Reach Beyond Your Limits: June 2011

30 June 2011

DENR awards nine gov't agencies

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has awarded nine national government agencies that adopted and sustained eco-friendly practices in the workplace during the 1st 2011 Recognition Awards for Eco-friendly Government Offices.

'Corrective Rape'

Lesbian South Africans are living in fear as rape and murder become a daily threat in the townships they call home.

Noxolo Nkosana, 23, is the latest victim of a series of violent attacks against lesbians.

She was stabbed a stone's throw from her home in Crossroads township, Cape Town, as she returned from work one evening with her girlfriend.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

The colossally destructive, almost comically long final battle sequence of Michael Bay's Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Paramount Pictures) culminates in at least a temporary vanquishing of the earth-invading Decepticons by the more human-friendly Autobots. But the entirety of the film stands as proof of robotic life's inevitable triumph over Homo sapiens. Faced with this quantity of hardware, this degree of technical sophistication, this goddamn many robots, organic life doesn't stand a chance. We might as well amuse ourselves with tales of the war between two fictional robot races, now that Michael Bay has taken over the world.

How to Get and Share Invites to Google Plus?

Google Plus is a very impressive product, but in order to test it and not over-hype it, the company offered very few invites to the service when it launched yesterday. Press and a few others were allowed to enter up to 15 email adresses before noon yesterday and all of those people got Plus accounts by mid-afternoon. Accounts did not come with any allocated invitations, though, so it's been widely reported that there are no Plus invites.

How to create a strong online password? [Video]

Heard about any good hacks lately?

It's high time we went over some password rules:

1. The longer the better. Six characters? No. Eight? Meh. Twelve? Yes.

2. Use a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols.

3. Create a different password for each site. It's a total pain, I know, but consider one of the following methods:

What Google+ and Facebook Have In Common?

This hasn't been Google's best year for social. First, word got out about an internal memo in which a senior exec warned that the company was behind in social networking and needed to catch up fast. Later, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt acknowledged that the company had "screwed up" when it came to social and the threat from Facebook.

Coffee buzz protects brain from Alzheimer's

For years we’ve been told that caffeinated coffee was bad for us. It’s unhealthy and addictive, doctors warned. But as vindication for all who stuck by their energizing elixir, a new study shows that guzzling caffeinated coffee may actually be good for our brains. In fact, it may help keep Alzheimer’s at bay.

29 June 2011

World Cup Qualifiers: Philippine Azkals salvage draw versus Sri Lanka

A resilient Philippine side fought back to salvage a 1-1 stalemate against Sri Lanka Wednesday in the first leg of their opening round World Cup qualifying match at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

Substitute Nate Burkey, making his debut for the Philippines, headed home James Younghusband’s saved header in the 50th minute to give the Azkals a precious away goal heading to the second leg in Manila on Sunday.

'PGT' grand winner Marcelito Pomoy on family and winning talent

After winning top prize on “Pilipinas Got Talent” Season 2, Marcelito Pomoy’s next fight may well be mending his broken family.

Underneath his seemingly effortless singing ability is a sob story: At a tender age, he and two of his siblings were abandoned by their mother after their father was imprisoned. While their eldest sister stayed with their mother, Marcelito and his other siblings were taken under the wing of foster parents.

World of Warcraft now free until level 20

Blizzard Entertainment's massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft has not adopted a free-to-play model like high-profile games Lord of the Rings Online, EverQuest II, Team Fortress 2, and others. However, Blizzard has extended WOW's try-before-you-buy experience today, making the game free to play until level 20.

28 June 2011

Mickey Mouse tweet by Egypt's Sawiris angers Muslims

One of Egypt's richest men has been accused of mocking Islam after tweeting cartoons of Mickey and Minnie Mouse wearing conservative Muslim attire.

Telecoms mogul and Coptic Christian Naguib Sawiris apologised for re-posting the images on Twitter a few days ago, saying he meant no offence.

Paint Made from Recycled Plastic Bottles

This is actually quite a wonderful color and it’s perfect for the summer. And the great thing about it? Lots of reasons.

This paint is made from recycled plastic bottles. It has made good use of waste that would have supposedly filled out landfills, for one thing. And its paint formulation and its use actually bring about less air pollution than regular paints, where its mostly oil based.

Diet Successfully With Popular Celebrity Diets

Many celebrities today go through some rather strange methods in order to keep their slim and trim look. The bizarre diets include methods that would not be healthy for a long period of time. However, there are those select Hollywood stars that follow popular diets today that can work for you.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. faces another lawsuit

Another lawsuit has been filed against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas.

According to ESPN.com, a 21-year-old man is claiming that Mayweather ordered his bodyguards to attack him at a Las Vegas casino.

