Saturday, May 14, 2011

Bulls Goes to Eastern Finals



ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Chicago Bulls advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1998 with a series-clinching 93-73 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.
Displaying the kind of offensive and defensive balance that earned them the best regular-season record, the Bulls brushed past the Hawks to close out the best-of-seven series 4-2.
Chicago will now face the in-form Miami Heat for a place in the NBA Finals.
"It's going to be a battle. They're a great team, they're playing together great as a team and we are too," Chicago's Derrick Rose told reporters of the upcoming series.
"We're at a place where we've never been. We're happy, the fans are happy and we're just trying to keep it going."
Rose, the League's most valuable player (MVP), has helped the Chicago franchise reach a level not seen since the Michael Jordan-led glory days of the 1990s.
On Thursday, he delivered one of his most efficient performances of the postseason, finishing with 19 points and 12 assists while taking just 14 shots -- nearly half of his series average.
Rose's team mates carried more of the load with Carlos Boozer tallying 23 points and 10 rebounds.
"I'm just getting a little better every day and playing off the MVP," said Boozer, who has been hampered by a toe injury during the playoffs. "We just got done with a great challenge against a great team."
The Hawks were blitzed from the start, trailing by 10 after the first and second quarters, before falling behind by 17 after three.
Joe Johnson scored a team-high 19 points and Josh Smith added 18 for the Hawks.
Having pulled off an upset win over the Orlando Magic in the first round series, Atlanta stole the opener against Chicago to position itself nicely.
But the Hawks lost the next two games of the series then were pushed to the brink with a Game Five loss on Tuesday.
Atlanta was held to just 36 percent shooting in the finale.
The Bulls, meanwhile, thrived making 53 percent of their field goals and tallying a playoff-high 34 assists on the night.

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Teacher's Licensure Exam Result in April 2011



A total of 12,946 teachers out of more than 62,000 examinees passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) given last April in the Philippines and Hong Kong, according to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board for Professional Teachers (BPT).
Of the successful examinees, 5,221 of 33,023 passed the LET for elementary teachers with a passing rate of 15.81 percent, while 7,690 secondary teachers out of 29,267 examinees passed the LET for high school teachers with a passing rate of 26.28 percent.
Meanwhile, 35 others out of 339 examinees passed the LET for the Accelerated Teacher Education Program (A.T.E.P.).

Examination Results of two examinees were withheld pending final determination of their liabilities.
The University of the Philippines was the top performing school in the LET for secondary teachers with 69 of 71 examinees passing the exam.
To view the complete list, see:

The Board for Professional Teachers is composed of Dr. Faith Bachiller, chairman; Dr. Reynaldo Peña and Dr. Jesus Nieves, members.
The exam was held last April 3 in 14 testing centers in Lucena, Tuguegarao, Metro Manila, Region IV, Tacloban, Legazpi, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Pagadian, Baguio, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, and Hong Kong.
The requirements for the issuance of a Certificate of Registration and a Professional Identification Card (ID) are the following:Duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal
latest Community Tax Certificate (Cedula)
1 piece 1" x 1" picture (colored with white background and complete name tag);
2 pieces 2" x 2" picture (colored with white background and complete name tag);
metered documentary stamp for the Oath Form and
the initial registration fee of P600 and annual registration fee of P450 for 2011-2014.The successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.
The registration date for the issuance of the IDs and certifications will be announced at a later date. — VS, GMA News

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Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Microsoft is Buying Skype?


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft is close to buying internet telephony network Skype in an $8.5 billion deal, a source familiar with the situation said, as it seeks to regain ground on growing rivals such as Google. Buying the loss-making but popular Skype would underline Microsoft's need to gain new customers and platforms for its software as smartphones and tablets explode in popularity. Skype, which allows people to make calls at no charge, would also give Microsoft a foothold in potentially the lucrative video-conferencing market as global businesses seeking to reduce expenditure shift to lower-cost ways of communicating. Microsoft has already put more energy and resources into mobile and internet technologies as the use of PCs, which underpin its Windows and Office franchise, is under threat. This change was starkly illustrated last year when Apple's portfolio of coveted consumer goods propelled it past Microsoft to become the world's most valuable technology company. The maker of iPhones and iPads has since been named as the most valuable brand too, overtaking Google. The Skype deal -- which would be the biggest in the 36-year history of the world's largest software company -- is expected to be announced as early as Tuesday morning, the source told Reuters. Microsoft and Luxembourg-based Skype declined comment. The $8.5 billion mooted price tag, including debt, was a surprise. Although the sum would not stretch cash-rich Microsoft, some said it was high for a company whose ownership has changed several times during its relatively short life. "In this atmosphere of Internet Bubble 2.0, picking up an unprofitable online company for roughly 10 times sales probably seems downright cheap," Shanghai-based Michael Clendenin, managing director of consulting firm RedTech Advisors, said. "But if you consider (it) was just valued at about $2.5 billion 18 months ago when a chunk was sold off, then $8.5 billion seems generous and means Microsoft has a high wall to climb to prove to investors that Skype is a necessary linchpin for the company's online and mobile strategy," he added. This was echoed by Ben Wood, head of research firm CCS Insight: "The big unanswered question is how do Skype assets work for Micrososft, they already have instant messaging, IP telephony...how do you justify the price?" "That being said, Skype is a vibrant community, a diverse global community with a young population and Skype is making inroads into older parts of the population too," Wood added. Skype, which delayed plans for an initial public offering expected to raise $1 billion, has been looking at other options, including tie-ups with Facebook and Google. Such a deal was seen as valuing Skype at $3 billion to $4 billion. STOCK LANQUISHING Despite doubling sales and profit in the last eight years, Microsoft's stock has largely languished, as investors worry about its ability to counter new rivals or adapt to new ways of computing, especially the threat posed by new mobile devices. Microsoft has countered with a new version of its mobile software -- which will power the next generation of Nokia smartphones -- and is developing a new operating system that will work on low-power tablet PCs. But online video chat remains a weakness. Although the company already has video in its Windows Live Messenger service, it is not available on its Windows Phone 7 software. Skype also makes versions of its own service for use on iPhone and iPad, Research in Motion's BlackBerry and Android phones. It cannot be used on Microsoft phones. Apple's FaceTime video calling service -- available on its latest iPhone and Mac computers -- has been a big hit. Google recently followed suit by adding video to its popular Google Talk application for smartphones running on its Android system. CASH PILE Despite being its most expensive to date, the deal would still be relatively small for Microsoft, which has $50 billion in cash and short-term investments on its balance sheet. The price would likely include $686 million in long-term debt. "I think the price is quite reasonable," said Sean Lee, a Taipei-based manager of the Global Top Dividend Fund at Shinkong Investment Trust, which owns Microsoft shares. Skype, which was formed in 2003, was bought by Ebay Inc in 2005 for $3.1 billion. Last year it had in $860 million in revenue but made a net loss of $7 million, according to data in its initial public offering filing. In 2009, eBay sold a majority stake in Skype to an investor group including Silver Lake, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Andreessen Horowitz for $1.9 billion in cash and a $125 million note. EBay retained about a third. Last year, Skype had about 124 million connected users every month by the end of June. But 8.1 million were paying customers, using Skype to make calls to traditional phones at low rates. A deal would exceed the $6 billion Microsoft paid for online ad agency aQuantive in 2007, which was not a success. Microsoft shareholders are relieved its $47.5 billion offer for Yahoo Inc in 2008 was rebuffed, paving the way for a web-search agreement which gives Microsoft most of what it wanted anyway. Yahoo shares have halved in value. Microsoft's most high profile internet buy was the $240 million paid for a 1.6 percent share in Facebook in 2007. It is also ploughing money into its MSN internet portal and Bing search engine, racking up $7 billion in losses over four years. Technology sector mergers and acquisitions have spiked since last summer, driven by increased confidence in the economy and companies facing pressure to spend mountains of cash. Global deal volume year to date is up 55 percent when compared with the same period in 2010, recent figures from Thomson Reuters show. Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan are advising Skype, the source said, while Microsoft is not using advisers. (Additional reporting by Megan Davies and Bill Rigby, Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore, Clare Jim in Taipei and Melanie Lee in Singapore; Tarmo Virki in Helsinki and Nicola Leske in Frankfurt; Editing by Anshuman Daga and Alexander Smith)
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Facebook Linked Keys data


