America’s Next Top Model Cycle 12 Episode 11 "Let’s Go See The City"

Tuesday, April 28, 2009


Watch America’s Next Top Model Cycle 12 Episode 11 "Let’s Go See The City" all new Wednesday 8/7 c this coming April 29, 2009 on CW Tv. In this episode, the final five contestants go throughout the city to five different designers to make an impression.

Watch America’s Next Top Model Cycle 12 (S08E11)"Let’s Go See The City" preview.





Previously in America's Next Top Model Cycle 12, Episode 10: "The Amazing Model Race"

The girls land in an exotic overseas destination and immediately test their navigation skills during a scavenger hunt around the city. After moving into their new digs and experiencing the local culture, the first photo shoot requires the girls to dress and pose like a famous cultural icon.

2009 Miss Philippines Earth



Miss Philippines Earth 2009 is the 9th edition of the environmentally-conscious beauty pageant, Miss Philippines Earth. The grand coronation night will be held on May 10, 2009 at The Arena Entertainment and Recreational Center of the People, San Juan City. About 50 contestants will compete for the coveted title. The event will be broadcasted by ABS-CBN in the Philippines and by The Filipino Channel internationally.




The 2009 Miss Philippines-Earth Beauty Pageant is presented by PAGCOR, in cooperation with Nestle Nesvita and Karilagan International Travel & Tours Corp. Ricky Reyes is the official make-up artist & hair stylist. Cocolife is the official insurance provider, and the Miss Earth Foundation.

Hollie Steel New Britain's Got Talent Sensation



Hollie Steel is new Britain's Got Talent Sensation. Hollie's performance on Britain's runaway-hit talent show is the latest Interweb sensation after airing on U.K. television yesterday, and along with the obvious ongoing decrease in age and increase in adorableness among BGT contestants, I notice another pattern here.

But of course, it's only a matter of time before Hollie Steel is upstaged as well. So check out her BGT audition below, prepare for her to reach a positively Octo-Mom-esque level of international media saturation in the next week...and then steel yourself for next week, when someone even cuter and younger than Hollie (a particularly charismatic zygote, maybe?) comes around to "shock" Simon and Piers and steal the Britain's Got Talent spotlight once again.

Watch Hollie Steel during Britain's Got Talent Show 3.


Gossip Girl Season 2 Episode 22: A Southern Gentleman Prefers Blondes

Thursday, April 23, 2009



Gossip Girl Season 2 Episode 22 new The new episode which will air next Monday, April 27th is entitled "A Southern Gentleman Prefers Blondes."

Gossip Girl Season 2 Episode 22: A Southern Gentleman Prefers BlondesNext week, Chuck and Nate find themselves at a crossroads in their relationship due to their mutual interest in Blair, Georgina (guest star Michelle Trachtenberg) returns to the Upper East Side after undergoing a major transformation. Chuck (Ed Westwick) and Nate (Chace Crawford) find themselves at a major crossroads in their relationship as it pertains to their mutual interest in Blair (Leighton Meester). Serena (Blake Lively) finds her relationship with Gabriel (guest star Armie Hammer) growing more complicated.

Episode Title:The title of this episode is based on the 1953 film adaptation of the 1925 novel Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos.

Watch Gossip Girl Season 2 Episode 22 - A Southern Gentleman Prefers Blondes trailer preview.



Watch full all new episode of Gossip Girl (S02E22) "A Southern Gentleman Prefers Blondes" every Monday at 8/7 C at CW TV.


Related links:
Smallville Season 8 Episode 19: Stiletto
Prison Break Season 4 Episode 18: Versus

Smallville Season 8 Episode 19: Stiletto



Smallville Season 8 Episode 19 (S08E19) airs on April 23rd with the episode, "Stiletto" 8.19 after a 2-week break. On this episode, Chloe and Lois get to spend some quality 'cousin time' together until they are attacked by two thugs. Lois takes one of them down with her stiletto heels and decides to recruit Jimmy for photography help to convince others that "Stiletto" is Metropolis’ newest heroine so she can bring the Red-Blue Blur out of hiding for an interview. When Clark finds out about this, he tells Lois that she’s a better reporter than one who would lie to advance her career.

