Palace names new senior officials
By Dino Maragay Updated April 23, 2009 10:05 AM
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has announced the appointment of several senior officials.
In a press briefing yesterday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Arroyo has named Ann Blyth Tia as the new Office of Regional Concerns (ORC) chief and head organizer of Mrs. Arroyo’s provincial visits.
Tia will take over the post previously held by Undersecretary for Presidential Engagements Marilou Frostrom, one of the fatalities of a helicopter crash last April 7.
Frostrom was also the head of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).
Tapped as appointments secretary was Bong Joves, Ermita added.
Orlando Hondrade is the new undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). He replaces the late DPWH Undersecretary for Luzon Ramon Aquino, who died last March 19 due to multiple organ failure after being ambushed by unidentified men at the department’s compound in Port Area, Manila.
Other appointments include Mark Milan as assistant secretary at the Department of National Defense; Dr. Arthur Aquino as president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; and Jose Mamauag as commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=460410&publicationSubCategoryId=200
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Malacañang Palace names new senior officials
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Finale puts ‘Prison Break’ to rest
Finale puts ‘Prison Break’ to rest
Alan Pergament
The first reaction of many viewers to Friday’s two-hour series finale of the Fox series, “Prison Break,” might be something like: “Prison Break” is still on the air?
I checked out of the series a year after Cheektowaga’s William Fichtner checked in as FBI agent Alex Mahone in 2006. Since I escaped “Prison,” I hadn’t realized that the series that premiered in 2005 and ran in the Monday night time slot of “24” had itself turned into “24.”
The enjoyable first season of “Break” focused on a MacGyverlike brother, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), who took brotherly love to an amazing degree. He committed robbery to get near his incarcerated brother, Lincoln Burrow (Dominic Purcell), who was wrongly convicted of killing the vice president’s brother. Michael planned to help his brother escape and try and uncover a conspiracy led by something referred to as The Company.
Oh, there were more preposterous moments (like going to prison voluntarily isn’t preposterous enough) than there were on “24,” but at least there was an endgame— the escape from prison. Fox couldn’t let a good thing end. Ratings were strong enough to extend the stay of “Prison” despite critical resistance. “Prison” eventually went on way too long, which is why the finale airs at 8 p. m. on Channel 29 on a Friday night, where shows are sent to die.
If you’ve also taken a break from “Prison,” the finale isn’t so much difficult to follow as it is difficult to get emotionally involved. Scofield is in possession of a hard drive, Scylla, which could “trigger” a world war. His psychotic mother Christina (a cartoonish Kathleen Quinlan) and a big bad general want Scylla as badly as Scofield wants to save his brother and his own girlfriend, the beautiful prison doctor Sara (Sarah Wayne Callies), who helped the brothers escape years ago.
With the help of some other escapees, a lot of silliness over Scylla ensues and the series ends sappily with what has become a routine finale ritual—a look at the future.
The plot twists and the surprises aren’t much. In fact, the best thing about the finale is that “Prison Break” has no future and been put out of its misery. 2 stars out of 4
• Last week’s episode of “Scrubs”— which was either the series or season finale —was an Emmy winner by comparison. Written by series creator Bill Lawrence (who also appeared in a cameo in the final scene as a janitor), it revolved around the unreal expectations that J. D. (Zach Graff) had on his final day as a resident.
There were heartwarming moments, goofy moments, clever moments. Best of all, the real sappiness was saved for a “Mary Tyler Moore”-like hug between the actors when the outtakes of the series were played.
If it was the series finale, “Scrubs” did it in style. However, there has been talk that ABC—which owns the show—may bring it back with new cast members. That probably would be a mistake of “Prison Break” proportions.
• “House” ended its season three nights ago with a smart episode about the two sides of the brain that at times almost was as confusing as some time travel episodes of ABC’s “Lost.”
By the end, the apparent jump-the-shark affair that Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) supposedly had in last week’s episode with Dr. Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) was revealed as the product of his pill-popping hallucinations. Cuddy then had House’s buddy Dr. Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) drive House to a psychiatric hospital, presumably to recover by the start of next season.
The trip happened simultaneously to the much-delayed wedding of Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) and Chase (Jesse Spencer), a routine plot that balanced the darkness of House’s story. All in all, it was a brilliant ending to a complicated season that often taxed the brain.
Monday, May 4, 2009
11 Ways to Get Extra Cash
Who couldn’t use a little more moolah these days? If you’ve lost your job, taken a pay cut or are just looking for ways to boost your income, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance can help. Here we offer 11 smart tips for generating extra cash. See if any might put more money in your pocket by clicking the navigation bar to your right.
