After a seven-day trial, a federal jury in Colorado rendered a verdict finding that Allergy Research Group (ARG), a subsidiary of the Kikkoman Corp. (OTC: KIKOF.PK), violated federal false advertising laws in marketing their product, “Russian Choice Immune,” as identical to the immune system support supplement Del-Immune V, previously marketed by ARG as Delta-Immune. The jury also determined that ARG misled buyers as to the product’s origin — Russian Choice Immune was actually developed and manufactured in Vietnam — then sent it to the U.S. without conducting any prior research, according to the testimony of ARG’s own expert, Dr. Ba Hoang.
Del-Immune V is a unique probiotic supplement made from the “good bacteria” lactobacillus rhamnosus (DV strain), authored in the Ukraine by Dr. Lubov Shynkarenko, Del-Immune vice president and former dean of the Biotechnology Institute at Kiev’s elite National Technical University.
Manufactured by Boulder-based Pure Research Products LLC (PRP), the Del-Immune V dietary supplement provides immediate immune system support, helping the body defend itself from environmental invaders such as viruses and germs. It is also used to help the body deal with other health issues by strengthening the body’s natural immune response.
When the probiotic’s cells break, they release immune-activating proteins that immediately prepare the immune system to fight foreign invaders. Those taking the supplement boost their general immune response, as well as more adequately prepare their bodies to resist germs and bugs.
Del-Immune represents the culmination of 50 years of research originated by Cold War-era Soviet Bloc scientists and Russian military bio-warfare troop protection programs. PRP obtained exclusive rights to manufacture, distribute and market the DV strain from its Russian partners in 2002.
“We conducted analysis of the counterfeit product and found that it did not have the characteristics of Del-Immune V,” said John Sichel, pharmacist and Del-Immune founder. “While we’re flattered that they would want to copy one of the most thoroughly researched and effective immune system supplements in the world, we’re happy that the jury recognized that this was confusing customers who want the immune system benefits of American-made Del-Immune V.”
Del-Immune V is used by thousands and recommended by doctors around the world. For more information, please visit www.del-immune.com.

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An outbreak of cholera has killed 19 members of a remote cave-dwelling Philippine tribe and sickened more than 400 others, the government said Thursday.
Poor hygiene and the isolation of the Palawanon tribe had made treatment of the disease difficult with doctors initially making a wrong diagnosis of diarrhoea, the health department said.
The government agency dispatched a medical team to the island of Palawan last week to check the outbreak and concluded cholera was to blame, said Manuel Mapue, the head of the mission.
“The whole area has no potable water system and there are no toilets. Being indigenous tribes, these people just defecate anywhere,” he told AFP.
He said samples from the rivers used by the tribe for drinking water showed they were contaminated with faeces.
Previous news reports said as many as 30 people had died of the illness but a check found only 19 fatalities, said Mapue.
The isolation of the tribe, with no hospital in the area, had made it difficult to treat them, he added.
“We had to walk for two to three hours, cross streams and shallow rivers and climb mountains which were a bit rough with a lot of bushes to reach them,” told AFP.
Families were being given special water containers with filters and local leaders were being taught to dig and use latrines, Mapue said.
Chief government epidemiologist Eric Tayag said the tribesmen would have to be taught how to prevent cholera.
“We have to teach them sanitation and we have to make sure that those who are getting sick will be identified immediately,” Tayag said on local television.
Anthropologists say about 30,000 people speak several dialects associated with the Palawanon tribe, whose members live in isolated communities scattered in the interiors of Palawan.

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The Philippines wants to replace millions of petrol-powered tricycles with electric ones as part of efforts to clean up the nation’s polluting mass transport system, President Benigno Aquino said Friday.
The government will initially replace 20,000 tricycles that ply minor streets across the capital Manila and eventually expand the project throughout the country, Aquino said in a speech to government employees.
It is hoped the scheme will save the impoverished country tens of millions of dollars annually.
“The (project) is an ambitious multi-year plan to wean public utility vehicles from the use of gasoline and diesel and to encourage them to shift to alternatives like natural gas, electricity and hybrid engines,” he said.
“I would like to see the day when nearly all public utility vehicles… run on alternative fuel, freeing the public transport sector and commuters from the threat of unreasonably high oil prices and unhealthy levels of air pollution.”
Aquino did not give a definite timetable of the program, which was launched this week when 20 so-called “e-tricycles” hit the streets of a Manila suburb.
