Tuesday

PlayStation VR, almost a million units sold worldwide


One of virtual reality’s greatest hurdles right now is getting wider distribution and better accessibility. PlayStation VR appears to be in the lead when it comes to this area, as it has cumulatively sold 915,000 units worldwide as of Feb. 19, 2017.

The virtual reality system for the PlayStation 4 console was launched back in October 2016 and offered a more affordable alternative to the PC-based Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR systems. The existing PS4 consoles, which has already sold over 53.4 million unit globally, made it easier for gamers to get into VR gaming as it would only require them to purchase the PS VR headset and the PlayStation Eye camera if they did not already have one. The availability of game titles also made VR gaming on the PlayStation more viable.

Game titles have reached over 100 globally as of February 19. Better yet, the number of publishers and developers involved with creating VR titles has increased to over 360. This includes the industry’s top publishers as well as small independent teams and a range of entertainment companies from movies to music.

There are currently 220 software titles in development for the PS VR. These include highly-anticipated titles such as Ace Combat 7, Final Fantasy XV, Steel Combat, Tekken 7, Farpoint and Gran Turismo Sport. Some video content is also being created. Over 100 of these titles are expected to be released by the end of 2017.

The PlayStation VR system is currently available in 64 countries and regions worldwide. In the Philippines, it can be purchased at an SRP of P22,900 for just the headset and P25,290 with a bundled PlayStation Eye camera. Alfred Bayle/JR

source: technology.inquirer.net

Monday

FULL LIST: Oscars 2017 winners


List of winners for the 89th annual Academy Awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Best Picture: “Moonlight.”

Actor: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea.”

Actress: Emma Stone, “La La Land.”

Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight.”

Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, “Fences.”

Directing: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land.”

Foreign Language Film: “The Salesman,” Iran.

Adapted Screenplay: “Moonlight,” screenplay by Barry Jenkins, story by Tarell Alvin McCraney.

Original Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan, “Manchester by the Sea.”

Production Design: “La La Land,” Production Design: David Wasco; Set Decoration: Sandy Reynolds-Wasco.

Cinematography: Linus Sandgren, “La La Land.”

Sound Mixing: “Hacksaw Ridge,” Kevin O’Connell, Andy Wright, Robert Mackenzie and Peter Grace.

Sound Editing: “Arrival,” Sylvain Bellemare.

Original Score: “La La Land,” Justin Hurwitz.

Original Song: “City of Stars” from “La La Land,” music by Justin Hurwitz, lyric by Ben Pasek and Justin Paul.

Costume Design: Colleen Atwood, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”

Documentary (short subject): “The White Helmets,” Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara.

Documentary Feature: “O.J.: Made in America,” Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow.

Film Editing: “Hacksaw Ridge,” John Gilbert.

Makeup and Hairstyling: “Suicide Squad,” Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini and Christopher Nelson.

Animated Feature Film: “Zootopia,” Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer.

Animated Short Film: “Piper,” Alan Barillaro and Marc Sondheimer.

Live Action Short Film: “Sing,” Kristof Deak and Anna Udvardy.

Visual Effects: “The Jungle Book,” Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Dan Lemmon. JE

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Sunday

Record-setting stock rally faces test in Trump speech


NEW YORK - US President Donald Trump's planned economic agenda has fanned the flames for Wall Street's record-setting run, but some investors worry that his first major address to Congress next week risks dousing it if his plans look slow to execute or are overly vague.

The benchmark S&P 500 has surged 10 percent since Trump's Nov. 8 election, with optimism running high over the Republican administration's domestic proposals, including plans to reform taxes paid by businesses.

But there have been few specifics so far, and some investors believe Trump may need to provide more than just generalities when he gives his first major presidential address on Tuesday.

"If he comes out next week and there are little or no details other than that it is going to be great, that is going to be a time where we could have the first sort of crack in the armor," said JJ Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade in Chicago.

Trump has said enough so far to help propel major stock indexes to all-time highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average this week marked its longest run of consecutive record-high closing prices in 30 years.

With stock valuations expensive, many market participants are bracing for a pullback. The S&P 500 is trading at nearly 18 times forward earnings estimates versus the long-term average of 15 times, according to Thomson Reuters data.

In Tuesday's speech, "the market wants to hear about concrete tax reform plans that have traction either across the Republican base or have the potential to reach across to moderate Democrats," said Alan Gayle, director of asset allocation with RidgeWorth Investments in Atlanta.

"If the market begins to doubt Trump’s ability to follow through on his promises, then I would think that we would see a 5 percent market correction fairly easily," Gayle said.

Investors are also watching for hints about timing of Trump's economic plans. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday laid out an ambitious schedule to enact tax relief by August.

"The one thing that could stall this rally would be any sort of indication that we won’t see the bulk of the effects this year," said Bruce McCain, chief investment strategist at Key Private Bank in Cleveland. "I think that would take some of the air out of the enthusiasm."

Investors will also be listening for comments about the border adjustment tax being pushed by Congressional Republicans, about which Trump spoke positively in a Reuters interview on Thursday after having previously sent mixed signals.

Ahead of Trump's address, the stock options market was not yet foreseeing a huge reaction to the speech, bracing for a move of 0.9 percent in either direction by Wednesday's close, according to pricing on at-the-money straddles on S&P 500 index options.

Investors appeared to show comfort wading into the stock market, according to Lipper data released on Thursday, with US-based stock funds attracting $2.7 billion in the latest weekly period, their fourth consecutive week of inflows.

However, one high-profile investor, Jeffrey Ubben of activist investor ValueAct Capital, told Reuters on Wednesday that his firm had been taking money out of the capital markets as valuations have become overextended.

Beyond tax reform, investors will be eager to learn more about Trump's plans for repealing the Affordable Care Act, reducing regulations on businesses and increasing infrastructure spending.

Just this week, shares of engineering and construction companies gave up some of their post-election gains on concerns Trump's infrastructure package would be put off until next year.

But while some investors are eager for policy specifics, the bigger picture is the change in the White House, said Bruce Bittles, chief investment strategist at Robert W. Baird & Co in Sarasota, Florida.

"This whole rally in the stock market is based on the premise that we have moved to a pro-business administration in Washington, D.C. from an anti-business administration," he said. "The details, I think, are just noise." — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Saturday

McIlroy says round with Trump ‘not endorsement’


Former world number one Rory McIlroy hit back at critics on Friday, saying his decision to play a round with US President Donald Trump “wasn’t an endorsement nor a political statement of any kind”.

Trump is a keen golfer and McIlroy, a four-time major winner, accepted an offer from the commander-in-chief to join him for a round at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida last weekend.

On Friday he posted a statement on Twitter responding to suggestions he had allied himself with the controversial president.

“I don’t agree with everything my friends or family say or do, but I still play golf with them,” McIlroy wrote. “Last week, I was invited to play golf with the President of the United States. Whether you respect the person who holds that position or not, you respect the office that he holds.

“This wasn’t an endorsement nor a political statement of any kind,” McIlroy wrote. “It was, quite simply, a round of golf. Golf was our common ground, nothing else.

“I’ve traveled all over the world and have been fortunate enough to befriend people from many different countries, beliefs and cultures. To be called a fascist and a bigot by some people because I spent some time in someone’s company is just ridiculous.”

McIlroy’s statement came after the Northern Ireland golfer told the Guardian that he had been intrigued by Trump’s rise.

“I really got into it once Trump ran because I knew him a little bit but at the same time I was intrigued how a successful businessman could transition into running for the highest office in the land,” McIlroy told the publication Friday.

“It is a totally different process from the UK. He obviously came at it from a completely different angle.

“Something like this probably won’t happen again in our lifetime. I’m very attuned to it, I watch a lot of news. You can’t avoid it. I had no interest in politics until a couple of years ago; now I can’t seem to get away from it,” he said.

“I don’t really care about the policies. The whole circus, this big show is intriguing to watch.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Six Tips For Choosing The Best Mortgage Broker


If you are currently looking for a mortgage and have decided to enlist the help of a mortgage broker, then you’ve made a smart move. The next step is ensuring that you find the best mortgage broker. How do you do this? Gather as much information as possible and ask important questions. Here are some key things you should know about the broker, as well as the ways in which you can find this information.



    Judge by Experience


    The mortgage brokerage industry does have a fairly high turnover rate, so it is important to know how long the broker has been in business. This helps to determine if the mortgage broker is a seasoned professional who has been through hard and good times, as opposed to a newbie who has just come in.

