Hirst

Renting vacation villas in St Croix, St Thomas and St John is a preferable way to accommodate yourself when vacationing in the US Virgin Islands, a Caribbean paradise that's part of the United States.

The 3 vibrant islands of the US Virgin Islands are considered safe destinations that are culturally rich and diverse, with friendly people hailing from all over the world. During your Virgin Islands getaway you could meet people from Africa, Europe, the United States and, of course, people native to the Caribbean.

St Thomas There are several ways to see the sights of St Thomas. Some of the most popular ways to explore this 32-square-mile island are by renting a car, chartering a small plane for an aerial view, going on a safari bus or taking a taxi. A few of the must-see spots to add to your itinerary include Drake's Seat, the spot where Sir Francis Drake used to watch his fleet and which overlooks Magens Bay Beach one of the world's most beautiful; Paradise Point, another scenic viewpoint that overlooks Charlotte Amalie Harbor; and downtown Charlotte Amalie, with its "99 Steps," Fort Christian and Blackbeard's Castle.

St John Get on your feet to explore St. John. This island, home of the US Virgin Islands National Park, is interlaced with trails that you can hike on your own or along which you can follow a guide. Along the trails you will find ruins of sugar factories, gorgeous beaches and ancient rock carvings. If you decide to stay on St John, you will have plenty of lodging choices, from large resorts to private villas to campgrounds. St John vacation rentals are recommended for their privacy and comforts of home amidst a tropical paradise.

St Croix The largest of the US Virgin Islands, St Croix offers plenty to see and do. Like St Thomas, you can tour St Croix by rental car, taxi, or guided tour. You may want to charter a sailboat at sunset to get a different perspective on this island. You can also enjoy St Croix from beneath the waves by diving or snorkeling in Buck Island Reef, the only U.S. national monument that is underwater. In addition to sunbathing on the beautiful beaches of St Croix, you may want to see the Cruzan Rum Distillery, the St George Botanical Garden, or, for a taste of history, Salt River the place where Christopher Columbus arrived in the Virgin Islands in 1493.

Whether you're traveling to the Virgin Islands to attend a wedding, enjoy your honeymoon or just take it easy, there are many ways to relax and experience all the islands have to offer. Activities include: golfing, deep-sea fishing, duty free shopping, kayaking, hiking, eco-tours, diving, sailing, sunbathing, fine dining, and nightlife.

For a truly unique and unforgettable vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands be sure to choose the right type of accommodations. You can share the same experience as many others by staying in a hotel or resort. Or you can live the destination like an islander by renting St Croix villas, St John vacation rentals or St Thomas villa or condo rentals.

It's easier than ever to find St John rentals, St Thomas rentals and St Croix villa rentals online. Try CyberRentals or HomeAway for your next Virgin Islands vacation.

When you think of a 'classic' holiday, what type of setting do you envision? Do you picture yourself lounging on a beach, relaxing in a seaside town, or perhaps partaking in an array of adventurous activities? There are countless 'classic' holidays out there - and ranking high among them is undoubtedly the cultural city tour.

City tours are spectacular, simply because they encompass so much; whether you'd like to stroll through grandiose galleries, shop in stylish districts, or experience thrilling nightlife, a city is the place to be. What's more, cultural city tours are ideal for weekend-mini-breaks as well as extended getaways - so anyone can partake in the excitement, no matter how busy they may be. But any major city will offer shopping, theatre, nightlife and cultural activity; so what makes a city stand out in these particular categories? Head to Glasgow, and you'll find out.

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, as well as one of the UK's top tourist destinations. And while it has a wealth of cultural attractions and activities to offer any visitor, it holds much more: Glasgow is well-known for its distinctive energy, unique style and unparalleled character - so it's no surprise that the city attracts over 3 million tourists each year.

Glasgow's centre boasts some of the city's most prominent cultural venues; the art enthusiast will enjoy exploring the Gallery of Modern Art and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, while the theatre-goer can catch spectacular shows at the Kings Theatre, the Citizen's Theatre, or the Theatre Royal - which is also home to the Scottish Opera and the Scottish Ballet.

