Houston's D'Antoni Earns a Spot As Head Coach of Team Stephen in 2018 NBA All-Star Game

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Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni and his staff will coach Team Stephen in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 18 (8 p.m. ET) at Staples Center in Los Angeles. D’Antoni joins Rudy Tomjanovich (1997) as the Rockets’ only All-Star Game head coaches.

A two-time NBA Coach of the Year, D’Antoni earned All-Star Game head coaching honors for the second time. As the Phoenix Suns’ head coach, he led the Western Conference past the Eastern Conference 153-132 in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas.

The Rockets (34-13, .723) tonight clinched the best record in the West through games played on Sunday, Feb. 4 among the 14 conference teams with a head coach eligible for the 2018 All-Star Game.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was ineligible because he coached the West in last year’s All-Star Game.

Under a new All-Star Game format that replaces the traditional matchup between conferences, each 2018 All-Star Game coach will lead the team that includes the captain from the same conference.

D’Antoni and his staff will coach the All-Star team that features Golden State’s Stephen Curry as captain.

The eligible head coach of the team with the East’s best record through games of Feb. 4 will coach the All-Star team captained by the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James. Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens is ineligible to coach Team LeBron because he led the East in last year’s All-Star Game.

D’Antoni, in his second season with Houston, has an 89-40 record (.690) as the Rockets’ coach. Last season, he was named the 2016-17 NBA Coach of the Year after guiding Houston to a 55-27 record and the No. 3 playoff seed in the West. He was also voted Coach of the Year with Phoenix in 2004-05, when the Suns tied a team record with 62 victories. His career coaching record is 544-466 (.539) over 14 seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Suns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Rockets.

The 67th NBA All-Star Game will air on TNT and ESPN Radio. The game will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.

Internet Shutdowns: A Myth of Security and Public Safety

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The Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) expresses grave concern over the decision of Philippine authorities to shut down cell sites during huge festivities. The organization calls for transparency regarding the guidelines used by authorities before resorting to signal jamming. As advocates of human rights and communication rights, FMA believes that human rights and fundamental freedoms offline should also equally apply online. Internet shutdowns, which may come in various forms such as signal jamming, restrict people’s right to communicate.

The National Telecommunications Commission has approved the Philippine National Police’s request to shut down mobile services in time for the Dinagyang festival this coming weekend, January 27 to 28, 2018. This means that mobile features such as phone calls, short message service, and access to mobile data will not be possible in select areas. Philippine mobile operators are not new to such request. In January 2018 alone, network shutdowns were carried out at the Feast of the Black Nazarene, and at the Sinulog  and Ati-atihan festivals held in Cebu and Aklan, respectively.

The first known mobile network shutdown in the Philippines was during the Papal visit in 2015. Since then, signal jamming has been frequently used as a go-to security mechanism for large events, with public safety as their primary justification. Other known cases include festivals such as Sinulog 2017, Dinagyang 2017, Hermosa 2016, MassKara 2017, Feast of the Black Nazarene 2017, and other events such as the swimsuit portion of Miss Universe 2017, and Palarong Pambansa 2017. It appears that shutting down communication networks is becoming the norm.

FMA notes the lack of evidence proving that mobile network shutdown contributes to security. The fact that bigger events such as ASEAN was conducted safely even without shutting down cell sites show that the police and authorities are capable enough to maintain security without resorting to internet or mobile network shutdown. Stripping the general public of their means to communicate restricts them from contacting emergency services, authorities, and each other; paralyzes their businesses and jobs; and further places them at risk. Sacrificing access to basic services, as well as the fundamental right to communicate, in the name of purely hypothetical benefits fails the test of necessity and proportionality.

As such, FMA calls for a clearer policy or set of guidelines for implementing these mobile network shutdowns. Authorities must be transparent in their protocol on who can ask for, when to ask for, how long, and how wide the implementation of the mobile network shutdown will be. Shutting down cell sites should only be the last resort and not the default security measure. However, when the need to resort to signal jamming arises, the public always needs to be informed, as they suffer the most from these shutdowns. Authorities must also ensure that emergency services can be accessed despite communication restrictions.

Without any transparent basis in shutting down cell sites, authorities can abuse their capability to strip the general public of their right to communicate. The masses are convinced to compromise their right to expression for their security when there is no clear need for a tradeoff. In times when authorities can easily turn off our right and access to communication, FMA urges them to #KeepItOn.

Why Should You Rent a Boat to Host a Thrilling Boat Party?

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When you throw a party, you have to try and make it worthy of being remembered for a long time by your guests; it has to be special. You should try to something different from what has been done traditionally. Opting to throw a boat party will do exactly that, by giving everyone an enriching experience which can make a difference in either your or your guest's lives. Sailing has become a major form of partying today because of this. You can choose to either bring your boat or choose a boat rental service for your party. In this article, you will learn about the advantages of renting a boat out for your parties.

