Sony at greater risk than Panasonic in electronics downturn: Fitch

TOKYO (Reuters) - Panasonic Corp has a better chance than rival Sony Corp of surviving Japan's consumer electronics slump because of its unglamorous but stable appliance business of washing machines and fridges, credit rating agency Fitch said Friday.

Fitch cut Panasonic's rating by two notches to BB and Sony three notches to BB minus on Thursday, the first time one of the three major ratings agencies have put the creditworthiness of either company into junk-bond territory.

Rival agencies Moody's and S&P rate both of Japan's consumer electronic giants at the same level, just above junk status. Moody's last cut its rating on Panasonic on Tuesday.

Panasonic "has the advantage of a relatively stable consumer appliance business that is still generating positive margins", Matt Jamieson, Fitch's head of Asia-Pacific, said in a conference call on Friday to explain its ratings downgrades.

But at Sony, he added, "most of their electronic business are loss making, they appear to be overstretched."

Japan's TV industry has been bested by cheaper, more innovative models from Samsung Electronics and other foreign rivals, while tablets and smartphones built by Apple Inc have become the dominant consumer electronics devices.

Investors are focusing on the fate of Sony and Panasonic after another struggling Japanese consumer electronics firm, Sharp Corp, maker of the Aquos TV, secured a $4.6 billion bail-out by banks including Mizuho Financial Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.

Sony and Panasonic have chosen divergent survival paths.

Panasonic, maker of the Viera TV, is looking to expand its businesses in appliances, solar panels, lithium batteries and automotive components. Appliances amount to around only 6 percent of the company's sales, but they generate margins of more than 6 percent and make up a big chunk of operating profit.

Sony, creator of the Walkman, is doubling down on consumer gadgets in a bid to regain ground from Samsung and Apple in mobile devices while bolstering digital cameras and gaming.

The latest downgrades will curtail the ability of both Japanese companies to raise money in credit markets to help fund restructurings of their business portfolios.

For now, however, that impact is limited, given the support Panasonic and Sony are receiving from their banks.

In October, Panasonic, which expects to lose $10 billion in the year to March 31, secured $7.6 billion of loan commitments from banks including Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Mitsubishi UFJ, a financing backstop it says will help it avoid having to seek capital in credit markets.

Sony, which has forecast a full-year profit of $1.63 billion helped by the sale of a chemicals business to a Japanese state bank, announced plans to raise $1.9 billion through a convertible bond before the latest rating downgrade.

Thomson Reuters' Starmine structural model, which evaluates market views of credit risk, debt levels and changes in asset values gives Panasonic and Sony an implied rating of BB minus. Sharp's implied rating is three notches lower at B minus.

Standard & Poor's rates Panasonic and Sony at BBB, the second lowest of the investment grade, while Moody's Investors Service has them on Baa3, the lowest of its high-grade category. Moody's has a negative outlook for both firms while S&P sees a stable outlook for Panasonic and a negative one for Sony.

Stock markets in Japan were closed on Friday for a national holiday. (Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Mark Bendeich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sony-greater-risk-panasonic-electronics-downturn-fitch-053402855--finance.html

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Savory Science: Jelly Bean Taste Test

A sensational test of the senses from Scientific American

By Daisy Yuhas

TASTE TRIAL: Find out what the nose knows and the mouth leaves out in this experiment. Image: George Retseck

• 

  Showcasing more than fifty of the most provocative, original, and significant online essays from 2011, The Best Science Writing Online 2012 will change the way...

  Read More??

Key concepts
Taste
Olfaction
Gustation
The five senses

Introduction
Thanksgiving brings a feast of flavors. But when you imagine the mouthwatering meal?the tang of ruby-red cranberry sauce or sweet, cinnamon-scented pumpkin pie?you might notice that you are combining sensory cues. Clearly the senses work together in your recollection, but how much is taste influenced by other sensory information as you eat? In this activity you'll find out by looking at two senses in particular.

Background
Every time you take a bite of food, receptors in your mouth called taste buds pick up the taste of the food you are eating. These receptors are sensitive to five basic tastes: umami (a savory flavor), salty, sweet, bitter and sour. But right above your mouth is your nose, which also plays a part in how you experience food. The nose is equipped with millions of receptors for odor molecules. You can smell a food by sniffing through your nostrils or if air is circulating inside your nose as you chew. The latter occurs because the back of your throat connects your nose and mouth. The only catch is that air needs to be flowing in or out of your nose for the odor molecules to get into the nose?either through the front or the back. This explains why pinching your nose prevents you from smelling food.

Once they arrive in your nose, odor molecules travel to your nose's olfactory epithelium, the area of the nasal cavity where odor detection occurs. While you are eating, your brain receives signals from both your mouth and nose, allowing you to recognize whatever tasty treat you happen to be chewing. In this activity you'll separate the sensations of taste and smell to learn how much each contributes to your recognition of a familiar food.

