Facebook Shutting Down on March 2011?

The Facebook shutting down March 15 rumor has gone viral and is still going strong. The cause of it still baffles the social network users, but there is no evidence of this actually being fact.

There are a couple of things that occurred that could have sparked such a rumor. Last month, Yahoo announced that on March 15 their “Yahoo Video” will be closing down. Videos will last be accessible on March 14th.

Also, a large investment of $500 million by Goldman Sachs and a reporter who wrote his opinion on the matter could have sparked the rumor. An investment of that size means that the over $7 billion company is still going strong and will not be shutting the doors for their over 500 million users.

When it was first reported that Goldman Sachs had invested such a large sum of money, a reporter wrote a piece, strictly opinion, on how the investment would possibly end Facebook. In conjunction with “Yahoo Video” ending on March 15, perhaps the messages were crossed, hence the birth of the rumor.

Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, has not made an official statement to the press about any of the rumors, but several social network users are beginning to question what they would do without Facebook.

Read more: http://www.thirdage.com/news/facebook-shutting-down-march-15-birth-rumor_1-9-2011#ixzz1AaOvvOms

Report Courtesy of Yahoo!

Supreme Court Acquits Jason Webb and 8 Others in Vizconde Massacre

By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:34:00 12/14/2010

Filed Under: Crime and Law and Justice, Crime
MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 3) The Supreme Court acquitted Hubert Webb and eight others for the murders of Estrellita Vizconde, and daughters Carmela and Jennifer, its spokesman said Tuesday.

Webb is the son of former senator Freddie Webb.

“The prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt [that the crime was committed by the accused]. Supreme Court pointed to inconsistencies in the evidence of the prosecution, particularly the testimony of principal witness Jessica Alfaro,” lawyer Midas Marquez said.

The high tribunal also ordered the release of Webb, Antonio Lejano II, Michael Gatchalian, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada, and Hospicio Fernandez as soon as possible.

Joey Filart and Artemio Ventura, who remain at large, and former police officer Gerardo Biong, who was recently released after completing his sentence, were also acquitted of the grisly crime.

They were “ordered released as soon as possible unless they are being held for other charges,” Marquez said. It is not known if they are facing other charges in other courts.

Webb, Lejano, Gatchalian, Rodriguez, Estrada, and Fernandez were convicted for the 1991 murders.

Suspect says 'only 2 men' raped nurse in Maguindanao

A former militiaman who surrendered to authorities admitted that he was one of “only two" men who recently gang-raped and mauled a volunteer nurse in Maguindanao province, police said Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Jacinto Malinaw, regional police chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), identified the suspect as Melchor Fulgencio, a former member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) who now works for a Korean firm in Mindanao.

Fulgencio told police they were only two who carried out the crime against a 21-year old government nurse in South Upi town on September 25, disputing earlier reports that some five, six or up to 10 men were involved.

This page requires a higher version browser Earlier, the local police reported the arrest of six suspects in the crime, namely: Glenn Saldoa, Eugene Biscara, Ruscom Sangclap, Michael Candelario, and Jeffrey Fernandez.

In his account, Fulgencio also said he and his other accomplice — who he identified as a certain Edwin — were under the influence of alcohol when they committed the crime.

Fulgencio claimed it was Edwin who attacked “Florence" (not her real name), who at that time was walking on the road while texting. The suspect said they then dragged the victim into a bushy area and took turns in sexually abusing her.

The ex-CAFGU man said Edwin might have already fled to Surigao City in Surigao del Norte after the incident. He added that he thought about fleeing too, but was bothered by his conscience.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Deputy Director General Raul Bacalzo said that police investigators will have to verify Fulgencio's admissions.

Fear and outrage

Florence is currently under close watch at a hospital in Davao City, where she is set to undergo a delicate medical procedure for severe head injuries that have rendered the right half of her body paralyzed.

Investigators suspect that the nurse was hit by a rock on head and by a large piece of wood on her right face.

"Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakaka-responde sa anumang pag-uusap at most of the time ay tulog ang ating pasyente," Sulaik said in an interview with GMA's Unang Balita. (Until now, our patient has not responded to our attempts to talk to her, and is asleep most of the time.)

Sulaik said they are hoping Florence will be able to recover, adding it could greatly help investigators in solving the case.

The rape has triggered public outrage nationwide, and has brought fear to Florence's fellow government nurses assigned in the area.

