Philippine News

Manny Pacquiao Wins Over Antonio Margarito

2010-11-13T21:48:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao Wins Over Antonio Margarito

Congratulations Pacman!

Pacquiao vs Margarito Live Online Stream

2010-11-13T16:50:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Margarito Watch it Live:

alternate link:
http://atdhe.net/24238/watch-manny-pacquiao-vs-antonio-margarito

Pacquiao vs margarito

2010-11-13T15:42:00.000-08:00

A beginner's guide to Pacquiao vs. Margarito.
Top Rank Promotions Press Kit

The Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito bout is one of those contests that will bring in a lot of casual boxing fans, as well as sporting enthusiasts who aren't too familiar with the world of professional prizefighting. In fact, it might bring in more casual fans than it will hardcore fans, who are a bit jaded at the encounter, rather than getting a chance to see a truly special bout such as Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather.

Regardless about what you may think of the contest, here's a quick guide to Pacquiao vs. Margarito for those that are not too familiar with the world of boxing. Check out the list of the five things beginners should watch for in the Pacquiao vs. Margarito contest.
1. Manny Pacquiao's Speed

<--Read More-->

Pacquiao vs. Margarito - Pacquiao staring down another larger foe

2010-11-13T01:50:00.000-08:00

GRAPEVINE, Texas – Only minutes after the greatest performance of Manny Pacquiao’s career to date, after he drubbed Oscar De La Hoya and stopped him following eight one-sided rounds, trainer Freddie Roach was asked about a potential match with Antonio Margarito.

Roach laughed, shook his head and insisted the fight would never happen.

“Too big,” Roach said. “Far too big.”
But in the nearly two years since that night, Pacquiao has plowed through Ricky Hatton (second-round knockout), Miguel Cotto (12th-round technical knockout) and Joshua Clottey (one-sided unanimous decision), on the way earning wide recognition as the finest boxer in the world.
His promoter, Bob Arum, calls Pacquiao the greatest fighter he’s ever seen, including the legendary former heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali.
So, earlier this year, when Arum called Roach and proposed Margarito as Pacquiao’s next opponent, Roach never hesitated in accepting. On Saturday at Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao will meet Margarito for the World Boxing Council super welterweight championship in a bout that will attract perhaps 70,000 fans and which has created a worldwide media frenzy.
And Roach, who once worried that the one-time flyweight champion was too small to compete with a big, physical welterweight like Margarito, is now so confident in Pacquiao that he is predicting an eighth-round knockout.
“Manny’s grown so much as a fighter, even since the Oscar fight,” Roach said. “The guy amazes me sometimes, and I see him all the time.”

Pacquiao is a better than 5-1 favorite in Las Vegas sports books to win his 12th consecutive fight and capture a world championship in his eighth weight class. He will concede 4½ inches in height, 6½ inches in reach and perhaps as many as 15 pounds when the bell rings.
And yet, the newly installed congressman from the Sarangani province in the Philippines is completely unfazed by the challenge in front of him. He’ll concede nothing else.
“With our strategy, we are not worried about the size,” Pacquiao said. “I believe I can fight the bigger guys even though I am small compared to them. We always believe in our talent.”
The simple equation in the fight is Pacquiao’s overwhelming advantage in speed compared to Margarito’s massive size advantage. Margarito is a volume puncher who loves to go to the body and a hard body attack is one of the best ways to combat speed. Hit a guy in the rib cage enough and it’s not long before he slows appreciably.
But Clottey, who along with Cotto fought each man, said Margarito should be wary of Pacquiao’s punching power.
“If Margarito uses his head, and if he respects Pacquiao’s power, he has a chance,” Clottey said. “But if he believes he’s so much bigger and stronger than Manny Pacquiao, he could wind up on the floor.”
Cotto, who was knocked down twice by Pacquiao, concurred with Clottey, noting “Manny is a very strong fighter.”
Margarito is notorious for having a strong chin and relentlessly stalking his opponent, but he is extraordinarily slow and throws wide punches. He’ll be vulnerable to Pacquiao’s lightning fast hands unless he doubles his jab, uses it frequently and shortens his other punches.
Margarito is eager to return to the limelight and, more significantly, start collecting paychecks after a long period of inactivity. Other than a May fight against journeyman Roberto Garcia, who is no relation to his trainer, Robert Garcia, Margarito hasn’t fought since Jan. 24, 2009, when an illegal knuckle pad was discovered in his hand wraps before a loss to Shane Mosley.
Arum said Margarito has been through “torture” and “hell” in the last 21 months, as he’s battled to save his boxing career and fought allegations that he’s a cheater.
His former trainer, Javier Capetillo, took blame for the illegal pad in Margarito’s wraps. In an interview with Ringtv.com, Capetillo said he put the illegal pad into Margarito’s wraps because he worried about his fighter’s condition. Arum said Margarito had to lose 35 pounds in the final month before the fight to make the 147-pound welterweight limit.
“I started panicking the week of the fight,” Capetillo told Ring. “I knew we were in deep [expletive], and we couldn’t tell anyone. It was too late to pull out of the fight. But I want to make it clear that I did not plan what happened. Maybe I was feeling the pressure of the fight and not paying attention to what I was doing when I reached into my bag and grabbed the training gauze, but I didn’t do it on purpose.
“I made a mistake. I wasn’t trying to hide anything. I just screwed up, and I did it in front of Mosley’s trainer and the commissioners. I was just under a lot of pressure because I knew we shouldn’t have taken the fight, I knew Tony was in trouble and I knew that I had put him in that position. I wrapped Tony’s hands four times in front of Mosley’s trainer and the commissioners and two representatives from Golden Boy [Promotions] after they found the gauze. I admitted then that I made a mistake. I confessed to the commission after the fight. I took responsibility for my actions and I think I’ve been punished as if Tony had fought with the gauze.”
Margarito has been under enormous pressure and faced near-constant scrutiny since the fight was signed earlier this year. Pacquiao, by contrast, has been relaxed and loose. On Wednesday, after a late-night workout, he went into a hotel ballroom and practiced his singing with his band.
He’s so worried about Margarito’s size and power that he’s planning to do a concert on Tuesday for some customers of a Lake Tahoe, Nev., casino.
“Manny had a slow start to his [training] camp, but he’s exactly where he needs to be right now,” Roach said. “He’s going to knock this guy out.”

Antonio Margarito (right) has a height, reach and weight advantage, but Manny Pacquiao has no qualms.
(David J. Phillip/AP Photo)

JYJ: Biggest Boy Band in the World

2010-10-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

Trivia question: Who's the biggest boy band in the world? Backstreet Boys? *NSYNC? New Kids? Hanson? Take That? Menudo? Nope. According to reliable source Guinness World Records, it's JYJ.
Never heard of JYJ? Well, obviously you haven't been to Korea lately, where the group's singers, Kim Jaejoong, Park Yoochun, and Kim Junsu, are bigger than Justin Timberlake. Their popularity in their homeland landed them in Guinness in 2008 and 2009 for having the world's largest official fanclub (more than 800,000 members in Seoul alone) and for being the most photographed celebrities on the planet (they've been snapped professionally approximately 500 million times).
And now JYJ are going global, as they release their first English-language album, The Beginning, on Atlantic Records. The disc features production on two tracks, "Empty" and "Be My Girl," by superstar studio guru Rodney Jerkins (Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige), and the album's lead single, "Ayyy Girl," actually boasts vocals and production by a little American artist named Kanye West.

While the members of JYJ started performing together in 2003 in the Korean boy band TVXQ (who released four successful albums in Korea and four in Japan), the new album title The Beginning is apt here, since JYJ is a rebirth for them--and not just because they're finally launching their careers in America. It took a long and arduous journey for JYJ to reach this point. Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu, while still in TVXQ, had to sue their record label, SM Entertainment, in order to get out of what was basically a ludicrously unfair 13-year "slave" contract. Despite having sold millions of units and breaking world records in Asia, until they successfully extricated themselves from SM Entertainment, Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu were literally broke.
But things are looking up for JYJ now. A recent issue of Billboard with JYJ on the cover sold out in 24 hours, for instance, and their record label actually had to halt all pre-orders for the limited luxury edition of The Beginning due to too much demand. And obviously, JYJ's Western-friendly R&B sound has already earned them some very high-profile U.S. supporters.
"I'm really glad to work with JYJ on their debut album," says Jerkins. "It's all about the East meeting the West these days, and the world is becoming a melting pot of various cultures. To have Kanye and myself champion the cause of unifying the world through the international language of music and introducing top artists from one end of the globe to this end in America makes this a very special project to us." And JYJ add: "It was a great new experience that we are really privileged to have. We felt the pressure of working with such superstars initially, but our anxieties were allayed when Kanye/Rodney showed us great support. We were able to have a really good time working with them and exchanging ideas about music with one another."
Prepare to witness JYJ set a whole bunch of other Guinness records in the near future.

Paul the 'psychic' World Cup octopus dies: aquarium

2010-10-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

BERLIN (AFP) – Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during this year's football World Cup in South Africa for correctly predicting the outcome of games, has died, his aquarium in Germany said Tuesday.

"Management and staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre were devastated to discover that oracle octopus Paul, who achieved global renown during the recent World Cup, had passed away overnight," the aquarium said in a sombre statement.

Read More on Yahoo News

Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez Fight Video - UFC 121 - MAIN EVENT

2010-10-24T02:26:00.000-07:00

MMA Fight Video of Champ Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez in the Main Event of UFC 121: Lesnar vs Velasquez in Anaheim, Calafornia on October 23, 2010.

http://mmafightvideosonline.blogspot.com/2010/10/brock-lesnar-vs-cain-velasquez-fight.html

Typhoon in Philippines

2010-10-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

With Super Typhoon Megi ravaging the Philippines on Monday, many have probably wondered, "Just what is a super typhoon?" Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What's the difference between a "super typhoon" and a regular typhoon? A super typhoon is the equivalent of a Category 4 or 5 hurricane, meaning it has maximum sustained winds of 150mph or more. It's basically a really intense typhoon, with the ability to produce high storm surges and torrential downpours, in addition to powerful winds.

How does a typhoon form? Much like hurricanes, typhoons develop over large bodies of warm water, which act as energy sources for tropical storm systems. Typhoons pose the biggest threat to coastal areas, since such storms typically lose strength as they move over land.

What's the difference between a hurricane, a cyclone and a typhoon? Essentially none, apart from the question of where they tend to hit. All three form over warm water and feature a circular "eye" in their center. A typhoon is a storm that develops in the Pacific Ocean north of equator, most typically in the northwest Pacific region.

Click image to see Typhoon Megi damage photos

Reuters

How frequent are typhoons? Unlike Atlantic hurricanes -- which form between June 1 and Nov. 30 -- typhoons take shape year-round, though they form most frequently when the water is warmest, August to October. The most active season was in 1997, when a number of typhoons intensified to super typhoon status. Super Typhoon Tip in 1979 was the most intense such storm on record, stretching out to cover just under 1,400 miles, with winds reaching 190 mph.
[Photos: Rare waterspout captured off the coast of Japan]

What countries are most affected by typhoons? Typhoons turn up most commonly in countries in East Asia, such as Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and China. U.S. territories in the region, such as Hawaii and Guam, also frequently suffer typhoon damage.
How do typhoons get their names? The nations around the western Pacific region began using a new system for naming typhoons in 2000 that include personal names, names of animals and flowers, and even astrological signs.

source: yahoo news

India’s richest man has moved into world’s biggest private residence- Mukesh Ambani's Antilia Home

2010-10-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Marking the end of seven years of construction work, India's richest man is planning a housewarming party for his 27-story palatial new home in Mumbai, replete with no fewer than three helipads and an air-traffic control station on its roof.

The 570-foot-tall glass tower, called Antilia, "features a swimming pool, a health club, a salon and a mini-theatre," reports the Times of India. "The first six levels comprise the garage where more than 160 cars can be parked. Atop the parking lot is Antilia's lobby, which has nine elevators." The house also has a garden that can accommodate trees, according to the Telegraph, and a separate ballroom. About 600 staffers will be required to run Antilia, named after the mythical island in the Atlantic.

The house belongs to Mukesh Ambani, who owns much of the oil and retail giant Reliance Industries. He is estimated to be worth about $27 billion. Experts told the Guardian that "there is no other private property of comparable size and prominence in the world." Ambani, the fourth-richest man in the world, co-ran Reliance with his brother before the two had a falling-out and split the company.

Some were surprised at the conspicuous show of wealth, since Ambani is known as a deeply private person not fond of hanging out with India's super-rich. "Perhaps he has been stung by his portrayal in the media as an introvert. Maybe he is making the point that he is a tycoon in his own right," Hamish McDonald, author of the book "Ambani and Sons," speculated in the Guardian.

In a 2008 New York Times profile, friends described the tycoon as something of a contradiction: a cold-blooded businessman whose heart also "bleeds for India." He wants to help pave the way for a better life for the country's poor, they said. A Reliance spokesman told the Times the house would cost about $70 million, but the Guardian says it's closer to $1 billion.

Click image to see photos of Antilia, Mukesh Ambani's home

Yu-Na Kim wins Sportswoman of the Year!!

2010-10-13T02:53:00.000-07:00

Just got back from New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where the Women's Sports Foundation held its 31st Annual Salute to Women in Sports. Had great conversations with Yu-Na Kim, Michelle Kwan, Sarah Hughes, Billie Jean King, and others (all of which will be featured in upcoming videos). But wanted to share great news about Yu-Na, who looked very elegant and might I say, Hollywood (not surprising given her relocation to Los Angeles). She received Sportswoman of the Year. Also nominated were Kelly Kulick (first woman to be part of the previously all male Professional Bowlers Association Tour), Alana Nichols (Paralympic champion in wheelchair basketball and alpine skier), Sanya Richards (Olympic champion in track and field) and Anna Tunnicliffe (Olympic champion sailor).
The full release follows -- will share more in the coming days:
Women’s Sports Foundation Honors Top Female Athletes and Announces Collaboration with espnW at Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Dinner