US computer security firm Symantec has said that Facebook accidentally left a door open for advertisers to access profiles, pictures, chat and other private data at the social network.
Facebook told AFP that there was no evidence anyone stepped through that door and swiped any information from the accounts of its more than 500 million members.
Symantec discovered that certain Facebook applications leaked tokens that act essentially as "spare keys" for accessing profiles, reading messages, posting to walls or other actions.
Facebook applications are Web software programs that are integrated onto the leading online social network's platform. Symantec said that 20 million Facebook applications, such as games, are installed every day.
"We appreciate Symantec raising this issue and we worked with them to address it immediately," Facebook said in response to an AFP inquiry.
The tokens were being leaked to third-party applications including advertisers and analytics platforms, allowing them to post messages or mine personal information from profiles, according to Nishant Doshi of Symantec.
"Fortunately, these third-parties may not have realized their ability to access this information," Doshi said in a blog post.
"We have reported this issue to Facebook, who has taken corrective action to help eliminate this issue."
Symantec estimated that as of April, nearly 100,000 applications were giving away keys to Facebook profiles.
"We estimate that over the years, hundreds of thousands of applications may have inadvertently leaked millions of access tokens to third parties," Doshi said.
Facebook confirmed the problem, which was discovered by Doshi and Symantec colleague Candid Wueest, according to the computer security firm.
But Facebook said the Symantec report had a few "inaccuracies."
There was no evidence that the problem resulted in private information being gleaned from Facebook members' accounts, according to the California-based social networking service.
"In addition, this report ignores the contractual obligations of advertisers and developers which prohibit them from obtaining or sharing user information in a way that violates our policies," Facebook said.
There was no reliable estimate of how many tokens have been leaked since the release of Facebook applications in 2007.
Despite whatever fix Facebook has put in place, token data may still be stored in files on third-party computers, Symantec warned.
"Concerned Facebook users can change their Facebook passwords to invalidate leaked access tokens," Doshi said.
"Changing the password invalidates these tokens and is equivalent to 'changing the lock' on your Facebook profile."
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Pacquiao vs Marquez III


MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will face Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez at a 145-pound catchweight if the proposed fight pushes through, Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, said.

Marquez, who already fought Pacquiao in two tight battles, reportedly asked the Filipino champion to go down to 143 pounds to make their third fight.

Koncz, however, said Pacquiao won’t fight Marquez at a weight any lower than 145 pounds.

"It's 145, and not 143. We've had general discussions with [Top Rank Promotions CEO] Bob Arum, but we haven't sat down, Manny and I, to make a decision," said Koncz in BoxingScene.com.

Pacquiao, who recently defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against Shane Mosley, is currently fighting at 147 pounds.

Marquez, the reigning WBO and World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion, is seen by many fight experts as the next best opponent for Pacquiao in the absence of pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The Mexican first met Pacquiao in 2004 in a fight that ended in a controversial draw.

They fought again 4 years later, when Pacquiao eked out a split decision to take away Marquez’s WBC super featherweight title.

Arum is currently working to arrange a third fight between the two boxers.

Koncz said they will just wait for Arum to present options about the Marquez fight.

"I don't think that there is a rush to do it," said Koncz. "Let Manny get some rest and spend some time with his family after spending long, hard weeks in training camp. We don't have to come up with a decision this week.
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Monday, May 9, 2011

17 Things you must know from Justin Bieber



Justin may only be 17 years old, but he has achieved milestones fellow artists take a lifetime to accomplish, not to mention his incredible talent and gorgeous looks that have captivated his fans around the world.
To keep up with the world's "Beliebers," here's a list of 17 trivia you may find helpful in knowing more about the young singer-performer and how they add up to his phenomenal rise as a pop star.

1. Number 1 albums. Proving the Bieber fever, Justin's two albums, "My World 2.0" and "Never Say Never: The Remixes" have reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. "Never Say Never: The Remixes" has sold 165,000 copies in its first week

2. Drummer boy at 2. Justin began drumming at the tender age of 2. Other than drums, music lover Justin also plays piano, guitar and trumpet.

3. 3D movie: Never Say Never. Get a glimpse of Justin's life on his first 3D movie, documenting the pop star's life ten days before his concert in Madison Square Garden in August 2010, which sold out tickets in 22 minutes.

4. Four awards in 2010 American Music Awards. Justin knows how to sweep awards, he won "Artist of the Year," Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist," "T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist," "Favorite Pop/Rock Album."

5. 5'4" in height. According to IMDB in 2010, Justin's height is 5'4. Justin even joked about his height in USA Today, "Thanks to the music industry, I'm going to be really short."

6. Favorite number. Justin's favorite number is 6. His other favorites are color purple, Supra shoes and Ne-yo's "So Sick" song.

7. "The Seven." Justin guested in MTV's "The Seven" show to promote his movie, "Never Say Never." His guesting created much pandemonium having his fan girls camped outside the building in tents for hours.

8. 8th in Twitter Top Trends. Having over 9 million followers in Twitter, Justin placed 8th in the 2010 Overall Top Trends in Twitter. For the people category, Justin placed first.

9. Nine million followers. If Twitter is a country, Justin could have been voted as the president. In April 2011, Justin made the 9 million mark on Twitter, making him the second celebrity to reach that mark, having Lady Gaga as the first celebrity to gain 9 million followers.

10. Justin's "Top Ten" on the "David Letterman Show." David Letterman's usual audiences might not be the Beliebers, but their parents instead; however, Justin's guesting on the show charmed both young and adult audiences. The category is "Top 10 Reasons It's Fun to be Justin Bieber," which includes this reason ""When I'm sick, my doctor makes hilarious jokes about 'Bieber Fever.'"

11. 11 Billboard nominations. With eleven Billboard nominations, including "Top Artist," "Top Billboard 200 Album," "Top Male Artist" and "Top Artist," we wonder how many Justin can snag. The Billboard Music Awards will be broadcasted in May 22, 2011.

12. YouTube sensation at 12. Justin's mother, Malette, uploaded Justin's video of him singing Ne-yo's "So Sick" when he was twelve.

13. Recording artist at 13. Teen sensation Justin signed contract with Island Records and RBMG when he was thirteen. He also first met Ludacris, his featuring artist in "Baby," when he was thireteen.

14. 14 eye-candy colors. Wonder how to have one less lonely girl? Justin collaborated with Nicole by OPI for the "One Less Lonely Girl" collection with 14 colors, named after his hits! Paint your nails with "Baby Blue," "Step 2 the Beat of my ♥, OMB!," "Me + Blue," and "Give Me the First Dance."

15. "Somebody to Love" reached number fifteen in the US chart. Justin's second single, "Somebody to Love" from his album "My World 2.0" which was released in April 10, 2010, reached number ten in Canada, fifteen in the US and the top twenty in other countries.

16. Released a memoir at 16. Justin was 16 years old when he released "Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story."

17. 17th birthday. Justin celebrated his 17th birthday with his girlfriend, Selena Gomez, at Los Angeles Italian restaurant Maggiano's Little Italy for a candlelit dinner. On his 17th birthday, Justin asked his fans to donate $17 to Charitywater to help make a change, instead of giving him gifts.

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Lakers coach Jackson bids farewell after playoff



Phil Jackson, the most successful coach in NBA history, walked gingerly off the court for what is likely to be the final time following the Los Angeles Lakers' season-ending loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
Having led the Chicago Bulls to six championships in the 1990s, and the Lakers to five since, the 65-year-old has called it a career after his 20th season as a head coach.
"All of my hopes and aspirations are that this is the final game that I will coach," Jackson told reporters after his Lakers were swept from the playoffs in a crushing 122-86 defeat to the Mavericks.
"This has been a wonderful run. I go out with a sour note after being fined 35,000 dollars by the league earlier today."
The NBA fined Jackson earlier in the day for comments made about the officiating in the series.
The penalty hardly detracts from the astounding career the Hall of Famer Jackson has enjoyed, including the 11 NBA titles and suffering just 10 playoff series losses.
There is considerable caution about declaring a definitive end to Jackson's career as he has walked away from the game before only to return after a break.
Jackson ended his tenure with the Bulls in 1998, and after a one-year absence, joined the Lakers in the 1999-2000 season. Following a loss with Los Angeles in the NBA Finals in 2004, Jackson took another year out before rejoining the Lakers for a second stint in the 2005-06 campaign.
Lakers All Star Kobe Bryant, who has won each of his five titles with Jackson as coach, said he a hard time imagining playing for anyone else.
"It's tough to put into words what he's meant for me," Bryant said. "I grew up under him. The way I approach and think about things, a lot of it comes from him because I've been around him so much.
"It's a little weird for me to think of what next year is going to be like."

