Why hunks Tony and Marco don’t get turned on while doing love scenes

While their previous works can give people the impression that they’re already used to baring skin in front of the cameras, Marco Gumabao and Tony Labrusca insisted that it’s something that no one could ever get used to.

And the upcoming sexy drama flick “Hindi Tayo Pwede”—which had the two men doing steamy scenes with leading lady Lovi Poe—is no different. “It may seem like we’re comfortable doing those types of scenes, but the truth is, no—definitely not. We always get scared at first. There’s always hiya and awkwardness once you’re on the spot, and especially when you’re working with an actress you haven’t worked with in the past,” Marco told reporters at a press conference for the said film, which opens on March 4.



Marco, whose last film was another sexy drama—“Just a Stranger” with Anne Curtis—said being intimate with someone on-screen takes a lot of preparation. “For instance, I was informed that I was doing a love scene with Lovi on such a short notice … just the night before the shoot. That got me nervous because I wasn’t ready, physi­cally, at least. And you can’t help but worry about these things when you have to show off your body,” the 25-year-old actor pointed out. Thankfully, the process is much easier when working with a proficient actress like Lovi. “After the first take, the awkwardness starts to go away. And once you ­realize that you’re doing this for the movie, that’s when it all flows,” he said.

But even then, the two actors maintained that you can’t really get turned on while working. “We’re in a professional setting. What people forget is that when we do those scenes, there are a lot of people around us,” said Tony, whose passionate kissing scene with Angel Aquino in the film “Glorious” made headlines not too long ago. “You have the cameras, the lights, the director.”

“I know that when you see the end result, it’s like magic, there’s spark. But there’s a lot of hard work in it,” stressed the 24-year-old actor.

In “Hindi Tayo Pwede,” Tony plays Gab, who dies in a freak car accident days before his wedding with Gabby (Lovi). In her time of grief, Gabby gets comforted by Gab’s best friend, Dennis (Marco), who, apparently, has been secretly in love with her. Eventually, they get intimate. But as it all happens, Gabby still gets to communicate and make love with Gab via supernatural twist.

While the film’s trailer does highlight the steamy bits, “it’s not all there is to it.”

“We’re not selling it as a movie of love scenes. It really is mostly about relationships—there are confrontations, dramatic moments, too. It’s a love story among three people and each of them has his or her own burden to carry. I hope people get to see that,” Marco said. “When you love someone you express it by making love. It’s normal, that’s included in the film. But it’s really about how love transcends death. It’s a beautiful story,” added Tony, who was thrilled to be paired with Lovi for his first big screen project with Viva.

“I didn’t expect that I would be paired with her. And I’m really happy about that because Lovi is already an established actor who has proven herself in the industry. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with her.”

How do they relate to their characters? Tony said he would have probably made the same decisions as Gab. “Imagine being so in love with someone—your one true love—and you die. If you’re allowed to come back and love that person again, wouldn’t you take that chance?” Meanwhile, Marco, like Dennis, has had the experience of falling for someone who’s in love with another person. “You can be the best of friends or have the best chemistry, but things still don’t work out because of various circumstances. You’re not just destined for each other. It’s sad. But that’s reality. It’s about acceptance. You have to move on,” Marco said.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Warriors' Curry poised for return on March 1, says Kerr

SAN FRANCISCO – Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is being lined up to return from injury in this weekend's game against the Washington Wizards, head coach Steve Kerr confirmed Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).

Speaking ahead of the Warriors' clash with the Sacramento Kings, Kerr said Curry was targeting Sunday's game with the Wizards as a possible return date.

Curry has not played since fracturing his hand in the Warriors' fourth game of the season against Phoenix on October 30.


The Warriors, who also had to grapple with the departure of Kevin Durant last season and long-term injury to Klay Thompson, are currently languishing at the foot of the Western Conference with a 12-45 record.

Kerr however handed the Warriors a rare piece of good news on Tuesday after confirming a report that Curry was set to return on Sunday.

"That is the hope," Kerr said. "We're going to re-evaluate on Saturday. He won't come back before (March 1) but I know he's had that date in his mind," Kerr added.

"He'll continue to work this week and we'll make that determination on Saturday whether he'll play on Sunday."

Kerr said Curry's rehabilitation had been mostly restricted to conditioning and shooting drills. The team planned to put Curry through his paces in more practice games this week.


