Academy Decides on the World´s 50 Best Restaurants

A list compiled by The World´s 50 Best Restaurants Academy shows the best places to eat. Among others the list contains restaurants in Denmark, the US, Spain, Germany, France and Italy.

On top of the list ranks "Noma" in Copenhagen, Denmark, which only serves food that can be found in the Nordic region. "El Bulli" in Spain, which ranks in second place, was the winner in the last four years.

The United States is the most honored country this year with eight restaurants in the list. The best one in the US is supposed to be "Alinea" in Chicago, Illinois.

Guided Questions:
http://tutormichioquestionwall.blogspot.com/2010/06/academy-decides-on-worlds-50-best.html

Resources:
http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83936

Make It Easier to Get Paid and Pay Employees

Businesses that pay attention to customers’ payment preferences should note trends and consider incorporating new technologies into their payment processes. For example, PIN-debit transactions grew 11.8% this January compared with January 2009, according to First Data’s January 2010 Spend Trend Report. Small businesses that don’t offer PIN-debit could upgrade their point-of-sale systems or add a peripheral device to offer this payment option.

Below are several other examples of commonly overlooked items that small business owners looking for ways to improve the bottom line should consider:

1. Point of Sale. Finding the right point-of-sale systems can mean greater flexibility in accepting payments and being ready for innovations in payments—potentially lowering infrastructure costs, decreasing customer wait times, and making transaction processing more reliable and secure.

2. Payroll. Direct deposit is a convenient way for employees to receive their pay, but millions of Americans still receive paper checks. Switching to electronic payroll distribution can significantly reduce payroll costs while giving employees easier access to their wages though a payroll card or self-issued check.

3. Paper Checks. Businesses can accept checks through their Web sites or convert them to electronic transactions at the point of sale or in a back office, allowing for quicker deposits and improved cash flow with faster funding. Additional benefits include quick insufficient-fund notices and enhanced security with electronic check processing.

Mark Herrington
General Manager, Retail Solutions
First Data
Atlanta

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/tips/archives/2010/04/make_it_easier.html

Rival doughnut makers open outlets in Osaka

OSAKA —

Two rival doughnut makers—Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc of the United States and the Japanese operator of doughnut chain Mister Donut—open their first outlets in the Kansai region on Thursday, setting up a battle in the sweet-tooth market.

Krispy Kreme, which will serve crispy hot doughnuts at prices ranging from 160 to 200 yen, gave a preview of its Shinsaibashi outlet in Osaka’s Chuo Ward, which will become the U.S. doughnut maker’s 14th outlet in Japan since it entered the Japanese market in December 2006.

It will hand out pouches to the first 500 customers on the opening day to celebrate the outlet’s launch.

‘‘We want to create a doughnut boom (in the Kansai region),’’ a Krispy Kreme official said.

The Osaka outlet will also serve doughnuts featuring smiling faces, as an emblem of the local people’s renowned sense of humor.

Duskin Co also gave a media preview of its Cafe Andonand outlet in Chuo Ward that will offer premium doughnuts at 180 to around 400 yen, double the prices of those served at its Mister Donut outlets.

The Namba-Sennichimae shop will be the sixth Cafe Andonand outlet since Duskin first opened its premium doughnut cafe in 2007 in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward.

‘‘We will offer a cafe with a mature atmosphere and relaxing interior different from Mister Donut,’’ a Duskin official said.

Guided Questions:
http://tutormichioquestionwall.blogspot.com/2010/06/rival-doughnut-makers-open-outlets-in.html

Resources:
http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/rival-doughnut-makers-to-open-outlets-in-osaka

JAL to cut more flights, retire planes earlier

Japan Airlines Corp., undergoing a government-backed turnaround in bankruptcy, said Wednesday it will increase route cuts and retire planes earlier than planned in a bid to return to profit.

The carrier will cut 15 overseas and 30 domestic flights this business year, compared with an earlier plan to slash 31 routes over three years, President Masaru Onishi said at a news conference in Tokyo. Chairman Kazuo Inamori was also present.