Yuna Kim, Katie O’Donnell, Amy Palmiero-Winters and Caitlin Baker among award recipients
NEW YORK, N.Y., OCTOBER 12, 2010 - Tonight, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, Billie Jean King, Women’s Sports Foundation Founder, and Mary Carillo, sportscaster and former professional tennis player, hosted the Women’s Sports Foundation’s 31st Annual Salute to Women in Sports awards dinner. Sports fans and champion athletes from Jessica Mendoza and Laila Ali to Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Kwan gathered to recognize and honor talented female athletes who, through their accomplishments, have been inspiring role models for girls and women worldwide. As part of the celebration, Women’s Sports Foundation CEO Kathryn Olson, announced that the foundation has been chosen as the “Official Charity of espnW,” the soon-to-be-launched digital arm of ESPN that will serve, inform and inspire the female athlete and fan.
“It is an absolute honor to be chosen as the Official Charity of espnW,” said Kathryn Olson, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation. “We applaud and support espnW in their effort to tell the story of female athletes and help the Women’s Sports Foundation to continue our mission of advancing the lives of girls and women through sport and showcasing female athletes as individuals with limitless potential.”
The Women’s Sports Foundation will work closely with espnW, expanding support of programs for girls and women by sharing content across joint media assets and driving awareness for specific Women’s Sports Foundation programs. Top programs include GoGirlGo!, which uses sport and physical activity as an educational intervention for young girls; Travel & Training Fund, a fund that provides financial assistance for coaching, specialized training and equipment for female athletes; and a future media-based campaign featuring celebrity dads with their daughters which will emphasize the importance of sports participation and family involvement. espnW will share content with the Foundation’s SHE Network, launching in early 2011, and ESPN RISE for Girls – which serves high school girl athletes – will work closely with the foundation on target initiatives.
Laura Gentile, vice president, espnW and ESPN RISE digital and publishing, said, “ESPN has been a supporter of the Women’s Sports Foundation since its very beginning. As we now join the effort to serve female athletes in a more comprehensive way with espnW, we’re delighted to expand this relationship with focused cross-promotion and programs.”
The espnW announcement was just one pinnacle in a phenomenal tribute to women in sports and the girls they inspire. The awards dinner celebrated the accomplishments of outstanding female athletes who have made their mark on the world of sports in 2010. Figure skater Yuna Kim and field hockey star Katie O’Donnell were honored with the prestigious Sportswoman of the Year Awards in the individual and team categories, respectively. The Wilma Rudolph Courage Award went to Amy Palmiero-Winters, below-knee amputee ultramarathon athlete, while 16 year-old swimmer, Caitlin Baker, accepted the ANNIKA Inspiration Award. In addition to these outstanding athletes, Launny Steffens received the Billie Jean King Contribution Award.
Figure skater, Yuna Kim received the Sportswoman of the Year Award for individual sport athletes. At the Ladies’ Singles event at the Trophée Eric Bompard event in Paris, Kim became the first woman to have a combined final score of over 210 points and finishing 36.04 points ahead of her closest competitor. Kim has set two world records and in February 2010, she won the gold medal at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in the Ladies’ Singles event, making her the first Korean to medal at an Olympic Winter Games. Kim is currently ranked No.1 by the International Skating Union.
Katie O’Donnell was presented with the Sportswoman of the Year Award for team sport athletes. As a University of Maryland Terrapin, O’Donnell was the strongest offensive threat in women’s field hockey during the 2009 season. She led the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with 87 points and 31 assists during the regular season. She was named the National Player of the Year and Offensive MVP by womensfieldhockey.com. and was named a First Team All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and womensfieldhockey.com. O’Donnell is also a starting center forward on the U.S. National team.
The Wilma Rudolph Courage Award was presented to Amy Palmiero-Winters, below-knee amputee and ultramarathon, marathon and triathlon athlete, for exhibiting great determination and strength in both her professional and personal life. Despite losing her foot in a motorcycle accident in 1994, Palmiero-Winters – fit with a custom-made running prosthetic – continued to run marathons and went on to set 12 world records, On January 1, 2010, she was the overall winner (beating all men and women) of the “Run to the Future,” a twenty-four race in Glendale, Ariz., by running 130.04. Her performance earned her the distinction of being the first amputee to qualify for the U.S. National Track & Field Team.
John L. “Launny” Steffens received the 2010 Billie Jean King Contribution Award. He was recognized for making significant contributions to the development and advancement of women’s sports and for having a profound impact on the Women’s Sports Foundation, specifically. In 1996, Steffens was the President of the Private Client Group for Merrill Lynch when he decided to take a chance on a non-traditional organization like WSF and sponsor its 17th Annual Salute to Women in Sports. For the past 15 years, Steffens has supported the organization by serving on the WSF’s Board of Stewards, encouraging high profile businessmen and women to serve on the WSF trustee board and acting as a strategic advisor. Steffens carried his commitment to WSF beyond his 38 years at Merrill Lynch through to a new position as Founder and Managing Director of Spring Mountain Capital, LP. The Women’s Sports Foundation honors Launny Steffens with the Billie Jean King Contribution award for his years of support, unwavering generosity and his relentless effort helping women athletes to strive, compete and realize their dreams.
The ANNIKA Inspiration Award, presented by WSF and ANNIKA Foundation, honors a deserving individual girl who demonstrates athleticism, dedication, leadership and the ability to inspire others. Caitlin Baker accepted the honor from Annika Sorenstam, the most dominant player in women’s golf and among the greatest icons in sports. Baker, a 16-year old competitive swimmer from Norman, Oklahoma, accepted the award in its inaugural year. Baker has been swimming since the age of 8 and turned to competitive swimming at age 11. It was around that time that Baker realized there were few swimmers of Native American heritage from rural Oklahoma and founded CAITLINB – which stands for Competitive American Indians Turning Lifestyles into New Beginnings. She has become a national spokesperson and symbol on the challenges facing young Native Americans.
In addition to recognizing women in sports and their supporters, the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Annual Salute to Women in Sports gala helps amplify its mission, promote gender equality in women’s athletics, and raise funds to support programs that help girls become physically active. The Annual Salute to Women in Sports was co-presented by ESPN and Gatorade®. Event sponsors included official airline sponsor American Airlines, beauty salon partners MAC and UNITE, and photo partner Getty Images.

Missing (and Valuable) Painting by Giovanni Boldini Found in Paris

2010-10-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

In Paris, an apartment sat locked up and untouched for 70 years. But it wasn't abandoned or empty. The rent was being paid, and the swanky pad was filled with furniture, books, and various works of art. One of those paintings, it turns out, was worth a lot of money.

A very buzzy story from the U.K.'s Telegraph explains that the valuable work of art is by Italian artist Giovanni Boldini. It recently sold for €2.1 million (around US$2.9 million) at auction. The painting's subject, "a woman in a pink muslin evening dress," was apparently Boldini's muse, Marthe de Florian. That hunch was legitimized by another titillating discovery in the apartment: a scribbled love note from the artist to de Florian. The apartment belonged to de Florian's granddaughter, who recently passed away at age 91.

One might well ask, "Why leave an apartment untouched and unused, but still pay for it every month?" Good question. According to the Telegraph, the granddaughter left the apartment just before the start of World War II and never returned. After her recent death, experts were sent to catalogue the inventory.

As the Telegraph writes, "Entering the untouched, cobweb-filled flat in Paris' 9th arrondissement, one expert said it was like stumbling into the castle of Sleeping Beauty, where time had stood still since 1900." Imagine their surprise when they saw, lying among the items, a painting worth millions.
News of the discovery sent Web searches on "giovanni boldini" skyrocketing 2,800% in just over 24 hours. Suddenly, it seems, people are eager to know more about the artist. Perhaps they want to compare his work to a few paintings gathering dust in their basements. Could one be worth big money? Hope springs eternal, but before you get too excited, remember that Boldini never dabbled in the subject of dogs playing poker. Sorry.

All That Skate- Dream on: Day 2

2010-10-05T04:14:00.001-07:00

Is Facebook Worth $33 Billion? It’s Complicated

2010-09-29T17:56:00.000-07:00

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s reported pledge to donate $100 million in stock to Newark, N.J. schools has sparked a heated debate over the valuation of the company, which has been estimated at $33 billion based on private share transactions. Forbes magazine added fuel to the fire with its annual ranking of the world’s richest people, which puts Zuckerberg at number 35 with an estimated net worth of almost $7 billion, based on what Forbes says is Facebook’s overall value of $23 billion. Zuckerberg’s ranking puts him just ahead of Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs.

So is Facebook really worth $23 billion, or $33 billion? The short answer is that it depends on what you mean by the term “worth.” David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founder of software developer 37signals, argues in a blog post that it’s absurd to say that the social network is worth that kind of money in any real sense, because it isn’t publicly traded the way that stocks such as Google are, so there’s no easy way to determine its actual value as a company. He also argues that the company’s worth is vastly inflated based on the revenue people estimate that it’s pulling in.

So the Facebook valuation based on minority investments is in my mind a complete joke in the sense that there was $33,000,000,000 dollars on the table. Irrational investor exuberance indeed.

In a heated response at Y Combinator’s Hacker News site, however, software entrepreneur Joel Spolsky takes issue with Hansson’s argument. There is a very active market for shares of Facebook, he notes, through services such as SecondMarket, which specialize in trading the restricted stock of private companies such as Facebook and Zynga (which is reportedly worth as much as $5 billion based on the activity in that market). So Facebook is worth $33 billion in the same sense that Google is worth $165 billion, Spolsky argues (there’s also a lot of back-and-forth in the YCombinator comments about the relative merits of Chicago — where 37signals is based — vs. Spolsky’s home of New York, but we’re leaving that part out).

The whole section “Minority investment evaluations aren’t real” is so economically bizarre and incorrect that I don’t even know where to start. It’s like you wrote a blog post arguing that it is incorrect to refer to a 5′ tall boy as 5′ tall because he’s often sitting down.

Hansson counters that the private market is not as liquid (meaning there isn’t as much activity as the public markets) or as transparent to outside observers. And what about the sale of stock to companies like Microsoft — which bought 2 percent of Facebook for $240 million in 2007 — or Russian venture fund Digital Sky Technologies, which also bought a stake last year? Elevation Partners invested $120 million in June, the deal that implied a valuation of $23 billion (just to complicate things further, Elevation bought its stake through private share trades on secondary markets). Hansson says these don’t count because they involve such a small portion of Facebook’s outstanding stock.

But Spolsky is right that this criticism doesn’t really apply; only a small amount of Google’s stock is freely tradable on public markets as well (since insiders control an estimated 30 percent and institutional holders have another large chunk locked up) and yet we’re quite comfortable saying that the web giant is “worth” $165 billion. Hansson is also on thin ice when he argues that bond markets are more transparent than the market for private stock: In fact, the bond market is still incredibly opaque to anyone but a registered bond trader. Until recently, current bond prices weren’t even posted and updated regularly the way stock prices are.

In reality, of course, every economist knows that things are only worth what people will pay for them, and since no one has actually paid $33 billion for Facebook, we shouldn’t really say that it is worth that much, or that Zuckerberg is worth $6.9 billion. But then, no one has paid $165 billion for Google either. The fact is that market valuations — whether private or public — are really just a convenient method of tracking what some people are currently willing to pay for a small chunk of the company. It may not be totally realistic (in fact, an acquirer would likely have to pay much more than just its $165-billion market cap in order to buy Google), but it is the way things are done, and by that rationale, Facebook has just as much claim to its “worth” as Google does.

Yuna Kim ♥ 2010 "Meditation for Thais"

2010-09-24T05:19:00.000-07:00

Yu-na Kim-All that Skate

2010-09-24T05:05:00.000-07:00

What makes Yu-Na Kim's skating show all that?

WHAT MAKES 2010 ALL THAT SKATE LA “ALL THAT?”
2010 All That Skate LA starring Yu-Na Kim LOS ANGELES -– The American debut and Los Angeles premiere of the international skating spectacular 2010 All That Skate LA comes to STAPLES Center Saturday, October 2nd, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 3rd, at 3:00 p.m. Reigning Olympic Champion Yuna Kim, and the most decorated skater in U.S. history, Michelle Kwan, headline an all-star champion cast to propel skating beyond the edge of live performance. Here’s a look at what makes the production all that, and more…

* All Those Medals (42): Number of medals represented: 3 Olympic Golds; 2 Olympic Silvers, 3 Olympic Bronze; 11 World Championships; 7 World Medals; 12 U.S. Championships; 3 European Championships.

* All That Gold (3): 2010 Olympic Champions in Ladies, Pairs and Dance performing together as professionals for the very first time.

* All That Yuna (11): Currently ranked number one in the world, Yuna Kim broke the world record 11 times for highest points in the short and long program, as well as total score. Yuna’s highest score came during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics with a total of 228.56 points, which resulted in a gold medal. She has won 13 international competitions, including 10 Grand Prix Series, the Continental Championship, World Championship, and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. In July 2010, she was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

* All That Michelle (43): The most decorated figure skating in US history, Kwan has an unprecedented 43 championships to her legendary career, with five World Championships, nine U.S. Championships, and two Olympic Medals. Off the ice Kwan was appointed the first U.S. Public Diplomacy Envoy in 2006 and in June of 2010 President Obama appointed her to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

* All Those Crowds (40,000): Fans who packed the arena for this summer’s international version of All That Skate before the domestic debut in the United States.

* All Those Countries (7): From the US to Korea, Canada, China, France, Germany and Switzerland, multiple countries are represented in the skating cast.

* All That Language (6): Languages spoken backstage: English, Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin, French, and German.

* All That Glamour (18): Number of times Lie Sang Bong, renown Korean-born designer who created the stunning costumes for the group number, showed at the Paris Pret-a-Porter Collection since 2002. The designer is known around the world as the “Korean McQueen,” having been featured in numerous publications including Le Figaro, Telegraph, the New York Times, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Oyster, Standard, and W Magazine. Lie has dressed world-renowned celebrities including Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Peaches, Lindsay Lohan, and Juliette Binoche.

* All That Intrigue (1): Exclusive offer to VIP tickets holders for a the “Ultimate Skate Experience” where attendees gain access for a “sneak peak” during the dress rehearsal, complete with Q & A discussions with the show director, stars Yuna Kim and Michelle Kwan and other cast members.

* All That Cold (23˚): Preferred temperature of the ice for perfecting jumps, spins, footwork.

* All That Edge (1/8”): Thickness of a skating blade, the landing point for triple revolutions, edges, spins and awe-inspiring speed.

All That! Check out this latest amazing behind the scenes and performance footage. (photo below, Yuna Kim and Michelle Kwan perform together in Korea)

Event: 2010 All That Skate LA at STAPLES Center (1111 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles)
When: Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 3:00 p.m.

Purchase tickets: Tickets range from $42 to $155 for VIP and are available at www.staplescenter.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000 or Ticketmaster retail outlets, as well as via the event website at www.allthatskate.com

http://www.lifeskate.com/.a/6a00e54f7ecf2c88330133f46bef7f970b-pi

Yu-Na Kim and Michelle Kwan will skate together in 2010 All That Skate LA

Goo Hye-sun’s upcoming vampire movie

2010-09-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

http://popseoul.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/goohyesun_100922.jpg

Actress Goo Hye-sun is preparing for her next movie as writer-director, while currently acting in the drama series, ‘The Musical.’ This upcoming film project is a vampire romance, and Goo’s first feature film as the writer and director.

Goo Hye-sun is familiar with the director’s seat, having written and directed two shorts already. ‘Magic,’ being the latter which was released earlier this year to mixed reviews. Opposite of ‘Magic,’ this new film project is aiming to be more commercial and will be filmed at a larger scale compared to her previous projects.

The vampire movie has been in preparation for the most part of the past year, and will get going once ‘The Musical‘ wraps up.

Super Junior's new song "Angel" for the drama "Haru"

2010-09-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

The boy band Super Junior unleashes a new song called “Angel” for the OST for the drama “Haru“.

Only a few of the members sang this song, and they are: Sung-min, Eun-hyuk, Kyu-hyun, Ryeo-wook and Dong-hae.This song has a sweet melody with a beat.

Listen to the song below, we know that everybody will love it:

BEAST-Breath "Teaser"

2010-09-23T21:36:00.000-07:00

So excited for their new song.,.hwaiting Beast,.Saranghe

Yu Na Kim Winter Olympic Record

2010-09-23T21:02:00.000-07:00

A Book Attracts Loads of Facebook Fans. But Why?

2010-09-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

Book authors have been searching eagerly for ways to harness social media to promote their works. So it would seem that Gregory Levey had stumbled upon the magic key after the Facebook fan page of his book went from having just 700 fans to 692,000 in a matter of months — more than New York City (570,000 fans) or the George Clooney fan page (613,000).

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing," he wrote in a recent essay on a Web site for authors about the explosion in his book's popularity. "Who were these people?"

But Mr. Levey, 32, quickly realized that his book, now two years old, had not catapulted to the best-seller list or landed on Oprah's Book Club. Rather, somehow, people had fastened onto the book's title — "Shut Up, I'm Talking" — and taken it in an unintended direction. People weren't telling their friends that they "Like" his page because they were avid readers; instead, they were fans of the catchphrase.

Then Mr. Levey started examining his new online entourage: They were the same people who say they "Like" pages such as "Shocking: Tattoo misspellings you have to live with!" Worse, many of his fans unabashedly proclaim on their own Facebook pages that they don't read books.
[See 7 Things to Stop Doing Now on Facebook]
Mr. Levey's book — whose full title is "Shut Up, I'm Talking: And Other Diplomacy Lessons I Learned in the Israeli Government" — chronicles the story of how he landed a job as a speechwriter on the staff of then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon while he was a 20-something law school graduate.
Certainly, his publisher says any exposure, even accidental, can be good.

Read More on Yahoo News

Playtime Over for Pacquiao as Roach, Sparmates Arrive

2010-09-19T16:42:00.000-07:00

op trainer Freddie Roach arrived in Manila early Sunday morning from Los Angeles accompanied by a pair of mean-looking junior-middleweights who will lend a hand in Pacquiao's buildup for the Nov. 13 showdown with Antonio Margarito.

''We're going to train tomorrow (Monday),'' Roach told the Bulletin as soon as he emerged from a throng of well-wishers and fellow passengers at the Centennial Airport. Roach came in with Glen Tapia (from the Dominican Republic) and Michael Medina (Mexico), who will be the other half of sparring partners that would also include Vanes Martirosyan (Armenia) and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (Mexico). Tapia has a 7-0 record with five knockouts, while Medina has a 24-2 mark with 19 stoppages.

