Tag Archive | "usa"

Top 10 Oldest Businesses in the US

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Which businesses are still running since the Declaration of Independence and before that? See if you recognize 1 or 2 businesses. Some of them are still widely heard of even in other parts of the world.

 

1. Bowne & Co. – 1775:

This was a printing company that was set up by Robert Bowne. It was bought out by JJ Donnelly in 2010. The company is widely traded on NYSE.

 

2. Green Brier – 1778:

This is a four star luxury resort which is located in West Virginia. The resort was previously owned by Chesapeake and Ohio Railway and is now owned by CSX Corporation. Jim Justice bought the property when CSX put the hotel into liquidation.

 

3. Bank of New York – 1784:

The financial institution was founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1784. It merged in 2007 with Mellon Financial Corporation, which renamed it to Bank of New York Mellon. It is the oldest bank in New York to date.

 

4. Bixler’s – 1785:

Bixler’s Jewellery is the oldest jewellery company in USA. The company is located in Pennsylvania and is still run by the Bixler family, 6 generations later.

 

5. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – 1786:

It was the first newspaper to be published west of the Alleghemy Mountains. The first news coverage were relating to the beginning of a nation and the writing of the US Constitution. Throughout the years, it has won 4 Pulitzer Prizes: 1938, 1986, 1987 and 1998.

 



 

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Top 10 Foods Consumed In The United States

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It seems that Americans are more inclined to eat cheese than drink milk. More Americans are also eating meats at an exponential level according to the Department of Agriculture in the United States. Here are statistics viewed at two different points (2000, 2005).

 

1. Dairy Products

2000 Statistics: 593 pounds per capita

2005 Statistics: 600 pounds per capita

 

2. Fresh Fruits:

2000 Statistics: 126.8 pounds per capita

2005 Statistics: 273.1 pounds per capita

 

3. Eggs:

2000 Statistics: 250 pounds per capita

2005 Statistics: 255.5 pounds per capita

 

4. Processed Vegetables:

2000 Statistics: 226.6 pounds per capita

2005 Statistics: 216.5 pounds per capita

 

5. Fresh Vegetables:

2000 Statistics: 201.7 pounds per capita

2005 Statistics: 198.4 pounds per capita

 



 

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Top 10 Worst US Presidents

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United States has attempted to elect Presidents to get the job done right. There are various Presidents throughout history who have not stood by their word and have gone against the will of the people. Their decisions and actions are insufficient and unruly. Many of them do not act fast and are also not right for the job. As such, here is the top 10  list of worst US Presidents.

 

1. Barack Obama:

The current President of the United States, Barack Obama is one of the worst presidents. Until this year, he has not been incisive in action. He stood by and did absolutely nothing as DP Horizon Oil Spill leaked all over the Guelph of Mexico for 3 months. 4.9 million barrels of oil spilled through the water, polluting it. When it came to rising Gas Prices, his actions were insufficient. Prices rose from $1.83/gallon in 2009 to $3.44/gallon in 2011. Lastly, Obama worsened unemployment rates since coming into power. Since coming into power, the rates have increased, and not decreased as his Presidential platform predicted. Obama’s aim to get the United States out of what he called another “Great Depression” has been deemed useless.

 

2. James Buchanan:

Buchanan rubbed salt on the wounds between Successional States and the Union States. He supported the Dred Scott decision, which refused to protect African Americans under the constitution, added Kansas as a slavery state and put slavery issues on a state level. In making such decisions he caused greater tensions between the North and the South. He was the first President to have left office 39 days before a Civil War ensued.

 

3. Bill Clinton:

Bill Clinton is an utter humiliation to the United States for two reasons. First, his foreign policies lacked decisiveness and were all over the place. He declared war on numerous countries, notably Yugoslavia, Iraq and Somalia. The intervention into Yugoslavian and Somalian civil wars lacked reason. Furthermore, the Iraqi War in December of 1998 had no clear results. Secondly, he was sleeping on the job and getting paid. When America expected him to be a leader, he was busy cheating on his wife with an intern in the Oval Office. When caught, he wagged his finger in front of the camera and stated “I want to say one thing to the American people, I’m going to say this again. I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie. Not a single time. Never. These allegations are false and I need to go back to work for the American people.” How can anyone respect a President who stood up and lied in front of the whole world and got caught?