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Asteroid's Approach in November


An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier will come closer to Earth this autumn than our own moon does, causing scientists to hold their breath as it zooms by. But they'll be nervous with excitement, not with worry about a possible disaster.
There's no danger of an impact when the asteroid 2005 YU55 makes its close flyby Nov. 8, coming within 201,700 miles (325,000 kilometers) of Earth, scientists say.
So they're looking forward to the encounter, which could help them learn more about big space rocks.
"While near-Earth objects of this size have flown within a lunar distance in the past, we did not have the foreknowledge and technology to take advantage of the opportunity," Barbara Wilson, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., said in a statement. "When it flies past, it should be a great opportunity for science instruments on the ground to get a good look." [Photos: Asteroids in Deep Space]
Getting to know YU55
Asteroid 2005 YU55 is about 1,300 feet (400 meters) wide. It was discovered in December 2005 by the Spacewatch program at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Because of the asteroid’s size and orbital characteristics, astronomers have flagged 2005 YU55 as potentially dangerous down the road. But the upcoming encounter is no cause for alarm, researchers said.
"YU55 poses no threat of an Earth collision over, at the very least, the next 100 years," said Don Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office at JPL. "During its closest approach, its gravitational effect on the Earth will be so minuscule as to be immeasurable. It will not affect the tides or anything else." [5 Reasons to Care About Asteroids]
This round space rock has been in astronomers' cross hairs before. In April 2010, astronomers at the National Science Foundation's Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico generated some ghostly radar images of 2005 YU55 when the asteroid was about 1.5 million miles (2.3 million km) from Earth.
But those pictures had a resolution of just 25 feet (7.5 meters) per pixel. The November close pass should provide some sharper images.
"When 2005 YU55 returns this fall, we intend to image it at 4-meter resolution [13 feet] with our recently upgraded equipment at the Deep Space Network at Goldstone, California," said JPL radar astronomer Lance Benner. "Plus, the asteroid will be seven times closer. We're expecting some very detailed radar images."
A radar astronomy opportunity
Radar astronomy employs the world's biggest dish-shaped antennas. The antennas direct microwave signals at celestial targets that can be as far away as the moons of Saturn.
These signals bounce off the target, and the resulting "echo" helps researchers create radar images. These images can then be used to reconstruct detailed, three-dimensional models of the object.
With 4-meter-per-pixel resolution, the new views of 2005 YU55 should be pretty sharp, perhaps even showing boulders and craters, researchers said.
"We're talking about getting down to the kind of surface detail you dream of when you have a spacecraft fly by one of these targets," Benner said.
The data collected from Arecibo, Goldstone and ground-based optical and infrared telescopes also should help detail the mineral composition of the asteroid, researchers said.
"This is a C-type asteroid, and those are thought to be representative of the primordial materials from which our solar system was formed," Wilson said. "This flyby will be an excellent opportunity to test how we study, document and quantify which asteroids would be most appropriate for a future human mission."
The capabilities of the Goldstone antenna, in California's Mojave Desert, and of Arecibo are complementary. The Arecibo radar is about 20 times more sensitive and can detect asteroids about twice as far away. But its main dish is stationary, so it can see only about a third of the sky. Goldstone is fully steerable and can see about 80 percent of the accessible sky, so it can track objects for longer periods and can image asteroids at finer spatial resolution, researchers said.
Researchers are eager to train the instruments of both facilities on 2005 YU55 in November.
"So stay tuned," Yeomans said. "This is going to be fun."

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Saturday, May 7, 2011

Lets Get Ready to Rumble! Pacquiao VS Mosley



Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley may have faced off in one of the least intimidating stare-down photos ever Friday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

After Pacquiao and Mosley both made weight for their WBO welterweight title fight, which will air via pay-per-view at 6 p.m. Saturday, the two approached each other for their pose and broke into laughter.

Neither Pacquiao, who weighed in at 145 pounds, nor Mosley, who came in at 147, have shown any disdain toward each other while promoting their fight. They have shared a mutual respect and continued to commend each other at the weigh-in.

“I believe Shane Mosley is a strong fighter, a good fighter,” Pacquiao said after making weight. “I had to train hard and focus on the fight.”

Most of the approximately 4,000 fans at the weigh-in — some of whom waited more than six hours to snag the best possible seat — were there to cheer on Pacquiao.

The demand was so overwhelming that no one else was allowed in and the arena’s doors were shut about 2:20 p.m., 40 minutes before the fighters were scheduled to tip the scales.

The pro-Pacquiao crowd initially booed any mention of Mosley’s name, before the card’s promoter and Top Rank President Bob Arum urged otherwise.

“Let’s give credit where credit is due,” Arum said. “In this era, one of the great, great fighters has been ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley.”

Mosley knows Pacquiao is the one attracting all the attention and hype for the fight. He doesn’t mind playing second fiddle.

“None of this is getting under my skin,” Mosley said. “It’s going to be an exciting fight. The whole world needs to watch this.”

Sportscaster James Brown served as the master of ceremonies at the weigh-in and spoke positively about the lack of trash talk between Pacquiao and Mosley. The fans showed their agreement by letting out a round of applause.

The kindness between Pacquiao and Mosley is unique in the boxing world but clearly something that comes naturally to both of them. Before they went their separate ways, they gave each other a quick embrace.

The next time Pacquiao and Mosley see each other, their intent will be more malicious.

All eight fighters on the pay-per-view main card made weight. The full weigh-in results are posted below.

World Welterweight Championship Bout: Manny Pacquiao (145) vs. Shane Molsey (147)

World Super Bantamweight Championship Bout: Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. (122) vs. Jorge Arce (122)

Super Middleweight Bout: Kelly Pavlik (170) vs. Alfonso Lopez (169)

Continental Americas Super Lightweight Championship Bout: Mike Alvarado (139) vs. Ray Narh (140)

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NOD32 Username ans Password 5/7/11



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Friday, May 6, 2011

Only in the Philippines


I have now been in this country for over six years, and consider myself in most respects well assimilated. However, there is one key step on the road to full assimilation, which I have yet to take,and that's to eat BALUT.

The day any of you sees me eating balut, please call immigration and ask them to issue me a Filipino passport. Because at that point there will be no turning back.
BALUT, for those still blissfully ignorant non-Pinoys out there, is a fertilized duck egg.

It is commonly sold with salt in a piece of newspaper, much like English fish and chips, by street vendors usually after dark, presumably so you can't see how gross it is.

It's meant to be an aphrodisiac, although I can't imagine anything more likely to dispel sexual desire than crunching on a partially formed baby duck swimming
in noxious fluid. The embryo in the egg comes in varying stages of development, but basically it is not considered macho to eat one without fully discernable feathers,
beak, and claws. Some say these crunchy bits are the best. Others prefer just to drink the so- called 'soup', the vile, pungent liquid that surrounds the aforementioned feathery fetus...excuse
me; I have to go and throw up now. I'll be
back in a minute.

Food dominates the life of the
Filipino. People here just love to eat.
They eat at least eight times a day. These eight official meals are called, in order: breakfast, snacks, lunch, merienda, merienda ceyna, dinner, bedtime snacks and
no-one-saw-me-take-that-cookie-from-
the-fridge-so-it-doesn't-count.

The short gaps in between these mealtimes are spent eating Sky Flakes from the open packet that sits on every desktop. You're never far from food in the Philippines .
If you doubt this, next time you're driving home from work, try this game. See how long you can drive without seeing food and I don't mean a distant restaurant, or a
picture of food. I mean a man on the sidewalk frying fish balls, or a man walking through the traffic selling nuts or candy. I bet it's less than one minute.

Here are some other things I've
noticed about food in the Philippines :

Firstly, a meal is not a meal without rice - even breakfast. In the UK , I could go a whole year without eating rice. Second, it's impossible to drink without
eating. A bottle of San Miguel just isn't the same without gambas or beef tapa. Third, no one ventures more than two paces from their house without baon (food in small container) and a container of something cold to drink.

