Power Failures Hit Half of India

NEW DELHI — About 600 million people lost power in India on Tuesday when the country’s northern and eastern electricity grids failed, crippling the country for a second consecutive day.

The outage stopped hundreds of trains in their tracks, darkened traffic lights, shuttered the Delhi Metro and left nearly everyone — the police, water utilities, private businesses and citizens — without electricity. About half of India’s population of 1.2 billion people was without power.

India, however, has an unofficial power grid in the form of huge numbers of backup diesel generators and other private power sources. That kept electricity flowing in everything from private residences and small and large businesses to hospitals and major airports.

Manoranjan Kumar, an economic adviser with the Ministry of Power, said in a telephone interview that the grids had failed and that the ministry was working to figure out the source of the problem. The northern and eastern grids cover 11 states and the capital city of Delhi, stretching from India’s northern tip in Kashmir to Rajasthan to West Bengal’s capital of Kolkata.

The failure happened without warning just after 1 p.m., electric company officials said.

“We seem to have plunged into another power failure, and the reasons why are not at all clear,” said Gopal K. Saxena, the chief executive of BSES, an electric company that services South Delhi, in a telephone interview. It may take a long time to restore power to north India, he said, because the eastern grid has also failed, and alternate power sources in Bhutan and the Indian state of Sikkim flow into the east first.

About two hours after the grid failure, power ministry authorities said some alternate arrangements had been made. “We are taking hydro power from Bhakhra Nangal Dam,” in northern India, said Sushil Kumar Shinde, the power minister, in a televised interview.

India has struggled to generate enough power of its own to fuel businesses and light homes, and the country relies on huge imports of coal and oil to power its own plants. But supply and demand may not explain away this week’s grid failures, power executives said.

The failure on Tuesday affected roughly twice as many people as the massive power outage the previous day, when the northern power grid failed and left more than 300 million people without power for several hours. No official reason for the Monday’s failure has been given, although some local news reports pointed fingers at state governments which were overdrawing power.

That assessment is too simplistic, Mr. Saxena, of BSES, said. There are controls in place on India’s electricity grids that override an outsized power demand. “We have one of the most robust, smart grids operating” in the world, he said. It would “not be wise” to give an assessment of what happened at this time, he added.

Institutions without a private backup system were shuttered. All trains stopped in the Delhi Metro, which carries nearly 2 million passengers a day. Trains were pulled to the closest stations using battery back up, and then evacuated, a spokeswoman for the Delhi Metro said, and the stations have been locked. “We had never anticipated such a thing,” the spokeswoman said.

A trade body, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, or Assocham, said that Monday’s power problem “totally disturbed the normal life and has severely impacted the economic activities."

“While on the one hand it is a pity that over 26,000 megawatts of power stations are idle due to the nonavailability of coal, on the other one grid failure has brought the system collapsed,” said the group’s secretary general D.S. Rawat, noting that “the entire power situation at present is headed for disaster.”

Niharika Mandhana and Hari Kumar contributed to this story from New Delhi.

source: nytimes.com

Dennis Hopper's Son Accused of Raping 15-Year-Old Girl

Dennis Hopper's 21-year-old son has been accused of raping a 15-year-old girl ... after plying her with drugs and alcohol ... this according to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ.

Henry Hopper -- who starred in Gus Van Zant's "Restless" in 2011 -- is being sued by the mother of an unidentified 16-year-old girl ... who claims the girl met Hopper through a mutual friend in Feb. 2011.

According to the legal papers, the girl -- identified in the lawsuit as Jan Doe -- claims the two began to communicate on Facebook ... and in the months that followed, Hopper invited her to his home in Venice, CA on multiple occasions with the promise of drugs and alcohol.

In the suit, Doe claims Hopper would wait until she was intoxicated ... and "engaged in sexually offensive conduct with her" ... including sexual intercourse, forced oral copulation and sodomy.

It's unclear if Doe ever reported the allegations to police.

In the suit, Doe's lawyer claims the actor "preyed upon a young impressionable child, suggesting that he cared for her, luring her into his home with promises of alcohol and illegal drugs, and then repeatedly taking advantage of her youth an vulnerability."

Doe's mother claims the girl suffered significant injuries to her emotional health, strength and activity ... and was required to employ multiple mental health care professionals for treatment.

She's suing for unspecified damages.

Attempts to reach Hopper were unsuccessful.

source: tmz.com

Insurance Rebates Seen as Selling Point for Health Law

Lucia Harkenreader’s check landed in her mailbox last week: a rebate of $456.15 from her health insurance company, with a letter dryly explaining that the money came courtesy of the federal health care law.

“It almost looked like junk mail,” said Ms. Harkenreader, a tax accountant in Mountain Top, Pa., who said she did not love the overall law but was pleased at the unexpected windfall. “If this is part of Obamacare, I’m happy that somebody is finally coming down on the insurance companies and saying, ‘Look, let’s be fair here.’ ”

The law requires insurers to give out annual rebates by Aug. 1, starting this year, if less than 80 percent of the premium dollars they collect go toward medical care. For insurers covering large employers, the threshold is 85 percent.

As a result, insurers will pay out $1.1 billion this year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, although most of it will not go to individuals. The average rebate will be $151 per household, with the highest in Vermont ($807 per family), Alaska ($622) and Alabama ($518). No rebates will be issued in New Mexico or Rhode Island, because insurers there met the 80/20 requirement.

Although the percentage of insurance companies that owe rebates this year is relatively small, about 14 percent, many giants of the industry are on the list. They include Aetna, Cigna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare.

President Obama is highlighting the rebates as a tangible early benefit of the legislation; on the day the Supreme Court upheld the law as constitutional last month, he said millions of Americans would see rebates because their insurance companies had “spent too much on things like administrative costs and C.E.O. bonuses, and not enough on your health care.”

So is your check in the mail? Don’t count on it.

Self-insured employers, which cover more than half the nation’s workers, are exempt from the new rule, as are Medicare and Medicaid. And of the 75 million people in health plans subject to the rule, only about 17 percent, or 12.8 million, will get rebates this year, according to the Obama administration.

Many who buy coverage directly from insurers, like Ms. Harkenreader and other self-employed people, are receiving checks. But in most cases rebates are being sent to employers, who can chose to put them toward future premium costs instead of distributing them to workers.

“I’ve been trying to explain that to people — that very few people would be getting a check,” said Timothy S. Jost, a law professor at Washington and Lee University who is an expert on the health care law.

Still, he and others say the rebate provision could prove a potent selling point for a law that remains unpopular with many Americans, not to mention a well-timed tool for the Obama re-election campaign. Premiums — and anger toward insurance companies — keep rising: the cost of employer-sponsored family health plans jumped by 9 percent last year to more than $15,000, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

For Ms. Harkenreader, 53, who is putting a son through college, the rebate helps soothe the frustration she feels toward her insurer, Golden Rule, which is owned by UnitedHealthcare.

“It seems like the health insurance companies really just don’t have any consideration for the cost out here,” said Ms. Harkenreader, who pays about $480 a month for a high-deductible plan, up from $400 last year. “What costs have gone up to justify that rise in premium? I’d love to know. Did you give your people a raise? I guess your light bill went up?”

Professor Jost said he had heard “quite a bit of anecdotal evidence of insurers giving really low premium increases this year” — a sign that the rebate rule might already be having an effect. (This year’s rebates are based on the share of premiums that went to administrative costs in 2011.)

Amber Wagner of St. Peters, Mo., said that in addition to a rebate of $143, she had gotten word from her insurer, Anthem, that her premium rate would drop starting next month.

“It does make sense,” Ms. Wagner, 29, said of the rebate rule. “Why should they get to spend all this money on advertising and lining the pockets of people who own the company and make me pay more?”

