Jaycee Lee Duggard today

God really provided a way for Jaycee Lee Duggard to be found after 18 years of abduction. Here's the story before her appearance at the police station:

Kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard lived nearly two decades as a prisoner in the secluded backyard on an Antioch home, raising two children by her alleged abductor with little to no outside contact, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Deparment.

At a Placerville news conference Thursday, El Dorado County Undersheriff Fred Kollar said even though the 11-year-old girl abducted in 1991 lived in a makeshift set of sheds and tents for 18 years with her daughters, the now 29-year-old Jaycee was in surprisingly good shape after her identity was discovered Wednesday.

"Living in a backyard for 18 years does take its toll, but she was in good health," Kollar said. "Jaycee has been there ever since. The children were born there."

Kollar said Jaycee's 15-year-old and 11-year-old daughters were fathered by her captor, Phillip Garrido. Garrido, 58, and his wife Nancy Garrido, 54, were arrested for investigation of kidnapping and conspiracy Wednesday.

"He fathered both children with Jaycee," Kollar said.

Formal criminal complaints against the Garridos were expected to be filed in El Dorado County Superior Court by noon Friday, according to El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson.

Kollar said the break in the 18-year search for the missing South Lake Tahoe girl began Tuesday when Garrido, accompanied by Jaycee's two daughters, attempted to hand out religious literature on the UC Berkeley campus.

The interaction between Garrido and the two girls prompted the attention of a UC Berkeley police officer, who ran a background check on Garrido.

When it was discovered that Garrido was on parole following a 1971 conviction for rape and kidnapping, Kollar said officers alerted the state parole office.

The call led to Garrido's visit to his Concord parole officer's office, Kollar said. Along with Garrido was his wife Nancy, the two girls and a young woman Garrido called Allissa.

Kollar said the parole officer had never seen "Allissa" or the two girls during any home visits to Garrido's Antioch home. That suspicion prompted a call to Concord Police. From there, detectives unraveled Garrido's house of cards -- and it wasn't long before it seemed clear that Allissa was actually Jaycee Dugard.

"The diligent questioning and follow-up by the parolee's agent of record led to Garrido revealing his kidnapping of the adult female," the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement Thursday.

"Without (parole) assistance, we probably never would have found this out," Kollar said.

Some have asked why did Jaycee never attempted or rather never had the chance to escape from her abductors for so long?

Well, as we all know that she was very very young then, she might have been brainwashed by the Garridos with their "strange" religious beliefs. Religion vitally affects a person's personal convictions. Thanks to the keen observations of UC Berkeley police officer, Jaycee Lee Duggard today is with her family.

Michael Jackson 51st Birthday | Happy Birthday, Michael!

It's been more that a month since he was gone forever but his legacy will continue to live in the hearts of the people from around the world who have loved him. For you Michael, generations will forever remember your name.

Though you're not with us anymore, still Happy Birthday To You! Celebrate your day with all the angels in heaven. God bless you..

Nepenthes Attenboroughii | Pitcher Plant

Nepenthes Attenboroughii is a montane species of insectivorous pitcher plant named after the celebrated broadcaster and naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, a keen enthusiast of the plant genus Nepenthes.

Another spectacular species of this pitcher plant was discovered in 2007 by botanists at Mount Victoria Palawan, Philippines. According to the group of botanists led by Britons Alastair Robinson and Stewart McPherson, its substantial size places it among the largest of known meat-eating pitcher plants.

Nepenthes Attenboroughii: A-upper pitcher ; B- intermediate pitcher.
Image credit: www.philippinenativeplants.org

Watch this video of Nepenthes Attenboroughii found in Borneo. This life form remarkably shows the wonders of nature, although the background music sounds so creepy it makes the pitcher plant looks so scarily evil. But the video is very informative, you'll like it.

Adam Goldstein | DJ AM | DJ AM found dead

Adam Goldstein, well-known as DJ AM was found dead at about 5:20 pm by paramedics Friday August 28 at his apartment in Manhattan, which some law enforcement officials said had drug paraphernalia in it. According to an official, there was no evidence of foul play. Although DJ AM admitted he had past addictions to crack cocaine, Ecstasy and other drugs, he claimed he had been drug-free for years.

