The Biggest Tech Flops of the Decade
by David Lagesse


This is from his article I happened to bump from the US News site. It was interesting because some of these, I fully agree had became a flop. But for some, I dunno.. What do you think?

• Vista.  

• Ultra-Mobile PC. 

Since I'm just sitting here at home doing nothing, I might as well update my blog with something interesting.. What more nice to keep busy on, would be reading horoscopes!!..

HOLIDAY HOROSCOPES:
Aries (Mar. 21st-Apr. 20th)
If there's a piece of mistletoe in the room, chances are you're standing under it this week with your eyes closed, your lips pursed and some really strong Velcro on your gloves to snare passersby.And believe it or not, it might

100 Most Read PEP Breaking News in 2009

Just wishing everyone in the blogosphere a

Let's reminisce and look back at what happened through this year 2009 as Yahoo Philippines had compiled the things that Filipinos had been busy searching throughout the year.

Here is the Top 10 searches in Yahoo Philippines:

1. Manny Pacquiao - everyone in the whole world knows Manny Pacquiao. Not only the pride and glory of the Philippines, He is the best pound for pound boxer in the world. I beleive he had put the Philippines back on the map with all the glory he had achieved..
   
2. Cory Aquino - Mrs. Aquino is the beloved wife of the late martyr Ninoy Aquino. She had been in the news when she was diagnozed of colon cancer and as she fight against it. But then, on August 1, she succumbed to cancer. Almost all Filipinos grieved because of the loss. She will always be remembered as one of the great presidents that our country had.
   
3. Francis Magalona - He is the King of Pinoy Rap that had inspired many independent artist to dream big and pursue their dreams. His disease was known when his fighting against leukemia had reached the news. But on March 6, while his suffering ended, a lot of Filipinos grieved because of his loss. He had been an icon in the entertainment industry for touching many artist's lives.
   
4. Ondoy - Ondoy was the typhoon that many Filipinos never expected to have such a huge impact. Everybody knows that Philippines as an archipelago is prone to floods and rains, but Ondoy so far had been the worst that we had. Nobody expected Ondoy to be worse. It had literally almost submerged the Metro by its endless rains. While everybody is still recovering from Ondoy, along came his pal, Peping which made it hard to recover. Peping did not help in the recovery of the Metro, but worse it had the Central Luzon and some parts of the Southern Luzon also submerged in floodwater. I beleive it took a weeks up to a month before the water subsided.
   
5. Dionisia Pacquiao - Who doesn't know Aling Dionisia. She is the beloved mother of our champ, Manny Pacquiao. She rode the fame of his son and eventually entered the entertainment business. Everybody loved her and at the same time hated her.

Time goes so fast and I didn't notice that it's already the last month of the year. Many good and bad things had happened this year. I felt like this year was the luckiest year for me. Before the year ends, it's time to look back on the things I am thankful for.

I am thankful for these things this year 2009:

• I am thankful that this year, my birthday wish was finally granted.
• I am thankful for the support of all my friends and family as I go through tough choices this year.
• I am thankful that I am still alive, my family's safe, and every Filipinos are coping just well after every disaster that has dawned upon us.

Cosmopolitan magazine annually announces their biggest event, the Cosmo Bachelor Bash wherein they feature 69 gorgeous and fresh hunks together with the 10 celebrity centerfolds. The event was on September 10, 2009 at the NBC Tent. Honestly, ever since I got my hands on Cosmo last 2002, I had been anticipating their September issue and most specially the Cosmo Bachelor Bash. Every September, Cosmo gives away 150 passes to girls that would join their contest, and one of them can invite one friend to join them.


Luckily, I got to win tickets to the Cosmo Bachelor Bash this year! Wooohooo!! I decided to ask Juhn to come with me, since we both had this longing to go to the Bachelor Bash.

Forbes Asia now released on August 25 the list of the 40 present richest people in the country. Here's the top 10 from the list:

1. Henry Sy - owns SM Holdings Corp, Banco de Oro Universal Bank, Equitable PCI bank, and China Banking Corp. He also has 12% share on San Miguel Corp.
   
