CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Christmas will definitely be merry for employees of the provincial government.
Governor Lilia Pineda officially announced on Monday that each of the employees of the provincial government will be receiving a Christmas incentive of P40,000. The surprise pronouncement of the governor triggered wild applause and cheers from employees who attended the flag-raising ceremony.
“Gusto ko po palang ipaaalam sa inyo na ayos na ang inyong mga benepisyo ngayong Pasko. Tatanggap kayo nang tig-P40,000,” Pineda announced.
A reliable source from the Provincial Budget Office, who requested anonymity, told CL Daily that the incentives announced by Pineda were Productivity Enhancement Incentives which are in accordance with the Administrative Order signed by President Benigno C. Aquino III.
The source also clarified that the incentives being given away by the governor were not an accumulation of incentives which were not given by the administration of former Governor Eddie Panlilio.
“Iba itong P40,000 na ibinibigay ni Governor Lilia Pineda. Walang kinalaman ang mga hindi naipagkaloob na benepisyo noong nakaraang administrasyon,” the source explained.
It was also learned that those who are qualified to receive the P40,000 incentive are permanent, casual and contractual employees, including officials of the provincial government. However, “Job Order” employees are exempted from the list of beneficiaries, according to the source.
The source added that employees who are at least four months in service, as of November 30, 2010, are qualified to receive Christmas incentives. However, she stressed that those who are below four months of actual service will instead receive “pro-rata” benefit, adding that the Christmas incentives will be released from December 15 onwards.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay Governor Pineda sa pamaskong benepisyo na binibigay niya sa amin. Masaya kami dahil ngayong taon ay maganda ang naging pakikitungo niya sa amin. Mapapasaya niya ang aming Pasko,” an employee said.
BY: NJ San Pedro
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Black Friday 2010 Buyer's Guide: Best Deals and Sales
Get a jump start on Black Friday 2010 with our buyer’s guide to the best deals and sales on electronics, computers and other gadgets.
Heading out to a shopping center on Black Friday in search of deals reminds us a lot of the guys on Deadliest Catch heading out into the Bering Sea in search of crab. You’re going to get cold. You’re going to get wet. And someone is probably going to yell at you. But if you play your cards right, it’s all worthwhile when you steer your ship into port with a hold full of King Crab. Or a new HDTV, laptop, and camera, as the case may be.
But you wouldn’t go crab fishing without a salty old sea captain to tell you where to drop your traps, and you shouldn’t head out to the mall without a little help, either.
That's where we come in. Before you throw on a pot of coffee and settle down with an inch-thick stack of paper ads to sift out the good stuff, check out and check out our buyer's guide to the top 10 best Black Friday bargains for this year's best catches. From TVs and Blu-ray players to laptops and Xbox gaming consoles,these are the items worth testing your patience in turbulent mall parking lots, waiting on cold concrete sidewalks and shuffling through packed retailers in order to score.
Let’s be honest: The specs on this bare-bones machine won’t impress anyone unless you pop into a time machine and travel back to 2005, but compared to the netbooks you could typically buy for this price, you’ll see why it’s worth lining up for. You’ll get a relatively spacious 15.6-inch screen, a 250GB hard drive, Windows Home 7, and luxury so often missing from netbooks: a DVD burner. And hey, the full-sized keyboard won’t even cause your wrists to cramp up after e-mails!
Remember the year DVD players became so cheap even your grandparents bought one? It looks like 2010 is shaping up that way for Blu-ray. Though this won’t be the first time a Blu-ray player has dropped below triple-digit pricing, you have to hand it to Target and Kmart for nabbing a reputable (and slick-looking) Sony player player with Internet features like Netflix and Pandora, USB input for playing music and video off thumb drives, and even an app that allows you to use any Android or iOS device as a remote control. Just beware: The optional Wi-Fi adapter runs $80 on its own, so if you need one, you may be better off scanning for a player with built-in Wi-Fi, like Walmart’s $69 Magnavox.
Just about every store has a deal on a monitor in the same unreasonably low price range this year, but we’re thinking AOC’s 22-inch F22 tops the list for value, despite its lack of a brand name. First, you’re looking at 22 inches instead of 20 on the equal-priced HP monitor that Staples is carrying or the LG monitor at Office Depot. Second, and more importantly, it has full 1080p HD resolution. Third, the dropped-chin bezel looks unique, and if nothing else, you can probably count on the wider footprint attached directly to the monitor to wobble less than the cheapie stands on most other monitors in this price range.
Trying to snag a quality TV rather than just gunning for the most inches for the fewest dollars? Here’s what we consider one of the best offers going (and at $602 off the MSRP of $1,500, the biggest savings, too). Although it doesn’t boast full-array backlighting with localized dimming like Samsung’s flagship LED televisions, the C5000 series packs in plenty of upmarket features like Samsung’s signature Touch of Color bezel, a sleek 1.2-inch-deep cabinet, and even AllShare, which allows you to play content from a PC or mobile phone on your TV.
You’re going to pay $199 for an Xbox 360 no matter where you camp out this year — the real question is where you walk away with the most goodies with it. A number of stores are bundling free video games, but unless you know exactly what the the gamer you’re buying for wants, and it just happens to be in the narrow selection out there, a $50 gift card is a best bet for continued smiles after the gift wrap comes off.
You’ll seldom see too many deep discounts on high-end photo equipment, which makes the $170 you’ll save on this bundle a decent deal for the amateur just beginning to dabble in DSLRs (though not totally out of the range of online bargain sites). The bundle includes Canon’s well-regarded Rebel XS plus two lenses, the standard 18-55mm kit lenses for all-around shooting and an EF 75-300mm telephoto lens. Kmart and Walmart also offer the camera and kit lens alone for $479.99, in case you want to hold off on the extra glass.
If you’re looking for as much screen for your buck as possible, it’s hard to one-up Target’s 40-inch Westinghouse, which outstrips what even the craftiest online buyer can usually find. Be aware you’re not exactly getting a premium television here, but on the the up side, you’re getting full 1080p resolution, while a name brand would easily dip you down to 720p in anything close to this price range. For the bedroom, basement or the most opulent garage ever, you likely won’t find a better fit. If anyone criticizes the image quality, just tell ‘em what you paid.
Walmart offers the similar Nuvi 255W for $88 this season, but the extra T on the end of the model number of this one offers a very compelling reason to drop another $11.99 on your credit card: free lifetime traffic. Considering many other traffic-equipped units will charge you annually for the privilege, you’re really saving twice here. We bestowed the closely related Nuvi 265WT with an Editor’s Choice award back in 2009 when it still ran for $300, so at a third that price, you quite literally can’t go wrong. PepBoys also carries the 265WT for $109.98 if you need Bluetooth speakerphone capabilities (we were actually surprised by how good the quality is).
OK, the $200 eMachines notebook will work for e-mail and surfing, but what if you actually want a notebook to get stuff done? The HP G72 on sale at Staples not only has a super-sized 17.3-inch screen for easier multitasking, you also step up to 4GB of memory, a 500GB hard drive, and most importantly, a modern Intel Core i3 processor. Short of gaming, this notebook should handle just about everything without batting an eye, and you’re getting a respectable $200 off the already discounted retail price.
Everyone knows you can score a flip phone or cheap feature phone for free just by inking a two-year contract, but typically, top-tier smartphones like Samsung’s Fascinate will still cost you a couple Benjamins. If you drop into a Verizon store, you’ll still lay down $199.99 for a Fascinate, but on Friday, Sam’s Club will have the offer it for just 96 cents with the same contract. Not too bad for one of our favorite new superphones.
-source
 |
But you wouldn’t go crab fishing without a salty old sea captain to tell you where to drop your traps, and you shouldn’t head out to the mall without a little help, either.
