In this round of our review of mega-companies earnings call transcripts, there seem to be two clear winners: "emerging markets" and agriculture.

In particular, China is "back" (if it ever went away...), and Mexico and Brazil are well down the path of creating a buoyant middle class.

And within ag, extreme weather conditions are forcing farmers to make new purchases and adjust their production methods.

But the rest of the world faces a cloudy 2013.

We compiled earnings transcripts from Bloomberg and selected the juiciest portions for your consumption.

Tupperware is trying to adapt to the exploding middle class in Mexico.

"...product-wise, on really moving to separate ourselves from the discount beauty company there, rebranding it more with our Armand Dupree lining, and moving towards higher priced products, and less discounting. That's going to take time, but we're committed to that strategy. It's the right margin and the right image. As you grow a middle class, she doesn't aspire for beauty products that are discounted, she inspires to pullout a tube of lipstick and for her friends to see it, they would say, wow, I'm not poor anymore. That's what middle class becomes in these markets."

Source: Bloomberg/Company Transcript

3M also really likes LatAm.

"On a geographic basis, Latin America/Canada was once again our fastest growing region, with organic local currency growth of 9.7%. This performance was broad based, with all six of our businesses generating positive organic growth in the region, including double-digit increases in Health Care; Safety, Security and Protection Services; Consumer and Office; and Electro and Communications. Brazil and Mexico both posted impressive results. Brazil grew 11% organically in the face of a still recovering economy, and Mexico grew 10%.”

Source: Bloomberg/Company Transcript

Caterpillar hopes the Fed keeps pumping.

“In the United States, we’re becoming increasingly optimistic. The Fed’s interest rate policies and their plan to continue injecting liquidity are in our view positive for 2013 growth. We’re expecting the U.S. economy to grow at least 2.5% in 2013. Now that’s not what any of us would consider a robust level of growth, but it certainly than what we – better than what we saw in the second half of 2012. We expect U.S. housing industry to help the economy in 2013, and we’ve all seen the positive news items related to housing over the past few months.”

Source: Bloomberg/Company Transcript

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When Wesley Klein started baking bacon banana bread and bacon chocolate chip cookies at his home in 2011, he knew he had stumbled onto something big.

Jump right to photos of our bakery tour and taste test >>

"For a couple of months, I would bring my creations into work once a week," said Klein, a former Best Buy manager. "Some stuff worked, some stuff didn't, but [my coworkers] loved it. Baconery took off from there."

Since his first makeshift test kitchen experiments, the menu at the Baconery on New York's Upper West Side hasn't changed very much. Most of the core items that Klein first baked for coworkers in 2011 are still on the menu, like those chocolate chip bacon cookies and the beloved thick-cut bacon dipped in high-quality chocolate.

That hasn't stopped the menu from expanding into seasonal and monthly specials though, including the latest Valentine's Day treats like marshmallow hearts with bacon sprinkles, red velvet bacon cake balls, and chocolate-covered bacon with "naughty" phrases.

But it's not all sweets and pastries at Baconery. On Saturdays, Klein and his team are already planning to expand their Saturday bacon mac and cheese nights to an all-weekend affair, and their monthly caramel apple bacon doughnuts to a weekend morning pick-me-up.

"Our fan base has definitely grown. We get a lot of regular local and international press, and of course we have our repeat customers," Klein explains.

All that press — from features on the Travel Channel to The New York Times— has definitely paid off. This weekend alone, the Baconery staff will be working non-stop to fill more than 100 orders for Valentine's Day. The company also has plans to build a worldwide franchise on their salty-sweet products and hopes to become a recognized brand on store shelves with bacon ice cream and bacon cookies.

So with all this hype and Valentine's Day just around the corner, we had to see the specialty bacon bakery for ourselves. And after visiting with Wesley Klein and trying all his bacon sweets, we have to agree with him: "Life is just better with bacon."

Welcome to the Baconery Café, up on 105th and Columbus on New York's UWS.

The inside is small, but bursting with personality. Note the bacon tables, pillows, framed bacon art, and bacon carpet leading you towards (what else?) the bacon.

As you can tell, they take bacon VERY seriously. Check out their Rules of Bacon.

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African soccer is plagued of corruption and violence. 

But every two years, the continent comes together to throw a massive international tournament called the Africa Cup of Nations that features some of the best players in the world.

AFCON looks like no other sporting event on Earth. Many fans dress in elaborate costumes, and the games seem almost secondary to the pageantry surrounding them.

