Earthquake in the Philippines May 1, 2013

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted Luzon, Philippines on Wednesday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Earthquake in the Philippines May 1, 2013

According to Phivolcs, the quake struck at 1:38 p.m and centered at 76km northeast of Jomalig, Quezon. It has a depth of 95km and was tectonic in origin, it added.

There were no immediate reports of people being hurt or property being damaged due to the temblor. The Institute, however, said that it is expecting aftershocks from the earthquake.

The Philippine Archipelago sits on the "Ring of Fire," a zone of tectonic activity around the Pacific Ocean that is subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

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Aldrich Lloyd Talonding Amazes Ellen DeGeneres

Aldrich Lloyd Talonding, a 14-year-old boy from the Philippines, amazed American TV host Ellen DeGeneres with his rendition of "Dance With My Father."

Aldrich Lloyd Talonding and James Bucong (Youtube)

On Monday's episode of her talk show, DeGeneres featured the Filipino kid's cover of Luther Vandross and invited him over to her show.

"Last week, I saw this video of a young singer. He's from the Philippines. You got to see this kid. Amazing!," she gushed before the clip was played.

"How beautiful is that. That soul in the little boy. I'm looking for you. Please come here and sing to me and all of my friends here. You are amazing," said DeGeneres, who apparently is still searching for information about the talented Noypi.

Over a week ago, NoypiStuff contacted Aldrich's sister, Sharla Mae Talonding, who said that they are from General Santos City and that they are Blaan natives. The Blaan people are one of the indigenous groups of Southern Mindanao.

She added that their father is a pastor and the older guy, who is playing the guitar on the viral video, is their cousin, James Bucong.

Check out Aldrich and James' "Dance With My Father" video below:

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Cinema One Originals 2013 Finalists Announced

The finalists for the Cinema One Originals Festival 2013 have been revealed.

A total of fifteen films from a new breed of talented Filipino directors were selected this year. Five of them fall on the Cinema One Plus category, which will be granted a P2-million production budget, while the rest comprise the Cinema One Currents category, receiving 1 million worth of production budget.

The movies in the Cinema One Plus category include the following:

"Kabisera" by director Borgy Torre tells the action-packed story of one man’s transformation from a naïve innocent citizen to a ruthless father and friend, eventually leading him into the bottomless pit of the drug trade.

"Blue Bustamante" by director Miko Livelo is a family drama-comedy that focuses on the story of an OFW who suddenly becomes jobless in Japan. A friend introduces him to a Sentai director who convinces him to be a double for Blue Force, a superhero character in an upcoming Japanese show.

"Sitio" by director Mes de Guzman is a psychological drama about a family who moves from the city to the province in search of a simpler life, only to find more problems and setbacks instead.

"Alamat ni China Doll" by director Adolf Alix, Jr. tells the dramatic story of a woman named Helen who lives with her grandmother in an idyllic island down south. At the age of 25, she is hopeful about finally graduating from high school and starting a new life. However, an article entitled “China Doll” reveals details about a controversy and turns things around for Helen. Screenplay is by award-winning director Lav Diaz.

"Woman of the Ruins" by director Keith Sicat” is a mystery drama in which on a storm-ravaged island, a person assumed dead reappears and ignites a frenzy of reactions, ranging from ecstatic religious fervor to fear.

Under the Cinema One Currents category, the 10 films are:

"Angustia" by director Kristian Cordero, is set in the 19th century Bicolandia where a Spanish friar falls for a woman of indigenous origins.

"Ang Pagbabalat ng Ahas" by director Timmy Harn delves into a lower middle-class family who moves to an upper middle-class village where a mad scientist is keeping a snake-man captive.

"Islands" by director Whammy Alcarazen, an experimental/science-fiction, is about a spacecraft that lands through the geographies of a fictional film entitled “Islands,” and the reality in which it is that is depicted as as a movie.

"Bukas Na Lang Sapagkat Gabi Na" by director Jet Leyco is a four-part narrative of three related occurrences sparked by an accident that happens to a Filipino-Spanish priest.

"Iskalawags" by director Keith Deligero, a comedy, is an aching coming-of-age tale of friendship and youth set in a small town in Cebu.

"Suffocating Eternity Of An Imagined Purgatory" by director Joseph Laban is a horror story about missing kids in Marinduque who are believed to have been kidnapped by spirits of the sea.

"Philippino Story" by director Benjamin Garcia is a cautionary tale that reveals the dangers and drama behind male prostitution.

"Shift" by Siege Ledesma tells the story of an idealistic, tomboyish, call center slacker who is mentored by a pragmatic, gay senior agent. Their interaction develops into an unconventional relationship that eventually challenges their most personal convinctions.

"Bendor" by director Ralston Jover is set in Manila’s Quiapo Church 40 days before the annual Good Friday procession of the miraculous 400-year-old Black Nazarene statue. An early morning mass is disrupted when a candle vendor finds a blood-soaked box containing a dead fetus.

"Riddles of my Homecoming" by Davao-based director Arnel Mardoquio presents an insight into the lives of Lumads and Moros of Mindanao as it depicts the belief that when a person dies, his soul returns to his homeland.

This line-up of films is proof that local filmmakers are taking things to whole new heights.

The Cinema One Originals Festival will showcase all 15 new films this coming November. Stay tuned for more information about the Cinema One Originals Festival 2013.

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Michigan Mom Disappears: Jessica Heeringa Case Reclassified As Abduction

The case of the Michigan mom who vanished during a shift at a gas station has now been reclassified by the police as an abduction.

Michigan Mom Disappears

The Norton Shores Police Department said 25-year-old Jessica Heeringa went missing while working at the Exxon Mobil gas station on 1196 E. Sternberg Road late Friday evening. She was preparing to close the store when the incident occurred.

NSPD officers were dispatched to Heeringa's workplace after a 911 call from customers who found no employees present at the gas station. They discovered Heeringa's purse and other belongings, which were all undisturbed. No money was missing from the cash drawer.

Heeringa is described as a white female, 5’1 tall, approximately 110 lbs., blond shoulder length hair, and blue eyes. She is also known to wear wired rim glasses and she may be wearing a blue collared shirt saying "Sternberg Exxon."

