Did you know chocolate was originated in Central America? That it used to be a treat only to the rich? Chocolate has a fascinating history! The Olmecs occupied a small area south of Veracruz and were the first cultivators of the cacao pod. The Mayans were next, just south of present day Mexico, to elevate chocolate to status of the Gods. They named the cacao tree Cacahuaquchtl (tree) as they were concerned no other tree was worth naming. They believed the tree belonged to the gods and that the pods growing from the tree were an offering from the gods to man. They Mayans were the originators of a bitter brew made from cacao beans. It was a luxury drink enjoyed by kings and noblemen. Thankfully we can...

It is one of the supreme ironies of the Internet that the computer, so long derided as impersonal, is now being used to create highly personal experiences for Web site visitors. Because a computer can sift through vast amounts of existing information according to preprogrammed rules, computers can now take company informa­tion (or special interest information) and combine it with informa­tion supplied by prospective customers and digest it in a way that is meaningful to each individual. What are the best ways for businesses are to personalize selling and customize products in order to build busi­ness. Although many of these methods are still in their infancy, a great deal can be gleaned as...

The towers of the legendary Desert Inn in Las Vegas (nine-story each) were imploded on November 17, 2004, in order to make room for a new construction in the "Wynn Las Vegas" project, initially planned to span over 20 acres of land. Nostalgically described as "another chapter in Las Vegas' history that is being closed beneath a cloud of dust" by Las Vegas Review Journal, the name of Desert Inn stands now by the side of other famous & former Las Vegas resorts like The Dunes, Hacienda or Sands. Entitled "Encore at Wynn Las Vegas", the new 61 story hotel tower will feature at least 1,500 suites and full-resort amenities such as a casino area, restaurants, a spa, swimming pools, retail and conventional...

Recently, launched its campaign through classified advertising in South East Asia. The remarkable respond, from Indonesia only 297 new registered members within 3 days and easy to be predicted that the number will increase significantly within 3 months ahead. Asia, especially East Asia and South East Asia lead by China and India will be a massive market ever. Downloadable product and service will dominate the online market, but unfortunately not many leading companies in online payment method aware of this early birth opportunity to be the market leader in Asia. Google learnt their lesson in China, should other big internet based companies loosing their opportunity to build their empire in Asia...

The debate on the link between humans and apes has not yet been completely resolved, according to many experts. Neanderthals who were evidenced to have existed in Central and Northern Asia 350,000 years ago, provided the scientific community with information on human evolution. Compared to the famous Bigfoot and sasquatch of North America, China has its own version of the creature, called yeren in the native tongue, which translates as wild man. Paleontologists claim that possibly 1,000 to 2,000 of the yeren live in Central China, particularly in Shennongjia Nature Reserve, in Hubei province. Variants of the name are xueren, yiren and yeh ren, which more accurately means wild man of Shennongjia. The...

We all know what wolves and coyotes look like, and nearly everyone is familiar with bears, deer and turtles; what about some less familiar animals such as capybara, kiwi, or tapirs? There are so many lesser known animals on this planet that we hear little or nothing about most times, it is interesting to investigate a few of these creatures and understand them a little more. Mammals Capybara are first on our list of unusual mammals. They are the world's largest rodent, averaging 100 pounds. They are called rodents because they have sharp front teeth that never stop growing. They are semi-aquatic, spending a lot of time in the water. They live in grasslands and forests alongside water in Central and...

Universal Studios has become more popular each year and is known around the world. With its vast array of attractions and rides it appeals to people of every age and interest. It started in the U.S.A., but now has a global location. How Universal Studio Came To Be The first Universal City was officially opened in 1915 in Hollywood, CA. A man by the name of Carl Laemmle had a vision and is the one credited with giving Universal its place on the map. Before the first Universal City opened in 1915 Lawmmle's start in the studio business began in 1906 in Chicago. This is when the first Nickelodeon theater opened and gave Laemmle his vision for the great Universal Studios. In the beginning, Universal...

Bonsai as the name suggests is formed from two words, 'bon' meaning tray or dish and 'sai' meaning tree or plant, so its' literal translation is 'tree planted in a dish'. A bonsai is thus a miniaturized tree grown in a dish, resembling in all respects its larger counterpart in nature. In a nutshell Bonsai is a tree or shrub grown in a container First origin Bonsai first appeared in China over a thousand years ago, where it was the practice of growing single specimen trees in pots because it was considered as an expression of the harmony between heaven and earth, man and nature. These early specimens displayed sparse foliage and rugged, gnarled trunks that often looked like animals, dragons and birds...