It was reported that DJ AM had previously survived a deadly South Carolina plane crash with rock musician Travis Barker.

Adam Goldstein had been famous also for his past relationships with Nicole Richie, daughter of Lionel Richie and singer-actress Mandy Moore.

R.I.P. DJ AM.

Philip Garrido | Nancy Garrido

Photo from msnbc.msn.com

Above is an undated photo of Phillip Garrido (58) and his wife Nancy Garrido (54), whom were the alleged kidnappers of Jaycee Lee Duggard (now 29). Police said that Phillip Garrido was a convicted sex offender. Both were arrested on August 26, 2009.

The question that lingers on my mind is, "Why did Nancy Garrido conspired with Phillip Garrido in the abduction of Jaycee Lee Duggard"? For 18 years, she connived with her husband's criminal act. For what purpose? I think that will be a mystery until the victim tells her story.

Jaycee Lee Dugard

Jaycee Lee Dugard was reported missing for 18 years after she was kidnapped when she was 11 years old on June 10, 1991. She was last seen on that day by her stepfather Carl Probyn outside her home in South lake Tahoe being kidnapped by two occupants in a car.

Jaycee Lee Dugard, now 29, appeared at a police station in Concord, California on Wednesday and identified herself as the missing woman, police officials said.

At a press conference, the El Dorado Sherif's Department said conversations with the woman confirmed that she was Dugard, who was kidnapped at age 11.

Subsequent interviews provided information that only the victim and the kidnappers could know," said Fred Kollar from the department.

Police officials identified a couple taken into custody in connection with Dugard's kidnap as Phillip and Nancy Garrido.

What happened to Jaycee Lee Dugard was an example of a perfect kidnapping because it took 18 years before she was seen again. I guess her own story of how she was abducted, what was her life by then until her appearance at the police station revealing her identity, will be worth watching.

Ramon Magsaysay Awards 2009

Below are the 6 Ramon Magsaysay Awards 2009 awardees:

1. From Burma - Ka Hsaw Wa
2. From China - Yu Xiaogang
3. From China - Ma Jun
4. From India - Deep Joshi
5. From Philippines - Antonio Oposa Jr.
6. From Thailand - Krisana Kraisintu

The Ramon Magsaysay Award was created in 1957, the year the Philippines lost in a plane crash a President who was well-loved for his simplicity and humility, his passion for justice, particularly for the poor, and his advancement of human dignity. Among the many friends and admirers of the late President around the world were the Rockefeller brothers. With the concurrence of the Philippine government, the trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) established the Award to honor his memory and perpetuate his example of integrity in public service and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award is given to persons - regardless of race, nationality, creed or gender - who address issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity, and in doing so have made contributions which have transformed their societies for the better. The Award is given in six categories: government service; public service; community leadership; journalism, literature and creative communication arts; peace and international understanding; and emergent leadership. The Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership seeks to inspire young people to apply their talents and energies to selfless and innovative service in Asia; this award category was created in 2000 with support from a Ford Foundation grant, and honors greatness of spirit among men and women forty years old and below.

Pork Barrel

Pork barrel has been the talk of the town lately. There are propositions of releasing not pork barrel fund to those Philippine congressmen or senators who are frequently absent during legislative sessions. As they say, "No work, No pork". Some were in favor of removing pork barrel because it has been observed that corruptions originate from the inappropriate use of this fund. But of course, a lot also have objected to the idea, arguing that pork barrel fund belongs to their district (the people) and should not be withheld or removed just because the people's representatives are irresponsible. Especially now that elections is coming, politicians badly needed the pork barrel fund so they can show off and impress their constituents who are also valuable voters with their last minute projects like road repairs, buildings and other infrastructures said to benefit the people. Have you noticed that when election is close, left and right projects are being done by the local governments?

But what is a pork barrel in its noblest meaning?

Pork barrel is a derogatory term referring to appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district. Typically, "pork" involves funding for government programs whose economic or service benefits are concentrated in a particular area but whose costs are spread among all taxpayers. Public works projects, certain national defense spending projects, and agricultural subsidies are the most commonly cited examples.