Watch Smallville Season 8 Episode 19 Stiletto trailer preview.
Full episode of Smallville "Stiletto" 8.19 can be watch every Thursday 8/7C at CW TV.


Related links:
Prison Break Season 4 Episode 18: Versus


Prison Break Season 4 Episode 18: Versus



Watch Prison Break Season 4 Episode 18 in titled Versus on April 24, Friday at 8:00 pm after it first episode resumes last week.

Prison Break Season 4 Episode 18 - Versus trailer overview.

Prison Break S04E18 "Versus" : It’s Linc vs. Michael over Scylla as Christina (Kathleen Quinlan) sets her plan in motion and a sniper targets Linc. Meanwhile, Sara receives some news; T-Bag makes his presence known at the Indian embassy; and Pad Man’s paranoia intensifies.

Watch full Prison Break "Versus" episode at fox.com.


Related links of Prison Break:
Prison Break Season 4 Episode 17: The Mother Lode resumes
Prison Break near ending series after season 4
About Wentworth Miller Bio




Watch Prison Break Season 4 Episode 18: Versus Online.

Senior citizens becoming internet savvy

Wednesday, April 22, 2009


Young people largely drove the early stages of Internet growth but in recent years the sharpest rise in Web use in developed nations has been amongst people aged 70 and over, experts said Monday.

"Older adults are the fastest growing demographic on the Internet," said Professor Vicki Hanson of the School of Computing at Scotland's University of Dundee on the opening day of a global World Wide Web conference in Madrid.

While just over one-fourth, or 26 percent, of 70-75 year olds went online in the United States in 2005, the proportion was 45 percent last year, according to data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, she said.

The percentage of those aged 76 years and over who surf the Web rose during the same period from 17 percent to 27 percent.

Britain has experienced similar sharp gains in Internet use by people in this age group, said Andrew Arch of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the main international standards organisation for the Web.

"They are basically doing the same things as everyone else. Using the Web for communication, then quickly moving to other activities like information seeking, online banking, shopping," said Arch who works to boost Web accessibility for older and disabled users.

Sending and receiving e-mail is the most popular online activity for Internet users age 64 and older, according to the Pew study.

But older Internet users are less likely than younger Web surfers to do online banking and shopping -- and far less likely to use social networking sites, it found.

"They are not on Twitter," said Hanson, referring to the microblogging Web site whose popularity got a huge boost last week as US talk show diva Oprah Winfrey became the latest big name celebrity to join the craze.

With the percentage of the population aged 60 and over expected to reach 20 percent by 2050, experts said the numbers of older Web browsers is set to continue to rise.

And with many countries increasing the retirement age, being able to use the Web will become a requirement for an increasing number of older workers.

But the physical problems that come with old age still act as a barrier to getting online. Poor vision can make reading text on the screen a challenge. Arthritis and motor control problems can make manoeuvring a mouse difficult.

Web sites can make it easier for older surfers by using larger fonts, higher contrast and extra spaces at the end of sentences, said Arch.

"The typical web developer does not really understand that the world is ageing the way it is," he said, adding the changes he is suggesting would make it easier for people of all ages to use the Internet.

"It is like footpaths. They were initially set up for the disabled but then everyone found them very useful," he said.

The number of people going online has surpassed one billion for the first time, according to online metrics company comScore.

It counts only unique users above the age of 15 and excludes access in Internet cafes and through mobile phones.

source: ph.news.yahoo.com

2009 Miss USA - Kristen Dalton of North Carolina

Monday, April 20, 2009


Miss North Carolina 2009, Kristen Dalton,took home the Miss USA crown Sunday evening of , April 19, 2009 in Las Vegas, edging past Miss California Carrie Prejean and Miss Arizona, Alicia-Monique Blanco. Dalton is part of a North Carolina pageant dynasty (we were surprised as you to learn that such a thing exists): Her mother was Miss North Carolina USA 1982 and her sister was Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008.

