kueytoc

Promoter mulls Michael Jackson tribute concert in Britain AFP - Wednesday, July 15 LONDON (AFP) - - The promoter of Michael Jackson's planned comeback concerts in London said Tuesday he was in talks with the late pop star's brothers and sisters about a one-off tribute show. The president of promoters AEG Live, Randy Phillips, said he was "confident" of making a decision this week about whether a show would go ahead on Jackson's birthday on August 29. Jackson had been preparing for a string of sold-out concerts called "This Is It" at London's O2 arena before his sudden death late last month. "The number one item I'm discussing is presenting "This Is It" the production, hopefully with the Jacksons and maybe Janet, and other artists," Phillips told BBC 6 Music radio station. "We have to make some hard decisions this week otherwise it will be too late to even contemplate doing anything on (the) 29th," he added. Phillips said he had also held negotiations with Kenny Ortega, the director of hit movie "High School Musical", who had been directing Jackson's concerts. "What we're thinking about is one massive tribute that's broadcast around the globe. We've opted to go to broadcast television, either cable/satellite, or traditional broadcast," he said. Hundreds of fans have gathered outside the O2 Arena in the British capital this week to mark what would have been the start of Jackson's 50 planned concerts. AEG Live have said they will offer a full refund to all fans who were due to attend. Alternatively, ticket holders can send off for their specially designed tickets to keep as memorabilia.

Plenty of exotic FISHY waiting for U !

Once again another wonderful issue...ReefLife | July/August 2009 Issue June 15th, 2009 Check out what’s in the July/August 2009 issue of ReefLife. Many of the articles and columns deal with deepwater habitats and the animals that live there, so take a look and enjoy! The Secretive and Sweet - Two Caribbean Beauties Ideally Suited for Smaller Reef Aquariums - Fish expert Kevin Kohen looks at two spectacular Liopropoma species that are at the top of many fish-lover want lists! Coral Shrimps (Genus Stenopus) - Zoologist Tristan Lougher takes us on an exhaustive “tour†of the ever-popular shrimp genus Stenopus. This article includes images documenting incredible behaviors and undescribed species. Chalice Corals: An overview of Echinophyllia, Mycedium and Oxypora - So many corals, so little time! After reading and looking at the images in Jake Adams article on Chalice corals, you will be looking for more room and money to set-up another reef tank! Nano Gobies - Trimma and Eviota - If you have a smaller aquarium and you love gobies, you will want to read Tristan Lougher’s informative article on these diminutive fishes. It discusses the taxonomy, behavior and husbandry of this Lilliputians of the reef. Jewels of the Shadows: The Genus Liopropoma - In the last few years, the reef basslets have reached a peak in their popularity in the aquarium trade. Scott Michael examines the biology, taxonomic history, the reason that these fishes are now so readily available and how best to keep them. The article includes photos of undescribed species. Crinoids - This spectacular feature article, by world-class photojournalist Fred Bavendam, not only includes informative text but stunning photos showing feather stars and the many animals that associate with them. Abe’s Angelfish (Centropyge abei) - New Findings on a Fantastic Fish! - Dr. Hiroyuki Tanaka reviews what is known about the deep water pomacanthid, Centropyge abei. This includes new data on the distribution and biology of this unusual fish. Tales from the Twilight Zone - This is a must read piece by a modern day pioneer! John Earle, along with fellow underwater adventurers, has employed the latest diving technologies to explore deep water reef habitats. In this article, Mr. Earle eloquently describes what they have found in this relatively unknown part of the reef known as the “The Twilight Zone.†Predators and Parasites of Giant Clams - Clam expert, James Fatherree, examines threats to wild as well as “pet†tridacnids in this informative article. A must read for any giant clam enthusiast! Been Around Since Forever - Dr. Ron Shimek examines a fascinating group of organisms known as Acoel worms. While some reef aquarists have encountered Acoels in their aquarium, most know little about them. After reading Dr. Shimek’s article, you will have a much greater appreciation for these simple, ancient animals. Balanophyllia - Cup Corals for the Aquarium - in this column, Jake Adams looks at the biology and best way to keep these beautiful corals in the home aquarium. Stony Corals: Feed ‘Em - They Need All The Food They Can Get - “To feed or not to feed?†This has been debated by aquarists since reef-keeping became mainstream. Dr. Shimek looks at what the scientific literature tells us about coral nutrition. If you keep cnidarians, or are fascinated by their biology, you need to read this article!