Computer Teaching Technique: Fewer Words, More Pictures

If you’re having a difficult time teaching your students about the operation of computers, then you might want to look into the technique being used by author Chris Charuhas: using pictures.

When he worked as a computer instructor in a community college, Charuhas noticed that his students learned more quickly if he walked them through the lessons by showing them how to perform computer operations. According to him, the more he showed and the less he talked, the better the students remembered the lessons.

Why Is Facebook Disabling Apps Without Warning?

If you're a regular use of Facebook. you may have noticed the disappearance of a number of applications across the site in the last week or so—including Social Interview, Photo Effect and God Reads—and be wondering what's going on. It's been officially explained as part of a widespread operation responding to complaints of an increase in spam:

27 June 2011

Famous Romances with Shocking Age Gaps

Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown (9 Years)

She was 13 and he was a twice-divorced 22 year-old when they were married. Normally that description alone would be enough to qualify as off-putting. But wait, she was also his cousin (technically the daughter of his first cousin, but still). Jerry Lee Lewis was a fiery character, but this marriage was considered even too wild for him. It reportedly derailed his mainstream rock 'n roll career and gave preachers plenty of ammunition against the burgeoning rock scene. After two children and 13 years of marriage, the controversial couple eventually split.

What to expect from iPhone5?

Apple’s next-generation iPhone will have a faster processor and will begin shipping in September, according to three people with direct knowledge of the company’s supply chain.

The production of the new iPhone will start in July or August and the smartphone will look largely similar to the iPhone 4, one of the sources told Reuters.

Twitter May Introduce Ads in Users’ Timelines: FT

In a move that will no doubt spark an uproar among its users, there may soon be advertisements between friends’ tweets in your Twitter timeline, reports the Financial Times, citing people with direct knowledge of the plans.

Twitter may position its “Promoted Tweets” in the timeline, marking the first time in the micro-blogging site’s five-year history of placing obtrusive ads.

Mariel grateful for Robin's undying determination to fulfill her 'wish'

Though visibly caught off guard when asked about her husband Robin Padilla’s plan to bring her to Vatican to have their union sanctified by the Catholic Church, TV host Mariel Rodriguez, nevertheless, expressed gratefulness for his zeal.

FVR's daughter dies

A daughter of former President Fidel V. Ramos passed away at the Medical City in Pasig on Monday, a source close to the former President said.

Josephine 'Jo' Ramos-Samartino, a singer and wife of actor Lloyd Samartino, reportedly died due to cancer, the source added.

Lloyd and Jo separated in 2004, according to a Manila Bulletin report. They have one child.

26 June 2011

Who's Afraid of Math?

“Math anxiety is a common problem for children. Some of them would push away their notebooks at the sight of equations saying, ‘I can’t do it.’ Some would even cringe just by the mere mention of math. “

Math is one of the essential subjects that a child must learn and fear of it slows down progress. How should parents help their children overcome this attitude?

The real story behind the song ‘Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin’

The well-loved song “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin” is the theme of the popular ABS-CBN teleserye of the same title starring Coco Martin who with his dual role showcases his versatility as an actor. With this project, Coco is amassing more fans and admirers. The young actor is indeed achieving more success in his career. The latest recognition he received was URIAN’s Actor of the Decade Award.

22 June 2011

Sneak peek: ‘Final Destination 5′

No matter where you run, no matter where you hide…you can’t cheat death.

In New Line Cinema’s “Final Destination 5,” Death is just as omnipresent as ever, and is unleashed after one man’s premonition saves a group of co-workers from a terrifying suspension bridge collapse. But this group of unsuspecting souls was never supposed to survive, and, in a terrifying race against time, the ill-fated group frantically tries to discover a way to escape Death’s sinister agenda.

John Estrada welcomes Janice de Belen joining the Kapamilya network

For TV host John Estrada, his ex-wife, Janice de Belen’s move to the Kapamilya network is something he welcomes.

“I’m excited and I’m happy for her. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, dito nagsimula si Janice. Matagal siya naging Kapamilya. I welcome her with open arms. I think she made the right choice,” John said on “Showbiz News Ngayon,” June 20.

Spider Man is Dead?

The lights are going out for Peter Parker, the high school student bitten by a radioactive spider whose wall-crawling and web-slinging antics have made him a touchstone of Marvel Comics' universe of heroes and villains.

Reuters: New Internet Domains May Lead to Chaos in Cyberspace

Monday’s decision by the body governing internet domain names to stop restricting them to a list of suffixes like .com and .org may spell a “chaotic new era” as companies start branding the internet, reports Reuters.

By the end of 2012, any suffix can be used as a domain name once it gets approved; so there could be a coke.zero or italian.food then, Reuters said. All this may spark a scramble by brands and cybersquatters alike to see who gets the name first.

