The Temple of Heaven is one of the most renowned tourist attractions in Beijing.

Built by the Ming emperor Yongle in 1420, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a masterpiece of Chinese religious architecture. The hall was one of many altars inside the kingdom’s largest complex for ritual sacrifice, the Tiantan, or Tiantan. Twenty-two emperors came here to make sacrifices to heaven, affirming their divine role as ruler and shaman. Nowadays, in the Long Corridor through which ritual offerings once passed, crowds of retirees play poker, Hacky Sack and the two-stringed erhu.

History

The Temple of Heaven was constructed between 1406 and 1420 during the reign of Ming Emperor YongLe (1403-1424), who also oversaw the creation of the Forbidden City during the same period.

The Temple of Heaven was originally established as the Temple of Heaven and Earth, but was given its current name during the reign of Ming Emperor JiaJing (1522-1567), who built separate complexes for the earth, sun and moon. The Temple of Earth (DiTan) can be found in north Beijing. The temples of the sun and moon are in the east and west of Beijing.

The Temple of Heaven was renovated again during the reign of Qing Emperor QianLong (1736-1795).

In 1998, the Temple of Heaven was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In early 2005, the Temple of Heaven underwent a 47 million yuan (6 million USD) renovation that was completed on May 1st, 2006.

Architecture and Layout

The architecture and layout of the Temple of Heaven is based on elaborate symbolism and numerology.

In accordance with principles dating back to pre-Confucian times, the buildings in the Temple of Heaven are round, like Heaven (one can imagine the sky as like a rounded dome), while the foundations and axes of the complex are square (or 2 dimensional - that is, flat), like the earth (appears to be).

Thus, the buildings and their settings reflect ancient Chinese religious beliefs that imagine heaven as round and earth as square. The main buildings in the Temple of Heaven are constructed on a central north-south axis. The altar and temple are round and sit within square shaped areas.

Similarly, the northern part of the park is semicircular in shape while the southern part is square. The two parts are divided by a wall that has a semi-circular obtrusion in the middle around the Imperial Vault. This echos the shape of the park as a whole.

Similarly, the roofs of the important structures in the Temple of Heaven are tiled in blue, the color symbolizing heaven and sky (just as golden yellow symbolizes the emperor and green Buddhism).

The symbolism at the Temple of Heaven was necessary because it served as the place where the emperor, as the ‘Son of Heaven’, directly beseeched Heaven to provide a bountiful harvest throughout the land. This was of great importance because during the imperial period agriculture was the foundation of China’s wealth.

The Temple of Heaven, with its ancient cosmological basis, in turn helped to reinforce the legitemacy of the emperor’s role as head of a feudal system with a mandate from Heaven. In showing respect to Heaven through prayer and sacrifices, the emperor effectively emphasized the source of his authority.

Products that can help improve overall good health may be what many consumers are looking for these days. It is best that consumers consider ginseng side effects before they add this herb to their daily routine. Having knowledge of the benefits will have some consumers purchasing this product but as with any supplement or over the counter remedy it is important to understand side effects and warnings. Reading the label of the product may list some side effects, other individuals may choose to talk to a health care provider and some consumers may choose to research the side effects on line.

When choosing to purchase this herb in tea or capsule form many shoppers will want to check to see which form of the herb they are purchasing. Also reading the side effects of the product they are purchasing will help shoppers know exactly what symptoms to look for. Each type of this herb may have different side effects to look for. It is also important to follow the directions of the amount of the herb to take daily. When taking more than they suggested amount it could lead to an overdose of the herb that may have different symptoms. Though it will vary from person to person if they experience ginseng side effects or not knowing about them will help recognize them if they do happen. But for many people the benefits may outweigh the side effects they experience.

There are several side effects that may be common however they may not be as serious as other side effects that some individuals have experienced. Some of the most common of these symptoms have included headaches, diarrhea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. Also some women have noticed breast pain while taking this herb supplement. If these symptoms worsen individuals may want to talk to their health care provider about continuing or discontinuing the use of this supplement. Assuming that herbs and natural supplements are safe to take because they are all natural are not exactly accurate. In fact for most people checking with their health care provider before they do take one of these natural products will give the consumer all the valuable information they need regarding their individual situation. For those who do take this herbal supplement there are a few ginseng side effects that may require medical attention and should be reported to the health care provider immediately. Some of these side effects include rapid heart rates, hypoglycemia, heart palpitations, low or high blood pressure and vaginal bleeding may require the individual to have immediate health care. There are a few other symptoms to watch for that may indicate that the individual’s blood is not clotting appropriately.