Insurance companies say the rebate requirement does not address swiftly rising medical costs, which they say are the main reason premiums keep going up.

“Placing an arbitrary cap on administrative costs is going to do nothing to make health care more affordable,” said Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, the industry trade group. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there.”

Critics also say the rule could drive insurers with high administrative costs out of some markets if they are not given more time to meet the 80/20 standard, potentially leaving customers in the lurch. That concern factored into a decision by the Department of Health and Human Services to allow insurers in several states to spend a higher portion of premiums on overhead for now. Those states are Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire and North Carolina. Eight other states sought but were not granted a reprieve.

Employers can put the rebates toward future premium costs, share them directly with workers or use them to enhance benefits. Insurers have the option of directly reducing future premiums instead of sending out rebates.

In Kentucky, the Floyd County commissioners voted last week to distribute the county’s rebate of $169,748.78 from Humana to county employees as a surprise. The 260 employees will soon receive checks, although Stephen Bush, the board president, said the amounts have yet to be determined. Those who paid higher premiums will probably get more, he said.

“It’s probably been five, seven years since they’ve gotten a raise,” Mr. Bush said. “If they want to use it for premiums, they can. But if they’re living paycheck to paycheck or it’s a difficult time, they have that opportunity to use it for whatever they want.”

Robert Blendon, a health policy professor at Harvard, said that while the rebates might win over some opponents of the law, they were too limited to have much impact. Polls have found that most people believe the law will drive premiums up.

“My view is the number is too small,” Professor Blendon said. “Most people have already come to some judgment about the law and they are moving on to other things.”

source: nytimes.com

Recession, Libor, Facebook pummel Europe’s banks

ZURICH/LONDON — As if things weren't bad enough, one of Europe's banks took another knock on the chin on Tuesday from its role in Facebook's botched stock market flotation.

Banks are showing the scars from a series of blows: a euro zone crisis that politicians can't resolve, a transatlantic probe into interest rate-rigging, economic stagnation or recession, and regulators tightening the screw.

Although still profitable, earnings are down sharply from pre-crisis days and investors worry that these skinny results will become the norm as the industry goes through profound structural change.

"It's pretty bleak out there. It's going to be very difficult through the summer," said Chris Wheeler, analyst at Mediobanca in London, citing a series of one-off hits and charges adding to the euro zone gloom.

"The question is whether we are entering a new paradigm, not only in investment banking but in wealth management and other products areas that are going to see lower returns. We are not going to return to pre-crisis levels even in wealth management, the question is how much lower will it be," he said.

In the space of an hour on Tuesday, four of Europe's top banks laid bare the troubled times and the impact on their bottom lines.

Sergio Ermotti, chief executive of Swiss bank UBS which shocked investors with a sharp drop in profit, summed up the mood: "A return of confidence can only happen when clients believe there is a clear and lasting resolution to today's economic and political challenges, and this will take time," he said.

UBS took a 349 million Swiss franc ($356 million) loss on its role on advising and underwriting US social networking site Facebook's flotation in May.

The bank said it would take action against US stock exchange Nasdaq for what it called "gross mishandling" of the initial public offering (IPO).

Its second-quarter profit more than halved to 425 million Swiss francs as its investment bank made a loss after trading activity crashed, in addition to the Facebook hit.

Rival Deutsche Bank, suffered a similar drop in trading at its investment bank where profit plunged 63 percent, underscoring the challenge facing its new leaders as they prepare a strategy overhaul.

Analysts said Deutsche Bank's new bosses have startling problems to address at the investment bank – costs represented 87 percent of income, and return on equity was just 5 percent, well below its cost of capital.

BBVA, Spain's second-biggest bank, said first-half profit slumped by a third as it set aside cash to cover losses on its toxic real estate loans, which all the country's banks have been told to do as recession deepens.

BBVA will have to set aside more in the future and the impact of its sickly home market may be a drag for years.

In Austria, Erste Bank cut its 2012 profit outlook for the second time in three months in the face of deteriorating economies across Europe.

By 1030 GMT, UBS shares were down 4.9 percent, Erste shed 3 percent and Deutsche Bank was down 1 percent. BBVA was flat. The European bank index dipped 1 percent, and is down 18 percent since mid-March.

More pain

Investors worry there is more pain ahead, particularly in the fallout from the rate-rigging scandal and in Britain from mis-selling insurance and complex interest rate hedging products.

"This is the longest tunnel I have ever been in and there's no sign of light at the end of it," said an investor who is a top 10 shareholder in Royal Bank of Scotland and holds some other bank shares.

Britain's Barclays was fined $453 million last month by US and UK regulators for rigging interest rates, and more banks are expected to be dragged in.

More than a dozen, including UBS and Deutsche Bank, are being probed by investigators looking at whether Libor and Euribor benchmark rates were manipulated.

UBS said on Tuesday it had appropriate provisions for all litigation. Deutsche Bank did not say whether it had set aside funds for potential costs.

Corporate treasurers, pension funds, charities and other investors are seeking advice on whether to pull their money out of banks, nervous that earnings will be eroded for some time by fines.

"There appears to be a common denominator: the absence of appropriate cultural and ethical values to guide bank management and governance," said George Dallas, director of corporate governance at F&C Investments.

One bright spot is that banks have remained in the black, in contrast to the darkest days of the 2008/09 global financial crisis. Deutsche Bank may need to raise capital, some analysts reckon, but there appears unlikely to be an immediate industry-wide dash for cash.

But even banks that are performing relatively well are struggling to regain investors' trust. HSBC, Europe's biggest lender, on Monday took a $2 billion hit to cover fines due to lax anti-money laundering in its US and Mexican operations and to compensate British customers for mis-selling. That took the shine off a decent underlying performance, analysts said. — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Julie Anne San Jose, lalong nagiging open kay Elmo Magalona

Kumakalat kamakailan sa internet ang larawan ng Kapuso love team na sina Julie Anne San Jose at Elmo Magalona, na masayang nagbobonding sa isang coffee shop sa Eastwood.

Sa exclusive interview ng Startalk TX last Saturday, inamin ng young Kapuso singer-actress na totoo ngang nagde-date sila ng ka-loveteam noong panahon na iyon.

“That time po kasi parang nagkayayaan po kami. Si Mo [palayaw ni Elmo] po, niyaya ako na manood ng movie which is ‘yong Dark Knight, and nagkataon na nasa shooting po kami ng Together Forever. So ayon po, lahat kami ‘di pa nakakanood noong movie na ‘yon so we all decided to watch," kwento ng young actress.

Halos dalawang taon na ring magkatambal ang dalawa, ngunit ito pa lamang ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na pinayagan si Julie na lumabas kasama ni Elmo.

“Pinagpaalam po ako ni Elmo kina Mama at Papa, kasi ayon po ‘yong parang first time ko na lumabas with Mo. ‘Yon din ang first time niya na lumabas with me. I really think it is fun to hang out with him," dagdag niya.

Inamin din ng young star na lalo niyang nakikilala si Elmo, at sa tingin niya’y ganoon din ito sa kanya.

“Parang halos araw-araw na lang kaming magkasama eh. Parang ang kulang na lang, magkapalit na kami ng mukha ‘di ba? Actually ngayon, lalong nagiging mas-open kami at nawawala na rin ‘yong awkwardness namin. Patagal kasi kami ng patagal sa industry ‘di ba? And it’s really nice na mas nakikilala namin ‘yong isa’t isa," nakangiting kwento ni Julie Anne.

Sa darating na August 15 ay ipalalabas na ang first ever Julie-Elmo love team movie na Just One Summer, aminado si Julie Anne na medyo kabado siya sa magiging resulta ng kanilang pelikula.

