My Journals,Updates and Activities in life..

Our Simple Noche Buena..Merry Christmas guys!!

2011-12-29T11:37:00.000-08:00

Christmas means having fun with your family, spending time with your family, seeing all the beautiful lights, decorating the tree, eating all the food you can eat, celebrating Jesus's birthday and buying presents for other people. How could I forget? We get out of school for two weeks! And oh yea, buying the best present for Grandma. That is what Christmas means to me!!!!

Typhoon Sendong Aftermath..

2011-12-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

At the height of Sendong’s onslaught on Friday, the Cagayan de Oro river reportedly overflowed, sending the residents to their roofs or troop to the nearest evacuation centers for safety.

The flashfloods caught the residents by surprise since they were asleep, according to Benito Ramos, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director.

"The flooding occurred around 2:30 a.m. while the people were sleeping. It (massive rains) caused the silted river system to overflow," Ramos added.

Some 20,000 people are currently taking shelter in evacuation centers in the city, according to Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez.

Power and water connections have also been cut off as of this posting.

In Iligan City, authorities said at least 144 people were killed due to the storm.

Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz said more than 12 hours of continuous rain over Iligan, as well as water from nearby mountains, had raised floodwaters waist-high in some neighborhoods that do not usually experience flooding.

Scores of residents escaped the flood by climbing onto the roofs of their homes, he said.

Cruz said the Coast Guard and other rescuers were scouring the waters off in the city for survivors or bodies that may have been swept to the sea by a swollen river.

Those missing included prominent radio broadcaster Enie Alsonado, who was swept away while trying to save his neighbors, Cruz said.

Five people were also killed and one is missing in Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley.

The five fatalities were killed when a landslide struck the gold-rush area of Mt. Diwata.

The victims were identified as Rosita dela Peña, 57 years old; Nasser Tuan, 6; Rakima Tuan, 4; Asliya Tuan, 14; and Jolito Lumactod, 28.

The landslide struck around 4 p.m. Friday at Purok 21 in Barangay Mt. Diwata and destroyed the houses of the victims.

Around 134 families were affected by the flashflood and landslide in several areas at Monkayo.

In the progress report from the Army's 10th Infantry Division, affected barangays include Poblacion, Barangay Baylo, Barangay Pasian, Barangay Union, Barangay Salvacion, and Barangay Mt. Diwata.

Major Rosa Maria Cristina Manuel, of the Army's 10th Infantry Division, said due to constant heavy rain, rivers and tributaries on the place overflowed where some five houses have been washed out by the flashflood.

Manuel added that there were seven puroks in Barangay Mt. Diwata affected in landslide, though there are no casualties on the incident, but there were reportedly missing.

She said the Peace and Development Teams of the Army's 25th Infantry Battalion were deployed in the barangays so as to take part in the evacuation of the flashflood-affected families.

In Baungon town in Bukidnon, at least 12 persons have been confirmed dead and hundreds went missing while the road from Cagayan de Oro City to Talakag in Bukidnon is impassable due to landslide.

The Kabula Bridge in Baungon was also damaged.

Relief goods have been distributed to the flood victims along with other private agencies, while Xavier University had also set up a relief center and an information desk, especially for its employees and students who were affected by the calamity.

In Manila, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman assured enough relief supplies to be distributed to affected communities.

Relief goods will be turned over to the local government units (LGUs) as social welfare and development teams are on alert to monitor hazard-prone areas, especially those living along the coasts, she said.

A standby fund worth P300 million will also be released to ensure delivery of assistance to storm victims.

Meanwhile, Ramos said that the death toll may still go up, especially that around hundreds remain unaccounted for.

"We expect the death toll to go up because the mechanized infantry battalions have reported that more bodies were found," he told state-run Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.

Review of disaster response manual

Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino III wants a review of the government’s disaster response manual to prevent unnecessary loss of lives in the aftermath of the devastation of Sendong in Mindanao.

Several government agencies in Camp Aguinaldo on Saturday briefed the President regarding their response to the devastation brought about by the storm.

The Chief Executive also wants a more accurate and effective typhoon tracking system so that communities along typhoon path could have enough time to prepare before such disturbance hits.

Areas vulnerable to flashfloods must be identified for the government to issue immediate warnings during heavy downpours and typhoons, Aquino said.

With regard to the current search and rescue efforts, police and military officials told the President about the need for more rubber boats for their missions. They said rescue efforts as well as salvaging dead bodies will continue once the weather improves.

Storm update

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Stronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Sendong made another landfall in the vicinity of Puerto Princesa City before dawn Sunday and is now heading towards the West Philippine Sea.

As of 4 a.m. Sunday, Sendong was spotted at 60 kilometers west northwest of Puerto Princesa City, packing maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness up to 80 kph.

Sendong is forecast to move west at 24 kph and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Sunday evening.

Floods in Phillipines..

2011-10-02T03:00:00.001-07:00

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The second typhoon in a week battered the rain-soaked northern Philippines on Saturday, adding misery to the lives of thousands of people, some of whom were still perched on rooftops from previous flooding.
Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes after Typhoon Nalgae slammed ashore south of northeastern Palanan Bay in Isabela province with winds of 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour and dangerous gusts of 121 mph (195 kph). At least one person was killed in a landslide.
The fast-moving typhoon blew westward, barreling across the mountainous regions of Luzon Island. It weakened slightly as it reached the shore of La Union province around 4 p.m. (0800 GMT), about seven hours after it made landfall.
Forecasters said it will be over South China Sea by Saturday night and is expected to regain strength over the water as it heads farther west toward Hainan and Vietnam.
A landslide in northern Bontoc province smashed into a passenger van on a mountain highway, killing one passenger and injuring another, Civil Defense chief Benito Ramos said.
The typhoon took a similar path across areas on Luzon saturated by Typhoon Nesat, which trapped thousands on rooftops and sent huge waves that breached a seawall in Manila Bay. The Office of Civil Defense said the death toll from Nesat has risen to 52 after two more victims drowned in its floodwaters. It said 31 others were missing.
Nesat also pummeled southern China and was downgraded to a tropical storm just before churning into northern Vietnam on Friday afternoon, where flood warnings were issued and 20,000 people evacuated. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Vietnam and the country did not appear to have suffered any major problems.
In the Philippines, nearly 400,000 hunkered down in evacuation centers and in homes of relatives and friends along the new typhoon's path. There was heavy rainfall of about an inch (25 millimeters) an hour within the storm's 340-mile (630-kilometer) diameter that put the northern provinces including the capital on alert.
Isabela authorities earlier shut down electricity in the province to prevent accidents from falling power pylons and snapped cables.
The howling winds toppled trees and blew away tin roofs of some houses in Isabela's provincial capital of Ilagan. In nearby Luna township, a bus with about 30 passengers fell on its side on a rice field because of the strong winds, but no one was seriously injured, police said.
"The ground is still supersaturated and it cannot absorb more water," said Graciano Yumul, the Philippines' weather bureau chief. "This will just flow down to rivers and towns, and there is a big possibility that landslides, flash flooding and flooding could occur."
He urged residents still refusing to leave their homes despite the floods from Typhoon Nesat to evacuate because the water was going to rise as Typhoon Nalgae, aggravated by the seasonal monsoon, dumped more rain over the northern region, including the capital, Manila, later Saturday.
Yumul said the evacuation is "non-negotiable" because lives are at stake.
At least five towns in the rice-growing province of Bulacan and Pampanga, north of Manila, remained submerged three days after Typhoon Nesat had moved on.
"We have nowhere to go," Celenia Espino of Calumpit township said from her home, which was filled with knee-deep murky water. "We have no means of transportation out of here."
She was one of the thousands who sought shelter on rooftops with no food, water and electricity, while a procession of other residents waded in chest-deep water down main roads to reach dry land.
Ramos said rescue boats would be sent for the residents before nightfall.
Elsewhere, Ramos said there had been no contact with several coastal towns facing the Pacific Ocean that were in the path of the typhoon hours after it made landfall. There was no electricity and mobile telephone cell sites had been damaged and communication to the area would be re-established after the typhoon passed, he said.
Civil defense officer Evaliza Agamata of Nueva Vizcaya — one of the four provinces facing the Pacific that are affected — said 5,000 people had been ordered evacuated from there, adding to 6,000 still in evacuation centers from the earlier typhoon.
In the last four months, prolonged monsoon flooding, typhoon and storms across Southeast Asia, China, Japan and South Asia has left more than 600 people dead or missing.
In India alone, the damage is estimated to be worth $1 billion, with the worst-hit state of Orissa accounting for $726 million.
Several studies suggest an intensification of the Asian summer monsoon rainfall with increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, the state-run Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology said. Still, it is not clear that this is entirely because of climate change, especially in India, it said.
The damage from the earlier typhoon in the Philippines was estimated at $91 million.
Nalgae, a Korean word for wing, was forecast to reach Luzon's western shore Saturday evening and exit into the South China Sea as a weakened category-1 typhoon as it moves toward China's Hainan Island on Monday.

Miss Universe 2011..Miss Angola

2011-09-12T21:44:00.000-07:00

SAO PAULO (AP) — Leila Lopes from Angola was crowned Miss Universe Monday night, smoothly handling an interview question about what physical trait she would change if she could by stating it was her inner beauty and principles that counted most.
The 25-year-old Lopes is Angola's first winner. She beat out 88 other competitors to win the title during the 60th anniversary of the world's biggest beauty pageant. She replaces last year's winner, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.
"Thank God I'm very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn't change a thing," Lopes said when asked her interview question. "I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life."
The first runner-up was 23-year-old Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine and the second runner-up was Priscila Machado of Brazil. The third was Miss Philippines and the fourth Miss China.
Contestants from 89 nations on six continents spent the past three weeks in Sao Paulo, trying to learn samba dance steps, visiting impoverished children and kicking a football around for cameras as the globe's biggest beauty contest is held in Brazil for the first time.
"It was well deserved, we were cheering for her all along," said 36-year-old Sao Paulo resident Carolina Rocha, a fan who attended the event. "Her smile and her friendliness was what set her apart from the others. She also answered her question very well, that likely helped her a lot."
Before the contest began, judges offered little insight into who they thought might win.
"I know my job and I'll be tough, but fair," said pageant judge and journalist Connie Chung. "You have to keep in mind that these women are not objects just to be looked at. They're to be taken seriously. I want to choose somebody I take seriously and the world takes seriously, too."
Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe organization, was hyped for the night.
"It's our 60th anniversary, it's a very big show," she said. "We're anticipating close to a billion viewers from around the world."
Shugart said it was fitting the globe's biggest beauty pageant be held in Brazil at this time, as the nation prepares to host some major events in the coming years.
"I don't think there is any doubt in the rest of the world's mind that Brazil is the place, between hosting the Olympics and hosting the World Cup," she said. "I love the fact we're going to kick it off. I always say we're the 'World Cup' of beauty."
The contestants, who must never have been married or had children and who must be at least 18 years of age and under 27 years of age by Feb. 1 of the competition year.
The pageant, hosted by NBC "Today" anchor Natalie Morales and the Bravo network's Andy Cohen, will air live on NBC and be distributed to about 170 countries. The contest is co-owned by Donald Trump and NBC, and will be judged by celebrities including Connie Chung, supermodel Isabeli Fontana and Indy race car driver Helio Castroneves.
Morales, who is half Brazilian, said that "what's most important is for the women to be beautiful inside and out."
For Cohen, the task of hosting is an easy one.
"It's a fun job. All I have to do is stand there, smile and scream the names of countries," he said.
Sharply dressed women and men were jostling for chances to have their photos taken with stars on the red carpet. Some traveled from across the globe to support contestants.
Jehona Dreshaj, 17, arrived from Kosovo to cheer on her sister, Aferdita Dreshaj, who is representing the European country.
"It doesn't really matter the outcome, she is already a winner in our eye and we are so proud of her," she said. "This has been an incredible experience for her and for all of us. It's great for her to be representing our country in an event like this"
There have been no headline-grabbing gaffes going into this year's competition, as opposed to past years that have seen controversies of various stripes. The show itself went off without a hitch.
Some of the contestants have complained to the local news media about the size of bikinis used in some photo shoots, with Miss Mexico Karin Ontiveros saying they were "very small."
That was enough to draw chuckles in Brazil, where women from all walks of life, not just beauty queens, sport barely there swimwear on beaches throughout the country.
Miss USA Alyssa Campanella, from California, will be trying to end a long losing spell for the U.S. in the competition. An American has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997.
The pageant started as a local bathing suit revue in Long Beach, California, organized by a swimwear company.