Manila-based Asian Development Bank, which is funding the initial stage of the project, said transport sector emissions accounted for 30 percent of all pollution in the Philippines.
In Manila, vehicle emissions account for 80 percent of all pollution, it said.
“A sizeable proportion of vehicle emissions are attributable to inefficient public transport, particularly from tricycles, jeepneys and buses,” it added.
Jeepneys are colourful small buses that make up the backbone of the country’s chaotic mass transport system, locally assembled using second-hand truck engines and transmission systems imported from Japan.
Sohail Hasnie, an energy specialist at Manila-based ADB, said more than 3.5 million tricycles operated in the Philippines.
These emitted more than 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and burned nearly five billion dollars of fuel yearly.
“Every 20,000 e-trikes that are introduced to Manila’s streets will save the Philippines 100,000 liters of foreign fuel imports each day, saving the country about 35 million dollars annually,” Hasnie said.
Though the electronic tricycles, which use rechargeable lithium ion batteries, are costlier, older petrol tricycles are more than twice as expensive to operate in the long run, Hasnie added.
The carbon footprints of the e-trikes, which are locally produced, would be less than a quarter of conventional tricycles, the ADB said.
ADB officials said the Manila-based lender was now in talks with the Philippine government on supporting the expansion of the project. Balita Media Inc.’s website is Balita.com.

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The Philippine military said Friday it planned to use a new US-made vessel to boost patrols in disputed South China Sea waters, amid a flare-up in tensions with China over rival claims.
The navy was looking to use the modern Hamilton-class patrol craft, recently bought from the United States, around the Philippine-claimed area of the Spratly archipelago, military spokesman Brigadier-General Jose Mabanta said.
“That’s one of the possible areas. We really have to secure some of our possessions, and the Spratlys is one of our possessions,” Mabanta told AFP when asked where the vessel would be deployed.
Mabanta said a Philippine navy crew was currently in the United States training to operate the patrol craft, and that it was expected to arrive in June.
The US navy describes the Hamilton as a high endurance cutter with close-in weapons systems.
The Philippine navy has a tiny and old fleet compared with China.
The Philippine fleet is made up of recommissioned former US navy vessels, headlined by Rajah Humabon, a Cannon-class destroyer escort that was built during World War II and is one of the world’s oldest operational warships.
The Philippines and China, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, claim all or part of the Spratlys, which are believed to sit on vast mineral resources and lie near vital sea lanes.
The dispute flared up again last month when Manila complained that Chinese patrol boats had harassed a Philippine oil exploration vessel in disputed waters near the Spratlys.
The Philippines later announced plans to pursue oil exploration in the area and to upgrade its military airfield on one of the islands, and lodged a formal protest at the United Nations over China’s claims.
Amid the flare-up China has repeatedly reiterated its exclusive claims to all the disputed areas and their adjacent waters, much of which are much closer to Philippine land than Chinese.
The United States considers the Philippines a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization military ally and the two countries are bound by a 1951 mutual defense pact.
China has repeatedly told the United States it has no right to be involved in the Spratlys dispute.

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Derek Ramsay dismissed reports linking him to Sexbomb dancer Aifa Medina.
Reports said the actor was spotted with Aifa recently in a friendís house in Tondo, Manila.
The actor immediately cleared the issue and said that it was not him and he doesn’t know who Aifa is.
“No, I don’t know her. I was told na I was seen daw in a friend’s house in Tondo.”
“The funny thing is the only person I know in Tondo is actually Angel, but she doesn’t live there now.”
The actor revealed that when he heard the news, he looked up for Aifa on the Internet and as far as he can remember, they were not introduced to each other.
“I definitely don’t know her and when I heard about the news I looked her up and I don’t think we’ve met.”
Derek added the issue can be easily resolved because he knows that when the press will ask Aifa about it, the dancer will also dismissed the rumors.
“I don’t know where this came from. What’s important is Angel and I know that we are still together. Everytime something comes up we are very vocal to clear it up. We’re very happy.”
Right now, Derek is working on the “Biggest Loser” with Megastar Sharon Cuneta and another teleserye with Cristine Reyes.
According to the actor, he’s excited with his new soap because it’s something new and the audience will see a different Cristine.