Those individuals who become easy to bruise, nosebleeds or bleeding that is not easily stopped will also want to contact their health care provider immediately. Signs of vomiting blood and blood in the stool as well as stroke symptoms make require an immediate phone call to 911 or a trip to the emergency room. Knowing ginseng side effects will have those individuals experiencing the benefits aware of the potential harm if the symptoms go untreated. As with any new medication or supplement being aware of symptoms of an allergic reaction are important to be aware of. When a person is allergic to this herbal supplement they may experience rash, hives, itching and mouth or throat swelling, when this happens getting immediate health care is critical. Those knowing the ginseng side effects will know what to look for and if they do not experience them they will be able to experience the help this herb can bring for overall good health.

About The Author.  Simone Simmons is an author and avid art collector.  In his spare time he also likes to dabble in building sites.  Here are a few of his creations.  kids snow goggles and another great site is http://buyvendingmachines.net and Dinosaur Bedding.

If the website traffic on your internet marketing webpage is deteriorating, single brilliant way to raise it is by designing a weblog. Blogging is among the right Internet Marketing Strategies as well as is basically the act of holding an online journal about any experiences.

Blogging is a good way to share your experiences as a internet promotion executive, manufacturing motivation and therefore providing education to any affiliates. And, do not worry if you’ve never written a blog – it’s fashioned to become an web based journal of sorts, so you’re not expected to be a Hemingway.

Use their each day experiences as an online marketer as the basis for your blog entries. Entries can be short, but attempt to make sure each unique makes a point or has a message. In addition to, be sure to weblog on a regular basis, so that the readers don’t get bored along with stop checking for new entries.

Setting up a weblog is rather easy from a technical viewpoint. The first thing is choosing a blog theme. There are many blogging platforms, such as Wordpress, that make starting up and sustaining the own blog very straightforward. Regardless of whether you use Wordpress, or one of the other blogging platforms, you’ll usually pay a monthly or yearly web hosting fee. Or, if you are awfully technically oriented, you can likely set up their own weblog right in your current site and save money.

A weblog can be an excellent way to improve your business for almost no time or cash. Keep your affiliates in addition to yourself fired up by sharing the experiences as well as what you’ve discovered over the internet.

Thanks to the advancements in know-how, it is now probable to watch a DVD movie anywhere you go through the use of a portable dvd player. With this type of player, you won’t have to be bored while you are waiting at the airport, hotel room, or you car.
If you want to understanding the convenience of owning a portable DVD player, here are some tips on how to select the right portable dvd player for you.

Initial and foremost, you have to decide your budget. Before deciding on a acquire, you need to know how significantly you are willing to spend for this type of DVD player. Continue in head that if you select those players that are affordable, you might end up getting a low quality player. Instead of picking low top and affordable players, you call for to weigh those players from common brands that are regarded to make big excellent merchandise.

Aside from budget, you should also reflect on the features of the player that you plan to purchase. Since technology continues to advance, added functions are added to new models of players. If you have a limited budget, you can always prefer products that have basic features rather than models with advance features. On the other hand, if you are the kind that wants far more functions then you can choose from the latest models of players with the latest features; however, anticipate that these products have higher prices compared to easy products.
Features are crucial considerations but if you really do not examine for the screen size, then you might end up getting a DVD player with a petite screen that will make watching movies troublesome. Just keep in mind that if you select players with little screens, you might end up failing to see the movie in details and if you end up with a player with further large screen, it might not be so portable anymore.

 Since you are going to purchase a DVD player that you can use anytime, you have to consider the battery life of the player that you would like to acquire. If the battery lifetime of the player that you want is not longer than two hours, then you should look at looking for other models with longer battery lifetime.
When purchasing the transportable sort of DVD player, it is necessary to glance for the fundamental characteristics and the convenience or profits that you can obtain from that type of player.

About the publisher: flixivist is  an internet enthusiast & a blogger who enjoys searching deep within a topic, publishing specific 'right towards the issue' stories along with earning from that. He discovered Flixya over a online lookup and have been hooked onto it ever since.

Social Security’s Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program limits the amount of earnings subject to taxation for a given year.

