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Last year we posted an article titled Top 10 Failed States (2011). The article highlighted  Top 10 countries that were identified by Foreign Policy Magazine’s Fund for Peace index as failed states on the alert or worsening failed states. The list combined the two and examined countries that were in need of our attention.

This year, we compare and contrast the list and see where there has been improvement. In many cases there were slight improvements. In others, things look bleak.

Six African nations are still occupying the top 10 of an annual failed-state index, including Somalia, which heads the list for the fifth straight year after continued struggles with lawlessness and piracy. On this list, we have 7 countries from Africa, including Libya which worsened since 2011 reports.

Let’s hope next year’s report will be better for each of these top 10 failed states.

1. Somalia

Somalia has once again topped the Failed States Index for the 5^th year in a row. Widespread lawlessness, ineffective government, terrorism, insurgencies and crime are big determining factors of why it’s number one on this top 10 list.

Somalia did not top this Top 10 List’s list of failed nations of 2011; however, I feel that this year it deserves this status. For 5 years, nothing has been done to correct the issues inside the country. The chaos is constant.

2. Syria

I disagree with Foreign Policy Fund for Peace’s assessment here. I believe that the civil war in Syria is leading the country in the opposite direction. For the past two years, there’s been nothing but brutality, chaos, political instability as well as widespread slaughter.

Syria’s many denominational groups lived together under the repression and human rights abuses that can characterize the rule of Bashar Al Asasd.

The situation remains quite hostile and this much is for certain: the regime’s once daunting aura has crumbled before the people’s eyes. Al Assad cannot even assure control over his country, never the capital, Damascus. The fuming cities of Homs, Hama and Idib are in worse condition than ever before.

Looking ahead, I agree with the Washington Post that the United States and its Western allies need to encourage a more stable transition of power and wherever possible, maintain national institutions, such as state services and the army, before shifting control of them to a new, elected democratic leadership. That’s what happened in the mostly bloodless revolutions of Egypt and Yemen, where the United States pushed the resistance movements to overthrow the dictators.

The United States made a half-hearted attempt to deal with this problem, by reassuring and supporting “military councils” in Aleppo, Idlib and other areas. The idea was that these groups would foster disciplined command and control among the rebels — helping them overthrow Assad and also providing some structure for orderly transition and governance. There is one problem with this: the military councils have largely dissolved.

Why number 2 on the top 10 list? It moved 8 spots in the wrong direction between 2011 and 2012.

3. Democratic Republic of Congo

People in the Democratic Republic of Congo expect very little from the state, government or civil servants. In fact, ordinary Congolese citizens frequently repeat expressions like “the state is dying but not yet dead” or “the state is ever present but completely useless”.  It seems there can be little argument that DR Congo is indeed a failed state. It’s been on the Foreign Policy The Fund for Peace list at #3 for 2 years in a row.

The average person living in the country is poor, hungry and under-informed. The government is unable to provide decent education or health services. The country – two-thirds of the size of Western Europe – is a battleground. The citizens of DR Congo live in fear from the brutal militias that still control parts of the eastern provinces, where rape has become almost normal. In fact, UN has called DRC the Rape Capital of the World.

It moved up 2 spots to #3 since 2011.

4. Sudan/South Sudan

Foreign Policy’s The Fund for Peace assessed South Sudan this year for the first time following the declaration of independence in the second half of 2011.  Although the FSI did not formally rank South Sudan because it was an incomplete year of data, the young nation has a place on this list, immediately behind its northern neighbor, Sudan. South Sudan’s brittle infrastructure, severe poverty, weak government and tense relations with Sudan continue to be a major concern.

During the recent Second Civil War (1999-2005), roughly two million people have died as a result of war, famine and disease, caused by internal conflicts. Four million people in southern Sudan have been banished and exiled at least once during the war. The civilian death toll is one of the highest of any war since World War II. The conflict officially ended with the signing of a peace agreement in January 2005, but things did not get better.

