True or False: 10 Common Travel Beliefs

Have you heard that New Yorkers are rude, London is rainy, and China is just a shovel away? Here, the truth behind travel rumors

The Rumor: London is always gray and rainy, and the food is terrible.

The Truth: "In terms of rainfall, it's actually low on the list," says Nicole Mitchell, a Weather Channel meteorologist. (The statistics: London gets 23 inches a year, while, on average, supposedly sunny Miami gets a whopping 60 and soggy Seattle gets 39.) "Because London is coastal, it gets drizzly during the winter. But, as with any place, you have to pick the right time to visit," says Mitchell. (She recommends the summer, when it's warmer and sunnier.) And as for the local fare, it has come a long way since the days of ubiquitous bangers and mash. "There was a time when English food was, by definition, bad food, but that reputation is about 10 years out of date," says Tim Zagat, a cofounder of Zagat Survey, a publisher of international restaurant guides. "Now it is one of the best places in the world to eat." (The turnaround is due in part to the increased availability of fresh ingredients.)

The Rumor: It is rude to make eye contact during conversation in Japan.

The Truth: In the Land of the Rising Sun, do not avert your gaze just yet. "That used to be the rule, back in the old days, during the Meiji and Taisho eras (the late 1800s and early 1900s)," explains Robert Whiting, a Japanese-culture expert and the author of "The Samurai Way of Baseball." "It was considered disrespectful, especially when talking to a superior." These days, however, "people in Japan act just like people in the West. Not making eye contact would be considered a bit odd when talking to someone, even the emperor," says Whiting.

The Rumor: Venice is sinking.

The Truth: Not so much, says Fabio Carrera, a native of Venice and a professor of urban studies and planning at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Massachusetts. If by sinking you mean that the land is going under and losing elevation, then, no, that is no longer true," says Carrera. Once upon a time — from around 1900 up until the 1970s — Venice did dip deeper into the water, by nearly five inches, because the aquifer beneath it was being drained to provide water to the mainland. "When people realized what was happening, they stopped pumping water out, and Venice rebounded by about half an inch," says Carrera.

Still, the city is not totally out of hot water. Thanks to global warming and rising sea levels, Venice — along with other low-lying locales, like New Orleans — remains vulnerable to flooding. But as long as it stays one step ahead of the problem by incorporating preventive measures, like the underwater floodgates currently being constructed, Venice should be the home of many a piazza (and pigeon) for years to come.

The Rumor: New Yorkers are rude.

The Truth: Fuhgeddaboudit! "It's absolutely false that New Yorkers are unfriendly — they may seem standoffish at first, but that's just concealing a very big heart," insists Ed Koch, a former New York mayor and a quintessential New Yorker. (Hey, someone who appeared in "The Muppets Take Manhattan" should know.) So what is with the gruff exterior, then? Call it a coping mechanism for living in a city of more than 8 million people. "We believe that people want their own space, so we don't intrude unless asked for assistance. But if you're visiting from out of town, just walk over to any New Yorker and he'll immediately help you out," says Koch. And rather than feeling upset about a brusque cab driver or a bagel guy who seems to toss your change at you, remember that they are just trying to keep the wheels in motion. "People here want to help you get on with your day!" says Koch.

The Rumor: Afternoon thunderstorms in Florida always pass within an hour.

The Truth: "This does not always happen, but a lot of storms are pretty quick," says meteorologist Nicole Mitchell. "In the heat of the afternoon, there is enough of a contrast between the slightly cooler ocean air temperature and the warmer air temperature over land to trigger storms," she says. "By late afternoon, there is less of a contrast and you lose the trigger for the storms, so they start dying out." And Florida is not the only place you should keep an umbrella handy. Mitchell says the same conditions exist up and down the Gulf Coast, making the weather in places such as Biloxi, Miss.; Mobile, Ala.; and New Orleans equally erratic.

The Rumor: South of the equator, toilet water swirls in the opposite direction.

The Truth: This one goes straight down the commode. Wondering where that crackpot theory originated? "South of the equator, tornadoes go clockwise, while north of the equator, they go counterclockwise, because of the earth's rotation and something called Coriolis force. In principle, the same would happen to water in a toilet or a bath," explains Michael Goodchild, a professor of geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a 2007 recipient of the field's highest honor, the Prix Vautrin Lud. "But the effect of Coriolis force on a small scale is very weak and outweighed by other forces, like the relative positions of the inlet faucet and the plug hole."

