Category Archives: Business

Business, Politics, Technology, Travel

MANILA’S MASS RAPID TRANSIT (MRT) WINS PRESTIGIOUS ‘MOST POPULAR’ SYSTEM AWARD

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The queue at an MRT station in Manila
The queue at an MRT station in Manila

Manila, Philippines – The embattled general manager of Manila’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) may have the last laugh despite calls for his resignation for the problems that have been plaguing the light railway system in the populous metropolis.

Activist groups have demanded that Alan Vitangcol III step down from his post for mismanagement of the transport system that millions of residents depend on for their daily commute to and from their work places. Vitangcol is also accused of  allegedly extorting $30 million from a Czech train car  builder in exchange for being awarded an MRT expansion project contract.

Today, the International Association of Light Railway Systems (IALRS) announced that Manila’s MRT has been unanimously chosen to receive the prestigious 2014 Most Popular Transport System Award. The annual award is given to the railway system that has the largest patronage.

The international body said Manila’s MRT won the judges’ nod hands down, after they saw photos of the long lines of commuters waiting to board the commuter trains. “We haven’t seen such massive popularity among MRT systems anywhere in the world,” one of the judges commented.

This prestigious award adds to the long long list of international recognitions recently awarded to the Philippines. Last month, the Philippine cities of Makati and Pasig were named the selfie capital of the world.

Business, International, Politics, The Media

HILLARY CLINTON SHOWS OFF HER TWERKING SKILLS

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photoLas Vegas, Nevada – The Clintons, without any doubt, have great talents outside of politics. Saxophone is to Bill Clinton, and Twerking is to Hillary Clinton.  The former Secretary of State surprised her audience when she displayed her twerking abilities on stage during a speech at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries conference on April 10, 2014 in Las Vegas (see photo).

Twerking is a type of dancing in which an individual, usually female, dances to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low squatting stance.  Introduced in the late 1990’s, twerking gained new popularity during last year’s MTV Video Music Awards in which Miley Cyrus twerked to the music of  ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke.

Unlike Cyrus, who basically stripped down to flesh-colored underwear during her MTV performance, Clinton maintained her class by wearing her infamous pant suit.

 

 

Business, Human Interest, International, Technology, The Media

SAMSUNG, APPLE, NOKIA TO ‘KILL’ FRONT-FACING CAMERAS ON THEIR SMARTPHONES

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imageSilicon Valley, California – Three of the world’s largest manufacturers of smartphones – Samsung, Apple and Nokia — jointly announced today that they are eliminating the front-facing camera (FFC) feature in all their future products beginning this year.

FFCs are cameras on the front of smartphones and other mobile devices that enable users to take selfies and initiate two-way video chats.

The manufacturers reached this decision after a firestorm erupted on social (and other) media following the announcement by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that it has officially classified taking selfies as a mental disorder.  APA called it ‘selfitis.’

Speaking on behalf of the three manufacturers, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that “the mobile phone industry has a social responsibility to keep their products health conscious.  We are more concerned about the health of our customers, more than the profits we generate from our gadgets.”

Meanwhile, the APA defended its use of the term ‘selfitis’ to describe the new mental disorder.  Critics have pointed out that ‘itis’ indicates an inflammation, more than an addiction.  APA said that it used the correct terminology because in so many ways, selfitis is an inflammation of the ego.