Pillows and Blankets for Sell in the Sky

An excerpt from the New York Times
"JetBlue Airways said Monday that it would sell a pillow and blanket set for $7 on flights of two hours or more. The set, which passengers can take home, includes a 10-by-12 inch pillow and a fleece blanket, which fit into a carrying case."

And now you won't believe what airline would charge you next.... Fortunately, international flights still do offer that. However, last time I got checked at the immigration at the New York's JFK, lots of travelers carried their own pillows.

Catch the News; Touch the Future

This is a Suzuki Pixy + Suzuki Sharing Coach (SSC), on show at the soon-to-come Tokyo Motor Show. An auto show of the future, the 40th Tokyo Motor Show is ready to show off the new concept cars from world's automakers like Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, etc.

Start today at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City, until Nov 11.

See more photo from BusinessWeek

Thailand's 100th Starbucks Shops

Starbucks has just opened its 100th store in Thailand last week. 100th - it's one-hundredth!

First store in Thailand at Central Chidlom (July 1998)
50th store in Thailand at Hua Hin
100th store in Thailand in Ubon Ratchathani

At present:
>1,400 stores in 9 Asian countries
10,000 stores in the US
>2,000 stores in other parts of the world

This chain is growing very fast. Why?
Read very detailed stories at gotomanager's Behind the Premium Price
Photo source: businessweek.com

Siam in Europe

A Brief 'Must-Read' Story from the Nation newspaper.
"Tracing the Siamese king's journeys into the heart of Europe provides us with a glimpse of how he manoeuvred to steer Siam from European colonialism and how he (King Chulalongkorn) used his first-hand knowledge gained in Europe to modernise his own country."

King Chulalongkorn, who passed away on November 23, 1910, came to the throne in the midst of this profound political change in the region. His father, King Mongkut, had already had a hard time dealing with foreign pressure, and it was during King Chulalongkorn's reign that Siam had to walk a fine line. To remain independent, Siam had to cede territories and judicial rights, as well as pay monetary fines.... Read full story at The Nation

Three Boston's Hospitals Named Top Facilities in the US

Per report by WebMD Health.
The survey done by Leapfrog group (health care business group) scores hospitals for their patient safety standard and treating high-risk diseases. It is based on a survey of 1285 hospitals.

Four categories were evaluated:
1. ICU staffed by specially trained doctors
2. Computerized order-entry systems for medication and other orders with error-prevention measures
3. Performing procedures such as cardiac cath, and caring for high-risk neonatal conditions
4. Performing safe practices (hospital-related infection control, medication/treatment error cut)

Here are the three Boston's hospitals in their list in alphabetical order (see the complete list)
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (picture)
- Massachusetts General Hospital

Today is an Ether Day

Celebrating the Ether Day at Mass General Hospital, where the first anesthesia was used!

On October 16, 1846, a dentist William Morton anesthetized a patient while Dr. Warren, a senior surgeon, removed a hemangioma under the jaw, with the use of Ether as an anesthesia - the first successful public demonstration of anesthesia at the MGH's Ether Dome. Today is now celebrated world wide as Ether Day. A prominent MGH's surgeon at that time, Dr. Jacob Bigelow, wrote a letter to his friend in London about the success, it made the news a couple months later since it arrived by mail boat!

Painless operation is not to be taken for granted! It's safe anesthesia that makes complicated procedures such as invasive surgery or special radiology exams available to normally uncooperative patients.

Learn more about the Ether Day

A Greener Can

Thinking of a can that makes the world greener?

Generally, the process of producing cans causes environmental burden because of the washing water, solid waste generated, and carbon emission during painting process. An innovation from a Japanese company with the TULC (Toyo Ultimate Lightweight Can) has shed a light on the issue as it is now making more 'environmental friendly' cans.

With this new technique that use polyvinyl film lamination on both sides of steel board, it eliminates the use of lubricating oil, reduces carbon emission by 1/3, near zero uses of water, and reduces solid wastes generated by the regular process.

Learn more about TULC

Top 100 Asia-Pacific Universities (2007)

This is also done by the same institution as in previous post.

Ranks 1-10 are...
1. Tokyo University, Japan (featured photo)
2. Kyoto University, Japan
3. Australian National University, Australia
4. Hebrew University, Israel
5. Osaka University, Japan
6. Tohoku University, Japan
7. University of Melbourne, Australia
8. Nagoya University, Japan
9. Tokyo Institution of Technology, Japan
10. Hokkaido University, Japan

Are there any Thai universities on this list? HERE
FAQ about ranking

Countdown to 2010 Asian Games

Hope to be the largest and most successful Asian Games ever, this 2010 event will be held at Guangzhou, China. The city will be transformed into one of the leading sporting cities in the world with improved stadiums and projects.

It is expected that more than 14,000 athletes and officials from 45 member countries and territories will take part in the 2010 Games. New disciplines added to this Asian Games include cricket, dance sport, dragon boat, roller sport and Chinese board game of weiqi.

Opening date: November 12, 2010
More information HERE

Top 100 World Universities (2007)

The ranking was performed by China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University on a yearly basis. It grades the institution by the number of alumni and faculty winning Nobel Prizes in sciences, Fields Medals in math, number of articles authored by faculty in selected scientific journals, and overall academic performance in relation to the size of the school.

Here is the ranking from 1-10 and the countries
1. Harvard University, US
2. Stanford University, US
3. University of California at Berkeley, US
4. University of Cambridge, UK
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US
6. California Institute of Technology, US
7. Columbia University, US
8. Princeton University, US
9. University of Chicago, US
10. Oxford University, UK

View the complete list HERE
Above image..you know it's Harvard.

If You Are Pregnant...

New recommendation says 'Eat seafood!'