The airline will stop flying to Sao Paulo, Amsterdam, Rome and Milan from Tokyo starting Sept. 30, the company said.

The 30 domestic flight routes to be terminated from Oct. 30 include those to and from Aichi Prefecture-run Nagoya airport, Hiroshima-Nishi airport in Hiroshima, Okadama airport in Sapporo and Okushiri airport on the island of Okushiri off Hokkaido, JAL said.

As JAL works out the details of its rehabilitation measures,including the route cuts, the government-backed turnaround body said the airline's submission of its turnaround plan to the Tokyo District Court may be delayed from the initial target of late June.

Hideo Seto, trustee of the Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp. of Japan, which is overseeing the airline's turnaround, told the news conference there is a "likelihood that (the submission) will be slightly delayed" to enable JAL to come up with a "firm" and "effective" turnaround plan.

Asia's largest carrier by sales said it will carry out "drastic cuts" in costs in one year rather than three years to speed its turnaround after filing for Japan's fourth-largest bankruptcy in January. Political opposition may still limit how deeply JAL can pare flights, said Mitsushige Akino of Ichiyoshi Investment Management Co.

"JAL is likely to face local opposition to cutting routes," he said. "They should really stop flying internationally if they want to stop big swings in their earnings."

Earlier this month, Onishi told reporters in Los Angeles that the airline may increase job cuts to return to profit.

JAL was headed for a fifth annual decline in international passenger numbers, according to figures released April 12. Overseas traveler numbers fell 8.6 percent in the 11 months to February, following a 12 percent drop in the previous fiscal year.

It will retire its Boeing Co. 747s and Airbus SAS A300 planes by March 31, according to the statement. It had planned to retire the 37 Boeing 747s over three years under the turnaround plan released in January.

The carrier, which was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange in February, predicted it would lose money in the 12 months that ended March 31. It had a net loss of ¥46.8 billion in the three months ended Dec. 31, compared with a loss of ¥39 billion a year earlier.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20100429n1.html

Sleeping Is Life’s Greatest Pleasure

British people have voted a good night's sleep as life's "greatest little pleasure". The Batchelors Cup-A-Soup company conducted a survey into what gave Britons most pleasure. Bed activities filled four of the top ten spots. Cuddling a loved one in bed came third, having a lie-in was fifth and sleeping in freshly-washed sheets sixth. Finding £10 ($16) in your pocket was life’s second greatest pleasure for Brits. Also in the top ten were crying with laughter, making someone smile and catching up with an old friend. There were plenty of things in the list that most people around the world would agree with. These include realizing that your queue in the supermarket is the one moving fastest, and at number 50, popping bubble wrap.

Bachelors spokesman Rob Stacey gave his thoughts on the findings of the survey, which 3,000 Britons did. He said: "It's often the little things that brighten up life, like getting into bed after a long day. You can't beat that feeling.” Mr. Stacey observed that almost all of the things in the top fifty didn’t need money. He stated: “Often the little gestures such as a quick cuddle or a compliment can really help to cheer someone up if they are having a bad day, and can even be more welcome than splashing out on expensive presents.” He added that it was “often the smaller things that can make a big difference”. Stacey may be happy that curling up on the sofa with a good book and a hot drink (or soup) came thirteenth in the poll.

http://breakingnewsenglish.com/1001/100102-lifes_greatest_pleasures.html

Internet Access Is A Human Right

Most of the world’s Internet users believe Internet access is a basic human right. This is according to a new poll conducted for the BBC. A survey of more than 27,000 adults in 26 different countries found four out of five people believed access to the World Wide Web was a right everyone in the world needs and should have. The chief of the International Telecommunication Union, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, told the BBC World Service: "The right to communicate cannot be ignored. The Internet is the most powerful potential source of enlightenment ever created." Dr. Toure believes online access should be available everywhere, just like roads and water. In some countries, this has already happened. Finland and Estonia have laws saying access is a human right.