''We're looking forward to working with Manny Pacquiao,'' said Tapia, who got Roach's attention as he shadow-boxed while waiting for their hotel keys at the lobby of the New World. Martirosyan and Chavez Jr., son of the legendary Julio Cesar Sr., are expected to hit town anytime this week in time for the start of training camp in Baguio City, according to Roach.

Roach said Rashad Holloway, who was tapped when Pacquiao revved up for Oscar De La Hoya in 2008, will be utilized once Pacquiao and the celebrated cornerman return to the familiar confines of the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood in the third or fourth week of October.

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Girl falls from sixth floor - did she survive?

2010-09-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

A little girl fell six floors after she climbed out the window of her apartment.
The hair-raising incident, captured on video, occurred in Korea.
Described as an "unbelievable, harrowing accident", it was shared on a citizen journalism website to remind parents to keep an eye on their children even when at home.

Click on thumbnail to view

Read also:

» Video: See how
it happened

In the video, the little girl was seen climbing out her flat window and clinging onto the ledge, before falling six floors down. However, she was apparently saved by her father who was below the block of flats.

The incident is said to have occurred last year.
The netizen who shared the video said: "This video shows a little girl climbing onto the edge of the window and falling.
"At first she was sitting on the edge of the window, then she clung onto the window ledge from the outside using her little hands.
"According to the source of the video, she was saved by her dad who was below the block of flats.
"I don't know how true the ending was, but parents, please take precautions before it's too late. Better to be safe than sorry."

Hand Dancers a YouTube Sensation

2010-09-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

Suzanne Cleary and Peter Harding used their hands to become a Web hit.

PRC releases nursing exam results

2010-08-27T03:56:00.000-07:00

A total of 37,679 out of 91,008 examinees passed the Nurse Licensure Examination held on July 3 and 4, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Friday.

In a statement, the PRC said the examination results of five examinees will be withheld until the PRC determines their "liabilities" under the rules and regulations governing the licensure examination.

The examinees who successfully passed the board exams should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

They are required to bring the following: * a duly accomplished oath form or "Panunumpa ng Propesyonal"

* current community tax certificate (cedula)

* 2 pieces passport-size pictures (colored with white background and complete name tag)

* 1 piece 1" x 1" picture (colored with white background and complete name tag)

* 2 sets of metered documentary stamps

* 1 short brown envelope with name and profession indicated on it

They are also required to pay the initial registration fee of P600 and annual registration fee of P450 for 2010 through 2013.

The oath-taking ceremonies for successful examinees who took their examination in Manila will be held before the Philippine Nursing Board on September 20 and 21 at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

The regional oath-taking schedules will be posted on the BON website.

The July nursing board exam was held in Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.

The PRC said those who will take their oaths must come in their white gala uniform and wear their nurse’s caps and white duty shoes.

They must not wear earrings or a corsage and their hair must not touch the collar.

Tickets for the oath-taking will be available at the Philippine Nurses Association office at 1663 F.T. Benitez Street, Malate, Manila from September 1 to 20, 2010 on a first come first serve basis

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Philippine hostage crisis- police admit blunders in deadly hostage ordeal

2010-08-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

Philippine police conceded Tuesday they made blunders in ending a bus hijacking as outrage grew over the bloody assault played out on live television that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.

Commandos fired dozens of bullets into the bus and smashed its windows with sledgehammers as they tried to storm it, but were then forced to wait outside helplessly for over an hour as the hijacker used his captives as human shields.

The ordeal in Manila’s tourist district on Monday finally ended when the police fired tear gas into the bus and a sniper shot the gunman in the head, but by that time eight of the tourists on board had been killed.

Amid a building storm of criticism from Hong Kong’s government and people around the world who watched the shoot-out live on television, Manila police commander Leocadio Santiago admitted mistakes had been made.

“We saw some obvious shortcomings in terms of capability and tactics used, or the procedure employed and we are now going to investigate this,” Santiago said on local television.

He and President Benigno Aquino promised to probe all aspects of the 12-hour ordeal, which began when a disgruntled sacked policeman armed with an M-16 assault rifle hijacked a bus carrying 25 people, mostly Hong Kong tourists.

Aquino told a pre-dawn press conference that the tragedy highlighted many flaws in the ability of Philippine security forces to handle hostage situations.

“There are a lot of things (that) resulted in a tragedy. Obviously we should be improving,” said Aquino, who took office less than two months ago.

One of the problems he emphasised was the way the crisis played out through the media, with the gunman being allowed to speak on radio and watch events live on the bus’s television, giving him insights into police actions.

But Aquino nevertheless insisted waiting more than 10 hours before storming the bus was the right course of action, because police believed until that point they could convince the gunman to stand down.

However relatives of the victims as well as the Hong Kong government and media expressed anger over the bloody end to the stand off.

“The way it is handled — particularly the outcome — is very disappointing,” Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang told reporters.

The Chinese embassy in Manila on Tuesday urged the Philippines to take concrete measures to protect Chinese citizens while Hong Kong newspapers bemoaned missed opportunities to end the siege much earlier.

“A large group of police failed to get into the bus after surrounding the vehicle for nearly half an hour,” the Hong Kong Economic Journal said.

“Their appalling professional standards, and the lack of strategic planning, made observers both angry and sad. This tragedy could have been avoided.”

One of the survivors, who identified herself as Mrs Leung, said at the scene after she scrambled out of the bus that police should not have waited so long before taking action.

“There were so many people on the bus — no one came to our rescue. Why?” said Mrs Leung.

Hong Kong media said Mrs Leung’s husband had died in a hail of bullets as he tried to protect his wife. The couple’s three children aged 14, 18 and 21 were also on the bus and remained unaccounted for, according to the reports.

The Hong Kong government organised two chartered flights to take relatives of the hostages, as well as psychologists, doctors and social workers, to Manila.

Flags flew at half mast and the Hong Kong stock exchange held a minute’s silence as the shocked territory mourned the victims.

The gunman, former senior inspector Rolando Mendoza, hijacked the bus in a crazed attempt to clear his name from charges of extortion that led to him being discharged from the police force in 2008.

Mendoza, 55, had demanded that the ombudsman re-open an investigation into his case, which centred on accusations he tried to extort money from a man who was accused of drug trafficking.

Before being discharged, Mendoza was regarded as a model officer, once being named by his superiors as among the top 10 policemen in the country.

Read More on Yahoo News

9 killed on hijacked Philippine tourist bus

2010-08-23T16:49:00.000-07:00

A 12-hour hostage drama aboard a hijacked Philippine bus ended in bloodshed Monday when an angry ex-policeman demanding his job back gunned down eight Hong Kong tourists before police stormed the vehicle and a sniper killed him.

At least seven captives survived, four of whom were seen crawling out the back door of the bus after Philippine police stormed it Monday evening when the hostage-taker started shooting at the 15 Chinese tourists inside, said police Senior Superintendent Nelson Yabut.

He said the hostage-taker was killed with a sniper shot to the head after he wounded a police sharpshooter.

Police and ambulances were lined up next to the vehicle in the pouring rain after the standoff ended. Local hospitals reported seven bodies of hostages were brought in. One other hostage was hospitalized in critical condition, and five others were unharmed.

Two of the surviving hostages were wounded in serious condition and the remaining five are under observation, Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang told reporters in the Chinese territory as he expressed shock and anger at the police response.

The bloodshed rattled the Philippines and raised questions about police ability to deal with hostage-takings.

"How can I be satisfied when there were people who died?" Philippine President Benigno Aquino III told reporters late Monday. But he said the situation deteriorated rapidly from the time the hostage-taker initially showed willingness to release his hostages.

Hong Kong issued a warning against travel to the Philippines and requested that Hong Kong tourists still in the country return. All upcoming tour groups were also canceled.

"I am very saddened by this tragedy. I am angered by the cold-blooded behavior of this murderer," said Tsang, the Hong Kong leader.

The crisis began when the dismissed policeman, Rolando Mendoza, 55, armed with a M16 rifle seized the busload of Hong Kong tourists to demand his reinstatement in the force.

According to newspaper reports from 2008, he was among five officers who had been charged with robbery, extortion and grave threats after a Manila hotel chef filed a complaint alleging the policemen falsely accused him of using drugs to extort money.

Mendoza released nine hostages during the afternoon _ leaving 15 inside. Those freed included two women, three children, a diabetic man and three Filipinos _ including a tour guide and a photographer, police said.

Despite hopes that negotiations could bring the stand-off to a peaceful conclusion, tensions escalated as night closed in.

Police said they stormed the bus after they saw Mendoza open fire on hostages. Crouching outside the vehicle, commandos in flak jackets, used a hammer to bash in side windows, the door and windscreen, although it was some time before they eventually gained entry.

Moments before the commandos moved in, the Filipino bus driver fled. Police officer Roderick Mariano cited him as saying Mendoza had opened fire at the tourists.

The Hong Kong tourists had been on a visit to Manila and had been due to fly back to the Chinese territory on Monday, according to tour operator Hong Thai Travel Services Ltd.

Mendoza seized the bus after hitching a ride as it traveled with the tourists from the historic walled city of Intramuros. Police said he then "declared he is taking the passengers hostage" when the bus reached Jose Rizal Park alongside Manila Bay _ a downtown area of the sprawling Philippine capital where the U.S. Embassy and a number of hotels are located.

Police sharpshooters took positions around the white-blue-red bus, and the road was sealed off, with ambulances and fire trucks positioned nearby. Police brought in food for the hostages as well as fuel so that the air conditioning unit can keep running as the outside temperature reached about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

The standoff was covered live on television. The curtains on the bus windows were drawn and two police negotiators could be seen walking to and from the bus and communicating with Mendoza from the window near the driver's seat.

A Chinese diplomat had appealed for restraint on the part of the Philippine authorities and not to jeopardize the hostages safety.

Bai Tian, deputy mission chief at the Chinese Embassy who was monitoring the negotiations, said the hostages were "calm and peaceful." Speaking to reporters in the afternoon, he said they wanted every step taken "to secure the safety and security of our Chinese nationals."

Mendoza's younger brother, Gregorio, also a policeman, said that his brother felt that "injustice was done on him" when he had been fired from his job.

"He was disappointed that he did well in police service but was dismissed for a crime he did not do," he said.

Apart from demanding his reinstatement, Mendoza had also wanted to talk to the Philippine media and asked that his son _ also a policeman _ be brought to him. He scribbled some of his demands on paper and plastered it on the bus windows and a windshield.

A representative from the ombudsman's office talked to Mendoza on the phone and had promised to look into his case again, Mendoza's brother, Florencio, told reporters. Another brother of Mendoza also helped police in the negotiations, Manila police chief Rodolfo Magtibay said.

Law enforcement is weak in the Philippines, and hostage-takings for ransom are not uncommon.

In March 2007, not far from the scene of Monday's hostage-taking, a man took a busload of children and teachers hostage from his day-care center in Manila to denounce corruption. They were freed after a 10-hour standoff.

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rolando mendoza hostage crisis ends with several captives alive

2010-08-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

Police killed the gunman who had taken hostage a group of Hong Kong tourists in Manila, a senior police official said.

“He is dead. He was forced to retreat to the front of the vehicle when the SWAT (special weapons and tactics police) team attacked from the back,” assault leader Superintendent Nelson Yabut told AFP.
The gunman, who was identified as sacked police inspector Rolando Mendoza, had seized the tourist bus on Monday morning in a desperate bid to get his job back.

Live TV shows several hostages coming out from the bus’ window.
Earlier, Radio Mindanao Network reported that a child was hit by a stray bullet as police started its assault on the hostage-taker.

Multiple gunshots were heard moments before the heavily-armed police approached the bus, parked in Manila’s historic tourist district.

Ten minutes after the police approached the bus, they still could not get inside. There were no clear signs of movement from within the bus.

The Filipino driver of the bus jumped out of a window and escaped just before police approached, with the scenes aired live on television.

The gunman, who took control of the bus almost 10 hours ago, said he had shot two of his captives and would kill the others if police did not meet his demands.

“I shot two Chinese. I will finish them all if they do not stop,” former senior police inspector Rolando Mendoza told the Radio Mindanao Network before police moved in on the vehicle and smashed its windows.
Shots were heard from the bus but it was not immediately clear if any of the hostages had been killed or wounded during the crisis, which has been played out live on national television.

The police at the scene started its assault on the hijacked bus at around 7:20 p.m.

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Bb. Pilipinas titlist dies in car crash

2010-08-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

A Binibining Pilipinas beauty contest titleholder and two of her companions were killed after their car crashed into a passenger bus in Camarines Sur on Saturday morning, a radio report said. Reigning Bb. Pilipinas Melody Gersbach, her driver Santos Ramos and her manager Alvin Orense died on the spot after the Innova car they were riding collided head-on with a Guevarra bus at Barangay Pawili in Bula town at past 11 a.m. Saturday, according to a report aired over Bombo Radyo. Camarines Sur provincial police director Col. Jonathan Ablang said in the report that Gersbach’s car came from Legazpi City in Albay and was heading to Naga City in Camarines Sur for a local beauty pageant when it figured in the accident.

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in Japan

2010-08-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

A 'waterspout,' described as a tornado over water, is seen off the coast of Okinawa, Japan on August 19, 2010. Photo by Jeremy Goins.

Did Churchill Order a UFO Cover-Up?

2010-08-05T18:18:00.000-07:00

Winston Churchill

There's no doubt that Winston Churchill had his share of secrets. When you're leading a world power during wartime, classified information come with the territory. But did one of his closely held secrets have to do with "little green men"? A new report contends that the English Bulldog may have played a part in a UFO cover-up.

It's a conspiracy theory worthy of the "X-Files," and it goes like this: Churchill, then the prime minister, apparently ordered a cover-up of an encounter between a Royal Air Force bomber and an unidentified flying object during World War II. The reason: Churchill feared that news of the incident would create public panic and a loss of faith in religion.
The Daily Telegraph explains that Churchill is reported to "have made the orders during a secret war meeting with U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower, the then commander of the Allied Forces, at an undisclosed location in America during the latter part of the conflict." He ordered that the information remain secret for a period of 50 years.
Video rewind: UFO sighted over Chinese airport
So, who is claiming that Churchill ordered the cover-up? The U.K.'s National Archives, which hosts the newly released documents, works through how the news came to light.
Apparently, Churchill's order was overheard by one of his bodyguards. The man, also a member of the Royal Air Force, kept the secret to himself for years, but told his daughter at some point, and told his wife on his deathbed in 1973. The man's daughter later told her son (the bodyguard's grandson, for those of you keeping score), and he inquired about the incident with the Ministry of Defense in 1999. That inquiry made it into the files that were made public on Thursday.
According to the report, the crew of the plane did manage to take photographs of the UFO, which "hovered noiselessly" near their plane before zooming away. Alas, the photos, if they do indeed exist, were not released.
Decades later, it's still not known if the UFO was actually a UFO or something more earthbound. Initially, some theorized that the object was a missile. However, a weapons expert, who was present at the infamous meeting, was reported to have remarked that no missile could stop and hover. Such a thing was "totally beyond any imagined capabilities of the time."
Not surprisingly, the report inspired an avalanche of Web searches. Online lookups for "churchill ufo" and "churchill ufo coverup" both shot skyward, posting breakout gains in the Search box. If Churchill did indeed intend for this to be kept quiet, he did a good job for a long time. But now, the UFO is out of the bag... big time.

Read More...

Beetles attack Baguio pines

2010-07-27T23:11:00.000-07:00

BAGUIO CITY - The city government disclosed Monday that trees, particularly pines, in this mountain resort city are under attack by beetles.

The beetle species attacking the pine trees is the ips caligraphus.

The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) reported that a number of pines and other tree species, especially those located in parks, are reportedly on the verge of dying due to bark beetle attacks, the CEPMO said.

Officials revealed that apart from pines, mahogany and eucalyptus trees being propagated under a program of the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Cordillera are also affected by beetle attack.

The CEPMO has already sought the help of the Forestry Division of the Benguet State University (BSU) in La Trinidad, Benguet to assist in dealing with the beetle infestation.

Experts said the beetle infestation occurs when larvae of certain beetle species tunnel holes into timber causing severe damage and the eventual death of the trees.

If left unattended, the infestation may cause death and extinction of the trees even in a place known as the City of Pines.