2. Lucio Tan -Tobacco tycoon owns Fortune tobacco, Tanduay Holdings, Asia Brewery and Phil. Air Lines. He also has shares of Phil. National Bank and Allied Bank.
   
3. Jaime Zobel de Ayala - owns the Ayala Corporation which comprises of BPI, Ayala Land, Globe Telecom, Manila Waters Company, Integrated Microelectronics Inc, Azalea Technology Investments, Ayala Automotive Holdings Corp, AG Holdings Ltd, and Ayala Foundation Inc.
   
4. Andrew Tan - owns the MegaWorld Corporation, which made Eastwood City a sucess by building residential and commercial areas. He also has the most shares in the BPO industry.
   
5. John Gokongwei - owns JG Summit Holdings which comprises of Cebu Pacific Air, Digitel Communications (Sun Cellular), Universal Robina Corporations, Robinsons Land and Robinsons Malls.

And the new BUZZ on politics....

The controversial extravagant meal of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during her visit in Washington to meet US Pres. Obama.

It has been buzzing around town that the opposition party has been openly expressing their disgust with the controversial accomodations and meals that Pres. Arroyo had during her visit to speak with US Pres. Obama. It had been all over the news recently that Pres. Arroyo splurged on a $20,000 dinner along with her staff. Here's a link to the news.

Oh Philippines, our dear Philipines

It's sad to bear what is happening in our country. Graft and Corruption is a widespread disease that any person that has regained power get easily infected. I can't blame our politicians, because money and fame is a tempting demon that will eventually lure anyone to come and have some. It is a sin that is constantly yearning to have more, and never being contented to have much.

I suddenly bumped on this list on a link from Facebook, it contains a list of some movies that are about to hit the screen in the following years. It contains interesting prequels, sequels and some remakes even which I can't imagine. Even me, I got excited when I have read the list. It is quite an interesting list, though some may not push through. But anyway, who does not enjoy a good movie, right?

2009
2012 (2009)
A Chance for Both Barrels (2009)
A Christmas Carol (2009)
All About Steve (2009)
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
American Pie: Book of Love (2009)
Avatar (2009)
Black Dynamite (2009)
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)
Coxblocker (2009) --- moved to be shown on 2011
Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey! (2009)
Escape from Planet Earth (2009) --- Escape from Death Planet (2009) was the title of the movie shown in Canada. I think this would be a remake of the same film title last 1990.
Foodfight! (2009)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
Gamer (2009)
Halloween II (2009)
Kick-Ass (2009) --- moved to be shown on 2010
Mean Girls 2 (2009) -- no updates when will be released
Metal Gear Solid (2009) --- plans are to be shown on 2012
Not Another Not Another Movie (2009) --- the actual film was titled Not Another B Movie (2009)
Old Dogs (2009)

Wow, time do travel fast. Last year I was desperately wanting to go to the Como Bachelor Bash 2008, I even emailed Zo if I could at least buy tickets, but then it was a limited to 100 persons I think event. I promised that day that I will do anything just to be able to attend the Bachelor Bash. It will be my Birthday gift to myself (since my birthday is on September 6).

I have been buying Cosmo for years already. I think the editor that time was Myrza? (I am not sure of her full name) and now it's Zo, and loved the September issue eversince. I did not miss a September issue of Cosmo. I wish I can be picked this time to go to the BAsh. It would be the best Birthday gift EVER!!!

Today, it had been confirmed that former president Corazon Aquino had passed away. She died at around 3am. She had been diagnosed with colon cancer and had been into medication. Many of her supporters have prayed for her health but then these past few weeks had been the worse.

I think she was a brave woman because despite her illness, she was able to continue with her life. But then since cancer still has no definite cure, on a positive note, it was the best because her pain will be gone and she will be with our God Almighty.