"He looks good," Kerr said. "He's only had one scrimmage game because that's the only practice that we had that enabled that.

"He's been working with the team but most of that is drill work. But he's been doing his post-practice workouts for several weeks and really working hard on his shooting and conditioning.

"He's doing everything he possibly can to prepare for his return. But ultimately it's not the same as being out there and getting knocked around a little bit.

"In the next couple of days we'll try and simulate some action as best we can."

Curry's return to fitness is also good news for the United States Olympic basketball team, with the Golden State ace determined to make the team for this summer's games in Tokyo.

Agence France-Presse

Second coronavirus death sparks fears, lockdown in Italian towns

CODOGNO, Italy — Streets were deserted and residents warned to keep out of an emergency room on Saturday in an Italian town placed under lockdown as a second death from coronavirus sparked fears throughout the region. 

"No entry" read the sign on the emergency room in the small town of Codogno with a population of 15,000 where three people have already tested positive for the virus, including one 38-year old man now on life support.

On Saturday, Italian news agency ANSA reported a second death from the virus in the Lombardy region, where Codogno is located.

It came one day after the death of a 78-year-old retired bricklayer from the Padua area in the nearby Veneto region, who was the first local person in Europe to die from the coronavirus.

ANSA reported that the new victim was a woman. No further information was immediately available.


Italy's health minister said that the man who died on Friday, Adriano Trevisan, had been admitted to hospital 10 days earlier for an unrelated health issue.

He was one of two people in the Veneto region with the virus, where another confirmed case overnight in a 53-year old man brought that number to three, president of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia told Rai24 news.

In Lombardy, 16 other people were discovered to have caught the virus and the region took immediate measures to isolate affected areas.

It was not immediately clear whether the victim on Saturday was part of that group, or a new case.

In Rome, three people are being treated in isolation for the virus.

 - Closed for business -

At Codogno's centre, only a bakery and a pharmacy were open, while other shops posted signs saying they were closed due to a local ordinance.

At the civic hospital, there was very little movement early  Saturday other than nurses and other workers finishing their night shifts.

Those who have tested positive for the virus in Codogno include the 38-year-old man's wife, who is eight months pregnant, and another man. Three others in the town have tested positive to a first novel coronavirus test and are awaiting their definitive results.

Since December, COVID-19 has killed more than 2,200 people in China, the epidemic's epicentre.

Elsewhere in the world, it has killed over a dozen people and spread across some 27 countries and territories. Last Sunday, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist died from the new coronavirus in France.

In the areas in northern Italy, over 50,000 people have been asked to stay at home while all public activities such as carnival celebrations, church masses and sporting events have been banned for up to a week.

Codogno Mayor Francesco Passerini said locals were "extremely worried" about the spread of the deadly disease.

Agence France-Presse

Facebook faces off with IRS in big-ticket tax case

SAN FRANCISCO — A multi-billion-dollar dispute between Facebook and US tax authorities over profits shifted to an Irish subsidiary began playing out in front of a judge on Tuesday.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) contends that Facebook dodged about $9 billion in taxes, while the leading social network says it is actually owed a refund, according to US media reports.


“This trial is about transactions that took place in 2010 when Facebook had no mobile advertising revenue, its international business was nascent, and its digital advertising products were unproven,” spokesperson Bertie Thomson said in an email response to an AFP inquiry.

“We look forward to presenting our case in court and putting an end to this years-long dispute.”

The judge is to hear from an array of Facebook executives during the course of proceedings.

Shifting profits to low-tax countries is a routine practice by international companies, and the judge’s decision, in this case, is seen as a possible harbinger about whether that tactic will become less effective.


The tax period involved dates back nearly a decade before Facebook became a publicly-traded company and smartphones became primary devices for engaging with social media.

IRS contends that Facebook undervalued technology it licensed to its Irish subsidiary, thereby cutting the amount of money that came to the US for taxation here.

Facebook has countered that it should have valued the technology even lower, further reducing the amount paid by the subsidiary and, therefore, the amount subject to taxation in the US.

“Throughout Facebook’s history, we have worked with the IRS and complied with all applicable tax laws,” Thomson said.