New ProfiLuxControl II Version 4.0.7.0 is released This FIRMWARE version fixes bugs and gives some new features. First to the bugs: -Pumps -> Edit Box (Máx Wave duration) is disappeared -Pumps -> Combobox values are not translated to english -Illumination -> Firmware 4.06 Software 4.07 Error communication Not only does this new FIRMWARE fix the above bugs, but it has added functionality such as: Support for card PLM-ADIN (universal analog and digital inputs) - Simulation of moon phase, clouds, thunderstorm and rainy days can be activated for each illumination channel separately - Current simulation: Random wave duration possible - Thunderstorm simulation: Random starts of thunderstorms can be activated - New menu structure in ProfiLux, all settings for probes are now centralized in “sensor settings†- Virtual probes: average calculation and monitoring of the deviation of 2 probes of the same type is possible now - ProfiLux View: only the used switchable sockets are displayed

...DISEASE ??? MEN INFECTED ? - 6 EPL stars fear HIV infection while Ronaldo-linked transvestite dies of Aids July 15, 2009 THE footballing world has been rocked with yet another scandal - this time, in the form of a HIV scare. Six English Premier League stars are now awaiting results of medical tests to determine if they have contracted HIV after a woman they had slept with tested positive for the virus, said several reports. Also, a transvestite involved in the Ronaldo sex scandal last year has died of Aids. Quoting an unnamed source, The Sun was told that the girl in the first case found out she was infected with HIV - the virus that causes AIDs - only after she had slept with them, each on separate occasions. The stars, who play for three different clubs, cannot be named for legal reasons. Said the source: 'All of them are beside themselves with worry. They are all only too aware of the scandal it will cause. 'None of them have let their families know yet because they don't want to worry them. 'It's like a ticking timebomb for them all and would almost certainly end their careers if they have contracted it.' It is believed that the infected girl met the stars through an ex-boyfriend who moves in footballing circles. When she and the boyfriend ended their relationship, she slept with the players over several months - many of them more than once. It is believed she only discovered her HIV infection when she got back together with her boyfriend, who told her he was just confirmed as HIV positive. She then informed all her sexual partners including the six players. She didn't know According to British news entertainment news portal People.co.uk, the source said: 'The woman had no idea she was infected while she was sleeping with these guys. 'She now has to deal with the reality she may have infected other people. She is absolutely distraught, virtually suicidal.' This Aids scare for the six players is the biggest sex scandal to hit the Premier League since the 'roasting' rape allegations six years ago. 'Roasting' refers to how some football players reportedly had sex with the same groupie. HIV attacks the body's immune system but can be kept under control with drugs. There is no cure. Meanwhile, a transvestite linked with Brazilian football star Ronaldo was buried last Friday after dying in a hospital in the Sao Paulo suburb of Maua, said AFP, quoting news website G1 and other Brazilian outlets. Andre Albertini's cause of death was given as neurotoxoplasmosis, a brain infection that arises from Aids, according to the death certificate. The 22-year-old cross-dressing man known as 'Andreia' was one of three transvestite prostitutes invited into a hotel room by Ronaldo - full name Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima - on 28 Apr last year. He accused the footballer of refusing to pay the agreed price for sex. But Ronaldo denied that account, saying he had mistaken the transvestites for women and decided to not pay for their services when he found out they were men. He said they had threatened him with blackmail over the encounter. Albertini's mother said her son contracted HIV in 2006, in Rio de Janeiro. She said he slipped into a coma on Tuesday and she took him to the hospital. Ronaldo, who was a star player for AC Milan at the time of the incident, is making a comeback with Brazil's Corinthians team after a year off because of injury. AFP

