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If you grew up American, like me, then your typical idea of “Tropical Fruit” was bananas and the occasional kiwi. When I was a kid, Pineapples were something you rarely saw in a grocery store and mangos were something mentioned in movies or songs and I just assumed they didn’t exist for real and I [...]

Everybody needs a hobby, even famous people.  After all, they can’t just do the one thing that earns them millions upon millions of dollars, day on and day out, without some variety to keep their lives interesting.  Some celebrities have turned their hobbies into legitimately respectable second careers. Key word: some.  Other times, they take [...]

It is estimated that we are exposed to thousands of commercial messages every day in one form or another. Most of them are boring as hell, but once in a while, a shocking ad makes us stop and wonder. ‘Shockvertising’ is like a sword with a double-edged blade. Do bold and controversial print ads incite [...]

The development of spoken languages is probably the most significant development in communications in the history of the world.  Since mankind first developed language, languages have developed into a multitude of varieties, a diversity which endures to this day.  Here is a list of the top ten languages, grouped by the number of native speakers. [...]

The history of public drinking houses and bartending dates back to ancient times. Public drinking houses, as they were called in those times, served as meeting places for both common and upper class people, they were gathering places for families and friends. Nowadays, there is a bar or pub for every taste and mood. For [...]

The first sword appeared during the Bronze Age.  It was made of copper and was uncovered at the Harappan sites in present-day Pakistan.  By the Middle Ages iron and steel swords were being mass produced and used in battle.  Soldiers were trained in swordsmanship and prepared for combat.  It was before the era of guns [...]

To some travelers, the food is just as important as anything else a destination has to offer. For these foodies, only the best will do, so this is a list of destinations that will satisfy the appetite of any traveler. 10. Singapore (Singapore) Borrowing from Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Tamil and Peranakan cuisines, the food in [...]

We’ve all heard of a democracy, a republic, and probably a monarch-type government. In the past, there have been monarchs ruling society, tyrants, enlightened despots, and so many other types of leaders. In the end, it’s safe to say that the world has seen several different types of governments over the centuries. Even in today’s [...]

All my years in studying Urban Planning helped me grow a greater appreciation for the skyline of the big city. The downtown core of big cities across the world, are the cultural pulse and economic engines of urban regions where millions of people live. The skyline is the fingerprint of that city. All urban life [...]