“Our business has had hits and misses but we stand behind the actions taken over a decade ago during a time of great risk and uncertainty for the company.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

2,000 iPhones given for free by Japanese gov’t to passengers stuck on ship due to coronavirus

The Japanese government gave away 2,000 free iPhones to passengers stranded on a cruise ship due to the COVID-19 outbreak, caused by the novel coronavirus. The country’s health minister stated that 355 people onboard the ship have tested positive for the virus.

The smartphones were handed to each cabin so passengers could access an app made by the government, as per Macotakara via 9to5mac last Friday, Feb.14.

The said app from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will allow people on the quarantined ship to consult with a doctor. Smartphones registered outside of Japan are unable to access the app. This also prompted the ministry to hand out the devices to the passengers.

According to the report, the 2,000 devices were handed out to ensure that each cabin had one unit.

The ship arrived near the Japanese coast earlier this month with more than 3,700 people on board from over 50 countries. It was placed under quarantine after a passenger who left the vessel in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus.

The Japanese government may begin testing the travelers for the disease from Feb. 18, the captain said. Passengers with negative results will be allowed to disembark the ship starting Feb. 21.


The disease has already killed over 1,000 people and infected more than 42,000 worldwide. The World Health Organization named it COVID-19 after declaring the outbreak as a global health emergency. Ryan Arcadio/JB


source: technology.inquirer.net

France announces 1st death in Europe of COVID-19 patient

PARIS — The French health minister has announced the first coronavirus death in Europe.

French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn says Saturday that “I was informed last night of the death of an 80-year-old patient who had been hospitalized … since Jan. 25.”


The patient, a Chinese tourist from the province of Hubei, had a lung infection caused by the coronavirus. He arrived in France on Jan. 16, then was hospitalized on Jan. 25 under strict isolation measures. His condition deteriorated rapidly.

His daughter was also hospitalized, but authorities say she is expected to recover.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Amplify your Audio Experience with Astro A40 Headset

Discover a brand new love for gaming with the premier audio experience brought by Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro TR. The top-notch gaming gear was launched in the Philippines on February 7, 2020 at the Globe Esports Center (ESC) – Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City. The event was attended by gaming professionals and members of the media who participated in the Tekken 7 Show Match and Tournament respectively. Attendees were able to give an all-out performance through the superior audio experience brought by the Astro headsets.

The ASTRO A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro TR is the premier gaming audio solution that equips every gamer a complete and fully customized soundscape.  The surround sound, the game/chat balance and the equalization switching satisfy a true gamer’s strict and sensitive standards for audio fidelity, comfort and durability.  The A40 headset provides a robust gaming environment while delivering crisp and clear audio for voice chats with its swappable Boom microphone. Experience first-class comfort with just-right ear cups and padded headband that’s a perfect fit for every user.

“Having professional-level headsets elevate the performance of esports athletes, therefore, improving the overall competitiveness of the local esports scene. The A40 TR utilizes class-leading industrial design and professional gaming expertise,”  said Jan Borja, Logitech Philippines Country Manager.

For the serious live streamers and content creators, the MixAmp Pro TR is a powerful game audio tool that provides a plethora of inputs and outputs for a lag-free/interference-free operation. For the esports athlete and game developer, connecting multiple MixAmps to each other creates a local chat network for optimal team communication in tournament setups.

“The newly designed MixAmp was created to have a cleaner desk footprint, which leads to a better layout for gaming with the wires all coming out the back.  For Content creators and Streamers, this will also enhance the output of their streams and videos through sound profile capabilities of the mix amp. Our gamers can expect a spatial, immersive gaming and streaming experience,” said Wesley Yuri Lopez, Logitech Philippines Category Manager.

Local gaming idols Jhanelle Trias (Ardent Esports), Suzanne “Suzzysaur” Erasga (Ardent Esports), Jules Lozano (SGD), Alexandre “AK” Laverez and Doujin (Playbook Esports), and Alexa “Asahina” Gabriel, are raving about the latest offering from Astro. Check out their social media handles to get a glimpse of their awesome experience and stellar reviews on the Astro A40 headset and MixAmp Pro.

Better yet, try for yourself the supreme audio quality of Astro headsets at Globe, ESC – Eastwood Mall where you can purchase them right away. You can also check the A10 headset at the Logitech booth.