21 June 2011

PRC honors nation's top professionals

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will honor the nation’s outstanding professionals led by Manila Bulletin President Hermogenes P. Pobre for Accountancy, and Dr. Nilo L. Rosas for Education, in ceremonies marking the 39th Anniversary of the PRC at the historic landmark Manila Hotel Wednesday, June 22.

The Gadget Failure Hall of Fame

Some tech flops are famous and well documented: Microsoft Bob. The Segway scooter. The Iridium satellite cellphone. (You think you’ve got indoor-reception problems with your current cellphone? How’d you like a phone with $8 a minute airtime charges that doesn’t work at all without a line of sight to the sky?)

New Cigarette Warnings Released [Photos]

The Food and Drug Administration released nine new graphic warnings for cigarette packages today -- the first new labels in more than two decades. The new warnings, which depict the negative health impact of cigarettes, are required to cover at least 50 percent of every pack of cigarettes sold in the U.S. by mid-2013.

Maguindanao massacre trial live online

Chief Justice Renato C. Corona has ordered the live video webcast of the Maguindanao massacre trial through the Supreme Court’s (SC) website, www.sc.judiciary.gov.ph.

The directive that would make the court trial accessible to viewers worldwide, continuously and without interruption, was issued to Court Administrator and SC spokesman Jose Midas P. Marquez.

PNoy Appoints New CICT Commissioner

A year after assuming office, Pres. Noynoy Aquino has finally named a new commissioner for the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) who will work under the agency’s chair, Ivan John Uy.

Top CICT executives said Malacanang has already signed and transmitted the appointment papers of Oliver V. Chato, a son of Camarines Norte representative Liwayway Vinzons-Chato.

20 June 2011

Japan gadget charges cellphone over campfire

A Japanese company has come up with a new way to charge your mobile phone after a natural disaster or in the great outdoors -- by heating a pot of water over a campfire.

The Hatsuden-Nabe thermo-electric cookpot turns heat from boiling water into electricity that feeds via a USB port into digital devices such as smartphones, music players and global positioning systems.

Global Internet body to unleash domain names

The regulatory body that oversees Internet domain names voted on Monday to revamp the domain naming system for websites, allowing them to end with words like "apple" and "orange" instead of suffixes such as ".com" or ".gov".

"ICANN has opened the Internet's naming system to unleash the global human imagination. Today's decision respects the rights of groups to create new top level domains in any language or script," the regulatory body said after a board meeting in Singapore.

Scientists show heart can repair itself, with help

British scientists have managed to transform a type of stem-like cell in adult mouse hearts into functioning heart muscle in research proving that the heart has dormant repair cells that can be reactivated.

Although the research has yet to be translated into humans and is in its very early stages, the results suggest that in the future, a drug could be developed to prompt and prime hearts damaged by cardiac arrest into repairing themselves.

A free site to help find your lost, stolen cameras

A clever experiment may make it possible for you to recover a stolen camera, find people using your photos without permission and help police catch child pornographers.

The experiment is a collaboration between GadgetTrak, a software company that makes data-protection and tracking software for computers and phones, and CPUsage, a company that gets home computers to collaborate on crunching data when they aren’t in use (similar to SETI at home).

Actress Rochelle Barrameda will continuously seek justice for sister’s murder

With the arrest of one of the suspects in the murder of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez whose body was recovered two years ago, her sister Rochelle Barrameda wants nothing more than to keep the suspect behind bars.

The suspect, Lennard “Spyke” Descalso, was arrested on June 17 in Mariveles, Bataan.

New Miss USA Crowned

A 21-year-old auburn-haired California girl has won the Miss USA crown in Las Vegas and will represent the nation in this year's Miss Universe pageant.
Alyssa Campanella of Los Angeles topped a field of 51 beauty queens to take the title Sunday night at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Janice not bothered being in the same station as ex-hubby

“No!”

This is what Janice de Belen quickly answered in a taped interview aired on "The Buzz" on June 19 when asked if she's bothered with the prospect of running into former husband John Estrada now that she's moved to ABS-CBN.

De Belen recently left GMA and is now gearing up to work in an upcoming teleserye in the Kapamilya network.

Can spinal manipulation help people with headaches?

There is little evidence that spinal manipulation is an effective treatment for headaches, according to the authors of a new study.

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic headaches, and many see chiropractors to treat their headaches with spinal manipulation, whose goal is to properly align the vertebrae. But the treatment "does not demonstrably generate more good than harm," study co-author Dr. Edzard Ernst, of Peninsula Medical School in the UK, told Reuters Health by email.

Thousands in Portland take to bikes for naked ride

It was a typical early summer evening in Portland: cloudy skies threatening rain, temperatures in the mid-60s, and thousands of naked bicyclists gathered near the city's waterfront for a clothing-free night ride.

