Valentine's Day — Good For The Heart And The EconomyValentine's Day is one of those rare holidays that is enjoyed by almost everyone in the world. After all, what's not to like about a day when loved ones get to shower each other with cards, flowers, chocolates, and jewelry? This display of affection does come at a steep price — Almost $19 billion, and that number is just for the USA....
Read news articleVideo Of The Week - February Is Black History MonthEvery February, Americans celebrate Black History Month. It was established in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a historian who wanted to ensure that significant contributions made by African American men and women throughout history, would never be forgotten....
Read news articleLet's Go Bananas! It's The Year Of The Fire Monkey!On Monday, February 8, millions of people across the world will celebrate the Chinese New Year. Also known as Spring Festival, it marks the beginning of the year 4714 and is the longest and most important Asian celebration. The revered tradition whose date is determined by the lunar calendar signifies the end of the dreary winter season and the beginning of spring....
Read news articleGet Ready To Celebrate Super Bowl Sunday AKA Super Eating SundayAsk any American what he/she is doing on Sunday, February 7 and the answer is likely to be either hosting or attending a Super Bowl party. For those that need a refresher, Super Bowl is the grand finale of the American football season. Played between the AFC (Denver Broncos) and NFC (Carolina Panthers) champions for the coveted title of the National Football League Champion, it is the most watched annual television program in the United States....
Read news articleUS Presidential Race Kicks Off With The Iowa CaucusOn Monday, February 1, the residents of Iowa became the first in the nation to vote for the candidate they believe most suited to be the nominee for the upcoming Presidential elections. The record 186,000 Republican voters were almost evenly split in their choice. Ted Cruz won by a slight margin garnering 27.6% of the votes with Donald Trump and Marco Rubio coming in at 24.3% and 23.1%, respectively. Ben Carson was a distant fourth with 9.3% and Rick Santorum and Jim Gilmore received no votes!...
Read news articlePunxsutawney Phil And Staten Island Chuck Predict An Early Spring!It's February 2, the day when legendary groundhog Punxsutawney Phil and the relatively new Staten Island Chuck AKA Charles D. Hogg predict if Americans will have to suffer through an extended winter or enjoy an early spring. This year was no exception....
Read news articleJapanese Bookstore Sells Only One Book At A TimeThose accustomed to browsing through thousands of books in mega bookstores, may find Japan's Morioka Shoten a little strange. That's because this tiny bookstore that is located in Ginza, Tokyo stocks only a single book at a time....
Read news articleWinter Activities That Go Beyond Skiing And SnowboardingFor most people normal winter sports like ice skating, skiing, or snowboarding provides enough excitement. However, for a select few adventurous souls those are not sufficient. They prefer to take advantage of the abundant snow and ice with 'sports' that range from heart-stopping to downright hilarious....
Read news articleIngenious Plant-Powered Lamps Bring Light To Remote Village In PeruAccess to electricity has always been sketchy for the 173 residents of Nuevo Saposoa, a remote village in Peru. S.America. However, things went from bad to worse in March 2015 after a flood damaged the few power cables in the area. The villagers were forced to turn to kerosene lamps, which are not only expensive but also dangerous because of the toxic fumes they emit....
Read news articleSpain's Bizarre Food FestivalsWhile Spain's tomato-throwing festival, La Tomatina, that is celebrated in Bunol every summer is world-renowned, the country's other food-centric celebrations are not as well known. The Els Enfarinats and the Jarramplas festivals that are held in December and January respectively, also involve food fights, except the produce being tossed, is not as gentle as tomatoes....
Read news articleChina's Spectacular Harbin Ice And Snow Festival Expected To Attract Over A Million VisitorsBeing famous for having one of the most bitter winters in China and most likely the world does not sound like a good way to market a city. However, it works for Harbin. That's because for the residents of the capital of China's Heilongjiang Province it means a chance to stage a spectacular winter festival....
Read news articleThe Water Crisis in Flint, MichiganThanks to strict regulations imposed by the US Environmental and Protection Agency, clean tap water is something Americans take for granted. But such is not the case for the residents of Flint, Michigan. Their water supply is so tainted that President Obama declared a federal state of emergency in Flint releasing up to $5 million USD to help the city combat what is probably one of the biggest public health crisis of recent times....
