Tips on How To Sell Yourself

As a job-seeker, your role is to market your good or service - in this case, yourself - to the buyer who is extending the best offer in exchange. Sound like sales? Essentially, it is. Luckily, the sales profession is full of superstars willing to share their secrets. Below are seven practical sales tips to ensure that you close the job deal every time.



1. Pass the Gatekeeper
Traditionally, gatekeepers have been admins, assistants and, in the case of job-seekers, human resources. With the influence of technology like caller ID, voicemail and email, it's harder, and more critical than ever, to get directly to the hiring manager. The key is to dangle a carrot before they can hit "delete". For job seekers, this means establishing credibility early on and how you'll deliver results. If you have worked for a competitor or have industry expertise, say so upfront. If you don't, reference something noteworthy that has happened in their company recently or research that has just been done in your industry. Doing so shows you are engaged in both the industry and that company in particular.

2. Know Your Audience
Sales people have different pitches for different buyers, and job-seekers should too. Technology today makes it simple to find out the back story on a prospective hiring manager. If their LinkedIn profile indicates a specific company or industry expertise, tailor your pitch to focus on points in your background that will be relevant and personal to them. If you can sense that your interviewer is stressed or time-crunched, don't sit in their office droning on about every point in your resume. State your core objective in the interview early on, and support it with three main points. If the conversation begins to flow and they probe further, elaborate. If not, they'll appreciate and remember your ability to be succinct when needed.


3. Offer Excellent Customer Service
Customer service makes or breaks your chance of getting and keeping customers in sales, and the same is true on the job. In this case, your customers are the person you work for, the teams you work with and external clients. Just as you are more excited about doing business with a company that passionately embodies your mission, so are people you encounter on the job. Radiate enthusiasm and tell prospective employers why you are so interested in the job and company, and how you plan to maintain that level of commitment years into your career. Then, make sure you do just that once you've landed the job.

4. Establish a Relationship With One Key Question
Simply ask your employer "What is it that you want to achieve?" Then use this knowledge to address a proposed solution that your skills and expertise will offer in the position.

5. Always Be Closing
It is not likely that you will be offered a job on the spot (and not a good idea to accept one on the spot, either!) But good sales people are always moving towards the next step needed to close the sale, and so should job-seekers. Towards the end of your conversation, the interviewer will generally ask whether there are any additional questions. Seize this opportunity to close the sale. Just as a salesperson's job is to ask for the order, yours is to ask for the opportunity.

6. Follow Up
Stay top of mind with your interviewee and use your one last chance to make a good impression. Write a simple email within a day of the interview, reiterating what you can do for the company and thanking them for the meeting. Keep it short and to the point. It will express to the employer that you are not only interested, but adept at follow-through.

7. Network in Person
While tools like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter have made it easier than ever to have plenty of social media and business connections, don't forget the power of a face to face conversation. Make a commitment to keep your "living and breathing" network as plentiful as your online ones. Join a club where you'll meet other like-minded professionals, strike up conversations, volunteer, or participate in local business events. While you should focus on just making connections, not specific leads, have a one minute "sound bite" down that will succinctly tell people about yourself. You'd be surprised how just a few minutes of face-to-face time can stick with people down the road.

The Bottom Line
Just as salespeople have formed a routine for effective sales calls, so should you as a job-seeker. Putting these tried and tested tips into practice can help you spend less time and energy looking for jobs, and more into developing the career you want.

Article by Stephanie Christensen


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The Naked Hug

It's the Kama Sutra celebrity style. Face to face, side by side or from behind, stars have taught us everything we need to know about selling sex.



This week, Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway offered three more positions in the name of promoting their new movie "Love & Other Drugs."

They're on three different covers of Entertainment Weekly in various nudist romantic embraces. The response from critics and bloggers has ranged from overly-excited to crying "awkward." But no one is looking away.

And that's a good thing for a flailing magazine industry, according to Christopher John Farley in a recent post on WSJ.com. "The magazine industry has been in trouble for a number of years now, which may be one reason why we’re seeing a rash of disrobed stars on the front covers of various periodicals."

It's one thing to disrobe for a cover, it's another to engage in the hug. To put it lightly, the hug is like calling in the big guns.

Back in 1976, Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson embraced for a remake of the "A Star is Born." Arguably, it was not the best remake, but it sure was the biggest, thanks in part to the album cover and movie poster image: Babs and Kris, in the buff. The movie topped the box office and the album sold upwards of 15 million copies.





Soon, the magazine industry hopped on the bandwagon full-speed ahead creating iconic images of couples (John and Yoko anyone?) in various states of undress. It's a way of inviting an audience into the bedroom, and promising a revealing look that doesn't always hold up inside the magazine pages. Regardless, when the stars align in naked positions, it always makes us look.


Article by Piper Weiss, Shine Staff(shine.yahoo.com)


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Your Favorite Color and Its Meaning

Most of us have a favorite color. Maybe you’re drawn to sky blue because it makes your eyes stand out or you find forest green particularly comforting. Whatever the case, your preferred hue can reveal a lot about what makes you tick. And the same holds true for the people you date — you’d probably have a different impression of a date if he or she said, “My favorite color is yellow” versus “My favorite color is black.” That’s because color speaks a powerful, silent language. And I can help you understand it. I’m a success coach and best-selling author of Simple Spells for Love and other books, and I’ve studied color theory. So, look up your favorite color below — then, your date’s best-loved shade — and get some colorful insights that will benefit your romantic life.

Red
What it represents: Ah, the color of passion, anger and high blood pressure. Red is a primal color. It represents primal urges, like lust (“I must have you now!”) and fury (you know the phrase “seeing red,” right?). Yes, red is a commanding color: think of how stop signs get you to halt in your tracks and how you stand back when a red fire engine goes whizzing by.

Understanding people who love it: They act — sometimes without thinking — on immediate desires. In fact, they’re usually the poster children for immediate gratification. It’s up to you if you go for it... or proceed with caution.

Orange
What it represents: OK, orange is not exactly the easiest color to wear and it’s not the most common favorite color, but guess what? Orange is as sensual as it gets. Orange is a mellowed red — and it takes primal, lusty urges and mellows them with a softer vibe. Orange is the color of early attractions, emotional responses, and inner magnetism. Oh, and one other thing: orange is also close to gold, the color of success and wealth.

Understanding people who love it: Someone who likes orange is alive with feelings, the ability to nurture, and can intuit a path to success. If your favorite color is orange, you don’t have an “off” switch when it comes to passion. This is all good stuff, but there’s nothing casual about the connections this kind of person usually forges.

Yellow
What it represents: Yellow is the color of the sun, vitality, power and ego... but it’s not a great indicator of romance. Watch out for self-centered, “me first” energy when someone prefers yellow to the rest of the rainbow.

