World's Most Popular High-Speed Trains

The definition of high-speed rail varies across the world, with the US Federal Railroad Administration defining it as a train that exceeds speeds of 110 mph, while other countries set the standard much higher. Take a look at some of the world's most popular high-speed trains.

Japan's Shinkansen

The world's first high-speed rail premiered when Japan's Shinkansen opened to the public in 1964. The Shinkansen has grown to become the world's busiest high-speed rail line, carrying 151 million passengers between 2007 and 2008.

France' s TVG

France's high-speed rail, the TGV, debuted in 1981 with service between Paris and Lyon. Since then, the French national rail operator, SNCF, have expanded their electric train's network across France and to neighboring countries. The TGV currently holds the record for the fastest train on conventional rails, which it accomplished in 2007, reaching 356 mph.

China's Shanghai Maglev

China is home to the world's largest high-speed rail network, recently topping 2,050 miles. The Shanghai Maglev is China's fastest train measured by peak operational speed, reaching 268 mph in its short 18.7 mile trip. Maglev trains use magnetic levitation for the lift and propulsion of mass transit, as opposed to the wheels on traditional railroads.

EuroStar

Opening in 1994, the Eurostar's main service connects passengers between London, Paris and Brussels. The train travels underneath the English Channel, through the longest undersea tunnel in the world.



Germany's ICE
Germany's Intercity-Express is a high-speed rail system that connects most of Germany, as well as neighboring countries. Manufactured by Siemens, the ICE 3 has been in operation since 2000. Lighter and more powerful than its predecessors, the ICE 3 is licensed for speeds of 205 mph, though runs slower in Germany where the high-speed lines are only capable of handling up to 187 mph travel.


Spain's AVE

Spain's high-speed rail has four main lines connecting Madrid to Seville, Barcelona and Valladolid, and Cordoba to Málaga. An intense expansion of the railway is planned over the span of the next decade with the goal of joining the majority of Spain to the high-speed train network, which would make it the largest European high-speed rail.


Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR)

The THSR, opening in 2007, is based on Japan's Shinkansen. The system was a massive construction effort, with over 2,000 engineers from more than 20 countries aiding 20,000 workers in completing the enterprise.

South Korea's KTX

Open for almost six years, South Korea's high-speed rail is derived from the French TGV. The Korea Train Express is operated by Korail, whose latest train, the KTX-II, is the world's fourth high-speed train to reach speeds beyond the 350 kmh mark (about 217 mph).

Potential of iPad killers

Here's a collection of iPad alternatives. These tablets compete directly with Apple's "magical" tablet.

HP Slate Table PC


Axiotron ModBook tablet


Notion Ink Adam


JooJoo tablet


Viliv 0PC tablet


Archos 9 tablet


Dell Streak Tablet


Lenovo S10 3T


Exo PC Slate

Melinda Dennehy racy photo

The web is abuzz with searches on Melinda Dennehy naked photo. Melinda Dennehy is a 41-years old language teacher in a local school in New Hampshire.



Melinda Dennehy has been charged with the felony for sending the Nude photos / nude pics to a school grade student. Police say the 41-year-old English teacher sent four sexy shots of herself to a 15-year-old male student at Londonderry High School. The student, it seems, thought that was pretty nifty. Police say he forwarded the images to his friends. Dennehy is a mother of two was freed on bail and was ordered to stay away from anyone under 16. She has been charged with one count of indecent exposure.


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Rocky Road - 3D Sidewalk Art

3D Sidewalk Art of Rocky Road. Save the dog.

Watering Hole - 3D Sidewalk Art

Watering Hole - 3D Sidewalk Art. Don't waste the water.

Sydney Naked Landscape

New York Photographer Spencer Tunick photographs a massive landscape of naked human bodies at Sydney's Opera House, March 01, 2010. Photo: Nick Moir



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* Sea of flesh floods Opera House

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Top 10 Most Dangerous Foods

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement on Feb. 22, recommending the labeling and possible redesign of hot dogs to prevent choking deaths among children. Here's a look at 10 risky foods


Hot Dogs

They're much more than a tailgating staple. In a new paper, the American Academy of Pediatrics says hot dogs are also a choking hazard to children and should come with a warning label. About 17% of food-related asphyxiations in those younger than 10 are caused by hot dogs, according to a 41-state study cited in the paper.


Fugu

Served in paper-thin slices by expert chefs, fugu combines luxury with a high-stakes gamble. The intestines, ovaries and liver of fugu (or blowfish) contain a poison called tetrodotoxin, which is 1,200 times deadlier than cyanide. The toxin is so potent that a lethal dose is smaller than the head of a pin, and a single fish has enough poison to kill 30 people. See Freshwater Puffer Fish - Ikan Buntal

Ackee

In Jamaica, the ackee fruit is a mixed blessing. Though originally native to West Africa, it migrated to Jamaica in 1778 and is now the country's national fruit. If improperly eaten, though, ackee can cause what has been dubbed the Jamaican Vomiting Sickness — which, other than the self-explanatory symptoms, can lead to coma or death. Unripe ackee fruit contains a poison called hypoglycin, so preparers must be careful to wait until the fruit's protective pods turn red and open naturally.


Peanuts

Don't let Mr. Peanut's top hat and monocle fool you — beneath that gentlemanly exterior lies one deadly little nut if you're one of the roughly 1% of the population that has a peanut allergy. It's the most common cause of food-allergy deaths, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.


Leafy Greens

Leafy greens — including spinach, lettuce, cabbage, arugula and kale — were listed as the riskiest foods of 2009, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which is regulated by the FDA. The group identified 363 separate outbreaks linked to the veggies last year; 240 of those cases were linked to food from restaurants.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb, the vegetable so celebrated for its role in pastries that it's also known as the "pie plant," has a kick to it. While rhubarb has a medicinal history originating in Asia, ingesting a large amount of the leaves can cause poisoning. The CDC warns that neither cooked nor raw rhubarb leaves should be consumed, owing to the toxins (including oxalate) they contain. Stick with the stalk.


Tuna

Popular among elementary-school students and foodies alike, tuna has become one of the most widely consumed fish in the world. It also has one of the worst reputations. A well-publicized 2004 U.S. government advisory warned consumers against eating too much of the fish out of concern that the high mercury levels could damage the nervous system and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cassava

Better known to Americans as tapioca, the pudding favorite is produced from the roots of this bush-like plant. But the crop can have deadly consequences. If prepared incorrectly, the cassava plant can produce cyanide, a deadly compound when consumed.

Coffeee

Aside from the possibility of increased heart rate, trouble sleeping and discoloration of teeth, there's another a way that a cup of joe can be detrimental to your well being. Call it the burned-crotch effect or the java jump and jive, because when that hot liquid hits your lap, you'll stop at nothing to end the pain.

Mushrooms


Are you really surprised? Aside from hallucinogenic properties, mushrooms can also kill. Varieties like the Death Cap, Destroying Angels and Deadly Webcap are highly poisonous and capable of inducing death (i.e. killing you).

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