It's a sporting event, but also a celebration.

A Burkina Faso watches his team play the massively favored Ghana team in the semifinals

Ghana is one of the best teams in Africa, and has players who play at the top club teams in Europe

But upsets happen routinely in this tournament. Tiny Zambia won the last AFCON

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Governments — from sovereign nations to states and localities — are measured on their ability to manage their finances and pay back what they owe.

In issuing credit ratings, agencies such as Standard & Poor's 500 index evaluate criteria such as financial management, budgetary performance, and debts and liabilities.

S&P 500 assesses the creditworthiness of each state by looking at the framework of state government and the state's economy.

Various measures are added up, and the state receives a credit rating, which could be as high as a perfect AAA, and continues down through AA, A and A-.

A state with one of the lower ratings will find that it will cost more to borrow money through the sale of bonds, and economic growth may be constrained in the future.

For state governments, credit ratings reflect the ability to pay debts and the strength of the state's economy. A lower rating typically forces a state to pay higher interest costs on the debt securities known as general obligation bonds.

Thirteen states currently earn Standard & Poor's 500 index's highest possible credit rating, and another 31 are in the middle of the pack. Now, see the sagging six at the lower end of the scale.

California: A-

In 2009, California's credit rating fell to the lowest in the nation on the S&P 500 scale, from A+ to A, as a result of a budget deficit reaching into the billions. In January 2010, California's credit rating was cut even further, this time from A to A-. S&P 500 apparently saw signs of improvement in February 2012, when it upgraded California's financial outlook from stable to positive.

Illinois: A+

In December 2009, S&P 500 downgraded Illinois to A+ from AA- as a result of stubborn budget problems. In March 2012, the credit ratings agency announced that Illinois' rating could fall by another several notches as a result of budget imbalances and unfunded pension liabilities. S&P 500 followed up with another threat in June.

Arizona: AA-

Arizona's credit rating was downgraded in 2009 to AA- from AA as a result of the housing crisis and constitutional limits on the state's ability to raise revenue. But things are looking up: In December 2011, S&P 500 raised Arizona's outlook from negative to stable as the state ended the year in the black with tax collections exceeding estimates.

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Everyone's freaking out about horse meat after it was recently found in Burger King burgers and UK frozen beef lasagnas.

While there are health concerns associated with these surprise findings, horse meat is actually a pretty traditional cuisine made all around the world.

From eating raw horse meat to getting drunk off horse milk, take a look through real horse dishes from around the world.

You can find horse meat sashimi in Japan

Source: NYT

Horse meat rice noodles are a staple dish in Guilin, Guangxi, China

Source: Guangxi Travel

In Slovenia, there's actually a fast food chain called Hot Horse that serves 'Horseburgers'

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Snow from a powerful Nor'easter started to coat parts of the Northeast Friday morning. Some places got rain, others sleet and snow. As the day grows colder, though, most places north of New York City will switch over to snow. It's already happened in New York City.

The heaviest accumulations are expected overnight; the storm could drop two to four inches per hour at its peak.

Here are some pictures from the storm so far.  

Huge traffic lines form as residents rush to stock up on food and supplies as the storm arrives in Newington, N.H. on Friday, Feb. 8.

A warning sign flashes for motorists on the expressway into Boston as snow starts to fall early Friday. Boston will likely see more than 2 feet of snow.

Supermarket shelves were decimated as people prepare for the worst ahead of the storm in Somerville, Mass.

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When someone wants to tell you a story about a recent customer experience, it usually tends to be more Tales from the Crypt than Happily Ever After.

But that’s not to say good service isn’t out there.

Here are 11 companies that will restore your faith – at least temporarily.

Man returned an iPad with a note, "Wife says no." Apple said "yes," and gave it back to him –– for free.

This one may be a rumor, but the story was all over the place with the launch of the iPad 2 last year.

Apparently a man bought an iPad online, then returned it to the company almost immediately, affixing a Post-It to the front of the device that simply read, “Wife said no.”

Returns processors must have gotten a kick out of it, because the story eventually made its way to a couple of Apple VPs, who refunded the customer and returned the iPad with an attached Post-It that said, “Apple said yes.” If it is a rumor, perhaps Apple should take note with the upcoming iPad 3 launch.

A guy jokingly tweeted Mortons Steakhouse to deliver a porterhouse when he landed at the airport. They delivered.

