24-05-2012 09:26 Japan makes the best kitchen knives in the world and Osaka is the capital of knife making in Japan. I visit Tower Knives in Osaka where owner Bjorn allows me to test various knives of differing quality and price. More information about about Tower Knives visit AROUND THE WORLD TRAVEL VIDEO ADVENTURE web: fb: twt: g+:
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Japanese Knives, World's Best Tested and Reviewed, Osaka - Video
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An image from a demo of the Stuck on Earth app, which Lauren Goode of All Things D calls "a photographer's dream."
An image from a demo of the Stuck on Earth app, which Lauren Goode of All Things D calls "a photographer's dream."
Mobile phones and tablets have put a world of information at our fingertips, even when we're on the go. It would seem natural, then, for smartphones to help make traveling easier and more fun.
But not all apps are created equal so Morning Edition co-host Steve Inskeep sought advice from Lauren Goode, a senior editor at All Things D, where she recently reviewed travel apps. Here are some of the tips Goode discussed with Steve:
Pack the Bag (iPad/iPhone) "It breaks luggage down into categories," Goode says, and includes details like sunscreen and sunglasses. "And you can set a reminder on the app that'll tell you when you're supposed to start packing," Goode says. The app also lets you email a packing list to friends or family.
TuneyFish Available for many phones, the 99-cent app provides videos and tips on repairing your car a possible savior if your vehicle breaks down. "It sounds better in theory than I actually found it to work," says Goode, who adds that the videos were sometimes hard to follow.
Google Translate (Android, iOS) Also known as "the fan favorite," Goode says Google's tool promises to help travelers understand more than 63 languages. But "once you get into more complicated or long blocks of communication," she says, some of the results "might not make that much sense to you." Instead, Goode says, stick with short phrases.
Lonely Planet (Android/iPhone) "Lonely Planet's travel apps are really, really extensive," Goode says. "These apps are really great. They offer a simpler interface than something like Frommer's." The apps include recommendations for places to eat, where to stay and what to see. They also offer audio walking tours.
Stuck on Earth (iPad) "This is a really fascinating, unique travel app I'm not even sure if I would call it a travel app, as I would call it a photographer's dream," Goode says. "It crowdsources all of these photos from Flickr that people around the world have posted to this particular area of Flickr that's designated for Stuck on Earth."
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Travel Apps That Help You Pack, Explore, And Enjoy The Scenery
On June 1, Bulgari opens London's first new-build luxury hotel in 40 years.
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BORA BORA, French Polynesia, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa was selected by the readers of Travel + Leisure for the magazine's prestigious "World's Best Service" list, garnering the top spot for service in French Polynesia and ranking second in service among top lodges and resorts in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.
The list recognizes city hotels, lodges, resorts, cruise lines, and airlines that have achieved top honors for service in Travel + Leisure's annual "World's Best Awards" survey. The InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa garnered an impressive score of 96.67 out of a possible 100 points. Full survey results and methodology is available at http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-best-serviceand in the June 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure.
The InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa is located along a virgin beach on the Motu Piti Aau (meaning "two hearts" in Tahitian) with breathtaking views of majestic Mount Otemanu.Not only does the resort provide exemplary service to its guests, it features a number of unique attributes, including:80 luxurious overwater villas each with a split-level terrace and sundeck for easy access to the turquoise waters of the lagoon; one of the finest culinary experiences in French Polynesia at its restaurant Reef; and the first overwater wedding chapel with glass bottom floor in French Polynesia.
The resort's acclaimed Deep Ocean Spa by Algotherm is the first spa in the world to use mineral-rich deep seawater extracted from 3,000 feet below sea level in its signature treatments. The 13,200 square-foot spa complex houses 14 treatment facilities for deep-sea water hydrotherapy, beauty treatments and gentle energy therapy. The spa offers glass-floored overwater Spa Suites where guests can admire maritime flora and fauna during treatment sessions.
InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa was also the very first resort in the world to successfully implement a "Sea-Water Air-Conditioning System" (SWAC). The SWAC system draws on an inexhaustible supply of non-fossil and completely renewable clean energy. It has zero impact on the environment, is quiet, produces no carbon dioxide or other green house gasses, and saves 90 percent of the electricity consumed by a conventional cooling system of similar capacity. This translates to a reduction of CO2 emissions that is the equivalent of approximately 2.5 million liters of fuel oil imports per year to French Polynesia.
About InterContinental Resorts French PolynesiaOwned and operated by Richard H. Bailey and his company, Pacific Beachcomber S.C., there are four InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in French Polynesia: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort, InterContinental Tahiti Resort, and InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa. Each of the resorts has completed multimillion dollar enhancements over the course of the last five years and all have achieved "Earthcheck Silver Certification," recognizing their significant commitment towards achieving environmental and social sustainability.
For additional information, visit http://www.tahitiresorts.intercontinental.com.
Media Contact: Vanessa Bloy InterContinental Resorts French Polynesia T:425-440-6255 E: vbloy@pgcruises.com
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PALO ALTO, Calif., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, today announced that City Guides, the highly rated and free mobile app, is now available for 50 leading destinations around the world, more than doubling its original portfolio of travel guides. Conveniently accessible even when the user is offline, the app now includes three new features on its Android version, giving travelers the ability to view local transit stations, create personalized maps, and see itinerary suggestions from travel experts, in addition to reviews and opinions from the greater TripAdvisor community.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/49266-tripadvisor-city-guides-mobile-app
(Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120524/MM12395-INFO)
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO)
"Users have already raved about the ease of use and helpfulness of TripAdvisor City Guides, with more than a million app downloads to date," said Adam Medros, vice president of global product at TripAdvisor. "We are excited to bring more cities and enhanced functionality to travelers, and ultimately help them enjoy their trips even more."
New App Features for Android Users
1.Transit Users can now view metro or subway stations on a map.The "Nearby Station" feature helps travelers find the closest station to their current location, or to the restaurant, hotel, or attraction that they want to visit.
2.TripIdeas TripIdeas are customized itinerary recommendations based on popular travel themes, such as traveling with family, foodie destinations, and places off the beaten path. Each itinerary includes beautiful large photos for inspiration. Users can keep track of their favorite TripIdeas in their "Saves" list.
3.Offline Map Update Users can now fully customize their own maps. This feature displays saved destinations, metro stations, and any restaurants, hotels, and attractions of interest, to help travelers plan and have their perfect trip.
30 New City Guides, Now Available for Download on Android and iOS
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TripAdvisor City Guides Now Available For 50 Global Travel Destinations
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Bump's Super Popular App Just Got A Million Times Cooler With Its Latest Update
Here at The Motley Fool, I've long cautioned investors to keep a close eye on inventory levels. It's a part of my standard diligence when searching for the market's best stocks. I think a quarterly checkup can help you spot potential problems. For many companies, products that sit on the shelves too long can become big trouble. Stale inventory may be sold for lower prices, hurting profitability. In extreme cases, it may be written off completely and sent to the shredder.
Basic guidelines In this series, I examine inventory using a simple rule of thumb: Inventory increases ought to roughly parallel revenue increases. If inventory bloats more quickly than sales grow, this might be a sign that expected sales haven't materialized. Is the current inventory situation at Super Micro Computer (Nasdaq: SMCI) out of line? To figure that out, start by comparing the company's inventory growth to sales growth. How is Super Micro Computer doing by this quick checkup? At first glance, OK, it seems. Trailing-12-month revenue increased 12.9%, and inventory increased 11.3%. Comparing the latest quarter to the prior-year quarter, the story looks potentially problematic. Revenue improved 2.5%, and inventory grew 11.3%. Over the sequential quarterly period, the trend looks worrisome. Revenue dropped 3.9%, and inventory grew 18.4%.
Advanced inventory I don't stop my checkup there, because the type of inventory can matter even more than the overall quantity. There's even one type of inventory bulge we sometimes like to see. You can check for it by examining the quarterly filings to evaluate the different kinds of inventory: raw materials, work-in-progress inventory, and finished goods. (Some companies report the first two types as a single category.)