“I can say that you will see a very different Cristine. She’s totally motivated, she’s very excited to be back on TV and it’s going to be something big,” he ended. (MNS)

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On the eve of the playoffs I’m picking the Lakers to beat Boston in the NBA Finals, though I continue to question my choice in the East – Miami may yet become the best postseason team in the conference…
Rating The Four Tiers Of Playoff Contenders
There are four levels of playoff agendas as the NBA embarks on its two-month tournament. Be aware that many of the teams may not agree with these forecasts.
1. Nothing less than a championship. At least four members of this elite group – the two-time defending champion Lakers, the defending Eastern champion Celtics, the four-time champion Spurs, the ultra-ambitious Heat and the ever-tantalizing Mavericks – will be disappointed in mid-June or earlier. The turbulent season-long journeys of the Lakers and Celtics are well known already, and their issues need not be repeated here.
Lakers-Hornets | Celtics-Knicks
The Spurs, however, have been an overlooked contender.
“Are they good enough to win it?” asked a rival head coach involved in these playoffs.
“Probably not.”
The Spurs don’t engage in trash-talking replies to such skepticism, but their No. 1 record in the West relates to their stubborn insistence. They’ve adapted wisely to this new era’s perimeter-based style of play, and their three stars are capable of doing whatever it takes. Last year during their opening-round upset of Dallas, the Spurs looked like the best team in the West. Then they went unexpectedly flat against the surprising Suns, thereby ceding the conference championship to Los Angeles.
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But their circumstances are entirely different this time. Last year they were fighting injuries and pulled themselves together just in time to knock off the Mavs; this year they’ve been on top of the West to the very end, enabling them to withstand a late-season sprained ankle suffered by Tim Duncan (though more worrisome now is the hyperextended right elbow injury sustained Wednesday by Manu Ginobili). The Spurs are an unusual underdog that could lose in the second round or ride home-court advantage all the way through June, and the latter is surely their expectation.
Series Preview: Spurs vs. Grizzlies
In Miami, the Heat are peaking right on time. They’re only 4-9 against the league’s top five opponents and 18-19 against teams that are .500 or better, but look more closely at their closing five weeks: They finished 15-3 overall and 3-0 against the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics, beating that trio by a combined 59 points. They’ll have home-court advantage against everyone in the East except for the inexperienced Bulls, and they enter the postseason with a more settled rotation than the Celtics. There isn’t a team the Heat can’t beat in a seven-game series.
Series Preview: Heat vs. 76ers
Some will scoff at the Mavericks’ inclusion on this list, but consider the diversity of their weapons. Dirk Nowitzki is no longer simply a mismatch at the three-point line; he is now a versatile low-post threat who seeks out contact and the resulting free throws. Though the Mavs haven’t defended so well lately, Tyson Chandler’s leadership in the paint gives them hope of reclaiming their early-season form. Jason Kidd is a terrific three-point shooter under pressure, and the availability of Jose Barea and Rodrigue Beaubois (assuming he isn’t sidelined by a foot injury) enable him to avoid defending the small, explosive point guards.
The Mavs’ little displays of in-fighting recently show a feistiness that hasn’t always existed in Dallas. If the Mavs can survive their opening round against Portland, they’ll enter Round 2 against the Lakers with no outside pressure — they and they alone will believe they can pull off that upset, which is not a bad role to play.
Series Preview: Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers
2. Conference or NBA Finals. The Bulls, Thunder and Magic all have reason to aim for the championship. But it won’t be at all fair to criticize them for falling short.
Is Derrick Rose capable of leading Chicago to the title this season? The answer is yes … but it’s not reasonable to say he should, because he has never reached the second round, and his roster, as successful as it’s been, is still under construction. His expedition is going to be highly interesting — to see how he adapts as the intensity and opposing defenses attempt to swarm him round by round. As well as he has played this season, we all know he can play at an even higher plane. But NBA history insists (as Michael Jordan himself can affirm) that players of Rose’s exceptional talent must lose in the playoffs years before they can celebrate in the end.
Series Preview: Bulls vs. Pacers
The Thunder’s Kevin Durant is in the same position. His team has been made more dangerous by the presence of center Kendrick Perkins, who has improved Oklahoma City’s defense. This team looks to be as promising in its conference as the Bulls are in theirs. But no one should complain if OKC isn’t able to beat the Spurs or Lakers (though it will be under pressure to prevail in the opening round against the threatening Nuggets — pressure that will be helpful for Durant’s long-term development).
Series Preview: Thunder vs. Nuggets
The Magic made the Finals two years ago and are not without talent around Dwight Howard, but the team’s play has yet to equal the sum of its expensive parts. It was always going to difficult to fit everyone together following its December makeover.
