Six Staggering Diabetes Facts

 

Diabetes Facts

• There are about 250 million people with diabetes in the world
• Type 1 diabetes is growing by 3% per year in children and adolescents.
• It is estimated that 70,000 children under 15 develop type 1 diabetes each year (200 children a day).
• Of the estimated 440,000 cases of type 1 diabetes in children worldwide, more than a quarter live in South-East Asia, and more than a fifth in Europe.
• In the US, it is estimated that type 2 diabetes represents between 8 and 45% of new-onset diabetes cases in children
• Over a 20-year period, type 2 diabetes has doubled in children in Japan, so that it is now more common than type.

News By Medindia

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16 weird body facts.

 

 

Body facts

Did you know that you now have 96 fewer bones in your body than when you were born? There's a lot more you never knew to ask. Check to see how many of these facts you knew:

    * If you remove the minerals from a bone by soaking it overnight in a six percent solution of hydrochloric acid, it will become so soft, you could tie it in a knot.
    * One person in 20 has an extra rib, and they are most often men.
    * When you were born, you had 300 bones. Now you have 206, if you are an adult. The rest of the bones have not disappeared – they have merely fused together.
    * The female egg cell is the largest cell in the human body. It is about 175 000 times heavier than the smallest cell, the male sperm cell.
    * There are 96 000 km of blood vessels in the average adult body.
    * The average person has about 100 000 scalp hairs.
    * When you look at an object, the image of that object appears upside down on your retina. However, your brain automatically corrects for this, allowing you to perceive the object the right side up.
    * Enamel, found on our teeth, is the hardest substance in the human body.
    * The soles of your feet contain more sweat glands and more pressure-sensitive nerve endings per square inch than any other part of your body.
    * Like fingerprints, every person has a unique tongue print.
    * The kidneys filter your blood up to 300 times per day.
    * During the first six weeks of life, there is no difference between the male and female embryo.
    * Human fingers stretch and bend about 25 million times in a normal lifetime.
    * The human body contains 30 000 billion red blood cells.
    * Tooth decay has led to 60 percent of adult Americans losing their upper right, middle molar.

News By Health24

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Why is Higher Education Important ?

Higher Education

Higher education. What is it? Why do you need it? What do the statistics show? How should you, as a homeschooler, begin approaching higher education? And, most importantly, what is God's plan for your life?

What is it?
I often read articles, hear people speak, and wonder, am I the only one who doesn't know what that term is that they are using? Usually my question pertains to a commonly used term that I should clearly know the definition of, but just don't. Therefore, I'm going to start by defining higher education. Specifically, higher education is education provided by universities, colleges, and other institutions that award academic degrees. Higher education includes both the undergraduate (i.e., college) and the graduate (or postgraduate) levels. Higher education includes most professional education and is strongly vocationally or professionally oriented. Higher education differs from other forms of post-secondary (after high school) education such as vocational education. Vocational education is a form of secondary or postsecondary education but is considered non-academic as compared to higher education. The figure below is an attempt to visually show these levels of education and just where higher education fits in.

Levels of Education

Stages	Approx. Age	Level
Primary	4-10 yrs.	Elementary School
Secondary	11-18 yrs.	High School
Tertiary *	19-22 yrs.	College
Quaternary *	23 yrs +	Graduate School

* Higher Education

Why do you need it ?
Given that we have a basic definition of higher education, why do you need it? According to many sources I've studied, higher education offers graduates more jobs to choose from than are open to those who don't pursue education beyond high school, and graduates typically earn more than nongraduates. Specifically, the US Census Bureau reported in 2004 that, on average, a college graduate earns $54,704, significantly more than the $30,056 earned annually by someone with a high school diploma, or the $22,100 earned by a high school dropout. Another way of looking at these numbers is that, according to the Postsecondary Education Opportunity Research Letter (PEORL), the lifetime income of families headed by individuals with a bachelor's degree will be about $1.6 million more than the incomes of families headed by those with a high school diploma. The PEORL goes on to state that every dollar spent on a college education produces $34.85 in increased lifetime income--not a bad return on an investment.

Higher education improves an individual's quality of life. Studies show that, compared to high school graduates, college graduates have longer life spans, better access to health care, better dietary and health practices, greater economic stability and security, more prestigious employment and greater job satisfaction, less dependency on government assistance, greater knowledge of government, greater community service and leadership, more volunteer work, more self-confidence, and less criminal activity and incarceration. In addition, college graduates supposedly have greater use of seatbelts, more continuing education, greater Internet access, greater attendance at live performances, greater participation in leisure and artistic activities, more book purchases, and higher voting rates. As an aside, I have to admit that I was amazed at some of these items--not that I found them, but that someone actually researched this stuff and thought some of the items were enviable.

Dr. Heather Allen, Contributing Writer

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Where to go in December ?

Best Place For December.

