Hong Kong Reports Bird Flu Outbreak

Posted by Wayne | Tuesday, December 09, 2008


Hong Kong's top health official says that three dead chickens found at a farm have tested positive for bird flu and 80,000 chickens would be slaughtered.

Official York Chow said Tuesday that chicken imports would immediately be suspended for 21 days. He says the three birds that tested positive had the H5 virus. Further tests are being done to see if the birds had the deadly H5N1 strain.

Hong Kong's biggest bird flu outbreak was in 1997, when the H5N1 strain jumped to humans and killed six people. That prompted the government to slaughter all 1.5 million poultry in the territory.

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Web Users Banned From Wiki Page Over Nude Girl

Posted by Wayne | Tuesday, December 09, 2008


Several Internet service providers have blocked users from accessing a Wikipedia page about a German hard rock band, after a watchdog warned that a photo of a naked girl on it could be illegal.

The online encyclopedia has slammed the clampdown on its page about The Scorpions, which it says leaves most Britons unable to edit entries and affected the website's performance.

According to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) which monitors potentially illegal content, the Wikipedia Scorpions entry was added to its blacklist of websites because of what was "considered to be a potentially illegal indecent image of a child under the age of 18".

The photograph in question was an album cover of the German band's 1976 album "Virgin Killer."

The IWF said it had passed the information to a partner watchdog overseas, without specifying which one, as well as a law enforcement partner, before "the specific (webpage) was... added to the list provided to ISPs and other companies in the online sector to protect their customers".

According to the IWF, its list is used on a voluntary basis by 95 percent of British-based residential ISPs.

The Wikimedia Foundation, of which Wikipedia is a part, criticised the decision, saying that the IWF had not only blocked the specific image, but the entire article as well.

It stressed it did not believe the article or the image were illegal anywhere in the world, adding that the IWF move was blocking users with British ISPs involved from editing any Wikipedia pages.

"The IWF didn't just block the image; it blocked access to the article itself, which discusses the image in a neutral, encyclopedic fashion," said Wikimedia Foundation head Sue Gardner in a statement from San Francisco.

"The IWF says its goal is to protect UK citizens, but I can't see how this action helps to achieve that -- and meanwhile, it deprives UK internet users of the ability to access information which should be freely available to everyone.

"I urge the IWF to remove Wikipedia from its blacklist," she added.

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The Hollywood Reporter on Friday named U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey the most powerful woman in entertainment on its annual "Power 100 List."

Winfrey, whose "Oprah" talk show began in national syndication 22 years ago, played a role in the victory of President-elect Barack Obama by endorsing him early in his run and by supporting him throughout the campaign.

Elizabeth Guider, editor of The Hollywood Reporter, remarked on Winfrey's "immense cultural influence" and said she could be "the most influential woman in America."

Winfrey, 54, jumped from the No. 6 spot on the entertainment trade paper's 2007 list to No. 1 this year. The Hollywood Reporter noted that a study by University of Maryland economists found Winfrey's support for Obama won him more than 1 million votes nationwide.

Winfrey's production company, Harpo Inc., made $345 million last year. She overseas an empire that includes her TV show, a magazine and an online store.

Anne Sweeney, president of Disney-ABC Television Group, was given the No. 2 spot on the list after coming in top a year ago. Sweeney oversees her company's news, entertainment and daytime divisions, along with its cable and publishing branches.

Amy Pascal, chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group, won the No. 3 spot on the list.

Other women listed included actress Angelina Jolie, at No. 24, who has bolstered her public image with philanthropic endeavors; comedian Tina Fey, No. 51 in part for playing Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, in wildly popular TV impersonations during the election campaign; and 16-year-old pop star Miley Cyrus, who has a Disney franchise built around her and rounded out the list at No. 100.

The Top 10 in the Women in Entertainment Power 100 list are;

1. Oprah Winfrey, chairman of Harpo Inc.

2. Anne Sweeney, president of Disney-ABC Television Group and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks

3. Amy Pascal, chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group and co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment

4. Nancy Tellem, president of CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group

5. Stacey Snider, co-chairman and CEO of DreamWorks
6. Bonnie Hammer, president of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions

7. Judy McGrath, chairman and CEO of MTV Networks

8. Mary Parent, chairman of MGM Worldwide Motion Picture Group

9. Dana Walden, chairman of 20th Century Fox Television

10. Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment

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My friends and I have spent many a long night brainstorming that magic formula of characteristics that drives the ladies wild. It is impossible to know just what the mixture is supposed to be, but is there one characteristic that can work alone to make a guy really attractive?

