100 Places To See In Your Lifetime-Heaven On Earth#65-Barbados-"Located at the eastern tip of the West Indies, Barbados has long attracted those who enjoy white and pinkish beaches that stretch along light blue waters in a superb climate. The country became independent in 1966, but its Britishness is still evident in such pursuits as cricket. Mix in succulent food, rolling hills and a delightful natural cave and the isle's popularity is no surprise."


Japanese Favourite Stories-"The Sandal Seller" "Long ago there was an old man and his old wife living in the country. They were very honest, but very poor. One day, near the end of the year, they heard some children singing outside. This is the song the children sang: Oh, Mr. New Year, are you coming near? Why, yes, I'm just beyond the mountain here. Oh, do you bring us gifts and things so nice? Why, yes, I've "mochi" cakes of finest rice." It made the old man and woman feel very sad and lonely to hear the children singing about New Year's. Because this year they had no money and couldn't celebrate the New Year. "Oh, dear," the old woman sighed. "New Year's is the day after tomorrow. And we don't have any rice at all. So we won't be able to make any mochi cakes. We won't even have mochi to eat on New Year's Day, and New Year's is not New Year's without mochi." The old man too sat sadly shaking his head. But then all of a sudden he got an idea. "I know what I'll take them to town right away and sell them. Then with the money we can buy some rice and make some mochi." So the old man started out for the town right away, carrying the straw sandals on a long pole over his shoulder. It was a very cold day, with a strong wind and much snow. When he got to town he began to walk through the streets yellin: "straw sandals! straw sandals!" But everybody was very busy and no one wanted to buy any straw sandals. He kept walking and walking, always yelling: "straw sandals! straw sandals!" But he never sold a single pair. Just then another old man came alone the street selling charcoal. He was yelling: "charcoal! charcoal!" The two old men met in the street and stopped to talk. "How's your business?" asked the charcoal seller. "Terrible!" said the sandal seller. "I haven't sold a singel pair. Everybody's too busy getting ready for New Year's." "I haven't been able to sell any charcoal either." said the other. "Come, let's walk together and see if we'll have better luck." So they started walking together. "Straw sandals! Straw sandals!" one would yell. Then the other would yell: "Charcoal! Charcoal!" But still they didn't sell any of the wares. It became later and later and their voices became weaker and weaker. It was also becoming much colder and snowing harder. Finally it was completely dark, a nd still they hadn't made a single sale, so they decided to stop and go home. Then the charcoal seller said: "It's really too bad to take home the same things we started out with. Why don't we trade? Then you can take home my charcoal and I can take your straw sandals." "That's a good idea," said the sandal seller. So they traded, and then each of them went to his home. When the sandal seller reached home he was very, very cold. He told the old lady the bad news-that he hadn't been able to earn a single penny. "But at least I have this charcoal," he said, "and we can get warm." So they made a charcoal fire and then sad around it warming themselves. But they were so sleepy that they didn't notice a tiny elf that jumped out of the charcoal and hid in their closet watching them. The elf was scarcely an inch high, but he looked exactly like the charcoal seller the old man had met that day. After the old man and woman had gone to bed, the elf came out of the closet and said: "I felt so sorry for this poor old man today that I gave him theis magic charcoal. Every spark will turn into a piece of gold." Then the elf disappeared. Sure enough, the next morning when the old man and woman woke up, they found a great pile of gold beside the hearth. THey were very surprised, but also very happy. They were able to buy plenty of rice and make very fine mochi for New Year's. And the old man never had to go out in the snow to sell straw sandals again."


20 Worst Drinks in America 2010-17. Worst Bottled Coffee
Starbucks Vanilla Frappuccino (1 bottle, 13.7 fl oz)
290 calories
4.5 g fat (2.5 g saturated)
45 g sugars
Sugar Equivalent: 32 Nilla Wafers

With an unreasonable number of calorie landmines peppered across Starbucks’ in-store menu, you’d think the company would want to use its grocery line to restore faith in its ability to provide caffeine without testing the limits of your belt buckle. Guess not. This drink has been on our radar for years, and we still haven’t managed to find a bottled coffee with more sugar. Consider this—along with Starbucks’ miniature Espresso and Cream Doubleshot—your worst option for a morning pickup.