Read news articleNew Taiwanese Church Resembles Cinderella's Glass-SlipperIn an attempt to attract more female visitors to the area, officials of the Budai Township in Chiayi County, Taiwan have come up with an unusual idea - A church in the shape of a glass slipper. Though the design closely resembles Cinderella's shoe, it was inspired by a local, albeit sad folklore....
Read news articleCelebrating The Life And Legacy Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Every year on the third Monday of January, Americans celebrate the life and legacy of the extraordinary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). It is thanks to the vision and courage of this tireless clergyman turned civil rights activist that America is today a nation where everyone has equal rights, regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin....
Read news articleMethane Gas Leak In Southern California Forces Thousands To Evacuate Their HomesThe 2015 holiday season brought little cheer to the thousands of Southern California residents affected by a methane leak from an underground gas storage facility. Since late November, over 2,800 families from the Porter Ranch Community in Los Angeles have been forced to flee their homes to escape the adverse effects of the odorless gas. What's worse is that they have no idea when they will be able to return....
Read news articleNations Welcome 2016 With Dazzling FireworksAt the stroke of midnight on December 31, cities around the world welcomed the new year with elaborate fireworks shows. Here are some of 2016's most spectacular displays. So cuddle up with a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the shows!...
Read news articleParis Climate Conference Results In Landmark Agreement To Curb Greenhouse Gas EmissionsTwo weeks ago, representatives from 196 countries arrived in Paris to resolve one of the world's most pressing problems — Climate change. On Saturday, December 12th, the group emerged victorious with the first-ever global accord in the fight against global warming — One that U.S. President Obama hailed as the "turning point for the world" and the "best chance to save the one planet we've got."...
Read news articleSpecial Tunnels Save Turtles From Train Deaths In JapanThe Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe, Japan is no stranger to turtle traffic. Every summer from May to September, hundreds of reptiles make their way to and from the nearby ocean. While most manage to cover the short distance safely, a handful get trapped inside the railway tracks that lie between the ocean and the popular park....
Read news articleCreativity and Innovation Help Those in Need During the Season of GivingThis is the time of the year when most people reach out to help those in need. For some, it means donating to a local food bank. For others in involves participating in clothing and toy drives. This year, two remarkable people have taken the season of giving to a new level with their simple but ingenious ideas....
Read news articleThe History Behind Some Of Our Favorite Thanksgiving TraditionsTomorrow, November 26th is Thanksgiving, one of the most popular holidays on the American calendar. Celebrated on the last Thursday of every November, the day commemorates the 1621 harvest reaped by the Plymouth Colony after a harsh winter. While food and family remain at the forefront of the celebrations, several new traditions have been introduced over the years. How did all these fun rituals begin? Read on . . ....
Read news articleLoyal Giant Pyrenees Stands Guard Over Canine Buddy Hit By A CarOn Sunday, November 8th, Dallas resident Samuel Flores was on his way to breakfast when he noticed a Giant Pyrenees standing on the grassy pavement vigilantly watching over the lifeless body of another dog....
Read news articleHacker Group Anonymous Plans To Use Cyber Skills To Take Down ISISSince their formation in 2003, Anonymous, a loosely organized international group of hackers have conducted a series of well-orchestrated cyber attacks on corporations, governments, and individuals. Some of the crusades have been justified and necessary, while others have been viewed as vindictive. But few people have any reservations about their most recent undertaking - To bring down ISIS!...
Read news articleSolar Powered Cars Race Across the Australian OutbackDespite technological advances in fuel and engine efficiencies, vehicles remain high on the list of polluters. In the U.S alone, carbon emissions from gas-powered cars and other vehicles account for about 27% of our total greenhouse-gas output annually. The 'World Solar Challenge' hopes to change that some day with cars fueled by the biggest, cleanest, and cheapest, source of energy - The sun!...
Read news articleTerror In ParisOn Friday, November 13th, residents of the beautiful city of Paris suffered through what will go down in history as one of the worst acts of violence in France since World War II. The orchestrated attacks were carried out by eight members of the extremist group ISIS at seven predetermined locations of the French capital. The targets that included restaurants, bars, a soccer stadium and concert theater were carefully selected to cause maximum damage....
Read news article