Authorities are now searching for a silver minivan, possibly a Chrysler Town and Country, that was seen in the area of the Exxon station prior to Heeringa's disappearance.

The driver is described as a white male, approximately 30-40 years old, around 6 feet tall, medium to heavy build, broad shoulders, light brown or sandy blond wavy hair parted in the middle and slightly longer on top, wearing a bright red or orange sweatshirt. 

There were no security cameras operating at the station at the time of Heeringa’s disappearance.

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10 Band Members Die In Crash

At least 10 members of a Mexican band were killed and five others were injured in a car crash in northern Mexico on Saturday, authorities said.

10 Band Members Die In Crash

The members of the La Reyna de Monterrey music group were returning to Monterrey after playing in a bar in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas when the driver of the vehicle they were in fell asleep at the wheel, veered over into the other lane and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer.

The accident took place on the road that links the Mexican industrial city of Monterrey with the U.S. border city of Laredo.

La Reyna de Monterrey played the musical genre known as Banda music. 

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Taylor Swift's $17 Million Mansion Paid In Cash (Photo)

Taylor Swift's new $17 million mansion in Rhode Island was paid by the singer in cold cash, TMZ reported Saturday.

Swift $17 Million Mansion In Rhode Island

The gracious oceanfront estate was originally listed for about $20 million and Swift got a good deal by eventually only paying $17.75 million.

The award-winning songstress reportedly wired the money over straight away and movers were spotted transferring her belongings early on Saturday.

The 11,000-square-foot home stands on 5.23 acres of land in the seaside village of Watch Hill, RI. It has 8 bedrooms, 8 large fireplaces, and a Pebble Tec outdoor pool.

Months prior to the purchase, Swift reportedly made almost $1 million profit from selling her Cape Cod-style home in Hyannis Port, Mass. near the Kennedy compound, after splitting with Conor Kennedy. She stayed in the mansion for only seven months while still in relationship with Kennedy.

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Adventure Time's Finn And Jake To Visit Ayala Malls

If you missed to attend the Adventure Time event at SM Mall of Asia last week, don't fret no more!

Adventure Time Live At Ayala Malls

You can catch Finn and Jake in a series of meet-and-greet events at Ayala Malls across the country starting next month. Experience the fun and excitement on the following dates:

Glorietta Mall in Makati: May 2-3
Greenbelt in Makati: May 11-12
TriNoma Mall in Quezon City: May 18-19
Harbor Point Mall in Olongapo City: May 23-24
Market! Market! in Taguig City: May 25-26
Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City: June 1-2
Marquee Mall in Angeles City: June 8-9
Ayala Center in Cebu City: June 15-16
Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City: June 22-23
Abreeza Mall in Davao City: June 28-29

During the event, you can also grab a copy of Adventure Time DVD.

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KBP Golden Dove Awards 2013 Winners Bared

The KBP Golden Dove Awards 2013 winners have been announced at an awarding ceremony held at the Star Theater in Star City Complex, Pasay City on Friday, April 26.

KBP Golden Dove 2013 Winners

ABS-CBN Corporation is once again the biggest winner this year, bagging most of the awards, including the Best TV Station for ABS-CBN and Best Radio Station for DZMM.

ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Charo Santos-Concio received the KBP Lifetime Achievement Award while "TV Patrol" anchor Ted Failon took home the Ka Doroy Broadcaster of the Year Award.

As in the past editions of the awards, GMA-7 did not win anything since it is not a member of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the association of the broadcast media in the Philippines which organized the annual Golden Doves.

Check out below the partial list of winners of the 21st Golden Dove Awards:

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS

    KBP Lifetime Achievement Award: Charo Santos-Concio
    Ka Doroy Broadcaster of the Year Award: Ted Failon

BEST STATIONS
    Best Television Station: ABS-CBN
    Best AM Radio Station: DZMM
    Best FM Radio Station: Monster Radio RX93.1

BEST PROGRAMS
TELEVISION
    Best Newscast: "TV Patrol" (ABS-CBN)
    Best Public Affairs Program: "Patrol Ng Pilipino" (ABS-CBN)
    Best Variety Program: "Sarah G. Live" (ABS-CBN)
    Best Children’s Program: "Wansapanatym" (ABS-CBN)
    Best Magazine Program: "Rated K" (ABS-CBN)
    Best Science and Technology Program: "Convergence" (Net25)
    Best Sports Program: "Sports Unlimited" (ABS-CBN)

RADIO
    Best Public Affairs Program: "Failon Ngayon" (DZMM)
    Best Comedy Program: "Countdown Top 7" (RX93.1)
    Best Sports Program: "Sports Talk" (DZMM)

BEST PERSONALITIES
TELEVISION
    Best Magazine Program Host: Korina Sanchez (ABS-CBN)
    Best Newscaster: Cheryl Cosim (TV5) noypistuff
    Best Public Affairs Host: Anthony Taberna (ABS-CBN)
    Best Actress for Drama Program: Janice de Belen, "Ina Kapatid Anak" (ABS-CBN)
    Best Actor for Drama Program: Gerald Anderson, "Budoy" (ABS-CBN)
 
RADIO
    Best Newscaster: Julius Babao (DZMM)
    Best Public Affairs Program Host: Karen Davila (DZMM)
    Best Music Radio Jock: Tom Alvarez (RX93.1) noypistuff
    Best Science & Technology Journalist: Louie Tabing (DZMM)

BEST PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSA’s)
    Best Television PSA: "Choose Philippines: Penumbra" (ABS-CBN)

BEST STATION PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
    Best TV Station Promotional Material: "Lumiliwanag Ang Mundo Sa Puso Ng Pasko"(ABS-CBN)

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Netizen JV Stays On Top Of Voters' Choice

The way the surveys are reporting voter preferences for the May 13 senatorial elections, the online community is sure to have one strong advocate in the Senate in the person of UNA Senatorial candidate JV Ejercito Estrada.

