Everyone reads them at some stage and many are so influenced by a good story that they adopt life changes to match. True stories are obviously the most inspirational and biographies of people like leaders and do goods are among the best. But there are also fictional stories that can be just as inspiring. Some by renown authors such as Dickens or Mark Twain live on within your psyche forever.

The question is how much of their stories are made up or simply adapted from life? In the case of Samuel Clemens, who adopted the pen name of Twain, he lived the life he wrote about. His two classic novels ‘Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ and ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn‘ are ones that live in the heart of those who relate to them.

In my case the novels by John Steinbeck did that for me. One book in particular stands out ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ as his finest piece. Here was a family struggling with life’s worst challenges following the Great Depression and then the horrible drought and wind-storm that swept through the Midwest of the USA. Their journey led to homelessness, starvation, and the death of family members.

Perhaps the attraction for me in this story was the constant struggle that had been so impressed upon me as a child. In order for me and those of my generation to understand what depression, homelessness, riots, and other things mean one needs to read this book.

In my young years we would pass ‘humpies’ or ‘swaggies’ on the road with their bundles slung over their backs while a billy was always fixed to the end of it.

Still marching from place to place looking for hand-outs this was going on years after the depression ended but not so long after the Second World War. It taught me respect for what we termed the down-and-outs and some stories written of the times reinforced it.

Feel good stories are those that teach a lesson as well as warm the heart with something spiritual. As one with memory of reincarnation and a link to the Spirit fiction is something I try to avoid now but when growing up there were many things brought to the fore through such stories that would not be known otherwise.

Twain and Dickens both produced such stories that touched on history while launching you into the mood of the times. The colour, even the smells, come alive as one rides through the pages of their books with excitement and a drive to finish it and leading you to the ultimate conclusion. Sometimes the end is happy but even when it is tragic you know you have been affected by it.

In the evening on August 6 of 1959 hurricane Dot swept onto the island of Kauai in Hawai’i. Causing damage to Hawai’i, O’ahu and Kaui Dot seemed to honor a strange and little known distinction held by the island of Maui and it’s smaller neighbor islands of Molokai, Lanai and Kahoʻolawe. That distinction seems to be Maui’s extremely beneficent placement in the Island chain that protects us from every hurricane that rages across the calm Pacific. The damage from Dot skipped some islands jumping from The Hawai’i to Oahu and Kauai, with Maui and her neighbors suffering the least. Hawaii is laid out generally starting East South-East with the ‘Big Island’, the namesake of Hawai’i. North west of Hawai’i about are Maui, Kahoʻolawe, Lanai and Molokai. Maui is approximately 29 miles from Hawai’i at the closest points. From Oahu to Molokai is only approximately 25 miles. Kauai and Hawaiian-Only neighbor island Ni’ihau are approximately 70 miles North-West of Oahu. The entire length of the livable islands is about 374 miles. It does seem that we are geographically sheltered from natures wrath.

In 1982 the next “big one” almost hit. Hurricane Iwa (pronounced – ee wah), missed Kauai by some 25 miles to the Northwest, However it devastated Kauai and Oahu. Kauai saw waves 30 feet high with surges as far as 900 feet inland. Iwa caused $774 million in USD-2006.

In 1992 Hurricane Iniki seemed to be on a course quite clear of the islands but suddenly veered Northward directly into Kauai. Hurricane Iniki cause a massive amount of damage to Kauai and O’ahu suffered flood damage. Maui received rainfall from Iniki and though mostly spared did have several vessels swept into shore due to pounding surf and surging swells. Many people on Kauai lost their homes and businesses and were forced to rebuild.

For the most part however Maui has been hurricane free, suffering no known direct hits and very little in the way of damage from passing storms. It gives one the feeling that maybe the time is nigh. Still Maui is the safest bet in hurricane season with a proven record that seems to substantiate the idea that our beautiful island is geographically protected from these behemoths of the great sea.

Over the last few days hurricane Flossie threatened the Hawaiian isles with potential destruction. But as with the majority of storms that come this way, Flossie fell apart before doing any damage. The surfers will still be very happy.

