Free Internet from Smart via Smart Net* (For Postpaid and Prepaid)

If it's free internet you want, it's free internet that you will get!* Smart is currently offering FREE mobile internet access to ALL prepaid and postpaid subscribers on selected websites and social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. The free service also gives you free mobile access to Yahoo mail, Yahoo OMG and Yahoo search.*

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the RAID - witness who gets caught! (Party)

the RAID
witness who gets caught!

September 25, 2009
8pm to 3am
Main Room

Ascend SuperClub
Bonifacio High Street, The Fort

Dress Code: Upscale
DJ Cai Gummer, Techno
DJ Markie Madness, Hiphouse
DJ David Ardiente, Hiphouse

Buy 1 take 1 on selected cocktails and local beers!*

*8pm to 10pm only


For table reservations, pls contact:

oneconceptproductions@yahoo.com
or
0916 5913837

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Newest Models of Sony Bravia Launched!

Sony Philippines launched the newest era of Bravia models today with features that deliver the smoothest picture quality, the thinnest Edge-LED backlit LCD TV screen and the most environment friendly production and usage possible as of today!

For the benefit of those who doesn't know, BRAVIA simply means:
B.R.A.V.I.A. > Best Resolution Audio Video Integrated Architecture

Given the current situations and factors in the world today, Sony's direction can be summarized in 2 commitment statements.
1) Product excellence through unique technological breakthroughs.
2) Responsible corporate citizenship through ethical practices and environmental responsiveness.
Given that, Sony embraces the route of innovation!

Some facts people should know:
* Sony pioneered the use of LED technology in backlighting LCD televisions as early as 2004 with the release of the first generation RGB LED Backlit LCD TV - the QUALIA 005 - in Japan.

* The 2nd generation Triluminous RGB LED Backlit LCD, the BRAVIA 70X350 was launched worldwide in 2007.

* Sony also introduced the World’s First OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TV – the 11-inch XEL-1. In terms of illumination, OLED TV differs from an LCD TV as it requires no backlight since its panel is light emitting. As thin as 3mm, this organic panel has the thickness of three stacked credit cards!

The Sony XEL-1

Bravia Facts:
• 2004 - QUALIA 005, the World’s First RGB LED Backlit LCD TV (Launched in Japan)
• 2007 - BRAVIA KLV-70X350 2nd Generation RGB LED (Triluminos) Backlit LCD TV
- XEL-1, the World’s First OLED TV (Japan, USA – 2007)
• 2008 - BRAVIA X450 (KLV-55X450, KLV-46X450) completion of RGB Dynamic LED Backlit LCD TV series.
- BRAVIA Z450, the World’s First 240Hz LCD TV (MotionFlow 240Hz technology)
-BRAVIA ZX1, the World’s First Edge-Type White LED Backlit and the World’s Slimmest LCD TV Screen with HD wireless technology
• 2009 - Sony Develops world’s first HCFL backlighting tubes for use in televisions, achieving greater brightness with lower power consumption (incorporated in WE5 Series)


Here are some of the products launched to the press just today!

BRAVIA ZX1: The World’s Slimmest Edge LED Backlit LCD TVs

Sony ZX1

For those with a keen sense of uncluttered elegance, the BRAVIA 1080 wireless technology ensures that the BRAVIA ZX1 is not obscured by wires or other devices. Instead, the innovative system utilises a groundbreaking, high-speed wireless connection capable of real time transmission of HD signals to the ZX1.

BRAVIA Z450: The Smoothest Pictures Possible

Sony Z450

The Sony Bravia Z450 is using the world’s First Motionflow 240Hz. Using a set-up inspired by the rush of outdoor excitement and adventure, Sony showed how the Motionflow 240Hz algorithm quadruples the number of frames rate per second by interpolating three new frames to reduce the motion blur often seen in fast-paced sports and action programs.

The result is total precision and smoothness. Through a highly accurate motion algorithm coming from its Motionflow chip, the Z450 series is able to reduce image blur and judder, producing the smoothest pictures ever.