In last week’s SWS-W Survey, San Juan Representative JV Estrada was steady in the winning circle, at # 7-8, despite being on the opposition slate, and having to cut down on his campaign ads due to financial constraints.

The very active netizen tweeted this in reaction to the SWS results of the April 13-15 fieldwork: "I am still thankful that I am still in the winning circle in the latest SWS-BW survey. This survey period was when my political ads went off the air because of financial reasons. Still lucky to be in the magic 12 inspite of the problems we in the opposition encounter."

Cong. JV Estrada has been consistently in the winning column of all surveys since he declared and filed his candidacy in October 2012. In the latest StratPolls finding released 16 April 2013, the younger Estrada is at #4-5, sharing the spot with fellow UNA candidate Nancy Binay. In the October 2012 poll of Stratpolls, Estrada was at #7, with 37% of respondents saying they would vote for him then.

In other polls, Estrada’s numbers show that he is one of the top voters’ choices. Social Weather Stations’ March 2013 survey placed him at #3, up from #9-10 in the SWS February poll. Pulse Asia opinion polls pegged him at #5 in January and #9 in March.

The numbers don’t lie, especially when you see the numbers across a 6-month period. Issues and attacks notwithstanding, Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada is headed towards the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines.

An Estrada win for the Senate means the netizens will have a very active voice in the Senate, having established a record for action in Congress as a fighter and a results-oriented legislator. During his 3 years in the 15th Congress, Rep JV Estrada was at the forefront of key issues, from pushing for higher budgets for State Universities and Colleges to the final crafting and passage of the Kasambahay Bill to the sustained effort to have the Freedom of Information Act signed by the President. The young lawmaker noted that the Cybercrime Law contains provisions which practically permits the state to suppress freedom of speech and persecute its political foes.

His social network presence is part of his means of connecting with his constituents, and staying in touch with the pulse of the citizenry, especially the youth. He said being an active netizen enables him to be up to date with the latest trends and other developments concerning young people.

"Youth development is one of my advocacies as a public servant. So being able to interact with students on a daily basis through Twitter and Facebook allows me to identify their needs and help them," the solon said.

Estrada’s online engagement over the last 3 years has built a following of 102,480 on Facebook and 20,837 on Twitter, most of whom comment and share his posts regularly. This loyal following has also netted him a Klout score of 74, as compared to Pres Aquino’s score of 80, and President Erap Estrada’s 83.

The netizen is ready to bring the online issues to the Senate, and it looks like the voting public believes JV Estrada is a must-have voice in the Senate for netizens and citizens alike.

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Sichuan Earthquake: Over 4,000 Aftershocks Recorded After Deadly Temblor In China

The deadly Sichuan earthquake that hit over the weekend has produced more than 4,000 aftershocks, the China Earthquake Administration said Wednesday.

Sichuan Earthquake Shakemap (Source: USGS)

Over 100 aftershocks were above magnitude 3.0, including four between the magnitudes of 5.0 and 5.9, it said.

Officials said there have clearly been more aftershocks following the Sichuan earthquake than other quakes of similar magnitude.

According to latest data, the death toll from the 6.6-magnitude quake in Lushan county in Sichuan province has climbed to 193, with 25 still missing. Some 12,300 were reportedly injured during the quake.

The epicenter of Saturday's earthquake was about 130 kilometers southwest of the 8.0-magnitude quake that also struck Sichuan, at Wenchuan county in 2008, which killed over 69,000 people.

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Sarah Geronimo Is SMDC's Newest Endorser

Sarah Geronimo is the latest endorser of the local residential condominium developer, SMDC.

Sarah Geronimo Newest SMDC Endorser

"In addition to Anne Curtis we welcome Sarah Geronimo as our new endorser, now we have two of the Philippines' top celebrity endorsers!," reads a tweet from the official Twitter account of SMDC.

According to SMDC, the Popstar Princess has the "girl-next-door" appeal which can help them attract the mass market to their new projects.

Geronimo will not replace Curtis, who will still be the group's face for its mid and high-end condominium properties.

SMDC will be launching a new campaign featuring its new brand ambassador after the elections next month.

Sarah Geronimo is really on top of her game right now. She definitely can help the group achieve its goals.

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Sungha Jung Philippine Tour 2013: Youtube Sensation To Perform In Cebu, Manila

Korean Youtube sensation Sungha Jung will be visiting the Philippines in June to perform before his Noypi fans.

Sungha Jung Live In Manila, Cebu 2013

On June 14, 2013, the 16-year-old finger-style guitar virtuoso from South Korea will be at J Centre Convention Hall in Mandaue City, Cebu. The next day, he will be performing at the Newport Performing Arts Theater Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.

Tickets to Jung's concerts will be available at TicketWorld outlets and online at ticketworld.com.ph.

Hailed by many guitar lovers and musicians around the world as one of the finest young finger-style guitarists, Sungha Jung does not just display high level of technical skill but also brings artistically mature interpretation to the songs he plays. He is now one of the most sought-after acoustic guitar players on Youtube with his videos receiving over 666 million views and more than 1,667,000 subscribers as of April 2013.

Check out one of Jung's viral Youtube videos below:

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Criminology Board Exam Results April 2013 List Of Passers

The Criminology Board Exam Results for April 2013 have been released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Tuesday, ten days after the last day of the exam.

Criminology Board Exam Results April 2013

According to the PRC, a total of 5,701 out of 13,484 examinees successfully passed the Criminologist Licensure Examination given by the Board of Criminology in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga this April 2013.

It added that the registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on May 9, 10 & 14, 2013. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2013-2016. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees are yet to be announced.

Check out the list of passers of April 2013 Criminology Board Exam below:

• Performance of schools in the April 2013 Criminologist Licensure Examination
• List of successful examinees who garnered the ten (10) highest places
• List of successful examinees in the April 2013 Criminologist Licensure Examination

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Yeng Constantino's 'Gwiyomi' Goes Viral (Video)

Yeng Constantino is the latest celebrity to catch the "Gwiyomi" fever.

