Books are my favorite knitting resource. Books are how I learned to knit, how I learned Magic Loop, and how I began to design and knit my own patterns. To pass on the best resources I’ve found, I compiled this list for you of the very best knitting resources I’ve enjoyed throughout the years. Each book is enjoyable to read, beautiful to look at, and guaranteed to teach you something new. Counting down from my absolute favorite…

1.  The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, by Clara Parkes (top right):

This book will teach you to become what Clara Parkes, of Knitter’s Review, calls a yarn whisperer. After reading this book and trying one of the 40 gorgeous pattens, you’ll have a deep understanding of what yarn to choose for which project, and why. What’s more, you’ll gain an appreciation for the varied industries that work together to provide us all with beautiful yarn. My favorite projects are the Norwegian Snail Mittens and this so so soft Classic Washcloth.
2.  Stitch’N Bitch Nation, by Debbie Stoller:

Stitch’N Bitch Nation compiles 52 really original and wearable intermediate knitting projects from designers across America. My favorite projects are the Later Gator Mitts and Jesse’s Flames.

3.  Custom Knits, by Wendy Bernard:

Wendy Bernard opened my eyes when it came to sweaters. Now, no matter what your shape, you can design or modify a sweater pattern that will fit every inch of you perfectly. I especially found the basic sweater guides in the back helpful when striking out on my own.

4.  Handknit Holidays, by Melanie Falick:

This is a timeless book, absolutely filled with beautiful, winter-holiday-inspired knits. The photography is gorgeous, the patterns feature some of the most beautiful and interesting yarns available, and the range of techniques introduced is much broader than your average pattern book. Learn to knit with wire, double-knit, do Entrelac, Fair-Isle, mosaic knitting, not to mention knit projects with cables and lace.
Treasury of Knitting Patterns

5.  A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, by Barbara Walker:

Barbara Walker is the most creative mind of the century when it comes to inventing stitch patterns and designs. Any of her four Knitting Pattern Treasuries are a worthwhile investment for when you are designing something on your own. I’ve given you links to my list of the best knitting books on Amazon.com, but remember to support your local yarn store when buying knitting books! Our patronage helps keep them in business.

Source: knitfreedom

Parents must be aware of their teen’s activities and social circles, and the potential risks kids face today. Here are the five substances teens most commonly abuse. Illegal drugs aren’t good for anyone, but they are particularly bad for a kid or teen whose body is still growing. Illegal drugs can damage the brain, heart, and other important organs. Cocaine, for instance, can cause a heart attack — even in a kid or teen. While using drugs, people are also less able to do well in school, sports, and other activities. It’s often harder to think clearly and make good decisions. People can do dumb or dangerous things that could hurt them — or other people — when they use drugs:

1. Marijuana:

Weed, pot, grass; the same common drug generations past… perhaps that’s why marijuana is the most commonly used drug today (“My parents probably did it, so why can’t I?”) But today’s marijuana is much more potent, and the fact that many kids are trying pot at a younger age means they’ll be more likely to advance to more powerful substances as they get older. It’s not a drug to be taken lightly.

2. Prescription drugs:

An estimated 20% of teens have used prescription drugs to get high. This growing trend is so troubling because of how easy it is to obtain these drugs; most kids can find them in their parents’ bathroom cabinet. However, parents have been slow to catch on, and now prescription drug abuse is a serious problem in schools. Teens have even begun throwing “pharming parties” where everyone brings a stash from their home to share with the group.

3. Ecstasy:
This drug is very popular among the dance club scene and is now being marketed to kids, using cartoon character stamps. MDMA or Ecstasy (3-4-methylenedioxymethampheta-mine), is a synthetic drug with amphetamine-like and hallucinogenic properties. It is classified as a stimulant.  Ecstasy comes in a tablet form that is often branded, With its designs and cheap prices, this stimulant has, unfortunately, become a popular pastime.

4. Inhalants:

The presence of inhalants has become another danger in most teenage homes. Teens and pre-teens have begun sniffing or huffing certain chemicals or household items in order to get high. Oftentimes, teens don’t see this as being anything more than a game, and certainly don’t see it as being harmful.

5. Cocaine and heroin:

These potent drugs are causing growing concern for parents and law enforcement. Highly addictive, they both cause such a high that users are left craving more. The lives of many teens have already been ruined by cocaine and heroine. The thing is, teens don’t really see these drugs as being harmful or serious, because they’re still learning and growing — sometimes, there are many things they simply don’t know. Parents need to talk with their kids about drugs, and warn them about the severity of these substances. Perhaps with a little more time and effort spent on awareness, education and prevention, these trends won’t continue to surface among our teens.

1. The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker:

Amongst our list of 10 most endangered species, the Ivory-billed woodpecker is believed to be the one that is most endangered; in fact they are so endangered, that they are believed to be even extinct by now. They were found in the Southeastern area of the US and sightings of this large woodpecker were also seen in Cuba. A rescue mission that started right away after this, has led to some rumors believing that there might be a small population living in Florida or Arkansas, but confirmed news has still not been received.

2. The Amur Leopard:

The Amur Leopard that lived in the snowy and remote areas of Northern China and Korea were already few and rare. And now due to road building, over-logging, encroaching civilization, illegal hunting this beautiful species is also fearing extinction. In fact a recent survey revealed there are only 14 – 20 adults which have been confirmed to be living in a forest.

3. The Javan Rhinoceros:

If you thought that of all the rhinoceros species, the Black Rhino (a.k.a. Diceros Bicornis) was an endangered one, think again. Because according to a survey, it is estimated that only 40 – 60 of the Javan rhinos are left remaining in the Ujung Kulon National Park which is located on the western part of the an Island in Indonesia. Facing extinction because of its precious horn, this rare species came under protection however people still might not be able to save it because of scarce mating population.

4. The Greater Bamboo Lemur:

Madagascar is known for its population of lemurs; however if the illegal hunting and habitat loss continues in that region then it is quite possible that soon the critically endangered species of Lemur – the Greater Bamboo Lemur, will become history, with no live remains of it left.

5. The Northern Right Whale:

The Mako Shark, Blue fin Tuna and the Beluga Sturgeon are some of the members of marine life that are considered to be one of the endangered species. However here we are going to talk of the Northern Right Whale which got its name back in the 1970’s ironically by people who are making sure it goes extinct quickly – the fishermen. The Right Whale possess good quantities of oil which is why it is hunt down; moreover it floats atop when dead which makes it easy to handle. It is protected now but it is feared that extinction might not be prevented.

6. The Cross River Gorilla:

This species of the lowland gorilla is found in West Africa; and it is believed that only a few hundred of these are left remaining. This atrocity is for no other reason than due to illegal hunting and that too for food. It has been included in the critically endangered ones as their population is facing a constant decrease for the last 25 years.

7. Leatherback Sea Turtle:

Swimming across the seas and oceans of the whole world, the Leatherback Sea Turtle is the largest turtle which comes out on the sub-tropical beaches to lay its eggs. The fact that people keep on hunting for its eggs, or that fact that the beaches are destroyed is leading to the extinction of Leatherback Sea turtles. Pollution of the sea and ocean waters is also killing the turtles.

8. The Amur Tiger:

The Amur Tiger like the Amur Leopard is believed to be near extinction. The Amur Tiger which was found in cold parts of China and Korea, reduced to a horrid number of 40 – 50 but has rebounded to a number of 500 because the Tiger has gone into protection by the wild life services. Even though its number has increased, it is still not out of danger.

9. The Chinese Giant Salamander:

A unique thing about the Giant Salamander is that it is the world’s largest amphibian which can grow up to 6 feet in length. Although it had the advantage of laying almost 500 eggs in one go and that too which remained in protection of the male, it can still go extent. The sad news is that it is not going to be due to a loss in habitat but because it is largely hunt down for its meat. Yes, it is true, it is abundantly eaten in most parts of China.

10. The Kakapo Parrot:

Last and certainly a species left in the least amount of number is the Kakapo parrot. It is the only parrot that remains flightless throughout its life and is also the heaviest amongst all the parrots. Once common throughout the mainland of New Zealand, this endangered species is led to its present state due to the hunt down by rats, cats and dogs. It is now only found living in some islands and less than 150 are left.

1. GO SKYDIVING:

Skydiving has to be the most incredible ride of a lifetime. Taking a leap-of-faith out of the cargo hold on a B90 King Air airplane at an altitude of approximately 30,000 and free falling for about 2 minutes requires courage or just an “I am dying anyways” attitude. At this height, it requires breathing pure 100% oxygen, so to prevent getting the “bends” that could result in death. Can you imagine the rush that skydiving is falling at more than 120+MPH straight towards the earth, knowing that there is a chance that this jump could possible be your last?

Fact:

Skydiving is statistically safer than scuba diving.

2. DOCK WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION:

Can anyone spare a little extra change of about $20 million to book a trip to spend a week on board the International Space Station. Wow, this vacation would be the trip of a lifetime. Just imagine, staring out from the International Space Station and gazing at the awesome blue marble that we know as Earth and experiencing weightlessness would be a hoot, too. You’ll be sent a postcard or an email or something for your donation.

Fact:

The International Space Shuttle has taken more than 293,141 images of the earth. The Space Shuttle has taken more than 287,116 images, the Mir with 2,512 images and the Skylab with a mere 37 images that are stored in NASA’s databases.