    Ask About Mode of Compensation


    Brokers are generally compensated in two ways: fees and yield spread premiums. Fees are a percentage of the loan amount, while yield spread premiums are direct compensation for signing the borrower up for a higher interest rate than what they would have otherwise opted for. While the latter may be a bit controversial, they are actually suitable for borrowers who cannot afford the upfront costs associated with the loan. If you can’t pay upfront, then you pay over time. Ask the broker about yield spread premiums before signing anything.

    Ask About Rate Locks


    Rate locks are a way for some brokers to speculate on the rise and fall of interest rates—often at the borrower’s expense. Ask the broker about rate locks and how they handle them. However, to prevent the broker from doing any kind of speculation, it is best to get something in writing.

    Ask for References

    Ask your broker for references. If he/she has satisfied clients, then it’s best to ask them directly, and they will give you honest answers.

    Surf the Internet

    Do some background checking on the mortgage brokers. See what their credentials are and whether they are licensed and listed. There should be an online directory for registered brokers.

    Interview At Least Three Brokers


    You should have a shortlist of at least three mortgage brokers before deciding on the best one. Compare them and see which one you feel most comfortable with.

Deciding on a mortgage broker can be a detailed process, but making the effort could save you thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in the long run. If you are in search of a mortgage broker, then contact us today. Our specialists can help you find the best mortgage for you, and we will be more than happy to answer all your questions.

source:  northwoodmortgage.com



Thursday

Samsung Galaxy S8 rumored to have 6-inch screen


Evan “Evleaks” Blass has done it again. As Samsung tries to keep the lid tight on its upcoming flagship smartphone, a mostly complete spec sheet has been leaked by the prominent phone leaker.


Engadget reports that while the leaked spec sheet is still very much in rumor territory, Blass has had a good track record so far. That said, it’s interesting to see that the Galaxy S8+ will be getting a very large 6.2-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display. That is just 0.1mm shy of Lenovo’s 6.3-inch monster-of-a-phone, the Phab2. It’s even larger than the retired Galaxy Note 7.

Unlike the Phab2, the supposed Galaxy S8+ might actually be a lot smaller, thanks to Samsung’s super slim bezel design. After all, previous reports stated that Samsung is not quite done with the Note line and a phablet-sized flagship phone would essentially render any Note device in the future redundant.

The rest of the items listed on the spec sheet are hardly attention grabbers. An iris scanner, LTE connectivity, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, and a 12-megapixel rear camera are all fairly standard for high-end devices.

Since Samsung won’t be launching the Galaxy S8 at the Mobile World Congress next week, we’ll just have to wait and see what innovations and gimmicks they will come up with to differentiate their device from the crop of flagship phones fresh from the congress. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Wednesday

Brady’s missing Super Bowl jersey valued at $500K


Tom Brady’s missing jersey from Super Bowl 51, where the star quarterback led the New England Patriots over Atlanta for a record fifth crown, has been valued at $500,000 by Houston police.

Website TMZ posted a copy of the police report regarding the theft of the jersey, which has been classified as a first-degree felony.

The number 12 Patriots jersey went missing in the aftermath of New England’s 34-28 over-time triumph over the Falcons at Houston’s NRG Stadium. Brady said he had stashed the prized souvenir in his bag and left it in the locker room.

“I put it in the bag and I came out and it wasn’t there anymore,” Brady said the morning after the victory. “It’s unfortunate because that’s a nice piece of memorabilia.

“If it shows up on eBay somewhere, someone let me know so I can track that down.”

Brady completed 43 of 62 throws for 466 yards — all Super Bowl passing records — and two touchdowns and guided New England from a 28-3 deficit in the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history.

The 39-year-old husband of model Gisele Bundchen became the only quarterback to win five Super Bowls.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Tuesday

Flood warnings issued amid heavy rain in California


SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Forecasters issued flash flood warnings Monday throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern California as downpours swelled creeks and rivers in the already soggy region.

The National Weather Service said heavy rain could persist into the evening and was expected to cause flooding on the Carmel River in Monterey County and Coyote Creek in Santa Clara County.

In the San Joaquin Valley, residents were patrolling levees for signs of danger, reviewing evacuation plans and filling hundreds of sand bags as the San Joaquin River kept rising.

“Our community is pulling together like real champs,” said San Joaquin River Club resident Paula Martin, who is helping coordinate emergency plans for the private neighborhood of 800 homes.

Martin said the neighborhood has sirens in a clubhouse and church that can warn residents of impending flooding.




The weather service issued snow and wind advisories, including a flash flood warning for the Soberanes burn area in Monterey County. It said winds could reach 60 mph in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Santa Cruz County had seen 2.8 inches of rain in 24 hours and could see up to 8 inches before the storm passes Tuesday. Marin County got 2.3 inches of rain while close to an inch fell in San Francisco.

Forecasters said rainfall in San Francisco has already surpassed the normal annual amount for the wet season that begins in October.

The city has logged 24.50 inches of rain since Oct. 1, said forecaster Bob Benjamin. The average rainfall for the year ending Sept. 30 is 23.65 inches.

A pre-evacuation advisory was issued for a community in Madera County after water discharges from Bass Lake were increased and threatened to swell rivers, officials said.

The Fresno Bee reported (http://bit.ly/2m5S8NG) that the order was issued for several roads near downtown North Fork, about 10 miles from the lake.

The sheriff’s office said residents should be ready to leave quickly if conditions worsen.

In the mountains, the weather service forecast heavy snow in the Lake Tahoe area with a high avalanche danger until Tuesday in an area of the Sierra Nevada from Yuba Pass to Ebbetts Pass.

Forecasters say the winter storm could drop up to 5 feet of snow in areas above 7,500 feet while lower elevations could see between 8 and 24 inches of snow.

Forecasters advised motorists to avoid travel in the area through Tuesday.

Moderate to heavy rain along with snowmelt below 7,000 feet was expected to swell rivers and streams and increase the chance of flooding.

The San Joaquin River was approaching the top of levees and could remain at that level for four days, said Tim Daly, a spokesman with the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services.

“When the water gets that high and more water is coming, there is just too much pressure and levees can break,” Daly said. “They can be topped.”

The Don Pedro reservoir, which captures water from the Tuolumne River, a key tributary of the San Joaquin, was at 97 percent capacity.

The weather service also issued flash flood warnings for the North Bay and Monterey areas as well as south-central Alameda County and southeastern Santa Clara County.

In Alameda County, the weather service reported gauges on Alameda Creek were showing that rapidly rising water levels have surpassed local flood stages in Niles Canyon and a watershed above Sunol Regional Wilderness.




For the first time in more than 10 years, water flowed into  Lake Berryessa’s unique spillway.

The Monticello Dam Morning Glory Spillway, also known as the Glory Hole, operates similarly to a bathtub drain for the northern California lake.

The last time it spilled over was in 2006.

Elsewhere, the water level kept falling at Oroville Dam, where a damaged spillway had raised major flood concerns and prompted the evacuation of 188,000 people a week ago. CBB

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net





Monday

Great expectations: Indians eye World Series title after ’16 run


GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Above the small cactuses and flowering plants dotting the concrete-blocked plaza outside the doorway to Cleveland’s training complex is a new sign that serves as both a reminder and motivator.

“American League Champions 2016,” it says.

The Indians have some unfinished business.


One swing away from beating the Chicago Cubs in an epic World Series last year, the Indians, who pumped up their payroll to nearly $130 million by winning baseball’s offseason with the surprise signing of free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion this winter, have their sights set on a return to the postseason — and this time winning it all.

“Everyone is very proud of what we accomplished last year, but everybody wants that one more run,” Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said Sunday. “Everybody wants to get back. We finally got a taste of that fruit, and we want to be there and we want to stay there.”

With one of baseball’s best starting rotations, deepest bullpens and a lineup counting on the return of All-Star Michael Brantley from injury, the Indians, who lost 94 games in 2012, are positioned to make another run at ending a World Series title drought stretching to 1948 — now the majors’ longest.

Cleveland has vaulted from powderpuff to powerhouse.

The Indians are determined to erase the memory of last year’s Series when they gave away a 3-1 lead to the Cubs, who completed their comeback by winning an unforgettable Game 7 on Nov. 2 in extra innings. Chicago’s victory not only triggered a celebration on the soggy grass in Progressive Field, but a national outpouring of affection for the lovable Cubbies and their fans, who waited 108 years to sip championship champagne.