Tahir Sulaik, integrated provincial health officer in Maguindanao, said the victim's colleagues have requested to be re-assigned elsewhere.

On Tuesday, some 100 nurses belonging to the Philippine Nurses Association marched to Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang to demand justice for the rape victim.

In Cotabato City, Sulaik said other nurses also staged an indignation rally condemning the rape and urging authorities to investigate the case.—JV, GMANews.TV

BlackBerry Reveals Its New "PlayBook" Tablet

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - – BlackBerry maker Research in Motion is taking on iPad in the table computer game with a "PlayBook" aimed to capitalize on its strength -- the trust of business users keen on secure communications.

"It is the world's first professional tablet," RIM president and co-chief executive Mike Lazaridis said as he showed off the device in San Francisco.

The PlayBook is one of a number of tablet computers slated for release in a bid to challenge Apple's popular iPad and is the first foray outside the mobile phone realm for the Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM.

"They are kind of positioning it as the iPad for the suits," Gartner analyst Van Baker said of the PlayBook announcement.

The PlayBook has a seven-inch (17.8-centimeter) touchscreen, smaller than the 9.7 inches of Apple's iPad, and also plays Adobe Flash video software, which is banned from the Apple device.

"You are going to be able to get the full Web experience," Lazaridis said, stressing its integration with RIM's BlackBerry smartphone, a favorite among many professionals.

BlackBerry smartphone users can pair their handset with the PlayBook using a Bluetooth connection to view their email, calendar, documents or other content.

The PlayBook also features front- and rear-facing cameras to support video conferencing and allows multi-tasking between programs.

RIM expects to begin selling PlayBooks in the United States in early 2011 and rolling the tablets out to other countries by the middle of the year.

Lazaridis did not reveal how much RIM plans to charge for the PlayBook.

"RIM set out to engineer the best professional-grade tablet in the industry with cutting-edge hardware features and one of the world's most robust and flexible operating systems," Lazaridis said.

Positioning PlayBook as a business person's tablet could stymie its popularity in the sizzling consumer market dominated by iPad, according to Baker.

"RIM has a bit of a split personality; they struggle with whether they are a consumer or enterprise device company," Baker said. "Enterprise is their bread and butter, but consumer is the big market right now."

The fact PlayBook users can route data through BlackBerry smartphones instead of paying for separate telecom service should prove a selling point in the business and personal markets.

PlayBook tablets also promise help RIM challenge the increasing use of iPads in workplaces.

RIM said that in the coming weeks it would release a software kit so third-party developers can begin tailoring applications, or "apps," for PlayBook.

PlayBook debuted at BlackBerry DEVCON, a combined boot camp and pep rally for outside developers crafting programs for the Canadian firm's devices.

RIM introduced tools that make it easier to build applications for BlackBerry handsets and make money with ads or "in-app" purchases.

RIM is also launching a free analytics service that provides applications makers with feedback regarding how, when and where BlackBerry owners are using programs.

"We are enabling developers to better monetize their services and drive deeper engagement to create richer, more interesting social apps for BlackBerry," said Alan Brenner, senior vice president of the BlackBerry platform.

Approximately 35 million people use the BlackBerry "App World" shop, with 1.5 million programs downloaded daily, according to RIM vice president of global alliances and developer relationships Tyler Lessard.

RIM opened the door to more "social" applications that tap into phone features such as chat, instant messaging, and groups, according to Lessard.

Hip, fun or functional programs made by third-party developers have become vital to the popularity of smartphones and tablet computers.

Apple's App Store features more than 250,000 mini-programs for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Blackberry's App World has about 11,000 applications, but programs are also sold at other websites by developers.

Google has been aggressively expanding Android Marketplace, which boasts more than 80,000 apps for smartphones running on the California Internet titan's Android mobile operating system.

Report courtesy of Yahoo!

Ampatuan Sr. offered millions to bribe Dureza, police —witness

GMANews.TV - Wednesday, September 15

(Updated 4:02 p.m.) Andal Ampatuan Sr. attempted to go on a "bribery spree" on police and government officials, including an executive of the Arroyo administration, to avoid being implicated in last year's massacre of more than 50 people in Maguindanao province, a witness told the court Wednesday.

Lakmodin Saliao, a longtime helper of the Ampatuan patriarch, said Andal Sr. wanted to give P10 million to Jesus Dureza, the former presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs, to ensure that the separate rebellion charges against the powerful family will be dismissed.

