Monthly Archives: July 2008

Set your mind at ease with NBA’s Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant and top-scorer LeBron James will head the list of 12 players named by the United States for the Beijing Olympics. They also named Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Jason Kidd as the US seeks to end a recent run of disappointments. US aim to win the gold medal in Athens – the first time an NBA-based team had done so at the Olympics. Team’s officials have promised a change of culture in a bid to improve the men’s team’s results.

The Argentina won gold in Athens, having the edged out of the United States in the semi-finals. It is being said that it was the third defeat of the tournament for a US team that was criticised for being under-prepared. But the team’s managing director Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski are confident for the current squad that they will perform better than the team that went to Athens.

Bryant led the LA Lakers to the NBA finals this season, while James scorched the league’s defences, scoring 30 points per game. Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Michael Redd and Deron Williams complete the American line-up. Eight players have been retained from the team which ensured Olympic qualification at the Americas Tournament last year. Bosh, Paul and Wade, who all missed that tournament, return from the 2006 World Championship team.

While the squad will train in Las Vegas from 20-25 July before heading to China for warm-up games against Turkey, Lithuania, Russia and Australia. Since 1992, NBA players have been allowed to compete at the Olympics, where the US famously fielded gold medal-winning ‘Dream Team’ in Barcelona. There is only one occasion that the US failed to win a medal in men’s basketball – the 1980 Games in Moscow, which they boycotted.

The singer Amy Winehouse has spent the night in hospital after an ambulance was called to her London home. The 24-year-old confirmed she had been taken to University College Hospital after suffering a reaction to medication. There have long been concerns about the singer’s health, and she received hospital treatment last month for traces of lung disease emphysema.

The decision to release her from hospital was due to be made on Tuesday morning. The ambulance was called to her house in Camden, north London on Monday evening. A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said that they sent an ambulance and a fast response car and the patient has been taken to hospital.

The police called to clear a path for the ambulance through waiting photographers. A Scotland Yard spokesman said that they were asked to assist in the London Ambulance Service leaving the vicinity since a crowd of photographers had gathered. Winehouse’s father Mitch, who has previously expressed fears over the effect his daughter’s drug use has had on her health, is with the singer in hospital. The spokesman of Winehouse said late on Monday that Amy suffered a reaction to medication at home this evening and was taken to hospital. The doctors have advised that she will be kept under observation overnight and is likely to be released tomorrow.

The new Batman film has broken another box office record in North America as it spends a second week at number one.

The Dark Knight passed the $300m (£151m) mark quicker than any other movie, doing so 10 days after release.They took $75.6m over the weekend in the US and Canada, with comedy Step Brothers, starring Will Ferrell, new at number two.

Ferrell and co-star John C Reilly reunited with director Adam McKay, who had been responsible for their earlier collaboration Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

Rory Bruer, the head of distribution for Sony said that it is really a terrific start and the chemistry between the stars was “great”.

A passenger plane en route from London to Melbourne has made an emergency landing in the Philippines after suffering cabin pressure problems.

Qantas Airways said its Boeing 747-400, with 346 passengers and 19 crew, diverted to Manila shortly after leaving Hong Kong and landed safely.

Airport authority spokesman Octavio Lina said there was a “big hole in the right side near the wing”.

He said the passengers looked scared and some vomited after the incident.Mr Lina said the hole was about 2.5m to 3m in diameter. He added that the flooring near the affected section gave way, exposing some of the cargo below, and part of the ceiling also collapsed.

Upon disembarkation, there were some passengers who vomited. You can see in their faces that they were really scared.

Picture Credit to: BBC News

Will Smith was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood last year, according to US business Forbes magazine.

The I Am Legend star earned $80m (£40m) – but Dodgeball star Vince Vaughn proved the best value for money, raking in $14.73 for every dollar he was paid.

The magazine pulled together lists of Hollywood’s big earners for its special Entertainment All Stars issue.

Smith, Johnny Depp and Eddie Murphy were the best paid Hollywood actors in the past year, according to the magazine.

Smith, 39, made $80m (£40m) between 1 June 2007 and 1 June 2008, thanks to films like I Am Legend, Hancock and The Pursuit of Happyness, for which he was nominated for best actor in the 2007 Oscars.

By cooking meals at home, you get to save money and when you use your kitchen appliances properly, you save energy as well. Greenpeace shares how we can cut our electric bills, and help curb climate change as well.

• Be energy-aware! Keep the lead on the pot. Use less water when cooking eggs and vegetables. Use a pressure cooker. Don’t preheat the oven. If you an electric stove, switch off the hotplates and the oven sooner, and let the food finish cooking free of charge.

• Get rid of energy-guzzlers – and check power consumption of any new appliances before you by them. For example, old fridge is very insufficient and they stay on all the time. Buy only the most energy-efficient appliances.

• Stand your fridge in a cool place, not near the stove or in the sun. Make sure its seals are intact, and ventilation grills dust-free.

• Defrost regularly. Fridges and freezers use more power when they ice up.