There was obvious heartache in Cleveland. But also hope.

By going so far in the postseason despite not having Brantley, missing starters Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar and losing starter Trevor Bauer in the AL Championship Series when he sliced open his right pinkie while repairing a drone at home, the Indians showed resiliency, confidence and a glimpse of their potential.

They were one step away, and this year the Indians are better prepared to take it.

Kipnis pointed to the Kansas City Royals, who bounced back from losing Game 7 of the World Series in 2014 to winning it the following year, as a model for the Indians.

“They knew they wanted to be right back there,” he said. “They knew what it might take or fill in the hole from what they were missing the year before and they went out and did it. We’re kind of hoping to follow that path and there are guys who now know what it takes and what they need to work on and what they need to kind of fix to get back there. It gives you that past experience that now you don’t have to ask any questions. You have that experience yourself.”

With a light rain falling and the nearby Estrella Mountains shrouded in low clouds, manager Terry Francona laid out his expectations during a team meeting on Sunday. Francona said he spent the past week stressing over how to deliver the proper message — “cutting and pasting the old-fashioned way, erasing” — as he felt he owed his players a clear outlook for 2017.

Francona wants his players to be proud of what they accomplished, but not to dwell upon the success or be satisfied. He reminded them not to cut corners or to take anything for granted.

As great as it was, last season is over.

“Our players have with their talent, and with the way they have played, people think they have a chance of doing some pretty good things,” he said. “Now you gotta go out and do it and there’s a way to do it. … if you got rewarded for last year, we would do it. Like if (baseball) said, ‘Hey, man, you went to the World Series last year, you get five extra wins.’ We’d take them. But that’s not how it’s going to be.”

The Indians were attentive while Francona spoke, and Kipnis said without being disrespectful, most off the players knew the message already.

“Guys were almost not like, ‘We know,'” he said. “But was like, ‘Hey, we know. Let’s get-this-going-kind-of-thing.’ It wasn’t like we’re too good for it by any means. It was we’re right there with you, and let’s get back to work — right now. You could get that sense around the room, and I think it’s a real good thing.”

NOTES: Francona isn’t ready to name ace Corey Kluber his opening-day starter, and said the club is “slowing” the right-hander down early in camp. Kluber pitched 215 innings during the regular season and another 34 1/3 in the postseason, making three starts on short rest. “If he’s not ready for Game 1, we can adjust,” Francona said. “We’re more than willing to, because there’s a lot at stake over the course of the year. We know opening day is a big deal, but we want him to position himself where he’s ready to log as many innings as we need.” The Indians open at Texas on April 3.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Sunday

The Difference Between Fixed Rate Mortgages And Variable Rate Mortgages

One of the first questions that homebuyers ask when taking out a loan is: Should I get a fixed rate mortgage or variable rate mortgage? It’s not something that should be taken lightly, because the difference between the two loans could translate into thousands of dollars over time. One is not necessarily better than the other. The one you eventually choose will depend on your personal taste, financial situation, and the prevailing economic climate.


Fixed Rate Mortgages

Fixed mortgage rates are as the name implies: fixed. The interest that is established when the loan is first taken out is the interest you will pay for the duration of the loan. This is regardless of the prime interest rate, which could be higher or lower than what you are paying on your mortgage.

Advantages: Fixed rate mortgages are a good choice for those who are seeking peace of mind when it comes to their finances. If your income is fairly stable and predictable in the near (and perhaps long-term) future, then you can afford the luxury of knowing that regardless of what happens, your rate won’t change.

Disadvantages: The major disadvantage is that you cannot take advantage of low interest rates and may very well end up paying more than you would if you had taken a variable rate mortgage.

Variable Rate Mortgages


Variable rate mortgages, on the other hand, are not fixed. The interest rates fluctuate according to economic conditions, and this could be above or below what you would be paying on a fixed mortgage. Variable rates do carry an element of risk, but they can be worthwhile if interest rates dip for a prolonged period of time.

Advantages: If interest rates are set to fall in the coming months, then you would be much better off with a variable interest rate. It is good for those who have an appetite for risk and are in a position to pay the current rate in anticipation that it will drop in the coming months. Historically, variable rates have proven to be less expensive over time, but you need to be able to see things from a long-term perspective.

Disadvantages: Rates can go up instead of down, and if you aren’t prepared for the challenges that come with this, then you could be in a difficult position.

You should go over your financial situation as well as the prevailing economic conditions with a qualified financial advisor. At Northwood Mortgage, our agents will be happy to help you make the best decisions in light of your situation.

source:  northwoodmortgage.com

Saturday

Canada fentanyl abuse crisis leads to more organ transplants


OTTAWA, Canada – A surge in the number of overdose deaths in Canada has led to more organs being available for transplant, an official at the epicenter of the opioid crisis said Friday.

“We’ve seen more organs available for transplant and a proportion of those have been due to drug overdoses,” David Landsberg, British Columbia medical director of transplant services, said in a telephone interview with AFP.

Canada is in the grips of a deadly spike in fentanyl abuse. Highly potent and addictive, the analgesic is estimated to be up to 100 times stronger than morphine.

Two milligrams of pure fentanyl — the size of about four grains of salt — is enough to kill the average adult.

The government announced Friday a Can$75 million ($57.3 million) package to combat overdose deaths linked to fentanyl and try to curb abuse for its heroin-like effect.

The uptick in both fentanyl overdose deaths and transplants began in late 2016.

From the beginning of this year to February 15, there have been 59 organs from 20 donors used in transplants, according to figures provided by BC Transplant.

That is up from 37 organs from 10 donors transplanted in the same period in 2016.

One quarter of the organs transplanted this year came from people who died of a fentanyl overdose, said Landsberg.

The coroner in westernmost British Columbia, which has been hardest hit by Canada’s opioid crisis, reported 914 “apparent illicit drug overdose deaths” in 2016 — a 79.2 percent year-over-year increase.

Fentanyl-related deaths accounted for two-thirds of the total, it said.

The trend so far this year has not abated, with 116 overdose deaths reported in January.

Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott earlier announced Can$65 million to combat the opioid crisis, plus another Can$10 million to bolster British Columbia emergency services.

Last year, faced with soaring fentanyl overdose deaths, the federal government cracked down on imports of fentanyl and its precursors, distributed thousands of naloxone kits and removed legal hurdles to opening new supervised injection sites.

The first new sites in more than a decade — also called drug consumption rooms — were approved earlier this month in Montreal. Until now, Vancouver had the only safe injection site on the continent.

‘Mixed blessing’

At Saint Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver, Landsberg said he deals “firsthand” with both tragic overdose deaths and life-giving transplants.

“I’m ambivalent about it,” he said after a pause. “It’s a mixed blessing.”

“I’d like to see the end of the fentanyl epidemic but I’d also like to see the many people on donor waiting list get help.”

Overdose victims are treated the same as any other potential donor, according to officials. They may already be a registered organ donor, and if not, physicians may ask their family for consent.

An overdose victim could only be an organ donor if after resuscitation their organs are healthy, but there is significant brain trauma or death.

“At this point, further care is futile so doctors would urge withdrawal of life support… and look at possible organ donation after death,” Landsberg explained.

Drugs would typically have cleared the donor’s system by the time organs are removed for transplant.

However, there is a heightened concern about the possible transmission of infectious diseases, as drug addicts are considered to be at a higher risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis or other diseases, for example, if they share needles to inject drugs.

“We are worried about these high-risk behaviors, so we are meticulous in screening (organs) for infectious diseases,” Landsberg said, adding that the risk of transmission through organ transplant is “low.”

“We discuss that in detail with the (organ) recipient and only go ahead with their approval,” he said.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Friday

Zuckerberg writes Facebook ‘manifesto’


SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday offered a vision for the social network as a force in building a “global community,” as more people become disillusioned with troubled political institutions.

In a wide-ranging post of nearly 6,000 words, Zuckerberg said Facebook can play a role in bringing people together as they face fractious politics and anti-globalization sentiment.

The essay — released without warning and instantly called a “manifesto” by pundits — offered a detailed, idealistic vision of the role of the world’s biggest social network, going well beyond Zuckerberg’s frequent comments on “connecting the world.”

“In times like these, the most important thing we at Facebook can do is develop the social infrastructure to give people the power to build a global community that works for all of us,” he wrote.