Darfur Genocide: In 2003, two rebel movements in Darfuri – the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) instigated an armed resistance movement against the Sudanese government, sighting concerns about the ostracism and the failure of the government to protect the people from attacks by nomads.

The Sudanese government, under the leadership of Omar al Bashir, retorted by unleashing Arab militias known as Janjaweed.  Sudanese forces and Janjaweed militia attacked hundreds of villages throughout Darfur; over 400 villages were completely destroyed and millions of people were forced to leave their homes.

Through the conflict, which was determined to be a genocide, African farmers and others in Darfur were being systematically displaced and murdered by the Janjaweed. The genocide in Darfur has taken the lives of 400,000 and displaced over 2,500,000 people. Over one hundred people continue to die each day; that is roughly five thousand every month. The Sudanese government begs to differ with these estimates and denies any linkage to the Janjaweed.

5. Chad

Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Chadian politics have been pigeonholed by uncertainty, volatility and coups d’état. The consolidation of power under Francois Tombalbaye led to an exacerbated religious and ethnic divide, which ultimately led to civil war. Political infighting led to periodic eruptions of violence, culminating in the ascendancy of Idriss Deby to the presidency in 1991.

Though Deby has seemingly supported augmented democratization, the results of the various multi-party elections held since 1996 have widely been viewed as defective. Following the 2010 Chad-Sudan peace accord, relations between the two countries improved dramatically, ending the long-standing proxy war between them.

Since 2011, Chad’s political and economic situation has gotten better significantly. The improvement in Chadian-Sudanese relations has led to a fall in the number of refugees and displaced persons. However, though oil extraction has granted the government more than US$754 billion in additional revenues, poverty-alleviation projects still continue to be quite low. Rising aggressiveness and volatility in nearby countries such as Nigeria and Mali could still spill over into Chad, threatening its current improving stability.

It moved down 2 spots from #3 to #5.

The best exercises for weight loss is no exercise; it is a healthy nutrition plan. A healthy and nutritious plan needs to be coupled with a few exercises, which can only complement the nutritious diet.

That means that men, women, girls, boys, young and old are all able to do one or two of these activities with a bit of endurance, perseverance and patience. Although the high intensity activities burn much more calories, compared to low and moderate activities, people overwhelmingly choose low to moderate intensity activities for simplicity purposes.

This article focuses on the top 10 easy weight loss exercises that just about anyone can do if they tried. Be sure to comment on our blog, if you agree or disagree, we will be glad to hear how one of these exercises helped you achieve your desired results.

1. Walking

Walking is completely the no.1 on this top 10 list. It is a quick but  also a very straightforward weight loss exercise that just about anyone can complete. Walking for minimum 30 – 45 minutes a day could really be an equivalent to the consumption 2-5 hamburgers in a day.

We recommend that you start with a 10 minute warm-up  cool, slow walk at your normal pace. This burns off the stored blood sugar and glycogen energy in the muscles. You then pick up the pace to the fat-burning zone of a heart rate of 60-70% of your maximum and continue to do that for 30 minutes. Always end with  a 5 minute easy at an easy pace as a way to cool down.

2. Jogging

Jogging is two times helpful since you burn your fat quicker, compared to walking, but you have to be cautious when you jog as this should never be overdone.

Many people begin jogging simply because they want to lose weight. As one of the most vigorous exercises out there, jogging is a very efficient way to burn calories and drop pounds. A 150-pound person is able to burn about 100 calories per mile when running.

The most important thing to remember is to follow a schedule. If you do not feel like following a schedule, you still need to have some consistency with your running because you will not lose weight by running once or twice a week. It’s best to get some exercises every day but, if that’s impossible, try to shoot for at least 3 to 4 sessions per week. If you find that your motivation to run is suffering, you may want to buddy up and try to exercise with a friend.