Worlds No.1 tennis Player today..Novak Djokovic wins 1st US Open Title

2011-09-12T21:34:00.000-07:00

Novak Djokovic provided irrefutable proof that he is the world's best player right now and perhaps on his way to becoming one of the greatest ever with a 6-2 6-4 6-7 6-1 victory over Rafa Nadal in the US Open final on Monday.
In claiming his third grand slam title of an amazing season, Djokovic produced an incredible display of shotmaking and courage when his body started to wilt during a classic slugfest at Flushing Meadows that lasted four hours and 10 minutes.
The Serbian's lower back and his ribs were aching and his legs were starting to cramp up, but he ignored the pain and focused all his energy on the muscular Nadal, who was threatening to mount a comeback.
The Spaniard won the third set in a tiebreaker to keep the match alive and the raucous crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium were screaming their lungs out in the hope that it might go to five sets.
Both players appeared on the brink of total exhaustion but Djokovic remained calm and composed.
"In the big events and matches, the winner is decided by small margins, a couple of points," he explained after claiming his first US Open title and fourth major overall.
"I guess the winner is the one that believes in victory more than the other."
The victories have been flowing thick and fast for Djokovic this year. He has won 10 titles this season, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and no-one seems to know how to beat him, least of all Nadal.
Twelve months ago, the Spaniard was on top of the world after defeating Djokovic in New York to complete his own collection of grand slam titles, but now he can only look on as his rival has replaced him as the top dog in men's tennis.
Djokovic has usurped Nadal as the world number one and beaten him in six finals this year, including at Wimbledon and the US Open.
"Six straight loses, for sure that's painful but I'm going to work every day until that changes," Nadal said.
"So I have a goal. It's going to be tough to change the situation, but the goal is easy to see."
The pair produced a final of the highest quality, with some incredible rallies and shotmaking that whipped the centre court crowd into a frenzy. Nadal had his chances but it was Djokovic who won the key moments.
EPIC GAME
No matter how hard he tried, Nadal could not find a way to get on top of the Serbian, who had saved two match points in his epic semi-final win over Roger Federer to show that he has all the instincts of a prize fighter to go with his sublime skill.
In the opening set, the defending champion jumped out to a 2-0 lead, only to be reined in by Djokovic, who kept the Spanish left-hander under constant pressure with some monster returns that landed right at his feet.
"It was a tough match, physically, mentally, everything," Nadal said.
"I fought until the last point. I tried my best at every moment. I am happy with a lot of things, much happier than the previous matches against him."
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Djokovic, mixing power with some delicate chip shots that often left Nadal in two minds, reeled off six straight games to take the opening set after 53 minutes but suddenly found himself down 2-0 again at the start of the second.
He broke back after a titanic third game that lasted more than 17 minutes and included eight deuces to lead 4-2. Nadal got back to 4-4 but another sloppy service game cost him the set.
The third set was the longest, lasting 84 minutes. Both players were broken three times but Djokovic led 6-5 and had the chance to serve out the match.
To his credit, Nadal fought back and forced the match into a fourth set but he was drained by the effort.
Djokovic was tired as well and called for a medical timeout at the start of the fourth set but he recovered quickly and ran away with the set to seal his first U.S. Open title and the fourth of his career.
Only the French Open remains missing from his trophy cabinet.
"I still want to win many more events, many more major events," Djokovic said.
"It would be unbelievable to be able to complete the grand slam, to win the French Open. It's something that is definitely an ambition, but it's going to take time."
Factbox on Novak Djokovic, who won the US Open for the first time, beating Spain's Rafa Nadal 6-2 6-4 6-7 6-1 at Flushing Meadows.
* Born: Belgrade, Serbia, May 22, 1987
* Coached by Slovak former ATP professional Marian Vajda since 2006.
* Began playing tennis aged four.
* His father was a professional skier and wanted his son to be a skier or professional soccer player but changed his mind when Djokovic excelled at tennis from an early age.
* First full year on tour in 2005, made grand slam debut as a qualifier at the Australian Open, losing to Marat Safin in the first round. Finished as the youngest player (18 years, five months) inside the top 100.
* In 2006, he won his first ATP tour title at Amersfoort, followed that with second title indoors at Metz.
* In 2007, he won five titles (Adelaide, Miami, Estoril, Montreal and Vienna), made the semi-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon and advanced to his first grand slam final at the US Open, losing to Roger Federer 7-6 7-6 6-4.
* Broke the Federer-Nadal grand slam duopoly by beating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets to win his maiden major title at the 2008 Australian Open.
* Upset Federer in the semi-finals of the 2010 US Open before losing in four sets to Nadal in his second final in New York.
* Led Serbia to their first Davis Cup title with victory over France in Belgrade in December, 2010.
* Began 2011 by winning the Australian Open, beating Andy Murray in the final, to end his three-year wait for a second grand slam.
* Won his next six tournaments in Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Belgrade, Madrid and Rome. He did not lose again until June 3 when Federer ended his 41-match winning streak in 2011 in the French Open semi-finals.
* Beat Nadal to win his first Wimbledon title and replaced the Spaniard as the new world number one.
* Won a record fifth Masters title in a season when he won in Toronto, one of the lead-up events for the US Open.
* Saved two match points to beat Federer in the semi-finals of the US Open then defeated Nadal in the final to become just the seventh man to win three grand slams in a year since tennis turned professional in 1968.

Large Crocs catch in the Phils.

2011-09-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Villagers and veteran hunters have captured a one-ton saltwater crocodile which they plan to make the star of a planned ecotourism park in a southern Philippine town, an official said Monday.
Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said dozens of villagers and experts ensnared the 21-foot (6.4-meter) male crocodile along a creek in Bunawan township in Agusan del Sur province after a three-week hunt. It could be one of the largest crocodiles to be captured alive in recent years, he said, quoting local crocodile experts.
Elorde said the crocodile killed a water buffalo in an attack witnessed by villagers last month and was also suspected of having attacked a fisherman who went missing in July.
He said he sought the help of experts at a crocodile farm in western Palawan province.
"We were nervous but it's our duty to deal with a threat to the villagers," Elorde told The Associated Press by telephone. "When I finally stood before it, I couldn't believe my eyes."
After initial sightings at a creek, the hunters set four traps, which the crocodile destroyed. They then used sturdier traps using steel cables, one of which finally caught the enormous reptile late Saturday, he said.
About 100 people had to pull the crocodile, which weighs about 2,370 pounds (1,075 kilograms), from the creek to a clearing where a crane lifted it into a truck, he said.
The crocodile was placed in a fenced cage in an area where the town plans to build an ecotourism park for species found in a vast marshland in Agusan, an impoverished region about 515 miles (830 kilometers) southeast of Manila, Elorde said.
"It will be the biggest star of the park," Elorde said, adding that villagers were happy that they would be able to turn the dangerous crocodile "from a threat into an asset."
Despite the catch, villagers remain wary because several crocodiles still roam the outskirts of the farming town of about 37,000 people.
They have been told to avoid venturing into marshy areas alone at night, Elorde said.

Eid ul- Fitr..end of Ramadan..

2011-08-31T10:54:00.000-07:00

Eid ul-Fitr, often abbreviated to Eid, is a three-day Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). Eid ul-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal, the month which follows Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. Traditionally, the festival begins when the first sight of the new moon is seen in the sky. The first Eid was celebrated in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad with his friends and relatives after the victory of the battle of Jang-e-Badar.
During the festival of Eid ul-Fitr, Muslims celebrate the end of fasting, and thank Allah for the help and strength given to them throughout the previous month. Muslims celebrate by gathering with friends and family, preparing sweet delicacies, wearing new clothes, giving each other gifts and putting up lights and other decorations in their homes.
To mark the beginning of Eid, Muslims go to their local mosque to perform special congregational prayers known as Salaat and many will also give special charitable contributions, known as Zakat al-Fitr. Common greeting during this holiday is the Arabic greeting "Eid Mubarak" (“Have a blessed Eid”).
In 2011, Eid ul-Fitr will be observed on Tuesday, the 30th of August in the United States and observant Muslims will start their celebrations after sunset on the 29th. Although Eid ul-Fitr falls on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar moves approximately 11 days a year.

London Riots..

2011-08-14T04:01:00.001-07:00

A property is on fire near Reeves Corner in Croydon, south London Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011. A wave of violence and looting raged across London and spread to three other major British cities on Tuesday, as authorities struggled to contain the country's worst unrest since race riots set the capital ablaze in the 1980s.

Yello Diamond.."Golden Eye"

2011-08-14T03:56:00.001-07:00

CINCINNATI (AP) — A large yellow diamond — known as the "Golden Eye" — seized in a federal drug and money-laundering investigation in northeast Ohio is going on the auction block with the minimum starting bid set at $900,000.The 43.51-carat diamond belonged to a northeast Ohio businessman who was convicted of money laundering and conspiracy. Prosecutors said he tried to sell to an undercover FBI agent the diamond and an estate once owned by boxer Mike Tyson, all for $19.5 million and a boat.The gem — about an inch long, almost ¾-inch wide and nearly ½-inch deep — was seized in the sting operation and forfeited to the federal government.It is believed to be one of the largest internally flawless yellow diamonds, said Jenny Lynch, a spokeswoman for the online auction company Bid4Assets. The company, based in Silver Spring, Md., will auction the diamond next month for the U.S. Marshals Service."This is the largest and most valuable diamond that we have auctioned in our company's 12-year history," Lynch said. The stone, which has a rectangular brilliant cut crown with 25 facets, is an intense yellow color."This precious gem is sure to generate interest worldwide," Peter Elliot, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, said in a statement.The diamond auction already has attracted interest in the United States and abroad, said Lisa Black coordinator for the forfeiture unit in the Marshals Service's northern Ohio district. After the starting bid of $900,000, bids must increase in increments of $110,000, according to the www.Bid4Assets.com/Diamond43 website, which had more than 9,000 page views for the gem through Friday afternoonThere is a hefty cost to even submit a bid for the diamond.A refundable deposit of $180,000 is required for viewing the gem in Cleveland the week of Aug. 29-Sept. 2 and for bidding on it during the auction that begins Sept. 6 and ends Sept. 8, Deputy U.S. Marshal Ryan Helfrich said.Officials would not release the appraised value of the Golden Eye, but federal prosecutors previously have said it could be worth millions.The origin of the diamond remains shrouded in mystery, and authorities say they do not know where the former owner — Alliance businessman Paul Monea — acquired it. The Marshals Service has not been able to determine the mine of origin, but says it has no connection to any famous historic diamond.Tom Moses, a senior vice president with the Gemological Institute of America that graded the diamond, said it likely came from southern Africa, especially because of its stronger yellow color."Historically, these kinds of larger yellow diamonds have come from that area," he said. "What makes this one rare is its color and clarity combined with its large size. The more yellow it has, the higher the value."The institute grades diamonds for quality, but does not make pricing valuations.Monea, who made millions in the '90s on infomercials that sold Tae Bo exercise videos, was convicted in May 2007 of money laundering and conspiracy in federal court in Akron. Authorities said Monea was trying to sell the Golden Eye diamond and the estate once owned by boxer Mike Tyson to an FBI agent posing as a broker for a drug cartel when he was caught in the sting operation.Monea bought the 25,000-square-foot mansion in northeast Ohio's Trumbull County from Tyson in 1999 for $1.3 million, according to county records. Now 64, Monea was sentenced in 2007 to 12 ½ years in prison. He is scheduled to be released from a federal prison in Ohio in 2018.After the diamond was confiscated in the sting operation, it was claimed by numerous people — including two of Monea's children, a New York minister and a California business owner. But a federal judge in 2009 ruled that the government could keep the diamond, and a federal appeals court in Cincinnati affirmed that ruling last year. The final forfeiture order was issued in March, allowing the Marshals Service to proceed with selling the diamond.Some of the proceeds from the sale will go to victims in the Monea case, and some will go to the federal government and state and local agencies that helped in the investigation, the Marshals Service said.

Underwater Rooms..

2011-08-14T02:34:00.000-07:00

Visitors to the Amphibious 1000 resort, which is not built yet, can stay in underwater rooms and check out a sea life centre in the lobby.It’s the latest barmy tourist project to get the go-ahead in (where else?) Qatar, and it will cost a cool £310million to develop.Italian architecture firm Giancarlo Zema Design Group dreamt up the crazy plans, designed to look like a giant octopus.The vast complex is actually four linked hotels that resemble yachts, and will be built in the middle of a marine reserve.The resort will also feature an ‘aquarium lounge’ and ‘jellyfish suites’ - pods with rooms, lounges and an underwater observatory.Giancarlo Zema is famed for his underwater designs. He said: “We believe that the future of architecture is on the water and that shortly man will be more and more inclined towards living a floating experience.”

The Kingdom Tower

2011-08-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

At over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) and a total construction area of 530,000 square meters (5.7 million square feet), Kingdom Tower will be the centrepiece and first construction phase of the $20 billion Kingdom City development in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, near the Red Sea.

Maggie..Manicure..

2011-07-31T22:27:00.001-07:00

Maggie, a poodle, gets a pedicure at a dog spa in Cainta, Metro Manila. While dog grooming is becoming popular in major cities in the Philippines, local reports say about 500,000 dogs are killed as dog meat is considered a delicacy in some parts of the country. The Philippine Animal Welfare Act prohibits torturing and killing of dogs for commercial sale.

Ramadan 2011

2011-07-30T22:55:00.001-07:00

Ramadan in 2011 will start on Monday, the 1st of August and will continue for 30 days until Tuesday, the 30th of August.
Note that in the Muslim calander, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Sunday, the 31st of July.
Although Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, since the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.
The dates provided here are based on the dates adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America for the celebration of Ramadan. Note that these dates are based on astronomical calculations to affirm each date, and not on the actual sighting of the moon with the naked eyes. This approach is accepted by many, but is still being hotly debated.

London Olympics 2012

2011-07-30T22:45:00.000-07:00

July 27 marks the start of the final countdown for London's staging of the 2012 Olympic Games.
One year from now, 14,700 competitors from 205 nations across the globe will take part in the opening ceremony. An estimated one billion people tuned in to watch Beijing's glittering extravaganza in 2008, and this time the eyes of the world will be on the British capital.
Despite fears that the venues would not be ready on time, that the city's creaking infrastructure would not be capable of dealing with such an influx of visitors, it appears that London is on track to deliver.
The International Olympic Committee has already given an interim thumbs up, with most venues at an advanced stage of completion.
But it has been a bumpy path since 2005, when it became the first city to be awarded the world's biggest sporting extravaganza three times in the modern era, previously having the honor in 1908 and 1948.

An Act of Terrorism or a Criminal Act??

2011-07-30T22:39:00.000-07:00

Debris is seen on the street after a powerful explosion rocked central Oslo on Friday. A huge explosion damaged government buildings in central Oslo on Friday including Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's office, injuring several people. The blast blew out most windows on the 17-storey building housing Stoltenberg's office, as well as nearby ministries including the oil ministry, which was on fire. A government spokewoman has confirmed that Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is safe.

My Big Tan's Family..Father side..

2011-07-26T22:45:00.000-07:00

Long time.. that I don't see anymore my Aunties and Uncles on my Father's side.Here comes the pictures that they were once together as family.Every family/clan dreams of having this kind of family,and in this picture,I am very proud that they are part of myself of what I am being now.I am truly very proud of you Angkong,(my grandfather),Amah,(my grandmother)..My father of course,Felixmino(Lolong),Uncle Leonie,Uncle Ikem and Uncle Toto..and my Aunties..Mama Inday,Auntie Bebe,Auntie Fely,Aunie Ira and Auntie Nenia,Tita Jean and Tita Grace..Without all of you..I am not here in this world.Thank You and God Bless all of Us.

Vegetarian Festival In Phuket Thailand..

2011-07-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

A devotee of the Chinese shrine of Sapam, pierces his face with needles during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 10, 2010 in Phuket, Thailand. Ritual Vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces it roots back to the early 1800's.

Weekends Activities..

2011-07-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

Lately..I don't go anywhere for my weekends duty in some other clinics.Less work,Less stress,more fun and enjoyment with my friends.For the past 2 weeks,I am so bless to have this kind of people in my life.This past 2 weeks was spent walking,malling,eating,roaming around the city of Al-Khobar.I am so happy that this past 2 weeks was so enjoying,full of fun with friends,without thinking that it is humid,so hot that it can goes around 45 degrees at night.My special thanks to Angel,Duncan,sir Ramon,Lloyd..sir Teo,Toto and Efren and Alex..From Fridays,Applebees,Jollibee,Thai Restaurant,Ramaneyah,Jarir,Kudu,Corniche..etc..etc..I love it guys!!It was 2 weeks full of astounding moment (rampa)..God Bless Us Guys!!

