iPhone 8 mass production may be delayed by up to two months

Apple fans may have to wait until much later this year to get their iPhone 8 fix.

A reputable Apple analyst, KGI Ming-Chi Kuo, has indicated that mass production of the iPhone 8 may be delayed by one to two months from Apple’s usual release dates, reports 9to5Mac.

KGI claims that the possible causes for delay involve production of some cutting-edge major components. These include the custom OLED display, a custom Aple A11 10-nanometer SoC (system on chip), a newly-designed 3D touch module, and 3D sensing cameras.

The delay would also leave Apple vulnerable to competition from its rivals, as more bezel-less Android devices make it to the market.  Furthermore, despite the rumors, Apple has yet to officially hint at what the iPhone 8 will actually look like.

Given the trend, it’s fairly safe to assume that it will also be a bezel-less device. It would at the very least put Apple on equal footing with Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi in that area.

KGI has indicated a pessimistic outlook on the sales of iPhone 7 models—interim updates at best that KGI believes will pale in comparison to more recently released smartphones.

Until more information gets released directly from Apple, there isn’t much else to do but wait and speculate. Who knows, the iPhone 8 might end up being worth the wait. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Ohio family surprised when Mark Zuckerberg comes to dinner

NEWTON FALLS, Ohio — An Ohio family says they learned just 20 minutes before dinner this week that a planned mystery guest would be Facebook founder and billionaire Mark Zuckerberg.

The Vindicator of Youngstown reports Zuckerberg dined Friday with the Moore family in Newton Falls, about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southeast of Cleveland. The newspaper reports Zuckerberg had asked his staff to find Democrats who voted for President Donald Trump.

Not all the dinner chat was political. Daniel Moore says he and his wife, Lisa, talked about their work with an orphanage in Uganda and that Zuckerberg says he’s now planning a fundraiser to benefit the orphans.

Zuckerberg’s project, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, says he visited Youngstown’s Eastern Gateway Community College Friday and met with people recovering from opioid addiction in Dayton Saturday. He has challenged himself to visit people in all 50 states. CBB/rga

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Barcelona’s Iniesta doubtful for Liga derby against Espanyol

MADRID — Barcelona has Neymar back from a suspension but captain Andres Iniesta is in doubt for the local derby against Espanyol this weekend in the Spanish league.

Iniesta is bothered by a right leg muscle injury, and did not practice on Friday. He was rested in the 7-1 win over Osasuna on Wednesday, three days after he played from the start in the 3-2 win in the clasico against Madrid.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said he will wait as long as possible to try and field the midfielder.

If Iniesta can’t play, his likely replacement will be Andre Gomes, who scored twice against Osasuna.

Iniesta has not been a regular starter as in previous seasons. Also, the Spain midfielder missed five games at the beginning of the season because of a left leg muscle injury.

Neymar is welcomed back after missing the last three games because of a red card in the 2-0 loss at Malaga on April 8. He served one match for the automatic suspension and two more for sarcastically applauding an assist referee after being sent off.

“He is ready to play,” Luis Enrique said of Neymar. “He will be vital for us.”

Barcelona has thrived against Espanyol, winning 11 of their last 12 games in official competitions. Espanyol’s last victory was in the 2008-09 season, 17 matches ago.

Barcelona is tied for the league lead with Real Madrid, which has a game in hand. Madrid hosts Valencia on Saturday.

Madrid, which relinquished the league lead on head-to-head tiebreaker when it lost the clasico at home, returns to Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to play a Valencia team that has lost two matches in a row and hasn’t won in three rounds.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane did not say whether he will rest some starters for the Champions League semifinal against Atletico Madrid next week. Cristiano Ronaldo and some others didn’t play on Wednesday in the 6-2 win at Deportivo La Coruna.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Spieth and Palmer share lead at team event in New Orleans

AVONDALE, Louisiana — Jordan Spieth showed off his stellar short game. Ryan Palmer contributed momentum-saving par putts. They turned out to be quite the team Thursday (Friday Manila time) in the Zurich Classic, the first official team event on the PGA Tour in 36 years.

Spieth hit a bump-and-run from 100 feet to a front pin to set up birdie on the par-5 11th, chipped in for birdie on the 14th and closed out their foursomes round with a 15-foot birdie for a 6-under 66 to share the lead with 18-year-old Ryan Ruffels and Kyle Stanley.

Nick Watney made a 60-foot eagle putt from well off the green at the par-5 18th as he and Charley Hoffman were among four teams at 67.

Even in the tough alternate-shot format, benign conditions at the TPC Louisiana allowed for good scoring with 43 of the 80 teams breaking par, and 18 teams in the 60s.

“Alternate-shot format with these conditions, anything 3 under or so was a solid score,” Spieth said. “Grab a few extra and be in pole position, it’s fantastic. We’re just going to try and have as much fun as we had today.”

The partnership of Spieth and Palmer, close friends who live in Dallas, took root late last year when Palmer’s caddie, James Edmondson, said they would have to play together if Edmondson beat Spieth in a friendly match. He got Spieth on the last hole, and Spieth decided to add the Zurich Classic to his schedule.

Spieth said his partner didn’t miss a shot over the first 10 holes, and Palmer pitched in with key putts. They hit only two of the last seven greens in regulation and still played that stretch in 3 under par.

“It’s great watching his short game,” Palmer said. “It’s one of the best in the world. And when the putter is rolling, it makes it not has hard to make those 5-footers. We both had our fair share, and we poured them in.”

Palmer made a 6-foot par putt on the 13th hole and, after Spieth chipped in on the 14th, Palmer made a 12-foot par putt on the 15th.

Ruffels, who turns 19 on Saturday, was an amateur in Australia when he played with Stanley at the Australian Masters. They got along well, are now represented by the same management firm and decided to play together in New Orleans.

Ruffels had never played foursomes until nine holes of practice on Tuesday, but it sure didn’t show. Starting on the back nine, they began the round with four straight birdies, with Stanley making three of those putts.

“We both keep it in play, and we both hit it quite long, and we gave ourselves a lot of opportunities,” Ruffels said. “So all it took was someone to start rolling a few putts in, like we both did.”

Some teams getting most of the attention didn’t fare too well.

Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson, the gold and silver medalists at the Olympics last summer in Rio, played the par 5s in 2 over and opened with a 72. Jason Day and Rickie Fowler, who have a corporate relationship with Zurich, could only manage a 71.

The cut will be made after Friday fourballs to the top 35 teams and ties. The winners will each get credit for a PGA Tour victory, just as it was in 1981 at the Walt Disney World National Team Championship in 1981, the most recent official team event.

Brian Stuard, who won the Zurich Classic last year on his own, has Chris Stroud as a teammate. They had a chance to tie for the lead on their final hole, the par-3 ninth, until Stuard hit into the water. He made a 20-foot putt to at least escape with bogey and a 68.

Also at 68 were Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly, a pair of 50-year-olds from Wisconsin who still have full PGA Tour status. They also had a chance to join the leaders until Kelly missed a 3-foot par putt on the 17th.

Brooks Koepka and his younger brother, Chase, who received a sponsor exemption, were among those at 69.

Spieth headed to the practice range after the round, and then the two-time major champion and Palmer had plans Thursday night. New Orleans coach Sean Payton invited them to the Saints’ team room for the NFL draft.

Both are Cowboys fans, but Palmer is friends with the coach and played the pro-am with Payton and quarterback Drew Brees.

“It’ll be really cool just kind of sitting in the back and watching that process take shape,” Spieth said. “I’ve always wondered what it’s like.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Online videos of killings pose tricky problem for Facebook

SAN FRANCISCO—Posting a smartphone video online has never been so easy — even if the video shows a murder. After two recent cases that shocked the world, this has become a tricky but urgent problem for Facebook to tackle.

On Monday, a 20-year-old Thai man broadcast live video on the world’s most popular social media platform, showing him killing his baby daughter before his own suicide.

The previous week, a US man dubbed the “Facebook Killer” fatally shot himself after three days of a frantic nationwide manhunt.

Steve Stephens, 37, had posted a video on Easter Sunday, saying he intended to kill. He followed up two minutes later with video showing the fatal shooting of an elderly grandfather whom he had seemingly chosen at random in Cleveland, Ohio.

In a third video 11 minutes later, streamed live from Stephens’ car, he said he intended to kill others.