Logitech will be partnering with Playbook Esports to bring the Astro headsets at the Playbook Video Game Lounge and in their upcoming tournaments.

Gift your audiophile friends and loved ones this perfect Valentine’s gift priced at PhP 13,990 for a limited time only. The Astro A40 TR headset + MixAmp Pro TR (Gen 4) for Playstation and PC will soon be available at the Logitech official store in Lazada and other partner retail outlets.

Be informed and updated.  Download the LOGI Rewards PH app (available for iOS and Android).

source: technology.inquirer.net

First case of coronavirus confirmed in San Diego, California; US cases now 13

The 13th case of coronavirus in the United States was detected in California in a person under federal quarantine after returning from Wuhan, China, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday.

The adult patient was among US nationals evacuated from Wuhan, the epicenter of the disease, who were under mandatory quarantine for 14 days at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, near San Diego, the CDC said in a statement.

The individual was taken to the University of California San Diego Medical Center for observation and isolation and is "doing well," the hospital said in a statement.

A spokesman for the medical center declined to comment on the report, but said the hospital would soon be releasing a statement.

"CDC is conducting a thorough contact investigation of the person who has tested positive to determine contacts and to assess if those contacts had high risk exposures," the CDC said in a statement, without giving further details. —Reuters

Ostapenko outlasts Aussie champ Kenin in 3 sets in Fed Cup

EVERETT, Wash. — Jelena Ostapenko defeated Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in three sets on Saturday as Latvia pulled within 2-1 of the United States in its Fed Cup qualifying match.

Ostapenko beat Kenin 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to give Latvia its first point against the Americans. Ostapekno broke Kenin four times in the third set as the former French Open champion outlasted the most recent Grand Slam winner.


Serena Williams, who improved to 14-0 all-time in Fed Cup singles matches with a victory over Ostapenko on Friday night, was scheduled to face Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova in Saturday’s second singles match. The U.S. needed one more victory to clinch a spot in the Fed Cup Finals in April in Budapest, Hungary.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Sam Smith notices mysterious singer from Bacolod City

CEBU CITY, Philippines— Remember the boy from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental who went viral after belting to Sam Smith’s Too Good at Goodbyes?

Well, his viral video has reached Sam Smith himself!

Smith took to Twitter last night, February 8 and tweeted the video of the boy singing inside a mall in Bacolod City.

He tweeted, “WHO IS THIS KID!!!!!!? YOU ARE OUT OF THIS UNIVERSE WHOEVER YOU ARE <3.”

The video was first posted by netizen, Trixie Madison and quickly circulated online.

With the many shares and with how the video created abuzz online, with just four days after its posting, Sam Smith finally took notice of the video.

And with this post from Smith, the Twitter world broke and introduced the mystery singer, Carl Malone Montecido, who has already competed in Showtime’s Tawag ng Tanghalan Season 1.

Now, this is surely an exciting singing event we all can’t wait to happen. /dbs

source: cebudailynews.inquirer.net

Barnes & Noble suspends reissues of classics with new images

NEW YORK – Barnes & Noble is withdrawing a planned line of famous literature reissued with multicultural cover images that has been met with widespread criticism on social media.

“We acknowledge the voices who have expressed concerns about the Diverse Editions project at our Barnes & Noble Fifth Avenue store and have decided to suspend the initiative,” Barnes & Noble announced in a statement Wednesday.

The author Adriana Herrera had called the books, scheduled to be launched this week, “the classics in blackface.”

“Diverse Editions,” a joint project between Barnes & Noble and Penguin Random House, featured 12 texts, including Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz.”

The words are the same, but on the cover, major characters are depicted with dark-skinned illustrations by artists of “different ethnicities and backgrounds,” according to Barnes & Noble.

“Diverse Editions” was announced at a time when the publishing industry is already facing scrutiny over the novel “American Dirt” and its depiction of Mexican life and culture. “Absolute TONE-DEAF decision-making,” Mexican-American writer David Bowles, a leading critic of “American Dirt,” tweeted about “Diverse Editions.”

The decision also comes in February, which is Black History Month, an annual celebration of past and present achievement.

To much disbelief online, the organizers of “Diverse Editions” had said they used artificial intelligence in reviewing more than 100 older books and determining whether the race or ethnicity of a character is specifically stated.

Few would argue that Alice from “Alice in Wonderland” or the title characters of “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” are fitting for a tribute to black history.