Other must-see attractions in the city include the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow University and Cineworld, the tallest cinema in the world. Glasgow is also home to the Mitchell Library, which is the largest reference library in Europe, with over 1,213,000 volumes.

In addition, Glasgow hosts countless exhibitions and festivals; but unlike Edinburgh, which primarily holds its festivals during the month of August, Glasgow's festivals stretch throughout the year. The most renowned festivals include the Glasgow Jazz Festival, the Glasgow Film Festival, the Glasgow Comedy Festival, and the West End Festival. Between October and November every year, Glasgow also hosts Glasgay!, the UK's largest multi-art gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender festival.

Glasgow is also one of the world's top shopping destinations, with stores that will satisfy every fashionista. The most popular areas for shopping are Argyle Street, Sauchiehall Street, and Buchanan Street - known as the 'Golden Z,' due to the two-and-a-half mile 'z'-shaped layout of these streets; and, if you dont find what you're looking for here, the West end is sure to impress with its array of chic boutiques. Prince's Square and the Italian Centre are also popular areas for high-street retail shopping.

If you're impressed by all that Glasgow has to offer during the day, you'll love what it has to show by night. Glasgow's night life is certainly something to talk about, with numerous bustling hubs packed with restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs; from the West End and Merchant City, to Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street and Prince's Square, anyone up for a night out on the town is guaranteed a good time.

With Glasgow Airport located just twenty-five minutes from the city centre, it's convenient to fly in; and with 265 flights arriving daily, you'll have no trouble finding a flight to Glasgow, whatever your location may be. So for your next holiday, choose to go somewhere spectacular; choose to travel to the city of Glasgow.

Andrew Regan is an online journalist who enjoys socialising at his local Edinburgh rugby club.

Since its launch in 1998, Viagra, the world's first treatment for impotency, has revolutionized life for men of a certain age: more than 23 million worldwide have used the blue, diamond- shaped pills to spice up their love lives.

Starting to Spring of 2005 American health officials are examining reports that it causes blindness among a small number of at-risk men. The Viagra blindness risk was also reported in March 2005 in the Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology. The journal study examined seven cases where men suffered an unusual form of sudden blindness within 36 hours of taking Viagra.

Pfizer spokesperson Daniel Watts said there is no proof that Viagra caused the blindness. He said that men who take Viagra often have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are also associated with the conditions that can causes blindness. This form of sudden blindness is caused by the blockage of blood flow to the optic nerve and is most common in older people, who disproportionately use Viagra.

All these patients had other risk factors for this type of vision loss, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.

As researchers remain uncertain, FDA officials said they did not know if the drugs cause the blindness. But they ordered that labels for erectile dysfunction medications must include warnings about a potential link with sudden blindness. The new label said such vision loss, known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, "has been reported rarely."

Canadian ministry also advised users of the erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra, Cialis or Levitra to seek "immediate medical attention" if they experience sudden vision loss or other vision problems when taking the drugs.

Valerian D is a freelance writer specialized in health issues affecting men http://www.love-viagra.biz

The Mini Moto is a small scale replica of the World Super Bikes used by the likes of Valentino Rossi and ex champion Carl Fogarty. The Mini Moto comes equipped with either a two stroke air or water cooled engine which are, depending on the model, capable of speeds of up to 60Mph.

In this article I will underline the finer points of the components that make these speeds possible.

The two Stroke Engine

The two stroke engine produces more hp per pound than the four stroke engine. The two stroke engine consists of three moving parts, the piston, the rod and the crank. The piston acts as valve that opens and closes the intake and exhaust ports that are located on the walls of the cylinder. Unlike the four stroke engine that fires only every other time of the pistons movement, the two stoke engine fires every time the piston reaches the top of its travel. This means that the time spent generating power is doubled in the two stroke engine than that of the four stroke engine, as there is no engine coasting during passive cycles. This is the main reason that the two stroke engine can rev more highly and produce more power (for its size) that the four stroke.

Fuel

The two stroke engine needs to be run on a mixture of petrol and two stroke oil. This is so that the engine is kept lubricated whilst in use.

