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Showing posts from February, 2015

THE TOP 10 CITIES IN THE WORLD

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1. Melbourne, Australia Australia's second city may not have the glamour of Sydney, but its colonial heritage and multicultural dynamism more than compensates. More about Melbourne 2. Vienna, Austria The former Habsburg capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire retains the architectural grandeur of its powerful rulers. Their legacy forms most of Vienna's tourist attractions, from palaces to museums, complemented by an overlay of outstanding Secessionist buildings and a still-dynamic cultural scene. More about Vienna 3. Vancouver, Canada The largest city in British Columbia has long lured filmmakers, drawn by its dazzling Pacific location. More about Vancouver 4. Toronto, Canada Start at the Toronto Music Garden on the shores of Lake Ontario, designed by the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who was invited by the City of Toronto to map a garden on the theme of Bach's first cello suite. More about Toronto 5. Calgary, Canada ...

The 10 Biggest Cruise Ships in the World

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There's something about mega-ships, those floating skyscrapers laid sideways. So here lies our list of the world's largest cruise vessels, ranked in order of gross tonnage, a measure of volume (and not weight). You'll also find stats on passenger capacity (both double occupancy, the industry standard, and max occupancy, which accounts for all third and fourth beds), length and beam (the width at the widest point).   01 Allure of the Seas The 225,282-ton, 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship -- by five centimeters. (5,400 is double occupancy -- the full load is 6,360.) It also has a famous near-twin, Oasis of the Seas, with which it shares roughly 95 percent of its DNA -- including a novel neighborhood concept, which divides the ship into seven distinct spaces that range from the foliage-filled Central Park to the Boardwalk, with its handmade wooden carousel, burger joint and candy shop. Like its sister, Allure also boasts th...

CNR: Inside the Bullet Train's Dragon Den

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Located in   Tangshan   (Hebei Province), the   CNR factory   is an immense facility covering 75.000 square meters that puts together trains and  carriages at different building stages. Its halls are equipped with the finest tools, hyper - sized ovens, 30 meter long presses, and robot welders. Arranged by the State Council, this media visit to the Tangshan factory provided reporters with a rare first-hand glimpse into the beating heart of China’s bullet train. It also matters a lot for the US, as Tangshan   may become the provider of bullet trains for   California   whenever it completes its proposed high-speed rail network. The atmosphere here is complex, being at the same time friendly, with smiling faces, and quasi-military. A guard is posted in front of each bullet train, discreet but ready to push back visitors who are too nosy.  While the factory is not keen on providing much data regarding its economic operation, it more t...

Health Tip: Vary Your Exercise Regimen

Repeating the same exercises day after day can lead to an overuse injury, and cause you to miss  exercise  when you're not feeling well. Variety is the watchword when it comes to sticking with exercise and avoiding boredom. The American Council on Exercise suggests: ·          If you're taking a break from  running , try walking  instead. ·          Give a cross-training workout a try. ·          Instead of running, try biking to give your knees a break. ·          If you're a swimmer, try using a stair-stepping machine. ·          If you love aerobics, try heading outdoors for a hike. ·          If you've got an exercise injury, ask your doctor if it's safe for you to use a  swimming  pool until your inju...