“May times na kinakabahan ako kasi iniisip ko rin kung ano ‘yong mangyayari or kung ano ba ‘yong magiging reaction ng mga tao doon sa movie," pahayag niya.

Bukod pa rito’y tiniyak ng singer-actress na siguradong sulit at maraming life lessons na matututunan mula sa kanilang movie.


“Marami po kaming pinaghandaan at pinaghirapan ni Elmo and of course po, sa direksyon po ni Direk Mac Alejandre. Marami rin pong veteran actors and actresses ‘yong nandoon sa movie. So I think It’s gonna be worth watching talaga at marami silang matututunan," pagbabahagi ni Julie Anne. -- Paula Panganiban/MM/FRJ/GMANetwork.com

source: gmanetwork.com

Bestselling Irish author Maeve Binchy dies

LONDON - Maeve Binchy, one of Ireland's most beloved writers, has died in Dublin after a short illness at the age of 72, Irish media reported on Tuesday.

Binchy was revered for such novels as "Light a Penny Candle," "Tara Road," and "Circle of Friends," which was adapted for the screen in 1995. She sold more than 40 million books worldwide.






Her novels and short stories often examined the friction between tradition and modernity in Ireland. Her works have been translated into 37 languages.

Born in the Dublin suburb of Dalkey in 1940, she began her career as a teacher before moving into a distinguished career as a newspaper journalist and writer.

She then moved to London, where she became the London editor of The Irish Times newspaper.

Her first novel, "Light a Penny Candle," was published in 1982 and became a bestseller.

She later published dozens of novels, novellas and collections of short stories, including "The Copper Beech," "Silver Wedding," "Evening Class," and "Heart and Soul."

She announced her retirement in 2000, but continued writing. Her last novel, "Minding Frankie," was published in 2010.

Binchy lived in Dalkey until her death, not far from where she grew up.

She is survived by her husband, the writer Gordon Snell. –Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Gourmet Chiz!

It is one thing to watch Senator Chiz Escudero grill someone at a Senate inquiry. It is another to listen to him talk in rapid-fire Pilipino to air his views at media conferences. But to see him roll up his sleeves -- and cook? That is definitely a surprising treat, one that was given to select members of the press during the launching of his commercial for the Frabelle food brand’s latest line of premium processed meat offerings such as Honey Ham, Yummy Hotdogs and Cheesedogs, Hickory Smoked Bacon, and Pork Ham Tocino.

True to his straight-to-the-point style, Chiz took on the task without any need for preliminaries. He gamely donned an apron and started sautéing his aromatics like a pro, all the while talking about his kitchen experience to a very rapt audience (who agreed amongst themselves that this was definitely not something you see every day). While the pan sizzled, the Senator, talked about his humble beginnings in the kitchen. His area of expertise, he says, is breakfast.

“That was his job,” his mother confirmed. Incidentally, his mom, Evelina, built a career in the academe in the field of Home Economics. In fact, she was recently-appointed member of the University of the Philippines Board of Regents and has been president of the UP Home Economics Alumni Association and the UP Alumni Association Hostel and Canteen Services, Inc. since 2008. Since she lectures on Home Economics, this surely meant that Chiz had to learn the rudiments of cookery under her tutelage.

“As a young boy, I bonded with her mostly in the kitchen. We cooked breakfast together. She taught me stuff, like how to correctly cut a chicken into pieces, how to debone and clean a fish. Kaya excuse me, marunong akong magsaing kahit walang rice cooker!” he quips.

He explored the culinary world further when he and his posse found themselves with nothing to do, so they enrolled in a cooking class. “It was at the First Gourmet Academy in Quezon City. I studied with my brother, my brother-in-law and my neighbor under Chef Mats Loo. For three months, he taught us the basics—like how to sauté a fish.” He enjoyed it so much, he says, that he enrolled under Chef Reggie Aspiras for further studies.

“It was on a dish-to-dish basis, and I now cook my personal favorites like adobo, paella and tinola, and some Spanish dishes like cochinillo -- which I haven’t perfected yet. My kids love my version of paella; they affectionately call it yellow rice. When I cook for them, I tone down the spiciness, because I myself like my food spicy, owing to my Bicolano background.” This, he says, while sprinkling a large amount of pepper on his dish dubbed Chiz Yummy Spaghetti. “When I was growing up, we did not use ground meat on our spaghetti, just lots of hotdogs,” he recalls of his very Pinoy pasta orientation.

So, yes, he was very used to eating meaty treats such as hotdogs, and when he was approached to endorse the Frabelle products, there was no hesitation on his part. “It was not even a formal invite. My friend Frannie Tiu-Laurel came over and asked me and our other friends to try their new products. I liked it and actually volunteered to endorse it for free – so, no, you will not find this on my SAL-N!” he jokes.

This actually says a lot about the product, because after an episode where something he ate did not agree with him, he started to become very careful with the food he eats. “That is also the reason why I like to cook for my kids so I know what they are eating is safe. In fact, ‘yan ang hindi ko pinagtitipiran sa kanila. Damit pinagtitipiran ko, kasi paglalakihan din nila ito. Pero hindi ang pagkain,” he explains.

The Senator says that safe, delicious, and affordable food for all Filipinos is his dream. “Karapatan ng bawat Pilipino ang masarap at malinis na pagkain. Hindi lang ito dapat pang mayaman, dapat ang mahihirap ay magkaroon ng pagkakataon na makakain ng pagkaing ganoon at marahil ito ay isa sa mga hamon sa gobyerno na sinusubukang gampanan sa ngayon. Sariling atin ang kumpanyang ito, gawa sa Pilipinas, mula sa Pilipino, na dapat tangkilikin at ipagmalaki.” With that, he enjoined the guests to try his yummy spaghetti.

The new Frabelle products are now available at leading grocery stores and supermarkets nationwide.

source: mb.com.ph

Professor Suggests Dumping Algebra From Curriculum Entirely

A number of high school students and even college students have trouble with math. Specifically, these students have trouble with algebra and its offspring. This level of math can lead to significant roadblocks in the development of students’ education. According to Andrew Hacker, one in four ninth graders fail to finish high school and algebra is often to blame. So, logically, we should get rid of algebra.

Removing algebra from the list of required courses would allow more students to finish high school with the tools they need. Hacker argues that the kind of math being taught by algebra isn’t necessary in the daily lives of millions of people and therefore we should not hold ourselves to its standards. Math, itself, is important but should be more focused on things like arithmetic and balancing checkbooks. The focus should be on the kinds of things everyone is required to do at some point.

Hacker continues by stating that 57 percent of the City University of New York students didn’t pass its mandated algebra course. Another figure used to support his conclusion is that only 9 percent of men and 4 percent of women received a 700 or better on the math section of their SAT in 2009. Even with all of this evidence, one can’t help but wonder if the emphasis is being placed in the wrong place.

All of these numbers and percentages only proves that the United States is failing at mathematics — and specifically algebra and its offshoots. The struggle here shouldn’t be whether we need to drop algebra but how we can improve our ability. In a lot of ways, logic and math go hand in hand. What is algebra if not logic?

To say that we are failing and need to do something about it is absolutely correct. To say we need to remove it from our path as a hindrance rather than overcoming it with improved teaching methods, enhanced mathematics programs, and funding in general is a mistake.

source: geekosystem.com

Predicting crimes before they happen – à la ‘Minority Report’ – now a reality?

Crime fighters have long used brains and brawn, but now a new kind of technology known as “predictive policing” promises to make them more efficient.

A growing number of law enforcement agencies, in the US and elsewhere, have been adopting software tools with predictive analytics, based on algorithms that aim to predict crimes before they happen.