99% of all starting problems are caused by fuel problems. These can stem from bad or old fuel and improperly mixed fuel (please see mixing chart). Do not use fuels that contain alcohol, as the can cause you bike to run lean. Be advised some racing fuels contain alcohol and are best avoided.. We recommend that you use normal petrol for a garage and a quality two stroke oil.

A mixture that is too lean I.e not enough two stroke oil can damage your mini motos engine as the moving parts are not properly lubricated. This can cause the engine to seize. However a mixture that is too rich can choke the engine and effect the performance and cause starting problems. You can tell if your mini moto is running too richly by the plumes of white smoke coming out of the exhaust and the lack of performance. A rich mixture (25:1) is needed to lubricate the engine during the run in period, you may experience a lack of performance during this period. The pocket bike may run more slowly and acceleration can be sluggish, however when you change to a mixture of 50:1 you will really notice a difference. The leaner mix ignites in the combustion chamber faster and with a more explosive force than the richer mix. This means higher revs which means more power and acceleration.

We recommend that a fuel mixture of 25:1 is used to run in you mini moto, and a mixture of 50:1 is used thereafter.

Running in

Your mini moto should be run in for the first 3-4 tanks of fuel. During this period we recommend that you use a fuel mixture of 25:1. This means a mixture that is made up of 25 parts petrol to 1 part of two stroke oil. During the running in period be careful to not rev the engine to its maximum as this can damage the engine. The running in period will allow the moving parts to become well oiled and the clutch and brakes to bed themselves in. After you have run the minimoto on this fuel mixture for 3-4 tanks, check the chain and tighten accordingly, check the tyre pressure, tighten the bolts on the brakes, forks and wheels. You may also need to readjust the throttle settings to allow for the higher revs that changing to a leaner fuel mix produces. The bike should now be ready for a fuel mixture of 50:1.

Clutch

The mini moto uses a centrifugal clutch to power the drive the sprocket, which in turn drives the back wheel of your mini moto.

When you start your mini moto the clutch spins as the engine ticks over . The clutch is engaged when you pull back on the throttle. The increase in speed of revolution of the clutch makes the clutch expand and grip the inside of the clutch bell which turns the sprocket that drives the back wheel of your pocket bike.

The clutch can be set up in different ways depending on the type of performance that you want from your minimoto. Adjustable clutches are not standard on mini motos but an after market Polani or Blata style adjustable clutch can be used in your new mini moto. These allow the rider to adjust the mini motos set up in according to their preference. Setting the clutch to engage too late when the engine has built up too much power may cause the clutch to slip and never fully engage. This can result in excessive wearing. However setting the clutch to engage too early, before the power has built up in the engine can cause your pocket bike to bog down, resulting in slow acceleration. The perfect set up is to get the clutch to engage just as the engine has built enough power to rocket the mini moto away, but without making the clutch slip, this is achievable through trial and error.

Spark Plug

Making sure that your spark plug is fresh is important in a two stroke mini moto engine. You can tell a lot from the colour of the spark plug. The top part of your spark plug is covered in ceramic insulator which, when brand new is white. This part of the spark plug can change colour according to how your engine is running. The plug should appear as a nice tan colour when the engine is running perfectly, this indicates complete combustion. A greyish or white colour indicates that the engine is running too lean which can result in engine damage. In this case you should clean and check your fuel system for any obstruction, check your fuel mixture, check for loose intake manifold bolts and carburettor mounting leeks, faulty gaskets and leaking crank seals. Anywhere that your engine could potentially leek and suck in fresh air can be the source of a lean condition.

A blackened or oily spark plug indicates improper combustion and is the result of running too rich. This can be caused by too much oil in the mixture or the spark plug could be faulty and misfiring. Check the fuel mixture and replace the spark plug.

Air Filter

Your new mini moto is equipped with an air filter. Some bikes such as the B1 Origami rep liquid cooled and the Mini Dirt bike have a cone style K and N style air filter. The 2005 mk2 mini moto and the B1 Origami Replica air cooled bikes have a standard mini moto air filter. Both air filters purify the intake of air that is sucked into the carburettor. This means that the air filter should be cleaned regularly as the mini motos performance can begin to suffer as the engine can become starved of air if the air filter is choked with debris. To reach the air filter, remove the bikes bottom fairing, remove the protective cover by unscrewing the holding screws. Clean the air filter in petrol but make sure that the filter is dry before reattaching to you mini moto.

