Friday, December 10, 2010

Liu Xiaobo Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Liu Xiaobo Wins Nobel Peace Prize - Liu Xiaobo is hardly a household name inside China. Most people have never heard of the man who is the first person of Chinese origin to win a Nobel Prize while living in China.
Liu is a political philosopher who first angered the Chinese government in 1989, when he was involved in orchestrating peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square that ended with a military crackdown.

Decades later, Liu co-wrote Charter 08, a petition calling for multi-party democracy in China. He has spent much of his life in and out of prison, often living under house arrest.

Within the small community of people who are familiar with Liu Xiaobo's work, not everyone is comfortable with the idea that the Nobel was given to a single Chinese activist.

Liu Xiaobo Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Many support Liu Xiaobo's efforts to promote human rights on a philosophical level, but believe others who have sacrificed their freedom — and sometimes their lives — also deserve recognition.

The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China keeps a database listing 1,452 current political prisoners in China, although researchers admit that list is far from complete.

Liu Xiaobo Wins Nobel Peace Prize

I Am Number Four Trailer Released

I Am Number Four Trailer Released - "Glee's" Dianna Agron only has eyes for a handsome blonde alien in the just released trailer for the sci-fi flick "I Am Number Four."

The movie, based on the book by James Frey and Jobie Hughes of the same name, centers around a human-resembling teen alien named John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) who is on the run from an enemy species, named the Mogadorians, that are out to destroy him.

Three of his kind have already been killed and his guardian, played by Timothy Olyphant, tells John that they can only kill in sequential order, revealing that he is number four.

I Am Number Four Trailer Released

Barbara Walters 10 Most Fascinating People

Barbara Walters 10 Most Fascinating People - Barbara Walters annual special The 10 Most Fascinating People aired Thursday night on ABC and overall, what a snooze fest but BWalt did her best to give us 10 personalities that we couldn’t stop talking about. So here is the list:

Betty White. Now Betty is all sorts of fabulous, but what’s more interesting is that in a culture so obsessed with youth (Bieber, Cyrus, The Twilight crew,) the octogenarian is still relevant. Is this a trend?

Mark Zuckerberg. Rehashed clips of the Facebook creator and inspiration for the movie The Social Network. I yawned twice while typing that. And this could have been something solid – he is quirky and challenging and even if he wouldn’t agree to a sit down, this segment was dull.

Justin Bieber. I have nothing against Bieber but this felt like Walters trying to get tweens and teens to watch the show. I am fascinated by the reaction his fans will have when he changes his hair. And I’m also very scared of it.

Jersey Shore Cast. I understand that I am in the minority here – but I really don’t get the fascination. Gym. Tan. Laundry. Barbara?

Sandra Bullock. Sympathetic absolutely. More than that – well,

See the rest of the list under.

Barbara Walters 10 Most Fascinating People

Jennifer Lopez. Taking a seat at the American Idol judges table is a fascinating choice for her career, I suppose…

LeBron James. No new interview – again, Played out.

Kate Middleton. What I find interesting – was she on this list 3 weeks ago, before she got the engagement ring? Who did Barbara replace?

Sarah Palin. Yes, she should be on the list – whether you like her politics or not – she will make waves in the next Presidential election, whether she chooses to run or she backs another candidate.

Barbara Walters 10 Most Fascinating People

Thursday, December 9, 2010

iPad 2 Coming Soon

iPad 2 Coming Soon - Component suppliers for Apple Inc's iPad are gearing up for a new round of production in the first quarter, sources said on Friday, with one saying the product will be a revamp of the popular tablet computer including front- and back-mounted cameras.

Touchscreen chip designer Wintek Corp, battery maker Simplo Technology Co Ltd and AVY Precision, an unlisted maker of covers for electronic products, are among suppliers for the next batch of iPads, four people familiar with the situation said.

Two could only confirm they were ramping up for a new round of production in the first quarter for components previously supplied for the original iPad, while two said the ramp-up was for a new iPad.

iPad 2 Coming Soon

One of those said the revamped model would feature cameras on the front and rear, while the other said the new model would be slimmer, lighter and have a better resolution display.