Miss USA 2009 - Kristen Dalton of North Carolina

Delegates representing the fifty states plus the District of Columbia competed in the pageant, and arrived in Las Vegas on April 2. Miss USA Kristen Dalton will represent the United States at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant.

source: nj.com

Jackie Chan 's comments on Chinese people



Action star Jackie Chan 's comments wondering whether Chinese people "need to be controlled" have drawn sharp rebuke in his native Hong Kong and in Taiwan .

Chan told a business forum in the southern Chinese province of Hainan that a free society may not be beneficial for China 's authoritarian mainland.

"I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not," Chan said Saturday. "I'm gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we're not being controlled, we'll just do what we want."

He went on to say that freedoms in Hong Kong and Taiwan made those societies "chaotic."

Chan's comments drew applause from a predominantly Chinese audience of business leaders, but did not sit well with lawmakers in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

"He's insulted the Chinese people. Chinese people aren't pets," Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Leung Kwok-hung told The Associated Press. "Chinese society needs a democratic system to protect human rights and rule of law."

Another lawmaker, Albert Ho, called the comments "racist," adding: "People around the world are running their own countries. Why can't Chinese do the same?"

Former British colony Hong Kong enjoys Western-style civil liberties and some democratic elections under Chinese rule. Half of its 60-member legislature is elected, with the other half picked by special interest groups. But Hong Kong's leader is chosen by a panel stacked with Beijing loyalists.

In democratically self-ruled Taiwan, which split from mainland China during a civil war in 1949, legislator Huang Wei-che said Chan himself "has enjoyed freedom and democracy and has reaped the economic benefits of capitalism. But he has yet to grasp the true meaning of freedom and democracy."

Chan's comments were reported by news outlets in Hong Kong and Taiwan, but were ignored by the mainland Chinese press.

Although Chan was a fierce critic of the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in June 1989, which killed at least hundreds, he has not publicly criticized China's government in recent years and is immensely popular on the mainland.

He performed during the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics and took part in the Olympic torch relay .

Chan also is vice chairman of the China Film Association, a key industry group.

source: movies.yahoo.com

Half-Pinay beauty in 2009 Miss USA



Filipino Celso de Guzman Caparas filed the following report about Miss Hawaii USA 2009 Aureana Tseu who is now in Las Vegas competing in the 2009 Miss USA pageant (finals set for April 19).

Placed at No. 7 among the 51 delegates by a poll conducted by the Miss USA pageant’s official website, Aureana is part-Filipino, part-Hawaiian and part-Chinese. The winner will compete in the Miss Universe pageant on Aug. 23 at the Bahamas.

Here’s part of Celso’s report:

Hawaii has produced a number of famous personalities who are of Filipino descent including Miss America 2001 Angela Perez Baraquio (now Grey), singer/actress/model Tia Carrere (born Althea Rae Duhinio Janairo; she’s a 2009 Grammy award winner, Best Hawaiian Music Album for Ikena), and American Idol Season 3 finalists Jasmine Soriano Trias (Top 3) and Ciara Camille Roque Velasco (Top 9).

The 5’7" tall Aureana, who weighs 120 lbs., is an AB in Business Marketing graduate from the University of Phoenix. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in business management from Hawaii Pacific University availing one of her Miss Hawaii USA prizes, a $14,000 scholarship.

In 2008, Aureana was named first runner-up to Miss Hawaii USA Jonelle Layfield. She was also Miss Hawaii Teen USA 1999 and competed in the Miss Teen USA 1999 pageant (won by Ashley Michelle Coleman of Delaware).

She was crowned as Miss Hawaii Filipina 2003, the same beauty title won by Celita Ochoa de Castro in 1975 (who’s also Miss Oahu Filipina 1974, Bb. Pilipinas 1976 first runner-up and Best in Swimsuit, Miss Hawaii USA 1977 and Miss USA 1977 semi-finalist).

A professional model and hula dancer, Aureana has traveled to 15 countries promoting the island’s culture and the famous Hawaiian dance, hula. After all, Aureana was Miss Aloha Hula 2007 first runner-up and Miss Aloha Hula 2008 third runner-up.