"Ibigay daw kay Dureza ang pera kapalit ng kalayaan ni Andal Sr. sa pagkaka-release ng rebellion (He wanted Dureza bribed in exchange for his freedom)," said Saliao, who claimed to have worked for the Ampatuans for 18 years.

Saliao said the other people who were allegedly offered money were former Ampatuan police chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay, Maguindanao board member Mike Midtimbang, and suspect PO1 Rainier Ebus.



Saliao mentioned that the bribe money was allegedly ordered given to Dicay and Ebus for them to retract their statements against the family.
 
He also said Andal Sr. wanted to give Midtimbang money for "taking care of him while at Camp Panacan."

Saliao mentioned the bribery issue in his testimony during the resumption of the hearings on the Maguindanao massacre at the Regional Trial Court Branch 221 at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Wednesday.



The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the Ampatuan massacre, occurred on November 23, 2009 in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province in Mindanao.

At the time, the massacre victims were on their way to file Esmael Mangudadatu's certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor. Mangudadatu, then Buluan vice mayor, won the gubernatorial post during the May 10 polls.

The 57 people who were brutally killed and buried in a mass grave in Ampatuan town included Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy. Rejected When asked during cross-examination by defense lawyer Marlon Pagaduan whether Saliao was aware if the people being bribed received the money, the witness replied: "Hindi ko po alam (I don't know0." Dicay told reporters after Wednesday's proceedings that he was indeed offered a P10-million bribe, but added that he did not accept it. "No amount of money could replace the lives lost in the massacre," he said. Like Dicay, Ebus also confirmed the bribe try but said he was offered only P5 million. He said he also rejected the offer. The flow of money, however, did not stop with police officials and local government officials. Saliao also recounted an incident when a certain Tadeo Sayson, a local prosecutor, visited Andal Sr. and received P5,000 for each signature that he affixes on several documents. Asked what documents Andal Sr. were having signed by the prosecutor, Saliao said: "Hindi ko po napansin kung ano ang pinipirmahan (I don't know)."

Millions of pesos given away Also according to Saliao, several months after Andal Sr's hospital arrest, the clan patriarch also ordered him to tell Ustadz Farid Adas, the clan patriarch's trusted man, to give Datu Odin Sinsuat P200 million on February 8. After the implication of his son Andal Jr., who was being groomed to become Maguindanao governor before the massacre, Andal Sr. apparently decided to instead pit Sinsuat against rival Mangudadatu for the gubernatorial race. Mangudadatu ended up beating Sinsuat in the May 10 automated elections by almost 13,000 votes. On March 21, a certain "Chow," an alleged emissary of Andal Sr's grandson Nanu Ampatuan, delivered P90 million to Camp Panacan, where Andal Sr. was taken after being arrested at the Davao Doctors Hospital. Saliao said the money was stored inside two luggage and three bags. "I brought the bags to Andal Sr. and pretended that they were his clothes," said Saliao, explaining how he got away from being inspected by the military guarding the clan patriarch.

Fake sickness In his testimony, Saliao also said on the day martial law was declared in Maguindanao on December 4, Andal Sr. attempted to flee from their mansion — which at that time was already being guarded by the military —to the mountains of Datu Hoffer. While on the road, Andal Sr.'s son and suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan called up his father, advising him to return to the mansion and work out another plan. "Father, go back," Saliao recounted Zaldy as telling the clan patriarch on speaker phone in Maguindanaoan.