That's where we come in. Before you throw on a pot of coffee and settle down with an inch-thick stack of paper ads to sift out the good stuff, check out and check out our buyer's guide to the top 10 best Black Friday bargains for this year's best catches. From TVs and Blu-ray players to laptops and Xbox gaming consoles,these are the items worth testing your patience in turbulent mall parking lots, waiting on cold concrete sidewalks and shuffling through packed retailers in order to score.
 |
| eMachines eME528-2325 notebook |
eMachines eME528-2325 15.6-inch notebook
$198 at Wal-MartLet’s be honest: The specs on this bare-bones machine won’t impress anyone unless you pop into a time machine and travel back to 2005, but compared to the netbooks you could typically buy for this price, you’ll see why it’s worth lining up for. You’ll get a relatively spacious 15.6-inch screen, a 250GB hard drive, Windows Home 7, and luxury so often missing from netbooks: a DVD burner. And hey, the full-sized keyboard won’t even cause your wrists to cramp up after e-mails!
 |
| Sony BDP-S370 Blu-ray player |
More from DigitalTrends.com: |
Sony BDP-S370 Blu-ray player
$99 at Target and KmartRemember the year DVD players became so cheap even your grandparents bought one? It looks like 2010 is shaping up that way for Blu-ray. Though this won’t be the first time a Blu-ray player has dropped below triple-digit pricing, you have to hand it to Target and Kmart for nabbing a reputable (and slick-looking) Sony player player with Internet features like Netflix and Pandora, USB input for playing music and video off thumb drives, and even an app that allows you to use any Android or iOS device as a remote control. Just beware: The optional Wi-Fi adapter runs $80 on its own, so if you need one, you may be better off scanning for a player with built-in Wi-Fi, like Walmart’s $69 Magnavox.
 |
| AOC F22 22-inch 1080p Desktop Monitor |
AOC F22 22-inch 1080p Desktop Monitor
$99.99 at OfficemaxJust about every store has a deal on a monitor in the same unreasonably low price range this year, but we’re thinking AOC’s 22-inch F22 tops the list for value, despite its lack of a brand name. First, you’re looking at 22 inches instead of 20 on the equal-priced HP monitor that Staples is carrying or the LG monitor at Office Depot. Second, and more importantly, it has full 1080p HD resolution. Third, the dropped-chin bezel looks unique, and if nothing else, you can probably count on the wider footprint attached directly to the monitor to wobble less than the cheapie stands on most other monitors in this price range.
 |
| Samsung 46-inch UN46C5000 |
Samsung 46-inch UN46C5000 LED TV
$898 at Participating StoresTrying to snag a quality TV rather than just gunning for the most inches for the fewest dollars? Here’s what we consider one of the best offers going (and at $602 off the MSRP of $1,500, the biggest savings, too). Although it doesn’t boast full-array backlighting with localized dimming like Samsung’s flagship LED televisions, the C5000 series packs in plenty of upmarket features like Samsung’s signature Touch of Color bezel, a sleek 1.2-inch-deep cabinet, and even AllShare, which allows you to play content from a PC or mobile phone on your TV.
 |
| Xbox 360 4GB with $50 gift card |
Xbox 360 4GB with $50 gift card
$199 at Target and Toys ‘R UsYou’re going to pay $199 for an Xbox 360 no matter where you camp out this year — the real question is where you walk away with the most goodies with it. A number of stores are bundling free video games, but unless you know exactly what the the gamer you’re buying for wants, and it just happens to be in the narrow selection out there, a $50 gift card is a best bet for continued smiles after the gift wrap comes off.
 |
| Canon Rebel XS DSLR |
Canon Rebel XS DSLR with 18-55mm kit lens and EF 75-300mm telephoto lens
$579.98 at Kmart and SearsYou’ll seldom see too many deep discounts on high-end photo equipment, which makes the $170 you’ll save on this bundle a decent deal for the amateur just beginning to dabble in DSLRs (though not totally out of the range of online bargain sites). The bundle includes Canon’s well-regarded Rebel XS plus two lenses, the standard 18-55mm kit lenses for all-around shooting and an EF 75-300mm telephoto lens. Kmart and Walmart also offer the camera and kit lens alone for $479.99, in case you want to hold off on the extra glass.
 |
| Westinghouse 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV |
Westinghouse 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV
$298 at TargetIf you’re looking for as much screen for your buck as possible, it’s hard to one-up Target’s 40-inch Westinghouse, which outstrips what even the craftiest online buyer can usually find. Be aware you’re not exactly getting a premium television here, but on the the up side, you’re getting full 1080p resolution, while a name brand would easily dip you down to 720p in anything close to this price range. For the bedroom, basement or the most opulent garage ever, you likely won’t find a better fit. If anyone criticizes the image quality, just tell ‘em what you paid.
 |
| Garmin Nuvi 255WT |
Garmin Nuvi 255WT
$99.00 at StaplesWalmart offers the similar Nuvi 255W for $88 this season, but the extra T on the end of the model number of this one offers a very compelling reason to drop another $11.99 on your credit card: free lifetime traffic. Considering many other traffic-equipped units will charge you annually for the privilege, you’re really saving twice here. We bestowed the closely related Nuvi 265WT with an Editor’s Choice award back in 2009 when it still ran for $300, so at a third that price, you quite literally can’t go wrong. PepBoys also carries the 265WT for $109.98 if you need Bluetooth speakerphone capabilities (we were actually surprised by how good the quality is).
 |
| HP G72-B66US Notebook |
HP G72-B66US Notebook
$499.99 at StaplesOK, the $200 eMachines notebook will work for e-mail and surfing, but what if you actually want a notebook to get stuff done? The HP G72 on sale at Staples not only has a super-sized 17.3-inch screen for easier multitasking, you also step up to 4GB of memory, a 500GB hard drive, and most importantly, a modern Intel Core i3 processor. Short of gaming, this notebook should handle just about everything without batting an eye, and you’re getting a respectable $200 off the already discounted retail price.
 |
| Samsung Fascinate |
Samsung Fascinate Smartphone
96 cents with two-year contract at Sam’s ClubEveryone knows you can score a flip phone or cheap feature phone for free just by inking a two-year contract, but typically, top-tier smartphones like Samsung’s Fascinate will still cost you a couple Benjamins. If you drop into a Verizon store, you’ll still lay down $199.99 for a Fascinate, but on Friday, Sam’s Club will have the offer it for just 96 cents with the same contract. Not too bad for one of our favorite new superphones.
-source
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Pacquiao clobbers Margarito, claims eighth crown
ARLINGTON, Texas – Manny Pacquiao was once again masterful, beating Antonio Margarito so frightfully that Margarito’s face looked as it had been pounded repeatedly by a club.
Pacquiao won a unanimous one-sided decision in a blowout from the opening seconds of the fight to capture the World Boxing Council super welterweight title before 41,734 in-awe fans at Cowboys Stadium.
Pacquiao’s title belt, coming against an opponent who had a 17-pound weight advantage when the bell rang, 165-148, was the eighth in his illustrious career. Pacquiao has won world titles at 112, 122, 126, 130, 135, 140, 147 and now 154 pounds.
Judges Jurgen Langos had it 120-109, Glen Crocker had it 118-110 and Oren Schellenberger had it 119-109 for Pacquiao. Yahoo! Sports scored it 120-107 for Pacquiao, giving Pacquiao a 10-8 edge in the 10th round when he dominated tremendously.
Margarito, fighting for the first time in the U.S. since Jan. 24, 2009, when he was caught with an illegal knuckle pad in his gloves before a loss to Shane Mosley, was never in the fight. Pacquiao’s speed was blinding and was the difference in the fight.
Pacquiao was hurt when Margarito landed a combination to the ribs, but he spun off the ropes and landed a three-punch combination to the head. Margarito’s right eye was swollen grotesquely, beginning in the fourth. By the 10th round, the left eye was a slit, too.
Pacquiao was looking at referee Laurence Cole late in the fight, asking him to stop it. Pacquiao said he eased off in the 12th round. “I did my best,” Pacquiao said. “He’s strong. He’s a very tough fighter. I can’t believe [he took those punches].”
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, added “We didn’t lose a round. I wish they had stopped the fight. They probably ruined his career by not stopping the fight.”
