Month: October 2021

Information empowers. And, its power rings true in every aspect of life. As we ride what Alvin Toffler calls the Third Wave, the power of information has been unleashed like never before.

Living, Learning, and Playing. The order may possibly change in terms of priorities, but these three are essentially the maximum impact areas of information revolution. The age of the Internet has single-handedly changed the rules of almost every kind of activity within human realm.

At the end of the day, people love to play. It comes as no surprise to find that gaming has been one of the most popular activities on the Web right from the word go.

Here, it is pertinent to take a look at the way online casinos have evolved and are now emerging as one of the high growth areas of the Internet before we get on to the specifics of issue at hand.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, if one were to capture the development of online casinos in one sentence, nothing could express it better than the assertion put forward by Victor Hugo: Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.

From the first step to the present, the journey so far has been an eventful one. The domain, essentially egged on by the proliferation of Internet that lead to removal of the existing barriers in terms of laws, regulations, and geographical boundaries, has had its pitfalls.

Though gaming had been a part of the Internet since the opening of 90s, officially, the first online casino opened in 1996. This was made possible by a law passed by Antigua and Barbados in 1994, enabling them to issue gambling licenses. This development is significant because till date a large number of online casinos are using this route to acquire licenses.

The two intervening years since the passing of licensing law to placing of the first bet online are most eventful in terms of shaping up this domain. This period saw a whole lot of activity in terms of developing a better understanding of the concept by the regulators and the general users and coming up of dedicated software providers. Since the very beginning, given its nature, and its status at that point in time, online casinos have been prime targets of network crime. This crucial issue was largely resolved by emergence of Internet security firms solely catering to the unique issues faced by this segment. download mega888 apk

And, then there were all the legal challenges. The online casino industry has crossed numerous legal barriers in its race to the present. Though some of the challenges still persist, the worst is clearly a part of the past and the industry as a concept has now taken deep roots with hundreds of virtual or online casinos.

Rising above the past issues, the industry, however, may soon be facing a new hurdle entirely of its own making, if steps are not taken to nip the issue right away. The problem of plenty– a direct outcome of the proliferation of online casinos has lead to customer service and reliability issues. How does one sift the wheat from the chaff? Or more directly, how do we draw the line between a good online casino and a bad one? Though it is not limited just to casinos online, the fact remains that this one issue has the potential of marring the reputation of the entire domain, and can end up achieving what most laws and regulations have failed to do so far.

Online casinos to avoid are not just those associated with low joining bonuses or those based overseas. Online gaming is great fun. Jackpots at online sites can be much higher than traditional casinos because of the much lower overheads of any online business as opposed to its bricks and mortar equivalent. But which should you trust and which do you run from? Here are some criteria you need to consider when deciding which online casinos to play at. This list is by no means exhaustive.

Avoid bad spelling and grammar on websites. Any online business worth its salt pays attention to detail. That includes things like checking spelling, punctuation and grammar. If a website owner doesn’t bother about those basic things then what is to be expected of their customer care? Worse still, if the bad spelling and grammar is there not because the website owner didn’t care about it, but because the owner wasn’t capable of correcting it – in other words, that was the best he could do – then there is a real problem. Just click away from there as soon as possible.

Avoid any online casinos associated with spam. It is likely that any email spam you get about online casinos will originate from over-zealous affiliates who haven’t learned the rules yet, and not the casinos themselves. However, all reputable online businesses make it quite clear in the terms and conditions of their affiliate programs that spam will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Any online business which is slack on this policy should be given a wide berth, whether it has acted in good faith or not.

There are lists of online casinos to avoid in various rogue casino lists. There are blacklists and other “not recommended” lists which you can access just by typing a query in the search engines. Try typing in “Name of Casino” + “scam” or “blacklist”. It’s true that online casinos are run with properly regulated procedures nowadays, but that wasn’t true even as short a time as five or six years ago. Vigilant online casino watchdogs have a long memory. Even though the casino may have cleaned up its act since being placed on such a list, it won’t do you any harm to avoid them if they have been listed in the past. It also encourages new casinos not to stray from the 토토사이트  straight and narrow.

Misappropriation of fair-play seals and logos. This includes accreditation to reputable sounding but fake “authorities” and “ethical commissions”. Look out for accreditation to eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) as a sign of genuine probity. That’s not to say that if they’re not on the list they are an online casino to avoid, just that it’s a sign that a casino has reached a certain standard of worthiness.

The online casino should have transparency of auditing of both its accounts and its log files. Look for references to third party auditing in the online casino’s terms and conditions.

Online casinos to avoid also include those which do not respond to enquiries or complaints. Unfortunately there is no way you can tell this from the online casino’s site itself, as they are not going to say bad things about themselves! This is where it’s useful to join online forums where such matters as which online casinos to avoid are regularly aired. Be aware of people who simply have a grudge against individual casinos because they have been unlucky. But also look out for several people saying the same thing about the same casino; consensus usually means there’s something to complain about.