Before flying to Las Vegas for the national pageant, Aureana worked on a hula DVD (showcasing its benefits to one’s health) for commercial distribution and filmed a Hawaii episode for Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches hosted by The Girl Next Door star Bridget Marquardt. It will be aired over Travel Channel on April 16.

source: ph.news.yahoo.com

Nonito Donaire won over Raul Martinez by TKO



Nonito Donaire beat Raul Martinez by technical knockout in the fourth round at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Sunday, April 19, 2009.

Nonito Donaire, the reigning IBF flyweight champion from Bohol, put the title he sensationally won against Vic Darchinyan in July of 2007 at stake against the Mexican-American who said he didn’t come here to lose. But lost Martinez did as Donaire beat him via a technical knockout in the fourth round.

Donaire and Martinez have faced each other once, during their young, amateur days in the United States. The Filipino won that one on points, but even both fighters have a very vague idea of how it went.

After beating Darchinyan, Donaire knocked out Luis Maldonado in December of 2007, but spent 11 months looking for a fight until he crushed Moruti Mthalane last November for a 20-1-0 record.

Martinez was the busier fighter last year. He fought four times, and won them all, fighting as heavy as 117 lbs, and dropping down to 112 for this one. He considers himself the underdog against Donaire.

source: philstar.com

Filipino scientist to clean up mining mess

Tuesday, April 14, 2009


A Filipino returning scientist is proposing to develop a solution to clean up areas that have been ruined by mining contamination.

Agustine Doronila, a University of Melbourne senior research fellow, said that he was willing to help establish a “phytoremediation” research group that would harness plants to recover contaminants from the ground and water, thereby restoring ecological balance in a mining area.

Doronila is now part of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik Scientist Program.

Doronila said the research, dubbed the Philippine Metalophyte Research Consortium, would be based in Ateneo De Manila University.

He said there are endemic plants in the country that could be used for phytoremediation. These include the spurge plant or Euphobiaceae (scientific name Phyllanthus balgooyi), which has been described in a study by botanist Domingo Madulid as a "hyper accumulator" or a plant that could absorb large quantities of heavy metals.

Other plants considered for phytoremediation are the Meliceae, Ochnaceae and Dichapetalaceae.

The Filipino scientist said the yield of contaminated farmlands is only about P5,500 per hectare. But farms that have undergone phytoremediation could produce P165,000 of crops per hectare.

The Philippines produces various metals, including chromite, copper, nickel and gold.

Statistics from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau show there are 24 operating medium to large scale metallic mines in the country, up from 18 in 2006.

There are also about 800 abandoned mines all over the country.

Doronila said that mining contamination could affect people's livelihood and health.



source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

New variant of Conficker worm lurks



Trend Micro has discovered a new variant of the notorious Conficker worm, a computer virus which was supposed to activate on April 1.

The latest variant, discovered on April 7, would be the fourth since it was first detected in late 2008.

TrendLabs said that the appearance of the newest variant could mean that the creators of the worm could be setting up for more serious attacks.

TrendLabs said it has discovered increasing peer-to-peer communications from various Conficker peer nodes.

The company believed the worm, also known as Downadup and Downup, is hosted in Korea.

The new variant propagates through vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows operating system called MS08-067. It secretly installs itself on a target computer and the creators can install other software into the infected computer.

Just as with computer worms, Conficker also propagates to other PCs connected to the infected computer.


source: technology.inquirer.net


Related post:

Conficker worm has been active
Free download Conficker worm/Downadup worm removal tool
New security tool for Conficker worm/DownAdUP detection


Japan deports Filipino couple leaving daughter behind



A Filipino couple were deported from Japan on Monday, leaving their 13-year-old daughter behind in an immigration row that has drawn wide public sympathy for the family.

Arlan Cruz Calderon, 36, and his wife, Sarah, 38, left Tokyo's Narita airport for the Philippines, seen off by their daughter Noriko and a crowd of reporters, said public broadcaster NHK.

The couple were forced to leave because they entered the country on false passports in the early 1990s, but they had pleaded to be allowed to stay so their Japan-born daughter could finish her schooling in the country.

The government has allowed the daughter, who speaks only Japanese, to stay on humanitarian grounds but warned the family several weeks ago it would deport all three unless the parents agreed to leave voluntarily.