-source
Pacquiao won a unanimous one-sided decision in a blowout from the opening seconds of the fight to capture the World Boxing Council super welterweight title before 41,734 in-awe fans at Cowboys Stadium.
Pacquiao’s title belt, coming against an opponent who had a 17-pound weight advantage when the bell rang, 165-148, was the eighth in his illustrious career. Pacquiao has won world titles at 112, 122, 126, 130, 135, 140, 147 and now 154 pounds.
Judges Jurgen Langos had it 120-109, Glen Crocker had it 118-110 and Oren Schellenberger had it 119-109 for Pacquiao. Yahoo! Sports scored it 120-107 for Pacquiao, giving Pacquiao a 10-8 edge in the 10th round when he dominated tremendously.
Margarito, fighting for the first time in the U.S. since Jan. 24, 2009, when he was caught with an illegal knuckle pad in his gloves before a loss to Shane Mosley, was never in the fight. Pacquiao’s speed was blinding and was the difference in the fight.
Pacquiao was hurt when Margarito landed a combination to the ribs, but he spun off the ropes and landed a three-punch combination to the head. Margarito’s right eye was swollen grotesquely, beginning in the fourth. By the 10th round, the left eye was a slit, too.
Pacquiao was looking at referee Laurence Cole late in the fight, asking him to stop it. Pacquiao said he eased off in the 12th round. “I did my best,” Pacquiao said. “He’s strong. He’s a very tough fighter. I can’t believe [he took those punches].”
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, added “We didn’t lose a round. I wish they had stopped the fight. They probably ruined his career by not stopping the fight.”
-source
Friday, October 29, 2010
Nurse switches off man's life support 'by mistake'
An agency nurse working for the NHS was filmed switching off her patient's life support machine by mistake.
Tetraplegic Jamie Merrett, 37, had a bedside camera set up at his home in Wiltshire, after becoming concerned about the care he was receiving.
Within days, it captured the moment Violetta Aylward switched off the ventilator, leaving him brain-damaged.
BBC Health Correspondent Matthew Hill reports.
DFA: Nurse in ventilator accident video is Filipina
The London-based nurse caught on video accidentally turning off her paralyzed patient’s ventilator — thus leaving him seriously brain-damaged — is Filipina, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed Thursday.
In a statement, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in London is assisting 55-year-old Violeta Aylward, who was caught on a CCTV turning off the life-support system of her British patient in January 2009.
“The Embassy has reached out to the Filipina and conveyed its readiness to assist her. It is also actively monitoring developments of the case," the DFA said.
Tetraplegic Jamie Merrett, 37, had a bedside camera set up at his home in Wiltshire, after becoming concerned about the care he was receiving.
Within days, it captured the moment Violetta Aylward switched off the ventilator, leaving him brain-damaged.
BBC Health Correspondent Matthew Hill reports.
DFA: Nurse in ventilator accident video is Filipina
The London-based nurse caught on video accidentally turning off her paralyzed patient’s ventilator — thus leaving him seriously brain-damaged — is Filipina, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed Thursday.
In a statement, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in London is assisting 55-year-old Violeta Aylward, who was caught on a CCTV turning off the life-support system of her British patient in January 2009.
“The Embassy has reached out to the Filipina and conveyed its readiness to assist her. It is also actively monitoring developments of the case," the DFA said.
Facebook Now Tries to Tell the Story Between Two Friends
Facebook is rolling out a new breed of Pages called Friendship Pages that pull together the public wall posts, comments, photos (based on tags) and events that two friends have in common.
The Friendship Pages feature was cooked up by Facebook (Facebook) software engineer Wayne Kao and then brought to life in an internal hackathon event. The Pages are designed to the tell the story of two friends on Facebook through their shared activity.
Think browsing the web at Starbucks is safe? Think again.
HOW TO: Protect Yourself From Firesheep With a VPN
A wildly popular new bit of malicious code called Firesheep is making the rounds among script kiddies and black-hat hackers; it allows them to access the cookies of any user on a non-password-protected wireless network. Once the ne’er-do-well in question is on the same public network as you, he or she can save and use your cookies to access your accounts (e-mail, Facebook and many other types of accounts, as well) through a point-and-click graphic interface.
In the words of the person who created Firesheep, “As soon as anyone on the network visits an insecure website [Facebook, Gmail, etc.] known to Firesheep, their name and photo will be displayed [in the Firesheep interface]. Double-click on someone, and you’re instantly logged in as them.”
For businesses with remote employees, Firesheep is a particular danger, as it potentially compromises your company’s data and accounts any time a worker logs in from a coffee shop, Internet cafe or other public network.
The practice is known as session hijacking; if you’d like more information on how the code works, check out this post on Firesheep’s technical details.
China boasts world's fastest supercomputer
BEIJING (AFP) – China is set to trump the US to take the number one spot for the fastest supercomputer ever made in a survey of the world's zippiest machines, it was reported Thursday.
Tianhe-1, meaning Milky Way, has a sustained computing speed of 2,507 trillion calculations per second, making it the fastest computer in China on a list published Thursday.
But it is also 1.4 times faster that the world's current fastest ranked supercomputer in the US, housed at a national laboratory in Tennessee, according to the New York Times.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
What does a barangay captain do?
As barangay (village) captain, Constancia “Nene” Lichauco starts her day at 8 A.M. She organizes meetings, checks on barangay employees and tanods (watchmen), and implements projects for the village.
“Kapag nagkakaroon ng ng kaunting emergency that’s when I run and go to the spot kasi hands-on ako, ”she says.
Lichauco is no stranger to running a barangay. She has village captain in barangay Bel Air, Makati City from 1989 to 2007.
“Napakalawak ng responsibilities ng isang barangay captain,” she adds.
Under the legal system, the three branches of the government -- executive, legislative and judicial -- are being handled by the village chief.
“Barangay captains are more powerful than the president,” Lichauco admits.
Hayden Kho launches perfume business in grand style
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| Hayden Kho launches perfume business in grand style |
Tila iniwanan na ni Hayden Kho ang madilim niyang nakaraan sa launch ng Hayden, ang kanyang bagong perfume business noong Huwebes ng gabi, October 22, sa Nuvo, Greenbelt 2, Makati City.
Noong nakaraang taon, nalagay si Hayden sa matinding kontrobersiya matapos kumalat sa Internet ang ilang mga sex video na nagtatampok kay Hayden at sa iba't ibang mga babae, kasama ang sexy actress na si Katrina Halili.
Nag-file si Katrina ng criminal case laban kay Hayden. Nagkaroon pa ito ng Senate investigation kung saan ilang oras ding nilagay sa hot seat si Hayden sa harap ng ilang mambabatas na interesado umano sa kaso.
Natanggal din ang lisensiya ni Hayden bilang doktor, at tuluyan na rin siyang nawala sa mundo ng showbiz. May mga umugong na balitang nagtangka raw magpakamatay si Hayden.
Willing Willie premieres
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| Willing Willie Girls |
Willie Revillame is back in the tube as an official “Kapatid” artist. Despite controversies and a staggering P486 million damage suit filed by ABS-CBN, “Willing Willie” premiered Saturday, October 23, as TV5’s flagship primetime variety program.
The show promises to change the way Filipinos spend their primetime viewing. In a timeslot where news programs dominate, “Willing Willie” aims to provide a “positive” viewing experience where families can enjoy and bond together over dinner without the usual “negativity” of evening news. It airs Monday to Friday, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Saturdays, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
“Tama na ang bad news. Tama na ang napapanood nating saksakan. Tama na ‘yong may naaksidente. Tama na ‘yong tatay ginahasa ang anak. Sa hapag-kainan, ‘yon na ang pinapanood namin sa ilang taon. Dapat iba na, saya at pag-asa na!,” Willie said.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Head of slain call center agent found in creek
MABALACAT, Pampanga, Philippines—The head of a call center agent murdered in a motel room in Angeles City last week was found beside a creek in Sta. Inez village here on Saturday.
Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista, Angeles police director, said the head of Katrina Gantan, 22, who worked at the Sutherland Global Services Philippines inside the Clark Freeport, was found by residents inside a sack left under the Morales Bridge.