The concept sounds like something out of science fiction and the thriller “Minority Report” based on a Philip K. Dick story.

Without some of the sci-fi gimmickry, police departments from Santa Cruz, California, to Memphis, Tennessee, and law enforcement agencies from Poland to Britain have adopted these new techniques.

The premise is simple: criminals follow patterns, and with software — the same kind that retailers like Wal-Mart and Amazon use to determine consumer purchasing trends — police can determine where the next crime will occur and sometimes prevent it.

Colleen McCue, a behavioral scientist at GeoEye, a firm that works with US Homeland Security and local law enforcement on predictive analytics, said studying criminal behavior was not that different from examining other types of behavior like shopping.

“People are creatures of habit,” she said.

“When you go shopping you go to a place where they have the things you’re looking for… the criminal wants to go where he will be successful also.”

She said the technology could help in cities where tight budgets were forcing patrol reductions.

“When police departments are laying more sworn personnel, they can do more with less,” she said.

The key to success in predictive policing is getting as much data as possible to determine patterns. This can be especially useful in property crimes like auto theft and burglary, where patterns can be detected.

“You can build a model that factors in attributes like the time of year, whether it is hot and humid or cold and snowy, if it is a payday when people are carrying a lot of cash,” says Mark Cleverly, who heads the IBM unit for predictive crime analytics.

“It’s not saying a crime will occur at a particular time and place, no one can do that. But it can say you can expect a wave of vehicle thefts based on everything we know.”

IBM has worked with dozens of agencies such as London’s Metropolitan Police, the Polish National Police and a number of US and Canadian cities.

In Memphis, officials said serious crimes fell 30 percent and violent crimes declined 15 percent since implementing predictive analytics in a program with IBM and the University of Memphis in 2006.

The program known as CRUSH — Criminal Reduction Utilizing Statistical History — targeted certain “hot spots” to allow police to deploy more efficiently.

John Williams, crime analysis manager for the city’s police, said the system has had a dramatic impact, allowing Memphis to get off the list of worst US cities for crime.

“If the data is indicating a hot spot, we are able to immediately deploy resources there. And in a lot of instances we are able to make quality arrests because we’re in the right area at the right time,” he told AFP.

Although beat officers can use their instincts for similar results, Williams said the software could be far more precise, such as predicting burglaries in a small geographic area between 10 pm and 2 am.

In one case, the software was able to help police break up a group that was committing armed robberies on the city’s Hispanic population.

“There were 84 robberies, but we had no idea it was so organized,” Williams said.

By crunching the numbers, police were able to pinpoint the zone and time of likely holdups: “We caught a group of robbers in progress, we had leads on additional robberies,” he said.

Williams said police officials from as far away as Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro and Estonia have come to review the experience in Memphis.

In Los Angeles, another program developed by scientists at the University of California-Los Angeles and Santa Clara University was tested in a single precinct, and resulted in a 12 percent drop in crime while the rest of the city saw a 0.2 percent increase.

That test and others led to the creation of a company called PredPol.

And Los Angeles will expand its use of the program under contract with PredPol, said CEO Caleb Baskin.

Baskin said the system is based on a model from mathematician George Mohler which “is very effective in predicting the time and location for crimes that have not yet taken place.”

PredPol had begun working with other cities in California and “we’ve had inquiries from a lot of places in the US and international locations,” Baskin said.

“The science that underlies the tool will work anywhere. The question is does the agency maintain a database that we can plug into.”

While use of such analytics generally wins plaudits for helping “smarter” policing, it does raise concerns about Big Brother-like snooping.

Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, a law professor at the University of the District of Columbia, said the use of technology could be positive but that it could lower the threshold for constitutional protections on “unreasonable” searches.

“To stop you and frisk you and search you, a police officer needs reasonable suspicion, so my question is how will this affect reasonable suspicion?” he said.

If the search is based on a computer algorithm, Ferguson said, and the case comes to court, “How do you cross-examine a computer?”

IBM’s Cleverly said the technology can in many cases improve privacy.

“You can pinpoint the record of who has access to information, you have a solid history of what’s going on, so if someone is using the system for ill you have an audit trail,” he said.

As for “The Minority Report” and its predictive software, Cleverly said, “It was a great film and great short story, but it’s science fiction and will remain science fiction. That’s not what this is about.”

source: interaksyon.com

Free digital camera at Abenson with Citibank PayLite

MANILA, Philippines - Citibank is offering cardholders who shop at Abenson a host of exclusive treats starting with a free digital camera. Shop at any participating Abenson branch until Aug. 14, and receive a free Olympus VG-150 Digital Camera when you pay a minimum single-receipt purchase of P50,000 via Citibank’s 0% PayLite installment plan.

On top of this, you can even pay for your purchases in installment at 0% interest, three months later.

The Citibank PayLite installment plan offers 0% interest or affordable monthly add-on rates at participating establishments nationwide, which allows Citibank Cardholders to pay in light and easy installments.

Other free items in the promotion are Hanabishi E-Kettles and Union Stand Fans for a minimum of P20,000 or P30,000 PayLite purchase, respectively.

To claim your free premium item, present your purchase slip and Citibank Credit Card at the customer counter of the participating Abenson branch where the purchase was made. You can redeem your free gift item on the same day of the transaction.

For more information, call 995-9999 or visit www.citibank.com.ph.

article source: philstar.com

Gas prices turn upward after long skid

(CNN) -- U.S. gasoline prices have gone up by nearly a dime a gallon in the past two weeks, reversing a three-month slide amid an increase in crude oil costs, according to a new nationwide survey.

The average prices of a gallon of regular gasoline at filling stations in the continental United States jumped about 9.6 cents per gallon, to just under $3.51, according to the latest Lundberg Survey. Gas prices had been falling since April 6, skidding downward by 56 cents a gallon by mid-July, survey publisher Trilby Lundberg said Sunday.

The price of crude oil -- the largest single component of gasoline -- on the New York futures market went up about $3 a barrel in the past two weeks, closing Friday at more than $90. That helped drive prices upward, Lundberg said. But she said motorists may see "a comparative period of stability" at the pump.

"Weakness in demand around the world from economic conditions is keeping the price from rising further, while the Middle East tensions and a great deal of noise in the currency markets about the possibility of printing more money in Europe and the United States is having the effect of raising the price of crude," she said.

The Lundberg Survey samples prices at about 2,500 gas stations across the Lower 48 every two weeks, most recently on Friday. Lundberg said the current price is still 46 cents below the April peak and down more than 10 cents from a year ago.

Jackson, Mississippi, had the cheapest average prices in the latest survey, at $3.14 a gallon. The highest were on Long Island, New York, at $3.83.

A sampling of prices in other U.S. cities:

Atlanta: $3.49

Baton Rouge. Louisiana: $3.30

Boston $3.62

Cleveland: $3.45

Denver: $3.47

Phoenix: $3.21

Portland, Oregon: $3.58

San Francisco: $3.80

source: CNN

Sam Concepcion Shrugs Off ‘Rivalry’ with Daniel Padilla

MANILA, Philippines — Heartthrob Sam Concepcion gave a smart answer when asked how he feels that newbie Daniel Padilla’s rising star has seemingly left him behind by miles.

“Di naman po, nakikita ko pa naman siya sa ABS-CBN,” said Sam in a recent interview for his upcoming movie “I Do Bidoo Bidoo.”

Turning serious, Sam pointed out that everyone has his place in the business and that ABS-CBN has been taking care of his career, too.

“Hindi ako nagtatampo sa ABS at all. In fact, I’m thankful to them kasi may mga magagandang plano din sila for me.”