Excerpts from the Physician's First Watch "The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition has recommended that pregnant, breast-feeding, and postpartum women consume at least 12 ounces of seafood weekly, especially oily ocean fish like salmon and sardines. Six of the twelve ounces may come from albacore tuna."
The recommendation contrasts with FDA's previous issue of Environmental Protection Agency in 2004. The FDA advised that pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning-a-pregnancy women consume UP TO 12 ounces of lower mercury seafood (e.g. shrimp, canned light tuna) weekly and should avoid high-mercury fish (e.g. shark, swordfish).

The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition comprises of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC.

Full story in Washington Post

Terror Alert in London Because of Thai Chilli Dish!

Thai chilli dish sent people out in panic on the streets of London. Three streets were closed, people were evacuated and the search was carried out...

Read full story at The Nation

Tipping Etiquette Quiz

Tipping could be a confusing issue....

There was a blog war over the tipping issue created by a waitress who received 10% tip (which is considered - suboptimal in the US by most people) from a customer who said he/she received less than an adequate service....

Tipping Etiquette Test

As far as I read the comments, it seems to me that there's no rule but in general - in the U.S.
- Waiter/waitress does not receive an adequate amount of pay per hours (only $2-4/hr) so they rely on tip to make money (the facts could be different from states to states)
- Most people considers
10% lower than average, if you leave this amount it is good to talk to the manager about it also (to let them know that the service is unacceptable)
15% average tip
20% or more - for exceptional service

However, some people does think that no tip should be made if the service is lousy. It's up to personal preference, I think.

One thing to remind you, at the end of test, they will ask your name and valid email address - make sure you put your uncommon email (the email you allow all spams to come) rather than your usual one!

Poll result from Quibblo

Passenger Plane Crash Killed 87, in Phuket

Sad reports about a passenger plane crash in Phuket just released less than 24 hours ago.
Read the news from google
Learn more about Phuket from the British Daily Mail.

Green Techs That Could Change Your Life

From smart lighting to high-tech recycling, let's see these innovations taking shape in our eco-friendly world. The story is on BusinessWeek... Read it here

Don't forget to visit its nice Slideshow

Siam Park but not in Siam?

Kind of cool-looking water park, although it's not in Thailand. It is scheduled to open in this coming winter. Anyone will go there, please report!

See its plan

Bangkok's Giant Swing

Today, Bangkok's Giant Swing is now reopened after it has been renovated for a while. It has stood in Bangkok since 1784 by King Rama I, who was the first King of the Chakri dynasty. His Majesty the King, Queen, and Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn presided over the ceremony.

The two-pillar swing is made of golden teak, one aged 147 years, another 99 years. It is 21.2 m (69.5 ft) high. It was originally used in an annual crop fertility ritual, with priests riding a log swinging between the two giant pillars, as one of a host of the Brahman rituals that characterised Thailand's royal court life. Read more here.

Image from http://www.oknation.net/blog/Anan/2007/04/12/entry-1

APEC 2007 Leader Group Photo

APEC 2007 at Sydney
Don't know how to describe.... :)

Images from www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/

Homo politicus

There is an interesting news on CNN today about the study from New York University political science. It talks about how brains of the liberal and conservative people drive differently.

According to the news (of course, I couldn't find the real article on PubMed yet), the study was done in 43 subjects using EEG (electroenchephalography - measurement of neuron impulse by electrodes attached to your head) to measure amount of neuronal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex of the brain. This part of the brain controls the self-regulatory process of conflict monitoring. Liberals showed greater conflict-related neural activity. Conservatives were less flexible, refusing to change old habits.

It is an interesting subject although everybody would see there may be an objective of attacking the current US president who 'doesn't change his habit and decision no matter what...'. Well, they just announced that the US government will pull 30 000 soldiers back within 6 months.... If that would help anything at all...

Read more of this story
Learn more about EEG
Learn more about cingulate gyrus

The Royal Project Festival 2007

Queen opens Royal Project Festival in honour of King

Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by HRH Princess Somsavali, yesterday presided over the opening ceremony of the Royal Project Festival. They spent more than an hour visiting all the booths and buying produce from farmers.

Held for 19 consecutive years, the festival is larger than ever this year and occupies an area of more than 4,000 square metres (43,055 square feet) at CentralWorld shopping centre in Bangkok. Its theme is "His Majesty's kindness is like a big tree's branches that provide shelter for Thailand" and celebrates the King's 80th birthday in December.

Hundreds of people involved with the Royal Projects, the Royal Chitralada Project and Projects under the Royal Initiative gathered to welcome the Queen and the Princess. Among the foods purchased by the pair were radicchio and sweet corn - the latter was sold out as the Princess took all of them.

Prince Bhisatej Rajani, chairman of the Royal Project Foundation, said this year's event was not only the largest but also represented the progress of research and development under the Royal Projects. The highlight of the festival is an exhibition to honour the King and Royal Family members, featuring photos of their visits to the Royal Projects. The event will be a one-stop learning centre about the Royal Projects. So far more than 80 kinds of produce have been successfully introduced under the scheme, including fresh herbs, flowers, rainbow trout and claw crayfish.

The long-established Doikham brand is launching six new products at the event, including roselle mixed with honey juice, strawberry juice, low-sugar dried tomato and sugar-free jam. Prince Bhisatej's eldest daughter, MR Datcharabimol Tungknag, is also launching her book "Tasty in Chiang Mai" at the festival. The book is a collection of recipes of popular European and Thai dishes in Chiang Mai that use ingredients from the Royal Projects.

The festival runs until Sunday. News from The Nation (Sep 5, 07)

Learn more about the Royal Project (English version)
The Royal Project
Doikham

About the Festival
Schedule at CentralWorld
Pictures from Pantip
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