Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Lady Gaga chosen as Billboard’s woman of the year


LOS ANGELES | Lady Gaga was named woman of the year by music magazine Billboard after a 2015 that saw her channel Julie Andrews at the Oscars, tour with Tony Bennett and highlight the problem of college sexual assaults.

Gaga was chosen because she has been “a key influential figure who drove the conversation” this year, said Janice Min, who oversees Billboard as co-president of parent company Guggenheim Media’s Entertainment Group, in a statement on Tuesday.

“There is no woman dominating popular culture tastes and its evolution as much as she is today,” said Min.

The “Born This Way” singer won roaring applause and social media acclaim for belting “Sound of Music” tunes at the Oscars ceremony in February.

She played 36 shows on an international tour with crooner Tony Bennett, and this month she released the song and video “Til It Happens to You,” which will be featured in a documentary about sexual assault at college campuses.

Next week she will hit television screens in a leading role on FX’s “American Horror Story.”

Gaga, 29, will be presented with the honor at a Billboard ceremony in New York in December that will be shown live on national television for the first time. Last year’s honoree was Taylor Swift.

source: interaksyon.com

Respecting gay rights is good for business, firms say


LONDON -- Respecting gay and lesbian rights is good for business and helps drive economic growth, a group of 14 leading Western companies including Google, American Express and McKinsey&Company said on Tuesday.

The companies said supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights around the world helped drive economic development and allowed such companies to attract and retain the smartest employees.

"If countries and cities want to have economic development, they have to rise to a level of tolerance that enables them to have the kind of diverse dialogue that creates innovation," Claudia Brind-Woody, managing director for Global Intellectual Property Licensing at IBM, said in a statement.

The other companies which supported the report were AT&T, Brunswick, EY, IBM , LinkedIn , law firm Linklaters, MasterCard, Royal Bank of Scotland , Standard Chartered, Thomson Reuters and Virgin Group.

source: interaksyon.com

Wall St. drops as China data rattles investors


NEW YORK - US stocks fell sharply in afternoon trading on Monday and were set for their worst third-quarter performance in four years as investors worried about the health of China's economy and its potential impact on the timing of a U.S. interest rate increase.

The Nasdaq composite and S&P 500 both dropped more than 2 percent.

Much of the damage came from pharmaceutical and biotech stocks, including Allergan and Gilead Sciences, with the sector still bleeding a week after Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton criticized drug pricing.

The Nasdaq biotechnology index fell 6 percent following its worst week in seven years. Among the S&P sectors, the health care index was the deepest decliner, down 3.66 percent.

"The broad healthcare sector and China are hurting the market. It's time for risk-off and there's no place to hide," said Richard Weeks, managing director at HighTower Advisors in Vienna, Virginia.

Profits at Chinese industrial companies fell 8.8 percent, fresh data showed, pushing down shares of raw material producers and energy companies. Oil prices fell more than 2 percent.

U.S. consumer spending rose more than expected in August, data showed on Monday, appearing to add to the case for an interest rate increase this year.

However, contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes decreased, indicating the robust housing market could be losing some steam.

The Federal Reserve held off from raising rates at its September meeting, citing concerns about the global economy, notably China, among other factors.

New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley on Monday added to expectations for a rate increase, suggesting the central bank could pull the trigger as soon as October.

Several other Fed officials are scheduled to speak during the week, including Chair Janet Yellen on Wednesday.

Investors will also scrutinize September non-farm payrolls data set for release on Friday.

At 2:41 pm, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 1.65 percent at 16,045.25. The S&P 500 lost 2.23 percent, to 1,888.26 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.72 percent to 4,559.05.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn said the U.S. Federal Reserve's low interest rates are creating bubbles in markets for art, property and high-yield "junk" bonds, in a video to be released on Tuesday.

The CBOE Volatility index, known as Wall Street's "fear gauge", jumped 16 percent to 27.37, well above its long-term average of 20.

Alcoa's shares jumped 2.70 percent after the aluminum producer said it would split into two publicly-traded companies.

Apple fell 1.53 percent despite reporting that it sold a record number of its new iPhones in their first weekend.

Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by 2,744 to 337. On the Nasdaq, 2,323 issues fell and 509 advanced.

source: interaksyon.com

Sotto admits #AlDub 'somehow helped' him top latest senatorial surveys


MANILA – The “#AlDub nation” has not only conquered every home and office, but may have played a role in cementing Senator Vicente Sotto III's lead in senatorial surveys.

The senator, a mainstay in the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga that is now enjoying an unprecedented boost from the "#AlDub" mania, remains number one in all survey ratings for senatorial candidates in 2016.

“Siguro, siyempre nakakatulong iyon [Maybe, somehow, it helped],” Sotto said, referring to the "#AlDub" factor in an interview before attending Tuesday's session.

However, Sotto said it is not only #AlDub that helped him land on top in voter preference, but also the ratings of the entire show.

He noted as well his consistently high ratings in surveys even before the "AlDub" phenomenon came into being. He has also consistently been in the top 3 of winners in past Senate races.

“Pero hindi naman iyon lang kasi iyong mga survey nakaraan, kapag tinignan mo mataas din naman ako kahit wala pang #AlDub,” Sotto said.

Sotto also attributed his ratings to his work in the Senate, citing his perfect attendance and participative attitude in all plenary and committee hearings.

“I think those who were surveyed are aware of all these," he said, referring to his Senate work.

“Siguro naman kung gusto mong bumoto ng isang senador, gusto mo iboto ang masipag siguro [I'd guess that if you wanted to elect a good senator, you'd vote for the one who works hard],” he added.

Sotto said his being top in the ratings will inspire him to work harder. “All I can say is I'm pleased, I am humbled. Probably being highest in the ratings will inspire me to work more, work harder,” Sotto said.

“Whereas before, I'd be here in the Senate at 3 pm, maybe now I'll be here at 5 minutes to 3," he quipped.

Sotto said he will appear in Eat Bulaga until the election period starts on February 5, 2016, and start his own campaign around the country.

“Of course you still have to campaignbecause come February 5, I'll no longer be seen at Eat Bulaga,” he explained.

Sotto said that his popularity cannot be attributed soley to #AlDub but also to all shows in Eat Bulaga including the “That’s My Babe,” "Juan for All, All for Juan," among other things.

“Kaya lang natatabunan ng ratings ng #AlDub, akala nila #AlDub lang, of course, it plays a big role, pero sa reading namin, eh, it is the entire Kalye Serye gimmick eh,” Sotto said.

NPC deciding this week

Meanwhile, Sotto said that the Nationalist People’s Coalition will decide whom to support within the week in undisclosed meeting.

“Siguro, yes, hopefully very soon, baka makapagdesisyon na ang partido kung mag-e-endorse ng isa lang, kung isa lang kandidato o maso-sona libre o ano,” Sotto said.

source: interaksyon.com

Monday, September 28, 2015

OPPO outs R7-Series mobile phones


MANILA, Philippines – China-based technology company OPPO recently launched the latest R7-Series mobile devices, which comes in the forms of the R7 Lite and the R7 Plus.

Headed by OPPO Philippine’s operations manager Garrick Hung, the firm was proud to have done “wonderfully” in their business here in the country. He spoke of their humble beginnings as a firm that focused on audio headsets and their success at present, which they say is getting better in time.

Hung stated some major developments in the new OPPO devices, like their very own Color OS 2.1, as well as their partnerships with several big names franchises such Furious 7, FC Barcelona, and America’s Next Top Model.

Mark Andrew Del Mundo, national sales manager at OPPO, further elaborated on the innovations within the company and what makes them different than others. He mentioned that 3,000 shops with over 1,500 sales force, and 150 concept stores and kiosks are selling OPPO products across the country. “This ensures better quality for the users of the brand,” Del Mundo said.

For his part, Marton Barcza, global community manager at OPPO, demonstrated all the functions and specifications of the new R7-Series. He said that the R7 is 91 percent metal body that helps make the phone act as an antenna. Barcza also demonstrated the new curved screen design of the phone, including fingerprint identification, fast charge VOOC technology, plus the 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM, and many camera functions. The executive also indicated that OPPO has improved the phone’s boot-up and app loading time, app performance, and interface responsiveness.