The Rumor: The Leaning Tower of Pisa will eventually topple over.

The Truth: It seems inevitable that the tilting medieval bell tower will take a dive someday. But the structure, which developed its famous wonky posture when its foundation settled into the soft ground beneath it, is actually on surprisingly solid footing. About 10 years ago, the base of the tower was reinforced with a combination of concrete and other bracing methods, decreasing the lean by 17 inches to 13 feet 6 inches. "It was the culmination of years of work and planning — the new foundation will last indefinitely," says Donald Friedman, a structural engineer at Old Structures Engineering, in New York City. "It is not going to tip. Now it has the heaviest foundation of anything in that whole city!"

The Rumor: In Russia, locally made vodka is cheaper than water.

The Truth: The answer is a flat-out nyet, says Paul Richardson, who has visited the country more than 20 times and is the publisher of Russian Life magazine. While locally made vodka can be nearly half as cheap in Russia as the imported stuff we buy here — prices start at around $2 a bottle in Moscow — it still outprices water by a long shot.

The Rumor: If you dug a hole straight through the Earth, you would probably make it to China.

The Truth: "It depends on where you start out," says author Michael Goodchild. "If you dug through the center of the Earth, you would emerge at a point opposite to where you started," he says. "Most of the time, if you started from land, you would end in water. But you would end up in China if you started digging in northern Chile." Oh yeah, there is one more little catch. Says Goodchild, "You would need a machine that could form a tunnel through liquid metal at a temperature of around 5,000 degrees." Um, try eBay?

The Rumor: There is a top-secret city beneath Disneyland.

The Truth: Legend has it that there's a top-secret command center under the theme park in Anaheim, Calif., but, alas, not even a wave of Tinker Bell's wand could make this a reality. "There is not much under there — certainly not a city," says Bob Sehlinger, who has visited the park hundreds of times over the past 20 years and recently wrote "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2008." It is very likely that this rumor stems from a case of mistaken identity. As it turns out, sister amusement park Disney World, in Orlando, Fla., does have a subterranean setup of sorts, though it is not quite a metropolis. "In Disney World, there is something called utilidors — Disney-speak for a huge system of tunnels under the park, which allow costumed cast members to scurry underneath the property," explains Sehlinger.

Stop Pumping Gas: Ten Hot Home Office Jobs

he by Joe Taylor Jr.

With fuel prices topping four dollars per gallon in some states, many Americans want to keep their paychecks in their pockets and out of their gas tanks. Thanks to cheap Internet access and fast computers, some workers can perform their jobs just as well from home as they can in the office. Government analysts recently identified ten fast-growing jobs that combine higher-than-average hourly wages with the benefits of working from home.

#1: Administrative Services Manager

Traditionally, administrative services managers oversee large support staffs in offices such as hospitals and law firms. As larger employers consolidate responsibilities for multiple locations into a handful of positions, more administrative services managers have earned the option to work some or all of their hours from a home office. Earning an associate's or bachelor's degree in business can help you gain the skills necessary for this managerial telecommuting job that often pays more than $30 per hour.

#2: Computer Systems Analyst

These information technology professionals help companies design state-of-the-art systems to run businesses. As employers use telecommuting jobs as a key strategy in their recruitment efforts, computer systems analysts often test new ideas at their own home offices. Learning about tools like virtual private network (VPN), video chat, and virtual desktops during a computer science degree program can help qualify graduates for home-based jobs that pay over $30 per hour.

#3: Database Manager

All kinds of companies rely on databases, from mom-and-pop service organizations to global retailers. Because most databases can be maintained from any live Internet connection, a growing number of database managers work remotely over secure, private networks. Though some database managers earn salaries from large employers, specialists with business degrees and computer training can earn over $30 an hour working from home as freelance database specialists.

#4: Public Relations Specialist

Because most public relations tasks involve phone or email, many PR specialists enjoy working from home at least a few days per week. With a bachelor's degree in communications, an office veteran can transition to a home-based job writing press releases and responding to media requests. Experienced PR professionals can complete online business training programs to launch their own practices as freelancers in home offices. In both cases, public relations specialists frequently earn more than $22 per hour.

#5: Paralegal

As more Americans seek quality legal representation, many law firms rely more heavily on paralegals for research assignments and routine tasks. Unlike lawyers, who must complete law school and pass a state bar exam, paralegals can start assisting on cases after completing an associate's degree program. Some law firms prefer to hire telecommuting paralegals to avoid adding office space. Other employers like the flexibility of bringing on temporary paralegals to cover sudden spikes in their caseloads. In both cases, many home-based paralegals earn over $20 an hour.