The "Hawak Kamay" singer gave in to the insistent requests from her fans and created her own version of "Gwiyomi" or "Kwiyomi," an internet meme wherein one performs a series of cute hand movements to the tune of the song of the same title. She posted it on Sunday night to her Facebook page, where it amassed more than 50,000 likes in just 2 hours.

As of this posting, which is 20 hours after Yeng uploaded it to the popular social networking site, the video has attracted about 140,000 likes and more than 45,000 shares. A Youtube upload of her cover is also collecting thousands of views.

Yeng is not the first Noypi celeb to jump into the "Gwiyomi" bandwagon. Heart Evangelista, Vice Ganda, Teejay Marquez, Kylie Padilla, Ella Cruz, Alodia Gosingfiao also have their own viral "Gwiyomi" videos.

Check out Yeng's Gwiyomi cover below:

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Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaking Tonight - PAGASA

The Lyrid Meteor Shower will be peaking tonight, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaking Tonight (Photo: NASA)

Although not numerous, Lyrids are bright and fast meteors. The shower typically generates a dozen meteors per hour under optimal conditions with a brief maximum that lasts for less than a day, PAGASA said.

It is not going to be a good idea to watch the meteor shower during predawn as the bright Gibbous Moon will drown out fainter meteors, the state weather bureau added.

Tonight is only the beginning of the peak of the display and it can still be viewed in the next few nights.

The Lyrid Meteor Shower has been observed for more than 2,600 years. Chinese records show that "stars fell like rain" during the meteor shower of 687 B.C. However, in recent times, the Lyrids have generally been weak.

The radiant of the meteor shower is located in the constellation Lyra, near this constellation's brightest star, Alpha Lyrae; hence they are also called the Alpha Lyrids and sometimes the April Lyrids.

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FAMAS Awards 2013 Winners Revealed

The winners of the FAMAS Awards 2013 were announced in a ceremony held at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Sunday night, April 21.

The biggest winner of the night was the Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo biopic, "El Presidente," which swept all the technical awards and bagged the Best Picture, Best Director (Mark Meily), Best Actor (ER Ejercito) and Best Supporting Actor (Cesar Montano) awards.

The Best Actress went to Kapamilya star Angel Locsin for her role in the MMFF entry, "One More Try," while veteran actress Jacklyn Jose took home the Best Supporting Actress trophy.

The FAMAS Awards are being handed out annually by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences and honor excellence in acting and filmmaking during the past year. It is now on its 61st year.

Check out the list of FAMAS Awards 2013 winners below:

Best Picture: "El Presidente"
Best Director: Mark Meily, "El Presidente"
Best Actress: Angel Locsin, "One More Try"
Best Actor: ER Ejercito, "El Presidente"
Best Supporting Actress: Jacklyn Jose, "A Secret Affair"
Best Supporting Actor: Cesar Montano, "El Presidente"
Best Child Actress: Barbara Miguel, "Migrante"
Best Child Actor: Miguel Vergara, "One More Try"
Best Screenplay: "El Presidente"
Best Cinematography: "El Presidente"
Best Editing: "El Presidente"
Best Sound and Musical Score: "El Presidente"
Best Original Theme S0ng: "El Presid3nte"
Best Story: "El Presidente"
Best Production Design: "El Presidente"
Best Special Effects: "El Presidente"
Advocay Film Award: 'Larong Bata"
Presidential Award for Cinematic Arts Excellence: Nora Aunor
Arturo M. Padua Memorial Award: Cristy Fermin
Dr. Jole Perez Memorial Award: Butch Francisco
Grand Award: MMDA and MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino
Special Recognition Award: German Moreno noypistuff
German Moreno Youth Achievement Award: Ruru Madrid, Xian Lim, Joyce Ching and Janella Salvador
Exemplary Award for Public Service: Victor B. Endriga, PhD and Dean Amado Domingo Valdez
Champion of Humanitarian Service: Dr. Ricardo B. Pascasio
Great Shape Award: Benjamin Alves
Celebrity Skin of the Night Award: Maxene Magalona

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PCSO Lotto Results April 20, 2013

The lotto results for April 20, 2013 are to be announced by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) at 9p.m., tonight.

PCSO Lotto Results April 20, 2013

Tonight's draws include the Grand Lotto 6/55, 6/42 Lotto, Swertres Lotto, 6-Digit Lotto and the EZ Lotto.

The jackpot prize for the Grand Lotto has not been won in last few draws, hence it has accumulated to more than P120 million.

Nobody won the P6 million pot money during the last draw for the 6/42 Lotto as well and thus, it is expected to grow even bigger.

Will the two games yield another set of millionaires, tonight?

The results of the said lottery games will be posted below:

Lotto Game	Combinations	Draw Date	Jackpot	Winners
6Digit	4-3-9-7-6-4	4/20/2013	2,964,949.98	0
Swertres Lotto 11AM	2-7-8	4/20/2013	4,500.00	482
Swertres Lotto 4PM	2-8-6	4/20/2013	4,500.00	399
Swertres Lotto 9PM	8-9-5	4/20/2013	4,500.00	731
EZ2 Lotto 9PM	07-25	4/20/2013	4,000.00	535
Lotto 6/42	33-15-25-12-31-19	4/20/2013	9,633,472.20	1
EZ2 Lotto 11AM	17-09	4/20/2013	4,000.00	122
EZ2 Lotto 4PM	27-04	4/20/2013	4,000.00	201
Grand Lotto	07-27-48-53-11-31	4/20/2013	132,004,796.40	1

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Katherine Webb Quits 'Splash' Due To Injury, Replaced By Louie Anderson

Katherine Webb quits "Splash" (Photo Youtube, ABC)

Katherine Webb was forced to leave ABC's celebrity diving competition, "Splash," because of an injury.

During an interview on Tuesday afternoon with Robin Leach of Las Vegas Sun, Webb was asked about the injuries everyone in the competition sustained and she said, "I already have mild scoliosis in my upper-mid back, so just landing wrong into the water really hurt. For any diver, you land in the water and you get back up again, and you try to perfect your dive. So in training, I would land wrong, but it put too much pressure on my back. I saw a doctor, and he gave me recommendations. And you will see on the show coming up what happens.

"It gets more difficult in the weeks to come because you are challenged to do even riskier dives. With risk comes success or failure. It has been an experience. But before you ask for more, let me just say it is a case of stay tuned!"

During Tuesday's episode, Webb revealed that she went to her doctor and was unfortunately told that she is out of the competition due to her injury.

Because of this, a recently eliminated diver, Louie Anderson, has made his comeback to replace her. But it seems that the pool isn’t really meant for Anderson as well at the moment as he himself decided to pack up and go home instead of competing against Brandi Chastain. Things seem to not go so well behind the scenes.

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Teachers Board Exam Results March 2013 List Of Passers

The Teachers Board Exam Results for March 2013 have been released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Thursday, April 18, 2013.

Teachers Board Exam Results March 2013

According to the PRC, a total of 10,310 elementary teachers out of 37,117 examinees (27.78%) and 15,223 secondary teachers out of 38,433 examinees (39.61%) successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (L.E.T.) given last March 10, 2013 in 14 testing centers all over the Philippines and Hong Kong.

The results of examination with respect to thirty three (33) examinees were withheld pending final determination of their liabilities under the rules and regulations governing licensure examination, it said.

It also announced that the registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on April 29, 2013. The requirements for the issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card (ID) are the following: 1) duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal; 2) latest Community Tax Certificate (Cedula); 3) metered documentary stamp for the Oath Form; and 4) the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2013-2016. Successful examinees should PERSONALLY register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

The schedule and venue of the oathtaking ceremonies of the new successful examinees are yet to be announced.

Check out the list of passers, topnotchers, and performance of schools in the March 2013 Teachers Board Exam below:

• List of passers in the March 2013 Teacher Licensure Examination (Elementary Level)
• List of passers in the March 2013 Teacher Licensure Examination (Secondary Level)
• Performance of schools in the March 2013 Teacher Licensure Examination (Elementary Level)
• Performance of schools in the March 2013 Teacher Licensure Examination (Secondary Level)
• List of successful examinees who garnered the ten (10) highest places (Elementary Level)
• List of successful examinees who garnered the ten (10) highest places (Secondary Level)

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Philippine Lotto Results April 17, 2013

The Philippine Lotto results for April 17, 2013 will be drawn at 9pm tonight by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Tonight's draw is extra exciting since the jackpot prize for the Grand Lotto 6/55 is now over P100 million. The Mega Lotto 6/45 may also yield another multimillionaire for its pot has accumulated to P12 million.

Other draws tonight include the daily Swertres and EZ2 Lotto and the 4-Digit Lotto game.

Are you feeling lucky tonight? Watch out for the results here on NoypiStuff later. The table below will be updated with the results once they are announced.

Lotto Game	Combinations	Draw Date	Jackpot	Winners
Megalotto 6/45	27-02-45-30-33-07	4/17/2013	19,304,550.00	0
4Digit	8-8-4-9	4/17/2013	28,352.00	30
Swertres Lotto 11AM	8-3-9	4/17/2013	4,500.00	550
Swertres Lotto 4PM	7-0-9	4/17/2013	4,500.00	299
Swertres Lotto 9PM	5-1-8	4/17/2013	4,500.00	1163
EZ2 Lotto 9PM	15-24	4/17/2013	4,000.00	451
EZ2 Lotto 11AM	06-30	4/17/2013	4,000.00	205
EZ2 Lotto 4PM	07-21	4/17/2013	4,000.00	220
Grand Lotto	38-21-04-24-06-19	4/17/2013	120,150,324.00	0

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Earthquake In The Philippines April 17, 2013

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck Mindanao, Philippines on late Wednesday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Earthquake In The Philippines April 17, 2013

According to Phivolcs, the quake hit at 5:51pm and centered at 6km southwest of Carmen in North Cotabato. The temblor, which was 9km deep and was tectonic in origin, was felt at the intensities:

Intensity V - Carmen, North Cotabato
Intensity III - Kidapawan City, Davao City, Cotabato City, Cagayan de Oro City; Makilala, Kabacan, Pikit and Matalam,
Libungan, North Cotabato; Datu Odinsinsuat, Maguindanao
Intensity II - General Santos City; Magpet and M'lang, President Roxas, North Cotabato; Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; Libona, Bukidnon;
Butuan City; Iligan City

There were no immediate reports of damage and casualty from the quake.

The Philippine Archipelago lies in the "Ring of Fire," an area in the Pacific where continental plates collide, causing frequent quakes.

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Beer Brain Study: Taste Alone Triggers Release Of Pleasure Chemical Dopamine

A new study suggests that the taste of beer alone is enough to trigger the release of dopamine in the brain, even without the effect of alcohol itself.

Beer Brain Study: Taste Of Beer Triggers Dopamine Release

Using a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, researchers at the Indiana University observed the chemical changes in the brains of 49 men after they drank 15ml of beer and again when they tasted Gatorade, the energy drink.

The scientists found that much more dopamine activity occurred after tasting beer than after tasting the sports drink. The effect was even greater among men who had a family history of alcoholism.

Dopamine is a brain chemical associated with the pleasurable experience of consuming alcohol and other drugs.

"We believe this is the first experiment in humans to show that the taste of an alcoholic drink alone, without any intoxicating effect from the alcohol, can elicit this dopamine activity in the brain's reward centers," said Dr. David Kareken, professor of neurology at the university's School of Medicine and the study's senior author.

Published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, the beer study also revealed that people often experienced greater cravings for beer after tasting the alcoholic beverage. This did not occur after tasting the sports drink, even though many thought this tasted better than beer.

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Mystery Man On Roof During Boston Marathon Bombing Ignites Speculations

A mystery man spotted on the roof of a building during the Boston Marathon bombing has sparked some speculations.

Mystery man on roof (Youtube screengrab)

Monday's bombing incident in Boston was thought to be a total shock to everyone around the world more than all the other "more horrifying" news on the same day and time span. But as the investigation continues, pieces of the story unfold, and many versions of the incident were heard, with one that says there may be more to this incident than what it seems to appear.