The Portland version of the World Naked Bike Ride was about to begin.

"It is the most liberating, natural feeling possible," said Brooklyn Jay, who came all the way from Phoenix for the ride.

17 June 2011

Facebook Finally Readies an iPad App

Facebook had its application for the iPhone ready right when the Apple App Store opened in July 2008. But more than a year after the iPad went on sale, there is still no official Facebook app for it.

That is about to change. People briefed on Facebook’s plans say that in coming weeks the company plans to introduce a free iPad application that has been carefully designed and optimized for the tablet.

Memory Implant Gives Rats Sharper Recollection

Scientists have designed a brain implant that restored lost memory function and strengthened recall of new information in laboratory rats — a crucial first step in the development of so-called neuroprosthetic devices to repair deficits from dementia, stroke and other brain injuries in humans.

16 June 2011

PRC: 51 new environmental planners

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Thursday that 51 out of 86 passed the Environmental Planner Licensure Examination given by the Board of Environmental Planning in Manila this June 2011.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 but not later than July 6, 2011.

Abrar Hussain Dead: 3-Time Olympic Boxer Killed In Pakistan

Police say three-time Pakistani Olympic boxer Abrar Hussain has been shot and killed.

Police officer Hamid Shakil says Hussain died after assailants shot him in the head while he was driving from his office in Quetta.

Boy Abunda named Ladlad senior adviser; vows to help party list win 3 congressional seats in 2013

TV host and manager Boy Abunda has accepted the offer to be the senior adviser of the Ladlad Partylist.

Abunda considers getting the position “one of the most important chapters” in his life. He aims to not just be an active member of the group, but an aggressive one.

Forecast predicts biggest Gulf dead zone ever

Scientists predict this year's "dead zone" of low-oxygen water in the northern Gulf of Mexico will be the largest in history — about the size of Lake Erie — because of more runoff from the flooded Mississippi River valley.

Each year when the nutrient-rich freshwater from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers pours into the Gulf, it spawns massive algae blooms. In turn, the algae consume the oxygen in the Gulf, creating the low oxygen conditions. Fish, shrimp and many other species must escape the dead zone or face dying.

First Total Lunar Eclipse of 2011 [Video]

The year's first total eclipse of the moon lasted an unusually long time, a rare treat for much of the globe. It was visible from start to finish from eastern Africa, central Asia, the Middle East and parts of Australia, but not North America.

15 June 2011

Top 12 Foods with Most Pesticides

Apples again top the "dirty dozen" list of produce most contaminated with pesticides, while onions top the list of the "clean 15."

The rankings come from consumer advocates at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG), based on pesticide tests from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the FDA. It updates last year's list with recently released data from 2009 tests.

Lunar eclipse live feed from Google

Google is streaming the lunar eclipse today from 2 to 6 p.m., Eastern Time, through a partnership with Slooh Space Camera.

The event itself is expected to start at 2:20 p.m.

New species of mice discovered

Seven species of forest mice were discovered in Luzon island by a group of American and Filipino biologists, bringing the number of native mammals in Luzon to 49, or up by 17 percent.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje said the discovery of new species is very timely with the declaration of the years 2011-2020 as “Decade on Biodiversity” by the United Nations (UN) and the national government.

How To Watch The Total Eclipse Tonight [Photos]

The first total lunar eclipse of 2011 is set to put on a spectacle for much of the world tonight, being the longest in nearly 11 years. But just because it isn't visible from North America, doesn't mean you won't be able to watch the lunar eclipse too.

According to the AP, the moment of totality -- when the Earth's shadow completely blocks the moon -- will last 1 hour and 40 minutes during tonight's lunar eclipse. The last time a lunar eclipse lasted as long was in July 2000, when totality occurred for just 7 minutes longer.

Too Much TV Linked With Disease and Early Death

If you're like most Americans, you probably spend at least some portion of your day in front of the TV. After work and sleep, watching TV is our most common everyday activity — the average American watches five hours daily. But that habit could be deadly, according to recent research.

Top 20 Most Googled Colleges

Campus Splash have taken it upon themselves to discover what exactly are the top 20 most googled colleges and universities in the world, (using Google's traffic estimator). University of Florida tops the list, followed closely by South University, a for-profit school with several satellite campuses.

14 June 2011

The future of the airplane will amaze and scare you. [Photos]

Airbus has unveiled concepts for a plane it hopes to build in forty years, but the aircraft giant’s plans aren’t going to impress those with a fear of flying.

GMail now allows direct screenshot emailing

Now, users running Google's GMail in Google's Chrome browser no longer need to save their screenshots into files before attaching them to messages.