In August, author and business consultant Peter Shankman was getting ready to board a flight that was the last leg of a long day of traveling. It just happened to occur over dinnertime, and he knew he would be starving when he deplaned and headed home. “Hey, @Mortons – can you meet me at newark airport with a porterhouse when I land in two hours? K, thanks. :)”

Imagine his surprise when he got off the plane to find a tuxedoed gentleman holding a bag that contained a 24 oz. Morton’s porterhouse, shrimp, potatoes, bread, napkins and silverware. Shankman noted that the Tweet had to be noticed, someone had to get approval for the idea, a cook had to make his food, the food had to be driven 23.5 miles away from the nearest Morton’s, and someone had to track down his flight information and figure out where he was landing to meet him at the right location. All while his stomach was grumbling on a 2.5-hour flight. Pretty impressive.

A 3-year-old suggested Sainsbury's rename its "tiger bread" to "giraffe bread." So they did.

Sainsbury’s, a grocery store in the U.K., must have been pretty amused when they received a letter from a three-year-old girl named Lily.

“Why is tiger bread called tiger bread?” she asked, referring to one of their bakery items. “It should be called giraffe bread.”

Lily was just being observant – the pattern on the bread does resemble a giraffe more than a tiger. To everyone’s surprise, Chris King, a customer service manager at the chain, responded. “I think renaming tiger bread giraffe bread is a brilliant idea – it looks much more like the blotches on a giraffe than the stripes on a tiger, doesn’t it? It is called tiger bread because the first baker who made it a looong time ago thought it looked stripey like a tiger. Maybe they were a bit silly.” He enclosed a gift card, and the bread was renamed earlier this year.

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With Valentine's Day less than a week away, it's time to get a restaurant reservation on the calendar, if you haven't already.

The food-loving editors at Zagat shared their picks for must-try romantic restaurants in 10 major cities around the country, giving us two options in each place.

These romantic restaurants are definitely worth a visit, on Valentine's Day or for any other special occasion.

ATLANTA: Canoe

4199 Paces Ferry Road

Food: 27
Service: 27
Cost: $50

Chef Carvel Gould serves up exceptional food at this upscale restaurant overlooking the Chattahoochee River. Prices are high, but the service and setting make it worth your while.

ATLANTA: Bacchanalia

1198 Howell Mill Road

Food: 29
Service: 28
Cost: $111

Consistently one of the top-rated restaurants in Atlanta, this New American hotspot has a great wine list, stellar staff, and retro-chic interior.

AUSTIN: Peche

208 W. 4th Street

Food: 24
Service: 21
Cost: $38

Order a retro-style cocktail made with absinthe while you dine on seasonal French cuisine at this trendy restaurant in Austin's Warehouse District.

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Every small-town tough guy thinks he'd never take treatment like this.

Then when they get down to Parris Island, that small-town tough guy quickly realizes: You will take treatment like this and like it.

Welcome to a behind-the-scenes look at Marine Corps recruit training. Drill Instructors are the thing of legend — I remember, when they finally let us sleep for the first time, about 50 truly harrowing hours from the time we arrived, and those lights shut out, each of us in our racks, I heard a decent handful of grown men crying for their mothers.

I'm not even joking.

Like I said, the thing of legend. These guys spend 13 weeks crushing every undisciplined aspect of a recruit's body into dust.

Their faces are priceless, and at times it takes everything you've got not to laugh.

Showing emotion is strictly forbidden though — Marines call this 'bearing,' and they are regularly graded on it.

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He's the Commander in Chief of the world's most powerful military, head of his political party, and leader of the free world. His decisions can help quell a crisis or trigger war, and his words will be heard across the globe.

He's the President of the United States, and he's got the world's toughest job.

Plans and schedules can change in a heartbeat when a crisis happens, so there is no "typical day" for the President. Every day yields new challenges.

But if all goes well for the President on a normal day in Washington, D.C., he'll get about six hours of sleep before he starts it all over again. 

The President wakes up pretty early, but his routine usually includes a morning workout before heading into the office.

Source: NBC News

He arrives at the Oval Office between 8:30 and 9 a.m., and gets a rundown on the day's schedule from his personal secretary Anita Decker.

Source: NBC News

At around 10 a.m., he receives the classified Presidential Daily Briefing from his National Security Advisor. Sometimes the briefing is delivered via tablet.

Source: White House

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Some brands, like Virgin, have done a great job extending their brand. It's gone from music, to airlines, to trains.

Not all companies are that good at starting new lines, however.

The iced tea company Arizona, for example, should probably have stuck to its delicious beverages instead of dabbling in the dip market. 