In Europe, the Christmas holidays draw families to the ski slopes to celebrate the festive season: the Pyrenees in France and Spain and the Austrian, Swiss or Italian Alps are popular destinations. It is also the time for festive markets in many European towns such as Strasbourg, Munich or Brussels. Whatever the destination in Europe it will probably be cold and wet with snow in the more northern regions.
In Asia, it is the best time to visit Laos where there is little rain at present and the temperature is not too high as yet. It is also pleasant to travel around Bangladesh in December and visit the long beaches, archaeological sites and get to know the friendly people. It is a great time now for the Maldives during their dry season although the prices are a little high as it is a popular destination at this time. In Thailand the rains have decreased somewhat now and the temperatures are warming up, it is fairly calm there at present if you avoid the typical tourist resorts.
In Africa, the Cameroons have their dry, temperate season right now, the only disturbance being the harmattan, the warm wind blowing over from the Sahara. The same is true for Senegal where the temperatures are as agreeable. The Ivory Coast is a perfect destination at this time. If you like to visit the beach during wintertime then the Seychelles are a dream destination but you will certainly not be alone and the prices are a little elevated at this time so popular with tourists.
In America, Mexico is a favourite destination during December as is the whole of the Caribbean including Jamaica, Cuba, the French West Indies and the Bahamas too which see a sharp rise in visitor numbers during the festive season thanks to the excellent climate which sees a fairly stable temperature of around 28°C at this time. If you don't mind the cold then you could visit New York and participate in the lively New Year festivities in this megalopolis.
To be avoided:
Malaysia, in the middle of its winter monsoon period so experiencing heavy and sustained rainfall. Egypt, with little sun at present and some hotels there are unheated despite the cooler temperatures. All of Eastern Europe, the climate is currently a little harsh and unappealing.

Our choice
For skiers, the French and Spanish Pyrenees have plenty of small family ski resorts with good snow and reasonable prices even during the festive season.
Southern Australia will certainly satisfy those with a taste for adventure down under as it's entering its summer season. The ideal time for surfing, swimming and meeting the koalas, emus and opossums, not forgetting the famous laughing kookaburra.
Between those two destinations we find Senegal; a stopover warmed as much by the weather as the smiles and sunny dispositions of the people.

News By Thebesttimetovisit.

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World's Most Secret Islands

We turned up 10 dreamy islands unknown to the average U.S. traveler. 

By Jamie Moore

Madeline Island

Looking for the perfect place to get away from it all? We searched the world and turned up 10 dreamy islands unknown to the average U.S. traveler. These little patches of unspoiled paradise, from the Great Lakes to the South China Sea, are relatively affordable and easy to get to. And the idea of getting stranded on any one of them would be, well, absolutely OK with us.

Madeline Island
Location: Lake Superior, just off Wisconsin
Size: 14 miles long by three miles wide
Population: 300 year-round; 2,500 in summer

Midwesterners need not go far for a secluded island paradise. Part of Wisconsin's Apostle Islands archipelago, Madeline has many trappings of a tropical oasis—sandy beaches, sailing charters, sea caves, cliff-jumping, and even stand-up paddleboarding. No wonder the population swells in summer. Visit in winter and you can make first tracks on a dogsled or see ice caves.

Island time
Kayak to sea caves, historical lighthouses, and a century-old shipwreck with Adventure Vacations or Living Adventure. Raise a glass to live music at the quirky Tom's Burned Down Cafe. Don't miss locally caught trout on The Pub Restaurant & Wine Bar's beachfront patio.

Getting here
Board the Madeline Island Car Ferry (25 minutes) at Bayfield. You can also walk onto the ferry and rent a bike or moped from the island's Motion to Go. In winter (mid-January through February), arrive by air-propelled wind sled or drive the ice road.

Tangier Island

Tangier Island

Location: U.S. Atlantic Coast, just off Virginia
Size: Three miles long by one mile wide
Population: 727

This little island 12 miles off of northern Virginia is one of the last isolated fishing villages left on the Chesapeake Bay. Out here it's a completely different world. Locals speak in a thick accent that sounds like a cross between Elizabethan English and the Old South. They drive golf carts on the virtually carless island. And the salty Tangier watermen still carry on the centuries-old tradition of harvesting crabs in the bay.

Island time
During a waterman tour, a Tangier captain teaches you how to pull crab pots. Try the incredible crab bisque and crab cakes made by wives of watermen at Fisherman's Corner Restaurant. Rent a free kayak at the Tangier History Museum and Interpretive Cultural Center and follow the island's water trails.

Getting here
Three seasonal ferries (one to one-and-a-half hours) and two year-round ferries (45 minutes) link the island with mainland Virginia and Maryland. There's also a small Tangier Island Airport.

Staniel Cay

Staniel Cay

Location: Eastern Caribbean,Bahamas Out Islands
Size: Less than two square miles
Population: 80

A tiny link in the chain of Exuma Cays, this gem lies 250 miles off the coast of Florida in the Bahamas' famously clear turquoise waters. Many of the Exhumas are private (Johnny Depp owns one) or ultraexclusive, but Staniel Cay is an exception. Here, you can stay in a cottage on stilts over the ocean for only $165 per night. Everything but the price seems top-shelf.

Island time
Go for the all-inclusive package ($176 per person per night) at Staniel Cay Yacht Club—the island's only lodging—and get a waterfront cottage, all meals, and your own 13-foot Boston Whaler during your stay. Cruise to a deserted beach or see the swimming pigs at Major Cay. Snorkel at Thunderball Grotto, a hollowed-out island and the filming location for James Bond's Thunderball.

Getting here
The yacht club arranges shared charter flights (two-and-a-half hours) from Ft.Lauderdale on Watermakers Air starting at $200 per person one-way.