The phone camera’s “flashy” features, which was given special mention by Barcza, include Contrast Detection AF, Phase Detection AF, Anti-Shake Optimization, Audio photos, Beautification 3.0, and Ultra HD functions, among others, which brand ambassador, Sarah Geronimo claims to enjoy.

The R7 Lite, which comes with a 2320 MaH battery, is worth Php 13,990. While The R7 Plus, which comes with a 4100 MaH battery, is worth Php 21,990.

source: interaksyon.com

Sunday, September 27, 2015

BlackBerry unveils Android phone in new reboot effort


WASHINGTON — BlackBerry announced plans Friday to sell an Android-powered smartphone, in the latest reboot effort from the faded star of the sector.

The Canadian firm said its would begin selling “Priv,” describe as “a flagship handheld device that will run on the Android operating system with BlackBerry security,” expected to be available later this year.

“Priv combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform,” said John Chen, executive chairman and chief executive.

BlackBerry said however it “remains committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which enables industry-leading security and productivity benefits.”

The company said it “will continue to develop and enhance the BlackBerry 10 operating system and is confirming plans to release platform updates focused on security and privacy enhancements,” in March 2016.

The BB 10 operating system was unveiled in 2013 as part of an effort to regain market share lost as consumers around the world shifted to devices running on Google Android and Apple’s iOS.

But the operating system share has fallen further, and now represents less than one percent of smartphone users.

BlackBerry, one of the early pioneers of smartphones, has been struggling for years. It has made several efforts to find new customer niches, with low-cost devices, tablets and by shifting its emphasis to software and services.

In releasing its quarterly results, BlackBerry said it swung to a profit of $51 million for the three months to August 29, compared with a loss of $207 million in the same period a year ago.

But the profit came from a one-time credit from an adjustment in the value of some of its debts.

Revenues for the period slumped 46 percent from a year ago to $490 million.

“I am confident in our strategy and continued progress, highlighted by our fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year double digit growth in software licensing revenue and sixth consecutive quarter of positive free cash flow,” Chen said.

“At the same time, we are focused on making faster progress to achieve profitability in our handset business.”

BlackBerry said it sold 800,000 smartphones at an average price of $240. That represents a tiny fraction of a global smartphone market of some 300 million per quarter.

The company said 15 percent of its revenue came from software and services, 41 percent for hardware, and 43 percent for service access fees.

source: interaksyon.com

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Porsche boss is named new Volkswagen CEO


Wolfsburg, Germany - Embattled car maker Volkswagen tapped Porsche chief Matthias Mueller Friday (early Saturday in the Philippines) to steer it out of the wreckage of a widening scandal over pollution test rigging, as Washington said it would check all diesel cars for devices that fool emissions tests.

The 62-year-old Mueller replaces Martin Winterkorn, who has resigned over the stunning revelations by US environmental authorities that the German car maker had fitted some of its diesel cars with software capable of tricking environmental tests -- a scam that could lead to fines worth more than $18 billion (16.1 billion euros).

The scale of VW's deception became clear when the company admitted that 11 million of its diesel cars are equipped with so-called defeat devices that covertly turn off pollution controls when the car is being driven and back on when tests are being conducted.

Calling the cheating a "moral and policy disaster", the company's supervisory board chief Berthold Huber said the group is now looking to Mueller, who "knows the company and its brands", to tackle the crisis.

Board member Bernd Osterloh added that "a small group had caused great damage to Volkswagen".

Mueller himself vowed that his "most pressing task will be to restore confidence in the Volkswagen Group -- through an unsparing investigation and maximum transparency, but also by drawing the right lessons from the current situation".

"We will overcome this crisis," he said, adding that the car maker could "emerge stronger from the crisis in the long term" if it learned from its mistakes.

Mueller has a daunting task ahead given the global amplitude of the scandal.

Swiss authorities said late Friday that they have temporarily banned the sale of Volkswagen vehicles potentially fitted with the rigging software.

The ban came as authorities from India to Norway announced new probes, while the US environmental regulator said it would test all diesel car models.

"Today we are putting vehicle manufacturers on notice that our testing is going to include additional evaluation and tests designed to look for potential defeat devices," said Christopher Grundler, director of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Transportation & Air Quality.

An hour before the group announced its new chief, VW shares closed 4.32 percent down Friday at 107.30 euros, after a rout this week in which a third of the company's market capitalization -- or over 20 billion euros -- was wiped off.

Mueller, born in Chemnitz in the former Communist East Germany, has been dubbed "the imperturbable" by newspaper Die Welt.

He has also been described as someone who knows how to use his elbows, "but I don't see it as playing foul, rather as a sign of perseverance and mettle", the daily quoted him as saying.

Winterkorn, who once famously said he knows "every screw in our cars", said he was "stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen group".

The 68-year-old said he accepted responsibility as chief executive but was "not aware of any wrongdoing".

With the German car industry reeling, top-of-the-range automaker BMW suffered collateral damage on Thursday when its shares skidded after the weekly Auto Bild reported that emissions from one of its diesel models were 11 times higher than European Union norms.

While there was no indication that BMW had cheated in pollution tests -- something the company strongly denied having done -- the report nevertheless shook investors.

Daimler too issued a firm denial Friday that its vehicles were rigged, after an environmental group claimed that they too, were affected.

VW faces a growing list of legal tangles.

Norway and India have opened fraud probes, Australia said it was checking to see if it was affected, and Mexico was investigating whether 40,000 VW cars there comply with emissions rules.

France and Britain announced new checks and the European Union urged its 28 member states to investigate whether vehicles in their countries complied with pollution rules.

Private law firms are also lining up to take on the German company, with a class action suit already filed by a Seattle law firm.

VW has set aside 6.5 billion euros in provisions for the third quarter to cover the potential costs of the disclosures, while ratings agencies have warned they may cut Volkswagen's credit rating, which could increase the company's financing costs.

The company's two main joint ventures in China have said, however, that their products were not involved in the rigging scandal.

China -- the world's biggest auto market -- is crucial for VW, which delivered 3.67 million cars in the country last year, beating US rival General Motors' 3.54 million sold, figures from the companies showed.

source: interaksyon.com

Friday, September 25, 2015

Saudi under fire after hajj stampede kills more than 700


Mina, Saudi Arabia - Blame shifted towards Saudi authorities on Friday after a stampede at the hajj killed at least 717 people, in the worst tragedy to strike the annual Muslim pilgrimage in a quarter-century.

The disaster, which also left several hundred people injured, was the second deadly accident to hit worshippers this month, after a crane collapse in the holy city of Mecca killed more than 100.

At the scene, bodies lay in piles, surrounded by discarded personal belongings and flattened water bottles, while rescue workers laid corpses in long rows on stretchers, limbs protruding from beneath white sheets.

Dark-skinned and light-skinned, they died with arms draped around each other.

"There was no room to maneuver," said Aminu Abubakar, a Nigerian pilgrim who escaped the crush of bodies because he was at the head of the procession.

Fellow pilgrims told him of children dying despite parents' efforts to save them near the sprawling tent city where they stay.

"They threw them on rooftops, mostly tent-tops... Most of them couldn't make it."

The stampede broke out in Mina, about five kilometers (three miles) from Mecca, during the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual. The Saudi civil defense service said it was still counting the dead, who included pilgrims from different countries.

Iran said 131 of its nationals were among the victims, and accused regional rival Saudi Arabia of safety errors.

Islamabad said seven Pakistanis were killed.

Pilgrims at the scene blamed the Saudi authorities and said they were afraid to continue the hajj rituals.

But Abubakar, an AFP reporter based in Kano, Nigeria, said that on Friday morning crowd control had improved and the number of pilgrims was much less.

"Now it's more organized... There's more control from the entry points. We don't expect a repeat of what happened," he said while moving back to the stoning site on the second of three stoning days.

King Salman ordered "a revision" of hajj organization, the official Saudi Press Agency said, while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayyef, who chairs the kingdom's hajj committee, started an inquiry.