Facebook denounced the “horrific crime,” saying it had “no place” on its platform. But the video of the shooting wasn’t taken down by Facebook for more than two hours after it was posted. The Thai murder video remained on Facebook for close to 24 hours.

Critics say the social media giant has been too slow to react, and questioned whether Facebook Live — a strategic area of development for the company — should be disabled.

After the Cleveland killing, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg pledged to “keep doing all we can to prevent tragedies like this from happening.”

But he conceded: “There is a lot of work to do here.”

Vulnerable

Facebook’s video functions have also been used to broadcast rapes. This week, three men in Sweden were sentenced to prison for gang-raping a woman and live-streaming the attack.

Other shocking content includes the suicides of young people who broadcast their deaths on Facebook Live or competing applications like Twitter’s Periscope and Live.me.

Any online platform that lets users freely publish content will face these problems, but Facebook is particularly vulnerable given its huge user base, said Lou Kerner, a partner at Flight VC and a social media specialist. Facebook had 1.86 billion users as of the end of December.

There are no “easy answers,” he said. “They’re going to struggle to stop it from occurring. The question is how fast they can take it down.”

Most social networks ban violent and shocking content, but given the volume of postings, they mostly rely on users to identify and report them.

Facebook said it has “thousands” of people combing through the “millions” of items posted weekly in more than 40 languages, adding that it was trying to speed up the process.

However, it’s unlikely the network will impose a delay of a few seconds to verify content before broadcast, the way some television channels do for live events, said Roger Kay, an analyst with Endpoint Technologies Associates.

“When you have more than a billion people connected to each other,” you are “well beyond the scope of what a human can do,” he said.

Artificial intelligence technology is improving but still not good enough and would create too many “false positives.”

“I don’t know if there’s a real human or technical solution. You can punish the breach, but some people don’t care,” Kay said, giving as examples the Islamic State jihadist group which has been posting violent and inflammatory content online for years, or those who just want their 15 minutes of fame.

‘Social responsibility’

Kerner said even if Facebook is not legally responsible for the actions of users, it has a “social responsibility to address it in an appropriate manner.”

But Kay pointed out that any restrictions on content require “moral judgment” on what should be permitted.

“I’m pretty sure Facebook doesn’t want that role,” he said.

The social media network has a difficult balancing act, risking criticism if seen as too lax toward content, but also facing heat for being too restrictive.

It has been accused of censorship in the past, such as last year when it blocked the iconic 1972 image of a Vietnamese girl fleeing a napalm attack, because she was naked. Facebook later reinstated the photo, citing its historical importance.

Facebook also found itself embroiled in controversy last summer when it blocked a video showing the death of an American black man who had been shot by police, which was broadcast live by his girlfriend.

Zuckerberg later reversed the decision, saying the video, while shocking, shines “a light on the fear that millions of members of our community live with every day.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

Smartphone case helps parents regulate children’s phone usage

Children becoming addicted to playing with smartphones are turning out to be a headache for some parents.

One Japanese company has developed a gadget to help parents get some control back over their little ones.

Momo Ltd., A Kobe-based company, is planning to start selling in August a cellphone case called Otomos, The Japan Times reports. It basically allows parents to enact schedules for cellphone use on their children.

The case attaches to a child’s smartphone and is secured by a screw. Parents then download an application that will give them access to Otomos. From here, they may set time restrictions to ensure that kids don’t waste all their time staring at smartphone screens. Once kids have used up their daily allocated smartphone time, the phone goes into sleep mode.

Apart from the smartphone app, parents may also access Otomos through a website.

As an added feature, Otomos can be set to deactivate the smartphone once it detects walking motion. This will prevent children from using their cellphones while walking, thereby preventing accidents. In worst case scenarios, Otomos can also send an alert to parents if their children come to harm.

“We developed the product after hearing many views and concerns of parents who have children using smartphones,” said Masato Otsu, Momo company president.

A charge of 500 yen a month is being expected for a two-year contract. This includes monitoring service, the smartphone case, and app cost. Interest customers may apply at their website or through participating mobile phone stores.

Smartphones are an undeniable part of the modern lifestyle. It makes sense that parents be given some way to control its use by children, much like how older generations had their TV-watching habits regulated by their parents. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Powell carries Raptors past Bucks for 3-2 series lead

TORONTO — Norm Powell scored a career playoff-high 25 points, Kyle Lowry had 16 points and 10 assists and the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks 118-93 in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Monday (Tuesday Manila time).

Serge Ibaka scored 19 points and DeMar DeRozan had 18 for the Raptors, who can advance to face defending champion Cleveland in the second round with a victory in Game 6 at Milwaukee on Thursday night.

Many in the sellout crowd of 20,251 rose to their feet and chanted ‘Raps in six’ in the final minute of the game.

Toronto lost Game 6 on the road at Indiana in the first round and at Miami in the second round last year, rebounding to win Game 7 at home each time. They were eliminated in six games in the Eastern Conference Final against the Cavs, losing at home in the clincher.

DeMarre Carroll scored 12 points as all five Raptors starters reached double figures. Cory Joseph had 10 points off the bench for Toronto.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30 points and nine rebounds while Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 points and Greg Monroe had 11. Milwaukee has lost back-to-back games after routing Toronto 104-77 in Game 3.

Making his second straight start, Powell connected on all four of his 3-point attempts and went 5 for 5 at the free-throw line. He brought the crowd to its feet with a baseline dunk over Antetokounmpo and Thon Maker in the fourth quarter.

Ibaka and Powell each scored nine points in the first and the Raptors used a 17-0 run to open a 31-20 lead after the opening quarter. Milwaukee committed five turnovers in the first, leading to 10 points for Toronto.

After shooting 1 for 6 in the first, Antetokounmpo was a perfect 6 for 6 in the second, scoring 13 points to help the Bucks close the gap. Lowry had 12 for Toronto, which led 57-48 at halftime.

Powell scored 12 points in the third as the Raptors widened their lead again, taking a 90-73 edge into the final quarter.

Monroe and Jonas Valanciunas were called for double technicals after a minor shoving match under the Milwaukee basket in the third. After Valanciunas took exception to a hard foul from Khris Middleton, Monroe pushed his own teammate out of the way so he could shove Valanciunas.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Customers seeing red on Galaxy S8, Samsung promises software fix

While most new owners of the Galaxy S8 are satisfied with their purchase, a few have reported seeing red on their devices. Thankfully, Samsung is quick on its toes in addressing these concerns.

The Korea Herald reports that a few Galaxy S8 phones have been showing a distinctly red hue on their screens. Samsung then confirms that a software upgrade will be rolled soon to address the reports of “dissatisfied customers.”

“Because there are some complaints about the red-tinted screens, we decided to upgrade the software next week for all Galaxy S8 clients,” says a Samsung spokesperson to The Korea Herald.

Furthermore, another update will come out by the end of April for a more minute tweaking of the color revisions.

Considering what Samsung has been through, a little red on the screen should be easily remedied with an OTA update. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

New to running? 5 answers to 5 questions to get you going

With the number of marathon participants around the world growing every year, running is clearly an increasingly popular physical fitness activity. But if you’ve never run before, you need to ease yourself into it. Dr. Philippe Sosner, a cardiologist, sports doctor, and scientific and medical director, has given us his running tips for beginners.

Can you start at any age?

Yes, it’s an endurance sport in which you will make progress, whatever your starting point.

Are there any medical reasons not to run?

Even if you have health problems, running is often possible, but you may need to adapt it to your condition. If you plan to be a regular runner, and to take it beyond a leisurely jog, it’s better to consult your doctor, especially if you’ve been inactive for a while. It’s also a good idea to assess your ability and work out a running plan with a trainer, who will, for example, give you advice on running speed (some will be at ease at 6 kilometers per hour, whereas others will start with a brisk walking pace).

How often is best and how can I avoid injury or giving up?

First of all, you need to set yourself a reasonable target. Your running plan must also take account of what you can do and what you would like to do.

You can start by walking, then picking up the pace and gradually introducing short bursts of running of low-to-moderate intensity. The ideal rate is three times a week, although this can be difficult to maintain because of other commitments. The benefits will increase gradually, especially if you become a regular runner. It’s important to have one rest day after each run.

As a beginner, you could start with a 30-minute session once a week, then increase the number of sessions to twice then three times a week. If you cannot increase the number of runs per week, then you could increase the length of each session, gradually getting up to one hour, and make the run more difficult by introducing interval training or running uphill.