Fernando De Noronha

Fernando De Noronha
Courtesy of Ricardo P. Alves via Flickr Creative Commons Attribution

Fernando De Noronha
Location: Western Atlantic, 220 miles off Brazil's coast
Size: Seven square miles
Population: 3,012

Peaks of a submerged mountain range rise up out of the sea to form this beautiful Brazilian 21-island archipelago. The largest island is the only one populated, but throngs of vacationers never clog its perfect coves of white-sand beaches. The government restricts tourism to 420 visitors at a time. Yes, this is the kind of place you want to (and can) be left to your own devices with a little motorbike: There's just one traffic light.

Island time
Two major ocean currents meet here, making it one of the world's best places to see a diverse range of marine life while snorkeling or scuba diving. All visitors stay in small pousadas whose owners take a personal interest in guests—a bit like having your own valet.

Getting here
Fly from Natal (70 minutes) or Recife (100 minutes), two Brazilian cities accessed by direct flights from major U.S. airports. Save with a Brazil air pass.

Isle Of Mull 

Isle Of Mull
Location: Eastern Atlantic, off Scotland's west coast
Size: 338 square miles
Population: 2,667

Mighty seaside cliffs. Rugged mountain ridges. Moorland peninsulas. It's a picture-perfect Scottish scene in the Inner Hebrides islands. Filled with abundant wildlife and dramatic scenery, Mull is one of Scotland's best places for seeing whales (April through September) and for spotting the white-tailed eagle, the U.K.'s largest bird of prey. Hike the coastal and glen trails or the more challenging peaks with views of neighboring islands Iona and Staffa.

Island time
Wilderness Scotland has hike-and-stay packages with the Tiroran House Hotel that include breakfast and dinner for less than $200 per person per night. In the colorful port of Tobermory, dig into fish-and-chips or the fresh scallops (a Prince Charles favorite) at the Fisherman's Pier Fish & Chip Van. Wash it down with a visit to Tobermory's malt whisky distillery.

Getting here
On the mainland, take a CalMac car ferry from Oban to Craignure (40 minutes), from Kilchoan to Tobermory (35 minutes), or from Lochaline to Fishnish (15 minutes).

Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin
Location: South China Sea, off Singapore
Size: Four square miles
Population: 100

One of the last rural holdouts in Singapore, Pulau Ubin ("Granite Island") near Changi Point is a freeze-frame of Malay kampong village life in the 1960s. Thatched-roof homes sit among forested rolling hills and abandoned granite quarries. Fishermen live on kelongs, old wooden fishing houses built on stilts over the water. It's a soul-soothing escape from the highly urbanized buzz on the nearby mainland.

Island time
Experience village life, thick forests, and the occasional monkey or wild pig from the seat of a rented bicycle or on a walking tour. The island is known for its great seafood restaurants, and the steamed crab is divine. See interesting low-tide marine life at Chek Jawa or hit the sandy beach at East Coast Park. For a kampong-style stay, ride to Celestial Resort. Rooms start at less than $100 per night.

Getting here
At the Changi Point Ferry Terminal near Changi Village, take the 10-minute bumboat ride that departs once there are 12 passengers.

Koh Yao Yai

Koh Yao Yai
Location: Andaman Sea's Phang-Nga Bay, off western Thailand
Size: Approximately 38 square miles
Population: Approximately 8,000 (estimates vary)

One of 44 islands between Phuket and Krabi, Koh Yao Yai ("Big Long Island") is the largest but not the most developed. Here, where mass tourism hasn't taken hold, locals earn a modest living by fishing, rice farming, and working the rubber plantation. You can stretch out on footprint-free sand and really feel like you're staking out an undiscovered place. Since your dollar goes further in Thailand than most destinations, the island is quite affordable.

Island time
See local life on a bike ride. Or rent a long-tail boat and go island-hopping to Khai Nok and Khai Nai for great snorkeling. Elixir Resort and Koh Yao Yai Village run various types of tours and have private thatched-roof bungalows furnished in old Thai style.

Getting here
Fly into Phuket International Airport. Nearby ferries (60 minutes) and public speedboats (30 minutes) operate from piers in Phuket. Multiday Journeys Within tours start in Phuket, stopping in Koh Yao Yai and Krabi.

Kosrae

Kosrae
Location: South Pacific in Micronesia
Size: 42 square miles
Population: 6,616

With waters tinted the purest shades of blue and mountains covered in every hue of green, Kosrae is a speck in the vast sea between Hawaii and Guam. This lush spot just north of the equator enchants with cloud forests, mangroves, waterfalls, and soft, sandy beaches. On Kosrae locals still follow traditions of carving and canoe-building. Look out to sea and you'll likely find fishermen and women working from a canoe or locals practicing for annual canoe races.

Island time
Dive or snorkel among some of the world's last remaining pristine fringe reefs, a sunken pirate ship, a wooden whaler, and planes from WWII. Explore haunting 13th-century ruins, or paddle an outrigger canoe through mangroves. At Kosrae Village eco-lodge and dive resort, you can sleep in a private cottage on a sandy beach for $119 to $169 per night.

Getting here
Continental (which is merging with United) flies to Kosrae. The airline is part of the Star Alliance, which sells a Micronesia Airpass with great savings if you want to visit multiple islands.

Ile de Re

Ile de Re
Location: Atlantic Ocean, just off France
Size: 33 square miles
Population: 20,000 year-round; 130,000 in summer

Off France's west coast, this charming vacation haven is connected to La Rochelle by a two-mile bridge. You'd think a place this accessible to Europe's population would be jammed with commercialism. Instead, the majority of Île de Ré is protected. Vineyards, forests, dunes, and salt marshes, where fleur de sel is still gathered using traditional methods, are all part of nature reserves. Although the population spikes in summer, there's still a quiet simplicity soaked up in the understated style you'd expect from the French on holiday.