#6: Probation Officer

With many state governments trying to balance crowded jails with increased prosecution, many local agencies seek home-based probation officers.While the job often includes making site visits, many probation officers spend a significant portion of time on the phone or on email from home offices. With a bachelor's degree in social work, an experienced security professional can transition to this home-based career that offers a typical salary of $20 per hour plus government benefits.

#7: Web Design Professional

Early Web designers often received criticism for being teenagers working from home in their parents' attics. However, today's most successful Web design professionals enjoy home offices that boast high-speed Internet connections and fast workstations. Earning over $20 per hour as a home-based Web designer requires design skill, programming prowess, and a solid career portfolio. Most novice designers pick up all three of these success ingredients during Web design degree programs, many of which are available online.

#8: Desktop Publisher

Just as small businesses rely on public relations professionals to tell their stories, company owners look to desktop publishing professionals to make their stories look good in print. Advanced publishing tools now make it possible for desktop publishers to work from home, often earning over $20 as freelancers or in staff positions. Advanced training courses in graphic design and desktop publishing help these specialists retain the cutting-edge skills that help build strong client rosters.

#9: Medical Transcriptionist

As many doctors' offices and health care facilities struggle to meet the demands of increased patient loads, home-based medical transcriptionists ride to the rescue. By leveraging skills gained in campus-based or online medical transcription training programs, these specialists can earn $14 or more per hour without leaving home. In many cases, agencies or employers also cover the costs of computers and Internet connections for efficient transcriptionists.

#10: Virtual Assistant

Bootstrapping a business in today's economy often requires creative thinking. Some of the most creative and successful professionals in consulting, real estate, and health care have realized that they can reap the benefits of having full-time administrative assistance without the costs of expanding their own offices. Virtual assistants provide high-end secretarial tasks on demand for clients, usually from home offices. Completing an online training course is often the first step toward an essential work-from-home job that pays $13 or more per hour.

6 Tips for Landing Your Dream Job

by Alexandra Levit, for Yahoo! HotJobs

Do you have a job that's just like everyone else's? Are you looking for a 9-to-5, but wish you weren't? Do you wish there was another option, one that would lead to an exciting, unique, and fulfilling line of work?

I recently interviewed more than 100 people who currently hold their dream jobs as research for a new book called "How'd You Score That Gig?" These individuals, who are travel journalists, event planners, fashion designers, forensic scientists, interior decorators, Internet business owners and more, have one thing in common -- persistence.

As unattainable as a dream job might sound, with the right amount of forethought and preparation, you can make the move as well. Following are six tips to get you started.

1. Learn about yourself.

Take time to do a self-assessment of your values, how you like to work, and what you'd be compelled to do even if you never got paid. Research careers and industries that map to your skills and interests. Hit the Internet, set up informational interviews, take relevant coursework, and arrange to go onsite at a company in your chosen field.

2. Don't be deterred by a lack of experience.

In developing a resume and other promotional materials for the field you want to pursue, think about how your current skills and talents apply to the responsibilities you'll hold in the new job. For example, knowledge of project management, client relations, information technology, and sales will take you far in most types of careers.

3. Ease into a new career one foot at a time.

Perhaps this means earning a paycheck at your current job while doing a part-time internship in your new field, or taking an adult education class or workshop on the weekend. The only way to find out if you're passionate about something is to try it -- ideally with as little risk as you can manage.

4. Remember that any progress is good progress.

Even confident people stay in unsatisfying jobs because they feel safe, and because they're afraid of making a bad decision. But in the quest to uncover a source of meaningful work, though, your worst enemy is inertia. Make an effort to do one thing, like emailing a networking contact or attending an event -- that moves you a bit closer to your big-picture goal.

5. Start early.

Twenty- and thirty-somethings have more flexibility when it comes to test-driving different careers. The process of self-discovery is much easier when you're unencumbered by family responsibilities and substantial financial burdens, and when you haven't yet reached a level in a career where it's tougher to turn back. That said, it's never too late to pursue your passion. More and more baby boomers are leaving the world of traditional employment for alternative career paths that will fulfill them well into retirement age.

6. Have realistic expectations.

Even if you're lucky enough to hold your dream job, there's no such thing as the perfect work situation. Every job has its ups and downs, and aspects we love and aspects we don't love. And "dream job" doesn't mean "cushy job." As your mom always told you, anything worth having in this world requires some effort. There will be some days you feel like shutting the alarm off and going back to sleep, but many more where you feel more energized by the prospect of work than you ever thought possible!