You should always listen to your body. If you experience unusual discomfort, chest pain, palpitations, or breathlessness which does not calm down at rest, then stop and see a doctor.

Do I need to have practiced another sport and should running be supplemented with another sport?

No, if you’re already used to walking, you should be fine. But don’t set overly high goals at the start, especially if you run with someone who is fitter than you. You can also practice another complementary sport if you wish. The ideal would be to combine running with muscle-strengthening exercises for the legs and core. If you strengthen your muscles, you protect your joints.

Any advice about good running shoes?

Good running shoes should not be too heavy, and the sole should not be too thick, so that the foot can move naturally and feel the ground underneath. Opt for a classic-shaped non-fashion pair that is slightly bigger than your usual size, but not so much that your feet are slipping inside the shoes. So-called technical footwear is not always the most suitable for running. If you become an accustomed runner, but your feet feel uncomfortable or their shape changes, talk to a chiropodist. JB

source: sports.inquirer.net

Trump says he’ll mark 100 days with Pennsylvania rally

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he’ll mark his 100th day in office with a “BIG” rally in Pennsylvania.

Trump hits 100 days on April 29 — that’s next Saturday.

He tweeted about the rally this Saturday, saying that next week “I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it!

April 29 is also the date for the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington.

Most presidents attend the event. Trump previously announced that he will boycott the dinner this year to protest what he argues is unfavorable coverage of his administration by the news media. His staff is also boycotting in a show of “solidarity” with the president.

No additional details about the upcoming rally were released.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

LOOK: Kendall Jenner’s mag cover displayed on Empire State bldg.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTFrhPvDG4u/?taken-by=kendalljenner

Following her recent Pepsi advertisement wrangle, Kendall Jenner has moved on brandishing her newest achievement.

The 21-year-old supermodel gushed about her portrait screened on the iconic Empire State Building in celebration of Harper’s Bazaar’s 150th anniversary on Thursday (Wednesday in the US). Jenner, who shared the photo on her Instagram page, is the face of the fashion magazine’s May issue and her cover was flashed on the skyscraper’s facade.

In a similar Instagram post, Kendall’s mother and manager Kris Jenner expressed her “proud mom” moment upon sighting Kendall in the night sky.

“The moment when I looked out across the city and saw my daughter’s image on The Empire State Building…so breathtaking,” Kris captioned her post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BS1LjRpj2we/?taken-by=kendalljenner

A slew of Hollywood A-Listers was also featured in the dazzling spectacle, such as Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Aniston, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.

Earlier this month, Jenner starred in a commercial for soft drink titan Pepsi, which reaped a storm of backlash from social media users and activists of the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Pepsi pulled down the advertisement and Jenner, who was reportedly “traumatized” by the uproar, has kept mum on the issue.  Gianna Francesca Catolico /ra

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Thunder survive Rockets, claw back in series

LOS ANGELES—Russell Westbrook’s latest triple-double translated to a 115-113 victory for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday (Saturday, Manila) as they clawed back in their NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

The Thunder narrowed the gap in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series to 2-1 — but it was a close-run thing.

Westbrook, who notched a record 42 regular-season triple-doubles and had 51 points in a triple-double in the Thunder’s game-two defeat on Wednesday, finished Friday with 32 points, 11 assists and 13 rebounds.

But his second missed free throw of the closing seconds kept the door open for the Rockets, whose star James Harden was off-target with a three-pointer at the buzzer as the Thunder escaped with the win.

Harden had hit a three-pointer with 52 seconds remaining that knotted the score at 111-111.

Westbrook responded with his first three-point attempt of the game.

It rattled off the rim, but teammate Steven Adams managed to put it back for two points and the lead.

The teams then traded free-throw attempts until Harden’s final effort.

Westbrook had his triple-double by the end of the third quarter.

He became the first player with back-to-back triple-doubles in the same playoff series since Jason Kidd in the 2002 Eastern Conference finals.

Harden finished with 44 points, including four three-pointers.

The Thunder, determined not to fall into an 0-3 hole in the series, were quick out of the blocks. But the Rockets managed to respond, cutting a 15-point deficit early in the second quarter to five in the final seconds of the half.

Houston took their first lead of the game on a three-pointer by Harden less than two minutes into the second half.

But the Thunder wrested back the advantage and led 93-83 going into the final period.

source: sports.inquirer.net

LOOK: Apple, Nike collaborate for limited-edition Apple Watch 2

Following the worldwide release of the first ever Apple Watch Nike+ last September, the two colossal brands have again collaborated for the limited-edition Apple Watch Series 2 collection.

The slick new sports band, as per Nike News, boasts a a Space Gray Apple Watch casing with a “Light Bone/Black” strap.

Specs-wise, the new colorway will retain its predecessor’s most endearing features including exclusive Siri commands, GPS (Global Positioning System) a brighter display and water-resistance trademark.

But unlike the first edition, the new limited-run collection device will only be available for purchase at  nike.com,  NikeLab stores and Apple’s pop-up store in Isetan in Japan.

The release marks he first time an Apple Watch won’t be available directly from Apple, the report said.

As of this writing, pricing details of the Apple Watch Series 2 have yet to be revealed, but Nike disclosed that the product would be available starting April 27.  Khristian Ibarrola /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

UFC’s Ronda Rousey, Travis Browne get engaged

Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne are engaged.

The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Women’s Bantamweight Champion confirmed to TMZ Sports that she and her beau, also a UFC fighter, are walking down the aisle anytime.

“We’re getting married,” Rousey, 30, announced while showing her sparkling diamond ring. The couple said that the engagement happened under a waterfall in New Zealand, where they vacationed last week. Although no definite date has been set for their big day, UFC President Dana White expressed delight saying, “I’m very happy for Ronda, and I’m looking forward to the wedding,” according to the news site.

Following months of speculations, Rousey confirmed their relationship in 2015 via ESPN: “It’s true that Travis and I are in a relationship. I’ve really enjoyed the time we have spent together and getting to know one another. And that’s all I’m going to say about it.”

Browne, 34, admitted their relationship in an interview with MMAFighting.com, “She’s my woman, and I’m her man. There’s no boyfriend-girlfriend stuff. There’s no dating. We’re together,” he explained.

Rousey ripped down gender barriers and emerged as UFC’s first female champion back in 2012. But her reign in the Octagon declined after suffering back-to-back losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.

Meanwhile, Browne has flunked three bouts over the past few months, including a defeat against Derrick Lewis in February.  Gianna Francesca Catolico /ra

source: sports.inquirer.net

Super Nintendo mini-version coming out this year

After enticing old-school gamers with the release of a mini-replica of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) a few months ago, gaming giant Nintendo is revitalizing another classic console—in a miniature version, of course.

According to EuroGamer, the Kyoto, Japan-based game developer will soon release a smaller, near-identical version of the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) later this year.

Much like the tiny NES, the gaming platform will also boast classic built-in game titles and come with the iconic gray controller.

At the peak of SNES’ popularity—which was regarded as “Nintendo’s golden era of gaming”—the device was the prevalent console for every household and paved the way for multiple popular gaming titles.

Now popular franchises like “Donkey Kong Country,” “Super Mario World” and “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past” all first debuted on the SNES gaming platform.

As of this writing, Nintendo has yet to release the possible lineup of games that might appear on the SNES Classic Edition.

The gaming company also remained mum on the console’s development,  but its sudden cancellation of production of the mini-NES last week could signal that they’re shifting focus to the SNES.  Khristian Ibarrola /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

Tinder survey bares naked truths about millennial dating

A fresh survey from one of the most popular dating apps on the planet has revealed some naked truths about the dating habits of the millennial set, by comparing experiences between online and offline daters.

The poll, which captured responses from over 9,000 men and women from the United States, compared and contrasted dating-related habits on and offline, and suggests there are some key differentiators around fidelity, communication, perception and mindfulness.

For example, according to the survey results, online daters are more faithful to their mates, with 93 percent of online daters reportedly noting “fidelity” as important in a relationship as opposed to offline daters (90 percent).

Opposing political views are also more of a “deal breaker” for online daters than those who date offline, according to the figures, with nearly 23 percent (or one in four) of Tinder users admitting that differing political ideologies would be their number-one reason to refuse a potential partner (via WWD).

For Tinder users, age and education were also voted the top two most important factors, with appearance ranking third when considering a potential date. The full report is available on Modern Dating Myths’ official website. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez dead after hanging self in cell

MILFORD, Mass. — Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez, acquitted of a double murder just days ago, died after hanging himself in his prison cell Wednesday morning, Massachusetts prisons officials said.