Bautista said residents noticed the stench coming from the sack teeming with flies at a grassy portion of the bank of the Sapang Balen creek at 11:20 a.m. When they opened the sack, they were shocked to see a woman's head inside.
On October 4, policemen arrested Adonis Reyes, 30, Gantan's boyfriend and co-worker for his alleged involvement in the murder. Employees of Miyabe Court in Angeles said Reyes matched the description of Gantan's companion when they checked into the motel on the night of October 1. Gantan was found headless and naked inside a toilet in the motel the following day.
Gantan's parents said the artist's sketch provided by the police resembled Reyes' features. Reyes, however, denied involvement in Gantan's murder.
Click here to see more photos...
-source
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Jobs That Are Hiring Now
Online help wanted ads are rising fast in these 5 hot careers.
If online help wanted ads are any indication, the economic outlook is brightening.
Looking at Monster's Employment Index that tracks online job demand, Investopedia singled out occupations that are hiring at the fastest rate over the past 13 months.
The results are good news for job seekers with the right training.
There was a 29 percent surge in online help wanted ads for the legal industry, and a 20 percent jump in job postings for health care. And it doesn't stop there...
Read on for info on the five careers in which employers are most aggressively looking to hire, along with the training and college degree each job typically requires.
Legal Careers - Up 29 percent
Online job listings are up 29 percent in the legal arena from July 2009 to August 2010, according to Investopedia's breakdown of Monster's Employment Index. The legal industry includes everyone from paralegals to court reporters and attorneys.
Fast Fact: A quick search on Monster shows that paralegal listings outnumber lawyers. The U.S. Department of Labor forecasts a 28 percent bump in paralegal job openings from 2008-2018.
Legal Degrees:
Paralegal
Court Reporting
Legal Office Administration
Legal Studies
Average Salaries:
Paralegals: $46,120
Court Reporters: $49,710
Lawyers: $110,590
Business and Financial Careers - Up 28 percent
Monster's Employment Index shows a 28 percent spike in help wanted ads in business and finance, good for second place overall on Investopedia's list from July 2009 to August 2010.
Fast Fact: Accounting services organizations led all employers in extending job offers to the class of 2010, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). While accounting remains a popular major, many accountants have related degrees in business and finance.
Business and Financial Degrees:
Accounting
Business Administration
Finance
MBA
Average Salaries:
Loan Officers: $54,700
Accountants: $59,430
Financial Managers: $99,330
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media Careers - Up 25 percent
The 25 percent uptick in online help wanted ads for arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers is a refreshing sign for our still fragile economy. Investopedia singled out graphic and web design as areas that could see increased hiring in the months to come.
Fast Fact: A surge in social networking sites is creating a new need for savvy PR professionals who are able to control and get a client's message out. According to the Department of Labor, opportunities for PR specialists are expected to grow 24 percent through 2018.
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media Degrees:
Graphic Design
Marketing and Communications
Public Relations
Web Design
Average Salaries:
Web Designer: $40,000
Graphic Designers: $42,400
PR Specialists: $51,280
Architecture and Engineering Careers - Up 23 percent
It's hard to imagine a breakdown of hot careers that doesn't include engineers in some shape or form. This list is no exception. According to Investopedia's breakdown of Monster's Employment Index, online job listings have risen 23 percent for architecture and engineering careers.
Fast Fact: Salaries for flash engineers, who work with Adobe's popular software, have risen from $50,000 to $150,000 over the past three years, according to the Wall Street Journal. Flash engineers typically require both an artistic and computer-science background.
Architecture and Engineering Degrees:
Computer Science
Engineering
Technical Trade
Average Salaries:
Architects: $70,320
Mechanical Engineers: $74,920
Computer and Information Scientists: $97,970
Health Care Support Careers - Up 20 percent
Monster's Employment Index shows that online job postings in health care support are up 20 percent over the past 13 months. That's no surprise since home and personal health aides are the third and fourth fastest growing occupations through 2018, according to the most recent figures from the Department of Labor.
Fast Fact: A quick search of Monster shows 557 job postings for medical assistants. The Department of Labor sees a 34 percent jump in medical assisting opportunities from 2008-2018.
Health Care Support Degrees:
Medical Assistant
Nursing Certification
Surgical Technologist
Average Salaries:
Home Health Aides: $21,440
Medical Assistants: $28,300
Registered Nurses: $62,450
[Click here to find a degree program]
*Unless otherwise noted, all salary data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor using 2008 median income, except web designer, which comes from Payscale.com.
-source
If online help wanted ads are any indication, the economic outlook is brightening.
Looking at Monster's Employment Index that tracks online job demand, Investopedia singled out occupations that are hiring at the fastest rate over the past 13 months.
The results are good news for job seekers with the right training.
There was a 29 percent surge in online help wanted ads for the legal industry, and a 20 percent jump in job postings for health care. And it doesn't stop there...
Read on for info on the five careers in which employers are most aggressively looking to hire, along with the training and college degree each job typically requires.
Legal Careers - Up 29 percent
Online job listings are up 29 percent in the legal arena from July 2009 to August 2010, according to Investopedia's breakdown of Monster's Employment Index. The legal industry includes everyone from paralegals to court reporters and attorneys.
Fast Fact: A quick search on Monster shows that paralegal listings outnumber lawyers. The U.S. Department of Labor forecasts a 28 percent bump in paralegal job openings from 2008-2018.
Legal Degrees:
Paralegal
Court Reporting
Legal Office Administration
Legal Studies
Average Salaries:
Paralegals: $46,120
Court Reporters: $49,710
Lawyers: $110,590
Business and Financial Careers - Up 28 percent
Monster's Employment Index shows a 28 percent spike in help wanted ads in business and finance, good for second place overall on Investopedia's list from July 2009 to August 2010.
Fast Fact: Accounting services organizations led all employers in extending job offers to the class of 2010, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). While accounting remains a popular major, many accountants have related degrees in business and finance.
Business and Financial Degrees:
Accounting
Business Administration
Finance
MBA
Average Salaries:
Loan Officers: $54,700
Accountants: $59,430
Financial Managers: $99,330
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media Careers - Up 25 percent
The 25 percent uptick in online help wanted ads for arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers is a refreshing sign for our still fragile economy. Investopedia singled out graphic and web design as areas that could see increased hiring in the months to come.
Fast Fact: A surge in social networking sites is creating a new need for savvy PR professionals who are able to control and get a client's message out. According to the Department of Labor, opportunities for PR specialists are expected to grow 24 percent through 2018.
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media Degrees:
Graphic Design
Marketing and Communications
Public Relations
Web Design
Average Salaries:
Web Designer: $40,000
Graphic Designers: $42,400
PR Specialists: $51,280
Architecture and Engineering Careers - Up 23 percent
It's hard to imagine a breakdown of hot careers that doesn't include engineers in some shape or form. This list is no exception. According to Investopedia's breakdown of Monster's Employment Index, online job listings have risen 23 percent for architecture and engineering careers.
Fast Fact: Salaries for flash engineers, who work with Adobe's popular software, have risen from $50,000 to $150,000 over the past three years, according to the Wall Street Journal. Flash engineers typically require both an artistic and computer-science background.
Architecture and Engineering Degrees:
Computer Science
Engineering
Technical Trade
Average Salaries:
Architects: $70,320
Mechanical Engineers: $74,920
Computer and Information Scientists: $97,970
Health Care Support Careers - Up 20 percent
Monster's Employment Index shows that online job postings in health care support are up 20 percent over the past 13 months. That's no surprise since home and personal health aides are the third and fourth fastest growing occupations through 2018, according to the most recent figures from the Department of Labor.
Fast Fact: A quick search of Monster shows 557 job postings for medical assistants. The Department of Labor sees a 34 percent jump in medical assisting opportunities from 2008-2018.
Health Care Support Degrees:
Medical Assistant
Nursing Certification
Surgical Technologist
Average Salaries:
Home Health Aides: $21,440
Medical Assistants: $28,300
Registered Nurses: $62,450
[Click here to find a degree program]
*Unless otherwise noted, all salary data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor using 2008 median income, except web designer, which comes from Payscale.com.