Understanding people who love it: If yellow is your favorite color, temper your use of the word “I” when you’re interested in someone else. You can come across as too ego-centric otherwise. Now, if you’re dating someone whose favorite hue is yellow, make sure to jump in and share stories about yourself, since this person may not give you much room.

Green
What it represents: Here is the heart of the matter: green is the color of love. (It’s no coincidence that we make our money in the same color...) Green is the color of life and abundance — leaves, grass, plants — it’s all about growing, expanding, and living. So why don’t we give ferns instead of roses on Valentine’s Day? Because green is about expansive, humanistic love and acceptance, not bodice-ripping romance. What’s more, green is a nice-person color, a “do-gooder, be-gooder” kind of color. This person has a warm heart. Passion is probably in there somewhere, buried under their integrity and honor.

Understanding people who love it: If you love green, you put the greater good before your own good — but try a little selfish behavior once in a while.

Blue
What it represents: Blue is a color of clarity, communications and charm. And regardless of the shade, this hue says: “I like to be understood.” On the downside, under stress, a “blue” person can send mixed messages, have trouble making up their mind, or just space out during conversations.

Understanding people who love it: If blue is your favorite color, you never run out of anything to say — expression is your strong suit. And if you’re dating a “blue” person? The same holds true; you should always know where you stand.

Purple
What it represents: Purple evokes the energy of illusion, imagination and fantasy. Or should we say purrrrple? Purple tends to inspire coyness, romance, flirtation and teasing — it builds anticipation with a dash of playfulness. The downside of purple is unrealistic expectations. Is it easier to live in your fantasy world than the real world? Some purple-lovers prefer it.

Understanding people who love it: If you love purple, you can be an imaginative romantic or prefer imaginary romance, depending on how you feel.

White
What it represents: White is light — the combination of all colors. White symbolizes purity (the traditional bridal dress, the christening gown) and spirituality. There’s a simplicity to it, too.

Understanding people who love it: People who love white are probably clean and orderly. While white isn’t the sexiest color, it is certainly healthy.

Black
What it represents: Like white, black is a combination of all colors, but instead of purity, it represents the unknown, the unseen — mystery. Black basically holds back information... but there’s no denying that it has strong associations in our culture with “the dark side” and evil.

Understanding people who love it: If your favorite color is black, you are more hush-hush than high-strung in nature. The silence of this color lets others fill in the blanks. Black says, “I’m not telling you anything.” People who love black can be tough nuts to crack, but quite possibly worth the effort.

Article written by Barrie Dolnick


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Pacquiao Wins 8th World Title! Margarito Defeated

ARLINGTON, Texas – Manny Pacman Pacquiao axed his eighth world title belt and was once again masterful, beating Antonio Margarito so frightfully that Margarito’s face looked as it had been pounded repeatedly by a club.












Pacquiao won a unanimous one-sided decision in a blowout from the opening seconds of the fight to capture the World Boxing Council super welterweight title before 41,734 in-awe fans at Cowboys Stadium.

Pacquiao’s title belt, coming against an opponent who had a 17-pound weight advantage when the bell rang, 165-148, was the eighth in his illustrious career. Pacquiao has won world titles at 112, 122, 126, 130, 135, 140, 147 and now 154 pounds.

Judges Jurgen Langos had it 120-109, Glen Crocker had it 118-110 and Oren Schellenberger had it 119-109 for Pacquiao. Yahoo! Sports scored it 120-107 for Pacquiao, giving Pacquiao a 10-8 edge in the 10th round when he dominated tremendously.

Margarito, fighting for the first time in the U.S. since Jan. 24, 2009, when he was caught with an illegal knuckle pad in his gloves before a loss to Shane Mosley, was never in the fight. Pacquiao’s speed was blinding and was the difference in the fight.

Pacquiao was hurt when Margarito landed a combination to the ribs, but he spun off the ropes and landed a three-punch combination to the head. Margarito’s right eye was swollen grotesquely, beginning in the fourth. By the 10th round, the left eye was a slit, too.



Pacquiao was looking at referee Laurence Cole late in the fight, asking him to stop it. Pacquiao said he eased off in the 12th round. “I did my best,” Pacquiao said. “He’s strong. He’s a very tough fighter. I can’t believe [he took those punches].”



Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, added “We didn’t lose a round. I wish they had stopped the fight.”


Article by Kevin Iole
Photo credits: All Voices/Ken_nic2009
and HBO



NO REMATCH?


Top Rank chairman Bob Arum is not keen on putting up a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito.

Not unless their 12-round fight for the super-welterweight title of the World Boxing Council (WBC) turns out to be a competitive and closely-fought bout.

The veteran promoter said a rematch is very unlikely, especially if the encounter proves to be a dominant win for Pacquiao or if conversely, Margarito ends up being too much for the world’s current top pound-for-pound fighter.

“No rematch clause. I don’t believe in rematch clause," said the long-time promoter. “Pacquiao prevailing by a mile over the heavy underdog Margarito would no longer be attractive to boxing fans."

“If the fight turns out to be one-sided (in favor of Manny), a rematch wouldn’t be saleable," pointed Arum, who’s been in the boxing business for more than four decades.

A dominating performance by the 32-year-old Mexican, on the other hand, wouldn’t also be to the best interest of the boxer considered as the best in the world today.

“And if it’s a one-sided fight (for Margarito) and Manny concludes that Margarito was just too big and too strong for him, why subject him to having to do it again?" reasoned the Harvard University alumnus.

Pacquiao and Margarito would be fighting at a catch weight of 151 pounds, the biggest weight class the three-time Boxer of the Year will be involved in since fighting as a flyweight (106 lbs) at the start of his career.

At 5-foot-11, Margarito is also the biggest opponent Pacquiao is going to face after the great Oscar De La Hoya (5-foot-10) in 2008. The Mexican slugger holds a seven-inch advantage in terms of reach.

But despite the discrepancies, the 31-year-old southpaw from General Santos City remains a big 6-1 favorite to win the fight.

Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s trusted adviser, agreed with the odds.

“He’s doing OK. Manny’s going to win this fight," he said, unmindful of Pacquiao’s preparation being labeled as "the worst" by trainer Freddie Roach in his nine-year association with the boxing champion.

Pacquiao sparred for nine rounds against David Rodela, Ray Beltran and one unnamed sparmate Tuesday at the Wildcard gym.



- KY/RCJ, GMANews.TV


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Shocking Secrets of the First Year of Marriage!

Think that your first year as newlyweds will be total bliss? Of course it will—but even paradise comes with surprises. Here's what to expect.



1. THE SHOCK: You'll gain a little love weight.
You've been dieting since the moment he put the ring on your finger. But chances are that celery-and-Fresca regimen will end as soon as the honeymoon begins. (Christening every Thursday "Pasta Madness"? Go for it!) "I starved myself for months to get in shape for the wedding—I even ordered my ring a size smaller to force myself to keep dieting," admits Melina M., 29, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. "Of course I've gained it all back—and a few extra pounds."
WHAT'S A COUPLE TO DO?
Putting on a bit of weight is normal for a newlywed. "Give yourself permission to enjoy your new life and the food that comes with it," says psychologist Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., author of A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness. But don't make chili-cheese dogs an everyday thing, or the pounds will keep piling on. Spanx has its limits.