Parham Santana, a brand extension consultancy, took a poll of 11,000 Adweek readers who were asked to pick their top three from a list of 10 best and worst identified by Parham Santana.

According to John Parham, president of the company. “A successful and lasting brand extension franchise must have three things: a logical fit with the parent brand; leverage for competitive advantage, and; opportunity to enhance the brand and produce sales.”

None of these brands had these.

Virgin Water Purifier: 229 votes

Richard Branson should stick to airlines, and mobile, and anything but this, basically. You can still buy these online. They went on sale last May.

Samsonite Outerwear: 409 votes

This hasn't launched yet. Set be be released this fall.

Smith & Wesson Apparel: 556 votes

People like their guns, not their clothing. You can buy these for upward of $80 on the S&W website. These have been on sale since 2006.

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China's TV watchdog, State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has ordered all radio and television channels to cut advertisements that promote corrupt "gift giving". From Xinhua:

"Ads on some channels have encouraged people to give gifts like luxury watches, rare stamps and gold coins, which has publicized incorrect values and helped create a bad social ethos, according to a circular issued by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT)."

While it isn't clear which commercials could be targeted, some luxury brands have seen their stocks decline on the news.

In light of that, we curated a few luxury commercials via Jing Daily and local sites like Youku that air China.

Note: It isn't clear if these commercials will be banned. China hasn't released a list of commercials that is targeting.

Burberry released this commercial ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday.

Source: Jing Daily

Cartier's Destinee commercial starring Michelle Chen appears to be targeted at Mainland Chinese tourists.

Source: Cartier

This commercial coincided with the opening of the Swaroski's 'sparkling secrets' exhibition in Shanghai.

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Deep in the California desert exists a strange, lawless town, where folks live without running water, yet create outdoor art installations and host concerts.

Jump ahead to see the strangest towns >

Slab City, CA, is unafraid to embrace its quirks, and it’s one of a rare breed of towns that draw travelers for their novelty factor at a time when the world feels increasingly homogeneous, teeming with high-rises and chain stores.

After all, we’re not talking about just an offbeat tourist attraction; these places take strange to a whole new level.

Consider Thames Town: the Chinese knack for knockoffs has spawned this full-on replica of an English town in a suburb of Shanghai, complete with cobblestoned streets and red phone booths. Have a pint at the pub, post the photo to Facebook, and your friends will be none the wiser.

In upstate New York, Lily Dale is odd in an entirely different way, attracting an outsize population of mediums and psychics who claim to reconnect with the afterlife. Steven Cantor, who directed the recent HBO documentary No One Dies in Lily Dale, tried to capture the town’s peculiar energy.

“There are dozens of psychic mediums strolling the grounds, doling out messages from the beyond, particularly during regularly scheduled, immensely popular group sessions centered around an old tree stump, which they believe to be a vortex of spiritual energy,” says Cantor. “It’s something you have to see to believe.”

That sentiment applies to each of the strange towns that made our list, perhaps most of all Elista, a Russian town almost as passionate about chess—an enormous board covers much of the town square—as it is about Buddhism.

If you’re inspired to go hunting for the unusual, you may not have to look far. Just outside of Tampa, FL, there’s a town popular with retiring performers who keep circus trailers and elephants on their lawns. Your hometown might even take inspiration from a place in Australia that went to unconventional means to put itself on the tourist map—by covering its buildings in dozens of murals.

While every town has a story, these strange spots have the best punch lines. 

See the world's strangest towns >

More from Travel + Leisure:

World's Best Beach Hotels

World's Most Romantic Islands

Best Carnival Celebrations Around The World

Best Affordable All-Inclusive Resorts

T+L's World's Best

Longyearbyen, Norway

There is no dying allowed in this remote Arctic town—well, you can die, but you can’t be buried here.

You heard that right: no body has been buried in the local cemetery in almost a hundred years.

Why? The perpetually frigid temperatures prohibit corpses from properly decomposing. Following the influenza epidemic of 1917, Longyearbyen banned burials in the town’s graveyard.

The local polar bear population rivals the human one, and it’s not abnormal for the townspeople to shoot a bear in self-defense (hunting is illegal).

Even after a polar bear takes its last breath in this mining town, it must also be sent away for its final resting spot.

Monowi, NE

Everyone in town knows the name Elsie Eiler, and it’s not just because she’s the mayor—she’s the sole resident.