You might as well ask a Filipino to leave
home without his pants on. And lastly, where I come from, you eat with a knife
and fork. Here, you eat with a spoon and fork. You try eating rice swimming in fish sauce with a knife.

One really nice thing about Filipino food culture is that people always ask you to SHARE their food. In my office, if you catch anyone attacking their baon, they ill
always go, "Sir! KAIN TAYO!" ("Let's eat!"). This confused me, until I realized that they didn't actually expect me to sit down and start munching on their boneless bangus.

In fact, the polite response is something like, "No thanks, I just ate." But the principle is sound - if you have food on your plate, you are expected to share it, however hungry you are, with those who may be even hungrier. I think that's great!

In fact, this is frequently even taken one step further. Many Filipinos use "Have you eaten yet?"
"KUMAIN KA NA?") as a general greeting, Irrespective of time of day or location. Some foreigners think Filipino food is fairly dull compared to other Asian cuisines.
Actually lots of it Is very good: Spicy dishes like Bicol Express (strange, a dish named after a train); anything cooked with coconut milk; anything KINILAW; and anything ADOBO.
And it's hard to beat the sheer wanton, cholesterolic frenzy of a good old-fashioned LECHON de leche (roast pig) feast. Dig a pit,light a fire, add 50 pounds of animal fat on a stick,and cook until crisp. Mmm, mmm...you can actually feel your arteries constricting with each
successive mouthful.

I also share one key Pinoy trait --- a sweet tooth. I am thus the only foreigner I know who does not complain about sweet bread, sweet burgers, sweet spaghetti, sweet banana ketchup, and so on. I am a man who likes to put jam on his pizza. Try it!
It's the weird food you want to avoid. In addition to duck fetus in the half-shell, items to avoid in the Philippines include pig's blood soup (DINUGUAN); bull's esticle soup, the strangely- named "SOUP NUMBER FIVE"(I dread to think what numbers one through four are); and the ubiquitous, stinky shrimp paste, BAGOONG,and it's equally stinky sister, PATIS.

Filipinos are so addicted to these latter items that they will even risk arrest or deportation trying to smuggle them into countries like Australia and the USA, which wisely ban the importation of items you can smell from more than 100 paces.

Then there's the small matter of the purple ice cream. I have never been able to get my brain around eating purple food; the biquitous UBE leaves me cold.

And lastly on the subject of weird food, beware:
that KALDERETANG KAMBING (goat)
could well be KALDERETANG ASO (dog)...

The Filipino, of course, has a well-developed sense of food.
Here's a typical Pinoy food joke: "I'm on a seafood diet.

"What's a seafood diet?" "When I see food, I eat it!"

Filipinos also eat strange bits of animals --- the feet, the head,
the guts, etc., usually barbecued on a stick. These have been
given witty names, like "ADIDAS" (chicken's feet);

"KURBATA" (either just chicken's neck, or "neck and thigh"

as in "neck-tie"); "WALKMAN" (pigs ears); "PAL" (chicken wings);

"HELMET" (chicken head); "IUD" (chicken intestines), and

BETAMAX" (video-cassette-like blocks of animal blood). Yum,yum. Bon appetit.

WHEN I arrived in the Philippines from the UK six years ago,one of the first cultural differences to strike me was names.

The subject has provided a continuing source of amazement and amusement ever since. The first unusual thing, from
an English perspective, is that everyone here has a nickname.
In the staid and boring United Kingdom , we have nicknames in kindergarten, but when we move into adulthood we tend, I am glad to say, to lose them.

The second thing that struck me is that Philippine names for both girls and boys tend to be what we in the UK would regard as overbearingly cutesy for anyone over about five.Fifty-five-year-olds colleague put it.

Where I come from, a boy with a nickname like Boy Blue or Honey Boy would be beaten to death at school by pre-adolescent bullies, and never make it to adulthood. So, probably, would girls with names like Babes, Lovely, Precious, Peachy or Apples. Yuk, ech ech. Here, however, no one bats an eyelid.

Then I noticed how many people have what I have come to call "door-bell names". These are nicknames that sound like -well,
doorbells. There are millions of them. Bing, Bong, Ding , and Dong are some of the more common. They can be, and frequently are, used in even more door-bell-like
combinations such as Bing-Bong, Ding - Dong, Ting-Ting, and so on.
Even our appointed chief of police has a doorbell name Ping.

None of these doorbell names exist where I come from, and hence sound unusually amusing to my untutored foreign ear.

Someone once told me that one of the Bings, when asked why he was called Bing, replied, "because my brother is called Bong".
Faultless logic.

Dong, of course, is a particularly funny one for me, as where come from "dong" is a slang word for well; perhaps "talong" is the best Tagalog equivalent!!!

Repeating names was another novelty to me, having never before encountered people with names like Len-Len, Let-Let, Mai-Mai, or
Ning-Ning. The secretary I inherited on my arrival had an unusual one:
Leck-Leck. Such names are then frequently further refined by using the "squared" symbol, as in Len2 or Mai2. This had me very confused for a while.

Then there is the trend for parents to stick to a theme when naming their children. This can be as simple as making them all begin with the same letter, as in Jun, Jimmy, Janice, and Joy.

More imaginative parents shoot for more sophisticated forms of assonance or rhyme, as in Biboy, Boboy, Buboy, Baboy (notice the names get worse the more kids there are-best to be born early or you could end up being a Baboy).

Even better, parents can create whole families of, say, desserts (Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, Honey Pie) or flowers (Rose, Daffodil, Tulip). The main advantage of such combinations is that they look great painted across your trunk if you're a cab driver.

That's another thing I'd never seen before coming to Manila -- taxis with the driver's kids' names on the trunk.

Another whole eye-opening field for the foreign visitor is the phenomenon of the "composite" name. This includes names like Jejomar (for Jesus, Joseph and Mary),
and the remarkable Luzviminda (for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, believe it or not). That's a bit like me being called something like "Engscowani" (for England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland ). Between you and me, I'm glad I'm not.

And how could I forget to mention the fabulous concept of the randomly inserted letter 'h'. Quite what this device is supposed to achieve, I have not yet figured out, but I think it is designed to give a touch of class to an otherwise only averagely weird name.
It results in creations like Jhun, Lhenn, Ghemma, and Jhimmy. Or how about Jhun-Jhun (Jhun2)?
How boring to come from a country like the UK full of people with names like John Smith. How wonderful to come from a country where imagination and exoticism rule the world of names.

Even the towns here have weird names; my favorite is the unbelievably named town of Sexmoan (ironically close to Olongapo and Angeles). Where else in the world could that really be true?

Where else in the world could the head of the Church really be called Cardinal Sin?

Where else but the Philippines !

Note: Philippines has a senator
named Joker, and it is his legal
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Floyd strikes again


Floyd Mayweather Jr. is at it again.

While fight fans eagerly anticipate the welterweight showdown between boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and former world champ Shane Mosley, the controversial boxer picked up his bullhorn and downplayed Pacquiao's opponents.

“Leftovers,” Mayweather told Fighthype.com’s Ben Thompson as he belittled Pacquiao’s victories over his former opponents, including Mosley.

“Because when he comes to my house, the only thing he can eat is leftovers. Shane was already a beaten fighter,” said Mayweather.

Mayweather was referring to Pacquiao’s wins over boxing great Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

In May 2007, “Pretty Boy Floyd” scored a split decision against De La Hoya before stopping Hatton in 10 rounds months later.

Pacquiao, however, scored dominating victories over the same opponents.

The Filipino champion forced De la Hoya to quit on his stool after 8 rounds in 2008.

In 2009, Pacquiao knocked Hatton out in just 2 rounds.

This coming Saturday (Sunday in Manila), Pacquiao will be facing Mosley, a boxer Mayweather defeated by unanimous decision.

Mayweather, who is taking a hiatus from boxing because of his legal woes, claimed he is not interested in watching the Pacman-Mosley clash.

“You know what I'm going to be doing Saturday night? Saturday night, I'm, going to be watching Lady Gaga on HBO, the best network in the world,” said the undefeated boxer.

The undefeated Mayweather is considered as Pacquiao’s closest rival in boxing pound-for-pound status.

He is, however, being accused of ducking the more popular Filipino champion.

“The things is this, Floyd Mayweather has never been scared of Manny Pacquiao at all. Never! At all!” he claimed.

He again dared Pacquiao to take an Olympic drug test, the same issue that he has been using against the Filipino champion.