Series Preview: Magic vs. Hawks
3. A round or two. The Blazers, Nuggets, Hawks and Knicks are all talented underdogs capable of a first-round upset. The Mavs drew the short straw when they were matched against Portland, which has reinvented itself around the interior leadership of LaMarcus Aldridge and the tireless work of Gerald Wallace. With Andre Miller, Marcus Camby and (don’t forget him) Brandon Roy, they could surely plow through the insecure Mavs.
The Nuggets can play with anyone for 43 or so minutes, but can they close out games now that Carmelo Anthony is gone? These playoffs will either define their go-to scorer, or prove the need for one.
Then there are the Hawks, who have made the second round the last two years and appeared to improve their rotation by acquiring Kirk Hinrich. Instead, they’ve gone 10-17 since the All-Star break and haven’t shown the kind of stubborn consistency they’ll need during the playoffs.
The Knicks have three stars who are still learning to play together. If they should decide to keep the ball moving to create open shots, they could make the next fortnight very uncomfortable for the Celtics.
4. A good first-round showing. The Hornets, 76ers, Grizzlies and Pacers have been awarded first-round series that appear to be unwinnable. New Orleans would not have been in this grouping if not for the disastrous injury to David West, which helped drop the Hornets into a hopeless matchup against the Lakers. The Grizzlies should be congratulated for surviving their own injury to Rudy Gay, but they’re going to miss him against the Spurs. The Sixers will provide a strong test for Miami, which should help prepare the Heat for the second round, and the young Pacers — the only team with a losing record — will be provided experience by the ruthless Bulls.
A Half-Dozen Glue Guys Worth Watching
1. Luol Deng, Bulls. Chicago’s small forward will guard Indiana’s Danny Granger and other prolific playoff opponents, much as he has throughout his team’s successful regular season. At the other end he’ll keep the ball moving, attack off the dribble or spot up as a deep shooter to space the floor for Derrick Rose. Deng was a big contributor to the Bulls’ 2007 run to the second round, which coincides with his last period of health as part of a strong team. Chicago wouldn’t be No. 1 in the East if not for his crucial role at both ends.
2. Rajon Rondo, Celtics. His extended periods of terrific play have now created enormous expectations for Boston’s young point guard. He must guide the Celtics through their attempt to reinvent themselves amid big questions at center and their newly assembled bench. If Rondo plays at his exceptional triple-double level — which is asking a lot of any star — his Celtics can position themselves to win the championship. But if he is unable to pull this team together, then it’s hard to see who else can.
3. Gerald Wallace, Blazers. After arriving in February, he gave Portland energy and hope. It’s amazing how quickly coach Nate McMillan reinvented his team away from Brandon Roy (dangerous though he remains) to maximize the edgy play of Wallace and LaMarcus Aldridge. If Wallace is settling for threes, you’ll know Portland is in trouble. But if he is driving incessantly to the hole and scrambling the game defensively, the Mavs may be set back on their heels.
4. Kendrick Perkins, Thunder. Notice how Boston has been in a funk without its former starting center (and also without Shaq, to be fair)? Perkins’ arrival in Oklahoma City has been just as noticeable. The Thunder’s defense is tighter and more vocal, and Serge Ibaka has been able to play his natural role as a shot-blocking power forward alongside Perkins. Now the question is whether the Thunder’s defense can coalesce around Perkins quickly enough to challenge the Spurs and Lakers.
5. George Karl, Nuggets. He’s a seat-of-the-pants coach who, after Carmelo Anthony’s departure, transformed his team of complementary players into a dynamic, open-court monster. The absence of a star means the Nuggets will rely on Karl’s ability to assemble winning combinations and create energy. He appears to love their underdog role.
6. LeBron James, Heat. To prevail against the team defenses of Boston and Chicago, James must keep the ball moving to find the open shooter. He and Dwyane Wade have suffered a number of high-turnover games against the Celtics and Bulls. Can they find the right blend between creating for themselves as well as for others? As well as Miami has played this year, it has the potential to reach a higher level of teamwork — which opponents hope won’t be discovered until next season at the earliest.
The Advisor
The questions are fabricated, my answers are for real.
“Does anyone really think I’m going to bail on New Orleans so I can play in Charlotte?”