We’re not out of season yet and usually when theres one big one, others will follow into September. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Although Maui seems to elude every storm, such is not entirely the case. In 1871 The “Kohala Cyclone” did indeed ravage the island. Records do not list Maui as being hit directly. At that time Maui suffered reasonably severe damage and it is likely that many roads were impassable by horse and buggy and that many roofs and buildings were lost or damaged. No where in Hawai’i is completely safe from storm damage and no where in the world is entirely protected from the multitude of natural forces but the weather on Maui is almost always balmy and soothing warm.

I live on the slopes of Haleakala, the majestic volcanic mountain of Maui that rises 13,000 feet from Sea Level. Up here around the 2,500 foot mark, last winters low temperature was around 47 degrees. As of August this year, it hasn’t been hotter than 80 degrees. Down in the valley, where most people live the temperature might see a low of 56 degrees in the bitterest of winter and close to 100 degrees in August. Rarely does the mercury sway far from these fair measures. Moderate temperatures and protection from storms are two of the many qualities that make Maui NO KA OI (The Best).

If you come during hurricane season to avoid the summer heat or during whale season to avoid Jack Frosts chilly grasp you can expect to enjoy moderate temperatures and sunshine. If you need an affordable and fully equipped vacation rental by the sea, consider trying out Luana Kai’s Maui Condos.

Chinese Martial Arts known as Chinese Kung-fu by most foreigners is a traditional Chinese physical activity with thousands of years of history.

A part of the holistic Oriental Civilization, Chinese Kung-fu is effective both in battle and in building physical strength. In addition, it unites with the traditional medicine concepts of human’s main and collateral channels, Qi and blood. To conclude, as a crystallization of the wisdom gathered in the ancient Chinese lands, it allows people of any age to build up their bodies.

In modern times, Chinese Kung-fu was first introduced abroad to the United States by Chinese-American Kung-fu master Bruce Lee, whose agile movements in a series of his great movies swept American audiences off their feet. Thanks to the giant influence of the American movie industry, it soon swept across the world. The entire globe was enchanted by the magic act, starting the upsurge of interest in Chinese Kung-fu. From then on, Chinese Kung-fu learners can be found everywhere. Now, Lee’s followers, Jacky Chan (Cheng Long) and Jet Lee (Li Lianjie) carry the baton pushing themselves to novel heights.

Kung fu films have popularized traditional Chinese martial arts throughout the world. Films such as “crouching tiger, hidden dragon”, “kung fu hustle” “hero” and “house of flying draggers” have excited Hollywood, scored big at the international box office, and have made a splash at awards ceremonies and film festivals around the world. And from these movies, Chinese kung fu stars Bruce Lee, Jacky Chan and Jet Lee have been hero in people’s mind.

Veteran Hong Kong director Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 2001. It won four, which was a huge international breakthrough for the Chinese film industry.

“Kung Fu Hustle”, directed by and starring Stephen Chow, was the highest grossing, limited release film in North America. It raked in US$293,025 on only seven screens over its opening weekend. That averaged around US$41,816 per screen, far outpacing any other movie. It held the No 5 position in the United States for two weeks, and was eventually shown on 2,503 screens.

“Hero” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” each averaged about US$9,000, or 41,450 per screen, during their first week of release on North American screens. This kung fu wave has inspired several Hollywood filmmakers and studios to cash in on its popularity. Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill,” tells the story of a young woman who studies kung fu in order to get revenge on her enemies. Disney’s animated feature “Mulan,” adapted from an old Chinese story, was also released to international acclaim. Coming up to date, Chinese Kung-fu has become something of a necessity in movies.

The Chinese mainland’s first kung fu film, “Shaolin Temple” (1982), contributed to the popularization of kongfu schools connected to the monastery. Millions of people from across the globe have studied in these schools, and it has been a huge boost to the economy of central china’s henna province, where the temple is located.

In many societies including those of ancient China and India, two people could not get married unless an astrologer examined their horoscopes and decreed that they could, in fact, have a successful and harmonious union. Today, astrology is no longer an important part of a betrothal. However, it is still quite useful when it comes to determining compatibility and getting to know one’s partner better.