“All I say everyday is this, just take the test! Floyd's scared of you? Okay. If I'm scared of you, why won't you take the test?” he said.

In a separate report by Boxingscene.com, Pacquiao said he doesn’t think Mayweather is interested to fight.

He, however, agreed that a Mayweather fight would be good for the sport.

"Yes, I believe that [boxing is healthier when that happens], but I don't think he really wants to fight," Pacquiao said.

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Thursday, May 5, 2011

Prince William Kisses to his Lovely Pinay Nanny


Bacolod City (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Royal nanny Araceli "Lillie" Piccio said Prince William thanked her twice for coming to his wedding and, along with his bride Kate, kissed her on seeing her at the reception at Clarence House on Friday (April 29).
Piccio, who is from Bacolod City, in central Philippines, was the lone Filipino invited to the royal wedding, having served as a nanny to both Prince William and Prince Harry, and later working for their mother Princess Diana.
"I cried at the wedding. It was both a happy and sad occasion for me," she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview.
Piccio was happy to see the boy she had cared for turn into a handsome young man and finally get married, but she wept at the thought that his mother, Princess Diana, could not be at his wedding.
"The princess would have been so proud of him," she said.
Piccio said she had breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner at Clarence House on the day of the wedding and went home past 8 p.m. on Friday.
With the rest of the staff
When Prince William and his bride arrived at Clarence House from the Buckingham Palace reception in a dark blue Aston Martin, Piccio, along with the rest of the staff, lined up in the courtyard.
She said they were briefed to curtsy when the royals arrived.
"When Prince William drove in there was loud applause from everyone and all of a sudden I heard him call out 'Hi Lillie' and he came up to hug and kiss me, as if he really missed me," Piccio said.
"I was dumbfounded ... I was not able to say anything."
"He said he was so happy I came to his wedding and asked how I was. He also said he liked my dress," Lillie said. She wore a dress made by Bacolod designer Lourdes Lipa.
She added that Kate, who also kissed her, asked how she knew Prince William.
According to Piccio, Prince William told his bride that "She (Piccio) looked after Mummy before."
Stopped to talk
"I told her I had been working for the family since William was a baby. She (Kate) was beautiful and sweet," she said. "Everybody was looking at us because Prince William and Kate stopped to talk to me."
Asked if Kate was like Princess Diana, Piccio said, "Nobody can wear the shoes of Princess Diana. She was one of a kind, she was beautiful, kind and generous. She taught her boys to be humble."
Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, arrived at Clarence House later, she said.
"Prince Charles came up to me and asked how I was and asked where I was working, and I told him I was retired," she said.
Piccio added that she was having snacks when someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"When I looked up, it was Prince Harry. I tried to get up to curtsy to him but he told me to sit and he kissed me," she said.
A lovely couple
Later in the evening, Piccio said she saw Prince William come down dressed in his tuxedo along with his wife who was wearing a white gown to go to another party at Buckingham Palace.
"He looked so handsome, and she looked beautiful," she said.
On Saturday, Piccio said she was surprised to get a call from Bernie, the butler at Clarence House.
"He told me Prince William told him before he left to make sure to call and thank me for attending his wedding, and that he was so happy that I was there," she said.
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Singapore's Leader Face Election Test


The prime minister is admitting mistakes and even apologizing. It's a sign that the party that has dominated Singapore and told the island state what's best for a half-century could be facing its strongest electoral challenge.
The People's Action Party, with the son of Singapore founding father Lee Kwan Yew at the helm, is still expected to overwhelmingly win Saturday's parliamentary election and remain in power for at least the next decade.
But more seats are being contested than ever before, by a new crop of well-educated opposition candidates. A gradual opening of traditional media alongside unfettered Internet debate has meant an increasingly substantial discussion of campaign issues, such as immigration and housing costs.
"The opposition in the past was not able to recruit because there was a very strong climate of fear for a very long time," said Gillian Koh, a senior research fellow at Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies. "The situation today is very different. We've seen a liberalization of the political space."
Dozens of PAP posters even have been defaced — nearly unheard of in this Southeast Asian country, where vandalism can get you a caning, the Colonial-era punishment famously meted out to American teenager Michael Fay in 1994.
"I'm not against the PAP," 35-year-old restaurant manager Francis Loh said at a Workers Party rally last weekend. "I just want more opposition in Parliament and someone to speak for the poor people."
The PAP has had to evolve as Singaporeans traveled and studied abroad more and became better educated. Gone are the days from the 1960s to 1980s when the elder Lee would imprison suspected communists without trial for years, and when he told the state-owned Straits Times in 1987, "We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think."
In recent speeches, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong — Lee Kwan Yew's son — has warned voters to avoid opposition candidates, reminding them that the government favors pro-PAP districts with funding for improvements to the public housing where about 80 percent of Singaporeans live.
But he also has admitted several mistakes, including failing to build enough public housing overall and not expanding the transportation network to accommodate a surge in foreign workers.
"We're sorry we didn't get it exactly right, but I hope you'll understand and bear with us," he said. "We made mistakes, we have slip-ups. We must apologize, acknowledge, put it right."
In power for 52 years, the PAP controlled all but two of the last parliament's 84 seats. The opposition never has held more than four. This year, opposition parties are contesting 82 of 87 seats.
The bedrock of the PAP's support is its delivery of jobs and education, its reputation for an efficient, corruption-free bureaucracy and a history of savvy policy choices — such as embracing English as a common language — that helped boost gross domestic product per capita to $43,867 last year from $428 in 1960.
The economy, based on manufacturing, shipping, finance and tourism, expanded a record 14.5 percent last year.
Rights groups condemn Singapore's use of the death penalty for drug couriers. Speech about race and religion is severely restricted and defamation lawsuits by PAP leaders have bankrupted opposition figures and deterred criticism of the government.
But Singapore is hardly a pariah. It's a staunch ally of the U.S., has close ties to China's leadership and has helped facilitate regional integration.
"Singapore's great virtue is that they have been able to skirt this fine line between democracy and autocracy, having the mechanics of democracy without the substance, but it's worked," said Benjamin Reilly, a political scientist at Australian National University.
Rich people love the place and trust the PAP. Singapore has the world's highest percentage of millionaires — households with at least $1 million in liquid assets — at 11.4 percent of the country's 5 million population, according to Boston Consulting Group.
"When I consider investing in Singapore, I don't have to worry about political instability, something that I can't say about some other countries," said Ravi Thakran, managing partner of a $650 million private equity fund of luxury goods maker LVMH.
The central figure in the PAP and modern Singapore life has been Lee Kuan Yew, a Cambridge-trained lawyer who was prime minister from 1959 to 1990 — during limited self-rule under the British, through a two-year federation with Malaysia that ended in 1965, and then during independence.
At 87, Lee is still an influential Cabinet minister. Famed for his blunt rhetoric, Lee took part in the nine-day official campaign that ended Thursday, warning Singaporeans that only the PAP can ensure prosperity.
"Don't rock this foundation," Lee said last week. "Remember, don't risk your assets, property values, job opportunities."
The PAP traditionally attracted Singapore's best and brightest, such as Michelle Lee, 35, who attended the most prestigious high school, graduated with honors from London School of Economics and worked at financial houses and the central bank.
But she's running for the opposition Singapore Democratic Party.
"Before I went to university, I was very pro-PAP," said Lee, now a high school teacher. "But my eyes were opened. I would not be able to live with myself if I joined the PAP."
Newspapers and television, which are closely controlled by the government, have begun airing a few dissenting views.
Reilly said the government could afford even more liberalization. "I think if they did that the PAP would win anyway. They have performance legitimacy," he said.
The government's most important policy decision since the last election in 2006 was to allow a surge of foreign workers. About 150,000 foreign workers entered Singapore per year from 2007 to 2009, and they now make up about one-third of the island's 3 million work force.
Singaporeans complain that the foreigners have depressed wages, boosted housing prices and clogged public transportation — and opposition leaders are tapping into that unease.
"The problem started with the crazy number of foreigners they brought in the last few years," said Chua Beng Huat, a sociologist at National University of Singapore. "They were looking for growth at all costs. The quality of life for Singaporeans has actually declined, especially for the middle class and lower."
The government cut back the number of workers allowed in to 80,000 last year, but stuck to its argument that foreigners are essential to expand the economy.
Speculation about Singapore after the elder Lee dies has increased since he suffered an abnormal heart rhythm in 2008. Some observers predict investor confidence could suffer or that the PAP could split into factions.
"When he dies, I don't think Singapore will go down because he built a good foundation," said Lilian Tan, a 50-year-old flower shop owner. "In my heart, I respect Lee Kuan Yew a lot. I don't know about the opposition, I only know about the PAP. As long as they do a good job, we only need the PAP."
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Taiwan's Natural Taroko Park


With friendly people, great food, and a number of attractions, Taiwan is a destination that should be on every tourist's travel plans for 2011.