3. EDGE OF SPACE SUPERSONIC JET RIDE:

Ok, you don’t have a spare $20 million to spend for a 7-day trip to the International Space Station. That’s fine, but you don’t have to give up. How about considering a trip to the edge of space in a British Jet Fighter called the Lightning? Just think about it for a minute. Imagine flying 60,000 feet high over the earth at a speed of 50 thousand feet per minute and seeing the curvature of the earth. Now, that would fill a barf bag up with a stomach full of excitement.

Fact:

To put 60,000 feet in perspective, it’s like stacking 41.29 Empire State Building one on top of another and still fall a little short of the height that this flight would take you.

4. TAKE A RIDE ON A RUSSIAN MIG-FIGHTER JET:

The modern-day cold war will just have to wait until after we get our chance to take a ride on the legendary MiG-29 or the extraordinary MiG-31 Foxhound, while pulling G’s way beyond the speed of sound. The best thing is that the Sokol Aircraft Plant in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia is not that far from Alaska, so if we book this adventure right, then we have the chance to see Alaska, too.

Fact:

The MiG-31 Foxhound can travel at a top speed of 1,865 mph using its power- plant of two 34,171-lb after-burning thrust Soloviev D-30F6 turbofans.

5. DIVE TO THE TITANIC ON-BOARD A SUBMARINE:

If you feel more comfortable exploring the mysteries beneath the oceans, then visiting the world-famous Titanic must be at the top of any things to do list before you die kind of thing. For a mere $35,000 you could be one of the chosen few to see first hand probably the world’s most famous shipwreck. Traveling down to 3800 meters to the ocean’s bottom where light is a stranger this deep below the surface and the beast are tough.

Fact:

Only 706 passengers and crew managed to overcome the tragic sinking and the elements out of more than 2222 passengers and crew.

6. CLIMB THE GREAT PYRAMID OF EGYPT:

Following in the footsteps of King Khufu and travel back in time to 2720-2560 BC to marvel at the engineering masterpiece of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Giza. An estimated 2.6 million blocks weighing as much as 70 tons apiece were used in the construction of the Great Pyramid. Can you imagine the sense of achievement that it would be to climb to the top of the 482-foot Great Pyramid and panning the vast desert landscape?

Fact:

The subterranean chamber leads to a passage that descends 345 feet beneath the earth. It’s foundation covers thirteen acres and has lost 33 feet of all of its dimensions due to erosion of its marble encasing that once was used to protect the pyramid from the brutal desert elements.

7. VISIT THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA:

The Great Wall of China was built in the Qin, Han and Ming dynasties as defensive fortifications during the Warring States Periods of the Yan, Zhao and Qin dynasties. However, it did not become known as the Great Wall until the Qin dynasty. The construction required an army of labor that included soldiers, prisoners and average people to complete the more than 4163 miles of the wall. With a history of more than 2000 years, this is one destination that cannot be missed out on.

Fact 1:

It took “The China Great Wall Academy” 45-days to survey all of the 101 sections of the Wall in different provinces. That’s one time-consuming job.

Fact 2:

The Chinese call the Wall “Wan-Li Qang Qeng” when translated 10,000-Li Long Wall, which 10000 Li equals about 5000 km. It was built solid with a thickness of 30 feet at its widest area and a mere 15 feet at its narrowest sections.

8. COVERT OPS:

Live out your wildest dream of becoming an ultra-secret covert agent and assigned a mission to take down the enemy hideout and complete the mission. No, you don’t have to join the military to experience the action of a realistic covert operation and receive covert ops training before the mission begins. Incredible-Adventures.com offers such a vacation for the most extreme vacation adventurers among us. I found this website while researching for this article and was amazed at what some people are willing to do, just to add a little adventure in their lives. Sure, combat pistol training and high-speed evasive driving excises might sound exciting and becoming secret agent 021 (3 times more lethal than 007) has always captured the attention of many young men and boys the world over.

Fact:

Dropping down behind enemy lines operating under deep cover and carrying out missions only a few high-level government officials have approved is normally referred to as Covert Ops (Covert Operations).

9. DIVING WITH SHARKS:

After watching the movie Jaws, it seemed like the perfect extreme vacation that would scare the heck out of you and overload the senses with unthinkable excitement. Great white sharks circling the cage like a prehistoric stealth bomber planning its attack. The only thing that is between you and them is a stainless steel cage. Every time the sharks crash into the cage with the power of a truck, the strength of the engineering is being tested. Diving with sharks is on this list, because the attraction can eat the spectators.

Fact:

The world-record for the largest Great White Shark was caught in 1948 and measured at 21 feet long almost 5 feet longer than the average size Great White Shark.

10. TAKE AN AFRICAN SAFARI:

One of the coolest vacations that a person could ever take is booking an African safari. Just think how amazing it would be to actually observe nature’s magnificent beasts roaming free in the wild. Lions resting under the shade, while hippos waddle about in the mud holes and elephants standing guard out in the distance. Look! There is a pair of giraffes grazing on those trees and checkout those rhinos as they charge. Pilanesberg National Park is South Africa’s fourth largest national park comprising 212 square miles of nature at her best.

Fact:

Pilanesberg National Park is the home of Africa’s Top Five animal attractions including lion, leopard, black and white rhino, elephant and buffalo, not to mention the zebra, hippo, giraffe and crocodile that an adventurer may be faced with on an African Safari.

1. Clean Air Regulation:

Several proposals by the Environmental Protection Agency would significantly impact states with large numbers of coal-fired power plants and neighboring downwind states. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule would cost upward of $2.4 billion and substantially reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide below 2005 levels. A panel of federal judges in December stayed the new rule, which impacts 27 states, but legal action likely will continue into 2012. Additional rules to reduce mercury and ozone emissions will encounter substantial debate over cost and public health concerns.

2. Hydraulic Fracturing:

Techniques like hydraulic fracturing have created new domestic energy frontiers and made the U.S. a net energy exporter for the first time in 62 years. The excitement over new jobs and economic development from large shale reserves has been tempered by concerns that hydraulic fracturing may cause or contribute to groundwater pollution, increase air emissions, strain local water supplies, and may exacerbate seismic events during wastewater disposal. Many states have addressed these issues by requiring disclosure of “fracking” solutions used by companies, but the continued public scrutiny and our nation’s energy needs will keep this a high-profile issue.

3. Siting and Construction of New Energy Pipelines:

A recent industry report found that the U.S. and Canada will need up to 62,000 miles of additional natural gas pipelines and 600 billion cubic feet of additional storage capacity to meet future market demands. Similar trends are expected in the liquid pipeline industry to accommodate growing output from across the country and oil sands development in Canada. The Keystone XL project heightened public scrutiny over the states’ siting role for oil pipeline projects, which before was not controversial. Expect to see more interest in new and existing lines that move unconventional fuels like oil sands crude.

4. Electricity Transmission, Siting and Reliability:

Major investments are still needed to help the burdened and overloaded electric transmission system. Further complicating efforts, significant bottlenecks persist in bringing renewable energy to faraway markets in an efficient and affordable manner. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission took action in 2011 to compel public utility transmission providers to align transmission planning and cost allocation across regions. In addition, the EPA’s Utility MACT Rule and other actions may impact grid reliability by retiring up to 40,000 megawatts of older coal-fired units in many states in order to reduce emissions.

5. Energy Incentives and the Struggling Economy:

Continued weak economic growth and increased public unease over the national deficit have created paradigm shifts in federal support for alternative and renewable energy projects. Few would have predicted the precipitous drop in political support for sustained stimulus funding. High-profile bankruptcies like Solyndra increased scrutiny of federal loan guarantee programs and historically popular energy tax benefits. States will face challenging decisions to balance budgets and continue incentives for renewable and alternative energy development.

1. The VERY Best Parrot for Children…. Squawkers McCaw:

Squawkers meets every (unreasonable) requirement for best parrot I’ve ever been asked about:

- He’s NOT LOUD and won’t aggravate you or the neighbors

- But he is GUARANTEED TO TALK up a storm

- He doesn’t poop all over the place or make a mess

- He NEVER BITES

- He doesn’t demand attention and doesn’t need a large cage

- He won’t go through a hormonal phase

- He’s CUDDLY, even more so than a cockatoo

- No vet bills, no expensive food, no toys = cheapest parrot ever! And when your children get bored with Squawkers, they can ignore him without any consequence. He’s my #1 choice for a children’s parrot – a recommendation echoed by several members of BirdBoard. Remember, pets are not toys. If you’re looking for “something colorful that talks”, get Hasbro FurReal Friends Squawkers McCaw Parrot. But if you’re looking for a lifelong friend, a loved and loving addition to the family that will give back as much as you put into your relationship, the bird species listed above are excellent candidates for further research on your part.

2. The Sweet and Smart Cockatiel:

Cockatiels are one of the most, if not the most, common pet parrot in the United States, although few people think of ‘tiels as parrots. ‘Tiels are smart, sweet and delightful, while being less hyper and spastic as some of the other small birds. Katie, who shares her life with 8 delightful cockatiels says this about the species: “They usually don’t have the same behavioral or hormonal issues that other birds can have. Their hormones are generally easy to manage as well. They like to be with you but aren’t generally really needy and are generally pretty quiet. They don’t need as large of a cage that bigger birds do and they are just perfect.” ‘Tiels are friendly, have cute voices, usually learn to whistle well, don’t tend to overbond to a single person (as a rule), aren’t as expensive as larger birds, and come in a variety of beautiful mutations. Cockatiels are great birds for families who may not be experienced parrot owners, but they aren’t disposable birds. Just like “real” parrots, they live a long time and require attention, proper care and training and lots of love.