Among the most controversial and one that stirred a lot of speculation was a photo taken by one spectator named Dan Lampariello, showed a man on the roof on one of the buildings nearest the blasted site. Many questioned the identity of this man. People thought of him as one of the perpetrators and others thought he was an officer on watch. Whichever identity the mystery man held, one conclusion was evidently convincing to most of the concerned people – the man on the roof signifies that the authorities expected the explosion.

Another mind-tickler was a claim made by an eyewitness named Ali Stevenson, a University of Mobile’s Cross Country Coach who said authorities "must have known" of a threat because they announced a drill beforehand and had spotters on the roof at the start of the race.

"At the starting line this morning, they had bomb sniffing dogs and the bomb squad out there," Stevenson told Local 15 News. "They kept announcing to runners not to be alarmed, that they were running a training exercise."

"Evidently, I don’t believe they were just having a training exercise, they must have known. They must have had some sort of threat or suspicion called in," adding that spotters were stationed on roofs of buildings and that bomb sniffing dogs were going up and down the finish line.

In an interview with CNN, a state government official said there were no credible threats before the race.

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NASCAR Suicide: Man Kills Self With Gun At NRA Sprint Cup Race

A man committed suicide using a gun at the National Rifle Association-sponsored NASCAR race in Texas late on Saturday, local authorities said.

NASCAR Suicide

What was supposed to be a fun, heartbeat-racing event at the infield of Texas Motor Speedway at Fort Worth turned bloody as a Texas man, Kirk Franklin, killed himself during the NASCAR 500 Sprint Cup race.

According to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office, the 42-year-old man from Saginaw, Texas used a gun to shoot himself at the head and died at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Daniel Segura, the spokesperson for Fort Worth Police Department, said that Franklin allegedly had a heated argument with some other onlookers during the race before the said incident took place.

Track spokesperson, Mike Zizzo, shared that the incident may have happened "in or around a pickup truck" but later online police report revealed that Franklin’s body was found at the back seat of a truck.

Before this incident, the NRA was already involved in a controversy regarding title sponsorship of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race. This will only add to the difficulties they’re facing. What’s worse, it has always been well-known that the Texas law doesn’t allow firearms at the race tracks. As to why and how Franklin got in with the gun in his possession in the first place remains a wonder.

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French Guy Sings 'Pinoy Ako' On Youtube

A young French guy made an awesome cover of the Filipino song, "Pinoy Ako," on Youtube.

Hugo Lieber, a 16-year-old lad from Paris, France, has done a number of covers but with his latest one, he decided to do the Tagalog song, which was originally sung by Orange and Lemons for the reality TV show "Pinoy Big Brother."

NoypiStuff contacted the talented singer to ask what made him cover the song; if he personally knew anyone from the Philippines; or if he actually has Filipino blood in his veins and if he knows how to speak the Filipino language. Here’s what he has to say as response to these questions:

"First of all, thanks for your support!! Yes, I know a Filipino who works for my family and knows I sing. He suggested I do a song in Tagalog, and after hearing Pinoy Ako, I loved the tune, found the chords, and decided to cover it. I'm not at all Filipino, I'm French-American, and I only know a few words in Tagalog. I'm just very open to other cultures and languages, and thought it would be fun to cover a Filipino song!"

Check out Hugo's rendition of "Pinoy Ako" below:
Great job and salamat, Hugo! Mabuhay ka!

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Grand Lotto 6/55 Result April 15, 2013 (Philippine Lottery)

Grand Lotto 6/55 Result April 15, 2013

The Grand Lotto 6/55 result for April 15, 2013 will appear on this page after they are drawn by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The jackpot for tonight's PCSO Grand Lotto draw is expected to breach the P100 million mark as noone had the winning combination last Saturday.

Other Philippine Lotto Games to be drawn tonight are the Mega Lotto 6/45, Swertres Lotto, 4-Digit Lotto and EZ-2 Lotto.

The results will be posted below upon their announcement. Please refresh this page later for updates.

Lotto Game	Combinations		Jackpot	Winners
Grand Lotto 6/55	50-37-05-33-01-29		P110,182,500.00	0
Mega Lotto 6/45	42-41-44-18-26-30		P15,225,728.45	0
Swertres Lotto 11AM	9-9-8		4,500.00	235
Swertres Lotto 4PM	5-0-7		4,500.00	442
Swertres Lotto 9PM	9-7-1		4,500.00	728
4-Digit	7-2-8-2		61,034.00	17
EZ2 Lotto 11AM	11-09		4,000.00	208
EZ2 Lotto 4PM	05-08		4,000.00	255
EZ2 Lotto 9PM	29-01		4,000.00	247

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Miss Russia Haters: Kazakhstan-Born Beauty Criticized For 'Not Being Russian Enough'

Miss Russia haters want to dethrone Kazakhstan-born beauty

The recently concluded 2013 Miss Russia beauty pageant has raised a lot of eyebrows and has enraged some critics as the stunning contestant number 13, Elmira Abdrazakova, gracefully made her way successfully to the top and won the crown.

The 18-year old brunette beauty queen was alleged of being "not Russian enough" to deserve the title and is now placed at the center of online dreadful racism campaign.

Elmira came from one of the country’s ethnic minorities and was herself born in Kazakhstan.

With all the hate mails and vile online attacks towards her, her family and the ethnic minority she belongs to, the beauty queen was forced to deactivate her social networking accounts.
But coming to her senses, she stood up and talking to Sky News said: "The nationality question, I don't really understand it. I don't understand why men would write to a young girl offensive things about her nationality.

"It humiliates first of all not me, but those people who write it. It was bizarre for me when men were writing things like that to me, I was surprised we have people of that sort here," she said.

The racial abuse she received from her critics failed to bring her down completely. She just hoped that her story and success would motivate others who are born and are still living in poverty.

"Maybe some girls will look at me and get inspired by my experience to grow, to develop, to work hard. I hope they can see that in life you can reach something without big money,” she said.
The alleged “real beauty among sheep” will be working hard and prove her worth as she will still be representing Russia for the Miss World beauty pageant.