2. THE SHOCK: Your B-list buds will go MIA.
You're a single girl with a tribe of friends. Once you're hitched, though, some may mysteriously vanish from the scene—unless you bribe them with Friday-night drinks.
WHAT'S A COUPLE TO DO?
If a friend is keen on getting married, jealousy may play a part, or she may be having a hard time dealing with a former free-agent pal's wanting to check in with her hubby before making plans. But don't worry—your closest girlfriends won't leave your side, especially if you make a conscious effort to keep them there.

3. THE SHOCK: Your sex life will be off the charts—sometimes.
After the honeymoon and a happy homecoming, life can turn, well...a bit PG. One night, you may just want to do the laundry. Or there will be a Project Runway marathon that you really, really want to watch. Before you know it, a week will have gone by since you and your spouse got romantic.
WHAT'S A COUPLE TO DO?
Nothing. Studies show that, over time, married people have more—and better—sex than singles do, says Scott Haltzman, author of The Secrets of Happily Married Women: "The sense of commitment helps loosen a couple's inhibitions and strengthens their sexual bond."


Related: 7 Financial Tips for Newlyweds from BRIDES Magazine's Editor-in-Chief

4. THE SHOCK: You won't unpack your china for six months.
Engaged girl's fantasy: kitchen shelves full of gleaming new china and stemware organized by color, pattern, and size. Married woman's reality: stacks of unpacked boxes in every corner.
WHAT'S A COUPLE TO DO?
Everyday things—working late, paying bills, taking the dog to the vet—will get in the way of setting up that idyllic space. Try this as a compromise: Open one box each week until you've achieved that sublime kitchen display. And then use the stuff!

5. THE SHOCK: You'll do the dishes; your husband will fix stuff.
It'll be like living in a Mad Men episode as you fall into clichéd roles—you're in charge of laundry; he hammers things. "One day, when our dryer's bell went off to signal that the clothes were done, my husband jumped a foot off the couch and shrieked, 'What was that noise?' That was when I realized he hadn't washed a sock since we'd been married," says Anna W., 28, of Austin, Texas.
WHAT'S A COUPLE TO DO?
Devise a plan, if you'd prefer to split chores 50–50. "Consider which chores each of you doesn't mind doing, and agree to divvy up the responsibilities in a way you both think is fair," says Lombardo. Studies show that when roles are clearly defined and equitable, everyone's happier.

6. THE SHOCK: Even though you'll have two paychecks, you'll still feel broke.
That "we'll have twice as much money" theory? Just an illusion. While you'll save on housing if you weren't living together before (and don't move someplace swankier), you'll also be spending more. For example, that hand-me-down couch was fine for a single gal, but now you'll want a nice sofa in a lovely home that looks as if grown-ups live there.
WHAT'S A COUPLE TO DO?
Don't fret too much, says Haltzman. The investments you're making now will pay off for decades to come, whether they're in furnishings, friendships (throwing dinner parties), or the future (loading up your retirement accounts).

7. THE SHOCK: You won't want to spend every moment with your new husband.
Your spouse may be your best friend, but he won't suddenly become your only friend.
WHAT'S A COUPLE TO DO?
"My husband and I have no problems maintaining individual friendships," says Meghan E., 29, of Richmond, Virginia. "The poor guy shouldn't have to be dragged to every new chick flick simply because he's married to me." She's right. Go out with the girls, and give him nights with his guys. You'll come home and swap stories—and your marriage will be the better for it.

See Also: 16 Surefire Ways to De-Stress

8. THE SHOCK: You'll go to bed mad, even though you vowed not to—ever.
Count on falling asleep fuming at least once that first year.
WHAT'S A COUPLE TO DO?
"It's okay if you're getting nowhere with a compromise," says Lombardo. "Forcing things will just make them worse." So don't be scared of getting some shut-eye. Most likely, you'll both wake up refreshed and ready to make up. Studies show the best predictor of a marriage's success is the couple's ability to repair the relationship after a fight, so as long as you resolve your conflict quickly, you can rest easy.

9. THE SHOCK: Being a wife won't mean you'll instantly have skills worthy of an Iron Chef.
"When I was single, I rarely turned on the stove in my studio apartment. Then I got a husband, new kitchen gear (all those shower gifts!), and my grandmother's take- care-of-your-man attitude," says Molly S., 32, of Baltimore.
WHAT'S A COUPLE TO DO?
Marriage vows are powerful, but they don't include instructions on how to make meatloaf. "I'd rush home from work and try to cook a spread worthy of a magazine photo shoot, but I couldn't take the pressure," says Molly. "Now making dinner might mean opening a bag of salad or a take-out menu," she says. "And we're both okay with that." Or you may find your husband grabbing the apron—now there's a win-win!

10. THE SHOCK: The world will feel like a better place.
Marriage is more than changing your last name and getting a joint checking account.
WHAT'S A COUPLE TO DO?
"Getting married is a declaration to the world that you want to be with each other forever, and a huge sense of security, devotion, peace, and love comes with that," says Lombardo. That intensity will not only deepen your bond but also give you quite a buzz. Says Krista N., 31, of New York City, "We were really supportive of each other before, but now that we're married, it feels like we're tackling life together, and that's a pretty great.

--By Marina Khidekel, BRIDES magazine


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Holiday Savings Tips

So who's with me? Who's ready to be one of those well-organized, budget-conscious, financially responsible consumers we swear every Jan. 1 that we can become?

Would it help if I told you that you probably already have everything you need to pull this off -- and that it's only a matter of doing a few really obvious things in a certain order to save some serious cash?



The lack of novelty in the forthcoming advice should come as a relief. No need to learn any fancy new tricks (or long division) to survive the holidays financially intact. You know this stuff already. There's just one small thing you need to do differently from last year: Don't blow this off.

Really, that's just a small thing. Take the next 20 minutes to map out your holiday shopping strategy. If all you do is muddle through just the first two items on this list, I guarantee you'll spend less than you would otherwise. Get into it a little more, and you'll exponentially improve your sanity and your savings.

5 run-of-the-mill holiday survival tactics that actually work ... if you do them

1. Revisit last year's expenses: Did you keep track of what you spent last year on holiday festivities? No worries: Your lenders sure did. Dig up your credit-card statements from last year for a horrifyingly accurate account of the November-December damage. You can do one of two things now: Challenge yourself to spend less. Or challenge yourself to spend no more than you did. You know the right thing to do.

2. Actually make a list of gift-ees: It may be cliche, but shopping with a list will keep you honest. Next to each person's name, write a few gift ideas and a target dollar figure. Pick a range, and make it reasonable. Voila, your holiday scorecard! If you are facing financial hardships that you weren't last year, make sure to aim low. With so many purchases made on impulse, committing a list to paper and (most importantly) sticking to a list can save you a serious bundle. Or, even better ...

