Thousands of naked bicyclists stage festive Portland protest ride

by Reuters

Cyclist pour into the streets of Portland for the 11th Annual World Naked Bike Ride June 7, 2014. | Reuters

Portland Oregon - Thousands of bicyclists, many of them stark naked, poured into the streets of Portland, Oregon on Saturday night for the 11th annual World Naked Bike Ride, a protest that promotes bike riding as an alternative to driving cars.

Nude cyclists with lights flashing in their tire spokes rang bells as they barreled down avenues lined with cheering spectators, while a naked, apparently pregnant woman rode in a bike trailer.

"This is a party, but it's also a protest," said Carl Larson, a ride spokesman. "It is about oil dependence, cycling vulnerability and body" image.

Cyclists showed up in Normandale Park an hour before the ride, shedding garments according to the ride theme "as bare as you dare".

The rides are held in more than 75 U.S. cities and in more than 20 other countries, but Portland's is believed to be the largest, with more than 8,000 participants last year.

But unlike events in other cities, the Portland ride works with local police, being considered as a protest. Officers direct traffic during what is generally a trouble-free event.

"We've had a few complaints from neighbors but overall not many issues of concern," said police spokesman Sgt. Peter Simpson before the ride, adding "for residents who don't want to see it, the best advice is to just not go outside."

Jennifer Young, 40, who was at the ride with her 16-year-old son and was painted blue head to toe with fairy wings on her back, saw the goal as showing cyclists' vulnerability, saying "I think it's a little more evident when we're naked."

Neighbors looked on as a marching band played and dancers kicked off the start. Later a naked punk band jammed from the sidelines as bikers rolled past.

Fred Tebo, 90, wasn't sure want to think of the hoards of naked people in the park across the street from the house he has lived in since 1971.

"It's entertaining and it's stupid at the same time," he said, sitting on his steps. But a few minutes later he let a young woman and man clad in their underwear use his bathroom.

"Snail Facials" use slime for anti-aging skin care.

Published on July 18, 2013, 2:39 PM
By: Ryan Jaslow / CBSNews.com




The latest beauty craze may feel slimier than your typical facial at a spa.

TOKYO, Japan
— A Tokyo spa has launched a "snail facial" clinic, The Telegraph reports, in which a therapist places the mollusks on clients' faces, leaving trails of mucus slime.

The slime reportedly contain "proteins, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid, which help skin retain moisture, reduce inflammation and remove dead skin," according to the paper.

For about $245, a visitor to the Ci:z.Labo Clinical Salon in the Ebisu district of Tokyo can get the treatment.

Snails crawls on the face of a woman for the demonstration of a new beauty treatment at the beauty salon 'Ci:z.Labo' in Tokyo on July 13, 2013. / YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

One brave Telegraph reporter even tried the facial herself.

"I am relieved to feel Manami san skillfully monitoring their positions, instantly lifting them off my skin with a little tug to defy the suction whenever they go anywhere near my mouth, nostrils or eyes," she described.

The snails at the spa are fed an all-organic diet of carrots, Japanese mustard spinach, and Swiss chard, according to a Wall Street Journal reporter who also tried the treatment.

Could snails actually have an effect on your skin?

Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, co-director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, told the National Post that "there are no respected scientific studies to prove that it actually works."

There are safer beauty options out there than snails, added Dr. Jennifer L. Walden, a Texas-based plastic surgeon who specializes in skin care and anti-aging, to CBSNews.com.

"Snails have had medicinal uses historically in the past, but I would be wary to use live snails directly on the face for treatment since they carry the risk of harboring parasites that can cause organ damage, meningitis, and other problems," she told CBSNews.com in an email.

Specifically, snails can carry parasitic worms that cause the disease schistosomiasis, Walden points out. The disease can cause health problems like abdominal pains or bloody stools that can persist for years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"There are safer, more purified skin treatments as alternatives on the market today that contain hyaluronic acid and antioxidants," said Walden.

She pointed out her practice even carries products that contain snail secretions tested scientifically before being sold. If snails or their secretions are not your thing, you can always stick to standard facials, microdermabrasions and peels.


source: CBSnews.com

VIDEO: Donations go viral for grandmother bullied by busload of school children

By: Agence France Presse (AFP)


Update: 6.22.12 
As of this time,  10:56 AM, PH time the amount donated online reaches up to US $ 400,873.00 .
source: indiegogo.com


Greece, NEW YORK, USA  
— Video of a US grandmother being bullied by a busload of school kids went viral on Thursday, tugging at the heart strings of sympathetic strangers who donated more than $330,000 to send her on a trip to recover from the ordeal.

The 10-minute video of school bus monitor Karen Klein being harassed by 12- and 13-year-olds went viral shortly after it appeared on YouTube and Facebook late Tuesday.