Materials
? ?? Jelly beans (at least three different fruit flavors works best)
? ?? Pencil and paper
? ?? Plastic sandwich bags
? ?? A partner. You can also work with a group of friends and compare results
? ?? Blindfold (optional)
? ?? Glasses of water (optional)

Preparation
? ?? Separate your jellybeans by flavor.
? ?? Select at least three plastic bags?one for each flavor you want to use in the experiment. Place a few appropriately flavored jelly beans in each bag. For example, one bag could be for mango jelly beans, another for strawberry and a third for banana-flavored ones. Push down on the bags to smush the candies slightly.

Procedure
? ?? Ask your partner to close his or her eyes (or use a blindfold).
? ?? Give your partner a jelly bean. Ask him or her to chew it and guess its flavor. Record the response, along with the correct answer. Repeat with at least two other flavors. You can offer your subject a glass of water between samples to clean his or her palate. How good is your partner at guessing the bean's flavor?
? ?? Tell your partner to pinch his or her nose shut, then hand your partner a jelly bean. Ask him or her to eat the candy and tell you what flavor he or she tastes. Record the response along with the correct answer.
? ?? Repeat the previous step with one or two other jelly bean flavors?you can offer your subject a sip of water in between each to cleanse his or her palate. Record each response, along with the correct answer. Does being unable to smell change your subject's responses?
? ?? With eyes still shut or blindfolded, ask your partner to breath deeply while you open one of the plastic bags that hold crushed jelly beans. Ask your subject to guess which flavor he or she is smelling?record the response and correct answer. Repeat with the other two bags. Is your subject better at guessing based on taste alone or scent alone?
? ?? Switch roles with your partner or repeat the above with another subject. Is it easy to recognize the jelly bean flavor by taste? By scent? How do your results compare with your partner's?
? ?? Extra: You can also try this on a larger group of people and see whether certain groups are better than others under different conditions. For example, are older people better or worse at guessing the candy's flavor by scent alone?
? ?? Extra: For a healthier variation on this experiment, peel and chop two potatoes and two apples. (Have an adult supervise when you use knives or peelers.) You'll notice the peeled apple and potato slices look very similar. Hand either a slice of apple or potato to a partner?don't let your partner know which is which. Ask your partner to take a bite while keeping his or her nose pinched closed. Can your partner tell the difference between the apple and the potato? Can you? Try again with nose un-pinched.
? ?? Extra: In this experiment, subjects can't see the jelly bean's color, but if you want to check whether vision influences how something tastes, set up a soda-tasting experiment. Get three kinds of fruit soda?such as cherry, grape or orange?and one flavor-free carbonated water. Add a few drops of food coloring to the carbonated water. (Try to use a color that differs from the sodas.) Pour your beverages into glasses and ask subjects to taste each one and name the beverage's flavor. Do subjects mistake the colored water for another fruit soda? Does the color of the water trick people into expecting a soda flavor to match the color?

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=824d64fc02858a8fd7ab32f4d52768d7

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4th season of 'Downton Abbey' confirmed

LONDON (AP) ? British television channel ITV has confirmed that hit drama "Downton Abbey" will return for a fourth season.

Filming of eight new episodes for the award-winning period series will begin in southern England's Highclere Castle and London's Ealing Studios early next year.

ITV said Friday that as before, the opening and closing episodes will be feature-length, and that the series will continue the story of the Crawley family and their servants in the 1920s.

The channel said that an extended special episode for next Christmas is also planned.

"Downton Abbey" has won fans worldwide and an average of 11.9 million viewers in Britain watched its third season, which will premiere in the U.S. on PBS in January.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-11-23-Britain-Downton%20Abbey/id-459f52e1b00946bca9e0f51e346fcaba

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GERD Awareness Week: 10 Heartburn Prevention Tips - Health ...

Getty Images

It?s Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Awareness Week, and the timing couldn?t be better. The most common symptom of GERD is chronic heartburn, and one of the biggest triggers of acid reflux is?you guessed it?overeating.

The good news is that it is possible to get through Thanksgiving day without heartburn by making smart choices on the big day. Here are 10 ways to reduce your chances of heartburn on turkey day.

Don?t overeat
Stuffing too much food into your stomach all at once can put pressure on the valve between your stomach and esophagus, which allows stomach acid to splash up into the esophagus. Eat slowly and aim to keep portions relatively small. There?s always leftovers!

Eat a smart salad
Salads are a perfect starter, but avoid high-fat dressings or oil and vinegar. Your best bet is low-fat dressing and skip the tomatoes, raw onions, and oranges, which can trigger acid reflux.