The post on his Facebook page, titled “Building Global Community,” said the social network with some 1.8 billion members should play a role in improving people’s lives.

“Today I want to focus on the most important question of all: are we building the world we all want?” he said.

“Facebook stands for bringing us closer together and building a global community. When we began, this idea was not controversial… Yet now, across the world there are people left behind by globalization, and movements for withdrawing from global connection.”

Zuckerberg said people around the world face threats that are becoming “increasingly global,” like terrorism, natural disasters, disease, refugee crises, and climate change, which “need coordinated responses from a worldwide vantage point.”

He added that non-government organizations have done little to address these problems on a global scale and said that he has “directed Facebook to invest more and more resources into serving this need.”

“My hope is that more of us will commit our energy to building the long term social infrastructure to bring humanity together,” Zuckerberg wrote.

“The answers to these questions won’t all come from Facebook, but I believe we can play a role.”

Zuckerberg, who in recent months has been taking a more active role in civic affairs, announced in 2015 that he and his wife Priscilla Chan would donate 99 percent of their Facebook wealth — an estimated $45 billion — to philanthropic causes.

Last year, the Chan-Zuckerberg initiative pledged to donate $3 billion over the next decade to research efforts to help banish or manage all disease. CBB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Thursday

Facebook job ads now available for company pages


LinkedIn has been the social media platform of the corporate world for the longest time, but that may soon be challenged. Facebook is looking to change the status quo.

Facebook’s users will now be able to find help-wanted posts at the social media network’s business pages, or by looking into a new “jobs” bookmark on its mobile application.

“Businesses and people already use Facebook to fill and find jobs, so we’re rolling out new features that allow job posting and application directly on Facebook,” the California-based internet giant said in an online message.

Job postings may appear in news feed streams if companies pay to promote them.

Clicking on an “apply now” button will open an online form already filled out with relevant information from a person’s Facebook profile, according to the social network.

Applicants will then be able to add, edit and review forms before submitting them, according to Facebook.

Company representatives managing business pages at Facebook will be able to examine applications, then contact potential candidates using the Messenger text communication service.

Facebook said it tested the new tools in the United States and will be rolling them out more broadly in Canada in the coming weeks.

Microsoft recently reported a rise in profits over the past quarter, showing gains in cloud computing and other new areas of focus, as it absorbed the LinkedIn social network.

The U.S. tech giant, which is shifting away from dependence on software to a broader array of services, said the LinkedIn acquisition boosted its revenue in the last three months of the year, but dragged on profit.

Microsoft also owns a small piece of Facebook due to an investment in the social network about a decade ago.

This “jobs” feature was initially made known late last year during its testing phase. Now that its finally out of the oven, its rivalry with LinkedIn has officially started. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Wednesday

Carlos Santana on Grammys: Adele a singer, Beyonce a ‘model’


Carlos Santana offered his candid opinion about why Adele, and not BeyoncĂ©, deserved to win “Album of the Year” at the recently concluded 59th Annual Grammy Awards.

In an interview with the Australian Associated Press, the legendary band guitarist said that BeyoncĂ©, contrary to what “BeyHives” believed, wasn’t a “real” singer.

“I think that Adele won because she can sing, sing,” he said. Also, he tried to weigh in on both singers and their divergent ways of performing. “With all respect to our sister BeyoncĂ©…BeyoncĂ© is very beautiful to look at and it’s more like modeling kind of music—music to model a dress—she’s not a singer, singer, with all respect to her,” he explained.

“Adele can sing, sing. She doesn’t bring all the dancers and props, she can just stand there and she just stood there and sang the song and that’s it, and this is why she wins.”

Many “BeyHives,” or fans of the “All Night” songstress, lashed out at Santana online, reasoning that BeyoncĂ© pulled off a great show despite her pregnancy with twins.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Tuesday in the US), Santana, 67, clarified his remarks that were taken “out of context.”

“I would like to clarify a comment that was reported when I was doing an interview for some upcoming shows in Australia and New Zealand,” he wrote. “My intent was to congratulate Adele on her amazing night at the Grammys. My comment about Beyonce was regretfully taken out of context. I have the utmost respect for her as an artist and a person. She deserves all the accolades that come her way. I wish Beyonce and her family all the best.”

Santana and Beyoncé, 35, shared a pre-game number during the SuperBowl event in 2003.

Meanwhile, Adele dedicated her victory speech to BeyoncĂ©, whom she believed should have won Album of the Year for “Lemonade.”  Gianna Francesca Catolico / RA

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Facebook pushes video onto TV screens with new apps


SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Facebook on Tuesday announced it was rolling out apps to allow people to view videos posted on the social network on connected televisions.

The new apps — for Apple TV, Amazon’s Fire TV and Samsung Smart TV — will provide a more convenient way for users of the social network to view videos on a large screen.

The move could be a small step toward what some reports say is a more ambitious video plan by Facebook to compete with Google-owned YouTube or even with streaming services such as Netflix.

For now, the apps will simply make it easier to view and share user-generated video.

“Last year we rolled out the ability for you to stream videos from Facebook to your TV, and today’s announcement expands this capability,” said a blog post from product manager Dana Sittler and engineering manager Alex Li.

“With the app, you can watch videos shared by friends or pages you follow, top live videos from around the world, and recommended videos based on your interests.”

Facebook said it expects the applications to roll our “soon” for users of Apple, Amazon and Samsung, with additional platforms likely to be added.

Facebook also said it was modifying video playback for users, with sound to play automatically unless users silence their devices. CBB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Tuesday

Disney drops YouTuber PewDiePie over anti-Semitic videos


Disney has expunged its connections with Felix “PewDiePie” Kjellberg, one of YouTube’s wealthy megastars, after several of his videos came into question for its anti-Semitic messages.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Maker Studios, a multi-channel branch of Disney, cut its ties with PewDiePie after his now-defunct YouTube video showed two Indian men holding a placard that read, “Death to All Jews.” PewDiePie reportedly hired the duo from freelance site Fiverr, but reasoned that he “didn’t think they’d actually do it.” Both men apologized but Fiverr barred all three of them from their services.

The 27-year-old Swedish YouTuber, who currently has 53 million YouTube subscribers, has eight other videos that have spun anti-Semitic contents since last year. Another clip he uploaded features a man dressed as Jesus Christ blurting out, “Hitler did absolutely nothing wrong.”

“Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate,” a representative of Maker Studios told the news site.

While many are disgruntled with PewDiePie’s shenanigans, he earned the kudos of neo-Nazi site The Daily Stormer, which rephrased its motto to “The world’s #1 PewDiePie fansite” last month, The Wall Street said.

In defense, PewDiePie clarified in a Tumbler post that he was not supporting hateful speech and irrational movements on the video-streaming site.

“I think it’s important to say something and I want to make one thing clear: I am in no way supporting any kind of hateful attitudes,” he said.  “I make videos for my audience. I think of the content that I create as entertainment, and not a place for any serious political commentary. I know my audience understand that and that is why they come to my channel.  Though this was not my intention, I understand that these jokes were ultimately offensive.”

He added: “As laughable as it is to believe that I might actually endorse these people, to anyone unsure on my standpoint regarding hate-based groups: No, I don’t support these people in any way.”  Gianna Francesca Catolico

source: technology.inquirer.net

Monday

Trump and Trudeau will meet face to face for the first time



OTTAWA, Ontario — The first face to face meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Trump could be the most important meeting for Canada in decades between leaders of the two neighbors.

Trudeau will be at the White House on Monday at a time many Canadians fear Trump will enact protectionist measures that could hurt their economy and worry the new president could be as combative as he was with the leaders of Mexico and Australia.

Trudeau, 45, and Trump, 70, have vastly different outlooks on the world. Trudeau is a liberal who champions global trade and has welcomed 40,000 Syrian refugees. Trump is a protectionist and his moves to restrict entry of refugees and immigrants are expected to come up Monday. But Trudeau is expected to emphasize common economic interests.

“We’re going to talk about all sorts of things we align on, like jobs and economic growth, opportunities for the middle class – the fact that millions of good jobs on both sides of our border depend on the smooth flow of goods and services across that border,” Trudeau said.

But Trudeau also said they are “going to talk about things that I’m sure we disagree on and we’ll do it in a respectful way. Canada will always stay true to the values that have made us this extraordinary country, a place of openness.”