Island time
Absolutely flat terrain and more than 60 miles of well-used bike paths have prevented an automobile invasion on this popular island. Rent a bicycle and cruise to natural, unannounced beaches and across pungent salt marshes. Stop and buy a basket of oysters from an oyster farmer, or explore one of 10 villages.

Getting there
Catch a TGV high-speed train from Paris (three hours) to La Rochelle and connect with a bus or taxi to the island.

Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island

Location: North Pacific, off British Columbia
Size: 70.5 square miles
Population: 10,500

This easygoing island, tucked between the B.C. mainland and Vancouver Island, is the quintessential snapshot of West Coast life. Its residents—free-spirited artists and musicians, retired millionaires, and organic farmers—have abandoned the fast track to build lives rich in community and natural beauty. Get a glimpse on an artisan studio tour, which takes you to a lavender farm, a cheese shop, a jewelry maker, and more.

Island time
Wander down to the Ganges dock for fresh crab ($10). Explore coastal tidepools at Ruckle Park or swim at Vesuvius Beach. Pick up local produce at the Saturday Market and take it to Salt Spring Vineyards for a picnic with your wine tasting. Splurge on a stay at the Hastings House or find excellent value at Salt Spring Inn (less than $100 per night), which overlooks the main village and harbor.

Getting here
Harbour Air and Salt Spring Air seaplanes fly to the island (30 minutes) from downtown Vancouver. Salt Spring Air also flies from Vancouver International Airport. B.C. Ferries connects from the Vancouver area (one-and-a-half to three hours)

News By Yahoo.

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Small businesses hiring more online workers

Small business

When Casey McConnell started text messaging marketing company Qittle he took the traditional route of hiring onsite employees. But he soon realized it was more advantageous to hire workers online.

“We found it was easy to find these specialists or people that we could hire for a certain amount,” said McConnell, the CEO of Qittle. “We didn’t have the extra overhead and we just got the project done. It’s really easy for us to ramp up our needs or pull back using contractors. If we had an internal staff it’s pretty hard to fluctuate like that.”

Qittle’s preference to hire workers in the cloud is reflected in Elance’s recent survey that shows 83 percent of small businesses plan to hire half their workers online within the next 12 months. Only 10 percent of those surveyed plan to hire predominantly onsite workers (90 percent).

Elance, a marketplace for online workers, has posted more than 600,000 jobs ranging from programers to virtual assistants. Small businesses prefer to hire online because of flexibility, speed and economy of the process cost, according to Fabio Rosati, the CEO of Elance.

“So if you’re a small business owner, you can think of a hybrid model of hiring (online and onsite workers),” said Rosati. “You can think about what skills and what talent you need onsite. You can also decide what skill set you need to be in the cloud which is much more cost-effective and much more flexible.”

Elance’s Online Employment Report shows the number of businesses hiring online has increased 107 percent since last year. Elancers earned 51 percent more last year and earned a record $38 million in Q3 2011.

Rosati said more and more companies will decide to hire in the cloud. “I predict that at some point 99 percent of businesses will have between 5-10 percent of their hiring done online because it makes so much sense.”

But for McConnell, hiring online is the only way to go. Qittle plans to only hire workers from the cloud. “As a business we’d rather stay small and nimble and we’d rather contract out through individuals or businesses.”

News By Reuters

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Why education is necessary

 

 When I started thinking about why education is so important, I remembered my school years, the grounding years of anyone’s education. I went down memory lane to remember all my teachers, my school subjects, the study and the play! I never really hated school. But I have seen many who hate going to school; I have had some friends who did not like the idea of studying in classrooms. Many of you must have unwillingly entered your school gates.... But all of us know this dislike never lasts long. We soon start loving school and it is when it is time to leave school that we are in tears.... What is school life all about? It is all about laying the foundation of our education. It is a place to understand why education is so important and how important it is! It is an institution, where we learn to read and write. School transforms kids into literate individuals. It is where we get our basics cleared and at the point of leaving school, we are all set to soar high in life, enter the new world in pursuit of our dreams.

Why is education so important?

The first thing that strikes me about education is knowledge gain. Education gives us the knowledge of the world around us. It develops in us a perspective of looking at life. It helps us build opinions and have points of view on everything in life. People debate over the subject of whether education is the only thing that gives knowledge. Some say, education is the process of gaining information about the surrounding world while knowledge is something very different. They are partly right. But the conversion of information to knowledge is possible because of education. Education makes us capable of interpreting rightly the things perceived. Education is not about lessons and poems in textbooks. It is about the lessons of life.

The words 'cultivate' and 'civilize' are almost synonymous to the word 'educate'. That says it! Education is important as it teaches us the right behavior, the good manners thus making us civilized. It teaches us how to lead our lives. Education is the basis of culture and civilization. It is instrumental in the development of our values and virtues. Education cultivates us into mature individuals, individuals capable of planning for our futures and taking the right decisions. Education arms us with an insight to look at our lives and learn from every experience. The future of a nation is safe in the hands of educated individuals. Education is important for the economic growth of a nation. It fosters principles of equality and socialism. Education forms a support system for talents to excel in life. It is the backbone of society.

