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

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

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

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

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

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

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