After Trump signed the executive order pausing entries to the US from seven Muslim-majority nations, Trudeau tweeted that Canada welcomed people fleeing persecution, terrorism and war. Trudeau said “diversity is our strength.” His spokeswoman said Trudeau was looking forward discussing Canada’s immigration and refugee policy with Trump.

But Trudeau isn’t expected to poke the new president like his headstrong father, late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, did to previous presidents during the almost 16 years he was in office.

Tall and trim, Justin Trudeau channels the star power of his storied father but is less confrontational.

American relations are crucial for Canada as more than 75 percent of the country’s exports and 98 percent of its oil exports go to the US. About 18 percent of US exports go to Canada. There are fears Canada could be sideswiped if Trump targets Mexico in a re-negotiation of the North American Free Trade agreement.

But Wall Street tycoon and Trump adviser Stephen Schwarzman has said “things should go well for Canada” if the president reopens NAFTA because the northern neighbor has a balanced trade relationship with the United States. Schwarzman, who leads Trump’s economic advisory group, said other countries have large trade unbalances and markets that aren’t as open to American trade as Canada’s.

There’s no indication Trump views Canada as a problem or an economic adversary but Trump is unpredictable, said Roland Paris, a former senior foreign policy to Trudeau. Paris called it a very important moment in U.S.-Canada relations and said he’s cautiously optimistic the two will can have a constructive relationship focused on increasing economic ties.

“Canadians expect their prime minister to do two things: uphold Canadian values and to have an effective constructive relationship with the president of the United States. That’s a balancing act and it’s not necessarily going to be easy,” Paris said.

Canada has not been the subject of a Trump tweet but fears remain about Trump’s impulsiveness.

“We’re dealing with someone who has abused the Mexican president and the Australian prime minister,” said Robert Bothwell, a professor at the University of Toronto.

Bothwell said Trudeau should avoid confrontation considering the stakes and how delicate the situation is.

“Most American presidents have been pretty level headed. You have to go back to the monarchs of the Middle Ages or Roman Emperors. How does Nero feel today? Is his stomach acting up? What does the emperor decree?” Bothwell said. “We’re back in the Roman empire. We haven’t had anything like this.” –Rob Gillies

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Adele sweeps Grammys Awards with 5 wins, while Bowie wins 4


LOS ANGELES, United States — Even though Adele flubbed during her live performance at the Grammys, she walked away the belle of the ball: She took home five awards Sunday night, including album, record and song of the year.

She beat Beyonce in the top three categories with her comeback album “25,” and repeated her accomplishments from 2012, when the British star also won album, song and record of the year at the Grammys.

She used her speech to honor Beyonce and her groundbreaking “Lemonade” album, which was also nominated.

“The way you make my friends feel, the way you make my black friends feel is empowering,” Adele said at the Staples Center in Los Angeles when accepting album of the year.

“I adore you. You move my soul everyday … I adore you and I want you to be my mommy,” Adele said to a very pregnant Beyonce just minutes before picking up song of the year for “Hello.”

The night for Adele wasn’t all good though:  The singer, who had trouble with her live performance at last year’s Grammys, asked to restart her tribute to George Michael, telling the audience: “I can’t mess this up for him.” She stopped and used an expletive after singing some of a new arrangement of Michael’s “Fastlove,” as videos and photos of Michael played in the background. She re-sang the song and earned applause and support from the crowd, though Adele was teary eyed.

Michael died on Christmas Day. At last year’s show, the British singer had a hiccup after a microphone inside a piano fell onto the instrument’s strings.

A number of other icons were honored, including Prince: Bruno Mars — rocking a glittery, Prince-like purple blazer, worked the guitar like a pro while singing the icon’s “Let’s Go Crazy.” The Time — who worked closely with the Prince — brought the audience to its feet with funky performances of “Jungle Love” and “The Bird.”

“Make some noise for Prince y’all,” Mars yelled.

Mars was also a winner Sunday — he won for his producing work on Adele’s album. Adele’s other wins included best pop vocal album and pop solo performance.

Until Adele’s abrupt restart, Beyonce was the talk of the show. In glittery gown, gilded crown and gold choker, a pregnant Beyonce took the Grammy stage in a lengthy performance of two songs from her critically acclaimed album “Lemonade.” She was introduced by her mother and former stylist, Tina Knowles: “Ladies and gentlemen, with my mother’s pride, my daughter, Beyonce.”

Beyonce sang on top of a long table, even leaning back on a chair while singing “Love Drought.” She later sang “Sandcastles” while sitting down in a chair that tilted alarmingly backward, hitting high notes.

She earned a loud applause from the audience, including daughter Blue Ivy and husband Jay Z. Beyonce, who walked into the show with nine nominations, won two: best music video (“Formation”) and urban contemporary album (“Lemonade”).

“My intention for the film and album is to create a body of work that would give voice to our pain, our struggles, our doubts, and our history, to confront issues that make us uncomfortable. It’s important to me to show images to my children that reflect their beauty, so they can grow in a world, where they look in the mirror, first with their own families as well as in the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the White House and the Grammys and see themselves,” said Beyonce, reading from a card. “This is something that I want for every child of every race, and I feel that it’s vital that we learn from the past and recognize our tendencies to repeat our mistakes.”

Beyonce’s speech wasn’t the only political moment: A Tribe Called Quest, along with Anderson .Paak and Busta Rhymes, gave a rousing performance and shouted “resist, resist” at their end of the performance, which featured a number of people onstage, including women in hijabs.

David Bowie, who died last year from cancer, won all four awards he was nominated for. “Blackstar,” his final album released days after he died, won best alternative music album and engineered album, non-classical (Bowie is listed as one of the engineers on “Blackstar.”) In the latter category, he beat out Prince, who also died last year.

The title track won best rock song and rock performance.

Adele and Mars worked overtime onstage, performing twice. Adele kicked off the show with “Hello” and Mars and his groovy band gave a memorable performance of “That’s What I Like” — as Jennifer Lopez, Faith Hill, Rihanna and even some of the men in the audience watched closely, looking impressed.

Chance the Rapper won the first award in the live telecast for best new artist. He also won best rap album — the first streaming-only album to do so — and bested Drake and Kanye West.

“I didn’t think we were gonna get this one,” said Chance, who also won best rap performance.

Twenty one pilots won best pop duo/group performance for the hit “Stressed Out.” They removed their pants when accepting the award in homage to their earlier days when they watched the Grammys at home in their boxers.

In the pre-telecast, Beyonce’s younger sister, critical R&B darling Solange, won her first Grammy for best R&B performance (it was her first-ever nomination). Drake, who didn’t attend the live show, won best rap song and rap/sung performance for the smash hit, “Hotline Bling.”

Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” — which is nominated for an Oscar — won best song written for visual media. Best new artist nominees The Chainsmokers won best dance recording for the pop hit “Don’t Let Me Down,” while Simpson, an album of the year nominee, won best country album for “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth.”

The country music rebel thanked his wife, who he said told him to quit his job on the railroad years ago and move to Nashville.

Joey + Rory won best roots gospel album for “Hymns,” and Rory Feek was emotional onstage as he remembered his wife Joey, who died last year from cancer.

Some actors won Grammys, too: Don Cheadle picked up best compilation soundtrack for visual media for “Miles Ahead,” where he is credited as a compilation producer, and Carol Burnett won the best spoken word album Grammy.

“The Color Purple” won best musical theater album, giving Jennifer Hudson her second Grammy and earning Tony winner Cynthia Erivo and “Orange Is the New Black” actress Danielle Brooks their first Grammys. CBB

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Beyonce vs. Adele at music’s biggest night


LOS ANGELES, United States — The music world gathers Sunday for the Grammys with the top awards a choice between a new, edgier Beyonce and the time-tested heartache ballads of Adele.

The televised bash from Los Angeles, which kicks off at 5 pm (0100 GMT Monday), could also have political fireworks as many artists are outspoken critics of US President Donald Trump.

But the enduring picture from the Grammys may turn out to be Beyonce, who is expected to make her first public appearance since revealing that she is pregnant with twins.

Beyonce leads the Grammys with nine nominations and could win the most prestigious awards for the first time — Album of the Year for “Lemonade” and Record of the Year for her song “Formation.”

“Lemonade,” which Beyonce intertwined with a film, marked a new direction for the pop superstar as she dabbled in hip-hop, hard rock and even country.

“Formation” was the most politically upfront song of Beyonce’s career with a video rallying behind the Black Lives Matter movement, including an image of police officers surrendering as if under arrest.