I'm offering her my prayers:

Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
the soul of Thy servant N...,
from every bond of sin,
that being raised in the glory of the resurrection,
he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect.
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

I think there are plans on having a 10 day commemoration of her death. And I am predicting that maybe Pres. Arroyo will declare a holiday in observance of it.. I dunno, it was just at the back of my mind..

1. Up (2009)

1. Wall-E (2008)

1. Bolt (2008)


2. Kung Fu Panda (2008)


3. Spirited Away (2002)


4. The Lion King (1994)


5. My Neighbor Totoro (1993)


6. Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)


7. Toy Story (1995)


8. Beauty and the Beast (1991)


9. Howl's Moving Castle (2005)


10. Ratatouille (2007)


11. Princess Mononoke (1999)


12. Finding Nemo (2003)


13. Coraline (2009)


14. Aladdin (1992)


15. Monsters Vs. Aliens (2009)


16. The Little Mermaid (1989)


17. Mulan (1998)


18. Monster's Inc. (2001)


19. Lady and the Tramp (1955)


20. Shrek (2001)


21. Cars (2006)


22. The Incredibles (2004)


23. Cinderella (1950)


24. Shrek 2 (2004)


25. Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)


26. Happy Feet (2006)


27. The Simpson's Movie (2007)


28. Transformers: The Movie (1986)

Update:
I typed this way way back when we haven't got our new DSL connection. I might as well post it now..

And the next American Idol is.....


For some, this may be quite a shock. Ever since the season has started everyone was rooting for Adam Lambert. Based from the judges' comments down to his performances, before the half of the season, clearly, everyone was speculating that Adam Lambert will surface as the winner based on his talent and performances.

But whoa, on the final night, there goes the twist. Both gave their best performance that night and when the decision came out, everyone was at shock, even the winner himself.

Based from his interviews after the show, Kris Allen is in shock and could not believe that he is now the new American Idol. He never expected to win for somehow on the back of his mind, he is also expecting Adam to win. According to him, He was already happy that he had been part of the top 2. He also admires Adam Lambert's talent. He just could not believe his luck of winning the title.


By the way, Kris Allen's winning single (based fom AI tradition) "No Boundaries" and it is now available on Itunes. Congratulations Kris!!

Here's Time Magazine's list of 100 most influential people.

Artists & Entertainers

• Rush Limbaugh
  

- He is the American radio host of the nationally syndicated talk-radio show The Rush Limbaugh Show.

• M.I.A.

- British-born songwriter, record producer, singer, fashion designer and artist of Sri Lankan Tamil origin.

• Sam and Dan Houser

- the men behind the Grand Theft Auto Series

• Kate Winslet

- English actress known for her award winning performance in the following movies: Titanic, Sense and Sensibility, Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless mind, Little Children, Revolutionary Road and The Reader.

• Werner Herzog

- He is an Academy Award nominated German film director, screen writer, actor and opera director.

• William Kentridge

- a world known South African artist

• Penélope Cruz

- an award winning Spanish actress

• Lang Lang

- chinese pianist

• John Legend

- an American soul singer, songwriter, and pianist that won 6 Grammy Awards.

• Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio

- architects and founder of the Diller Scofidio + Renfo, a New YOrk based architectural firm known for their interdisciplinary approach to architecture.

• Gustavo Dudamel

- a Venezuelan conductor and violinist

• Jeff Kinney

- a game designer and author of children's book including The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

• Tavis Smiley

- African-American author, journalist, political commentator and talk show host

• The View

- the Emmy Award-Winning American Talk Show which features a panel of women as co-hosts.

• Zac Efron

-an American actor and singer known for his Disney roles such as High School Musical.

• Tina Fey

-an award winning american actress, writer, comedian and producer. She was also known for her stint in Saturday Night Live portraying Sarah Palin.

• Tom Hanks

- a well known American Actor

• Jay Leno

-an American stand-up comedian, television host writer that succeeded the show, The Tonight Show.

• A.R. Rahman

-an Indian film composer, record producer, musician and singer and referred by Time as "Mozart of Madras".