3. Leave the credit cards at home: Yes, credit cards are convenient -- they offer purchase protection, rewards, an easy way to track your spending (albeit after the damage is done), and they take up less wallet room. But they're also too convenient. Studies show that people spend more -- and more impulsively -- when no actual cash changes hands. Instead, carry the cash you need for each shopping trip. I guarantee this all-cash diet will cut down your holiday spending by at least 10%, and likely much, much more.

4. Don't dawdle: Malls are many a budgeter's downfall. 'Tis the season for temptation. Because you made a list (right?) you won't be tempted to wade through the crowds to pick up a little something for yourself. If you feel your resolve growing weak, bring this list of five mind games stores use to make consumers spend more so you can identify the traps. Even better: Avoid the bricks-and-mortar stores altogether and shop online. Gift wrapping? Card? Shipping? Click. Click. Click. Done. Done. And done. (See our advice under the " Let your fingertips do the browsing " heading for tips on navigating the Web retail bonanza.)

5. Set a deadline: The holidays are really about being with the ones you love. It's hard to play board games with the kids or trim the tree when you're standing in line on Dec. 24. Set a firm deadline for your shopping, wrapping, shipping, and even house cleaning. You'll be a hero to your family if everything's done two weeks before the big day.


by Dayana Yochim, The Motley Fool


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10 Driving Mistakes You Probably Make

When it comes to driving mistakes, most people are in the "it's not me, it's you" camp. Everything from minor scrapes to major collisions can easily be blamed on the other driver. But what if it is actually your fault? We spoke to the experts and discovered that oftentimes, you (yes, you!) really are the one to blame. The good news? You're not alone. Read on to find out the most common driving mistakes people make, and what you can do to improve your road skills.



1. You're not paying as much attention to the road as you think you are.
Distracted driving is a huge cause of accidents, and cell phone use is one of the biggest culprits. Think you're in the clear because you're wearing a headset? Experts agree that even if you're talking hands-free while behind the wheel, you're still endangering yourself and others. "You're driving a two- or three-thousand-pound piece of metal, and anything you do that distracts you from driving is a danger," says Rick Adam, vice president of claims at High Point Auto Insurance in Leesburg, Virginia. "Texting while driving is now approaching the danger level of drunk driving."

2. You're focusing on the wrong part of the road.
Trying to navigate unfamiliar territory while driving is tricky, but instead of zeroing in on road signs and exit numbers in the distance, you should focus on the road immediately ahead of you, says Steven Ross, owner of Empire Defensive Driving School in Long Island, New York. "Swerving out of lane is a common problem, and failure to focus on the road ahead of you—even if you think you're paying attention—can cause you to shift out of lane." Instead, Ross recommends that if you don't have a passenger to tell you which turns to make, you should pull over to the side of the road to look at a map, or use a GPS device to guide you.

3. You're waiting too long to check your tire pressure.
If the low tire pressure indicator lights on your car's dashboard, you've already waited too long, says Tony Molla, vice president of communicationsfor the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. "You should be checking your tires regularly; when the light comes on it's usually a worst-case scenario." Molla recommends pulling over to the side of the road if this happens. If the tire looks almost completely flat, don't try to drive on it. If it's only low, pull off at the nearest exit, find an air pump and replenish. Not only can low tire pressure use up more gas, but if all four tires don't have the correct air pressure, it's harder to maneuver the car in emergency situations—especially when you have to make a quick turn.

Learn about 8 other car maintenance checks you can do yourself.

4. You're not bothering to improve your parallel parking skills.
As long as you manage to make your way into a parking spot, it doesn't matter how you got there, right? Wrong, insists Ross, whose students often hit the curb while attempting the maneuver. "There are two major problems with that: Hitting the curb will deteriorate your tires and it will damage the alignment." If it gets to the point where your tires look whitewashed from so many encounters with the curb, chances are high that they will pop.

So what's the best way to parallel park? Ross recommends pulling up beside the car parked in front of your space until the two rear bumpers are parallel, leaving two feet of space between the cars. Put your car in reverse and back up slowly, turning the wheel toward the curb as far as it will go. Once the back of your front door is even with the rear bumper of the car beside you, begin to turn the wheel away from the curb and continue to reverse into the spot.

5. You're spending too much on gas.
"The most common mistake drivers make is that they fill up their cars with premium fuel when they don't need to," says Molla. "While some vehicles do require that high level of octane gas, 99 percent of the cars out there are going to run just fine on regular gas." Check your owner's manual to see what your car's manufacturer recommends, and if it doesn't call for premium fuel, don't bother.

6. You aren't heeding wet roadways quickly enough.
Adam says his company processes an enormous number of accident claims due to people not adjusting their driving to rainy conditions. "People fail to do this because they're unaware of the fact that the first 10 minutes of rain are when roadways are most dangerous," he adds. "Those initial minutes of precipitation cause the oil that has built up on the roads to make conditions extremely slick." So when it starts to drizzle, slow down immediately.

7. You're applying too much pressure to the gas and brake pedals.
According to Molla, you're going to get the best fuel economy "if you drive like you have an egg under your foot." The more smoothly you accelerate and brake, the further your gas will go. Similarly, ignore the old rule that says starting up your car will waste more fuel than idling. "It's not true. If you're going to be sitting for more than a minute or two, turn off your car. Restarting it won't waste any more fuel than if you left it on."

8. You change your mind about turning too often.
Everyone has switched on their turn signal only to later figure out that they're at the wrong exit. Their biggest mistake? Not making the turn anyway. "The person behind you may not be driving with the best etiquette, and may move to pass you before you turn," says Adam. "If you pull back onto the road, you could have a collision." Adam often deals with accidents claims that involve people turning their indicators on too soon or too late: Signal at the last minute and the driver behind you may not slow down in time; signal too early and the driver may think you're not really going to turn and therefore stops paying attention.

9. Your car isn't properly adjusted to your body.
Automobiles aren't one size fits all—that's why seats and other parts are adjustable—and chances are you don't have the right fit, yet. "I know a lot of smaller women who want to be very close to the steering wheel, but you really want to leave about 8 to 10 inches between you and the wheel so the airbag can inflate properly," says Stephanie Janczak, a safety coach at Ford Motors. She also recommends that your seat belt cross over the middle of your shoulders and chest, and that the top of your headrest be level with the top of your head—not only is it more comfortable in this position, it will help prevent whiplash-type injuries. (And the same goes for children: If they aren't tall enough for the seat belt to cross the middle of their chest, they should sit in a booster seat.)

10. You aren't prepared for vehicle maintenance.
"Most consumers think of their car as just another appliance, like a toaster, until the day it won't start," says Molla. He recommends putting away $25 each month to cover oil changes and unexpected maintenance. "It will slowly build up to the point where, if you need a $600 alternator, you'll probably have enough money in the bank to cover the repair. The worst that can happen is you'll have Some extra money on the side."