3. Pionus – Sweet, Gentle and Quiet:

The pionus is one of the most underrated parrots today, probably because they don’t have bright, colorful plummage like some parrots, nor are they known for being good talkers. That’s too bad because Pionus have fantastic personalities that make them great family pets. Not only are Pionus gentle, compared to many species of parrot, but they aren’t noisy or needy either. While all parrots need interaction and out-of-cage playtime, a Pionus is often happy to sit on top of his cage, just observing what’s going on, without demanding lots of attention. Xafsmom likes the Blue-Headed and Bronze Winged Pionus and calls these two species “beyond a doubt two of the best family birds ever. Quiet, friendly, playful… not very cuddly but will sit and be pet for hours. They also form strong flock bonds over a single person bond.” One thing you’ll need to be aware of when considering a Pionus Parrot is that they have a slight musky odor that some people don’t enjoy. In addition, because they don’t have a preening gland, they produce some dust/dander so spend time with these guys to make sure it doesn’t bother you. Personally, I love the way my White Capped Pionus smells. If you want to know about of the Pi personality, check out the Life of Pis blog, where my Mika girl occasionally shares her own thoughts on life in the Best in Flock household.

4. Meyer’s Parrots:

Meyer’s Parrots belong to the Poicephalus family of African hookbills. They tend to be quieter than many other types of parrots, making them appropriate for apartment dwellers or those who can’t handle loud, incessant screeching. They can be acrobatic, affectionate and entertaining. At the same time, their beaks are not huge and intimidating. One website wrote about the Meyer’s species: The Meyer’s is reputed by many to be the nicest of this very nice-to-be-around family.” Calm and steady by nature, the Meyer’s is a good choice for a homes that include children. [They] are likely to maintain balanced relationships with a number of people. They are unlikely to bite. It’s been my observation that Meyer’s have a certain demure quality about them that gives them a fresh and unique charm. They are sweet, but not shy. And they tend to truly like people, even strangers. One famous breeder put it this way: “Senegals loved being loved by you, but Meyer’s love loving you.”

5. The Humble Budgie (aka Budgerigar) Parakeet:

The budgie (short for budgerigar, and often simply called “a parakeet” in the United States) is probably the most underrated bird in the parrot family. Few people even properly recognize them as parrots. At an average weight of around 30 grams, these hookbills are tiny, but don’t let their small size fool you. Did you know that the bird with the world’s largest recorded vocabulary was but a wee budgie parakeet? Just like their larger cousins, budgerigars can be trained to do tricks, talk and generally be fun members of your family. (To see an adorable, talkative budgie in action check out Li’l Babi Versailles’s YouTube channel.) Because of their tiny size, however, they are much more delicate than their larger parrot brothers and sisters, so all family members need to respect that grabby hands are a no-no. Budgies can be flighty and expect an untame parakeet to be nippy — but as single birds they are not that difficult too tame and no one will lose an eye in the process.

For an incredible nostalgic trip down memory lane, have a scroll through our Top 10 Cartoon Travellers. The cartoons who have provided us with complete entertainment and traveled the world in doing so. Some may have provided us with inspiration for our own travels, some we may not have realised had ever been anywhere.

1. Captain Pugwash:

The “bravest bucaneer” and captain of the Black Pig, is a carton traveller who sailed the high seas frequently, thus, making the list! His frequent battles with Cut-throat Jack of the Flying Dustman (amazing name for a boat) kept us captivated. Captain Pugwash is a British classic.

2. Carmen Sandiego:

The award-winning ‘Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?’ pioneered RTW tickets before we all started taking gap years. In every episode she was somehwere different, even pinching souvenirs and ancient artifacts (not something we condone) from the many countries she visited – of to have her passport.

3. Paddington Bear:

What an inspiration! He came to London (Paddington) all by himself from Peru and if that isn’t enough to make the list, then nothing is. Even more impressive, he managed to get his worldly goods in his tiny little suitcase.

4. TintinThe Michael:

Palin of the cartoon world, Tintin has been everywhere making him a worthy participant in this list. From Egypt to America, Tibet to the Moon (he was totally ahead of his time) Tintin was an adventurer, however, I’m not sure whether or not he would make a great travel companion to sit and have a beer with in the hostel bar with.

5. Bart Simpson:

Now Bart Simpson I definitely want to travel with, guaranteed laugh a minute (as long as Lisa stays at home). He has traveled to Australia, Japan, Brazil, China, France and the UK, amongst others. Even more impressive is the sheer number of people at Beat the Brochure HQ who have expert Simpson’s abroad knowledge.

6. Captain Planet:

He’s out hero, he’s gonna take pollution down to zero! Well, we are still waiting for him fulfil his objectives, but Captain Planet and his fellow travelers from the Societ Union, Ghana, USA, Thailand and South America, traveled around the world promoting excellent environment practices and punishing those who failed to look after our planet. More importantly however, is just how muscular Captin Planet’s legs are.

7. Aladdin:

Born and bred (we assume) in the Middle East, Aladdin traveled far and wide on his little rug.

8. Wacky Races:

Rock Slag, Big Gruesome, Red Max, Sergeant Blast, Peter Perfect, Rufus Ruffcut, Gravel Slag, Little Gruesome, Professor Pat Pending, Ring-a-Ding, Sawtooth, Blubber Bear, Penelope Pitstop, Dick Dastardly, Private Meekly, Ant-hill mob – the names of the wacky racers is entertainment enough, but each race is located is somewhere different around North America. They need to bring this back!!

9. The Hurricanes:

Take one football team and let them travel around the world playing matches and challenging the evil Garkos Gorgons, that Stavros just will not let it lie. Another classic that should be returned to our screens asap.

10. Rugrats:

Question, What was Tommy’s dad’s job? The rugrats, aside from being an epic cartoon, had their fair share of vacations, including Paris and Las Vegas. I would like to now start a petition for a Rugrats in Las Vegas 21 – so we can see the gang in action when they are allowed to actively be in the casinos.

1. Bellagio Fountain – Las Vegas, Nevada, USA:

Bellagio Fountain stands magnificienlty infront of the Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, USA. A water show interweaven with beautiful romantic music and charming lights create a romantic environment. It was inspired by the Bellagio Resort in Lake Como, Italy. The fountain is built on an eight acre lake in front of the hotel. More than 1,000 water nozzles coordinate with 4,000 lights, which work beautifully with soft and soothing musical patterns.

2. Fountain of Wealth, Suntec City, Singapore:

This amazing piece of art is located in Suntec City, the city center of the beautiful city of Singapore. Fountain of wealth found it’s position in the Guinness Book of Records in 1998 as the largest fountain in the world. At night the fountain is open to witness laser performances and song dedications. The fountain is made up of bronze. It consists of a circular ring with a circumference of 66 metres supported on four large slanted columns. It has an area of 1683.07 square metres, with a height of 13.8m. The fountain is surrounded with shopping malls. Water flows inwards for two prime reasons: Water is the symbol of life and wealth in Chinese culture, and the inward motion of the water symbolises the retention of wealth for Singapore.

3. Archibald Fountain, Sydney, Australia:

The beautiful Archibald fountain was built in Hyde Park North in Sydney in 1932. The park was gifted to the city by a private citizen, J F Archibald. It is intended to commemorate the association between Australia and France in world War I. The beautiful piece of art is the work of French sculptor Francois Sicard. The fountain consits of a bronze Apollo and other mythical figures. Dolphins, horses and tortoises produce jets of water in a charming way.

4. Swarovski Fountain, Innsbruck, Austria:

This beautiful artwork is located in the Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Innsbruck, Austria. The park and museum were built in 1995, designed by Andre Heller, Brian Eno, Susanne Schmogner and Studio Azurr. It has the shape of an Alpine Giant sprouting water from it’s mouth. It is eye catching and brilliantly designed.

5. Floating Fountains, Osaka, Japan:

Fountains sprinkle water droplets in air in a manner which make them fly. This amazing and beautiful fountain, designed by Isamu Noguchi, flies itself on the contrary. Isamu Noguchi built 9 floating fountains for the first time in the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. Water tap concept was used in building these fountains.

6. Pineapple Fountain at Waterfront Park, Charleston SC:

One of the most eye-catching fountains is Charleston’s famous Pineapple Fountain standing with grace in Waterfront Park, Charleston City in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The park has various sections. This fountain stands at the northern entrance of the park. It makes the park a famous tourist attraction.The park received the 2007 Landmark Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

7. Peoples Friendship Fountain, Moscow, Russia:

People’s Friendship Fountain in Moscow is a beautiful fountain which symbolizes unity and friendship between nations. It has 16 sculptures that wear the national costumes of all of the Soviet Republic. The fountain has an octahedral pond made of red garnate, with a surface area of 4000 square meters. This fountain sprays 1200 liters of water supported by 8 water punps.

8. King Fahd’s Fountain Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:

King Fahd’s Fountain, also known as Jeddah Fountain is the tallest fountain in the world. It is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The fountain was gifted to the city by the King Fahd. It was constructed between 1980 and 1983 and began operating in 1985. It jets water 312 metres (1,024 ft) above the Red Sea. The fountain takes water from the Red Sea. At night 500 spotlights illuminate the fountain.