Here are the nine characteristics we've come up with:

Sense of Humor

Everyone says how important sense of humor is, and I have learned to look for it in women. I am lucky enough to be able to make women laugh, but I'm still super single.

Trustworthy

Trust is the holy grail of a relationship. It takes years to build it, and it is so delicate. There are few things that take so long to attain that can be destroyed so quickly. So a lot of us may finally settle on a very trustworthy person when we finally find that.

Kindness

This seems like a no-brainer, but I've seen plenty of girls stay with guys who don't treat them well. So, I'm thinking that most women look for a nice guy, but the fact of the matter is that mean guys seem to get girlfriends too-and at a better rate than nice guys.

Money

I admit it: I sometimes envision myself marrying rich and sitting there doing nothing. I could lie out on my wife's yacht and host lavish parties and hear about how crazy the Roaring 20's were, when my wife's friends were my age. Money is definitely high on a lot of people's list: remember when Anna Nicole Smith married that really old rich guy? I doubt it was because she thought he was hot, funny, or great in the sack.

Super Hot

As much as we hate to admit it, the first thing we notice about someone else is how good or bad they look. But one of the first lessons we learn in the dating world is as beautiful as someone is on the outside, they could be ugly on the inside.


Confident

Confidence is based on a lot of these characteristics. You are confident if you are talented, super hot, intelligent, or wealthy most likely. But confidence also enables you to treat people better, so you are kind and trustworthy as well. Because confidence includes so many of these other characteristic, it may just be the one major thing women look for in a man.


Talented & Passionate

When someone possesses a special skill, such as visual art or guitar virtuosity, they get tons of girls. People like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Tom Brady can go out with anyone they want because they are skilled. Heck, I'd go out with them. Usually skill occurs in tandem with passion, another attractive quality. When someone is really good at something, but not "hot," it makes sense that they can still attract a lot of women. It's less annoying to see someone like this in a relationship than it is to see a rich mean guy in a relationship.

Intelligent

I am intimidated by women who are more intelligent than I am (which explains why I'm intimidated by about 97% of the female population). For a lot of people, intelligence is sexy. When someone is stupid, it's frustrating and boring, which is enough to drive someone away.

Convenient

One can argue that convenience is a huge driver for a relationship. Does he live near you, is he "ready" to be in a relationship, does he want to have kids or not? Everything matches up correctly. Sure, he may not be the best-looking guy or have a lot of money, but it's just what you need and it's been a long, difficult search.

If we put these characteristics on a pie chart, what would get the biggest piece of the pie with you? Again, some of these characteristics occur together: intelligence and wealth, talent and passion, kindness and generosity, convenience and wealth.

How often do women care about superficial things like money? It's scary, but sometimes I fear that no matter how funny I am, if I had lots of money I could date any cute girl I wanted.

How do all of these characteristics shake out for you when choosing a boyfriend, and are there any you'd add to the list? Does confidence just take all of these characteristics into consideration?

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Fresh from his conquest of "Golden Boy" Oscar de la Hoya, Filipino boxing champ Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao will take a break before returning to the Philippines this Wednesday.

On his way back to Los Angeles from Las Vegas, Pacquiao said Monday morning he is due to arrive in Manila aboard a Philippine Airlines flight at 5 a.m. Wednesday.

"Bakasyon muna, darating ako riyan Wednesday (I'll have my vacation first, then I'll arrive there before dawn on Wednesday)," Pacquiao said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He said he plans to go to his home in General Santos City to celebrate his 30th birthday December 17.

He then thanked anew God and the Filipino people for his victory, to whom he dedicated his latest ring conquest.

"Nagpapasalamat ako taospuso sa mahal na Panginoon at nagpapasalamat ako sa buong sambayanang Pilipino sa pagdarasal nila. Narinig ang dasal natin. Ito ang karanagalang natamo ko di lang sa atin kundi para sa ating mga Pilipino, para sa ating bansa kahit saang sulok ng mundo lahat ho tayo mga Pilipino (I thank God and the Filipino people's prayers for this victory. Our prayers were answered. I dedicate this victory to God and the Filipino people)," he said.

On the other hand, Pacquiao declined to comment on his next opponent, saying it is too early to tell at this time.

"Masyado pang maaga, malayo pa naman (It's too early to tell, it's a long time before my next bout)," he said.

Pacquiao recalled thinking he had the fight in the bag as early as after the second round, when he controlled the tempo of the bout.

He said his coach Freddie Roach told him before the ninth round to "knock him out, finish him."