What should really persuade potential tourists to visit are Taiwan's natural attractions, with the Taroko National Park near Hualien getting top billing.

Here are some of the park's top spots.

Taroko Gorge

A view of the Taroko Gorge.The Taroko Gorge is a spectacular 19-kilometer long canyon in Taiwan's east coast a short drive from Hualien. The climate is usually cool and humid, but again perfect for any of the trekking options at any of the long or short trails available, biking or whitewater rafting.

It's just over 60 kilometers from the coast, yet it is home to some of the highest peaks in Taiwan at over 3,400 meters.

It can be easily visited by bus, car or scooter and has enough treks to keep you busy for several days, but most people usually only visit it on one.

How to get there

Taroko Gorge is close to Hualien, so an early morning start is recommended. That is unless it's raining or you're traveling with kids, in which case I recommend renting a scooter.

Be aware that most of the rental agencies will ask for an International Driver's License, and the drive from Hualien to the Gorge will take about 30 minutes along a beautiful (and dangerous) road snaking next to the Liwu River.

Beaches near Taroko Gorge

Head to the beach for a great end to your day.

One of the best ways to call off a day at the gorge is by heading to any of the great nearby beaches: Hualien beach, picture-perfect QiXingtan beach (reachable along the bike trail from Hualien too) or Jici beach for those who want to hit the surf when in season.

Tunnels, shrines and waterfalls

Pilgrimage at the Taroko Gorge.

More Taroko National Park highlights include the Tunnel of 9 Turns (a man-made pedestrian-only tunnel that follows the river offering dramatic views), a dip in the Eternal Springs Shine during the unbearably hot summer months, a walk up the steps to Hsiang-Te temple and getting wet in the Water Curtain Tunnels along the trail to Baiyang Waterfall (currently closed due to landslide danger).

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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Bin Ladin Shot while unarmed? Good For Him!!!



The compound in Abbottbad, Pakistan where Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden was killed on May 1. The United States revealed Tuesday that Osama bin Laden was unarmed when US commandos shot him dead and said the Pakistani authorities had been kept in the dark because they might have tipped off the Al-Qaeda leader

The United States revealed Tuesday that Osama bin Laden was unarmed when US commandos shot him dead and said the Pakistani authorities had been kept in the dark because they might have tipped off the Al-Qaeda leader.
Unusually frank remarks from the CIA chief betrayed the extent of the distrust between the United States and Pakistan, a nuclear-armed ally and key partner in the war against the resurgent Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan.
"It was decided that any effort to work with the Pakistanis could jeopardize the mission," Leon Panetta told Time magazine in an interview. "They might alert the targets."
US officials, meanwhile, debated whether to scotch conspiracy theories by releasing a "gruesome" photo of the dead bin Laden, conscious that such an image would likely inflame strong passions in parts of the Muslim world.
Focus: Details on bin Laden raid raise more questions
The White House gave the fullest account yet of the dramatic and momentous raid on Sunday night that killed the architect of the September 11, 2001 attacks and sparked scenes of relief and joy around the Western world.
But officials did not clearly explain why bin Laden was shot dead and not captured, given that he was unarmed, fueling speculation that the elite Navy SEAL team had been ordered not to take him alive.
"In the room with bin Laden, a women -- bin Laden's wife -- rushed the US assaulter and was shot in the leg but not killed," White House spokesman Jay Carney said. "Bin Laden was then shot and killed. He was not armed."
Pressed about the so-called "kill mission," Carney said there had been significant resistance, a "volatile firefight," and insisted: "We were prepared to capture him if that was possible."
The fact that, after a years-long manhunt, bin Laden turned up in an fortified compound in Abbottabad, home to the Pakistani equivalent of the West Point and Sandhurst military academies just two hours' drive north of Islamabad, has been greeted with incredulity.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari rejected as "baseless" charges that his country extends safe haven to extremists, but outraged US lawmakers are calling for billions of dollars in aid to be cut back or dropped entirely.
The Obama administration last year said it would seek another $2 billion for Pakistan's military, on top of a five-year, $7.5 billion civilian package approved in 2009 aimed at weakening the allure of Islamic extremists.
US analysts were scouring documents and computer files seized from bin Laden's hideout for evidence after top counter-terrorism official John Brennan said it was "inconceivable" he had not had some kind of support network.
White House: Bin Laden corpse photo 'gruesome'
For a decade, Islamabad has been America's wary Afghan war ally, despite widespread public opposition and militant bomb attacks across the nuclear-armed country that have killed several thousand people.
But Pakistan has never been fully trusted by either Kabul or Washington, which accuse its powerful military of fostering the Afghan Taliban it spawned during the 1980s resistance to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
Pakistani intelligence officials said the nation's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency had no idea bin Laden was holed up in Abbottabad, despite searching the compound in 2003 while it was still under construction.
In a Washington Post opinion piece, Zardari acknowledged the US commandos carried out the raid without Pakistani collaboration -- but stressed Islamabad had initially helped to identify the Al-Qaeda courier who led them to bin Laden.
US officials say DNA tests have proven conclusively that the man shot dead above the eye in Sunday's raid was indeed the Al-Qaeda leader who boasted about the deaths of nearly 3,000 people in the September 11 attacks.
But they are also mulling whether to release a photo as proof.
"It is fair to say it is a gruesome photograph... it could be inflammatory," Carney said. "We are reviewing the situation."
In Sunday's operation, which lasted less than 40 minutes, Navy SEALs, arriving in two helicopters, stormed bin Laden's compound, which stood out from other properties because of its towering perimeter walls and heavy security.
In addition to the bin Laden family, two other families resided there: one on the first floor of the main residence and another in a second building.
"On the first floor of bin Laden's building, two Al-Qaeda couriers were killed along with a woman who was killed in cross-fire," Carney said.
"Bin Laden and his family were found on the second and third floor of the building. There was concern that bin Laden would oppose the capture operation and indeed he resisted."
After the firefight, the "non-combatants were moved to a safe location as the damaged helicopter was detonated," Carney said. "The team departed the scene via helicopter to the USS Carl Vinson in the North Arabian Sea."
US officials have revealed how the trail for bin Laden had gone cold for years until August 2010, when the CIA tracked a courier and his brother to the large compound in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad.
Interview: bin Laden death will not affect Al-Qaeda
After months of top-secret planning, the operation came down to a simple command delivered by Obama on Friday -- "it's a go."
On Sunday, the president and his top lieutenants gathered in the White House Situation Room to watch the dramatic operation unfold. Then came confirmation that bin Laden -- codenamed "Geronimo" -- was now "EKIA": Enemy Killed in Action.
The fifth person killed in the raid was believed to be one of bin Laden's sons.
The United States says bin Laden received Muslim rites before his body was "eased" into the Arabian Sea on Monday so no one could turn his grave into a shrine. Muslim leaders have condemned the sea burial.
Focus: Navy SEALs shine in risky bin Laden strike
With Pakistan's main Taliban faction vowing vengeance, the United States said Tuesday it was closing its consulates in the cities of Lahore and Peshawar to the public until further notice.
Hundreds of curious Pakistanis descended on the bullet-riddled villa Tuesday that had hidden bin Laden from the world, some taking pictures and home videos of the battered compound.
Gathering outside to get a look at the now notorious high-walled villa, dozens of youths staged a demo mocking the United States, shouting "Osama is alive!"