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Suicide Counseling Hotline Launched In Philippines

Cases of suicide in the Philippines have been triggering major alarm because of its rampantly increasing rate over the past few months. Because of this, Jean Goulbourn, along with her Board of Trustees, founded the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (NGF), "a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing depression to light through the use of educational lectures, confidential crisis lines and referrals to partner psychologists."

Suicide Counseling Hotline (NoypiStuff File Photo)

NGF, which authored a Training Manual and Handbook for the Information and Crisis Intervention Centers (ICICs), has sought the aid of local carrier Globe Telecom to establish a "Hopeline" to reduce growing incidents of suicide because they said that although the media are swift to report about such incidents, many suicide cases in the country still remain concealed due to lack of information as well as due to the shame that goes with the act.

The telco is leveraging on technology intrinsic to its business to take some actions about the alarming cases of suicides in the country. This is according to Rob Nazal, the Head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility,

"We want to drive public awareness on the availability of a Globe-provided hotline dedicated to assist and support callers in crisis due to depression or suicide issues as well as those who are not necessarily in immediate crisis but may need help to prevent it from occurring or escalating," Nazal said.

In their efforts to further launch a nationwide campaign of mental fitness and health, the NGF have partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) along with top schools such as University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College. They are currently working on partnering with several cities, civic organization and psychology clinics so that they can further our mission.

The hopeline for ICIC is 0917-588-HOPE (4673) and a toll-free number 2919 for Globe and TM subscribers has been operational since late March.

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Ariella Arida Crowned Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2013

Ariella Arida took home the most sought-after title in the 2013 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, the Miss Universe-Philippines.

Ariella Arida (Photo courtesy of Raymond Saldaña)

The 24-year-old Alaminos, Laguna native bested 49 other lovely ladies from all over the country to bag the coveted crown, which earned her the right to represent the Philippines in the 2013 Miss Universe tilt. She also won the "Best in Swimsuit" award.

During the Question-and-Answer portion, Arida was asked about what life lesson can women teach men.

She responded, "One lesson in life that we, women, can teach men is being sensitive. Because we all know that men are more logical when it comes to decisions. They usually are more rational, straight forward. Unlike we, women, we use our heart and we tend to get emotional in some of our decisions... For me, sensitivity is something that we can teach men."

Arida graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of the Philippines-Los Banos. She previously competed in the 2012 Miss Earth Philippines. 

Check out the other winners and special awardees in this year's Bb. Pilipinas competition here: http://noypistuff.blogspot.com/2013/04/bb-pilipinas-2013-winners-results.html

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Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Winners, Results

The Binibining Pilipinas 2013 winners will be crowned tonight in a glittering coronation night being held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Winners, Results

This year, fifty lovely Filipinas from across the country are vying for four coveted titles, the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2013, the Binibining Pilipinas-International 2013, the Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism 2013 and the Binibining Pilipinas-Supranational 2013. The new title holders will be representing the Philippines in three prestigious international beauty competition in the upcoming months.

The results of this year's competition will be posted below:

Miss Universe Philippines 2013: Candidate #41 Ariella Arida (Alaminos, Laguna)
Bb. Pilipinas-International 2013: Candidate #20 Bea Rose Santiago (Masbate City)
Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism 2013: Candidate #16
Joanna Cindy Miranda (Rizal, Nueva Ecija)
Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational 2013: Candidate #39 Mutya Johanna Datul (Santa Maria, Isabela)
Bb. Pilipinas 2013 1st Runner-Up: Candidate #15 Pia Wurtzbach (Cagayan de Oro)    

TOP 15 SEMIFINALISTS:
Candidate #12 Camille Carla Nazar (San Miguel, Bulacan)
Candidate #13 Charmaine Elima (Binangonan, Rizal)
Candidate #22 Ellore Noelle Punzalan (Cagayan de Oro)
Candidate #25 Merry Joyce Respicio (Bocaue, Bulacan)
Candidate #31 Maria Angelica de Leon (Lobo, Batangas)
Candidate #33 Parul Shah (san Nicolas, Pangasinan)
Candidate #34 Grace Yann Apuad (Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur)
Candidate #43 Rhea Nakpil (San Mateo, Rizal)
Candidate #45 Imelda Schweighart (Puerto Princesa City)
Candidate #46 Amanda Noelle Navasero (Makati City)

SPECIAL AWARDS:
Best in Evening Gown: Candidate #39 Mutya JOhanna Datul
Best in Swimsuit: Candidate #41 Ariella Arida
Cream Silk Beyond Beautiful Woman: Candidate #16 Joanna Cindy Miranda
Binibining San Miguel Zero Fit and Sexy Body: Candidate #15 Pia Wurtzbach
Binibining Avon: Candidate #20 Bea Rose Santiago
Binibining PAGCOR: Candidate #45 Imelda Schweighart
Miss Friendship: Candidate #21 Lourenz Grace Remetillo (Iligan City)
Miss Talent: Candidate #10 Anna Carmela Aquino (Taytay, Rizal)
Best in National Costume: Candidate #37 Alaine Baccay (Cabanatuan City)
Miss Photogenic: Candidate #39 Mutya Johanna Datul
Manila Bulletin Readers' Choice Awardee: Candidate #22 Ellore Noelle Punzalan
Binibining Petron: Candidate #16 Joanna Cindy Miranda

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Teen Dies Playing Chicken With Amtrak Train In California (Photo)

A California teen lost his life playing chicken with Amtrak train on Thursday.

Teen dies playing chicken (Instagram Photo)

The San Lorenzo High School community is grieving since one of the school's students got hit and killed in an instant by a northbound Capitol Corridor train while playing chicken with his two friends.

Austin Price, a 15-year-old sophomore, failed to leap out of the train's way in time to avoid getting struck last Thursday at 6:00 p.m., police said. His two friends were not hurt in the incident.

Signs on the fence separating the school and the tracks were placed to serve as constant reminder and warning to the community not to walk too close to these tracks.

"It's an ongoing concern," said Principal Tovi Scruggs regarding the location of the school being near the train tracks and the fact that the entire community walks near these tracks and students are hanging around them often on a daily basis.

