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Google Maps launched in RP

GMA News— Paolo Luis G. Montecillo, BusinessWorld on 10/12/2008 at 11:53pm (UTC)

MANILA, Philippines - Global Internet giant Google has launched its Google Map Maker application in the Philippines, which will provide a detailed map of the Philippines for locals, tourists and potential investors.

With the launch, the Philippines will be the first Southeast Asian nation where the application is available. "The Philippines has a challenging topography featuring a diverse landscape and many remote, unexplored regions," Google said in a statement.

Google Map Maker will let local users locate, draw, label and accurately render existing tourist destinations and create maps of uncharted areas, making these visible to tourists and investors for the first time on the Google Map Web site. The maps will include street names, house numbers, parks, forest areas and other geographical features.

"This capability provides new commercial opportunities for local residents and businesses based on information provided by local users," the company said. "Google Map Maker is all about leveraging the knowledge of local experts found in every neighborhood and in every town and city," it said. It added that since map data is collected from people who have first-hand knowledge of the area, the information becomes more meaningful and relevant to users.

Palawan is a an example of a beautiful Philippine location with limited online visibility, out-of-date maps, and many uncharted areas. Google Map Maker is expected to have far-reaching implications on the country’s agricultural and environmental landscape as well. Detailed geographical information can be used to identify arable land, route irrigation, and in extreme cases, ensure accessibility to areas suffering from natural and man-made calamities. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo, BusinessWorld

Virgin shark got pregnant in Virginia aquarium

By Will Dunham/ news daily on 10/10/2008 at 3:31pm (UTC)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2008 (Reuters) — Scientists using DNA testing have confirmed the second-known instance of "virgin birth" in a shark -- a female Atlantic blacktip shark named Tidbit that produced a baby without a male shark.
The shark came to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach not long after being born in the wild and lived there for eight years with no males of the same species, said Beth Firchau, the aquarium's curator of fishes.
The 5-foot (1.5-meter) shark died after being removed from the tank for a veterinary examination, and a subsequent necropsy revealed that Tidbit was carrying a fully developed shark pup nearly ready to be born, Firchau said.
Demian Chapman, a shark scientist with the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University in New York state, performed DNA testing that showed the pup had no father. Virgin birth such as this is known as parthenogenesis.
A year ago, Chapman used genetic testing to confirm that a hammerhead shark at a zoo in Omaha gave birth to a pup in 2002, also after parthenogenesis.
"It tells us that the original case we documented last year was not some fluke of nature. This is something that might be more common than we think it is, and widespread among sharks," Chapman said in a telephone interview.
Parthenogenesis also has been documented in Komodo dragons, snakes, birds, fish and amphibians, Chapman said.
It occurs when a baby is conceived without male sperm fertilizing the female's eggs. In the type of parthenogenesis seen in sharks, the mother's chromosomes split during egg development.
How the sharks do it is unclear. Chapman said they may use a hormone to trigger eggs to develop in this manner in the absence of males. Or perhaps if eggs remain unfertilized with no males around, a certain fraction develop into embryos.
"It's a finding that kind of rewrites the textbooks a little," Chapman said. "It just goes to show how the ocean keeps its secrets very well. And the sharks in particular."
"Of course, sharks are being killed at such a rate that unless we do something to stop that, we're not even going to learn all their secrets before they're gone," Chapman added.
The findings appear in the Journal of Fish Biology.

Hotel-like Lobby Highlights Two Towers at Rosewood Pointe

MB - Jul. 20, PS - Jul. 25 on 10/09/2008 at 2:07pm (UTC)

Our aspirations of home do not end with four walls and a roof. We always dream of grander, of better, or maybe of even just hints of sophistication that will validate our hardwork and, of course, bring us utter fulfillment.

DMCI Homes, in its continued pursuit of delivering superior products and services to the discriminating property market, injects the elegant touch of luxury to the Neo-Asian inspired Rosewood Pointe by incorporating a grand, hotel-like lobby in each of its two high-rise residential buildings.

The Jade and Ivory towers, both rising 21 storeys, will complete the flourishing Rosewood Pointe community of eight medium-rise and two high-rise residential condominiums. The two buildings will not only bring a sense of height and grandeur, but likewise an unmistakable touch of class and prestige to Rosewood Pointe.

Highlighting the two towers are their respective hotel-like lobbies that give homeowners an absolute spell of warm welcome. High-ceilinged, spaciously laid out, and lavishly adorned, each lobby is an ideal nook for entertaining guests or simply hanging out. A reception counter and individual mailboxes are likewise thrown-in, providing a heightened sensation of luxury and exclusivity.

Of course, the grand lobby only sets off the wealth of other features that are available at Jade and Ivory towers. Connecting the two structures is a verdant podium garden. Meanwhile, central promenade greeneries can be found every five floors of each tower, providing enlivening elements of nature within the building. At the top floor of Ivory, the Sky Lounge offers spectacular views of the Ortigas skyline, the Bonifacio Global City and the Makati Central Business District.