Alexandra Levit is the author of "How'd You Score That Gig: A Guide to the Coolest Careers - and How To Get Them" (scorethatgig.com). She speaks at corporations, universities, and conferences around the country about workplace issues facing young employees, and her career advice has been featured in more than 800 media outlets.

2007: Year of First Times

Don’t be confused. 2008 has started already but it’s not late to recap the exciting events that happened last year of the Pig. They may be ordinary for you but I consider them as extra-ordinary. Some may be simple but I treat them one-of-a-kind as they taught me to value life and realized impossible can be possible. So fasten your seat-belt as we travel back.

JANUARY. The night I will always remember. It was my first time to spend the whole night with my college friends in one of our friends’ place somewhere in a hilly area as we cherished our last days in college. Though most houses have TVs and radios, it is like remote as neighbors are distance away from each other. We had our tent built, cooked our dinner, laughed and danced with of course our bonfire. The weather was quite bad and we spent the night chilling as the cold wind was blowing. The next day was a hike in the overlooking mountainous side where you see the whole city. Thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Padua for the accommodation.

FEBRUARY. The month of love was truly loving for me. I with my friends was invited for a party, not a birthday party but an engagement party. And what to expect, it’s a formal party so we had our attires ready. The party was simple but was so great to have it as my first.

MARCH. My first retreat happened. I never had one before during Grade school or High school. The event was new to me and the activities were a bit serious. We had the sharing of life stories, confession of sins asking forgiveness from one enemy to another and a lot of crying stuff specially for girls. But of course, the laugh was still there and the one I enjoyed much, the FOOD.

APRIL. I had decided to enroll for a summer class not back to college but in a special class outside. I got involved with the Deaf community learning their language, the sign language. I did really enjoy it learning their ABC, singing and acting with our bare hands. I meet new friends and got along with some special deaf-mute people. How I wish everyone can learn their way of talking for us to understand them, more than knowing what they want to say.

MAY. Lot of things happened in May. I had casted my vote for a national election for the first time. And I admit I received a cold cash from a party though I have my reason why I had to. But still I considered my list as I did not go for a straight vote. Same month I decided to leave the house for my first job somewhere in Cagayan de Oro. That was my first to travel by myself with my own money from my scholarship allowance last year. I was a bit scared though it wasn’t my first time to step in the place. I contacted my uncle the first day to fetch me. But I already planned to live by myself in a boarding house. Luckily I have friends to help me where I stayed for days while trying my wit for that call center job. Thank god I made it, passed the exam and the interview, and was scheduled for training. So I went back home for some important papers.

JUNE. I went back to Cagayan with excitement. When I arrived, my friend invited me for a movie and that was my first to get inside a cinema. “Pirates of the Caribbean: The lost World” was the first movie I’ve watched inside a cinema. I also had my very first medical examination as compliance for my job. The training was moved to July so I decided to go back home.

JULY. Terrifying month it was. I was confined in a hospital for 4 days. I got sick after being contaminated with a deadly bacterium of Salmonella causing a fever, a typhoid fever. It was my very first taste of dextrose. I was so frustrated because I missed the training and had given my parents burden financially. I was supposed to stay until the salmonella thing is totally dead but decided to have home-medication to lessen the bills.

August. After doing the home-medication, taking the prescribed medicines for 5 days, I thought I’d be well and cured so I can start earning money for my family. But it got worsen. The medicines were too strong that caused damage to my liver. In other words, I got hepatitis plus ulcer. So another set of drugs to take and another spending to do. That was school days so I was left alone at home. I felt death was coming my way but I always resist. I did not let my friends know as I did not want to be sympathized that would trigger death in my head. But there were few who visited me.

September. The saddest birthday ever. But wasn’t that bad at all. I never considered it as my last considering my condition that was a bit hopeless. Instead I considered it as a new start and a new life for me. I realized how stupid I was before with the thought that I can make in on my own. I learned to value life and value people around me.

OCTOBER. I felt better and energized. I’m ready to work so I planned to go back to Cagayan. But an offer came through a teacher. I accepted it and my first time to ride a plane and Manila experience had happened. I was there for a training for a new business to open where I’ll be working or simply, my very first job. The experience was great and I promised myself it will happen again soon.