Google said that it now allows pasting images right from the clipboard into GMail messages, but only if the Chrome browser being used is the latest version.

Kate Middleton's Whirlwind Fashion Tour: Which Outfit Is Your Fave?

So many wardrobe changes, so little time!

Kate Middleton has been a very busy royal lately, attending events both private and public in her new role as the Duchess of Cambridge.

Let's check out all her outfits, shall we?

The Top 12 PREVENTABLE Causes of Death

According to a new study by Harvard public health researchers, the leading preventable risk factors for premature death in the United States are:

1. Smoking: 467,000 deaths.

2. High blood pressure: 395,000 deaths.

3. Overweight-obesity: 216,000 deaths.

4. Inadequate physical activity and inactivity: 191,000 deaths.

Source: HealthHabits

Why Women Shouldn't Pick Attractive Husbands ?

Watching the Anthony Weiner scandal unfold, it was hard not to wonder how a smart, accomplished, beautiful woman like Huma Abedin got herself involved with a guy like Weiner.

After all, the New York Congressman was dishonest to Abedin, a longtime aide to Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a messy, public way -- confessing to sexting and sending lewd photos to a young coed after lying about it for 10 days -- after less than a year of marriage. It's probably not what a newlywed would expect, especially one who's pregnant with their first child.

Sleepless Nights Linked to Marital Strife

Wives who have difficulty falling asleep at night are more likely to have marital woes, according to a new study.

For the study, presented today at Sleep 2011, the 25th anniversary meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Minneapolis, 35 healthy, married couples wore actigraphs -- bracelets that measured the time it took each partner to fall asleep after going to bed and the total time each slept over 10 days. The couples also kept a diary in which they recorded positive and negative interactions with their spouse.

13 June 2011

8 'New' Cancer Causes

There are now eight new substances on the official U.S. list of toxins known to cause or suspected of causing cancer.

There are now 240 agents on the list, maintained by the National Toxicology Program (NTP). The NTP lists agents in two categories: those known to cause cancer, and those expected to be added to the "known carcinogen" list once there's more scientific evidence.

How blogging gives student journalists an edge in the job market?

At an event in London late last year, three young journalists discussed how blogging helped to kickstart their careers. As reported at the time by Journalism.co.uk, Guardian technology and media reporter Josh Halliday stated that “The most important thing I did at university, including my degree, was to blog and get online. That’s what got me the job.”

Willie buys own P200-M plane

It seems millionaire TV host Willie Revillame has a new baby.

According to entertainment editor and columnist Ricky Lo, Revillame has just acquired a private plane for a cool P200 million---but, wait, there's more.

Lo, via the same article, also detailed Revillame’s recent acquisition of a huge, vacant lot in Quezon City. The lot is supposedly besides the Wil Tower, the building Revillame built right across ABS-CBN.

Rule on suspension of classes in the tertiary level during typhoons

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) on Monday reiterated their rule on suspension of classes in the tertiary level during typhoons.

This comes as colleges and universities nationwide started classes for school year 2011-2012.

CHEd Memorandum Order No. 34 series of 2010, issued last October 22, 2010, clarified the guidelines for suspension of classes in higher education institutes (HEIs) due to weather disturbances.

TESDA lists top tech-voc courses

In the assessment and certification conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) recently, officials found out that computer-related programs as well as food and beverage services, housekeeping and automotive servicing are among the top qualifications or courses that have drawn more applicants.

"Kung Fu Panda 2" in 3D Film

HP and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. have united once again to create the studio’s action-packed 3-D film “Kung Fu Panda 2.”

For ultimate performance, production artists at DreamWorks Animation relied on powerful HP Z800 Workstations to achieve industry firsts while designing everything from whirling water and lush green lands to battle scenes filled with thousands of kung fu characters.

Could prenatal DNA testing open Pandora's box?

Imagine being pregnant and taking a simple blood test that lays bare the DNA of your fetus. And suppose that DNA could reveal not only medical conditions like Down syndrome, but also things like eye color and height. And the risk for developing depression or Alzheimer's disease. And the chances of being gay.

So far that's still science fiction. But scientists have been taking some baby steps in that direction. And some ethics experts say it's time to start talking now about what that could mean for parents and society.

Mavericks top Heat for NBA title

For Dirk Nowitzki, the resume is complete. He's an NBA champion.

For LeBron James, the agonizing wait continues for at least one more year.

Avenging what happened five years ago in perfect turnabout style, the Dallas Mavericks won their first NBA title by winning Game 6 of these finals in Miami 105-95 on Sunday night — celebrating on the Heat's home floor, just as Dwyane Wade and his team did to them in the 2006 title series.

Mark Escueta shares details of his proposal to Jolina Magdangal

Bad weather delayed drummer Mark Escueta’s plan to propose to his girlfriend of more than two years, Jolina Magdangal.