The residential units, which are available in two- and three- bedroom configurations, are planned and laid out such that space is creatively maximized. Privacy and roominess is guaranteed as units are lined in single-loaded corridors, wherein, they open up to an atrium or an indoor garden instead of a neighboring door. This layout, likewise, allows for the abundant entry of natural lighting and ventilation.

The property, which attractively blends quaint Oriental architecture with ingenious contemporary flair, sits just off the C5 Road where it is conveniently accessible from the major commercial districts of Makati, Ortigas and the Bonifacio Global City; leading malls and entertainment centers; premier educational and medical institutions; and the international and domestic airports.

DMCI Homes is the country's first triple A builder/developer that offers middle income families optimum value for their money by providing quality homes with exceptional features and amenities, world-standard level of craftsmanship borne out of over 50 years experience in the construction and development industry.

For inquiries on Rosewood Pointe and other DMCI Homes projects, please call 02 383 9668 or visit site http://www.dmcihomes-litoroque.page.tl

Hotel-like Lobby Highlights Two Towers at Rosewood Pointe

MB - Jul. 20, PS - Jul. 25 on 10/09/2008 at 2:06pm (UTC)

Jakarta Residents Start Moving In

PS - Jul. 11, MB - Aug. 19 on 10/03/2008 at 6:18pm (UTC)

The envisioned idyllic community at Raya Garden Condominiums is gradually coming to fulfillment as Jakarta, one of the development's two high-rise towers, becomes available to homeowners.

Rising 15 storeys and comprised of 289 units, the Jakarta building is already close to selling out and has started accepting move-ins since February this year. So far, there have been 150 turnovers and 76 move-ins as of mid-June.

Jakarta boasts of a unique and refreshing building design, having luxuriant central garden atriums every five levels. With this, elements of the outdoors are ingeniously brought indoors, something other vertical developments are not able to offer. Moreover, the units are lined in single-loaded corridors, furthering the feel of nature and permitting for the abundant entry of natural light and ventilation, in addition to providing residents optimum privacy.

The building, which will be serviced by two high-speed elevators, features an impressive lobby with a reception counter, individual mailboxes, and a cozy visitor waiting area.

All units in Jakarta - from the standard 2-bedroom, to the 2-bedroom special and 3-bedroom tandem - have their own balconies and are turned over with a finish that is clean and classic. The bedrooms' interior are painted in plain cement finish with narra wood parquet floor design, while the kitchens offers granite-finish countertops complete with cabinet system, and the toilets with full fixture features.

Jakarta homeowners can likewise move-in with utmost convenience, thanks to the enhanced services of the Property Management Office (PMO). Tasked to preserve the value of the property by ensuring that the day-to-day experience of the residents are pleasantly worthwhile, the PMO coordinates the move-in of residents, makes sure that property rules and regulations are understood, assists in acquiring basic utility applications, and facilitates billing and collection of dues. Additionally, the office is in charge of security, housekeeping, and the maintenance of common areas and facilities.

The PMO likewise promotes the spirit of community in Raya Garden by institutionalizing get-togethers and activities to commemorate some of our most celebrated holidays and festivals such as Christmas, Halloween and Easter. It also initiates skills training such as first aid and basic life support for members of the community.

Meanwhile, foundation construction is underway for Surabaya, the development's other high-rise building and its last residential component. The 15-storey structure has a unique T-shape design and will be highlighted by a tastefully-designed, hotel-like, air-conditioned lobby. Its 389 units will be serviced by three elevators and will be ready for occupancy by April 2009. A full-service gym, a laundry pick-up and delivery station, a water refilling station, and other commercial establishments will likewise be housed in Surabaya.

DMCI Homes is the country's first triple A builder/developer that offers middle income families optimum value for their money by providing quality homes with exceptional features and amenities, world-standard level of craftsmanship borne out of over 50 years experience in the construction and development industry.

US interest rates left unchanged

BBC News UK on 08/27/2008 at 8:01am (UTC)

The US Federal Reserve has kept its key interest rate unchanged at 2% as it grapples with the twin dangers of possible recession and high inflation.

Explaining their decision, policymakers said economic growth was likely to remain weak for some time while the outlook for inflation was "uncertain".

Consumer prices rose at their fastest monthly rate in 11 years in June but oil prices are currently falling.

The Fed cut rates aggressively in late 2007, but have frozen them since April.

'Tight credit'

The Fed's rate setting committee voted 10 to one to keep rates where they are, with Richard Fisher dissenting in favour of a rate hike.

Experts say uncertainty over how severe and prolonged the economic slowdown will be is making the Fed cautious about any shift in policy.

The continued slump in the housing market and its impact on consumer confidence has made any imminent rate rise unlikely despite signs of increasing inflationary pressures.

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