My Khobar Life..

2011-03-24T02:11:00.000-07:00

I was just wandering why I made this post.I think I was just a little bit bored of my life..I don't know what will be my title of this post,or perhaps..it is the way i can express my disappointments in my life,career or whatever.Today I was in tha flat..i was alone and doing this blogs,without anyone with me..it was just another lonely day for me.But you know guys,I don't want to spend my life without enjoying it..what I did..watch tv,go around and buy something,spend time with friends,chatting with family..to make this day..complete..This is my life here in the city in Al-Khobar,so freaking busy in work ..for my work,but with less salary..O common..sounds crazy but that's the real score..in the afternoon..malling,going to market,walk with friends..but to sum all of this things..I really really enjoy my life here in Al-Khobar..I was just like living in Manila..free to go,free to enjoy my life and free also to enjoy what we I want for myself...so if they ask me to go back to other clinic..my answer will be..I will invoke my rights to answer that question sir..ha ha ha ha..anyway..I really really enjoy my life here in Al-Khobar..see you guys in my next blogs..so busy in Facebook..

Red Wine..Truly the Best!!

2010-11-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

I could not imagined that a friend of mine,has a friend who is making redwine.They said it was filter and made into pure redwine for 4 months.First, I am hesitant to drink,since I was drunk for 6 straight days,but because my friend invited me to drink the redwine, I drink..At first,I say I will only taste the redwine,but I don't know why I began to like the redwine..This 5 Liters was consumed the whole night with the three of us,ending our session at 2 am,with still work at 6am..Anyway,I hope my friend will come and bring with the same wine.It was very good and I think I love redwine..No hang-over,no headache.Good for the body and especially for the heart.Love it guys!!

Eid Mubarak Party..

2010-11-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

This month..November 2010 was the festive month for our Muslim brother.The Eid Mubarak Party which we celebrated together with our Muslim brother was a joyous and wonderful one.For the past 2 weekends,I don't have duty for the clinics which I supposed to go during weekends.On the 3rd week of this month,I went for a duty in Hawiyah Clinic which is located about 35 minutes from our flat in Al-Hasa.On last Wednesday,from the dining hall, the supervisor from the catering services,give us this Kabsa with a meat from a camel..It was very delicious and the four of us enjoy the food..Very Very full after eating..

July Celebration..

2010-07-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

This past few weeks..a celebration was made for two respected people in our company..Ping and Mr.Ramon Bayas,OJT Trainor of MHS..The celebration was made possible by our coordinator,Mr.Rani Panlilio,as head and President of the so called Wednesday Group.It was full of fun,singing,enjoying the dinner and pulutan for our drinking session..It was my first time to buy my cake for my birthday,as I never used with this kind of activites.I was so happy as I see my friends enjoying the celebration for two people..me and Ramon..July Celebrants!!Thanks guys for those wonderful moment we shared together in one night..Hope to see next year..God Bless us All..

Holy Week..time for reflections..

2010-04-01T04:56:00.000-07:00

This day is Holy Thursday..time to reflects our earthly life..our sins for sure..remember that nobody is perfect..that no one is above the law in Heaven..Today's celebrations is not only for this day but throughout your entire life..maybe if all of us are perfect..we cannot hear news about crimes,crimes against the government,or crime against humanities.Let us not celebrate this day only but for all the time..Two words to keep in mind..Forgive and Forget..Let us show our love to our Mother Earth,our families,our love for our government and love of the word from the Lord..The word from the Lord are the words that are Healthy for our spirits..Let us Forgive,Forget and Reflfects ourselves for the forgiveness of our sins to the Lord..

Burj Khalifa Tower..Dubai

2010-01-09T00:05:00.000-08:00

In January 2004, Dubai announced Burj Khalifa to the world with the claim, ‘History Rising’. Six years on and history has most certainly ‘risen’. Burj Khalifa will soon be transformed into a vibrant community for thousands of residents, employees, hotel guests and tourists. Up to 12,000 people will live, work and play inside the world’s tallest building. The tower is the focal point of the 500-acre master planned community Downtown Burj Khalifa, which is widely described as the most prestigious square kilometre on earth. Burj Khalifa is the development’s crowing glory in every sense, a building that has pushed the boundaries of design and engineering further than many thought possible. Excavation work for the tower began soon after the announcement of its launch, with more than 60 contractors and consultants joining forces on a project of unprecedented scale and ambition. When construction work was at its most intense, more than 12,000 people from over 100 countries were working every day at the Burj Khalifa site. In total, Burj Khalifa took 22 million man hours to build. Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said Burj Khalifa was a shining example of global collaboration. “Burj Khalifa shows just what can be achieved when people from all over the world come together to strive for a common purpose.” Standing at more than 800 metres (2,625 ft), Burj Khalifa captivates audiences with its height. But its construction underground is equally worthy of fascination. More than 45,000 cubic metres (1.59 million cubic ft) of concrete, weighing more than 110,000 tonnes, make up the tower’s steel-reinforced foundations with 192 piles running to a depth of over 50 metres (164 ft). Work on Burj Khalifa’s superstructure began in March 2005, with the foundation work alone taking 12 months. The distinctive triple-buttressed outline of the Burj Khalifa was inspired by the desert lily Hymenocallis. Extensive seismic and wind tunnel testing was carried out to perfect the design of the tower. The triple-buttressed shape of Burj Khalifa allows it to manage the effect of wind vortices generated around the tower, as well as changes in atmospheric pressure between its base and spire. The main construction material of Burj Khalifa is reinforced concrete, specially designed to withstand the staggering pressures inherent in the world’s tallest building. In total, Burj Khalifa employs a record-breaking 330,000 cubic meters (11.6 million cubic feet) of concrete; 39,000 metric tonnes of reinforced steel; 103,000 sq m (1.1 million sq ft) of double glazed glass; and 15,500 sq m (166,800 sq ft) of embossed stainless steel. Once the lengthy construction work of its foundation was complete, the vertical ascent of Burj Khalifa was surprisingly fast. The first 100 levels of the tower were completed only 1,093 days after excavation started. A level was added every three days before the uppermost levels of the tower were reached. In November 2007, the concrete for the highest reinforced core walls of Burj Khalifa was pumped from ground level to a height of 601 metres (1,978 ft), breaking the previous record for concrete pumping held by Taipei 101. The pressure generated during the pumping work reached nearly 200 bars. Work on the glass and aluminium exterior cladding of Burj Khalifa started in May 2007 and was completed in September 2009. Nearly 400 skilled engineers were assigned to the project. At the outset, around 20-30 cladding panels were installed each day. The daily rate of installation reached 175 panels as the project neared completion. Burj Khalifa has set a new world record for the highest installation of an aluminium and glass façade, at 512 metres (1,679.8 ft). A staggering total of 24,348 panels cover a curtain wall area of 132,190 square metres (1.4 million sq ft). But the Burj Khalifa’s shimmering exterior is designed to minimise heat transmission into the building itself, therefore saving energy. Condensation from the panels is also collected and used for landscape irrigation. Burj Khalifa’s spire may resemble a needle at ground level, but in reality it is a colossal structure made up of 4,000 tonnes of structural steel. Nor is it exclusively ornamental, housing as it does communications equipment for the tower. With a total built up area of around 6 million square feet, Burj Khalifa is set to become a living, vibrant community in the heart of Dubai. Around 2 million square feet inside the tower is dedicated to luxury residential apartments, while more than 300,000 square feet is allocated for office space. That’s in addition to the sections of the tower taken up by the world-first Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences Dubai. Countless artworks by prominent Middle Eastern and international artists, including sculptures and various contemporary installations, adorn the interiors of Burj Khalifa and line Emaar Boulevard throughout Downtown Burj Khalifa. A total of 57 elevators and eight escalators serve people living, working and enjoying their leisure time inside the tower. Burj Khalifa has four swimming pools, a cigar lounge, residents’ lounge, the fine dining restaurant ‘At.mosphere’, and a variety of health and fitness facilities. Moreover, the tower’s 124th floor observation deck, ‘At the Top, Burj Khalifa’, offers 360-degree views of the city and is open to the public. Burj Khalifa features ‘The Offices’, a 12-storey annex of prime office space; ‘The Club’, a four-storey health and fitness centre; and ‘Armani/Pavilion’, an outdoor entertainment venue that opens onto the Burj Khalifa Lake and The Dubai Fountain, described as the world’s tallest ‘performing fountain’. Visitors to the ‘At The Top, Burj Khalifa’ observation deck can read the ‘I am Burj Khalifa’ legend once they reach the ‘From the earth to the sky’, section of the tour. Its opening stanza reads: “I am the power that lifts the world’s head proudly skywards, surpassing limits and expectations. Rising gracefully from the desert and honouring the city with a new glory, I am an extraordinary union of engineering and art, with every detail carefully considered and beautifully crafted...” “I am the heart of the city and its people, the marker that defines Emaar’s ambition and Dubai’s shining dream. More than just a moment in time, I define moments for future generations…” From the ‘‘From the earth to the sky’’, one can view Level 124 and the summit of Burj Khalifa at a near vertical angle.

Rare coin valued at 2.3 million pounds..

2010-01-08T23:56:00.000-08:00

MIAMI (Reuters) – A rare 1913 U.S. coin once owned by an Egyptian king and later featured in a famous U.S. TV detective series was sold for more than $3.7 million (2.3 million pounds) in a public auction in Florida, the auctioneers said on Friday.
The so-called Liberty Head nickel, one of only five known of that specific date and design, was sold "in spirited bidding" to a private East Coast coin collector in Orlando late on Thursday, said Greg Rohan, president of Dallas, Texas-based Heritage Auctions. The buyer wished to remain anonymous.
The $3,737,500 price for the five-cent coin included a 15 percent buyer's premium.
"It is probably the most famous United States rare coin," Rohan said in a statement.
Once part of the coin collection owned by Egypt's King Farouk, who was deposed in 1952, the Liberty nickel changed hands several times and featured as part of the plot in a 1973 episode of the well-known CBS TV series "Hawaii Five-O."
The value of the rare coin, which was made at the Philadelphia Mint with the Miss Liberty design, crossed the million dollar mark in 2003.

Happy New Year 2010!!

2009-12-30T23:14:00.000-08:00

Another year has past.Another year has come.There would be new aspiration,new dreams to follow,new resolutions and it's because it's New Year.Everyone of us has a dreams in life.I for one has a dreams in life...that our place where we live now (EARTH)..peace will reign,progress will continue and people will help each other...No more typhoons or disaster,no more corruptions,no more crimes..Love and peace will reign...but one thing I remind you..If you have a problem,don't be a problem,and if you cannot solve your problem,don't blame others!!I hope everyone will have a blessful and fruitul new year to come.Happy New Year to All!!

China unveils fastest link train for two Modern Cities..

2009-12-27T03:34:00.000-08:00

BEIJING (AFP) – China on Saturday unveiled what it billed as the fastest rail link in the world -- a train connecting the modern cities of Guangzhou and Wuhan at an average speed of 350 kilometres (217 miles) an hour.
The super-high-speed train reduces the 1,069 kilometre journey to a three hour ride and cuts the previous journey time by more than seven and a half hours, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Work on the project began in 2005 as part of plans to expand a high-speed network aimed at eventually linking Guangzhou, a business hub in southern China near Hong Kong, with the capital Beijing, Xinhua added.
"The train can go 394.2 kilometres per hour, it's the fastest train in operation in the world," Zhang Shuguang, head of the transport bureau at the railways ministry, told Xinhua.
Test runs for the service began earlier in December and the link officially went into service when the first scheduled train left the eastern metropolis of Wuhan on Saturday.
By comparison, the average for high-speed trains in Japan was 243 kilometres per hour while in France it was 277 kilometres per hour, said Xu Fangliang, general engineer in charge of designing the link, according to Xinhua.
Beijing has an ambitious rail development programme aimed at increasing the national network from the current 86,000 kilometres to 120,000 kilometres, making it the most extensive rail system outside the United States.
China unveiled its first high-speed line at the time of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 -- a service linking the capital with the port city of Tianjin.
In September, officials said they planned to build 42 high-speed lines by 2012 in a massive system overhaul as part of efforts to spur economic growth amid the global downturn.
The network uses technology developed in co-operation with foreign firms such as Siemens, Bombardier and Alstom.

Simple Noche Buena at Offshore..

2009-12-25T04:07:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas has past..4 years na ako d2 sa KSA nagpasko..ang hirap kaya ng buhay ko..but anyway let get straight to the point..Last night we had a party at offshore,where I was working..it was a very simple one but for me..it was very memorable.My kabayans have planned this things a week ago to have this party.I was very excited to join as it was my first time to join Christmas party in offshore..We don't prepare much food but the point is..we share what we had even if in a little way..Foods are good and delicious and everybody was enjoying..Take a look of the pose of this people.I was the one who photograpph them..Merry Christmas everyone!!

What will you do if your phone is soaked in Water..

2009-12-19T18:10:00.000-08:00

This happened to mine. whatever you do immediately take your phone battery out. the reason why our phones stop working after its in the water is because you try to turn it on again without letting it dry and the battery shorts the phone. now u have to be patient this is the ONLY WAY. You have to put your phone in a bag of rice..i know this sounds crazy but the rice sucks up all the moisture..leave it there for 2-3 days...WITHOUT turning the phone off..that is crucial. and then try to leave it on something warm like a tv...i did this and i turned my blackberry on and it works PERFECT. I swear it was even sitting in water for over 30 secs. GOOD LUCK..and whatever you do..DO NOT CHECK TO SEE IF IT WORKS...wait at least 2.5 full days. Good luck guys..

Monster Icebergs breaking it's drift closer to Australia..