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Monday, May 2, 2011

Charice on Miss Saigon



Its' what Charice Pempengco's main benefactor Oprah Winfrey might call an "a-ha" moment.
Is the 18-year-old Filipina singer being groomed to play lead character Kim in a movie version of the mammoth musical "Miss Saigon" - the same role that won a Larry and a Tony for Lea Salonga?
The movie incarnation of "Saigon" is reportedly in the works, to be directed by Lee Daniels, the same filmmaker behind the award-winning "Precious." Yup, the same Oscar winner that Oprah produced.
Connect the dots: Oprah solidly supports the careers of both Charice and Lee. So, would Lee consider casting Charice as Kim?
All of Charice's high-profile projects (her recurring role on the TV series "Glee"; "Here Comes the Boom," the film starring Salma Hayek; not to mention recording songs written and produced by Bruno Mars and Nick Jonas) seem to be priming her for the big time.
In any case, there's another girl (with Filipino roots) who might audition for the coveted role: "American Idol" also-ran Thia Megia.
COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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Aiko Melendes against Ex-Boyfriend Patrick Meneses



Actress Aiko Melendez denies the accusations linking her to spreading false rumors against her former boyfriend of three years, Bulacan City Mayor Patrick Meneses.
Patrick sued Aiko before the Malolos Regional Trial Court on April 28, for violation of Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines. The Bulacan Mayors League also passed a resolution to hold people proven guilty of the offense persona non grata in the province. The case was filed after Aiko allegedly made remarks on Twitter about Patrick's sexuality.
Patrick and Aiko ended their three-year relationship last February and both agreed not to reveal their situation to the public. In an interview with ABS-CBN's "The Buzz" on Sunday, May 1, Aiko denied that the rumors on Patrick's sexuality came from her.
"Sabi nila nagpakalat raw kami ng e-mail para siraan si Patrick. Ang pinagseselosan ko po noon ay babae. Pero ngayon, ang ini-issue eh lalaki na," Aiko said.
Aiko, an actress and a former politician, denied spreading the rumors, saying this will affect her family and her credibility. "Hindi po manggagaling sakin yan...Una sa lahat, hindi po ba katawa-tawa on national TV na malaman na pinagpalit ako sa isang lalaki. Hindi po ba kasiraan rin po sa akin iyon at kasiraan na ako po ay may anak na pag-usapan, pagpyestahan," Aiko said.
As Patrick is in politics, Aiko thought that this issue could be politically motivated. "Hindi ba niya naisip na baka nagamit lang ako ng kalaban niya sa politika ngayon na hiwalay na kami," Aiko added.
And to stop the speculations and clear the rumors on Patrick's gender, "No, it's not coming from my mouth, no. I never doubted his gender," Aiko said when asked if she thinks Patrick is gay.
Aiko also said that she was hurt more than being shocked of the turn of events. "Sinisisi ko yung sarili ko na ito ba yung kapalit nang pananahimik ko, na pagbibintangan nyo ko, na aakusahan ako sa isang bagay na hindi ko ginawa," Aiko said. She also said that if Patrick first didn't have an interview, the media and the public will not know about their situation.
"Ang kinasasakit ko po, here you go, filing a case against me with libel, because through that direct message thing sa Twitter na nagcreate ako ng script para ibagsak ang pagkatao ni Patrick," Aiko added. She also said that Patrick knows the password and e-mail address that she uses in her Twitter account. Because of this, she didn't even attempt to spread false rumors because Patrick would be the first one to know about it. Aiko also said it was impossible to create a "script" on Twitter given the short character limit for users.
"Nasaan yung tatlong taon na pinagsamahan po namin na parang binalewala at tinapon lang niya sa bintana? Naniwala sya sa isang bagay na wala man lang syang basehan," Aiko added.
Aiko also denied talking to reporter Pete Ampoloquio about Patrick. "I swear in my father's grave, I haven't spoken or I haven't talked to Pete Ampoloquio. A blind item could be anyone. Pag blind item, hindi ka magrereact kung hindi ka guilty," Aiko said.
Amid her failed relationships, Aiko said she still believes in love and there's someone meant for her. "Sana hindi naman po dapat nila isisi sakin na kunyari nagkamali ako ng tatlong beses, ibig sabihin kasalanan ko na po. Malamang po, malas lang ako sa pag-ibig," Aiko said.
Aiko also told "The Buzz" that she gave her all in her relationship with Patrick. "This time, I will love myself better than anybody else. And my priority would be God, my career, my children, myself, ang lovelife ko ang nasa huli na ngayon," Aiko said.
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Indiana Jones Museum



A museum exhibit in this Canadian metropolis opened this week showcasing on-screen archeological discoveries of Hollywood's fictional adventurer Indiana Jones.
Presented by the National Geographic Society with the support of Lucasfilm, "Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology: The Exhibition" takes visitors on a virtual tour of sites depicted in the series of adventure movies.
It aims to shed light on such historical myths as the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail, sought in the films by the title character played by American actor Harrison Ford.
Showcased are a collection of props and film footage from Lucasfilm archives and ancient artifacts on loan from the National Geographic Society and the Penn Museum, including gold graveyard relics from the Ur dynasty of ancient Mesopotamia and the oldest known map of the world.
"We learn a lot about archeology and at the same time it's romantic, unbridled, which is interesting," said Monique, 61, who attended the exhibit opening on Thursday with her grandson.
The exhibit is expected to attract thousands over the summer months, before packing up on September 18 and touring Europe and Asia.

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Sunday, May 1, 2011

Osama Bin Laden is Dead



Osama Bin Laden wаѕ shot іn thе head аt Ɩеаѕt once bу US Navy seals, according tο NBC news, аftеr whаt hаѕ bееn ԁеѕсrіbеԁ аѕ a brief exchange οf gunfire.

President Obama ѕаіԁ thе location οf thе Pakistani compound whеrе Bin Laden wаѕ hiding wаѕ confirmed last week, аnԁ hе gave tο order tο proceed wіth thе military operation against Bin Laden οn Sunday morning.

US special operations forces took custody οf Bin Laden’s body аnԁ DNA testing hаѕ confirmed hіѕ identity.

During hіѕ official statement, President Obama reminded thе American people thаt thе fight against terrorism іѕ nοt over јυѕt bесаυѕе Bin Laden іѕ dead.

American’s whο watched thе twin towers οf thе World Trade Center burn аnԁ fall аrе, expressing a sense οf justice wіth thе death οf Bin Laden, known tο bе thе mastermind οf thе September 11th attacks.

More thаn 3,000 people died аftеr two commercial airplanes wеrе used аѕ missiles аnԁ flown іntο thе twin towers. Hundreds οf firefighters wеrе kіƖƖеԁ іn thеіr efforts tο rescue those trapped іn thе burning buildings.


President Obama ѕаіԁ nο civilians οr American soldiers wеrе injured during thе mission thаt еnԁеԁ іn thе death οf Bin Laden.

People’s reactions οn Bin Laden’s death:
CNN reported thаt thе 54-year-οƖԁ Al Qaeda leader wаѕ confirmed dead bу thе White House іn mansion outside Islamabad.

Bin laden іѕ thе suspected mastermind οf thе 9/11 attacks ten years ago.

NBC News ѕаіԁ “Intelligence thаt led U.S. tο bin Laden wаѕ uncovered іn September, ԁесіԁеԁ ɡοοԁ enough tο take action.”

Bесаυѕе οf thіѕ development, аƖƖ U.S. facilities abroad wеrе placed οn high alert аѕ a precautionary measure.

Former US Pres. George W. Bush, whο wаѕ thе incumbent during thе 9/11 attacks, welcomed thе news аnԁ ѕаіԁ, “Thіѕ momentous achievement mаrkѕ a victory fοr America, fοr people whο seek peace around thе world.

“Thе fight against terror goes οn, bυt tonight America hаѕ sent аn unmistakable message: Nο matter hοw long іt takes, justice wіƖƖ bе done.”

Jack Thomas, thе Werribee man hаѕ аƖѕο elcomed thіѕ development. Hе met thе fugitive leader, whο іѕ considered a martyr bу many, аt аn Al Qaeda training camp.

Warning οf Bin Laden’s death, hе tοƖԁ thе Herald Sun, “Hе wаѕ a murderer аnԁ hе wіƖƖ bе judged. Bυt wе hаνе tο mаkе sure hіѕ ideology dies wіth hіm. Thаt уου wουƖԁ bomb аnԁ kіƖƖ іn thе name οf Jihad іѕ f—ing disgusting.

“Obviously іtѕ ɡοοԁ hе іѕ dead, bυt hе сουƖԁ bе given martydom status. Thаt isn’t a ɡοοԁ thing іf thаt happens.”

Whаt ԁο thе people ѕау аbουt thіѕ issue? Here аrе ѕοmе tweets аnԁ Facebook messages frοm ordinary people.