Strong growth suggests Singapore emerging from recession AFP - Wednesday, July 15 SINGAPORE (AFP) - - Singapore said Tuesday its economy grew for the first time in a year in the second quarter, suggesting the city is emerging from its worst recession and offering hope for other battered Asian economies. Powered by electronics and biomedical exports, the economy soared 20.4 percent in the three months to June compared with the first quarter on a seasonally adjusted annualised basis, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said. A Dow Jones Newswires poll of 10 analysts had tipped an average 14.1 percent economic expansion. It was the first quarter-on-quarter growth in five quarters. Gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to contract 4-6 percent for the year, better than an earlier projection of 6-9 percent, but the ministry warned that any recovery would be weak due to the fragile global economy. Trade-driven Singapore last sank into a recession in 2001 when the economy shrank 2.4 percent, its worst slump since gaining statehood in 1965. It became the first Asian economy to slip into recession in the second half of last year after a financial and economic crisis that started in the United States hit demand for its exports. Tuesday's data meant that Singapore is the first of the Asian countries hit by recession to release statistics pointing to a recovery. Compared with the previous year, however, output in the June quarter was down 3.7 percent, indicating that any recovery would be fragile. "The economy is growing again," said David Cohen, an economist with research house Action Economics. "Growth won't be very strong but it should remain in an upward trajectory," he told AFP. Tuesday's data compare with a 14.6 percent quarter on quarter contraction in the three months to March. DBS Group called it a "stunning turnaround" in line with its forecast. Singapore shares closed 1.94 percent higher partly on the GDP news. CIMB-GK Research economist Song Seng Wun said the June quarter rebound boosted hopes that the worst is also over for China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other Asian economies affected by the global crisis. These economies are expected to report on their second quarter performances in the next few weeks. "Because Singapore has an open economy and has the highest exports to GDP ratio, its performance reflects any improvement or deterioration in global demand," Song said. South Korea's expected recovery could ride on the back of firmer orders for its gadgets like mobile phones and flat screen panels, he said. Any rebound in Taiwan is likely to be boosted by demand for electronic items, while China will get help from its domestic stimulus package, he added. Action Economics' Cohen predicted the Singapore data "will be the first in a series of upbeat GDP reports for the second quarter from Asian economies." "Maybe this will provide some reassurance to the markets which have been jittery in the last few weeks about the sustainability of the recovery. It shows that Asian economies have turned the corner in the second quarter." Song said the question for Asia is whether the rebound will be sustained. He noted that leading industrialised countries make up half of the world economy and many of them are still reeling from the recession, limiting their demand for Asia-made goods. Singapore's trade ministry also cautioned that "the outlook for the rest of the year remains largely unchanged: of a weak recovery susceptible to downside risks." While the key manufacturing sector contracted by 1.5 percent in the June quarter, much narrower than the 24.3 percent shrinkage in the previous three months due to the spike in pharmaceuticals and electronics, the services sector was down 5.1 percent, it said. Rising unemployment and reduced consumer spending in major export markets such as the United States and Europe reflected the continued weakness in the global economy, the ministry noted.

Oil rises above $60 as traders eye US inventories Oil rises above $60 in Asia as traders eye US inventories for signs of gasoline demand By Alex Kennedy, Associated Press Writer On Wednesday July 15, 2009, 1:52 am EDT SINGAPORE (AP) -- Oil prices peeked above $60 a barrel Wednesday in Asia as investors looked to a weekly inventory report for clues on U.S. gasoline demand. Benchmark crude for August delivery was up 76 cents to $60.28 a barrel by early afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Tuesday, the contract fell 17 cents to settle at $59.52. Crude has loitered near $60 a barrel for the last few days as investors try to gauge the strength of the global economy. Oil shot to an eight-month intraday high of $73.38 a barrel on June 30, up more than double the price in March. Weak gasoline demand in the U.S. has helped undermine investor optimism. U.S. motorists have pumped about 1 percent more gas this summer compared to 2008, but the amount remains significantly lower than in 2005 through 2007, according to the weekly SpendingPulse report by MasterCard released Tuesday. Traders will be eyeing a weekly inventory report from the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration on Wednesday. Analysts expect the EIA's gasoline inventory numbers to rise 750,000 barrels, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos. "The fundamentals are still weak," said Clarence Chu, a trader with market maker Hudson Capital Energy in Singapore. "It's the summer driving season, inventories should be falling. It's a bad sign." A solid start to second-quarter corporate results has helped bolster crude prices. Profits announced by Goldman Sachs and Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday topped analysts' estimates. Goldman said in a separate weekly energy report that it expects crude to average $60 a barrel in July before rising to $75 in September. In other Nymex trading, gasoline for August delivery rose 1.34 cents to $1.64 a gallon and heating oil gained 1.84 cents to $1.53. Natural gas for August delivery jumped 5.1 cents to $3.48 per 1,000 cubic feet. In London, Brent prices rose 75 cents to $61.15 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