2009-12-15T06:10:00.001-08:00

SYDNEY (AFP) – An island-sized iceberg is breaking up as it drifts closer to Australia, producing hundreds of smaller slabs spread over a massive area of ocean, experts said Monday.
The 140-square-kilometre (54-square-mile) block of ice, known as B17B, was seen some 1,700 kilometres (1,054 miles) south-southwest of Australia's western coast on December 9, prompting a maritime alert for vessels in the area.
But as it has tracked further north and east the iceberg has shrunk to some 115 square kilometres -- still formidable at about twice the size of Manhattan.
"There are now many more smaller icebergs calving off B17B, measuring up to several kilometres in length, and spread over more than a thousand kilometres of ocean," said Australian Antarctic Division glaciologist Neal Young.
Young, who has tracked B17B using satellite images from NASA and the European Space Agency, said the iceberg was some 400 square kilometres in area and 40 metres high when it first broke off from Antarctica.
"If you didn't know about the early picture you would still say it's a monster," Young told AFP.
Young said he expected B17B to totally dissolve but was unable to predict when this would happen.
"Might be two weeks, might be several weeks. The key thing at the moment is it's getting thinner," he said.
"It's got its feet in what it thinks is warm water -- about six to eight degrees Celsius (45 F) -- we think that's freezing cold but for an iceberg that's quite warm.
"So it's thinning from the bottom and that's what's going to lead to it breaking up."
The iceberg, which calved from the eastern end of the Ross Ice Shelf nearly 10 years ago, is expected to continue tracking in a more easterly direction.
Australian authorities last week issued a shipping alert over the possible hazard from icebergs.

Octopus Carrying Coconut Shells for Shelter..

2009-12-15T06:06:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY – Australian scientists have discovered an octopus in Indonesia that collects coconut shells for shelter — unusually sophisticated behavior that the researchers believe is the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal.
The scientists filmed the veined octopus, Amphioctopus marginatus, selecting halved coconut shells from the sea floor, emptying them out, carrying them under their bodies up to 65 feet (20 meters), and assembling two shells together to make a spherical hiding spot.
Julian Finn and Mark Norman of Museum Victoria in Melbourne observed the odd activity in four of the creatures during a series of dive trips to North Sulawesi and Bali in Indonesia between 1998 and 2008. Their findings were published Tuesday in the journal Current Biology.
"I was gobsmacked," said Finn, a research biologist at the museum who specializes in cephalopods. "I mean, I've seen a lot of octopuses hiding in shells, but I've never seen one that grabs it up and jogs across the sea floor. I was trying hard not to laugh."
Octopuses often use foreign objects as shelter. But the scientists found the veined octopus going a step further by preparing the shells, carrying them long distances and reassembling them as shelter elsewhere.
That's an example of tool use, which has never been recorded in invertebrates before, Finn said.
"What makes it different from a hermit crab is this octopus collects shells for later use, so when it's transporting it, it's not getting any protection from it," Finn said. "It's that collecting it to use it later that is unusual."
The researchers think the creatures probably once used shells in the same way. But once humans began cutting coconuts in half and discarding the shells into the ocean, the octopuses discovered an even better kind of shelter, Finn said.
The findings are significant, in that they reveal just how capable the creatures are of complex behavior, said Simon Robson, associate professor of tropical biology at James Cook University in Townsville.
"Octopuses have always stood out as appearing to be particularly intelligent invertebrates," Robson said. "They have a fairly well-developed sense of vision and they have a fairly intelligent brain. So I think it shows the behavioral capabilities that these organisms have."
There is always debate in the scientific community about how to define tool use in the animal kingdom, Robson said. The Australian researchers defined a tool as an object carried or maintained for future use. But other scientists could define it differently, which means it's difficult to say for certain whether this is the first evidence of such behavior in invertebrates, Robson said.
Still, the findings are interesting, he said.
"It's another example where we can think about how similar humans are to the rest of the world," Robson said. "We are just a continuum of the entire planet."

Pacquiao wins for his 7th World Title..

2009-11-14T21:53:00.001-08:00

LAS VEGAS (AP)—Manny Pacquiao put on yet another dominating performance Saturday night, knocking down Miguel Cotto twice and turning his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him 55 seconds into the 12th round.
Pacquiao used his blazing speed and power from both hands to win his seventh title in seven weight classes and cement his stature as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Cotto took such a beating that his face was a river of red from the fury of Pacquiao’s punches.
Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a right hand early in the third round, but he wasn’t badly hurt and came back to finish the round strong. But after Pacquiao put Cotto on the canvas with a big left hand as Cotto was advancing forward late in the fourth round, Cotto was never the same again.
Cotto fought gamely but in the later rounds he was just trying to survive as blood flowed down his face and Pacquiao kept coming after him relentlessly.

Droid by Motorola..

2009-11-11T22:35:00.000-08:00

The web is richer. Photos are sharper. Videos pop. It has the most advanced browser and Android 2.0 software with a blazing-fast processor and 3G speed for faster search. It has the world's thinnest QWERTY slider at 13.7mm. It can help you navigate turn-by-turn. It has a 5MP camera with a flash, plus loads of great camera features and a DVD-quality recorder to capture all the richer, bigger, wider experiences you're going to have.
It's the phone with the "Hi" IQ.

4 Things You should Never do with your Credit Cards

2009-11-10T20:55:00.001-08:00

Susan McCarthy, a financial adviser in Oklahoma City and author of The Value of Money, lists her top four credit card don'ts:1. Don't make only the minimum payments. This stretches out your payment and, thanks to the interest, significantly increases your overall cost.2. Don't carry too many cards. Multiple cards make it easier to rack up debt because it's harder to keep track of your spending. Having lots of cards isn't necessarily bad for your credit, but misusing them is. So limit your plastic to two national cards (store cards often carry higher interest rates) that you manage carefully.3. Don't miss payment due dates. Not only will you be hit with a late fee-as high as $39 on some cards-but your interest rate could also jump. Sign up for online banking or pay over the phone if you're up against the deadline. (You may pay a processing fee, but it will probably be less than the late fee and the possible interest-rate hike.)4. Don't take cash advances. These advances generally come with sky-high interest rates and service fees, making them a far too expensive way to get cash. Avoid at all costs.

World Series Open Champion..

2009-11-10T06:05:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS (AP)—A 21-year-old Michigan poker professional who chose cards over college won the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas early Tuesday, winning $8.55 million and becoming the youngest player to win the tournament in its 40-year history.
Joe Cada of Shelby Township, Mich., turned over a pair of nines early after 46-year old Darvin Moon called his all-in wager with a suited queen-jack, setting up an about-even race for most of the chips on the table.
But a board of two sevens, a king, an eight and a deuce didn’t connect with either player’s cards and gave Cada the win.
“I ran really well and I never really thought this was possible,” Cada said. “It was one of those dreams and I’m thankful it came true.”
The hand abruptly ended a final table that saw Moon, a logger from western Maryland, bounce back to a dominant chip lead after being down 2-1 in chips to start the night.
“I knew if I could catch, I got him,” Moon said of the final hand. “I just took a shot.”
Cada broke a record for the tournament’s youngest winner set last year by Peter Eastgate of Denmark. Cada is 340 days younger than Eastgate.
The record was previously held for two decades by 11-time gold bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, who posed for pictures with Cada after the win.
He also posed with his mother, Ann Cada, a dealer at MotorCity Casino Hotel in downtown Detroit.
“My baby,” Ann Cada said as she approached her son with cameras snapping.
When asked what’s next for him after reaching the pinnacle for poker so early in his career, Cada said: “To win it back-to-back.”
Moon and Cada traded the lead several times in 88 hands spanning nearly three hours of play, with one 20-minute break.
Moon erased Cada’s lead in 12 hands, revealing a pair of queens during a showdown to rake in a pot worth millions of chips. Cada shook his head after he lost and briefly stood up from the table, walking over and chatting with two of his supporters.
After some chip-shifting, Cada was ahead by less than 4 million chips after 52 hands, with 194.8 million chips in play.
But Moon stormed to nearly a 100 million-chip lead after the break, visibly frustrating Cada and leaning on him to make tougher decisions.
Fortunes changed when Moon pounced on a board with two 10s, a nine and a five to put Cada’s entire tournament at risk. After a sip of bottled water and several minutes of thinking, Cada called the bet and flipped over a nine for a pair.
Moon held a straight draw but didn’t hit his hand on the river, giving the lead back to Cada and drawing roars from the crowd.
“I should have went all-in on the flop. He made a phenomenal call,” Moon said. “That’s why he’s the champion.”
Moon won $5.18 million for second place.
“I only play good when my back’s against the wall,” said Cada, who was nearly ousted from the tournament on Saturday when he held about 1 percent of the chips in play after 123 hands.
The players traded chips atop a table with a stack of cash and a gold bracelet on its felt, and in front of nearly 1,500 screaming fans in a capacity crowd at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
Their tug-of-war ended an epic tournament that began with 6,494 players in July.
After a 115-day break, Cada and Moon endured more than 14 1/2 hours through 276 hands at the final table on Saturday and early Sunday, when they outlasted seven others to make it to heads-up play.
Unlike Cada, who said he regularly plays about a dozen tournaments at a time online or three at a time in heads-up cash games, Moon hasn’t played a single hand of online poker. He doesn’t even own a computer or have an e-mail address.

Largest Cruise Ship..

2009-11-01T19:38:00.000-08:00

KORSOER, Denmark – The world's largest cruise ship cleared a crucial obstacle Sunday, lowering its smokestacks to squeeze under a bridge in Denmark.
The Oasis of the Seas — which rises about 20 stories high — passed below the Great Belt Fixed Link with a slim margin as it left the Baltic Sea on its maiden voyage to Florida.
Bridge operators said that even after lowering its telescopic smokestacks the giant ship had less than a 2-foot (half-meter) gap.
Hundreds of people gathered on beaches at both ends of the bridge, waiting for hours to watch the brightly lit behemoth sail by shortly after midnight (2300GMT; 7 p.m. EDT).
"It was fantastic to see it glide under the bridge. Boy, it was big," said Kurt Hal, 56.
Company officials are banking that its novelty will help guarantee its success. Five times larger than the Titanic, the $1.5 billion ship has seven neighborhoods, an ice rink, a small golf course and a 750-seat outdoor amphitheater. It has 2,700 cabins and can accommodate 6,300 passengers and 2,100 crew members.
Accommodations include loft cabins, with floor-to-ceiling windows, and 1,600-square-foot (487-meter) luxury suites with balconies overlooking the sea or promenades.
The liner also has four swimming pools, volleyball and basketball courts, and a youth zone with theme parks and nurseries for children.
Oasis of the Sea, nearly 40 percent larger than the industry's next-biggest ship, was conceived years before the economic downturn caused desperate cruise lines to slash prices to fill vacant berths.
It was built by STX Finland for Royal Caribbean International and left the shipyard in Finland on Friday. Officials hadn't expected any problems in passing the Great Belt bridge, but traffic was stopped for about 15 minutes as a precaution when the ship approached, Danish navy spokesman Joergen Brand said.
Aboard the Oasis of the Seas, project manager Toivo Ilvonen of STX Finland confirmed that the ship had passed under the bridge without any incidents.
"Nothing fell off," he said.
The enormous ship features various "neighborhoods" — parks, squares and arenas with special themes. One of them will be a tropical environment, including palm trees and vines among the total 12,000 plants on board. They will be planted after the ship arrives in Fort Lauderdale.
In the stern, a 750-seat outdoor theater — modeled on an ancient Greek amphitheater — doubles as a swimming pool by day and an ocean front theater by night. The pool has a diving tower with spring boards and two 33-foot (10-meter) high-dive platforms. An indoor theater seats 1,300 guests.
One of the "neighborhoods," named Central Park, features a square with boutiques, restaurants and bars, including a bar that moves up and down three decks, allowing customers to get on and off at different levels.
Once home, the $1.5 billion floating extravaganza will have more, if less visible, obstacles to duck: a sagging U.S. economy, questions about the consumer appetite for luxury cruises and criticism that such sailing behemoths are damaging to the environment and diminish the experience of traveling.
It is due to make its U.S. debut on Nov. 20 at its home port, Port Everglades in Florida.

Fossilized Skull of Sea Monster unearthed in Dorset Coast

2009-10-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

The fossilised skull of a "sea monster", which may be the largest of its type ever found, has been unearthed on the Dorset coast.
The skull from the ferocious prehistoric predator the pliosaur is 2.4 metres long and could belong to a creature measuring up to 16 metres in length from tip to tail and weighing up to 12 tonnes.
Pliosaurs were a form of plesiosaur, a group of giant aquatic reptiles that terrorised the ocean 150m years ago, around the same time that dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
They had short necks and huge, crocodile-like heads that contained immensely powerful jaws and a set of huge, razor-sharp teeth.
Richard Forrest, a plesiosaur expert, said the discovery was fortunate because pliosaur skulls were generally found crushed flat.
"What is fantastic about this new skull, not only is it absolutely enormous, but it is pretty much in 3D and not much distorted," he said. "You have this wonderful lower jaw – and you can just see from the depth and the thickness that this was immensely strong.
"It could have taken a human in one gulp; in fact, something like a T-Rex would have been breakfast for a beast like this."
The fossil was found by a local collector on the Jurassic Coast, a 95 mile stretch of coastline covering Dorset and East Devon that spans 185m years of geological history. Dorset county council purchased it for £20,000 with money from the heritage lottery fund, and it will now be scientifically analysed, prepared and then put on public display at Dorset County Museum.
Using four paddle-like limbs to propel its bulky body through the water, the pliosaur made easy work of passing prey such as dolphin-like ichthyosaurs and even other plesiosaurs.
"These creatures were monsters," said David Martill, a palaeontologist from the University of Portsmouth.
"They had massive muscles on their necks, and you would have imagined that they would bite into the animal and get a good grip, and then with these massive neck muscles they probably would have thrashed the animals around and torn chunks off.
"It would have been a bit of a blood bath."
Experts believe it could rival recent finds made in Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, where beasts dubbed "the Monster" and "Predator X" were thought to have measured 15m, and in Mexico, where the "Monster of Aramberri" was discovered in 2002, and is believed to have been of similar dimensions.
"We only have the head, so you cannot be absolutely precise," said Martill.
"But it may be vying with the ones found in Svalbard and Mexico for the title of the world's largest."
The exact location of the find is not being revealed, as Dorset county council does not want to encourage people to head to the spot. The area is unstable and prone to rock falls and landslides.
Richard Edmonds, the council's earth science manager for the Jurassic Coast, said the rest of the creature may still be entombed in the rock but it could take decades for it to emerge.
"The ground is dipping very steeply, and as it is such a huge specimen it will be buried beneath layer upon layer of rock, so we will have to patiently wait for the next big landslide," he said.