If you’re jogging regularly and you’re training well, couple it with proper nutrition. It is crucial for your performance. Skipping meals does not allow you to train with adequately fueled muscles. You shouldn’t skimp on calories before, during, and immediately after an intensive and long workout.

3. Elliptical Training

If you cannot run, this is a great machine to train on. It combines the cardio of running with resistance and is very low impact. Running feels easier on an elliptical than on a treadmill and anyone can easily lose 1000 calories in just over an hour or even less if they manage their time well.

4. Bicycling

Dust off your bike in the garage and take it out for a spin. Bicycling is ideal for weight loss because it burns a lot of calories, especially on off-road trails. Riding at a moderate speed (12 – 14 mph) will help you burn approximately 235 calories per half hour.

There are a number of options to consider. First, try having a scheduled daily ride of approximately an hour. Second, try taking your bike to and from school or work. This will help you easily lose weight. Third, you can plan bike rides every week with your family or friends. Make this a routine, you will be able to lose at least 1 lb. a week.  Remember to always couple your exercises with a good diet.

5. Swimming

Swimming has been criticized as an exercise for weight gain by many people. Unlike running, which decreases your appetite, swimming seems to increase it.

In order to swim off 15 pounds, you really need to find out how much swimming needs to be done on a daily basis, and how many calories you should be taking in. Always keep in mind that 1 lb. usually equals to 3500 calories. Therefore, if your goal is to lose a pound a week, you must burn an extra 500 calories a day to make up for that 3500 calorie deficit.

Swimming can really burn calories, but you must engage in intense swimming and most importantly challenge yourself to do better. An hour of forceful swimming can burn 600 calories, while an hour of leisurely swimming only clocks in at 350 calories. Therefore, shoot to swim in the water for an hour and keep up a steady, but fast pace. It would be great to swim every day, but since you might be tight on time, try to hit the pool 5 days a week for optimal results.

Viagra is a well-known drugs used by both men and women. Almost any adult in the United States has heard of the drug and can tell you what it does. If they can’t, they are probably still living in the 1980s.

Since being introduced in 1998, former Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole has served as a spokesperson for the drug, the manufacturing of the counterfeit pills has skyrocked, and Viagra jokes are now a permanent feature of the popular culture. Type in Viagra in Google and you will understand where I am coming from.

So what is the big deal with “the little blue pill? It’s simple: When it works, Viagra causes a man who is sexually stimulated to gain an erection.

However, Viagra is now being used to treat not only erectile dysfunction (ED). The drug has potential for treating several other conditions. Research has widely improved within the last few years and this article sets out to examine top 10 life-saving advantages of Viagra, the little blue pill that helps make sex 10 times better.

1. Cancer:

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center researchers have demonstrated that the drug Viagra, when combined with doxorubicin, is an authoritative anti-cancer drug that improves its anti-tumor efficacy in prostate cancer while simultaneously lessening the damage to the heart.

For over 4 decades the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin was being used to treat a number of human cancers, including the prostate. Despite doxorubicin’s clinical efficacy for cancer treatment, its usage is associated with irreversible heart damage, often discovered several years later after treatment. Researchers have been working over the past decade or so to find the optimal therapeutic intervention for defending the heart against the cytotoxicity associated with doxorubicin.

2. Jet Lag:

Viagra can help speed up the recovery from jet lag; that is according to the new research done by the Universidad Nacional de Quilmes in Buenos Aires. The brain’s master clock controls the sleep-wake cycle by discharging hormones and neurotransmitters that control a number of functions. It is widely believed that an enzyme called cGMP plays a crucial role in the regulation of the clock.

Viagra is able to boost the effects of cGMP by stopping it from being broken down by another enzyme, PDE5. Research done on the topic found that animals injected with the drug adapted faster to light switch changes, signifying that Viagra speeds up the time it takes for the human body to adapt to jet lag.