Asked if he feels “threatened” that Daniel and other Kapamilya hunks seem to be eyeing Kathryn Bernardo, too, whom Sam is said to fancy, the latter made light of the matter, saying: “Makapaghihintay naman po ako.”

Indeed, Sam has other things on his plate besides his lovelife and supposed rivals. He is set to star in “I Do Bidoo Bidoo” in which he’ll have his first screen kiss with actress Tippy Dos Santos.

“Tippy and I have been friends since way back. We represented the country in a festival in Korea when we were kids, and last year, we were first paired in ‘Peter Pan.’ I was Peter to her Wendy,” Sam was quoted to have said in a release. “We have this rapport that comes from years of friendship.”

Asked about the kiss, Sam said, “When we did the scene, I was already Rock who is madly in love with Tracy. So, it was ok. The more memorable parts are the minutes before and after the take.”

What made Sam a bit nervous was pitting comedic talents with Eugene Domingo and Ogie Alcasid whom the latter referred to by the characters they popularized.

“Syempre, kelangan galingan ko at sina Kimmy Dora at Boy Pick-Up yan. Pano kung di ako nakakatawa?” the young man quipped, laughing.

According to another release, Unitel Pictures’ “I Do Bidoo Bidoo” is a heartwarming musical comedy that celebrates the music of the APO Hiking Society, whose hits summed up young people’s thoughts, dreams and aspirations in the ’70s and ’80s, and even those of today’s generation who embraced revivals of APO hits in recent years. The movieoke tells the story of young lovers who are about to get married but are torn by their families’ differences.

How did he relate to APO songs that became hits even before he was born?

“Kahit bata ka ngayon at di mo pinapakinggan ang music nila, alam mo pa din yung mga songs kasi it’s part of being Pinoy, yung music nila.”

Other in the cast of “I Do Bidoo Bidoo” are Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Sweet Plantado, Frenchie Dy, Neil Coleta, Jaime Fabregas, Kiray Celis, and Gerald Pesigan. The movie will start showing nationwide on Aug. 29.

source: mb.com.ph

Korean star Lee Min-ho is newest endorser of Philippine clothing brand

MANILA, Philippines - The Korean Wave continues to make its presence felt in the Philippines.

Popular Korean actor Lee Min-ho has been signed up as the newest endorser of Philippine clothing brand Bench.

"Happy to introduce another Korean Superstar to our @benchtm family! Let's all welcome @ActorLeeMinHo!!!! #LeeMinHo4Bench," according to a tweet by Bench.

Lee Min-ho is the third Korean celebrity to endorse Bench. Last March, Bench announced that it enlisted Super Junior members Siwon and Donghae as Bench endorsers.

Lee Min-ho is one of the most popular stars in Korea. He is best known for his role as Gun Jun-pyo in the hit Korean drama "Boys Over Flowers," an adaptation of the Japanese drama "Hana Yori Dango."

"This face you've seen and loved in Korean Novelas is the latest addition to our @benchtm family! Let's all give a warm welcome to @ActorLeeMinHo!!!" posted Bench on Facebook.

He found stardom after appearing in the drama, where he played one of the lead roles. This opened the door for Lee Min-ho to become endorsers of different brands in Korea.

"Boys Over Flowers" won Lee Min-ho the best new actor in the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards and in the KBS Drama Awards in 2009.

This allowed him to play leading roles in succeeding dramas and solidify his popularity not only in Korea but in other Asian countries as well.

In 2010, he starred in the drama "Personal Taste" followed by "City Hunter" in 2011.

He won the excellence award in the MBC Drama Awards 2010. He bagged the best actor and hallyu star awards for "City Hunter" in the Korea Drama Festival Awards in 2011.

He is set to star in the new drama "Faith," which will start airing in Korea in August.

article source: mb.com.ph

Zara Phillips Makes Olympic Equestrian Debut

Following Queen Elizabeth II's appearance at the Olympics opening ceremony, the royals were back in full force at the games Sunday, watching the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips compete in the Dressage portion of the equestrian event competition at Greenwich Park.

"To be here at home is an amazing feeling, and you just want to try and do your best for the team," Phillips told the Washington Post.

Although the Queen was missing in action this go round, her husband Prince Philip was on hand to watch Zara compete, as was Zara's mother Princess Anne.

Zara will return to the competition Monday for the Cross Country event, which Phillips's cousin, Prince William, and Kate Middleton are expected to attend, according to People.

source: eonline.com

Classes in much of Metro Manila suspended Monday due to heavy rains

The Department of Education (DepEd) and local officials announced class suspensions Monday in most parts of Metro Manila and some nearby areas due to heavy rains spawned by tropical storm Gener and the southwest monsoon.

According to the Twitter account of DepEd, kindergarten to high school classes are suspended in the cities of Manila, Navotas, Pasay, and Malabon.

In Quezon City, San Juan, Valenzuela and Caloocan, classes from kindergarten to high school in all public and private schools are also suspended, according to advisories from their respective local government units.

In the city of Makati, classes are suspended up to the college level in both public and private schools, the local government announced.

Although there are no storm warnings for metro Manila, the weather bureau has alerted residents of heavy rainfall of up to 20 mm per hour within the 700-km diameter of tropical storm Gener, which is ravaging northern Luzon.

At 12:30 a.m. Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued a red warning for metro Manila signifying intense rain in the next three hours that are likely to cause floods in low-lying areas, especially near rivers.

Pagasa also said the La Mesa Dam was nearing its critical spilling level, and advised residents around it to prepare for evacuation.

Nearby provinces

Classes are also suspended in all levels in Obando, one of the low-lying areas in Bulacan, the DepEd said.

In Cainta, Rizal, which experienced heavy rains reaching nearly 20 mm hour at around midnight that were expected to continue for the next three hours, classes were suspended in all public and private schools from pre-school to high school levels, the Cainta Local Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office said.

In Angono, Rizal, Mayor Gerardo Calderon also announced the suspension of classes from pre-school to secondary levels in all public and private schools.

In Dasmariñas, Cavite, classes from pre-school to high school levels are also suspended, Mayor Jenny Barzaga said. In Carmona, Cavite, Mayor Dahlia Loyola also suspended classes.

Private schools

New Era University and Miriam College in Quezon City announced class suspensions from the pre-school to high school levels.

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University announced that it will issue an advisory at 4:30 am.

At the University of Santo Tomas, both classes and work were suspended Monday.

"Due to continuous rains and flooding in many areas of Manila, classes in high school, college and graduate levels, as well as work operations are cancelled today July 30, 2012," according to the UST Office of the Secretary-General in a post of the UST official Facebook account.

Growing list of areas and campuses with class suspensions

ANGONO & TANAY, RIZAL - Classes suspended from Pre-school to High School

PARANAQUE - All classes on Monday, July 30 are declared suspended in Paranaque in all levels including college private & public due to rains, wind, and floods. Please pass. - Mayor Jun Bernabe

PASIG - Classes in all levels in Pasig City suspended, says Mayor Bobby Eusebio

TAGUIG - Mayor Cayetano suspended classes in Day Care, Pre-School, Elem, HS levels, including Taguig City University.

MUNTINLUPA - Classes suspened from Pre-school to College

MARIKINA - Pre-School to High School in both public and private

RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL - Classes suspened from Pre-school to College

PASIG - Classes suspened from Pre-school to College

LAGUNA - Gov. Ejercito suspends classes both public and private from pre-school to high-school


SCHOOLS:

Ateneo De Manila - For Loyola Schools, announcement will be made at 4:30AM if classes will push through.

Miriam College - CSC, Grade School to High Scool

University of the East - Classes are suspended from preschool to high school in Manila and Caloocan.