Wedding of the Year..Sen.Mar Roxas-Korina Sanchez

2009-10-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - It was a people’s wedding for Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez as thousands shared the simple but elegant affair where the couple vowed to love each other for the rest of their lives.
Loud cheers were heard outside the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City, first when the couple arrived and later, when they were pronounced husband and wife.
The wedding was really planned to be enjoyed with the people.
The original venue for a grand reception was the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City but this was scrapped to reach out to even more Filipinos as the couple decided to donate their more than P2-million budget for the event to the victims of recent calamities.
Instead, onlookers were provided with food packs while guests had sandwiches, biscuits, native delicacies and drinks inside the premises of the church.
The couple was also blessed with good weather that made it easier for people to come and watch the affair in and arounbd the church.
“Fulfillment of all I’ve waited for”
Mar and Korina, who were engaged for five years before getting married, made their personal vows as the groom kissed the hand and temple of the bride every now and then during the ceremony.
Roxas described his bride as “God’s precious gift” to him and said he would treat her not only as his wife but also as his best friend.
“I love you as you are. You are precious to me. I am happy we are together and truly thank you for taking me and putting up with me. I give myself to you as your best friend, to applaud when you succeed and encourage when you stumble. I offer myself to you as your husband in respect and in trust. Today I take you to be my wife. I promise to be with you and be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life,” Roxas said.
For her part, Sanchez said her vows in Filipino, saying Roxas was the fulfillment of everything she dreamed of in a husband.
“Minamahal kong Mar, matagal ang panahong lumipas na tayo ay nagsarili ng landas at naghintay ng pagkakataong ito. Tayo ngayon ay pinagpala ng tadhana at ng Panginoon na mahanap ang isa’t isa. Totoo pala na ang pangarap ay nagaganap,” Sanchez said.
“Ikaw ang katuparan ng lahat ng aking hinintay at minimithi ng aking puso na maging kasama, karamay, kaibigan at kakampi. Ikaw ang aking pinili upang alayan ng lahat ng iyong kakailanganin sa isang kasama at katabi sa buhay sa abot ng aking makakaya. Dumaan man ang unos, mga pagsubok, ang sakit, ang kabiguan, ako ay mananatiling dikit sa iyong dibdib kahawak ng mahigpit ng iyong mga kamay. Nguni’t sabay din tayong lalakbay sa landas na itinahak ng Panginoon sa atin. Magkasama tayong ngingiti, tatawa, hahalakhak sa malaki man na tagumpay at sa pinakamababaw na biro,” Sanchez said to her groom.
She promised Roxas that she would be there for him for the rest of their lives.
“Mar, ang pangako ko sa iyo, saksi ang aking mga yumaong magulang na si Celia at Ramon, katuwang ng aking buong pamilya at lahat ng nagmamahal sa ating dalawa, basbas ng langit ang aking pagmamahal sa iyo at kasama ng Panginoon kahapon, ngayon at bukas, ako’y iyong-iyo,” Sanchez said.
Tears of joy
Sanchez became emotional as she walked down the aisle to meet her groom. She did not wear the traditional veil on her Filipiniana-inspired piña wedding gown.
As she stepped out of the bridal car, the crowd screamed her name even as she was covered by a cream-colored cloth on the way to the church door, which was closed after members of the entourage came in to give the bride a dramatic entrance.
Roxas became teary-eyed too as Sanchez walked down the aisle. He came an hour earlier on board his trademark pedicab and shook hands with those waiting outside. He then marched with his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, while Sanchez was escorted by her brothers Milano, Miguelito and Emmanuel Ruiz.
Roxas used the pedicab in his infomercials to show he was one with the poor and will help them in uplifting their lives.
The Philippine Madrigal Singers sang “Ave Maria” as the entourage marched toward the altar.
Sanchez shed tears as singer Ray An Fuentes gave his rendition of “Umagang Kay Ganda” as background. The song is a personal favorite of Roxas because the lyrics talked about the happiness of being together and that waking up with each other would always make a beautiful morning.
In his homily, Fr. Carmelo Caluag told the couple that their wedding was an opportunity to begin anew, heal all wounds and correct past mistakes.
“I believe that giving one’s self to love brings blessing to one’s self and to society,” he said.
At the end of the matrimonial ceremony, the couple kissed for 11 seconds as Basil Valdez sang his classic “Ngayon at Kailanman.”
Who’s who
The wedding was attended by the who’s who in the Philippine society. Former President Joseph Estrada and Vice President Noli de Castro led the guests from the political sector while Kris Aquino-Yap, whose son James Jr. was ring bearer, came with other showbiz personalities.
Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the presidential bet of the Liberal Party and running mate of Roxas, was one of the sponsors. Representatives from various political organizations and non-government organizations were also among the guests.

Pacquiao still no.1 as Pound for Pound King..

2009-10-23T21:29:00.000-07:00

The Yahoo! Sports monthly rankings underwent big changes in October despite the fact that none of the top-ranked fighters were in action.
Manny Pacquiao, who faces Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas in what is expected to be a high-paced bout, supplanted Floyd Mayweather Jr. for the top spot. Mayweather had a one-point edge over Pacquiao in September, but Pacquiao climbed past him by five points in October.
Three fewer voters participated in the voting in October than did in September and that appeared to help Pacquiao. Pacquiao received 13 of the 25 first-place votes from the elite panel of boxing writers, with Mayweather picking up the other first-place 12 votes.
The difference turned out to be that all of those who did not vote for Pacquiao as No. 1 had him as No. 2. However, Mayweather had nine second-place votes, two third-place votes and one fourth.
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That dropped him from the top spot and into second place.
Bernard Hopkins, who last fought on Oct. 18, 2008, when he routed Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City, N.J., also tumbled. Though Hopkins hasn’t fought in more than a year, he was ruled eligible to be voted upon since he has a Dec. 2 fight scheduled against Enrique Ornelas.
But some voters expressed disappointment with Hopkins’ choice of a tune-up opponent as well as his planned 2010 fight against Roy Jones Jr. and either dropped him totally from their top 10 or dropped him in the list.
Hopkins, who was in a tie with Shane Mosley for fourth in September, is now seventh. The other change in the rankings saw Juan Manuel Lopez, who had been No. 9, falling out of the top 10 despite a decision victory over Rogers Mtgawa on Oct. 10. Lopez struggled down the stretch and had to hang on in the final round to win.
Voters opted to dump him because of that and put in former middleweight champion Arthur Abraham in ninth place. Abraham knocked out Jermain Taylor in the 12th round of their opening round match in the Super Six tournament on Oct. 17.

FB Applications are BLOCK..

2009-10-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

Facebook socializing websites was very fun..You got to play a lot of games..get to know with other people,from different countries,classmates in highschool and college who are workin in foreign land.It is very entertaining websites..you have a lots of fun,but lately it feels bad for us working in one of the company in Saudi Arabia.Most Applications are BLOCK..now the entairtainment becomes a misery..Damn..they BLOCK most of the games..Its totally crazy!!No more plays,no more games..More Continuing Education..

I'll be lonely when you leave me..

2009-10-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

I was just sitting down one afternoon in my clinic,thinking my life,my future and my everything.I was just thinking the love of my life..I don't know what will happen this feelings but I know for sure that everything happen for a reason..Whatever and what will happen,I know that this person will not leave me for no reason..I love this person so much,more than my life..it's like without this person..MY life would not be complete..Yesterday I cry not because I am going to lose this person,but because this person has inspired me a lot.This is the first that I am very much in love..it never happens to me before,but this one was spectacular..It is an amazing feeling..whatever and what will happen..I would not cry again..for I know this persons has love me so much and value me a lots...You know who you are..If you gonna leave me in the future..I'll be lonely but I know..in your heart..I was there..you cannot take it away..I love you always!!

Typhoon "Ondoy"

2009-09-27T06:33:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday in my country,a devastating heavy downpours damaged my beloved Phillippines.It was not a strong typhoon,but the the heavy downpours of rains,continously for the next 24 hours has turn a city into a sea.Take a look of one picture I attached,how this typhoon Ondoy,damaged the whole part of Metro Manila and Luzon areas.Floods in the city has been terribly affecting all folks in life.No Board Exam,No Bar Exams,Class in School eitheir in elemetary,secondary and tertiary were suspended,No Office work and diff. agencies were close,even markets,because the Floods water level is dangerous for human lives.In time like this the "BAYANIHAN"spirit in every Filipino prevail.Take a glance of the picture.Helping one another is what the Filipino known for..Mabuhay ka Kabayan!!

8"1" Turk's World's Tallest Man

2009-09-16T23:45:00.000-07:00

LONDON – A towering Turk was officially crowned the world's tallest man Thursday after his Ukrainian rival dropped out of the running by refusing to be measured.
Guinness World Records said that 8 foot 1 inch (2.47 meter) Sultan Kosen, from the town of Mardin in eastern Turkey, is now officially the tallest man walking the planet. Although the previous record holder, Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk, reportedly measured 8 feet 5.5 inches (2.57 meters), Guinness said he was stripped of his title when he declined to let anyone confirm his height.
Stadnyk, 39, told The Associated Press he refused to be independently measured because he was tired of being in the public eye.
"If this title had given me more health or a few extra years, I would have taken it, but the opposite happened, I only wasted my nerve cells," he said.
"If I have to choose between prosperity and calm, I choose calm."
Kosen, 27, told reporters in London that he was looking forward to parlaying his newfound status into a chance at love.
"Up until now it's been really difficult to find a girlfriend," Kosen said through an interpreter. "I've never had one, they were usually scared of me. ... Hopefully now that I'm famous I'll be able to meet lots of girls. I'd like to get married."
Kosen is one of only 10 confirmed or reliably reported cases in which humans have grown past the eight foot (2.44 meter) mark, according to Guinness.
The record-keeping group said he grew into his outsize stature because tumor-related damage to his pituitary triggered the overproduction of growth hormones. The condition, known as "pituitary gigantism," also explains Kosen's enormous hands and feet, which measure 10.8 inches (27.5 centimeters) and 14.4 inches (36.5 centimeters) respectively.
The tumor was removed last year, so Kosen isn't expected to grow any further.
The part-time farmer, who uses crutches to stand, said there were disadvantages to being so tall.
"I can't fit into a normal car," he said. "I can't go shopping like normal people, I have to have things made specially and sometimes they aren't always as fashionable. The other thing is that ceilings are low and I have to bend down through doorways."
But he noted some advantages too, including the ability to see people coming from far away.
"The other thing is at home they use my height to change the light bulbs and hang the curtains, things like that."
Kosen's trip to the U.K. — his first outside Turkey — was organized by Guinness to publicize the release of its 2010 Guinness World Records book, this year's repertoire of weird and wonderful records.
___
Associated Press Writer Maria Danilova in Kiev, Ukraine contributed to this report.

Miss Venezuela..Miss Universe 2009

2009-08-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

NASSAU, Bahamas – Miss Venezuela was the fairest of them all, again.
Venezuelan Stefania Fernandez won the 2009 Miss Universe pageant in the Bahamas on Sunday night.
Dressed in a flowing red gown, Fernandez embraced runner up Miss Dominican Republic as the announcement was made, and received the crown from last year's winner, Dayana Mendoza, of Venezuela. The sparkling tiara fell to the floor at one point, as Fernandez danced in joy.
Venezuela, a beauty-obsessed South American country, has won the Miss Universe pageant six times.
During a question-and-answer segment with the five top finalists, Fernandez said she believed women have overcome obstacles such as hitting the proverbial glass ceiling.
"I feel we have reached the level that men are at," she said.
The other top-five finalists were runner-up Ada Aimee de la Cruz, followed by Miss Kosovo, Droga Ganusha; Miss Australia, Rachael Finch; and Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez.
The top 15 finalists appeared in bathing suits before the final 10 were chosen for the evening gown segment.
Pageant co-owner Donald Trump told reporters, "I think this is the most beautiful group of women I've ever seen."
The televised event includes musical performances by Flo Rida, Heidi Montag, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland.
Montag gave her first live performance, singing "Body Language" from her debut album.
Fans cheered on the blond star of MTV's "The Hills," although NBC, which is broadcasting the event in the Bahamas live, blocked out more than half of her performance as they introduced the 15 finalists.
"It's my first performance live and it's in front of a billion eyes. So I'm very excited to show everyone what I'm coming with," said Montag before her performance.
Hosts are Billy Bush, co-anchor of "Access Hollywood," and Claudia Jordan, a former Miss Rhode Island USA who has appeared on several TV shows. Judges include actor Dean Cain and supermodel Valeria Mazza.
Miss China, Wang Jingyao, was named Miss Congeniality and Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej, won Miss Photogenic.
Many contestants have suffered from dehydration in recent weeks, and Jewel Selver, Miss Turks and Caicos, went home Saturday to recuperate, said Esther Swan, Miss Universe spokeswoman.

Facebook..and Different Apps..Fishworld my Fav!!

2009-08-19T11:50:00.000-07:00

I've been using Facebook lately after a friend of mine invited me to join me this social sites..Very interesting since a lot of applications has been applied in this site.I've been using Farmville but lately it was BLOCKED in my Desktop..I could not imagine how they did to us..it's crazy!!Since I am assigned in offshore,I find Fishworld more related to my area of assignment.I got 3 aquariums with lot of fish inside of diffrent species and colors.Much more of this I enjoy so much on FISHWORLD in Facebook..

World Fastes Man..

2009-08-18T23:03:00.001-07:00

Jamaica's Usain Bolt set a new world record of 9.58 seconds — also known as half a Beatles lyric — as he stormed to a spectacular victory in the Men's 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Bolt took control of the race after only 30 meters, shaving a ridiculous 0.11 seconds off his own world record of 9.69 seconds set a year ago at the Beijing Olympic Games.
He is fast.

Offshore..

2009-08-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I go back on this place.I have been in the city for 4 months,and I enjoy myself so much there,travelling in other places,meeting new acquintances..relieving duty for those who will go days off..I thought I'll be staying Tanajib for good when I have my duties there..after staying there for 2 weeks,they inform me that I"ll be going to offshore..what was the reason??I dont know..but the thing I could do was to make good of my work,keep studying and be confident and probably..Be courteous with people in offshore..since I am new to this area..I dont know how long I stay here,I will just keep you inform of what's next!!

Disaster Drill in Offshore..

2009-08-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

Every Year..Saudi Aramco conducts regular Disaster Drill at Offshore.It is my first time to attend this drill at offshore and I was quite a little bit curious,excited and at same time nervous..1000HH the 110 telephone rang..the Disaster Drill begins..I have to get my equipment ready,Nurses Bag,Robert Shaw,Life Pak 12,Entonox,Radio and others.By the time we arrive at Tanajib Aviation,we have to wait for our chopper..since we are using the Augusta which is a 4 seating capacity chopper and one straight chair(on flat) for one patient only.The Disaster Drill went thru accordingly and we finished around 1110HH.There was no bad comments for the medical side during their meeting.I hope to attend more Disaster Drill in onshore and Offshore in the coming years.I learned also to be confident on myself.

