Sunday, September 30, 2012

JC Flowers Pumps $105 Million Into New UK Mortgage Firm

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. private equity firm JC Flowers is investing 65 million pounds to help establish a new British mortgage provider and investment company called Castle Trust.


Castle Trust said on Sunday that it will provide UK home-buyers with an extra source of funding in addition to bank lending, as well as offering people the chance to invest in the housing market through saving products linked to house prices. 

Castle Trust will be chaired by Callum McCarthy, the former chairman of the Financial Services Authority who is chairman of JC Flower's European arm. 

Under the company's lending scheme, home-buyers will take out a regular mortgage but can also borrow 20 percent of the cost of the house from Castle Trust. When they come to sell the house or reach the end of their mortgage term, they will owe Castle Trust 40 percent of any profit made on the sale. 

Home ownership is popular in Britain but the cost of buying a property has risen beyond the reach of some people after lenders tightened borrowing terms following the financial crisis. 

"Castle Trust aims to bring solutions to problems which have too long affected the UK housing market," McCarthy said in a statement. 

source: nytimes.com

Inside Tom Cruise's Solo Life in London


With his latest home base an apartment in a luxury hotel just outside London, Tom Cruise is a single man again.

As PEOPLE reports in its new cover story, Cruise has been making several calls a day to his daughter Suri, 6, who lives in New York City with mom Katie Holmes, while he's been working long hours on his sci-fi thriller All You Need Is Kill since August.

"He misses his little girl," says his friend, screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie.

Meanwhile, often late at night once film work has wrapped, Cruise has relaxed over spirited dinners and occasional club nights with old and newer friends.

On Sept. 20, Cruise caught a late night dinner with actress Roma Downey and her husband Mark Burnett, who produced the MTV Movie Awards the year Cruise appeared as his Tropic Thunder alter ego Les Grossman.

The night before, he stayed out until 3 a.m. at the nightclub Annabel's, where Cruise hung out with friends including McQuarrie and his wife.

At Annabel's, a laid-back Cruise chatted up several fellow club-goers. "Tom loves the people here [in England]," says a source. "They're friendly."

Earlier in the month, Cruise caught his friend Mark Rylance in Shakespeare's Richard III at the Globe Theatre, and at the end of August he caught up with former girlfriend Penélope Cruz, husband Javier Bardem and his Knight and Day costar Cameron Diaz at a dinner in Coworth Park.

In between, there was a quick vacation to Hvar, Croatia, where he hung with Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, a past investor in Cruise's production company, and his wife Tanya.

But there's no new romance in his life yet: Three months after Holmes filed for divorce, Cruise isn't ready to date again, sources say.

"When he's in London he's going to be seeing his friends," says a source. "[But] there is no mystery woman."

source: people.com

Zac Efron charms full house crowd in fan conference


Cameras were not allowed at Zac Efron’s “Penshoppe Fan Conference 2012” Saturday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Nyakk bawal ang kahit ano camera sa zac efron fan con ng penshoppe,” posted veteran blogger Azrael Coladilla in his Facebook account. “Sm arena policy eh…kaya boom!,” he added in response to his friends’ comments.

It didn’t seem to matter who came up with the idea of banning cameras for this event, though. That certainly did not stop several fans, including celebrities like Anne Curtis, Isabel Oli, Mikael Daez, Andi Manzano and Kiray Celis, from taking snapshots of the full house event and posting them right away on Twitter via Instagram.

“God is good! Thank you to the MOA Arena Family for the last minute VIP tickets!!!! Waaaah!,” tweeted FAMAS Best Actress awardee Anne Curtis before later adding, “I feel like I’m 17 again waiting for @ZacEfron” and “Zac I love you!!!!”

“Just got home from ZAC EFRON’s fancon! Gwapo mo, baby! Yaaay!,” Kiray added in her own tweet past midnight Sunday.

Judging from the trending topics, Zac Efron and #PENSHOPPEFanCon2012, fans were very pleased with what they witnessed and were more than happy to share their elation on Twitter.

Why shouldn’t they? The newest international endorser of the popular fashion retail brand is hands down the most popular member of the Penshoppe All Stars, which also include previous Manila visitors Ed Westwick, Ian Somerhalder, Leighton Meester and Mario Maurer.



Best known for his breakout role as Troy Bolton in Disney’s “High School Musical” TV movie and its two equally successful sequels, Zac is a Hollywood A-lister who has already starred in three movies this year, namely “The Lucky One,” the film adaptation of the bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks, the ensemble drama “The Paperboy”, which competed for the Palme D’Or in the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, and “At Any Price,” another drama that competed at the 69th Venice International Film Festival.

And as fans found out at his FanCon, Zac is also the ultimate crowd pleaser. After walking the runway, a visibly overwhelmed Zac exclaimed, “It’s hot in here!” and immediately drew screams as he promptly threw his leather jacket into the crowd’s waiting arms.

The pandering did not stop there as Zac referred to “High School Musical” co-star and ex-squeeze Vanessa Hudgens as his “first Filipino girlfriend” during his onstage interview with Boy Abunda.

When Abunda asked, “Are you thinking about getting married?,” more deafening shrieks followed when Zac replied, “I think my wife is already out here!”

As the conversation turned to some of his recent movie roles, the 24-year old actor turned out to be quite the conversationalist and sounded like someone who is genuinely sincere and truly devoted to his craft.

On how he got his role in “High School Musical,” Zac said he auditioned for the part in the theater and met Vanessa right then and there.

“We clicked instantly and we started going through the audition together. We were a group of 40 boys and girls and we had to sing on the piano. They were tapping people and we didn’t know what that meant until they said, those who got tapped may now leave. We were asked to sing, dance and play basketball. At the end, it was just me and Vanessa who were left,” he revealed.

His role as Link Larkin in the film, “Hairspray” required him to do a little more research on the ’60s as he wasn’t born in that era. “I watched a lot of the Broadway show as well as a lot of Elvis over and over. It was really fun,” he admitted.

On dancing with Michelle Pfeiffer in “New Year’s Eve,” Zac said practicing their steps were not necessary. “We just had to do a lot of dancing. I had to shake up Michelle (Pfeiffer)’s character. She turned out to be more lovely.”

And that intimate scene with Taylor Schilling in “The Lucky One”? “The sex scene wasn’t difficult. We wanted to make it as real. It’s awkward talking about this,” he said laughing.

Of course, Zac once again found a way to flirt with the crowd and get them going anew by re-delivering the film’s famous line: “You should be kissed every day, every hour, every minute.”

For his latest film, “The Paperboy,” he only has good things to say about co-star Nicole Kidman. “Nicole is amazing. I’d tell her to come down here and see you guys, too,” he noted.



“I love the Philippines!” he once again declared to another round of screams. Zac’s Penshoppe Fan Con is the culmination of an almost week-long stay in the country that saw him fall in love with our very own Mayon Volcano in Legaspi City in Albay, Bicol.

“Hey everyone, thank you so much for an amazing night! Love you guys. Want to apologize to the fans I promised to meet after the show! Security rushed me out quickly, and I’m deeply sorry. – Z,” he later tweeted.

source: interaksyon.com

Ryder Cup 2012: Europe keep in touch with United States


The United States took five of the eight points on offer on Saturday to go into the final day's play of the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah with a 10-6 lead.

Inspired once again by the all-conquering pairing of Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III's team won three of the four morning foursomes and looked like repeating the trick in the afternoon's fourballs.

But dramatic late points from Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy and the brilliant Ian Poulter - his third of the competition - gave Europe late hope of an unlikely comeback.

"That was unbelievable," said Poulter, who notched up his 11th victory in 14 matches, despite being two down with six holes to play.

"We had to get something going. From then on my putter warmed up nicely, having been pretty cold for the first 13 holes.

"Then it just went crazy. It was tough out there. We're in Chicago, they've had a few drinks today and they weren't making it easy for us. I will be honest, it was brutal."



The hosts were consistently superior on the slippery, sloping Medinah greens, nailing clutch putts as Europe's players struggled to read the fast lines.

Since the competition expanded to include mainland Europe in 1979, the biggest comeback on the final day of singles came at Brookline in 1999, when the US overhauled a 10-6 deficit on the Sunday to win by a single point.

If that is a chastening statistic for the visitors' captain Jose Maria Olazabal, he knows his side will have no chance at all unless there is a dramatic reversal of form from the first two days.

The gap between the two sides has at times been immense, not only on the overall scoreboard but in too many individual matches.

In a horribly one-sided morning session, Mickelson and Bradley had equalled the biggest foursomes win in Ryder Cup history as the US roared out to an 8-4 lead.

The American pairing had won both their foursomes and fourballs matches on Friday and were even more dominant in a crushing 7&6 win over Luke Donald and Lee Westwood.

Their margin was almost matched in the afternoon by Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson's 5&4 butchering of Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari.

Watson has been one of the darlings of the pumped-up Medinah crowd, and his huge driving on a course with almost no rough, allied to Simpson's vastly improved putting, was a matchless combination.

Dustin Johnson drained a 30-footer on the 17th green to establish a late winning lead for his pairing with Matt Kuchar over Paul Lawrie and Nicolas Colsaerts as Europe came close to capitulation.

In a see-saw match, the Belgian rookie Colsaerts almost holed his approach to rescue a half on the 18th.

But as so often on a frustrating afternoon the European ball flirted with the hole yet refused to drop, and when Colsaerts could only run the resulting 15-foot putt past the right edge, the American pair had the point.

Garcia and Donald had been four-up on Woods and Stricker at the turn, only for a previously out-of-touch Woods to find his touch on the back nine and embark on a birdie blitz.

A nerveless eight-foot putt from Donald on the 15th restored a two-hole advantage with three to play before Woods conjured up yet another birdie on 16 to leave Europe just one up.


 After brilliant tee-shots from both Woods and Donald on the 17th the match came down to a Stricker putt on the 18th, and he could only lip out from eight feet to send his pairing to their third defeat in three.

But it was the miraculous late charge of Poulter that kept alive European hopes, five birdies on the bounce clawing back a two-hole deficit on Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson before nerveless putting on the 17th and 18th secured the precious point.

Earlier in the day, Dufner and Johnson had beaten Garcia and Colsaerts 2&1 while Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker saw off Graeme McDowell and McIlroy.

Europe's solitary point of the morning was won by the fired-up Poulter and Rose, who survived a seven-foot Simpson birdie attempt on the 18th to hang on one up.

The Englishmen won three holes out of four from the ninth to go two up after 12, an advantage they maintained until the 16th when Rose missed a five-foot putt to allow the Americans to win with a bogey.

Rose atoned for that miss with a terrific 40-foot putt on the last, which was conceded, but Simpson still had a 10-foot putt to win the hole and halve the match only to slide it by.

McIlroy and McDowell's match was a repeat of Friday morning's foursomes, and as then it went down to the last hole.

The Northern Irish duo failed to sink a single birdie putt until McIlroy's effort on the 16th - their four on the par-five 14th had been conceded - reduced their deficit to one down.

However, the world number one missed a 10-foot putt to win the 17th and level the match.

On the par-four 18th, Furyk kept his nerve to find the green with his second shot while McDowell's approach landed in the greenside rough. McIlroy's chip drifted past the hole and when Snedeker rolled his putt to within a foot, Europe conceded to lose the match by one hole.

In the other match, Colsaerts struggled to find the form he showed on Friday afternoon when he rolled in eight birdies and an eagle.

The Belgian did sink a birdie putt from 12 feet on the 11th to level his and Garcia's match but he then missed from two feet on the 13th as they fell two holes down.

Overnight, Olazabal had delivered a stinging pep-talk to his team. But once again it was the home side who snatched the early initiative and an advantage that should prove decisive.

Europe's golfers must produce a historic turnaround in Sunday's singles if they are to retain the Ryder Cup after another day of American domination.

USA 10-6 Europe

Morning foursomes:

Watson/Simpson lost to Rose/Poulter 1 up

Bradley/Mickelson beat Donald/Westwood 7&6

Dufner/Johnson beat Colsaerts/Garcia 2&1

Furyk/Snedeker beat McIlroy/McDowell 1 up

Afternoon fourballs:

Watson/Simpson beat Rose/Molinari 5&4

Johnson/Kuchar beat Colsaerts/Lawrie 1 up

Woods/Stricker lost to Garcia/Donald 1 up

Dufner/Johnson lost to McIlroy/Poulter 1 up

source: bbc.co.uk



Ritz Azul stars opposite her dream leading man Derek Ramsay in ‘Kidlat’


All Ritz Azul knew last Monday was that she was going to a story conference. When she later found out that she was going to star in “Kidlat,” TV5’s new superhero fantaserye as one of two love interests of Derek Ramsey, she almost broke into tears.

“Dito ko lang talaga naman kung ano ang gagawin ko,” the elated TV5 Princess told Interaksyon after the story conference. “Pagkarinig ko ng story kay Direk Mike Tuviera, halos mangiyak-ngiyak ako sa tuwa.”

Ritz has plenty of reasons to be happy with her new project. Although the 18-year-old “Star Factor” alumna from Pampanga remains visible a presence on the Kapatid network as she is also a mainstay of the weekly sitcom “Kapitan Awesome” and the Sunday noontime game show “Game N’ Go” as part of the new Game N’ Go Gang, she’s been hoping to get a new teleserye after last year’s “Glamorosa.”

“Tama ‘yung paniniwala ko na naghihintay lang ang TV5 ng right time para bigyan ako ng bagong teleserye, and I’m glad it’s ‘Kidlat’ kasi even before ‘Glamorosa’ pa, madalas akong tanungin kung sino ang gusto kong maging leading man. Ang lagi kong sagot, Derek Ramsay. So this is a dream come true na rin for me kasi parang may nakarinig nung dasal ko,” she exclaimed.

In “Kidlat,” Ritz is also looking forward to working with director Mike Tuviera, a veteran fantasy director who puts a premium on the performances of his actors.

“I’m all about performance and I will only allow the best version of yourselves to be used on TV,” Direk Mike told his cast. Come on time, come prepared, know your lines, treat this seriously, and I promise you, you will all look good here.”

“Bigla akong na-pressure sa mga requirements ni Direk Mike,” Ritz admitted. “Pero tama naman sya, kailangan naman lahat namin yun, especially the discipline. I’m excited to meet all the challenges of this project.”

Ritz is not sure if she’ll be doing action scenes in the series since her character is a mortal with no superpowers but added that she’s prepared to do such scenes if her role calls for them.

“I’ve tried drama and I’ve also done comedy so okay din naman kung may konting action. Pero based on the story conference, mukhang it’s more drama ulit for me here,” she added.





Since becoming one of TV5’s primetime princesses along with Alex Gonzaga, Danita Paner, Eula Caballero, Arci Muñoz and Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Ritz’s efforts at working on her craft has not gone unnoticed.

Her unforgettable turn as Daisy Flores in last year’s “Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak” won for her two awards, Outstanding Breakthrough Performance by an Actress from the Golden Screen TV Awards and the Amazing Female Newcomer from Yahoo! Philippines OMG Awards.

When asked if there is such a thing as “sibling rivalry” between her and her fellow Kapatid stars, Ritz laughed and quickly retorted.

“Ah, wala, kaya nga sa TV5, mga Kapatid kami kasi para talaga kaming magkakapatid,” she shot back.

On being a part of the recentt “Dolphy Alay Tawa” concert scheduled to air on the three major networks this Sunday, Ritz said she feels so blessed to be given a chance to be a part of such a momentous moment.

“I also got the chance to interact with the other networks talents like Enzo Pineda, Wynwyn Marquez, Aljur Abrenica, Rocco Nacino and Miss Pauleen Luna. Mababait naman silang lahat and very supportive,” she revealed.

With the way her career is going, Ritz said she could not ask for anything more right now. As for the prospects of having a love team, she leaves it up to TV5 to decide on what’s best for her career.

When told that her dream leading man, Derek Ramsay, is currently single, Ritz just smiled and said, “Oo nga, balita ko din, single nga siya.”

source: interaksyon.com


Saturday, September 29, 2012

Mark, Shaira grab last 2 slots in ‘Artista Academy’ Final Six


Mark Neumann and Shaira Mae won the last two slots in the Final Six after quite possibly the most explosive and competitive Live Exams on “Artista Academy” on Saturday as the grand finals of TV5′s reality talent search draws near.

Mark and Shaira joined the four top scholars who had earned their slots in the honors list last weekend – Akihiro Blanco, Vin Abrenica, Chanel Morales and Sophie Albert – after a night of competition where every member of the Danger Four and the Tropang Kick-Out stepped up their game to the delight of the critics composed of “AA” Principal Wilma Galvante, director Mac Alejandro, Lorna Tolentino, and Gelli de Belen.