"I feel sad," Noriko earlier told reporters at their home in Warabi, north of Tokyo. "I won't have delicious food made by my mother any more. I feel full of uncertainty."

Noriko will stay in Japan in the care of a relative of her father.

The case has drawn intense media coverage in Japan, and more than 20,000 people signed a petition asking the government to allow all three to stay.

The case has also attracted the attention of Amnesty International as well as the UN Human Rights Council, which has asked Japan for information about it.

But Justice Minister Eisuke Mori, in charge of immigration matters, has said the government had done its utmost to help the family.


source: ph.news.yahoo.com



3 Steps for a Healthier Hair

Monday, April 13, 2009


Here are the 3 Steps to Healthier Hair.

1. Measure your hair's health
Healthy hair is shiny, supple and silky. If none of these adjectives applies to your locks, take a strand test to identify what could be doing the damage: Pull a wet strand from your scalp and stretch it out. Hair should stretch one-fifth of its length without breaking and bounce back. If it breaks, it's lacking moisture.

If the hair keeps stretching, it's lacking protein, probably due to chemical treatments that have weakened the bonds in each strand––like color processes, straightening or perms. The right conditioning treatments can help in both cases.


2. Opt for a cut that has substance as well as style
If your hair takes more than 15 minutes to style and even then seems mis-shapen, you've got the wrong cut. Next time you go to the salon, meet with your stylist before you shampoo to talk about alternatives that will work with your natural texture.

Also: Consider a cut that flatters your face shape. A square jaw will be softened by a loose, layered cut. Bangs (swept to the side if you don't want to get regular trims) complement a longer face, and a center part balances a round face.


3. Find a hue that's you
The golden rule of low-maintenance, low-risk, great-looking color is to go one shade brighter or darker than your normal hue. Then you can keep kicking it up a notch, but you won't be in for any big surprises along the way.

Just be sure that whatever shade you choose contrasts with your skin tone. You'll look washed out and need more makeup if everything matches too well.

Finally, if your dye job goes horribly wrong, ask your colorist to fix it. Most salons will grant you a grace period of a week or two to request a free redo.

source: shine.yahoo.com

Conficker worm has been active

Saturday, April 11, 2009


Trend Micro said the purpose of the mysterious update, sent to other infected machines using peer-to-peer (P2P) file transfer software, was not immediately clear.

Ivan Macalintal, a Trend Micro advanced threats researcher, said Conficker began showing activity on Tuesday, nearly a week after the expected April 1 activation date that had computer security experts on alert around the world.

"As expected, the P2P communications of the Downad/Conficker botnet may have just been used to serve an update," Macalintal wrote in a post late Wednesday on the TrendLabs Malware blog. "The Conficker/Downad P2P communications is now running in full swing!"

Macalintal said the worm was connecting to MySpace.com, MSN.com, eBay.com, CNN.com and AOL.com to detect whether a host computer is connected to the Web.

After performing the test, it deletes any traces of itself in the infected machine, he said, adding that it is scheduled to stop running the test on May 3.

"It runs and deletes all traces, no files, no registries etc," he said.

The worm remains present on an infected machine, however, and could be activated at a later date.

Trend Micro is monitoring the worm on an infected computer as part of the Conficker Working Group of security experts.

A task force assembled by Microsoft has been working to stamp out Conficker, also referred to as DownAdUp, and the software colossus has placed a bounty of 250,000 dollars on the heads of those responsible for the threat.

The worm, a self-replicating program, takes advantage of networks or computers that haven't kept up to date with security patches for Windows.

It can infect machines from the Internet or by hiding on USB memory sticks carrying data from one computer to another.

Conficker could be triggered to steal data or turn control of infected computers over to hackers amassing "zombie" machines into "botnet" armies.

Microsoft has modified its free Malicious Software Removal Tool to detect and remove Conficker. Security firms, including Trend Micro, Symantec and F-Secure, provide Conficker removal services at their websites.

The tell-tale signs that a computer is infected includes the worm blocking efforts to connect with websites of security firms providing online tools for removing the virus.

source: ph.news.yahoo.com

Related post:
Free download Conficker worm/Downadup worm removal tool
New security tool for Conficker worm/DownAdUP detection


Two-wheeled two-seat electric motor by General Motors and Segway

Wednesday, April 8, 2009


Dubbed Puma (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), the vehicle would be powered by lithium-ion batteries and feature a wireless communications network allowing users to avoid traffic and prevent crashes, the companies said in a statement.