The survey also showed how the Internet is quickly becoming a vital part of our life, all across the world. Over 75 per cent of Japanese, Mexican and Russian people said they could not live without it. It is easy to see why. Almost everything we do in our life today, from communication, study, work and leisure, needs the Internet. Without access to the Web, many people would feel helpless and powerless. Almost 80 per cent of those who took the survey believe the Web had a positive impact, with nearly four fifths saying they have greater freedom. Other people were worried about the dangers of using the Internet. One big surprise was that the majority of Germans felt it was not safe for them to express their opinions online.

http://breakingnewsenglish.com/1003/100309-internet_access.html

Researcher Shows Time Can Fly

Does time fly or does it go slowly? We’ve all had experiences of wanting time to pass quicker, slow down or even stop. The BBC has reported on research on the speed time travels at. Its reporter Tom Colls discusses a study conducted by researchers at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, USA. Lead researcher Professor Aaron Sackett found he could make people feel that time was going more slowly and more quickly than it really was. Professor Sacket said there was a strong link between the feeling of time passing and levels of enjoyment. He said he showed that time really does fly when you’re having fun. “We could manipulate people's feelings of time quite easily," he said.

The BBC’s article provides an analysis of how scientists have looked at time throughout history. The most famous scientist they include is Albert Einstein. He said time is simply something in our minds. Professor John Wearden, a time psychologist at Britain’s Keele University said it was difficult to analyze how time goes by. He said most people think time goes fast and slowly. As an example he quotes his own mother, who says days seem to last forever, but months fly by. Professor Wearden told the BBC: "Time doesn't really go fast or slowly, it can't do….It just goes at the speed it goes." He added that time can only be measured by a clock. Most language students might agree that time flies by when they are studying English.

http://breakingnewsenglish.com/1002/100213-time.html

Find the Value in Networking

Networking is a term that is often misunderstood. Business owners know it is important but often don’t fully understand how to do it effectively. Most business owners go into networking events thinking they’re a great opportunity to sell something. But picture a room full of business owners who all have that same mindset. It’s only natural that they’ll feel discouraged because no one is buying.

What many don’t understand is that networking is about expanding opportunities and developing relationships. Business owners need to ask themselves how they can become a resource for their clients and customers. The answer is to educate people on what they’re looking for and to look for ways to sell through people, rather than directly to them. Consider the following tips.

Before the event: Have a strategy. Business owners should go into the event knowing who they want to meet to expand their contacts and resources.

During the event: Engage in meaningful conversations and look for ways to help other people. Don’t spend too much time with any single person but be sure to ask how you can help.

After the event: Follow-up. Follow-up. Most people forget to reach out to contacts they’ve made at the event. Making follow-up phone calls and scheduling meetings are critical components that will help open new doors.

Eric Dieckmann
Managing Director
BNI
Central Florida chapter

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/tips/archives/2010/04/find_the_value.html

Giant Lizard From Philippines is a New Species, Scientists Conclude

A 6.5-foot-long monitor lizard discovered in 2004 in the mountains of the Philippines is a previously unidentified species, researchers have concluded. After capturing an adult last year, they were able to determine the monitor is new to science.

Called the Northern Sierra Madre Forest Monitor Lizard, or Varanus bitatawa, the lizard eats fruit and snails, unlike many other monitors, including Komodo dragons, which are scavengers. The new species spends much of its time in trees.

The chief of the Philippines environment department said the discovery of "such a large, charismatic, and strikingly distinct new species of vertebrate" shows how little is yet known about the region´s biodiversity.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83691

Governor kills thousands of Colorado Internet business

From a report at the first link below:

Colorado's Democratic legislature and governor thought they were being clever.

By putting the screws to online retailers, they could reap millions of dollars in tax revenues from items sold over the Internet and fill the budget gaps created by their failure to control spending and plan for hard economic times.

According to numbers provided by the governors office, the stimulus package "created or saved" 9,300 Colorado jobs.