Education is important because it equips us with all that is needed to make our dreams come true. Education opens doors of brilliant career opportunities. It fetches better prospects in career and growth. Every employer of today requires his prospective employees to be well educated. He requires expertise. So, education becomes an eligibility criterion for employment into any sector of the industry. We are rewarded for exercising the expertise required for the field we venture. We are weighed in the market on the basis of our educational skills and how well we can apply them.

Education is essential as it paves the path leading to disillusionment. It wipes out all the wrong beliefs in our minds. It helps create a clear picture of everything around us and we no more remain in confusion about the things we learn. Education brings up questions and also devises ways to find satisfactory answers to them. Education is about knowing that everything has a science to it, it is about learning to reason everything till every question meets its answer. Education can lead us to enlightenment. It is education that builds in every individual, a confidence to take decisions, to face life and to accept successes and failures. It instills a sense of pride about the knowledge one has and prepares him/her for life!

Schools and colleges define the basic framework of education. Schooling gives us the fundamentals whereas we specialize in fields of our interest, during the degree courses. But education does not end here. It is a lifelong process. Self-learning begins at the point that marks the end of institutional education. The process of self-learning continues..

By  SACHIN SAXENA

Read current news at http://bbc-cnn-worldnews.blogspot.com

Top 10 Beaches In The World.

 

1.       Seychelles

One of the most photographed beaches in the world, the pale pink sands of Anse Source d’Argent unfurls across the island of La Digue, one of the 115 components of this archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The sands sparkle against a backdrop of towering granite boulders, worn by time and weather. The turquoise water is relatively shallow and protected from the ocean’s waves by a reef.

2.       Maldives

Whether your dream beach trip consists of spending a few pampered nights in a four-star resort or swimming among tropical fish some 80 feet (24 meters) underwater, the Maldives are the sort of islands where either—or both—can come true. Straddling the equator southwest of Sri Lanka, the 1,102 islands that make up the Maldives form 26 atolls. The soft air enveloping the archipelago blends into a beautiful palm-fringed haze.

3.       Bora Bora, Tahiti

This is one of the magical islands that make up French Polynesia in the South Pacific. Just 18 miles (29 kilometers) long, this lush little slip of land lies in a protected lagoon edged by white sandy shores, the best being at Matira Point. Bora Bora boasts the nickname the “Romantic Island,” a moniker easy to appreciate with its isolated beaches, intimate hotels, and quiet atmosphere.

4.       The Hamptons, New York

 One of the hip spots for the air-kissing, well-heeled set, the Hamptons boast some of the prettiest beaches on Long Island. The unspoiled shoreline begins around Southampton and runs east to the end of the island at Montauk. Windswept dunes and waving grasses border the Atlantic Ocean.

5.       Lanikai Beach, Hawaii

Half a mile of sparkling sand, palm trees swaying over a white beach, lush tropical plants, and endless sunshine make Lanikai one of Hawaii’s most scenic beaches. The shore is protected by a nearby coral reef, which keeps the surf relatively calm. The water is always deep green and postcard-perfect.

6.       Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

 The most popular beaches on this island in the North Atlantic are Surfside and Children’s. The waters here are relatively calm, and there’s plenty of sand to use for sunbathing or castle-building. Madaket Beach is known for its rougher surf and not-to-be-missed sunsets. Quidnet Beach provides great views of Sankaty Head lighthouse.

7.       Fraser Island, Australia

Perched on the sunny Queensland coast 161 miles (259 kilometers) northeast of Brisbane, Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and home to a wonderful beach. This World Heritage Site is an ecologist’s dream, with 640 square miles (1,664 square kilometers) of unspoiled natural paradise. Rain forests with 1,000-year-old trees sprout from the sand. Lodgings here accommodate a wide range of tourists, from the backpacking ecology lover to pampered resort fans.

8.       St. Bart's

One of many islands in the Caribbean Sea, St. Bart’s stands out with its blend of French chic and island relaxation. With beautiful secluded beaches, fine French cuisine, and gracious hotels, this tropical playground is popular with the Jet Set. The 8-mile-long (13-kilometer-long) island is edged by 20 beaches and small coves for swimmers and sunbathers, with sparkling water and white sand.

9.       Langkawi, Malaysia

The name “Langkawi” translates into “the land of one’s wishes,” a welcoming concept that somewhat belies the island’s historic origins as a reputed refuge for pirates. Langkawi has since become a modern hideaway for the traveler seeking an escape. If your vacation wishes extend from uncrowded white sands and clear waters to lush green forests, you will find yourself content here. Datai Bay, located on Pulau Langkawi, is a heavenly retreat on the Andaman Sea.

10.   Kauna'oa Bay, Hawaii

Located on the Kohala Coast of the Aloha State’s Big Island, Kauna’oa Bay is the quintessential Hawaiian spot. The 0.25-mile-long (0.4-kilometer-long), crescent-shaped beach has plenty of white sand, palm trees, and calm, clear, blue water. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, beachgoers here can snorkel or ride boogie boards. (Be careful swimming, however, because there are no lifeguards on this public beach.) At night, nestle into the sands and peer out into the water to see if you can catch a glimpse of manta rays swimming.

News By nationalgeographic.

6 Top Health Threats in Men

Statistically, more males are born than females every year. Surprisingly, women are healthier than men. Men take the lead for all known diseases in the medical field except for Alzheimer's Disease. 