Saudi Health Minister Khaled al-Falih blamed worshippers for the tragedy.

He told El-Ekhbariya television that if "the pilgrims had followed instructions, this type of accident could have been avoided".

The stampede began at around 9:00 am (0600 GMT) Thursday, shortly after the civil defense said on Twitter it was dealing with a "crowding" incident in Mina.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims had converged on Mina to throw pebbles at one of three walls representing Satan, for the last major ritual of the hajj, which officially ends on Saturday.

Thursday's tragedy occurred outside the five-storey Jamarat Bridge, which was erected in the last decade at a cost of more than $1 billion (893 million euros) and intended to improve safety.

Interior ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki said the stampede was caused when "a large number of pilgrims were in motion at the same time" at an intersection of two streets in Mina.

"The great heat and fatigue of the pilgrims contributed to the large number of victims," he said. Temperatures in Mina had reached 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday.

Witnesses, however, blamed the authorities. One outspoken critic of redevelopment at the holy sites said police were not properly trained and lacked the language skills for communicating with foreign pilgrims, who make up the majority of those on the hajj.

"They don't have a clue how to engage with these people," said Irfan al-Alawi, co-founder of the Mecca-based Islamic Heritage Research Foundation.

"There's no crowd control."

The disaster came as the world's 1.5 billion Muslims marked Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, the most important holiday on the Islamic calendar.

It was the second major accident this year for pilgrims, after a construction crane collapsed on September 11 at Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, killing 109 people, including many foreigners.

source: interaksyon.com

WATCH | AlDub-inspired original song goes viral on YouTube


Hot on the heels of the upcoming Philippine tour of American country star Bryan White, who suddenly developed a strong fan base as a result of his 15-year-old song’s association with the phenomenal love team known as AlDub, a trio of local musicians have decided to upload their own unofficial theme song for Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza a.k.a. Yaya Dub.

Written and performed by PhilPop 2012 finalist Keiko Necesario (“3 A.M.”) and YouTube sibling sensations The Antonio Duo, the playful pop ditty simply titled “The AlDub Song” was completed one Saturday afternoon later according to a post by Keiko on her Facebook page.

Keiko later told InterAksyon that the collaboration was initiated by Andrai who apparently has a big crush on Yaya Dub.

“Since I personally find AlDub to be really cool and nakakalig naman talaga, I said game ako. Actually wala kaming time halos because we’re all busy but we managed to squeeze some limited time that Saturday and got together at Andrai’s art studio at around 4PM in Quezon City then went to work right away. Two hours later, the song was finished. Hindi pa rin namin gamay yung song pero thankfully we were able to record and upload the completed video by midnight.”

With a chorus that goes, “Parapap-papa AlDub you…Sasabihin mo rin kaya, Maalden kita,” the song is basically a duet between Keiko and Isaiah Antonio. Isaiah’s brother, Andrai, joins them to rap the middle verse that starts with “Ano mang pagsubok ni Lola Nidora/Plywood, swimming pool, at kahit ano pa/Pag-ibig na tunay, hindi matatalo…”

To date, the video of the trio’s acoustic performance has garnered over 160,000 views since it was first uploaded to YouTube last September 19. In her latest post, Keiko promised that a studio recording of the song will be released soon.

“We actually finished the recording and are now on the mixing stage. And yes, we’ve been approached by three record labels for this so far,” Keiko happily revealed.

Watch and listen to “The AlDub Song” here:

source: interaksyon.com

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Pope wows Washington but takes on controversial church sex abuse, immigration, climate change


WASHINGTON DC - Pope Francis received a rapturous welcome to Washington on Wednesday but did not shy away from controversy, addressing church sex abuse and urging action on immigration and climate change.

President Barack Obama was clearly delighted to welcome to the White House a pontiff who can lend moral and spiritual force to his own priorities, but others may be left uncomfortable by the pope's stances.

Meeting Catholic bishops in Washington, he praised their handling of the child sex abuse scandal that rocked the US church.

"I realize how much the pain of recent years has weighed upon you," he said.

"And I have supported your generous commitment to bring healing to victims…and to work to ensure such crimes will never be repeated."

The Argentine pontiff waded into another bitter US political debate when he urged the church to embrace new immigrants, speaking "not only as the Bishop of Rome, but also as a pastor from the South."

"Perhaps it will not be easy for you to look into their soul. Perhaps you will be challenged by their diversity. But know that they also possess resources meant to be shared," he said.

He later moved on to conduct his first mass in North America, a ceremony to canonize a Franciscan friar who brought Christianity to California, Junipero Serra -- a figure also shrouded in controversy.

Native Americans hold Serra responsible for the suppression of their centuries-old culture and the death of many thousands of their ancestors.

Consternation over his elevation to sainthood did not overshadow the visit, however, and Francis was cheered by euphoric crowds with breathless wall-to-wall televised coverage as he toured Washington's stately boulevards.

'Welcoming the stranger'

Obama, America's first black president, gave the first Latin American pope an effusive welcome to the White House, praising his moral leadership.

"I believe the excitement around your visit must be attributed not only to your role as pope, but to your unique qualities as a person," Obama said, praising Francis' humility, simplicity, and generosity of spirit.

Though Francis has inveighed against the materialism that the United States seems to embody like no other country, he is also a potential political ally for Obama, sharing many of his progressive goals and bringing along many of America's 70 million Catholics.

Speaking in fluent, if accented, English, the 78-year-old returned the warm blessings of his host.

"As the son of an immigrant family, I am happy to be a guest in this country, which was largely built by such families," he said.

Francis said he would address Congress "to offer words of encouragement to those called to guide the nation's political future in fidelity to its founding principles."

Obama lauded Francis for reminding the world that "the Lord's most powerful message is mercy."

"That means welcoming the stranger with empathy and a truly open heart, from the refugee who flees war-torn lands to the immigrant who leaves home in search of a better life," Obama said.

Their message may also resonate strongly in a Europe convulsed by a refugee crisis.

And, as many US conservatives question the very existence of man-made climate change, Francis and Obama made a de facto joint appeal for action.

"Holy Father, you remind us that we have a sacred obligation to protect our planet, God's magnificent gift to us," Obama said.

Francis took up the call.

"Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation," Francis said.

Pomp and circumstance

The pope was afforded a full ceremonial welcome and a 40-minute one-on-one meeting with Obama in the Oval Office.

But the White House held off a planned 21-gun salute that would not have chimed with the pope's stature as a man of peace.

That was the only expense spared during a historic first visit to Washington -- a political city that shrugs when presidents, queens, and sheikhs roll through.

The visit was a political mirror of Pope Benedict's 2008 visit to George W. Bush's White House. Those two leaders were as conservative as their successors are progressive.

Still, the White House insisted it is not co-opting a holy man in order to batter Republican foes in Congress.

"The goal of the pope's visit, and certainly the goal of the meeting was not to advance anyone's political agenda," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

The Vatican played a crucial role in brokering talks between Cold War foes Havana and Washington that led to the recent restoration of diplomatic ties.

But the pope told reporters that he would not specifically bring up Washington's embargo of Cuba in his speech Thursday before American lawmakers, who largely favor a tough line with Havana.

Republicans are already crying foul.

Congressman Paul Gosar, who is Catholic, declared he would boycott the pontiff's address to protest his "leftist" views.

'The people's pope'

Nevertheless, there is no mistaking the political value of enlisting a popular pope's moral authority.

Seven out of ten Americans have a favorable impression of Francis, according to a Washington Post-ABC poll.

The pontiff will make two speeches during his visit, the address to Congress and another to the United Nations on Friday.

He will wrap up his historic six-day US trip on Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia at an international festival of Catholic families.

source: interaksyon.com

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

The Beatles' great rock bromance


The Beatles rooftop concert in ‘Let It Be’ is a template for every great band reunion moment — and possibly every romcom — to come.

Forty-five years ago, the Beatles were kaput, having called it quits in a flurry of torts and acrimony. A final studio album, “Abbey Road,” meant to show them as a functioning unit in 1969, was overtaken by “Let It Be,” recorded earlier but released later as a documentary and album, awash in Phil Spector strings and choirs. (It still won an Oscar for Best Song.)