NOVEMBER. The business establishment was launched as well as my skill to handle an event. Though I’m used to during college days for some school events, this time it’s different as it’s more formal and serious. Surprisingly, it went fine and somehow successful though a bit tiring. But that was it, my job. If I won’t work, I won’t be paid.

DECEMBER. I had my first spending out from my salary. I never had for my first one and a half month in the office as I was saving for a business venture and was paying for the money we owed when I got sick. The spending happened that Christmas and New Year as I shared for our dinner for the celebrations. The spending was only for food, no new shirts and stuffs and even gift wrap. And the business venture stuff began when I had attended a BOM (Business Opportunity Meeting) that month with my saving enough for a start.

Sigh! A tough year that was and luckily I survived. Big thanks to HIM. Now, I’m ready for a GO! GO!

Way Back Then

Everything is still fresh how it all started. Don't know if it was coincidence cause i believe it was meant to happen. That was the start of my destiny that i must pursue.

I was in my second grade where at that very young age of 7 I realized life seemed not fair. My mother was a plain housewife while my father worked hard with his old tricycle earning enough to feed us and pay our bills. My mother found ways to earn a little by selling home-made snacks in the school canteen, retailing products or accepting "Labada" (dirty clothes to wash) from our close relative. While my father still considers driving as his lifetime job, my mother got promoted from being a "labandera"(dirty clothes washer) and "tindera"(seller) to Brgy. Secretary and now a government employee. But still quite not enough to feed six-growing omnivores in our two-room home.
Back to where it started, I was a simple kid who wears shorts and slippers in my public school, so lucky that the school wasn't that strict with proper uniform. I only get 2-peso baon(allowance) a day, enough to buy a peso of food and a peso of drinks. But one day, I decided to save a peso out from my two and made a coinbank through an empty bottle of a baby powder. And the story began when a friend approach me to borrow my saved peso one day. I never consider to have it lent as I'm planning to buy something new like a shirt or pair of shoes by the end of the school year as a gift for myself since my parents find it hard to provide most of our needs. But out of nowhere thought, I let him with the agreement of paying it double. I don't know how I got the idea but he agreed. So, I got my money with a 100% interest the next day. He borrowed again and paid until I had enough money to start a small business which is selling a pack of candies. A pack cost 4 pesos that time and a candy cost 25cents giving me a small profit of 2 pesos. So small to think but it got bigger from one pack to two of different flavors and more like biscuits and junkfoods. Surprisingly, I had bought my new shirt from my very pocket.
I continued selling during classes and even let them 'utang' (they eat and pay the next day). I noticed then that some of my classmates were selling too but i keep going. Considering how a bit busy i was counting that small figures, considering profits from brand to brand, listing and collecting payments, I did not set aside my grades and was able to graduate with flying colors on my sixth grade.

High school was a bit hard. Though my baon increased to 5 pesos, still not enough specially when i have no vian for lunch. I wanna start back my small business but something stopped me. I felt ashamed of doing it again maybe because I'm turning to a man, a kid no more. But i must for my simple needs, for my necessities. So i continued saving 3 pesos out of 5. And the selling? I still did through my 'lola's' (grandmother's) not that big 'sari-sari' store. I learned to cook home-made candies like 'tira-tira'(made of sugar) and 'yema'(made of condensed milk), pulvoron and fried peanut. During college, i did selling of prepaid load and longganisa and chorizo, and tried 'pautang'(money lending). Glad my scholarship application was approved that lessened my bills with a semestral allowance allowing me to buy things for myself and for my siblings. But only a part of it as i have to contribute for my bills.

When i was still young, i really look forward to get 18 since it's the legal age. When I'll be 18 i can join nationwide raffles for some product brands and of course applying for a part time job. I had my entries for the raffles but never won even consolation. I applied, had passed exams but every time they see me during interview they have doubts if i can make it. I can't blame them, i was skinny. I was about to land another one when i joined a contest for DJ-to-be in a radio station but don't know what happened, it was stopped. But on my last year in college i land a part time in a cafe as encoder.
For the moment, I'm enjoying my very first job as an office guy doing customer care and sales rep. And my attachment to the business world? well, it keeps on. That's why i really have this belief that business is my forte. I'm into a new world of doing business though not that big time but bigger than my small ventures before. It's more exciting and i can say promising. Just this year when i had invested my savings for it. You may want to know but I'll tell you soon about it.
So, one point in this introduction is to clarify one thing. Don't mind the title as I'm not all through out be talking about business instead it's general though there'll be more of business. I'm a business minded guy so be it and welcome to my business world slash life in general.