Affordability
Boat rentals can be suitable for many people because of its affordability these days. Boat parties are no longer exclusive to only the rich people or celebrities. With some planning and a bit of help you, too, can throw a glamorous boat party on the high waters. People, in general, tend to fear new things before actually trying them out. This is also true for boat parties and boat rentals. Boat parties and boat rentals are not expensive; they come with a variety of price packages which make it easy for everyone to afford them

Timing
You can rent out the boats for as long as you feel it is necessary. Of course, you will have to make prior arrangements with the boat rental agency for this so that the essential facilities can be provided. Also, you can throw your party at whatever time of the day you want, like midnight, evening, or afternoon. Anytime you decide, the boat rental agency will provide you with a boat. However, you should make your bookings from before so that you can avoid last-minute rushes and get better deals.

Sizes
Depending upon the size of your guest list, you can choose the size of the boat you want. Boat rentals provide boats with various sizes, so whether you have a large number of guests or a small gathering, you can always find a boat that fits your requirements.

Maintenance and functioning
You must consider the maintenance and the operation of your boat. The boat rental agency will provide you with the equipment and the staff to help you sail the boat and organise the party. Boat rental companies maintain their boats in a good manner, and so you will be assured of safety precautions. Boat rental companies provide a fully functional kitchen and bar to make your party successful.

You can throw a Thames boat party to enthral your guests with majestic views of the great city of London.

Conclusion
Sailing is a wonderful travel experience. It is inexpensive and full of adventure. You can throw your party on a boat which you should ideally rent out. Boat rental companies ensure safety and convenience for your party because they provide professionals who take care of all of the client's requirements and necessities.

DOE and GSP Signs MOA

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ENERGIZED GIRL SCOUTS: Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi delivers his inspirational message during the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on an educational partnership between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) led by GSP National President Susan Locsin last Tuesday (30 January).  The Energy Chief welcomed the Girl Scouts to the DOE Testing Laboratories to learn about cost effective appliances and initiated the sending of Energy Field Lecturers to GSP Camps nationwide.  With the DOE’s program called ENEReady, career talks for the Girl Scouts will hopefully encourage them to take up science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), to mitigate the gap between men and women in the technical field. The Secretary assured DOE’s commitment to GSP’s mission of “helping girls realize the ideals of womanhood and prepare them for their responsibilities in the home, the nation and the world community."

E-POWERING GSP: A ceremonial signing of the MOU on an educational partnership between the Department of Energy (DOE) led by Secretary Alfonso Cusi and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) led by GSP National President Susan Locsin was held last Tuesday (30 January). The DOE and GSP sealed this partnership to conduct lectures on basic energy concepts to Girl Scouts nationwide. This forms part of the DOE's E-Power Mo program which seeks to empower energy consumers  to practice E-Safety Mo energy-saving measures at home as “Energy Cost-Busters.” The MOU also provides the DOE and GSP a venue for cooperation and to encourage young girls to take up courses in science, technology and energy, and implement other activities that would promote energy conservation.

BINOD Launches the World’s First Blockchain Node Sales

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BINOD Pte. Ltd. (in Singapore) is launching the world's first blockchain Node for blockchain hosting services on 1st of February 2018.

Blockchain Node is a key component of blockchain infrastructure that stores the distributed ledger data. The blockchain Node will provide a hosting service based only on BINOD's blockchain. This new blockchain service moves away from the token-centric ICO, to sales of the actual blockchain nodes to the public for revenue distribution.

Starting with the global Node sale, BINOD will provide blockchain application services for industries, businesses, and the public.

Pre-sale of 10,000 Nodes BINOD has successfully sold 10,000 blockchain Nodes worth US $50 million in pre-sales period prior to the upcoming global Node sales. Such achievement is rare for an ICO and blockchain projects, highlighting the business viability and stability of BINOD. Businesses that purchased nodes during the pre-sales period explained that their purchase decision was influenced by valuing BINOD’s global node sales and business vision potentials in the context of building blockchain infrastructures for the success of blockchain industry. The Node is available for purchase by anyone, and Node owners will receive profits from BINOD’s services 40% of revenue generated by the BINOD's blockchain hosting service is distributed to Node owners based on Node ownership rate. BINOD plans to launch Node trade starting in the third quarter of 2019, and owners can trade their own nodes after the third quarter of 2019. BINOD declares that it will be an enabler of blockchain servitization. BINOD emphasizes that blockchain technology is not only an evolutionary technology of financial system, but also an innovative infrastructure technology that will change the future of society. BINOD's blockchain infrastructure will become a real asset as a trust-based infrastructure. Much like how the Web and the Internet have become more accessible, blockchain should also be easily accessible for businesses and the public. To do so, BINOD plans to grow into an enabler that realizes blockchain servitization. Kim Seung-Jin, Managing Director of BINOD said BINOD was founded in Singapore, hoping to support Singapore's corporate environment and blockchain technology. In addition, the pre-sale performance is an evidence that BINOD's technology and business vision are being properly evaluated. More information on BINOD's global node sales will be available on February 1, 2018 at https://nodesale.binod.co

Etihad Airways Introduces New Baggage Policy

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Etihad Airways has introduced a new baggage policy tailored to varying customer requirements in the international markets it serves.

The changes allow for a simpler baggage structure as the allowance for all markets, excluding the US and Canada, is now based on total weight rather than the number of bags checked in.

Etihad Airways Executive Vice President Commercial, Mohammad Al Bulooki, said: “In line with global best practice and market trends, Etihad Airways has developed a baggage policy that best caters to the differing needs of our guests around the world. The switch to a policy based on weight rather than the number of bags simplifies our allowance system and provides greater convenience and customer benefit while enhancing the travel experience.”

With the switch to a weight-based baggage policy, the majority of markets will be entitled to 23kg of checked baggage on Economy Deal fares, 30kg on Economy Saver and Classic fares, and 35kg on Economy Flex fares. Customers in all Business Class fare categories are entitled to 40kg, and First Class customers enjoy a 50kg allowance. Guests in The Residence onboard Etihad Airways’ flagship Airbus A380 fleet are provided with an allowance of four bags at 32kg each. Exceptions apply to select markets. For full details visit https://www.etihad.com/en/before-you-fly/baggage-information/allowances/

Etihad Guest Silver, Gold and Platinum members will continue to receive a complimentary excess baggage allowance of 32kg on US and Canada routes, and 20kg for Platinum members, 15kg for Gold members and 10kg for Silver members on all other routes.

Full details of the revised baggage policy, please visit: https://www.etihad.com/en/before-you-fly/baggage-information/allowances/

Cine Lokal Celebrates All Kinds of Love in February

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Love in all its forms is worth celebrating, from loving one’s self to young and hopeful, and familial.

This February, Cine Lokal features a set of incredible films exploring this concepts which are all set to screen in eight (8) SM Cinemas.

Included in the lineup is a 2016 Sinag Maynila suspense thriller film “Lila” directed by Gino M. Santos starring Janine Gutierrez, Sherry Lara and Enchong Dee. The film is about a woman who tries to escape a past that haunts her and moves into the house of a warmhearted landlady, seeking atonement and a fresh start -- the house, however, has other ideas.

This is followed by the romantic drama film “4 Days” directed by Adolf Alix Jr. starring Sebastian Castro and Mikoy Morales.

4 Days tells the story of two college friends who slowly realize they mean more to each other than either had initially realized. 4 Days joins Derek and Mark in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day over the course of a few years- charting the blossoming of a friendship in to something much more enduring as time goes on - and challenging both to question who they thought they were and who they truly want to me. Painting a moving picture of how an abiding friendship can sometimes lead to love - and how we sometimes have to wrestle with our own demons to find their true self, 4 Days is achingly romantic and delicate.

Completing the list of February films is the 2nd ToFarm Film Festival’s 2nd Best Picture drama film “What Home Feels Like” directed by Joseph Abello which won the Best Actor and Actress awards for Bembol Roco and Irma Adlawan, together with Rex Lantano and Bianca Libinting. It tells the home life of father and seaman, Antonio, who is forced to spend most of time at home upon learning that he can never aboard a ship again. Facing struggles as he doesn’t know what to do next, he follows the footsteps of his parents and buys a farm using their family savings.

Catch these films at these dates and time at SM Manila, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Fairview, SM Southmall and SM Bacoor:

Discover Manila in a New Perspective with Power Mac Center’s #ThisIsManila #ShotoniPhone Campaign

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You’ve seen how photos inspired ideas, sparked debates, or moved people to action especially in this social media age. You may even have shared some of them yourself. This time, premium Apple partner Power Mac Center is inviting you to let your visual voice be heard and show the world that #ThisIsManila through the lens of your iPhone, the perfect tool for mobile photography.

The #ShotoniPhone worldwide campaign is Apple’s way of showcasing the creativity and diversity of its users with only the powerful cameras on the iPhone as their instrument. Power Mac Center hopes to put the spotlight on Manila by inspiring users to show the beauty of the city via fresh perspectives.

To participate, just take your iPhone around Metro Manila and shoot what inspires you or piques your interest. You may focus on what the place is like, what the people are like, or what life looks like in this corner of the world. Upload it to your Instagram account, tag @powermaccenter and include the hashtags #ThisIsManila and #ShotoniPhone.

For inspiration, you may look at the works of Power Mac Center’s featured photographers Aaron Quinto (@aieos), Aly Mananquil (@alleyttle), JC Gellidon (@jcgellidon), Je Villaroman (@jevillaroman), JL Javier (@jljavier), Koji Arboleda (@kojiarboleda), Regine David (@reginedavid), Renzo Navarro (@_renzonavarro), Ryle Uy (@rylejustinuy), and Tristan Tamayo (@tamayotristan).

“We want to show that there’s beauty and art in the simplicity or chaos of Manila. We want users to capture these images using their iPhone and share them with the world in the hope of preserving moments that could have easily faded away. Who knows what extraordinary things we can discover in the process,” said Marketing Director Joey Alvarez.

The campaign is powered by Polaroid, OtterBox, DJI, Leef, Pictar, ANKER, and UAG. As the first of a series of iPhone photography activities for the year, Power Mac Center will be featuring #ShotoniPhone photos on their social media accounts and in a photo exhibit to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Level 1 Main Mall from February 16-22, 2018.

Help put Manila in the global campaign of Apple #ShotoniPhone! For more information, follow @powermaccenter on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

DOTr Orders TRB to Scrap New Skyway Scheme

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Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has directed the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to scrap the new collection scheme at the Skyway and revert to the old one immediately.

Secretary Tugade said that a new toll collection system may not be put in place until it can be assured that it can be implemented smoothly.

“In governance, public convenience always comes first. It’s always public good over regulation,” said Tugade.

Last Saturday, January 27, the Skyway O&M Corporation began implementing a modified toll collection system, which coincides with the opening of a new toll plaza on the northbound section of the elevated Skyway.

The new scheme resulted in heavy traffic, and the Skyway management has temporarily reverted to the old “pay as you enter scheme” effective Tuesday night.

“These changes have to be communicated well to the public. We cannot afford confusion on the road because that will surely result in congestion. Dapat mas mabilis ang biyahe sa mga expressway kaya nga “express.” Ang mga karagdagang toll plaza, dapat nagpapabilis din ng biyahe, and not the other way around,” Tugade added.

Unifying Toll Systems

The DOTr-TRB, together with expressway operators in the country, has already facilitated the implementation of partial interoperability of toll operations since 20 December 2017.

Under partial interoperability, Autosweep RFID users may already use the same RFID tags in expressways operated by the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) namely NLEX, CAVITEX, MPCALA and SCTEX, using Easytrip RFID tags. Users would just need to visit a loading kiosk for account registration.

As for expressways owned by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) namely SLEX, STAR, TPLEX and NAIAX, their Autosweep readers are already undergoing modification in order for them to to read Easytrip tags as well. These are expected to be interoperable-ready by first quarter of 2018.

The DOTr-TRB is currently discussing with SMC and the company’s software provider for the earlier re-programming of their system and implementation on their end.

The second phase of the interoperability project will be implemented in March 2018. Under this phase, SMC-operated expressways will be able to read Easytrip RFID tags. However, users would still have to maintain two accounts.

Meanwhile, the third phase will be implemented by September 2018. In this phase, all expressway users can go from North to South with just one account.

Color Manila's CM Blacklight Run to Be Held at McKinley West on February 24

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The country’s number one fun-run organizer - ColorManila, which kickstarted 2018 with its successful CM Paradise Run campaign last month, is gearing up for another massive ‘concept fun-run’ on February 24, 2018, at McKinley West in Taguig City, with CM Blacklight Run, co-presented by Brother International Philippines.

CM Blacklight Run will be ColorManila’s first night run for 2018, and will be first of a series for this year, which will be held in various cities nationwide.

ColorManila VP Justine Cordero says, “We are happy to be working once again with Brother for the CM Blacklight Run.  Night runs are perfect for people who are working and need cap their week with a bit of a workout, which they can do with their family and friends.  It will also be held at McKinley West, so those who just stay at BGC, Makati, Pasay, or other parts of the Metro, can just easily join the event.”

Cordero continues, “Participants can choose from 3 race finishes - 3K, 5K, and 6.5K; while they have 3 race categories or kits to choose from - Deluxe, Rockstar and VIP.  Deluxe is priced at Php950 and includes a drifit shirt, headlamp, race bib, color packet and a finisher’s medal.  While the Rockstar Kit, which is priced at Php1500, comes with a drifit shirt, headlamp, race bib, color packet, finisher’s medal, drawstring bag and a foldable water bottle.  Finally, the VIP Kit is priced at Php2,500, comes with a drifit shirt, headlamp, race bib, color packet, finisher’s medal, drawstring bag, foldable water bottle, finisher’s pillow, P1000 worth of CM Merchandise GCs and a VIP Pass.  Kids below 7 by the way, get to run for free.”  

Registration is still ongoing. For more information, visit www.colormanila.com for more details.

REGISTRATION STILL ONGOING AT COLORMANILA.COM

Photo Caption: Get set for the country’s biggest night run to take place at McKinley West on February 24.