New Era University - Pre-school, elementary, and HS classes for New Era U are suspended tomorrow, July 30. No announcements yet for college level.

Malabon National High School and Malabon Elementary Schools - Classes Suspended

St. Paul's University, Quezon City - No Classes in all levels

University of Santo Tomas - Work and classes in all levels are suspended.

De La Salle University (Taft, Makati, Ortigas campuses and College of St. Benilde) - Classes in all levels and all office operations suspended.

source: gmanetwork.com

Jordyn Wieber's First Day in Olympic Competition Ends Unexpectedly

Jordyn Wieber was all but a lock to compete in – and potentially win – the all-around final in women's gymnastics at the Olympic Games.

"Her mental toughness, that's what helps her succeed consistently," 1996 gold medal-winning gymnast Dominique Moceanu told PEOPLE earlier this month. "I think she's got a lot to offer the team and her and Gabby [Douglas] are going to be the ones striving for those all-around medals, definitely."

The current national and world champion, Wieber herself blogged for PEOPLE just days before the Olympics began, saying, "I can't wait for competition to start."

But Sunday, the first day of women's gymnastics competition at the Games, proved to be more dramatic than Wieber, 17, may have expected. (SPOILERS AHEAD …)

After her routines on vault, beam, bars and floor earned what some believe to be questionably low scores, Wieber was edged out of the individual all-around final, leaving her sobbing on the competition floor. Her teammates Aly Raisman and Gabrielle Douglas qualified for the final.






But Wieber wasn't the only one stunned by the result. Raisman, who had a stellar day, was in tears as well, and Wieber's coach spoke out on the surprising finish. "I'm basically devastated for her," John Geddert, told reporters after the qualification, Gymnastike.org reports.

"She has trained her entire life for this day and to have it turn out anything less than she deserves is going to be devastating. She has waited her entire career for this. She is happy for her teammates and disappointed that she doesn't get to move on."

Gymnastics fans were abuzz following the tearful result for Wieber, and Geddert addressed what many were thinking: that his athlete was robbed by the judges.

"That's the lowest floor score she's gotten ... ever," said Geddert. "And again, they gave her nothing in her floor routine that was questionable."

Team coordinator Marta Karolyi was sympathetic to Wieber's result, but more accepting of the outcome.

"I would be very disappointed, too," Karolyi told reporters. "Today she wasn't quite as sharp. She was very good but not quite as sharp and the other two girls surpassed her ... What can you do? Sport is sport."

And it appears that Wieber herself is turning her attention to her next competition – the team final, which takes place on Tuesday.

"Thank you all for your love and support," she Tweeted late Sunday. "I am so proud of our team today and I can't wait for team finals!!"

source: people.com

Hacker posts fake New York Times editorial

NEW YORK – The New York Times, which famously insists on the accuracy of its reports, was red faced Sunday after being fooled by a hacker’s posting of an online editorial under the name of ex-boss Bill Keller.

The editorial, titled “WikiLeaks, a Post Postscript,” was purportedly published over the weekend by the Times and in every way appears to be the real thing from Keller, who until last September was the paper’s executive editor.

It was so realistic that none other than the newspaper’s technology editor Tim Bilton posted the link on his Twitter account, calling the apparent defense of Julian Assange’s controversial organization an “important piece.”

Not so.

“THERE IS A FAKE OP-ED GOING AROUND UNDER MY NAME, ABOUT WIKILEAKS. EMPHASIS ON ‘FAKE.’ AS IN, NOT MINE,” Keller, now a writer on the paper, tweeted to set the record straight.

Bilton followed up, tweeting: “I just deleted a tweet sent late last night that was from a fake NYT Bill Keller account.”

One of the few clues to the forgery was the web address of http://www.opinion-nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/keller-a-post-postscript.html, since the real website’s URL begins with www.nytimes.com.

source: interaksyon.com

National Milk Chocolate Day: Try This Milkshake Recipe

Whether it's Valentines Day, someone's birthday, or just a Saturday afternoon watching the Olympics, milk chocolate can always be counted on to celebrate an occasion. But did you know there's an actual national holiday dedicated to the stuff?

It may seem a bit silly, since we celebrate the existence of chocolate every day – but you won't find us complaining on Saturday, aka National Milk Chocolate Day.

Before you head for the candy aisle at your local grocery store, check out this milkshake recipe from celeb-approved Max Brenner. The chocolate boutique – which has outposts in Boston, NYC, Philly, Vegas, and even Australia – is a fave of stars like Emma Stone, Andrew Garfield, John Travolta, and Eva Longoria.

80s Milkshake

• 1 ½ cups whole milk
• 12 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
• 4 cups ice
• vanilla ice cream

1. Bring milk to a boil. Pour over the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl, let sit until the chocolate begins to melt, and then stir until smooth. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

2. Add the milk chocolate mixture to a blender along with the remaining ½ cup milk and ice. Blend until smooth. Pour into tall, frosty glasses.

3. Top with scoop of vanilla ice cream. Drizzle with any remaining milk chocolate and top with chocolate whipped cream.

Bottoms up!

source: people.com

Data of 8.7 million South Korean telecom subscribers hacked

SEOUL — KT Corp., South Korea’s No. 2 wireless service provider, apologized on Sunday after personal data of millions of mobile phone subscribers was hacked.

It is the latest in a string of large-scale personal information hacking cases in one of the world’s most wired countries. Police said two computer programmers had been arrested for hacking personal data of about 8.7 million KT subscribers. KT claims a mobile service subscription membership of 16 million.

Police were also investigating seven others suspected of having purchased and used the hacked KT data, which included names, resident registration numbers and phone numbers. “We deeply apologize for worrying you,” KT said in a statement. The company said it had blocked any further illegal access to data.

The hacking began in February. In November, more than 13 million subscribers of Nexon Korea Corp, a leading game developer, fell victim to a hacking attack.

Months before the Nexon Korea case, information of up to 35 million users of an Internet portal and blogging site operated by SK Comms, the country’s top mobile service provider, was attacked by hackers from China.

source: interaksyon.com

China celebrates first swimming golds and a world record

(CNN) -- China had cause for a double celebration on Saturday after winning their first ever swimming gold medal as well as setting a new world record in the women's 400m medley.

Sun Yang sealed a place in China's Olympic history with an impressive swim in the 400m freestyle final that was only 0.07 seconds off the world record to take gold.

Defending Olympic champion Park Ta-Hwan was leading at the final turn, but the 20-year-old Sun surged past his South Korean rival in the final length to seal a place in Chinese Olympic history.

"The feeling is very nice, it's beautiful. It's a big dream come true for me," said Sun.

"Because it's the Olympic Games, I felt a little bit nervous at the start, and then at the end, I felt that I could get a medal."

Twenty minutes after Yang won China's maiden gold medal, 16-year-old Ye Shiwen triumphed in the women's 400m medley, as well as breaking the world record set in Beijing four years ago.

Ye rounded off a sparkling day in the pool for China as she claimed the title with a breathtaking final lap of 28.93 seconds.

"I thought at the 200 meters that the race was lost, but then I realized I was in the top two or three and I was confident I could win on the last leg," said Ye.

"I dreamed of winning the gold medal, but I never ever expected to break a world record, I'm overwhelmed."

source: CNN

Why a Prepaid Debit Card and Not a Credit Card?

Prepaid debit cards are a good alternative to credit cards for anyone who is trying to control their spending. A prepaid debit card allows a consumer to deposit their money into a virtual account that can be accessed through a debit card. Once the funds are depleted, the consumer cannot spend anymore.






Unlike a credit card, a prepaid debit card does not allow a consumer to spend money he or she doesn’t have. This prevents the consumer from racking up debt that he or she cannot pay off. Additionally, there is no interest charged on a prepaid card, and no bills to pay at the end of the month.