By Amanda Greene (Woman's Day)


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All Saints Day Fire in Cebu City (Nov. 1, 2010)

Philippines-It takes almost 3 hours for Cebu City Firefighters to control the bursting flames that destroyed an estimated 80 houses. The fire blamed on a unattended candle during the celebration of All Saints Day at around 9 pm and ended around 11:00 pm. It was estimated that the damage cost of the said fire is around P2.8 million.

The video footage


Pictures
































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Superman Gets a Vampire Look Makeover?

Superman has a new look, and the redrawn Man of Steel now more closely resembles a a vampiric Robert Pattinson or a sulky member of My Chemical Romance than a hunky matinee idol.



The new Superman will appear in "Superman: Earth One," a graphic novel by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Shane Davis that retells the superhero's origin story. While the iconic superhero retains his dark mane and defined six pack, he now has a decidedly more emo vibe -- pale, leaner, and brooding. (No need to get too worked up, Superman loyalists: This new graphic novel series doesn't replace the original comics, but rather will serve as a "reinterpretation" of his younger years.)

The Superhero Universe seems to have been increasingly influenced by what could be termed the "Twilight Effect," as Wonder Woman was given a similarly "edgy" makeover in June when her "bustier and hotpants" were traded out for a blue biker jacket and a trendy new hair style.

In the words of the New York Post, the new Man of Steel "wears hoodies" and "has smoldering eyes"; and as Clark Kent, he wears low-cut pants and skinny ties. So basically Superman has turned into a full-on hipster.

Credits Josh Duboff

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Time Traveler Caught on Film?

A woman appears to be talking on a cell phone or using a gadget that wasn't invented in the 1920's in this black and white footage from the 1928 movie entitled The Circus starring Charlie Chaplin.

A time traveler using a mobile phone? Is it Sony Ericsson or Nokia? hehehe...see and share your thoughts!



Still shot



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History of Halloween and the First Photographs of Ghost

Halloween is coming, and the frightfest has trick-or-treaters checking the Web for the history of the haunted holiday.

Lookups on "what is the history of Halloween" rose 220% on Yahoo!. Spooky searches for "the haunted history of Halloween" and "the true history of Halloween" were also scary-high.

Turns out, the modern-day tradition of outfitting yourself in a costume and going door to door for candy has some really ancient roots.

Originally, the festival came from the Celtic holiday Samhain, which means summer's end, and celebrated the end of fall and the beginning of winter. This day also marked the Celts' version of the new year — and the time, they believed, when the dead came back to roam the earth. (Insert spooky music here.)

Ancestors were honored, but evil spirits were warded off by lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to hide from them. Turnips carved with faces got placed in windows to scare off the unwelcome undead. People would go "a-souling," and in exchange for food and drink, pray for a household's dead relatives. In Scotland, spirits were impersonated by men wearing all white with veiled faces. Sound familiar?

[Be honest: How old is too old for trick or treating?]

The holiday is actually a mash of Catholic and Celtic beliefs. Oh, and Roman. Their version of the Celtic holiday was called Feralia, which honored their dead. The Catholics — who were beginning to influence the area by the 800s — contributed All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows or Hallowmas. The name "Halloween" comes from the Scottish "All-Hallows-Even," meaning "the night before All Hallows Day."

By the mid-19th century, Irish immigrants brought Halloween to America. By the 1950s, candy makers began promoting their sweet stuff as the currency to give out to trick-or-treaters, and this year it's estimated to be a $2 billion candy bonanza. The religious ideas have been dropped, and the day as we know it — dressing up, carving pumpkins, and getting a good scare ... and goodies — became the holiday it is now.

And to make things more scary for you...here are the archives of the
First photographs of 'ghosts'....




By Claudine Zap / Damenation on Shine


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Are Texting and Facebook Bad for Teens?

Let's face it: Teenagers spend hours texting, socializing on Facebook and playing video games. And it's driving their parents nuts.



Sure, there are real dangers associated with all this screen time — everything from cyberbullying to couch-potato obesity. Not to mention driving while texting, shortened attention spans and Internet porn.

But many of today's parents spent hours as kids sitting in front of screens too — only they were TV screens.

Which raises an interesting question: Is Facebook really worse for teenagers' brains than the mindless reruns of "Gilligan's Island" and "The Brady Bunch" that their parents consumed growing up?

Douglas Gentile, a child psychologist and associate professor at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, who studies the effects of media on children, says texting, Facebook and video games are not inherently bad. Nor are they inherently better or worse than watching TV, although they do pose different risks, such as cyberbullying.

But research has shown that the more time kids spend in front of screens — whether it's TV or instant-messaging — the worse their school performance. "That doesn't mean it's true for every kid, but it makes sense, that for every hour a kid is playing video games, it's an hour that they're not doing homework or reading or exploring or creating," he said.

Gentile calls this the "displacement hypothesis. If screen time is displacing doing their homework, that's bad. But if their homework is done, well, so what?"

Gentile, who admits that his own teenager crossed the "9,000 texts in one month barrier" last summer, acknowledged that parents are struggling to adjust to a world in which kids would rather look at words on a cell phone screen than have a conversation.

"The older generation, it's not their culture," he said. "There is a resistance to it."

Watching TV as a family, as mindless as that experience can be, is now regarded with nostalgia by parents. If your kid is sitting in the living room watching "American Idol," you can plop on the sofa with them, and "it's a shared experience," Gentile said. But if they're texting or video-chatting with a friend from school, "it's a private experience. It's like they're whispering secrets. And we find it rude."

Patti Rowlson, a mother of two in Everson, Wash., says this "has been a topic of discussion in our house for years now." She and her husband started out limiting TV time when their kids were little, but "then technology crept in. Cell phones, laptop computers, iPods with Wi-Fi. We, as parents, were no longer in control of screen time because we could not even tell when they were using it."

Recounting a struggle that will sound familiar to many parents, Rowlson said that at first, she and her husband imposed limits on tech use.

"There were battles and even groundings," along with the confiscation of iPods, she said. "We were constantly policing and the kids were constantly getting in trouble. We were trying to fight for the old ways, and it was causing a lot of stress and tension in the family. It was ridiculous. So we loosened up. And it's made everybody happier. We were fighting something that you can't hold back. It's how they communicate with their peers."

What's been the result? Two good kids, she said. "In the end I'm not sure if having boundaries early on helped them or made no difference at all."

Ron Neal, who lives in West L.A., has a teenage daughter who is "tech-driven and passionate about it. ... I don't know how it's going to play out, but I don't have this fear and dread about it."

Neal, who admits to watching a lot of "Gilligan's Island" growing up, added: "We had our minds numbed by TV, and maybe they're looking at useless things on the Internet or YouTube, but I also think they're developing a lot of skills through this technology that we could never comprehend. For my daughter, when she is home, she does have everything going — the TV, the computer, communicating with friends, and doing the homework at the same time."