In the Philippines, the pork barrel have become the President's sort of leash to the politicians. If a representative or a senator is not an ally or is in opposing views with the President, expect not a pork barrel fund release, because the command of whether to release the fund or not is the President's prerogative because the President has the "Power of the Purse".

repose definition | repose

Repose as a noun is defined as:

- a state of resting after exertion or strain; especially : rest in sleep

- eternal or heavenly rest (Example: pray for the repose of a soul)

- a place of rest

- PEACE, TRANQUILITY (Example: the repose of the bayous)

- a harmony in the arrangement of parts and colors that is restful to the eye

- lack of activity : QUIESCENCE

- cessation or absence of activity, movement, or animation
(Example: The face in repose is grave and thoughtful.)

- composure of manner : POISE

Gypsy | Gypsies | Roma gypsies

The term Gypsy or Gypsies refer to members of a traditionally itinerant people who originated in northern India and now live chiefly in south and southwest Asia, Europe, and North America.

Initially the word Gypsy was used to refer to the Romani people, hence described as Roma Gypsies, who first appeared in England at about the beginning of the 16th century. Gypsy also describes those in English speaking countries who live a lifestyle similar to that of the Romani.

Hollywood pop star Madonna was reported to have been booed by Romanian audience during her concert last Wednesday, August 26 in Bucharest when she spoke out against the discrimination of Roma Gypsies in Eastern Europe, saying that no one should be discriminated against.

Too bad for Madonna. Maybe she didn't quite understand the history of the Roma Gypsies so she spoke that way. As for the reacting crowd, maybe what Madonna said was true. The truth hurts, isn't it?

Well, a little lesson there is: before you attempt to speak out about something, check out its background first.

Road traffic accidents

Road traffic accidents particularly in the Philippines are commonly caused by drivers' over speeding, overtaking, wrong turn, and drunk driving. Everyday, more and more vehicular accidents are recorded especially those concerning public utility buses. Many lives perished and were endangered because of the carelessness of these drivers.

supercilious | supercillious definition

Supercilious is defined as coolly and patronizingly haughty.
(The winner waved to the people with a supercilious smile.)

The term is synonymous with the word "proud".

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica Boston

COPYRIGHT/JERRY DOUGHERTY

The funeral Mass for the late Senator Edward Kennedy will be held at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Boston on the morning of Saturday, August 29th. His funeral service has been reported to be private.

The Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica, also called as the Mission Church was founded in 1868. It is a Roman Catholic Archdiocese parish located in 1545 Tremont St., Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts.

Michael Jackson homicide

Michael Jackson homicide ruling by the Los Angeles County Coroner brought a lot of sentiments from the fans of the late King of Pop. Here are some:

"I'm a little bit surprised," Jane Brackley of London told MTV News in Times Square. "Then again, you knew he was taking quite a few prescription drugs, and somebody had to give them to him."

New Yorker Natasha Jane took the news a bit more personally. "It's very disturbing, and the fact that it's a homicide makes it even more devastating," she said. "I'm a singer, so he was one of my inspirations. You just don't expect anything like this to happen to Michael Jackson."

Amara thinks the justice for Murray — and anybody else who may have been complicit in Jackson's death — should be swift and sharp. "They robbed the whole world of the best show ever, and I think prison won't be nearly enough for somebody like that."

But the question still remains if Dr. Murray could be held solely liable for the death of Jackson because it might be argued that Jackson had his consent in the use of propofol despite health warnings. I guess it's still a long way to go for justice to be served.

Homicide | Homicide definition

Homicide is defined by Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary as "a killing of one human being by another".

There are at least four kinds of homicide: murder, manslaughter, non-criminal homicide, and homicide committed by victim or victims (suicide).

Murder is the unlawful killing of another human being with intent.

Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by laws as less culpable than murder. It has two distinct categories: voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. Voluntary manslaughter occurs when the defendant kills with malice aforethought (intention to kill or cause serious harm). Involuntary manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought.

Non-criminal homicide

Homicides do not always involve a crime. Sometimes the law allows homicide by allowing certain defenses to criminal charges. One of the most recognized is self-defense, which provides that a person is entitled to commit homicide to protect his or her own life from a deadly attack.