All these make the prepaid debit card a more responsible tool for budgeting and spending money, at least compared to a credit card.

In addition to controlling spending, many people like to use prepaid debit cards to send money abroad or give a gift to a relative or friend. Since these cards are easy to load and mail, they are ideal for people who need to send money abroad. In fact, they are safer than sending cash or checks through the mail, since many cards are able to be re-issued if the proper paperwork is kept. These debit cards can be used in many countries. A Visa debit card is particularly convenient since it can be used at thousands of stores and restaurants that also accept a Visa credit card.

Unlike credit cards, debit cards do not charge interest, but there are a few fees involved with using them. Just like a checking account at the bank, most prepaid cards will charge a maintenance fee once a month, as well as a small transaction fee when the card is used. Prepaid cards such as a Visa debit card do this in order to recoup their costs for issuing the cards and transferring the money from the card to the merchant or to other accounts. However, these payment and transfer fees are very low compared to those charged by banks for similar transactions.

All in all, prepaid debit cards are a great way to control spending through the holiday season, an excellent alternative to a high fee checking account, and an inexpensive way to transfer money to relatives and friends abroad.

24/7 Card is the all-new prepaid Visa debit card and remit card available for Filipinos and immigrants living and working in the United States to send money to Philippines.

Article Source:
http://www.articlebiz.com/article/1051523402-1-why-a-prepaid-debit-card-and-not-a-credit-card/

Food poisoning downs over 100 Ateneo de Davao students, officials

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - More than a hundred students of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) were rushed to the hospital two hours after taking spoiled lunch on Sunday.

The students were attending the student leaders gathering—called Sui Generis—with ADDU President Fr. Joel Tabora.

Mureene Ann Villamor, chair of the student council Samahan, said the participants started to get sick around 3 p.m., a couple of hours after taking a pack of chicken adobo, pancit (noodles) and buco salad.

Villamor, who herself was rushed to the hospital after feeling nauseated and vomiting several times, said the chicken adobo “smelled terrible.”

“It did not smell good,” Villamor told Interaksyon.com in a phone interview. She was still confined at the hospital as of this writing.

“At around 3 p.m., may mga lumabas na sa session hall. Kasi nagsuka suka na. They were not feeling well already. I felt sick as I was facilitating at the open forum. I went to the toilet and found out that many students were indeed sick. They called 911 na,” Villamor said.

Father Tabora was reportedly sick himself and was brought to the hospital, Villamor said.

More than 50 students were brought to the Davao Doctors Hospital while almost the same number were also rushed to San Pedro Hospital.

Atenews, the official students publication of ADDU, posted a photo of the reported spoiled chicken adobo served to the students. Student Ricky Zonio said he was among those who felt ill after taking lunch.

“It was really shocking. Until now, throat still hurts because of vomiting. I nearly passed out,” Zonio said in the vernacular.

Edward Lactaoen, associate editor of Atenews, said he was able to talk to one of the doctors who told him that the “symptoms indeed point to food poisoning.” He, too, said a school official has told him that “they're awaiting lab tests on the food served during the event to identify what specifically it was that caused it.”

“Some of our staffers are at the hospitals,” he said.

source: interaksyon.com

Queen Elizabeth happy to play Bond girl

LONDON – Queen Elizabeth needed little persuading in making her film debut, appearing with the country’s most famous fictional spy James Bond during the London Olympics opening ceremony.

In a brief, tongue-in-cheek film broadcast to a packed Olympic stadium late on Friday – as well as a massive worldwide television audience – Bond actor Daniel Craig entered Buckingham Palace wearing his trademark tuxedo.

After a pause, Her Majesty turns from her writing desk and says simply: “Good evening, Mr. Bond.”

She uttered just four words, but they were seen as a highly personal touch from a monarch once seen as aloof.

“The queen was delighted to be asked, and be involved in something so exceptional,” a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman told Reuters on Saturday. “Very pleased to take part, and it was our Olympics and the queen was delighted to be part of it.”

Princess Diana’s death in 1997 was a low-point for the royal family, yet the huge crowds that greeted her during Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June were proof of how far the queen had recovered in the eyes of the public.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, who escorted the 86-year-old monarch around the Olympic Park during an official tour on Saturday, said that she was “thrilled” about the film and keen to know if people found her cameo role funny.

“My impression is that she loved it,” the staunch royalist told reporters. “Maybe, you know, there won’t be many film performances that she will give and whether she will get an Oscar, I don’t know,” he joked.

The pre-recorded clip also showed 007 escorting the queen to the stadium in a moment of levity rarely shared by the public, who can only read about her well-reported sense of humor.

The 86-year-old monarch was happy for two of her beloved corgis, Monty, 13, and Holly, nine, to play a role. The depiction of her derring-do arrival was a quirky moment in an eclectic ceremony on Friday.

The opening shot showed the Queen sitting at a writing table in Buckingham Palace, welcoming Bond, played by Daniel Craig.

The pair made their way to a waiting helicopter in the grounds of the central London palace, apparently leaving her doting corgis on the doorstep.

The helicopter zipped across the city and a man dressed as Bond skydived down towards the Olympic Park in east London, followed by a figure in a pale peach dress matching that worn by the queen in the film.

She then appeared for real in the main stadium before 60,000 spectators – and without a hair out of place – before taking her seat.

The film was the brainchild of the ceremony’s director Danny Boyle, but it was London organizing committee (LOCOG) chairman Seb Coe who first approached the palace in 2011.

When asked how much it took to persuade the queen to take part, a LOCOG spokeswoman said: “Not much.”

“I think she really liked the whole concept Danny had put together.”

Oscar-winning director Boyle shot the scenes in the palace’s quadrangle, the Grand Entrance, the East Gallery, the Audience Room and the West Terrace, in March and April this year.

“You don’t have to tell her something twice,” Boyle was quoted as saying by British media. “She picks it up straight away, about cameras and angles.”

The queen was then given a viewing before its official showing.

“She was very happy to take part, she was happy to do what she did,” the Buckingham Palace spokeswoman added.

Her off-beat appearance was a hit with the British media.

“It’s been received really well, we always knew it would,” the palace spokeswoman added.

When asked if it might be the monarch’s last appearance in a film, she said: “Never say never, but I imagine so, it was a very special one-off.”

Other members of the Royal Family have had cameo appearances in long-running TV and radio soap operas.

Her stuntman Gary Connery said the part had been exciting, but he’d not been allowed to keep the dress. “It’s all part of it, and you just go with the flow,” he told BBC television.

“Last night was the first time I’d actually had the make-up on. The process of making me the queen … had been three to four months.”

It capped off a successful year for the queen who in June marked 60 years on the throne with a weekend extravaganza that saw millions of flag waving Britons take to the streets to show their affection and appreciation for a monarch more normally renowned for her stately dignity.

source: interaksyon.com

Russell Brand Offers Up His Take on the Dane Cook and Daniel Tosh Controversies

Comedians have not only been in the news a lot lately, but they've also been in hot water.

Daniel Tosh got heat for making a rape joke during a recent standup routine, while Dane Cook decided a week was long enough to make a poor attempt to turn the tragic Aurora shooting into a funny set. As a fellow comedian who is no stranger to controversy, Russell Brand has some opinions on the matter.

"Well, I think if someone's job is a comedian, and they say something, in the analysis of the content of their statement, you should recall that they're a comedian," he said at the TCA Press Tour. "I 've noticed that people have removed [the fact that they're comedians] from the analysis to create this storm of condemnation."

He added: "I don't know what Dane Cook and Daniel Tosh said, but I know they are comedians and they are nice human beings. So I can't imagine they had any intention other than eliciting laughter from their fellow human beings, as is their job."