BRAVIA WE5: The World’s Greenest HD TV

Sony WE5

These green technologies are all demonstrated by the new BRAVIA WE5 LCD TV. The BRAVIA WE5 is integrated with the Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (HCFL) Backlight, which uses up to 40% less energy when compared to conventional CCFL LCD TVs. It senses if a viewer is present or not in the room, the Intelligent Presence Sensor function is able to temporarily turn off the TV picture to instantly reduce power consumption by over 40%. Assuming the ability of a computer standby mode, the Presence Sensor can be set to shift Picture On mode to Picture Off mode after a certain period of time, such as 30 minutes.

An Ambient Light Sensor technology also found in the new BRAVIA models W550, V550, S550 automatically adjust picture settings based on the viewing environment to maintain optimal brightness and conserve energy. Meanwhile, a pre-set Eco setting allows users to watch TV at minimal energy consumption.

Comparison: Sony Bravia VS Other "brands"

Clarity

Smoothness


Slimness


Power Usage

Additional photos:

Sony X450


Sony V550


Sony S550


Sony S570


Sony Bravia line-up Display in Edsa Shangri-la Hotel

For more information, please contact them
Via Phone (02) 878-7600
Via Email info@sph.sony.com
Visit their website at: www.sony.com.ph
---

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6 must-haves accessories for your DSLR when Travelling

I am no expert in photography nor am I claiming to be one. Being a newbie on photography, I've researched among my friends offline and online on what would probably be the best travel accessories.

My family loves to travel and of course, in this era of DSLRs, it's a must have! My younger brother got one 2 years back while my first one was just purchased a month ago and I am still struggling to get "acceptable" photos. My brother bought the Canon 400d while I got a Nikon D90.

I know most of you would probably say that I should have gotten a Canon rather than a Nikon so we could share lenses but, I decided to go for the Nikon anyway.

Back on topic, when travelling, these are the following must-haves:

1. Extra battery - Obvious reasons, I guess. (I bought mine in Pixel Pro)



2. Extra memory card - Unless you have a portable hard drive where you can dump your photos (like this gadget given to me 2 years ago.) It would be much better to have extra memory cards.


3. External Flash - Although this requires lighting skills, it's still included in the must-haves for night / low-light photography.


4. All around lens - There are a lot of all-around lenses but the best one I know of is the 24-70 f2.8 (Kit lens like 18-105 are also "ok". For my last trip, I used 50mm f1.8 prime lens and it was very challenging!) I like the 50mm because it is lightweight but, photos will be very hard to take using that lens.

5. Lens hood - For instance, the kit lens of the Nikon D90 comes with a lens hood. Bring that for outdoor shooting!

6. Tripod/ Gorillapod - The latter would be easier to carry than the Tripod but, the use is pretty much the same. It now depends on what you would like to shoot. Also, I do not recommend buying the gorillapod in CDR-king because it is pretty useless.

I know it is very tempting to buy that because it costs only 380 pesos but, the quality and build would be compromised. The original Gorillapod for DSLRs costs around 2,500 pesos.




For more information on the prices of these gadgets, call Pixel Pro at 7269387 or 5845356

They have just about anything and everything you need for your photography gears.

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Burundanga Business Cards Hoax

Minutes ago, I got a new hoax received thru text/ SMS again! It's something about a burundanga drug being imbued in a calling card handed to a person.

Image from The Hoax Slayer . com

The exact SMS/ Email circulating below:

"Pls share with ur loves ones, friends.

a man came over and offered his service as a painter to a female putting gas in her car and left his card. She said no, but accepted his card out of kindness and got in the car. The man then got into a car driven by anothes man. As the lady left the service station, she saw the men following her out of the same time.

Almost imm, she started 2 feel dizzy and could not catch her breath, she tried to open the window and realized that d odor was on her hands; d same hand which accepted d card fr d man at d service station. She then noticed the men were imm behind her n she felt she needed 2 do something at dat moment. She drove into d 1st driveway n bgan 2 honk her horn repeadly 2 ask for help.

