NagaNewsJournal

2 Dec 2011

Ritz Carlton Shanghai Pudong -The best hotel in the world 2011

Ritz Carlton Shanghai Pudong outer view

Influential magazine Condé Nast Traveler has named the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong as the best hotel in the world in its annual Readers’ Choice survey.
The publication, announcing the results ahead of the November issue, revealed the Shanghai hotel’s victory ahead of Peninsula House in the Dominican Republic, which won second place, October 11.
The Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh won third place, while the Safari Lodges at Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa came in fourth.

Ritz Carlton Shanghai Pudong interiors

The Readers’ Choice Awards are among the most comprehensive in the travel calendar, recognizing over 1,200 winners across various categories as voted for by over 28,000 respondants.
Another much-watched category is that of best city, which is awarded by country or continent.

This year’s US winner was Charleston, South Carolina, while Quebec City took the top gong in Canada and San Miguel de Allende won in Mexico.
Sydney took the prize for Oceania, Buenos Aires won in Central and South America, Kyoto won in Asia, Cape Town in Africa and Florence, Italy, took the award in Europe.

Nextage humanoid robot (Robotics)

Nextage humanoid robot

Nextage, a humanoid robot that was developed by Kawada Industries, was specially designed so that it can function with the rest of humanity without looking out of place. Kawada Industries mentioned that it is “logical for robots that work together with people to be human-shaped” . This robot is able to function in a space that is equal to that of a person, where its arms have 12 degrees of freedom, and its back has one, where it can position itself to within 30 microns.

The robot’s head will also feature a stereo camera, where it is smart enough to recognize its surroundings as well as its own position, whereas hand cameras are able to recognize the kind of position of that the work it is doing in detail. So far, demonstrations have proved to be pretty impressive, where a trio of such robots actually function in perfect co-ordination as they would in the real world. Capable of picking up different parts, getting them together and tightening screws, these robots can work right away the moment you let them loose.

Eating fish reduces risk of Alzheimer’s disease

People who eat baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis may be improving their brain health and reducing their risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

“This is the first study to establish a direct relationship between fish consumption, brain structure and Alzheimer’s risk,” said Cyrus Raji, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “The results showed that people who consumed baked or broiled fish at least one time per week had better preservation of gray matter volume on MRI in brain areas at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.”

Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and cognitive skills. According to the National Institute on Aging, as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease. In MCI, memory loss is present but to a lesser extent than in Alzheimer’s disease. People with MCI often go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

For the study, 260 cognitively normal individuals were selected from the Cardiovascular Health Study. Information on fish consumption was gathered using the National Cancer Institute Food Frequency Questionnaire. There were 163 patients who consumed fish on a weekly basis, and the majority ate fish one to four times per week. Each patient underwent 3-D volumetric MRI of the brain. Voxel-based morphometry, a brain mapping technique that measures gray matter volume, was used to model the relationship between weekly fish consumption at baseline and brain structure 10 years later. The data were then analyzed to determine if gray matter volume preservation associated with fish consumption reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The study controlled for age, gender, education, race, obesity, physical activity, and the presence or absence of apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4), a gene that increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Gray matter volume is crucial to brain health. When it remains higher, brain health is being maintained. Decreases in gray matter volume indicate that brain cells are shrinking.
The findings showed that consumption of baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis was positively associated with gray matter volumes in several areas of the brain. Greater hippocampal, posterior cingulate and orbital frontal cortex volumes in relation to fish consumption reduced the risk for five-year decline to MCI or Alzheimer’s by almost five-fold.

“Consuming baked or broiled fish promotes stronger neurons in the brain’s gray matter by making them larger and healthier,” Dr. Raji said. “This simple lifestyle choice increases the brain’s resistance to Alzheimer’s disease and lowers risk for the disorder.”
The results also demonstrated increased levels of cognition in people who ate baked or broiled fish.
“Working memory, which allows people to focus on tasks and commit information to short-term memory, is one of the most important cognitive domains,” Dr. Raji said. “Working memory is destroyed by Alzheimer’s disease. We found higher levels of working memory in people who ate baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis, even when accounting for other factors, such as education, age, gender and physical activity.”
Eating fried fish, on the other hand, was not shown to increase brain volume or protect against cognitive decline.