– C.P., New Orleans
Chris Paul, you were obviously being gracious when you discussed Michael Jordan’s Bobcats as a potential free-agent landing spot for you in 2012. First of all, it’s universally understood that if you were to leave the Hornets, you would be looking to join a championship contender — and the Bobcats are not that. In fact, they are further from contention than your Hornets.
Here’s the other part: Jordan’s charisma and background will take his franchise only so far. Look at it this way: When Jordan was an ambitious star in his 20s, would he have been interested in playing for a franchise like the Bobcats as they exist today? Of course he wouldn’t, and the personality of the owner would have no influence on his bottom-line point of view. The Bobcats’ standing may change considerably under the rules of the next CBA, and if Jordan’s franchise emerges as a contender, Charlotte may yet become a destination for someone like Paul. But right now the only attraction for a superstar to come to Charlotte is the allure of Michael Jordan, and that is not enough.
All of this doesn’t mean you’re looking past this postseason to 2012. Anyone who watches you play knows you’ll be focused entirely on the playoffs, because the last thing you want is to be embarrassed against your friend Kobe Bryant and his Lakers.
“I get injured in the 82nd game. Do I take this as a bad sign?”
– M.G., San Antonio
Manu Ginobili, you were diagnosed, fortunately, with a sprained right elbow. Had you suffered a torn ligament, you would have been in trouble. As it is, you are listed as doubtful for Game 1 of your opening series against Memphis.
The Grizzlies are no easy opponent: They won 46 games despite a midseason injury to Rudy Gay, and they pound the ball inside to Zach Randolph like a power 1990s-styled team.
I have a feeling you’re going to return early in the series. At the same time, your Spurs are going to lose one of the first two games, as you often seem to do in the opening round. It sets off panicky alarms around the league, but it also settles your team down. Have faith that you’re going to win this series in five or six games … as for the second round, however, I’m not so sure.
“How do I make my team believe?”
– D.N., Dallas
Dirk Nowitzki, your Mavericks have had little other than bad playoff experiences since you surrendered the 2-0 lead to Miami in the 2006 NBA Finals. The irony is that you’ve become a more fiery leader since then, and a more playoff-ready scorer thanks to your rugged improvement in the post. You’ve always been known as a non-traditional star — a big man who bombs from the perimeter — but now may be the time to show your traditional skills on the block: Control the tempo, get your team into the bonus, make your free throws and relieve your teammates of the pressure to win or lose based on their jump shots. It will be yet another interesting change of pace from you.
The List
Top playoff upsets. These are (in my opinion) the most notable results since 2003, when the NBA went to its current format of seven-game series throughout the postseason.
1. Golden State 4-2 over Dallas, 2007 first round: The worst of all matchups for the top-seeded Mavs, and the defining triumph for Baron Davis.
2. Detroit 4-1 over Los Angeles Lakers, 2004 NBA Finals: The exception to the rule as thePistons become the only champion since the Magic/Bird era to lack a Hall of Fame scorer.
3. Miami 4-2 over Dallas, 2006 NBA Finals: Dwyane Wade’s coming-out — the Heat had been within minutes of trailing 3-0 before he seized four straight victories.
4. Orlando 4-2 over Cleveland, 2009 conference finals: In the absence of All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu created mismatches to overcome LeBron’s 38.5 points per game.
5. Cleveland 4-2 over Detroit, 2007 conference finals: LeBron’s memorable 25 straight points drove Cleveland to four straight wins after the East’s dominant team led 2-0.
6. Boston 4-2 over Cleveland, 2010 second round: A 27-27 regular-season finish left the Celtics looking dead until Rajon Rondo controlled this series in LeBron’s farewell to Cleveland.
7. Dallas 4-3 over San Antonio, 2006 second round: The Spurs may have claimed a fifth championship if not for an excruciating Game 7 OT loss on their home floor.
8. San Antonio 4-2 over Dallas, 2010 first round: The Spurs’ team defense dismantled the favored Mavs step by step.


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Stretching food dollars to put healthy, delicious food on the table can be tricky. Registered dietician, nutritionist and author Elizabeth Somer has created these tips and budget-friendly recipes to help you add a healthy spin and big flavor to your meals without taking a big toll on your budget.
* Compare unit price. Often buying in bulk or larger sizes is more economical, but not always.
* Plan your meals in advance and keep a copy on the fridge and with you when you head to the grocery store so you’re not trying to figure out what’s for dinner while you shop.
* Make one evening a week the “no-cook night” where the entire family can join in to make wraps, pinwheels or another cold favorite.