It can even be used to predict personality types and increase your chances of success with a woman you are attracted to. For instance, if you like a Virgo woman you know you’ll be dealing with someone who’s friendly, level-headed and detail-oriented. The following tips on how to seduce a Virgo woman will also come in useful if you want to win her heart.

1. Become her friend. A Virgo woman is a very grounded person. She is very practical and bases most of her decisions on careful thought. Virgo is an intellectual sign, so you won’t find her making any unruly emotional outbursts or displays. Becoming her friend is a good way to initiate a relationship because she isn’t the sort who believes in love at first sight or being magically swept off her feet.

2. Make her laugh. Despite being intellectual, Virgos often have a very wicked sense of humour. Her mind is always at work, so she will appreciate your efforts to direct her attention to the lighter side of life. In fact, laughter will do her good because she is inclined to be a little too serious at times. She may also be unduly obsessed with small details, wanting to achieve perfection in various aspects of her life. Because of her attention to detail, she can often lose sight of the big picture. Humour is a great way to get her back on track and freshen up her perspective, and she will thank you for bringing it into her life.

3. Go slow. You don’t want to rush a Virgo girl into anything. Her natural pace is one that is slow and steady. She also tends to be more traditional, so don’t suddenly call her up at work and tempt her to play hooky so she can go out on a picnic with you. She won’t find this inviting or exciting and it will probably only unsettle her nerves. Take a more traditional approach like dinner and movie dates until you know each other better or have already established a relationship.

4. Be discreet. A Virgo woman can appear a bit cold and unyielding, but that’s mostly because she likes to keep things private. Don’t expect any public displays of affection, but once she lets you into her well-organized life you can expect a satisfying and fulfilling sexual dimension to your relationship.

When you know how to seduce Virgo woman, you are increasing your chances of gaining a partner who will give you security and stability. And if you are successful in your suit, you can consider yourself one very lucky man.

Never in our wildest dreams would anyone of thought that two of the mightiest companies in the world would enter into bankruptcy protection. After all these are two staple companies of the American economy and each year people from college graduates to blue collar workers clamored and salivated to obtain a job with one of these two companies.

So what happened how did the tsunami sweep through them? Office Politics! Now before you say what is this or impossible let’s examine it a little further. Office politics includes a lot of factors not just doing what the boss wants whether they are right or wrong, getting favor with the boss, but it includes everything from reading email from friends to office gossip at the water cooler. Each year companies pay a heavy economic price for not addressing the issue in way of productivity, lost wages, and sick leave. Chrysler and GM was so saturated in management levels that complaints and ideas never made it to the top where it mattered most or where a effective decision could be made on products or the direction the company was taking. Still you say how does this equate to office politics?

How many times have we said lets do this because the boss likes it, knowing all the time that it wasn’t a good decision or product? Or if I get in favor with the boss and keep my nose clean and don’t make waves and forsake good ideas I will get that promotion or rise to the top with them or even just to keep my job! It affects others like morale, stress, and absenteeism when certain people who curry favors from the boss get away with doing nothing and a host of other things.

According to the American Institute of stress it cost $300 billion in lost productivity due to stress related factors. In Australia it cost $14.81 billion. To go a little further in 2003 the CCH did a survey and found that companies set aside 4.4% of their budget for absenteeism and 5.3% for poor-fair morale. Undoubtedly GM and Chrysler wouldn’t come close to $300 billion but let’s say that since the size of their companies combined made up a quarter of this figure then that would equate to $75 billion, more than what they received in federal bailout money.

After GM and Chrysler emerge from bankruptcy office politics will be a issue that both companies will have to address. No longer can they continue on the path that led them to this economic tsunami, they will have to come up with new ideas and ways of doing things. They will have to come up with bold steps to compete globally with the top two (Toyota, Honda) workers will have to be flexible when it comes to compensation and productivity the two are not inseparable. Promotions and other fringe benefits will have to be tied to performance. If they continue down the same path that led them to this point and not recognize any sort of change and the workers going back to work after the plants reopen and doing the something, then It will be just like Eastern Airlines nothing more than a memory in time and history.