Forever New Spring '11 Shanghai Rose Collection (fashion photography)

Forever New Spring '11 Shanghai Rose Collection Look Book

Mercedes Benz 320 Tourbillon Watch

Drawing inspiration from the classy and stylish 1937 Mercedes 320 Convertible, designer Marko Petrovic came up with this design study. Named 320 Concept Tourbillion Watch after its inspiration, the watch goes all out on Mercedes style and appearance, with the star shining on top and a very speedometer-like face for the watch.

Mercedes Benz 320 Tourbillon Watch by Marko Petrovic

Inspired by the instrument cluster of the 320, the Concept Tourbillion exhibits the same meticulous attention to detail and overall elegance still found in the brand today. The hours and minutes are shown as a speedometer, as miles or kilometers, expressing the car feeling. The main impact was made by a tourbillon with the shape of a Mercedes logo, clearly pointing the brand identity. The straps are made of high-quality leather, while a part of the mechanism is viewable through the protective glass.

Parrot Ancient Gold Zikmu Speakers (luxury gadgets)

Parrot Ancient Gold Zikmu Speakers

Philippe Starck, famous French product designer has built a certain type of luxury in his latest creation – Ancient Gold Zikmu Speakers. Limited edition Ancient Gold Zikmu speakers are exclusively made for Parrot.
Ancient Gold Zikmu speakers by Parrot
The Gold Speakers are packed with the latest technology including Wi-Fi connectivity allowing you to stream completely wireless from any of your favorite devices. The bass comes from the horn shaped bottom and the top half of the speaker allows for amazing 360 degree surround sound. The 2.5 feet tall speakers boasts sleek design and gold coloring, so they are suitable for all sort of spaces.
This limited edition speakers are completely handmade, and only 20 of these will be made for the whole world. 3 of these units will made available for the UAE market. Considering how luxurious and there are just twenty pieces, it might be surprising to know that speakers will be available for sale with an affordable price tag of $3,400. Even more, if you don’t need the gold, there are plenty of other colors available starting at $1,350 on Amazon.

Plextor M3S SSD / (special gadgets)

Plextor M3S SSD

Plextor’s latest release, their 2.5″ SSD known as the Plextor M3S will most probably appeal to those who are looking to purchase a new SSD, but cannot really make up their mind as to which model to bring home – although they do not want to break the bank while they’re at it. Apart from that, the M3S will offer SATA III connectivity and a Marvell controller that is said to deliver speeds of up to 525MB/s and 445MB/s for sequential reads and writes, and 70,000 and 65,000 IOPS where random reads and writes are concerned.
The 128GB model will retail for a mere $200 at the end of November onwards, while doubling that amount will see you part ways with $350 for it, and for those who can afford both time and money to wait for early next year, the 512GB model can be yours for $700. Regardless of which capacity you bring home, all of them will come with a 5-year limited warranty.

Kobot V Electric car (weird cars)

Kobot V

Kowa, a company that engages in medical and optoelectronic business, and Tmsuk Co. Ltd., a robot development manufacturer, joined forces to create three attention-grabbing electric-powered prototypes under the Kobot brand name.

The Kobot V has been unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show along with the Kobot B (with the green finish) both mix elements from cars, motorcycles and trikes, and the relatively more conventional Kobot P with four wheels and an enclosed cabin for the driver.
The Japanese company did not release any further details on the three concept models nor its plans for the future.

Toyota Aqua Hybrid by Kana Auto Works (special cars)

Toyota Aqua Hybrid

While in the business of producing and developing cars for Toyota for more than half a century, Kana Auto Works has generally stayed under the radar.

However, at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese company came out of its shell introducing several bespoke models.
Aside from the Toyota Century-based FS Hybrid, Kana Auto Works also displayed two prototypes of the newly presented Toyota Aqua hybrid, which will be marketed under the Prius C brand name outside of Japan.
The first Aqua Fun concept is finished in an orange hue and sports a subtle aero package and new alloy wheels.