Camera module makers Genius Electronic Optical Co Ltd and Largan Precision Co Ltd were also starting new supply deals with Apple, two sources said, but neither could confirm for which product the modules were intended.

"It makes sense for these suppliers to begin delivering their goods in February," said Steven Tseng, an analyst at RBS in Taipei. "I think Steve Jobs will announce the new product in January, and we should see the new product hitting shops in about April."

iPad 2 Coming Soon

Cruise Ship In Antarctica

Cruise Ship In Antarctica - Chris Seigler had already visited every continent on the planet except Antarctica, and the Independence resident was on his way home from the icy land when the ship he was on ran into some of the most impressive waves you are ever likely to see.

Now, his wife is waiting at home for word from her husband on the stranded cruise ship, which lost power after getting smacked by 30-foot waves and 90-mile-per-hour winds as it was returning to Argentina from Antarctica.

"I found out by my daughter seeing it on Yahoo and saying 'Mom, what ship is Dad on?'" said Linda Seigler, who has had no communication from her 61-year-old husband since Saturday when he posted a message on Facebook.

"Well, I'm in Antarctica have not set foot on the Continent yet but should do so tomorrow the crossing of the Drake Passage was very rough," read the message on Seigler's Facebook page, and that was even before the ship ran into trouble.

"Even when they were going through the Drake Passage originally, one of the ladies fell out of bed and had a big black eye, another fell and broke her arm and had to get stitches some place on her face," said Linda Seigler.

Cruise Ship In Antarctica

Seigler is among 88 Americans and 165 people overall on the Clelia Two cruise ship. Linda Seigler didn't go with her husband because she had just started a new job, plus she was worried she might get sea sick.

"He wanted to make all the continents, and he had this opportunity so I told him he needed to go for it, and now it's my fault," said Linda Seigler with a laugh.

On Wednesday, she was told that an Argentinian Navy ship is helping guide the Clelia Two back to land. After this experience, Linda Seigler says that cruise ships are not a likely mode of transportation in her future.

Cruise Ship In Antarctica

Sylvie Cachay Was A Rising Star

Sylvie Cachay Was A Rising Star - A beautiful young designer whose swimsuits were worn by celebrities like Lindsay Lohan was found dead with red marks on her neck in an overflowing bathtub at the SoHo House Thursday morning.

Sylvie Cachay, 33, was found in the room of 24-year-old Nicholas Brooks, police said. Brooks is the son of infamous songwriter Joseph Brooks, who was indicted last year on several counts of sexually assaulting young women.

Cachay had dated Brooks, according to police sources. He was being questioned at the Greenwich Village precinct late into the night Thursday.

The stunning designer, who once interned for Marc Jacobs, grew up in the wealthy D.C. suburb McLean, Va. She had dual-citizenship in the U.S. and Peru and split her time between Virginia and South America, according to her website.

Her love for design grew out of the time she spent as a young girl in her mother's art studio, and her decision to pursue swimwear stemmed from her appreciation of the "beach lifestyle," her website reported.

Cachay went to a college prep school and then attended Parsons in Paris where she studied fashion and art, online research showed. After she moved back to the U.S., she attended Marymount University in Virginia.

After working for Marc Jacobs and Tommy Hilfiger, Cachay was discovered by Victoria's Secret in 2002 and the megabrand recruited her to head up their swimwear line, which she did until 2006, when she started her own line, according to her website.

The designer's work has been featured in magazines including Vogue, Elle and People.

Sylvie Cachay Was A Rising Star

Sources said Cachay's body was discovered wearing only a sweater and underwear, partially submerged in a bathtub in a SoHo House room. She had red marks around her neck when she was found, sources said.

Police sources said drugs may have led to her death. Her hair was singed when police found her, sources said, and there was a prescription pill bottle half full found near the bathtub.

People that knew Cachay from her West Village neighborhood were very upset to hear of her death.

Karey Smith, 29, a fashion designer and party host at the Hudson Street bar Employees Only, said that Cachay came into the lounge once or twice a month.

Sylvie Cachay Was A Rising Star