Brand ended his take with this warning: "I don't think you should create a state where you're afraid to talk. That could have much worse consequences."

Later, Brand was asked about possible upcoming guests on his FX show BrandX with Russell Brand, and when the comedian admitted he didn't have any famous people in mind, someone offered up Sarah Palin. What would he ask her? His response simply cannot be described, only transcribed:

"I think we all know. I would go straight to the subtext. I think that the reason Sarah Palin has been so long-tolerated is because of that latent inquisition surrounding the vagina. People want to f--k her, don't they? That's why you tolerate the other stuff! The d--k don't lie!"

Realizing that was the sound bite we were all waiting for, Brand turned toward the lectern where FX head of PR John Solberg was standing and said: "John, you could have had me out of here before I said that! Now I just said I'd f--k Sarah Palin!"

Finally, a reporter couldn't resist bringing up Brand's sentence to perform community service in New Orleans for throwing a photog's phone through a window and asking what he'll be doing while he's there.

"I don't know, tidying up or something probably. I don't know what their format of community service is," he says. "It doesn't seem like a punishment, it seems like a duty. Community is a duty, service is an honor and I'll be happy to do it."

Brand did have to applaud the reporter for his attention to detail when asking about the incident. "I wish you'd been there in court. We could have done with your meticulous insight," he joked.

source: .eonline.com

Japan Day

The “Japan Day” celebration to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month which was held on July 21- 22 at SM Mall of Asia was celebrated with festive atmosphere and youthful spirit despite the unprecedented weather condition and the heavy downpour of rain.

J-Pop Anime Singing Contest

The 2012 J-Pop Anime Singing Contest was held at SM Mall of Asia’s the Atrium, on July 21, for the fourth consecutive year and continued to entice the youthful and energetic talents from all over the Philippines.The finalists took the center stage as they showcased their best performance to be this year’s J-pop Anime Singing Idols!

The top winner of the J-Pop Anime Singing Contest Grand Finals is Sakura Star.The group’s soothing rendition of “Mikazuki” made her the runaway winner followed by Ms. Marianne Topacio who sung “Melodies of Life.” Placing third among the panel of judges’ list of top five performers is Leira Mae Castro who captivated the audience with her performance of her “Eyes on Me”.

The seven-member group called “Haponesang Dilaaat” landed the fourth spot while the talented duo “Pianika” received the 5th highest mark. Sakura Star also took home the Hero’s choice Award and Toei’s Favorite Award.

The 10 finalists were judged according to the following criteria: Diction and Pronunciation of Japanese Lyrics– 40%, Voice Quality – 30%, Interpretation and Choreography – 30%. The top three winning performers took home exciting gadgets and goodies.

All the finalists received goody bags from Yakult. The top five winners took home cool gadgets and gizmos from Canon, Panasonic, Toshiba and Sony as well as Umami Books from Ajinomoto. Exclusive merchandize were also given away by Hero TV and Toei Animation Philippines to the contestants.The top three winners received study grants for Nihongo Kaiwa course from the Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc. and scholarships for voice and stage performance lessons from Center for Pop Music.

His excellency, Ambassador Toshinao Urabe delivered a short remarks to the audience and participants and joined in the awarding of the top winners. In his short message, Ambassador Urabe expressed appreciation to the Filipino and Japanese companies who have supported and cooperated with the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation, Manila in making this event possible.

Mini Cosplay Contest

The winners for the Mini-Cosplay Event” were also announced and awarded during the J-Pop Anime Singing Contest Grand Finals. Izaiah Luke Buelos also known as “Voltron” won the first prize and Hero’s cosplay choice. Bolen Lareza as MG Sinanju secured the 2nd prize, Hero’s cosplay choice and Toie’s cosplay favorite. Ivan Valerio in his Voltes V costume received the 3rd prize. The winners each received exciting gadgets from Toshiba and Canon, goodie bags from Animation International and Yakult, and Japanese books from the Embassy of Japan.

Aside from the performance of the finalists, the audience were also wowed by the performance of “No Plan Band” which is composed of diplomats from the Embassy of Japan and previous year's J-Pop Anime Singing Contest top winner, The Heiki Band. The audience also enjoyed interactive activities prepared by the participating booths. Similarly, the audience had the opportunity to have their pictures taken with Doraemon, Nobita and other colorfully dressed cosplayers.

The J-Pop Anime Singing Contest was presented by the Embassy of Japan in cooperation with the Japan Foundation, Manila and in partnership with Animation International Licensing Philippines, Center for Pop Music, Nihongo Center Foundation, SM Supermalls - SM Mall of Asia, Toei Animation Philippines, Yoshinoya, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc., Ajinomoto, Canon, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Yakult, and HERO TV as the media partner.

The Anime Film Screenings of FullMetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos and Detective Conan: The Lost Ship in the Sky, two delightful contemporary anime films have been actively supported by anime fanatics, youngsters, students, and families who excitedly lined up and dominated the entire cinema. This year’s three screenings have entertained about a thousand and five hundred audience as they got hooked from the adventures and feats of their favorite anime characters.

Le Velvets in Manila!

As the highlight of the Japan Day, the Embassy of the Japan in the Philippines together with the support of Viva Communications, SM Supermalls, and the Philippine Airlines held a jam-packed concert at SM Mall of Asia’s Atrium on July 22, at 7:00 PM.

The five-member pop-classical group made a sensational debut as they stunned the Filipino audience in their first live concert in the country. They also surprised the Filipino mall-goers with their mall jack,(a performance where the group assemble from various places, each member being disguised in different costumes or outfits who suddenly perform for a brief time for the purpose of drawing more audience)during their series of mall shows in SM North Edsa’s the Block Atrium, SM Megamall’s Event Center and SM Mall of Asia’s the Atrium last July 20, 21 and 22 respectively.

The Le Velvets surprised their audience when they sung the “Lupang Hinirang” to commence the concert. Their fans were captivated even more as the group performed their own rendition of the Filipino classic song, “Dahil Sa Iyo” and the medley of Queen’s all-time famous songs. Not only were the audience amazed by their exciting blend of the classical song, “Masque Nada,” they also highly admired the group’s performance of the timeless Italian piece, “Nessun Dorma.”

The Filipino audience welcomed the pop-classical group with warmth and hospitality. They were mesmerized by their perfect harmony, diverse genre of music, comical performance and good looks. Fans from all ages lined up after the concert to personally meet them and have their CDs and posters signed by them.

source: mb.com.ph

All eyes on new writing device for the disabled

PARIS- A French researcher has built a device allowing disabled people to write or draw on a computer screen using only their eyes.

With head-mounted cameras monitoring their eye movements, test subjects were able to write and draw on a blank computer screen in the latest breakthrough for people trapped in immobility by disease or accident.

“For persons deprived of limb movement, this offers a fast, creative and personal means of linguistic and emotional expression,” said the report by Jean Lorenceau of France’s CNRS research institute.

Lorenceau’s system, still just a prototype, compensates for saccadic, or jumpy, eye movements to allow a smooth writing style.

After four half-hour training sessions, his subjects were able to write at a rate of about 25 letters per minute.

Similar systems exist, but none that allow a person to trace their own letters with this level of precision.

In July, engineers said they had built a device using mass-produced video gaming equipment that lets disabled people control a computer cursor with just their eyes—with a price tag of under $30 (25 euros).

Other technologies require electrode implants in the brain, an expensive procedure.

Such technology offers hope for restoring some level of independence to people suffering from multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy and spinal cord injuries or amputees.

In the EU alone, there were more than 16 million people with disabilities who would benefit from such a system, an earlier study had found.

source: japantoday.com