The other Aqua Fun study is more extreme boasting a bright yellow finish and several cosmetic changes including new front and rear bumpers, different headlamps and tail lights, larger spoilers and bigger wheels while also riding on a lowered sports suspension.

Siddhartha Mukherjee wins Guardian First Book Award.

Indian-American doctor Siddhartha Mukherjee's book on cancer has won the Guardian First Book Award.

The Emperor of All Maladies, which won a Pulitzer prize in April, was the only work of non-fiction on the shortlist.

The author, who describes his book as a "biography" of cancer, receives a £10,000 prize.

He said he was "delighted and honoured" to join the ranks of previous winners, including Zadie Smith, Alexandra Harris, Petina Gappah and Alex Ross.

"In recognising The Emperor of All Maladies, the judges have also recognised the extraordinary courage and resilience of the men and women who struggle with illness, and the men and women who struggle to treat illnesses," he added.

Mukherjee is an oncologist, treating cancer patients at the Columbia University Medical Center.

He started the book after a 56-year-old woman, who was dealing with her second relapse, asked him to describe what she was fighting against.

His answer begins thousands of years ago in 1600 BC, with one of the first recorded descriptions of a tumour - scored onto a papyrus in hieroglyphics.
As the story progresses, the author describes how scientists came to identify cancerous cells and the (sometimes brutal and unnecessary) treatments devised to tackle them.

The book also provides a glimpse into the future of cancer care.

"Cancer is the load built into our genome," writes Mukherjee, "the leaden counterweight to our aspirations for immortality."

Author and academic Sarah Curchwell, who was part of the judging panel, said: "Siddhartha Mukherjee has marshalled an immense amount of material into a readable and inspiring story.

"The result is a gripping, enlightening read about the nature of illness and our battle against what begins to look like mortality itself."

Other books shortlisted for the prize included Mirza Waheed's The Collaborator, a thriller set in his native Kashmir, and Stephen Kelman's Pigeon English, about a young Ghanaian boy trying to solve a murder on a council estate.

Completing the list were Down the Rabbit Hole, the saga of a boy born to a Mexican drug lord, by Juan Pablo, and Amy Waldman's The Submission, in which a Muslim enters and wins a competition to design a memorial to those killed in the terrorist attacks of 11 September, 2001.

Judges for the prize included One Day author David Nicholls, and Lisa Allardice, editor of the Guardian Review.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011) / Review

Release Date: 18 November 2011 (India) Runtime: 117 min
Genres: Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Romance
Taglines: Forever is only the beginning

The Quileute and the Volturi close in on expecting parents Edward and Bella, whose unborn child poses different threats to the wolf pack and vampire coven.

Director: Bill Condon
Writers: Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay), Stephenie Meyer (novel)
Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner

Stewart is finally acting, which is one of the biggest reasons why this movie is so much better than the others. She portrays Bella in a way that is so close to the book, and it's wonderful to see her and Pattinson playing lovers that are so, so, so in love. The fact that Bill Condon (director) gave the happy couple so much time to be just that, happy, makes you really believe in their love and it makes you understand why they can't live without each other.
This movie takes you from a beautiful wedding, complete with the most hilarious toasts (Jessica and Charlie) wonderful music, stunning dresses and declarations of love that will touch everyone's hearts, to South America for a sexy, funny and exciting honeymoon where we see heartfelt smiles, kissing, cuddling and teasing along with the epic headboard breaking scene. It then settles back in Forks, where we get to witness the most terrifying pregnancy imaginable.
The special effects team deserve an Oscar for the work they've done on making Stewart look like she's slowly fading away. The moments leading up to the birth scene are actually scarier than the scene itself. It really is a horror film towards the end, and some scenes should maybe have been rated R. It ends in the perfect place, such a natural and obvious cut. I am so thankful that Breaking Dawn has been split into two parts, because I can't imagine even once scene in this part that could have been skipped.

