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Monday, December 31, 2012

Batangas Today: Comet Coming in 2013: Comet C/2012 S1 Could be Brighter than The Moon, Astronomers Say

Batangas Today: Comet Coming in 2013: Comet C/2012 S1 Could be Brighter than The Moon, Astronomers Say


Comet Coming in 2013: Comet C/2012 S1 Could be Brighter than The Moon, Astronomers Say

Posted: 30 Dec 2012 08:20 PM PST

Comet

Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON)
Image Credit: Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero
& Nick Howes/Remanzacco Observatory

A newly discovered comet will make its closest pass by Earth in 2013 and may be visible to naked eye when it draws near, according to Space.com reports, December 31, 2012.

Based on reports, the discovery of the object named Comet ISON was announced September 24 by Russians Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok who detected the comet using telescope of the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON).

The comet, officially known as C/2012 S1 bears a striking resemblance to that of the "Great Comet of 1680", according to astronomers. Also, ISON could be "brighter even than the full moon" when it passes by Earth, according to British astronomer David Whitehouse.

Moreover, reports said comet ISON will be barely visible to the unaided eye in October 2013.

On October 16 the comet will be passing very near both Mars and the bright star Regulus , while in November, it could be as bright as third-magnitude when it passes very close to the bright first-magnitude star Spica in Virgo.

In addition, based on reports, November 28 will likely be most interesting since the comet will have its closest approach to sun.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Batangas Today: Queen honoring Stella McCartney; Olympic athletes, Peter Higgs included in New Year 2013 honor list

Batangas Today: Queen honoring Stella McCartney; Olympic athletes, Peter Higgs included in New Year 2013 honor list


Queen honoring Stella McCartney; Olympic athletes, Peter Higgs included in New Year 2013 honor list

Posted: 29 Dec 2012 09:34 PM PST

The British Queen is honoring Stella McCartney; scientist Peter Higgs, London 2012 Olympic athletes and coaches; celebrities, along with other individuals with achievements that gave pride and honor to United Kingdom. The Queen New Year 2013 honors list was released on Saturday, December 29, 2012

Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney
Image Credit: AP

As noted at CabinetOffice.gov.uk that day, Queen Elizabeth II honors 1,068 individuals in different fields including Education, Sports, Science and Technology, Politics, Arts and Media, Health, Public Service, Industry and Economy, and Community Services, from among the 1,223 people that was recommended.

According to the announcement, 286 individuals were awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM), 535 people for Members for the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and 247 others for Officers for the Order of the British Empire (OBE); where 725 of them came from performing community services.

Stella McCartney, who was awarded OBE, is the daughter of former Beatle member Sir Paul McCartney and Linda. The 47-year old fashion designer designed the uniform worn by the British Olympic team during the London 2012 Olympics. She was awarded as Designer of the Year earlier this month.

Peter Higgs, a multi-awarded scientist known for his works on the so-called God particle (or Higgs boson), becomes Companion of Honour (CH). Higgs, 83, is only the people in the field of Science and Technology included in this year’s Queen New Year honors list, which composed of 2.5% of all the awardees.

In the field of sports, London Olympic gold medalist and Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and Ben Ainslie, noted as the most decorated sailor after winning gold medals in four consecutive Olypmic Games, were among those awarded into knighthood. Paralympic cyclist and Olympic gold medalist Sarah Storey becomes a dame.

On other hand, gold medalists Mo Farah, Victoria Pendleton, Jessica Ennis, and Katherine Grainger receive the honor of Commander for the Order of the British Empire (CBE). All in all, 123 athletes, coaches, and sports performance directors were awarded, which composed of 10% of all the awardees.

Meanwhile, actor Ewan McGregor was awarded OBE and singer Kate Bush receives CBE. Former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ judge Arlene Phillips was also given CBE for her services to dance and charity. Illustrator Quentin Blake and industrial designer Kenneth Grange were both went into knighthood.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Pinoy Manila

Pinoy Manila


Celebrates the 2013 New Year Countdown at Eastwood City, with Iyaz and other musical luminaries

Posted: 29 Dec 2012 03:32 PM PST

Megaworld Lifestyle and Eastwood City invite everyone to welcome the New Year...