Have some ginger
A holiday spice that works in many dishes (carrots, peas, broccoli, and green beans are good choices) is also known to ease heartburn.

Go for multigrain
You can?t go wrong with multigrain rolls or bread. White or corn bread are both fine too, but avoid mac n? cheese as a side dish, as it can lead to acid reflux.

Make it baked
Your potato that is. A simple baked potato sans toppings (limit high-fat butter and skip the sour cream) is a better choice than mashed.

Choose light over dark meat
Dark meat tends to have more fat, which is known to trigger heartburn. Skip the high-fat gravy too to avoid pain later on.

Drink wisely
It?s probably a good idea to skip alcohol and caffeinated beverages, both known heartburn triggers. Mineral water may be the best choice.

Pick your pie
When it?s time for dessert, pass over chocolate treats, which can churn up your stomach acid. Apple pie is a good choice.

Take a walk
Don?t hit the couch! Although it?s easy to slip into a post-meal slumber, save the nap for later in the day. A walk will let your food digest a bit, and when you do sleep, prop up your pillow up 6 to 8 inches to avoid acid reflux.

Don?t smoke
There are lots of reasons not to smoke, but one that can be overlooked is the fact that it irritates your gastrointestinal tract. In the short term, that means heartburn. In the long term, it can boost your colorectal cancer risk.

Source: http://news.health.com/2012/11/22/gerd-awareness-week-10-tips-for-holiday-heartburn/

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Follow The Money: Why Priceline Bought Kayak

Last week, Priceline.com acquired Kayak for $1.8 billion. That's more than twice what Google paid for ITA back in 2010. Why did Priceline make this move? And why now? Priceline acquired Kayak for $40 a share, about $500 million in cash, $1 billion in Priceline equity, and about $300 million in stock options. Kayak got a premium price -- a 29 percent premium, to be exact -- from Priceline considering that, on the day of its acquisition, Kayak closed at roughly $31 a share. That's about 54 percent higher than where Kayak was on IPO day, at $26 a share. This no doubt added to Priceline's impression that Kayak was on the way up and that it was worth paying the big bucks to save it from having to deal with a strong competitor down the road.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/HdzEHCRk2Hw/

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Battle the #Holiday #Bulge Fitness Expert Tips @skyyogastudio .com

Battle the Holiday Bulge? and Win!

by Fit Girls Rule founder and Nutrisystem ambassador, Keishia Kemp

John Foster Dulles said: The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year.

Was getting healthy, dieting, or losing weight on your bucket list last year? With the holidays approaching, and New Years right behind, many of us will find ourselves with the same nagging weight problem that plagued us last year. As we head into 2013, millions of Americans will begin the process of making new resolutions to get in shape. Whether you want to lose 5, 15, or even 50 pounds, you may be overwhelmed at the thought of trying to battle the bulge during the holidays. I found myself in similar circumstances last year when I started a weight loss program right around Halloween. What was I thinking? I faced the temptation of Thanksgiving feasts, endless holiday parties and dinners, and New Year?s Eve celebrations. Yet, still between October and January of 2011, I lost 20 of my 40 pounds lost for the year. So, I know that it is absolutely possible to stick to your health and wellness goals even during the holidays and here are some tips on how I survived:

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• Evade the holiday treat fairy. There is one festive saboteur in every office. In my office it is the rosy-cheeked administrative assistant who always brought in pumpkin cupcakes, sugar cookies, and s?more brownies in the holiday spirit, of course. When you get the email that there are treats in the kitchen it can be hard to resist, but bringing in your own healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt, granola or trail mix can help you succeed when the late afternoon munchies come along.

• Don?t fight the feeling. During the holidays don?t deny yourself the taste of that delicious once-a-year meal because you?ll end up overeating down the line. At mealtime, simply grab a smaller plate, and practice portion control. Some of the season?s usual menu suspects are nutritionally dense. Pumpkin is an excellent source of beta-carotene and iron, cranberries contain two powerful flavonoids, turkey is rich in B-vitamins and zinc, green beans are simply loaded with vitamins from all over the alphabet, sweet potatoes provide us with beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and chestnuts provide hefty doses of fiber, vitamin C, and folic acid. The holidays can provide us with wonderful health-enhancing nutritional gifts when eaten in moderation and prepared in a health-conscious manner. Overall, if you?re able to taste some of the season?s best, you?ll feel more satisfied and full than if you deprive yourself.

• Savor the moment. Hopefully you?re enjoying the time spent with your loved ones, so try not to race through your meal. It takes your brain 20 minutes to signal to your belly that you?re actually full. Furthermore, scientists have found that the brain chemicals signaling ?pleasure? actually fire-off less, as we take in more. By relaxing and eating slowly you will essentially consume less calories than someone who rushes to clean their plate and you?ll enjoy it more. One trick that I picked up last year was to put my fork down in between bites, put my hands in my lap, and reengage in happy conversation.