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Cast
Taylor Lautner , Gil Birmingham, Billy Burke, Sarah Clarke, Ty Olsson, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Peter Facinelli , Elizabeth Reaser, Kellan Lutz , Nikki Reed, Robert Pattinson, Christian Sloan, James Pizzinato

Produced by Wyck Godfrey, Stephenie Meyer, Mark Morgan & Karen Rosenfelt
Original Music by Carter Burwell
Cinematography by Guillermo Navarro
Film Editing by Virginia Katz
Casting by Debra Zane
Production Design by Richard Sherman
Costume Design by Michael Wilkinson
Filming Locations: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Budget: $127,000,000 (estimated)
Production Co: Summit Entertainment, Sunswept Entertainment, TSBD Canada Productions
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital | DTS
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MOVIE TRAILER

Being George Washington: The Indispensable Man, as You've Never Seen Him by Glenn Beck/Review

by Glenn Beck

This is the amazing true story of a real-life superhero who wore no cape and possessed no special powers—yet changed the world forever. It’s a story about a man whose life reads as if it were torn from the pages of an action novel: Bullet holes through his clothing. Horses shot out from under him. Unimaginable hardship. Disease. Heroism. Spies and double-agents. And, of course, the unmistakable hand of Divine Providence that guided it all.

Being George Washington is a whole new way to look at history. You won’t simply read about the awful winter spent at Valley Forge—you’ll live it right alongside Washington. You’ll be on the boat with him crossing the Delaware, in the trenches with him at Yorktown, and standing next to him at the Constitutional Convention as a new republic is finally born.

Through these stories you’ll not only learn our real history (and how it applies to today), you’ll also see how the media and others have distorted our view of it. It’s ironic that the best-known fact about George Washington—that he chopped down a cherry tree—is a complete lie. It’s even more ironic when you consider that a lie was thought necessary to prove he could not tell one.
For all of his heroism and triumphs, Washington’s single greatest accomplishment was the man he created in the process: courageous and principled, fair and just, respectful to all. But he was also something else: flawed.
It’s those flaws that should give us hope for today. After all, if Washington had been perfect, then there would be no way to build another one. That’s why this book is not just about being George Washington in 1776, it’s about the struggle to be him every single day of our lives. Understanding the way he turned himself from an uneducated farmer into the Indispensable (yet imperfect) Man, is the only way to build a new generation of George Washingtons that can take on the extraordinary challenges that America is once again facing.

About the Author

Glenn Beck, the nationally syndicated radio show host, is the author of Broke, The 7, and seven #1 New York Times bestsellers: The Original Argument, An Inconvenient Book, The Christmas Sweater, Glenn Beck’s Common Sense, Arguing with Idiots, The Christmas Sweater: A Picture Book, and The Overton Window. Visit GlennBeck.com.

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Details
    Hardcover: 304 pages
    Publisher: Threshold Editions (November 22, 2011)
    Language: English
    ISBN-10: 1451659261
    Biographies & Memoirs
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2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid /Review

2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid will settle the dilemma between owning a large, capable SUV and saving money on gas and protecting the environment. That’s because an efficient 332-horsepower, 6.0-liter V-8 is paired to GM’s two-mode hybrid system that features dual electric motors, a continuously variable transmission, and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Like most hybrids, the 2011 Escalade Hybrid’s system recharges the battery pack through regenerative braking. Fuel estimates check in at 20 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. For those concerned about the environmental impact of the Escalade Hybrid, just know that it emits between three and four fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide than the gas-only Escalades. Competition includes the GMC Yukon Hybrid and the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

The Escalade Hybrid is available in four-wheel drive for enhanced traction and handling, and can tow up to 5,800 pounds (2WD model). The Escalade Hybrid is bathed in hybrid badges, which instantly sets its exterior apart from other Escalades. A power liftgate, 22-inch chrome wheels, power sunroof, and xenon headlights are standard, while LED headlights and power-retractable running boards are optional.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid can seat up to eight occupants in three rows. Cargo volume is also cavernous with 108.9 cubic feet of space to fit all of your luggage or equipment. Leather interior, power, heated, and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, tri-zone climate control, heated and cooled cup holders, a navigation system, Bluetooth® connectivity and a USB/iPod port are just some of the impressive standard features. Monitor the Escalade’s hybrid activity and efficiency through informative graphics displayed on the navigation screen and instrument cluster.

