I’m already booked for a week in the snow with my snowboard in Scoul Switzerland for the second week of February. Unfortunatly, that’s the earliest I could get away this year. But if you are looking for a white vacation already now, check out the already white snowmobiling capital of Lanaudière. Check out the press release below, Lanaudière has already received 18 inches of snow this week alone (and the week’s not over). Boy, I would like nothing more than taking the next few days off and embarking on a white Snowmobile vacation. If you’re not buried in work yourself – you’ve got no excuse. So go have a great time and don’t forget to send in your pictures.

Lanaudière, Snowmobile Country,
announces the opening of 350 km of trails

For more than 30 years, Lanaudière has been a snowmobiling capital!

Rawdon, November 30, 2007 – Mother Nature has been busy during the past week, covering the Lanaudière landscape with an average of 45 cm (18 inches) of snow and more in the northern part of the region. Snowmobile enthusiasts can now start their engines for a new season with 350 kilometres (161 miles) of trails open in northern Lanaudière.

These are the areas that are currently accessible, where conditions are good with new snow coverage:

• Mont-Tremblant National Park (start at Pimbina entrance)
• Certain areas in Saint-Zénon
• Certain areas in Saint-Michel-des-Saints

For precise and accurate information, contact the snowmobile clubs concerned directly (Club Saint-Donat at 819 424-7988; Club snowmobile du royaume at 450 884-5762).

To find out about trail conditions (updated regularly), weather, touring suggestions or order your free copy of our new snowmobile trail map, just visit www.snowmobilecountry.ca or call 1 800 363-2788.

Please note that lakes are not yet frozen over.

Tourisme Lanaudière reminds you of the importance of driving safely and respectfully. Permission to pass through private property is difficult to conserve and represents a privilege to users. Respect for property and words of thanks to owners are gestures that are greatly appreciated, and it is equally important to respect signs and trail markers.

Source: Maryline Lafrenière, Communication Agent
450 834-2535
lafreniere@lanaudiere.ca

When a plane crashes, a black box can tell the story - identifying malfunctions and alerting manufacturers on weaknesses in designs. Now the European Union is lobbying for a similar gadget to be installed in cars.

The gadget, includes a GPS locator, airbag sensors, and cell phone technology that will immediately call for assistance and provide medical personal with the location of the crash. Victims can also talk to paramedics while waiting for them to arrive.

Lobbyists hope that this gadget will be able to save lives, possibly as many as 3000 a year. It may take effect in 2010, though critics say that the technology can be misused to spy on drivers or even facilitate a congestion rax.

Usually, we think of sports in terms of winning and losing, sometimes in terms of physical activity, and in moments of cynicism as advertising opportunities. But it is also an opportunity to bring people together. Boxing may not seem like such a sympathetic sport, but recently the International Boxing Organization’s intercontinental heavyweight champion Roman Greenberg has served as a vehicle for aiding organizations which provide help for Arab and Jewish youth in distress and promote peace.

The twenty-four-year-old Greenberg, who is Jewish, was born in Russia and moved to Israel as a child; he served in the Israeli army and was the youngest-ever fighter to win the country’s national heavyweight title. He has been a vocal supporter of Israel and famously sports a conspicuous Star of David on his boxing shorts. The online Backgammon company, BackgammonMasters has recently purchased these shorts from in order to sponsor Greenberg as he trains in England for upcoming fights. The site, which features online backgammon, poker, and Perudo, intends to auction off the shorts, with the bidding starting at $100,000 and donate the auction proceeds to organizations offering assistance to Arab and Jewish youth.

Greenberg has won all 25 of his professional fights, including seventeen knockouts. Most recently, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, he defeated American boxer Michael Simms in a unanimous decision.

The Golf Business Conference titled “Golf Development in Eastern European Countries” is opening in Poland next weekend in Poland. The conference is aimed golf investors, operators, owners and passionate from East and Central Europe looking to get up to date on the golf business in the region.
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If you happen to be near Pittsburgh this coming June, be sure to check out the U.S Open Golf Championship hosted in the Oakmont country club for a record breaking eighth return. The U.S. Open golf Championship in Oakmont country club is scheduled for June 11th through the 17th. Read the rest of this entry »

Sydney has earned its rightful place in the global tourism industry. Apart from being a top tourist destination, it is also a top choice for international conventions. In fact, this vibrant capital of Australia just been picked as the site of the 2010 convention of Toastmasters International. This is the first time the international convention of the global group of public speakers will be held outside of North America.

The four-day event is expected to attract two thousand orators from around the world and contribute nearly six million dollars into Sydney’s economy. Read the rest of this entry »