Miss Universe | Miss Universe 2009 Official Results

The Miss Universe 2009 Official Results:

• 4th runner-up -Ms. Puerto Rico Mayra Matos Perez

• 3rd runner-up - Ms. Australia Rachael Finch
  

• 2nd runner-up - Ms. Kosovo Gona Dragusha
  

• 1st runner-up - Ms. Dominican Republic Ada Aimee De la Cruz
  

• Miss Universe 2009 - Ms. Venezuela Stefania Fernandez
  

Special awards:

• Miss Congeniality - Ms. China
• Miss Photogenic - Ms. Thailand
  

Miss Universe | Miss Universe 2009 Finalists

The candidates who were included in the top 10 finalists after the swimsuit competition are:

1. Ms. Australia
   
2. Ms. Venezuela
3. Ms. South Africa
4. Ms. Dominican Republic
5. Ms. Kosovo
6. Ms. Czech Republic
7. Ms. Switzerland
8. Ms. Puerto Rico
9. Ms. USA
10. Ms. France
    

Miss Universe | Miss Universe 2009 Magic 15

Here's a recap from the live telecast of the Miss Universe 2009. The candidates who made it to the Magic 15 are:

1. Ms. Puerto Rico
2. Ms. Iceland
3. Ms. Albania
4. Ms. Czech Republic
5. Ms. Belgium
6. Ms. Dominican Republic
7. Ms. Sweden
8. Ms. Kosovo
9. Ms. Australia
10. Ms. France
11. Ms. Switzerland
12. Ms. South Africa
13. Ms. USA
14. Ms. Croatia
15. Ms. Venezuela

Michelle Herndon

Propofol, a sedative drug given to Michael Jackson which allegedly became the cause of the King of Pop's sudden death has been reported to have caused death also in 2005. Michelle Herndon, a 24-year old student at the University of Florida, was murdered with the use propofol. According to the reports, her "murderer" Oliver Travis O'Quinn, a trained anesthesia nurse in UF injected Michelle Herndon with propofol in her home. Travis was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the crime.

I wondered if Dr. Murray might end up with the same fate as O'Quinn if he is to be found guilty of the abusive administration of propofol to Jackson.

Zhu Zhu pets

Are you tired of real pets? Tired of cleaning up their mess? Well, you can have artificial ones like the Zhu Zhu pets. This toy is timely for Christmas. So get your Zhu Zhu pets now before the price peaks up.

But for me, I still prefer the real ones.

Lizzie Miller model

Lizzie Miller models for Glamour Magazine. The magazine features a picture of Miller sitting in her underwear. Glamour's September issue is entitled "What Everyone But You Sees About Your Body". It's about promoting the idea of being comfortable with your self.

I think this issue is very timely because a lot of women today are so uncomfortable with their bodies. Women's physical body characteristics are not the same; some are still skinny despite eating a lot more, and others easily balloon despite their efforts of depriving themselves of food. Anyways, sexiness is described in so many ways.

Avatar | Avatar screenshots

About the movie:

An ex-Marine finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people.

Here are some of the screenshots from the Avatar trailer:

AVATAR teaser trailer

Another breathtaking movie from the director of 'Titanic' James Cameron. Avatar is a futuristic, sci-fi 3D flick that combines CGI and live action. Avatar is scheduled to hit the theaters by December 18th. I can't wait to watch this movie. Below is the Avatar teaser trailer.

Miss Universe | Miss Universe 2009 pageant night

Image credit:www.missuniverse.com

The Miss Universe 2009 pageant night will be held LIVE from the Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23rd on NBC and Telemundo at 9 PM (ET). Some of the superstar artists to perform are Flo Rida, Heidi Montag, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland.

Miss Universe | Miss Universe 2009 Semi-finalists

The Miss Universe 2009 semi-finalists will only be revealed on the day of the pageant to be held on August 23rd. So before that, let's just take a look who among the 84 contestants could possibly make it to the semi-finals. Below are the top 15 contestants with the highest ranks:


1. Ms. Brazil
2. Ms. Ecuador
3. Ms. Guatemala
4. Ms. Thailand
5. Ms. Indonesia
6. Ms. Peru
7. Ms. Bolivia
8. Ms. Vietnam
9. Ms. Venezuela
10. Ms. Philippines
11. Ms. El Salvador
12. Ms. Mexico
13. Ms. Iceland
14. Ms. Colombia
15. Ms. Dominican Republic

Keep up the challenge, Ladies!

