20 Unique Facts About Death

-The practice of burying the dead may date back 350,000 years, as evidenced by a 45-foot-deep pit in Atapuerca, Spain, filled with the fossils of 27 hominids of the species Homo heidelbergensis, a possible ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans

-Never say die: There are at least 200 euphemisms for death, including "to be in Abraham's bosom," "just add maggots," and "sleep with the Tribbles" (a Star Trek favorite).

-No American has died of old age since 1951.

-That was the year the government eliminated that classification on death certificates.

-The trigger of death, in all cases, is lack of oxygen. Its decline may prompt muscle spasms, or the "agonal phase," from the Greek word agon, or contest.

-Within three days of death, the enzymes that once digested your dinner begin to eat you. Ruptured cells become food for living bacteria in the gut, which release enough noxious gas to bloat the body and force the eyes to bulge outward.

-So much for recycling: Burials in America deposit 827,060 gallons of embalming fluid—formaldehyde, methanol, and ethanol—into the soil each year. Cremation pumps dioxins, hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide into the air.

-Alternatively . . . A Swedish company, Promessa, will freeze-dry your body in liquid nitrogen, pulverize it with high-frequency vibrations, and seal the resulting powder in a cornstarch coffin. They claim this "ecological burial" will decompose in 6 to 12 months.

-Zoroastrians in India leave out the bodies of the dead to be consumed by vultures.

-The vultures are now dying off after eating cattle carcasses dosed with diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory used to relieve fever in livestock.

-Queen Victoria insisted on being buried with the bathrobe of her long-dead husband, Prince Albert, and a plaster cast of his hand.

-If this doesn't work, we're trying in vitro! In Madagascar, families dig up the bones of dead relatives and parade them around the village in a ceremony called famadihana. The remains are then wrapped in a new shroud and reburied. The old shroud is given to a newly married, childless couple to cover the connubial bed.

-During a railway expansion in Egypt in the 19th century, construction companies unearthed so many mummies that they used them as fuel for locomotives.

-Well, yeah, there's a slight chance this could backfire: English philosopher Francis Bacon, a founder of the scientific method, died in 1626 of pneumonia after stuffing a chicken with snow to see if cold would preserve it.

-For organs to form during embryonic development, some cells must commit suicide. Without such programmed cell death, we would all be born with webbed feet, like ducks.

-Waiting to exhale: In 1907 a Massachusetts doctor conducted an experiment with a specially designed deathbed and reported that the human body lost 21 grams upon dying. This has been widely held as fact ever since. It's not.

-Buried alive: In 19th-century Europe there was so much anecdotal evidence that living people were mistakenly declared dead that cadavers were laid out in "hospitals for the dead" while attendants awaited signs of putrefaction.

-Eighty percent of people in the United States die in a hospital.

-If you can't make it here . . . More people commit suicide in New York City than are murdered.

-It is estimated that 100 billion people have died since humans began.

Irish Moss

Quick fill for walkways. Low-growing Irish Moss is ideal for filling in crevices between bricks or stepping-stones. Tiny leaves form dainty, densely matted, mosslike clumps, 10 cm high, that spread quickly, take foot traffic and seldom need clipping. Best of all, it stays green all year long, accented with delicate white flowers blooming from mid spring to early summer. Space 25-30 cm apart.
Sagina subulata

CompostThermometer

This 50 cm thermometer measures temperatures up to 104° - perfect for checking the temperature in the core of your compost, and soil temperatures too. Made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel.

Climbing Shell Plant

Fast-growing, twining 6-7 m long vine attracts butterflies with fragrant flowers from midsummer into fall. The 5 cm blooms have a unique shell-like shape. Can even be grown in containers.
Vigna caracalla

Egret Flower

Enchanting and distinctive, these heavily-fringed, pearly-white flowers resemble snowy egrets in flight. From mid to late summer, this petite 30-40 cm tall, water-loving plant will intrigue you with delicate blooms that last 3-4 weeks. A creative orchidlike addition to your walkway or patio container. Top-size bulbs. Habenaria radiata

Apricot Princess Rose

Butterflies are drawn to these sweet-smelling 5 cm double blooms that deepen from a vivid apricot to coral as they mature. Glossy, dark green foliage on sturdy stems sets the stage for these robust roses. Enjoy blooms for an extended period from midsummer to frost. Creates a lovely border, ground cover, specimen or container planting. Perfect for both fresh and dried arrangements. Grows just 50-60 cm tall. Space plants 45-60 cm apart. Rosa x 'Apricot Princess'

Harlequin Hydrangea

This 90-150 cm mounding shrub is a stunning bicolour beauty! Dark glossy green leaves surround massive, 15 cm flower heads of deep pink with white edges. Striking as a featured landscape specimen; plant several for a bold informal hedge. Grows under all light conditions—full sun to full shade. Exquisite as a cut flower, too. Shipped in 10 cm pots. Zones 5-9. Hydrangea macrophylla 'Harlequin'

Primrose Lilac

The rare, soft yellow Primrose Lilac is much sought after, yet seldom found. Beautiful springtime blooms in a delicate shade of soft yellow make this lilac truly unique.Improved plants are carefree and vigorous, requiring very little maintenance. Elegant, heart-shaped leaves make the perfect backdrop for the intensely fragrant blossoms. Reaches a height of 2.5-3 m in full sun to partial shade. Shipped in 10 cm pots. Deer tend to avoid. Zones 2-7. Syringa vulgaris 'Primrose'

Jewellery Buying Decisions

Jewellery Buying Decisions

There are many options which face the lives of consumers every day. Luckily buying jewellery is not one of them. Consumers are faced with many different options every time they do come to purchase jewellery and jewellery retailers therefore need to make every effort to make it as easy as possible to help consumers make a choice.