Hernandez, 27, was found by guards in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley just after 3 a.m., Department of Correction spokesman Christopher Fallon said in a statement.

The former New England Patriots tight end was pronounced dead at UMass Memorial-HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster about an hour later.

Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population housing unit in the maximum security state prison. He hanged himself using a bed sheet that he attached to a cell window, Fallon said.

Hernandez tried to block the cell door from the inside by jamming the door with various items, Fallon said.

Hernandez was moved to tears on Friday after he was acquitted of the 2012 fatal shootings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston.

But he was still serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for his conviction in the 2013 shooting of Odin Lloyd, who was dating his fiancee’s sister.

Massachusetts State Police remain on the scene investigating the death.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Tips For Getting A Low Mortgage Refinance Rate

If given the choice, every homeowner would happily choose a low mortgage rate. For those who find themselves having to refinance their home, lower rates can help out even more. There are many reasons homeowners may have to, or choose to, refinance their home. For example:

   * To help pay off debt.

   * To finance other investments, such as the purchase of more property or renovation costs.

   * To pay for children’s education or other large purchases.


Before you dive into hunting for the most competitive mortgage rates, it’s important you contact a mortgage professional to guide you along the way. A mortgage expert can help you plan and budget, and find the best loan for your needs and financial goals. Everyone’s needs are unique, and a mortgage expert will be able to give you personalized advice.

So, what is the best way to get a low mortgage rate? Here are some ideas!








    * Raise your credit score: Many lenders require a minimum credit score to even approve your mortgage, but if you have a higher credit score (higher than 740), then you are more likely to get lower refinance rates.

    * Be organized: To apply for refinancing, you will have to present your credit reports, as well as two years of tax returns, recent bank and investment statements, and pay stubs. Having all your financial documentation organized will ease the process of applying for refinancing.

    * Lower your debt-to-income ratio: In addition to helping raise your credit score, paying your bills and credit card balances on time will help you get debt under control. If your debt-to-income ratio is too high, you may face higher mortgage rates or be denied for refinancing.

    * Do your research: You can begin researching online even before you speak to a mortgage expert. Compare thoroughly the mortgage rates offered in order to find the lowest rate and the best loan program for you.

    * Choose the best loan term: Your loan term (for instance, 10,15, or 30 years) will determine the amount of your mortgage payments. Choosing a 30-year term will result in lower payments.

    * Budget: If you are refinancing, you will have to pay closing costs as well as any lender fees and other fees, including appraisal and legal advice. Make sure you budget for these costs while planning your refinance.

By researching mortgage experts and enlisting the help of one, you can refinance smoothly and find a low mortgage rate to help you pay off debt or purchase further investments!

source: northwoodmortgage.com

Yankees romp to eighth consecutive win

NEW YORK — Jordan Montgomery took a shutout into the seventh inning for his first major league win while Matt Holliday homered in his return to the lineup as the New York Yankees romped to their eighth consecutive victory by beating the Chicago White Sox 7-4 on Monday night.

Holliday put the Yankees ahead with a titanic three-run shot in a five-run third inning and Aaron Judge added a two-run homer that chased Derek Holland (1-2) with the score 7-0 in the fifth. New York has rebounded from a 1-4 start with its longest winning streak since a 10-game run in June 2012.

Making his second career start, Montgomery (1-0) immediately found himself in a first-inning jam. But the 24-year-old lefty calmly pitched his way out of it by retiring cleanup hitter Jose Abreu and streaking Avisail Garcia with runners at second and third.

Aroldis Chapman closed out for his fourth save.

BREWERS 6, CUBS 3

CHICAGO — Eric Thames homered in his club record-tying fifth straight game as Milwaukee beat Chicago.

Milwaukee never trailed after Thames hit an opposite-field homer to snap a 3-3 tie in the third inning. Jeromy Burnitz was the other Brewer to homer in five straight games in August of 1997.

Ryan Braun and Jeff Bandy also went deep for the Brewers, the only team to hit as many as three homers in a game off Chicago starter John Lackey (1-2) last season.

Brewers starter Chase Anderson (2-0) pitched five innings of three-run, seven-hit ball to pick up the victory.

BRAVES 5, PADRES 4

ATLANTA (AP) — Dansby Swanson hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning as Atlanta, boosted by Freddie Freeman’s two home runs, beat San Diego for a four-game sweep in its first series at SunTrust Park.

Swanson’s bases-loaded hit fell just in front of diving left fielder Allen Cordoba. The Braves have followed a five-game losing streak with five straight wins.

Jim Johnson (2-0) pitched the ninth.

Kurt Suzuki hit a one-out single in the Braves ninth off closer Brandon Maurer (0-1). With two outs, pinch runner Chase d’Arnaud advanced to third on Emilio Bonifacio’s bloop single in front of Cordoba’s dive.

An intentional walk to Ender Inciarte loaded the bases for Swanson, whose first career game-ending hit again fell beyond the reach of a charging Cordoba.

RED SOX 4, RAYS 3

BOSTON — Andrew Benintendi hit a go-ahead, two-run single as Boston scored three unearned runs following a dropped throw by second baseman Brad Miller to beat Tampa Bay in the annual Patriots’ Day game.

Knuckleballer Steven Wright (1-1) allowed three runs — one earned — and nine hits in six innings as Boston won its third straight. Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for a save for the third straight day, his sixth this season.

Blake Snell (0-2) gave up four runs — one earned — and seven hits in five innings. The Rays completed a 1-6 trip that followed a franchise-best 5-2 start.

INDIANS 3, TWINS 1

MINNEAPOLIS — Danny Salazar finished six innings strong after a shaky start and Michael Brantley homered and drove in two runs as Cleveland beat Minnesota.

Salazar (1-1) struck out seven and retired 15 of his last 18 batters after allowing five hits and one walk over a seven-batter stretch spanning the first two innings.

Brantley took Kyle Gibson (0-2) deep in the fifth inning, raising his career average in 13 at-bats against the Twins right-hander to .385 with four RBIs.

Cody Allen loaded the bases in the ninth, but he completed his third save by getting Joe Mauer to fly out to center field.

ASTROS 3, ANGELS 0

HOUSTON — Charlie Morton and three relievers combined for a five-hitter while Jose Altuve drove in two runs as Houston beat Los Angeles for its fifth straight win.

Morton (1-1) worked in and out of trouble over five innings, allowing five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Chris Devenski followed Morton with two perfect innings while Luke Gregerson threw a perfect eighth and Ken Giles pitched the ninth for his third save. Astros pitchers retired the last 14 batters.

Jesse Chavez (1-2) allowed two runs and seven hits over a season-high seven innings.

CARDINALS 2, PIRATES 1

ST. LOUIS — Lance Lynn pitched seven shutout innings and Kolten Wong homered as St. Louis stopped a three-game losing streak.

The Cardinals, who had lost six of seven, are 4-9 and still have the worst record in the NL.

Lynn (1-1) allowed three hits and struck out five while walking one. Seung-Hwan Oh worked around an RBI double by pinch hitter Gregory Polanco in the ninth to record the Cardinals’ first save of the season.

Ivan Nova (1-2) gave up five hits and no walks in eight innings while striking out three.




RANGERS 7, ATHLETICS 0

OAKLAND, California — A.J. Griffin pitched six scoreless innings in his return to the Oakland Coliseum while Nomar Mazara had two hits and three RBIS as the Rangers beat the Athletics.

Carlos Gomez and Mike Napoli added two RBIs apiece to help Texas end a three-game losing streak.

Griffin (2-0) spent his first two seasons in the majors with the A’s before being released near the end of 2015 after Tommy John surgery a year earlier. He hadn’t pitched at the Coliseum since making his final start for Oakland on Sept. 18, 2013. He looked very comfortable in his return.

The Rangers’ shaggy-haired right-hander allowed one hit and one walk, retired the final 14 batters he faced and finished with eight strikeouts — one shy of his career high.

Three Texas relievers combined for the final nine outs to complete the three-hitter while Jharel Cotton (1-2) took the loss.

MARINERS 6, MARLINS 1

SEATTLE — Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz hit consecutive first-inning homers and Ariel Miranda pitched seven scoreless innings as the Mariners beat the Marlins in Ichiro Suzuki’s first visit to Safeco Field as a member of the 3,000-hit club.