It’s almost as if Governor Bill Ritter (pictured) thought that was too many jobs, because with one swipe of his pen he killed more than half that many Colorado jobs.

Ritter and his Democrats in the legislature imposed new rules designed to force retailers into collecting Colorado sales tax on all Internet sales to Colorado residents.

It backfired immediately.

Amazon.com cut ties Monday with Colorado online businesses that help it sell products because of a new state law aimed at getting out-of-state, online retailers to collect sales tax.

The move hurts Colorado businesses -- many of them small, home-based operations -- that earn money by using their Web sites and blogs to link customers to online retailers.

Colorado has at least 4,200 such businesses, known as affiliates or associates, accounting for about 5,000 jobs, and most of them rely on Amazon to some degree, according to their trade group, the Performance Marketing Association.

Governor Ritter has already said he will not run for re-election in November so he is not hurting himself. However, there will be many Democrats in the Colorado legislature who will lose re-election bids in November as a result of this legislative boondoggle.

http://caveviews.blogs.com/cave_news/2010/03/governor-kills-thousands-of-colorado-internet-business.html

New Alcohol Will Not Give You a Hangover

South Korean researchers have developed an alcohol that will not give you a hangover. The secret is elevated levels of oxygen in the liquid.

Researchers from Chungnam National University´s College of Pharmacy, In-hwan Baek, Byung-yo Lee and Kwang-il Kwon, found that the elevated oxygen levels increased metabolism of the alcohol, thus shortening the hangover.

Test subjects were given 40 proof drinks with varying levels of oxygen. The higher oxygen drinks gave less of a hangover. The only down side, according to the researchers, is that it also decreases the amount of time you are drunk.

Guided Questions:
http://tutormichioquestionwall.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-alcohol-will-not-give-you-hangover.html

Resources:
http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83230

New Japanese Soup Takes Three Days to Prepare, Costs US$100 a Bowl

A Restauranteur in Tokyo, Japan, has unveiled the "Five-taste Blend Imperial Noodles" soup. The soup takes three days to prepare properly and sells for more than US$100 a bowl.

Fujimaki Gekijyo said when pressed about the price of the soup: "It´s not really ramen. This is my cuisine, it´s my 25 years of experience distilled into one bowl. This is the only place in the world that people have this kind of soup."

Fujimaki´s restaurant is exclusive, with reservation-only seating and no menu. Customers are only given permission to eat there after they have tasted the goods at his other, less expensive restaurant in the city.

Guided Questions:

http://tutormichioquestionwall.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-japanese-soup-takes-three-days-to.html

Resources:

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83010

Standing Room On Airplanes A Possibility

The latest cost-cutting idea from budget airlines is for passengers to stand. Michael Ryan, the CEO of Ryanair, is seriously considering this option. Ryanair is one of Europe’s biggest airlines. It carried 5.84 million passengers in June, which is 13% more than a year earlier. Mr. Ryan says his airline is so popular because it is so cheap. Most of Ryanair’s flights are short hops to Europe. This makes the idea of standing for an hour or so on an airplane a workable one. Ryan said that many people stand for over an hour on a train, so it should be no problem on an airplane. He told reporters he would even be prepared to offer flights for free to passengers who stood. He said he could squeeze in 50 per cent more people and cut costs by 20 per cent.

Michael Ryan has changed the way many people think about air travel. His focus is on cutting out unnecessary services and so reducing fares. One idea he is still thinking about is to ask passengers to pay one euro (around a dollar) to use the toilet. He said he could remove two toilets on board the airplane and put in extra seats. The extra revenue would reduce costs and therefore the price of airline tickets. He said asking passengers to pay would encourage them to use the toilets at the airports. Ryan has also talked about a “fat tax” on overweight travelers. His standing room idea, however, might not take off. All airlines must stick to strict international safety standards. Everybody over the age of two must have a seat.