Update:

As of today August 22, here are the list of the 15 candidates with the highest ratings:

1. Ms. Brazil
2. Ms. Indonesia

3. Ms. Guatemala
4. Ms. Thailand
5. Ms. Ecuador
6. Ms. Peru
7. Ms. Philippines

8. Ms. Vietnam
9. Ms. Venezuela
10. Ms. El Salvador

11. Ms. Mexico
12. Ms. Bolivia
13. Ms. Colombia
14. Ms. Russia
15. Ms. Guam

Simon Sue

Simon Sue is a former charismatic senior student at Palmer High School in Colorado springs who was sentenced to a 53 years in prison for being the mastermind and luring Isaac Grimes into murdering Tony Dutcher in 1999. According to Grimes, the crime amounted to a twisted version of the children's game, "Simon says".

Isaac Grimes and Tony Dutcher were former best friends who began to drift apart in high school. On a sleepover trip at Dutcher's grandparents' remote mountain home, Grimes slit Dutcher's throat while he lay in his sleeping bag. Grimes claimed that he was forced to commit murder by Simon Sue, a senior at his high school.

Titanic | Asia's Titanic

RMS Titanic before departing Southampton, England. Photo taken Good Friday 5 April 1912

The RMS Titanic was an Olympic-class passenger liner owned by White Star Line, a British shipping company. It was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, United Kingdom. The RMS Titanic was the world's largest passenger steamship of her time.

The sinking of the RMS Titanic on the night of April 14, 1912 resulted in the deaths of 1,517 people, and made it as one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.

Meanwhile, the Asia's Titanic will premiere on the National Geographic Channel on August 25, 2009 at 8PM. It is a full-length documentary film about the tragic fate of the MV Doña Paz which collided with an oil tanker back in 1987. This docu-film was directed by Yam Laranas.

The "Doña Paz" was a passenger ferry that sank after colliding with the oil tanker "Vector" on December 20,1987.

The "Doña Paz" was en route from Catbalogan City, on Samar Island, Philippines, to Manila when, while it was in the Tablas Strait, between the islands of Mindoro and Tablas, it collided with a small oil tanker, the "Vector", which was carrying 8,800 barrels of petroleum products.

The "Vector"'s cargo ignited and caused a fire that rapidly spread onto the "Doña Paz", which sank within minutes. Two of the 13 crew members aboard the "Vector" survived but all 58 crew of the "Doña Paz" died.

It is the deadliest ferry disaster and the worst peace-time maritime disaster in history.

The Asia's Titanic was done through first hand accounts of survivors and rescuers, archival footage, photos and a re-enactment of the collision.

Miss Universe | Miss Universe 2009 crown

The Miss Universe is an annual pageant contested by different young ladies of beauty and brains, each representing her own country. The 58th Miss Universe pageant will be hosted for the first time by the state of Bahamas specifically at the Atlantis Resort Paradise Island.

Among the audience's favorites in this year's pageant are Ms. Ecuador, Ms. Iceland, Ms. Canada, Ms. Venezuela, Ms. Puerto Rico, Ms. Dominican Republic, Ms. USA, Ms. Russia, Ms. Sweden, Ms. Mexico, and Ms. Philippines represented by Pamela Bianca Manalo.

The Miss Universe 2009 crown will be different from the last year's. According to the organizer of the pageant, there are 3 designs to decide on. The viewers are encouraged to choose from among the 3 crowns of peace, hope and unity. If you would like to vote for your choice, log on to www.choosethecrown.com.

I hope Philippines' Ms. Bianca Manalo will take home the Miss Universe 2009 crown.

Here's the screen shots of the 3 crowns:

Update:

For me, my choice is unity. It's simple yet very elegant. And because the world is in a global financial crisis, all countries must unite in the hope of achieving international peace for global prosperity.

Update:

Well, 'Peace' was voted by viewers to be the Miss Universe 2009 crown.

