now, are the geological surveys and estimates the Soviet Union was doing in Afghanistan. They had been mapping and keeping a collection of data that pertained to all of the untapped resources that were in Afghanistan in the early 80′s. China also has a part of this and they already won a bid earlier on a copper mine in one of the areas of China. An official working for the Afghan Government was bribed $30,000,000 dollars from the people’s Republic of China for some other areas in Afghanistan that appear to be rich in natural minerals and resources. China is a country that faces a huge shortage of natural resources for all the people they currently have inside their borders. Chinese Officials are doing all they can to secure areas outside of the borders of China for these valuable resources.

The latest news is coming from the Pentagon and a few of their employees teamed up with a few geologists to conduct a series of tests in Afghanistan for some of these valuable and precious resources. These tests began in 2007 or at least that is the public information that is being released right now. How many other geological tests and surveys the U.S. may have did or conducted before the year of 2007 is not clear or is information no one in the Pentagon, White House, or on Capitol Hill is acknowledging at this time.

Did the Soviet Union seek an ownership in Afghanistan, because of all the rich resources this land is now known to have? Has the United States written their own script to have soldiers and geologists currently in Afghanistan? I think a lot of people will be wondering how early the USA suspecting there was a vast amount of natural resources in the Afghan country. While China has been the only country not to send in troops to this area of the Middle East, they seem to have a strong interest in the vast amount of resources this land might posses in the Middle East.

Large amounts of copper and lithium are expecting to be under the soil and deposited in this poor land from what most consider a 3rd world nation. There may also be a few gold veins running through the country of Afghanistan; which mining companies from all over the world will have an interest in. The Pentagon is assisting the Afghan Government in helping them to create a bidding system for their precious and natural resources. The wealth contained under the dirt could be huge for one of the poorest nations in the region. This could help Afghanistan tremendously in the future and help this country to get back on its feet, as they try to push the Taliban further away and hopefully out of their country for good. There is already a growing concern that the Taliban will put up a tougher front with the latest news about these valuable resources. The only other value in this country is the farm lands that produce and sell opium plants; which most are illegally growing or trafficking to other countries around the world.

The new resources like gold, lithium, and copper could be the answer to all of the Afghan citizen’s prayers, if these minerals are harvested and mined properly, so the country can benefit from it. You probably have a battery in your remote control or a cell phone or laptop computer battery that has lithium in it right now. This mineral alone could be huge for all the companies around the world that look to other nations for their supplies of lithium, to keep up with the growing demand of lithium batteries. This will be one story from Afghanistan that won’t be going away anytime soon and the interesting part now will be which countries get access to these areas that are loaded with an abundance of natural resources.