“Gusto ko nga sa park. ‘Yung first night, eh, ‘di okay na. Sinabi ko na sa kanya, ‘Mamaya punta tayo sa park.’ ‘O, sige.’ Kaya lang pagod na pagod siya that day so hindi natuloy. Tapos umulan pa.

Thou shall not kill and what Padre Dámaso might have thought of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill

With Bishops being “pro-life” and the soon-to-be-excommunicated being (presumably) “pro-death,” it’s interesting to see how the Padre Dámasos of 150 years ago felt about all these. In 1865, Fr. Sebastián de Totanes, OFM, wrote Manual Tagalog para Auxilio de los Religiosos … with a 61-item checklist on the Fifth Commandment (Houag kang matay nang capoua mo tauo) to make sure confessors missed nothing.

Fray Sebastián’s questions on the Fifth are nos. 293-353, the following being of relevance to the current RH Bill debate:

12 June 2011

World's Shortest Man Falls Short Of Being Shortest Man Ever

A poor Filipino blacksmith's son who stands less than 2 feet (60 centimeters) tall was declared the world's shortest man by Guinness World Records on his 18th birthday Sunday, sparking a celebration in his hometown.

Premature aging seen as issue for AIDS survivors

Having survived the first and worst years of the AIDS epidemic, when he was losing three friends to the disease in a day and undergoing every primitive, toxic treatment that then existed, Peter Greene is grateful to be alive.

But a quarter-century after his own diagnosis, the former Mr. Gay Colorado, now 56, wrestles with vision impairment, bone density loss and other debilitating health problems he once assumed he wouldn't grow old enough to see.

Independence Day celebration kicks off in Cavite

The Philippine Independence Day celebration kicked off early this morning at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, where the country’s independence was first declared 113 years ago.

The opening ceremony was attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III, Cavite Governor Juanito Victor Remulla Jr., Cavite 1st District Representative Joseph Abaya, Cavite Historical Society President Cesar Virata, and various other dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corps.

Pregnant women and families are sharing photos and more on Facebook, Web sites

In a world where it hasn’t happened unless it has been shared, parents and parents-to-be are increasingly posting photos of pregnancy tests, bulging bellies and swollen feet, and “Baby’s kicking!” status updates. More than 30 percent of American mothers have posted their sonograms online, according to a 2010 study by global security software maker AVG. By the time they are age 2, 92 percent of American babies will have an online presence.

Justin Bieber Skips Hockey Game Following Selena Gomez's Hospitalization

Justin Bieber loves his hockey, but could it be he loves something else more?

After reserving a block of seats at Vancouver's Rogers Arena to watch the Stanley Cup finals Friday night, the Canadian heartthrob skipped the game after hearing that Selena Gomez had fallen ill, a source tells E! News.

Aw, what a good boyfriend...

Making your personal data hack-resistant

Computer hackers recently shut down Sony PlayStation for weeks.

They've also breached other well-known companies, including Google and Yahoo.

Their latest target - Citibank -- where they stole the credit card information of some 200,000 customers in North America.

Azkals switch to Pacquiao mode

Fil-Iranian winger Misagh Bahadoran, one of the national football team’s new recruits, admitted that training in the past couple of weeks had been a hellish experience, but he’s not complaining.

At one point, the 24-year-old dentistry graduate from Centro Escolar University vomited after an exhausting running drill presided by German coach Hans Michael Weiss.

11 June 2011

Futuristic Roll Out Cellphone

Technology has come so far since then, that we can only imagine how far it will go. And that's just what this one designer did.

Take a look at Rollphone, Alexy Chugunnikov's fascinating concept design for a cell phone of the future. It will feature a media center allowing you to watch movies, send emails, and play video games right in the palm of your hand. Literally. You'll wear it like a cuff bracelet on your wrist and then pull out the phone into your hand to use it.

Facebook tests real-time update feature

Facebook on Friday said it is dabbling with a Twitter-like feature that alerts members in real time to what their friends are up to on the social network.

The feature, reportedly called "Happening Now," is being tried by a "fraction of a percent" of Facebook's more than 600 million members, according to the world's leading online social network.

Pinay Chef Shines at Food Network Star Season Opener

The search for next “Food Network Star” kicked off Season 7 on Sunday with a Filipino-American restaurant owner from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina dominating the show.

39-year old Orchid Paulmeier won both of the first two challenges on Sunday’s broadcast of Episode 1.

Filipino fish breeders win awards

A Belgian living in the Philippines and his Filipino wife were major winners in the Singapore Aquarama 2011 held recently.

Michel Capot and wife Marie took home the Grand Champion Discus Trophy and won five more category awards for their other discus varieties of fish.