Accidents comes without Warning!!

2009-07-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

This is what happen to me last thursday.While my right foot was still on the ground,the driver,drove our company car immediately..immediately I was drag to the ground that results me to fall down and have this evidence..abrasions on my right arm at elbow area..what kind of driver we had..saudi driver??stupid..crazy or shall we say..idiot..although it does not cause me so much pain..deep inside I was angry to our saudi driver..he say sorry to me,but the damage is done!!

Welcome party sa Tanajib..

2009-07-17T04:29:00.000-07:00

"Ang tagal mong nawala,babalik ka rin,babalik ka rin"Nasaan ka man nakarating,sa city ng Al Khobar,sa Al Hasa, o kung saan ka dalhin ng iyong kapalaran,babalik ka rin..ang sarap ng pagkain,pawelcome sa akin ng mga kasama ko..sa pagbalik ko sa Tanajib,although I don't eat much Byaryani(Indian food),which you see with yellow one color(spicy siya..di ko kaya)..I still like the food,somehow I will eat this Byaryani once I will use to the taste(spicy)..but ang kinain ko talaga ng marami ay ang ginataang manok..sobra talaga..ang busog2 ko..sana maulit pa ang ganitong pagsasama with my old friends in Tanajib..Thanks for you guys..I salute you!!

I'm Back where I'm Belong!!

2009-07-16T23:34:00.000-07:00

About 4 months ago,I was told to go Dhahran ITC Clinic,to have my duties there.I knew it was very hard for me because I am adjusting my life in the city and also I will be cooking my own food,preparing for my uniforms and among others.First,it was very hard for me to do the job,because I have a lot of patinet(malingering patient),but since I am use to have a lot of patients in Tanajib Clinic,gradulally I was able to adjust my life in the city.I enjoy my stay,but also I spent a lot of money to enjoy there in the city.I've been eating and roaming around in some restaurants,shops(malling)among others.Right now..I am in Tanajib,for 2 weeks..they said..I'll be back in Offshore!!I don't know but the most important..I knew I'm back where I Belong..

Clinic Shaybah..2 days of stay..

2009-07-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

I was called by our Project Manager to relieve to one of the clinic in Clinic Shaybah.I was hesitant not to go there because,I never knew the place,but base on comments buzz on me with other people,they said that Shaybah was a very nice clinic,although it is remote and located near to UAE,the place was quite nice.I was only there for 2 days,but I enjoy my stay there,people were accomodating,nice,but the most thing I like there was what they called as "KAMPAY".I was very much happy with my 2 days stay there in Clinic Shaybah..Kudos to the people in Clinic Shaybah..Mabuhay Kayong lahat!!

ACLS..

2009-07-16T23:04:00.000-07:00

I am so blessed to have my ACLS Card,but the responsibilities,they entrusted me was also so much..I could not imagine that after my four months stay at Dhahran ITC Clinic..I got my ACLS Card..But before this thing..I have my PHD as my weapon, for to get the ACLS Cerficiate..PHD stands for Perseverance,Hardwork and Determination.It was very tough for me to pass,because my educator was very strict and was very tough for me,but I did it well.The last thing I am hoping for was to learn my job seriously and to act among others confidently.

Night at the Kornich..a plesant walk!!

2009-06-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

After 3 months in Dhahran ITC working as Nurse..frankly speaking I never had a chance to see and walk in Kornich..because nobody invited me to go there,until one night,two of my friends..both of them are from the islands of Mindanao..mga bisaya pod like me,invited me to walk around at Kornich..it was so tiring since it was my first time to do that walking by night for about 1.5kms. back and forth..But the thing I like was..I have burns some calories in my body...Shown was my picture with Roland near the sea at Kornich..very refreshing place especially for a summer weather like what we have now in KSA..

Weekend Clinic Assigment..

2009-04-24T03:12:00.000-07:00

It so nice to be assign to Dhahran ITC..every weekends,I have my clinic assignments..eitheir I'll be in Shedgum Clinic or Hawiyah Clinic..I have to travel by car for an hour just to be in clinic on time for my duty..from 6am to 6pm..so tiring yet so enjoying because,I meet new nurses on those clinic and people,during my tour of duty..I am so thankful for this people..they are so kind and accomodating for my 2 days of duty in their respective clinics.Mabuhay kayong Lahat!!Shown in the picture was when I make a relieve duty in Hawiyah Clinic with Sky(Nurse) and Sayed..Ambulance Driver.

Life in the city..Dhahran mall..

2009-03-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

Ang hirap dito sa city,maliit na kita mo,magasto kapa sa lahat na bagay..pero napaka Normal naman ng buhay mo..kasi maliban sa Pork na bawal dito,makakain mo ang gustong pagkain,unlike sa remote,kung ano ang ihanin sa yo..yun na..maliban na lang kung magluto ka sa room mo..ang hirap talaga sa remote..kasi walang enjoyment..work,eat, and sleep lang..sa city..makapili ka ng pagkain mo..dito na ako sa city..magasto man siya..masaya naman ang buhay ko..like what happen last thursday..sa isang mall kami...enjoy sa shopping mga kasama ko..eowwwww..what a life here in the city..

Life in the City..

2009-03-06T06:15:00.001-08:00

Life is so cool here in Al-Khobar..although it is very expensive..I can say that you live like a normal individual..you like to shop..you can..you want to eat the food you want..you can..except the pork which is not allowed in Muslim country..You can go to the park,roam around the city if you want..that is how life here in Al-Khobar.Compared to my life before in offshore..it was like a jail..really guys!Now I was so happy with my life now in Al-Khobar..it's like a new lease of life was given to me..I am so happy because my life has become normal.

Mosley wins by TKO over Margarito..

2009-01-24T20:49:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Shane Mosley dominated from start to finish, knocking out Antonio Margarito for the first time in his career in the ninth round Saturday night to win the WBA welterweight title in a stunning upset.
Margarito was coming off an impressive victory over previously unbeaten Miguel Cotto six months ago, and boxing experts had tabbed the 30-year-old slugger one of the top pound-for-pound fighters.
But Mosley must not have been paying attention.
Despite his advancing age, the 37-year-old Mosley used his superior quickness from the beginning, and Margarito never was able to display the power and fortitude he showed against Cotto.
“It was my strategy, my focus, my game plan,” Mosley said when asked what won the fight. It was a tough fight, but it was a great plan. It was my left hook. I caught (Fernando) Vargas with it, I caught (Richardo) Mayorga with it.
“He’s a tough fighter, he had a lot of endurance. I prepared very hard, I trained hard. He was very powerful, but he couldn’t resist my rhythm.”
Mosley brought in Nazim Richardson to train him for this fight, replacing his father, Jack. That move worked to perfection.

Antonio Margarito, left, of Me… AP - Jan 23, 7:08 pm EST
“When you have a great game plan and an excellent athlete, then everything works out very well,” Richardson said.
The bout was held before an announced crowd of 20,820—largest to attend a sporting event at Staples Center since it opened in October 1999. The fans were clearly pro-Margarito despite the fact that Mosley grew up in suburban Pomona, but it meant little once the bout began.
“I feel OK. I was just getting caught over and over,” Margarito said.
Margarito didn’t win a single round on one judge’s scorecard, one on another and two on the third. The Associated Press had Mosley every round but one.
Mosley, who weighed the maximum 147 pounds, raised his record to 46-5 with 39 knockouts. Margarito, known as the “Tijuana Tornado,” weighed 145.8 pounds. He dropped to 37-6 with 27 knockouts after being stopped for the first time.
Both fighters earned around $2.4 million.

World's Largest Man Made..

2009-01-19T04:49:00.000-08:00

Perhaps no structure on this list more embodies the original impulse behind the tall building — pure human hubris — than Dubai’s Palm Islands. Composed of three separate islands, Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira, the entire construction will add nearly 330 miles of beach front to the city of Dubai. Parts of Palm Jumeirah are currently open for development, with the remaining islands to be completed in the next 10-15 years. When finished, the three islands will contain over 100 luxury hotels while Palm Deira itself will be almost as large as Paris.

Australia offers"best job in world"on paradise island..

2009-01-13T04:55:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY (AFP) – An Australian state is offering internationally what it calls "the best job in the world" -- earning a top salary for lazing around a beautiful tropical island for six months.
The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (105,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the winner's home country to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland's state government announced on Tuesday.
In return, the "island caretaker" will be expected to stroll the white sands, snorkel the reef, take care of "a few minor tasks" -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.
The successful applicant, who will stay rent-free in a three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, must be a good swimmer, excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English.
"They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors," said acting state Premier Paul Lucas.
"The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world."

2009-01-10T02:03:00.001-08:00

NEW YORK – A 140-year-old lobster once destined for a dinner plate received the gift of life Friday from a Park Avenue seafood restaurant.
George, the 20-pound supercentenarian crustacean, was freed by City Crab and Seafood in New York City.
"We applaud the folks at City Crab and Seafood for their compassionate decision to allow this noble old-timer to live out his days in freedom and peace," said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
PETA spokesman Michael McGraw said the group asked City Crab to return George to the Atlantic Ocean after a diner saw him at the restaurant, where steamed Maine lobster sells for $27 per pound. George had been caught off Newfoundland, Canada and lived in the tank for about 10 days before his release.
Some scientists estimate lobsters can live to be more than 100 years old. PETA and the restaurant guessed George's age at about 140, using a rule of thumb based on the creature's weight.
He was to be released Saturday near Kennebunkport, Maine, in an area where lobster trapping is forbidden.

Palm get back into game with Touchscreen Pre,WebOS

2009-01-09T01:46:00.000-08:00

Palm was under serious pressure to hit a home run at CES today—and boy, did it deliver. Running Palm's gorgeous (if belated) new platform, dubbed WebOS, the touchscreen Pre could well be Palm's savior, and perhaps its biggest hit.So, as for the Pre itself (due on Sprint in the first half of this year, no pricing yet): It's got a big, 3.1-inch 480 by 320 touch display (yes, with multitouch and an accelerometer), weighs in at 4.8 ounces, and comes with a curved, slide-out keypad. Yes, it does Wi-Fi and 3G (EV-DO Rev. A, to be exact), as well as GPS (with turn-by-turn directions courtesy of TeleNav), stereo Bluetooth, 8GB of internal storage, a 3MP camera, a 3.5mm headset jack, and a removable battery.But the key to the Pre is its OS, and WebOS—previously code-named "Nova"—is one of the hottest mobile platforms I've seen yet, rivaling both Android and Apple's iPhone OS.At a glance, WebOS doesn't look all that different from the icon-driven, touch-based Android and iPhone platforms; you've got your main, wallpapered home screen, complete with a row of icons along the bottom for your standard e-mail, calendar, and calling features.But Palm's done a few key things differently here, starting with the "gesture" area at the bottom or side of the screen (if you're, say, surfing the Web in landscape mode). For example, if you're browsing an individual contact in the Pre's address book, you can flick horizontally in the gesture area to go back to the contact list, or you can flick up for a translucent window shade of applications. Nice.More importantly, though, is WebOS's way of letting you handle and sort all your open applications like a deck of cards. If you're composing an e-mail, for example, you can flick up, call open a new application, and then return to your e-mail at any point. All open applications appear as windows (similar to the windows in the iPhone's Web browser), and you can flick back and forth, reorder them, and discard them at will. That's really cool, and it solves one of the biggest problems that's dogged the iPhone—namely, that its various applications are all walled off, making it difficult to easily switch from, say, the Web browser to the calendar and back again. WebOS also introduces a concept dubbed "Synergy," which all applications can continuously get info from the Web. The best example: WebOS's unified contact list, which seamlessly displays all your contacts and grab their e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and IM handles from Facebook, Gmail, Exchange, you name it. I'm also happy with Palm's integrated messaging interface, which combines IM and text chats into a single, threaded conversation.And then there's the WebOS "Dashboard": a flexible space at the bottom of the screen for calling, messaging, and appointment alerts. As you're working in other applications, you might see the first line of a text message or IM, or the Dashboard might open a bit bigger for a calendar alert, complete with "dismiss" and "snooze" options. When alerts appear, you're free to keep working in your open application, or you can go ahead and open the alert—and if you want to answer an IM, you can swipe to that "card" in WebOS, and then return to your previous application card. Great stuff.A few other interesting notes: When you're sitting at the Pre's main screen, you can just start typing on the QWERTY keypad to call up a universal search menu; you'll instantly see any matching contacts, or you can quickly jump to Web results from Google, Google Maps, and Wikipedia.Oh, and I almost forgot to mention "Touchstone," a little hockey puck of an accessory with a killer feature—wireless charging. Just place the Pre on top of the Touchstone device to power it up. Awesome.It's a lot to chew on—indeed, Palm's press conference is barely an hour old, and already I'm having the same feeling I did after the iPhone's debut two years ago. The Pre—and WebOS—look red-hot, and the two combined may well guarantee that Palm will live to fight another (and perhaps, many) days.So, initial thoughts? Like what you see? Will developers take to writing WebOS applications? Fire away.

Life has to go on..

2009-01-08T23:44:00.000-08:00

Each one of us have this one...New Years Resolution!!I don't know if what was my New Year's Resolution,since I have not done anything wrong against anyone..so maybe or I'm sure that continuing doing the right one to anyone will be my New Year's Resolution again.Some wants to change there bad habits, some want to change their bad attitutude,some would not change and would continue to be what they want.But they said,Life is a constant Change, so anything would change in a proper time..They said "Nobody is Perfect"but practice makes Perfect,so why Practice!!if you try to imagine and think this words, you will not understand,and ask Why??so for me..Life has to go on without New Year's resolution,two things to remember:Do what is right and Don't do what is wrong...