Guided Questions:
http://tutormichioquestionwall.blogspot.com/2010/06/standing-room-on-airplanes.html

Resources:
http://breakingnewsenglish.com/0907/090709-air_travel.html

Study Shows US Students Suffer Internet Addiction

The University of Maryland has conducted a study into the possible effects of the Internet on students in the US, asking 200 students to give up all media for a 24-hour period. For many, the results were similar to drug or alcohol withdrawal.
The effects included anxiety and losing the ability to function well without their vice. The study found that the most torturous part of giving up media was the lack of emailing, IM-ing, text messaging and Facebook.

One student said: "Texting and IM-ing my friends gives me a constant feeling of comfort. When I did not have those two luxuries, I felt quite alone and secluded from my life." Only a small number of students watched TV or read newspapers.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83907

Japanese automakers showcase hybrid, fuel-efficient cars at China show

BEIJING —

The Beijing motor show opened to the media Friday, with automakers from Japan and other parts of the world showcasing their latest fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly models as part of efforts to expand their market shares in the world’s largest automobile market. ‘‘China has become an increasingly important market for Nissan in our global strategy,’’ Nissan Motor Co President Carlos Ghosn said in a presentation at the Beijing International Automobile Exhibition.

Introducing the March global compact car, to be launched in China in the second half of this year, and the Leaf, the world’s first affordable electric vehicle for the mass market, to the audience, Ghosn said Nissan’s sales target for China in 2010 is 850,000 units, following a 40 percent sales increase in 2009.

Honda Motor Co President Takanobu Ito said the automaker will prioritize the full-scale market penetration of hybrid vehicles, so it will best contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

‘‘Toward this goal, the most important challenge is to provide a wider selection of hybrid models to increase the number of customers in China who can drive hybrid vehicles,’’ Ito said in his presentation.

He said Honda will begin selling in 2012 two hybrid models in China—the Insight and the CR-Z—through Honda’s sales channel in the country.

The show, also known as Auto China 2010, brings together about 2,100 automakers and auto-parts companies from 16 countries and regions. It showcases 990 vehicles, including 89 world debut cars, according to organizers.

Under the theme, ‘‘For a Greener Tomorrow,’’ 95 new-energy vehicles debuted at the event, which will run through May 2, the organizers said.

Toyota Motor Corp is displaying the FT-CH (Future Toyota-Compact Hybrid) concept car, an Asia debut model featuring a gasoline-electric hybrid system, as well as the new Prius, a hybrid car the company plans to introduce in China in the future.

Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada extended the company’s apology for the global recalls earlier this year, saying it will ‘‘prioritize the opinions of our customers in China in order to conduct automobile manufacturing that meets the expectations of our Chinese customers.’‘

Mazda Motor Corp President Takashi Yamanouchi said that by utilizing Mazda’s next-generation gasoline and diesel engines, which it calls ‘‘Sky Concept engines,’’ the carmaker ‘‘is confident’’ that it will improve the average fuel efficiency of Mazda vehicles sold globally by 30 percent by 2015, compared with the 2008 level.

A senior Mazda executive said the company is expected to achieve its sales target of 220,000 units in China in 2010, up 22 percent from 2009.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp is showcasing the PX-MiEV, a sport utility vehicle plug-in hybrid concept.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/japan-makers-showcase-hybrid-fuel-efficient-cars-at-china-show

Apollo 14 astronaut claims aliens exist

Former NASA astronaut and moon-walker Dr Edgar Mitchell - a veteran of the Apollo 14 mission - believes in ET.

And he says extra-terrestrials have visited Earth on several occasions - but the alien contact has been repeatedly covered up by governments for six decades.

Dr Mitchell, 77, said during a radio interview that sources at the space agency who had had contact with aliens described the beings as 'little people who look strange to us.'

Chillingly, he claimed our technology is "not nearly as sophisticated" as theirs and "had they been hostile", he warned "we would be been gone by now".

Preductably, NASA officials were quick to play down the comments of Dr. Mitchell.