A company ramping up for increased demand may increase raw materials and work-in-progress inventory at a faster rate when it expects robust future growth. As such, we might consider oversized growth in those categories to offer a clue to a brighter future, and a clue that most other investors will miss. We call it "positive inventory divergence."
On the other hand, if we see a big increase in finished goods, that often means product isn't moving as well as expected, and it's time to hunker down with the filings and conference calls to find out why.
What's going on with the inventory at Super Micro Computer? I chart the details below for both quarterly and 12-month periods.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Data is current as of latest fully reported quarter. Dollar amounts in millions. FY = fiscal year. TTM = trailing 12 months.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Data is current as of latest fully reported quarter. Dollar amounts in millions. FQ = fiscal quarter.
Let's dig into the inventory specifics. On a trailing-12-month basis, work-in-progress inventory was the fastest-growing segment, up 13.2%. On a sequential-quarter basis, work-in-progress inventory was also the fastest-growing segment, up 40.4%. Super Micro Computer may display positive inventory divergence, suggesting that management sees increased demand on the horizon.
Foolish bottom line When you're doing your research, remember that aggregate numbers such as inventory balances often mask situations that are more complex than they appear. Even the detailed numbers don't give us the final word. When in doubt, listen to the conference call, or contact investor relations. What at first looks like a problem may actually signal a stock that will provide the market's best returns. And what might look hunky-dory at first glance could actually be warning you to cut your losses before the rest of the Street wises up.
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SACRAMENTO California's stem cell agency today approved two grants to UC Davis Health System researchers for their innovative work in regenerative medicine.
Kyriacos A. Athanasiou, distinguished professor of orthopaedic surgery and professor and chair of biomedical engineering, and the Child Family Professor of Engineering at UC Davis, is investigating the use of skin-derived stem cells to heal cartilage injuries and debilitating conditions of the knee such as osteoarthritis.
W. Douglas Boyd, professor of surgery, plans to further refine a novel approach to treating cardiovascular injuries suffered during a heart attack by using stem cells and a tissue-like scaffold to repair cardiac damage.
The pair received individual grants totaling approximately $6.6 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine's (CIRM) governing board.
Athanasiou's and Boyd's multi-year grants were among the proposals submitted to CIRM for its third round of Early Translational Awards, which are intended to enable clinical therapies to be developed more rapidly.
"Both of these scientists are conducting exciting research that could have far-reaching implications in health care," said Jan Nolta, director of the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures and the university's stem cell program director. "Dr. Athanasiou is bioengineering new cartilage that could have the same physiological integrity as the cartilage a person is born with. Dr. Boyd is developing a treatment that uses a paper-thin patch embedded with stem cells to harness their regenerative powers to repair damaged heart muscle."
Boyd, who's a pioneering cardiothoracic surgeon, pointed out in his CIRM proposal that heart disease is the nation's number-one cause of death and disability. An estimated 16.3 million Americans over the age of 20 suffer from coronary heart disease, which in 2007 accounted for an estimated 1 in 6 deaths in the U.S. Boyd plans to use bone-marrow derived stem cells -- known as mesenchymal stem cells -- in combination with a bioengineered framework known as an extracellular matrix, to regenerate damaged heart tissue, block heart disease and restore cardiac function, something currently not possible except in cases of a complete and very invasive heart transplant.
An expert in biomedical engineering, Athanasiou is focusing on developing a cellular therapy using stem cells created from an individual's own skin -- known as autologous skin-derived stem cells -- which have shown great promise in animal models. He plans to use the new funding to conduct extensive toxicology and durability tests to determine the technique's long-term safety and efficacy. Such tests are among the many steps needed to advance toward human clinical trials.
Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in joints, allowing bones to glide over each other and absorbing the shock of movement. Cartilage defects from injuries and lifelong wear and tear can eventually degenerate into osteoarthritis. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and affects an estimated 27 million Americans over the age of 25.
"For anyone suffering from osteoarthritis or other debilitating cartilage conditions, Dr. Athanasiou's goal of using stem cells to regenerate new tissue could have enormous quality-of-life and economic benefits," said Nolta, who is the recipient of a prior translational grant from CIRM to develop potential therapies for Huntington's disease . "Dr. Boyd's work is equally promising because he's using a bioengineered structure to encourage cardiac tissue repair, which could have important benefits in the treatment of heart disease."