Sell Your Stuff Online
Kiplinger’s senior editor Jeffrey Kosnett and his wife recently made $200 selling flatware they no longer used through the popular online auction site eBay. You, too, can unload everything from furniture and furnishings to collectibles and clothing on eBay or Craigslist.
Sell your old, unwanted books on Amazon. Kosnett’s wife, Deborah, says the key to selling your wares on the Web is to research similar merchandise that has been sold recently through the site and price competitively.
Be a Shopping Spy
You can get paid up to $20 if you agree to browse a store and provide feedback on customer service, merchandise quality, and other quality-control metrics. Start by visiting the Mystery Shopping Providers Association’s Web site (www.mysteryshop.org) to see a database of jobs with legitimate companies. Sign up with several companies because it can take a while to be contacted. If you like to shop, can pay close attention to detail and can be dispassionate, this could be a good money-making opportunity.
More from Yahoo! Finance:
• As Prices Rise, Some See $2 Gas
• Celebrity Charity Auctions
• More Travelers Redeeming Miles for Merchandise
Visit the Family & Home Center
One word of warning: Watch out for scams that require you to pay a fee or wire a cashier’s check.
Operate a Call Center From Your Home
You might consider a job (for up to $14 an hour) with a virtual call center, such as Arise Virtual Solutions (www.willowcsn.com), West Corp. (www.west.com) or Alpine Access (www.alpineaccess.com). As an independent contractor (or, in some cases, an actual employee with benefits), you would provide customer support for companies such as Office Depot, Sears, J.Crew and even the Internal Revenue Service.
In general, you must provide your own computer, designated telephone line and high-speed Internet connection -- and, in some cases, pay for your training to become a certified agent. But if you have the time, companies need “operators standing by.”
Tutor Students
Some parents are willing to pay big bucks to see Junior and Janie succeed. So if you speak a second language, such as Spanish or French, or have great math, science or writing skills, you might be able to earn extra cash imparting your knowledge to kids -- even college students -- for $20 to $30 an hour.
Check with local schools and universities to see if you can advertise your services on their bulletin boards. Or post your services on Craigslist.
Join a Street Team
This is a relatively easy way for young adults who are outgoing and articulate to earn some fast cash. Street teams promote products, films, albums, events and more by handing out samples, interacting with people on the street, or dressing as mascots.
To get a job at $17 to $25 an hour, sign up with a company such as Street Team Promotion.com or A.D.D. Marketing. Actually, if you sign up with several companies, you’re more likely to get a steady flow of jobs, says James Aquafredda, managing director of Street Team Promotion.com. Make sure, though, that the company has a contract that specifies when you’ll get paid.
Walk the Dogs
Why not get a little exercise while you earn anywhere from $15 to $30 an hour? Working folks will pay plenty for you to take Rover or Scruffy on a daily stroll while they’re at the office.
If you don’t want to brave the elements, you might consider pet sitting for people while they’re on vacation. Advertise your services in veterinarians’ offices and on Craigslist.
Be a Babysitter
Just graduated and can’t find a job? Retired and looking for a little extra dough? Like children? From full-time gigs to occasional stints, babysitting can be a fun way to put money in your pocket. In big cities such as New York and Washington, expect to earn up to $20 an hour as a babysitter or nanny. (In small and midsize cities, the going rate is closer to $7 to $10 an hour.)
Advertise your services on Craigslist, the bulletin board at your local house of worship, or by word of mouth.
Write for the Web
Sorry, Kiplinger.com isn’t hiring. But plenty of Web sites are looking for freelancers to write blogs, commentary, and reviews for about $15 to $30 an hour or article. For example, if you know a lot about a particular subject or region, you might be able to be a “guide” and write articles for About.com (http://beaguide.about.com/ ).
In all major U.S. cities, Craigslist has ads for writing gigs. Demand Studios (www.demandstudios.com) offers freelance work for writers, copy editors and filmmakers.
Make Your Hobbies Pay Off
Amateur photographers are in demand to shoot weddings and events, especially in a recession when people are reluctant to hire high-priced pros. If you’re a great cook, you could hold a workshop or prepare meals for a busy family. Tech-savvy? You could teach classes on Web design.
See what your services might fetch by checking out ads on Craigslist or in your local paper or community Web site. Then hang out a virtual shingle.
