Today we went to the swampland at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Jean Lafitte was a convicted privateer, who won his freedom by helping Andrew Jackson defeat the British in the Battle of New Orleans with his fellow buccaneers. The Barataria Preserve, named after Lafitte’s band of men is over 2000 acres of wetland, swamps marshes, etc. Swamp tours by boat are available there. But there are also eight miles of boardwalk which wind through the area. Some of the trails are closed due to the hurricanes and storms which came through the area. The high water and winds tore up parts of the boardwalk. Hurricane Katrina did major damage to the Historical Park. Do not be surprised when you go there.

We saw a small gator , two egrets, many squirrels, and a rare sighting of a swamp deer. It is quite eerie in parts where the Spanish moss hangs from the bald cypresses. The cypresses have knees (they resemble stalagmites or the eyes and nose of a alligator), which rise out of the swamp. The Spanish moss is a cousin of the pineapple. It looks like angel hair or tinsel hanging from the tree. The moss is not a parasite, but an air plant or bromeliad. It just hangs from the tree for a home. Spanish moss is also the reason for the first automobile recall. Henry Ford insisted that his parts come in wooden crates protected by Spanish moss. He used the crates for the floorboards and the moss for stuffing the cushions. He received many complaints from owner about critters coming out of the cushions. Little did he know that you have to boil the moss before using it. Being the generous man that he was, he told the complainers to fix it themselves.

John Pelley is a Geriatric Gypsy. He is retired from the rat race of working. He is a full-time RVer, who ran away from home. He began our travels on the East Coast and, like the migrating birds, seek the warmth of the seasons He has discovered volunteering with the National Park System. He has a CD he has recorded of Native American flute music.,

Development brings its own evils. One of the main problems that we have been facing of late is the management of fossil fuels. With increase in vehicles there is an equal increase in the concentration of pollutants. Fossil fuels need to be replenished but with the ever-rising demand of petroleum and other fuels, we must switch to an equally efficient alternative or else we may have to face a bigger problem.

One such alternative to vehicles which run on petroleum derived fuels is Urban electric vehicles. These require electricity for their functioning unlike other conventional vehicles. Since there is no emission, the problem of pollution is immediately dissolved. Generally, these cars have 2 doors with a seating capacity of 4 people at max. Built for in city driving, these cars are built for the basic purpose of commuting from one place to another. They can attain speeds of around 55 miles/hr and can run for around 12 hours before running out of power.

A lot of research is being put into this area for a simple reason that this technology is what is going to take over in the near future. Many automobile giants such as Ford etc are putting a lot of time and money to develop a more efficient version of these Urban electric vehicles. Contrary to popular belief, these vehicles are more common and popular in Europe rather than in America. Many of the cities where vehicle congestion is quite common, these vehicles are preferred as they are more convenient to park as well as to drive around.

All those who are in need of a vehicle and travel alone, should consider these Urban Electric vehicles as these are not only convenient in driving but also do their bit by not polluting the environment. Air pollution is at a steady rise and it is only wise that we consider vehicles that run using alternative sources of energy.

When discussing mortgages in Nevada, one cannot help but shake one’s head in sympathy for all the foreclosures in the state. In fact, Nevada leads the country with places like Florida and Arizona in the number of repossessed homes. Essentially, owners wound up with mortgages worth a whole lot more than their very houses.

Because stocks were still down several months after the September 11, 2001 tragedy, a large portion of investment funds were directed into real estate instead. People have suggested that these mortgages had been packaged as investment vehicles and eagerly bought up as such, which loans were quickly sold at a profit to institutional investors who did not exercise due diligence in analyzing all possible consequences.

Because operating expenses remained steady, the result was that property values increased tremendously. As more and more people found out about the unique real estate opportunities available, prices were driven up sky-high, and speculators flooded the residential market, creating a classic economic bubble in which a hot commodity was way overvalued and the market ripe for a correction.

Unfortunately, Nevada has a very definite oversupply of residential real estate right now, being among those leading the nation in the number of foreclosures occurring. Enormous amounts of private property were being developed in the expectation that the housing boom of the time could only continue, and even expand. Unfortunately, very few foresaw the consequences of misguided policies from government and lax oversight by the same.

In a state with very few industries to its credit, commercial realty is necessarily tied to what happens on the residential side of the business, and while not undergoing the turmoil being experienced by the residential market, it is definitely suffering right along. Nevada it seems more than other states, is going to need significant time to heal its property markets.

Oversupply, and a lack of fundamental demand forces merge to create this effect in the view of many market analysts. Up to twenty-three percent of all houses bought in 2004 were investor-owned, according to the conclusions of a National Association of Realtors study at the time. Banking needs to loosen, unemployment needs to reverse itself and consumer confidence needs a shot in the arm.

Nevada is not just fly-over country anymore. Beautiful vistas offer opportunities for tourism that have still yet to be fully tapped out. Development will, of course, be subject to some pretty stringent environmental reviews on account of the vital economic role fulfilled by all that beautiful natural scenery. The truth is, however, that transportation remains an issue. New roads and railways are not likely to be built due to environmental impact, but the lack of these extra transit routes hold back economic development from its full potential.

Disclaimer: this article is a good-faith attempt to provide information and should in no way be construed as advisory in nature. Readers are urged to consult a variety of professionals when making business decisions. The article only constitutes one opinion and should not serve as the basis for making any decisions of consequence.