It is always nice to see how the other half lives, take for instance there is the Life of Luxury: the George Hamilton way. This is a TV show which looks at the lives of the Super Rich in which the first episode looks at the PlayBoy Mansion, a collection of multi-million dollar homes, hip-hop half-billion dollar empires and some queens of shopping. Tom Delay's Life of Luxury over the last six years: Public documents reviewed by The Associated Press document his 48 visits to golf clubs and resorts; 100 flights aboard private company planes; 200 stays at hotels, many world-class; and 500 meals at restaurants, some averaging nearly $200 for a dinner for two. Not all paid for by Tom Delay. ARCHESTRATUS...

The Tokyo Tower has fallen at least three times to cinematic conquerors. Godzilla, Mothra, and King Kong have all dispatched it; yet there it stands in Shiba Park at three hundred and thirty-three meters tall and weighing four thousand tons, a monument to post-World War II Japan's economic rise. Modeled after, and about nine metrrs taller than, Paris' Eiffel Tower, the white and orange Tokyo Tower was designed to serve as an antenna for nine television and five FM radio stations. But its real value to Tokyo, since its opening in 1958, has been as a tourist attraction. Tokyo Tower Attractions The Tokyo Tower has observation platforms both at the one-hundred-and fifty and two- hundred-and-fifty metre...

Sri Lanka, the navigational hub of the Orient in the ancient world, is an island in the Indian Ocean. From north to south it has a maximum length of 447 km and at its widest point it measures 219 km with a total land area of 65,610 sq km. The Island enjoys pleasant tropical climate relatively hot in the plains and cooler in the central highlands. The majority is Singhalese 74 percent who speak an Indo Aryan language called Sinhala. Other major ethnic groups are Tamils and Moors. Majority of the population is Buddhist. Sri Lanka, the Isle of Serendipity is a tourist paradise with an abundance of tourist attractions like the sunny beaches, glorious ancient cities, salubrious hill country, beautiful...

Make no mistake about it, every woman in America is an American to some degree no matter where she came from. Maybe she was born in a grass hut in the Mekong Delta or on the Manila municipal dump called Smoking Mountain, where thousands of people live by scavenging through garbage. It doesn't matter. Once they board an airplane and fly over the Pacific Ocean they're bombarded by rays that begin to slowly but surely turn them into Americans. By the time they land in the USA they're only 99.99% Asian. Nobody knows exactly how this process works, but it's quite real. It's most obvious in the second generation of any immigrant group to this country. There is always a dramatic clash of values between...

Early civilizations of the world were divided and isolated by geographical locations and boundaries, each belonging to continent, North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Antarctica, Asia and Africa. Race, nation, ideology, culture and religion further exacerbated such civilization divisions and isolation. However, the astounding impact of Technological Advancement primarily, coupled with society’s atmosphere indeed are contributory factors for the world to become a “global village.” The once isolated races/inhabitants have come closer with people from the other races irrespective of their creed, religion, culture and beliefs. Futurists, modernists and economic scientists...

Whether you are looking for the best tasting coffee with unmatched flavor from other commercially available coffee, or you are in for some of the most exciting coffee tastes you could ever find, Green Mountain coffee will meet your needs. Green Mountain coffee, from Green Mountain Roasters, derives from locations where coffees are grown in its best condition, giving every coffee drinker the best experience. Green Mountain coffee comes from parts of the world where coffee beans are grown in excellent condition. From the countries in Africa such as Kenya and Ethiopia, to the Southeast Asian region in the country of Indonesia, Green Mountain Roasters brings out the best in their product. If you are to...

Some countries have customs regarding shoe removal when entering a house. Sometimes it is done to avoid bringing dirt and foreign materials into the house and sometimes it is done out of respect for the house. It is customary to remove shoes when entering a home in Asia, Easter Europe, and part of the Middle East, Africa, Northern Europe, Canada and Alaska. Other matters of shoe etiquette include not showing the soles of your shoes in the Middle East, Africa, Korean or Thailand. If member of different countries all entered a room and removed their shoes, depending on the time period, you may be able to tell what countries are represented just by looking at the footwear. Shoes have come in many...