Sell Your Unwanted Gold Jewelry
Although the price has dropped a bit since the beginning of 2009, the going rate for this precious commodity is still near $900 an ounce. That’s a pretty penny for jewelry you no longer wear or bling that reminds you of a best-forgotten suitor.
Gold-buying shops are popping up at malls across America.
Adjust Your Tax Withholding
This is probably the fastest and easiest way to put more cash in your pocket. If you got a big refund this year, you’re not alone: The average refund so far this year is $2,700. But think about it: You're letting Uncle Sam hold on to your money for a whole year and paying you 0% interest.
Why wait until next spring to get the money you really need now? To see how much you could gain by adjusting your withholding, try our easy-to-use withholding calculator.
Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Manny Pacquiao stuns Ricky Hatton with KO
By Leslie Wilson Jr, Sports Editor
Published: May 03, 2009, 07:57
Dubai: The Philippines' Manny Pacquiao showed why he is rated the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world by knocking down Britain's Ricky Hatton three times to win their much anticipated junior lightweight showdown in Las Vegas on Saturday.
In a fight that was seen as a matchup of two great fighters looking to cement their place in boxing history as the best pound-for-pound stars, Pacquiao totally outclassed his rival in 359 explosive seconds.
Hatton felt the full force of Pacquiao's speed and power as he suffered what was only the second defeat in his career and first at 140-pounds.
The Englishman's only loss came in 2007 when he moved up to welterweight and was stopped in the 10th round by US star Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The Filipino was in great form right from the first bell at the MGM Grand Arena; landing a high percentage of his power-packed combinations to get Hatton in all sorts of trouble.
Pacquiao sent the Englishman crashing to the canvas twice in an action-packed first round and then knocked the lights out of Hatton with a devastating right cross to the head with seconds remaining in round two.
Ringside doctors rushed to the aid of Hatton, who lay motionless on the canvas, However, he eventually recovered and was able to leave the ring unaided before being taken to hospital for a routine post-fight test.
"I am surprised this fight was so easy," said Pacquiao. "I did work hard in my training camp and it paid off. This is as big a victory for me as when I beat Oscar De La Hoya."
Pacquiao's trainer Freddy Roach, who had predicted a quick knockout by his fighter, said, "This is no shock at all. Hatton pumps his hands before he throws a punch, and it makes him a sucker for the right hook. Manny is a monster, he is the best fighter ever. There is no surprise here."
Both fighters are 30-years-old and were trying to cement their spot in ring history in the junior welterweight division, but it was Pacquiao who totally dominated his opponent from the first bell.
Hatton had no answer to the left-right combinations that the Filipino icon threw at him and twice hit the deck in one of the most explosive opening rounds of a boxing match.
Pacquiao then finished the fight with a thundering right to the jaw that floored the Briton.
"That was the best knockout punch I've ever seen," Pacquiao trainer, Roach, said. "It was the perfect shot. That rarely happens."
According to computer statistics, Pacquiao landed 73 of 127 punches in just under six minutes, including 34 of 53 power punches in the second round, while Hatton connected on only 18 of 78.
Pacquiao matched the all-time record by becoming a champion in his sixth different weight class by lifting Hatton's International Boxing Organisation junior welterweight world title after dispatching now-retired six-division champion Oscar de la Hoya.
Pacquiao will reportedly take home $12 million from the bout while Hatton was set for an $8 million-payday. Pay-per-view income alone for the megafight is believed to have crossed $40 million.
For Pacquiao, the future looks bright with a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr already being talked about.
Hatton's trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. did not attend the postfight news conference, leaving co-trainer, Lee Beard, to do the talking.
"We knew about Manny's speed and that it could play a factor in the fight," Beard said. "What you saw was two rounds of action and Ricky got caught."
Gulfnews Link: http://www.gulfnews.com/sport/Boxing/10309880.html
I really didn't see the punch coming! - Hatton
LAS VEGAS - Favorite Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines claimed the IBO light-welterweight title with a stunning second round knockout of British holder Ricky Hatton on Saturday.
The 30-year-old southpaw twice knocked the Englishman to the canvas in the opening round before ending the fight with a stinging left hook at the MGM Grand Hotel's Garden Arena.
The ring announcer said the bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, had ended two minutes 39 seconds into the round but that was later corrected by officials to two minutes 59 seconds.
"I was surprised that this was so easy but I've worked hard in training camp since the beginning of March," a beaming Pacquiao said in a ringside interview. "He was wide open for the right hook. I knew he would be looking for my left.
"It's nothing personal. I was just doing my job.
"This is as big for me as the De La Hoya win," the Filipino added, referring to his eight-round stoppage of 10-times world champion Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas in December.