 

4. Richard Nixon:

Although this President did a service to the United States by ending the 20 year Vietnam War, he still hit the books as one of the worst presidents. During the Watergate scandal, he tapped into the National Democratic Party Headquarters. 5 members from his fundraiser organization, the Committee to Re-elect the President, were arrested for trespassing and burglary. After extensive investigation 6 of Nixon’s top advisers were charged with fraud for their part in the scandal. A grand jury charged Nixon as co-conspirator. Nixon had no other choice but to resign in shame.

 

5. John F. Kennedy:

This President led the United States into a possible nuclear crisis right at its doorstep. The Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis were an embarrassment to the United States. As a superpower, the United States should have done much more to secure the nation against any nuclear catastrophes, before threats were made. Furthermore, John F. Kennedy should have had a better campaign set up to decrease tensions between his country and the Soviet Union. The Bay of Pigs invasion only infuriated the Soviet Union and the Cubans even more.

 



 

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Top 10 Forgotten US Presidents

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There are various presidents in US history who were not as famous as Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Within their short and sometimes long tenure as President they left one or two important historical marks which should be noted. Here are the top 10 forgotten but yet important US presidents.

 

1. John Hanson:

Many believe George Washington was the first President of the United States. They are wrong in this fact as Washington was the first president of the independent country. The title belongs to John Hanson, whom many US History books forget to mention. He was elected as the first Presiding Officer to the Continental Congress during the revolutionary wars in 1781. He was also the one to order all foreign flags to be banned from US property.

 

2. William Henry Harrison:

He was the 9th President of the United States and the first President to die in office 32 days after his inauguration. Wearing no overcoat and no hat on a wet and cold day, Harrison spoke the longest speech in US history which was timed at 2 hours. This caused Harrison to catch pneumonia and septicaemia, which began to affect Harrison 3 weeks after. He made history with his precedent to elect the Vice-President as President when the current elected President cannot do his job. The 25th commandment was finally enacted after the Kennedy Assassination.

 

3. John Tyler:

Not many would know a John Tyler or would ever think he was President of the United States once. His term was short and brief as he replaced President Harrison after the latter’s death. He took office during a constitutional crisis which discussed the succession to Presidency by the Vice-President. He also was the President who annexed Texas into the United States. He however caused and stimulated the Mexican American war.

 

4. William Taft:

This 300lb President was the 27th to be elected. He was the fattest and tallest President to take office. He is most famous for his 16th Amendment which allowed the Congress to Levy Taxes. He was also famous for being the only handpicked President of the United States. Theodore Roosevelt appointed him Secretary of States in the hopes of making him a President one day.

 

5. Warren G. Harding:

This president did everything in his power to undo the dreams and peacekeeping and making work his predecessor Woodrow Wilson achieved. With disdain, he rejected the idea of League of Nations which held peace around the world for 21 years. Although quoted as being sensitive to minorities and women by Carl S. Anthony, 1998 polls rate him as the worst president. The unemployment rate staggered during his presidency.

 



 

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Top 10 Universities To Do Phd In The USA

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United States has always been the home to some of the world’s greatest universities. It is the home of the Harvard and the MIT. The universities in the United States provide the top level of education and are the hot favourites for many international students. The quality of training the universities there, provides, is unmatchable. However, it is very difficult for getting in to such universities and more when you are looking for a PhD seat. PhD in United States is considered to be the best across the world and the students who successfully complete the PhD program from United States makes statement for their own. The process of getting through is very difficult but choosing the right Institute is very important. Here are the top ten best Universities in the USA for a PhD program:

 

1. Harvard Business School, Massachusetts

Harvard Business School is a graduate business school of Harvard University, Massachusetts. It is recognized as the best business school in the world and PhD programs of Harvard are the best in the world too. The doctoral programs of Harvard are directed towards developing outstanding scholars for careers in research and teaching at leading business schools and universities. The Harvard Business School provides doctorate programs in almost all the business fields and is the number one business school in the world for more than a decade.

 

2. University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania is one of the greatest research universities in the world. University of Pennsylvania is considered as the first university in America. The University of Pennsylvania provides the top class research facilities and is the most desired destination in the world for PhD courses. A brilliant infrastructure spread across 269 acres of land is just a heavenly place to study in.