He admits, though, that there are some frightening aspects to the dependence today's teenagers have on technology. "They are so emotionally connected to being tied in with their friends 24 hours a day, if they get a text, they feel obligated to respond in seconds," he said. He recalled a group of girls showing up for a birthday party at a restaurant, and "everyone of them had their head down, texting."

The explosion in teen screen time is well-documented. A recent Associated Press-mtvU poll found that one-third of college students use computers, cell phones or gaming consoles for six or more hours daily. A Kaiser Family Foundation study published in January found that total media use among 8- to 18-year-olds, including TV, music, computers, video games, print and movies has increased from six hours, 21 minutes daily in 2004 to seven hours, 38 minutes in 2009.

"Try waking a teenager in the morning and the odds are good that you'll find a cell phone tucked under their pillow," the Kaiser report said.

The Kaiser study also found that the more time kids spend with media, the lower their grades and levels of personal contentment are.

Gentile said the impact of screen time on school work can be mitigated by what he calls "protective factors." Those might include good teachers and a high-performing school, love of reading, coming from a family where education is valued, and exposure to experiences that are culturally and intellectually enriching. "If you had all these protective factors," said Gentile, "then that one little risk factor (screen time), who cares?"

He added that surprisingly, the amount of time kids spend watching TV has not declined precipitously with the popularity of computers and gaming, but "they don't pay nearly the attention (to TV) that they used to." The TV might be on, but "they're also instant-messaging, they're on Facebook, they're texting."

One thing parents should worry about, Gentile said, is the way electronic devices encourage multitasking.

"Multitasking is not really good for anyone," he said. "Your reflexes speed up, you're quicker to look over your shoulder and notice little noises or lights. This is not what they need when they get to the classroom and you're supposed to ignore the kid next to you. Scanning to see when the next message comes, this may not be good for kids. The more distractions you have, the worse your performance is." Getting kids to turn off their phones, iPods, and computers in order to concentrate on homework and reading, he said, "I think that's a fight worth having."

Bottom line: Never mind that your kid is spending two hours on Facebook each night. As long as they do their homework without texting in between math problems, it's probably no better or worse than the hours you spent watching "Star Trek."


By BETH J. HARPAZ, Associated Press




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5 Attention Grabber You Must Control, and Yes! Facebook is included!

Life in the 21st century poses a whole new set of circumstances and challenges that our ancestors never imagined. With the advent and constant innovation of communication and digital media, the way we receive information is constantly changing – and it's no longer passive. Instant cell phone messaging, Skype calls, friends updating online statuses, RSS feeds, radio on-demand … The world is constantly available at our fingertips. While an omnipresent world offers numerous benefits, it also causes us to feel pressured to keep abreast on our updates, resulting in stolen attention and a scattered focus.

In my sixteen years of experience in teaching employees how to work at their peak performance-level, I've come to believe that the secret to productivity is the ability to effectively control your attention. Here are eight of the more tempting "attention thieves" and ways to handle them:



1. Twitter -- This can be an informative tool or a time sink. If you use it as a business tool to build a brand or product, then perhaps checking in frequently is warranted. If you use it primarily as a social tool, or, worse, a procrastination tool, then allocate time sparingly. Applications can help you stick to a set amount of time, such as FocusBoosterApp, which helps you by setting a timer on your activities, or LeechBlock, a Firefox add-on, which locks you out after your allocated time is up.

2. Facebook/Online Games/Social Apps: While it's true that there are some businesses that use Facebook in their marketing plan, for most people, it's primarily a social site. If this is true for you, the time-saving tips above will help. Also, tracking the time you spend for one week on social-networking tools and gaming sites can offer a healthy dose of reality that might motivate you to change your habits.

3. E-mail: Don't check your e-mail first thing in the morning. Often people start their day with e-mail for no other reason than to procrastinate on their work. In most industries, there is no such thing as an e-mail emergency. If you start the day by tackling one or two items on your to-do list, then even if the rest of the day gets away from you, you'll still have accomplished some tasks.

4. Hunger: This "attention thief" obviously wasn't caused by technology; nonetheless, a rumbling belly can steal your attention. The average attention span of an adult may be as short as 20 minutes. However, this can vary with the type of task. If you need to do things that you don't particularly enjoy or don't capture your attention, consider 20 minute intervals with two-minute breaks in between. Use the breaks to nourish yourself with snacks and drinks, and try not to skip meals. It may seem like working through lunch allows you to get more done, but the later affect on your concentration and your energy will likely negate any short-terms gains it may have provided.

5. Physical and or electronic clutter: An e-mail inbox with hundreds or thousands of messages, a computer desktop littered with files, and piles of paper covering your desk; all of these create stress and distract your attention from the task at hand. Most people leave "to-do items" visible simply as a reminder to complete them. A comprehensive, electronic task list, whether in an information-management program like Outlook, or a web-based application such as Todoist, or Remember the Milk, will allow you to put those papers, files, and emails away while still ensuring that you won't forget about them. You can still "see" them on your list, and you can even set reminders if necessary.

(by genConnect.com)

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The Science of Love at First Sight

From the moment she set eyes on him, she adored him. Wanting only to be near him, to lavish her affection on him, she followed everywhere he went. The sound of his voice made her bark.



Bark? Novelist and animal behaviorist Elizabeth Marshall Thomas was describing her pug dog, Violet, who was in love with her other pug, Bingo.

Animals love. Animal literature is full of descriptions of love at first sight, actually. When Tia, a female elephant living in the Amboseli National Park in Kenya, came into heat (or estrus), she was followed by a coterie of young males. Tia would not cooperate. But the moment Bad Bull swaggered into view, head high, chin tucked in, ears intensely waving, trunk aloft, and doing his courtship strut, Tia changed her elephant mind. Holding her ears high in a pose meant to draw his attention, she stared at him with the prolonged “courting gaze,” then turned and began to move slowly away, glancing repeatedly to see if this mature male was following. Tia and Bad Bull remained inseparable for the duration of her estrus.

Instant attraction across the animal kingdom
Scientists and naturalists have recorded this instant attraction phenomenon in hundreds of species. Throatpatch and Priscilla, two orangutans; Alexander and Thalia, two baboons; Skipper and Laurel, two beavers; Misha and Maria, two Huskies; Satan and Miff, two chimps: these and many other creatures have taken an instant liking to one another. As Charles Darwin wrote of two ducks, “it was evidently a case of love at fist sight, for she swam about the newcomer caressingly… with overtures of affection.”

How we came to fall in love fast
You and I have inherited the brain circuitry for this instant attraction, what has become known as “love at first sight.” This spontaneous passion comes from our primordial past when, like other mammals, our female forebears had a monthly period of heat. Like all mammals that have only a few hours, days or weeks to procreate, these ancestors had to become attracted quickly. They couldn’t spend two months or two years discussing their suitor’s career and family plans. They had to meet and produce offspring fast.