PINKIE Talk !!! Real captain heaps praise on 'super nice' Ronaldo 14 July 2009 10:52 Real Madrid captain Raul heaped praise Tuesday on his new teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, calling the Portuguese international winger "super nice" and a "hardworking". "He is super nice, normal and very harworking," he told a news conference in Maynooth, Ireland where the club began a nine-day pre-season training camp on Tuesday. "He is integrated. He seems very happy. In the media it seems like everything he does and says, every gesture, has a lot of meaning but he is much more normal than people think," the 32-year-old added. Real signed Ronaldo from Manchester United last month on a six-year deal worth around 94 million euros (131 million dollars) and he will reportedly be paid 13 million euros each season, making him the most expensive player in the world. The 24-year-old, was officially unveiled before some 75,000 ecstatic Real fans on July 6 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, is being protected by several security guards during his stay in Ireland. Real will play a friendly match against current Irish champions Shamrock Rovers on July 20, two days before its training camp in Ireland ends.

Tevez joins Man City, criticises Ferguson 14 July 2009 09:15 By Martyn Herman LONDON - Argentina striker Carlos Tevez signed for Manchester City on Tuesday and used his first news conference at the big-spending Premier League club to criticise Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. The 25-year-old, who spent two years at Old Trafford under a lease agreement, said Ferguson had not done enough to persuade him to stay at the champions. "Alex never called me or sent me any text messages," Tevez, who signed a five-year contract, said through a translator. "The only time he spoke to me was after the match against Roma because we had to discuss me playing for Argentina. "I don't think that is the way to treat a player who has been two years at the club." Tevez was the third major pre-season signing for City who are owned by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour after midfielder Gareth Barry and striker Roque Santa Cruz joined from Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers respectively. City manager Mark Hughes confirmed that the free-spending club had opened talks with Arsenal about buying Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor. GOOD PROPOSAL Tevez was a firm favourite at Old Trafford, scoring 34 goals in 98 appearances but often had to make do with a place on the bench. He was among the substitutes for the Champions League final defeat by Barcelona in May. "United fans have to understand that part of my heart will always be with them, they were always supportive and always made me feel well even when I wasn't playing well," he said. "It was not because of the fans that I left but because Ferguson and David Gill didn't do enough to keep me there." Tevez, who joined West Ham United from Brazilian side Corinthians in 2006, said City's potential was a major factor in him switching across the city. "Both the technical department and the ownership came with a very good proposal for me and this showed that they have the ambition to become one of the biggest clubs in the world," he said. "Money was not a factor for me. Always to have a coach that wants me and a good fan base and a good environment to make me happy, that was the most important thing. I'm delighted to be here." With Paraguay international Santa Cruz and possibly Adebayor in the squad next season, Tevez said he was prepared to have to fight for his place. "In every team you have to win the respect of your team mates and sweat the shirt," he said. "I would not be happy if I was assured a first team place." City have been linked with Chelsea captain John Terry in recent weeks but Hughes would not be drawn on the speculation surrounding the England defender. "I have fantastic respect for John Terry, as a great player and as an outstanding captain. But he is a Chelsea player at this moment in time so we have to respect that," he said.

WAH !...it's amazing tat U dig out the elusive secretive Leopard from its 'comfort zone' & it is coping well. Well Done folks !

NTUC says slowdown in GDP contraction does not mean recovery in sight Channel NewsAsia - Wednesday, July 15 SINGAPORE: Singapore’s economy has pulled out of a technical recession, after four straight quarters of contraction. Advance estimates showed that on a seasonally adjusted annualised basis, real GDP in the second quarter rose by 20.4% compared to the first quarter. However, the economy contracted by 3.7% on—year in the second quarter. The government has revised its GDP forecast for the year upwards to a contraction of 4 to 6 per cent, against its earlier forecast for a 6 to 9 per cent shrinkage. But the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said a full recovery is not yet in sight, and has urged firms and workers to remain vigilant. NTUC deputy secretary—general, Heng Chee How, said: "If you ask the companies on the ground — whether manufacturing or services — they will actually tell you that compared to the first quarter of this year, in the second quarter towards the middle of the year, they have better visibility, so some manufacturing companies say they now have orders up to July or September. "But they will also tell you that... we cannot assume that just because the second quarter is better than the first, therefore the third and the fourth will be better than the second." The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) also continues to expect a weak recovery with downside risks for the rest of the year. "If you look at the MTI forecast, they are now revising it (2009 GDP outlook) to minus four to minus six percent contraction. That, compared to any year, is still a very serious recession. I think we should work on that basis and continue to invest in our skills and capability as it is the competitiveness that will see us through," said Mr Heng. The labour movement said a key priority for the tripartite partners is to ensure that companies continue to take training and retraining seriously. Hence, the tripartite teams will continue to visit the industries and companies to emphasise the importance of the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) and how they can take advantage of it. CNA/ir