 

3. Princeton University, New Jersey

Princeton University is also a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. There are also residential colleges within the Princeton University which provides a brilliant environment to study. Princeton University doctoral program encourages independent scholarships and fellowships. It is one of the topmost universities in the world for undertaking research studies and doctoral education.

 

4. Columbia University, NY

The Columbia University is situated in Manhattan, New York. This is one of the oldest universities in United States. In fact Columbia University is the 5th oldest University in the States. Columbia University is one of the most popular destinations for doctoral program in the United States and across the world. The Columbia University provides the world class teaching assistance to its students and the researchers. The professors in the Columbia University include as many as 9 noble laureates, which say it all about the quality of training they provide.

 

5. Yale University, Connecticut

Yale University is a private university located in New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded in the year 1701 and it is the third oldest colleges in the United States. There are 131courses in total on which the Yale University offers doctoral programs. The Yale University is the most reputed universities with respect to the research programs. It is among the top 3 colleges in the world in student selectivity ground. Yale University is indeed one of the top colleges to do a PhD from.

 



 

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Top 10 Places To Visit In The United States

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Every traveller dreams of visiting the United States and spending some time in this vast and varied country. There is so much to see here and so many different types of experiences to be had here that it is difficult to choose just ten out of them. Here are ten of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States:

 

1. Niagara Falls:

None of the photographs of Niagara Falls really do justice to the grandeur of these falls. They cannot capture the thunderous sounds, nor can they give you a glimpse of the grandeur and magnificence of this place. Situated on the border between the US and Canada, over 12 million tourists visit these falls every year. If you have the time, do travel on the “Maid of the Mist” boat, to get a totally different view of the Falls.

 

2. Disneyland or Disneyworld:

Walt Disney’s gift to the nation, both these parks are among the most entertaining places to go to in the world. You do not need to be a child to enjoy the ambience, the joy and youthful exuberance of these amusement parks. The scary roller-coasters, the fairy tales brought to life, the array of Disney cartoon characters, and an overall atmosphere of an unbelievable fairyland are just a few of the reasons why this is a must-have of every tour itinerary.

 

3. New York – The Big Apple:

This amazing city is like no other in the world. The skyscrapers are a unique part of it’s identity but so is Greenwich Village on one side and Broadway on another side. Times Square is throbbing with life all through the day and night and you can just sit on one of the wrought-iron benches and watch the world go by. Visit Ground Zero to get a taste of history, albeit a recent one!!

 

4. Yellowstone National Park:

Located primarily in the state of Wyoming, this park is renowned for its many attractions ranging from fishing, hiking, camping, and boating. But above all the popular attractions remain the geysers and lakes and waterfalls. Old Faithful, their most popular geyser erupts at regular frequencies to spectacular heights.

 

5. Hollywood:

If you are a movie buff – then this is your Mecca. Situated in Los Angeles, it boasts of such attractions as the Universal Studio and the Sunset Strip and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Even though most studios have moved away from here, yet Hollywood retains its glamour and sense of movie history.

 



 

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Top 10 Basketball Teams Of The United States

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Basketball is undoubtedly one of the most popular games in the United States. The credit of the popularity of the game obviously goes to the players, who have made the game exciting and enticing. Naming the great basketball players is not a simple task. Each and every player is talented in their own way. Therefore, it will form a never ending list. If you want to have a glance at the glorious achievements of the basketballs teams, you can check out the records. Whether you are a fan of Los Angeles Lakers, or the Boston Celtics, or any other team, you need to appreciate the contribution of each and every team. Every team has made some praiseworthy records in their career. Therefore, it is always very difficult to select the top ten teams. However, to provide the fans a brief idea about the basketball scenario of the United States, top ten basketball teams of the United States have been selected based on their exceptional achievements in this field.

 

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers, formed in the year 1948, has failed to qualify for the playoffs only five times. They have clinched sixteen victories in the NBA finals. In the year 1972, the team showcased their best performance with a score of 69-13. The team, which always boasts of a talented lineup, has never been defeated in all sixty matches of a season.

 

2. Boston Celtics

Formed in the year 1946, Boston Celtics made a dominating presence from the year 1957 to 1969.  With the terrific performance of the players, Boston Celtics registered eleven championships wins out of thirteen. From 1959 to 1966, the Celtics won eight titles at a stretch, which is, till now, the longest winning streak for any basketball team in the country.