In a statement, a spokesman said: "NASA does not track UFOs. NASA is not involved in any sort of cover up about alien life on this planet or anywhere in the universe.

'Dr Mitchell is a great American, but we do not share his opinions on this issue.

http://caveviews.blogs.com/cave_news/2008/07/apollo-14-astro.html

Gum wrapper prom dress

High school junior Elizabeth Rasmuson from Garner, Iowa made her prom dress out of gum wrappers and even made a matching vest for her boyfriend, Jordan Weaver.

Her mother said, “she’s a junior in high school and in today’s world a lot of the girls are worried about fitting in; they don’t want to stand out for the wrong reason so it’s really cool and so unique.”

Elizabeth and Jordan have been collecting Wrigley’s “5″ gum wrappers since last August to make this happen.

She finished her dress with a vinyl topcoat because the wrappers break easily.

http://caveviews.blogs.com/cave_news/2010/04/gum-wrapper-prom-dress.html

Chocolate Is Good For Your Heart

A study carried out in Germany has found that chocolate may be good for your heart. This is fantastic news for all chocolate lovers. The extensive research was conducted over eight years. The research team followed the chocolate-eating habits and health of almost 20,000 people. They compared how much chocolate was in their diet to the number of heart attacks and strokes people had. Lead researcher Brian Buijsse said: "The good news is that chocolate is not as bad as we used to think, and may even lower the risk of heart disease and stroke." Mr Buijsse said his team found that dark chocolate was the healthiest kind to eat: "Dark chocolate exhibits the greatest effects, milk chocolate fewer, and white chocolate no effects," he said.

The German study showed that people who ate the most chocolate (at least one bar per week) reduced their risk of having a heart attack by 27 per cent. The risk of suffering a stroke was cut by as much as 48 per cent. Nutrition experts believe that natural compounds in chocolate called flavonols are good for our heart. Flavonols also help reduce blood pressure. They are found in cocoa beans so dark chocolate (which has more cocoa) contains more of them than milk chocolate (which has more fat). Buijsse warns people not to suddenly eat lots of chocolate: "Eating higher amounts will most likely result in weight gain. If people start eating small amounts of chocolate, it should replace something else, preferably other high-calorie sweets or snacks."

http://breakingnewsenglish.com/1004/100402-chocolate.html

iPad Faces University Bans

Some universities across America have placed a ban on students using their new Apple iPads to connect to university networks because, Princeton University says, of "malfunctions that can affect the entire school´s computer system."

Princeton said that the iPad causes DHCP malfunctions, which means the tablet PC is interfering with other devices on the network. Those 20% of iPads causing the problem have thus been banned from the university´s network.

George Washington University has a different problem that led to banning the iPad. "Our current authentication system isn´t supported by the iPhone or the iPad," which means the iPads aren´t banned, but can´t log on to the system at GWU.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83837

Orders for Nissan electric car approach 4,000

TOKYO —

Orders in Japan for Nissan’s electric car have reached 3,754 in three weeks, more than half its target for the entire year, underlining growing consumer interest in the green vehicles.

Nissan Motor Co. is planning to sell 6,000 of the zero-emission Leaf electric vehicles in Japan during this fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2011.

The Leaf has been outselling the i-MiEV, the electric vehicle from Japanese rival Mitsubishi Motors Corp, which has drawn 2,000 orders so far.

In a departure from the usual makeup of electric vehicle buyers, some 64% of the orders for the Leaf are from individual consumers—about a third of them 60 or older—while 36% are fleet customers. Electric cars, still viewed by many as experimental, usually get more orders from government agencies and companies than individuals.

Yokohama-based Nissan, which is allied with Renault SA of France, began taking orders for the Leaf in April and deliveries are set for December. Global mass marketing is scheduled for 2012.

The arrival of the Leaf, as well as its rivals, has made electric vehicles more accessible, especially because of their relatively affordable pricing.

The Leaf’s price falls to 3 million yen with Japanese government incentives, and it’s just over $25,000 in the U.S. with federal tax credits.