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Contact: Tom Vasich tmvasich@uci.edu 949-824-6455 University of California - Irvine
Irvine, Calif., May 24, 2012 A UC Irvine immunologist will receive $4.8 million to create a new line of neural stem cells that can be used to treat multiple sclerosis.
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded the grant Thursday, May 24, to Thomas Lane of the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center at UCI to support early-stage translational research.
CIRM's governing board gave 21 such grants worth $69 million to 11 institutions statewide. The funded projects are considered critical to the institute's mission of translating basic stem cell discoveries into clinical cures. They are expected to either result in candidate drugs or cell therapies or make significant strides toward such treatments, which can then be developed for submission to the Food & Drug Administration for clinical trial.
Lane's grant brings total CIRM funding for UCI to $76.65 million.
"I am delighted that CIRM has chosen to support our efforts to advance a novel stem cell-based therapy for multiple sclerosis," said Peter Donovan, director of the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.
MS is a disease of the central nervous system caused by inflammation and loss of myelin, a fatty tissue that insulates and protects nerve cells. Current treatments are often unable to stop the progression of neurologic disability most likely due to irreversible nerve destruction resulting from myelin deficiencies. The limited ability of the body to repair damaged nerve tissue highlights a critically important and unmet need for MS patients.
In addressing this issue, Lane who also directs UCI's Multiple Sclerosis Research Center will target a stem cell treatment that will not only halt ongoing myelin loss but also encourage the growth of new myelin that can mend damaged nerves.
"Our preliminary data are very promising and suggest that this goal is possible," said Lane, a Chancellor's Fellow and professor of molecular biology & biochemistry. "Research efforts will concentrate on refining techniques for production and rigorous quality control of transplantable cells generated from high-quality human pluripotent stem cell lines, leading to the development of the most therapeutically beneficial cell type for eventual use in patients with MS."
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UCI stem cell researcher to receive $4.8 million in state funding
05/24/2012 . (Classic Rock) Former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno wants his ex-bandmate Clive Burr to undergo stem cell therapy, despite the costs and risks associated with the procedure.
Burr, the drummer with Maiden from 1979 until 1982, has been in a wheelchair as a result of multiple sclerosis, which has been attacking his nervous system since before he was diagnosed in 2002.
MS reduces the ability of the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other, resulting in a wide range of potentially severe symptoms. The cause is unknown and there is no cure; but in 2009 researchers made the first breakthrough in reversing symptoms through stem cell therapy.
Di'Anno tells Talking Metal Pirate Radio Burr's condition is "not very good at all." He had a lot to say, read it here.
Classic Rock Magazine is an official news provider for antiMusic.com. Copyright Classic Rock Magazine- Excerpted here with permission.
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Di'Anno Wants Former Iron Maiden Bandmate To Undergo Stem Cell Therapy
IT'S not everyday that you get the chance to meet a living legend — especially when they literally come from the other side of the world. But when the opportunity knocks, you answer; and I answere
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Generations of Chinese grew up under the spell cast by Wu Cheng'en's "Journey to the West", the 16th Century adventure epic which is the subject of two major upcoming film adaptations.
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Tanjavur, 22 May 2012: Paramahamsa Nithyananda today revealed his dream of an authentic Vedic revival in the new world. He observed that this would happen only if renowned spiritual organizations like the 1500-year-old Madurai Aadheenam played an active role in bringing about this cultural and spiritual renaissance. ...
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His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda Envisions Vedic Revival Through Madurai Aadheenam
SPACE The privately bankrolled Dragon capsule arrived at the International Space Station for a historic docking Friday, captured by astronauts wielding a giant robot arm.
It succeeded in making the first commercial delivery into the cosmos.
U.S. astronaut Donald Pettit used the space station's 58-foot robot arm to snare the gleaming white Dragon after a few hours of extra checks and maneuvers. The two vessels came together while sailing above Australia.
"Looks like we've got us a dragon by the tail," Pettit announced from 250 miles up once he locked onto Dragon's docking mechanism.