 

3. Orlando Magic

Formed in the year, 1989, the young team of Orlando Magic has played twelve playoffs so far. In this short period of time, the team had players like Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, Steve Francis, Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal and many more. Among the four team included in the year 1989, Magic has performed much better than other three teams at the same time.

 

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers have made their first appearance in the year 1970. Since then, they have achieved some glorious feats. Nate Thurmond and Walt Frazier, who had been the part of the team for a significant period of time, have been inducted in the ‘Hall of Fame’ list.

 

5. Chicago Bulls

Formed in the year 1960, Chicago Bulls deserves a special mention for their great performance during the 90s. The team is still known for winning six championships in a short spell of eight years.  Bulls are also credited for spreading the popularity of NBA across the globe.

 



 

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Top Ten Largest Retail Chains in US

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These retail chains are well-known and largest in the United States. They generate massive revenues year after year. Let us see the top 10 retailers.

1. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc

This public corporation in the United States of America controls and maintains a number of department stores. Walmart was declared to be the largest in terms of revenue in the world in 2008. Founded in 1962 by Sam Walton, this grocery retailer provides employment to thousands every year.

 

2. The Home Depot

The Home Depot maintains over 2,000 retail stores in different parts of the United States and has its headquarters in Georgia. These retail stores stock up on products of construction and home improvement. In other words, it allows customers to indulge in DIY projects and therefore, save money.

 

3. The Kroger Co.

This supermarket retail chain has been around since 1883 and was established by Bernard Henry Kroger. The Kroger Co. owns over 2,400 supermarkets and declared about 76 billion dollars in sales during 2008. Its headquarters are in Downtown Cincinnati and it owns mall jewellery stores, hypermarkets, convenience stores and department stores all over the United States.

 

4. Target Corporation

Target Corporation is known all over the world as Target and was established in 1902 in Minnesota. Target has stores in every states of the United States except Vermont and is known as SuperTarget and Target Greatland as well. After Walmart, it is said to be the biggest and most well known discount retailer in the country.

 

5. Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco Wholesale Corporation is known throughout the United States as Costco and is said to be the largest in the country among the membership wholesale clubs that exist. In 2009, Costco was declared to be among the top 10 largest retailers in the world. In addition to that, it also holds the largest stocks of fine wine.

 



 

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Top 10 Largest Cinema Halls In The US

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Here is our unique list of the largest cinema halls across the US. Because these cinema halls are large, they are also very comfortable. The auditoriums are largest, the concession stands are large- even their restrooms are large!

 

1. AMC Empire 25

This cinema hall is among the largest in Manhattan. The exterior of the theater is flashy and merges with the bright and glamorous surroundings. AMC Empire 25 has about 25 screens and showcases all the popular movies as and when they release. The seating is extremely comfortable, even for those who sit in the front row.

 

2. AMC Loews Kips Bay 15

AMC Loews Kips Bay 15 is not only among the largest but also one of the most beautiful movie theaters. The lobby of the cinema hall resembles that of a palace and the murals on the wall are movie-themed and absolutely stunning. It showcases a wide variety of movies and is extremely spacious. However, it has been noticed that it tends to get very quiet, which is why people tend to avoid it.

 

3. AMC Lincoln Square 13

This cinema hall has murals of those New York cinemas that existed in the past and therefore, makes the entire experience very nostalgic. Unlike other movie halls which assign numbers to each auditorium, this cinema hall allots cinema namesakes and the main lobby has been designed with a retro theme. This cinema hall is among the most comfortable and modern cinema halls.

 

4. BAM Rose Cinemas

The BAM Rose cinema hall was founded in 1998 and its structure and architecture is similar to that of an opera hall. The entryway is vast and the ceilings are extremely high. What’s more, even the wooden banisters are massive! This movie theater is extremely popular amongst actors, screenwriters and directors.

 

5. City Cinemas Angelika Film Center

The Angelika Film Center showcases some of the best and most popular independent films in the United States. The main lobby is large and holds the Angelika Café which is beautiful and trendy.