The cell phone clip shows the 68-year-old grandmother of eight trying her best to ignore taunts such as "fat ass" and "asshole" on a middle school bus in the town of Greece, near the city of Rochester in New York state.

The students also harass the white-haired woman about her weight, her hearing aid and her hairdo. One even leans in and says he will urinate on her front door, while others make rude gestures, laugh and even poke her.

Klein did not report the abuse but the video -- captured by a student on the bus -- quickly became an Internet sensation.

With a goal of sending Klein on a vacation to recuperate from the trauma, the website indiegogo.com launched an online fundraising drive and quickly surpassed its goal of raising $5,000. By late afternoon on Thursday, it had amassed a staggering $338,650.

"God bless you, Karen!!" said one post on the site, signed Rachel. "I don't know how you handled yourself with such grace in such a horrible situation."

"It completely broke my heart, and I knew I had to contribute," says another post, signed Caroline.

Klein told television broadcaster NBC that she had been picked on before by her young charges.

"They just could be really nasty," she said. "I want the boys punished but I don't know how."

As for the outpouring of support, Klein said she was "amazed."

"I've got, I don't know, the nicest letters, emails, Facebook messages," she said. "And it's like, wow, there's a whole world out there that I didn't know. It's just really awesome."

School authorities, meanwhile, have said the four students involved in the taunting would be disciplined.

The underaged harassers, whose names and phone numbers surfaced online, were also getting a dose of unwanted attention from the public.

Greece Police Captain Steve Chatterton told AFP that one student's cell phone had 700 threatening messages.

"We are trying to get people to stop because it really serves no purpose," the chief said, adding it was no different from the bullying on the bus.

source: Interaksyon

Philip Phillips won American Idol/11

The Finale of American Idol season 11


DAVAO CITY, Philippines
. —  As I watch it on TV via satellite, it was really a star-studded performance of  great singers in Hollywood. With Rihanna, Jlo, Jennifer Holiday and other great performers on the judgement night.

And after a record-breaking 132 million votes were officially tallied, The "America Idol" season 11 has its winner announced, it's Phillip Phillips won the AI/11.

But what made me surprised is the reaction of Jessica Sanchez fan all over the world espcially in the social media sites after the announcement of the winner, As I was reading the tweets and the comments in facebook, It's like  JS takes the lead.  If we're relying the online community, she is really the winner.

Anyway, Philip Phillips realy did a good job. He was also a very good singer, plus the fact that his song is a country music, where in, if your  basing the history of American music, that genre has a huge follower in America.

Congratulation to Philip Phillips and likewise to Jessica Sanchez. You guys are really awesome singer! Good luck to your career in the real world of music industry.

Jasmin Lee, a Davaoeña, wins a seat in Korean Parliament

DAVAO CITY, Philippines
— A Davao native who emigrated to South Korea Jasmine Lee won a seat for proportional representation at the 19th Korean National Assembly during the general elections held on April 11, the Philippine embassy in Seoul said Thursday.

The 35-year-old Lee, a widow of a Korean, is the first parliamentarian from the growing immigrant community of South Korea.

Lee ran under the ruling Saenuri (New Frontier) Party, formerly known as the Grand National Party. Saenuri won 25 out of a total of 54 seats for party list representatives. Lee was number 15 on the list.

The ruling Saenuri party also grabbed the majority votes for the 300 parliamentary seats by winning 152 seats read more

Few have become a symbol of Korea’s multiculturalism like Jasmine Lee.
Lee, who has appeared on television shows such as KBS’ ``Love in Asia’’ and a cameo in the hit film ``Blood Brothers,’’ had no inkling her life would turn out this way when she first arrived in Korea in 1995.

The pretty and dusky Filipina was a 17 year old college freshman in 1994 when she met Lee Dong-ho, then 29, a seaman who was staying in her hometown in Davao, southern Philippines. Despite their age gap, the romance led to marriage a year-and-a-half later.

Their marriage initially encountered opposition from his parents, who did not understand why their eldest son would want to marry a foreigner. Plus language was also a big barrier, so she had to learn quickly read more..

Jasmin Lee Biography:

Jasmine Lee, 33, has two children, Seung-geon, 14, and Seung-yeon, 10. Her husband Lee Dong-ho died last month while saving their daughter from drowning in a mountain stream in Okcheon-dong, Gangwon province last month. 

She grew up in Davao, southern Philippines. She was a college freshman majoring in Biology at the Ateneo de Davao University when she met her future husband Dong-ho in 1994. They were married in April 1995, and moved to Korea later that year. She became a Korean citizen in 1998. 

Since 2006, Lee has appeared as a panelist on the KBS program ``Love in Asia” and a Korean language program on educational channel EBS. She also made a cameo as a Vietnamese bride in this year's hit film ``Blood Brothers,” which featured top stars Song Kang-ho and Kang Dong-won. 