"You've made a lot of folks happy down here over in Hawthorne and right here in Houston," radioed NASA's Mission Control. "Great job guys."
NASA controllers clapped as their counterparts at SpaceX's control center in Hawthorne, Calif. -- including SpaceX's billionaire maestro, Elon Musk, of PayPal fame -- lifted their arms in triumph and jumped out of their seats to exchange high fives.
This is the first time a private company has attempted to send a vessel to the space station, an achievement previously reserved for a small, elite group of government agencies. And it's the first U.S. craft to visit the station since the final shuttle flight last July.
The astronauts wasted no time getting the Dragon capsule into position for actual docking to the space station. The unmanned capsule is carrying 1,000 pounds of supplies on this unprecedented test flight.
On Thursday, the capsule came within 1 1/2 miles of the space station in a practice fly-by. It returned to the neighborhood early Friday so Pettit, along with Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers could capture it with a robot arm. First, the capsule went through a series of stop-and-go demonstrations to prove it was under good operating control.
NASA ordered extra checks of the Dragon's imaging systems as the capsule drew ever closer to the space station, putting the entire operation slightly behind schedule. At one point, SpaceX controllers ordered a retreat because of a problem with on-board tracking sensors.
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The privately bankrolled Dragon capsule approached the International Space Station for a historic docking Friday after sailing through a practice rendezvous the day before.
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The privately bankrolled Dragon capsule made a historic arrival at the International Space Station on Friday, captured by astronauts wielding a giant robot arm.
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured Space Exploration Technologies' Dragon cargo ship and guided it into a berth on Friday, docking the first privately owned vehicle to reach the orbital outpost. Using the station's 58-foot long (17.7-meter) robotic crane, NASA astronaut Don Pettit snared Dragon at 9:56 a.m. EDT (1356 GMT) as the two ...
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The privately owned and operated SpaceX Dragon capsule docked with the International Space Station on Friday, a success for the Obama administration’s new strategy of using robotic missions and public-private partnerships in space.
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SpaceX, the upstart California rocket maker, launched a new era in spaceflight this morning when its Dragon capsule was captured by the International Space Station, concluding a cargo delivery trip previously made only by NASA space shuttles and other governments' spacecraft.
At 9:56 a.m. EDT, space station flight engineer Don Pettit reached out with a 58-foot robotic arm and grabbed the unmanned capsule, which was "free drifting" beneath the $100-billion station at 17,000 miles an hour, roughly 250 miles above northwest Australia.
"Houston, it looks like we got us a Dragon by the tail," Pettit declared. "We're thinking this went really well."
The capture came quickly, after two hours of delay and as NASA, the space station astronauts and SpaceX, the 10-year-old rocket company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, were contemplating another delay.
They had intended to wait until the station and Dragon were on the day-side of Earth, to make the grab in full sunlight. But shortly before 10 a.m., they decided to settle for dawn, which lit up the Dragon and the robotic arm while the Earth below remained dark.
Minutes later, NASA TV showed the robotic arm carrying Dragon across a bright Earth backdrop.
"Once again SpaceX has done it. They have become the first private company to successfully launch their own spacecraft and get it captured by the International Space Station's robotic arm," said NASA commentator Josh Byerly.
NASA TV then turned to the celebrations: hugs all around at SpaceX's Mission Control room in Hawthorne, Calif., and handshakes at NASA's Mission Control room at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Over the next several hours, U.S. astronauts Pettit and Joe Abaca, as well as flight engineer Andres Kuipers of The Netherlands, will use the robotic arm to slowly reel in the 7,300-pound spacecraft and its half-ton of supplies and mate it to a portal in the space station's Harmony module. Then the astronauts will connect power and communication cables. They hope to be done by 5 p.m.
Hatches, though, won't be opened until Saturday morning. At that time, the ISS astronauts, who also include three Russians, will unload 1,146 pounds of food, clothing, supplies and science experiment kits delivered by SpaceX. Then they will reload Dragon with about 1,455 pounds of science experiment kits, trash and personal items to go back to Earth.
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Space Station astronauts capture Dragon capsule, make history