• Share your goals with your loved ones. Before my holiday visits to my parents? home, I let them know that my smaller indulgences are not a rejection of our shared loved of good food or our family traditions, but because I wanted to have a healthy holiday season and continue on my plan. My parents proved supportive by cooking with healthier ingredients and by making smaller quantities of our traditional meals. After our meals, we went for walks to burn some calories. For me, it was a family effort!

• Drinking and dieting don?t mix. Eggnog, pumpkin spiced lattes, wine and hot chocolate are just a few of the traps that almost caught me last year. Many of our meal calories come from those fancy seasonal drinks and liquid calories, so enjoy responsibly and moderately. I actively traded my lattes in for herbal green teas, shared my office party drink tickets with coworkers (which made me very popular) and limited my alcoholic intake in general; a half glass of white wine at Thanksgiving dinner was quite enough. Additionally, sometimes there can be a lot of pressure to drink when out with friends, so I?d order a cranberry juice or lemonade and club soda to give the appearance of a cocktail.

• Fill up before you go. Holiday parties with the roving wait staff and food trays are dangerous. Who doesn?t love the smell of that crab cake or Kobe beef slider passing by, or the look of that dessert table? My secret was to eat dinner before I went out. And for good measure, I would bring a snack or two with me like an energy bar, so that I didn?t over splurge.

• Embrace the empty space. I remember going into gyms and dance studios in November and December and being surprised by emptiness. But it?s normal for people to take a break during the holiday season. So before January ushers in the resolution crowds, plan more gym time to take advantage of the vastness of the space, empty machines and room to move during the holiday season.

• Carrying extra baggage. When travelling you might want to take your favorite fitness DVDs, jump rope, yoga mat and running shoes, or look up local, low-cost classes, like my personal favorite Zumba. While you can?t expect to carry on your normal workout routine, in truth, some activity is better than none; so even 15 minutes of calorie burning is worth celebrating.

• If you bite it, write it. Throughout the year and especially at the holidays, you should use an online tracking tool or a journal to monitor your habits during the holidays. Get in the habit of tracking your weight, measurements, exercise, and food consumption. If you see your belly measurements expanding or a consistent increase on the scale, I guarantee that you?ll be less like to go for that extra slice of pie.

• Have fun and be kind to you! It?s the holidays, so take time for yourself and enjoy the spirit of this season. Create new and active traditions with your family like sledding, ice skating, hiking, building snowmen or surfing if you?re a California girl like me. Finally, enjoy laughter with your family and friends not only because it?s fun but because laughter is a sure fire way to burn calories.

Just remember, next year you don?t want to lament on the same problem you had the year before, so it?s never too late or early in the year to get in shape. During the holidays, it?s common to struggle with willpower and motivation, but if you can set realistic expectations, you can ensure a successful and early start to your new year and the new you!?

November 21st, 2012 | Tags: Food, holiday, tips, weight gan, weight loss, yoga, Zumba | Category: Fitness, Food, Guest Post | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL

Source: http://skyyogastudio.com/2012/11/21/battle-the-holiday-bulge-fitness-expert-tips-skyyogastudio-com/

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Jesse Jackson Jr. resigns

Jesse Jackson Jr. (Mike Segar/Reuters)Jesse Jackson Jr. resigned his seat in Congress on Wednesday after an extended leave of absence and news of a widening federal probe into the alleged misuse of campaign funds.

House Speaker John Boehner's office confirmed to multiple media outlets that Jackson's resignation letter had been received.

News outlets reported on Wednesday morning that the Illinois Democrat had canceled a morning conference call with staff for fear of media eavesdropping. Then Jonathan Jackson, Jackson's brother,?told the Chicago Tribune a resignation was imminent.

Jesse Jackson's office didn't immediately respond to Yahoo News' request for comment on Wednesday.

This summer, Jackson abruptly dropped out of the public eye. His staff first reported the congressman, son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, had been on a leave of absence for exhaustion and then indicated his condition was more serious.?After pressure from colleagues and others, it was revealed Jackson was being treated at the Mayo Clinic for bipolar disorder and gastrointestinal issues.

Jackson left the clinic in September but returned the following month. He was reportedly at the clinic on Nov. 6, when he easily won re-election in his Democratic district in suburban Chicago.

Recent reports indicate that a federal probe into an alleged misuse of campaign funds has widened. Some sources have suggested Jackson's resignation would be part of a plea deal.

The timing of Jackson's resignation means he will not be sworn in for the new term beginning in January. A special election will be held for his seat.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/report-jesse-jackson-jr-resign-184754119--election.html

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