-source
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Short two-paragraph letter to the White House
Pictured is a young physician by the name of Dr. Roger Starner Jones. His short two-paragraph letter to the White House accurately puts the blame on a "Culture Crisis" instead of a "Health Care Crisis"..
It's worth a quick read:
Dear Mr. President:
During my shift in the Emergency Room last night, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient whose smile revealed an expensive shiny gold tooth, whose body was adorned with a wide assortment of elaborate and costly tattoos, who wore a very expensive brand of tennis shoes and who chatted on a new cellular telephone equipped with a popular R&B ringtone.
While glancing over her patient chart, I happened to notice that her payer status was listed as "Medicaid"! During my examination of her, the patient informed me that she smokes more than one pack of cigarettes every day, eats only at fast-food take-outs, and somehow still has money to buy pretzels and beer. And, you and our Congress expect me to pay for this woman's health care? I contend that our nation's "health care crisis" is not the result of a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. Rather, it is the result of a "crisis of culture" a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to spend money on luxuries and vices while refusing to take care of one's self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance. It is a culture based in the irresponsible credo that "I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me". Once you fix this "culture crisis" that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care difficulties will disappear.
Respectfully,
ROGER STARNER JONES, MD
If you agree...pass it on.
2 killed in Mabalacat ambush
MABALACAT – A businessman and his relative were gunned down along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Mabiga here around 12 p.m. Sunday.
The victims, Leonardo “Boy Dagul” Licup, a quarry operator, of Green Meadows Subdivision here; and his uncle Dolly Licup of Porac town, were about to cross the national highway in front of the Golden Land Subdivision in said village on board a car when they were ambushed.
Using a .45 caliber pistol, the gunman shot Leonardo first, who was driving the car, which then slammed into a tree across the road.
Superintendent Rolly Mendoza, town police chief, said the victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds on different parts of their bodies.
The victim’s vehicle was peppered with bullets, two bullet holes on the window of the driver seat, one at the back glass and several on the back left window.
Members of the Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered some six spent shells at the portion where the suspect shot the victims.
The victims reportedly came from a building near the entrance of the said subdivision before the incident.
Sun.Star Pampanga learned that Leonardo is the owner of the said building and that he was inspecting the ongoing construction of one of his tenants before he and his uncle were attacked by the killer.
After shooting the victims, the gunman boarded a motorcycle without a license plate and headed to Barangay Mawaque, witnesses said.
But before the suspect fled, the gunman reportedly fired warning shots to prevent bystanders from mobbing them.
The gunman was described as thin, stands around 5-foot-10, 20 to 30 years old, and with short hair and fair complexion.
The accomplice on the other hand is about 20 to 25 years old, 5-foot-5 in height, chubby, with dark complexion and short hair.
Mendoza said they are conducting a hot pursuit and follow up operation to establish the identity of the suspects and the motive behind the killing.
The victims, Leonardo “Boy Dagul” Licup, a quarry operator, of Green Meadows Subdivision here; and his uncle Dolly Licup of Porac town, were about to cross the national highway in front of the Golden Land Subdivision in said village on board a car when they were ambushed.
Using a .45 caliber pistol, the gunman shot Leonardo first, who was driving the car, which then slammed into a tree across the road.
Superintendent Rolly Mendoza, town police chief, said the victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds on different parts of their bodies.
The victim’s vehicle was peppered with bullets, two bullet holes on the window of the driver seat, one at the back glass and several on the back left window.
Members of the Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered some six spent shells at the portion where the suspect shot the victims.
The victims reportedly came from a building near the entrance of the said subdivision before the incident.
Sun.Star Pampanga learned that Leonardo is the owner of the said building and that he was inspecting the ongoing construction of one of his tenants before he and his uncle were attacked by the killer.
After shooting the victims, the gunman boarded a motorcycle without a license plate and headed to Barangay Mawaque, witnesses said.
But before the suspect fled, the gunman reportedly fired warning shots to prevent bystanders from mobbing them.
The gunman was described as thin, stands around 5-foot-10, 20 to 30 years old, and with short hair and fair complexion.
The accomplice on the other hand is about 20 to 25 years old, 5-foot-5 in height, chubby, with dark complexion and short hair.
Mendoza said they are conducting a hot pursuit and follow up operation to establish the identity of the suspects and the motive behind the killing.
Friday, August 27, 2010
How to select all friends on facebook
If the JavaScript
javascript:elms=document.getElementById('friends').getElementsByTagName('li');for(var fid in elms){if(typeof elms[fid] === 'object'){fs.click(elms[fid]);}}
is not working then you can use GreaseMonkey Plugin for Mozilla Firefox Web Browser. Google Chrome will work also.
Just follow this simple steps
1. Download GreaseMonkey Plugin
2. After Installing GreaseMonkey Plugin, Install Select All Facebook Friends Greasemonkey Script ( If You are Using Google Chrome 4.0+ Then you can directly install greasemonkey script without downloading the above plugin )
3. Go to any fan page or group you wanna suggest to your friends and you will see something like the picture below
You will see a Start# and an End#. Just put 0 at the Start# and the number of your friends at the End#.
Click Select Friends and it will automatically select the number of friends you indicated. Sometimes it may take a while if you have selected many friends so just be patient.
4. Click Send Invitations and your done
javascript:elms=document.getElementById('friends').getElementsByTagName('li');for(var fid in elms){if(typeof elms[fid] === 'object'){fs.click(elms[fid]);}}
is not working then you can use GreaseMonkey Plugin for Mozilla Firefox Web Browser. Google Chrome will work also.
Just follow this simple steps
1. Download GreaseMonkey Plugin
2. After Installing GreaseMonkey Plugin, Install Select All Facebook Friends Greasemonkey Script ( If You are Using Google Chrome 4.0+ Then you can directly install greasemonkey script without downloading the above plugin )
3. Go to any fan page or group you wanna suggest to your friends and you will see something like the picture below
You will see a Start# and an End#. Just put 0 at the Start# and the number of your friends at the End#.
Click Select Friends and it will automatically select the number of friends you indicated. Sometimes it may take a while if you have selected many friends so just be patient.
4. Click Send Invitations and your done
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Major major LOLz! Only in the Philippines!
A group of Filipino recorded themselves while watching Miss Universe 2010. Tension begins to build up when announcing the top 15 candidates. See their priceless reaction when Miss Venus Raj makes the top 15.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Hostage Crisis in the Philippines
August 23, 2010 Philippine Hostage Crisis
Police finally ends assault on the bus where a lone gunman held Hong Kong tourists hostages since Monday morning.
The crisis was being broadcast live on national television.
See more at Yahoo.ph and Gmanews.tv
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| Former police officer Rolando Mendoza looks out of the window of the bus. Photograph: Romeo Ranoco/Reuters |
Police finally ends assault on the bus where a lone gunman held Hong Kong tourists hostages since Monday morning.
The crisis was being broadcast live on national television.
See more at Yahoo.ph and Gmanews.tv
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Globe ImmortalTxt FAQ's
1. What is IMMORTALTXT20?
IMMORTALTXT is an offer that will give Globe Tattoo and Globe Prepaid subscribers the following for only P20:
* 75 texts to Globe/TM
* 10 texts to other networks
NO EXPIRY!
You just need to maintain P5 maintaining balance to continue to use the service.
2. Why is it only available for a limited time only?
Sir/Ma'am, IMMORTALTXT20 is only a promo so that is why it is available only for a specified period. In the meantime, you can continue to enjoy IMMORTALTXT20 during the promo period!
3. Is IMMORTALTXT10 still available?
No, IMMORTALTXT10 is no longer available. You can try the new and improved IMMORTALTXT 20. For only P20, get 75 texts to Globe/TM and 10 texts to other networks, NO EXPIRY!
4. I still have leftover intra and inter texts from my old Immortaltxt10 subscriptions. Will this be affected by the introduction of Immortaltxt20?