The documentary is one of life’s painful reminders that people — even Beatles — grow tired of one another. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Let It Be takes us behind the scenes as John, Paul, George and Ringo — but mostly Paul — try to pull an album together out of general ennui.

At this point in time, after the death of manager Brian Epstein, the end of touring, John’s recent infatuation with Yoko Ono and George’s commitment to spiritual detachment, there were few cheerleaders left in the Beatles. Paul, the task-driven Gemini, still fit the bill, and he is the one that takes up the reins on this project.

Lindsay-Hogg’s camera dotes on Paul. He’s there in the opening in a tight shot, vamping some Bach-like inventions on piano (just so you know he’s the “serious” musical Beatle); Paul also gets loving close-ups singing Let It Be and The Long and Winding Road, the kind of close-ups where he’s much too aware of the camera, trying to win it (us) over.

Underneath the surface, though, the rest of the Beatles are wary, weary, disaffected. Ringo sits next to Paul as he improvises on piano, looking miles away, but also appropriately supportive; George sits and previews a new song, I Me Mine, for Ringo and others, with this caveat: “I don’t care if don’t want it.” (After all, he was amassing enough solo songs to release a triple solo album, “All Things Must Pass,” a year later.) John abruptly stops a rough run-through of I Dig a Pony and sighs: “Has anybody got a fast one?”


Only Paul comes to the party prepared, full of esprit de corps for a group that is now more corpse than corps. His songs are meticulously detailed, and he’s determined that the band hammer them into shape — literally, in the case of Maxwell’s Silver Hammer (which ended up instead on “Abbey Road”).

There is no narrative behind Let It Be, save for the narrative Paul tries to insert through short interview bits — telling Lindsay-Hogg that he and John wrote “hundreds of songs” back in Liverpool before becoming famous, and how some of these unrecorded gems were “brilliant.” It’s this urge to “get back” to those innocent days that is constantly at odds with the other musicians.

Tensions mount, and it’s fair to say the first half of “Let It Be” is a discordant bummer. There’s Paul “instructing” the band how to play the guitar break in I’ve Got A Feeling over and over again, as though he’s orchestrating the Wrecking Crew. There’s George getting sulky with Paul, then Paul lowering his voice as though to escape the cameras: “I’m trying to help you, but I always hear myself annoying you.” And George shrugging back, getting on with it: “I’ll play whatever it is you want me to play, or I won’t play at all if you don’t want me to play; whatever it is that pleases you, I’ll do it.”

Almost by design, the first half of the film proceeds without shape or form; the Beatles play raggedly, warts and all. In their nascent form, the songs fail to inspire, despite Paul’s loud declarations that this is all just another day in showbiz. Clearly, these are four men weary of one another.

Yet moments of light still shine through. It’s when the music catches fire, or sets them free, that you can actually believe these were the men that inspired Beatlemania. It’s there when John starts dancing with Yoko during a run-through of the waltz-like I Me Mine; it’s there when Linda Eastman’s little girl Heather (not Stella McCartney, as some believe) shows up to watch the band and laughs as John runs through a riotous Dig It with Billy Preston on keyboards; it’s there when Ringo does a comical reaction take as another child hits a nearby cymbal.

These unscripted bits are what remind us of the Beatles’ natural chemistry with one another, and with the camera’s eye. (They were movie stars, after all, in A Hard Day’s Night and Help.) It’s when they forget they’re on film that the film comes alive. Moments such as when John and Paul share a mic on a rock version of Two of Us (intriguing in itself); or when Paul and Ringo serve up a Jerry Lee Lewis duet on piano.

Other moments reveal a nurturing spirit: George is shown helping Ringo work out the chords for Octopus’s Garden on piano. And always — though not as intrusive as some remember — there is the figure of Yoko, quietly sitting by, listening to the band, but mostly to John.

But a shift occurs in the second half: in the classic rock bromance fashion, John and Paul resolve their differences; they come together through the power of music. When the movie really clicks is the final 20 minutes: a rooftop concert is staged at Apple headquarters, 3 Savile Row, and it provides a perfect antidote to the chaos that had been brewing earlier. Having worked out a rough “set,” the Beatles begin playing for the neighborhood passersby, and it’s as though the cool London air ignites them: crowds take to adjacent rooftops to hear the band run through Don’t Let Me Down, I’ve Got A Feeling, Get Back and One After 909. Magically, they find the connection that has eluded them in the studio setting; they are a band once again.

And it’s a moment that serves as a template for every great band reunion movie (and possibly every romcom) to come: that final scene from This Is Spinal Tap — where Nigel and David reunite onstage after bitter estrangement — takes its heart and soul from this moment in Let It Be. The only difference is, Spinal Tap went on to tour Japan shortly after reuniting (and even became an actual touring band in real life). The Beatles simply dissolved and went their separate, adult ways, their own reality show suddenly cancelled.

source: philstar.com

Monday, September 21, 2015

Jon Hamm, ‘Game of Thrones’ finally win Emmys glory


LOS ANGELES | HBO’s fantasy epic “Game of Thrones” won for best drama series and Jon Hamm finally took home a trophy for “Mad Men” on Sunday at the Emmy Awards — a night of firsts that saw a black actress make history.

Viola Davis gave an emotional speech as she became the first African-American to win the award for best actress in a drama series for her portrayal of a law professor involved in a twisted plot on ABC’s “How To Get Away with Murder.”

Other highlights of the show included a best comedy series prize for HBO’s political satire “Veep” and several prizes for Amazon’s dark transgender comedy “Transparent” — a major breakthrough for the streaming content provider.

“Game of Thrones” was the big winner at the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles, raking in 12 awards, and HBO also struck gold with “Olive Kitteridge,” about a couple whose marriage is in trouble, which won eight awards.

“Thrones” – a sweeping epic filled with blood, sex and back-stabbing — had won many awards before, but never the top prize.

“Thanks again, HBO, for believing in dragons,” said series co-creator David Benioff.

But the emotional high points of the night — television’s equivalent of the Oscars — belonged to Hamm and Davis.

Hamm — whose portrayal of seductive, mysterious ad man Don Draper on retro-cool “Mad Men” had won him rave reviews and transformed his career — finally struck gold on his eighth nomination for the role.

“It’s incredible and impossible for me personally to be standing here,” Hamm said after receiving a standing ovation from the audience at the 67th Emmys.

For Davis, the moment was not one to be missed.

“Let me tell you something,” she told the audience to wide applause. “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.”

She thanked series creator Peter Nowalk, executive producer Shonda Rhimes and others, calling them “people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black.”

- Four-peat for Julia Louis-Dreyfus -

“Transparent”, about a transgender woman, won five Emmys overall for Amazon in its first year with nominations for its scripted content, as it tries to catch up with streaming pioneer Netflix.

Jeffrey Tambor took home the trophy for best actor in a comedy for his portrayal of a transgender woman in the series, which also took honors for directing, best guest actor in a comedy and for two technical categories.

“I have been given the opportunity to act because people’s lives depend on it,” Tambor said in his acceptance speech.

“I’d like to dedicate my performance and this award to the transgender community. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your stories. Thank you for your inspiration.”

In addition to top comedy series honors, “Veep” — the story of a female US vice president who rises to the presidency and her bumbling staff — saw its star Julia Louis-Dreyfus win for the fourth time in a row. Co-star Tony Hale won his second Emmy for best supporting actor in a comedy.

Louis-Dreyfus cracked a joke about Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump in her acceptance speech, saying, “It’s getting trickier and trickier to satirize this stuff.”

- Host Samberg quips -

Host Andy Samberg kicked off the ceremony with a musical video skit about the wealth of quality television now on offer, featuring several stars like Hamm and Kerry Washington, the star of “Scandal.”

Samberg — the star of Fox’s sitcom “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and a former cast member of US comedy show “Saturday Night Live” — then hailed this year’s event for recognizing diversity.