The Social Security Wage Base (SSWB) is the maximum earned gross income on which a wage earners Social Security tax may be imposed. The Social Security tax is one part of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax (FICA) and Self-employment tax, the other part being the Medicare tax.

Average Earnings

When average earnings are calculated to determine a worker’s Social Security benefit, the maximum amount of covered wages are taken into account. The Social Security wage base for 2010 will remain the same as 2009 which is $106,800.

The Social Security tax rate paid by the employer is 6.20% and the employee will also pay 6.20%. The maximum Social Security tax that employees and employers will each pay in 2010 is $6,621.60.Now if you’re self-employed you will pay the entire amount of applicable tax.

Social Security Payroll Tax Limits for 2010

The FICA tax can sometimes be referred to as the payroll tax or the self-employment tax depending on your employment status. This is your contribution to Social Security and Medicare as a percentage of your salary. As you know, we all have to pay in while we are working in order to collect when we are older. Hopefully the money will still be there for us.

Calculating Payroll Tax Limits

If you would like to estimate your taxes owed you can use the free tax calculator at Turbo Tax Online. They have several different tax preparation software programs available.

If the percentages and limits have your mind swirling, the software can help you figure it all out. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an employee or self-employed. They have software packages for the self-employed and the employee.

As a matter of fact, when you start to use the software and enter information, you will be advised to switch to a different tax software choice if they determine another package would be to your benefit. So don’t worry about whether or not you chose the best tax software package.

Online Tax Preparation Software

If you would like to estimate your Social Security payroll tax you should try TurboTax Online. There are many benefits waiting for you to take advantage of. You are guaranteed the biggest refund possible or least tax owed.

You will know right where you stand. As you enter data they will display your refund (or tax owed) on every screen and it will update the amount as you answer questions.

Visit TurboTax Online today to discover all of the benefits available to you! Learn More about Federal Payroll Withholding.

Roaming outside your country is often a luxurious practice, particularly when you need to get married inside a luxurious location. Traveling is not just for relaxation and pleasure, it can also be for an important occasions such as wedding. When you need to look for exciting and romantic places to hold a special and momentous event, feel free to visit compare travel deals and hold your big event with their assist. You are able to check their website for travel updates, latest promos, discounted trips and other hotel facilities you need to be familiar with.

Since they aspire to offer millions of travelers globally, with a content and budget discount provide they started out this website. By means of compare booking you'll be able to create a travel guide to guide you decide on where to go and what to see. Scheduling your trip in advance will guide you be guided for extra journey cutback guidelines.

You save up to 75% on automobile rentals, hotels and cruises, unearth cheap hotels in munich or even a cheap hotels in key west. It is possible to measure up on other presents, with their total lists you may compare and go for among the destinations you possibly can try for wedding. Whether you prefer to do it over a hotel, on board, or elsewhere, get along your families, your fiancé’s families, you can be sure that you possibly can only get the most competitive price tag. Their whole lists will assist you make a decision on what you will go for.

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Have you ever had a friend that has given you awful plastic surgery tips? You know, they say the types of things that are simply not appreciated or wanted… Things like, wow, you're really flat chested, maybe you should get a boob job? They might make a comment about your nose, perhaps its too big, or too small, round or flat and they may suggest that a nose job would look really good on you.

The fact of the matter is that many people have decided to get cosmetic surgery but then been completely disappointed with the result. The topic of celebrity plastic surgery or what happens with plastic surgery gone wrong is incredibly popular in this day and age.

Just look at your favorite celebrities if you want a few examples… People like Michael Jackson, Tara Reid, Janet Jackson, Brittney Spears are just a few of the most notorious names and people that have received awful cosmetic alterations but surgeons that really just didn't know what they were doing.

Why should you be any different if you don't take the time to research the industry and due the proper work necessary to make sure the surgeon you select is talented and skillful at performing the work you would like to have completed. Don't take my word for it, just go ahead and perform a Google search for the term "Michael Jackson plastic surgery."

In this day and age, cash is king and doctors are happy to take it if you are willing to shell it out. How many terrible stories have you heard about people with bad boob jobs, nose jobs and all other sorts of situations that have changed their life. Keep in mind that there is no going back after you make a life changing decision like this.

Maybe it would be wiser to consider the possibility that you are fine just the way you are. If you come to this conclusion then you will be extremely happy when you find out that the money you were going to pay can go to a holiday instead.