“They could have Googled, chosen a dozen books by actual Black authors that are classics & sent those out with fresh covers & a big event,” author MIkki Kendall tweeted.

“Add in bringing in contemporary Black authors to discuss these works & the whole thing is a win. They didn’t do the easy or logical thing.”



In its statement Wednesday, Barnes & Noble acknowledged that the new covers were “not a substitute for black voices or writers of color, whose work and voices deserve to be heard.

“The booksellers who championed this initiative did so convinced it would help drive engagement with these classic titles,” according to the bookstore chain.

“It was a project inspired by our work with schools and was created in part to raise awareness and discussion during Black History Month, in which Barnes & Noble stores nationally will continue to highlight a wide selection of books to celebrate black history and great literature from writers of color.”

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Dating apps face US inquiry over underage use, sex offenders

A House subcommittee is investigating popular dating services such as Tinder and Bumble for allegedly allowing minors and sex offenders to use their services.

Bumble, Grindr, The Meet Group and the Match Group, which owns such popular services as Tinder, Match.com and OkCupid, are the current targets of the investigation by the United States House Oversight and Reform subcommittee on economic and consumer policy.


In separate letters Thursday to the companies, the subcommittee is seeking information on users’ ages, procedures for verifying ages and any complaints about assaults, rape or the use of the services by minors. It is also asking for the services’ privacy policies and details on what users see when they review and agree to the policies. It also seeks information on what data is collected on people, including sexual orientation, drug use and political views.

Although the minimum age for using internet services is typically 13 in the U.S., dating services generally require users to be at least 18 because of concerns about sexual predators.

“Our concern about the underage use of dating apps is heightened by reports that many popular free dating apps permit registered sex offenders to use them, while the paid versions of these same apps screen out registered sex offenders,” Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the Illinois Democrat who heads the subcommittee, said in a statement. “Protection from sexual predators should not be a luxury confined to paying customers.”

Match Group said it uses “every tool possible” to keep minors and bad actors off its services and continues to invest in technology to keep users safe. In an emailed statement, the company said the problem was broader and requires other parties, including app stores that know who their users are, “to do their part as well.”

Match added that the national sex offender registry needs to be updated so that perpetrators’ digital footprints can be tracked and blocked by social media and dating services.

Grindr and The Meet Group did not respond to messages for comment on Thursday. Bumble had no immediate comment.

Besides safety issues, the investigation also seeks to address concerns about data the services request to make matches. Such information may include sexual orientation, gender identity, political views, and drug, alcohol and tobacco use.

The subcommittee cited a report by a Norwegian consumer group this month that found that dating apps including Grindr, OkCupid and Tinder leak personal information to advertising tech companies in possible violation of European data privacy laws. The Norwegian Consumer Council said it found “serious privacy infringements” in its analysis of how shadowy online ad companies track and profile smartphone users.

In response to that report, Match had said that it shares information with third parties only when it is “deemed necessary to operate its platform” with third-party apps. The company said it considers the practice in line with all European and U.S. regulations. CL/RGA

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Waking up to music could make you more alert

Your choice of alarm sound could have an impact on your level of alertness after waking, reports an Australian study published at the end of January.

If you are not an early bird, hopping out of bed at dawn can be something of an ordeal. And the choice of the alarm that you use may be more important than you think. Researchers at the Royal Melbourne institute of Technology (RMIT, Australia), who recently published a study in the journal Plos One, have studied the impact of different types of alarm sounds and how they help dispel feelings of grogginess on waking.



The phenomenon of “sleep inertia,” as it is called, is a state of incomplete transition to wakefulness that can result in a groggy feeling that can last for up to four hours after getting out of bed. The goal of the new study was to understand how the decision to use a sound or music as an alarm can reduce the persistence of this state.

“If you don’t wake properly, your work performance can be degraded for periods up to four hours, and that has been linked to major accidents,” points out Stuart McFarlane, who led the study.

The study involved 50 adults who participated in an experiment that was specially designed for them to conduct at home. The principle consisted of recording the type of sound they used to wake up, and then assessing their level of alertness by answering specific questions related to sleep inertia.