Andal Sr. heeded his son's request and returned to his house, where he, Zaldy, defense lawyer Philip Pantojan, lawyer Cynthia Sayadi, and Dr. Tahil Sulay agreed to fake the clan patriarch's health condition. "Nag-usap sila na dalhin si Andal Sr. sa Cotabato City para magkunwaring may sakit [They decided to bring Andal Sr. to Cotabato City where he would pretend to be sick]," Saliao told the court. Zaldy was left in Shariff Aguak, while the rest of the team headed for Cotabato City. The convoy included two ambulances carrying Andal Sr., Saliao, the doctor, and two nurses. Sayadi and Pantojan, meanwhile, trailed the ambulances on board a Toyota Super Grandia van. Along the way, the team changed its plan and decided to just bring Andal Sr. to the Davao Doctors Hospital in Davao City. For maximum impact when passing through military checkpoints, Saliao said he would even pretend to be attending to Andal Sr.. "Kapag dumadaan kami sa checkpoint, nilalagyan ko ng mask si Andal Sr. para magkunwari na malubha ang sakit niya (When passing through checkpoints, I would put mask on Andal Sr. to emphasize how sick he was)," Saliao said. The convoy arrived at the Davao hospital at about 6 a.m. of December, where Andal Sr. was immediately confined at Room 314. "Agad kami pumasok sa 314 room na hindi man lang dumaan sa admission (We got into a hospital room even without going through admission)," Saliao added. Saliao said he then went to the Gaisano Mall to buy clothes, underwear, and food for the clan patriarch. When he returned to the hospital, Saliao said he saw soldiers trying to arrest Andal Sr. Pantojan, who was watching over Andal Sr. at that time, refused to turn him over to the military without a warrant of arrest. The military decided to leave but returned the next day, December 5. "Hindi kami pumayag na kunin nila si Andal Sr. pero sinuntok nila ako (We still did not want them to arrest Andal Sr. but the soldiers punched me)," Saliao said. Coaching In his testimony, Saliao also accused Pantojan of "coaching" him to lie and press extortion charges against an officer at the Camp Panacan on March 19. "Sabi ni Pantojan, kasuhan ko daw Major Jimena na nanghihingi ng pera pang-landscape ng kampo. But that's not true (Pantojan told me to file charges against a certain Major Jimena for soliciting money for the landscaping of the military camp. But that's not true)," the witness said. Saliao said he still filed a complaint against the officer, which is still pending before a local court in Davao City. –VVP/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV

Hong Kong Hostage Survivors Affirm Driver's Testimony

GMANews.TV - Monday, September 13

The Hong Kong nationals who survived the August 23 hostage tragedy have attested that dismissed policeman Rolando Mendoza fired at his victims point-blank, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Monday.

At a news briefing, De Lima said the survivors testimonies' corroborated the account of Hong Thai Travel bus driver Alberto Lubang that the Mendoza shot his victims at close range.

"The accounts of the survivors tend to corroborate, in material point, the account of the driver Lubang, meaning, close-range," said De Lima, chairperson of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee probing the August 23 tragic hostage incident.

On that day, Mendoza, who was demanding for his reinstatement, hijacked a bus carrying 21 Hong Kong tourists and four Filipinos. At the end of an 11-hour standoff, Mendoza and eight Hong Kong tourists were killed.

According to De Lima, out of the five survivors whom Philippine officials spoke with, three witnessed the hostage crisis unfold "to the very end."

De Lima said Philippine government investigators have returned from Hong Kong on Friday evening.

They brought with them the statements of the five survivors, six autopsy reports, and the cellphones of Lubang, tour guide Diana Chan, and a Filipino photographer. These three individuals are based in the Philippines and have survived the hostage taking at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

The Justice secretary also cited the autopsy reports of the Hong Kong investigators, which showed that the slain victims' bodies did not show tattoing, an indication of close-range shooting.

However, De Lima also said the HK investigators clarified that "the absence of tattoing does not mean it was not close-range shooting."

"The autopsy reports from the Hong Kong authorities contain certain explanations that the absence of tattoing is not indicative or not conclusive of the fact that it was not close-range," said De Lima.

Earlier, De Lima said the hostage probe committee is not ruling out the possibility that the victims may have been killed by friendly fire.

As of posting time, the IIRC is in a closed-door meeting with the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to discuss and interpret forensic findings on the crime scene and on the victims. –VVP, GMANews.TV

Rich Cronin of LFO Dies at 35

by Us Magazine in Stop The Presses!

Rich Cronin of '90s boy band LFO died on Wednesday at age 35, CNN confirms. He passed away in a Massachusetts hospital, according to bandmate Brad Fischetti. Cronin, who wrote and sang the number one smash "Summer Girls," was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005; despite chemotherapy, the disease returned in 2007 and 2008.

The singer-songwriter then underwent a stem cell transplant -- which, according to Fischetti, led to a stroke and severe leg pain.

Even with his medical battles, Cronin reunited with LFO pals Fischetti and Devin Lima for a summer 2009 tour.

His bandmates gave him a large back bedroom on the bus so he could rest in between gigs.

"We had the best time ever," Fischetti said. "He never thought he'd be on stage again."

Fellow boy band star Lance Bass of N Sync paid tribute to Cronin on Twitter late Wednesday. "Sad sad day that Rich Cronin died- was a amazing guy :(" Bass wrote.