The city government is alarmed because the beetle attack could affect the relentless efforts to preserve the city's environment - a cool and romantic weather, pine-scented air and scenic spots that give life to the city's tourism industry.

Philippines' famed Boracay island under threat

2010-07-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

AFP/File – A tourist sunbathes on the fabled beach of Boracay island. The Philippines' once pristine island …
Fri Jul 9, 5:58 am ET
The Philippines' once pristine island of Boracay has become extremely overdeveloped, with its famous beach now choked by sewage and too many bars, the country's new tourism minister said Friday.
In a candid interview with AFP, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim suggested it was time tourists visited equally beautiful beaches in thecountry other than Boracay, which the government said drew 650,000 tourists last year.
"If you go to Boracay you'd love the beach, you'd love the night life and the good restaurants. But it's so dense, it's so dense," Lim said.
"It is now, you know, too commercial. It's become Phuket," he said, referring to the much larger Thai beach resort island.
Read More...

Oracle Paul the Octopus picks Spain over Netherlands to win World Cup

2010-07-10T19:03:00.000-07:00

The "psychic" German octopus Paul, who so far has accurately predicted the winners, has picked Spain over the Netherlands in the World Cup finals. Will Spain win its ever first ever World Cup?

Paul, who has received death threats after correctly predicting Germany's stunning loss to Spain in the semifinals, has also selected the winner of the battle for third between Germany and Uruguay.

Gulf of Mexico now worst accidental spill on record

2010-07-03T05:33:00.000-07:00

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AFP) - – A Taiwanese supertanker skimmed oil from the Gulf of Mexico Saturday as the months-long disaster became the worst accidental spill on record.

Rough seas and strong winds continued to delay clean-up efforts, displace protective booms and push the oil deeper into fragile coastal wetlands, endangering wildlife preserves and the thousands of birds nesting there.

"This is going to be a very long and arduous clean-up operation in the days to come," said Coast Guard Admiral Paul Zukunft.

"I'm especially concerned with some of the wildlife habitats."

An estimated 35,000 to 60,000 barrels of oil per day has been gushing out of the ruptured well since the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon drilling rig sank on April 22, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the coast of Louisiana.

A containment system has captured about 557,000 barrels of oil, but rough seas have delayed the deployment of a third vessel which is set to increase capacity from 25,000 barrels to 53,000 barrels a day. Related Article: Florida Keys, Miami at high risk for oil pollution: US agency

That means an estimated 1.9 to 3.6 million barrels -- or 79.5 to 153 million gallons -- of oil has now gushed into the Gulf.

Using the high end of that estimate, the spill has now surpassed the 1979 Ixtoc blowout which took nine months to cap and dumped an estimated 3.3 million barrels (140,000 million gallons) into the Gulf of Mexico.

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Giant predatory whale named for 'Moby Dick' author

2010-07-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

LONDON – Scientists have discovered an ancient whale whose bite ripped huge chunks of flesh out of other whales about 12 million years ago — and they've named it after the author of "Moby Dick."

The prehistoric sperm whale grew to between 13 and 18 meters (up to 60 feet) long, not unusual by today's standards. But unlike modern sperm whales, Leviathan melvillei, named for Herman Melville, sported vicious, tusk-like teeth some 36 centimeters (14 inches) long.

The ancient beast evidently dined on other whales, researchers said in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature. They report finding a skull of the beast in a Peruvian desert.

The researchers named it in tribute to the 19th-century author and his classic tale of the great white whale, which includes frequent digressions on natural history that punctuate the action.

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The World's Most Beautiful Sunsets

2010-06-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

Like trying to retell a dream, recounting a beautiful sunset is a futile enterprise. The colors, the scale--the true nature of a sunset is ineffable. What's more, such beauty is ultimately subjective in the first place. While one traveler weeps at the fading orange glow over the Mediterranean, another sits rapt at the smoggy kaleidoscope over a bustling cityscape.

Where, then, does anyone get off trying to name the World's Most Beautiful Sunsets?
Naturally, we turned to the experts: World travelers, artists and adventurers who have not only bid farewell to the sun on every corner of the globe, but have appreciated the metaphorical, spiritual and, yes, visual beauty of nature's original fireworks display. We asked them to describe the most beautiful sunset they've ever seen.

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Many outraged that Mesa eatery is serving lion meat burgers

2010-06-24T03:35:00.000-07:00

Tyler Baldwin reports one local restaurant has started serving lion meat for dinner and it has prompted not just curiosity but also outrage and even bomb threats!

Read More on Yahoo News!!

7th-Graders Discover Mysterious Cave on Mars

2010-06-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

A group of seventh-graders in California has discovered a mysterious cave on Mars as part of a research project to study images taken by a NASA spacecraft orbiting the red planet.

The 16 students from teacher Dennis Mitchell's 7th-grade science class at Evergreen Middle School in Cottonwood, Calif., found what looks to be a Martian skylight — a hole in the roof of a cave on Mars.

The intrepid students were participating in the Mars Student Imaging Program at the Mars Space Flight Facility at Arizona State University. The program allows students to frame a research question and then commission a Mars-orbiting camera to take an image to answer their question.

The newfound hole on Mars resembled features seen on other parts of Mars in a 2007 study by Glen Cushing, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist.

Cushing suggested that these anomalous pit craters are like skylights — places where a small part of the roof of a cave or a lava tube had collapsed, opening the area below the surface to the sky.

The caves are thought to result from volcanic activity on the red planet. At some point lava channels likely carved out caverns in the rock, and then left behind tunnel, or "lava tubes," when the eruptions were over. They would have been covered when a solid ceiling of cooled material settled on top, and then sections of the ceiling likely collapsed at some point to form the skylight entrances.

Scientists aren't sure what type of materials or deposits could be stored inside.

"This pit is certainly new to us," Cushing told the students. "And it is only the second one known to be associated with Pavonis Mons."

He estimated the pit to be approximately 620 by 520 feet (190 by 160 meters) wide and 380 feet (115 meters) deep at least.

The young researchers had initially set out to hunt for lava tubes, a common volcanic feature on Earth and Mars.

"The students developed a research project focused on finding the most common locations of lava tubes on Mars," Mitchell said. "Do they occur most often near the summit of a volcano, on its flanks, or the plains surrounding it?"

The class commissioned a main photo and a backup image of Mars' Pavonis Monsvolcano, targeted on a region that hadn't been imaged up close.

The pictures were taken by NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter using its Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) instrument. Both images showed lava tubes, as the students had hoped.

But the backup photo provided another surprise: a small, round black spot. It was a hole on Mars leading into the buried cave, researchers said.

The students have submitted their site to be further imaged by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which could reveal enough detail to see inside the hole in the ground.

"The Mars Student Imaging Program is certainly one of the greatest educational programs ever developed," Mitchell said. "It gives the students a good understanding of the way research is conducted and how that research can be important for the scientific community. This has been a wonderful experience."

source:http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20100621/sc_space/7thgradersdiscovermysteriouscaveonmars

Dear Future DOT Secretary

2010-06-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Future DOT Secretary,

Hi. You will be introduced to us in a couple of weeks. I’m anxious to find out who you are because, well, you have my ultimate dream job. While others dream of winter wonderlands, I am consumed with chronic wanderlust for our lupang sinilangan, having traveled everywhere from Batanes to Bukidnon. After chasing kangaroos in Australia, watching Broadway shows in the concrete jungle where dreams are made of (i.e. New York), going on a South African safari, and hiking up Mount Fuji, I can say in full faith that we live in the most beautiful country in the world. I wish you, as the Secretary of the Department of Tourism, believe the same thing.

For a long time, Bangkok’s #1 source of income was tourism. It’s marketed well as an exotic backpacker’s destination. Singapore had to create artificial tourist attractions such as Sentosa and most recently, Universal Studios, to draw visitors in. The Philippines, with its 7, 107 beautiful islands, doesn’t have to. I don’t know what your definition of tourism is, but I do hope that these proposals find you:

1) The airport is the first and last thing that tourists see. Only in the Philippines have I experienced having our cars checked^[1], tickets inspected, and bags x-rayed before entering the airport. I strongly suggest incorporating travel taxes and the (rather exorbitant) terminal fees with ticket fares as well. These would cut check-in time (and hassle) in half. Please close down NAIA1 because it looks like Shake Rattle and Roll XII-XX^[2] could be filmed there. You may want to consider transferring all international flights to the clean and gleaming NAIA3 too.

2) The DOT needs to work with Manila Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to fix ourpublic transportation system. We may have several public transportation systems (e.g. the bus, taxi, tricycle, MRT, LRT, and jeepneys) but all of them are inefficient. This is one of the major reasons why traveling here is so difficult. Instead of spending billions on the Skyway, why not a train like New York’s subway or Hong Kong’s MTR? We also need bike lanes so that biking in the city won’t be equivalent to a suicide attempt. It’s possible—just take a look at Marikina! To protect our pedestrians, we need lots of covered walkways[3]. And MMDA, what possessed you to change the sign “BAWAL TUMAWID DITO, NAKAKAMATAY” to “BAWAL TUMAWID MAY NAMATAY NA DITO.” My good friend Dino wrote to you guys, saying it should have been “MATATALINO ANG MGA GUMAGAMIT NG OVERPASS” to promote positive reinforcement. “Gaganda pakiramdam ng mga tumatawid gamit ng overpass, tapos iisipin ng mga hindi gumagamit ng overpass, tanga sila,” says Dino.

3) Prioritize culture and the arts. To borrow words from Sir Butch Dalisay, my professor and idol, “Culture defines us as a national community with shared values and visions, albeit with diverse ideas and expressions; the arts embody those ideas and enable those expressions.” Before we were known for boxing, we were known and will always be known for our excellence and innate talent in the arts, whether in literature, film, music, dance, theatre, or visual arts. We don’t necessarily have to perform the tiniklingorpandanggo sa ilaw a million times, though those are always a treat to watch. Take a look at the song“Biyahe Tayo” which showcases our fantastic singers and musicians, and “Take Me to the Philippines” by Apl.de.Ap featuring different street dance clubs. Work with the National Commission for Culture and the Artsand the Cultural Center of the Philippines to create and promote shows by and for Filipinos. I have this fantasy of Manila becoming the Great White Way of Asia. We have the talent for it, that’s for sure. We can’t keep losing our performers to ship cruises, lounges, Disneyland Hong Kong, and Universal Studios Singapore. And I beg you, please coordinate with the National Historical Institute^[4] to preserve (what’s left of) our heritage.

4) Partner with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to make the Philippines lead in ecotourism. Mt. Makiling has more species of plants than the entire USA. Our marine waters are home to more than half of the species of corals^[5], six out of the seven species of marine turtles, and the biggestandsmallest fish in the world.

In a recent study by the United Nations, the Philippines was indentified as the “center of the center of marine biodiversity on Earth.” However, there’s a lot of work to be done. From the 500, 000 hectares of mangroves that we had, we now have a dismal 28, 000 hectares. From 3 million hectares of coral reefs from the “center of the center of marine biodiversity on Earth,” it’s down to about 100, 000 hectares. For a body of water to be swimmable, it must only have 200 units of fecal coliform bacterium^[6]. Our Manila Bay, lauded for its sunset, has one million. If Manny Villar was swimming in a dagat ng basura, then those who take a dip in Manila Bay are swimming in a dagat ng…

Yeah. There.

Sorsogon’s latest tourist attraction is their Firefly Watching Cruise. Fireflies are a biological indicator of clean air. I say they are also biological indicators of hope that our environment is improving and can continue to. All it takes is a bit of imagination, ingenuity, and a whole lot of political will. The rest of the Philippines can learn from the city of Puerto Princesa, touted as the ecotourism capital of the country. Under the leadership of Mayor Ed Hagedorn, Puerto Princesa pioneered projects such as “Love Affair with Nature”among others.

5) Have a clear vision of how you want our country to be advertised^[7]. Should we market it as a premiere destination for leisure, business, wellness, ecotourism, or even medical tourism? Would it be possible to follow the footsteps of Indonesia and work with the premise of “unity in diversity”? There are so many undervalued geological and geographical marvels of this country, such as Calaguas and Camiguin. We need to take care of Mindanao too, because when people think Mindanao, they think MILF and bombs. Mindanao’s beautiful and relatively safe, but it’s the dangerous parts that always get the limelight. I hope, Dear Secretary, that you have something like Sen. Dick Gordon’s Wow Philippines campaign or Sec. Ace Durano’s Awesome Philippines campaign to encourage and inspire both local and foreign tourists to explore the Philippines. Provide easily accessible materials, like our very own, locally made version of the Lonely Planet book, for proper guidance. And please make sure it’s grammatically correct. See this photo from the DOT website.

source: http://ph.yfittopostblog.com/2010/06/21/dear-future-dot-secretary/

Jovit Baldivino is Pilipinas Got Talent 's first grand winner

2010-06-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

Batangueno singer turned YouTube sensation Jovit Baldivino bags the grand prize in the nationwide talent show Pilipinas Got Talent.

Pilipinas Got Talent hits no. 2 in Twitter trending list

2010-06-12T18:46:00.001-07:00

ABS-CBN's nationwide talent competition show "Pilipinas Got Talent" (PGT) reached Top 2 of Twitter’s Philippine trending list during the show’s grand finals on Saturday night.

PGT was even way ahead of 2010 FIFA World Cup in Twitter.com’s topic list.

The show, which held its grand finals at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, hit the No. 2 spot sometime between 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Competing for the PGT grand finals were singer Jovit Baldovino, ventriloquist Ruther Urquia, magician Allan "Alakim" De Paz, Fil-Norwegian crooner Markki Stroem, guitarist Keith Delleva, break dancing siblings Velasco Brothers, Ezra Band, balladeer Sherwin Baguion, family singers Luntayao, musician Jeline Oliva, dance group Baguio Metamorphosis, and Broadway siren Ingrid Payaket.

Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers on 2010 NBA Finals Game 4

2010-06-11T20:31:00.002-07:00

On its way is the Game 4 of the 2010 NBA Finals between theLos Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics after LA won the third game.

The Lakers vs Celtics 2010 NBA Finals Game 4 is set to happen on June 10, 2010 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Here’s a recap on what happened in the Lakers vs Celtics 2010 NBA Finals third game. Los Angeles won over Boston and takes a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Kobe Bryant scored 29 points, Derek Fisher had 16, Pau Gasol had 13 and 10 rebounds, Lamar Odom added 12 while Andrew Bynum had 9 and 10 rebounds.

The Lakers team effort paid off as they cruised passed the C’s for the series lead. Boston had an early first quarter lead thanks to Garnett but as the game progressed, missed shots piled up especially by Ray Allen, who had a finals record in game two, but for game three he went for 0-of-8 in 3-point range and 0-of-13 overall. Allen only scored 2 points from two free throws.

The 2010 NBA Finals Game 4 will be played at C’s home court.

LA’s stars and veterans are proving that they are different now compared to the 2008 Laker team while the Celtics’ stars seem inconsistent in their series performance. Can Boston manage to win game 4?

Watch the Lakers vs Celtics 2010 NBA Finals Game 4 game video live online streaming forfree on your favorite free live broadcasting sites or on live stream videos through your cable providers.

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Basketball Game Updates:
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The Celtics defeated the Lakers with a final score of 96-89. Series tied at, 2-2.

Six Celtics players scored in double figures led by Paul Pierce’ 19 points and 6 rebounds with 5 assists while Glen Davis added 18, Kevin Garnett, 13, Ray Allen, 12, Nate Robinson, also with 12 and Rajon Rondo, 10 points.

On a losing effort, Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 33 points with 6 rebounds and 2 assists.

Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics on 2010 NBA Finals Game 3

2010-06-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Here comes the Game 3 of the 2010 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics after the C’s won the second game.

The Lakers vs Celtics 2010 NBA Finals Game 3 is set to happen on June 8, 2010 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Here’s a recap on what happened in the Lakers vs Celtics 2010 NBA Finals second game. Boston won over Los Angeles and tied the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

Ray Allen scored 32 points, Rajon Rondo had a triple-double; 19 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, Kendrick Perkins added 12 while Paul Pierce had 10.

Allen was too hot too handle as he unleashed seven 3-pointers in the first half alone and finished the game with a finals game record of eight 3’s. Rondo then followed Ray’s bright first half with late game hustle plays as he finished the game with his second triple-double this post-season (fifth in his playoffs career).

The 2010 NBA Finals Game 3 will be played at C’s home court.

Two of the Celtics’ Big Four managed to step it up after their Game 1 silence. Garnett was in foul trouble early in the second game, can the C’s stars go out in full force on the next game?

I’m sensing a fired up Black Mamba somewhere, I think Kobe Bryant’s going to score over 40 points on Game 3.

Watch the Lakers vs Celtics 2010 NBA Finals Game 3 game video live online streaming forfree on your favorite free live broadcasting sites or on live stream videos through your cable providers.

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Basketball Game Updates:
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The Lakers defeated the Celtics with a final score of 91-84. Los Angeles leads the series, 2-1.

Kobe Bryant led LA with a game-high 29 points and 7 rebounds with 4 assists as well as 3 blocks while Derek Fisher added 16, Pau Gasol, 13 and 10 rebounds, Lamar Odom, 12 and Andrew Bynum, 9 points with 10 rebounds.

On a losing effort, Celtics’ star Kevin Garnett scored a team-high 25 points with 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

source:http://www.dakdakan.com/2010/06/los-angeles-lakers-vs-boston-celtics-2010-nba-finals-game-3/

Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers on 2010 NBA Finals Game 2

2010-06-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

Coming up is the Game 2 of the 2010 NBA Finals between theLos Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics after LA won the first game.

The Lakers vs Celtics 2010 NBA Finals Game 2 is set to happen on June 6, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Here’s a recap on what happened in the Lakers vs Celtics 2010 NBA Finals first game. Los Angeles won over Boston and takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol had 23 and 14 rebounds, Ron Artest added 15 while Andrew Bynum had 10.

Early in the game, Artest and Pierce had a confrontation under the basket that led to double technical fouls but the Lakers’ defense frustrated the Celtics throughout the game. They made it hard for the opposing big men to score inside, also closed out driving lanes and made deflections.

The 2010 NBA Finals Game 2 will be played at LA’s home court.

Phil Jackson’s coached teams haven’t lost a playoff series after winning the first game, 47-0. Can the C’s break this record?

Can they stop LA’s one-two combo in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, and their X-Factor Ron Artest?

Watch the Lakers vs Celtics 2010 NBA Finals Game 2 game video live online streaming for free on your favorite free live broadcasting sites or on live stream videos through your cable providers.

=== === ===
Basketball Game Updates:
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The Celtics defeated the Lakers with a final score of 103-94. Series tied at, 1-1.

Ray Allen led the C’s with a game-high 32 points and 3 rebounds with 2 assists while Rajon Rondo got a triple-double; 19 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, Kendrick Perkins, 12 and Paul Pierce, 10 points.

On a losing effort, Lakers’ star Pau Gasol scored a team-high 25 points with 8 rebounds and 3 assists.

source:http://www.dakdakan.com/2010/06/los-angeles-lakers-vs-boston-celtics-2010-nba-finals-game-2/

Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics on 2010 NBA Finals Game 1

2010-06-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

The 2010 NBA Finals features a best-of-seven series between the 2010 Conference Champions; Los Angeles Lakers for the West and Boston Celtics for the East.
The Lakers vs Celtics 2010 NBA Finals Game 1 is set to happen on June 3, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA.
The 2010 Western Conference Champions, Los Angeles Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns in 6 games on the Lakers vs Suns 2010 West Finals to move on and defend their NBA Championship. Kobe Bryant’s scoring game was “on” as he unleashed a series of 30+ point games during the series. Paul Gasol and Lamar Odom also provided huge supports under the basket while Ron Artest’s Game 5 heroic buzzer beater affected the momentum shift drastically. Even the Shannon Brown’s best missed dunk ever wowed the fans for a while.
While the 2010 Eastern Conference Champions, Boston Celtics beat the Orlando Magic also in 6 games on the Magic vs Celtics 2010 East Finals to reach this point. The Big Four; Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and a monster Rajon Rondo carried the team throughout the playoffs.
The 2010 NBA Finals Game 1 will be played at LA’s home court.
This is the Lakers’ third straight NBA Finals appearance in the three seasons. The Celtics beat them in 2008 then LA bounced back and became the 2009 NBA Champions. Now, the LA Lakers are back once again in a rematch against Boston.
This is becoming the new Lakers vs Celtics rivalry like the classic Magic vs Bird rivalry.
Will Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest be able to match the Celtics’ Big Four; Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo? Which team will win Game1?

=== === ===
Basketball Game Updates:
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The Lakers defeated the Celtics with a final score of 102-89. Los Angeles leads the series, 1-0.
Kobe Bryant led LA with a game-high 30 points and 7 rebounds with 6 assists while Pau Gasol added 23 and 14 rebounds with 3 assists as well as 3 blocks, Ron Artest, 15 and Andrew Bynum, 10 points.
On a losing effort, Celtics’ star Paul Pierce scored a team-high 24 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists.

source:http://www.dakdakan.com/2010/05/los-angeles-lakers-vs-boston-celtics-2010-nba-finals-game-1/

Abby Sunderland is alive and apparently safe aboard her damaged sailboat

2010-06-11T00:46:00.000-07:00

Abby Sunderland, 16, is alive and apparently well, floundering in rough seas in the Indian Ocean without a mast, but safely aboard her 40-foot boat and awaiting the arrival of rescue ships.

Read More on Yahoo News

Entire Family Maps Its Genes

2010-06-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

Entire Family Maps Its Genes

Genome sequencing may reveal risk of a particular disease

Survey Says: iPad Is Killing Netbooks

2010-05-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

A new survey shows consumers are "overwhelmingly leaning" toward the iPad instead of netbooks, and cheap laptops are also taking a toll on netbook sales. The study, which surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. consumers, was commissioned by consumer electronics site Retrevo.

Apple's iPad has proven popular with shoppers, as more than one million devices have already been sold. That popularity is hurting netbook sales, says the survey, as the iPad offers many of the same advantages that netbooks offer over a traditional laptop, such as higher portability and longer battery life.
The Retrevo survey asked consumers whether they are planning on buying an iPad or a netbook: 78 percent said they would be choosing an iPad, while only 22 percent would choose a netbook.

Read More on Yahoo News

New system to slash OFW remittance fees, says BSP

2010-05-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) stand to save P100 to P500 when sending money to the Philippines once the new Philippine Payments and Settlements System Remit System starts operating before the fourth quarter of the year.

Also known as the Philpass Remit System, the new settlement system for money transfers would eliminate third party courier services between commercial banks in remittances involving bank credits, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday.

"This will reduce the cost of remitting money from the OFW remitter to the beneficiary," the BSP said.

"Under the existing system, beneficiaries pay from P150 to P550 as back-end processing fee. With the migration to the new system, the fee will be reduced to P50 for each remittance transaction as the BSP will be charging banks a minimal amount for the settlement of transactions," the BSP explained.

With the Philpass Remit System, families of OFWs would be able to save from P92 million to P922 million a year in remittance fees, the central bank said.

The central bank said the Philpass Remit System is a "safer, faster, and cheaper means of remittance transactions," as it uses the BSP-Philpass clearinghouse in moving remittances from a local bank to another bank where the OFW beneficiary maintains an account.

Read More on Yahoo Philippines News

Inventor of cash machine dies at 84 in Scotland

2010-05-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

John Shepherd-Barron, the Scotsman credited with inventing the world's first automatic cash machine, has died after a short illness. He was 84.

Shepherd-Barron died peacefully in northern Scotland's Raigmore Hospital on Saturday, funeral director Alasdair Rhind said Wednesday.

Shepherd-Barron once said that he came up with the idea of the cash dispensers after being locked out of his bank. He also said that his invention was inspired by chocolate vending machines.

"It struck me there must be a way I could get my own money, anywhere in the world or the U.K.," he said in an interview with the BBC in 2007. "I hit upon the idea of a chocolate bar dispenser, but replacing chocolate with cash."

The first automatic teller machine, now known as ATMs, was installed at a branch of Barclays Plc in a north London suburb on June 27, 1967.

Read More on Yahoo News

3 family wins signal Marcos revival in Philippines

2010-05-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Nearly a quarter-century after Imelda Marcos and her dictator husband fled the Philippines in disgrace _ leaving a debt-ridden country but a lavish collection of shoes _ the 80-year-old former first lady and two of their children are poised to revive the family's political fortunes.

At first sight, the outcome is surprising in an election that also looks set to award the son of the Marcoses' nemesis, "people power" President Corazon Aquino, the country's top office. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III campaigned heavily against corruption _ endemic in the Philippines and allegedly practiced by the Marcos dictatorship on a massive scale.

But their family name still holds clout.

Imelda Marcos won a seat in the House of Representatives, where she also was elected in 1995, and her eldest daughter, Imee, also a former member of Congress, was elected governor in the family's northern bailiwick, Ilocos Norte province. Her son, former governor and current Congress member Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., likely won his Senate race, according to almost-complete results of Monday's vote.

With Marcos Jr.'s rise to the Senate, the Marcoses would claim their highest nationally elected post since their patriarch was ousted in a 1986 "people power" revolt.

Worry that Gulf oil spreading into major current

2010-05-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

NEW ORLEANS – BP said Monday it was siphoning more than a fifth of the oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico, but worries escalated about the ooze reaching a major ocean current that could carry it through the Florida Keys and up the East Coast.

BP PLC chief operating officer Doug Suttles said Monday on NBC's "Today" that a mile-long tube was funneling a little more than 42,000 gallons of crude a day from a blown-out well into a tanker ship.

The company and the U.S. Coast Guard have estimated about 210,000 gallons are gushing out each day, though scientists who have studied video of the leak say it could be much bigger and even BP acknowledges there's no way to know for sure how much oil there is.

Video:Gulf of Mexico Oil spill seen underwater

2010-05-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

BP has released underwater video showing the oil spewing from the site of the sunken Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. The footage also shows the dome meant to contain the spill being lowered

The next first Couple?

2010-05-14T04:42:00.001-07:00

Marriage is not a priority at this time for Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who is leading in the presidential race in the first automated elections in the Philippines.

Read more on Yahoo Philippine News

Eight senators to be proclaimed Saturday

2010-05-14T04:41:00.000-07:00

At least eight Senatorial candidates will be proclaimed Saturday, Commission on Elections chairman Jose Melo said Friday.

Melo told reporters that the poll body might proclaim up to 10 candidates, but this would depend on the total number of votes canvassed by Saturday.

Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said he is making the public announcement through media so that the candidates can prepare for the proclamation.
“All candidates should be ready tomorrow because we’ll be proclaiming,” said Larrazabal.

Read More on Yahoo Philippine News

Estrada camp: Election results ‘pre-programmed’?

2010-05-14T04:39:00.000-07:00

Were the compact flash cards used in the first automated elections in the Philippines “pre-programmed” to favor certain candidates?

This was the scenario raised by George Erwin Garcia, the election lawyer of former president Joseph Estrada, who currently ranks second in the presidential race, based on partial and unofficial election results.

According to Estrada spokesperson Margaux Salcedo, they have received reports of fraud in Regions 3 and 4, the Bicol region, Cebu and the National Capital Region.

Read More on Yahoo Philippine News

No transmitted votes from over 7,000 precincts — PPCRV

2010-05-14T04:38:00.000-07:00

There are between 3.7 to 4.3 million votes that have not been accounted for nationwide, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said Friday.

That represents 7,632 out of the 74,575 clustered precincts nationwide as of 1:03 p.m. Friday, the election watchdog said.

Read More on Yahoo Philippine News

Comelec: No discrepancies so far in automated count

2010-05-14T04:37:00.000-07:00

Results in the manual audit and automated count are in sync, government authorities said Friday as they allayed mounting fears of election inconsistencies and fraud.

Florante Varona, a director of the National Statistics Office, said there was no recorded difference between the results of the manual and automated counting in 30 out of 80 clustered precincts.

Fretzie Bercede Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash 2010

2010-05-04T05:53:00.000-07:00

Dubbed as the “Charming Angel ng Cebu”, Fretzie Bercede is the fifteenth housemate of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash 2010.

Fretzie is 16 years young right now. She celebrates her birthday every 23rd of November and was born in the year 1993. Her religion is Seventh Day Adventist. Like my favorite bet, the pride of Davao; the Charming Girl of Cebu loves to play Volleyball.

Her father works as a dentist, while her mother does the chores at home. Fretize’s family owns a huge house and SUV, but she does not consider herself as “rich”. She’s very beautiful, so are her brothers and sisters. Males will be delighted to know that Fretzie is a NBSB girl, along with Ivan who never had a proper girlfriend.

She knows how to play the piano, which adds to her arsenal of versatile talents, did I mention that yet that she also knows how to sing? She’s been raised the conservative way and is very close with her family. That’s why she boasts of positivity and sunny disposition.

A few more details from Fretzie’s profile…
Favorite Color: Purple, Pink, Black
Favorite Food: Pizza, Pasta
Favorite Actor: Jake Cuenca
Favorite Actress: Leighton Meester, Anne Curtis
Favorite Singer: Britney Spears

Ruther Urquia and Puppet Titoy

2010-05-04T05:10:00.000-07:00

Ruther Urquia,Puppet Titoy and Puppet Lolo

jovit baldovino carrie

2010-05-04T04:47:00.000-07:00

Jovit was awesome tumayo balahibo habang pinapanood ko to.Go Jovit!!!

jovito baldovino text vote result

2010-05-04T04:42:00.000-07:00

People loves jovit.Grabe pinakyaw ang text votes.Go show the world what is pinoy talent!!!

Mayweather vs Mosley Highlight

2010-05-04T03:45:00.000-07:00

Round 2 mayweather was hit nearly drop to the floor but after round 2 mayweather dominated the fight

Click Here to watch highlight of the fight

Gulf of Mexico oil spill

2010-04-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

During its nine years at sea, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig operated by BP suffered a series of spills, fires — even a collision — because of equipment failure, human error and bad weather. It also drilled the world's deepest offshore well.
But Deepwater Horizon's lasting legacy will undoubtedly be the environmental damage it caused after it exploded and sank, killing 11 crew and releasing an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil a day into the Gulf of Mexico.

Click here to read more...

Presidentiables Gut Talent : Comedian Willie Nepomuceno spoofs the Philippine presidential candidates

2010-04-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

Pilipinas Got Talent: Harold Jomar Gesulga "Beat box"

2010-04-18T00:47:00.000-07:00

Ang galing san nia lalo na yung boses robot

Pilipinas Got Talent - EXPERIENCE Kids

2010-04-18T00:20:00.000-07:00

T have d moves,they have the stunts....they do Krump,breakdance and they also do the style of quest and super crew...so what more can you ask for? GALING

Watch Anderson Silva vs Demian Maia UFC 112 video

2010-04-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

Now we know that Anderson "The Spider" Silva won the match but I know that many of you were not able to catch the fight live that is why I am sharing to you the link to the replay video. The highlight of UFC 112 may not have been the Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia fight video so much as the heated post fight press conference it sparked, as UFC president Dana White had some harsh words for Silva.

Watch the full video:
Anderson Silva vs Demian Maia

Yen Santos - PBB Teen Clash 2010 Housemate

2010-04-14T05:30:00.001-07:00

Nagliliwanag talaga ang paligid sa tuwing mapapadaan ang teen housemate na si Yen. Ligawin at habulin sya ng mga boys at madalas kinaiingitan ng mga classmate nya sa school dahil sa angking ganda. Dahil dito ay naranasan nya ang i-bully ng mga kaaway. Tinatawag na maarte at suplada ng mga taong hinde sya nauunawaan. Pamilya ni Yen ang kanyang sandigan lalupa't sinusuportahan sya nito sa lahat ng kayang mga gusto. Hinde imposibleng balang-araw ay magkaroon sya ng maraming tagahanga dahil pangarap ni Yen ang maging isang tanyag na artista. Dahil sa kagustuhan nyang ito ay kinakailangan nya munang tumigil sa pag-aaral ng kanyang kursong HRM para subukan ang swerte sa pagiging star.

Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) Benjamin Petilos aka Bam

2010-04-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Great talent she looks like a freak and a cuckoo doing all the comontions. But she really want to be successful which is not impossible for him at all...leave the drama behind and focus on what he really want in life.Goodluck!!

Why Dick for President?

