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Whether you are an individual, a business, a school or a city, you can show your support for Earth Hour by turning off your lights at 8.30PM on March 27 wherever you are on the planet...

Please visit http://www.wwf.org.ph/earthhour/action/ for more info..^_^

Autopsy: Boyzone singer died of natural causes

Associated Press
By CIARAN GILES,Associated Press Writer - Wednesday, October 14
 

MADRID – Boyzone star Stephen Gately, whose body was found in a house on the Spanish resort island of Mallorca, died of natural causes, according to autopsy results released Tuesday.

A post-mortem showed Gately, 33, an Irishman, died as a result of a pulmonary edema, or fluid in the lungs, the Balearic Islands Superior Justice Tribunal said in a statement.

"The signer of the British group Boyzone died from natural causes, owing to an 'acute pulmonary edema'," the court statement said.

The singer had gone to Mallorca with his partner Andrew Cowles. The two were wed in a civil union in 2006.

The house, situated on an exclusive tree-lined seafront street, overlooks a rocky bay reputed to have some of the best sunset views on Spain's favorite holiday island.

The four other members of the band flew to Mallorca following news of the death.

Boyzone was one of the biggest acts to come out of Ireland in the 1990s. The group was a major hitmaker in Britain and Ireland in the 1990s and announced a comeback tour at the end of last year.

Gately also released several solo singles and appeared in stage musicals. He made headlines when he announced he was gay a decade ago.

News of his death shocked the British and Irish pop world.

Elton John said Sunday that he and his partner, David Furnish, were "stunned by this tragedy."

it's a total shocker.. and he's too young.. sigh.. rest in peace

anyways, here's a music video of his first single for his solo act.. "A New Beginning"

Facebook: measuring the mood in the US

AFP - Wednesday, October 7

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - – Facebook is tracking how happy people are in the United States. Mother's Day was predictably upbeat, according to a Gross National Happiness index graph on the popular social networking service's blog on Tuesday, but for reasons unknown people's moods evidently sank days later.

The pattern was the same for Father's Day.

Facebook began earlier this year gauging the nation's mood by tallying the numbers of positive and negative words used in status updates posted by users, intern Adam Kramer of the firm's data team said in an online post. 

In brief messages posted to social networking pages, Facebook users keep friends up to speed with thoughts and activities.

"Every day, through Facebook status updates, people share how they feel with those who matter most in their lives," Kramer said. 

"These updates are tiny windows into how people are doing. Grouped together, these updates are indicative of how we are collectively feeling."

Facebook worked with psychologists and some of the more than 300 million members of its service to create collections of sunny and gloomy words indicative of whether people were having bright or dark days. 

The list of positive words includes "happy," "yay" and "awesome," while negative words include "sad," "doubt" and "tragic."

Holidays were consistently peak happiness days, and the GNH index shot up to double the average happiness reading the November day that the nation celebrated the election of President Barack Obama. 

The saddest day in the GNH index was January 22, 2008, after the Asian stock market crashed and actor Heath Ledger died of an apparent accidental drug overdose at the age of 28.

The death of King of Pop Michael Jackson on June 25 of this year marked the second sadest day in the two years measured by the index, according to Kramer. 

GNH results are currently based on updates in English but more languages may be added so indexes can be made for other nations, according to Kramer.

_______ 

Creepy yet incredible.. nowadays, we’re like under the microscope.. we’re bein watched.. 

For more info, please visit the site below..  

Source:

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/afp/20091007/ttc-us-it-internet-software-facebook-0de2eff.html

PGMA's Rankings in the Previous Years of Forbes' Powerful Women

yes, you heard it.. PGMA is number 44 for this year's forbes' most powerful women in the world.. then i was thinking, how about in the previous years? my curiosity strikes me again.. and here's what i found..

            year         rank
                2004                09
                2005                04
                2006                45
                2007                51
                2008                41 
                2009                44

it was a huge drop for her in 2006, from #4 to #45.. (ouch!) in spite of the allegations that she cheated in May 2004 elections, still, she made it in the list..

Forbes magazine started in 2004, and they made a list of the 100 most powerful women in the world, based on influence and economic impact.

--Marion Reyes

have a nice day..

Sources:

____________________________________________________________

GMA is No. 44 in list of powerful womenBy GENALYN KABILING August 20, 2009

President Arroyo has placed 44th in the list of the 100 most powerful women in the world by Forbes Magazine.

The President, in the last year of her term, dropped from 41st in the magazine’s 2008 ranking of the women who continue to scale heights of control and influence.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel topped the list for the second year in a row, followed by Sheila Blair, chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Forbes noted that the women on its most powerful list are "moving across companies and industries, making big leaps with each change, and repositioning themselves for opportunities that allow them to gain a breadth of experience.”

