‘Framily’ vacations billed as way to save your marriage

 Entertainment
Jul 312014
 
‘Framily’ vacations billed as way to save your marriage

Framily vacations, taken with friends who are as close as family, are on the rise.©Nikola Bilic/shutterstock.com (Relaxnews) – Like glamping, staycations and voluntourism, the travel industry is seizing on another word mash-up to carve up a new market: “framily.” And to coincide with the UN-designed International Day of Friendship July 30, travel agency Thomas Cook has released the results of a new survey to promote the concept of girlfriend getaways and buddy vacations as a way of strengthening marriage. The relationship between the two could be construed as a bit of a stretch. In a poll of 2,000 Brits, one-third of respondents claimed that taking a vacation with a close friend helped or even “saved” their marriage. And only 40 percent said they missed their other half while they were away. “We believe that the rise in holidays with friends is being driven by another trend, the increasing importance of friendship,” said consultant and futurologist William Higham in a statement. “Today, more and more people have a close group of friends that they consider to be a surrogate family: a ‘Framily.’” The growing popularity of girlfriend getaways and boys’ only vacations are described as a push against the increasing dominance of technology in our lives, and the renewed appreciation for human interaction and bonding. Framily vacations with friends who are like family can also fulfil needs where partners can’t, he added. The survey results showed that the most popular type of friend vacation is a city sightseeing break (17 percent) Read More …

Cheesecake Factory scores a hat trick in 2014 Xtreme Eating Awards

 Entertainment
Jul 312014
 
Cheesecake Factory scores a hat trick in 2014 Xtreme Eating Awards

The Xtreme Eating Awards are held every year in the US to determine the richest menu items in popular chain restaurants in the US.©Valentyn Volkov/shutterstock.com (Relaxnews) – The Cheesecake Factory won three awards in the 2014 edition of the Xtreme Eating Awards, an annual ranking that discerns the richest menu items in popular US restaurant chains, revealing calorie, fat and sodium content. The chain’s 2,780-calorie custard-soaked, butter syrup-laden Bruléed French Toast topped the chain’s hat-trick list with its 93 grams of saturated fat, 2,230 milligrams of sodium and 24 teaspoons of sugar. If that sounds like weight gain on a plate, it was the richest of the Cheesecake Factory offerings, but not of the entire contest, making it a modest year for the chain, which usually takes the cake. The richest meal was a Red Robin Gourmet Burgers menu option that includes its “Monster Sized” A1 Peppercorn burger, Bottomless Steak Fries and Monster Salted Caramel Milkshake, all of which totals 3,540 calories, 69 grams of saturated fat and 6,280 mg of sodium. Total added sugar content was estimated at 38 teaspoons by Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which developed the awards in 2007 to raise public consciousness about healthy eating. Between Red Robin Gourmet Burgers for having the richest meal and Cheesecake Factory for having three of its dishes on the prize list, CSPI didn’t discern an official winner, for the idea of the contest is above all intended as a public service. A complete list of Read More …

Baidu is building its own self-driving car

 Entertainment
Jul 312014
 
Baidu is building its own self-driving car

Baidu is working on an autonomous car. ©AFP PHOTO (Relaxnews) – Proving that Google does not have a monopoly on the future of personal mobility, the Chinese search engine could overtake its US counterpart with its own take on the autonomous car. Speaking with The Next Web, the head of the company’s Institute of Deep Learning – think Baidu’s version of Google’s X lab – Kai Yu compared the car his team is developing to a horse in that it will be autonomous but can still be controlled by the driver. “I think in the future, a car should not totally replace the driver but should really give the driver freedom. Freedom means the car is intelligent enough to operate by itself, like a horse, and make decisions under different road situations. Whenever the driver wants to resume control, you can do that. It’s like riding on a horse, rather than just sitting in a car where you only have a button,” he told the publication. That means that Baidu’s car will come complete with a steering wheel, plus brake and accelerator pedals and although the company has given no clear indication as to when it will be galloping into production, there’s a good chance that it could arrive before Google’s fully autonomous take on the future of personal mobility. Google’s car, announced in May, will remove drivers from the equation altogether and will instead rely on a host of sensors, GPS, the internet, special maps and a layer of artificial intelligence to Read More …

Napoles camp says new jail venue ‘logistically sound’

 Entertainment
Jul 312014
 
Napoles camp says new jail venue ‘logistically sound’

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, poses questions to Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind during the hearing on Thursday (Nov. 7, 2013) at the Senate building in Pasay City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Despite initially opposing her transfer, alleged pork barrel fund scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles seemed to have changed her mind and now has no problems with staying in another detention facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig. This was according to her lawyer Bruce Rivera, who, after inspecting and being briefed about the security measures inside Camp Bagong Diwa, said they are now convinced that Napoles’ transfer from Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna was for the better. It was a Makati court, trying her on charges of serious illegal detention, that originally ordered Napoles’ detention in Laguna. But the Sandiganbayan, which is hearing separate cases of plunder and graft against Napoles, ordered her transfer to Taguig. Citing security reasons, Napoles’ camp initially opposed the transfer. But after the Makati court did not object to the transfer, Napoles was finally brought to Camp Bagong Diwa Monday night. “Initially, ang issue namin is security … kasi di pa naman namin nakikita ang security set-up [that time],” Rivera said. “But now [after] looking at the security [aspect], wala naman kaming nakitang problema,” he said. Rivera accompanied Napoles from Laguna to Taguig. Inspector Aris Villaester, spokesman of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-National Capital Region, assured Napoles of her security while in their custody and added that she Read More …