Throughout “Lemonade,” Beyonce directed herself to an audience of fellow African American women with themes of resilience. In the film, she strongly suggested that her husband, rapper Jay Z, had been unfaithful but Beyonce by the end forgave him.

Beyonce faces competition in the main categories from Adele, who proved her enduring, massive commercial popularity by sticking to her style of wrenching ballads.

Return to stage for Adele


The English singer is nominated for her ubiquitous song “Hello” and her album “25,” which has been the world’s top-seller since her “21,” which also triumphed at the Grammys.

Adele is scheduled to sing at the Grammys — a year after her performance was marred by a falling microphone, which hit the piano and caused her voice to veer jarringly out of tune.

Other artists who stand a chance to win the most Grammys include Toronto rapper Drake, R&B superstar Rihanna and the hip-hop celebrity fixture Kanye West.

Drake has been nominated for “Views,” his blockbuster collection of dance-ready tracks, and for “Work,” his lusty collaboration with Rihanna.

Dark horses for Album of the Year include “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” by Sturgill Simpson, who has given some intellectual heft to country music through lyricism inspired by Buddhist philosophy.

Justin Bieber was nominated for “Purpose,” in a surprise nod for the Canadian singer often more associated with tabloid exploits.

Chance the Rapper, 23, is a favorite to win Best New Artist amid acclaim for his gospel-infused hip-hop. The Chicago artist benefited from updated rules that consider streaming exclusives.

Tributes to late stars


The Grammys will feature tributes to two pop icons who died in the past year — Prince and George Michael.

The performance is expected to herald the arrival of Prince, who battled the music industry for much of his career, to major streaming services following deals with his estate.

Katy Perry, back from a short hiatus in which she recorded new music, will use the global television platform to perform “Chained to the Rhythm,” her retro disco-inspired new single.

Perry — who with 95 million followers is the most popular person on Twitter — released the song Friday after a unique social media campaign in which she sent fans around the world hunting for disco balls that held recordings of the single.

The show will also see the return of Daft Punk, the reclusive, robot-clad French electronic duo that has not performed in public since the Grammys in 2014.

Daft Punk will play with R&B sensation The Weeknd, whose music the duo recently produced. Daft Punk kicked off the weekend by opening a pop-up store in Los Angeles, although the duo has been characteristically tight-lipped on whether it plans more music or touring.

Lady Gaga — who a week ago put on a riveting performance before more than 117 million television viewers at the Super Bowl halftime show — is set for one of the more unlikely Grammy collaborations as she takes the stage with Metallica.

Gaga and Perry were among the most outspoken celebrity backers of Hillary Clinton in her campaign against Trump, raising the prospect of political statements at the Grammys.

But Gaga only addressed politics subtly at the Super Bowl as she championed a message of inclusion. CBB

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Sunday

Till debt do us part


How far will a budget of P500,000 go when planning a wedding?

Not very far, said Kitten Zapata, editor in chief of Wedding Essentials Magazine, a quarterly rag for the B and C market that keeps tab of local wedding suppliers.

It’s “good enough,” said Zapata, and will cover the reception venue, the use of lights and sound, some alcoholic beverages, food for 100 to 150 guests and maybe a photo booth.

But scratch the wedding gown and the bridesmaids’ outfit, the groom’s suit or barong, and the services of the photographer, videographer, hair stylist, makeup artist and florist. Forget about the wedding rings and the fee for use of the church. They cost extra.

The usual rate for a church without airconditioning is about P15,000 for a 1½-hour service. For grander churches inside gated villages, expect to shell out as much as P30,000, and an optional cash gift for the officiating priest. You also need to book the church at least a year in advance because of high demand.

“Of course, you can get married with a P200,000 budget, but that’s bare bones,” Zapata said. “It just doesn’t compare to a P4-million wedding, which seems to be the goal of many young couples these days,” she added.

A custom wedding dress by a designer who has yet to make a name starts at P100,000, while the rates for an in-demand videographer-photographer can be as much as P250,000, with add-on costs for a camera drone, same-day edit (with footage of church rites shown at the reception), the lookback video (the compilation of the couple’s childhood photos), and the prenup and postnup photo shoots.

Aspirational

Postnups, a new trend, are one-day shoots done while the couple is on honeymoon. If the scenic locale is abroad, the couple pays for the photographer’s airfare and accommodations, said Zapata.

“Weddings are highly aspirational among the younger set,” she added. “They have a dream wedding in mind so they really save and go all out. They consider it a once in a lifetime (experience), so they want the best. They’d rather put the wedding off if they’re not yet financially ready.”

Zapata, however, noted that it’s not unusual for Filipino parents to still foot the bill. “But unlike the previous generation, these millennials have a say on the matter even if they’re not the ones paying.”

A wedding’s cost can vary depending on the priorities of the couple. If the bride doesn’t mind wearing a ready-to-wear gown, she could shell out as little as P35,000 for a local brand, or up to P70,000, the base price of an international RTW label. Conversely, she could splurge on a custom designer dress starting at P200,000, and have her entourage’s gowns made by an unknown designer or seamstress.

It’s the extras that can be quite a burden on a couple’s budget, said Zapata. Makeup artists can charge rates starting at P25,000 (for the bride plus one), up to P40,000 for top-tier professionals.

Reception venues or hotels often include the bridal car in the package they offer, while churches usually take charge of the basic dĂ©cor. But if the couple wants to hire an event stylist, that’s easily P50,000 more. Wedding planners or coordinators meanwhile charge from P30,000 for the basic one-day service (covering the church rites and reception venue). The rates of more popular wedding planners start at P60,000 for a similar package.

Popular florists charge around P35,000, a rate that could include bouquets for an entourage of 12 to 14. If the bride wants imported flowers like tulips, Ecuadorian roses or peonies, set aside an additional P20,000.

Musicians also cost extra, while a popular event host will charge from P30,000 to P35,000. “That’s why couples on a tight budget just ask friends or relatives to emcee the event,” Zapata said.

Astronomical costs

But the astronomical costs of a wedding has not deterred young couples, the bridal magazine editor said, adding that “the evidence is (contrary to)” the perception that there are fewer weddings in the past few years.

In fact, Zapata added, there are more wedding suppliers than ever, with bridal fairs organized by different groups every month. “That’s just in Metro Manila. Provincial cities like Cebu have their own.” And so do some provinces that have their own regional bridal fairs.

It’s a continuously growing market, where the lower-end suppliers have maintained their rates while the higher-end ones now charge even more, said Zapata, whose magazine has kept tabs of the local bride scene these past 12 years.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Saturday

Raf Simons pays homage to America in Calvin Klein debut


NEW YORK—Raf Simons, considered one of the finest designers of his generation, made his debut for Calvin Klein on Friday, offering a tribute to America in one of the most eagerly awaited New York shows in years.

A-listers Gwyneth Paltrow, Julianne Moore and Sarah Jessica Parker, former Calvin Klein model Brooke Shields and current model Millie Bobby Brown, the 12-year-old star of Netflix hit “Stranger Things,” were the guests of honor.

Other guests were film director Sofia Coppola and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour at the label’s Garment District headquarters, which reportedly archives every Calvin Klein item ever designed.

The 49-year-old Belgian former creative director for Christian Dior sent out men’s and women’s wear in what the program called an homage to America, a contrast of sports chic and double-breasted suiting.

Simons, whose career has straddled Europe and America, offered an outsider’s take on the diversity that makes up the contemporary United States as part of his mission to revive the iconic New York label best known for its racy underwear ads decades ago.

There was sharp suiting, denim, bat-wing style shoes for women, cowboy boots, plastic coated outerwear and dresses finished with feathers, an array of workwear, western wear and handcrafted quilting.

From the look that shouted modern urban, to the white bandanas sent to guests to promote diversity and the closing track — David Bowie’s “This Is Not America” — it was hard not to see shade being thrown at President Donald Trump and his administration’s assault on immigration.


Past and future

“All these different people with different styles and dress codes. It’s the future, the past, Art Deco, the city, the American West,” wrote Simons in the program notes.

“Not one era, not one thing, not one look. It is the coming together of different characters and different individuals, just like America itself. It is the unique beauty and emotion of America.”

Simons emerged at the end with Pieter Mulier, his long-term colleague and former right-hand man at Dior, before being mobbed backstage by well-wishers.