Funny jokes bring smiles to everyone, young or old, male or female. There are thousands of hilarious jokes available online so you never have to run out of funny things to send your family, friends, or coworkers. Funny Jokes by Email - Finding Safe Jokes With email you can send funny jokes to your friends or coworkers with the simple click of a mouse. Encouraging or funny emails always help relieve frustration during a busy workday. They bring laughs when someone's going through a stressful time. You might send funny blonde jokes to your blonde friend, or pass funny jokes about women, men, or bosses around to the men or ladies at work. There are also hilarious jokes about work, life, sex, rednecks...

LIVE THAT DREAM NOW It is necessary for you to read the following article, I suppose I could make screaming headlines telling of all the money you could make. (By the way that is done usually in large red letters on a white background.) Well I am not going to do that, all I am going to say, there is a large number of people out there that need our help. Do you suffer from Asthma, diabetes or acid reflux, or a choice of many other maladies. If you don't, I'm sure you know of people. Once you start reading this article, it will be like that book you can't put down. You will want to know. If you are Health conscious you will surely understand the program. Here in a nutshell is our proposal. This...

Vietnam is a culturally diversified nation with 54 ethnic groups with multiple customs and traditions. Although Vietnamese culture was strongly influenced by traditional Chinese civilization, the struggle for political independence from China developed a strong sense of national identity in the Vietnamese people. Nearly 100 years of French rule introduced important European elements into the culture of the country, but the Vietnamese still attach great importance to the family and continue to observe rites honoring their ancestors, indicating the persistence of tradition. The first flourishing of Vietnamese art occurred with the emergence of the Dongson culture on the coast of Annam and Tonkin. The...

India is growing and so is its demand for energy. Carrying one-fifth of the world's population (over 1 billion precisely), India is at number 6 in the list of high energy-demand countries. Indian economy is estimated to grow by around 10% in next two decades and the oil sector will also witness a rise in demand to drive air, water and land transportation. India is at number 4 in world for wind energy generation after Germany, Spain and US. Its monsoon winds contribute to its present power generation. WWEA (World Wind Energy Association) takes India as the pioneer in Asia in the field of wind power generation. India is now taking measures to tackle the issues of energy crisis by adding 1430 MW to its...

Mangosteen juice is the juice derived from mangosteen berries which intern are grown on mangosteen vines or bushes. Many people haven't even heard of mangosteen juice, let alone the amazing nutritional benefits it provides. Most mangosteen juice comes from South East Asia where the climate is warm enough to supply mangosteen trees with sufficient energy. Generally the best time for mangosteen to be picked is during the middle of summer. This is the time they begin to drop onto the ground and as soon as the first berry falls, the local people begin picking. Unfortunately mangosteen berry do not last a great deal of time and can go off within a matter of a few days, therefore the best option is the...

This article explains some interesting information about Asia, and if you're interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don't know. Asia is the largest continent in the world by a considerable margin, and it is rich in natural resources, such as petroleum and iron. As a matter of fact, the only difference between you and Asia experts is time. If you'll invest a little more time in reading, you'll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Asia. Asia is one of the most extraordinary and diverse continent in terms of people and travel destinations. As it consists of many countries (about 55 countries) then you will be able to imagine how vast the territory...

Released on Youtube and Googlevideo this week, FOOL ME TWICE, exposes the cover-up of the Bali bombings and provides evidence that it was a Falseflag Operation. The film begins by documenting the Australian government's prior knowledge of the Indonesian military's plan to use violence to maintain autonomy over East Timor. Contrary to The Howard Governments claims they argued against peacekeeping forces allowing the Indonesian Special Forces to carry out their campaign of fear and suppression. Within 24 hours of the 2002 Bali bombings a team of FBI, UK special agents and Australian federal police started arriving in Bali. The investigation team continuously claimed different explosive devices were...

The City of San Francisco is the 14th most populous city in America founded in 1776 with population of 744,500 which is considered to on the densely populated cities in United States. The city's larger part of the San Francisco Bay Area has nearly 7.3 million people, with diverse and cosmopolitan population. San Francisco is located at the tip of the Peninsula, with Pacific Ocean on the west, San Francisco Bay on the east and The Golden Gate on the north. Today the city is considered to be one the most popular international destination for tourists, and there are many well-known landmarks to visit, like the Golden Gate Bridge, Cable Cars, Alcatraz Island, China Town and Coit Tower. Based on...