Miranda (1-1) allowed four singles and only one runner to reach second base while striking out five. Nick Vincent pitched a perfect eighth before Evan Scribner allowed Christian Yelich’s third home run in the ninth.

The Mariners won their fourth straight after a 2-8 start.

Cano crushed a 2-1 pitch from Tom Koehler (0-1) 441 feet to right-center for his second home run, a two-run shot that scored Jarrod Dyson. Cruz followed with his second homer, lining a 1-1 pitch to center to make it 3-0.

DIAMONDBACKS 4, DODGERS 2

LOS ANGELES — Jake Lamb hit a solo home run in the eighth inning and David Peralta added a run-scoring triple in the ninth to lead the Diamondbacks to a victory over the Dodgers.

J.J. Hoover (1-0) threw two scoreless innings in relief of Robbie Ray to earn the victory and Fernando Rodney blanked the Dodgers in the ninth to earn his fifth save.

It was Lamb’s third homer of the season.

The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead against Ray, scoring an unearned run in the second on Logan Forsythe’s sacrifice fly and taking a two-run lead on an Enrique Hernandez solo home run in the fourth. It was his first of the year.

The Diamondbacks tied it on RBI hits by A.J. Pollock and Peralta.

Chris Hatcher (0-1) pitched 2 2/3 innings and took the loss.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Mass evacuation in Syria to proceed after blast kill 68 kids

BEIRUT — More than 3,000 Syrians were expected to be evacuated Sunday from four areas as part of a population transfer that was briefly stalled a day earlier by a deadly blast that killed more than 120 people, many of them government supporters.

As the evacuations were expected to begin Sunday, shells fired by the Islamic State group on government-held parts of the eastern city of Deir el-Zour wounded two members of a Russian media delegation visiting the area, according to state-run Syrian news agency SANA. Russia is a main backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Russian journalists enjoy wide access in government-held parts of the country.

The United Nations is not overseeing the transfer deal, which involves residents of the pro-government villages of Foua and Kfarya and the opposition-held towns of Madaya and Zabadani. All four have been under siege for years, their fate linked through a series of reciprocal agreements that the UN says have hindered aid deliveries.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, and Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV said 3,000 people will be evacuated from Foua and Kfarya, while 200, the vast majority of them fighters, will be evacuated from Zabadani and Madaya.

Abdurrahman said Saturday’s blast —which hit an area where thousands of pro-government evacuees had been waiting for hours — killed 126. He said the dead included 109 people from Foua and Kfarya, among them 80 children and 13 women.

No one has claimed the attack, but both the Islamic State group and the al-Qaida-affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front have targeted civilians in government areas in the past.

A wounded girl, who said she lost her siblings in the blast, told Al-Manar TV from her hospital bed that children who had been deprived of food for years in the two villages were approached by a man in the car who told them to come and eat potato chips. She said once many had gathered, there was an explosion that tore some of the children to pieces.

After the blast, some 60 buses carrying 2,200 people, including 400 opposition fighters, entered areas held by rebels in the northern province of Aleppo, Abdurrahman said. More than 50 buses and 20 ambulances carrying some 5,000 Foua and Kfarya residents entered the government-held city of Aleppo, Syrian state TV said, with some of them later reaching a shelter in the village of Jibreen to the south.

UN relief coordinator Stephen O’Brien said he was “horrified” by the deadly bombing, and that while the U.N. was not involved in the transfer it was ready to “scale up our support to evacuees.”

He called on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, and to “facilitate safe and unimpeded access for the UN and its partners to bring life-saving help to those in need.”

Residents of Madaya and Zabadani, formerly summer resorts, joined the 2011 uprising against President Bashar Assad. Both came under government siege in the ensuing civil war. Residents of Foua and Kfraya, besieged by the rebels, have lived under a steady hail of rockets and mortars for years, but were supplied with food and medicine through military airdrops.

Critics say the string of evacuations, which could see some 30,000 people moved across battle lines over the next 60 days, amounts to forced displacement along political and sectarian lines.

In eastern Syria, an airstrike by the US-led coalition on the village of Sukkarieh near the border with Iraq killed eight civilians who had earlier fled violence in the northern province of Aleppo, according to Deir Ezzor 24, an activist collective, and Sound and Picture Organization, which documents IS violations.

Airstrikes by the US-led coalition had killed dozens of civilians over the past several weeks as the battle against the extremists intensifies in Syria and Iraq.

* * *

Associated Press writer Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria contributed to this report.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Google launches new shopping tool ‘Style Ideas’

Google has just announced an update to its Image Search app which enables you to see what a fashion item you’re interested in would look like worn on a model or blogger.

The new Style Ideas feature could seem quite basic at first. But haven’t we all all asked ourselves how a jacket or dress would sit on the waist or shoulders in real life, or wondered which pants would go with a pair of shoes we’re eyeing?

The idea is simple: in addition to the standard retail photo of a fashion product, Google will show you other photos of the same item worn by one of the brand’s official models or a blogger, who has teamed it with other things.

“With Style Ideas, you can see real-life options of what bag and jeans [would] look stellar with those red high heels you’ve been eyeing,” Google explained in a blog post.

“Style Ideas” is currently only available in Image Search on mobile web and in the Google app for Android. JB

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Guarding Bucks’ Giannis presents Raptors a playoff puzzle

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo presents a defensive conundrum for the Toronto Raptors.

Assign a shorter player on the 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks star can take advantage on the block. Put a taller player on him and the athletic Antetokounmpo might blow past him to the hoop.

Antetokounmpo is a highlight-reel regular for dunks in transition. He can make opponents pay for double-teams, too.

The Raptors need to figure this problem out beginning Saturday, when the Bucks visit the Air Canada Centre to open a first-round series in the NBA playoffs.

“It’s not going to be a one-man job. It’s going to be a team effort to guard him,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “But him in transition, it’s not a dream, it’s a nightmare.”

Antetokounmpo blossomed into an All-Star in his first full season since coach Jason Kidd made him a primary ball-handler. He became the first player in NBA history to finish a season in the top 20 in total points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. He’s just the fifth player in league history to lead a team in every statistical category for a season, according to the Bucks.

With 42 wins, the Bucks finished above .500 for the first time since 2009-10. Now, they’d like to advance past the first round for the first time since going to the conference finals in 2001 with Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson leading the way.

By comparison, Raptors are grizzled veterans with four straight postseason trips. They lost to Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals last season in six games.

“People don’t expect us to beat the Raptors,” Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon said. “We’re going in with that underdog mentality to prove people wrong. We’ve been proving people wrong up to this point and we’re going to continue to do so.”

Antetokounmpo’s emergence is a big reason why the Bucks are back in the postseason for the second time in three seasons. Six-foot-8 forward DeMarre Carroll will likely draw the first turn defending him, with 6-foot-6 forward P.J. Tucker also taking the assignment. The Raptors might also use a zone, Casey said Tuesday.

Antetokounmpo averaged 24.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists in four games this year against Toronto.

“We’ve got to bait him to shoot more jumpers,” Carroll said. “I think a thousand of his shot attempts have been layups … but he’s also deadly distributing the ball and getting others involved.”

Other notes and things to watch in the series:

GETTING DEFENSIVE

Raptors president Masai Ujiri thinks the team’s defense is better than last year, aided by the addition of 6-foot-10 forward Serge Ibaka. Carroll, Tucker and the 6-9 Patrick Patterson also give Toronto versatile defenders who might be able to match up with Antetokounmpo and 6-foot-11 center Greg Monroe, who can hit jumpers and maneuver deftly in the paint.

YOUNG BUT MORE EXPERIENCED

The Bucks have one of the youngest cores in the league, but they did add some playoff experience to their roster by adding Tony Snell (Bulls), Matthew Dellavedova (Cavaliers) and Mirza Teletovic (Nets) in the offseason. Jason Terry, a 17-year veteran, provides leadership and 3-point shooting off the bench.

GUARDING THE GUARDS

Toronto’s Kyle Lowry (22.4 points, 7.0 assists) and DeMar DeRozan (27.3 points) form one of the toughest backcourts in the NBA. The 6-foot-7 Snell will draw the 6-7 DeRozan on defense. Brogdon, a rookie, will be tested by Lowry at point guard.

TORONTO BUG

Tucker was sent home from practice on Friday after showing signs of a bug that also affected DeRozan, Lowry and Casey this week. DeRozan sat out the season finale at Cleveland. The illness doesn’t appear serious, with Tucker expected to play Saturday.