• Judith Jamison

-an American dancer and choreographer best known as the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Scientists & Thinkers

• Nouriel Roubini

-a professor in Economics at Stern School of Business, New York University and chairman of RGE Monitor, an economic consultancy firm.

• Amory Lovins

-Chariman and Chief Scientist of Rocky Mountain Institute and a known author of many renewable energy and energy efficiency books.

• Jon Favreau

-an American writer, actor and screenwriter well known for directing the two Iron Man and Zathura movies. He also co-stars in his Iron film movies and has been visible in the following movies: Iron Man, Iron Man II, Four Christmases, I love You Man, Daredevil and many other films.

• Dambisa Moyo

- an economist and the author of Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way For Africa.

• Dan Barber

- chef and owner of several Blue Hill restaurants and was named top chef in America.

• Yoichiro Nambu

- a Japanese-born American Physicist and professor at University of Chicago. Well known for his major contributions in theoretical physics and was awarded a Nobel Prize 2008 for discovering the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics.

• Roland Fryer

- a professor of Economics in Harvard University.

• Martin Lindstrom

- author of the best selling Buyology - Truth and Lies About Why We Buy. A well known speaker and author for his work in science and marketing.

• Barbara Hogan

- the Minister of Public Enterprises in the Cabinet of South Africa and former Minister of Health before resuming her new position.

• David Sheff

- American author of the #1 New York best selling memoir Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey through his Son's Addiction.

• Steven Chu

- American physicist and currently the US Secretary of Energy.His well known research is cooling and trapping of atoms with laser light which won a Nobel Prize in 1997.

• Paul Krugman

-an American economist, columnist, intellectual and author. He won the Nobel Memorial prize in Economics for his analysis of trade pattens and location of economic activity.

• Connie Hedegaard

- the current Minister of Climate and Energy and former Danish Minister for Environment

• Daniel Nocera

-an American Chemist known for his researches on creating innovations towards the use of solar energy in large scale, mainstream applications such as Hydrogen gas production from acidic solutions using a Rhodium photocatalyst.

• Stephan Schuster and Webb Miller

- known for their research in bioinfomatics of species extinction such as the woolly mamoth genome.

• Nicholas Christakis

- American Physician and sociologist internationally recognized for his work on social networks and other factors affecting health, health care and longevity

• Doug Melton

- the co director of Harvard Stem Cell Institute and chariperson of the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology which he was known for his reseach of developmental biology of the pancreas.

• Paul Ekman

- a psychologist who has been pioneer in the study of emotions and its relation to facial expression and was considered as one of the top 100 most eminent psychologists of the twentieth century.

• Shai Agassi

- the founder and CEO of Better Place which focuses on green transportation infrastructure based on electric cars as an alternative to the basic fuel technologyand formerly the President of the Products and Technology Group (PTG) at SAP AG. He pursues his interests in alternative energy and climate change.

• Nate Silver

- an American statistician, journalist and writer which he was known for inventing PECOTA(Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm), a system for forecasting the performance and career development of Major League BAseball.

Leaders & Revolutionaries

• Edward Kennedy

- He is a US Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. He is also known as the Democratic Icon and for his several awards, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Order of the Aztec Eagle, and so on and so forth.

• Edward Gordon

- He is the Prime Minister of United Kingdom (successor after Tony Blair) and Leader of the Labour Party. He also became Chancellor of Exchequer under Blair.

• Christine Lagarde

- She is the current Minister of Economy, Industry and Employment of France. Before that she was the Minister of Agriculture and Fishing. She ranked as 30th most powerful woman in Forbes Magazine. She was awarded France's highest honor, which is the Legion d'honneur.

• Thomas Dart

-He is a Democrat and the sheriff of Cook County, Illionois.

• Avigdor Lieberman

- an Israeli politician and Member of the Knesset as well as the current Israeli Minister of ForeignAffairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Israel. He is the founder and leader of the Yisrael Bienteinu Party, whose electoral basis are the immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

• Joaquín Guzmán

- a Mexican Druglord who heads an international drug trafficking organization referred to as the Sinaloa Cartel which is named after the Mexican pacific coast state of Sinaloa it was initially formed. He was on the list of Forbes' list of wealthiest people in the world t 701 with an estimated worth of $1billion. He is wanted by the governments of Mexico, U.S.A. and by the INTERPOL.