General Motors and scooter maker Segway announced last Tuesday they were working together to build a new two-wheeled, two-seat electric vehicle for city use.



The prototype is designed to reach speeds of up to 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour and travel up to 35 miles between recharges. But the groups did not say when the two-wheeler would hit the roads or how much it would cost.

"Imagine small, nimble electric vehicles that know where other moving objects are and avoid running into them," said GM vice president of research and development Larry Burns.

"Now, connect those vehicles in an Internet-like web and you can greatly enhance the ability of people to move through cities, find places to park and connect to their social and business networks."

Segway president and CEO Jim Norrod said the project would "demonstrate a dramatically different approach to urban mobility."

Embattled GM, which has already received 13.4 billion dollars in federal bailout funds, is under pressure from the government to develop more environmentally conscious technology less dependent on oil.

source: ph.news.yahoo.com

Dog overboard found four months later after surviving alone

Tuesday, April 7, 2009


A pet dog that fell overboard in rough seas off Australia has been reunited with its owners after surviving alone on an island for four months, reports said.


Sophie Tucker, apparently named after a late US entertainer, fell overboard as Jan Griffith and her family sailed through choppy waters off the northeast Queensland coast in November.

The dog was believed to have drowned and Griffith said the family was devastated.

But out of sight of the family, Sophie Tucker was swimming doggedly and finally made it to St Bees Island, five nautical miles away, and began the sort of life popularised by the TV reality show "Survivor."

She was returned to her family last week when Griffith contacted rangers who had captured a dog that had been living off feral goats on the largely uninhabited island, in the faint hope it might be their long-lost pet.

When the Griffiths met the rangers' boat bringing the dog to the mainland they found that it was indeed Sophie Tucker on board.

"We called the dog and she started whimpering and banging the cage and they let her out and she just about flattened us," Griffith told the national AAP news agency.

"She wriggled around like a mad thing."

Griffith said that when the dog was first spotted on the island she had been in poor condition.

"And then all of a sudden she started to look good and it was when the rangers had found baby goat carcasses so she'd started eating baby goats," she said.

Sophie Tucker, a member of the Australian cattle dog breed, had been quick to readjust to the comforts of home, complete with airconditioning, Griffiths said.

"She surprised us all. She was a house dog and look what she's done, she's swum over five nautical miles, she's managed to live off the land all on her own," Griffiths said.

"We wish she could talk, we truly do."

source: ph.news.yahoo.com

Internet during office hours increases productivity



The University of Melbourne study showed that people who use the Internet for personal reasons at work are about 9 percent more productive that those who do not.

Study author Brent Coker, from the department of management and marketing, said "workplace Internet leisure browsing," or WILB, helped to sharpened workers' concentration.

"People need to zone out for a bit to get back their concentration," Coker said on the university's website

"Short and unobtrusive breaks, such as a quick surf of the Internet, enables the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total net concentration for a days' work, and as a result, increased productivity," he said.

According to the study of 300 workers, 70 percent of people who use the Internet at work engage in WILB.

Among the most popular WILB activities are searching for information about products, reading online news sites, playing online games and watching videos on YouTube.

"Firms spend millions on software to block their employees from watching videos, using social networking sites or shopping online under the pretence that it costs millions in lost productivity," said Coker. "That's not always the case."

However, Coker said the study looked at people who browsed in moderation, or were on the Internet for less than 20 percent of their total time in the office.

"Those who behave with Internet addiction tendencies will have a lower productivity than those without," he said.

source: ph.news.yahoo.com

Senate acts to combat Internet piracy

Monday, April 6, 2009


The Senate is poised to amend the Intellectual Property Code (IPC) to combat growing Internet piracy in the country.

The committee on science and technology said over the weekend that amendments to the IPC contained in Senate Bill No. 880 would align the country’s laws with international treaties on property rights and information management.