Today, first meetings are still crucial. With little or no knowledge of this stranger, we tend to weigh heavily those few traits we first encounter. Based on these morsels of information, we almost instantly form a strong opinion of him or her, generally within the first three minutes. Thomas Jefferson fell in love with Maria Cosway in an afternoon, probably within minutes of meeting.

Who falls faster: the male or the female?
Indeed, men tend to fall in love faster than women do, probably because their brain circuitry for romantic love is more quickly triggered by visual cues. But any of us can walk into a crowded room, talk for only minutes with a someone new, and either feel that “chemistry” — or “know” there could be chemistry down the road.

But is this attraction love or lust? Actually, these feelings involve very different brain networks. You can have physical intimacy with someone you are not “in love” with, and you can be passionately in love with someone you have never kissed. But these brain circuits can trigger one another, leaving you wondering for a moment if your attraction is purely physical.

Can immediate attraction last?
You will know if your passion is love or lust with your answer to just one simple question: “What percentage of the day and night do you think about him or her?” Romantic love is an obsession. It can happen in a moment, but when it strikes, you can’t get your new beloved off your mind. And this instant passion can last — sometimes for many years.

“The loving are the daring,” wrote poet Bayard Taylor. We are all daring; we can’t help ourselves. Millions of years ago humanity evolved three powerful brain systems for courtship and reproduction: the libido, romantic attraction, and feelings of deep attachment. The libido evolved to drive us to reproduce with a range of partners, but romantic love evolved to enable us to focus our energy on just one, The One. This passion is intricately orchestrated, at least in part, by the activity of a powerful chemical, dopamine. And this potent brain circuit lies dormant in each of us, sleeping like a cat with one eye open, waiting for the right moment to erupt.

Indeed, feelings of intense romantic passion can awaken the first moment you see someone who fits within your mental concept of the perfect partner — love at first sight.

( By By Helen Fisher, Ph.D. )

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Beauty Secrets

Maybe it's the sleepless hours at cruising altitude. Maybe it's the fight-or-flight response that kicks in when you have to brave Customs. But, at least in my book, certain countries are hazardous to the self-esteem. You step off the plane and the women look way too good.

How on earth do they do it? Save your miles. You can try these international trade secrets without leaving the house.


BEAUTY WITHOUT BORDERS


JAPAN

* The Allure: that porcelain complexion
* Secret Ingredients: rice and seaweed

Rice Body Rub: "In the old days, rice bran was a substitute for soap," says K.C. Kang, speaking on the phone from Japan as she launches her new skin-care line in the U.S.. "You'd bring your little cotton pouch to the local bath house and fill it up with the bran. Then you'd soak and scrub your whole body, including the face. People still do this." Beyond sloughing off the dead skin layer, rice bran oil is known for its potent vitamin E and other antioxidants that brighten the skin. To see for yourself, fill a pouch with rice bran, and rub your body. If you're bathing, leave the bag in the tub and let the nutrients seep into the water.

Kelp Face Pack: Seaweed has long been used in Japan as a beauty aid, says Kang, whose interest in traditional remedies grew from trying to heal her own severe eczema. The best recipe for a face mask, she says, requires about 7 ounces of raw seaweed (if you can't find any, reconstitute the dried kind.) Thoroughly soak the kelp to rinse out the salt; then drain and place in a pan with 16 ounces of water, and cook at a low heat, stirring, for 10 minutes. Next, pour it into blender and make a creamy paste, mixing in a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice once it cools. Refrigerate for three days (freeze what you won't be using) and apply for 20 minutes.

Sun Style: Ever considered opera gloves for the car? "Japanese women are so picky about their skin," says Kang, "aside from using the traditional umbrella in the summer, they wear long gloves—past the elbow—when they're driving. They want to make sure the sun from the window doesn't age their hands or arms."

AUSTRALIA

* The Allure: wild, luxurious hair
* Secret Ingredients: rainforest plums and desert limes

Kakadu Plum Paste: Aussie hairstylist Kevin Murphy—whose Hollywood clients have included Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, and Selma Blair—also became obsessed with natural beauty as a result of eczema. His favorite discovery (which he uses in his hair care line) is the kakadu plum. "The Aborigines have been using it medicinally for 40,000 years," he says. The dumpy little rainforest fruit has the highest known vitamin C content of any plant on the planet. And Murphy has found that its antioxidant power saves hair from serious dye-job damage. "You know how after you color your hair it's all slimy and horrible," he asks? "That's because the oxidants from the dye are still working and breaking the delicate fibers. If you apply kakadu plum right away, it mops those oxidants up." Try it by mixing one part kakadu plum liquid extract—health food stores sell it (or you can squeeze the liquid from gel capsules)—and five parts virgin olive oil. Apply the paste ASAP post-coloring, and sleep in it before washing out.

* Desert Lime Spray: Another Down Under treasure is the desert lime, a plant that flourishes in scorching temperatures. "We use it as a natural heat protectant on the hair," Murphy says. You may be able to find desert lime locally or online in an extract or tea. If so, boil it up and strain it a few times until you get a clear liquid. Once it cools, pour into an atomizer and use it to spray your hair before you work with a hot blow dryer or styling iron.

EASTERN EUROPE

* The Allure: fresh-faced model appeal
* Secret Ingredients: milk, olive oil, egg white, grapes

* Milky Skin Wash: "Eastern European women are extremely vain." That's the verdict from Bella Schneider, who lived in Ukraine, Poland, Italy, and Israel while working in salons with Hungarian and Bulgarian clients, before opening her LaBelle Day Spas & Salons in the San Francisco Bay Area. "These women have always taken every effort to look wonderful, even in Communist times when so little was available and they had to rely on home remedies." A tried-and-true remedy is milk. "We know about Cleopatra taking milk baths," Schneider says. "The reason is the lactic acid, which now, we chemically alter for peels. But you can just use a little milk to rinse your cleanser off and it's great for the skin." If your complexion is dry, she advises, use whole milk; if oily, go for low fat.

* Milky Skin Mask: For a more concentrated dose, boil a little milk until it gets a crusty surface. Once it cools, add a teaspoon of spoiled yogurt ("leave it out until it gets that yucky look," Schneider says) and mix into a mask you can wear for 20 minutes.

* Egg White Oily Skin Lift: A little egg on the face apparently makes an amazing mask for oily skin: Beat a few whites until they're not tacky, stir in a bit of baking soda, and add some shredded lemon and grapefruit peel. Brush on the mixture and let it harden. According to Schneider, you'll feel a undeniably youthful, fresh lift.
* Olive Buff: "Back home, women 'schmear' themselves from head to toe in olive oil, and stay in it for hours," says Schneider. "When they rinse it all off, the skin is like silk." You just have to be careful because your face can break out.

