Reposted From Reuters

Corrected: Historic million dollar jewels headline NY auction

Reuters - Saturday, April 17

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Corrects date of sale in first paragraph to Thursday

By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK - An emerald brooch owned by Catherine the Great of Russia and a diamond ring that once belonged to former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos are headlining a jewelry sale Thursday that Christie's expects will attract strong Asian buyer interest.

Both pieces have not been seen in public for decades and are estimated to sell for between $1 million and $1.5 million at the auction of 300 pieces of jewelry. The total sale could reap more than $25 million, Christie's said.

"Art and jewelry were more resilient than any other sector in the financial world and people still came and put great confidence in what they wish to buy," Rahul Kadakia, head of jewelry at Christie's New York, said of the financial crisis.

"The Chinese market is the biggest market in the world right now, because that's a market that's still building their collections," he said. "We had a lot of requests from clients in China for visas to come and attend the sale so we do know they will be here."

The 39.5 carat Emperor Maximilian Diamond ring was bought by Marcos, wife of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, in 1983 -- three years before her husband was ousted from power through a popular revolt.

Known for her extravagant lifestyle and love of shoes and jewelry, Marcos owned the Brazilian diamond until the mid-1990s when she sold it to a U.S. jeweler. Jeweler Cartier set the stone into a ring in 1934 and then Marcos changed the setting.

The stone was originally bought by Archduke Maximilian in 1860 shortly before he was named the Emperor of Mexico. But when he was captured and court-martialed by opposition forces, "legend holds that Maximilian was wearing the in a small satchel tied around his neck when he was executed," Christie's said.

The diamond ring is now being sold by a private collector.

The Catherine the Great brooch dates back to the mid-18th century when it was owned by Catherine II of Russia, who ascended to the Russian thrown in 1762, according to Christie's. It was passed down through several generations of her family.

In 1972 the brooch was bought by a private U.S. collector, whose estate is now selling the jewel.

"It's quite a regal jewel," said Kadakia. "The current owner's mother wore it to the White House for a state dinner in 1973. So it's been through a lot this brooch and it's seen a lot of history and has passed through some great times."

In 2009 Christie's sold more than $270 million worth of jewelry and diamond globally with several new records set.

The Vivid Pink, a 5-carat pink diamond, set a new record price for any gemstone when it sold for $10.8 million, while the Annenberg Diamond, a 32-carat diamond, set a new per-carat record when it went under the hammer for a total $7.7 million.

"Jewelry prices have held very strong," Kadakia said. "If you have something that's rare, that's irreplaceable, people pay what they have to pay to own it."

Reposted from Reuters

A Repost From NaturalNews

Scientists find walnuts fight prostate cancer Thursday, April 15, 2010 by: S. L. Baker, features writer

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(NaturalNews) Walnuts are a rich plant source of omega-3s, the fatty acids also found in cold water fish like salmon. Omega-3s are known to lower the risk of a host of health problems from depression to heart disease. Walnuts are also loaded with gamma tocopherol (a form of vitamin E), phytochemicals known as polyphenols, and antioxidants. Now, for the first time, scientists have reported that these nutrient-rich nuts have the ability to reduce the size and growth of prostate cancer.

Scientists from the University of California-Davis just reported their discovery at the 239th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), being held in San Francisco this week. "Walnuts should be part of a prostate-healthy diet," Paul Davis, Ph.D., who headed the study, said in a statement to the media. "They should be part of a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables."

Approximately 190,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. According to the University of California-Davis scientists, research suggests that diet is among the most important factors in influencing a man's risk for developing prostate cancer. For example, there's evidence that eating tomatoes and drinking pomegranate juice may reduce the chance of ever having prostate cancer.

Recently, scientists have found that walnuts could fight cardiovascular disease by reducing levels of endothelin, a substance that increases inflammation in blood vessels. Because men with prostate cancer are known to have elevated levels of endothelin, the University of California-Davis scientists reasoned that eating walnuts could be beneficial in preventing and/or treating prostate cancer.

Davis and his research team conducted their study on laboratory mice that had been genetically programmed to develop prostate cancer. One group of the animals ate the equivalent of about 2.5 ounces of walnuts per day in a human diet (equal to approximately 14 shelled nuts) for two months. A control group of mice did not receive any walnuts in their diet.

When the genetically induced prostate cancers developed in the walnut-fed animals, their tumors were only about half as large as those of the control mice. What's more, the cancers in the walnut eating rodents also grew 30 percent slower.

So what was going on in the bodies of the mice who ate walnuts? The researchers found those mice had lower levels of insulin-like growth factor-1. That's a crucial finding because high levels of this protein are thought to increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.