Sen. Edgardo Angara, committee chair, said in a statement the code must be armed with more comprehensive and efficient strategies to respond to the upsurge in Internet piracy.

He noted that Internet hackers had victimized even government websites and contents.

Canadian researchers found that the computer network of the Department of Foreign Affairs was among those infiltrated by hackers allegedly based in China.

The National Computer Center (NCC) had also announced that other government websites in the Philippines were vulnerable to computer attacks because of the absence of a nationwide cybersecurity program.

“The overriding goal of this proposal is to provide an Internet environment where it is safe to distribute and license protected material. Because in an increasingly global arena, nothing less than a global effort will ensure the effective protection and development of intellectual property,” Angara said.

The bill seeks to strengthen the country’s capacity to deal with infringements of intellectual property rights on the Internet.

The country’s IPC has not kept pace with the advances, as well as threats to e-commerce, Angara said.

With the Philippines’ ratification of the Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty, and other related international agreements, there is a need for amendments to the IPC to contain the additional obligations imposed by these treaties, he said.

(The code) must also give recognition to the rights of performers, phonogram producers and broadcasters as accorded authors of artistic and literally works, by acknowledging their right to control or be compensated for the various ways by which their works are used or enjoyed by others,” he said.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Bar examination results 2008

Saturday, April 4, 2009


1,310 passed the 2008 bar examinations, given last year of September 2008.

Judy Lardizabal of San Sebastian College topped examinations with a rating of 85.70 percent.

Mylene Amerol-Macumbal, of the Mindanao State University, came second with an average score of 85.65 percent.

The number of those who passed the exams represented 20.58 percent of the 6,364 law graduates who took and finished the four-Sunday examinations in September last year, Justice Dante Tinga, who chaired the 2008 Committee on Bar Examinations, said.

For complete list of successful examinees please refer here.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Rocket fuel chemical found in baby formula




Traces of a chemical used in rocket fuel were found in samples of powdered baby formula, and could exceed what's considered a safe dose for adults if mixed with water also contaminated with the ingredient, a government study has found.

The study by scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked for the chemical, perchlorate, in different brands of powdered baby formula. It was published last month, but the Environmental Working Group issued a press release Thursday drawing attention to it.

The chemical has turned up in several cities' drinking water supplies. It can occur naturally, but most perchlorate contamination has been tied to defense and aerospace sites.

No tests have ever shown the chemical caused health problems, but scientists have said significant amounts of perchlorate can affect thyroid function. The thyroid helps set the body's metabolism. Thyroid problems can impact fetal and infant brain development.

However, the extent of the risk is hard to assess. The government requires that formula contain iodine, which counteracts perchlorate's effects. The size of the infant and how much formula they consume are other factors that can influence risk.

The study itself sheds little light on how dangerous the perchlorate in baby formula is. "This wasn't a study of health effects," said Dr. Joshua Schier, one of the authors.

The largest amounts of the chemical were in formulas derived from cow's milk, the study said.

The researchers would not disclose the brands of formula they studied. Only a few samples were studied, so it's hard to know if the perchlorate levels would be found in all containers of those brands, a CDC spokesman said.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it was considering setting new limits on the amount of perchlorate that would be acceptable in drinking water. A few states have already set their own limits.

The EPA has checked nearly 4,000 public water supplies serving 10,000 people or more. About 160 of the water systems had detectable levels of perchlorate, and 31 had levels high enough to exceed a new safety level the EPA is considering.

source: health.yahoo.com

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Starring Robots



Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Starring Robots.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Starring Robots
List of robots in the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

AUTOBOTS
OPTIMUS PRIME: The Autobots' leader - alternate form: Peterbilt truck (see photo).
IRONHIDE: Weapons specialist - GMC Topkick.
RATCHET: Medic - Hummer H2.
BUMBLEBEE: Friend and mode of transportation for Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) - 2010 Chevorlet Camaro.
ARCEE: A female Autobot - motorcycle.
SIDESWIPE: A Lamborghini in the toy line, here he transforms into a silver Corvette Stingray concept car.
JETFIRE: An older Decepticon who switches sides - SR71 Blackbird jet.
JOLT: The original toy was a Decepticon, but in the movie he's a good guy - Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.
SKID & MUDFLAP: a.k.a. "The Twins" - Chevrolet Beat and Trax concept cars.