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Batangas Today: Pet chicken saves couple from burning house in Wisconsin

Batangas Today: Pet chicken saves couple from burning house in Wisconsin


Pet chicken saves couple from burning house in Wisconsin

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 08:49 PM PST

A pet chicken saves couple while their house was on fire in Wisconsin on Thursday, December 27, 2012, apparently reminding us to always be kind to animals. After all, they can be our unlikely hero. The hero chicken named Cluck Cluck has proven that not only dogs are the so-called man’s best friend.

Cluck Cluck pet chicken that saves couple

Dennis Murawska, with Cluck Cluck, the pet
chicken that saves couple from fire

Image Credit: WEAU.com video

According to a report at WEAU.com, Dennis Murawska, who lives in East Moore Road near Alma Center, and a neighbor of the couple, told them that the incident happened at around 6:15 a.m. that day. Firefighters said that people inside the house did not know about the fire because the smoke detector did not work.

“I’ve heard animals waking people up but not a chicken,” Murawska, 59, told the report, adding that he found Cluck Cluck one day in their backyard being chased by dogs. The chicken, which had an amputated foot, could not produce eggs and was about to be killed, but the couple decided to keep her on their basement.

“She said she heard the commotion of the chicken and all that stuff,” Murawska added, referring to his neighbor’s wife, noting that the cat also started to make noise when the fire is spreading. The couple got up when they heard Cluck Cluck clucking aloud and saw the fire, and immediately left the house for safety.

Meanwhile, Alma Center Fire Chief Jeff Gaede told the news that the fire was too huge that it can be clearly seen while they were halfway to make the rescue. Although there was nothing left on the two storey house and everything inside totally turned to ashes, the couple was safe, along with the hero chicken and the cat.

“I guess at first I was really amazed, we’ve never run into a chicken before. You always run into a dog or cat or something.” Gaede was quoted as saying, adding that he is also surprised how the couple escaped from the fire. He said the fire started in the attic area of the garage, but the cause of fire is still under investigation.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Batangas Today: “Leno called ‘most insecure’ person, Oprah interviews David Letterman, talks about feud with Jay Leno (Video)” plus 2 more

Batangas Today: “Leno called ‘most insecure’ person, Oprah interviews David Letterman, talks about feud with Jay Leno (Video)” plus 2 more


Leno called ‘most insecure’ person, Oprah interviews David Letterman, talks about feud with Jay Leno (Video)

Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:07 AM PST

Jay Leno was called the ‘most insecure’ person by no other than his long-time rival David Letterman, who was recently interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, as shown in the sneak peak video below. With that, the so-called David Letterman-Jay Leno feud seems to be heating up again, which has been ongoing for many years.

David Letterman Jay Leno Oprah

Jay Leno (left), with Oprah Winfrey and David
Letterman in 2010 on the Super Bowl XLIV ad

Image Credit: AP/CBS

Letterman, 65, who has been hosting the late night television talk show Late Show with David Letterman on CBS since 1993, talked to Oprah on her Oprah: The Next Chapter show and shared his views on his troubled marriage and how it was repaired, as well as his “feud” with rival night show host Jay Leno.

“I’ve never met anyone quite like Jay. And I will say — and I’m happy to say — that I think he is the funniest guy I’ve ever known. Just flat out, if you go to see him do his night club act, just the funniest, the smartest, a wonderful observationist and very appealing as a comic.” David Letterman tells Oprah.

“Therefore, the fact that he is maybe the most insecure person I have ever known… I could never reconcile that.” Letterman added, denying that their ‘feud’ started when NBC have chosen Jay Leno over him to replace Johnny Carson in the night talk show back in 1992.

Apparently, David Letterman also had a much-publicized feud with Oprah Winfrey for around 16 years that started way back in 1989. Letterman once said in an interview that he and his then-girlfriend Regina had a “free lunch” and that he told the waiter that Oprah will be the one to pay for their lunch.

The Oprah Winfrey-David Letterman feud ended in February 2005 when Oprah appeared on “The Late Show.” In 2007, Oprah again appeared on the show to promote the CBS coverage of Super Bowl XLI. In 2010, Letterman, Leno, and Winfrey, were together at the show during the CBS coverage of Super Bowl XLIV.

Meanwhile, the full Oprah Winfrey interview of David Letterman will be shown at Oprah‘s OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) on Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 9 p.m. ET.


Oprah Winfrey interviews David Letterman (Video may not be available in some areas)
Video Credit: OWN via Daily Mail

Man eats 28 raw eggs in one sitting in exchange of money, dies shortly after

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 08:43 PM PST

A young Tunisian man eats 28 raw eggs (uncooked eggs) in one sitting on Wednesday, December 26, 2012, after he was offered money in exchange; but died afterwards and did not even reached the hospital alive. While reports did not mention if he also ate the egg shells, it can be assumed that he did not.

raw egg

Raw egg
Image Credit: Batangas Today

As reported at Shems FM, a private radio station in Tunisia on the same day, Dhaou Fatnassi, 20, of El Baten, a city in Kairouan, accepted a dare of eating 28 raw eggs in exchange of an undisclosed of amount of money as a bet in front of his friends, and successfully won the challenge.

According to the report, it did not take long and he had severe stomach pains and later collapsed. He was immediately rushed to Kairouan Kairouan Hospital but died halfway. There was no official statement of the cause of death, and local authorities are still conducting a thorough investigation on the incident.

While uncooked eggs can be eaten just like Sylvester Stallone did in his Rocky movie, they can also cause food poisoning since they may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria, which is very dangerous. Medical practitioners suggest that one should not eat raw eggs that already passed the expiration date.

Although a report at MedicalDaily.com says that about every 1 in 30,000 eggs may contain the bacteria, it cannot be detected through smell or by looking at them. Some suggest that bad eggs do not float in water and should not be consumed, while others say raw eggs should be mixed with a little sugar and cocoa powder.

Nevertheless, it is always better to eat cooked eggs instead since they have a lot of health benefits, including protein and good for those under diet. But of course, it is always best to take extra precautionary measures before accepting a challenge.

2,750-year-old temple discovered near Jerusalem, ancient animal figurines found

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 07:02 PM PST

A 2,750-year-old temple was recently discovered in Israel, near Jerusalem by archaeologists connected to the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA), along with a cache of vessels and ancient animal figurines, as shown in the photo below.

Animal figure temple

A horse figure, among those found inside
the 2,750-year-old temple

Image Credit: Antiques.org.il

According to a recent press release by the IAA on its official website, archaeologists found the ancient temple at Tel Motza, to the west of Jerusalem, where evidences of early religious practices and rituals in the early days of the Kingdom of Judah have been uncovered.

“The ritual building at Tel Motza is an unusual and striking find, in light of the fact that there are hardly any remains of ritual buildings of the period in Judaea at the time of the First Temple.” Anna Eirikh, Dr. Hamoudi Khalaily, and Shua Kisilevitz, directors of the excavation were quoted at Antiques.org.il, on behalf of the IAA.

“The uniqueness of the structure is even more remarkable because of the vicinity of the site’s proximity to the capital city of Jerusalem, which acted as the Kingdom’s main sacred center at the time.” The archaeologists added, noting they also found figures of men, wherein one of them is wearing a beard.

As explained in the post, the walls of the 2,750-year-old temple are massive, along with a wide, east-facing entrance, which conform to the traditional construction of temples in the ancient Near East. The objects inside these temples are being illuminated by the sun rays, which symbolizes the divine presence within.

In addition, a square structure was also found in the temple courtyard, which was believed to be the altar of the temple, along with a cache of sacred vessels discovered nearby the ancient structure, which the archaeologists noted that the objects found still require extensive research.


Figurines of a person found at Tel Motza.
Men figures found inside the 2,750-year-old temple
Image Credit: Antiques.org.il

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Batangas Today: “Asteroid In 2040 Not A Threat To Earth, NASA Says” plus 2 more

Batangas Today: “Asteroid In 2040 Not A Threat To Earth, NASA Says” plus 2 more


Asteroid In 2040 Not A Threat To Earth, NASA Says

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 07:43 AM PST

Is the earth going to end in 2040 because of an asteroid? No. Year 2040 will not be the end of the world after the failed 2012 prediction, as NASA confirmed.

NASA confirmed on its latest study that the Asteroid 2011 AG5 that was believed to be a threat to earth when it passes by in 2040 will not harm our planet in any way.

Using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, astronomers confirmed that the asteroid is harmless after an observation campaign was done last October. The latest research said that the asteroid will not get any closer than 550,000 miles (890,000 kilometers), that is twice the distance between the earth and the moon, CNN reported.

“An analysis of the new data conducted by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, shows that the risk of collision in 2040 has been eliminated,” NASA was quoted by CNN on Friday, December 21, 2012.

Finally, the asteroid in 2040 will be another thing we have not to worry about to end our planet earth.

7-year-old Girl Reunited With Stolen Dog on Christmas

Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:02 AM PST

Mia and her dog

Mia Bendray and her dog Marley
Image Credit: Robert Miller

A 7-year-old girl Mia Bendray was very thankful after knowing that her dog Marley had been found safe, according to ABC News report, December 27, 2012.

The puppy was stolen outside a shop in Manhattan‘s Washington Heights after the family went food shopping for Christmas Eve, reports said.

Tina Cohen, a high school Spanish teacher rescued the dog from a man standing on a street corner yelling he had a dog for sale.

“I said that’s not right. I said I’d like to buy the dog. I only have $100,” Cohen mentioned in a statement.

Cohen also mentioned when the man demanded more cash, she then proceed to a nearby Staples and bought merchandise she returned for cash. She bought Marley for $200; then brought the dog to the veterinarian.

“Thank you, the people of Washington Heights… Those great Samaritans… And now we got him on Christmas Day,” Mia's mother told WABC-TV.

Moreover, according to reports, police officials caught the alleged dognapper Brad Bacon who had been caught on video taking the dog.

Zuckerberg family photo owned by Randi Zuckerberg went public, sparks debate on Facebook privacy settings

Posted: 26 Dec 2012 07:29 PM PST

A Zuckerberg family photo with Randi Zuckerberg, Mark Zuckerberg‘s sister, went publicly after someone posted it on Twitter, thinking that it there will be no problem sharing it. Randi, who posted the photo on her official Facebook page, complained of online etiquette; and the issue sparked a debate on Facebook‘s privacy settings.

Randi Zuckerberg Mark Zuckerberg sister

Randi Zuckerberg, Mark Zuckerberg’s sister
Image Credit: Randi Zuckerberg Twitter

@randizuckerberg demonstrates her family’s response to Poke #GAH,” Callie Schweitzer (@cschweitzer), a Vox Media marketing director, tweeted this Wednesday, December 26, 2012, along with a photo of Randi Zuckerberg‘s family, together with younger brother Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Facebook.

The Zuckerberg family photo, which was believed to have been taken on Christmas Day, depicts the family in a kitchen as they stand around the table, and apparently having fun with the newly re-imagined Facebook Poke app. So basically, there’s nothing wrong with the picture, except that Randi want it to be private.

Shortly after, Randi Zuckerberg learned about it and sent a tweet to Schweitzer, saying, “Not sure where you got this photo. I posted it to friends only on FB. You reposting it to Twitter is way uncool.” This means that she wanted that photo not to be seen on public. But how come that Schweitzer was able to see it?

@randizuckerberg I’m just your subscriber and this was top of my newsfeed. Genuinely sorry but it came up in my feed and seemed public.” Schweitzer responded to Randi, and deleted the said photo. But not after it has been spread online and appeared in various sites such as Buzzfeed, Mashable, Business Insider, among others.

“Digital etiquette: always ask permission before posting a friend’s photo publicly. It’s not about privacy settings, it’s about human decency.” Randi, who is also a former marketing director of Facebook and is now a reality TV show producer, tweeted later. She added the issue could be her topic on her next TV show.

“Fwiw, I’ve been exchanging emails w/ @cschweitz & she seems lovely. The silver lining? Glad to see a thoughtful debate on sharing/etiquette.” Randi tweeted a few hours ago, which suggested that she and Callie did not have problems with each other. However the debate on Facebook‘s privacy settings ignited again.

Incidentally, Facebook recently made some updates on the privacy settings on Facebook, which include the Request and Removal tool that can be used to request other users to remove them from the photos they have been tagged in. Nevertheless, Facebook reminded their users that photos can still appear in other places on Facebook, including others’ timelines.