“This is the most diverse group of nominees in Emmy history,” he said, then quipping: “So congratulations Hollywood, you did it. Yeah, racism is over.”

source: interaksyon.com

Sunday, September 20, 2015

F1 2015 | Vettel wins Singapore Grand Prix


SINGAPORE — Sebastian Vettel recovered from a heart-stopping track invasion by an unidentified fan on Sunday as he convincingly won the Singapore Grand Prix and closed the gap on Mercedes.

Ferrari’s Vettel led wire-to-wire for his third win this year, ahead of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, with championship leader Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes forced out with mechanical problems.

But Germany’s Vettel had a major shock on lap 36 when he spotted a man walking on the track, a bizarre incident which brought the race to a temporary halt.

“There’s a man on the track!” he yelled over the team radio, as the safety car came out for the second time in the floodlit night race.

The disruption was the closest Vettel came to an upset and there were echoes of his quadruple world title romp with Red Bull as he calmly won by 1.4 seconds.

source: interaksyon.com

Friday, September 18, 2015

Kobe Bryant medically cleared for Lakers return


NBA superstar Kobe Bryant has been medically cleared for all basketball activities when the Los Angeles lakers open training camp this month, US media reported Thursday.

Bryant, who suffered a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder in January, appears to be right on schedule in his recovery from a third straight season-ending injury.

His original prognosis called for a nine-month recovery after surgery.

ESPN.com and Bleacher Report cited league sources in reporting Bryant had been cleared to play.

The 37-year-old is entering his 20th NBA season, but it’s been some time since he completed a campaign.

An Achilles tendon injury cut short his 2012-13 season, and a knee injury ended his 2013-14 campaign.

Since he was granted a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension by the Lakers in 2013, he has played only 41 games.

But the Lakers insist they don’t regret a deal that will pay Bryant a league-leading $25 million this season, with club president Jim Buss saying in August that the aging superstar “deserves the money.”

Bryant has said he’ll decide after this season if he’s ready to retire, with Buss suggesting in August that the Lakers would be prepared to keep him on.

“It’s his decision,” Buss said, although he acknowledged that Bryant might have to accept a reduced role.

Bryant has played for the Lakers his entire NBA career, winning titles in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.

The 17-time All-Star is a two-time NBA scoring champion, and also a two-time Olympic champion with the United States.

source: interaksyon.com

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Amazon rolls out $49.99 ‘mass market’ tablet, new Fire TV


SAN FRANCISCO — Amazon.com Inc introduced on Thursday a $49.99 tablet, a price tag analysts said was low enough to set it apart in a crowded market and draw more customers to its online services.

The new Fire tablet, one of several new and upgraded devices launched by Amazon, comes with a 7-inch (17 cm) wide screen and a front and back camera. It will start shipping on Sept. 30.

“There’s one part of the tablet (market) that’s growing right now and….that’s sub $100 tablets,” said Dave Limp, senior vice president of Amazon devices, adding that the company’s $99 Fire HD was its best selling tablet last year.

Analysts said there are few comparable tablets that cost as little as the new Fire. The device comes with a quad core processor and 12 gigabyte storage.

“The lesson we learned from consumer electronics is that when the market matures consumers go cheaper…If you’re Amazon and you know this is going to happen you might as well join in,” said James McQuivey, principal analyst at Forrester.

He called the $50 tablet a “gateway drug” for Amazon to attract new customers to Prime, a $99-a year shopping program estimated to have around 40 million global members.

The potential to draw more customers may appease investors but could prove costly if Amazon fails to sell large volumes, analysts said.

Amazon took a $170 million write down in the third quarter last year after it struggled to sell its inventory of $200 Fire smartphones. Amazon has said it does not plan to profit from devices but to drive more customers to services through the gadgets.

Amazon on Thursday also rolled out a line of new, 8-inch and 10-inch Fire HD tablets and revamped Fire TV gadgets.

The $99.99 Fire TV set-top box integrates its cloud-based virtual assistant Alexa, allowing viewers to check the weather, look up sports scores and play music.

Amazon said viewers will soon be able to control home appliances through Fire TV, a function available on Echo, the company’s personal aide gadget that can control thermostats and lights.

source: interaksyon.com

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

LIKE | Facebook working on long-sought ‘dislike’ button


SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook, pressed for years by users to add a “dislike” button, announced Tuesday it was working on the feature and will be testing it soon.

“We’ve finally heard you,” CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg told a public town hall meeting in Facebook’s hometown of Menlo Park, California.

A question submitted online by a user asked the oft-repeated question of why there were no buttons along the lines of “I’m sorry”, “interesting” or “dislike” in addition to the classic thumbs-up “like” button, through which users show their support for posts by friends, stars and brands on the social network.

“Probably hundreds of people have asked about this, and today is a special day because today is the day where I actually get to say we are working on it and are very close to shipping a test of it,” Zuckerberg said.

“It took us a while to get here… because we don’t want to turn Facebook into a forum where people are voting up or down on people’s posts. That doesn’t seem like the kind of community that we want to create.”

He said he understood that it was awkward to click “like” on a post about events such as a death in the family or the current refugee crisis and that there should be a better way for users to “express that they understand and that they relate to you.”

“We’ve been working on this for a while, actually. It’s surprisingly complicated to make,” Zuckerberg added.

“But we have an idea that we think we’re getting ready to test soon, and depending on how that goes, we’ll roll it out more broadly.”

source: interaksyon.com

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

WATCH | Mark Zuckerberg gives free tour of new Facebook HQ


MANILA, Philippines — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has posted a behind-the-scenes video tour of their new headquarters in California.

In an almost four-minute video, Zuckerberg took viewers to a quick tour using Facebook’s “Live” function, a live-streaming video capability similar to apps such as Periscope and Meerkat.

“Hey, how’s it going? This is our first live video that we are taking at Facebook headquarters,” Zuckerberg said at the opening of the video.

The 31-year-old multi-billionaire chief executive of the social networking giant highlighted the open and transparent work-floor plan of their new office dubbed MPK20, which is a 430,000-square-foot building in Menlo Park designed by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry.

Zuckerberg is set to host tomorrow Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at MPK20 for a town hall-style question and answer.

source: interaksyon.com

Monday, September 14, 2015

Novak Djokovic tops Roger Federer to win US Open


Novak Djokovic clinched his third Grand Slam title of 2015 and 10th career major with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 triumph over sentimental favorite Roger Federer in the US Open final on Sunday.

Shrugging off a three-hour rain delay and the overwhelming hostility of the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, the 28-year-old world number one captured his second title in New York to add to his 2011 triumph.

The defeat shattered 34-year-old Federer’s bid to become the oldest US Open champion in 45 years and left him marooned on 17 Grand Slam titles, the last of which came at Wimbledon in 2012.

Djokovic added the US Open title to his Australian Open and Wimbledon victories this year.

Had it not been for a heartbreaking loss to Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final in June, the rock-solid Serb would have been celebrating a rare calendar Grand Slam.

Djokovic’s 10 majors takes him level with American Bill Tilden and just one shy of Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver on the all-time list.

Federer was ultimately undone by 54 unforced errors and his ability to convert just four of 23 break points.

“I have tremendous respect for Roger and the challenge he presents,” said Djokovic, who is now 21-21 in career meetings with Federer.

“He’s the best player ever. I knew I needed to play my best in order to win. It’s an incredible evening.”

He added: “I love this sport and all these achievements are incentive for me to keep on going.”

Federer insisted he would be back to try again in 2016.

“I love tennis. I’ll see you back here next year,” said the veteran.

“I’m pleased with where my game is, but playing a great champion like Novak is always difficult.”

With the likes of Robert Redford, Sean Connery and David Beckham watching, and with Eva Asderaki-Moore making history as the first woman to umpire the men’s singles final, Djokovic was dialled in from the start despite heavy rain forcing a three-hour delay and an evening start.

He forced five-time champion Federer, playing in his first US Open final in six years, to save three break points in a six-minute opening game.

The top seed held to love and then broke for 2-1 — it was just the third time in 84 service games at the tournament that the Swiss veteran had been broken.

Bloodied but unbowed

However, with the playing surface still damp from the hours of rain, the Serb suffered a worrying fall in the next game, turning over on his right ankle and bloodying his elbow.

Federer pounced to retrieve the break but the Serb was soon back in the ascendancy and Federer was broken again in the seventh game.

