Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Scotland: Is Independence On The Horizon For This Great Skiing Destination?



Historically the government of Scotland has been described as very chaotic. In the year 1832 the Scottish government was under the control of landowners and quite a lot of protests from various coalitions within the society erupted. In 1832 a Scottish Reform Act was created to modify the electorates and enlarged the percentage of public voters.

From 1885 until the 1918 election the Liberal party ruled Scottish politics. In 1955 the Unionist Party won only by the popular vote results in the general election.

In September 1979 a general election was held to push the initiation of a parliament which was agreed upon by 74.3% of the constituents. During this time political chaos continued.

The Scotland Act of 1998 by the Parliament of United Kingdom was enacted which handled international affairs, defense, security, monetary, economic policy, and drug regulations. However, chaos continued to reign.

In 1999, in an attempt to bring order and correction, the Queen Of England stepped in and took action in the establishment of the Scottish Executive. Today the Scottish Government is still currently made up of this devolved Scottish Parliament, known as the Scottish Executive.

Initially the Scottish Executive was led by their First Minister which was appointed by the Queen of England. His Governance is assisted by cabinet secretaries and junior ministers. Their job was to submit bills to be added to the law that would improve the country.

However, a coalition of Labor and Liberal Democrats seized influence under the command of Donald Dewar and the Scottish National Party (SNP), which had won numerous general elections, became the Scotland's prevalent party by 2007.

The current administration was formed after elections in May 2011, with the SNP becoming the first party to prevail a general majority in the Scottish Parliament; the current first minister being Alex Salmond. Alex Salmond was appointed by the UK Prime Minister David Cameron through the Edinburgh Agreement.

Election of the Scottish Parliament takes place every four years and encompasses 129 members that will embody as Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Out of 129 members, 73 of them will stand for what is known as the "first -past-the-post-constituents" while the other 56 members are elected by additional member system. The Scottish Government was assigned to surrogate the Scottish Office in which the First Minister of Scotland acts as the Head.

A council together with the elected councilors has the right over the local government in Scotland which is divided into 32 unitary systems. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities who stands collectively collaborates with the Scottish councils.

Currently a total of 1,222 councilors have been elected in their respective localities that undertake their duties in the various cities of Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament electoral region primarily on Highlands and Islands where Aviemore is specifically situated, is one of the eight electoral regions of Scottish Parliament. Seven members from the elected 56 additional members of the Members of the Scottish Parliament comes from this region. Among the eight electoral regions, Highlands and Islands is the biggest in terms of vicinity but nominal in inhabitants and voters.

The citizens of Scotland want "Rule By The People - For The People." Citizens believe, especially in regions such as the Highlands and Islands, that rule and government by the people will be a greater benefit for the citizens of their region, especially in light of the fact that over the years these two regions have evolved into a great tourist destination.

Ever increasingly people from all over the world are hearing about the great skiing in the Highlands Caringorm mountain range. Aviemore, located in the adjoining and nearby Islands region, is the perfect fit for anyone desiring a day trip of skiing with a warm, cozy hotel room or villa to relax in at the end of the day.

In 2014, Scotland will hold a type of "independence day" which will give the people the freedom to vote. In this referendum, the people will choose between a simple 'yes' or a 'no' for their answer as to whether Scotland should become an independent country. Some believe that a separate country could prosper more with its own policies and voice.

The people of Scotland are eager to cast their vote and let their voices be heard in 2014: "Scottish Rule By The People - For The People." What will it be?

Essential Easy Exercises to Prepare for a Family Skiing Holiday



The initial excitement of booking a family skiing holiday can soon fade when the reality that you have just booked a physically demanding getaway sinks in. Fitness is the key to enjoying a skiing or snowboarding holiday and making sure that you are less likely to get injured or have aching muscles, and it is a good idea to start working on fitness about 8-12 weeks before jetting off to one of the world's snowy mountain regions.

Focusing on general fitness is sure to help, but the following exercises should be carried out at least four times a week.

The Plank

Excellent for working the core muscles that help with balance and stability. Begin by lying on your stomach with your forearms on the ground, and your shoulders in line with your elbows. Rise up onto your toes and hold your body weight on your forearms, drawing in your abdominal muscles. Make sure your body is kept in a straight line; do not let your shoulders rise or lower back sink. Hold the plank for one minute and repeat three times with short breaks between each.

Ankle flexing

Many skiers flex their knees more than their ankles, resulting in tired out thighs and strained knee joints. Ankle flexibility can be improved with this simple exercise. Stand with one foot in front of the other and lean forward slightly against a wall using your arms for support. Keep your back leg straight and bend your front knee; you should feel a stretch run along the calf muscle. Do not let your heels leave the ground and repeat the stretch a couple of times on each leg. This stretch is best done after the rest of the exercises.

The Squat

Similar to the popular Wall Sit exercise, the Squat is a great exercise for the thighs, hamstrings and bottom. Begin by standing with your feet hip width apart and hold your arms out in front of you. Squat backwards and downwards until your thighs are parallel to the floor and your knees are no further in front of you than your second toe. Stand back up, keeping your arms out in front. Complete in sets of 15 squats with a 30 second break between every set.

Walking or jogging

Exercise that improves general fitness is essential to making it through the entire skiing holiday without collapsing into a heap after day one, and walking and jogging are both easy and cheap ways of improving this. Start off with at least 30 minutes of walking four times a week and gradually increase the speed to a jog or run when you feel ready.