Topic Reading-Vol.2363-9/30/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

Dunkin' Donuts is officially dropping 'Donuts'

Have you had any doughnuts or coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts? It is an American, and also global doughnuts chain founded a few years after WWII in Massachusetts, USA. They now sell doughnuts, baked goods and a variety of beverages at their 12,000 restaurants in 36 countries.

Despite their original iconic sweets, over half of their business in their home market is now generated by beverages, especially coffee. Therefore, they’ve decided to drop the “Donuts” icon from their logo, signages, and packages from next year.

Will that sells more profitable beverages or makes their drinks face direct competition against Starbucks or McDonald’s?

At any rate, it may take a few decades for their customers to say, “Oh, there are doughnuts in the coffee shop.” It may remind you of the same action Apple took in 2007 to remove “computer” from its name. Because of their iPhone and iPad, very few now associate Apple with a computer.

By the way, if you have a choice, which doughnuts would you prefer, Dunkin’s or Mister Donuts? Whichever you choose, the money you’ve paid will go to the same pocket. Yes, both donut chains are owned by the same company!

Enjoy reading and think what makes you choose your coffee when you are on the road, the brand, taste/flavor, location or price.

https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/25/news/dunkin-donuts-new-name/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2362-9/29/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

Large-scale wind and solar power 'could green the Sahara'

Generating renewable energy in the Sahara. This sounds bold enough, but it could also green the desert. Why?

Though the Sahara isn’t so populated or industrialized, it is close to Europe and the Middle East where a substantial amount of energy is consumed. And these markets are desperate to switch from conventional power generators to renewable energies. So, installing solar panels and wind turbines in the sunny and windy desert makes perfect sense.

But researchers have recently found a surprising byproduct by these clean-power generators in the desert. These solar panels and wind turbines could increase precipitation in the dry desert to the level that allows vegetation to grow on the surface.

How could that be possible?

Enjoy reading and learning what renewable energy devices could to the environment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45435593

Topic Reading-Vol.2361-9/28/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

Watch a Gulper Eel Inflate and Deflate Itself, Shocking Scientists

Interestingly, what the title says and the video shows are quite different. In the video, you’ll see an inflating object whose shape alters so flexibly that you can hardly tell what the creature is. At one point, its jaw widens so much that it looks as if an open mouth is dancing in the water. But at the end, you’ll find what this mysterious creature originally is.

Enjoy watching this rare video footage taken in the deep sea.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/watch-a-gulper-eel-inflate-and-deflate-itself-shocking-scientists.aspx

Topic Reading-Vol.2360-9/27/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

A trick to learning when to cut your losses

Continue or change doing something that hasn’t been working. You’ve been asking yourself this question again and again but have been unable to change the course, or more foolishly, have spent more time and/or money on it. You’re trapped. Gambling, financial investment, or a worn-out shirt which will never look any better no matter how hard you wash and iron it only to name a few. This common phenomenon among most people, companies or governments is called “chasing your losses,” or “sunk cost fallacy.”

What drives such unjustifiable decisions not to change? Is that optimism for the future or investment already made in the past? Is there any way to avoid such a trap?

Enjoy reading and think about the situations that you chased your losses.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20180914-the-trick-to-learning-when-to-cut-your-losses

Topic Reading-Vol.2359-9/26/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

How China's GPS 'rival' Beidou is plotting to go global

Your smartphone knows where you are so that it can show you on the map, guide you to the desired place, or recommend a place to visit. That convenience is provided by the GPS, Global Positioning System, navigation system’s receiver installed in your smartphone. It receives information from GPS satellites and then calculates the geographical position. There are three globally servicing systems, the US’s GPS, the EU’s Galileo, and Russia’s Glonass, each system has 32, 30, and 26 satellites respectively that cover the globe. They were originally built for military and aviation purposes, but the US government has been allowing the system to be used for other purposes. Though there has been no such event that the system became unavailable or dysfunctional, it is still possible that the system could be suspended in certain areas or the whole world, or for civilian uses, should the US decide to.

That’s why China has been developing its own global positioning system of their own, which is going to cover the entire globe by 2020. And they are going to promote their system to the world.

Enjoy reading and learn how China is seriously trying not to depend on its archrival.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45471959

Topic Reading-Vol.2358-9/25/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

How do you decaffeinate coffee?

How do you take your coffee, if you do, black, white, with or without sugar? But before this question, you should be asked regular or decaf.

Caffeine is a chemical found in coffee, tea, cola, and other products. It stimulates the central nervous system, heart, muscles, and even blood pressure, and also increases urine flow. Therefore, drinking regular coffee before bedtime is likely to disturb your sleep. These are the reasons some people take decaffeinated coffee, especially at night.

But do you have any clue how coffee is decaffeinated? Does that process take place before or after the roasting process? How is coffee decaffeinated without spoiling the original flavor and taste of the coffee? In fact, there are several ways to remove caffeine from coffee.

Should decaf-drinkers be given options as to how the coffee is decaffeinated?

Enjoy reading the article and think about how you want to take your next coffee.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180917-how-do-you-decaffeinate-coffee

Topic Reading-Vol.2357-9/24/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers

Inside the cockpit of an Airbus A220

Do you want to know how pilots fly an airplane? Here is a tour of the flight deck of the brand-new Airbus A220-300. This relatively small passenger aircraft is fully controlled digitally. There are no longer round dial instruments in the cockpit. Instead, digital screens show all the information needed to plan, fly and land the aircraft. You may also notice that there are no control sticks seen in front of the pilots’ seats. Instead, there are side-sticks on the side of the seats, one on the left for the captain and the other on the right for the co-pilot.

Are those side-sticks easy to use for both right-handed and left-handed pilots?

Enjoy watching the video tour of the latest flight deck.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/airbus-a220-cockpit/index.html