• Nouri al-Maliki

- the Prime Minister of Iraq and the secretary-general of the Islamic Dawa Party. He also succeeded the Iraqi Transitional Government.

• Hilary Clinton

- is thecurrent US Secretary of the State under Obama's regime. She also became a US Senator and was a former First Lady of the US when her husband Bill Clinton was the 42th US president.

• Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

-an Indonesian retired miltary general and the President of Indonesia.

• Boris Johnson

- an English politician and journalist and the current Mayor of London.

• Norah al-Faiz

- the first female member of the Saudi Arabia Council of Ministers and was appointed deputy Minister for Women's Education.

• Elizabeth Warren

-the Leo Gottlieb Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and became the chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel created to oversee the U.S. banking bailout, formally known as the Troubled Assets relief Program.

• Paul Kagame

- the current President of the Republic of Rwanda.

• Nicolas Sarkozy

- the current President of the French Republic and ex offico Co-Prince of Andorra.

• Angela Merkel

- the current Chancellor of Germany and was Environment, Nature conservation and Nuclear Safety Minister and Women and Youth Minister.

• Wang Qishan

- a Chinese politician and was elected 17th Politboro of the Communist Party of China and Vice-Premier in 2008.

• Xi Jinping

- the Senior Leader of China and currnetly China's Vice President.

• David McKiernan

- is the currently resigned Commander of ISAF (International Security Assisstance Force) and USFOR-A (US FOrces-Afghanistan).

• Ashfaq Kayani

- a Pakistani General and the current Cheif of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army and was named by Newsweek as 20th most powerful people in the world.

• Barack Obama

-is the 44th and first African-American current US President.

Heroes & Pioneers

• Michelle Obama

- a lawyer and the first African-American First Lady of USA and also the wife of Pres. Barrack Obama.

• Chesley B. Sullenberger

-an American Airline Transport Pilot(ATP), safety expert, and accident investigator who successfully carried out the emergencywater landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, offshore from Manhattan City.

• Richard Phillips

- the rescued captain of the cargo ship MV Maersk Alabama who was held hostage by the Somali pirates that hijacked the ship.

• Seth Berkley

-a medical epidemiologist and the current President, CEO and founder of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).

• Michael Eavis

-an English dairy farmer and the founder of the Glastonbury on his farm, in which profits from the festival supports the local projects and for charitable causes.

• Leonard Abess

- the founder and CEO of City National Bank of Florida, in which he sold the bank and gave away a $60 million part of it to all his employees.

• Hadizatou Mani

- a Nigerian human rights activist that fought to free herself from slavery and had been honored the 2009 International Women Courage Award.

• Rick Warren

-an evangelican minister, founder and senior pastor of the Saddleback Church in California. He is also the author of the famous book "The Purpose Drive Life" which made him as one of New York's Best Selling author.

• Van Jones

-an environmental advocate, civil rights activist, attorney and New York best selling author. He is also the Special Advisor on Green Jobs for the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ.

• Somaly Mam

-a Cambodian author and human rights advocate focusing primarily on needs of victims of human sex trafficking due to the cruel past that she had gone through.

• Rafael Nadal

- world's number 1 professional tennis player. He has won 6 Grand Slam single titles and an Olympic Gold medal.

• Suraya Pakzad

-founder of the Voice of Women Organization which helps and protects Afghan women in the time of crisis and constant war. She is also a recipient of International Women of Courage Award.

• Jeff Bezos

- the founder, president, CEO and chairman of the board of Amazon.com

• Tiger Woods

- an the number 1 and highest paid American professional golfer.

• George Clooney

- an award winning actor, director, producer and screen writer. United Nations had named him as "Messenger of Peace".