3. Stroke:

Recently, 80 stroke patients took part in the Viagra trial, taking place in Detroit. Doctors believe that if given within three days of a stroke, the drug could help both men and women regain and progress movement, language and thinking via its effect on the molecule cGMP, which is believed to generate new cells in the brain. The trial follows successful work with animals and a small number of patients.

4. Heart Failure:

Research done at Milan University suggested that Viagra helps patients with heart failure gain the ability to exercise. The drug can increase oxygen uptake, can reduce pressure in the arteries, and improves the working of the lungs. Again, it’s thought that the drug does this by elevating levels of nitric oxide.

5. Endangered Pandas:

This is essentially a version of “I was helping an old lady across the street”, but you can insert your very own glorious adventures and fill in the gaps.

Pandas are the most reluctant breeders in captivity. It is quite understandable, since when do people want to become frisky in front of an audience. But with Viagra, magic can work and the desired activities can occur.

Interestingly enough, Pandas only like to be intimate for 30 seconds at a time while in captivity. The drug induced intimacy can last up to 20 minutes.

Pandas are rare today and are protected by law in China. It was only in 1963 that the first panda was exhibited in a zoo outside of China. Today, there are more than a dozen pandas in most zoos. Pandas can be seen in zoos in Washington D.C, Mexico City, London, Tokyo, Madrid, Paris, and Berlin. All pandas in zoos are given double names, which is a Chinese custom. Scientists desire to study the zoo pandas in hopes that they will learn about how to save wild pandas from extinction. There are only about 700 to 1000 pandas alive in the world today so the numbers are quite bleak.

Even after they’re gone, their financial legacies live on and the stars continue to live in our hearts for eternity. From historic icons like Marilyn Monroe to recent losses like Michael Jackson, Top 10 List has compiled a list of dead celebrities that are still earning the big bucks and profiting big time.

1. Elizabeth Taylor:

Glamour will never be the same again, not after Elizabeth Taylor  died in 2011. But for her heirs,  she’s still spiritually and monetarily with us. Her perfume line has brought in a hefty $12 million to herinvestors. Her belongings will be auctioned off, with proceeds estimated to be around $30 million. And we’re not even talking about her image license. In 2012, she was rumoured to have been worth $210 million.

2. Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 of propofol intoxication . He suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in California. His physician, Conrad Murray, said he had found Jackson in his room, not breathing and that he administered CPR on his bed but with no success.

In August of 2009, the Los Angeles County Coroner ruled Jackson’s death a homicide. Shortly before his death, Jackson had been administered propofol and two anti-anxiety benzodiazepines – lorazepam and midazolam in his home, which needed to have been done in a hospital by a licensed doctor/ Murray was convicted in November 2011 of involuntary manslaughter and is now serving a 4 year sentence for his role in Michael Jackson’s death.

Jackson’s estate has a number of steady revenue streams. Not only does it earn from sales of Jackson’s own music, Jackson owned 50% of Sony’s ATV catalog stocks,; this includes artists like The Beatles and Lady Gaga. His estate also derives its success from the successful Cirque Du Soleil show The Immortal Tour. He is now worth a total of $145 million  as of 2012.

He’s held the top spot since his death in 2009, only to be beaten in 2012 by his best friend, Elizabeth Taylor. I am sure they are drinking it up in heaven and having a blast knowing they are still earning the big bucks down here.

3. Elvis Presley

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll died in 1977 of a heart attack.

Although he can no sing and dance the way he used and hasn not done it for more than three decades, Elvis Presley is still earning money and according to Forbes Magazine, he remains one of the top earning dead celebrity.

According to news sources, the “King of Rock n’ Roll” pulled in $55 million dollars in 2012, which is not bad for a dead celebrity for 36 years  This figure did increase substantially as more visitors came to Graceland to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his death and publicity was also generated by new ventures such as the Elvis Sirius Satellite Radio show.