Opt for a melody rather than a startling ‘beeping’ noise


The results showed that people who used music as an alarm had higher levels of alertness than those who opted for a strident “beep” sound. “You would assume that a startling ‘beep beep beep’ alarm would improve alertness, but our data revealed that melodic alarms may be the key element. This was unexpected,” remarks Stuart McFarlane.

“We think that a harsh ‘beep beep beep’ might work to disrupt or confuse our brain activity when waking, while a more melodic sound like the Beach Boys ‘Good Vibrations’ or The Cure’s ‘Close to Me’ may help us transition to a waking state in a more effective way,” adds Adrian Dyer, a co-author of the study.

While further research on a larger sample may be needed to support this theory, the findings of this study highlight the potential benefits of waking up to music in the fight against sleep inertia.

“This is particularly important for people who might work in dangerous situations shortly after waking, like firefighters or pilots, but also for anyone who has to be rapidly alert, such as someone driving to hospital in an emergency,” points out Stuart McFarlane. JB

AFP Relaxnews

When skincare meets makeup: Introducing the BYS Cosmetics Full Coverage line

Makeup is empowering. These days, this message rings true as the craze for cosmetics is all about creating the best version of yourself.

This is why skincare-infused makeup products are quite popular. Beauty junkies everywhere are all about makeup that doesn’t just help them change up their look but also something that helps them feel comfortable with their natural skin.

BYS Cosmetics is all about this too. That’s why they created the Full Coverage line. The skin-perfecting formula won’t just help you cover up your blemishes, it clears your skin and keeps it looking its best. Backed by customer-focused research, the Full Coverage line marries the quick solution base makeup gives with the long-term effects of various skincare ingredients.

Skincare + makeup = Power combo

The BYS Cosmetics Full Coverage line features four main ingredients to help your skin look better every time you use it.  You get the benefits of Vitamin E for hydration. Add to that the wonders of hyaluronic acid, often praised by dermatologists for keeping skin elasticity. Say good-bye to fine lines!

Aloe Vera is also in the mix for maximum levels of moisture. This helps minimize your acne outbreaks due to skin dryness and maintains the skin’s plumpness.

Coconut water, a favorite secret of the beauty world, rounds up this ensemble for its anti-aging benefits.

Formulated for your needs

In this line, you get three different formulations. All of which you can use together for a flawless and long-lasting base. You may also just use one or combine two of your liking, depending on your preference.

If you want coverage for your entire face that’s buildable without being cake-y, reach for the Full Coverage Foundation. With a pump bottle, you don’t have to worry about using too much and keeping the foundation sanitary while you’re traveling.

This works best with the BYS Primer.

Next in the line is the Full Coverage Concealer. This boasts of silky texture and a formula that suits all skin types. For “no-makeup-makeup days,” this just might what you need. Tip: You can use your normal shade for concealer, a lighter shade for a subtle highlight, and a darker shade for your contour.

If you’re in search of a powder that provides coverage and effectively sets your liquid makeup, BYS Cosmetics has the Full Coverage Pressed Powder. Like the liquid foundation, you can layer this for extra coverage. Take it with you for quick touch-ups and to control midday shine.

All three formulations are available in four shades: Ivory, Natural Beige, Medium Beige, and Sand Beige.

Kind to all

Another thing about makeup these days: It should also help make the world prettier too. This is why BYS Cosmetics is committed to keeping its products earth-friendly.

The Full Coverage Line is cruelty-free, meaning it is not tested on animals and that’s 100 percent PETA-approved. It’s You can be guaranteed you only get the good stuff as it’s vegan, paraben-free, and hypoallergenic.

Your new routine

Given the options and benefits of the Full Coverage line, your every day makeup routine just got a boost. You get long-lasting coverage without the need to worry. You can do a range of looks with a perfect base or even just use it on its own to help you show off your skin.

Plus it’s accessible: BYS Cosmetics is available at SM Beauty Stores and Watsons branches nationwide.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Kobe’s stolen jersey returned for ceremony at high school

ARDMORE, Pa.  (AP) — Kobe Bryant’s high school jersey spent more time in China of late than it did hanging on the wall of the gym named in honor of the school’s career leading scorer.

Bryant’s retired No. 33 jersey was stolen in 2017 from Lower Merion High School’s campus and eventually bought by a collector in China. Suspicious the jersey was stolen, the Kobe collector contacted the school and helped return the keepsake to suburban Philadelphia, a process already underway before Bryant was killed Sunday in a helicopter crash.