After the bout, Pacquiao recalled telling De La Hoya, "this is just work, nothing personal," to which De La Hoya replied, "you're the best, you're a great fighter, keep up the good work."

Pacquiao then told De La Hoya, "even if I beat you you're still my idol," but dela Hoya told him, "no, now you're my idol."

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Fujitsu U810 Ultraportable Tablet

Posted by Wayne | Sunday, December 07, 2008

Laptop + Ultra Mobile PC + Tablet = Fujitsu LifeBook U810. Think this mini-sub-tablet Ultra Mobile PC laptop as the Swiss army knife of ultra portable computing.

Fujitsu U810 Ultraportable Tablet Technical Specifications

Processor : Intel A110 800MHz
Memory : 1GB DDR2
Harddrive : 40GB
OS : Windows Vista Premium
Weight : 1.2
Screen : 5.6 inches
Screen resolution : 1024x600
Graphic Card : Mobile Intel Express 945GM
Battery Life : 3

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HOROSCOPE - December 8, 2008

Posted by Wayne | Sunday, December 07, 2008

Jupiter has always been about taking things to the extremes. This generous, benevolent fat cat hooks up with Venus, the love goddess of the heavens, and what gets amplified is our capacity to give of ourselves. Friendship, romance and family connection are only a few of the ways love will show up in our lives. Enjoy the abundance of feeling.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Family is depending on you and their request aren’t exactly easy to fulfill. This one is important, though. Use your resources, however mighty or small, to get it accomplished.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The buildup to an event is getting a bit ridiculous. Could the actual happening possibly meet your expectations? Probably not, but this is an important part of your process. Revel in possibility.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re thinking about what it would take to make more money. You have an intellectual obstacle inside you that forbids you to earn more than you think you are worth. Upgrade your self-image and your income will follow suit.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Personal life brings so much satisfaction that you are unruffled by the little blips and blunders you run into at work. Regardless of what happens, the correctness of your priorities will bring health, relaxation and peace.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You want to hear the ideas of others, though sometimes your demeanor is intimidating enough to scare them off. Temper your responses and resist the urge to give your point of view at every juncture.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (DEC. 8). You’re a giver. People come to you with their problems because you have the best solutions around. You approve plans and make decisions over the next three weeks. In February you’ll be surprised by an overwhelming romantic gesture. May features acquisitions and employment opportunities. Leo and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 32, 19, 4, 52 and 17.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll have to be pretty savvy and quick in order avoid getting trapped into an obligation. The reason you are being pursued is because others sense that you feel good about who you are.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). If your relationships had balance sheets you would know by the bottom-line numbers whether they were healthy or suffering. There is nothing so concrete to draw from, so you must be truthful with your feelings.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll be presenting yourself and your ideas to great effect. You have a strong instinct about how you should appear, what to wear and which actions to choose. Stick with your own natural style and you can’t go wrong.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You realize how every moment is how it should be. This breakthrough frees you from the futile toil of trying to change what is. Stress melts away and you’re able to maintain a relaxed state of readiness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re being favored by the heavens and also by the people around you. Evidence that you are loved is all around you. One indicator could be a boatload of cash or other generous gift from a fan of yours.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You can be realistic when it’s appropriate, but you’re not tied to the limits of the everyday world. On a moments whim you take off to the far reaches of your wild imagination and you are completely free.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your independent streak leaves you standing alone, which is better for you now anyway. Just make sure you’re in front of the group and not lagging behind. You’re a leader in the making.

THE VENUS/JUPITER CONJUNCTION: As far as planets go, Venus is quite a personality. She’s vivacious and sensual with seductive charms of every variety up her sleeve – if she’s wearing a sleeve. I like to picture the planet Venus as Botticelli did in his classic painting of 1482, The Birth of Venus. This painting is astrological, as it shows Venus on the day she was born. She rises from the sea green waters of Portovenere standing in half of a clamshell. The zephyrs, winged creatures of spiritual passion, blow her ashore. A fellow goddess rushes to her side to give Venus a flowing gown. Venus looks to be all of 18 on the canvas, and that’s part of the love goddess’s magic – she‘s never had an awkward stage, as she was born in her prime and remains so for all of eternity. As Jupiter Venus in the sky today, all of her loveliness is amplified. Notice how much more attractive and open you feel during this conjunction. The aspect is exact today; however, its effect will be strongly felt for the next three days. When these major planet align, love multiplies exponentially. Any action taken in the name of goodwill ripples out to positively affect the entire universe.

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