The business magazine said President Arroyo’s position as Southeast Asia's first leader to meet US President Barack Obama II was “a boon to an otherwise lame-duck presidency." “Arroyo's tumultuous six-year term ends with new elections in May 2010," it said

The President’s profile in the magazine also noted a "potential power grab in the works," referring to plans of congressional allies to rewrite the Constitution and shift to a parliamentary form of government.

Malacanang meantime is pleased with the President’s 44th position at the Forbes list of the world’s powerful women despite the decline in rankin.

“It’s not a decline. The mere fact that she’s there is a big deal,” Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. told reporters in the Palace.

“To be in the same company of these kinds of leaders is a big deal, is something to be proud of,” he added.

Andaya said the President has grown to become a powerful leader due to her work ethics as well as her sound economic policies.

_____________

source:

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/216901/gma-no-44-list-powerful-women

Named by Time magazine as the 1986 Woman of the Year

11th President of the Philippines

In office

February 25, 1986 – June 30, 1992

*Photo of my Dad face to face with the Democracy Icon.. taken last 1987 or 1988.. I think.. im not sure

Diplomats from South Africa, Brazil, Turkey, United Kingdom, Iran, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Sweden, Thailand, Iraq, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Libya, Mexico, France, and Pakistan, among others, and the representative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) attended the wake of the Former President.

Canada:

“ … President Aquino will be remembered as a leader who ushered in a new era of freedom in the Philippines, and inspired millions around the world. She was an international icon of democracy, a global model of people power, and a passionate advocate of good governance.”

—Robert Desjardins, Ambassador of the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines

People's Republic of China:

“ … The Philippines lost an inspiring statesman while China, in sharp grief, bereaved of a sincere friend. President Aquino made great efforts in developing China-Philippine friendly relations. Her vision would be remembered and her contribution would be long cherished by China and the Chinese people…”

—Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China

East Timor:

“To me, there is no greater quality in a leader than being compassionate and being humble because only through compassion and humility that one can bridge the divide, build bridges of dialogue between communities and between warring sections...”

—Jose Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor

European Union:

“Throughout her presidential term, and notwithstanding a number of severe challenges, she never flinched in her determination to ensure that the Philippines would not veer from its democratic path.”

—Alistair MacDonald, Ambassador of the European Union Commission to the Philippines

Thailand:

“Her Excellency Aquino’s tireless devotion to peace, stability and democracy for the people of the Republic of the Philippines are well recognised throughout the world ….”

—Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of Thailand

United Kingdom:

 “As an advisor in her campaign against President Marcos, the privilege of working with Cory and watching her was one of my life's greatest lessons in courage, leadership, the art of politics and humanity.”

—Lord Malloch-Brown, Former Foreign Office Minister, who worked closely with Mrs Aquino during her election campaign

United Nations:

“She was the beacon of democracy for this country and for the world. She was very much committed to helping those who are disadvantaged and her legacy remains. What she represents is an inspiration to the world.”

—Stephen Anderson, WFP

United States:

“ Ms. Aquino played a crucial role in Philippines history, moving the country to democratic rule through her non-violent "People Power" movement over twenty years ago. Her courage, determination, and moral leadership are an inspiration to us all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation.”

—Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary

Vatican City:

"Courageous commitment to the freedom of the Filipino people." He remembered her "as a woman of deep and unwavering faith"

—Pope Benedict XVI, according to Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone,

________________________

“She made history, and she inspired everyone…worldwide... thank you and so long Madam Corazon Aquino.”

—Marion Reyes

For more, please visit these sites..

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_reaction_to_the_death_of_Corazon_Aquino

http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/personoftheyear/archive/stories/1986.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corazon_Aquino

Astonishing Landscapes 2009

♪ tantararan ♪ .. and our very own 'Chocolate Hills' is in the list.. :D

i remember when i was a kid, i actually thought of getting a scoop of soil from Chocolate Hills and eat it.. ;)

anyways, enjoy viewing these stunning photos.. have a nice day friends :D

-riyon

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Jokulsarlon, Iceland

© Cornelia Doerr Getty Images

Bryce Canyon, U.S.

© Frank Krahmer Getty Images

Chott El-Jarid, Tunisia

© Panoramic Images Getty Images

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

© Bruce Percy Alamy

Olgas, Australia

© Doug Pearson JAI Corbis

Flaming Cliffs, Gobi Desert, Mongolia

© Art Wolfe Getty Images

Avenue of the Baobobs, Madagascar

© Ariadne Van Zandbergen Lonely Planet Images

Tsingy de Bemaraha, Madagascar

© Frans Lanting Corbis

Chocolate Hills, Philippines

© Picture Press Alamy

Bungle Bungles, Australia

© Theo Allofs CORBIS

The Pinnacle Desert, Australia

© Theo Allofs Corbis

El Tatio Geysers, Chile

© Atlantide Phototravel Corbis

Please visit this link for more info. ;)

source: http://www.forbestraveler.com/best-lists/landscapes-2009-slide.html?partner=yahootravel