* Take an inventory of what you have on hand. Keeping track of staples will keep you from buying food you don’t need.
* Check the circulars. Seeing what’s on sale will help you see what to stock up on and help with meal planning.
These valued-focused recipes, created to serve five for around $10 or less, are easy to make and use simple ingredients for quick and satisfying family meals.
Visit missionmenus.com to get additional recipes and tips.
South of the Border Frittata
Serves: 5
Ingredients:
8 large eggs
1/3 cup low fat milk
3 small Mission flour tortillas, chopped into 1-inch squares
1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil
5 brown and serve low fat fully cooked sausage links (50% less fat), diced
2 cups potato (1 medium), peeled and diced
1 cup sweet onion (1 medium), diced
1/2 cup green or red pepper, diced
1/2 cup Mission salsa
1 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425°F. In large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, chopped tortilla squares and chipotle pepper. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Heat oil in 12-inch heavy, oven safe non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add diced sausage, potatoes, onions and peppers. Sauté mixture until tender, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Spray skillet with vegetable cooking spray. Pour egg mixture into skillet; stir to cover potatoes, vegetables and sausage. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until the frittata is set (the eggs should be just firm and starting to puff up), 10 to 15 minutes. Remove skillet from oven, spread salsa evenly on top, and then sprinkle with cheese. Preheat broiler, return frittata to the top rack, about 6 inches from the heat, and cook until cheese is melted, about 1 minute.
4. Allow frittata to sit for about 3 to 5 minutes to firm up. Run a spatula along sides and bottom to loosen. Slide to a cutting board or large flat plate. Cut into 8 wedges, sprinkle with sliced green onions. Serve warm or at room temperature.Total: $8.73 / Cost per serving: $1.75. (Family Features)

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Each year Americans waste millions of dollars by not filing their taxes on time. Workers forego hundreds of thousands of dollars in matching 401K contributions because they never got around to signing up for their retirement program. And we all know what happens when we put off starting that diet plan. One study found procrastination makes us poorer, fatter and unhealthier.
“Everybody procrastinates, but not everyone is a procrastinator,” says Joseph Ferrari, professor of psychology at DePaul University and author of “Still Procrastinating? The No-Regrets Guide to Getting It Done.” And this year, it’s a procrastinator’s dream: three extra, government-given days to put off your taxes , since they’re due Monday instead of today.
It’s not a time-management issue. For the vast majority of us, it’s usually about doing a task we’d rather put off, like taxes or scheduling a colonoscopy. But a significant (foot-dragging) minority of us are chronic procrastinators — people who wait until the last minute to start virtually everything from emptying the dishwasher to updating their life insurance policy.
Scientists insist there aren’t any benefits of procrastinating for any of us. Procrastinators are great excuse makers, but the reality is that you won’t really feel more like doing it tomorrow; you don’t work best under pressure; and it is your fault.
Here’s why you keep putting things off and how to quit procrastinating:
Procrastination mantra: All-or-nothing thinking
Rationalization: People have this all-or-nothing mentality when it comes to cleaning closets or losing 20 pounds. “They think of the 20 pounds rather than the day-to-day struggle of chipping off the weight and gradually reaching a goal,” says Judith Belmont, a psychotherapist in Allentown, Penn., and author of the forthcoming “The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life; How to Get through Life’s Holes without Getting Stuck in Them.”
The fix: It’s a big project — pace yourself. Break the task up into small chunks and just get started. Once people get started, the perception of the task changes. “Progress fuels motivation, so it’s priming the pump,” says Tim Pychyl, associate professor of psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa and author of “The Procrastinator’s Digest: A Concise Guide to Solving the Procrastination Puzzle.” If you have a 40-page report to write, start with a page. If you can’t do that, start with a paragraph. Can’t do that? Start with a sentence.
Procrastination mantra: Perfectionism
Rationalization: Procrastinators think it’s all about them. “They’re afraid if they finish and the thing comes out terribly, they look bad and are no good,” says Ferrari. Some people want success, cerebrally, but they undermine it. Either they’re afraid of it, afraid of failing or afraid succeeding might not be all its jacked up to be.
The fix: Get over yourself. Surround yourself with people who are doers, who help you get things done or are good non-procrastinator role models. Find someone at work and say, ‘I see how much you accomplish and it’s so impressive, can I shadow you or take you to lunch and talk about how you do it?’ Then learn from them.