2010-03-30T03:57:00.000-07:00

I’ll begin this piece with some sort of disclaimer: I am not and have never been a fan of Dick Gordon. In fact, I had issues against him—the WOW Philippines campaign which I found to be so, uhm, baduy to say the least; the giant Lapu-Lapu statue he had erected in Luneta; his horrible temper and propensity to curse; his seeming use of the PNRC to further his interests—but after hearing his arguments during the Congressional hearing on the declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao and after watching him in subsequent televised forums, I was converted: the man talked sense and made sense.

He struck me as a man of action and I liked in particular his “cheerleader” attitude and his desire to rally the people to work together towards a common goal. Yes, we must all do our share and a good leader should be able motivate his countrymen—from a farmer in the countryside to a office employee in a company—and make them feel that they have a stake in the future of the nation. To my mind, I don’t think our past leaders have actually done this nor have our kababayans ever had that sense of accomplishment, of pride, in a very long while.

Furthermore, his take on most pressing issues pretty much align with mine though I will admit that some of the pronouncements he has made—such as increasing teachers pay to 40k and the distribution of Kindles—can be considered either genius or downright ridiculous. But having said that, I admire him for his audacious thinking and it is this kind of audacity that I have not heard from any of the candidates. They may sound difficult to achieve (the first reaction would naturally be “can he do it?” “is that doable?”) but impossible they are not; that is, again, if we are willing to do our small share, slowly but surely.

I also like how he considers his VP Candidate Bayani Fernando as a real partner, a katuwang, in achieving his goals. He recognizes his capabilities and will make good use of them.
And then, of course, there’s Subic. I remember how everyone commented on how clean and orderly Subic was under his watch (para kang wala sa ‘Pinas) and wished Metro Manila and the rest of the country could be like that too. Well, I believe that under a Gordon presidency it can be done. Maybe not right away—and he did say this won’t happen overnight—but I see change coming. He doesn’t call himself the Transformer for nothing.

source:http://monching.wordpress.com

Rolando Permangil Singing Ikaw Ang Pangarap at Pilipinas Got talent

2010-03-28T02:14:00.000-07:00

Rolando Permangil stunned, wowed and make the judges and the audience teary eyed. Why? its because of his own life story and his amazing voice and talent.

Rolando Permangil (Pilipinas Got Talent - Davao City) has both the powerful voice and the life story to stir the hearts of everyone. His wife left him with their three children. He has a visually impaired father, a situation that pushed him to help other people with the same impairment. Rolando sang ‘Ikaw ang Pangarap’ by Martin Nievera and gave out such an amazing performance.

Listen and be amazed on his powerful voice and outstanding heart felt performance.

BM (Big Mouth) A perfect horse sound – Pilipinas Got Talent Video

2010-03-28T02:07:00.000-07:00

A perfect horse sound – Pilipinas Got Talent Video

Pilipinas got Talent (PowerPuff Corn)

2010-03-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

The duo took everyone by surprise. They were awesome.

Their audition piece sounded a little like Through The Fire and it caused quite a stir. It was the disappointment to some that it turned out to be the Tropical Depression hit Bilog Na Naman Ang Buwan. (rock on, Papa Dom!!)

You can tell that The Powerpuff Corn are real musicians. The long haired vocalist had an amazing voice. He sounded and looked like Jay from rock band Kamikazee, only better. His voice was perfect for a rockstar.

The judges even asked for an encore from them and they didn't disappoint. They performed Don't Let Me Down by The Beatles.

Here are a few Powerpuff Corn videos:

How Dinosaurs Came to Rule the Earth

2010-03-22T22:42:00.001-07:00

More than 200 million years ago, as North Africa was ripping away from North America, opening up the Atlantic Ocean, hot lava poured out from Earth's surface. The lava, enough to more than cover the United States, created inhospitable conditions for most life ... except the dinosaurs.

And new geologic discoveries suggest this climate catastrophe was the ticket for the dinosaur's rise to rule.

At that time, about half of all species on Earth died out in what is called the end-Triassic extinction. Scientists have suggested massive volcanic eruptions could be to blame, spewing out lava and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide that would have totally changed the climate.

The new research, detailed this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, makes a firm case for volcanoes as the culprit but also pieces together other evidence for how the volcanic scenario led to dinosaurs dominating the landscape.

"The big thing is many people have heard why dinosaurs went extinct," said study researcher Jessica Whiteside, paleontologist and assistant professor of geological sciences at Brown University in Rhode Island. But the question 'Why they came to be' is much more exciting."

In addition to looking at an uptick in life rather than its demise, the researchers also took a unique approach to fossil hunting. Their finding is based partly on chemical fossils rather than the beasts' bony remains.

Chemical fossils

Whiteside and her colleagues specifically looked at the ratio of two carbon isotopes, or atoms of the same element that have a different number of neutrons, in the wax of ancient leaves and wood found in lake sediments mixed with volcanic material called basalts. The samples came from eastern North America and England. They found the lighter isotope called carbon-12 was higher relative to the heavier carbon-13, a signature of a volcanic eruption.

Here's how it works: At the time, the continents were stuck together into a supercontinent called Pangea. The giant block began to break up as the North American and the African plates began to drift apart. As the two plates parted ways, fissures formed, releasing massive outflows of lava.

The carbon dioxide gas that spewed out with lava is known to have a high carbon-12 amount relative to the heavier isotope. Plants then take up that gas when photosynthesizing and forming new plant material. And so the presence of plants with lots of the lighter carbon suggests they sprouted in the wake of the eruptions.

Results also showed about half of plant species perished, along with a spike in fern spores around the time of the first lava flows, which makes sense since ferns are among the first plant species to pop up in an environment scarred by volcanism.

Dinosaurs take over

Next, the team matched up the timing of the eruptions with the disappearance of a group of reptiles called crurotarsans from past research using footprints of the animals found in the same rocks. Crurotarsans were dinosaurs' main competitors during the Triassic period

After the lava flows, the "fossil record for crurotarsans is nearly completely gone," Whiteside said.

As for how the reptiles, plants and other species died out, Whiteside said the volcanoes may have caused various lethal changes to the environment. "Changes to the pH of the oceans, which killed most of the animals that make shells, and this greenhouse warming would likely have decimated many of the reptiles, including dinosaurs' main competitors," she told LiveScience.(The pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of a substance.)

Without competition for food, early meat-eating dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor took over, the researchers speculate. Study researcher In a past study, Paul Olsen from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, who was part of the research study team, showed that theropod (meat-eating dinosaurs) footprints after the Triassic mass extinction had become much larger, corresponding to larger body sizes.

It's still a mystery as to why these early dinosaurs even survived the volcanism, let alone thrived, Whiteside said, "It's really that it was just a fortuitous combination of traits that they unwittingly possessed that let them get through the catastrophic climate change that their competitors didn't have."

source:http://news.yahoo.com

Gordon vs Aquino: On Mindanao

2010-03-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

What’s in it for Mindanao: Aquino vs Gordon on Mindanao

I was tagged on FB recently and invited to a Mindanawons for Noynoy Movement. True enough, I barely browsed through the comment, and lo, the winnability virus keeps on rearing its ugly head.

Here’s a typical comment -- “The problem is going for Gordon -Bayani might split the votes then Villar will win. As much as I want Gordon to win, I dont want Villar to win. This is my dillema.” . For the AP community, the answer would have been be a no-brainer -- ability TRUMPS winnability.

Moving beyond the sound bites, it would be best to lay down what both have to say on Mindanao, compare their positions, and come to a conclusion. You be the judge, who has more substance, who has a deeper grasp of the issues, who has actually done something for Mindanao.

Having been born and raised in Southern Mindanao, anything “Mindanao” is a major concern for me.

Recollections -- Pre-Asian Financial Crisis

I don’t recall Noynoy visiting Mindanao prior to the 2010 presidential campaign.

However, I clearly recall Richard Gordon visiting Davao in 1997 to ink the Davao-Subic economic cooperation agreement. where both executives agreed to provide direct investment and trade referrals between the Davao Investment Promotion Center (DIPC) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).It was a precursor to the upcoming APEC Summit in Subic.

I remember Rody Duterte and Richard Gordon exchanging toasts in Harana Restaurant one eventful evening. You see, before there was a Gordon-Fernando tag team, a Gordon-Duterte team up was already in the offing. Both executives represented the bullishness of the citizenry of Davao and Subic -- and their ability to take the bull by the horns and strike it out on their own, independent of the powers-that-be in Malacañang.

Oh yes, I remember that night so well, because I was the Project Manager/Event Manager for said event.

The Gordon-Duterte chemistry went so well that the following day, then VP Erap Estrada who was wooing Duterte to be his Vice-President running mate flew to Davao City and made a personal visit to Rody. The rest is history -- Erap lobbied to have Gordon booted out of SBMA and have Payumo take over the reins of SBMA.

But I digress, let’s cut to the chase. I have compiled the various pronouncements (based on a Google search) from both Aquino and Villar on Mindanao.

AQUINO	GORDON
MoA-AD/Peace Negotiations
Objected to the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) that the administration and the MILF had signed in 2008. “It was not inclusive and transparent,” he said. “Mindanao is composed not just of the government and the MILF.” There are also the indigenous peoples and the general population, neither of which, he said, were consulted when the MOA-AD was being crafted. “There are four sides in Mindanao, why were only two participating? It was like the government and the MILF came up with an agreement between themselves and then expected the other two groups to simply accept it,” Aquino said. So if he becomes President, Aquino said, he will continue with the peace negotiations but in a more transparent and all-inclusive way. Nothing will be signed unless it has gone through a thorough consultation with everyone concerned — an admittedly tough job but one that is necessary nonetheless. Only such a process can lead to lasting peace in Mindanao	We see the problems of Sulu and Muslim Mindanao not in terms of war or peace. We see it as a problem of delivering good governance and development which bombs and bullets will not resolve. I am glad that everybody is now joining the debate regarding amnesty for some members of the Abu Sayyaf Group who may want to go back into the fold of the law. What I want to do is to put people into a peace mode from a war mode. It is only in this mode of peace that we can move forward and begin finding a solution. I am calling for a sincere and effective solution to the never ending war in Mindanao. This entails a full court press from the government in terms of improving the economy, delivering justice, and infusing infrastructure in conflict areas — not just amnesty. All out war has never led to peace and to progress. It only digs a deeper hole and creates more problems and new complications. Long term solutions are arrived at only after sound consideration and constructive debate. They do not just appear in one’s mind as a brilliant idea at a snap of a finger. We should never close the door on the possibility of peace that will lead to development. We have been applying the policies of war for over four decades, nearly three generations have been born and have grown to maturity in an atmosphere of conflict. Countless members of these generations have died in Mindanao and what we ought to have learned is that a policy of war creates more war, more bloodshed, more death, more destruction. We ought to look more seriously at implementing a policy of peace. A policy of abandoning old grievances and grudges; a policy of rebuilding what was destroyed; a policy of working together to create a new future that was never before possible; a policy of respect, a policy of understanding, and a policy of acceptance towards our Filipino Muslim brothers; A POLICY OF TURNING SWORDS INTO PLOUGHSHARES. Finally, let us consider that no one dies when we talk about amnesty or peace.
Mindanao’s Economy
Once there is peace, Aquino said, “then we can work on the economy… Once peace is achieved, then we can go full blast.”	“Apart from schools and health services, we should charter ships to aid in transporting agricultural produce from Sulu and other ARMM provinces to major markets in Visayas and even Luzon. We know it will work to bring the peace because we already did this with C-130’s for the Fruits of Hope program of the Philippine National Red Cross,” said Gordon. Even during his days as Chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Gordon already supported development initiatives in Mindanao. He convinced Fedex in 1995 to open a link to General Santos City and Davao so that freshly caught tuna could be brought to Japan overnight as well as cut flowers and orchids to Europe. Also as SBMA Chairman in late 1997, he signed a MOA with the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) to farm out excess investors in SBMA to the SPDA and the Zamboanga Economic and Freeport Zone.
Infrastructure
He said among the first things that need to be tackled is the power supply in the island, which currently is at an almost one-is-to-one ratio; that is, the power supply is just about equal to the demand. This means that there is not only no room to grow, there will soon be a power crisis as the demand outgrows the supply.	He said that since his visit to Sulu in August 2007, he has been in constant communication with people from the province. Those whom he had communicated with, he said, expressed their desire to have better schools, good roads, and adequate livelihood. The senator called for government to step up the building of schools as well as the delivery of health services in conflict affected areas in Mindanao.
Governance
many local government units in Mindanao are non-performing, that is, the supposed leaders are not doing their job for the people who elected them into office and who pay their salaries through their hard-earned taxes. For these LGUs, he wants a cut in internal revenue allotment (IRA); LGUs that do their job, on the other hand, would get the full 40 percent IRA to allow them to do more projects. A Noynoy presidency would thus be a “meritocracy” in which those that perform well are rewarded while those that don’t will have their allotments slashed. (“If they cannot do what they should do, then we should reduce their resources,” Aquino would say three days later during the Inquirer debate held last Monday).	“As a Red Cross volunteer, I’ve been in Mindanao back and forth many times. What I saw was … a lack of governance. The fact that people have no choice so much so that they have to pack a weapon so they can make sure that they are protected and that they can have livelihood,” said Gordon, head of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC). Gordon went as far as saying that Mindanao is “the land and burial ground of promises by politicians.” ARMM He said the priority should be the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the poorest region the country. One of the provinces under it, Maguindanao, had been the site of grisly massacre last November where 57 people, most of them journalists, were brutally shot by armed men allegedly serving the powerful Ampatuan clan. “We have to prioritize the ARMM because this is the poorest region in the Philippines. Resources must be put here if necessary bypassing the local officials. We must focus on this area,” Villar said. He also said that the massacre in Maguindanao should not be viewed as an isolated case. “This must be viewed in the larger context of the Mindanao problem. Has to be addressed, strike at the root of the problem. Clearly, poverty is at the root of the problem,” he said. *** Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) remains firm in his stance that good governance, rather than an all-out-war, will be far more effective in attaining lasting peace and ushering in development in Mindanao. Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, reaffirmed this position during an interview with broadcast-journalist Tina Monzon Palma on ANC’s Talkback. “I’ve always said, socio-economic reform, full court press on justice, full court press on livelihood, farm-to-market roads, and amnesty would be a more effective solution to the conflict in Mindanao,” he said. “There is no governance in Sulu. When I went around the community, it was an eye-opener. There were teachers who wanted to teach but they were not certified. There were schools that had no water, no toilets, no decent books, not even decent chairs. As you go out of Jolo, the roads get narrower. There are not enough farm-to-market roads, there are not enough ships or planes that can land in Sulu,” he added. Gordon explained that the amnesty he is proposing is one that goes side by side with reforms, such as providing infrastructure to facilitate trade and livelihood, that would let the people of Mindanao live more decent lives so they would have more belief in the government rather than rely on guns. “I think there were amnesties offered but the amnesty went as far as not being carefully worded, and as far as only buying firearms or balik-armas, i-integrate sila sa pulis or whatever. I don’t think it ever went into really honest to goodness reform,” he said. Gordon pointed out that it is time that we break out of our indoctrination from the Spanish colonizers that Muslims are the enemy and resolve the Mindanao conflict that has already gone on for several decades. “I think, eventually, slowly but surely, it’s not going to happen overnight, we will see an end to the sixty years of war between brother Filipinos. If you provide livelihood and respect, understanding and acceptance. The Muslim people are part of us,” he said.
Legislation for Mindanao
NONE	Championing the move to create a Mindanao economic development authority The need for an agency that would primarily carry out economic and social reforms in Mindanao to ensure the growth and development that the island deserves is vital stressed Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.). Gordon said that there are boundless opportunities for development in Mindanao, but he pointed out that there has to be an authority that would effect a serious and comprehensive long-term program for socio-economic development in the area that is commensurate to the demands of a modern economy. “Whenever I go to Mindanao I see the possibilities that are boundless not only in tourism, not only in agriculture, but also in industrial development,” he said during the committee hearing on the bill creating the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA). “We are living in a borderless world. We can communicate by internet, by text, anywhere in the world. We can send our tuna to Japan talking through the internet without even having to go to Japan. But without the necessary infrastructure to bring out our products, we would not be able to compete with the rest of the world,” he added. Gordon, author of Senate Bill 3260 (MEDA Act of 2009), said that Mindanao’s rich soil accounts for bountiful harvests of a variety of farm products such as rubber, pineapple, banana and mangosteen, among others. He added that the region is likewise endowed with rich mineral resources including lead, iron and gold. Cultural diversity and the island’s natural beauty make Mindanao one of Asia’s favored tourist destinations. Despite these resources, Gordon noted that decades of armed conflict have taken its toll on Mindanao. In fact, 45% of consistently poor provinces in the country are in Mindanao. “We have had a long, long festering problem in Mindanao, particularly in the areas of Sulu and Basilan. Mindanao has got to be developed immediately if only to stop the war out there,” Gordon said. “I know that there are certain elements in Mindanao that will never be pacified, but there are more people who want to conquer the lower instincts in man to make sure that Filipinos, whether they be Muslims or Christians, are uplifted,” he added. Gordon said he strongly supports the creation of the MEDA to promote, coordinate, and facilitate the participation of all sectors towards the socio-economic development of Mindanao. He explained that the MEDA would be the implementing agency for Mindanao-specific inter-regional and Mindanao-wide programs and projects, including Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects. “Mindanao has been touted as the land of promise. But we have to make sure that the authority is established so that we can see the promise of Mindanao, MindaNOW, not tomorrow, but today,” Gordon said.