Tyres

The tyres on your mini moto are filled with air (pneumatic). Please consult your mini moto handbook for the appropriate psi. It is important to check the tyre pressure regularly, an under inflated tyre will affect the performance of your mini moto, acceleration can become sluggish and cornering can become dangerous.

Chain

Before riding your mini moto you need to make sure that the front and back sprockets are aligned and that the chain is perfectly straight running between them. Once you have established this make sure that the chain is tensioned correctly (please see your mini moto handbook). To test the tension of the chain you can manually push the pocket bike, if you hear a pinging or popping sound the chain is too loose. If the chain is noisy and starts to bind the chain is too tight. Make sure that the chain is well oiled. The chain needs to be oiled before every ride.

Gearing

The gearing of you mini moto is dictated by the number of the teeth on the front sprocket and on the back sprocket. The sprockets can be changed as an easy way to manipulate top end speed and acceleration, quite like changing gear on a mountain bike. A front sprocket with more teeth will improve acceleration, however the top end speed will be reduced. A larger rear sprocket will produce a higher top speed but acceleration will suffer. The gearing on your bike can be adjusted in accordance for the track you are intending to ride I.e. a small track with a lot of bends will suit gearing for improved acceleration, however a track with long straights will require a mini moto that is geared for a higher top speed.

Throttle

The throttle on your new mini moto is a twist grip style throttle. When you twist the throttle the throttle cable is pulled back revving the engine. It is important to keep this cable free from obstacles and clean. If the throttle begins to feel loose of gives, the tension of the cable can be adjusted via the adjusting screw.

Brakes

The brake system comprises of brake levers, brake cables, brake callipers and brake discs.

The brakes on your mini moto are operated by levers found on the handle bars. The right hand brake controls the front brake, and the left controls the back brake. Pulling on the handle pulls the brake cable which in turn pulls the lever located on the bake calliper. This action pushes the brake discs towards each other. This creates friction on the brake disc which slows down or stops the bike.

The brakes can be adjusted in the following ways.

The brake cable can be tensioned using the adjustment screw found on the brake lever. Unscrew the locking nut, twist the screw to reach the desired tension. Re screw the locking nut.

This is a two person job. Adjust the screw on the hand brake so that is at the end of its travel. Undo the clamp that holds the brake cable on the lever located on the brake calliper. One person needs to push the lever forward as far as it will, the second person needs to pull back on the brake cable and re fasten the clamp. The crake cable will now be highly tensioned.

Pull Start

To start the mini moto pull slowly to turn the fly wheel. This pumps some fuel around the engine, which lubricates the moving parts. Pull the pull start firmly in order to start the engine. Important, do not pull the cord to the end of its run as it can break. If the mini moto does not start check the choke and the throttle cable.

Choke

The choke controls the amount of air that is allowed into the air/fuel mix. The choke is adjusted via a lever located on the side and back of the engine. The choke is off when the lever is down, and on when the lever is up. When you start the mini moto the choke should be on, when the mini moto is warm and ready to ride the choke needs to be off.

Carburettor

It is recommend that any adjustments to the carburettor are made by a professional. The carburettor pumps and mixes the fuel and air. The small diaphragms, orifices and ports mix the air and fuel very precisely, this process demands clean fresh fuel.

Jet

The jet can be adjusted by the screw located in the access hole to the right of the choke lever. The jet is adjusted by the manufacture however the conditions of where you wish to ride may be different, which means that you will need to make adjustments. Turning the screw clockwise will make the bike run with a leaner mixture, and counter clockwise will richen the mixture. Only adjust the screw 1 tern a at time and then test the mini moto, this is trail and error. Please note that it is best to find the optimum setting for performance and then run a slightly richer mixture as a mix that is too lean can seize the engine.

Matt Tong has been importing and riding Mini Motos for over two years. For more information please visit http://www.minimotosandmore.com