DECEPTICONS
STARSCREAM: Formerly Megatron's second in command, he escaped at the end of the first movie F-22 Raptor jet.
SCORPONOK: The mechanical scorpion that attacked the American troops in the desert.
THE FALLEN: One of the original Transformers, he's called "the most elemental bad guy" by the screenwriters.
SIDEWAYS: The Audi R8 seen crashing through a building in the trailer.
SOUNDWAVE: A cassette player in the original toys; his alternate mode will be a communications satellite.
RAVAGE: A four-legged, cat-like robot .
THE DOCTOR: A spider-like crawling robot.
WHEELIE: A small, radio-controlled truck.
DEMOLISHER: One of the Constructicons that transform into construction vehicles.
DEVASTATOR: A giant robot formed by the Constructicons joining together; individually, they are: Scavenger, Scrapper, Hightower, Longhaul, Rampage, Overload and Mixmaster.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Noticeably absent from the list is the Decepticon leader, Megatron, who was killed at the end of the previous movie and last seen being dumped in the ocean. Michael Bay denied that Megatron is in the movie, but actor Hugo Weaving said in an interview that he had recorded dialogue for the part. We'll see if and how he returns when "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" opens on June 24th.

Watch Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen Official Movie Trailer here.

Unfinished 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' movie leaks online

Friday, April 3, 2009


Coinciding with the April Fool's Day, reports came out that a workprint version of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" has been leaked and available for download on several bittorrent sites since Tuesday, March 31. Apparently, the story is true since the 20th Century Fox are quick to issue a statement on the matter.

Unfinished 'X-Men: Wolverine' movie leaks online
"Last night, a stolen, incomplete and early version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine was posted illegally on websites," so the studio begin their statement. "It was without many effects and had missing scenes and temporary sound and music. We immediately contacted the appropriate legal authorities and had it removed. We forensically mark our content so we can identify sources that make it available or download it."

"The source of the initial leak and any subsequent postings will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law - the courts have handed down significant criminal sentences for such acts," Fox further promise not to take this issue lightly. "The FBI and MPAA are also actively investigating the crime. We are encouraged by the support of fansites condemning piracy and this illegal posting and pointing out that such theft undermines the enormous efforts of the filmmakers and actors and, above all, hurts fans of the film."

On Wednesday, April 1, BBC News reported that a month before "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" hits theaters, an almost finished copy of the action fantasy film has been leaked out. The bootleg copy, which was claimed to be a DVD-quality version of the film, has been downloaded more than 75,000 times ever since. Though it is a high quality copy, it is described to be incomplete as some special effects shots are unfinished, and green screens and wires attached to actors are still visible.

Chronicling the events leading to "X-Men", "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" follows the story of Wolverine which centers on his epically violent and romantic past, his complex relationship with Victor Creed, and the ominous Weapon X program. Starring Hugh Jackman as the titular character, the film also features Liev Schreiber, Taylor Kitsch and Ryan Reynolds among others. The 20th Century Fox action fantasy film will open in U.S. theaters on May 1.

source: aceshowbiz.com

Watch X-Men Origins: Wolverine teaser/trailer movie preview

Intel unveils new server chips Quad-Core Xeon 5500 Processor

Wednesday, April 1, 2009


Intel has taken the wraps off a new quad-core Xeon 5500 processor that the chipmaker is calling its most important server product launch since the Pentium Pro came to market in 1995.

"Simply put, the Xeon 5500 is a technological marvel -- the most spectacular processor that Intel has ever produced and that the industry has ever seen," said Intel Senior Vice President Pat Gelsinger.

More than 100 applications were released Monday that have been optimized for the new Xeon chip, which is based on Intel's Nehalem microarchitecture. "This is the most that Intel has ever had for a server launch," Gelsinger said.

Here's another video clip from inquirer.net.




Intel showcases the latest Xeon 5500 processor series based on the Nehalem microarchitecture, the same one built on the Core i7 desktop processor. Despite having four separate cores, Intel says the Xeon 5500 is the most efficient among the Xeon line.


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