After reviewing the material, as a Mindanaon, I am more convinced than ever that Gordon not only has Mindanao’s (and the Philippines) interest at heart -- he TRULY understands the issue as shown in his statements.

His handling of the ICRC hostage issue has been exemplary, too -- it shows a man with a steady hand.

The long and short of it is this -- Gordon has already been doing lots of stuff that Noynoy just talks and dreams about.. It will be a stretch of the imagination that Noynoy will be as efficient, as decisive, and as focused as Gordon -- given nine bills authored in three years -- including “Tarlac Day”. Go figure.

I say, go for the action man with the kick-ass plan -- a vote for Gordon is a vote for Mindanao’s prosperity and progress -- that’s not wasting your vote, that’s investing in your future.

GO GORDON!

Morales wants 4th bout vs Pacquiao

2010-03-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Returning Mexican champion Erik Morales, the last fighter who defeated pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, is setting his sights on his erstwhile rival for a possible fourth clash with the 7-division world champion.

“Defeating Pacquaio is my greatest accomplishment in the ring. I would love another chance at Pacquiao,” Morales said in a media event as quoted by Gareth A. Davies of The Telegraph.
“El Terible” Morales, 33, is coming out of retirement after leaving the sport in 2007.
He will make his comeback on March 27 in Monterrey, Mexico where he will face World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Jose “Jicaras” Alfaro of Nicaragua.
“Alfaro is a great young fighter and a former world champion. A wicked puncher who will bring his best. He has a big heart and always gives fans everything he has,” Morales said of his 26-year-old opponent.
The Mexican and Nicaraguan will fight for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) intercontinental welterweight title at the Arena Monterrey in Nuevo Leon.
“At 147, I’m faster than ever and freer with my body so I can get the most out of it,” said Morales, adding that he would also like to slug it out with compatriot Juan Manuel Marquez.
Morales has 48 wins (with 34 knockouts) and 6 losses while Alfaro has 23 wins (with 20 KOs), 5 defeats and 1 no contest.
Career-defining foes
Morales scored a unanimous decision victory over “Pacman” Pacquiao in March 2005 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las, Vegas Nevada.
The Filipino boxing icon fired back at Morales in their next 2 fights. He scored a 10th round technical knockout win in January 2006 and blasted a 3rd round knockout victory in November 2006. Both bouts were held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Morales, meantime, mentioned that Pacquiao and retired American boxer Junior Jones were the opponents who defined his career.
“Defeating Jones was important to me because he had stopped something like 32 Mexicans in previous fights,” he noted.
Pacquiao (51-3-2, with 38 KOs) successfully defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey via unanimous decision at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas last Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
No one has been named as his next opponent, although the clamor for his fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. remains even if negotiations for their bout collapsed due to their disagreement on the drug testing protocol. Trainer Freddie Roach, meantime, said that Venezuelan Edwin Valero could be next for Pacquiao. -- With a report from The Telegraph

The world's only immortal animal

2010-03-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

The turritopsis nutricula species of jellyfish may be the only animal in the world to have truly discovered the fountain of youth.

Since it is capable of cycling from a mature adult stage to an immature polyp stage and back again, there may be no natural limit to its life span. Scientists say the hydrozoan jellyfish is the only known animal that can repeatedly turn back the hands of time and revert to its polyp state (its first stage of life).

The key lies in a process called transdifferentiation, where one type of cell is transformed into another type of cell. Some animals can undergo limited transdifferentiation and regenerate organs, such as salamanders, which can regrow limbs. Turritopsi nutricula, on the other hand, can regenerate its entire body over and over again. Researchers are studying the jellyfish to discover how it is able to reverse its aging process.

Because they are able to bypass death, the number of individuals is spiking. They're now found in oceans around the globe rather than just in their native Caribbean waters. "We are looking at a worldwide silent invasion," says Dr. Maria Miglietta of the Smithsonian Tropical Marine Institute.

source:http://green.yahoo.com/blog/guest_bloggers/26/the-world-s-only-immortal-animal.html

Pacquiao says motivated by 50,000 fans in Cowboys Stadium

2010-03-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – It was the first time for defending World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao to fight in a massive venue on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Fighting at the $1.2-billion Cowboys Stadium proved to be fruitful for Pacquiao as he was able to defend his title against Joshua Clottey of Ghana via unanimous decision with the scores 120-108, 119-109 and 119-109.

“Grabe dahil alam mo na-surprise ako sa tibay ni Joshua Clottey,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN Correspondent Dyan Castillejo.

“Pero noong pagpasok ko pa lang sa ring, nakita ko ang mga fans lalo akong naganahan. Dahil sabi ko first time in my life, in my boxing career, na ako ang main event na ganito karami ang mga tao. I have to show my best na mapasaya ko iyong mga tao,” he said of the more than 50,000 spectators at the Cowboys Stadium.

Pacquiao, who was in the locker room when he was interviewed by Castillejo, added that Clottey was a tough nut to crack. The Ghanaian refused to go down so Pacquiao kept the heat on.

“Talagang ang ensayo, ang training naman is enough for this fight, pero di tayo nag-kumpiyansa, ‘di tayo nagiging careless kasi he's looking for a big shot. He’s looking for a timing para ma-counter tayo at nag-ingat naman tayo,” said the Filipino boxing icon.

'A lot of punches'

Clottey, in an interview after the fight, said he could not keep up with Pacquiao’s pace.

“The guy is fast and he threw a lot of punches. I’m too tight, my body’s tight,” noted the Ghanaian.

But he said he could have won the fight if he fired more punches.

“You see he never hurts me. His punches doesn’t (sic) hurt. If I threw a lot of punches, I’m gonna win,” he stated.

When asked what he would do differently if ever there will be a Pacquiao-Clottey rematch, the Ghanaian remarked, “I have to throw a lot of punches.” Best in the world

It was a happy scene at the locker room as family friends and Team Pacquaio took turns to greet the 7-division world champion.

His wife, Jinkee, gave him a big hug after kissing him. “Super galing. Amazing performance. Wala ka nang hihingilin pa. Siya ang the best in the world,” she said of her husband’s spectacular boxing achievement.

Veteran Hollywood actor and director Robert Duvall also entered the locker room to congratulate Pacquiao.

So did Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who was all praises for the Filipino superstar. He said he was amazed by Pacquiao’s incredible performance. He hopes the pound-for-pound king can return to the Cowboys Stadium for another bout.

“Fantastic performance,” remarked Jones. “You should be very, very proud.”

Pacquaio is scheduled to fly out of Dallas, Texas to Los Angeles, California on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

Mayweather question

Pacquiao thanked Duvall for dropping by the locker room.

The Academy Award-winning actor, meantime, told him: “You gotta fight (Floyd) Mayweather.”

The pound-for-pound king agreed with Duvall. “Ya, that's a good fight,” he said.

He then told Castillejo that his supposed opponent that night will have to prove himself against Shane Mosley on May 1.

“Kailangan niya muna ipanalo ang laban against Mosley at panoorin natin,” Pacquiao commented on Mayweather.

Clottey earlier said that the reigning WBO welterweight champion can take on either Mosley or Mayweather.

“He can take anybody who’s a welterweight guy. He’s fast. They don’t have to underestimate him because he’s a smaller guy to where he is so he is gonna be fast on everybody because he’s small. He’s gonna be fast,” he noted.

Early arrival

Castillejo noted that Pacquiao was all smiles when he saw the crowd at the Cowboys Stadium.

Filipinos arrived early at the venue to give their all-out support to their boxing hero. Every section of the arena had Pinoys and Philippine flags. As always, Pacquiao’s fans were passionate and loud.

The Filipino fight fans enjoyed a different experience in Arlington because they were awed by the huge Cowboys Stadium. The stadium’s HD screen even showed every punch from the ring.

Even Journey frontman Arnel Pineda, who sang the Philippine National Anthem, arrived that venue early. He said he was thrilled to sing the “Lupang Hinirang.”

Some of the personalities who watched the bout were veteran Filipino boxer Gerry Peñalosa, former boxing world champion Antonio Margarito, celebrity KC Montero and House Speaker Prospero Nograles.

source:http://ph.news.yahoo.com/abs/20100314/tph-pacquiao-says-motivated-by-50-000-fa-85c5a6c.html

Video of Pacquiao vs Clottey

2010-03-13T22:15:00.000-08:00

I've recorded the Pacquiao-Clottey Match and I'm uploading it right now to my youtube account and on this blog be back shortly to be able to watch it here

Video of Manny Pacquiao vs Joshua Clottey

2010-03-13T21:52:00.000-08:00

I recorded the much awaited match of Pacquiao vs Clottey

Round 1-7

Round 8-11

round 12 on going

Pacquiao wins over Clottey

2010-03-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao wins by unanimous decision!Scores:
120-108
119-109
119-109
Sadly one of his most boring fights

Manny Pacquiao wins over Joshua Clottey in their just concluded fight. Pacquiao won by a unanimous decision.

Here are some highlights in every round:

Pacquiao out the gates early in Round 1. Good action early. Clottey has never been knocked out!

Round 2 - Pacquiao still pounding away on Clottey. Mixing up head and body shots. Clottey had some openings to try to land uppercuts. Good round!

Round 3 - Clottey lands some solid punches to Manny's head, but Pacquiao responds with nice combos and constant work to the body.

Round 4 - Manny asking Clottey to hit him and box. Clottey in a constant defensive stance just taking shot after shot. How much punishment can Clotty's body take. In the middle - Pacquaio gives Clottey a 'double punch' a la 3 stoogies to get Clottey to engage.

Round 5 - When Clottey does swing - they are powerful - but then Manny returns the 3 punch Clottey combo w/10x combo of his own!!!

Round 6 - Clottey more active here. Taking Manny's shots, but also dishing a bit more shots back at Manny. Clottey still looking good, but Manny targeting the body. You can hear the punches land on Clottey's ribs...

Round 7 - Pacquiao looked to take a slight break in the pace in this round, but still effective. Clottey did landed a good power punch from Clottey. Clottey still taking the punches well.

Round 8 - Pacquiao breaking through Clottey's defense as he lets lose on his opponent. Clottey just taking the punishement. There is bruising in Pac's eye. Joshua clipped Pacman low in this round...

Round 9 - Manny at times feels sympathetic towards his opponents. He is looking to KO Clottey - he had 2 strings of combos that drove Clottey back and then drove him into the ropes. Will a KO be coming soon?

Round 10 - Clottey bangs Manny with 2 solid upper cuts. Pacquiao's face swelling, but he's still in full control. Pacquiao's bruise is below his right eye. Clottey with bits and pieces of boxing and then backs off.

Roundd 11 - 2 upper cuts from Clottey shake the hair and head of Pacquiao and then Manny turns it on and appears to have stunned Clottey in the corner towards the end of this round. Will a KO happen in the Championship round?

Roundd 12 - Pacquiao just too good for Clottey. Taking too many shots from Pacman and the combos were dizzy'ing. This one looks like another Win for Pacquiao.

Watch Pacquiao Vs Clottey Live

2010-03-13T20:35:00.000-08:00

Download sopcast(http://www.sopcast.com) and connect to this channel sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/85856 I'm on this channel right now watching the fight.Go pacman pride of the Philippines

Watch Pacquiao Vs Clottey Live

2010-03-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

On my early post, there you can see a soft cast channel where we can watch the fight of Manny Pacquiao live!

Here's another source were you can watch the powerful fight, LIVE!

A while ago, a dear friend of mine send me a link where we can watch Pacquiao Vs Clottey Live

http://www.ilemi.com/317/1/Watch-Manny-Pacquiao-vs-Joshua-Clottey

Thank you for my brilliant friend, Mrs. Obie Cruz.. Through her, we can now watch the fight of two great boxers..

Pacquiao at post-fight party

2010-03-13T17:26:00.000-08:00

Pacman has gigantic designs for Saturday night — after his fight against Joshua Clottey.

Pacquiao will be the guest of honor at his after-fight party, and designs to provide the entertainment. The budding singer will take the stage and entertain fans with his voice, after the welterweight champion uses his fists.

That is a nice indication of how confident they is about beating Clottey.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, is predicting his man will win in the late rounds. He is not predicting a knockout because Clottey has never been KO’d.

Meanwhile, Clottey is predicting victory at the main event for the first fight card at the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium. Promoters say the 45,000 seats are sold.

Live Stream Channel for Pacquiao vs Clottey

2010-03-13T17:04:00.000-08:00

Reliable Live Stream Resource from the Experienced

Because want to provide you with the correct information and truly make you watch the fight.We post a source that you can watch Pacquiao vs Clottey Live Free.

Sites not to look for Pacquiao Clottey Fight Live Streams

Websites that you should not rely on for a Pacquiao vs Clottey fight includes, but is not limited to the following live stream websites:

uStream
Justin.TV

They are going to ban the boxing channels for the upcoming March 13, 2010 fight before you know it. We have, and always had a better solution, and that is what we are going to present to you once again. And that is, like it has always been the use of the SopCast

Sopcast Player for Live Streams, and nothing else

I can assure you, that based on my experience, Sopcast Player and its broad range of available live channels had always been the most convenient and efficient way to watch boxing fights and other events live.I watch here almost all of Pacquiao’s fight including Pacquiao vs. Cotto , Pacquiao vs. Hatton, Pacquiao vs. Diaz and many more and even I use Sopcast to watch discover channel,National Geographic,NBA Live and many more.

Live Stream Channel for Pacquiao vs Clottey

I will post a channel on this post once I got one.

If in case you know of any working channel, leave a comment below and we will add them to our post, and, credit you for it.

Pacquiao vs Clottey Live Streaming

2010-03-13T16:52:00.000-08:00

3 Hours To Go Before The Match

The boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey is getting near. The event is just 3 hours away from now. People around the world are really getting much excited to witness this boxing match wherein the pound-for-pound king will fight against Joshua Clottey from Ghana. As promised, we will be having the Pacquiao VS Clottey Live Stream here. If not here, we will be giving the right links where you can watch this boxing match live online for free. The details regarding the live streaming of this fight will be given in the next few minutes so better bookmark this site and check once in a while.

The live streaming channels on Sopcast (http://www.sopcast.com)and other online resources will be given later. Get ready for this event which you really should not miss.

Pacquiao vs Clottey Live in Dallas

2010-03-13T16:50:00.001-08:00

It’s boxing time once again as Manny Pacquiao face the challenge of Joshua Clottey live at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Dallas, Texas.
Entitled, The Event, the Pacquiao vs Clottey match will be for the WBO World Welterweight Championship belt. Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey online live stream via HBO PPV and other sports boxing websites.

Paquiao vs Clottey
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao
Age: 31
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 5′6″
Country: Philippines (Gen. Santos City)
Record: 50-3-2 (38 KOs)

Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey
Age: 32
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′8″
Country: Accra, Ghana
Record: 35-3- (20 KOs)
Stay tuned as we will give you live round-by-round update of the Pacquiao vs Clottey match on March 13. Watch out for it!