9. Multimedia fountain, Wroclaw, Poland:

The Wroclaw Fountain or Wroclaw Multimedia Fountain is modern era’s multimedia fountain with a screen made entirely of water for animation display. It is located in Poland. About 300 water jets create a screen of water. There are also 800 lights. The water of the fountain freezes in winters and serves as a 4700 sq meter rink for ice skating.

10. 71 Fountain, Ohio, United States:

This spectacular fountain is located on the highway 71 in Ohio in the UNited States of America.

1. Ashford Castle Hotel – Mayo, Ireland:

Again from Ireland is the most beautiful and serene 5 star luxurious hotel, The Ashford Castle Hotel. The 350 acre private estate has been standing in style, grace and standard for over 700 years. It is a excellent example of art and craftsmanship. The hotel is well reputation for providing guests with the very finest accommodation equipped with facilities and the most delicious food delicacies one could ever cherish.During your stay here you will enjoy the award-winning gourmet in the Connaught Room and George V Restaurants, leisurely afternoon tea in the Drawing Room or pre-dinner drinks in the Prince of Wales Cocktail Lounge.

2. Dromoland Castle Hotel – Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland:

The Dromoland Castle Hotel, the hotel of dreams was transformed from a castle to a hotel in 1962. The castle dates back to the 5th century. It is the ancestral home of one of the few families of Gaelic Royalty; direct descendants of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland. The hotel is a 5 star luxury hotel, offering the guests with the most hospitable service and an experience of Irish gentry. It is built on a huge 375 acre estate and provides the opportunity to have the most wonderful stay in a magical historic building with modern day facilities, away from the hustle bustle of life yet convenient to reach as the hotel is just 8 miles from Shannon International Airport.

3. Schlosshotel Kronberg – Kronberg im Taunus:

This 5 star luxury hotel is hosted in an elegant castle of old days. The castle was built between 1889 and 1894 for the dowager German Empress Victoria, Princess Royal and named in honor of her husband, Frederick III, German Emperor. The Empress spent most of her time at the castle until her death in 1901 when the castle was inherited by the Empress’s youngest daughter, Princess Margaret of Prussia. Today the hotel belongs, together with the accompanying park, to the Landgrave and Princes von Hessen, The house of Hesse. It has been a grand hotel of the first order since 1954.

4. Solis Lough Eske – Donegal, Ireland:

Located by Donegal town, The 15th century hotel has a rich history and an association with the O’Donnells, the founding fathers of Donegal, a county in the Northwest region of Ireland. The owners of the castle were known for their superior hospitality and so does the hotel. It is a hotel providing comfort and pleasure. It is the ideal place for the business travelers who want modern day comforts and solitude, the wedding couple who want to make their big day all the more special and memorable or for the company who wants something different for their clients and employees. The hotel has claimed a World Luxury Hotel Award and has won the Luxury Country Hotel title two years in a row. Lough Eske Castle has also been named No. 1 Hotel in Ireland by MyGuideIreland; voted Wedding Venue of the Year and Castle Venue of the Year by Ireland’s largest wedding website: Weddingsonline.com; and it has been recognised among the World’s Best Castle Hotels by global travel expert Stephanie Abrams.

5. Dalhousie Castle Hotel – Edinburgh, Scotland:

A fascinating 13th century fortress set within acres of wooded parkland on the picturesque banks of the river Esk is the Dalhousie Castle Hotel. It is undoubtedly the finest luxury hotel in Scotland receiving the guests with a warm Scottish welcome. Whether relaxing in the The Spa, enjoying one of the library’s extensive collection of books and a drink from the ‘secret bar’ next to the open fire, dining in the ancient barrel vaulted dungeon on our exceptional cuisine or relaxing in your own castle bedroom, you will always feel like a king or queen. The hotel hosts the most memorable and beautiful Scottish weddings and is known for it’s cuisine. It is ironic that a building, once so warlike, has transformed today into a luxurious Scottish castle hotel.

6. The Bussaco Palace Hotel – Portugal:

Standing proudly in the mountain range of Serra do Bussaco, in the municipality of Mealhada, in central Portugal is the beautiful Palace Hotel of Bussaco also known as The Bussaco Palace Hotel. It was built between 1888 and 1907 for the last Kings of Portugal. The first architect of this legendary palace was Italian Luigi Manini, who designed a Romantic palace in Neo-Manueline style, evoking the 16th-century architectural style. The Bussaco Palace is inspired in iconic Manueline buildings like the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower, both located in Lisbon. History says that the area around the Buçaco Palace was part of a Discalced Carmelite convent established in 1628. The monks not only built a convent but also created a luxurious garden with many species of trees. The garden represented Earthly Paradise. The hotel is the perfect place for art lovers and love buds.

7. Ballynahinch Castle Hotel – Cashel, Ireland:

The elegant and beautiful Ballynahinch Castle is set in a private 450 acre estate of woodland, rivers and walks in the heart of Connemara Co. Galway. The hotel has a beautiful background of the 12 Mounatin range. This luxurious 4 star castle hotel is famous for it’s graceful exterior, elegant and well kept interior and breathtakingly charming view of the mountain range and the surroundings. It has excellent cuisine and is known for serving fresh locally produced salmon fish.

8. Abbeyglen Castle Hotel – Connemara, Ireland:

Built in 1932, The Abbeyglen Castle Hotel is owned and run by two generations of the Hughes family. It is set in beautiful gardens in the heart of Connemara, 50 miles west of Galway City. The hotel is renowned for it’s luxurious accommodation and matchless cuisine. Abbeyglen has 45 superior rooms with comfortable four poster beds made for kings. The hotel gives the touch of the historic days and at the same time provides it’s guests with all modern day facilities. The peace and tranquility of the area makes the place all the more special. This is a 4 star hotel having won AA Courtesy and Care Award 2002 and two AA Rosettes for Food. It is also a member of Manor House Hotels.

9. Mansfield Castle Hotel – Royal Burgh of Tain, Scotland:

This Victorian style hotel is spread on 3.5 acres of picturesque countryside, with award winning cuisine and magnificent oak and pine paneling and ornate plaster ceilings. Standing gracefully in the heart of the highlands of Scotland, the hotel is easily accessible by being just one hour from Inverness airport. The lands on which Mansfield Castle stands dates back to 10th November 1772. It was passed to George Murray, Merchant, of Tain on 6th October 1801 and from then on became known as Mansfield. The hotel is an excellent choice for people of fine taste who find pleasure in countryside and enjoy old art and architecture. Mansfield House Hotel is a luxury country house hotel, rated 4 star by the Scottish Tourist Board. The house, built in the 1870s and substantially extended in 1902 by the then Provost of Tain.

10. Inverlochy Castle Hotel – Fort William, Scotland:

Inverlochy Castle Hotel is a 19th-century mansion near Fort William, Scotland. It was built in 1863 by James Scarlett, 1st Baron Abinger. Queen Victoria spent a week at Inverlochy during an 1873 visit to Balmoral, remarking “I never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot.” The house has been used as a hotel since 1969. It was declared as the “best hotel in Europe” by Travel + Leisure magazine in 2006.

Just got in on the iPhone act in the shape of a tasty new iPhone 3G S? Welcome. You’re in for a treat, as this run-down of the best games available on the App Store will show. Oh, and as you’re obviously flush, can I borrow a tenner? Or are you an experienced iPhone/iPod touch user? Good to see you again. Take a look at our list and see if you’re missing anything from your collection. Don’t have a touch-based Apple device to call you own? Good to have you on board too. Here’s what you’re missing. Of course, there are so many brilliant games on the App Store that it’s impossible to make a list of ten without missing some absolute classics. If you feel we’ve made any glaring omissions, do mention them in the comments section below.Let’s make this the definitive list of must-have iPhone titles.

1. Rolando, ngmoco:

The first of two games that have received an esteemed Pocket Gamer Platinum Award (10 out of 10) is also the closest thing the iPhone has to a signature game. Although Apple’s device is far too freeform and open ended to have a single defining application, Rolando comes the closest.  Why? Because it fits the device like a particularly snug protective case. The visuals are crisp and stylish and the game is accessible to all – casual user and gamer alike. More important, though, is how it controls. You tilt your handset left and right to roll little circular creatures (Rolandos) through each obstacle-strewn level. When you need to jump, you flick your finger up on the screen, and you can interact with various wheels and springs in a similarly intuitive manner. It’s this tactile brilliance that makes Rolando a must-have title for your iPhone.

2. Zen Bound, Chillingo:

The other iPhone game to receive 10 out of 10 from us is Zen Bound, but it’s a completely different proposition from Rolando. Your sole goal is to wrap a bunch of three-dimensional objects up using a single length of string. You do this by rotating the object with your finger, the string entwining the objects as they turn. You could say that the goal is to reach 100 per cent coverage, but it isn’t. There really isn’t a goal to Zen Bound, other than to relax and enjoy the experience – all to the strains of a blissful ambient soundtrack. If that sounds a bit sappy and tree-huggy to you, then we urge you to put your doubts aside and give the free Lite version a spin. We have no doubt you’ll become as wrapped up in this beautifully unique experience as we are.