WOW !...fantastic setup mate. Can moi drop by to admire ya reef paradise ?

Fergie: No more player movement at Old Trafford By Soccernet Staff July 13, 2009 Sir Alex Ferguson handed Michael Owen Ronaldo's old shirt at Manchester United and then declared Old Trafford closed for transfer business. After recieving £80m from the sale of the Portuguese winger to Real Madrid, it was thought Ferguson would add to the signings of Owen, Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan. But, faced with a market over-inflated by Real Madrid and Manchester City, Ferguson has decided his current squad is good enough to challenge for an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title, even though Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez have left. He said: "It is the end of our business, so all these stories about who were are supposed to be getting - forget it. I can only placate the fans this way and say I am not going to be stupid. "We have got that wonderful sum of money from Real Madrid but there was no way we were going to throw it away and put an extra nought on the end of the transfer which I didn't think was value.'' It means Owen will take over Ronaldo's shirt and his place in an attacking line-up containing Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, plus youngsters Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda, who will both be given a chance to prove they are worthy of the accolades that have been bestowed on them. "They are both young players - but young players with ability always get a chance here.'' Owen maintained he was in good shape despite his injury-prone tag. "It does irritate me that so many people have doubts,'' he said. "But if there is one thing I am angered by, the injury thing would be it. There is no doubt I have had injuries in my career. But there is a long list of players that have had a broken metatarsal. "I was foolish trying to rush back for the World Cup and my leg had just come out of plaster. "But I played 33 and 32 games in the last two years in a team that was not in Europe and did not go on a decent cup run. Still I was continually labelled injury-prone, which gets up my nose. "I am 29 and have played over 500 games for club and country. That says it all.'' What Owen does accept the need to prove is the retention of ability that has made him only the fourth striker in England history to score 40 goals for his country. "In certain parts, people do have a justification to have a go at me,'' he said. "I didn't set the world alight in the last year at Newcastle. That is no-one's fault but mine. We were not playing well as a team and I wasn't doing my bit either.'' Ferguson confirmed he made a bid for Karim Benzema, only to be rebuffed by the Lyon man, who instead became part of Real Madrid's extraordinary spending spree. ''There are some amazing numbers being talked about, not all of them realistic,'' he said. ''It is very difficult to get value now. ''In a way we benefited through the sale of Cristiano, although that figure was non-negotiable. "But I feel we have a good squad, which meant there was no need for knee-jerk reactions. 'We asked about Benzema and we had a value for him. Lyon have done well because they got 42m Euros but I think we took a sensible view.'' "Michael gives us experience in the penalty box, which is vital,'' said Ferguson. "He has always had that little knack of losing defenders in the last third. "I know he will score a lot of goals for us. He has been great at that for years.''

Manchester City announce that Tevez will sign By Soccernet staff July 13, 2009 Carlos Tevez is set to wear the blue of Manchester City after the club announced they have reached an agreement over a proposed move to the City of Manchester Stadium. Tevez has agreed personal terms and is expected to pen a five-year deal at Eastlands. City have confirmed the deal has been ratified by the Premier League and the Football Association, and Tevez is expected to have a medical shortly before meeting up with his new team-mates on their pre-season tour to South Africa. Manager Mark Hughes said "It is terrific news. Carlos is an international player of the highest class who possesses all the attributes that will help drive this club forward." Tevez caught an overnight flight from South America on Monday to Manchester to put an end to a lengthy pursuit of a player who ended his association with Manchester United after finishing a two-year loan at Old Trafford amid much acrimony at the end of June. City have previously been reluctant to express too much confidence about the chances of Tevez joining them, knowing the complexities of the deal could scupper it at any time. Tevez's "economic rights" are owned by third-party group MSI, fronted by businessman Kia Joorabchian. Despite something of a rapport with fans at Old Trafford, and a United offer that met MSI's requirements in terms of wages and a fee for the player, Red Devils' boss Sir Alex Ferguson said on Monday that he felt the Argentine striker had decided to bail out long before the eventual decision was taken. "I half expected Carlos Tevez would be going a long time back," said the United boss. "I think he maybe did a deal around January because I spoke to him and gave him an offer on the night we played Inter Milan (in March) and he never came back to me. "I phoned him on holiday and he never got back to me and I texted him twice and he never got back to me then either, so obviously he had made his mind up a long time ago. "He was a good player and did well for us. But he obviously assessed the situation and wanted to go somewhere else." Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor has also emerged as the latest big name to catch City's eye while they also wait to see what the result of conversations between John Terry and Chelsea will be. Blues chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak is willing to make Terry the highest-paid player in England in order to lure him north.

Judy Chou invited to HK Michael Jackson tribute service Xin.sg - Tuesday, July 14 Judy Chou, who was discovered through Taiwanese TV singing competition, One Million Star, was invited to Hong Kong as special guest in Michael Jackson tribute service. A fan of the late King of Pop, Chou sang the song "You Are Not Alone" for his EP So What which was released last year, and rapped for S.H.E's "Bi Ni Jian", which is a spin off from "Billie Jean". "I'm very upset and full of regret over MJ's death," she said. "10 years ago when MJ held his concert in Taiwan, I was too young to know who he is. But I've been hoping to witness his moonwalk when I found out how great he was, and in fact I was looking forward to his world tour. It's a pity that there is no chance now." Chou was excited to see a Michael Jackson wax statue backstage and started posing for photos together. On stage, the Taiwanese singer appeared in classic MJ style - black suit, white shirt, matching black pants, white socks and black leather shoes - and sang a medley of MJ's classics including "You Are Not Alone" and performed the moonwalk along with other Michael Jackson signature dance movements, winning an ovation.

Fans gather in London where Jackson was to perform Reuters - Tuesday, July 14 LONDON - Hundreds of Michael Jackson fans gathered outside London's O2 Arena on Monday to pay their respects to the entertainer on the day he was to have opened a run of 50 concerts at the venue. Jackson died on June 25, just weeks ahead of his eagerly awaited comeback following years of living as a virtual recluse. The London concerts sold out in record time and some of the 750,000 tickets sold traded hands at hugely inflated prices on the Internet. Underlining fans' devotion to the "King of Pop", hundreds turned up to the venue anyway, determined to celebrate their favorite musician. "This was going to be the best summer of my life," said fan Michael. "I was going to go to five shows altogether, it would have been fantastic. I can't believe rather than coming here to see him perform I'm here to mourn ... It's devastating, it really is." Some fans sat quietly beneath a large screen with a picture of Jackson and the words "Michael Jackson 1958-2009" reflecting on what might have been. Others, including several Jackson impersonators, led sing-a-longs of his greatest hits. Will, another fan, said: "We've come here today even if there's no gig tonight. We're making our own gig, our own carnival atmosphere, we're making this what it would have been if Michael had been here." The man behind chart-topping songs like "Thriller," "Billie Jean" and "Man in the Mirror" has been mourned the world over since his sudden death at the age of 50, and sales of his records have soared. AEG Live, promoters of Jackson's planned comeback "residency" in London, have offered fans either full refunds for the canceled shows or the option of keeping their commemorative tickets as keepsakes. Jackson died while rehearsing for the concerts, and AEG has said it hopes to stage a tribute including elements of the This Is It spectacle. Several reports have said organizers are aiming for a date in late August.