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Lady Bus Driver in EDSA



The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is planning to deploy lady bus drivers in EDSA to lessen accidents and de-clog traffic in the metro’s main thoroughfare.

Thirteen out of 31 applicants have passed the level 3 national certification by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for heavy-duty vehicles. They are now waiting for bus lines to process their applications.

But aside from the usual job requirements, these ladies are studying how to adjust their nature to this male-dominated field.

“It’s hard to pee. They said we have to learn how to control going on bathroom breaks, especially when we have menstruation,” said Kathleen Magbagos, a 28-year-old single mother.

Bus drivers in the Philippines earn an estimated P600 a day, almost 50% higher than the minimum wage of P404 of private employees in NCR.

This landmark move by MMDA will also help lessen unemployment in the Philippines which hit almost 3 million as of January, 40% of them are women.

According to party-list group Gabriela, Magbagos is just one of the many women who want to prove themselves by taking on a job that is usually done by a male.

Culturally, women are only seen as a reserve labor force. If they can get a man to do the job, they will hire a man. Secondly, there is fear that women will demand a lot from their employers,” said Gabriela secretary general Emmie De Jesus.

According to Gabriela, support from the government is also needed to make the employing of lady bus drivers effective.

“There should be reinforcing supportive mechanisms that will support lady bus drivers and those interested to apply to be lady bus drivers. There should be public education support coming from the MMDA and TESDA. Skill training is not enough, there should also be education on women orientation in society,” De Jesus said.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino was also hoping this move will result in safer streets for the public.
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Ex-Promoter expects Mosley to beat Pacquiao


A former promoter of “Sugar” Shane Mosley is confident that his former ward will beat Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.

Cedric Kushner said in an Examiner.com report that “absolutely, Shane has a chance to win” in the 2 boxers’ welterweight clash, which will be held on May 7 (May 8 in Manila) at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"I don't wish to speak in riddles so I'll make it plain. I am picking Shane to win this fight over Pacman," the head of Cedric Kushner Promotions Ltd. said.

The fight will put Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight belt at stake.

The Filipino has the apparent advantage in terms of speed, but Mosley has the experience and the power too, Kushner said.

"But I will go further than that. I'm picking Shane to win this fight. He's been one of the great fighters of his generation and he retains his power. I also think that this might be the time, might be the fight where as great as Manny is and has been, he's going to be impacted negatively from fighting a bigger man,” he said.

Kushner, however, admitted that Pacquiao definitely has the goods to stop Mosley.

"On the other hand, you ask me if Pacquiao can stop Shane? I'd say that Manny can stop anybody but Shane takes a helluva rap, he's always had a solid chin. Sure, Manny is more than capable of hurting Shane," he said, "but the opposite is also true."

Kushner, who has trained Mosley when the boxer was still in the flyweight division, has spent the past 30 years in the boxing industry.

Kushner has promoted 30 world champions, including Mosley.

He has also staged more than 300 world title fights in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and Africa.
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Pope Beatifies John Paul II In Rome Before 1.5 Million Catholics In St. Peter's Square



VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has praised Pope John Paul II for having restored Christianity as a religion of hope, speaking during the beatification Mass of his beloved predecessor before more than a million faithful.

In his homily, Benedict said the Polish-born John Paul helped turn what appeared to be the "irreversible" tide of Marxism with his courage and faith and "helped believers throughout the world not to be afraid to be called Christian."

Benedict moved John Paul a step closer to possible sainthood in a Mass Sunday held under sunny skies and amid a sea of Poland's red and white flags — a scene reminiscent of John Paul's 2005 funeral.

The beatification, the fastest in modern times, is a morale boost for a church scarred by the sex abuse crisis.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.



VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI beatified Pope John Paul II before more than a million faithful in St. Peter's Square and surrounding streets Sunday, moving the beloved former pontiff one step closer to possible sainthood.

The crowd erupted in cheers, tears and applause as an enormous photo of a smiling John Paul was unveiled over the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica and a choir launched into a hymn long associated with the Polish-born pope.

The beatification, the fastest in modern times, is a morale boost for a church scarred by the sex abuse crisis, but it has also triggered a new wave of anger from victims because the scandal occurred under John Paul's 27-year watch.

Speaking in Latin, Benedict pronounced John Paul "Blessed" shortly after the start of the Mass, held under sunny skies and amid a sea of Poland's red and white flags — a scene reminiscent of John Paul's 2005 funeral, when some 3 million people paid homage to the pope.

Benedict then received a silver reliquary holding a vial of blood taken from John Paul during his final hosptalization. The relic, a key feature of beatification ceremonies, will be available for the faithful to venerate.

It was presented to him by Sister Tobiana, the Polish nun who tended to John Paul throughout his pontificate, and Sister Marie Simone-Pierre of France, whose inexplicable recovery from Parkinson's disease was decreed to be the miracle necessary for John Paul to be beatified.

Police placed wide swaths of Rome even miles (kilometers) from the Vatican off limits to private cars to ensure security for some of the estimated 16 heads of state, seven prime ministers and five members of European royal houses attending.

Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, wearing a black lace mantilla, mingled with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, Poland's historic Solidarity leader and former President Lech Walesa and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who sidestepped an EU travel ban to attend.

Helicopters flew overhead, police boats patrolled the nearby Tiber River and some 5,000 uniformed troops patrolled police barricades to ensure priests, official delegations and those with coveted VIP passes could get to their places.

"He went all over the world," said Bishop Jean Zerbo of Bamako, Mali, who came to Rome for the ceremony. "Today, we're coming to him."

Thousands of pilgrims, many of them from John Paul's native Poland, spent the night in sleeping bags on bridges and in piazzas around town, and then packed St. Peter's as soon as the barricades opened over an hour in advance because the crowds were too great.

They stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the main boulevard leading to the Vatican, Via della Conciliazione, as well as on side streets around it and the bridges crossing the Tiber leading to St. Peter's. Rome police headquarters put the number attending at over a million.

"John Paul was a wonderful man and it's a privilege to be here. It's wonderful to see people from all across the world," said Anne Honiball, 48, a nursing home administrator from Worthing, England who carried a small Union Jack flag.

"We missed the royal wedding but we are Catholics and this was a bit more important, I suppose," said Honibal, a former Protestant who converted to Catholicism 10 years ago.

It's the fastest beatification on record, coming just six years after John Paul died and beating out the beatification of Mother Teresa by a few days.

Benedict put John Paul on the fast-track for possible sainthood when he dispensed with the traditional five-year waiting period and allowed the beatification process to begin weeks after his April 2, 2005, death. Benedict was responding to chants of "Santo Subito!" or "Sainthood Immediately" that erupted during John Paul's funeral.

On Saturday night, a "Santo Subito" banner was emblazoned on the side of the Circus Maximus field, where an all-night prayer vigil kicked off the beatification celebrations in earnest.

Many pilgrims spent the night moving around the center visiting eight churches that stayed open all night, a "white night" of prayer in honor of the late pope.

"The weather is mild and so it will not be a problem to pass the night here, and there is also a very nice atmosphere," said Pauline Rosenfeld, a 20-year-old pilgrim from Paris sitting with friends in her sleeping bag gearing up for a night spent outdoors.

The beatification is taking place despite a drumbeat of criticism about the record speed with which John Paul is being honored, and continued outrage about clerical abuse: Many of the crimes and cover-ups of priests who raped children occurred on John Paul's 27-year watch.

Vatican officials have insisted that John Paul deserves beatification despite the fallout from the abuse scandal, saying the saint-making process isn't a judgment of how he administered the church but rather whether he lived a life of Christian virtue.

But victims' groups such as the U.S. Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests have said the speedy beatification was just "rubbing more salt in these wounds" of victims.

Rome itself seemed invaded by Poles overjoyed that their native son was being honored. Special trains, planes and buses shuttled Poles in for the beatification.

Anna Fotyga, a former Polish foreign minister and member of Poland's parliament, arrived on a special train Sunday morning carrying the Polish parliamentary delegation. She reminisced about John Paul's impact on communist Poland in the late 1970s and 80s.

"I was a student at that time, and actually seeing him, listening to him started transformation in Poland, I am sure," she said.

In Krakow, where John Paul was archbishop, two TV screens at two different sites were set up to broadcast the beatification ceremony Sunday from Rome. Houses were decorated with Poland's white-and-red flags and the Vatican's white-and-yellow colors.

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