3. Real Racing, Firemint:

If you want something to show to your doubting-Thomas hardcore gaming friends in order to prove the iPhone’s gaming viability, this is the game to show them. It’s a technically peerless racing game that really pushes into the realms of the PSP racer. More than that, though, Real Racing shows how the iPhone’s unique controls needn’t be a handicap for traditional game types. As you tear around each beautifully detailed track, you tilt the handset to steer, making for one of the finest approximations of steering yet seen on a portable device. Developer Firemint hasn’t forgotten about the experience outside of the cockpit, either, with some fiendishly sophisticated AI giving you a proper test on the track. And when you tire of the single player experience there’s a whole host of multiplayer options to keep you racing.

4. Flight Control, Firemint:

Flight Control isn’t the best looking game on the App Store. It’s not the longest or the most sophisticated, either. In every way that matters, Flight Control comes across as fairly unremarkable. Every way but one – it’s impossibly, obscenely addictive. Presented with a bird’s-eye view of a simple airfield, it’s up to you to play air-traffic controller and guide each incoming aircraft to the appropriate (colour-coded) runway. As each of the aeroplanes and helicopters appears on-screen, you must draw out a flight path with your finger, making sure to avoid any mid-air collisions. Naturally, the pace soon picks up, and Flight Control swiftly becomes a juggling act of epic proportions. With only three airfields and a simple online hi-score table to contend with, Flight Control is certainly slight. But it’s also arguably the best pound-for-pound experience to be had on your iPhone.

5. Peggle, PopCap:

Of all the games on the App Store that were designed with a more traditional interface in mind, Peggle makes the transition the best. In fact, it feels perfectly at home on the Apple device. The simple mechanic of pointing a ball-bearing gun at a playfield of pins works perfectly with the iPhone’s touch-based controls, while the ensuing fireworks and exaggerated pinball physics play out beautifully on the device’s pin-sharp widescreen. The game itself is as brilliant as ever, treading the fine line between randomness and skill perfectly as you try and knock out as many coloured pins as possible per turn. This is the definitive portable version of PopCap’s modern classic.

6. Star Defense, ngmoco:

The App Store is full of turret defence games, whereby you strategically place gun turrets to hold off a constant swarm of enemy invaders. It can be hard to stand out in this particularly crowded strategy sub-genre, but Star Defense represents the absolute pinnacle. It looks fantastic for a start, with a smooth and highly detailed 3D engine and plenty of impressive fireworks as battle is joined. It also plays a mean game, getting the all-important unit balance just about spot on. You’ll need to make numerous tough decisions concerning resource management and defence placement. While it’s incredibly intense, though, Star Defense is never less than brilliant fun.

7. Tiki Towers, RealArcade:

Tiki Towers takes such dry subjects as physics and structural engineering and makes them into a devilishly fun iPhone app. How? It introduces monkeys to the equation, a ploy guaranteed to make anything ten times better. Oh, and by building a brilliant puzzle game around them. It’s your job to construct a series of bridges, towers and other scalable objects out of a finite number of bamboo sticks in order to ensure safe passage for a gang of stranded chimps. This is done very simply by touching and dragging where you want each strut to go. What really clinches the deal is that each construction reacts realistically to the laws of physics – leave a tower top-heavy and it’ll topple over convincingly as soon as you touch the button to send it live. Smart, funny and intuitive, Tiki Towers has everything you’d want in an iPhone game.

8. Trism, Demiforce:

Trism deserves its place on this list because it does one of the toughest things in gaming – it adds a degree of originality and freshness to the match-three puzzler. While it ostensibly resembles any number of Bejeweled clones, Trism has a very interesting trick up its sleeve. The basic goal is to match three or more coloured triangles by shifting whole rows left and right. Do this and the matched blocks will disappear, allowing gravity to take hold and fill in the gap with fresh blocks from above. The twist is, you control where ‘above’ is via the orientation of your handset. By turning your iPhone on its side, or even upside down, at key moments, you can dictate which direction the blocks drop from. It represents a seismic shift in how you approach such a traditional puzzler, and makes Trism something of must-have for all block-dropping fans.

9. Edge, Mobigame:

This is a game for all those who pine for the simple 8bit games of their youths but don’t want to face up to the frustrating game design or tiresome hardware setups. Edge borrows heavily from 1980s gaming culture – the catchy digitised soundtrack, the exacting gameplay – but updates it for the iPhone generation. You must guide an adhesive block around a string of abstract obstacle courses, avoiding any slips that would send you into the endless void below. As with any other iPhone game, this is achieved eith
er by tilting your handset or physically pushing the block along with your finger. Edge is platform gaming distilled to its purest form, wrapped up in a knowingly chic retro-minimalist skin. It simultaneously looks back at gaming’s past while embracing current technology, which makes it as unique as it is brilliant.

10. Glyder, Glu:

This strange and beautiful game offers something completely unique to iPhone gaming, nailing the mechanics and the sensation of unpowered flight almost to perfection. Playing as Eryn and her titular Glyder, you must swoop around each fantastical arena by tilting your iPhone, pulling back to climb and pushing forward to dive. The goal is to collect each and every gem dotted throughout the world, with many requiring breath-taking feats of flying skill – including flying through narrow canyons or skimming along the ground. That each area is contained within a single open world, with absolutely no loading times in between, is just one of the game’s many achievements. But it’s the sensation of freedom and of effortless flight that wins Glyder a place in our affections, and on this list.

This will probably be a controversial pick since they aren’t as commercially successful as some others on this list, but I didn’t feel right putting Gorillaz as #1 since even though they have had minisodes, they have never had an actual cartoon series, and Alvin.. well… I hate them. Besides, I like this band the most and I’m writing the list. Dethklok is the virtual Band from the Cartoon show Metalocalypse, created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha. It’s a comedy/horror about a metal band that is so popular, the worlds economy hinges upon them. It satirizes the stereotypes of heavy/death metal and at first most people thought it was silly or stupid. But the show got more popular as people began to realize that while yes, it is funny, the music is actually some of the best metal heard in ages, and combined with the brutal bloody imagery that the show creates, its like they have distilled heavy metal down to an almost pure form of awesome! With all the music being written and performed by Brendon Small, he’s gone from the uncrowned king of adult swim (he voices on almost every show in the block) to a very seriously respected musician in his own right. Dethklok has opened for Iron Maiden and headlined its own tour with Mastodon (which this author went to. Trust me, it really WAS Brutal)

Created by Damon Albarn, the lead singer of The British band Blur, and the Tank Girl comic co-creator Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz is the most successful Cartoon/virtual band, ever. Period. They are in the Guinness Book of World Records as such. Though they only have one grammy, they have been nominated for different awards 25 times and have won 7. There are 4 members in the virtual band, 2D, Russle, Murdoc and Noodles, though they have many guest musicians appear on their albums. The style is a mix of rock/pop/hiphop/techno coolness. Sorry for the quality of the video – the Gorillaz have blocked all their videos from embedding on youtube.

Created in 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. (who also wrote the song The Witchdoctor) Alvin and the Chipmunks are serious heavy weights when it comes to a fictional band achieving real success. With more awards than most real bands ever, see including 5 Grammys, and with the latest movie and sequel, it seems these 3 lovable chipmunks may be scratching the chalkboard in our brains for years to come. (I also wonder.. were these little anthropomorphic abominations the birth of Furries?)

Created in the Archie Comics universe and composed of all it’s main cast of characters, The Archies were responsible for one of the biggest pop hits in the late 60′/early 70′s, “Sugar,Sugar”, which hit #1 on the pop chart in 1969 and sold over 6 million copies. And since fictional bands can’t die, and Archie comics are still somehow around (Do people really still read that?), they even had a Christmas album released in 2008.

Appearing in the South Park episode “Timmy 2000″, T.a.t.l.o.t.u. (I’m not typing all that again) was a band fronted by the most talented handicapped kid in South Park (not Jimmy!). The episode satirized many issues; from how society deals with the disabled, to how they over medicate children for acting like children, to revenge on Phil Collins beating out “Blame Canada” for a best song Oscar, for that Tarzan song I bet only one in 30 of you can remember the name of.

6. Josie and the Pussycats:

An early 70′s Saturday Morning cartoon, pulled from the Archie Comics universe, about an all girl pop group who solved mysteries. It spawned a live group to go with it, and decades later a piece of godawful cinema. And, from my view, a template that Hanna-Barbera just didn’t want to give up. It’s also noted for being the first show to having a regularly appearing black female. Though this was only because the music producer threatened to walk after Hanna-Barbera wanted to recast the band to being all white! (Valerie was black in the comic and they had already cast a black woman in the live band as well).

Created by Christy Marx, a staff writer for Transformers and G.I. Joe, Jem was a show about a music superstar named Jem and her band, The Holograms. The twist was that she had a secret identity as a music company owner named Jerrica Benson, and only turned into Jem with the help of a holographic computer. And if this idea sounds somewhat similar to a certain irritating other show/pop culture headache, Hannah Montana, you wouldn’t be far off. Just replace “magic computer” with blond wig.

Created, produced, and mostly voiced by Bill Cosby, Fat Albert and the Cosby kids was an educational Saturday morning cartoon about a group of low income black youths who hung out in a north Philly junkyard. They would usually sing a song about what they had learned in each episode, and single-handedly managed to skew the view for suburban white kids on what it was like in the ghetto.