You can still continue to use your leftover intra and inter texts from your old Immortaltxt10 subscriptions. However, the new maintaining balance of P5 will now be applied to all Immortaltxt subscriptions (old and new). This means that you will now need P5 maintaining balance to be able to use your Intra texts from your old ImmortalTxt10 subscriptions.
5. What will happen if I send a text message to a Globe subscriber when my maintaining balance is below P5?
If you still have remaining Free SMS in your account (which may be used for Intra/Inter), your text to the Globe/TM subscriber will be deducted from this. If you no longer have Free SMS in your account, P1 will be deducted from your regular load.
6. Why did you increase price from P10 to P20?
The price of Immortaltxt has increased from P10 to P20 because of the new and improved components of the promo ¿ it now has 75 texts to Globe/TM and 10 texts to other networks, NO EXPIRY! Try it now, just text IMMORTAL20 to 8888 to register.
7. How can I register to IMMORTALTXT?
You can register by texting IMMORTAL20 to 8888. You will receive a confirmation message once you are registered. PhP20 will be deducted from your load upon SMS confirmation.
The confirmation message will be:
"You can now use new and improved IMMORTALTXT! Enjoy 75 texts to Globe/TM plus 10 texts to other networks, NO EXPIRY! Must maintain P5 to use the service. To check the status of ur IMMORTALTXT, txt IMMORTALBAL to 8888. DTI#xxxxs10, promo til xx/xx.."
IMMORTALTXT is an offer that will give Globe Tattoo and Globe Prepaid subscribers the following for only P20:
* 75 texts to Globe/TM
* 10 texts to other networks
NO EXPIRY!
You just need to maintain P5 maintaining balance to continue to use the service.
2. Why is it only available for a limited time only?
Sir/Ma'am, IMMORTALTXT20 is only a promo so that is why it is available only for a specified period. In the meantime, you can continue to enjoy IMMORTALTXT20 during the promo period!
3. Is IMMORTALTXT10 still available?
No, IMMORTALTXT10 is no longer available. You can try the new and improved IMMORTALTXT 20. For only P20, get 75 texts to Globe/TM and 10 texts to other networks, NO EXPIRY!
4. I still have leftover intra and inter texts from my old Immortaltxt10 subscriptions. Will this be affected by the introduction of Immortaltxt20?
You can still continue to use your leftover intra and inter texts from your old Immortaltxt10 subscriptions. However, the new maintaining balance of P5 will now be applied to all Immortaltxt subscriptions (old and new). This means that you will now need P5 maintaining balance to be able to use your Intra texts from your old ImmortalTxt10 subscriptions.
5. What will happen if I send a text message to a Globe subscriber when my maintaining balance is below P5?
If you still have remaining Free SMS in your account (which may be used for Intra/Inter), your text to the Globe/TM subscriber will be deducted from this. If you no longer have Free SMS in your account, P1 will be deducted from your regular load.
6. Why did you increase price from P10 to P20?
The price of Immortaltxt has increased from P10 to P20 because of the new and improved components of the promo ¿ it now has 75 texts to Globe/TM and 10 texts to other networks, NO EXPIRY! Try it now, just text IMMORTAL20 to 8888 to register.
7. How can I register to IMMORTALTXT?
You can register by texting IMMORTAL20 to 8888. You will receive a confirmation message once you are registered. PhP20 will be deducted from your load upon SMS confirmation.
The confirmation message will be:
"You can now use new and improved IMMORTALTXT! Enjoy 75 texts to Globe/TM plus 10 texts to other networks, NO EXPIRY! Must maintain P5 to use the service. To check the status of ur IMMORTALTXT, txt IMMORTAL
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Nokia X3: Where Touchscreen and Keypad Meet
Nokia has a new feature phone out, Nokia X3, and its claim to fame is something Nokia calls Touch and Type: a rarely seen combination between a touchscreen and a fairly standard 16-button keypad. Nokia calls the phone X3, but to differ from the earlier Nokia phones by the same name, it also goes by the name Nokia X3-02.
Feature-wise, it’s a fairly standard mid-range phone, with a 5-megapixel camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, music player and FM radio. It sports a 9.6mm thick, brushed aluminum casing, available in five colors.
The operating system that powers the phone is S40, so don’t expect magic when it comes to the touchscreen UI, but it’s hard to compain when you’re getting both options – keypad and touchscreen – in one phone.
Suggested retail price for Nokia X3 is approximately $161 (125 euro), and it’s expected to hit the market sometime this quarter.
-source
Top 20 Facebook Pages
Did you ever wonder which Facebook Page has the most Fans?
Below is the list of the 20 pages with the most fans as of August 17, 2010.
Come check them out!
More Facebook Pages going up the RANK
-source
Below is the list of the 20 pages with the most fans as of August 17, 2010.
Come check them out!
| 1. | Texas Hold'em Poker | 22,942,509 | |||||||
| 2. | Michael Jackson | 18,817,401 | |||||||
| 3. | 16,806,854 | ||||||||
| 4. | Lady Gaga | 16,079,978 | |||||||
| 5. | Family Guy | 15,704,901 | |||||||
| 6. | Vin Diesel | 14,410,301 | |||||||
| 7. | Mafia Wars | 13,557,072 | |||||||
| 8. | Starbucks | 12,719,564 | |||||||
| 9. | Barack Obama | 12,667,129 | |||||||
| 10. | House | 12,657,183 | |||||||
| 11. | Megan Fox | 12,143,363 | |||||||
| 12. | The Twilight Saga | 11,856,899 | |||||||
| 13. | YouTube | 11,559,429 | |||||||
| 14. | Music | 11,354,526 | |||||||
| 15. | Eminem | 11,188,091 | |||||||
| 16. | South Park | 11,181,935 | |||||||
| 17. | Linkin Park | 10,829,390 | |||||||
| 18. | Coca-Cola | 10,716,385 | |||||||
| 19. | Cristiano Ronaldo | 10,417,254 | |||||||
| 20. | Lil Wayne | 10,216,779 |
More Facebook Pages going up the RANK
| 21. | Dr. House | 9,828,998 |
| 22. | Justin Bieber | 9,760,990 |
| 23. | Bob Marley | 9,208,741 |
| 24. | Taylor Swift | 9,150,198 |
| 25. | Oreo | 8,728,882 |
-source
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Bayan hits Aquino administration for 'washing hands' on tollway VAT
MANILA, Philippines – Militant group Bayan scored the Aquino administration for saying that the value-added tax (VAT) on toll that will take effect on Monday is an old law.
"The Aquino government cannot hide behind the feeble defense that the VAT is an Arroyo-era law that needs to be implemented. The present government has all the powers to stem the implementation of onerous taxation and spare the people from further hardship," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said.
Aside from the impending toll hike, the government is also set to increase the fare of the Metro Rail Transit, Reyes noted.
He said revenues from the VAT on toll fees will not go to poverty alleviation programs, but rather to paying off government debts incurred over the last nine years.
“The claim of (Press) Sec. (Edwin) Lacierda that poverty alleviation programs will be the result of additional taxes is something we’ve heard before. That was the same promise given by Arroyo when she first implemented the EVAT (expanded value added tax),” Reyes said.
“The reality is that for every P10 raised by government, P6 goes to debt spending. That is how it has been for some time now. The new government doesn’t seem to be departing from that,” he added. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
-source
"The Aquino government cannot hide behind the feeble defense that the VAT is an Arroyo-era law that needs to be implemented. The present government has all the powers to stem the implementation of onerous taxation and spare the people from further hardship," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said.
Aside from the impending toll hike, the government is also set to increase the fare of the Metro Rail Transit, Reyes noted.
He said revenues from the VAT on toll fees will not go to poverty alleviation programs, but rather to paying off government debts incurred over the last nine years.
“The claim of (Press) Sec. (Edwin) Lacierda that poverty alleviation programs will be the result of additional taxes is something we’ve heard before. That was the same promise given by Arroyo when she first implemented the EVAT (expanded value added tax),” Reyes said.