It should be noted that any advice regarding medical procedures and plastic surgery is taken without proper documents. Consult a physician before making any medical decisions.

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Traffic control plan (TCP) is a well considered out plan produced to get both the passerby and the construction workers safe. This is a way that they have come up with to control traffic and to refrain from conflict, especially to those people who make use of the pathway to get to their destination.

The first idea of a traffic control plan is to let the service provider work within the right of way of the public with competency and effectivity along with keeping a protected, level flow of traffic. The people who shall be passing by the construction area might be in automobiles, on mountain bikes, or even just as walkers. The construction work need to be granted equal contemplation when making the traffic control plan.

For every construction work that is contained among the right of way of the population, a traffic control plan is compulsory. The data designed to be included for the traffic control plan (TCP) will depend on how intricate the effort are going to be, the hardness of traffic which will be affected and the passage way design with regards to the spot on the construction area. The TCP (traffic control plan) has to unmistakably represent the correct order of the construction processes, the construction to be worked upon and the path way that they will be utilizing for the duration of each and every stage of the construction work.

There are tons of phasesof construction that could demand a separate traffic control plan for all the construction development or course. All the significant factors are required to be comprised when producing the TCP and they should also be perceptible to the critic also to the implementers.

By producing a real traffic control plan, this helps accelerate the task of the plan review. You also have to make sure the plans you have proposed are complete. The plan will be assessed in about two weeks. If the TCP does not consist of the fundamental elements that are mandatory to be told what to do, the TCP will probably be denied and be re-sent to the correspondent for modification. It will eventually then have to be submitted once more for reconsideration. The traffic control plan that's being approved will be evaluated at the pre-construction meeting.

When producing the traffic control plan, there are a great number of dilemmas that should be deliberated. Some of these dilemmas are:

-Will cyclists be affected during the construction?

-Is the time of day such as low setting sun or night work important for the construction work?

-Will bus stops as well as schools (considering that the construction site is near a school zone) be affected during the construction period?

-Will people who will be making use of the road way be affected?

If you live in a city or town where traffic is getting worse every day, you can find the right traffic control plan solution by visiting our site or simply clicking on the link provided.

PEX is a water plumbing system built from high density polyethylene tubes. particular PEX fittings are employed to link up PEX tubing. PEX tubing is a resilient material that is simpler and cheaper to install, is resistant to erosion and requires less fittings than earlier plumbing arrangements.

The main advantages of PEX tubing is its ability to remain supple in cold temps, its resistance to scale build-up and erosion and its smaller cost compared to copper or rigid pipes. PEX tubing is less expensive than copper pipe, requires less time to install and needs less fittings.

PEX tubing is weaved around spools. employing reels is cost cost-effective because of their reduced weight and ease of warehousing. They cost less to transport than other types of pipes. PEX tubing can be set up directly from the spools with no need for coupling fittings. There is also no demand for elbow joints because the flexibility of PEX tubing allows it to be turned to a 90 degree angle. Installation is easy and quick. There are no fumes and safety dangers from soldering because there is no soldering needed when you use PEX materials.

There are a number of connection systems some of which are patented. But basically the fitting is placed either over or into the tube and a ring is crimped over the tube or fittings. Rings can be built of plastic, copper or stainless steel. There are proprietary joining methods which require specific tools and fittings.

Pipes are cut utilising a special PEX pipe cutter and come in different sizes to accommodate 1/2" or 3/4" pipes. A main crimping tool is used to pinch the rings over the pipe or fitting. There is a de-crimping tool that is utilized to remove crimped rings. There are some specialized tools employed for the stainless steel clamps and proprietary joining methods.

Fittings can be made of brass, bronze, copper or engineered plastic but the most popular material in PEX plumbing is brass. The fittings have ridges designed to form a tight fit. When the ring is crimped over the tube or fitting a high-pressure seal is formed.

Using the system of PEX fittings along with PEX tubing has definite advantages over metal and plastic piping. It is less costly than rigid plastic and copper piping . It can be put in right from the spools. It necessitates less fittings. It last longer because it is not subject to erosion.

News As It Happens

Consumers don’t like carrying cash but are wary of handing over a credit card because of the risk of credit card fraud. But what’s the alternative?

Contactless payments.