The uniform was at last back Saturday where it belonged — unveiled under a spotlight by Bryant’s cousin, his old high school coach, and a former teammate at Bryant Gymnasium.

“Good timing,” Lower Merion coach Gregg Downer said. “That was kind of an iconic moment when the spotlight went on that jersey. It was just tremendous. It was major irony, almost, how we’ve been waiting for that jersey for a long time. For a long time we didn’t know where it was. To have it back, it’s a fitting ending to a tough week.”

Outside of Los Angeles, no place was as connected with Bryant as Lower Merion. At a tribute Friday night in LA, the entire Lakers lineup was introduced the same way: “From Lower Merion High School, No. 8, Kobe Bryant.” Golfer Justin Thomas wore a Bryant No. 33 LM jersey at a tournament. The Sixers had the 33 logo on the court this week at their first home since Bryant was killed.

While NBA teams spent the ensuing days holding observances for Bryant, Lower Merion finally played its first home game and celebrated the biggest star to ever play for the Aces. Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others killed were all remembered in the pregame ceremony.

“Because of Kobe, Lower Merion High School is known all over the globe,” principal Sean Hughes told the crowd. “Despite his international fame, Kobe kept very close to our hearts. He returned here to meet with beloved (English teachers), and of course, coach Downer. He helped make this gym the wonderful facility it is. He was a strong supporter, not only of our basketball teams, but all of Aces Nation.”

The gym was packed to at least the 1,600 capacity, and students — some asking this week at school for $40 for the $3 ticket — wore black T-shirts that read “The Heartbeat of Aces Nation” with a 33 inside an ace. Sixers coach Brett Brown’s son plays on the team, connections far removed from the A-listers that packed Staples Center a night earlier in a stirring ceremony. At Lower Merion, a former student sang the national anthem. A teacher unveiled a portrait she had painted of Bryant. School administrators gave speeches.

Once the ball tipped, it was business as usual, without the 24-second shot clock and eight-second backcourt violations NBA teams have been performing to salute Bryant’s two pro uniform numbers. Lower Merion did hold 33 seconds of silence, and former teammates (and Bryant’s cousin, John Cox) gathered in a mournful circle at midcourt.

In some ways, the Aces’ 42-37 overtime win over Souderton seemed as normal as Bryant’s presence in the gym. He’s just a name between Carly Brown and Mike Venafra on a banner listing the Aces’ career 1,000-point scorers. A photo of Bryant holding the 1996 Class AAAA state championship trophy was on the wall, blending in with dozens of other great players and teams from program history.

There was even some levity during video highlights of his playing career when Bryant was shown reminiscing about his high school days, saying “the first year I got there, we went like 4 and 40 or something. We were terrible.”



Cirilo Perez drove nearly 2½ hours from Heightsville, Maryland, to pay his respects to Bryant at the memorial in front of the gym. He didn’t have a ticket to the game, he simply wanted to be part of the day devoted to his favorite player. Perez wore a Bryant jersey and left his Lakers hat at the scene, which was loaded with basketballs, cards and signs left from Bryant fans near and far.

“He put in the work and brought that blue-collar mentality that a lot of people connect with, not only here, but around the world,” Perez said. “He found a way to connect.”

Carter Knight, an assistant coach at Souderton, gathered the Indians for a team photo at the site.

“It’s real right now,” Knight said. “We’ve been talking about the ‘Mamba Mentality’ since the start of the season, so it’s crazy that we’re here today. We’ve been harping on that the entire season, that mental toughness and what Kobe brought and what he stands for.”

His former guidance counselor attended the game, recalling how Bryant’s Toyota Land Cruiser was often parked in the teacher’s lot long before the school day started.

“His smile was the greatest thing I remember,” Frank Hartwell said. “He was just an inspiration to so many, it wasn’t all about himself. He was here before school every day working on his skills. He wasn’t just in here shooting, he was working on his moves.”

Hartwell said Bryant even talked to him as he considered his biggest move — making the jump to the NBA straight from Lower Merion.

“I gave him the pros and cons but I told him, ‘It’s up to you.’ I think he made the right decision,” Hartwell said.

Bryant made the right call, starting with a Mamba Mentality that took hold in Lower Merion long before it became a marketing catchphrase.

“It was a chase of excellence like I’ve never seen,” Downer said.

source: AP

Amazon is big … really, really big; workforce hits 500K

NEW YORK — Need more proof that Amazon is big? It came this week.

Amazon’s U.S. workforce has topped 500,000 for the first time, up 43% from the year before and more than triple what it was five years ago, the company said Friday. It gained 150,000 workers last year, more than the size of Apple’s entire workforce.




When it reported its quarterly performance Thursday , Amazon revealed that 150 million people were paying to be members of its Prime service, which offers faster shipping and other perks. On Friday, even while the Dow fell 600 points, Amazon shares soared passed $2,000 apiece, doubling in price in about two years.

Amazon’s growth comes with increased scrutiny. Some Democratic presidential candidates want to break it up. Others want it to pay more taxes. It is a regular target of President Donald Trump, who has been tweeting similar complaints as he fights with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post. Amazon has said it shouldn’t be broken up, and that it pays all the taxes it owes.

Being under the microscope has not slowed its phenomenal growth. Sales during the holiday season soared. Its other businesses, including cloud computing and advertising, grew, too, despite increased competition from other big tech companies.

Analysts at Benchmark said the results were a “not-so-subtle reminder Amazon is still king.”


After retreating from a proposed new headquarters location in New York City because of local opposition, it has ramped up hiring across the country, including New York City. Amazon said it has 30,000 workers in tech offices outside of its Seattle home, in cities such as Chicago, Denver and Austin, Texas. That group of workers is up 50% in the last year and a half, Amazon said.

It has also increased hiring at its warehouses and delivery centers, where orders are packed and shipped.

Worldwide, Amazon had 798,000 employees by the end of last year. Only one American company beats Amazon in the size of its workforce: retail rival Walmart, which employs 1.5 million in the U.S. and more than 2 million worldwide.

Walmart, however, took 35 years to build a workforce of similar size to Amazon today. Amazon reached the milestone in 24 years, more than a decade sooner.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Mourning for Mamba

Meryl Streep had a simple message on Instagram following the death of a former National Basketball Association superstar: “RIP Kobe Bryant #mrylstreep #kobebryant #50cent”

The award-winning actress added a photo of her, Bryant and rapper 50 Cent taken courtside in 2014 during a Los Angeles Lakers game against the New York Knicks.


Eerily, the photo posted on Instagram by 50 Cent was taken on Jan. 26, 2014, a Sunday and carried by People on Jan. 27, 2014, a Monday. Bryant’s helicopter crashed on Jan. 26, also a Sunday, killing him, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven others.

The rapper captioned the photo, “Things got a little gangsta.” He said of another shot of him and Streep sitting courtside: “Man, I got a good life lol.”

Somber Degeneres

The usually ebullient talk-show host Ellen Degeneres was serious, subdued and fought hard not to cry the day after Kobe Bryant’s death. Jan. 26 was her birthday. Here are excerpts from an Instagram video of the opening for her Monday show:“Yesterday was supposed to be a celebratory day, then we got the tragic news about Kobe Bryant and everything changed in a second. And that’s what I want to talk about. Life is short and it’s fragile, and we don’t know how many birthdays we have … (if) you don’t have a birthday to celebrate just celebrate life and if you haven’t told someone you love them, do it now. Do it. Tell people you love them. Call your friends. Text your friends. Hug them. Kiss them.”

Hurting

Kaley Cuoco, who starred on television’s hit sitcom “Big Bang Theory,” posted on Instagram: “Been sitting here for a few hours completely gutted by this news… Kobe–this one is gonna hurt for a long, long time. I feel so lucky being able to witness your brilliance courtside so many times, including your record-scoring game. I loved basketball because of you. I compared every athlete to you. You made your mark on this earth and will always be the GOAT. My future children will know it was you! Deepest prayers for Kobe, Gigi, Vanessa, their three daughters, the entire Bryant family, and the additional lives that were also lost in today’s tragedy.”

Prayers for Kobe

Stage and screen actor Rita Wilson, wife of Tom Hanks, posted: “My prayers go out to @kobebryant’s wife Vanessa, his surviving daughters, their parents and families. Prayers also to the other families who lost loved ones in the crash. Heartbreaking. Psalm 23:4 ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net