To further investigate why walnuts had the ability to fight prostate cancer, the researchers used gene chip technology to track changes in gene levels in the animals' tumors as well as in the livers of the mice. The results showed eating walnuts had a significantly beneficial effect on both tumor and liver genes that have been shown to be involved in controlling the growth of malignant tumors.

Editor's note: NaturalNews is opposed to the use of animals in medical experiments that expose them to harm. We present these findings in protest of the way in which they were acquired.

For more information:
http://www.naturalnews.com/028373_w...
http://www.naturalnews.com/027699_w...
http://www.naturalnews.com/027074_w...

Repost From NaturalNews

Repost From GMA News TV

Marlene Aguilar leads march for son Jason's release

04/09/2010 | 11:29 AM

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Marlene Aguilar, mother of murder suspect Jason Ivler, on Friday led a march of relatives and supporters calling for her son's immediate release from the Quezon City jail.

Ivler's relatives and supporters marched from Aguilar's house in Katipunan to the city hall complex, the venue of the hearings on the murder case filed against Ivler.

Ivler, an American citizen, is the main suspect in the road rage killing of Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., son of a Malacañang official, in November last year.



He was arrested and wounded after shooting it out with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents last January 18 in his mother's home where he had been hiding.

Ivler was confined at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) after sustaining a gunshot wound in his abdomen.

Last Tuesday, the QC Regional Trial Court Branch 76 ordered Ivler's transfer from the QMMC to a detention cell at the Quezon City jail after finding him fit enough to be moved out of the hospital.

Ivler was moved to his cell with 20 foreign detainees last Wednesday. Aguilar had vowed to march daily near the jail while her son is incarcerated there.

Prior to Ebarle Jr.'s killing, Ivler was already facing a homicide through reckless imprudence case for the death of Malacañang Undersecretary Nestor Ponce Jr. in August 2004. The case is pending at the Pasig City Regional Trial Court. — Johanna Camille Sisante/RSJ, GMANews.TV

Reposted From GMA News.TV

Repost From NaturalNews

Seaweed could hold key to natural weight loss

Wednesday, April 07, 2010 by: Sherry Baker, Health Sciences Editor
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(NaturalNews) Scientists at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom have discovered a substance that reduces fat uptake in the body by more than 75 percent. This potential obesity fighter isn't a drug but a natural substance found in seaweed.

The research team, headed by Dr. Iain Brownlee and Professor Jeff Pearson, tested more than 60 different fibers in the laboratory to see how effective they were in absorbing fat. The results? The scientists found that alginate, a natural fiber in sea kelp, blocks the body from absorbing fat far more effectively than anti-obesity treatments currently sold over the counter.

"There are countless claims about miracle cures for weight loss but only a few cases offer any sound scientific evidence to back up these claims," Dr Brownlee said in a press statement. "The aim of this study was to put these products to the test and our initial findings are that alginates significantly reduce fat digestion."

The Newcastle University findings were presented March 22 at the American Chemical Society Spring meeting in San Francisco. Dr. Brownlee announced that he and his colleagues now plan to recruit volunteers and study whether the effects they have found in the lab can be reproduced in real people. They also want to see if they can come up with tasty, healthy foods that incorporate the seafood ingredient.

"This suggests that if we can add the natural fiber to products commonly eaten daily -- such as bread, biscuits and yogurts -- up to three quarters of the fat contained in that meal could simply pass through the body," Dr. Brownlee stated. "We have already added the alginate to bread and initial taste tests have been extremely encouraging. Now the next step is to carry out clinical trials to find out how effective they are when eaten as part of a normal diet."

Alginates from seaweed are already commonly used in very small amounts in many foods as thickeners and stabilizers. When the seafood extract was added to bread as part of a blind taste test, Dr Brownlee said the alginate bread actually scored higher for texture and richness than a standard white loaf.

"Obesity is an ever-growing problem and many people find it difficult to stick to diet and exercise plans in order to lose weight," Dr Brownlee said in the press statement. "Alginates not only have great potential for weight management -- adding them to food also has the added advantage of boosting overall fiber content."

This is important because foods high in fiber have been shown in numerous studies not only to help in weight control, but also to reduce the risk for colon cancer and to lower levels of the "bad" cholesterol that is linked to heart disease.

For more information:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/p...

