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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Batangas Today: “NYC ferry crash: Sea Streak Ferry crashes while docking in Manhattan, at least 30 people injured” plus 6 more

Batangas Today: “NYC ferry crash: Sea Streak Ferry crashes while docking in Manhattan, at least 30 people injured” plus 6 more


NYC ferry crash: Sea Streak Ferry crashes while docking in Manhattan, at least 30 people injured

Posted: 09 Jan 2013 07:59 AM PST

A ferry crashed while docking in Lower Manhattan, New York City today, Wednesday, January 9, 2013, with initial reports saying that at least 30 people were injured. Various US TV networks have been interviewing the passengers, with the members of the New York Fire Department (FDNY) rushing to the scene for the rescue.

Sea Streak Ferry crash

FDNY officials making a rescue on passengers
of Sea Streak Ferry that crashed on NYC pier

Image Credit: NBC News

According to the New York Times, a FDNY spokesman told them that the incident occurred at around 8:45 a.m. ET this Wednesday morning, at Pier 11, at South Street and Gouverneur Lane. The ferry was learned to be owned by Sea Streak Ferry and the cause of the incident is still under investigation.

Meanwhile, James R. Barker, President of Sea Streak Ferry, was quoted telling to NBC News that there were around 300 passengers on the troubled ferry and that many of the injured were thrown away from their seats. Some of the victims were immediately treated on the scene, but others were rushed to the nearest hospitals.

As noted at WABC News Channel 7, which had a live aerial video from the scene of the incident, the troubled Sea Streak Ferry left Highlands, New Jersey at around 8 a.m. (local time), and that the injured could be between 30 and 50 people. At least one of them had a serious head injury, and no casualties reported.

“Hi everyone. I was on the ferry. Flew 10 feet. It was awful. Knee is messed up. Heading to hospital. So many worse. Send prayers.” A ferry passenger named Stephanie Agresta posted on her Facebook page, along with a photo of FDNY members doing the rescue.

Shortly after the incident, the New York Waterway (@ridetheferry) tweeted, “Pier 11 is currently closed. Please check back for updates.” A few minutes later, it was followed by “As per NYCDOT: Pier 11 will remain closed till at least 1pm. They will advise us when it reopens.”

Disney to track visitors using MagicBands in Orlando, Florida (Video)

Posted: 09 Jan 2013 05:56 AM PST

Disney to track visitors using MagicBands

Disney to track visitors using MagicBands.
Image Credit: Video grab NBC News

Walt Disney World theme park will track visitors using a wristband as they roam around the “Most Magical Place on Earth.” The “MagicBands” will be rolled out by Disney in Orlando, Florida in the coming months.

These new tracking device, with radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips, will replace the existing ID cards being used to enter the park. The MagicBands will be linked to a customer credit card.

It will enable Disney customers to use the wristbands like room keys and park entry passes.

The wireless tracking wristbands are reportedly part of “MyMagic+” system that aims to provide a seamless experience to Disney park visitors.

Theme park officials say that these new tracking device will enable them to gather more information about a customer and their preferences. Through “MagicBands“, Disney can collect a visitor’s personal information that include their name, purchasing and riding patterns and real-time location data.

Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, explained:

Imagine booking guaranteed ride times for your favorite shows and attractions even before setting foot in the park. With MyMagic+, guests will be able to do that and more, enabling them to spend more time together and creating an experience that's better for everyone.

Park officials assure guests that personal information will be secure as they are implementing data encryption.

Will you be comfortable roaming around Walt Disney theme parks knowing that someone is monitoring you?



A new wireless electronic wristband system will be implemented at Florida's Walt Disney World stores guests’ information and will act as a credit card.
Video Credit: NBC News

Suspended For Facebook Post: Vietnamese Student Suspended For 1 Year After Posting Parody On Facebook

Posted: 09 Jan 2013 04:01 AM PST

An eighth-grade student in Vietnam has been suspended for Facebook post, several Vietnamese news sites reported on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.

According to Thanh Nien News, Nguyen Thanh Vy of Ly Tu Trong Secondary School in Quang Nam Province‘s Tam Ky town has been suspended for one year after posting a parody in Facebook “insulting her school and teachers” and “distorting history.”

Reports said that Vy parodied a famous speech by Ho Chi Minh in 1946 which reads:

“All students! As we desire peace, we have made concessions. But the more concessions we make, the more the teachers press on, for they are bent on failing us once again. No, we would rather sacrifice all than be dismissed. Never shall we have to take the exam again. We have to stand up!”

Vy‘s parody on Facebook reads:

“All students, whether boy or girl, good or stupid, tall or short have to find ways to get good marks in the exam. Those who have health will use their health, those who have heads will use their heads. Those who have neither health or head have to copy or use cheat sheets.”

In her defense, Vy said that the post was just for fun. “It was just for fun and not to affect the exam, distort history, or insult teachers,” Vy was quoted as saying by the Thanh Nien News.

Apparently, the school was not amused. The school disciplinary committee approved the one-year suspension, the report said.

Vy‘s father, Nguyen Duy Van was shocked by the suspension, saying, “She is young and her thinking is immature. We are afraid it would traumatize her mind and jeopardize her future.”

Vietnam is a communist country which does not allow freedom of speech.

I think, the suspension is a little bit harsh. Do you think the student suspended for Facebook post deserved it?

Cheap iPhone rumor returns, Apple may release low-cost smartphone in mid 2013

Posted: 09 Jan 2013 02:58 AM PST

The so-called cheap iPhone rumor has returned, with reports now saying that Apple may release its low-cost smartphone in the middle of this year, 2013. Well, the cheaper iPhone rumors have been going on since 2009 until the iPhone 4 release in October 2011. But obviously, it did not happen.

Apple iPhone 5

Apple iPhone 5
Image Credit: Apple.com

But on a report at Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, people who were briefed on the matter told them that Apple is now working on a less-expensive iPhone, but did not mention if it will be called iPhone 5S or the earlier rumored iPhone 6. The device was said to be aimed for release later this year.

“The cheaper phone could resemble the standard iPhone, with a different, less-expensive body, one of the people said. Many other parts could remain the same or be recycled from older iPhone models.” A statement reads at WSJ.com, noting that Apple is not yet sure if the plan will really push through.

Apparently, the decision of Apple to consider manufacturing the cheap iPhone comes after a recent report from the International Data Corporation (IDC), saying that Apple had only 14.6% of worldwide smartphone shipments in Q3 of 2011, which is pretty lower than the 23% in Q4 2011 and in Q1 of 2012.

Meanwhile, a similar cheap iPhone rumor was also reported on the same day at DigiTimes.com, a leading online newspaper for semiconductor, electronics, computer, and communications industries in Taiwan and China. The report said that the device will be released in China and other emerging markets after Q2 2013.

Based on the report, some sources claimed that they have already seen the sample of the cheap iPhone, noting that it will come with a larger display, adapting the current trend of 5-inch displays of the expensive models. In addition, the less-expensive iPhone was said to be sporting a brand new exterior design.

Diet soda and depression linked to each other, drinking coffee has lower risk, new AAN study says

Posted: 09 Jan 2013 01:31 AM PST

Drinking diet soda and depression are linked to each other; this is according to a new study. Interestingly, the study suggested that drinking coffee has a slightly lower risk. The research, which involves 263,925 adults with ages 50 and 71 at the time of the study, was conducted from 1995 to 1996.

American Academy of Neurology logo

American Academy of Neurology logo
Image Credit: AAN.com

As noted in the abstract of the study posted at the official website of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, the participants that time consumed various drinks such as soda, tea, fruit punch, and coffee. Results revealed that those who consumed soda have a higher risk of having a depression.

Based on the AAN data, the participants who consumed more than four cans or cups per day of diet soda have a 30% increase in risk to suffer from depression, as compared to those who did not drink soda. Meanwhile, those who drank regular soda had a 22% risk increase of having depression.

Those who drank diet fruit punches had a risk increase of around 51% than those who did not, while those who consumed sugar-sweetened fruit punch had only 8 percent. Those who consumed four or more cans or cups of fruit punch had a 38% increase risk, as compare to soda.

But on the contrary, those who consumed four cups of coffee per day were around 10% less likely to develop depression than those who did not drink coffee. In addition, the data showed that consumption of diet iced tea also has a higher risk than drinking sugar-sweetened iced tea.

This latest study, which was released online that day and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology‘s 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego, from March 16 to 23, 2013, was led by Honglei Chen, MD, PhD, with the National Institutes of Health in Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

“Sweetened beverages, coffee, and tea are commonly consumed worldwide and have important physical—and may have important mental—health consequences.” Chen was quoted at AAN.com, with the study supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the National Cancer Institute.

“Our research suggests that cutting out or down on sweetened diet drinks or replacing them with unsweetened coffee may naturally help lower your depression risk. More research is needed to confirm these findings, and people with depression should continue to take depression medications prescribed by their doctors.” Chen added.

1TB flash drive unveiled at CES 2013, Kingston DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0, world’s largest capacity USB

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 11:15 PM PST

A 1TB flash drive was unveiled by Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2013), called the DataTraveler HyperX Predator. Given the size of this USB, this is an amazing device having a capacity of 1,024 GB.

As noted in the press release at Kingston.com on Monday, January 7, 2013, this Kingston DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0 1TB flash drive is the world’s largest capacity USB 3.0 Flash drive, with speeds of up to 240MB/s read and 160MB/s write. It has also achieved SuperSpeed USB 3.0 certification.

“Our new DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0 allows users to store their entire digital world on a portable USB 3.0 Flash drive,” Andrew Ewing, Flash memory business manager, Kingston, was quoted in the report, with the device also to be made available at 32GB and 64GB versions.

“The large capacity and fast USB 3.0 transfer speeds allow users to save time as they can access, edit and transfer applications or files such as HD movies directly from the drive without any performance lag,” Ewing added. The 512GB version of this USB is now available, but the 1TB flash drive will be available at Q1 2013.

For the size of this 1TB flash drive, the dimensions are 2.84″ x 1.06″ x 0.82″ (72mm x 26.94mm x 21mm) excluding the attached key ring, and will be 3.49″ long (88.53mm) with the key ring on it. In addition, its shock-resistant zinc alloy metal casing serves as the protection of the device from the environment.

The size may not really be amazing, since it is close to the average size of an ordinary pocket-sized flash drive; but with the superb capacity, this 1TB flash drive is very much useful to people who work on huge-capacity videos or graphics files, or even to gamers traveling with their entire library, among others.

As of this writing, Kingston has not announced the price of the 1TB flash drive; but since their 512GB version is worth $1,750, it can be therefore assumed that its price will be more or less doubled. Sounds expensive? Maybe, to those who just want to buy it but really do not need that much of the USB capacity. What do you think?


1TB flash drive Kingston DataTraveler HyperX Predator
Kingston DataTraveler HyperX Predator 1TB flash drive
Image Credit: Kingston.com

Man, 70, marries 15-year-old: Man married girl for $20K dowry (Video)

Posted: 08 Jan 2013 03:28 PM PST

A man, 70, married 15-year-old girl in Saudi Arabia after paying her family $20,000.

Dr. Hadi Al-Yami, head of Asir, made the revelation on Tuesday, January 8, 2013. Asir is reportedly a Saudi government supported branch of the Human Rights Commission.

The anonymous 70-year-old man confirmed the dowry to CNN after the parents of the girl took her back.

Reports say that a conflict between the man and his teen wife may have forced the girl to return to her Yemeni father and Saudian mother. The girl is reportedly from Al-Hurath village in Jizan province, in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the border with Yemen.

Al-Yami explained that his office is already investigating the reported marriage selling. His group will be extending all the necessary help that the girl needs if she tried to get out of the marriage.

Human rights groups in Saudi Arabia is proposing that any individual below 18-years-old must secure a consent from the court before they get married.

However, any proposed law that will provide a ceiling age on marriage is being opposed by conservative religious groups.

Dr. Suhaila Zein al-Abedin, a member of the Saudi National Association for Human Rights, said that,

When you consider the very large difference in age, it looks more like this was not a marriage, but like the girl was sold. The girl's parents need to be held responsible for this.



Forced marriage continues in many countries.
Image Credit: VOAvideo/YouTube

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