"Tragedies don't happen frequently, but we know the tracks are not staying empty," the principal added.

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Binibining Pilipinas 2013 Winners To be Crowned On April 14

The Binibining Pilipinas 2013 winners will be crowned on April 14 in a glittering production of the pageant's grand coronation night to be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

Binibining Pilipinas 2013 Winners To be Crowned On April 14

To celebrate its golden anniversary, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. selected fifty official candidates this year to vie for the three most sough-after crowns - the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2013, the Binibining Pilipinas-International 2013, and the Binibining Pilipinas-Tourism 2013. The new winners of the titles will represent the Philippines in three prestigious international beauty competition this year.

The coronation night is expected to be graced by former beauty queens including former Miss Universe queens Gloria Diaz and Margie Moran, and former Miss International winners Precious Lara Quigaman, Aurora Pijuan and Melanie Marquez.

The event will be telecast on ABS-CBN on Sunday night.

Update: Check out the list of Binibining Pilipinas 2013 winners and special awardees here: http://noypistuff.blogspot.com/2013/04/bb-pilipinas-2013-winners-results.html

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Meat Recall Expanded: More Manda Products Recalled Due To Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination

The meat recall announced by Baker, Louisiana-based Manda Packing Company has been expanded to include approximately 468,000 pounds of meat products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Friday.

Meat recall expanded

FSIS was alerted to the problem by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, who took an intact sample of cooked roast beef at a retail establishment on April 5, 2013, which later confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

From just roast beef products, the meat recall has been expanded because of additional samples from additional production dates which returned positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

Various weights of the following products are subject to recall:

Roast Beef: Manda Supreme, Four Star Cajun, Four Star, Cajun Prize, Manda Supreme Natural, Manda Natural, Manda New Orleans Style, Manda Whole Wet Pack, Manda, S&W, LA Pride, Leblancs, Thompsons, Christiana, Manda Italian, Deli Pride, Chef Master, Scariano, Marques, and Cajun Rite;

Ham: Manda, Cajun Prize, Leblancs, Four Star, Christiana, S&W Ham, Thompsons, Chef Master, and Rouses;

Turkey Breast: Leblancs, Manda, Cajun Prize and Christiana Turkey;

Corned Beef: Manda and Four Star;

Pastrami: Manda and Four Star;

Hog Head Cheese: Manda Hog, S&W, Rouses, and Big Cajun;

Tasso Pork: Manda, Diversified and Rouses; and

Ham Shanks: Manda Ham Shanks.

Each package bears a "Sell By" date of May 13-June 22, 2013 and an establishment number of "EST. 8746A".

According to the FSIS, these products may have been sliced at retail delis, and if so will not bear this packaging information. The products were shipped for further distribution, for sale at retail, and to retail deli stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Media and consumers with questions about the recall should contact Josh Yarborough, Director of Quality Assurance and Food Safety, at (225) 344-7636, ext. 59.

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Netbooks Doomed: Small Laptop Computers In The Brink Of Extinction By 2015?

Netbooks are doomed to extinction by 2015, a report says.

Netbooks doomed to oblivion in 3 years?

For some period of time the hottest computer product that sold in tens of millions of units each year, netbook computers, are now marking the last of their days, with tablets rapidly conquering the computer industry causing their shipments to go down to virtually none after next year, according to an IHS iSuppli Compute Electronics Market Tracker Report from information and analytics provider IHS.
   
Statistics shows shipments of netbooks this year are forecast to amount to just 3.97 million units, a great decline of 72 percent from 14.13 million units in 2012. The market for the small, lightweight and inexpensive laptops had made a steady climb to the top for three years from the time they were first introduced in 2007, made its peak in 2010 when shipments hit as high as 32.14 million units. But since Apple’s iPad, however, the netbooks' fame had collapsed and gone into rapid decline.

According to the report, next year will be the last blow for netbooks on the market, with shipments amounting to a mere 264,000 units. By 2015, netbook shipments will be down to zero.

"Netbooks shot to popularity immediately after launch because they were optimized for low cost, delivering what many consumers believed as acceptable computer performance,” said Craig Stice, Senior Principal Analyst for computer platforms at IHS. "Initially intended for light productivity tasks such as web browsing and email, netbooks eventually became more powerful, taking advantage of a mature PC technology that allowed cost-effective implementation of various functionalities. And though never equaling the performance of full-fledged notebooks and lacking full laptop features like an optical drive, netbooks at one point began taking market share away from their more powerful cousins. However, netbooks began their descent to oblivion with the introduction in 2010 of Apple’s iPad."

The tablet market has boomed at a rate that has astounded even the industry analysts. Last year, its shipments conveniently surpassed industry estimates and this year, analysts believe that the market will record its best year ever as tablets unceasingly continue to take sales away not only from netbooks, but also from more powerful notebooks and desktop computer models.

"The iPad and other tablets came in a new form factor that excited consumers while also offering improved computing capabilities, leading to a massive loss of interest in netbooks," noted Stice.

The major manufacturers and suppliers of notebooks will have already ended netbook production at this point. Whatever production is left is expected to be limited, or manufacturers will simply be shipping last-time builds to fulfill contractual obligations to customers.

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Two-Headed Pig Born In Chinese Village (Photo)

Two-Headed Pig (Photo courtesy of AFP, NBC News)

Following recent news on the discovery of a two-headed bull shark, Mother Nature has surprised us with yet another one of her showcase of weird creations, this time, a two-headed piglet reported to have been born in China.

It was reported that in a village in Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi province, an AFP photographer was able to capture on camera the birth of a piglet with two heads. A photo taken last April 10, 2013 showed that this two-headed piglet has two snouts, two ears and a shared eye between its two heads.

Sadly, this unique creature may not have much time to live on this earth. A local veterinarian checked this animal out and told the AFP news agency that the pig is suffering a rare deformity which is most likely the same condition as the other recently reported two-headed species have.

This rare condition, called polycephaly or "axial bifurcation," is a result of an incomplete or interrupted splitting process of an embryo into two separate organisms. Because of this condition, more complications might cause this creature to die even before it can reach adulthood.

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