In response to the Leaf’s price, Mitsubishi lowered the i-MiEV price to 2.8 million yen with government subsidies.

Others are joining the race.

Chinese automaker BYD has also started retail sales of its new electric car, the F3DM, for the equivalent of $25,000. Ford Motor Co is planning an all-electric Focus for late 2011, and Toyota Motor Corp. has promised an electric vehicle for 2012.

Nissan has long focused on electric vehicles as its primary green technology after falling behind Toyota and Honda Motor Co in hybrids. The Renault-Nissan alliance has signed electric vehicle partnerships with more than 50 governments.

The Leaf has a range of 160 kilometers or 100 miles on a single charge.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/orders-for-nissan-electric-car-approach-4000

About One-Third of Teens With Phones Send 100 Mesages a Day

As new research shows, about a third of young people with cell phones send more than 100 text messages a day.

Texting has become very popular for teenagers. Study authors say that could be because text messages can be sent without parents noticing. According to the research results, girls get about 80 messages per day, and boys 30.

87 percent of those sending text messages indicate that they even sleep with or next to their phone. Text messages, however, can lead to misunderstandings, the authors warn.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83854

3D Television May be Hazardous

Samsung, one of several companies developing 3D television, has issued a warning to users that the new technology may have adverse effects on some viewers´ health.

The negative effects may include hallucinations, dizziness, decreased postural stability, eye strain and twitching, nausea, epileptic seizures, stroke, and disassociation from the real world. They also say people drinking alcohol should avoid 3D TV.

Some of the symptoms may be alleviated by simply taking a break from viewing the television, while others may require seeing a doctor. The warnings come as the technology is about to make the transition from testing to the consumer market.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83875

Stroke Risk in Women Lowered by Walking?

A new study out of Texas has shown that women who regularly take a brisk walk are less likely to have a stroke compared with their less active counterparts. The study focused specifically on the kinds of exercise beneficial to women.

Lead author Jacob Sattelmair said: "This certainly speaks to walking for a certain amount of time and walking briskly as well." 39,000 women aged over the age of 45 were studied for the research.

Those women who did walk briskly had a 37% lower risk of having a stroke than their non-walking fellow women. It has been known for some time that exercise can help fight off stroke, but this is the first that focused on type of exercise and women.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83694

Facebook Gave Me Syphilis

Cases of STDs are on the rise and social networking sites could be a major factor. The fourfold increase in cases has been found in some areas of Great Britain.

Sites like Facebook give people easier access to finding others interested in casual sex, and studies found that adults are more likely to partake in risky behavior with online hookups than normal.

The study found that the average male is between 25 and 34 and female is 20 and 24. Facebook is urging its users to take precautions when meeting people offline.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83495

10 Billionth Tweet Sent on Twitter

According to Australian company Gigatweet the ten billionth tweet was posted to twitter some time on Thursday night. The actual tweet that pushed the site past the milestone cannot be accessed by the public.

Twitter reached its first billion tweets in November of 2008. A year later it hit five billion. With tweets now being posted at the rate of 600 per second, it is expected that the 20 billion milestone will fall in July.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83253

Painless Injections on the Way?

Japan: The pain of injections may one day become a thing of the past thanks to an invention by Kyoto Pharmaceutical University´s Professor Kanji Takada.

Professor Takada´s device uses micro-needles constructed out of a polymer that is water soluble. The needles go through the top layer of skin and dissolve, delivering medication or vaccinations without discomfort.

Takada expects that the hospitals in Japan will have the option of the painless delivery system within two years.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83255

US Soldiers Told to Get Social on the Internet

US defense personnel will be allowed to use social media such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, following a review of Internet security by the Pentagon. Sites that were blocked in 2007, such as You Tube, will be unblocked.

Commanders will have the ability to locally block the Web sites, however, in cases where missions are being safeguarded or bandwidth has to be saved. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said social media could be used to communicate with troops.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83143

The Most Miserable City in the USA Is...