The population had been diminishing since the 1930s, when this northern Nebraskan town had 150 residents, and by 2000, it was down to one couple: Elsie and her husband, Rudy, who has since passed away.

Now in her mid-70s, Eiler serves beer at the Monowi Tavern (with an official liquor license) and turned her late husband’s collection of 5,000 books into a one-room public library.

Elista, Russia

The king is threatened daily in this Russian town because here, it’s all about chess.

Play a game on the enormous chessboard painted on the ground in the Town Square or head to Chess City, a domed complex that hosted the 1998 Chess Olympiad.

Indeed, some of the world’s finest chess players have paid a visit to Elista, which is the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia.

Its other strange claim to fame is being the only Buddhist region in Europe; Elista’s chess complex includes a museum of Buddhist art.

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Some of us will be stuck inside while this blizzard goes about its business this weekend.

Instead of watching boring TV reruns, why not engage your brain a bit and check out some iPad board games?

Catan HD

The aim of the game: You need to be the first player to accumulate 10 "victory points" as you build roads and cities while harvesting resources from the unsettled island of Catan.

Difficulty to learn: Medium. The tutorial gets everyone started quickly enough.

Will you play it by yourself after the storm? We think so – the AI is good enough to keep you interested and an online multiplayer function is in the works.

Price:$5

Monopoly

The aim of the game: Buy property and bankrupt your opponent – it's the classic Monopoly game.

Difficulty to learn: Medium.

Will you play it by yourself after the storm? Yes. It's timeless.

Price:$10

Ticket to Ride

The aim of the game: Draw cards that tell you which cities to connect via rail. At the end of the game, you'll get a 10 point bonus for having the longest track. But keep in mind your opponent is trying to cut you off and beat you to locations.

Difficulty to learn: Easy! Just follow the tutorial.

Will you play it by yourself after the storm? Yes -- there are a few expansion packs available as in-app purchases that will hold your attention for a good while.

Price:$7

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To determine the most important player on every NBA team, we looked at which players change their teams the most when they are on the court.

Using the basketball stats site 82games.com, we found these on court/off court stats, and the results were pretty surprising.

Generally, the most important players on the really good teams are the stars, and the most important players on the bad teams are role players.

*To be eligible, players had to play at least 50% of their available minutes.

Atlanta Hawks: Kyler Korver (+9.6 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court)

Salary: $5 million (6th on team)

Stats: 11.5 ppg, 46.4% from three, 14.69 PER

Source: 82games

Boston Celtics: Kevin Garnett (+3.9 points per 100 possessions)

Salary: $12.5 million (2nd on team)

Stats: 15.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 19.49 PER

Source: 82games

Brooklyn Nets: Joe Johnson (+17.2 points per 100 possessions)

Salary: $19.7 million (1st on team)

Stats: 16.8 ppg, 3.5 apg, 14.35 PER

Source: 82games

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What can we expect at the 55th annual Grammy awards show this Sunday night on CBS? Traditionally there is no tradition here.

A show composed of musicians not actors tends to be the most "spontaneous" of the awards season. The Grammy red carpet has always been more outrageous than its Oscar counterpart – remember Lady Gaga in the egg? Performances can be unplugged or unscripted. Remember Kanye? It can feature unexpected singers. Remember Gwyneth and Cee Lo Green?

This is a show that rarely drags and is filled with color. Here are some things to look for.

1. Costumes will be much more subdued—no "thong-type" costumes allowed.

Costumes can be completely out there, but they have to be on YOU. CBS issued you a wardrobe guide for everyone appearing on camera on Sunday night.

No commercial endorsements, no plugs for any causes on your t-shirts or anywhere else. But the best part is the paragraph that deals with decency which we share with you in its entirety.

"Please be sure that buttocks and female breasts are adequately covered. Thong type costumes are problematic. Please avoid exposing bare fleshy under curves of the buttocks and buttock crack. Bare sides or under curvature of the breasts is also problematic. Please avoid sheer see-through clothing that could possibly expose female breast nipples. Please be sure the genital region is adequately covered so that there is no visible "puffy" bare skin exposure."

2. The Sandy Hook elementary school choir will perform.

They appeared at the Super Bowl singing America the Beautiful with Jennifer Hudson. Now they're back with the song of last summer, Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe.

Choir director Sabrina Post describes the children's public performances this way:

"This opportunity to do something positive lets the kids know that although a lot of things happen in our world that are not pleasant, like this that happened with us in Newtown, there are many giving people and wonderful things that can come out of life, so don't get discouraged."