* Grape Splash: The juice of grapes (packed with antioxidants) is also great for your skin,says Schneider. "Rub it in, and if you crush the seeds, you've got a great scrub, too."

PAKISTAN

* The Allure: silky skin
* Secret Ingredients: almonds, orange peel, watermelon, extra virgin olive oil

* Almond Scrub: "My mom used to grind the soft shells of young almonds into a very fine powder and mix it with coconut milk or oil," says New York City dermatologist Misbah Kahn, MD, who grew up in Pakistan. Like rice bran and grape seeds, the almonds make a good exfoliator. "The home remedies really haven't been surpassed by high-tech microdermabrasion products," says Kahn. "In scar surgery we can even use very fine sandpaper that's available at Home Depot." As for the coconut oil, she says, "it has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties and may be good for keratin, which the outer layer of skin is made of." You can whip up your own scrub with coconut oil and finely ground shells—if you can't find the young almonds, use coconut shell (soak first and shred it.)

* Scalp Balm: "I tell my patients with dry, itchy scalps, to rub on some extra virgin olive oil and wrap their head in a warm towel," says Kahn. "The oil is great for the hair, too."

* Crushed Orange Watermelon Mask: Another skin secret from her homeland: Take a dried-out orange peel and crush it into a fine powder. Add a little lemon juice, water, or in the summer, mashed watermelon, and apply the mixture on your face for 20 minutes before going out for the evening. "The mask has antioxidants, and—especially if you use lemon—oh boy, forget it!" says Kahn. "It smells good, your makeup goes on easily, and your skin looks so nice and bright."


GLOBAL WATERS

* The soak. From thalassotherapy in French Brittany to the Dead Sea cure, soaking is a universal beauty secret we often pass up in favor of the rush-hour shower. "In Japan, we worship water," K.C. Kang says. "Toji is the word for bathing, and it's been a traditional therapy ever since the Samurais started fighting." Aside from the minerals and healing qualities of certain waters, an obvious benefit is relaxation—and we know a zen mind can translate to beaming skin. To that end, Kang suggests taking a half hour, drawing a nice, warm tub, and throwing in a touch of sake. "It's fantastic for the skin," she says, laughing. "Just don't drink your bath!"


by Liz Brody, Shine Staff


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Suspect on Grenade Bar Exam Explosion from USJR-Cebu?

Suspect Jed Carlos Lazaga, a fourth year law student at the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu and a member of Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho) was identified by a witness as the alleged grenade thrower, MPD officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla said.



The suspect was identified through his voter’s ID and school class schedule found in his wallet that fell from his pants during the commotion.



The witness said that he and other fraternity members ganged up on the grenade thrower, removed his shades and handkerchief covering his face. Another man in an Akrho t-shirt threatened them with a gun to release the suspect.

It was reported that Lazaga filed a complaint against the unidentified men who attacked him and reported that he lost his wallet, Malate police station commander Superintendent Francisco Gabriel told THE STAR.

Since there was no complaint yet at that time pointing to him as the alleged grenade thrower, the police had no reason to hold him, now that a witness has identified him, police could arrest him when he returns to Cebu, Gabriel added.

The NewsReport from ABS-CBN

(uploded by PnoyWatcher)

The post-blast investigation showed that an MK-2 fragmentation grenade exploded at the site that wounded 47 people during post-Bar exam merrymaking outside the De La Salle University along Taft Avenue Sunday afternoon.



Pieces of metal fragments, broken part of a fuse assembly, safety lever, and striker spring were recovered from the scene of the crime, the report said.

According to the witness, he had observed a man who pulled out a grenade from a paper bag and rolled it on the ground where Alpha Phi Omega and Tau Gamma Phi fraternity and sorority members were feting. An explosion happened as soon as the man left.

Students from San Beda College and other law schools were largely injured. The victim with the most serious injury was identified as Joanna Ledda of San Beda College and a member of the Alpha Beta sorority. Her right leg was amputated at the Ospital ng Maynila, MPD’s public information officer, Chief Inspector Erwin Margarito said.

Special Investigation Task Group “Bar Operations 2010 was created yesterday with Malate police station commander Superintendent Francisco Gabriel as its head.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim directed MPD officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla to drop everything and focus on the identity and arrest of the suspects.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona condemned the culprits of the blast that scarred the conclusion of this year’s Bar examinations, what he described as “senseless act of cowardice” and directed the SC security office, MPD and NBI to identify and bring to the bar of justice the perpetrators.

Guidelines for the Bar Exams and the traditional practices during the annual event shall be reviewed by the High Court, Court Administrator and spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said.

To prevent occurrence of similar incidents, the Chief Justice wants security arrangements in the periphery of the venue of the exams to be covered by protocol.

Marquez said that beside the possible criminal charges, if the perpetrators were really law students, they could be denied certificate of good moral character which is a requirement to take the Bar. They will be barred forever to become lawyers.


(Reports By Marivic Malinao)
from AllVoices


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Eenie Meenie Music Video (Sean Kingston with Justine Bieber)

"Eenie Meenie" is a song by Jamaican-American recording artist Sean Kingston, performed as a duet with Canadian singer Justin Bieber. The track was written by Kingston, Bieber, Carlos Battey, Steven Battey, Benny Blanco, Marcos Palacios and Ernest Clark, and was produced by Blanco. It was released as the first single from Kingston's untitled third studio album on March 23, 2010, and is also included on Bieber's My World 2.0. The song, a dance-pop number with Kingston's reggae influences and Bieber's R&B vocals, is lyrically about an indecisive lover.

The song received generally positive reviews. It was a moderate international success, appearing on charts worldwide, including the top ten in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and the top twenty in Australia, Canada, Ireland and the United States. The accompanying music video features Kingston and Bieber at a pool party at a condo, being pursued by the same girl.

And after more than a year this song has reached its monumental success and has getting a lot of airplays on fm stations, including MP3 downloads.

Here's the official MTV of the song.






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Is She The Next Charise Pempengco?

Her name is Nina Waga Mojares, A New Fil-Am singing sensation. Nina and her back-up dancers called Legit performs on NBC's America's Got Talent dated June 15, 2010.



In this video, we can hear the audience screaming and enjoying her performance, but the judges felt still it wasn't great. Osbourne even commented that Nina was very talented but she voted NO for this Nina. Sharon even explained that "She's a really strong little girl that's got a lot of talent, but I just felt her voice was still maturing...she going to be something great one day".

Even the judge Mary Ellen who also voted NO for Nina clearly showed disappointment in her face by rejecting this girl to have a chance to compete in the coming rounds.
If she really felt that this Fil-am girl deserves another chance, then saying NO is actually a wrong choice.

In my opinion, Nina deserves another chance to show her singing talent, clearly she has this so called Stage Presence.

In your opinion, was it really a mistake to reject Nina in Americas Got Talent Show?
Is Nina the next Charise Pempengco?



Here are other video of Nina.






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