Cleveland, Ohio, was recently voted the number-one ´most miserable´ city in the USA by Forbes.com.

The reasons why Cleveland was voted as being so miserable are as follows: high unemployment, dismal weather, hefty taxes, corruption and mediocre sports teams.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83200

She wants to be world’s fattest woman

Donna Simpson, of Old Bridge, New Jersey, loves to show off her body in front of the cameras.

What makes Donna different from other online pin up girls, Donna is a 43-stone (603 lbs) mother of two.

Photo shows Donna Simpson eating at a McDonald’s in Old Bridge, New Jersey.

Donna, who wears size XXXXXXXL clothes, is on her way to becoming the world's fattest woman.

She is already in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest woman in the world to give birth.

Donna's goal is to reach 72 stone (900 lbs) but she thinks this may not be practical.

http://caveviews.blogs.com/cave_news/2010/03/she-wants-to-be-worlds-fattest-woman.html

Saudi student received 400 traffic violations since 2008

A Saudi Arabian student has racked up 400 traffic violations since 2008 in Dubai for a grand total of 356,000 dirhams ($97,000) in fines.

The photo above shows traffic in Dubai.

The student had eluded police for the past two years but they finally caught up with him and have made him cough up 256,000 dirhams ($69,754) for "normal" traffic violations, the Khaleej Times reported.

Additionally, he also must pay 100,000 dirhams ($27,247) to recover his car which was impounded by police, the paper said.

http://caveviews.blogs.com/cave_news/2010/03/saudi-student-received-400-traffic-violations-since-2008.html

100-Year-Old Teacher Finally Gets Diploma a Day Before Death

Harriet Richardson Arnes wanted nothing more than her bachelor´s degree in education. It was the last thing on a list of things to do before she died, what her daughter called her "bucket list." Arnes turned 100 years old on January 2nd.

Arnes earned a two-year certificate in 1931 and taught at a few places, including 20 years as a teaching principal to first-graders. Over the years she had been taking a class here and there, working on her degree, but gave it up in 1971 when she retired.

Norma Walker, a leader of the school´s alumni group, began working with the school to get her the certificate last year. Approved, they rushed it to her bedside to grant it to Arnes, who died the very next day, happy that she finally got her wish.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83091

Ninja Restaurant Opens

A Ninja-themed restaurant has been opened in Taipei to rousing success in a city that is chock-full of themed dining opportunities. Diners are met by ninja waitresses, equipped with swords and flares of flame that scoot across the tables.

The owner of the restaurant, Ou Chia-wei, also owns a hospital-themed restaurant in the city, "liked ninjas and figured that would be a pretty obvious, visual theme for the restaurant," according to the establishment´s sales manager.

Waitresses are encouraged to pose for photos with diners, and should one walk into the restaurant at the right time, they would be treated to magic shows and cabarets as well as the usual visual fanfare.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=83009

Winner of Lottery Ticket Misses Claim Deadline

A person who bought the winning $2.5 million lottery ticket in Indianapolis has missed the claim deadline.

The lottery ticket was bought on the 19th of August 2009 and the winner had 180 days to come forth and claim the prize, but at 5 p.m. Friday he or she had not yet come forward.

Customers of the Meijer store where the ticket was bought have a number of theories as to why the person was not forthcoming. Even CCTV cameras were of no help because the person who has won must be in possession of the ticket.

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=82910

She passed driving test on 950th try Before Death

A 68 year old woman in South Korea finally passed the written test for her driving license after 950 attempts. Cha Sa-Soon (pictured) finally scored the 60 percent required after taking the exam nearly every day since April 2005.

It was reported that she spent more than five million won ($4,200) in the process.

But, that’s only half of her way to a driving license.

"I still have to pass the real driving test but I think it will be easier for me to pass than the paper test," she said, adding that she needed a driver's license for her vegetable-selling business.

Reference: http://caveviews.blogs.com/cave_news/2009/11/she-passed-driving-test-on-950th-try.html