The top 6 health threats in men are:

Prostate Cancer

Lung Cancer

Suicide/Depression

Cardiovascular Disease

Diabetes

Erectile Dysfunction

Prostate Cancer

It is predicted that about 200,000 American men will develop prostate cancer this year. Although one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his epoch, studies indicate that only one in 35 will die from it. One in 10,000 men under the age of 40 will develop prostate cancer, whereas, one in eight men between the ages of 60 and 80 will suffer from it. These figures suggest that prostate cancer is likely to impact the lives of a substantial proportion of men.

Prostate cancer is diagnosed through the biopsy of the prostate gland. An early diagnosis of the PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) level being abnormal will require further testing to see if there is cancer. Aside from the PSA levels, there are other less common symptoms of prostate cancer that men should watch out for:

Blood in the urine

Blood in the semen

New-onset erectile dysfunction (impotence)

Bone pain (especially in the lower back, hips or ribs)

Loss of bladder control

Quick Facts about Prostate Cancer:

Many men die with prostate cancer, but not from it.

Early baldness may be a sign of high prostate cancer risk.

Men whose mothers or sisters have developed breast cancer are also at increased risk for prostate cancer.

Lung Cancer

Attributed mainly to the use of tobacco, lung cancer has plagued approximately 170,000 Americans every year. Lung cancer, most of the time, does not manifest symptoms until its advanced stage, making it difficult to diagnose early.

Quick Facts about Lung Cancer:

Recently, there has been a decline in cases amongst men but the ailment is becoming more common amongst women.

The reason for the hike in cases amongst women is the increase in the number of women who began to smoke in recent years.

Cancer may form in the lungs or in the bronchi (the air passageways leading into the lungs).

There are two major types of lung cancer; small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. This is determined by the way the cells appear under a microscope.

Suicide / Depression

Depression is an emotional disturbance that affects the entire body and overall health.

According to a study done in 2010, approximately 5 million men were treated for depression. The actual figure is likely to be greater because men simply refuse to admit being depressed. They usually resort to alcohol and drugs to overcome their depression instead of seeking professional help.

Developed countries have the worst rates of depression. 15 percent of men in these countries suffer from severe depression. Just 20 percent of these severe cases receive treatment and 15 percent are likely to attempt suicide.

Top Causes of Suicide / Depression:

Divorce

Unemployment

Forced retirement

Separation from close family members

Bankruptcy

Quick Facts on Suicide / Depression:

Those with depression have four times the risks of a heart attack compared to those who do not have depression.

Depression is hereditary.

Depression affects 121 million people throughout the world. Less than 25 percent of those affected have access to effective treatment options.

Although depression is recognized as a mental illness, it certainly affects the physical part of the body. It weakens the immune system, increasing the risks for other diseases to develop.

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the world's top killer, claiming at least 17.1 million lives every year.

Since 1900, Americans have been plagued by cardiovascular disease. Doctors have concluded that men experience heart attacks approximately 10 years earlier in life than women do.

Quick Facts on Cardiovascular Disease:

More than 2,500 Americans die from heart disease each day.

About 250,000 people die of heart attacks each year before they reach a hospital.

Almost 6 million hospitalizations are due to cardiovascular disease each year.

The risk of cardiovascular disease can be reduced by avoiding tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol.

Diabetes

According to the World Health Organization, there are 246 million people in the world living with diabetes.

Most men experienced the typical symptoms of frequent urination and thirst before finally seeing the doctor. Excess glucose becomes toxic to blood vessels and nerves in the entire body.

Quick Facts on Diabetes:

3.9 billion dollars in emergency room costs are attributed to diabetes.

Approximately 71,000 lower limb amputations per year are due to diabetes.

Americans lose about 1,600 gallons of blood every year as a result of glucose monitoring blood tests.

Besides amputation, diabetes can lead to other complications like blindness, gangrene, and end-stage renal disease.

To learn more about healthy blood sugar maintenance, visit ayurgold.com.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

This disease has plagued approximately 20 million American men and about 1 in 10 adult males suffers from long-term ED.

Men with diabetes tend to develop erectile dysfunction 10 to 15 years earlier than men without diabetes. Erectile dysfunction is also believed to be caused by atherosclerosis, the same process known to cause heart attacks and strokes.

Quick Facts on Erectile Dysfunction:

Long hours of cycling increase the risk of developing ED.

Obese men are more likely to have ED.

Stress and anxiety are leading causes of temporary ED.

Every man at least once in his life has a problem with attaining erection.

Men with diabetes are likely to have ED.

NEWS BY vholistics

Killing Your Sex Life with Too Much Sweets

Did you know that uncontrollable consumption of sugar can eventually kill your sex life? Indeed, researchers have determined that high concentration of sugar in your bloodstream can switch off the gene that controls your sex hormones. Excess glucose and fructose are stored as fat lipids after they are metabolized in the liver. The synthesis of these excess fats deactivates the SHBG genes (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin) which control your testosterone and estrogen levels. 

The bioavailability of the sex hormones is greatly influenced by the levels of SHBG. The imbalance in these hormones may lead to deterioration of your sexual function. This also increases the chances of acne, polycystic ovaries, uterine cancer, heart disease, and infertility. Research also found that sugar can negatively impact your lipid profile. Anything that disrupts your lipid profile can lead to impotence and erectile dysfunction.

Aside from this harmful impact, sugar also has a negative effect on your eating habits. It provides a sudden boost of endorphin production, stimulating you to eat more than you should. The extra calories will make you put on extra pounds which are directly associated with lower testosterone and increased risks of erectile dysfunction. 