Bulgaria is a beautiful country located in the Eastern Europe on the western side of the black sea. The country is located in such a way that it is surrounded by Romania to the north, Greece to the south, Serbia to the North West, the Republic of Macedonia to the South west and Turkey to the south east. Since Bulgaria is close to Turkish straits means the key land routes from Middle East to Europe and Asia pass through Bulgaria. Bulgaria is a very lovely country you are locked in magnetism once you see the sheer beauty of this country. If you study the Bulgaria map then reaching there can be easy by flight.The national carrier of Bulgaria, Bulgaria air is a very sophisticated and traditional...

The typical menu in any restaurant reflects the eating habits of the consumer. The U.S. will have three quarters of the population reporting in as overweight or obese in 2015. The prediction is that 41% will be classified as obese. In 8 years 75% of the population will be overweight based on Current Obesity Statistics. Right now we are currently at 66% with 34% who can be classified as obese. Youfa Wand MD, PHD and colleagues working in Baltimore at John Hopkins Bloomberg Scholl of Public Health's Center for Human Nutrition has reviewed 20 studies on the growing epidemic of overweight adults, teens, and kids. The study found that the weight gain is showing up at the waistline. This type weight gain...

ARTICLES (5) Chinnese's Consistence in Combating The Infringements It cannot be denied that the China's economic development increase very surprisingly. China, a country located in East Asia Continent, is indeed making other countries impressed. The rapid economic development and the acceleration have astonished other countries but at the same time frightened them. As the fact we could see how the goods from China, formerly known as the bamboo curtain country because of its reticence, are spreading all over the world. From the North to the South, from Europe, United States of America, Africa up until Asia are flooded by the China's products. Nobody could predict that the country with more than 1...

Japan, and especially it's capital city of Tokyo, have been notoriously famous throughout the years as being among the world's most expensive places to live. Those who have experienced a ten dollar cup of coffee in the Ginza, or noticed the stylishly packaged melons for sale at airport tourist shops for 10,000 yen will attest to this fact. Yet the truth of the matter is you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy a comfortable and enjoyable life style in Japan. One of the major considerations in regard to avoiding the potentially high cost of living is deciding where to reside. As rent will consume as much as thirty percent of your income, choosing a...

Map-making is an ancient activity. Evidence proves that the human being have been drawing maps in ages even before Christ. It has evolved greatly over the centuries, and we can consider map-making, or cartography, an art of its own. Nowadays, world maps are being drawn highlighting all kinds of subjects, from history to natural beauties and sea ports maps of the world. They are adjusted to be useful according to the topic chosen, and anyone can benefit from its accuracy and cross-reference information. But the most common types of world maps are those showing the surface of the Earth with political or topographic projections. The most generally used world maps are: world political map, which shows...

Cyprus's real estate and property market is booming dramatically due to the continuous work of construction companies who invest large amounts of funds towards infrastructure development. With the aid of the European Union as well as foreign investments property prices have gone up dramatically. Cyprus property market has being said to be one of the fastest growing property markets in Europe. As reported by many agencies sales investment property is indeed one the of the most popular options exercised by local and foreign investors. Due to it's radical growth, the tourism industry has made very feasible the process of 'buy to rent'. The way it usually works is very similar to the US time share...

Of all the continents and places in the world, Australia s perhaps the most unique, unique in the sense that its flora and fauna has evolved separately from the rest of the world over millions of years. Because of this, Australia is a haven for those people looking for something different in their travels. Not only that, Australia also offers much in natural wonders, local cuisine and culture, so here are 10 places you must visit in Australia: 1.) Sydney Sydney offers much in the way of cultural tourist attractions and much more. Here you can go to the Famous Opera House and be amazed at the collection of marine animals at the marine aquarium at Darling Harbor. You can also take in the city...

Vacations arealways a subject for fun, enjoyment, relaxation, and adventures. People waitfor vacations eagerly, it's a time to release stress and regain lost selfcomposure. There are different options available to attract people duringvacations. But cruising is a favourite option to celebrate vacations for peopleof all age groups. Cruising can bea lifelong experience for you. Cruise vacation is unique in terms of fun,adventure, excitement, comfort, and luxury. It's a completely different way offeeling the world. Nothing can beat the charm of a round the globe journey in aluxury cruise. The moment whenyou feel silence, sound of waves, blue sky and blue water everywhere. The mostwell-known...