Summer vacation time is here. Many families are considering a Colorado vacation. Colorado is considered a major destination for campers, hikers, mountain bikers, fishermen, and river rafters during the summer months. There is so much to see and so much to experience in this state that vacationers flock here to partake in all the outdoor activities and scenery that bring travelers back year after year.

Centrally located in the United States, Colorado is a land of diverse environments and vacation experiences. From the rolling eastern plains and grasslands to the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains with their mountain meadows and roaring rivers and on to the canyons and mesas of the western slope of Colorado, visitors to the state can find just about anything they are wanting to do during their summer travels.

The Northern Rockies are a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast. Colorado’s Northern Rockies attract a host of outdoor adventure-seeking vacationers. Campers will find well maintained campgrounds as anchor points for their daytime adventures with hiking through the high, wildflower dotted meadows, fishing, and white water rafting. There are historic sites to see and festivals to participate in.

Here, you’ll find the world famous Rocky Mountain National Park. This park is known as the “Gateway to the Rocky Mountains” and is well deserving of the title. Wildlife are seen routinely in the park. Nearby Estes Park is a tourist’s haven with many events that occur throughout the summer months. radon mitigation colorado springs

In the western part of Colorado’s Northern Rocky Mountains you’ll find Steamboat. Noted for its winter skiing, during the summer this is the land of dude ranches and rodeos. The winter crowd subsides into an old time, relaxing cowboy lifestyle in the summer. Here, you can truly experience what it used to be in the by gone days of Colorado when cowboys were king.

Located in the middle of Colorado, the Central Rockies region boasts a number of summertime attractions and activities. This region of Colorado is known the world over for unparalleled scenic beauty. The Colorado Rocky Mountains afford numerous opportunities for camping, hiking, biking, fishing and a host of other outdoor activities. What a great place for your Colorado vacation.

All those famous ski resorts along interstate 70 take on a new light during the summer months. Breckenridge hosts a number of summer festivals and Vail becomes a golf mecca for those that want to golf the courses that presidents travel to. Historic Aspen blooms in wildflowers and the old Victorian mining town comes alive with travelers wanting to view the scenic landscape and fish the surrounding rivers. Camping makes the area affordable and brings visitors close to the natural beauty of the land

 

My time’s limited… how do I choose?”

Car rental is a hot topic for vacationers headed to Costa Rica. Recent research conducted by the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism (ICT) indicates that, after accommodations, renting a car is the largest expense, averaging $702 for an eleven-day vacation.

The Internet is buzzing with negative reviews discussing overcharging, poor customer service and mechanical breakdowns. You might have even written one yourself!

A typical midsize (3 – 4 adults) 4X4 rental runs between $58 and $65 daily with third party insurance and rates can vary as much as 20 percent among car rental companies, so reading a quick review will be time well spent once you calculate the savings.

So the question is; which rental company offers the best balance of fair price, capable customer service and reliable vehicles? I’ve researched it all for you, so keep reading!

Disclosure: This research was conducted in May – July 2013. The following companies were selected because they are the most widely used in Costa Rica. Some are local companies; others are international franchises of recognized brand names. Comparisons include: customer service, pricing and the reservation process. The companies are listed alphabetically and not based on personal or online preferences.
Consider this information before renting:

Insurance

One of the biggest causes for complaints is from the stack of unforeseen charges presented to the renter once standing at the rental company’s counter. Vacationers are typically tired after a long flight and then are confronted by costs that were not anticipated, explained or budgeted.

Topping the list of grievances is the non-disclosure of fees associated with the mandatory third-party insurance at the time the reservation is made.

According to Costa Rican law, every driver is required to carry liability coverage to insure against injuries to third parties. Car rental companies generally refrain from disclosing the cost of this policy in the quoted rental rate to appear more competitive. Mandatory third-party insurance can sometimes be as much as double the vehicle’s rental cost. The only guarantee against insurance confusion is to inquire if your estimate includes the third party insurance and insist on a written quotation. Jacksonville party rentals

Cost of Mandatory Insurance (also called Third Party or SLI)

Expect to pay between $12 and $15 daily for this insurance, depending on the make and model of the rented vehicle and the rental car agency. This is a legal condition of your rental agreement and is generally not covered by credit cards and cannot be waived. It’s a fact of renting a car in Costa Rica.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

As the name suggests, this isn’t insurance, but a waiver, which relieves the renter from any liability for damage to the rental car after the deductible is paid (usually from $750 to $1,500). Some agencies require renters to purchase their CDW policy; thereby negating any credit card program. For an additional fee, many agencies do offer a zero liability option where the renter will be freed from paying for any damage to the car. Some companies may put pressure upon renters to purchase the zero liability coverage; however, it is entirely optional, unless it is in the fine print of their rental agreement.