Procrastination mantra: Pleasure principle
Rationalization: Freud said people were guided by the pleasure principle, which means, essentially, that we like to have fun. And it’s hard to do something you don’t want to do.
“We give in to feel good,” says Pychyl. We focus on short term mood repair by procrastinating on tasks we don’t like.
The fix: What if you had incentive to get projects done early? “We don’t give the early bird the worm,” says Ferrari. He suggests the IRS give you five percent off the money you owe if you file by Feb. 15. Since that won’t happen, reward yourself for not procrastinating. ‘If I work for two hours, I can check Facebook for 10 minutes. If I exercise now, I’ll watch ‘The Biggest Loser’ later,’” Ferrari suggests.
Procrastination mantra: Learned it from family
Rationalization: “No one is born a procrastinator; there is no gene for it,” says Ferrari. Procrastinators learn the behavior from their family. Either their parents procrastinated or they grew up with a stern, demanding dad. Ferrari says studies found it’s the father that causes kids to become procrastinators more than mothers. Impersonal, demanding dads can produce children who learn to cope by procrastinating. When you’re young, you rebel by learning to respond late, take your time and put off doing what you are supposed to do.
The fix: Move away from vague intentions that lack clarity to a more specific, what you are going to do when. “Put the cue in the environment,” says Pychyl. Saying, “I’ll schedule my annual physical this week” is vague as opposed to something like, “After I get the kids off to school, and get the dishes done, I’m going to sit down and call the doctor’s office.” The cue triggers your action.
Procrastination mantra: Just my personality
Rationalization: Procrastinators are bad judges of time . They overestimate or underestimate how much time things take. Sometimes procrastination is related to depression and there is a small link to attention deficit disorder. “One of the things you have to do to stay on task is to pay attention, so if you are impulsive or have ADD, you will have a harder time,” says Pychyl.
The fix: Willpower is like a muscle. It can be strengthened to help you beat procrastination, no matter your personality. Reaffirm your values. Remind yourself that you really do need to work out, see the doctor, sign up for your 401K. Validate that these things are important to your life, your health and wealth, and when you put them off, you aren’t living your best life.

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About four weeks before “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-6-1 with 39 KO’s) faces Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2 with 37 KO’s) for the WBO welterweight title in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 7, the three-division world boxing champion welcomed the media to the garage of his home in Big Bear, California. In it is a customized gym where he has been training for each fight for the last decade now.
“It’s very good and very important. It’s easy for me to just walk down the stairs right into the gym,” Shane said, explaining the advantages of living and training in the same space. “I can come to the gym anytime I have an itch to work on something – this move or that move.”
Weighing at about 157lbs. when he faced the press, Shane seemed to have no problem with making weight in time for fight weekend. In fact, he seemed to have no problem facing the reigning pound-for-pound king, despite earlier prediction by Hall of Famer and Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach that the Filipino sensation is going to knock Shane out after the fourth round, between fifth and seventh.
“That’s pretty interesting. That’s going to be a hard task to do. I’ve never been knocked out before. And even when I spar with big guys, they can’t really hurt me. If he (Pacquiao) does that, he’d be very special,” Shane said.
Despite walking into this match up with a two-game losing streak (loss via unanimous decision to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and a draw against Sergio Mora, both in 2010), Shane appeared confident and happy. Steve Kim, columnist at maxboxing.com, attributed this to Shane’s recent divorce.
“He’s a divorced man. Some people say he’s a free man. It’s no big secret that he was in a very bad marriage. Now he’s out of that. A happy fighter is a better fighter. Because every sport is mental. You play physically; but you have to be mentally focused,” Kim said.
Mental focus also seems to be the core of trainer Naazim (Naseem) Richardson for his ward.
“Right now we’re just dealing with his mental condition, keeping him focused and rehearsing the game plan. We’re also making sure everybody is involved; not just the fighter, but everybody in his corner,” he said.
According to Shane, he’s sticking to the plan: “Different things happen in your life where you can’t do your best or you can’t do what you think you can do when you’re on the ring. But I’m going to this fight pretty focused, in pretty good health. I’m training very hard and I’m very confident that I’m ready to go.”
And according to Shane’s father Jack, who introduced him to boxing and started training him some 31 years ago, if Shane is healthy and has his energy, he will be “victorious.”