Hanna-Barbera, through the 60′s and 70′s had a serious, one could say even disturbing… want for TV shows about music groups. The Neptunes were the band that starred in the Saturday morning cartoon, Jabberjaw. They, along with other fictional mystery solving bands from the era, such as the Chan Clan and even Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids, seemed to be the mutant bastard offspring of Scooby-Doo and Josi and The Pussycats. Starring an almost duplicate cast of the characters from Scooby Doo (including the awful laughtrack), with the switch of a giant talking shark who was, himself, a 3 stooges ripoff, in place of a dog. They Solved mysteries between gigs in an underwater future society.

1. University Club Library – New York City, United States:

2. Canadian Library of Parliament – Ottawa, Canada:

3. Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library – New Haven, Connecticut:

4. Iowa State Capital Law Library – United States:

5. Suzzalo Library at the University of Washington – Seattle, Washington:

6. Admont Abbey Library – Austria:

7. State Library – Victoria, Australia:

8. Library at El Real Monasterio de El Escorial – Madrid, Spain:

9. José Vasconcelos Library – Mexico City, Mexico14:

10. Real Gabinete Português de Leitura – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

11. National Library of Finland – Helsinki, Finland:

12. Mitchell Library – Sydney, Australia:

13. Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at University of Toronto – Toronto, Canada:

14. George Peabody Library – Baltimore, Maryland:

15. Strahov Theological Hall – Prague, Czech Republic:

1. Sirocco Rooftop Bar in Bangkok, Thailand:

No night out in Bangkok is complete without a couple cocktails at Sirocco. Perched on top of The Dome at State Tower, 64th floors above the hectic streets of Bangkok, this sexy rooftop bar boasts 360 degree views of the city with city lights in every direction, as far as the eye can see. If you’re looking for a picturesque place to dine, they also serve dinner.

2. The Penthouse Rooftop Bar in Madrid, Spain:

The Penthouse is an ultra-chic rooftop bar owned by Rande Gerber, celeb nightlife entrepreneur and husband of Cindy Crawford. It’s located on the roof of Hotel ME Madrid Reina Victoria, in Plaza Santa Ana, and has a great view of central Madrid. The crowd is dressed to kill, the waitresses are smoking hot the drinks are pricey and the place is often frequented by Spanish celebrities. Best to get here for happy hour, because although it’s open till 3am, the line to get in is insane after midnight.

3. Luna Bar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

This super sexy rooftop and poolside bar is a hang out for the twenties and thirties nightlife scene in Kuala Lumpur. It’s got a long indoor bar with a chic design leading you out onto the breezy rooftop for the best views of the lights of KL. For a romantic night out, be sure to get there early to snag a private little enclave up against the glass.

4. Rooftop Bar & Exterior Cinema in Melbourne, Australia:

An ultra cool venue for music, cinema, or just sunny boozing, this bar sits atop the Thai bar and restaurant, Cookie, on a six story 1920′s building in central Melbourne.

5. Gravity Rooftop Bar in Dublin, Ireland:

Although not an open air bar, Gravity boasts an unobstructed 360 degree view of Dublin. It’s got a swanky style and comfortable seating right up against the glass to sit in while you enjoy the view from the highest bar in Ireland.

6. Top Floor Bar in London, United Kingdom:

Looking for the perfect place to throw a swank party in London? The Top Floor Bar, the final floor of the Gherkin, London’s newest architectural darling, is available for private parties. The ultra modern venue sits under the spectacular glass cone roof and has stunning views of the city.

7. Moon Bar in Las Vegas, Nevada:

The Palms teamed up with the Playboy Club giving revelers in Vegas a sexy place to blow their money on the 53rd floor of the palms Hotel. The sound system here is rockin’ and although it can be tough to get in, it’s a great place to check out on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

8. Captain Bar in Shanghai, China:

This cool rooftop bar has a wide variety of cocktails and a great view of The Bund and surrounding city lights. It’s usually a cool mix of locals and travelers which makes for a diverse and thirsty crowd.

9. Hudson Sky Terrace in New York:

This super chill rooftop bar has great service, amazing sangria and everything else you could want on a hot New York afternoon. From an air conditioned game room to a hammock with a view of the river, the Hudson has you covered, but like many of NY rooftop hot spots, you must be a guest in the hotel to enjoy it.

10. Condesa DF Rooftop Bar in Mexico City:

This is an awesome bar in an all-around cool hotel. The Condesa DF is decked out in extraordinary design, from the table cloths to the couches. This super-chic hotel only has 40 rooms so make sure to get a reservation, and make sure to hit its rooftop paradise for some cocktails as the sun goes down over Mexico City.

1. Akira:

What can I say about Akira which hasn’t been said a thousand times? Constantly voted the best anime of all time, and rightly so. All hand drawn animation, this movies unique animation style has made it stand out from the rest. A great interpretation of a futuristic a Tokyo, with every little bit of detail. Every science fiction film or otherwise has often given credit or influence from Akira. Twenty three years old now but still nothing has come close to the creative story or the animation of the best animation movie ever. You will have to watch this movie more than once to understand it fully. A live action movie is suppose to be in the works with Leonardo Dicaprio and Zak Efron connected with the project; fingers crossed it will be as good as the original!

2. Ninja Scroll:

Ninja Scroll!! The best martial arts ever! Anime or not! With a great mix of sex, violance and animation it is one of the best adult animation movies of all time. Ninja Scroll has influenced many recent movies and games, including Metal Gear Solid 3 on Playstation 2, which personally I thought was a straight up copy except for a few character changes. If you like gore, swords, sex, fantasy and ninjas, then this movie is definitely for you.

3. Grave Of The Fireflies:

This movie is probably the most emotional on the list. A story in which a young boy and his little sister have to struggle to find their way in life after their parents die due to war. A realisation on what actually happened to most people during the World Wars. The story alone has made this one of the greatest war movies ever, not only for animation but for all movies. A movie I would suggest anyone to see, as I can not put it in words how great this is!

4. Princess Mononoke:

Probably my favourite Studio Ghibili movie. A movie about Gods and Demons and one exiled prince adventure to save the world. Some of the best animation I’ve seen; this whole movie impresses me with the best animation I’ve ever seen on animals in a motion picture. Sometimes very gory, but doesn’t distract it from the overall story; a story relating to the real life conflict between man and nature (more of a personal touch from Miyazaki). The soundtrack is amazing, a mix between traditional Japanese and West orchestra.

5. Howls Moving Castle:

Christian Bale! That is enough for me to get interested in this movie. The second most successful Studio Ghibili movie after Spirited Away. With an all-star cast and a imaginative fantasy story line, you would expecting nothing less than a beautiful movie that captures the minds of children but also is equally enjoyable for adults. With girls falling in love with Howls charm and Calcifer The Fire Demon comedic dialogue, this movie blends the perfect mix of emotion and humour.

6. Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind:

The very first Studio Ghibli film! With a great cast, and a amazing fantasy story, this is one of my all time favourites. A story about humans vs bugs; not a very generic storyline but the balance between beautiful animation and acting uniquely brings this movie to it’s own. Watching it, you wouldn’t of thought this movie was twenty seven years old!

7. Street Fighter 2 : The Animated Movie:

One of the best game to movie adoptions ever! The movie stayed very true to the games mythology and has some great fighter scenes. The ambitious drive Ken Masters has for finding Ryu and the emotion the movie portrays between two sibling rivalrys gives the movie enough pace to keep you on the edge of your seat through-out. M.Bison makes as a perfect villain and the deleted Chun-Li shower scene makes this the best video game movie out at the moment!

8. Spirited Away

No top anime list would be complete without Spirited Away. A magical movie that officially put Japan on the map as creating some of the best animation and story telling in the world. Hayao Miyazaki first popular movie in the west, which spawned a huge fan base of all his past and future Studio Ghibli movies. Because of the successful of this movie, Disney now have the rights to all of Ghibli’s output that did not have previous international distribution, which sky rocketed it to even more success.

9. Ghost In The Shell:

Next on the list is Ghost In The Shell. Not that old but a classic anime movie in it’s own right. Taken influences directly from Blade Runner and Akira and with an amazing soundtrack, this is a must see film for any anime fan. The Wachowski brothers who created The Matrix franchise has openly said that without Ghost In The Shell, then The Matrix would never have happen. With only just over an hour long, it still falls short for a good movie length.

10.Blood: The Last Vampire:

I start off with this one; even though it is not as popular as the other movies on this list, it is a personally favourite of mine. Probably the darkest on here (maybe apart from Ghost In The Shell, which was made my the same creators), which you aren’t really seeing in anime movies these days. The animation is great and has a great concept, with non-stop action and violence. The only downfall and the reason why it’s so low down on the list is because it fell short with an abrupt ending and is only forty eight minutes long.

1. Supercell Thunderstorm in Montana, 2010 (Sean Heavey):

Nature’s wrath is unmerciful, and to say she’s extremely powerful would be a major understatement. Understanding the capability of what she can do is hard to visualize, but with the help of some very skilled photographers, who took these shots at the perfect moment, we can come close. Here, then, are 15 amazing shots that will renew your respect for Mother Nature.