Lee also participated in the Center for Korean Women and Politics’ first migrant woman regional representative project in 2008. She was initially supported by the Grand National Party to gain a seat on the Seoul Metropolitan Council last June, but was dropped at the last minute. 

Lee is active in lecturing on multiculturalism, and in several organizations. She is secretary general of Waterdrop, a charity formed by foreign spouses of Koreans, and a member of United Pilipinas in Korea, an organization of Filipinos living in the country.

Video below: courtesy of You Tube, uploaded by j090770

source: Interaksyon  and The Korea Times by Cathy Rose A. Garcia 

2012 Global Cities Index and Emerging Cities Outlook

ATKearney 2012 Global Cities Index and Emerging Cities Outlook

1. New York
2. London
3. Paris
4. Tokyo
5. Hong Kong
6. Los Angeles
7. Chicago
8. Seoul
9. Brussels
10. Washington, D.C.

New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo remain today's leading cities, but an analysis of key trends in emerging cities suggests that Beijing and Shanghai may rival them in 10 to 20 years.

Macro forces continue to have an impact on the global influence of cities. Political power is rotating back from West to East, and with economic drivers having shifted from agrarian to industrial to information-based, more people live in cities than in rural areas. While New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo still rank among today's top cities, it appears that Beijing and Shanghai may become significant rivals in the next 10 to 20 years.

These are among the highlights of the 2012 Global Cities Index (GCI), a joint study performed by A.T. Kearney and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. In addition, a panel of academic and corporate executive advisors informed and challenged the study results. We've expanded this year's study; in addition to classifying the current global influence of 66 cities, we have also developed an Emerging Cities Outlook (ECO) to project which emerging-market cities may eventually rival the established global leaders for dominance.read more..

Manila retains spot but still lags behind neighbors in global cities index.

source of Photo: Interaksyon - online news portal of TV5

source: ATKearney

Singer Whitney Houston dies at 48

Houston sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos,

 according to her official website.  

Los Angeles, Ca.
 → Legendary pop singer Whitney Houston was found dead Saturday at a Beverly Hills, California, hotel, officials said. She was 48.
The entertainer, whose incredible talent was discovered at an early age, was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. (6:55 p.m. ET) at the Beverly Hilton hotel despite resuscitation efforts, a police spokesman said.
Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said there were "no obvious signs of criminal intent" and that the cause of her death is being investigated.
Houston's bodyguard found her body, said Courtney Barnes, publicist for hip-hop artist Ray J, who was dating the pop diva.
According to her official website, Houston sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos. But she also struggled with addiction problems over the years.
Houston, whose hits included "The Greatest Love of All," died on the eve of the 54th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. She had performed as late as Thursday night read more


source: CNN News, International Edition by CNN Wire Staff

Pacquiao vs Marquez Part 3 Live Online Streaming (Nov.12, 2011)

Davao City, Philippines
 — Filipino boxing icon and honorable congressman Manny Pacquiao will fight Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, USA on Saturday, November 12, 2011 (PH time: Sunday, November 13, 2011).

Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez  Live Online Streaming

For Free Live Online Streaming, 
watch it Free here: http://www.hahasport.com/v-2/12/84/v-328494.html
or check this out for faster connection
 http://www.firesport.net/2011/09/watch-manny-pacquiao-vs-juan-manuel.html

Here are some of the venues for Pay per view for Pacquiao vs Marquez 3 Live:

Davao City:

• G.Mall Cinema - Php 500.00
• Abreeza Cinema - Php 500.00
• SM City Davao Cinema - Php 500.00

For other venue just check it out there in your area..

Steve Jobs: Apple founder and former CEO (1955 - 2011)

A look at Steve Jobs' career

Image of Apple founder and former CEO Steve Jobs in an iPhone
outside an Apple Store, New York, USA (Oct.5, 2011)

1977 -  He introduces the new Apple II in Cupertino, Calif., USA

1984 - From left, Steve Jobs, chairman of Apple Computers, John Sculley, president and CEO, and Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, unveil the new Apple IIc computer in San Francisco, Calif., USA

1984

1990

1997

1998

2004

2003 - Steve Jobs is diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer and begins showing signs of weight loss. He is shown in this combination photo of file photographs dating (top row L to R) July 2000, November 2003, September 2005, (bottom L to R) September 2006, January 2007 and September 2008. Jobs will take a medical leave of  read more

2007

2008

2010

2010

2011

2011

Apple's visionary Steve Jobs dead at 56

Apple loses a visionary leader who inspired personal computing and iconic products such as the iPod, 

iPhone and iPad, which made Jobs one of the most significant industry leaders of his generation.

 His death after a long battle with pancreatic cancer sparked an outpouring of tributes as world leaders, business rivals and fans alike lamented his premature passing and celebrated his premature passing and celebrated his read more

Published in Yahoo! news (Philippines) on Oct.6, 2011 and in Reuters (US Edition) on Oct.6, 2011.