From the ceiling hung distressed fabrics and balls of wool, in a set designed by Ruby, who was born to a Dutch mother and American father, and whose work features in museums such as the Tate Modern.

Ruby has cited, among his influences, hip-hop, urban gangs, graffiti, prisons, globalization, violence, art history, as well as “American domination and decline.”

Calvin Klein last year put Simons in charge of the entire brand’s creative strategy, uniting all its clothing, underwear and jeans under one vision as it seeks to grow to $10 billion in global retail sales.

Simons, who also runs his eponymous label, was previously best known for breathing life into Dior after John Galliano was fired in 2012 following an outcry over anti-Semitic insults he made in a Paris bar.

“Not since Mr Klein himself was at the company has it been led by one creative visionary, and I am confident that this decision will drive the Calvin Klein brand and have a significant impact,” said CEO Steve Shiffman at the time.

Changing of guard
“I really liked it,” Imran Amed, founder of the London-based Business of Fashion website, told Agence France-Presse after the show.

“It’s quite a departure. When you change creative directors, part of the reason you do that is to get a new energy, a new direction, and I think they very successfully achieved that,” he added.

“That he dared to try to live up to the founder’s legacy and say something bigger and more visceral with his clothes — could make all the difference,” wrote New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman.

Here are other highlights of fashion week day two:

— Oday Shankar, a red carpet designer with Iraqi roots, presented typically elegant evening wear in an personal show that he said was inspired by overcoming difficulties in life and “creating something beautiful.”

There were his trademark billowing, two-tone gowns and pleated skirts, and sequined tweed that glittered and hugged the figure.

— Retailer Kate Spade invited guests to sip mimosas and nibble blinis with caviar at The Russian Tea Room in tribute to 1920s Paris and “heroines who defy expectations.”

Models sashayed on a leopard print platform to the sound of a waltz. It was a very feminine collection with lots of red and poppies, with a stand-out purse in the shape of a chocolate cake with cherries on top.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Trump warns Iran president he ‘better be careful’


WASHINGTON—Donald Trump dialed up the rhetoric against Iran on Friday, warning the country’s president he “better be careful” about his words.

The war-of-words between Tehran and Washington escalated as President Hassan Rouhani and Trump traded threats and warnings.

Rouhani told a crowd of hundreds of thousands marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution that “the Iranian people must be spoken to with respect.”

“Iranians will make those using threatening language against this nation regret it,” he said.

“Anyone threatening Iran’s government and armed forces should know that our nation is vigilant.”

Trump was asked about the remarks later, responding that “he better be careful.”

The US president has toughened the rhetoric against Iran considerably since coming to office.

He has also introduced sanctions after an Iranian missile test.

Many in Trump’s inner circle want to see a harder line against Tehran, but have so far shied away from killing a deal that saw Iran get sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear program.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Friday

White House adviser ‘counseled’ after brand promotion


NEW YORK — The White House has “counseled” a top aide to President Donald Trump after she promoted Ivanka Trump’s fashion line during a national cable television appearance from the White House.

But House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz says that’s not enough, calling what Kellyanne Conway did “wrong, wrong, wrong, clearly over the line, unacceptable.”

The Utah Republican congressman said he will join with Democratic Oversight Leader Elijah Cummings to ask the Office of Government Ethics to review the matter. Chaffetz also said he will write a formal letter to the White House lodging his irritation.

He said White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s remark that Conway has been “counseled” doesn’t go far enough.

“It needs to be dealt with,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press. “There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it.”

The ethics dustup began Wednesday with the president himself.

Reacting to news that a department store had dropped his daughter’s line of clothing and accessories, Trump tweeted — and retweeted from the official presidential account — that Ivanka Trump had been treated “so unfairly by @Nordstrom.”

Ivanka Trump does not have a specific role in the White House but moved to Washington with her husband, Jared Kushner, who is one of Trump’s closest advisers. She followed her father’s approach on business ties by handing over operating control of her fashion company but retaining ownership of it.

In a Thursday morning interview with Fox News from the White House briefing room, Conway urged people to “go buy Ivanka’s stuff,” boasting that she was giving the brand “a free commercial here.”

While Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are not subject to ethical regulations and laws for federal employees, Conway, who is a counselor to the president, is. Among the rules: An employee shall not use his or her office “for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise.”

“For whatever reason, the White House staff evidently believes that they are protected from the law the same way the president and vice president are,” said Stuart Gilman, a former special assistant to the director of Office of Government Ethics.

He called the Conway comments “incredible,” adding that they risk wrecking the US reputation around the world as a model for government employee ethics.

In addition to the House Oversight Committee, two liberal-funded government watchdogs pounced on Conway’s comments, filing ethics violation complaints with the Office of Government Ethics, which advises and oversees federal employees on such issues but is not an enforcement agency.

“Conway’s action reflects an ongoing careless disregard of the conflicts of interest laws and regulations by some members of the Trump family and Trump administration,” said Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen. The group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington also lodged a complaint.

Spicer said Wednesday that Trump was responding to an “attack on his daughter” when he posted the tweet and that “he has every right to stand up for his family and applaud their business activities, their success.”

Ethics lawyers had a different interpretation. The implication, intended or not: Hurt my daughter’s business, and the Oval Office will come after you.

“This is a shot across the bow to everybody who is doing business with Trump or his family,” said Norman Eisen, who was President Barack Obama’s chief ethics counselor. “It’s warning them: Don’t withdraw their business.”

Though Trump has tweeted about companies such as Boeing, Carrier and General Motors, ethics experts say this time was different because it involved his daughter’s business, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.

Ethics experts have criticized Trump’s plan to separate himself from his sprawling real estate business by handing managerial control to his two adult sons. The experts want him to sell his company. Most modern presidents have sold their financial holdings and put the cash raised in a blind trust whose investments remained unknown to them.

Eisen joined with other legal scholars and lawyers to sue the president last month for allegedly violating a clause in the Constitution that prohibits government officials from accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments.

Trump and his top aides have repeatedly said that Americans do not care about what Eisen and other ethics critics say. “Prior to the election it was well known that I have interests in properties all over the world,” Trump wrote on Twitter Nov. 21.

Nordstrom reiterated Wednesday that its decision was based on the brand’s performance, not politics. The company said sales of Ivanka Trump items had steadily declined over the past year, particularly in the last half of 2016, “to the point where it didn’t make good business sense for us to continue with the line for now.”

Retailers drop brands all the time because of poor performance, said brand consultant Allen Adamson. But given a highly charged political environment, perception is reality for loyal Trump fans.

“It is clearly hard for Nordstrom to tell the story that it is dropping (the brand) for business reasons,” said Adamson, founder of the firm Brand Simple. –Bernard Condon and Julie Bykowicz

* * *

Associated Press writers Catherine Lucey in Washington and Anne D’Innocenzio and Matthew Ott in New York contributed to this report.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Surprising Alaves to take on Barcelona in Copa del Rey final


MADRID — There could hardly be more contrasting teams in the Copa del Rey final.

Alaves, the recently promoted club from Basque Country, will be playing in the final of a major tournament only for the second time in its 96-year history.

Barcelona, on the other hand, will be making its 39th appearance in the Copa final.

Barcelona has won virtually every possible title in the competitions it has played.

Alaves’ only winner’s trophy is for Spain’s second division.

In the final on May 27, Barcelona will field the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Neymar.

Alaves’ top forward is Deyverson, a Brazilian barely known even in his native country.

“This was unthinkable in the beginning of the season,” Alaves coach Mauricio Pellegrino said after their clinching 1-0 home win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday in the semifinals. “We’ll be mobilized for this final.”

The only other time Alaves enjoyed this kind of success was 16 years ago when it reached the final of the UEFA Cup. It lost to Liverpool 5-4 in extra time in a thriller in Dortmund.

It has mostly struggled since then, spending several years out of Spain’s top division. The club, founded in 1921, was promoted to La Liga this season after 10 years in the lower divisions, including four in the third tier.

“After 96 years, to reach the Copa final for the first time, there will be a ’before’ and an ’after’ this achievement,” Alaves president Alfonso Fernandez de Troconiz said. “It’s been an amazing season.”

Barcelona, meanwhile, has been in the Copa del Rey final in seven of the last nine seasons, including the last four. It has won it a record 28 times, including the last two.

But despite the lopsided matchup, there’s reason to believe in an historic result in the final.