2009-01-06T00:24:00.001-08:00

General
2G Network
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network
HSDPA 900 / 2100
Announced
2008, August
Status
Available. Released 2008, October
Size
Dimensions
110 x 49 x 15 mm, 74 cc
Weight
97 g
Display
Type
TFT, 16M colors
Size
240 x 320 pixels, 2.4 inches

- Downloadable themes- Touch-sensitive Navi wheel- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
Ringtones
Type
Polyphonic (64 channels), MP3
Customization
Download
Vibration
Yes

- Stereo speakers
Memory
Phonebook
Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
Call records
Detailed, max 30 days
Card slot
microSD (TransFlash), up to 8GB, hotswap, 4GB card included, buy memory

- 83 MB internal memory- ARM 11 369 MHz processor
Data
GPRS
Class 11, 107 kbits
HSCSD
Yes
EDGE
Class 32, 296 / 177.6 kbits
3G
HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
WLAN
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology
Bluetooth
Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port
No
USB
Yes, v2.0 microUSB
Features
OS
Symbian OS 9.3, Series 60 v3.2 UI
Messaging
SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, RSS feeds
Games
Yes + Java downloadable, order now
Colors
Canvas white, Seal grey
Camera
5 MP, 2592x1944 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, video(VGA 30fps), flash; secondary VGA videocall camera

- Built-in GPS receiver- A-GPS support- Java MIDP 2.0- MP3/M4A/AAC/eAAC+/WMA player- Stereo FM radio with RDS- FM transmitter- TV out- 3.5 mm audio output jack- Push to Talk- Voice command/dial- PIM including calendar, to-do list and printing- Document viewer- T9- Photo/video editor- Integrated handsfree
Battery

Standard battery, Li-Ion 1200 mAh (BL-6F)
Stand-by
Up to 372 h
Talk time
Up to 5 h 30 min
Misc
Price group

Sony Ericsson C905..was it the best..

2008-12-29T03:51:00.000-08:00

Key features:
8.1 MP autofocus camera with Xenon flash and active lens cover
Dedicated camera mode switch, two camera/gaming keys over the display
Face and Smile detection, smart contrast, image stabilizer, geotagging, red-eye reduction
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and HSDPA (3.6 Mb) / tri-band HSDPA for US version
Scratch resistant mineral glass 2.4" TFT 256K-color display
Built-in GPS with A-GPS function, Wayfinder Navigator software
Wi-Fi b/g with DLNA and SIP VoIP support, Bluetooth (with A2DP), USB v2.0
Enhanced user interface with basic multi-tasking
Media Center, Smart search, Manage Messages, extended TrackID
FM radio with RDS and TrackID
160 MB built-in memory, M2 card support, 2GB included
Main disadvantages:
Display is relatively small for a high-end device
Video recording limited to QVGA resolution at 30fps
No front facing video call camera
No office document viewer
Sliding lens cover of questionable durability
Exposed connectivity port
Fiddly battery cover

Paris Hilton..iba pagmayaman!!

2008-12-29T00:04:00.000-08:00

Paris Hilton showed off her new and improved ride last Monday -- a hot pink Bentley Continental GT. Hopefully the same thieves that took $2 million worth of jewels from the heiress' home won't get their hands on this $200,000 coupe.

Paskong Naiiba sa Offshore

2008-12-24T11:26:00.000-08:00

Ilang taon ka na dito nagpasko..3 years na..ah ok..ang lupit mo ah..pero masaya ako kasi may lider kami d2..madiskarte..gumagawa ng Chivas Regal,siya ang maysabi nyan..salamat nga pala Teng Pogz,kung di dahil sa yo,di ko maramdaman ang Pasko sa Saudi kahit paano..Ito siya,ang maker and manufacturer..si Teng Pogz..Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance to All!!

Hotel Cipriani,Venice..

2008-12-23T21:45:00.000-08:00

Venice virgins can be forgiven for thinking that the city's best hotel should be close to San Marco or on the Grand Canal. Not so. Insiders know that you want to look over to the main island while avoiding the hordes of tourists, who can be more plentiful than the pigeons. There's nothing quite like waking up in the Hotel Cipriani, which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. That location, for starters. It's on Giudecca Island facing San Marco, amid a sea of quiet streets, sprawling gardens, and that giant saltwater pool (hotel lore says it was planned in feet but the designer built it in meters, thus tripling its size). The full glory of Venice is suddenly yours — you can actually imagine being here when the city was a world power of its own.
Be aware that rooms vary in size and have a certain faded look, so ask for dimensions and try to snag a lagoon view. (Management tends to favor repeat guests, but persevere.) Avoid the new annex altogether, which has small rooms and a less glamorous feel. Even better — though it costs a mint — choose a room in the Vendramin, a restored waterfront palazzo that comes with a fleet of private butlers. It's no wonder Clooney often makes the Cipriani his bachelor pad when in town for the film festival.

Bomb Blast at Iligan City today..12/18/08

2008-12-18T05:49:00.000-08:00

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines -- (UPDATE 6) Explosions rocked two shopping centers here Thursday afternoon and two women were seen on the malls’ videos as having planted the bombs that killed a number of people and injured several others, authorities said.
Military and police said the two people were killed and 47 injured in the blasts at the Unicity shopping center at 1:35 p.m. and at the nearby Jerry’s Shoppers Plaza 10 minutes after. Both stores are on Aguinaldo Street.
The bombs, improvised explosive devices, exploded at the baggage counters at the entrance of the establishments, police said.
Superintendent Dimacuta Sanggacala, spokesman of the Lanao del Norte police, corrected the earlier report he relayed to INQUIRER.net that six people had been killed, saying that some of those whom they thought were dead were seriously hurt.
Sanggacala also the wounded were being treated at the Sanitarium City Hospital and Dr. Uy City Hospital.
Lieutenant Esteffani Cacho, Western Mindanao spokesperson, said two people were wounded and an L-300 van was damaged in the explosion at Unicity while two were killed and two others hurt in the second blast at Jerry’s Shoppers Plaza.
She added that the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and the K9 unit of the 403rd Brigade had been deployed to the blast sites.
An Associated Press report quoted Lieutenant Colonel Agane Adriatico, a military spokesman, as saying Muslim rebels were to blame for the attacks.
In an interview 403rd Infantry Brigade chief Colonel Nicanor Dolojan said initial findings indicated the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were crafted out of mortar rounds, which he described as the “signature” of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).Dolojan said the motive of the attack was to “sow terror” in the city and possibly divert the military’s focus from offensive operations against MILF units the military has been targeting for attacking civilian communities in central Mindanao in August.“We are still trying to evaluate [and] we are still trying to assess [the] situation…what is really their intention. But our [offensive] operation [will] still continue,” Dolojan said.
Sanggacala said footage obtained from the closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) of both establishments showed the bombs were planted at the baggage counters by women whose faces were covered with veils.
Sanggacala said although they have not identified the perpetrators, these were “acts of terrorist groups.”
He said scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) were searching the area for more victims.
Sporadic clashes between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, an 11,000-strong rebel group fighting for self-rule in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation's south, erupted in August after the country's top court scrapped a preliminary peace deal.

World 1st Computer Rebuilt,Rebooted after 2,000 Years

2008-12-17T22:01:00.000-08:00

A British museum curator has built a working replica of a 2,000-year-old Greek machine that has been called the world's first computer.
A dictionary-size assemblage of 37 interlocking dials crafted with the precision and complexity of a 19th-century Swiss clock, the Antikythera mechanism was used for modeling and predicting the movements of the heavenly bodies as well as the dates and locations of upcoming Olympic games.
The original 81 shards of the Antikythera were recovered from under the sea (near the Greek island of Antikythera) in 1902, rusted and clumped together in a nearly indecipherable mass. Scientists dated it to 150 B.C. Such craftsmanship wouldn't be seen for another 1,000 years — but its purpose was a mystery for decades.
Many scientists have worked since the 1950s to piece together the story, with the help of some very sophisticated imaging technology in recent years, including X-ray and gamma-ray imaging and 3-D computer modeling.
Now, though, it has been rebuilt. As is almost always the way with these things, it was an amateur who cracked it. Michael Wright, a former curator at the Science Museum in London, has built a replica of the Antikythera, which works perfectly.
In the video from New Scientist below, Wright shows how the machine works.
In short, Antikythera's user interface is deceptively simple, operated by a simple knob on the side. This conceals the intricacy within, amounting to a complex mathematical model, tracking the movements of planetary bodies and incorporating a series of submechanisms to account for the eccentricities of their rotation.
A dial on the faceplace featured the Greek zodiac and an Egyptian calendar; pointers showed the location of the moon and the five planets known at the time. On the machine's back, an upper dial shows a 19-year calendar (matching the solunar cycle) and the timing of upcoming Olympic games. A lower dial shows a 76-year cycle (when the Olympic and solunar cycles coincide) and indicates the months in which lunar and solar eclipses can be expected.
According to New Scientist, this is the first working model of the Antikythera computer to include all of the device's known features. And, like the original machine, it has been built of recycled metal plates. That's right: The Antikythera mechanism is not only the world's oldest computer, it's also the world's first green computer.

Keyboards no more by 2012..

2008-12-16T04:38:00.000-08:00

Step aside, keyboards, laptops, and 9-to-5 jobs. A survey of more than 1,000 Internet activists, journalists, and technologists released Sunday speculates that by 2012, those quaint relics of 20th century life will fade away.
It's not a formal survey of the sort that, say, political pollsters use. Nor are computer journalists especially known for their prognosticative abilities. Still, the Pew Internet and American Life Project hopes the effort will provide a glimpse of the best current thinking about how online life will evolve in the next decade or so.
Lee Rainie and the other Pew researchers asked their survey respondents to respond to a series of questions about 2020 future scenarios, including whether the mobile phone will be the "primary" Internet connection (most agreed), whether copy protection will flourish (most disagreed), and whether transparency "heightens individual integrity and forgiveness (evenly split).
The rough consensus was that "few lines divide professional time from personal time," and that professionals are happy with the way work and play are "seamlessly integrated in most of these workers' lives."
Another, which also met with broad agreement: "Talk and touch are common technology interfaces. People have adjusted to hearing individuals dictating information in public to their computing devices. In addition 'haptic' technologies based on touch feedback have been fully developed, so, for instance, a small handheld Internet appliance allows you to display and use a full-size virtual keyboard on any flat surface for those moments when you would prefer not to talk aloud to your networked computer."
One respondent was Google chief economist Hal Varian, who said: "The big problem with the cell phone is the (user interface), particularly on the data side. We are waiting for a breakthrough."
It's easier to read the report itself, which you can find here (PDF). This is Pew's third report in the series; further reading can be found in its 2005 first survey (PDF) and 2006 second survey (PDF).

New Gadget..N97

2008-12-15T09:24:00.000-08:00

Last 3 days ago,I was thinking to exchange my mobile from N73 Music Edition to 3110 Classic..after thinking awhile I realized that I have to change it.The reason is that,I will have an additional money and mobile,compared to my N73,which is 2nd hand,and it has fall downs many times from my pocket,sometimes the mobile will hang and in fact some of my text messages was not delivered on time to the recepient.At first I was hesitant to do it,but then I realized that since I was planning to buy a new mobile,hopefully next year,I am exchanging it now.One of the mobile I saw in internet was really nice and expensive,may be I will buy and maybe I will not buy this one.So far the mobile I receive now was good but not expensive,but performance level was satisfactory.Hope I can have this mobile,if my pocket permits!!ha ha ha..may kamahalan pero sophisticated ang dating!!

You may rest in Peace Mac2!!

2008-12-09T05:38:00.000-08:00

We are not certain of our life here in this world.One maybe young or too young that he did not enjoy life,but maybe taken by our Lord,untimely.Sad news for everyone that your loveones,close friend,parents or anyone close to your heart will go,without telling you,because the call for him to the Lord is untimely.Last week I called my cousin,and on that talk she told me about what happen to one of my friend's son.The boy was diagnosed of Leukemia(Blood disorder) last 2 months ago in one of the public hospital in Southern Leyte.Very sad because the boy was just 15 years old,loving and caring son to his parents.Eventually they went to Manila(PGH) for the Chemotheraphy session,but unfortunately his condition worsens and this young boy died on December 5,2008 at 12:35am.This young boy was not only loving and caring to his parents,but also to his brothers and family.To You Mac2,you may rest in peace!!We love you so much!!

Derrick Rose cuts apple,arms..

2008-12-08T20:27:00.000-08:00

According to the Chicago Tribune's Full-Court Press blog, Bulls rookie Derrick Rose missed Monday's practice after he needed 10 stitches to close a gash suffered at home while — you're not going to believe this one — slicing an apple in bed. Amazing.
"It was a silly incident," Rose said. "I was cutting up some food and I laid on a knife getting lazy in bed. I went to go get a bottle of water, came back, forgot the knife was there, then sat down and sliced my arm."
Rose is expected to play Tuesday night against the Knicks at the United Center, which is good news, but it begs the question: why is Rose cutting Red Delicious apples with a machete? That seems excessive.

After more than 10 years..

2008-12-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

Hindi ko akalain na makikita ko pa ang dati kung kaibigan,after more than 10 years,na wala man lang akong balita tungkol sa kanya..what a small world!Dito ko pa siya makikita sa KSA,kung di dahil sa friendster,nagkaroon kami ng contact at simula noon..we seldom talk each other sa phone..Until now single pa rin siya,pero nagkaroon na daw siya ng asawa..(di sila kasal)pero nagkahiwalay din sila,masakit man ang pangyayari pero kailangan niya ng lumayo sa Pinas para makalimutan ang masakit na kasaysayan niya sa pag-ibig.Heto siya ngayon nakipagsapalaran sa Gitnang Silangan sa Saudi Arabia..sabi niya sa akin..baka sa darating na panahon ang swerte naman ang darating sa kanyang buhay,na sana maging maligaya naman siya sa kanyang buhay pag-ibig.Sa yo bestfriend,ako ay nanalangin na ang lahat na pangarap mo sa buhay ay matupad,ang ikaw sana ay liligaya lalo na sa buhay pag-ibig..At higit sa lahat,huwag kalimutan ang ating magulang,na siyang gabay natin sa ating mga munting pangarap sa buhay..mabuhay ka Bestfriend!!

Pacquiao wins by TKO

2008-12-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

Lets get ready to the Rumble..as the saying goes for boxing afficionados!!The time has come where every Filipino,if I am not mistaken have stopped their work and watch the Dream Match of Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao. vs.Oscar "the Golden Boy"dela Hoya.The fight started with Manny Pacquiao outscoring the Golden Boy from 1st round until the fight stop at end of 8th round.Beginning at the 4th round Golden Boy face was swelling with his left eye that almost closed,receiving 1,2,3 or even 4 combination from Manny Pacquiao.The fight is a one sided,with Manny Pacquiao showing tremendous and terrific combination to dethrone the Golden Boy in his most lopsided loss boxing career.Congratulations to our Pambansang Kamao,Manny "Pacman"Pacquiao.You are not only a talented boxer,but also a legend in the history of boxing,The Filipinos all over the world are very proud of you..Mabuhay ka!!