• Brady Gustafson

- one of the US Lance corpl that has been awarded the Navy Cross for their undying service in Afghanistan which made him lose his right leg during their escape in Afghan.

• Sister Mary Scullion

- a Roman Catholic nun and activist who founded the Project HOME (the acronym stands for Housing, Opportunities for Employment, Medical Care, Education)

• Oprah Winfrey

- a medi apersonality, actress, producer, literary critic, magazine publisher and considered the richest African-American woman of the 20th century. She was known for her self titled multi award winning show which is one of the highest rated program.

• Sarah Palin

- the governor of Alaska and had runned for the vice president position last 2008 presidential election.

• Manny Pacquiao

- a Filipino boxer known as the #1 pound per pound boxer which has 5 world titles in different weight divisions.

Builders & Titans

• The Twitter Guys

- comprised of Stone, Williams and Dorsey, the men behind the now famous free microblogging andsocial networking service.

• T. Boone Pickens

- chairman of the hedge fund BP Capital Management and was recognized by Forbes as 117th richest people in America with roughly $3 billion current net worth and plans to build a huge wind farm in a state known for oil.

• Ted Turner

- an American media entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of the cable television network, CNN.

• Tessa Ross

- head of both Film4 and Channel 4 drama department of UK and one of the executive producers of Slumdog Millionare. Twelve of her films were nominated for Academy Awards this year.

• Carlos Slim

- a Mexican businessman and philanthropist largely focused on the telecommunications industry and currently the third welthiest peron in the world with $35 billion net woth.

• Brad Pitt

- an American actor and film producer and was famously known as one of the world's most attractive men. He has a knowledgeable interest in architecture which he employed to create the Make It Right foundation with the objective of financing and constructing 150 new houses in New Orleans Ninth Ward after the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.

• Meredith Whitney

- a prominent banking analyst and manages her own advisory firm, Meredith Whitney Advisory Group LLC and married retired WWE professional wrestler John "Bradshow" Layfield.

• Suze Orman

- an American financial advisor, author, motivational seaker and television host. She hosts the show in CNBC, The suze Orman Show and has written six consecutive New York best seller books.

• Lauren Zalaznick

- a television host fo Tp Chef and was known as one of FORTUNE's Most Powerful Women.

• Timothy Geithner

- the current US Secretary of Treasury and the former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

• Nandan Nilekani

- an Indian software entrepreneur and currently the co-chairman of InfosysTechnologies Ltd.

• Stella McCartney

-an English fashion designer and the daughter of the former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. She is a member of the Royal British Legion and launched a skincare line called CARE

• Jamie Dimon

- the current CEO and chairman of JP Morgan Chase and Co. as well as a Class A director of the Board of Directors of the New York Federal Reserve.

• Sheila Bair

- the Chairman of US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and ranked by Forbes as second most powerful woman on earth.

• moot

- the moderator of the world's famous 4chan.org. He is also known as "the most influential web entrepreneur you've never heard of" because of his 4chan site and it's fame.

• Alexander Medvedev

- the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Russian energy company, GAzprom which was reported to reach market value of $1 trillion by 2014.

• Alan Mulally

- an American engineer and businessman and the current president and Chief Executive officer of Ford Motor Company

• Robin Chase

- co-founder and former CEO of Zipcar, an innovative car sharing service and currently the CEO of GoLoco.org, which combines carpooling and social networking.

• Jack Ma

-the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Alibaba group, an Internet-based businesses that include business-to-business trade, online retail, a payment platform, business management software and regionalized classified listings.

• Bernie Madoff

-former businessman and former non-executive chairman of NADAQ stock exchange who is convicted of the Ponzi scheme and was known as the largest investor fraud made by a single person.



On a fast note, I give credit to wikipedia for all the inforamtion I have gathered regarding these people. It was a good post because I get to know each one of them through their autobiographies in wiki. I think all of them deserved to be on Time's Top 100 influential people for most of them are the people who made an extra effort to extend their hand to those who are in need and to give better solutions in our world and I salute them for that. I got to know many significant people because of this post.