Most men are completely oblivious to the food that they are eating. Either they are aware of the sugar content and pretend to not know or they assume they know the content but because the numbers are not known to them, they continue to eat foods high in sugar content. 

Here is a list of foods with high sugar content that might be quietly killing your sex life: 

1. Original glazed doughnut - 10 grams

2. Vanilla ice cream - 17 grams

3. Starbucks caffe latte grande - 17 grams

4. Subway 6" sweet onion teriyaki chicken sandwich - 17 grams

5. Sweetened yogurt - 27 grams

6. Vitamin water - 33 grams

7. Coca-Cola Classic - 39 grams

8. Starbucks caffe vanilla frappucino grande - 58 grams

NEWS BY vholistics

Cain's nontraditional strategy _ unlikely, too?

ATLANTA (AP) — Reveling in the national spotlight, Herman Cain is pledging to bolster his fledgling White House campaign.

He'll need to — and quickly — if he has any hope of winning the Republican nomination. The unlikely presidential contender has little campaign organization in Iowa, New Hampshire and other states where voting begins in less than three months. And he hasn't done much else in those places to capitalize on his recent surge in polls.

"We are now going to ramp up," Cain promised this week.

By that he means executing what aides call a 50-state strategy — for a nomination contest that's determined state by state. It's a nontraditional path that other candidates have tried unsuccessfully. Cain's campaign, which can seem almost overwhelmed by the attention that comes with a big rise in polls, argues that competing in the early voting states, while important, is not the only way to win the party's nomination.

His aides note that Barack Obama's 2008 campaign fanned out across the country and was successful. But Obama competed vigorously in the early voting states, too.

Still, Cain, who never has held political office, clearly has struck a chord with a part of the Republican electorate craving a fresh face not tied to the GOP establishment. This is the first presidential contest since the tea party's rise, and Cain is in many ways the natural culmination of the grass-roots movement: a straight-talking political outsider, espousing an anti-tax platform.

"The conservative wing of the Republican Party has been auditioning for an anti-Romney alternative for months now," former GOP strategist Dan Schnur said. "They've tried Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry, and they both wilted under the scrutiny. So far, Herman Cain seems to be holding his own."

Atlanta Tea Party Patriots co-founder Debbie Dooley explains it this way: "With Herman, what you see is what you get."

There's no telling how long the love for Cain will last or whether he can turn the buzz into votes on primary and caucus nights this winter. It takes more than enthusiasm to win the presidency. It takes money and organization, and Cain trails his top GOP rivals on both fronts.

"I am running because I want to win, not because I'm trying to raise my profile or get a TV show," Cain said Thursday after speaking during a Faith and Freedom Coalition rally at Ohio Christian University. "I don't want a TV show. I want to do what I can to help get this nation back on track."

He acknowledged that he likely can't raise as much money as Perry or Romney but said his recent surge has convinced him that "message is more powerful than money" and that he can get the financial and public support to stay in the race.

"We're going to raise enough money to be competitive," he said. "And now that people see that we are moving up in the polls, a lot of people are now willing to contribute to us, and we've already seen the impact. So I'm in it to win it, not just to make a good showing."

Earlier this year, Cain had to lend his campaign $500,000 to stay afloat. He'll report his fundraising for the past three months within days.

"I didn't want to get out in front and commit to spending a whole lot of money before I knew that the American people were going to say, 'You know what? This long shot may not be such a long shot," Cain says.

His shoestrings campaign has a certain improvised feel as it scrambles to hire staff and keep pace with the intense media interest enveloping the former head of Godfather's Pizza since he cruised past Romney in a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll.

In New Hampshire this week, Cain's new press spokesman J.D. Gordon, sheepishly admitted to a throng of reporters that he didn't know the specifics about the candidate's schedule that same afternoon, nor the last time Cain had been in the state.

Cain has kept a nontraditional schedule.

With his popularity climbing last month, he eschewed the campaign trail for bookstores as part of a tour to promote his new memoir.

And Thursday, as the new poll showed him leading the pack, Cain didn't beeline it to Iowa to try to capitalize on it as expected. Instead, he made a relatively low-key appearance in Ohio at a Christian university. And on Friday, he was launching a bus tour through Tennessee.

Neither state holds a primary until March — two months after voting begins.

Cain argues that he's not ignoring the early states, and insists that he's adding staff and building campaigns in them.

But he said Thursday that the early pivotal states won't consume all his attention.

"I believe that all of the states are going to be more important because you really just don't know how they're going to shake out," he said.

He was an early visitor to Iowa, making his first trip to the leadoff caucus state in summer 2010. But Cain hasn't visited since the state GOP's presidential test vote Aug. 13. And his campaign there has been beset by staffing woes.

Three top Iowa aides, including one of the state's leading tea party organizers, quit Cain's campaign in June, unhappy with the candidate's apparent lack of commitment to appearing in the state. His Iowa campaign also tried to conceal the role of a top caucus adviser who had been ousted as the leader of a gay-pride group in Wisconsin amid a financial scandal with the organization, the former employee alleged in a letter and court testimony related to his application for unemployment.

Jeff Jorgenson, a Cain backer from Council Bluffs, acknowledged the Georgia businessman "does not have a well-grounded Iowa organization."

"I don't think that's hurt him yet," Jorgenson said. But he added that Cain would need a strong ground game to do well in the January caucuses.