2. Chaiten Volcano in Chana, Chile, 2008 (Carlos Gutierrez):

3. Eyjafjallajokull Volcano in Iceland, 2010 (Reuters/Lucas Jackson):

4. Lightning Storm in Roswell, New Mexico, 2010 (AP Photo/Roswell Daily Record, Mark Wilson):

5. Undersea Volcano in Tonga, 2009 (LOTHAR SLABON/AFP/Getty Images):

6. Brushfires in Victoria, Australia, 2009 (AP Photo):

7. Fire in Little Tujunga Canyon, California, 2008 (REUTERS/Gene Blevins):

8. Double Cyclone in Iceland, 2006 (NASA/Jesse Allen):

9. Dust Storm in China, 2001 (NASA/Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon/MODIS science team):

10. Flooding in Rajanpur district, Pakistan, 2010 (REUTERS/Stringer):

11. Flooding in Iowa, 2008 (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson):

12. Earthquake in Sichuan, China, 2008 (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images):

13. Earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 2010 (REUTERS/Eduardo

Munoz):

14. Tsunami in Hat Rai Lay Beach, near Krabi in southern Thailand, 2004 (AFP/AFP/Getty Images):

15. Tsunami in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, 2005 (Dimas Ardian/Getty Images):

1. Hunt down scholarships:

Scholarships are the best way to go because you never have to repay the money. Contact local organizations in your community about scholarships, and do searches on the Internet through sources such as FastWeb, FinAid, the College Board and the Financial Aid Resource Center.

2. Go crazy applying for grants:

Grants are great because they don’t have to be repaid either. You can learn about grant possibilities here. Also consider whether these two new grants might be appropriate: the Academic Competitiveness Grant, which offers up to $1,300 for students who have completed a rigorous high school program; and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent, or SMART, grant, which offers up to $4,000 for undergraduates majoring in physical, life or computer sciences, math, technology, engineering or a foreign language “determined critical to national security.”

3. Time your FAFSA application carefully:

If you’ve begun navigating the financial-aid universe, you know about the need to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, in order to secure federal grants and different forms of state aid. Families are typically encouraged to complete this form as soon after Jan. 1 as possible for the upcoming academic year. This year, though, you may want to wait until you’re absolutely sure you’ve filled out the form correctly. New rules affect the way you should report your assets and your child’s assets. For instance, 529 savings plans, Coverdell education savings accounts and prepaid college tuition plans are considered parents’ assets, not students’ assets. If you accidentally list such assets as your child’s instead of your own, your child’s chances of receiving aid could be wrecked. For more details about important changes in the law, check out Sandra Block’s excellent “Your Money” column on the subject.

4. Borrow as a last resort:

If student loans are unavoidable, opt for subsidized loans when you can. The federal government pays the interest on such loans while you’re in school and during the grace period before repayment begins. For details, turn to the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Information Center, Nellie Mae and SallieMae. You also could consider applying for a loan through MyRichUncle.com.  The entrepreneurs who started this Web site look beyond credit histories only and do a “holistic” examination of students’ grade-point averages, programs of study and test scores when deciding how to farm out loans.

5. Pick the right school:

Sure, the country’s most elite private schools have an almost irresistible appeal, but so many other options exist that will allow you to spend so much less. Remember all those high-caliber private schools out there that don’t have the name recognition of Harvard but still need to fill their classrooms. Many of them offer “tuition discounts” (i.e., financial aid). And of course, you could save a bundle by choosing a public university in your state — or, better yet, by opting for a community college for the first two years of that four-year degree.

6. Weigh the possible benefits of a gap year:

Have you heard about the “gap year” craze, which extols the virtues of taking a year off between high school and college — or, in some cases, between undergraduate and graduate school? There’s even a Web site dedicated to helping students figure out exciting things they can do with their year. The crucial detail about this year, though, is that the student not stay home with Mom and Dad. The whole point of the time away from school is to instill confidence, street smarts and a reality check about how much things cost. And in purely practical financial terms, this extra year gives parents additional time to save for college, and it gives students the potential to jazz up their resumes and college applications and save at least some money for the whole college effort.

7. Have your kid contribute:

Here’s a little bit more food for thought on this subject. The idea behind this tip isn’t to plunge your child into financial ruin just as he or she is trying to get started in life. Instead, the objective is to have your child feel invested in the college experience and understand its true costs. He or she can help pay for dorm furnishings, help fill out financial aid applications, or hold down a job in the summer months or for 10 to 15 hours a week during the academic year. Your child also could agree to pay for the final two years of school if you pick up the tab for the first two years, even if this involves taking responsibility for student loans during that period.

8. Pursue tax credits if you can:

If you’re a single filer with an income of less than $55,000 a year or a couple with an annual income of less than $110,000, you could qualify for a Hope credit and a Lifetime Learning credit to help defray college costs.

9. Don’t give up on tax breaks if your income is too high:

If you make too much to qualify for a tax credit, there are still steps you can take. A recent article by certified financial planner Jim Grote in the Journal of Financial Planning explains how you can gift assets, shift income and pursue other strategies that could give you valuable tax benefits and make paying for school that much easier.

10. Parents, don’t blow your retirement savings:

Remember: Your kids can always borrow for college, but you can’t borrow for your retirement. It may feel natural for you to give everything you possibly can to your children — but they’ll ultimately thank you if you take care of yourself in this department.

1. Go Somewhere else:

Studying in your dorm, apartment, or whatever you have can be incredibly distracting. Grab the bare minimum (books, iPod, notebooks, computer only if you need it) and head somewhere else. It doesn’t need to be a library, necessarily- I’ve found coffee shops and bookstores to both be awesome places to work. Either way, make sure you find somewhere where you can really set up shop, and not have to move for a while.

2. Caffeinate:

I know, everyone talks about how bad caffeine and sugar are for you, and it’s true. But let’s face it: your bodily cleansing, for this one evening,  needs to take a backseat. Do whatever you need to do to stay alert and awake; nodding off while reading isn’t very helpful. Even just eating something while you study can be really helpful, as are coffee, soda, and the like. Make sure you keep plenty around, though, to stave off the crash.

3. Use the 50/10 rule:

This is one of my favorite methods  of studying, because it keeps me incredibly focused. Work- hard- for 50 minutes. No breaks, no distractions. Anytime you get distracted and stop working, the 50 minutes starts over. Once you hit 50, take a 10 minute break. Check your email, go to the bathroom, walk aimlessly around- whatever. Then, it’s back to work. Training yourself this way forces you to study hard 80% of the time, instead of half-studying all the time- it’s much more effective.

4. Rewrite:

Though this tip doesn’t work for everyone, it certainly has for me. The way I study, for the most part, is to rewrite my notes into smaller pieces. Eliminate the filler, and whittle down your notes from every class or reading into a specific portion- a page, or 1/2 a page. This forces you to figure out what’s really important, and not waste your time reading through page after page of notes.  Plus, you’ll be amazed at how much you learn simply by writing.

5. Study with a friend: 

Odds are, you’re not the only one who put off studying until the last minute. Find someone else to panic with, and you’ll be rewarded in two ways: you’ll realize how much you already know by asking and answering questions, and you’ll figure out what you need to study. Quiz each other, ask questions about what you don’t understand, and figure out together what you need to be thinking about. Two (or twelve) brains are always better than one, and studying is no exception.

6. Figure out the Big Points:

Given that you’re studying the night before the test, odds are you’re not going to remember every minute detail of the material you’ve learned. That’s okay. Instead, spend your time focusing on major concepts, the 5-10 things you’ve talked about the most and need to know the most about for the test. You’ll learn more about the connections between topics, as well as be able to answer more questions intelligently. More often, at least in classes I take, the concepts prove more important than the tiny details, but it’s easy to get bogged down in remembering every piece of material. Focus on the big stuff first, and move on only if there’s time. Night-before cramming requires playing the odds, and your best bet is on the big stuff.

7. Chunk:

Try remembering these ten numbers: 9-1-4-6-5-7-3-2-4-1. Not so easy? Now try remembering this phone number: 914-657-3241. Much easier, right? That’s a process known as chunking, which can help you retain information at a much higher rate. To study with this method, follow a simple process: Come up with important terms you need to know for the test, and define them. Come up with a few major concepts from the course material, and explain them each in a paragraph. Then, on a notecard or piece of paper, group your terms into the concepts. Practice going over a concept, and remembering the relevant terms and definitions. Learning the individual parts as they relate to a larger whole makes remembering and applying them much easier. About.com has a great article about chunking here.

8. Study out of Order:

Most people study by reading their notes over and over again. This, believe it or not, really isn’t a helpful way of studying. Your brain doesn’t work in perfect order all the time, and neither should you. Instead, read your notes through consecutively only once. Then, randomly go back and read days’ notes, in no order whatsoever. This helps your brain remember the information on its own, instead of simply as a part in a series.  If chronology is relevant, i.e. in a history class, be careful to note chronology, but still change your orders.

9. Study Out Loud:

Read your notes out loud. Whisper, yell, sing, rap, whatever- say your notes out loud. I can’t overstate how much easier it is to remember something you say, hear and read than something you simply read. By speaking out loud, you give your brain three stimuli to remember the material instead of just one. Your retention skyrockets as you talk, because you’re forced to concentrate on the material. Don’t study in your head- study aloud!

