Lolong – on diet?

Image Credit - Reuters Photo

A 20-foot saltwater crocodile captured six days ago was not eating and said to be stressed because of how it was handled and trapped.

The crocodile, named Lolong, was considered as the world’s largest saltwater crocodile captured alive and now the most attraction of local and international press.

The Bunawan Mayor decided to make Lolong as one of the tourist attraction in their town. Although some animal advocates want Lolong to be released, the Officials just want to ensure the safetiness of their residents.

The hunting team took 3-weeks of tiring hunting. A crocodile was reported to kill a child 2 years ago, and is suspected to eat a fisherman who is missing since July. The fisherman was last seen on the bridge of the river where crocodiles are said to be staying. Another report was when the residents saw a crocodile eating a buffalo.

The 20-foot crocodile  was named after the death of the leader of the Hunting Team, Lolong. Lolong died because of stroke.

US probes 9/11 anniversary terror threat

US officials warned of the threat of a terror strike on the United States reportedly involving bomb-laden trucks ahead of this weekend’s 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

“There is specific, credible but unconfirmed threat information,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on Thursday, as the White House confirmed President Barack Obama had ordered boosted counterterrorism efforts.

“We have taken, and will continue to take all steps necessary to mitigate any threats that arise,” the department added in a statement.

US media said three individuals were reported to have entered the country in August and were allegedly seeking to carry out an attack using a vehicle laden with an explosive bomb.

Although the country has already tightened security ahead of Sunday’s anniversary, Obama had “directed the counterterrorism community to redouble its efforts in response to this credible but unconfirmed information,” a White House official said.

US media said possible targets were New York or Washington, as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a press briefing with the city’s Police Commissioner Ray Kelly at 9:30 pm (0130 GMT) Thursday.

New York Congressman Peter King, who heads the House Committee on Homeland Security, would not confirm any details after lawmakers were briefed about the situation.

But he told CNN “there were very, very specific facts that were made known in this threat.”

“I can tell you that the administration, all levels of law enforcement, federal, state and local where it’s appropriate are checking out every possible lead, running this to ground, and we’ve come a long way since September 11th.”

The United States is preparing to mark the anniversary of the devastating September 11, 2001 attacks in which almost 3,000 people were killed.

Two hijacked planes hit New York’s World Trade Center, collapsing the iconic twin towers, a third plane plowed into the Pentagon and a fourth crashed into a Pennsylvania field when passengers overcame the hijackers.

US Navy commandos tracked down and killed Al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden at his hideout in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad in May this year.

During the raid, documents and computer files were seized at his compound showing his terror network had pondered strikes to coincide with the anniversary.

“We continue to ask the American people to remain vigilant as we head into the weekend,” the Department of Homeland Security said in its statement.

The announcement came after the Pentagon on Wednesday raised the alert level at bases across the United States as “a prudent and precautionary measure,” given Al-Qaeda’s interest in milestones and anniversaries.

Sunday’s biggest event will be the reading of victims’ names at Ground Zero, which will be attended by victims’ family members, as well as Obama, former president George W. Bush, and Mayor Bloomberg.

Although there have been no attacks on the scale of 9/11 in the United States in the 10 years since, the nation has been on heightened alert amid a series of foiled and failed attacks.

Security is the main concern among organizers of the ceremonies remembering those who died and large crowds are expected as the country reflects on a decade of war abroad and fear of further attacks at home.

Original article of Justin Sullivan | AFP News

 

NASA’s Cassini orbiter snaps unbelievable picture of Saturn

Sometimes reality is just as stunning as science fiction

Science fiction movies have spoiled us on high definition views of our planetary neighbors, but real-life photographs with equal jaw-dropping potential are exceedingly rare. That’s what makes NASA’s awe-inspiring snapshot of Saturn (hi-res version here) such a stunning piece of eye candy.

Taken by NASA’s Cassini robotic orbiter, the shot was captured from the dark side of Saturn as the Sun’s bright rays illuminated every piece of dust and debris circling the planet. Cassini has offered astronomers a never-before-seen look at Saturn and revealed more information about the planet than any craft before it. The craft has taken so many pictures of the ringed wonder that they were recently made into a short flyby film that looks like it was created by George Lucas rather than a robotic space explorer.

The Cassini probe was launched in 1997 and took a further 7 years to reach Saturn’s orbit. The total cost of its overarching objective of studying the ringed planet stands at a staggering $3.26 billion. However, the wealth of information it has wrought — including amazing pictures like the one above, and recordings of massive lightning storms on the planet — have already made it one of the best investments in space exploration. Hopefully Juno — which began a 5-year trek to Jupiter just last month — will bring us some equally stunning shots of Saturn’s neighbor.

[Image credit: NASA]

Original article from Tecca.

Luis Manzano – for Mayor?

Luis ‘Lucky’ Manzano, a TV host, award-winning actor,one of the bankable product endorser of his generation, and the son of The Star of All Season, Governor Vilma Santos – Recto, was having rumors about his plans in running in the 2013 elections.

Earlier at ABS-CBN Saturday afternoon showbiz talk show, E-live, Luis Manzano said that he is not denying that there is a possibility that he will run for Mayor in Lipa City.

Luis added that it is very different when you make people laugh, making entertainment on TV with helping poor and unfortunate people around him.