Federer saved a set point in the ninth, but conceded the first set with a netted backhand in the 10th game.

It ended his run of 28 consecutive sets won, a mark stretching back to July’s Wimbledon championship match, where he lost to Djokovic.

Djokovic saved five break points in an eight-minute game to go 1-1 in the second set despite Federer’s first use of his ‘SABR’ charge-and-chip ploy.

Federer then had two set points in the 10th game — surrendering one with a wild forehand with an open court at his mercy.

Djokovic held after seven deuces and 15 minutes of unbearable tension as he faced down Federer and the majority of the crowd.

The Swiss allowed another set point to slip away in the 12th game but he converted his fourth on a monster backhand to level the final.

The stadium erupted, leaving no doubt whatsoever as to the crowd’s affections.

Djokovic broke for 2-1 in the third, but unsettled by a call from the crowd during his service action he handed back the break for 2-2.

The top seed saved two break points in the eighth game before Federer suddenly lost focus and out of nowhere handed Djokovic a 5-4 lead.

Federer had two break points as he desperately clung on but Djokovic held his nerve to serve it out.

Djokovic sensed blood and broke in the opening game of the fourth set and saved a break point to lead 4-2.

The Serb broke again for 5-2, roaring at the crowd and the New York nighttime sky.

But there was still time for a twist as Federer retrieved one of the breaks when Djokovic served for the title and backed it up with a hold.

The Swiss let three more break points slip away in the 10th game before nerveless Djokovic sealed victory off a long Federer service return.

source: interaksyon.com

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Floyd Mayweather beats Andre Berto and says ‘it’s over’


Floyd Mayweather earned a unanimous decision over Andre Berto on Saturday to claim his 49th and he says final victim in a glittering unbeaten ring career spanning two decades.

All three judges ruled overwhelmingly in Mayweather’s favor and afterwards the American welterweight world champion confirmed that he was retiring, saying: “My career is over.

“It’s official.”

He equals the perfect 49-0 record of heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano and retains his WBA and WBC titles, embellishing his reputation as the best boxer of his generation.

Mayweather fell to his knees in the ring after the bell, taking in the moment.

“I want to thank all the fans… for 19 years I would not be able to do it without these fans,” he said, after the judges ruled it 118-110, 117-111 and 120-108, all to the champ.

“But you have to know when it’s time to hang it up. I’m knocking at the door; I’m nearly 40 years old now.

“There’s nothing else to prove in the sport of boxing. I’m leaving the sport with all my faculties; I’m still sharp and smart.”

The 38-year-old self-styled “TBE” (“The Best Ever”), who had consistently said that the Berto showdown would be the last time he steps into the ring, had too much guile and nous for the rank outsider.

Berto, who has now lost four of his last seven fights, was set up as the fall guy for the pound-for-pound king’s coronation — and he played the role perfectly, showing plenty of heart but not quite enough quality.

Mayweather has his critics, but he was given a hero’s welcome at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas by a boisterous crowd who had come expecting to see him give Berto, 32, an old-fashioned shellacking.

He did not quite do that, but instead used his sublime defensive skills to avoid the worst that Berto — a former two-time world champion — could throw at him.

Berto kept coming at Mayweather; Mayweather would land a quick-fire combination and then dart out of trouble again — to roars of approval for the man fans have taken to calling simply “Money.”

Turning the screw

Even when he had Mayweather against the ropes Berto found it hard to connect with anything meaningful.

The first real taste of a fight breaking out came at the end of the second round, when the two tangled after the bell, Mayweather giving his foe a dirty look.

The champion — hit by claims on the eve of the fight that he broke anti-doping rules earlier this year, which he denies — came out for round three clearly still riled.

Mayweather was sent scampering across the canvas after one exchange, bringing the crowd of 13,395 to its feet, but the move was more akin to wrestling than boxing.

Berto had his first real taste of success halfway through the fourth of the scheduled 12, forcing Mayweather to cower against the ropes as Berto chased one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

Berto resorted to roughhouse tactics in the fifth, catching Mayweather with one particularly low shot that drew oohs from the stands.

The crowd were up on their feet again in the sixth as Mayweather turned the screw, bamboozling the underdog with three shots to the body in rapid succession.

Still Berto — dismissed as a dud by some critics who wanted to see Mayweather take on a bigger name — kept coming forward.

But he was mostly finding air, not Mayweather’s face, and Mayweather punished him in the closing seconds of the seventh, and Berto briefly looked in big trouble.

Mayweather was ominously gaining control and he knew it — striking a pose at the end of the eighth, and some in the crowd serenaded him with cries of “TBE! TBE!”

Referee Kenny Bayless had to stop the action in the 10th and  warn the pair to stop mouthing off at one another, and there was another flashpoint when the bell sounded.

Mayweather sealed his night’s work — and that of his career, if he is to be believed — by turning showman in the 11th, ducking brilliantly to avoid  several Berto haymakers and then looking behind himself as if to say mockingly to his opponent: where am I?

Asked what he and Berto were muttering to each other in the ring, Mayweather said: “Just trash talking.”

source: interaksyon.com

The rise of Coleen Garcia


MANILA, Philippines - She was nowhere, then suddenly everywhere, much like glitter at a Katy Perry fete. In what most people would deem as a relatively short time, Coleen Garcia has become the quintessential face of rising stardom. But much like every seemingly “overnight” success, it’s taken a lot more than a pretty face and a killer bod to be crowned a box office sensation.

“I’ve been working since I was two,” says Garcia. “I did commercials. It actually never crossed my mind to try acting; the road just kind of presented itself to me. I wasn’t chasing it, but when I got the chance, I had to try it. It was kind of a leap of faith.”

It was in 2014 that she hit a real turning point. After a slew of smaller roles and co-hosting It’s Showtime, Garcia landed the supporting role of Janna in the independent film #Y, directed by Gino M. Santos. The film dealt with a complex subject matter — the occurrence of suicide among youth, dabbling in drugs and alcohol, the pressures young people have to deal with. The film enjoyed success on the independent circuit, enough to draw an equally successful distribution deal from Star Cinema. Santos says of Garcia, “I’ve learned that limiting her to a supporting role is just limiting potential that she has as an actress. She’s ready to take on any role given to her.” Spotlights were lit, and they were just waiting to shine on a star like Coleen Garcia.

In 2015, she was added to the main cast of Pasion de Amor, a local adaptation of the original Spanish telenovela Pasion de Gavilanes. Here, she plays Jamie Elizondo, who is the very picture of naiveté. “The show itself is understood to be sexy because of the original series. But I’m the bunso who’s always covered, always in pants, never really doing anything you could ever call sexy,” Garcia says with a laugh. Fresh, cleanly scrubbed, and hemlines all within a conservative measure, Garcia seemed destined to ride the Sweetness Express, the stereotype that is the death of most promising young actresses.

‘Ex with benefits’


But come September 2015, Garcia would once again team up with Santos to headline the Star Cinema release Ex With Benefits, starring opposite Derek Ramsey. She plays Arkie, whose foremost talent is being able to use her body to get what she wants — a grave and risqué departure from the girl next door selling us Skin White and Nestea.

Audience reception of the film was truly unprecedented — it earned P8 million on opening day alone. “Coleen went beyond expectations,” says Kriz Gazmen, creative director of Star Cinema. “She has proven that there is infinitely more to her than her beauty and sexiness. She is smart, sensitive and talented. We are excited with our next projects with Coleen and to groom her into the star that she is destined to be.”

Naturally, the spotlights turned up the heat, and news outlets wanted to know if Garcia was the next sexy starlet to watch. Garcia takes in all the hoopla and laughs it off. “I don’t want to be typecast. After this movie, I plan on doing other projects and exploring different things. The reason I did this movie was because the story had heart. Something caused Arkie to be that way, and it reinforces the fact that everyone goes through their own kind of pain. Even if the way she deals with things is unique, it’s very relatable. The sexiness of (the film) doesn’t take away from the story and won’t eat up what it has to say.”

Breaking convention

What makes Garcia remarkable is that she stands out in an industry that sanctifies the formula above else: She breaks convention. Most stars of recent years have risen to fame as half of a duo, or the classic marketing style of a love team. Most women are given roles that are either the girl next door, the best friend, or the minx — never all at once, and certainly not breaking the stereotype once it’s been established. She approaches her choices in acting roles with an admirable level-headedness, a belief in the story, and an undercurrent of true, raw talent that cannot be beat. And what makes her a real trailblazer is that her success is not a mere product of being at the right place at the right time; it is the consistency of hard work and the willingness to make sacrifices for greater opportunity.

For instance, fame inevitably puts pressure on one’s personal privacy. There’s been major focus on Garcia’s ongoing romantic relationship with fellow celebrity, Billy Crawford. With the release of Ex With Benefits, there is a lot of interest in his reaction to her sexier work, but Garcia says he’s much cooler than most people realize. “It definitely makes a difference that we’re both in the same industry. But it makes an even greater difference that he’s been here in this industry for 29 years. He’s seen how hard people work, he’s seen how hard I work, and he understands how much work it takes to make things happen. He really understands me and I’m so grateful for that.”

Then, there is the huge shift in the day-to-day. Wrangling the star for an interview involved competing with taping for Pasion, barely an hour of sleep, and several talk show guest spots (one of which involved the star having to take the MRT in heels just to make the show in time). “It’s a good feeling to realize that your work is being recognized,” says Garcia. “But it’s something that’s really overwhelming. There are so many things I can’t do myself anymore. I’m used to managing my own things, my own schedule, being able to call people myself and have conversations with them and set my own appointments. But now, there’s just not enough time. I suddenly have to ask for help with even just simple tasks, and I’m not used to that. Also, I barely get enough sleep, and it really eats up a lot of time. It’s been an adjustment.”

But in understanding the meaning behind the statement, “Everyone has the same hours in a day as Beyoncé,” Garcia says, elaborating on what helps her find balance in this freshly broken ground of success. “Do what you love and always make time for yourself. If you love what you’re doing, it won’t feel like work. That’s advice that a lot of people have given, but it’s true. You can go without sleep and be working nonstop, but you don’t feel how hard it really is when you finally see the results. You still have to make time for yourself, though, even just to read or to relax. You have to give yourself a moment to find peace.”

So what’s first on Garcia’s list of things to do the minute she gets a moment of peace? “I will sleep,” she exclaims with a laugh. “I think I need that.”

source: philstar.com

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Oakland Zoo to auction paintings by its animals


SAN FRANCISCO — Elephants, giraffes, lemurs, and even a cockroach at the Oakland Zoo in California have been exploring their creative sides to produce colorful paintings that will be auctioned for charity.

The painting sessions were conducted by zookeepers who used only positive reinforcement, including plenty of treats, as they worked with the animals, zoo spokeswoman Nicky Mora said.

Elephants were helped to hold paintbrushes in their trunks and giraffes in their mouths and produce their artwork one stroke at a time. Goats, lemurs, and meerkats had their hooves, paws or claws dabbed with nontoxic, water-based paint and ran over a blank sheet of poster board while chasing a treat.

Thirty-two of the works will be auctioned on eBay starting Thursday.

Andy, a Madagascar hissing cockroach, scurried around a canvas and the result was a piece in purple, green and yellow tones.

Maggie, a Nigerian dwarf goat, had her hooves dipped in blue, green and yellow paint and the keeper coaxed her with snacks to walk on a canvas.

"It was fun for them because they got treats for participating," Mora said.

None of the animals was forced to take part, she said.

Last year, Oakland Zoo auctioned off twelve paintings and raised nearly $10,000.

The bidding this year will end Sept. 20 and the funds raised will benefit Oakland Zoo's conservation partners, who are working in the field to save wild animals, Mora said.

source: philstar.com

Mecca crane collapse 'act of God': engineer


MECCA, Saudi Arabia - The collapse of a construction crane that killed 107 people at Mecca's Grand Mosque was "an act of God" and not due to a technical fault, an engineer for the developer said Saturday.

The massive red and white crane, which crashed into the court of the mosque during a rainstorm and high winds Friday, also injured around 200 people.

The engineer for Saudi Binladin Group, which is carrying out a massive expansion of the mosque, told AFP the crane, like many others on the project, had been there for three or four years without any problem.

"It was not a technical issue at all," said the engineer, who asked not to be identified.

"I can only say that what happened was beyond the power of humans. It was an act of God and, to my knowledge, there was no human fault in it at all."

Authorities are investigating the tragedy, which occurred as hundreds of thousands of Muslims from around the world were gathering for the annual hajj pilgrimage.

The engineer said the crane was the main one used on work to expand the tawaf, or circumambulation area around the Kaaba -- a massive cubed structure at the centre of the mosque that is a focal point of worship.

"It has been installed in a way so as not to affect the hundreds of thousands of worshippers in the area and in an extremely professional way," he said.

"This is the most difficult place to work in, due to the huge numbers of people in the area."

The crane's heavy hook, which is able to lift hundreds of tonnes, began swaying and moved the whole crane with it, toppling into the mosque, the engineer explained.

A witness said the accident occurred during winds which were so strong they shook his car and tossed billboards around.

The development project is expanding the area of the Grand Mosque by 400,000 square metres (4.3 million square feet), allowing it to accommodate up to 2.2 million people at once.

Saudi Binladin Group belongs to the family of the late al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

source: interaksyon.com

Friday, September 11, 2015

Apple TV aims to capture ‘cord cutters’


SAN FRANCICO — The new Apple TV unveiled this week has the potential to do for television what iPhone did to mobile phones, while claiming a starring role in home entertainment.

Updated Apple TV hardware set for release in late October wasn’t expected to revolutionize the television industry, but it could strike a blow to cable companies that have been in a power seat when it comes to delivering shows and other content.

“It turns out fears surrounding the long-term prospects of the cable industry were well warranted,” said Yahoo senior vice president Simon Khalaf, whose mobile analytics company Flurry was bought last year by the Internet pioneer.

“We believe that the industry is facing a perfect storm: apps, app stores and Apple.”

While the unveiling of a new Apple TV on Wednesday did not come with word of deals to stream shows or films from networks or studios, it will have a version of the App Store that has been a hit on iPhones.

“We believe the future of television is apps,” chief executive Tim Cook said.

Apple released a software kit for outside developers, and showed off early versions of Apple TV applications being crafted by streaming services Netflix, Hulu, and HBO.

Siri searches shows

The product launch “sent a warning shot at the cable industry in particular and the media industry in general,” Khalaf said in a blog post.

“Now rather than having dozens of channels to watch, US consumers will have thousands of apps to enjoy on their flat panel TVs ranging from games, to e-sport apps, to live entertainment apps, and to whatever these developers will cook up over the next year.”

Siri virtual assistant software built in Apple TV allowed for natural language searches for shows, such as asking for something funny or a certain actor by name.

Analysts keyed in on the fact that Siri will search across applications on Apple TV, meaning that where shows or films come from should be unimportant to viewers.

People should also be able to see what they want on-demand instead of being at the mercy of cable broadcast schedules.

These options can spur a trend of “cord cutting” or ending the subscription “bundles” offered by cable and satellite TV firms.

Apps trump TV

A Flurry report found that for the first time ever, people in the US in the second quarter of this year spent more each day using mobile applications than they did watching television: a daily average of 198 minutes versus 168 minutes

“Just as they did on the iPhone and iPads, consumers will download these apps and spend plenty of time on them, leaving the dozen or so cable channels lost in a sea of apps,” Khalaf said.

By letting media companies keep control of their content in apps, Apple could find new money-making models while sidestepping worries studios might have about distribution rights.

Since games consistently rank as the most popular apps on mobile devices, the genre is expected to be thrive on Apple TV.

An Apple TV remote control features a touchpad along with sensors that allow it to act as a motion controller similar to those that transformed video game play as part of the original Nintendo Wii console.

Apple TV lacked the kind of computing power and storage capacity found in hard-core video game consoles but was fine for the kinds of “casual” game apps that have rocketed to success on mobile devices, according to analysts.