2008-11-23T19:38:00.000-08:00

Jackson spokeswoman: singer, sheik settle lawsuit11/23/2008 6:44 PM, APJill Lawless Michael Jackson has reached a settlement with a Bahraini sheik who says the singer owes him $7 million after breaching a signed contract, the pop star's spokeswoman said Sunday.
The out-of-court settlement means Jackson will not be giving evidence at London's High Court as scheduled on Monday, Celena Aponte said.
Scores of journalists and fans had been expected to cram the courtroom for the appearance by the always-unpredictable King of Pop. Aponte said Jackson was informed of the deal as he was about to board a flight to London.
"As Mr. Jackson was about to board his plane to London, he was advised by his legal team to postpone his travels since the parties had concluded a settlement in principle," Aponte said. "Therefore, he will not be attending court on Monday."
A representative for the sheik could not immediately be reached late Sunday.
Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa said he gave the singer millions and planned a series of collaborations following Jackson's acquittal on child molestation charges in June 2005. Al Khalifa, 33, invited Jackson to the small, oil-rich Gulf state to escape the media spotlight.
The sheik, the second son of the king of Bahrain, said he believed he had formed "a close personal relationship" with the star, whom he referred to affectionately as "my brother."
Al Khalifa said he gave Jackson millions of dollars to help shore up his finances and subsidize Jackson's lifestyle in Bahrain — including more than $300,000 for a "motivational guru." Al Khalifa, an amateur songwriter, says the pair even moved into the same palace to work on music together.
But Jackson dropped the project in 2006, leaving Bahrain and pulling out of the contract.
Jackson's lawyers have maintained the money was a gift and argued that the musician wasn't bound by the deal because the contract was signed on behalf of 2 Seas Records, a venture which never got off the ground.
The singer originally wanted to avoid coming to London to answer the lawsuit in person, seeking instead to give evidence by video link from the United States. His lawyer, Robert Englehart, had claimed that Jackson should be spared the trans-Atlantic trip due to an unspecified illness, but on Thursday the lawyer said the 50-year-old star had been cleared for travel.
The suit is being heard in London by mutual agreement.
Jackson's purported medical problems — and his sometimes bizarre demeanor — have been a regular feature of previous court appearances. His 2005 trial was punctuated by complaints of back problems, an apparent bout with the flu and visits to the hospital. At one point, the judge had to order the pajama-clad star into court from the emergency room.
His most notorious appearance came in 2002, when a wide-eyed Jackson testified in a California courtroom with what appeared to be a bandage hanging from his nose.

LA Lakers my Fav's NBA Team..

2008-11-23T05:26:00.000-08:00

Eversince I was a kid,I dreamed of playing in the hardcourt,but sad to say that I was not good enough to shoot the ball very well or could not handle the ball very well..it was a dreamed that could not push thru..now I could not even run as fast as I can.. since I already balloned my weight..wtf!!perhaps the Lord has another plan for me and perhaps I was not destined to become a superstar in basketball..ganon!!!!anyway from high school time until this time,I was one of those LA Lakers Fan,eitheir they lose or win in a game or in a championship..I am truly a LA Lakers Fan!!Last year LA Lakers did not get the Championship Trophy against the Boston Celtics,but I hope this year they can make it and add another milestone history of the team.LA Lakers go go for the Championship Tropy!!

Hatton wins by TKO in 11th round..

2008-11-22T21:38:00.000-08:00

Very quiet day!!I am just sitting around in my clinic when I remember that today,welterweight boxing champion Ricky Hatton is going to slug it out with Paul Malignaggi.I monitor the outcome of the result thru the internet,since I don't pay money for the pay per view(PPV).On the 1st round Malignaggi impress the spectators at Vegas.. but on the 2nd round round Ricky Hatton,deliver barrages of punches that almost kneeled down Paul Malignaggi.As the fight continues,Hatton dominated all those rounds until on the 11th round about 30 seconds left,Hatton deliver a TKO decision,when coach of Paul Malignaggi request to stop the fight as his ward was punished by barrages of punches from Ricky Hatton.This time Ricky Hatton wins in Las Vegas.The last time he fight in Las Vegas,he was knockdown by Floyd Mayweather.Ricky Hatton is eager to meet Oscar dela Hoya soon..we will wait if Oscar dela Hoya accept the challenge..

days off malling

2008-11-21T21:17:00.000-08:00

Hahay Buhay!!tatlong buwan ka sa dagat..apat na araw sa syudad..nakakaloka ang buhay sa offshore..grabe ang lungkot..kung hindi kasama mo ang kausap mo(ibang clinic)..computer ang gamit pangpatay lungkot o inip sa buhay sa offshore..Buti na lang naka-days off ako..pero minsan ang days-off pasakit din..alam nyo kung bakit,imbes na mag-days off ka ..papuntahin ka ng opisina para lang mag-BLS at Log Rolling..ano ba naman ang nangyari sa opisina..wala na yata silang magawa..imbes days off,training ang inabutan ng days off..nakakabuwisit na ang mga ito!!grrrrr!!anyway di ko na inisip yun,ang importante..I have time to roam around the city and buy some stuff I need to buy..Ang sarap ng buhay sa city pag-may pera ka,pero kung wala kang pera..mahirap din kasi lahat duon ay binibili..eowwwwwwwww!!sana sa sunod na days off ko..makatongga man lang kahit isang bote ng sadiki..para naman masaya,maligaya at parang panalo ng Lotto..ha ha ha..iniisip ko pa rin sa city ang Pinoy foods...ang sarap,sobrang nakakamisss talaga,lalo na kung masarap ang pagkaluto ng sinigang na isda,pritong isda,pusit,shrimp at bukod duon ang food court..wow!! napalaway ako..ang sarap lahat nito..March 2009..sunod na days off ko..abangan ang mangyayari..se yo guys!!

Tom..Oyo Boy ng Saudi..

2008-10-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

Gabi na..di pa matulog..parang di puyat sa work..siguro kasi naglalaro pa ng games sa celpon nya!!sino kaya siya..??ang ingay ng laro nya..di kami makapagconcentrate ng panonood ng TV..hoy!!hinaan mo naman ang volume ng laro..ang ingay kasi eh!!di talaga nakikinig..minsan kasi pag-nabuburo kana sa offshore parang ang tigas na ng ulo mo..di yung iba..u know what i mean!!he he he..lahat yata ay uwing-uwi na..minsan nga ang iba d2..binibilang na ang araw..pero di pala makauwi kasi walang kapalit..ang hirap ng buhay d2..nakakalungkot at kung minsan pa..nakakaloka na!!pero itong isa walang pakialam kahit ano pa..basta ang sa kanya makapaglaro siya ng Delta Force..basta wala siyang pakialam..yun lang!!ang babaw naman ng kaligayan niya no..pero kahit papaano daw,ok na rin kay sa walang mapaglibangan..siya si Tom..ang Oyo Boy ng Saudi..ano papalag kayo!!

Tongga Pre..minsan lang to!!

2008-09-22T21:21:00.000-07:00

About 6pm last night I was called by my friend,asking me to try his new experiment.."Sadiki"..At first I was hesitant because it is still Ramadan,but also I am afraid that somebody will report that we are having a drinking session..Anyway to make the story short, I try a small mineral bottle for me..so shock!!ang sarap pala tumagay kahit bawal kasi Ramadan at nasa Saudi tayo..Minutes,Hours and after this..I got drunk already and need to sleep,but sad to think I could not sleep while I am on my bed..An hour later,firealarm rangs loudly..I got up and check what happen downstairs..it was just a smoke as dining reported..later I comeback in my room about 12 midnight and got my sleep well..Kahit na inuubo,nakatulog pa rin dahil sa Vicks Vaporub..iba talaga ang gamot na may "Haplos ng Pagmamahal"..

Where are you???

2008-09-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

The Phone rang at 7pm..nobody answer..Gaitronics was used by Control to find the man they are looking for..Medic..Medic..line 1..nobody reply!!where this guy going??hmmmmmmm...Supervisor called one housekeeper to check the Medic at Filipino Room..the guy knocks the door and says..Is the Medic there?? the Medic replied in a soft voice..yeah..anything I can Help..the guy said..Control was looking for you..Oh..really!!what's the problem..theres a guy in the Boat who loss his consciousness..did I heard right??Immediately I go down with my equipment and report to the Control.I meet the Chief Mate..an american guy and he tells me everything about his AB.When I went to the boat,I saw the patient in a wooden chair sitting..he was conscious,coherent and responsive.I went to check his vital signs.Everything was Normal.I called up the doctor of what advise he can give..he says..just give the guy some rest..that is only stress!!I talked his Chief Mate and discuss everything what the doctor has told to me.Suddenly one guy approached me..hey! Medic that guy did not sleep after his work last night..really!!So this is really Stress..after a discussion with the Chief Mate I went back to my Clinic with my Nurses Bag..I thought one guy has some heart attacks..it was another night of excitement..tinotoxic yata ako ng mga ito..nanahimik nga ako..he he he..few hours later about 9:30pm a guy knocks on my room and ask for a consultation..what the hell!!I told the guy!!you are not an emergency case,please comeback tomorrow morning..i told the guy!!he said..No!!I need medicines now..I replied..sorethroat and sneezing you think you will die..go to your room and sleep..tomorrow come to my clinic..understood?the guy back off and go without an answer..he was just a contractor..akala siguro nila sa kanila ang clinic..ang lalaki ng katawan tapos nagkasakit..what the fuck!!

Bad day..September 13..2008

2008-09-15T04:53:00.000-07:00

I was just sitting in my clinic,when a regular call was made by the Dispatcher,informing me that one guy was having some back pain radiating to his left leg.I have known for the guy because he was my patient last 1 week ago,2 times he came and reported that he was having those pain.I go up and bring along my equipments.He was stable when I check.I ask him if I could give him an injection for pain.he said..No!!I am on fasting..instead I initiate a 110 call(Emergency Call) while monitoring the patient.He told to me that the pain is bearable when he is sitting down,but when he attempts to walk,the pain become more.Since he refused the pain reliever,I just let him sit down and re-assured that the doctor and 2 nurses will come to take him for further pain management and evaluation.The doctor arrived and convince that injection be given..patient agrees without hesitation after the doctor explain.Both of them understand each other as they speak fluent Arabic..After this ,the patient was brought to other Clinic for observation by chopper..after that he was refered to his designated facilities at Al- Mouwasat Dammam.Then a report has been made out of this..and it's clear..it was audited with full of criticism.Documentation was not clear for Audits..No one is perfect!!I admit I commit errors or mistake,but also I did what is best for my patient's life...Anyway..Criticism was done not only to correct mistakes but also to remind you what is best and appropriate management you do,in case of this kind of patient..Cheers to everybody!!

Yesterday and Today's activities in offshore..

2008-09-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

I was tired from yesterday play..Table Tennis..we got a new here in my offshore clinic and it's my first time to play here.We played almost 2 hours and after that I got some bodypain and backaches..But the thing I like was, I feel I have burned a lot of calories in my body and I feel so relaxed even I got body pain and backaches.I took a bath and get some time to relax,watch news in TV, chat with my friend in Jeddah(classmate in college)..and about 10 pm last night,I sleep so I can have 7-8 hours sleep before I go to my duty early morning.This morning I still have some body pain and backaches and I think this will be relieved if I continue what I have done,playing table tennis every night..I just have my breakfast,scrumbled egg with sausage and coffee with milk..I am now in my clinic, doing the daily routine activities..but until now I could not format my external hardware,11 hours after I click format and start..formating did not push thru..anyone knows how to do it..sayang kasi 160 gega ang external hardware ko..hahay..buhay saudi..nakakaloka...talaga!!

External Hardware..was it corrupted??

2008-09-10T06:17:00.000-07:00

I was just listening the music since this morning, from my external hardware,with the use of my laptop,when suddenly I pullout my external hardware,without knowing what would happen to my files in my external hardware.This afternoon,I try to use my external hardware(160 gega),I wonder why I could not see my files in my external hardware.I try to see the properties in my external hardware,but it is already full..how could this happen??I still have almost 100 gega free space this morning??then I go to my friend and tell him what happen..he said..you know you have to reformat your external hardware,and you gonna lost all your files because your external hardware was corrupt and for reformat...ohhh..so sad..but some of my files was still in my PC..what about the others..movie..music..oh..I think my friend here has a copy..do you have it,I ask him?..no probs friend!!I still have it and you can have a copy of it..I said..thanks..instead of being sad..I was still a happy man today because I can still put back my old files in my external hardware..Next time,I will not remove my external hardware,without an advise that device or USB is safe to remove.It was a great lesson on my part.

Daily Routine in offshore..

2008-09-08T22:50:00.000-07:00

Wake up at 5:30am,then after that..I'll go to bathroom..by 6am in the morning,hopefully I am in the clinic,doing my checklist,checking my instrument if it is still working or not, check e-mails in my outlook,get a cup of milk with coffee,bread and fried egg for breakfast.Report back to clinic,entertain patients on no patient at all the whole day.Since this is Ramadan time,we go for Lunch by 11am,usually our Lunch was at 12 noon.Our Dinner is now at 5am, too early and sometimes at 11pm,I am a little bit hungry..eowwwww...but right now..I am just sitting down in my clinic,without much nothing to do,just finish my report and I pass it last 2 days ago.. thanks for now, am not busy!!Night time was our relaxation time,we play cards (Pusoy Dos)..usually I end up as losers because I am still learning the card game,but it's good..gradually I can improve my game the next time we play..maybe after a month..ha ha ha..then after that..we will watch news in my room,since most of my pinoy friends don't have internet access..this is the usual thing we do in offshore..after the news..it's about time to sleep..so the routine itself was so bored..it's like you are put in jail..Nakakaloka talaga ang buhay dito!!

Life has to go on..without the internet access..

2008-09-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

Last month I was assigned to go back from my original clinic at onshore,I was so happy and in fact I enjoy my stay there for a couple of weeks, sad to think that on that stay also my internet access was taken from me,so sad that I could not imagine that i could not open my friendster anymore,my yahoo mail and everything.After a week on that situation, I was sent back to my original clinic at offshore,still awaiting for my internet access..paano na si Catherine,paano na si Isadora,di ko na sila mapapanood,ang paborito kung prime time bida na Iisa Pa lamang..after a week,my supervisor check on my clinic to see if I have done my job well in offshore,after doing the check..he said..youre done a great job here,you have updated everything..ok this week your internet access will be back..ohhhhhhh!!really..thanks sir!!I really wanted it back..now I got my internet access..I can enjoy now watching news in internet,reading newspaper,sending e-mails and uploading pictures for my friendster..