Caster Semenya pictures

18-year old South African runner Caster Semenya won the women's world 800 meters title at the Berlin Track and Field World Championships in 1 minute, 55.45 seconds. Although she easily got the title, Semenya must still prove to the International Association of Athletics Federations or IAAF that she's a "she and not a he". Well, if it turns out that Semenya is a man, she/he will definitely be stripped of the title and defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei who went second will get the title.

Sometimes looks can be very deceiving so here's Caster Semenya pictures and you be the judge if she is definitely a woman or a man.

David Axelrod

In a reply to an email by Senior White House advisor David Axelrod, the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR) have announced their own email reply campaign and within it is a new Obama-Joker poster.

Americans don't want to pay for mandatory insurance which defines baby-killing as "essential care." They are turning against "end-of-life" counseling which is more coercive than consultative. It is becoming increasingly clear that this horrifying plan is designed to reduce the numbers of preborn children who could ruin their parents' careers and the numbers of elderly parents who might spoil their children's retirements.

The president needs to see this poster and he needs to hear from every American who opposes the publicly funded abortion and end-of-life health care rationing which will result from the plan which Mr. Obama and his socialist friends are trying to ram down our throats.

Take a look at the new Obama-Joker poster.

Britney Spears Letterman

I love Britney Spears. And the way she presented to Letterman her top ten ways the country would be different if she were the President really amused me. Below is her list:

• 10. I'd be the first president to wear eye shadow since Nixon.
• 9. We would only invade fun places like Cabo.
• 8. Free pie for everybody.
• 7. My situation room would be a cabana at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.
• 6. I'd lure Osama out of hiding with the irresistible scent of my new fragrance "Circus Fantasy."
• 5. Every presidential news conference would feature costume changes.
• 4. America might have a more coherent fiscal strategy.
• 3. Challenge U.S. to put nightclub on the moon by the end of the decade.
• 2. Three words: Vice President Diddy
• 1. Finally the media would pay some attention to me.

I guess with free pie for everybody, then no one will be hungry, hehe... And no one will go to the streets shouting in protests...

nugatory | nugatory definition

Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary defined nugatory as inconsequential; having no force; inoperative; or trifling. It's synonymous with the word vain.

According to one blogger, this is the topmost nugatory thing we say: LOL - we use it so much but are not literally laughing out loud each time we write it. Actually, sometimes we are just sarcastically smiling.

Obama Joker artist: revealed

photo credit: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Remember the Obama joker picture that was once a hot topic on the trends? As this joker photo of the US President Barack Obama popped out in Los Angeles, many were asking who could be behind this thing.

Well, search no farther because the real Obama joker artist is now revealed and come to think of it, he's a fellow Chicagoan. He is Firas Alkhateeb, a senior history major at the University of Illinois. Find out how he did his craft and the real story behind the "socialism" tag.

Michael Jackson's burial

Michael Jackson's burial date was not confirmed after a public memorial service for the late King of Pop was held last July at the Staples Center, LA. According to the latest report, Joe Jackson said that Michael Jackson's burial will be at a Los Angeles cemetery on August 29, which would have been Michael's 51st birthday.

After all these investigations done, I just hope that the truth will finally come out and justice will prevail. I am glad Michael will be finally laid to his eternal resting place.

Update:

Instead of August 29th, Michael Jackson's burial will be moved 5 days after his would be 51st birthday, that is September 3.

Michael Jackson's family on Friday delayed his burial by five days as a judge ruled that a touring show of his memorabilia could go on and police raided another pharmacy in their ongoing probe of his sudden death.

Eric Dane tape | Rebecca Gayheart video

Here's the Eric Dane tape of his three-some naked video scandal with former Miss Teen USA Kari Ann Peniche (later stripped of her title for posing nude for Playboy), and his wife Rebecca Gayheart. Although the video did not show the actual sex scene, the appearances of the three people involved suggested they're going there.

Watch the Eric Dane tape at gawker.com or see some of the screen shots.

Mar-Korina Wedding Date

Fans are eager to know about the Mar-Korina wedding date. Finally, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and ABS-CBN News chief correspondent Korina Sanchez have finally unveiled the date of their much-anticipated wedding. The couple announced on The Buzz that they are tying the knot on the 23rd of October this year. The couple is looking for a big church because according to the organizer, the couple wanted to accommodate not only their families and friends but the public as well.