“The reality is that for every P10 raised by government, P6 goes to debt spending. That is how it has been for some time now. The new government doesn’t seem to be departing from that,” he added. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
-source
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
$1 coin, now worth $1.2 million, was hoarded in 1794
 |
This mint condition 1794 Flowing Hair $1 coin sold for $1.2 million at Bowers and Merena's Boston Rarities Sale on Aug. 7. Only 140 of America's first silver $1 coins are believed to exist. Bowers and Merena Auctions/PRNewsFoto |
The first silver dollars minted by the US government in 1794 are rare, so rare that one of them sold for more than $1.2 million this weekend at a Boston auction.
And there's a reason for their scarcity: Even back in the first years of the Republic, people hoarded dollar coins rather than spend them.
The story goes that on Oct. 15, 1794, chief coiner Henry Voigt coined the silver dollars and delivered all the acceptable ones, 1,758 of them, to David Rittenhouse, director of the US Mint, according to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. He handed them out as gifts to dignitaries. In all likelihood, fewer Americans saw those silver dollars than today's Sacagawea and presidential $1 coins, which occasionally pop up in circulation.
IN PICTURES: Some of the world's most eye-catching currencies
Back then, Americans often relied on foreign coins that circulated around the young nation for dollar equivalents. Only 140 of the 1794 so-called Flowing Hair silver dollars are thought to exist. (The coins depict a woman with long flowing hair).
"I don't know what it is in the American psyche" that causes the hoarding of dollar coins, says Jeff Ambio, numismatic consultant for Bowers and Merena, the rare-coin auction house that handled the Boston auction this past weekend.
Maybe it goes back to early American history, he speculates. "In the earliest years of this country and extending back into colonial times, this society was a cash-starved society. There was very little circulating coinage. What little there was, the vast majority wasn't made over here."
The $1 coin that sold in Boston to an anonymous bidder was considered the fourth best specimen of the six mint 1794 silver dollars known to exist. The best specimen, called the Neil/Carter/Contursi 1794 Flowing Hair silver dollar, sold for nearly $7.9 million in May, setting a new record price for a coin.
-source
Sunday, August 8, 2010
10 Fun Facebook Accessories
The Internet’s love affair with Facebook might hit a rough patch from time to time, but there’s no denying that it’s the social networking giant that keeps us connected to everyone and everything we like in one easy online platform.
So, to celebrate all things FB, we’ve rounded up a selection of Facebook-themed real-life products, from witty tees to cool stationery (because someone is still sending snail mail) that you can nab now to show your love for online social networking in the offline world.
Cost: $3.50
Cost: £12.99 (approx $19.50)
Cost: From $13.95
Cost: From £9.99 (approx $15)
Cost: $7.99
Cost: $13.99 and custom orders are also available
Cost: $10
Cost: $18
Cost: $20.25 from MySoti
-source
So, to celebrate all things FB, we’ve rounded up a selection of Facebook-themed real-life products, from witty tees to cool stationery (because someone is still sending snail mail) that you can nab now to show your love for online social networking in the offline world.
1. Facebook Reminder Birthday Card
Cost: $3.50
2. Bonaroo Facebook/Movie T-Shirts
Cost: £12.99 (approx $19.50)
3. Facebook Status Mug
Cost: From $13.95
4. Facebook Like and Dislike Stamps
Cost: From £9.99 (approx $15)
5. Facebook Ruined My Life Watch
Cost: $7.99
6. Facebook Wall Decal
Cost: $13.99 and custom orders are also available
7. Personalized Facebook Stationery
Cost: $10
8. Book of Fame
Cost: $18
9. Facebook Mousepad
10. Anti-Farmville T-Shirt
Cost: $20.25 from MySoti
-source
Robin declares love for Mariel
 |
| Robin declares love for Mariel |
MANILA, Philippines – Dashing actor-host Robin Padilla has declared his love for rumored girlfriend and game show co-host, Mariel Rodriguez.
“Umaapaw ang pag-ibig sa puso ko,” said Padilla during his one-on-one interview with Rodriguez on ABS-CBN’s E-Live (Entertainment Live). Rodriguez is one of the hosts of the weekly entertainment program.
The studio audience was thrilled and happy for Rodriguez, particularly when she showed the diamond ring given by Padilla.
“Bakit mo sa akin ito ibinigay?” asked Rodriguez, who also co-hosts Pilipinas Win na Win with Padilla.
“Ngayon lang ako nagbigay. Di pa ako nagbigay kailanman. Napaka-espesyal n’yan,” replied Padilla.
More cheers were heard when Padilla slipped the ring on Rodriguez’ finger and the wedding issue was discussed.
“Yung sinasabing kasal hindi namin itinatago iyun. At kung papayag kang pakasalan ako?” he said.
Rodriguez was teary-eyed during the entire interview and after hearing Padilla’s sweet words.
“Ako, hindi ako nagsisinungalin. Sagutin mo ako o hindi, itago mo yang singsing. Anumang mangyari, itago mo iyan. Sa iyo iyan. Hindi ako nagsinungaling sa iyo Mariel, mahal kita,” he confessed.
Padilla said he won’t be able to return immediately to Pilipinas Win na Win after the Ramadan break because he and Rodriguez will have to start shooting their movie together. Report from Gretchen Fullido, TV Patrol
We don't know if this confession is true or just a way to promote their upcoming movie together.
-source
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Cooliris Plugin
Cooliris, formerly known as PicLens, is a web browser plugin made by Cooliris that provides interactive full-screen slideshows of online images.
The software places a small icon in the corner of an image thumbnail when the mouse moves over it, which launches into a full-screen photo viewer when clicked, but without giving an option to save any of the pictures shown. More recently, Cooliris also allows viewing of local picture files. The Cooliris plugin is available for Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome, and Internet Explorer, and for Windows, Mac OS X (not Google Chrome), Linux, and iPhone.
Visit www.cooliris.com for downloads and more info...
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Nuffnang and HEAVEN Ice Cream invite you to a special screening of ‘SALT’
Sorry guys, didn't notice it. Better late than never...
Divine ice cream pleasure is HEAVEN Ice Cream.
Give in to the richest, smoothest, and creamiest by NESTLÉ Ice Cream. Revel in the exquisite goodness of its four sophisticated flavors—Belgian Chocolate Bliss, Strawberry Dream, Vanilla Almond Secret and Butter Pecan Obsession. HEAVEN Ice Cream is made with only the finest ingredients and contains no artificial food colors. Available in 800mL(Php 175) & 450mL(Php 115) tubs across supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores nationwide.
Divine ice cream pleasure is HEAVEN Ice Cream.
Give in to the richest, smoothest, and creamiest by NESTLÉ Ice Cream. Revel in the exquisite goodness of its four sophisticated flavors—Belgian Chocolate Bliss, Strawberry Dream, Vanilla Almond Secret and Butter Pecan Obsession. HEAVEN Ice Cream is made with only the finest ingredients and contains no artificial food colors. Available in 800mL(Php 175) & 450mL(Php 115) tubs across supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores nationwide.
 |
| Salt starring Angelina Jolie |
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Lorenzen Wright was shot to death
Former NBA big man Lorenzen Wright, whose body was found in the woods outside Memphis, was shot to death and the case is being investigated as a homicide, police said Thursday.
Police in the Memphis suburb of Germantown are reviewing how a 911 call from Wright's cell phone was handled as authorities investigate the shooting death of the former NBA player.
Rodney Bright, Germantown's deputy police chief, says department officials did not know about the call until Tuesday, eight days after it was received by a dispatcher in the early morning hours of July 19.
Bright says he can't discuss details of the call, which has been turned over to Memphis police.
Police wouldn't answer questions about motive or suspects. But records indicate that Wright, 34, revered in his hometown as a generous and likable sports hero, was probably carrying a large amount of cash when he disappeared on July 18. A court affidavit obtained by The Associated Press also said Wright had sold two vehicles to a man affiliated with a Memphis drug ring that's suspected in six deaths.