“He has all the tools – the combinations, the jabs, the footwork – he has all of that. I trained him all of that. And when you train somebody, that style stays with him throughout his whole boxing career. Things that change are conditioning and being healthy,” the elder Mosley said, adding that he’s very proud of his son. “I’m happy that he’s getting this great fight. He deserves it. He’s toward the end of his career but he still wants to promote boxing with I think maybe one or two more fights. As his father, I think he’s going to get all the things he can from this fight – the accolades, all the support from his family, friends and cousins.”
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is confident that he picked the right opponent for Manny, yet again.
“It matches two guys who come to fight. They don’t do a lot of defensive stuff and really want to entertain fans,” he said. “Shane is a great fighter if his opponent comes to him. So there’ll be a lot of exchanges. Some people say Shane hits harder than Manny. We’ll see. All I know is Shane is coming to this fight with his best. Whether it’s good enough to beat Manny, we’ll see that on May 7th.”
But while experts are predicting and expecting to see Manny try to engage Shane in an unorthodox style of boxing on the ring, outside of it, it seems Shane is the one engaging Manny…via Twitter… with tweets like:
“Just cause u have the bieber hair style doesn’t mean u can sing like him. NO WORRIES. I’ll beat you and have you singing right… #Sugartime”
“SUGAR is the vital ingredient for the recipe of DISASTER. Manny’s gonna have to taste a JAWBREAKER May 7th #Sugartime”
“It’s all engagement. I was trying to pump the fight up, get everybody riled up which I did,” said the future Hall of Famer. “But my true feelings that people see is outside the ring. I really have a lot of respect for Manny.”
And also through Twitter, he has been showing a lot of respect for the Filipino people, even going as far as tweeting in Tagalog which he claims don’t from a Google Translator, but instead uses an application on his phone for some Tagalog tweets:
“Filipino tao ibinigay sa akin ng lot’s of love ngayon. salamat”
“I tumingin forward sa magandang malinis na laban. ako excited.”
Pagpapadala ibig at paggalng sa mga tao ng Philippines.”
So it goes that while Filipinos are praying for another victory for the Honorable Congressman from Saraggani and the People’s Champ, they are also hoping that the sweet “Sugar” Shane they are learning to respect and admire for his class act won’t get beat up badly the way the Pacman wiped out his previous opponents on his way to the top of the world.
“We know Shane Mosley and we know what he’s made of. He’s been consistent. And even on his bad day, he’s given the public their money’s worth. That’s something you expect from a professional athlete at his level,” added Richardson. “Shane is a great human being. It just happens he knows how to fight.”
And as this future Hall of Famers’ showdown started with him, Arum had these last words to say in our interview at the media day: “Never underestimate fighters who are approaching the end of their careers.”
Local, national and international news. Balita.com is your premiere source for Filipino news, Fil-am news & Phil-am news.

The Philippines is made up of more than 80 percent Roman Catholics. This is why you see packed crowds in a Catholic Church in areas where there’s a big concentration of Filipinos.
Starting tomorrow, Palm Sunday, many church activities will be held to observe the Lenten season that ends on Easter Sunday. This Holy Week will be the most solemn as far as Catholics are concerned because of the death of Jesus on Good Friday, when sacrifices are carried out as their way of atoning for their sins.
There are many forms of penance and one way is not eating meat on Friday, or the whole of Holy Week, while devotees don’t eat for forty days.
As a way of paying respect for the religious practice, Swan Restaurant in North Hollywood will be offering several non-meat dishes to help observe the Holy Week. According to Swan Restaurant owner Somchet Kemtat, Swan Restaurant has been a favorite dining place of many Filipinos and that they want to be part of this religious observance.
Somchet, who is popularly known as Bon, says he would like his customers to try their non-meat dishes. He says Swan Restaurant is actually known in the neighborhood, where many Filipinos reside, for his house favorite, the Swan Fish.
Swan Fish is a deep friend whole boneless trout fish topped with a house special lime sauce that is totally unique. The Swan Fish is crispy when served, and the peanuts that are scattered around the plate add a distinctive flavor that complements the lime taste.
Along with the Swan Fish of course are our favorite pad thai and the seafood tom yum, which are great dishes for the Holy Week even if it’s already Easter Sunday, when Catholics can once again enjoy meat.
In order to find out the Swan experience, you are urged visit the place and ask for the Swan Fish during the Holy Week, along with your other favorite Thai dishes.
Swan Restaurant is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. For dine in, take out or delivery, please call (818) 764-1892. For a minimum order of $15, you can even get free Thai Ice Tea. Major credit cards are accepted and they have lunch-dinner specials that start at $5.95 per order.

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