Airphil Express marks Independence Day with P113 local ticket sales

Airphil Express, reputedly the country’s fastest growing budget airline, is offering a P113 one-way fare for all domestic flights on board its redefined A320 aircraft to commemorate the declaration of Philippine independence on June 12, 1998 from Spain.

Selling period is from June 12 to 13 only and travel validity is from October 1 to November 30, 2011.

Apple launches iTunes store

Steve Jobs, Chief Executive Officer of Apple computers, stands by a projection of the iTunes website as he launches iTunes Music Store in the territories of Great Britain, Germany and France, on June 15, 2004 in London Photograph: Ian Waldie/Getty Images

What Anthony Weiner Didn't Say On Twitter Also Got Him Into Trouble

It wasn't just what Congressman Anthony Weiner tweeted that got him in trouble: It was also whose tweets he read.

The New York Democrat's sexting scandal came to light after he accidentally posted a lewd photograph of his crotch on Twitter, setting off a bungled cover-up attempt, then a tearful apology and revelations of even more extensive and x-rated electronic sexcapades.

Hidden PENIS on the Little Mermaid cover

Here is a video of 13 shocking pictures:

Pacquiao invited to be guest speaker in World Youth Day

Congressman and boxing champ Manny Pacquiao may just be the first-ever Filipino to be a guest speaker at the World Youth Day (WYD) celebrations. This year, the World Youth Day festivities will be held in Spain.

10 June 2011

Kate Middleton Joins Prince William in the 10th ARK Gala

Don't they look ravishing?

Of course they do!

Kate Middleton—or should we say, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge—got all done up to join her new hubby, Prince William for the10th annual Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) gala dinner in London Thursday night.

Ex-NBA All-Star Mike Mitchell dead at 55

Former NBA All-Star Mike Mitchell has died after a long battle with cancer at the age of 55, the San Antonio Spurs said on Thursday.

Mitchell, a first round draft choice of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1978, spent 10 seasons in the NBA, the final six-and-a-half of them with San Antonio.

Pinoys React to Wiener’s Online Sex Scandal

For many online bloggers, it was a sex scandal with a modern twist: the New York City mayor hopeful –Congressman Anthony Weiner sent a tweet-pic –of someone in underwear—to a young woman from Seattle via twitter.

At first, the 46- year old representative denied it, saying his twitter account was hacked. But in an emotional news conference Monday, Weiner admitted that he had sent the picture and also engaged in virtual online relationships with six other women, whom he claims he has never met in person.

Microsoft must pay $290m for patent infringement

The US Supreme Court has denied an appeal by Microsoft against a $290m verdict for infringing a small Canadian company's patent.

The company, i4i, sued Microsoft in 2007, saying it owned the technology behind a text manipulation tool used in Microsoft's Word application.

Winning Touch: NBA Teams that Touch the Most Win the Most, Study Says

A pat on the back, a touch on the arm, could these be the keys to an NBA championship? According to two scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, the answer is yes.

Michael Kraus and Dacher Keltner studied every team in the NBA and found that the teams who touched the most won the most.

09 June 2011

Davao allots P45-M scholarship budget

The city government here has allocated P45 million budget for the expanded Scholarship on Tertiary Education Program (STEP) for this school year, according to Lemuel Ortonio, chief of staff of the City Mayor’s Office.

Ortonio said the budget has increased from P30 million as City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio wanted to cater to at least 420 scholars this year.

Globe Network upgrade to withstand weather disturbances

Globe Telecom has reported the completion of its network upgrade as it promised customers improved service even during extreme weather disturbances.

In a press release, the firm said it had made improvements in its network transport backbone via expanded fiber optic coverage and line protections, such as in Mindanao and South Luzon.

First Session Accomplishments of the Philippine Senate

The Senate of the 15th Congress was able to pass at least 14 bills of national application on third and final reading on its first regular session before it goes into sine die adjournment.

In his closing speech Wednesday, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile cited as among the Senate’s accomplishments the passing of the Palace-backed Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) Governance Act of 2011, now Republic Act 10149, and the bill synchronizing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the 2013 national elections.

Facebook Friends Tattoo Was A Hoax

The tattoo artist who was thanked in the credits of the YouTube video showing a woman getting 152 of her closest Facebook friends inked on her arm has informed a Dutch newspaper that the video was a hoax:

Ten Pinoys were nominated for the "Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity" award

Ten Filipinos were nominated for the "Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity" award of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia.

They are sexy cover girls Alicia Mayer, Geneva Cruz and Juliana Palermo, young actress Yasmien Kurdi, models Isabel Roces and Raya Mananquil, DeLara vocalist Lougee Basabas, actress Chin-Chin Gutierrez, and actors Carlos Agassi and Raymond Bagatsing.