“I think Apple TV will usher in an era of casual games in the living room,” said Gartner analyst Brian Blau.

The new Apple TV will launch in late October at a starting price of $149.

Apple TV has lagged rivals with similar devices. According to the research firm Parks Associates: Roku leads the US market with a 37 percent market share, to 19 percent for Google Chromecast and 17 percent for Apple TV. Amazon’s Fire TV devices have 14 percent.

Apple shares rebounded a day after a lukewarm market reaction to the US tech giant’s launch of upgraded iPhones and other devices.

Shares rallied 2.2 percent to end at $112.57.

Analysts say Apple is seeking to diversify its product line amid a competitive global smartphone market, and that its new iPad Pro, Apple TV streaming device and Apple Watch may help.

“The new offerings are welcomed additions to the portfolio that will strengthen not only the competitiveness of each product category, but also the wider ecosystem and the increasing developer effort behind this platform,” said analyst Kulbinder Garcha at Credit Suisse in a note to clients.

Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research said that while the iPhone accounts for most Apple revenue, the upgraded Apple TV device “one of the biggest and most important things announced” and “should drive significant new revenue for Apple and for developers.”

source: interaksyon.com

Thursday, September 10, 2015

WATCH | Apple unveils iPhone 6S, 6S Plus


Apple Inc unveiled the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus on Wednesday (September 9), the latest iteration of its lucrative smartphone that offers 3D touch, a display technology that responds differently depending on how hard users press their screens. The new phones, which will come in four metal finishes, will also come with an improved, 12 megapixel camera. Apple also said the new iPhone will record 4K video. Apple relies heavily on the sale of its flagship iPhones, which drove nearly two-thirds of the company’s revenue in the most recent quarter.

source: interaksyon.com

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Tech world waits for iPhone news and hopes for magic


SAN FRANCISCO — The tech world on Wednesday will have its eyes on Apple, expecting new versions of the company’s coveted iPhone but hoping for magic in the form of unexpected innovation.

Apple remained mum even as rumors ran rampant about what is in store at an upcoming San Francisco media event.

Analysts and industry insiders predict that Apple will unveil updated iPhones along with an Apple TV revamp that may signal a push into the online television streaming sector, dominated by Netflix.

In trademark enigmatic style, Apple has provided little more than the time and place of the event.

An update to the iPhone lineup is considered a sure thing, since the company has a pattern of doing just that every September.

Improvements are expected to include faster processing and better cameras.

New iPhone models might also feature the “force touch” technology used in the Apple Watch, which allows a user to control a device based on how hard the screen is pressed.

The iPhone remains a hot seller, accounting for the bulk of Apple’s revenue, but upgrades are needed to keep iPhone “at the top of the heap” in the competitive smartphone market, according to Gartner analyst Van Baker.

Apple consistently entices the market with tricked-out new iPhones in time for the crucial year-end holiday shopping season.



Apple TV tuned


Another expected star at the event could be Apple TV, which may get an App Store open to outside developers and perhaps focus on game-play, in a challenge to video game consoles.

The third-generation Apple TV was introduced slightly more than three years ago. The California-based company long downplayed Apple TV as a “hobby” after the original version was released in 2007.

“They are finally revisiting their hobby, the Apple TV,” said Forrester analyst Frank Gillett.

Apple is dabbling with the idea of making online television programming, a move that would challenge established players such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, according to a recent report in show-business magazine Variety.

“Original programing is the only solution to Apple’s biggest problem in the video world — that is, that nobody wants to sell Apple content rights,” said Forrester analyst James McQuivey.

“After watching what happened to the music business when Apple was given the keys to the kingdom, video producers and programmers are more than gun shy about handing the same power to Apple in the world of TV shows.”

Apple became a power to be reckoned with in digital music sales due to the popularity of its mobile devices and iTunes online shop.

While Apple was at the forefront of the shift to digital music, the world of Internet-streamed television already has powerful players such as Netflix and Amazon.


Watching for magic


There is weaker speculation that Apple could introduce a new, bigger iPad in what would be a break from the company’s tradition of unveiling tablet news at a separate event in October.

Tablet sales have cooled overall, and Apple faces the challenge of coming up with an innovation that re-ignites interest in iPads, according to analysts.

One way could be by tying iPads to more cloud services that better anticipate what users do using Apple products.

“I think they can make more magic happen,” Gillett said of App. “That is what I am going to look for.”

source: interaksyon.com

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Snowden attacks Russia rights curbs, would prefer to go home


OSLO, Norway - Former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden on Saturday criticised Russia -- the country that has granted him asylum -- calling its crackdown on human rights and online freedom "fundamentally wrong" and said he would prefer not to live in exile.

Snowden said Moscow's restrictions on the web were "a mistake in policy" and "fundamentally wrong" as he accepted a Norwegian freedom of expression prize by videophone from Russia.

"It's wrong in Russia, and it would be wrong anywhere," said Snowden, 32, who sought asylum in Russia two years ago after Washington filed a warrant for his arrest for having leaked documents that revealed the vast scale of US surveillance programmes.

Pushed on Moscow's deteriorating human rights record, the whistleblower said the situation is "disappointing, it's frustrating" and described restrictions on the Internet as part of a wider problem in Russia.

"I've been quite critical of (it) in the past and I'll continue to be in the future, because this drive that we see in the Russian government to control more and more the Internet, to control more and more what people are seeing, even parts of personal lives, deciding what is the appropriate or inappropriate way for people to express their love for one another...(is) fundamentally wrong," he said.

Russia 'never my plan'


Snowden said he had "never intended to go to Russia, that was never my plan" and that he had been transiting the country en route for Latin America when US officials cancelled his passport.

"I applied for asylum in 21 countries," he told the audience at the ceremony for the Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression's Bjornson Prize. "They were all silent. Russia was actually one of the last countries in that sequence that I applied for."

The computer expert had left his job with a contractor for the US National Security Agency (NSA) in Hawaii in May 2013 in order to leak his trove of classified information to the British newspaper The Guardian from Hong Kong.

He recalled that the idea of leaving that city for Russia had been suggested by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange -- who himself had to seek asylum in Ecuador's embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations.

"I think his (Assange's) intention was good. He was focused primarily on my safety as a publisher, and having a source, he was interested in the source protection angle," said Snowden.

"But for me, the problem is I wasn't interested in my own safety, my own protection. I never expected to be free today. I expected to be in prison."

The technical expert also criticised many "developed countries"  for ignoring the public's concern about intelligence monitoring by imposing more restrictive laws, which he said turn out to be useless.

"They say: well these things are necessary to keep us safe, " he said, and cited for instance the deadly attack in January by jihadists on a French satirical magazine over its cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

"In the Charlie Hebdo attacks for example, the intelligence services say: 'Oh yes, we knew who these people were'. But it didn't stop the attack."

Normal life
Despite his extraordinary situation, Snowden described his life as "normal", while adding: "I mean, I would prefer to live in my own country."

"But exile is exile," he said.

The White House in July rejected a petition to pardon Snowden, saying the fugitive should return to the United States and "be judged by a jury of his peers" for leaking US government secrets.

And despite his criticism of Russian Internet restrictions and laws encroaching on freedom of speech, Snowden said he feels he is allowed to express himself in Russia.

"I do. And I think it's primarily in the context of the fact that most activities happen online. I mean, when people ask me where I live, the most honest answer is on the Internet."

source: interaksyon.com

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Fiat Chrysler US to recall 7,810 SUVs to prevent hacking


Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s U.S. arm said on Friday it would recall 7,810 sport utility vehicles in the United States to update software for radios to prevent hacking.

The announcement by FCA US LLC, formerly Chrysler Group LLC, comes more than a month after the company recalled about 1.4 million vehicles in the United States for the software update.

Cybersecurity researchers used the Internet to turn off a car’s engine as it drove, escalating concerns about the safety of Internet-connected vehicles.


FCA said on Friday that it was unaware of any injuries related to software exploitation.

The recalled vehicles include 2015 Jeep Renegade SUVs equipped with 6.5-inch touchscreens.

FCA said that more than half of the recalled vehicles remain with dealers and will be serviced before they are sold.

source: interaksyon.com