Michael Jackson family says concert plans too much for him Reuters - Tuesday, July 14By Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's father said the King of Pop was not ready perform 50 shows in London, in a TV interview that aired the day the singer was scheduled to start his long-awaited comeback. Joe Jackson told ABC News that his son told him that he only agreed to perform 10 shows in London, but that the concert promoter booked more shows to bring the total to 50. "I was worried about his health, because all the shows that I'm seeing, no artist can do that many shows back to back like that," Joe Jackson told ABC News in an interview broadcast on Monday. "So I knew Michael couldn't do all those shows without some rests in between." In a statement, Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of concert promoter AEG Live, acknowledged on Monday that the number of shows was originally lower, but said Jackson had agreed to perform more. "Our original agreement with Michael Jackson called for 31 shows," Phillips said. When the response to the initial announcement of 10 shows was so overwhelming, AEG Live went to Jackson's then advisor, Dr. Tohme Tohme, and asked if the singer would be willing to do more, Phillips said. The first show was scheduled for July 13 with the remainder were spread out until February 2010. Tohme told AEG Live that Jackson would perform 50, and Jackson himself said he was motivated to embark on a record-setting run of concerts, Phillips said. The singer, 50, had previously passed a lengthy physical head of his first live concert series in 12 years and was rehearsing in Los Angeles the day before his death. Jackson died of cardiac arrest on June 25, after he stopped breathing and paramedics were called to his Los Angeles home. In a separate interview, Michael Jackson's sister, La Toya Jackson, told British newspaper The Daily Mail that her brother was "murdered" by a conspiracy of people around him. La Toya Jackson said she believes her brother was overworked to rehearse and prepare for the concert series, and that he was intentionally separated from his family. After the L.A. Coroner examined Jackson's body, his family ordered a second, private autopsy on the singer. "He had needle marks on his neck and his arms and more about those will emerge in the next few weeks," La Toya Jackson told the Daily Mail. "I cannot discuss that any further as I may jeopardize the investigation," she said. "I can, however, say that I have not changed my mind about my feeling that Michael was murdered." La Toya Jackson also said her suspicions were raised by medical equipment, including oxygen tanks and a stand with a cord hanging down, in a room at her brother's home. Media reports have said that the dangerous sedative Diprivan -- normally used in hospitals by anesthesiologists -- was found at the singer's home. Los Angeles police have revealed few details of their investigation, and the L.A. Coroner said it will release the results of its autopsy within weeks.

Singapore economy soars 20 percent in 2nd quarter Singapore says economy jumps 20 percent in second quarter, raises 2009 growth forecast On Monday July 13, 2009, 8:44 pm EDT SINGAPORE (AP) -- Singapore's economy grew for the first time in a year, soaring 20 percent in the second quarter, the government said Tuesday, as the country emerges from its worst-ever recession. Gross domestic product jumped an annualized, seasonally adjusted 20.4 percent in the three months through June, compared with the previous quarter, the Trade and Industry Ministry said in a statement. It said GDP fell 3.7 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. The ministry said it now expects the economy to shrink between 4 percent and 6 percent this year, up from a previous forecast of a contraction between 6 percent and 9 percent. "The revised 2009 forecast reflects the less severe contraction in the first half of the year, while the underlying economic conditions remain weak," the ministry said. Singapore's economy, which relies on exports, finance and tourism, had contracted the previous four quarters, with an annualized, seasonally adjusted 16.4 percent drop in the October-December period marking its deepest recession since splitting from Malaysia in 1965. The ministry said the economy fell an annualized, seasonally adjusted 12.7 percent in the first quarter, which is revised up from an initial estimate in April of a 19.7 percent contraction. A surge in pharmaceutical production helped boost growth in the second quarter. Manufacturing fell 1.5 percent from a year ago compared to a 24 percent contraction in the first quarter, the ministry said. Construction rose 18 percent in the second quarter while services dropped 5.1 percent. "A sizable part of Singapore's manufacturing uptick came from a spike in biomedical manufacturing output and electronics inventory restocking, both of which may not be sustained," the ministry said.

MR & MRS WHITE TIGER on HONEYMOON currently. Hopefully, moi can try to take some pics of their marital bliss.

Enough to buy 75 500ml bottles of eco-friendly EVIAN minus the EVIAN@ ROLLER BABIES.

I dun target feed moi BLASTOS. Once a week I juz poured a mixture of Cyclopeeze or Marc Weiss Spectra Vital into the water column. At times, I stirred up detritus from my tanky 'sexy' bottom which can also acts as alternative food source. Next time we can go 'shopping' for BLASTOS if U are a convert.

WOW !...veri swee colors. From ???

Better Hurry mate !...4...3...2...1...Kosong ???...Arghh hahaha.

Yeah GO for it mate. Fantastic LENs !!!...Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro

AH LEE...where is ya CARIB BLUE ZOAs ???