 



 

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Top 10 American Hospitals

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With debate about health care reform raging in the United States, and especially with facts and fantasies flying through the airwaves as if they were interchangeable, the American public and the worldwide audience crave some solid information about the true state of healthcare in the United States. According to Dr. Bruce Keitel, senior fellow at the Academy of International Research, “The United States leads the world in medical research and development of advanced medicines, and the United States lags far behind the rest of the industrialized nations in providing quality healthcare to the majority of its citizens.” Keitel points out, for example, the United States ranks thirty-seventh in infant mortality, and it does not make the top ten nations in average life expectancy. “If the best of American healthcare were universally available, we would have a ‘world class system’,” Keitel concludes.

According to a variety of healthcare analysts, the top ten American hospitals include:

 

1. Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland

For nineteen straight years, Johns Hopkins Hospital has appeared on the nation’s top ten list—an unprecedented and unrivalled record. Even more amazing, however, is the inescapable, undeniable, incontrovertible fact that Johns Hopkins keeps getting better every year—by every measure. In 2009, Carol Greider, a Johns Hopkins researcher, shared the Nobel Prize in medicine, while the hospital had the good sense and insight to let patients become fans on Facebook, and the staff helped Olympic Figure Skating legend Dorothy Hamill overcome breast cancer. According to Keitel and other tough analysts, “There’s special confidence that accompanies being the best, and Johns Hopkins shows its confidence by standing out as by far the nation’s friendliest hospital. Not intellectual, academic, or high-fallutin’ in any way. Just plain friendly.”

 

2. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

A legend among healthcare institutions worldwide, the Mayo Clinic has treated celebrities and heads of state along with everyday working people from all around the United States and the world. US News and World Report ranks the Mayo Clinic as the nation’s best for orthopedic care. Impressive as the ranking may seem, patients’ own reports reveal a great deal more. “I felt like a real-life episode of ‘House’,” says Margaret Williams of Rockwell Maryland. “The best doctors and researchers in all of the greater D.C. area could not figure out what was wrong with me. I had some kind of digestive disorder that caused me to lose more than a pound a week, and I was growing weak, exhausted, and very afraid.” Williams details how the Mayo Clinic specialists quickly, accurately identified a rare disease which affects only 200 people worldwide every year, and they performed a very little-known, even more rarely practiced surgical technique, which cured the problem. “Nothing short of miraculous,” Williams testifies.

 

3. Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic has attracted a great deal of attention during the healthcare reform debates, because congressional leaders and administration officials have promoted it as a “model of institutional efficiency and effectiveness.” Effectively capitalizing on internet and wireless technology for managing, monitoring, and tracking every aspect of patient care, Cleveland Clinic simultaneously has cut its administrative overhead and improved the quality of care. Just as importantly, it has eliminated the system’s antiquated fee-for-service model, putting all of its professionals on salary, and maximizing their productivity. The Cleveland Clinic does not place as much emphasis on research as the other facilities in the top ten, but it gives much higher priority to educating medical students and residents, especially stressing patient-centered and family-oriented care.

 

4. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles

“Dazzling,” people say. “Overwhelming. Breathtaking,” even more people say. “An architectural and scientific masterpiece,” the critics say. Big, brand new, and state-of-the-art in every way, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center rises ten stories above the southwest corner of Westwood Plaza, offering more than a million square feet of patient-friendly, family-friendly, high-tech space for people from around the world. Designed by legendary architect I.M.Pei and built with the assistance of his equally gifted son C.C.Pei, the center seamlessly integrates post-modern technology with interior spaces that maximize holistic healing and personal attention. “Eventually, all hospitals will look, feel, and work like this one,” says Keitel.

 

5. University of California, San Francisco Medical Center

Like all the other top ten care providers, UCSF contributes to prestigious journals, conducts extensive clinical trials, performs experimental techniques on desperately ill patients, and trains physicians, nurses, and pharmacists to serve California and the world. Its distinction, however, derives from its dedication to diversity and community medicine. Like Massachusetts General, UCSF serves the city’s disadvantaged citizens. Above and beyond that service, however, UCSF keeps an open mind and an open ear to the community’s bio-medical concerns, and much of its best research traces its deepest origins to common concerns “in the neighborhood.” Not surprisingly, UCSF has done ground-breaking research in the treatment of HIV-AIDS. More recently, however, UCSF researchers have led intelligent discussion of how to treat “Gender Identity Disorder” as a psychological problem and as a concern for endocrinologists. UCSF’s cutting-edge research has had profound influence on South African officials’ management of the delicate and often sensationalized case of their “inter-sexed” female track star.

 



 

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