The TV5 studio at Broadway Centrum roared like thunder when fans of the students shared in the merriment as they cheered their idols till the announcement of the night’s two winners in the end.

The live exam started with a dance number prepared by Mark, Shaira Mae, Nicole Estrada, Chris Leonardo, and Malak SSo Shidfat. All five impressed the critics’ panel but Mark and Shaira Mae were pronounced as the standouts.

Next came the singing showcase featuring Brent Mazano, Marvelous Alejo, Benjo Leoncio, Stephanie Rowe and Jon Orlando as they took turns performing songs by Martin Nievera, Sharon Cuneta, Ogie Alcasid, Zia Quizon and Ric Segreto, respectively.

Direk Mac Alejandre was very proud of the improvements he witnessed with each one’s performance.

“You were able to put the discipline you learned into practice. Brent gave such control and was so in full control of the song. Benjo gave a fantastic performance,” he said.

Pleasantly surprised too were Gelli and Ms. LT.

“Kasi,” Gelli elucidated, “this is not always about trying your best. Kaya gulat ako sa limang ito. This time, alam na nila kung kelan nila ibibigay ang dapat at kung ano ang kailangan. Sakto lang. Brent showed that.”

Added Ms. LT, “Ramdam ko ‘yung galing na nagmumula sa kalooban. Paborito ko ‘yung song na ‘Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang’. Nawala na ‘yung punto (accent) at may kambyo na ang kanta ni Benjo.”

Ma’am Wilma mock-complained, “Nahihirapan na ako! Pero nakakatuwa. Ina-apply ninyo ang itinuturo sa inyo. Ginagamit niyo. And for this exam, congratulations to Jon and Marvelous.”

The final test was the acting challenge where all 10 remaining contenders took part under the tutelage of PETA acting coach Upeng Fernandez. Here, they were divided into three groups with each group tasked to convey a specific emotion.

Nicole, Jon and Mark took turns interpreting sadness; Shaira, Marvelous and Chris, fear; and Malak, Stephanie, Brent and Benjo, anger. Once again, the critics were pleased with all the performances.

Direk Mac extolled Brent and Nicole for their portrayals: ”Very mature, very deep, very intelligently acted.” Gelli praised everyone for knowing to calibrate their emotions and exhibiting a sense of timing. Both she and LT declined to identify who they thought were the best performers.

Principal Wilma said she bought into Nicole’s sadness, Chris’ fear, and Malak’s anger.

The total scores were tallied from the scholars’ performances in the Live Exams as well as their grades in their ongoing workshops at the Asia Academy of Television Arts, and their fans’ text votes throughout the past week.

“Artista Academy” airs weeknights at 9PM and on Saturdays at 9:30PM on TV5.

source: interaksyon.com

Chef Tim Love's Elk Sliders Put a Gourmet Twist on Tailgating


Are you ready for some football?!

With pigskin season well underway, chips and dip get old fast. For a gourmet play on a tailgate favorite, serve up these elk sliders during the big game.

They'll also be satisfying some hungry foodies this weekend at the Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar in New York City.

"This isn't your usual slider and the fact that I can offer something like elk sausage to guests is one of the things I love about an event like the Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar. Cooking with some of the best chefs in the world, guys like Jose Andres, Johnny Iuzzini and Scott Conant, it's something special," says chef Tim Love.


Here's how to try his special dish at home:



Elk Sliders with Foie Gras and Blueberry Jam

Serves 24
½ bulb fennel (chopped)
½ red onion (chopped)
1 poblano (chopped)
½ cup bacon lardoon (cooked) 2 tablespoons chipotle puree
2 tablespoons roasted garlic
½ tablespoons dried thyme
½ tablespoons dried oregano
½ tablespoons salt
½ tablespoon ground black pepper
5 pounds ground elk
2 cups Chef Tim Love Gamerub
1 pounds frozen blueberries
2 sheets of gelatin
½ cup sugar
6 oz. foie gras (cut into ¼ oz. pieces)
24 Hawaiian Sweet Rolls


Sliders
1. Saute fennel and red onion in pan until translucent, allow to cool down.
2. Combine the bacon, chipotle, roasted garlic, thyme, oregano, fennel, red onion, salt, pepper into a food processor and mix until well combined.
3. Add the ground elk to the mixture and combine with your hands until well mixed. Portion into 1.5 ounce balls and form into patties.

Jam
1. Put blueberries into a small sauce pan and allow to warm up on low heat.
2. Meanwhile take the gelatin sheets and bloom in room temperature water until softened.
3. Take the gelatin out of the water.
4. Add the sugar and gelatin to the warm blueberries and blend with a stick blender.
5. Return the mixture to heat and let simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Allow to cool before serving.

Putting it All Together
Sprinkle Chef Tim Love Gamerub onto the slider patties and foie gras. Cook sliders on high heat for 1 minute each side. Cook foie gras on one side until golden brown. Place foie gras on top of slider and serve on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls with the blueberry jam. Enjoy!

source: people.com

Rhian Addresses Issue Involving Geneva


MANILA, Philippines – Rhian Ramos has dismissed allegations that ardent admirer KC Montero’s ex-wife Geneva Cruz does not seem too happy about answering questions pertaining to the TV host-DJ’s current love life.

“I doubt it. Because she’s not that kind of person,” Rhian told PEP in an interview posted on Sept. 29.

The rumor appears to be in contrast to previous reports where Geneva has expressed happiness for Rhian and KC, even telling the young actress through a message she texted to Yahoo! OMG Philippines a little over three months ago —which they, in turn, quoted in an article—to love and care for her former flame.

KC and Geneva parted ways in 2010, while Rhian admitted to “exclusively dating” the former VJ just this June.

Meantime, Rhian hopes to get the approval of KC’s US-based mom, with whom she was able to spend time during the latter’s recent visit to the Philippines.

“Actually, hindi ko naman talaga alam kung boto ba siya o hindi. Pero ano…sana naman! And I would be very thankful naman kung… hopefully naman ay gusto rin niya ako,” she was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Rhian said that her mother has nothing against KC although both of them are proceeding with caution regarding her current relationship.

“Maiintindihan mo naman ‘yung mom ko, she’s just trying to be careful, especially, with me.  Pareho lang naman kami. We’re trying our best to be very careful na. At the same time, ayaw din naman namin na sa sobrang careful namin, maging sobrang unfair na kami sa tao. So we’re just trying to be fair.

“Pero ano… wala naman kaming nakikitang masama, e.  Lalo na ako, wala akong nakikitang masama,” said she.

In any case Rhian seems content with the way things are, and that she’s “super!” happy with her special relationship with KC.

source: mb.com.ph

Regine Reveals Ogie And Michelle Still 'Sweet' Towards Each Other


MANILA, Philippines - Regine Velasquez is among those fascinated with husband Ogie Alcasid's continued show of affection towards ex-wife Michelle Van Eimeren and vice versa.

“Sweet pa rin sila. Malambing sila sa isa’t isa and I know they love each other," said she to PEP.

But the singer-actress says she is far from being jealous as she deemed the attachment far from being romantic. "Para silang magkapatid," she had said.

She revealed that it is the exact same thing that Van Eimeren told her.

“Sabi niya, ‘I think Ogie and I used to be brother and sister before.’ Kasi that’s how they treat each other now—ang ganda ng relationship nila,” she disclosed.

The 42-year old admits she is quite proud of the ex-couple.

“Ang galing nilang dalawa kasi ‘yung transition, nagawa nila. Kasi ako, 'yung totoo, I have to deal with—sa sarili ko—kung saan ko ilalagay yung sarili ko sa pamilya na ‘yun, e," she said.

“Pamilya na 'yun before, tapos nawala, tapos biglang nandito na ako. So I have to deal with that. Pero si Ogie at si Michelle, ang galing. Naayos nila na nag-transition 'yung mga bata, na nag-asawa si Michelle, nag-transition na nandiyan na si Mark, pero tatay pa rin nila si Ogie. Ewan ko kung paano nila ginawa 'yun, pero ang galling nila," she added.

More than anything, Velasquez believes that both achieved such blissful rapport because, "they’re good parents."

“I think mas importante sa kanila ‘yung welfare ng mga anak nila," she said.

Not that the whole thing simply bloomed without effort.

 “It took a while before it became like that. Pero lagi ngang sinasabi ng asawa ko na, ‘Talagang ginawa ni God na maging okay kami.’ Kasi 'yun ‘yung kailangan naming gawin," Velasquez related.

Velasquez and Alcasid, together with baby Nate, recently met up with Van Eimeren and Alcasid's two children with the former beauty queen, Leila and Sarah, in Singapore.

Van Eimeren's current husband, businessman Mark Murrow wasn't able to make it due to a previous commitment.

According to Velasquez, everyone had a grand time together especially as Nate proved quite an entertainer.

“They were so crazy about him,” Velasquez said.

“Tapos 'yung baby, pakitang-gilas naman sa dalawang ate niya. Sobrang bibo, talon nang talon, tuma-tumbling! Naloloka ako, sabi ko, ‘Anong nangyayari, bakit tuma-tumbling ‘yung anak ko?’ Ganun. Tapos salita nang salita… ganun nang ganun, nakakatuwa. Tawa nang tawa.”

According to Velasquez, Van Eimeren immediately took to Nate as well.

“Tuwang-tuwang-tuwang-tuwa si Michelle, tuwang-tuwa siya. Tapos nagpa-picture pa, ‘I need to have a picture with him—just me and him,’” she said.

Parting was not easy for all, Velaquez said.

“You know, every time we see each other, sila Michelle and of course 'yung girls ni Ogie, it’s always very hard to leave. Pati ako, it’s very hard for me. Kasi siyempre, we don’t really get to see much of each other. So, ‘pag nagkikita, kailangan maghiwalay, it’s always emotional.”

Yet Velasquez divulged that they already plan to see each other again this December.

“Kasi last Christmas, hindi ako nakapunta kasi nanganak ako. Si Ogie lang nagpunta nun. Actually, pinaplano namin ni Michelle—at saka kaming dalawa talaga ‘yung nagpaplano."

source: mb.com.ph

Silicon Valley Achievers At Forum

Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev) announced its 2012 PhilDev Economic Forum with the theme “Harnessing Filipino Innovation and Entrepreneurship” will be held on October 8, 2012, in Makati City.

 PhilDev’s US-based Filipino Board of Directors who are established entrepreneurs and change-makers will come home to host the event, merging local technopreneurs with investors and game-changers from Silicon Valley.

“Based on the experience we gathered from the Entrepreneurship Camp we held in Cebu last May, the time has come for all to discover, highlight and harness the talent of the Filipino,” said PhilDev Chairman of the Board and Tallwood Managing Partner, Dado Banatao.

Aside from Banatao, PhilDev Trustees and Event Chairs, Winston Damarillo, Chairman and co-Founder of Exist Global Inc., and Sheila Lirio Marcelo, Founder and CEO of Care.com will also be advising entrepreneurs at the forums and will help showcase the Philippines’ software industry as a burgeoning leader in the ASEAN and global markets.

Other speakers will include Toby Stuart, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Haas School of Business in Berkeley, CA, and former Harvard School of Business faculty, Loida Nicolas Lewis, Chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice, Arthur Tan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Integrated Microelectronics, Inc., a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation, Eric Manlunas, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Siemer Ventures, and Secretary Greg Domingo of the Department of Trade and Industry. Executives from Facebook, Google, Oracle and Dell and have also been invited to become speakers and mentors.

This year’s Forum will be preceded by a three-day mentoring session on October 5 to 7 at the Radisson Blu in Cebu City. “Hack2Hatch: From Hacker to Founder” is a weekend entrepreneurship camp and guided pitching session and one-on-one mentorship where local start-up founders can harness their business and technical skills and pitch to actual investors and venture capitalists who have had success in Silicon Valley. This special 4-day mentorship and speaker series aims to take the Filipinos’ innovation and entrepreneurship towards collective empowerment and economic development.

source: mb.com.ph

Derek Ramsay Finds A New Girl?


MANILA, Philippines – Several months after his split with Angelica Panganiban, Derek Ramsay has purportedly found a new love in a non-showbiz girl.

The Fil-British actor-host has even supposedly introduced his new squeeze to his parents, reported “Ang Latest” on Sept. 29.

However, Derek begged off on making any comments regarding the rumors in a recent interview. PEP nevertheless quoted him to have said, “I am happy.”

The TV5 talent expressed his wish for his next relationship to be with a non-showbiz girl, as well as for such private matters to be kept away from the spotlight. He has apparently learned from his high profile relationship with Angelica, in which they had to endure a string of controversies in the six years they were together.

Meanwhile, Derek has also happily related with PEP that he has resumed communication with the comedienne-actress “through email.”

He adds, “We communicate, but we’re both busy with our schedules.  Tapos na ito, seven months na ito. We’re both happy, she’s happy,” said he.

Angelica is rumored to be in a relationship with John Lloyd Cruz.

Although they now lead separate lives, Derek assured in his interview with “Ang Latest” that, “Ang friendship namin ni Angel started six years ago, and until now magkaibigan kami.”

Their recent brief Twitter correspondence after Angelica has won Best Supporting Actress at the 60th FAMAS Awards also seems to be another proof that they are on better terms now.

“When I found out the news, first thing I did was… tweet her. Like I said, we don’t hold anything against each other. So I congratulated her and she said thank you,” Derek recalled.

Derek is busy these days with his projects with TV5, namely the series “Kidlat” and the reality show, “The Amazing Race Philippines.”

source: mb.com.ph

Insurance service guarantees ticket refunds for shows missed due to emergency


“The Phantom of the Opera” is a once in a lifetime musical that you just have to see at the CCP. David Benoit is one of the top jazz pianists in the world who will perform at the Resort’s World Manila on October 3.

Suppose you bought yourself a pair of pricey tickets to either of these shows and were unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances like bad weather, floods, or personal emergencies such as sickness or injury. Money down the drain, right?

Not anymore. You could miss that show you due to an emergency and still get your money back through a new insurance service for concert and show tickets.

Chartis Philippines Insurance Inc. and TicketWorld have introduced Ticket Protect – the new insurance solution that would grant the ticket holder 100 percent reimbursement for the unused ticket.

With Ticket Protect, an additional minimal cost assures the ticket holder a money-back guarantee in case of sickness, injury, a family member’s death, natural catastrophe, automobile breakdown or even a sudden or unexpected business trip.

Ticket Protect covers all tickets bought either online or over the counter at accredited TicketWorld outlets regardless of the price.

“Chartis has been a leader in insurance service innovations, serving more than 70 million customers around the globe. Ticket Protect is our newest insurance solution in response to our customer’s ever changing needs,” said Anton Du Plessis, president of Chartis Philippines.

“For just a fraction of the ticket cost, the holder is assured that he/she just missed the performance, not the money spent.”

The Philippines is the second country in the Asia-Pacific region to use Ticket Protect after the service’s favorable outcome in Thailand.

The Chartis-TicketWorld collaboration is brokered by Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) Insurance Brokers, Inc. Ticket Protect is “ideal for highly priced tickets,” JLT Insurance president Graham Edwards noted.

The Philippines has been a mecca for big names in the international entertainment industry ranging from concerts, shows, plays and big-ticket sports events.

TicketWorld president Bob Sewell said that more international performers are coming to the country.

Ticket Protect may be availed in these current and upcoming theater productions: “The King and I” at Resorts World Manila, “Walang Kukurap” at the CCP, “Bona” starring Eugene Domingo at PETA Center, Disney’s “Camp Rock” at On Stage Greenbelt, “Peter Pan”, “Hansel and Gretel” and “Romeo and Juliet” all at Star Theater and “San Pedro Calungsod The Musical” at PETA Center.

Concerts for October covered by the service are: Jim Paredes at Resort’s World Manila, Christian Bautista’s “XClass” at the Meralco Theater, “Rock Legends: Bobby Kimball and Kenny Cetera” at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, and David Benoit at Resort’s World Manila.

To know more about Ticket Protect, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph or call the Chartis Customer Hotline at 8135000 for claims inquiries.

source: interaksyon.com

Nokia cuts smartphone prices before new models arrive


HELSINKI — Struggling phone maker Nokia has knocked 10-15 percent off the prices of two of its top of the range smartphones, hoping to boost sales before newer models arrive in markets in November.

Nokia has cut the price of the Lumia 800 by around 15 percent and the Lumia 900 by 10 percent in Europe, according to device pricing data compiled by British research firm CCS Insight. Nokia declined to comment.




Earlier this month, Nokia launched Lumia 820 and 920, which many see as crucial for the Finnish company’s survival. But the newest models will only go on sale in November, leaving the company’s sales team struggling with older smartphone models for over a month.

Nokia had already slashed the price of the Lumia 800 by around 15 percent earlier this month and made smaller cuts for its other Lumia models.

Once the world’s biggest mobile phone maker, Nokia fell behind rivals in smartphones and has racked up more than 3 billion euros ($3.86 billion) in operating losses in the last 18 months.

In early 2011, it bet its future on Microsoft’s Windows Phone software. Windows accounts for only around 3 percent of global smartphones, while Google’s Android platform controls two-thirds of sales and Apple has around a quarter.

Competitive pricing is considered crucial for Nokia to lure back customers, even though pricing does not seem to be an issue for rival Apple. In Belgium, for example, more than 10,000 people have pre-registered for the latest iPhone even before a local price has been set.

source: interaksyon.com

Facebook, Gates Foundation Team Up to Create Apps For Future College Students


Facebook hosted a hackathon in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Thursday, kicking off the foundation’s College Knowledge Challenge — a $2.5 million investment fund to encourage developers to make apps that meliorate the college process.

Thursday’s Hackathon, “HackEd,” aimed to mesh the digital Facebook crowd with the Gates’ altruistic mission in hopes of creating apps that are useful to students (and their parents) nearing college years. At the end of the hack, a panel of judges will announce winners and give out prizes.

Stacey Childress, deputy director for the foundation’s College Ready Challenge, tells Mashable the app developers will focus on one or more of these problems facing future college students: the application process, admissions and financial aid.

The reason the Foundation’s partnership with Facebook is so important, she said, is because teens will best be reached through the use of the social networking site. Childress said today’s teens rely on social networking to pick the college they’ll attend.

Adding other useful and easy-to-find apps on Facebook such as how to find financial aid, will be essential in encouraging young people to attend college. The apps will be platform agnostic, not tied to Facebook.
So how many apps does $2.5 million fund? Each finalist will get $50,000-$100,000 in funding to develop their app — so about 25-50.

Hackathons are a common occurance at Facebook. Usually fun and voluntary events for employees that occur after work, they allow tech-savvy minds at the company to develop projects of their own.
The goal: build something that either impacts the site (Timeline sprung from an idea at a Facebook Hackathon) or simply something interesting and useful.

Typically, hacks at Facebook begin after work hours and go until the early morning hours. This hack, though, is a day-long event starting at 9 a.m. and ending around 7 p.m. PT.

The Gates Foundation wants to encourage more developers, particularly women and minorities, to create these new tools. The request for proposals is open to anyone, and people who participated in the hack — whether they won or not — will be eligible to apply.

The contest goes through January, with the development challenge running through Nov. 16.

source: mashable.com

Friday, September 28, 2012

Acer A100 F2 Server Series, High-Level Computing, Entry-Level Price


There are a few words that could best describe the Acer A100 F2 server series, highlighting the benefits it offers to businesses and other potential clients who may need to install rack and tower servers in their office.

By being “focused” means Acer A100 F2 series servers has small and medium-sized firms in mind, with its wide range of server products that come in various sizes and specs ready to make sure that customers have the server power and capability that will meet their business’ computing needs.

“Simplicity” is also part of the Acer A100 F2 servers’ attributes. With the exception of perhaps the entry level AT110 server, the Acer servers in this line contain an onboard management port and Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) chip that allows for easy remote management. Add to that the various software management tools available at no extra cost, plus an option kit business model that allows more flexibility for future upgrades.

Acer servers are also an ideal choice for businesses who seek “cost-effectivity” as it delivers only the best value for its customers, and the fact that Acer continues to be a “reliable” partner for the business, with its full line of enterprise-level, high mean time between failures or high-MTBF parts, coupled with meticulous reliability standards help ensure that Acer’s enterprise products are readily available.

You could expect nothing less from a company like Acer, one of the world’s most trusted IT companies, as it provides an “end-to-end” range of commercial products from tablets to notebooks and PCs, including high-end servers and even storage devices.

So how do you know which server to choose?

For an entry- to mid-level business with a branch network that requires entry-level server needs like email, Web hosting, basic virtualization, file and print and data management, the AT110 F2 Tower server is a perfect match to deliver just the right performance.

The AT110 F2 Tower server has an Intel Xeon E3-1200 series processor up to quad-core with 3.5GHz E3-1280 processor. It has 4 dual in-line memory module (DIMM) slots for up to a maximum 16GB DDR3 memory, four 3.5” bays for storage bays that deliver up to 4TB storage capacity and supports both SATA and SAS drives, 3 PCIe slots and 1 PCI slot, video port and 6 USB ports that allow for further expansion, and a 450W 80 PLUS Bronze power supply, which makes it more efficient that most power supplies.

On the other hand, the AT150 F2 Tower server is perfect for businesses with service hubs, entry-level virtualization environments and multitasking needs. It has an Intel Xeon E5-2400 series processor that can be maxxed up to 8 core with 2.3GHz, 12 DIMM slots for up to a maximum 192GB DDR3 memory.

source: mb.com.ph

Anne Curtis meets SMC boss Ramon Ang, finds him ‘very humble’


Anne Curtis made a courtesy call to San Miguel Corporation president and COO Ramon Ang on Friday morning two days before her scheduled appearance as the muse of the San Mig Coffee Mixers at the PBA opening ceremonies on Sunday.

“Was finally able to meet Business Tycoon Ramon Ang today alongside the San Miguel Coffee players. For a man of such power he is very humble,” the actress posted on her Facebook and Twitter accounts.

This was preceded by this message: “Now rushing to Shoooooowtime! Time for more coffee para todo listo!!!!”

The “It’s Showtime” co-host recently added San Migue Coffee Super Packs to her portfolio of product endorsements. She is also the image model for two other San Miguel products, GSM Blue and Magnolia Health Drinks.



She was also the muse of Barangay Ginebra during one of the PBA opening ceremonies in 2010.

The 27-year-old, labeled by fans as the National Sweetheart and Princess of All Media, has lost count of her brand ambassadorships.

“I’m not sure. Siguro around 25 na. Around that number siguro,” she said during the media conference for San Mig Coffee two weeks ago.

“It’s another blessing na dumating sa akin. It only means na I did something good na naman. I’m happy to endorse this new product because, basically, coffee drinker ako,” she noted.

Anne was named Best Actress at the FAMAS Awards on Tuesday for her performance in last year’s blockbuster hit “No Other Woman”.

The follow-up film that  reunites her with leading man Derek Ramsey, “A Secret Affair”, will open next month in theaters nationwide.

source: interaksyon.com

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Zac Efron arrives in Manila ahead of fashion event


Hollywood actor Zachary “Zac” David Efron arrived at the NAIA terminal 1 at 10:17AM on Wednesday ahead of a promotional event for local clothing line Penshoppe.

The star of the Disney Channel original movie “High School Musical” was accompanied by his father David Efron and two others who arrived on board Cathay Pacific flight CX907 from Hong Kong.




“Nice to be here. I love the Philippines. This is so awesome,” Zac Efron sai told the media at the arrival immigration hall.

Security was tight as six airport policemen escorted the actor to his car waiting curbside at the arrival area.

The office of Sen. Edgardo Angara requested on Tuesday that special treatment be accorded Efron’s party of four and that an officer be assigned to attend to their immigration formalities and allow them to exit through the airport’s backdoor.

However, airport immigration personnel said that only the top five Philippine government officials are allowed such privileges, including ramp access in going in and out of the terminal.

Efron was seen presenting his passport at the immigration counter of the airport arrival area.

Immigration said that, per protocol, the top five government officials are the President of the Republic, Vice President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Efron was fetched at the NAIA customs area by Joyce Ramirez of Publicity firm PR Asia Worldwide, publicist for Penshoppe, who then led police and security escorts in whisking Efron away to a waiting SUV convoy.




Efron will spend the next two days on a sightseeing tour with his father, who had visited the country several times before.

Sources said the actor will visit Misibis Bay in Albay to experience wildlife interaction with whale sharks. He will also view the famous Mount Mayon in Legaspi.

On Saturday, September 29, he is scheduled to appear at the Penshoppe fan conference at the Mall of Asia Arena.

source: interaksyon.com

FHM October cover introduces new Viva sex goddess


“Sexy movies are back!” FHM Philippines trumpets on the cover of its October 2012 issue, out this weekend.

For proof the magazine offers Yam Concepcion, Viva’s new sex goddess, who appears totally nude on the cover shot by Xander Angeles. ”Our boldest cover of the year,” FHM proclaims.

Yam will be launched in Erik Matti’s new erotic film “Rigodon”, a co-production of Viva and Reality Films, which is expected to herald the return of sexy movies in mainstream Philippine cinema.

Don’t laugh if her name sounds like that of the leading man of the movie musical “I Do Bidoo Bidoo”. Yam used to be a musician herself; she was the drummer for the band Ursa Minor.

Those who have Viva TV on their cable may already know her as one of the six temptresses-in-training mentored by Maui Taylor and Katya Santos in the sexy reality show “Pantaxa”.

source: interaksyon.com

Daniel Radcliffe Parties With Dublin Minor Football Team


Now this is the way to celebrate a big win.

Shortly after winning the All-Ireland football championship Sunday, the Dublin Minors found themselves in the company of one pretty big star while they were partying the night away post-event.

So, how exactly did Daniel Radcliffe end up hanging out with the athletes until the wee hours of the morning at a house party?




The Harry Potter star, who is in Ireland filming The F Word, struck up a conversation with three of the teammates on Grafton Street at 3 a.m. on Monday, one player told the Belfast Telegraph.

"We thought he was a fan from England who had come over for the game," Dublin defender Conor Mulally said. "He was small enough and wearing a cap for a disguise, so we just didn't recognize him at first. Then it suddenly hit us who it was—Daniel Radcliffe was standing beside us. We kept talking for ages and he asked for the Irish experience."

"He was stone cold sober, being an absolute gent about it," Mulally said in a radio interview with FM104.



After their convo, Radcliffe and the players took off on foot to a house in Dundrum for some late night/early morning festivities. After a few passersby noticed Radcliffe—the athletes brushed it off by joking that their new mate just looked like the A-lister—the group decided to cab it the rest of the way.

"He realized he didn't have any money on him…and we had to pay for his taxi," Mulally continued. "We ran up to the door to tell [the other teammates] he was there and you should've seen the look on their faces."

Radcliffe, who said he had to be back on set at 8 a.m., stayed at the house for about "an hour and a half." And when it was time to call it a night? The players had pony up cab fare again, but it sounds like the actor will have a chance to pay his new friends back.



"He said he was really enjoying Dublin and would like to go out with us again. Then he asked for all of our numbers."

The footballer described Radcliffe as "a really nice lad" and jokingly agreed when the radio hosts called the actor the team's "celebrity lucky mascot."

Talk about a magical night!

source: eonline.com

Google Play celebrates 25 billion downloads with 75% off sale

Google Play, the Internet giant's competitor to Apple's App Store, has surpassed 25 billion downloads and is celebrating the milestone with a 75-percent discount for its top apps.
 
Visitors to Google Play (play.google.com) can download apps for their devices running Google's Android operating system, with "75+ percent off."
 
Angry Birds Space Premium, one of the storefront's top apps, was available for download for only P10.43.
 
"Google may hope to add a little fuel to its app buying fire with five planned days of 25 cent prices on mobile gaming favorites, starting off with Angry Birds Space, Asphalt 7, Draw Something, and others," reported GamesRadar.com.
 
Tech site All Things Digital reported Apple’s App Store hit the same 25-billion milestone "with much fanfare" only last March.
 
AllThingsD said Google Play now has 675,000 apps and games, compared to Apple’s recently announced milestone of 700,000 apps.
 
"Google said earlier this month that there have been about 500 million total activated Android devices, and Apple counted 400 million iOS devices sold as of June — a number that’s not standing still," it noted.
  
It also said Google is celebrating the milestone by offering 25-cent featured apps and other discounts on movies, books, albums and magazines for the next five days. — TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Happy 14th Birthday, Google, And Thanks For All the Doodles


Google, the world’s biggest Internet company, celebrated its 14th birthday Thursday.

Google’s birth date is the subject of some controversy. According to some accounts, the company was created on Sept. 4; but in the last couple of years, Google itself has been celebrating its birthday on Sept. 27, which lands on a Thursday this year.

Since 2002, Google has been celebrating with special birthday doodles. Today’s doodle is an obvious one: an animated cake with 14 candles for you to “blow” out.

source: mashable.com

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Andy Williams, 'Moon River' Singer, Dies at 84


Andy Williams, whose corn-fed good looks, easygoing charm and smooth rendition of "Moon River" propelled him to the heights of music stardom in the early '60s, died Tuesday at his home in Branson, Mo., following a battle with bladder cancer, his family announced.

He was 84, and 2012 had marked his 75th year in showbiz. Williams is survived by his wife Debbie and his three children, Robert, Noelle and Christian.

With 17 gold and three platinum records to his name, Williams enjoyed his golden years playing golf and dividing his time between La Quinta, Calif., and Branson, where he appeared at his Andy Williams Moon River Theater since 1992.

It was on the stage of that theater, in November 2011, Williams announced he had bladder cancer. At the time, he assured fans the disease was no longer a death sentence and that he had every intention of being a survivor.

Born in Wall Lake, Iowa, the son of a railroad worker, Howard Andrew WIlliams sang in his family's church choir with older siblings Bob, Dick and Don. In the late '30s, the boys built up a name for themselves regionally on Midwestern radio stations as the Williams Brothers quartet.

After the war, in 1947, they joined entertainer Kay Thompson in her innovative and sophisticated nightclub act. In his 2009 memoir Moon River and Me, Williams admitted he had a long affair with Thompson, who had been a legendary vocal coach at MGM (she taught Judy Garland and Lena Horne to sing for the screen) and was 18 years the senior of her handsome young protégé.

In 1952, when the brothers' act broke up, Andy launched his solo career, only to find himself broke and without bookings. Giving himself one last shot, he wisely switched his repertoire from clever Noël Coward ditties to the latest pop hits, and his New York club appearances soon included singing spots on the Tonight show (which was in Manhattan at the time), then regular TV shots and a Columbia Records contract.

By the early '60s he had an easy-listening hit under his belt, "Can't Get Used to Losing You," though it was his romantic take on the Best Song Oscar winner from 1961's Breakfast at Tiffany's, "Moon River," that landed him on the map – and kept him there.

The smash hit recording led to NBC's 1962 launch of The Andy Williams Show, which remained on the air until 1971 and then returned as an annual Christmas special. It was on the variety weekly program in 1963 that Williams introduced to America a group of young singing siblings from Utah, The Osmond Brothers.

Despite his own clean-cut good looks – the Williams signature look was a turtleneck under a brightly colored pullover sweater – scandal did touch Williams's life. In the mid-1970s, his ex-wife, French dancer Claudine Longet, went on trial in Aspen for the fatal shooting of her lover, international skiing star Vladimir ("Spider") Sabich.

In the end, Longet, who claimed the shooting was an accident, was found guilty of misdemeanor criminal negligence and received only a 30-day sentence, which she served on and off at her convenience. In his 2009 memoir, Williams, who during the trial had accompanied his ex-wife to the courtroom on a daily basis, continued to defend her innocence.

Longet and Williams were married from 1961 to 1975 and had three children together: Noelle, Christian, and Robert. They survive him, as does his second wife (since 1991), Debbie Williams.

source: people.com

Pastor dies at wedding ceremony

MUNICH, Germany, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Guests at a wedding in Germany said they were stunned when the minister performing the ceremony died just before the bride and groom could say "I do."

"It was like something out of a movie," organist Andrea Wittmann told The Local.de.

Grzegorz Wieczorek, 47, was reciting a prayer when he stopped mid-sentence and collapsed at the altar, hitting his head on the stone floor of the St. Lambert church in southern Bavaria.
 
Panicked guests tried to help him while Wittmann summoned an ambulance.

The bride and her Italian groom were married several hours later at another church.

source: upi.com

158.2-carat diamond unearthed in Russia


NYURBA, Russia, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A Russian diamond mining company said it has unearthed a rare 158.2-carat diamond worth more than $1.5 million.

Alrosa, Russia's largest diamond mining company, said the gem was discovered this month at factory No. 16 of the Nyurbinsk mine in the Republic of Yakutia, northeastern Russia, RIA Novosti reported Tuesday.

"In the estimate of Alrosa's specialists, this diamond may be sold for over $1.5 million at auction. This diamond, if it is processed, may also produce several quality diamonds, each of them worth over several hundred thousand U.S. dollars," Alrosa said.

source: upi.com

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Darrelle Revis' season-ending knee injury devastating to Jets' outlook


All around the country, in stadiums stretching from Baltimore to far out west, illegal helmet-to-helmet hits caused reflexive twitches. On one ugly Sunday, there might have been more punches thrown and dirty deeds committed than we normally witness in a month, but that’s what happens when the kids take advantage of substitute teachers.




That’s why the injury that knocked Darrelle Revis out for the season and put a massive dent in the New York Jets’ grand plan is so confounding. He wasn’t the victim of a tackle gone wrong; a teeth-rattling collision didn’t cause him to suffer an ACL tear in his left knee.



Can’t blame it on artificial turf, or dodgy playing conditions, or a Miami Dolphin receiver trying to pull a fast one over the overwhelmed replacement officials. When Revis flew over center while trying to defend a screen pass with about four minutes left in the third quarter of a hideous game the New York Jets would eventually win in overtime, it was as if an invisible hand swooped in to claw at his leg.

Just like that, the sport’s best cover cornerback was done. Tripped up by a freakish non-contact injury. All the giddy hype floating around the J-E-T-S disappeared in a puff.

As it was, the Jets’ medical team had been watching Revis extra close, wary of him doing anything that might muddle his brain. Another freakish injury had forced him to miss the previous game, after a collision with his own teammate in Week 1 left Revis concussed. Without Revis in Pittsburgh the Jets were forced into utilizing more zone coverage than usual and, not coincidentally, the Steelers picked them apart with systemic alacrity.

With the All-Pro Revis tying up Dolphins receiver Davone Bess on Sunday and eliminating huge swaths of the field, Bess had only one catch for 23 yards in the first 40 minutes. Upon Revis’ departure, Bess pulled in four receptions for 63 yards. It was possible to see Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s eyes bulge as the field suddenly, magically expanded.

Just as opposing defenses must devote large amounts of time to preparing for what Tim Tebow MIGHT do out of the wildcat – and so far it hasn’t been anything that knocks the socks off -- offenses had to game plan around the intimidating force known as Revis Island.

With him, it was as if the Jets enjoyed a mystical advantage of 12 guys on defense, their blitzes seldom risky because of Revis locking down the fort. With him, in the 88 plays he’s been on the field, the Jets have allowed a 54 percent completion rate, 5.4 yards per pass attempt and one measly touchdown sandwiched around four interceptions. With him, Rex Ryan’s brash talk of this being his best team since coming on board had a ring of truth.

Without Revis, the rate of completions skyrocketed to 62 percent, with opponents teaming for 7.6 yards per pass attempt, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Without Revis, without their backbone, the Jets will scramble to make the playoffs.

They’re 2-1 and in first place in the AFC East, but the next two weeks are brutal – San Francisco and then Houston come to visit – and the only guarantee is that Kyle Wilson is going to have to perfect the art of turning around.

Wilson, the former top pick, moves into the starting lineup, next to Antonio Cromartie, a capable corner who goes from defending an opponent’s No. 2 receiver to trying to shut down the No 1. Interestingly, Cromartie tore his ACL in college, missed a year and now sometimes doesn’t appear to cut as sharply as he should while defending certain receivers on some routes.

Looking as glum as a man who had found a penny but lost a fortune, Ryan reached for historical spins Monday after announcing he had lost his favorite defensive player. He referenced the time the Baltimore Ravens, his former team, suffered a string of injuries, yet still reached the 2008 AFC Championship Game. Ryan also spoke about the 1985 Chicago Bears, a team that hadn’t any superstar defensive backs but that nonetheless morphed into one of the greatest defenses ever under the tutelage of Buddy, the genius patriarch of the Ryan clan.

Any comparison to those harassing Bears should end there, with the family ties. These Jets have only three sacks and just 10 hits on quarterbacks. Even with Revis controlling receivers in single coverage, the Jets have struggled to close the gaps and stop the run.

"Maybe we play some opponents differently," Ryan said. "There are different ways to skin a cat. Obviously, we can't take away their best receiver with one guy, but we'll find a way."

He wisely steered clear of drawing from another analogy from another sport. Last spring Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls suffered a comparable injury when he tore the ACL in his left knee while trying to jump. There went the Bulls’ glorious season, cut short in one cruel second.

Because the Jets always seem to belly flop into the absurd, the shock of them losing the one player they simply can’t afford to be without wasn’t the only hot button on this fateful day. Following the Jets’ 23-20 OT victory Sunday, linebacker Calvin Pace had an interesting take on Reggie Bush, the Miami running back who left the game with a knee injury late in the second quarter.

“I guess he was doing his thing for a quarter or two. We had to put him on out. We didn’t see him again,” Pace had said, comments that followed Ryan’s joke from earlier in the week that his players would "Put some hot sauce on (Bush), if you will."

So there was Pace Monday, in the gloom of the latest shattering news, clarifying that he wasn’t taking tips from the New Orleans Saints.

“I wasn’t trying to say it as if we were trying to hurt him,” Pace said of Bush. “I’m sad to see him get hurt. We aren’t running any kind of bounty system or anything like that, and actually, looking at the play, somebody just fell on his knee. That’s all I have to say. I guess I need to say things in a different manner, and I’ll do a better job of it next time.”

Revis will have surgery within the next three weeks, when the tissue is healthier, and his desire to rework a contract extension that would make him one of the league’s highest paid players figures to be in limbo. It’s such a sudden reversal from just a few days ago, when the concussion symptoms had abated and doctors cleared him to suit up against Miami.

Asked Friday if he had been told to take it easy, Revis grinned and said: “No, I can bang my head on the wall if I want to.”

Who could have predicted the invisible hand swooping in? Who would have guessed the Jets’ fate would be altered so silently, their brash talk dying as soon as Revis crumbled to the grass.

source: aol.sportingnews.com

Monday, September 24, 2012

‘Homeland’, ‘Modern Family’, ‘Game Change’ win top Emmy prizes


LOS ANGELES – “Homeland” ended the four-year run of “Mad Men” to win the top drama prize at the Primetime Emmy awards on Sunday, while “Modern Family” reigned for a third year as the best comedy series on television.

“Homeland,” a post 9/11 psychological thriller, won best drama after one season on cable channel Showtime. It also took home trophies for best writing and best acting for its two leads, Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.

“Homeland” brought to an end the reign of AMC’s stylish 1960s advertising show “Mad Men,” which left Sunday’s Emmy ceremony empty-handed.

“Modern Family,” ABC’s show about the chaotic lives of three related couples and their children, won best comedy series for a third year and supporting actor Emmys for Eric Stonestreet and Julie Bowen, as well as a directing award.

“Two and A Half Men’s” Jon Cryer was the surprise winner in the comedy actor category.

In what was seen as a tight race for lead comedy actress, Julia Louis-Dreyfus beat “Girls” star Lena Dunham, Amy Poehler, “New Girl” Zooey Deschanel and Tina Fey for the Emmy for her turn as a frustrated U.S. vice president in the satirical HBO show “Veep.”

“Game Change,” the HBO story of Sarah Palin’s entry into the 2008 U.S. vice presidential race, was also a big winner, taking the Emmy for best miniseries, writing, directing, and acting for star Julianne Moore.

“The Amazing Race” won for the best reality series Emmy for the ninth time, while Tom Bergeron won best reality host for “Dancing with the Stars.”

source: interaksyon.com

Workers beg Romney to stop latest Bain outsourcing

FREEPORT - Being told to train his replacement was humiliating and surreal, but Tom Gaulrapp said the worst part was when the plant's US flag was taken down before the Chinese engineers arrived.

Gaulrapp decided it was time to take a stand against outsourcing and the man he blames for the loss of his job: Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney, who founded the private equity firm that owns the Freeport, Illinois auto parts plant.

Romney's ties to Bain Capital have burdened the Republican nominee's hopes of winning the November 6 election as Democrats unfavorably paint him as a corporate raider who pioneered the outsourcing of US jobs to countries with lower labor costs.

Romney denies the charge, but his claim to be a man who could revive the economy and boost the prospects of American workers rings hollow here.

Gaulrapp thinks it would only take a phone call from the candidate who's vowed to create 12 million jobs in the United States to save the 170 jobs at Sensata Technologies that are about to leave this already economically depressed town of 26,000.