Last week, Luis Manzano was with his mom, Governor Vilma Santos-Recto and the boxing champ, Manny Pacquiao to make ALAY LAKAD possible. They are with the scholars of the Batangas City.

Is the appearance and participation of Luis Manzano on different projects of his mom is really the start of his political career? If Luis Manzano will truly run for Mayor, there’s no problem with that as long as his intentions are good unlike others. Oops! I didn’t mention any names.

Goodluck to Luis Manzano’s political career in the near future!

Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3 First Live Semi-Finals

Image Credit - Showbiznest.blogspot.com

The first live semi finals of Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3 will be among

(Left – Right)

• Rita Paraiso – singer from Hong Kong
• Lucky Twins – dancers from Tacloban City
• Kristoffer Campos – saxophonist from Baguio City
• Seedz Band – band from Escalante City, Negros Occidental
• El Gamma Penumbra – shadow play performers from Batangas City
• Pauline Agupitan -  singer from Lipa City, Batangas

Who do you think from them will have the highest votes and who will be the judges’ choice? The two lucky performers that will survive this semi finals will secure a spot in the Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3 Grand Finals.

Those who will not make it to survive the semi-finals, don’t loose hope. We don’t know if the Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3 will again have a Wildcard competition where chosen semi-finalists will compete for the last spot for the Grand Finals. Just like last season where the Wildcard winner was Rico “The Magician”.

We see what will happen after the semi-finals. Before that, watch Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3 Live Semi Finals tonight, September 10, 2011, on ABS-CBN,9:15 PM in PAGCOR Grand Theater Airport Casino Filipino Parañaque City.

Then the live results night on Sunday, 8:30 PM.

 

Beware of Identity Theft – 5 Worst Photos To Post Online

With the latest technology that the online industry can give us, we have so many ways to introduce ourselves online. Everyone can upload photos anytime, anywhere by just using our mobile phones.

With the cameras going into more sophisticated features, we all have the ability to make different posts and with the single snap of the camera, we can store it and later upload it online through different social networking sites like Facebook.

1. Don’t post your pictures showing your personal data.

Even if you make your social networking profile private, you aren’t sure that your friends can only be the one who can see your personal photos. Strangers and hackers are not the only threat but also the people you know can actually steal your identity. Consequently, even if your profile is private, meaning your friends only can see your photos, but if you think it more deeper, social networking sites are  notoriously complex. If you set your Facebook Photos settings to private, then your friends who are seeing those photos set their Facebook Photos Settings to Public, then the photos of you can actually be seen by others without you knowing. People between ages 18-24 are more prone to identity theft according to Javelin’s 2010 Identity Fraud Survey. But this year the age range shifted from 25-34. So beware of posting marriage certificates, drivers license and any other public documents that tells something about your personal identification.

2. Disable location services and geotagging

Don’t you know that every time you took a photo using your mobile phone, especially those with sophisticated cameras, it records EXIF data or metadata including, phone model,cameras’ speed, photo specifications and the date the photo was captured. Of course, you wouldn’t spend so much time knowing this because your purpose is to upload and post your own photos online. The sad thing about the photos captured is that geotagging. For GPS-enabled camera or phones, it stores your exact position in the metadata when you took a picture without you again knowing it. Some of the social networking sites disregards this data but some also includes it. Meaning, with just one photo you give your complete address to the whole wide world who knows how to view geotagging data.

3. Incriminating Photos

Many companies nowadays are searching for new hires online. They also use the web to know more about the personal backgrounds of their applicants . The point here is never upload or even accept tagged photos where you have incriminating and unprofessional posts. Make yourself look professional by avoiding this kinds of photos.

4. Cut out poorly cropped photos

Choose your profile pictures wisely. Don’t include cropped photos to your own photos. That will give another meaning to yourself. Give yourself a shot that will give your photo the best look.

5. Avoid webcam profile photos

There are a wide variety of cameras, cheap, easy to use, which means that something that is better than the built-in webcam or external to your computer. Although camera phones are often boast 5 megapixels or more, you can easily eclipse the image quality of a webcam, even on new computers. For many webcam optimized for video, image quality is degraded when it comes to images. FaceTime cameras by Apple, also on the iPad 2, the MacBook Air, and other devices are an example. The  moving photo will look great, but the still images can be grainy and fuzzy.

How to improve your self-portraits
To get a good shot, better to use a compact camera, a digital SLR camera for better image quality, or even your phone. As you can find a tripod for each of these devices (see Gorillamobile for your phone), set up the shot in advance which is well supported and well lit.

For a flattering image abroad, avoid the sun for high noon. Instead of taking your own picture – or better yet, ask for help from a friend – early morning and evening, when the photographers are known for the best type of lighting for portraits.

 

From : Upgrade Your Life

Honda Ph recalls over 19,000 units

Image Credit - AP Photos

After seeing the news report from TV Patrol about the recall of some Honda Car Models because of there faulty window power switch assembly, Honda Cars Philippines Inc., started to send letters of notice  to the owners of the cars.

19,143 units of Honda Car Models are listed below which are affected by the defective part of the window which was reportedly can can cause fire.

• Honda Jazz (2005 – 2007)
• Honda City (2006 – 2008)
• Honda CR-V (2006 – 2007)

The replacement of the affected part will be done in 28 authorized dealers and three service centers nationwide. HCPI said that it is for free and will take 30 minutes to finish the replacement.