Alaves stunned Barcelona 2-1 at Camp Nou in the Spanish league this season, handing the Catalan club its only home loss with goals by Deyverson and Ibai Gomez.

The teams meet again in the league on Saturday in Basque Country. Barcelona is second in the league with 18 more points than 12th-place Alaves.

Before the league loss, Barcelona had won five straight games between the two sides, including four in the Copa del Rey. It won both games in the last 16 in 2007, and cruised to a 6-1 aggregate win in the early rounds in 2012.

Barcelona has yet to lose a Copa del Rey home-and-away series since coach Luis Enrique took over in 2014, a run of 12 straight triumphs.

It made it to this year’s final by eliminating Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, and Atletico Madrid, the latter in the semifinals.

Alaves got past Deportivo La Coruna, second-division club Alcorcon, and Celta, which eliminated Real Madrid in the quarterfinals.

Barcelona is already certain to be without defender Sergi Roberto and striker Luis Suarez, who were sent off on Tuesday in the 1-1 draw against Atletico at Camp Nou. Suarez was handed a two-game suspension on Thursday for refusing to immediately leave the field after being shown the red card.

The venue for the final has yet to be determined, although it will likely be in Madrid.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez hinted on Thursday that the club’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium likely won’t be available because renovation work will be underway during the final.

Last season, officials wanted Barcelona and Sevilla to play the decider at the Bernabeu, but a Bruce Springsteen concert was scheduled for the venue and Madrid avoided having its biggest rival celebrating a title on its grounds. The final was eventually played at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon Stadium. –Tales Azzo

source: sports.inquirer.net

Mark Zuckerberg funds scientists, experiments to cure all diseases


There’s no question that tech mogul and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is one generous man.

After amassing massive amounts of wealth through his social network innovation, the 32-year-old billionaire shared his overly ambitious—and seemingly impossible—plan to one day treat and cure all diseases known to man.

Zuckerberg’s initiative seems to have taken a step further on Thursday, as reports surfaced that he has shelled out a substantial amount to dozens of scientists over the next five years, to turn his vision into reality.

Along with the aid of his wife Priscilla Chan, the couple’s Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) launched a $3 billion cheque book, in an aim “cure all disease by the end of the twenty-first century.”


According to Business Insider,  the generous stipend will be used in long-term scientific research that wouldn’t necessarily pay off straight away.

Apart from the initial donation, the CZI subgroup Chan Zuckerberg Biohub also announced an additional $50 million in funding to selected researchers.

Out of the 700 researchers who applied for the funding, 47 scientists will receive approximately $1.5 million each to carry out the necessary experiments for the next five years.

Among the primary objectives include the imaging cells, developing biochip technologies and studying the transmission of malaria, through the help of three universities—Berkley, University of Central Florida and Stanford.

“Our three university partners provide the very backbone of Biohub’s work,” the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub said in a release.

“Our investigators come from these outstanding research institutions, and their faculty will be an integral part of our day-to-day operations here at Biohub.”

The medical research organization also assured everyone that the fund will not go to waste and be given to the most qualified researchers.

“We are conducting research that helps solve big health problems. We find and support the best and brightest biologists, scientists, engineers and technologists,” the group said.

“Our culture emphasizes intellectual freedom and collaboration. We provide our team with the best scientific tools—and when the right tools don’t exist, we will invent them.”

Biohub co-president Joseph DeRisi, meanwhile, praised the Zuckerberg couple’s hands-on approach towards finding a cure to mankind’s most dreaded illnesses.

“Both Mark and Priscilla are avid consumers of science,” he was quoted as saying in the report. “They enjoy learning new things and knowing what the cutting edge of research is all about.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

Thursday

Castlevania series coming this year to Netflix


As Netflix has revealed the lineup of their 2017 shows, one show in particular should catch the attention of gamers everywhere – it involves a very famous vampire and the family of vampire hunters that is its sworn enemy.

Apart from the official announcement stating “Castlevania Season 1, Part 1 Coming to Netflix in 2017,” not much else is known officially. There are a few instances that lead to a few details regarding its inception, reports Gizmodo.

Earlier on, it was reported on an episode of Nick Animation that Adventure Time creator Frederator Networks and producer Adi Shankar, the guy behind the gritty Power Ranger short back in 2015, had been developing a then-unnamed video game project. Below is a transcript of Seibert’s words as per Slashfilm:

“We have a project right now that we’re doing that needs to go unnamed, based on one of the most world-famous video games of the last 30 years, that we’ve had in our shop for 12 years without being able to get it started. But there were great characters and a great story, and eventually we got it going.”

Adi Shankar also posted something on social media last year about a Castlevania series that he will be working on with Seibert.

Connecting all the dots together, it does seem that this upcoming Castlevania show on Netflix is the previously-alluded to Seibert-Shanker collaboration. Another report from The Globe and Mail state that Warren Ellis did the writing for the show’s first season.

As of now, everything is still under speculation, but the fact that Netflix has a Castlevania show in the pipeline for 2017 should be enough to get the fans hyped. Alfred Bayle

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Wednesday

Tornadoes slam southeast Louisiana, injuring dozens


NEW ORLEANS — Brittany Ross remembers she was savoring the smell of her aunt’s simmering white beans when the storm that injured about 40 people in southeastern Louisiana hit.

“The place started shaking, kind of twisting,” she said Tuesday as she stood amid the wreckage at a small trailer park in eastern New Orleans.

The tornado, she said, lifted the trailer off the ground and slammed it down.

Ross, 26, her aunt and two others crawled out of the wreckage amid flying debris — uninjured, but suddenly homeless.

The tornadoes that struck Ross’ home and other parts of southeastern Louisiana destroyed homes and businesses, flipped cars and trucks, and left thousands without power, but no deaths were reported, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said.

The governor took an aerial tour and made a disaster declaration before meeting with officials in New Orleans. The worst damage was in the same 9th Ward that was so heavily flooded in 2005’s Hurricane Katrina.

Edwards, a Democrat, said he was heartbroken to see some of the same people suffering again, and promised that the state will provide the affected residents with the resources they need as quickly as possible.

He said seven parishes were hit by tornadoes in an afternoon of tumultuous weather across southeastern Louisiana.

The storm ripped apart homes, toppled a gas station canopy, snapped tall power poles and flipped a food truck upside-down. It left shards of metal hanging from trees, and trapped a truck driver as power lines wrapped around his cab.

The wall of severe weather also delivered heavy rain and hail to Mississippi and Alabama.

Artie Chaney said her granddaughter had just pulled up to the house from school.

“(Hail) rocks were falling on the car, and I was looking out the side door and saw the clouds moving fast. I heard this sound. We looked up in the air and we could see debris in the distance and before we knew it, it was just barreling down on us,” Chaney recalled.

“We ran in the house; the lights went out. We ran down the hallway to the middle bedroom and then we just heard glass shattering. We thought we weren’t gonna make it. It seemed like it lasted a long time. It was a horrible experience. We were just so grateful to God that nobody was hurt.”

Chaney said, her voice breaking as she looked at the damage, “We went through all of Katrina, with no damage. I didn’t think I’d be starting over again.”

The Baton Rouge area also got hit. Ascension Parish Sheriff’s spokeswoman Allison Hudson said three people suffered minor injuries and several homes and buildings were damaged in the historic part of Donaldsonville, about 20 miles southwest of the capital.

In Killian, just east of Baton Rouge, the mayor said several houses were destroyed and several others damaged, but an elderly couple suffered the only injuries he knew of: one, a broken leg; the other, a broken arm.

“How you manage to get blown completely across the street with cinderblocks flying and no worse than a couple broken limbs — apparently the good Lord was looking after them,” Mayor Craig McGehee said.

An official at NASA’s Michoud facility in New Orleans said it suffered some structural damage but the deep-space equipment being built there does not appear to have been harmed.

Steve Doering said the hardware and tooling used in the Orion and Space Launch System projects were not damaged, but Michoud will have to make a “significant effort” to cover everything up so any subsequent bad weather doesn’t affect it while the building’s roof and walls are repaired.

Two Mississippi counties reported wind damage, but no injuries, from suspected tornadoes. Other areas of Mississippi saw heavy rain and hail from the storm system that spawned multiple tornadoes in Louisiana. –Kevin McGill

* * *

Associated Press writers Jeff Martin in Atlanta and Janet McConnaughey, Chevel Johnson, Rebecca Santana and Gerald Herbert in New Orleans contributed to this report.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net