Josephine Aton of Pilipinas Got Talent Singing

2010-03-13T15:24:00.000-08:00

Singing for her father whom she felt was never proud of her, Josephine - a Pinay mom from Cebu City - hit every high note and sang all complex melisma out of Fantasia Barrino's American Idol winning song, 'I Believe', -- blowing it out of the park and catapulting her into the hearts of all Pilipinas Got Talent viewers.

Watch her amazing performance here:

KAPIDAMU Band auditions sa Pilipinas Got Talent

2010-03-10T22:54:00.000-08:00

Nagustuhan namin ang auditions ng KAPIDAMU Band sa Pilipinas Got Talent. The folksy boy band has the “ingredients” to make it big in Pinoy music. The group sang their very own composition — at may dating ito in fairness. Catchy music, lyrics that make sense; and the lead vocalist — 10-year-old from Atimonan, Quezon, is the kid version of an Aegis Band singer. Ang taas ng boses at pang-rocker talaga. Ganda

Here’s the video clip of the KAPIDAMU Band auditions sa Pilipinas Got Talent.

Ezra Band from Davao del Sur impressed the three judges of Pilipinas Got Talent.

2010-03-10T22:48:00.000-08:00

There’s something special about Ezra band. This band from Davao del Sur has a girl vocalist named Kaaye and a differently-abled keyboard player. Their soulful rendition of “Wonderful Tonight” wowed the judges.

Kris Aquino said “Sa acoustic we look for soul. Hinahanap natin ung depth of emotions, yung madadala ka ng kanta. You made us feel wonderful tonight.”

Ai Ai delas Alas said “…Nabilib ako sa inyo, lalong lalo na sa kanya [referring to the keyboard player] kasi hindi hadlang at napakagaling niya mag-keyboard.”

Freddie Garcia said “This is definitely extra-ordinary!”

Watch the video below:

Examiner Bio Nintendo video game sells for over $41,000

2010-03-06T17:14:00.000-08:00

It seems that selling old video games on auction sites like eBay or uBid is the fastest way to make money in this shaky and unstable economy. When eBay user lace_thongs recently sold an old Nintendo system along with rare game Stadium Events only a few weeks ago and grossed $13,000, many money-hungry sellers followed suit - hoping to profit from their old vintage games or systems.

On February 26, an eBay auction listing the Nintendo game Stadium Events ended. The seller, vals2girlz, listed the auction on February 21. The auction included a brand new and sealed edition of the 1987 game, which is one of the top 20 rarest and most hard to find games in the world.

After a bidding war that ended with a whopping 115 bids, the game sold for an impressive $41,300. Stadium Events, which was sold for the price of $29.99 23 years ago, was purchased for nearly 1377 times its worth.

It's official: An asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs

2010-03-05T17:07:00.000-08:00

LONDON (Reuters) – A giant asteroid smashing into Earth is the only plausible explanation for the extinction of the dinosaurs, a global scientific team said on Thursday, hoping to settle a row that has divided experts for decades.

A panel of 41 scientists from across the world reviewed 20 years' worth of research to try to confirm the cause of the so-called Cretaceous-Tertiary (KT) extinction, which created a "hellish environment" around 65 million years ago and wiped out more than half of all species on the planet.

Scientific opinion was split over whether the extinction was caused by an asteroid or by volcanic activity in the Deccan Traps in what is now India, where there were a series of super volcanic eruptions that lasted around 1.5 million years.

The new study, conducted by scientists from Europe, the United States, Mexico, Canada and Japan and published in the journal Science, found that a 15-kilometre (9 miles) wide asteroid slamming into Earth at Chicxulub in what is now Mexico was the culprit.

"We now have great confidence that an asteroid was the cause of the KT extinction. This triggered large-scale fires, earthquakes measuring more than 10 on the Richter scale, and continental landslides, which created tsunamis," said Joanna Morgan of Imperial College London, a co-author of the review.

The asteroid is thought to have hit Earth with a force a billion times more powerful than the atomic bomb at Hiroshima.

Morgan said the "final nail in the coffin for the dinosaurs" came when blasted material flew into the atmosphere, shrouding the planet in darkness, causing a global winter and "killing off many species that couldn't adapt to this hellish environment."

Scientists working on the study analyzed the work of paleontologists, geochemists, climate modelers, geophysicists and sedimentologists who have been collecting evidence about the KT extinction over the last 20 years.

Geological records show the event that triggered the dinosaurs' demise rapidly destroyed marine and land ecosystems, they said, and the asteroid hit "is the only plausible explanation for this."

Peter Schulte of the University of Erlangen in Germany, a lead author on the study, said fossil records clearly show a mass extinction about 65.5 million years ago -- a time now known as the K-Pg boundary.

Despite evidence of active volcanism in India, marine and land ecosystems only showed minor changes in the 500,000 years before the K-Pg boundary, suggesting the extinction did not come earlier and was not prompted by eruptions.

The Deccan volcano theory is also thrown into doubt by models of atmospheric chemistry, the team said, which show the asteroid impact would have released much larger amounts of sulphur, dust and soot in a much shorter time than the volcanic eruptions could have, causing extreme darkening and cooling.

Gareth Collins, another co-author from Imperial College, said the asteroid impact created a "hellish day" that signaled the end of the 160-million-year reign of the dinosaurs, but also turned out to be a great day for mammals.

"The KT extinction was a pivotal moment in Earth's history, which ultimately paved the way for humans to become the dominant species on Earth," he wrote in a commentary on the study.

(Collins has created a website at http://impact.ese.ic.ac.uk/ImpactEffects/Chicxulub.html which allows readers to see the effects of the asteroid impact.)

Over 5,000 go naked at Sydney Opera House

2010-03-01T17:41:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY : Over 5,000 naked people braved a chilly morning to join a mass photo shoot at Sydney's Opera House on Monday, putting a nude twist on the Australian landmark.

People of all ages, shapes and sizes assembled on the shell-shaped building's steps before dawn for renowned American artist Spencer Tunick, who photographed them with hands raised, lying down and embracing.

The event, titled "The Base", drew double the expected turnout and was timed to coincide with Sydney's annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Parade on Saturday.

"Gay men and women lay naked next to their straight neighbours and this delivered a very strong message to the world that Australians embrace a free and equal society," Tunick said.

About half of the 5,200 models were also photographed inside the concert hall.

The artist is well known for his mass-nude art installations, drawing thousands of people to dozens of events all over the world.

"I thought it would be all old people and nudists, but everyone's here. It's great," student Art Rush, 19, told national news agency AAP.

"I'll never get a chance to do this again, it's not worth being inhibited. It doesn't feel sexual, it just feels tribal, a gathering of humanity."

Anna Bruce, 28, said shedding her clothes seemed "really normal".

"It was easier than I expected, it was really normal, there was no problem with getting our kit off," she said.

Scott Faulder, 19, said the installation was "just another excuse to get naked".

© 2010 AFP
This story is sourced direct from an overseas news agency as an additional service to readers. Spelling follows North American usage, along with foreign currency and measurement units.

Rolando Ng III sa Pilipinas Got Talent

2010-03-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

Check out the audition video of Rolando Ng III sa Pilipinas Got Talent and sure mag-enjoy din kayo:

in case the video dont load here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zOpjZMEmDM

Pilipinas Got Talent - 16-year old Jovit Baldivino - Journey's "Faithfully"

2010-03-01T04:21:00.000-08:00

Sarap ulit ulitin di nakakasawa panoorin ang galing.......Proud to be Pinoy

Protect Your Heart at Every Age

2010-02-19T18:35:00.001-08:00

As i surfing the net to check my email this has got my attention and read it and its so informative so
just in case you haven't read it read the whole story below.Live a healthy lifestyle

Protect Your Heart at Every Age

You're never too young—or too old—to start lowering your heart disease risk. Of course, exercising, eating healthy and reducing stress are key throughout life, but due to physiological changes that happen as we age, certain risk factors do become more of a threat.

In Your 20s

Stub Out a Social Smoking Habit
Smoking is enemy number one when it comes to heart disease, and even just a few cigarettes can do damage: New research from McGill University in Montreal found that smoking just one cigarette a day stiffens your arteries by a whopping 25 percent. Plus, smoking erases the hormonal advantage you have from estrogen, which can leave you vulnerable to a heart attack before menopause, explains Dr. Bonow.

Don't Ignore the Birth Control Factor

Remember that hormonal contraceptives slightly increase the risk of blood clots, so if you've ever had one, make sure to discuss it with your doctor before going on birth control. And if you're currently a smoker, don't take oral contraceptives, because the combo can be especially dangerous, says Sharonne N. Hayes, MD, director of the Women's Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Watch Your Alcohol Intake
Moderate amounts of alcohol can have a beneficial effect on your heart. (By "moderate," we mean one drink a day or about 5 ounces—but many restaurants serve far more than that.) Overdoing it can raise triglycerides, increase blood pressure and lead to weight gain, thanks to all those empty calories.

In Your 30s

Get a Grip on Stress
When you're juggling career and family, it's crucial to find stress management techniques that work. "Untamed stress has a direct negative impact on heart health," says Dr. Stevens. "The constant bombardment of adrenaline raises blood pressure and destabilizes plaque in your arteries, making it likely to cause a clot or heart attack."

Lose the Baby Weight
No, you don't have to fit into your skinny jeans by the time the baby's 6 months old, but do aim to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight within one to two years. "Carrying around extra pounds can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors," Dr. Bonow says. Also remember that it's easier to lose weight in your 30s than in your 40s, when your metabolism slows down.

Stay Social
It's important to stay connected to friends and family for the sake of your mood and heart. Research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that high levels of loneliness increase a woman's risk of heart disease by 76 percent. On the flip side, having strong social support can help lower your blood pressure and improve other cardiovascular functions. Set aside time once or twice a week to call friends, or make a monthly dinner date.

In Your 40s

Make Sleep a Priority
Thanks to peri-menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can interfere with a good night's sleep. But not getting at least seven hours of shut-eye regularly can lead to increased blood pressure, low-grade inflammation and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, all of which are harmful for your blood vessels and heart, explains Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, a cardiologist at New York University School of Medicine and coauthor of Heart Smart for Black Women and Latinas. Lack of sleep has also been linked to weight gain. So establish good habits: Turn in (and wake up) at the same time every day—even on weekends—and do your best to relax before going to bed, whether it's watching a favorite funny TV show or reading.

Reassess Your Risk Factors
You may discover that your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels have changed in this decade, even if you aren't doing anything differently, says Dr. Hayes. In fact, 22 percent of 40-something women have high blood pressure and 50 percent have high cholesterol (a jump from 38 percent of women in their 30s), according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Also, be sure to get your thyroid checked around 45; hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), which becomes more common as women get older, can negatively affect your cholesterol levels as well as your heart.

Step Up Strength Training
You start to lose muscle mass more rapidly in your 40s, which causes your metabolism to slow down since muscle burns more calories than fat. Unfortunately, this makes it harder to stave off those extra pounds. To help maintain muscle and keep your metabolism going, aim for two 15-minute sessions weekly of lifting weights, using a resistance band or doing other toning exercises.

Carve out Personal Time
"Between the demands of work and family, it becomes even more challenging to find time for yourself in your 40s," says Dr. Mieres. But it's crucial to do so—not only to help ease stress but also to guard against depression, which commonly crops up in this decade and can raise your risk of heart disease. "Find at least 10 minutes of ‘me' time every day to do something—even if it's just chatting on the phone with a friend—that helps you destress and regroup," says Dr. Mieres.

In Your 50s

Move More
Around menopause, you tend to gain extra weight around your belly, which can lead to insulin resistance, inflammation and heart strain. Cardiovascular fitness also starts to decline, particularly if you're not that physically active to begin with. "Unfortunately, at this point, women have to burn more calories to stay at the same weight," Dr. Stevens says. Start taking the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can, walk faster around the mall, or jog to the mailbox to send letters instead of sticking your hand out the car window as you drive by. Small changes really do add up.

Have an ECG
Silent heart abnormalities become more common in your 50s, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart's electrical activity can pick them up, says Dr. Goldberg. Also ask your doctor if you should have a stress test; this is especially important if you're just starting to exercise.

Add Fiber
Besides being good for your cholesterol and blood sugar, pumping up your fiber intake (think whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice and flaxseeds, as well as beans, fruits and veggies) can help prevent constipation, which becomes more of a problem as you get older and your digestive system starts to slow down.

In Your 60s

Get Even More Vigilant About Screenings
After you go through menopause and get older, your blood pressure and cholesterol tend to go up, and blood vessels get stiffer. "Have your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol measured yearly," advises Dr. Goldberg.

Consider Medication
If you have hypertension or high cholesterol, the way you've been managing it before may not be enough. "As you get older, you may need more aggressive therapy," Dr. Bonow says. "High blood pressure that was controlled with one medication may now require three to control it." Talk to your doctor about whether you need to add to or adjust your medications to control your risk factors.

Be Alert to Symptoms
Now is when the first noticeable symptoms of heart disease may appear, so it's important to know what's normal for your body and be on the lookout for worrisome signs like chest discomfort, shortness of breath or changes in exercise tolerance—meaning you suddenly feel winded going up a flight of stairs or feel unusually tired for no apparent reason, says Dr. Mieres. If these appear, see your doctor pronto!

source:http://health.yahoo.com/featured/82/protect-your-heart-at-every-age/

Pacquiao stops Cotto to win 7th title

2009-11-14T22:52:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao's speed and power were way too much for Miguel Cotto's heart.

Pacquiao put on yet another dominating performance Saturday night, knocking down Cotto twice and turning his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him at 55 seconds of the 12th round.

The Filipino star used his blazing speed and power from both hands to win his seventh title in seven weight classes and cement his stature as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Cotto took such a beating that his face was a river of red from the fury of Pacquiao's punches but he refused to quit even as his corner tried to throw in the towel after the 11th round.

The fight was billed as a 145-pound classic, and in the early rounds it didn't disappoint. The two went after each other with a vengeance and Cotto more than held his own as they traded punches in the center of the ring.

Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a right hand early in the third round, but he wasn't badly hurt and came back to finish the round strong. But after Pacquiao put Cotto on the canvas with a big left hand as Cotto was advancing forward late in the fourth round, the Puerto Rican was never the same again.

"Our plan was not to hurry but to take our time," Pacquiao said. "It was a hard fight tonight and I needed time to test his power."

Cotto fought gamely but in the later rounds he was just trying to survive as blood flowed down his face and Pacquiao kept coming after him relentlessly. It looked as if his corner was trying to stop the fight after the 11th round, but Cotto went back out to take even more punishment before a final flurry along the ropes prompted referee Kenny Bayless to call the fight to an end.

Cotto's face was swollen, blood was flowing from his nose and his cuts, and he simply couldn't stop Pacquiao from bouncing inside and throwing both hands at will.

"I didn't know from where the punches were coming," Cotto said. "Manny Pacquiao is one of the best boxers I ever fought."

Pacquiao, coming off of spectacular wins over Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, added another one against Cotto, who had lost only once and held the WBO version of the welterweight title. Pacquiao did it in trademark fashion, throwing punches in flurries and from all angles until Cotto began to slow down and then pursuing him relentlessly until the fight finally ended.

The fight will likely set up an even bigger fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., and many in the soldout crowd at the MGM Grand arena began chanting "We want Floyd! We want Floyd" after the fight ended.

"I want to see him fight Mayweather," trainer Freddie Roach said.

Mayweather may have second thoughts after Pacquiao did what no fighter has done before and win a belt in a seventh weight class. More impressive, though, is how he has fought, dismantling opponents despite moving up consistently from 106 pounds to the 144 he weighed for the fight.

The welterweight ranks will be the last ones Pacquiao conquers, though. He said he will not move up any more in weight.

"This is the last weight division for me," Pacquiao said. "It's history for me and more importantly a Filipino did it.

He was so dominant in the later rounds that Cotto was fighting backward most of the way, simply trying to survive. Pacquiao was credited with landing almost twice as many punches — 336-172 — as Cotto.

Pacquiao earned a minimum $13 million, while Cotto got $7 million

Pacquiao was favored, largely off his last two performances in which he forced De La Hoya to quit on his stool and then knocked out Hatton with a huge left hook in the second round. Some in boxing, including Roach, thought Cotto had been slowed by his devastating loss last year to Antonio Margarito and would be further slowed by having to come in 2 pounds lower than his normal weight.

Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hsQm2mpH142W2bcUOmXWoSLEUj2gD9BVPKAG0