4. Charles M. Schulz

This cartoonist created Peanuts and died in the year 2000, aged 77 of colon cancer. He earns about 35 million dollars ever year because the cartoon is still published in over 2,100 newspapers all over the world. Most of the money comes from the merchandise that is created and sold to the ever-doting public year after year.

5. John Lennon

John Lennon was a part of the celebrated rock band, The Beatles. He died in 1980 when Mark David Chapman shot him four times outside his apartment.  The Beatles still sell more than a million records a year, despite splitting up in 1970. Lennon’s solo work also makes sales in the hundreds of thousands of copies each year. In addition, widow Yoko Ono filed a $10 million lawsuit against record company EMI so she can earn back royalties and master recordings, boosting Lennon’s bank account as a result.

Men and women seem to be on fairly even footing — from a demographics standpoint, at least. According to 2012 worldwide estimates from the CIA, for every female baby born on the planet, 1.07 male babies are born, meaning that boys slightly outnumber girls. However, that his-to-hers ratio has evened out over the years, since men are known to die sooner than women.

But for all of that statistical equality, it’s a well-known fact that the places men and women live are often almost always living in a society dominated by the menfolk. The United States has yet to elect a female president, and as of 2012, women held 90 congressional seats, which might sound like a lot but is only 16.8 percent of the total numbers. Female senators are a similarly select group, making up only 17 of the 100 positions. The gender gap has still not been bridged and also extends beyond American borders, since there is less than 10 percent of female government leaders and fewer than one in five female parliament members worldwide.

As governments and organizations strive to close that sprawling disparity and get more women involved in political decision-making, it’s worthwhile to recognize those who’ve already done their parts to achieve that goal. Around the world, here are the top 10 pioneering politicians who have attempted to make our globalizing society a better place, for not just women, but blacks, the proletariat etc.

Here is a top 10 list of most memorable politicians who’ve left an impact on our global village.

>1. Jack Layton:

This NDP and the Official Position Party Leader of Canada was the first to be known by his first name. He talked to the people instead of at the people. He advocated for equality and for social justice across Canada and in Ontario.

Why No.1?  For the New Democratic Party, he was the leader who effectively moved them beyond just being a protest party. He gave reactionaries a taste of pragmatism that wasn’t too punitive for palates long familiar to ideological purity. In doing so, he opened the door for the more politically conventional style of the leader who filled his shoes, Thomas Mulcair. One need not be an NDP supporter to be impressed by Layton’s achievements and accomplishments. He therefore deserves to be on this list of most memorable politicians

2.  Barack Obama:

This is one president who is a risk taker who took on a big risk by promising to deal with the debt default by August of 2011. Not many politicians can take such a gamble on their life.

Stephen Rattner believes that the president understanding of the need for a long-term solution to the country’s deficit and other major budgetary matters, such as tax reform, will  most likely “define” his legacy as United States president. Although he was far from perfect and did not achieve much in his first term, President Obama made the effort that most presidents failed to do.

3. Sarah Palin:

This Vice-Presidential candidate was unconventional. Not many predecessors could say they were women running for presidency and a mom of 5 children, oldest being 20 and the youngest being 1 at the time of Presidential elections. She proudly endorsed herself as a hockey mom. AMERICA IS CHANGING!

Why one of the 10 most memorable politicians? In sum, Sarah Palin has have had a significant influence on presidential politics even if she never seeks office again as President or Vice-President. By a long shot bet, she may one day explore a Senate run in Arizona, where she recently purchased property. Meanwhile, I’ll think of her every time a politician makes the jump from campaigning to Fox News or reality television or any as yet untapped revenue stream.

4. Jesse Ventura:

This wrestler won the election for Governor of Minnesota in 1998. He did not follow he predecessors as soon as he entered office. He decided to take residence in his home, Maple Grove, instead of the Governor’s mansion. This created criticism as well as loss of jobs for some.

5. Ross Perot:

This Independent Presidential candidate is definitely unconventional. He announced his presidency on TV in the funniest way. He said that he would run, if voluntary people would put his name on the ballot in 50 states.