Business community satisfied with Aquino’s 5th SONA

 Entertainment
Jul 312014
 
Business community satisfied with Aquino’s 5th SONA

In front of lawmakers, President Benigno Aquino III on Monday, July 28, highlighted the benefits of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program – declared partially unconstitutional by the Supreme Court – at the start of his fifth State of the Nation Address.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The country’s largest and most influential business organizations, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Makati Business Club (MBC) are satisfied with the 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III delivered Monday. In a phone interview, PCCI president Alfredo M. Yao said Aquino’s commitment to continue reforms and programs ensuring economic developments give further confidence to the business community. “That’s what we want to hear: to continue reforms,” Yao said. He cited significant points the Chief Executive mentioned in his SONA which include public-private partnership (PPP) projects and infrastructure projects that are necessary to attract more investments in the country. “The business community wants to see more of those projects,” he said. Yao, likewise, expressed his support to the President’s request to the Congress to pass a supplemental budget for this year in order to continue programs and projects that will benefit more Filipinos as well as passing a Joint Resolution of the Congress that will define and clarify some existing laws. For his part, MBC executive director Peter Angelo V. Perfecto said in a text message that the business group lauded President Aquino’s reaffirmation that the Filipino is worth dying, living, and fighting for. “That gives Read More …

Palace downplays coup threats

 Entertainment
Jul 312014
 
Palace downplays coup threats

Philippine soldiers in a pass-in review during the Testimonial Review and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Change of Command Ceremony at the AFP General Headquarters Grandstand, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City Friday (July 18, 2014) being witnessed by President Benigno S. Aquino III. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Wednesday said it was unfazed by rumors of a coup d’état against President Benigno Aquino III since it is confident that the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were satisfied with the government. “The reason for the lack of interest is, I think, primarily the reforms that the Aquino administration has already implemented with respect to the armed forces. We have provided mission-essential equipment to the people on the ground,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said when prodded about the issue. He also said there would be no loyalty check among the members of the military since “there is no issue.” “There is no such truth to the coup rumors,” Lacierda said.  Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. earlier said that while the President has received death threats, they are not considered serious. Senator Antonio Trillanes earlier said that he received word about retired generals planning to destabilize the government through the help of active members of the AFP. But AFP spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said there were no such reports. He said as far as the rank-and-file personnel of the AFP were concerned, they were not being recruited into any destabilization plot. Read More …

Kylie Padilla moves on through music

 Entertainment
Jul 302014
 
Kylie Padilla moves on through music

Kylie Padilla (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — KYLIE Padilla is now moving on after her breakup with Aljur Abrenica. “I’m okay na. Lumipas na yung malungkot na panahon. Okay na,” she said. The 21-year-old actress said that following the split, she learned to love herself more and to always look at the bright side of things. “Dapat laging magtira para sa sarili. Love yourself and focus on the more important (thing). Discover yourself again, your strengths and not your weaknesses,” she said. The actress said she is not in a hurry to find a new love. “Pahinga muna,” she said. Meanwhile, aside from being an actor, Kylie is adding another job title to her growing showbiz resume — a recording artist. She launched “Season,” her debut album under GMA Records, featuring carrier single “Gitara”. According to the “Adarna” actress it took her two years to create this album. She wrote five songs out of the eight titles. Included in the tracklist are “Awake,” “Mine,” “Thank You,” “Lonely Without You,” “Seasons,” “Sulat,” and “Alive”. A keen songwriter herself, Kylie said she never thought that someday she would release an album of her own. “Hindi kasi pinlano to release an album. Nagsusulat na ako nun because this is an outlet for me. Making this album was truly an emotional journey. I got to know more about myself,” she said. She added that music changed her. It calms her and she turns to music to express every emotion. “Nag-evolve na ako. The Kylie Read More …

Gatchalian pushes for swift enactment of revised anti-hazing law

 Entertainment
Jul 302014
 
Gatchalian pushes for swift enactment of revised anti-hazing law

Sherwin T. Gatchalian – Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Valenzuela City’s First District (photo courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian vowed on Monday to push for the passage into law of House Bill No. 4714 which seeks to totally prohibit hazing and impose graver penalties on fraternities, sororities, student organizations and school administrators who will be involved in violent hazing in the future. He made the pledge before the parents of Guillo Cesar Servando who died exactly a month ago after undergoing violent hazing in the hands of members of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity chapter of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Gatchalian’s filing of House Bill No 4714 was prompted by the death of the 17-year-old Servando, a sophomore student of DLS-CSB who died last June 28 due to injuries from hazing conducted by members of the said fraternity. Aurelio Servando and his wife were invited by Congressman Gatchalian as his guests when President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his fifth State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa Bldg. in Quezon City. Yellow stickers bearing the anti-hazing logo and support for the Servando Act were distributed in the House of Representatives to mark the first month of Guillo Cesar’s death. “I call on the families of hazing victims as well as groups who are against hazing to join me and Mr. and Mrs. Servando in pushing for the immediate passage into law of the Servando Act (HB 4714) that will Read More …

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