His family filed a missing person report with police on July 22, four days after he was last seen, but investigators repeatedly said they didn't suspect foul play. Wright's mother said in the report that she was worried because his silence was out of character and "he probably has a large amount of cash on him."
The report said that the day he disappeared, he had been dropped off at a restaurant by a woman and later taken to his ex-wife's house in Collierville, a Memphis suburb. The ex-wife, Sherra Wright, told officers that Wright left her home in the middle of the night with someone.
Family members said Wright's body was found near an apartment complex in southeast Memphis on Wednesday, but police awaited dental records to confirm his identity. Police on Thursday said a 911 call was placed from Wright's cell phone early on July 19 and investigators determined it came from the area his body was found.
Court documents show that Wright acknowledged to the FBI that in 2008 he sold two luxury vehicles, a Mercedes sedan and a Cadillac SUV, to Bobby Cole. The affidavits about the business deal don't show if Wright knew that Cole had been indicted in 2007 on drug distribution charges or if they knew each other.
Cole told the FBI he was connected to the organization run by Craig Petties, an accused drug kingpin charged with racketeering and conspiracy in six murders.
In 2008, Cole offered to turn over to Drug Enforcement Administration agents three vehicles he bought with drug money, including a 2007 Cadillac Escalade SUV and a 2008 Mercedes Benz S63 that had been registered to Wright.
Wright told agents he had sold two vehicles to Cole and he no longer owned them, although registration records listed the Cadillac in Wright's name and the Mercedes in one of Wright's business investments, Allwright Automotive LLC.
In federal court filings, Lorenzen Wright claimed ownership of the cars and said he didn't know the property was used in a crime. A federal judge entered a default judgment in favor of the government in March 2010 and the vehicles were forfeited and the case closed.
The 6-foot-11 Wright played 13 seasons in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and most recently the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wright left the University of Memphis early for the NBA, and the Clippers made him a lottery pick with the No. 7 selection overall.
He averaged 8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 778 career games.
Wright leaves behind six children, his mother Deborah Marion, and father Herb Wright, who coached his son from a wheelchair after he was shot in the spine. Lorenzen Wright 11-month-old daughter, Sierra, died in March 2003 of sudden infant death syndrome.
Longtime friend Kevin Nelson remembered Wright as a well-meaning person who treated people with respect.
"He was a people person, he never met a stranger," Nelson said. "It really hit us hard."
Nearly 200 people had turned up Wednesday at the crime scene after hearing that police might have found Wright's body. Among them was former NBA star Penny Hardaway, who played at Memphis two years before Wright and heard the news from a friend.
"I cried. The emotions hit me immediately. It's just sad because we lost a good person and a brother," Hardaway said.
Wright's friends also questioned why police didn't act with more urgency, pointing to the 911 call.
The Commercial Appeal newspaper, which first reported the call, said a dispatcher in the suburb of Germantown heard a garbled male voice say an expletive and then at least 10 gunshots. The call went dead and no one answered when the dispatcher called back, the newspaper reported.
Collierville spokesman Mark Heuberger intitally said he couldn't comment on whether his department knew about the call. Family spokeswoman Camelle Logan, Wright's cousin, declined comment.
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Disney Acquires Social Gaming Company Playdom for up to $763.2 Million
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| Playdom |
Disney has officially acquired Playdom, the makers of popular social games like Social City and Sorority Life, for $563.2 million, with an additional $200 million that could be paid out based on performance.
The company is one of the remaining big players in the social gaming space, competing against the likes of Zynga and its wildly popular FarmVille Facebook (Facebook) game. Playdom raised $33 million in funding just last month to help it acquire smaller social gaming companies.
Playdom will keep its headquarters in Mountain View, California. Playdom CEO John Pleasants will become an Executive Vice President of Disney’s Interactive Media Group.
Clearly Disney is serious about the social gaming space; the acquisition comes less than a month after the media giant acquired iPhone app development firm Tapulous. The company sees a lot of synergies between its new social gaming properties and its highly visible brands. “We see strong growth potential in bringing together Playdom’s talented team and capabilities with our great creative properties, people and world-renowned brands like Disney, ABC, ESPN and Marvel,” said Walt Disney CEO Robert Iger in a statement.
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Click here to Sign up for a Playdom account and start playing.
Want a job at Playdom? Click here to see the available positions.
Friday, July 30, 2010
The New Amazon Kindle: Smaller, Faster, Cheaper
Today, Amazon announced the newest generation of Kindle, its popular e-reader.
As hardware is wont to do, the newest version of the Kindle has become smaller and lighter while retaining its 6-inch reading area. Contrast on the screen has improved by 50%, and page turns are 20% faster. Storage on the device has doubled, and battery life is up to an entire month. And for you type geeks, new custom fonts and hinting on the device mean that words and letters will be more crisp, clear and natural-looking.
What more consumers will be interested in, however, is the price on the WiFi-only version of Kindle: a cool $139, which undercuts Barnes & Noble’s Nook e-reader by $10.
Kindle with 3G wireless connectivity will still retail for $189, and Kindle’s larger, newspaper- and magazine-oriented DX model is selling for $379.
The new devices will ship to customers in more than 140 countries and 30 territories starting on August 27.
We last saw some significant Kindle price cuts in June, when the device’s price tag dropped $70 from $259 to $189. At the time, we chalked this move up to a price war with the Nook, which is Kindle’s closest competitor in terms of price and features. Although the iPad is competing with e-readers for consumer dollars and is a popular hypothetical choice among this blog’s readers, single-purpose e-readers are priced to win this particular battle.
And Kindle’s not doing too badly in terms of selling e-books, either. One author has already sold a million copies of his novels in the Kindle Store. And Amazon says their Kindle editions are now outselling their hardcover books.
Given the low new price of the WiFi-only Kindle, would you be more inclined to purchase this device, either for yourself or as a gift, than you would have been previously? Ultimately, do you think consumer demand is broad enough to continually support both tablets and e-readers indefinitely, or will the does-it-all functionality of tablets win out in the long run?
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Angeles City Serial Killer Caught in La Union
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| Mark Dizon behind bars |
Psycho serial killer Mark Dizon who shocked the world with his murders of expats and locals in Angeles city has finally been arrested earlier today.
San Fernando, La Union
An operation led by Angeles City police with the cooperation of the national police mobile group and the SWAT group lead to the arrest of the killer in a raid at his hideout in San Fernando, La Union at 3:45 pm Tuesday, June 27. San Fernando City is situated about 3-4 hours north of Angeles City in the province of La Union.
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| Mark Dizon (front R), a suspect in the gruesome murders of nine people, three of them foreigners, is escorted by policemen and Mayor Ed Pamintuan (front L) out of the detention center for a medical check up at the police headquarters in Angeles City, Pampanga province, north of Manila on July 28, 2010. |
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| A policeman (L) displays evidences, including a handgun, laptop computers, mobile phones, confiscated from suspect in the gruesome murders of nine people. |
Facebook helped identify serial killer
A family friend of the Mitchell's recognized the suspect as a Facebook friend of the Mitchells' daughter. (Source: BBC) Czarina Mitchell was reportedly once courted by Dizon before she married a Fil-Am citizen and went to the US. She will be the complainant for the murder of her parents, Albert and Janet Mitchell.
Angelito Prado will act as complainant on behalf of Melissa Prado. Olivia Vergarra will act as complainant on behalf of Yulberto Vergarra. Mjr. Luisito Tan will act as complainant in the stead of Isabel Fajardo's relatives.
Peace returned to Angeles city
Peace has finally returned to Angeles city after his murders had shocked particularly its expat residents. Meanwhile, the news had already spread throughout the world, even reaching CNN headlines.
Along with the capture of three of Angeles City's most wanted contract killers two weeks ago, police can be praised for its efforts in capturing Angeles' worst criminals.
A press conference is being held today by PNP Region III Director Arturo G. Cacdac and Senior Superintendent Danilo Bautista and Police Chief Inspector Luisito Tan of Station 4, as well as Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, at the Angeles City Police Headquarters to state the 5-count murder charges against Mark Dizon and to notify the public of his arrest. He is currently detained at the Angeles City police office.
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