Hatton, who had stopped American Paulo Malignaggi in November to retain his IBO light-welterweight belt, was left motionless in the centre of the ring for several minutes before being helped to his feet to sit on a stool.
"It was a hard loss but I am okay," the 30-year-old Manchester boxer said before being taken to the nearby Valley Hospital as a precaution.
"I really didn't see the punch coming but it was a great shot. I know I will be okay."
Widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Pacquiao improved his career record to 49-3-2 with 37 knockouts.
Hatton, who had never previously lost at his natural weight of 140 pounds, slipped to 45-2 with 32 knockouts.
Capacity crowd
Watched by a capacity crowd of around 16,000 that included Hollywood actors Christian Bale and Jack Nicholson and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., Hatton began the opening round by cramping Pacquiao and repeatedly forcing him to back-peddle.
However, the Filipino responded with a flurry of combinations late in the round, bloodying the Englishman's nose with a right hook before sending Hatton sprawling to the canvas.
Under concerted pressure, Hatton was pinned to the ropes before again being knocked to the floor by a Pacquiao left hook.
Pacquiao maintained the dazzling pace in the second round, landing a series of sharp punches and jabs before feinting with the right and unleashing a stinging left hook to the jaw, which put Hatton flat on his back.
"This was no surprise," said Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, who had predicted his man would need only three rounds to win. "Hatton pumps his hands before he throws a punch. He is a sucker for the right hook and this is what we worked on.
"He cocks back before he throws his punches. He fights the same way over and over. I studied tapes of all his fights for the last two months and I know him as well as I know my own fighter."
Pacquiao dominated the official ringside statistics, connecting with 73 of 127 punches thrown to 18 of 78 for Hatton. He also landed 65 power punches compared to Hatton?s 16.
Hatton's trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. said: "I really felt Ricky would get him. I don't want to go into it more than that."
Pacquiao could next fight the winner of the bout between Mayweather Jr., who announced earlier he would come out of retirement, and Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez who meet in a non-title welterweight fight in Las Vegas on July 18.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Pacquaio vs Hatton Free Live Streaming
8:00 am Philippines === May 3, 2009 === Sunday Morning
6:00 pm U.S. ======== May 2, 2009 === Saturday Evening
2:00 am U.K. ======== May 3, 2009 === Sunday Morning
3:00 am Oslo, Norway = May 3, 2009 === Sunday Morning
Here's the OFFICIAL links will broadcast the event.
NOTE: be sure to copy all the links before the fight! Thanks! HAPPY VIEWING !!!
JUSTIN TV LINK:
http://www.justin.tv/TeamRN ( courtesy of RN Halawi )
SOPCAST LINK:
sop://broker.sopcast.com:3912/24267
sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/6002 – CCTV-5 NEW !!!
You’ll need to download SOPCAST in able to use the above link.
DOWNLOAD HERE :
http://download.sopcast.cn/download/SopCast.zip
KRALIX LINK:
http://www.kralix.com/2009/04/watch-pacquiao-vs-hatton-fight-online-live-streaming/
PACQUIAO FIGHTS B L O G S P O T LINK:
http://pacquiaofights.blogspot.com/
TEAM PILIPINAS LINK: ( courtesy of RN Halawi )
http://teampilipinas.info/search/label/Pacquiao%20vs.%20Hatton
http://www.youtube.com/user/dude2nuckle
http://www.justin.tv/TeamRN
PUNCH TV (not sure)
http://www.mogulus.com/punchtv
FEEL FREE TO POST YOUR LINK / S HERE !!! THANK YOU ! ! ! :toast:
Ill be updating this post for any updates on the fight so stay tuned for the updated post.
Keep checking this thread, every now & then.... "See You At The R i n g s i d e ."
Share & Enjoy Watching ! ! ! Ilabas ang mga inumin at mga pulutan !!! Kampay !!!
PAMBANSANG KAMAO Video: ( Watch it! ) -->
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tig0PcE32ow
------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO BUY PPV , PLEASE DO IT... LETS SUPPORT MANNY PACQUIAO!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Approval expected over Flintshire's £400,000 CCTV plan - HAVE YOUR SAY
The CCTV service was launched in Flintshire in 2002, as part of a partnership between North Wales Police and town and community councils.
About 46 cameras were originally installed to monitor open spaces across the county, in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and alcohol-related violence.
Over the past six years, the number of cameras has increased to 120 and the new plans, if approved, will see all equipment updated and two operators on duty in the control room at all times.