DOWN THE STRETCH
Mired at six games under .500 going into March, the Bucks went 16-8 over the last six weeks of the season to get into the playoffs. They hope the success under postseason-like intensity carries over into the Raptors series.

“For those (six) weeks were in must-win games,” forward Khris Middleton said Friday. “That’s what the playoffs are all about, taking one game at a time, one possession at a time.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Facebook disrupts suspected spam operation

Facebook on Friday said it disrupted an international fake account operation that was firing off inauthentic “likes” and bogus comments to win friends it would then pound with spam.

Facebook’s security team spent six months fighting to neutralize what they saw as a coordinated campaign, according to Shabnam Shaik, a company security manager.

“Our systems were able to identify a large portion of this illegitimate activity — and to remove a substantial number of inauthentic likes,” Shaik said in a blog post.

“By disrupting the campaign now, we expect that we will prevent this network of spammers from reaching its end goal of sending inauthentic material to large numbers of people.”

The ring used accounts in a number of countries including Bangladesh, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

The group tried to mask its activities with tactics like connecting with the social network through “proxy” servers to disguise where “likes,” posts or other communications were originating, according to Shaik.

Facebook said the campaign aimed to trick people into connecting as friends they would later target with spam. The company said it had derailed the operation early enough to spare users that fate.

The leading social network this week said it has started weeding out bogus accounts by watching for suspicious behavior such as repetitive posts or torrents of messages.


The security improvement was described as being part of a broader effort to rid the leading social network of hoaxes, misinformation and fake news by verifying people’s identities.

“We’ve found that when people represent themselves on Facebook the same way they do in real life, they act responsibly,” Shaik said.

“Fake accounts don’t follow this pattern, and are closely related to the creation and spread of spam.”

Under pressure to stymie the spread of fake news, Facebook has taken a series of steps including making it easier to report such posts and harder to earn money from them.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Roof of Bellagio mall burns near iconic fountains in Vegas

LAS VEGAS — Flames ripped across the roof of the Bellagio’s shops and restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip as tourists watched the nighttime fire reflected in the iconic fountain show at the hotel-casino, authorities said Friday.

No injuries were reported in the late Thursday blaze, which didn’t reach inside the Via Bellagio mall, Assistant Clark County Fire Chief Larry Haydu said. Damage was limited to the roof.

Gusty winds fanned the flames, forcing employees to evacuate tony stores such as Tiffany & Co. and Chanel. Pedestrian bridges to Bally’s and Caesars Palace closed, and busy Las Vegas Boulevard was shut down.

Operations were not interrupted in the posh Bellagio casino or the 36-story hotel with nearly 4,000 rooms, said Yvette Monet, spokeswoman for owner MGM Resorts International.

She said the shops were either closed or closing at the time of the fire.

Investigators were trying to determine what sparked the fire, which burned what appeared to be foam building material, Haydu said. No construction was going on in the area, hotel officials said.

Haydu said the 77 firefighters who fought the blaze had trouble reaching the roof of the shopping complex, which also features celebrity restaurants such as Todd English’s Olives and Lago by Julian Serrano.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the building material was the same type that burned in a January 2008 fire atop the Monte Carlo hotel-casino a few blocks away, Haydu said.

That fire was sparked by welders on the roof and forced the evacuation about 6,000 guests and employees and caused more than $100 million in damage and lost business at the 3,000-room resort.

Investigators found an improper type of resin had been used in two decorative elements near the top of the 32-story hotel, which caused the fire to spread faster than expected along the roof and facade. Some upper-floor rooms received water and smoke damage.

* * *

Associated Press writer Sally Ho contributed to this report.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Asian markets lower, rattled by rising tensions in Koreas

SEOUL, South Korea — Asian stocks were lower on Friday as investors fretted over rising geopolitical tensions and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Many markets were closed for public holidays.

KEEPING SCORE: Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 finished 0.5 percent lower at 18,335.63 and South Korea’s Kospi slipped 0.6 percent to 2,134.88. The Shanghai Composite index dropped 0.9 percent to 3,246.07. Markets in Hong Kong, Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries were closed.

NORTH KOREA: Analysts said investors were seeking safe havens on concern North Korea may be planning a nuclear test. As it prepares for the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il Sung on Saturday, North Korean has intensified its rhetoric, warning of strong retaliation against any aggression as U.S.-South Korea hold military exercises.

ANALYST’S VIEWPOINT: “Geopolitics seemed to dominate over the past week with the ramifications of the U.S.’ missile strike on Syria still reverberating and tensions around North Korea steadily building,” Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital, said in a commentary. “The issues around Syria are likely to settle down assuming U.S. involvement does not escalate, but North Korea is more risky.”

WALL STREET: U.S. stocks finished lower for the third straight day on Thursday as energy stocks led the decline. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index slid 0.7 percent to 2,328.95. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.7 percent to 20,453.25. The Nasdaq composite index lost 0.5 percent to 5,805.15. U.S. markets will be closed Friday for the Good Friday holiday.

OIL: On Friday, the New York Mercantile Exchange and the London Metal Exchange were closed. On Thursday, benchmark U.S. crude rose 7 cents to close at $53.18 per barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, added 3 cents to close at $55.89 per barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The dollar resumed its fall after briefly bouncing back from its slide. The dollar has continued its slide following President Donald Trump’s comment in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the dollar was “getting too strong.” The dollar was trading at 108.93 yen, down from 109.12 yen. The euro rose slightly to $1.0620 from $1.0616.

source: business.inquirer.net

Chef Luis Chikiamco’s melon and mozzarella salad

Everyone can cook well, as long as one puts his heart into it, says Luis Chikiamco, executive chef of Discovery Primea.

He showed the audience how, at a recent cooking demonstration for the culinary elite series of the Maya Kitchen.

A graduate of Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon, Chikiamco (this columnist’s nephew—Ed) has had extensive culinary experience in France, Mexico and the Philippines. This has given him the necessary skills and know-how to develop the Mediterranean-inspired menu of Discovery Primea’s restaurant, Tapenade.

Drawing praise from satisfied diners is Tapenade’s salad bar, which features an array of the freshest ingredients: crisp Romaine lettuce leaves, French and Spanish cheeses, a variety of olives, freshly shucked Aklan oysters, as well as raspberries, almonds, hazelnuts, chorizo, salmon, freshly baked bread and a wide choice of salad dressings.

The bold flavors of the Mediterranean are also represented in the à la carte menu, which includes stone-baked pizza, pasta, Moroccan tagine and kebabs.

For the Maya Kitchen Culinary Elite Series, Chikiamco taught participants how to prepare a refreshing melon and mozzarella salad, a mouthwatering rib-eye steak with a garlic and rosemary rub, a flavorful spaghetti dish made with guanciale (cured pork cheeks) and a hearty arroz caldoso, which is like a soupy paella.

Maya’s culinary elite series gives cooking enthusiasts a chance to learn from the country’s best chefs and restaurateurs (www.themayakitchen.com or e-mail contactus@themayakitchen.com).

Here’s Chikiamco’s recipe for melon and mozzarella salad (measurements adjusted for the home cook) plus tips which he generously shared with the participants.

Melon and Mozzarella Salad

1  c  cubed ripe melon
1-inch ginger
1  red chili (siling labuyo)
1  green chili (siling labuyo)
¼  c  lime vinaigrette (recipe follows)
2-4  slices mozzarella di Buffala cheese
2-4  basil leaves
2-4  mint leaves

Microgreens (optional)
For the lime vinaigrette:
1¼  c extra-virgin olive oil
2  fresh limes
½  c + 1 tbsp honey

As soon as you’ve cut the melon into cubes, put them in a vacuum sealed bag or in a re-sealable plastic bag. Peel the ginger and slice into thin shavings. Add the ginger to the melon cubes and seal the bag tightly to lock in the flavor. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Slice the chilies diagonally and pick out the seeds. Set aside.

Make the lime vinaigrette:  Whisk together the olive oil, juice of two limes and honey until you get an emulsion. (You can also use an electric blender.)  Mixture will be slightly thick.

To assemble the salad: Drizzle one-fourth cup of the lime vinaigrette into two separate salad plates. (Store any leftover vinaigrette in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate for later use.) Unseal the plastic bag containing the melon cubes and the ginger. Discard the ginger.  Arrange the melon cubes and mozzarella cheese in the salad plates, dividing equally. Garnish with the sliced chilies, basil and mint leaves and the microgreens (if using). Serve immediately.

Tips from the chef:

After cutting a melon, put the cut melon at once in a vacuum bag and seal tightly to lock in the flavor. If you don’t have a vacuum bag, you can use a re-sealable plastic bag.

When cooking pasta, add salt to the water so that the pasta will have flavor. The Italians say the water should be as salty as the sea.

When cooking steak, season well with salt and pepper.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Internet trolls United Airlines with creative memes

The internet is having a field day with the shocking incident of a passenger forcefully dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight, posting creative memes about the incident that has gone viral and caused an uproar.

Viral video footage captured by fellow passengers of a man being violently dragged out of his seat, striking his head against the armrest across the aisle and busting open his lip after he refused to deplane caused outrage on social media platforms. Following new images of the man’s bloodied face and United Airline’s tepid response to the incident, the furor shows no sign of abating.

On Twitter, uses have been expressing their anger in creative ways, causing the hashtag #united to trend in the United States.

One of the most liked and shared photos features a graphic of an airplane layout, dividing the cabins into United First, Economy Plus, Economy, and “Fight Club.”

“United Airlines is pleased to announce new seating on all domestic flights,” tweeted @Reflog_18. “In addition to United First and Economy Plus we introduce…”

Cue “Fight Club.”

The incident has also traveled around the world to China, where citizens are calling it an incident of targeted racism and urging a boycott of the airline on social media platform Weibo.

On Tuesday, #UnitedAirlinesforcespassengeroffplane was the top trending topic on China’s version of Twitter.

Other memes include “Southwest. We beat the competition. Not you.”, which references one of United Airlines’ chief competitors.

In a cinematic nod to the 1997 film “Air Force One”, another Twitter user suggested the United should use a clip of Harrison Ford as POTUS in an ad campaign, in which he mutters his signature line through clenched teeth, “Get off my plane.”

Also trending was a photo of “The Walking Dead” slugger Negan with his barbed baseball bat walking through the cabin.

“When you fly @united and they have overbooked your flight,” reads the tweet, along with a photo caption that says “Eenie…Meenie…” JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Samsung offers ‘premium care’ service, perks for Galaxy S8 and S8+

Samsung managed to successfully launch their new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8 and S8+, without a hitch. But it appears the company is really working overtime in applying the lessons learned from the Note 7 debacle.

As an add-on to purchasing a new Galaxy S8 or S8+, Samsung is offering the Samsung Premium Care service. It sits atop the standard warranty and adds some very generous perks.

One of these perks include a one-business-day replacement delivery for an accidentally damaged S8 or S8+. Customers can even set a schedule for a tech guy to appear personally and help out with issues, or to simply teach the owner how to use the device’s features.

However, the service is not free. Samsung Premium Care will set S8 owners back $11.99 (roughly P600) a month. Phone replacements can be done three times in one year but will cost $99 (around P5,000) each time. It may sound pricey but compared to the $720 price tag of a new S8, it’s actually not that bad. Furthermore, customers don’t need to enter into any lengthy contract.

So far, the service has only been confirmed for United States customers. Those who pre-order the Galaxy S8 before April 1 will also get the first 30 days of the Samsung Premium Care service for free. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Text of letter from United CEO defending employees

CHICAGO — Below is the text of the letter United Airlines’ parent company CEO Oscar Muñoz sent to employees after a passenger was dragged from a United plane at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The summary below the letter was compiled by United:

    Dear Team,

    Like you, I was upset to see and hear about what happened last night aboard United Express Flight 3411 headed from Chicago to Louisville. While the facts and circumstances are still evolving, especially with respect to why this customer defied Chicago Aviation Security Officers the way he did, to give you a clearer picture of what transpired, I’ve included below a recap from the preliminary reports filed by our employees.


    As you will read, this situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help. Our employees followed established procedures for dealing with situations like this. While I deeply regret this situation arose, I also emphatically stand behind all of you, and I want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right.

    I do, however, believe there are lessons we can learn from this experience, and we are taking a close look at the circumstances surrounding this incident. Treating our customers and each other with respect and dignity is at the core of who we are, and we must always remember this no matter how challenging the situation.

    Oscar

Summary of Flight 3411

On Sunday, April 9, after United Express Flight 3411 was fully boarded, United’s gate agents were approached by crewmembers that were told they needed to board the flight.

We sought volunteers and then followed our involuntary denial of boarding process (including offering up to $1,000 in compensation) and when we approached one of these passengers to explain apologetically that he was being denied boarding, he raised his voice and refused to comply with crew member instructions.

He was approached a few more times after that in order to gain his compliance to come off the aircraft, and each time he refused and became more and more disruptive and belligerent.

Our agents were left with no choice but to call Chicago Aviation Security Officers to assist in removing the customer from the flight. He repeatedly declined to leave.

Chicago Aviation Security Officers were unable to gain his cooperation and physically removed him from the flight as he continued to resist – running back onto the aircraft in defiance of both our crew and security officials.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Benefits of Website Hosting Services to Business

Over the past years web hosting has grown much more than previously, as more companies are getting involved in niche marketing and discovering the many advantages it gives.  In fact the popularity of web marketing is now at its highest ever.  In 2005 no less than 38 million people began their own websites.  The majority of websites will offer different affiliate programs for others to choose and get involved with, quite simply this means that it is easier to find the right website for an application.  Quality web hosting sites may well split from the rest of the industry, this will cause the unprofessional or incompetent ones to suffer.  In choosing a web host support will be paramount.  Traditional advertising will become less effective in time as most people will choose a web host based on sight and sound, as well as recommendations from others who have proved their success.

This presents a great opportunity for both web hosting affiliates and resellers.  Hundreds of available sites and programs would eliminate the problem of finding the right one.  Everyone requiring a website needs a web hosting company, to date there is no prominent leading host so many people choose on recommendations from others who have actually used the host themselves.  It is a general trend to find the affiliate program beat suited to your needs, look at the product for promoting and check on site to discover whether it is right for your needs.  If a host does not appear to be producing the results that you require, look for another, it is bad business to stay where there is no benefit.

One suggestion if you have found a good web host that works, is to find out whether they offer an affiliate program that you can join, so they will be paying you, not vice-versa.  It is as easy as putting a small '' powered by'' or ''hosted by'' link at the bottom of your page ... just doing that puts you in the affiliate business.  Why pay for web hosting when it is not necessary ?  Let people know that you like your web host and try obtaining payment yourself.

When choosing a web host or affiliate program opt for one that is well known for outstanding customer support.  In such a host or program you receive a percentage payment on a monthly basis for every client you refer, thus providing a steady regular income, given time, you can become quite successful doing this.  there are many niche markets around that only need the right affiliate to access them, making the possibility of high income a reality.  Confidence in your potential will help you choose the best one for your needs.

Web hosting is only one way of attempting to generate a good, continuous income.  You must bear in mind though that time, effort and patience is needed to make your plans successful.  The perfect affiliate market has yet to be devised, however some people simply by knowing their kind of market, have been able to become financially successful in this business.

Tim Tebow homers twice, strikes out 5 times in 1st series

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tim Tebow has completed his first series with the Columbia Fireflies, the New York Mets Class A affiliate.

The former NFL quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy at Florida homered twice in the three games he played against the Augusta GreenJacktets. Tebow was given the day off Saturday.

A look at how Tebow fared overall in the series :

HIGHLIGHT: Tebow hit a two-run home run in his first plate appearance on Thursday night. Tebow drove the ball to deep left center but briefly stopped at second base thinking it was a ground rule double. He continued his trip around the bases after seeing the umpire signifying it was a home run. Tebow added a second home run on Sunday, a three-run shot to right field. He’s one shy of Michael Jordan’s total with Class AA Birmingham in 1994.

AT THE PLATE: Tebow is 3 of 13 (.230) with five RBIs. He’s also struck out five times and left 13 runners on base.

IN THE FIELD: After not getting any chances in his first two starts, Tebow had three put outs in left field on Sunday.

DAY OFF: Tebow, 29, was given Saturday off before returning to the lineup Sunday.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Fireflies continue their opening home stand with a three-game series against the Hickory (North Carolina) Crawdads that begins Monday.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Apple users could get some cash from app privacy lawsuit settlement

iPhone users who have used certain apps such as Twitter, Yelp and others between 2009 and 2012 could be getting a small cash back from the settlement of the app privacy lawsuit concerning the misuse of the “Find Friends” feature on iOS.

Foodspotting, Foursquare, Gowalla, Instagram, Kik, Path, Twitter and Yelp will be contributing a total of $5.3 million as payment to customers based on the terms of settlement, according to Fortune.

The amount will be seeded to customers through Amazon credits or by check. The payments are expected to be processed late this year.

“Find Friends” allows users to see who among their contacts are also using certain apps. However, app makers violated user privacy by failing to inform them that user contact lists are being transferred to company servers.

Despite the large amount being pooled together by these eight companies, it is likely that users eligible for the settlement money will only get a few dollars due to the sheer number of users who downloaded the aforementioned apps.

Either way, eligible users will receive an email from the app makers. In Twitter’s case, users will be prompted by a tweet with a ”@settlementnews” handle. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Durant shines in return from 19-game absence, knee injury

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kevin Durant’s first touch after missing 19 games with a knee injury? Just a driving baseline reverse and emphatic one-handed slam, and KD triumphantly returned to finish with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in helping the Golden State Warriors beat the undermanned New Orleans Pelicans 123-101 on Saturday night.

With two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry sidelined by a bruised left knee, Durant shined in 31 minutes and the balanced Warriors won their 14th straight game — the longest unbeaten run in the NBA this season. He hadn’t played since getting hurt Feb. 28 at Washington, then resumed full practice Friday.

Klay Thompson scored 20 points, Draymond Green had 13 points and eight rebounds, and the do-everything Warriors sure look poised for another deep playoff run.

Coach Steve Kerr joked about “three meaningless games” remaining after the NBA’s top team wrapped up the best record and No. 1 seed in the Western Conference during Wednesday’s win at Phoenix.

Still, the Warriors absolutely played to win.

Durant raised both hands to the sky and pointed when he took the court before tipoff. His shot wasn’t quite as consistent as usual — 6 for 15 and missing all four of his 3-point tries — as he eases his way back to top form after such a long layoff.

He had an assist to Zaza Pachulia on Golden State’s second possession and dished on consecutive third-quarter Warriors baskets, even bringing the ball up court on occasion in Curry’s absence and gave everybody a lift just by being back in the lineup.

Shaun Livingston started for Curry and had 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting and six assists, Andre Iguodala added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Ian Clark (17) and JaVale McGee (16) also scored in double digits.

Kerr kept Green and Thompson below 30 minutes as planned.

Jordan Crawford scored 21 points off the bench and Alexis Ajinca added 17 as New Orleans had nine healthy bodies playing on a back-to-back following a loss at Denver on Friday.

Golden State’s Matt Barnes suffered a sprain to his right ankle and foot in the second quarter and didn’t return. X-rays were negative.

TIP-INS

Pelicans: New Orleans lost its seventh straight to the Warriors, 17th in 18 overall and ninth in a row at Oracle Arena. … The Pelicans shot 5 for 20 on 3s and were outrebounded 53-34.

Warriors: Golden State posted its 50th 30-assist game with 36, joining the 1984-85 Lakers as the only teams to do so in 50 games. … The winning streak is the third-longest in franchise history behind 28 in a row and 16 consecutive victories, all in the past three years. … Curry — expected to return Monday — and Durant were each averaging 25.3 points coming into the game. … Rapper Drake sat courtside next to Warriors GM Bob Myers, a few seats down from owner Joe Lacob and Hall of Famer Jerry West.

BEAT-UP NEW ORLEANS

The Pelicans were missing DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Omer Asik, E’Twaun Moore and Quincy Pondexter.

As far as Davis’ sore left knee is concerned, coach Alvin Gentry said, “At this stage of the season we’re not going to risk anything.”

And the other ailments: Asik (illness), Cousins (right Achilles tendinitis), Moore (sprained left ankle), Pondexter (left knee).

UP NEXT

Pelicans: At Lakers on Tuesday in the third of four road games to end the season.

Warriors: Host Utah on Monday looking for an eighth straight home win vs. Jazz and eighth overall in the series.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Harry Styles channels glam rock in post-1D debut

One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles on Friday released a ballad with touches of 1970s glam rock as he became the latest member of the boy band to go solo.

“Sign of the Times” is the first solo single by the 23-year-old English singer who is expected to put out a full album at a later date. The song starts with a dark chord progression on a piano before quickly building power as Styles shifts his voice into a higher range.

Drums and organ give way to electric guitar riffs on a grandiose chorus with clear influences of late legend David Bowie’s early glam rock and, to some extent, Queen. But unlike the path-breaking Bowie, lyrically Styles keeps things simple with a chorus that goes, “Just stop your crying / It’s a sign of the times,” although the context of the sorrow is unspecified.

At around five and a half minutes, “Sign of the Times” comes off as a statement by Styles on a new artistic direction after the succinct pop ditties of One Direction.

Styles, thin like Bowie with flowing hair, becomes the latest singer to go solo from One Direction, which went on indefinite hiatus in 2015 after five years of packing in stadiums with screaming pre-teens.

Most prominently, Zayn Malik — who left One Direction amid a rift — has found success with a solo career in which he has parted with the boy band’s squeaky-clean image for a sultry sound and style driven by R&B. Niall Horan went on a different path when he put out a solo single last year, going for stripped-down acoustic pop.

Styles worked on “Sign of the Times” with prominent US producer Jeff Bhasker, a frequent collaborator of rap superstar Kanye West who has also gone to the studio with Taylor Swift — whom Styles used to date.

Record label Columbia said Styles would later this month release a video for the song shot on Scotland’s Isle of Skye by French director Yoann Lemoine, who has worked with Swift and Katy Perry.

“Sign of the Times” has no obvious connection to a song of a similar title by Prince, a dark 1987 take on AIDS, drug abuse, and other social ills.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Westbrook secures triple-double average, falls short of 42nd

PHOENIX — Russell Westbrook joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season.

That didn’t make him feel much better about his or his team’s awful Friday night, when Westbrook failed for the second game in a row to break Robertson’s 55-year-old, single-season record for most triple-doubles.

The dynamic Thunder guard fell two assists shy of what would have been his 42nd in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 120-99 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Of averaging a triple-double for the season, Westbrook said, “You could never say in a million years that I would think that was even possible.”

And as for not getting 10 assists?

“My main goal since I got here, especially this season, is to win a championship,” Westbrook said. “If I wanted to get 10 assists, I could get 10 assists. Everybody wants to see the record broke, but it’s bigger than that for our team and for me.”

On a rough night all around, Westbrook had 23 points (on 6-of-25 shooting, 2 of 12 3-pointers), 12 rebounds and eight assists, along with eight turnovers before coach Billy Donovan pulled him with 2:34 to play.

Devin Booker scored 21 of the Suns’ 25 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 37 as Phoenix snapped a 13-game losing streak.

“From the start of the game, Russ was chasing history,” Booker said. “… Unbelievable player. I’m sure he’s going to get it. I’m happy it wasn’t here but we locked in defensively.”

Westbrook did get the six assists he needed to assure that he’d join Robertson as the only players to average a triple-double for a season — breaching double figures for all three categories. Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists for the Cincinnati Royals in the 1961-62 season.

After the game, Westbrook went straight to the practice court and stayed there for nearly an hour.

“Get your mind right,” he explained. “You understand how important a game is and you want to make sure I’m playing the best that I need to play for my teammates. Tonight I felt like I let them down.”

Westbrook stayed in the game long after the outcome seemed certain. Donovan said he hadn’t given up on being able to win the game.

“No, I wasn’t trying for the triple-double,” the coach said. “I’ve seen enough miraculous things this year — at Dallas and Orlando — and I thought about taking him out at the stoppage of play around 3:40, 3:45. I just said, you know what, he gets hot around the 3-point line, we make a couple of shots. … I just wanted to give our team every opportunity.”

Westbrook had probably his worst shooting first half of the season and his teammates didn’t show much interest in the contest as the Suns opened a 28-point lead.

He missed his first 11 shots before sinking a 17-footer with 50.4 seconds left in the half. He followed that quickly with a three-point play on an acrobatic drive to the basket.

But his halftime stats were ugly: 2-for-13 shooting, 0 for 4 on 3s, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 turnovers.

Phoenix, meanwhile, shot 61 percent in the first half, led by Warren’s 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting, to Oklahoma City’s 39 percent and led 71-48 at the half.

source: sports.inquirer.net