3. Justin Timberlake might perform an unreleased song.

Not Bieber but Timberlake. Timberlake will be performing at the Grammys for the first time since 2009 (when he stepped in at the last minute to sing Let's Stay Together with Al Green after Chris Brown and Rihanna dropped out.)

Fans are hoping he'll sing the newly released soul single Suit & Tie, featuring Jay-Z, but word from the Grammy people is that he sent them something newer that he's considering.

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Last month, a survey conducted by Money Talks News revealed the No. 1 most-wanted gift for Valentine’s Day isn’t chocolates or flowers. It’s a romantic date.

According to another recent survey by CreditDonkey, males plan to spend an average of $85 on their Valentine’s dates this year, while women plan on spending less than $50.

But spending time with your significant other doesn’t have to come with a high price.

Here are 14 ideas to make your love life richer without making yourself poorer.

1. Museums

History, science, art, oh my! Show your cultured side by hitting a museum. Maybe you have one of the best near you.

No nearby museums? Shoot for a local art gallery.

2. Games

Nothing like a little friendly competition. Crack open Monopoly, Scrabble (not the kind on your phone), or a deck of cards and compete with your significant other.

Of course, a few friendly wagers – let your imagination run wild – will add to the fun.

3. Thrifting

Shopping is always fun, unless you’re short on cash. Thrifting, however, isn’t just shopping, it’s about finding that diamond in the rough.

Look for antiques, early-edition books, knick-knacks, or quaint furniture. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even find a fur coat like Macklemore’s.

Set a small budget and impress your date with your treasure-hunting skills, or have a competition for tackiest gift.

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With incredible designer interiors and glamorous settings, these exceptional hotel bars provide some of the world's most stylish and sophisticated drinking addresses.

Ayana Resort & Spa's Rock Bar, Bali

Drinking at Ayana Resort & Spa's Rock Bar in Bali is a dramatic experience.

Guests access the waterfront bar, which is positioned at the bottom of a cliff face, by cable car and can hear the waves crash once settled at their tables.

Visiting at dusk is recommended as sunsets are often spectacular.

Ayana Resort

Beaufort Bar, Savoy Hotel, London

The Savoy Hotel in London was instrumental in developing the cocktail — you can read about the history of that enduringly popular beverage here — and as a result its long-standing American Bar continues to draw crowds.

More appealing, however, is the hotel's newer Beaufort Bar. Dramatically decorated in black and burnished gold, the venue specialises in cocktails and rare champagnes, and cabaret and music performances are often held in the intimate space.

Savoy Hotel

La Purificadora, Puebla, Mexico

The bar at La Purificadora hotel in Puebla, Mexico, does its best to cater to as many customer desires as possible.

It's on the roof; it's open air; there's a nice view of historic buildings; it was designed by Ricardo Legorreta, one of Mexico's most famed architects; and, of course, it flanks a glass-walled swimming pool ideal for guests who fancy a dip between rounds.

La Purificadora

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The Chinese New Year, also referred to as the Lunar New Year, begins on February 10 and the Chinese have begun preparing for the festival at home and in Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and India. 

China is witnessing "chunyun" or a 40-day migration of students and migrant workers to their home for the New Year holiday.

This year marks the year of the snake. Analysts will be watching the spending patterns of consumers to gauge the economic recovery in China.

Everyone else will be watching the celebrations.

Millions of Chinese travel from cities to their homes for the Chinese Lunar New Year that begins February 10.

Source: Voice of America

The annual spring migration is called "chunyun" and is said to last 40 days.

Source: Voice of America

There are expected to be 210 million trips made by train, 29 million by plane, and 820,000 buses operating during the rush.

Source: CCTV

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The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which will be on newsstands next week, debuted in 1964 as a five page supplement meant to increase readership during the winter sports lull after the Super Bowl.

The very first cover featured a model in a conservative, non-revealing bikini. The photo was shot at a wide angle, almost focusing more on the beach background than the model.

Throughout the '60s, '70s, and '80s, the covers remained fairly tame; they generally featured a beautiful model wearing a bathing suit any young woman would wear to the beach.

In the '90s and 2000s, a trend began. The models started wearing less and less, and the camera focused more and more on their bodies, and less on the surrounding scene.

Here's the first swimsuit cover from 1964. The bathing suit is hardly revealing and the camera angle is wide

A few years later in 1969, the model wore a skirt over her bikini and someone else was in the background of the shot

In 1970, the model wore a very conservative long sleeve top

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