As for safety, the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid features three-row side curtain airbags, driver and passenger airbags, antilock brakes, an electronic stability system with traction control, rearview camera, and a blind spot warning system as standard equipment. A suite of OnStar safety technologies and communications also comes standard and notify the authorities in the event of an accident. Standard maintenance such as scheduled oil changes, replacement of engine and cabin air filters, tire rotations and more are covered for four years or 50,000 miles.

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PricingMSRP: $74,135 to $88,435
Invoice Price: $69,316 to $82,687
EPA Fuel Economy (MPG)
20 City /23 Highway
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Toshiba’s latest 32-inch TV Regza 32BE3 (special gadgets)

Toshiba’s 32-inch TV Regza 32BE3

Toshiba has launched a new 32-inch TV called the Regza 32BE3, carrying a new Eco Chip that uses zero power in standby mode.
When in standby mode there is no power drawn from AC at all. Instead the Eco Chip has been combined with a large-capacity capacitor, capable of providing enough electricity to power the chip and therefore accept input from the remote. So you still get that instant-on functionality by pressing a button on the remote, but you lose the constant power draw required to make it happen.
Toshiba has also tried to make the Regza 32BE3 very low power even when in use. There are two backlight modes that not only cut the backlight by 50% and 75%, but auto-adjusts the image to cater for the lower light level. You can also set the TV up to automatically go into zero-power standby mode if no input is received for 3 hours.
Overall, using this TV should see your power use drop compared to an equivalent model not using the Eco Chip. Toshiba compares it to the previous 32-inch TV they released (the Regza 32A2) and claim a 27% power saving.

1 Dec 2011

U.S. Army Tests Secret Hypersonic Weapon

Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV)-2 CREDIT:DARPA

The DARPA Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV)-2, one of several hypersonic test projects underway by various U.S. military agencies.

The U.S. Army's hypersonic weapon prototype streaked across the Pacific Ocean at several times the speed of sound Thursday, Nov. 17, in a flawless maiden test flight. The success could pave the way for a new military capability to strike targets anywhere on Earth in as little as an hour.

Such a hypersonic weapon concept flies at a relatively flat trajectory within the atmosphere, rather than soaring up toward space like a ballistic missile and eventually coming back down. Hypersonic speed is defined as being at least five times the speed of sound (3,805 mph, or 6,124 kph, at sea level).
An unmanned aircraft that can travel at a breakneck pace 20 times the speed of sound will take off Wednesday from an Air Force base in California for a test flight.

The Army's success Thursday was built upon lessons learned from two hypersonic test flights carried out by the Pentagon's research arm, called DARPA, in April 2010 and August 2011.
The Army's Advanced Hypersonic Weapon launched aboard a three-stage booster system from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the island of Kauai in Hawaii at 6:30 AM ET, deployed for its hypersonic glide, and eventually splashed down in the Reagan Test Site located near the Kwajalein Atoll.

Pentagon officials kept a careful watch on the flight test from space, air, sea and ground. That allowed them to collect data about aerodynamics, navigation, guidance, and control performance, as well as thermal protection technologies meant to shrug off intense heat during hypersonic flight.
Such success may provide some consolation to DARPA, given that its Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2) experienced problems in its two test flights that led to early crashes. HTV-2 reached a speed of Mach 20 during its latest test in August.

The Air Force has also tested its own X-51A Waverider vehicle, most recently on June 13, as an experimental platform for an air-breathing scramjet engine. During the latest test, the X-51A Waverider reached hypersonic speeds of at least Mach 5 before it failed to switch over to its main fuel source.
Having several hypersonic projects resembles the early days of U.S. rocket and missile development, when the Army and Air Force competed to get their rockets off the ground. But any success in the hypersonic realm seems likely to benefit the U.S. military's unified goal for a "Conventional Prompt Global Strike" weapon designed to speedily attack targets around the world.
Copyright 2011 InnovationNewsDaily

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