Brain Noodle http://brainnoodle.com Home, Health, Tech News, Travel, and more... Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:59:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 en More Than Just Coffee http://brainnoodle.com/more-than-just-coffee/ http://brainnoodle.com/more-than-just-coffee/#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:45:23 +0000 Ray http://brainnoodle.com/?p=32
You might know coffee as the brown stuff that wakes you up each morning, but coffee is a lot more exciting than many other products that come in a can.

Here are some fun things you might not know about coffee:

- According to legend, an Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi discovered the coffee bean. Kaldi noticed that his goats started dancing after eating the red berries of the coffee shrub, so he began eating the berries - and dancing - himself.

- Like Japan’s tea ceremonies, in Ethiopia, the women perform elaborate coffee ceremonies to honor guests. Ethiopian women begin by roasting the coffee beans - the ceremony can take up to two hours. Ethiopians don’t mind taking strong coffee in the evening. They believe coffee’s energizing effects are mostly psychological.

- Coffee doesn’t just mean a morning mug - American consumers can purchase coffee liqueurs, coffee-filled candies and chocolate-covered espresso beans. One company even makes “Magic Power Coffee” (www.magicpowercoffee.com) - a beverage guaranteed to induce romance. The first product of its kind, it is specially formulated for both men and women to increase sexual pleasure.

- Howard Schultz, the founder and CEO of Starbucks, modeled his business on Italian espresso bars, but Americans traveling abroad will have a hard time ordering a quad venti pumpkin spice mocha in Rome. In Italy, cappuccinos weigh between six and eight ounces - Starbucks’ venti size is 20 ounces. And no respectable Italian drinks anything but straight espresso after noon.

- Coffee is the world’s most popular beverage and its second largest commodity after oil.

- There are two main types of coffee beans grown today - arabica beans and robusta beans. Arabica beans are generally considered more flavorful, smooth and aromatic.

- The most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Lupak, is made from coffee beans that have passed through the digestive tract of a cat-sized mammal called the Asian Palm Civet. It sells for anywhere between $120 and $600 per pound.

- In the U.S. and its territories, only Hawaii and Puerto Rico grow coffee.

source-newsusa.com

]]> http://brainnoodle.com/more-than-just-coffee/feed/ Sell Your Car Yourself and Get a Much Better Deal http://brainnoodle.com/sell-your-car-yourself-and-get-a-much-better-deal/ http://brainnoodle.com/sell-your-car-yourself-and-get-a-much-better-deal/#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:28:37 +0000 Ray http://brainnoodle.com/?p=29
With the economy weighing heavy on the minds of consumers, one way that auto shoppers can save money is by selling their car themselves. While trading in a car is an easy option, consumers will typically get more money on their trade-in by selling their car on their own. And while the process takes some effort, some consumers who have been hit hard by the economy might want to give it a try.

Cars.com, a leading destination for online car shoppers, shares these tips to sell a car yourself:

- Clean your car thoroughly. Wash and wax the exterior, remove all interior and trunk clutter, vacuum and wipe down all interior surfaces and clean all the windows. Spring for professional detailing if you need to save time.

- Replace burnt-out lights or fuses, and top off all fluid levels.

- Get a vehicle history report to present to potential buyers. Reports provide credibility and help build trust. Reports from Carfax are available on Cars.com, but you can also find other services online.

- If you keep detailed inspection records, prepare itemized copies, with service receipts, for prospective buyers. This will show that you’ve kept up with maintenance and will suggest you’re selling a reliable vehicle.

- Many buyers will want to have your car inspected by a mechanic of their choice. You may want to have your own mechanic inspect the car prior to placing the ad, in order to avoid potential surprises closer to sale.

- You could also have your car inspected by a third-party service. These companies inspect your car at your home or office and independently verify its description and general status. These services cost around $100.

- Make a copy of your vehicle title in preparation for the sale. If you don’t have the title, call your lending institution and ask them to send it to you with a lien release. If you paid off the loan years ago and the lending institution no longer exists, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (888-206-4662) can help you obtain your title.

source- newsusa.com

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