In order to make that choice easier, a jewellery retailer's aim is to make sure their products are extremely reliable and trustworthy, and make sure that nothing ever goes wrong with the jewellery item bought. For a company to say this is very easy and to do this may not cause too many issues either. However, to build up a reputable name and image can take a long time and many companies have to work very hard to do just this. Once a company has built up their reputation to a level that ensures customers are confident to buy from the store, they have the chance to impress that customer with various different products. It is then up to the customer to decide whether or not they like that product.

The final decision of what to buy lies with the consumer. However, there are other factors which will help a customer make a decision too. For instance, a customer will need to know that the jewellery retailer they are buying from has a lot of information about the jewellery products they are selling. The more information a retailer has the more confidence the consumer has during their buying decision and hence the more likely they are to actually purchase the jewellery product. Information can come from a number of sources; staff inside the shop should all be equipped with knowledge and information about the products, brochures catalogues and other point-of-sale materials should also be found easily in the shop to further this information. Other guides such as a diamond jewellery buyer's guide or other buyer's guides can also be very useful.

Of course information has to be provided and that information must come from a reliable and trustworthy source. There is however, more to a customers buying decision than just that. The customers must be able to choose from a vast range of jewellery items. On the one hand, if a customer is presented with too much choice it can make choosing what they want a longer process. However, providing the customer with choice can only be a good thing in the long run. This is because the customer will feel comfortable to know that the company they are buying from has many different jewellery ranges. It will also mean that once they have bought once, they are likely to come back and buy another piece of jewellery.

Punta Sayulita

Mexico's Private Hideaway on the Riviera NayaritA short paddle from the charming village of Sayulita, upon a virgin peninsula of dramatic rock, jungle and pristine shoreline, an exceptional oceanfront sanctuary—Punta Sayulita—is rising. About a half-hour north of Puerto Vallarta, this private enclave of just 62 homes is a refreshing departure from Mexico's spate of sprawling beachside resorts. Quaint, unpretentious and intimate—like Sayulita itself—Punta Sayulita promises to remain as such. And though some will come here for Punta Sayulita's myriad of luxuries—exotic homes, a Beach & Surf Club, walking paths, fitness and spa facilities, concierge services and a Director of Ocean Activities, to name a few—many more will come for the rare chance to become a treasured member of an authentic seaside village steeped in the charms of old Mexico.

Click here to visit their site:

Hamanasi Resort

Nestled between the lush Maya Mountains and the turquoise Caribbean Sea, Hamanasi is a special place from which you can explore the best of Belize on and offshore. A secluded, intimate boutique resort located on the beach south of Hopkins, Hamanasi sits on hundreds of feet of Caribbean Sea beachfront surrounded by tropical flora on the finest stretch of beach in Belize. With a short flight from Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New York or San Salvador you may let the warm tropical breezes melt away your hectic life for the laid back pace of Belize!

Your daily adventures will begin and end in the casual elegance of Hamanasi Dive & Adventure Resort. You'll be able to kick back and soak in the ocean air in our Great House or by the pool. If you fancy you may take a swim in the warm Caribbean waters or enjoy a tropical cocktail at the bar. Our friendly staff will greet you with warm smiles and attentive service. Of course, Hamanasi's Adventure Center, housing our dive & snorkel center will service you on premises.

Hamanasi features:

Spacious, comfortable rooms with a casually elegant décor, hardwood furnishings and Central American folk art. 9 intimate, private treehouses raised on stilts are set in our coast forest surrounded by orchids and birds. 2 honeymoon suites and 12 beachfront and beachfront deluxe rooms boast breathtaking ocean views.

King or double queen beds with comfortable mattresses, plush linens, air conditioning, ceiling fans, private porches and colorful Mexican tiled bathrooms in all rooms.

The Great House, reminiscent of a plantation home, which is the heart of all activity. Here you will find the lobby, reception, gift shop, restaurant, bar and wrap-around veranda.

Dining indoors or on the veranda overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Delicious menu rich in fresh seafood, healthy, light dishes and international cuisine with a Caribbean twist. Fresh bread and pastries baked daily. Scrumptious desserts served. Try our fruit salsa or ceviche!

Cozy bar with comfortable furnishings ideal for relaxing. Fine wines, champagne, spirits and fresh tropical drinks available.
Curved, freshwater infinity pool with brick decking. Beach chairs, hammocks and beach towels provided.

Lush gardens bursting with tropical flowers, shrubs, orchids and fruit trees. Enjoy hummingbirds and butterflies playfully darting amongst the explosion of colors.
Swaying palms and soft Caribbean breezes will enliven your Belize honeymoon. Ask for a bottle of fine champagne to accompany your beachside stargazing!
Full service Belize scuba diving and snorkeling center with full line of rental equipment and boats.

Professionally trained guides eager to unlock Belize’s many mysteries and wonders for you!

Check their site here