D men drove away but d lady stil felt pretty bad for several mins after she finally catch her breath. Apparently, there was a substance on the card dat could hv seriously injured her. Dis drug s called 'BURUNDANGA' B it s used by people who wish 2 incapacitate a victim in order 2 steal or take advantage of dem. Dis drug s 4x more dangerous than d date rape drug n s transferable ou simple cards.

So take heed n make sure u dnt accept cards at any given time alone or fr stranger. Dis applies 2 those making hoouse calls n slipping u a card when dey offer their service.

Try googling burundanga for some info on this drug."

*whew!* that was a long one! The message above is exactly as I received it. Those are typos but those are from the circulating messages. I checked it and it reached almost 10 messages! This is the Philippine version of the burundanga hoax! It's like a scene from a movie! My goodness!

Here is another version of it:

"Share with your sisters, daughters, nieces, mothers, female friends, EVERYONE.

NEW WARNING!! Incident has been confirmed

In Katy, Tx a man came over and offered his services as a painter to a female putting gas in her car and left his card. She said no , but accepted his card out of kindness and got in the car. The man then got into a car driven by another gentleman. As the lady left the service station and saw the men following her out of the station at the same time. Almost immediately, she started to feel dizzy and could not catch her breath. She tried to open the window and realized that the odor was on her hand; the same hand which accepted the card from the gentleman at the gas station.

She then noticed the men were immediately behind her and she felt she needed to do something at that moment. She drove into the first driveway and began to honk her horn to ask for help. The men drove away but the lady still felt pretty bad for several minutes after she could finally catch her breath. Apparently there was a substance on the card and could have seriously injured her. The drug is called 'BURUNDANGA' and it is used by people who wish to incapacitate a victim in order to steal or take advantage of them.

Four times greater than date rape drug and is transferable on simple cards. So take heed and make sure you don't accept cards at any given time alone or from someone on the streets. This applies to those making house calls and slipping you a card when they offer their services."

There are several other versions of it...

Anyway, after a bit of research, I discovered that:

-All sources agree that burundanga must be inhaled or ingested, or the subject must have prolonged topical contact with it, in order for it to have an effect.

- burundanga must be taken with food or drink or inhaled as a powder. There are unsubstantiated stories that claim that criminals have drugged victims by blowing burundanga into their faces as they unfold a piece of paper that has previously been powdered with the drug. Other reports suggest that burundanga is more commonly administered by adding it to the unwary victim's food or drink.

- The said burundanga drug is colourless, odourless, and tasteless. How did she realize the odor in her hands then?

What is burundanga then?

Burundanga is the street version of a pharmaceutical drug called scopolamine. It is made from the extracts of plants in the nightshade family such as henbane and jimson weed. It's a deliriant, meaning it can induce symptoms of delirium such as disorientation, loss of memory, hallucinations, and stupor. (are they sure this isn't a sign of old age?) lol

You can see why it would be popular with criminals.

In powdered form scopolamine can be easily mixed into food or drink, or blown directly into victims' faces, forcing them to inhale it.

The drug achieves its "zombifying" effects by inhibiting the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain and muscles. It has several legitimate medicinal uses, including the treatment of nausea, motion sickness, and gastrointestinal cramps. Historically, it has also been used as a "truth serum" by law enforcement agencies. And, like its street cousin burundanga, scopolamine has frequently been implicated as a stupefying agent or "knockout drug" in the commission of crimes such as robbery, kidnapping, and date rape.

The absence of such basic details (such as victim's name, exact location where it happened, street name of the driveway, the "painters" name) in the warning makes it difficult or impossible to verify. This generic quality is often a characteristic of hoaxes and urban legends since too much detail means that such stories can be too easily debunked.

It is possible that the said drug is used to hypnotize victims but before doing so, they must inhale/ingest it. There were several reports here in the Philippines of victims that are said to be hypnotized. This must be the culprit... or is it another hoax? Let us find out...

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