• Never heat water on a hotplate. Electric kettles are more efficient, but heating water on a gas ring is even more efficient. Heating water consumes a lot of energy, so don’t heat more than what you need.

• Unplug the coffee maker after use. Transfer extra coffee into a thermos instead of continuously heating it on the coffee maker.

I have been hopping the net and I came across this site that happens to be selling Paintball and Airsoft Gear. Wow! Even before I am interested in trying this game but, I don’t have enough time and gadgets. Actually, I tried to fit the gears when one of my friends invited me. But, the game did not materialize.

Out of curiosity, I dig into the sites products. They exclusively sell and focus on Paintball and Airsoft Gears. They carry a complete line of paintball guns like invert mini, paintball goggles, hats, hoodies, jerseys, paintballs, paintball field gear and accessories for the sport. They also carry different paintball brand names. Hmmm very interesting right! Have to check some more!

I grab this very sweet tag from janeth. I love the message and I am happy that I am included in her online close friends.

~Start Copy Here~

1. Copy from start to finish
2. This letter should be pass on to your closest friends online.
3. Add your name and URL blog HERE!! .

1. Wheng
2. Hazel
3. Janeth Vicy’s Life Journey
4. denz Recreational
5. denz Techtronics
6. BlogScope
7. You’re Next!

4. Get back to Me [Vicy] and leave a comment once you’ve passed on the letter. Will then visit your site to make sure your links are complete and proper.
5. To ensure everyone receives equal link benefit, UPDATE your list regularly!

It’s true I have never seen you
and we have never met,
Never shaken Hands or
even truly hugged and yet!
I know for sure you care for
me by the kindness that you give.
And our keyboards keep us
together doesn’t matter where we live.
So I give you this gift to
put a smile on your face
and to let you know in my
heart you have a special place.

~End Copy Here~

Forget starving yourself to waifdom or pumping serious poundage to get a rock-solid body. According to surveys of female figure, men find most attractive to shapely but firm body, not the stick-thin supermodel types. Here are some moves to get that sexy silhouette, to get your guy stun:

Butt Boosters
Stand with hip-width apart and toes pointed out slightly, arms at your sides. Squat until you’re in a seated position while raising your arms until they’re straight out in front of you. Squeeze your butt to return to a standing position, lowering your arms. Do it for 12 times. Now place your feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart and squat as before. Do it for 12 times.

Hip Shapers
Start with hands and knees on the floor, then lift your left leg out to the side with your knee at a right angle. Lower your knee until it brushes the floor, the kick it forward the rear, squeezing your butt tightly and keeping your knee bent. Lower leg, repeat 30 times, then do series with right leg.

Rump Raises
Remain in the same position as above but extend your right leg behind you, foot flexed. Lift your leg until it’s just above your hips, and lower. Do it for 15 times. Now, move your extended leg outward at 45 degrees angle. Lift it just above your hips, then lower. Do it for 15 times and repeat series with left leg.

Perky-Breast Presses
Get into push-up position with hands wider than shoulder-width apart. Keep your back as straight as a board and do 12 push ups. Now, place your hands shoulder-width apart and do 12 more push-ups.

Shoulders Strengtheners
Stand with knees bend, holding 5-pound dumbbells. Raise arms out to sides and lower 12 times. Next, lean torso forward, rotate palms forward, raise arms out to sides and lower 12 times.

Bicep Builders
Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent and arms hanging at your sides as you hold the dumbbells. Now, turn your palms so they’re facing forward. Bend your elbows to curl the weights up to your shoulders, then lower; do it for 12 times. Now rotate your palms so they’re facing each other and do another 12 curls.

Tricep Toners
Stand with feet hip-width apart and lean forward, keeping your back straight. Holding your weights tuck your elbows into your sides so your forearms hang down, then turn your palms inward so they’re facing each other-this is your starting position. Now straighten both arms behind you, squeezing your triceps, then lower; do it for 12 times repeat exercise with palms facing up 12 times.

Thanks to emz for this tag. This surely makes me so hungry and craving for food right! Since I am on a diet, hehehe LOL

1. Chicken sa McDo, Jollibee, or KFC?
- Mmmmm KFC for me!
2. Pepsi, Coke, or rootbeer?
- Coke (Loyal also!)
3. Greenwich, Pizza Hut, or Yellow Cab?
- Pizza Hut of course!
4. Adobo, sinigang, or nilaga?
- pwede ako din, all? hehe… nilaga, I love soup!
5. Beef, pork, or chicken?
- pork much better!
6. Starbucks, Coffee bean and tea leaf, or Gloria Jean’s?
- Starbuks of course!
7. Cornflakes, Honey Stars, or Milo cereal?
- Milo? I don’t like much of this!
8. Goldilocks or Red Ribbon?
- Goldilocks. Chocolate Mousse is my Favorite. yummy!!!
9. Tokyo Tokyo, Teriyaki Boy or Rai Rai Ken?
- Tokyo Tokyo is fine also, but I like Yoshinoya!
10. Take Out or Dine In?
- Take Out is much better!