Mga Sutil At Subersibo

Nakakalungkot na makita ang mga estudyante nang PUP na nagsusunog nang kagamitan nang kanilang eskwelahan. Tinututulan nila ang pagtaas nang tuition fee sa 200 pesos per unit mula 12 pesos per unit. Nagtangka pa silang hakutin ang mga gamit nang eskwelahan nang isakay nila ang mga ito sa isang dyip at balak dalhin sa CHED (Commission on Higher Education) para duon sunugin. Dito sila hinuli nang mga pulis at dinala sa presinto. Nangako ang hepe nang CHED na ihihinto muna ang napipintong pagtataas nang matrikula nang PUP. Kahapon ay inurong nang PUP president ang kanyang reklamo laban sa 5 lider estudyante nang PUP na nanguna sa pagsunog nang mga gamit nang eskwela. Naipalabas sa media ang lantarang paghahamon nang 5 lider estudyante na nakuha pang itaas ang mga tikom nilang kamao (clenched fist). Imbes na magpasalamat na binawi nang presidente nang PUP ang reklamo laban sa kanila at napalabas sila sa kulungan ay parang lalo pa silang naghahamon. Ganito rin ang naging eksena sa campus nang PUP nang pumasok sila duon. Nakataas ang mga kamay sa clenched fist. Hindi na nila naisip na sila ay mga iskolar nang bayan at ang pamahalaan ang sumasagot sa dapat ay sila ang nagbabayad sa matrikula nila. MGA SUTIL MGA SUBERSIBO. KAHIYA HIYA. WALANG DISIPLINA.

Masaker

Matapos ang tagumpay ni PGMA sa Supreme Court nang paboran siya nito nang karapatang pumili nang susunod na Chief Justice nang Supreme Court ay hindi nagaksaya nang panahon ang pangulo na sibakin ang mga career officials sa mga piling tanggapan nang gubyerno at halinhan ang mga ito nang kanyang mga piling tauhan. Ang unang nakatikim nang masaker ay ang kinatawan natin sa Germany- si Gng. Delia Domingo-Albert. Ni hindi man lang siya inabisuhan nang pagkakasibak sa kaniya. Sumunod ang mga pangunahing tauhan nang National Museum at National Historical Institute. Hindi rin nila nalaman na nasibak na pala sila. Nagkukumahog ang pangulo para sa sangkatutak na midnight appointments na clear violation sa isinasaad nang Konstitusyon at batas. Siguradong ia antedate nang Malacanang ang petsa nang paghirang sa kanila. Marami pa ang inaasahang masaker at midnight appointments nang dapat pababa nang pangulo. Nawala na ang delikadesa sa kanya basta masunod lamang ang kagustuhan niya. Sobrang takot niya na makasuhan nang plunder pagbaba niya nang poder kaya lahat na lamang nang paraan ay ginagawa niya para mapalawig pa ang kanyang termino. Pero merong makakapigil sa mga tiwaling gawain niya at iyon ay ang Diyos. Kahapon ay isinugod si FG sa ospital dahil sa komplikasyon sa puso. Harinawang makonsensya ang magasawa at huwag nang ituloy ang mapagimbot nilang plano para sa bansa. WALA NA BANG KAHIHIYAN AT TAKOT SA DIYOS SA PILIPINAS?

Nakakasulasok

Dahil sa prinsipyo ay hindi ako naglalahad nang mga negatibong artikulo sa mga blogs ko pero hindi ko na matiis ang pagmamalabis at pagyurak nang Pangulong GMA sa mga Pilipino at institusyong pam Pilipino. Ang pinakahuling hirit ni PGMA ay ang pagpipilit na siyang mag appoint nang bagong Supreme Court Chief Justice na sinagayunan naman nang Korte Suprema. Para bagang naghahanda na si PGMA na maharap sa patong patong na asunto nang plunder at betrayal nang sinumpaan niyang katapatan sa konstitusyon at sa Republika nang Pilipinas. Hinirang na niya ang bagong Chief of Staff nang Armed Forces of the Philippines. Preparasyon na ba ito nang pagdedeklara nang Martial Law kapag tumagilid ang katayuan niya? Una dito ay nagdeklara siyang tatakbo bilang kinatawan nang ikalawang distrito nang Pampanga, preparsyon na maging bagong pinuno nang Kongreso at palitan ang porma nang gobyerno mula presidential tungo sa parliamentary. Kung baga sa baseball, all bases covered ang pangulo sa pagsisiguro na matutuloy ang kanyang pamumuno. Hindi na siya nagkasya na manungkulan nang sampung taon sa kaduda dudang pagkapanalo (kuno- hello Garci?), ngayon gusto pa rin niyang ipagpatuloy ang kanyang panunungkulan by hook or by crook. Kahiya hiya ang naging panunungkulan niya nang ginagantimpalaan pa niya ang mga nagtago nang katotohanan para sa kanya katulad ni Romulo Neri na matapos hindi nagsiwalat nang katotohanan tungkol sa ZTE Scam ay ginamtimpalaan nang magandang posisyon bilang head nang SSS. Abangan ang mga susunod na pakulo ni PGMA sa pagpipilit na ituloy ang pamumuno niya sa pinakamataas na posisyon sa bansa.

Wala na bang kahihiyan at moralidad sa Pilipinas?