Cain has four campaign staffers in Iowa, according to Lisa Lockwood, his Iowa campaign director.

In closely following New Hampshire, Cain has two paid staffers, compared to more than 10 each in the state for Romney and Perry. Cain also trails former Gov. Jon Huntsman and Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul in paid staffers there.

Cain's aides insist he has visited the state 18 times. But that doesn't match the perception of Republicans on the ground, who say he's been noticeably absent as other candidates flock to the first-in-the-nation primary state. That said, when he does appear, people in New Hampshire say they generally like what they hear.

"Herman Cain really impressed me," said Republican state Rep. Keith Murphy, who was on hand as Cain and other presidential contenders briefly addressed the New Hampshire House of Representatives this week. "I have to do some more research into his positions on these issues, but as far as the ability to communicate a conservative message, he's actually very good."

Cain has laid some groundwork in Nevada, which is slated to hold the third contest with its caucuses. He won a test vote over the summer and has earned endorsements from some tea party leaders.

In South Carolina, William Head has been Cain's lone paid staffer since July. But there are fresh signs of life. The campaign opened a headquarters in Columbia on Friday, and Head said there will be three paid staff in the state by next week.

"The operation is growing with such a rate we're rushing to keep up with the pace," Head said.

News by Yahoo

Top 100 travel destination

Cast your minds back to every holiday / vacation you have ever taken!! Is there a place that stands out from the rest? Is there a destination or specific holiday or vacation attraction that takes its place as your number 1 'Best Travel Destination'. If so, whether it be an awe inspiring historical monument, place of immense excitement, the most beautiful place you have ever experienced or simply a place that just 'did it for you', please participate in this international survey (more details at the bottom of the page) for the 'Best Travel Destination'.

Below is the international survey for the world top 100 'Best Travel Destination''s based on holiday / vacation experiences.

1, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Orlando (USA) 

2, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Sydney (Australia)

3, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Paris (France) 

4, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Venice (Italy)

5, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. London (England)

6, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Manhattan (USA)

7, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Cape Town (South Africa)

8, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Las Vegas (USA) 

9, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Rome (Italy) 

10, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Great Barrier Reef (Australia) 

11, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Maldives (Asia)

12, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. South Island (New Zealand Region)

13, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Hawaii (USA)

14, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Grand Canyon (USA)

15, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Niagara Falls (Canada)

16, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. San Francisco (USA) 

17, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Rio De Janeiro (Brazil)

18, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Los Angeles (USA)

19, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Dubai (UAE) 

20, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) 

21, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Singapore (Asia)

22, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Seychelles (Africa)

23, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Auckland (New Zealand)

24, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Bali (Indonesia)

25, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Durban (South Africa)

26, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Bangkok (Thailand) 

27, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Whitsundays (Australia)

28, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Iceland (Europe)

29, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Costa Del Sol (Spain) 

30, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Cairns (Australia)

31, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Antigua & Barbuda (Caribbean)

32, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Melbourne (Australia)

33, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Mallorca (Spain)

34, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Giza (Egypt) 

35, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Lake District (England)

36, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Barbados (Caribbean) 

37, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Abu Simbel (Egypt) 

38, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Bahamas (Caribbean) 

39, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt)

40, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. New York (USA)

41, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Madrid (Spain)

42, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Zermatt (Switzerland)

43, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Algarve (Portugal) 

44, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) 

45, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Marbella (Spain)

46, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Bora Bora (French Polynesia) 

47, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Chich�n Itz� (Mexico)

48, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Masai Mara (Kenya) 

49, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Florence (Italy) 

50, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Disney World (Florida, USA) 

51, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Puerto Banus (Spain)

52, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Toronto (Canada)

53, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Great Wall (China)

54, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Agra (India)

55, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Edinburgh (Scotland)

56, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Menorca (Spain)

57, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Luxor (Egypt)

58, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Monaco (Europe)

59, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Hong Kong (China)

60, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Banff (Canada)

61, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Sorrento (Italy)

62, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Key West (USA)

63, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Canc�n (Mexico)

64, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Koh Samui (Thailand)

65, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Nice (France)

66, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Machu Picchu (Peru)

67, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Yosemite National Park (USA)

68, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Oahu (USA)

69, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Florida Keys (USA)

70, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Guam (Pacific Islands)

71, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Dublin (Ireland)

72, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Vancouver (Canada)

73, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Cumbria (England)

74, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. La Digue (Seychelles)

75, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Ayers Rock (Australia)

76, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Cayman Islands (Caribbean)

77, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Amritsar (India)

78, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. St Pete Beach (USA)

79, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Ibiza (Spain)

80, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Adelaide (Australia)

81, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Benidorm (Costa Blanca, Spain)

82, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Airlie Beach (Australia)

83, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Prague (Czech Republic)

84, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Aberdare National Park (Kenya)

85, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Cuba (Caribbean)

86, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Paphos (Cyprus)

87, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Valley of the Kings (Egypt)

88, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)

89, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Isle of Man (Europe)

90, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Chamonix (France)

91, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Cannes (France)

92, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Courchevel (France)

93, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Berlin (Germany)

94, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Corfu (Greece)

95, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Wroclaw (Poland)

96, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Iguassu Falls (Argentina/Brazil)

97, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Malta (Malta)

98, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Playa Del Carmen (Mexico)

99, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Amsterdam (Netherlands)

100, Visit Travel Guide for this destination. Miami Beach (USA)