Why 1 of 10 most memorable politicians?  Perot (Reform Party) came too close for comfort in his presidential bid and the 2 major parties vowed to never allow a 3rd party be in those debates again after his run. The very REASON Perot got so many votes is because he was allowed into those debates.

When you spend time in a high-performing business, you know that you are somewhere special and in a place where you have long term stability. It is in the air. It is not some secret technology or technique, but it is the combination of various attributes that makes the company an exciting place.

High-performing companies have a simple, intriguing vision for how it will run in the future, one that resonates with employees, easy for everyone to understand. For example, Disney’s  vision is “To make people happy’” This vision is simple, evoking a sense of pride and purpose, measurable by the smiles of children everywhere, including in theatres, theme parks, at homes and in stores.

This list highlights the top 10 companies who consistently show exemplary performance. Their performance is rocketing despite bad economic trends. This article is not based on Fortune 500 ratings. It was creating using research and noting long term trends and improvements of each company.

If you receive a job offer after finding this article, be sure to comment on our blog. We love hearing success stories.

1. Wal-Mart:

This retail business outfit has been successful is retaining the top spot in the world’s largest companies. It has made advancement in its effort of becoming worker and environment friendly company. Despite a drop in sales, it revenues are increasing. Marvelously  it has ruled the Fortune 500 list for the second year in a row.

The total assets of Walmart as of the year 2011 were valued at $180 Billion with a net income of $15 Billion in the 2010/2011 fiscal year. Within the same time period, this corporation announced total revenues of approximately $422 Billion. The company has registered rapid growth since its inception, especially after the year 200. This rapid growth and expansion has had both beneficial and detrimental effects from different kinds of perspectives.

Why the growth?

a) Improved Corporate Governance: Exemplary corporate governance has played an important part in Walmart success. Mike Duke is the current president and Chief Executive officer of the corporation. At Walmart, he’s envision a company, where all employees are referred to as associates and not employees. This has immensely helped in helping the associates feel in the right place and proud to work at Walmart.

b) Strong Foundation: Walmart’s success starts with a strong foundation that was laid by its founder, Sam Walton. He had a strong value for other people’s opinions and he always had time to listen; this is what made him a good leader. Another outstanding characteristic of Sam Walton was that he carefully chose among these ideas and then put them into practice.

c) Discounts: Discounts have been part of Walmart’s retail experience since its founding in 1962. Most competitors of Walmart have found it a challenge to compete with its unique discounts on all sorts of products.

d) Corporate Social Responsibility: Walmart is well-known for be largely active and in giving back to the community. Through its corporate social responsibility strategy, Walmart has created numerous programs that are geared towards enhancing the well being of the community and the people living in it.

2. Exxon-Mobil:

A joint project propelled the company to second spot. Exxon-Mobil signed a $5 Billion landmark deal with Sinopec and Saudi Aramco for the expansion of a petrochemical venture in China. It has also recently signed a joint venture with Qatar and an offshore well in Russia in its drive for alternative energy. The company was ranked # 2 by Forbes in 2011.

As one of the largest company in the oil and natural gas sector, ExxonMobil is an exemplary, high-performing company that has successfully executed vertical integration to increase its market share, sales revenue and its profitability as a company.

It can be seen that with effective execution of vertical integration and moving beyond the traditional market and boundaries, Exxon-Mobil has become a success story. The start up of major eight upstream projects during 2008 attests to the fact that despite the global economic recession, Exxon-Mobil has been able to keep a stable performance. Much of the credit can be given to the strength of the long term business model that Exxon-Mobil adopted recently.

At the core of their beliefs, Exxon-Mobil asserts that with careful planning and proper use of resources, diversification can be an added advantage to any company.

3. Chevron:

Chevron is the leader in offshore drilling which has several ongoing oil exploration projects including that in Tahiti. Now the company has to deal with Nigeria and the hostilities from terrorists. In February of 2011, it acquired Atlas Energy, a natural gas operation.

4. ConocoPhilips:

The Company is the 4th best company according to Forbes in 2011. It has improved since 2009, when it ranked 8th. Stocks rose 40% in 2011 with planned assets worth over $15 billion in the subsequent 18 months.

5. Royal Dutch Shell:

Amidst the global wide energy crisis, Royal Dutch Shell has been able to make strategic moves to ensure the company’s position in the future moving on to bigger stakes in Alberta, Canada and Qatar.

Developing talent is important to Shell. The name is a pseudonym for a group of companies operating in some 130 countries and employing more than 100,000 people, Shell depends on the effective leadership and management in every one of its businesses. Developing outstanding HR talent in supporting these businesses is a key element of its HR strategy that Shell has implemented very well in the last decade.

The companies under Shell have one big aspiration  and that is to ensure that its key people processes reflect the company’s best practice. However, the head of its HR functional excellence team, Rick Brown, believed that in some areas, the Shell approach would benefit from an external perspective in understanding the most important elements of a performance that differentiated the best organization from its peers.

Halloween is always fun- no matter how old you are. Children look forward to dressing up and trick or treating after which they eat the candy they collect for the rest of the year!

When it comes to Halloween treats, the more disgusting the better. There are exceptions to these rules and some candy types don’t sit well with children or adults.

Surveying 400 people, we’ve made a list of 10 repulsive Halloween treats no one wants to eat.

1. Good n’ Plentys
These candies are pink and white in color and while the exterior is sweet and yummy, the middle part is as bad. It tastes horrible and you will find yourself turning green and begging for mercy if you put too many in your mouth. Spitting them out will not make much of a difference as the aftertaste is as bad.

2. Hotlix Candy

These candies are basically prepared by throwing in massive amounts of sugar into a pan and adding a few dead scorpions for good measure. That’s right- these candies are sugary and disgusting- the perfect combination!

3. Dubbel Zout

These are in the form of licorice flavored balls which are doused in salt. It does not look appealing from an angle as it is shaped like a capsule. A salty pill-shaped candy- just what kids want for Halloween!

4. Apples

We all know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away but give the kids a break on Halloween and do not hand out apples when they stretch out their trick or treat bags in your direction. They will probably throw the fruit at your door once you turn your back.

5. Gorilla Boogers

These are black in color and taste a bit like mud that has been sprinkled with sugar. If you go through the ingredients, you will realize that the candy is made of black beans that have been sun dried so that they look as attractive as they do.

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Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. Dishes are sugared to help make the year sweeter and more prosperous. Pomegranates, Chickpeas, Bread, Dates and Beets are superstitiously used to bring affluence. As such, here are the top 10 dishes traditionally made of Rosh Hashanah.

1. Apple & Honey:

Traditionally, before anyone starts eating, they must take a piece of apple and dip it into honey. Additionally, they must make a toast with others using the apple. The eating of the sweetened apple superstitiously ensures a sweet and happy upcoming new year.

2. Tzimmes:

This is another dish served traditionally at an Ashkenazi New Year’s dinner as an appetizer. It is basically cooked vegetables, including carrots and chickpeas and beans. Honey and sugar are then added to make this dish sweet, which makes it perfect for Rosh Hashanah and its sweet theme.

3. Gefilte Fish:

This dish comprises of poached fish (mixed with onions, carrots and matzo meal) stuffed into fish skin. It is traditionally made with pike fish, white fish, mullet and/or carp. Many people serve the fish like patties with carrots and/or horseradish on top. During Rosh Hashanah, the dish is served to everyone, but the fish head is given to the head of the household. All in all, the dish is kosher and can be served with both dairy and meat meals.

4. Kugel:

This is an Ashkenazi dish traditionally served with main course dinners. It is a casserole dish made with egg noodles or potatoes. It is widely known to bring spiritual blessings, especially on Shabbats.

5. Matzo Ball Soup:

Matzah ball soup is a chicken broth with little balls made from matzo meal. The broth is traditionally cooked with chicken, onions, carrots, celery and parsnip, in addition to matzo balls.

August is an eventful month of the year. There are specific events which occurred which deserve mention. Here they are, raise your hand if you recognize 1 or 2.

1. August 1, 1800:

The final act of Acts of Union of 1800 was adopted. The Kingdom of Great Britain merged with the Kingdom of Ireland. As of this date, it was known as the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland. A new flag was created, which is still used by Great Britain.

2. August 1, 1914:

World War I begins. Germany declares war on Russia, who supports Serbia in its fight against Austria who is siding with Germany. The Alliance system crumbles.

3. August 1, 1944:

Warsaw Uprising occurs in the Nazi occupied territory. It was operated by the Polish resistance army which sought to get rid of the Nazis. This was happening at the same time as the Red Army was approaching the eastern suburbs of the city of Warsaw.

4. August 5, 1962:

Nelson Mandela is jailed for 28 years. He would not be released until 1990. His imprisonment was in response to his activism against the apartheid in South Africa. In 1944 he joined the African National Congress (ANC) which challenged the government’s apartheid policies. He was arrested in 1955 for treason but was released after trial had ended in 1961. After forming the military wing of ANC, he was rearrested and imprisoned.

5. August 6, 1945:

Hiroshima is devastated by the dropping of the nuclear bomb by the United States. 90,000 people had died as a result.

When it comes to holiday planning, European beaches enjoy immense popularity among tourists. For ages, the European beach destinations have attracted people to enjoy their holiday breaks, or short weekends. Whether it is a stag party, or a hen weekend with friends, or it is a trip with family, European beaches have it all. The pleasant climatic condition and the wide range of entertainment activities offered in the European beaches make them the favorite of everyone. If you are planning a holiday trip, you can surely check out the European beaches. The broken coastline of the continent has led to the formation of different beaches, which attracts innumerable tourists every year. The beaches have something for everyone, and so you can easily plan your honeymoon or your family trip here. As there are thousands of beach destinations in Europe, it might be a little tacky for you to find the perfect destination for your trip. However, if you check out the list of the top ten European beach destinations, the task of selecting the ideal beach destination will become simple.

1. Costa Del Sol, Spain

The climate of the Spanish beach, Costa Del Sol makes it one of the most popular beach destinations of Europe. This beach receives little rainfall, and so you can visit it at any time of the year. Different types of entertainment activities including the beach bars have made this beach popular among the youths.

2. Costa Dorada, Spain

The natural beauty with dunes and sand beaches has made Spanish beach, Costa Dorada a popular tourist spot. The shallow water of this area makes it an ideal place for the kids, and you can surely plan a family holiday here. A wide range of accommodation facilities are provided here to make your trip comfortable.

3. Costa Blanca, Spain

If you are looking for a thrilling nightlife, and need a perfect beach destination for partying with friends, Spanish beach, Costa Blanca is for you. It is better to plan a long holiday break when you are coming to Costa Blanca. Apart from the beach activities, you can check Terra Mitica, Entertainment Park in Benidorm.

4. Costa Del Garraf, Spain

It is rightly said that Spanish beaches attract everyone. Costa Del Garraf beach in Spain is not only the ideal holiday destination for straight couples, but also it is one of the best places for the gays. The beach located in Sitges is known to attract thousands of gay couples every year.

5. Ibiza, Spain

Bars, clubs and DJs make Ibiza the perfect place for stag parties and hen dos. The nightlife that is offered here can be rarely matched with any other countries in the world. Though Ibiza attracts people for its nightlife, it has some of the important cultural sites too. You can visit Benirras Bay to have a look at the “God’s Finger”, one of must see places in this beach destination.

There are regular flights that can help you book flights to these European beaches and the airfares are quite economical.