Donaire vs Concepcion

In the Donaire vs Concepcion fight for the WBA interim super flyweight crown at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on August 16, 2009, Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire, the IBF flyweight champion, defeated Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion in a unanimous decision victory. The three judges scored the bout 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112 for Donaire. With the win, Donaire (22-1, 14 KOs) becomes a two-division champion.

Donaire has a very good strategy here. He knows he could not knock-out Concepcion with his powerful punches so he defeated Concepcion through the scorecard.

Miss Oklahoma 2009

BodyTrends Taylor Treat won the Miss Oklahoma 2009.

And here's the The Top 5 (left to right):

2nd Runner Up - Talia Berning

1st Runner Up - Kimberly Hulsey

Miss Oklahoma 2009 Taylor Treat

3rd Runner Up - Emoly West

4th Runner Up - Damaris Pierce

photos credit: www.missoklahoma.org

Sea Shepherd

Captain Paul Watson is the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society which aims to protect marine species and environment. In 2009, the Sea Shepherd is engaging in protest against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean. Recently, Captain Watson gave a great sat-down interview with TreeHugger Radio. Here are some of the highlights:

Whale Wars focuses on your efforts in the Antarctic region dealing with Japanese whaling fleets. Where does whaling stand now? Is it legal to hunt whales, illegal, a gray area?

All commercial whaling was ruled illegal in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission. So commercial whaling is illegal. What Japan is doing though is they're targeting endangered whales in an established international whale sanctuary in violation of that commercial moratorium. And they're in violation of the Antarctic Treaty, the convention of the International Trade of Endangered Species, and they're also in contempt of the Australian Federal Court, which ruled they couldn't take whales in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

So what they are doing is blatantly illegal. All we are doing is intervening to uphold the international law because governments don't have the economic or political will to do that.

How are the whales killed?

Whales don't really have a chance. These are highly mechanized industrial fleets. They go out there, they locate the whales with sonar, they outrun them with their fast harpoon boats, and they drive explosive harpoons into their backs. This last season on Whale Wars we saw one whale that was harpooned, and stayed with it until it died. It was 25 minutes that it was thrashing about after it was harpooned, after they fired high-powered rifles into its body.

It's an extremely cruel enterprise. If this was a land animal it would not be accepted. This kind of stuff wouldn't be accepted in any slaughterhouse in the world. And this is one of the most social, highly intelligent, and sensitive creatures on the planet, and we are allowing this kind of massacre to take place every year.

Clearly there may be more than economics in question here. Is this a pride issue? Is it sort of a national identity thing, to be able to continue to hunt and eat whales?

That is part of it, but they're still illegal. The Japanese say that it's a tradition. But it isn't. Commercial whaling was introduced to Japan in 1946 by General Douglas MacArthur. It was an American imposition. So it's hardly traditional. But they're saying that if we stop them from whaling, the we'll stop them from taking bluefin tuna. They think it's a foot in the door to stopping their entire fishing operation. So they feel that they have to defend this in order to prevent us from going after their other operations.

The fact is that the oceans are dying, and those countries like Spain and Japan and China that are destroying life in the oceans are contributing to the demise of the oceans. And really this is something that all people should be involved in. I know it's abstract, but the fact is that if the oceans die, then we all die, and civilization ceases to exist.

I don't think people really have connected the dots there, but a little bit of thought into it and they'll realize that we've wiped out 90 percent of the commercial fisheries on this planet right now. We're killing about 70 to 90 million sharks every year, we're wiping out the fisheries, we're wiping out whales, we're wiping out seals. This kind of destruction is going to lead to very serious consequences for human beings.

Tell me about your crew. What kind of people are on board the Steve Irwin, and where they come from? Do they get paid?

My crew are men and women from all different nationalities—anywhere from 10 to 14 different nationalities—and they're all volunteers. I couldn't pay people to do what these volunteers do. They risk their lives, they're out there, they're passionate. People complain the Sea Shepherd's crew is amateurish, they're not professionals. I couldn't go down there with professionals—professionals wouldn't do what my crew does. I want people who are ready to stand up and risk their lives.

This is the Sea Shepherd vessel: