This article actually bothered me. It gives me mixed feelings whether to pity the animals or the children who will not be given the opportunity to be educated. I felt pity for the animals because I see the way they live at Manila Zoo and it’s not really that good. It is very far from the natural habitat that they usually live at. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to close the Manila Zoo. How about my future son or daughter? They wouldn’t be given the chance to see animals like elephants in real life. That’s why it lives me undecided on this issue. It will be up to the government organizations and the municipality of Manila to decide on this issue.
Week 8. 'Home Alone' character actor Roberts Blossom dies
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Character actor Roberts Blossom, who played the white-bearded neighbor "old man Marley" in the movie "Home Alone," has died at age 87 in Southern California.Daughter Deborah Blossom tells the Los Angeles Times that her father died of natural causes July 8 at a Santa Monica nursing home.
Blossom starred on Broadway, as well as in television and movies. He won three Obie Awards for his off-Broadway work.
Movie credits include "The Hospital," ''Slaughterhouse-Five," ''The Great Gatsby," ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind," ''Escape From Alcatraz," ''Resurrection" and "Doc Hollywood." Blossom had a starring role in the 1974 cult horror movie "Deranged."
But he may be best-remembered as the neighbor in 1990's "Home Alone"
Blossom's TV credits include "Another World," ''Moonlighting," ''Northern Exposure" and "In the Heat of the Night.
I am actually a big fanatic of the movie series Home Alone. I enjoyed watching it especially the first time around. From the very start of the series Home Alone 1 up to the very last series I had the compilation of it. Who can forget the “old man Marley” who is ones being feared by Kevin McCalister? I was shocked and felt sad for Robbert Blossom. I may not actually know him but I best remember him in the movie which played a big role as the scary old man. My sincere Condolences to his family.
Week 9. Men’s grooming habits that turn women off
Ladies, tell me you agree. There is a horrific beauty double standard going on that we have to do something about. Now that it's summer, we've all been upping our beauty game— more shaving and waxing, keeping toenails in check— so the terrible grooming habits of our guys have become all the more glaring. Why is stomach-turning neglect (or in certain cases, too much attention) the norm? We're not asking guys to do anything we don't do ourselves. If you're feeling extremely grossed out by what you're seeing thanks to flip-flops and bathing suits, take comfort in this: You are not alone.
We asked our Facebook friends (affectionately known as "Threaders") to share the grooming issues that irk them the most, and the answers were awfully familiar. One Threader asked if we could please paste the comments "on a huge billboard that all men can see." Well, here's our billboard equivalent! See the top ten offenses below and add more by posting on our Facebook wall.
1. Long, dirty toe nails. Or, as one Threader called it, "Hobbit feet." I love that. It's true. Guys, you don't have to sit for a pedicure, but there's no excuse for claws filled with dirt.
2. Hair where it shouldn't be. Nose hair was the number-one complaint with ear hair a close second. "Why is it so hard to buy a trimmer and a mirror?" asked a completely reasonable Threader. We don't have the answer.
3. Mouth madness. This is just basics. We're brushing, flossing, and whitening, but certain guys seem to think they can get away with "yuck mouth," as a Threader called it. Not true.
4. Unattractive smells. This can mean not showering often enough or not embracing deodorant. This is also related to #3 (see above).
5. Eyebrow issues. Either overgrown or over plucked. We don't want unruly, caveman hairs, but we also don't want you to look more sculpted than we do.
6. Too much cologne. If everything you touch starts to smell like your medicine cabinet, that's not good.
7. Too much waxing. There's grooming and then there's grooming. No one wants to feel like they're with a newborn.
8. Dry, cracked heels. You can put lotion on them, you know.
9. Hair that never moves. If your hair is as hard as a car door, you've got to rethink your products.
10. Letting your blackheads live on. Everyone has zits, especially in the hot and sweaty summer. But, jeez, if you have blackheads on your face, deal with them or book a facial where someone else will.
I got interested on reading this because I was curious on what are those things that made women be turned off by men. What are those reasons why women are turned off? I have to admit it is true even though it is quite embarrassing for us men. It actually concerns more about the hygiene of men. I have to agree to this article that it is bad to see someone with these characteristics. It will also turn me off if I see a women with these characteristics.
Week 10. Xbox addict 'dies from blood clot'
by: AFP
AFPThe family of a budding computer programmer have on Saturday launched a campaign to raise awareness about the health risks of playing online computer games after their son died following a marathon session on his Xbox. A post-mortem revealed that 20-year-old Chris Staniforth -- who was offered a place to study Game Design at Leicester University -- was killed by a pulmonary embolism, which can occur if someone sits in the same position for several hours.
Deep vein thrombosis normally affects passengers on long-haul flights, but medical experts fear youngsters who spend hours glued to their consoles might also be at risk and have urged them to take regular breaks.
Professor Brian Colvin -- an expert on blood-related conditions -- said it was "unhealthy" for youngsters to spend long periods in front of their consoles.
"There's anxiety about obesity and children not doing anything other than looking at computer screens," he told The Sun.
David Staniforth has now launched a campaign to warn other parents of the dangers.
"Games are fun and once you've started playing it's hard to stop.
"Kids all over the country are playing these games for long periods - they don't realise it could kill them," he told The Sun.
A coroner's court in Sheffield was told how the youngster -- who had no underlying medical conditions -- was complaining of a low heart rate before collapsing outside a Jobcentre.
Staniforth's distraught father said his son would spend up to 12 hours playing on his Xbox.
"He got sucked in playing Halo online against people from all over the world."
Online computer games are extremely popular as thousands interact in shared science fiction worlds.
Reports of gamers collapsing after spending 15 hours in front of video games are fairly common throughout Asia.
In 2005, a South Korean gamer died after playing online games for three days without taking a break.
Microsoft -- which manufactures the Xbox -- said it "recommend gamers take breaks to exercise as well as make time for other pursuits."
I am one of those people who first buy an Xbox a few days after it was released. Who wouldn’t enjoy playing it? The graphic is awesome. I shocked about what I read. It is not usually to hear or read news that a boy was killed due to playing console games. Maybe it’s the parents fault for not monitoring their son and also at the same time the sons fault for not knowing his limit in playing for hours in front of his console. I am sorry for the family of Chris for early loss.
Week 11.'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2' Hits $1 Billion in Global Box Office
It's the first in the franchise to pass the milestone, doing so only two weeks after its release.
By Pamela McClintock | The Hollywood Reporter – 14 hours ago
Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures
In a fitting farewell to one of the most magical film series in Hollywood history, Warner Bros.’Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the first film in the franchise to reach the $1 billion mark worldwide.Deathly Hallows 2 will cross the milestone on Saturday, having grossed $296 million domestically and $630 million overseas through Thursday for a global total of $926 million. Another blockbuster weekend at the multiplex is forecast, allowing the film to easily pass the vaunted $1 billion mark.
The movie, benefiting from being released in 3D, is racing past the milestone in about two weeks, a remarkable achievement. Until now, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone overseas) was the top grossing pic in the franchise, having grossed $974.8 million globally in 2001-02.
The Harry Potter franchise has always been immensely successful internationally, with every title in the series earning substantially more offshore. So far, 68 percent of Deathly Hallows Part 2’s gross has been earned at the international box office, fueled by standout performances in the U.K., Japan,Australia and Germany.
By the end of this weekend, Deathly Hallows Part 2 should surpass Sorcerer’s Stone's domestic gross of $317 million, the best in the series. It also will have surpassed the $659 million earned last year internationally by Deathly Hallows Part 1.
Deathly Hallows Part 2 becomes the 9th movie in history to gross north of $1 billion worldwide, a club that includes Warners’ The Dark Knight ($1 billion), Disney’s Alice in Wonderland ($1.02 billion) and Disney’s 2011 summer tentpole Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ($1.03 billion).
Only one film has ever grossed north of $2 billion, and that’s James Cameron’s Avatar ($2.8 billion).
I got interested in reading this because I am a fan of Harry Potter. When I was young I used to watch it with my parents. I actually have a compilation of the series in books. I finished reading it when I am 3 yr high school I guess. I can say, the movie is beyond what I expect. There are some series in books that have been transfer into a movie but didn’t meet the expectation of the viewers. I am a certified HP fanatic. I was so sad that the series has ended but it the end was worth waiting for.
Week 12. Most Outrageously Expensive Pets
By Jill Weinberger, CNBC.com
How Much Is That Doggy in the Window?
Recently, eccentric rocker Ozzy Osbourne paid $10,000 in an auction for an eight-week old Yorkshire terrier. Pricey? Not compared to the price tags of some of the pets out there. In fact, Ozzy was lucky to have paid so little. Just like with cars, purses, and jewelry, people with deep pockets will spend outrageous sums of money on animals.
The reasoning behind these purchases can vary from investing in the animal’s DNA and their breeding prospects, to owning a unique creature, or for simple companionship. To get an idea of how expensive pets can be, CNBC.com looked into some of the most expensive animals that have been sold or that can be purchased. Osbourne’s $10,000 pup may start to look like a drop in the bucket.
So, what are some of the most expensive animals out there?
Ashera Cat
Price: $22,950
The Ashera cat can be described as a mini-leopard and is developed by crossing two exotic feline bloodlines—the African Serval and the Asian Leopard—with a regular domestic cat; it features distinctive leopard-like spots and contrasting tiger stripes. One of the reasons the Ashera draws such a high price-tag is for a very unique feature: The cat is hypo-allergenic. Also contributing to the price is its size, it can grow up to 25 to 30 pounds.
The exclusive breeder, Lifestyle Pets ,describes the cat as highly intelligent, very affectionate, and having a great temperament. It requires no additional care than your typical cat and is actually more social. It acts and plays like a regular domestic cat, but unlike normal cats, an Ashera takes well to being walked on a leash.
According to Simon Brody, the founder of Lifestyles Pets, about one Ashera cat per week is sold, making it one of the company’s best sellers.
Goliath Palm Cockatoo
Price: $15,000—$20,000
A Goliath Palm Cockatoo can cost a bird enthusiast anywhere from $15,000 to $$20,000. Other expensive breeds include the Hyacinth Macaw Parrot and the Black Cockatoo, both of which range from $12,000 to $17,000.
Jessica Hurley, a bird breeder who sells exotic breeds at lpbirds.com , explains many of these birds are difficult to breed in captivity, hence the high price. For example, the black cockatoo can only have up to one baby per year, making for a limited supply.
Color mutations can also drive up the cost of a bird, Hurley says. Many of the Amazon species have unique color patterns that can’t be replicated and thus can go for $15,000 to $20,000.
Lancelot Encore (Cloned Dog)
Price: $155,000
A year after their beloved yellow Labrador retriever, Lancelot, died of cancer, Edgar and Nina Otto welcomed a cloned copy into their home.
The Northern California biotech firm BioArts International held a dog-cloning auction and the Ottos won. The cloning didn’t come cheap, however, as the Ottos bid $155,000 for the opportunity. Nina Otto exclaims that Lancelot Encore has many personality similarities and that he looks just like their original Lancelot.
Deveronvale Perfection (Sheep)
Price: $378,000
Deveronvale Perfection earned the title of world’s most expensive sheep, fetching about $378,000 (£231,000) at an auction in 2009. The buyer was Jimmy Douglas, a sheep farmer in Aberdeenshire who told The Daily Mail that he had been 'tracking' the young sheep and knew when he saw a photograph of the prize specimen prior to the auction that he had to have him.
According to experts, Deveronvale Perfection’s“perfect” look includes good feet, sturdy and straight front legs, a good back end, and a strong head.
Deveronvale Perfection could breed with up to 300 ewes (female sheep) each year, and thousands more by artificial insemination, with each specimen worth $80 to $165.
Big Splash - Red Tibetan Mastiff
Price: $1.5 Million
Dogs may be “man’s best friend,” but this friend comes with a hefty price tag. In March 2011, a Tibetan Mastiff became the most expensive dog in the world after it was purchased in China for 10 million yuan (just over $1.5 million). The dog weighs 180 pounds and is appropriately named Big Splash.
In China, the Tibetan Mastiffs are thought to be holy animals, blessing their owners' health and security, and have become a status symbol in recent years. They’ve come to represent affluence and prices for the breed have been driven up 500 percent a year.
The owner’s investment may end up paying off, however, since breeding the dog has the potential to be quite lucrative. Some breeders are willing to pay as much as $100,000 to get access to Big Splash's gene pool.
In general, the Tibetan Mastiff is known for being loyal and fierce. Previous owners of the Red Tibetan Mastiff breed include Queen Victoria, King George IV and Genghis Khan.
I got interested on reading this article because I am a pet lover. I really love dogs and birds. My father has a lot of expensive birds. They actually cost 20,000 pesos each but when I saw this article, what is this?! I got shocked and wondering what is so special with these pets costing millions and what’s with the owner? Why are they buying these expensive pets? Don’t they think it’s a waste of money? It is up to them if they will purchase this pets rather than using the money for helping people.