"What we'd like is a miracle," Gaulrapp, who has worked at the plant for 33 years, said with a sigh that acknowledged how unlikely it is that his wish will be granted.

"We'd like Mitt Romney to come to Freeport, see what this is doing to this community, and contact his friends that run Bain Capital and say 'this is absolutely the wrong thing to do' and save our jobs."

The Romney campaign declined to comment on the situation at Sensata, but a spokeswoman contacted by AFP noted that the former Massachusetts governor retired from Bain in 1999 and his investments there are controlled by a blind trust, effectively nullifying his links to the firm.

Romney's campaign recently set up a website -- business.mittromney.com -- defending his record at Bain and the "thousands" of jobs he saved or created by "fixing companies that were broken and giving new companies a shot at success."

'A Taste of the Romney Economy'

But the situation in Freeport is a classic example of how what's best for a company is not always what's best for American workers, said Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp, who is no relation to Tom.

"You can't keep sending your jobs offshore and still have a middle class," said the mayor.

Plant worker Pam Lampros, 53, is worried she's going to lose her home so investors like Romney can make a bigger profit.

"It just hurts after so many years of hard work and dedication," said Lampros, a 34-year veteran at the non-unionized plant who had hoped to retire from there.

"It's for corporate greed, more or less."

Sensata, which is majority-owned by Bain Capital, purchased the automotive sensors unit from Honeywell for $140 million in cash in January 2011.

With annual revenues of $130 million and valuable patents, the unit was a good buy. But with 75 percent of the revenue generated in Asia, it made sense to ship production to Sensata's facilities in China, the Netherlands-based company said.

"It's better to be closer to one's customers," Sensata spokesman Jacob Sayer told AFP, citing transportation and other logistical advantages.

Sayer acknowledged that the decision to shift production to China is "an unfortunately event" for Freeport and said he understands why it could be "difficult" for the workers to train their replacements.

He has no idea why -- or if -- the US flag was removed before the Chinese engineers and technicians arrived.

"We didn't request it. I can tell you that," Sayer said, adding that the company has been leasing the facility from Honeywell and has no involvement in grounds maintenance.

The workers have had nearly two years to prepare for the plant closure. Some have found new jobs and those who remained were given retention bonuses to help keep operations going until the last pieces of equipment are shipped elsewhere.

They got riled up in June when Romney visited nearby Janesville, Wisconsin and talked about how jobs were his top priority -- at the same time they were being told to train their Chinese replacements.

After months of pursuing Romney's campaign with protests and petitions, the Sensata workers set up camp in the fairgrounds across the road from the plant on September 12 in hopes of drawing more attention to their cause.

In a nod to both the "Hoovervilles" of unemployed workers that sprung up during the Great Depression and the Occupy Wall Street movement, about a dozen people have since been sleeping in tents staked into the cold, hard ground.

Mark Schreck, 36, a registered Republican, even brought his children a couple of times.

"This isn't a Republican issue or a Democrat issue, this is an American issue," he said, noting it is the second time his job has been outsourced to China, despite both operations being profitable -- just not profitable enough.

"We're in trouble. I'm not that old and when I grew up American industry and technology was huge. My folks and my uncles all worked in good jobs and retired from them," Schreck said as he sat by a smoking campfire on the windy fairgrounds.

"It's hard to grasp how bleak it is out there. I've been looking for work since last January and I'm not finding any."

source: interaksyon.com

CSA teen on bully's gun-toting Dad: 'I really thought he'd shoot my brains out'


MANILA, Philippines – At first glance, Jaime Garcia seems like an unlikely target of bullies.

He towers at more than 6 feet tall and has a rather gentle, apologetic, demeanor. But Jaime has been bullied and mocked at the Colegio San Agustin (CSA) School in Makati where he is on his senior year in high school.

His butt and genitals were often poked by one of his male classmates, his main tormentor. Then on August 30, after months of constant taunts and harassment, Jaime had enough. He stabbed one of the bullies with a ballpen and punched another.  The incident escalated when the father of the classmate he punched rushed to his school, slapped and threatened him with what he recalled was a .45-caliber gun.

“I really thought he’d shoot my brains out,” Jaime told InterAksyon before granting his first full interview on TV5’s morning show, ‘Good Morning Club.’

Jaime’s father, Mike, was oblivious to the bullying until he was called that day to his son’s school. “Wala siyang sinasabi sa amin, eh,” he said.

But after months of being bullied and keeping quiet about it, Jaime has decided to come out, while his family is preparing legal action against the gun-toting father, while posing a lot of questions to the school.



‘ I can’t take it anymore’

During their English class at around 10 am of August 30, Jaime said one of his classmates, ‘JD,’ who had been constantly taunting him since July, began making certain “references” aimed at him.

 “I can’t take it anymore,” Jaime said. “They think it’s funny.”

After telling JD to stop it, another classmate, yelled back at him.

Jamie remembered the boy saying: “’Yo, c*nt! Calm down.’”

At this point, Jamie got angrier. He took a ballpen and stabbed JD with it. When his other classmate interceded, he punched him in the face.

“He started clenching his jaw,” Jamie recalled. “Then he told me, ‘I’ll kill you. I’ll shoot you!’”

It was then that Jamie was taken to the Head Teacher’s office by their English teacher Ms. Billy Joy Creus. Jamie wrote an incident report, while waiting for a guidance counselor top talk to him.

He was waiting inside the room with one of the admin staff and three other faculty members, when Allan Canete Bantiles, the father of the boy he punched, barged into the room.

“He asked me if I was the guy who hit his son. I apologized. In thought he was a reasonable guy,” Jamie said.

“He slapped me. He told me never to do that again. He told me, ‘You’re crazy. You deserve to be in a mental institution.’ I still apologized.”

According to Jaime, Bantiles wasn’t content and grabbed him, while saying : ‘You want to fight? You want to go outside now?’

Bantiles’ driver and son were in the room when the situation escalated. The fuming Bantiles asked for his “green denim satchel’, Jaime recalled, and brought out a gun.

“He then said:’ I can shoot you right now! You want me to shoot you?’” Jaime said.

By this time, one of Jaime’s male teachers was already holding Bantiles back while another told the shocked boy to proceed to the guidance office.

“I was just there, I wasn’t moving,” he said.



CSA inaction?

Jaime’s father found out of the incident while at work. “ I didn’t know my son had been bullied,” Mike told InterAksyon.

After finding out what happened to his son, Mike then asked the school officials how the gun was sneaked into the premises. He also asked why they just allowed Bantiles to leave scot-free.

“May kakulangan sila,” he said.

CSA officials then ordered Bantiles never to set foot on their campus again, while Mike moved to have the gun-toting dad’s car pass cancelled.

Mike then learned that his son was suspended for five days [for the ballpen-stabbing], while the two students were transferred to a different section.  The CSA Makati Alumni Association (CSAMAA), filed a case report of the incident with the Department of Education and reported about the increased security on campus and the banning of Bantiles “indefinitely.”

CSAMAA president Martin Jose Cervantes also posted on the organization’s official Facebook account several suggestions on how to resolve the matter. This includes creating an Anti-Bullying Committee, filing a case against Bantiles and conducting a clear dialogue with the school, parents and alumni.

“If you feel that the school can't act on its own, let's VOLUNTEER for them to carry this case on, but this of course will still be really based on the fact if they accept this particular offer of ours,” Cervantes wrote.



But Mike felt this is not enough. Just last Thursday, Jaime said, Bantiles’ son yelled at him and asked: ‘What did you tell your family? I’ll see you in court!”

Mike said the reason they came to the media is because they felt the CSA fell short in its response to the incident. For now, Jaime’s father is taking comfort in the fact that social media has been harsher on Bantiles.

Last Friday, a Facebook page was created denouncing Bantiles’ action. It has so far gathered more than 650 likes and is already sharing details and news articles surrounding the August 20 incident.

Ironically, the Facebook page has become an avenue for users to vent out their anger at Bantiles (even post his home address online) and in a way, cyberbully the gun-toting father.

“Thats crap! CSA is a joke. Allan needs to have his punk ass in jail. Then lets see how tough that punk is...” One Peter Brooks commented.

“Pumatol sa bata....wanna try someone your own size, Allan Bantiles?” Joel Canlas added.

But for now, Jaime said he just wants to focus on his studies and move on from the incident.

“At the moment, I’m just trying to move on. I’m just saying the truth.”

InterAksyon and Good Morning Club tried to get the side of Bantiles but received no response.

source: interaksyon.com