The next generation of electronic payment, contactless payments don’t require the customer to hand over their card. The whole transaction is completed electronically, and their card never leaves their hand. It’s faster, easier and much more secure.

But what about the merchant? Should cash-heavy merchants rush into setting up a contactless payments merchant account? A payments consultant would answer a resounding yes! Contactless payments merchant accounts deliver even greater benefits to merchants than it does to consumers. Read on to find out how.

What is Contactless Payment?

Contactless payments merchant accounts are the third generation of electronic payments. (The first generation was the old plastic credit card, and the second was the magnetic stripe card.) Merchants with contactless payments merchant accounts enable customers to use their credit cards for purchases without ever handing their card over. Contactless payments merchant account transactions use one of the following methods:

• Contactless readers;
• Retailer cards/fobs;
• NFC (near field communication) enabled mobile payment software; or
• Back end processing/over the air payment software.

Customers love it!

Payments consulting research shows that 86% of consumers want to carry less cash, and most carry less than $20. (Survey was conducted in 2005 by lpsos and commissioned by MasterCard). They’re growing more comfortable using credit, but they’re still quite worried about security issues when handing over their card. In fact, 91% of likely users would feel more secure if they were allowed to hold their payment card through their entire payment process.

And then there’s ease of use, speed and convenience. Nationwide, almost 75% of respondents refuse to wait in line longer than five minutes for a purchase of less than $25, and more than 25% refuse to wait longer than just two minutes.

So how does contactless payment compare in terms of speed? Very well, in fact… It takes only 1/3 to ½ of the time of the average cash or traditional credit card transaction:

• CVS Pharmacy Average Cash Transaction = 33.7 seconds
• Average Card Transaction (w/o Signature = 26.7 seconds
• Average RF Transaction = 12.5 seconds

So contactless payments increase customers’ sense of security and decrease hated wait-times. It’s no surprise, then, that customers love it!

And the growth rate of contactless payments merchant accounts shows it. According to Brian Triplett, senior vice president for emerging product development-Visa USA, “The adoption rate is the fastest we’ve seen for any new technology. I do expect we will continue to see significant growth; whether it’s double or triple we’ll have to wait and see.”

What are the Benefits for Merchants?

The most obvious benefit for merchants in having contactless payments merchant accounts is that consumers love it, so they’ll use it more often and spend more.

But the benefits don’t end there. Contactless payments merchant accounts also:

• Leverage ‘Top of Wallet’ convenience - Like traditional credit cards (and unlike cash), the customer’s card is always in their wallet, which means they’re more likely to spend, simply because they can.

• Deliver increased merchant differentiation - Particularly in the early days of adoption, merchants with contactless payments merchant accounts will ‘stand out from the crowd.’ They’ll offer consumers a new and exciting way to pay for goods and services.

• Are cheaper to operate - Transactions clear as a card-present, magnetic stripe-read transaction, but card readers are a fraction of the cost of a new POS terminal.

• Increase efficiency - Businesses with contactless payments merchant accounts enjoy much more rapid check-out times during peak hours.

• Are easy to install and upgrade - The hardware for contactless payments merchant accounts is all plug-n-play.

• Increase customer loyalty - Studies show that customers return to the participating merchant’s location on an average of two times a month.

• Leverage a general consumer movement away from cash (20%) - Even customers who don’t specifically love contactless payment probably DO specifically dislike cash. By offering them an alternative, businesses increase the likelihood of a sale.

Put simply, businesses with contactless payments merchant accounts enjoy increased transaction volume (average 45%) and increased ticket size (average 20%).

What Merchants Benefit Most from Contactless Payments Merchant Accounts?

Contactless payments merchant accounts are ideal for cash-heavy merchants. Target industries include:

• QSR
• Petroleum & C-store
• Book Stores
• Dry Cleaners
• Video Rental
• Pharmacy
• Grocery
• Parking
• Movie Theaters
• Stadiums & Arenas
• Theme Parks
• Events
• Cafeterias (Schools & Corporate)
• Taxis
• Transit
• Vending
• News Stands
• Parking Garages

Conclusion – The Future of Contactless Payments Merchant Accounts?

Contactless payment offers significant bottom-line benefits to merchants. It’s the next generation payment system that’s faster, easier, more secure and more convenient for consumers, which means it facilitates more sales (greater volume transaction) of greater value (ticket lift) for merchants. It’s a win-win situation!