Nasa Footage Of Spectacular Eruption On The Sun

Yesterday morning, a massive eruption occurred on the sun, producing a solar flare and explosion of high energy particles.

NASA later released footage of the spectacle, described by the Geeked on Goddard blog as being "like a fountain of plasma that blasts out of the solar surface, spreads outward, and collapses to splat back down." The video shows darker, relatively cool material splashing back onto the sun's surface as it's drawn in by the star's intense magnetic pull.

Bin Laden's No. 2: Muslims will destroy America

Osama bin Laden's deputy warned Wednesday that America faces not individual terrorists or groups but an international community of Muslims that seek to destroy it and its allies. He was delivering a 28-minute videotaped eulogy to slain al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Ayman al-Zawahri, al-Qaida's longtime No. 2 and considered the network's operational head, also sought to cast a role for the terror group in the popular uprisings shaking Arab world.

500-year-old book for sale for $35,000

A partial copy of the 500-year-old Nuremberg Chronicle is now on sale for $35,000 at a rare book shop in Utah.

It’s considered one of the earliest and most lavishly illustrated books of the 15th century and coveted by collectors. Published in Germany in 1493, the book is a world history beginning in biblical times.

Emma Watson Perks Up After Harry Potter

Contrary to popular belief, there is life—if not dates—once the Harry Potter franchise is over.

Emma Watson's aware of this and has already been hard at work on her next films, one of which is Perks of Being a Wallflower starring Paul Rudd, Nina Dobrev and Percy Jackson star Logan Lerman, who tweeted a bunch of photos from the set yesterday, including the adorable one you see to your left.

Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day Today

Presidential Proclamation No. 148 declared the 9th of June each year as Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day.

The establishment of Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day was occasioned by the celebration of the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China on June 9, 1975. In the last 36 years, our two countries have attained smooth relations and remarkable achievements in all areas of bilateral cooperation.

Muammar Gaddafi Investigated Over Use Of Viagra-Type Drugs In Rapes

The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court said Wednesday he is investigating whether Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi provided Viagra-type drugs to Libyan soldiers to promote the rape of women during the current conflict.

Luis Moreno Ocampo said his office is collecting evidence on rapes and has become "more convinced" that Gadhafi decided to punish women by using rape as a weapon, which would be a new method in the Libya civil war of instilling fear and trying to control the population.

Google Live Transit: Know When Your Ride Will Actually Arrive [Video]

Google can't guarantee you'll always be on time, but they may have done the next best thing.

In a blog posted early Wednesday, the company unveiled Google Live Transit, a Google Maps service that alerts public transportation travelers of precisely when their ride is "actually going to arrive."

08 June 2011

YouTube creative commons videos sharing

YouTube is home to some of the more creative individuals online -- people who create content, often splicing and dicing numerous videos together to create mesmerizing mashups. Now YouTube wants to help these people find videos online that are intended to be borrowed and re-edited without fear of violating copyrights.

The company has created a section of its free online video editor that would host Creative Commons licensed videos; this means anyone can reuse a video tagged Creative Commons, as long as they give credit to its original creators.

DBM releases P1 billion for potable water supply

The Department of Budget and Management has released P1 billion to address problems in the supply of potable water in 100 poor municipalities throughout the country, particularly in areas where beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program reside.

Ailing Nowitzki lifts Mavericks, NBA finals tied

Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks have pulled off another stunning comeback, tying the NBA finals at two games each.

And this time, Nowitzki did it while battling the flu.

07 June 2011

First Person Cured of HIV

Did you realize that 30 million people have died from HIV in the 30 years since the disease was discovered? Or that the disease spreads at the rate of 7,000 people per day globally? Pretty staggering statistics that seem to get fewer headlines than the latest celebrity scandal.

Lady Gaga Named Fashion Icon at 2011 CFDA Awards

It's safe to say that Lady Gaga's fashion sense is an acquired taste. You either love it or you hate it.

Well, the 10th Annual Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards were held tonight in Alice Tully Hall at NYC's Lincoln Center, and it seems like they love her style.

In fact, the CFDA loves it so much, that they presented her with the Fashion Icon Award for 2011.

Links

30 June 2011

29 June 2011

28 June 2011

27 June 2011

Jerry Lee Lewis and Myra Gale Brown (9 Years)

26 June 2011

22 June 2011

21 June 2011

20 June 2011

17 June 2011

16 June 2011

15 June 2011

14 June 2011

13 June 2011

12 June 2011

11 June 2011

10 June 2011

09 June 2011

08 June 2011

07 June 2011

Please Leave Your Message Here

Drop Here

Popular Posts

Total Pageviews

My Blog List

Affiliations

Be a Follower

Comments

Blog Archive

Posts

Followers