10. Sleep:

This is literally the single most important thing you can do the night before a test. Studies have shown that you both remember incredibly more after 6 hours of sleep, and you perform terribly in pressurized situations without much sleep. This is a difficult thing to do, because, as I mentioned above, your instincts and caffeine will tell you to stay awake. Any sleep at all you can get is a crucial part of succeeding on a test, and the more the better. Balance caffeine with getting to bed at some point, and once you get in bed, forget about the test. Think actively about something peaceful, so nothing else enters your mind, and you’ll nod right off. These aren’t always the optimal methods to study. They’re 0nly a way to help you out if you’re in total panic mode over a test you’re not ready for, and don’t have time to study for properly. Ideally, you should be studying all along, eating well, exercising constantly, and getting lots of sleep. But that’s not realistic, at least not for me. So, if you’re in crisis mode, take a deep breath, and good luck!

How do you study before a test? Let us know in the comments.

1. Surgeons:

$181,850 – $219,770

Being a surgeon is one of the most lucrative and viable career in terms of money. The average salary for Surgeons ranges from $181,850 to $219,770. It is one of the highest paying careers now-a-days. Although, people do not often think good of this career because of spending too much time on studying and training, but in the end, it is well worth of it as you can see that surgeons top the list of among all the high paying careers right now.

2. Anesthesiologists:

$174,610 – $211,750

With the risk and responsibilities involved in being an anesthesiologist, the reward is equally good. Anesthesiologists top 2nd in the high paying careers and jobs. Again, the training is extensive and expanded to a long duration of time, which may expand to an average of 10-12 years. But an average salary of $174,610 to $211,750 is too good to pass on.

3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon:

$169,600 – $210,710

Again the medical department is topping the 3rd high paying career consecutively. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon operates a wide variety of diseases in the regions of head, neck, jaws, face, skull and other tissues of oral and maxillofacial region. Their average salary ranges from $169,600 to $210,710.

4. Orthodontist:

$153,240 – $206,190

An Orthodontist is the one who makes your smile beautiful, repairs crooked teeth, jaws and smiles, with the uses of braces, head gears etc. The training period can be extended to 8-9 years, depending on the specialization, but they earn handsomely, with their average ranging from $153,240 to $206,190.

5. Gynecologists:

$174,600 – $204,470

The delicacies of responsibilities double the burdens of Gynecologists, as delivering babies and assisting women in their various sensitive problems is not an easy task. But with such high responsibilities and undertakings, Gynecologists are paid extremely well; well enough to induce many people to join this high paying career. Their average salary ranges from $174,600 to $204,470.

6. Internist:

$156,790 – $183,990

With an internist sitting on the 6th rank of the highest paying careers, proves the dominancy of medical departments in the 10 highest paying careers. An internist can earn, depending on the specialization, somewhere in between $156,790 to $183,990.

7. Family and General Practitioners:

Average $168,550/year

The medical field is still on the top of high paying careers. Family and general practitioners a lot more than anyone can expect, after all, they are on the 7th rank of the highest paying careers. They can earn $168,550/year on average.

8. Chief Executive Officers (CEO):

$140,880 – 167,280

Chief Executive Officers or CEOs is considered to be one of the most lucrative and high paying career, because of its executive class. However, the chief executive officers are not at the very top of the table, but still they are able to earn a very handsome salary package, ranging from $140,880 to 167,280. They are responsible for the management of the entire company and hence, they are well rewarded too.

9. Psychiatrist:

$151,380 – $163,660

A psychiatrist is a person who has to work very hard with people, because of the intense situations he has to face sometimes. A psychiatrist treats mental disorders. He is a mixture of psychology, biology, medicine and bio-chemistry. His hard work puts him in the contest, with an average salary range of $151,380 to $163,660.

10. Pediatricians:

Average $161,410/year

A pediatrician is the one who take cares of and supervise the health of children specifically. They specialize in diseases which are more prone to be diagnosed in children or early adulthood. Their average salary is about $161,410 per year.

Source: squidoo

1. Be regular:

Take all the classes. It is the most essential pre-requisite for learning. You cannot get away with this. You can miss extremely important points even by leaving a single class.

Shut off your mobile. A ringing cell phone, especially one with a musical tone, can disrupt a class. It’s best just to turn your phone off when you are in class.

1. Monaco:

Average Life Expectancy: 89.68 years

Residents of Monaco live, on average, 5.25 years longer than the second longest-living nation, Macau; that’s approximately a decade longer than the average American. Monaco shares several aspects with other long-living nations, including an abundance of wealth and state-funded healthcare. Monaco residents also live on a Mediterranean diet, which is associated with a reduced risk for a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. But many say it’s Monaco’s relaxing atmosphere that keeps residents hanging on until a ripe old age. Its location along the Mediterranean Sea and clean environment do their part to reduce stress, which can lower immunity and contribute to cardiovascular diseases. Maybe Ponce de León should have stayed closer to home in his search for the Fountain of Youth.

2. Macau:

Average Life Expectancy: 84.43 years

Like several other nations on this list, Macau can attribute its high life expectancy, at least somewhat, to its fruitful economy. But why this tiny nation in the South China Sea is so prosperous might surprise you: Gambling is its main source of revenue, and 70 percent of the money generated on the casino floor is reportedly invested by the Macau government in public healthcare. The island boasts a variety of casinos, many of which are owned by the same bigwigs who gave Las Vegas its “Sin City” reputation. In January 2012, Macau welcomed 2,461,640 visitors looking to test Lady Luck.

3. Japan:

Average Life Expectancy: 83.91 years

Japan boasts an impressive obesity rate: 3.1 percent compared with 33.9 percent in the United States. Much of the credit is owed to the Japanese diet, which revolves around fresh vegetables, rice, and most importantly, fish. Fresh fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy blood pressure levels and reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids encourage healthy brain function, helping prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s. The Japanese also make healthier lifestyle choices: They tend to walk more and not overeat.

4. Singapore:

Average Life Expectancy: 83.75 years

A sound diet and a clean environment contribute to the longevity exhibited by the population of this fast-paced city-state, located on the southern edge of the Malay Peninsula. Like in Hong Kong, Singapore’s cuisine centers on rice and vegetables, which are rich in nutrients that help keep residents healthy and active. Singapore’s government also enforces a strict code of cleanliness–such as heavily restricted smoking areas–to ensure that all residents live in healthy surroundings. Interestingly, back in the 1980s, the government recognized that the nation’s population was aging steadily, and with careful planning, Singapore now features excellent healthcare facilities and programs for the elderly.

5. San Marino:

Average Life Expectancy: 83.07 years

Europe’s third smallest state–behind Vatican City and Monaco–and the world’s oldest republic has a life expectancy that trumps the United States by 4.5 years. Money plays a major role here, as it does in both Guernsey and Andorra, but another key ingredient could be the nation’s work environment. This enclave on the Italian peninsula didn’t rake in its riches through manual labor. San Marino’s primary industries are banking and tourism, with the majority of the Sammarinese working in office settings. This drastically reduces the number of work-related deaths–a big problem elsewhere.

6. Andorra:

Average Life Expectancy: 82.50 years

Several factors may explain why Andorrans outlive residents of other countries. First, this tiny nation, sandwiched between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains, promotes an active, outdoor lifestyle. Residents have easy access to hiking trails and ski resorts, while clean and well-maintained parks are often used for friendly games of soccer and rugby. Its citizens spend lots of time outside, which experts say can lower stress levels and consequently, cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure. Secondly, the CIA states that 100 percent of Andorra’s population is educated. High education levels account for Andorra’s extremely low unemployment rate. This means most Andorrans can afford high-quality nutrition and healthcare.

7. Guernsey:

Average Life Expectancy: 82.24 years

This small island in the English Channel is not a member of the United Kingdom or the European Union, despite being a British crown dependency. Its independence means Guernsey has not been affected by its neighbors’ flailing economies. How does this tie into the long life expectancies of Channel Islanders? One theory: Guernsey residents live longer because they are wealthy, which affords them above-average healthcare and better nutrition. Channel Islanders are well-off, thanks to Guernsey’s extremely low tax rates and high-paying jobs.

8. Hong Kong:

Average Life Expectancy: 82.12 years

Hong Kongers can expect to live nearly four years longer than Americans. Like Italians, people from Hong Kong can partly attribute their longer lives to their diet–rice, vegetables, and tofu are staples–and active lifestyle. Hong Kong reports a much lower obesity level than the United States does, as well as fewer instances of obesity-related health conditions, like diabetes.

9. Australia:

Average Life Expectancy: 81.90 years

Australia’s long life expectancy can be attributed to several factors, including relatively low smoking and obesity rates, as well as an active lifestyle enjoyed by its citizens. But many Australian medical experts insist that the secret to Aussies’ longevity is universal healthcare. While the ability to obtain healthcare in the United States depends heavily on employment status and personal wealth, Australians have access to necessary care no matter how much they make. That said, Aussies shouldn’t get too comfortable; the obesity rate is steadily climbing, which could undercut their longevity in years ahead.

10. Italy:

Average Life Expectancy: 81.86 years

Italians live an average of 3.37 years longer than Americans. Many experts draw a connection between their longevity and diet–which is more than just pasta, meat, and cheese. The Mediterranean diet is credited with lowering the risk for all sorts of diseases. The antioxidants found in olive oil and red wine–two key features of an Italian meal–can improve cholesterol, prevent blood clots, and stave off heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Italians also rely on spices like basil, oregano, and garlic to flavor their cuisine, while Americans depend heavily on salt. As such, Italians improve their odds against high blood pressure and stroke.